324 research outputs found
Towards a Political Economy of Social Infrastructure: Contesting âAntiâSocial Infrastructuresâ in London
In this paper, we develop a situated and intersectional urban political economy approach to social infrastructure. This approach contrasts with a growing body of liberal urban geography, which offers an optimistic account of how shared spaces afford encounter and social connection. We present four arguments about why such outcomes cannot be assumed, which are informed by a case of contested redevelopment in the London borough of Haringey. First, social infrastructures express power relations, enacting distinct visions of âthe socialâ, that are at times premised on the denigration of other forms of collective life as anti-social. Second, elite social infrastructures are increasingly central to speculative urban development, serving to procure consent for, and valorise, investment. Third, other social infrastructures are essential networks of social reproduction and survival, especially for diverse working-class communities: demolition and displacement mean infrastructural disruption. Finally, unequal political economies of social infrastructure are a realm of structural antagonism over urban citizenship (un)making
Older Adults\u27 Access to Medicaid\u27s Home-and Community-Based Services
As the U.S. population ages, the need for public policies regarding long-term care increases, as the need is unequal to demand. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore and describe the role of senior service providers (SSPs) who have dealt with health policies from being responsible for the decision-making processes of implementing federal and state guidelines in Michigan on access and wait-listing of older adults for home and community-based services (HCBS). The theoretical foundation for this study was the social construction and policy design theory. The central research question sought perceptions of SSPs as to their ability to impact the social construction for their targeted population. Data were collected via open-ended surveys that were distributed to SSPs in Michigan (n = 10). Codes and themes emerged from the manually analyzed data. Findings included the importance of getting medical help for older adults needing HCBC. Additionally, participants indicated enrollment policies should be equally applied across HCBS providers to decrease waitlists and increase access, and extended waitlist periods may not provide the services required or preferred, a problem likely to worsen as more baby boomers reach retirement age. Improving HCBS policy implementation may result in positive social change for this expanding population, baby boomers, and the remaining members of the generation that precedes them, a cohort of people that will likely double in 12 years
The Vehicle, Fall 1986
Table of Contents
Selling Poetry: Honesty with the InvestorPatrick Peterspage 2
Father\u27s Book, Jan. 1984 (A Fictional Autobiography)James T. Finneganpage 3
Pet Day in Afternoon KindergartenDan Von Holtenpage 7
Dental Dreams in the Bathroom MirrorDan Von Holtenpage 7
PhotographStephanie Eihlpage 8
SilenceJoe Hortonpage 8
SkullMichael Salempage 9
The TunnelJim Harrispage 10
Lindenwood CemeteryJean Chandlerpage 12
Into the SeaDan Seltzerpage 13
PhotographStephanie Eihlpage 13
WindowsJim Harrispage 14
Little Pieces of YouStuart Albertpage 18
Slicing the AppleAmy Callpage 19
Winter WalkLarry Mitchellpage 19
Komical KellyJohn Fehrmannpage 20
Thermal SueJohn Fehrmannpage 20
Death PoemBob Zordanipage 21
Venice, ItalySherry L. Clinepage 22
RoadkillPhil Simpsonpage 24
I Hate CowsLori Delzer, Joe Crites, Becky Michaelpage 32
Telephone Operators: 1942Jim Harrispage 33
Expiration Date 3/8/65Edward Schellpage 34
Desert FloorPatrick Peterspage 35
PhotographLawrence McGownpage 36
PhotographStephanie Eihlpage 37
Coping with NightStuart Albertpage 38
PhotographDan Mountpage 38
One On OnePatrick Peterspage 39
An Acquired TasteTina Wrightpage 40
PhotographStephanie Eihlpage 40
PhotographStephanie Eihlpage 41
When Children Are Alone, The Devil SpeaksTom Greenpage 41
BobChristy Denphypage 42
Gut & ScissorsDane Buczkowskipage 42
This Old HouseAmy Callpage 43
MortgageTina Wrightpage 43https://thekeep.eiu.edu/vehicle/1048/thumbnail.jp
The Vehicle, Fall 1986
Table of Contents
Selling Poetry: Honesty with the InvestorPatrick Peterspage 2
Father\u27s Book, Jan. 1984 (A Fictional Autobiography)James T. Finneganpage 3
Pet Day in Afternoon KindergartenDan Von Holtenpage 7
Dental Dreams in the Bathroom MirrorDan Von Holtenpage 7
PhotographStephanie Eihlpage 8
SilenceJoe Hortonpage 8
SkullMichael Salempage 9
The TunnelJim Harrispage 10
Lindenwood CemeteryJean Chandlerpage 12
Into the SeaDan Seltzerpage 13
PhotographStephanie Eihlpage 13
WindowsJim Harrispage 14
Little Pieces of YouStuart Albertpage 18
Slicing the AppleAmy Callpage 19
Winter WalkLarry Mitchellpage 19
Komical KellyJohn Fehrmannpage 20
Thermal SueJohn Fehrmannpage 20
Death PoemBob Zordanipage 21
Venice, ItalySherry L. Clinepage 22
RoadkillPhil Simpsonpage 24
I Hate CowsLori Delzer, Joe Crites, Becky Michaelpage 32
Telephone Operators: 1942Jim Harrispage 33
Expiration Date 3/8/65Edward Schellpage 34
Desert FloorPatrick Peterspage 35
PhotographLawrence McGownpage 36
PhotographStephanie Eihlpage 37
Coping with NightStuart Albertpage 38
PhotographDan Mountpage 38
One On OnePatrick Peterspage 39
An Acquired TasteTina Wrightpage 40
PhotographStephanie Eihlpage 40
PhotographStephanie Eihlpage 41
When Children Are Alone, The Devil SpeaksTom Greenpage 41
BobChristy Denphypage 42
Gut & ScissorsDane Buczkowskipage 42
This Old HouseAmy Callpage 43
MortgageTina Wrightpage 43https://thekeep.eiu.edu/vehicle/1048/thumbnail.jp
A Method for Distinctly Marking Honey Bees, Apis mellifera, Originating from Multiple Apiary Locations
Inexpensive and non-intrusive marking methods are essential to track natural behavior of insects for biological experiments. An inexpensive, easy to construct, and easy to install bee marking device is described in this paper. The device is mounted at the entrance of a standard honey bee Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera: Apidae) hive and is fitted with a removable tube that dispenses a powdered marker. Marking devices were installed on 80 honey bee colonies distributed in nine separate apiaries. Each device held a tube containing one of five colored fluorescent powders, or a combination of a fluorescent powder (either green or magenta) plus one of two protein powders, resulting in nine unique marks. The powdered protein markers included egg albumin from dry chicken egg whites and casein from dry powdered milk. The efficacy of the marking procedure for each of the unique markers was assessed on honey bees exiting each apiary. Each bee was examined, first by visual inspection for the presence of colored fluorescent powder and then by egg albumin and milk casein specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). Data indicated that all five of the colored fluorescent powders and both of the protein powders were effective honey bee markers. However, the fluorescent powders consistently yielded more reliable marks than the protein powders. In general, there was less than a 1% chance of obtaining a false positive colored or protein-marked bee, but the chance of obtaining a false negative marked bee was higher for âprotein-markedâ bees
The Long-Baseline Neutrino Experiment: Exploring Fundamental Symmetries of the Universe
The preponderance of matter over antimatter in the early Universe, the
dynamics of the supernova bursts that produced the heavy elements necessary for
life and whether protons eventually decay --- these mysteries at the forefront
of particle physics and astrophysics are key to understanding the early
evolution of our Universe, its current state and its eventual fate. The
Long-Baseline Neutrino Experiment (LBNE) represents an extensively developed
plan for a world-class experiment dedicated to addressing these questions. LBNE
is conceived around three central components: (1) a new, high-intensity
neutrino source generated from a megawatt-class proton accelerator at Fermi
National Accelerator Laboratory, (2) a near neutrino detector just downstream
of the source, and (3) a massive liquid argon time-projection chamber deployed
as a far detector deep underground at the Sanford Underground Research
Facility. This facility, located at the site of the former Homestake Mine in
Lead, South Dakota, is approximately 1,300 km from the neutrino source at
Fermilab -- a distance (baseline) that delivers optimal sensitivity to neutrino
charge-parity symmetry violation and mass ordering effects. This ambitious yet
cost-effective design incorporates scalability and flexibility and can
accommodate a variety of upgrades and contributions. With its exceptional
combination of experimental configuration, technical capabilities, and
potential for transformative discoveries, LBNE promises to be a vital facility
for the field of particle physics worldwide, providing physicists from around
the globe with opportunities to collaborate in a twenty to thirty year program
of exciting science. In this document we provide a comprehensive overview of
LBNE's scientific objectives, its place in the landscape of neutrino physics
worldwide, the technologies it will incorporate and the capabilities it will
possess.Comment: Major update of previous version. This is the reference document for
LBNE science program and current status. Chapters 1, 3, and 9 provide a
comprehensive overview of LBNE's scientific objectives, its place in the
landscape of neutrino physics worldwide, the technologies it will incorporate
and the capabilities it will possess. 288 pages, 116 figure
Modelling distributions of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus using climate, host density and interspecies competition.
Florida faces the challenge of repeated introduction and autochthonous transmission of arboviruses transmitted by Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. Empirically-based predictive models of the spatial distribution of these species would aid surveillance and vector control efforts. To predict the occurrence and abundance of these species, we fit a mixed-effects zero-inflated negative binomial regression to a mosquito surveillance dataset with records from more than 200,000 trap days, representative of 53% of the land area and ranging from 2004 to 2018 in Florida. We found an asymmetrical competitive interaction between adult populations of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus for the sampled sites. Wind speed was negatively associated with the occurrence and abundance of both vectors. Our model predictions show high accuracy (72.9% to 94.5%) in validation tests leaving out a random 10% subset of sites and data since 2017, suggesting a potential for predicting the distribution of the two Aedes vectors
A Variant of TNFR2-Fc Fusion Protein Exhibits Improved Efficacy in Treating Experimental Rheumatoid Arthritis
Etanercept, a TNF receptor 2-Fc fusion protein, is currently being used for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, 25% to 38% of patients show no response which is suspected to be partially due to insufficient affinity of this protein to TNFα. By using computational protein design, we found that residue W89 and E92 of TNFR2 were critical for ligand binding. Among several mutants tested, W89Y/E92N displayed 1.49-fold higher neutralizing activity to TNFα, as compared to that of Etanercept. Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) based binding assay revealed that the equilibrium dissociation constant of W89Y/E92N to TNFα was 3.65-fold higher than that of Etanercept. In a rat model of collagen-induced arthritis (CIA), W89Y/E92N showed a significantly better ability than Etanercept in reducing paw swelling and improvement of arthritic joint histopathologically. These data demonstrate that W89Y/E92N is potentially a better candidate with improved efficacy in treating RA and other autoimmune diseases
Fear and loathing in the Caribbean: three studies of fear and cancer screening in Brooklyn's immigrant Caribbean subpopulations
Background: Anxiety, worry, and fear are among the most common emotional responses to the threat of disease and several studies have linked various fears to cancer preventive and detection behaviors. Cancer-related worry and fears about screening or its consequences are also characteristics that vary across ethnic groups and may be differentially linked to screening outcomes 1. Limiting the utility of this growing literature are at least two key considerations. First, little attention has been paid to documenting variation in cancer-related fears among subpopulations of persons of African descent, despite evidence that (a) rates of screening may vary among both male 2 and female 3 immigrants from islands in the Caribbean living in the United States and (b) incidence rates for cancers such as those of the prostate may be very high in men from Jamaica 4, Guadaloupe 5 and Trinidad and Tobago 6, as well as in immigrant groups in both the United Kingdom 7 and United States 8. Second, findings regarding the relations anxiety, cancer worry, and screening fear hold with screening behavior seen thus far have been inconsistent, in our view because anxieties stemming from different sources have different relations with behavior. In the emotions theory view, understanding the role of fear in health behavior in diverse groups is predicated on understanding the object or source of the fear 91011 for the simple reason that anxiety motivates avoidance of particular elicitors 1012. Research conducted within the U54 Comprehensive Cancer Partnership between Long Island University and Columbia University has produced several studies documenting differences in breast and prostate cancer screening frequencies among Caribbean subpopulations living in Brooklyn, New York 11213. A major concentration in this program of behavioral research has investigated whether trait anxiety, cancer worry, and screening-related fears vary across Caribbean subpopulations and whether these highly differentiated emotional responses independently predict screening behavior in multivariate models 12121314. Consistent with theory, we expected that fears pertaining to the screening context (e.g., fear of pain or the psychological implications of certain screens), would predict avoidance of the fear-inducing situation and thus be associated with less frequent screening. Conversely, where fears relate to the disease itself, greater fear should predict more frequent screening. Methods: Because of our overarching interest in the links between cancer and cancer-screening-related fears and cancer screening behaviors among the diverse groups of men and women living in Brooklyn, New York, we combined data from three community-based studies. Although measures and samples varied somewhat across studies, each study investigated the link between emotions and screening outcome in ethnic groups that included immigrants from islands in the Caribbean. Because of our interest in examining differences within traditional racial categories, we used a combination of (a) self-categorization based on a the traditional racial categories offered in the US Census together with (b) information regarding country of origin. Allowing a combination of self-reported racial categorization (tapping aspects of identity and minority status) in concert with shared birthplace to influence groupings increases the likelihood that participants share cultural and developmental characteristics thought to form part of ethnicity 15. We distinguished between Black men born in the United States (hereafter, U.S.-born African Americans), and those originating from countries in the English-speaking Caribbean (e.g., Trinidad & Tobago, Jamaica, Barbados). Immigrant and non-immigrant minority groups were contrasted with men self-identifying as "European or White/Non-Hispanic" who were born in the United States (hereafter, U.S.-born European American). In Study 1, stratified cluster-sampling was used to recruit 1364 women (aged between 50â70 years) from six ethnic groups: US-born African American, US-born European American, immigrants from islands in the English-speaking Caribbean (Jamaica, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago), the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and Eastern Europe 1. In Study 2, 180 US-born African American, US-born European American and immigrant Jamaican men (aged between 40â70 years) were recruited using convenience sampling 13. In Study 3, 533 men (aged between 45â70 years) from four groups â US-born African American, US-born European American, and immigrant men from Jamaica and from Trinidad and Tobago â were recruited 12. In each study, participants provided background data, reported on screening history for either breast or prostate cancer, and completed a measure of trait anxiety, cancer worry, and/or screening fears. Results: As expected, we found differences among groups of African descent from the United States and the Caribbean. Although women from all groups screened at rates below those recommended, data from Study 1 showed that English-speaking Caribbean, Haitian and Dominican women screened less frequently than US-born African Americans and European Americans and that immigrant Eastern European women were also infrequent screeners (see Figure 1). Conversely, however, there were no differences in rates of self-reported prostate screening among men from the English-speaking Caribbean, US-born African Americans, or US-born European Americans in either Study 2 or Study 3. As expected, cancer-related emotional characteristics also varied across subpopulations (see Figure 2). Cancer worry was generally lower among women from the various Caribbean immigrant groups (Study 1) than it was among US-born African Americans or US-born European Americans. Fears regarding screening, however, varied somewhat differently. Fear of screening was higher among US-born African Americans and immigrant men from the English-speaking Caribbean (Studies 2 and 3) than among US-born European Americans. Consistent with the need to carefully measure fear-related constructs in the context of cancer behavior, however, our data also demonstrated that a specific fear related to concerns regarding threats to masculinity in the context of male screening strongly characterized the attitudes of men from the English-speaking Caribbean compared to the views of US-born European and US-born African Americans (Study 2). Finally, a combination of multiple regression and ANOVAs in each study showed that emotional characteristics independently predicted screening, in most cases even when background characteristics were controlled. Across studies, greater cancer worry predicted more frequent screening while fear of screening predicted less frequent screening. Figure 1 Number of cancer screens in prior 10 years Number of cancer screens in prior 10 years. DRE = digital rectal examination, PSA = prostate specific antigen test, Mamm = mammogram, CBE = clinical breast exam. Figure 2 Emotion characteristics related to screening Emotion characteristics related to screening. Trait = trait anxiety, Worry = cancer worry, Scr. Fr. = screening fear, and Em. Con. = emasculation concern. Conclusion: Data from three large-scale studies in Brooklyn, New York suggest that members of immigrant Caribbean subpopulations screen for breast and prostate cancer at very low rates; in most cases lower than those of either US-born African or US-born European Americans. Groups of Caribbean men and women also vary in the emotions they report regarding cancer and the screening process, generally revealing a pattern that is predictive of poorer screening. Coupled with the fact that emotion characteristics predicted screening outcomes even when controlling for other factors, data from these three studies suggest that the emotional responses Caribbean groups place them at risk for poor screening. Interventions that address these responses may offer the prospect of improving screening frequency in these disadvantaged groups. Competing interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests. Authors' contributions: NSC and CM was involved in study design, analysis, interpretation/write up and critical revision of the manuscript. BA and DH in the analysis, interpretation and write up. AKJ, TU and LNB were involved in the interpretation and write up. PMR was part of the study design, analysis and interpretation/write up. JMM and AIN had part in the study design, analysis and critical revision whilst JSJ took part in critical revision
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