Examining Undergraduate College Students’ Experiences Participating in Longitudinal Qualitative Research

While many researchers describe the potential benefits to individuals if they opt to participate in qualitative research, it is not always feasible to empirically examine how engaging in a study influence the participants. Acknowledging this gap, we conducted a descriptive qualitative study to explore how 67 low-income students described their experiences as participants in a larger longitudinal qualitative research project that involved regularly submitting video diaries and participating in interviews over the course of three years. Overall, participants characterized their experiences as positive and highlighted unanticipated benefits of the project. Although many individuals were drawn to the project for the compensation, they found that regularly engaging in reflection with the support of a researcher they trusted to be beneficial. Participants often described their interviews as cathartic and as a place where they could make sense of their experiences in and outside of college. Opportunities for sustained reflection also helped participants increase their self-awareness. Additionally, participants described their videos as material evidence of their growth and development over time and indicated that this longitudinal project helped them develop their communication and time management skills

Síntesis y caracterización de nuevas nanopartículas de derivados de PBLG para su uso en nanomedicina

En este trabajo se describe la realización de la síntesis y caracterización de cinco derivados de poli-L-glutamato de gamma-bencilo (PBLG) por polimerización aniónica de apertura de anillo utilizando iniciadores de interés biomédico, así como la preparación y caracterización de nanopartículas poliméricas preparadas usando los polímeros sintetizados. Los polímeros fueron caracterizados por resonancia magnética nuclear (RMN 1H) y cromatografía de exclusión de tamaño (GPC/SEC). Las nanopartículas fueron preparadas por nanoprecipitación y caracterizadas por microscopía electrónica de transmisión (MET) y dispersión de luz (DLS/DDLS). Como se requiere para aplicaciones en nanomedicina, nanopartículas en el intervalo de 20 a 50 nm fueron obtenidas. Por otro lado, se presenta la técnica de dispersión de luz depolarizada (DDLS), como una técnica interesante para la caracterización morfológica y comportamiento dinámico de las nanopartículas poliméricas, en suspensión acuosa