Voices from the margins: ‘Black’ Caribbean and Mexican heritage women educators in the rural south

This paper explores the ways in which immigrant and migrant women educators in the rural South understand and construct narratives of their lives. The ‘Black’ Caribbean and Mexican heritage women educators in this study experience and interpret events in their lives, as women, minorities, postcolonial ‘subjects,’ and outsiders in the rural South, a region traditionally dominated by white patriarchal norms and prejudices. We assert that from this position of multiple marginality they construct important insights into the nature of education in the rural South. As so-called “Third-World women” living in the “First World” of the United States, the interpretations that this group of immigrant and migrant women make of their lives illuminate the ‘real,’ yet fluid (Moya & Hames-Garcia, 2000), nature of identity and representation in this nation and in the “New” South. The experiences of these women clearly reveal that identity categories provide useful theoretical and practical understandings of often problematic constructs such as race, gender, social class and ethnicity and highlight the fact that experiences and interpretations vary within and across these identity categories. Thus, how these women respond to the South demonstrates the impact of significant continuities and discontinuities as these educators negotiate their identities in unfamiliar spaces

An online narrative archive of service user experiences to support the education of undergraduate physiotherapy and social work students in North East England: An evaluation study.

Background: Patient narratives are a viable process for patients to contribute to the education of future health professionals and social workers. Narratives can facilitate a deeper understanding of the self and others through self-reflection and encourage transformative learning among students. Increasingly, accounts of health and care are available online but their use in health and social work education requires evaluation. This study explored the experiences of stakeholders who contributed to, developed and used an online narrative archive, which was developed in collaboration with five universities and healthcare providers in the North East of England (CETL4HealthNE). Methods: Realistic evaluation principles were used to underpin data collection, which consisted of semi-structured interviews, a focus group and observations of educators using narrative resources in teaching sessions with different professional groups in two universities. Participants included educators, storytellers, narrative interviewers, students and a transcriber. Data were analysed thematically by two researchers and verified by a third researcher. Findings: Stakeholders reported that listening to patient narratives was challenging. The process of contributing the story was a positive cathartic experience for patients, and the powerful storyteller voice often evoked empathy. Students commented on the ability of the online audio-visual narratives to enable them to see the patient holistically, and educators reported that narratives provided a means to introduce sensitive topics. Conclusions: The use of a locally generated online narrative archive is beneficial for storytellers, students and educators, providing an opportunity to influence healthcare professional training. Care needs to be taken when exposing individuals to potentially sensitive narratives

Factors that impact scale inhibitor mechanisms

The formation of mineral scales such as barium sulphate and calcium carbonate remains an issue for the oil industry, after many years of oil exploration. In the last 10 years, the difficulty in dealing with scale deposition has been accentuated by the appearance of more complex conditions, involving complicated well completions for deepwater or long sub-sea tiebacks. If scale control measures fail in these situations then long distances between the scale deposits and the production platform are present. Intervention into such systems is either impossible or extremely expensive. To combat such problems, the front end engineering design stage (FEED) now attempts to bring together multidisciplinary teams to provide a full risk assessment of all areas in which production chemistry problems might arise. Hence, benefits come from each discipline team having as much knowledge as possible available to them. This thesis aims to fuel this knowledge by developing a fundamental understanding of how various factors, conditions or environmental, impact scale inhibitor mechanisms, so that the results can be incorporated into the FEED process. Key areas affecting scale inhibitor operation were investigated. From these studies, a number of important findings can be highlighted. The presence of calcium was found to improve scale inhibitor (SI) performance, especially phosphonate types, whilst magnesium ions had little effect on polymeric performances and detrimentally affected the phosphonates’ inhibition efficiency (IE). These trends were related to the SI affinity for the divalent ions – polymer PPCA binds to calcium but shows incompatibility at [Ca2+] > 1000ppm - observed as low IE, whilst the phosphonate DETPMP binds with either ion but prefers calcium. Two inhibition mechanisms - nucleation and crystal growth blocking - were identified for different types of SI species and were illustrated using static IE tests relating IE to [SI] left in solution. High IE corresponds to high [SI] and similarly low IE with low [SI]. These initial results have since been investigated further in a additional study. An extensive range of phosphonate and polymeric scale inhibitor species can now be classified as i. either Type 1 or 2 (based on IE, Ca2+ and Mg2+ sensitivity ration and SI consumption tests) or ii. either Type A or B (based on compatibility/incompatibility with [Ca2+]= ~1000-2000ppm+). A requirement for both homogeneous and heterogeneous nucleation to be investigated for a scaling system was identified, as deposition kinetics can vary requiring different ii levels of SI. A [SI] falling below minimum inhibitor concentration (MIC), can promote surface scaling. Hence, scaling systems should be studied experimentally over a range of temperatures, to represent the conditions from sub-sea tiebacks to the production well. A model was developed from experimental data enabling the prediction of safe sulphate levels and mass of barite deposited. This model can be applied to un-seeded and seeded tests where, as expected, the foreign particles accelerated the reaction to equilibrium with the greatest deposition rate for barite over sand and for a higher surface area over a lower one. Both theoretical and experimental confirmation of each retention mechanism occurring in a porous medium was achieved. This adsorption/precipitation model has been incorporated into Squeeze VII, an in-house squeeze design software, to allow a better physical description of a squeeze treatment. The predictions of Squeeze VII have also been improved by using the more accurate data for the scale inhibitor return concentrations from core floods due to the better developed analysis techniques. The direct value of these improvements to industry is significant. These advances reduce OPEX costs and deferred oil production whilst giving the industry the opportunity of improved future lifetime predictions and operations

A Comparison Of Administrative Roles Performed By Public School Superintendents And Chief Executive Officers In Industry In Two California Counties

The purpose of this study was to determine if public school superintendents and chief executive officers in industry spend similar amounts of time in selected roles

Reasonable\u27 perceptions of stalking: the influence of conduct severity and the perpetrator-target relationship

Ex-partner stalkers are more persistent and dangerous than stranger stalkers, but are less likely to be convicted of an offence. This research considers whether the just world hypothesis (JWH) can account for this apparent contradiction. An experimental 3×3 independent factorial design was used to investigate the influence of conduct severity and the perpetrator–target relationship on perceptions of stalking. Three hundred and thirty-four students were presented with one of nine vignettes and asked to complete five scale items relating to the situation described. Conduct severity and the perpetrator–target relationship produced significant main effects for the combined scale items. The perpetrator\u27s behaviour was perceived to constitute stalking, necessitate police intervention and/or criminal charges, and cause the target alarm or personal distress to a greater extent when the perpetrator and target were depicted as strangers rather than ex-partners. Conversely, the target was perceived to be less responsible for encouraging the perpetrator\u27s behaviour in the stranger condition compared to the ex-partner condition. The JWH provides a possible explanation for the influence of the perpetrator–target relationship on perceptions of stalking. Future research could utilize more realistic vignettes to increase the impact of the perpetrator\u27s behaviour

The connexin mimetic peptide Gap27 and Cx43-Knockdown reveal differential roles for Connexin43 in wound closure events in skin model systems

In the epidermis, remodelling of Connexin43 is a key event in wound closure. However, controversy between the role of connexin channel and non-channel functions exist. We compared the impact of SiRNA targeted to Connexin43 and the connexin mimetic peptide Gap27 on scrape wound closure rates and hemichannel signalling in adult keratinocytes (AK) and fibroblasts sourced from juvenile foreskin (JFF), human neonatal fibroblasts (HNDF) and adult dermal tissue (ADF). The impact of these agents, following 24 h exposure, on (encoding Connexin43), and gene expression, and Connexin43 and pSmad3 protein expression levels, were examined by qPCR and Western Blot respectively. In all cell types Gap27 (100-100 μM) attenuated hemichannel activity. In AK and JFF cells, Gap27 (100 nM-100 μM) enhanced scrape wound closure rates by ~50% but did not influence movement in HNDF or ADF cells. In both JF and AK cells, exposure to Gap27 for 24 h reduced the level of Cx43 protein expression but did not affect the level in ADF and HNDF cells. Connexin43-SiRNA enhanced scrape wound closure in all the cell types under investigation. In HDNF and ADF, Connexin43-SiRNA enhanced cell proliferation rates, with enhanced proliferation also observed following exposure of HDNF to Gap27. By contrast, in JFF and AK cells no changes in proliferation occurred. In JFF cells, Connexin43-SiRNA enhanced levels and in JFF and ADF cells both Connexin43-SiRNA and Gap27 enhanced pSmad3 protein expression levels. We conclude that Connexin43 signalling plays an important role in cell migration in keratinocytes and foreskin derived fibroblasts, however, different pathways are evoked and in dermal derived adult and neonatal fibroblasts, inhibition of Connexin43 signalling plays a more significant role in regulating cell proliferation than cell migration

The attribution of responsibility in cases of stalking

There is a general belief that stranger stalkers present the greatest threat to the personal safety of victims, despite national victimisation surveys and applied research demonstrating that ex-partner stalkers are generally more persistent and violent. The just-world hypothesis offers a possible explanation for this apparent contradiction. The current research used nine hypothetical scenarios, administered to 328 university students, to investigate the assumptions that underlie attributions of responsibility in cases of stalking. It explores whether these assumptions are consistent with the proposed mechanisms of the just-world hypothesis, and whether they vary according to the nature of the perpetrator–victim relationship and conduct severity. Thematic analysis revealed that the victim was perceived to be more responsible for the situation when the perpetrator was portrayed as an ex-partner rather than a stranger or acquaintance. Furthermore, victims were perceived to be more responsible when the perpetrator’s behaviour was persistent and threatening. These findings are discussed in the context of the just-world hypothesis and related to the proposed mechanisms by which a person can reinterpret a situation so that the perceived injustice disappears

Female undergraduate\u27s perceptions of intrusive behavior in 12 countries

The present study examines young women\u27s (N = 1,734) perceptions of the unacceptability of 47 intrusive activities enacted by men. Female undergraduate psychology students from 12 countries (Armenia, Australia, England, Egypt, Finland, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Portugal, Scotland, Trinidad) indicated which of 47 intrusive activities they considered to be unacceptable. Responses were compared with parasite-stress values, a measure of global gender equality and Hofstede\u27s dimensions of national cultures. There was no unanimous agreement on any of the items, even for those relating to forced sexual violence. Cluster analysis yielded four clusters: “Aggression and surveillance” (most agreement that the constituent items were unacceptable), “Unwanted attention,” “Persistent courtship and impositions,” and “Courtship and information seeking” (least agreement that the constituent items were unacceptable). There were no significant relationships between the “Aggression and surveillance” or “Courtship and information seeking” clusters and the measure of gender equality, Hofstede\u27s dimensions of national cultures or the measure of parasite stress. For the “Unwanted attention” and “Persistent courtship and impositions” clusters, women residing in countries with higher gender inequality and higher parasite-stress were less accepting of behavior associated with uncommitted sexual relations, and women in more individualistic societies with higher levels of gender equality were less accepting of monitoring activities. Culture may take precedence over personal interpretations of the unacceptability of intrusive behavior that is not obviously harmful or benign in nature

Extended Induction: Can the Introduction of Subject Specific Learning Communities Support New Students’ Social and Academic Integration in Higher Education?

The aim of this project was to examine whether if providing academic support and opportunities for social interaction to new students at the time of their transition to higher education would enhance student retention. Students, from two subject area, were invited to six lunchtime sessions during their first semester. The sessions involved both academic and social aspects. The project was evaluated through the use of questionnaires and focus groups. Response to questionnaires indicate that attendees at the sessions felt more valued than those that did not attend at that the sessions helped many of the attendees develop and extend their social contacts. Both these sociological phenomena have been positively correlated with the propensity of students to remain at University

Staphylococcus aureus Decolonization Protocol Decreases Surgical Site Infections for Total Joint Replacement

We investigated the effects of implementation of an institution-wide screening and decolonization protocol on the rates of deep surgical site infections (SSIs) in patients undergoing primary knee and hip arthroplasties. 2058 patients were enrolled in this study: 1644 patients in the treatment group and 414 in the control group. The treatment group attended preoperative admission testing (PAT) clinic where they were screened for MSSA and MRSA colonization. All patients were provided a 5-day course of nasal mupirocin and a single preoperative chlorhexidine shower. Additionally, patients colonized with MRSA received Vancomycin perioperative prophylaxis. The control group did not attend PAT nor receive mupirocin treatment and received either Ancef or Clindamycin for perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis. There were a total of 6 deep infections in the control group (1.45%) and 21 in the treatment group (1.28%); this represented a decrease of 13% (P = .809) in the treatment versus control group. This decrease represented a positive trend in favor of staphylococcus screening, decolonization with mupirocin, and perioperative Vancomycin for known MRSA carriers