Reforming Prisons to Reduce Harm and Increase Wellbeing

Honors (Bachelor's)PhilosophyUniversity of Michiganhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/147386/1/jprosky.pd

The Battle over Wastewater between Woonsocket and North Smithfield

From 2012-2017, the communities of Woonsocket and North Smithfield engaged in a protracted dispute concerning wastewater disposal. For thirty years, the two jurisdictions had maintained a signed service agreement. Following its expiration, however, Woonsocket imposed a new host fee on North Smithfield. Woonsocket needed to upgrade the facility in order to comply with mandates from the RI Department of Environmental Management. Over the next five years, leaders from both jurisdictions vociferously fought over the new fee. At the same time, leaders within communities experienced their own divisions. This case study highlights the challenges that decision makers faced in both communities. This case study draws on interviews conducted with officials from the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, City of Woonsocket, and Town of North Smithfield. Additionally, it pulls from relevant legal documents, recordings and minutes from meetings of the Woonsocket City Council and North Smithfield Town Council, City Council resolutions, state legislation, and local press coverage. This case is appropriate for graduate and executive level courses in environmental policy, communication, and leadership

A meta-analysis on the role of soluble fibre in diets for growing rabbits

[EN] In this review, the methods used to measure fibre and soluble fibre fractions are briefly presented and the effects of the soluble fibre content in diets for growing rabbits reviewed by a meta-analysis of studies available in literature, with the aim of elucidating the relationships with other dietary nutrients. Soluble fibre was assumed as the difference between total dietary fibre (TDF) and neutral detergent fibre (NDF), as it is simple to obtain and has been measured in numerous studies. Dietary soluble fibre content affects the digestive utilisation of soluble and insoluble fibre fractions and its increase is associated with reduced mortality in growing rabbits affected by epizootic rabbit enteropathy. This effect could be attributed to the high fermentability of soluble fibre, the consequent changes in the intestinal microbiota and an enhanced gut barrier function just after weaning. A supply of 12-14% of soluble fibre (as-fed) is recommended in diets for post-weaning and growing rabbits containing around 30% NDF and 18% acid detergent fibre. The positive effects of increasing dietary soluble fibre are linked to the use of sugar beet pulp as primary source of soluble fibre and should be confirmed with other sources of soluble fibre.Trocino, A.; García Alonso, J.; Carabaño, R.; Xiccato, G. (2013). A meta-analysis on the role of soluble fibre in diets for growing rabbits. World Rabbit Science. 21(1):1-15. doi:10.4995/wrs.2013.1285SWORD11521

Aleurone flour increases red-cell folate and lowers plasma homocyst(e)ine substantially in man

Aleurone flour (ALF) is a rich source of natural folate (>500 μg/100 g wet weight). Our objective was to establish whether intake of ALF in man can significantly improve folate status and reduce plasma homocyst(e)ine. We performed a randomised, controlled intervention, of 16 weeks duration, in free-living healthy individuals (mean age 46–52 years). Participants were assigned to one of three groups: ALF, 175 g bread made with ALF and placebo tablet each day; PCS, 175 g bread made with pericarp seed coat (PCS) flour and placebo tablet each day (low-folate control); or FA, 175 g bread made with PCS flour and tablet containing 640 μg folic acid each day (high-folate control). The daily folate intake contributed by the bread and tablet was 233 μg in the PCS group, 615 μg in the ALF group and 819 μg in the FA group. The number of participants completing all phases of the PCS, ALF and FA interventions was twenty-five, twenty-five and eighteen, respectively. Plasma and red-cell folate increased significantly (P<0·0001) and plasma homocyst(e)ine decreased significantly (P<0·0001) in the ALF and FA groups only. Plasma folate and red-cell folate in the ALF group (mean, 95 % CI) increased from baseline values of 12·9 (9·9, 15·7) nmol/l and 509 (434, 584) nmol/l to 27·1 (22·5, 31·7) nmol/l and 768 (676, 860) nmol/l, respectively. Plasma homocyst(e)ine in the ALF group decreased from 9·1 (8·2, 10·0) μmol/l at baseline to 6·8 (6·2, 7·5) μmol/l after 16 weeks. In conclusion, moderate dietary intake of ALF can increase red-cell folate and decrease plasma homocyst(e)ine substantially.Michael Fenech, Manny Noakes, Peter Clifton and David Toppin