252 results
Search Results
2. Call for Papers.
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CULTURE - Abstract
A call for papers about the Americas, especially those addressing broad and substantive cultural issues is presented.
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- 2023
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3. Issue Info ‐ Call for papers (Theme 1).
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CHRISTMAS , *RITES & ceremonies - Abstract
In the article, the author offers information on the articles/papers for the theme issue about American Christmas like religious rituals of the American Christmas, Christmas costumes, and the holiday season.
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- 2023
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4. Place‐based subsidies and employment growth in rural America: Evidence from the broadband initiatives programme.
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Rupasingha, Anil, Pender, John, Williams, Ryan, Goldstein, Joshua, and Nair, Devika
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RURAL Americans , *PROPENSITY score matching , *SUBSIDIES ,AMERICAN Recovery & Reinvestment Act of 2009 - Abstract
This paper studies the labour market effects of the Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP), a programme authorized by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to promote broadband deployment, mainly in rural areas. The BIP is one of the largest USDA broadband programmes implemented to date, providing more than $3.4 billion in grants and loans in FY 2010. We investigate the impacts of BIP investments on employment outcomes in BIP‐recipient Census tracts compared to similar tracts outside of BIP project service areas between the inception of the programme in 2010 and 2019. We use a quasi‐experimental research design that combines difference‐in‐difference regression with propensity score matching estimation to identify the causal effect of the BIP investments on employment outcomes. We find that the BIP investments had a positive overall effect on employment growth that increased over time. The subsidized investments had a greater effect on employment in startups than in incumbent businesses, in the goods‐producing sector and the information and communications technology sector than other sectors, and a greater effect in micropolitan census tracts than tracts located in metropolitan areas or in small town and remote rural locations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2023
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5. Onset and demise dates of the rainy season in the South American monsoon region: A cluster analysis result.
- Author
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Rodrigues, Maria A. M., Garcia, Sâmia R., Kayano, Mary T., Calheiros, Alan J. P., and Andreoli, Rita V.
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CLUSTER analysis (Statistics) ,MONSOONS ,HIERARCHICAL clustering (Cluster analysis) ,SEASONS ,TIME series analysis - Abstract
This work proposes an adaptation of the method developed in previous papers to determine the onset and demise of the rainy season (ONR and DER) dates in the areas of the South American monsoon system (SAMS) based on the pentad antisymmetric outgoing long‐wave radiation (AOLR). In those papers, the sign change of the mean AOLR in the central Amazon Basin (CAM) and western central Brazil (WCB) from positive to negative defined the ONR, from negative to positive, the DER dates. Since the monsoon convection presents a northwest–southeast oriented progression, the antisymmetric area to the WCB was selected subjectively. Thus, here we propose to use the Ward hierarchical clustering method to select areas in the SAMS and in the northern tropical America (NTA) for the regionalized AOLR calculation. The significant (at the 95% confidence level) negative correlations with the largest magnitude among the clusters in the SAMS and NTA and the outgoing long‐wave radiation (OLR) and precipitation annual cycles in each group define the pairs to calculate the AOLR. Then, the AOLR time series is calculated and subjected to a 5‐pentad running mean filter. This method keeps the climatological features of the convection annual cycle such that the closer (farther) the pair is to the equator the longer (shorter) the rainy season. The ONR and DER dates found with this new method are remarkably close to those found previously. Therefore, the new method proposed here highlights regional aspects of rainy season and can easily be automatized for its routine application at the operational climate monitoring centres, for instance at INPE. This is the most important advantage of the method and might be relevant to the SAMS rainy season monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2022
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6. The sociological dimensions of multicultural education.
- Author
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Cook, William S.
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MULTICULTURAL education ,CRITICAL race theory ,SCHOOL librarians ,ETHNIC groups ,PEOPLE of color ,AFFIRMATIVE action programs in education ,EDUCATIONAL planning ,RACE - Abstract
The United States began as a place of bondage, a European‐privileged, segregated state where profit and exploitation ruled the day. American schools developed within this racially discriminate society. Euro‐American officials excluded African descendants and other people of color from political, economic, and educational opportunities. One theory to emerge for including non‐European descendants into America's segregated schools was multicultural education, which theorists established to provide African Americans and others with equal access to mainstream educational services. The popular terms to arise from multicultural education are diversity and inclusion although educators often use the condescending term "minorities" to describe communities of color. Critics of multicultural education believe it is unnecessary because it would create disunity and negate America's core values. Critics also believe multicultural educators do not address the impact of racism on educational development. Unlike multicultural educators, critical race theorists analyze the impact of racism as multicultural theorists tend to view racism as a social anomaly motivated by individual choice. This paper is an exploration of the sociological complexities of multicultural education and its effectiveness as a response to America's unjust society, the possibility of non‐white ethnic groups working together to create an atmosphere of educational equality under the theoretical guidance of multicultural education, and the extent of how students of color may include themselves in standard American school curriculums. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2024
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7. Seismic Evidence for Metamorphic Densification of the Lower Continental Crust in Eastern North America.
- Author
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Li, Cong, Hibbard, Leon, Gao, Haiying, and Williams, Michael L.
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SEISMIC wave velocity ,CRATONS ,CONTINENTAL crust ,ISOSTASY ,MOHOROVICIC discontinuity ,GARNET ,OROGENY - Abstract
The composition of the lower continental crust, as well as its formation, growth, and evolution, remains a fundamental subject to be understood. In this study, we carry out a comparative and integrative analysis of seismic tomographic models, teleseismic receiver function results, and Airy isostasy in order to investigate the properties of the lower continental crust in eastern North America. We extract the depths for Vs of 4.0 km/s, 4.2 km/s, and 4.5 km/s from three selected tomographic models and calculate the differences between the Vs depth contours and the Moho depth defined by receiver functions. We then calculate the Airy isostatic Moho depth and its misfit with the receiver‐function‐defined Moho. Our analysis reveals three key features: (a) the deepening of the Vs depth contours and the strong negative Airy misfit within the U.S. Grenville Province; (b) a seismically faster‐than‐average and compositionally denser‐than‐average lowermost crust in the eastern North American Craton and the Grenville Province; and (c) the thickest, seismically fastest, and densest lowermost crust beneath the southern Grenville Front, the southern Grenville‐Appalachian boundary, and the U.S.‐Canada national border. We suggest that the lower crust of the craton and the Grenville Province has densified through garnet‐forming metamorphic reactions during and after orogenesis, contributing to the widely distributed fast‐velocity layer. The lower crust beneath the tectonic boundaries could have experienced more extensive garnet growth during orogenesis and emplacement of mafic magma. This study provides new constraints on the seismic and compositional properties of the lower crust in eastern North America. Plain Language Summary: The continental crust provides important clues about the formation and evolution of the Earth. However, the dominant composition of the lower part of the continental crust remains enigmatic, especially in the regions where the seismic velocities are significantly faster than the global average. In this paper, we investigate the properties of the lower continental crust in eastern North America by comparatively analyzing two types of data sets: (a) the variations of seismic velocity within the crust and (b) the variations of the crustal thickness. Our comparative and quantitative analysis reveals that the lower crust of the eastern North American Craton and the Grenville Province is seismically faster and compositionally denser than the global average. The thickest, seismically fastest, and compositionally densest lower crust is roughly along the orogenic fronts and the U.S.‐Canada national border. We suggest that garnet growth within the lower crust is a viable mechanism for forming the widely distributed fast‐velocity layer in eastern North America. The lower crust may have been further densified through extensive garnet growth and emplacement of mafic magma at a regional scale. Key Points: A high‐velocity lower continental crust distributes widely in eastern North AmericaThe seismically fastest and densest lower crust is roughly along the orogenic frontsThe lower crust densifies through the metamorphic growth of dense minerals [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2023
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8. Oral health for baby boomers: Past, present, and future.
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Suarez‐Durall, Piedad, Mulligan, Roseann, and Enciso, Reyes
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DENTAL hygienists ,BABY boom generation ,ORAL health ,INFANT health ,DENTAL hygiene ,DENTAL offices - Abstract
Aims: This paper reviews the oral health services which were available for early (1945–1955) and late (1956–1964) baby boomers, as well as predicts their future oral healthcare needs. Methods and Results: The knowledge, beliefs, and attitudes of the parents of the baby boomers toward dental hygiene and oral healthcare, are reviewed. The introduction of dental health screenings occurred from 1910 to early 1970s, the creation of the first dental hygiene school and the introduction of water fluoridation influenced oral healthcare. Technology introduced in the dental offices in the 1960s included the high‐speed handpiece, followed by intraoral suction in 1979. Baby boomers are keeping their teeth at higher rates than preceding generations due to improved prevention and advances in the treatment of periodontal disease, and overall lower rates of smoking in older adults, when compared to younger adults. However, access to dental care remains an issue for many. Advances in prevention and treatment of periodontal disease, early detection of root caries, new restorative techniques, and improved technologies to replace teeth are also discussed. Conclusions: Early detection of periodontal disease, oral, and oropharyngeal cancer, risk factors for tooth loss and untreated caries are needed to improve the oral health for baby boomers. Access to oral healthcare is still an issue due to socio‐economic disparities in America. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2023
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9. Atmospheric Variations in Summertime Column Integrated CO2 on Synoptic Scales Over the U.S.
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Wang, Qingyu, Crowell, Sean M. R., and Pal, Sandip
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ATMOSPHERIC boundary layer ,ATMOSPHERIC carbon dioxide ,FRONTS (Meteorology) ,ATMOSPHERIC transport ,SUMMER ,GREENHOUSE gases - Abstract
Past studies have demonstrated that synoptically active weather systems play an important role in the spatial and temporal variations of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) within and above the planetary boundary layer. For the first time, we investigate the spatial variability of column‐averaged dry‐air mole fractions of CO2 ${\mathrm{C}\mathrm{O}}_{2}$ (i.e.,XCO2 $\mathrm{i}.\mathrm{e}.,{\mathrm{X}\mathrm{C}\mathrm{O}}_{2}$) due to the impact of synoptic scale transport using retrievals from the Orbiting Carbon Observatory‐2 (OCO‐2) for 66 summer cold front passage cases over the conterminous U.S. and Mexico from 2015 to 2019. XCO2 ${\mathrm{X}\mathrm{C}\mathrm{O}}_{2}$ differences across cold fronts in summer were found to be in good agreement with observations obtained from the Atmospheric Carbon and Transport (ACT‐America) field campaign, though with a reduced magnitude due the flat averaging kernel representing fairly uniform vertical sensitivity in the troposphere as opposed to in situ CO2 ${\mathrm{C}\mathrm{O}}_{2}$ measurements. OCO‐2 observed XCO2 ${\mathrm{X}\mathrm{C}\mathrm{O}}_{2}$ frontal differences are statistically distinct from north‐south XCO2 ${\mathrm{X}\mathrm{C}\mathrm{O}}_{2}$ climatological spatial variations on similar spatial‐scales on synoptically benign days, implying that the frontal passages contribute to enhanced XCO2 ${\mathrm{X}\mathrm{C}\mathrm{O}}_{2}$ spatial contrasts. An exploratory analysis finds no evidence of a linkage between the temperature differences and XCO2 ${\mathrm{X}\mathrm{C}\mathrm{O}}_{2}$ differences, but a more thorough exploration is left as future work. Plain Language Summary: Atmospheric CO2 ${\mathrm{C}\mathrm{O}}_{2}$ is one of the main contributors to climate change among the various long‐lived greenhouse gases. The spatial distributions of atmospheric CO2 ${\mathrm{C}\mathrm{O}}_{2}$ may change abruptly on short time scales (e.g., hours or less) and gradually on long time scales (e.g., years or longer). Due to weather, there are several mechanisms for atmospheric CO2 ${\mathrm{C}\mathrm{O}}_{2}$ spatial redistribution, for example, the advection of upwind sources and/or sinks. In this paper, we explore the spatial CO2 ${\mathrm{C}\mathrm{O}}_{2}$ differences related to summer cold fronts. We collect 66 summer cold fronts as seen from NASA's Orbiting Carbon Observatory‐2 over the CONUS and north Mexico between 2015 and 2019. The results suggest that the column‐averaged CO2 ${\mathrm{C}\mathrm{O}}_{2}$ (XCO2 ${\mathrm{X}\mathrm{C}\mathrm{O}}_{2}$) differences across these 66 summer cold fronts are statistically distinct from the climatological XCO2 ${\mathrm{X}\mathrm{C}\mathrm{O}}_{2}$ north‐south gradients. The summer cold‐front‐relative contrasts between warm and cold sectors can provide a reference for models in simulating the horizontal advection, source, and/or sink changes in the synoptic weather. Key Points: XCO2 ${\mathrm{X}\mathrm{C}\mathrm{O}}_{2}$ retrievals from Orbiting Carbon Observatory‐2 (OCO‐2) exhibit enhanced contrasts across cold fronts in the conterminous US during 2015–2019 summers, with larger XCO2 ${\mathrm{X}\mathrm{C}\mathrm{O}}_{2}$ values in the warm sectors than the cold sectorsAnalyses reveal that OCO‐2 observed transient XCO2 ${\mathrm{X}\mathrm{C}\mathrm{O}}_{2}$ frontal contrasts that were greater than climatological XCO2 ${\mathrm{X}\mathrm{C}\mathrm{O}}_{2}$ spatial differences on days without cold fronts in the CONUS in summers during the period 2015‐2019 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
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10. Geographic earnings inequality by race, 1960–2016.
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Nutting, Andrew W.
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INCOME inequality ,RACIAL inequality ,STANDARD metropolitan statistical areas ,RACE ,INTERNAL auditing - Abstract
Geographic inequality and racial disharmony are considered major factors in America's political divergence. This paper calculates geographic earnings inequality from 1960 to 2016 separately by race. From 2000 to 2016, White geographic inequality was significantly higher, and Hispanic geographic inequality was significantly lower, than Black and Asian geographic inequality. White geographic inequality rose from 1980 to 2008. Black and Hispanic geographic inequality fell from 1960 to 1980. Rural controls explain substantial shares of White geographic inequality in all years. Region and rural controls account for large shares of Black geographic inequality, especially from 1960 to 1990. Post‐1990, geographic inequality changes are largely explained by changes in overall earnings inequality, but 1960–1990 changes are not. Between‐race differences in geographic inequality translate into high‐income metropolitan statistical areas having had, since 1980, significantly smaller shares of Whites among their low‐income residents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2023
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11. What is the Place for Megachurches? A Comparison of 22 American Cities Based on the Causes of Effects Approach1.
- Author
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Pruisken, Insa
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STANDARD metropolitan statistical areas ,COMMUNITIES ,SOCIAL history ,RELIGIOUS groups ,VALUE orientations ,SOCIAL comparison ,MARKETPLACES ,SUCCESS - Abstract
The success of megachurches in America is often traced back to their strategic ability of mobilizing new members in a competitive, religious marketplace. This paper shifts the attention to the push factors of megachurch success. It develops a causes of effects approach, in which local place‐based conditions in 22 metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) are compared and related to megachurches. First, correspondence analysis (CA) is used to take into account a large set of explanatory conditions such as religious and ethnic group affiliations, social structural conditions as well as value orientations. CA reveals that megachurches are typically successful in MSAs characterized by an evangelical hegemony. Second, qualitative comparative analysis shows that population growth and suburbanization are necessary conditions for a high share of megachurches. An analysis of sufficient conditions leads to three propositions: Megachurches grow in cities (1) where a large closed evangelical community exists; (2) where a large upward oriented Christian immigrant community exists; (3) and in tolerant (and educated) areas—in conjuncture with the presence of a larger community of Protestants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2023
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12. A new social contract for technology.
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Srinivasan, Ramesh and Ghosh, Dipayan
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SOCIAL contract ,PUBLIC opinion ,SOCIAL workers ,FREEDOM of the press ,PUBLIC welfare ,SILICON Valley (Santa Clara County, Calif.) - Abstract
Copyright of Policy & Internet is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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- 2023
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13. Liberal nationalism and Central American refugees: What is America's national responsibility?
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Herr, Ranjoo Seodu
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CULTURAL nationalism ,REFUGEES ,NATIONALISM ,DEVELOPING countries ,IMMIGRATION policy ,FORCED migration ,EUGENICS - Abstract
In an era of unprecedented numbers of migrants from the global south to the global north, nationalism has become synonymous with liberal states' ethnocentric, xenophobic, and racist immigration policies. The Trump administration's treatment of Central American refugees has been taken as a prime example. By focusing on liberal cultural nationalism, this paper demonstrates that these prevailing perceptions about nationalism are unfounded. Although liberal cultural nationalism has been accused of endorsing restrictive immigration policies, the degree to which liberal cultural nationalism's immigration policies are restrictive is context dependent; under certain circumstances, liberal nationalism may call for relaxing immigration policies to admit certain types of immigrants by invoking the idea of national responsibility. Consequently, liberal cultural nationalism offers one of the strongest liberal arguments for admitting certain kinds of migrants from the global south. The Central American refugee crisis at the U.S. southern border is analysed as a case study to illustrate this. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2023
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14. Eviction and the Rental Housing Crisis in Rural America☆.
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Gershenson, Carl and Desmond, Matthew
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HOUSING , *RURAL housing , *RENTAL housing , *EVICTION , *CITIES & towns - Abstract
Evictions are commonplace in the United States, and their negative consequences are broad and severe. However, research on evictions to date has focused primarily on urban areas, and thus has not addressed the impact evictions have on rural renters. This paper offers the first comprehensive analysis of evictions in rural communities, where the number of renters has been increasing in recent decades. We use Eviction Lab's national eviction database to study the approximately 220,000 evictions filed in rural counties each year. While the majority of rural evictions affect families with a white head of household (57 percent in 2010), eviction filing rates are four times higher among rural Black renters than among rural white renters. Eviction filing rates are highest in heavily Black counties in the rural southeast. While eviction filings are somewhat lower in rural majority‐Hispanic counties, these communities experience low‐quality informal housing and overcrowding. Eviction rates are also higher in rural counties with higher rent burdens and where more households include children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
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15. Eviction and the Rental Housing Crisis in Rural America☆.
- Author
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Gershenson, Carl and Desmond, Matthew
- Subjects
HOUSING ,RURAL housing ,RENTAL housing ,EVICTION ,CITIES & towns - Abstract
Evictions are commonplace in the United States, and their negative consequences are broad and severe. However, research on evictions to date has focused primarily on urban areas, and thus has not addressed the impact evictions have on rural renters. This paper offers the first comprehensive analysis of evictions in rural communities, where the number of renters has been increasing in recent decades. We use Eviction Lab's national eviction database to study the approximately 220,000 evictions filed in rural counties each year. While the majority of rural evictions affect families with a white head of household (57 percent in 2010), eviction filing rates are four times higher among rural Black renters than among rural white renters. Eviction filing rates are highest in heavily Black counties in the rural southeast. While eviction filings are somewhat lower in rural majority‐Hispanic counties, these communities experience low‐quality informal housing and overcrowding. Eviction rates are also higher in rural counties with higher rent burdens and where more households include children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
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16. When "model minorities" become "yellow peril"—Othering and the racialization of Asian Americans in the COVID‐19 pandemic.
- Author
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Li, Yao and Nicholson, Harvey L.
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COVID-19 pandemic ,ASIAN Americans ,COVID-19 ,RACIALIZATION ,AMERICANS - Abstract
Using the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic as a case study, this paper engages with debates on the assimilation of Asian Americans into the US mainstream. While a burgeoning scholarship holds that Asians are "entering into the dominant group" or becoming "White," the prevalent practices of othering Asians and surging anti‐Asian discrimination since the pandemic outbreak present a challenge to the assimilation thesis. This paper explains how anger against China quickly expands to Asian American population more broadly. Our explanation focuses on different forms of othering practices, deep‐seated stereotypes of Asians, and the role of politicians and media in activating or exacerbating anti‐Asian hatred. Through this scrutiny, this paper augments the theses that Asian Americans are still treated as "forever foreigners" and race is still a prominent factor in the assimilation of Asians in the United States. This paper also sheds light on the limitations of current measures of assimilation. More broadly, the paper questions the notion of color‐blindness or post‐racial America. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2021
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- View/download PDF
17. Culture and dreaming: A story of co‐creation.
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PHOTOGRAPHY exhibitions ,CULTURAL history ,JEWISH children ,CULTURE ,INDIGENOUS peoples - Abstract
We are haunted by "ghosts" derived from the cultural history in which we are immersed. Many of these ghosts are deeply unconscious in a psychodynamic sense―repressed, disavowed, or denied. Experiences of triangulation, via prolonged emotional exposure to a different culture, may assist in gaining awareness of the presence of these ghosts. Cultural beliefs such as the nature of reality, causality, and time are fundamental for the developing child. These beliefs develop in a child through the very earliest identifications with primary caretakers. Hence, they form the fabric of reality for the child. Loewald makes a very similar point about the development of reality sense. Evidence for the child's primary identification with the mother as subject is presented in Trigant Burrow's writing nearly a century ago, and in contemporary writing about gender development in women and in men. Further support for the very early role of culture in promoting "learning from experience" is provided by Mark Solms who demonstrates the crucial role of "precision"―that is, the ability to assess the significance of each perception. Studies of the relationship between dream reality and waking reality for an indigenous people in the Amazon rainforest show that the very fabric of reality depends upon culture. In this paper, the author discusses ghosts from his own childhood and from recent American cultural history. As a Jewish child in America, he absorbed resonances of Eastern European pogroms, Holocaust history, and ancient Jewish slavery in Egypt, commemorated in the Passover Seder. As an American boy, he grew up with the legacies of racism, the enslavement of African–Americans, and genocidal attacks on indigenous peoples. These ghosts (and others) were simultaneously displayed, hidden in plain sight, and deeply repressed in cultural artifacts such as Edward Steichen's Family of Man photographic exhibition. Discussion of that exhibition illustrates the multiple ways that culture is constitutive of conscious, preconscious, and deeply unconscious mental life. In a variety of ways, psychoanalysis both helps and hinders exploration of cultural influences. To shed light on what is culturally repressed, and to triangulate the culture one grows up in, it's helpful to live in another culture for a while. Experiences with the Achuar people in the Amazon rainforest provide a lens for examining culture, reality, and dreaming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2022
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18. Market Concentration and Natural Resource Development in Rural America.
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Mueller, J. Tom, Shircliff, Jesse E., and Steinbaum, Marshall
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INDUSTRIAL concentration ,NATURAL resources ,RURAL Americans ,RURAL development ,ECONOMIC specialization - Abstract
Natural resource development, both extractive (oil, gas, mining, and timber) and non‐extractive (tourism, real estate, outdoor recreation), has been found to negatively impact economic prosperity in rural America. One mechanism recently proposed for why this occurs is high levels of labor market concentration, or oligopsony. Oligopsony occurs when there are few employers within a labor market and can lead to suppressed wages and a power imbalance between employers and workers. In this paper, we test the moderating effect of labor market concentration on the relationship between natural resource development and per capita income and poverty in rural America from 2010 to 2016. By comparing results between extractive and non‐extractive development, as well as manufacturing, we show that labor market concentration attenuates the beneficial relationship observed at low levels of specialization in natural resources—particularly for extractive forms of development. Further, by finding no significant relationship between manufacturing specialization and economic prosperity, nor any moderating effect of labor market concentration in the case of manufacturing, we demonstrate that natural resource development and labor market concentration have a unique relationship with rural American economic prosperity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2022
- Full Text
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19. Making America great (the first time): U.S. economic nationalism in historical perspective.
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ECONOMIC policy ,ECONOMIC history ,RIGHT-wing populism ,BETRAYAL ,NINETEENTH century ,UNITED States history - Abstract
Supporters of Donald Trump often frame his protectionist policies as part of a venerable economic nationalist tradition. This paper examines the process which allowed this historical narrative to form. Examining the history of U.S. economic nationalism, it argues that during the nineteenth century, that tradition became increasingly defined by 'tariff fixation', an emphasis on high tariffs to the exclusion of other more effective means for supporting national development. This led the reduction of high tariffs after the 1930s to be viewed as a 'great betrayal' of the United States, a narrative that has been of great use to contemporary right‐wing populists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2022
- Full Text
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20. Electrocoagulation as a revived wastewater treatment method‐practical approaches: a review.
- Author
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Magnisali, Eirini, Yan, Qun, and Vayenas, Dimitris V
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WASTEWATER treatment ,WATER purification ,INDUSTRIAL wastes ,SEWAGE ,HYBRID systems - Abstract
This review paper aims to demonstrate electrocoagulation (EC) as a revived technology and introduce recent steps of advanced configurations, along with hybrid approaches for the efficient electrochemical treatment of multi‐sourced wastewaters. A brief theoretical background is also provided. Moreover, the practical applications of the process are presented, while no previous research has ever attempted to do so. Through online‐based data research, it was found that there are 75 manufacturers of EC systems internationally. Industrial case studies reveal actual process conditions and economical data. America holds 33% of global EC systems' manufacturing share and it is considered the leader in EC innovative designs with a percentage of almost 59%. In America and Europe, composite schemes are nearly equivalent to EC autonomous systems, with respective percentages of 41% and 47%. The performance of a two‐stage process combining electro‐coagulation (EC) and electro‐oxidation (EO) has been proven to be the most successful combination in industrial wastewater treatment, representing 54% of hybrid systems available globally. Most of the commercialized EC systems are of small‐medium sizes, accounting for 88% of all systems available worldwide. The latest trends on new reactor and electrode configurations are also presented. EC has great potential for further improvement as there is strong academic background to support water treatment companies for industrial scale ups. Cylindrical type reactors tend to dominate due to the ease of their use and maintenance; meanwhile, hybrid systems of EC with EO, membranes and/or adsorption will continue to expand on the market due to the mature level of these technologies and their ease of adaptation. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2022
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21. "The First Mark of Pain": Toward a child‐centered methodological reorientation of social theory, race and corporal punishment in American life.
- Author
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Patton, Stacey, Rollo, Toby, and Curry, Tommy J.
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SOCIAL theory ,SOCIAL scientists ,ADULTS ,PARENTS ,BLACK children ,DISCIPLINE of children ,PUNISHMENT ,CORPORAL punishment - Abstract
The current white supremacist racial order in America fundamentally relies on fear and pain to shape the subjectivities of Black people in childhood. This violence is most visible when enacted by police officers against unarmed Black youth. A less visible yet more pernicious form of racist violence against Black children is exercised by community proxies such as Black teachers and parents. Annual government reports reveal that Black children are more likely to be injured or killed by their parents than by police. In this paper we inquire as to why, despite the many Black writers who have described parental violence as an intergenerational re‐enactment of the violence of slavery, and despite decades of research on the harms of hitting children, social theorists have not analyzed how Black parents can serve as proxies for white supremacist violence. We argue that Black parenting culture has in many ways internalized the white supremacist view that corporal punishment is required to instill the discipline necessary to spare Black youth from police violence and incarceration. We conclude that until social scientists foreground the voices of Black youth in their studies, rather than adults, our ability to understand and confront the reproduction of white supremacist violence will be impeded. We argue that the physical punishment of children in Black families is an aspect of the legacy or "afterlife" of slavery. We contend that this omission persists because Black youth voices are absent from social analysis on the issue of physical punishment, existing only in clinical studies divorced from macro‐sociological analysis, and we discuss how this omission occurred as a matter of scholarly history. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2021
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
22. "As is" America: Subcontracting freedom.
- Subjects
CONTRACT theory ,SUBCONTRACTING ,JUSTICE administration ,SOCIAL contract ,EXTRAJUDICIAL executions ,PUNISHMENT ,CRIMINAL behavior - Abstract
Objective: This study examines the nature and uses of the Constitution as a social contract. America's original agreement with its Black citizens, under the three—fifths clause of the Constitution, is one of commodification. The Constitution constructs the Black body as expendable property in a subcontract. Police protect and serve in maintaining this status quo. Methods: This research analyzes the literature on the social contract theory. This paper compares classical theorists such as Locke, Rawls, and Nozick with opposing literature from Rousseau, Mills, and Pateman. This comparison highlights what many consider "just" as a thinly veiled attempt to justify the legality of the state's actions. Also, there is a review of Graham v. Oconnor to determine how case law upholds the subjugation of Black bodies as part of the subcontract. Results: My research suggests that Black citizens are only entitled to the rights and privileges of a subcontract. This subcontract allows for the harassment, unequal treatment, and in some instances, the death of marginalized groups by police at any time. Conclusion: From the extrajudicial killing of Amadou Diallo to that of Breonna Taylor, it is evident from the past two decades that Black lives are expendable; police officers continue to enforce the fugitive slave clause, which allows for punishment by death for the assumption of criminal behavior. My research helps illuminate the relationship between the Black experience and police encounters as a proxy of a subcontract within the Constitution. These events—the lawless actions of police officers, and a political and legal system that supports these actions—fuel recent waves of the BLM movement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2021
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
23. Nanopore sequencing for the detection and identification of Xylella fastidiosa subspecies and sequence types from naturally infected plant material.
- Author
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Faino, Luigi, Scala, Valeria, Albanese, Alessio, Modesti, Vanessa, Grottoli, Alessandro, Pucci, Nicoletta, Doddi, Andrea, L'Aurora, Alessia, Tatulli, Giuseppe, Reverberi, Massimo, and Loreti, Stefania
- Subjects
XYLELLA fastidiosa ,DNA sequencing ,SUBSPECIES ,PHYTOPATHOGENIC microorganisms ,PLANT species ,BACTERIAL diseases - Abstract
Xylella fastidiosa (Xf) is a gram‐negative bacterial plant pathogen that can infect over 500 plant species. While it is endemic in America, X. fastidiosa subsp. pauca was reported for the first time in Europe in 2013 on olive trees in southern Italy. The availability of fast, sensitive, and reliable diagnostic tools is indispensable for managing current and future outbreaks of Xf. In this paper, we use the OXford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) MinION platform for detecting and identifying Xf at species, subspecies, and sequence type (ST) level. Two workflows were developed: the first one provided a "shotgun" strategy, that is, exploring the possibility of detecting Xf within DNA extracted from plant samples. This allowed detection of Xf by direct DNA sequencing and identifying the subspecies only in samples with high bacterial levels. Nanopore amplicon sequencing was pursued as a second workflow. This consists of PCR amplification of a set of seven multilocus sequence typing (MLST) fragments, officially adopted for identifying Xf at type strain level, followed by Nanopore‐sequencing of the amplicons and an ad hoc pipeline to generate MLST consensus calls. This combined approach, which takes only a few hours, allowed the detection and identification of Xf at ST level in plant material with low bacterial infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2021
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
24. HLA‐G in Mayas from Yucatan: An evolutionary approach.
- Author
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Arnaiz‐Villena, Antonio, Suárez‐Trujillo, Fabio, Palacio‐Gruber, José, Rodríguez‐Sainz, Carmen, Fernández‐Cruz, Eduardo, Martín‐Villa, José Manuel, and Fragoso, José Manuel
- Subjects
DNA sequencing ,HAPLOTYPES ,ALLELES ,INDIGENOUS peoples of the Americas ,GENE frequency ,PATHOLOGICAL physiology - Abstract
HLA‐G allele frequencies were studied in Yucatán (Mexico) Maya Amerindians by a direct exon DNA sequencing technique. It is described that Mayas are probably one of the first populations together with Olmecs that populated Meso America and that important HLA genetic differences between Mexican and Guatemalan Mayas support that Maya languages were imposed to several neighbouring Amerindian groups. HLA‐G*01:01:02, HLA‐G*01:01:01 and HLA‐G*01:04:01 are the most frequent alleles in this population. It is remarkable that HLA‐G*01:05N allele was not found in the population in accordance with similar results found in another Amerindians. Also, protein allele HLA‐G*01:04 frequency is found not to differ to those found in another far or close living Amerindians in contrast to other World populations. It seems that while high HLA‐G*01:05N frequency is found in Iran and Middle East populations, probably where this allele appeared within an ancestral HLA‐A*19 group of alleles haplotype and it is maintained by unknown evolutionary forces, Amerindians do not have a high frequency because a founder effect or because required natural evolutionary forces do not exist in America. Finally, we believe useful to study HLA‐G evolution for its physiopathology understanding in addition to the many papers on statistics on HLA‐G and in vitro models that are yearly published. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2021
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
25. Does the Alt‐Right still matter? An examination of Alt‐Right influence between 2016 and 2018.
- Author
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Thompson, Jack and Hawley, George
- Subjects
ALT-Right (Political science) ,UNITED States presidential election, 2020 ,ELECTIONS ,PANEL analysis ,RIGHT & left (Political science) - Abstract
In this paper, we use panel data from the 2016 and 2017 waves of the Voter Study and the 2018 American National Election Studies (ANES) Pilot, to better understand the relative influence of the Alt‐Right on mainstream US politics in the Trump era. Given the degree of formal alignment between Trump and a number of key voices within the movement, we first examine the strength of the association between affect for the Alt‐Right and support for Republican Party between 2016 and 2018. We also examine relative levels of affect for the Alt‐Right among Whites between this period, tracking a number of important changes. We find that, while affect for the Alt‐Right was strongly associated with support for Republican candidates such as Trump in the 2016 election cycle, we find a somewhat weaker relationship between affect for the Alt‐Right and White support for Trump and down ballot Republican candidates in 2018. We also find that, after rising between 2016 and 2017, levels of affect for Alt‐Right appear to have declined by 2018. The results are therefore reflective of exponential rise of the Alt‐Right during the 2016 election and the movement's subsequent implosion after the 2017 'United the Right', rally in Charlottesville, VA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2021
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
26. Lethal and repellent effect of amitraz, eugenol and thymol against Triatoma infestans, the main vector of Trypanosoma cruzi in the southern of America.
- Author
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Dadé, Martín M., Daniele, Martin, Reyes‐Novelo, Enrique, and Rodriguez‐Vivas, Roger I.
- Subjects
THYMOL ,EUGENOL ,REPELLENTS ,TRYPANOSOMA cruzi ,BOTANICAL insecticides ,TRIATOMA - Abstract
The lethal and repellent effect of the synthetic insecticide amitraz and the botanical insecticides eugenol and thymol separately and together in binary mixtures was tested against late‐stage nymphs of a susceptible strain of Triatoma infestans, the main vector of Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiological agent of Chagas disease, in the Southern Cone of America. For the lethality study, the LD50 was determined for each insecticide alone and in binary mixture by topical application. The combination index (CI) was established to quantify interactions occurring between the insecticides. The repellent effect was tested using the area preference technique. The lethal effect of amitraz was 11 and 34 times more potent than that of thymol and eugenol, respectively. Only the combination of eugenol and amitraz at high concentrations showed a synergistic effect (CI: 0.3). The repellent activity of monoterpenes after 30 min of exposure was significant at 780 and 78 μg/cm2 for eugenol and thymol, respectively. The residual repellent effect of eugenol lasted for one week at the concentrations of 1170 and 1560 μg/cm2, whereas thymol managed to retain its repellent effect for two weeks at concentrations of 1560 and 3900 μg/cm2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
27. Chapter 1 Confronting America's Archaeological Legacies.
- Author
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Beisaw, April M., Kirakosian, Katie, Witt, David E., and Wheeler, Ryan J.
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ARCHAEOLOGY ,INDIGENOUS peoples ,ARCHAEOLOGISTS ,BLACK men ,EDUCATION costs ,INTERNSHIP programs ,METOO movement - Abstract
American archaeology is rooted in the behaviors of our predecessors, yet our criticism of those forbearers is often disconnected from the issues of today's practice. Contributors to this volume seek to bridge that gap with a healthy dose of reflection. First, this introduction touches on some issues that are not more fully covered in the chapters that follow, specifically the #MeToo movement and field/conference safety, race, and class inequalities especially the costs of field schools and unpaid internships, and the need for inclusive practices for those who are differently abled. Then we summarize those issues that this volume does focus on, pointing out connections and interrelationships. Three major themes are explored: (1) how the identity of an archaeologist can impact their legacy; (2) how the careers of celebrated "big men" and "big projects" are often misrepresented; and (3) the relationship of archaeology to Black and Indigenous peoples, women, and other marginalized groups, including those who are archaeologists. To conclude, each editor presents a reflection of their own relationship to American archaeology and how that inspired this volume. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
28. Is America coming apart? Socioeconomic segregation in neighborhoods, schools, workplaces, and social networks, 1970–2020.
- Author
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Mijs, Jonathan J. B. and Roe, Elizabeth L.
- Subjects
SOCIAL impact ,SOCIAL networks ,NEIGHBORHOODS ,INCOME inequality - Abstract
As income inequality in the United States has reached an all‐time high, commentators from across the political spectrum warn about the social implications of these economic changes. America, they fear, is "coming apart" as the gap between the rich and poor grows into a fault line. This paper provides a comprehensive review of empirical scholarship in sociology, education, demography, and economics in order to address the question: How have five decades of growing economic inequality shaped America's social landscape? We find that growing levels of income inequality have been accompanied by increasing socioeconomic segregation across (1) friendship networks and romantic partners, (2) residential neighborhoods, (3) K‐12 and university education, and (4) workplaces and the labor market. The trends documented in this review give substance to commentators' concerns: compared to the 1970s, rich and poor Americans today are less likely to know one another and to share the same social spaces. The United States is a nation divided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2021
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- View/download PDF
29. Time for space at the table: an African American - Native American analyst-in-training's first-hand reflections. A call for the IAAP to publicly denounce (but not erase) the White supremacist writings of C.G. Jung.
- Author
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Carter, Christopher J.
- Subjects
NATIVE Americans ,AFRICAN Americans ,SOCIAL order ,JUNGIAN psychology ,HELPLINES - Abstract
Copyright of Journal of Analytical Psychology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
- Published
- 2021
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- View/download PDF
30. Between Islam and the New Age: The Jerrahi Order and categorical ambiguity in the study of Sufism in North America.
- Author
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Xavier, Merin Shobhana and Dickson, William Rory
- Subjects
SUFISM ,ISLAM ,ISLAMIC theology ,ISLAMIC law ,AMBIGUITY - Abstract
Drawing upon our ethnographic research of the Jerrahi Sufi Order, in this paper we consider an analytical problem in the study of Sufism in North America. In engaging two distinct branches of the Jerrahi Order, we draw attention to the ways in which identities and practices shaped by classical Islamic law and theology cannot be easily parsed from those associated with the New Age movement in North America. We begin by offering a brief overview of Sufism in North America, highlighting reconfigurations of authority, organization, and practice. Following this, we consider the two major North American branches of the Jerrahi Sufi order: The Jerrahi Order of America, and the Nur Ashki Jerrahi Order, drawing out the conceptual problems of categorizing these branches by distinguishing between the "Islamic" and the "New Age" within these movements. We conclude with a summary of the utility and drawbacks these categories offer the study of Sufism, while considering some directions for future scholarship on the subject. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2021
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
31. Rural Food Retailing and Independent Grocery Retailer Exits.
- Author
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Çakır, Metin, Kong, Xiangwen, Cho, Clare, and Stevens, Alexander
- Subjects
INDUSTRIAL concentration ,RURAL development ,FOOD security ,GOVERNMENT policy ,POVERTY rate - Abstract
We investigate the food retailing landscape and the exit of independent grocery stores in rural America using U.S. NETS data. Our paper makes several contributions that could potentially help the agenda for future research and public policy. We begin by documenting local concentration trends in food retailing and how they change across rural and urban markets from 1990 to 2015. Then, we conduct two event studies to examine how entry by a large chain is associated with the local market concentration and independent grocery retailer (IGR) exits. Last, we document the IGR exit rate in rural markets for a period of twenty‐five years and investigate its determinants in a regression framework. Our results show that market concentration in food retailing has increased since 1990, but the increasing trend after the Great Recession of 2008 is particularly noticeable. The local concentration differs substantially by the urban status of markets. Focusing on rural markets, we show that entry by a large food retailer is associated with higher market concentration and the decreasing number of IGRs. We also find that the annual average IGR exit rate is around 6.6% during the study period. The IGRs that are younger that operate in relatively more competitive markets, and that face entry by a large chain, are more likely to exit. Also, IGR rates are higher in markets with lower median income and higher poverty rates. We discuss how our results can potentially inform policies on sustainable rural development, food access, and food insecurity in rural communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2020
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
32. What is the Place for Megachurches? A Comparison of 22 American Cities Based on the Causes of Effects Approach1.
- Author
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Pruisken, Insa
- Subjects
- *
STANDARD metropolitan statistical areas , *COMMUNITIES , *SOCIAL history , *RELIGIOUS groups , *VALUE orientations , *SOCIAL comparison , *MARKETPLACES , *SUCCESS - Abstract
The success of megachurches in America is often traced back to their strategic ability of mobilizing new members in a competitive, religious marketplace. This paper shifts the attention to the push factors of megachurch success. It develops a causes of effects approach, in which local place‐based conditions in 22 metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) are compared and related to megachurches. First, correspondence analysis (CA) is used to take into account a large set of explanatory conditions such as religious and ethnic group affiliations, social structural conditions as well as value orientations. CA reveals that megachurches are typically successful in MSAs characterized by an evangelical hegemony. Second, qualitative comparative analysis shows that population growth and suburbanization are necessary conditions for a high share of megachurches. An analysis of sufficient conditions leads to three propositions: Megachurches grow in cities (1) where a large closed evangelical community exists; (2) where a large upward oriented Christian immigrant community exists; (3) and in tolerant (and educated) areas—in conjuncture with the presence of a larger community of Protestants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
33. Vickia, a new genus of tribe Gochnatieae (Compositae).
- Author
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Roque, Nádia and Sancho, Gisela
- Subjects
TRIBES ,ASTERACEAE ,SETAE ,PARSIMONIOUS models ,VEINS ,DNA - Abstract
The tribe Gochnatieae is restricted to America. A recent molecular study including over 60% of the species of the tribe was carried out to untangle evolutionary relationships among the taxa. Eight supported clades were recovered as monophyletic genera, while Gochnatia s.l. was revealed as paraphyletic and currently restricted to the Central Andes. Gochnatia rotundifolia was not included in this phylogeny since extracted DNA from few and old collections from Brazil was unusuable. Since Cabrera's treatment of Gochnatia s.l., this species has received special attention due to its distinct morphological characters when compared with the other monophyletic genera of Gochnatieae. Therefore, this paper aims to provide new evidence that supports Gochnatia rotundifolia to be described as a separate monospecific genus based on a morphological study and a maximum parsimony (MP) analysis. A total of 21 species were studied. The leaf venation was analysed using digital X‐ray capture (VIVA–Varian Image viewing & Aquisition). Seventeen morphological characters obtained from vegetative and floral parts of the plants were included in the data matrix. Our results reinforce the placement of Gochnatia rotundifolia within the tribe Gochnatieae. Gochnatia rotundifolia is consistently recovered in a clade as sister to the Cnicothamnus‐Richterago group. The species differs from the other genera of the tribe by an actinodromous basal leaf venation with three primary veins, and pappus elements composed by (50–)60–75 bristles, sometimes almost flat setae, arranged in 2 or 3 series, unequal in length. Our results support Gochnatia rotundifolia as the sole species Vickia rotundifolia comb. nov. in a new genus of Gochnatieae, Vickia gen. nov. The new genus is described, illustrated, and a generic identification key for the tribe Gochnatieae is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2020
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
34. Grenville's Postponement of the Stamp Act Reconsidered*.
- Subjects
BRITISH colonies ,DIRECT taxation ,STAMP duties ,AMERICAN Revolutionary War, 1775-1783 ,COMMON law - Abstract
In March 1764 George Grenville announced plans to raise revenues in America for colonial defence with stamp duties. Opinions differ about why Grenville then postponed the Stamp Act until a year hence. Writing in 1950, Edmund S. Morgan found the decision puzzling. Peter D.G. Thomas and John L. Bullion subsequently offered procedural explanations. Grenville envisaged the Stamp Act as a firm precedent for parliament's authority to impose direct taxation ('inland duties') in the colonies – a prospect that terrified Americans schooled in the common law, alert to dangerous precedents, and already prone to slippery‐slope reasoning. With the mundane details of the Stamp Act unavailable until after its passage, however, the postponement also raised imperial debate to a level of abstraction from which it never retreated. Grenville's postponement of the Stamp Act foreclosed prospects for compromise and set British imperial policy on a course that ultimately fomented the American Revolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2022
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
35. Preface and Acknowledgments.
- Subjects
HISTORY of slavery ,BRITISH colonies ,EIGHTEENTH century - Abstract
A preface to the book "The Correspondence of Stephen Fuller, 1788-1795: Jamaica, the West India Interest at Westminster and the Campaign to Preserve the Slave Trade" is presented.
- Published
- 2014
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
36. An ensemble model of convolution and recurrent neural network for skin disease classification.
- Author
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Ahmad, Belal, Usama, Mohd, Ahmad, Tanvir, Khatoon, Shabnam, and Alam, Chaudhary Maqbool
- Subjects
CONVOLUTIONAL neural networks ,RECURRENT neural networks ,NOSOLOGY ,SKIN diseases ,SHORT-term memory ,SKIN - Abstract
Skin cancer is one of the rapidly growing diseases in the world. Especially, millions of cases are reported every year by all types of skin cancer in America. Early detection of skin cancer using dermoscopy, the light source, and the magnification device are used to inspect the skin lesions. A dermatologist observed hypodermic structures are normally invisible. However, accurate and effective skin disease classification by humans is not straightforward and requires a long time of practice. Furthermore, it is often inaccurate and difficult to reproduce, being unable to completely use the long‐term dependence connection between specific image key features and image labels even for experienced dermatologists. Therefore, it needs to develop a computer‐aided diagnostic system for reliable skin cancer diagnosis. Classical methods focus on designing and combining hand‐craft features from input data and face vanishing or exploding of loss gradient problem, whereas the bidirectional long short term memory (BLSTM) network does not need any prior knowledge or pre‐designing, and it is an expert in keeping the associated information in both directions. Thus, to improve the classification performance for handling these problems, we proposed a hybrid classification method based on the deep convolutional neural network and stacked BLSTM network. Firstly, deep features are extracted from input skin disease facial images. Next, the sequential features among input data are learned using a dual BLSTM network, where dual BLSTM through max‐pooling, the forward and backward long short term memory (LSTM) hidden states of both the feature matrix and its transpose concatenates for inputting into a dense, fully connected (FC) layer. Finally, the softmax function is used to classify skin disease images. To improve the generalization capability, we evaluate our method on two skin disease image datasets and compare their local image descriptors. The proposed method achieved the best mean accuracy of 91.73%, which shows significant improvements in skin disease classification compared with state‐of‐the‐art skin disease classification methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2022
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
37. Strong Green‐Up of Tropical Asia During the 2015/16 El Niño.
- Author
-
Satriawan, T. W., Luo, X., Tian, J., Ichii, K., Juneng, L., and Kondo, M.
- Subjects
EL Nino ,TROPICAL dry forests ,LEAF area index ,VEGETATION greenness ,CLIMATE change ,PLATEAUS - Abstract
El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is the main climate mode that drives the interannual variability in climate and consequently vegetation greenness. While widespread green‐up has been reported and examined in tropical America during El Niño, it remains unclear how vegetation in tropical Asia changes during the period. Here, we used four remote sensing‐based leaf area index (LAI) products to investigate changes in vegetation greenness during the 2015/16 El Niño in tropical Asia. We found a strong green‐up during the 2015/16 El Niño in tropical Asia, with its regional average LAI stronger than that of tropical America. The drivers for the green‐up vary across the region, with radiation being the main driver for continental tropical Asia, and temperature and soil water anomalies in the west and east parts of maritime tropical Asia, respectively. These findings provide important insights into the response of tropical Asia's vegetation to extreme climate anomalies. Plain Language Summary: El Niño is a climate pattern that is associated with warm and dry conditions in tropical forest regions. Significant climatic changes during El Niño thus affect vegetation greenness (i.e., growth, size of canopy, amount of leaves). While an increase in vegetation greenness has been reported in tropical America during El Niño, it remains unclear how vegetation in tropical Asia changes during the period. Here, we used satellite data to investigate changes in vegetation greenness during El Niño in 2015–2016 in tropical Asia. We found a strong increase in vegetation greenness in tropical Asia during this period. The cause of this increase in greenness varied across different parts of tropical Asia. In mainland tropical Asia, sunlight was the main driver, while in maritime Southeast Asia, temperature or soil moisture was the main driver. These findings help provide better understanding of how vegetation in tropical Asia responds to extreme climate events like El Niño. Key Points: Tropical Asia experienced strong green‐up during the 2015/16 El Niño, stronger than that of tropical AmericaIn continental tropical Asia, green‐up was mostly driven by anomalously high shortwave radiationIn maritime tropical Asia, green‐up was primarily driven either by anomalously warmer temperatures or drier soil moisture from the west to east [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
38. Weapon Usage in Attempted and Completed Parricides in Nineteenth-Century America: An Archival Exploration of the Physical Strength Hypothesis.
- Author
-
Shon, Phillip C. H.
- Subjects
WEAPONS ,CRIMINALS ,CONFLICT management ,JUSTICE administration - Abstract
The “physical strength hypothesis” (PSH) predicts that where there is the greatest discrepancy in size and strength between offenders and victims, the former will use superior weaponry (e.g., firearms) to overcome structural imbalances against the latter. Using archival data from the New York Times and the Chicago Tribune, 1851–1899, this paper examines the weapons used in attempted and completed parricides in nineteenth-century America. Findings indicate that parricide offenders used firearms most frequently against their fathers while intimate contact methods were used against mothers. When gun usage was combined with level of intent in male offender patricides, where the greatest discrepancy in strength was expected, results indicate that spontaneous gun usage outnumbered premeditated gun usage, thus challenging the assumptions of the PSH. The data suggest that cultural factors such as methods of dispute resolution, weapon carrying, and alcohol consumption may be important factors in understanding parricides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2010
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
39. Talent recruitment analysis based on Chinese mainland public colleges and universities in perspective of occupation requirement.
- Author
-
Huang, Zhengliang, Huang, Jin, Zhang, Zhentong, Zhu, Ming'an, and Wei, Yan
- Subjects
UNIVERSITIES & colleges ,TALENT management ,MASTER'S degree ,WESTERN countries ,WORK ethic ,STUDENT recruitment ,SWOT analysis ,STATE universities & colleges - Abstract
The open recruitment in Chinese mainland public colleges and universities mainly require master's degree or above currently. In the perspective of occupation requirement, combined with recruitment processes, this research analyzed ideological and moral quality, work ethic, ability and quality and others concerned by recruiting units (public colleges and universities), in addition, made moderate comparisons with that of Western countries represented by America. This research aimed to guide worldwide talents who were fond of Chinese culture and wanted to come to China to choose educational positions. It helped personnel administrators in higher education institutions to rethink recruitment processes, so as to improve recruitment efficiency, talent quality, optimize faculty structure and perfect personnel regulations and system. Moreover, it provided clues to an in‐depth exploration and analysis of sino‐american in education, talent management and related policies in universities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2021
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
40. Effect of breastfeeding promotion interventions on child growth: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
- Author
-
Giugliani, Elsa R.J., Horta, Bernardo L., Loret de Mola, Christian, Lisboa, Bernardo O., and Victora, Cesar G.
- Subjects
BREASTFEEDING ,GROWTH of children ,META-analysis ,SYSTEMATIC reviews ,BODY mass index ,CONFIDENCE intervals ,HETEROGENEITY ,BODY weight ,CHILD development ,CLINICAL trials ,STATURE - Abstract
Aim: To update a previous systematic review and meta-analyses about the effect of breastfeeding promotion interventions on child growth.Methods: Studies evaluating the effect of any type of breastfeeding promotion intervention on child weight, length (or height) and weight/height (or BMI) were screened. Papers published between 2006 and 2014 were checked using the following databases: PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Lilacs and SciELO.Results: Sixteen studies were added to 19 other studies identified in the previous review, resulting in 35 studies. Meta-analyses of studies reporting on mean weight, length, weight/length or BMI showed that the interventions had no impact on weight or length/height z scores [pooled effect: 0.03 (95% confidence interval: -0.06;0.12) and 0.03 (95% confidence interval: -0.02;0.08), respectively] and had a modest, but significant, reduction in body mass index/weight-for-height z scores [z score mean difference: -0.06 (95% confidence interval: -0.12;0.00)], which was limited to studies from low- and high-incomes settings. For all three outcomes, there was important heterogeneity among studies, which should be taken into account when interpreting the results.Conclusion: Breastfeeding promotion interventions were not associated with significant changes in weight or length, but led to a modest, albeit significant, reduction in body mass index/weight-for-height z scores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]- Published
- 2015
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
41. FDI and Income Inequality-Evidence from Latin American Economies.
- Author
-
Herzer, Dierk, Hühne, Philipp, and Nunnenkamp, Peter
- Subjects
FOREIGN investments ,INCOME inequality ,REGRESSION analysis ,COINTEGRATION ,HOUSEHOLDS ,ECONOMIC policy - Abstract
This paper analyzes whether foreign direct investment ( FDI) has contributed to the wide income gaps in Latin America. Panel cointegration techniques as well as regression analysis are performed to assess the impact of inward FDI stocks on income inequality among households in Latin American host countries. The panel cointegration analysis typically reveals a significant and positive effect on income inequality. There is no evidence for reverse causality. The findings are fairly robust to the choice of different estimation methods, sample selection and the period of observation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2014
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
42. Evaluation and improvement of blood donor educational materials: results from a multicenter randomized controlled trial.
- Author
-
Wehrli, Gay, Rossmann, Susan N., Waxman, Dan A., and Katz, Louis M.
- Subjects
RANDOMIZED controlled trials ,BLOOD donors ,EXPERIMENTAL design ,CLINICAL trials ,BLOOD collection ,RESEARCH ,RESEARCH methodology ,MEDICAL cooperation ,EVALUATION research ,COMPARATIVE studies ,TEACHING aids ,PATIENT education ,LONGITUDINAL method - Abstract
Background: Blood collection centers are charged with creating donor educational materials (DnEM) that are easily understood across all prospective donor populations, while addressing mandates and recommendations from regulatory agencies and professional standard setting organizations. Donors must have sufficient information to understand the donation process with its risks and benefits, time to consider options before deciding, and opportunity to choose whether to proceed with or decline donating. The goal of this multisite randomized controlled trial was to evaluate knowledge acquired using standardized DnEM. America's Blood Centers' Working Group (WG) for Donor Education and Communication was formed to evaluate and suggest modifications of these documents. Based on pilot work, a randomized clinical trial was designed to test donor knowledge across a variety of populations. The WG identified several shortcomings in the current DnEM and proposed new DnEM. The new DnEM were tested against the same, current DnEM being used at all three sites (Blood Donor Educational Material, 2016 version 2.0, published in conjunction with the AABB uniform donor history questionnaire).Methods and Materials: One-hundred sixty-five first time and returning donors were randomized in a 2x2 model to review either new DnEM or current DnEM. Every participant completed a pre- and post-quiz that tested their understanding of the DnEM.Results: Returning donors had greater baseline knowledge compared to new donors, but new donors improved more versus returning donors. Donors using the new DnEM showed greater improvement in knowledge than those using current DnEM.Conclusion: Comprehension of DnEM can be improved. With this sample size the results suggest that the findings are independent of demographic characteristics, but a larger study would be necessary to confirm this. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]- Published
- 2020
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
43. Environmental Policy, Rankings and Stock Values.
- Author
-
Amato, Louis H. and Amato, Christie H.
- Subjects
ENVIRONMENTAL policy ,VALUATION ,BUSINESS enterprises ,ENVIRONMENTAL responsibility ,REVENUE ,STOCK prices - Abstract
ABSTRACT This paper examines the impact of Newsweek's 'The Greenest Big Companies in America' on stock values for large companies. Newsweek ranks the biggest Companies in America from one to 500. An event window of ten days following the rankings release to the public was examined to analyze the impact of relative rankings on stock values. Dummy variables were constructed denoting firms ranked in the highest and lowest quartiles. Control variables included return to the Dow Jones Industrial Average, the firm's beta coefficient and total revenue. The main finding of the study is that inclusion in the top quartile of the rankings has a positive and statistically significant impact on firms' stock values, while the coefficient for the lowest quartile was not statistically different from zero. The results provide evidence of a positive impact on stock values from favorable environmental recognition but no effect for low ranked firms. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2012
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
44. Pricing barrier and American options under the SABR model on the graphics processing unit.
- Author
-
Tian, Yu, Zhu, Zili, Klebaner, Fima C., and Hamza, Kais
- Subjects
FINANCIAL engineering ,PRICING ,OPTIONS (Finance) ,MATHEMATICAL models ,GRAPHICS processing units ,COMPUTER programming ,STOCHASTIC processes ,MARKET volatility ,MONTE Carlo method - Abstract
SUMMARY In this paper, we presented our study on using the graphics processing unit (GPU) to accelerate the computation in pricing financial options. We first introduced the GPU programming and the SABR stochastic volatility model. We then discussed pricing options with quasi Monte Carlo techniques under the SABR model. In particular, we focused on pricing barrier options by quasi Monte Carlo and conditional probability correction methods and on pricing American options by the least squares Monte Carlo method. We then presented our GPU-based implementation for pricing barrier options and hybrid CPU-GPU implementation for pricing American options. In addition, we described techniques for efficient use of GPU memory. We provided details of implementing these GPU numerical schemes for pricing options and compared performances of the GPU programs with their CPU counterparts. We found that GPU-based computing schemes can achieve 134 times speedup for pricing barrier options, while maintaining satisfactory pricing accuracy. For pricing American options, we also reported that when the least squares Monte Carlo method is used, special techniques can be devised to use less GPU memory, resulting in 22 times speedup, instead of the original 10 times speedup. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2012
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
45. GPGPUs in computational finance: massive parallel computing for American style options.
- Author
-
Pagès, Gilles and Wilbertz, Benedikt
- Subjects
GRAPHICS processing units ,FINANCIAL engineering ,MONTE Carlo method ,STOCHASTIC control theory ,PARALLEL computers ,COMPUTER software execution ,PRICING ,OPTIONS (Finance) ,MARKOV processes - Abstract
SUMMARY The pricing of American style and multiple exercise options is a very challenging problem in mathematical finance. One usually employs a least squares Monte Carlo approach (Longstaff-Schwartz method) for the evaluation of conditional expectations, which arise in the backward dynamic programming principle for such optimal stopping or stochastic control problems in a Markovian framework. Unfortunately, these least squares MC approaches are rather slow and allow, because of the dependency structure in the backward dynamic programming principle, no parallel implementation neither on the MC level nor on the time layer level of this problem. We therefore present in this paper a quantization method for the computation of the conditional expectations that allows a straightforward parallelization on the MC level. Moreover, we are able to develop for first-order autoregressive processes a further parallelization in the time domain, which makes use of faster memory structures and therefore maximizes parallel execution. Furthermore, we discuss the generation of random numbers in parallel on a GPGPU architecture, which is the crucial tool for the application of massive parallel computing architectures in mathematical finance. Finally, we present numerical results for a CUDA implementation of these methods. It will turn out that such an implementation leads to an impressive speed-up compared with a serial CPU implementation. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2012
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
46. New World Pouzolzia and Boehmeria (Urticaceae): a new species and new generic record for Paraguay, Pouzolzia amambaiensis, and additional observations on already described species of both genera.
- Author
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Wilmot-Dear, Christine Melanie and Friis, Ib
- Subjects
BOEHMERIA ,URTICACEAE ,HERBARIA - Abstract
The paper supplements a revision of the New World species of Boehmeria and Pouzozia published by the authors in 1996. Pouzolzia amambaiensis sp. nov. is described from recent material from Paraguay near the border with Brazil and represents a new generic record for Paraguay. Also recorded is a number of extensions of geographical ranges and the range of variation of Pouzolzia guatemalana, P. occidentalis, P. laevis, P. zeylanica, Boehmeria burgeriana and B. bullata subsp. coriacea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2012
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
47. Grazing in the Western United States Under Climate Change.
- Author
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May, DJ
- Subjects
CLIMATE change ,GRAZING ,RANGELANDS ,CATTLE ,EARTH sciences - Abstract
Directional climate change and climate variability are making it harder for producers to graze cattle on rangeland and make a living. New research in Agrosystems, Geosciences & Environment highlights ways producers can tweak their operations to keep cattle on America's valuable rangeland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
48. "You're overreacting!": The ambiguity of Asian American microaggressions delegitimizes collective action.
- Author
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Lee, Timothy and Molina, Ludwin E.
- Subjects
RACISM ,IMPLICIT bias ,RACE ,RESEARCH funding ,WHITE people ,MICROAGGRESSIONS - Abstract
Asian Americans are lauded as the model minority who are intelligent and industrious. Simultaneously, they are deemed as perpetual foreigners. The current research examines how racial microaggressions expressed by a White American source toward an Asian American target affect perceptions of the perpetrator and target. White Americans and Asian Americans read about an interaction between two college students, where the racial microaggression made was either an ambiguous expression of the model minority myth (MMM; all studies), an ambiguous perpetual foreigner stereotype (all studies), an unambiguous MMM (all studies), or no racial bias (Studies 2 and 3). Findings indicate that both Whites and Asian Americans respond differently—when exposed to the aforementioned conditions—regarding perceived racism of the White perpetrator and appropriateness of response by the Asian American target; however, they respond similarly regarding perceived legitimacy of collective action by the target. Nevertheless, Whites and Asian Americans deemed the ambiguous microaggression against the target as a model minority not racist relative to unambiguous MMM. Our findings show that ambiguous forms of bias toward Asian Americans go "under the radar" of both Whites and Asian Americans as being racist and contribute to the maintenance of the racial status quo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
49. The Built Environment and Social and Emotional Support among Rural Older Adults: The Case for Social Infrastructure and Attention to Ethnoracial Differences☆.
- Author
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Rhubart, Danielle, Kowalkowski, Jennifer, and Wincott, Logan
- Subjects
BUILT environment ,OLDER people ,INFRASTRUCTURE (Economics) ,SOCIAL support ,GERONTOLOGY ,RACE ,SOCIAL cohesion ,ETHNICITY - Abstract
Social and emotional support (SaES) is essential for older adult mental health and is shaped by individual‐level factors and the built environment. However, much of the focus on the built environment, and specifically social infrastructure—the physical places that facilitate social interaction and social tie formation—relies heavily on urban settings or samples with limited diversity. Consequently, there is little understanding if social infrastructure matters for the SaES of older adults in rural America, and across race and ethnicity. Therefore, we use social cohesion as a conceptual lens and the community gerontology framework to determine whether availability of social infrastructure is associated with SaES among older adults in rural America and whether this relationship varies across race and ethnicity. Using data from 110,850 rural older adults from the Behavioral Risk Factors Surveillance System and data from the National Neighborhood Data Archive, we show that among rural ethnoracial minority older adults, higher densities of social infrastructure are associated with higher SaES. This is not true for rural non‐Hispanic White older adults. Results highlight the importance of accounting for both social infrastructure as part of the built environment and heterogeneity across race and ethnicity in studies that examine older adult mental and emotional health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
50. Global prevalence of Neospora caninum in rodents: A systematic review and meta‐analysis.
- Author
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Hamzavi, Yazdan, Salimi, Yahya, Ahmadi, Mobin, Adimi, Parvaneh, Falahi, Sahab, and Bozorgomid, Arezoo
- Subjects
NEOSPORA caninum ,RODENTS ,LIFE cycles (Biology) ,POLYMERASE chain reaction - Abstract
Background: Neosporosis has been considered a cause of abortion in dairy and beef cattle worldwide. Rodents are reservoir hosts for several infectious diseases. It is necessary to determine the prevalence of Neospora caninum in rodents to improve the current understanding of the transmission dynamics of Neospora as well as its life cycle and risk of transmission to livestock. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to estimate the pooled global prevalence of N. caninum in different rodent species. Methods: Published studies on the prevalence of N. caninum in different rodent species were searched in the MEDLINE/PubMed, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, Scopus and Google Scholar and the reference lists of the retrieved articles until July 30, 2022. The eligible studies were selected using inclusion and exclusion criteria. The extracted data were verified and analysed using the random‐effect meta‐analysis. Result: For this meta‐analysis, a total of 4372 rodents from 26 eligible studies were included. The global prevalence of N. caninum in rodents was estimated at 5% (95% CI 2%–9%), with the highest prevalence in Asia (12%; 95% CI 6%–24%) and lowest prevalence in America (3%; 95% CI 1%–14%) and Europe (3%; 95% CI 1%–6%). N. caninum was more prevalent in females (4%; 95% CI 2%–9%) than in males (3%; 95% CI 1%–11%). The most common diagnostic test was polymerase chain reaction (PCR) (21 studies). The pooled prevalence of N. caninum in rodents based on the diagnostic method was as follows: immunohistochemistry: 11% (95% CI 6%–20%), NAT: 5% (95% CI 4%–7%), IFAT: 5% (95% CI 2%–13%) and PCR: 3% (95% CI 1%–9%). Conclusion: The results of this study showed a relatively low but widespread prevalence of N. caninum infection in rodents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
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