Understanding the system of connections between societal contexts and policy outcomes in municipal governments provides important insights into how community sustainability happens, and why it ...happens differently in various communities. A growing body of research in recent years has focused on understanding the socio-economic characteristics of communities and cities that are recognized as policy leaders in sustainability. In this paper, we expand the focus beyond the leaders in sustainability as we apply a selection of socio-demographic influences of community sustainability to a large sample of U.S. communities using community classification analytics to identity a range of community types and levels of engagement with sustainability. Our typology presents an integrated and comprehensive perspective on the structure of community sustainability in the United States, highlighting key points of comparison between human capital factors such as population size and density, affluence, home ownership, and adoption of sustainability policy. The analysis provides new insights not only about community leaders in sustainability, but also communities with the civic and social capacity to do more, and the challenges that may inhibit sustainability efforts in others.
Inflammatory disorders of the anterior surface of the eye consist of a spectrum of disorders that range from ocular allergy, dry eye syndrome (DES), and various infections. They exhibit similar ...pathological profiles, but have divergent immune mechanisms with some overlap. A number of novel treatments are currently being studied that capitalize on the growing understanding of underlying immunopathophysiology.
The goal of this review is to examine the emerging pipeline for noninfectious inflammatory disorders of the anterior surface of the eye - primarily allergic conjunctivitis (AC) and DES - in light of the recent basic science discoveries that have fueled their development. Novel molecules for the treatment of AC and DES from clinicaltrials.gov as well as recently filed patents for new molecular entities were reviewed from PUBMED and OVID.
Significant progress toward targeted treatments for AC and DES has become increasingly reliant on understanding the immunomodulatory and inflammatory mechanisms of the conjunctiva.
This paper reports on how, over a 12-month period, UK householders interacted with feedback on their domestic electricity consumption in a field trial of real time displays or smart energy monitors. ...Drawing on the findings of 11 follow-up qualitative interviews with householders involved in a ‘Visible Energy Trial’, the paper suggests that: (i) over time, smart energy monitors gradually become ‘backgrounded’ within normal household routines and practices; (ii) the monitors do increase householders’ knowledge of and confidence about the amount of electricity they consume; (iii) but, beyond a certain level and for a wide variety of reasons, the monitors do not necessarily encourage or motivate householders to reduce their levels of consumption; and (iv) once equipped with new knowledge and expertise about their levels of electricity consumption, household practices may become harder to change as householders realise the limits to their energy saving potential and become frustrated by the absence of wider policy and market support. The paper concludes by reflecting on the policy and research implications of these findings in relation to future transition pathways to a low-carbon economy.
► We interviewed 11 householders who had used a smart energy monitor for 12 months. ► The monitors did help interviewees learn about their energy use. ► Over time, the monitors became ‘backgrounded’ within normal household routines. ► After early behaviour changes, the monitors did not motivate further energy saving. ► The monitors may ‘harden’ energy use patterns in the absence of wider support.
Summary
This article explores the intrinsic role of context in shaping the course and outcomes of interventions aimed at changing environmentally significant behavior in home and workplace settings. ...Drawing on sociological theories of symbolic interactionism, we evaluate the social dynamics and mechanisms of two similar, team‐based behavior change interventions at work (Environment Champions) and at home (EcoTeams). The analysis shows that the interventions open up different levels of opportunity for reviewing and renegotiating new environmentally friendly behaviors against the reactions and expectations of the immediate peer group, existing workplace or domestic roles, and the situation‐specific definitions of what counts as appropriate behavior in the home and the workplace. We argue that policy studies should pay greater attention to the processes of behavior change, or the contextually sensitive relationship between interventions and outcomes, as a step toward refining or streamlining interventions aimed at changing environmentally significant behavior.
This paper explores how UK householders interacted with feedback on their domestic energy consumption in a field trial of real-time displays or smart energy monitors. After examining relevant bodies ...of literature on the effects of energy feedback on consumption behaviour, and on the complex role of energy and appliances within household moral economies, the paper draws on qualitative evidence from interviews with 15 UK householders trialling smart energy monitors of differing levels of sophistication. It focuses specifically on householder motivations for acquiring the monitors, how the monitors have been used, how feedback has changed consumption behaviour, and the limitations to further behavioural change the householders experienced. The paper concludes by identifying significant implications for future research and policy in this area.
This paper reviews the effect of transparent energy monitoring systems on the purchasing, production and energy use behaviour of consumers and producers. Relevant literature is explored on the ...linkages between feedback, risk and responsibility, knowledge, economic drivers, and sustainable energy consumption. Drawing on international as well as UK-specific experiences, the paper focuses on the prospects for current and future energy monitoring systems to ‘re-materialise’ energy use in economic and environmental terms that are more meaningful, and thus more behaviourally significant, to a substantially wider range of energy users than today's. Appliance labelling, smart metering and carbon footprint analyses are explored as case studies.
The Sun Valley Homes public housing in Denver, Colorado (CO) will be replaced because of its deteriorated condition. Our goal was to document the mold contamination and particulate matter (PM2.5) ...concentrations in Sun Valley homes and the circulatory and respiratory health of Sun Valley compared to all Denver residents (total 2761 and 1,049,046, respectively) based on insurance claims data for 2015 to 2019. Mold contamination in Sun Valley homes (n = 49) was quantified using the Environmental Relative Moldiness Index (ERMI) scale. Indoor PM2.5 concentrations were measured in Sun Valley homes (n = 11) using time-integrated, filter-based samples and quantified using gravimetric analysis. Outdoor PM2.5 concentrations data were obtained from a near-by United States Environmental Protection Agency monitoring station. In Sun Valley homes, the average ERMI value was 5.25 compared to −1.25 for other Denver homes. The PM2.5 median concentration inside Sun Valley homes was 7.6 μg/m3 (interquartile range - 6.4 μg/m3). The ratio of indoor to outdoor concentrations of PM2.5 was 2.3 (interquartile range - 1.5). In the last five years, ischemic heart disease was significantly more likely for Denver compared to Sun Valley residents. However, acute upper respiratory infections, chronic lower respiratory diseases and asthma were all significantly more likely for Sun Valley than Denver residents. Since the process of replacing and occupying the new housing will take several years, the next phase of the study will not occur until that process is complete.
•Health insurance claims interrogated for links to indoor contaminants, mold and PM2.5•Greater indoor mold levels in apartments linked to asthma and respiratory diseases.•Greater indoor PM2.5 concentrations in apartments not linked to heart disease.
This paper explores the active roles that domestic consumers might play in different transition pathways to a lower carbon electricity economy. It begins with a review of psychological and ...sociological perspectives on the drivers for everyday energy-use patterns, situating these in the context of the body of research on transitions in sociotechnical systems. On the basis of the review, a social-science-based framework is proposed for analysing the active ways in which domestic actors might facilitate or support the transition to a lower carbon economy. Applying the framework to an analysis of centralised and decentralised transitions pathways suggests that domestic actors can play an active role in transition through establishing new routine and conventional uses of energy in everyday life. Domesticating lower carbon technologies such as smart meters and microgeneration equipment supports the disruption of unsustainable energy-using routines and could help to make energy consumption and energy costs more visible and relevant to the everyday lives of domestic users. The findings call attention to the need to consider the wider effects of energy-system transition within and around consumer-oriented lifestyles.
Atopic dermatitis (AD) is an inflammatory skin disease caused by allergen exposures and estimated to affect ∼20% of children. Children in urban areas have a higher prevalence of AD compared with ...those living outside of urban areas. AD is believed to lead to asthma development as part of the "atopic march."
Our objective was to determine the sequential and chronological relationships between AD and asthma for children in an under-resourced community.
The progression from AD to asthma in the under-resourced, urban community of Sun Valley, Colorado, was examined by assessing Medicaid data for the years 2016 to 2019 for a diagnosis of AD or asthma in children 6 and 7 years old.
Pearson correlations between AD and asthma diagnoses were significant only with respect to AD at age 6 years compared with asthma 1 year later, at age 7 years.
By studying a susceptible community with a consistent but mixed genetic background, we found sequential and chronological links between AD and asthma.
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