Social Work as a Profession

Social work is a discipline within human services. Its main goal is to assist individuals and families with their needs and solve their problems using a multidiscipline approach. In order to be effective, social workers work closely with many agencies and professionals. Social work is usually a part of the Human Services Department of a government. It serves as a link between the government’s clients and other government resources, such as: manpower training leading to employment, welfare payments towards financial assistance, legal consultation in dealing with legal problems, food and water relief at times of drought, famine and war, etc. As a social worker, you will also work closely with medical professionals in order to provide medical care for clients; with school personnel to identify children who are in need of help and with counselors and psychologists in order to provide psychological counseling. Today the problems faced by individuals and families are often complicated, and assistance from many agencies is needed.Professional social workers assist individuals, groups, or communities to restore or enhance their capacity for social functioning, while creating societal conditions favorable to their goals. The practice of social work requires knowledge of human development and behavior, of social, economic and cultural institutions, and of the interaction of all these factors. Keywords: Social Work, Human Service Department, Human Development, Professio

A River Separates Them, A Culture Connects Them: The Mohawk Hunters of Algiers and the Mardi Gras Indian Tradition in New Orleans

All over the world, Carnival is a time for a break in human activities, and inversion of the usual hierarchies. In New Orleans, Carnival is a time when the powerless take over the streets, and, for a time, invert control and ownership. One of the New Orleans carnival organizations are the Mardi Gras Indians, groups of African Americans who dress as Indians during the day and take over the streets of their neighborhoods, showing their power and beauty in a breathtaking display of costumes, music and dance. The Masking of the Mardi Gras Indian is a tradition dating back to at least the early nineteenth century. The Creole Wild West were the first named Indian tribe on record in 1884 but this does not mean they were the only or earliest tribe to mask. In the beginning some gangs would get together on Mardi Gras but did not mask under a proper name. The Mardi Gras Indian practice is a practice rooted in resistance to white oppression and African Americans’ demands for inclusion in the city’s Mardi Gras celebrations. The history of Mardi Gras Indians in New Orleans is not limited to the East Bank of the Mississippi River but is also includes residents on the West Bank, specifically in the neighborhood of Algiers. Within the Algiers neighborhood there are several different sections. Probably the most well known section, Algiers Point, consisted of mostly white residents. The Oakdale area, later known as the Fischer Housing Development, and the Cut-Off, an area that borders the bayous of Plaquemines Parish consisted of mostly African Americans. Although the origins of Indians masking on both sides of the River is a point of debate among scholars, some evidence suggests that Indians from Algiers masked as early as the early twentieth century. This thesis is an examination of the longest-running tribe in Algiers, the Mohawk Hunters who started out in the Oakdale area but currently most of their members now reside in the Cut-Off area. Using archival material as well as recently conducted oral histories, it explores the relationship between the Algiers Indian tradition and the more well-known groups on the East Bank. By their deep attachment to their neighborhood, despite its separation from the rest of New Orleans by the Mississippi River, they have helped to strengthen the Mardi Gras Indians’ neighborhood-bound traditions of community service and youth education. Not many people are privy to some of the information that was passed along to me through the oral interviews conducted but my personal connection to some the Mohawk Hunters, including my cousin Charles “Cubby” Dillon, possibly allowed me to gain a deeper look into the organization. I was able to use text messages for follow-up questions and this was access most interviewers may not have had. Although few residents on the East Bank know of their existence, they are a model of the community-engaged, twenty-first century Mardi Gras Indians

A River Separates Them, A Culture Connects Them: The Mohawk Hunters of Algiers and the Mardi Gras Indian Tradition in New Orleans

All over the world, Carnival is a time for a break in human activities, and inversion of the usual hierarchies. In New Orleans, Carnival is a time when the powerless take over the streets, and, for a time, invert control and ownership. One of the New Orleans carnival organizations are the Mardi Gras Indians, groups of African Americans who dress as Indians during the day and take over the streets of their neighborhoods, showing their power and beauty in a breathtaking display of costumes, music and dance. The Masking of the Mardi Gras Indian is a tradition dating back to at least the early nineteenth century. The Creole Wild West were the first named Indian tribe on record in 1884 but this does not mean they were the only or earliest tribe to mask. In the beginning some gangs would get together on Mardi Gras but did not mask under a proper name. The Mardi Gras Indian practice is a practice rooted in resistance to white oppression and African Americans’ demands for inclusion in the city’s Mardi Gras celebrations. The history of Mardi Gras Indians in New Orleans is not limited to the East Bank of the Mississippi River but is also includes residents on the West Bank, specifically in the neighborhood of Algiers. Within the Algiers neighborhood there are several different sections. Probably the most well known section, Algiers Point, consisted of mostly white residents. The Oakdale area, later known as the Fischer Housing Development, and the Cut-Off, an area that borders the bayous of Plaquemines Parish consisted of mostly African Americans. Although the origins of Indians masking on both sides of the River is a point of debate among scholars, some evidence suggests that Indians from Algiers masked as early as the early twentieth century. This thesis is an examination of the longest-running tribe in Algiers, the Mohawk Hunters who started out in the Oakdale area but currently most of their members now reside in the Cut-Off area. Using archival material as well as recently conducted oral histories, it explores the relationship between the Algiers Indian tradition and the more well-known groups on the East Bank. By their deep attachment to their neighborhood, despite its separation from the rest of New Orleans by the Mississippi River, they have helped to strengthen the Mardi Gras Indians’ neighborhood-bound traditions of community service and youth education. Not many people are privy to some of the information that was passed along to me through the oral interviews conducted but my personal connection to some the Mohawk Hunters, including my cousin Charles “Cubby” Dillon, possibly allowed me to gain a deeper look into the organization. I was able to use text messages for follow-up questions and this was access most interviewers may not have had. Although few residents on the East Bank know of their existence, they are a model of the community-engaged, twenty-first century Mardi Gras Indians

INVESTIGATION OF PHYTOCHEMICAL, MINERAL CONTENT AND PHYSIOCHEMICAL PROPERTY OF A POLYHERBAL EXTRACT

Objective: The objective of the present study was to investigate the phytochemical, mineral content, and physiochemical properties of a polyherbalextract (PE).Methods: Fresh plants Punica granatum (rind), Catharanthus roseus, Gymnema sylvestre, Cissus quadrangularis, Garcinia cambogia, Tinosporacordifolia, Terminalia Arjuna, Urginea indica, Ficus racemosa were selected for the PE. The plants were collected from various areas in and aroundCoimbatore district. The plants were washed, air dried, and coarsely powdered. 10 g of each plant powder has undergone various extract analysis forits phytochemical screening. The coarse extract called PE is been tested for physiochemical properties and its mineral content.Results: The presence of secondary metabolites such as flavonoids, glycosides, phenolic compounds, and tannins in all the extract but highest in thehydroethanolic extract. The physiochemical properties showed the appropriate pH and solubility of PE.Conclusion: Our findings provide that PE contain medicinally important secondary metabolites for the treatment of various diseases like cancer,cardiovascular diseases, and diabetes mellitus in the traditional folk medicine.Keywords: Punica granatum (rind), Catharanthus roseus, Gymnema sylvestre, Cissus quadrangularis, Garcinia cambogia, Tinospora cordifolia,Terminalia Arjuna, Urginea indica, Ficus racemosa, Cardiovascular diseases, Polyherbal extract

A comprehensive review of the diagnosis and management of prosthetic joint infections in the absence of positive cultures

SummaryThe diagnosis and management of prosthetic joint infections (PJI) with negative cultures remains an enigma without clear definitions and guidelines for its management. In contrast, the literature offers guidelines to the diagnosis and management of culture positive prosthetic joint infections as noted in both the infectious disease literature and the orthopedic literature.This paper outlines the current state of knowledge of PJI with negative cultures and summarizes the recommendations for the work up and management of this condition. In addition, we propose a simple algorithm that clinicians may find useful for the management of PJI with negative cultures. This algorithm has not been validated with data at this point, but can be applied to practice to help direct the management and diagnosis of prosthetic joint infections in the absence of positive cultures

CHARACTERIZATION AND HYPOGLYCEMIC STUDY OF ISOLATED NATURAL POLYMER FROM THE STEM OF MANILKARA HEXANDRA (ROXB.) DUBARD

Objective: In the present study, the isolated natural polymer from the stem of Manilkara hexandra and their physiochemical parameters were investigated. It is further involved in hypoglycemic studies. Methods: The gum exudates were screened for phytochemicals, physicochemically analyzed for solubility, pH, total ash, moisture content, acid insoluble ash, water soluble ash, sulfated ash, flow property, and it is characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared analysis (FT-IR), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) studies (13Carbon and 1Proton) and it was examined in vitro studies by hypoglycaemic activity. Results: The isolated gum extracted from the stem of Manilkara hexandra (Roxb.) Dubard ash values were found to be low. The gum is found to be hygroscopic in nature due to its high moisture content (0.9131±0.03). Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) spectra show relevant functional groups for gum, which is further confirmed by resonance spectral studies. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern shows that the gum is amorphous as well as crystalline in nature. Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) image confirms that the gum particles have irregular size and shape. Sugar composition analysis by Thin Layer Chromatography indicated the presence of rhamnose, arabinose. The in vitro study of hypoglycemic activity shows the best report compared with the standard. The experimental evidence offers scope to use this natural polymer in the food and pharmaceutical industry. Conclusion: The isolated natural polymer shows good result in hypoglycemic studies compared with standard

Effect of Naturopathic modalities in the management of recurrent Urinary Tract Infection

Now a days recurrent UTI is on common infection among the people, more common in women, particularly in child bearing age. The current research aims at providing a cost effective, long standing treatment protocol for the management of recurrent UTI and also for minimizing the recurrence of symptoms for a longer duration.. The objective of the study is to assess the effect of naturopathic modalities in the signs, symptoms and microscopical features of recurrent urinary tract infection. The study was a before and after Quasi – experimental or Non- randomized design. Data from an individual case sheet Proforma specifying demographical data, general history, clinical history related to urinary tract infection, physical examinations, laboratory investigation, data related with treatment and its response were collected. A consultation and examination was performed to grade the signs and symptoms. Grading was done before and after treatment. Routine blood investigation including erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and data related to presence of pus cells in urine were also collected. The naturopathic modalities including hot hip bath, abdominal hot compress, juice therapy and diet control is found to be therapeutically very effective in reducing the symptoms of urinary tract infection. Juice therapy used in the study has diuretic and anti-inflammatory properties and provide good results

A REVIEW ON RESEALED ERYTHROCYTE AS A NOVEL DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEM

ABSTRACTCellular carriers possess great potential and merits in various modules of drug delivery. Among such cellular carriers, erythrocytes have been foundto possess huge merits for the targeted and controlled drug delivery since they are non-immunogenic, non-toxic and their circulation can be readilycontrolled and could be manipulated with reference to time. Erythrocytes mediated drug delivery has been reported with therapeutic enzymesand antiviral agents to maximize therapeutic performance, reduce the side effects, as circulating depots for controlled drug release, drug targeting,treatment of parasitic diseases, hepatic tumors, removal of toxic agents etc. In this review, isolation of carrier erythrocytes, methods of drug loading,characterization parameters methods and clinical applications of resealed erythrocytes were presented.Keywords: Resealed erythrocyte, Drug targeting, Controlled release, Carrier mediated drug delivery system