Transformation: the impacts of an intercultural exploration on preservice teachers

2013 Summer.Includes bibliographical references.This action research study focuses on the impacts of an Intercultural Exploration project on 52 preservice teachers enrolled in sections of Schooling in the United States course at Colorado State University in the School of Education. Goals of the course include the intention that students will exhibit increased multicultural awareness and cross-cultural competence as applied to school settings. To inform the study, a review of the literature on multicultural education, intercultural theory, and transformational learning was conducted. The Intercultural Exploration project provided students the opportunity to explore their biases and areas where they lacked understanding of cultural groups, beliefs, and practices. Students spent four hours in a formal or informal setting focusing on one of their biases or lack of understanding. Students wrote essays to describe why they choose their projects, their feelings before and after the experience, how they developed their beliefs and how the project may impact their future personal and professional behaviors. A five level Transformational Rating was developed to assess student transformation based on reported beliefs before and after the project and predicted future personal and professional behaviors. Using the Transformational Rating Students rated their experience and the instructor/researcher rated each experience based on essay responses. The average rating by the instructor/researcher was 3.71 and the average rating by the students was 3.16, indicating that there was a transformation in at least two areas: beliefs, predictions of personal behavior, and professional behavior. Projects were themed by the instructor/researcher as religion (16), behavior (10), mental/physical status (8), socioeconomic status (5), social groups/organizations (3), sexual orientation (3), careers (3), current issues (2), and ethnicity/culture (2). Reasons students chose their projects were because they wanted to explore their own bias (27) or saw opportunities to learn/understand other perspectives (24). Students reported that their beliefs prior to the project were developed due to upbringing (18), media (11), negative experiences (8) and other (6). As a final step, students presented their projects and were asked to discuss the impacts of presenting to and listening to their peers. Following presentations, students said they felt the impact of sharing the Intercultural Exploration though uncomfortable at times, helped them to further understand and articulate their beliefs, while others felt it was an opportunity for their peers to get to know them better. After listening to their peers present, students expressed they enjoyed listening to the variety of presentations. Students also said they learned from their peers and developed a greater awareness of intercultural issues. Students noted they felt a close connection to their peers and some were surprised at the number of religious focused projects. The majority of students was positively impacted by the Intercultural Exploration and experienced a transformation as measured by pre and post beliefs and predicted future personal and professional behaviors. Students were impacted positively by sharing and listening to the Intercultural Exploration. Additional research could focus on replication of the study in other locations to compare results, variations on the project, and a more detailed Transformational Rating. Observing students in their first teaching assignments and examining long-term impacts might provide information for future training of preservice teachers in multicultural competence

A network of filaments detected by Herschel in the Serpens core : a laboratory to test simulations of low-mass star formation

V.R. was partly supported by the DLR grant number 50 OR 1109 and by the Bayerische Gleichstellungsförderung (BGF). This research was partly supported by the Priority Programme 1573 “Physics of the Interstellar Medium” of the German Science Foundation (DFG), the DFG cluster of excellence “Origin and Structure of the Universe” and by the Italian Ministero dell’Istruzione, Università e Ricerca through the grant Progetti Premiali 2012 -iALMA (CUP C52I13000140001). C.E. is partly supported by Spanish Grants AYA 2011-26202 and AYA 2014-55840-P.Context. Filaments represent a key structure during the early stages of the star formation process. Simulations show that filamentary structures commonly formed before and during the formation of cores. Aims. The Serpens core is an ideal laboratory for testing the state of the art of simulations of turbulent giant molecular clouds. Methods. We used Herschel observations of the Serpens core to compute temperatureand column density maps of the region. We selected the early stages of are cent simulation of star-formation, before stellar feedback was initiated, with similar total mass and physical size as the Serpens core. We also derived temperature and column density maps from the simulations. The observed distribution of column densities of the filaments was analyzed, first including and then masking the cores. The same analysis was performed on the simulations as well. Results. A radial network of filaments was detected in the Serpens core. The analyzed simulation shows a striking morphological resemblance to the observed structures. The column density distribution of simulated filaments without cores shows only a log-normal distribution, while the observed filaments show a power-law tail. The power-law tail becomes evident in the simulation if the focus is only the column density distribution of the cores. In contrast, the observed cores show a flat distribution. Conclusions. Even though the simulated and observed filaments are subjectively similar-looking, we find that they behave in very different ways. The simulated filaments are turbulence-dominated regions; the observed filaments are instead self-gravitating structures that will probably fragment into cores.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Pathogenesis, Diagnosis and Management of Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Pseudoepithelial Hyperplasia Secondary to Red Ink Tattoo: A Case Series and Review

The increasing popularity of tattooing has paralleled an increase in associated cutaneous reactions. Red ink is notorious for eliciting cutaneous reactions. A common reaction is pseudoepitheliomatous hyperplasia (PEH), which is a benign condition closely simulating squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Differentiating PEH from SCC is challenging for pathologists and clinicians alike. The exact pathogenesis of these lesions secondary to red ink is not known, and there are no sources outlining diagnostic and treatment options and their efficacy. We present four study cases with different pathologies associated to red ink tattoos including lichenoid reaction, granulomatous reaction, PEH, and an SCC. Additionally, an extensive review of 63 articles was performed to investigate pathogenesis, diagnostic approaches, and treatment options. Hypotheses surrounding pathogenesis include but are not limited to the carcinogenic components of pigments, their reaction with UV and the traumatic process of tattooing. Pathogenesis seems to be multifactorial. Full-thickness biopsies with follow-up is the recommended diagnostic approach. There is no evidence of a single universally successful treatment for PEH. Low-dose steroids are usually tried following a step up in lack of clinical response. For SCC lesions, full surgical excision is widely used. A focus on clinicians’ awareness of adverse reactions is key for prevention. Regulation of the unmonitored tattoo industry remains an ongoing problem

Psychological distress and unsatisfied need for psychosocial support in adolescent and young adult cancer patients during the first year following diagnosis

Purpose Identifying at‐risk adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer patients and referring them to age‐appropriate psychosocial support services may be instrumental in reducing psychological distress and promoting psychosocial adaptation. The purpose of this study is to identify trajectories of clinically significant levels of distress throughout the first year following diagnosis and to distinguish factors, including supportive care service use, that predict the extent to which AYAs report distress. Methods In this prospective multisite study, 215 AYAs aged 15–39 years were assessed for psychological distress and psychosocial support service use within the first 4 months of diagnosis and again 6 and 12 months later. On the basis of distress scores, respondents were assigned to one of four distress trajectory groups (Resilient, Recovery, Delayed, and Chronic). Multiple logistic regression analyses examined whether demographics, clinical variables, and reports of unsatisfied need for psychosocial support were associated with distress trajectories over 1 year. Results Twelve percent of AYAs reported clinically significant chronic distress throughout the first 12 months following diagnosis. An additional 15% reported delayed distress. Substantial proportions of AYAs reported that needs for information (57%), counseling (41%), and practical support (39%) remained unsatisfied at 12 months following diagnosis. Not getting counseling needs met, particularly with regard to professional mental health services, was observed to be significantly associated with distress over time. Conclusions Substantial proportions of AYAs are not utilizing psychosocial support services. Findings suggest the importance of identifying psychologically distressed AYAs and addressing their needs for mental health counseling throughout a continuum of care. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/109318/1/pon3533.pd

The relationship between posttraumatic stress and posttraumatic growth among adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer patients

ObjectiveTheories of posttraumatic growth suggest that some degree of distress is necessary to stimulate growth; yet, investigations of the relationship between stress and growth following trauma are mixed. This study aims to understand the relationship between posttraumatic stress symptoms and posttraumatic growth in adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer patients.Method165 AYA patients aged 14–39 years at diagnosis completed standardized measures of posttraumatic stress and posttraumatic growth at 12 months following diagnosis. Locally weighted scatterplot smoothing and regression were used to examine linear and curvilinear relationships between posttraumatic stress and posttraumatic growth.ResultsNo significant relationships between overall posttraumatic stress severity and posttraumatic growth were observed at 12‐month follow‐up. However, curvilinear relationships between re‐experiencing (a posttraumatic stress symptom) and two of five posttraumatic growth indicators (New Possibilities, Personal Strengths) were observed.ConclusionFindings suggest that re‐experiencing is associated with some aspects of posttraumatic growth but not others. Although re‐experiencing is considered a symptom of posttraumatic stress disorder, it also may represent a cognitive process necessary to achieve personal growth for AYAs. Findings call into question the supposed psychopathological nature of re‐experiencing and suggest that re‐experiencing, as a cognitive process, may be psychologically adaptive. Opportunities to engage family, friends, cancer survivors, or health care professionals in frank discussions about fears, worries, or concerns may help AYAs re‐experience cancer in a way that enhances their understanding of what happened to them and contributes to positive adaptation to life after cancer. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/110582/1/pon3585.pd

The inotropic consequences of selective Na+/Ca2+ exchanger inhibition is controlled by the actual transport balance

The major goal of the cardiac Ca2+ handling is to control the actual magnitude and kinetics of the cell contractions and therefore contribute to the regulation of the cardiac output. The Na+/Ca2+ exchanger has a crucial role in the beat-to-beat Ca2+ balance by extruding a relatively small fraction of the released Ca2+. Since the exchanger works Ca2+ influx, as well as Ca2+ efflux mode in the same heart cycle, its inhibition theoretically could lead to Ca2+ loss or Ca2+ gain. The functional consequence of these effects could be manifested in negative inotropy which may have antiarrhythmic effects during Ca2+ overload, or could cause positive inotropy which is desired in heart failure. However the exact electrophysiological mechanism which determines these two outcomes is not clarified because of the lack of selective inhibitors. In this thesis we would like to address these issues by using novel, selective NCX compounds. The main results can be summarized as follows: 1) The novel NCX inhibitor GYKB-6635 effectively suppressed both mode of the NCX current measured by conventional ramp protocol. Our study showed the GYKB-6635 did not influence the kinetics of the L-type Ca2+ current and major K+-currents therefore it could be considered a promising experimental tool for future NCX research. 2) The selective NCX inhibition is able to cause both positive and negative inotropy by ORM-10962 in the cardiac cells, depending on the experimental condition. When the reverse mode is facilitated Ca2+ loss, in the case of forward mode enhancement Ca2+ gain occurs. The major underlying mechanism is the actual Ca2+ level of the sarcoplasmic reticulum which strongly depends on the function of the NCX. 3) The selective NCX inhibition by ORM-10962 reverts the hypokalaemia induced positive inotropy: the low [K+]o increases the intracellular Na+ level of the cells which shifts the actual reversal potential of the NCX facilitating reverse mode. The selective NCX inhibition may inhibit preferentially the reverse mode of the NCX under this setting which decreases the intracellular Ca2+ and cell shortening

Prevalence and predictors of post‐traumatic stress symptoms in adolescent and young adult cancer survivors: a 1‐year follow‐up study

Objectives Post‐traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) have been identified as a meaningful indicator of distress in cancer survivors. Distinct from young adult survivors of childhood cancer, young people diagnosed with cancer as adolescents and young adults (AYAs) face unique psychosocial issues; however, there is little published research of PTSS in the AYA population. This study examines prevalence and predictors of PTSS among AYAs with cancer. Methods As part of a longitudinal study of AYAs with cancer, 151 patients aged 15–39 years completed mailed surveys at 6 and 12 months post‐diagnosis. Severity of PTSS was estimated at 6 and 12 months post‐diagnosis. Multiple regression analyses were conducted to investigate the predictive effects of socio‐demographic and clinical characteristics on changes in PTSS over time. Results At 6 and 12 months, respectively, 39% and 44% of participants reported moderate to severe levels of PTSS; 29% had PTSS levels suggestive of post‐traumatic stress disorder. No significant differences in severity of PTSS between 6 and 12 months were observed. Regression analyses suggested that a greater number of side effects were associated with higher levels of PTSS at 6 months. Currently receiving treatment, having surgical treatment, diagnosis of a cancer type with a 90–100% survival rate, remaining unemployed/not in school, and greater PTSS at 6 months were associated with higher levels of PTSS at 12 months. Conclusions Post‐traumatic stress symptoms were observed as early as 6 months following diagnosis and remained stable at 12‐month follow‐up. The development of early interventions for reducing distress among AYA patients in treatment is recommended. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/99033/1/pon3217.pd

Ion-pair formation in neutral potassium-neutral pyrimidine collisions: electron transfer experiments

We report novel data on ion-pair formation in hyperthermal (30-800 eV) neutral potassium collisions with neutral pyrimidine (Pyr, C4H4N2) molecules. In this collision regime, negative ions formed by electron transfer from the alkali atom to the target molecule were time-of-flight mass analyzed and the fragmentation patterns and branching ratios have been obtained. The most abundant product anions have been assigned to CN- and C2H- and the electron transfer mechanisms are comprehensively discussed. Particular importance is also given to the efficient loss of integrity of the pyrimidine ring in the presence of an extra electron, which is in contrast to dissociative electron attachment experiments yielding the dehydrogenated parent anion. Theoretical calculations were performed for pyrimidine in the presence of a potassium atom and provided a strong basis for the assignment of the lowest unoccupied molecular orbitals accessed in the collision process. In order to further our knowledge about the collision dynamics, potassium cation (K+) energy loss spectrum has been obtained and within this context, we also discuss the role of the accessible electronic states. A vertical electron affinity of (-5.69 ± 0.20) eV was obtained and may be assigned to a π∗3 (b 1) state that leads to CN- formation

Sexual functioning among young adult cancer patients: A 2â year longitudinal study

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/141907/1/cncr31030_am.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/141907/2/cncr31030.pd

Electrical stimulation of human mesenchymal stem cells on biomineralized conducting polymers enhances their differentiation towards osteogenic outcomes

Tissue scaffolds allowing the behaviour of the cells that reside on them to be controlled are of particular interest for tissue engineering. Herein we describe biomineralized conducting polymer-based bone tissue scaffolds that facilitate the electrical stimulation of human mesenchymal stem cells, resulting in enhancement of their differentiation towards osteogenic outcomes