Tales of the Olympic city: Memory, narrative and the built environment = Historias de la ciudad olímpica: memoria, narrativa y el entorno construido

The Olympics have a greater, more profound and more pervasive impact on the urban fabric of their host cities than any other sporting or cultural event. This paper is concerned with issues of memory and remembering in Olympic host cities. After a contextual introduction, it employs a case study of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park (QEOP), the main event space for the London 2012 Summer Games, to supply insight into how to read the urban traces of Olympic memory. Three key themes are identified when interpreting the memories associated with the Park and its built structures, namely: treatment of the area’s displaced past, memorializing the Games, and with memory legacy. The ensuing discussion section then adopts a historiographic slant, stressing the importance of narrative and offering wider conclusions about Olympic memory and the city. = El impacto de los Juegos Olímpicos en el tejido urbano de las ciudades anfitrionas es mayor, más profundo y más generalizado que el de cualquier otro evento deportivo o cultural. Este trabajo analiza temas relacionados con la memoria y el recuerdo en las ciudades anfitrionas de los Juegos Olímpicos. Tras introducir del contexto, se utiliza un estudio de caso del Parque Olímpico Queen Elizabeth (QEOP, por sus siglas en inglés), el principal espacio de los Juegos de Verano de Londres 2012, para plantear un nuevo enfoque sobre cómo leer las huellas urbanas de la memoria olímpica. Se identifican tres temas clave al interpretar los recuerdos asociados con el Parque y sus estructuras construidas, a saber: el tratamiento del pasado desplazado del área, la conmemoración de los Juegos y el legado de la memoria. La sección de discusión adopta un enfoque historiográfico, subrayando la importancia de la narrativa y ofreciendo gran variedad de conclusiones sobre la memoria olímpica y la ciudad

Historias de la ciudad olímpica: memoria, narrativa y el entorno construido

The Olympics have a greater, more profound and more pervasive impact on the urban fabric of their host cities than any other sporting or cultural event.  This paper is concerned with issues of memory and remembering in Olympic host cities.  After a contextual introduction, it employs a case study of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park (QEOP), the main event space for the London 2012 Summer Games, to supply insight into how to read the urban traces of Olympic memory.  Three key themes are identified when interpreting the memories associated with the Park and its built structures, namely: treatment of the area’s displaced past, memorializing the Games, and with memory legacy.  The ensuing discussion section then adopts a historiographic slant, stressing the importance of narrative and offering wider conclusions about Olympic memory and the city.El impacto de los Juegos Olímpicos en el tejido urbano de las ciudades anfitrionas es mayor, más profundo y más generalizado que el de cualquier otro evento deportivo o cultural. Este trabajo analiza temas relacionados con la memoria y el recuerdo en las ciudades anfitrionas de los Juegos Olímpicos. Tras introducir del contexto, se utiliza un estudio de caso del Parque Olímpico Queen Elizabeth (QEOP, por sus siglas en inglés), el principal espacio de los Juegos de Verano de Londres 2012, para plantear un nuevo enfoque sobre cómo leer las huellas urbanas de la memoria olímpica. Se identifican tres temas clave al interpretar los recuerdos asociados con el Parque y sus estructuras construidas, a saber: el tratamiento del pasado desplazado del área, la conmemoración de los Juegos y el legado de la memoria. La sección de discusión adopta un enfoque historiográfico, subrayando la importancia de la narrativa y ofreciendo gran variedad de conclusiones sobre la memoria olímpica y la ciudad

Accentuating the positive: City branding, narrative and practice

This commentary on the contribution made by Kavaratzis and Ashworth (2005) examines the antecedents to which it responded, the key ideas that it offered at the time of publication, and assesses its lasting impact. There are three main sections. The first reflects upon the informal and improvised approaches that characterised place promotion, marketing and branding in the final decades of the twentieth century. The second surveys Kavaratzis and Ashworth’s critical reflections on the existing theory and practice of city branding. The third section discusses their as contributing a benchmark in scholarly discourse that reflected convergences with management science and policy relevance, but recognises that it was implicated in a broader meta-narrative shaped by neoliberalist approaches and values

Exploring social-ecological trade-offs in fisheries using a coupled food web and human behavior model

Marine fisheries represent a social-ecological system driven by both complex ecological processes and human interactions. Ecosystem-based fisheries management requires an understanding of both the biological and social components, and management failure can occur when either are excluded. Despite the significance of both, most research has focused on characterizing biological uncertainty rather than on better understanding the impacts of human behavior because of the difficulty of incorporating human behavior into simulation models. In this study, we use the fisheries in Narragansett Bay (Rhode Island, USA) as a case study to demonstrate how coupled modeling can be used to represent interactions between the food web and fishers in a social-ecological system. Narragansett Bay holds both a commercial fishery for forage fish, i.e., Atlantic menhaden (Brevoortia tyrannus) and a recreational fishery for their predators, i.e. striped bass (Morone saxatilis) and bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix). To explore trade-offs between these two fisheries, we created a food web model and then coupled it to a recreational fishers’ behavior model, creating a dynamic social-ecological representation of the ecosystem. Fish biomass was projected until 2030 in both the stand-alone food web model and the coupled social-ecological model, with results highlighting how the incorporation of fisher behavior in modeling can lead to changes in the ecosystem. We examined how model outputs varied in response to three attributes: (1) the forage fish commercial harvest scenario, (2) the predatory (piscivorous) fish abundance-catch relationship in the recreational fishery, and (3) the rate at which recreational fishers become discouraged (termed “satisfaction loss”). Higher commercial harvest of forage fish led to lower piscivorous fish biomass but had minimal effects on the number of piscivorous fish caught recreationally or recreational fisher satisfaction. Both the abundance-catch relationship and satisfaction loss rate had notable effects on the fish biomass, the number of fish caught recreationally, and recreational fisher satisfaction. Currently, the lack of spatial and location-specific fisher behavior data limits the predictive use of our model. However, our modeling framework shows that fisher behavior can be successfully incorporated into a coupled social-ecological model through the use of agent-based modeling, and our results highlight that its inclusion can influence ecosystem dynamics. Because fisher decision making and the ecosystem can influence one another, social responses to changing ecosystems should be explicitly integrated into ecosystem modeling to improve ecosystem-based fisheries management efforts

What's in a message? Delivering sexual health promotion to young people in Australia via text messaging

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Advances in communication technologies have dramatically changed how individuals access information and communicate. Recent studies have found that mobile phone text messages (SMS) can be used successfully for short-term behaviour change. However there is no published information examining the acceptability, utility and efficacy of different characteristics of health promotion SMS. This paper presents the results of evaluation focus groups among participants who received twelve sexual health related SMS as part of a study examining the impact of text messaging for sexual health promotion to on young people in Victoria, Australia.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Eight gender-segregated focus groups were held with 21 males and 22 females in August 2008. Transcripts of audio recordings were analysed using thematic analysis. Data were coded under one or more themes.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Text messages were viewed as an acceptable and 'personal' means of health promotion, with participants particularly valuing the informal language. There was a preference for messages that were positive, relevant and short and for messages to cover a variety of topics. Participants were more likely to remember and share messages that were funny, rhymed and/or tied into particular annual events. The message broadcasting, generally fortnightly on Friday afternoons, was viewed as appropriate. Participants said the messages provided new information, a reminder of existing information and reduced apprehension about testing for sexually transmitted infections.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Mobile phones, in particular SMS, offer health promoters an exciting opportunity to engage personally with a huge number of individuals for low cost. The key elements emerging from this evaluation, such as message style, language and broadcast schedule are directly relevant to future studies using SMS for health promotion, as well as for future health promotion interventions in other mediums that require short formats, such as social networking sites.</p

Effectiveness and Cost Effectiveness of Expanding Harm Reduction and Antiretroviral Therapy in a Mixed HIV Epidemic: A Modeling Analysis for Ukraine

A cost-effectiveness study by Sabina Alistar and colleagues evaluates the effectiveness and cost effectiveness of different levels of investment in methadone, ART, or both, in the mixed HIV epidemic in Ukraine

Differences in Heart Rate Variability Associated with Long-Term Exposure to NO2

BACKGROUND: Heart rate variability (HRV), a measure of cardiac autonomic tone, has been associated with cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Short-term studies have shown that subjects exposed to higher traffic-associated air pollutant levels have lower HRV. OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to investigate the effect of long-term exposure to nitrogen dioxide on HRV in the Swiss cohort Study on Air Pollution and Lung Diseases in Adults (SAPALDIA). METHODS: We recorded 24-hr electrocardiograms in randomly selected SAPALDIA participants >or= 50 years of age. Other examinations included an interview investigating health status and measurements of blood pressure, body height, and weight. Annual exposure to NO2 at the address of residence was predicted by hybrid models (i.e., a combination of dispersion predictions, land-use, and meteorologic parameters). We estimated the association between NO2 and HRV in multivariable linear regression models. Complete data for analyses were available for 1,408 subjects. RESULTS: For women, but not for men, each 10-microg/m3 increment in 1-year averaged NO2 level was associated with a decrement of 3% (95% CI, -4 to -1) for the standard deviation of all normal-to-normal RR intervals (SDNN), -6% (95% CI, -11 to -1) for nighttime low frequency (LF), and -5% (95% CI, -9 to 0) for nighttime LF/high-frequency (HF) ratio. We saw no significant effect for 24-hr total power (TP), HF, LF, or LF/HF or for nighttime SDNN, TP, or HF. In subjects with self-reported cardiovascular problems, SDNN decreased by 4% (95% CI, -8 to -1) per 10-microg/m3 increase in NO2. CONCLUSIONS: There is some evidence that long-term exposure to NO2 is associated with cardiac autonomic dysfunction in elderly women and in subjects with cardiovascular disease

Re: Impact of holding the baby following stillbirth on maternal mental health and well-being: findings from a national survey. BMJ Open 2016;6(8):e010996

Response to 'Impact of holding the baby following stillbirth on maternal mental health and well-being: findings from a national survey' BMJ Open 2016, 6(8), e010996 (9pp). doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2015-010996. Response available at: https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/6/8/e010996.responses (Accessed: 19 January 2023)Dear Editor: We were interested in the recent article by Redshaw et al. which reported higher rates of mental health and relationship difficulties among women who held their stillborn baby.1 We agree this is an important topic, but after reviewing the article in depth, we would like to raise several concerns. (1) We note that this was a retrospective survey with a 30.2% response rate in which just 3% of women did not see and 16% did not hold their baby; these limitations were acknowledged but we believe they also restrict the ability to draw broad conclusions. (2) There was little exploration into the reasons why women did not hold their babies and if they had any regrets about their decisions. While four out of five women reported they did not hold because they could not or did not want to, the study did not account for the fact that women who declined may be fundamentally different at baseline, so that mental health outcomes may be due to underlying differences in mothers rather than their choices or experiences at birth. (3) While the authors emphasize that holding was associated with a trend toward worse mental health outcomes, their actual multivariable analyses show that at 9 months, the only statistically significant difference was higher odds of anxiety. Pre-existing anxiety could contribute to a woman's hesitance to hold the baby after delivery and separately serves as a predictor of postpartum mental health. (4) Even though there are many validated, widely-tested measures to assess postpartum depression,2-5 anxiety,6 and PTSD,7, 8 in both live birth and bereaved mothers, this study used non-validated self-report measures which leads to the need for very cautious interpretation of the results. (5) The factors which have been demonstrated to be strong predictors of postpartum depression and PTSD include prior mental health conditions, interpersonal violence, and lack of social support.9-12 This study did not measure or control for any of these factors. (6) Another issue not addressed in this article is the well-acknowledged preference by parents to be given the option to see or hold their baby and strong evidence that the majority of women are satisfied with their decision.10, 13 Events surrounding the birth of a stillborn baby can have lasting impact on how a mother experiences, remembers, and copes with this event.14 The decision to see or hold a stillborn baby warrants additional investigation, but research must adjust for the known confounders which have been shown to predict development of mental health problems. Moreover, there should be recognition that the experience of a mother at the time of delivery is complex, and multiple pre-existing and intrapartum factors may affect subsequent outcomes and grief. In summary, we believe it is not possible to reach a conclusion from this study about whether the decision to see or hold a stillborn baby is detrimental or helpful to bereaved parents and urge research to gain a more nuanced understanding of the factors which contribute to parental experiences at the time of delivery and which may influence long-term mental health outcomes. We strongly urge health care providers to continue to offer women the option to hold their stillborn baby, and to make this offer in a respectful, supportive, and normative manner

A Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of “Test” versus “Treat” Patients Hospitalized with Suspected Influenza in Hong Kong

BACKGROUND: Seasonal and 2009 H1N1 influenza viruses may cause severe diseases and result in excess hospitalization and mortality in the older and younger adults, respectively. Early antiviral treatment may improve clinical outcomes. We examined potential outcomes and costs of test-guided versus empirical treatment in patients hospitalized for suspected influenza in Hong Kong. METHODS: We designed a decision tree to simulate potential outcomes of four management strategies in adults hospitalized for severe respiratory infection suspected of influenza: "immunofluorescence-assay" (IFA) or "polymerase-chain-reaction" (PCR)-guided oseltamivir treatment, "empirical treatment plus PCR" and "empirical treatment alone". Model inputs were derived from literature. The average prevalence (11%) of influenza in 2010-2011 (58% being 2009 H1N1) among cases of respiratory infections was used in the base-case analysis. Primary outcome simulated was cost per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) expected (ICER) from the Hong Kong healthcare providers' perspective. RESULTS: In base-case analysis, "empirical treatment alone" was shown to be the most cost-effective strategy and dominated the other three options. Sensitivity analyses showed that "PCR-guided treatment" would dominate "empirical treatment alone" when the daily cost of oseltamivir exceeded USD18, or when influenza prevalence was <2.5% and the predominant circulating viruses were not 2009 H1N1. Using USD50,000 as the threshold of willingness-to-pay, "empirical treatment alone" and "PCR-guided treatment" were cost-effective 97% and 3% of time, respectively, in 10,000 Monte-Carlo simulations. CONCLUSIONS: During influenza epidemics, empirical antiviral treatment appears to be a cost-effective strategy in managing patients hospitalized with severe respiratory infection suspected of influenza, from the perspective of healthcare providers in Hong Kong

Structure and Functions of Pediatric Aerodigestive Programs: A Consensus Statement

Aerodigestive programs provide coordinated interdisciplinary care to pediatric patients with complex congenital or acquired conditions affecting breathing, swallowing, and growth. Although there has been a proliferation of programs, as well as national meetings, interest groups and early research activity, there is, as of yet, no consensus definition of an aerodigestive patient, standardized structure, and functions of an aerodigestive program or a blueprint for research prioritization. The Delphi method was used by a multidisciplinary and multi-institutional panel of aerodigestive providers to obtain consensus on 4 broad content areas related to aerodigestive care: (1) definition of an aerodigestive patient, (2) essential construct and functions of an aerodigestive program, (3) identification of aerodigestive research priorities, and (4) evaluation and recognition of aerodigestive programs and future directions. After 3 iterations of survey, consensus was obtained by either a supermajority of 75% or stability in median ranking on 33 of 36 items. This included a standard definition of an aerodigestive patient, level of participation of specific pediatric disciplines in a program, essential components of the care cycle and functions of the program, feeding and swallowing assessment and therapy, procedural scope and volume, research priorities and outcome measures, certification, coding, and funding. We propose the first consensus definition of the aerodigestive care model with specific recommendations regarding associated personnel, infrastructure, research, and outcome measures. We hope that this may provide an initial framework to further standardize care, develop clinical guidelines, and improve outcomes for aerodigestive patients