INCREASING ACCESS TO CARE AND KNOWLEDGE OF SERVICES FOR WOMEN VETERANS IN THE VETERANS AFFIARS HEALTHCARE SYSTEM

ABSTRACT Increasing Access to Care and Knowledge of Services for Women Veterans in the Veterans Affairs Healthcare System Background: Women are the fastest growing population of patients who access the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), within the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) for healthcare. The magnitude of this population growth poses several challenges for the historically male-dominated VA healthcare system. A major barrier to care is WV’s lack of knowledge of about gender-specific services available to them within the VHA. This knowledge gap has led to disjointed care and attrition from the Durham Veterans Administration Medical Center (DVAMC). Therefore, a tool that combines and presents all of the resources available to WV is vital in order to improve WV’s health and access to VA care. Objectives: The objectives of this evidence based practice (EBP) quality improvement project was to evaluate the effects of a women’s health resource manual (WHRM) for inpatient WV in the DVAMC about the policies and services that are available to meet their needs and increase their access to VA care. Method: Women Veterans admitted into an inpatient setting were provided with a WHRM, a cover letter with intent to participate form, and two randomly coded questionnaires (pre-intervention and post-intervention). The data sets included responses to the questionnaires. The WV’s completed the pre-intervention questionnaire and were allowed adequate time to read the resource manual. Prior to discharge, the WV completed the post intervention questionnaire. Results: The outcomes of this EBP project improved WV knowledge of gender-specific-services and provided evidence that supports the need to strengthen healthcare providers ability to inform WV about gender-specific services in the VHA system. Evidence also supported increasing the dissemination of the WHRM to increase the WV sense of inclusion in the VA and satisfaction with the gender-specific resources provided it the DVAMC. Descriptive statistics that utilize McNemar’s analysis were employed to compare the pre- and post-intervention measures. Conclusions: The study showed statistical significance in post-questionnaire results about how WV’s rate the VA, and the quality of gender-specific services offered by the DVAMC. These results support the need for further research to improve resources for WV and to improve providers ability to inform WV about gender-specific resources offered in through the VA

MAGNETOTELLURIC SOUNDINGS AND THE GEOLOGICAL STRUCTURE AND TECTONICS OF NORTHERN SENEGAL, WEST AFRICA THE SENEGALO-MAURITANIAN BASIN IN

Abstract , The results of the magnetotelluric soundings provide new insights on the geological structure and tectonics of the onshore Senegalo-Mauritanian basin in northern Senegal (West Africa) . Electrical resistivities can be correlated with the major geological units. In the upper 1000 m, resistivity variations indicate a transition from freshwater saturated sediments near the surface to saline water saturated sediments above the basement. The resistivity of the sediments is dominated by their porosity resistivity of the contained fluids. The resistivity of the Cretaceous sediments is unexpectedly low, especially in the western part of the basin. The top of the metamorphic/granitic basement cannot be located on the west portion of the profile because of the feeble resistivity contrast between the impervious, compacted Aptian-Jurassic limestones and the metamorphic/crystalline rocks. The magnetotelluric estimates of the depth of the basement range from 600 m in the east to 4000 m in the west. Based on the magnetotelluric interpretation and other independent geophysical and geological information, a cross section through the and th

L’Épreuve de la langue dans le discours littéraire francophone : identités sociolinguistiques et constructions discursives dans Monnè, outrages et défis d’Ahmadou Kourouma (1990)

Cet article est une réflexion sociolinguistique sur l’écriture hétérolingue de la francophonie africaine et contribue aux travaux d’observation de la coupure qui se développe entre une langue internationale et ses attaches anthropologiques locales. La recherche ici rapportée est une analyse du discours littéraire dans une approche lexicale et morphosyntaxique. On vise à donner quelques aspects de l’hétérolinguisme africain en soulignant les non-coïncidences énonciatives de la relation asymétrique entre la culture africaine et l’idiome français. On veut aussi décrire le projet esthétique et identitaire de l’ivoirien Ahmadou Kourouma, fondé sur l’hybridité linguistique, qui concourt à construire une lexiculture. La réflexion se place dans le cadre de l’école française des études africaines, de la sociolinguistique inspirée des travaux de P. Bourdieu et de la critique littéraire inspirée des apports de M. Bakhtine. On se donne pour corpus d’observation le roman Monnè, outrages et défis (Paris, 1990) pour mener une approche sociolinguistique du discours littéraire francophone. On commence par revisiter certaines conceptions sociolinguistiques du texte francophone. On se focalise ensuite sur l’appropriation lexicale réalisée dans notre corpus, en remettant en question la classification de J.-M. Bague (1995) et en donnant une étude morphosyntaxique de la traduction et l’expressivité de la « lexiculture » (GALISSON, 1999) à travers l’ajout hétérolingue. On décrit au total ce cas d’hétérolinguisme, construit de paramètres extralinguistiques et d’identités sociolinguistiques, d’une instabilité énonciative, illustration d’une poétique de la traduction d’une culture, le cadre donc d’une quête identitaire post-coloniale.Mots clés : Sociolinguistique du texte. Monnè. Kourouma. Non-coïncidences énonciatives. The language trial in french literary discourse: sociolinguistic identities and discursive constructions in Monnè, outrages et défis by Ahmadou Kourouma (1990)Abstract:This article is a sociolinguistic reflection on the heterolingual writing of the African Francophonie, and contributes to the work of observing the divide that develops between an international language and its local anthropological ties. The research reported here is a literary discourse analysis with a lexical and morphosyntactic approach. It aims to give some aspects of African heterolingualism by emphasizing the enunciative non-coincidences of the asymmetric relationship between African culture and the French language. We also want to describe the aesthetic and identity project of the Ivorian Ahmadou Kourouma based on linguistic hybridity, which contributes to building a lexiculture. The reflection takes place within the framework of the French school of African studies, sociolinguistics inspired by the works of P. Bourdieu, and literary criticism inspired by the contributions of M. Bakhtine. The corpus of observation is the novel Monnè, outrages et défis (Paris, 1990) to give a sociolinguistic approach to French literary discourse. It starts by revisiting the main sociolinguistic conceptions of the French-speaking text. It then focuses on the lexical appropriation carried out in the corpus, by questioning the classification of Jean-Marie Bague (1995) and by giving a morphosyntactic study of the translation and the expressiveness of "lexiculture" (Galisson, 1999) through the heterolingual addition. Finally, the text describes this case of heterolinguism, built of extralinguistic parameters and sociolinguistic identities, of an enunciating instability, an illustration of a poetics of the translation of a culture, the framework therefore of a post-colonial quest for identity.Keywords: Sociolinguistics of the text. Monnè. Kourouma. Enunciative non-coincidences. A prova da língua no discurso literário francês: identidades sociolinguísticas e construções discursivas em Monnè, outrages et défis de Ahmadou Kourouma (1990)Resumo:Este artigo é uma reflexão sociolinguística sobre a escrita heterolingue da Francofonia africana e contribui para o trabalho de observar a divisão que se desenvolve entre uma língua internacional e seus laços antropológicos locais. A pesquisa aqui relatada é uma análise do discurso literário em uma abordagem lexical e morfossintática. Nosso objetivo é apresentar alguns aspectos do heterolingualismo africano, enfatizando as não coincidências enunciativas da relação assimétrica entre a cultura africana e a língua francesa. Também se quer descrever o projeto estético e identitário do marfinense Ahmadou Kourouma, baseado no hibridismo linguístico, que contribui para a construção de uma lexicultura. A reflexão ocorre no âmbito dos trabalhos da escola francesa de estudos africanos, da sociolingüística inspirada nas obras de P. Bourdieu e da crítica literária inspirada nas contribuições de M. Bakhtine. O corpus de observação é o romance Monnè, outrages et défis (Paris, 1990), para dar uma abordagem sociolinguística ao discurso literário francês. Começa-se revisitando as principais concepções sociolinguísticas do texto francófono. Em seguida, focaliza-se a apropriação lexical realizada no corpus, questionando a classificação de Jean-Marie Bague (1995) e dando um estudo morfossintático da tradução e da expressividade da "lexicultura" (Galisson, 1999 ) através da adição heterolingual. Descreve-se no total este caso de heterolinguismo, construído com parâmetros extralinguísticos e identidades sociolinguísticas, de instabilidade afirmativa, ilustração de uma poética da tradução de uma cultura, o quadro, portanto, de uma busca pós-colonial pela identidade.Palavras-chave: Sociolinguística do texto. Monnè. Kourouma. Não coincidências enunciativas. La prueba de la lengua en el discurso literario francés: identidades sociolingüísticas y construcciones discursivas en Monnè, outrages et défis por Ahmadou Kourouma (1990)Resumen:Este artículo es una reflexión sociolingüística sobre la escritura heterolingual de la francofonía africana y contribuye al trabajo de observar la división que se desarrolla entre un idioma internacional y sus lazos antropológicos locales. La investigación presentada aquí es un análisis del discurso literario en un enfoque léxico y morfosintáctico. El objetivo es dar algunos aspectos del heterolingualismo africano enfatizando las no coincidencias enunciativas de la relación asimétrica entre la cultura africana y el idioma francés. También se quiere describir el proyecto estético y de identidad del marfileño Ahmadou Kourouma, basado en la hibridación lingüística, que contribuye a construir una lexicultura. La reflexión tiene lugar en el marco de la escuela francesa de estudios africanos, la sociolingüística inspirada en las obras de P. Bourdieu y la crítica literaria inspirada en las contribuciones de M. Bakhtine. El corpus de observación es la novela Monnè, outrages et défis (París, 1990) para dar un enfoque sociolingüístico al discurso literario francés. Se inicia revisando ciertas concepciones sociolingüísticas del texto francés. Luego se observa la apropiación léxica realizada en el corpus, cuestionando la clasificación de Jean-Marie Bague (1995) y dando un estudio morfosintáctico de la traducción y la expresividad de la "lexicultura" (Galisson, 1999 ) a través de la adición heterolingual. Se describe, finalmente, este caso de heterolinguismo, construido a partir de parámetros extralingüísticos e identidades sociolingüísticas, de una inestabilidad enunciativa, ilustración de una poética de la traducción de una cultura, el marco de una búsqueda de identidad postcolonial.Palabras-clave: Sociolingüística del texto. Monnè. Kourouma No coincidencias enunciativas

Better characterizing sleep beliefs for personalized sleep health promotion: the French sleep beliefs scale validation study

Background: The Sleep Beliefs Scale (SBS) is a well-known tool to design and monitor personalized sleep health promotion at an individual and population level. The lack of an established French version limits the development of effective interventions targeting these populations. Thus, the aim of this study was to validate the French version of the SBS in a representative sample of the general population. Methods: Quota sampling was used to recruit 1,004 participants (18–65 years, mean age: 43 years, 54% of female) who underwent an online survey to complete the SBS, and to assess sleep schedules, sleep quality and disorders, and mental health. Cronbach’s α coefficient, confirmatory factor analysis, item-internal consistency (IIC), and item discriminant validity (IDV) of the SBS were computed to assess internal validity while bivariate associations with sleep schedules, sleep quality and disorders, and mental health were used to assess external convergent and discriminant validity. Results: The mean score on the SBS was 12.3 ± 4.9. Item 19 (“Quiet & Dark”) showed the highest rate of correct answers (n = 801, 79.8%), while item 20 (“Recovering sleep”) showed the lowest rate of correct answers (n = 246, 24.5%). Overall, the SBS showed satisfactory internal consistency (α = 0.87) and confirmed the three-factor structure proposed by the original study. All items were found consistent (IIC > 0.4) and discriminant (IIC > IDV) except for item 20 (“recovering lost sleep by sleeping for a long time”). Females, older participants, and subjects with short time-in-bed, poor sleep quality, insomnia, and circadian rhythm disorder had higher SBS scores while participants with depressive symptoms had lower SBS scores. Conclusion: We successfully translated and validated the French version of the SBS in a representative sample, making it a reliable instrument for researchers and clinicians to assess and target sleep beliefs. Correct answers vary from 25 to 80% which underlines the importance of continuing sleep health promotion campaigns by targeting poorly understood behaviors. Our findings also shed light on the fickleness of beliefs that are prone to vary within individuals across time, in step with societal changes. Several associated factors were identified, thus contributing to our understanding of sleep beliefs and offering insights for personalized approaches to enhance sleep health and overall well-being

El huerto ecopónico: un recurso efectivo para fomentar en los estudiantes una actitud pro ambiental y educación alimentaria

The objective was to implement the ecoponic orchard as a strategy to improve a pro-environmental attitude and food education in primary, secondary, high school and university students in Tenosique Tabasco, Mexico. The study lasted seven months, with the harvest indicating the first products 70 days after implementing the ecoponic orchard. To analyze the current state and change in attitude level, a questionnaire with 20 questions and four response levels was applied at the beginning and at the end of the study. The questionnaire was divided into three categories, 1) liking to be in contact with nature (CN), 2) liking for studying nature (EN) and 3) liking for working in nature (TN). The results indicated that at the beginning of the study, the students with a higher educational level had less pro-environmental attitude and low interest in orcharding. However, at the end of the study, the results indicated a significant positive change in attitudes in the four educational levels, with the highest levels being obtained by primary school students, followed by secondary school students, then high school students and finally university students. It is concluded that the ecoponic garden in the schoolyard is an effective resource to promote in students a pro-environmental attitude and skills for food production.El objetivo fue implementar el huerto ecopónico como estrategia para mejorar la actitud proambiental y educación alimentaria en estudiantes de nivel primaria, secundaria, preparatoria y universidad en Tenosique Tabasco, México. El estudio tuvo una duración de siete meses, indicando la cosecha los primeros productos a los 70 días de haber implementado del huerto ecopónico. Para analizar el estado actual y cambios de nivel de actitud, se aplicó al inicio y al finalizar el estudio un cuestionario con 20 preguntas y cuatro niveles de respuesta. El cuestionario se dividió en tres categorías, 1) gusto de estar en contacto con la naturaleza (CN), 2) gusto por estudiar la naturaleza (EN) y 3) gusto por trabajar en la naturaleza (TN). Los resultados indicaron que al inicio del estudio, los estudiantes de mayor nivel educativo presentaban menor actitud proambiental y bajo interés por el cultivo del huerto. Sin embargo, al finalizar el estudio, los resultados indicaron un cambio positivo significativo en los cuatro niveles educativos, obteniendo los niveles más alto los estudiantes de primaria, seguido por estudiantes de secundaria, luego los de preparatoria y por último los universitarios. Se concluye que el huerto ecopónico en el patio de la escuela es un recurso efectivo para fomentar en los estudiantes una actitud proambiental y habilidades para la producción de alimentos

Front Public Health

The Sleep Beliefs Scale (SBS) is a well-known tool to design and monitor personalized sleep health promotion at an individual and population level. The lack of an established French version limits the development of effective interventions targeting these populations. Thus, the aim of this study was to validate the French version of the SBS in a representative sample of the general population. Quota sampling was used to recruit 1,004 participants (18-65 years, mean age: 43 years, 54% of female) who underwent an online survey to complete the SBS, and to assess sleep schedules, sleep quality and disorders, and mental health. Cronbach's α coefficient, confirmatory factor analysis, item-internal consistency (IIC), and item discriminant validity (IDV) of the SBS were computed to assess internal validity while bivariate associations with sleep schedules, sleep quality and disorders, and mental health were used to assess external convergent and discriminant validity. The mean score on the SBS was 12.3 ± 4.9. Item 19 ("Quiet & Dark") showed the highest rate of correct answers ( = 801, 79.8%), while item 20 ("Recovering sleep") showed the lowest rate of correct answers ( = 246, 24.5%). Overall, the SBS showed satisfactory internal consistency ( = 0.87) and confirmed the three-factor structure proposed by the original study. All items were found consistent (IIC > 0.4) and discriminant (IIC > IDV) except for item 20 ("recovering lost sleep by sleeping for a long time"). Females, older participants, and subjects with short time-in-bed, poor sleep quality, insomnia, and circadian rhythm disorder had higher SBS scores while participants with depressive symptoms had lower SBS scores. We successfully translated and validated the French version of the SBS in a representative sample, making it a reliable instrument for researchers and clinicians to assess and target sleep beliefs. Correct answers vary from 25 to 80% which underlines the importance of continuing sleep health promotion campaigns by targeting poorly understood behaviors. Our findings also shed light on the fickleness of beliefs that are prone to vary within individuals across time, in step with societal changes. Several associated factors were identified, thus contributing to our understanding of sleep beliefs and offering insights for personalized approaches to enhance sleep health and overall well-being