Dual Environmentalism: Demand Response Mechanisms in Wholesale and Retail Energy Markets

This note argues that a dual jurisdictional approach to demand response programming is better suited to mitigate environmental harms than an “either-or” regulatory model. Through an exploration of FERC’s authority over wholesale demand response, state authority over retail-level demand response, and implications for electricity and capacity markets arising out of the Court’s decision in FERC v. EPSA, this note will offer effective legal mechanisms for mitigating environmental costs, while fostering environmental benefits. The next section of this note analyzes the strengths and weaknesses of state and federal regulatory approaches to demand response in isolation. Based on this assessment, this note suggests the policy mechanisms most conducive to environmentally-conscious electric energy regulation. This note concludes with a model regulatory scheme that utilizes demand response to mitigate global climate change and advance environmental sustainability

"It reminds me that I'm still me": Social programs for younger persons with dementia

Introduction: The needs of persons living with young onset dementia (YOD) may not be met by community programs for older persons with dementia. Two YOD programs in southern Ontario were designed to meet the unique needs of this group. This study aimed to understand: program processes, potential benefits, member goals, and ways in which the program could be improved to better serve the needs of persons living with YOD and their care partners. Methods: The study followed a qualitative action research approach, and explored the potential of Goal Attainment Scaling (GAS) as an individualized outcome measure for individuals in YOD day programs. Semi-structured individual interviews were conducted with 12 program members, 11 care partners, and seven program staff. Focus group interviews were conducted with members (six/site), and staff (seven and five/site). Interviews were tape-recorded, transcribed and analyzed using directed and emergent coding. Goal Attainment Scaling (GAS) is an individualized measurement tool that has been tested for use with persons with dementia, but has not yet been examined in this context. This study aimed to understand whether GAS could be useful in identifying member goals, and as an outcome measure in social programs for persons with YOD. Results and Discussion: Results provide an understanding of the barriers, facilitators, and recommendations for program improvement, from the perspective of persons with YOD, their care partners, and staff. Benefits for program members were highlighted including but not exclusive to, connecting with others around common experiences, and active engagement in activities – members see the program as a club. Program staff described the value of peer support in accommodating the changing needs of members over time. Care partners received enhanced respite, feeling reassured that the person with YOD is in good hands and among peers. GAS was helpful in identifying the types of goals that members have in this context. Members described positive progress on individual goals (GAS), including socializing and getting out in the community; most members showed a one- to four-point increase on the five-point scale. This progress was reflected in the collective T-scores calculated. We were unable to identify goals for those members who struggled with verbal communication skills. Conclusions: Two YOD day programs, operating as social clubs, provided benefits for younger persons with dementia and their care partners. This study indicated components of YOD day programs that are valued by members and care partners, and that should be integrated into the development of a program model and service requirements for these programs. GAS shows promise as an individualized outcome measure in social programs for younger persons with dementia. Alternatives to a discussion based format should be explored for those who struggle with verbal communication. Further investigation of the use of GAS in this context is warranted in larger studies. Knowledge translation and significance: The results of the study may be useful in refining the processes of the existing YOD day programs. Additionally, the results may aid in the development of service requirements and standards for these programs, which may then facilitate the expansion of these services. Highlighting the differences in need for persons with YOD and care partners is anticipated to have policy implications, such as recognition by regulatory bodies of the benefits of separating YOD and LOD services, and the provision of funding to improve the availability and accessibility of such services

“We are doing it all wrong”: A Narrative Inquiry Journey Co-Directed by Persons Living with Young Onset Dementia to Illuminate Inequities and Advocate for Change

In recent years more attention and concerns are being drawn to the noticeable increase in diagnoses of young onset dementia (YOD), that is individuals who are diagnosed with dementia and are under the age of 65 years. This increase is partially attributed to the high density of the Canadian population that are between the ages of 25 and 64. Despite the growing numbers, there remains a lack of awareness about, and support services for younger persons with dementia and their families, potentially contributing to early institutionalization. A time of crisis, such as with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, is particularly harmful for persons with YOD and their families, as not only are there not enough support services available, but persons who are admitted to long-term care (LTC) facilities are at a higher risk of experiencing inhumane treatment or exposure to the illness. This research aimed to gain a deeper understanding of the experiences of persons living with YOD, with hope that the impactful stories shared will create awareness around what it is like to live with young onset, and the steps that need to be taken to better support individuals and their families. As there is little research to-date that privileges the voices of younger persons with dementia, bringing their stories to the forefront of this research was of the utmost importance. This critical narrative inquiry (CNI) project, informed by Critical Gerontology (CG), Critical Disability Studies (CDS), and other critical theoretical frameworks, had three main purposes, which were to: illuminate how younger persons with dementia story their experiences of YOD and with the LTC system; 2) open spaces for persons living with YOD to collectively reflect on their experiences and engage in dialogic processes; and 3) develop a collaborative and synergistic narrative representation that illuminates experiences and paths for positive change in dementia care. To achieve these aims, this project had two guiding questions, which included: 1) What stories do persons with YOD share about their experiences of YOD and with the LTC system? and 2) What do persons with YOD need to live well that needs to be considered in a re-imagination of caring for persons with YOD? Using participatory methods and a series of storytelling workshops with six individuals living with YOD, four overarching narratives were created and comprised a total of 11 embedded narrative dialogues that reflect the experiences and viewpoints of the co-researchers. These narratives were presented in the form of podcast scripts, which will be integrated into an interactive multimodal e-flipbook that is continuing to take shape beyond this dissertation. Overarching narratives included: Shifting to New Realities, Recognizing and Resisting Ostracism, Learning from Past and Present, and Looking to the Future. The 11 embedded storylines included: Podcast 1A: “You better hope it’s not dementia” - Diverse Journeys to Diagnosis, Podcast 1B: “You can’t drive anymore” - Experiences of Losing a Driver’s License, Podcast 1C: “They weren’t downsizing, I just got the boot” - Forced Transitions Out of Employment, Podcast 1D: “How you have to give up things is ridiculously hard” - Navigating Financial Challenges, Podcast 2A: “Stigma follows us wherever we go” - Stories of Stigma and Challenging Stigma, Podcast 2B: “They don’t want to be part of your life” - The Impact of Stigma on Relationships, Podcast 3A: “Oh no sorry, it’s only for people 65 and older” - Current Realities of Community-Based Supports, Podcast 3B: “You hear the lock behind us” - Perceptions of Long-Term Care, Podcast 3C: “It’s a complicated topic” – Palliative and End of Life Care Options and Considerations, Podcast 4A: “Dementia’s given me something to get excited about” – Hopes and Aspirations for Living Well with Young Onset Now and in the Future, and Podcast 4B: “It’s like the hamster on the wheel” - Hopes and Aspirations Related to Care and Support. From the perspectives of persons with YOD, findings inform the steps that need to be taken to better support persons with young onset in living well with dementia. The stories and dialogues shared send powerful messages about the inequities experienced by persons with young onset, how individuals resist and challenge stigmatization and discriminatory practices, and the changes that need to be made to protect human rights and to make our society and the healthcare system more inclusive

Heritable site-specific mutagenesis using TALENs in maize

Transcription activator-like effector nuclease (TALEN) technology has been utilized widely for targeted gene mutagenesis, especially for gene inactivation, in many organisms, including agriculturally important plants such as rice, wheat, tomato and barley. This report describes application of this technology to generate heritable genome modifications in maize. TALENs were employed to generate stable, heritable mutations at the maize g lossy2 ( gl2 ) locus. Transgenic lines containing mono- or di-allelic mutations were obtained from the maize genotype Hi-II at a frequency of about 10% (nine mutated events in 91 transgenic events). In addition, three of the novel alleles were tested for function in progeny seedlings, where they were able to confer the glossy phenotype. In a majority of the events, the integrated TALEN T-DNA segregated independently from the new loss of function alleles, producing mutated null-segregant progeny in T1 generation. Our results demonstrate that TALENs are an effective tool for genome mutagenesis in maize, empowering the discovery of gene function and the development of trait improvement

CD147 mediates intrahepatic leukocyte aggregation and determines the extent of liver injury

Background: Chronic inflammation is the driver of liver injury and results in progressive fibrosis and eventual cirrhosis with consequences including both liver failure and liver cancer. We have previously described increased expression of the highly multifunctional glycoprotein CD147 in liver injury. This work describes a novel role of CD147 in liver inflammation and the importance of leukocyte aggregates in determining the extent of liver injury. Methods: Non-diseased, progressive injury, and cirrhotic liver from humans and mice were examined using a mAb targeting CD147. Inflammatory cell subsets were assessed by multiparameter flow cytometry. Results: In liver injury, we observe abundant, intrahepatic leukocyte clusters defined as ≥5 adjacent CD45+ cells which we have termed “leukocyte aggregates”. We have shown that these leukocyte aggregates have a significant effect in determining the extent of liver injury. If CD147 is blocked in vivo, these leukocyte aggregates diminish in size and number, together with a marked significant reduction in liver injury including fibrosis. This is accompanied by no change in overall intrahepatic leukocyte numbers. Further, blocking of aggregation formation occurs prior to an appreciable increase in inflammatory markers or fibrosis. Additionally, there were no observed, “off-target” or unpredicted effects in targeting CD147. Conclusion: CD147 mediates leukocyte aggregation which is associated with the development of liver injury. This is not a secondary effect, but a cause of injury as aggregate formation proceeds other markers of injury. Leukocyte aggregation has been previously described in inflammation dating back over many decades. Here we demonstrate that leukocyte aggregates determine the extent of liver injury