Urban development in the southern Great Plains: effects of atmospheric NO<Subscript>x</Subscript> on the long-lived post oak tree (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Quercus stellata</Emphasis>)

Concentrated human activities such as the burning of fossil fuels have resulted in chronic nitrogen (N) additions to urban ecosystems. We predicted that urban development in North Texas (NTX; the largest “megapolitan” region in the Great Plains) would be positively correlated with atmospheric concentrations of nitrogen oxides (NO_x) and with the leaf tissue quality (lower C:N ratio) and herbivory of the long-lived native tree, post oak (Quercus stellata). Data from air monitoring stations were used to calculate distance-weighted estimates of atmospheric NO_x for 11 sites of differing urban development across NTX. Soil samples were collected at each site along with post oak leaves, estimates of herbivory, and measurements of tree size. Percent urban development was strongly positively correlated with atmospheric NO_x concentrations, though there was no correlation between atmospheric NO_x and soil N. There was a positive relationship between soil N and leaf tissue quality, but only where atmospheric NO_x was relatively low, possibly due to factors that covary with urban development. Herbivory was not significantly correlated with leaf tissue quality, but leaves from the two most urban sites had the greatest amount of insect herbivory. The NO_x concentrations in NTX were lower than other industrialized cities, which may be due to climate and topography differences or the relatively young age of this urban area. This study adds to the expanding body of literature examining how urban ecosystems are affected (or not) by N deposition and suggests that interactions among NO_x, soils, and plants are complex and sometimes, counterintuitive.     

Major Depressive Disorder and Cardiovascular Disease in African-American Women

Major depression is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). This study used the National Survey of American Life (NSAL) to examine the co-occurrence of major depressive disorder (MDD) and CVD in a nationally representative sample of African American women (n = 2,216). Results from a series of logistic regression models indicated high rates of MDD and CVD in the sample, and the African American women with MDD were 1.59 times more likely to have CVD compared to those without MDD. High rates of MDD/CVD co-morbidity appeared across those living in and not living in poverty. These individuals demonstrated greater functional impairment and were high users of mental health services. Our findings validate that MDD and CVD co-occur and the need for more holistic interventions are warranted. The interface of co-morbid health conditions is critical to developing integrated models of care. Integrated health care systems are central for improving physical and mental health outcomes. These findings facilitate developing targeted assessment procedures and culturally appropriate treatment interventions. Increased knowledge regarding the role of gender, chronic health conditions, and the burden of mental illness in African American Women provides the opportunity to examine other chronic health conditions co-occurring with MDD.     

Using a Political Economy and Life Course Approach to Understand Gendered Pension Provision in the UK

The future sustainability of pensions has gained considerable international attention over recent years. These concerns have been fuelled by increasing longevity and rising pension deficits. In addition there has been further awareness of the extent of female pensioner poverty. In order to explore this situation a suitable analytical framework is required. As pensions received in retirement are dependent on earlier events in individuals’ lives, most notably their employment history, this paper explores the need for a life course approach to examine the gendered nature of pensions in the UK. Initially the life course approach, a key mode of analysis in political economy theory, is defined. It is then used to examine the notion of the changing ‘institution’ of retirement and its subsequent de‐standardisation. Then, linked to the political economy approach, it is utilised to introduce ways in which employment experiences of men and women impact upon inequalities in retirement. Finally, the article concludes that by employing such an approach to understanding pensions it enables a better appreciation of savings behaviour and opportunities.     

Criteria for Assessing the Case for Overseas Aid: A Note

This note derives minimum appraisal criteria for foreign aid consistent with those used by donor governments for domestic spending, and discusses implications for the level, allocation and financing of aid programmes. One finding is that aid is only welfare‐enhancing when the recipient country's social time preference rate is higher than the donor's, as will normally be the case. This implies that endowment financing is inferior to funding aid from current income, though borrowing against future aid as proposed by the International Financing Facility can be worthwhile provided returns exceed the borrowing cost.     

US campus fraternities and sororities and the young adult injury burden

Objective: To investigate whether the presence of fraternities and sororities was associated with a higher local injury rate among undergraduate-age youth. Methods: In 2016 we compared the rate of 2010–2013 youth (18–24 years) emergency department (ED) visits for injuries in Hospital Service Areas (HSA) with and without fraternities and sororities. ED visits were identified in the State Emergency Department Database (n=1,560 hospitals, 1,080 HSAs, 16 states). US Census Bureau and National Center for Education Statistics sources identified HSA population and campus (n=659) characteristics. A proprietary database identified campuses with fraternities and sororities (n=287). ED visits explicitly linked to fraternities and sororities in the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System–All Injury Program were used to identify injury causes for sub-group analysis. Results: HSAs serving campuses with fraternities and sororities had lower age 18–24 injury rates for all causes except firearm injuries (no difference). Conclusions: Fraternities and sororities were not associated with a higher injury rate at the population level among undergraduate-age youth. A major limitation is not being able to observe campus health services utilization.     

Polarization and the decline of the middle class: Canada and the U.S.

Several recent studies have suggested that the distribution of income (earnings, jobs) is becoming more polarized. Much of the evidence presented in support of this view consists of demonstrating that the population share in an arbitrarily chosen middle income class has fallen. However, such evidence can be criticized as being range-specific—depending on the particular cutoffs selected. In this paper we propose a range-free approach to measuring the middle class and polarization, based on partial orderings. The approach yields two polarization curves which, like the Lorenz curve in inequality analysis, signal unambiguous increases in polarization. It also leads to an intuitive new index of polarization that is shown to be closely related to the Gini coefficient. We apply the new methodology to income and earnings data from the U.S. and Canada, and find that polarization is on the rise in the U.S. but is stable or declining in Canada. A cross-country comparison reveals the U.S. to be unambiguously more polarized than Canada.     

Economic and quality of life factors in industrial location decisions

In late 1974 and early 1975, a four page questionnaire was mailed to businessmen in North America. There were three samples drawn; the first included firms in selected industries in the United States, the second surveyed firms in the same industries in Canada, and the third surveyed firms in all industrial classifications in Canada. The three samples surveyed 8,846 industrial firms, one of the largest mail surveys of businessmen undertaken. The questionnaire dealt with quality of life and economic variables within a location decision context. In addition, respondents were asked to indicate if their quality of life had gotten better, remained the same or gotten worse. Also, respondents from the selected Canadian industries survey were asked to indicate if their current quality of life was sitisfactory or unsatisfactory. Businessmen in all three surveys were asked what economic factors they would trade off for an improved quality of life, and, if they were to relocate, what geographic area of the United States and/or Canada they would choose. The responses showed clearly that a majority of businessmen believed that the quality of life for themselves, the daily operation of their plant and their key employees had improved. In addition a majority of Canadian respondents from the selected industry survey believed that their quality of life was satisfactory. The surveys also documented the quality of life and economic variables considered improtant by the respondents.