Advancing Communities of Learning: A Collaborative Project between Local Universities, Funding Agencies, and Nonprofits to Develop a Subsidized Senior-Transportation Plan

The growing population of seniors in the United States poses both interesting and challenging transportation policy issues that demand research on alternatives to current transportation systems. This study was motivated by a local foundation’s interest in senior quality-of-life issues in the communities served. The aim of this study was to assess senior transportation needs and systems as a means to move policy makers and funders closer to providing high-quality senior transportation services. The localized nature of senior transportation needs is best examined as a case study. In this article, one mid-sized Indiana community is examined using focus group interviews and individual surveys of senior citizens. In addition, a survey of the literature on senior-transportation models provided critical information relevant to formulating best-practice recommendations for community-level senior-transportation systems. To design effective senior-transportation systems, five critical factors are evaluated. Finally, the article presents a case study highlighting the importance of multisector collaboration in addressing the challenges and opportunities associated with critical senior-transportation issues in upcoming decades

Gambia continues to defy existing political norms on the African continent

Ismaila Ceesay analyses the surprise defeat of President Yahya Jammeh of Gambia by Adama Barrow in the recent elections

A Bioinformatics Approach for Evaluating Evolutionary Convergence of Gene Family Size in Hematophagous Insects

The act of blood-feeding can be nutritionally rewarding for blood-feeding arthropods. However, blood digestion can release pro-oxidant molecules such as heme and iron at potentially harmful levels. If left uncontrolled, this heme/iron can cause oxidative damage and eventually cell death. This has led to the evolution of various adaptations that protect blood-feeding arthropods against iron- and heme-associated damage. Here I postulate that the signature of this adaptation can be observed in patterns of gene family size. To test this hypothesis, I explore convergent evolutionary expansions and contractions of gene families in distinct lineages of hematophagous insects. Specifically, I compare the gene content present in available genomes from blood- feeding and non-blood feeding arthropods (including outgroup taxa in the Lepidoptera [moths & butterflies]), to identify possible changes in gene family size in the blood-feeding taxa. Of the 206 heme/iron-associated genes identified from the model insect, Drosophila melanogaster, five were overrepresented (potentially duplicated) in the blood-feeding taxa: spook (cyp307A1), spookier (cyp307A2), cytochrome P450 12e1 (cyp12e1), hormone receptor and 51 (Hr51), NADH dehydrogenase (ubiquinone) B16.6 subunit (ND-B16.6), and seven were underrepresented (potentially lost). However, when only Dipteran (fly) and Siphonaptera (flea) genomes were included in the analysis, just one iron gene and one heme gene (NADH dehydrogenase (ubiquinone) PDSW subunit (ND-PDSW) were overrepresented in the blood- feeding taxa. Interestingly, the expanded cytochrome genes are known detoxifiers of many compounds, including heme and iron. More broadly, the analytical approach I employee here could be used to evaluate functional convergence for other phenotypic traits, conditional on the availability of annotated genomic data

Corruption in Sub-Saharan Africa - An Impediment to Economic Growth

Sub-Saharan Africa is faced with many challenges. It is a region bulging with resources but cursed with incredible political and economic greed. With a vast ethnic diversity and an often misconstrued cultural lifestyle, which puts the region on the marginalization line. From a historical context, the impact of colonialism has haplessly set the environment for low leadership standards. The background setting for Sub-Saharan Africa’s economic underdevelopment is uninhibited corruption that exists within Sub-Saharan African societies. This institutional corruption takes a triangular cause - cultural, economic and political; each, together with so many other factors threaten Sub-Saharan Africa’s socio-economic development

Exploring the role of CESA5 in the synthesis of cellulose using Physcomitrella patens

Cellulose is very essential to plants because it determines the shape of cells, protects them from pathogens, and helps retain water that is needed for plant functions. It is also the major component of wood, cotton, and paper, which are items we use on a daily basis. Also, it can be used for the synthesis of biofuels. However, cellulose exists as strong fibers, which make it hard to breakdown for biofuel synthesis. If we can understand how cellulose is synthesized we can manipulate its fibers to make them stronger, more flexible, more absorbent, or easier to break down for use as biofuels. Cellulose synthase complexes are observed by electron microscopy in the plasma membrane and Golgi vesicles of algae and plants. However, the different CESA proteins cannot be identified using this technique. Therefore, the number of CESAs in a complex is still unknown as well as their stoichiometry. Regulation of the activity and assembly of the complex are also unknown. A general idea is that there are certain CESAs that are responsible for the formation of the primary cell wall, and others that are responsible for the secondary cell wall in vascular plants. But, the moss Physcomitrella patens has only primary cell walls and still has seven different CESAs. The purpose of this project is to study the properties and characteristics of cellulose synthase 5 (CESA5). Understanding the role of CESA5 in P. patens can lead to a better understanding of the evolution of the cellulose synthase complex and the formation of cellulose. This can ultimately enable us to break down cellulose for biofuels and use it as a possible solution to global warming. During the course of this project, a miniSOG-tagged CESA 5 expression clone was successfully created using Gateway cloning. Polymerase chain reaction and a BP reaction were used to make a tandem-miniSOG entry clone and an LR reaction was used to insert the entry clones into the destination vector. The destination vector was transformed into the moss. Phenotypic analysis will be performed on the transformed lines to gain insight onto the function of CESA 5 in the synthesis of cellulose

Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Civil Society Organisations in The Gambia

The pandemic affected the funding of Gambian CSOs in many ways with 44% reporting delayed or reduced funding from donors. This notwithstanding, the study found that the COVID-19 pandemic has no significant impact on CSO-donor relations as the majority (43%) of CSOs consider donors to be flexible with regards to their needs.The majority of CSOs revealed that the current situation makes them feel distressed over their long-term sustainability. CSOs are not so optimistic about the effects of COVID-19 on the overall sustainability of the CSO sector with 94 % (50% to a very high extent) having this feeling. Nevertheless, the majority of the sampled CSOs (81%) reported that they had adopted the strategy of working in partnership where they actively collaborate with other CSOs in mitigating the effects of COVID-19

THE WEST AFRICA-LATIN AMERICA DRUG TRAFFICKING EPIDEMIC; AN INSTITUTIONAL ANALYSIS

West Africa, like any other region in the world, has had to swallow its fair share of modern-day political, economic and social dilemmas. One phenomenon that has had huge negative implications on the political, economic and social spheres of almost every country on the face of the earth is the production, trafficking, marketing and consumption of illicit drugs. The countries in West Africa have not been spared of the negative consequences of illicit drugs. While some countries have an illicit drug production problem, others have a consumption problem. The countries in West Africa have an illicit drug trafficking problem. The current transcontinental drug trade in hard drugs in West Africa is rising at such a high rate and has captured the attention of the world because of the magnanimity of the negative political consequences in the region. The scale of the current Latin American drug trade transmitting through West Africa has never been seen before and so are its political consequences in the region. The fact that diplomats, political figures, non-governmental organizations and almost all sectors of civil society and security services are so concerned about it justifies how very different the present West African international drug trade has become. There is a very high chance that if the current trend in drug infiltration continues, most countries, especially Guinea-Bissau, in the region will be plunged into chaos and political instability because they do not have strong institutions to deal with the infestation. In other words, the infiltration of the region by Europe-bound illicit drugs from Latin America, coupled with the weak institutions in most of the region\u27s sixteen countries, will result in sustained political disorder. Therefore, a well-researched thesis on this contemporary phenomenon is warranted

The Importance of Assessment and Communication as Fundamental Skills of Nursing Practice

Chapelhow et al. (2005) stated nursing assessments are non-static. One of the aspects of the nursing assessment procedure is that a set of customised results are agreed, which can be achieved through established teamwork and efficient communication. The Chapelhow Framework was established around six enablers: assessment, communication, risk management, managing uncertainty, record keeping and documentation, professional judgement and decision making. These enablers help healthcare professionals including student nurses to develop their skills to the best of their ability to deliver holistic and person-centred care. This article will discuss two of the enablers: assessment and communication, exploring the importance of effective assessment and communication, and the barriers highlighted in delivering and upholding the duty of care in the health sector

From Bail Bondsmen to Risk Assessments: Assessing Kentucky\u27s Pretrial Release Approaches

As one of only four states that ban bail bond companies, Kentucky is an experiment in the “laboratory of democracy,” which is made even more interesting because the state has tried three different approaches to pretrial release—the Pre-1976 approach, the 1976 to 2011 approach, and the 2011 to present approach. An assessment of these approaches show s how state actions and inaction can affect the right to pretrial release and underscores the importance of adopting appropriate state pretrial release policies

Dynamics of Physician Practice Management

This VoiceThread is a highlight of the major learning experiences of my practicum. The most talk about were the cancellations and no-show project, and mitigation strategies to combat canellation and no-shows