Catholic Schools, Racial Change, and Suburbanization, 1930-2000

This historical case study of the metropolitan Hartford region of Connecticut examines how Catholic schools shifted from urban to suburban spaces during the twentieth century, and points to the causal factors that left many Black and Latino Catholics behind

Ecology of endolithic lichens colonizing granite in continental Antarctica

In this study, the symbiont cells of several endolithic lichens colonizing granite in continental Antarctica and the relationships they have with the abiotic environment were analyzed in situ, in order to characterize the microecosystems integrating these lichens, from a microecological perspective. Mycobiont and photobiont cells, the majority classified as living by fluorescent vitality testing, were observed distributed through the fissures of the granite. The fact that extracellular polymeric substances were commonly observed close to these cells and the features of these compounds, suggest a certain protective role for these substances against the harsh environmental conditions. Different chemical, physical and biological relationships take place within the endolithic biofilms where the lichens are found, possibly affecting the survival and distribution of these organisms. The alteration of bedrock minerals and synthesis of biominerals in the proximity of these lichens give rise to different chemical microenvironments and suggest their participation in mineral nutrient cycling

Using collaborative review to deepen conceptual engagement?

In December 2013 the Design Research Institute at RMIT University, and CREATEC at Edith Cowan University, collaborated in a Symposium addressing the topic of ‘Digital interventions in everyday creativity’. Partly sponsored by the ARC Centre of Excellence for Creative Industries and Innovation, this Symposium was one of a Digital Interventions series organised by Professor Sarah Pink of RMIT. The Call for Papers noted that the symposium was to examine “how digital media are implicated in processes of change, [… interrogating] how people engage digital media in creative practices that intervene in their own and others’ lives, the intentionalities through which they do this, and the processes and experiences involved”. By the time the Symposium was held, a proposal had been accepted for a special issue of Media International Australia focussing upon the topic: ‘Digital interventions in everyday creativity’. Realising that there was already a triple engagement with the ideas raised and brought forth via (i) the Call for Papers, then (ii) canvassed at the Symposium, and (iii) written up for peer review and publication, it was decided to use a fourth set of deliberations to see if these might offer further value in deepening the relevant concepts. All authors whose articles had been accepted for publication were invited to participate in subsequent review of two other accepted papers in parallel with their addressing of reviewers’ comments. They were explicitly asked not to review the additional papers, but to reflect upon them and to see if these disparate ways of addressing the same topic might add value to their own deliberations. This paper is an account of one aspect of the research, drawing upon interviews with four authors who agreed to take part in this process and who subsequently consented to be interviewed

Cancer Pain: An Age-Based Analysis

Although cancer pain (consistent and breakthrough pain [BTP; pain flares interrupting well-controlled baseline pain]) is common among cancer patients, its characteristics, etiology, and impact on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) across the lifespan are poorly understood.This longitudinal study examines age-based differences and pain-related interference in young and old patients with cancer-related pain over 6 months. Patients in the community with stage III or IV breast, prostate, colorectal, or lung cancer, or stage II–IV multiple myeloma with BTP completed surveys (upon initial assessment, 3 and 6 months) assessing consistent pain, BTP, depressed affect, active coping ability, and HRQOL using previously validated measures.Respondents (N = 96) were 70% white and 66% female, with a mean age of 57 ± 10 years. There were no significant differences in pain severity based upon age. However, the younger group experienced more pain flares with greater frequency ( P  = 0.05). The oldest group had better emotional functioning at baseline but worse physical functioning at 6 months. Younger groups also had worse cognitive functioning at 6 months ( P  = 0.03). Pain interference was independent of age.These data provide evidence for the significant toll of cancer pain on overall health and well-being of young and old adults alike but demonstrate an increased toll for younger adults (especially financially). Beyond race and gender disparities, further health care disparities in the cancer and cancer pain were identified by age, illustrating the need for additional research across the lifespan in diverse cancer survivors.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/79337/1/j.1526-4637.2010.00957.x.pd

Physical and Psychosocial Health in Older Women with Chronic Pain: Comparing Clusters of Clinical and Nonclinical Samples

This investigation examined why some elderly women with severe pain symptoms and impairment in health status were not seen in a tertiary care pain center.Three groups of older (≥60 years) women were included in the study: women seeking chronic pain treatment at a multidisciplinary pain center (N = 49), and research volunteers from the same institution with (N = 28) and without (N = 27) chronic pain. A clustering classification technique was used to identify clusters of older women with similar physical and mental health status.We found three clusters: 1) a healthy cluster (cluster 1: mostly nonclinical women); 2) a cluster with very poor physical and mental health status (cluster 3); and 3) a cluster with low physical health but average mental health (cluster 2). Although only cluster 1 had significantly higher physical health ( P  < 0.001), all three clusters had different mental health ( P  < 0.001). Within cluster 2, clinical women had more pain than nonclinical women, but within cluster 3, this was not so, indicating that mental health issues may create an obstacle to women having their pain appropriately assessed and treated.Our findings support that while disability and pain severity contribute to specialized pain services usage among older women, there is a subgroup of people not receiving pain care for whom these pain symptoms are similar. Further studies are needed to assess the role of health-seeking behavior, coping preferences, referral patterns, and patient–physician communication on access to tertiary pain care for older women.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/79094/1/j.1526-4637.2010.00803.x.pd

Cancer and Breakthrough Pain's Impact on a Diverse Population

Background.  Although breakthrough pain (BTP; pain flares interrupting well-controlled baseline pain) is common among patients with cancer, its prevalence, characteristics, and impact on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) are poorly understood in ethnic minorities. Methods.  This comparative study examines ethnic and gender differences in BTP characteristics and impact on HRQOL. Patients with stage III or IV cancer of the breast, prostate, colorectal, or lung, or stage II–IV multiple myeloma with BTP completed surveys (upon initial assessment, 3 months, and 6 months) assessing consistent pain, BTP, depressed affect, active coping ability, and HRQOL. Results.  Respondents (N = 96) were 75% white, 66% female with a mean age of 56 ± 10 years. All subjects experienced significant psychological distress, but there were no racial differences in depression prevalence. Minorities reported significantly greater severity for consistent pain at its worst ( P  = 0.009), least ( P  ≤ 0.001), on average ( P  = 0.004), and upon initial assessment ( P  = 0.04) as well as greater severity for BTP at its worst ( P  = 0.03), least ( P  = 0.02), and at initial assessment ( P  = 0.008). Although minorities reported more flare types (3.0 vs 1.8, P  = 0.001), there were no significant ethnic differences in the duration, quality, or location of pain flares. Minorities consistently reported poorer outcomes on each HRQOL subscale (physical, role, emotional, cognitive, and social functioning) measured, although not statistically significant, as well as poorer QOL symptom control ( P  = 0.08) including lower dyspnea control ( P  = 0.002). Conclusions.  Overall, minorities experienced greater consistent and breakthrough pain as well as poorer HRQOL. These data suggest further health care disparities in the cancer and pain experience for minorities.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/72924/1/j.1526-4637.2009.00564.x.pd

Refugees’ dreams of the past, projected into the future

This article is about refugees’ and migrants’ dreams of home and family and stems from an Australian Research Council Linkage Grant, “A Hand Up: Disrupting the Communication of Intergenerational Welfare Dependency” (LP140100935), with Partner Organisation St Vincent de Paul Society (WA) Inc. (Vinnies). A Vinnies-supported refugee and migrant support centre was chosen as one of the hubs for interviewee recruitment, given that many refugee families experience persistent and chronic economic disadvantage. The de-identified name for the drop-in language-teaching and learning social facility is the Migrant and Refugee Homebase (MARH). At the time of the research, in 2018, refugee and forced migrant families from Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan constituted MARH’s primary membership base. MARH provided English language classes alongside other educational and financial support. It could also organise provision of emergency food and was a conduit for furniture donated by Australian families. Crucially, MARH operated as a space in which members could come together to build shared community

Coquette

Illustration of woman sitting on tree branch with flower hat in her hands; Photograph of Heller and Rileyhttps://scholarsjunction.msstate.edu/cht-sheet-music/9099/thumbnail.jp

Development, validation and implementation of radio-HPLC methods for the P2X7-receptor-targeted [11C]GSK1482160 radiopharmaceutical

A radio-analytical RP-HPLC method was developed and validated to support production of the P2X7-receptor-targeted [11C]GSK1482160 radiopharmaceutical. Method validation included characterization of retention times, peak shapes, linearity, accuracy, precision, selectivity, limits of detection and quantitation (UV signal), radiochemical stability, as well as analytical method range and robustness. The validated radio-HPLC method is suitable for the definition of [11C]GSK1482160 radiochemical identity, radiochemical purity, as well as molar activity, and is being employed in support of human studies with [11C]GSK1482160

The Impact of Sexual or Physical Abuse History on Pain‐Related Outcomes Among Blacks and Whites with Chronic Pain: Gender Influence

Objectives.  Physical and sexual abuses commonly co‐occur with chronic pain. We hypothesized that: 1) abuse history questions would form distinct factors that relate differently to pain perceptions and pain outcomes; 2) abuse history consequences on physical and mental health differ by gender; and 3) different abuse types and age of occurrence (childhood vs adolescent/adulthood) predict different negative outcomes. Methods.  Chronic pain patients at a tertiary care pain center provided data (64% women, 50% black) through a confidential survey. Factors were formed for abuse type and age. Linear regression, controlling for socio‐demographic information, was used to examine the relationship between abuse and abuse by sex interactions with pain‐related outcomes. Results.  Six 3‐item abuse factors (α = 0.77–0.91)—sexual molestation, sexual penetration, and physical abuse—were identified in both childhood and adulthood. Lifetime prevalence of abuse was 70% for men and 65% for women. Women experienced lower physical abuse ( P  = 0.01) in childhood, and higher penetration ( P  = 0.02) in adulthood. Decreased general health was associated with all abuse types ( P  < 0.05) in childhood. Affective pain was associated with all childhood abuse scales and adulthood molestation, though childhood molestation only for men ( P  = 0.04). Disability was associated with childhood ( P  = 0.02) and adulthood rape ( P  = 0.04). Men with childhood or adulthood molestation ( P  = 0.02; P  = 0.02) reported higher post‐traumatic stress disorder. Conclusions.  Our study confirms physical and mental health, and pain‐related outcomes are affected by abuse history for men and women. These results support screening all patients for abuse to improve the survivor's overall health and well‐being.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/90270/1/j.1526-4637.2011.01312.x.pd