The Revolutionary New Woman: Renegotiating her Social Contract through Sex

As the Victorian Era drew to a close, the New Woman period emerged in the 1890s. The corresponding literary works, products of the new realism movement and heated debate on female issues like the sexual double standard, critiqued women’s social realities. For example, New Woman heroines violate the Victorian social code in several ways, producing competing factions that reconstruct femininity, sex, and marriage. More traditional New Woman works approach the “woman question” in a conservative Victorian fashion, boasting female protagonists that resist marriage and, consequently, their social duty to reproduce. Conversely, this period also produced over-sexed characters that subvert norms through the opposite sexual extreme. In a period of transition and contradictory expectations for women, these works constituted a revolutionary surge in the feminist movement. The political arguments contained within the novels of the New Woman period show how female protagonists individually challenge the “social contract” yet collectively fail due to gender constraints brought about by the institutionalized, patriarchal model

What Are Factors of an Effective Parent and Family Involvement Program Within High School?

According to the literature, parents or guardians of high school students will participate within the high school—though their participation is dependent on many factors. Parents with a higher social capital tend to be the most involved, while parents with lower social capital tend to be less involved. In other words, generally parents or guardians with high social capital would be much more likely to be involved in their child’s school, whereas parents with low social capital would not be involved in their child’s school at all (Goodwin, Rothon, Stansfeld, 2012). In this study, the researcher formulated and analyzed the following question: What are factors of an effective parent and family involvement program within the high school? By identifying which factors truly make an impact on parental involvement, the researcher will make suggestions for improving preexisting programs. She conducted a needs assessment survey in order to help Abilene High School improve its level of parental involvement. According to the results of the survey, social capital nor ethnicity have little to no effect on involvement. The research also presented factors of a successful involvement program

The impact of therapy process on outcomes for families of children with disabilities and behaviour problems attending group parent training

Despite the positive effects found for both parents and children following different parent training interventions, a significant proportion of families fail to experience successful outcomes (Assemany & McIntosh, 2002). High drop out rates, poor parental engagement and participation, and failure of families to maintain long term benefits after an intervention are common problems (Assemany & McIntosh, 2002; Littell, Alexander, & Reynolds, 2001; Miller & Prinz, 1990). Although a large body of literature exists supporting the efficacy and effectiveness of parent training programs for both typically developing children and children with disabilities, little is known about the mechanisms of change or the processes that create change in treatment (Kendall & Choudhury, 2003). This study investigated therapy process and its impact on outcomes for families of children with disabilities attending a group-based behavioural family intervention known as Stepping Stones Triple P program (SSTP). Study 1 examined the impact of both within session therapy process variables (working alliance, client satisfaction) and between session therapy process variables (homework completion, attendance) on child behaviour problems and parental adjustment. Participants included 15 groups (n = 79) of parents, each with a child with an intellectual disability and parent reported child behaviour problems. Parents completed the Homework Rating Scale, Working Alliance Inventory, and the Client Satisfaction Questionnaire.Child behaviour outcomes were measured by the Developmental Behaviour Checklist and changes in parental adjustment were measured by the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale. A series of logistic regressions found parents working alliance scores significantly predicted reliable change in child behaviour problems and parental anxiety at post-test. Homework completion at session 3 significantly predicted reliable change in parents depression scores at post-test. Using a sub-set of participants from Study 1 (n = 36), Study 2 investigated the impact of parent verbalisations on treatment outcomes. Parent-therapist interactions were coded according to the Therapy Process Code. Resistant and non-resistant parent verbalisations in combination were found to impact on parental anxiety scores at post-test. Parent resistant verbalisations were found to be significantly associated with reductions in parental depression at post-test. Study 3 (n = 71) examined the way families with a child with a disability behave during and respond to group-based parent training on a moment-to-moment basis using an Interpretative Phenomenological Approach (IPA). Results showed that parents of children with disabilities attending group-based parent training, experiences reflected six key themes including 1) advocating for child’s behaviour, 2) dealing with other’s reactions, 3) need for change, 4) its’ hard work, 5) learning to cope and 6) the experience of success. The factors contributing to these results, implications for clinicians and directions for future research are discussed.Understanding therapy processes provides opportunities to expand and refine parent training interventions to better fit the need of difficult to reach families. Meeting the needs of a greater number of families is likely to have a positive effect on the individual child, family system, and the wider community

Epitope mapping of the E2 glycoprotein, including the hypervariable region 1, of the hepatitis C virus genotype 3a, in the context of humoral immune pressure

The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is an enveloped +ssRNA virus, belonging to the family Flaviviridae. HCV is notable for displaying extraordinary genetic diversity and variability, having seven recognised genotypes and over sixty subtypes. HCV is responsible for the disease known as hepatitis C, which is associated with cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The Global Hepatitis Report released by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in 2017 estimated that viral hepatitis was responsible for 1,340,000 deaths in 2015. The report also estimated that 71,000,000 people have ongoing HCV infections. HCV is largely transmitted via exposure to infected blood, with intravenous drug use accounting for approximately 55% of cases. HCV infections can be categorised as acute or chronic. During chronic HCV infections, antibodies (Abs) are produced against HCV - however, the host Abs are unable to neutralise HCV and only accelerate the evolution of circulating HCV variants. HCV variants resistant to the current generation of host Abs become the dominant variant through selective pressure. The variants of HCV within a host are known as quasispecies. Although the host Ab response is not able to resolve the chronic HCV infection, some Abs can bind to particular HCV variants. These Abs form complexes with virus particles and are known as AAVs (antibody-associated virus). AAVs are detectable in the blood of patients with chronic HCV infections and examination of these AAVs could reveal conserved viral structures and vulnerable HCV epitopes. Twenty genotype 3a serum and plasma samples from patients with chronic HCV infections were obtained from the National Virus Registry Laboratory (NVRL) and from the Molecular Virology Research and Diagnostic Laboratory (MVDRL). HCV genotype 3a was chosen for this research project given its prevalence (estimated to account for 17.9% of chronic HCV infections), resistance to treatment, and increased risk of causing severe steatosis and HCC when compared to other genotypes. Building on previous research carried out by the MVDRL, the patient samples were screened for the presence of AAVs. Initially, AAV+ samples were going to be processed and used to generate HCV pseudoparticles (HCVpp). The HCVpp system is a model system that incorporates the E1E2 glycoprotein from HCV into a plasmid. The E1E2 glycoprotein is responsible for HCV entry and infection, meaning the HCVpp can be used to infectivity and Ab neutralisation assays. However, the E1E2 glycoproteins could not be extracted from the AAV+ patient samples. Instead, the IgG from the AAV+ samples was extracted and used for a series of neutralisation experiments on HCV pseudoparticles generated using the HCV H77 isolate. H77 (GenBank: AAB67037.1) is an infectious genotype 1a isolate that has undergone complete genome sequencing. The Abs that showed the greatest neutralisation potential against the H77 pseudoparticles were selected for epitope mapping. The epitope mapping procedure tested the selected Ab samples against a synthesised H77 E2 glycoprotein structure, and characterised the sites where the patient Abs bound to the synthesised E2. This revealed vulnerable epitopes on the HCV E2 glycoprotein. The epitope mapping also revealed a large number of glycosylation sites around the vulnerable epitopes – a phenomenon known as glycan shielding. Glycan shielding is used by a number of viruses (including HCV and HIV) to protect conserved and vulnerable epitopes from Abs. However, strategies are being developed to counter viral glycosylation, including modifications to glycosylation sites and the use of polysaccharides derived from non-mammalian sources as therapeutic agents against glycosylated viruses

Determining Writing Readiness: Effects on Retention, Persistence & Academic Success

WRITING READINESS INITIATIVE RESEARCH PLAN Phase I: The Impacts of the Writing Readiness Initiative Phase I examines the relationship between Writing Readiness and Retention, Persistence and Academic Success. (FRIG 2012 Grant) Phase II: The Student Experience Impact of the Writing Readiness Initiative. Phase II of the Impacts of Writing Readiness Initiative study will be surveying and interviewing students to determine their perspectives on this initiative as well as their perceived impact on their writing.https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/archivedposters/1019/thumbnail.jp

Literacy Scholars Coming to Know the People in the Parks, Their Literacy Practices and Support Systems

In this research, literacy scholars present the voices of the people who live in the parks near their state capital and university in a south-eastern city in the United States. Through the recorded, transcribed and analyzed conversations, we report the literacy practices of the people in the parks and their insights into the nested state and university structures that restrict and empower their quality of life opportunities. The general findings show our participants to be avid readers of a variety of genres and users of technology but with limited access to state and university resources and infrastructures due to laws and regulations and community members’ negative perceptions that restrict their use. Recommendations are made for more urban community state and university collaborative initiatives to increase understandings and respect for people who live in the parks to honor their motivations for greater social capital and attainment of their life goals

Reproductive outcomes following robotic myomectomy

Background: To assess pregnancy outcomes of patients following robotic myomectomy.Methods: Retrospective chart review was performed of 336 patients following robotic myomectomy at a university hospital from June 2006 to May 2013. Patients were called to obtain delivery outcomes.Results: Three hundred and thirty-six women had the following: mean age of 41.97 +/- 12.3 years (range 24-55), mean BMI of 24.6 +/- 4.96, mean of 3.37 +/- 3.1 fibroids removed (range 1-21), and mean weight of 352.28 +/- 339.56 grams of fibroids removed. Approximately 66.9% (N=250) provided pregnancy outcome data with 119 (47.6%) attempting pregnancy after surgery. Eighty-three (69.7%) achieved a total of 91 pregnancies. Less than half of these patients underwent cesarean section, and no cases of uterine rupture. Eighty-seven patients had known infertility pre-surgery; 22 underwent intrauterine insemination resulting in 12 pregnancies, and 34 underwent in vitro fertilization resulting in 25 pregnancies. A total of 53 (60.9%) of patients with infertility achieved 60 total pregnancies.Conclusions: The fertility rate after robotic myomectomy for patients attempting to conceive (69.7%) and for those with known infertility who continued to attempt pregnancy postoperatively (60.9%) were similar. There was a low incidence of complications associated with pregnancies conceived after robotic myomectomy

TRPA1 mediates changes in heart rate variability and cardiac mechanical function in mice exposed to acrolein

Short-term exposure to ambient air pollution is linked with adverse cardiovascular effects. While previous research focused primarily on particulate matter-induced responses, gaseous air pollutants also contribute to cause short-term cardiovascular effects. Mechanisms underlying such effects have not been adequately described, however the immediate nature of the response suggests involvement of irritant neural activation and downstream autonomic dysfunction. Thus, this study examines the role of TRPA1, an irritant sensory receptor found in the airways, in the cardiac response of mice to acrolein and ozone. Conscious unrestrained wild-type C57BL/6 (WT) and TRPA1 knockout (KO) mice implanted with radiotelemeters were exposed once to 3 ppm acrolein, 0.3 ppm ozone, or filtered air. Heart rate (HR) and electrocardiogram (ECG) were recorded continuously before, during and after exposure. Analysis of ECG morphology, incidence of arrhythmia and heart rate variability (HRV) were performed. Cardiac mechanical function was assessed using a Langendorff perfusion preparation 24 h post-exposure. Acrolein exposure increased HRV independent of HR, as well as incidence of arrhythmia. Acrolein also increased left ventricular developed pressure in WT mice at 24 h post-exposure. Ozone did not produce any changes in cardiac function. Neither gas produced ECG effects, changes in HRV, arrhythmogenesis, or mechanical function in KO mice. These data demonstrate that a single exposure to acrolein causes cardiac dysfunction through TRPA1 activation and autonomic imbalance characterized by a shift toward parasympathetic modulation. Furthermore, it is clear from the lack of ozone effects that although gaseous irritants are capable of eliciting immediate cardiac changes, gas concentration and properties play important roles