The Power of Participatory Photography in ICTD Programs: Freedom to Explore beyond Images

We discuss the contribution of participatory photography as a method to elicit lived experiences from the perspectives of participants, a valuable tool in ICTD research. Building on a participatory photography research project with Latino migrants in Seattle, Washington (USA) and at the US-Mexico border, we analyze the differences between descriptive accounts and interpretations of photographs offered by participants. By opening new possibilities for self-expression, participatory photography offers a powerful tool that allows participants to add not just description but also context, representations, meanings, feelings and memories, among other interpretations. Different effects of the participants’ photographs are also analyzed, to encourage further exploration of participatory photography in ICTD research

Divide and Conquer: Examining the Effects of Conflict Rhetoric on Political Support

Partisan-based conflict rhetoric has grown more important in political strategy over time and is very often focused on delineating the differences between the parties. But, political messaging frequently involves targeting different social groups or non-political entities as responsible for social problems rather than political parties and opponents. Blame as a rhetorical strategy involves appeals to group identities other than those based upon partisanship. The brilliance of a blame strategy is that the group membership of the audience at which the blame appeal is directed need not be explicitly defined. Much of the research studying the various forms of conflict rhetoric (i.e. attack advertising) focuses on the partisan tensions inherent in these messages, but only limited literature can shed light on how the public feels about or responds to politicians blaming non-political groups. Through two original experiments reported in three articles, dissertation attempts to fill this gap by exploring the parameters and effects of strategically placed blame on various dimensions of political support. It seeks to answer the degree to which political and policy goals are facilitated or impeded by this divisive form of rhetoric.Each article approached this question within the framework of social identity theory (Tajfel, 1978, Tajfel & Turner, 1986). As suggested by social identity theory, politicians can use conflict rhetoric to maximize the perceived differences between their in-group and the out-group, thus stimulating favoritism with the in-group through the perceived threat from the out-group. By examining the different effects of variations in blame, these articles offer an overview of whether and when politicians may benefit from attacking the opposing party, attacking a non-political group, or refraining from an attack. The results indicate that blaming an opposing party offers more harm than good. Blaming a non-political group can be effective at manipulating perceptions of the attacked group as well as raising demand for punitive policies. No blame messages elicit positive reactions that are beneficial to political parties, but arouse emotions that both help and harm measures of democratic support

Frailty, Cognitive Decline, Neurodegenerative Diseases and Nutrition Interventions

Currently the human population is aging faster. This leads to higher dependency rates and the transformation of health and social care to adapt to this aged population. Among the changes developed by this population is frailty. It is defined as a clinically detectable syndrome, related to the aging of multiple physiological systems, which prompts a situation of vulnerability. The etiology of frailty seems to be multifactorial and its pathophysiology is influenced by the interaction of numerous factors. Morley et al. propose four main mechanisms triggering the frailty: atherosclerosis, sarcopenia, cognitive deterioration and malnutrition, with their respective metabolic alterations. Malnutrition is associated with cognitive impairment or functional loss, but it is also known that an inadequate nutritional status predisposes to cognitive frailty. Additionally, nutritional factors that may influence vascular risk factors will potentially have an effect on dementia decline among patients with cognitive frailty. This review aims to describe the nutritional factors that have been researched so far which may lead to the development of frailty, and especially cognitive decline

The influence of peer-assessment and a corpus about “comforting” in the development of adults’ spontaneous interactive speaking.

133 Páginas.Este estudio de investigación acción cualitativa se llevó a cabo con 14 adultos con nivel A2 de Inglés quienes trabajaban como profesores en distintas áreas del conocimiento en un colegio privado de Bogotá. El estudio exploró la influencia de la coevaluación y un corpus sobre el acto de habla "reconfortar" en el desarrollo del habla espontánea interactiva. En la intervención pedagógica, los participantes utilizaron el corpus para llevar a cabo tareas de habla que ellos coevaluaron. Los datos fueron recolectados a través de grabaciones de video, dos formatos de coevaluación y un diario del profesor

MRI Hip Joint Traction Device

Radiologists commonly use contrast agents to improve resolution and acuity when employing MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging). Introducing MRI contrast agents to the tissue in the innermost part of the femoroacetabular joint is extremely difficult because the anatomy prevents the contrast agents from infiltrating those surfaces. Therefore, getting the ideal image resolution and making diagnosis of the hip is difficult. The objective was to design a product that would successfully distract one hip joint while also stabilizing the patient’s pelvis to improve visualization so that physicians are able to better diagnose the hip. The deliverables included a preliminary model that illustrates how the device will move and apply load, and a minimal viable prototype of the traction device. A platform was designed to contain each component. Traction was applied with a winch that employed a ratchet gear system. The winch could be translated to either side of the platform via pins holding the winch and gears in place. Stabilizing components included pegs strategically placed under the arms and in the groin area. To alleviate some of the psychological concerns a patient may have, a release mechanism was incorporated into the design. The patient would pull the rope that is attached to the velcro strap on the ankle brace to release their foot from the ankle brace in traction. The spring for the spring scale will be made from beryllium copper because it is non ferromagnetic and is ideal for use as a tension spring. The platform, pegs, winch, and spring box were made from pine plywood. MRI images were taken with and without use of the traction device prototype, and there was a noticeable difference in the space between the femoral head and acetabulum. Our method of providing traction was sufficient and effective in distracting and stabilizing the hip joint.https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/capstone/1069/thumbnail.jp

Aplicación clínica del bloqueo anestésico paravertebral torácico en operaciones de mama

ResumenIntroducciónEl adecuado tratamiento del dolor postoperatorio ha tenido una importancia fundamental en los cuidados con el paciente quirúrgico. Entre las técnicas de analgesia dirigidas a ese grupo de pacientes, el bloqueo paravertebral torácico combinado con la anestesia general se destaca por los buenos resultados y por la favorable relación riesgo-beneficio. Muchos anestésicos locales y otros fármacos adyuvantes están siendo investigados para el uso en esa técnica, con vistas a mejorar la calidad de la analgesia y reducir los efectos adversos.ObjetivoEvaluar la eficacia y la seguridad del bloqueo paravertebral en comparación con otros regímenes analgésicos y anestésicos en mujeres sometidas a cirugías para cáncer de mama.MétodosRevisión integral de la literatura de 1966 a 2012, hecha por medio de términos específicos en las bases de datos informatizadas de artículos que investigaron las características clínicas y los efectos adversos y beneficiosos del bloqueo paravertebral torácico.ResultadosEn el período seleccionado, fueron identificados 16 estudios aleatorizados que cumplían los criterios de selección establecidos para esa revisión bibliográfica. El bloqueo paravertebral torácico demostró una reducción significativa del dolor postoperatorio, también una disminución del dolor durante los movimientos del brazo después de la cirugía.ConclusiónEl bloqueo paravertebral torácico redujo la necesidad postoperatoria de analgésicos cuando se le comparó con el grupo placebo, específicamente dentro de las primeras 24h. El uso de esa técnica podría garantizar una analgesia posquirúrgica de relevancia clínica. Son necesarios nuevos estudios con mayores grupos poblacionales, puesto que el bloqueo paravertebral parece ser prometedor para la analgesia preventiva en la cirugía de cáncer de mama.AbstractIntroductionOptimum treatment for postoperative pain has been of fundamental importance in surgical patient care. Among the analgesic techniques aimed at this group of patients, thoracic paravertebral block combined with general anesthesia stands out for the good results and favorable risk-benefit ratio. Many local anesthetics and other adjuvant drugs are being investigated for use in this technique, in order to improve the quality of analgesia and reduce adverse effects.ObjectiveEvaluate the effectiveness and safety of paravertebral block compared to other analgesic and anesthetic regimens in women undergoing breast cancer surgeries.MethodsIntegrative literature review from 1966 to 2012, using specific terms in computerized databases of articles investigating the clinical characteristics, adverse effects, and beneficial effects of thoracic paravertebral block.ResultsOn the selected date, 16 randomized studies that met the selection criteria established for this literature review were identified. Thoracic paravertebral block showed a significant reduction of post-operative pain, as well as decreased pain during arm movement after surgery.ConclusionThoracic paravertebral block reduced postoperative analgesic requirement compared to placebo group, markedly within the first 24h. The use of this technique could ensure postoperative analgesia of clinical relevance. Further studies with larger populations are necessary, as paravertebral block seems to be promising for preemptive analgesia in breast cancer surgery

Assessing Child Obesity and Physical Activity in a Hard-to-Reach Population in California's Central Valley, 2012-2013.

IntroductionIn California's agricultural Central Valley, the rate of childhood obesity is higher than the national average. Adequate physical activity contributes to obesity prevention and its assessment is useful to evaluate the impact of interventions.MethodsNiños Sanos, Familia Sana (Healthy Children, Healthy Family [NSFS]) uses community-based participatory research to implement an intervention program to reduce childhood obesity among people of Mexican origin in the Central Valley. Anthropometric measurements were conducted on more than 650 children enrolled in NSFS. Physical activity data from a subgroup of children aged 4 to 7 years (n = 134) were collected via a wearable accelerometer.ResultsChildren were classified on the basis of age and sex-adjusted body mass index as healthy weight (57.7%); overweight (19.3%), or obese (23%). Logistic regression showed that moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) was associated with a child's likelihood of having a healthy BMI (odds ratio: 1.03; 95% CI, 1.01-1.05; P = .017).ConclusionNSFS's community-based participatory approach resulted in successful use of a commercial electronic device to measure physical activity quantity and quality in this hard-to-reach population. Promotion of adequate daily MVPA is an appropriate and necessary component of NSFS's childhood obesity prevention strategy

Long-term farming systems comparisons in the tropics Participatory technology development

Posterpresentation - Overview - Approaches and Results - Methodological Questions - Discussio