Neighborhood disorder, psychophysiological distress, and health

How do neighborhoods affect the health of residents? We propose that the impact of neighborhood disorder on self-reported health is mediated by psychological and physiological distress. We hypothesize a stress process in which chronic stressors in the environment give rise to a psychological and physiological stress response that ultimately affects health. The exogenous variable of interest is the neighborhood where disadvantaged persons live, which may expose them to chronic stressors in the form of crime, trouble, harassment, and other potentially distressing signs of disorder and decay. The mediator is the stress response that occurs in the body and brain. Of interest here is a psychological stress response in the form of fearful anxiety and depression, and a physiological stress response in the form of signs and symptoms of autonomic arousal, such as dizziness, chest pains, trouble breathing, nausea, upset stomach, and weakness. The outcome is poor health. This model is supported using data from the Welfare, Children, and Families project, a sample of 2,402 disadvantaged women in disadvantaged neighborhoods in Chicago, Boston, and San Antonio.     

Emissions from Mass Burn Resource Recovery Facilities

Recent resource recovery facility stack tests have increased the available pool of data on emissions from these facilities. This has led to more accurate predictions of emissions from proposed facilities. The source, type, and rate of emissions presented are based upon a review of the literature, theoretical approaches, stack test data from existing facilities, permit levels of other facilities, and discussions with equipment manufacturers. The pollutants selected for study are those regulated by United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) regulations and other pollutants of concern. The pollutants studied are particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, nonmethane hydrocarbons, hydrogen sulfide, reduced sulfide, reduced sulfur compounds, total reduced sulfur, lead, mercury, beryllium, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, chromium +6, copper, manganese, nickel, vanadium, zinc, hydrogen chloride, fluorides, sulfuric acid mist, polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons, polychlorinated biphenyls, vinyl chloride, dioxins, furans, formaldehyde, and asbestos.     

Policy Perspectives on Social,Agricultural, and Rural Sustainability1

Abstract Three types of agricultural, or sustainability, policy are introduced. One deals with the interests of society, another with the agricultural sector, and the third with rural people and places. Each type serves different purposes, interest groups, and issues. Yet, they share some common ground. Because social, agricultural, and rural objectives are interdependent, we need all three policy types if any is to be effective in a highly specialized society. Agricultural policy often substitutes for rural policy, but this is inadequate. Factors shaping the rural policy context include regionality, the large rural population, the rural situation, lack of rural human resource development, technological displacement, and legislation. The environment, economic change, physical infrastructure, social services, jobs, and the role of land grant universities are issues to be considered in rural policy.     

The Logic and Meaning of the Logico-Meaningful Method*

La “recherche du sens logique” chez Pitirim A. Sorokin n'est pas une méthode qui contredise les principes généraux de la science, comme longtemps les critiques I'ont prétendu. Il s'agit plutôt d'une méthode qui rencontre les exigences prescrites afln d‘élaborer des modèles théoriques d'un niveau d'abstraction élevéà partir de données empiriques. Cette methode propose une façon d'agencer les faits sociaux et culture] s en ayant recours a un ensemble conceptuel grace a des types ideaux. II s'agit d'une espèce de conceptualisation qui a une grande valeur explicative et qui peut permettre de plus l’élaboration de nouvelles théories.