Tale as Old as Time : the Beauty and the Beast Narrative as Vehicle for Social Resistance

While current criticism has discussed various versions of the “Beauty and the Beast” tale individually, none have traced any particular trends that have emerged within the tale as it has been revised over the centuries. One particular trend began in the eighteenth century, when Jeanne-Marie LePrince de Beaumont streamlined the tale from the oral tradition in order to utilize it for the moral education of young French girls. Along with this pedagogical goal, Beaumont also managed to critique Samuel Richardson’s Pamela and the abuse Pamela often suffered at the hands of Mr. B by revising her Beast character to act much kinder to Beauty. Beaumont’s intentional revisions then set in motion a similar utilization of this particular tale by many later authors and even filmmakers: Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre, Jean Cocteau’s 1946 film La Belle et La Bete, Disney’s 1991 film Beauty and the Beast, and even Disney’s most recent live-action take on Beauty and the Beast. In each case, these versions not only revise advice to women about “beastly” men, but they each appear to resist other social elements, whether they be the expansion of the British Empire and the presence of the “other,” the trend towards realism in Post-WWII French film, hyper-masculine men of 1980s entertainment, or myriad ideologies and beliefs that still persist today. Essentially, Beaumont’s revisions of the tale served as a catalyst for those who later revise the tale to employ it as a vehicle of resistance against contemporary people or events that they personally find “beastly.

Diverse Aging and Health Inequality by Race and Ethnicity

Although gerontologists have long embraced the concept of heterogeneity in theories and models of aging, recent research reveals the importance of racial and ethnic diversity on life course processes leading to health inequality. This article examines research on health inequality by race and ethnicity and identifies theoretical and methodological innovations that are transforming the study of health disparities. Drawing from cumulative inequality theory, we propose greater use of life course analysis, more attention to variability within racial and ethnic groups, and better integration of environmental context into the study of accumulation processes leading to health disparities

The effect of the glycemic index of an evening meal on the metabolic responses to a standard high glycemic index breakfast and subsequent exercise in men

The study investigated the effect of the glycemic index of an evening meal on responses to a standard high glycemic index (HGI) breakfast the following morning. The metabolic responses to exercise 3 hours after breakfast were also investigated. 7 active males completed 2 trials. In each trial, participants were provided with an evening meal on day 1, either HGI or LGI (high or low glycemic index) carbohydrates. On day 2, participants were provided with a standard HGI breakfast, then performed a 60 minute run 3 hours later. Plasma glucose and serum insulin concentrates following breakfast were higher in the HGI trial compared to the LGI trial. During exercise there were no differences in substrate utilization. Results suggest that consuming a single LGI evening meal can improve glucose tolerance at breakfast but the metabolic responses to subsequent exercise were not affected

Social Support and Well-being: A Quantitative Study of the Effects of Friendship on the Sexual Well-being of Older Adults

poster abstractBackground: Social support has been shown to positively impact various aspects of health across the lifespan, including sexual health and well-being. While past research on sexual well-being has tended to focus on the earlier stages of the life course, notably adolescence and young adulthood, this is a largely ignored area of research past the reproductive stage of life. Current research finds that while social support, from partners, family, and friends alike, has generally positive influences on health in mid to late adulthood, these outcomes are varied in regards to sexual well-being. Objectives: This study aims to (1) assess the role of friend support in the sexual wellbeing of older adults and (2) to explore if physical and mental health are significant mediators of this relationship. Methods: This study uses data from Wave II of the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project (NSHAP), a longitudinal, population-based study of health and social factors, aiming to understand the well-being of older, community-dwelling adults. Using binary logistic regression, a series of models were created to evaluate whether social support of friends is a significant predictor of sexual well-being in older adults and whether that relationship is reduced with the introduction of each mediator individually. Covariates included age, race, gender, education, partner status, presence of close family members, and sexual functioning. Results: Sixty two percent of older adults are not having sex as much as they would like and 61% feel that their sex life is lacking in quality. Significant correlates of satisfaction of sex frequency include having a romantic partner (OR .209; p<.000), reliable friends (OR 1.366; p=.010) and sexual dysfunction (OR 1.257; p<.000). Significant correlates of quality of sex life included gender (OR .636; p=.001), education (OR 1.136, p=.037), and sexual dysfunction (OR 1.355; p=.000). Neither mental health nor physical health status were significant mediators of the dependent variables. Conclusion: Similar to findings related to sexual well-being and familial support and reliance (Wait and Das 2010), this study showed that having reliable friends actually decreased the likelihood of satisfaction with sex frequency, one important aspect of sexual well-being. While this relationship may be due to friendship being a proxy for romantic relationships, more research is needed to ascertain the cause of this relationship

The Encouragement and Constraint of Distributed Leadership Via Education Policy Reform in Nova Scotia, Canada: A Delicate Balancing Act

This article examines how recent policy reforms in Nova Scotia, Canada, encouraged and constrained distributed leadership in the provincial public education system. The study found the language of newly enacted legislation and policies encouraged distributed leadership by endorsing collaborative team processes for school improvement and special education/inclusive education. However, distributed leadership was constrained by the elimination of elected school boards, the reduced authority of school advisory councils, the altered duties of educational leaders, and the failure to enact essential supports for distributed leadership. Overall, this analysis found that recent policy reforms strengthened the control of the provincial ministry of education at the expense of local, democratic participation in education. The need for new organizational structures and processes for citizen participation in twenty-first century education was identified. Résumé Cet article examine la manière dont la réforme de politiques récentes en Nouvelle-Écosse (Canada) a à la fois encouragé et restreint le leadership partagé dans le système d’éducation publique de la province. Cette étude a trouvé que le langage de nouvelles législations et politiques a motivé le leadership partagé en encourageant des processus de travail en équipe axés sur l’amélioration des écoles et sur une éducation spécialisée et inclusive. Cependant, l’étude a aussi trouvé que des contraintes ont été imposées sur le leadership partagé par l’élimination de conseils scolaires élus, l’autorité réduite des commissions consultatives scolaires, la modification des responsabilités de leaders éducationnels, et l’incapacité d’offrir des appuis essentiels pour le leadership partagé. Cette analyse a conclu que la réforme de politiques récentes a augmenté le pouvoir du ministère de l’Éducation néo-écossais aux dépens d’une participation démocratique locale en éducation. Cet article a identifié le besoin d’établir de nouveaux processus et structures organisationnels afin d’assurer une meilleure participation citoyenne en éducation au 21e siècle. Keywords / Mots clés : distributed leadership, policy reform, school improvement / leadership partagé, réforme de politiques, amélioration des école

Does neighborhood disorder predict recovery from mobility limitation? Findings from the Health and Retirement Study

Objective: This research explores whether perceptions of physical neighborhood disorder predict recovery from mobility limitation over a 2-year period and examines whether psychosocial factors (i.e., depressive symptomology and mastery) and physical activity are salient mediators. Method: Using data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS): Participant Lifestyle Questionnaire (2008-2010), odds ratio estimates of recovery were ascertained using binary logistic regression, and post hoc Sobel tests were conducted to formally assess mediation. Results: Net of demographic characteristics and socioeconomic status, increased neighborhood disorder was associated with lower odds of recovery. However, both psychosocial indicators and physical activity were significant individual partial mediators, which suggest neighborhood disorder influences recovery from physical impairment via psychosocial processes and barriers to physical activity. Discussion: Reducing neighborhood disorder may enhance older residents’ psychosocial well-being and improve participation in physical activity, thus increasing recovery from mobility limitation and preventing subsequent disability

First-year survival and growth of bareroot, container, and direct-seeded Nuttall oak planted on flood-prone agricultural fields

Container and 1-0 bare root Nuttall oak ( Quercus nuttallii, Palmer) seedlings were hand-planted, and acorns were direct- seeded, in a Sharkey soil (very fine, montmorillonitic, nonacid, thermic, Vertie Haplaquepts). The seedlings and seed were planted in January, February, March, and June, 1993. Flooding, to a depth of 2 meters, occurred on the study site from late March to late May. Seedlings planted in June were not flooded. Regardless of planting date, mean first-year survival for container seedlings was greater than 80 percent. Overall mean survival for bareroot seedlings was about 40 percent and direct-seeding survival was 30 percent. Bareroot seedling survival was about 60 percent when seedlings were planted in January or February, but fell below 25 percent when seedlings were planted in March and June. The reduction in bareroot survival was attributed to long-term cold storage. Mean first-year total height of container, bareroot, and directseeded seedlings was 46 centimeters, 34 centimeters, and 15 centimeters, respectively. However, stem dieback resulted in shorter seedlings after the first year in the field. Container seedlings were slightly shorter than when planted, but bareroot seedlings averaged 22 centimeters shorter. Greater survival and flexibility with regard to planting schedules may justify the use of container seedlings on flood-prone sites

The Effects on Occupations and Quality of Life After a Sports Injury In Adolescents: Emphasis on Psychosocial Factors

The capstone project was designed to develop educational handouts for adolescents who experience psychosocial factors after an injury, using the PEOP and Biopsychosocial models. The project addressed the need for more resources to target this population\u27s psychosocial aspects of injuries. The handouts supported existing literature on recommended coping strategies, techniques, leisure exploration activities, and additional resources for OT treatment. The project aimed to provide accessible education to OTs, coaches, parents, and athletes on the role of OT in treatment and the importance of addressing psychosocial factors. The project successfully provided background information, analyzed methodology, summarized handout development, and highlighted the impact and future actions of the project.https://soar.usa.edu/otdcapstonessummer2023/1003/thumbnail.jp

Assessing Community Progress on the Blueprint to End Homelessness

In 2002, the Indianapolis Housing Task Force published the Blueprint to End Homelessness, an ambitious 10-year strategy to end homelessness in Indianapolis by 2012. The Blueprint called for regular reports and evaluation of progress toward the Blueprint’s goals. The Coalition for Homelessness Intervention and Prevention (CHIP), charged with moving the Blueprint forward, has completed its own annual Community Progress Reports for 2009, 2010, and 2011. This report does not seek to replicate or evaluate these or any of the many previous reports CHIP has facilitated. We take what is presented in the previous reports as accurate and eminently useful. The annual Community Progress Reports, in particular, already serve as good evaluations of progress toward the Blueprint goals. Instead, this report seeks to identify issues not yet covered, areas where data have not been collected, areas where data collection could be improved, or areas where existing data have not yet been analyzed for the purpose of assessing Blueprint goals. We have gathered and analyzed new qualitative and quantitative data from CHIP, stakeholders, the homeless, and other sources to provide additional measures of progress toward achieving the various goals stipulated in the Blueprint and to establish new measures for future assessment. Besides qualitative interviews with samples of stakeholders and homeless, we collected census data on affordable housing for Marion County, the U.S., and four other comparison counties. We conducted a Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) Analysis of CHIP’s annual Community Progress Reports. CHIP also provided nine years’ worth of client data from the Homeless Management Information Systems (HMIS). Finally, we collected progress reports from other jurisdictions implementing ten-year/community plans and looked at those. The overarching goal of the Blueprint has not been achieved. Homelessness has not been eliminated and will not be eliminated by the 2012 date established in the Blueprint. Progress has been and continues to be made in many areas, though. It is hoped this report will help the community as it moves forward with creating a new strategic plan

Founders Versus Descendants: Evidence Of The Taiwanese Publicly Traded Firms

This study investigates the performance of founder-controlled firms vis-à-vis firms controlled by founders’ descendants and relatives among Taiwanese publicly traded firms.  After adjusting for size, age, growth potential, financial leverage, and industry effects, we find that the Taiwanese descendant-controlled firms underperform the matching founder-controlled firms.  In searching for the potential reasons, we find that the average board size for the descendant-controlled firms is significantly larger than that of the founder-controlled firms.  In addition, the ratios of family-related supervisors and board members of the descendant-controlled firms are significantly higher than those of the matching founder-controlled firms.  While the significantly larger board size suggests a potential power struggle between the controlling family and the non-family related board members, the stronger family domination in the board of directors and supervisors for the descendant-controlled firms provides room for entrenchment and tunneling.  In light of the absence of large outside blockholders and relatively weaker legal protections, the minority shareholders of Taiwanese firms are dependent upon internal monitoring mechanisms to protect them from the expropriation of the controlling families.  However, our results indicate that family control has undermined the internal monitoring mechanism of the Taiwanese descendant-controlled firms