Neuropsychiatric predictors of occupational persistence in HIV/AIDS.

It is well established that HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), the virus responsible for AIDS, directly attacks the central nervous system, altering cognition, behavior, and affect, and can result in a full dementia syndrome. HIV-associated neurocognitive complications, along with a myriad of other health threats, resulted in significant disability and unemployment for those infected. However, the advent of more effective antiretroviral medications used in combinations, along with homologous improvements in morbidity and mortality, have allowed for people living with HIV/AIDS to return to work, albeit not without challenges. Even mild cognitive impairment has been shown to affect employability and level of occupational functioning. The focus of this dissertation was to develop an understanding of the impact of HIV-associated neurocognitive challenges, the most common neuropsychiatric expression of HIV, on occupational persistence. This study analyzed existing data from a parent study conducted in New York City. The sample consisted of 116 community dwelling HIV positive men and women who were actively seeking employment after being unemployed subsequent to learning of their HIV status. The research design was a longitudinal prospective cohort study testing a multilevel growth model with a two- nested-level structure. The growth model examined individual differences in occupational persistence over a two year time period, testing multiple potential neuropsychological predictors and covariates. Changes in individual growth profiles were investigated, and possible explanations for observed differences were tested. The analysis found that memory is the most potent neuropsychological predictor of occupational success, both in terms of returning to work in the first six months of the study (event), as well as persisting on the job over time (two years). The second most influential neuropsychological predictor was executive functioning, which significantly influenced occupational persistence over time and an accelerated growth trajectory. These central findings along with other significant control interactions are discussed. The study limitations are discussed, along with opportunities for future research. The relevance of these findings is explored, specifically addressing the implications for social work practice and social work education

The President\u27s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR): A Social Work Ethical Analysis and Recommendations

The President\u27s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) is the most recent international social program instituted by the U.S. Government to combat HIV/AIDS. Since its inception in 2003, this foreign policy initiative has dedicated $63 billion for HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment in foreign countries. Despite PEPFAR\u27s many accomplishments, it continues to promote controversial prevention strategies. This paper analyzes these prevention strategies, utilizing social work values as described in the NASW Code of Ethics. Policy, practice, and research implications are discussed

Finishing the euchromatic sequence of the human genome

The sequence of the human genome encodes the genetic instructions for human physiology, as well as rich information about human evolution. In 2001, the International Human Genome Sequencing Consortium reported a draft sequence of the euchromatic portion of the human genome. Since then, the international collaboration has worked to convert this draft into a genome sequence with high accuracy and nearly complete coverage. Here, we report the result of this finishing process. The current genome sequence (Build 35) contains 2.85 billion nucleotides interrupted by only 341 gaps. It covers ∼99% of the euchromatic genome and is accurate to an error rate of ∼1 event per 100,000 bases. Many of the remaining euchromatic gaps are associated with segmental duplications and will require focused work with new methods. The near-complete sequence, the first for a vertebrate, greatly improves the precision of biological analyses of the human genome including studies of gene number, birth and death. Notably, the human enome seems to encode only 20,000-25,000 protein-coding genes. The genome sequence reported here should serve as a firm foundation for biomedical research in the decades ahead

Gulf of Mexico Hurricane Glider Operations in Support of Tropical Cyclone Intensification Forecasts

During the 2019 peak hurricane season, two gliders operated by Texas AM University (TAMU) and the University of Southern Mississippi (USM) and funded by Shell Exploration Production Company were deployed as part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Hurricane Glider Program to collect near-real time subsurface ocean temperature and salinity measurements for data assimilation into global ocean and hurricane models. The missions were designed to resolve regional ocean features that can contribute to hurricane intensity and provide spatial coverage in the event of a tropical cyclone with the intent to capture potential intensification prior to landfall. For the Gulf of Mexico, the Mississippi River plume, Loop Current, and Loop Current Eddies are areas of interest that can contribute to hurricane intensity. Tropical Storms Nester and Olga were named storms during the 2019 season in the Atlantic Basin, and their trajectories passed by the USM and TAMU gliders, respectively. While changes in the sea surface temperature were more likely due to the presence of seasonal fronts rather than the passing of these tropical storms, the data did indicate pockets of subsurface warm water under a freshwater plume from the Mississippi River. Currently, multiple hurricane glider missions are underway in the Gulf of Mexico during a record breaking 2020 season with Hurricane Laura anticipated to make landfall early morning (local time) on Thursday, August 27, 2020 near the Texas/Louisiana border