Everyday Ecologies in the Writings of Georgia Authors Tina McElroy Ansa, Melissa Fay Greene, Mary Hood, and Janisse Ray

Four Georgia women authors focus on different but equally important components of life: the natural environment of Janisse Ray, relationships in Mary Hood, culture in Tina McElroy Ansa, and sociological history in Melissa Fay Greene. While the focus of the writings by these authors overlap, their various approaches examined together reveal the essential areas where contemporary society has lost its way. All four argue how not to live by pointing out examples of negative actions and the consequences of human carelessness. Through compelling stories, these four authors show us how to preserve and improve our environment, our relationships, our culture, and our history. Ansa, Greene, Hood, and Ray are all from Georgia and write about both Georgia and the world from the perspective of contemporary Georgia. However, these four authors do not defend or deny the atrocities of the South but rather attempt to make reparations through better ideas, improved behavior, and a portrayal of southern places and people that acknowledges the wrongs of present and past and brings healing and growth to humans and to the environment. What unites all four authors is their dual purpose and more importantly a dual positive effect. Readers are entertained, but they are also motivated to act more consciously in their own relationships and in their environments. All four authors promote the theme of nurture and care, often by revealing real people or characters who are careless or who fail to nurture

Development and characterisation of selective ion or molecular receptors

The research entailed the Synthesis and Charactensation of a range of Molecular Receptors The target receptor was a calix[4]arene denvative, possessing a tetrahedral ’pocket’ at the lower rim defined by four p endant ligating groups, with opposing groups differing in length To achieve this, the spacer units in th e 1,3 positions of th e calixarene must differ in length than the spacer units in th e 2,4 positions by a single methylene spacer, thus generating a selective 3 - dimensional binding site. LC-UV-MS analysis of the products of the denvatisation of p-t-butyl calix[4]arene with ethyl bromo acetate has been earned out in order to optimise the synthesis of th e 1,3 disubstituted product LC-DAD and LC-UV-MS methods have been developed to successfully identify and characterise the compounds being formed in these complex reactions Obtaining reliable routes to partially substituted calixarene denvatives is of growing interest a s they provide a template for generating complex denvatives with mixed functionality and/or greater diversity. The synthesis has led to the generation of a series of partially substituted calix[4]arene denvatives, as well as derivatives of the tetrahedrally arranged target receptor. The various receptors have been assessed for lon-complexation properties by a number of methods, pnncipally NMR spectroscopy, an d ion-selective electrode stud ies In th e electrode measurements, the receptors are dispersed in a plasticised PVC membrane, and the lon-selectivity of the device is assessed. Patterns related to the selectivity of Group I, II ions an d a diverse group of anions have been determined The 1,3-diester produces a sensor that exhibits a Nernstian Response with a number of ions, but d o e s not reproduce th e well-known selectivity of th e calix[4]arene tetra esters Functionalisation at the 2,4 position with ethyl 3-bromopropionate realises a calix[4]arene denvative with differing spatial a rran g em en ts of differing binding sites, a novel diacid, d ieste r calix[4]arene denvative (fig 1) This will provide a unique platform for building a new s e n e s of calix[4]arene receptors with tetrahedral rather than an octahedral arrangement of binding site

Combined Authorities: A Loss of Urban Identity or Urban Imperialism?

As a result of devolution to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, the UK government has turned its attention to England, and a new legislative framework has been introduced for devolution to English local government. The latest wave of reform is focused on governance structures and a form of territorial re-scaling – the creation of combined authorities, headed by elected mayors. Combined authorities are created where groups of local councils can enter negotiations with government to agree the devolution of powers and finances through a ‘devolution deal’. This process of reshaping the institutional settings within metropolitan regions has implications for the existing political relationships and territorial identities which are being combined into new ‘super authorities’. Political relations are being tested as municipalities within these regions seek to establish new institutions within which they can effectively govern within their own localities but also jointly across multiple geographical boundaries. There is also a question mark hanging over where the balance of power should lie within combined authorities, where different tiers of local government and different territorial interests (urban and suburban/rural) will have decision-making capacity. At the same time, existing territorial identities are also being tested, as these quasi-regional governing entities are established and senses of place are challenged

America\u27s heath care crisis

Currently, in the United States health care is a matter of great moral, social and political significance. A rising number of uninsured and underinsured are excluded from medical services, charged more for medical services and die because they do not receive or cannot afford timely care. There is a growing movement to overturn the current health care system. Should every citizen have a right to health care? What type of health care system is best – single-payer, socialized or market-based? What type of health care system can we, as a country, afford? In this paper we analyzed the historical origins and influences, which led to the development of our current market-based system. Our paper also examines the way the current health care systems function and explores the systems of Germany, Canada and Cuba as a way of providing a basis for thinking about health care reform in the United States. We hope to provide our readers with information that informs their deliberations about health care

An International Systematic Review Concerning the Effect of Social Media Exposure on Public Compliance with Infection Prevention and Control Measures During the COVID-19 Pandemic

This document is the Accepted Manuscript version of a published work that appeared in final form in [Journal of Infection Prevention]. To access the final edited and published work see https://doi.org/10.1177/17571774231159574.Background Effective health communication is crucial for achieving positive population health outcomes. This is important for infection prevention and control (IPC), which relies on widespread public compliance to be effective. Whilst social media (SM) platforms disseminate health information, there is conflicting evidence to suggest their influence on compliance with public health guidelines. Objective To appraise the available evidence and determine the extent to which social media exposure contributes to public compliance with IPC measures. Methods A systematic protocol based on the MOOSE and PRISMA guidelines was followed. Observational studies were identified through systematic searches of four electronic databases and a hand search. Following data extraction, eligible studies were quality assessed, and the findings were integrated using narrative synthesis. Findings 15 studies were included. The studies located presented heterogeneous designs and findings. A weak positive association was identified, with 60% of the studies observing a positive association between social media and compliance with IPC measures. 26.7% identified a negative correlation, and 13.3% identified no correlation. Several factors were identified to mediate the relationship, including knowledge and conspiracy beliefs. Discussion This systematic review identified a weak positive correlation between exposure to social media and public compliance with recommended IPC measures, suggesting that social media should be utilised in future IPC related communication strategies. Social media provides a cost-effective, publicly accessible platform to disseminate accurate information, and neutralise misinformation. Recommendations are made for further research to reduce the uncertainty created by the identification of heterogenous studies

Functional Land Management: Bridging the Think-Do-Gap using a multi-stakeholder science policy interface

peer-reviewedFunctional Land Management (FLM) is proposed as an integrator for sustainability policies and assesses the functional capacity of the soil and land to deliver primary productivity, water purification and regulation, carbon cycling and storage, habitat for biodiversity and recycling of nutrients. This paper presents the catchment challenge as a method to bridge the gap between science, stakeholders and policy for the effective management of soils to deliver these functions. Two challenges were completed by a wide range of stakeholders focused around a physical catchment model—(1) to design an optimised catchment based on soil function targets, (2) identify gaps to implementation of the proposed design. In challenge 1, a high level of consensus between different stakeholders emerged on soil and management measures to be implemented to achieve soil function targets. Key gaps including knowledge, a mix of market and voluntary incentives and mandatory measures were identified in challenge 2.This work was in part conducted under the Soil Quality Assessment Research (SQUARE) Project, Reference No: 13S468 funded by the Irish Government under the National Development Plan 2007–2013. This study was completed as part of the LANDMARK (LAND Management: Assessment, Research, Knowledge Base) project. LANDMARK has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under Grant Agreement No. 635201. This work has also received funding as part of the SoilCare project from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Programme for research, technological development and demonstration under Grant Agreement No. 677407

Treatment for femoroacetabular impingement : a qualitative method for exploring equipoise amongst hip arthroscopy surgeons

R : URGENT The published literature suggests uncertainty about whether operative or nonoperative treatments are best for femoroacetabular impingement (FAI). Without the same level of uncertainty (equipoise) amongst surgeons, a RCT will be challenging. A qualitative study was conducted to explore the level of equipoise amongst arthroscopic FAI surgeons. In phase 1, 14 hip arthroscopy surgeons were interviewed and asked to make treatment decisions based on real life cases that included actively recruiting patients to a theoretical RCT. In phase 2, 9 hip arthroscopy hip surgeons participating in a pilot RCT were interviewed about their experiences so far of taking part in a pilot RCT. Five surgeons took part in both phase 1 and 2. Sixteen (89%) surgeons believed that they were in equipoise and that a RCT was required to generate superior scientific evidence and guidelines for the care. Despite this 5 (36%) surgeons showed a lack of active clinical equipoise when faced with real life case scenarios or discussing involvement with a pilot RCT. Some of the reasons behind surgeons’ lack of equipoise, ranged from lack of belief in the FAI pathology, to personal enthusiasm and gut instinct about the efficacy of surgery on one hand; but conservatism on the other. Although many would like a RCT to guide care, there may be particular challenges amongst this same population when actively recruiting patients to a RCT. Qualitative methodology can be used to help design surgical RCTs and address any subsequent difficulties with recruitment

Stepping up to levelling up

Leaders across England are establishing new teams to tackle the major challenge and opportunities created by the levelling up agenda

Infectious diarrhea in tourists staying in a resort hotel.

An outbreak of infectious diarrhea with 70 laboratory-confirmed cases (58 with Giardia lamblia) and 107 probable cases occurred in U.K. tourists who stayed in a hotel in Greece. After a cluster of six cases in persons who had stayed at the hotel was reported, the Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre began active case ascertainment. This outbreak illustrates the value of an approach to surveillance that integrates routine surveillance data with active case ascertainment