scholarly journals Animal Shelters’ Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Pilot Survey of 14 Shelters in the Northeastern United States

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 2669
Author(s):  
Lauren Powell ◽  
Caitlin Houlihan ◽  
Martha Stone ◽  
Ilana Gitlin ◽  
Xuke Ji ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Foster Care ◽  
Northeastern United States ◽  
Rank Tests ◽  
Animal Shelters ◽  
Paired Sample ◽  
The Public ◽  
Pilot Survey ◽  
Signed Rank ◽  
The Impact

Anecdotal reports indicate that many animal shelters experienced increased adoption and foster care rates during the COVID-19 pandemic, yet peer-reviewed evidence is lacking. In this pilot survey of 14 animal shelters in the Northeastern United States, we aimed to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on animal intakes, foster care and five outcome types and describe operational changes reported by shelters in response to COVID-19. Paired sample t-tests and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were used to compare intake, adoption, euthanasia and foster care rates and numbers between March–June 2019 and 2020. The number of dogs and cats that entered shelters was significantly lower during the COVID-19 pandemic compared with the same months of 2019 (t = 3.41, p = 0.01, t = 2.69, p = 0.02). Although the overall rate of adoption and euthanasia did not differ, the numbers adopted and euthanized decreased significantly for both dogs and cats, reflecting the significantly decreased intake. We also found significant variability between shelters. During the pandemic, several shelters sought to expand their foster care networks through operational changes (n = 6) and statements made to the public (n = 7). However, the proportion of dogs and cats housed in foster care did not differ between March–June 2019 and 2020 in our sample. Our findings offer preliminary insights regarding the impact of a worldwide pandemic on the functioning of animal shelters.

THE INSTITUTIONAL EFFECTS OF LEADERSHIP: THE UNITED STATES GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE AND ITS AUDIT REPORT REVIEW PROCESS

1994 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 255-273 ◽  
Author(s):  
Onker N. Basu
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Review Process ◽  
Field Research ◽  
The United States ◽  
Organizational Leaders ◽  
Audit Report ◽  
The Public ◽  
General Accounting Office ◽  
Audit Team ◽  
The Impact

In accounting research, the role of organizational leaders has been underrepresented. The limited research dealing with leadership issues has focused on the impact of leadership on micro activities such as performance evaluation, budget satisfaction, and audit team performance. The impact of leadership on the structure of accounting and audit systems and organizations has been ignored. This paper focuses on the impact that past Comptrollers General have had on the working and structure of one federal audit agency, the United States General Accounting Office (GAO). In addition, it also focuses on the influence of the two most recent Comptrollers General on one important audit related activity, i.e., the audit report review process. Using qualitative field research methods, this paper documents how the organizational leadership impacts its long-term audit practices and thereby influences auditing, especially in the public sector.

scholarly journals Assessing the Risk of Democratic Reversal in the United States: A Reply to Kurt Weyland

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Matias López ◽  
Juan Pablo Luna
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Comparative Analysis ◽  
Boolean Algebra ◽  
Qualitative Comparative Analysis ◽  
The United States ◽  
American Democracy ◽  
Institutional Dynamics ◽  
The Public ◽  
Original Analysis ◽  
The Impact

ABSTRACT By replying to Kurt Weyland’s (2020) comparative study of populism, we revisit optimistic perspectives on the health of American democracy in light of existing evidence. Relying on a set-theoretical approach, Weyland concludes that populists succeed in subverting democracy only when institutional weakness and conjunctural misfortune are observed jointly in a polity, thereby conferring on the United States immunity to democratic reversal. We challenge this conclusion on two grounds. First, we argue that the focus on institutional dynamics neglects the impact of the structural conditions in which institutions are embedded, such as inequality, racial cleavages, and changing political attitudes among the public. Second, we claim that endogeneity, coding errors, and the (mis)use of Boolean algebra raise questions about the accuracy of the analysis and its conclusions. Although we are skeptical of crisp-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis as an adequate modeling choice, we replicate the original analysis and find that the paths toward democratic backsliding and continuity are both potentially compatible with the United States.

Epilogue

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna D. Jaroszyńska-Kirchmann
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Public Sphere ◽  
The United States ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Formal Schooling ◽  
The Public ◽  
Polish Language ◽  
The Media ◽  
The Public Sphere ◽  
The Impact

This epilogue comments on the changes within the Polish American community and the Polish-language press during the most recent decades, including the impact of the Internet and social media on the practice of letter-writing. It also poses questions about the legacy and memory of Paryski in Toledo, Ohio, and in Polonia scholarship. Paryski's life and career were based on his intelligence, determination, and energy. He believed that Poles in the United States, as in Poland, must benefit from education, and that education was not necessarily the same as formal schooling. Anybody could embark on the path to self-improvement if they read and wrote. Long before the Internet changed the way we communicate, Paryski and other ethnic editors effectively adopted and practiced the concept of debate within the public sphere in the media. Ameryka-Echo's “Corner for Everybody” was an embodiment of this concept and allowed all to express themselves in their own language and to write what was on their minds.

Displays of emotion and citizen support for Merkel and Gysi

2017 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 80-103 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oscar W. Gabriel ◽  
Lena Masch
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Positive Emotions ◽  
Individual Recognition ◽  
Negative Emotions ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
The United States ◽  
Political Support ◽  
The Public ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
The Impact

Emotional appeals have always been an important instrument in the mobilization of political support in modern societies. As found in several experimental studies from the United States, the emotions displayed by leading politicians in their televised public appearances have an impact on the political attitudes and behaviors of the public. Positive emotions such as joy or happiness, pride, and amusement elicit a more positive assessment of politicians, whereas showing negative emotions such as anger or outrage often diminishes the public’s support. This transfer of emotions from sender to recipient has been described as “emotional contagion.” However, under specific circumstances, emotions expressed by politicians can result in counter-empathic reactions among recipients. To examine the role of emotions between political leaders and the public in an institutional and cultural setting outside the United States, this article presents experimental findings on the impact of emotions expressed by two leading German politicians on the German public. The study used emotional displays by Chancellor Angela Merkel and former parliamentary leader of the Left Party, Gregor Gysi, observing how their assessments by the German public changed in response to these displays. Consistent with existing research, we discovered positive effects on the evaluation of both politicians when they displayed positive emotions. However, the impact of negative emotions is different for Merkel and Gysi and can be described as contagion in the former and counter-contagion in the latter case. Furthermore, we found that individual recognition of the expressed emotions modified the effect they had on the evaluation of some leadership characteristics.

scholarly journals Four times out of Europe: serial invasions of the winter moth, Operophtera brumata, to North America

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeremy Andersen ◽  
Nathan Havill ◽  
Adalgisa Caccone ◽  
Joseph Elkinton
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
North America ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Source Population ◽  
Northeastern United States ◽  
Operophtera Brumata ◽  
Winter Moth ◽  
Northern Fennoscandia ◽  
Approximate Bayesian ◽  
The Impact

Reconstructing the geographic origins of invasive species is critical for establishing effective management strategies. Frequently, molecular investigations are undertaken when the source population is not known, however; these analyses are constrained both by the amount of diversity present in the native region and by changes in the genetic background of the invading population following bottlenecks and/or hybridization events. Here we explore the geographical origins of the invasive winter moth (Operopthera brumata L.) that has caused widespread defoliation to forests, orchards, and crops in four discrete regions: Nova Scotia, British Columbia, Oregon, and the northeastern United States. It is not known whether these represent independent introductions to North America, or “stepping stone” spread among regions. Using a combination of Bayesian assignment and approximate Bayesian computation methods, we analyzed a population genetic dataset of 24 polymorphic microsatellite loci. We estimate that winter moth was introduced to North America on at least four occasions, with the Nova Scotian and British Columbian populations likely being introduced from France and Sweden, respectively; the Oregonian population likely being introduced from either the British Isles or northern Fennoscandia; and the population in the northeastern United States likely being introduced from somewhere in Central Europe. To our surprise, we found that hybridization has not played a large role in the establishment of winter moth populations even though previous reports have documented widespread hybridization between winter moth and a native congener. We discuss the impact of genetic bottlenecks on analyses meant to determine region of origin.

scholarly journals Winter Malting Barley Growth, Yield, and Quality following Leguminous Cover Crops in the Northeast United States

Nitrogen ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 415-427
Author(s):  
Arthur Siller ◽  
Heather Darby ◽  
Alexandra Smychkovich ◽  
Masoud Hashemi
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Cover Crops ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Growth Yield ◽  
High Price ◽  
Malting Barley ◽  
Northeastern United States ◽  
Crimson Clover ◽  
Sunn Hemp ◽  
The Impact

There is growing interest in malting barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) production in the Northeastern United States. This crop must meet high quality standards for malting but can command a high price if these quality thresholds are met. A two-year field experiment was conducted from 2015 to 2017 to evaluate the impact of two leguminous cover crops, sunn hemp (Crotalaria juncea L.) and crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum L.), on subsequent winter malting barley production. Four cover crop treatments—sunn hemp (SH), crimson clover (CC), sunn hemp and crimson clover mixture (SH + CC), and no cover crop (NC)—were grown before planting barley at three seeding rates (300, 350, and 400 seeds m−2). SH and SH + CC produced significantly more biomass and residual nitrogen than the CC and NC treatments. Higher barley seeding rates led to higher seedling density and winter survival. However, the subsequent spring and summer barley growth metrics, yield, and malting quality were not different in any of the treatments. There is much left to investigate in determining the best malting barley production practices in the Northeastern United States, but these results show that winter malting barley can be successfully integrated into crop rotations with leguminous plants without negative impacts on barley growth, yield, and grain quality.

Public Policy Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Blood Supply in the United States

2021 ◽  
pp. e1-e7
Author(s):  
William Riley ◽  
Kailey Love ◽  
Jeffrey McCullough
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
United States ◽  
Blood Supply ◽  
Emergency Preparedness ◽  
The United States ◽  
Public Health Emergency ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
The Public ◽  
Preparedness Planning ◽  
The Impact

The COVID-19 pandemic has precipitated an acute blood shortage for medical transfusions, exacerbating an already tenuous blood supply system in the United States, contributing to the public health crisis, and raising deeper questions regarding emergency preparedness planning for ensuring blood availability. However, these issues around blood availability during the pandemic are related primarily to the decline in supply caused by reduced donations during the pandemic rather than increased demand for transfusion of patients with COVID-19. The challenges to ensure a safe blood supply during the pandemic will continue until a vaccine is developed, effective treatments are available, or the virus goes away. If this virus or a similar virus were capable of transmission through blood, it would have a catastrophic impact on the health care system, causing a future public health emergency that would jeopardize the national blood supply. In this article, we identify the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on blood supply adequacy, discuss the public health implications, propose recovery strategies, and present recommendations for preparing for the next disruption in blood supply driven by a public health emergency. (Am J Public Health. Published online ahead of print March 18, 2021: e1–e7. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2021.306157 )

Yoga and self-management for people with chronic stroke: Effect on community reintegration and perceived activity constraints

2018 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 20
Author(s):  
Ruby A. Bolster, MS, OTR ◽  
Marieke Van Puymbroeck, PhD, CTRS, FDRT ◽  
Karen E. Atler, PhD, OTR ◽  
Jennifer Dickman Portz, PhD, MSW ◽  
Katie M. Hinsey, MS, OTR ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stroke Rehabilitation ◽  
Chronic Stroke ◽  
Self Management ◽  
Community Reintegration ◽  
Rank Tests ◽  
Management Intervention ◽  
Signed Rank ◽  
Percent Improvement ◽  
Post Test ◽  
The Impact

After a stroke, it is common for individuals to experience challenges in both perceived activity constraints and community reintegration. Few interventions have addressed these two important variables that are related to post-stroke life and recovery. The objective was to assess the impact of an 8-week intervention on perceived activity constraints and community reintegration among individuals with chronic stroke. This noncontrolled pilot study with pre- and post-test design included 13 people with chronic stroke who completed group yoga and self-management intervention. Assessments were completed at baseline and at the completion of the 8-week intervention. Data were analyzed using Wilcoxon Signed-Rank tests to compare baseline and 8-week scores. Additionally, the correlation between activity constraints and community reintegration scores among this sample was analyzed. The average age of the 13 participants was 73.23 years, and 77 percent of the participants sustained a stroke >5 years ago. Perceived activity constraint scores improved significantly (76.82 ± 10.97 vs. 87.08 ± 9.5, p = 0.005; 13 percent change), as did community reintegration scores (79.25 ± 15.45 vs. 97.92 ± 11.46, p = 0.004; or a 24 percent improvement). Perceived activity constraint and Reintegration to Normal Living  Index (RNLI) scores demonstrated an excellent and significant correlation (rs = 0.864, p = 0.001). When working with people with chronic stroke, rehabilitation therapists may consider self-management combined with yoga. Due to the correlation between community reintegration and perceived activity constraints, potentially rehabilitation therapists, including recreational therapists, may target perceived activity constraints to improve community reintegration.

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