My Culture, My Voice: The Impact of Youth Hip-Hop and Spoken Word on Adolescent Participants in Positive Youth Development Settings

Mastering the tasks of adolescence is difficult for all youth, and the journey of African American adolescents and other youth of color is a unique one. This study explored the following research questions: What is the impact of participation in positive youth development programs that incorporate hip-hop and/or spoken word on youth participants? and What components of these programs are important? Nine semi-structured interviews were conducted with youth workers and current or former program participants. This study found that involvement in this type of programming was highly beneficial for youth, particularly youth of color. Participants saw benefits in a wide variety of categories, including their empowerment, community engagement, relationships with adults, academic and technical skills, non-cognitive skills, self-expression and youth voice. The art forms were culturally important for youth in understanding their own strengths and struggles in the context of their community of origin. This study challenges traditional notions of what it means to be a young person and particularly what it means to be a young person of color. There may be elements embedded within these programs and the concept of hip-hop and spoken word as developmental mediums that could help effectively address issues of risk and inequality. Continued research is needed to further understand and substantiate the value of youth development programs that incorporate the creation and performance of hip-hop and spoken word

My Culture, My Voice: The Impact of Youth Hip-Hop and Spoken Word on Adolescent Participants in Positive Youth Development Settings

Mastering the tasks of adolescence is difficult for all youth, and the journey of African American adolescents and other youth of color is a unique one. This study explored the following research questions: What is the impact of participation in positive youth development programs that incorporate hip-hop and/or spoken word on youth participants? and What components of these programs are important? Nine semi-structured interviews were conducted with youth workers and current or former program participants. This study found that involvement in this type of programming was highly beneficial for youth, particularly youth of color. Participants saw benefits in a wide variety of categories, including their empowerment, community engagement, relationships with adults, academic and technical skills, non-cognitive skills, self-expression and youth voice. The art forms were culturally important for youth in understanding their own strengths and struggles in the context of their community of origin. This study challenges traditional notions of what it means to be a young person and particularly what it means to be a young person of color. There may be elements embedded within these programs and the concept of hip-hop and spoken word as developmental mediums that could help effectively address issues of risk and inequality. Continued research is needed to further understand and substantiate the value of youth development programs that incorporate the creation and performance of hip-hop and spoken word

Combined inhibitory effect of nisin with EDTA against Listeria monocytogenes in soy-protein edible coating on turkey frankfurters stored at 4°C and 10°C

Several food contamination outbreaks are linked to Listeria monocytogenes. More effective methods are needed to prevent the growth and recontamination of L. monocytogenes on ready-to-eat (RTE) food products. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to evaluate the inhibitory activities of nisin (10,000 IU/mL), EDTA (sodium Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid: 1.6 mg/mL), and the combination of nisin (10,000 IU/mL) with EDTA 1.6 mg/mL either in brain-heart-infusion (BHI) media at 37°C for 72 h or in soy-protein edible coating on the surface of full-fat commercial turkey frankfurters against the cell populations of approximately 106 colony forming units (CFU/mL) of L. monocytogenes. The surface-inoculated frankfurters were dipped into soy-protein film forming solutions with and without the addition of antimicrobial agents [(nisin (10,000 IU) or EDTA (0.16%) or the combination)] and stored at either 4°C or 10°C. The inhibitory effects of edible coatings were evaluated on a weekly basis for 45 d. The greatest inhibitory activities of 6 log cycle reductions of L. monocytogenes were found when nisin was combined with EDTA and eliminated 6 log cycles of L. monocytogenes in both systems. In the combined nisin (10,000 IU) with EDTA (0.16%) treatment, the L. monocytogenes population was reduced to undetectable levels after 15 h or 7 d incubation in BHI at 37°C or on turkey frankfurters stored at 4°C and 10°C, respectively. This research has demonstrated that the use of an edible film coating containing nisin with EDTA is a promising means of controlling the growth and recontamination of L. monocytogenes on RTE meat products

Analyzing The Effectiveness Of The Gurney Method For Small Scale Fragmentation Propulsion Using Exploding Bridgewire Detonators

Explosives are common in military, mining, and construction applications where the explosive properties are understood, but mechanics of how the explosive\u27s energy fragments and throws materials are less known. Considering the type of confining material around an explosive, creates variability in fragmentation behavior due to the individual material characteristics. The most common method for assessing fragmentation behavior is the Gurney method, which eliminates any consideration of fragmenting material properties. The Gurney method assumes that, on a large scale, the inconsistencies in material are irrelevant and only the mass of the confiner need be considered. However, it is known in many fields that energy is consumed in the breaking of a material. In this paper, the detonation and resultant fragmentation propulsion of Exploding Bridgewire (EBW) detonators with the same explosive material, but different casing characteristics, is observed. The Gurney method was used to predict fragmentation velocities of the casing following detonation, which were compared to the behavior observed through high-speed video of the actual event. The EBWs were selected to provide variability in casing material, casing thickness, charge length, and charge diameter. It was found that when the amount of explosive is small, the material properties of the casing play a significant role, with 70 % of the total explosive mass lost in fragmenting PMMA EBWs and 30±3 % lost in Aluminum EBWs. There is significant energy loss to breaking the casing material that cannot be ignored on the small scale and could impact large explosives with high casing to explosive ratios

Help Seeking Behaviours and Depressive Symptoms in Arab Canadian and European Canadian Adolescents

Objectives. The aim of the present study was to examine the relations between help-seeking behaviours and mood problems among Arab Canadian and European Canadian adolescents. Method. Participants were 12 Arab Canadian adolescents (six males and six females; M = 15.75, SD = 1.42) and 12 European Canadian adolescents, matched for age and gender (six males and six females; M = 15.75, SD = 1.42) from three demographically diverse high schools in a midsized city in Ontario, Canada. Participants completed questionnaires assessing depressive symptoms, stressful life problems, sources of help, and barriers to seeking help for a stressful problem. Results. Youth reported a number of family (8% European Canadian; 25% Arab Canadian), school (42% European Canadian; 17% Arab Canadian), romantic relationships (17% European Canadian; 0% Arab Canadian), and other problems (25% European Canadian; 33% Arab Canadian), such as work and social issues, as their most stressful problem in the past six months. There were no significant differences in perceived severity or stressfulness of problems between the two ethnic groups. Of those adolescents who reported having a stressful problem, 64% of European Canadian and 44% of Arab Canadian youth sought help for their problem. In seeking help for their problem, Arab Canadian youth sought help from significantly fewer people than did European Canadian youth (t (8) = 2.802, p = .023). Arab Canadian youth reported seeking help from only family members, whereas European Canadian youth reported seeking help from family, friends, and other sources (e.g., teachers). There were no significant differences between the two ethnic groups on the types of barriers to seeking help for their problem. Results revealed that Arab Canadian youth (M = 16.18, SD = 12.87) endorsed more depressive symptoms compared to European Canadian youth (M = 7.58, SD = 5.47; t(21) = -2.119, p = .046). In Arab Canadian youth, depression was significantly positively correlated with the following barriers to help seeking: The problem being too personal, perception of family being sufficient for help, having an external locus of control, concerns of confidentiality, and affordability of professional services. Discussion. Findings have implications for understanding how Arab Canadian youth perceive the process of help-seeking and how mental health services can be better targeted to this population

Water-Cased Kicker Charges for Use in Explosive Demolition

Demolition Projects Involving Explosives Often Incorporate Cutting Charges to Sever Columns in Conjunction with Kicker Charges that Move the Columns Out of Alignment. Traditional Kicker Charges Use Dynamite Secured to the Column above a Linear-Shaped Cutting Charge. This Study Investigates the Use of Water-Cased Kicker Charges for Use in Explosive Demolition. the Goal is to Reduce the Fragmentation of Steel Members and the Quantity of Explosive Needed Due to the Increased Density, Incompressibility, and Impedance Mismatch Water Provides. Simulations and Experimental Tests Were Utilized to Determine What Type of Charges Provide the Optimal Column Movement and Water Placement. Water Charges and Traditional Charges Were Placed on Hanging Steel Columns that Swung Freely from a Top Pivot and Analyzed for the Fragmentation and Velocity of the Column. Tests Were Recorded with High-Speed Video to Calculate Velocity and Impulse. Simulations Showed the Same Results as Experimental Tests, with Water-Cased Charges Moving the Column Faster and with More Impulse Than Traditional Charges. Experimental Testing Showed that Water-Cased Charges Moved the Column 53% Faster Than Traditional in Contact Charges While Simulations Showed that Water-Cased Charges Moved the Column 43% Faster Than Traditional in Contact Charges. Simulations Showed the Water Tamped Behind the Charge Increased Beam Velocity 32% While Water in Front of the Charge Reduced Pressure 38% through Dispersion

Effect Of Shock Tunnel Geometry On Shockwave And Vortex Ring Formation, Propagation, And Head On Collision

Vortex ring research primarily focuses on the formation from circular openings. Consequently, the role of tunnel geometry is less understood, despite there being numerous research studies using noncircular shock tunnels. This experimental study investigated shockwaves and vortex rings from different geometry shock tunnels from formation at the tunnel opening to head on collision with another similarly formed vortex ring using schlieren imaging and statistical analysis. The velocity of the incident shockwave was found to be consistent across all four shock tunnel geometries, which include circle, hexagon, square, and triangle of the same cross-sectional area. The velocity was 1.2 ± 0.007 Mach and was independent of the tunnel geometry. However, the velocities of the resulting vortex rings differed between the shapes, with statistical analysis indicating significant differences between the triangle and hexagon vortex velocities compared to the circle. Vortex rings from the square and circle shock tunnels were found to have statistically similar velocities. All vortex rings slowed as they traveled due to corner inversion and air drag. All shock tunnels with corners produce a wobble in the vortex rings. Vortex rings interact with opposing incident shockwaves prior to colliding with each other. Vortex velocity before and after shock-vortex interaction was measured and evaluated, showing statistically similar results. Shock-vortex interaction slows the shockwave upon interaction, while the shock-shock interaction resulted in no change in shock velocity. Although the vortex rings travel at different velocities, all head-on vortex ring collisions produce a perpendicular shockwave that travels at 1.04 ± 0.005 Mach