In this article, I discuss conceptual and methodological considerations for the design and implementation of Critical Race Feminista Participatory Action Research (Critical Race Feminista-PAR) ...projects in higher education. I share some theoretical considerations of Critical Race Feminista praxis and methodologies that have been made by scholars who bridge critical race theories and Chicana feminist epistemology and then offer considerations for areas of expansion for Critical Race Feminista methodology. I also provide an overview of the social justice and liberatory origins of PAR and examples of other "braided" approaches of PAR that help inform Critical Race Feminista-PAR. To illustrate the application of this methodology, I provide an example from a previous study I co-constructed along with Latina higher education staff, administrators, and students that had elements of Critical Race Feminista-PAR. This article has implications for how Critical Race Feminista-PAR can be used to address social problems in higher education and beyond.
Background Because of their low levels of expression and the inadequacy of current research tools, CB2 cannabinoid receptors (CB2R) have been difficult to study, particularly in the brain. This ...receptor is especially relevant in the context of neuroinflammation, so novel tools are needed to unveil its pathophysiological role(s). Methods We have generated a transgenic mouse model in which the expression of enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) is under the control of the cnr2 gene promoter through the insertion of an Internal Ribosomal Entry Site followed by the EGFP coding region immediately 3′ of the cnr2 gene and crossed these mice with mice expressing five familial Alzheimer’s disease (AD) mutations (5xFAD). Results Expression of EGFP in control mice was below the level of detection in all regions of the central nervous system (CNS) that we examined. CB2R-dependent-EGFP expression was detected in the CNS of 3-month-old AD mice in areas of intense inflammation and amyloid deposition; expression was coincident with the appearance of plaques in the cortex, hippocampus, brain stem, and thalamus. The expression of EGFP increased as a function of plaque formation and subsequent microgliosis and was restricted to microglial cells located in close proximity to neuritic plaques. AD mice with CB2R deletion exhibited decreased neuritic plaques with no changes in IL1β expression. Conclusions Using a novel reporter mouse line, we found no evidence for CB2R expression in the healthy CNS but clear up-regulation in the context of amyloid-triggered neuroinflammation. Data from CB2R null mice indicate that they play a complex role in the response to plaque formation.
This article addresses television news coverage of the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act of 2010, which would have created a path to legal residency for thousands of ...undocumented immigrants in the United States. Considering the role that news media play in socially constructing groups of people, through an analysis of English- and Spanish-language evening television news coverage of the DREAM Act of 2010, the author examined discursive practices used to represent undocumented youth in both dehumanizing and humanizing ways. The author discusses the implications of these types of discourses for education policy understanding by the public and education stakeholders.
Purpose People with HIV infection have an elevated risk of anal cancer. However, recent calendar trends are incompletely described, and which population subgroups might benefit from cancer screening ...is unknown. Methods We used linked data from HIV and cancer registries in nine US areas (1996 to 2012). We calculated standardized incidence ratios to compare anal cancer incidence in people with HIV infection with the general population, used Poisson regression to evaluate anal cancer incidence among subgroups of people with HIV and to assess temporal trends, and estimated the cumulative incidence of anal cancer to measure absolute risk. Results Among 447,953 people with HIV infection, anal cancer incidence was much higher than in the general population (standardized incidence ratio, 19.1; 95% CI, 18.1 to 20.0). Anal cancer incidence was highest among men who have sex with men (MSM), increased with age, and was higher in people with AIDS than in those without AIDS (ie, HIV only; adjusted incidence rate ratio, 3.82; 95% CI, 3.27 to 4.46). Incidence among people with HIV increased steeply during 1996 to 2000 (annual percentage change, 32.8%; 95% CI, -1.0% to 78.2%), reached a plateau during 2001 to 2008, and declined during 2008 to 2012 (annual percentage change, -7.2%; 95% CI, -14.4% to 0.6%). Cumulative incidence after a 5-year period was high for MSM with HIV only age 45 to 59 or ≥ 60 years (0.32% to 0.33%) and MSM with AIDS age 30 to 44, 45 to 59, or ≥ 60 years (0.29% to 0.65%). Conclusion Anal cancer incidence is markedly elevated among people with HIV infection, especially in MSM, older individuals, and people with AIDS. Recent declines may reflect delayed benefits of HIV treatment. Groups with high cumulative incidence of anal cancer may benefit from screening.
This study examined mental health needs and risk factors associated with service use among Latinx high school students in two cities in the United States. We explored how socioeconomic ...characteristics, school location, youth and parental nativity, and self-perceived clinical needs were associated with the odds of youths seeing a mental health provider. Data were collected from 306 Latinx youths during the 2018-19 school year. Most youths (78%) self-reported symptoms of anxiety, trauma, or depression above the clinical range. None of these clinical needs predicted service utilization. Youth experiencing less economic hardship and having a mother from South America were almost five times more likely to use services than their counterparts. Similarly, males and older respondents were more likely to be underserved than females and younger respondents. Implications to ensure equitable access to services among older, low-income Latinx youth, particularly those from Central America, the Caribbean, and Mexico, are discussed.
Beginning in 2014, increasing numbers of unaccompanied immigrant children (UIC) arrived and were apprehended at the United States-Mexico border. These children were fleeing violence, poverty, ...environmental disasters, as well as state-sanctioned violence and political instability influenced by interventions and support from the U.S. government spanning several decades. The purpose of this article was to examine the factors that shape the educational experiences of UIC in the United States during and after detention. The following questions guided this analysis: (1) What policies and practices impact the education of apprehended UIC in the United States? (2) What are the conditions formerly apprehended UIC encounter in schools? A review of the literature between 2000 and 2022 was conducted, including peer-reviewed articles, commentaries, legal documents, and news articles. The literature raises concerns about the quality, effectiveness, and availability of academic resources for these children. This review demonstrates the need for additional research and policy changes aimed at improving the educational conditions of UIC in shelters and communities after reunification, and it offers recommendations to school districts, policymakers, and researchers on how to best address the academic and non-academic needs of formerly apprehended UIC in the United States.
Insulin resistance is a feature of pregnancy and is associated with increased levels of angiotensin II (Ang II) and insulin. Therefore, pregnancy may change insulin-induced vasodilation through ...changes in Ang II receptors. Insulin-induced vasorelaxation was evaluated in phenylephrine-precontracted aortic rings of pregnant and non-pregnant rats, using a conventional isolated organ preparation. Experiments were performed in thoracic or abdominal aorta rings with or without endothelium in the presence and absence of N
G
-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) (10
−5
M), losartan (10
−7
M), or PD123319 (10
−7
M). AT1 and AT2 receptor expressions were detected by immunohistochemistry. Insulin-induced vasodilation was endothelium- and nitric oxide–dependent and decreased in the thoracic aorta but increased in the abdominal segment of pregnant rats. The insulin’s vasorelaxant effect was increased by losartan mainly on the thoracic aorta. PD123319 decreased insulin-induced vasorelaxation mainly in the pregnant rat abdominal aorta. AT1 receptor expression was decreased while AT2 receptor expression was increased by pregnancy. In conclusion, pregnancy changes insulin-induced vasorelaxation. Moreover, insulin vasodilation is tonically inhibited by AT1 receptors, while AT2 receptors appear to have an insulin-sensitizing effect. The role of pregnancy and Ang II receptors differ depending on the aorta segment. These results shed light on the role of pregnancy and Ang II receptors on the regulation of insulin-mediated vasodilation.
Because of their low levels of expression and the inadequacy of current research tools, CB
cannabinoid receptors (CB
R) have been difficult to study, particularly in the brain. This receptor is ...especially relevant in the context of neuroinflammation, so novel tools are needed to unveil its pathophysiological role(s).
We have generated a transgenic mouse model in which the expression of enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) is under the control of the cnr2 gene promoter through the insertion of an Internal Ribosomal Entry Site followed by the EGFP coding region immediately 3' of the cnr2 gene and crossed these mice with mice expressing five familial Alzheimer's disease (AD) mutations (5xFAD).
Expression of EGFP in control mice was below the level of detection in all regions of the central nervous system (CNS) that we examined. CB
R-dependent-EGFP expression was detected in the CNS of 3-month-old AD mice in areas of intense inflammation and amyloid deposition; expression was coincident with the appearance of plaques in the cortex, hippocampus, brain stem, and thalamus. The expression of EGFP increased as a function of plaque formation and subsequent microgliosis and was restricted to microglial cells located in close proximity to neuritic plaques. AD mice with CB
R deletion exhibited decreased neuritic plaques with no changes in IL1β expression.
Using a novel reporter mouse line, we found no evidence for CB
R expression in the healthy CNS but clear up-regulation in the context of amyloid-triggered neuroinflammation. Data from CB
R null mice indicate that they play a complex role in the response to plaque formation.
Hurricane Harvey devastated the state of Texas in August 2017, with the city of Houston and surrounding areas being heavily impacted. Over 30,000 people were displaced from their homes as flooding ...ravaged the Gulf Coast during this natural disaster. This qualitative study examined the impact of Hurricane Harvey through the voices of 15 community college students. We highlight the ways they were impacted by the hurricane, how they persisted in college after experiencing a major natural disaster, and the support they received from the institution. Some participants also shared about their challenges navigating access to institutional resources after the hurricane. Findings revealed that participants relied on campus resources as well as institutional agents, such as faculty and advisors, to navigate their academics post-Harvey. We conclude with a discussion of implications for community college stakeholders to consider when supporting students before, during, and after natural disasters or other types of crises.
This is a longitudinal qualitative study of Latina college students who were members of a Latina mentoring program at a 4-year Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) in Texas, where they made up the ...largest student population since 2013. Guided by Chicana feminist epistemology and intersectionality, we discuss educational experiences students had during high school as they considered their college path, when enrolling in an HSI, and during college. We explore the following research question: How did intersectional experiences shape the educational trajectory of Latina undergraduates enrolled at an HSI? We identify how multiple forms of oppression and social identities shaped the high school experiences of Latinas and learned how they found belonging at an HSI by finding spaces and individuals who validated their intersectionality. Through this study, we demonstrate why Latina student intersectionality—not only while in college but prior to enrolling as well—is important for researchers and educational leaders to consider.
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