The Ambitious Challenge of Adopting a Mine Field

Dropci is a tiny, devastated, and currently empty community of family farmers in northwestern Bosnia and Herzegovina, near the border with Croatia. Its people are still refugees from the war, as the land is strewn with landmines, booby traps and unexploded ordnance. Monterey County, Calif., is known as the Salad Bowl of the World for its agricultural abundance, the Golfing Capital of the World, and the site of the spectacular Big Sur coastline. Dropci and Monterey County are worlds apart. What is the cord that binds these two communities? The Adopt-A-Minefield Campaign, a program coordinated by the United Nations Association of the USA (UNA-USA) to raise funds for landmine clearance and to raise awareness about the global land mine crisis. The UNA Monterey Bay Chapter was among the first groups to consider working with UNA-USA to raise funds to sponsor demining efforts overseas

How does democracy influence citizens' perceptions of government corruption? A cross-national study

We examine the effect of democracy as an institutional context on individuals’ perceptions of government corruption. To do so, we compile an integrated dataset from the Asian, Afro, and Latino Barometer Surveys and use a hierarchical linear regression model. Our primary finding is that the effect of democracy has different effects on ordinary citizens’ perceptions of corruption in different contexts. In general, people in countries with higher levels of democracy tend to perceive their governments to be more corrupt. However, more importantly, conditional models show that in countries with more developed democratic institutions, individuals with stronger democratic values are less likely to perceive the government to be corrupt. Moreover, people in such countries are less likely to assess their government based on their perceptions of economic situation

The Lantern Vol. 28, No. 2, Spring 1961

• A New Bedlam • A Priori • Germ Warfare • Verse for a Sympathy Card • On Lamartine\u27s Crucifix • On Art • Hope • Hymn to the Morning • An Educator Speaks • Come Out • Insemination • A Day\u27s Hope • Laura • Walking Together • 20 September 1960 • 15 October 1960 • The Governor\u27s Dog • One of the Gang • Poem • Knowledge is Freedom • To Conservative Child • Seventeen American Skating Careers at the Zenithhttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/lantern/1080/thumbnail.jp

Syndemic factors associated with adult sexual HIV risk behaviors in a sample of Latino men who have sex with men in New York City

Objective: Syndemic theory has been proposed as a framework for understanding the role of multiple riskfactors driving the HIV epidemic among sexual and gender minority individuals. As yet, the frameworkhas been relatively absent in research on Latinos/as.Methods: We used logistic regression to assess relationships among cumulative syndemic conditions –including clinically significant depression, high-risk alcohol consumption, discrimination, and childhoodsexual abuse – engagement with multiple partners and condomless anal intercourse (CAI) in a sample of176 Latino men who have sex with men (MSM) in New York City.Results: In bivariate analyses, an increase in the number of syndemic factors experienced was associatedwith an increased likelihood of reporting multiple partners and CAI. In multivariable analyses, participantswith 2, 3, and 4 factors were significantly more likely to report multiple partners than those with 0(aOR = 4.66, 95% CI [1.29, 16.85); aOR = 7.28, 95% CI [1.94, 27.28] and aOR = 8.25, 95% CI [1.74, 39.24]respectively; p \u3c 0.05. Regarding CAI, only participants with 3 and 4 factors differed from those with 0aOR = 7.35, 95% CI [1.64, 32.83] and OR = 8.06, 95% CI [1.39, 46.73] respectively.Conclusions: Comprehensive approaches that address syndemic factors, and capitalize on resiliency, areneeded to address the sexual health needs of Latino MSM

Syndemic factors associated with adult sexual HIV risk behaviors in a sample of Latino men who have sex with men in New York City

Objective: Syndemic theory has been proposed as a framework for understanding the role of multiple riskfactors driving the HIV epidemic among sexual and gender minority individuals. As yet, the frameworkhas been relatively absent in research on Latinos/as.Methods: We used logistic regression to assess relationships among cumulative syndemic conditions –including clinically significant depression, high-risk alcohol consumption, discrimination, and childhoodsexual abuse – engagement with multiple partners and condomless anal intercourse (CAI) in a sample of176 Latino men who have sex with men (MSM) in New York City.Results: In bivariate analyses, an increase in the number of syndemic factors experienced was associatedwith an increased likelihood of reporting multiple partners and CAI. In multivariable analyses, participantswith 2, 3, and 4 factors were significantly more likely to report multiple partners than those with 0(aOR = 4.66, 95% CI [1.29, 16.85); aOR = 7.28, 95% CI [1.94, 27.28] and aOR = 8.25, 95% CI [1.74, 39.24]respectively; p \u3c 0.05. Regarding CAI, only participants with 3 and 4 factors differed from those with 0aOR = 7.35, 95% CI [1.64, 32.83] and OR = 8.06, 95% CI [1.39, 46.73] respectively.Conclusions: Comprehensive approaches that address syndemic factors, and capitalize on resiliency, areneeded to address the sexual health needs of Latino MSM

Integration of Social, Cultural, and Biomedical Strategies into an Existing Couple-Based Behavioral HIV/STI Prevention Intervention: Voices of Latino Male Couples

Introduction Successful HIV prevention and treatment requires evidence-based approaches that combine biomedical strategies with behavioral interventions that are socially and culturally appropriate for the population or community being prioritized. Although there has been a push for a combination approach, how best to integrate different strategies into existing behavioral HIV prevention interventions remains unclear. The need to develop effective combination approaches is of particular importance for men who have sex with men (MSM), who face a disproportionately high risk of HIV acquisition. Materials and Methods We collaborated with Latino male couples and providers to adapt Connect ‘n Unite, an evidence-based intervention for Black male couples, for Latino male couples. We conducted a series of three focus groups, each with two cohorts of couples, and one focus group with providers. A purposive stratified sample of 20 couples (N = 40, divided into two cohorts) and 10 providers provided insights into how to adapt and integrate social, cultural, and biomedical approaches in a couples-based HIV/AIDS behavioral intervention. Results The majority (N = 37) of the couple participants had no prior knowledge of the following new biomedical strategies: non-occupational post-exposure prophylaxis (nPEP); pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP); and HIV self-testing kits. After they were introduced to these biomedical interventions, all participants expressed a need for information and empowerment through knowledge and awareness of these interventions. In particular, participants suggested that we provide PrEP and HIV self-testing kits by the middle or end of the intervention. Providers suggested a need to address behavioral, social and structural issues, such as language barriers; and the promotion of client-centered approaches to increase access to, adaptation of, and adherence to biomedical strategies. Corroborating what couple participants suggested, providers agreed that biomedical strategies should be offered after providing information about these tools. Regarding culturally sensitive and responsive approaches, participants identified stigma and discrimination associated with HIV and sexual identity as barriers to care, language barriers and documentation status as further barriers to care, the couple-based approach as ideal to health promotion, and the need to include family topics in the intervention. Discussion We successfully adapted an evidence-based behavioral HIV prevention intervention for Latino male couples. The adapted intervention, called Conectando Latinos en Pareja, integrates social, cultural, behavioral and biomedical strategies to address the HIV epidemic among Latino MSM. The study highlights the promise regarding the feasibility of implementing a combination approach to HIV prevention in this populatio

Interweaving Chiral Spirals

We elaborate how to construct interweaving chiral spirals in (2+1) dimensions, defined as a superposition of chiral spirals oriented in different directions. We divide a two-dimensional Fermi sea into distinct wedges, characterized by the opening angle 2Theta and depth Q ~ pF, where pF is the Fermi momentum. In each wedge, the energy is lowered by forming a single chiral spiral. The optimal values for Theta and Q are chosen by balancing this gain in energy versus the cost of deforming the Fermi surface (which dominates at large Theta) and patch-patch interactions (dominant at small Theta). Using a non-local four-Fermi interaction model, we estimate the gain and cost in energy by expanding in terms of 1/Nc (where Nc is the number of colors), lqcd/Q, and Theta. Due to a form factor in our non-local model, at small 1/Nc the mass gap (chiral condensate) is large, and the interaction among quarks and the condensate local in momentum space. Consequently, interactions between different patches are localized near their boundaries, and it is simple to embed many chiral spirals. We identify the dominant and subdominant terms at high density and categorize formulate an expansion in terms of lqcd/Q or Theta. The kinetic term in the transverse directions is subdominant, so that techniques from (1+1)-dimensional systems can be utilized. To leading order in 1/Nc and lqcd/Q, the total gain in energy is ~ pF lqcd^2 with Theta ~ (lqcd/pF)^{3/5}. Since Theta decreases with increasing pF, there should be phase transitions associated with the change in the wedge number. We also argue the effects of subdominant terms at lower density where the large-Nc approximation is more reliable.Comment: 54 pages, 21 figures, published versio

Reducing the duration of untreated psychosis and its impact in the U.S.: the STEP-ED study

Background: Early intervention services for psychotic disorders optimally interlock strategies to deliver: (i) Early Detection (ED) to shorten the time between onset of psychotic symptoms and effective treatment (i.e. Duration of Untreated Psychosis, DUP); and (ii) comprehensive intervention during the subsequent 2 to 5 years. In the latter category, are teams (‘First-episode Services’ or FES) that integrate several empirically supported treatments and adapt their delivery to younger patients and caregivers. There is an urgent need to hasten access to established FES in the U.S. Despite improved outcomes for those in treatment, these FES routinely engage patients a year or more after psychosis onset. The Scandinavian TIPS study was able to effectively reduce DUP in a defined geographic catchment. The guiding questions for this study are: can a U.S. adaptation of the TIPS approach to ED substantially reduce DUP and improve outcomes beyond existing FES? Methods/Design The primary aim is to determine whether ED can reduce DUP in the US, as compared to usual detection. ED will be implemented by one FES (STEP) based in southern Connecticut, and usual detection efforts will continue at a comparable FES (PREPR) serving the greater Boston metropolitan area. The secondary aim is to determine whether DUP reduction can improve presentation, engagement and early outcomes in FES care. A quasi-experimental design will compare the impact of ED on DUP at STEP compared to PREPR over 3 successive campaign years. The campaign will deploy 3 components that seek to transform pathways to care in 8 towns surrounding STEP. Social marketing approaches will inform a public education campaign to enable rapid and effective help-seeking behavior. Professional outreach and detailing to a wide variety of care providers, including those in the healthcare, educational and judicial sectors, will facilitate rapid redirection of appropriate patients to STEP. Finally, performance improvement measures within STEP will hasten engagement upon referral. Discussion STEP-ED will test an ED campaign adapted to heterogeneous U.S. pathways to care while also improving our understanding of these pathways and their impact on early outcomes. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02069925. Registered 20 February 2014