Repetitions and reflections in Chronicle of a Death Foretold

Gabriel Garcia Marquez' Chronicle of ~ Death Foretold is a spiralling search for satisfying explanations of why events occur as they do. The first sentences prefigure the book's concern with the nature of memory and our perception of reality as describable in words. The narrator's declared intention of reassembling "the broken mirror of memory" allows the scrutiny of many kinds of reflections: dream images, recollections and retrospective insights, repetitions and contradictions. Memory is both individual and collective; separate voices are joined in a town history. The story of a small town murder becomes a chronicle of a universal need to understand the purpose of life. The fallibility of memory and of words is expanded into the impossibility of recovering the past objectively. We are able to perceive repeated patterns of behavior but the meaning of history eludes us. Interwoven throughout the cycling narrative fabric of repetitions, mockeries and fragmented insights are affirmations of the creativity and strength of human imagination, and Chronicle is ultimately a celebration of the power of words, despite the inadequacy of language to mirror objective reality

Research in the Work of New Zealand Teacher Educators: A CHAT Perspective

Accepted for publication version - Pre-proof and correctionsIn this article we use Cultural Historical Activity Theory (CHAT) to explore the place of research in the work of New Zealand university-based teacher educators (TEs). We consider how aspirations for a research-informed initial teacher education (ITE) are served by New Zealand universities’ recruitment practices and TE’s actual work. We suggest that TEs value scholarship that informs their practice and are motivated to research, despite working within institutions where employment practices are bifurcating the teacher educator (TE) workforce along lines of who can and should do research and who should not. We cite evidence from interviews to suggest TEs, and those in leadership positions who have been involved in TE recruitment, recognize the importance of research to inform practice and teaching. However, this conflicts with the language of advertisements and job descriptions where for some TE roles, the practice of research and scholarship are not an object of work. In response, we encourage those responsible for TE work force development to support and employ TEs able to engage in high standards of scholarship and teaching, and in so doing provide their students with research- and practice-informed teaching.Peer Reviewe

Constructing the academic category of teacher educator in Aotearoa New Zealand university recruitment processes.

Accepted for publication version - Pre-proof and correctionsAn examination of recruitment materials and interviews with personnel involved in the employment of teacher educators to positions in university-based New Zealand initial teacher education reveals three constructions of teacher educator as academic worker: the professional expert, the dually qualified, and the traditional academic. However, our analysis shows how these constructions allow universities to pursue a bifurcated approach to the employment of teacher educators; an approach that maintains binaries within teacher education and hinders development in the field. Furthermore, as the spectre of a major cultural shift in the provision of New Zealand ITE arises, the extent to which the professional expert and traditional academic constructions of teacher educator might serve the scope of work required of post-graduate ITE going forth is questioned.Peer Reviewe

Social Support and Smoking Abstinence among Incarcerated Adults in the United States: A Longitudinal Study

Background: In the United States, tobacco use among prisoners is nearly three times that of the general population. While many American prisons and jails are now tobacco-free, nearly all inmates return to smoking as soon as they are released back into the community. Methods: To better understand the role that personal relationships may play in enabling return to smoking, we enrolled former-smokers who were inmates in a tobacco-free prison. Baseline assessments were conducted six weeks prior to inmates’ scheduled release and included measures of smoking prior to incarceration, motivation, confidence and plans for remaining quit after release. We also assessed global social support (ISEL) and a measure of social support specific to quitting smoking (SSQ). Smoking status was assessed three weeks after prison release and included 7-day point-prevalence abstinence validated by urine cotinine, days to first cigarette and smoking rate. Results: A diverse sample comprised of 35% women, 20% Hispanic, and 29% racial minorities (average age 35.5 years) provided baseline data (n = 247). Over 90% of participants provided follow up data at 3-weeks post-release. Prior to incarceration participants had smoked an average of 21.5 (SD = 11.7) cigarettes per day. Only 29.2% had definite plans to remain smoking-abstinent after release. Approximately half of all participants reported that “most” or “all” of their family (42.2%) and friends (68%) smoked, and 58.8% reported their spouse or romantic partner smoked. SSQ scores were not significantly predictive of smoking outcomes at three weeks, however, social support from family and friends were each significantly and positively correlated with motivation, confidence, and plans for remaining abstinent (all p values Conclusions: Inmates of smoke-free prisons have a head-start on being smoke-free for life. They have been abstinent well past the duration of nicotine withdrawal and have great financial incentive not to begin smoking again. However, this advantage may be offset by a lack of non-smoking role models among their family and friends, and perceived lack of support for remaining smoke-free. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT0168499

The association between impulsivity and alcohol/drug use among prison inmates

Background: Few studies have examined the relation between impulsivity and drug involvement with prison inmates, in spite of their heavy drug use. Among this small body of work, most studies look at clinically relevant drug dependence, rather than drug use specifically. Method: N = 242 adult inmates (34.8% female, 52% White) with an average age of 35.58 (SD = 9.19) completed a modified version of the 15-item Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS) and measures assessing lifetime alcohol, opiate, benzodiazepine, cocaine, cannabis, hallucinogen, and polysubstance use. Lifetime users also reported the frequency of use for the 30 days prior to incarceration. Results: Impulsivity was higher among lifetime users (versus never users) of all substances other than cannabis. Thirty day drug use frequency was only related to impulsivity for opiates and alcohol. Discussion: This study extends prior work, by showing that a lifetime history of non-clinical substance use is positively associated with impulsivity among prison inmates. Implications for drug interventions are considered for this population, which is characterized by high rates of substance use and elevated impulsivity

Changes in Depression and Stress after Release from a Tobacco-Free Prison in the United States

Prior research has found high levels of depression and stress among persons who are incarcerated in the United States (U.S.). However, little is known about changes in depression and stress levels among inmates post-incarceration. The aim of this study was to examine changes in levels of depression and stress during and after incarceration in a tobacco-free facility. Questionnaires that included valid and reliable measures of depression and stress were completed by 208 male and female inmates approximately eight weeks before and three weeks after release from a northeastern U.S. prison. Although most inmates improved after prison, 30.8% had a worsening in levels of depression between baseline and the three-week follow-up. In addition, 29.8% had a worsening in levels of stress after release than during incarceration. While it is not surprising that the majority of inmates reported lower levels of depression and stress post-incarceration, a sizable minority had an increase in symptoms, suggesting that environmental stressors may be worse in the community than in prison for some inmates. Further research is needed to address depression and stress levels during and after incarceration in order for inmates to have a healthier transition back into the community and to prevent repeat incarcerations

HIV Continuum of Care for Youth in the United States

BACKGROUND: Beneficial HIV treatment outcomes require success at multiple steps along the HIV Continuum of Care. Youth living with HIV are a key population, and sites in the Adolescent Medicine Trials Network for HIV/AIDS Interventions (ATN) are known for modeling optimum HIV adolescent care. METHODS: A longitudinal cohort study conducted at 14 network sites across the United States assessed how the later steps of the Continuum of Care were achieved among the youth: engagement, treatment, and viral load (VL) suppression. Youth aged 13-24 who were behaviorally infected with HIV and linked to care at an ATN-affiliated site were eligible to participate. RESULTS: A total of 467 youth were enrolled and had 1 year of available data. Most were aged 22-24 (57%), male (79%), and black/non-Hispanic (71%). Most used alcohol (81%) and marijuana (61%) in the 3 months before enrollment, and 40% had a history of incarceration. Among this cohort of youth, 86% met criteria for care engagement; among these, 98% were prescribed antiretroviral therapy and 89% achieved VL suppression. Sustained VL suppression at all measured time points was found among 59% with initial suppression. Site characteristics were notable for the prevalence of adherence counseling (100%), case management (100%), clinic-based mental health (93%), and substance use (64%) treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Youth living with HIV in the United States can be successfully treated at health care sites with experience, excellence, and important resources and services. Sustained VL suppression may be an important step to add to the Continuum of Care for youth

Redesigning Nursing Education to Build Healthier Communities: An Innovative Cross-Sector Collaboration.

Today\u27s health care environment requires registered nurses to be prepared for an array of practice settings, providing care outside the hospital and directly in the community. There is increasing focus on wellness, prevention, access to care, and mental health services for an aging and more diverse population. To improve alignment of education with increasingly complex needs, donor-advised funding supported four prelicensure nursing schools to transform their curricula. Selected schools were guided through a curriculum redesign process emphasizing community and continuum of care. This innovation was consistent with meeting challenges to realize the Institute of Medicine\u27s 2011 Future of Nursing recommendations

Brain health: the importance of recognizing cognitive impairment: an IAGG consensus conference

Cognitive impairment creates significant challenges for patients, their families and friends, and clinicians who provide their health care. Early recognition allows for diagnosis and appropriate treatment, education, psychosocial support, and engagement in shared decision-making regarding life planning, health care, involvement in research, and financial matters. An IAGG-GARN consensus panel examined the importance of early recognition of impaired cognitive health. Their major conclusion was that case-finding by physicians and health professionals is an important step toward enhancing brain health for aging populations throughout the world. This conclusion is in keeping with the position of the United States' Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services that reimburses for detection of cognitive impairment as part the of Medicare Annual Wellness Visit and with the international call for early detection of cognitive impairment as a patient's right. The panel agreed on the following specific findings: (1) validated screening tests are available that take 3 to 7 minutes to administer; (2) a combination of patient- and informant-based screens is the most appropriate approach for identifying early cognitive impairment; (3) early cognitive impairment may have treatable components; and (4) emerging data support a combination of medical and lifestyle interventions as a potential way to delay or reduce cognitive decline