Swallowing Mexico without any grease : The absence of controversy over the feasibility of annexing all Mexico, 1847--1848

This study contributes to the historiography of the all Mexico movement by showing that America\u27s ability to annex its southern neighbor was never a part of the all Mexico debate. The thesis argues that common American perceptions of the United States and Mexico during the Mexican-American War undermined any grounds on which to challenge the achievability of annexation. Chapter I shows that no politician, regardless of his stance on the value of absorbing Mexico, questioned the feasibility of doing so. Chapter II then demonstrates that portrayals of the United States and Mexico in American newspapers supported confidence in the American ability to dominate its enemy. Finally, chapter III reveals that even American soldiers who came face to face with the realities of the occupation held similar perceptions and shared the common confidence in American capability

The Social Environmental Elements of Resilience among Vulnerable African American/Black Men who have Sex with Men

Resilience theory has been suggested as a strong framework for research on HIV prevention among men who have sex with men (MSM). Among this population, literature indicates that African American/Black MSM are particularly vulnerable to health and social disparities associated with HIV transmission risk. Conceptualizing resilience as a part of one’s social environment, this qualitative study investigates the specific elements of resilience, and the associated contexts and relationships, among a sample of 21 substance-using African American/Black MSM. Data indicate that (1) elements contributing to resilience are multiple and co-occurring, including inner strengths, social relationships, diversity of experience, religion/spirituality, altruism, and creativity; (2) as an element of resilience, social support was experienced differently among men who did and did not have supportive relationships with other gay and bisexual men, which has implications for social service provision and intervention approaches; and (3) diversity of experiences and relationships is an important influencing factor on expressions of resilience. Social services or interventions that facilitate the development of these elements of resilience will likely be especially beneficial for vulnerable African American/Black MSM

Elect

Digital poetry choreography involves mending two visions and interpretations into one. This piece is inspired by Johannes Helden’s digital poem, which is utilized as the backdrop of Allyson’s choreography. Her choreography is athletic, specific, and emotionally driven. Allyson merged her own interpretation of the poem to the research she found on “Elect.” The first thing she noticed was that her assigned digital poem was intriguing and beautiful, yet had an aspect that depicted a sense of overwhelming anxiety. The digital visual shows an immense tree with birds flying around and disappearing as new phrases appear on the screen. Since anxiety was a stated goal of Helden’s, it was necessary to promote this feeling in her piece. Allyson drew out her dancers authentic feelings through their individual artistry, so the audience would feel what they feel: anxiety. She tried to manipulate Helden’s cut-up technique into her own choreography so she could integrate the meaning of the poem in the same fashion as he did. The technique of the poem is the most important aspect of the poem itself. Allyson interpreted the meaning of Helden’s work as the process of creation. Mental processes of creation seemed to parallel the manipulation of the cut-up technique. Revealing different phrases in the wrong order takes the main dancer through stress of trying to put her ideas, which are the other dancers, into one cohesive creation. Visually, the tree represents the brain and main dancer while the birds represent the thoughts. The actual content of the poem is very dark. This adds to the anxiety from the cut-up technique because it makes it more difficult to put the pieces together as an audience member. Combining darkness, anxiety, mental processes, creation, and the cut-up technique is how Allyson mended Helden’s vision with hers

The Informal Use of Antiretroviral Medications for HIV Prevention by Men Who Have Sex With Men in South Florida: Initiation, Use Practices, Medications and Motivations

Limited data suggest that some gay and other men who have sex with men are using antiretroviral medications informally, without a prescription, for HIV prevention. This qualitative study examined this phenomenon among gay and other men who have sex with men in South Florida. Participants initiated informal antiretroviral medication use as a means of protecting each other and because of the confidence in knowledge of antiretroviral medications shared by their friends and sex partners. The most commonly used medications included Truvada and Stribild. Motivations for use included condom avoidance, risk reduction, and fear of recent HIV exposure. Participants described positive and negative sentiments related to informal use, including concerns about informal antiretroviral medications offering sufficient protection against HIV, and limited knowledge about pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). Because the antiretroviral medications used for PrEP have the potential to prevent HIV infection, future research must consider the informal antiretroviral medication use and related concerns, including adherence, diversion and viral resistance

A Mixed Methods Study of Health and Social Disparities among Substance-Using African American/Black Men who have Sex with Men

African American/Black men who have sex with men (MSM) in the USA experience health and social disparities at greater rates than MSM of other races/ethnicities, including HIV infection and substance use. This mixed methods paper presents: (1) a quantitative examination of health and social disparities among a sample of substance-using African American/Black MSM (N = 108) compared to Caucasian/White MSM (N = 250) and (2) in-depth qualitative data from a subsample of African American/Black MSM (N = 21) in order to contextualize the quantitative data. Findings indicate that compared to Caucasian/White MSM, African American/Black MSM experienced a wide range of health and social disparities including: substance use and dependence; buying, trading or selling sex; educational attainment; employment; homelessness; identifying as gay; HIV status; arrest history; social support; and satisfaction with one’s living situation. Qualitative data suggests that structural interventions that address homophobia and the social environment would be likely to mitigate many of the health and social disparities experienced by African American/Black MSM

Alternate Routes of Administration among Prescription Opioid Misusers and Associations with Sexual HIV Transmission Risk Behaviors

Literature suggests that young adult prescription opioid misusers who are using alternate routes of administration (e.g., snorting, injecting) may be engaging in sexual and non-sexual HIV risk behaviors. This study examines demographics, substance use, sexual risk behavior, and health and social problems associated with alternate routes of administration of prescription opioids among a sample of young adult prescription opioid misusers. Data are drawn from baseline assessments from a behavioral intervention trial. Eligible participants were ages 18–39, and reported recent (past 90 days) heterosexual sex, and recent and regular substance use and attendance at large, recognized local nightclubs. The analyses include 446 racially/ethnically diverse participants. In bivariate regression models, compared to those who did not, participants reporting alternate routes of administration (n = 209) were more likely to be White (p \u3c 0.025) and report group sex participation history (p = 0.002), sex with an injection drug user (p = 0.003), sexual victimization history (p = 0.003), and severe mental distress (p \u3c 0.000). White race, group sex participation history, and severe mental distress remained significant in the multivariate model. Alternate routes of administration of prescription opioids are associated with sexual HIV transmission risk behaviors. Early prevention and intervention efforts that address sexual and non-sexual HIV risk behaviors are warranted