A second Pandemic : How COVID-19 has impacted international student mental health in North Carolina

The international student experience through the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States is under-studied. To further the limited research, this study asks: how has COVID-19 affected the mental health of international students studying in North Carolina? The research used phenomenological design, a survey, and interviews using convenience sampling to primarily gather data from Warren Wilson College. The research uncovered five themes: (a) increased feelings of isolation, (b) decreased engagement and support, (c) academic struggles, (d) connection to family, and (e) stress over the July 2020 ICE regulations. To best support international students at Warren Wilson College, the research recommends intentional in-person connection and support. Furthermore, the research recommends that Warren Wilson College hire additional diverse mental health counselors with intercultural training to better support the international student population. The findings of this research add to the limited research on the international student experience during the COVID-19 pandemic. The results can be broadly helpful for those supporting international students who wish to understand their experience better and have an increased idea of what support their students may need. As an international student advisor in North Carolina, the results of this research have already informed how I support my own students through any mental health concerns

Letters between Rachel Pugh and W. J. Kerr

Letters concerning a position in Domestic Science at Utah Agricultural College

Lessons from the Balkans: how justice can be achieved for the victims of war crimes in Ukraine

The International Criminal Court is currently investigating allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity during the Russia-Ukraine war. Drawing lessons from the wars in the Balkans in the 1990s, Denisa Kostovicova and Rachel Kerr write that while it may take time, those responsible for the crimes that have taken place in Ukraine are unlikely to be able to escape justice forever

Doing Greater Good, While Doing No Individual Harm: A Public Health Approach to Human Trafficking Using a Human Rights-Centered Model

Human trafficking (i.e., modern slavery) includes myriad forms of sex and labor trafficking. Widely ranging estimates of the prevalence of human trafficking are commonly cited; at the same time, accurate data on these phenomena remain elusive, and assumptions rather than empirical evidence about the nature, targets, and proliferation of trafficking often dominate public policy discourse. In this paper, we describe the ways in which this lack of accurate data on basic prevalence rates has led to key limitations in anti-trafficking work. First, this lack of data prevents a clear understanding of the problem of trafficking. Second, this deficit limits our ability to target effective interventions for trafficking. Third, a lack of accurate data prohibits the measurement of the impact of anti-trafficking initiatives. Finally, large estimates of trafficking risk creating both panic and helplessness among the public and policymakers. Historically, trafficking prevalence data has been monitored by either law enforcement or NGOs, both of which approach this problem with their respective biases and limitations. Conceptualizing and approaching trafficking as a public health problem offers a multidisciplinary synthesis of advantages. However, this approach also has inherent risks. This paper critically appraises existing systems of data collection for human trafficking and outlines arguments for a public health approach to trafficking, including an analysis of risks and benefits. We synthesize literature on ethics, human rights, and public health to propose a model for developing a system that is simultaneously ethical, human rights-centered, and optimally effective. We also connect critical issues in considering equity of benefits versus risks when implementing a model for public health data collection on human trafficking activity

Mechanism of action of nucleoside antibacterial natural product antibiotics

This article reviews the structures and biological activities of several classes of uridine-containing nucleoside antibiotics (tunicamycins, mureidomycins/pacidamycins/sansanmycins, liposidomycins/caprazamycins, muraymycins, capuramycins) that target translocase MraY on the peptidoglycan biosynthetic pathway. In particular, recent advances in structure-function studies, and recent X-ray crystal structures of translocase MraY complexed with muraymycin D2 and tunicamycin are described. The inhibition of other phospho-nucleotide transferase enzymes related to MraY by nucleoside antibiotics and analogues is also reviewed

Working to improve nutrition through participatory cropping systems research in Malawi : the Soils, Food and Healthy Communities project, Ekwendeni, Malawi

PowerPoint PresentationCopublished with PATH Canad

Arg-Trp peptidomimetics as inhibitors of the translocase MraY-E protein interaction site

The cell wall biosynthesis pathway is made up of a number of steps which can be targeted by a number of antimicrobial natural product inhibitors. These can be utilised in medicine for the treatment of bacterial infection. One of these steps is catalysed by the membrane protein, Phoshpo-MurNAc-pentapeptide translocase, also known as MraY. Although MraY is the target of a number of known natural products there has been little success in developing inhibitors to be used clinically. MraY is the site of action of bacteriophage ФX174 which produces lysis protein E. The RWxxW sequence of E protein is thought to be responsible an interaction between it and the ninth transmembrane helix (TM9) of MraY. Previous work showed that MraY could be inhibited by pentapeptides containing this motif. A dipeptide, NH2- Arg-Trp-octyl ester which was also based on this motif showed antimicrobial activity, but no inhibition of MraY. This project aimed to synthesise molecules which were able to exhibit antimicrobial activity and inhibit MraY. A series of dipeptides were synthesised based on RWoct. The side chains of the amino acids were changed for other cationic and aromatic residues. The length of the octyl chain was altered. The series of dipeptides was then tested using a MIC50 determination assay and the inhibition by the dipeptides was assessed. All of the peptides showed antimicrobial activity, but none showed inhibition of MraY. Four of the most promising dipeptides were selected to be tested against the ESKAPE pathogens, and this showed some promising activity against these clinically relevant strains. In order to see inhibition and improve the MIC50 a series of peptidomimetics were synthesised. The first series were based on a benzamide backbone. These would allow the installation of a second tryptophan residue, incorporating the entire RWxxW motif. The antimicrobial activity was maintained but still no inhibition of MraY was seen. The second series of peptidomimetics utilised a cyclic triazinedione backbone. This provided a more rigid framework and again antimicrobial activity was seen. The ESKAPE pathogen data from this second series of peptidomimetics was an improvement on that seen for the previous groups of compounds.The data obtained indicated that the compounds synthesised are working via several undetermined mechanisms which differ between compounds in the same series

Team Robockey: Final Design Report

This report describes the design of the Trinity Robockey infrastructure and the team of two autonomous robots. The methodology for testing the effectiveness of the project\u27s final design is detailed. These tests are designed to provide evidence of whether or not the Robockey met the objectives outlined in the project charter. The results, final conclusions, and recommendations are provided