Knowing the Unknowable: Visions of Troubled Lands

This paper describes the author’s clairvoyant visions of war and personal experiences of transrational knowledges. It is an account of one Westerner coming to know outside of and despite Western episteme. Transrational knowing was modelled by companion dogs in the author’s childhood and literary figures in early adulthood, and was experienced as a means of self-protection. Western culture fosters skepticism about transrational knowledges, such as psychic visions and telepathic connections. This paper asserts that transrational knowing—whether between humans, other species, or humans and other species—is a valid and readily available form of knowing that exists outside of and in spite of Western episteme. Western understanding of the nature of being, the nature of relating, and the capacity for knowing has been reduced by a particular form of material-oriented rationality that is overdue for re-envisioning. Despite pervasive epistemological pressures, some individuals experience and learn to cultivate seemingly alternative ways of knowing. In doing so, they are turning toward knowledges that arise from an illuminating love and, thus, can be subtle, variable, and highly contextual, unlike knowledges that arise from intellect, which tend to be consistent and predictable. The illusory perception that humans are fundamentally separated from each other and from more-than-human kin constitutes one form of fragmentation that has resulted in ecological and humanitarian disasters. Love, on the other hand, engenders links us with others in ways that both relate to and transcend materiality and the five senses

On-Campus Mental Health Service Use Among College Students With Autism: A Case Study Applying the Andersen Behavioral Model of Health Services Use

The unique set of impairments and limitations presented by students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) make the accessing of campus-based nonacademic resources more difficult and complicated than their typically developed peers. Each year, the rate of students entering college with disabilities continues to grow, but their mental well-being is relatively poor. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to apply the conceptual framework of the Andersen behavioral model of health services use (ABMHSU) to the experiences of college students with ASD to understand and predict their utilization of campus-provided mental health resources. The participants were seven college students with ASD who were currently receiving accommodations through Disability Services Program (pseudonym) at Tumbleweed University (pseudonym). Data were collected through demographic questionnaires and virtual interviews. The data were analyzed by breaking the interview responses down into predisposing, enabling, and need-based factors described in the ABMHSU. These data were compared to past literature also using the ABMHSU. The findings indicated that the predisposing factors that influence utilization were the presence of past illness, social structure, and attitudes toward health services. The enabling factors that influenced utilization were type of regular source of care and access to regular source of care. The need-based factors that influenced utilization were perceived general state, symptoms, and diagnosis. The main conclusion drawn from this study is that connecting students to counseling is not enough; they need to be encouraged to keep going. The participants indicated that the social impairments of ASD could make maintaining relationships and communicating difficult. Discovering the reasons for the discontinuation of the utilization of mental health services will help service program personnel anticipate them and encourage engagement

Too Blue to Talk about Sex : Exploring the Relationship between Depression and Sexual Behavior among Black Women - A Study for HIV Prevention

Compared to women of all racial categories within the United States, Black women continue to have higher incidence rates for contracting HIV/AIDS. Black women contract HIV at more than 10x the rate of their White and minority counterparts (CDC, 2014). Among Black women diagnosed with HIV, over 80% reported contracting it through unprotected heterosexual intercourse (Institute, 2012). Research on sexual behavioral risks for contracting HIV/AIDS has contributed to targeted racial and gender-based HIV prevention programs that provide education and skills training in utilizing risk-reduction methods during heterosexual intercourse (CDC, 2015). However, the continued disproportionality of HIV incidence among Black women necessitates further examination of why this difference persists. Although research has shown the impact of depression on various health outcomes, understanding depression symptomatology relationally with high risk sexual behaviors, and the underlying reasons behind those behaviors, has been an underexplored area within HIV prevention research of Black women. To increase knowledge of the lived experiences of Black women, this quantitative research study explored the following question: Is there a relationship between risky sexual behaviors and depression symptomatology among adult Black women who engage in heterosexual intercourse? The aims of the study were to better understand: 1) the sexual behavioral practices of Black women; 2) depression experiences among Black women; and 3) the relationship between depression symptomatology and sexual behavioral practices as an indicator of HIV risk. To achieve these aims, the study tested the following hypothesis: Adult Black women who report depressive symptoms will be more likely to engage in high risk sexual behaviors than Black women who are not depressed. A non-probability convenience sample of 48 Black women (n=48) from urban communities in the northeast completed two questionnaires measuring depressive symptoms and sexual behaviors. Findings revealed that the presence of depression symptomatology was positively associated with high-risk sexual behaviors among Black women in the sample. Additionally, age was found to be a factor in both depression and sexual risk behavior. This study is recognized as a beginning towards understanding how mental health impacts sexual risk for Black women. To address the disproportionately higher rate of HIV infections among Black women, it may be prudent to apply culturally-relevant mental health interventions that consider the psychological experiences of Black women at all stages of their emotional and sexual development. While not commonly implemented in existing HIV prevention programs, identifying strategies for integrating mental health interventions may have significance towards eliminating the disproportionately high HIV incidence rate among Black women in the United States

The morphology of CLL revisited: the clinical significance of prolymphocytes and correlations with prognostic/molecular markers in the LRF CLL4 trial

Historically, an increase in the percentage and number of circulating prolymphocytes in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) has been associated with strong expression of surface immunoglobulin, trisomy 12 and a poor outcome. This study re-examines the biological and clinical significance of increased peripheral blood prolymphocytes in 508 patients at entry into the randomized UK Leukaemia Research Fund CLL4 trial. It also investigates the associations between increased prolymphocytes and a comprehensive array of biomarkers. 270 patients (53%) had <5% prolymphocytes, 167 (33%) had 5-9%, 60 (12%) had 10-14% and 11 (2%) had ?15% prolymphocytes. We show that a higher proportion of prolymphocytes (?10%) was independently associated with NOTCH1 mutations (P = 0·006), absence of 13q deletion (P = 0·001), high CD38 expression (P = 0·02) and unmutated IGHV genes (P = 0·01). Deaths due to Richter syndrome were significantly more common amongst patients who had ?10% vs <10% prolymphocytes (13% vs 2%) respectively (P < 0·0001). ?10% prolymphocytes was also associated with a shorter progression-free survival (Hazard ratio [HR] 1·50 [95% confidence interval [CI]: 1·16-1·93], P = 0·002) and overall survival (HR 1·99 [95% CI: 1·53-2·59], P < 0·0001). Our data support the routine examination of blood films in CLL and suggest that a finding of an increased proportion of prolymphocytes may be a trigger for further evaluation of clinical and laboratory features of progressive disease

Una solución al problema del configurador basado en la matriz de admitancia

EI problema de la determinación de la topología de la red es aparentemente simple, pero debido a la operación normal del sistema la configuración de la red varía constantemente. Los cambios en el estado de los interruptores de potencia pueden producir varios efectos como, por ejemplo: - Conexión (o desconexión) de líneas, transformadores y generadores. - Aumento (o disminución) del número de nodos del sistema debido a la separación de barrajes en subestaciones. - Formación de subsistemas aislados debido a la apertura de líneas de interconexión. Estos cambios implican que cleros elementos de la red pueden quedar inhabilitados en análisis de flujo de carga o estimación de estado. Sus efectos se reflejan en la alteración del ordenamiento de los nodos que se efectúa para optimizar los requerimientos de memoria necesarios en muchas aplicaciones de sistemas de potencia. Para tener en cuenta esos cambios en la topología se debe contar con un algoritmo que permanentemente reciba la información de la posición de los interruptores y el estado de las medidas para tener en cada instante la configuración real de la red. Quizás el sistema de determinación de la topología de la red más popular es el conocido como configurador AEP, pero en este artículo no se describe en detalle. Únicamente trata un algoritmo implementado en el Departamento de Ingeniería eléctrica de la Universidad Nacional que usa las características de la matriz de admitancia del sistema

Litter Decomposition of Xaraes-Grass Pasture Subjected to Different Post-Grazing Residuals

Since fertilizers are used less extensively on Xaraes-grass (Brachiaria brizantha) pastures in Brazil because of costs, the main route of nitrogen (N) supply to plants is through nutrient recycling via litter decomposition. One of the strategies used to maintain the supply of N is to manage the pasture correctly by keeping it under grazing pressure so that the amount of recycled nutrients in the residue is sufficient to meet the pasture requirements (Jantalia et al.2006). Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate different residual leaf area indices (RLAI) and determine which one provides the best restoration of pasture leaf area index and nutrient cycling

Detection of bacterial contaminants by the larval development test.

The resistance diagnosis of gastrointestinal nematodes of sheep and goats to commercial anthelmintics is an important tool to guide farmers about the use of the most effective dewormer in their flocks, promoting sustainable production.Boletim de Indústria Animal, v. 74

On-farm Campylobacter and Escherichia coli in commercial broiler chickens: Re-used bedding does not influence Campylobacter emergence and levels across sequential farming cycles

Limitations in quality bedding material have resulted in the growing need to re-use litter during broiler farming in some countries, which can be of concern from a food-safety perspective. The aim of this study was to compare the Campylobacter levels in ceca and litter across three litter treatments under commercial farming conditions. The litter treatments were (a) the use of new litter after each farming cycle; (b) an Australian partial litter re-use practice; and (c) a full litter re-use practice. The study was carried out on two farms over two years (Farm 1, from 2009–2010 and Farm 2, from 2010–2011), across three sheds (35,000 to 40,000 chickens/shed) on each farm, adopting three different litter treatments across six commercial cycles. A random sampling design was adopted to test litter and ceca for Campylobacter and Escherichia coli, prior to commercial first thin-out and final pick-up. Campylobacter levels varied little across litter practices and farming cycles on each farm and were in the range of log 8.0–9.0 CFU/g in ceca and log 4.0–6.0 MPN/g for litter. Similarly the E. coli in ceca were ∼log 7.0 CFU/g. At first thin-out and final pick-up, the statistical analysis for both litter and ceca showed that the three-way interaction (treatments by farms by times) was highly significant (P < 0.01), indicating that the patterns of Campylobacter emergence/presence across time vary between the farms, cycles and pickups. The emergence and levels of both organisms were not influenced by litter treatments across the six farming cycles on both farms. Either C. jejuni or C. coli could be the dominant species across litter and ceca, and this phenomenon could not be attributed to specific litter treatments. Irrespective of the litter treatments in place, cycle 2 on Farm 2 remained campylobacter-free. These outcomes suggest that litter treatments did not directly influence the time of emergence and levels of Campylobacter and E. coli during commercial farming

On-farm Campylobacter and Escherichia coli in commercial broiler chickens: Re-used bedding does not influence Campylobacter emergence and levels across sequential farming cycles

Limitations in quality bedding material have resulted in the growing need to re-use litter during broiler farming in some countries, which can be of concern from a food-safety perspective. The aim of this study was to compare the Campylobacter levels in ceca and litter across three litter treatments under commercial farming conditions. The litter treatments were (a) the use of new litter after each farming cycle; (b) an Australian partial litter re-use practice; and (c) a full litter re-use practice. The study was carried out on two farms over two years (Farm 1, from 2009–2010 and Farm 2, from 2010–2011), across three sheds (35,000 to 40,000 chickens/shed) on each farm, adopting three different litter treatments across six commercial cycles. A random sampling design was adopted to test litter and ceca for Campylobacter and Escherichia coli, prior to commercial first thin-out and final pick-up. Campylobacter levels varied little across litter practices and farming cycles on each farm and were in the range of log 8.0–9.0 CFU/g in ceca and log 4.0–6.0 MPN/g for litter. Similarly the E. coli in ceca were ∼log 7.0 CFU/g. At first thin-out and final pick-up, the statistical analysis for both litter and ceca showed that the three-way interaction (treatments by farms by times) was highly significant (P < 0.01), indicating that the patterns of Campylobacter emergence/presence across time vary between the farms, cycles and pickups. The emergence and levels of both organisms were not influenced by litter treatments across the six farming cycles on both farms. Either C. jejuni or C. coli could be the dominant species across litter and ceca, and this phenomenon could not be attributed to specific litter treatments. Irrespective of the litter treatments in place, cycle 2 on Farm 2 remained campylobacter-free. These outcomes suggest that litter treatments did not directly influence the time of emergence and levels of Campylobacter and E. coli during commercial farming

Self-Potential Signals Generated by the Corrosion of Buried Metallic Objects with Application to Contaminant Plumes

Large-amplitude (\u3e100 mV) negative electric (self)-potential anomalies are often observed in the vicinity of buried metallic objects and ore bodies or over groundwater plumes associated with organic contaminants. To explain the physical and chemical mechanisms that generate such electrical signals, a controlled laboratory experiment was carried out involving two metallic cylinders buried with vertical and horizontal orientations and centered through and in the capillary fringe within a sandbox. The 2D and 3D self-potential (SP) data were collected at several time steps along with collocated pH and redox potential measurements. Large dipolar SP and redox potential anomalies developed in association with the progressive corrosion of the vertical pipe, although no anomalies were observed in the vicinity of the horizontal pipe. This discrepancy was due to the orientation of the pipes with the vertical pipe subjected to a significantly larger EH gradient. Accounting for the electrical conductivity distribution, the SP data were inverted to recover the source current density vector field using a deterministic least-squares 4D (time-lapse) finite-element modeling approach. These results were then used to retrieve the 3D distribution of the redox potential along the vertical metallic cylinder. The results of the inversion were found to be in excellent agreement with the measured distribution of the redox potential. This experiment indicated that passively recorded electrical signals can be used to nonintrusively monitor corrosion processes. In addition, vertical electrical potential profiles measured through a mature hydrocarbon contaminated site were consistent with the sandbox observations, lending support to the geobattery model over organic contaminant plumes