Advocating for Integration: Acculturation in a Non-profit Serving Immigrants Organization

This paper presents acculturation practices in a non-profit, serving immigrants organization in a Midwestern city in the United States. Although the programs and services offered at this organization become pertinent vis-à-vis the welfare of the immigrants, their expected outcomes seem to foment the Americanization of the organization’s clients. Through a critical examination, certain services and practices within this organization respond to a unidirectional process of acculturation, in which the immigrants turn out to be the ones who have to acquire certain sociocultural and linguistic repertoires for them to adapt and fit in the U.S. mainstream society. The utilization of the concept of Integration within the lens of acculturation, and the proposal of a service-learning project, emerge as a response to promote a bidirectional acculturation, bicultural integration, understanding and learning between immigrants and the mainstream community

ICT, open government and civil society

Abstract This paper explores the rise of ICTs as instruments of government reform and the implication of their use from the vantage point of the relations between democratic governance, the aims of Buen Vivir, and the role of civil society. We discuss some of the contradictions inherent in the nature and organisation of ICTs, particularly in connection to such e-government projects as “smart cities” and participatory budgeting, and focus on the centrality of social relationships, political agency and the operations of social capital as elements that determine the success of these initiatives in the promotion of democratic practice. We also examine the relevance of social capital and user control to organisational structure and the ways in which structure relates to social innovation and the access, transfer and diffusion of knowledge as a common good. The paper concludes with a discussion of the significance of ICTs as instruments of civil empowerment and introduces the notion of “generative democracy” as a means of re-imagining and realigning the role and powers of the state and civil society for the social production of goods and services

Evaluation of Selected Medicinal Plants Extracted in Different Ethanol Concentrations for Antibacterial Activity against Human Pathogens

Medicinal plant extracts prepared with selected ethanol concentrations from eight species, Peumus boldus (boldo leaf), Agathosma betulina (buchu leaf), Echinacea angustifolia (echinacea root), Humulus lupulus (hops strobile), Glycyrrhiza glabra (licorice root), Mahonia aquifolium (Oregon grape root), Usnea barbata (usnea lichen), and Anemopsis californica (yerba mansa root), were screened for antibacterial activity against four Gram-positive and four Gram-negative pathogens. The antibacterial activity of the extracts (50, 70, and 90% ethanol) was evaluated using a standard well assay and microbroth dilution method. Minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBCs) were also determined for each extract. Plant extracts showed strong antibacterial action against Gram-positive bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus, methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Staphylococcus epidermidis and Streptococcus pyogenes, while negligible to no inhibitory activity against Gram-negative bacteria; Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Salmonella enteritidis was observed. Among the plant extracts, the boldo, hops, licorice and yerba mansa exhibited a strong antibacterial action at all three ethanol concentrations. Of these four, hops showed the strongest activity at 90% ethanol. Echinacea angustifolia extracts did not show any considerable antibacterial activity, while usnea showed strong activity only at 90% against S. epidermis. Except Echinacea angustifolia and usnea, the plant extracts were strongly inhibitory towards the MRSA strain. Buchu, yerba mansa and Oregon grape showed higher activity at 50% or 70% on MRSA. MBCs varied from 1/4 to \u3e1/256 dilution levels and were in agreement with well assay results. The results suggest that the extracts of boldo, hops, licorice and yerba mansa could be considered as potentially effective antibacterial agents against Gram-positive bacteria including MRSA. For hops, buchu, Oregon grape and usnea, the activity is dependent on the concentration of ethanol used in the extraction procedure. The ratio of ethanol/water mixture used for extraction of medicinal plants is an important factor to obtain optimum antibacterial activity

Viewpoint: A response to Screening and isolation to control methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus: Sense, nonsense, and evidence

Surveillance and isolation for the prevention of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has become a controversial topic, one that causes heated debate and appears to be surrounded by both politics and industrial conflicts-of-interest. There have been calls from numerous authors for a movement away from rigid mandates and toward an evidence-based medicine approach. However, much of the evidence can be viewed with an entirely different interpretation. Two major studies with negative findings have had an adverse impact on recommendations regarding active detection and isolation (ADI) for MRSA. However the negative findings in these studies can be explained by shortcomings in study implementation rather than the ineffectiveness of ADI. The use of daily chlorhexidine bathing has also been proposed as an alternative to ADI in ICU settings. There are shortcomings regarding the evidence in the literature concerning the effectiveness of daily chlorhexidine bathing. One of the major concerns with universal daily chlorhexidine bathing is the development of bacterial resistance. The use of surveillance and isolation to address epidemics and common dangerous pathogens should solely depend upon surveillance and isolation\u27s ability to prevent further spread to and infection of other patients through indirect contact. At present, there is a preponderance of evidence in the literature to support continuing use of surveillance and isolation to prevent the spread of MRSA

Much Work Still to Be Done to Prevent Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections

Central Line Associated Bloodstream Infections (CLABSI) are all too common and often fatal events. To estimate the number of preventable CLABSIs, the authors analyzed SIR (Standardized Infection Ratio) and the number of CLABSI data from Hospital Com-pare. Several studies have suggested that an SIR of 0.35 may be achievable. If all institutions were able to perform at this level, then almost 50% of CLABSI would be prevented

The Relationship Between Tort Reform and Medical Utilization

NTRODUCTION: The hidden cost of defensive medicine has been cited by policymakers as a significant driving force in the increase of our nation\u27s health-care costs. If this hypothesis is correct, one would expect that states with higher levels of tort reform will have a decrease in Medicare utilization and that medical utilization will decrease after tort reform is enacted. METHODS: State-level reimbursement data for years 1999 to 2010 (the last year available) was obtained from the Dartmouth Atlas of Health Care. Medical tort rankings for the 50 states were obtained from the Pacific Research Institute (PRI) and correlated with state medical utilization for the year 2010. In 3 states, Mississippi, Nevada, and Texas, data were available to make pretort and posttort reform comparisons. RESULTS: Data analysis between total state Medicare Reimbursements and the PRI\u27s tort rankings showed no significant observed correlation. In 6 Medicare utilization categories (total Medicare, hospital and skilled nursing facility, physician, home health agency, hospice, and durable medical equipment), a negative trend was observed when correlated with PRI tort rankings. This trend does not support the hypothesis that defensive medicine is a major driver of health-care expenditures. Tracking expenditures in the states of Texas, Nevada, and Mississippi, before and after passage of comprehensive medical tort reform gave inconsistent results and did not demonstrate substantial or meaningful total Medicare savings. In Mississippi, there was a trend of decreased expenditures after medical tort reform was passed. However, in Texas, where 80% of the analyzed enrollees resided, there was a trend of progressive increasing expenditures after tort reform was passed. CONCLUSION: The comparison of the Dartmouth Atlas Medicare Reimbursement Data with Malpractice Reform State Rankings, which are used by the PRI, did not support the hypothesis that defensive medicine is a driver of rising health-care costs. Additionally, comparing Medicare reimbursements, premedical and postmedical tort reform, we found no consistent effect on health-care expenditures. Together, these data indicate that medical tort reform seems to have little to no effect on overall Medicare cost savings

A evolução da carreira acadêmica nas universidades com foco na pesquisa no Chile

Faculty members are fundamental for the development and success of higher education organizations, and building strong academic cadres is a major challenge, especially for research universities. While there are no fully-fledged research universities in Chile (Bernasconi, 2007), a few strive to get closer to that ideal by way of the professionalization their faculty. This study follows this process guided by the question “How do academic rules and guidelines in six research-oriented universities in Chile reflect the professionalization of the academic profession from 1967 to 2016?” Findings show that universities have converged in the structure they provide for their tenured and tenure-track faculty. The requirements to enter the “tenure track” career have become stricter over time, while adjunct faculty experience little regulation of their duties, governance rights, and benefits, even though they still constitute the highest proportion of faculty members overall. Lastly, it seems that these universities have changed their academic regulations over time as a response to internal processes rather than external pressures.El cuerpo académico es fundamental para el desarrollo y el éxito de las instituciones de educación superior, y la conformación de equipos académicos sólidos es un desafío importante, especialmente para las universidades de investigación. Si bien no hay universidades de investigación en Chile (Bernasconi, 2007), algunas se esfuerzan por acercarse a ese ideal, a través de la profesionalización de su cuerpo académico. Este estudio fue guiado por la siguiente pregunta ¿Cuál es la evolución de los reglamentos académicos y planes de desarrollo institucional en universidades con orientación de investigación en Chile desde 1967 a la fecha? Los hallazgos preliminares señalan que las universidades estudiadas coinciden actualmente en tener una jerarquía académica similar al menos en cuanto a sus responsabilidades y se han vuelto más estrictos con el tiempo. Sin embargo, los académicos adjuntos experimentan poca regulación de sus deberes, derechos de gobernabilidad y beneficios, aunque todavía constituyen la proporción más alta de los académicos en dichas instituciones. Por último, parece que estas universidades han cambiado sus regulaciones académicas a lo largo del tiempo como respuesta a procesos internos en lugar de presiones externas.O corpo acadêmico é fundamental para o desenvolvimento e o sucesso das instituições de ensino superior, e a formação de sólidas equipes acadêmicas é um desafio importante, especialmente para universidades de pesquisa. Embora não existam universidades de pesquisa no Chile (Bernasconi, 2007), alguns se esforçam para abordar esse ideal, através da profissionalização de seu corpo acadêmico. Este estudo foi orientado pela seguinte questão: Qual é a evolução dos regulamentos acadêmicos e planos de desenvolvimento institucional em universidades com orientação de pesquisa no Chile desde 1967 até o momento? Os resultados preliminares indicam que as universidades estudadas atualmente coincidem em ter uma hierarquia acadêmica similar pelo menos em termos de suas responsabilidades e se tornaram mais rigorosas ao longo do tempo. No entanto, acadêmicos adjuntos experimentam pouca regulação de seus deveres, direitos de governança e benefícios, embora ainda constituam a maior proporção de acadêmicos nessas instituições. Finalmente, parece que essas universidades mudaram seus regulamentos acadêmicos ao longo do tempo em resposta a processos internos e não a pressões externas.

Metal Removal by Seaweed Biomass

Environmental metal pollution is a serious public problem, and it has become an issue leading to research in the effluent remediation area. Techniques involving biosorption processes have been found to be promising due to the low cost of nonliving biomaterials, which have the potential to adsorb metal ions from wastewaters. One of the most promising types of biomasses to be used as biosorbents is the seaweed biomass, particularly from brown algae. The biosorption capability of the seaweed biomass relies on their cell wall chemical composition, mainly composed of alginates and fucoidans, molecules with a high presence of functional groups that interact with metal ions. This book chapter focuses on the use of seaweed biomass for metal biosorption and the chemical basis underlying the process. The current state of the commercial status of biosorption technology based on seaweed biomass is presented. Examples of complementary uses of the algae biomass other than industrial wastewater cleaning processes are presented, and the potential reuse of the biomass after the biosorption focused on biofuel production is discussed

The Use of Surveillance and Preventative Measures for Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus Infections in Surgical Patients

The Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality (AHRQ) found that Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is associated with up to 375,000 infections and 23,000 deaths in the United States. It is a major cause of surgical site infections, with a higher mortality and longer duration of care than Methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus. A multifactorial bundled approach is needed to control this epidemic, with single interventions unlikely to have a significant impact on attenuating MRSA infection rates.Active surveillance has been studied in a wide range of surgical patients, including surgical intensive care and non-intensive care units; cardiac, vascular, orthopedic, obstetric, head and neck cancer and gastrostomy patients. There is sufficient evidence demonstrating a beneficial effect of surveillance and eradication prior to surgery to recommend its use on an expanded basis.Studies on MRSA surveillance in surgical patients that were published over the last 10 years were reviewed. In at least five of these studies, the MRSA colonization status of patients was reported to be a factor in preoperative antibiotic selection, with the modification of treatment regiments including the switching to vancomycin or teicoplanin in MRSA positive preoperative patients. Several authors also used decolonization protocols on all preoperative patients but used surveillance to determine the duration of the decolonization.Universal decolonization of all patients, regardless of MRSA status has been advocated as an alternative prevention protocol in which surveillance is not utilized. Concern exists regarding antimicrobial stewardship. The daily and universal use of intranasal antibiotics and/or antiseptic washes may encourage the promotion of bacterial resistance and provide a competitive advantage to other more lethal organisms.Decolonization protocols which indiscriminately neutralize all bacteria may not be the best approach. If a patient\u27s microbiome is markedly challenged with antimicrobials, rebuilding it with replacement commensal bacteria may become a future therapy.Preoperative MRSA surveillance allows the selection of appropriate prophylactic antibiotics, the use of extended decolonization protocols in positive patients, and provides needed data for epidemiological studies