Search

This article provides a systematic review of the quantitative social science research on broadband Internet technology in rural areas. Specifically, we summarize the literature on 1) rural broadband availability and adoption behaviors and 2) the implications of these behaviors for rural businesses, public policy initiatives, and regional development. In the studies reviewed, rural areas suffer from both lower availability and lower adoption rates compared to their urban counterparts. However, researchers disagree on whether supply frictions inherent to rural areas or heterogeneous demand and adoption behaviors are the major cause of this outcome. Researchers widely agree that high-speed Internet improves economic outcomes of rural areas, whether it is through increases in business activity or in more general economic development measures (e.g. productivity, jobs, income). Impact evaluations of rural broadband policy initiatives produced mixed results, highlighting the need for a better understanding of agents' incentives. This review points to four areas for future research. One, assessments of the long-term impact of broadband on rural economies. Two, analyses of the net effect of broadband on economic development outcomes (e.g. migrants, job creation). Three, assessments of economic development impacts associated with broadband speed. Four, assessments of the efficacy of broadband policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the impact of broadband expansion on rural firms in the United States. It acknowledges the historical disparities in broadband availability between rural and urban areas and discusses the government's efforts to improve infrastructure. The article examines how broadband access affects local economies and innovation networks, and predicts changes in rural firms' innovative activities with improved access. It also discusses the benefits and challenges of broadband access for rural businesses, including increased competition. The article emphasizes the importance of policy support for rural innovation and suggests programs to educate rural business owners on utilizing broadband effectively. Overall, the article highlights the potential benefits of broadband access for rural firms and calls for further research and policy formulation to support rural growth. [Extracted from the article]

Although immunization against amyloid-[beta] (A[beta]) holds promise as a disease-modifying therapy for Alzheimer disease (AD), it is associated with an undesirable accumulation of amyloid in the cerebrovasculature [i.e., cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA)] and a heightened risk of micro-hemorrhages. The central and peripheral mechanisms postulated to modulate amyloid with anti-A[beta] immunotherapy remain largely elusive. Here, we compared the effects of prolonged intracerebroventricular (icv) versus systemic delivery of anti-A[beta] antibodies on the behavioral and pathological changes in an aged Tg2576 mouse model of AD. Prolonged icv infusions of anti-A[beta] antibodies dose-dependently reduced the parenchymal plaque burden, astrogliosis, and dystrophic neurites at doses 10- to 50-fold lower than used with systemic delivery of the same antibody. Both icv and systemic anti-A[beta] antibodies reversed the behavioral impairment in contextual fear conditioning. More importantly, unlike systemically delivered anti-A[beta] antibodies that aggravated vascular pathology, icv-infused antibodies globally reduced CAA and associated micro-hemorrhages. We present data suggesting that the divergent effects of icv-delivered anti-A[beta] antibodies result from gradually engaging the local (i.e., central) mechanisms for amyloid clearance, distinct from the mechanisms engaged by high doses of anti-A[beta] antibodies that circulate in the vasculature following systemic delivery. With robust efficacy in reversing AD-related pathology and an unexpected benefit in reducing CAA and associated micro-hemorrhages, icv-targeted passive immunotherapy offers a promising therapeutic approach for the long-term management of AD. Alzheimer disease | passive immunotherapy | vascular amyloid | microglia | peripheral sink

Recommends using fictional works about modern Asian and African history as supplementary reading in history courses to enhance student understanding of culture. Provides an annotated list of novels that have been used successfully in these courses. Outlines useful strategies for using fiction in college level history courses. (BSR)

Several letters to the editor are presented in response to articles in previous issues of "Policy Review," including "The Two Faces of George Kennan: From Containment to Understanding," in the Summer 1985 issue, "Atoms for Peace: Truman Was Right to Drop the Bomb," by Adam Meyerson in the Summer 1985 issue and "Voice of America: Ronald Reagan and the American Rhetorical Tradition," by Steven Hayward in the Summer 1985 issue.