THE MULTILEVEL FACTORS FACILITATING OR IMPEDING HEALTHCARE ACCESS AMONG REFUGEES RESIDING IN BEXAR COUNTY TEXAS

The goal of this study was to increase understanding of healthcare access among refugees by investigating the multilevel factors that facilitate or impede healthcare access among refugees who have resettled in Bexar County, Texas. The multilevel factors facilitating or impeding access to healthcare for refugees resettled in Bexar County were identified as follows: health literacy, level of educational attainment, proficiency (reading, writing and, speaking) in English, proficiency (reading, writing and speaking) in native language, translation services, public transportation, income level, a shortage of healthcare providers, navigation of the healthcare system, the fragmentation of the healthcare system, insurance status, staff shortages at RSO’s, funding shortages at RSO’s, and current policies. Specifically related to health literacy, the study showed that health literacy was low among the majority of respondents. The proposed included: 1) to establish a countywide refugee-focused coalition composed of a representative sample of individuals, politicians, refugee-serving organizations, faith-based institutions, businesses, and refugees; 2) to establish an annual Refugee Health Symposium that brings together a wide spectrum of people working on refugee issues to share research and discuss issues and trends; 3) to establish a cohesive system of refugee healthcare in San Antonio, Bexar County; and 4) to streamline healthcare access at the local level by looking at modifications to Carelink. As the number of refugees continues to grow across the world, it is expected that the U.S. will continue to play a critical role in resettling them and then addressing their various healthcare needs. Host cities, like San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas, will continue to play an integral role in assuring refugees attain self-sufficiency and become productive and healthy members of our society. Medical examinations and studies will need to continue in order to gain even more insight into the multilevel factors that affect healthcare access among resettled refugees. This cannot be done in silo, facilitating and impeding factors must be explored, and systemic change must be engaged in

Motion detection using randomized methods

The detection and recogni6on of a moving object in a sequence of time varying images proves to be a very important task in machine intelligence in general and computer vision in particular. Recently, parametric domain techniques have been successfully used with a number of variants. In such melhods, the image is transfonned into some parameter space and the motion detection process is applied in that space. A recent parametric domain is the Randomized Hough Transform (RHT) that uses random sampling mechanism in the image space, score accumulation in the parameter space, and bridge between them using a converging mapping. The use of such method for motion detection is called the Motion Detection Randomized Hough Transform (MDRHT). Since random sampling is used, the process of establishing correspondence between sets of points belonging to the same object in successive motion frames proves to be the most important problem in this methodology. Improving the accuracy of correspondence rules will improve the performance of the algorithm. In the present work, motion detection was considered through the analysis of a sequence of time varying gay level image stream using the RHT algorithm that provides an efficient simple non-model based methodology using edge pixels as features. The objective of our work was to construct a set of correspondence rules that would maximize the ability of the methodology to detect motion parameters for both pure translational and pure rotational motions restricted to 2-D rigid objects. Analysis of accuracy and efficiency of correspondence were restricted to the cases of two points and three point pairs to select rules maximizing the performance. For that purpose, five different correspondence rules were investigated. The first three were 2-point rules that were used in previous researches. They measure correspondence through 2-point x-and y-differences, City Block distances and Euclidean distances, respectively. The present work introduced the two remaining rules for the first time. These are 3-point rules that measure correspondences through 3-point City Dlock distances and triangular areas, respectively. We have developed a mathematical analysis of the invariance of the five rules given for both pure translational and pure rotational motions. The analysis proved that the five selected rules are invariant under pure translation while only rule (3) and rule (5) were invariant under pure rotation. In order to compare the performances of our randomized motion detection methodology for the different rules, a perfonnance parameter was introduced to measure the capability of peak detection in the RHT space. For translational motion, different simulation experiments were conducted with varying sizes of random samples. The results obtained for the translational motion indicated that our 3-point algorithms are in general superior to the previous 2-point algorithms. In particular, algorithm (5) that uses equal triangle areas gave the hjghest performance, outperforming the next in performance (2-point City Block distance) by a factor of almost 3 times. In order to study the affect of noise on the algorithms\u27 performance, a salt and pepper noise with different levels was added to the frames images. The results for translational motion showed that algorithm (5) again has the performance which is three times better than other algorithms and proved to be robust against noisy conditions. Different simulation experiments were also conducted for the case of pure rotational motion. The two algorithms that proved to be invariant under rotation (using correspondence rules 3 and 5) have been tested for different rotation angles using various numbers of trials NT. Also in this case, our 3-point algorithm proved to outperform the 2- point algorithm by a factor of almost 7 times. Similar conclusions are obtained for the robustness of algorithm (5) under varying angles of rotation, RHT spatial resolution, and correspondence tolerance

Zooplanktonska zajednica u egipatskom dijelu Mediteranskog mora: Pregledni rad

The zooplankton community in Egyptian Mediterranean waters is reviewed in light of recent and historic data. Results indicate that the average annual standing crop of zooplankton sharply dropped from 28750 individuals/m3 in 1962 to 3723 individuals/m3 in 1966, 1685 individuals/m3 in 1970-71, and a minimum of 1206 individuals/m3 in 1984-85. The drop is a result of decreased fertility in the area after construction of the Aswan High Dam. In the present study, 184 Copepoda species, 20 Appendicularia species, 25 Siphonophora species, 21 Hydromedusa species, fifteen Amphipoda species, and seven Chaetognatha species were recorded in Egyptian Mediterranean waters, some of which immigrated to the Mediterranean through the Suez Canal.Zajednica zooplanktona u egipatskom dijelu Sredozemnog mora se prikazuje prema novijim i povijesnim podatcima. Rezultati ukazuju na prosječnu godišnju gustoću populacije zooplanktona koji je naglo pao na 28750 jedinki m-3 u 1962-oj godini; 3723 jednike m-3 u 1966-oj godini; 1685 jedniki m-3 u 1970-71-oj godini, te na minimum od 1206 jedniki m-3 u 1984-85-oj godini. Pad je rezultat smanjenog fertiliteta na području Asuanske brane nakon gradnje. U ovom radu iznose se podatci o slijedećim vrstama: 184 Copepoda, 20 Appendicularia, 25 Siphonophora, 21 Hydromedusa, 15 Amphipoda i 7 Chaetognatha koje su zabilježene u egipatskim sredozemnim vodama, a od kojih su pojedine ušle u Sredozemlje preko Sueskog kanala

Exploring the ability of Montessori education to achieve sustainability and global citizenship education

This research is exploring the ability of Montessori education in providing the children with skills that education for sustainable development and global citizenship education are calling for. The approach of this work is based on literature review. This research seeks to find an answer to three questions which are the following: To what extent does Montessori education, which became popular in Egypt recently, help in providing the young age children with skills that education for sustainable development is calling for? Does Montessori education have the potential to change the behavior of individuals and societies and provide them with skills that global citizenship education is calling for? And to what extend are the skills investigated in this research related to 21st century skills? A review of Montessori education literature was conducted to have a deep understanding of the type of skills acquired by the child. It was found that Montessori education supplies the children with part of the skills that education for sustainable development is calling for. Moreover, Montessori education assists in changing the behavior of individuals and societies and in providing them with skills that global citizenship education is calling for through embedding the children with the skills of critical thinking, independency and confidence that help in fostering the ability of the children to preform with moral courage. Finally, the skills that are related to the 21st century skills are critical thinking, problem solving, global and local citizenship, decision making and personal and local responsibilities. These skills were part of the skills that Montessori called for and are also part of education for sustainable development and global citizenship education are calling for

Sub-Health Status of Employed Women in Two Arab Cities

Context: Underneath the strain of contemporary life and civilization, more rumored subjective complaints, discomfort, and manifestations with no typical pathologic features were reported, termed sub-health status. An evaluation of employed women's health status is necessary for developing health services and interventions to improve their health.Aim: The current study aimed to identify the sub-health status of employed women in two Arab cities and compare the sub-health status of employed women in the two Arab cities. Methods: A purposive sample of 400 employed women from 2 different Arab cities were included in the comparative cross-sectional research design. Data were collected using two tools: a structured interview questionnaire and a Sub-Health Measurement Scale Version 1.0 (SHMS V1.0).Results: The mean score of the physiological health dimension among the Alexandria group was 31.92±4.2, and the Madina group was 34.16±6.2, both groups are classified as being in the disease status, and the statistical relation was highly significant (T test=9.255, P value=0.000). As for the psychological health dimension, both Alexandria and Madina groups were in the disease status. The mean scores were 32.60±3.2, 36.96±4.3, respectively, and the statistical relation was also highly significant (T test=11.645, P value=0.000). On the other hand, the Alexandria group showed a higher mean score (36.21±6.5) than the Madina group (33.77±3.0) regarding the social health dimension, and this difference was statistically significant (T test=8.476, P value=0.000); however, both groups were in the health status. The total subjective health status means score among the Alexandria group was 7.3±2.3. They rated themselves in disease condition, while the total subjective health status means score for the Madina group was 10.9±2.7. They rated themselves in sub-health conditions, and the statistical relation was highly significant (T test=13.09, P value=0.000). In general, the mean score of the total SHMS showed that both Alexandria and Madina groups were considered in the sub-health status, 105.03±17.9, 115.79±15.4, respectively, and the relation was highly significant (T test=19.789, P value=0.000). Conclusion: Despite the mean score of the Madina, the group's physiological dimension was slightly higher than the Alexandria group; both groups are classified as being in the disease status. As for the psychological dimension, both Madina and Alexandria groups were in the disease status. On the other hand, the Alexandria group showed a higher mean score than the Madina group regarding the social health dimension; however, both groups were in the health status. The total subjective health status means score showed that the Alexandria group rated themselves in the disease status while the Madina group rated themselves in the sub-health state. In general, the mean score of the total SHMS showed that both groups were considered in the sub-health status. Sub-health status among women, mainly employed women, cannot be fully known from a traditional medical perspective. Second thought, women need to be handled with a holistic approach in which their physical, psychological, and social complaints must be managed to overcome the progression of these complaints into diseases

Ecotypes or Genotypes? The Status of the Currently Recognized Infraspecific Taxa of Acacia tortilis (Forssk.) : Hayne Growing in the Red Sea Hills, Sudan and Egypt

This study focuses on the Acacia tortilis species complex and the taxonomic relationship among its currently recognized infraspecific (A. tortilis ssp. tortilis, ssp raddiana and ssp. spirocarpa) in the Red Sea Hills of North-East Sudan and South-East Egypt. The morphological features used in floras to differentiate among these taxa were examined on a total of 520 specimens, collected from 33 localities. It was found that there is an association between the morphological characters and their immediate environment. Of 158 specimens subjected to molecular analysis 106 showed no agreement between classes formed using morphological and / or molecular data. In spite of the great genetic polymorphism among all the 158 specimens, there was no significant difference among the three putative A. tortilis sub-taxa. Genetic diversity among the samples studied seems linked to restricted gene flow among populations, but a positive correlation was found between the genetic variation and the physical distance between A. tortilis localities studied. Discriminating morphological characters of A. tortilis such as crown shape and growth form seem to be a result of traditional human management activities such as animal browsing and pollarding at different life stages. The currently recognized infraspecific taxa of Acacia tortilis in the Red Sea Hills, Sudan and Egypt appear to be ecotypes rather than genotypes, and accordingly the A. tortilis complex in the Red Sea Hills of Sudan and Egypt comprises only one species i.e. A. tortilis

The Negotiation of Identities Through Humorous Discourse in Political Resistance: An Analysis of Bassem Youssef\u27s \u27The B+ Show\u27

This study examines the strategic use of humorous discourse in negotiating identities and expressing political resistance during the 2011 Egyptian Revolution, focusing on Bassem Youssef\u27s satirical YouTube show, The B+ Show. Employing a mixed-method approach that combines Grice\u27s maxims of cooperative communication and Fairclough\u27s critical discourse analysis framework, the research investigates how humor functioned as a tool for challenging hegemonic narratives and power dynamics through constructing and deconstructing identities in a volatile sociopolitical context. The analysis reveals that Youssef skillfully exploited various discursive resources, particularly intertextuality and the flouting of conversational maxims, to generate implicatures that effectively debunked negative representations of protesters propagated by state-controlled media. Through irony, sarcasm, and mockery, Youssef\u27s humor served to deconstruct the credibility of anti protest figures while simultaneously constructing positive identities for the protesters. The study is important for stakeholders in foreign language teaching because it highlights the importance of examining a humorous discourse\u27s pragmatic, discursive, and contextual dimensions to incorporate it in foreign language classes

The Effect of Alkaloid and Phenolic Extracts of Some Plants on the Biological of the Periplaneta Americana

The study was conducted to determine the extent of the effect of some plant extracts on the death of some of the biological stages of the Periplaneta americana, it tested two types of terpenoids extracts and the alkaloid extract of Xanthium strumarium and Achillea L. the extract of terpenoids and alkaloid compounds of the Achillea L in killing eggs, and it was also noted that the extract of terpenoids in both the X.strumarium and Achillea L was superior to the rest of the extracts of the same two plants. The two extract recorded an effect on the adults of the P.americana, as it was noted that the terpenoids and alkaloids of the extract were clearly superior to the X.strumarium, it was also noted that the superiority of the alkaloid extract in the X.Strumarium. We also note that there is a direct relationship between the concentrations of the extract and the percentage of death. The extracts work to kill insect eggs in several ways that have a physiological effect, including that they contain a percentage of oils that cover the surface of the eggs with a thin layer that prevents the exchange of gases between the egg embryo and its external environment, it hardens, thus preventing the egg shell from hatching, or the penetration of the extract into the egg, which affects the protoplasm, leading to the killing of embryos, or the inhibitory effect of the terpenoids compounds present in the extract of the two plants, which affects the growth of the embryos of these eggs

LEOPOLDOVI HVATOVI: KOLIKO SU ČESTI U NAŠOJ SVAKODNEVNOJ PRAKSI

Objective. To determine how frequent obstetricians use Leopold’s maneuvers in their practice. Subjects and Methods. A questionnaire with numerical scale was distributed among practicing obstetricians. They examined how ­frequent the symphyseal fundal height (SFH) measurement, Leopold’s maneuvers and ultrasound examination for fetal orientation were performed. Results. A total of 165 obstetricians completed the questionnaire. Only 56 (33.9%) respondents indicated that they use SFH. The first and third Leopold’s maneuver were the most frequent abdominal grips ­performed. Only 36 (21.8%) respondents regularly perform all four maneuvers. Seventy seven (46.7%) respondents use ultrasound to determine fetal orientation. The use of ultrasound was significantly higher (p=0.02) in those practicing for less than 10 years (62.6%) compared to those practicing for 10 years or more (43.3%). Conclusion. Leopold’s maneuvers are still common in daily obstetrics practice. Abdominal palpation remains a common method to estimate the uterine size. The first and third Leopold’s maneuver were the most frequent abdominal grips performed. Ultrasound examination is commonly used to determine fetal orientation.Cilj rada je ustanoviti koliko često opstetričari u svojoj praksi rabe Leopold-Pavlikove hvatove. Materijal i metode. Upitnik s brojčanim podatcima je podijeljen opstetričarima iz prakse. Oni su pokazali koliko često izvode ­mjerenje udaljenosti fundus simfiza, Leoplodove hvatove i pregled ultrazvukom za prosudbu fetalnog položaja i stava. Rezultati. Ukupno je 165 opstetričara ispunilo upitnik. Samo 56 (33,9%) njih mjere udaljenost fundus simfiza. Prvi i treći Leopoldov hvat su najčešće rabljeni hvatovi. Samo 36 (21,8%) ispitanika redovito izvode sva četiri hvata. Sedamdeset ­sedam (47,7%) rabe ultrazvučni pregled da odrede položaj i stav djeteta. Uporaba ultrazvuka je bila signifikantno češća (p=0,02) u onih koji rade manje od 10 godina (62,6%) od onih koji rade dulje od 10 godina (43,3%). Zaključak. Leopoldovi hvatovi su još uvijek uobičajeni u svakodnevnoj opstetričnoj praksi. Palpacija trbuha trudnice je uobičajena metoda za prosudbu veličine maternice. Prvi i treći Leopoldov hvat su najčešće rabljeni hvatovi. Pregled ultrazvukom se obično rabi za prosudbu položaja i stava fetusa