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A Community-Engaged, Team-Based Approach to HIV Care and Research in the Mostly Rural Deep South
Get PDFNumerous disparities exist in rates of HIV infection, the number of people living with HIV and/or AIDS, AIDS-related deaths, and HIV outcomes throughout the United States and in Alabama. People living with HIV are more likely than individuals in the general population to experience depression and anxiety and to have histories of substance abuse, yet they are less likely to access treatment, especially in the rural South (Burnam et al., 2001). This paper describes a mixed-methods study that used a community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach to develop and evaluate a multilevel program involving group counseling, telemedicine, and peer support to improve mental health, substance abuse, and HIV-related outcomes, including HIV treatment adherence and retention, among people living with HIV in Alabama
Green Transformation Must Involve Everyone
Get PDFReview of:
I. Scoones, M. Leach, and P. Newell (Eds.), The Politics of Green Transformations, Routledge, 2015, 220 pages. ISBN: 978113879290
1J: Effect of Brominated Indole-3-carboxaldehydes on the Communication and Biofilm Formation in Bacteria
No full textQuorum sensing (QS) is a type of intercellular communication used by many bacterial species wherein bacteria produce and secrete signaling molecules to affect changes in bacterial populations. As the population of bacteria grows, the concentration of signaling molecules secreted also increases in the environment. Once the signaling molecules reach a threshold concentration, the molecules saturate their respective receptors on, or in, the bacteria altering gene expression.
Indole is an organic compound that serves to mediate communication among many bacteria and it has been shown to affect a wide variety of bacterial behaviors including biofilm formation, antibiotic resistance, and the production of virulence factors. Therefore, targeting indole signaling may be a way to mediate pathogenicity among bacteria without the use of traditional antibiotics. In this study, we used a model bacterium Chromobacterium violaceum to investigate a subset of indole derivatives, and we identify three new quorum sensing inhibitors: 5, 6, and 7-bromoindole-3-carboxaldehydes. We further show that bromination of indole-3-carboxaldehyde significantly increased the potency of quorum sensing inhibition. In addition, we evaluated the impact of those molecules on biofilm formation in the pathogenic species Pseudomonas aeruginosa
2K: The Evolution of The Yellow Wallpaper from horror story to feminist classic
No full text“The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Gilman is a cautionary tale about the dangers of the rest cure, a method used by doctors in the late 1800s to cure depression. She wrote the story as a way to showcase her mistreatment and to make sure this method wouldn’t be used to abuse other women. However, some of the readers felt that the story was too scary, and it was categorized as a horror story. As Mara van Beurden states, “the subject (and its development) was too ominous” as well as calling it “a scary tale and of the insidious kind which produces its effect slowly” (Dock 105-106, 109)”. Closer to the 21st century the view of ‘The Yellow Wallpaper’ began to shift. People focused less on the so-called frightening aspects and more on what the main character’s struggles represent under a feminist lens which goes more with what Gilman’s initial goal was when writing this story. Seeing ‘The Yellow Wallpaper’ evolve from a somewhat obscure horror story to a very prominent feminist text can reveal how when women write their everyday struggles in a fictional sense it is misconstrued as horror because of how dark it can really be
1G: Effective Virtual Music Lessons
No full textWith the sudden arrival of Covid-19 in March, 2020, piano teachers shifted quickly to virtual instruction while retaining as much learning, quality, and professionalism as possible. Now, many teachers either include, or have completely transitioned to, virtual instruction as an effective teaching setting.
Without the benefit of textbooks, college courses, etc. on this subject due to its recent and sudden nature, I have been pleased to find a wealth of information through online product information and reviews; articles, websites, podcasts, and YouTube posts for music educators; and Zoom interviews with experienced piano teachers. Thus far in my research, several concepts useful for increasing the effectiveness of virtual music lessons have repeatedly surfaced. Because communication and connection remain key music education elements regardless of setting, technology should enhance the learning process, and never get in the way of it. Therefore, starting with simple technology is a wise first step (laptop/iPhone/iPad and online video communication platform); then, adding additional pertinent technology can further enhance virtual instruction, including virtual keyboards, audio mixers for better sound, and webcam for overhead view of the keys
For measurement of the effectiveness of the research, I will self-assess once research is finished using the assessment tool developed by the Music Teachers National Association, under supervision of Dr. Joanna Kim, piano professor. In my experience thus far, my thirty-two piano students have strengthened skills in musicianship, ownership, goal-setting, and engagement. My ultimate goal is to continuously adapt instruction to inevitable world change
29. Participatory Ideology of the Workers\u27 Party of Brazil from a Regional Comparative Perspective
No full textOne of the most traditional left-wing parties of Latin America is the Workers’ Party (Partido dos Trabalhadores in Portuguese -- henceforth referred to as PT). The PT was born as a result of several trends in Brazil in the late twentieth century. Industrialization led to the formation of unions and workers from these unions wished to advance their interests through the formation of an organized party. Consequently, the PT was formed in 1980 with the main goal of unifying workers. The party changed some of its structural and programmatic characteristics since its inception, as analyzed by Hunter (2007). However, few scholars have analyzed the regional differences between the PT’s governments. Thus, the present research project will focus on analyzing the variations between the PT in different Brazilian municipalities. Instead of addressing the party ideology as a whole, the paper will focus on the party’s regional variations when it comes to its defense of participatory initiatives. For instance, in the 1990s the PT implemented several participatory budgeting institutions across different municipalities. Among other factors, the party’s ideological differences in the different locations determined the effectiveness of the institution’s implementation and endurance. In order to identify and analyze the core participatory principles of the party when compared to the regional variations, primary sources will be presented and discussed.
Keywords: Partido dos Trabalhadores, ideology, participatory budgeting, municipalities, differences
16. Development of an ethogram for Trichoplusia ni
No full textThe use of model organisms is important in understanding biological processes as they are easy to take care of in a lab environment, they have a short generation time, and help explore basic biological principles. Insects are useful model organisms for studying behavior because gaining knowledge on simple neurological systems can help explain more complex neurological systems. Trichoplusia ni is an insect for which much is known about the life cycle, husbandry, and ability to survive in captivity, which makes them an excellent candidate as a model organism for studying behavioral changes in a controlled environment. To our knowledge, there is no existing ethogram for T.ni, and our plan is to develop this detailed behavioral analysis to compare to further research endeavors where unique perturbations are introduced. In a controlled, replicable environment, two sets of behavioral paradigms will be characterized. The first set of paradigms will involve the study of single organisms whilst the second set of paradigms will involve the study of two organisms to test competition behaviors. Video recordings will be taken, studied, and behaviors quantified by multiple coders to formulate a complete ethogram of behaviors with a high inter-rater reliability. Our hypothesis is that T.ni will exhibit different behaviors with two individuals, relative to one individual, due to the competition for food and space. Our research is currently underway, and we are in the process of troubleshooting tracking software, ToxTrac. Our long-term goal is to use the results of this research to compare the behavior of parasitized and non-parasitized T.ni. We are motivated to study this as parasitism is known to cause behavioral changes in other species and we would like to elucidate this in T.ni
An Engaged Community-Academic Partnership to Promote Positive Youth Development
Get PDFIn this paper, we discuss how we cultivated a sustainable community-academic partnership and describe how our community-based participatory research project, Bembé Drum and Dance, contributed to youth development. Bembé Drum and Dance is an Afro-Latino performing arts program based on the positive youth development theory. Thirteen children ages 9–13 participated in the ensemble. We used a multimethod descriptive design. Data were gathered using surveys, participant observation, and interviews. Increases in the Five Cs (competence, confidence, connection, character, and caring) were noted among youth, most notably in competence and confidence. Recognizing that the project belonged to the community and supporting this sense of ownership were imperative to the project’s success. Forging and sustaining a community-academic partnership was a challenging and rewarding way to directly exchange knowledge and expertise among youth, adult community members, and academic partners and to contribute to the flourishing of young people
U.S. Immigration and Human Trafficking Overlap
Get PDFThis paper examines the overlap between the fields of human trafficking and immigration within the United States. It demonstrates how the victim protection aspect of the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000 is obstructed by loopholes in temporary work visa programs, state-level variation of immigration laws, and broader anti-immigration objectives. Securing U.S. borders is a vital aspect of national security, but when protecting the state converges with transnational human rights dilemmas, a re-examination of current immigration policies and practices is necessary for addressing the unintended consequences faced by victims of trafficking. Anti-trafficking efforts in the U.S. are currently fettered by ineffective oversight and stringent immigration policies that prioritize illegal immigrants over victims of trafficking. Rather than investing more resources into border security, agencies might focus on financing social programs that minimize the push factors that put disadvantaged individuals at greater risk of being trafficked
Glorious to Gruesome: Callot, Goya, and Picasso, and the Art of War
Get PDFThis paper compares the works of Jacques Callot, Francesco Goya, and Pablo Picasso in their representations of war as gruesome. Each of these artists lived through war and captured the instances in time that stood out to them, and used art to portray the horrors of those moments to the world. While many artists throughout history have demonstrated war as heroic, mighty generals as stoic, or battles as exciting, these three artists represent the darker sides of war through depiction with their use style, color, and imagery. Demonization was used by these artists to brutalize the enemy, condemning them forever through oils, etches, and Cubism. Finally, their use of drama was used to pull in their audience and invite them into a world of tragedy and terror, whether they are willing to or not