Policy Scan: An Exploratory Study of National Youth Service Policy in 19 Countries in Latin America and the Caribbean

This paper presents findings from an exploratory study of government policies that involve youth in community service in 19 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. The research, which was performed in 2004, provides descriptive information and explores the context within which national youth service policies can emerge and thrive. While it is assumed that well-designed national youth service policies provide a framework for engaging youth in pro-social activities that benefit themselves and their communities, relatively little research is available on the subject. Findings indicate that 13 of 19 countries in the study have a national youth service policy, and that the policies vary in forms and configuration. Facilitators and obstacles of these policies are discussed. The paper concludes by providing recommendations to policy makers

The first-year university experience for sexual minority students: A grounded theory exploration

This exploratory study used grounded theory to understand the role of minority stress on the first-year experience of lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, and questioning emerging adults attending a university in the Northeastern part of the United States. Twenty-one lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, and questioning sophomores participated in focus groups asking them to reflect on their first year of university. Themes suggest that participants tackle multiple challenges simultaneously: the developmental task of increased independence and stressors specific to lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, and questioning adults such as encountering stigma. Furthermore, participants manifested resilience in response to minority stress. Participants joined campus organizations, expressed pride in their identities, made use of social supports, and sought out safe opportunities to disclose. The discussion concludes with implications for practice and policy

Realism in the design process and credibility of a simulation-based virtual laboratory

The credibility of an instructional simulation is a most important issue in distance education, where it may replace hands-on activities. This credibility is based in large part upon verisimilitude, a perception strongly influenced by the simulation’s realism. This paper presents a case study encompassing the design process of a simulation-based virtual laboratory, which was guided by a realism principle, and an investigation of its credibility among potential users. We found that many characteristics of the environment associated with the design principle did favour its credibility, but that others had widely varying, even opposite effects among users. User’s prior experience was shown to play a crucial but intricate role in verisimilitude and credibility judgements

Experiences of COVID-19 pandemic-related stress among sexual and gender minority emerging adult migrants in the United States

There is a dearth of research that examines COVID-19-related stress among multiply marginalised individuals who are in the developmental phase of emerging adulthood. This qualitative study investigated how the intersection of emerging adulthood, sexual and gender minority (SGM) identity, and migrant status were reflected in the experiences of SGM individuals (n = 37; ages 20–25 years old) who migrated to various parts of the United States in the last 5 years. Data were collected online using semi-structured interviews. Thematic analysis revealed that participants\u27 developmental processes (e.g., identity exploration, building financial independence) were shaped by pandemic-related stressors, especially unemployment and financial instability. Participants who were able to maintain employment did so but at the risk of their health and safety. Findings also showed that participants experienced feelings of anxiety and depression due to social isolation, but online communication played an important role in combatting loneliness. Findings highlight the potential for trauma-informed and intersectional approaches to practice with SGM emerging adult migrants and expanded health services and temporary entitlement programs to mitigate the pandemic\u27s effects on this population\u27s psychosocial and financial well-being

Role of the PDK1–PKB–GSK3 pathway in regulating glycogen synthase and glucose uptake in the heart

AbstractIn order to investigate the importance of the PDK1–PKB–GSK3 signalling network in regulating glycogen synthase (GS) in the heart, we have employed tissue specific conditional knockout mice lacking PDK1 in muscle (mPDK1−/−), as well as knockin mice in which the protein kinase B (PKB) phosphorylation site on glycogen synthase kinase-3α (GSK3α) (Ser21) and GSK3β (Ser9) is changed to Ala. We demonstrate that in hearts from mPDK1−/− or double GSK3α/GSK3β knockin mice, insulin failed to stimulate the activity of GS or induce its dephosphorylation at residues that are phosphorylated by GSK3. We also establish that in the heart, both GSK3 isoforms participate in the regulation of GS, with GSK3β playing a more prominent role. This contrasts with skeletal muscle where GSK3β is the major regulator of insulin-induced GS activity. Despite the inability of insulin to stimulate glycogen synthesis in hearts from the mPDK1−/− or double GSK3α/GSK3β knockin mice, these animals possessed normal levels of cardiac glycogen, demonstrating that total glycogen levels are regulated independently of insulin’s ability to stimulate GS in the heart and that mechanisms such as allosteric activation of GS by glucose-6-phosphate and/or activation of GS by muscle contraction, could operate to maintain normal glycogen levels in these mice. We also demonstrate that in cardiomyocytes derived from the mPDK1−/− hearts, although the levels of glucose transporter type 4 (GLUT4) are increased 2-fold, insulin failed to stimulate glucose uptake, providing genetic evidence that PDK1 plays a crucial role in enabling insulin to promote glucose uptake in cardiac muscle

Artistic Expression as a Source of Resilience for Transgender and Gender Diverse Young People

There is a paucity of research exploring sources of resilience among transgender and gender diverse (TGD) young people with multiple marginalized identities. Information and communication technologies (ICT) offer unique opportunities for authentic self-expression, which is not always possible offline. The primary aims of this study were to understand unique sources of resilience among TGD youth in their online and offline lives. Using photo elicitation and grounded theory methods, we conducted online in-depth interviews with TGD young people (N = 29) between the ages of 14-25 across the United States identifying with at least one of the following social statuses: (a) person of color, (b) immigrant, or (c) living in a rural area. Four themes were identified from the data, with both online and offline artistic expression being viewed as a: 1) form of authentic self-expression; 2) coping mechanism; 3) way to connect to others; and 4) pathway toward agency. Findings advance understanding about the use of artistic expression as an underexamined source of resilience among TGD youth with multiple marginalized identities. Within clinical settings, options for TGD youth to participate in various forms of expressive art may improve engagement and enhance youths’ abilities to authentically express their thoughts, feelings, and experiences to promote healing and growth

Central obesity as a precursor to the metabolic syndrome in the AusDiab study and Mauritius

Evidence from epidemiologic studies that central obesity precedes future metabolic change and does not occur concurrently with the appearance of the blood pressure, glucose, and lipid abnormalities that characterize the metabolic syndrome (MetS) has been lacking. Longitudinal surveys were conducted in Mauritius in 1987, 1992, and 1998, and in Australia in 2000 and 2005 (AusDiab). This analysis included men and women (aged 25 years) in three cohorts: AusDiab 2000&ndash;2005 (n = 5,039), Mauritius 1987&ndash;1992 (n = 2,849), and Mauritius 1987&ndash;1998 (n = 1,999). MetS components included waist circumference, systolic blood pressure, fasting and 2-h postload plasma glucose, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, triglycerides, and homeostasis model assessment of insulin sensitivity (HOMA-S) (representing insulin sensitivity). Linear regression was used to determine which baseline components predicted deterioration in other MetS components over 5 years in AusDiab and 5 and 11 years in Mauritius, adjusted for age, sex, and ethnic group. Baseline waist circumference predicted deterioration (P &lt; 0.01) in four of the other six MetS variables tested in AusDiab, five of six in Mauritius 1987&ndash;1992, and four of six in Mauritius 1987&ndash;1998. In contrast, an increase in waist circumference between baseline and follow-up was only predicted by insulin sensitivity (HOMA-S) at baseline, and only in one of the three cohorts. These results suggest that central obesity plays a central role in the development of the MetS and appears to precede the appearance of the other MetS components.<br /