Exploring Diverse Blended Families: Using Critical Discourse Analysis to Hear Their Voices

It has been predicted that if you were born in the 1980s and 1990s, there was a one in two chanceof either living in a blended family as a child or as an adult (Coleman, Ganong, & Fine, 2000).In 1989, Glick predicted that in the 21st century, blended families would be the leading family form. Today in 2010, they are far from being a new phenomenon (Stewart, 2008). They are a rapidly growing part of the American population according to Census data and over half of American families may be blended, i.e., formed by (married or non-married) partners with children. This investigation is a small scale, exploratory, and descriptive study of diverse blended family couples who are formed from married parents, non-married parents, gay parents and lesbian parents with biological children who live in the residence and are the product of former relationships. The main focus was to investigate dominant cultural models of these families and given those constructs, how did the couples conform to, transform, resist or revoice dominant or alternate-cultural models? Five diverse blended family couples were recruited and interviewed in their homes. The small sample is not representative, but largely heterogeneous. Participants varied in terms of race, ethnicity, age, gender, sexual orientation, educational level, s socioeconomic background and family structure. Data analysis methods consisted of a 2-step process integrating Grounded Theory (Glaser 1998) and Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA). The interest was not only in what these families were saying, but how did they say it, and what identities they took on as they said it. The findings suggested that although the couples were unanimous in defining their relationships in positive and complementary ways, depending on various variables, some of the couples had overlapping and conflicting positioning. All five couples fit into three overlapping categories: (1) Resist-Transform: two couples; (2) Resist- Conform-Revoice: one couple; and (3) Resist-Transform-Revoice: two couples. The data is voluminous, providing numerous opportunities for additional investigation into the unique worlds of diverse blended families. A call for innovative approaches that define them positively and culturally variant studies that normalize their experiences with less comparable investigations are discussed

Exploring the relationship between Big Food corporations and professional sports clubs: a scoping review

Objective: Professional sport occupies a prominent cultural position in societies across the globe and commercial organisations make use of this to promote their products. This scoping review explores existing academic literature on the relationship between professional sports clubs and food and drink marketing and considers how this relationship may impact upon the public’s health. Design: The scoping review searched six databases. Experts were also consulted. Records written in languages other than English were excluded. We also excluded records relating to mega events (e.g. Olympics, Football World Cup) and alcohol marketing, because of the attention already given to these. Setting: Professional sports clubs. Participants: N/A Results: We identified 18,166 titles, reviewed 163 abstracts and read 26 full texts. We included six papers in the review. Four were from Australia and New Zealand. The Australasian literature largely focussed on the marketing of food and beverages to children and the potential impact on consumption. Single papers from researchers in Turkey and the US were identified. The Turkish paper analysed shirt sponsorship in football leagues internationally and showed food and beverage (including alcohol) companies were the most common sponsors. The US paper examined a mixed reaction to a football team named after an ‘energy’ drink. Conclusions: Commercial relationships between professional sports clubs and ‘big food’ corporations have largely eluded scrutiny in much of the world. This review highlights the lack of public health research on these relationships. Research exploring the inter-dependent commercial practices of food and drink companies and professional sports clubs is urgently needed

The relationship between big food corporations and professional sports clubs: a scoping review

Background Professional sport occupies a prominent place in cultures across the globe. Commercial organisations often use this prominence as a vehicle to promote their brands and products. There are increasing concerns about the growing number of people who are overweight and obese and the contributory role that marketing of processed food and drink plays. We therefore undertook a scoping review to explore the relationship between professional sports clubs and food and drink marketing. Methods We searched six databases (CINALH Plus, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, PubMed, SPORTDiscus, and Web of Science) from database start dates to March 27–31, 2017, using Boolean operators and search terms around professional sports clubs, marketing, food and drink, and health impacts (appendix). Experts were also consulted. Only English language publications were included. We excluded mega events (eg, Olympics, football World Cup) because of the attention already given to them. We likewise excluded alcohol marketing and sport, in view of the established literature exploring that relationship. Findings We identi ed 18166 titles for examination after removing duplicates and 163 abstracts for reviews; and obtained the full text for 26 publications. We included six papers in the review; four were from Australia and New Zealand. The Australasian literature was concerned with the marketing of (unhealthy) food and beverages to children and the potential (negative) impact on eating patterns. Rugby league, Australian football, and cricket were sports that were identi ed. Single papers from Turkey and the USA explored issues around marketing and professional sports clubs. The Turkish paper analysed shirt sponsorship in football leagues internationally and showed that food and beverage (including alcohol) companies were the most common sponsors. The paper from the USA examined a mixed reaction to a football team named after an energy drink. Interpretation Given the current focus on how processed food is marketed to children, it is surprising that professional sports clubs have eluded the scrutiny of academic public health in the UK. Our review highlights the lack of public health research in this area. Research that explores the interdependent commercial practices of food and drink companies and professional sports clubs is urgently needed

Developing a Model Framework for Predicting Effects of Woody Expansion and Fire on Ecosystem Carbon and Nitrogen in a Pinyon-Juniper Woodland

Sagebrush-steppe ecosystems are one of the most threatened ecosystems in North America due to woodland expansion, wildfire, and exotic annual grass invasion. Some scientists and policy makers have suggested that woodland expansion will lead to increased carbon (C) storage on the landscape. To assess this potential we used data collected from a Joint Fire Sciences Program demonstration area to develop a Microsoft Excel™ based biomass, carbon, and nitrogen (N) spreadsheet model. The model uses input for tree cover, soil chemistry, soil physical properties, and vegetation chemistry to estimate biomass, carbon, and nitrogen accumulation on the landscape with woodland expansion. The model also estimates C and N losses associated with prescribed burning. On our study plots we estimate in treeless sagebrush-steppe ecosystems, biomass accounts for 4.5 Mg ha−1 C and 0.3 Mg ha−1 N this is \u3c10% of total estimated ecosystem C and N to a soil depth of 53 cm, but as tree cover increases to near closed canopy conditions aboveground biomass may account for 62 Mg ha−1 C and 0.6 Mg ha−1 N which is nearly 53% of total estimated ecosystem C and 13% of total estimated ecosystem N to a soil depth of 53 cm. Prescribed burning removes aboveground biomass, C and N, but may increase soil C at areal tree cover below 26%. The model serves as a tool by which we are able to assess our understanding of the system and identify knowledge gaps which exist for this ecosystem. We believe that further work is necessary to quantify herbaceous biomass, root biomass, woody debris decomposition, and soil C and N with woodland expansion and prescribed fire. It will also be necessary to appropriately scale these estimates from the plot to the landscape

Exploring fields of power in the English Premier League. A qualitative study into unhealthy sponsorships

This qualitative study uses Bourdieu’s sociology of practice to help understand how different actors in football consider ‘unhealthy’ sponsorships (defined as promoting gambling, food and drink high in fat, sugar or salt (HFSS), and alcohol) in the English Premier League. Eighteen informants were interviewed including those employed by football clubs and their charitable foundations, others with a commercial interest in the football industry, and members of fan organisations. Their responses were examined using a thematic approach and reflected the distribution of economic and cultural power between the agents in the field of football. Tensions within these fields of power are illustrated diagrammatically between those in possession of economic capital (the clubs), and those who protect the cultural capital of ‘their’ clubs (the fans)

Influence of Prescribed Fire on Ecosystem Biomass, Carbon, and Nitrogen in a Pinyon Juniper Woodland

Increases in pinyon and juniper woodland cover associated with land-use history are suggested to provide offsets for carbon emissions in arid regions. However, the largest pools of carbon in arid landscapes are typically found in soils, and aboveground biomass cannot be considered long-term storage in fire-prone ecosystems. Also, the objectives of carbon storage may conflict with management for other ecosystem services and fuels reduction. Before appropriate decisions can be made it is necessary to understand the interactions between woodland expansion, management treatments, and carbon retention. We quantified effects of prescribed fire as a fuels reduction and ecosystem maintenance treatment on fuel loads, ecosystem carbon, and nitrogen in a pinyon–juniper woodland in the central Great Basin. We found that plots containing 30% tree cover averaged nearly 40 000 kg · ha−1 in total aboveground biomass, 80 000 kg · ha−1 in ecosystem carbon (C), and 5 000 kg · ha−1 in ecosystem nitrogen (N). Only 25% of ecosystem C and 5% of ecosystem N resided in aboveground biomass pools. Prescribed burning resulted in a 65% reduction in aboveground biomass, a 68% reduction in aboveground C, and a 78% reduction in aboveground N. No statistically significant change in soil or total ecosystem C or N occurred. Prescribed fire was effective at reducing fuels on the landscape and resulted in losses of C and N from aboveground biomass. However, the immediate and long-term effects of burning on soil and total ecosystem C and N is still unclear