From Our Poor to Personal Responsibility : Changing Welfare Rhetoric in Political Party Platforms of the Carolinas and the Nation, 1950-2005

In this thesis, I track political rhetoric surrounding poverty and welfare from 1950-2005. I first provide thorough context on the history of welfare policy in the United States and the way these issues were framed by politicians leading up to the period my data covers. My analysis centers on 108 political party platforms from the national Republican and Democratic parties and from state parties in North and South Carolina, ranging from 1950 to 2005 (31 of which I located in archives and manually digitized for the first time ever). I explain the significance of party platforms and review the literature on the framing of poverty and welfare that has shaped my analysis. Using a mixed-methods approach, I combine historical qualitative analysis with quantitative automated text analysis to identify rhetoric shifts. I find a stark shift from platforms discussing poverty as a collective, societal issue to be remedied by government intervention (a “thematic framing”) to, in the early 1980’s, discussing poverty as an individual problem that should be solved not through government programs but through work and personal responsibility (an “episodic framing”). This shift occurs top-down, from the national party and followed by the state parties, for Republicans. For Democrats, North Carolina and South Carolina Democrats adopt an episodic framing sooner than the national party. Additionally, I find Republicans and Democrats both using the term “poverty” more in periods where they are “winning” on the issue. I also find that, in the headings for “welfare” sections of party platforms, the two parties use the term “opportunity” in mirroring ways, with Democrats using the language of “opportunity” in the 1960’s, but Republicans picking up the term in the 1980’s and 90’s. My research contributes to the growing base of literature on state party platforms and the study of how state parties interact with the national parties over time, particularly in this period of partisan realignment in the South

'If I cannot access services then there is no reason for me to test': the impact of health service charges on HIV testing and treatment amongst migrants in England

Policy governing entitlement to access government health care for foreign nationals in England is a subject of debate, controversy and confusion. Of particular concern to health providers has been the impact of National Health Service charges on delaying HIV testing and anti-retroviral treatment uptake and adherence amongst certain migrant groups. Data obtained through focus groups with 70 migrants from southern Africa, suggest that confusion over health care entitlements exists amongst those seeking health care and is reported amongst health service providers. This confusion, as well as financial difficulties and fears over deportation facing some migrants, can in turn be a factor influencing their decisions to avoid formal health services, resort to alternative and often ineffective or potentially adverse forms of therapy, and delay HIV testing and treatment uptake

Perceived Economic Impact of Religious Tourism: The Case of Zimbabwe

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to assess the perceived economic impact of religious tourism in Zimbabwe. The research objectives were (1) to determine the nature of religious tourism in Zimbabwe, (2) to determine the key success factor for economically viable religious tourism in Zimbabwe, (3) to ascertain the perceived economic contribution of religious tourism, and finally (4) to propose strategies for economically sustainable religious tourism in Zimbabwe. Methods: The research adopted a qualitative approach and was descriptive in nature. The study focused on Harare and the study population was made up of a cross-section of tourism service providers in Harare, religious leaders, and the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority. Purposive sampling was used for service providers and as well as religious leaders. Results: The research findings revealed that there are a lot of religious tourism activities that take place in Zimbabwe, particularly Harare, and normally take the form of pilgrimages, religious conferencing, healing and deliverance nights, and worship. The perceived economic value derived includes employment creation for the locals, an increase in foreign currency generation, and an increase in sales revenue. The research findings also show that for religious tourism to be economically sustainable there is a need for government involvement, re-packaging of the product, and investment in local infrastructure. Implications: Zimbabwe Tourism Authority and the private sector need to take the religious tourism market seriously and make deliberate efforts to harness this growing market

Patrones de actividad y abundancias estacionales del Flamenco Andino (Phoe-nicoparrus andinus) en dos humedales contrastantes en Argentina

El Flamenco Andino utilizade forma complementaria y alternativa humedales altoandinos de Argentina, Bolivia, Chile y Perú,además de humedales en las tierras bajas de Argentina. Estudios previos se enfocaron en su com-portamiento en sitios andinos, pero no existen al momento estudios de este tipo en sitios de tierrasbajas. Debido a esto, el objetivo del estudio fue analizar los patrones de actividad, de despliegues decortejo y abundancias de esta especie de flamenco en dos humedales contrastantes. Los sitios de es-tudio fueron: la Laguna de Vilama, en el noroeste de Argentina y a 4500 m s.n.m., la cual es utilizadaen el verano durante el período reproductivo; y la Laguna Melincué, en la planicie del centro-este deArgentina y a 84 m s.n.m., que es utilizada durante el período no reproductivo invernal. Entre sitios yentre años hubo marcadas diferencias en la abundancia y en los patrones de actividad. En la Lagunade Vilama, los flamencos se alimentaron durante la mayor parte del tiempo (95%), mientras que enla Laguna Melincué, los flamencos mostraron un rango más amplio de comportamientos, destinandosólo el 60% del tiempo a alimentarse. No registramos despliegues nupciales (marchas) en la Lagunade Vilama, mientras que en la Laguna Melincué sí registramos marchas, las cuales fueron másfrecuentes y de mayor duración en aquellos años con mayores abundancias de flamencos. Las dife-rencias en actividades entre los sitios estarían asociadas a la calidad y disponibilidad de recursos yal momento del ciclo reproductivo, donde los sitios de tierras bajas proveen hábitats críticos paralas actividades de cortejo que finalmente influyen el éxito reproductivo en los humedales de los AltosAndes.The Andean Flamingo (Phoenicoparrus andinus), one of three flamingo species in southernSouth America makes complementary and alternative use of high Andean wetlands in Argentina, Bolivia,Chile and Peru, and lowland wetlands in Argentina over its life cycle. Previous studies have focused onits behavior in Andean sites, but there are no such studies in lowland sites. Therefore, we analyzed theactivity patterns, courtship displays, and individual abundance of this flamingo species at two contrastingwetland sites, Laguna de Vilama, located at 4500 m a.s.l. in northwestern Argentina and used in summerduring the breeding season, and Laguna Melincué, a lowland wetland located at 84 m a.s.l. in the plainsof central east Argentina and used in winter during the non-breeding season. There were marked differ-ences in flamingo abundance and activity patterns between sites and years. In Laguna de Vilama, fla-mingos were feeding most of the time (95%), whereas at Laguna Melincué, flamingos showed a broaderrange of behaviors, with only a 60% of time spent feeding. We did not record marching displays atLaguna de Vilama, whereas at Laguna Melincué we recorded marching events in each of the three studyyears, being more frequent and lasting longer in the year with higher flamingo abundance. The differ-ences in behaviors at these sites are associated with resource quality and availability and with timing ofthe reproductive cycle, with lowland wetlands providing critical habitats for courtship displays that influ-ence reproductive success of this species breeding colonies in high Andean wetlands. Accepted 1 Octo-ber 2014Fil: Derlindati, Enrique Javier. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales. Instituto Geonorte; Argentina. Grupo de Conservación Flamencos Altoandinos; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Romano, Marcelo C. Grupo de Conservación Flamencos Altoandinos; Argentina. Centro de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Ambiente. Rosario; ArgentinaFil: Cruz, Nancy N.. Grupo de Conservación Flamencos Altoandinos; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales. Instituto Geonorte; ArgentinaFil: Barisón, Caterina. Grupo de Conservación Flamencos Altoandinos; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Humanidades y Ciencias; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Arengo, Felicity. Grupo de Conservación Flamencos Altoandinos; Argentina. American Museum Of Natural History; Estados UnidosFil: Barberis, Ignacio Martín. Grupo de Conservación Flamencos Altoandinos; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin

A 16-year Longitudinal Cohort Study of Incidence and Bacteriology of Necrotising Fasciitis in England

BACKGROUND: Necrotising fasciitis (NF) is a rapidly progressive, destructive soft tissue infection with high mortality. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence and mortality of NF amongst patients admitted to English National Health Service (NHS) hospitals. The secondary aims included the identification of risk factors for mortality and causative pathogens. METHODS: The Hospital Episodes Statistics database identified patients with NF admitted to English NHS Trusts from 1/1/2002 to 31/12/2017. Information on patient demographics, co-morbid conditions, microbiology specimens, surgical intervention and in-hospital mortality was collected. Uni- and multivariable analyses were performed to investigate factors related to in-hospital mortality. RESULTS: A total of 11,042 patients were diagnosed with NF. Age-standardised incidence rose from 9 per million in 2002 to 21 per million in 2017 (annual percentage change = 6.9%). Incidence increased with age and was higher in men. Age-standardised mortality rate remained at 16% over the study period, while in-hospital mortality declined. On multivariable analysis, the following factors were associated with increased risk of in-hospital mortality: emergency admission, female sex, history of congestive heart failure, peripheral vascular disease, chronic kidney disease and cancer. Admission year and diabetes, which was significantly prevalent at 27%, were not associated with increased risk of mortality. Gram-positive pathogens, particularly Staphylococci, decreased over the study period with a corresponding increase in Gram-negative pathogens, predominantly E. coli. CONCLUSION: The incidence of NF increased markedly from 2002 to 2017 although in-hospital mortality did not change. There was a gradual shift in the causative organisms from Gram-positive to Gram-negative

The hookworm Ancylostoma ceylanicum: an emerging public health risk in Australian tropical rainforests and Indigenous communities

Ancylostoma ceylanicum is the common hookworm of domestic dogs and cats throughout Asia, and is an emerging but little understood public health risk in tropical northern Australia. We investigated the prevalence of A. ceylanicum in soil and free-ranging domestic dogs at six rainforest locations in Far North Queensland that are Indigenous Australian communities and popular tourist attractions within the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area. By combining PCR-based techniques with traditional methods of hookworm species identification, we found the prevalence of hookworm in Indigenous community dogs was high (96.3% and 91.9% from necropsy and faecal samples, respectively). The majority of these infections were A. caninum. We also observed, for the first time, the presence of A. ceylanicum infection in domestic dogs (21.7%) and soil (55.6%) in an Indigenous community. A. ceylanicum was present in soil samples from two out of the three popular tourist locations sampled. Our results contribute to the understanding of dogs as a public health risk to Indigenous communities and tourists in the Wet Tropics. Dog health needs to be more fully addressed as part of the Australian Government's commitments to "closing the gap" in chronic disease between Indigenous and other Australians, and encouraging tourism in similar locations

Tobacco smoking as a risk factor for major depressive disorder : a population-based study

Background : Smoking is disproportionately prevalent among people with psychiatric illness. Aims : To investigate smoking as a risk factor for major depressive disorder. Method : A population-based sample of women was studied using case–control and retrospective cohort study designs. Exposure to smoking was self-reported, and major depressive disorder diagnosed using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM–IV–TR (SCID–I/NP). Results : Among 165 people with major depressive disorder and 806 controls, smoking was associated with increased odds for major depressive disorder (age-adjusted odds ratio (OR)=1.46, 95% CI 1.03–2.07). Compared with non-smokers, odds for major depressive disorder more than doubled for heavy smokers (>20 cigarettes/day). Among 671 women with no history of major depressive disorder at baseline, 13 of 87 smokers and 38 of 584 non-smokers developed de novo major depressive disorder during a decade of follow-up. Smoking increased major depressive disorder risk by 93% (hazard ratio (HR)=1.93, 95% CI 1.02–3.69); this was not explained by physical activity or alcohol consumption. Conclusions : Evidence from cross-sectional and longitudinal data suggests that smoking increases the risk of major depressive disorder in women

SUMO modification of Rad22, the Schizosaccharomyces pombe homologue of the recombination protein Rad52

The Schizosaccharomyces pombe rad31 and hus5 genes are required for the DNA damage response, as mutants defective in these genes are sensitive to DNA damaging agents, such as UV and ionising radiation and to the DNA synthesis inhibitor hydroxyurea (HU). Sequence analysis has suggested that rad31 and hus5 encode components of the Pmt3 (SUMO) modification process in S.pombe. We show here that the rad31 null and hus5.62 mutants display reduced levels of Pmt3 modification. We have initiated a search for proteins required for the DNA damage response, which may be modified by Pmt3 and have identified Rad22, the fission yeast homologue of the recombination protein Rad52. Purification of myc + His-tagged Rad22 protein from cells expressing HA-tagged Pmt3 identifies an 83 kDa species which cross-reacts with anti-HA antisera. We show here that Rad22 interacts with Rhp51 and Rpa70 (the fission yeast homologues of Rad51 and the large subunit of RPA, respectively), but that neither of these proteins appears to be responsible for the 83 kDa species. The 83 kDa species is observed when extracts are prepared under both native and denaturing conditions, and is also observed when myc + His-tagged Rad22 and Pmt3 are expressed at wild type levels, suggesting that Rad22 is modified by Pmt3 in vivo. We have established an S.pombe in vitro Pmt3 modification system and have shown that Rad22 and Rhp51 are modified in vitro, but that Rpa70 is not

Tuning coordination chemistry through the second sphere in designed metallocoiled coils

The metal hydration state within a designed coiled coil can be progressively tuned across the full integer range (3 → 0 aqua ligands), by careful choice of a second sphere terminal residue, including the lesser used Trp. Potential implications include a four-fold change in MRI relaxivity when applied to lanthanide coiled coils.</p