The introduction of "social distancing" and quarantine orders in response to the COVID-19 pandemic have temporarily limited the ability for queer communities to engage in physical forms of social ...leisure. This pandemic also serves as a reminder of the importance of leisure spaces for queer communities and their unique leisure experiences. Given this opportunity to (re)examine the importance of queer leisure spaces, this paper will take a critical look at the impact this pandemic has had on queer leisure provision and the ramifications for queer leisure and queering leisure in a post-pandemic world. This paper will examine the current absence of queer leisure outlets, portrayal of public queer spaces, how the response to the sudden elimination of queer leisure spaces can inform our current understanding of leisure, and potential lessons about the connection between physical social engagement and queer leisure spaces.
This article offers a brief response to questions posed in Queerness as/and Political Attunement (Burns, 2021). Here we challenge the notion that discussions of queer oppression during, and beyond, ...the COVID-19 pandemic inherently denote the queer community as "hapless victims." Further, questions of who queer leisure scholars are writing for and about are considered. Specific attention is given to the role of "mainstream" queer spaces in processes of assimilation and transgression through discussions on the continued role these spaces play in queer lives and queer futures and the need for continued examination of queer spaces in leisure scholarship.
Objective: Campus recreational sport activities impact college student health and well-being in a variety of domains. This multi-institutional study examined the participation of students in campus ...recreation during the pandemic and explored the relationship between student participation and their demographic markers, COVID-19 experience, and perceptions of risk, health and safety. Methods: Results from a survey of 1,815 American college students indicated the presence of statistical differences in sport participation based on Gender, Race, State, Personal COVID-19 Experience, Campus Safety Efforts, and Risk Perception Score within various areas of analysis. Results: The impact and meaning of these cross-sectional results are discussed with reference to the ongoing pandemic and student health. Recommendations are presented within the context of this vital programming area both during and beyond the current crisis. Conclusion: These results are especially important given the health benefits associated with participation in recreational sport as tools to mitigate against the unprecedented consequences of the pandemic.
In 2015, Toronto's largest LGBTQ2S organization, the city, and a private donor collaborated and proposed what they believed constituted the world's first LGBTQ2S sport and recreation facility in ...Toronto's Moss Park neighborhood. While conceived as a site that would expand community services in an underserved community, this project was met with criticism from segments of the Moss Park community. Using qualitative interviews with both representatives from the LGBTQ2S organization and local residents, the purpose of this was to analyze justifications behind the project and concerns from the community. In so doing, the authors reflect upon the relationship between sport, recreation, and leisure-based place-making and questions of queer/de-queering politics by exploring the transformative or assimilationist aspects of queer recreation practices, the homonormativity of leisure spaces, and spiritual displacement associated with queer gentrification.
Syndecan-1 (SDC-1) is an integral membrane heparin sulfate proteoglycan that is involved in inflammatory response, cell-signaling, cell proliferation, and numerous other cell-matrix interactions. ...Like the other members of the syndecan family, very little is known about structural conformations and dynamics of SDC-1. A majority of interactions occur through the extracellular ectodomain, therefore we have dedicated our research efforts to the study this specific portion of SDC-1. The ectodomain is often shed from the cell surface due to various stimuli. The released fragment has already been used as a useful biomarker for prognosis of some diseases and cancers. SDC-1 can be cleaved in different locations depending on the sheddase, generating soluble shed ectodomains that can be carried away in blood sera. In this study, we focus specifically on two main cleavage fragments that can be generated. We show the first successful expression and purification of recombinant SDC-1 ectodomains. Production of SDC-1 in E. coli allows the production of the core protein without risking heterogeneous post-translational modifications such as glycosylation, allowing a certain level of control over protein homogeneity that is not possible in mammalian expression. An expression vector was used to generate two different fusion proteins consisting of a His-tag and a TEV cleavage site for the removal of the fusion partner. SDS-PAGE was used to track the expression as well as the purification. Masses of the isolated proteins were determined using mass spectrometry and the purity and homogeneity were evaluated by solution NMR.
•Different geothermal technology and their advancement are summarized.•The environmental impact of different geothermal technology is presented.•The advantages and disadvantages of the technology are ...presented.•The opportunities for improvement the geothermal technology are explored.•The potential role of the geothermal technology in the sustainable future is discussed.
Rapid population growth as well as modern technology reliance lead to a greater demand for energy consumption. An ever growing focus on creating sustainable environment requires energy sources to be used with caution. Two effective solutions to address these concerns include utilizing renewable energy resources and increasing efficiencies of current technologies. Geothermal energy provides a renewable energy source that has potential to supply reasonable amounts of electricity, heating, and cooling. The present research elaborates upon methods of harnessing energy using various geothermal technologies. Various methods of performance improvement, as well as integration of geothermal technology with other renewable energy sources are also discussed. The environmental impact and economic viability of the technology are mapped as well. The advantages and disadvantages of the technology and opportunities for improvement are explored based on the recent studies. Briefly, the potential role of geothermal technology in a sustainable future is discussed in the study. Finally, the prospective topics of future research are presented for further investigation.
We present the geoBoundaries Global Administrative Database (geoBoundaries): an online, open license resource of the geographic boundaries of political administrative divisions (i.e., state, county). ...Contrasted to other resources geoBoundaries (1) provides detailed information on the legal open license for every boundary in the repository, and (2) focuses on provisioning highly precise boundary data to support accurate, replicable scientific inquiry. Further, all data is released in a structured form, allowing for the integration of geoBoundaries with large-scale computational workflows. Our database has records for every country around the world, with up to 5 levels of administrative hierarchy. The database is accessible at http://www.geoboundaries.org, and a static version is archived on the Harvard Dataverse.
The role of religious identity has been explored as an important element of self-identity for many individuals. Organized religions are also often recognized as unwelcoming environments for sexual ...minorities and religious identity can be a source of severe internalized conflict for those that identify as sexual minorities. The purpose of this study was to examine how sexual minority intercollegiate athletic participants are viewed within the intersection of their religious and sexual identities utilizing the social categorization framework. Through phenomenological methodology and semi-structured interviews, 20 individuals (11 student-athletes, three coaches, six support staff members) of various sexual identities within an athletic department agreed to participate in this study. The data revealed three themes: religion, team culture, and acceptance. Ultimately, the present study seeks to assist in promoting queer-inclusive climates for student-athletes.
Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) caused by abandoned mines is an enormous source of negative impact on the environment and the species that inhabit it. The low levels of pH and high concentration of metals ...and metalloids (copper, gadolinium, lithium, etc.) in mining pits with standing water lead to changing the balance of surrounding organisms and ecosystems. The scale of the issue and the quantity of AMD sites throughout the globe are factors that make AMD a critical environmental threat. Many AMD treatments have been implemented to reduce the negative impact of AMD, with many solutions being very costly and only suited for particular project situations. Policymakers have strong leverage in correcting AMD problems by developing regulations and laws. This study proposes three more sustainable solutions for reducing and eventually eliminating the impact of AMD with less capital investment while also resolving the landfill problem as well. Also, some governmental strategies are suggested for forming collaborative relationships between industry professionals from different perspectives with the goal to resolve the AMD issue through innovative ideas. Implementation of previous strategies and suggested ones, as well as the further involvement of more communities, can enhance the sustainability of life exposed to AMD.
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•Many AMD treatments are summarized.•Some policies and legal cases related to AMD are presented.•Three sustainable AMD treatments with less cost are proposed.•Three sustainable solutions for AMD and the landfill problem are proposed.•Some governmental strategies for the collaboration of various professionals are suggested.
Lesbians in sport may reside in a culture of silence due to the fear of being negatively labeled. Often, ideologies regarding lesbian athletes validate social inequalities through institutional ...practices. The purpose of this study was to examine the experiences of NCAA female sexual minority student-athletes. Employing purposeful sampling, nine current and former female student-athletes participated in semi-structured interviews. Through a combination of inductive and narrative analyses during the data collection and analysis processes, the findings revealed five higher order themes: (1) climate, (2) validation and norms of behavior, (3), misunderstandings and misconceptions, (4) negotiating identities and risk, and (5) gender ideology and assumptions. Although results of the present study are not generalizable, this study can inform inclusive practices to improve the experiences of sexual minority student-athletes. Further, this study will create awareness regarding the obstacles female sexual minority student-athletes endure on college campuses and within the setting of intercollegiate sport.
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