Catholic Charities

Parental burnout is a chronic exhaustion resulting from stress parenting. Single mothers from rural low-income background, bearing dual roles and limited resources, are highly vulnerable to this condition with more complex manifestations. This study aims to explore in depth experiences, dynamic and impacts of parental burnout among single mothers working as laborer in KA Village. This qualitative study with phenomenological approach involved three single mother laborer participants selected via purposive sampling. Data were collected through in depth interviews and observation, the analyzed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). The findings revealed that all three participants experienced parental burnout, fulfilling all four dimensions: exhaustion (extreme fatigue with physical impact), emotional distancing (emotional detachment from children), ineffectiveness in the parental role (feeling of failure as a parent), and feelings of being fed up. The emerging impacts were more severe than the general portrayal of parental burnout, including tendencies toward neglect, verbal and physical violence against children, as well as suicidal ideation and the desire to escape. This study expands the understanding of parental burnout by demonstrating more severe manifestations and a higher degree of intensity among rural low-income single mothers with extremely limited personal and social resources. These findings indicate the urgency of contextual psychosocial interventions for this vulnerable group.

Hispanic and Latino/a/e individuals are more likely to have lower levels of health literacy compared to other ethnic and racial groups. Additionally, 32% of this population also has limited English proficiency. There is a need to develop culturally valid instruments in Spanish to assess health literacy in this population. The Health Literacy Skills Instrument Short Form (HLSI-SF) was developed and validated in English by RTI International, but not in Spanish. Our aim was to culturally adapt the HLSI-SF to be used for Hispanic and Latino/a/e individuals living in the United States. We followed the Patient-Reported Outcome Consortium guidelines for cross-cultural adaptation of measures for content and linguistic validity. This included two forward-translations, reconciliation, two back-translations, revision and harmonization, cognitive interviews (total of six), revision, external expert review, and final version. We involved an expert panel of health professionals and community representatives throughout the process. The panel (n = 4) all self-identified as Hispanic or Latino/a/e and were fluent in English and Spanish. To evaluate the adapted HLSI-SF measure, we conducted cognitive interviews through six online focus groups involving 22 Hispanic and Latino/a/e community members, followed by a psychometric assessment using a sample of 726 Hispanic and Latino/a/e individuals with Spanish as their primary language. Focus group-based cognitive interviews revealed that while most items on the adapted HLSI-SF measure performed well, some participants had difficulties with a few items, which may suggest limited health knowledge. Psychometric analyses revealed that all but the Nutrition Label and Calories items performed well. Further validation of the HLSI-SF is needed to produce a valid and reliable instrument to measure health literacy in Hispanic and Latino/a/e populations in the U.S. [HLRP: Health Literacy Research and Practice. 2025;9(3):e83–e92.]

Abstract BackgroundLymphedema is a chronic condition characterized by fluid accumulation and tissue swelling, often complicated by recurrent acute attacks. Nodules, a common feature of chronic lymphedema, may contribute to the frequency and severity of these episodes. However, nodules as a risk factor for acute attacks remains poorly understood. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of nodules, the frequency of acute attacks, and nodule as risk factor for acute attacks among individuals with lymphedema in Addis Ababa city Administration, Ethiopia.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted among individuals with lymphedema in Addis Ababa city Administration. Data were collected using structured interviews and clinical examinations. The prevalence of nodules and acute attacks was determined, and logistic regression was used to assess their association.ResultsAmong the participants, 57.5% reported the presence of nodules affecting multiple areas of the lower limbs. Additionally, 41.2% experienced acute attacks, with an average of 5.89 episodes in the past six months. Logistic regression analysis revealed that individuals with nodules were 3.2 times more likely to experience acute attacks compared to those without nodules (p = 0.001). Other demographic and clinical factors, including sex and lymphedema severity, also showed trends associated with acute attack occurrence. Stigma was a significant concern, with 42.6% of participants reporting stigma from their communities (60.9%) and families (36.8%). Additionally, 34.8% of participants faced workplace challenges due to their condition.ConclusionsThe occurrence of nodules was associated with an increased risk of acute attacks. Both nodules and acute attacks were commonly observed. Many patients faced stigma from close family members and the surrounding community.Author SummaryLymphedema is a long-term condition that leads to swelling in the limbs due to fluid accumulation and impaired lymphatic function. People with lymphedema often experience recurrent acute attacks, which cause pain, inflammation, and disability. This study investigated the relationship between nodules—hardened tissue formations commonly found in chronic lymphedema—and the occurrence of acute attacks among individuals with lymphedema in Addis Ababa City Administration, Ethiopia.Our findings revealed that more than half of the participants had nodules, and over 40% experienced acute attacks, with an average of nearly six episodes in the past six months. We found that individuals with nodules were significantly more likely to suffer from acute attacks, suggesting that nodules may serve as reservoirs for bacteria or contribute to lymphatic obstruction. Additionally, many participants reported experiencing stigma from their communities and families, as well as difficulties in the workplace due to their condition.These findings highlight the need for early detection and management of nodules to prevent acute attacks, improve patient quality of life, and reduce the psychosocial and economic burden of lymphedema. Public health interventions should focus on improving self-care practices, providing accessible treatment options, and addressing stigma through education and community awareness programs. Future research should explore long-term strategies for preventing and managing nodules to reduce complications associated with lymphedema.

Estudiamos la diversidad, abundancia y composición de una comunidad de arañas en Rancho Las Playitas, Arizpe y Bacoachi, Sonora México. Además, se compiló una lista de arañas de las Islas Serranas (Archipiélago Madrense) de Sonora con base en colectas recientes. Las arañas se colectaron mediante tres métodos: búsqueda visual, golpeo en la vegetación y trampas de caída. Además, proporcionamos nuevos datos de distribución de 29 especies de arañas, de las cuales cuatro especies se registran por primera vez para México y 25 para el estado de Sonora. Adicionalmente, describimos e ilustramos la vulva de Calilena arizonica Chamberlin & Ivie, 1941 y proveemos imágenes de 28 especies adicionales. Nuestros resultados son una contribución al conocimiento de la diversidad de arañas en esta región y demuestra que los patrones de riqueza y composición en Las Playitas presentan una baja similitud en comparación con otras comunidades de las zonas áridas.

Individuals facing verbal communication impairments resulting from brain disorders like paralysis or autism encounter significant challenges when unable to articulate speech. This research proposes the design and development of a wearable system capable of decoding imagined speech using electroencephalogram (EEG) signals obtained during the mental process of speech generation. The system’s main objective is to offer an alternative communication method for individuals who can hear and think but face challenges in articulating their thoughts verbally. The design suggested includes user-friendliness, wearability, and comfort for seamless integration into daily life. A minimal number of electrodes are strategically placed on the scalp to minimize invasiveness. Achieving precise localization of the cortical areas responsible for generating the EEG patterns during imagined speech is vital for accurate decoding. Literature studies are utilized to determine the cortical positions associated with speech processing. Due to the inherent limitations in EEG spatial resolution, meticulous experiments are conducted to map the scalp positions onto their corresponding cortical counterparts. Specifically, we focus on identifying the scalp location over the superior temporal gyrus (T3) using the internationally recognized 10-20 electrode placement system by employing a circular periphery movement with a 2 cm distance increment. Our research involves nine subjects spanning various age groups, with the youngest being 23 and the oldest 65. Each participant undergoes ten iterations, during which they imagine six Marathi syllables. Our work contributes to the development of wearable assistive technology, enabling mute individuals to communicate effectively by translating their imagined speech into actionable commands. This innovation ultimately enhances their social participation and overall well-being.

Celem artykułu jest przedstawienie fenomenu ponad dwuleniej działalności Kongresu Katoliczek i Katolików uwzględniające przyczyny jego powstania, sposób działania, cele i sposoby ich realizacji. Szczególna uwaga poświęcona zostanie wypracowanym przez Kongres dziesięciu postulatom, które w ramach procesu synodalnego przekazane zostały władzom polskiego Kościoła. Dowodzona będzie w nim teza, że w odpowiedzi na apel papieża Franciszka o budowanie Kościoła synodalnego, rozproszone dotychczas środowiska polskich katoliczek i katolików przekonanych o potrzebie zmian w Kościele, stworzyły wirtualną platformę debaty oraz podjęły działania, które ich zdaniem są drogą do budowania Kościoła synodalnego w Polsce.

The Blattodea species 𝑁𝑦𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑏𝑜𝑟𝑎 𝑡𝑒𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑡𝑎 Hebard, 1922 was previously known only from Sinaloa, Mexico at low elevations. It is here documented considerably further north in Sonora, Mexico, at much higher elevations and in a variety habitats.