The Erasure of Little Jamaica: Exploring the Role of Design in the Gentrification of Toronto's Eglinton Avenue West

Toronto is undergoing a series of neoliberal changes related to a large regional transit development initiative for the Greater Toronto Area and Hamilton (Freeman and Hume 2015). This has resulted in the construction of the Eglinton Crosstown LRT line and the accompanying EGLINTONconnects redevelopment plan through the Little Jamaica market area. This development signals the displacement and erasure of the marginalized and immigrant community in the Little Jamaica area and follows historical precedents of the erasure of Black spaces in Canada. Through photographs and interviews, this study explores the role of design in the gentrification of Little Jamaica by analyzing its visual artefacts for insight on how the area is produced. The findings indicate that significant differences in power dynamics between the Caribbean community and those with political power and capital affect how they use design for their benefit and are a driving force behind the displacement in the area

Industries Perspective on Healthcare: Delivery in an Uncertain Policy Future

Our panelists are here to give their Industry Perspectives. The Industry seems like it changes day to day, with everything that is happening. It is currently a moving target, in terms of where things are going and what can be expected. The discussion today will be about “what are some of the various things that have been thrown out there that might be changing the landscape of healthcare and what can practitioners think about?” and “What do we need to consider?” Hopefully can just have some good conversation about various policy proposals and pieces and parts of health care reform

‘It is still coming from the centre and coming out’:The material conditions adding to over‐bureaucratised patient and public involvement for commissioning health and care in England

Abstract Objective To understand how materiality affects patient and public involvement (PPI) for commissioning and leading health and care services in the English National Health Service (NHS) context. Context From April 2013 groups of general practitioners (GPs) became members of NHS clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) to assess needs and procure core health services for and with local communities. Since July 2022, integrated care systems (ICSs) have subsumed this responsibility. NHS reorganisations have been driven by the promise of more effective and efficient health care and have led to a long history of PPI on economic, political, and moral grounds. Few studies researching PPI in clinical commissioning exist and fewer still have explored a more agentic understanding of materiality and its impact on PPI. Study Design A focused ethnography was used to examine PPI for clinical commissioning within two CCG case study sites in England. Three CCG Governing Body lay representatives, nine GP commissioners and seven service user representatives took part in focus groups and/or were interviewed. Fifteen nonparticipant observations were also carried out at CCG meetings and the associated materiality was examined. Findings The materiality of activities involved in clinical commissioning influences and shapes the nature of PPI. These forms of materiality may dilute and subvert meaningful engagement and involvement that relies on trust, leadership, learning, and partnership working. Conclusion System leaders in ICSs should consider the significance of materiality in centrally driven processes involved in PPI commissioning to reduce barriers and ensure meaningful partnerships within local communities. Patient and Public Contribution The study design ensured PPI throughout the research process in keeping with contemporary research practice guidance. The project steering committee included service users with current or recent PPI clinical commissioning experience outside of the study sites. There was PPI involvement in the original study proposal and its development including the bid for doctoral funds on which this study is based. All were involved in assessing the rigour of the data collection, interpretation of the findings and ensuring the project remained true to the aims of the study. Two members have also participated in presentation of the study findings

Significant Phonon Drag Enables High Power Factor in the AlGaN/GaN Two-Dimensional Electron Gas

In typical thermoelectric energy harvesters and sensors, the Seebeck effect is caused by diffusion of electrons or holes in a temperature gradient. However, the Seebeck effect can also have a phonon drag component, due to momentum exchange between charge carriers and lattice phonons, which is more difficult to quantify. Here, we present the first study of phonon drag in the AlGaN/GaN two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG). We find that phonon drag does not contribute significantly to the thermoelectric behavior of devices with ~100 nm GaN thickness, which suppress the phonon mean free path. However, when the thickness is increased to ~1.2 $\mu$m, up to 32% (88%) of the Seebeck coefficient at 300 K (50 K) can be attributed to the drag component. In turn, the phonon drag enables state-of-the-art thermoelectric power factor in the thicker GaN film, up to ~40 mW m$^{-1}$ K$^{-2}$ at 50 K. By measuring the thermal conductivity of these AlGaN/GaN films, we show that the magnitude of the phonon drag can increase even when the thermal conductivity decreases. Decoupling of thermal conductivity and Seebeck coefficient could enable important advancements in thermoelectric power conversion with devices based on 2DEGs

COVID-19 vaccines and vaccine administration

This article provides an overview of current COVID-19 vaccines available within the UK, including their mode of action, storage and handling. It outlines the recommendations on priority groups for vaccination and provides insight into the training recommendations for vaccinators

The birth and life of the Pan African Thoracic Society Methods in Epidemiologic, Clinical and Operations Research (PATS MECOR) program: celebrating 15 years

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