Learning your ABCDs: Asset-Based Community Development through Education Abroad and Community Engaged Research in Rural Malawi

The project is a partnership with the Malawi Children’s Mission (MCM), a feeding center and primary school that provides health care and emotional support services to 150 children who have been orphaned and their families in the rural villages of M\u27bwana, Jamali, and Mwazama. Asset-based community development (ABCD; Kretzman & McKnight, 1996) was used in the context of community engaged research to establish a sustainable university-assisted component of MCM through education abroad. ABCD relies upon individual and collective strengths and resources of community members to address the problems they define as needing attention, and has been used successfully in sub-Saharan Africa (Yeneabat & Butterfield, 2012). This project demonstrates how small scale community development informed by ABCD is an ethical and empowering approach that aims to reduce dependency on formal systems by using the talents and resources of the people to build a sense of hope and promote wellbeing and social and economic health. Binghamton University students and faculty took initial steps in ABCD during an education abroad trip to Malawi in 2016.https://orb.binghamton.edu/research_days_posters/1001/thumbnail.jp

Medical school selection is a sociohistorical embedded activity:A comparison of five countries

Introduction: The medical school selection literature comes mostly from a few countries in the Global North and offers little opportunity to consider different ways of thinking and doing. Our aim, therefore, was to critically consider selection practices and their sociohistorical influences in our respective countries (Brazil, China, Singapore, South Africa and the UK), including how any perceived inequalities are addressed. Methods: This paper summarises many constructive dialogues grounded in the idea of he er butong (和而不同) (harmony with diversity), learning about and from each other. Results: Some practices were similar across the five countries, but there were differences in precise practices, attitudes and sociohistorical influences thereon. For example, in Brazil, South Africa and the UK, there is public and political acknowledgement that attainment is linked to systemic and social factors such as socio-economic status and/or race. Selecting for medical school solely on prior attainment is recognised as unfair to less privileged societal groups. Conversely, selection via examination performance is seen as fair and promoting equality in China and Singapore, although the historical context underpinning this value differs across the two countries. The five countries differ in respect of their actions towards addressing inequality. Quotas are used to ensure the representation of certain groups in Brazil and regional representation in China. Quotas are illegal in the UK, and South Africa does not impose them, leading to the use of various, compensatory ‘workarounds’ to address inequality. Singapore does not take action to address inequality because all people are considered equal constitutionally. Discussion: In conclusion, medical school selection practices are firmly embedded in history, values, societal expectations and stakeholder beliefs, which vary by context. More comparisons, working from the position of acknowledging and respecting differences, would extend knowledge further and enable consideration of what permits and hinders change in different contexts.</p

Giant molecular clouds in the non-grand design spiral galaxy NGC 6946

We present high spatial resolution observations of Giant Molecular Clouds (GMCs) in the eastern part of the nearby spiral galaxy NGC 6946 obtained with the Combined Array for Research in Millimeter-wave Astronomy (CARMA). We have observed 12CO(1-0), 12CO(2-1) and 13CO(1-0), achieving spatial resolutions of 5.4" x 5.0", 2.5" x 2.0" and 5.6" x 5.4" respectively over a region of 6 x 6 kpc. This region extends from 1.5 kpc to 8 kpc galactocentric radius, thus avoiding the intense star formation in the central kpc. We have recovered short-spacing u-v components by using single dish observations from the Nobeyama 45m and IRAM 30m telescopes. Using the automated CPROPS algorithm we identified 44 CO cloud complexes in the 12CO(1-0) map and 64 GMCs in the 12CO(2-1) maps. The sizes, line widths, and luminosities of the GMCs are similar to values found in other extragalactic studies. We have classified the clouds into on-arm and inter-arm clouds based on the stellar mass density traced by the 3.6 um map. On-arm clouds present in general higher star formation rates than clouds located on inter-arm regions. Although the star formation efficiency shows no systematic trend with galactocentric radius, some on-arm clouds -- which are more luminous and more massive compared to inter-arm GMCs -- are also forming stars more efficiently than the rest of the identified GMCs. These structures appear to be located on two specific regions in the spiral arms. One of them shows a strong gradient, suggesting that this region of high star formation efficiency may be the result of gas flow convergence.Comment: 23 pages, 21 figures, 3 tables. To be published in The Astrophysical Journa

N-cadherin Promotes the Commitment and Differentiation of Skeletal Muscle Precursor Cells

Cells with the potential to form skeletal muscle are present in the chick embryo prior to gastrulation. Muscle differentiation begins after gastrulation within the somites. The role of cadherin-mediated adhesion in the commitment and differentiation of skeletal muscle precursor cells was examined by analyzing the expression of cell-cell adhesion molecules in cultures of epiblast, segmental plate, and somite cells and by determining the effects of adhesion-perturbing antibodies on the accumulation of MyoD and sarcomeric myosin. Cultured primitive streak stage epiblast cells downregulate E-cadherin and upregulate N-cadherin. This switch in cadherin expression also occurs in vivo as epiblast cells enter the primitive streak. Although MyoD protein is present in cells with N- or E-cadherin, only cells with N-cadherin differentiate into skeletal muscle. In contrast to the primitive streak stage epiblast cells, prestreak epiblast cells maintain the expression of E-cadherin in vitro. While the majority of prestreak cells contain MyoD, only a few synthesize myosin. Treatment of primitive streak stage epiblast cells with function-perturbing antibodies to N-cadherin resulted in an inhibition of myosin accumulation and a decrease in the percentage of cells with MyoD. Segmental plate and somite cells are similar to primitive streak stage epiblast cells in that most differentiated into skeletal muscle when cultured in serum-free medium. While function-perturbing antibodies to N-cadherin inhibited the accumulation of myosin in these mesoderm cells, the number of MyoD positive cells was unaffected in somite cultures and only partially reduced in segmental plate cultures. These results suggest that N-cadherin-mediated cell-cell adhesion is involved in both the commitment of muscle precursors and their terminal differentiation

The Role of Stably Committed and Uncommitted Cells in Establishing Tissues of the Somite

Somites are blocks of embryonic mesoderm tissue that give rise to skeletal muscle, cartilage, and other connective tissues. The development of different tissues within the somite is influenced by adjacent structures, in particular, the neural tube and notochord. Results of experiments performed in vivo and in vitro suggest that somites contain populations of cells stably programmed to undergo either skeletal myogenesis or chondrogenesis and a population uncommitted to either pathway. The fate of the uncommitted cells would depend on a transfer of information from the committed cells. Communication between committed and uncommitted cells is regulated by cell and tissue interactions that either activate or inhibit this process

Robust, defensible, and fair: the AMEE guide to selection into medical school: AMEE Guide No. 153

Selection is the first assessment of medical education and training. Medical schools must select from a pool of academically successful applicants and ensure that the way in which they choose future clinicians is robust, defensible, fair to all who apply and cost-effective. However, there is no comprehensive and evidence-informed guide to help those tasked with setting up or rejuvenating their local selection process. To address this gap, our guide draws on the latest research, international case studies and consideration of common dilemmas to provide practical guidance for designing, implementing and evaluating an effective medical school selection system. We draw on a model from the field of instructional design to frame the many different activities involved in doing so: the ADDIE model. ADDIE provides a systematic framework of Analysis (of the outcomes to be achieved by the selection process, and the barriers and facilitators to achieving these), Design (what tools and content are needed so the goals of selection are achieved), Development (what materials and resources are needed and available), Implementation (plan [including piloting], do study and adjust) and Evaluation (quality assurance is embedded throughout but the last step involves extensive evaluation of the entire process and its outcomes).Submitted/Accepted versio

Hepatocyte Growth Factor/Scatter Factor Promotes a Switch From E- to N-cadherin in Chick Embryo Epiblast Cells.

Epiblast cells downregulate E-cadherin and upregulate N-cadherin as they ingress through the primitive streak and when placed in culture. The factors that promote the alteration in cadherin expression during gastrulation are unknown. The effects of hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF/SF) on cadherin expression were tested in cultures of prestreak epiblast cells. HGF/SF decreased the expression of E-cadherin and increased the percentage of cells with N-cadherin and sarcomeric myosin. Cells with N-cadherin but not E-cadherin differentiated into skeletal muscle. HGF/SF also stimulated proliferation and the formation of cellular aggregates. Sensitivity to HGF/SF in vitro depended on the original position of cells within the epiblast. More cells from the lateral epiblast switched cadherins and proliferated in response to HGF/SF than medial epiblast cells. HGF/SF may affect gastrulation by altering cadherin expression, modulating cell adhesion, and stimulating proliferation within the epiblast

Clinical Training in Music Therapy

Objetivo: Este artículo examina las experiencias de los estudiantes de musicoterapia a lo largo de su formación clínica. Tres encuestas preguntaron sobre: ​​1) la percepción tanto de los pasantes como de los supervisores sobre las necesidades de los pasantes, 2) la preparación de los pasantes, sus habilidades, sus prioridades al elegir una pasantía y si se cumplieron sus expectativas de capacitación (con comparaciones entre estadounidenses y encuestados internacionales) y 3) satisfacción con la formación clínica. Método: Se distribuyeron tres encuestas separadas. Los encuestados de la primera encuesta incluyeron pre-pasantes (n = 19) y supervisores de pasantías (n = 14) que habían completado su capacitación en la Región de los Grandes Lagos de los Estados Unidos. Los encuestados de la segunda encuesta incluyeron pasantes estadounidenses (n = 50), profesionales estadounidenses (n = 353), pasantes internacionales (n = 12) y profesionales internacionales (n = 50). Los encuestados para la tercera encuesta incluyeron musicoterapeutas profesionales que completaron su plan de estudios en los Estados Unidos y tenían la credencial profesional MT-BC (N = 777). Resultados: En la Encuesta 1 se encontraron algunas diferencias entre las percepciones de los pasantes y los supervisores sobre las necesidades de los pasantes; se encontraron diferencias significativas entre la preparación y las fortalezas / debilidades entre los grupos en la Encuesta 2; y la Encuesta 3 encontró satisfacción general con la capacitación en algunas áreas que los encuestados consideraron que se necesitaban mejoras. Conclusiones: Si bien existe una satisfacción general con la formación de los musicoterapeutas, existen inconsistencias en las experiencias y percepciones de los estudiantes sobre su formación.目的：本文探讨了音乐治疗专业学生在整个临床培训过程中的经验。三项调查询问了以下问题：1）实习生和实习主管对实习生需求的看法；2）实习生的准备情况、技能、选择实习时的优先事项，以及他们对培训的期望是否得到满足（美国受访者和国际受访者之间的比较），3）对临床培训的满意度。方法：进行三次独立调查。第一次调查的受访者包括在美国大湖区完成培训的预备实习生（n=19）和实习主管（n=14）。第二次调查的受访者包括美国实习生（n=50）、美国专业人士（n=353）、国际实习生（n=12）和国际专业人士（n=50）。第三次调查的受访者包括在美国完成课程并持有MT-BC专业证书的专业音乐治疗师（N=777）。结果：在调查1中，实习生和主管对实习生需求的认知存在一些差异；调查2发现两组之间的准备情况和优势/劣势存在显著差异；调查3发现，受访者对培训普遍表示满意，认为一些领域的培训需要改进。结论：虽然对音乐治疗师的培训总体上是满意的，但学生在培训中的经验和对培训的看法是不一致的。Objective: This paper examines the experiences of music therapy students throughout their clinical training. Three surveys inquired about: 1) the perception from both interns and supervisors as to interns’ needs, 2) interns’ preparedness, their skills, their priorities when choosing an internship, and whether their expectations for training were met (with comparisons between American and International respondents), and 3) satisfaction with clinical training. Method: Three separate surveys were distributed. The first survey’s respondents included pre-interns ( n = 19) and internship supervisors (n = 14) who had completed their training in the Great Lakes Region of the United States. The second survey’s respondents included American interns (n = 50), American professionals (n = 353), International interns (n = 12), and International professionals (n = 50). Respondents for the third survey included professional music therapists who completed their curriculum in the United States and held the MT-BC professional credential (N = 777). Results: Some differences between interns’ and supervisors’ perceptions of the interns’ needs were found in Survey 1; significant differences were found between the preparedness and strengths/weaknesses between groups in Survey 2; and Survey 3 found general satisfaction with training with some areas respondents felt needed improvement. Conclusions: While there is overall satisfaction with training for music therapists, there are inconsistencies in students’ experiences in, and perceptions of, their training.Obiettivo: Questo articolo esamina le esperienze degli studenti di musicoterapia durante la loro formazione clinica. Tre sondaggi hanno indagato su: 1) la percezione da parte di tirocinanti e supervisori delle esigenze dei tirocinanti, 2) la preparazione degli stagisti, le loro competenze, le loro priorità nella scelta di uno stage e se le loro aspettative di formazione sono state soddisfatte (con confronti tra americani e intervistati internazionali) e 3) soddisfazione per la formazione clinica. Metodo: sono stati distribuiti tre sondaggi separati. Gli intervistati del primo sondaggio includevano pre-tirocinanti (n = 19) e supervisori di tirocini (n = 14) che avevano completato la loro formazione nella Great Lakes Region degli Stati Uniti. Gli intervistati del secondo sondaggio includevano stagisti americani (n = 50), professionisti americani (n = 353), stagisti internazionali (n = 12) e professionisti internazionali (n = 50). Gli intervistati per la terza indagine includevano musicoterapeuti professionisti che hanno completato il loro curriculum negli Stati Uniti e possedevano la credenziale professionale MT-BC (N = 777). Risultati: alcune differenze tra le percezioni dei tirocinanti e dei supervisori dei bisogni degli stagisti sono state riscontrate nel Sondaggio 1; sono state riscontrate differenze significative tra la preparazione e i punti di forza/debolezza tra i gruppi nell'indagine 2; e il sondaggio 3 ha riscontrato una soddisfazione generale per la formazione in alcune aree che gli intervistati ritenevano necessario migliorare. Conclusioni: mentre c'è una soddisfazione generale con la formazione per i musicoterapeuti, ci sono incongruenze nelle esperienze e nelle percezioni degli studenti sulla loro formazione