This article extends the work on firearms and the Black community through an expanded critique of Black allegiance to the progressive gun control agenda. I have argued that this “modern orthodoxy” is at odds with the history of, and longstanding justifications for, Black distrust of the state. This article extends that argument in light of more recent developments. It contends that racially biased enforcement of contemporary gun regulations adds a new layer to the case for Black distrust of the state and further undercuts the modern orthodoxy. It further argues that the shrinking efficacy and relevance of the gun control agenda similarly undercut the modern orthodoxy. This article concludes that the modern orthodoxy is a failed experiment and should be replaced with a race-sensitive, hard-look approach to firearms policy and the Black community.

Addressing trace organic contaminants (TrOCs) in freshwater supplies is increasingly important to ensure continued water security as it becomes stressed by rising demand and climate change. While many physical-chemical technologies are ineffective or cost-prohibitive for removing these contaminants from water, biological treatment is becoming an appealing strategy due to generally lower energy and chemical requirements, resulting in improved sustainability and cost-effectiveness. The research presented in this dissertation describes the treatment of environmentally relevant mixtures of water contaminants using biodegradation by bacterial biofilms and treatment trains. 1,4-Dioxane, an industrial solvent and solvent stabilizer, which is a probable carcinogen frequently detected in water supplies, was used as a model TrOC. First, a propanotroph, Mycobacterium austroafricanum JOB5, grown planktonically or in biofilms, was demonstrated to cometabolically biotransform 1,4-dioxane in the presence of carcinogenic hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)]. In both growth modes, extracellular polymeric substances shielded the cells and mitigated inhibitory effects of Cr(VI) at levels as high as 10 mg/L. Next, Pseudonocardia dioxanivorans CB1190 biofilms grown on ZSM-5 zeolite (bio-zeolite) were capable of sustaining their growth by biodegrading 1,4-dioxane in aqueous mixtures containing chlorinated volatile organic compounds (CVOCs). Isotherm modeling and molecular dynamics simulations helped characterize the adsorption mechanisms of 1,4-dioxane and how CVOCs affected the overall treatment performance of the system. Bio-zeolite was able to degrade 1,4-dioxane in the presence of trichloroethene or cis-1,2-dichloroethene with little observable inhibition, but was inhibited by the presence of 5 mg/L 1,1-dichloroethene. Lastly, flow-through columns packed with granular activated carbon (GAC) bioaugmented with CB1190 biofilms (bio-GAC) were determined to remove 1,4-dioxane and CVOCs from water more effectively than abiotic GAC. Column reactors containing a bio-GAC/sand mixed bed removed 1,4-dioxane better than a stratified bed. Longer hydraulic residence times caused increased oxygen limitation due to oxygen adsorption by GAC. Additionally, appropriate application of nutrients was found to be crucial to bioreactor performance due to the presence of other microbes and possible adsorption by GAC. This research will be valuable for further developing more sustainable technologies to treat TrOC mixtures containing mixed-polarity compounds and present new directions for applying biological-physical treatment trains to address recalcitrant environmental contaminants.

Background: Medical Priority Dispatch System (MPDS) is a type of Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) system used to prioritize 9-1-1 calls and optimize resource allocation. Dispatchers use a series of scripted questions to assign determinants to calls based on chief complaint and acuity.

Objective: We analyzed the prehospital interventions performed on patients with MPDS determinants for breathing problems, chest pain, unknown problem (man down), seizures, fainting (unconscious) and falls for transport status and interventions.

Methods: We matched all prehospital patients in complaint-based categories for breathing problems, chest pain, unknown problem (man down), seizures, fainting (unconscious) and falls from January 1, 2004, to December 31, 2006, with their prehospital record. Calls were queried for the following prehospital interventions: Basic Life Support care only, intravenous line placement only, medication given, procedures or non-transport. We defined Advanced Life Support (ALS) interventions as the administration of a medication or a procedure.

Results: Of the 77,394 MPDS calls during this period, 31,318 (40%) patients met inclusion criteria. Breathing problems made up 12.2%, chest pain 6%, unknown problem 1.4%, seizures 3%, falls 9% and unconscious/fainting 9% of the total number of MPDS calls. Patients with breathing problem had a low rate of procedures (0.7%) and cardiac arrest medications (1.6%) with 38% receiving some medication. Chest pain patients had a similar distribution; procedures (0.5%), cardiac arrest medication (1.5%) and any medication (64%). Unknown problem: procedures (1%), cardiac arrest medication (1.3%), any medication (18%). Patients with Seizures had a low rate of procedures (1.1%) and cardiac arrest medications (0.6%) with 20% receiving some medication. Fall patients had a lower rate of severe illness with more medication, mostly morphine: procedures (0.2%), cardiac arrest medication (0.2%), all medications (28%). Unconscious/fainting patients received the following interventions: procedures (0.3%), cardiac arrest medication (1.9%), all medications (32%). Few stepwise increases in the rate of procedures or medications were seen as determinants increased in acuity.

Conclusion: Among these common MPDS complaint-based categories, the rates of advanced procedures and cardiac arrest medications were low. ALS medications were common in all categories and most determinants. Multiple determinants were rarely used and did not show higher rates of interventions with increasing acuity. Many MPDS determinants are of modest use to predict ALS intervention. [West J Emerg Med. 2011;12(1):19-29.]

Background

Objective

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Gender differences in "competitiveness," previously documented in laboratory experiments, are hypothesized to play a role in a wide array of economic outcomes. The current paper provides evidence of competition-aversion in a natural setting somewhere between the simplicity of a laboratory experiment and the full complexity and ambiguity of a labor market. The "State Street Mile" race offers both male and female participants a choice between two different levels of competition. Large, systematic age and gender differences are observed in the relationship between true ability and the decision to enter the more competitive race. Overall, qualified women and older runners are far less likely than qualified young men to enter a competitive race with cash prizes. However, the fastest young women unanimously enter the competitive race. Therefore, while we confirm age and gender differences in competitiveness in our field setting, the economic consequences to capable young women are rather small.

This case study examined competence in two third-grade classrooms where teachers centered children’s mathematical thinking in instructional decision-making. Offering a synthesis of sociocultural characterizations of competence, and drawing from a variety of data sources including classroom video, student work and assessments, and teacher interviews, this study investigated how competence was assigned, the forms of participation assigned competence, and how these particular constructions of competence shaped the mathematics that students learned and the kinds of agency they exercised.

Analyses revealed two predominant ways of participating shared across both classrooms—providing explanation and engaging with others’ mathematical ideas. Constructing competence around and in relation to students’ explanations and engagement with each other’s ideas created space for students to participate and be positioned competently for making a wide variety of contributions, including ways of contributing available when their understanding of the mathematics was still emerging. The two classrooms surfaced and built upon students’ partial understandings in different ways, leveraging students’ explanations and engagement with each other’s ideas to support individuals to take up their space in class discussions while also advancing instructional goals. Analyses of an end-of-year problem solving assessment demonstrated that students developed a strong understanding of multiplication and division, both in relation to their own prior achievement as well as to that of their peers across the state. Thus, both classrooms expanded collective notions of competence, and were successful in supporting students to demonstrate their mathematical learning. The findings of this study illustrate the relational nature of competence, and suggest that examining competence in relation to children’s thinking can provide a potential way to bring together learning about who children are and how they participate, the details of their mathematical thinking, and the contexts in which particular instructional practices are effective.

E-bike incentive programs are being utilized across the United States to encourage the adoption of active transportation. This study assesses the impacts of three e-bike rebate programs in Northern California using survey results gathered by each agency. Three research questions are answered through this study: “How has e-bike ownership impacted the mode choices, trip purpose, and travel frequency of our sample?”, “How much do e-bike rebate recipients reduce their mobile greenhouse gases (GHGs)?”, and “How did the design of each program impact who was able to participate and the program outcomes?”. To answer these, the research team merged and cleaned the survey data from the three programs, explored descriptive statistics, and undertook an estimation of GHG emissions reductions. This analysis highlighted changes in travel behavior, car travel replacement, the impact of program designs, and various equity impacts. E-bike recipients reported more regular bike use after getting their e-bike, although their frequency of bike travel began to decline in the long-term. Respondents also reported high rates of occasional car trip replacement (1-3 times per week and 1-3 times per month). The vast majority of e-bike use in the sample was for recreational travel. Although the GHG reductions analysis estimated a monthly diversion of 12-44 kilograms of CO2 per rebate participant. The authors conclude with an equity analysis that explores how program design influenced who participated in these rebate programs. This found that low-income requirements are successful at targeting those with the most need for financial assistance, though these requirements do not help meet other equity metrics by association.

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Gender differences in “competitiveness,” previously documented in laboratory experiments, are hypothesized to play a role in a wide array of economic outcomes. The current paper provides evidence of competition-aversion in a natural setting somewhere between the simplicity of a laboratory experiment and the full complexity and ambiguity of a labor market. The “State Street Mile” race offers both male and female participants a choice between two different levels of competition. Large, systematic age and gender differences are observed in the relationship between true ability and the decision to enter the more competitive race. Overall, qualified women and older runners are far less likely than qualified young men to enter a competitive race with cash prizes. However, the fastest young women unanimously enter the competitive race. Therefore, while we confirm age and gender differences in competitiveness in our field setting, the economic consequences to capable young women are rather small.

Local and state electric bike (e-bike) incentive programs offering point-of-sale or post-sale monetary discounts to consumers have been implemented across the United States since 2018. As yet, however, little is known about their effectiveness in changing travel behavior. To understand the outcomes of these incentive programs, UC Davis researchers analyzed survey data from rebate recipients in Northern California two months and one year after they acquired e-bikes. The rebate programs were evaluated for effects of e-bike ownership on travel behavior, including changes in bicycling, driving, and use of transit, and on greenhouse gas emissions. The team also suggest areas for future research.

View the NCST Project Webpage

E-bike incentive programs are being utilized across the United States to encourage the adoption of active transportation. This study assesses the impacts of three e-bike rebate programs in Northern California using survey results by the three agencies that administered the programs. Through this research, I answer three research questions: “How has e-bike ownership impacted the mode choices, trip purpose, and travel frequency of new adopters”, “How much do e-bike rebate recipients reduce their transportation-related GHG emission?”, and “How did the design of each program impact who was able to participate and the program outcomes?”. To answer these questions, we explored survey responses through descriptive statistics and undertook an estimation of GHG emissions reductions. I decided against more complex data analysis given data quality issues that arose during the cleaning process. Despite that, our analysis revealed changes in travel behavior, car travel replacement, the impact of program designs, and various equity impacts. E-bike recipients reported more regular bike use after getting their e-bike, although their frequency of bicycle use began to decline in the long-term while remaining above previous rates. Respondents also reported high rates of occasional car trip replacement (1-3 times per week and 1-3 times per month), indicating that e-bikes substituted occasional car trips. While there was evidence of regular car trip replacement, the vast majority of e-bike use in our sample was for recreational travel. Given that this data was collected during the COVID-19 pandemic when many restrictions were still in place, these high rates of reported recreational travel were unsurprising. Our GHG reduction analysis estimated a monthly diversion of 12-44 kilograms of CO2 per rebate participant, similar to the GHG emissions reductions observed in other research. We conclude with an equity analysis that explores how program design influenced who participated in these rebate programs. This found that low-income requirements successfully target those with the most need for financial assistance. However, these requirements do not help meet other equity metrics (a just age, gender, racial, and ethnic distribution) by association.