Integrating Aesthetics: Transforming Continuing Education Through Africentric Practice

The purpose of this study was to describe curricula used in three African centered educational institutions in Chicago. Goals of this Africentric qualitative case study were to analyze content and instructional strategies in order to design a continuing and professional education model for K-12 educators in traditional public schools

TB114: A List of the Lepidoptera of Maine--Part 2: The Microlepidoptera Section 2 Cosmopterigidae through Hepialidae

The third volume in the Lepidoptera of Maine series. This one focusing on the Microlepidoptera, Cosmopterigidae through Hepialidae.https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/aes_techbulletin/1074/thumbnail.jp

Exploring Artistic Practice in Global Communities of the African Diaspora

There are many contemporary issues to address in adult education. This paper explores art-based strategies and the utilization of creativity to expand learning for global communities of the African Diaspora. Benefits of culturally grounded approaches to education are discussed from Asia and the U.S. Fieldwork images can be viewed at auburnaesthetic.com

Integrating Aesthetics: Transforming Continuing and Professional Education Through Africentric Practice

K-12 practitioners in urban areas are faced with unique circumstances while serving racially marginalized students in public schools. As a response to this issue, the purpose of this study was to review and describe curricula used in three African Centered educational institutions in Chicago. African Centered schools are uniquely different, thus the need for research emerges to identify new ways to disseminate knowledge for traditional public school practitioners. Goals of the research were to analyze content and instructional strategies at African Centered educational institutions in order to design a continuing and professional education model based on their successes. The research design was an Africentric qualitative single case study that focused on the experiences of six educators in African Centered schools. The Africentric Paradigm was utilized as the theoretical framework. Research questions that guided the study were as follows: 1) how are conceptual and theoretical elements of the Africentric Paradigm reflected in educational environments and incorporated into curriculum and instruction at an African Centered institution, 2) how are the problems that result from sociocultural and intellectual racism addressed both cognitively and affectively through curriculum content, 3) what are the design and objectives of continuing education programs implemented at African Centered institutions, and 4) what culturally grounded strategies can be transferred to a traditional continuing education model for K-12 practitioners? The data collection instruments were document analysis, interviews, site visits (observations), and photography. To interpret field notes that emerged from observations during site visits, I completed a series of paintings to create a meaning context, which expressed the cognitive and affective impacts of instructional activities. Several important findings and conclusions emerged from the research. Each site had similar missions and the shared goal of building positive selfethnic image (Colin 1989). This was reflected in both curricula and artistic instructional strategies. African Centered practice is grounded in the cognitive and affective domains. In addition to K-12 curriculum content, what makes African Centered schools different is the focus on building positive selfethnic identity (Colin 1989) and the importance of community empowerment. Academic rigor and affective growth was developed through a consciousness of African value systems. These culturally grounded strategies were reflected in the continuing education model that emerged from analysis. If we look at how public schools are affecting our communities, it is clear that our students are being cognitively and affectively marginalized. By employing an Africentric framework, continuing and professional education can play a role in adequately preparing K-12 traditional public school practitioners for success with students of this Diaspora. Visit auburnaesthetic.com for images from ongoing field research

TB109: A List of the Lepidoptera of Maine--Part 2: The Microlepidoptera Section 1 Limacodidae Through Cossidae

The second volume in the Lepidoptera of Maine series. This one focusing on the Microlepidoptera, Limacodidae through Cossidaehttps://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/aes_techbulletin/1093/thumbnail.jp

TB66: A List of the Lepidoptera of Maine: Part 1 Macrolepidoptera

The first volume in the Lepidoptera of Maine series. This one focuses on the Macrolepidoptera.https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/aes_techbulletin/1139/thumbnail.jp

Further evidence supporting a role for gs signal transduction in severe malaria pathogenesis.

With the functional demonstration of a role in erythrocyte invasion by Plasmodium falciparum parasites, implications in the aetiology of common conditions that prevail in individuals of African origin, and a wealth of pharmacological knowledge, the stimulatory G protein (Gs) signal transduction pathway presents an exciting target for anti-malarial drug intervention. Having previously demonstrated a role for the G-alpha-s gene, GNAS, in severe malaria disease, we sought to identify other important components of the Gs pathway. Using meta-analysis across case-control and family trio (affected child and parental controls) studies of severe malaria from The Gambia and Malawi, we sought evidence of association in six Gs pathway candidate genes: adenosine receptor 2A (ADORA2A) and 2B (ADORA2B), beta-adrenergic receptor kinase 1 (ADRBK1), adenylyl cyclase 9 (ADCY9), G protein beta subunit 3 (GNB3), and regulator of G protein signalling 2 (RGS2). Our study amassed a total of 2278 cases and 2364 controls. Allele-based models of association were investigated in all genes, and genotype and haplotype-based models were investigated where significant allelic associations were identified. Although no significant associations were observed in the other genes, several were identified in ADORA2A. The most significant association was observed at the rs9624472 locus, where the G allele (approximately 20% frequency) appeared to confer enhanced risk to severe malaria [OR = 1.22 (1.09-1.37); P = 0.001]. Further investigation of the ADORA2A gene region is required to validate the associations identified here, and to identify and functionally characterize the responsible causal variant(s). Our results provide further evidence supporting a role of the Gs signal transduction pathway in the regulation of severe malaria, and request further exploration of this pathway in future studies

Viral respiratory infections at the Hajj: comparison between UK and Saudi pilgrims

ABSTRACTA high incidence of respiratory infection, including influenza, has been reported at the Hajj in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Reported rates of influenza have been higher among UK than among domestic pilgrims, but this could be explained by methodological differences among studies. Accordingly, the present study compared the frequencies of respiratory viruses among UK and Saudi pilgrims using the same study design. Pilgrims with upper respiratory tract symptoms were recruited from Mecca and the neighbouring valley Mina during the Hajj 2006. Nasal swabs were used for point-of-care influenza testing and real-time RT-PCR (rtRT-PCR) tests for influenza virus, rhinovirus, parainfluenza virus, adenovirus, human metapneumovirus and respiratory syncytial virus. Of 260 pilgrims investigated, 150 were from the UK and 110 were Saudi; of these, 38 (25%) UK pilgrims and 14 (13%) Saudi pilgrims had respiratory infections detectable by rtRT-PCR (p 0.01). In the UK group, there were 19 (13%) cases of rhinovirus infection, 15 (10%) cases of influenza virus infection, two (1%) cases of dual infections with influenza virus and rhinovirus, one (3%) case of parainfluenza virus infection, and one (1%) case of respiratory syncytial virus infection. Fifty-six (37%) UK pilgrims had been vaccinated against influenza virus, with the rates of influenza in the vaccinated and unvaccinated group being 7% and 14%, respectively (p 0.19). In the Saudi group, there were three (3%) cases of rhinovirus infection and 11 (10%) cases of influenza. Only four (4%) Saudi pilgrims had been vaccinated against influenza virus, and none of these was infected with influenza virus. Overall, a significantly higher proportion of the UK pilgrims had detectable respiratory infections (25% vs. 13%, p 0.01). Influenza rates were similar in both groups, but the reported rates of influenza vaccination differed

Natural Wormholes as Gravitational Lenses

Visser has suggested traversable 3-dimensional wormholes that could plausibly form naturally during Big Bang inflation. A wormhole mouth embedded in high mass density might accrete mass, giving the other mouth a net *negative* mass of unusual gravitational properties. The lensing of such a gravitationally negative anomalous compact halo object (GNACHO) will enhance background stars with a time profile that is observable and qualitatively different from that recently observed for massive compact halo objects (MACHOs) of positive mass. We recommend that MACHO search data be analyzed for GNACHOs.Comment: 4 pages; plus 4 figures; ReV_TeX 3.0; DOE/ER/40537-001/NPL94-07-01

Development of Guidance for Unsignalized Intersections on Rural Multilane Divided Highways

This research project examines the safety performance of unsignalized intersections on rural divided highways in Alabama. A summary of the safety problem at these intersections is provided; the concern is the relatively high frequency and severity of crashes at these locations, typically associated with vehicles entering from the minor road and failing to successfully cross or turn left onto the second directional roadway. The project objectives included review of the literature, examination of a small set of such intersections in Alabama with innovative treatments, factors that influence safety performance and approaches to estimating performance, and developing design guidance for these locations. During the course of this study, ALDOT developed an Intersection Control Evaluation (ICE) policy, which to some extent addresses the last objective. This study reviewed the literature, estimated calibration factors for safety performance functions for three-leg and four-leg intersections of this type, reviewed geometric and traffic control features that may improve safety performance, and examined differences in safety performance among several selected intersections in Alabama. A review of the literature and current practice found many treatments with respect to geometrics and traffic control devices that can be applied to the conventional form of this type of intersection with the goal of reducing crash frequency and crash severity. An analysis involving 47 three-leg and 65 four-leg intersections in the state yielded recommend calibration factors for the relevant safety performance functions. Several selected sites with atypical design and traffic control treatments were reviewed. Finally, a traffic conflict study across several intersections with conventional and unconventional treatments was conducted to further identify the types of conflicts that contribute to poor safety performance