Consuming cultures: the cultinary poetics of Francophone women's literature

textAnthropologists, sociologists and students of culture study food, eating and cuisine because they can provide insight into gender, power and even economic relations that structure a society. The way that people react to, think about and write about this most basic form of consumption can be very revealing. In a society where many different cultural traditions come together, one of the most basic ways that a group can identify and celebrate its own culture is through cooking and eating. In my dissertation, I extend this examination of food to the written word to show that a fictional character’s relationship to food can reveal his or her hidden fears and desires, and that an author's description of food and eating can serve to express the values of a particular society. Although the study of food as a cultural marker is not new, the relationship between food and specifically women has only recently viii begun to be explored. This is surprising because, as Rosalind Coward says in her 1985 book Female Desires: How they are Sold, Bought and Packaged, "How food is consumed and prepared has crucial implications for women in this society, because it expresses deeply held ideologies of provision and dependency."(109) Specifically, women write about food because of their involvement in the acts of nurturing and the way that it is symbolic of their relationships with the people that they nurture. My dissertation explores the topics of food and eating in the novels written by Francophone women in the late 20th century. In limiting my scope to Francophone novels I have identified a common counter-current of struggle for a separate and valuable cultural identity from the dominant French national identity. I focus on the works of women living and writing in three distinct regions, multicultural Paris, West Africa, and the Caribbean. I examine the novels, Comment cuisiner son mari à l’africaine by Calixthe Beyala, Ce Pays Dont Je Meurs by Fawzia Zouari, Une Chanson Ecarlate, by Mariama Bâ, Cendres et Braises by Ken Bugul, Pluie et Vent sur Télumée Miracle by Simone Schwarz-Bart’s and Papillon dans la cité by Gisèle Pineau. My dissertation shows how food and cooking are used as cultural markers, and provide an activity that binds the characters together and separates them from the dominant French culture. In addition to being a cultural indicator in these novels, I assert that food is symbolic of social clout. Within a specific cultural group and even ix within a certain family, food and the preparation of food endow women with power and prestige.French and Italia

Attachment dimensions as predictors of mental health and psychosocial well-being in the transition to university

This study sought to investigate the predictive relationship that dimensions of attachment shared with an array of indicators of psychosocial well-being and mental health in a sample of students making the transition to higher education. One hundred and thirty-one students completed the Vulnerable Attachment Styles Questionnaire (VASQ) prior to enrolment in their first semester of university education. Subsequently, the students completed measures related to perceived loneliness, institutional integration, psychological need satisfaction, depressive symptoms and ways of coping during their first semester. Results suggested that higher scores in relation to the insecurity dimension of the VASQ were instrumental in predicting negative psychosocial well-being and mental health. The results discussed the key vulnerability dimensions of attachment when seeking to predict indices of psychosocial well-being and mental health

Elevator Or Stairs? A Dive Into Patron Decision Making

When put in a situation to get to higher/lower floors of a building, there are many factors that go into play for whether an individual chooses to take the stairs (active) or ride the elevator (sedentary). Students were approached at waiting area for the four elevators in a University Library and were asked series of questions regarding their reasoning for taking the stair or elevator to ascend, as well as their thoughts on the stairwell appearance. Point of application #1: Stairwell appearance and aesthetics should be considered during the design process in order to increase use and physical activity amongst individuals. Point of application #2: Stairwell and elevator location, along with signage, should be considered during the design or remodeling process to create a more accessible stairwell. Point of application #3: The benefits of taking the stairs rather than using an elevator should be promoted to encourage using the stairs. Key Words: active lifestyle, active transport, point of decision prompt, physical activity, healt

Evidence-based diabetes prevention and control programs and policies in local health departments

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to: (1) assess implementation of evidence-based programs and policies (EBPPs) related to diabetes prevention and control in local health departments; (2) assess feasibility of non-implemented diabetes prevention and control EBPPs; and (3) examine individual- and organizational-level factors associated with implementation of diabetes prevention and control EBPPs. METHODS: An online survey was administered in January 2015 to key representatives of all local health departments in Missouri. Descriptive statistics were used to describe implementation and perceived feasibility of 20 diabetes prevention and control EBPPs. Logistic regression was used to examine the association between individual and organizational factors and diabetes prevention and control EBPP implementation. RESULTS: One hundred local health departments participated (89% response rate) in the online survey. Most frequently implemented diabetes-related EBPPs in local health departments included: nutrition education for agency or community members; increased fruit and vegetable access in community settings; and community-wide campaigns to promote physical activity. Increased encouragement to others in the department to use evidence-based decision making and agency incentives to help employees use evidence-based decision making were positively associated with implementation of diabetes prevention and control EBPPs. CONCLUSIONS: Local health departments are the “front line” of public health and this study demonstrates the important role these organizations play in implementing diabetes prevention and control EBPPs. Potential leverage points for more widespread adoption of diabetes-related EBPPs in local health departments include education about and encouragement of evidence-based decision making and organizational incentives for employees to integrate evidence-based decision making into their diabetes prevention and control activities

Allogeneic natural killer cell therapy

Interest in adoptive cell therapy for treating cancer is exploding owing to early clinical successes of autologous chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T lymphocyte therapy. However, limitations using T cells and autologous cell products are apparent as they (1) take weeks to generate, (2) utilize a 1:1 donor-to-patient model, (3) are expensive, and (4) are prone to heterogeneity and manufacturing failures. CAR T cells are also associated with significant toxicities, including cytokine release syndrome, immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome, and prolonged cytopenias. To overcome these issues, natural killer (NK) cells are being explored as an alternative cell source for allogeneic cell therapies. NK cells have an inherent ability to recognize cancers, mediate immune functions of killing and communication, and do not induce graft-versus-host disease, cytokine release syndrome, or immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome. NK cells can be obtained from blood or cord blood or be derived from hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells or induced pluripotent stem cells, and can be expanded and cryopreserved for off-the-shelf availability. The first wave of point-of-care NK cell therapies led to the current allogeneic NK cell products being investigated in clinical trials with promising preliminary results. Basic advances in NK cell biology and cellular engineering have led to new translational strategies to block inhibition, enhance and broaden target cell recognition, optimize functional persistence, and provide stealth from patients\u27 immunity. This review details NK cell biology, as well as NK cell product manufacturing, engineering, and combination therapies explored in the clinic leading to the next generation of potent, off-the-shelf cellular therapies for blood cancers

Parent’s Post-traumatic Stress before and after their Infant’s Second Palliative Heart Surgery: The PatHS Descriptive Correlational Longitudinal Study

Title from PDF of title page, viewed January 4, 2023Dissertation advisor: Andrew ChrismanVitaIncludes bibliographical references (pages 65-81)Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Department of Nursing and Health Studies. University of Missouri--Kansas City, 2022One percent of infants born have CHD making it the most common congenital anomaly. Of those infants born with CHD, 1% have a functionally single ventricle. This type of heart defect requires three palliative heart surgeries, the first within seven days of birth, the second at 4-6 months, and the third at 2-5 years of age. Parents endure emotional trauma from witnessing their child in life-sustaining care, experiencing reoccurring hospitalizations, and the evolving reality of having a child with a chronic illness. Parent trauma impacts typical experiences for the parent and the infant resulting in impaired coping, bonding, and confidence. The infant may have problems with feeding or neurodevelopment. Parents with unresolved trauma may be less engaged in medical care, which is a predictor of later infant outcomes. The purpose of this study is to describe the levels of parent post-traumatic stress before and after their infant’s second palliative surgery for SVCHD. A descriptive correlational, longitudinal design was used. The post-traumatic stress disorder checklist revised for the DSM-5 (PCL-5) was administered via Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap) to 22 parents before and after the second palliative heart surgery. Descriptive statistics were used to evaluate and describe the demographic data and the level of post-traumatic stress at the two-time points. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to determine the relationship between the two PCL-5 scores. There were positive PCL-5 scores present pre-surgery and post-surgery. Most of the scores (n=13, 59%) decreased between surgery one and two, although we did not have the statistical power to make definitive conclusions from the data. An inverse association between the PCL-5 scores and income and level of education was noted. The timing of the surveys introduced many factors beyond the control of the study team. Future research should seek scores at consistent time points not bound by surgery.Introduction -- Review of literature -- Methodology -- Results -- Discussio

Music, 'race' and diaspora: Romani music making in Ostrava, Czech Republic.

This thesis is a contribution towards an historically informed understanding of contemporary music making amongst Roma in Ostrava, Czech Republic. It also challenges, from a theoretical perspective, conceptions of relationships between music and discourses of 'race'. My research is based on fieldwork conducted in Ostrava, between August 2003 and July 2004 and East Slovakia in July 2004, as well as archival research in Ostrava and Vienna. These fieldwork experiences compelled me to explore music and ideas of 'race' through discourses of diaspora in order to assist in conceptualising and interpreting Romani music making in Ostrava. The vast majority of Roma in Ostrava are post-World War II emigres or descendants of emigres from East Slovakia. In contemporary Ostrava, most Roma live on the socioeconomic margins and are most often regarded as a separate 'race' with a separate culture from the dominant population. Chapter 1 considers Romani history and origins in the light of postmodern perspectives. Academic and grassroots debates are reviewed and I explore their significance in the context of contemporary Romani music making in Ostrava. The history of 'race', the history of Roma in the Czech lands and Slovakia 1399-1948, and their increasing interweaving and fatal collision in the Nazi-led Holocaust, is outlined in chapter 2. The legacies of the Holocaust, Romani history and contemporary racial experiences are considered in relation to the anthem of the Czech and Slovak Roma. Chapter 3 considers life for Roma under Czechoslovak socialism and I examine recordings of Romani music and memories of this time. In chapter 4, the vast socio-economic and cultural changes following the demise of the Communist party and the influence of the modern nation-state and nationalism are explored in relation to Ostrava Roma and the major reinterpretations of Romani musical traditions that have been taking place post-1989. The phenomenon of Rompop is discussed in chapter 5, particularly its contemporary expressions in bands, parties and discos in Ostrava, which is then used as an example in the consideration of possible connections between music and ideas of 'race' in a theoretical interlude. Chapter 6 explores new trends in Ostrava music making that mark a fundamental rupture with traditions and draw on a variety of cultural expressions from around the globe. In chapter 7, I introduce the small and separate group of Vlach Roma in Ostrava and their strong diasporic connections to other Vlach. I conclude my theoretical challenge to conceptions of music and 'race' in chapter 8 by offering a framework with which to consider Romani music making in Ostrava and its racialisation, drawing on Hall's theory of articulation and discourses of diaspora

Physical Activity is Related to Mental Health and Sexual Orientation Among Women in College

International Journal of Exercise Science 15(5): 1347-1356, 2022. Non-heterosexual women tend to report lower physical activity and poorer mental health than their heterosexual counterparts. The purpose of this study was to examine differences in mental health (stress and depression) and physical activity among female college students by sexual orientation. Students self-reported socio-demographic characteristics, physical activity, perceived stress, and depressive symptoms via an online survey. Correlations, independent samples t-tests, and multiple regression analyses were used to examine relationships between perceived stress, depressive symptoms, physical activity, and sexual orientation. Most participants (n = 1072, 20.0 ± 1.5 years) identified as heterosexual (90.1%), non-Hispanic White (73%), and in their fourth semester or higher. Perceived stress and depressive symptoms differed significantly between heterosexual and non- heterosexual women, but physical activity participation did not. Higher participation in vigorous physical activity and strength training predicted both lower depressive symptoms and lower perceived stress while controlling for sexual orientation. For both heterosexual and non-heterosexual sexual women, depressive symptoms had a positive relationship with perceived stress, and a negative relationship to strength training. Depressive symptoms also had negative correlations with vigorous physical activity among heterosexual women. Findings indicate non-heterosexual women experience greater perceived stress and depressive symptoms, and these mental health issues can have multi-level implications. Greater vigorous physical activity and strength training were associated with lower perceived stress and depression regardless of sexual orientation. Administrators and health promoters should consider ways to promote these forms of physical activity among non-heterosexual women. Further research is needed on the potential barriers impacting engagement in physical activity

The Role of The Physical and Social Environment for Physical Activity for College Students During the Covid-19 Pandemic

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic created significant disruptions for college students, impacting health and physical activity (PA). Changes to the PA environment presented many challenges for students.Purpose: To examine the influence of the physical and social environment on PA participation for college students during the onset of COVID-19 restrictions.Methods: This cross-sectional, mixed methods survey used an online questionnaire during the onset of COVID-19 restrictions with a volunteer sample of college students at a large university in the United States. Participants self-reported their demographics, PA level and environment for PA, and responded to an open-ended question about their PA participation during the pandemic. Correlations and independent samples t-tests examined relationships between PA and the environment. Qualitative data were scanned to identify overarching themes.Results: Participants (n = 395) were predominantly Non-Hispanic White and female. The neighborhood environment and access to PA equipment were associated with PA for both men and women. Major qualitative themes highlighted the role of the physical environment and PA. Participating in PA with friends and family was positively associated with PA for both men and women as well.Conclusions: This study provides insight on the importance of the social and built environment for encouraging and supporting PA among college students during the COVID-19 pandemic which may provide insight for distance education as higher education evolves

196 - Neural Correlates of Empathy and their Association with Psychopathology

Our study looks at brain activity underlying empathy processing and its association with underlying mental health. Using a functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) measuring device, we measured blood oxygenation in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, a brain region associated with reasoning and decision-making, while participants engaged in two different empathy tasks. The first task is the Frith-Happé Animations – an assessment of Theory of Mind, the ability to take the perspective of another – and the second task is the EU-Emotional Stimulus Set, which assesses emotion recognition connected to empathy. Accuracy of performance and brain activity during these tasks were then examined alongside mental health questionnaires completed by participants. We expect to find that individuals who are higher in empathy will show unique patterns of brain activity which differentiate them from less empathic individuals, and that this neural response will be associated with higher levels of mental illness. We suspect that increased hypervigilance, associated with forms of mental illness such as social anxiety and depression, may explain these hypothesized trends in performance and brain activity during empathy tasks. Results, as well as implications for further research, will be discussed