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Condoms on Campus: Understanding College Students\u27 Embarrassment, Self-Efficacy, and Beliefs about Distribution Programs
No full textBackground Condom distribution programs are a structural-level intervention implemented on college campuses to reduce sexually transmitted infections and unplanned pregnancies. Understanding students\u27 beliefs about these programs and attitudes that can affect condom use is critical. Methods Students at 6 different universities (n = 2809) completed items related to beliefs about campus condom distribution programs and their personal condom embarrassment and condom self-efficacy levels. Surveys were completed both in classroom and online. T Tests and analysis of variance were used to examine differences based on demographics. Logistic regression was used to examine predictors of condom use. Results College students support the distribution of condoms on campus (97.4%) but express moderate levels of embarrassment in condom acquisition and possession (mean, 19.37). Lower rates of embarrassment were reported for condom negotiation (mean, 9.13) and actual condom use (mean, 8.48). Lower overall rates of embarrassment were reported by condom users, men and individuals in relationships compared with noncondom users, women, and single individuals. Heterosexual students were more embarrassed than bisexual students about acquiring condoms and negotiating condom use. Condom users, men, and individuals in relationships had higher rates of condom self-efficacy compared with nonusers, women, and single students. There were no differences in self-efficacy based on sexual orientation. Embarrassment about acquiring and actual use of condoms, condom self-efficacy and demographics were all significant predictors of condom use. Conclusions Campus condom distribution programs are supported by college students. Interventions to address embarrassment and increase condom self-efficacy need to be tailored to different students based on gender, experience with condoms, and relationship status
Environmental risk assessment for fecal contamination sources in urban and peri-urban estuaries, in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties, FL, USA
No full textFecal pollution of estuaries and adjacent creeks and streams is of significant concern along the Gulf of Mexico. The prospective threat to human life and water quality impairment via fecal pollution is a substantial danger to the strength and resistance of coastline areas. Pensacola, FL, has a prosperous coastal tourism industry that is utilized for numerous other uses, such as recreational watersports and boating, seafood, and shellfish harvesting. However, the frequency and severity of fecal contamination present possible socio-economic issues, specifically financial hardships. Therefore, understanding the source, abundance, and fate of fecal microbial pollutants in aquatic systems signifies an imperative initial stage for detecting the host sources and techniques to lessen their transport from the landscape. This research aimed to quantify the fecal indicator bacteria (FIB), Escherichia coli, and perform microbiological fecal source tracking to verify if the fecal inputs are of either animal or human host origin. Surface water samples were taken from urban and peri-urban creeks for two sampling periods (February 2021 and January 2022), and IDEXX Colilert-18 (USEPA Standard Method 9223) was used for E. coli enumeration. DNA extractions were obtained from each sample, and quantitative PCR was utilized for fecal microbial source tracking (MST) to detect human, dog, ruminant, and bird host-specific Bacteroides DNA. The result indicates elevated quantities of FIB, E. coli, that surpass the threshold considered safe regarding human health. E. coli at six sites over the two sampling periods exceeded the impairment threshold, reaching as high as 866.4 MPN/100 ml. Fecal source tracking identified human host fecal contamination at four of nine sites, dogs at three of nine, and birds at one site. However, those sites with sources identified via MST all had E. coli levels below impairment thresholds. No sites were determined to be positive for ruminant as a source or for the pathogen Helicobacter pylori. No canine host fecal inputs were found in January 2022, and only one site with human sewage. Our results highlight the utility of MST in assessing bacterial inputs to water bodies and the challenges
Achnanthidium lucectorii sp. nov. and A. enigmaticum sp. nov., novel diatoms (Bacillariophyta, Achnanthidiaceae) from Texas, U.S.A.
No full textTwo new species, Achnanthidium lucectorii sp. nov., belonging to the A. minutissimum complex (species with straight terminal raphe ends), and A. enigmaticum sp. nov., within the A. pyrenaicum complex (species with hooked terminal raphe fissures), are described from Texas, U.S.A. utilizing light and scanning electron microscopy. Achnanthidium lucectorii sp. nov. has a raphe valve with striae located toward the apices composed of polygonal areolae, a marked stauros, a non-expanded raphe fissure, with straight (non-dilated) proximal ends, and distal ends extending onto the valve mantle. Internally, its raphe valve is flat, the proximal ends of the raphe end in small capitate expansions, and the distal ends terminate in low helictoglossae that fuse with the apices by a low apical siliceous thickening. In turn, its sternum valve is unique in that it is mostly flat in inner view, except at the central nodule, which is slightly raised. In turn, A. enigmaticum sp. nov. externally has a raphe valve with raphe distal ends shaped like a closed hook, at these ends the raphe slit surfaces at the valve face/mantle junction; its axial area is raised in external and internal views, with the virgae and striae in a lower position. These and other traditionally considered features are compared in detail with taxa morphologically similar to each of the new species. The significance of these features is discussed based on a literature survey, and the implications of considering the valve surface topography and the external and internal details of the raphe and central area are assessed. The latter, in favor of a continued morphological exploration of Achnanthidium until molecular studies are appropriately integrated into current morphological approaches used in the taxonomy of the genus
Enhancing Management of Diverse Taiwanese Hotels Through Machine Learning and Data Mining
No full textUsing the capabilities of Machine Learning and Data Mining techniques, we formulated a Decision Tree model to aid hotel management in optimizing resource allocation for profit maximization. Additionally, we constructed an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) model to predict hotel occupancy rates based on various known predictors. To establish a baseline for correct prediction, we employed the ZeroR model that achieved an accuracy rate of 42.22%. In contrast, the developed Decision Tree model outperformed with a correct prediction rate of 73.33%, while the ANN model showed a rate of 70.56%. These results showed the effectiveness of both models in predicting outcomes for Taiwanese international tourist hotels
Post-Partum Deprssion: An Educational Intervention for Nursing Staff in a Rural Hospital Obstetrics
Get PDFPostpartum depression (PPD) is a type of depression that has occurred in women during pregnancy or after the delivery of a child. In the United States, approximately 13.2% of postpartum women were diagnosed with postpartum depression. Research indicated that early identification of PPD led to the best outcomes for postpartum mothers. Routine postpartum depression education and screening for postpartum depression did not exist in the perinatal unit at a Southeast Georgia rural hospital. Lack of nursing knowledge and skill were two barriers identified to screening patients for PPD and providing discharge education. The study provided an educational intervention to provide nursing staff with education on postpartum depression and appropriate screening practices for perinatal nursing staff to increase knowledge, attitude, and skill to improve routine screening, discharge education, and early identification of PPD. The study used a pretest and post-test survey to evaluate baseline knowledge and skill compared to post-educational intervention evaluation. During the four-week study timeline, the nursing staff screened postpartum patients for PPD using the Edinburgh Postnatal Screening tool. The PPD screening rate data was compared to pre-project data using a retrospective chart review. There were 16 nursing staff that completed the project. A dependent samples t-test was used to test if an educational intervention affected nursing staff knowledge of PPD and appropriate screening practices. The data indicated a statistically significant increase in knowledge of PPD (M 18.25, SD 1.39), t (15) = 2.34, p = .03) and appropriate screening practices (M 2.44, SD 1.21), t (15) = 2.61, p = .02). The study data also supported a 100 percent increase in discharge education on PPD provided to patients. The results of this study supported the previous limited study\u27s positive impact of an educational intervention to improve nursing staff knowledge of postpartum depression
Dios, Søren Kierkegaard, y Miguel de Unamuno: desarollando el propio Yo
No full textThe philosophies of Søren Kierkegaard and Miguel de Unamuno were born within turbulent times and the rise of naturalism. As a result, they both embraced subjectivity and individualism. While the two used indirect communication to explore similar ideas, they both had very different concepts of the self, religion, and the process of making yourself a self. While Kierkegaard viewed the process of self-actualization as a mostly linear path of conquering three stages or realms of existence, Unamuno viewed these same stages as mere aspects of human existence, viewing self-actualization as distinct for every individual but generally consisting of striving for more than one is
Evidence for Redefining Dietary Fiber
Get PDFThere are currently three macronutrients recognized within the field of dietetics due to their gram quantity intake and requirement for human health; this includes proteins, fats, and carbohydrates. Dietary Fiber, however, is not considered to be an independent macronutrient despite its gram quantity intake and requirement for human health. Additionally, Dietary Fiber is a net-zero energy yielding nutrient unlike other carbohydrates. Although Dietary Fiber should remain chemically categorized as a carbohydrate, for the purposes of dietetic prescription and education, Dietary Fiber should be redefined as the fourth macronutrient. This definition shift would illustrate both the importance and complexity of this macronutrient and may yield an increase in Dietary Fiber consumption and relevant research
Examining Protein Localization via Fluorescence Microscopy in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Get PDFTwenty-seven years ago, Saccharomyces cerevisiae became the first eukaryote to have its full genome sequenced, thus leading to the discovery that 30% of genes related to human diseases are orthologous to those in S. cerevisiae. Since then, 75% of the proteome has had its localization classified, and we sought to fill the remaining gaps of knowledge by identifying the localization of three proteins: Fsh3, Gid10, and Ade13, which function as a serine hydrolase, ubiquitin ligase, and adenylosuccinate lyase, respectively. To visualize cellular localization, we used a C-terminal GFP tagging strategy and subsequent fluorescence microscopy. Through colocalization analyses, we identified the cellular localization of Ade13 to be mitochondrial while Fsh3 and Gid10 localize to distinct puncta which are predicted to be peroxisomal. Interestingly, we observed that the localization of Gid10 changes depending on the glucose availability in the media. As each investigated yeast protein has human orthologues whose malfunctions lead to diseases in humans, our findings lay important basic foundations for future studies comparing S. cerevisiae and human proteins in conserved processes