My Neighbors Children: Reflections on Possible Curriculum Design for Mutual Care

This work is a critical evaluation of learning potential for regional and global integration and co-existence processes. Considered are cultural and psychological elements and obstacles. The paper's starting points are three current cognitive researches that may aid thinking for Mutual Care curriculum design. Also as antecedents and anchoring the discourse are five community engagement projects with discreet or stated learning intentions aimed at integration, enrichment and mutual care. These projects lead to forming of or were carried out by Artship Foundation over last 40 years. The paper’s main interest is to evaluate conditions and articulate metaquestions that may point to a curriculum design that is not only intended for Balkan Counties but also as Pan-European and Global Learning project. The paper reflects on occurrences that help recognize inter-connectedness and mutual responsibility beyond specific geographies or peoples. With universality of issues understood, the study dedicates itself to Balkan and South East European conditions and needs. The paper concludes with seven topics summarizing the issues of possible Mutual Care curriculum. Three cognitive researches 1. Empathy A. N. Meltzoff, J. Decety from the Center for Mind, Brain & Learning, University of Washington, articulate this innate human characteristic: "Our ability to imitate others’ actions holds the key to our understanding what it is for others to be like us and for us to be like them". 2. Cognition though Cultural expressions The University of Oregon paperexplores the evidence that arts training influences cognition. The authors state that the intricate brain network aiding attention and perseverance practices are directly related to motivation to express oneself. The tangible, visceral qualities of expression may shed light on issues too complex for verbal theory only. 3. Conditioning Dr. M. Y. Brave Heart’s influential study, Wakiksuuyapi (Memorial People):Heart Carrying the Historical Trauma of the Lakota published by Tulane Studies In Social Welfare influenced Stanford University's Research Group on Collective Trauma and Healing. These interdisciplinary projects are studying the multigenerational legacies of trauma. The Stanford Group brings together scholars from the humanities and sciences, to provide crucial insights into the effects of trauma on bodies, minds, and communities in order to propose new possibilities for healing. Topics and community engagement projects as Antecedents 1. Curriculum for extra curricula, life long learning Project - The reclaiming of public space at Arroyo Viejo Park in Oakland 2. Youth and Crisis of Perseverance Project - Redefining a historic 1940 passenger-cargo/military ship for public peacetime use and a cultural space, 1999 – 2004. 3. Heritage, conditioning and Oral Histories Project - Tarantella Pizzica as community healing process - Fifteen years comparative cultures research inspiring contemporary play 4. Managing Tangible and Intangible Surplus Project - Community Poles Project 1986-1991 5. Mutual grieving and understanding ancestors Project - Imaginary Film Workshops- 1997 and 1998 6. Structured learning and nature of continuity Projects - Educational village 1975 - 1980 and Children and architecture 1989 -1995 In closing the reality, legislative difficulty, conditioning and resistance to change are acknowledged but also similar needs, potential of sharing or bartering material surplus, wisdom, stories and songs may pave a way for a curriculum of Mutual Care

The Effects of Adiposity and Type II Diabetes on the Immune Response to Influenza Virus in Adults

There are very limited data on mechanisms that mediate the obesity-associated and type II diabetes-associated impairments in immune function against viral infections, such as with the influenza virus. The purpose of this dissertation was to assess the humoral and cellular immune responses to the influenza virus, as well as to examine the effects of type II diabetes on T cell metabolism. This dissertation followed three aims. Aim 1 utilized a convenience sample to determine the antibody response to influenza vaccination in healthy weight, overweight, and obese adults at one and 11 months post vaccination. Higher body mass index (BMI) was associated with a greater decline in antibody titers to influenza strains at eleven months post vaccination, suggesting that overweight and obese individuals may not be as protected throughout the duration of the flu season compared to healthy weight individuals. Aim 2 consisted of a series of several studies comparing the cellular immune response to influenza virus in dendritic cells, cluster of differentiation (CD) 4+ T cells, and CD8+ T cells from healthy weight, overweight, and obese adults following ex vivo stimulation with live influenza virus. Although markers of dendritic cell activation and function remained intact, markers of T cell activation and function were significantly impaired in overweight and obese, compared to healthy weight adults. Together these data suggest that there would be significant deficiencies in the activation and cytotoxic function of CD8+ T cells, as well as in the activation and helper function of CD4+ T cells resulting from overweight and obesity. Aim 3 was an exploratory aim designed to generate preliminary data towards answering the question of how obesity with or without type II diabetes will affect T cell glucose metabolism. The data suggests that there are differences in glucose metabolism in unstimulated T cells from obese individuals with and without type II diabetes. The results of this dissertation indicate that both overweight and obesity impair the humoral and cellular immune response to influenza virus and that type II diabetes may alter T cell metabolism.Doctor of Philosoph

Movement to Another Place. Cultural Expressions of Migration as Source of Reflection Contributing to Social Theory

Methodologiesare explored to enriching migration theory, with an inter-disciplinary look into cultural expressions resulting from migration. Cultural and migration maps offer a comparative and diachronic insight into migration impulses and waves.Migration of ideas and techniques is also examined through artifacts resulting from forced or intended move-ment of people and experts. Two contemporary plays evolved from the stories of mi-grants/refugees offer probing and open-ended speculation about itinerancy, vagrancy, reset-tlement and economic emigration as part of social plurality. The tangible, visceral qualities of expression may shed light on issues too complex for verbal theory only. Approached is comparative examination of stylization in art and abstraction in theoretical inquiry. Asking: What kind of procedures and institutions retain connection to the vitality of the samples studied or portrayed? Proposing inquiry not only focused on issues in the world but also on how they are represented, measured and defined

ReEmbodied Infrastructure

The abandoned West Heating Plant site offers an enviable yet challenging opportunity to look beyond the proposed housing response and explore potentially unconventional options to integrate new uses into the building while also respecting the heritage significance of the existing shell. Dynamic explorations of design alternatives can provide insight into a a variety of creative, sensitive, and appropriate uses to breathe new life into Georgetown's last remaining industrial remnant and activate this neglected site. Interventions on the existing building and its site, ranging in attitude from the most "polite" and deferential to the more radical, can reintegrate the site into its contextual fabric and revitalize the plant by creating a new identity that is heightened by the contrast between the original and the new. This proposed creative process stands as a critical departure from more conventional preservation or program-driven processes that usually determine how these unique properties are redeveloped

How Does Internet Facilitated Communication Impact Teacher and Parent Partnerships?

In 2001, Public Law 107-110, known as the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, mandated that public schools become accountable for the achievement of all public school students. Included in Public Law 107-110 is a section that mandates that schools involve parents in the functioning of the institution and that parents be involved in their child\u27s education. Schools have been utilizing Internet Facilitated Communication (IFC) to facilitate parent involvement within the school community. This dissertation concentrates on parent-teacher communication specifically as it pertains to student achievement. This study examined the ways parents and teachers utilize electronic communication to invite one another to participate in activities designed for student academic achievements. The study also concentrated on the ways parents and teachers communicate, and the frequency of internet facilitated communication. Three themes emerged from the analysis of the results of this study. Classroom teachers predominantly use non-electronic communication means with the parents of their students. Teachers use electronic communication methods to a much lesser degree than non-electronic communication methods. Parents also predominantly use traditional, non-electronic communication forms with classroom teachers. Schools continue to explore different methods of engaging parents in partnership activities that provide academic support for students. The standards found in Public Law 107-110 require that schools involve parents in the planning and implementation activities designed to improve student academic achievements. Schools are also mandated to implement programs designed to lessen parental obstacles and enhance parental participation in partnership activities. Constraints on time and doubts regarding self-efficacy skills exist for some parents currently not involved in home-school relationships. To introduce new programs intended to persuade uninvolved parents to participate in school activities, it is prudent to further develop the collaboration methods already in place in the school community such as Internet Facilitated Communication

UNKNOWN AND INTERPRETED: EXPLORING THE NEED TO REPRESENT, UNDERSTAND AND RESPOND

Interpreting Past as one of the basic human traits is the main thread of this paper. Addressing communication delivery of meaning, usage and construction methods of Cultural Landmarks within tourism phenomenon that provides information and knowledge to everyone, regardless of their schooling level and qualifications. Chosen examples and issues explored: Embodying Cultural Reference - Canopus of Emperor Hadrian’s Villa at Tivoli near Rome Adoptive Reconstruction - Teatro Olimpico Palladio’s Renaissance performance space in Vicenza inspired by ancient Roman architect Vitruvius’ treaties on theatre construction. Shared Intentions and Structural Expressions - Hattusha - Cumae: Striking programmatic and tectonic similarity and documentary evidence that help comparative understanding and interpretation of both heritage sites. Tangible - Intangible Heritage - Omphalos / Naval of the world: Mediterranean stone markers at ancient oracle sites and possible ritual use of specially trained birds. The closing statements reflect on the culture, needs and psychological underpinnings of the tourism phenomenon as wonder experiences. The seven wonders of the Greco-Roman world exemplify the out of the ordinary character of major heritage sites. Strategies of interpretation that acknowledge and attempt to understand the original building and placing motivations can enrich the experiences of contemporary visitors

LowDown

Photograph of Boz Scaggs sitting on pier railling in front of benchhttps://scholarsjunction.msstate.edu/cht-sheet-music/7903/thumbnail.jp