Escolas charter, escolha dos pais e segregação: Estudo longitudinal do crescimento das escolas charter e alteração dos padrões de matricula em cinco distritos escolares ao longo de 26 anos

In 1975, a court-ordered busing program was launched to desegregate the schools of New Castle County, Delaware. It was by many accounts one of the most significant and successful desegregation programs in the nation (Armor Rossell, 2002; Orfield, 2014; Raffel, 1980). In 1995, the districts of the county were declared “unitary” and the court order was lifted. Shortly thereafter, new policies were enacted allowing school choice, charter schools, and neighborhood attendance zoning. This study draws on primary and secondary data, including geographic, census, and enrollment data, and provides an account of the policy changes and a 26-year longitudinal analysis of changing enrollment trends and patterns. Segregation by race and income among schools accelerated after the policy changes. While the policy changes created greater segregation, enrollment trends varied by district and over time; segregation growth was moderate in two of the districts, small in the others. Our study illuminates the complexity of explaining segregation patterns and disentangling the contributing role of choice, charters, attendance zones, and residential demographics in explaining segregation patterns in school systems.En 1975, un programa de autobús ordenado por el tribunal fue lanzado para desagregar las escuelas del Condado de New Castle, Delaware. En los últimos años se ha convertido en una de las más importantes y exitosas programas de desagregación en la nación (Armor Rossell, 2002; Orfield, 2014; Raffel, 1980). En 1995, los distritos del municipio fueron declarados "unitarios" y el mandamiento judicial fue levantado. Poco tiempo después, nuevas políticas fueron promulgadas, permitiendo elecciones escolares, escuelas charter y zonificación de atención de vecindad. Este estudio se basa en datos primarios y secundarios, incluyendo datos geográficos, de censo y de inscripción, y proporciona una cuenta de los cambios de política y un análisis longitudinal de 26 años de cambios en las tendencias y patrones de inscripción. La segregación por raza y renta entre las escuelas se aceleró tras el cambio de política. Aunque los cambios de políticas crean mayor segregación, las tendencias de inscripción varían por distrito y con el tiempo; El crecimiento de la segregación fue moderado en dos de los distritos, pequeño en los demás. Nuestro estudio ilumina la complejidad de explicar los patrones de segregación y desenredar el papel de elección, cartas, zonas de atención y demografía residencial en la explicación de los patrones de segregación en los sistemas escolares.Em 1975, um programa de ônibus ordenado pelo tribunal foi lançado para desagregar as escolas do Condado de New Castle, Delaware. Foi por muitas contas um dos mais significativos e bem-sucedidos programas de desagregação na nação (Armor Rossell, 2002; Orfield, 2014; Raffel, 1980). Em 1995, os distritos do município foram declarados "unitários" e o mandado judicial foi levantado. Pouco tempo depois, novas políticas foram promulgadas, permitindo escolhas escolares, escolas charter e zoneamento de atendimento de vizinhança. Este estudo baseia-se em dados primários e secundários, incluindo dados geográficos, de censo e de inscrição, e fornece uma conta das mudanças de política e uma análise longitudinal de 26 anos de mudanças nas tendências e padrões de inscrição. A segregação por raça e renda entre as escolas acelerou após a mudança de política. Embora as mudanças de políticas criem maior segregação, as tendências de inscrição variaram por distrito e ao longo do tempo; O crescimento da segregação foi moderado em dois dos distritos, pequeno nos outros. Nosso estudo ilumina a complexidade de explicar os padrões de segregação e desenredar o papel de escolha, cartas, zonas de atendimento e demografia residencial na explicação dos padrões de segregação nos sistemas escolares

Neighborhood Inequalities in Retailers' Compliance With the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act of 2009, January 2014-July 2014

Introduction Retailer noncompliance with limited US tobacco regulations on advertising and labeling was historically patterned by neighborhood in ways that promote health disparities. In 2010, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) began enforcing stronger tobacco retailer regulations under the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act of 2009. However, recent research has found no differences in compliance by neighborhood characteristics for FDA advertising and labeling inspections. We sought to investigate the neighborhood characteristics associated with retailer noncompliance with specific FDA advertising and labeling inspections (ie, violations of bans on self-service displays, selling single cigarettes, false or mislabeled products, vending machines, flavored cigarettes, and free samples). Methods We coded FDA advertising and labeling warning letters (n = 718) for type of violations and geocoded advertising and labeling inspections from January 1 through July 31, 2014 (N = 33,543). Using multilevel models, we examined cross-sectional associations between types of violations and neighborhood characteristics previously associated with disparities (ie, percentage black, Latino, under the poverty line, and younger than 18 years). Results Retailer advertising and labeling violations are patterned by who lives in the neighborhood; regulated tobacco products are more likely to be stored behind the counter as the percentage of black or Latino residents increases, and single cigarettes are more often available for purchase in neighborhoods as the percentage of black, poor, or young residents increases. Conclusion Contrary to previous null findings, noncompliance with FDA advertising and labeling regulations is patterned by neighborhood characteristics, sometimes in opposite directions. Given the low likelihood of self-service violations in the same neighborhoods that have high likelihood of single cigarette sales, we suggest targeted approaches to FDA retailer inspections and education campaigns

Portfolios, Accountability, and an Interpretive Approach to Validity

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/72001/1/j.1745-3992.1992.tb00244.x.pd

Potential of lactoferrin to prevent antibiotic-induced Clostridium difficile infection

Objectives: C. difficile infection (CDI) is a global healthcare problem. Recent evidence suggests that the availability of iron may be important for C. difficile growth. This study evaluated the comparative effects of iron-depleted (1% Fe3+ saturated) bovine apo-lactoferrin (apo-bLf) and iron-saturated (85% Fe3+ saturated) bovine holo-lactoferrin (holo-bLf) in a human in vitro gut model that simulates CDI. Methods: Two parallel triple-stage chemostat gut models were inoculated with pooled human faeces and spiked with C. difficile spores (strain 027 210, PCR ribotype 027). Holo- or apo-bLf was instilled (5mg/mL, once daily) for 35 days. After 7 days, clindamycin was instilled (33.9mg/L, four times daily) to induce simulated CDI. Indigenous microflora populations, C. difficile total counts and spores , cytotoxin titres, short-chain fatty acids, biometals, lactoferrin, and iron content of lactoferrin were monitored daily. Results: In the apo-bLf model, germination of C. difficile spores occurred 6 days post-clindamycin, followed by rapid vegetative cell proliferation and detectable toxin. By contrast, in the holo-bLf model, only a modest vegetative cell population was observed until 16 days post-antibiotic. Notably, no toxin was detected in this model. In separate batch culture experiments, holo-bLf prevented C. difficile vegetative cell growth and toxin production, whereas apo-bLf and iron alone did not. Conclusions: Holo-bLf but not apo-bLf delayed C. difficile growth and prevented toxin production in a human gut model of CDI. This inhibitory effect may be iron-independent. These observations suggest that bLf in its iron-saturated state could be used as a novel preventative or treatment strategy for CDI

Pneumococcal Vaccination Guidance for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Settings: Recommendations From AMDA's Infection Advisory Committee

Efforts at preventing pneumococcal disease are a national health priority, particularly in older adults and especially in post-acute and long-term care settings (PA/LTC). The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends that all adults ≥ 65, as well as adults aged 18–64 with specific risk factors, receive both the recently introduced polysaccharide-protein conjugate vaccine against 13 pneumococcal serotypes (PCV13) as well as the polysaccharide vaccine against 23 pneumococcal serotypes (PPSV23). Nursing facility licensure regulations require facilities to assess the pneumococcal vaccination status of each resident, provide education regarding pneumococcal vaccination, and administer the appropriate pneumococcal vaccine when indicated. Sorting out the indications and timing for PCV13 and PPSV23 administration is complex, and presents a significant challenge to healthcare providers. Here, we discuss the importance of pneumococcal vaccination for older adults, detail AMDA – The Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine (The Society)’s recommendations for pneumococcal vaccination practice and procedures, and offer guidance to PA/LTC providers supporting the development and effective implementation of pneumococcal vaccine policies

Endometrial cells sense and react to tissue damage during infection of the bovine endometrium via interleukin 1

Cells generate inflammatory responses to bacteria when pattern recognition receptors bind pathogen-associated molecules such as lipopolysaccharide. Cells may also respond to tissue damage by sensing damage-associated molecules. Postpartum bacterial infections of the bovine uterus cause endometritis but the risk of disease is increased by tissue trauma triggered by dystocia. Animals that suffered dystocia had increased concentrations of inflammatory mediators IL-8, IL-1β and IL-1α in vaginal mucus 3 weeks postpartum, but they also had more bacteria than normal animals. Ex vivo organ cultures of endometrium, endometrial cells and peripheral blood monocytes did not generate inflammatory responses to prototypical damage molecules, HMGB1 or hyaluronan, or to necrotic cells; although they secreted IL-6 and IL-8 in a concentration-dependent manner when treated with IL-1α. However, necrotic endometrial cells did not accumulate intracellular IL-1α or release IL-1α, except when pre-treated with lipopolysaccharide or bacteria. Endometrial cell inflammatory responses to IL-1α were dependent on the cognate receptor IL-1R1, and the receptor adaptor protein MyD88, and the inflammatory response to IL-1α was independent of the response to lipopolysaccharide. Rather than a typical damage-associated molecule, IL-1α acts to scale the inflammatory response in recognition that there is a combination of pathogen challenge followed by endometrial cell damage