A memoir that focuses on the complications of growing as the only daughter of a mother from Okinawa and a father from the United States. They met at a nightclub, where her mother worked as a waitress, outside an Army base, where her father was stationed during U.S. Military occupation of the island. These marriages between Okinawan women and U.S. Servicemen have been quite common since 1945, after the Battle of Okinawa, when a massive complex of bases was first established. Okinawan women must leave their homes and their families to follow their husbands to the United States, where they are faced with challenges of racism, language barriers and isolation. Their children often grow up rejecting and resenting their Okinawan identities, causing further alienation.

No description available.

Background: Preterm birth is a major public health concern in the US. Previous studies have suggested that quality of the mother-father relationship, social support, and neighborhood violence may be associated with preterm birth; however, findings are equivocal. Objectives: The main objectives of this dissertation were: 1) to determine the modifying effect of perceived residential environment on the association between quality of mother–father relationship and preterm birth in a sample of African-American women, 2) to examine whether the receipt of social support modifies the association between neighborhood violence exposure and preterm birth in a nationally representative sample of US women, and 3) to determine the extent to which neighborhood violence mediates the association between neighborhood deprivation and preterm birth in a geographic cohort of women in Richmond city, Virginia. Methods: Data were obtained from three sources – 1) Life-course Influences on Fetal Environments (LIFE) study, 2) National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health, and 3) live birth records, police crime reports and census data for Richmond city, Virginia. Multivariable log-binomial regression models were used to examine the modifying effect of perceived residential environment on the association between quality of mother–father relationship and preterm birth, as well as the modifying effect of social support on the association between neighborhood violence exposure and preterm birth. Multilevel structural equation modeling was used to examine the mediational influence of neighborhood violence on the association between neighborhood deprivation and preterm birth. Results: For the association between neighborhood violence exposure and preterm birth, maternal receipt of social support modified the association [(Tertile 1: adjusted prevalence ratio (APR)=1.12; 95% CI=1.11-1.13, p<.0001); (Tertile 2: APR=1.07; 95% CI=1.06-1.08, p<.0001); and (Tertile 3: APR=0.88; 95% CI=0.86-0.89, p<.0001)] in a nationally representative sample of US women. No significant interaction was observed between any domain of the mother–father relationship and perceived maternal residential environment (all p > 0.05) in a sample of African American women. Additionally, no significant association was found between the quality of mother–father relationship and preterm birth (Trust domain: APR=1.03, 95% CI=0.99-1.07; dependability domain: APR=1.01, 95% CI=0.98-1.06; criticism domain: APR=1.03, 95% CI=0.99-1.07). The association between neighborhood deprivation and preterm birth in a geographic cohort of women in Richmond city, Virginia, was not mediated by neighborhood violence (β=0.063, 95% CI= –0.025, 0.151). Conclusions: Rates of preterm birth in women exposed to neighborhood violence may be improved by providing adequate social support during the pregnancy period. Insufficient evidence was found to support the modifying effect of perceived residential environment on the association between the mother-father relationship and preterm birth, as well as the mediational effect of neighborhood violence on the association between neighborhood deprivation and preterm birth. Future studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Submitted by Ana Carla Almeida (ana.almeida@ucsal.br) on 2017-03-21T15:28:52Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Marcia Cristina Sousa Fonseca Dissertacao_V3.pdf: 2468543 bytes, checksum: 0106305f0507b539a4193e32fc414e57 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Rosemary Magalhães (rosemary.magalhaes@ucsal.br) on 2017-03-21T16:02:17Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Marcia Cristina Sousa Fonseca Dissertacao V3.pdf: 2468543 bytes, checksum: 0106305f0507b539a4193e32fc414e57 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-03-21T16:02:17Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Marcia Cristina Sousa Fonseca Dissertacao V3.pdf: 2468543 bytes, checksum: 0106305f0507b539a4193e32fc414e57 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-12-02 / Esta pesquisa objetiva compreender de que forma é vivenciada a relação de humanização mãe/pai/bebê prematuro durante a hospitalização do recém-nascido na Unidade de Terapia Intensiva Neonatal. Buscou-se conhecer a construção de subjetividades, a partir da hospitalização e afastamento abrupto dos bebês. Foi utilizada uma abordagem descritiva, qualitativa, de cunho etnográfico. O material foi coletado por meio de observação no campo em uma instituição materno-infantil e pela realização de entrevistas utilizando-se um roteiro semiestruturado. A escolha das mães, dos pais e profissionais que participaram da pesquisa ocorreu por conveniência e na própria unidade de terapia intensiva. Foram realizadas entrevistas com sete mães, sete pais e sete profissionais que acompanharam e vivenciaram a experiência da separação precoce com seu recém-nascido, assim como o cuidado em sua prática cotidiana com neonatos prematuros, além de uma entrevista coletiva e não diretiva, com quatro mães que se encontravam no “Espaço Mãe”. O fundamento teórico foi o referencial de Winnicott, uma abordagem Psicanalítica de como se dá a construção do vínculo materno. As discussões e resultados permitiram: compreender os desafios encontrados pelas mães, pais e profissionais de saúde no processo de vinculação com o bebê internado; os sentimentos diante da separação precoce; as relações construídas entre as mães, pais e equipe de saúde no contexto hospitalar; questões atinentes à comunicação entre os profissionais com as mães, pais e familiares; estratégias de enfrentamento utilizadas pelas mães na aproximação com seu filho, bem como na travessia do sofrimento vivido. Procurou compreender a relação de humanização e o acolhimento direcionado às mães e aos pais pela equipe de saúde, ofertando estratégias de atenção mais humanizadas. Conclui-se que a intervenção oportuna, incorporada ao cuidado humanizado estabelecido pelo diálogo constante com a equipe de saúde, pode construir redes de apoio direcionadas à reaproximação do bebê com seus principais cuidadores no momento da separação, o que possivelmente resultará na redução da sua permanência na unidade hospitalar e de uma melhor qualidade do vínculo parental. / This research aims to understand how is experienced the relationship of humanization of the mother / father / premature baby during the hospitalization of newborns in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. This study aimed to know the construction of subjectivities since the hospitalization and the abrupt separation of the babies. A descriptive qualitative and ethnographic approach, was used. The material was collected by observation in the field in the Institution and by conducting interviews using a semi-structured script. The choice of mothers, parents and professionals who participated in the survey was for convenience and occurred in the intensive care unit. Interviews were conducted with seven mothers, seven fathers and seven professional who followed and lived the experience of the early separation of the newborn as well as took care of premature infants in their daily practice. The theoretical foundation was Winnicott reference, a Psychoanalytic approach of how is the construction of the maternal bond. The discussions and results allowed to: understand the challenges faced by mothers, parents and health professionals in the binding process with the hospitalized baby; feelings about the early separation; the relationships built between mothers, fathers and health professionals in the hospital setting; issues related to communication between professionals and the mothers, fathers and families; coping strategies used by mothers to approach their child, as well as the suffering experienced. The research looked for understanding the humanizing relationship and the support directed to mothers and fathers by the health team, offering more humanized care strategies. It concluded that early intervention, incorporated into the humanized care established by the constant dialogue with the healthcare team, can build support networks aimed at baby rapprochement with their primary caregivers at the moment of separation, which might result in a reduction of their stay in hospital and a better quality of parental bonding.

DNA damage in spermatozoa is a crucial contributor to spontaneous abortion, severe genetic disease in the offspring and infertility. The chromatin of spermatozoa is highly compacted, transcriptionally and translationally silent, hence lacking DNA damage response (DDR). DDR foci follow within seconds after a DNA double strand break (DSB) and correlate to an abortive topoisomerase-IIb activity during spermiogenesis. When comparing the DSB frequencies at the two most fragile genomic loci (fragile sites FRA3B, FRA16D) in human and murine spermatozoa with lymphocytes, significantly increased DSB levels were detected in spermatozoa in both species. This corroborates that spermatozoa are more prone to DSBs than somatic cells. When comparing the DSB frequencies at FRA3B/FRA16D in spermatozoa of smokers with non-smokers, two-fold increases were found, probably caused by cigarette smoke components triggering abortive topoisomerase-IIβ activity. The phosphorylated DDR proteins H2AX and ATM were identified in human spermatozoa and murine spermatids using multicolour immunostaining with laser-scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM) and Western blots. Based on significantly increased DDR foci in spermatozoa of smoking men, but lacking DDR foci in response to in vitro challenge with H2O2, an abortive topoisomerase-IIb activity is the likely cause of DDR foci in spermatozoa. As DDR foci are susceptible to cigarette smoke, they can potentially be used as a novel biomarker. When comparing paternal spermatozoa, and lymphocytes as well as maternal and cord lymphocytes from 39 families for DSBs (via high-throughput LSCM pH2AX detection) and DNA fragmentation (Comet assay), significant increases were found in newborns of mothers exposed to environmental tobacco smoke and smoking fathers. When challenging lymphocytes and spermatozoa to different genotoxicants, significantly increased DNA damage in newborns compared to adults was found. This confirms an exceptional vulnerability in newborns, believed to cause increased susceptibly to disease in later life, including cancer.

La période périnatale est particulièrement propice pour que les futures et nouvelles mères consommatrices de substances psychoactives et leur partenaire entrent en relation d’aide avec des intervenants médicaux et psychosociaux. Pour ces mères et ces pères, l’arrivée d’un poupon dans leur vie est une source de motivation pour entreprendre une démarche d’aide basée sur la confiance. Pourtant, plusieurs études soulignent différentes contraintes qui rendent difficile l’entrée en relation d’aide de ces parents avec des intervenants. Ce mémoire à donc pour objectif d’explorer, à partir du point de vue de mères consommatrices et de leur partenaire, la façon dont se vivent leurs expériences relationnelles avec des intervenants médicaux et psychosociaux au cours de la période périnatale, tout en identifiant des éléments qui ont influencé leurs rapports. Nous avons fait une analyse secondaire du discours de vingt mères consommatrices et de leur partenaire, recrutés au moment de la naissance dans le cadre d’une recherche de Morissette, Devault et Rondeau (2006-2010). Les résultats obtenus indiquent que les parents semblent généralement satisfaits de leurs relations avec les intervenants médicaux et psychosociaux qu’ils ont rencontrés à cette période, même s’ils rapportent vivre des peurs importantes qui nuisent à la relation d’aide. Nos résultats révèlent également plusieurs éléments qui influencent les relations relevant autant des contextes d’intervention que des intervenants eux-mêmes et de leurs rôles. Nous constatons d’après les résultats qu’en dépit de certains aspects qui nuisent aux relations avec des intervenants, le cumul des éléments qui les favorisent semble susciter une satisfaction des mères consommatrices et de leur partenaire. Dans les situations où plusieurs éléments nuisent à la relation d’aide, il se créer une dynamique de méfiance réciproque entre ces parents et les intervenants. Néanmoins, comme les relations ne sont pas immuables, il est possible de transformer les relations difficiles pour les rendre plus satisfaisantes pour les mères consommatrices, leur partenaire et les intervenants médicaux et psychosociaux. / The perinatal period is especially prone for future and new mothers who use or abuse of psychoactives substances and their partners to enter helping relationships with medical and psychosocial workers. For these mothers and their partner, the birth of a child is a source of motivation to begin a helping process based on trust. However, studies underline multiple obstacles that restrain those parents to enter helping relationships with workers. This research aims to explore, from the substance-using mothers and their partners’ point of view, the ways in which they have experienced their relationships with the medical and psychosocial workers during the perinatal period, while pointing to elements that have influenced those relationships. Twenty substances-using mothers and their partner were recruited at the time of birth and interviewed as part of a research conducted by Morissette, Devault and Rondeau (2006-2010). We have made a secondary analysis of the interviews. The results indicate that, despite their fears to establish helping interactions with workers, parents seem generally satisfied of the relationships they have had with the medical and psychosocial workers met. Our results also point to many elements that have an influence on the helping relationships pertaining to the context in which the interactions took place, to the workers themselves and their roles. We notice from the results that the combination of elements favorably influencing their relationships with the worker conveys a sense of satisfaction to the substance-using mothers and their partners about the helping relationships experienced, despite some aspects that hinder these relationships. A mutual mistrust dynamic is created between the parents and the workers in situations where many elements hinder the helping relations. However, as the relationships are not static, it is possible to transform difficult relations to make them more satisfying for substance-using mothers, their partners and the medical and psychosocial workers.

La période périnatale est particulièrement propice pour que les futures et nouvelles mères consommatrices de substances psychoactives et leur partenaire entrent en relation d’aide avec des intervenants médicaux et psychosociaux. Pour ces mères et ces pères, l’arrivée d’un poupon dans leur vie est une source de motivation pour entreprendre une démarche d’aide basée sur la confiance. Pourtant, plusieurs études soulignent différentes contraintes qui rendent difficile l’entrée en relation d’aide de ces parents avec des intervenants. Ce mémoire à donc pour objectif d’explorer, à partir du point de vue de mères consommatrices et de leur partenaire, la façon dont se vivent leurs expériences relationnelles avec des intervenants médicaux et psychosociaux au cours de la période périnatale, tout en identifiant des éléments qui ont influencé leurs rapports. Nous avons fait une analyse secondaire du discours de vingt mères consommatrices et de leur partenaire, recrutés au moment de la naissance dans le cadre d’une recherche de Morissette, Devault et Rondeau (2006-2010). Les résultats obtenus indiquent que les parents semblent généralement satisfaits de leurs relations avec les intervenants médicaux et psychosociaux qu’ils ont rencontrés à cette période, même s’ils rapportent vivre des peurs importantes qui nuisent à la relation d’aide. Nos résultats révèlent également plusieurs éléments qui influencent les relations relevant autant des contextes d’intervention que des intervenants eux-mêmes et de leurs rôles. Nous constatons d’après les résultats qu’en dépit de certains aspects qui nuisent aux relations avec des intervenants, le cumul des éléments qui les favorisent semble susciter une satisfaction des mères consommatrices et de leur partenaire. Dans les situations où plusieurs éléments nuisent à la relation d’aide, il se créer une dynamique de méfiance réciproque entre ces parents et les intervenants. Néanmoins, comme les relations ne sont pas immuables, il est possible de transformer les relations difficiles pour les rendre plus satisfaisantes pour les mères consommatrices, leur partenaire et les intervenants médicaux et psychosociaux. / The perinatal period is especially prone for future and new mothers who use or abuse of psychoactives substances and their partners to enter helping relationships with medical and psychosocial workers. For these mothers and their partner, the birth of a child is a source of motivation to begin a helping process based on trust. However, studies underline multiple obstacles that restrain those parents to enter helping relationships with workers. This research aims to explore, from the substance-using mothers and their partners’ point of view, the ways in which they have experienced their relationships with the medical and psychosocial workers during the perinatal period, while pointing to elements that have influenced those relationships. Twenty substances-using mothers and their partner were recruited at the time of birth and interviewed as part of a research conducted by Morissette, Devault and Rondeau (2006-2010). We have made a secondary analysis of the interviews. The results indicate that, despite their fears to establish helping interactions with workers, parents seem generally satisfied of the relationships they have had with the medical and psychosocial workers met. Our results also point to many elements that have an influence on the helping relationships pertaining to the context in which the interactions took place, to the workers themselves and their roles. We notice from the results that the combination of elements favorably influencing their relationships with the worker conveys a sense of satisfaction to the substance-using mothers and their partners about the helping relationships experienced, despite some aspects that hinder these relationships. A mutual mistrust dynamic is created between the parents and the workers in situations where many elements hinder the helping relations. However, as the relationships are not static, it is possible to transform difficult relations to make them more satisfying for substance-using mothers, their partners and the medical and psychosocial workers.

DNA damage in spermatozoa is a crucial contributor to spontaneous abortion, severe genetic disease in the offspring and infertility. The chromatin of spermatozoa is highly compacted, transcriptionally and translationally silent, hence lacking DNA damage response (DDR). DDR foci follow within seconds after a DNA double strand break (DSB) and correlate to an abortive topoisomerase-IIb activity during spermiogenesis. When comparing the DSB frequencies at the two most fragile genomic loci (fragile sites FRA3B, FRA16D) in human and murine spermatozoa with lymphocytes, significantly increased DSB levels were detected in spermatozoa in both species. This corroborates that spermatozoa are more prone to DSBs than somatic cells. When comparing the DSB frequencies at FRA3B/FRA16D in spermatozoa of smokers with non-smokers, two-fold increases were found, probably caused by cigarette smoke components triggering abortive topoisomerase-II¿ activity. The phosphorylated DDR proteins H2AX and ATM were identified in human spermatozoa and murine spermatids using multicolour immunostaining with laser-scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM) and Western blots. Based on significantly increased DDR foci in spermatozoa of smoking men, but lacking DDR foci in response to in vitro challenge with H2O2, an abortive topoisomerase-IIb activity is the likely cause of DDR foci in spermatozoa. As DDR foci are susceptible to cigarette smoke, they can potentially be used as a novel biomarker. When comparing paternal spermatozoa, and lymphocytes as well as maternal and cord lymphocytes from 39 families for DSBs (via high-throughput LSCM pH2AX detection) and DNA fragmentation (Comet assay), significant increases were found in newborns of mothers exposed to environmental tobacco smoke and smoking fathers. When challenging lymphocytes and spermatozoa to different genotoxicants, significantly increased DNA damage in newborns compared to adults was found. This confirms an exceptional vulnerability in newborns, believed to cause increased susceptibly to disease in later life, including cancer. / European Union¿s 6th Framework project Newborns and genotoxic exposure risk (NewGeneris), British Council¿s United Kingdom Indian Education Research Initiative (UKIER)

In der Familiensoziologie wird davon ausgegangen, dass sich Vaterschaft dann konstituiert, wenn Männer dauerhaft und generationsübergreifend Sorgearbeit für Kinder leisten. Begrifflich kann unterschieden werden zwischen den Einstellungen zur Institution Vaterschaft (fatherhood) und der sozialen Praxis von Vätern im Familienalltag (fathering). Beide Dimensionen von Vaterschaft unterliegen einem gesellschaftlichen Wandel, der sich im Kontext von Veränderungen der Geschlechterverhältnisse vollzieht.