Financial Sustainability in the Not-for-Profit Housing Sector – Literature Review

This literature review arises from project A9 of the BC-Alberta Social Economy Research Alliance (BALTA). The project examined successful cases of affordable housing provision through social economy organizations (non-profits and co-ops) in the face of decreased government financial support.BC-Alberta Social Economy Research Alliance (BALTA) ; Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) ; ISIS Centre, Sauder School of Business, University of British Columbia ; Rural Innovation Chair, Selkirk Colleg

Affordable Housing Initiative: Sustainable Management of Housing by Not-for-profit and Co-operative Organizations in Response to Decreasing Government Funding Programs

The report includes eight detailed case studies.This report arises from project A9 of the BC-Alberta Social Economy Research Alliance (BALTA). The project examined successful cases of affordable housing provision through social economy organizations (non-profits and co-ops) in the face of decreased government financial support.BC-Alberta Social Economy Research Alliance (BALTA) ; Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) ; ISIS Centre, Sauder School of Business, University of British Columbia ; Rural Innovation Chair, Selkirk Colleg

Approaches to Financially Sustainable Provision of Affordable Housing by Not-for-Profit Organizations and Co-operatives: Perspectives from Canada, the USA, and Europe

This paper arises from project A9 of the BC-Alberta Social Economy Research Alliance (BALTA). The project examined successful cases of affordable housing provision through social economy organizations (non-profits and co-ops) in the face of decreased government financial support.BC-Alberta Social Economy Research Alliance (BALTA) ; Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) ; ISIS Centre, Sauder School of Business, University of British Columbia ; Rural Innovation Chair, Selkirk Colleg

Adenosine and Autism - Recent Research and a New Perspective

Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) are associated with atypical social, behavioral and physiological characteristics. Here we outline an emerging connection among the increased incidence of epilepsy, disrupted sleep and perseverative behaviors exhibited and sought by persons with autism. Specifically, we propose that persons with autism can benefit from increased levels of adenosine, a powerful inhibitory neuromodulator and the core molecule of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). We review the literature and present recent data obtained via a customized questionnaire administered to parents of children with a confirmed autism diagnosis. This customized questionnaire demonstrates that symptoms of autism are reduced subsequent to stimuli predicted to increase adenosine. In addition, we present evidence from the literature and pilot data from a retrospective study of children with epilepsy or epilepsy and autistic behavior who were treated with a ketogenic diet, a long established anticonvulsant therapy that recently has been shown to suppress seizures via the adenosine A1 receptor (A1R) subtype. Our discussion focuses on the actions of adenosine in the central nervous system, with multiple implications for ASD, and the potential for developing new evidence-based therapies. Taken together, published peer-reviewed research and recent preliminary research suggest that adenosine could help resolve multiple physiological and behavioral symptoms of ASD

Deliverable D32 Core indicators for the interconnection between short and long-distance transport networks ; projet 7FP CLOSER (Connecting LOng and Short-distance networks for Efficient Transport); September 2011

The CLOSER project has been set to analyse the interfaces and interconnections between long distance transport networks and local/regional transport networks of all modes. The project is funded within the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Commission, under the topic TPT-2008.0.0.13 “New mobility/organisational schemes: interconnection between short and long-distance transport networks”. The goal of WP3 of CLOSER is to establish a set of core indicators that reflect the most crucial issues connected to interfaces between short and long-distance transport networks, both for passenger and freight transport. This includes the creation of a structured representation of these interfaces, determination of core indicators, and the assessment of usability of the core indicators. CLOSER WP3 has produced two deliverables, of which the current document is the second. The first deliverable “Interconnections between short and long-distance transport networks: Structure of interface and existing indicators” (Andersen et al., 2010) contained a review of existing indicators related to interfaces between long and short-distance freight and passenger transport.The aim of this document is to structure the interconnections between short and longdistancetransport networks. This in particular includes:- Establishment of selection criteria to choose core indicators- Selection and validation of core indicators and new indicators- Set of typologies of interfacesThe document also presents the results of the WP3 workshop arranged in Lille on May 24, 2011

Case studies: results and synthesis projet 7FP CLOSER (Connecting LOng and Short-distance networks for Efficient Transport) Rapport de recherche Deliverable 5.2 project européen CLOSER.

The CLOSER project has been set to analyse the interfaces and interconnectionsbetween long distance transport networks and local/regional transport networks of allmodes. The project is funded within the Seventh Framework Programme of theEuropean Commission, under the topic TPT-2008.0.0.13 “New mobility/organisationalschemes: interconnection between short and long-distance transport networks”.The objective of WP5 of CLOSER is to accomplish in-depth case studies to deepenand validate the understanding of results obtained in Work packages 2, 3 and 4. Thiswill be achieved by:- Developing a joint assessment and evaluation framework for the case studies,incorporating knowledge that has been obtained in WP 2, WP 3 and WP 4- Carrying out the case studies- Synthesising the results of the case studies in order to give inputs for thedevelopment of recommendations in WP 6.The deliverable at hand summarises the seven case studies that have been conductedin the CLOSER project: Leipzig-Halle airport (Germany) Armentiéres station (France) Oslo bus terminal Vaterland (Norway) Port of Helsinki (Finland) Thessaloniki port (Greece) Constantza port (Romania) Vilnius Airport (Lithuania

Ketogenic Diet Improves Core Symptoms of Autism in BTBR Mice

Autism spectrum disorders share three core symptoms: impaired sociability, repetitive behaviors and communication deficits. Incidence is rising, and current treatments are inadequate. Seizures are a common comorbidity, and since the 1920’s a high-fat, low-carbohydrate ketogenic diet has been used to treat epilepsy. Evidence suggests the ketogenic diet and analogous metabolic approaches may benefit diverse neurological disorders. Here we show that a ketogenic diet improves autistic behaviors in the BTBR mouse. Juvenile BTBR mice were fed standard or ketogenic diet for three weeks and tested for sociability, self-directed repetitive behavior, and communication. In separate experiments, spontaneous intrahippocampal EEGs and tests of seizure susceptibility (6 Hz corneal stimulation, flurothyl, SKF83822, pentylenetetrazole) were compared between BTBR and control (C57Bl/6) mice. Ketogenic diet-fed BTBR mice showed increased sociability in a three-chamber test, decreased self-directed repetitive behavior, and improved social communication of a food preference. Although seizures are a common comorbidity with autism, BTBR mice fed a standard diet exhibit neither spontaneous seizures nor abnormal EEG, and have increased seizure susceptibility in just one of four tests. Thus, behavioral improvements are dissociable from any antiseizure effect. Our results suggest that a ketogenic diet improves multiple autistic behaviors in the BTBR mouse model. Therefore, ketogenic diets or analogous metabolic strategies may offer novel opportunities to improve core behavioral symptoms of autism spectrum disorders