Dirty Recycling: Auto Salvage and Its Potential Impacts on Marginalized Populations

The salvage yard represents the final waypoint in the cradle-to-grave cycle of the automobile. Residual amounts of petroleum hydrocarbons, heavy metals, and acids used in automobiles can be extremely harmful to human health and the environment if not managed correctly. The purpose of this study was to assess the extent to which minority populations were exposed to the hazards of the auto salvage industry. Census data for population, income, race/ethnicity, sex, and age were organized using ArcGIS software. Population demographics were analyzed in the areas surrounding 98 auto salvage yards found in Philadelphia and Adams Counties, Pennsylvania. In Philadelphia County, the results showed that low-income minorities, females, and 65+ individuals are over represented groups near auto salvage yards. Conversely, Adams County showed few spatial relationships in demographic distribution. Our findings suggest that in urban counties, such as Philadelphia, depressed property values have resulted in a large percentage of below average income minorities inhabiting areas in close proximity to auto salvage yards. On the other hand, auto salvage yards in rural areas, such as Adams County, do not appear to have the same effect because population density and racial diversity are much lower

A Phenomenological Study of Church Growth Strategies Used by Pastors of Digital Churches during the COVID-19 Pandemic

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the digital church growth methods that pastors of digital churches in the United States used to increase church attendance during the 2020-2022 COVID-19 pandemic. For the purpose of this study, pastors of digital/online churches were studied. Since the 1950s, the church growth strategy for many Christian churches has been to attract as many people as possible for in-person worship services. However, in-person church attendance has declined consistently for the past 20 years. The shutdowns of churches worldwide during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic amplified this trend. The only option available to attend church and connect with other people of faith during the pandemic was through digital and social media platforms, such as Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram. Although life has shifted globally to the post-COVID-19 era, in-person church attendance has remained relatively low. Adding a digital strategy can be a resourceful option to help increase church growth in attendance, financially, and in discipleship. After all, there are nearly eight billion people worldwide; according to research, more than four billion are on social media and digital platforms for up to four hours a day, seven days a week

Crystal structures of the human Dysferlin inner DysF domain

Background: Mutations in dysferlin, the first protein linked with the cell membrane repair mechanism, causes a group of muscular dystrophies called dysferlinopathies. Dysferlin is a type two-anchored membrane protein, with a single C terminal trans-membrane helix, and most of the protein lying in cytoplasm. Dysferlin contains several C2 domains and two DysF domains which are nested one inside the other. Many pathogenic point mutations fall in the DysF domain region. Results: We describe the crystal structure of the human dysferlin inner DysF domain with a resolution of 1.9 Angstroms. Most of the pathogenic mutations are part of aromatic/arginine stacks that hold the domain in a folded conformation. The high resolution of the structure show that these interactions are a mixture of parallel ring/guanadinium stacking, perpendicular H bond stacking and aliphatic chain packing. Conclusions: The high resolution structure of the Dysferlin DysF domain gives a template on which to interpret in detail the pathogenic mutations that lead to disease

A Children\u27s Concert: Kennesaw State University Wind Symphony

The Kennesaw State University Wind Symphony, under the direction of Dr. Debra Traficante, present a special concert of children\u27s music, complete with narration. Presented virtually from Morgan Concert Hall of the Bailey Performance Center.https://digitalcommons.kennesaw.edu/musicprograms/2323/thumbnail.jp

Political Participation in Physical Therapy: Attitudes and Perceptions Across the Practice Spectrum

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Political participation has been identified by the APTA as one way to engage in social responsibility. Among the traditional professions, including health care, political participation is encouraged as a professional duty to society through professional codes of ethics and educational preparation. Currently, no research exists on PT professionals’ attitudes regarding political participation. The purpose of this study was to explore physical therapists’ perceptions and experiences surrounding political participation.METHODS:A phenomenological qualitative approach was employed to gather data from 4 semi-structured focus groups regarding physical therapists’ perceptions surrounding political participation. Participants included 22 physical therapists and 1 physical therapist assistant from the acute, outpatient, and inpatient rehabilitation practice settings. Audio data from each focus group was transcribed, returned to subjects for verification, and independently coded and themed by the researchers. Methods such as purposive sampling, member checks, peer debriefings and triangulation were used to support the dependability and trustworthiness of the study.RESULTS:Multiple themes emerged within four categories. The “individual” category included one’s views about political participation, specifically as a professional role. The behaviors and outcomes” category included the actions individuals engage in when participating politically and the achievements gained through said participation. The “motivators and barriers” category described the influences on the behaviors, either encouraging or discouraging political participation. The aforementioned categories exist within the larger context of the final category, the physical therapy profession/APTA and practice setting.”CONCLUSION:Results of this study indicate that PTs perceptions of political participation emerge from a combination of personal and experiential elements. PTs recognized the importance of political activity, but saw it as more a role of the APTA rather than the individual. Participants had difficulty articulating the achievements of the APTA in the political arena and expressed frustration with the communication of political advocacy information. For political participation among PTs to increase, exemplary behaviors should be modeled in the school and work places, motivating factors should be increased and barriers decreased. Furthermore, there must be a direct and explicit call for physical therapists to live up to the standards charged by their profession

Innovative Connectivity Ensuring Education (I.-C.E.E.)

This is the critical design review for the Telepresence/Telerobotic Technology for Children with Disabilities Project by team I.- C.E.E. (Innovative Connectivity Ensuring Education). This report details our telepresence system design for our client (Nathan Stilts) including design choices/justification, testing verification and procedures, and chosen components for implementation. There are seven chapters in total starting with introductory/background information followed by hardware and software design, verification, and testing and concludes with the current status of the project and what future work may need to be included