Study Abroad: Sustainable Community Development in Tanzania

STEP Category: Education AbroadI traveled to Tanzania with the Sustainable and Resilient Tanzanian Community study abroad program. The goal of the program was to provide an interdisciplinary education abroad experience by engaging students in community development work in the village of Marwa, Tanzania. We focused on the issue of access to clean, safe water. Difficulty of accessing water heavily impacts daily life in Marwa.The Ohio State University Second-year Transformational Experience Program (STEP)Academic Major: Environment, Economy, Development, and Sustainabilit

Evidence of crustal melting events below the Island of Salina (Aeolian Atc, Southern Italy)

Quartz-rich xenoliths hosted in the basaltic-andesitic and andesitic lavas of Monte dei Porri, in the island of Salina, contain fluid and melt inclusions whose study makes it possible to trace back the magma ascent path of this volcano; moreover, they are a source of information about the anatectic processes that occurred under this island. The texture, mineralogy and whole-rock chemistry of these rocks exhibit the typical characteristics of a residual rock which went through several melt extraction events. The chemistry of melt inclusions hosted inside quartz grains (Si

Cultivating Community and Identity: Urban Gardening in the Bhutanese-Nepali Refugee Community of Columbus, Ohio

The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact that participating in community gardening has on the Bhutanese-Nepali refugee community of northeastern Columbus, Ohio. Studies have shown that gardening is correlated with mental wellbeing, low crime rates, and a strong sense of community, among other things. However, while many Bhutanese-Nepalis garden in American cities, the role of gardening and community gardening in these Bhutanese-Nepali communities has not been studied. Understanding why Bhutanese-Nepalis choose to garden in Columbus and the benefits that gardening can have for this growing immigrant population could contribute to knowledge of how to achieve an urban environment in which Bhutanese-Nepalis and other New American (immigrant) communities can thrive. This knowledge could be valuable in forming inclusive, effective policies that contribute to immigrants' success in Columbus. Columbus and Franklin County's Local Food Action Plan, which outlines goals for a sustainable local food system in Columbus and Franklin County, notes the need for policies that are inclusive of New Americans and other marginalized groups. This study could also be beneficial to local organizations that work with immigrants, and to other Columbus residents, as learning about how Bhutanese-Nepalis' feel about the significance of urban farming could lead to a better overall understanding of Bhutanese-Nepali refugees as a group within the Columbus community. Data for this study were collected through 20 interviews with Bhutanese-Nepali refugees who farm plots at two community garden sites in the Northland-Karl Road area of Columbus. Results of this study suggest that gardening benefits Bhutanese-Nepalis in Columbus by enabling them to hold onto a farming-based cultural identity, giving them access to foods used in traditional Nepali dishes, serving as an opportunity for people of all ages to socialize and pass on knowledge and skills to younger generations, and having positive effects on mental wellbeing, physical wellbeing, and the community's sense of togetherness.The Ohio State University Office of Undergraduate Research and Creative InquiryNo embargoAcademic Major: Environment, Economy, Development, and Sustainabilit

Chromosomal aberrations in mouse lymphocytes exposed in vitro and in vivo to benzidine and 5 related aromatic amines

Mouse lymphocytes were exposed in vitro for 2 h or in vivo for 24 h to benzidine and related aromatic amines to test for chromosome aberrations (CA) and mitotic indices. Uninduced mouse S9 was used to activate the amines for the in vitro tests to be consistent with the in vivo tests. Contrary to a previous report, no difference could be established in the genotoxicity of benzidine following activation with uninduced S9 compared to induced S9. There were concentration related increases in CA for benzidine and all the amines in vitro except for 4,4'-diaminostilbene which exhibited the greatest cellular toxicity towards cultured lymphocytes. Benzidine and its derivatives showed significant increases in CA in vivo compared to its negative control. The CA values for 4-aminostilbene were significantly higher than the other amines in both in vivo and in vitro studies. These genotoxicity results for 4-aminostilbene are consistent with our previous report of the pronounced CA effects in murine bone-marrow cells but would not be predicted from Salmonella mutagenicity tests.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/31873/1/0000823.pd