Fragmented Bodies, Legal Privilege, and Commodification in Science and Medicine

Science and medicine have long possessed a culturally distinct status in American society; however, in the contemporary context of corporate biotechnology and managed health care, this cultural authority has begun to appear to many as increasingly threatening. Science and medicine often are criticized for having become businesses. This recognition becomes more daunting when one considers that a primary object of entrepreneurial pursuits in science and medicine is the commodification of the human body. That is, many scientific and medical practices effectively reduce the body to an object defined by its exchange value in the marketplace. Given the rapid advances of medical research and biotechnology, the relationship of American culture to its scientific and medical institutions can be described as ambiguous at best. This Comment examines the laws governing the organ donation process as well as controversial legal debates over property rights in organs and other body parts used for medical research, and focuses on the noticeable absence in these ethical debates of the proper acknowledgment of the medical profession\u27s entrepreneurial interest in its subjects. It argues that this gap in our legal discourse, the glossing over of scientific and medical economic interests, has brought about much of the current anxiety concerning the rapid advances of biotechnology

Intersex wildlife as sentinels for human health and endocrine disruption near Superfund sites: A Systematic Review

Fish and wildlife are often used as sentinels for human health. This systematic review examines one aspect of wildlife health, intersex (both ovarian and testicular tissue) animals and their prevalence or severity near Superfund sites (EPA designated toxic waste sites). The body of evidence demonstrates some evidence of this indicator and more research is needed, specifically a meta-analysis that is outside the scope of this study

The Shifting Frontiers of Literary Studies in the Twenty-first Century

Traditionally seen as a discipline that was immersed in published narratives, with poetry, drama, short fiction, and novels as the sole determinant corpus, Literary Studies in the twenty-first century has progressed across the latitudes of narrativity, as the notion of text itself has pushed past established boundaries of words on a published page. The page in the contemporary context can be taken to mean the written text, the visual text, the moving text, and the hypertext, to name just a few. The articles in this Forum Kritika present a glimpse into the shifting frontiers in Literary Studies as it presents varied facets of contemporary literary scholarship by literary scholars. The discussions take us across a number of planes. They integrate both print and multimodal texts, demonstrate eclectic frameworks of reading that cross disciplinary boundaries, reveal the utilization of analytical tools from the hard sciences, and also project the inculcation of innovative and entrepreneurial skills in the literary classroom. Yet, the Forum is also mindful that however far away we trek beyond established frontiers, we must still ensure our contact with the core of our discipline, that of traditional forms of the printed text. For, if we dismiss them from our view, we run the risk of inadvertently devaluing the worth of literary fiction and its attendant academic scholarship. As such, the Forum also incorporates articles that engage with contemporary theater and novels and their inherent validity in reflecting the socio-political concerns of our world, emphasizing that these will never lose their currency however much the arena changes

Occupational exposure to Organophosphate Pesticides and its Effects on Human Sperm Parameters: A systematic Review

Background Previous research has indicated there is a decrease in sperm quality in the last 40 years. There have been a few reports that have associated occupational exposure to Organophosphate pesticides with a decrease in sperm count, abnormalities in the head or tail, and motility leading to infertility over time. Organophosphates are the most common pesticides used in the United States and have been classified as toxic to bees, wildlife, and humans by the EPA even at low exposures. Furthermore, Organophosphates are considered endocrine disrupting chemicals altering the normal function of the endocrine system. This occurs by interfering with the natural hormones the body produces due to their strong bind to estrogen and androgen receptors. Objective This systematic review sought to identify relevant studies evaluating the relationship of occupational exposure to Organophosphate pesticides and the decrease of sperm parameters in agriculture workers, pesticide sprayers, and farm workers worldwide. Methods PubMed, Scopus, Himmelfarb, and Agriculture Environmental Science databases were searched for all studies in English. Peer-reviewed articles were selected between the years of 2008 and 2016. Risk of bias was assessed according to the Navigation Guide a Systematic Review Methodology. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) was utilized to rate the quality of evidence of each study. Results Five studies were identified, reviewed, and analyzed according to inclusion criteria. Selected studies were rated “low, probably low, not applicable, probably high risk, and high risk” for risk of bias. Studies were assigned a “low quality” rating for strength of evidence. Grey literature was excluded. Conclusion There is sufficient evidence that supports a positive association between occupational Organophosphate exposure and a decrease of sperm parameters in agriculture workers, pesticide sprayers, and farm workers worldwide. Sperm analysis demonstrated a decrease in sperm volume, motility, quality of sperm, and DNA damage, however, future studies are needed to explore this association further

Association of Breakfast Intake with Obesity, Dietary and Physical Activity Behavior Among Urban School-Aged Adolescents in Delhi, India: Results of a Cross-Sectional Study

In developed countries, regular breakfast consumption is inversely associated with excess weight and directly associated with better dietary and improved physical activity behaviors. Our objective was to describe the frequency of breakfast consumption among school-going adolescents in Delhi and evaluate its association with overweight and obesity as well as other dietary, physical activity, and sedentary behaviors. Methods: Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Eight schools (Private and Government) of Delhi in the year 2006. Participants: 1814 students from 8th and 10th grades; response rate was 87.2%; 55% were 8th graders, 60% were boys and 52% attended Private schools. Main outcome measures: Body mass index, self-reported breakfast consumption, diet and physical activity related behaviors, and psychosocial factors. Data analysis: Mixed effects regression models were employed, adjusting for age, gender, grade level and school type (SES). Results: Significantly more Government school (lower SES) students consumed breakfast daily as compared to Private school (higher SES) students (73.8% vs. 66.3%; p<0.01). More 8th graders consumed breakfast daily vs. 10th graders (72.3% vs. 67.0%; p<0.05). A dose-response relationship was observed such that overall prevalence of overweight and obesity among adolescents who consumed breakfast daily (14.6%) was significantly lower vs. those who only sometimes (15.2%) or never (22.9%) consumed breakfast (p<0.05 for trend). This relationship was statistically significant for boys (15.4 % vs. 16.5% vs. 26.0; p<0.05 for trend) but not for girls. Intake of dairy products, fruits and vegetables was 5.5 (95% CI 2.4-12.5), 1.7 (95% CI 1.1-2.5) and 2.2 (95% CI 1.3-3.5) times higher among those who consumed breakfast daily vs. those who never consumed breakfast. Breakfast consumption was associated with greater physical activity vs. those who never consumed breakfast. Positive values and beliefs about healthy eating; body image satisfaction; and positive peer and parental influence were positively associated with daily breakfast consumption, while depression was negatively associated. Conclusion: Daily breakfast consumption is associated with less overweight and obesity and with healthier dietary-and physical activity-related behaviors among urban Indian students. Although prospective studies should confirm the present results, intervention programs to prevent or treat childhood obesity in India should consider emphasizing regular breakfast consumption.Obesity Prevention Center, University of MinnesotaPRIME program of the University of Texas, School of Public Health (Stigler, PI)Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Research in Underserved Population

Fall Safety Assessment at the New School of Public Health and Health Services Building

Objective: Falls are one of the leading causes of workplace death, lost work time, and costs to industry, particularly in construction. The public health burden of falls is significant, as approximately 25% of nonfatal injuries and 38% of fatalities in the general construction industry are due to falls. The goal of this study is to develop an assessment tool to evaluate fall safety in general construction and to evaluate fall safety among five skilled construction trades (i.e. electricians, painters, carpenters, welders, and roofers) throughout different stages of a new building construction project. The project is the new School of Public Health and Health Services building at The George Washington University at Washington Circle in Foggy Bottom, Washington, DC, being built by the general contractor The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company. Methods: A comprehensive assessment instrument was developed through review of pre-existing assessment tools and modified according to Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards for general construction, validated through inter-rater reliability by a panel of experts (including the on-site safety superintendent), and tested for on-site usability through a two-week pilot study. Data were collected using the GW Audit of Fall Risk (GAFR) instrument by a master\u27s-level researcher through routine observation of the construction site throughout the five construction phases (i.e. concrete pouring, skin, interior rough end, interior finishes, and roofing). Results: Collected data are organized in the GAFR assessment instrument into eight domains: general safety, guardrails, personal fall arrest, safety net system, roof sheathing, scaffolding, aerial lifts, and ladders. Observations are scored dichotomously as to whether or not it was observed, and if observed, whether or not it meets the definition of best safety practice (as noted in OSHA regulations). Though the study is still ongoing, the current collected data presents statistics on the prevalence of fall hazards, and the frequency of fall safety compliances for each of the five trades by construction phase. Conclusions: Fall hazards in skilled trades have been understudied. This unique university-general contractor partnership capitalizes on the opportunity to ensure public health principles are being realized during construction. This presentation will include the application of the GAFR assessment instrument and the current preliminary results, highlighting the importance of observational assessment of worksites. Additionally, the lessons learned from the field assessments will also be discussed

A Case Study Market Analysis of Acceleration Mechanisms in Florida: Dual Enrollment Positioning

This applied dissertation explored dual enrollment viability when compared to other acceleration mechanisms: (a) advanced placement, (b) advanced international certificate of education, (c) international baccalaureate, and (d) college-level examination program. This multicase, qualitative study explored the competitiveness of dual enrollment versus other acceleration mechanism using Porter’s model and the strengthsweaknessesopportunities- threats analysis as the theoretical frameworks. The study used one-on-one interviews to gather primary comparative information. Five groups were interviewed: (a) the vendors of the acceleration mechanisms, (b) state education officials, (c) district personnel, (d) high school representatives, and (e) higher education representatives. The acceleration mechanisms’ educational objectives, their positioning, and any acceleration mechanisms’ benefits to the various stakeholders were examined. Dual enrollment was compared to the other acceleration mechanisms to develop recommendations for improving the competitive positioning and viability of dual enrollment in Florida. The study found that acceleration-mechanism options were complex and dynamic programs that were highly influenced by government policies and funding. Educational entities viewed the value of acceleration mechanisms differently, especially dual enrollment. All groups agreed that acceleration mechanisms provided rigorous curriculum for high school students to prepare for college. However, educational entities first wanted to protect their own interests and funding. In terms of dual enrollment, financial considerations remained a substantial motivation for the program. The study showed that all acceleration mechanisms offered benefits to participating students. However, the multifaceted and ever-changing nature of acceleration mechanisms provided no clear advantages or benefits for dual enrollment versus other acceleration mechanisms. Several recommendations are made that addressed concerns about the longterm value of dual enrollment for Florida institutions and students

21st century skills through film production in tertiary education: a transformative assessment in a literature and media course

The 21st century lifestyle demands that individuals engage different communication modes and intelligences in every domain from learning, employment, communication and recreation and entertainment. In order to produce individuals that are competent and able to function competitively in the 21st century global field, tertiary education and assessments must move beyond traditional methods of essays, quizzes and exams that only test discipline related knowledge and memorization skills. Holistic, transformative assessments that can develop knowledge and skills and maximize an individual’s potential is important in creating competent and marketable graduates. This study discusses the development of 21st century skills through a short film production assessment in the Literature and the Media course taught at The National University of Malaysia. The core principles of formative assessments are used to guide the development, design and implementation of the short film production assessment. A distinctive aspect of the assessment is the inclusion of pitching and short film premiere event organization elements which were found to be very beneficial in helping students develop skills such as decision making, problem-solving and public speaking. The tasks involved in all three stages of the short film production assessment were found to be instrumental in developing fourteen 21st skills in students. Students’ reflections also provided an insight into the various skills developed through the assessment. This study reinforces the potential of filmmaking as a holistic and transformative assessment tool to equip tertiary students with the necessary skills to meet the demands of 21st century work and life environments