Social Economy Case Studies in Rural Alberta: Participatory Research with Mexican and Albertan Undergraduate Students

The Puebla-Alberta Community Service Exchange (PACSE) involves students from Augustana Campus, University of Alberta, and Universidad de las Americas in Puebla, Mexico, in community based learning and research in rural Mexico and Alberta. This project involves the students in case studies research focusing on social economy related organizations in rural Alberta. Case studies will be developed in written and podcast formats.BC-Alberta Social Economy Research Alliance (BALTA

The Effects of Currency and Imports Restrictions on Luxury Advertising in Argentina: Content Analysis of Ads in Argentine Fashion Magazines

While many scholars have examined the relationships between public policies and advertising, few have studied such relationships in Latin America. This study explores how the limitations on foreign exchange transactions in Argentina affect the advertising strategies implemented by luxury brand advertising. A content analysis of 398 luxury brand ads placed in fashion magazines in Argentina was conducted to investigate changes in the luxury ads in the wake of the currency and import restrictions in Argentina. The analysis indicates that, during the restrictions, ads were less likely to convey strong emotional messages than before. Also, the result suggests that the creative strategies leaned to a more sober and simple approach during the restrictions era. Furthermore, the findings suggest that upon the restrictions implementations, ads used different visual cues as a way to engage the consumer and evoke stronger exclusivity, luxury, and global feelings. The results of the study confirm that changes in economic status serve as considerable factors wherein advertising has been transformed, as advertising has long been considered a mirror of the society

A pilot test of the effect of mild-hypoxia on unrealistically optimistic risk judgements

Although hypoxia is believed to occur above altitudes of 10,000 ft, some have suggested that effects may occur at lower altitudes. This pilot study explored risk judgments under conditions of mild hypoxia (simulated altitude of 8,000 ft). Some evidence of an increased optimism was found at this level, suggesting the need for a larger scale study with more experimental power

Nutritional Compounds to Improve Post-Exercise Recovery

(c) The Author/sThe metabolic and mechanical stresses associated with muscle-fatiguing exercise result in perturbations to bodily tissues that lead to exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD), a state of fatigue involving oxidative stress and inflammation that is accompanied by muscle weakness, pain and a reduced ability to perform subsequent training sessions or competitions. This review collates evidence from previous research on a wide range of nutritional compounds that have the potential to speed up post-exercise recovery. We show that of the numerous compounds investigated thus far, only two—tart cherry and omega-3 fatty acids—are supported by substantial research evidence. Further studies are required to clarify the potential effects of other compounds presented here, many of which have been used since ancient times to treat conditions associated with inflammation and disease.fals

Learning to Build Sustainable Communities through Volunteer Work in Urban and Rural Settings: Insights from Four Case Studies

This paper presents findings from four Canadian settings where volunteers have acquired attitudes, skills and knowledge related to community sustainability. Most of the learning was informal, and includes the three areas of sustainability (social, environmental and economic)

Studies of hand motions and rhythm appearing in factory work

https://ir.uiowa.edu/uisie/1012/thumbnail.jp

Podocytes in culture: past, present, and future

Human genetic and in vivo studies have helped to define the critical importance of podocytes for kidney function in health and disease. However, as in any other research area, by default these approaches do not allow for mechanistic studies. Such mechanistic studies require the availability of cells grown ex vivo (i.e., in culture) with the ability to directly study mechanistic events and control the environment such that specific hypotheses can be tested. A seminal breakthrough came about a decade ago with the documentation of differentiation in culture of primary rat and human podocytes and the subsequent development of conditionally immortalized differentiated podocyte cell lines that allow deciphering the decisive steps of differentiation and function of ‘in vivo’ podocytes. Although this paper is not intended to provide a comprehensive review of podocyte biology, nor their role in proteinuric renal diseases or progressive glomerulosclerosis, it will focus specifically on several aspects of podocytes in culture. In particular, we will discuss the scientific and research rationale and need for cultured podocytes, how podocyte cell-culture evolved, and how cultured podocytes are currently being used to uncover novel functions of podocytes that can then be validated in vivo in animal or human studies. In addition, we provide a detailed description of how to properly culture and characterize podocytes to avoid potential pitfalls