Aspiration Research Articles

Prognostic Value of QRS Complex Fragmentation in Patients with Acute Anterior STEMI undergoing Primary PCI During in-Hospital Stay

Abstract Background Primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) as a type of coronary reperfusion therapy may lead to recanalization and improved myocardial reperfusion in patients with ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Aim of the Work The aim of our study is sought to investigate the prevelance of fQRS complex in ECG of patients admitted with acute anterior STEMI undergoing primary PCI and its short-term prognostic value during hospital stay. Patient and Methods In the current study, 156 consecutive patients with anterior STEMI being treated with primary PCI between July 2021 and March 2022 were enrolled. Patients were included in the study if they presented with symptoms that were identified typically as typical chest pain lasting for more than 20 min; had ST-segment elevation ≥1 mm in two contiguous electrocardiographic and had undergone primary PCI including balloon angioplasty, thrombus aspira tion and/or stent implantation. Results Our results study showed that, in patients with a diagnosis of anterior STEMI, the presence of fQRS at admission ECG is associated with the development of MACE at short-term follow-up and higher mortality. In addition, fQRS was the strongest predictor of MACE in patients with acute MI after adjustment for the risk factors of ischemic heart disease. Conclusion Prevalence of fQRS complex on admission ECG in patients with acute anterior STEMI undergoing primary PCI is common. Presence of fQRS in these patients has independently predicted prognosis regarding LVEF values, Cath lab events, MACE and mortality during hospital stay. Therefore, fQRS can be incorporated in risk stratification tools and help in management of patients with acute anterior STEMI undergoing primary PCI.

First-Line Contact Aspiration vs Stent Retriever for Proximal Occlusion in Acute Ischemic Stroke: A Systemic Review and Meta-Analysis

IntroductionThe aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to compare the performance of first-line contact aspiration (ASP) and stent retriever (SR) in acute ischemic stroke caused by proximal large vessel occlusion. MethodsCochrane databases, MEDLINE and EMBASE were systematically searched for literatures reporting outcomes on thrombectomy with both first-line aspiration and first-line stent retriever in proximal occlusion. ResultsThirteen studies with a total of 1614 patients were included. No differences were identified between the SR and ASP groups in terms of final reperfusion rate (modified thrombolysis in cerebral infarction 2b/3) (OR: 1.54, 95% CI: 0.88–2.70), complete recanalization rate (modified thrombolysis in cerebral infarction 3) (OR: 1.78, 95% CI: 0.58–5.44), and favorable outcomes (modified Rankin scale ≤2) (OR: 1.02, 95% CI: 0.79–1.32). With regard to adverse events, emboli to new territories (OR: 0.81, 95% CI: 0.31–2.14), intracranial hemorrhage (OR: 0.71, 95% CI: 0.40–1.28), 90-days mortality (OR: 1.02, 95% CI: 0.71–1.47) were similar between groups, while symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (OR: 0.43 95% CI: 0.21–0.86) was less seen in ASP. Subgroup analysis indicated that ASP was comparable to stent retriever with local aspiration (SRLA) (OR: 1.25 95% CI: 0.25–6.22) and superior to stent retriever alone (OR: 1.85 95% CI: 1.22–2.81). Moreover, in posterior circulation, contact aspiration achieved a significantly higher reperfusion (OR: 1.97 95% CI: 1.03–3.76) compared to stent retriever, and needed relatively less rescue therapies (21.5% vs 29.6%, p < 0.05). ConclusionOur study suggested that contact aspiration might be advantageous over stent retriever alone and more suitable in posterior circulation. While ASP and SRLA thrombectomy were equally effective in achieving good clinical outcomes. However, further studies are needed to confirm these results.

Predictors of outcomes in managing breast abscesses-A large retrospective single-center analysis.

We have retrospectively examined a wide range of clinical characteristics, sonographic features, microbiology, and antibiotic regimens in patients with breast abscesses to seek predictive features related to outcome. Because consensus for optimal treatment of breast abscesses has moved toward minimally invasive management using single or repeated needle aspiration (ASP) coupled with adjuvant antibiotics, we assessed whether any factors correlate with the need for repeat procedures by analyzing the number of ASPs and/or surgical incision and drainage (I&D) per abscess. We examined 127 abscesses in 114 patients from a single urban public hospital, and among clinical characteristics, we found that only smoking history (P=.021) and the presence of nipple rings (P=.005) were associated with greater likelihood of necessitating repeat for abscess resolution procedures. Neither diabetes, lactational status, and HIV nor ultrasound features imaging of an abscess including size >3cm, multiloculation, rind thickness, or central vs peripheral location were correlated with the need for a repeat procedure. Likewise, no specific micro-organisms predicted a greater likelihood of requiring repeat procedures, and no specific initial antibiotic regimen (gram-positive and/or gram-negative or multiresistance coverage) impacted clinical outcomes. Our data indicate that no specific imaging abscess characteristics, type of micro-organism, or initial choice of antibiotics affect outcomes, and therefore, these features should not preclude attempts at conventional therapy by repeated aspiration and antibiotic treatment. While a smoking history and presence of a nipple ring may increase the risk of a prolonged course, the decision to change antibiotics or repeat aspiration should rely instead on clinical evaluation and judgment by experienced physicians.

Chest radiographs and computed tomography scans in children with airway foreign body

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic value of radiologic findings in children with suspected foreign body aspira tion. Methods: A retrospective medical chart review was done on 32 children with suspected foreign bodies in terms of age, sex, symp toms, signs, bronchographic findings, and type and location of foreign bodies. The diagnostic value of radiography was analyzed: 29 with chest anteroposterior (AP) or posteroanterior (PA) view, 23 with chest lateral decubitus view, 27 with chest computed tomogra phy (CT), 29 with chest AP, PA or chest lateral decubitus view, and 25 with bronchoscopy. Results: As a measure for detecting foreign body aspiration, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy of radiologic findings were: chest AP or PA view, 50%, 100%, 100%, 29.4%, and 58.6%, respectively; chest lateral decubitus view, 57.9%, 50.0%, 84.6%, 20.0%, and 56.5%, respectively; chest AP, PA or chest lateral decubitus view, 69.6%, 66.7%, 88.8%, 36.4%, and 69.0%, respectively; and chest CT, 100.0%, 85.7%, 95.2%, 100.0%, and 96.2%, respectively. Conclusion: There is clinical benefit to take chest radiographs to diagnose foreign body aspiration. However, based on the results of this study, it may be not necessary to take chest lateral decubitus to diagnose foreign body aspiration. If chest radiographs show unilateral hyperinflation, foreign body aspiration can be diagnosed. In cases of normal chest radiography and history of a witnessed choking episode combined with positive signs, the diagnosis of airway foreign body aspiration should be made by using chest CT. (Allergy Asthma Respir Dis 2018;6:241-247)

Outcomes study between femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery and conventional phacoemulsification surgery using an active fluidics system.

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to compare intraoperative parameters between femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery (FLACS) and conventional phacoemulsification using Centurion® Vision System with Active Fluidics.SettingThis study was performed at Brasília Ophthalmologic Hospital, Brasília, Federal District, Brazil.Patients and methodsThis was a prospective randomized comparative study. Patients with the diagnosis of cataract and surgical extraction programmed were divided into two groups: conventional phacoemulsification and FLACS. Intraoperative data were collected and submitted for statistical analysis.ResultsA total of 400 eyes were enrolled, 200 in each group. There were no surgical complications. Groups were statistically equivalent in age and nucleus density. Cumulative dissipated energy and torsional time were significantly reduced in the FLACS group. Conventional surgery had less fluid usage, total case time and aspiration (ASP) time.ConclusionFLACS with Active Fluidics System can reduce the ultrasound energy use during cataract surgery, in spite of increasing case time, fluid usage and ASP time.

Using confirmatory factor analysis to validate the Chamberlin affective instrument for mathematical problem solving with academically advanced students.

Student affect plays a considerable role in mathematical problem solving performance, yet is rarely formally assessed. In this manuscript, an instrument and its properties are discussed to enable educational psychologists the opportunity to assess student affect. The study was conducted to norm the CAIMPS (instrument) with gifted students. In so doing, educational psychologists are informed of the process and the instrument's properties. The sample was comprised of 160 middle-grade (7 and 8) students, identified as gifted, in the United States. After completing one of four model-eliciting activities (MEAs), all participants completed the CAIMPS (Chamberlin Affective Instrument for Mathematical Problem Solving). Data were analysed using confirmatory factor analysis to ascertain the number of factors in the instrument. The normed fit index (0.6939), non-normed fit index (0.8072), and root mean square error approximation (.076) were at or near the acceptable levels. Alpha levels for factors were also robust (.637-.923). Data suggest that the instrument was a good fit for use with mathematics students in middle grades when solving problems. Perhaps the most impressive characteristic of the instrument was that the four factors (AVI: anxiety, value, and interest), SS (self-efficacy and self-esteem), ASP (aspiration), and ANX (anxiety) did not correlate highly with one another, which defies previous hypotheses in educational psychology.

Aspiration thrombectomy in clinical routine interventional stroke treatment

The aim of our study was the technical evaluation of afirst pass approach of primary thrombus aspiration (AST) in patients with emergency large intracerebral vessel occlusions (ELVO) under routine clinical conditions. We collected procedural and clinical data of 104 patients who underwent mechanical thrombectomy due to ELVO between June 2014 and January 2016 with intentional first-line thrombus aspiration. Procedures were conducted due to occlusions of the distal internal carotid artery, middle cerebral artery, anterior cerebral artery, basilar artery and posterior cerebral artery and were performed with the patient under either conscious sedation or general anesthesia. If the AST technique failed completely or to some extent, stent retriever-based thrombectomy (SRT) was performed. As astand-alone method AST was successful in achieving TICI (Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction) score 2b or3 results in 29cases (27.8%). After additional use of SRT successful recanalization was achieved in atotal of 95cases (91.3%, p= 0.048). If AST was performed exclusively, median procedure time until TICI2b/3 was 15 min, in cases of combined procedures 35 min (p= 0.001). Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) after thrombectomy appeared only if additional SRT was performed (12.0%) and not in cases of AST maneuvers alone (p= 0.09). When used as afirst pass attempt AST is afast and safe approach for patients suffering from stroke due to ELVO. Nonetheless, early conversion to SRT is needed in most cases and leads to overall excellent procedural results with low complication rates.

Vocation and Work in the Spirit: Understanding Charisms in Relation to Work

One of the unique aspects of Jesuit Ignatian education is the focus on vocation and discernment. Still, students’ misconceptions about vocation are not sufficiently addressed, especially the relation between work and vocation. This paper proposesthat Miraslov Volf’s pneumatological understanding of work provides insights that can help dispel misconceptions. Understanding one’s vocation as a charism can he lp students make more sense of work i n today’s context, as wel l help studentsunderstand that work is not simply finding “the right job” that fits their passion and aspir ation but also c ooperating with and responding to grace in doing the good.

Warthin's Tumor with Skin Ulceration Mimicking Parotid Malignancy

Warthin’s tumor with skin ulceration is extremely uncommon. We report on a 64-year-old man with Warthin’s tumor with skin ulceration in the right parotid gland. The ulceration may have resulted from malignant transformation of either the epithelial or lymphoid component, or, as in very rare cases, an inflammatory process crossing the capsule of the tumor into the adjacent parotid parenchyma and overlying skin. Although Warthin’s tumor is a common benign tumor of the parotid area, once ulcerated, it is difficult to make a clinical diagnosis. The gross finding of the case reported herein was close to the malignant form, but because an fine needle aspira tion biopsy history existed, the possibility of whether more inflammatory changes might have oc curred was considered. Therefore, since complications such as facial nerve injury may arise, extensive surgeries should be avoided.

Jaw-Opening Force Test to Screen for Dysphagia: Preliminary Results

ObjectiveTo assess the jaw-opening force test (JOFT) for dysphagia screening. DesignCriterion standard. SettingUniversity dental hospital. ParticipantsPatients complaining of dysphagia (N=95) and with symptoms of dysphagia with chronic underlying causes (mean age ± SD, 79.3±9.61y; range, 50–94y; men: n=49; mean age ± SD, 77.03±9.81y; range, 50–94y; women: n=46; mean age ± SD, 75.42±9.73y; range, 51–93y) admitted for treatment between May 2011 and December 2012 were included. InterventionsNone. Main Outcome MeasuresAll patients were administered the JOFT and underwent fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES). The mean jaw-opening strength was compared with aspiration (ASP) and pharyngeal residue observations of the FEES, which was used as the criterion standard. ResultsA receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed. Forces of ≤3.2kg for men and ≤4kg for women were appropriate cutoff values for predicting ASP with a sensitivity and specificity of .57 and .79 for men and .93 and .52 for women, respectively. Based on the ROC analyses for predicting pharyngeal residue, forces of ≤5.3kg in men and ≤3.9kg in women were appropriate cutoff values, with a sensitivity and specificity of .80 and .88 for men and .83 and .81 for women, respectively. ConclusionsThe JOFT could be a useful screening tool for predicting pharyngeal residue and could provide useful information to aid in the referral of patients for further diagnostic imaging testing. However, given its low sensitivity to ASP the JOFT should be paired with other screening tests that predict ASP.

English

Abstract Introduction Intestinal lymphangiectasia is a protein-losing enteropathy caused by congenital malformation or secondary obstruction of intestinal lymphatic vessels, which usually causes excessive protein loss in the intestine and malabsorption syndrome. Patients may be asymptomatic or complain of oedema, diarrhoea, hypoalbuminaemia and other deficiencies. This article reports a case of chronic diarrhoea and an abdominal mass. Case report We present the case of a 70-year-old woman who came to our gastroenterological clinic for diarrhoea. Blood and stool tests were within the normal ranges, except for a mild eosinophilia and a high C-reactive protein. The ultrasound scan showed a cystic retropancreatic mass, and the following computed tomography scan confirmed the presence of the mass without sure continuity with the dorsal pancreas. The fine needle aspiration performed during an echoendoscopy, permitted the complete aspi ration of the fluid and the cytological analysis that showed numerous lymphocytes. The diagnosis of Intestinal lymphangiectasia was done, and Chronic diarrhoea and abdominal mass: a case of intestinal lymphangiectasia

“BUT HOW CAN I ACHIEVE MY DREAM IN THIS VILLAGE?” BLEAK EDUCATIONAL HOPES AND ASPIRATIONS OF CHILDREN IN AGORTIKOPE VILLAGE

This was a study conducted to identify the challeng es that children in rural areas encounter in educat ion. Most of these challenges affect the educational asp irations and dreams of these children. These issues were explored in group and in-depth interviews with the children, parents and teachers at Agortikope villag e. Some of the major issues discovered centered on fin ancial difficulties, inadequate learning and teachi ng materials, poor infrastructure, teacher absenteeism , amongst others. The Human Capital theory which stresses the significance of education and training as the key to development and participation in the new global economy guided the study. The participants f or the study were 17. About 12 pupils from classes 4 to 6 and 2 teachers, 2 parents of the participants and the headmaster of the school. The studies revealed one major thing; that these children have dreams, goals and aspirations but are also uncertain of achievin g them because of all the challenges that they face.

2005] On Linguistic Human Rights and the United States “Foreign” Language Crisis

confuses their language, proliferating idioms so that they may not un derstand one another's speech (11.7-8). Although this fall into linguistic multitude, as confusion and misunderstanding, seems to contradict earlier passage in Genesis where sons of Japheth exist each with his own language, by their families in their nations (10.5; New Oxford An notated Bible), linguistic oneness as unity has remained a powerful aspira tion throughout ages?in work of Descartes, for instance. In fact, this oneness is regarded as a critical foundation of modern nation, such as birth of French Republic in 1789.1 Thus in influential work Imagined Communities, Benedict Anderson argues that nation could not be imagined without linguistic communality (135), indeed, that nationalisms were historically 'impossible' until after appearance of popular linguistic-nationalisms (109)?a notion that Anderson cham pions as he bemoans the of human linguistic diversity (43), or what he dubs fatality of Babel (134). Only in passing does Anderson

The impact of intracoronary thrombus aspiration on STEMI outcomes

Manual coronary thrombus aspiration was associated with improved outcomes of ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients. We aimed to evaluate the outcome of aspiration in a "real-world" setting of primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI). We analyzed the outcome of STEMI patients who underwent PPCI (initial Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction flow grade 0/1), comparing patients who underwent aspiration (ASP) to those who had standard (STD) therapy. Various subgroups outcomes were further analyzed. Clinical end points included mortality and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) at 30 days and at 1 year. One thousand thirty-five consecutive patients were included: 189 (18.26%) with ASP and 846 (81.74%) with STD. ASP patients were younger (58±12 vs. 61±13, P<.05) and had higher incidence of direct stenting compared to STD patients (34% vs. 16.7%, P<.05). No significant differences were noted in the outcome of ASP vs. STD at 30 days (mortality rate 4.2% vs. 4.5%, P=.9; MACE 6.9% vs. 9.8%, P=.2) and at 1 year (mortality rate 8.0% vs. 8.3%, P=.9; MACE 20.0% vs. 22.3%, P=.5). A significant advantage in favor of ASP was evident in patients with proximal culprit lesions, anterior infarcts, and right ventricular involvement. Although this was largely a negative study, when STEMI involved a large jeopardized myocardium, aspiration was associated with sustained improved clinical outcomes.

Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology of Kikuchi's Lymphadenitis: with Emphasis on Differential Diagnosis with Tuberculosis

Background: Although Kikuchi’s lymphadenitis (KL) has been known to have characteristic cytological features, pathologists encounter difficulties in making a diagnosis with fine needle aspira tion cytology (FNAC). The objective of this study was to assess the diagnostic pitfalls of KL with FNAC, particularly with emphasis on differential diagnosis with tuberculosis. Methods: FNAC of 10 patients with a histological diagnosis of KL and tuberculosis was reviewed. Results: Acidophilic cells were observed in all the 10 KL cases, even if the smears were insufficient. Crescentic histiocytes were seen in 8, granular background in 7, and karyorrhectic debris in 3 cases. Epithelioid histiocytes or neutrophils were not seen in any of the KL cases. Of the 10 cases of tuberculosis, acidophilic cells were observed in 6 cases, crescentic histiocytes in none of them, cheeselike background in 9, karyorrhectic debris in 8, epithelioid histiocytes in 4, and neutrophils in 8 cases. Conclusions: The acidophilic cell could be the most sensitive but not the specific mar ker of KL with FNAC. The crescentic histiocytes might be the sensitive and considerably specific mark er of KL. The cytological features distinguishing tuberculosis from KL may be cheese-like necrosis admixed with neutrophils and epithelioid histiocytes.

Cytologic Distinctive Features of Brenner Tumor

Ovarian Brenner tumors are an uncommon epithelial tumor, accounting for 1.5% to 2.5% of all ovarian neoplasms; only 3-5% of Brenner tumors are borderline malignant. The histologic features of those cases were relatively well established, but the cytologic features were not. We experienced two cases of Brenner tumor obtained via intraoperative fine needle aspira tion. One was a borderline Brenner tumor with marked squamous metaplasia, and the other was a benign Brenner tumor associated with mucinous cystadenoma. Evaluating the cytologic features of Brenner tumor will aid in improving the accuracy and efficiency of the differential diagnosis of ovarian tumors during intraoperative consultation.

Lower incidence of acute respiratory distress syndrome in community‐acquired pneumonia patients aged 85 years or older

Clinical variables and laboratory data were compared to elucidate the risk factors associated with the development of ARDS among elderly patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). The predictors for ARDS appeared to differ from the determinants of severity of CAP. ARDS developed less frequently among patients aged>or=85 years. The incidence of and risk factors for ARDS among elderly patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) have not been well characterized. The clinical details of 221 consecutive patients aged>or=65 years, who were admitted with CAP during the period April 2006 to June 2008, were investigated by review of patient charts. Clinical variables and laboratory data at admission for CAP were compared between patients with and without ARDS. Eighteen patients (8.1%) developed ARDS 1-5 days after admission. The mortality rate was 44% in patients with ARDS and 10.3% in those without ARDS (P<0.001). The incidence of ARDS was 8.5-20% among patients aged<85 years and 1.1% in patients aged>or=85 years (P<0.001), while overall mortality rates were not significantly different among the age groups. Predictors for the development of ARDS included higher serum levels of CRP and glucose, lower PaO2/fraction of inspired O2 (FiO2), PaCO2 and HCO3-, and the presence of systemic inflammatory response syndrome at admission. ARDS developed less frequently among patients with pneumonia associated with oropharyngeal aspiration (AP). Multivariate analysis indicated that lower age, serum glucose, pre-existence of systemic inflammatory response syndrome and non-oropharyngeal AP were significant risk factors for ARDS. The Pneumonia Severity Index and confusion, urea, respiratory rate, blood pressure, age>or=65 score were not correlated with the incidence of ARDS. Predictors for ARDS appeared to differ from the determinants of severity of CAP in the elderly. ARDS developed less frequently in patients aged>or=85 years and in those with oropharyngeal AP. It is important to identify subjects at high risk for ARDS upon admission and to observe them closely.

Nocturnes: Five Stories of Music and Nightfall by Kazuo Ishiguro

uu t? t? < t? t? O But the core thematic concern of the novel remains its explora tion of theprickly relationship that sometimes arises between the so called old and new African "dias poras" in America. The main char acter's open-minded relationship with Africans and African Ameri cans alike proves thatgood, viable relationships between Africans and their brothers and sisters of the Diaspora inAmerica are not only possible but a major imperative. The novel provides a mature and convincing treatmentof this theme. With appropriate attitudes, thechief character succeeds where others are stymied in negativity, and this makes Against the Odds a successful "bridge-building" novel. EmmanuelObiechina Harvard University Kazuo Ishiguro. Nocturnes: Five Sto riesofMusic and Nightfall.New York. Knopf.2009. 221 pages. $25. isbn 978 0-307-27102-0 As the title suggests, music and night themes color these fictions. They feature musicians whose careers have stalled, some with aspi rations still alive, otherswith accep tance, ifnot contentment. While the characters may try to make some thing of today, their lives do not project much beyond tomorrow. One is often leftwith littlemore than a perspective, mood music sus tained asmuch byminor phrases as major events. The opening story, "Crooner," seems a rather engineered disillu sionment. An aging popular sing er and his beautiful wife, both of whom married for the sake of the trophy the other partner represent ed, have fallen genuinely in love over the years. Unfortunately, they feel that to stay at the top of their NOCTURNES FIVE STORI ES ?, Mus,c n. AND * NIOHTFALL .. ZU O IS I?URO *ur?a. ?.THEREMAINS OF THEDAT respective career paths, theymust divorce so they can marry someone more suitable. Enter an admiring narrator whose incredulity buffers our own. "Come Rain or Come Shine" is darker and more effective, made so when the narrator's somber self assessment is reflected and assumed by his two best friends. Though he doesn't realize it, their marriage seems sustained by his failures, some of which they contrive. The song of the titleand the slow dance at the end seem to indicate a mel ancholy but lasting friendship.This is a story thatgets under the skin, summoning memories of betrayed trusts that are best forgotten. Time and again, a musician meets someone whom he feelshad a career or success he might have had. In "Malvern Hills" and in "Noc turne," one doesn't know whether success will come as a result of the encounter. Something will result for theprotagonist, but no great turning point seems to have occurred. Even in themiddle of change, one can't predict the future.As in "Cellists," one may even see the subject of a how things turned out. It's a view of life that admits considerable irony, even comedy, whether one is trying tohide a tro phy inside a turkeyor attempting to fl^H imitate the actions of a large dog to cover an accident in a friend's apart ment. Finally these stories explore what can sustain people?artists or anyone, maybe most of us?who fl^H dependon theapproval ofothers to j^^fl measure success. I V.M. Hagen Oklahoma BaptistUniversity Alvin Levin.Love IsLike ParkAvenue. H James Reidei, ed. JohnAshbery,pref. New York.New Directions. 2009. xxvi fl^l + 196 pages. $13.95. isbn978-0-8112 Like Mr. Keen, hero of a mid- ^^^1 twentieth-century radio program, H^H JohnAshbery has become a Tracer of Lost Persons, or those nearly lost, renewing interest in thepoets JoanMurray (1917-42) and David Schubert (1913-46), among others. j^^H Ashbery's curiosity about a writer he read as a teenager has now led ^^^1 to a New Directions volume of all that can be found ofAlvin Levin's Novelist Alvin Levin (1914-82) began writing while in law school. His prose appeared inNew Direcj ^^l tions annuals and littlemagazines j^^H in the late 1930s and early 1940s, drawing interest from William Maxwell at the New Yorker and Nicholas Moore inEngland. Simon and Schuster found Levin's book lengthmanuscript Love Is Like Park Avenue "too 'experimental'" and hoped for something "more con ventional." For whatever reasons, Levin stopped writing. The com pletemanuscript of Love Is LikePark Avenue has not been found. IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIM 661 WorldLiterature Today ^^^H ...

Oregon Voices: Oregon Democracy: Asahel Bush, Slavery, and the Statehood Debate

3 OREGON VOICES Oregon Democracy Asahel Bush, Slavery, and the Statehood Debate by Barbara Mahoney AS EDITOR OF the Oregon States man, Asahel Bush guided Oregon's political leaders through the greatest challenge of the times ? successfully negotiating statehood within the tense national debates on slavery that led up to theCivil War. Bush's use of his newspaper as an overt political tool was not so uncommon for the times. The Dean of theGraduate School of Journalism at Columbia University recently wrote of the nineteenth century as a time when journalism was a "branch of politics."1 Another journalism scholar states the case evenmore strongly: "The newspaper press was thepolitical system's central institution, not simply a forum or atmosphere inwhich politics took place. Instead, newspapers and their editors were purposeful actors in the political process linking parties, voters, and the government together, and pursuing specific political goals."2 Through the territorial period and into statehood, Oregon demonstrated precisely that reality.Editors identified the issues, set thepolitical agenda, and dominated the players. Because of its distance from the power center of theUnited States, one might assume that the controversy over slaverywas irrelevant toOregon. It was, however, inextricably bound to Oregon's move toward statehood dur ing the 1850s.The question ofwhether Oregon would be a slave or free state was widely argued and divided the political leadership of the territory. After settlers in theOregon Territory had voted to seek statehood, admis sion to theUnion was delayed because thepro-slavery faction at thenational level feared thatOregon's entering the Union as a free statewould affect the balance of power in Congress. The newspapers and private correspon dence of the era paint a vivid picture of the dispute and its consequences and demonstrate Bush's central role in itsoutcome. The institution of slavery was well established by the timeAmerica achieved independence fromEngland. 202 OHQ vol. 110, no. 2 ? 2009 Oregon Historical Society Asahel Bush (picturedhereas an olderman) came to Oregon in 1850,at age twenty-six, to found the Oregon Statesman. As itseditor,he became a powerful voice in thepolitical lifeof theterritory and thestate. He sold the Oregon Statesman in 1863and went on tobecome a prominent bankerand businessman.He died in 1913. As the country grew, the question of slavery's expansion shaped thedebate over the admission of new states and spurred a series of congressional mandates. The Ordinance of 1787 banned slavery in the newly acquired Northwest Territory,which included the future states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, and part ofMinnesota, effectively setting the Ohio River as the northern bound ary for slavery. In 1820, theMissouri Compromise set a boundary between slave and free stateswithin the lands Mahoney, Asahel Bush, Slavery,and the Statehood Debate 203 of the Louisiana Purchase. Similarly, Congress applied the painstakingly constructed Compromise of 1850 to the landswon by theUnited States in theMexican War. Finally, theKansas Nebraska Act of 1854, fashioned by Illinois Democratic Senator Stephen A. Douglas, abolished theMissouri Compromise and established "squatter sovereignty,"whereby the inhabitants of a territory or state could decide whether or not to allow slavery. When American settlerscreated a provisional government in theOregon Territory through theOrganic Act of 1843, they approved an anti-slavery law on the basis of theOrdinance of 1787 and its prohibition of slavery in thenorthern territories.3 Meanwhile, the allure of the north Pacific coast attractedmore and more immigrants. As the population grew, theBritish andAmerican governments reached an agreement, in 1846, ending their joint occupation of the area. In 1848,theCongress established Oregon as a territoryof theUnited States. By 1850, approximately twelve thousand people had immigrated to Oregon from the East, mostly from theOhio and Mississippi valleys.4 They shared common life experiences and aspira tions and differedmarkedly from the California pioneers in that they sought promising farmland rather than gold. Their ambitions were addressed in a provision of the Organic Act, giving anyman in the territory the right to 640 acres without having to pay for them.While successful in attracting new settlers, the provision created numerous uncertainties until itwas confirmed by the Oregon Donation Land Law, passed by Congress in 1850. The key figure in the passage of the 1850 legislation was Samuel R...

Upward Mobility and Higher Education: Mining the Contradictions in a Worker Education Program

to white collar employment in this coun try. Yet, the expansion of higher education access and degree attainment has created greater expectations for upward mobil ity than the job market can bear (Anyon, 2005; Carnoy & Levin, 1985; Lafer, 2002; Nasaw, 1979). In the last decades, institu tions of higher education have consis tently produced a greater supply of college graduates than available middle class jobs. As the number of college graduates has outpaced careers requiring college level skills, many college graduates end up performing work for which only a high school education is necessary. Increasing numbers of college graduates not only work beneath their educational qualifica tions, but many of those with a bachelor s By Emily Schnee degree earn close to the minimum wage (Levin-Waldman, 1999 cited in Anyon). Hence, the contradiction of unfulfilled expectations is a more widespread phe nomenon than popularly believed (Carnoy & Levin, 1985; Clark, 1960). Using the unfulfilled mobility aspira tions of adult students in a union-sup ported college worker education program (WEP) as a lens, this article aims to explore the tension between education for mobility and education for transformation. While working class students often come to higher education in pursuit of social and economic mobility, radical educa tors, like many who teach at WEP, aspire to teach for critical consciousness and social transformation. The space between these seemingly opposed intentions can be fraught with frustrations on both sides. I argue that honest and explicit consider ation of the disparity between students' mobility desires and their realistic pros pects for class mobility as a result of their degrees could heighten students' critical consciousness and increase the transfor mative potential of the worker education program. Furthermore, I posit that deeper explo ration of students' mobility aspirations reveals that these desires are more complex and nuanced than faculty may assume. Rather than a simplistic vision of higher education as fostering individual eco nomic mobility, WEP students' mobil ity desires spanned a broad spectrum of ideologies and intentions. Students sought mobility for themselves, their fam ilies, the advancement of their racial and ethnic communities, and for pursuit of socially transformative work. While the worker education programs' urban and labor studies curricula and progressive pedagogy intersected with students' lived