American Families, Punished for Poverty: The Criminalization of Homelessness in the United States

Criminalization takes a toll, not only on adults, but also on the growing numbers of families, children and unaccompanied youth experiencing homelessness. This issue of Making the Link reviews the increase in families, children and youth experiencing homelessness, describes the criminalization measures increasingly being enacted and enforced against homeless persons and the severe consequences of these measures, and provides policy recommendations

Market Signals Transmitted by Grid Pricing

Grid pricing improves the flow of information to producers, but market signals sent by grids may not be clearly understood. This study uses a two-stage Coefficients of Separate Determination process, four sets of fed cattle carcass data, and sensitivity analyses to identify market signals sent by grid pricing. Weight sends a stronger market signal than carcass quality characteristics such as quality and yield grade. Although grids are shaping production, market signals indicate that lower quality carcasses are penalized more than higher quality carcasses are rewarded. Sensitivity analyses suggest changes in quality and yield grade discounts have the greatest impact on market signals.beef cattle, Coefficients of Separate Determination, grid pricing, market signals, value-based marketing, Demand and Price Analysis,

Effects of Influenza Vaccine on Mortality and Cardiovascular Outcomes in Patients With Cardiovascular Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background Influenza infection causes considerable morbidity and mortality in patients with cardiovascular disease. We assessed the effects of the influenza vaccine on mortality and cardiovascular outcomes in patients with cardiovascular disease. Methods and Results We searched PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library through January 2020 for randomized controlled trials and observational studies assessing the effects of influenza vaccine on mortality and cardiovascular outcomes in patients with cardiovascular disease. Estimates were reported as random effects risk ratios (RRs) with 95% CIs. Analyses were stratified by study design into randomized controlled trials and observational studies. A total of 16 studies (n=237 058), including 4 randomized controlled trials (n=1667) and 12 observational studies (n=235 391), were identified. Participants\u27 mean age was 69.2±7.01 years, 36.6% were women, 65.1% had hypertension, 31.1% had diabetes mellitus, and 23.4% were smokers. At a median follow-up duration of 19.5 months, influenza vaccine was associated with a lower risk of all-cause mortality (RR, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.60-0.93 [P=0.01]), cardiovascular mortality (RR, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.80-0.84 [P\u3c0.001]), and major adverse cardiovascular events (RR, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.80-0.94 [P\u3c0.001]) compared with control. The use of the influenza vaccine was not associated with a statistically significant reduction of myocardial infarction (RR, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.49-1.09 [P=0.12]) compared with control. Conclusions Data from both randomized controlled trials and observational studies support the use of the influenza vaccine in adults with cardiovascular disease to reduce mortality and cardiovascular events, as currently supported by clinical guidelines. Clinicians and health systems should continue to promote the influenza vaccine as part of comprehensive secondary prevention. Keywords: cardiovascular disease; influenza vaccine; meta‐analysis; mortality

Memorializing Conflict and Controversy: A Look Into the Kent State Memorials

May 4, 1970, marks a day in American history when the protests of the Vietnam War and the government of the United States erupted in violence. It was on this date that Ohio State National Guardsmen fired into a crowd of unarmed student protestors on the campus of Kent State University. In the span of thirteen seconds, nine students were wounded and four lay dead. The shootings sent waves of emotion throughout the country. In the decades following the May 4th shootings, a series of memorials have been created in remembrance of the tragedy. Through the use of oral histories, this project looks to create a cohesive look at the event itself and the memorialization process that has taken place on the campus. By examining the continuing evolution of the Kent State memorials, a better understanding can be made of how best to develop a space that can become not only a remembrance of an event but also a direct connection to lives of those involved

Inking an identity

The art of tattooing has been around for thousands of years and practiced by many of the world\u27s ancient civilizations. Through each millennium this art evolves as new techniques and ideas are incorporated into this practice. This project includes an analysis of the ancient cultures that actively used this form of art. It also incorporates how the art of tattooing made a transitioned into pop culture and how it has evolved into what it is today and has become the identity for so many people

Challenges and Opportunities for the Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular Disease Among Young Adults: Report From a National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Working Group

Improvements in cardiovascular disease (CVD) rates among young adults in the past 2 decades have been offset by increasing racial/ethnic and gender disparities, persistence of unhealthy lifestyle habits, overweight and obesity, and other CVD risk factors. To enhance the promotion of cardiovascular health among young adults 18 to 39 years old, the medical and broader public health community must understand the biological, interpersonal, and behavioral features of this life stage. Therefore, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, with support from the Office of Behavioral and Social Science Research, convened a 2-day workshop in Bethesda, Maryland, in September 2017 to identify research challenges and opportunities related to the cardiovascular health of young adults. The current generation of young adults live in an environment undergoing substantial economic, social, and technological transformations, differentiating them from prior research cohorts of young adults. Although the accumulation of clinical and behavioral risk factors for CVD begins early in life, and research suggests early risk is an important determinant of future events, few trials have studied prevention and treatment of CVD in participants \u3c40 years old. Building an evidence base for CVD prevention in this population will require the engagement of young adults, who are often disconnected from the healthcare system and may not prioritize long-term health. These changes demand a repositioning of existing evidence-based treatments to accommodate new sociotechnical contexts. In this article, the authors review the recent literature and current research opportunities to advance the cardiovascular health of today\u27s young adults. Keywords: cardiovascular disease prevention; cardiovascular disease risk factors; primary prevention; young adults

Almond Skins as a Natural Antioxidant

In this thesis, the potential for almond skins in their native state as a natural antioxidant in foods was explored. A literature review of general information on almonds, research done on almond skins, and general information on antioxidants is presented. The almond skins used in this study required an additional heat treatment step to improve their microbiological quality before further treatments and analysis could be performed. A descriptive analysis sensory panel was utilized to identify potential flavor and aroma descriptors and their intensities. The aroma descriptors identified were toasted, bran, and toasted; nutty. The flavor descriptors identified were toasted, bran, nutty buttery, and toasted; nutty. Proximate analysis, GC-MS headspace analysis, and total phenolic content of the almond skin were determined. Several aromatic compounds, including benzaldehyde and hexanal, were identified in almond skins via GC-MS analysis. Total phenolic content ranged from 5-6.1 quercetin equivalents per gram of almond skin. Soybean oil was treated with varying levels of almond skin and analyzed using the Oxidative Stability Index (OSI) as both an analytical method and oxidation chamber prior to other analyses. Peroxide values and GC-MS headspace analysis was done on the treated soybean oil as well. BHA was also used as a control treatment to serve as a comparison. Measures of oxidative stability of the treatments varied depending on the analysis used. The OSI analysis did not show any differences between treatments (p\u3e0.05); however, peroxide values of treated oil samples were lower than those of the control oil samples after 6.5 hours of oxidation (p\u3e0.05). GC-MS analysis showed that hexanal concentrations of almond skin treated oil oxidized for 3.25 hours were greater than those of control and BHA treated oil (p\u3e0.05). Results from this study demonstrate the critical need for a thorough review of current processing and handling procedures to improve the microbiological quality of commercial almond skins. Elimination of the additional heat treatment step that was employed to improve the microbiological quality of the almond skins would likely allow for the identification of new sensory descriptors. Peroxide values remain good indicators of oxidation and should be taken at more intervals to allow for better detection of differences between treatments. Normally, hexanal is a good indicator of oxidation; however, the almond skins in this study contained hexanal before treatment. Analysis of more varieties and samples of almond skins should be done to determine good markers of oxidation. Use of varieties of almond skins known to be high in phenolic content should be further explored before eliminating almond skins as a natural antioxidant source for foods