25 research outputs found
Role Duality as Represented in the Antiabolitionist Speeches of James Shannon.
The dissertation alleges that a speaker may juggle roles in a given rhetorical situation, what may be termed role duality. Role duality refers to a speaker\u27s attempt to effect multiple intentions while fulfilling or partially fulfilling multiple role expectations. A purpose of this dissertation was to speculate further on the nature and function of role duality by analyzing the speeches of James Shannon. Correspondingly, another purpose was to evaluate through rhetorical criticism the pro-slavery, anti-abolitionist speeches of Shannon. Shannon (1799-1859), an evangelist in the Churches of Christ and an influential educator, delivered two principal speeches in defense of slavery: (1) The Philosophy of Slavery as identified with the Philosophy of Human Happiness given to the Franklin Society of Bacon College, Harrodsburg, Kentucky, on 27 June 1844 and (2) An Address Delivered before the Pro-slavery Convention of the State of Missouri, Held in Lexington, July 13, 1855. . The dissertation sought to determine (1) whether sufficient evidence existed to ascertain Shannon\u27s intentions in delivering the addresses, (2) whether Shannon\u27s rhetorical choices could be said to constitute role duality, and (3) whether the means Shannon employed furthered his goals. A preponderance of evidence pointed to the conclusion that Shannon harbored multiple intentions, and that while addressing an immediate audience, he also had in mind reaching wealthy southerners who might help Bacon College in Harrodsburg, Kentucky, or Christian University in Canton, Missouri. Less clear was whether a discernible strategy accompanied that effort. Organization seemed to play an insignificant part in reaching contributors, undecided border state auditors, and potential employers. Based on the two speeches, roughly half of Shannon\u27s arguments were reasonably sound, seemingly indicating that Shannon was more concerned with identifying with southerners emotionally than logically convincing all listeners. As represented in the anti-abolitionist speaking of James Shannon, role duality may be seen as a strategy best reserved for desperate moments, for persons with high credibility, and for ceremonial occasions
Calcitonin gene-related peptide inhibits Langerhans cell-mediated HIV-1 transmission.
International audienceUpon its mucosal entry, human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) is internalized by Langerhans cells (LCs) in stratified epithelia and transferred locally to T cells. In such epithelia, LCs are in direct contact with peripheral neurons secreting calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP). Although CGRP has immunomodulatory effects on LC functions, its potential influence on the interactions between LCs and HIV-1 is unknown. We show that CGRP acts via its receptor expressed by LCs and interferes with multiple steps of LC-mediated HIV-1 transmission. CGRP increases langerin expression, decreases selected integrins, and activates NF-ÎșB, resulting in decreased HIV-1 intracellular content, limited formation of LC-T cell conjugates, and elevated secretion of the CCR5-binding chemokine CCL3/MIP-1α. These mechanisms cooperate to efficiently inhibit HIV-1 transfer from LCs to T cells and T cell infection. In vivo, HIV-1 infection decreases CGRP plasma levels in both vaginally SHIV-challenged macaques and HIV-1-infected individuals. CGRP plasma levels return to baseline after highly active antiretroviral therapy. Our results reveal a novel path by which a peripheral neuropeptide acts at the molecular and cellular levels to limit mucosal HIV-1 transmission and suggest that CGRP receptor agonists might be used therapeutically against HIV-1
The effects of problem-oriented policing on crime and disorder
Problem-oriented Policing (POP) was first introduced by Herman Goldstein in 1979. The
approach was one of a series of responses to a crisis in effectiveness and legitimacy in
policing that emerged in the 1970s and 1980s. Goldstein argued that police were not
being effective in preventing and controlling crime because they had become too focused
on the âmeansâ of policing and had neglected the âgoalsâ of preventing and controlling
crime and other community problems. Goldstein argued that the unit of analysis in
policing must become the âproblemâ rather than calls or crime incidents as was the case
during that period. POP has had tremendous impact on American policing, and is now
one of the most widely implemented policing strategies in the US.
To synthesize the extant problem-oriented policing evaluation literature and assess the
effects of problem-oriented policing on crime and disorder
Eligible studies had to meet three criteria: (1) the SARA model was used for a problemoriented
policing intervention; (2) a comparison group was included; (3) at least one
crime or disorder outcome was reported with sufficient data to generate an effect size.
The unit of analysis could be people or places.
Several strategies were used to perform an exhaustive search for literature fitting the
eligibility criteria. First, a keyword search was performed on an array of online abstract
databases. Second, we reviewed the bibliographies of past reviews of problem-oriented
policing. Third, we performed forward searches for works that have cited seminal
problem-oriented policing studies. Fourth, we performed hand searches of leading
journals in the field. Fifth, we searched the publications of several research and
professional agencies. Sixth, after finishing the above searches we e-mailed the list of
studies meeting our eligibility criteria to leading policing scholars knowledgeable in the
area of problem-oriented policing to ensure we had not missed any relevant studies.
For our ten eligible studies, we provide both a narrative review of effectiveness and a
meta-analysis. For the meta-analysis, we coded all primary outcomes of the eligible
studies and we report the mean effect size (for studies with more than one primary
outcome, we averaged effects to create a mean), the largest effect, and the smallest effect.
Because of the heterogeneity of our studies, we used a random effects model.
Based on our meta-analysis, overall problem-oriented policing has a modest but
statistically significant impact on reducing crime and disorder. Our results are consistent
when examining both experimental and quasi-experimental studies.
Conclusions:
We conclude that problem-oriented policing is effective in reducing crime and disorder,
although the effect is fairly modest. We urge caution in interpreting these results because
of the small number of methodologically rigorous studies on POP and the diversity of
problems and responses used in our eligible studies
Investigation of hospital discharge cases and SARS-CoV-2 introduction into Lothian care homes
Background
The first epidemic wave of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) in Scotland resulted in high case numbers and mortality in care homes. In Lothian, over one-third of care homes reported an outbreak, while there was limited testing of hospital patients discharged to care homes.
Aim
To investigate patients discharged from hospitals as a source of SARS-CoV-2 introduction into care homes during the first epidemic wave.
Methods
A clinical review was performed for all patients discharges from hospitals to care homes from 1st March 2020 to 31st May 2020. Episodes were ruled out based on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) test history, clinical assessment at discharge, whole-genome sequencing (WGS) data and an infectious period of 14 days. Clinical samples were processed for WGS, and consensus genomes generated were used for analysis using Cluster Investigation and Virus Epidemiological Tool software. Patient timelines were obtained using electronic hospital records.
Findings
In total, 787 patients discharged from hospitals to care homes were identified. Of these, 776 (99%) were ruled out for subsequent introduction of SARS-CoV-2 into care homes. However, for 10 episodes, the results were inconclusive as there was low genomic diversity in consensus genomes or no sequencing data were available. Only one discharge episode had a genomic, time and location link to positive cases during hospital admission, leading to 10 positive cases in their care home.
Conclusion
The majority of patients discharged from hospitals were ruled out for introduction of SARS-CoV-2 into care homes, highlighting the importance of screening all new admissions when faced with a novel emerging virus and no available vaccine
SARS-CoV-2 Omicron is an immune escape variant with an altered cell entry pathway
Vaccines based on the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 are a cornerstone of the public health response to COVID-19. The emergence of hypermutated, increasingly transmissible variants of concern (VOCs) threaten this strategy. Omicron (B.1.1.529), the fifth VOC to be described, harbours multiple amino acid mutations in spike, half of which lie within the receptor-binding domain. Here we demonstrate substantial evasion of neutralization by Omicron BA.1 and BA.2 variants in vitro using sera from individuals vaccinated with ChAdOx1, BNT162b2 and mRNA-1273. These data were mirrored by a substantial reduction in real-world vaccine effectiveness that was partially restored by booster vaccination. The Omicron variants BA.1 and BA.2 did not induce cell syncytia in vitro and favoured a TMPRSS2-independent endosomal entry pathway, these phenotypes mapping to distinct regions of the spike protein. Impaired cell fusion was determined by the receptor-binding domain, while endosomal entry mapped to the S2 domain. Such marked changes in antigenicity and replicative biology may underlie the rapid global spread and altered pathogenicity of the Omicron variant