3,202 research outputs found
Engaging Employers as Partners in Subsidized Employment Programs
Get PDFThe majority of studies of subsidized employment programs for public assistance recipients and low-income, unemployed individuals have focused on employment and earnings outcomes for participants. As employers are key stakeholders in a subsidized employment program, engaging them effectively is essential. This paper reports on interviews with 81 employers in four Northern California counties regarding their experiences in working with employees in a subsidized employment program. The findings focus on marketing, program structure, and suggestions for program improvement
Association Between Fire-Related Particulate Matter Exposure and Childhood Asthma in Peru: A Burden of Disease Assessment
Get PDFWe explore the connection between exposure to particulate matter from forest fire emissions in the Peruvian Amazon and pediatric asthma incidence. The bulk of research and media coverage surrounding the Amazon Rainforest fires has focused on important environmental issues, yet the direct impact that these fires have on the health of children living nearby remains underexplored. We conducted a burden of disease assessment using publicly available data to estimate the number of incident pediatric asthma cases attributable to long term exposure to ambient particulate matter smaller than 2.5 microns (PM2.5) resulting from increased forest fires in the Peruvian Amazon. Our model compares pediatric asthma burden that would have resulted from a more “typical'' fire year, such as 2009, with that from 2016, a severe fire year, by applying PM2.5 concentrations from each of those years to the same 2016 population. We estimate that 75,160 (95 % CI 28,638, 121,682) pediatric asthma cases in 2016 were attributable to PM2.5, whereas counterfactually applying the 2009 PM2.5 concentrations would have resulted in 9,636 (95 % CI 5,657, 13,615) fewer attributable cases. Thus, our results suggest that increased forest fire emissions have led to a notable increase in pediatric asthma burden in Peru
Protective actions of des-acylated ghrelin on brain injury and blood-brain barrier disruption after stroke in mice
Get PDFThe major ghrelin forms, acylated ghrelin and des-acylated ghrelin, are novel gastrointestinal hormones. Moreover, emerging evidence indicates that these peptides may have other functions including neuro- and vaso-protection. Here, we investigated whether post-stroke treatment with acylated ghrelin or des-acylated ghrelin could improve functional and histological endpoints of stroke outcome in mice after transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAo). We found that des-acylated ghrelin (1 mg/kg) improved neurological and functional performance, reduced infarct and swelling, and decreased apoptosis. In addition, it reduced blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption in vivo and attenuated the hyper-permeability of mouse cerebral microvascular endothelial cells after oxygen glucose deprivation and reoxygenation (OGD + RO). By contrast, acylated ghrelin (1 mg/kg or 5 mg/kg) had no significant effect on these endpoints of stroke outcome. Next we found that des-acylated ghrelin's vasoprotective actions were associated with increased expression of tight junction proteins (occludin and claudin-5), and decreased cell death. Moreover, it attenuated superoxide production, Nox activity and expression of 3-nitrotyrosine. Collectively, these results demonstrate that post-stroke treatment with des-acylated ghrelin, but not acylated ghrelin, protects against ischaemia/reperfusion-induced brain injury and swelling, and BBB disruption, by reducing oxidative and/or nitrosative damage
Pre-Prandial Vinegar Ingestion Improves Two-Hour Glucose Control in Older, Type II Diabetics More Than Post-Prandial Walking
Get PDFBackground: Exercise engagement benefits diabetic patients through an insulin-like effect on muscle. Literature indicates that vinegar consumption may lower blood glucose levels. It is not currently clarified whether a relative amount of vinegar ingestion or a walking bout is more effective at controlling glucose in older, Type II diabetics during the acute phase following a meal. Purpose: The aim was to directly compare the impact of preferred-pace walking (15 min, postprandial) versus ingestion of a relative quantity of vinegar (0.3 g/kg) on two-hour glucose control. Methods: The two arms of the trial were completed in a randomized, crossover manner. Six Type II diabetic patients (Females = 5; Males = 1; Age = 70.5 ± 9.0 yrs.) enrolled and underwent baseline finger pricks to establish glucose levels. The test meal consisted of an 85 g bagel, 13 g of butter, and 237 mL of orange juice. On the respective days, the vinegar was diluted into 59 mL of orange juice and ingested before the meal or the subject completed a 15-min walk at 15 min post-meal. For both trials, glucose was checked every 30 min following the test meal. Results: One subject was removed from all present analysis due to medication-related non-compliance. For the vinegar trial, the resting heart rate was 72.0 (± 9.5) and baseline, 30-, 60-, 90-, and 120-min average blood glucose levels were: 117 (±12), 149 (±39), 172 (±49), 185 (±49), and 180 (±44) mg/dl. For the preferred walking speed phase, the resting heart rate was 75.5 (±15.6) and baseline, 30-, 60-, 90-, and 120-min average glucose levels were: 113 (±10), 147 (±53), 180 (±53), 208 (±72), and 206 (±71) mg/dl. Preferred walking speed was found to average 3.1 (± 1.5) kph and total steps averaged 1418 (±376). The between-arm comparison of glucose at 120-min trended towards significance (p = 0.081). Conclusions: Compared with a bout of walking, a relative quantity of vinegar may serve as a more suitable mechanism for older Type II diabetics to control acute spikes in glucose after a high carbohydrate meal. With an adequately-powered analysis, between-arm comparisons at multiple time-points would likely have achieved statistical significance. Nevertheless, the meaningfulness of the glucose control exhibited should not be lost due to the lack of statistical significance. Finally, the slow absolute preferred walking pace of many older adults may undermine the ability for walking to result in sufficient energy expenditure capable of subsequent glucose control
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