Sex Trafficking and Decriminalized Prostitution in Rhode Island

Rhode Island is the only state in the United States where prostitution is decriminalized indoors. Since decriminalization in 1980, the sex industry has expanded and Rhode Island has become a destination for commercial sex in New England. Rhode Island is one of only three states that have not had a human trafficking prosecution. Rhode Island has had no prosecutions of sex trafficking since the state anti-trafficking law was passed in 2007. The goal of this project was to research the history of decriminalization, gather information on Asian massage parlor brothels, and determine if sex trafficking is occurring in these establishments. Research on Asian massage parlor brothels and sex trafficking was carried out by observation of brothels, content analysis of writings by “johns” in online forums, newspaper stories, analysis of federal, state, and local statutes, analysis of known prostitution and sex trafficking cases, and advertisements by Asian massage parlor brothels. Asian massage parlors were the focus of the research since they advertise publicly, making them easier to research than other brothels in Rhode Island. The massage parlor advertisements and the reported experiences of “johns” were monitored for indications of sex trafficking. Interviews about massage parlor brothels and sex trafficking were conducted with public officials, law enforcement personnel, social justice groups, faith-based organizations, and victim service providers. To research the history of decriminalization, the trial transcripts, affidavits, motions, and briefs of the federal case were analyzed. Lawyers, officials, and other people knowledgeable about the decriminalization case were interviewed. Results of the research identified thirty-three Asian massage parlor brothels. Indicators of sex trafficking were found, such as barred windows and sealed exit doors, and the use of surveillance video cameras. Indications of women’s restricted freedom and limited mobility were identified, such as living on the premises and being rotated through a circuit of massage parlors. Content analysis of “johns’” reports of buying sex revealed examples of women’s resistance to engage in sex acts, indicating they may not have been acting freely. Research into the history of prostitution and massage parlor raids found evidence of sex trafficking. In 2006, a federal multi-state sex trafficking case included a Providence massage parlor. Decriminalization of prostitution indoors resulted from a confluence of factors. In the late 1970s, citizens demanded police action against street prostitution in their neighborhoods. The existing prostitution laws made criminal procedures slow, and since prostitutes remained on the streets awaiting jury trials, it was ineffective to reduce prostitution. In addition, a prostitutes’ rights group filed a federal sex discrimination against the state of Rhode Island because more women than men were being arrested for soliciting sex even though the statute was gender-neutral. Decriminalized prostitution has factored in the expansion of the commercial sex industry and the absence of any federal or state sex trafficking cases. Decriminalization of prostitution also makes it difficult to use existing statutes for organizing and controlling prostitution. Decriminalization of prostitution also interferes with the ability to identify and assist victims of sex trafficking

Exploring online community participation

Firm-hosted online brand communities, in which consumers interact regarding brand-centric topics, represent a fascinating context to study the motives of participation within the community. Theories of social capital and collective action are extended to begin understanding why individuals contribute, as they receive no immediate benefit, and “lurkers” have the same access to that contributed knowledge as everyone else. Building on the concept of means-end chain, that is we seek out certain attributes as a means to achieve a desired end state, the linkage between online brand community attributes, individual need, and personal values is ethnographically examined. By way of in-depth laddering interviews, why individuals participate will be answered through understanding how that participation fulfils individual need and enhances personal value. The main study comprises two approaches – participant observation in the community, and individual in-depth interviews with 32 community members. Over 2222 data points and 750 ladders were discovered and analysed using the laddering technique. Seven themes emerged as to why individuals actively participate in an online brand community – belonging, recognition, helping others, knowledge, professional advancement, personal development, and entertainment

Feedback for future learning: delivering enhancements and evidencing impacts on the student learning experience

Enhancing the student learning experience through the provision of improved student feedback is both challenging and complex. ‘Feedback for Future Learning’ was a Glasgow Caledonian University(GCU)-wide project intended to enhance feedback practices from both the student and staff perspectives; to ensure greater awareness of, and reflection upon, feedback by students; and to encourage greater use of feedback to inform future student learning. The design, implementation and evaluation of approaches to ‘Feedback for Future Learning’ are described with an emphasis on STEM disciplines. The conceptualisation, design and implementation of a range of student feedback tools and approaches aimed to develop understanding of learning processes, reinforce learning and improve performance. This was achieved through collaboration with the GCU Students’ Association and the establishment of the University Feedback Enhancement Group. A series of generic and bespoke seminars, workshops, individual programme interventions and competitions were used to enhance comprehension of the perception, experience and use of formative and summative assessment feedback by students.   Providing opportunities for reflection and evaluation together with qualitative and quantitative metrics have demonstrated 93% satisfaction with student feedback enhancement workshops, a trebling of engagement with memorable feedback survey initiatives and a 9% increase in National Student Survey assessment and feedback satisfaction. A 16% rise in student satisfaction with the promptness of feedback, a 14% improvement in satisfaction with the detailed comments received and an 8% increase in satisfaction with the helpfulness of comments received were achieved. The lessons learned inform the continuing and sustainable enhancement of the student learning experience for STEM students and the wider University community. Keywords: Feedback, future learning, dialogue, engagement, reflection, enhancemen

Developing a social media strategy

Social media is a mix of psychology, sociology and technology offering great opportunities as well as challenges to businesses in today’s fast moving and competitive environment. This report examines the rise of social media and its potential business impact while exploring best practice in developing effective social media strategies. The review begins with a consideration of what constitutes social media and social networking before going on to consider the influences that motivate people to engage in social media. This research includes an extensive literature review of both academic and practitioner sources in order to identify best practice for developing effective social media strategies. A comprehensive six-stage framework depicting how to plan, run and improve the use of social media as part of the marketing strategy is included. This simple, but effective framework covers most situations and can be deployed in most companies whether operating in the business-to-consumer (B2C) or business-to-business (B2B) space. For most companies, embarking on a social media strategy allows them to create a peoplecentred environment using technology to accelerate real-time interactions, rather than hinder them, within a collaborative technology architecture that mitigates the risks inherent with social networking. To be successful, organisations need to understand the relationship between business process, culture and technology in order to encourage collaboration and drive improved performance and business success

Mothers\u27 feelings about physical and emotional intimacy twelve to fifteen months after the birth of a first child

This qualitative study explored first time mothers\u27 feelings about physical and emotional intimacy twelve to fifteen (12-15) months the birth of a first child. It also looked to understand what factors mothers thought would improve intimacy with their partners during this time period. The transition to parenthood prompted a change in many mothers\u27 feelings about intimacy and changes in their relationship with their husbands and themselves. Twelve mothers\u27 who had their first child twelve to fifteen (12-15) months ago, who were married for at least two years participated in the study. All participants answered open-ended interview questions focusing on the following topics: 1) who met mothers\u27 physical and emotional intimacy needs 2) how their physical and intimacy needs were met 3) how their physical and emotional intimacy needs changed since the birth of their child and 4) what ways they would improve either physical or emotional intimacy with their partners. Six participants were asked two additional questions: 5) in what ways does your child contribute to your feelings of intimacy and 6) in your partnership, whose responsibility is it to make the changes to improve intimacy? The findings showed mothers\u27 physical intimacy needs were met by their husband, child and family unit (husband and child). And, mothers\u27 emotional intimacy needs were met by their husband, child, friends, family and herself. The findings also showed that feelings of physical intimacy needs changed after the birth of her child while mothers\u27 feelings of emotional intimacy needs did not change. Many mothers also stated that sharing more adult activities together as a couple would improve physical intimacy and increased communication would improve emotional intimacy. These findings help inform partners, families, social workers, and other service providers about the feelings of physical and emotional intimacy that mothers experience twelve to fifteen months after the birth of a first child

Does the Decriminalization of Prostitution Reduce Rape and Sexually Transmitted Disease? A Review of Cunningham and Shah Findings

In 2013, research findings by Cunningham and Shah claimed that rape and sexually transmitted diseases were reduced by decriminalized prostitution in Rhode Island. The original unpublished claims have received wide media coverage which have gone unexamined. This review finds errors in their analyses. One error is the date when prostitution was decriminalized in Rhode Island. Cunningham and Shah claim that prostitution was decriminalized in 2003. Our analysis finds the date of decriminalization of prostitution was 1980. The change in the start date of decriminalization significantly alters the analysis and the findings. Another error results from Cunningham and Shah using an outlier data point to define a period of analysis. The results of this review call into question the claims that the decriminalization of prostitution reduced rape and sexually transmitted disease

DMAPT inhibits NF-κB activity and increases sensitivity of prostate cancer cells to X-rays in vitro and in tumor xenografts in vivo

Constitutive activation of the pro-survival transcription factor NF-κB has been associated with resistance to both chemotherapy and radiation therapy in many human cancers, including prostate cancer. Our lab and others have demonstrated that the natural product parthenolide can inhibit NF-κB activity and sensitize PC-3 prostate cancers cells to X-rays in vitro; however, parthenolide has poor bioavailability in vivo and therefore has little clinical utility in this regard. We show here that treatment of PC-3 and DU145 human prostate cancer cells with dimethylaminoparthenolide (DMAPT), a parthenolide derivative with increased bioavailability, inhibits constitutive and radiation-induced NF-κB binding activity and slows prostate cancer cell growth. We also show that DMAPT increases single and fractionated X-ray-induced killing of prostate cancer cells through inhibition of DNA double strand break repair and also that DMAPT-induced radiosensitization is, at least partially, dependent upon the alteration of intracellular thiol reduction-oxidation chemistry. Finally, we demonstrate that the treatment of PC-3 prostate tumor xenografts with oral DMAPT in addition to radiation therapy significantly decreases tumor growth and results in significantly smaller tumor volumes compared to xenografts treated with either DMAPT or radiation therapy alone, suggesting that DMAPT might have a potential clinical role as a radiosensitizing agent in the treatment of prostate cancer

GPS-Prot: A web-based visualization platform for integrating host-pathogen interaction data

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The increasing availability of HIV-host interaction datasets, including both physical and genetic interactions, has created a need for software tools to integrate and visualize the data. Because these host-pathogen interactions are extensive and interactions between human proteins are found within many different databases, it is difficult to generate integrated HIV-human interaction networks.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We have developed a web-based platform, termed GPS-Prot <url>http://www.gpsprot.org</url>, that allows for facile integration of different HIV interaction data types as well as inclusion of interactions between human proteins derived from publicly-available databases, including MINT, BioGRID and HPRD. The software has the ability to group proteins into functional modules or protein complexes, generating more intuitive network representations and also allows for the uploading of user-generated data.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>GPS-Prot is a software tool that allows users to easily create comprehensive and integrated HIV-host networks. A major advantage of this platform compared to other visualization tools is its web-based format, which requires no software installation or data downloads. GPS-Prot allows novice users to quickly generate networks that combine both genetic and protein-protein interactions between HIV and its human host into a single representation. Ultimately, the platform is extendable to other host-pathogen systems.</p

Assessing the clinical utility of measuring Insulin-like Growth Factor Binding Proteins in tissues and sera of melanoma patients

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Different Insulin-like Growth Factor Binding Proteins (IGFBPs) have been investigated as potential biomarkers in several types of tumors. In this study, we examined both IGFBP-3 and -4 levels in tissues and sera of melanoma patients representing different stages of melanoma progression.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The study cohort consisted of 132 melanoma patients (primary, n = 72; metastatic, n = 60; 64 Male, 68 Female; Median Age = 56) prospectively enrolled in the New York University School of Medicine Interdisciplinary Melanoma Cooperative Group (NYU IMCG) between August 2002 and December 2006. We assessed tumor-expression and circulating sera levels of IGFBP-3 and -4 using immunohistochemistry and ELISA assays. Correlations with clinicopathologic parameters were examined using Wilcoxon rank-sum tests and Spearman-rank correlation coefficients.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Median IGFBP-4 tumor expression was significantly greater in primary versus metastatic patients (70% versus 10%, p = 0.01) A trend for greater median IGFBP-3 sera concentration was observed in metastatic versus primary patients (4.9 μg/ml vs. 3.4 μg/ml, respectively, p = 0.09). However, sera levels fell within a normal range for IGFBP-3. Neither IGFBP-3 nor -4 correlated with survival in this subset of patients.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Decreased IGFBP-4 tumor expression might be a step in the progression from primary to metastatic melanoma. Our data lend support to a recently-described novel tumor suppressor role of secreting IGFBPs in melanoma. However, data do not support the clinical utility of measuring levels of IGFBP-3 and -4 in sera of melanoma patients.</p

Growth characteristics in individuals with osteogenesis imperfecta in North America: results from a multicenter study.

PurposeOsteogenesis imperfecta (OI) predisposes people to recurrent fractures, bone deformities, and short stature. There is a lack of large-scale systematic studies that have investigated growth parameters in OI.MethodsUsing data from the Linked Clinical Research Centers, we compared height, growth velocity, weight, and body mass index (BMI) in 552 individuals with OI. Height, weight, and BMI were plotted on Centers for Disease Control and Prevention normative curves.ResultsIn children, the median z-scores for height in OI types I, III, and IV were -0.66, -6.91, and -2.79, respectively. Growth velocity was diminished in OI types III and IV. The median z-score for weight in children with OI type III was -4.55. The median z-scores for BMI in children with OI types I, III, and IV were 0.10, 0.91, and 0.67, respectively. Generalized linear model analyses demonstrated that the height z-score was positively correlated with the severity of the OI subtype (P &lt; 0.001), age, bisphosphonate use, and rodding (P &lt; 0.05).ConclusionFrom the largest cohort of individuals with OI, we provide median values for height, weight, and BMI z-scores that can aid the evaluation of overall growth in the clinic setting. This study is an important first step in the generation of OI-specific growth curves