The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina

About: The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina is a education organization based out in Charleston, South Carolina, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Stars & Population. The organization has 526 authors who have published 1316 publications receiving 18940 citations.

Culicoides variipennis and Bluetongue Disease: Research on Arthropod-Borne Animal Diseases for Control and Prevention in the Year 2000a

Abstract: Arthropod-borne diseases cause economic losses to the livestock industries of the United States and many other countries around the world. The number of diseases is large; the number of potential arthropod vectors involved is also large. US arthropods vector vesicular stomatitis viruses, bluetongue viruses, epizootic hemorrhagic disease viruses, babesia, and anaplasma among other pathogens that are transmitted by ticks, mosquitoes, or midges. A primary goal of US research on arthropod vectors of animal pathogens is to provide strategies to reduce the consequent agricultural losses due to the diseases they cause. Of equal importance is the goal to protect US animal populations from other vector-borne diseases that have heretofore been exotic to the US. Among these are rift valley fever, akabane, African horse sickness, ibaraki, bovine ephemeral fever, heartwater, East Coast fever, as well as exotic forms of the bluetongue and epizootic hemorrhagic disease viruses. Reducing the impact of these diseases requires knowledge of the vector, the pathogen, and the host. Protecting a country from the danger of the entry of foreign pathogens requires a detailed understanding of the complex interactions of the cornponents of these disease cycles. In order to predict the risk or danger of entry of a pathogen, detailed knowledge of the underlying mechanisms of vector-pathogen, vector-host, as well as pathogen-host interactions is needed. Current knowledge and research directions involving bluetongue disease in the US provide an appropriate model with which to explore the major issues confronting arthropod-borne disease research elsewhere in the world. The issues related to providing for the health of US animal populations are instructive for other countries. A

The Role of Posttraumatic Growth in a Randomized Controlled Trial of Cognitive-Behavioral Conjoint Therapy for PTSD.

Abstract: Posttraumatic growth (PTG) is defined as a positive psychological change that can emerge following a traumatic life event. Although documented in noninterventional studies of traumatized individuals, there are scant data on the potential for therapy to induce or improve PTG. Thus, the primary goal of this study was to examine changes in PTG in a controlled trial of cognitive-behavioral conjoint therapy for posttraumatic stress disorder versus waitlist (CBCT for PTSD; Monson & Fredman, 2012). We also examined whether pretreatment relationship satisfaction and PTSD symptomatology moderated change in PTG. There were 40 couples (75% with a female partner with PTSD) who were randomized to either immediate CBCT for PTSD or a 3-month waitlist (WL). Compared to WL, individuals who received treatment immediately demonstrated a significant increase in PTG. There was a moderate effect size between-group difference (Hedge's g = 0.45). There was a nonsignificant relationship with a moderate effect size (Hedge's g = 0.65) for the positive effect of pretreatment relationship satisfaction on the trajectory of PTG, but no effect of pretreatment PTSD symptoms. Results suggested that CBCT for PTSD facilitated PTG, even with a limited focus on PTG in this conjoint intervention. Future research should target PTG as a treatment goal and further examine the role of close others in facilitating development of PTG.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon contamination in stormwater detention pond sediments in coastal South Carolina

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to characterize the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) contamination in the sediments of stormwater detention ponds in coastal South Carolina. Levels of the sum of PAH analytes were significantly higher in the sediments of commercial ponds compared to that of reference, golf course, low-density residential, and high-density residential ponds. Isomer ratio analysis suggested that the predominant source of PAHs were pyrogenic; however, many ponds had a PAH signature consistent with mixed uncombusted and combusted PAH sources. PAH levels in these sediments could be modeled using both pond drainage area and pond surface area. These results demonstrate that the sediment from most commercial ponds, and a few residential and golf course ponds, were moderately contaminated with PAHs. PAH levels in these contaminated ponds exceeded between 42% and 75% of the ecological screening values for individual PAH analytes established by US EPA Region IV, suggesting that they may pose a toxicological risk to wildlife.

African Solutions for African Problems: The Changing Face of African-Mandated Peace Operations

Abstract: At independence, African states found themselves with poor prospects for sustained economic growth. Most exported primary commodities whose values were determined by world markets. The new states inherited colonial boundaries that grouped many diverse ethnicities into single artificial countries. These internal differences among the population often resulted in civil wars leading to even greater economic and social misery for the people. Conflict and misery in one state tended to spill over into its neighbors’ due to refugees, trans-border movement of guerrilla groups, the disruption of transportation routes, or the involvement of external governments in the “internal affairs” of another country. African leaders realize that conflict in one state affects many more states on its borders. What solutions are available to manage conflict within Africa? Peace negotiations supported by peace operations are important tools in the conflict management process. Peace operations are an umbrella for the more familiar peacekeeping and peace enforcement missions. Peace operations are normally mandated by an international organization, tend to be multinational in composition, and deploy with the intention of restoring (peace enforcement) or preserving (peacekeeping) the status quo while separate peace negotiations seek a solution among the belligerents.