What Does Subjective Socioeconomic Status Measure and Why Does it Predict Health So Well?

Socioeconomic status (SES) is robustly associated with myriad health outcomes. Each step up in SES is associated with improved health, a phenomenon known as the SES-health gradient (Adler et al., 2014). The SES-health gradient is found when SES is measured via objective indicators, or when SES is measured subjectively such as with the MacArthur Scale of Subjective Social Status (i.e., MacArthur ladder). Despite widespread usage of subjective measures of SES in health research, there are quite different interpretations of what these measures represent. In the present research we work from two competing interpretations to investigate how subjective SES and associated health measures are related to economic circumstances and non-economic social status. In a series of three correlational studies (N = 1,310) we investigated the associations between the MacArthur ladder, social status, and economic circumstances and their respective roles in the subjective SES-health gradient. We find evidence that economic circumstances and social status are distinct constructs that are both uniquely associated with the MacArthur ladder. Social status and economic circumstances also both explained the association between the MacArthur ladder and health and well-being measures. Our findings suggest that subjective SES (as measured by the MacArthur ladder) and the associated subSES-health gradient are explainable via both social status and economic circumstances.Master of Art

UNDERSTANDING THE DISTRIBUTION OF ANTI-BLACK DISCRIMINATION: A STUDY OF HIRING, HOUSING, JUDICIAL DECISIONS, AND POLICY BELIEFS

Is anti-Black discrimination concentrated among a discriminatory few or widespread across many decision-makers? This paper takes a multi-method approach to understand the distribution of discrimination in several contexts and understand how perceptions of the distribution of discrimination are linked to policy beliefs. In Study 1, meta-analyses of hiring and housing field experiments revealed anti-Black discrimination in more than 80% of studies. Simulations of widespread discrimination using a normal distribution were more consistent with these experimental data than were simulations of concentrated discrimination using a Pareto distribution. Study 2 examined the distribution of anti-Black discrimination in judges repeated sentencing decisions. Again, the distribution of discrimination was more consistent with a normal distribution than a Pareto distribution. Study 3 used choice-based conjoint analysis and found no evidence of widespread anti-Black discrimination in a mock hiring task. Study 4 used an experimental manipulation to see how shifts in the perception of the distribution of discrimination are linked to policy beliefs. These findings suggest that discrimination is not concentrated in the behaviors of a few highly biased individuals.Doctor of Philosoph

Characterization of early and terminal complement proteins associated with polymorphonuclear leukocytes in vitro and in vivo after spinal cord injury

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The complement system has been suggested to affect injury or disease of the central nervous system (CNS) by regulating numerous physiological events and pathways. The activation of complement following traumatic CNS injury can also result in the formation and deposition of C5b-9 membrane attack complex (C5b-9/MAC), causing cell lysis or sublytic effects on vital CNS cells. Although complement proteins derived from serum/blood-brain barrier breakdown can contribute to injury or disease, infiltrating immune cells may represent an important local source of complement after injury. As the first immune cells to infiltrate the CNS within hours post-injury, polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) may affect injury through mechanisms associated with complement-mediated events. However, the expression/association of both early and terminal complement proteins by PMNs has not been fully characterized in vitro, and has not observed previously in vivo after traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI).</p> <p>Method</p> <p>We investigated the expression of complement mRNAs using rt-PCR and the presence of complement proteins associated with PMNs using immunofluroescence and quantitative flow cytometry.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Stimulated or unstimulated PMNs expressed mRNAs encoding for C1q, C3, and C4, but not C5, C6, C7 or C9 in culture. Complement protein C1q or C3 was also detected in less than 30% of cultured PMNs. In contrast, over 70% of PMNs that infiltrated the injured spinal cord were associated with C1q, C3, C7 and C5b-9/MAC 3 days post-SCI. The localization/association of C7 or C5b-9/MAC with infiltrating PMNs in the injured spinal cord suggests the incorporation or internalization of C7 or C5b-9/MAC bound cellular debris by infiltrating PMNs because C7 and C5b-9/MAC were mostly localized to granular vesicles within PMNs at the spinal cord epicenter region. Furthermore, PMN presence in the injured spinal cord was observed for many weeks post-SCI, suggesting that this infiltrating cell population could chronically affect complement-mediated events and SCI pathogenesis after trauma.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Data presented here provide the first characterization of early and terminal complement proteins associated with PMNs in vitro and in vivo after SCI. Data also suggest a role for PMNs in the local internalization or deliverance of complement and complement activation in the post-SCI environment.</p

Relationship between microbial functions and community structure following agricultural intensification in South American Chaco

Intensification of agricultural systems through the use of intensive agriculture and the advance of deforestation have led to a decrease of soil biological quality. Soil functional and structural microbiota are sensitive parameters to monitor changes caused by agricultural use. Different sites under soybean monoculture (continuous soybean) and soybean/maize rotation practices were selected. Samples were collected from agricultural soils under different periods of implantation: 4-year rotation; 15-year rotation; 5-year monoculture; and 24-year monoculture (M24). A site of native vegetation recently under agricultural production (RUA) was also sampled. Native vegetation soils (NV) adjacent to agricultural sites were sampled as a control. In general, the results showed that RUA and M24 had lower enzyme activities, less microbial abundance and low physical and chemical soil quality than those subjected to crop rotation. In contrast, both the bacterial and total microbial biomasses were significantly higher in NV and crop rotation than in soils under monoculture systems. Although it was expected that differences in microbial activities would be due to changes in microbial community abundance, the results indicated that changes in soil management produced faster alterations to soil enzyme activities than any modifications induced in the microbial community structure. Consequently, both aspects of microbial diversity, namely function and structure, were affected independently by agricultural intensification.EEA SaltaFil: Perez Brandan, Carolina. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Salta; ArgentinaFil: Huidobro, Dina Jorgelina. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Salta; ArgentinaFil: Galvan, Marta Zulema. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Salta; ArgentinaFil: Vargas Gil, Silvina. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Investigación Patología Vegetal; ArgentinaFil: Meriles, Jose Manuel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal; Argentin

Evaluación de la resistencia de relleno cementado para el análisis de la estabilidad de tajeos secundarios, Unidad Minera Cerro Lindo

En el presente trabajo de investigación se planteó resolver como problema general: ¿cuál es el resultado de la evaluación de la resistencia de relleno cementado para el análisis de la estabilidad de tajeos secundarios, unidad minera Cerro Lindo - 2020?, y el objetivo general fue determinar el resultado de la evaluación de la resistencia de relleno cementado para el análisis de la estabilidad de tajeos secundarios, unidad minera Cerro Lindo – 2020 y la hipótesis general a contrastar fue: el resultado de la evaluación de la resistencia de relleno cementado a través de la resistencia de la cohesión, fricción y factor de seguridad inciden en el análisis de la estabilidad de tajeos secundarios, unidad minera Cerro Lindo – 2020. El método general de investigación fue el científico de tipo aplicada de nivel explicativo, diseño experimental. La población estuvo conformada por cinco tajeos y la muestra censal conformada por cinco tajeos. Producto de la investigación se concluye que los resultados de los parámetros de resistencia insitu del relleno cementado correlacionado a partir de los ensayos SPT, indican que el ángulo de fricción, resistencia a la cohesión y resistencia a la compresión simple; hay un leve incremento con respecto a la altura del tajeo y la resistencia vs. el tiempo de fraguado no muestra una homogeneidad. Asimismo, a partir de los 46 a 142 días de fraguado, la resistencia del relleno muestra un leve descenso

Evaluation of the osteoclastogenic process associated with RANK / RANK-L / OPG in odontogenic myxomas

Odontogenic myxoma (OM) is a benign intraosseous neoplasm that exhibits local aggressiveness and high recurrence rates. Osteoclastogenesis is an important phenomenon in the tumor growth of maxillary neoplasms. RANK (Receptor Activator of Nuclear Factor ?appa B) is the signaling receptor of RANK-L (Receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-? ligand) that activates the osteoclasts. OPG (osteoprotegerin) is a decoy receptor for RANK-L that inhibits pro-osteoclastogenesis. The RANK / RANKL / OPG system participates in the regulation of osteolytic activity under normal conditions, and its alteration has been associated with greater bone destruction, and also with tumor growth. To analyze the immunohistochemical expression of OPG, RANK and RANK-L proteins in odontogenic myxomas (OMs) and their relationship with the tumor size. Eighteen OMs, 4 small ( 3cm) and 18 dental follicles (DF) that were included as control were studied by means of standard immunohistochemical procedure with RANK, RANKL and OPG antibodies. For the evaluation, 5 fields (40x) of representative areas of OM and DF were selected where the expression of each antibody was determined. Descriptive and comparative statistical analyses were performed with the obtained data. There are significant differences in the expression of RANK in OM samples as compared to DF (p = 0.022) and among the OMSs and OMLs (p = 0.032). Also a strong association is recognized in the expression of RANK-L and OPG in OM samples. Activation of the RANK / RANK-L / OPG triad seems to be involved in the mechanisms of bone balance and destruction, as well as associated with tumor growth in odontogenic myxomas