Digital Commons Network^™

Focused Attention, Open Monitoring And Automatic Self-Transcending: Categories To Organize Meditations From Vedic, Buddhist And Chinese Traditions, Fred Travis, Jonathan Shear

Philosophy Publications

This paper proposes a third meditation-category—automatic self-transcending— to extend the dichotomy of focused attention and open monitoring proposed by Lutz. Automatic self-transcending includes techniques designed to transcend their own activity. This contrasts with focused attention, which keeps attention focused on an object; and open monitoring, which keeps attention involved in the monitoring process. Each category was assigned EEG bands, based on reported brain patterns during mental tasks, and meditations were categorized based on their reported EEG. Focused attention, characterized by beta/gamma activity, included meditations from Tibetan Buddhist, Buddhist, and Chinese traditions. Open Monitoring, characterized by …

A High-Throughput Cloning System For Reverse Genetics In Trypanosoma Cruzi, Michel Batista, Fabricio K. Marchini, Paola A.F. Celedon, Stenio P. Fragoso, Christian M. Probst, Henrique Preti, Luiz S. Ozaki, Gregory A. Buck, Samuel Goldenberg, Marco A. Krieger

Study of Biological Complexity Publications

Background

The three trypanosomatids pathogenic to men, Trypanosoma cruzi, Trypanosoma brucei andLeishmania major, are etiological agents of Chagas disease, African sleeping sickness and cutaneous leishmaniasis, respectively. The complete sequencing of these trypanosomatid genomes represented a breakthrough in the understanding of these organisms. Genome sequencing is a step towards solving the parasite biology puzzle, as there are a high percentage of genes encoding proteins without functional annotation. Also, technical limitations in protein expression in heterologous systems reinforce the evident need for the development of a high-throughput reverse genetics platform. Ideally, such platform would lead to efficient cloning and …

Assessing Technology Literacy: The Case For An Authentic, Project-Based Learning Approach, Jonathan D. Becker, Cherise A. Hodge, Mary W. Sepelyak

Educational Leadership Publications

This whitepaper takes a comprehensive look at the research, policies, and practices of technology literacy in K-12 settings in the United States. It builds a research-based case for the central importance of "doing" as part of technology literacy, meaning more than just being able to answer canned questions on a test. It also explores the current approaches to develop meaningful assessment of student technology literacy at a national, state, and local level, including TechYES.

Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance Enhanced Magneto-Optical Activity In Core-Shell Fe-Ag Nanoparticles, L. Wang, K. Yang, C. Clavero, A. J. Nelson, K. J. Carroll, E. E. Carpenter, R. A. Lukaszew

Chemistry Publications

Metallic nanoparticles (NPs) are suitable platforms for miniaturized biosensing based on their optical and magneto-opticalproperties. It is possible to enhance the sensitivity of specific kinds of NPs by exploiting their optical and magneto-opticalproperties under suitable external magnetic field modulation. Here, the magneto-opticalproperties of Fe–Ag core-shell ferromagnet-noble metal NPs have been investigated as a function of the incident light frequency. For Fe–Ag NPs with a concentration ratio around 25:75, an optical absorption band centered at 3 eV due to localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) excitation is observed. A strong enhancement of the Faraday rotation is also observed, greatly exceeding the value …

Spectrally Tunable Magnetic Nanoparticles Designed For Distribution/Recollection Applications, Nicholas B. Mcdowall, James R. Wilkins, Kyler J. Carroll, Jarrod D. Edwards, Jean D. Nelson, Everett E. Carpenter, Garry P. Glaspell

Chemistry Publications

The comprehensive goal of this research is the synthesis and characterization of nanomaterials that are spectrally tunable in terms of their electromagnetic signal, are robust, magnetic (allowing their piloted movement), and have the potential to be functionalized for the detection of CBRNE threats. Various chemical methods were utilized for synthesis of magnetic (iron) and luminescent rare earth (RE) components, and their mixtures. Effects of integrating an iron core into RE luminescent lattices (excited by UV, emit in the VIS) were investigated. The determination of the optimum balances between magnetic and luminescent components such that the magnetism was maximized while maintaining …

Genome-Scale Metabolic Analysis Of Clostridium Thermocellum For Bioethanol Production, Seth B. Roberts, Christopher M. Gowen, J. Paul Brooks, Stephen S. Fong

Chemical and Life Science Engineering Publications

Background

Microorganisms possess diverse metabolic capabilities that can potentially be leveraged for efficient production of biofuels. Clostridium thermocellum (ATCC 27405) is a thermophilic anaerobe that is both cellulolytic and ethanologenic, meaning that it can directly use the plant sugar, cellulose, and biochemically convert it to ethanol. A major challenge in using microorganisms for chemical production is the need to modify the organism to increase production efficiency. The process of properly engineering an organism is typically arduous.

Results

Here we present a genome-scale model of C. thermocellum metabolism, iSR432, for the purpose of establishing a computational tool to study the …

Citizenship And Belonging: The Case Of The Italian Vote Abroad, David Aliano

Ethnic Studies Review

The ease in which people are able to travel and communicate with one another across national boundaries is challenging the way in which we identify ourselves and define our place in the world. In an increasingly globalized world the very concept of a national identity is itself being redefined as multiple identities and dual citizenships have become more common than ever. This process of global interconnectedness has progressed so rapidly in the past few years that many are beginning to question how we define national models. The European Union, NAFTA, MERCOSUR, multi-national corporate affiliations, and virtual communities over the internet …

[Review Of] Continuing Perspectives On The Black Diaspora. Revised Edition. Eds. Aubrey W. Bonnett And Calvin B. Holder, Matthew Miller

Ethnic Studies Review

As a follow-up to their Emerging Perspectives on the Black Diaspora (published in 1990), authors/editors Aubrey Bonnett and Calvin Holder have given another serious treatment of the African diaspora. In this new volume, they take on new trends, ones that are often underappreciated or neglected within the scholarly community. Continuing Perspectives proffers an examination of some of the "new and nuanced challenges which forcibly test the themes of persistence and resilience" of the black diaspora communities (xvii). As the authors proclaim in their introduction, "the essays in this volume [. . .] try to look back, access current positions, and …

Immigration And Domestic Politics In South Africa: Contradictions Of The Rainbow Nation, Vernon D. Johnson

Ethnic Studies Review

The region of Southern Africa has been part of the global capitalist system since its inception in the late 15th century, when Portugal incorporated Angola and Mozambique into its empire. In 1652 the Dutch East India Company established a "refreshment station" at the Cape of Good Hope for ships travelling between Europe and the Far East.1 From that time the region has experienced several periods of deepening incorporation into the global system.

Thematic Shifts In Contemporary Vietnamese American Novels, Quan Manh Ha

Ethnic Studies Review

This article examines the thematic shifts in three contemporary Vietnamese American novels published since 2003: Monique Truong's The Book of Salt, Dao Strom's Grass Roof, Tin Roof, and Bich Minh Nguyen's Short Girls. I argue that by concentrating on the themes of inferiority and invisibility and issues related to ethnic and racial relationships in U.S. culture (instead of concentrating on the Vietnam War and the refugee experiences), some contemporary Vietnamese American authors are attempting to merge their voices into the corpus of ethnic American literature, which usually is thematically characterized by identity, displacement, alienation, and cultural conflict, etc. Each author …

Poictesme: A Student Anthology Of Literature And Art (2010)

Pwatem (Poictesme), 2006-

Poictesme (now Pwatem) is an anthology of literature and art from undergraduate students at Virginia Commonwealth University. It publishes poetry, prose and art of all kinds from talented undergraduate students of all majors.

The Promiscuity Of Aesthetics, Paul Duncum

Journal of Social Theory in Art Education

I contend that the concept of aesthetics lies at the very heart of the art educational enterprise, albeit significantly reconfigured. I begin by offering a highly potted, historical overview of aesthetics that while it supports Tavin’s view of aesthetics as a confused and confusing concept, demonstrates how important it remains. My intention is not to support aesthetics as part of a progressive socio-political agenda, as many art educators do, but because the word aesthetics is today used extensively beyond our specialized area of art education to conceptualize the sensuousness of contemporary cultural forms. A brief investigation of books and articles …

The Journal Of Social Theory In Art Education

Journal of Social Theory in Art Education

No abstract provided.

A National Labor Project: Recovering Unprecedented Numbers Of Working Class Lives And Histories Through Art, Ed Check

Journal of Social Theory in Art Education

I consider this essay an initial mapping where I reconstruct multiple ways of knowing and understanding the lived realities and plights of workers, whether they are manual workers, teachers or artists (Zandy, 2004). I use autobiography from a perspective of Standpoint Theory where I use the lives of working people as theory, method and evidence. I speak from my standpoint of my experiences as being raised white working class and my shift in salary and education to middle class.

The Unprecedented Event: Acknowledging Badiou’S Challenge To Art And Its Education, Jan Jagodzinski

Journal of Social Theory in Art Education

In terms of this year’s journal theme, ”unprecedented,” there is no other contemporary philosopher who has a more radical notion than Alain Badiou when it comes to theorizing the new; that is, the emergence of an unprecedented Event ex nihilio—not novel or innovative, but free of the authority of any prior example—to make a truth claim. For art educators, especially for the Social Caucus, Badiou offers a challenge to what has largely captured the theoretical writing in this journal — namely aesthetics and representation. As well intentioned as these theorizations have been concerning identity politics and critical theory stemming from …

Restageactivist Art/Disruptive Technologies, Karen Keifer-Boyd

Journal of Social Theory in Art Education

In this article, I explore, with you, artists’ socio-political disruptions with communication technologies to inspire political action and social change, and how such art can be environmentally and socially useful. How does art function politically? What is activist art? What non-violent forms of dissent or disruptions to harmful practices are possible today with digital technologies, and how do artists manifest political perspectives in their practice?

Decolonizing Development Through Indigenous Artist-Led Inquiry, Christine Ballengee-Morris, James Sanders, Debbie Smith, Kryssi Staikidis

Journal of Social Theory in Art Education

In this article four university art educators explore theories of self-determination and describe decolonizing, approaches to research that are built on mutual trust. As researchers we recognize that (re)presenting the stories of others—especially across international and transcultural boundaries—is both problematic and an ethical challenge. We acknowledge the risks that participants assume when sharing their stories, and follow the culturally sensitive strategy of having collaborating indigenous artists lead the research.

(Pr)Obama Art & Propaganda: Un(Precedent)Ed Visual Collections Of Hope, Progress And Change? [Book Review], Kathleen Keys

Journal of Social Theory in Art Education

Three of these books chronicle visual collections celebrating the nomination, candidacy, and election of Barack Obama. The fourth book explores one particular image from this Obama art movement. Together they document the recent outpouring of fine art, street art, graphic design and other visual work presented and distributed by artists, exhibitions, the Internet and other digital means, and establish a foundation for socially concerned inquiry, and for creating related art education opportunities.

Casino Capers: Exploring The Aesthetics Of Superfluidity, Mary Stokrocki, Bianne Castillo, Michael Delahunt, Laurie Eldridge, Martin Koreck

Journal of Social Theory in Art Education

Casinos are fast becoming sites for display of new Native American (NA) Arts. In such a context, casinos re-represent themselves and their communities through various visual forms and thus change their meanings. In her study of Wisconsin casinos, Stuhr (2004) challenged art educators to consider these visual culture displays as they accommodate new markets. Art in the casino phenomenon is worth investigating and how art educators can explore and/or make sense of this phenomenon is important. Casinos are using artworks as spectacles of pleasure. According to a casino gambling survey conducted by Harrah’s Entertainment, approximately 40 million Americans played slot …

‘Image’ / ‘I’ / ‘Nation’: A Cultural Mash-Up, Matthew Sutherlin, Amy Counts

Journal of Social Theory in Art Education

The term Un(precedent)ED conjures ‘images’ that have never been seen before in education. Too often in the classroom we focus on the classification of objects and practices. The metaphysical question “what is?” is important only in that it must be continually revisited. Through continual re-visitation, the question becomes “what can it be?” Unfortunately, the process of becoming through imagination is a practice that is often relegated to childish whimsy. Un(precedent)ED practice requires the (re)imaging of the current apparatus of education. Precedent is a standard or model that comes before a particular event or moment; components, such as sound, written text, …

First Impressions, "America's Paper" And Pre-Primary Black Presidential Candidates: The New York Times Coverage Of Rev. Jesse Jackson (1983), Rev. Ai Sharpton (2003), And Sen. Barack Obama (2007) Campaign Announcements And Initial Days, Ravi Perry

Ethnic Studies Review

Recent research documents how party rules, election reforms, and the growth of primaries and caucuses have greatly changed the presidential nomination process. Acknowledging that most Americans get their information about presidential candidates through the news and that mass media have played a significant role in introducing candidates to potential voters, I conduct an longitudinal content analysis of the New York Times articles to ethnographically explain how language, article placement and content in 'America's Paper' has significantly impacted the framing of black presidential candidates' pre-primary presidential campaigns. In particular, the data reveal how the newspaper's coverage of the candidates appears to …

Structuring Liminality: Theorizing The Creation And Maintenance Of The Cuban Exile Identity, Jaclyn Colona, Guillermo J. Grenier

Ethnic Studies Review

In this article, we examine the exilic experience of the Cuban-American community in South Florida through the dual concepts of structure and liminality. We postulate that in the case of this exilic diaspora, specific structures arose to render liminality a persistent element of the Cuban-American identity. The liminal, rather than being a temporal transitory stage, becomes an integral part of the group identity. This paper theorizes and recasts the Cuban-American exile experience in Miami as explicable not only as the story of successful economic and political incorporation, although the literature certainly emphasizes this interpretation, but one consisting of permanent liminality …

Abstracts

Ethnic Studies Review

Abstracts for Ethnic Studies Review, Vol. 33, No. 2, 2010.

Historical Consciousness And Ethnicity: How Signifying The Past Influences The Fluctuations In Ethnic Boundary Maintenance, Paul Zanazanian

Ethnic Studies Review

Theorists tend to limit 'history's' role in the dynamics of ethnicity to that generally played by collective memory. By bringing the notion of historical consciousness to the fore, new possibilities may, however, emerge for discerning how history, as one cultural mode of remembering among many others, impacts both ethnicity delineations and fluctuations in boundary maintenance. In encapsulating the many forms of commemoration as well as the different dimensions of historical thinking, the contribution of historical consciousness accordingly lies on how group members historicize temporal change for moral orientation in time. By likewise signifying past events for negotiating their ethnicity and …

How Does Race Operate Among Asian Americans In The Labor Market? : Occupational Segregation And Different Rewards By Occupation Among Native-Born Chinese American And Japanese American Male Workers, Chang Won Lee

Ethnic Studies Review

The effect of race in the U.S. labor market has long been controversial. One posits that racial effects have been diminished since the civil rights movement of the 1960s (Alba & Nee, 2003; Sakamoto, Wu, & Tzeng, 2000; Wilson, 1980). Even if some disparities in labor-market outcomes among race groups are found, advocates of this "declining significance of race" thesis do not attribute these disparities to racial discrimination. They, instead, understand the racial gaps as a result of class composition of racial minority groups, classes represented by larger proportions of the working-class population (Wilson, 1980, 1997) as well as unskilled-immigrant …

Orientals Need Apply: Gender-Based Asylum In The U.S., Midori Takagi

Ethnic Studies Review

Every other year I teach a course entitled "The History of Asian Women in America," which focuses on the experiences of East, South and Southeast Asian women as they journey to these shores and resettle. Using autobiographies, poetry, journal writings, interviews and academic texts, the students learn from the women what political, social, cultural, economic and ecological conditions prompted them to leave their homelands and why they chose the United States. We learn of their rich cultural backgrounds, their struggles to create a subculture based on their home and host experiences, and the cultural gaps that often appear between the …

Jacob Riis And Double Consciousness: The Documentary/Ethnic "I" In How The Other Half Lives, Bill Hug

Ethnic Studies Review

"Contradictory" is the watchword in scholarship on Danish-American photojournalist Jacob Riis. "Wildly contradictory, morally schizophrenic": so Keith Gandal describes Riis' work (18). "A deeply contradictory figure [...] a conservative activist and a skillful entertainer who presented controversial ideas in a compelling but ultimately comforting manner": such is the assessment of Riis offered by Bonnie Yochelson and Daniel Czitrom (xv). "The typical Victorian moralist," but also the Progressive-so Tom Buk-Swienty proclaims him (239, XIII).

Ethnic Studies Review

Ethnic Studies Review

No abstract provided.

Ethnic Studies Review

Ethnic Studies Review

No abstract provided.

Annual Higher Ground Women's Leadership Conference 2010, The Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute At Virginia Commonwealth University

GEHLI - 2026 VCUL Team Project Publications

No abstract provided.