Sensemaking as a Trigger for Change in University Emergency Response Routines: Ethnographic and Case Study Analyses of a Residential Life Department.

In light of incidents like the Virginia Tech massacre, there is growing need for scholarship on emergency management in higher education. Traditional literature has focused on locating breakdowns, blame, and accountability by questioning whether emergency responses evidence departures from protocol. Yet, experience teaches that adhering to formal protocols can sometimes backfire, and departing from these protocols can be beneficial. Indeed, changes to protocol are normal occurrences in university emergency response. To gain greater insight into the issue, the correct question is not whether departures occur but why. Accordingly, this study draws upon Feldman and Pentland’s (2003) illustration of flexible work routines to develop a conceptual model. In this view, routines are comprised of ostensive (written protocols/shared understandings) and performative (lived experience) characteristics. When a discrepancy between the two occurs – when enacted emergency response breaks from protocol – it signals a change in the routine. The trigger for this change is sensemaking, or the process by which organizational actors simultaneously interpret and enact responses to an evolving event characterized by temporal constraints, uncertainty, and ambiguity (Weick, 1999). This study addresses the research question: What sensemaking dynamics trigger change in university emergency response routines? It reflects a year-long organizational ethnography of emergency response in a residential life department at one urban university. Qualitative coding is used to label, organize, and analyze the ethnographic data. Thereafter, the study employs theoretical sampling to identify four embedded case studies: a committed suicide, an attempted suicide, anticipated problems by campus guests during an annual football game weekend, and disruptive celebrations following Obama’s presidential election. Ostensive-performative mapping and qualitative coding elaborate the sensemaking dynamics triggering change in 12 related subroutines. The study finds three sensemaking dynamics relevant to university emergency response: Retrospect, Identity, and Plausibility. While entry-level administrators employ retrospect drawn from simulations and stories, idealized hero identities, and plausible images driven by closeness to the student experience; veteran administrators draw upon lived experiences, parent identities, and plausible images grounded in reflection. The ongoing negotiation of these dynamics provides checks and balances within the department and strengthens the university’s capacity for accommodating its emergency landscape.Ph.D.EducationUniversity of Michigan, Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studieshttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/77853/1/dkmolina_1.pd

Parkinsonian motor impairment predicts personality domains related to genetic risk and treatment outcomes in schizophrenia

Identifying endophenotypes of schizophrenia is of critical importance and has profound implications on clinical practice. Here we propose an innovative approach to clarify the mechanims through which temperament and character deviance relates to risk for schizophrenia and predict long-term treatment outcomes. We recruited 61 antipsychotic naïve subjects with chronic schizophrenia, 99 unaffected relatives, and 68 healthy controls from rural communities in the Central Andes. Diagnosis was ascertained with the Schedules of Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry; parkinsonian motor impairment was measured with the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale; mesencephalic parenchyma was evaluated with transcranial ultrasound; and personality traits were assessed using the Temperament and Character Inventory. Ten-year outcome data was available for ~40% of the index cases. Patients with schizophrenia had higher harm avoidance and self-transcendence (ST), and lower reward dependence (RD), cooperativeness (CO), and self-directedness (SD). Unaffected relatives had higher ST and lower CO and SD. Parkinsonism reliably predicted RD, CO, and SD after correcting for age and sex. The average duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) was over 5 years. Further, SD was anticorrelated with DUP and antipsychotic dosing at follow-up. Baseline DUP was related to antipsychotic dose-years. Further, ‘explosive/borderline’, ‘methodical/obsessive’, and ‘disorganized/schizotypal’ personality profiles were associated with increased risk of schizophrenia. Parkinsonism predicts core personality features and treatment outcomes in schizophrenia. Our study suggests that RD, CO, and SD are endophenotypes of the disease that may, in part, be mediated by dopaminergic function. Further, SD is an important determinant of treatment course and outcome

Parkinsonian motor impairment predicts personality domains related to genetic risk and treatment outcomes in schizophrenia

Identifying endophenotypes of schizophrenia is of critical importance and has profound implications on clinical practice. Here we propose an innovative approach to clarify the mechanims through which temperament and character deviance relates to risk for schizophrenia and predict long-term treatment outcomes. We recruited 61 antipsychotic naïve subjects with chronic schizophrenia, 99 unaffected relatives, and 68 healthy controls from rural communities in the Central Andes. Diagnosis was ascertained with the Schedules of Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry; parkinsonian motor impairment was measured with the Unified Parkinson\u27s Disease Rating Scale; mesencephalic parenchyma was evaluated with transcranial ultrasound; and personality traits were assessed using the Temperament and Character Inventory. Ten-year outcome data was available for ~40% of the index cases. Patients with schizophrenia had higher harm avoidance and self-transcendence (ST), and lower reward dependence (RD), cooperativeness (CO), and self-directedness (SD). Unaffected relatives had higher ST and lower CO and SD. Parkinsonism reliably predicted RD, CO, and SD after correcting for age and sex. The average duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) was over 5 years. Further, SD was anticorrelated with DUP and antipsychotic dosing at follow-up. Baseline DUP was related to antipsychotic dose-years. Further, \u27explosive/borderline\u27, \u27methodical/obsessive\u27, and \u27disorganized/schizotypal\u27 personality profiles were associated with increased risk of schizophrenia. Parkinsonism predicts core personality features and treatment outcomes in schizophrenia. Our study suggests that RD, CO, and SD are endophenotypes of the disease that may, in part, be mediated by dopaminergic function. Further, SD is an important determinant of treatment course and outcome

MORPHOLOGICAL DIVERSITY OF VERTEBRATE COPULATORY ORGANS: A REVIEW

Estudos de morfologia comparativa e não comparativa do sistema reprodutor de vertebrados têm dado ênfase aos aspectos morfofuncionais das gônadas ou demais estruturas da genitália interna, principalmente de fêmeas. No entanto, poucos estudos discorrem acerca das modificações e adaptações morfológicas dos órgãos copulatórios masculinos, cuja principal função é a transferência e o direcionamento do esperma através do trato reprodutor feminino. Assim, a presente revisão sistematiza e compara aspectos morfológicos dos órgãos copulatórios, com foco especial nos vertebrados, bem como associa estas estruturas sob uma perspectiva filogenética, e quando possível destaca as principais estratégias reprodutivas masculinas com vistas ao sucesso reprodutivo.Palavras-chave: reprodução, morfologia comparativa, cópula, seleção sexual.Studies of comparative and non comparative morphology of the reproductive system of vertebrates emphasize the morphofunctional aspects of the gonads or other organs of internal genitalia, mainly in females. However, few studies deal about the morphological adaptations and modifications of the male copulatory organ, whose main function is transfer and direct the sperm through the female reproductive tract. Thus, this review systematizes and compares morphology of copulatory organs, with special focus on vertebrates, as well as associates these structures under a phylogenetic perspective, and where possible highlights mainly male reproductive strategies with a view to reproductive success.Keywords: Reproduction; comparative morphology; copulation; sexual selection.

Getting Genetic Ancestry Right for Science and Society

There is a scientific and ethical imperative to embrace a multidimensional, continuous view of ancestry and move away from continental ancestry categorie

Trypanosome Lytic Factor, an Antimicrobial High-Density Lipoprotein, Ameliorates Leishmania Infection

Innate immunity is the first line of defense against invading microorganisms. Trypanosome Lytic Factor (TLF) is a minor sub-fraction of human high-density lipoprotein that provides innate immunity by completely protecting humans from infection by most species of African trypanosomes, which belong to the Kinetoplastida order. Herein, we demonstrate the broader protective effects of human TLF, which inhibits intracellular infection by Leishmania, a kinetoplastid that replicates in phagolysosomes of macrophages. We show that TLF accumulates within the parasitophorous vacuole of macrophages in vitro and reduces the number of Leishmania metacyclic promastigotes, but not amastigotes. We do not detect any activation of the macrophages by TLF in the presence or absence of Leishmania, and therefore propose that TLF directly damages the parasite in the acidic parasitophorous vacuole. To investigate the physiological relevance of this observation, we have reconstituted lytic activity in vivo by generating mice that express the two main protein components of TLFs: human apolipoprotein L-I and haptoglobin-related protein. Both proteins are expressed in mice at levels equivalent to those found in humans and circulate within high-density lipoproteins. We find that TLF mice can ameliorate an infection with Leishmania by significantly reducing the pathogen burden. In contrast, TLF mice were not protected against infection by the kinetoplastid Trypanosoma cruzi, which infects many cell types and transiently passes through a phagolysosome. We conclude that TLF not only determines species specificity for African trypanosomes, but can also ameliorate an infection with Leishmania, while having no effect on T. cruzi. We propose that TLFs are a component of the innate immune system that can limit infections by their ability to selectively damage pathogens in phagolysosomes within the reticuloendothelial system

CUIDADO DE ENFERMAGEM À SEXUALIDADE DA MULHER NO CLIMATÉRIO: REFLEXÕES SOB A ÓTICA DA FENOMENOLOGIA

RESUMO Trata-se de estudo reflexivo que discute o cuidado oferecido por profissionais de enfermagem às mulheres no climatério em relação à sexualidade das mesmas à luz da percepção fenomenológica. A utilização do método fenomenológico possibilitou compreender melhor a relação da prática de profissionais de saúde com as mulheres, parecendo-nos fundamental para a compreensão do seu cotidiano, a partir do conhecimento de suas vivências e no compartilhamento de suas experiências. São também discutidas questões acerca da humanização do cuidado em saúde e como este deve ser realizado pelos profissionais de enfermagem nessa fase da vida que é rodeada de mitos. Pode-se observar que a prestação de serviços por meio de profissionais qualificados e capacitados, quando realizado do modo integral, isto é, considerando toda a subjetividade do usuário, como os aspectos emocionais, sociais e culturais, podem proporcionar melhoria na qualidade de vida

Measurement of the cosmic ray spectrum above 4×10184{\times}10^{18} eV using inclined events detected with the Pierre Auger Observatory

A measurement of the cosmic-ray spectrum for energies exceeding $4{\times}10^{18}$ eV is presented, which is based on the analysis of showers with zenith angles greater than $60^{\circ}$ detected with the Pierre Auger Observatory between 1 January 2004 and 31 December 2013. The measured spectrum confirms a flux suppression at the highest energies. Above $5.3{\times}10^{18}$ eV, the "ankle", the flux can be described by a power law $E^{-\gamma}$ with index $\gamma=2.70 \pm 0.02 \,\text{(stat)} \pm 0.1\,\text{(sys)}$ followed by a smooth suppression region. For the energy ($E_\text{s}$) at which the spectral flux has fallen to one-half of its extrapolated value in the absence of suppression, we find $E_\text{s}=(5.12\pm0.25\,\text{(stat)}^{+1.0}_{-1.2}\,\text{(sys)}){\times}10^{19}$ eV.Comment: Replaced with published version. Added journal reference and DO

Energy Estimation of Cosmic Rays with the Engineering Radio Array of the Pierre Auger Observatory

The Auger Engineering Radio Array (AERA) is part of the Pierre Auger Observatory and is used to detect the radio emission of cosmic-ray air showers. These observations are compared to the data of the surface detector stations of the Observatory, which provide well-calibrated information on the cosmic-ray energies and arrival directions. The response of the radio stations in the 30 to 80 MHz regime has been thoroughly calibrated to enable the reconstruction of the incoming electric field. For the latter, the energy deposit per area is determined from the radio pulses at each observer position and is interpolated using a two-dimensional function that takes into account signal asymmetries due to interference between the geomagnetic and charge-excess emission components. The spatial integral over the signal distribution gives a direct measurement of the energy transferred from the primary cosmic ray into radio emission in the AERA frequency range. We measure 15.8 MeV of radiation energy for a 1 EeV air shower arriving perpendicularly to the geomagnetic field. This radiation energy -- corrected for geometrical effects -- is used as a cosmic-ray energy estimator. Performing an absolute energy calibration against the surface-detector information, we observe that this radio-energy estimator scales quadratically with the cosmic-ray energy as expected for coherent emission. We find an energy resolution of the radio reconstruction of 22% for the data set and 17% for a high-quality subset containing only events with at least five radio stations with signal.Comment: Replaced with published version. Added journal reference and DO