The 'New Frontier' of Empire in the Caribbean: The Transfer of Power in British Guiana, 1961-1964

The vicissitudes of British imperial divestment after 1945 require scholars to explore systematically the United States’ role in reshaping the contours of the British Empire. According to William Roger Louis and Ronald Robinson, 'the post-war Empire was more than British and less than an imperium ... it was nationalized and internationalized as part of the Anglo-American coalition. US foreign policy after 1945 was directed not only at forging a North Atlantic coalition which would 'contain' die Warsaw Pact, but also at collaborating in die management of the political and economic changes that swept die non-European world. The history of international relations since 1945 has been defined by the 'end of empire' - whether Belgian, British, French, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, or Soviet. As each empire has disintegrated, US influence has been extended during, and through, die process of imperial disengagement. In some cases, for example the Japanese mandates acquired at the end of die Second World War, die extension of US influence led to formal control. In others, as in Jordan, Morocco, Indonesia, and die former Belgian Congo, the United States has used military and/or economic aid to fashion an 'informal empire', to borrow die term popularized by Robinson and John Gallagher. The transfer of power in British Guiana between 1961 and 1964 illustrates Louis and Robinson's claim that British imperial disengagement was managed by the Anglo-American coalition. It shows how die two powers constantly (re)negotiated die terms of their relationship in various parts of the world in order to maintain their strategic partnership. And it shows how British disengagement created the conditions for US control. In effect, die transfer of power in British Guiana was not simply the accession to office in an independent country by the nationalist elite; it also transferred control of the country's political system and economic and foreign policy to the United States. As Louis and Robinson observe, 'Kennedy's "New Frontier" began where Europe's imperial frontiers had ended

Transition To Adulthood For Young Adults With Down Syndrome: Best Practice

Individuals with Down Syndrome, or other conditions that affect both physical and cognitive functioning, can have a difficult time navigating the transition to adulthood. Transition to adulthood can be challenging for all individuals, but especially for those that are developmentally delayed and may need additional support moving toward independence. Transition to adulthood is also one of the most life changing and impactful stages in one’s life and can have far-reaching effects into an individual’s future. This thesis explores what can be done during the process of transitioning to adulthood to support individuals with Down Syndrome in developing quality, meaningful adult lives. Transitional factors include social life, employment, living arrangements, and overall health and well-being. This literature review explores the challenges to successful adult transition and seeks to identify potential best-practice solutions through a multi-systemic lens. Many of the studies in this area focus on the lived experiences of individuals with Down Syndrome, and suggest that inclusive policies and organizations, person-centered planning, and long-term goal oriented programs are the most helpful. While there have been strides in making employment and other services more inclusive and comprehensive for this population, accessibility and funding are still significant challenges

The Twilight of Colonial Rule in the British West Indies: Nationalist Assertion vs Imperial Hubris in the 1930s

No Abstrac

Decolonization and the Cold War

This chapter examines decolonization during the Cold War. It suggests that decolonization can be considered both as a response to the globalization of European influence and as a process of globalization which paved the way for the dismantling of the North Atlantic centered international system. The chapter contends that decolonization during the Cold War was about the rethinking of the nature of the global order and the role of race and citizenship therein. It also argues that decolonization is the proof and constant reminder that the bipolar order pursued by the superpowers and their allies after the war was never a stable framework for the management of international relations

Crossing the Color Line in Little Rock: The Eisenhower Administration and the Dilemma of Race for U.S. Foreign Policy

No Abstrac

Stoneware : functional forms with lids

The stoneware ceramic objects in my thesis exhibition are the result of study end experimentation with lidded forms. The basic problem of creating a lid which fits properly and which contributes to the whole form has been a challenge. The lines and contours of the forma in the thesis are simple and traditional. In working with these forms, it has been my intent to convey a quality of directness and discipline. A basic objective is that the viewer will desire the tactile experience of removing the lid, of looking at or feeling the interior of the pot and of experiencing the negative space. The pot's functional relationship to its shape is of fundamental importance. Some of the lidded forms have small openings at the neck which would make cleaning difficult; consequently, these forms lend themselves to dry storage such as tea Jars. Other forms such as covered casseroles are utilitarian, with inner and outer surfaces which are easily cleaned

Correlation of pretreatment drug induced apoptosis in ovarian cancer cells with patient survival and clinical response

Background This study was performed to determine if a chemotherapy-induced apoptosis assay (MiCK) could predict the best therapy for patients with ovarian cancer. Methods A prospective, multi-institutional and blinded trial of the assay was conducted in 104 evaluable ovarian cancer patients treated with chemotherapy. The MiCK assay was performed prior to therapy, but treating physicians were not told of the results and selected treatment only on clinical criteria. Outcomes (response, time to relapse, and survival) were compared to the drug-induced apoptosis observed in the assay. Results Overall survival in primary therapy, chemotherapy naïve patients with Stage III or IV disease was longer if patients received a chemotherapy which was best in the MiCK assay, compared to shorter survival in patients who received a chemotherapy that was not the best. (p < 0.01, hazard ratio HR 0.23). Multivariate model risk ratio showed use of the best chemotherapy in the MiCK assay was the strongest predictor of overall survival (p < 0.01) in stage III or IV patients. Standard therapy with carboplatin plus paclitaxel (C + P) was not the best chemotherapy in the MiCK assay in 44% of patients. If patients received C + P and it was the best chemotherapy in the MiCK assay, they had longer survival than those patients receiving C + P when it was not the best chemotherapy in the assay (p = 0.03). Relapse-free interval in primary therapy patients was longer if patients received the best chemotherapy from the MiCK assay (p = 0.03, HR 0.52). Response rates (CR + PR) were higher if physicians used an active chemotherapy based on the MiCK assay (p = 0.03). Conclusion The MiCK assay can predict the chemotherapy associated with better outcomes in ovarian cancer patients. This study quantifies outcome benefits on which a prospective randomized trial can be developed

Improving Appropriate Use of Antifungal Medications: The Role of an Over-the-Counter Vaginal pH Self-Test Device

Objectives: To determine whether patients can understand and use the vaginal pH device in the diagnosis of vaginitis. To compare whether vaginal pH readings determined by patients and healthcare providers are similar. To determine whether vaginalpHcan reduce inappropriate over-the-counter (OTC) antifungal medication use and improve the correct diagnosis of vaginitis. Methods: One hundred and fifty-one women indicated their belief about the cause of their vaginal infection, read the instructions of the vaginal pH device package insert, used the device and interpreted the findings. The patient interpretations were compared with results obtained by healthcare providers, blinded to patient findings. Results: Over 96% of patients stated that they could easily read the instructions, use the vaginal pH device and interpret the readings. They obtained the same readings as healthcare professionals (Kappa = 0.9). Restricting the use of OTC antifungal medications to those individuals with vaginitis symptoms and vaginal pH ≤ 4.5 significantly reduced inappropriate use by approximately 50%, Fisher's exact test,p-value = 0.018. Conversely, seeking healthcare provider assessment with vaginal pH > 4.5, leads to correct diagnosis of vaginitis. Conclusions: The vaginal pH device can be used as an OTC diagnostic tool by consumers when a vaginal infection is suspected. Vaginal pH readings would direct patients whether to purchase an antifungal medication or seek professional diagnosis from a healthcare provider. Understanding and use of this vaginal pH device could reduce inappropriate use of OTC antifungal medications by approximately 50% and improve the correct diagnosis of vaginitis

ILK Induces Cardiomyogenesis in the Human Heart

Integrin-linked kinase (ILK) is a widely conserved serine/threonine kinase that regulates diverse signal transduction pathways implicated in cardiac hypertrophy and contractility. In this study we explored whether experimental overexpression of ILK would up-regulate morphogenesis in the human fetal heart.Primary cultures of human fetal myocardial cells (19-22 weeks gestation) yielded scattered aggregates of cardioblasts positive for the early cardiac lineage marker nk × 2.5 and containing nascent sarcomeres. Cardiac cells in colonies uniformly expressed the gap junction protein connexin 43 (C × 43) and displayed a spectrum of differentiation with only a subset of cells exhibiting the late cardiomyogenic marker troponin T (cTnT) and evidence of electrical excitability. Adenovirus-mediated overexpression of ILK potently increased the number of new aggregates of primitive cardioblasts (p<0.001). The number of cardioblast colonies was significantly decreased (p<0.05) when ILK expression was knocked down with ILK targeted siRNA. Interestingly, overexpression of the activation resistant ILK mutant (ILK(R211A)) resulted in much greater increase in the number of new cell aggregates as compared to overexpression of wild-type ILK (ILK(WT)). The cardiomyogenic effects of ILK(R211A) and ILK(WT) were accompanied by concurrent activation of β-catenin (p<0.001) and increase expression of progenitor cell marker islet-1, which was also observed in lysates of transgenic mice with cardiac-specific over-expression of ILK(R211A) and ILK(WT). Finally, endogenous ILK expression was shown to increase in concert with those of cardiomyogenic markers during directed cardiomyogenic differentiation in human embryonic stem cells (hESCs).In the human fetal heart ILK activation is instructive to the specification of mesodermal precursor cells towards a cardiomyogenic lineage. Induction of cardiomyogenesis by ILK overexpression bypasses the requirement of proximal PI3K activation for transduction of growth factor- and β1-integrin-mediated differentiation signals. Altogether, our data indicate that ILK represents a novel regulatory checkpoint during human cardiomyogenesis

Inhibition of cancer cell invasion and metastasis by genistein

Genistein is a small, biologically active flavonoid that is found in high amounts in soy. This important compound possesses a wide variety of biological activities, but it is best known for its ability to inhibit cancer progression. In particular, genistein has emerged as an important inhibitor of cancer metastasis. Consumption of genistein in the diet has been linked to decreased rates of metastatic cancer in a number of population-based studies. Extensive investigations have been performed to determine the molecular mechanisms underlying genistein’s antimetastatic activity, with results indicating that this small molecule has significant inhibitory activity at nearly every step of the metastatic cascade. Reports have demonstrated that, at high concentrations, genistein can inhibit several proteins involved with primary tumor growth and apoptosis, including the cyclin class of cell cycle regulators and the Akt family of proteins. At lower concentrations that are similar to those achieved through dietary consumption, genistein can inhibit the prometastatic processes of cancer cell detachment, migration, and invasion through a variety of mechanisms, including the transforming growth factor (TGF)-β signaling pathway. Several in vitro findings have been corroborated in both in vivo animal studies and in early-phase human clinical trials, demonstrating that genistein can both inhibit human cancer metastasis and also modulate markers of metastatic potential in humans, respectively. Herein, we discuss the variety of mechanisms by which genistein regulates individual steps of the metastatic cascade and highlight the potential of this natural product as a promising therapeutic inhibitor of metastasis