A Qualitative Examination of HIV-Positive Identity and Vocational Identity Development among Female Adolescents and Young Adults Living with HIV in New York City

Background: Young Black and Hispanic women living in metropolitan areas in the United States are at a disproportionately high risk for contracting HIV/AIDS; the reasons for this disparity are inadequately explained by research. A recent study reported that African American and Hispanic females represent approximately one-fourth of all U.S. women, yet account for more than three-fourths (79%) of reported AIDS cases among women in the United States (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Surveillance Report, 2002). Moreover, while the epidemic is alarming and especially pronounced among Black and Hispanic female adolescents and young adults, most of what we know about the illness among young people is based on cross-sectional or longitudinal survey data of high-risk adolescents that are typically not female, but rather gay and bisexual males (up to17%; Rotheram-Borus et al., 2003); injecting drug users (up to 40%) (National Institute on Drug Abuse 1995); and homeless youth (up to 4%) (Stricof, Kennedy, Nattell, Weisfuse, & Novick, 1991). Only a small number of investigations have examined the significant challenges that HIV poses for young women who test positive as they contend with "normal" issues of adolescent development while managing their HIV disease. Accordingly, this exploratory study developed a conceptual framework that integrated multiple disciplines and theoretical concepts pertinent to HIV risk in this population including identity and identity development; family structure and life chances; and theories that describe the influence of social structures on human behavior. Method: This study was based on semi-structured in-depth interview data previously collected from 26 young Black and Latina women (16-24) in the New York City metropolitan area. The methodology involved qualitative analysis of secondary data using an inductive, modified grounded theory approach. Analyses were conducted in two phases. During the first phase, the constant comparative method was employed; open coding followed by structured coding allowed a theoretical pattern to emerge from the data. During the second phase of the analysis, each of the 26 interviews was interpreted based on the theoretical pattern that emerged. Common patterns and processes were identified that supported the interrelationships between constructs posited by the conceptual framework. An alternative identity framework emerged that, through explicit consideration of personal and social factors, contextualized the HIV Identity and Vocational Identity development processes in this population. Findings: A typology of identity development emerged from the analysis of the data, yielding four identity types: Immersers, Withdrawers, Boot-Strappers, and Suspenders. These four identity types were categorized by the socioeconomic and socio-emotional resources they perceived were accessible in their family environments, and the extent to which they had engaged in domain-specific identity explorations. Across all identity types, the HIV diagnosis resulted in what Bury (1982) described as a "biographical disruption." Respondents experienced a loss in their sense of self post-diagnosis - a disruption in their taken-for-granted assumptions that required a rethinking of their personal biographies as well as their social relationships. Participants varied in the ways in which they mobilized existing and sought out new resources or affiliations in light of their illness. Several participants experienced the diagnosis as an assault to their developing identities. As a result, many "gave up" or suspended the identity development process, the consequences of which included continued risky sexual behavior (e.g. unprotected sex, sex with a partner they know is infected with HIV); failure to comply with prescribed medication regimens (e.g. missing multiple doses of antivirals); or not pursuing previously set academic goals (e.g. dropping out of high school). These findings highlight the importance of ancillary social services in facilitating identity development among young women living with HIV

Management of retroperitoneal fibrosis with endovascular aneurysm repair in patients refractory to medical management

BackgroundEarly diagnosis and treatment of under-recognized retroperitoneal fibrosis (RPF) are essential before reaching the poorly responsive fibrotic stage. Although most patients respond to medical therapy, relapses and unresponsiveness are common. However, open surgery in medically resistant patients is associated with major adverse clinical events.MethodsThis is a single-centre longitudinal study of optimal medical therapy (OMT) vs. endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) in patients presenting with RPF to our tertiary referral vascular centre. Out of 22,349 aortic referrals, we performed 1,555 aortic interventions over twenty years. Amongst them, 1,006 were EVAR, TEVAR and BEVAR. Seventeen patients (1.09%) had documented peri-aortic RPF.ResultsOut of the 17 RPF patients, 11 received OMT only, while 6 underwent EVAR after the failure of OMT. 82% (n = 14) were male, and the median follow-up was 62.7 months (IQR: 28.2–106). Nine (52%) had immunoglobulin G4-related disease (4 OMT vs. 5 EVAR). EVAR patients had 100% technical success without perioperative mortality. Furthermore, all the EVAR patients were symptom-free following the intervention. Pre-operative aortic RPF index (maximum peri-aortic soft tissue diameter/maximum aortic diameter) was higher in the EVAR than in OMT. However, there was a significant decrement in the aortic RPF index following EVAR (P = 0.04).ConclusionWe believe that when optimal medical therapy fails in RPF, EVAR provides a promising outcome. Further studies are recommended to establish the role of endovascular repair

A call to action for climate change research on Caribbean dry forests

The final publication is available at Springer via https://doi.org/10.1007/s10113-018-1334-6Tropical dry forest (TDF) is globally one of the most threatened forest types. In the insular Caribbean, limited land area and high population pressure have resulted in the loss of over 60% of TDF, yet local people’s reliance on these systems for ecosystem services is high. Given the sensitivity of TDF to shifts in precipitation regimes and the vulnerability of the Caribbean to climate change, this study examined what is currently known about the impacts of climate change on TDF in the region. A systematic review (n = 89) revealed that only two studies addressed the ecological response of TDF to climate change. Compared to the rapidly increasing knowledge of the effects of climate change on other Caribbean systems and on TDF in the wider neotropics, this paucity is alarming given the value of these forests. We stress the need for long-term monitoring of climate change responses of these critical ecosystems, including phenological and hotspot analyses as priorities

Unlocking Equity and Trusts [5th ed.]

Unlocking Equity and Trusts will help you grasp the main concepts of your course with ease. Containing accessible explanations in clear and precise terms that are easy to understand, it provides an excellent foundation for learning and revising Equity and Trusts. The information is clearly presented in a logical structure and the following features support learning so you can be sure the basics have been understood: -Learning outcomes at the beginning of each chapter -Frequent 'Key Facts' summary boxes so you can check your understanding of each topic as you read - not just at the end of the chapter -Cases and judgments are highlighted to help you find them and add them to your notes quickly -Activities and self-test questions give you the opportunity to test your understanding and put your knowledge of the key topics into practice -Sample essay questions with annotated answers prepare you for assessment -Glossary of legal terms to clarify important definitions This fifth edition has been updated to include discussion of recent changes to key principles within the module, such as the Trusts (Capital and Income) Act 2013; the Supreme Court decision in Futter; the amended Public Benefit guidance issued by the Charity Commission; Pitt v Holt; the continuing debate in relation to constructive trusts arising from the Sinclair Investments case; and the role of the resulting trust in divorce financial provision cases stemming from Prest v Petrodel. This new edition also features an expanded chapter on fiduciaries; extended coverage of tracing and a new chapter on Equitable Remedies, to better fit common course outlines. The Unlocking the Law Series gets straight to the point and is ideal for students who are new to the subject or find traditional texts a little overwhelming. They provide complete coverage of core law modules without excessive unnecessary detail and are supported by a student website

Text, cases and materials on equity and trusts, 4th ed./ Ramjohn

x, 710 hal.; 25 cm

Unlocking Evidence. 2nd Edition

Textbook on Evidence Law, 2nd Ed

Equity and Trusts

Introduction 1. The Creation of Trusts 2. Secret Trusts 3. The Inherent Attributes of a Trust: The Three Certainties and the Beneficiary Principle 4. The Law of Charities 5. Resulting Trusts 6. Constructive Trusts 1: The Duty Not to Make a Profit from the Trust and Co-ownership Trusts 7. Constructive Trusts 2: The Liability of Strangers 8. The Law of Tracing 9. Breach of Trust 10. The Office of Trustee and its Powers and Duties

Commentaries on recent equity cases

Principles of equitable compensation for breach of trust – AIB Group (UK) Plc v Redler &Co Solicitors [2014] UKSC 58 (Supreme Court) Whether the forfeiture rule may be modified in respect of a claimant who was convicted of voluntary manslaughter – Chadwick v Collinson & Others [2014] EWHC 3055 (High Court

Whether a dishonest assistant or knowing recipient is a ‘trustee’ for the purposes of s 21(1)(a) of the Limitation Act 1980 – Williams v Central Bank of Nigeria [2014] UKSC 10 (Supreme Court) Dissolution of a dormant unincorporated association - Keene v Wellcom London Ltd [2014] EWHC 134 (High Court)

Commentary on recent equity case

Case commentaries on Equity

Constructive trust of business premises Agarwala v Agarwala [2013] Unreported (Court of Appeal