Hearing our Voices: Pathways from Oppression to Liberation through Community-Based Participatory Research

A number of qualitative-based participatory approaches have been used to analyse and address structural inequalities and intersectional gender oppression. This has been broadly evident in the academic environment and, particularly, in social work education and practice. However, more participatory aspects of social justice research, such as inviting and supporting disenfranchised and vulnerable populations to become more intimately involved in identifying their issues, together with developing remedial strategies and acting upon them, are still generally marginal, leaving both researchers and practitioners travelling on the uneven ground. In an attempt to level these troughs in social work education (and, by extension, practice), the paper will explore the transformative outcomes associated with participatory action research conducted as emancipatory and liberatory tools in research undertaken in collaboration with trafficking survivors in Nepal. The purpose of this paper is to explore the collective experiences of growing critical consciousness around social injustice and structural inequalities that contributed to survivors being “doubly victimisedâ€. Hence, in this paper, their resiliency in the face of that victimisation is not discussed. The goal of the paper is three-fold: (1) share the study process/approaches that supported an increase in the survivors’ critical thinking about their own oppression; (2) consider the impact of survivors’ solidarity in social and political action; and (3) examine the applicability of an emerging model of survivors’ liberatory practice. Overall, this paper will explore new and potentially liberatory ways to address the multiple and complex issues facing survivors upon return, and promote transformative praxis to support healthy individual and collective development

In search of an efficient strategy to monitor disease status of chronic heart failure outpatients

_Introduction_ Blood biomarkers have the potential to monitor the severity of chronic heart failure (CHF). Studies correlating repeated measurements of blood biomarkers with repeatedly assessed New York Heart Association (NYHA) class over a prolonged follow-up period, and concomitantly investigating their associations with clinical endpoints, have not yet been performed. _Methods_ Between 2011–2013, 263 CHF patients were included. At inclusion and subsequently every 3 months, we measured N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic (NT-proBNP), high-sensitivity troponin T (Hs-TnT) and C-reactive protein (CRP), and assessed NYHA class. The primary endpoint comprised heart failure hospitalisation, cardiovascular mortality, cardiac transplantation or left ventricular assist device implantation. Time-dependent Cox models were used. _Results_ Mean age was 67 ± 13 years, 72% were men and 27% were in NYHA class III–IV. We obtained 886 repeated measures (median 3 [IQR 2–5] per patient). The primary endpoint was reached in 41 patients during a median follow-up of 1.0 [0.6–1.4] year. Repeatedly measured NT-proBNP and Hs-TnT were significantly associated with repeatedly assessed NYHA class, whereas CRP was not (NT-proBNP: β [95% CI]: 1.56 [1.17–2.06]ln(ng/l) increase per point increase in NYHA class, p = 0.002; HsTNT: β [95% CI]: 1.58 [1.21–2.07]). Serially measured NT-proBNP (HR [95% CI]:2.86 [1.73–4.73]), CRP (1.69 [1.21–2.34]) and NYHA class (2.33 [1.51–3.62]) were positively and independently associated with the primary endpoint, whereas Hs-TnT lost statistical significance after multivariable adjustment. A model containing serially measured NYHA class and NT-proBNP displayed a C-index of 0.84, while serially measured NYHA class and CRP showed a C-index of 0.82. _Conclusion_ Temporal NT-proBNP, CRP and NYHA class patterns are independently associated with adverse clinical outcome. Serially measured NT-proBNP and NYHA class are best suited for monitoring CHF outpatients

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13th Asian Maize Conference organized jointly by ICAR, CIMMYT, IIMR, PAU and BISA at Ludhiana, India from 8-10 October, 2018.Maize is the major food crop worldwide far exceeding rice and wheat in terms of global production. MicroRNA (miRNA) mediated gene regulation has been found to play an important role in drought stress adaptation. In our study, the small RNA profiles of two contrasting maize genotypes were studied to identify differentially expressed miRNAs and their target genes under drought. Drought tolerant genotype HKI-335 and drought susceptible MGUD-22 was grown under glasshouse conditions and drought was imposed at the seedling stage. Leaf RNA samples of both genotypes were subjected to small RNA profiling through Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) for miRNA identification. Photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance and Relative water content were found to be drastically reduced in MGUD-22 under drought. MiRNA differential expression analysis revealed 30 known miRNAs in HKI-335 and 44 miRNAs in MGUD-22. Novel miRNAs found were 132 in HKI-335 and 178 in MGUD-22. MiR827; miR528a,b; miR396b,e,f were found to be common in both the lines. MiR169a; miR2118b,c; miR397a were unique to HKI-335 whereas, miR408b; miR162; miR1432 were unique to MGUD-22. Treatment wise comparison under the control and drought conditions revealed 35 known miRNAs under control whereas 49 under drought conditions. Novel miRNAs identified were 172 and 147 respectively. MiR408a; miR169a,b,m; miR156a,j were common in both control and treated conditions. Target prediction of miRNAs was done using psRNATarget webserver. Different transcription factors were identified as targets of majority of the miRNAs. Detailed study of the interaction of these mirna-mRNA targets will further help in decoding the gene regulatory network under drought stress.ICAR, CIMMYT, IIMR, PAU and BIS

Strong Interaction Physics at the Luminosity Frontier with 22 GeV Electrons at Jefferson Lab

This document presents the initial scientific case for upgrading the Continuous Electron Beam Accelerator Facility (CEBAF) at Jefferson Lab (JLab) to 22 GeV. It is the result of a community effort, incorporating insights from a series of workshops conducted between March 2022 and April 2023. With a track record of over 25 years in delivering the world's most intense and precise multi-GeV electron beams, CEBAF's potential for a higher energy upgrade presents a unique opportunity for an innovative nuclear physics program, which seamlessly integrates a rich historical background with a promising future. The proposed physics program encompass a diverse range of investigations centered around the nonperturbative dynamics inherent in hadron structure and the exploration of strongly interacting systems. It builds upon the exceptional capabilities of CEBAF in high-luminosity operations, the availability of existing or planned Hall equipment, and recent advancements in accelerator technology. The proposed program cover various scientific topics, including Hadron Spectroscopy, Partonic Structure and Spin, Hadronization and Transverse Momentum, Spatial Structure, Mechanical Properties, Form Factors and Emergent Hadron Mass, Hadron-Quark Transition, and Nuclear Dynamics at Extreme Conditions, as well as QCD Confinement and Fundamental Symmetries. Each topic highlights the key measurements achievable at a 22 GeV CEBAF accelerator. Furthermore, this document outlines the significant physics outcomes and unique aspects of these programs that distinguish them from other existing or planned facilities. In summary, this document provides an exciting rationale for the energy upgrade of CEBAF to 22 GeV, outlining the transformative scientific potential that lies within reach, and the remarkable opportunities it offers for advancing our understanding of hadron physics and related fundamental phenomena