Houses, animals, and children: "a thesis experience"

Master's Project (M.F.A.) University of Alaska Fairbanks, 201

Advocating for out of school youth employment : conversations with youth from Central Harlem

As stated in the thesis project, "The employment and earnings prospects of out-of-school youth, which includes low educational achievers and high school dropouts, have always been worse than those of high school graduates or of youth with higher educational achievements. Today, the differences in employment and earnings attributable to educational attainment are wider than ever. Major economic and business trends offer little hope that these differences will diminish. Furthermore, the rapidly growing youth population now experiences increasing pressure from: declining real earnings, competition for jobs from immigrants and former public assistance recipients, the impacts of incarceration, and a high rate of out-of-wedlock births...The role of this project on a local level was to help youth in Central Harlem identify their own issues to advocate for and document the experience of a group of out-of-school youth. With the help of a local church and some volunteers, the youth educated their peers by facilitating an employment workshop based on the group's overall experience. By facilitating various relationships between elected officials, the community and local businesses the youth were able to find summer jobs and participate in the second annual Harlem Youth Conference sponsored by Assemblyman Keith Wright (D-NY)." (Library-derived description)Smith, S. (2000). Advocating for out of school youth employment : conversations with youth from Central Harlem. Retrieved from http://academicarchive.snhu.eduMaster of Science (M.S.)School of Community Economic Developmen

I, Object

I, Object is a 3D animated film which dives into the difference between intrinsic value and perceived value, both by an individual and by society, through an anthropomorphized world where household objects must do what they can to survive the onslaught of a depressed, do-it-yourself, divorcee. Following the mockumentary format, these objects are interviewed about the situation they find themselves in. The different personalities and dynamics between the characters brings a comedic element to an otherwise serious encounter. Opening with how the situation has progressed until the moment the filming crew arrived, the film jumps between characters but sticks to a linear timeline. The Couch, the de facto leader, is self-assured that they cannot be upgraded and therefore takes the role of narrator. The narrative takes place over three days, as the furniture eagerly awaits the return of Jeff, their old owner, to take them away from the horrors they face. As they discuss their different anxieties, their dialogue provides insight into the characters of the do-it-yourselfer, the ex-husband, and their relationship. By only communicating the name of the husband (Jeff) the film explores the difference a divorce plays on both genders and the inherent negative stigma that follows women after a breakup. The objects in this film act as informational sources, filling in the gaps of the audience’s knowledge as well as naïve, misleading, selfish, and dramatic actors. As there are always two (or more) sides to every story, the audience must ask themselves, what is true, are these reliable narrators, and does it matter in the end

Creating Modern Community Conservation Organizations and Institutions to Effect Successful Forest Conservation Change

Despite increased investment, current conservation strategies have failed to stop environmental degradation and loss of biodiversity of the earth’s ecosystems with consequent climate change. Community Conservation’s (CC) 30 years of experience has produced a successful, cost-effective, field-tested flexible formula to catalyze communities to stop deforestation and biodiversity loss. Our method focuses on four concepts: 1) catalyzing projects, leaving ownership to on-site community-based organizations (CBOs) or local nongovernmental organizations (NGOs); 2) encouraging creation of CBOs; 3) helping build complex federations or networks for a stronger community voice; and 4) creating conservation contagion for regional change. Based on trust, we initially make the community aware of their special forests and wildlife and ask their help in protecting them. Then we help them create CBOs and build federations of conservation activists to strengthen and empower them to manage their projects and their natural resources. By bringing community members to interact together from within a large region, we strive to create conservation contagion. Case histories from Assam, India; northern Peru; the Huon Peninsula in Papua New Guinea; Madagascar; Belize; and Wisconsin, USA demonstrate successes based on the formation of CBOs and community federations, allowing communities to play a powerful role in protecting and restoring forests

Campesino justification for self-initiated conservation actions: a challenge to mainstream conservation

Northeastern Peru is considered a global conservation priority due to high biodiversity and acute threats to natural habitat. Its non-indigenous migrant populations, known as campesinos, are presented by mainstream conservation agents as the major threat to this area, as environmentally destructive, apathetic to nature, and only responsive to economic and material incentives.  But the campesinos of Northeastern Peru often initiate their own conservation projects, justifying these actions with moral rationales. I divided these into anthropocentric and ecocentric categories. Justifications included an appreciation of nature's intrinsic values, religious or spiritual value, an aspiration for sustainability and a concern for future generations. I found that conservation is also seen as part of the struggle for social justice and recognition. Monetary incentives promoted by mainstream conservation agents were generally perceived in three ways: 1) as an opportunity for personal economic gain; 2) as an opportunity to sustain otherwise unaffordable conservation activities; 3) and when conservation was part of a social struggle economic incentives were perceived as unnecessary, undesirable or even a hindrance. Governmental legislation and outside conservation agents generally remain biased towards using economic justifications for local initiatives.   I used social methodologies to record campesino justifications for conservation and their interactions with conventional conservation. My aim was to categorize and analyze campesino views on conservation, highlighting those which challenge mainstream conservation, political ecologists' paradigms, and those that offer alternatives for collaboration with local populations towards shared goals. Keywords: Conservation, environmental ethics, Peru, ecocentrism, anthropocentrism, neoliberal conservation, local participation

Strategies for Establishing a Diverse Workforce Within a University Health System’s Department

Balanced diversity in health care promotes patient satisfaction and enhances innovation. Obtaining a culturally balanced workplace requires recruitment strategies that encourage inclusiveness among team members from various backgrounds. The purpose of this doctoral study was to explore the issue of lack of diversity in a behavioral health organization’s (BHO’s) student intern program and identify strategies for creating greater diversity in the workplace. The Baldrige excellence framework, the conceptual framework that guided the research, was designed to help BHOs to improve their overall business performance to accomplish goals and increase organizational sustainability. Three themes emerged from the data analysis: diversity training, diversity of clients, and diversity in the workplace. In particular, this study focused on the workforce aspect of the Baldrige framework, thereby facilitating the in-depth exploration of the ways that the BHO built an effective and supportive workplace environment. Data were collected through quarterly structured virtual interviews with the BHO’s behavioral health care leader. Data analysis was conducted on secondary data sources, including student intern surveys, postquestionnaires from 69 student interns, strategic plans, program manuals, and information from the organization’s website. The results were validated through data triangulation. The study’s potential social change implications lie in understanding how BHO leaders can recruit a diverse workforce that reflects the demographics of the communities being served. This study has the potential to create positive social change by providing methods to enhance workplace diversity in BHOs

Note on the diet of the Long-whiskered Owlet, Xenoglaux loweryi from Yambrasbamba, Amazonas

En este trabajo se dan a conocer los resultados del análisis de heces de la Lechucita Bigotona (Xenoglaux loweryi), especie endémica de Perú y en peligro de extinción según IUCN, que habita los bosques montanos húmedos de la cordillera Oriental de los Andes. Entre enero y setiembre de 2014, durante evaluaciones sobre la ecología de este búho en el área de bosque montano conocido como “La Jalca”, en la comunidad de Yambrasbamba, Amazonas; se colectaron cuatro muestras de heces de diferentes individuos, en los meses de mayo, julio, agosto y setiembre correspondientemente. Estos fueron analizados, encontrándose fragmentos característicos del orden Coleoptera, Hymenoptera, Ortoptera y Lepidoptera. Confirmándose que parte de su dieta son pequeños insectos; al igual que otros pequeños estrígidos.We present results of an analysis of faecal samples from the long whiskered owlet (Xenoglaux loweryi), a species endemic to Peru and considered Endangered by the IUCN. It inhabits humid montane forests on the eastern slopes of the Andean cordillera. We collected four faecal samples from different individuals during ecological monitoring. Monitoring was carried out between January and September 2014 in the area known locally as “La Jalca” in the Yambrasbamba community, Amazonas. Samples were collected in May, June, August and September, respectively. Analysis revealed fragments characteristic of the orders Coleoptera, Hymenoptera, Ortoptera and Lepidoptera. Results confirm that small insects form part of the diet of the long whiskered owlet, similar to other small Strigidos

Do restorative home care programs increase independence in ADLs and IADLs in older adults receiving home health services?

There has been a worldwide shift from viewing aging as a dependent stage of life to one that increasingly encourages independence and a more active lifestyle for older adults. In Australia, where this study was conducted, restorative care that embraces active aging was not yet considered an essential component of home health care on the national level. However, restorative home care has been gaining more recognition as increasing importance is placed on independence and self-management in older adults. The researchers of this study explored whether older adults’ participation in restorative home care programs reduced the need for ongoing personal care. Participants were randomized into either a Home Independence Program (HIP) or basic home care services. The HIP consisted of three visits per week for 12 weeks or until goals were met, whichever occurred first. The program focused on optimizing functioning, preventing or delaying further functional decline, promoting healthy aging, and encouraging self-management of chronic diseases. The control group of basic home care services consisted of three personal care visits a week to assist with bathing/showering and house cleaning. By analyzing routinely collected service data from each group, outcomes were compared to see whether participants continued to need ongoing service after 3 months, and again after 12 months. Results showed that the HIP significantly decreased the odds of needing ongoing service at both 3 months and 12 months

Investigating the Antiviral Effects of Vig-3 from Rainbow trout

Rainbow trout is the most farmed fish in Ontario, and thus is economically important to the province. Despite this, there is a lack of understanding regarding fish innate immunity, specifically with regards to interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs) and their antiviral effector functions. ISGs are the workhorses of the innate antiviral response, operating together to limit each step of virus replication. The Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia Virus (VHSV) induced gene (Vig)-3 is a newly identified ISG within many fish species and is homologous to ISG-15 in mammals. It is a small ubiquitin-like protein inducible by type I interferon (IFN-I), and is suggested to have antiviral effects within the cell. Vig-3 has been proposed to establish an antiviral response by acting both intracellularly through covalent modification of proteins, as well as extracellularly as a signaling molecule. It is for these reasons it was investigated in Rainbow trout. To do this, Rainbow trout gonadal cells (RTG-2) were infected with two fish viruses (infectious pancreatic necrosis virus; IPNV and VHSV), as well as treated with poly I:C, and the expression of vig-3 was monitored over 24- and 48h periods at the transcript, protein, and cellular level. The transcript level of expression was analyzed via quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (q-RT-PCR) and demonstrated that vig-3 expression was induced during treatment with VHSV, IPNV and poly I:C. Western blot analysis was used to analyze protein expression of Vig-3 during infection with the same viruses and treatment with poly I:C. It was found that during poly I:C treatment and viral infection Vig-3 protein expression was induced from 6h to 48h. It was also found that Vig-3 was able to bind to target proteins in a process known as ISGylation. Immunocytochemistry was used to determine the cellular expression of Vig-3 during viral infection with IPNV and VHSV and treatment with poly I:C. In this case it was determined that Vig-3 was upregulated at both 12h and 24h during all treatments, as well as is both localized to the cytoplasm and nucleus. These findings contribute to a better understanding of a poorly studied aspect of innate antiviral immunity in an economically valuable fish species