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Conversion Therapy: Recognizing and Recentering the White Christian Nationalist Settler Origins
No full textKirmser Undergraduate Research Award - Individual Non-Freshman category, honorable mentionRachel LevittThis is my final research project for GWSS 405: Social Movements and Resistance. For this project, I decided that I wanted to research LGBTQ conversion therapy and the origins of the practice. With this research, I began to see and then examine the connection between modern day conversion therapy practices and Indigenous residential schools that were run in North America. In the paper I argue that conversion therapy is based in white colonial violence that upholds capitalism, white supremacy and settler colonial violence. However, despite the history of settler violence that is entwined with conversion therapy, most anti-conversion therapy activism centers white gay young men. So, instead of centering the normative white subject, I call for an alternate framework to be utilized in discussions surrounding conversion therapy-- an anti-colonial, anti-racist intersectional understanding of the settler colonial foundation. With this framework, I aim to work toward coalitions that work together against cis-hetero settler violence that continues to impact conversion therapy
LINKING LOGAN: Reconnecting the Logan Triangle
Full text linkThe purpose of this project is to reinvigorate the Logan Neighborhood through the revitalization and reengagement of the Logan Triangle. Through traditional row housing, multi-family apartment complexes, investments in local businesses with prime retail space; combined with a multi-faceted community center, exceptional amphitheater space, and extensive greenspace, we look to turn Logan Triangle from a blighted oversight into a point of pride for the Logan Neighborhood
Revisiting the role of swine on the risk of Japanese Encephalitis Virus (JEV) transmission in the United States: a rapid systematic review of the literature
Full text linkJapanese Encephalitis (JE) is an emerging, zoonotic disease caused by the Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV), which is transmitted primarily by Culex species mosquitoes (particularly Culex tritaeniorhynchus). The JEV maintains its life cycle between mosquitoes and vertebrate hosts, primarily pigs and wading birds (Le Flohic et al., 2013). In humans, JEV infection causes inflammation of the brain (encephalitis) as well as fever, headache, respiratory distress, gastrointestinal pain, confusion, seizures, and, in some cases, death (Fischer et al., 2012; Hills et al., 2014). The global incidence of JE is uncertain. Effectiveness and quality of JE surveillance in endemic countries vary (Jayatilleke et al. 2020), as does availability of diagnostic testing throughout the world. Between 50,000 and 100,000 JE cases per year are estimated to occur in endemic countries (WHO, 2006; Campbell et al., 2011, Quan et al., 2020). Among all clinical cases, children under the age of 10 comprise the majority affected (WHO, 2006). Whereas less than 1% of the cases are accompanied by symptoms, 30% of the symptomatic cases are fatal (Campbell et al., 2011). Being untreatable and incurable, once introduced in a community, JE can lead to devastating economic and health impacts.
The United States (US) is considered a susceptible region with great potential for JEV introduction. The availability of competent vectors, susceptible maintenance hosts (avian), intensive travel and trade activities to and from JEV-affected countries, areas with similar climatic and environmental conditions to countries where the virus is epidemic, and large populations of susceptible, amplifying hosts (domestic and feral pigs), makes the US suitable for JEV emergence. In fact, the US is the world’s third-largest producer and consumer of pork and pork products (ERS, USDA 2022). The importance of the swine industry to the US economy and the sizeable naïve pig populations, magnify the severity of a potential viral incursion. As pigs are considered the main amplifying host of JEV, an extensive review of the literature and identification of knowledge gaps will assist researchers, stakeholders, and policy makers with effort prioritization, development of precautionary intervention measures, and evaluation of disease control measures. Although current conditions have not been favorable for JEV to establish in the US, increases in international trade and globalization, as well as changes in climate and land use, and reductions in pesticide use, can contribute to its rapid and wide geographical spread (Oliveira et al., 2018). A good understanding of the role of swine as an amplifying host for this virus is critical to public health authorities when planning prevention and preparedness measures
Impacts of plant tafazzin deficiency on differential gene expression
No full textTafazzin is a mitochondrial protein characterized in mammals and yeast. Tafazzin remodels the fatty acids of cardiolipin, aiding in the proper function of the electron transport chain. Although the function of tafazzin is known, the mechanisms and pathways that lead to apoptosis under tafazzin deficiency are unknown. Here we use a homolog of tafazzin in the model plant organism Arabidopsis thaliana to test our null hypothesis that gene expression is not dependent on the presence of functional tafazzin. RNA-seq was performed on leaf samples of wild type plants and mutant plants with mutations of varying severity in the gene encoding tafazzin. The sequencing output was analyzed with a selection of bioinformatics tools that includes HISAT2 (aligner), StringTie (assembler), and DESeq2 (differential gene expression identifier). The results indicate genes that are upregulated or downregulated in response to functional tafazzin’s absence. One outcome of analysis reveals that the genes that demonstrate the most statistically significant differential expression are nearly all downregulated in the mutants with respect to wild type, and many of them are localized to the mitochondria. Of these, the gene at locus AT3G54730 presents one possible direction of further study as it codes a transcription repressor protein. The downregulation of a transcription repressor may be a contributing factor to the phenotype observed under the condition of tafazzin deficiency, as transcripts relating to apoptosis would be repressed under healthy, unmutated cell conditions. One goal of this analysis is to develop a framework for the metabolic engineering of plants to display stronger resilience against environmental stress
F.I.T. Closet Translation Tool and Written Reflection
Full text linkMy Honors Project focused on creating a translation tool for the volunteers at the F.I.T. Closet in Manhattan to utilize when helping Spanish-speaking shoppers. Using my semester's experience volunteering as a Spanish interpreter at the F.I.T. Closet (during Fall 2022), collaborating with the coordinator, the English-speaking volunteers, and Spanish-speaking shoppers at the F.I.T. Closet, and researching and comparing similar materials, I created translations of Spanish words and phrases that would facilitate communication for these different linguistic groups. In a written response, I give background information about the project, detail what I learned while volunteering at the F.I.T. Closet, reflect on how my experience at the F.I.T. Closet shaped my decisions in the production of the translation tool, explain how my research on other materials influenced the design of the tool, consider some of the difficulties during the process, and share what I have discovered during the community-based learning experience
Environmental & architectural phenomenology. Vol. 34, issue 2
No full textThe issue includes four essays:
Zoologist Stephen Wood examines jizz—the singular presence of a living being instantly recognizable without the involvement of conscious attention; Wood’s focus is the jizz of birds.
Geographer Edward Relph considers aspects of a phenomenology of climate change by examining how the phenomenon is understood and experienced via both everyday and extreme environmental situations and events.
Philosopher Robert Josef Kozljanič overviews the study of genius loci (sense of place), giving particular attention to recent phenomenological research on the topic, including the “New Phenomenology” of philosopher Hermann Schmitz.
Artist and place researcher Victoria King recounts her Australian experiences with indigenous women of the Outback and their work in sand painting.
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Pedagogical Considerations between Teaching Fitness and in Higher Education
No full textThe purpose of this essay is to explore synergy between the pedagogy of teaching group fitness classes and that of teaching in higher education (i.e., undergraduate and graduate courses). The authors are both faculty and group fitness instructors. Through a brief review of literature, personal experiences as group fitness instructors, and perspectives of other faculty who teach fitness, the essay sought to explore pedagogical considerations between teaching fitness and teaching in higher education. Instructional differences, similarities, and overlaps were considered. In addition, teaching training and pandemic pivoting were also explored. The authors concluded with a call for more scholarly discourse on teaching in group fitness and higher education
Indigenous Film: The Effect of Production Design
No full textKirmser Undergraduate Research Award - Individual Non-Freshman category, grand prizeLisa Tatonetti“Indigenous Film: The Effect of Production Design” takes a closer look at the role of production design in Indigenous media. The multimedia project focuses on the impact of filming location and production design decisions in Indigenous media such as the series Reservation Dogs, and how the production of indigenous film has a role in breaking stereotypes of previous media representation. A visual component of a diorama was made acting as a material representation of impactful design decisions in media watched during the course English 420 Indigenous Film. Each piece of the diorama is an object chosen by the production team of the respected film or series, showing that even these small designed aspects of these productions can enhance the message, story, perception and representation in Indigenous Film
School Dropout Among Children and It's Implication(s): Perspectives from Rural Ghana
No full textEarly marriage in boys contrary to the happenings in Namberg in the Jirapa district, the fact that female children's early marriage is due to religious practices came as a surprise finding. Available field data by Abotsi et al. (2018) revealed dropout rates were higher for youngsters between the ages of 6 and 10 than for those between 11 and 15, with 63.4 percent being males (p. 8). These statistics reveal boy-child education is not what it portrays to be in Ghana and has been left to its fate. While advocacy for the girl-child and vulnerable members of the Ghanaian community is on the ascendancy and that which the researcher admires, supports, and advocates for, the total neglect or continuous inadequate support for boys' education is an effect that will come to hit hard on us as a nation and a global community because we refused to ensure educational equity. Frantic efforts by all stakeholders to at least sustain educating boys while improving girls' education and opportunities will be a needed balance to avoid the reverse effect and perceived consequences, which might call for advocacy for boy-child education in the near future. Hostile school environment due to excessive corporal punishment was identified as a major reason given by schoolchildren in the communities for dropping out of school. This is unfortunate! If education accepted in Ghanaian society as a panacea for poverty alleviation has its major players, with the teacher and school authorities the reason students in these communities leave school, then we are failing as a people in this noble profession called to nurture lives for the common good of society. Because we have parts to play as teachers, research such as this must be made available, and reforms addressing the issues must be included in professional development to help keep everyone abreast of happenings in the sector while finding the best practices to mitigate recurrence. The researcher is of the view authorities can correct recalcitrant students and still keep them in school. Generally, findings from the document analysis show similarities in the dropout phenomenon across the selected rural communities of Ghana. The researcher is of the impression school dropout issues might be extremely difficult to understand because of the various factors contributing to them. Further studies and interventions, both structural and systemic, are highly recommended. Ghana is one of 54 countries in Africa, located in the west and south of the Sahara. This sovereign nation is geographically 92,000 square miles, or about 239,460 square kilometers. In all, three rural school communities in two regions of Ghana were the focus of the study. The communities are (1) the Asutifi school district in the Brong-Ahafo region, (2) the Nchiraa Circuit in the Wenchi Municipal Assembly in Brong-Ahafo, and (3) Jarapa Municipal (Nambeg) in the Upper West region of Ghana
RPT109_2023_02
No full textK-State Research and Extension's program report for 2021-2022. This report to a variety of stakeholders illustrates the statewide extension work for the programming year