259890 research outputs found
Sort by
Transformative education: Paulo Freire’s pedagogy of the oppressed and its contemporary resonance
No full textThis study explores the importance of Freire’s critique of the ‘banking model’ of education and its implications for contemporary challenges such as digitalization, cultural inclusivity, and sustainability. By addressing systemic barriers, Freire’s concepts offer valuable strategies for fostering critical consciousness, cooperative learning, and equitable opportunities. Culturally responsive teaching and sustainability education align with Freirean principles, providing tools to address global issues like inequality and climate change. These approaches recognize students’ real-world experiences, encourage critical thinking, and inspire collective action. The findings demonstrate Freire’s educational strategy as a valuable tool for educators and policymakers. By embracing his principles of dialogue, empowerment, and social justice, education can maintain its vital role in promoting equity, agency, and advancement within society
Arts & Literature: A Personal Reckoning: Taking Responsibility as a Perpetrator
No full textThis autobiographical essay identifies three forces that shaped the author’s participation in the scholarly and political struggle against genocide and other mass violence and oppression. These include his status as the grandson of Armenian Genocide survivors, the fact that his father was killed in action in the US War of Aggression against Vietnam, and the bullying he experienced as a child and adolescent. It then pushes back against any sense of victimhood that has resulted from the combination of these forces, to recognize the author’s implication in perpetration of the US War of Aggression against Vietnam, which the author has determined included genocidal elements. It notes the silence in the United States on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the final withdrawal of the United States from Vietnam on April 30, 1975—specifically, the lack of acknowledgment of perpetration and failure to take the ethically-obligated substantive reparative steps that are its ethical obligation. It concludes with a call to consistency, whereby the author’s commitment to advocacy regarding the Armenian Genocide should be matched by action to address the impact of the mass violence against the Vietnamese people, including genocide, that he is complicit in as part of the perpetrator group
Where are the Criminologists?: The Persistent Absence of the Field in Genocide Research
No full textThe rallying cry of “Never Again” was heard worldwide after the Nazis’ annihilation of Jews and other victims were discovered after WWII. The global community promised that the crime of genocide would be prevented and signatory parties of the United Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Genocide (December 9, 1948) would do everything in their power to prevent another Holocaust from occurring. Unfortunately the “crime of all crimes” remains an almost permanent fixture in international news while signatory parties remain reluctant to call the ongoing conditions genocide. The field of genocide studies is built upon an interdisciplinary field of scholars but notably absent from the vast majority of that scholarship are criminologists, who are uniquely trained to reduce and prevent crimes of all types. This study aims to explore seven peer-reviewed genocide journals to determine the extent to which criminology and/or criminologists are present. Our findings demonstrate a continued lack of theoretical contributions and applications from the field of criminology/criminal justice to the study of genocide
Corridor-Wide Surveillance Using Unmanned Aircraft Systems Phase III: Exploration of the Implementation of Using Unmanned Aircraft Systems for Freeway Incident Detection and Management: Part B
No full textIn the third phase of the project, the research team continued utilizing drone systems equipped with thermal cameras to enable real-time detection of traffic incidents and their resulting non-recurrent congestion on freeways, while distinguishing them from recurrent congestion. A comprehensive literature review on existing traffic incident detection methods was conducted. Building on insights from the literature and prior accomplishments, the team designed and implemented a drone-based incident detection framework. This framework first extracts vehicle trajectories at fixed intervals from thermal video data and generates corresponding trajectory images. A customized convolutional neural network (CNN) based deep learning model is then developed and trained to extract traffic features from these images and classify them into three categories: incident, recurrent congestion, and normal traffic. Real-time detection was achieved through continuous processing of incoming thermal video segments. Finally, the research team developed a drone-based, AI-powered, real-time freeway incident detection system, featuring a user-friendly web-based graphical user interface (GUI) for initiating and terminating detection process, visualizing results, and reviewing historical records. The system was tested in six detection flights across three different test sites in Florida. During an incident scenario, test results demonstrated that the system was able to accurately and promptly detect the incident approximately 12 minutes earlier than the local Transportation Management Center (TMC). The thermal video containing the incident scene was displayed on the GUI to support immediate verification and severity assessment by the TMC, thereby facilitating rapid emergency response and potentially saving lives. Additionally, the system extracted and displayed the length of the incident-induced non-recurrent congestion during each flight and its propagation speed across multiple flights, providing valuable information for the TMC to implement effective incident management strategies and mitigate the overall impact
Final Genealogical Report, USF Living Heritage Institute, Evergreen Cemetery, May 30, 2025
No full textReviewed and edited by Antoinette Jackson, PhD
SOFs and PMSCs: Factors of Stability and Change
No full textThe legitimacy of special operations forces (SOFs) and private military and security companies (PMSCs) often resides in a legal gray area, especially for those operating under the patronage of states that deviate from neoliberal standards and are sometimes labeled as criminal groups or terrorist organizations. This study aimed to develop a framework for categorizing the organizational and operational models of such SOFs and PMSCs. The three primary categories used were: mercantilistic, ideological, and ideological-mercantilistic. A comparative analysis of Iran’s Quds Force, Russia’s Wagner Group, and FR Yugoslavia’s JSO was conducted to better understand the impact of these and similar actors on contemporary socio-political changes
The Great Displacement: Climate Change and the Next American Migration. By Jake Bittle. New York, N.Y.: Simon & Schuster, 2023.
No full textTerror for Profit: A New Paradigm for Understanding Terrorism and Organised Crime. By Martin Gallagher. Boulder, CO: KeyPoint Press, 2024.
No full textPerioperative Infection Control and Antibiotic Prophylaxis for Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt Insertion
No full textInfection associated with ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt insertion is a problem faced by many hydrocephalus patients, often caused by gram-positive bacteria. Research has identified infection rates in neonatal and pediatric patients, and frequent procedural errors that raise the risk of infection; but the effectiveness of specific antibiotic treatments and protocols requires further exploration. This study evaluates antibiotic prophylaxis and perioperative infection control to determine the most effective preventative measures in reducing the infection rate in VP shunt insertion procedures by analyzing existing literature and comparing infection outcomes in patients. A literature review was conducted to examine the success of perioperative procedures implemented for VP shunt insertion among neonatal and pediatric patients. A total of 80 articles from PubMed were screened and 35 were selected for detailed analysis based on relevance, success rate, patient outcome, and infection incidence rates. Findings suggest that infections remain the primary complication of VP shunt insertion, but standardized protocols, antibiotics, and perioperative procedures can significantly reduce infection rates. Cephalosporin prophylaxis has been particularly effective, with a lower infection rate (3.8%) compared to cloxacillin (12.7% infection rate), due to its broad-spectrum activity against gram-positive bacteria. Patients undergoing revision surgeries experience a higher infection rate (4.8%) due to increased exposure, allowing bacteria to colonize open shunts. Cephalosporin targets Staphylococcus aureus, while cloxacillin targets Staphylococcus epidermidis, providing antimicrobial activity against these pathogens responsible for shunt-related infections. Implementing effective antibiotic treatments and protocols in insertion surgeries is crucial in reducing complications and improving long-term patient outcomes
Stem Cell and Regenerative Therapies for Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia: Restoring Ciliary Function with iPSCDerived Airway Cells
No full textPrimary Ciliary Dyskinesia (PCD) is a genetic disorder that impairs ciliary function, leading to respiratory and fertility issues. While genetic mutations and stem cell-derived airway cells have been explored, effective regenerative therapies are still lacking. This study examines the potential of iPSCs in restoring ciliary function and advancing PCD treatments. Furthermore, it aims to evaluate the effectiveness of iPSC-derived airway cells in replicating functional cilia for potential regenerative therapies in PCD. Additionally, it seeks to identify genetic targets that may enhance treatment strategies. This study reviews existing literature to examine the role of stem cell-derived airway cells on restoring ciliary function in patients with PCD. Research from PubMed and Google Scholar was analyzed to conduct our literature review. Keywords such as “primary ciliary dyskinesia”, “stem cell”, and “regenerative therapy” utilizing Boolean operators. iPSCs derived from PCD patient cells were differentiated into airway epithelial cells. Functional assays revealed ciliary defects, such as reduced beat frequency and impaired mucociliary clearance. Gene-editing strategies partially restored ciliary function, and genetic profiling identified targets for potential therapies. This study highlights the potential of iPSC-derived airway cells in restoring ciliary function and advancing regenerative therapies for PCD. The findings support prior research on stem cell applications in respiratory diseases, validating iPSCs as a therapeutic option. Harnessing iPSC-derived airway cells marks significant progress in regenerative treatments for Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia. However, further research is needed to enhance ciliary function, address genetic diversity, and refine differentiation techniques for clinical use