The State of Theory in LGBTQ Aging: Implications for Gerontological Scholarship

Social research in lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) aging is a rapidly growing field, but an examination of the use of theory has not yet been conducted for its impact on the field’s direction. We conducted a systematic review of empirical articles published in LGBTQ aging in the years 2009–2017 (N = 102). Using a typology of theory use in scholarly articles, we analyzed these articles for the types of theories being used, the degree to which theories were used in each article, and the analytical function they served. We found that 52% of articles consistently applied theory, 23% implied or partially applied theory, and 25% presented as atheoretical. A wide range of theories were used and served multiple analytical functions such as concept development and explanation of findings. We discuss the strengths and weaknesses of theory use in this body of literature, especially with respect to implications for future knowledge development in the field

The role of sexual orientation, age, living arrangements and self-rated health in planning for end-of-life care for lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) older people in the UK

© The Author(s) 2020. The final, definitive version of this paper has been published in Sexualities by Sage Publications Ltd. All rights reserved. It is available at: https://doi.org/10.1177/1363460720932381.This article reports on findings from the quantitative phase of a two-year research project designed to explore end-of-life care experiences and needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. We draw on a subset of the sample (N = 180/237) to analyse the relationship between advance care planning, sexual orientation, living arrangements and self-rated health. The results contribute to a growing body of evidence on how sexual minorities approach and make decisions on advance care planning. A greater understanding of such patterns could help inform the way healthcare professionals engage in conversations about end-of-life care planning with older LGB people.Peer reviewe

How do health professionals acknowledge Web-based knowledge in pregnancy consultations?

Websites for pregnancy health are an important source of information for pregnant women, but how different cadres of health professionals value and utilize pregnant women's e-health literacy (e-HL) and Web-based knowledge in pregnancy consultations is not well understood. Using a qualitative research design and pelvic girdle pain as a tracer condition, we explored how Norwegian doctors, midwives and physiotherapists manage women's e-HL and Web-based knowledge in pregnancy consultations. The recognition of pregnant women's e-HL and Web-based knowledge differed across professional groups and produced dismissive, reactive and proactive attitudes depending on time pressure, professional identity and Internet experience

Marinbiologiske forbedringer av miljøet i Bjørvika/Bispevika. Vurdering av muligheter

Årsliste 2006Rapporten beskriver hvilke muligheter som foreligger for å forbedre det marinbiologiske miljøet i Bjørvika-/Bispevikaområdet etter at anleggsarbeider som berører vannet i området er fullført. Hensikten er å få et rikere plante- og dyreliv i området ved transplantasjon av enkelte makroalger og ålegras samt utplassering av kunstige rev spesielt konstruert til å begunstige dyrelivet (bl.a. fisk). Forholdene i området vil ikke bli like bra som i øvrige deler av fjorden, men en klar forbedring av forholdene er mulig, sammenlignet med dagens tilstand. Det forutsettes at tilførsler fra overløp og andre lokale tilførsler blir redusert ved rensetekniske tiltak. Etablering av nytt liv i området vil også kunne ha en selvrensingseffekt i tillegg til de estetiske og rekreasjonsmessige fordelene. For god gjennomføring av arbeidet er det nødvendig med pilotprosjekt for å finne frem til teknikker og gunstige substrater, samt at de enkelte artene og de kunstige revene gir forventet resultat. Kostnader for pilotprosjekt og fullskalaforsøk er anslått.Oslo Vann- og Avløpsetate

Accounting Problems Under the Excess Profits Tax

DNA vaccines based on subunits from pathogens have several advantages over other vaccine strategies. DNA vaccines can easily be modified, they show good safety profiles, are stable and inexpensive to produce, and the immune response can be focused to the antigen of interest. However, the immunogenicity of DNA vaccines which is generally quite low needs to be improved. Electroporation and co-delivery of genetically encoded immune adjuvants are two strategies aiming at increasing the efficacy of DNA vaccines. Here, we have examined whether targeting to antigen-presenting cells (APC) could increase the immune response to surface envelope glycoprotein (Env) gp120 from Human Immunodeficiency Virus type 1 (HIV- 1). To target APC, we utilized a homodimeric vaccine format denoted vaccibody, which enables covalent fusion of gp120 to molecules that can target APC. Two molecules were tested for their efficiency as targeting units: the antibody-derived single chain Fragment variable (scFv) specific for the major histocompatilibility complex (MHC) class II I-E molecules, and the CC chemokine ligand 3 (CCL3). The vaccines were delivered as DNA into muscle of mice with or without electroporation. Targeting of gp120 to MHC class II molecules induced antibodies that neutralized HIV-1 and that persisted for more than a year after one single immunization with electroporation. Targeting by CCL3 significantly increased the number of HIV-1 gp120-reactive CD8(+) T cells compared to non-targeted vaccines and gp120 delivered alone in the absence of electroporation. The data suggest that chemokines are promising molecular adjuvants because small amounts can attract immune cells and promote immune responses without advanced equipment such as electroporation.Funding Agencies|Research Council of Norway; Odd Fellow</p

Material transfer in a western Oregon forested watershed

p.233-266 from Analysis of coniferous forest ecosystems in the Western United State

Paying for performance : an analysis of output-based aid in education

Over the last decade, growing attention has been paid to emerging mechanisms for results-based financing (RBF) that seek to address the perceived shortcomings of traditional development aid and financing and improve its effectiveness through placing an emphasis on results. In 2003 the World Bank introduced the concept of output-based aid (OBA) through the Global Partnership on OBA (GPOBA) that now includes a consortium of international multilateral and bilateral donors, and in 2012 the World Bank developed a new RBF tool known as program-for-results (PforR). With OBA, service delivery is typically contracted out by the entity providing the public funds to a service provider (for example, a private enterprise, public utility, non-government organization (NGO), or community-based organization), and payments are linked to the achievement of pre-defined service performance or outputs (GPOBA). Mechanisms through which OBA may lead to improved results include: increased transparency (though explicitly linking subsidies to targets), increased accountability of service providers (as funds are disbursed only upon reaching targets), greater private sector engagement, greater opportunities for the service provider to be innovative and efficient (given autonomy provided to service providers), and improvements in monitoring systems. In 2014-2015, results for development institute (R4D) conducted a scoping study on the potential for OBA in education for GPOBA. This report provides the consolidated findings from the study which included: (i) a literature review of RBF schemes in education, (ii) a landscaping and analysis of existing OBA projects in education, and (iii) recommendations for applying OBA in the education sector moving forward

Comparison of bulk milk antibody and youngstock serology screens for determining herd status for Bovine Viral Diarrhoea Virus

BACKGROUND: This paper examines the use of Bulk Milk antibody (BM Ab), Youngstock (YS) serology (Check Tests) and Bulk Milk PCR (BM PCR) for determining the presence or absence of animals persistently infected (PI) with Bovine Viral Diarrhoea Virus (BVDV) within a herd. Data is presented from 26 herds where average herd sizes were 343 and 98 animals for dairy and beef units respectively. Seventeen herds had sufficient data to analyse using Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) and probability curves enabling calculation of the sensitivity and specificity of BM Ab and YS Check tests for determining the presence of PI animals within herds in this dataset. RESULTS: Using BM Ab to screen a herd for the presence of PI animals, achieved a herd level sensitivity and specificity of 80.00 % (44.39–97.48 %) and 85.71 % (42.13–99.64 %) respectively (95 % confidence intervals quoted). Sensitivity and specificity of YS Check Tests at a cut off of 3/10 Ab positive YS were 81.82 % (48.22–97.72 %) and 66.67 % (22.28–95.67 %) respectively (95 % confidence interval). These results were achieved by comparing the screening tests to whole herd PI searches that took place 1–19 months after the initial screen with a mean interval of 8 months. Removal of this delay by taking BM samples on the day of a whole herd test and simulating a YS Check Test from the herd test data produced improvements in the reliability of the Check Tests. BM Ab sensitivity and specificity remained unchanged. However, the Check Test sensitivity and specificity improved to 90.9 % (58.72–99.77 %) and 100 % (54.07–100 %) respectively (95 % confidence interval) at a cut of off 2.5/10 Ab positive animals. Our limited BM PCR results identified 5/23 dairy farms with a positive BM PCR result; two contained milking PIs, two had non-milking PIs and another had no PIs identified. CONCLUSIONS: Delaying a PI search following an initial herd screen decreased the diagnostic accuracy and relevance of our results. With careful interpretation, longitudinal surveillance using a combination of the techniques discussed can successfully determine farm status and therefore allow changes in BVDV status to be detected early, thus enabling prompt action in the event of a BVDV incursion