Government By and For Millenial America: A Blueprint for 21st Century Government

Using this generation's unique ethos and commitment to pragmatic problem-solving, Millennials across the country have collaborated to design their vision for a 21st century democracy and reject the idea that our system is too broken, too stagnant, and too outdated. They have identified the parts of the system that need to be fixed while articulating what a true democracy should look like. Government By and For Millennial America, the third installment of our blueprint series, tackles some of the most fundamental, divisive, and difficult questions on the purpose of government in furthering our country's progress: how can we hear from more voices? How can we be more transparent? How can government be more egalitarian? How can we both support individual communities and the common good of every American? Most importantly, this pursuit is grounded in one fundamental idea that defines America's distinctive pursuit of self-governance: in the words of our namesake, Let us never forget that government is ourselves and not an alien power over us. The ultimate rulers of our democracy are not a President and senators and congressmen and government officials, but the voters of this country. - President Franklin D. Roosevelt We set out to craft a blueprint, and discovered, in conversations with over a thousand young people across the country, that the Millennial generation is not yet ready to give up on America's ever evolving experiment in a government by and for the people

Effects of In-Situ Biosparging on Pentachlorophenol (Pcp) Degradation and Bacterial Communities in Pcp

This study examined the effect of in-situ biosparging on pentachlorophenol (PCP) degradation and bacterial communities in PCP contaminated groundwater. Bacteria were identified by sequencing the 16s rDNA fragment from DNA extracted from groundwater cultures and comparing those sequences to a database using a basic local alignment search tool, BLAST. The PCP-degraders Burkholderia cepacia and Flavobacterium (Sphingobium) chlorophenolicum were identified in multiple wells, as were the 4-chlorophenol degrader Herbaspirillum sp., and the common soil bacteria Pseudomonas sp., Aquaspirillum sp., and Rhodocista sp., among others. Numerous bacterial samples also appeared in the results as “uncultured”. Bacterial community changes were observed using terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (TRFLP) analysis to identify operational taxonomic units of bacteria at various locations inside and outside the biosparging zone of treatment over time. Diversity measures including species richness, Simpson’s and Shannon’s indices, and species evenness were calculated from operational taxonomic unit results for each well at each sampling point in order to better understand changes in the bacterial community. Species richness tended to be higher at wells further away from the biosparging line, while diversity and evenness varied throughout the area. Correlations between PCP concentration, operational taxonomic units, and distance from biosparging wells were determined by Pearson’s product-moment correlation and Spearman’s rank correlation. Positive correlations were found between distance from biosparging wells and PCP concentration, species richness and distance, and to a smaller degree, diversity and distance. Biosparging remediation has a significant impact on the types of PCP-degrading bacteria within the groundwater matrix, and installations of this type of treatment should be applied to maximize the use of the native bacteria to assist in degradation of the contaminant

Stone, Sources and Social Networks: Tracing Movement and Exchange Across Dharawal Country, Southeastern Australia

Historical evidence suggests that at the time of European settlement in the NSW Illawarra region, Dharawal groups, who came together for ceremonies, had an established regional network with movement of people, and items, via pathways linking the highlands west of the Illawarra escarpment and the coastal plain. The degree to which the established network described in European accounts reflects pre-colonial patterns or activity affected by early colonial settlement is unclear, however. This thesis examines this topic by comparing archaeological and historical evidence. Ground edged hatchets, and raw material for their manufacture, are known to have moved within Aboriginal social networks and several sites in the Dharawal region have been identified as likely sources of stone for hatchets and other tools. Non-destructive archaeological provenancing of 148 ground edged hatchets from coastal plain and inland findspots in and adjacent to the Dharawal study area provides an opportunity to characterise pre-colonial patterns of raw material use, and movement of artefacts from source to find-spot. Matches to sources within Dharawal country, as well as beyond the region, trace the local and inter-regional social network within which these artefacts and/or raw materials moved. This provenancing research is a component of a broader, Australian Research Council funded, study of Aboriginal exchange systems and social networks in Southeastern Australia 2012-14: Axes, Exchange, Social Change: New Perspectives on Australian Hunter Gatherers (DP12010393), directed by Peter Grave (University of New England) and Val Attenbrow (Australian Museum). Spatial reconstruction of Early European observations of movement and gathering of Aboriginal people across, and into and out of Dharawal country between 1788 and 1850, allows archaeological and historical social network patterns to be directly compared. Results suggest significant correlation between the two, as well as consistency in the historical pattern over time. This evidence suggests pathways linking Dharawal groups socially and economically, in place prior to the arrival of Europeans, continued to be used throughout the first fifty years of European colonisation. These results that support and enhance previous research findings in the region. Evidence that this cultural pattern may have remained stable through a period of known social upheaval suggests that the network of pathways interconnecting Dharawal groups, pathways aligned with the distinctive physiography of country, may have also been stable through earlier times of change. If so, this may also shed light on the nature, and function, of this network in the culturally, socially and environmentally dynamic, deeper past

Adapting to Provide Innovative In-Person Extension Programming During a Pandemic

The success of Extension programming is often predicated on in-person events, and numerous Extension programs are preplanned and scheduled well in advance of the anticipated programming date. In-person events help foster community, collaboration, and the human connection within our society. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it is critical for Extension to be adaptive and innovative and react proactively to worldwide, nationwide, and local authorities\u27 and health professionals\u27 recommendations to protect clientele, staff, and volunteers. Extension educators can tailor in-person programs to align with health professionals\u27 recommendations by using creative, innovative, and adaptive measures. We describe two such programs

Changes in quality of life and coping among people with multiple sclerosis over a 2 year period

There is a need to investigate the impact of different coping strategies on quality of life (QOL) of people with multiple sclerosis (MS), in order to better inform intervention programs for this population. This study evaluated the relationship between QOL and coping over a 2 year period among people with MS. Participants were 382 people with MS (144 male, 238 females) and 291 people without a neurological or other chronic illness from the general population (101 males, 190 females). People with MS experienced lower QOL than the control group in the domains of global QOL, independence, social and spiritual QOL scales, as well as the problem solving and social/emotional support coping scales. Interestingly, people with MS experienced higher psychological QOL than the general population, and higher detachment and focusing on the positive coping. Over time, people with MS demonstrated increases in their global QOL as well as in their social/emotional support coping. Women demonstrated higher levels than men of global QOL and Social/emotional support coping. The results of these findings have implications for information and intervention programs for people with MS. <br /

To Inhibit or Enhance? Is There a Benefit to Positive Allosteric Modulation of P2X Receptors?

The family of ligand-gated ion channels known as P2X receptors were discovered several decades ago. Since the cloning of the seven P2X receptors (P2X1-P2X7), a huge research effort has elucidated their roles in regulating a range of physiological and pathophysiological processes. Transgenic animals have been influential in understanding which P2X receptors could be new therapeutic targets for disease. Furthermore, understanding how inherited mutations can increase susceptibility to disorders and diseases has advanced this knowledge base. There has been an emphasis on the discovery and development of pharmacological tools to help dissect the individual roles of P2X receptors and the pharmaceutical industry has been involved in pushing forward clinical development of several lead compounds. During the discovery phase, a number of positive allosteric modulators have been described for P2X receptors and these have been useful in assigning physiological roles to receptors. This review will consider the major physiological roles of P2X1-P2X7 and discuss whether enhancement of P2X receptor activity would offer any therapeutic benefit. We will review what is known about identified compounds acting as positive allosteric modulators and the recent identification of drug binding pockets for such modulators

Rural Gambian women's reliance on health workers to deliver sulphadoxine – pyrimethamine as recommended intermittent preventive treatment for malaria in pregnancy

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The use of most anti-malarial medications is restricted during pregnancy, but two doses of sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine are recommended after the first trimester as intermittent preventive treatment in pregnancy (IPTp). In The Gambia, only 32% of women receive two doses and very little research has been conducted on women's awareness of drug safety during pregnancy. The objective of this paper was to assess whether rural Gambian women were aware of the importance of the timing of the two-dose IPT dose schedule and its relevance to drug safety.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>This was a qualitative study in which 41 interviews and 16 focus group discussions with women, adolescents, men and traditional birth attendants were conducted. A generic qualitative approach was used to generate a theory as to why women might not participate in IPTp as recommended.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Although most women used calendar months to count their stage of pregnancy, these months did not correlate with their concept of foetal development. Foetal growth was described following Islamic tradition as water, clot, piece of meat and human being, although there was little consensus about the order or timing in which these stages occurred. Common signs and conditions of malaria were known. Women were anxious about miscarriage and recognized that some medicines should not be taken in the first trimester, but were urged by men and traditional birth attendants to attend for antenatal care in the first trimester to "start treatment." General knowledge about the purpose of pregnancy medications and when they should be taken was poor among both men and women. One important result was that women relied entirely on health workers to provide safe drugs, at the correct time.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Women did not have relevant information to judge the safety and appropriate timing of pregnancy drugs, which made them over-reliant on health workers. They should be encouraged to date their own pregnancies in culturally relevant terms and to anticipate when and which medications they should receive.</p

Sex and Jesus: Notes from a Pastor's Daughter

Title from PDF of title page viewed June 10, 2022Thesis advisor: Whitney TerrellVitaIncludes bibliographical references (pages 177-178)Thesis (M.F.A.)--Department of English. University of Missouri--Kansas City, 2021This thesis is a collection of nonfiction and poetic works that represent the author’s output as a candidate for Master of Fine Arts. These personal essays and poems are interested in intersections and unlikely combinations: sex positivity and feminism through a progressive Christian lens; the complicated relationship between body, health, and body image. The goal in many of these pieces is to challenge the American conception of both Christianity and Jesus—who we think he is, or was, and what he is about—and to hold the American church as institution to account. Young adults of my generation who were raised Christian are stepping away from church and/or undergoing a radical transformation of their faith en masse. While my experience of growing up a pastor’s daughter was generally positive, my adult life has been a process of questioning what I know and opening up to the reality that I do not have all the answers. I believe my thesis, in both form and content, reflects this uncertainty and the reality of “living in the tension,” a concept coined by the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and a tenet of how I aim to live my life and to write my truth.Critical introduction -- The five deadly sins -- One body, many parts -- The family tree -- land of the living -- The Implanon diaries -- Dick sorceress -- As we forgive our trespassers -- Jesus stand with the vulnerable: a Gospel-based ethic of sex -- The waterfall and the well -- Poems -- Diablo An incomplete timeline of the Trump presidency -- Index of sex and love -- Index of desir

The Relationship Between Music Preference, Moral Competence, and Spiritual Well-being in Christian College Students

In this survey study, we examined the effect of Christian music with lyrics versus secular music with lyrics (written as “Christian music” and “secular music”) on the moral competence and spiritual well-being of college students. These students were taken from the population of Cedarville University and were aged 18-25. We hypothesized that Christians who listen to mostly Christian music have higher moral competence and spiritual well-being than those who listen to primarily secular music. Tested through an online survey using the Moral Competence Test (MCT) and the Spiritual Well-Being Scale (SWB), this study found no gender differences, therefore the subsequent analyses combined both genders. A Pearson Correlation test revealed significant positive correlations between the percentage of time participants listened to Christian music, religious well-being, and existential well-being (p \u3c 0.05). However, the correlation between percentage of time spent listening to Christian music and the moral competence score was negative (p \u3c 0.05). The two groups were defined as those who reported listening to Christian music 50% of the time or less (“less” group), and those who reported listening to Christian music 60% or more (“more” group). An independent-samples t-test showed a significant difference between the religious well-being of the two groups, t (306) = -3.265, p = 0.001 (less group n=199, M=51.75, SD=8.42; more group n=109, M=54.42, SD=5.86). A significant difference was found between the existential well-being of the groups, t (304) = -2.641, p = 0.009 (less group n=202, M=46.47, SD=7.21; more group n=104, M=48.63, SD=6.56). There was no significant difference on the two groups’ moral competence. Overall the results indicated that students at Cedarville University who listened to secular music and who listened to Christian music were significantly different on their spiritual well-being and moral competence. Students who listened to Christian music have higher spiritual well-being scores than those who listened to secular music, but both group were in an average range for spiritual well-being. Both groups scored exceptionally high on their moral competence