Prospectus, October 30, 1996

https://spark.parkland.edu/prospectus_1996/1027/thumbnail.jp

The Impact of Selected Socioeconomic Factors on Asset Building in Rural Communities

The study examined the impact of selected socioeconomic factors on asset building. Using a questionnaire, data were obtained from a convenience sample of 204 participants from several Alabama Black Belt Counties, and analyzed using descriptive statistics and logit analysis. The results showed that a majority (64%) was willing to participate in an asset building program. Of this, an overwhelming majority (at most 70%) wanted to set up a small business; further their education, or purchase a home. In addition, one socioeconomic factor, age, had a statistically significant (p = 0.016) effect on willingness to participate in an asset building program. Consequently, it was recommended that policies and programs that encourage participation in asset building be put in place for residents in the study area, focusing on age as a key factor, among others, to improve wealth. Critical resources to use in this effort are the community-based organizations, and research institutions

The Caenorhabditis elegans nonmuscle myosin genes nmy-1 and nmy-2 function as redundant components of the let-502/Rho-binding kinase and mel-11/myosin phosphatase pathway during embryonic morphogenesis

Rho-binding kinase and the myosin phosphatase targeting subunit regulate nonmuscle contractile events in higher eukaryotes. Genetic evidence indicates that the C. elegans homologs regulate embryonic morphogenesis by controlling the actin-mediated epidermal cell shape changes that transform the spherical embryo into a long, thin worm. LET-502/Rho-binding kinase triggers elongation while MEL-11/myosin phosphatase targeting subunit inhibits this contractile event. We describe mutations in the nonmuscle myosin heavy chain gene nmy-1 that were isolated as suppressors of the mel-11 hypercontraction phenotype. However, a nmy-1 null allele displays elongation defects less severe than mutations in let-502 or in the single nonmuscle myosin light chain gene mlc-4. This results because nmy-1 is partially redundant with another nonmuscle myosin heavy chain, nmy-2, which was previously known only for its role in anterior/posterior polarity and cytokinesis in the early embryo. At the onset of elongation, NMY-1 forms filamentous-like structures similar to actin, and LET-502 is interspersed with these structures, where it may trigger contraction. MEL-11, which inhibits elongation, is initially cytoplasmic. In response to LET-502 activity, MEL-11 becomes sequestered away from the contractile apparatus, to the plasma membrane, when elongation commences. Upon completion of morphogenesis, MEL-11 again appears in the cytoplasm where it may halt actin/myosin contraction

Identification of antiviral roles for the exon-junction complex and nonsense-mediated decay in flaviviral infection.

West Nile virus (WNV) is an emerging mosquito-borne flavivirus, related to dengue virus and Zika virus. To gain insight into host pathways involved in WNV infection, we performed a systematic affinity-tag purification mass spectrometry (APMS) study to identify 259 WNV-interacting human proteins. RNA interference screening revealed 26 genes that both interact with WNV proteins and influence WNV infection. We found that WNV, dengue and Zika virus capsids interact with a conserved subset of proteins that impact infection. These include the exon-junction complex (EJC) recycling factor PYM1, which is antiviral against all three viruses. The EJC has roles in nonsense-mediated decay (NMD), and we found that both the EJC and NMD are antiviral and the EJC protein RBM8A directly binds WNV RNA. To counteract this, flavivirus infection inhibits NMD and the capsid-PYM1 interaction interferes with EJC protein function and localization. Depletion of PYM1 attenuates RBM8A binding to viral RNA, suggesting that WNV sequesters PYM1 to protect viral RNA from decay. Together, these data suggest a complex interplay between the virus and host in regulating NMD and the EJC

An Analysis of the Relationship Between Leadership Styles and Community Development in Selected Counties of the Alabama Black Belt

Leadership styles are surmised to influence community development. The study, therefore, assessed the relationship between leadership styles and community development in selected Black Belt Counties of Alabama. Data were collected from a purposive sample of 38 locally elected officials, and were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis. The most dominant leadership style selected was participating; followed by telling and selling, with identical ratings; delegating; autocratic, and democratic. The most preferred economic indicators were improving the physical infrastructure and constructing a 24-hour health facility. Additionally, participants indicated that constructing or improving of an industrial park; locating a manufacturing company, and locating a tier-1 automobile supplier are important facets of community development. Furthermore, the more preferred educational factor was providing after school programs, and the more preferred social factor was providing recreational facilities. The regression results revealed that of the economic indicators, democratic leadership style had the most relative importance; of the educational indicators, telling leadership style had the most relative importance, and of the social indicators, delegating leadership style had the most relative importance. For the overall community development indicator, democratic leadership style had the most relative importance. Keywords: Leadership Styles, Leadership, Community Development, Black Bel

Using Complex, Multi-Sectoral Data in a Needs Assessment to Inform Future Strategies in Childhood Asthma Management

The purpose of this needs assessment was to study the current state of asthma management in high-risk children in Houston, Texas to inform a theory-based approach to improving asthma management. The mixed-method assessment included multi-sectoral survey, quantitative, and geospatial data that address a range of social and community factors in family, community, home, and medical contexts. Houston Emergency Medical Services (EMS) provided ambulance-treated asthma data mapped by geographic area to identify where childhood asthma management was weakest. Texas Children’s Health Plan (TCHP) provided medication compliance rates and counts of children by zip code that TCHP considered high-risk according to claims data. Houston Independent School District (HISD) provided school nurse survey results from schools with high-rates of ambulance-treated asthma attacks regarding local barriers to asthma management. Elementary schools with children at highest risk were identified by overlaying the EMS data, TCHP data, and HISD school zone boundaries. Survey results from the high-rate schools indicate the priority challenges to childhood asthma management, including lack of resources, lack of communication, lack of knowledge of triggers, and inadequate time for quality care from providers. By weaving together EMS, TCHP, and HISD data, the needs assessment informed a socio-ecological view of gaps in high-risk childhood asthma management and control, specifically where and what to target. An assessment approach with multi-sectoral data, geospatial mapping, nurse input, current systems of care, education, and funding helped focus planning on a practical approach to asthma control solutions for high-risk children

Extending Sustainable Irrigation Opportunities to Socially and Historically Disadvantaged Farmers in the Alabama Black Belt to Support Commercial-Level Production

This paper focuses on providing sustainable irrigation opportunities to socially and historically disadvantaged farmers (SHDFs). The ability to provide steady production capacity through the use of renewable energy sources and microirrigation is innovative, in that it demonstrated how to develop and utilize a sustainable irrigation system in both energy and water conservation. This venture is also innovative in that it sought to provide SHDFs with irrigation in a state in which irrigation in agriculture is minimal, while at the same time, offsetting the energy costs that normally accompany irrigation. Several farmers are profiled in their participation in the irrigation program. The lessons learned will provide a starting point for a more permanent research, educational, and outreach partnership between the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and SHDF clientele. This relationship will lead to further strengthening the relationships between Tuskegee University and both participating farmers and USDA agencies. Key Words: Irrigation, Small Farmers, Agricultural Sustainability, Solar Energy, Black Bel

An Analysis of the Relationship between Socioeconomic Factors and Leadership Styles in Selected Counties of the Alabama Black Belt

Socioeconomic factors are important to leadership styles and may have an influence on leadership styles. The study assessed the relationship between socioeconomic factors and leadership styles in selected counties of the Alabama Black Belt. Data were collected from a purposive sample of 38 locally elected officials, and were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis. The results showed that there were more male, Black, “older”, educated, moderate- to moderately high-income household, and low- to medium-tenured elected officials than otherwise. The most dominant leadership style was participating; followed by telling and selling. Gender and age had enhancing effects (i.e., positive relative impacts) on the participating leadership style; race had enhancing effects on the selling, delegating, and democratic leadership styles; education had enhancing effects on the selling, participating, and delegating leadership styles; household income had enhancing effects on all the leadership styles, and tenure had an enhancing effect on the autocratic leadership style. This suggests that the officials are more prone to use the said leadership styles vis-à-vis the particular socioeconomic factors. Keywords: Leadership styles, Leadership, Socioeconomic factors, Black Bel

Community perspectives on the benefits and risks of technologically enhanced communicable disease surveillance systems: A report on four community juries

Background Outbreaks of infectious disease cause serious and costly health and social problems. Two new technologies – pathogen whole genome sequencing (WGS) and Big Data analytics – promise to improve our capacity to detect and control outbreaks earlier, saving lives and resources. However, routinely using these technologies to capture more detailed and specific personal information could be perceived as intrusive and a threat to privacy. Method Four community juries were convened in two demographically different Sydney municipalities and two regional cities in New South Wales, Australia (western Sydney, Wollongong, Tamworth, eastern Sydney) to elicit the views of well-informed community members on the acceptability and legitimacy of: making pathogen WGS and linked administrative data available for public health research using this information in concert with data linkage and machine learning to enhance communicable disease surveillance systems Fifty participants of diverse backgrounds, mixed genders and ages were recruited by random-digit-dialling and topic-blinded social-media advertising. Each jury was presented with balanced factual evidence supporting different expert perspectives on the potential benefits and costs of technologically enhanced public health research and communicable disease surveillance and given the opportunity to question experts. Results Almost all jurors supported data linkage and WGS on routinely collected patient isolates for the purposes of public health research, provided standard de-identification practices were applied. However, allowing this information to be operationalised as a syndromic surveillance system was highly contentious with three juries voting in favour, and one against by narrow margins. For those in favour, support depended on several conditions related to system oversight and security being met. Those against were concerned about loss of privacy and did not trust Australian governments to run secure and effective systems. Conclusions Participants across all four events strongly supported the introduction of data linkage and pathogenomics to public health research under current research governance structures. Combining pathogen WGS with event-based data surveillance systems, however, is likely to be controversial because of a lack of public trust, even when the potential public health benefits are clear. Any suggestion of private sector involvement or commercialisation of WGS or surveillance data was unanimously rejected