8411 research outputs found
Sort by
Treatments of Cyanobacteria on Mariculture Sponges in Jambiani, Tanzania
Get PDFSince 2009, Marine Cultures, an NGO, has explored sponge farming in Jambiani to develop secure and sustainable livelihoods for the community. While sponge farming provides economic opportunity for an industry that functions within ecological boundaries, it faces unique issues that threaten its success. As climate change increases global water temperatures, cyanobacteria are causing increased death rates among mariculture sponges. Mitigating these negative effects with sustainable and reliable solutions can help Marine Cultures grow their positive impact. Alternative methods for mitigating cyanobacteria growth were tested during three study phases. Phase 1 tested how sponge health and algae growth responds to being submerged in a range of hydrogen peroxide concentrations. Phase 2 explored how sponge health and algae growth respond to a range of submersion times in 20% hydrogen peroxide. Phase 3 focused on whether algae growth on support lines can be reduced using sustainable antimicrobial solutions of 50% clove oil, 50% lemon grass oil, and 50% hydrogen peroxide. The treatments on old ropes successfully reduced algae and cyanobacteria growth during the study period. The health of the sponges was not impacted by lower concentrations of hydrogen peroxide and shorter submersion periods. There was no conclusive outcome on the impacts of hydrogen peroxide treatment on the growth of cyanobacteria and other algae. This study provides valuable information to aid in developing tools to respond to climate change and improve sponge farming in Jambiani
“¿Te invité yo a vivir aquí?” … Vivir contra la pendiente: resistencia entre el mapa y el territorio, el caso del cerro Las Cañas
No full textIn the Mega Fire of Valparaíso in 2014, more than 1,000 hectares were burned, leaving 12,500 people not only without their homes, but without their neighborhood. 15 people were killed and more than 500 people were injured. This socio-natural catastrophe was a clear demonstration of the marginality and abandonment in which the peripheral sectors of the urban configuration of the city find themselves. Given that most of the communities that live in these sectors have their homes as a result of “tomas de terrenos”, which is the unauthorized occupation and habitation of land, entails a significant level of vulnerability as a result of belonging to an “informal habitat.”
Through the use of interviews, open sources, other academic studies, and participating observations this essay will reflect on the spatial component of marginalization and explore the state abandonment of the ravines of Valparaíso in order to understand the strategies of resistance and resilience against these two phenomena’s, in the context of the Mega Fire. The research will focus on one of the impacted neighborhoods, el cerro Las Cañas, and their use of community organizing in order to recover their space. That said, this study finds that there is a need for an inclusive system where those who experience the most exclusion can decide where and how they want to develop their lives without the risk of losing everything
Teacher Preparation and Multilingualism in Education
No full textAlmost a quarter, 22%, of students in the United States are multilingual and arrive at school with unique skills and needs which differentiate them from their multilingual peers. Using qualitative research methods of surveys and semi-structured interviews, this study explores the perspectives of teachers and administrators currently working in the field, specifically investigating how teachers have been prepared in teacher education programs to teach multilingual learners and how they consequently should be prepared based on participant experiences. This study generated insights about the needs of teachers in supporting multilingual learners. The majority of participants had not received any preparation for teaching multilingual students in their teacher education programs. As the findings demonstrate, there is no one particular way that teachers should specifically be prepared but more intentional planning and preparation is needed in general to meet both the needs of students and teachers
The relationship between substrate composition, community structure and feeding preferences of parrot fishes (Scaridae) in Anmardub, Guna Yala coastal reefs
Get PDFCoral reefs are important marine ecosystems, as they support biodiversity and generate buffer zones, yet their abundance is incredibly limited globally. One of the main threats that coral reefs face is excessive macroalgal coverage, which limits sunlight from reaching corals, and thus, limits the energy that can reach them. Parrot fish (Scaridae) are keystone herbivores, as they consume macroalgae growing on corals, which aids in reef survivability. While there is previous research on the abundances, sizes, and feeding habits of Scaridae species in the Caribbean, there is no published research on how community structure and feeding preferences of parrot fishes differ within coral reef ecosystems of varying substrate composition. This study assesses the community structure and feeding preferences of Scaridae in the fringing and barrier reefs, reefs of differing substrate composition, of Anmardub Island in Guna Yala, Panama. To determine the substrate composition of fringing and barrier reefs, percent coverages of sand, algae, sponge, dead coral, fire coral, coral rubble, hard coral, and soft coral, were quantified using a 1m2 threaded quadrat along 6 30x1m belt transects at varying depth levels (0-2.0m, 2.1-4.0m, 4.1-6.0m) in each reef. These transects were placed 30m away from each other, and parallel to the shore. Using these same transects, visual censuses were conducted, in which Scaridae species within 1m of either side of the transects had their densities, size proportions (0-10.0cm, 10.1-20.0cm, 20.1cm+), and proportions of coral species consumption, recorded. Across all depth levels, the fringing reef has significantly higher percentages of sand coverage, t(62)=4.33, p\u3c.001; t(60)=7.78, p\u3c.001; t(59)=4.27, p\u3c.001, and dead coral coverage, t(59)=6.47, p\u3c.001; t(59)=8.72, p\u3c.001; t(59)=4.30, p\u3c.001, while the barrier reef has significantly higher percentages of hard coral coverage, t(116)=3.13, p=.0022; t(118)=8.03, p\u3c.001, at the 0-2.0m and 2.1-4.0m depth levels. Thus, the barrier reef is generally healthier and more consistent than the fringing reef. Scaridae species densities differ significantly between fringing and barrier reefs at the 0-2.0m depth level, X2 (4, N=184,164)=52.70, p\u3c.001, as there are significantly higher densities of Scarus iseri and Sparisoma rubripinne in the fringing reef, and significantly higher densities of Nicholsina usta, Sparisoma aurofrenatum, and Sparisoma viride in the barrier reef. Across all depths of fringing and barrier reefs, there is a weak positive correlation between substrate variability and Scaridae species diversity, R2=.0057, F(5)=.023, p=.89. There is also a significant difference in Scaridae coral species consumption proportions across all depth levels, X2 (3, N=140,54)=66.55, p\u3c.001; X2 (4, N=20,47)=53.07 p\u3c.001; X2 (6, N=76,94)=108.74, p\u3c.001, as significantly higher proportions of Scaridae consume macroalgae and algal turf on dead coral in the fringing reef, while significantly higher proportions of Scaridae consume macroalgae on coral rubble and Porites porites in the barrier reef. Based on these results, we can conclude that there is a relationship between coral reef substrate composition and Scaridae species densities at the 0-2.0m depth level, and across all depth levels, a relationship between coral reef substrate composition and Scaridae diversity and feeding preferences
Evaluating the validity of restrictions on blood donation eligibility for men who have sex with men (MSM) in the United States, France, and Switzerland
Get PDFFor the first time in a decade, the number of new human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) diagnoses is higher for heterosexual people compared to gay and bisexual men (Florêncio, 2022). Additionally, in the United States, the American Red Cross has declared a national blood crisis due to the nationwide shortage of donated blood. During this crisis, charged with the new information on HIV diagnosis rates, many advocates for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer (LGBTQ+) community question why discriminatory policy surrounding gay and bisexual men donating still exist around the world. These policies are changing worldwide – several European countries have lifted bans on gay men donating blood, such as the France (however there are still conditions such as requiring a monogamous relationship). However, in the United States, only gay and bisexual men who have been sexually inactive for 90 days are able to donate blood. In Switzerland, they must be sexually inactive for one year. This study aims to explore how policy surrounding blood donation is developed to study how health-related policy in general is formulated. Because there is a discrepancy between the restrictions on blood donation and the true risk of HIV transmission in blood donations used for transfusions, there must be factors beyond pure science influencing policy. This paper observes the following factors as influences in health policy beyond pure science: historical context, technologies, and public perception
Héroes anónimos: La relación entre la gente y las plantas nativas en Río Grande, Argentina
No full textEste estudio fue realizado para la Fundación Estepa Viva, Naturaleza y Ciudadanía con el fin de entender mejor cómo lxs residentes se relacionan con las plantas nativas y dónde ellas están ubicadas dentro de la ciudad de Río Grande, Argentina. Un total de 52 manzanas en 10 zonas de la ciudad fueron muestreadas en busca de 5 especies nativas clave: la lenga (Nothofagus pumilio), el ñire (Nothofagus antarctica), el guindo (Nothofagus betuloides), la mata negra (Chiliotrichum rosmarinifolium), and el calafate (Berberis microphylla). Además, se realizaron 50 entrevistas y se creó un mapa interactivo. Se observó que las plantas eran poco comunes en toda la ciudad. La relación de lxs residentes con las plantas nativas es complicada y en general se caracteriza por una falta de conocimiento. Dicho esto, un subgrupo de la población tiene una fuerte relación con estas plantas nativas. Basado en el análisis inicial, estas relaciones no varían significativamente según las características demográficas evaluadas. Este estudio marca un intento inicial de entender la relación entre los residentes y las plantas nativas de Río Grande. Es necesario realizar más análisis para entenderla completamente, pero la metodología de muestreo y entrevistas utilizada en este estudio es sólida. Es necesario seguir trabajando en el desarrollo de un método eficiente de análisis.
This study was conducted for Fundación Estepa Viva, Naturaleza y Ciudadanía with the goal of better understanding both how the residents of Río Grande, Argentina relate to native plants and where these plants are located within the city. A total of 52 blocks in 10 zones within the city were sampled in search of 5 key native species: lenga (Nothofagus pumilio), ñire (Nothofagus antarctica), guindo (Nothofagus betuloides), mata negra (Chiliotrichum rosmarinifolium), and calafate (Berberis microphylla). In addition, 50 interviews were conducted and an interactive map was created. The plants were observed to be uncommon throughout the city. The residents’ relationship with native plants is complicated and overall characterized by a lack of knowledge. That said, a subset of the population does have a strong relationship with these native plants. Based on initial analysis, these relationships do not vary significantly according to assessed demographic characteristics. This study marks an initial attempt at understanding the relationship between the residents and native plants of Río Grande. Further analysis is needed to fully understand it, but the sampling and interviewing methodology used in this study are robust. Further work is needed on developing an efficient method of analysis
El impacto de la pandemia en la formación de los hábitos de alimentación en niñes pequeñes en la Villa 21-24 en Barracas, Buenos Aires / The impact of the pandemic in the creation of nutritional habits in young children in Villa 21-24 in Barracas, Buenos Aires
No full textDurante la Pandemia COVID-19 en Argentina, la inflación aumentó, y el desempleo aumentó especialmente entre los trabajadores informales, lo que dejó a muchos de ellos dependientes de los comedores comunitarios y de la ayuda nutricional para alimentar a sus familias. La violencia doméstica y la pobreza aumentaron aún más. Problemas estructurales como la falta de agua potable y los cortes de luz, situaciones que suelen enfrentar los habitantes de la Villa 21-24, Barracas, Buenos Aires, continuaron. Las escuelas se cerraron y la instrucción presencial se suspendió, en ese contexto los grupos comunitarios trabajaron para alcanzar los suministros adecuados de alimentos. Teniendo en cuenta todos estos desafíos, este estudio analiza cómo la Pandemia afectó la creación de hábitos alimentarios en los niños pequeños de la Villa 21-24, Barracas, Buenos Aires. Este estudio cualitativo analiza ocho entrevistas con profesionales de la nutrición y líderes comunitarios, dos visitas de observación, junto con la participación en talleres relevantes y la realización de investigaciones en línea para generar una comprensión general acerca de qué participantes juegan un papel en la creación de hábitos alimentarios en los niños pequeños, qué factores de esta zona específica aumentaron la desigualdad y cómo los miembros de la comunidad ven el acceso a una alimentación saludable como un derecho. En general, los profesionales médicos y nutricionistas coinciden en que es importante que los hábitos nutricionales se establezcan a una edad temprana, ya que es extremadamente difícil romper con rutinas poco saludables durante el crecimiento y aumenta el riesgo de obesidad y otras enfermedades crónicas en crecimiento en Argentina. Los hallazgos de este estudio afirman que las intervenciones nutricionales deben ser cultural y regionalmente específicas, realistas, sostenibles y colaborativas. Encuentra que no existe una solución generalizable a todas las comunidades; sin embargo, como comparten algunos líderes comunitarios, su experiencia se puede aplicar a zonas y poblaciones similares. También muestra que las organizaciones de base de la Villa 21-24 se unieron a pesar de los desafíos de la Pandemia para atender las necesidades de su comunidad. Sus esfuerzos respaldan el concepto de que no solo los padres son cruciales para la creación de hábitos alimentarios en los niños, sino también todo el entorno alimentario, desde los profesionales escolares hasta los funcionarios gubernamentales. También se evidenció que las mujeres han asumido un rol protagónico en el abordaje de los déficits nutricionales en la Villa 21-24.
During the COVID-19 pandemic in Argentina, inflation increased, while many people, specifically informal workers, lost their jobs, leaving many of them relying on community kitchens and nutritional aid to feed their families. Domestic violence and poverty rates increased. Structural issues like a lack of clean water and power outages, struggles that the people of Villa 21-24, Barracas, Buenos Aires tend to face, continued. Many schools paused in-person instruction while community groups struggled to have adequate supplies. Considering all of these challenges, this study looks into how the pandemic affected the creation of nutritional habits in young children in Villa 21-24, Barracas, Buenos Aires. This qualitative study analyzes eight interviews with nutrition professionals and community leaders, two observational visits, along with participating in relevant workshops and conducting online research in order to generate a general understanding of who plays a role in creating nutritional habits in young children, what factors of this specific zone increased inequality and how the community members view access to healthy eating as a right. Many professionals agree that it is important for nutritional habits to be established at a young age, as it is extremely difficult to break unhealthy routines as one grows up and puts one at a higher risk of obesity and other chronic diseases, which continue to rise in frequency in Argentina. The findings of this study affirm that nutritional interventions must be culturally and regionally specific, realistic, sustainable and collaborative. There is not a generalizable solution to all communities; however, as some community leaders share, their experience can be applied to similar zones and populations. It also finds that the grassroots organizations of Villa 21-24 came together despite the challenges of the pandemic to address the needs of their community. Their efforts support the concept that not just parents are crucial to the creation of nutritional habits in children but the entire food environment, from school professionals to government officials are as well. It was also evident that women have taken on a protagonistic role in addressing the nutritional deficits in Villa 21- 24
Shinetagantsi: Un caso de la alimentación materna e infantil y medicina intercultural durante lactancia en la comunidad nativa de Palotoa Teparo
No full textCon un enfoque antropológico, esta investigación analiza las percepciones del cuidado desde los sistemas médicos occidentales y la medicina tradicional de las madres de la comunidad nativa de Palotoa Teparo en la Amazonía peruana en lo que respecta a la nutrición durante la lactancia. Los resultados de este estudio, obtenidos a través de entrevistas semiestructuradas y observación directa e indirecta, permiten describir el estado nutricional de las madres de Palotoa Teparo durante la lactancia y su relación con la nutrición infantil, señalar las prácticas de salud, tanto occidental como tradicional, relevantes para el estado nutricional de las madres y los infantes durante la lactancia, comparar las percepciones locales de la atención recibida en entornos occidentales versus tradicionales durante la lactancia, y analizar las percepciones de las recomendaciones de salud del Ministerio de Salud con comportamientos de salud conductuales en Palotoa Teparo respecto al período de lactancia. Los resultados de este estudio revelaron experiencias de discriminación por parte de las madres en Palotoa Teparo en el marco médico occidental, así como percepciones de choques culturales durante el tratamiento. Los resultados también indicaron deficiencias en ciertos macronutrientes (consumo de 48.5% de las calorías diarias recomendadas, 22.7% de hierro y 30.0% de calcio recomendados) dentro de la dieta de las madres lactantes en Palotoa Teparo que deben monitorearse más para asegurar los mejores resultados de salud materna e infantil. En este sentido, se sugiere que se realicen más estudios sobre el contenido nutricional de la leche materna y la instancia de desnutrición dentro de la comunidad nativa de Palotoa Teparo. Para lograr esto, también se debe sentar las bases para la colaboración intercultural entre profesionales médicos occidentales con miembros de la comunidad con conocimiento de medicina tradicional.
Using an anthropological approach, this investigation analyzes the perceptions of care from occidental medical systems and traditional medicine from mothers in the native community of Palotoa Teparo in the Peruvian Amazon as it pertains to nutrition throughout breastfeeding. The results of this study, obtained through semi-structured interviews as well as direct and indirect observation, aim to: describe the nutritional state of mothers in Palotoa Teparo during breast feeding and its connection to infant nutrition, describe healthcare practices in both occidental and traditional forms of medicine relevant to the nutritional state of mothers and infants during lactation, compare local perceptions of care received in occidental versus traditional settings throughout lactation, and analyze the perceptions of health recommendations from the Ministry of Health with health behavior practices in Palotoa Teparo, regarding the period of breastfeeding. The results of this study revealed instances of discrimination experienced by the mothers in Palotoa Teparo in occidental medical setting as well as perceptions of cultural clashes during treatment. The results also indicated certain deficiencies in macronutrients (consumption of 48.5% of daily recommended calories, 22.7% of recommended iron, and 30.0% of recommended calcium) within the diet of lactating mothers in Palotoa Teparo that should be further monitored to ensure the best maternal and child health outcomes. In this regard, I suggest that further studies be conducted on nutritional content of breast milk and the instance of malnutrition within the native community of Palotoa Teparo. To accomplish this, groundwork must also be laid for the multicultural collaboration between occidental medical professionals with community members with knowledge of traditional health practices
Conservation and Variation in Agricultural Landscapes: A survey of insect populations across naranjilla cultivation methods in the eastern Andean cloud forest
Get PDFThis study compared insect biodiversity among five sites in agricultural landscapes and natural forest in the El Placer community in the valley of the Rio Pastaza in the eastern Andean cloud forest. The area is of vital importance to conservation, as it falls in the ecological corridor between the Sangay and Llanganates national parks. The primary crop produced by the residents of El Placer is naranjilla, and it is cultivated in a variety of manners, mostly with intensive chemical use. The goal of the study was to find out which types of practices were the least harmful to the insect community and allowed for conservation of biodiversity. The sites I studied were a primary forest site in the nearby Candelaria reserve, a secondary forest fragment among the crops, a naranjilla monoculture, and a chemically intense and non-chemically intense polyculture. I used pitfall traps and butterfly traps to catch insects and identified them to morphospecies level. I conducted various biodiversity and ecosystem similarity tests on each site’s insect community. I found that the most biodiverse ecosystems were the primary and secondary forest sites, and that the polycultures hosted significantly more biodiversity than the monoculture. By a measure of ground insects, the non-chemical polyculture showed biodiversity as high as the secondary forest, and by measure of flying insects the chemical polyculture approached the levels of natural forest. Thus, it is concluded that while these different forms of naranjilla cultivation didn’t fully match the biodiversity of the natural forests, the polyculture practices allowed those sites to come close. Further research into different forms of polycultures for naranjilla is encouraged.
Este proyecto comparó la biodiversidad de insectos en cinco sitios en campos de cultivar y bosque natural en la comunidad de El Placer el valle del Río Pastaza en el bosque nublado del este de los Andes. El área es muy importante para la conservación porque es parte de un corredor ecológico entre los parques nacionales Sangay y Llanganates. El cultivo más importante en El Placer es naranjilla, y la cultivan en varias maneras, normalmente con mucha química. La meta del proyecto era buscar maneras de cultivar que conserven la biodiversidad de los insectos. Estudié un sitio de bosque primario en la reserva Candelaria, un de bosque secundario cerca de los cultivos, y tres cultivos de naranjilla: un monocultivo y dos policultivos, un con química y un sin química. Use trampas de vasos y redes para mariposas, y identifique a nivel de morfoespecie. Hice pruebas de biodiversidad y semejanza entre los sitios. Descubrí que los bosques naturales eran los mas biodiversos pero los policultivos tenían más diversidad que el monocultivo y sus niveles eran cerca de los sitios naturales. Aunque los sitios no alcanzan los niveles de biodiversidad del bosque natural, las prácticas de policultivos, especialmente sin química, mejoran mucho la salud de las comunidades de insectos. Por eso es recomendable perseguir la practica de policultivos y estudiar mas como pueden ser exitoso
“Yo también Puedo” - Una investigación de pensamientos y opiniones sobre redes de apoyo y historia de violencia intrafamiliar contra mujeres mapuches rurales
No full textThis paper is an exploration of the rural Mapuche women’s opinions and history of intrafamilial violence. Through small group personal interviews this study seeks to consider the multiple lived experiences and opinions of rural Mapuche women as it relates to intrafamilial violence against women and the social and government support systems available to both prevent it and support victims. Intention of this investigation was not to seek out personal stories of violence, instead focusing on community-wide held perceptions, opinions, and beliefs about where violence in their community comes from, how its perpetrated, and how it is responded to or prevented. Adding to a field of literature on Chilean governmental violence against Mapuche people and violence against women in general, this study focuses specifically on the unique experience of Mapuche women living in a rural context through the theoretical perspectives of intersectionality and gender-based violence. The findings of this study illuminate the unique lived experiences and realities of these women, from the perplexing and complex prominence of the Evangelical church to the importance of economic empowerment and independence as a mechanism for preventing and fighting intrafamilial violence. The rural Mapuche women interviewed for this investigation are the core of the study, providing brave and insightful opinions and anecdotes about their communities, lived experiences, and unique cultural worldviews