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I am currently in a linear regression class, but I can't shake the feeling that what I am learning is no longer relevant in either modern statistics or machine learning. Why is so much time spent on doing inference on simple or multiple linear regression when so many interesting datasets these days frequently violate many of the unrealistic assumptions of linear regression? Why not instead teach inference on more flexible, modern tools like regression using support vector machines or Gaussian process? Though more complicated than finding a hyperplane in a space, wouldn't this give students a much better background for which to tackle modern day problems?
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12$\begingroup$ Do screwdrivers make hammers obsolete? Or does each perform a different task? $\endgroup$ – Sycorax♦ Sep 26 '17 at 21:45
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7$\begingroup$ I have a multitool that functions as a knife, a saw, a couple of different screwdrivers, a pair of pliers, and probably a couple of other things, but when I need any of those tools it's the last thing I'd reach for. It's only useful in a pinch, it's never the "best tool for the job". $\endgroup$ – Darren Sep 26 '17 at 23:12
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8$\begingroup$ Many, many situations faced by real people involve very small data sets with high noise; in many cases more complex models are not feasible while at least a good fraction of the time a plain linear model is at least tenable. While large data sets (and their associated issues) will continue to grow as a proportion of the total data analysis that goes on, very small data sets and the relatively simple analyses they rely on will never go away. Added to that the more sophisticated tools are built directly on top of simpler ones, not just historically but conceptually. $\endgroup$ – Glen_b Sep 27 '17 at 1:22
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7$\begingroup$ In addition to the many situations where linear regression is of continued practical use, it's also worth pointing out that it is foundational in learning about a broad class of more sophisticated additive models. In that respect, this question is sorta like asking whether calculus makes arithmetic obsolete. $\endgroup$ – Jacob Socolar Sep 27 '17 at 2:03
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1$\begingroup$ @Aksakal Please elaborate. What about use in Bayesian optimization? $\endgroup$ – Mark L. Stone Sep 27 '17 at 13:29
It is true that the assumptions of linear regression aren't realistic. However, this is true of all statistical models. "All models are wrong, but some are useful."
I guess you're under the impression that there's no reason to use linear regression when you could use a more complex model. This isn't true, because in general, more complex models are more vulnerable to overfitting, and they use more computational resources, which are important if, e.g., you're trying to do statistics on an embedded processor or a web server. Simpler models are also easier to understand and interpret; by contrast, complex machine-learning models such as neural networks tend to end up as black boxes, more or less.
Even if linear regression someday becomes no longer practically useful (which seems extremely unlikely in the foreseeable future), it will still be theoretically important, because more complex models tend to build on linear regression as a foundation. For example, in order to understand a regularized mixed-effects logistic regression, you need to understand plain old linear regression first.
This isn't to say that more complex, newer, and shinier models aren't useful or important. Many of them are. But the simpler models are more widely applicable and hence more important, and clearly make sense to present first if you're going to present a variety of models. There are a lot of bad data analyses conducted these days by people who call themselves "data scientists" or something but don't even know the foundational stuff, like what a confidence interval really is. Don't be a statistic!
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$\begingroup$ Can you clarify what you mean by a "complex model"? Does OP mean the same thing? $\endgroup$ – Hatshepsut Sep 26 '17 at 23:50
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1$\begingroup$ @Hatshepsut Practically anything that isn't just linear regression or a special case thereof. The OP gave SVMs and Gaussian-process models as examples. I mentioned mixed models, logistic regression, and penalized regression. Some other examples are decision trees, neural networks, MARS, Bayesian hierarchical models, and structural equation models. If you're asking how we decide whether one model is more complex than another, or what exactly counts as a model, those are Cross Validated questions unto themselves. $\endgroup$ – Kodiologist Sep 27 '17 at 0:10
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$\begingroup$ "Overfitting"; like using a ninth-order polynomial to fit something that turned out to be a weighted sum of exponentials. It fit so good the plot reproduced the instrument errors just above the noise level. I still wonder if actually using that polynomial would have worked better. $\endgroup$ – Joshua Sep 27 '17 at 3:17
Linear regression in general is not obsolete. There are still people that are working on research around LASSO-related methods, and how they relate to multiple testing for example - you can google Emmanuel Candes and Malgorzata Bogdan.
If you're asking about OLS algorithm in particular, the answer why they teach this is that method is so simple that it has closed-form solution. Also it's just simpler than ridge regression or the version with lasso/elasticnet. You can build your intuition/proofs on the solution to simple linear regression and then enrich the model with additional constraints.
I don't think regression is old, it might be considered as trivial for some problems that are currently faced by data scientists, but still is the ABC of statistical analysis. How are you supposed to understand if SVM are working correctly if you don't know how the simplest model is working? Using such a simple tool teaches YOU how to look into the data before jumping into crazy complex models and understand deeply which tools can be used in further analysis and which cannot. Once having this conversation with a professor and colleague of mine she told me that her students where great in applying complex models but they could not understand what leverage is or read a simple qq-plot to understand what was wrong with the data. Often in the most simple and readable model stands the beauty.
The short answer is no. For example, if you try linear model with MNIST data, you will still get ~90% of the accuracy!
A long answer would be "depending on the domain", but linear model is widely used.
In certain fields, say, medical study, it is super expensive to get one data point. And the analysis work is still similar to many years ago: linear regression is still plays an very important role.
In morden machine learning, say, text classification, linear model is still very important, although there are other fancier models. This is because linear model is very "stable", it will have less like to over fit the data.
Finally, linear model is really the building blocks for most of the other models. Learning in well will benefit you in the future.
In practical terms, linear regression is useful even if you are also using a more complex model for your work. The key is that linear regression is easy to understand and therefore easy to use to conceptually understand what is happening in more complex models.
I can offer you a practical application example from my real live job as a statistical analyst. If you find yourself out in the wild, unsupervised, with a large dataset, and your boss asks you to run some analysis on it, where do you start? Well, if you are unfamiliar with the dataset and don't have a good idea of how the various features are expected to relate to each other, then a complex model like the ones you suggested is a bad place to start investigating.
Instead, the best place to start is simple old linear regression. Perform a regression analysis, look at coefficients and graph the residuals. Once you start to see what is going on with the data, then you can make some decisions as to what advanced methods you are going to try to apply.
I assert that if you just plugged your data into some advanced model black box like sklearn.svm (if you are into Python), then you will have very low confidence that your results will be meaningful. | https://stats.stackexchange.com/questions/305116/is-linear-regression-obsolete/305120 |
1 of how much the polynomial represents the points,
1 being a perfect fit. Consequently, the measure will reflect a polynomial relationship between the two points. I am not sure how to extract this measure from the polynomial. Any ideas are appreciated.
I am trying to use
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$\begingroup$ It seems that
InterpolatingPolynomialwill, if possible, find the (likely minimal) polynomial which exactly passes through the provided points. Thus, I'm not sure I understand your question. If you were fitting with a fixed length polynomial (e.g. using
LinearModelFit), then you could use values such as
RSquaredor
AdjustedRSquaredfor this purpose readily enough. $\endgroup$– eyorbleSep 11, 2019 at 22:51
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$\begingroup$ The Properties & Relations section of the documentation says The interpolating polynomial always goes through the data points. $\endgroup$ Sep 11, 2019 at 22:52
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$\begingroup$ @eyorble I am trying to establish a measure of a nonlinear relationship between two variables, something like the covariance but nonlinear, if this makes any sense.. $\endgroup$– BranSep 11, 2019 at 23:04
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$\begingroup$ But if the polynomial is guaranteed to perfectly match the points, how are we to estimate the error? As I understand it, all of the degrees of freedom from the data are already used to constrain the polynomial, and none remain to check the validity of the solution. Thus, I don't think such a measure can even exist with the interpolating polynomial. $\endgroup$– eyorbleSep 11, 2019 at 23:19
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$\begingroup$ The points form a cloud with many equally spaced so the polynomial will not fit them perfectly, I am looking for an optimal fit with a polynomial, so I am not sure if
InterpolatingPolynomialis the best choice though. $\endgroup$– BranSep 11, 2019 at 23:34
1 Answer
While polynomial models fit in Mathematica can be relatively easy to transfer to other languages, you might want to consider a more modern method such as @AntonAntonov 's
Quantile Regression package. (It would be very nice if Mathematica offered additional nonparametric regression functions such as generalized additive models.)
If you really have to have a polynomial with just enough terms to obtain a desired fit, you should consider something like the following approach:
- Set some value for a desired root mean square error. This is the standard deviation for a single observation.
- Try multiple models where you calculate
AICcfor each polynomial model. (If the output of
LinearModelFitor
NonlinearModelFitis
nlm, then you get
AICcwith
nlm["AICc"].)
- Choose the model with the smallest
AICc.
- If the best model has a root mean square error smaller than what you set for the desired root mean square error, then you're done.
The above model selection process is not the best or most consistent way to go. So asking this question on CrossValidated is recommended then implementing that advice in Mathematica. | https://mathematica.stackexchange.com/questions/206118/factor-to-measure-polynomial-fit |
A random coefficients model is an alternative approach to modelling repeated measures data. Here, a model is devised to describe arithmetically the relationship of a measurement with time. The statistical properties of random coefficients models have already been introduced in Sections 1.4.2 and 2.1.4. Here, we will consider in more depth the practical details of fitting these models and the situations in which they are most appropriate.
The most common applications are those in which a linear relationship is assumed between the outcome variable of interest and time. The main question of interest is then likely to be whether the rate of change in this outcome variable differs between the 'treatment' groups. Such an example was reported by Smyth et al. (199 7). They carried out a randomised controlled trial of glutathione versus placebo in patients with ovarian cancer who were being treated with cis-platinum. This drug has proven efficacy in the treatment of ovarian cancer, but has a number of adverse effects as well. Amongst these is a toxic effect on the kidneys. This effect can be monitored by the creatinine levels in the patients' blood. One of the hoped-for secondary effects of glutathione was to reduce the rate of decline of renal (kidney) function. This was assessed using a random coefficients model, but analysis showed no statistically significant difference between the rates of decline in the two treatment arms. Such an analysis may find widespread application in the analysis of 'safety' variables in clinical trials, because it is important to establish what effect new drugs may have on a range of biochemical and haematological variables. If these variables are measured serially, analysis is likely to be more efficient if based on all observations, using a method which will be sensitive to a pattern of rise or decline in the 'safety' variables. A further example in which the rate of decline of CD4 counts is compared in two groups of HIV-infected haemophiliacs will be presented in detail in Section 6.6.1.
In fitting linear random coefficients models, as described above, we will wish to fit fixed effects to represent the average rate of change of our outcome variables over time (i.e. a time effect) and we will assess the extent to which treatments differ in the average rate of change by fitting a treatment-time interaction. We will also require fixed effects to represent the average intercepts for each treatment (i.e. a treatment effect). In addition to the fixed effects representing average slopes and intercepts, the random coefficients model allows the slopes and intercepts to vary randomly between patients and cause a separate regression line to be fitted for each patient. This is achieved by fitting patient effects as random (to allow intercepts to vary) and patient-time as random to allow slopes to vary. These effects are used in the calculation of the standard errors of the time and treatment-time effects, which are our main focus of interest. Our basic model is therefore
Fixed effects: time, treatment, treatment-time,
Random effects: patient, patient-time.
The effects described above represent a minimum set of effects which will be considered in the model. Other patient characteristics, such as age and sex and their interactions with time, can readily be incorporated into the model, and we will see later that polynomial relationships and the effect of baseline levels can also be incorporated.
When the repeated measures data are obtained at fixed points in time, there will be a choice between the use of covariance pattern models and random coefficients models. This choice may be influenced by how well the dependency of the observations on time can be modelled, and whether interest is centred on the changing levels of the outcome variable over time, or on its absolute levels.
In many instances, the random coefficients model will be the 'natural' choice, as in the examples presented. If the times of observation are not standardised, or if there are substantial discrepancies between the scheduled times and actual time of observation, then random coefficients models are more likely to be the models of choice.
Was this article helpful? | https://www.rrnursingschool.biz/fixed-effects/random-coefficients-models-651-introduction.html |
Dynamic reliability analysis using the extended support vector regression (X-SVR)
- Publisher:
- Elsevier BV
- Publication Type:
- Journal Article
- Citation:
- Mechanical Systems and Signal Processing, 2019, 126, pp. 368-391
- Issue Date:
- 2019-07-01
Closed Access
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© 2019 Elsevier Ltd For engineering applications, the dynamic system responses can be significantly affected by uncertainties in the system parameters including material and geometric properties as well as by uncertainties in the excitations. The reliability of dynamic systems is widely evaluated based on the first-passage theory. To improve the computational efficiency, surrogate models are widely used to approximate the relationship between the system inputs and outputs. In this paper, a new machine learning based metamodel, namely the extended support vector regression (X-SVR), is proposed for the reliability analysis of dynamic systems via utilizing the first-passage theory. Furthermore, the capability of X-SVR is enhanced by a new kernel function developed from the vectorized Gegenbauer polynomial, especially for solving complex engineering problems. Through the proposed approach, the relationship between the extremum of the dynamic responses and the input uncertain parameters is approximated by training the X-SVR model such that the probability of failure can be efficiently predicted without using other computational tools for numerical analysis, such as the finite element analysis (FEM). The feasibility and performance of the proposed surrogate model in dynamic reliability analysis is investigated by comparing it with the conventional ε-insensitive support vector regression (ε-SVR) with Gaussian kernel and Monte Carlo simulation (MSC). Four numerical examples are adopted to evidently demonstrate the practicability and efficiency of the proposed X-SVR method.
Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: | https://opus.lib.uts.edu.au/handle/10453/141128 |
Since the Great Recession, utility planners have consistently over forecasted peak and total load. Econometric models used in the past are failing: energy efficiency continues to decouple load growth from Gross Domestic Product and customer energy habits are changing.
Another factor contributing to inaccurate forecasting is the adoption of new, highly impactful DERs. And the costs can be high. According to methods laid out by NREL, inaccurate distributed PV adoption forecasting will cost a large, investor-owned utility up to $2.5 million per year in bulk capacity and generation costs alone.
In this article, we’ll dig into current approaches and highlight exciting new DER adoption forecasting methods to provide some clarity on the state of DER adoption forecasting.
The simplest and most common approach to planning for DER adoption are stipulated and program-based. These methods assume that DER adoption will align with specific targets set by policy or program goals. For example: a renewable portfolio standard with a carve out for distributed PV, or a state policy goal to put a certain number of EVs on the road. This approach puts the utility at high risk since these targets are static and provide zero visibility into how adoption may be spread throughout a service territory.
Regression-based approaches such as linear regression or polynomial regression are slightly more sophisticated than stipulated methods. These approaches tune model parameters to match historic adoption, and then the tuned model is used to forecast new adoption. Due to a lack of customer-level data, regression-based forecasts tend to be applied to the service area level.
Many of the more sophisticated DER adoption models used by utilities today are based on the Bass Diffusion Model. This model has been validated and tested in many industries, and it’s generally accepted that the model is pretty accurate. It relies on the sociological theory that adoption of a new technology is a function of early adopters (innovators) influencing later adopters (imitators).
For DER adoption modeling, market potential m is usually a function of payback: how much solar or how many electric vehicles might be purchased if the payback period is 2 years? 5 years? 10 years?
Continuously updating forecast results on-demand using the Bass Diffusion Model is challenging, if not impossible. The relationship between m and payback is determined through survey-based studies that take significant time and manpower to complete.
Also, while the Bass Diffusion Model is useful for generating macro-level results, it is not able to account for the unique impact of many individual customer-level predictive variables like proximity to other adopters, home size, customer engagement data, etc. A multitude of customer-level data is required for producing very granular results.
Advanced modeling and machine learning methods are receiving more and more attention as a solution to DER adoption forecasting. Discrete Choice Experiments, agent-based modeling, neural networks…we’ll delve deeper into how these methods and others can be applied to DER adoption forecasting in our soon-to-be-release whitepaper.
For today, key takeaways are that applying these advanced methods requires substantial data science expertise and implementing these models in a scalable way requires software engineering expertise on par with Microsoft, Google and Amazon.
The newest software product from Clean Power Research, WattPlan® Grid, addresses these requirements. WattPlan merges advanced machine learning toolkits and customer-level big data with scalable cloud computing and a user-friendly interface. Today, the Sacramento Municipal Utility District, our partners in development, are using forecast scenarios from WattPlan Grid to guide their rate design and DER strategy. SMUD can forecast adoption propensity for over 600,000 customers in a few days.
Curious to learn more about neural networks and how cutting-edge techniques compare to today’s methods such as the Bass Diffusion Model? Interested in learning how you can optimize rate design, analyze “non-wires alternatives” and improve customer program targeting?
Stay tuned; our whitepaper “A better way to forecast DER adoption” will be out soon. | https://www.cleanpower.com/2018/forecast-der-adoption/ |
Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:
http://hdl.handle.net/10397/86878
|Title:||SHM-based condition assessment of bridges using gaussian process regression||Authors:||Li, Ming||Degree:||M.Phil.||Issue Date:||2017||Abstract:||The structural health monitoring (SHM) technology enables to gain information about the in-service performance of bridges. By integrating the monitoring data from online SHM systems, the structural condition of the monitored structure can be evaluated and the health status can be evolutionarily traced. The advancement in SHM technology has been evolving from the monitoring-based diagnosis to the monitoring-based prognosis. Conventional analytical methods process the monitoring data with deterministic parameters and coefficients and have difficulties in determining the uncertainties stemming from the measurement noises, modeling errors, time-varying environmental effects, and etc. In recent years, the Bayesian modeling approach with Gaussian process (GP) has earned attention because of its characteristic which allows for the probabilistic processing and has great capability of flexibility in modeling different kinds of relationships as well. The covariance function in GP can determine the distribution of target function, and should be carefully chosen in order to fit the real covariance distribution of the data regression relationship. Usually the squared exponential (SE) covariance is chosen in GP because it corresponds to a linear combination of infinite number of basis functions and has the largest flexibility. But when the relationship characteristic is known a priori, the explicitly defined covariance function may perform better than the general-purposed SE one. The work described in this thesis is devoted to exploring the flexibility of GP in modeling different relationships by explicitly modifying the model, for the purpose of structural health condition assessment using the monitoring data.
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A Gaussian process regression (GPR) model is first formulated to establish the relationship between the temperature and expansion joint displacement for the Ting Kau Bridge (TKB). Apart from a general-purposed GPR model defined with SE covariance function (SE-GPR), the explicit covariance function is derived for a linear GPR (L-GPR) model based on the observed linear relationship. The log marginal likelihood maximization method is used to optimize the hyperparameters in GPR models. The performance of the optimized L-GPR model and SE-GPR model are evaluated and compared using the same sample data set. The results show that the L-GPR model with explicit linear covariance function which fits the linear relationship performs better in linear regression and prediction. The outperformed L-GPR model is further used to predict the expansion joint displacement under extreme design temperature. By comparing with the designed allowable maximum and minimum values, the structural health condition of the TKB is examined. In practice, a simple linear relationship may not be adequate, therefore a generalized model is needed. The L-GPR model is further extended to generalized linear model. Before applying simple linear model on the inputs, the inputs are first projected into some high dimensional space using a set of basis functions. The covariance function for a generalized linear relationship is then derived and applied to a polynomial relationship. An explicit polynomial GPR model (P-GPR) is formulated to establish the relationship between the lateral displacement and wind data for the Tsing Ma Bridge. Among the first three order polynomial relationships considered in this study, the P-GPR with second order polynomial (P-GPR2) is selected as the optimal GPR model with the largest log marginal likelihood and smallest root mean square error. The outperformed P-GPR2 model is further used to predict the lateral displacement under extreme design wind speed at 53.3 m/s. The wind direction for maximum displacement prediction is considered in two cases: most probable direction and most unfavorable direction. The predicted total displacement is compared with the designed allowable value to check the structural health condition.
|Subjects:||Hong Kong Polytechnic University -- Dissertations
|
Bridges -- Inspection
Bridges -- Maintenance and repair
Structural health monitoring
|Pages:||xx, 149 pages : color illustrations|
|Appears in Collections:||Thesis|
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View full-text via https://theses.lib.polyu.edu.hk/handle/200/9292
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Items in DSpace are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated. | https://ira.lib.polyu.edu.hk//handle/10397/86878 |
The aim of this study is to provide a methodological framework for estimating the amount of driving data that should be collected for each driver in order to acquire a clear picture regarding driving behavior. This amount is defined as the total driving duration and/or the number of trips that need to be recorded for each driver in order to draw a solid conclusion regarding where the rate of driving behavioral characteristics (e.g., per kilometer or per minute) has converged to a fixed point.
Several studies have taken advantage of new technologies such as In-Vehicle Data Recorders and smartphones for the evaluation of driving behavior (1-5). However, the exact amount of driving data that need to be collected and evaluated to assess driving behavior with sufficient precision has not yet been determined. Both small and large data samples are likely to lead to questionable results by acquiring a sample either biased or computationally expensive to analyze, and thus, it is important to investigate the amount of driving data that should be recorded by each participant in the experiment.
In this study, the driving metrics used to identify driving behavior stabilization are the number of harsh acceleration and braking events, the time of mobile phone usage and the time driving above the speed limit (speeding), which are the main human factors used in literature as well (6-9). Through the exploitation of cumulative sums, moving averages and Shewhart control charts, the driver’s aggression and volatility is estimated, and consequently, the time point at which driving behavior converges is determined. The analysis indicated that for a certain driving characteristic, convergence depends largely on the aggressiveness and stability of the overall driver’s behavior as well as the average duration of the trips being studied. The results of the analysis performed could be exploited both by the private and public sector, providing multiple social and economic benefits. | https://www.nrso.ntua.gr/geyannis/pub/pc-325-how-much-driving-data-do-we-need-to-assess-driver-behavior/ |
I am an economist trained in empirical industrial organization. I study how data and AI technologies generate useful information in imperfect markets, and the mechanisms through which this information creates and distributes economic value.
I focus on applications in insurance and digital platforms as well as the design of pricing, contracting, and matching mechanisms. I specialize in structural modeling, field experiments, and independent collaboration with firms.
In many economic settings -- e.g. consumer lending, criminal justice, labor contracts -- the intuition of moral hazard has given rise to a doctrine of deterring bad behaviors by increasing punishment. In auto insurance, firms combat risky driving almost exclusively by raising accident punishment. However, not only does this undermine risk-sharing, this paper shows that it fails at deterring risky driving due to drivers' inattention to risk. We do so with novel sensor data as well as observational and experimental methods. On the other hand, these data make risky driving behavior contractable, so we develop and estimate a structural model to simulate the "first-best" contract, which features full insurance and a direct and hence salient price on behavior (Holmström 1979).
(first author | w/ Thomas Yu)
Firms in many markets directly elicit large amounts of data from consumers. The data is used to mitigate information problems, gain competitive advantage, and extract rent from consumers. We develop an equilibrium framework to trade-off these countervailing
forces, and use it to study the creation of detailed driving data in U.S. auto insurance through a voluntary monitoring program. Surprisingly, the incentive effect from the data collection process, not the data itself, is the main source of social value creation. Despite large switching inertia, the product market is still competitive enough so that forcing the firm to make the data public hurts short-term consumer welfare by discouraging data creation.
In macro/finance, our model is typically referred to as "rational inattention:" in a market with asymmetric information, firms endogenously acquire information subject to a cost (switching inertia and consumers' unwillingness to be monitored).
(first author | w/ Shosh Vasserman)
Lifting Growth Barriers for New Firms: Evidence from an Entrepreneur Training Experiment with Two Million Online Businesses
We conduct a large experiment where we randomize access to a digital training program among e-commerce entrants. We document high growth barriers in the competition for consumer attention, and that the training program boosts entrant traffic by closing the knowledge gap on practical operational skills. But the training data are far more valuable as it can identify more high-quality entrants. We develop a consideration-set based equilibrium model to capture the welfare benefit of reallocating consumer attention to these higher-quality entrants. Counterfactual analyses show that, at social optima, the platform should expand digital training and value entrant traffic significantly more when ranking firms and assigning traffic.
(Zhengyun Sun's job market paper)
AEA pre-trial registration #: AEARCTR-0006725
What kind of firms collect what types of data? Can such data facilitate growth? If so, by influencing what strategies? We analyze the adoption and the effect of analytics tools by firms on an e-commerce platform. We then conduct a high-stake experiment among non-adopting stores and found evidence of information friction despite low take-up. | https://www.yjin.io/research |
3 Final Review
While the actual coding of the software may not be inherently flawed, the data that goes into the software may be flawed leading to skewed outcomes or WMDs that can lead to exclusionary practices. This book was an interesting read through every chapter. I particularly enjoyed the separation in issues among each chapter. Ranging from problems in higher education to the 2008 financial crisis, it truly shows that big data plays a major role in all of our lives. I most enjoyed chapter 9 which focused on the use of WMDs in the insurance industry. It blew my mind when I read:
“And in Florida, adults with clean driving records and poor credit scores paid an average of $1,552 more than the same drivers with excellent credit and a drunk driving conviction.”
I think that it is absolutely ridiculous that insurance companies can get away with such arbitrary practices in their businesses. An insurance company charging extravagant prices for the coverage of something that is in no way tied to the individual’s behavior seems outrageous and counterintuitive. However, it makes sense when you realize that they are using these models solely as a means to milk every dollar they can out of the consumer. I agree with her analysis in the conclusion of the book where she states that it is difficult to combat WMDs when they all feed off of each other. Poor people have bad credit in bad neighborhoods and are shown ads for bad schools and can’t get good jobs which all lead to increased crime and recidivism rates. It is a positive-feedback loop that results in a perpetuation of structural violence. Despite this, I do not think that the system is irredeemable. I think that it is surely possible to refine models to remove discriminatory conclusions on people and instead seek answers through an objective lens. The solution to many of these WMDs is the objective of the problem. Instead of using models to push poor people out of good jobs, use the algorithms to identify the poorer areas that need job growth. The same could be said for auto insurance. Instead of increasing premiums to cover for losses, invest money into cleaning up the streets or rebuilding the roads to allow for safer transit. There are ways to go about using large machine learning systems for the good without the negative drawbacks of flawed assumptions. When we were working with models in class we often would attempt to boost the model to improve efficiency. However, many times we did not go back to analyze the actual data in the spreadsheets to identify potential cases of multicollinearity, serial correlations, or flawed variables that did not belong in our model. Going back to chapter one, Cathy O’Neill claims that:
“Models are opinions embedded in mathematics”, this is more true than ever before and it is up to data scientists to make those opinions as objective as possible. | https://bookdown.org/engelbyclayton/eco_397_weapons_of_math_destruction_review/final-review.html |
A mind map helps a researcher outline the relevant topics about their research project. This helps them come up with the ideas. The mind map also enables the researchers to understand which point to commence with the study. Accordingly, it is a way of expanding and developing ideas concerning the topic under research. The current paper uses the mind map below to consider various aspects of habits of driving worth investigating.
The Mind MapThe topics being mapped for by the researcher’s mind include correlation of driving habitsand the kind of behavior patterns. Driving habits are positively correlated to behavior patterns such as hostility, aggressiveness, impatience, and competitiveness. Some of the driving habits to evaluate in this study will be behaviors such as use of the wrong side of the road, use of cell phone while driving, overtaking, and distracted driving. Other driving habits tobe evaluatedinclude the frequency allied to imprudent behavior, speeding, use of seatbelt, and driving while drunk.
The first two ideas that come after the main topic include the behaviors that are hazardous in the road and the awareness regarding the hazards. The awareness, involves various aspects such as “does the driver understand the traffic rules? Do the drivers use the safety belts to reduce the hazard among other.The subtopics that is most developed include the behavior and the car maintenance.
The Research Question
The research questions guides a researcher in saying what they want to learn from their research. In other word, these are the questions, which the study seeks to answer in a research project.
Main question of the study:
Does driving habits have a positive correlation to driving habits and behavior patterns?
Secondary research question:
How can drivers ensure road safety?
Primary sub-questions:
Do drivers have the required driving safety knowledge?
Do they regularly ensure that the vehicle is well maintained?
How do they adhere to traffic rules?
The questions, which can be answered appropriately by use of internet and the library, are the one that require secondary sources. For instance, some of the information regarding whether driving habits have a positive correlation with the behavior patterns and driving habits can be obtained online as well as printed materials. This is because other researchers have also done studies regarding the topic. On the other hand, some of the questions may require primary data. For instance, information on whether the drivers ensure that their vehicles are well maintained may need an observation or some questionnaires to ascertain that indeed, the driver adhere to the rules.
Source descriptions
Source 1
Article
Title:The driving habits of adults aged 60 years and older
Description:
The habits of driving are comprehensively covered in the source. The source also covers some of the ways drivers can ensure that they do not cause accidents in roads. The sources also address some ways in which the older generations can use to avoid causing accidents on roads.
Reference:
Gallo, J. J., Rebok, G. W., &Lesikar, S. E. (1999).The driving habits of adults aged 60 years and older. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 47(3), 335-341.
Source 2
Article
Title: Factors related to driving difficulty and habits in older drivers
Descriptions:
The source also has examples of some of the scenarios where accidents were caused due to bad driving habits. It also enumerates o some of the ways drivers can use to ensure the risk of accidents along roads is minimized.
Reference:
Lyman, J. M., McGwin, G., & Sims, R. V. (2001). Factors related to driving difficulty and habits in older drivers. Accident Analysis & Prevention, 33(3), 413-421.
Source 3
Internet
Title:Risky driving habits and motor vehicle driver injury
Description:
The reference is relevant to the study because it shows the various mistakes drivers make once driving. The researchers also offer some recommendation on the best way to reduce road accidents on roads. The information is also critical because the reference covers some of the driving habits covered in this paper.
Reference:
Blows, S., Ameratunga, S., Ivers, R. Q., Lo, S. K., & Norton, R. (2005). Risky driving habits and motor vehicle driver injury. Accident Analysis & Prevention, 37(4), 619-624. | https://www.globalcompose.com/english-101/sample-research-paper-on-driving-habits/ |
For the past few decades since mobile phones have become popularized, cell phone use while driving (CPUWD), mainly texting and calling, has also emerged as a prevalent behavior. The risks associated with it are significant, but there have not been noteworthy reductions in either CPUWD behavior nor in accident rates. Furthermore, the advent of smartphones, voice recognition technology, and built-in displays in cars that connect to phones have made using phones easier, thereby allowing drivers to engage in CPUWD behavior behind the wheel. In addition, CPUWD has not received as much spotlight as have other risky driving behaviors, such as drunk driving or speeding, despite being as dangerous. This thesis endeavors to bring this issue to people’s attention and offer suggestions for combatting it. First, I provide an overview of the dangers of CPUWD, establishing that the behavior critically impairs driving. Then, I describe the current US legislations banning either texting or hand-held phone use while driving, as well as their effects on enhancing road safety. Following that, I analyze the internal and external psychological factors that determine decisions to engage in CPUWD behavior. Finally, based on my examinations, I offer solutions to practically induce behavior changes and prevent CPUWD, emphasizing the need to target the psychological mechanisms underlying the behavior. | https://repositories.lib.utexas.edu/handle/2152/65265 |
Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:
http://hdl.handle.net/2445/106566
|Title:||Using GPS data to analyze the distance traveled to the first accident at fault in pay-as-you-drive insurance|
|Author:||Ayuso, Mercedes|
Guillén, Montserrat
Pérez Marín, Ana María
|Keywords:||Assegurances d'automòbils|
Accidents de circulació
Telemàtica
Anàlisi de supervivència (Biometria)
Estudis de gènere
Automobile insurance
Traffic accidents
Telematics
Survival analysis (Biometry)
Gender studies
|Issue Date:||Jul-2016|
|Publisher:||Elsevier Ltd|
|Abstract:||In this paper we employ survival analysis methods to analyse the impact of driving patterns on distance travelled before a first claim is made by young drivers underwriting a pay-as-you-drive insurance scheme. An empirical application is presented in which we analyse real data collected by a GPS system from a leading Spanish insurer. We show that men have riskier driving patterns than women and, moreover, that there are gender differences in the impact driving patterns have on the risk of being involved in an accident. The implications of these results are discussed in terms of the 'no-gender' discrimination regulation.|
|Note:||Versió postprint del document publicat a: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trc.2016.04.004|
|It is part of:||Transportation Research Part C: Emerging Technologies, 2016, vol. 68, num. July, p. 160-167|
|URI:||http://hdl.handle.net/2445/106566|
|Related resource:||https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trc.2016.04.004|
|ISSN:||0968-090X|
|Appears in Collections:||Articles publicats en revistes (Econometria, Estadística i Economia Aplicada)|
Files in This Item: | http://diposit.ub.edu/dspace/handle/2445/106566 |
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On-road Testing and Characterization of Fuel Economy of Light-Duty Vehicles
Technical Paper
2005-01-0677
ISSN: 0148-7191, e-ISSN: 2688-3627
Published April 11, 2005 by SAE International in United States
Annotation ability available
Sector:
Language: English
Abstract
The potential discrepancy between the fuel economy shown on new vehicle labels and that achieved by consumers has been receiving increased attention of late. EPA has not modified its labeling procedures since 1985. It is likely possible that driving patterns in the U.S. have changed since that time. One possible modification to the labeling procedures is to incorporate the fuel economy measured over the emission certification tests not currently used in deriving the fuel economy label (i.e., the US06 high speed and aggressive driving test, the SC03 air conditioning test and the cold temperature test). This paper focuses on the US06 cycle and the possible incorporation of aggressive driving into the fuel economy label.
As part of its development of the successor to the MOBILE emissions model, the Motor Vehicle Emission Modeling System (MOVES), EPA has developed a physically-based model of emissions and fuel consumption which accounts for different driving patterns. This model could be used to analyze surveys of U.S. driving behavior, as well as that represented by available driving cycles, and derive a weighting of the driving cycles which best represents current on-road driving behavior.
In 2001, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) conducted a pilot study of real-world emissions and fuel economy using a SEMTECH-G Portable Emissions Measurement System (PEMS). Second-by-second measurements of emissions were obtained from 15 vehicles. Various other operating parameters were also recorded. Fuel economy can be calculated from carbonaceous emissions. Most of these vehicles were also tested on a dynamometer over the FTP and US06 cycles. Since the data set is limited in the number of tests conducted, this analysis is best seen as a pilot study.
In this paper, we apply the MOVES fuel consumption model to the driving patterns measured in the 2001 PEMS study and the FTP, HFET and US06 cycles. We derive weights for these three cycles which best represent the driving activity of each vehicle. We then model the on-road fuel economy based on fuel economies measured over the three driving cycles and compare them to the measured on-road fuel economies.
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Topic
CitationRykowski, R., Nam, E., and Hoffman, G., "On-road Testing and Characterization of Fuel Economy of Light-Duty Vehicles," SAE Technical Paper 2005-01-0677, 2005, https://doi.org/10.4271/2005-01-0677. | https://saemobilus.sae.org/content/2005-01-0677 |
Study of the Impact of a Telematics System on Safe and Fuel-Efficient Driving in Trucks [Technology Brief]
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Abstract:Transportation and logistics companies increasingly rely on modern technologies and in-vehicle tools (also known as telematics systems) to optimize their truck fleet operations. Telematics is technology that combines telecommunications (i.e., the transmission of data from on-board vehicle sensors) and global positioning system (GPS) information (i.e., time and location) to monitor driver and vehicle performance. These technologies are sometimes combined with specialized driver interventions in the forms of feedback, training, and/or incentive programs that can improve truck fleet management and reinforce safe and fuel-efficient driving behavior. Driver behavior is by far the largest single contributor to improving fuel efficiency. There can be as much as a 35-percent difference in fuel consumption between a good driver and a poor driver. Therefore, improving fuel efficiency by encouraging improved driving habits is one of the most promising measures to reduce fleet operation costs. Because fuel costs account for a significant portion of overall motor carrier operating costs, technologies that reduce fuel consumption and encourage responsible driving behavior have tremendous potential.
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Main Document Checksum:urn:sha256:9fed1512b0da9bc11bfc5a4609ff6510c8ac42f6363e2680b44ffa206eb526a7
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File Type: | https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/176 |
A data analytics and InsurTech IoT company
Hood is an IoT and data analytic company based in Cairo Egypt. The company has a device that is synced with the Hood mobile application. This device displays the car’s mileage, gas consumption and car's engine health. Hood device is used to analyze the driving habits of the driver. The company leverages its analytics to provide insurance companies with information that can help understand its customers, therefore create more customizable and elaborate plans. | https://thebase.weetracker.com/startup/hood/ |
WHEREAS, while it is recognized that the Kona Coffee Farmers Association has no regulatory authority nor scientific competence to regulate the release and development of GM crops, the KCFA may legitimately respond to the concerns of farmers and others with a stake in the future of Kona’s gourmet coffee industry, and may further express such concerns to those agencies and institutions responsible for the development, permitting, oversight and regulation of GM crops.
1. A moratorium on the release of genetically modified coffee plants into the State of Hawaii until a regulatory regime has been adopted that includes extensive evaluation of genetic contamination from pollen drift and other environmental consequences and secondary ecological effects.
2. A statute, regulation, and/or rule that liability for any external costs to individuals and the environment caused by physical spillover effects, such as genetic contamination from pollen drift, must be borne by the growers, manufacturers and distributors of genetically engineered plants.
3. In conjunction with the establishment of an adequate regulatory regime as outlined in item(1) above, a requirement that genetically modified plantings to be explicitly labeled as such, and neighboring properties notified–the costs of such labeling and notification to be borne by the owner or lessee of the planted land.
4. A requirement that any coffee produced from genetically modified plants to be explicitly labeled as such at every stage of its production through to sale to provide adequate information to processors and consumers–the costs of such labeling and verification to be borne by the growers and processors of the genetically modified coffee. | https://www.konacoffeefarmers.org/kcfa-business/kcfa-resolutions/kcfa-position-on-genetically-modified-coffee-stock/ |
A wide gap exists between the rapid acceptance of genetically modified (GM) crops for cultivation by farmers in many countries and in the global markets for food and feed, and the often-limited acceptance by consumers. This review contrasts the advances of practical applications of agricultural biotechnology with the divergent paths—also affecting the development of virus resistant transgenic crops—of political and regulatory frameworks for GM crops and food in different parts of the world. These have also shaped the different opinions of consumers. Important factors influencing consumer’s attitudes are the perception of risks and benefits, knowledge and trust, and personal values. Recent political and societal developments show a hardening of the negative environment for agricultural biotechnology in Europe, a growing discussion—including calls for labeling of GM food—in the USA, and a careful development in China towards a possible authorization of GM rice that takes the societal discussions into account. New breeding techniques address some consumers’ concerns with transgenic crops, but it is not clear yet how consumers’ attitudes towards them will develop. Discussions about agriculture would be more productive, if they would focus less on technologies, but on common aims and underlying values. | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/7/8/2819/htm |
What are GMOs and why is labeling them important?
Genetically modified organisms, often called GMOs, are living organisms that have had the genes of another organism implanted in it. This is often done to with the hopes of a higher yield, herbicide resistant plant, pesticide containing plant, or to make the organism hardier. These genetically modified plants are sold to farms as a way to increase their yields and limit the risk of loss due to diseases, droughts, and pests.
Genetic modification is not a modern practice, in fact, it has been practiced for thousands of years. Humans have been selectively cross-pollinating plants to get the desired traits. One of the first genetically modified organisms was corn, which started out as a small type of grass with a very low yield of small ears. It was then bred over years and years to become what we recognize as corn today. Genetic modification is not specific to plants, animals have a long history of modification. The dogs so many of us have as pets are descendants of wild wolves, which were bred for specific genes.
In 1974, scientists first transplanted a gene from one animal to another after the technique was used to do the same in bacteria a year earlier. There was concern from the public, government, and many scientists about the safety of genetically modifying organisms, and because of this, a year-long moratorium was placed on GM experiments. The moratorium ended after a conference, called the Asilomar Conference, convened to discuss the safety of these experiments. The attendees of the conference (which included government officials and scientists) decided that, with the inclusion of strict regulations, GM projects should be allowed to continue.
After the conference, scientists began to work on GM projects which led the Supreme Court to make a 1980 ruling that allowed companies to patent their genetically modified organisms. This caused a spike in the research of GMOs because they could now be used for profit, which led to the first genetically modified food crop to be approved by the USDA in 1992. The Flavr Savr Tomato was modified to have a longer shelf life.1
This research and production of GMOs have continued since then, with large companies like Monsanto leading the industry in genetically modified crop seeds. As of right now, it is fairly difficult to purchase a processed item from the grocery store that does not contain at least one GMO ingredient. Surprisingly, though, there are not that many crops commercially available that are genetically modified. The ‘high-risk’ crops, as listed by the Non-GMO Project includes just 8 plants. Alfalfa (the kind used for animal feed), canola, corn, cotton, papaya, soy, sugar beets (used to make sweetener), and summer squash are the crops on that list.2 If you are eating whole foods and avoiding packaged, processed foods it should not be terribly difficult to avoid GMOs if it is important to you.
One of the most popular arguments in favor of the use of GMOs is that they have the potential to help the hunger issues plaguing our world. Much of the current research on genetically modifying crops focuses on making them more nutritious and resistant to drought, both of which would help make them an integral part of the solution to world hunger. One of the first crops to directly address this issue was golden rice, created in 1999 by Ingo Potrykus. The rice was yellow because it contains high levels of beta-carotene, which contains vitamin A, an important nutrient for strong immune systems and healthy eyesight. The idea was to develop this rice and then give it to farmers in impoverished communities for free.3 While golden rice is still going through the regulation process, it has become an important part of the argument in favor of GMOs and the work they could do to help the malnourished communities around the world.
There are currently more than 60 countries with either a ban, labeling rules, or strict regulations in regard to GMOs. In Austria, France, Italy and Switzerland GMOs are banned from being cultivated. While places like the European Union put strict labeling regulations on genetically modified foods. These differences of opinions in regards to the use, growth, and labeling of GMOs have some worried about possible trade disputes. While the regulations and negotiations regarding the possible trade difficulties associated with GMOs are still in the works, it will be important to see what implications GMOs and GMO labeling laws have on global trade.
A big argument against the cultivation and consumption of GMOs is the environmental and health issues that may arise from them. People are worried that GMOs may cause cancer, lead to super insects and weeds, and harm the environment. There has been ongoing research about the impact of genetically modified crops, but there have not been any proven negative health implications. Earlier this year, the National Academy of Science released a comprehensive study about GMOs and found that there is no additional health risk to humans when compared to traditional crops.
In addition, people are worried that GMO crops can travel, typically via the wind, contaminating traditional or organic crop fields nearby. There are not many GMO crops that pollinate through the wind, and aside from those, studies have found that the percentage of crops contaminated by GMOs is fairly low. In some cases, the use of GMO crops has lead to a reduced use of pesticides and herbicides. This is important because many pesticides and herbicides pollute our water systems through stormwater runoff, so limiting their use is very beneficial to the environment.
The United States does not currently have a far-reaching law that requires companies to label food products that contain GMOs. That could soon change, as the small state of Vermont recently passed a law requiring GMO-containing products to be labeled saying so. While it is currently unknown whether the law will stand-up to lawsuits and appeals, it is a step in the right direction towards proper labeling of GMOs. A 2014 survey found that over 90% of the US population is in favor of labeling GMOs, and for many of those polled, it is likely the idea of knowing what they are eating and what they are feeding their kids that have led them to this.
While there is still a lot of work that needs to be done regarding the health and environmental impact of long-term consumption and use of GMOs, the current research shows that there is no evidence to support claims they are hazardous to our health and the health of the environment. With that said, it is still a good idea to be as informed as possible when purchasing food and know where it is coming from.
- Ragel, Gabriel. “From Corgis to Corn: A Brief Look at the Long History of GMO Technology.” Science in the News. Harvard University, The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, 09 Aug. 2015. Web.
- ‘What is GMO?” Non-GMO Project. The Non-GMO Project, n.d. Web.
- Nash/Zurich, J. Madeleine. “Grains of Hope.” Time. Time, Inc., 23 July 2000. Web. | https://eatsmarter.com/live-smarter/wellness/what-are-gmos-and-why-is-labeling-them-important-0 |
A comparative analysis of international decisions concerning genetically modified organism (GMO) controversies reveals the judicial inconsistency that is often applied to the property rights of GMO producers and researchers. Courts often find that there are strong property right interests in GMOs, but when these rights clash with health and safety concerns, they are often minimized or completely forgotten; therefore, future growth in biotechnology is inhibited. This Note proposes a solution to this issue that better takes into account all stakeholders and allows for future investment and research into GMOs. The solution draws upon the lessons learned from current regulatory and enforcement regimes and international agreements governing GMOs. To arrive at this conclusion, this Note analyzes multiple cases concerning GMO controversies. These cases have been selected because their decisions have either gone against the national regulatory policy or public opinion. Further, this Note looks at the economic effects that these decisions have had on their respective countries.
Table of Contents I. Introduction A. What are GMOs? B. Controversies Surrounding GMOs C. Why Is This Important?. II. Overview of General Types of Regulatory Structures III. Case Analysis of GMO Controversies A. Infringement Cases 1. Argentina 2. Brazil 3. Canada B. Vandalism Cases 1. Germany 2. Belgium C. Resulting Economic Impacts 1. Germany 2. Belgium 3. Canada 4. Argentina 5. Brazil IV. Solution V. Conclusion I. INTRODUCTION
The international market for genetically modified crops is in disarray. Genetically modified crop producers (e.g., farmers and seed developers) not only have to worry about the patchwork of regulatory schemes that have arisen but the inconsistent treatment of these systems in the courtroom as well. While, at some level, international agreements such as the Nagoya-Kuala Lampur Protocol can be viewed as an attempt to provide a stabilized system of liability for genetically modified organism (GMO) producers, they do not address the underlying problem of inconsistent judicial treatment and cumbersome regulations, which can have the deleterious effect of inhibiting further research and development of GMOs.
One explanation for these inconsistencies can be found in the arguments surrounding the dichotomy between property rights and civil rights. The central feature of these arguments is whether property rights are a central right on par with civil rights or a lesser right that must yield to regulations and other civil rights. (1) As GMO cases can squarely fit into either category, (2) they provide the perfect means by which to analyze what happens when these interests collide and the subsequent economic effects of these decisions. This Note, divided into four parts, investigates this issue of judicial inconsistency and its economic impact on GMO producers and countries. Part I provides an overview of the history of GMOs. Part II reviews the general regulatory approaches that govern GMOs. Part III looks at court cases concerning the two major issues involving genetically modified crops: infringement and vandalism. Part III also analyzes the effect, if any, these decisions had on their respective country's economy. Part IV discusses a recommendation for a system that can sustain a proper balance between concerns for health and safety and the property rights of GMO producers and researchers.
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What are GMOs?
GMOs are organisms that are engineered, usually in a laboratory by modern biotechnology processes, to exhibit desired physiological traits or produce specific biological products. (3) GMOs are generally discussed in relation to the agriculture industry, but the genetic engineering methods used to create them are also applied to non-edible plants, animals, bacteria, and viruses, for example pigs modified to efficiently ingest phosphorus. (4) Genetic engineering finds its roots in the research of Gregor Mendel, whose work in the 1860s shapes society's current understanding of how traits are passed down. (5) The focus of his work was selective breeding, the process of breeding pairs over multiple generations to obtain desired characteristics. (6) Modern biotechnology has extensively developed Mendel's work, allowing scientists to produce any three desired traits within three months, compared to twenty-five years using Mendel's traditional breeding. (7)
Despite the existence of genetic engineering techniques since the 1970s, (8) the first GMO approved for human consumption was not released until 1994. (9) Once approved, it did not take long for GMOs to become more prevalent in the market. Genetically modified crops currently make up more than 70 percent of the global production of soybeans and cotton. (10) As of 2011, genetically modified crops made up "about 90% of the papaya grown in the United States, all in Hawaii," "95% of the nation's sugar beets, 94% of the soybeans, 90% of the cotton and 88% of the feed corn." (11) Given this significant representation in America's food supply chain, GMOs also represent a sizable portion of the United States' gross domestic product (GDP): 2.5 percent in 2012. (12) The reason for the proliferation of genetically modified crops is threefold: efficiency, health, and sustainability. Genetically modified crop research began as a race to develop crops that produced more food while using fewer resources. From 1996 to 2012, the use of genetically modified crops saved 123 million hectares of land from being used for farming while still increasing crop yields. (13) As these benefits were realized, aspirations grew from simply increasing production yields to also serving the nutritional needs of certain communities--an example of this is "golden rice." (14) This rice, enriched genetically with beta carotene, was developed in response to the fact that "[m]illions of people in Asia and Africa don't get enough of this vital nutrient." (15) In addition, some studies show that genetically modified crops can decrease the emissions of greenhouse gases emissions, as compared to traditional plantings. (16) This is due to a reduction of fieldwork necessary to maintain some genetically modified crops, such as tillage. With a reduction of tillage, "more residue [will] remain in the ground, sequestering more [carbon dioxide] in the soil and reducing greenhouse gas emissions." (17) Achievement of these benefits, however, has not come without controversy.
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Controversies Surrounding GMOs
Genetically modified crops are controversial in almost every country where they are planted, with the most vocal GMO protests usually found in developing countries. (18) These protests range from peaceful boycotts to vandalism. The most cited reasons behind these protests are health and environmental concerns. The general argument is that GMOs are developed and deployed too rapidly to allow for proper testing and assessment of the risks associated with them. (19)
Globally there have been several examples of violent GMO protests. In the Philippines, activists broke down fences and destroyed a farmer's crops because he was growing genetically modified crops in his field. (20) In Australia, activists, "wearing Hazmat protective clothing," "scaled the fence" at a test farm growing genetically modified wheat and, with weed eaters, destroyed all the crops. (21) Likewise, in Brazil, a group of female activists "armed with sticks and knives" "destroyed millions of samples of genetically modified (GM) eucalyptus saplings." (22)
Similar protests also occur in the United States. The most innocuous of these events are those that are entirely confined to the political realm. (23) Activism in the United States, however, is not limited to just the public sphere. Sometimes activists have gone so far as to proclaim that "it is the moral right--and even the obligation--of human beings everywhere to actively plan and carry out the killing of those engaged in heinous crimes against humanity." (24) The heinous crime that the activists are referring to is the production and distribution of GMOs. The protests also include vandalism. For example, in Oregon approximately sixty-five hundred genetically engineered sugar beet plants were destroyed over the course of three days by protesters. (25)
Due to these controversies, various international actors developed a patchwork of regulations to govern GMO production and transportation. (26) While there are three mechanisms for the international regulation of GMOs, the most notable is the framework developed at the United Nations level, the Cartagena Protocol agreement. (27) The Cartagena Protocol entered into force on September 11, 2003, and currently has 170 signatories. (28) It concerns various issues of biosafety largely requiring only advanced notification of transportation of GMOs and subsequent safe handling and use. (29) A subpart of this agreement required that, within four years, the parties would agree on how to deal with issues of liability due to the nonconsensual "transboundary movements" of various GMOs. (30) Now, twelve years since the ratification of the Cartagena Protocol, the liability system, the Nagoya-Kuala Lumpur Supplementary Protocol, is still not ratified as it is lacking six signatures. (31) While the reasons for this are numerous, one of the primary reasons is that local perceptions of GMOs have become so divisive that creating a standard regulatory structure is a political nightmare, but this is exactly what is required going forward. (32)
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Why Is This Important?
One of the major factors affecting the interpretation of international, and even national, legal and regulatory frameworks concerning GMOs is the perception of the local community. For instance:
While marketing and importing GMOs and food and feed produced with GMOs are regulated at the [European Union (EU)] level, the cultivation of GMOs is an area left to the EU members. EU members have the right... | https://law-journals-books.vlex.com/vid/the-case-for-gmos-699240161 |
Phone:
+39 65 705 5499
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+39 65 705 3801
Email:
[email protected]
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FAO - Research and Technology Development (SDRR) - Biotechnology and biosafety
Beneficiary country(ies)
Croatia
Europe - All countries
Type of initiative
Start Date
2008-04-01
Ending date
2009-06-30
Donor(s) information
Agency(ies) or Organization(s) implementing or sponsoring the initiative
Record #15816
Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) - Biotechnology
Viale delle Terme di Caracalla
Rome
Italy, 00153
Phone:
+39 (0) 6 57051
Fax:
+39 (0) 6 570 53152
Email:
[email protected]
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[email protected]
,
[email protected]
Url:
Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) - Biotechnology
Agency(ies) or Organization(s) implementing or sponsoring the initiative (Additional Information)
Type of Organization: UN Agency
Budget information
311,000USD
Activity details
Description of the initiative
In the agriculture sector, the Government of Croatia has decided to keep the country free of Genetically Modified Organism (GMOs) and has a national law regulating the issue of import and production of Genetically Modified (GM) seeds, crops and products which was adopted by the Croatian Parliament in 2005. This law contains provision for introduction and experimentation with GM breeding material as well as production and distribution of seed of GM varieties of plants. The import of food and other products containing components issued from GM plant varieties are not going to be allowed. A threshold level of 0.9 percent GMO will be exercised for distribution, in conformity with the EU legislation mainly for food products derived from GM varieties of soybean, maize, rape seed and cotton. The law provides for provisions under which the GM varieties and products could be used in the country, thus enabling the coexistence of different patterns of agricultural production: traditional, organic or eco-farming, and production of GM crops.
In this regard, Croatia is keen to establish an effective framework for biosafety, including monitoring of GM products, in order to enable the proper enforcement of the relevant laws and regulatory acts.
However, the government agencies are not yet fully equipped and the regulatory personnel do not have adequate capacity to evaluate, monitor and assist in decision making regarding the products of biotechnology. Insufficient infrastructure in the institutions and regulatory agencies does not allow the inspection agencies to fully evaluate and monitor the presence of GM material.
There is a growing need to establish adequate institutional structures, including equipment of laboratories and training of national staff to enable full implementation of the national legislations
Objective and main expected outcomes or lesson learned
Objectives
The overall objective of the TCP is to assist the Government of Croatia in building overall human and infrastructural capacity within the principal regulatory bodies ISS, AIO, CIPH, CFA, and SIPN to efficiently and effectively carry out risk assessments and monitoring of various GM products of biotechnology and/or living modified organisms as foreseen in the Cartagena Protocol. This capacity building will enable the regulatory agencies to ensure coexistence and be of greater technical and advisory assistance to the SIPN and build effective collaboration among themselves in biosafety-related emerging matters.
The immediate objectives will be to:
• enhance technical resource and capacity within the national regulatory agencies to carry out and oversee technical and support functions in biosafety and upgrade the capability of national regulatory agencies to deal with the practical and technical aspects of biosafety;
• conduct a study on coexistence of cultivation of GM crops, organically grown crops and conventional agriculture, taking into account Croatia's legislations and agriculture and economic objectives;
• strengthen infrastructure and laboratory facilities of regulatory agencies to provide greater capacity to detect and handle GM products and provide assistance in either establishing or facilitating co-sharing arrangements of containment facilities;
• facilitate and enhance acquisition of and information exchange on GM crops, products, biosafety and coexistence as pertinent to Croatia and the region, including promoting partnerships and cooperation for effective collaboration and linkages among national agencies, research laboratories, donors, and other stakeholders at the national and regional level.
The overall output will be an established technical capacity of regulatory agencies of Croatia (through technical training assistance to ISS, AIO, CIPH, CFA, and SIPN) to develop inspection and monitoring capacity for GM products. One of the major goals will be to integrate hands-on work experience of technical personnel as well as advance and strengthen the partnerships of the regulatory agencies with available expertise in biotechnology within the country and in the region. Detailed outputs of the project will be the following:
• thirty persons trained in all aspects related to biosafety. The trainees will be from SIPN, staff of the MAFWM and other ministries, plant quarantine officials and research officers of ISS, AIO, CIPH, CFA, and SIPN and other national stakeholders;
• five regulatory inspectors from ISS, AIO, CIPH, CFA, and SIPN trained in advanced techniques and use of equipment for GM detection and quantification, through a study tour to one of the following institutions abroad: the National Institute for Agriculture and Quality Control, Budapest, Hungary, or the Agency for Health and Food Safety, Federal Office for Food Safety, Vienna, Austria or the Agricultural Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia (to be decided later);
• fifteen regulatory officers and technicians from ISS, AIO, CIPH, CFA and SIPN trained in basic principles and practical techniques of molecular biology, which are central to the GM seed detection through leading technical agencies such as the International Seed Testing Association (ISTA). The technical information from the training and on biosafety aspects will be disseminated to all stakeholders;
• a publication of a 'Study on Coexistence in Crop Cultivation in Croatia' taking into account the current practice in cultivation of GM crops and organically grown crops with conventional agriculture, existing national legislations, agricultural and economic objectives. The study will develop a framework for coexistence of agricultural production to be presented to the national government;
• limited amount of laboratory equipment provided and collaborative user agreements developed with institutions in the region that already possess state-of-the-art laboratories and equipment. A key element would be the purchase of an advanced PCR machine to be housed at the ISS;
• partnerships and possibilities for expanding capacity building in technical aspects and in other areas with stakeholders identified. | http://mt.biosafetyclearinghouse.net/database/record.shtml?documentid=48287 |
1.COALITION FOR A GM-FREE INDIA WELCOMES THE PARLIAMENTARY STANDING COMMITTEE'S REPORT ON GM CROPS: ASKS GOVERNMENT TO IMMEDIATELY STOP ALL FIELD TRIALS.
*ALSO DEMANDS GOVT THROW OUT THE BRAI BILL AND BRING IN A BIOSAFETY STATUTE
*AND STOP CALLING BT COTTON IN INDIA A SUCCESS
New Delhi, August 9, 2012: Calling the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Agriculture's report on GM crops a historic, comprehensive and well-grounded document, the Coalition for a GM-Free India welcomed the report and hoped that the governments in India, especially the Union Government, would change their perspective on the subject at least now. It is clear that the government's views are uninformed and biased on the matter, and the blind promotion of the technology is unscientific to say the least, said the Coalition.
It is symbolic that the Standing Committee's report comes out on August 9th, observed as "Quit India" day in the country it is time that GM crops are thrown out of our food and farming systems, a Press Release said. The Coalition asked for the immediate implementation of one of the key recommendations of the Committee, which is to stop all field trials of GM crops.
"This report vindicates the concerns and positions taken by many State Governments in India, such as Bihar, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh etc which have disallowed GM crops, including field trials. It also vindicates the larger public demand not to allow GM crops into our food and farming systems," said Sridhar Radhakrishnan, Convener of the Coalition.
It is evident that the Chair and members of the Standing Committee have gone into the finer details of this controversial technology and studied it from all angles, including the socio-economic, so that the interests of the Indian farmer are upheld ultimately. The report looks at regulation and its shortcomings and questions the Ministry of Agriculture on its policy-making related to transgenics in Indian agriculture.
The Coalition sincerely hoped that the nation as a whole takes pointers from this analysis and requests law makers and the government to throw out the deeply flawed Biotechnology Regulatory Authority of India (BRAI) Bill and start at the drawing board afresh, with the correct mandate and therefore, the correct ministries.
"We also agree with the Standing Committee recommendation that the current 'collusions of the worst kind' in the regulatory system be probed thoroughly", added Sridhar Radhakrishnan.
The Agriculture Standing Committee has 31 members and is headed by veteran parliamentarian Basudeb Acharia. Interestingly enough, this report was unanimously adopted by the Committee, cutting across party lines.
Kavitha Kuruganti, Member of the Coalition added that the report comes at the right time, when the biotech industry with its deep pockets is exerting pressure in overt and subtle ways on governments. "Ignoring the ground reality of the plight of rainfed smallholder farmers in the country, the biotech industry is busy profiteering at their expense. The analysis of the Standing Committee when it comes to Bt cotton performance in the country, backed up by field visits by committee members, is that it has aggravated agrarian distress rather than helped farmers. We demand that liability for this be fixed on promoters and regulators. The irresponsible hype and promotion of this technology has cost many farmers their lives and this cannot continue", she said.
The Coalition noted that it is only a public debate facilitated by the then Union Minister for Environment & Forests, Jairam Ramesh, that stopped another disaster in the form of Bt brinjal descending upon our farmers and citizens who would have been forced to consume it. The Standing Committee report takes cognizance of this too. Keeping in view the risks involved in open-air field trials of GMOs the committee has recommended that all field trials be stopped immediately; we wholeheartedly welcome the recommendation of the Committee. It is time that Punjab, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat, which have given permissions for such trials stop the open air release of GMOs in their states", the Coalition stated.
The Coalition hopes that the report will form the basis for a deep and widespread debate on the subject of GMOs in our food and farming in the country and said that India should be proud of this historic, well-analysed report coming out in the year that the country is hosting the Convention on Biological Diversity's COP-MOP in Hyderabad later this year. "We hope that this report will guide the thinking in other countries as well, including our neighbouring countries with similar socio-economic conditions for their farming communities", said the Coalition.
For more information, contact:
Sridhar Radhakrishnan at 09995358205
Kavitha Kuruganti at 09393001550
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2.Press release from the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Agriculture
LOK SABHA SECRETARIAT
PRESS RELEASE
9 August 2012
18 Sharvana, 1934 (Saka)
Shri Basudeb Acharia, M.P. and Chairman, Committee on Agriculture (2011-12), presented the Thirty Seventh Report of the Committee on 'Cultivation of Genetically Modified Food Crops Prospects and Effects' pertaining to the Ministry of Agriculture (Department of Agriculture and Cooperation) to Lok Sabha today, the 9th August, 2012.
Some of the important recommendations of the Committee are as under:-
*Bt. brinjal case Thorough probe recommended
The Committee have been highly disconcerted to know about the confession of the Co-Chairman of Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (Prof. Arjula Reddy) that the tests asked for by Dr. P.M. Bhargava, the Supreme Court nominee on GEAC for assessing Bt. brinjal were not carried out and even the tests undertaken were performed badly and that he (Prof. Arjula Reddy) had been under tremendous pressure as he was getting calls from industry, GEAC and the Minister to approve Bt. brinjal. Convinced that these developments are not merely slippages due to oversight or human error but indicative of collusion of a worst kind, they have recommended a thorough probe into the Bt. brinjal matter from the beginning upto the imposing of moratorium on its commercialization by the then Minister of Environment and Forests (I/C) on 9 February, 2010 by a team of independent scientists and environmentalists. (Recommendation Para No. 2.79)
*Inexplicable changes in the organs and tissues of Bt. cotton seed fed lambs re-evaluation of all research findings by an expert committee – impressed upon
Noting from ICAR 'Report on Animal Feeding on Bio-safety Studies with Biotechnologically Transformed Bt. Cotton Crop Seed Meal' conducted in 2008 that there was increase in liver weight, testicle weight, testicle fat and RBC in blood and decrease in WBC in blood in the lambs fed with Bt. cotton seed, the Committee have recommended a professional evaluation of these developments, their possible causes and consequences by an expert committee comprising of eminent scientists from ICMR, pathologists, veterinarians and nutritionists. Further, noting that the data in the Study Report pertaining to kidney weight, spleen weight, heart weight, lung weight, kidney fat, cole fat, pancreas and penis weight also shows variations in Bt. cotton seed fed lambs, the Committee have also recommended a relook by the expert committee constituted for the purpose into all these findings and apprise them about their evaluation and interpretation of the data at the soonest. The Committee have also
sought the considered views of RCGM and GEAC on this Food Study Report and how it fared in their consideration while deciding the biosafety and health safety aspects of Bt. cotton. (Recommendation Para No. 2.90 & 2.91)
*GEAC and RCGM in depth and comprehensive examination by the nodal Parliamentary Committee -requested
The Committee have noticed several shortcomings in the functioning, composition, powers, mandate, etc. of GEAC and RCGM in their regulatory role for the assessment, evaluation and approval of transgenic crops in the Country. Noting that these two entities are under the jurisdiction of Department Related Standing Committee on Science and Technology, Environment and Forests, the Committee have requested their sister Committee to take up GEAC and RCGM for an in depth and comprehensive examination and Report to the Parliament. (Recommendation Para No. 2.92)
*Setting-up of an all encompassing Bio-Safety Authority stressed upon
Noting with concern the grossly inadequate and antiquated regulatory mechanism for assessment and approval of transgenics in food crops; the serious conflict of interest of various stakeholders involved in the regulatory mechanism; the total lack of post commercialization, monitoring and surveillance, the Committee have felt that in such a situation what the Country needs is not a bio-technology regulatory legislation but an all encompassing umbrella legislation on bio-safety which is focused on ensuring the bio-safety, biodiversity, human and livestock health, environmental protection and which specifically describes the extent to which bio-technology, including modern bio-technology, fits in the scheme of things, without compromising with the safety of any of the elements mentioned above. They have, therefore, recommended to the Government, with all the power at their command, to immediately evolve such a legislation after due consultation with all stakeholders and bring it before the Parliament without any further delay. The Committee have also cautioned the Government that in their tearing hurry to open the economy to private prospectors, they should not make the same fate befall on the agriculture sector, as has happened to the communications, pharma, mineral wealth and several other sectors in which the Government's facilitative benevolence preceded setting up of sufficient checks and balances and regulatory mechanisms, thereby, leading to colossal, unfettered loot and plunder of national wealth in some form or the other, incalculable damage to environment, bio-diversity, flora and fauna and unimaginable suffering to the common man. (Recommendation Para No. 3.47 & 3.48)
*Examination of Research Reports on Bt. brinjal by an agency other than GEAC- emphasized in view of conflict of interest.
Having observed that in pursuance of the direction of the then Minister of Environment and Forests (I/C), GEAC is examining various reports on merits and demerits of genetically modified crops in consultation with eminent persons and scientists, the Committee have opined that it is a clear case of conflict of interest. GEAC approved the commercialization of Bt. brinjal on the basis of its own assessment as the apex regulatory body. Therefore, it should not sit on judgement of its own decision and also on the merits and demerits of various reports on genetically modified crops. They have, therefore, recommended expeditious evaluation of these reports by some public sector agency such as CSIR, who not only have sufficient experience in the matter but also have minimum conflict of interest. (Recommendation Para No. 5.56)
*Failure of DAC at policy making level in regard to transgenics in agriculture sector – criticised
The Committee have criticized the Department of Agriculture and Cooperation for having failed to discharge its mandated responsibilities, in so far as, the introduction of transgenic agricultural crops in India is concerned, as a policy matter. They ignored the farmers’ profile in India i.e. 70% of them being small and marginal ones, levels of mechanization, non-availability of irrigation facilities, the cost-benefit analysis, the uncertainty of yield, loss to biodiversity, etc. They have, therefore, recommended an in depth probe to track the decision making involved in commercial release of Bt. cotton including how Bt. cotton became a priority when the avowed goal of introduction of transgenics in agricultural crops was to ensure and maintain food security. (Recommendation Para No. 6.144 & 6.146)
*Lacs of tonnes of Bt. cotton seed oil having gone into food chain unnoticed, in the last decade or so explanation from Department of Consumer Affairs sought
Having found out that during the last decade or so of Bt. cotton cultivation in the Country lacs of tonnes of cotton seed oil extracted from Bt. cotton has gotten into the food chain, with various agencies including the Department of Consumer Affairs, FSSAI, etc. being oblivious of this fact, the Committee have sought an explanation of the Department of Consumer Affairs from the point of view of consumer protection, consumer rights, informed consumer choice, etc., immediately. (Recommendation Para No. 6.148)
*Effect of transgenic crops on medicinal crops and plants and non-inclusion of Department of AYUSH on GEAC explanation sought
In view of the serious reservations expressed by the Department of Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy about the likely impact of transgenics in agricultural crops on the medicinal value of various plants, the Committee have sought a detailed explanation from GEAC about action they had taken on the advice of Department of AYUSH while approving commercial release of Bt. brinjal. The Committee have also sought a detailed explanation from Ministry of Environment and Forests on their refusal to co-opt the representative of Department of AYUSH on GEAC right away, when Bt. brinjal was approved for commercial release and several other crops having medicinal propriety are already being assessed/approved by RCGM/GEAC. (Recommendation Para No. 6.149)
*Negative impact of transgenic crops on Exports consideration requested
Being told by the Department of Commerce that there may be no real demand for export of GM crops when the emphasis is on organic production, the Committee have asked the Government that the negative impact of Genetically Modified Crops on Country's agricultural export needs to be factored in while taking a decision in regard to introduction of such crops.
(Recommendation Para No. 6.151)
*Suitably equipping NBA and FSSAI for effective discharge of their mandated roles exhorted.
Observing severe deficiencies in the human resource and infrastructure at the disposal of National Biodiversity Authority and Food and Safety Standard Authority of India, both of whom will be playing a crucial role in ensuring biodiversity and food safety respectively, the Committee have strongly recommended to the Government to adequately strengthen both these agencies with scientific, technical and other human resource of best quality, alongwith sufficient infrastructure without any further delay.
(Recommendation Para Nos. 6.152 to 6.156)
*Labelling of GM products Recommended.
Upholding that the consumer has the supreme right to make an informed choice, the Committee have recommended that the Government should immediately issue regulation for making labeling of all Genetically Modified Products including food, feed and food products so as to ensure that the consumer is able to make an informed choice in the important matter of what she/he wants to consume. (Recommendation Para No. 7.63)
*R&D on transgenics in agricultural crops should only be done in strict containment and field trials under any garb should be discontinued forthwith strongly recommended. | https://gmwatch.org/en/main-menu/news-menu-title/archive/51-2012/14127-parliamentary-report-calls-for-immediate-end-to-all-gm-field-trials |
The overview of transgenic brinJal as an option to manage brinjal shoot and fruit borer along with current and future challenges in areas of its commercialization is presented.
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CHALLENGES TO THE ADOPTION OF MODERN CROP BIOTECHNOLOGY: INSIGHTS FROM INDIAN AND MALAYSIAN GM REGULATORY FRAMEWORKS
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Legislative Support for Agricultural Innovation in India
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The Genetic Engineering Approval Committee's approval of Bt brinjal, the first genetically modified crop for human consumption in India, has sparked off protests across the country and some major concerns are highlighted.
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Experiments were conducted during kharif and rabi seasons of 1995 to 1997 on the management of brinjal shoot and fruit borer, Leucinodes orbonalis Guen. The pooled data analysis indicated that the…
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An initial rapid decline in extractable toxin concentration in the first 14 days, followed by a slower decline, was observed in four of the five experiments, and at the end of the experiments, Btk toxin from transgenic plant tissue was undetectable (less than 0.1% of starting concentration).
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The results suggest that cryIA(b) protein, as a component of postharvest transgenic corn plants, will dissipate readily on the surface of, or cultivated into, soil. | https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Bt-Brinjal-in-India%3A-A-long-way-to-go-Kumar-Misra/490d9a340a9259f568e989c2136e1f00d1741f90 |
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The Food Industry’s Choice: by Robyn O’Brien, Nov 12, 2013.
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The study aimed to review the literature on the effects related to post-exercise of graduated compression garments (GCGs) use on muscle recovery and delayed onset muscle soreness. The search was performed in Pubmed/Medline, Bireme, Scielo, and Lilacs electronic databases using the following descriptors in English: "compression clothing", "physical exercise", "recovery", "physical activity", "compression stockings" and "delayed onset muscle soreness". The search resulted in 102 articles and after removing duplicates, applying exclusion criteria and checking the reference lists, nine studies fulfilled the criteria and were included in the review. Seven studies associated the use of GCGs with reduction of delayed muscle soreness and improvement in performance after the use of compression clothes. However, the methodological quality of the studies, using PEDro scale, presented an average of 5.1±0.9 points (out of a total of 11 points), classified as intermediate. In conclusion, although the positive effects of using CGCs on improving recovery and reduction of delayed muscle soreness after physical exercises are almost consensual, the insufficient methodological quality of the included studies requires careful consideration of the results.
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You know you’ve had a good workout when you’re tired and sore the day after. Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS) is a real pain to deal with—quite literally. We’ve all been acquainted with it at some point. It indicates how far you’ve pushed beyond the limits of comfort while working out. To some, the intensity of soreness even translates to how much it feels like an accomplishment.
Unfortunately, there are times when DOMS becomes less of an accomplishment and more of a hindrance. They can get bad enough to affect your day-to-day functionality. You may even miss a training day or, in the worst-case scenario, days. That may not sound like a big deal to outsiders, but for us people practicing martial arts, that means missing lessons taught during the class. It means potentially lagging behind the rest of the group.
While the soreness may feel like an accomplishment, we want to do away with it as soon as possible. In this article, we explore DOMS and list down activities you can do to accelerate your muscle recovery.
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Why do you get sore after a workout?
Our muscles are constantly breaking down old cells and synthesizing new ones to maintain the integrity of the whole muscle unit. Some activities rapidly accelerate this turnover process. Such examples are when you do new types of exercise your body isn’t used to and amp up the intensity of your usual workouts to the next level.1
Lactic acid has always been blamed as the main culprit in DOMS, but this is a heavily contested claim. Studies in the ’80s have disagreed with this theory.2 Another belief is that muscle breakdown causes soreness, but that’s not quite right.
What? If it’s not any of the two, then what causes DOMS?
Inflammation causes the soreness you experience after an intense workout session. When any organ (in this case, the muscles) are damaged in any way, inflammation is the body’s natural response—the first step to any healing process.3 Technically, it’s not the microtears that cause soreness. Instead, it’s the body’s healing mechanisms that are to blame.
There is a barely-perceptible amount of swelling in the affected muscles during DOMS. The influx of fluid compresses the nerves in the area, resulting in the pain typically described as soreness.4 This explains why the soreness in DOMS is also sensitive to pressure.
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Should you train when you're sore?
There’s no absolute yes or no answer to this question. It depends on how sore you are, how well you can cope with the pain, and the type of exercise you want to do. If the soreness you experience is minor enough to be brushed aside, then you shouldn’t have any problem doing your workouts as usual.
If you’re too sore that every movement seems like a challenge, you may opt to do workouts that target muscle groups other than the ones in pain. Some therapy and recovery exercises can get you back on the top of your game sooner if you can manage them.
Some days, you may wake up feeling like you can barely get out of bed. There’s no shame in taking a day off to rest and recover. If you think a day (or a few days off) is what your body needs, then go ahead. You know your body best, and you know when it can and when it can’t handle any more strain.
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Muscle Recovery Techniques
Here are a few methods that you can try out the next time you’re sore:
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1 Cryotherapy
Cryotherapy is the new age’s ice bath. Technically, it refers to the use of low temperature for its therapeutic effects. The standard RICE method (rest, ice, compression, elevation) used in inflammation is one of its forms. When people talk about it for its therapeutic effects, they usually refer to one specific type—whole-body cryotherapy.5
Whole-body cryotherapy happens in cryo booths with temperatures going down to zero or subzero. It can be in the form of small cubicles or frosty booths going up to neck level. It’s generally safe for healthy people, but people can only go in for a maximum of five minutes given the extreme cold. The risk of hypothermia is tightly controlled, thanks to the strict time limit.
Photo grabbed from ScienceNews
What’s the rationale behind this treatment? Cryotherapy boosts muscle recovery through two main phases: the cold and the post-cold. Upon entry into the cryo chamber, the cold constricts the blood vessels. As a result, it controls the intensity of inflammation and reduces the injury caused by exercise-induced enzymes. Upon exit from the chamber, the blood vessels rapidly expand, bringing in a rush of anti-inflammatory interleukins. Inflammation and soreness are minimized by the combined effects of these mentioned above.6
Other purported health benefits of cryotherapy include pain relief, cancer treatment, reduced incidence of anxiety and depression, and improved symptoms of eczema.7 Cryotherapy chambers have only been around since the 1970s, however, so there is still a lot of debate around its effects and mechanisms.
There aren’t as many cryotherapy clinics as we would like around, but you can still reap the same benefits with a classic homemade ice bath. Get your ice bath to about 10°C–15°C and submerge yourself for about ten minutes for the same effect.
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2 Percussion Therapy
Percussion therapy makes use of massage guns—which are practically massage therapists on steroids. It takes the typical massage experience and amps up the speed and power. Quite literally, it hammers at your muscles with vibrations and intense pulses of force to loosen them up.8 A great advantage to massage guns is that their effects can reach even the deeper muscles, which the hands can’t reach.
These percussive guns (also called massage guns) use rapid strokes to deliver strong blows to the muscles. It looks like a power drill, sounds like a power drill, but it’s no power drill. It’s just one of the world’s buzziest sports recovery tools—literally and figuratively. Their healing effects include boosting recovery by relieving soreness. As a result, it improves flexibility and widens the range of motion.
There’s no proven explanation for how it works yet, but there are two good theories that may explain how it does what it does. The first one is that the repeated impact from the gun brings blood flow and lymphatic drainage. However, this theory hinges on the idea that lactic acid is to be blamed for DOMS. The second (and more credible) explanation is that the stimulation allows the brain to identify areas of tightness and activates neural responses to loosen those areas.9
Nevertheless, percussive therapy is one of the latest discoveries in sports recovery. Percussive therapy for sports recovery is still a very young concept, with the first massage gun being around for about a decade and a half.10 What it lacks in formal scientific studies it makes up for with considerable anecdotal evidence on the internet. Ideally, any treatment should have a substantial amount of studies backing up its claims, but it may still be worth a try since there is minimal risk to it.
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3 Active Recovery Exercises
The concept of active recovery has been gaining a lot of interest from the fitness scene. Supposedly, by doing light exercises to speed up blood flow, you flush out lactic acid from sore muscles. But then again, scientists have conflicting opinions about whether lactic acid affects DOMS in the first place.
Yoga, walking, and swimming are some of the most recommended exercises for recovery. However, it is crucial to keep in mind that active recovery is relative to your fitness level. A study published in the Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness concluded that swimming, in particular, lowered lactate and inflammation biomarkers in the blood. There are other studies with the same conclusion. Still, these studies covered only athletes and probably doesn’t apply to everyone.
Photo by Todd Quackenbush
What would be a recovery exercise for a trained athlete can already be the average gym-goer’s full workout. The aim of active recovery is to slightly raise your heart rate to boost blood flow, not tire you out. If you’re not a very strong swimmer and you do a lap, you can expect your heart rate to push the limits of active recovery.
Generally, active recovery is only useful for athletes who expected to engage in intense exercise for days at a time. If you’re not in a competitive setting, then there’s no real need to be so urgent in your recovery. Rather than exercise on your days off, why not use your rest day to just rest? Your body will recover well on its own if you give it time. | https://muaythaibrisbane.com/doms-and-3-activities-to-boost-muscle-recovery/ |
Muscle strain, muscle pull, or muscle tear refers to damage to a muscle. This often occurs after intense exercise or if you’ve put pressure on a muscle whilst performing everyday tasks, such as lifting.
Often, people can tell when they’ve torn a muscle as they can be extremely painful. Don’t worry though, they can repair themselves gradually over time but there are steps you can take to speed up the process.
What does a torn muscle feel like?A torn muscle often has the following indicators:
- Swelling, bruising, or redness
- Pain when resting and when using the muscle
- Weakness of the muscle or tendons
- Inability to use the muscle at all.
As much as you want to stop a torn muscle from happening, it’s not always preventable. They can occur when you overstretch or twist a muscle.
Common causes are also not warming up before exercising or having tired muscles whilst exercising.
What do you do for a torn muscle?There are some simple steps you can take to treat torn muscles. Try following the 4 steps known as RICE to help ease soreness and swelling:
- Rest – stop any activity and don’t put any weight on the affected area
- Ice – apply an ice pack to the injury for up to 20 minutes every 2 to 3 hours
- Compression – wrap a bandage around the injury to support it
- Elevate – keep it raised on a pillow as often as possible
When you can move the injured area without feeling too much pain, try to keep moving it so the joint or muscle doesn’t become stiff.
You can also try using muscle recovery equipment to not only treat a torn muscle but also help to prevent it in future. Although you should be careful not to apply too much pressure directly onto the strain, you can use a foam roller or massage gun on the connective muscles around the strained muscle to ease the tightness. Using recovery tools before and after exercise, as well as on rest days, can help to prevent a torn muscle from occurring as it helps to loosen the muscle and make it more flexible. | https://pulseroll.com/en-us/blogs/blog/how-to-treat-torn-muscles-from-gym |
Postexercise muscle soreness, also known as delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS), is defined as the sensation of discomfort or pain in the skeletal muscles following physical activity, usually eccentric, to which an individual is not accustomed.
Signs and symptoms of delayed-onset muscle soreness
These include the following:
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Pain
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Soreness
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Swelling
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Stiff or tender muscle spasm
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Decreased muscle strength and flexibility
Diagnosis of delayed-onset muscle soreness
With regard to lab studies, the serum creatine kinase (CK) level usually is elevated in DOMS, but it is nonspecific. The diagnostic efficacy of imaging studies in DOMS has also been investigated.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can detect muscle edema in DOMS but is not indicated clinically for the diagnosis. In a prospective evaluation of DOMS, abnormalities found in MRI persisted up to 3 weeks longer than did symptoms.
Management of delayed-onset muscle soreness
Although it provides only temporary relief, active exercise of the sore muscle probably is the best way to reduce DOMS.
Studies have shown that whole-body vibration (WBV) is effective in reducing the severity of DOMS and in preventing DOMS after eccentric exercise. [2, 3, 4]
Ice-water immersion and ice massage are frequently used, particularly among high-level athletes, to minimize the symptoms of DOMS.
Overview
The incidence of DOMS is difficult to calculate, because most people who experience it do not seek medical attention, instead accepting DOMS as a temporary discomfort. Every healthy adult most likely has developed DOMS on countless occasions, with the condition occurring regardless of the person's general fitness level. However, although it is experienced widely, there are still controversies regarding the origin, etiology, and treatment of DOMS.
Eccentric muscle contractions
Exercise involving eccentric muscle contractions results in greater disruption or injury to the muscle tissues than does concentric exercise. Thus, any form of exercise with eccentric muscle contractions causes more DOMS than does exercise with concentric muscle contractions. Ample evidence from histologic studies, electron microscopic examination, and serum enzymes of muscular origin supports this notion.
To produce a given muscle force, fewer motor units are activated in an eccentric contraction than in a concentric contraction. In eccentric contractions, the force is distributed over a smaller cross-sectional area of muscle. The increased tension per unit of area could cause mechanical disruption of structural elements in the muscle fibers themselves or in the connective tissue that is in series with the contractile elements; however, it has not been proven that injury to muscle cells or to connective tissue is the causative factor in DOMS.
Muscle pain mechanism
The sensation of pain in skeletal muscle is transmitted by myelinated group III (A-delta fiber) and unmyelinated group IV (C-fiber) afferent fibers. Group III and IV sensory neurons terminate in free nerve endings. The free nerve endings are distributed primarily in the muscle connective tissue between fibers (especially in the regions of arterioles and capillaries) and at the musculotendinous junctions. The larger myelinated group III fibers are believed to transmit sharp, localized pain. The group IV fibers carry dull, diffuse pain.
The sensation of DOMS is carried primarily by group IV afferent fibers. The free nerve endings of group IV afferent fibers in muscles are polymodal and respond to a variety of stimuli, including chemical, mechanical, and thermal. Chemical substances that elicit action potentials in muscle group IV fibers in order of effectiveness are bradykinin, 5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonin), histamine, and potassium.
Morbidity
Only temporary morbidity (pain, soreness, reduced muscle performance) is associated with DOMS. Diminished performance results from reduced voluntary effort due to the sensation of soreness and from the muscle's lowered inherent capacity to produce force.
No evidence exists to support the idea that DOMS is associated with long-term damage or reduced muscle function. Animal studies indicate that injured muscles regenerate during the period following exercise and that the process essentially is completed within 2 weeks.
Sex- and age-related demographics
Stupka and colleagues showed that muscle damage following unaccustomed eccentric exercise is similar in males and females; however, the inflammatory response is attenuated in women.
MacIntyre and coauthors found that the patterns of DOMS and torque differed between males and females after eccentric exercise. In a study by Dannecker and colleagues, no sex differences were detected, except that higher affective ratios were reported by men than by women. DOMS generally is not reported in children. Adults of all ages can experience DOMS.
Patient education
The patient needs to be educated concerning a specific progressive exercise training program before engaging in a heavy, unaccustomed exercise, particularly one that involves eccentric muscle contractions. For patient education information, see Muscle Strain.
Consultations
Consultation with the patient's athletic trainer and coach may be indicated. [9, 10]
Etiology
DOMS results from overuse of the muscle. Any activity in which the muscle produces higher forces than usual or in which it produces forces over a longer time period than usual can cause DOMS. According to Tiidus and Ianuzzo, the degree of muscle soreness is related to the intensity of the muscle contractions and to the duration of the exercise. The intensity seems to be more important in the determination than is the duration.
The following 5 hypotheses are used to explain the etiology of DOMS:
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Structural damage from high tension
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Metabolic waste product accumulation
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Increased temperature
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Spastic contracture
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Myofibrillar remodeling
Structural damage from high tension
This hypothesis originally was proposed by Hough and is the most scientifically accepted theory. The delayed pain is related directly to the development of peak forces and to the rate of force development in rhythmic contractions. DOMS is not related to the state of fatigue of the muscle. (See Table 1, below.)
The rhythmic and tetanic contractions that cause the greatest acute fatigue and discomfort in the muscles during exercise result in the least delayed pain following the exertion. The structural damage is evident in muscles that are not trained for the particular exercise.
Metabolic waste product accumulation
One of the most popular concepts in the lay exercise community is that delayed soreness is a result of lactic acid accumulation in the muscles. The degeneration and regeneration of muscle fibers observed after 2-3 hours of ischemia are similar temporally and quantitatively to the forces resulting from exercise-induced injury. (See Table 1, below.)
An apparent relationship exists between exercise intensity and the extent of soreness. Much evidence against the metabolic hypothesis also may be noted. The most convincing evidence is that the muscle contractions that cause the greatest degree of soreness require relatively low energy expenditure. Exercise involving eccentric contractions requires lower oxygen consumption and produces less lactate than does exercise with concentric contractions at the same power output. Energy use per unit area of active muscle appears to be less in eccentric exercise than in equivalent concentric exercise.
Schwane and colleagues tested the metabolic hypothesis. Their results indicated that downhill running requires significantly lower oxygen uptake (VO2) and produces less lactic acid than does level running but that it nonetheless results in greater DOMS.
Increased temperature
Type III and IV nerve endings are sensitive to temperatures of 38-48°C. Elevated temperature could conceivably damage the structural element in the muscle, resulting in necrosis of muscle fibers and breakdown of connective tissues. Eccentric muscle exercise may generate higher local temperatures than do concentric contractions. Rhabdomyolysis (extreme of DOMS) is more prevalent in untrained subjects during exercise in the heat.
Spastic contracture
Studies by Travell and co-investigators in 1942 and a later series of experiments by Cobb and colleagues demonstrated elevated electromyographic activity in sore muscles. Altered nerve control and vasoconstriction lead to decreased blood flow and ischemia, which, in turn, initiate a pain-spasm-pain cycle. The magnitude of pain depends on the number of motor units involved. Other investigators have been unable to detect increased electrical activity in sore muscles.
Myofibrillar remodeling
The literature suggests that myofibrillar and cytoskeletal alterations are the hallmarks of DOMS and that they reflect adaptive remodeling of the myofibrils. There are 4 main types of changes:
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Amorphous, widened Z-disks
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Amorphous sarcomeres
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Double Z-disks
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Supernumerary sarcomeres
Table 1. Comparative Features of Exercise-Related Pain (Open Table in a new window)
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Pain During or Immediately Following Exercise
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Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS)
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Muscle Cramps Associated with Exercise
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Etiology
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Probable buildup of metabolic by-products (include lactic acid, pyruvic acid)
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Unaccustomed eccentric exercise
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Hyperexcitability of lower motor neuron, possibly related to loss of fluid and electrolytes and low magnesium level
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Onset
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During exercise
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12-48 hours postexercise
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During or after exercise
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Duration/recovery
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Diminishes upon termination of exercise and return of normal blood flow
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Recovery within 7-10 days
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Lasts usually between a few seconds and several minutes
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Type of nerve ending
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Type IV free nerve ending
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Primarily type IV free nerve ending;
type III is also involved
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Most likely type III free nerve ending
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Type of muscle contraction associated
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Sustained or rhythmic concentric and isometric contractions
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Unaccustomed eccentric muscle exercise
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Severe, involuntary, electrically active contraction
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Treatment
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Terminate exercise
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Exercise the “sore muscle”; no other proven effective treatment
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Gentle stretch of the affected muscle;
contraction of antagonistic muscle
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Prevention
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No proven effective preventive measure
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No proven effective preventive measure
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Stretching the affected muscles may be effective, but evidence is insufficient;
quinine is effective, but side effects are too serious for routine use
Comparison of postoperative myalgia to postexercise muscle soreness
Postoperative myalgia due to succinylcholine can occur in about 50% of the cases. It usually starts the first postoperative day and lasts 2-3 days, but occasionally it persists for as long as a week. Symptoms are commonly described as the pain one might suffer after an unaccustomed degree of physical exercise as in delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS), and it is usually located in the neck, shoulder, and upper abdominal muscles. [18, 19]
The mechanism of succinylcholine-induced postoperative myalgia is still not understood fully. Several mechanisms have been proposed to explain this phenomenon. Postoperative myalgia is often described as being similar to myalgia after unaccustomed exercise. Fasciculations involve vigorous contraction by muscle bundles with no possibility of shortening and without synchronous activity in adjacent bundles. This might produce muscle fiber rupture or damage, thus causing pain. Postoperative myalgia has been attributed to muscle fiber damage produced by the shearing forces associated with the fasciculations at the onset of phase one block.
Postoperative myalgia due to succinylcholine may be prevented with using nondepolarizing muscle relaxants, lidocaine, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, gabapentin, or pregabalin. However, the most effective way to prevent succinylcholine-induced myalgia is to avoid the use of succinylcholine itself. [18, 20, 21]
Rhabdomyolysis
Postexercise muscle soreness can derive from a more serious and rare condition than normal DOMS, exertional rhabdomyolysis. This can result from participation in intense exercise before an individual has worked his or her muscles up to that level of intensity. In rhabdomyolysis, the leakage of potentially excessive amounts of intracellular materials such as myoglobin from damaged skeletal muscle cells can result in, among other conditions, acute renal failure, liver dysfunction, heart failure, and, in particularly severe cases, death. [22, 23]
Histologic Findings
Immediately after exercise, free erythrocytes and mitochondria may be observed in the extracellular spaces.
Increase in the numbers of circulating neutrophils and interleukin-1 occurs within 24 hours after exercise. A prolonged increase in ultrastructural damage and muscle protein degradation occurs, as well as a depletion of muscle glycogen stores.
Friden and colleagues observed Z-line streaming within eccentrically exercised muscle fibers that occasionally led to total disruption of the Z-band area; this resulted in disorganization of surrounding myofilaments.
From 1-3 days postexercise, the period of time when DOMS is most intense, phagocytes are present in the muscle fibers, and injury to the muscle usually is more apparent.
History and Physical Examination
History
A history of heavy, unaccustomed exercise, particularly involving eccentric muscle contractions (eg, downhill exercise), is reported in DOMS. The patient complains of pain, soreness, swelling, and a stiff or tender muscle spasm.
DOMS begins 8-24 hours after exercise and peaks 24-72 hours postexercise; it then subsides over the next 5-7 days. The muscles are sensitive, especially upon palpation or movement, and a decreased range of motion and reduced strength are noted (especially 24-48 hours postexercise), with the patient having a sense of decreased mobility or flexibility.
Acute onset muscle soreness begins during exercise and continues for approximately 4-6 hours after exercise.
Physical examination
Muscle tenderness is present. Decreased muscle strength and flexibility also are noted. The tenderness often is described as localized in the distal portion of the muscle, in the region of the musculotendinous junction.
According to one study, tenderness in this region could be due to the fact that muscle pain receptors are most concentrated in the region of the tendon and connective tissue in the muscle. The fibers' angles to the long axis of the muscle are greatest in the region of the musculotendinous junction, increasing the susceptibility of the fibers to mechanical trauma.
In severe DOMS, the pain is generalized throughout most of the muscle belly. Swelling of the muscle belly can occur.
Physical Therapy and Exercises
Although it provides only temporary relief, active exercise of the sore muscle probably is the best way to reduce DOMS. Muscular soreness diminishes acutely with exercise. With the cessation of exercise, however, the soreness returns, and this cycle continues until the muscle becomes conditioned sufficiently through training. Why exercise decreases DOMS is not clear, although several possibilities exist, including the following:
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Breakup of adhesions from the injured, sore muscles takes place during exercise
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Increased blood flow or temperature in the muscle helps to decrease the accumulation of noxious waste products
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Endorphin release by neurons in the central nervous system increases during exercise.
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Increased afferent input is noted from large, low-threshold sensory units in the muscles (muscle group-Ia, Ib, and II fibers [gate control theory])
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Subjects direct attention to the activity and away from the pain
In a randomized controlled trial comparing the effect of active exercise versus massage on DOMS, active exercise using elastic resistance provides similar acute relief of muscle soreness as compared with massage. For both types of treatment, the greatest effect on perceived soreness occurred immediately after treatment.
The training effect appears to be highly specific, not only for the particular muscles involved in the exercise, but also for the type of contractions performed. For example, Schwane and Armstrong found that in rats, the muscle damage that occurs during downhill running is prevented by downhill or level training but not by uphill training.
A study by Cha and Kim reported that the hold-relax technique with agonist contraction may help to relieve DOMS. Patients were treated with this therapy at the hamstring muscle, with hamstring muscle activity and fatigue being found to significantly increase and decrease, respectively.
A Cochrane review of evidence from randomized studies suggests that muscle stretching, whether conducted before, after, or before and after exercise, does not produce clinically important reductions in delayed-onset muscle soreness in healthy adults. . A systematic review and meta-analysis of physiotherapeutic interventions for treating signs and symptoms of exercise-induced muscle damage showed that massage was slightly effective to reduce DOMS, but there is no evidence to support the use of cryotherapy, stretching, and low-intensity exercise for DOMS.
Other Treatment Modalities
A literature review by Nahon et al indicated that in the treatment of DOMS, better results are achieved via contrast techniques, cryotherapy, phototherapy, vibration, ultrasound, massage, active exercise, and compression clothing than by no intervention. In contrast, the investigators reported that kinesiotaping, acupuncture, foam roller treatment, stretching, electro-stimulation, and magnetic therapy offered no statistically significant improvement over absent intervention in the alleviation of DOMS. However, the investigators cautioned that the quality of the available evidence for the study was low.
A study by Barlas and colleagues indicated that acupuncture generally is not effective in the treatment of DOMS. A randomized, controlled trial by Fleckenstein et al also found no benefit from acupuncture on DOMS. The study, which involved 60 patients, reported no significant improvement in DOMS within 72 hours from either needle or laser acupuncture in comparison with sham needle acupuncture, sham laser acupuncture, and no treatment at all. However, an unblinded study by Lin and Yang suggested that acupuncture is effective against DOMS.
Mekjavic and co-investigators concluded that hyperbaric oxygen therapy does not affect recovery from DOMS.
Zhang and colleagues noted that a double layer of Farabloc, an electromagnetic shield, wrapped around the thigh has been shown to reduce DOMS.
In a study by Craig and coauthors, combined low-intensity laser therapy was not shown to be effective against DOMS. However, a study by Douris and colleagues that used 8J/cm2 of phototherapy did show a beneficial effect.
In one small (6 subjects in each group), randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study by Hasson and coauthors, individuals treated with pulsed ultrasound therapy (PUS) showed significantly reduced soreness. However, in a larger (12 patients in each group) randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study by Craig and co-investigators, no significant benefit from PUS was demonstrated. In a study by Ciccone and coauthors, there was some suggestion that ultrasound may enhance DOMS and that phonophoresis with salicylate may have therapeutic benefits.
Tourville and colleagues showed that sensory-level, high-volt, pulsed electrical current was not effective in reducing the measured variables associated with DOMS.
Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), in an uncontrolled study by Denegar and Perrin, showed some benefit in relieving the soreness associated with DOMS. However, in a randomized, placebo-controlled study by Craig and colleagues, the use of TENS did not show any significant benefit. [42, 43]
In a small study by Hasson and coauthors, dexamethasone iontophoresis immediately after exercise was shown to decrease muscle soreness perception in DOMS.
Studies have shown that whole-body vibration (WBV) is effective in reducing the severity of DOMS and in preventing DOMS after eccentric exercise. [2, 3, 4]
Ice-water immersion and ice massage are frequently used, particularly among high-level athletes, to minimize the symptoms of DOMS. A randomized, controlled study by Sellwood and colleagues challenged the use of ice-water immersion as a recovery strategy for athletes. In this investigation, ice-water immersion did not effectively minimize or prevent symptoms of muscle damage after eccentric exercise in young, relatively untrained individuals. A Cochrane review of cold immersion therapy for DOMS concluded that there was some evidence for cold-water immersion therapy to reduce DOMS after exercise compared with passive interventions involving rest or no intervention.
A systematic review and meta-analysis by Machado et al showed that in the management of muscle soreness, cold water immersion (CWI) can provide a slight improvement over passive recovery. Additionally, a dose-response relationship was found, with the best results achieved using CWI with a water temperature of between 11 and 15 °C (52 and 59 °F) and an immersion time of 11-15 minutes.
Given that trained athletes are relatively well protected against DOMS, ice-water immersion is likely to offer them even less benefit for the minimal soreness they may experience after eccentric exercise.
Another study by Isabell and coauthors, showed that the use of ice massage or ice massage with exercise did not significantly reduce the symptoms of DOMS.
Continuous low-level heat-wrap therapy has been studied in a small randomized study for the prevention and early-phase treatment of symptoms and deficits in self-reported physical function related to low back DOMS. It has shown to be effective in the prevention and early-phase treatment of low back DOMS.
Another study compared the effect of 3 different heat modalities—ThermaCare heat wraps, hydrocollator heat wraps, and a chemical moist-heat wrap in the treatment of DOMS—and showed that chemical moist heat helps the most in reducing the soreness in DOMS.
Pharmacologic Therapy
In many controlled studies, general analgesics and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have not been consistently effective against DOMS.
In a randomized, placebo-controlled study, Cannavino and colleagues showed that transdermal 10% ketoprofen cream was effective in alleviating self-reported DOMS in isolated quadriceps muscles of patients following repetitive muscle contraction, particularly after 48 hours. This relief was apparently secondary to the effects of the medication, because no other medications or pain relief measures were used in the study. In an another study, the topical menthol-based analgesic decreased perceived discomfort to a greater extent and permitted greater tetanic forces to be produced compared with ice application in subjects with DOMS.
In a randomized, placebo-controlled study, Connolly and co-investigators showed that tart cherry juice can decrease some of the symptoms of exercise-induced muscle damage. Most notably, strength loss averaged over the 4 days after eccentric exercise was 22% with the placebo but only 4% with the cherry juice.
Oral ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and other antioxidants also have been investigated as possible medications for DOMS, with mixed results. A study by Connolly and coauthors suggested that a vitamin-C supplementation protocol of 1000mg taken 3 times a day for 8 days is ineffective in protecting against selected markers for DOMS.
The homeopathic medicine Arnica 30x was studied in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study and was found to be ineffective in treating DOMS.
Bajaj and colleagues showed that the prophylactic intake of tolperisone hydrochloride provides no relief of postexercise muscle soreness but that it does result in a reduction in isometric force.
In a randomized, placebo-controlled study, Pumpa and collegues showed that Panax notoginseng did not have an effect on performance, muscular pain, or assessed blood markers in well-trained males after an intense bout of eccentric exercise that induced DOMS.
Branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) supplementation was studied in a cross-over double-blind design and shown to be effective in reducing squat-exercise-induced DOMS. . Another study has shown that the additional supplement of taurine with BCAA would be a useful way to attenuate DOMS and muscle damages induced by high-intensity exercise. [60, 61]
Deterrence
Armstrong states in his review that there are no preventive measures for DOMS except previous specific training of the involved muscle. A randomized controlled study by Olsen et al has demonstrated that proper warm-up before resistance exercise may prevent muscle soreness at the central but not distal muscle regions, but it does not prevent loss of muscle force.
Johansson and colleagues discovered that preexercise static stretching has no preventive effect on the muscular soreness, tenderness, and force loss that follows heavy, eccentric exercise.
NSAIDs are not effective in preventing DOMS. However, Thompson and coauthors noted that oral contraceptive use attenuates soreness following exhaustive stepping activity in women, although no association can be drawn between estrogen ingestion and exercise-induced muscle damage.
Boyle and co-investigators showed that yoga training and a single session of yoga appear to attenuate peak muscle soreness in women following a bout of eccentric exercise. These findings have significant implications for coaches, athletes, and the exercising public, who may want to implement yoga training as a preseason regimen or as a supplemental activity to lessen the symptoms associated with muscle soreness. | https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/313267-overview |
Eccentric Arm Cycling: A Potential Exercise for Wheelchair Users.
Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2018 Dec 14. Epub 2018 Dec 14.
Objective: To compare metabolic, cardiorespiratory, and perceptual responses to acute eccentric and traditional concentric arm cycling in a cohort of wheelchair users.
Effects of Kinesio Taping on the Relief of Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial.
J Sport Rehabil 2019 Feb 14:1-6. Epub 2019 Feb 14.
Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of Kinesio taping (KT) on delayed onset muscle soreness.
The Effectiveness of Photobiomodulation Therapy Versus Cryotherapy for Skeletal Muscle Recovery: A Critically Appraised Topic.
J Sport Rehabil 2019 Jan 29:1-6. Epub 2019 Jan 29.
Supramaximal Eccentrics Versus Traditional Loading in Improving Lower-Body 1RM: A Meta-Analysis.
Res Q Exerc Sport 2018 Sep 11;89(3):340-346. Epub 2018 Jun 11.
Guidelines for improving maximal concentric strength through resistance training (RT) have traditionally included large muscle-group exercises, full ranges of motion, and a load approximating 85% of the 1-repetition maximum (1RM). Supramaximal eccentric training (SME; controlled lowering of loads above the concentric 1RM) has also been shown to be effective at increasing concentric 1RM in the lower body, but concerns regarding injury risk, postexercise soreness, and null benefit over traditional methods (TRAD) may limit the practical utility of this approach.
Arachidonic acid supplementation transiently augments the acute inflammatory response to resistance exercise in trained men.
J Appl Physiol (1985) 2018 Aug 26;125(2):271-286. Epub 2018 Apr 26.
Liggins Institute, University of Auckland , Grafton , New Zealand.
l-Arginine supplementation does not improve muscle function during recovery from resistance exercise.
Appl Physiol Nutr Metab 2018 Sep 15;43(9):928-936. Epub 2018 Mar 15.
Center of Research in Health Sciences, North University of Paraná (UNOPAR), Londrina, Paraná 86041-120, Brazil.
The effects of different passive static stretching intensities on recovery from unaccustomed eccentric exercise - a randomized controlled trial.
Appl Physiol Nutr Metab 2018 Aug 12;43(8):806-815. Epub 2018 Mar 12.
b Research Centre for Sport Exercise and Performance, Institute of Sport and Human Science, University of Wolverhampton, Walsall WS1 3BD, UK.
Core Temperature Responses to Cold-Water Immersion Recovery: A Pooled-Data Analysis.
Int J Sports Physiol Perform 2018 Aug 30;13(7):917-925. Epub 2018 Jul 30.
Purpose: To examine the effect of postexercise cold-water immersion (CWI) protocols, compared with control (CON), on the magnitude and time course of core temperature (T) responses.
Effect of compression garments on delayed-onset muscle soreness and blood inflammatory markers after eccentric exercise: a randomized controlled trial.
J Exerc Rehabil 2017 Oct 30;13(5):541-545. Epub 2017 Oct 30.
Health and Rehabilitation Major, Kookmin University, Seoul, Korea.
Whey protein hydrolysate supplementation accelerates recovery from exercise-induced muscle damage in females.
Appl Physiol Nutr Metab 2018 Apr 6;43(4):324-330. Epub 2017 Nov 6.
d Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 8ST, UK.
Pre-Exercise Infrared Photobiomodulation Therapy (810 nm) in Skeletal Muscle Performance and Postexercise Recovery in Humans: What Is the Optimal Power Output?
1 Laboratory of Phototherapy in Sports and Exercise, Universidade Nove de Julho (UNINOVE) , São Paulo, Brazil .
Background: Photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) has recently been used to alleviate postexercise muscle fatigue and enhance recovery, demonstrating positive results. A previous study by our research group demonstrated the optimal dose for an infrared wavelength (810 nm), but the outcomes could be optimized further with the determination of the optimal output power.
Effect of 4-Week Ingestion of Tomato-Based Carotenoids on Exercise-Induced Inflammation, Muscle Damage, and Oxidative Stress in Endurance Runners.
Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab 2018 May 3;28(3):266-273. Epub 2018 May 3.
Muscle damage produced by isometric contractions in human elbow flexors.
J Appl Physiol (1985) 2018 Feb 26;124(2):388-399. Epub 2017 Oct 26.
Department of Physiology, Monash University , Clayton, Victoria , Australia.
The effect of milk on recovery from repeat-sprint cycling in female team-sport athletes.
Appl Physiol Nutr Metab 2018 Feb 3;43(2):113-122. Epub 2017 Oct 3.
b School of Biomedical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE2 4HH, UK.
Effectiveness of Fish Oil Supplementation in Attenuating Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage in Women During Midfollicular and Midluteal Menstrual Phases.
Exercise and Biochemical Nutrition Laboratory, Department of Health, Human Performance, and Recreation, Baylor University, Waco, Texas.
Cryotherapy Reinvented: Application of Phase Change Material for Recovery in Elite Soccer.
Int J Sports Physiol Perform 2018 May 23;13(5):584-589. Epub 2018 May 23.
Purpose: To examine whether donning lower-body garments fitted with cooled phase change material (PCM) would enhance recovery after a soccer match.
Objective: Physical methods are reported to be important for accelerating skeletal muscle regeneration, decreasing muscle soreness, and shortening of the recovery time. The aim of the study was to assess the effect of the physical methods of lymphatic drainage (PMLD) such as manual lymphatic drainage (MLD), the Bodyflow (BF) therapy, and lymphatic drainage by deep oscillation (DO) on postexercise regeneration of the forearm muscles of mixed martial arts (MMA) athletes.
Static stretching does not enhance recovery in elite youth soccer players.
BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med 2017 22;3(1):e000202. Epub 2017 Apr 22.
School of Life Sciences, Pharmacy and Chemistry, Kingston University, London, UK.
Background: Static stretching (SS) is a recovery intervention used for the reduction of muscle soreness postexercise. The effects of SS on elite young footballers have received little attention, and therefore the aim of this study was to assess the effects of SS on muscle recovery following competitive soccer matches in elite young footballers.
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of dynamic contract-relax stretching on delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS) in the calf muscle of healthy individuals.
Appl Physiol Nutr Metab 2017 Nov 18;42(11):1185-1191. Epub 2017 Jul 18.
d Human Nutrition Research Centre, Institute of Cellular Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, UK.
Blood flow restriction attenuates eccentric exercise-induced muscle damage without perceptual and cardiovascular overload.
Clin Physiol Funct Imaging 2018 May 26;38(3):468-476. Epub 2017 Apr 26.
Department of Physiological Sciences, Federal University of Espirito Santo, Vitoria, ES, Brazil.
Appl Physiol Nutr Metab 2017 Jun 27;42(6):630-636. Epub 2017 Jan 27.
a School of Sport, Health and Applied Science, St Mary's University, Waldegrave Road, Twickenham, London TW1 4SX, UK.
A Comparison of Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage Following Maximal Eccentric Contractions in Men and Boys.
Pediatr Exerc Sci 2017 08 6;29(3):316-325. Epub 2017 Feb 6.
Purpose: Research regarding exercise-induced muscle-damage mainly focuses on adults. The present study examined exercise-induced muscle-damage responses in adults compared with children.
Cold Water Mediates Greater Reductions in Limb Blood Flow than Whole Body Cryotherapy.
1Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UNITED KINGDOM; 2School of Sport Science, Exercise and Health, The University of Western Australia, Perth, AUSTRALIA; and 3Extreme Environments Laboratory, Department of Sport and Exercise Science, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, UNITED KINGDOM.
Purpose: Cold-water immersion (CWI) and whole body cryotherapy (WBC) are widely used recovery methods in an attempt to limit exercise-induced muscle damage, soreness, and functional deficits after strenuous exercise. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of ecologically valid CWI and WBC protocols on postexercise lower limb thermoregulatory, femoral artery, and cutaneous blood flow responses.
Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness and Perceived Exertion After Blood Flow Restriction Exercise.
1Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Melbourne Campus at Burwood, Victoria, Australia; and 2Sport Science Department, Aspire Academy for Sports Excellence, Doha, Qatar.
Etiology and Recovery of Neuromuscular Fatigue after Simulated Soccer Match Play.
1Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UNITED KINGDOM; and 2Water Research Group, School of Environmental Sciences and Development, Northwest University, Potchefstroom, SOUTH AFRICA.
Purpose: We profiled the etiology and recovery of neuromuscular fatigue after simulated soccer match play.
The Effects of Compression-Garment Pressure on Recovery After Strenuous Exercise.
Int J Sports Physiol Perform 2017 Sep 4;12(8):1078-1084. Epub 2017 Jan 4.
Compression garments are frequently used to facilitate recovery from strenuous exercise.
Purpose: To identify the effects of 2 different grades of compression garment on recovery indices after strenuous exercise.
Local and Generalized Endogenous Pain Modulation in Healthy Men: Effects of Exercise and Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage.
Pain Med 2016 12 27;17(12):2422-2433. Epub 2016 Jun 27.
Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Mississippi, Oxford, Mississippi, USA.
Isometric exercise has been shown to activate endogenous pain inhibitory pathways in healthy adults, but not in some clinical pain populations.
Objective: Exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD) and the associated delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS) are a model for studying clinical pain; thus, our purpose was to examine the effects of isometric exercise on pressure pain threshold (PPT) in the presence and absence of DOMS.
Department of Health and Kinesiology, Exercise and Sport Nutrition Laboratory, Texas A & M University, College Station, Texas.
The Short-Term Effect of Kettlebell Swings on Lumbopelvic Pressure Pain Thresholds: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
1Department of Health Professions, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida; 2Department of Physical Therapy, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, Florida; 3Department of Physical Therapy, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina; and 4Department of Health Management and Informatics, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida.
Int J Sports Physiol Perform 2017 Apr 5;12(Suppl 2):S2107-S2113. Epub 2016 Dec 5.
Purpose: To determine the sensitivity of a range of potential fatigue measures to daily training load accumulated over the previous 2, 3, and 4 d during a short in-season competitive period in elite senior soccer players (N = 10).
Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab 2017 Apr 21;27(2):115-121. Epub 2016 Oct 21.
BMJ Open 2016 10 3;6(10):e012375. Epub 2016 Oct 3.
University of Exeter Medical School & PenCLAHRC, Exeter, UK.
The Effects of Local Vibration on Balance, Power, and Self-Reported Pain After Exercise.
J Sport Rehabil 2017 May 24;26(3):193-201. Epub 2016 Aug 24.
Context: Muscle fatigue and acute muscle soreness occur after exercise. Application of a local vibration intervention may reduce the consequences of fatigue and soreness.
Open Access J Sports Med 2016 22;7:89-97. Epub 2016 Aug 22.
Department of Business Economics, Health and Social Care, University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland, Landquart, Switzerland; University College Physiotherapy, Thim van der Laan, Landquart, Switzerland; Faculty of Physical Education and Physiotherapy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.
Photomed Laser Surg 2016 10 29;34(10):473-482. Epub 2016 Aug 29.
Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the medium-term effects of low-level laser therapy (LLLT or photobiomodulation) in postexercise skeletal muscle recovery and performance enhancement and to identify the optimal dose of 810 nm LLLT.
A single dose of histamine-receptor antagonists before downhill running alters markers of muscle damage and delayed-onset muscle soreness.
J Appl Physiol (1985) 2017 Mar 4;122(3):631-641. Epub 2016 Aug 4.
J Diet Suppl 2017 Jan 21;14(1):89-100. Epub 2016 Jul 21.
a Department of Health, Human Performance, and Recreation , Baylor University , Waco , TX , USA.
1Laboratory "Movement, Interactions, Performance" (EA 4334), Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Nantes, Nantes, FRANCE; 2Centre for Exercise and Sports Science Research, School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, WA, AUSTRALIA; 3Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Nantes University Hospital, Saint-Jacques Hospital, Nantes, FRANCE; and 4French Institute of Sport (INSEP), Research Department, Laboratory Sport, Expertise and Performance (EA 7370), Paris, FRANCE.
Purpose: This study compared the effects of isoload (IL) and isokinetic (IK) knee extensor eccentric exercises on changes in muscle damage and neuromuscular parameters to test the hypothesis that the changes would be different after IL and IK exercises.
Int J Sports Physiol Perform 2017 Mar 24;12(3):402-409. Epub 2016 Aug 24.
Purpose: To compare the effects of cold-water immersion (CWI) and whole-body cryotherapy (WBC) on recovery kinetics after exercise-induced muscle damage.
Eccentric resistance training intensity may affect the severity of exercise induced muscle damage.
J Sports Med Phys Fitness 2017 Sep 11;57(9):1195-1204. Epub 2016 May 11.
Institute for Sport Science, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.
Background: The aim of the present study was to assess the role of eccentric exercise intensity in the development of and recovery from delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS).
A Randomized Controlled Trial of Massage and Pneumatic Compression for Ultramarathon Recovery.
J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2016 May 23;46(5):320-6. Epub 2016 Mar 23.
Perceived demands and postexercise physical dysfunction in CrossFit® compared to an ACSM based training session.
J Sports Med Phys Fitness 2017 May 12;57(5):604-609. Epub 2016 Feb 12.
Exercise Science Laboratory, School of Health and Human Performance, Northern Michigan University, Marquette, MI, USA.
Benefits of Compression Garments Worn During Handball-Specific Circuit on Short-Term Fatigue in Professional Players.
Laboratory of Culture Sport Society (EA 4660), Sport and Health Department.
Tracking Morning Fatigue Status Across In-Season Training Weeks in Elite Soccer Players.
Int J Sports Physiol Perform 2016 Oct 24;11(7):947-952. Epub 2016 Aug 24.
Purpose: To quantify the mean daily changes in training and match load and any parallel changes in indicators of morningmeasured fatigue across in-season training weeks in elite soccer players.
The effects of compression garments on performance of prolonged manual-labour exercise and recovery.
Appl Physiol Nutr Metab 2016 Feb 16;41(2):125-32. Epub 2016 Jan 16.
Sport and Exercise Discipline Group, Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Lindfield, Australia.
Effects of Cold Water Immersion on Muscle Oxygenation During Repeated Bouts of Fatiguing Exercise: A Randomized Controlled Study.
From the Centre for Sports Training and Rehabilitation, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong. | https://www.pubfacts.com/search/Postexercise+Muscle+Soreness |
In this article, you will learn what happens if you don’t do a proper cool-down session after your main workout & proper cool down benefits?
A cool down session may seem time consuming. But no matter what type of workout you are doing, or how busy your schedule is, a proper cooling down session is always important after your main workout routine.
Most people think they don’t need to cool down after jogging on the treadmill, or that it’s just fine to skip cool-down after working their core. It’s not because people hate doing cool-down, but because they want to save time. They presume, it is just the main part of the workout that matters, right?
Is Cool Down Necessary After Workout?
The fact is – it’s not only the main part of your workout that counts. The people who skip a proper cool-down after their main workout session probably are doing more harm to their bodies than they realize.
Why Cooling Down Post Workout Is So Important?
A cool-down involves doing exercises at a slower pace and lower intensity, which improves your exercise performance, prevents injuries, and helps with recovery from the workout.
Benefits of Cooling Down
A proper cooling down session after your main workout helps:
# 1
Recovery
After intense exercise routine, lactic acid builds up within our system. Your body takes time to clear it out. Cooling down exercises (like stretches) will contribute to this process of releasing and getting rid of lactic acid, helping to expedite your body’s recovery after workout.
[Read on: What & When To Eat For Better Performance & Recovery]
# 2
Reducing Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS)
Whereas muscle soreness post-workout is a normal phenomenon, but too much of DOMS can be very uncomfortable, and may prevent you from working out in future. As per a study done by California State University, moderate intensity cycling after strength exercise helped to reduce DOMS. Cooling down after intense exercise helps to relieve excessive muscle soreness, keeping you more comfortable and facilitating your body to bounce back before your next workout.
[Read on: What to do if you have Muscle Soreness After Workout]
What Happens If You Don’t Properly Cool Down After Exercise?
Blood Pooling
If we stop exercising suddenly without cooling down, our muscles will abruptly stop contracting vigorously. This can lead to pooling of blood in the lower extremities of your body, causing your blood not having enough pressure to be pumped back to your heart and brain. As a result, you may feel lightheaded and dizzy, and you may even faint.
Risk Of Injury
If you skip a proper cooling down session after your main workout, you will be susceptible to increase risk of muscle injuries such as muscle strains and tears.
During workout your muscles work very hard. So, you need to stretch them out while they are still warm – this in fitness world is called elongating the muscle fibers. As they are under strain, so get somewhat shortened, during the workout. Elongating helps recover and improve their flexibility & elasticity.
The next time you feel like you can’t spare extra ten minutes to cool down after your intensive exercise routine or running, visualize about the adverse effects it will have on your body. Those ten minutes will definitely seem worth it when you contemplate that they are helping avoid injuries to your body, improve your performance, and help your post-workout recovery. | https://justfitnesshub.com/is-cool-down-necessary-after-workout/ |
What helps sore muscles after first workout?
6 Things You Can You Do During and After Your Workout to Ease Muscle Soreness
- During and After Your Workout: Hydrate. …
- Immediately After Your Workout, Use a Foam Roller (Self-Myofascial Release) …
- Eat Within a Half-Hour After an Intense Workout. …
- Later On: Sleep. …
- The Day After a Tough Workout, Do Light Exercise.
17 дек. 2019 г.
Are sore muscles a good sign?
The good news is that normal muscle soreness is a sign that you’re getting stronger, and is nothing to be alarmed about. During exercise, you stress your muscles and the fibers begin to break down. As the fibers repair themselves, they become larger and stronger than they were before.
Is it OK to workout when sore?
The takeaway. In most cases, gentle recovery exercises like walking or swimming are safe if you’re sore after working out. They may even be beneficial and help you recover faster. … Working rest and recovery days into your regular exercise routine will allow you to perform better the next time you hit the gym.
How do you get rid of soreness right away?
To help relieve muscle soreness, try:
- Gentle stretching.
- Muscle massage.
- Rest.
- Ice to help reduce inflammation .
- Heat to help increase blood flow to your muscles. …
- Over-the-counter (OTC) pain medicine, such as a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) like ibuprofen (brand name: Advil).
9 июн. 2020 г.
How can I speed up muscle recovery?
How to speed up muscle recovery
- Hydrate. Drinking water is essential for post-workout recovery. …
- Grab a post-workout snack. …
- Use a workout supplement. …
- Warm up before resistance training. …
- Make time to cool down. …
- Foam roll and stretch. …
- Elevate your legs. …
- Take a cool bath.
Do sore muscles burn fat?
Your muscle won’t change into fat if you stop lifting. However, having muscle will help burn fat. In fact, strength training continues to burn more calories up to 24 hours after your training session.
Should I work out every day?
A weekly day of rest is often advised when structuring a workout program, but sometimes you may feel the desire to work out every day. As long as you’re not pushing yourself too hard or getting obsessive about it, working out every day is fine.
Is it better to workout in the morning or night?
“Human exercise performance is better in the evening compared to the morning, as [athletes] consume less oxygen, that is, they use less energy, for the same intensity of exercise in the evening versus the morning,” said Gad Asher, a researcher in the Weizmann Institute of Science’s department of biomolecular sciences, …
How many times a week should I workout?
If you really want to see results reflected on the scale and continue to make progress over time, you need to commit to working out at least four to five days per week. But remember, you’ll build up to this. To start, you might only want to do two or three days per week and slowly work your way up to five days.
Why am I not sore after working out anymore?
As your body gets stronger, and your muscles adapt to the new type of movement, you won’t feel the soreness afterwards. As you progress through the physical change, the DOMS will reduce and, usually within a dozen or so workouts, you’ll stop feeling it altogether.
Should I workout my abs everyday?
Train your abs every single day
Just like any other muscle, your abs need a break too! That doesn’t mean you can’t activate your ab muscles during your warm-up with exercises like Planks, Inchworms, and other balance and stabilization exercises, but you shouldn’t train them every day.
How sore is too sore to workout?
“My rule is that working out with a little bit of stiffness or soreness is okay. If it’s a 1, 2 or 3 out of 10, that’s okay. If it’s getting above that, or the pain is getting worse during activity, or if you’re limping or changing your gait, back off the intensity of the workout.”
Is a hot bath good for sore muscles?
Heat will get your blood moving, which is not only great for circulation (more on that later) but can also help sore or tight muscles to relax. The addition of epsom salts in your warm bath has been proven to help reduce inflammation in your joints caused by arthritis or other muscular diseases.
Is it good to stretch sore muscles?
“Stretching helps break the cycle,” which goes from soreness to muscle spasm to contraction and tightness. Take it easy for a few days while your body adapts, says Torgan. Or try some light exercise such as walking or swimming, she suggests. Keeping the muscle in motion can also provide some relief.
What foods help with muscle soreness?
7 foods that help with muscle soreness and recovery
- WHOLEGRAIN BREAD. That’s right, don’t ditch the carbs. …
- RICOTTA OR COTTAGE CHEESE. Another great toast topper, these spreadable cheeses provide a source of calcium. …
- NUTS. …
- LEGUMES. …
- WATERMELON. …
- SEEDS. | https://reebokcrossfitbackbay.com/meals/best-answer-how-do-i-get-rid-of-soreness-after-working-out-for-the-first-time.html |
The objective of this study was to analyze the impact of ice, compression, and no modality on the outcome of muscle recovery post resistance training. The question to be answered was “will ice, compression, and no modality produce different outcomes on exercise induced muscle soreness?”. The hypothesis was that ice therapy would yield a better result in muscle recovery than compression and no modality. The null hypothesis was that no significant difference in recovery method would be found between the ice and compression group. Twelve participants (M=12, ages 18-22) from a Northwestern Indiana university participated in this study. Participants first identified their initial subjective muscle soreness of their non-dominant biceps brachii by circling their rating on a Likert Scale from 0-5 (0=no soreness, 5=extreme soreness). One repetition maximum resistance was determined for the participants non-dominant arm. To induce muscle soreness participants completed a resistance training workout of seated bicep curls. Four sets of bicep curls were performed for two minutes or until maximal fatigue with a two minute rest between sets. Immediately after training, participants applied the recovery modality. Participants identified their subjective soreness 24 and 48 hours post training and tested their bicep curl max weight 24 hours post training. Data was analyzed through single factor ANOVA. No significant differences in any of the assessments were found between groups. Twenty-four-hour soreness was not significant (P = 1, F = 0), 48 hours was not significant (P = .81, F = .21), nor was percent of maximum curl weight maintained 24 hours post resistance training (P = .75, F = .29). The null hypothesis that there was no difference in muscle recovery between ice, compression, and control groups was accepted. The author concluded that ice and compression did not differ significantly in their effect on recovery. Further research should be performed with a larger sample size.
Biographical Information about Author(s)
Brian Pecyna is a senior exercise science major, human biology and communications minor. He is currently a member on the varsity tennis team. Brian is interested in all facets of health, fitness, and athletic performance. He will be continuing his academic and athletic career at Valparaiso University in the fall of ’19 enrolling in the MBA graduate program while competing on the tennis team.
Recommended Citation
Pecyna, Brian, "The Impact of Ice Versus Ischemic Compression on Muscle Recovery Post Resistance Training" (2019). Symposium on Undergraduate Research and Creative Expression (SOURCE). 785. | https://scholar.valpo.edu/cus/785/ |
Strenuous physical activity can result in exercise induced muscle damage (EIMD) particularly if the exercise is unaccustomed or of a long duration. The EIMD is characterised by a number of symptoms including muscle soreness, inflammation and reduced muscle function. Numerous interventions have been used to reduce the symptoms associated with EIMD, however few have examined the efficacy of compression garments following sports specific paradigms. | https://researchportal.northumbria.ac.uk/en/publications/the-efficacy-of-a-lower-limb-compression-garment-in-accelerating- |
The Influence of Sports Compression Garments on Blood Flow and Post-Exercise Muscle Recovery
O’Riordan, Shane F (2021) The Influence of Sports Compression Garments on Blood Flow and Post-Exercise Muscle Recovery. PhD thesis, Victoria University.
Abstract
Sports compression garments (SCG) are commonly used in athletic applications to improve recovery from exercise. Although the underlying mechanisms are not yet fully understood, they may be closely associated with alterations in blood flow, consistent with that reported in therapeutic medicine. As such, SCG have been implicated in increasing venous and muscle blood flow, and subsequently reducing symptoms of exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD). However, research investigating the effects of SCG on blood flow, particularly during the post-exercise period, is limited. Chapter 2 systematically reviewed and analysed the effects of SCG on peripheral measures of blood flow (i.e., venous and muscle blood flow) at rest, during, immediately post, and in recovery from a physiological challenge. From the 19 studies included in this meta-analysis, SCG appear to enhance venous and arterial measures of peripheral blood flow during and in the recovery of a physiological challenge. Also, this chapter highlighted that further research should aim to address the limitations of current compression research by reporting the pressure of the SCG, the blinding of participants, and assessing changes in blood flow during recovery. The first experimental study of this thesis (Chapter 3) aimed to comprehensively investigate the effects of three different SCG types (socks, shorts, and tights) on resting markers of venous return, muscle blood flow and muscle oxygenation. Although sports compression tights were the most effective garment, all SCG types positively affected lower- limb blood flow. Thus, SCG may be a practical strategy for augmenting blood flow in the lower limbs at rest. The next study of this thesis (Chapter 4) aimed to investigate the effects of SCG on blood flow post-eccentric resistance exercise, and the influence on aspects of muscle recovery. This study also aimed to determine if the placebo effect is responsible for the improved exercise recovery associated with SCG use post-exercise. This was achieved by incorporating a placebo intervention that participants were informed was as effective as SCG for recovery and matching belief between the SCG and placebo conditions. Compression tights used post-exercise appear to increase blood flow and enhance psychological and performance indices of exercise recovery compared to both placebo and control conditions. These findings highlight that the benefits of SCG are likely not due to a placebo effect. The final study of this thesis (Chapter 5) investigated the effects of SCG on skeletal muscle microvascular blood flow by using contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEU), a novel technique in compression research. In addition, macrovascular blood flow (i.e., femoral artery), muscle oxygenation, and exercise performance were measured before, during, and following repeated-sprint exercise (RSE). Compression tights attenuated muscle microvascular blood flow following exercise, but a divergent increase in femoral artery blood flow was also observed. However, despite these compression-induced alterations in macro and microvascular blood flow, there was no difference in exercise performance with SCG. Based on this thesis's findings, SCG appear to benefit macrovascular blood flow, with a divergent effect on microvascular blood flow. Also, compression-induced increases in blood flow for up to 4 h post-resistance exercise coincided with improved muscle recovery. | https://vuir.vu.edu.au/42973/ |
Jess is a sports physiologist and research scientist based at St Mary's University in Twickenham, London. She teaches physiology within the Sport Science programme specialising in research methods and recovery from exercise and is also a BASES accredited physiologist working with a range of elite athletes.
For over seven years, Jess has focused her research on recovery from muscle damage and completed her PhD investigating the efficacy of compression garments on recovery from strenuous exercise. Her published research articles include; Compression garments and recovery from exercise-induced muscle damage: A meta-analysis (British Journal of Sports Medicine),The influence of compression garments on recovery following marathon running (Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research), and The variation in pressures exerted by commercially available compression garments (Sports Engineering). She is currently supervising a number of undergraduate and postgraduate research studies into exercise recovery and performance.
Jess has presented her research at a number of academic conferences including the International Olympic Committee Conference on Injury Prevention (2014) in Monaco, France and the American College of Sports Medicine Annual Conference (2015) in San Diego, USA. She has also been interviewed as an expert on recovery from exercise on TV (Sky News), on radio (BBC Radio 4) and in print (Men's Running).
In her spare time, Jess is a keen rower and competes for Walton Rowing Club.
Postgraduate students and members of academic staff at St Mary’s University, Twickenham have been awarded for their research during an awards ceremony. Find out more...
St Mary’s University College, Twickenham recently held an annual conference and awards ceremony for postgraduate research students Find out more...
For media enquiries, please contact our Communications and Public Engagement Manager, Sam Yarnold, by emailling [email protected] or calling 020 8240 8262.
Exercise-induced muscle damage; recovery strategies; compression garments
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After the liposuction procedure, you’ll likely notice a bit of bruising and swelling in the treatment area, which is completely normal. The soreness typically fades within a few days, and the bruising usually dissipates in about two weeks.
You’ll want to arrange for a friend to help you leave, and stay the night with you to help with your recovery during the first few days. It’s important that you wear compression garments for up to a month to minimize swelling and generally help the treatment area to heal.
Most patients can typically return to work within a few days, but it’s best to wait a few weeks before you start any vigorous exercise (it’s important to first speak with your surgeon before starting any exercise program). When it comes to the recovery process, it’s important to follow up with your doctor setting up a follow-up visit within five to seven days after surgery, to ensure all is well. A second visit is recommended a few weeks after the surgery, and your third visit a few months after.
After the procedure has been completed and the swelling has gone down, you’ll notice a more toned, sleeker look to your body. You’ll want to maintain a healthy lifestyle to preserve your results, which will last for years to come, provided that proper diet and exercise are followed. | https://www.newyorkplasticsurgeryallure.com/body/liposuction-nyc/ |
Background and Objectives: Diabetes Mellitus is a multifaceted metabolic disease that can have devastating effects on multiple organs in the body and in the long run with micro and macro vascular complications that cause significant morbidity and mortality. Cognitive dysfunctions and impaired memory are commonly seen in patients with T2DM. The present study was to investigate cognitive function i.e. various domains of Memory of newly diagnosed patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and to study the effects of short term structured exercise therapy of eight weeks would improve various domains of memory in diagnosed patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus of age group 20-45 years.
Methods: 30 patients with newly diagnosed T2DM were enrolled in Diabetic control group. The structured exercise therapy was given to diabetic group after measuring baseline parameters. 30 normal healthy sex and age matched healthy control were enrolled under normal control group. HbAIc, BMI, and various domains of memory functions were measured.
Results: Patients on Interventional therapy showed statistically significant improvement in attention and concentration (p< 0.001), Immediate recall (p < 0.05), verbal retention for similar pairs (p < 0.05), and visual retention (p < 0.05)
Interpretation and Conclusion: Exercise therapy along with dietary control and anti-diabetic medication will have a positive influence on various domains of memory functions. | https://isindexing.com/isi/paper_details.php?id=14017 |
NRCI study demonstrates the importance of nutrients for optimising and maintaining healthy brain function
A study by researchers at the Nutrition Research Centre Ireland (NRCI), Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT) has shown improvements in working memory among older adults following supplementation with a combination of omega-3 fatty acids, carotenoids and vitamin E over a 2-year period.
CARES
Omega-3 fatty acids (the building blocks of our cells), carotenoids (plant-based pigments that give fruits and vegetables their bright colours) and vitamin E (one of four essential fat-soluble vitamins) are important parts of a healthy diet. Previous studies have shown that each of these nutrients are important for optimising and maintaining healthy brain function, primarily due to their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. However, the combined effects of these nutrients on brain health and cognitive performance in older adults, aged 65+ years, had not been examined to date. This study, the Cognitive impAiRmEnt Study (CARES), aimed to address this research gap.
Statistically significant improvements
The research, published in Clinical Nutrition, showed improvements in working memory performance following nutritional supplementation. The number of errors made at the earlier stages of the working memory task were comparable over time. However, as the cognitive load increased and the task became more difficult, individuals in the active group outperformed individuals in the placebo group, making 38% fewer errors than those receiving the placebo.
Statistically significant improvements in carotenoid and omega-3 fatty acid concentrations in blood were observed in the active group (+32% to +250%) in comparison to the placebo group (+1% to +8%). Tissue carotenoid concentrations also improved significantly among individuals in the active group (+27% to +65%), with declines (-0.3% to -6%) recorded among individuals consuming the placebo. Importantly, the observed changes in nutrition levels were directly related to the observed improvements in working memory performance, as individuals with a greater increase in each nutrient made fewer errors in the working memory task.
Dr Rebecca Power, Postdoctoral Researcher at the NRCI, who lead the research stated that, “this research suggests that the working memory capacity of individuals in the active group was favourably altered over time and that these positive changes may be attributed to the enrichment of carotenoids and omega-3 fatty acids, given that the magnitude of change in cognition was related to the magnitude of change in nutrition levels.”
Positive role of nutrition
Explaining the relevance of this research, she added: “in terms of practical benefits, an improved working memory can enhance our capacity to retain information and prioritise the steps needed to make decisions and solve problems. It can also help us to focus on the task at hand such as planning and prioritising tasks for the day ahead, or remembering key information such as keeping appointments. This research adds to the existing body of literature which shows that nutrition can play a positive role in maintaining and improving our cognitive performance, which may in turn reduce the rate of cognitive decline and our risk of dementia in later life.”
This research was conducted at the NRCI, which is part of the School of Health Sciences at Waterford Institute of Technology, and in collaboration with the Age-Related Care Unit at University Hospital Waterford. CARES was funded by the Howard Foundation UK (UK Charity Registration Number 285822). | https://www.wit.ie/news/news/nutritional-supplementation-improves-working-memory-in-older-adults |
The interactive, give and take "dance" that highlights the synchrony between parents and young infants during social interaction occurs at the behavioral as well as the physiological level. These dyadic processes seen across infancy and early childhood appear to contribute to children's development of self-regulation and general socio-emotional outcomes. The focus of this chapter is on dyadic synchrony, the temporal coordination of social behaviors and the associated physiology. Research on behavioral, brain, and cardiac synchrony is reviewed within a bio-behavioral synchrony model. Tutorials for analyzing these types of complex social interaction data are noted.
RESUMO
Asymmetric patterns of frontal brain electrical activity reflect approach and avoidance tendencies, with stability of relative right activation associated with withdrawal emotions/motivation and left hemisphere activation linked with approach and positive affect. However, considerable shifts in approach/avoidance-related lateralization have been reported for children not targeted because of extreme temperament. In this study, dynamic effects of frontal electroencephalogram (EEG) power within and across hemispheres were examined throughout early childhood. Specifically, EEG indicators at 5, 10, 24, 36, 48, and 72 months-of-age (n = 410) were analyzed via a hybrid of difference score and panel design models, with baseline measures and subsequent time-to-time differences modeled as potentially influencing all subsequent amounts of time-to-time change (i.e., predictively saturated). Infant sex was considered as a moderator of dynamic developmental effects, with temperament attributes measured at 5 months examined as predictors of EEG hemisphere development. Overall, change in left and right frontal EEG power predicted declining subsequent change in the same hemisphere, with effects on the opposing neurobehavioral system enhancing later growth. Infant sex moderated the pattern of within and across-hemisphere effects, wherein for girls more prominent left hemisphere influences on the right hemisphere EEG changes were noted and right hemisphere effects were more salient for boys. Largely similar patterns of temperament prediction were observed for the left and the right EEG power changes, with limited sex differences in links between temperament and growth parameters. Results were interpreted in the context of comparable analyses using parietal power values, which provided evidence for unique frontal effects.
AssuntosEletroencefalografia/métodos , Lobo Frontal/fisiologia , Criança , Feminino , Lobo Frontal/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Humanos , Lactente , Masculino , Motivação , Caracteres Sexuais , Temperamento/fisiologia
RESUMO
Fearful temperament represents one of the most robust predictors of child and adolescent anxiety; however, not all children with fearful temperament unvaryingly develop anxiety. Diverse processes resulting from the interplay between automatic processing (i.e., attention bias) and controlled processing (i.e., effortful control) drive the trajectories toward more adaptive or maladaptive directions. In this review, we examine the associations between fearful temperament, attention bias, and anxiety, as well as the moderating effect of effortful control. Based on the reviewed literature, we propose a two-mechanism developmental model of attention bias that underlies the association between fearful temperament and anxiety. We propose that the sub-components of effortful control (i.e., attentional control and inhibitory control) play different roles depending on individuals' temperaments, initial automatic biases, and goal priorities. Our model may help resolve some of the mixed findings and conflicts in the current literature. It may also advance our knowledge regarding the cognitive mechanisms linking fearful temperament and anxiety, as well as facilitate the continuing efforts in identifying and intervening with children who are at risk. Finally, we conclude the review with a discussion on the existing limitations and then propose questions for future research.
RESUMO
This study examined the association between executive functioning (EF) and effortful control (EC), and tested whether cognitive control as the commonality of EF and EC, predicted competence and internalizing and externalizing symptomatology in children (N = 218, 6-8 years) and adolescents (N = 157, 13-14 years). Confirmatory factor analyses suggested cognitive control-inhibitory control and attentional control-as a significant overlap between EF and EC. Structural equation modeling analyses indicated that the cognitive control latent factor was associated with competence and internalizing and externalizing symptomatology among children and externalizing symptomatology among adolescents. The results provide evidence that inhibitory control and attentional control are the commonality between EF and EC and highlight that they are linked with positive and negative adjustment outcomes.
RESUMO
Relatively little work has examined potential interactions between child intrinsic factors and extrinsic environmental factors in the development of negative affect in early life. This work is important because high levels of early negative affectivity have been associated with difficulties in later childhood adjustment. We examined associations between infant frontal electroencephalogram (EEG), maternal parenting behaviors, and children's negative affect across the first two years of life. Infant baseline frontal EEG asymmetry was measured at 5 months; maternal sensitivity and intrusiveness were observed during mother-child interaction at 5 and 24 months; and mothers provided reports of toddler negative affect at 24 months. Results indicated that maternal sensitive behaviors at 5 months were associated with less negative affect at 24 months, but only for infants with left frontal EEG asymmetry. Similarly, maternal sensitive behaviors at 24 months were associated with less toddler negative affect at 24 months, but only for infants with left frontal EEG asymmetry. In contrast, maternal intrusive behaviors at 5- and 24-months were associated with greater toddler negative affect, but only for infants with right frontal EEG asymmetry at 5-months. Findings suggest that levels of negative affect in toddlers may be at least partially a result of interactions between children's own early neurophysiological functioning and maternal behavior during everyday interactions with children in the first two years of life.
AssuntosAfeto/fisiologia , Desenvolvimento Infantil/fisiologia , Eletroencefalografia/métodos , Lobo Frontal/fisiologia , Comportamento do Lactente/fisiologia , Comportamento Materno/fisiologia , Criança , Pré-Escolar , Feminino , Humanos , Lactente , Comportamento do Lactente/psicologia , Estudos Longitudinais , Masculino , Comportamento Materno/psicologia , Relações Mãe-Filho/psicologia , Mães/psicologia
RESUMO
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by difficulty in dynamically adjusting behavior to interact effectively with others, or social reciprocity. Synchronization of physiological responses between interacting partners, or physiological linkage (PL), is thought to provide a foundation for social reciprocity. In previous work we developed a new technique to measure PL using dynamic linear time series modeling to assess cardiac interbeat interval (IBI) linkage in typically developing same-sex unacquainted dyads (Scarpa et al., 2017). The current article describes a proof-of-concept study with three dyads of young adults with ASD interacting with same-sex unacquainted typically developing (TD) partners. This pilot data is applied to propose potential benefits of using this technique to quantify and assess PL in individuals with ASD, both for basic research and for intervention science. Discussion focuses on applications of this measure to potentially advance knowledge of the biology-behavior link in ASD.
AssuntosTranstorno do Espectro Autista/fisiopatologia , Transtorno do Espectro Autista/psicologia , Relações Interpessoais , Periodicidade , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Projetos Piloto , Estudo de Prova de Conceito , Adulto Jovem
RESUMO
Executive function (EF) abilities refer to higher order cognitive processes necessary to consciously and deliberately persist in a task and are associated with a variety of important developmental outcomes. Attention is believed to support the development and deployment of EF. Although preschool EF and attentional abilities are concurrently linked, much less is known about the longitudinal association between infant attentional abilities and preschool EF. The current study investigated the impact of infant attention orienting behavior on preschool EF. Maternal report and laboratory measures of infant attention were gathered on 114 infants who were 5 months old; performance on four different EF tasks was measured when these same children were 3 years old. Infant attention skills were significantly related to preschool EF, even after controlling for age 3 verbal intelligence. These findings indicate that infant attention may indeed serve as an early marker of later EF. Given the significant developmental outcomes associated with EF, understanding the foundational factors associated with EF is necessary for both theoretical and practical purposes.
AssuntosAtenção/fisiologia , Função Executiva/fisiologia , Adulto , Comunicação , Feminino , Humanos , Lactente , Inteligência , Masculino
RESUMO
This study provides the first analyses connecting individual differences in infant attention to reading achievement through the development of executive functioning (EF) in infancy and early childhood. Five-month-old infants observed a video, and peak look duration and shift rate were video coded and assessed. At 10 months, as well as 3, 4, and 6 years, children completed age-appropriate EF tasks (A-not-B task, hand game, forward digit span, backwards digit span, and number Stroop). Children also completed a standardized reading assessment and a measure of verbal intelligence (IQ) at age 6. Path analyses on 157 participants showed that infant attention had a direct statistical predictive effect on EF at 10 months, with EF showing a continuous pattern of development from 10 months to 6 years. EF and verbal IQ at 6 years had a direct effect on reading achievement. Furthermore, EF at all time points mediated the relation between 5-month attention and reading achievement. These findings may inform reading interventions by suggesting earlier intervention time points and specific cognitive processes (i.e. 5-month attention).
AssuntosAtenção/fisiologia , Desenvolvimento Infantil/fisiologia , Função Executiva , Leitura , Logro , Criança , Pré-Escolar , Feminino , Humanos , Lactente , Inteligência , Estudos Longitudinais , Masculino
RESUMO
The use of global, standardized instruments is conventional among clinicians and researchers interested in assessing neurocognitive development. Exclusively relying on these tests for evaluating effects may underestimate or miss specific effects on early cognition. The goal of this review is to identify alternative measures for possible inclusion in future clinical trials and interventions evaluating early neurocognitive development. The domains included for consideration are attention, memory, executive function, language, and socioemotional development. Although domain-based tests are limited, as psychometric properties have not yet been well-established, this review includes tasks and paradigms that have been reliably used across various developmental psychology laboratories.
AssuntosCrescimento e Desenvolvimento/fisiologia , Testes Neuropsicológicos/normas , Pré-Escolar , Feminino , Humanos , Lactente , Recém-Nascido , Masculino
RESUMO
Objective: To explore the direct and indirect associations of maternal emotion control, executive functioning, and social cognitions maternal with harsh verbal parenting and child behavior and to do so guided by social information processing theory. Background: Studies have demonstrated a relationship between maternal harsh parenting and increased child conduct problems. However, less is known about how maternal emotion and cognitive control capacities and social cognitions intersect with harsh parenting and child behavior. Method: Structural equation modeling was used with a convenience sample of 152 mothers from Appalachia who had a child between 3 and 7 years of age. Results: Maternal emotion control and executive functioning were both inversely associated with child conduct problems. That is, stronger maternal emotion control was associated with less harsh verbal parenting and lower hostile attribution bias, and higher maternal executive functioning was related to less controlling parenting attitudes. Conclusion: The results suggest maternal emotion and cognitive control capacities affect how mothers interact with their children and ultimately child conduct problems. Implications: To more effectively reduce harsh verbal parenting and child conduct problems, interventions should help mothers to improve their emotion and cognitive control capacities.
RESUMO
Middle childhood is a transitional period for episodic memory (EM) performance, as a result of improvements in strategies that are used to encode and retrieve memories. EM is also a skill continually assessed for testing in the school setting. The purpose of this study was to examine EM performance during middle childhood and its relation to individual differences in attentional abilities and in neurophysiological functioning. We examined self-reports of attention at 6, 7 and 8-years of age as well as parietal EEG recorded during baseline, memory task encoding, and memory task retrieval. Results indicate that child self-reports of attention predicted EM performance. Additionally, the difference from baseline to retrieval-related EEG activation contributed variance to EM performance. Results replicate other middle childhood studies showing a positive association between EM performance and attention while also suggesting that parietal EEG yields critical information regarding memory performance.
RESUMO
Associations between working memory and academic achievement (math and reading) are well documented. Surprisingly, little is known of the contributions of episodic memory, segmented into temporal memory (recollection proxy) and item recognition (familiarity proxy), to academic achievement. This is the first study to observe these associations in typically developing 6-year old children. Overlap in neural correlates exists between working memory, episodic memory, and math and reading achievement. We attempted to tease apart the neural contributions of working memory, temporal memory, and item recognition to math and reading achievement. Results suggest that working memory and temporal memory, but not item recognition, are important contributors to both math and reading achievement, and that EEG power during a working memory task contributes to performance on tests of academic achievement.
RESUMO
Executive attention, the attention necessary to reconcile conflict among simultaneous attentional demands, is vital to children's daily lives. This attention develops rapidly as the anterior cingulate cortex and prefrontal areas mature during early and middle childhood. However, the developmental course of executive attention is not uniform amongst children. Therefore, the purpose of this investigation was to examine the role of individual differences in the development of executive attention by exploring the concurrent and longitudinal contributions to its development at 8 years of age. Executive attention was predicted by concurrent measures of frontal electroencephalography, lab-based performance on a conflict task, and parent report of attention. Longitudinally, 8-year-old executive attention, was significantly predicted by a combination of 4-year old frontal activity, conflict task performance, and parent report of attention focusing, but not with an analogous equation replacing attention focusing with attention shifting. Together, data demonstrate individual differences in executive attention.
RESUMO
Parasympathetic nervous system functioning in infancy may serve a foundational role in the development of cognitive and socioemotional skills (Calkins, 2007). In this study (N = 297), we investigated the potential indirect effects of cardiac vagal regulation in infancy on children's executive functioning and social competence in preschool via expressive and receptive language in toddlerhood. Vagal regulation was assessed at 10 months during two attention conditions (social, nonsocial) via task-related changes in respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA). A path analysis revealed that decreased RSA from baseline in the nonsocial condition and increased RSA in the social condition were related to larger vocabularies in toddlerhood. Additionally, children's vocabulary sizes were positively related to their executive function and social competence in preschool. Indirect effects from vagal regulation in both contexts to both 4-year outcomes were significant, suggesting that early advances in language may represent a mechanism through which biological functioning in infancy impacts social and cognitive functioning in childhood.
AssuntosDesenvolvimento Infantil/fisiologia , Função Executiva/fisiologia , Sistema Nervoso Parassimpático/fisiologia , Arritmia Sinusal Respiratória/fisiologia , Habilidades Sociais , Vocabulário , Pré-Escolar , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino
RESUMO
Many, but not all, young children with high levels of fearful inhibition will develop internalizing problems. Individual studies have examined either child regulatory or environmental factors that might influence the level of risk. We focused on the interaction of regulation and environment by assessing how early fearful inhibition at age 2, along with inhibitory control and maternal negative behaviors at age 3, interactively predicted internalizing problems at age 6. A total of 218 children (105 boys, 113 girls) and their mothers participated in the study. Results indicated a three-way interaction among fearful inhibition, inhibitory control, and maternal negative behaviors. The correlation between fearful inhibition and internalizing was significant only when children had low inhibitory control and experienced high levels of maternal negative behaviors. Either having high inhibitory control or experiencing low maternal negative behaviors buffered against the adverse effect caused by the absence of the other. These findings highlight the importance of considering associations among both within-child factors and environmental factors in studying children's socioemotional outcomes.
AssuntosAfeto/fisiologia , Sintomas Comportamentais/fisiopatologia , Comportamento Infantil/fisiologia , Medo/fisiologia , Comportamento Materno/fisiologia , Relações Mãe-Filho , Autocontrole , Timidez , Criança , Pré-Escolar , Feminino , Hostilidade , Humanos , Estudos Longitudinais , Masculino
RESUMO
This study examined how timing (i.e., relative maturity) and rate (i.e., how quickly infants attain proficiency) of A-not-B performance were related to changes in brain activity from age 6 to 12 months. A-not-B performance and resting EEG (electroencephalography) were measured monthly from age 6 to 12 months in 28 infants and were modeled using logistic and linear growth curve models. Infants with faster performance rates reached performance milestones earlier. Infants with faster rates of increase in A-not-B performance had lower occipital power at 6 months and greater linear increases in occipital power. The results underscore the importance of considering nonlinear change processes for studying infants' cognitive development as well as how these changes are related to trajectories of EEG power.
AssuntosCórtex Cerebral/fisiologia , Desenvolvimento Infantil/fisiologia , Eletroencefalografia/métodos , Comportamento do Lactente/fisiologia , Pensamento/fisiologia , Percepção Visual/fisiologia , Córtex Cerebral/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Feminino , Humanos , Lactente , Masculino , Fatores de Tempo
RESUMO
ADHD affects a major portion of our children, predominantly boys. Upon diagnosis treatment can be offered that is usually quite effective. Diagnosis is generally based on subjective observation and interview. As a result, an objective test for the detection or presence of ADHD is considered very desirable. Based on EEG, across multiple channels, using autoregressive model parameters as features, ADHD detection is approached here in analogy with the imposter problem known from speaker verification. Gaussian mixture models are used to define ADHD and universal background models so that a likelihood ratio detector can be designed. The efficacy of this approach is reflected in the traditional detector performance measures of the area-under-the-curve and equal-error-probability. The results - based on a limited database of males, approximately 6 years of age - indicate that high probability of detection and low equal error rate can be achieved simultaneously with the proposed approach, when using EEG collected during an attention network task. The effect of using contaminated data is investigated as well.
RESUMO
Research Findings: We examined the nature of association between toddler negative affectivity (NA) and later academic achievement by testing early childhood executive function (EF) as a mediator that links children's temperament and their performance on standardized math and reading assessments. One hundred eighty-four children (93 boys, 91 girls) participated in our longitudinal study. Children's NA was measured at age 2 and EF at age 4. At age 6, academic achievement in reading and mathematics were assessed using the Woodcock Johnson III Tests of Achievement (Woodcock, McGrew, & Mather, 2001). Results indicated that NA at age 2 negatively predicted EF at age 4, which positively predicted mathematics achievement and reading achievement at age 6. Age 4 EF mediated the relation between age 2 NA and age 6 academic achievement on both reading and math. These findings highlight the significance of considering both NA and EF in conversations about children's academic achievement. Practice or Policy: For children with temperamentally high NA, focusing on efforts to enhance emotion regulation and EF during the preschool years may benefit their later mathematics and reading achievement.
RESUMO
Physiological linkage (PL) refers to coordinated physiological responses among interacting partners (Feldman, 2012a), thought to offer mammals evolutionary advantages by promoting survival through social groups. Although PL has been observed in dyads who are familiar or have close relationships (e.g., parent-infant interactions, romantic couples), less is known with regard to PL in stranger dyads. The current study used dynamic linear time series modeling to assess cardiac interbeat interval linkage in 26 same-gender stranger dyads (17 female and 9 male dyads; 18-22 years old) while they spoke or wrote about emotional or neutral life events. The estimated coefficients in bivariate regression models indicated small but statistically significant PL effects for both male and female dyads. The PL effect was stronger for female dyads, extending to a lag of 4 seconds. For male dyads, the effect was statistically significant but weaker than for female dyads, extending only to a lag of 1 second. No statistically significant differences in PL were noted for type of task (i.e., baseline, writing, speaking, listening) or with differing task emotional content. Frequency domain analysis based on the estimated dynamic models yielded similar results. Our results suggest that PL can be detected among strangers in this setting and appears to be stronger and longer-lasting in women. Our findings are discussed in terms of the importance of biological synchrony in humans, gender differences, and possible implications for objective measurement of social reciprocity at a physiological level. (PsycINFO Database Record
AssuntosEmoções/fisiologia , Frequência Cardíaca/fisiologia , Parceiros Sexuais/psicologia , Adolescente , Adulto , Feminino , Humanos , Relações Interpessoais , Masculino , Adulto Jovem
RESUMO
An empirical model of temperament that assessed transactional and cascade associations between respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA), negative affectivity, and the caregiving environment (i.e., maternal intrusiveness) across three time points during infancy (N = 388) was examined. Negative affectivity at 5 months was associated positively with maternal intrusiveness at 10 months, which in turn predicted increased negative affectivity at 24 months. RSA at 5 months was associated positively with negative affectivity at 10 months, which subsequently predicted greater RSA at 24 months. Finally, greater RSA at 5 months predicted greater negative affectivity at 10 months, which in turn predicted greater maternal intrusiveness at 24 months. Results are discussed from a biopsychosocial perspective of development. | https://pesquisa.bvsalud.org/portal/?lang=pt&q=au:%22Bell,%20Martha%20Ann%22 |
As a postgraduate researcher looking at age stereotypes I often visit day centres and community groups, asking people over 65 to help with my research. With only chocolates and sweets as an incentive, I sometimes have to practice the art of persuasion! To my surprise I have found that in just approaching older adults for their assistance, I was already confirming some of my hypotheses. One individual said something along the lines of ‘Oh no, I’m far too old for that sort of thing, you would be much better asking one of the young staff, they’ll be able to do it’. Even those that did kindly help sometimes questioned why a ‘young thing’ like myself would want to research old people.
Even before being given a test, some of the people I approached appeared to feel inadequate because of their age. As an experimental social psychologist, what felt alarming was how readily some older people adopted negative self-perceptions, and that this already seemed largely beyond my control.
European Social Survey (ESS) results- “Older people were stereotyped as friendlier, more admirable and more moral than younger people” but “Younger people were viewed as more capable.” (Abrams, Eilola & Swift, 2009)
We all spend a life-time internalising stereotypes of ageing until we reach old age ourselves and realise we are the targets of these stereotypes. Just the presence of a younger person may make these stereotypes salient.
A recent review and meta-analysis that I conducted with Hannah Swift and Dominic Abrams shows that stereotypes of ageing can directly affect older adults’ behaviour (see Lamont, Swift & Abrams, 2015). We statistically analysed international evidence from 37 studies, both published and unpublished, to conclude that:
older adults’ memory and cognitive performance is negatively affected in situations that signal or remind them of negative age stereotypes.
This phenomenon is known as ‘age-based stereotype threat’ (ABST). Some of the 37 studies used official-type reports on age differences in performance as ‘fact-based’ cues to age stereotypes. Other studies gave subtle hints that performance was being pre-judged because of age criteria. For example, they told people taking the test that both young and old people were taking part, or that it was a ‘memory’ test, or that it required ‘fast responses and current knowledge e.g. about technology’ etc. Our meta-analysis revealed that older people’s cognitive performance suffered most with these more subtle cues to age stereotypes were used before cognitive testing.
Researchers have previously concluded that stereotype threat affects ethnic minorities and women, but this new meta-analysis highlights that we should be just as concerned about stereotypes of age. For more information on stereotype threat you can visit ReducingStereotypeThreat.org.
Given that 1 in 3 people born today will live to 100, it is important that we are ready for the changes that this will bring. On BBC Breakfast’s Living Longer series, Lord Filkin stated that we need a “shift in attitudes by employers and also a shift by us as individuals” as those in their 80s and 90s that are able and want to, continue to work. ABST may disadvantage older workers, but also bias clinical evaluations and have a negative impact on economic outcomes. But what can we do about it?
Acknowledge our prejudices Altering negative perceptions of ageing is no small feat, but we can start with ourselves by acknowledging our own prejudices as a way of overcoming them. Although 28% of UK respondents surveyed in the ESS said they had experienced prejudice based on their age (Abrams & Swift, 2012), very few admitted to being age prejudiced. We must recognise that even our seemingly positive attitudes towards older adults may belittle them. When I tell people I study ageism, I have more than once been given the response ‘oh, I love old people’. The number of times I have heard others (and even myself) apply words such as ‘cute’ or ‘sweet’ to older adults reflects cultural readiness to infantilise older adults and separate them from others.
ESS results- “Most respondents (48%) regard people in their 20s and people in their 70s as two separate groups within the same community” (Abrams & Swift, 2012)
Get out more! A second suggestion would be to seek opportunities to meet with people of all ages and form genuine friendships. Research has shown that ABST has less effect on older adults who have had positive intergenerational interactions (Abrams, Eller & Bryant, 2006) or even those who have had more positive and frequent contact with their grandchildren (Abrams et al., 2008). When friendships are established across age groups, those of both ages become less likely to fall-back on age stereotypes and more likely to perceive one another’s strengths accurately. | http://ageactionalliance.org/my-nan-is-so-cute/ |
Human apolipoprotein E (apoE) exists in three isoforms: apoE2, apoE3 and apoE4. APOE ε4 is a major genetic risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and Alzheimer's disease (AD). ApoE mediates cholesterol metabolism by binding various receptors. The low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) has a high affinity for apoE, and is the only member of its receptor family to demonstrate an apoE isoform specific binding affinity (E4>E3>>E2). Evidence suggests that a functional interaction between apoE and LDLR influences the risk of CVD and AD. We hypothesize that the differential cognitive effects of the apoE isoforms are a direct result of their varying interactions with LDLR. To test this hypothesis, we have employed transgenic mice that express human apoE2, apoE3, or apoE4, and either human LDLR (hLDLR) or no LDLR (LDLR(-/-)). Our results show that plasma and brain apoE levels, cortical cholesterol, and spatial memory are all regulated by isoform-dependent interactions between apoE and LDLR. Conversely, both anxiety-like behavior and cued associative memory are strongly influenced by APOE genotype, but these processes appear to occur via an LDLR-independent mechanism. Both the lack of LDLR and the interaction between E4 and the LDLR were associated with significant impairments in the retention of long term spatial memory. Finally, levels of hippocampal apoE correlate with long term spatial memory retention in mice with human LDLR. In summary, we demonstrate that the apoE-LDLR interaction affects regional brain apoE levels, brain cholesterol, and cognitive function in an apoE isoform-dependent manner. | https://scholars.duke.edu/display/pub1005324 |
With the global research environment becoming ever more complex and demanding, establishing external and international collaborations is rapidly turning into a key skill for researchers.
Through AuthorAID, we have heard about the increasingly important need for more networks and better linkages between researchers, and particularly those looking for international collaborators on specific and unique issues. In a survey of members we carried out in 2017, the majority of AuthorAID researchers identified that they need help and support in finding collaborators. They want to collaborate with a wide range of other researchers and stakeholders, both in-country and internationally, in their own subject area and in multi-disciplinary work, and they are looking for collaborators with skills in writing, applying for funding, and international experience.
Respondents also mentioned that there needed to be more space for thematic discussions around collaboration topics, and a more interactive platform that allowed researchers to post details of their research and/or funding, and ask for collaborators.
To build on this demand for collaboration, AuthorAID has launched a new forum area with a ‘Research Collaboration Space’ that offers an opportunity for researchers to post details of their research projects and put out a request for collaborators. This allows for more public interaction and networking around research and funding opportunities. Members can also start optional private discussions through AuthorAID’s existing mentoring and collaboration messaging system:
Search the AuthorAID network for researchers
Are you looking for a research partner or someone to discuss your work? Perhaps you are simply looking for a bit of advice or the opinion of someone in your field. With a network of over 17,000 researchers from around the world, we're sure you will be able to find what you are looking for.
Research Collaboration Space
The AuthorAID Research Collaboration Space is an open forum for researchers to network and find collaborators around the globe. Look for collaboration opportunites or post details of your own research project. Also regularly updated with useful resources and tips on collaboration
We hope this new forum will provide better support to academics and researchers in our community who often struggle to find collaborators and funding opportunities for their research projects.
The importance of international collaboration in research
So why collaborate?
- Finding collaborators can help access new and innovative approaches to problem-solving, according to AuthorAID mentor and facilitator Richard De Grijs: “It is also a great way to establish a worldwide network of colleagues with a variety of backgrounds—scientific, cultural, or otherwise.”
- Research collaboration can also offer many practical benefits, according to Elsevier’s Dr. Nick Fowler because it: “enables researchers in institutions to access resources beyond their own, especially funding, talent and equipment. Doing so enables leverage and allows them to magnify the benefits of their own inputs and maximize their own outputs and outcomes.”
- Finally, a recent PLOS One paper by Ebadi and Schiffauerova highlighted the crucial role of research collaboration and networking for securing research funding. Building your collaboration networking is perhaps more important than how many publications and citations you have! (link)
It is our hope that the new forums provide this space and potential to seed discussion around research collaborations that can attract funding, develop innovative ideas, and solve global development problems. | https://www.authoraid.info/en/mentoring/research-collaboration/ |
The new Soroka Medical Center - Ben-Gurion University of the Negev Joint Research Institute will achieve significant diagnostic and therapeutic breakthroughs by combining excellent scientific research with bedside experience and insights that will have substantial positive impact on local and international health and wellbeing. The Institute will attract top physicians and medical researchers to the Negev, ensuring Soroka and Ben-Gurion University’s places among the leading medical research institutions in the world.
The Mission
- To create an extensive, up-to-date, leading research platform based on the proven scientific capabilities of Ben-Gurion University (BGU) researchers and Soroka clinicians
- To enable research during residency in various medical professions and thereby encourage outstanding MD graduates of BGU’s Goldman Medical School to remain in the Negev
- To serve as a magnet for physician-researchers from outside the Negev
- To encourage excellent clinicians, physician-researchers, and leading researchers to remain in the Negev
What Has Already Been Achieved
In 2009, Soroka established the Clinical Research Center to create an infrastructure for clinicians performing clinical research and to foster collaboration with academia and industry. Since its opening, the Clinical Research Center has been involved in over 300 research projects with the participation of more than 120 clinicians and BGU staff, resulting in more than 250 scientific publications. The Center works in three main areas:
- Actively supporting clinical and translational research, allowing access to state-of-the-art trial planning and management
- Conducting educational activities specifically tailored to enabling practicing physicians to achieve a level of knowledge adequate for conducting clinical research
- Establishing an infrastructure for the transfer of clinical/scientific findings into day-to-day medical practice
Looking Toward the Future
In designing the future Joint Research Institute, we have emphasized the creation of an infrastructure that will support the major types of research in which our clinicians and researchers can collaborate at Soroka and BGU in a way not currently possible. The availability of a world-class research institute will radically change the decision-making process of potential recruits to Soroka and BGU for combined clinical and research leadership positions and thus has the potential to transform healthcare in the region.
The Partners
The Gav-Yam Negev Advanced Technologies Park (ATP) was recently inaugurated and is rapidly expanding in the immediate vicinity of Soroka and BGU. It is currently being populated with leading hi-tech and biotechnology companies from Israel and abroad. This unique project creates additional venues for innovative research involving Soroka and BGU researchers as well as biotechnology and biopharmaceutical companies, from start-ups that stem from translational research performed at Soroka and BGU to existing companies that will bring additional expertise and capabilities to the area.
Donor Opportunities Please Contact: | https://www.soroka.org/clinical-research/ |
BIOMEDICAL researchers in medical centers, universities, and other nonprofit research institutions routinely collaborate with for-profit companies on research. These academic-industry collaborations have generated lifesaving new products, as well as profits for the companies and the researchers. Because of the beneficial effect of biomedical technology transfers on the United States' competitiveness and public health, Congress has made a national priority of bringing academia and industry together.1,2 However, the industry-academia collaborations have their costs. They create conflicts between the researcher's (and possibly the institution's) academic interests and financial interests. These conflicts of interest threaten the objectivity of science, the integrity of scientists and institutions, and the safety of medical products.
At the present time, federal employees working in federal laboratories are constrained by numerous conflict of interest restrictions.3,4 Researchers outside the federal government, however, are subject to minimal restrictions, even if they receive federal funds.
This article examines the existing
Witt MD, Gostin LO. Conflict of Interest Dilemmas in Biomedical Research. JAMA. 1994;271(7):547–551. doi:10.1001/jama.1994.03510310077042
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UPMC, Pitt, CMU collaborate on brain disorder studyJune 3, 2016 12:00 AM
Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh, UPMC and Carnegie Mellon University are putting together a study of degenerative brain disorders that have been linked to head injuries, the first project of its kind among the institutions and among the first in the country to use a novel tool in the search for treatments.
UPMC’s Brain Trauma Research Center, Pitt’s Department of Critical Care Medicine and Drug Discovery Institute, and CMU’s Department of Mechanical Engineering are preparing to study treatments for traumatic brain injuries — including chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a degenerative brain disease that has been related to playing football and other contact sports.
The study is being undertaken for humanitarian reasons while a search for project funding continues, researchers said.
“One of the things that has been very challenging in head injuries is finding new therapies,” said Patrick Kochanek, a physician and vice chairman of the critical care medicine department at Pitt. “The cool thing is bringing together all of the resources in Pittsburgh.” The study is in the “very early developmental stages,” Dr. Kochanek said.
Dietary supplements, prescription antidepressants and hyperbaric oxygen are among a wide variety of remedies now used to treat head injuries sustained while playing contact sports. But nothing has been proven to work for concussions, the common cold of head injuries, according to a search of the medical literature between 1955 and 2012 by the American Academy of Neurology.
The search was done for a summary of evidence-based concussion treatments by the Minneapolis-based trade association for doctors who specialize in treating brain and nervous systems disorders.
CTE is a progressively debilitating disease first identified in Pittsburgh in 2002 by forensic pathologist Bennet Omalu during an autopsy of former Steelers center Mike Webster, who played professional football from 1974 to 1990. Dr. Omalu, who is now chief medical examiner at San Joaquin County, Calif., linked repetitive hits to the head during football with CTE, although some questioned the connection.
Pitt brings to the project a new approach in understanding disease and drug development, which combines storehouses of medical data and analytic models to mimic complex cellular workings in the search for new treatments. Historic drug discovery was like firing a shotgun in the hope of hitting a therapy target, which compares to the sharpshooter capability of the new Pitt tool.
The approach is called quantitative systems pharmacology and Pitt is among only a half dozen or so academic centers nationwide using it, according to Anton Simeonov, scientific director at the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, an institute within the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Md.
Historically, scientists isolated compounds from soil or other materials and screened them for effects in the body. The process was “pretty unscientific,” but resulted in some drug breakthroughs, said Charles Craik, director of the Quantitative Biosciences Consortium at the University of California, San Francisco. By the 1980s, researchers were identifying molecular switches inside cells that could be turned off or on with compounds to achieve a certain effect.
“There were all these good things happening, but what was missing was a model — some visualization about how things were working,” said Mr. Craik, a Beaver County native.
D. Lansing Taylor, director of Pitt’s Drug Discovery Institute, who is also involved in the study of brain injury therapeutics, said lower drug development costs and less time needed to bring new therapies to market are part of the new system’s promise.
For the Pitt-CMU study, researchers will expose a matrix of cells to the kinds of forces that football players with head injuries experience, then test the effectiveness of various drugs in restoring normal cellular function or protecting cells from injury, Dr. Kochanek said.
The Department of Defense and the Pennsylvania tobacco lawsuit settlement fund are among the sources that will be solicited to finance the project, researchers said. The National Football League also funds head injury research and UPMC has had NFL funding before.
Kris B. Mamula: [email protected], or 412-263-1699. | http://www.post-gazette.com/news/health/2016/06/03/UPMC-Pitt-CMU-collaborate-on-brain-disorder-study/stories/201606030056 |
We study the impact of research collaborations in coauthorship networks on research output and how optimal funding can maximize it. Through the links in thecollaboration network, researchers create spillovers not only to their direct coauthorsbut also to researchers indirectly linked to them. We characterize the equilibriumwhen agents collaborate in multiple and possibly overlapping projects. We bring ourmodel to the data by analyzing the coauthorship network of economists registered inthe RePEc Author Service. We rank the authors and research institutions according totheir contribution to the aggregate research output and thus provide a novel rankingmeasure that explicitly takes into account the spillover effect generated in the coauthorship network. Moreover, we analyze funding instruments for individual researchers as well as research institutions and compare them with the economics funding program of the National Science Foundation. Our results indicate that, because current funding schemes do not take into account the availability of coauthorship network data, they are ill-designed to take advantage of the spillover effects generated in scientific knowledge production networks. | https://ec.jnu.edu.cn/2020/1116/c24915a564225/page.htm |
United Scientific Group (USG) is pleased to announce it’s Sixth Edition- International Conference on Vaccines Research and Development on November 01-03, 2021 in Baltimore, MD.
Vaccines R&D-2021 will be a valuable and important platform for inspiring interdisciplinary exchange at the forefront of rapid and very much needed vaccine research. Over the course of 3 days, internationally renowned speakers will describe the recent ground breakings work in the vaccines field - contemporary challenges, inspirational and innovative lessons during the development of vaccines.
We are aware that the situation regarding COVID-19 is a cause for apprehension. There will be an option for virtual participation, if any one choose not to travel.
Vaccines R&D-2021 will be a 3-day event with series of keynote lectures, oral and poster presentations, panel discussions involving luminaries in the field, up-and-coming talent. The meeting will attract active participants including top executives from companies, clinicians, academicians, federal researchers, policymakers and other high-level decision-makers. With this varied kind of participation come plenty of opportunities to seek out funding for new research, get quality feedback before publishing your research, collaborations, and new jobs.
United Scientific Group (USG) is a non-profit organization with tax-exempt status under Section of Internal Revenue Code 501(c)(3) of the United States of America.
USG has been providing a platform to share latest research, ideas, breakthroughs and discuss innovative solutions to the complex problems the scientific and academic community faces by organizing conferences, online and in-person meetings and webinars.
Our aim is to collaborate with academic institutions, companies and funding agencies, to accelerate and expand upon a vision to bridge the gap between science and business for the translation of scientific discoveries and innovative thoughts into implementable solutions and products which benefit the humankind. | https://unitedscientificgroup.com/conferences/vaccines/about |
Jerusalem, 25 November, 2019 - Teva and Yeda Research and Development Company, the Weizmann Institute of Science’s commercial arm, signed a unique collaboration agreement today that includes financial support and collaborative efforts by Research and Development teams from Teva and the Weizmann Institute of Science, aimed at researching and developing - at a rapid pace – specific innovative antibodies for the treatment of various types of cancer.
This collaboration between Teva and the Weizmann Institute of Science is an important component within a long chain of collaborations with Israeli academia, which will gradually be revealed in the coming months, and comes at the end of an in-depth process conducted by Teva in order to identify and engage in strategic collaborations with leading research teams at Israeli universities. These collaborations may lead to the development of innovative drugs, which can contribute to improving the lives of cancer patients.
The team will be led by Dr. Rony Dahan, a leading researcher in antibody and cancer immunology and immunotherapy studies, who joined the Weizmann Institute of Science two years ago after completing postdoctoral research at Rockefeller University. Dr. Dahan and other leading researchers at Weizmann will work together with research teams at Teva, both in Israel and globally, to incorporate a number of research fields and groups that will focus on advanced immunological research, computational biology and advanced single-cell analysis capabilities – all of which are in line with Teva’s mission to stand at the forefront of the biopharmaceutical field, in addition to generics.
“Teva is committed to improving the lives of patients by providing them with quality advanced pharmaceuticals, including biological drugs. We are currently investing substantial efforts and resources in R&D on a wide range of cancer therapies that can impact the lives and health of millions of patients around the world,” said Dr. Hafrun Fridriksdottir, Teva’s Executive Vice President, Global R&D. “We are looking forward to embarking on this collaborative journey with top researchers at Weizmann and other Israeli academic institutions to develop innovative immunotherapy drugs for the benefit of cancer patients. The decision to enhance collaboration with Israeli academia is due to the outstanding knowledge and innovation that characterize these institutions and its researchers, who are among the most talented worldwide.”
Prof. Daniel Zajfman, President of the Weizmann Institute of Science: "We are happy with Teva's announcement to invest in early stage research with Weizmann institute, under the umbrella of Industry-Academy collaboration. This is very good news to the academy, the researches and the industry in Israel. There’s no doubt that this long-term investment will bear fruits and lead to breakthroughs in science and technology.”
About Teva Academy initiative
Teva’s specialty R&D began expanding in the 1980s as a result of fruitful cooperation with Israeli academia, leading to the development of medicines, which were central to the company's specialty portfolio and which continue to this day to improve the lives of many patients who suffer from debilitating diseases.
Teva, a global company with a presence in 60 markets worldwide, understands the strategic importance of engaging in scientific collaboration with leading academic institutions, and specifically with Israeli academia, and believes that maintaining a close relationship with academic institutions from the earliest stages of research can lead to the development of advanced drugs and innovative technologies that will improve quality of life for patients throughout the world.
Teva’s international academic activity is directed from Israel by a special academic affairs team led by Dr. Dana Bar-On, and is part of the company's R&D division. Through this team, Teva cultivates collaborations with academia, remains an active partner in global consortiums that bring together industry and academia, and supports scientific conferences, student scholarships, doctoral and postdoctoral fellowships at Teva, and joint scientific publications with academic institutions.
For additional information, please contact: | https://www.tevapharm.com/news-and-media/latest-news/teva-and-the-weizmann-institute/ |
The appetite for cutting-edge cancer research, across medical institutions, scientific researchers, and health care providers, is increasing based on the promise of true breakthroughs and cures with new therapeutics available for investigation. At the same time, the barriers for advancing clinical research are impacting how quickly drug development efforts are conducted. For example, we know now that under a microscope, patients with the same type of cancer and histology might look the same; however, the reality is that most cancers are driven by genomic, transcriptional, and epigenetic changes that make each patient unique. Additionally, the immunologic reaction to different tumor types is distinct among patients. The challenge for researchers developing new therapies today is vastly different than it was in the era of cytotoxics. Today, we must identify a sufficient number of patients harboring a rare mutation or other characteristic and match this to the right therapeutic option. This summary provides a guide to help inform the scientific cancer community about the benefits and challenges of conducting umbrella or basket trials (master trials), and to create a roadmap to help make this new and evolving form of clinical trial design as effective as possible. | https://ucdavis.pure.elsevier.com/en/publications/challenges-and-approaches-to-implementing-masterbasket-trials-in- |
Over the past two decades, high energy physics experiments have in general become fewer in number and larger. They are now often carried out at laboratories far from home institutions. Indeed, experiments are frequently located on other continents.
The ability of researchers to participate fully in the life of their home institutions, and simultaneously to fulfill their commitments to the preparation, data-taking and analysis of their experiments(s), has come to depend crucially on access to good computer networking.
The availability of powerful low-cost distributed computing, the existence of wide-area networks with the potential for high bandwidth data transmission, the availability of powerful networking software such as the World Wide Web, and the increasing maturity of video-conferencing technology, have all changed the ways in which widespread collaborations operate. The simultaneous use of WWW and video-conferencing forms an effective way for remote groups to participate meaningfully in decision-making processes, and to collaborate significantly on data analysis problems and the preparation of publications. However, for this to be really effective, adequate bandwidth must be available on all of the frequently used paths, whether between the host laboratory and the remote institutions, or between the various remote institutions involved in the experiment.
ICFA notes with satisfaction that the major collaborations and host laboratories involved have actively deployed these new modes of communications and encouraged their use.
ICFA urges that all countries and institutions wishing to participate even more effectively and fully in international high energy physics collaborations should:
- review their operating methods to ensure that they are fully adapted to remote participation
- strive to provide the necessary communication facilities and adequate international bandwidth. | https://icfa.fnal.gov/statements/icfa_communicaes/ |
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The list of other "communities" and projects with related interests to those of TF-Media.
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EUNIS e-Learning group
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[http://wiki.eunis.org/tiki-index.php?page=E-learning+task+force
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[http://wiki.eunis.org/tiki-index.php?page=E-learning+task+force]] |
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OPENCAST Community
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[http://www.opencastproject.org/]] | The Opencast community is a collaboration of higher education institutions working together to explore, define, and document podcasting best practices and technologies.
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Steeple project
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[http://www.steeple.org.uk/wiki/Main_Page]] | The vision for the original Steeple project is to investigate, develop, and document sustainable institutional infrastructure to support university wide educational podcasting.
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CineGrid
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[http://www.cinegrid.org/]] | To build an interdisciplinary community that is focused on the research, development, and demonstration of networked collaborative tools to enable the production, use and exchange of very-high-quality digital media over photonic networks.
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SCHOMS
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[http://www.schoms.ac.uk/]] | The Standing Conference for Heads of Media Services (SCHOMS) is the professional body for heads of services working within UK Higher Education.
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JISC Digital Media
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[http://www.jiscdigitalmedia.ac.uk/]] | JISC Digital Media exists to help the UK's FE and HE communities embrace and maximise the use of digital media
Meetings of other "communities" :
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Jan 2010
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IARU Workshop on Open Video
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ETH Zurich
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Recordings here: http://www.multimedia.ethz.ch/conferences/2010/iaru
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Draft for "liaison paper" TF-Media - Opencast Community
> > - about TERENA, about TF-Media
The Trans-European Research and Education Networking Association (TERENA) offers a forum to collaborate, innovate and share knowledge in order to foster the development of Internet technology, infrastructure and services to be used by the research and education community.
The community of national research and education networking organisations (NRENs) has found that it is in a good position to provide audio and video recording, repository and distribution services to universities (where e.g., lectures can be recorded, archived and distributed), taking into account special requirements regarding quality, searchability, copyright, policy, etc. The goal is to identify potential roles in developing this area, as well as the core group of researchers willing to work on the technical and administrative issues around those roles.
TF-Media...
> > - about Opencast, about Matterhorn
Founded in 2007, the Opencast Community is a global community addressing all facets of academic video; members are academic institutions mainly, but the community is open to individuals and companies as well. The Opencast Community supports a number of projects with the overall goal of facilitating the management of audiovisual content. The most prominent among these, the Opencast Matterhorn Project is developing an Open Source management system for academic video, mainly to organize, record, handle and distribute lecture recordings, providing users with tools to engage with the resulting rich medium beyond the mere consumption. The Opencast Community considers itself the community around Matterhorn very much.
> > - the purpose of the liaison
The idea is to make the two networks aware of their respective work and to collaborate in areas where the focus is similar: Metadata, legal issues, and discussions of general topics around academic video (codecs, licensing, technology). Dedicated collaborations should be fostered, e.g. with respect to technological exchange.
> > - how works are related and why
While both communities are open for collaboration in principle, their composition is different: TERENA and TF-Media have a European emphasis (with a distinct collaboration towards Australia) and are very much driven by the various NREN. This differs from the Opencast Community, mainly driven by academic institutions. While this might imply differences with respect some domains in detail (service provision, policies etc.), the overall goals are very similar: To foster the exchange of information around academic video, to advocate the exchange of academic video (i.e. their metadata) and to consider opportunities for technological cooperation.
> > - what is he benefit for Opencast
As a community around Opencast Matterhorn, the Opencast Community would like to raise awareness to Matterhorn with TF-Media and the participating NREN. While Matterhorn is designed to serve academic institutions in the first instance, its framework and design should also allow for the requirements of other organizations: NREN could use Matterhorn services to provide services to academic institutions where centralized services make sense or institutions don't have the resources to establish their own (Matterhorn). | https://wiki.geant.org/display/tfmedia/Investigate+and+liaise+with+other+communities |
Copyright: © 2014 Chu et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Competing interests: KC is a member of the Editorial Board of PLOS Medicine. The other authors have declared that no competing interests exist.
Global health has increased the number of high-income country (HIC) investigators conducting research in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
Partnerships with local collaborators rather than extractive research are needed.
LMICs have to take an active role in leading or directing these research collaborations in order to maximize the benefits and minimize the harm of inherently inequitable relationships.
This essay explores lessons from effective and equitable relationships that exist between African countries and HICs.
Global health is a growing academic field where high-income country (HIC) faculty and students work in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), especially in Africa; learn about new cultures, settings, and diseases; and possibly develop an expertise to address existing and emerging challenges in health care . Global health has brought beneficial HIC medical knowledge particularly to African countries: expertise in health policy and planning from high-income settings has improved clinic and hospital infrastructure and practices such as neonatal resuscitation ,. In addition, research led and supported by HIC researchers has clearly identified preventive and therapeutic interventions for major causes of mortality such as severe malaria, HIV/AIDS, and childhood sepsis –.
Worldwide, the highest burden of disease is from LMICs; however, medical research originating from these countries is low . According to one study, sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) produces less than 1% of biomedical publications . Effective research has four pre-requisites: individual research skills and ability, appropriate infrastructure, relevance to national policies, and the ability to contribute to global research and policy needs . African research capacity has not paralleled capacity in HIC for many reasons: few qualified researchers, less funding, poor infrastructure such as laboratories and computers, and lack of expertise in preparing manuscripts for publication . Collaboration with HIC colleagues and institutions has enormous promise to bring expertise, funding, and resources to Africa. However, there is great potential for a power imbalance in these relationships. Much of the research carried out in Africa is led, funded, and published by HIC researchers without equal collaboration from LMIC colleagues. HIC scientists have been accused of extractive research, flying into an LMIC to obtain data or samples and leaving with the recognition and benefits of the publication. Researchers collecting blood samples for studies have been termed “mosquitoes” or “vampires” ,. HIC investigators secure most of the funding for global health research projects and often dictate the research agenda . If their values and objectives are different from African partners this can lead to inappropriate projects unrelated to local research needs, and derive conclusions that do not have any direct local benefit . Some participants have commented that these kinds of collaborations leave locals feeling like “prostitutes” . Furthermore, when HIC researchers conduct studies in settings that are unprepared in terms of infrastructure and health workers, research can disrupt local medical and educational services and have a detrimental effect on local health care, usually by taking already overworked health care providers away from their clinical and teaching duties ,,.
HIC academics work for universities that typically measure the success of their faculty by research funding and publications. Even if HIC scientists genuinely want to advance African research agendas, building the research capacity of African collaborators may not be an important objective to their institutions ,.
How can African institutions and physicians benefit from international research collaborations without being exploited?
How can advancement of African research capacity and academic careers be prioritized while satisfying the “publish or perish” mandate of HIC universities?
How do African scientists and governments coordinate the great influx of HIC academics who view the continent as the next frontier in global health research?
This essay describes some of the important steps for African researchers and academic institutions to consider in managing global health research partnerships in their settings.
Few physicians in Africa are trained in research. Of these, some emigrate to HICs where the opportunities for career advancement are greater , or are poached by HIC-funded research that is not collaborative or not aligned with national health priorities . Poor funding and lack of protected time for research pursuits are a common complaint by African researchers . A key goal of any global health research collaboration is the transfer of research skills to African partners. HIC institutions can provide their African counterparts with access to distant learning resources such as online libraries, protocol development, statistical expertise, database development, and management. The World Health Organization (WHO) has created HINARI, an initiative that provides free access to thousands of journals for LMIC institutions . The provision of courses in research design, statistical interpretation, and scientific writing can develop skills that are often inadequately developed . A growing number of open courseware continuing education programs make learning research skills more affordable than studying abroad. Furthermore, research capacity in certain African countries such as South Africa is more developed than others; local capacity can be strengthened through regional partnerships. HIC initiatives such as the European & Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP) promote South to South collaborations in HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria through pan-African clinical databases and funding of projects . The Training Health Researchers into Vocational Excellence in East Africa (THRiVE) program aims to improve regional research capacity by linking academic institutions from Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Kenya . Several British universities provide financial and technical support. Another South to South collaboration is the Netherlands–African Partnership for Capacity Development and Clinical Interventions of Poverty-related Diseases (NACCAP), which builds research capacity between several sub-Saharan African academic institutions with support from Dutch partners .
Historically, HIC researchers control funding and therefore dictate research agendas in Africa. Africans need to set their own research priorities. A positive example is the Ubuntu Clinic, which treats HIV and tuberculosis patients in Khayelitsha, South Africa. The clinic has a research committee composed of local physicians from various academic stakeholders who set the research agenda and provide guidance to international researchers . Trusted long term HIC collaborators who understand the context and needs of the region can teach agenda-setting skills and assist in agenda development . Continued dialogue between stakeholders such as local research institutions and their ministries of health will translate local research into action. Regular communication with regional and international health policymakers is needed to understand global health issues and priorities.
Long term partnerships facilitate equitable research collaborations. Frequently, personal relationships between individuals can lead to formal partnerships. For example, the Rakai Health Sciences Program in Uganda began in 1987 as a collaboration between two Ugandan physician researchers, Nelson Sewankambo and David Serwadda, and a US colleague, Maria Wawer, on a small community cohort study, which has expanded to a large research program focusing on community prevention trials and studies with many HIC and Ugandan partner institutions . Similarly, the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) came into being in 1979 through a personal working relationship between Allan Ronald of the University of Manitoba and Herbert Nsanze of the University of Nairobi and has grown into a large research institution focusing on malaria and HIV/AIDS with national, regional, and international partners . Twinning—a promising new concept in global health—pairs HIC health care institutions or medical schools with counterparts in Africa and other LMICs ,. HIC collaborators may develop mentorship programs with African counterparts between the twinned institutions. For example, the Africa Centre for Health and Population Studies in South Africa has many equitable HIC collaborations such as partnerships with the Wellcome Trust, Brown University, and the University College London .
Some HIC academics arrive in Africa, with their own funding, to conduct studies on topics that they have decided on without local input . The large influx of HIC researchers wanting to work in African settings have to be limited to those who genuinely want to collaborate, build local capacity, address locally identified priorities, and treat local counterparts as equals. Distinguishing these collaborators from those who are self-serving is essential and has to be regulated by African leaders. Local coordination and oversight would prevent research duplication and ensure that studies are in line with local policies and priorities. Challenges arise, however, because some African hosts may be enthusiastic about twinning with “prestigious” US universities, which consequently creates a power dynamic that can be inherently unequal and make African institutions reluctant to say “no” to research requests and risk offending their new colleagues . This reluctance to refuse external assistance from HIC partners is also exacerbated by the potential for resource gains. African countries need to engage their ministries of health and academic institutions to provide a monitoring mechanism with a clear set of guidelines. For example, local research committees can be required to screen and approve all projects conducted in the country. Each project is required to demonstrate mutual and equitable benefit such as specific study objectives aligned with local health research priorities, well-defined roles for each collaborator including the unique expertise of HIC partners, and authorship equity for publication planning. A central virtual registry for twinned projects modeled on the ClinicalTrials.gov registry in the United States will increase transparency and accountability in research conduct and be an effective prerequisite for publication .
Some research in Africa has exploited local populations –. Many HIC researchers who conduct studies in African countries receive institutional ethics board (IRB) clearance from their own institutions that do not represent the interests of the country where the research will be performed. Local ethics review boards are needed to provide additional oversight and to ensure that all studies comply with International Ethical Standards including protection against exploitation of vulnerable local populations . In Rwanda, HIC researchers must have local partners and all projects must be approved by the Rwanda National Health Research Committee and a local IRB . Memorandums of understanding regarding confidentiality agreements, intellectual property, and data ownership/sharing need to be established a priori before any research work begins. Local IRBs should ensure that adherence to policies on intellectual property including data and confidential patient information are respected. One unique consideration is the material transfer of body tissues from Africa to HICs for special tests. Performing these tests locally or at least regionally gives greater African ownership of studies and HIC collaborators need to help build this capacity. Lack of funding, expertise, and appropriate infrastructure to establish appropriate laboratories are current limitations . The WHO and other regional and international collaborations such as the African Field Epidemiology Network and the East Africa Public Health Laboratory Networking Project have projects underway to improve national health laboratory systems –.
The goal of any collaboration is to produce high-quality research in order to advance scientific knowledge, clinical care, and to influence evidence-based research and public policy. Publishing ensures transparency, demonstrates accountability for financial support, and allows for establishing metrics of productivity. Collaborative publications need principal investigators from HICs and African partner institutions who were involved in the design, conduct, analysis, and manuscript writing of each individual project. The Ministry of Health in Rwanda requires local authorship on all studies published using local data on the basis of recent experiences with “extractive” research . While this is one step in maintaining local ownership, it is not the only solution and such mandates can be difficult to enforce as token authorship can always be found. Africans are currently under-represented in writing up collaborative work for publication. Studies are needed to quantify authorship equity. Experienced HIC researchers can encourage African co-investigators to present at international conferences, which often offer scholarships to fund travel expenses. Local dissemination of results can be also encouraged through presentations at national medical societies and institutional departmental meetings, thus allowing a wider local audience to benefit from research methodology and results.
One model of a global health partnership is the Human Resources for Health Program in Rwanda. Established in 2012, the HRH program twins 16 US institutions with the Rwandan Ministry of Health and its various medical institutions to “improve the quantity and quality of health professionals in Rwanda” . The program will run for seven years and pairs US physicians and other health care professionals with Rwandan colleagues to transfer clinical, teaching, and research skills. Each US faculty remains in Rwanda for at least one year, allowing time and trust to build with their Rwandan counterparts. This relationship will hopefully be more successful in developing local research capacity and equitable research collaborations compared to previous models of short visiting professorships of a few days or weeks. Skills such as how to set a local research agenda and coordinate other HIC international collaborators will be taught. Pitfalls such as token authorship will be avoided as increased data analysis and write-up capacity are developed.
Global health partnerships and international research collaborations have enormous potential to improve health care and policy in Africa. The growing field of global health brings a wealth of HIC research experience and funding to African countries. Power imbalances and inequity exist in these processes and for successful research partnerships to occur between HIC and African individuals and institutions, several steps need to be taken for relationships to be both equitable and long term. The transfer of research skills, from HIC collaborators to local partners, is a key objective in every collaboration, in order to build local capacity for investigators to define and coordinate their own research agendas. African countries must take control of their research agendas and coordinate HIC collaborators. Otherwise, African countries risk repeating history and becoming victims of “scientific colonialism” .
Wrote the first draft of the manuscript: KC SJ. Contributed to the writing of the manuscript: KC SJ PK GN. ICMJE criteria for authorship read and met: KC SJ PW GN. Agree with manuscript results and conclusions: KC SJ PW GN.
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32. Lurie P, Wolfe SM (1997) Unethical trials of interventions to reduce perinatal transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus in developing countries. N Engl J Med 337: 853–856.
33. Varmus H, Satcher D (1997) Ethical complexities of conducting research in developing countries. N Engl J Med 337: 1003–1005.
34. Ferney-Voltaire (2008) World Medical Association Declaration of Helsinki Ethical Principles for Medical Research Involving Human Subjects. Available: http://www.wma.net/en/30publications/10policies/b3/17c.pdf.
35. Guidelines for Researchers Intending to Do Health Research in Rwanda. Available: http://www.moh.gov.rw/fileadmin/templates/Docs/Researchers-Guidelines.pdf.
36. Petti CA, Polage CR, Quinn TC, Ronald AR, Sande MA (2006) Laboratory medicine in Africa: a barrier to effective health care. Clin Infect Dis 42: 377–382.
37. Strengthening public health laboratories in the WHO African Region: a critical need for disease control. Available: http://www.afro.who.int/en/clusters-a-programmes/hss/blood-safety-laboratories-a-health-technology/blt-highlights/3860-strengthening-public-health-laboratories-in-the-who-african-region-a-critical-need-for-disease-control.html. Accessed 20 December 2013.
38. East Africa Public Health Laboratory Networking Project. Available: http://eaphln-ecsahc.org/index.php/component/content/article/113-eaphln-twgs/lab-networking-and-accreditation/10-lab-networking-and-accreditation, 2013.
39. African Field Epidemiology Network. Available: http://www.afenet.net/new/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=18&Itemid=34&lang=en. Accessed 20 December 2013.
40. Masanza MM, Nqobile N, Mukanga D, Gitta SN (2010) Laboratory capacity building for the International Health Regulations (IHR) in resource-poor countries: the experience of the African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET). BMC Public Health 10 Suppl 1: S8.
41. Binagwaho A, Kyamanywa P, Farmer PE, Nuthulaganti T, Umubyeyi B, et al. (2013) The human resources for health program in Rwanda–new partnership. N Engl J Med 369: 2054–2059. | https://journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/article?id=10.1371/journal.pmed.1001612 |
Dear Reader,
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Grants totaling $1.875 million will be awarded to 60 Israeli scientists during the coming year by the Israel Cancer Research Fund (ICRF), a North American organization that underwrites promising cancer research by gifted scientists in this country.
Prof. Avram Hershko and Prof. Aaron Ciechanover of Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, who received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2004, and Prof. Howard Cedar of Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School, led the list of awardees.
All three, who are also Israel Prize laureates, will receive the highest designation an ICRF professorship and a personal grant of $50,000 annually for seven years.
Hershko and Ciechanover were the first Israelis to receive the Nobel in the sciences. They received the prize for their discovery of the ubiquitin system of regulated protein degradation, a fundamental process that influences vital cellular events and has been implicated in cancer and many other diseases, including Alzheimer's. This discovery led to the development of Velcade, a drug used to treat multiple myeloma, a cancer of the bone marrow. ICRF recognized the potential of this research in 1985 and has been funding it ever since.
The ICRF, founded in 1975, is the largest single source of private funds for cancer research in Israel and is devoted solely to supporting cancer studies by local researchers at leading medical and science institutions around the country.
Kenneth Goodman, president and CEO of Forest Laboratories, Inc., announced the grants, which included the the awarding of the first Barbara Goodman Endowed Research Career Development Award for Pancreatic Cancer to the Hebrew University's Dr. Yuval Dor, who is researching pancreatic cancer formation.
"We have increased our funding of Israeli cancer researchers by 14 percent this year," said ICRF president Dr. Yashar Hirshaut, a noted New York oncologist.
ICRF awardees have been involved in many other significant breakthroughs, including the development of Gleevec, a drug with promising results in treating certain forms of leukemia. | https://www.jpost.com/Health-and-Sci-Tech/Science-And-Environment/Cancer-Research-Fund-allocates-nearly-2m-to-local-scientists |
LuMind Research Down Syndrome vision is to be the global leader in funding a comprehensive portfolio of research to meaningfully improve health and independence in individuals with Down syndrome.
What if we could improve the learning ability of someone with Down syndrome by 15 percent? What new possibilities would open up at school, on the job, and in their ability to lead more active, independent lives? LuMind Foundation (formerly known as the Down Syndrome Research and Treatment Foundation - DSRTF) is funding groundbreaking scientific research to find a treatment to improve cognition including learning, memory and speech for individuals with Down syndrome. We currently fund research at six leading medical research institutions in the US including Stanford University and Johns Hopkins Medical Center.
Our approach led to breakthroughs in the identification of specific mechanisms responsible for cognitive impairment, new drug targets and several potential new drug candidates. In May 2014, Roche announced the initiation of a Phase II clinical trial, now ongoing, for a new drug candidate designed to address improving cognition and memory in people 12-30 years of age, with Down syndrome. Your support of our foundation and the researchers who made these breakthroughs contributed directly to these successes! | http://hmr.org/find/charitypage.php?id=37-1483975 |
Why work together with DESY?
There are many good reasons for companies to use DESY's excellent research infrastructure. In particular, small and medium-size companies whose research departments do not have the necessary technologies gain access to the relevant equipment, as well as the experienced scientists and engineers who operate it. In this way, companies benefit from the expert knowledge of DESY researchers while building up their own technological competencies. This strengthens the innovation performance of a company and increases its competitiveness. In addition, companies benefit from the entire research ecosystem on campus, where they can also exchange ideas and knowledge with researchers from other institutions and companies.
The Technology Transfer Office of the Innovation and Technology Transfer Department connects you with DESY scientists and helps foster collaboration.
Science-Industry Collaborations
We offer industrial partners collaborations in the following areas:
- Medical technology and diagnostics
- Laser-based technologies
- Nanotechnologies
- Electronics, communication and automation technologies
- Detector- and sensor technologies
- Accelerator-based technologies
- New and complex materials
- Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical
Feel free to contact us if you come from another area and see a possible collaboration with DESY.
Collaborations at DESY range from short-term projects, such as material testing, to long-term research collaborations, such as the MicroTCA Lab for the development and use of electronic standards. These cooperative efforts can even lead to the founding of a new company. Or a license could be issued to use the collaborative findings to launch a product in the market.
Financing Options: Funding of collaborative projects
There are various sources of funding for joint projects between research and industry, such as the Helmholtz Association's Initiative and Networking Fund, the Federal Government's Central Innovation Program for SMEs (ZIM), and the PROFI Standard of the Investitions- und Förderbank Hamburg. DESY has a lot of experience applying for such funds and is happy to share knowledge with its business partners.
Do you have questions about collaborations with DESY?
Ilka Mahns, Head of the Technology Transfer Offices, will be happy to answer these. | https://innovation.desy.de/industry/collaborations/index_eng.html |
European network on parasite research
Parasitic infections take a particularly heavy toll on the poor, posing a big problem in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Typically associated with poor communities in low-income countries, these diseases include malaria, trypanosomiasis and leishmaniasis. Treatments currently available are limited by severe side-effects, development of drug resistance or high costs. The EU-funded project PARAMET (A systematic analysis of parasite metabolism - From metabolism to intervention) created a training network of researchers by bringing together excellence from academic institutions and the pharmaceutical industry. The aim was to foster research in the area of drug discovery against parasitic diseases. Research work was organised into four parts that covered various main aspects of the drug discovery process. The first part included identification of protein groups that are specific to protozoan parasites and thus hold potential for future drug development. Several structure-based approaches underpinning rational design of drugs proved successful. Such approaches were complemented by use of phenotypical screening methods, with special focus on the use of natural compound libraries that can help identify novel chemical scaffolds acting against parasites. Researchers identified parasite metabolic functions that are highly adaptable, responding to environmental changes in unexpected ways. Outlining of metabolic mechanisms and pathways should help to take more informed decisions about the suitability of potential drug targets. Deeper understanding of the mechanisms that regulate how parasites read their own genes is important to the development of antiparasitic drugs. Researchers investigated regulation of gene expression in plasmodium, placing focus on the control of heterochromatin formation. Large databases are ideal for bioinformatics and mathematical modelling analysis. Researchers developed improved analytical models that can be applied in drug discovery against parasites, thereby facilitating identification of potential drug targets and possible parasite resistance to drugs. PARAMET trained 12 early-stage and 2 experienced researchers who covered areas integral to the drug discovery process. Merging expertise from leading institutions and the industry should help translate research into practical applications. | https://cordis.europa.eu/article/id/198752-european-network-on-parasite-research |
To establish one of the world's leading state-of-the-art cancer therapy development centers capable of strategically developing translational research studies, basic and clinical research is performed in the following 3 areas. The research is performed at the Institute of Integrated Medical Research and at the University Hospital, equipped with a GMP grade cell / vector production room, endoscopic and robot-assisted surgery training room, clinical sample preservation room, medical engineering room, and up-to-date common research facilities, including a Central Research Laboratory, RI Center, Laboratory Animal Center, and Animal Operating Room. There are close collaborations with members of other university faculties, researchers in other academic institutions through graduate school liaison, and researchers in related industries through the Research Park system. The COE holds monthly research meetings to discuss progress for further promotion of translational research and collaboration.
Area 1.
Establishment of diagnostic methods that enable individualized therapy
(Leader: Michiie Sakamoto)
Novel tumor markers:
histo-genomics / proteomics
Individualized medication:
drug sensitivity tests, pharmacogenomics
Molecular staging:
sentinel node mapping, new
in vivo
imaging methods
Area 2.
Development of minimally invasive therapy that integrates advanced technologies
(Leader: Masaki Kitajima)
Advanced endoscopic / robot-assisted surgery
Sentinel node navigation surgery
Computer-supported simulation surgery
New minimally invasive therapy:
photodynamic therapy, cryoablation
Area 3.
Development of new treatment methods
(Leader: Yutaka Kawakami)
Immunotherapy:
new tumor antigens, dendritic cell therapy
Gene therapy:
modified herpes simplex virus
Molecular-targeting therapy:
signal inhibitors and natural compounds
Cancer-targeting therapy: | http://www.coe-cancer.keio.ac.jp/research/index.html |
UniQuest, The University of Queensland’s commercialisation company, has announced it will partner with Pfizer’s Centers for Therapeutic Innovation (CTI) on the creation and development of a drug candidate for the treatment of cancer.
Pfizer's CTI connects the company’s drug development expertise with academic medical centres around the world, with the goal of accelerating innovation toward the development of new medical treatments for novel targets.
UQ Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Peter Høj AC said the collaboration with Pfizer was focused on a potential first-in-class cancer therapy that is the result of research at the university.
“We are very pleased to combine UQ’s research expertise in cancer biology and immunology with Pfizer’s world class capability in drug discovery and development,” he said.
“Industry collaborations such as this help to ensure that promising academic research has the best chance of generating potential life-changing treatments for those who need it most.”
UniQuest CEO Dr Dean Moss said the UQ project was the first in Queensland to be funded under Pfizer’s CTI program, and only the second in Australia.
“The alliance provides UQ researchers with the opportunity to closely collaborate with Pfizer’s industry-leading drug discovery and development capabilities with the aim of bringing new treatments to the market,” added Dr Moss.
The University of Melbourne partnered with Pfizer's CTI in 2016. | https://biotechdispatch.com.au/news/uqs-uniquest-in-cancer-partnership-with-pfizer |
Harbor-UCLA is not only a Los Angeles County hospital, but one of the major academic hospitals of the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. Harbor UCLA is also affiliated with the the Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute (LA BioMed). LA BioMed is one of the most prominent independent research institutions in the United States. In addition, LA Biomed and Harbor-UCLA are part of the UCLA Clinical and Translational Science
Institute (CTSI). With the mission of creating a borderless clinical and translational research institute that brings UCLA innovations and resources to bear on the greatest health needs of Los Angeles, the CTSI is an academic- clinical-community partnership designed to accelerate scientific discoveries and clinical breakthroughs to improve health in Los Angeles County.
Therapeutic Development Network
The Therapeutic Development Network is a group of Harbor-UCLA Pediatrics faculty and researchers who are dedicated to a common goal: turning scientific discovery into real-world therapies for children. By collaborating, exchanging ideas and sharing resources, the TDN creates a streamlined path from bench to bedside.
The development of drugs, devices and other treatments for children lags far behind the development of treatments for adults. Because of this gap, many childhood disease go untreated or are poorly treated using interventions developed for adults. The Therapeutic Development Network promotes the establishment of collaborations among researchers to accelerate the development of treatments for children.
We are network of investigators who are dedicated to the development and testing of new treatments for children. By collaborating and sharing resources, we strive to make a greater impact on childhood illnesses. By working together as a collaborative team.
Health Studies Network
The Health Studies Network is dedicated to promoting and improving the health and well-being of children and their families. In partnership with the community, the Health Studies Network conducts innovative health outcomes research and provides educational outreach programs to the richly diverse population we serve. Collectively, the Network utilizes education, research, and advocacy to implement and assess novel strategies to reduce health disparities and barriers to healthy lifestyles.
Patricia Dickson, M.D.
Assistant Professor
Chief, Medical Genetics
Lynne Smith, M.D., F.A.A.P. | http://www.harbor-ucla.org/pediatrics/academics-4/research/child-health-research-program/ |
The energy mix of a country, state, and local region can be considered a common good, as the power companies that provide electricity are local monopolies and customers generally do not have a choice in who their provider is. While there are operations like Clean Choice Energy that allow customers to opt in to having their energy use accounted for by renewable sources, by and large all the costs and benefits of a region’s energy mix are thrust upon the customers without their input. The political process is an available tool to voice a community’s concerns in the issues that are government-regulated, but the specter of NIMBY will often force decisions that benefit those with the most political pull (e.g., communities in high-income areas and with strong ties to the decision makers) at the expense of everyone else.
With all that in mind, an oft overlooked aspect of energy allocation is the social and racial equity of it all; are disadvantaged minorities carrying an undue portion of the burdens from local energy mixes and not seeing their fair share of the benefits? Is there an uneven racial distribution of clean energy sources compared with dirtier fuels? This topic is a very complex one, rooted in history, socioeconomics, politics, and more; complex enough that volumes of analyses can and should continue to be written on it.
For the sake of a broad overview, though, this article will touch on four key components of the overall question of racial disparity in energy issues and how it affects general standards of living: 1) negative effects from fossil fuels, 2) access to renewable energy, 3) green jobs, and 4) justice and equality in environmental and energy organizations.
Effects from fossil fuels
Despite the push for clean and renewable energy that’s been making massive strides in the past decade, fossil fuels continue to dominate the U.S. energy mix. When discussing the costs that come with fossil fuels, and whether those costs are being disproportionately levied upon the populations of non-white Americans, the most noteworthy topics include climate change, pollution from coal-fired plants, and the effects of fracking.
Climate change effects
Climate change is certainly the most discussed cost of a global energy mix that is addicted to fossil fuels, though it is also a topic that often gets addressed on a global scale rather than in the context of potentially disadvantaged groups. Because climate change is an externality that affects everyone on Earth if the effects are severe enough, looking at the potential global impacts to food supplies, extreme weather events, and general livability seems only natural for the long-term view of the crisis. However in the nearer term, decisions made regarding the world’s energy mix and its contributions to climate change can, and do, affects minorities a disproportionate amount.
Minorities in America, it should first be noted, are shown again and again in polls to care more about climate change and its effects. The reasons behind this trend are plenty, including but not limited to the following: minorities are statistically more likely to be in lower earning jobs and outdoors jobs, which means that weather can impact their livelihood the most; flooding from increasingly frequent and severe hurricanes is more likely to impact low-income neighborhoods with higher populations of minorities; and black Americans are 52% more likely to live in urban heat islands which are especially vulnerable to heat waves.
The conclusion that minority populations are the most vulnerable to climate change is not a new one and was even one of the key findings of a White House assessment on climate change risks in 2014. When it comes to the most severe potential impacts of climate change, low-income communities and communities of higher minority populations tend to receive lower outside investment in their communities, suffer through degrading infrastructure, and they must deal with the legacy of housing segregation policies that have left them in areas most vulnerable to sea level rise and natural disasters.
In addition to showing that minorities rate climate change as a higher concern, polls also show that non-white communities are more likely to support policies designed to stop climate change, such as taxation and regulations on carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, even if those policies would incur personal costs to them. Hispanic Americans, in particular, are more likely to be concerned about the impact of climate change outside of the United States, where the impacts of climate change can be even greater but the foreign governments are less equipped to handle the effects.
For example, when President Obama proposed a $3 billion International Green Climate Fund to help impoverished nations adapt to climate change, 2/3 of Hispanic Americans supported the plan while 2/3 of white Americans opposed it. These opinions come despite the economic fact that a dollar spent in less industrialized nations will almost always go further to reducing emissions than a dollar spent in the United States (a recommended read for this topic is Energy for Future Presidents by Richard Muller, which details the numbers behind this economic truth).
Climate change is inherently a global issue, as a ton of CO2 emitted in China will carry the same net effect as a ton of CO2 emitted in the United States. Because of this fact, pushing for a cleaner energy mix in one’s own backyard can only do so much to address the problem globally. However this idea that America can’t fix the climate change crisis on its own is actually part of the problem, with some politicians using the idea that America acting alone will not fix the problem as an excuse for inaction itself, or otherwise saying the proposed actions on the table to fight climate change are too costly and/or the risks of climate change are exaggerated.
But you really have to ask yourself– if the people at the front line of climate change danger and the ones who who going to be first affected by climate change were not minorities or low-income communities, would the politicians be as quick to take this attitude? If it was the major political donors or voting blocs for which politicians clamor that were in the gravest danger, it’s impossible not to wonder whether local actions to impede the global effects of climate change would be higher on the priority list.
Pollution from coal-fired plants
Going from the global impact of climate change to the localized effects of living near coal-fired plants, the most egregious issue that minority communities face head-on is pollution from these power plants. Not only is coal the most CO2-emitting and climate unfriendly fuel in the electric power sector, but on a local level the air pollution from coal plants is linked with diseases like cancer, heart and lung ailments, neurological problems, and more.
As such, living near coal plants is obviously a public health risk, one that is disproportionately thrust upon non-white Americans. Data from many different studies backup this conclusion, including minorities experiencing 38% higher levels of toxic pollutant nitrogen dioxide that comes from power plants and 71% of black Americans living in counties that violate the federal air pollution standards compared with 58% of white Americans. In terms of tangible health effects, this racial inequity of coal plant locations has led to asthma rates among black children that are twice as high as those among white children. Communities of black Americans shouting ‘I can’t breathe’ in response to racial injustice can sadly add another meaning to the rallying cry.
Intuitively, the risks of living near these polluting coal plants are greater when living in closer in proximity to the plants. Therein lies the issue, as the data suggest that coal-fired plants have been more likely to be built in areas that have a higher proportion of minorities. A 2008 report found that 78% of black Americans live within 30 miles of a coal plant compared with 56% of white Americans.
Taking this a bit further, SourceWatch keeps a list of coal plants near residential areas and the percentage of the population who live within three miles of those plants that are non-white. When comparing these percentages with the overall racial breakdown of the population in each of those towns and cities, the number of non-whites living within three miles of the coal plants in excess of what the number would be if the area’s existing population was distributed randomly without regard to race can be calculated:
From left to right along the x-axis, the coal-fired plants are ordered from greatest to smallest populations of their city or town. What this graph shows is that even though there are plenty of coal plants that are not in disproportionately high minority areas, the ones in the densest urban centers and the ones that were in a particularly segregated part of town (either white or non-white) were the ones that tended to disproportionately influence the non-white populations.
Looking more closely at the SourceWatch data, a fair amount of the coal plants in the list have since been demolished, retired, or converted to a fuel other than coal. However these closures appear to affect plants without correlation to the racial breakdown of racial population and is more due to the fact that coal plants have been shutting down at relatively rapid pace in recent years, while the building of new coal plants has become uneconomical.
However the investigation of where coal plants are and were located is still an important aspect of the equity of energy sources, as the vast majority of coal capacity was built decades ago when consideration of racial equity was undoubtedly less at the forefront of the minds of decision makers. The long life of most coal plants serve to show how their location can be considered another legacy that minority communities must continue to confront.
While switching from coal to another fuel type will benefit under the umbrella of reduced CO2 emissions and other health hazards, every closure of a coal plant is likely to have an even more positive impact on the minority communities that find themselves disproportionately affected by local pollution. As such, the cause of switching to cleaner fuel sources locally should be one particularly championed by minority communities (and, just as importantly, by their allies) as an inherent environmental justice issue (environmental justice being a concept we’ll return to a number of times).
Fracking, earthquakes, and water pollution
A third cost from the prevalence of fossil fuels in the U.S. energy mix is the environmental issues associated with fracking. Fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, is a technique of extracting oil and natural gas from the ground in previously inaccessible areas through the injection of large volumes of water and sand (with added chemicals) into underground areas with low permeability. The result has been a boom in U.S. oil and gas production, as these now reachable sources become very affordable to extract.
The downside of fracking, however, is the potential geographic and environmental hazards that have since been discovered. As research on the dangers of fracking has continued, more concerns have arisen regarding the danger to those living near fracking sites. These dangers include air and water pollutants from drilling sites, risks of fracking causing more earthquakes (which have gotten notable enough that the Oklahoma Corporation Commission recently announced new regulations regarding fracking and testing related to seismic activity), and the chemical-filled water from the fracking process needing to be stored underground afterwards with the risk it might contaminate local water supplies.
Where these dangers of fracking meet the issue of potential racial inequity is the set of statistics that finds fracking is more likely to impact low-income communities and minority communities. Many studies are available on the topic, reaching conclusions such as the following:
- Socially vulnerable areas (such as those that have high percentage of : individuals living in poverty, single-parent households, minority groups, and non-English speakers) tend to have the most fracking wells near schools;
- In Pennsylvania, data have shown that fracking wells are located disproportionately in poor communities; and
- With regard to storing the chemical-heavy wastewater after the fracking process, a 2016 study of one Texas region found that the rate of non-white Americans living within five kilometers of the disposal wells were 1.3 times higher than the proportion of white Americans, with these wells being twice as common in areas with 80% minority population compared with majority white areas.
In light of these studies, many again find it natural to wonder whether these fracking issues are disproportionately impacting minority communities in a systematic execution of environmental injustice. This concern is difficult to alleviate in a world where a gas company executive suggests that his company intentionally doesn’t frack in affluent neighborhoods where residents can afford to sue. Even when such remarks get walked back as a ‘joke,’ it is clear that such jokes are not funny to those affected by these issues and could reflect an attitude that permits the continuation of such practices that harm non-white communities an unjust amount.
Access to renewable energy
In contrast to the perils of fossil fuels, renewable energy sources can bring great benefits to individuals and communities. The question is whether minority communities are receiving equal access to these benefits.
The answer to this question is, as most issues of race and equity in America often are, quite tricky. For all the reasons previously discussed, minority and civil rights groups often back policies that promote clean and renewable energy sources in lieu of the use of fossil fuels. However the discussion regarding renewable energy doesn’t just include utility-scale use of solar and wind energy, but also small-scale solar generation (which represents about 1/3 of total U.S. solar power) such as residential rooftop solar panels. Access to rooftop solar energy is often less available to low-income households because of the high upfront costs, despite them being one of the soundest possible investments with payback periods of a handful of years compared with a 30-year lifetime expectancy.
Even further, Hispanic American and black American households are statistically almost twice as likely to rent than own their homes than white Americans. A household’s status as a renter inherently disqualifies the option for them to install equipment like solar panels, as that is a decision only the homeowner can make (not to mention that someone renting their home to another is less incentivized to install solar panels, or any energy-efficiency measures, if the renter is the one paying the electricity bills). Further, one study has even found that when accounting for home ownership in their data, existing solar rooftop policies still result in disproportionately low participation in high-minority communities.
With these roadblocks to equal representation with residential rooftop solar, the Florida chapter of the NAACP actually found themselves pushing against local incentives for rooftop solar systems because, they argue, these incentives result in low-income and minority households paying higher electric bills in order to subsidize solar technologies that they are unlikely to be able to utilize themselves.
Wanting to interject some original data research and analysis but not finding publicly available resources on the racial breakdown of solar rooftops, one bountiful data source is from the California Solar Initiative (CSI). California’s weather and tendency towards ‘green’ politics makes it one of the prime locations for U.S. solar installations. The CSI provides a breakdown by county of residential applicants to the CSI to receive government solar rooftop incentives.
By comparing this county data to the racial breakdown of counties (using Census data), we can find a (fairly) rough correlation between a decrease in non-white populations and an increase in residential solar applications to the CSI. While this county-wide granularity only provides a general (and by no means conclusive) trend and is thus no smoking gun for injustice itself, this data does suggest further analysis could be warranted to determine if and why minority communities are less likely to benefit from California’s rooftop solar policies.
In terms of action items that might address these discrepancies in racial distribution of renewable energy, progress has been made on a political basis in several ways. In 2015, President Obama announced the Clean Power Plan (CPP) to dramatically reduce the CO2 emissions of the U.S. energy sector. As a part of the CPP, extra incentives were promised to states that prioritize equity and invest in the communities that were most vulnerable to pollution, including low-income communities and communities with high minority populations. While the Trump administration has since announced its intent to repeal the CPP and it currently sits entangled in a legal battle, the inclusion of such a provision in the CPP showed the exact type of policy action that can be leveraged to address both the pollution from fossil fuels and the benefits of clean energy sources.
In fact, despite the federal repeal of the CPP, New York State has shown a similar commitment that can be modeled by other states in the Reforming the Energy Vision and Clean Energy Fund. These state initiatives for distributive, shared, renewable energy systems in New York included provisions that the Center for Social Inclusion called “by far the largest equitable goals of any shared renewables policy in the nation…this is a step in the right direction, particularly for New Yorkers of color who are more likely to be renters, and it’s a clear model for how other states should act.” Additionally, programs like community shared solar and Vote Solar’s Low-Income Solar Access are other great ways to allow low-income and minority communities to benefit from and engage with renewable energy. These type of steps to improve diversity and equity need to become central to renewable energy policies to prevent further racial gaps as the green revolution continues.
Green jobs
The explosion in clean and renewable energy in recent years has been a windfall not just for advocates, but also for workers (solar energy jobs and wind energy jobs increased 15% and 7%, respectively, in 2017). Studies have shown that ‘green jobs,’ defined as those that contribute to preserve or restore the environment in traditional sectors such as manufacturing and construction or emerging green sectors such as renewable energy and energy efficiency, have been growing at a record clip in recent years. In terms of equity, though, an important question to explore is whether minority communities have been afforded equal access to take advantage of these new career paths, particularly in an environment where unemployment rates for black Americans and Hispanic Americans have historically been substantially higher than the rest of the population.
The Solar Foundation found that, in 2016, only 6.6% of American solar workers were black, despite comprising 13.3% of the U.S. population (though it’s worth noting that this same dataset showed Hispanic Americans and Asian Americans were more equally represented in the solar industry). Within the solar industry, non-white employees are also more likely to fall in the highest wage-earning bracket, while a significant majority of solar companies do not track employee diversity statistics and do not have a strategy in place to increase representation of minority communities. Similarly, black Americans only make up 8% of employees in the wind energy industry. These numbers jump out and should sound alarm bells that the system isn’t working as it should in its current state.
Pushing for clean and renewable energy sources is a great cause for a bevy of reasons, but the fact that doing so also provides well-paying and secure green jobs is the cherry on top. These new and exciting jobs could stand to particularly benefit minority communities, but the evidence does not show that to be the case in reality. Again, the push for clean and renewable energy and the jobs they can bring to a community can and should be particularly pushed by advocates and allies of the minority communities, and the companies themselves should be doing what they can to ensure equal representation in their workforce.
Some companies have made initial baby steps in the right direction, including participation in job fairs that target minority groups and engaging in job training in minority communities. California has also been successfully promoting apprenticeships in renewable energy trades to minorities. These steps are great ones to take, but before real change is made they need to become standard practice and not just the actions of a handful of companies.
Justice and equality in environmental and energy organizations
To wrap this broad overview of how race can and does factor into energy issues, the problem of having too little minority representation in sustainability advocacy groups brings it all together. In response to each of the previously discussed issues, one of the best ways to push for change is for these communities to have an equal voice and to bring their unique perspective to the system of environmental and energy advocacy groups. If there is no one sitting at the table to point out the disparities that minorities experience when it comes to fossil fuels, renewable energy, and green jobs, then how can we expect progress to be made in those areas?
Pushing for more representative diversity in energy advocacy groups has been brought about as an issue for decades, being one of the main tenets in the idea of environmental justice. Environmental justice was born from the civil rights movement and is “premised on the idea that the costs of industrial development shouldn’t be disproportionately borne by poor or minority communities.” While a number of groups have been formed primarily to address environmental injustice itself (such as Green for All) and other smaller energy groups have been formed that include diversity and equity in their mission (such as the New York Energy Democracy Alliance), the staffs of many of the larger, more mainstream environmental groups have historically been mostly white (perhaps due to the longstanding view that the environment was largely just a concern for “affluent, white liberals“).
Even the causes of the oldest and largest environmental organizations, such as the Sierra Club and the National Wildlife Federation, reflected the difference in priorities between white Americans and minorities, as the largely white groups strove to protect wilderness areas (i.e., focusing more on protecting resources than protecting people), while the smaller, equity-focused groups address the issues important to their disadvantaged communities that the larger groups do not: such as toxins leaking from power plants, urban food deserts, and efforts to pave over urban green spaces where children play. While the smaller groups are working hard to include diversity in their makeup and equity in their mission, the truth is that they only get a fraction of the funding of the larger groups. As Van Jones of the Rebuild the Dream bluntly put it:
We essentially have a racially segregated environmental movement. We’re too polite to say that. Instead, we say we have an environmental justice movement and a mainstream movement.
A 2016 study by the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy (NCRP) that investigated environmental issues and racial equity identified several issues at the source of it all. The NCRP found that only 15% of environmental grants went towards benefitting marginalized communities and only 11% of grants went towards advancing environmental and social justice. A report from the University of Michigan also found that only 12% of environmental organizations have any ethnic minorities in leadership positions, while only 4% have minorities on their board. All of this despite polls that consistently show that minorities support environmental regulations as much or more than white Americans.
As the Energy Democracy Alliance points out, exceedingly large demand exists for solutions to “climate change and environmental justice while creating good jobs among Latino, Black, Asian, and Indigenous populations, alike.” However, large portions of these groups find themselves held back by various barriers of participation, both economic and systematic. Because these issues are more prevalent in minority communities, the establishment of energy advocacy groups who focus on equity, as well as pushing for more equity work in the large advocacy groups that already exist, are key towards solving these problems.
Moving forward, as with many issues regarding race in America, progress made in recent times should not at all be seen as the problem being completely solved. In 1990, civil rights groups wrote an open letter to the largest environmental groups and accused them of racist hiring practices. This action started a dialogue that created some small changes and partnerships with the smaller groups, but the most substantial changes that were needed were still slow to come. Continuing to push leading energy and environmental advocacy groups to ensure diversity among their members, leaders, and missions is a critical and tangible action item that can be taken to improve all of the inequality in energy issues described.
Conclusion
As stated at the beginning of this article, the question of racial equity when it comes to energy is a topic that can (and should) have deep dives of analysis, research, and writing. The issues presented here are simply meant to bring to focus some of the more prominent and obvious ones to inspire thought, debate, and ultimately push the needle towards action where possible. The exact type of action to take is not always obvious, but education on issues like this is always the right starting point. While environmental justice groups were established in the wake of some of these issues, even more can be done to take these efforts and apply them to energy jobs, climate change, renewable energy, and more. These energy issues are directly tied to the standard of living within a community, and as such any racial disparity must be studied and understood so they can be best addressed.
Sources and additional reading
A Rooftop Revolution? A Multidisciplinary Analysis of State-Level Residential Solar Programs in New Jersey and Massachusetts: Wellesley College
Climate Is Big Issue for Hispanics, and Personal: The New York Times
Cultivating The Grassroots: A Winning Approach for Environment and Climate Funders: National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy
Geographic Statistics: California Solar Initiative
In Environmental Push, Looking to Add Diversity
Is Fracking An Environmental Justice Issue: The Allegheny Front
Oklahoma Toughens Oil Fracking Rules After Shale Earthquakes: Bloomberg
Minority groups back energy companies in fight against solar power: Los Angeles Times
More documentation climate change disproportionately affects minority and low-income communities: Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies
Prioritizing Equity In Our Clean Energy Future: The Energy Democracy Alliance
Race, Ethnicity and Public Responses to Climate Change: Yale
Research: ‘Socially vulnerable’ areas tend to have most gas wells near schools: Denton Record-Chronicle
Study shows where solar industry diversity falls short: Solar Builder
The unsustainable whiteness of green: Gist
The whitewashing of the environmental movement: grist
Two Big Steps for Renewable Energy in Communities of Color: Center for Social Inclusion
U.S. solar industry battles ‘white privilege’ image problem: Reuters
Wastewater Disposal Wells, Fracking, and Environmental Injustice in Southern Texas: American Journal of Public Health
Where Climate Change Hits First and Worst: Union of Concerned Scientists
Why It’s Still Important to Talk About Diversity in the Renewables Industry: Green Tech Media
Within mainstream environmentalist groups, diversity is lacking: Washington Post
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Juneteenth is the most popular annual celebration of emancipation from slavery in the United States. Juneteenth doesn’t mark the signing of the 1863 Emancipation Proclamation, which technically freed slaves in the south, nor the surrender of the Confederate army in April 1865, nor does it commemorate ratification of the Constitution’s Thirteenth Amendment that abolished slavery. Instead, it marks the day when news of emancipation finally reached 250,000 slaves in Galveston, Texas, part of the former Confederacy, on June 19, 1865.
In many ways, Juneteenth represents how justice in the United States has repeatedly been delayed for black people, and access to a healthy, safe environment is no exception. This history makes the current administration’s repeated, unlawful attempts to weaken our nation’s bedrock environmental laws and undo important progress to ensure clean air, water and a healthy environment across the country all the more troubling. Rollbacks of lifesaving checks on some of the nation’s biggest polluters — coal power plants and cars — increase the already-disproportionate environmental burden on black communities.
In the United States, black people are 54 percent more likely to be exposed to air pollution in the form of fine particulates (PM2.5) compared to the overall population. Exposure to PM2.5 is associated with lung disease, heart disease and premature death. African Americans are nearly three times more likely to die from asthma — also linked to poor air quality — than whites.
Historical racism and economic inequality are major factors behind these disparities, as polluting facilities and areas with heavy traffic are generally located near communities of color.
Environmental racism — the disproportionate impact of environmental hazards on people of color — doesn’t stop at air quality. Racial minorities are more likely to live near toxic sites and landfills, drink unhealthy water and have elevated levels of lead in their blood. These disparities can be addressed by implementing and enforcing environmental laws and regulations in a manner that equally protects everyone — a concept called “environmental justice.”
Unfortunately, many federal regulations that could make our environments healthier are being stalled or rolled back. The Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) announced that it has finalized its rule rolling back power plant emission standards today, and has previously signaled its intention of finalizing fuel efficiency standards later this summer. By the EPA’s own calculations, repealing and replacing the Obama-era standards on coal fired power plants (called the “Clean Power Plan”) could lead to as many as 1,400 premature deaths annually by 2030 from PM2.5 pollution, up to 15,000 new cases of upper respiratory problems and tens of thousands of missed school days. The rollback of fuel efficiency standards would lead to 300 premature deaths annually by mid-century. The burden of this pollution will disproportionately fall upon communities of color.
To make matters worse, the Trump administration has taken additional steps to reverse important progress in ensuring clean air and clean water for all. The first White House budget proposed eliminating the EPA’s Office of Environmental Justice, and the EPA has failed to address community concerns over landfill and toxic waste development in minority communities.
To address inaction and backtracking on environmental protections at the federal level, many environmental groups, community leaders, cities and states have stepped up. At the state level, attorneys general have been standing up for environmental justice to ensure that everyone can live, learn, work and play in an environment that is healthy and safe. On the regulatory side, states are offsetting federal rollbacks — California and 13 other states have pledged to fight for stricter fuel efficiency standards and less air pollution in their states. States have also opposed nearly every environmental rollback from the current administration, including attempted rollbacks of national water protections, emission standards for landfills and asbestos reporting.
Attorneys general in New Jersey and California are embracing action by establishing environmental justice divisions within their offices and targeting polluters in minority and low-income communities. Even without established environmental justice offices, protecting traditionally overlooked communities is at the core of many attorney general actions. In New York, for example, Attorney General Letitia James secured settlement funds from Clean Air Act violations to fund a fleet of all-electric, zero-emission delivery trucks in New York City. Because low-income communities and communities of color have high truck and traffic volume, reducing pollution from diesel trucks can have an especially large impact in these communities.
Attorneys general have also advocated for equal access to the country’s treasured natural resources. When the National Park Service sought to increase park entrance fees in 2017, attorneys general argued against the increase, stating that increased fees would reduce access to National Parks for groups that are already underrepresented in national park usage, including people with low incomes and communities of color. In the end, instead of increasing by $45, park fees only increased by $5.
The United States has a long history of overlooking communities of color, and environmental justice problems cannot be solved by states alone. There remains a significant amount of work to be done, and state attorneys general will continue to be part of the fight for environmental justice until all people enjoy access to a safe, healthy environment. | https://stateimpactcenter.org/insights/environmental-justice-juneteenth-2019 |
Welcome to the Environmental Justice Clinic’s new blog series, in which student teams interview clients and partners from across the country. Over the next six weeks, we’ll hear their perspectives on the connections between environmental justice, the struggle for racial justice, and the Movement for Black Lives.
In 2017, Vermont Law School (VLS) attracted students from across the country to its strong environmental law program but offered only one class on environmental justice (EJ). That fall, students Sherri White-Williamson, Ryan Mitchell, Margaret Galka, Jameson C. Davis, Arielle King, Kyron Williams, and Jessica Debski took action, forming the Environmental Justice Law Society (EJLS). In furtherance of its mission, “Fighting for environmental justice through education, advocacy, and knowledge of the law,” EJLS has been a force in the fight against environmental injustice both within the Upper Valley of Vermont and New Hampshire and nationally.
Today, EJLS continues to evolve, highlighting the burdens faced by EJ communities while continuing to dedicate resources to educate local municipalities, governmental entities, and students on the history and impact of EJ. In response to this significant student interest in environmental justice, VLS launched the Environmental Justice (EJ) Clinic in fall 2019. The new clinic serves communities across the country that are fighting environmental racism – particularly racial inequalities in the location of polluting sources such as refineries, landfills, incinerators, industrial animal facilities, and diesel emitting highways and the failure of local, state, and federal governments to ensure that all residents of the country are equally protected against environmental harms.
Chokeholds and Environmental Injustice
The EJ Clinic represents and partners with residents of environmentally overburdened communities who for years have been saying, “I can’t breathe” when faced with choking air pollution. For Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) communities, chokeholds that harm and even cause death are not always physical and do not always happen at the hands of law enforcement. Chokeholds occur when toxic waste sites, landfills, and power plants are concentrated in already environmentally overburdened BIPOC communities, and children grow up experiencing the health effects of living in proximity to so many sources of pollution. Chokeholds occur when, in pursuit of a basic education, BIPOC students are forced to sit in classrooms filled with mold, asbestos, and many other toxic and harmful chemicals that shorten their life spans and brain development. Chokeholds occur when wastewater discharge and air permits required by law are not properly enforced, allowing communities to be impacted by toxic pollution on a consistent basis, with no end in sight. Chokeholds occur when low-income and unincorporated BIPOC communities lack proper sewage and sanitation, creating the conditions for the spread of disease.
We now learn from emerging research that COVID is more likely to spread in areas with greater air pollution and, also, that people are more likely to become ill and die from COVID in communities with exposure to pollution. Reduced capacity to fight off infection due to pre-existing health conditions such as asthma, resulting from long-term exposure to air pollution, puts BIPOC communities at higher risk of death from the virus. The pandemic has made clear to many what residents have long known: living near greater concentrations of air pollution contributes to racial disparities in illness and death.
Death by a thousand cuts – or by thousands of moments breathing in dirty air or drinking contaminated water – is still death, and concentrating facilities in BIPOC communities is no less a reflection of whose lives society values. For decades, BIPOC communities have organized through the Environmental Justice Movement to say enough is enough. Why should BIPOC children grow up with higher asthma rates and shorter life spans? Why does society fail to listen when BIPOC communities say, in the environmental context, we can’t breathe, we don’t have access to clean water, or we don’t want our children playing in contaminated soil?
On the Frontlines of a Movement
These past months, protests have sparked across the country in response to the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Rayshard Brooks, Elijah McClain, and countless others. These protests have become a catalyst, sparking authentic conversations, and exposing the ways false ideas of white superiority within our institutions and structures intersect with the environmental burdens placed on low-income and BIPOC communities. Environmental organizations are talking about the ways their own internal processes, procedures, and history have failed to combat environmental racism. Civil rights leaders of the '50s and '60s knew then what many “Big Green” organizations are grasping today: There is no climate justice without environmental, social, and racial justice. One cannot conserve the lands without also protecting people. EJLS and the EJ Clinic are dedicated to using our platforms, resources, and legal expertise to amplify the voices and message of those on the front lines and most vulnerable who have been developing a community- and justice-based platform for change.
Rather than addressing racial disparities, the Trump Administration continues to lower environmental standards and undermine meaningful community participation in decisions that can have life-or-death consequences. This spring, the EJ Clinic filed comments with WE ACT for Environmental Justice on behalf of 29 organizations and seven environmental justice activists and scholars on the Administration’s efforts to turn the clock back on two key protections provided by the National Environmental Policy Act. The new regulations, recently finalized by the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), limit public participation and restrict consideration of cumulative impacts in decision-making connected to major federal projects. We strive for a positive, more just vision of the health and welfare of the country and are committed to continuing to support community groups as they fight rollbacks in protections.
We know that change is coming, and, at this moment, when our clients and partners have taken to the streets to demand justice, EJLS and the EJ Clinic are asking what more we can do. In June, EJLS continued its dedication to advocacy, donating funds to both the NAACP-Rutland (Vermont) and The People's Institute for Survival and Beyond (National/International). In July, the EJ Clinic joined with partners on a Call to Action, affirming that Black Lives Matter and calling for an end to the disproportionately high rates of illness and death experienced by people of color as a result of environmental racism. The first item on an agenda for change is equal protection – among other things, robust civil rights enforcement to address inequalities in housing and environmental exposures. In August, EJLS partnered with local cinematographer Anthony Marques and prominent EJ/Climate justice leaders Mustafa Santiago Ali, Raya Salter, and Nadia Seeteram to develop EJLS’s first documentary, Trace the Roots. Trace the Roots is a video project centered around the important discussion of why or why not traditional white-led environmental organizations should align themselves with the current social and racial movement.
Amplifying Client Voices
As we consider where to go from here and continue to use our resources to support those on the front lines of the fight for equality and equity, the EJ Clinic and EJLS are guided by the Environmental Justice Principles. These principles were developed by community groups who came together in commonality and protest against environmental racism to form the Environmental Justice Movement in 1991. Of particular significance for our work, they include a demand that policy be based on mutual respect and an affirmation of the fundamental right to self-determination.
Support for the right to self-determination begins with hearing the voices of environmental justice communities. Toward this end, we are excited to announce the launch of EJ Clinic Conversations, a weekly blog series written by EJ Clinic students after sitting down with clients and partners from across the country and hearing their perspectives on the connections between environmental justice, the struggle for racial justice, and the Movement for Black Lives. These include conversations with José Bravo, the executive director of Just Transition Alliance, Naeema Muhammad, Organizing Co-Director of the North Carolina Environmental Justice Network, and others. The first installment will appear on the VLS blog next week. | https://www.vermontlaw.edu/blog/environmental-justice/clinic-conversations-intro |
Poor Immigrant Communities Face Increased Risk of Cancer From Toxic Pollution: Study
The University of Washington has produced research, which found approximately 3.5 percent of neighborhoods in Houston have the highest risk for cancer in the nation. The research also determines toxic conditions are a threat to many poor immigrant Latino communities.
Poor immigrant non-English speaking communities are more likely to be exposed to cancer-causing toxic pollution, and the poor Latino immigrant population is more severely affected than other racial or ethnic groups in the nation, according to research to be published in the November edition of Social Science Research. Manufacturing and industrial facilities, power plants, heavy highway traffic and other factors contribute to the cancerous air quality in many regions, particularly those with major transportation corridors where toxic clusters occur. Unfortunately, many poor immigrant non-English speaking communities live in close proximity to those clusters.
"Neighborhoods comprised of nonwhite, economically disadvantaged people who do not speak English as a native language and are foreign-born are the most vulnerable to being near these toxic air emissions," Sociology professor Raoul Liévanos said, according to a press release. "This is particularly the case with Latino immigrants."
Liévanos led the research, establishing that toxic emissions are most present in areas with high daily commutes, particularly when industrial facilities and manufacturing infrastructure are stationed nearby. Liévanos examined 2,000 neighborhoods using geographic information system and spatial analyses. He mapped the proximity of air pollution hotspots to demographic clusters, and learned that approximately 1-in-3 poor Latino immigrant neighborhoods across the nation bear the risk of living in areas with harmful, high toxic emissions.
The report showed segregated housing developments over the last century have positioned non-white, foreign-born communities closer to environmental hazards, while most non-Hispanic white communities are not as close to damning hazards. An example of this is Houston, where Interstate 10, I-45 and Loop 610 exist, creating a toxic air cluster that impact the health of the community. More than 43.8 percent of Houston's population is Latino and more than 28.3 percent is foreign-born. Also, within more than 46.3 percent of homes, a language other of English is spoken at home, and language barriers play a definite role when it comes to making informed decisions about real estate.
"If we now know that two of the most likely predictors of neighborhood proximity to a toxic air hotspot are its linguistic ability and immigrant status, then we start asking more nuanced questions about the role those factors play in creating such neighborhood vulnerabilities and how warning systems can be created to mitigate neighborhood exposures to air toxics," Liévanos said.
Economically disadvantaged Latino immigrant neighborhoods with limited English-speaking skills are more likely than any other subgroup in the nation to be exposed to toxic air, which could likely resulting in cancer, birth defects or serious reproductive sources. The research will arm environmental advocacy groups with important information about local and regional planning, land-use practices, and it impacts the health of multiracial and multilingual communities. Also, the information could help to provide insight about the next steps needed to be taken to improve conditions for vulnerable neighborhoods and regions, including the need to share health advisories in Spanish as well as English.
The University of California (UC) Toxic Substances Research and Teaching Program, UC Davis Atmospheric Aerosols and Health Program, UC Davis Department of Sociology and the Washington State University Department of Sociology, and UC Davis Center for Regional Change, UC Davis John Muir Institute of the Environment: Environmental Justice Project funded the research.
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Article
Peer Reviewed
Screening for justice: Proactive spatial approaches to environmental disparities
Pastor, M
Morello-Frosch, R
Sadd, J
et al.
UC Berkeley Previously Published Works
(2013)
Whether it's proximity to mobile and stationary emission sources, poor ambient air quality, or the relationship between air toxics and student demographics at the school site, researchers studying issues of environmental justice in California have generally found consistent evidence of significant disparities in exposure by racial and socioeconomic factors (including indicators like income, rates of home ownership, and linguistic isolation), even after controlling for land use and other explanatory factors. Copyright © 2013 Air & Waste Management Association.
Article
Peer Reviewed
The climate gap: environmental health and equity implications of climate change and mitigation policies in California-a review of the literature
Shonkoff, SB
Morello-Frosch, R
Pastor, M
Sadd, J
et al.
UC Berkeley Previously Published Works
(2011)
Article
Peer Reviewed
Environmental justice and regional inequality in Southern California: Implications for furture research
Morello-Frosch, R
Pastor, M
Porras, C
Sadd, J
et al.
UC Berkeley Previously Published Works
(2002)
Environmental justice offers researchers new insights into the juncture of social inequality and public health and provides a framework for policy discussions on the impact of discrimination on the environmental health of diverse communities in the United States. Yet, causally linking the presence of potentially hazardous facilities or environmental pollution with adverse health effects is difficult, particularly in situations in which diverse populations are exposed to complex chemical mixtures. A community-academic research collaborative in southern California sought to address some of these methodological challenges by conducting environmental justice research that makes use of recent advances in air emissions inventories and air exposure modeling data. Results from several of our studies indicate that communities of color bear a disproportionate burden in the location of treatment, storage, and disposal facilities and Toxic Release Inventory facilities. Longitudinal analysis further suggests that facility siting in communities of color, not market-based "minority move-in," accounts for these disparities. The collaborative also investigated the health risk implications of outdoor air toxics exposures from mobile and stationary sources and found that race plays an explanatory role in predicting cancer risk distributions among populations in the region, even after controlling for other socioeconomic and demographic indicators. Although it is unclear whether study results from southern California can be meaningfully generalized to other regions in the United States, they do have implications for approaching future research in the realm of environmental justice. The authors propose a political economy and social inequality framework to guide future research that could better elucidate the origins of environmental inequality and reasons for its persistence.
Article
Peer Reviewed
The Truth, the Whole Truth, and Nothing but the Ground-Truth: Methods to Advance Environmental Justice and Researcher-Community Partnerships
Sadd, J
Morello-Frosch, R
Pastor, M
Matsuoka, M
Prichard, M
Carter, V
et al.
UC Berkeley Previously Published Works
(2014)
Environmental justice advocates often argue that environmental hazards and their health effects vary by neighborhood, income, and race. To assess these patterns and advance preventive policy, their colleagues in the research world often use complex and methodologically sophisticated statistical and geospatial techniques. One way to bridge the gap between the technical work and the expert knowledge of local residents is through community-based participatory research strategies. We document how an environmental justice screening method was coupled with "ground-truthing"-a project in which community members worked with researchers to collect data across six Los Angeles neighborhoods-which demonstrated the clustering of potentially hazardous facilities, high levels of air pollution, and elevated health risks. We discuss recommendations and implications for future research and collaborations between researchers and community-based organizations. © 2013 Society for Public Health Education.
Article
Peer Reviewed
Carbon trading, co-pollutants, and environmental equity: Evidence from California’s cap-and-trade program (2011–2015)
Cushing, L
Blaustein-Rejto, D
Wander, M
Pastor, M
Sadd, J
Zhu, A
Morello-Frosch, R
et al.
UC Berkeley Previously Published Works
(2018)
© 2018 Cushing et al. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/. Background: Policies to mitigate climate change by reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions can yield public health benefits by also reducing emissions of hazardous co-pollutants, such as air toxics and particulate matter. Socioeconomically disadvantaged communities are typically disproportionately exposed to air pollutants, and therefore climate policy could also potentially reduce these environmental inequities. We sought to explore potential social disparities in GHG and co-pollutant emissions under an existing carbon trading program—the dominant approach to GHG regulation in the US and globally. Methods and findings: We examined the relationship between multiple measures of neighborhood disadvantage and the location of GHG and co-pollutant emissions from facilities regulated under California’s cap-and-trade program—the world’s fourth largest operational carbon trading program. We examined temporal patterns in annual average emissions of GHGs, particulate matter (PM2.5), nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides, volatile organic compounds, and air toxics before (January 1, 2011–December 31, 2012) and after (January 1, 2013–December 31, 2015) the initiation of carbon trading. We found that facilities regulated under California’s cap-and-trade program are disproportionately located in economically disadvantaged neighborhoods with higher proportions of residents of color, and that the quantities of co-pollutant emissions from these facilities were correlated with GHG emissions through time. Moreover, the majority (52%) of regulated facilities reported higher annual average local (in-state) GHG emissions since the initiation of trading. Neighborhoods that experienced increases in annual average GHG and co-pollutant emissions from regulated facilities nearby after trading began had higher proportions of people of color and poor, less educated, and linguistically isolated residents, compared to neighborhoods that experienced decreases in GHGs. These study results reflect preliminary emissions and social equity patterns of the first 3 years of California’s cap-and-trade program for which data are available. Due to data limitations, this analysis did not assess the emissions and equity implications of GHG reductions from transportation-related emission sources. Future emission patterns may shift, due to changes in industrial production decisions and policy initiatives that further incentivize local GHG and co-pollutant reductions in disadvantaged communities. Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first study to examine social disparities in GHG and co-pollutant emissions under an existing carbon trading program. Our results indicate that, thus far, California’s cap-and-trade program has not yielded improvements in environmental equity with respect to health-damaging co-pollutant emissions. This could change, however, as the cap on GHG emissions is gradually lowered in the future. The incorporation of additional policy and regulatory elements that incentivize more local emission reductions in disadvantaged communities could enhance the local air quality and environmental equity benefits of California’s climate change mitigation efforts.
Article
Peer Reviewed
Racial and Income Disparities in Relation to a Proposed Climate Change Vulnerability Screening Method for California
Sadd, J
Jesdale, W
Richardson, M
Morello-Frosh, R
Jerrett, M
English, P
Pastor, M
King, G
et al. | https://escholarship.org/search/?q=author%3A%22Sadd%2C%20J%22 |
Brunswick Environmental Action Team
BEAT was happy to be invited to the 2022 Oak Island Earth Day Festival, April 2022. Thank you Oak Island for allowing us to share ideas about how we can continue to work together to thrive while peacefully making use of the life sustaining energy that our Earth provides for us every day - To optimize our ongoing survival and a deeply shared happy and healthy existence.
BEAT received an email from: Melissa Edmonds <[email protected]> of the Southern Environmental Law Center on September 9, 2022 at 12:32:50 PM EDT. The subject of the email was Offshore Drilling Comment Opportunity. BEAT leadership would like to share this message with you here. The text that follows is the body of the message in its entirety.
Hi all,
I hope this note finds you well! You are receiving this email because you have previously been involved in SELC’s campaign to fight offshore drilling, by signing onto our comment letters to oppose drilling in the Atlantic Ocean or Gulf of Mexico. I am writing now to alert you of another important comment opportunity on the issue of offshore drilling in these regions.
SELC is currently preparing comments on the Biden administration’s Proposed Five Year Plan for offshore drilling, which removes all Atlantic Planning Areas from consideration, yet still proposes to hold lease sales in the Western and Central Gulf of Mexico. Comments are due Oct. 6. As usual, our comments will be focused on the Gulf and the Southeast; we plan to thank BOEM for listening to the voices of the East Coast by removing the Atlantic, and further urge no new leasing in the Gulf of Mexico because of the continued harm from offshore drilling on Gulf communities and natural resources and on climate change.
SELC supports responsible offshore wind development as a critically important piece in the necessary clean energy transition to address the climate crisis, but we do not support provisions within the Inflation Reduction Act that tie future offshore wind leasing to continued oil and gas leasing. We are planning to make this distinction in our comments, but please reach out to us if you have any questions or concerns with this approach.
If you are potentially interested in signing on and have input as we draft, please let me know ASAP, as we are working on drafting the comments now. We will circulate a draft on Sept. 23, accept feedback through Sept. 28, and take final sign-ons through Oct. 5.
Thank you all for being valued partners in this important issue, we look forward to your continued support throughout this fight!
Melissa L. Edmonds (Whaling) (she/her)
Science & Policy Analyst
Southern Environmental Law Center
601 West Rosemary Street, Suite 220
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
Office (919) 391-4099
Mobile (919) 623-5003
Dear visitor, below is a message BEAT received from "Emily Donovan via ActionNetwork.org" <[email protected]>
The subject of her message regards
URGENT ACTION REQUIRED:
Say: "No More Chemours!"
BEAT received this message on: September 10, 2022 at 12:36:12 PM EDT
Her message is shared here in its entiretity.
Friends,
It's time to mobilize like never before. Chemours just announced they want to EXPAND their toxic PFAS production in NC. We don’t feel they’ve earned this right–especially when they’ve failed to deliver on the most basic promises to our community.
We believe the majority of control measures taken, so far, are because Chemours was legally forced to comply via a 2019 consent order established by our friends at Cape Fear River Watch. However, it’s important to remember, consent orders are only as good as they are being enforced. Sadly, strong enforcement of the Chemours consent order has taken constant pressure from dedicated folks like you, who are determined to hold both DEQ and Chemours’ feet to the fire.
Here’s a quick summary of how Chemours has “helped” us:
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They are not providing free water to contaminated city water users and are actively fighting lawsuits for water upgrades from CFPUA and Brunswick County.
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Their proposed barrier wall to stop existing contamination from leaking into the Cape Fear River was inadequate and flawed.
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They've been dragging their feet on establishing toxicity studies required by the 2019 consent order.
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They are reluctant to establish a long term plan for private well owners in the lower Cape Fear region.
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They have made private well owners wait 6 months with no replacement water.
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They refuse to meet the needs of commissioners in Cumberland County and are now being sued.
Chemours has not earned the right to expand in NC and we are counting on you to help them get the message. Chemours is hosting a public information session at Leland Cultural Arts Center, Wednesday, September 21st from 5:00pm - 7:00pm. Click here to RSVP We’ll send you talking points in the next two weeks to help you feel prepared.
In the meantime, please share our event link on social media and with your fellow neighbors. Media will be present at this meeting, so it’s vital that we show a united front against Chemours. We cannot allow them to add another drop of their poison to our water.
With gratitude,
Emily Donovan, cofounder
Clean Cape Fear
PLEASE CLICK HERE TO READ THE BEAT LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR the Brunswick County NAACP’s proposed Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor Multi-Use Greenway/Blueway Trail, Brunswick County, North Carolina
FYI: An Informative PDF about PFAS as it Relates to Brunswick County in 2020 - by Eugene Rozenbaoum of LG Chem
https://e7c15df3-84ba-4acf-af91-88be79109bb4.usrfiles.com/ugd/e7c15d_a19abcf749f24faf8ffc19b7b12a3d64.pdf
Environmental Injustice
People who live, work and play in America's most polluted environments are commonly people of color and the poor. Environmental justice advocates have shown that this is no accident. Communities of color, which are often poor, are routinely targeted to host facilities that have negative environmental impacts -- say, a landfill, dirty industrial plant or truck depot. The statistics provide clear evidence of what the movement rightly calls "environmental racism." Communities of color have been battling this injustice for decades.
(Renee Skeleton and Vernice Miller, Natural Resources Defense Council, 2016)
(Source: oppressionmonitor.us)
What is Toxic Waste?
Toxic waste refers to discarded material or substances that threaten human health and/or the environment because it is poisonous, dangerously chemical reactive, corrosive, or flammable. Examples include industrial solvents, hospital medical waste, car batteries (containing lead and acids), household pesticide products, dry-cell batteries (containing mercury and cadmium), and ash and sludge from incinerators and coal-burning power and industrial plants. Radioactive waste produced by nuclear power plants is extremely hazardous. More developed countries of the world produce 80 percent of toxic waste, and the United States is the leading producer (although China is rapidly catching up) (Miller and Spoolman, 2016).
Toxic materials are poisonous byproducts as a result of industries such as manufacturing, farming, construction, automotive, laboratories, and hospitals which may contain heavy metals, radiation, dangerous pathogens, or other toxins. Toxic waste has become more abundant since the industrial revolution, causing serious global health issues. Disposing of such waste has become even more critical with the addition of numerous technological advances containing toxic chemical components. Products such as cellular telephones, computers, televisions, and solar panels contain toxic chemicals that can harm the environment if not disposed of properly to prevent the pollution of the air and contamination of soils and water. A material is considered toxic when it causes death or harm by being
inhaled, swallowed, or absorbed through the skin (Wikipedia, 2017).
What are the key substances that pose a risk to human health? They are:
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Arsenic: used in making electrical circuits, as an ingredient in pesticides, and as a wood preservative. It is classified as a carcinogen.
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Asbestos: a material that was once used for the insulation of buildings; some businesses are still using this material to manufacture roofing materials and brakes. Inhalation of asbestos fibers can lead to lung cancer and asbestosis.
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Cadmium: is found in batteries and plastics. It can be inhaled through cigarette smoke, or digested when included as a pigment in food; exposure leads to lung damage, irritation of the digestive track, and kidney disease.
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Chromium: is used as brick lining for high-temperature industrial furnaces, as a solid metal used for making steel, and in chrome plating, manufacturing dyes and pigments, wood preserving, and leather tanning; known to cause cancer, and prolonged exposure can cause chronic bronchitis and damage lung tissue.
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Clinical wastes: such as syringes and medication bottles can spread pathogens and harmful microorganisms, leading to a variety of illnesses.
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Cyanide: a poison found in some pesticides and rodenticides; in large doses it can lead to paralysis, convulsions, and respiratory distress.
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Lead: is found in batteries, paints, and ammunition; when ingested or inhaled can cause harm to the nervous and reproductive systems, and kidneys.
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Mercury: used for dental fillings and batteries; also used in the production of chlorine gas. Exposure can lead to birth defects and kidney and brain damage.
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PCBs, or polychlorinated biphenyls: are used in many manufacturing processes, by the utility industry, and in paints and sealants; damage can occur through exposure, affecting the nervous, reproductive, and immune systems, as well as the liver.
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POPs, persistent organic pollutants: are found in chemicals and pesticides, and may lead to nervous and reproductive system defects; can bio-accumulate in the food chain or persist in the environment and be moved great distances through the atmosphere.
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Strong acids and alkalis: used in manufacturing and industrial production; they can destroy tissue and cause internal damage to the body.
With increasing worldwide technology there are more substances that are being considered toxic and harmful to human health. Some of this technology includes cell phones and computers. They have been given the name e-waste or EEE, which stands for Electrical and Electronic Equipment. This term is also used for goods such as refrigerators, toys, and washing machines. These items can contain toxic components inside which can break down into our water systems when discarded. The reduction in the cost of these goods has allowed for these items to be distributed globally without thought or consideration to managing the goods once they become ineffective or broken (Wikipedia, 2017).
The Dangers to Health
Toxic wastes often contain carcinogens, and exposure to these by some route, such as leakage or evaporation from the storage, causes cancer to appear at increased frequency in exposed individuals. Heart disease, serious respiratory conditions such as emphysema, and other health problems also have been documented as outcomes of exposure to hazardous wastes.The agriculture industry uses over 800,000 tons of pesticides worldwide annually that contaminate soils, and eventually infiltrates into groundwater, which can contaminate drinking water supplies. The oceans can be polluted from the stormwater runoff of these chemicals as well. Toxic waste in the form of petroleum oil can either spill into the oceans from pipe leaks or large ships, but it can also enter the oceans from everyday citizens dumping car oil into the rainstorm sewer systems. Disposal is the placement of waste into or on the land. Disposal facilities are usually designed to permanently contain the waste and prevent the release of harmful pollutants to the environment.
The Environmental Justice Movement
There are several points that could be cited as the beginning of an environmental justice movement. Some identify the work of Cesar Chavez in the 1960s in leading California farm workers' fight for the implementation of workplace protections, including protection from toxic pesticides. In 1967, African-American students took to the streets of Houston to oppose a city garbage dump in their community that had claimed the lives of two children. In 1968, residents of West Harlem, in New York City, fought unsuccessfully against the siting of a sewage treatment plant in their community.
Many believe the early 1980s protest in Afton (Warren County), North Carolina, a rural, low-income, and primarily African-American town in which PCBs (see above) had been illegally dumped over time. When it was proposed placing a hazardous waste landfill nearby and then disposing of 6,000 truckloads of soil laced with toxic chemicals at the landfill, the town united in nonviolent protest and marches. They sat on roads leading into the landfill, and more than 500 persons were arrested – the first arrests in United States history over the siting of a landfill. The community lost the battle against the state, but their fight drew national attention and is considered by some as the first major milestone in the national environmental justice movement by environmental justice advocates.
Protestors block the delivery of toxic PCB waste to a landfill in Afton, North Carolina, 1982. Photo: Ricky Stilley.
In the wake of the Afton protests, environmental justice activists looked around the nation and saw a pattern: Pollution-producing facilities are often sited in poor communities of color. No one wants a factory, a landfill or a diesel bus garage for a neighbor. But corporate decision makers, regulatory agencies and local planning and zoning boards had learned that it was easier to site such facilities in low-income African-American or Latino communities than in primarily white, middle-to-upper-income communities. Poor communities and communities of color usually lacked connections to decision makers on zoning boards or city councils that could protect their interests. Often they could not afford to hire the technical and legal expertise they'd need to fight a siting. They often lacked access to information about how their new "neighbor's" pollution would affect people's health. And in the case of Latino communities, important information in English-only documents was out of reach for affected residents who spoke only Spanish (National Resources Defense Council, 2017).
The environmental justice movement brought to light the concept of environmental racism in which environmentally hazardous sites are located closer in proximity to low-income and racial minority communities than the general population. Several studies in the 1980s revealed race as a factor in the siting of hazardous waste facilities and toxics-producing facilities in primarily poor, African-American and Latino communities.
In 1987, the United Church of Christ commissioned a study (Toxic Wastes and Race in the United States) to study the correlation between hazardous waste facilities and racial groups in the United States. Two of the key research techniques used were: (a) statistical analysis of the correlation between race (and other socioeconomic factors) and the siting of hazardous waste facilities in the United States, and (b) a demographics-based description of the communities that contain “uncontrolled toxic waste sites,” which are closed or abandoned sites that may pose a health risk to surrounding communities (today known as brownfields).
The report found that race was by far the most significant variable for determining the location of hazardous waste facilities, and communities with the largest number of commercial hazardous waste facilities had very high levels of racial and ethnic minorities.
To begin addressing environmental justice issues, the Environmental Protection Agency established the Environmental Equity Workgroup in 1990, which produced the report Reducing Risk in All Communities that provided recommendations for addressing inequities that racial minority and low-income populations face in bearing a higher environmental risk burden than the general population. One recommendation included creating the Office of Environmental Equity (now the Office of Environmental Justice), which was established in 1992. In 1991, two foundational documents of the environmental justice movement, the Principles of Environmental Justice and the Call to Action, were produced at the First National People of Color Environmental Leadership Summit. The summit, which met in Washington, D.C., brought together environmental justice leaders from the United States and other nations for the first time and demonstrated that environmental justice issues were being recognized by the United States (CalRecycle, 2017).
In 1994 President Bill Clinton signed Executive Order 12898, directing federal agencies to develop environmental justice strategies that address human health and environmental impacts in minority and low-income communities. President Clinton identified Title VI of the Civil Rights Act as one of several federal laws that can help prevent minority and low-income communities from being disproportionately burdened by pollution. The Civil Rights Act of 1964, proposed by John F. Kennedy, was signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson to outlaw discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin, and is foundational federal legislation that can help address environmental justice issues (CalRecycle, 2017).
(Source: de.slideshare.net)
In 1999 California became the first state in the nation to put environmental justice considerations into law when Governor Gray Davis signed SB 115. It provided the procedural framework for environmental justice in California and directed CalEPA to conduct its programs, policies, and activities with consideration to environmental justice. Additional bills were later enacted developing a strategy for identifying and addressing gaps in existing programs, policies, or activities that may hinder the achievement of environmental justice in the state (CalRecycle, 2017).
Did these efforts solve this inequity? In 2007, the United Church of Christ commissioned a follow-up study to answer this question. The study was conducted by scholars at Clark Atlanta University, the University of Michigan, the University of Montana and Dillard University. A final report, Toxic Wastes and Race at Twenty, 1987-2007: Grassroots Struggles to Dismantle Environmental Racism in the United States, was produced. It found that disproportionately large numbers of people of color still live in hazardous waste host communities, and that they are not equally protected by environmental laws.
The study found that more than nine million people live in neighborhoods less than two miles from one of the nation’s 413 hazardous waste facilities, and that the proportion of people of color in these neighborhoods is almost twice that of the proportion of those living in other neighborhoods. Where facilities are clustered, people of color are 69 percent of residents.
Paul Mohai, professor of environmental justice at the University of Michigan's School of Natural Resources and Environment and a co-author of the report, described the results as dismaying:
You can see there has been a lot more attention to the issue of environmental justice but the progress has been very, very slow. Why? As important as all those efforts are, they haven't been well executed, and I don't know if the political will is there (Michigan News, 2007).
Click on the button to read about Naeema Muhammad
and the North Carolina Environmental Justice Network
Modern Environmental Laws
Prior to the passage of modern environmental laws, it was legal to dump wastes into the air; into streams, rivers and oceans; and to bury it underground or aboveground in landfills. No one agency had responsibility for monitoring the environment.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
The Environmental Protection Agency was created in 1970 to oversee efforts to protect and preserve the environment. When led by a supportive presidential administration, it has been an important force in environmental protection and an advocate for environmental justice. The EPA (www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice) defines environmental justice as the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income, with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies. The EPA has this goal for all communities and persons across this nation. It will be achieved when everyone enjoys:
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the same degree of protection from environmental and health hazards, and
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equal access to the decision-making process to have a healthy environment in which to live, learn, and work.
The 1972 Clean Water Act and the 1976 Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) created nationwide programs to regulate the handling and disposal of hazardous wastes. The RCRA governs the generation, transportation, treatment, storage, and disposal of hazardous waste. The 1976 Toxic Substances Control Act authorizes the EPA to collect information on all new and existing chemical substances, as well as to control any substances that were determined to cause unreasonable risk to public health or the environment. However, the disposal of toxic waste continues to be a source of conflict in the United States. Due to the hazards associated with toxic waste handling and disposal, communities often resist nearby siting of toxic waste landfills and other waste management facilities.
Superfund
In the 1970s prompted by major exposes of toxic waste dumps such as Love Canal and Valley of the Drums, studies reported thousands of contaminated sites existed around the country due to hazardous waste being dumped, left out in the open, or otherwise improperly managed, These sites included manufacturing facilities, processing plants, landfills, and mining sites. In response, Congress passed the
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA, but informally called the Superfund) in 1980.
Superfund allows the EPA to clean up contaminated sites and forces the parties responsible for the contamination to either perform cleanups or reimburse the government for EPA-led cleanup work.
When there is no viable responsible party, Superfund gives EPA the funds and authority to clean up contaminated sites.
The specific goals of Superfund (Environmental Protection Agency, 2017) are:
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Protect human health and the environment by cleaning up polluted sites
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Despite the name, the program has suffered from under-funding, and cleanups have moved at a slow pace. The EPA and state agencies use the Hazard Ranking System (HRS) to calculate a site score (ranging from 0 to 100) based on the actual or potential release of hazardous substances from a site. A score of 28.5 places a site on the National Priorities List, eligible for long-term remedial action (i.e., cleanup) under the Superfund program. As of August 2016, there were 1,328 sites listed; an additional 391 had been delisted, and 55 new sites have been proposed. The 2018 Trump Administration Superfund budget would cut the program by $330 million out of its nearly $1.1 billion budget, a 30% reduction to the Environmental Protection Agency program.
Meaningful involvement means:
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People have an opportunity to participate in decisions about activities that may affect their environment and/or health
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The public's contribution can influence the regulatory agency's decisions.
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Community concerns will be considered in the decision making process
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Decision makers will seek out and facilitate the involvement of those potentially affected
Navassa and the Superfund
In 2015, more than $10 million was allocated to clean up a hazardous waste site at the location of a former wood treatment plant in Navassa in northern Brunswick County. The money was part of a lawsuit that resulted in the largest environmental settlement in history.
The 292-acre tract was the site of a large plant that operated for nearly four decades treating wood with creosote, a common wood preservative made from a wide range of chemicals that, when combined, form a gummy substance applied to wood products such as railroad ties and telephone poles. The plant opened in Navassa in 1936 under the ownership of the Gulf States Creosoting Co. and was sold to Kerr-McGee Chemical Corporation in 1965. Kerr-McGee closed the plant in 1974, leaving behind extensive creosote contamination, a determination made in a 2005 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency-enforced study. The creosote and sludge left on the site entered the marshes adjacent to the Brunswick River and Sturgeon Creek, which flow into the Cape Fear River.
Since then, ongoing studies have been conducted on the site in the small town near Wilmington to determine remediation options and public health effects. Creosote has been classified as a probable carcinogen by the EPA, with studies showing an increased risk of cancer and respiratory problems in plant workers routinely exposed to the material. Soil samples turned up hazardous substances, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, a combination of chemicals that commonly enter the body through breathing contaminated air or by consuming contaminated water or food.
The Navassa site was added to the EPA’s list of Superfund sites in early 2010, about four years before a New York district court judge approved a $5.15 billion settlement between the U.S. Department of Justice and the Anadarko Petroleum Corporation. That amount was split between dozens of sites in more than 20 states. The Navassa project is also being driven by a bankruptcy settlement, in which a judge required Kerr-McGee’s successor companies to pay the state and federal governments $92.5 million to clean up the site and another $23 million to restore the damaged ecosystems. (The concentration of creosote in the marsh sediment was high enough to be toxic to animals living in the water, which caused spawning areas to move and affected the normal growth of fish.)
W. Russell Callender, acting assistant of NOAA stated, “Coastal wetlands like the areas impacted in North Carolina provide important environmental and economic services. Using these funds to restore habitat will benefit fisheries and wildlife and provide protection from storms, all of which will directly benefit the coastal communities and economies that depend upon them, while improving coastal resilience.” (The material on the Navassa site and Superfund drawn from Trista Talton, 2015).
While pleased with the cleanup of the site and the surrounding areas, many Navassa residents have expressed unhappiness that none of the funds are going to the people who were harmed by the toxic location. They point to the early mortality of many local residents and the continuing health problems being experienced.
Residents of Navassa greeted an anti-poverty group in 2012 with signs about the old Kerr-McGree site. Photo: Cash Michaels
Check out this excellent three-part article on the Navassa Superfund site:
(1) Mark Hibbs. July 12, 2016 "Navassa: A Century of Contamination."
Coastal Review Online. www.coastalreview.org/2016/07/15389/
(2) Mark Hibbs. July 13, 2016 "Navassa: From Guano to Creosote."
Coastal Review Online. www.coastalreview.org/2016/07/15413/
(3) Mark Hibbs. July 14, 2016 "Navassa: Cleaning Up a Century of Pollution."
Coastal Review Online. www.coastalreview.org/2016/07/15437/
What Can Be Done?
The starting points for doing something about environmental injustice are the same as with all of the environmental issues covered in this section of the website:
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Become more knowledgeable about this issue.
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Discuss this issue with others; learn from them and help them learn from you.
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Join forces with groups and organizations that are knowledgeable about environmental issues in general (BEAT!) and about this issue in particular. Organizations have greater access to scientific expertise, have larger budgets, have more contacts with the media, and have the force of combining many voices into one.
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Advocate for policies that show understanding and respect for natural processes and for all communities of people. Challenge policies and decisions that expect low-income communities and communities of people of color to always absorb the most dangerous health-harming substances.
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Advocate for government agencies and government leaders at all levels to conscientiously try to fulfill their responsibilities toward protection and conservation of the environment.
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Examine the values and political position on this issue of candidates running for political office. Federal support for a strong Environmental Protection Agency is very important. Support for a meaningful Department of Environmental Quality in North Carolina is very important. Support by North Carolina’s governor and state legislature for taking a scientific and just approach to consideration of environmental issues is absolutely critical. Look for candidates that emphasize the importance of environmental impact in making decisions about what to do or not do.
References
CalRecycle. 2017 “Environmental Justice.”
www.calrecycle.ca.gov/EnvJustice/History.htm
Commission for Racial Justice, United Church of Christ. 1987 Toxic Wastes and Race in the United States: A National Report on the Racial and Socio-Economic Characteristics of Communities with Hazardous Waste Sites. www.jcagatstein.wordpress.com/2011/10/21/toxic-wastes-and-race-united-church-of-christ-1987/
Environmental Protection Agency. 2017 "Environmental Justice."
www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice
Environmental Protection Agency. 2017 “What is Superfund?”
www.epa.gov/superfund/what-superfund
Mark Hibbs. July 12, 2016 "Navassa: A Century of Contamination." Coastal Review Online. www.coastalreview.org/2016/07/15389/
Mark Hibbs. July 13, 2016 "Navassa: From Guano to Creosote." Coastal Review Online. www.coastalreview.org/2016/07/15413/
Mark Hibbs. July 14, 2016 "Navassa: Cleaning Up a Century of Pollution." Coastal Review Online. www.coastalreview.org/2016/07/15437/
Michigan News. 2007 Toxic Waste and Race: Report Confirms No Progress Made in 20 years.
www.ns.umich.edu/new/releases/3253
G. Tyler Miller and Scott E. Spoolman. 2016 Environmental Science. Boston: Cengage Learning.
Natural Resources Defense Council. 2016 “Environmental Justice Movement.”
www.nrdc.org/stories/environmental-justice-movement
Renee Skeleton and Vernice Miller. 2016 “Environmental Justice Movement.”(Natural Resources Defense Council). www.nrdc.org/stories/environmental-justice-movement
Trista Talton. 2015 “Navassa Superfund Site Slated Cleanup.”
www.coastalreview.org/2015/02/navassa-superfund-site-slated-cleanup/
Wikipedia. 2017 “Toxic Waste.”
Read and See More on Environmental (In)Justice
Reeve Basom. 2017 "Race and Environmental Injustice."
www.serendip.brynmawr.edu/local/scisoc/environment/seniorsem03/finalenvironmental_racism.pdf
Slide show depicting the environmentally unjust way in which racial minorities are treated.
Environmental Protection Agency, Superfund Site: Kerr-McGee Chemical Corp, Navassa, NC. 2018
www.cumulis.epa.gov/supercpad/cursites/csitinfo.cfm?id=0403028
The federal government's website focusing on the former Kerr-McGee plant site in Navassa.
Joseph Erbentraut. “Here’s What We Lose If We Gut The EPA’s Environmental Justice Work.” 2017 www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/epa-environmental-justice-cuts_us_58c18d5ee4b054a0ea68ad0c)
Cutbacks in the Environmental Protection Agency by the Trump Administration.
Greenville Multistate Environmental Trust LLC. 2018 Navassa, North Carolina Site.
www.multi-trust.org/navassa-north-carolina
Excellent background information on Navassa site plus nice list of references.
Elizabeth Jones. 2016 "Drinking Water in California Schools: An Assessment of the Problems, Obstacles, and Possible Solutions." Stanford Environmental Law Journal, 251.
www.law.stanford.edu/publications/drinking-water-in-california-schools-an-assessment-of-the-problems-obstacles-and-possible-solutions-2/
Problems with poor quality drinking water in schools found for schools in low-income districts.
Jon Queally. 2014 "Common Dreams: Environmental Injustice: Minorities Face Nearly 40% More Exposure to Toxic Air Pollution.” (www.commondreams.org/news/2014/04/16/environmental-injustice-minorities-face-nearly-40-more-exposure-toxic-air-pollution)
Study shows that race and class are major indicators for levels of airborne poisons found in communities.
Town of Navassa. 2018 "What are Brownfields." www.townofnavassa.org/brown-field.html
Navassa's plans for remediation of the former Kerr-McGee plant site.
Trista Talton. 2018 "Navassa: Contamination at Various Levels." Coastal Review Online, January 25.
www.coastalreview.org/2018/01/navassa-contamination-various-levels/
Up-to-date reporting on testing at the Navassa Superfund site.
(Sample Scholarly article) Shea Diaz. 2016 “Getting to the Root of Environmental Injustice.” Georgetown Environmental Law Journal. www.gelr.org/2016/01/29/getting-to-the-root-of-environmental-injustice/
Scholarly article on the root causes of environmental injustice.
(Sample Scholarly Article) S. Wing, D. Cole, and G. Grant. 2000 "Environmental Injustice in North Carolina's Hog Industry. Environmental Health Perspectives 108:225-231.
Rapid growth and the concentration of hog production in North Carolina have raised concerns of a disproportionate impact of pollution and offensive odors on poor and nonwhite communities.
(Sample Scholarly Book) Luke Cole and Sheila Foster. 2001 From the Ground Up: Environmental Racism and the Rise of Environmental Justice Movement. New York: New York University Press.
Review of environmental racism and the development of the movement to combat it. Book is older, but excellent source for up till the time of its publication.
(Video) CNN: “Failing Flint: Who Knew What, and When?” www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTpsMyNezPQ
CNN summary of the environmental injustice that occurred in Flint, Michigan.
Sample of Scholarly Journals: | https://www.bcbeat.org/environmental-injustice |
Communities of color, hit “first and worst” by climate impacts, are also suffering the state’s highest rates of COVID-19 — driven by income inequality, inadequate access to healthcare and disproportionate exposure to pollution.
Washington, D.C. — A new issue brief from the office of Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey details how COVID-19 is disproportionately affecting communities of color in the state, a pattern that is “the predictable end point of decades of policy choices that incentivize economic, housing, and environmental injustice.” These communities also experience higher-than-average rates of asthma-related hospitalizations, particularly among children, and are the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. The brief is based in part on a new analysis conducted by the Boston University School of Public Health using data compiled by the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office, which found that communities of color are experiencing the highest rates of COVID-19 infection across 38 of the largest cities in Massachusetts.
“Longstanding injustices and inequities in our approach to environmental regulation have contributed to the fact that communities of color have been disparately impacted by this pandemic,” said AG Healey. “We need to work together to address the biases that this crisis exposes, including strengthening regulations, enforcing important environmental laws that fight pollution and protect public health, and advocating for a clean energy future.”
The brief notes that air pollution in Massachusetts, including particulate matter pollution (PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2), disproportionately impacts Black and Latinx communities, in part because of regulatory structures and siting processes that concentrate industrial facilities and highways in lower-income communities and communities of color. These disparities have worsened over time, even as air pollution levels have declined in the state overall. In addition, the brief highlights how lower-income communities and communities of color in Massachusetts and globally are and will continue to be hit “first and worst” by climate change impacts such as sea level rise, coastal flooding, strong storms and extreme heat.
“Attorney General Maura Healey is shining a light on the uncomfortable reality that the communities of color that have suffered from environmental injustice are more vulnerable to COVID-19 and climate change impacts,” said David J. Hayes, Executive Director of the State Energy & Environmental Impact Center. “Thankfully, AG Healey is helping to lead a national push among state attorneys general to address environmental injustice, accelerate the transition to a clean energy economy, and challenge the administration's rollbacks of key environmental and health protections.”
The brief includes recommendations to mitigate the disproportionate impacts of COVID-19 on communities of color in Massachusetts, remedy the legacy of environmental injustice and build climate resilience, including:
- Investing in clean energy and green jobs to promote economic recovery;
- Halting rollbacks of environmental regulations, fighting for strong air quality standards, and stepping up enforcement of existing laws;
- Strengthening requirements to ensure environmental justice communities are protected.
About the State Energy & Environmental Impact Center
The State Energy & Environmental Impact Center (State Impact Center) is a non-partisan Center at the NYU School of Law that is dedicated to helping state attorneys general fight against regulatory rollbacks and advocate for clean energy, climate change, and environmental values and protections. It was launched in August 2017 with support from Bloomberg Philanthropies.
For more information, visit our website. | https://www.law.nyu.edu/centers/state-impact/news-events/press-releases/covid-ej-ma-brief |
Crowded housing situations and education and income gaps among minority people are also contributory, and fewer minority people are in positions that afford the ability to take paid leave or to quarantine when ill. In addition to greater risk of hospitalization and death, there are also well-documented COVID-19 vaccine disparities among racial/ethnic groups. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, of the 106,155,623 people who have received at least 1 dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and for whom there are race/ethnicity data, only 9.3% are Black, 15.9% are Hispanic/Latino, and 0.3% are American Indian or Alaskan Native persons as compared with 59.2% of non-Hispanic White patients. In contrast, Black and Latinx people make up 13% and 18% of the US population, respectively. The reasons for these disparities include misinformation, challenges with outreach to the most vulnerable patients, and medical mistrust due to historical and intentional medical atrocities performed against Black persons, such as the Tuskegee experiments, the gynecologic experiments of J. Marion Sims, and countless other examples.
Education
Children likely lost a year of school, with more lost by students without access to summer enrichment, after-school activities, opportunity for personalized instruction, and staffing strategies that reduce class size. Schools provide access to educational, behavioral, and developmental support services, many of which were curtailed during the pandemic. Adequately funded schools also provide school nurses, introduction to the fine arts, and athletic opportunities.
Absenteeism, even with online learning, was reported to be high, particularly among children from lower-income neighborhoods. Teachers had no way of reliably checking on their students. Caregivers tried to assist their children, but many had to leave home for work. Caregivers with limited English proficiency were unable to help their children. Additionally, because inequities are passed down across generations, caregivers also likely experienced lack of resources for their own education, making it difficult to help their children.
The social and community context
The COVID-19 pandemic brought attention to persistent discrimination, racism, and violence directed at Black, Latinx, and Asian people and at immigrants. Redlining is a prime example of structural racism that disadvantages persons, families, and communities and persists over generations. It recently has attracted renewed attention during the pandemic. Redlining refers to the red color outlining areas of federal government maps of more than 200 metropolitan neighborhoods. These areas were considered too high-risk for mortgage lending. The consequence of redlining was that it flagged Black neighborhoods as too risky for the government to insure with mortgages. The effect still prevails in most US cities, with non-White areas having fewer resources: fewer parks and trees, fewer social services, and underresourced schools, all contributing to pandemic-related disparities. Redlining was a key factor in the development of the highly segregated, socioeconomically deprived neighborhoods that persist today, and these neighborhoods have features that may contribute to COVID disparities such as crowded housing and higher air pollution exposure.
Neighborhood and built environment
As the pandemic has unfolded, the importance of airborne transmission and the use of tools to clean the air, which use ventilation and filtration, has become clear. Ventilation is the process by which air in an indoor space is removed and replaced with cleaner air. Filtration is the process of removing contaminants, such as particles, from the air. Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems ventilate and filter the air. Opening windows and/or doors also provides ventilation and portable air cleaners (eg, high-efficiency particulate air purifiers) also provide filtration. Poor building conditions, such as those experienced by racial and ethnic minority populations, include inadequate ventilation and HVAC systems, which can contribute to increased COVID-19 risk. Poor ventilation has been documented in disadvantaged school districts while some wealthier schools have invested in upgrading buildings to optimize ventilation and filtration, furthering the inequity in school structures. There is less research on ventilation and filtration of low-income or subsidized housing, so whether poverty, race, and/or ethnicity increase the risk of living in a home with poor ventilation and filtration is less clear. Although there do not appear to be any studies examining the role of poor ventilation and/or filtration in homes and buildings in racial and ethnic disparities in COVID-19, it is plausible that subpar HVAC systems in schools or other indoor spaces could contribute to these disparities.
Long-term exposures may confer risk in that they increase the risk of comorbid conditions, such as cardiovascular disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which are risk factors for poor COVID-19 outcomes. Short-term exposure may directly act to increase susceptibility to infection or more severe disease by increasing susceptibility of the airways to infection with respiratory pathogens, including SARS-CoV-2. Given that racial and ethnic minority communities bear a higher burden of outdoor air pollution exposure, it is likely that air pollution exposure is a contributor to COVID-19 disparities. Although there are not yet published studies estimating the effect of inequities in air pollution exposure on COVID-19 disparities, there is strong circumstantial evidence that air pollution exposure may be an important contributor.
Economic stability
This profound economic hit and the other contributors to COVID-19 risk in the health care, educational, social context, and physical environment, layer on top of one another, resulting in a piling on of risk factors for COVID-19, so that these risk factors are concentrated among communities of color and thereby amplify COVID-19 disparities.
Conclusions
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Office of Minority Health & Health Equity, “the future health of the nation will be determined to a large extent by how effectively we work with communities to eliminate health disparities among those populations experiencing disproportionate burden of disease, disability, and death.” We need to address the social context, access to education, and health care; ensure a safe, unpolluted physical environment; and equalize opportunities for people of color and end discrimination. We must provide understandable information for those with limited English proficiency, ensure Internet access for all, and provide adequate instruction in use of information technology. We must support, equip, and maintain public resources such as libraries, community health centers, schools, and federally qualified health centers or community centers, where these skills can be taught and learners are safe.
As allergist-immunologists we have unique training that potentially allows us to explain the immunology and science of the disease and the medical interventions. We need to consider and explain to patients how the SDOHs also threaten health and must be addressed. These arguments will be strengthened by increasing the diversity and numbers of our work force and by actively working within our communities to improve the SDOHs. As allergists–clinical immunologists, we and American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology members have a moral imperative to lobby for the health and welfare of all patients and to help ensure that these needed changes become reality.
References
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Healthy People 2030 framework. Healthy People 2030. Washington, DC: US Department of Health and Human Services. Available at: https://health.gov/healthypeople/about/healthy-people-2030-framework. Accessed September 15, 2021.
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COVID-19 dashboard. Baltimore, Md: Johns Hopkins University of Medicine Coronavirus Resource Center. Available at: https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html. Accessed September 15, 2021.
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Coronavirus in the US: latest map and case count. Uupdated September 2021. New York, NY: New York Times. Available at: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/us/covid-cases.html. Accessed September 15, 2021.
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Community-level factors associated with racial and ethnic disparities in COVID-19 rates in Massachusetts.
Health Aff (Millwood). 2020; 39: 1984-1992
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COVID-19 data tracker. Atlanta, Ga: US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Available at: https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#vaccination-equity. Accessed July 20, 2021.
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How is covid-19 affecting student learning? Initial findings from fall 2020.
Brookings Institute,
Washington, DCDecember 3, 2020 ()
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COVID-19 and learning loss—disparities grow and students need help.
McKinsey & Company,
New York, NYDecember 8, 2020 ()
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Associations between built environment, neighborhood socioeconomic status, and SARS-CoV-2 infection among pregnant women in New York City.
JAMA. 2020; 324: 390-392
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Acute and chronic exposure to air pollution in relation with incidence, prevalence, severity and mortality of COVID-19: a rapid systematic review.
Environ Health. 2021; 20: 41
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The structural and social determinants of the racial/ethnic disparities in the U.S. COVID-19 pandemic. What’s our role?.
Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2020; 202: 943-949
Article Info
Publication History
Published online: September 23, 2021
Accepted:
September 18,
2021
Received in revised form:
September 16,
2021
Received:
July 26,
2021
Footnotes
Supported by the National Institutes of Health (grants K24AI114769, R01ES023447 , and R01ES026170 [to E.C.M.] and grants R01HL143364 and U01 HL138687 [to A.J.A.]).
Disclosure of potential conflict of interest: P. U. Ogbogu reports serving on advisory boards of AstraZeneca and GSK and receiving research funding from AstraZeneca. A. J. Apter reports serving as a consultant for UptoDate. The remaining author declares that she has no relevant conflicts of interest. | https://ppenewshubb.com/2021/11/25/covid-19-health-disparities-and-what-the-allergist-immunologist-can-do/ |
January 26, 2021
As leading public health, environmental health, patient advocacy, healthcare, nursing and medical organizations, we declare climate change a health emergency and call for immediate action to protect the public’s health from the current and future impacts of climate change. Our organizations agree that:
- The health impacts of climate change demand immediate action.
- The science is clear; communities across the nation are experiencing health impacts due to changing climate conditions, including:
- Increased levels of ozone and particulate air pollution that contribute to asthma attacks, cardiovascular disease and premature death;
- Extreme weather patterns, such as heat and severe storms, that cause injury, increase physical and mental illness, and reduce access to healthcare;
- Wildfires and dangerous smoke that spreads for thousands of miles, aggravating heart and lung conditions;
- Increased risk of exposure to vector-borne diseases due to lengthening of warm seasons and expanding geographic ranges for vectors like ticks, mosquitoes and other disease-carrying insects;
- Increased risk of exposure to waterborne pathogens and algal toxins that can cause a variety of foodborne and waterborne illnesses; and
- Longer and more intense allergy seasons.
- Every American's health is already at risk from climate change, but the burden is not shared equally. Children, seniors, pregnant women, low-income communities, communities of color, people with disabilities, people who work outdoors and people with chronic disease disproportionately bear the health impacts of climate change and air pollution. As a result of numerous current and legacy racist policies and practices, people of color are disproportionately more likely to have multiple pre-existing health conditions, to face social disadvantages and environmental risks that make them more vulnerable to climate change.
- The economic and social systems that fuel climate change have also contributed to the health inequities that COVID-19 has exacerbated, revealing those systems’ inherent vulnerability. Relatedly, long-term air pollution exposure is linked to worse COVID-19 outcomes, including higher death rates.
- Addressing COVID-19 presents opportunities to simultaneously address climate change and advance public health by strengthening public health and health care infrastructure and reducing dangerous air pollution. It is imperative that efforts to build up our public health and health care infrastructure in the wake of COVID-19 incorporate climate action and climate justice, to avoid recreating the same vulnerabilities that have been laid bare by the pandemic.
Urgent action is needed to protect health from climate change and reduce air pollution at the same time. We urgently call for policies that:
- Adopt science-based targets to prevent climate warming above 1.5 C;
- Maximize benefits to health by reducing carbon and methane pollution while also reducing other dangerous emissions from polluting sources;
- Promote health equity by ensuring that pollution is cleaned up in all communities, prioritizing the elimination of polluting sources in communities that have historically borne a disproportionate burden from air, water and soil pollution; and
- Leave the Clean Air Act fully in place. Any policy to address climate change must not weaken or delay the Clean Air Act or the authority that it gives EPA to reduce carbon emissions.
Priority policies to drive equitable climate action and pollution cleanup include:
- Stronger, science-based National Ambient Air Quality Standards for ozone and particulate matter;
- Measures to transition to affordable cleaner and zero-emission cars, SUVs, light trucks and heavy-duty vehicles and fleets. This includes installation of publicly accessible vehicle-charging infrastructure in urban and rural areas, as well as for multi-unit housing;
- Measures to secure dramatic reductions in carbon emissions from power plants, including rapid phaseout of power plants that burn fossil fuels, biomass, and waste-for-energy.
- Strong limits on methane pollution from new and existing oil and gas operations, and on other short-lived climate pollutants including hydrofluorocarbons and anthropogenic black carbon; and
- Incentives and investments to make clean, non-combustion renewable energy accessible to all, including low-income residents and multi-unit housing.
Communities must also have the tools and resources to identify, prepare for and adapt to the unique health impacts of climate change in their communities.
- Public health, health care and environmental health systems must have adequate resources to protect communities by identifying, preparing for and responding to the health impacts of climate change and other public health emergencies, paying specific attention to the needs of vulnerable groups.
- Community leaders must be able to adequately protect those whose health is most at risk, and provide access to uninterrupted, quality healthcare during and after disasters. This requires coordinated action at the federal, state, and local levels.
- Opportunities that arise in the transition to a clean energy economy must uplift all communities, including those previously dependent on fossil fuel infrastructure and those affected by historical disinvestment.
- Community-based organizations in low-income communities and communities of color need investments to enable them to engage the most climate-vulnerable people in making local, state and regional climate mitigation and adaptation plans more equitable and effective in preserving health and life, as well as increasing climate resilience.
We call on President Biden, members of the Administration, and members of Congress to heed the clear scientific evidence and take steps now to dramatically reduce pollution that drives climate change and harms health. | https://www.lung.org/policy-advocacy/healthy-air-campaign/healthy-air-resources/a-declaration-on-climate-change-and-health?referrer=https://www.google.com/ |
This post is a part of a series on COVID-19 and the Coronavirus Pandemic
Why hasn’t the CDC acknowledged that African Americans are at higher risk for severe COVID-19 illness and death and why isn’t that reflected in its updated COVID-19 Guidelines? It is no secret that simply being African American in the United States is bad for one’s health. Early data also suggest that you’re more likely to die if you get COVID-19—and you’re African American. The CDC has a responsibility to speak to what the emerging data say about the health of African American communities. Help is needed NOW.
As COVID-19 has claimed lives in cities across the U.S., a disproportionate number of those lives continue to be African American. As of April 28, there were 981,246 reported COVID-19 cases in the U.S. and 55,258 deaths. However, data on race was only present for 43.2 percent of the total number of cases. There was no racial data for 56.8 percent of the people who tested positive for COVID-19. Currently, about 35 states are capturing and reporting racial data. That data shows that although African Americans make up only about 13 percent of the population in the United States, they account for more than twice as many deaths from the virus as compared with Whites, Latinos and Asians.
The Issue: COVID-19 and African Americans
The CDC updated its COVID-19 website in the last week. The CDC has compiled a list of People Who Are at Higher Risk for Severe Illness from COVID-19. I was surprised to discover that the list does not include African Americans as part of the ‘at higher risk’ group, although numerous data has shown that this racial group has been observed to have more COVID-19 cases and more deaths than other racial groups. It is extremely concerning that the CDC did not do so. Instead of using the data from more than half of U.S. States to raise the concern that there is a particular at-risk population, the CDC chose to include ‘minorities and people of color’ in a category titled Other Populations related to COVID-19 exposure. This is particularly concerning because listing in the ‘at higher risk’ category recognizes that this is a major concern for African Americans and should be a public health focus. Listing African Americans in the ‘minorities and people of color’ does not signify that same importance.
So, what will it take for the CDC to acknowledge that African Americans are at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19, not because of genetic variations, but because of structural vulnerabilities within our society, particularly exposure to pollution? In a previous blog, I compared some of the characteristics of ‘higher risk’ groups to adverse health effects affecting African American communities. In that blog, I pointed out that African Americans are three times more likely to die from asthma than White Americans, and that increases to 10 times for African American children. African Americans also have the highest rate of deaths from heart disease. African American women and low-income women have an increased risk of premature births and infant deaths compared with their white counterparts, and premature babies have a greater incidence of chronic health issues, including lung and breathing problems. These are all identified as risk factors in the CDC guidelines.
But maybe the correlation between adverse health conditions in the African American population, where people are disproportionately exposed to environmental hazards, and data from more than half of the country showing that African Americans make up the majority of the population with COVID-19 – and are more likely to die from it – is not enough proof for the CDC to warrant an ‘upgrade’ from ‘take extra precautions’ to ‘are at high risk.’ Well, there is more.
A recent analysis by the Kaiser Family Foundation indicated that, as of April 15, 32 states, and the District of Columbia, reported data showing that the virus IS disproportionately affecting communities of color. As of April 27th, that number increased to 39 states and the District of Columbia.
Last week, in an April 24 article published in The Guardian, scientists from Italy released a preliminary, though not yet peer-reviewed, study that examined whether the virus responsible for COVID-19 was present on particulate matter, specifically PM10. As the authors pointed out, this study is the first preliminary evidence that COVID-19 can be present on outdoor particulate matter, although they caution that no assumptions can be made between the presence of the virus on particulate matter and COVID-19 outbreak progression.
In a similar study in Beijing, China, published in the Journal of Infection, the researchers found a common link between the countries with the highest number of COVID-19 infections (China and Italy), topography and very high levels of air pollutants, which suggests a potential correlation between the distribution of severe COVID-19 outbreaks and the pollutants resulting from a combination of specific climate change conditions, local pollution emissions and geography.
Dr. Gretchen Goldman, research director at UCS, interviewed one of the authors of an important Harvard Study, Dr. Francesca Dominici. That study was important as it found that a small increase in long-term exposure to PM2.5 leads to a large increase in the COVID-19 death rate. In addition, the authors specifically noted the importance of continuing to enforce existing air pollution regulations to protect human health both during and after the COVID-19 crisis.
In my interview blog with Dr. Sacoby Wilson, we discussed the possible relationship between the air pollution exposure and increased risks for those contracting the virus. Dr. Wilson, an environmental health scientist who works with environmental justice communities, explained how air pollution attacks your respiratory system, decreasing lung capacity and causing lung scarring, among other impacts.
Even in the face of this widely known data, some preliminary and some peer-reviewed, the CDC is not following the Precautionary Principle. It seems that the CDC does not consider that it should take a much closer look at what is happening in the African American community related to their disproportionate rates of COVID-19 illness and death.
This is a concern when signs point to a growing mistrust of the CDC by the public generally, due in large part to their reported mishandling, retractions and corrections regarding COVID-19. As former acting CDC Director Richard Besser stated, “Trust is the critical factor. You develop trust by being transparent, by explaining on a daily basis what you do know, don’t know and what you are doing to get more information.”
In the World Health Organization’s (WHO) report on the Precautionary Principle, the definition states that “in the face of uncertain but suggestive evidence of adverse environmental or human health effects, regulatory action should prevent harm from environmental hazards, particularly for vulnerable populations.”
The recognition by the CDC that African Americans are at increased risk–mostly because of their proximity to polluting facilities and exposure to air pollution–is important in creating impetus for public policy around testing and prevention as well as in planning how to prioritize treatment protocols.
That is why a number of groups, including black scientists, elected officials, and other leaders have spoken out about disproportionate impacts of public health threats on black communities, predicting that the same would be true for coronavirus without good data and an appropriate response.
Under the leadership of Rep. Ayanna Pressley and Sen. Elizabeth Warren, congressional Democrats sent a letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar, calling for the Department of Health and Human Services to monitor and address racial disparities in testing, treatment, and other actions relating to COVID-19.
The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law and hundreds of doctors joined a group of Democratic lawmakers in a letter demanding that the federal government release daily race and ethnicity data on coronavirus testing, patients, and their health outcomes.
According to these individuals, data on racial disparities in testing are needed to ensure that African Americans and other people of color have equal access to health care. Just as important, these data are invaluable in helping to develop a public health strategy to protect those who are more vulnerable.
As Rep. Pressley pointed out, “ Without demographic data, policy makers and researchers will have no way to identify and address ongoing disparities and health inequities that risk accelerating the impact of the novel coronavirus and the respiratory disease it causes.”
In the words of Jeffery Flier, former Harvard Medical School Dean, “everyone has a hunger for what’s going on. If you aren’t going to trust the CDC, FDA [Food and Drug Administration], or the president—and in many cases you shouldn’t—you are kind of in a bind.”
What Makes African Americans Communities More at Risk? Racism and Economic Oppression
African Americans are at higher risk because of structural practices. In the United States, communities of color, particularly African Americans, have been forced to live within certain boundaries, both real and imaginary. Policies and systems have existed that were designed to protect white privilege at the expense of communities of color, including actions where local, state and federal policy mandated segregation.
Redlining, a common practice that began in the 1930’s, occurred with federal banks refusing to insure mortgages in and near African American communities. Neighborhoods in almost 240 cities across the country were mapped and color-coded, based on desirability for residential use, racial and ethnic demographics and home prices, as well as existing amenities. They were either green for “best,” blue for “still desirable,” yellow for “definitely declining” and red for “hazardous.”
Air Pollution
The practice continued with Expulsive Zoning – where facilities that polluted the environment were intentionally sited in or near areas inhabited by people of color, guided by the NIMBY–Not In My Back Yard–stance held by those living in more desirable areas in suburbia, where the educational system was better, as was access to healthy foods and greater wealth.
Disease-causing air pollution remains high in pockets of America — particularly where many low-income and African-American people live. See my colleague Maria Cecilia Pinto de Moura’s blog. Recent studies have shown that air pollution levels and income levels are linked. Poorer communities suffer from bad air more than wealthy communities. Air pollution is still about environmental justice as minority communities often bear the burden of “hosting” pollution.
People living near hazardous facilities experience adverse health effects from exposures, including respiratory effects, like asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, increased cardiac disease and others. These are the communities breathing air that is almost two times as contaminated as that of white communities.
Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) air pollution exposure is the largest environmental health risk factor in the United States and high concentrations of particulate matter is associated with adverse health outcomes. PM10 is particulate matter 10 micrometers or less in diameter. PM2.5 is 2.5 micrometers or less in diameter and is generally described as fine particles. For example, human hair is about 100 micrometers, so around 40 fine particles could be placed on it, while only 10 particles the size of PM10 could be.
We have had unequivocal evidence for years that simply being black in the United States is bad for one’s health. Those same adverse health conditions are now making African Americans more at risk for COVID-19’s worst health outcomes. Our countries’ leading health agencies need to call it like it is – African Americans are at a higher risk. It is incumbent on the Department of Health and Human Services, particularly the CDC, to step up and fearlessly name this very real and very lethal relationship and call for a national response.
Posted in: Science and Democracy
Tags: African Americans, CDC, COVID-19, COVID-19 and the Coronavirus Pandemic, COVID-Climate Collision
Support from UCS members make work like this possible. Will you join us? Help UCS advance independent science for a healthy environment and a safer world. | https://blog.ucsusa.org/adrienne-hollis/the-crisis-within-the-crisis-covid-19-is-ravaging-african-americans |
Poor, minority communities bear the brunt of pollution. That has to stop. (opinion)
Sen. Tom Carper represents Delaware, Sen. Tammy Duckworth represents Illinois, and Sen. Cory Booker represents New Jersey. All three are Democrats and members of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.
As a series of trucks headed toward Warren County, North Carolina, a crowd of residents gathered together to lay down in the middle of the road. It was September 1982, and as they got down onto the ground, a movement rose up.
The residents were protesting North Carolina’s decision to dump 6,000 truckloads of toxic soil into their poor, predominantly African-American community. They cried foul after officials brushed aside concerns that the toxic chemicals could bleed into their drinking water and poison their families.
The state’s decision was part of a larger, nationwide pattern that was just emerging. Time and time again, the government was putting lower-income neighborhoods and communities of color at greater risk of being exposed to environmental and health hazards.
So, people came together in Warren County. They marched. They spoke out. They blocked the trucks’ path.
Environmental justice in Delaware: Advocates say state is ignoring thousands of vulnerable residents breathing pollution
They got arrested by the hundreds — peacefully but relentlessly fighting back against this latest outrageous instance of environmental racism. Eventually, the government had its way, and the soil was dumped from the trucks into the town.
But those protests sparked something larger. They ignited a movement to recognize every person’s right to a safe, healthy and livable environment and helped launch a new chapter in the fight for civil rights. A chapter that found early roots on the South Side of Chicago and Newark’s Iron Bound section, led by heroes like Hazel Johnson and Nancy Vak, who recognized the urgent need for environmental justice.
A chapter that’s still being written today.
Housing segregation: Disparities cut short black Americans' lives
Thirty-seven years after the events in Warren County, five decades after President Lyndon B. Johnson announced his War on Poverty and more than half-century after the Civil Rights Act became law, low-income communities, indigenous communities and communities of color are still suffering from environmental disasters at an alarming rate, while too many in power either profit from this pain or simply look the other way.
Of course, one of the more recent, brazen examples took place in Flint, Michigan. There, the city’s attempt to save a few dollars set off a chain of events that poisoned more than 6,000 kids in 18 months, as elected officials covered their eyes to the crisis at hand.
But while Flint was a tragedy, it was not an anomaly.
There are thousands of communities in the United States with lead poisoning rates at least double those in Flint during the peak of their contamination crisis. To this day, the Trump Administration is sitting idly by as countless more vulnerable Americans are exposed to pollutants whenever they take a breath of air or a sip from their school’s water fountain.
There’s something wrong when black kids on the South and West Sides of Chicago are eight times more likely to die from asthma than white children, as industrial fumes from chemical plants nearby fill their lungs while they play at recess.
There’s something wrong when parents in Newark, New Jersey are warned that their toddlers risk brain damage if they drink unfiltered tap water, or when the number one cause of absenteeism in school is asthma brought on by exposure to diesel emissions and air pollution.
There’s something wrong when a light rain in Wilmington, Delaware inundates the streets of Southbridge with flooding, putting the health and safety of predominately African-American and working-class residents at risk.
There’s something wrong when families are still living, still dying, in a stretch of Louisiana nicknamed “Cancer Alley,” where 76-year-old women become activists as they watch their great-grandchildren struggle to breathe in and out.
Enough.
Every American deserves access to clean air and water. No matter their zip code, the color of their skin or the size of their income. This isn’t “just” an environmental issue. It’s a matter of health and safety. It’s a matter of systemic racism, and of discrimination against those in poorer neighborhoods.
It’s a matter of justice.
That’s why, on Earth Day, we officially launched the Senate’s first-ever Environmental Justice Caucus. We refuse to stay quiet as the Trump Administration ignores these crises or as Donald Trump’s EPA hems and haws, then avoids taking proper regulatory action, choosing corporate polluters over American lives time and time again.
We’re going to use this caucus to speak out, and to speak out loudly, for communities that for far too long have been disproportionately impacted by polluting industries.
It’s been more than three decades since research showed that a community’s racial breakdown was the number one predictor of waste facilities locations. Yet disasters in environmental justice communities still don't get the same attention and assistance as those that take place in wealthier, whiter neighborhoods.
This is unconscionable, unfair and un-American. Every day that those in power refuse to act, they become more complicit in the deaths and diagnoses that are decimating our communities.
With this caucus, we’re hoping to continue the movement that those Warren County residents helped usher in as they lay down in their streets—doing everything we can to end these interwoven crises of health, safety and justice.
One bill passed, one water fountain tested, one child saved at a time. | https://www.delawareonline.com/story/opinion/contributors/2019/05/16/poor-minority-communities-shouldnt-bear-brunt-pollution-opinion/3677864002/ |
Excerpt from the Washington Post 7/18/19
A coalition of more than 70 environmental and other progressive groups are publishing Thursday the outlines of what they want the next Democratic administration to do about climate change.
The broadly worded, 10-page document, called the “Equitable and Just National Climate Platform,” views with skepticism the sort of cap-and-trade schemes once pushed by congressional Democrats a decade ago and demands that any new climate policy address the disproportionate burden low-income and minority neighborhoods face when it comes to air and water pollution.
The platform is being released as Democratic presidential candidates are forming and beginning to present to voters their own ideas about how to address climate change.
“It’s actually a pretty historic platform,” said Cecilia Martinez, co-founder and executive director of the Minneapolis-based Center for Earth, Energy and Democracy who began last year spearheading the effort with CAP unite the two factions. “The major national organizations and environmental-justice groups have actually agreed to the essential policy points that have to be included and a national climate agenda.”
At the moment, the platform is more a statement of values than a list of specific policy proposals, one that in several ways echoes the economic and racial messages of the nonbinding Green New Deal resolution pushed by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.). The proposal doesn’t use that term, however.
The climate platform states that proposals aimed at reducing overall greenhouse-gas emissions in the United States should not unduly burden poor and minority communities with higher energy bills or more local pollution. It calls for any economic transition to cleaner forms of energy production to “create high-quality jobs with family-sustaining wages” and places special emphasis on improving drinking-water infrastructure in the wake of the contamination crisis in Flint, Mich.
And it states that to limit global warming to under 1.5 degrees Celsius over preindustrial levels, the United States “must firmly be on this path by 2030.”
“This agenda should be centered on innovative and equitable solutions with racial and economic justice as core goals and match the scale and urgency of the challenges we face,” the platform reads.
The roughly six dozen organizations also acknowledge what they see as the shortcomings of “market-based policies” pushed previously by Democrats. The platform calls for lawmakers to ensure any policy aimed at cutting nationwide greenhouse-gas emissions also reduces — rather than concentrates — pollution in non-white areas.
Such a concentration of pollution in communities of color was a concern when House Democrats rallied around an ultimately unsuccessful cap-and-trade bill during Obama’s first year in office. Under such a plan, regulators would have set up a market in which companies bought and sold credits permitting them to release carbon into the atmosphere.
At the time, Peggy Shepard, co-founder and executive director of the Harlem-based WE ACT for Environmental Justice, and others in the environmental-justice community worried such a mechanism would concentrate sources of pollution in the places it was cheapest to pollute — theirs.
“I think sometimes the climate movement loses sight about just regular environmental quality,” Shepard said.
In the past, larger environmental groups weathered criticism from environmental-justice organizations that the broader green movement is too white and too male — and that lack of racial diversity within their ranks has led them to pursue policies that sometimes overlook communities of color.
“People want to see people from their community who know about these issues and are telling them it’s important — not just a white person from a green group,” Shepard said.
Sara Chieffo, the vice president for government affairs at the League of Conservation Voters, expects Democrats on Capitol Hill to take notice of the platform. “We’re optimistic about the reception in Congress, where environmental justice caucuses now exist in both chambers and where there is growing momentum for action on climate change,” she said.
To that end, the coalition has taken out newspaper ads in Politico and the Detroit Free Press on Thursday.
Similarly on the campaign trail, 2020 Democratic contenders are incorporating language into their climate plans acknowledging how racial minorities tend to face disproportionately higher air and water pollution.
In his climate platform, former vice president Joe Biden wrote the nation “cannot turn a blind eye to the way in which environmental burdens and benefits have been and will continue to be distributed unevenly along racial and socioeconomic lines.” And former Texas congressman Beto O’Rourke noted race is “the number one indicator for where toxic and polluting facilities are today.”
This platform lays out a bold national climate policy agenda that advances the
goals of economic, racial, climate, and environmental justice. The platform identifies
areas where the undersigned environmental justice (EJ) and national groups
are aligned on desired outcomes for the national climate policy agenda. The
platform also lays the foundation for our organizations to vastly improve the way
we work together to advance ambitious and equitable national climate policies
and to work through remaining differences.
The vision for an inclusive
and just climate agenda
The United States needs bold new leadership that will prioritize tackling the
nation’s pressing environmental and social problems. To do this, our country
needs leadership that is committed to implementing an ambitious national EJ
and climate policy agenda. This agenda should be centered on innovative and
equitable solutions with racial and economic justice as core goals and match the
scale and urgency of the challenges we face. We must put our nation on an ambitious
emissions reduction path in order to contribute equitably to global efforts
to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. To be successful, we must firmly be
on this path by 2030. This agenda must seize the opportunity and imperative to
rebuild and rebalance the economy so that it works for all people.
In order to achieve these goals, we must mobilize all of our assets—communities,
all levels of government, science and research, and businesses and industry—
toward the development of just, equitable, and sustainable long-term comprehensive
solutions. We must challenge ourselves to advance solutions in ways
that meaningfully involve and value the voices and positions of EJ frontline and
fenceline communities. To do this, bold new leadership must develop inclusive
strategies that acknowledge and repair the legacy of environmental harms on
communities inflicted by fossil fuel and other industrial pollution. Our vision is
that all people and all communities have the right to breathe clean air, live free of
dangerous levels of toxic pollution, access healthy food, and share the benefits of
a prosperous and vibrant clean economy.
2 EQUITABLE AND JUST NATIONAL CLIMATE PLATFORM
By building a just, inclusive, and climate-sustainable economy, this agenda will
create millions of high-quality, safe, and family-sustaining jobs while improving the
health, physical environment, prosperity, and well-being of all U.S. communities.
This agenda will drive big and sustained government and private investments to
curb carbon and toxic pollution; create diverse and inclusive economic opportunities;
and address the legacy pollution that has burdened tribal communities, communities
of color, and low-income communities. This agenda will also ensure that
the transition to a clean economy does not negatively affect community livelihoods.
We understand that the problem of climate change is the result of decades
of operations of a carbon-based economy, including highly energy-intensive
buildings as well as industrial and transportation infrastructure. Because of the
continued delay to act at the scale needed to curb carbon pollution, the risks to
communities at home and around the globe are increasing at unprecedented levels,
including more intense heat waves, more powerful storms and floods, more
deadly wildfires, and more devastating droughts. To achieve our goals, we will
need to overcome past failures that have led us to the crisis conditions we face
today. These past failures include the perpetuation of systemic inequalities that
have left communities of color, tribal communities, and low-income communities
exposed to the highest levels of toxic pollution and the most burdened and
affected by climate change. The defining environmental crisis of our time now
demands an urgency to act. Yet this urgency must not displace or abandon the
fundamental principles of democracy and justice.
To effectively address climate change, the national climate policy agenda must
drive actions that result in real benefits at the local and community level, including
pollution reduction, affordable and quality housing, good jobs, sustainable livelihoods,
and community infrastructure. This will require a realignment of public
dollars at all levels toward policy structures that rely heavily on holistic nonmarket-
based regulatory mechanisms that explicitly account for local impacts.1 We
understand that progress will be needed on multiple fronts and require the use of a
combination of policy tools. We favor policy tools that help achieve both local and
national emissions reductions of carbon and other forms of pollution. The shift to a
non-greenhouse gas future will require substantial new forms of capital investment
by both the public and private sectors to build a new national infrastructure as well
as democratic community participation to help set infrastructure investment priorities.
Unless justice and equity are central components of our climate agenda, the
inequality of the carbon-based economy will be replicated in the new economy.
We understand that there are EJ concerns about carbon trading and other
market-based policies. These concerns include the fact that these policies do not
guarantee emissions reduction in EJ communities and can even allow increased
emissions in communities that are already disproportionately burdened with
pollution and substandard infrastructure. In order to ensure climate solutions are
equitable, support for climate research that assesses how policies affect overburdened
and vulnerable communities is essential.
3 EQUITABLE AND JUST NATIONAL CLIMATE PLATFORM
An equitable and just
national climate agenda
To effectively build an inclusive, just, and clean-energy economy, the national
climate agenda must achieve the following:
NO COMMUNITY LEFT BEHIND
All communities have a right to live free from exposure to dangerous toxic pollution
in their soil as well as in the air they breathe, the food they eat, and the water
they drink. Yet persistent racial and economic inequalities—and the forces that
cause them—embedded throughout our society have concentrated toxic polluters
near and within communities of color, tribal communities, and low-income
communities. These underlying social forces, including persistent and systematic
racial discrimination and economic inequality, have created disproportionately
high environmental and public health risks in these areas relative to wealthier
white neighborhoods. The national climate policy agenda must address this
environmental injustice head-on by prioritizing climate solutions and other policies
that also reduce pollution in these legacy communities at the scale needed to
significantly improve their public health and quality of life. The agenda must also
build the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to fulfill its mission to protect
the nation’s health and the environment by developing and enforcing effective
regulations for all communities.
A HEALTHY CLIMATE AND AIR QUALITY
The devastating and costly consequences of climate change threaten the health,
safety, and livelihoods of people across the country. Generations of economic and
social injustice have put communities on the frontlines of climate change effects.
The national climate policy agenda must have as its foundation policies that
reduce greenhouse gas emissions and locally harmful air pollution at the ambitious
scale and speed needed to avoid the worst and most costly health impacts,
especially for the most vulnerable communities and communities coping with
the legacy pollution from the present economy. This includes reducing emissions
in low-income areas and communities of color—EJ communities—through a
suite of policies, including climate mitigation policy. The agenda must mobilize
vast new resources to reduce carbon pollution, curb locally harmful pollution,
and build resilience to improve the health, safety, and livability of all communities
in a climate-changed world.
REDUCTION IN CUMULATIVE IMPACTS
History shows that environmental regulation does not necessarily mean
healthy environments for all communities. Many communities suffer from
the cumulative effects of multiple pollution sources. A national climate policy
agenda that addresses climate pollution must not abandon or diminish the
important goal of reducing toxic pollution in all its forms. Climate solutions
4 EQUITABLE AND JUST NATIONAL CLIMATE PLATFORM
must be part of a comprehensive approach to reducing legacy environmental
and economic impacts on communities and be designed intentionally to ensure
that they do not impose further risks. Strategies to address climate change
must not disproportionately benefit some communities while imposing costs
on others. In fact, the national climate policy agenda should be used to reduce
the disproportionate amount of pollution that is often found in EJ communities
and that is associated with cumulative impacts, public health risks, and other
persistent challenges.
AN INCLUSIVE, JUST, AND POLLUTION-FREE
ENERGY ECONOMY
The shift to a sustainable, just, and equitable energy future requires innovative
forms of investment and governance that distribute the benefits of this transition
equitably and justly. This includes investing in the development of innovative
decentralized models of energy provision; community governance and ownership;
incorporation of social and health benefits into energy systems planning;
incentivizing the inclusion of equity into future energy investment through
public programs; and supporting public and private research and development to
include equity considerations in new technology development.
The national climate policy agenda must drive a rapid shift toward a pollutionfree,
inclusive, and just economy as well as create high-quality jobs with familysustaining
wages and safe and healthy working conditions. Breaking down the
barriers that produce unemployment and underemployment must be a priority.
Workers must be treated fairly and supported through investments in workforce
and job training programs, especially in communities with disproportionately
high underemployed and unemployed populations and in communities that have
been historically reliant on fossil fuel extraction and energy production.
ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE ENERGY
The national climate policy agenda must significantly reduce domestic energy
vulnerability and poverty by addressing the problem of high energy cost burdens.
To live and prosper in today’s society, access to affordable, reliable, and sustainable
energy is a basic need in daily life and fundamental to achieving rights
related to health, environmental quality, education, and food and income security.
Given the disparities in the housing stock and infrastructure across communities,
it is imperative that future energy systems provide affordable energy access
that ensures a healthy standard of living that provides for the basic needs of children
and families. The nation needs bold new leadership that will ensure access
to sustainable energy, including by supporting investments in cooperative and
nonprofit energy organizations; community and stakeholder engagement and
participation in energy planning; public-private partnerships; and renewable and
energy efficiency demonstration projects in our most vulnerable communities.
5 EQUITABLE AND JUST NATIONAL CLIMATE PLATFORM
A HEALTHY TRANSPORTATION
AND GOODS MOVEMENT SYSTEM
As a major contributor to climate and air pollution, we must build the next
century’s transportation system to ensure healthy air quality for all communities.
This will require massive investment in affordable, reliable, and environmentally
sustainable transportation. As with other sectors, the transportation system has a
direct effect on economic and social opportunities. Public resources and planning
decisions affect patterns of urban development and the structure of local economies,
including where jobs and employment are located. The transportation sector
is also responsible for providing accessibility to basic human needs. Therefore,
transportation planning must ensure affordable transportation that provides for
community members’ mobility and access to daily activities and services, including
jobs, education, health care, affordable housing, and social networks.
Clean and affordable energy and transportation through an increased and appropriate
level of new federal investment in zero-emissions transportation options
for all community members in both rural and urban areas must be a priority.
This includes programs to scale up investment in public transit; zero-emissions
transit buses, diesel trucks, and school buses; and accessible and affordable adoption
of electric cars. We also need smart planning that will make our communities
safe for pedestrian and bicycle travel.
The goods movement system that distributes raw materials and consumer products
currently relies on diesel engines that produce emissions that have significant
health and environmental effects on workers and members of surrounding
communities. A national climate policy agenda must reduce pollution by advancing
a zero-emissions goods movement transportation system to protect the health
of workers as well as fenceline and frontline communities and ensure that they
benefit from new clean transportation technology development.
SAFE, HEALTHY COMMUNITIES AND INFRASTRUCTURE
Climate change exacerbates existing vulnerabilities and creates new risks in our
communities. As a result, climate change presents historic challenges to human
health and our quality of life. Communities across the country need a national
climate policy agenda that will mobilize the massive investments necessary to
prepare for climate change impacts. Climate solutions provide opportunities for
localized benefits that enhance the quality of life for all communities, including
by improving local air quality, access to healthy food, local economic development,
public health, and community vitality.
We need to build housing and infrastructure that can withstand more powerful
storms, floods, heat waves, cold snaps, and wildfires; reduce carbon and air
pollution in areas with high cumulative pollution; build a more sustainable food
and agricultural system; and expand access to family-sustaining jobs and other
6 EQUITABLE AND JUST NATIONAL CLIMATE PLATFORM
economic opportunities. As climate change deteriorates air quality, increases
vector-borne disease and allergens, and contributes to a host of other public
health threats, we must ensure full access to health care for all. The national
climate policy agenda must prioritize investments in communities that are the
most vulnerable to climate change, including in health monitoring and research
to provide rigorous and reliable research on our progress.
ECONOMIC DIVERSITY AND COMMUNITY
WEALTH BUILDING
A national climate policy agenda must acknowledge the continuing increase
in wealth and income inequality that plagues our communities. This growing
wealth gap makes inclusive local economic development a priority for communities
and governments. Economic diversification is critical to effectively address
climate change and reduce economic and social vulnerability. We must create and
support strategies that shift away from high pollution products and production
processes toward those that are low-emission and sustainable. This also includes
investments in innovative and worker-supported economic organizations such as
cooperatives and other community wealth-building strategies.
ANTI-DISPLACEMENT, RELOCATION,
AND THE RIGHT TO RETURN
A national climate policy agenda must ensure that sustainable investments for
both mitigation and adaptation do not impose costs—both social and otherwise—
on overburdened and vulnerable communities. Therefore, it is essential that we
as a nation invest resources to eliminate barriers to and provide affordable and
safe housing for all community members. It is imperative that new investments in
resilient infrastructure in communities that have been historically disinvested be a
national priority.
Climate-related events are already having severe and often devastating effects on
communities, including requiring people to evacuate and relocate out of harm’s
way. These types of events are expected to become even more intense and damaging
in the future. Leaders at all levels of government must recognize their duty
and responsibility to support displaced families to return to their communities
or to relocate to places of their choosing.2 This includes prioritizing public and
private investments to rebuild affordable and accessible housing and transportation
for residents who have been displaced due to climate and other disaster
events—including those with the least resources and ability to respond—and to
ensure that displaced people can participate in the planning and management
of their return or relocation.
To effectively address the steady rise in climate-related and other disasters, the
national climate policy agenda must support equitable and responsive relocation
planning and investment in the wake of such events as well as proactively
7 EQUITABLE AND JUST NATIONAL CLIMATE PLATFORM
help to protect communities from climate change effects and displacement. In
places exposed to extreme climate risks, planned relocation must provide for
the improvement of community members’ living standards. Social cohesion is a
foundation for community well-being, and, therefore, relocation must strive to
maintain and support family unity as well as community and kinship ties. The
economic and social disruption to communities that require relocation have significant
health, economic, and emotional impacts. It is imperative that relocated
community members have access to a full range of health and economic services
and the right to choose their residence.
WATER ACCESS AND AFFORDABILITY
Climate change affects the water cycle, which in turn affects the nation’s water
quality and supply. The nation’s drinking water infrastructure is already in dire
need of massive investment. The national climate policy agenda requires solutions
that take into account the effects of climate change on this stressed water
infrastructure. As we develop climate solutions, we must focus on avoiding those
which impair or burden aquifers, lakes, rivers, and oceans.
A comprehensive infrastructure plan that will focus on water and other basic
necessities—specifically for communities that have already experienced significant
health and economic impacts—is of the highest priority. Investments must
prioritize communities that are already affected by inadequate, harmful, and
health-impairing water infrastructure. Bold new leadership is needed to ensure
that all community members have access to safe, clean, and affordable drinking
water as well as to maintain and protect water as a common resource. Access to
clean water is a basic human right that we must protect for all children and families.
As we develop climate solutions, we must avoid those that harm or burden
oceans, lakes, rivers, and waterways.
SELF-DETERMINATION, LAND ACCESS,
AND REDEVELOPMENT
A national climate policy agenda must be predicated on the principle that land is
fundamental to the exercise of community self-determination. Land is integrally
tied to community and cultural identity, and its use is directly related to community
members’ ability to meet their social, economic, and cultural needs. Urban
and rural development and redevelopment must not lead to greater socioeconomic
gaps or escalating costs that displace community members. These projects
must result in lower pollution emissions for the surrounding community. It is
imperative that programs and initiatives to protect and redevelop the environment
promote community wealth building and economic diversity that directly
benefit local community residents.
8 EQUITABLE AND JUST NATIONAL CLIMATE PLATFORM
FUNDING AND RESEARCH
A national climate policy agenda must include funding for climate research on
equity and climate issues. This research must effectively address equity and justice
in climate planning and policy and be at a scale and level of rigor that has been
historically invested in previous carbon-mitigation policies and programs. Public
and private supporters of these past efforts have a moral obligation to also invest in
the needs of communities that have been made vulnerable by past environmental,
energy, and economic policies. If we do not sufficiently fund and perform EJ and
equity research as it relates to climate change, then climate change policy and
research has a significant potential to perpetuate and even exacerbate inequalities
rooted in race and income.
U.S. RESPONSIBILITY FOR CLIMATE ACTION
AND INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION
We must aim to limit global warming to no more than 1.5 degrees Celsius over
preindustrial levels by 2050. The national climate policy agenda must ensure that
the United States acts effectively, responsibly, equitably, and justly to achieve this
goal. This requires advancing global climate justice, including by committing to
even more ambitious emission reduction goals in the future to contribute our fair
share in the global effort to stabilize the climate system, and committing financial
resources for least-developed nations to cope with the impacts of climate change.
We must do this by radically scaling up both U.S. domestic actions and international
cooperation in ways that end poverty and inequality; build sustainable
communities and cities; improve public health and well-being; and reach universal
achievement of the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.3
ENDNOTES
1 Consistent with language on nonmarket
approaches in Article 6, paragraph
8, of the Paris Agreement. See U.N.
Framework Convention on Climate
Change, “Paris Agreement” (2015),
available at https://unfccc.int/sites/
default/files/english_paris_agreement.
pdf.
2 Consistent with U.N. Commission on
Human Rights Guiding Principles on
Internal Displacement, Section V. See
Internal Displacement Monitoring
Centre, “OCHA Guiding Principles on
Internal Displacement” (1998), available
at http://www.internal-displacement.
org/publications/ocha-guidingprinciples-
on-internal-displacement.
3 For the U.N. Sustainable Development
Goals, see The Global Goals For Sustainable
Development, “The 17 Goals,”
available at https://www.globalgoals.
org (last accessed June 2019).
9 EQUITABLE AND JUST NATIONAL CLIMATE PLATFORM
Organizations signed on
to the platform
PLATFORM CO-AUTHORS AND INAUGURAL SIGNATORIES
• Center for American Progress
• Center for Earth, Energy and
Democracy, Minnesota
• Center for the Urban Environment,
John S. Watson Institute for Public
Policy, Thomas Edison State
University, New Jersey
• Deep South Center for
Environmental Justice, Louisiana
• Earthjustice
• Environmental Justice Health
Alliance for Chemical Policy
Reform, National
• Harambee House–Citizens for
Environmental Justice, Georgia
• League of Conservation Voters
• Little Village Environmental
Justice Organization, Illinois
• Los Jardines Institute, New Mexico
• Michigan Environmental Justice
Coalition, Michigan
• Midwest Environmental Justice
Network, Midwest
• Natural Resources Defense Council
• New Jersey Environmental Justice
Alliance, New Jersey
• ReGenesis Project, South Carolina
• Sierra Club
• Tishman Environment and Design
Center at the New School,
New York
• Union of Concerned Scientists
• WE ACT for Environmental Justice,
New York
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE INAUGURAL SIGNATORIES
• 2BRIDGE CDX / BTB Coalition,
Washington D.C.
• Agricultura Cooperative Network,
New Mexico
• Alaska Community Action on
Toxics, Alaska
• Black Environmental Collective-
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
• Black Millennials 4 Flint,
Washington D.C.
• Black Youth Leadership
Development Institute, National
• Center on Race, Poverty and the
Environment, California
• Citizens for Melia, Louisiana
• Clean Power Lake County, Illinois
• Coalition of Community
Organizations, Texas
• Community Housing and
Empowerment Connections,
Delaware
• Community Members for
Environmental Justice, Minnesota
• Concerned Citizens Coalition of
Long Branch, New Jersey
• Concerned Citizens of Wagon
Mound and Mora County,
New Mexico
• Connecticut Coalition for
Environmental Justice, Connecticut
• Dakota Wicohan, Minnesota
• Delaware Concerned Residents for
Environmental Justice, Delaware
• Dr. Cesar G. Abarca, California
• Dr. Fatemeh Shafiei, Georgia
• Dr. Marisol Ruiz, California
• Dr. Robert Bullard, Texas
• East Michigan Environmental
Action Council, Michigan
• Eduardo Aguiar, Puerto Rico
• El Chante: Casa de Cultura,
New Mexico
10 EQUITABLE AND JUST NATIONAL CLIMATE PLATFORM
• Farmworker Association of Florida,
Florida
• Flint Rising, Michigan
• Georgia Statewide Network for
Environmental Justice and Equity,
Georgia
• Greater Newark Conservancy,
New Jersey
• Green Door Initiative, Michigan
• Greenfaith, New Jersey
• Ironbound Community Corporation,
New Jersey
• Jesus People Against Pollution,
Mississippi
• Las Pistoleras Instituto Cultural
de Arte, New Mexico
• Lenape Indian Tribe of Delaware,
Delaware
• Louisiana Democracy Project,
Louisiana
• Minority Workforce Development
Coalition, Delaware
• Mossville Community in Action,
Louisiana
• Native Justice Coalition, Michigan
• Organizacion en California de
Lideres Campesinas, Inc., California
• Partnership for Southern Equity,
Regional
• People Concerned About
Chemical Safety, West Virginia
• People for Community Recovery,
Illinois
• PODER, Texas
• Reverend Canon Lloyd S. Casson,
Delaware
• Rubbertown Emergency ACTion,
Kentucky
• Tallahassee Food Network, Florida
• Texas Coalition of Black Democrats,
Texas
• Texas Drought Project, Texas
• Texas Environmental Justice
Advocacy Services, Texas
• The Wise Choice, Inc., Illinois
• Tradish “Traditional Real Foods,”
New Mexico
• Tusconians for a Clean Environment,
Arizona
• UrbanKind Institute, Pennsylvania
• We the People of Detroit, Michigan
• West County Toxics Coalition,
California
• Wisconsin Green Muslims, | http://www.rapidshift.net/equitable-and-just-national-climate-platform/ |
"Theorem"
Keywords:
proposition
,
axiom
,
deduced
,
proven
,
postulates
Related Terms:
Axiom
,
Proof
,
Postulate
,
Corollary
,
Inference
,
Premise
,
Argument
,
Lemma
,
Assumption
,
Apodictic
,
Conclusion
,
Truism
,
Deduction
,
Conjecture
,
Argumentation
,
Logic
,
Infer
,
Fact
,
Logical argument
,
Ratiocination
,
Deductive
,
Modus tollens
,
Proposition
,
Evidence
,
Enthymeme
,
Deductive reasoning
,
Syllogism
,
Reasoning
,
Consequent
,
Deductive argument
,
Non sequitur
,
Inductive argument
,
Counterexample
,
Modus ponens
,
Proof
,
Reductio ad absurdum
,
Sound argument
,
Contradiction
,
Tautology
,
Logical fallacy
,
Presupposition
,
Propositional calculus
,
Indirect proof
,
A priori
,
Presumption
,
Statement
,
Begging the question
,
Negation
,
Induction
That which is considered and established as a principle; hence, sometimes, a rule.
ftp.uga.edu
A statement of a principle to be demonstrated.
ftp.uga.edu
A statement that can be proven using logical (deductive) reasoning
images.rbs.org
A statement in a formal system that has proof.
big.mcw.edu
important mathematical statements which can be proven by postulates, definitions, and/or previously proved theorems [Go to source
glossaryonline.com
A statement that can be proved.
library.thinkquest.org
A main result. Usually the proof is somewhat involved and the result is interesting and useful. Constructive Proof
en.wikibooks.org
a proposition deducible from basic postulates
wordnet.princeton.edu
an idea accepted as a demonstrable truth
wordnet.princeton.edu
a formula for which a zero-premise derivation has been provided
en.wikibooks.org
a formula that can be derived from the axioms by applying the rules of inference
cs.utexas.edu
a mathematical fact that has been proved from more basic facts
math.csusb.edu
a mathematical statement that can be justified with a logical proof
aleph0.clarku.edu
a non-obvious mathematical fact
en.wikibooks.org
a proposition deduced from an axiom
www2.sjsu.edu
a proposition to be proved by a chain of reasoning
65.66.134.201
a sentence that has been proved
tomclegg.net
a statement in a formal language that is necessarily true, while a theory is a well-supported explanation for observed events
forums.kyhm.com
a statement susceptible of logical proof when certain facts are accepted as true
useless-knowledge.com
a statement that has been proved by a logical reasoning process
cis.yale.edu
a statement that has been proven, or can be proven, from the postulates
andrews.edu
a statement which can be derived from those axioms by application of these rules of inference
bibleocean.com
a statement which can be proven true within some logical framework
encyclopedia.worldvillage.com
a statement which has been proved to be true
ddi.cs.uni-potsdam.de
a Whig proposition--the benefit of which to any one but the Whigs always requires to be demonstrated
manybooks.net
A mathematical statement or rule that is proven to be true.
brookscole.com
A proposition that can be deduced from the premises of a system.
theology.edu
A statement that has been proved true.
library.advanced.org
A statement that has been proven to be true.
library.advanced.org
a logical proposition that follows from basic definitions and assumptions
wwnorton.com
(noun) A formula, proposition, or statement in mathematics or logic deduced or to be deduced from other formulas or propositions. (A theorem is the last step, after other statements have been proved.)
nces.ed.gov
See Axiom/Theorem.
cogs.susx.ac.uk
A theorem (IPA pronunciation: , from vulgar Latin theÅrÄ“ma, Greek θεώÏημα "spectacle, speculation, theory") is a proposition that has been or is to be proved on the basis of explicit assumptions. Proving theorems is a central activity of mathematicians. Note that "theorem" is distinct from "theory".
en.wikipedia.org
View 30 more results
Keywords:
mangano
,
massimo
,
pasolini
,
wiazemsky
,
teorema
Teorema is an Italian language movie directed in 1968 by Pier Paolo Pasolini with Laura Betti, Silvana Mangano, Massimo Girotti, Terence Stamp, and Anne Wiazemsky. It was the first time Pasolini would be working primarily with professional actors. In this film, an upperclass Milanese family is introduced to and then abandoned by a divine force.
en.wikipedia.org
Keywords:
formulate
To formulate into a theorem.
ftp.uga.edu
Keywords:
thermodynamics
,
rule
,
scientific
,
formula
,
science
an expression of a rule or relationship in terms of a formula or symbols
timestar.org
General scientific rule. Thermodynamics Science of the conversion of one form of energy into another.
ex-astris-scientia.org
Keywords:
discrete
,
themselves
,
understanding
,
dispute
, | https://www.metaglossary.com/define/theorem |
Philosophers don’t tend to think of human thought or reasoning in terms of strict “axioms”. Axioms are part of a formal logical system and it’s not clear that a lot of our reasoning is like that. We hold many beliefs that we might typically think of as taken for granted.
Does philosophy have axioms?
As defined in classic philosophy, an axiom is a statement that is so evident or well-established, that it is accepted without controversy or question.
What does axiom mean in philosophy?
axiom, in logic, an indemonstrable first principle, rule, or maxim, that has found general acceptance or is thought worthy of common acceptance whether by virtue of a claim to intrinsic merit or on the basis of an appeal to self-evidence.
Are axioms justified?
The Logical Awareness principle states that logical axioms are justified ex officio: an agent accepts logical axioms as justified (including the ones concerning justifications). As just stated, Logical Awareness may be too strong in some epistemic situations.
Are axioms necessary truths?
An established principle in some art or science, which, though not a necessary truth, is universally received; as, the axioms of political economy. These definitions are the root of much Evil in the worlds of philosophy, religion, and political discourse.
Can axioms be wrong?
Since pretty much every proof falls back on axioms that one has to assume are true, wrong axioms can shake the theoretical construct that has been build upon them.
Can axioms be proven?
axioms are a set of basic assumptions from which the rest of the field follows. Ideally axioms are obvious and few in number. An axiom cannot be proven. If it could then we would call it a theorem.
Are axioms accepted without proof?
axiom, in mathematics and logic, general statement accepted without proof as the basis for logically deducing other statements (theorems).
Why are axioms true?
The axioms are “true” in the sense that they explicitly define a mathematical model that fits very well with our understanding of the reality of numbers.
Are axioms truly the foundation of mathematics?
Perhaps the most important contribution to the foundations of mathematics made by the ancient Greeks was the axiomatic method and the notion of proof. This was insisted upon in Plato’s Academy and reached its high point in Alexandria about 300 bce with Euclid’s Elements.
Are axioms true or false?
Mathematicians assume that axioms are true without being able to prove them. However this is not as problematic as it may seem, because axioms are either definitions or clearly obvious, and there are only very few axioms. For example, an axiom could be that a + b = b + a for any two numbers a and b.
What is the opposite word of axiom?
Opposite of a seemingly self-evident or necessary truth which is based on assumption. absurdity. ambiguity. foolishness. nonsense.
On what grounds do we consider an axiom as true?
The absolute truth (or lack thereof) of the axiom doesn’t matter and is never considered – all that matters is relative truth, that it is true within the context of the analysis that is based on it. So if you state an axiom derive an analysis from it, then within the framework of your analysis the axiom is true.
Why are axioms self-evident?
A self-evident and necessary truth, or a proposition whose truth is so evident as first sight that no reasoning or demonstration can make it plainer; a proposition which it is necessary to take for granted; as, “The whole is greater than a part;” “A thing can not, at the same time, be and not be. ” 2.
Are all axioms self-evident?
In any case, the axioms and postulates of the resulting deductive system may indeed end up as evident, but they are not self-evident.
Are axioms self-evident?
In mathematics or logic, an axiom is an unprovable rule or first principle accepted as true because it is self-evident or particularly useful.
What is axiomatic theory?
An axiomatic theory of truth is a deductive theory of truth as a primitive undefined predicate. Because of the liar and other paradoxes, the axioms and rules have to be chosen carefully in order to avoid inconsistency.
Where do axioms come from?
Axioms and definitions are sometimes invented trying to answer the question, “what makes this proof work?” It almost feels like cheating–you know the outcome you want, so just assume the things that makes it work! .” In other words, the integral of the derivative is the original function.
Which of the following statement describes an axiom?
The correct answer is OPTION 1: A statement whose truth is accepted without proof. An axiom is a broad statement in mathematics and logic that can be used to logically derive other truths without requiring proof.
What is any statement that can be proven using logical deduction from the axioms?
An axiomatic system is a list of undefined terms together with a list of statements (called “axioms”) that are presupposed to be “true.” A theorem is any statement that can be proven using logical deduction from the axioms.
What are some good examples of axioms?
Examples of axioms can be 2+2=4, 3 x 3=4 etc. In geometry, we have a similar statement that a line can extend to infinity. This is an Axiom because you do not need a proof to state its truth as it is evident in itself.
How do axioms differ from theorems?
An axiom is a mathematical statement which is assumed to be true even without proof. A theorem is a mathematical statement whose truth has been logically established and has been proved.
How do axioms differ from theorems Brainly?
A mathematical statement that we know is true and which has a proof is a theorem. So if a statement is always true and doesn’t need proof, it is an axiom. If it needs a proof, it is a conjecture. A statement that has been proven by logical arguments based on axioms, is a theorem.
What is the difference between axiom and assumptions?
An axiom is a self-evident truth that requires no proof. An assumption is a supposition, or something that is take for granted without questioning or proof. | https://goodmancoaching.nl/do-philosophers-generally-reject-that-philosophical-reasoning-relies-on-axioms/ |
In ancient Greece, the god Apollo was worshipped as the god of knowledge.
The Greeks believed that man had an immortal soul, with knowledge already contained within.
This had only to be teased out by abstract reasoning.
Euclid
Around 330-260 BC
Thales
Around 620-546 BC
Revered mathematicians such as Euclid and Thales, used rigorous logic to tap into their inner knowledge.
Axioms and Theorems
In their search to discover the mathematical truths that lay within, ancient Greek mathematicians became the pioneers of proof.
They developed axioms, or statements based on universally accepted self-evident truths.
Axioms
For instance, that a straight line can be drawn between two points.
They used these axioms as a logical basis to create universal theorems.
Theorems
Mathematical statements that can be proved beyond doubt, to be true in all cases.
Process of Proof
Thales was the first to announce that reasoning was more important than intuition, belief, or even experimentation.
He used logic to deduce that any triangle inscribed thus in any semi circle, will always be a right angle triangle.
This was one of the first proofs.
Proof:
Result obtained from deductive reasoning
Indicates a statement is true in all cases
Later, Euclid introduced a system for proving mathematical statements.
He collated all known geometric ideas of the time.
And created for them sets of definitions, axioms, theorems, and finally methods of proof.
Definition
Axiom
Theorem
Proof
Since Euclid's time, mathematicians have developed many more proofs – including over 250 proofs of Pythagoras' theorem.
But many mathematical statements remain unproven.
And mathematicians continue to build on the ancient Greeks' methods, to try and prove them true. | https://www.twig-world.com/film/the-greeks-and-proof-1740/ |
The differences between law, theory and theorem
What is a law? And a theory? What do the theorems consist of? These concepts are handled daily in academic environments, colleges and universities, but sometimes we are not clear about what the differences are and what each one of them means. Are the theories and laws irrefutable? On what does a theorem base itself to be considered as such?
In this article we explain what is the meaning of concepts such as law, theory and theorem, and what are their main differences.
- You may be interested in: “The 4 main types of science (and their fields of research)”
What is a theorem?
A theorem is constituted from a proposition or a statement whose validity or “truth” can be proved within a logical framework and from the inclusion of axioms or other theorems that have been previously validated or proved.
Axioms or axiomatic sets are propositions or statements so evident that they are considered not to need any demonstration to be considered valid. For example, when we want to play a game of chess, the rules of this game constitute an axiomatic system, since both participants assume its validity without it being questioned at any time.
In order to consider a theorem as valid, it must be demonstrated by means of a procedure and some inference rules, which are used to deduce from one or several premises (statements or ideas that serve as a basis for reasoning and subsequent deduction), a valid conclusion. However, until a statement is proven, it is defined as the name of hypothesis or conjecture.
In mathematics, for example, a theorem is proved to be true by applying logical operations and arguments . One of the best known, the Pythagorean theorem, states that in any right triangle (that which has a 90º angle) its hypotenuse (the longest side) can be calculated in relation to the value of its legs (the sides that form the 90º angle).
What’s a theory?
A theory is a system of knowledge structured in a logical way, established from a set of axioms, empirical data and postulates , whose objective is to consign under which conditions certain assumptions are generated; that is, to try to describe, explain and understand a part of the objective reality or of a particular scientific field.
Theories can be developed from different starting points: with conjectures, which are assumptions or ideas that do not have empirical support, that is, they are not supported by observation; and hypotheses, which are supported by different observations and empirical data. However, a theory cannot be inferred only from one or several axioms within a logical system, as is the case with theorems.
The function of a theory is to explain reality (or at least part of it), to answer basic questions (such as what, how, when or where the phenomenon to be understood and explained occurs) and to arrange this reality into a series of understandable and accessible concepts and ideas.
The set of rules that constitute a theory must be able to describe and predict the behavior of a particular system . For example, Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution explains how living beings have a specific origin and slowly change and evolve, and how these changes cause different species to emerge from the same ancestor, in what he came to call natural selection.
In science, theories are constructed using the hypothetical-deductive system or method, which consists of the following steps:
The phenomenon to be studied is observed.
One or more hypotheses are generated to explain this phenomenon.
Taking the hypothesis(s) as a starting point, the most basic consequences or statements are deduced.
These claims are verified and validated by comparing them with empirical data emanating from observation and experience.
Law: definition and characteristics
By law we mean a rule, a norm or a set of norms, which describe the relationships that exist between the components that intervene in a phenomenon or a particular system. Although in popular culture it is common to think that laws are a kind of universal and absolute truths (over and above theories), this is not exactly the case.
Laws, in the field of science, must be invariable rules (which cannot be modified), universal (which must be valid for all the elements of the phenomenon they describe) and necessary (which must be sufficient in themselves to describe the phenomenon in question). However, a law is considered as a particular rule, present in all theories (hence its universality), not as a higher ranking assumption.
For example, in a science such as physics, there are many theories that explain certain phenomena and realities; the theory of quantum mechanics (which explains the nature of the smallest), the theory of special relativity or the theory of general relativity (both necessary to explain the nature of the largest). All of them share a common law: the conservation of energy, as a particular and universal rule in all three theories.
However, laws maintain their provisional status and can be refuted , since in science there is nothing absolute or written in stone, and any statement, whether a theory or a law, can be dismantled with the necessary evidence and relevant demonstration.
Differences between theorem, theory and law
The differences between the concepts of theorem, theory and law may be somewhat blurred, but let’s look at some of them.
As regards the difference between a theorem and a theory, the following should be noted: while a theory can be defined on the basis of a pattern of natural events or phenomena that cannot be demonstrated using an axiom or a set of basic statements, a theorem is a proposition of an event or phenomenon that is determined from a group of axioms, within a logical framework or criterion.
Another subtle difference between theory and law is that, although both are based on hypotheses and empirical data, the theory is established to explain an observed phenomenon, while the laws attempt to describe it . For example, Kepler described in a mathematical way the movement of the planets in their orbits around the sun, formulating the already known Kepler’s Laws; however, these do not provide an explanation of the planetary movements.
Finally, it is worth noting a basic difference between the concepts of theorem and law, and that is that a theorem is composed of demonstrable propositions (by means of axioms, in a logical system); and, on the other hand, a law is constituted by a series of established rules, constant and invariable, based on observations and empirical data that can be validated or refuted.
Bibliographic references:
Acevedo-Díaz, J. A., Vázquez-Alonso, Á., Manassero-Mas, M. A., & Acevedo-Romero, P. (2007). Consensus on the nature of science: epistemological aspects. Eureka magazine on science education and dissemination, 4(2), 202-225.
Chalmers, A. F., Villate, J. A. P., Máñez, P. L., & Sedeño, E. P. (2000). What is this thing called science? Madrid: siglo XXI. | https://virtualpsychcentre.com/the-differences-between-law-theory-and-theorem/ |
In Mathematics, there are a lot of references to the following
words/phrases.
- Axioms
- Theorems
- Corollaries
- Claims
- Lemmas
- Definitions
I often use them interchangeably (which is definitely wrong on my part), but I am still not sure on the usage they have; or how to differentiate one from the others.
Are there some duplicate terms in the set? Are there any more terms? What differences can be observed in their usages?
Answer
No two words in your list are equivalent; all of them have their own precise meaning in mathematics:
Axiom (or postulate)
An axiom is a statement that is accepted without proof and regarded as fundamental to a subject. Historically these have been regarded as “self-evident”, but more recently they are considered assumptions that characterize the subject of study.
In classical geometry, axioms are general statements while postulates are statements about geometrical objects. A definition is also accepted without proof since it simply gives the meaning of a word or phrase in terms of known concepts.
A theorem is a statement that has been proven on the basis of previously established statements, such as other theorems, and previously accepted statements, such as axioms.
The derivation of a theorem is often interpreted as a proof of the truth of the resulting expression, but different deductive systems can yield other interpretations, depending on the meanings of the derivation rules.
The proof of a mathematical theorem is a logical argument demonstrating that the conclusions are a necessary consequence of the hypotheses, in the sense that if the hypotheses are true then the conclusions must also be true, without any further assumptions.
The concept of a theorem is therefore fundamentally deductive (in contrast to the notion of a scientific theory, which is empirical).
A corollary is a proposition that follows with little or no proof from one other theorem or definition.
A lemma is a “helping theorem”, a proposition with little applicability except that it forms part of the proof of a larger theorem. In some cases, as the relative importance of different theorems becomes more clear, what was once considered a lemma is now considered a theorem, though the word “lemma” remains in the name.
Examples include Gauss’s lemma and Zorn’s lemma.
Conjecture (also: Hypothesis, Claim)
A conjecture is a as-yet unproven proposition that appears correct, for example:
A conjecture becomes a theorem when a formal proof for it becomes established, or until a counter-example or anti-proof determines that it is not true – a good example of this being Fermat’s conjecture (often called Fermat’s last Theorem for historical reasons), which has now been proven true.
Definition
A definition is used to unambiguously define a word for ease of use later (for instance, the definition of a “prime number” being “An irreducible element in the field of Integers”). | https://englishvision.me/usage-of-and-differences-between-mathematical-terms-closed/ |
Featured:
Gödel's incompleteness theorems are two theorems of mathematical logic that establish inherent limitations of all but the most trivial axiomatic systems for mathematics. The theorems, proven by Kurt Gödel in 1931, are important both in mathematical logic and in the philosophy of mathematics. The two results are widely interpreted as showing that Hilbert's program to find a complete and consistent set of axioms for all of mathematics is impossible, thus giving a negative answer to Hilbert's second problem.
The first incompleteness theorem states that no consistent system of axioms whose theorems can be listed by an "effective procedure" (essentially, a computer program) is capable of proving all facts about the natural numbers. For any such system, there will always be statements about the natural numbers that are true, but that are unprovable within the system. The second incompleteness theorem shows that if such a system is also capable of proving certain basic facts about the natural numbers, then one particular arithmetic truth the system cannot prove is the consistency of the system itself. | http://artandpopularculture.com/G%C3%B6del%27s_incompleteness_theorems |
Reflections upon Incompleteness, by Rebecca Goldstein
The incompleteness theorem: a mathematical result that had effects that rippled across the world. Kurt Godel was born in 1906, in what is now the Czech republic. In 1923, he matriculated to the University of Vienna, in hopes of becoming a physicist. But, he decided to switch to logic as his subject of study. While in Vienna, Godel became a member of the influential group of thinkers, known as the Vienna Circle or the Schlick circle. Godel did not agree with all the ideas of the circle, the positivist ideas (something that will be explained later). So, Godel set out to prove the members of the Circle wrong, and in doing so, shed metalight (self-referential understanding) on the entire field of mathematics. He did this through his first Incompleteness theorem, which among other things, provided for the existence of undecidability propositions. The meaning of the incompleteness theorem, and its proof, will briefly be explained later. In 1931, when Godel was only twenty-five, he published his paper containing the proof of the incompleteness theorem, establishing his reputation as a logical maven. Godel stayed in Vienna as an unpaid lecturer, surprisingly, until 1940, when he had to flee from the Nazis to America. He was not Jewish, but was often mistaken for being Jewish, and that put him in danger. Godel was a researcher at the Institute for Advanced Study at Princeton from then until the end of his life, in 1978. During his time at this institution devoted to the study of the theoretical, he lectured, pondered, and talked with his close friend, Albert Einstein. He lived an important life, but not necessarily a normal one.
Before Godel, many mathematicians were positivists: they believed that genuine knowledge could be gained from observation of the world around them. More specifically, many of them, especially Godel’s peers in Vienna, were logical positivists. Logical positivism was the belief that all knowledge, all meaningful truths, comes from logical conclusions, findings reached by logically analytic reasoning, such as mathematical proofs. Godel also vehemently disagreed, along with the author, with the belief (implied or specific) of many of them that ‘man is the measure of all things’. This phrase is more than just pompous and solipsistic: it is also dismissive of the idea that mathematics exists independent of humans’ attempts to tame and contain it with symbols and contrived representations. All of these disagreements on the part of Godel stem from his incompleteness proof.
The incompleteness theorems, of which there were two (a main part and an important corollary) proved that mathematics exists independently of humans. The first incompleteness theorem did this the most. The first incompleteness theorem states that in every consistent formal system, there exists a proposition that is both true and not provable within that system. No formal system is made up only of provable propositions. There will always be something that is true and not provable. What is a formal system, and what is consistency, you might ask? Well a formal system is basically an axiomatic system. An axiomatic system is a self-contained system which contains a set of specific axioms, which must be independent of each other. One axiom does not logically lead to another. The system also contains all of the theorems that are provable using the axioms as their foundations. Along with being independent, an axiomatic system must not be contradictory: it has to be consistent. In other words, logic and theorems stemming from the axioms cannot be used to disprove, negate, those axioms, or any other theorem in the system. Finally, an axiomatic system must be complete. This means that any propropsition expressed in the system must be either provable or disprovable (the negation must be provable).
All that applies to axiomatic systems also applies to formal systems. This is because a formal system is basically an axiomatic system, but formal systems have more stringent requirements. Axiomatic systems need to just have axioms and derived theorems and proofs, but formal systems need to have a language that can be used to show all the steps taken from the axioms to the theorems. The requirements for formal systems are more rigorous because inferring cannot be used to get from axioms to theorems: there have to be clearly defined logical steps. This logic is represented by a handful of symbols, Godel used only nine, which can represent every logical operation in the universe when used in combination with each other. These symbols are the language.
When Godel proved his incompleteness theorem, he proved that all consistent (non-contradictory) formal systems are not complete. This means that there exist propositions that cannot be proved but still are true (they cannot be proven either). Therefore, every formal system that is set forth will never be complete. There will always be truths that are not provable, conjectures that are true but will never turn into a theorem. And if you try to add that unprovable truth to the formal system as an axiom, there will always be another unprovable but true statement constructable in the new system, ad infinitum.
The proof was done through first creating a way to map symbols to numbers in an unique way in such a fashion so that the numbers could be used to reconstruct the symbols and vice versa. Then, this number mapping (called Godel numbering), could be used to turn valid logical proofs expressed in symbols into arithmetic statements that are also valid. This was an enormous feat. Godel created a statement that was also arithmetically valid when translated using Godel numbering that basically said that a thing (G) was true if and only if G was not provable. This has to be true, because if it were false, G would be provable and therefore true. The arithmetic equivalent of this statement was therefore a statement that was true but not provable. Godel had proven that such an arithmetical statement existed, and would exist in every formal system. But how did Godel prove that the statement was true but not provable? Isn’t that impossible? Well, he did it by going outside of the formal system, using information not contained in the system. This means that true but unprovable statements are only unprovable within the system. This is still a big deal though, because it means that there is a true statement in the system that cannot be proved by the axioms that are supposed to be able to prove everything.
Godel’s proof had meta implications. This is because the proof basically said that no system created by humans can be complete. If something is incomplete, true but not provable, there is a missing piece. This missing piece exists abstractly. The missing piece just cannot be seen. The truth cannot be found by logical operations alone, but it is still true. All of this basically proves that mathematics exists independent of humans. Humans do not create math. It also proves that positivists are wrong because not everything is provable. The platonists are right: abstract objects exist, like the missing piece that makes some truths not provable. So, Godel’s proof had implications far more extensive than ordinary proofs. | https://goldpundit.com/blog/2021/06/09/incompleteness-an-amazing-mathematical-result |
Mathematical formal systems have non-logical symbols and axioms on top of the underlying system of inference (“logic”). Those introduce operations in particular, but they are not “valid within logical system”, one can introduce whatever one wants and then use the logical system as an inference machine.
What is the difference between logic and mathematics?
Logic and mathematics are two sister-disciplines, because logic is this very general theory of inference and reasoning, and inference and reasoning play a very big role in mathematics, because as mathematicians what we do is we prove theorems, and to do this we need to use logical principles and logical inferences.
What are mathematical and logical operators?
A logical operator (or connective) on mathematical statements is a word or combination of words that combines one or more mathematical statements to make a new mathematical statement. A compound statement is a statement that contains one or more operators.
Is mathematical logic and mathematical reasoning same?
The study of logic through mathematical symbols is called mathematical reasoning. Mathematical logic is also known as Boolean logic. Or in other words, in mathematical reasoning, we determine the truth value of the statement.
How is math used in logic?
The study of logic is essential for work in the foundations of mathematics, which is largely concerned with the nature of mathematical truth and with justifying proofs about mathematical objects, such as integers, complex numbers, and infinite sets.
Is logic a branch of mathematics?
Mathematical Logic is a branch of mathematics, and is also of interest to (some) philosophers. Likewise, Philosophy of Math is a branch of Philosophy, which is also of interest to (some) mathematicians.
How does math promote logical thinking?
Mathematics is often promoted as endowing those who study it with transferable skills such as an ability to think logically and critically or to have improved investigative skills, resourcefulness and creativity in problem solving.
What is the meaning of logical reasoning in mathematics?
Logical reasoning is the process of using rational, systemic steps, based on mathematical procedure, to arrive at a conclusion about a problem. You can draw conclusions based on given facts and mathematical principles.
When two or more logical statements are connected by logical connective then the new statement is called?
New statements that can be formed by combining two or more simple statements are called compound statements.
In what way does a mathematical concept influence your reasoning and decision making?
With the development of mathematical reasoning, students recognize that mathematics makes sense and can be understood. They learn how to evaluate situations, select problem-solving strategies, draw logical conclusions, develop and describe solutions, and recognize how those solutions can be applied. | https://goodmancoaching.nl/what-separates-mathematics-from-logic-can-mathematical-operations-be-applied-to-logical-systems/ |
Sentient software is the hot topic as of late. Speculative news about Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems such as Watson, Alexa, and even autonomous vehicles are dominating social media. It’s feasible that this impression is nothing more than Baader-Meinhof phenomenon (AKA frequency illusion). However, it seems that the populace has genuine interest in AI. Questions abound. Are there limits? Is it possible to create a factitious soul? Gödel’s incompleteness theorem is at the core of these questions; however, the conclusions are cryptic and often misunderstood.
Gödel’s incompleteness theorem is frequently adduced as proof of antithetical concepts. For instance, Roger Penrose’s book Shadows of the Mind claims that the theorem disproves the possibility of sentient machines (Penrose, 1994, p. 65). Douglas Hofstadter asserts the opposite in his book, I Am Strange Loop (Hofstadter, 2007). This article aims to provide a cursory view of the theorem in laymen’s terms and elucidate its practical implications on AI.
Context
Gödel’s Incompleteness Theorem is best understood within its historical context. This section covers requite concepts and notable events to provide the reader with adequate background knowledge. This is not meant to be comprehensive coverage of the material: rather it is stripped down to essentials.
The Challenge
The mathematics community was never filled with more hope than at the turn of the twentieth century. On August 8th, 1900, David Hilbert gave his seminal address at the Second International Congress of Mathematics in which he declared, “in mathematics there is no ignorabimus” (Petzold, 2008, p. 40). Ignorabimus is a Latin word meaning “we shall not know”. Hilbert believed that, unlike some other branches of science, all things mathematical were knowable. Furthermore, he framed a plan to actualize a mathematical panacea.
In this address, Hilbert outlined ten open problems and challenged the mathematics community to solve them (this was a subset of twenty-three problems published by Hilbert). The problem of relevance for this article is the second which is entitled, The Computability of Arithmetical Axioms. Hilbert’s second problem called for the axiomatization of real numbers “to prove that there are no contradictory, this is, that a finite number of logical steps based upon them can never lead to contradictory results” (Petzold, 2008, p. 41). More concisely, Hilbert wished to axiomatize number theory.
The following sections delve into axiomatization. However, a pertinent idea here is the phrase “finite number of logical steps”. In modern nomenclature, this is known as algorithmic. Hilbert, along with his contemporaries, believed that every mathematical problem was solvable via an algorithmic process. (Petzold, 2008) This is a key concept that will be revisited after exploring axiomatization.
Axiomatization
Stated concisely, axiomatization is a means of deriving a system’s theorems by logical inferences based on a set of axioms. Axioms are unprovable rules that are self-evidently true. The most well-known axiomatized system is Euclidean geometry; therefore, it serves as an archetype for understanding axiomatic systems. The whole of Euclidean geometry is based on five axioms.
- A straight-line segment can be drawn joining any two points.
- Any straight-line segment can be extended indefinitely in a straight line.
- Given any straight-line segment, a circle can be drawn having the segment as radius and one endpoint as center.
- All right angles are congruent.
- If two lines are drawn which intersect a third in such a way that the sum of
the inner angles on one side is less than two right angles, then the two
lines inevitably must intersect each other on that side if extended far
enough.
(Wolfram Research, Inc., 2017)
As a small aside, the fifth axiom is also known as the parallel postulate. This has the been the subject of mathematical quandary for centuries. It is highly recommended that the enthusiastic reader perform additional research on the subject.
These five axioms form the foundation of geometry. Pythagorean theorem, Pons Asinorum, Congruence of triangles, Thales’ theorem, and countless others are derived via logical inferences based on the assumption that these self-evidentiary axioms are true. Axioms provide a solid foundation for a system, much like the cornerstone of a building.
Another key concept introduced in the previous paragraph is logical inferences. It’s not enough to have a firm foundation of axioms. Theorems derived from the axioms must be likewise sound and logical inference offers a guarantee of said soundness.
Logical Inference
The process of connecting axioms to theorems cannot rely on intuition in any way. This is to say that they are definitive rules and constructs in which logical inference can be validated. This is important because the legitimacy of axioms is irrelevant if conclusions drawn from them are not completely consistent. A strong, stable, and trusted system must be composed of theorems that use valid logical inferences stemming from axioms.
It is beyond the scope of this blog post to give even a cursory explanation of logical systems of inference. However, it’s important for the reader to understand that formal logic has stringent rules and notations much like any mathematical system. Logic statements are written and manipulated like any other mathematical formulas. This allows for the creation of proofs that cement the validity from the bottom up.
Each theorem is analogous to a brick in a house. Because the theorem sits firmly on either an axiom or another theorem planted on an axiom, it’s validity is confirmed. This is commonly known as infinite regress. All the theorems taken together form a strong and stable system capable of being trusted. Formalism expands on the concept.
Formalism
Recall the Computability of Arithmetical Axioms problem outlined in The Challenge section. Hilbert envisioned Formalism as the solution to this problem. Formalism, as conceived by Hilbert, is a “system comprised of definitions, axioms, and rules for constructing theorems from the axioms” (Petzold, 2008, p. 45). It is often described as a sort of metamathematics. Hilbert envisioned a formal logic language where axioms are represented as strings and theorems are derived by an algorithmic process. These concepts were introduced in the previous two chapters. A new concept to this section is the qualities that such a system must possess.
For a system, such as formalism, to truly axiomatize the whole of arithmetic, it must have four qualities which are outlined below.
- Independence – There are no superfluous axioms.
- Decidability – A algorithmic process for deriving the validity of formulas.
- Consistency – It is NOT possible to derive two theorems that contradict one another.
- Completeness – Ability to derive ALL true formulas from the axioms.
(Petzold, 2008, p. 46)
As a small aside, there is a fair bit of legerdemain happening here. The concepts of truth, formulas, theorems, and proof are purposely glossed over to avoid minutia. Curious readers are encouraged to investigate further.
The two qualities that are particularly cogent to Gödel’s incompleteness theorem are consistency and completeness. Luckily, they are both self-explanatory. A system that is both complete and consistent will yield all possible true formulas, none of which are contradictory.
Why?
The truth is that axiomatization is a fastidious process that can seem maddeningly pedantic. One may be forced to question the very premise that it is a good thing. One can further postulate that simple human intuition is sufficient. However, recall the concept of infinite regress called out in the last paragraph of the Logical Inference section. New theorems are built upon existing theorems. Without stringent formal logic rules, systems become a “house of cards”. Mistakes found in foundational theorems can bring the entire system crashing down.
An archetypal example is Cantor’s set theory. The details of the theory are largely irrelevant to this line of inquiry, but the curious reader should refer to this set of blog posts for more information. In short, set theory took the mathematical world by storm. Countless mathematicians augmented it by building new abstractions on top of it. Bertrand Russel discovered a fatal flaw known as Russel’s Paradox which brought the system down like a proverbial “house of cards”. Formalism is meant to avoid similar debacles.
Principia Mathematica
The Principia Mathematica is an infamous three-volume treatise by Alfred North Whitehead and Bertrand Russell published in 1910, 1912, and 1913. It is a truly herculean attempt to formalize the whole of arithmetic. The work is dense and inaccessible to even most mathematicians (Nagel & Newman, 2001). The system set forth sets the stage for Gödel’s incompleteness theorem.
Incompleteness Theorem
In 1931, Kurt Gödel published a seminal, albeit recondite, paper entitled On Formally Undecidable Propositions of Principia Mathematica and Related Systems. The paper dismayed the whole of the mathematical community despite its esoteric content. It not only trampled the validity of Principia Mathematica, it proved that such a system isn’t achievable by any means. The implication being that Hilbert’s second problem, The Computability of Arithmetical Axioms, will never have a satisfactory solution.
In short, Gödel proved that any system complex enough to encompass simple arithmetic cannot be both complete and consistent as defined in the Formalism section. Through a clever method of converting logical expressions to numbers, the proof showed that any such system will enable the creation of a self-referential statement in the form of “this statement is false”.
The previous paragraph is a blatant over-simplification of Gödel’s incompleteness theorem. The intimate details of the proof are well beyond the scope of this humble article. As mentioned so many times throughout this work, the reader is encouraged to continue research independently. On a positive note, the arcane details are not requisite for comprehension of the implications.
Implications
In short, the implications of Gödel’s Incompleteness Theorem are nothing more than that an axiomatic system of logic cannot be both complete and consistent. Expanding on that, it is not possible to derive an algorithm that will generate all possible proofs of a formalized system. One can then infer that it is not possible to write a computer program to generate said proofs.
There have been countless extrapolations based on the implications stated above. For instance, a commonly adduced argument is that there are more truths in the universe than there are proofs. Likewise, there are some things that are obviously true that cannot be formally proven. While these are both true, be careful not to fall into the enticing trap of applying the rule to anything outside of axiomatic systems of logic.
Why the Confusion?
Although it’s a rather unsatisfying observation, the reality is that Gödel’s proofs are onerous to all but accomplished logicians. Despite this, the implications are far reaching. This situation creates a particularly fertile breeding ground for misconceptions. Many venerated experts within other disciplines attempt to apply the theorem by fallacious means.
A cursory Google search for “Gödel’s incompleteness theorem and God” will yield seemingly boundless results with varied interpretations. The fact of the matter is, the theorem strictly applies to formal axiomatic systems of logic. It does not apply to religious texts. Likewise, it has no implications on the validity of the afterlife or mystical intuition. (Tieszen, 2017, p. Kindle Loc. 1173)
As an example, Gödel’s ontological argument is often cited by theists because it formally proves the existence of God. Given the description, it is easy to see how someone ignorant of formal logical proofs could draw fallacious conclusions. As stated previously, Gödel’s proofs apply exclusively to formal axiomatic systems of logic. The concept of God is far from this. Gödel himself said that “it was undertaken as a purely logical investigation, to demonstrate that such a proof could be carried out on the basis of accepted principals of formal logic” (Tieszen, 2017, p. Kindle Loc. 2158). He also hesitated to publish “for fear that a belief in God might be ascribed to him” (Tieszen, 2017, p. Kindle Loc. 2158).
The cogent point is that it is easy to misinterpret the significance of Gödel’s work. It is difficult for anyone lacking a strong background in mathematical logic to draw valid conclusions based on the incompleteness theorem. Gödel’s work is best confined to scientific contexts.
Implications for Artificial Intelligence
The thesis of this work is to define the implications of Gödel’s incompleteness theorem on AI. Unfortunately, a surfeit of background concepts is requisite to comprehension and the author humbly apologizes for the necessary discomfort. Possibly more disappointing is that the verdict is not as definitive as one may suppose as this section explains.
One thing is definite, it is not possible to use a computer to automatically derive proofs from an axiomatic system. Hilbert’s dream of automated formalization is inert. On the bright side, if it were many mathematicians would be out of work. Some claim, as does Roger Penrose, that this necessarily precludes any possibility of AI within the current computational model. Consider this, a human can necessarily comprehend some truths that a machine cannot. The insinuation is that humans are endowed with creativity that is not obtainable by a machine. Mr. Penrose postulates that this is a quantum effect that is beyond our current understanding. (Penrose, 1994)
Douglas Hofstadter passionately refutes Roger Penrose’s claims. He believes that the said limits stem from a fundamental misunderstanding of how the brain works and presents a compelling model of consciousness in his book, I Am Strange Loop (Hofstadter, 2007). Theorem proving is by no means the only way to make a machine “think”. “The human mind is fundamentally not a logic engine but an analogy engine, a learning engine, a guessing engine, and esthetics-driven engine, a self-correcting engine” (Nagel & Newman, 2001, p. Kindle Loc. 146). From this frame of reference, Gödel’s incompleteness theorem doesn’t apply to AI.
Penrose and Hofstadter sit among varied experts with similar opinions. With the considerable amount of resources funneled into AI projects, the final verdict will be decided in due course of time. Not that this should sway the reader in any way, but the author tends to side with Mr. Hofstadter. The reader is encouraged to do their own research and form their own opinions.
Conclusion
Gödel’s incompleteness theorem is inextricably associated with philosophy, religion, and the viability of Artificial Intelligence (AI). However, Gödel’s work is in a recondite field and its applicability beyond axiomatic systems of logic is perplexing and often misapplied. In the final analysis, the theorem’s only definitive assertion is that it is not possible for an axiomatic system of logic to be both consistent and complete. Many experts make conflicting ancillary claims and it’s difficult to draw any absolute conclusions.
This article presents a simplistic high-level view of Gödel’s incompleteness theorem aimed at the novice with limited exposure. It is highly recommended that readers use this as a starting point for much deeper exploration. The books listed in the bibliography are all excellent references for further research.
Biography
Hofstadter, D. (2007). I Am A Strange Loop. Retrieved 8 27, 2017
Nagel, E., & Newman, J. R. (2001). Gödel’s Proof: Edited and with a New Foreword by Douglas R. Hofstadter. (D. Hofstadter, Ed.) New York University Press, NY. Retrieved 8 27, 2017
Penrose, R. (1994). Shadows of the Mind. Oxford University Press p. 413. Retrieved 8 27, 2017
Petzold, C. (2008). The Annotated Turing. Indianapolis: Wiley Publishing, Inc.
Tieszen, R. (2017). Simply Gödel. New York: Simply Charly. | https://hideoushumpbackfreak.com/2017/11/21/Godel-AI-Confusion.html |
The hallmark of traditional Artificial Intelligence (AI) research is the symbolic representation and processing of knowledge. This is in sharp contrast to many forms of human reasoning, which to an extraordinary extent, rely on cases and (typical) examples. Although these examples could themselves be encoded into logic, this raises the problem of restricting the corresponding model classes to include only the intended models.There are, however, more compelling reasons to argue for a hybrid representa-tion based on assertions as well as examples. The problems of adequacy, availability of information, compactness of representation, processing complexity, and last but not least, results from the psychology of human reasoning, all point to the same conclusion: Common sense reasoning requires different knowledge sources and hybrid reasoning principles that combine symbolic as well as semantic-based inference. In this paper we address the problem of integrating semantic representations of examples into automateddeduction systems. The main contribution is a formal framework for combining sentential with direct representations. The framework consists of a hybrid knowledge base, made up of logical formulae on the one hand and direct representations of examples on the other, and of a hybrid reasoning method based on the resolution calculus. The resulting hybrid resolution calculus is shown to be sound and complete.
An important research problem is the incorporation of "declarative" knowledge into an automated theorem prover that can be utilized in the search for a proof. An interesting pro-posal in this direction is Alan Bundy's approach of using explicit proof plans that encapsulatethe general form of a proof and is instantiated into a particular proof for the case at hand. Wegive some examples that show how a "declarative" highlevel description of a proof can be usedto find proofs of apparently "similiar" theorems by analogy. This "analogical" information isused to select the appropriate axioms from the database so that the theorem can be proved.This information is also used to adjust some options of a resolution theorem prover. In orderto get a powerful tool it is necessary to develop an epistemologically appropriate language todescribe proofs, for which a large set of examples should be used as a testbed. We presentsome ideas in this direction.
In this paper we are interested in using a firstorder theorem prover to prove theorems thatare formulated in some higher order logic. Tothis end we present translations of higher or-der logics into first order logic with flat sortsand equality and give a sufficient criterion forthe soundness of these translations. In addi-tion translations are introduced that are soundand complete with respect to L. Henkin's gen-eral model semantics. Our higher order logicsare based on a restricted type structure in thesense of A. Church, they have typed functionsymbols and predicate symbols, but no sorts.
In this article we formally describe a declarative approach for encoding plan operatorsin proof planning, the so-called methods. The notion of method evolves from the much studiedconcept tactic and was first used by Bundy. While significant deductive power has been achievedwith the planning approach towards automated deduction, the procedural character of the tacticpart of methods, however, hinders mechanical modification. Although the strength of a proofplanning system largely depends on powerful general procedures which solve a large class ofproblems, mechanical or even automated modification of methods is nevertheless necessary forat least two reasons. Firstly methods designed for a specific type of problem will never begeneral enough. For instance, it is very difficult to encode a general method which solves allproblems a human mathematician might intuitively consider as a case of homomorphy. Secondlythe cognitive ability of adapting existing methods to suit novel situations is a fundamentalpart of human mathematical competence. We believe it is extremely valuable to accountcomputationally for this kind of reasoning.The main part of this article is devoted to a declarative language for encoding methods,composed of a tactic and a specification. The major feature of our approach is that the tacticpart of a method is split into a declarative and a procedural part in order to enable a tractableadaption of methods. The applicability of a method in a planning situation is formulatedin the specification, essentially consisting of an object level formula schema and a meta-levelformula of a declarative constraint language. After setting up our general framework, wemainly concentrate on this constraint language. Furthermore we illustrate how our methodscan be used in a Strips-like planning framework. Finally we briefly illustrate the mechanicalmodification of declaratively encoded methods by so-called meta-methods.
A straightforward formulation of a mathematical problem is mostly not ad-equate for resolution theorem proving. We present a method to optimize suchformulations by exploiting the variability of first-order logic. The optimizingtransformation is described as logic morphisms, whose operationalizations aretactics. The different behaviour of a resolution theorem prover for the sourceand target formulations is demonstrated by several examples. It is shown howtactical and resolution-style theorem proving can be combined.
Deduktionssysteme (1999)
We show how to buildup mathematical knowledge bases usingframes. We distinguish three differenttypes of knowledge: axioms, definitions(for introducing concepts like "set" or"group") and theorems (for relating theconcepts). The consistency of such know-ledge bases cannot be proved in gen-eral, but we can restrict the possibilit-ies where inconsistencies may be impor-ted to very few cases, namely to the oc-currence of axioms. Definitions and the-orems should not lead to any inconsisten-cies because definitions form conservativeextensions and theorems are proved to beconsequences.
In most cases higher-order logic is based on the (gamma)-calculus in order to avoid the infinite set of so-called comprehension axioms. However, there is a price to be paid, namelyan undecidable unification algorithm. If we do not use the(gamma) - calculus, but translate higher-order expressions intofirst-order expressions by standard translation techniques, we haveto translate the infinite set of comprehension axioms, too. Ofcourse, in general this is not practicable. Therefore such anapproach requires some restrictions such as the choice of thenecessary axioms by a human user or the restriction to certainproblem classes. This paper will show how the infinite class ofcomprehension axioms can be represented by a finite subclass,so that an automatic translation of finite higher-order prob-lems into finite first-order problems is possible. This trans-lation is sound and complete with respect to a Henkin-stylegeneral model semantics.
Extending existing calculi by sorts is astrong means for improving the deductive power offirst-order theorem provers. Since many mathemat-ical facts can be more easily expressed in higher-orderlogic - aside the greater power of higher-order logicin principle - , it is desirable to transfer the advant-ages of sorts in the first-order case to the higher-ordercase. One possible method for automating higher-order logic is the translation of problem formulationsinto first-order logic and the usage of first-order the-orem provers. For a certain class of problems thismethod can compete with proving theorems directlyin higher-order logic as for instance with the TPStheorem prover of Peter Andrews or with the Nuprlproof development environment of Robert Constable.There are translations from unsorted higher-order lo-gic based on Church's simple theory of types intomany-sorted first-order logic, which are sound andcomplete with respect to a Henkin-style general mod-els semantics. In this paper we extend correspond-ing translations to translations of order-sorted higher-order logic into order-sorted first-order logic, thus weare able to utilize corresponding first-order theoremprover for proving higher-order theorems. We do notuse any (lambda)-expressions, therefore we have to add so-called comprehension axioms, which a priori makethe procedure well-suited only for essentially first-order theorems. However, in practical applicationsof mathematics many theorems are essentially first-order and as it seems to be the case, the comprehen-sion axioms can be mastered too.
In this paper we generalize the notion of method for proofplanning. While we adopt the general structure of methods introducedby Alan Bundy, we make an essential advancement in that we strictlyseparate the declarative knowledge from the procedural knowledge. Thischange of paradigm not only leads to representations easier to under-stand, it also enables modeling the important activity of formulatingmeta-methods, that is, operators that adapt the declarative part of exist-ing methods to suit novel situations. Thus this change of representationleads to a considerably strengthened planning mechanism.After presenting our declarative approach towards methods we describethe basic proof planning process with these. Then we define the notion ofmeta-method, provide an overview of practical examples and illustratehow meta-methods can be integrated into the planning process.
Extending the planADbased paradigm for auto-mated theorem proving, we developed in previ-ous work a declarative approach towards rep-resenting methods in a proof planning frame-work to support their mechanical modification.This paper presents a detailed study of a classof particular methods, embodying variations ofa mathematical technique called diagonaliza-tion. The purpose of this paper is mainly two-fold. First we demonstrate that typical math-ematical methods can be represented in ourframework in a natural way. Second we illus-trate our philosophy of proof planning: besidesplanning with a fixed repertoire of methods,metaADmethods create new methods by modify-ing existing ones. With the help of three differ-ent diagonalization problems we present an ex-ample trace protocol of the evolution of meth-ods: an initial method is extracted from a par-ticular successful proof. This initial method isthen reformulated for the subsequent problems,and more general methods can be obtained byabstracting existing methods. Finally we comeup with a fairly abstract method capable ofdealing with all the three problems, since it cap-tures the very key idea of diagonalization.
Even though it is not very often admitted, partial functionsdo play a significant role in many practical applications of deduction sys-tems. Kleene has already given a semantic account of partial functionsusing a three-valued logic decades ago, but there has not been a satisfact-ory mechanization. Recent years have seen a thorough investigation ofthe framework of many-valued truth-functional logics. However, strongKleene logic, where quantification is restricted and therefore not truth-functional, does not fit the framework directly. We solve this problemby applying recent methods from sorted logics. This paper presents atableau calculus that combines the proper treatment of partial functionswith the efficiency of sorted calculi.
The semantics of everyday language and the semanticsof its naive translation into classical first-order language consider-ably differ. An important discrepancy that is addressed in this paperis about the implicit assumption what exists. For instance, in thecase of universal quantification natural language uses restrictions andpresupposes that these restrictions are non-empty, while in classi-cal logic it is only assumed that the whole universe is non-empty.On the other hand, all constants mentioned in classical logic arepresupposed to exist, while it makes no problems to speak about hy-pothetical objects in everyday language. These problems have beendiscussed in philosophical logic and some adequate many-valuedlogics were developed to model these phenomena much better thanclassical first-order logic can do. An adequate calculus, however, hasnot yet been given. Recent years have seen a thorough investigationof the framework of many-valued truth-functional logics. UnfortuADnately, restricted quantifications are not truth-functional, hence theydo not fit the framework directly. We solve this problem by applyingrecent methods from sorted logics.
Typical instances, that is, instances that are representative for a particular situ-ation or concept, play an important role in human knowledge representationand reasoning, in particular in analogical reasoning. This wellADknown obser-vation has been a motivation for investigations in cognitive psychology whichprovide a basis for our characterization of typical instances within conceptstructures and for a new inference rule for justified analogical reasoning withtypical instances. In a nutshell this paper suggests to augment the proposi-tional knowledge representation system by a non-propositional part consistingof concept structures which may have directly represented instances as ele-ments. The traditional reasoning system is extended by a rule for justifiedanalogical inference with typical instances using information extracted fromboth knowledge representation subsystems. | https://kluedo.ub.uni-kl.de/solrsearch/index/search/searchtype/all/rows/20/institutefq/Fachbereich+Informatik/author_facetfq/Kerber%2C+Manfred/sortfield/year/sortorder/desc/doctypefq/article |
Thoralf Albert Skolem (Norwegian: [ˈtùːralf ˈskùːlɛm] ; 23 May 1887 – 23 March 1963) was a Norwegian mathematician who worked in mathematical logic and set theory.
Although Skolem's father was a primary school teacher, most of his extended family were farmers. Skolem attended secondary school in Kristiania (later renamed Oslo), passing the university entrance examinations in 1905. He then entered Det Kongelige Frederiks Universitet to study mathematics, also taking courses in physics, chemistry, zoology and botany.
In 1909, he began working as an assistant to the physicist Kristian Birkeland, known for bombarding magnetized spheres with electrons and obtaining aurora-like effects; thus Skolem's first publications were physics papers written jointly with Birkeland. In 1913, Skolem passed the state examinations with distinction, and completed a dissertation titled Investigations on the Algebra of Logic. He also traveled with Birkeland to the Sudan to observe the zodiacal light. He spent the winter semester of 1915 at the University of Göttingen, at the time the leading research center in mathematical logic, metamathematics, and abstract algebra, fields in which Skolem eventually excelled. In 1916 he was appointed a research fellow at Det Kongelige Frederiks Universitet. In 1918, he became a Docent in Mathematics and was elected to the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters.
Skolem did not at first formally enroll as a Ph.D. candidate, believing that the Ph.D. was unnecessary in Norway. He later changed his mind and submitted a thesis in 1926, titled Some theorems about integral solutions to certain algebraic equations and inequalities. His notional thesis advisor was Axel Thue, even though Thue had died in 1922.
In 1927, he married Edith Wilhelmine Hasvold.
Skolem continued to teach at Det kongelige Frederiks Universitet (renamed the University of Oslo in 1939) until 1930 when he became a Research Associate in Chr. Michelsen Institute in Bergen. This senior post allowed Skolem to conduct research free of administrative and teaching duties. However, the position also required that he reside in Bergen, a city which then lacked a university and hence had no research library, so that he was unable to keep abreast of the mathematical literature. In 1938, he returned to Oslo to assume the Professorship of Mathematics at the university. There he taught the graduate courses in algebra and number theory, and only occasionally on mathematical logic. Skolem's Ph.D. student Øystein Ore went on to a career in the USA.
Skolem served as president of the Norwegian Mathematical Society, and edited the Norsk Matematisk Tidsskrift ("The Norwegian Mathematical Journal") for many years. He was also the founding editor of Mathematica Scandinavica.
After his 1957 retirement, he made several trips to the United States, speaking and teaching at universities there. He remained intellectually active until his sudden and unexpected death.
For more on Skolem's academic life, see Fenstad (1970).
Skolem published around 180 papers on Diophantine equations, group theory, lattice theory, and most of all, set theory and mathematical logic. He mostly published in Norwegian journals with limited international circulation, so that his results were occasionally rediscovered by others. An example is the Skolem–Noether theorem, characterizing the automorphisms of simple algebras. Skolem published a proof in 1927, but Emmy Noether independently rediscovered it a few years later.
Skolem was among the first to write on lattices. In 1912, he was the first to describe a free distributive lattice generated by n elements. In 1919, he showed that every implicative lattice (now also called a Skolem lattice) is distributive and, as a partial converse, that every finite distributive lattice is implicative. After these results were rediscovered by others, Skolem published a 1936 paper in German, "Über gewisse 'Verbände' oder 'Lattices'", surveying his earlier work in lattice theory.
Skolem was a pioneer model theorist. In 1920, he greatly simplified the proof of a theorem Leopold Löwenheim first proved in 1915, resulting in the Löwenheim–Skolem theorem, which states that if a countable first-order theory has an infinite model, then it has a countable model. His 1920 proof employed the axiom of choice, but he later (1922 and 1928) gave proofs using Kőnig's lemma in place of that axiom. It is notable that Skolem, like Löwenheim, wrote on mathematical logic and set theory employing the notation of his fellow pioneering model theorists Charles Sanders Peirce and Ernst Schröder, including ∏, ∑ as variable-binding quantifiers, in contrast to the notations of Peano, Principia Mathematica, and Principles of Mathematical Logic . Skolem (1934) pioneered the construction of non-standard models of arithmetic and set theory.
Skolem (1922) refined Zermelo's axioms for set theory by replacing Zermelo's vague notion of a "definite" property with any property that can be coded in first-order logic. The resulting axiom is now part of the standard axioms of set theory. Skolem also pointed out that a consequence of the Löwenheim–Skolem theorem is what is now known as Skolem's paradox: If Zermelo's axioms are consistent, then they must be satisfiable within a countable domain, even though they prove the existence of uncountable sets.
The completeness of first-order logic is a corollary of results Skolem proved in the early 1920s and discussed in Skolem (1928), but he failed to note this fact, perhaps because mathematicians and logicians did not become fully aware of completeness as a fundamental metamathematical problem until the 1928 first edition of Hilbert and Ackermann's Principles of Mathematical Logic clearly articulated it. In any event, Kurt Gödel first proved this completeness in 1930.
Skolem distrusted the completed infinite and was one of the founders of finitism in mathematics. Skolem (1923) sets out his primitive recursive arithmetic, a very early contribution to the theory of computable functions, as a means of avoiding the so-called paradoxes of the infinite. Here he developed the arithmetic of the natural numbers by first defining objects by primitive recursion, then devising another system to prove properties of the objects defined by the first system. These two systems enabled him to define prime numbers and to set out a considerable amount of number theory. If the first of these systems can be considered as a programming language for defining objects, and the second as a programming logic for proving properties about the objects, Skolem can be seen as an unwitting pioneer of theoretical computer science.
In 1929, Presburger proved that Peano arithmetic without multiplication was consistent, complete, and decidable. The following year, Skolem proved that the same was true of Peano arithmetic without addition, a system named Skolem arithmetic in his honor. Gödel's famous 1931 result is that Peano arithmetic itself (with both addition and multiplication) is incompletable and hence a posteriori undecidable.
Hao Wang praised Skolem's work as follows:
"Skolem tends to treat general problems by concrete examples. He often seemed to present proofs in the same order as he came to discover them. This results in a fresh informality as well as a certain inconclusiveness. Many of his papers strike one as progress reports. Yet his ideas are often pregnant and potentially capable of wide application. He was very much a 'free spirit': he did not belong to any school, he did not found a school of his own, he did not usually make heavy use of known results... he was very much an innovator and most of his papers can be read and understood by those without much specialized knowledge. It seems quite likely that if he were young today, logic... would not have appealed to him." (Skolem 1970: 17-18)
For more on Skolem's accomplishments, see Hao Wang (1970).
An axiom or postulate is a statement that is taken to be true, to serve as a premise or starting point for further reasoning and arguments. The word comes from the Greek axíōma (ἀξίωμα) 'that which is thought worthy or fit' or 'that which commends itself as evident.'
Automated theorem proving is a subfield of automated reasoning and mathematical logic dealing with proving mathematical theorems by computer programs. Automated reasoning over mathematical proof was a major impetus for the development of computer science.
Mathematical logic is a subfield of mathematics exploring the applications of formal logic to mathematics. It bears close connections to metamathematics, the foundations of mathematics, and theoretical computer science. The unifying themes in mathematical logic include the study of the expressive power of formal systems and the deductive power of formal proof systems.
In mathematics, model theory is the study of classes of mathematical structures from the perspective of mathematical logic. The objects of study are models of theories in a formal language. A set of sentences in a formal language is one of the components that form a theory. A model of a theory is a structure that satisfies the sentences of that theory.
In mathematical logic, the Peano axioms, also known as the Dedekind–Peano axioms or the Peano postulates, are axioms for the natural numbers presented by the 19th century Italian mathematician Giuseppe Peano. These axioms have been used nearly unchanged in a number of metamathematical investigations, including research into fundamental questions of whether number theory is consistent and complete.
In mathematical logic, the compactness theorem states that a set of first-order sentences has a model if and only if every finite subset of it has a model. This theorem is an important tool in model theory, as it provides a useful method for constructing models of any set of sentences that is finitely consistent.
In set theory, Zermelo–Fraenkel set theory, named after mathematicians Ernst Zermelo and Abraham Fraenkel, is an axiomatic system that was proposed in the early twentieth century in order to formulate a theory of sets free of paradoxes such as Russell's paradox. Today, Zermelo–Fraenkel set theory, with the historically controversial axiom of choice (AC) included, is the standard form of axiomatic set theory and as such is the most common foundation of mathematics. Zermelo–Fraenkel set theory with the axiom of choice included is abbreviated ZFC, where C stands for "choice", and ZF refers to the axioms of Zermelo–Fraenkel set theory with the axiom of choice excluded.
In mathematics, Hilbert's second problem was posed by David Hilbert in 1900 as one of his 23 problems. It asks for a proof that the arithmetic is consistent – free of any internal contradictions. Hilbert stated that the axioms he considered for arithmetic were the ones given in Hilbert (1900), which include a second order completeness axiom.
Ernst Friedrich Ferdinand Zermelo was a German logician and mathematician, whose work has major implications for the foundations of mathematics. He is known for his role in developing Zermelo–Fraenkel axiomatic set theory and his proof of the well-ordering theorem.
Proof theory is a major branch of mathematical logic that represents proofs as formal mathematical objects, facilitating their analysis by mathematical techniques. Proofs are typically presented as inductively-defined data structures such as plain lists, boxed lists, or trees, which are constructed according to the axioms and rules of inference of the logical system. As such, proof theory is syntactic in nature, in contrast to model theory, which is semantic in nature.
George Stephen Boolos was an American philosopher and a mathematical logician who taught at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
In mathematical logic, the Löwenheim–Skolem theorem is a theorem on the existence and cardinality of models, named after Leopold Löwenheim and Thoralf Skolem.
In mathematics, Hilbert's program, formulated by German mathematician David Hilbert in the early part of the 20th century, was a proposed solution to the foundational crisis of mathematics, when early attempts to clarify the foundations of mathematics were found to suffer from paradoxes and inconsistencies. As a solution, Hilbert proposed to ground all existing theories to a finite, complete set of axioms, and provide a proof that these axioms were consistent. Hilbert proposed that the consistency of more complicated systems, such as real analysis, could be proven in terms of simpler systems. Ultimately, the consistency of all of mathematics could be reduced to basic arithmetic.
In mathematical logic and philosophy, Skolem's paradox is a seeming contradiction that arises from the downward Löwenheim–Skolem theorem. Thoralf Skolem (1922) was the first to discuss the seemingly contradictory aspects of the theorem, and to discover the relativity of set-theoretic notions now known as non-absoluteness. Although it is not an actual antinomy like Russell's paradox, the result is typically called a paradox, and was described as a "paradoxical state of affairs" by Skolem.
In mathematics, Robinson arithmetic, or Q, is a finitely axiomatized fragment of first-order Peano arithmetic (PA), first set out in R. M. Robinson (1950). Q is almost PA without the axiom schema of induction. Q is weaker than PA but it has the same language, and both theories are incomplete. Q is important and interesting because it is a finitely axiomatized fragment of PA that is recursively incompletable and essentially undecidable.
In mathematical logic, a non-standard model of arithmetic is a model of (first-order) Peano arithmetic that contains non-standard numbers. The term standard model of arithmetic refers to the standard natural numbers 0, 1, 2, …. The elements of any model of Peano arithmetic are linearly ordered and possess an initial segment isomorphic to the standard natural numbers. A non-standard model is one that has additional elements outside this initial segment. The construction of such models is due to Thoralf Skolem (1934).
Logic is the formal science of using reason and is considered a branch of both philosophy and mathematics. Logic investigates and classifies the structure of statements and arguments, both through the study of formal systems of inference and the study of arguments in natural language. The scope of logic can therefore be very large, ranging from core topics such as the study of fallacies and paradoxes, to specialized analyses of reasoning such as probability, correct reasoning, and arguments involving causality. One of the aims of logic is to identify the correct and incorrect inferences. Logicians study the criteria for the evaluation of arguments.
A timeline of mathematical logic. See also History of logic. | https://wikimili.com/en/Thoralf_Skolem |
If you want context and are fast at seeing the implications of math, see Benja's post. This post is much lighter on the math, though it may take more background reading and more laborious interpolation, since it's, well, lighter on the math.
Imagine I introduced my pet robot to a game. The robot has 10 seconds to pick a digit, and if the trillionth prime number ends with that digit, the robot gets a cookie (it likes peanut butter cookies the best). 10 seconds is not enough time for my robot to calculate the answer deductively. And yet, guessing an answer is superior to running out of time quietly. What sort of general logic should my robot follow in under 10 seconds to figure out that it should be indifferent between answering 1, 3, 7 or 9? Does it even make sense to be indifferent between the real answer and an impossible answer, even if you don't know which is which?
As you might expect from context, the proposed solution will involve assigning every true or false math statement a probabability-esque degree of plausibility, with numbers other than 0 or 1 indicating logical uncertainty. Why is this a good idea?
To explain logical uncertainty, let's first take a step back and reframe logical certainty in terms of rules for reasoning that apply to both deductive logic and probabilistic logic. An important resource here is E.T. Jaynes' Probability Theory (pdf) - the most relevant part being page 31 of the book. The key idea is that each of the probability axioms applies just fine no matter what kind of Boolean statement you want to find the probability of. Which is to say probability already applies to arithmetic - the laws of probability are also laws of arithmetic, just in the limit that probabilities go to 1 or 0. Our robot starts with a collection of definitions labeled with probability 1 (like "0 is a number" or "S(0)+0=S(0)" [if this S(0) stuff needs context, see wikipedia]), and then applies deductive rules according to the universal rules of probability. We translate "A implies B" into the language of probabilities as P(AB|C) = P(A|C), and then apply the always-true product rule P(B|AC)=P(AB|C) / P(A|C). If P(A|C)=1, that is, A|C is deductively true, and A implies B, then P(B|AC)=P(B|C)=1. The machinery that underlies deduction is in fact the same machinery that underlies probabilistic reasoning. And we're just going to exploit that a little.
An alternate axiomatization due to Savage (hat tip to articles by Sniffoy and fool) is based just on actions - it doesn't seem necessary for every agent to store numerical plausibilities, but every agent has to act, and if our agent is to act as if it had consistent preferences when presented with bets, it must act as if it calculated probabilities. Just like the conditions of Cox's theorem as used by E.T. Jaynes, the conditions of Savage's theorem apply to bets on arithmetic just fine. So our robot always behaves as if it assigns some probabilities over the last digit of the trillionth prime number - it's just that when our robot's allowed to run long enough, all but one of those probabilities is 0.
So how do we take the basic laws of belief-manipulation, like the product rule or the sum rule, and apply them to cases where we run out of time and can't deduce all the things? If we still want to take actions, we still want to assign probabilities, but we can't use deduction more than a set number of times...
Okay fine I'll just say it. The proposal outlined here is to treat a computationally limited agent's "correct beliefs" as the correct beliefs of a computationally unlimited agent with a limited definition of what deduction can do. So this weakened-deduction agent has a limitation, in that starting from axioms it can only prove some small pool of theorems, but it's unlimited in that it can take the pool of proven theorems, and then assign probabilities to all the unproven true or false statements. After we flesh out this agent, we can find a computationally limited algorithm that finds correct (i.e. equal to the ones from a sentence ago) probabilities for specific statements, rather than all of them. And finally, we have to take this and make a decision procedure - our robot. After all, it's no good for our robot to assign probabilities if it proceeds to get stuck because it tries to compare the utilities of the world if the end of the trillionth prime number were 1 versus 7 and doesn't even know what it means to calculate the utility of the impossible. We have to make a bit of a modification to the whole decision procedure, we can't just throw in probabilities and expect utility to keep up.
So, formally, what's going on when we limit deduction? Well, remember the process of deduction outlined earlier?
We translate "A implies B" into the language of probabilities as P(AB|C) = P(A|C), and then apply the always-true product rule P(B|AC)=P(AB|C) / P(A|C). If P(A|C)=1, that is, A|C is deductively true, and A implies B, then P(B|AC)=P(B|C)=1
There is a chain here, and if we want to limit deduction to some small pool of provable theorems, we need one of the links to be broken outside that pool. As implied, I don't want to mess with the product rule, or else we violate a desideratum of belief. Instead, we'll mess with implication itself - we translate "A implies B" into "P(AB|C)=P(A|C) only if we've spent less than 10 seconds doing deduction." Or "P(AB|C)=P(A|C) only if it's been less than 106 steps from the basic axioms." These limitations are ugly and nonlocal because they represent the intrusion of nonlocal limitations on our agent into a system that previously ran forever.
Note that the weakening of implication does not necessarily determine the shape of our pool of deduced theorems. A weakened-deduction agent could spiral outward from shortest to longest theorems, or it could search more cleverly to advance on some specific theorems before time runs out.
If a weakened-deduction agent just had the product rule and this new way of translating the axioms into probabilities, it would accumulate some pool of known probabilities - it could work out from the probability-1 axioms to show that some short statements had probability 1 and some other short statements had probability 0. It could also prove some more abstract things like P(AB)=0 without proving anything else about A or B, as long as it followed the right search pattern. But it can't assign probabilities outside of deduction - it doesn't have the rules. So it just ends up with a pool of deduced stuff in the middle of a blank plain of "undefined."
Okay, back to referring to E.T. Jaynes (specifically, the bottom of page 32). When deriving the laws of probability from Cox's desiderata, the axioms fall into different groups - there are the "laws of thought" parts, and the "interface" parts. The laws of thought are things like Bayes' theorem, or the product rule. They tell you how probabilities have to fit with other probabilities. But they don't give you probabilities ex nihilo, you have to start with probability-1 axioms or known probabilities and build out from them. The parts that tell you how to get new probabilities are the interface parts, ideas like "if you have equivalent information about two things, they should have the same probability."
So what does our limited-deduction agent do once it reaches its limits of deduction? Well, to put it simply, it uses deduction as much as it can, and then it uses the principle of maximum entropy for the probability of everything else. Maximum entropy corresponds to minimum information, so it satisfies a desideratum like "don't make stuff up."
The agent is assigning probabilities to true or false logical statements, statements like S(0)+S(0)=S(S(0)). If it had an unrestricted translation of "A implies B," it could prove this statement quickly. But suppose it can't. Then this statement is really just a string of symbols. The agent no longer "understands" the symbols, which is to say it can only use facts about the probability of these symbols that were previously proved and are within the pool of theorems - it's only a part of an algorithm, and doesn't have the resources to prove everything, so we have to design the agent to assign probabilities based just on what it proved deductively.
So the design of our unlimited-computation, limited-deduction agent is that it does all the deduction it can according to some search algorithm and within some limit, and this can be specified to take any amount of time. Then, to fill up the infinity of un-deduced probabilities, the agent just assigns the maximum-entropy probability distribution consistent with what's proven. For clever search strategies that figure out things like P(AB)=0 without figuring out P(A), doing this assignment requires interpretation of AND, OR, and NOT operations - that is, we still need a Boolean algebra for statements. But our robot no longer proves new statements about probabilities of these symbol strings, in the sense that P(S(0)+0=S(0))=P(S(0)+S(0)=S(S(0))) is a new statement. An example of a non-new statement would be P(S(0)+0=S(0)) AND S(0)+S(0)=S(S(0))) = P(S(0)+0=S(0)) * P(S(0)+S(0)=S(S(0)) | S(0)+0=S(0)) - that's just the product rule, it hasn't actually changed any of the equations.
End of part 1 exercise: Can deducing an additional theorem lead to our agent assigning less probability to the right answer under certain situations? (Reading part 2 may help)
Okay, now on to doing this with actual bounded resources. And back to the trillionth prime number! You almost forgot about that, didn't you. The plan is to break up the strict deduction -> max entropy procedure, and do it in such a way that our robot can get better results (higher probability to the correct answer) the longer it runs, up to proving the actual correct answer. It starts with no theorems, and figures out the max entropy probability distribution for the end of the trillionth prime number. Said distribution happens to be one-half to everything, e.g. p(1)=1/2 and p(2)=1/2 and p(3)=1/2. The robot doesn't know yet that the different answers are mutually exclusive and exhaustive, much less what's wrong with the answer of 2. But the important thing is, assigning the same number to everything of interest is fast. Later, as it proves relevant theorems, the robot updates the probability distribution, and when it runs out of resources it stops.
Side note: there's also another way of imagining how the robot stores probabilities, used in Benja's post, which is to construct a really big mutually exclusive and exhaustive basis (called "disjunctive normal form"). Instead of storing P(A) and P(B), which are not necessarily mutually exclusive or exhaustive, we store P(AB), P(A¬B) (the hook thingy means "NOT"), P(¬AB), and P(¬A¬B), which are mutually exclusive and exhaustive. These things would then each have probability 1/4, or 1/2N, where N is the number of statements you're assigning probabilities to. This is a pain when N goes to infinity, but can be useful when N is approximately the number of possible last digits of a number.
Back on track: suppose the first thing the robot proves about the last digit of the trillionth prime number is that answers of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 0 are exhaustive. What does that do to the probabilities? In disjunctive normal form, the change is clear - exhaustiveness means that P(¬1¬2¬3¬4¬5¬6¬7¬8¬9¬0)=0, there's no leftover space. Previously there were 210=1024 of these disjunctive possibilities, now there are 1023, and the remaining ones stay equivalent in terms of what's been proven about them (nothing), so the probability of each went from 1/1024 to 1/1023. Two things to note: figuring this out took a small amount of work and is totally doable for the robot, but we don't want to do this work every time we use modus tollens, so we need to have some way to tell whether our new theorem matters to the trillionth prime number.
For example, image we were interested in the statement A. The example is to learn that A, B, and C are mutually exclusive and exhaustive, step by step. First, we could prove that A, B, C are exhaustive - P(¬A¬B¬C)=0. Does this change P(A)? Yes, it changes from 4/8 (N is 3, so 23=8) to 4/7. Then we learn that P(AB)=0, i.e. A and B are mutually exclusive. This leaves us only A¬BC, ¬ABC, A¬B¬C, ¬AB¬C, and ¬A¬BC. P(A) is now 2/5. Now we learn that A and C are mutually exclusive, so the possibilities are ¬ABC, A¬B¬C, ¬AB¬C, and ¬A¬BC. P(A)=1/4. Each of the steps until now have had the statement A right there inside the parentheses - but for the last step, we show that B and C are mutually exclusive, P(BC)=0, and now we just have P(A)=P(B)=P(C)=1/3. We just took a step that didn't mention A, but it changed the probability of A. This is because we'd previously disrupted the balance between ABC and ¬ABC. To tell when to update P(A) we not only need to listen for A to be mentioned, we have to track what A has been entangled with, and what's been entangled with that, and so on in a web of deduced relationships.
The good news is that that's it. The plausibility assigned to any statement A by this finite-computation method is the same plausibility that our computationally-unlimited deductively-limited agent would have assigned to it, given the same pool of deduced theorems. The difference is just that the limited-deduction agent did this for every possible statement, which as mentioned doesn't make as much sense in disjunctive normal form.
So IF we accept that having limited resources is like having a limited ability to do implication, THEN we know how our robot should assign probabilities to a few statements of interest. It should start with the good old "everything gets probability 1/2," which should allow it to win some cookies even if it only has a few milliseconds, and then it should start proving theorems, updating its probabilities when it proves something that should impact those probabilities.
Now onto the last part. The robot's utility function wasn't really designed for U(last digit of trillionth prime number is 1), so what should it do? Well, what does our robot like? It likes having a cookie over not having a cookie. C is for cookie, and that's good enough for it. So we want to transform a utility over cookies into a an expected utility that will let us order possible actions.
We have to make the exact same transformation in the case of ordinary probabilities, so let's examine that. If I flip a coin and get a cookie if I call it correctly, I don't have a terminal U(heads) or U(tails), I just have U(cookie). My expected utility of different guesses comes from not knowing which guess leads to the cookie.
Similarly, the expected utility of different guesses when betting on the trillionth prime number comes from not knowing which guess leads to the cookie. It is possible to care about the properties of math, or to care about whether coins land heads or tails, but that just means we have to drag in causality - your guess doesn't affect how math works, or flip coins over.
So the standard procedure for our robot looks like this:
Start with some utility function U over the world, specifically cookies.
Now, face a problem. This problem will have some outcomes (possible numbers of cookies), some options (that is, strategies to follow, like choosing one of 10 possible digits), and any amount of information about how options correspond to outcomes (like "iff the trillionth prime ends with this digit, you get the cookie").
Now our robot calculates the limited-resources probability of getting different outcomes given different strategies, and from that calculates an expected utility for each strategy.
Our robot then follows one of the strategies with maximum expected utility.
Bonus exercises: Does this procedure already handle probabilistic maps from the options to the outcomes, like in the case of the flipped coin? How about if flipping a coin isn't already converted into a probability, but is left as an underdetermined problem a la "a coin (heads XOR tails) is flipped, choose one." | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/K2YZPnASN88HTWhAN/logical-uncertainty-kind-of-a-proposal-at-least |
We present a mathematical knowledge base containing the factual know-ledge of the first of three parts of a textbook on semi-groups and automata,namely "P. Deussen: Halbgruppen und Automaten". Like almost all math-ematical textbooks this textbook is not self-contained, but there are somealgebraic and set-theoretical concepts not being explained. These concepts areadded to the knowledge base. Furthermore there is knowledge about the nat-ural numbers, which is formalized following the first paragraph of "E. Landau:Grundlagen der Analysis".The data base is written in a sorted higher-order logic, a variant of POST ,the working language of the proof development environment OmegaGamma mkrp. We dis-tinguish three different types of knowledge: axioms, definitions, and theorems.Up to now, there are only 2 axioms (natural numbers and cardinality), 149definitions (like that for a semi-group), and 165 theorems. The consistency ofsuch knowledge bases cannot be proved in general, but inconsistencies may beimported only by the axioms. Definitions and theorems should not lead to anyinconsistency since definitions form conservative extensions and theorems areproved to be consequences.
Even though it is not very often admitted, partial functionsdo play a significant role in many practical applications of deduction sys-tems. Kleene has already given a semantic account of partial functionsusing a three-valued logic decades ago, but there has not been a satisfact-ory mechanization. Recent years have seen a thorough investigation ofthe framework of many-valued truth-functional logics. However, strongKleene logic, where quantification is restricted and therefore not truth-functional, does not fit the framework directly. We solve this problemby applying recent methods from sorted logics. This paper presents atableau calculus that combines the proper treatment of partial functionswith the efficiency of sorted calculi.
Deduktionssysteme (1999)
A lot of the human ability to prove hard mathematical theorems can be ascribedto a problem-specific problem solving know-how. Such knowledge is intrinsicallyincomplete. In order to prove related problems human mathematicians, however,can go beyond the acquired knowledge by adapting their know-how to new relatedproblems. These two aspects, having rich experience and extending it by need, can besimulated in a proof planning framework: the problem-specific reasoning knowledge isrepresented in form of declarative planning operators, called methods; since these aredeclarative, they can be mechanically adapted to new situations by so-called meta-methods. In this contribution we apply this framework to two prominent proofs intheorem proving, first, we present methods for proving the ground completeness ofbinary resolution, which essentially correspond to key lemmata, and then, we showhow these methods can be reused for the proof of the ground completeness of lockresolution.
A straightforward formulation of a mathematical problem is mostly not ad-equate for resolution theorem proving. We present a method to optimize suchformulations by exploiting the variability of first-order logic. The optimizingtransformation is described as logic morphisms, whose operationalizations aretactics. The different behaviour of a resolution theorem prover for the sourceand target formulations is demonstrated by several examples. It is shown howtactical and resolution-style theorem proving can be combined.
We transform a user-friendly formulation of aproblem to a machine-friendly one exploiting the variabilityof first-order logic to express facts. The usefulness of tacticsto improve the presentation is shown with several examples.In particular it is shown how tactical and resolution theoremproving can be combined.
Typical examples, that is, examples that are representative for a particular situationor concept, play an important role in human knowledge representation and reasoning.In real life situations more often than not, instead of a lengthy abstract characteriza-tion, a typical example is used to describe the situation. This well-known observationhas been the motivation for various investigations in experimental psychology, whichalso motivate our formal characterization of typical examples, based on a partial orderfor their typicality. Reasoning by typical examples is then developed as a special caseof analogical reasoning using the semantic information contained in the correspondingconcept structures. We derive new inference rules by replacing the explicit informa-tion about connections and similarity, which are normally used to formalize analogicalinference rules, by information about the relationship to typical examples. Using theseinference rules analogical reasoning proceeds by checking a related typical example,this is a form of reasoning based on semantic information from cases.
Typical instances, that is, instances that are representative for a particular situ-ation or concept, play an important role in human knowledge representationand reasoning, in particular in analogical reasoning. This wellADknown obser-vation has been a motivation for investigations in cognitive psychology whichprovide a basis for our characterization of typical instances within conceptstructures and for a new inference rule for justified analogical reasoning withtypical instances. In a nutshell this paper suggests to augment the proposi-tional knowledge representation system by a non-propositional part consistingof concept structures which may have directly represented instances as ele-ments. The traditional reasoning system is extended by a rule for justifiedanalogical inference with typical instances using information extracted fromboth knowledge representation subsystems. | https://kluedo.ub.uni-kl.de/solrsearch/index/search/searchtype/all/rows/10/yearfq/1999/sortfield/author/sortorder/desc/start/0/institutefq/Fachbereich+Informatik/author_facetfq/Kerber%2C+Manfred |
Have you ever read a book, chapter, or verse of the Bible and five minutes later been unable to remember anything you have read. In order to use the deductive method, you need to start with axioms - simple true statements about the way the world works.
Theoretical physicists often construct theories as "mathematical models" deductively, starting with assumptions about the inner workings of stars or atoms, for instance, and then working out the mathematical consequences of their assumptions.
It happens by doing—doing over and over again, until the doing becomes almost a habit, and a wonderful one at that. Problem of induction Inductive reasoning has been criticized by thinkers as far back as Sextus Empiricus.
The amount of phase delay is given by the cosine of the angel Cos between the vectors representing voltage and current.
If a deductive conclusion follows duly from its premises it is valid; otherwise it is invalid that an argument is invalid is not to say it is false.
Compare the preceding argument with the following.
Ukranian Translation In logic, we often refer to the two broad methods of reasoning as the deductive and inductive approaches. This step is designed for you to do just that-get more out of the Bible. Application answers the question: We observe that there is a very large crater in the Gulf of Mexico dating to very near the time of the extinction of the non-avian dinosaurs Therefore it is possible that this impact could explain why the non-avian dinosaurs became extinct.
In particular, physicists make extensive use of mathematics as a powerful theoretical tool. Any single assertion will answer to one of these two criteria.
The Resistive Electrical Loads naturally resist the flow of electricity through it by converting some of this electrical energy into heat thermal energythe result will be a drop in the amount of electrical energy transferred through it. The predictable-world bias revolves around the inclination to perceive order where it has not been proved to exist, either at all or at a particular level of abstraction.
It only deals in degrees to which, given the premises, the conclusion is credible according to some theory of evidence. When observing, we first ask what it says; then and only then can we examine what it means.
So before attempting any Bible study method, we must be sure we have the Holy Spirit living in our hearts 1 Corinthians 6: In the deductive method, logic is the authority. Both mathematical induction and proof by exhaustion are examples of complete induction.
Research has demonstrated that people are inclined to seek solutions to problems that are more consistent with known hypotheses rather than attempt to refute those hypotheses. According to Comte, scientific method frames predictions, confirms them, and states laws—positive statements—irrefutable by theology or by metaphysics.
To estimate their respective numbers, you draw a sample of four balls and find that three are black and one is white.
Question: "What is inductive Bible study?" Answer: Inductive Bible study is an approach to God’s Word focusing on three basic steps that move from a general overview to specifics.
Through these three steps, we apply inductive reasoning, which is defined as the attempt to use information about a. You can’t prove truth, but using deductive and inductive reasoning, you can get close.
Learn the difference between the two types of reasoning and how to. The main difference between inductive and deductive approaches to research is that whilst a deductive approach is aimed and testing theory, an inductive approach is concerned with the generation of new theory emerging from the data.
Inductive vs. Deductive Method. The inductive method (usually called the scientific method) is the deductive method "turned upside down". The deductive method starts with a few true statements (axioms) with the goal of proving many true statements (theorems) that logically follow from them.
Inductive reasoning is a method of reasoning in which the premises are viewed as supplying some evidence for the truth of the conclusion (in contrast to deductive reasoning and abductive reasoning).While the conclusion of a deductive argument is certain, the truth of the conclusion of an inductive argument may be probable, based upon the evidence given.
The inductive method starts with many observations of nature, with the goal of finding a few, powerful statements about how nature works (laws and theories). In the deductive method, logic is the authority. | https://hoxasyzyrofyge.janettravellmd.com/inductive-method-28208wb.html |
How to interpret the coefficient of variation?
More specifically, R-squared gives you the percentage variation in y explained by x-variables. The range is 0 to 1 (i.e. 0% to 100% of the variation in y can be explained by the x-variables. The range is 0 to 1 (i.e. 0% to 100% of the variation in y can be explained by the x-variables.... Coefficient of variation: formula and calculation in Excel. Interpretation of results. The coefficient of variation in statistics is used to compare the spread of two random variables with different units relative to the expected value.
1562HeartFailureCaseStudy.pdf - Download as PDF File (.pdf), Text File (.txt) or read online. Scribd is the world's largest social reading and publishing site. Search Search... The generation and application of quantitative data on the components of biological variation (within- and between-subject biological coefficient of variation, CV Bw and CV Bb, respectively) has been addressed in detail by Fraser (2001).
The coefficient of variation filter is used to measure the consistency of the gene across all experiments. The coefficient of variation (CV) of each gene is calculated as standard deviation divided by mean. A high CV value reflects inconsistency among the samples within the group.
The generation and application of quantitative data on the components of biological variation (within- and between-subject biological coefficient of variation, CV Bw and CV Bb, respectively) has been addressed in detail by Fraser (2001). | http://trinityfiles.com/queensland/coefficient-of-variation-interpretation-pdf.php |
What is Descriptive Statistics
The purpose of descriptive statistics is to present a mass of data in a more understandable form. We may summarize the data in numbers as (a) some form of average, or in some cases a proportion, (b) some measure of variability or spread, and (c) quantities such as quartiles or percentiles, which divide the data so that certain percentages of the data are above or below these marks. Furthermore, we may choose to describe the data by various graphical displays or by the bar graphs called histograms, which show the distribution of data among various intervals of the varying quantity.
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Central Location
Various “averages” are used to indicate a central value of a set of data. Some of these are referred to as means.
(a) Arithmetic Mean
Of these “averages,” the most common and familiar is the arithmetic mean, defined by
(b) Other Means
The geometric mean, logarithmic mean, and harmonic mean are all important in some areas of engineering. The geometric mean is defined as the nth root of the product of n observations:
Geometric Mean:-
The logarithmic mean of two numbers is given by the difference of the natural logarithms of the two numbers, divided by the difference between the numbers. It is used particularly in heat transfer and mass transfer.
Logarithmic mean =
The harmonic mean involves inverses—i.e., one divided by each of the quantities. The harmonic mean is the inverse of the arithmetic mean of all the inverses.
Harmonic Mean=
(c) Median
Another representative quantity, quite different from a mean, is the median. If all the items with which we are concerned are sorted in order of increasing magnitude (size), from the smallest to the largest, then the median is the middle item. Consider the five items: 12, 13, 21, 27, 31. Then 21 is the median. If the number of items is even, the median is given by the arithmetic mean of the two middle items. Consider the six items: 12, 13, 21, 27, 31, 33.
The median is (21 + 27) / 2 = 24. One desirable property of the median is that it is not much affected by outliers.
(d) Mode
If the frequency varies from one item to another, the mode is the value which appears most frequently. In the case of continuous variables the frequency depends upon how many digits are quoted, so the mode is more usefully considered as the midpoint of the class with the largest frequency.
Variability or Spread of the Data –
(a) Sample Range
One simple measure of variability is the sample range, the difference between the smallest item and the largest item in each sample. For small samples all of the same size, the sample range is a useful quantity. However, it is not a good indicator if the sample size varies, because the sample range tends to increase with increasing sample size. Its other major drawback is that it depends on only two items in each sample, the smallest and the largest, so it does not make use of all the data.
This disadvantage becomes more serious as the sample size increases. Because of its simplicity, the sample range is used frequently in quality control when the sample size is constant; simplicity is particularly desirable in this case so that people do not need much education to apply the test.
(b) Interquartile Range
The interquartile range is the difference between the upper quartile and the lower quartile. It is used fairly frequently as a measure of variability, particularly in the Box Plot. It is used less than some alternatives because it is not related to any of the important theoretical distributions.
(c) Mean Deviation from the Mean
The mean deviation from the mean, defined as –
(d) Mean Absolute Deviation from the Mean
However, the mean absolute deviation from the mean, defined as –
Its disadvantage is that it is not simply related to the parameters of theoretical distributions.
(e) Variance
Variance is defined as –
It is the mean of the squares of the deviations of each measurement from the mean of the population. Since squares of both positive and negative real numbers are always positive, the variance is always positive.
(f) Standard Deviation
The standard deviation is extremely important. It is defined as the square root of the variance:
Thus, it has the same units as the original data and is a representative of the deviations from the mean.
(g)Coefficient of Variation
A dimensionless quantity, the coefficient of variation is the ratio between the standard deviation and the mean for the same set of data, expressed as a percentage. This can be either (σ / μ) or (s / x ), whichever is appropriate, multiplied by 100%.
Quartiles, Deciles, Percentiles, and Quantiles
Quartiles, deciles, and percentiles divide a frequency distribution into a number of parts containing equal frequencies. The items are first put into order of increasing magnitude.
- Quartiles divide the range of values into four parts, each containing one quarter of the values. Again, if an item comes exactly on a dividing line, half of it is counted in the group above and half is counted below.
- Deciles divide into ten parts, each containing one tenth of the total frequency.
- Percentiles divide into a hundred parts, each containing one hundredth of the total frequency.
- Quantile divides a frequency distribution into parts containing stated proportions of a distribution. | https://intellipaat.com/blog/tutorial/statistics-and-probability-tutorial/descriptive-statistics/ |
What is true about the coefficient of variation?
The coefficient of variation is best used when comparing two data sets that use the same units of measure. The coefficient of variation does not give as accurate a measurement as the standard deviation.
What is the definition of the coefficient of variation quizlet?
Coefficient of variation. A statistical measure of the dispersion of data points in a data series around the mean.
What is the acceptable coefficient of variation?
Basically CVgood, 10-20 is good, 20-30 is acceptable, and CV>30 is not acceptable.
How do you write a CV in statistics?
The formula for the coefficient of variation is: Coefficient of Variation = (Standard Deviation / Mean) * 100.
What is a good CV value?
CVs of 5% or less generally give us a feeling of good method performance, whereas CVs of 10% and higher sound bad. However, you should look carefully at the mean value before judging a CV. At very low concentrations, the CV may be high and at high concentrations the CV may be low.
What does CV value mean?
coefficient of variation
What is the purpose of coefficient of variation?
The coefficient of variation represents the ratio of the standard deviation to the mean, and it is a useful statistic for comparing the degree of variation from one data series to another, even if the means are drastically different from one another.
What is the meaning of coefficient?
A number used to multiply a variable. Example: 6z means 6 times z, and “z” is a variable, so 6 is a coefficient. Variables with no number have a coefficient of 1. Example: x is really 1x. Sometimes a letter stands in for the number.
What is the use of coefficient?
The most common use of the coefficient of variation is to assess the precision of a technique. It is also used as a measure of variability when the standard deviation is proportional to the mean, and as a means to compare variability of measurements made in different units.
What is another word for coefficient?
What is another word for coefficient?synergeticsymbioticcollectiveinterdependentcombinedconcertedharmoniouscommoncollegialunited87
What is coefficient and variable?
A Variable is a symbol for a number we don’t know yet. It is usually a letter like x or y. A number on its own is called a Constant. A Coefficient is a number used to multiply a variable (4x means 4 times x, so 4 is a coefficient)
What is the coefficient of 5?
The coefficients are the numbers that multiply the variables or letters. Thus in 5x + y – 7, 5 is a coefficient. It is the coefficient in the term 5x. Also the term y can be thought of as 1y so 1 is also a coefficient.
What is difference between coefficient and constant?
A coefficient is the number in front of the letter, eg 3×2 3 is the coefficient. A constant is just a number eg y=3×2+7 7 is the constant.
Why is a coefficient called a coefficient?
We call these letters “variables” because the numbers they represent can vary—that is, we can substitute one or more numbers for the letters in the expression. Coefficients are the number part of the terms with variables. In 3×2 + 2y + 7xy + 5, the coefficient of the first term is 3.
What is the coefficient of the first term?
If there is no number multiplied on the variable portion of a term, then (in a technical sense) the coefficient of that term is 1. The exponent on the variable portion of a term tells you the “degree” of that term.
What is coefficient in stats?
The correlation coefficient is a statistical measure of the strength of the relationship between the relative movements of two variables. The values range between -1.0 and 1.0. A correlation of 0.0 shows no linear relationship between the movement of the two variables.
Can a coefficient be negative?
Coefficients are numbers that are multiplied by variables. Negative coefficients are simply coefficients that are negative numbers. An example of a negative coefficient would be -8 in the term -8z or -11 in the term -11xy. The number being multiplied by the variables is negative.
How do you interpret a negative coefficient?
A negative coefficient suggests that as the independent variable increases, the dependent variable tends to decrease. The coefficient value signifies how much the mean of the dependent variable changes given a one-unit shift in the independent variable while holding other variables in the model constant.
Is 3 a coefficient?
The number in front of a term is called a coefficient. Examples of single terms: 3x is a single term. The “3” is a coefficient. The “x” is the variable. | https://mysqlpreacher.com/what-is-true-about-the-coefficient-of-variation/ |
Coefficient of Variation
Coefficient of variation is a statistical measure of the dispersion associated with data points in a data series across the mean.
A useful figure for comparing the degree of variation collected from one of data series completely to another, even if the means are drastically not the same as each other.
The lower the ratio associated with standard deviation to mean return, better your risk-return tradeoff. Realize that if the expected return within the denominator of the calculations is negative or zero, the ratio will not seem sensible. the coefficient of variation (CV) is a normalized measure of dispersion of your probability distribution or volume (frequency) distribution. | http://www.mathcaptain.com/statistics/coefficient-of-variation.html |
How do I write a resume for biology?
Similarly, What are the skills in biology?
SKILLS AND ABILITIES
In the same way, What is CV in biology? Coefficient of variation, also called relative standard deviation, is a statistical equation used in the scientific scope. You can use this equation to analyze a single variable or to compare the variation between two groups that have different means when you have two or more biological samples.
Secondly, What should I put on skills on my resume?
What skills are needed for biotechnology?
You'll need:
Related for biology resume
What are some lab skills?
Some lab skills include creating a hypothesis, record keeping, dissection, pipetting, measuring, lab safety, molecular cloning and the ability to sterilize equipment. Once you know your scientific field, you'll be able to determine what skills are expected of you in your chosen profession.
What makes a good biologist?
Two of the most common characteristics of scientists are curiosity and patience. They also must have patience to undergo the years of work that might be required to make a discovery in a scientific field. A sense of optimism keeps a scientist performing experiment after experiment, even if most of them fail.
What is a science skill?
Science process skills include observing qualities, measuring quantities, sorting/classifying, inferring, predicting, experimenting, and communicating.
What is the role of a biologist?
Biologists study organisms and plant life to learn more about their composition, behaviors, habitats, and how they interact with other organisms and their environment. They conduct research, collect samples and measurements, perform tests and experiments, and interpret and report their findings.
What is coefficient in biology?
[ko″ĕ-fish´ent] 1. an expression of the change or effect produced by the variation in certain variables, or of the ratio between two different quantities. 2.
What should a scientific CV look like?
Your CV should include every professional accomplishment from college onward: education, professional positions, training experiences (including short courses), awards, publications, presentations (including--separately--invited presentations), grants, teaching experience, scientific techniques, professional
What is a good coefficient of variation in biology?
Definition of CV: The coefficient of variation (CV) is the standard deviation divided by the mean. It is expressed by percentage (CV%). CV% = SD/mean. CV<10 is very good, 10-20 is good, 20-30 is acceptable, and CV>30 is not acceptable.
What are your top 5 skills?
The top 5 skills employers look for include:
What are your top 3 skills?
What is a good resume?
Just remember what makes a good resume: Choose the right resume format for you. Include up-to-date, relevant information, experience, skills, and examples in all of your resume sections. Attach a meaningful cover letter that will sweep the recruiter off their feet. Proofread, proofread, proofread.
How do I write a biotech resume?
8 Steps to Writing A Biotechnology Resumé
What are technical skills in biology?
Top 10 Technical Skills to Get Jobs in Biotech & Biomedical Research
What kind of jobs are there in biotechnology?
Here are the best biotechnology careers:
How do you list labs on a resume?
How do you write a lab resume?
Create a cover letter: The cover letter should be short and include your name, title, years of laboratory/hospital experience, years of customer service (if new to the field) centered on the page. Work Experience: List enough previous employers to show your roundness in the job you are applying for.
What should be included in a science resume?
What are 5 characteristics of science?
Five key descriptors for the scientific method are: empirical, replicable, provisional, objective and systematic.
What is a good scientist name?
The 10 Greatest Scientists of All Time
What are the characteristics of biologists?
The top personality traits of biologists are social responsibility and agreeableness. Biologists score highly on social responsibility, indicating that they desire fair outcomes and have a general concern for others.
What are the 6 scientific skills?
The 6 Science Process Skills
What are the 7 basic science process skills?
Science process skills include observing qualities, measuring quantities, sorting/classifying, inferring, predicting, experimenting, and communicating.
What are the 10 science process skills?
Schools (hereafter known as the K-6 Science Competency Continuum) (Mechling, Bires, Kepler, Oliver & Smith, 1983), the proposed test planned to measure the following process skills: (1) observing, (2) classifying, (3) inferring, (4) predicting, (5) measuring, (6) communicating, (7) using space-time relations, (8)
What are 5 roles of biologists?
Biologist Duties and Responsibilities
What is a biologist salary?
The average salary for a biologist in the United States is around $68,848 per year.
What is your biology?
The word biology is derived from the greek words /bios/ meaning /life/ and /logos/ meaning /study/ and is defined as the science of life and living organisms. An organism is a living entity consisting of one cell e.g. bacteria, or several cells e.g. animals, plants and fungi.
What is partition biology?
Updated April 22, 2019. Resource partitioning is the division of limited resources by species to help avoid competition in an ecological niche. In any environment, organisms compete for limited resources, so organisms and different species have to find ways to coexist with one another.
What is relatedness in biology?
Relatedness is the probability that two individuals share an allele due to recent common ancestry. This probability is expressed as the coefficient of relatedness , denoted by the symbol r. It ranges from 0 (unrelated) to 1 (clones or identical twins). The gene could exist in several varieties, or alleles.
What is an example of a coefficient?
A coefficient is a number that is multiplied by a variable of a single term or the terms of a polynomial. For example, in the term 7x, 7 is the coefficient.
How do I write a science resume with no experience?
Place other temporary or holiday jobs together, e.g. If you have no employment experience in the scientific field increase the detail about your science education, i.e. focus on your strengths in science.
What is a scientific resume?
As a scientist, your curriculum vitae is the chronicle of your research, presentations, teaching, publications and skill set. While a resume for a particular job may only be a few pages, a CV may cover dozens of pages if you are well-established in your career.
How do you write a science resume with no experience?
What is a good CV value?
Basically CV<10 is very good, 10-20 is good, 20-30 is acceptable, and CV>30 is not acceptable.
What does a high CV mean?
The coefficient of variation (CV) is the ratio of the standard deviation to the mean. The higher the coefficient of variation, the greater the level of dispersion around the mean. It is generally expressed as a percentage. The lower the value of the coefficient of variation, the more precise the estimate.
Does CV measure accuracy or precision?
Using the CV makes it easier to compare the overall precision of two analytical systems. The CV is a more accurate comparison than the standard deviation as the standard deviation typically increases as the concentration of the analyte increases. | https://lacnifranz.com/biology-resume/ |
This lecture presents ways of ascertaining how dependable information extracted from samples is likely to be. It covers standard deviation, coefficient of variation, and standard error. It also shows how to use pylab to produce histograms.
Image courtesy of Kevin Dooley on Flickr.
Session Activities
Lecture Videos
About this Video
Topics covered: Variance, standard deviation, standard error.
Resources
Recitation Videos
About this Video
Topics covered: Probability, statistics, Venn diagrams, distributions, standard deviation, Monte Carlo simulation, plotting graphs.
Check Yourself
What does the standard deviation tell us?
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It is a distance which describes the range +/- from the mean containing a particular fraction of the values; it describes the shape of the bell curve.
What is variance?
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A measure of how much spread there is in the possible different outcomes.
What is the coefficient of variation?
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The standard deviation divided by the mean. If it’s less than 1, the distribution is considered low-variance. | https://ocw.mit.edu/courses/6-00sc-introduction-to-computer-science-and-programming-spring-2011/pages/unit-2/lecture-15-statistical-thinking/ |
Purpose: There is widespread concern for the uptake and retention of cardiorespiratory physiotherapy (CRPT) specialists, with a lack of interest in specialising reported amongst final-year students in Canada, United Kingdom (UK), Australia, and New Zealand. Although the literature on this topic is limited, the reasons reported include limited clinical experiences whilst at university, alongside fears and anxieties that exist amongst undergraduates in relation to the requirements of qualified responsibilities, for example on-call working. In nurturing and promoting the specialism therefore, more understanding of the experiences of students prior to qualification that influence their views of pursuing CRPT is needed. The study aimed to explore final-year BSc (Hons) physiotherapy students’ experiences of CRPT that influence their views on future specialisation within the field. Methods: A qualitative method using a focus group with six participants from one final-year BSc (Hons) university cohort, selected using purposive sampling was conducted, underpinned by an interpretive approach. The interview guide was developed from a literature review. Verbatim transcription and thematic analysis was employed alongside analyst triangulation and reflexivity. Results: Four themes were identified: (1) Influential figures (Clinical-educator, CRPT clinical team and CRPT university lecturers), (2) Learning and teaching practices, (3) Care-giving challenges and (4) Factors external to CRPT; further sub-themes were presented. Quotations were used to corroborate the themes. Conclusion(s): This work demonstrates that there is considerable potential at pre-registration level to influence student views of pursuing CRPT as a career path. Increasing practical teaching sessions and acknowledging the acute CRPT environment, alongside discussions around care-giving challenges at university are identified as ways that may better prepare students for practice-education. Encountering passionate role models and experiencing a supportive environment during practice-education also increase student interest levels in CRPT alongside a practice-education environment that is supportive and conducive to learning. Ultimately, the study found that student interest in pursuing CRPT as a career path is multifactorial, and although the study demonstrates that the decision will be made during qualified rotations, opportunities provided at pre-registration level can favourably contribute towards future career specialisation. This study provides insight from one university cohort and whilst a reflexive approach, triangulation and a clear audit trail enhance trustworthiness of this work, there are limits to the transferability of findings. All participants had completed a cardiorespiratory placement and different findings may have been found if this experience had not been provided. Further work on this important topic, particularly focusing on the factors influencing the decision making process for career specialisation amongst newly qualified physiotherapists, is required to promote opportunities for cardiorespiratory workforce development. Implications: These findings are pertinent to all stakeholders to the cardiorespiratory specialty concerned with growing workforce capacity and is also useful in informing teaching practices within the university that the study took place, and may be useful to other institutions with similar student and programme characteristics. | https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/118622/ |
Objective. To describe a teaching challenge intended to increase faculty use of evidence-based and student-centered instructional strategies in the demanding school of pharmacy context with technology-savvy students.
Design. A teaching challenge was created that required faculty members to incorporate a “new-to-you” innovative teaching method in a class, course, or experiential activity. The method was linked to at least 1 of 7 evidence-based principles for effective teaching. Faculty members were exposed to colleagues' teaching strategies via brief voluntary presentations at department meetings.
Assessment. A post-challenge survey provided assessment data about the challenge. Responses to a baseline survey provided additional information about what faculty members were already doing (52% response rate). Eighty-one percent of faculty respondents completed the challenge. A wide array of new strategies (13 categories such as flipped classrooms and social media) was implemented and 75% included the use of technology. Nearly all respondents (96%) thought that participation in the challenge was worth the effort and planned to participate again the following year. All faculty members intended to continue using their new strategy and 56% planned additional modifications with future implementations. The challenge demonstrated how multiple goals of curricular improvement, faculty development, and student-centered instruction could be achieved together.
Conclusion. The teaching challenge motivated most of the faculty members to try something new to them. Links between evidence-based principles and day-to-day activities were strengthened. The new-to-you design placed the challenge within reach of faculty members regardless of their background, subject, or experience.
INTRODUCTION
Pharmacy faculty members are accountable for developing, delivering, and improving classroom and experiential curricula using a variety of methods, including active learning and assessments that are valid and reliable indicators of student performance. Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) Standards 9 through 15 ensure that this effort meets the professional requirements for the practice of pharmacy in the 21st century.1 Standard 26 emphasizes that faculty members continue to advance their skills and excel in their academic responsibilities, all within the environment of rapidly evolving teaching and healthcare delivery circumstances. Faculty members are also faced with growing expectations to use student-centered instructional methods that improve motivation and retention2 as well as adapt to evolving demands of an increasingly digitally oriented student body.3 Such demands may promote innovation by providing new tools for educational experiences. However, they could unintentionally reduce the chances for innovation by leaving little room for experimentation and reflection because faculty members have little time to consider how to use the new tools optimally rather than use them to replicate what is already occurring (eg, record a lecture and make it available online vs revising the material to engage students via short video clips and interactive media tools). Pressure to simultaneously cover required topics, use active-learning techniques, and adopt digital tools can be overwhelming. The willingness to experiment and innovate may be further hindered by the competing teaching, scholarship, and administrative responsibilities many faculty members have.
In 2010, the Department of Pharmacy Practice at Northeastern University School of Pharmacy completed a strategic planning exercise that identified priorities related to ACPE Standards 9 through 15 and 26, including 1 to evaluate and identify preferred teaching methods while working to design courses that encouraged students’ accountability for their own learning. The department curriculum task force assigned to this priority focused on strategies to develop faculty members as educators, realizing that the varied backgrounds, interests, professional trajectories, subject areas taught, and settings represented in the department posed challenges for identifying faculty development topics, especially given the wide range of years faculty members had spent teaching (1 to 40 years). Although the substantial diversity among faculty members posed challenges in terms of what types of faculty development programs were needed, if this diversity were harnessed, it could result in content that would enrich the experiences of all faculty members. We wanted to challenge faculty members to try something new that could improve teaching and learning in order to encourage innovation in a way that was applicable to all faculty members, regardless of their backgrounds and create synergy for faculty development from the individual experiences.
DESIGN
The faculty development activity embodied 3 components: diffusion of innovation theory, decomposed theory of planned behavior, and evidence-based insights for effective student learning. The diffusion of innovation theory inspired our effort. Everett Rogers defined diffusion as the process by which an innovation is communicated through certain channels over time among the members of a social system.4 It has been used for decades to study the adoption of a wide range of behaviors and programs. Others have applied it to the adoption of technology in teaching.5 The theory describes 5 attributes of an innovation that affect its adoption: relative advantage, compatibility, complexity, trialability, and observability. The theory addresses communication channels for sharing the innovation and that people rely on “near peers” for evaluation of information that we have strong feelings about; however, mass media channels influence responses to innovation that we are neutral about. The “effects over time” and “impacts of the social system” elements of the theory address factors associated with the adoption process (knowledge, persuasion, decision, implementation, and confirmation) and the norms associated with innovation adoption.
We also sought to create a faculty development activity that was consistent with the decomposed theory of planned behavior.6 This theory identified the following components leading to behavioral intention: attitudes based on perceived usefulness; perceived ease of use and compatibility; subjective norms based on student, peer, and superiors’ influences; perceived behavioral control based on self-efficacy; and facilitating conditions. These factors affect adoption of Web 2.0 technologies and the biggest obstacle to the application of technology in teaching has been the faculties’ reluctance to use it. These concepts are also consistent with numerous theories regarding adults’ (and children’s) preferences for self-directed learning. Others have applied these concepts to predicting faculty members’ attitudes towards, interest in, and use of Web 2.0 capabilities.7
The remaining component that we wanted to address was how to help faculty members connect with student experiences that were potentially less comfortable and familiar to them. We used the learning principles outlined in “How Learning Works: Seven Research Based Principles for Smart Teaching” as a foundation for our work.8 It offered advancements in applying the science of learning to education to help faculty members see how evidence-based findings could be applied to improve teaching effectiveness. The 7 principles are: (1) students’ prior knowledge can help or hinder learning; (2) how students organize knowledge influences how they learn and apply what they know; (3) students’ motivation determines, directs, and sustains what they do to learn; (4) to develop mastery, students must acquire component skills, practice integrating them, and know when to apply what they have learned; (5) goal-directed practice coupled with targeted feedback enhances the quality of students’ learning; (6) students’ current level of development interacts with the social, emotional, and intellectual climate of the course to impact learning; and (7) to become self-directed learners, students must learn to monitor and adjust their approaches to learning. Dr. Ambrose, vice provost for teaching and learning at our institution, has conducted workshops on campus and faculty members have numerous materials available to them on these principles.
The 2 theories and 7 principles reinforced each other and guided us in the creation of a faculty development activity with the following characteristics: (1) personalized to account for the different starting places of any 1 person to improve its compatibility with faculty members’ comfort level and the extent to which it can be tried/tested relative to their prior experience; (2) use of “near peers” to share experiences in a safe environment with voluntary presentations at department meetings and encouragement for the sharing of failures as well as successes; (3) trialability with the requirement that something must be tried while anything could be tried, with allowance for use of small-scale, low-risk activities; trying something was critical to gaining a better understanding of the process and reflecting about its value or lack thereof; (4) principles derived from evidence-based teaching. By coupling the challenge with evidence-based principles that were not tied to a specific strategy, a faculty member could see how innovations in teaching and use of technologies could be aligned with relevant, proven concepts independent of the innovative strategies themselves; (5) a systematic reflection on the experience to help bring forward faculty members; underlying attitudes, norms, and perceived behavioral control. The purpose of this study was to describe the New-for-You Reflective Teaching Challenge and evaluate results from the first year of its implementation in which we conducted curriculum improvement and faculty development under the circumstances routinely faced by faculty in colleges and schools of pharmacy.
Reflective Teaching Challenge
We offered the New-for-You Reflective Teaching Challenge to meet the priority identified in the department’s strategic plan. The goals of the challenge were to promote individual faculty member development and to create a regular, informal forum for dissemination of faculty teaching strategies in a timely manner. The challenge required faculty members to incorporate at least 1 “new-to-you” teaching method in a class, course, or experiential activity during 2013 that was linked to at least 1 of the 7 research-based principles for smart teaching.8
The technique had to be new to the faculty member but did not have to be completely novel to the academic community, thus the “new-to-you” designation. Teaching techniques were broadly defined and could include, but were not limited to, the adoption of technologies (eg, audience response software, use of interactive features of Web-based learning management systems), active-learning strategies, or other innovations such as hybrid classroom models and synchronous or asynchronous teaching strategies. Faculty members were required to link their educational technique to 1 of the 7 principles in order to encourage other faculty members and their colleagues to apply educational evidence as they designed the new-to-you innovations. However, the ultimate choice of the innovation was left to each faculty member. The challenge was proposed and discussed in a department meeting, and approved by the faculty members prior to implementation. We deliberately did not implement any specific training on educational principles, strategies, or technologies, as we were striving to conduct faculty development from a practical application approach that placed responsibility on the individual faculty member to initiate the learning required to meet the challenge. University resources regarding teaching and learning were discussed and faculty members were encouraged to use such services when developing their strategies.
We established time in monthly department meetings for brief (<20 minutes for 2), informal presentations of the methods faculty members tried and reflection about the success (or failure) of the activities. The goal of these presentations was to provide faculty members with the opportunity to hear the experiences of fellow colleagues, and to share insights and suggestions that could be implemented in upcoming semesters or advanced pharmacy practice experiences (APPEs) or, in some cases, during course or APPE in progress/being taught during the current semester. To establish individual accountability for participation in the challenge, the department asked faculty members to nominally report whether they had participated in the challenge in the annual performance evaluation.
EVALUATION AND ASSESMENT
Two Web-based survey instruments were used to evaluate this initiative. The first survey instrument was designed and deployed at the start of the New-for-You Reflective Teaching Challenge in January 2013 to capture a baseline profile of the teaching methods faculty members were using. The survey instrument contained examples of teaching techniques obtained from the literature and assessed the type and frequency of use during the 2012 calendar year. These data were used to establish the breadth of teaching strategies used by the department prior to the challenge, as well as to give faculty members an opportunity to reflect on the strategies that they had used. The survey instrument also asked respondents to identify several strategies they were considering trialing in the 2013 challenge.
The second online survey instrument was used to gather data regarding challenge participation, specific new-to-you strategy or strategies used during 2013, and information about the setting in which the trials were conducted. Faculty demographic data, including generational data, were collected to ascertain any potential descriptive subgroup differences in the use of different types of strategies, including educational technology-based experiences. This post-challenge survey instrument also included questions to assess perceived effectiveness of the newly tried educational strategy and motivating factors behind participation in the challenge and technique selection, and provided a forum for each faculty participant to reflect on lessons learned.
The reflective component was a critical part of the challenge, as we sought to facilitate a careful review of the experimentation and potentially achieve a metacognitive educational experience by asking faculty members to share and discuss their experiences with their peers at faculty meetings.9 To lead each participant through the reflective process, the online post-challenge survey instrument asked faculty members to describe what activity was new for them and its role in teaching, which educational principles were linked to their activities, what happened overall, what were the implications of incorporating the new technique in the learning arena, and whether they would continue to use the activity as-is or with modifications in the future.
Additional questions solicited faculty member perceptions of the value of the brief reflection sessions at department meetings. No cost information was collected as we did not anticipate additional costs to be incurred beyond time spent. Survey logic redirected faculty members who did not participate in the challenge to questions asking for reasons for nonparticipation, and intent and motivation to participate in the future. This post-challenge survey instrument was administered in November-December 2013. Study investigators with educational and assessment expertise developed and pilot-tested both survey instruments.
Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the results of both surveys. In the second survey, 1 of the study investigators qualitatively reviewed all open-ended questions in the reflective component of the survey and summarized major themes identified. The Fisher exact test was used to specifically compare flipped classroom use. The analysis describes how faculty members met the challenge and identifies patterns associated with implementation. Sharing of the data was approved by the Northeastern University Institutional Review Board.
Thirty-one members of the department were employed by the university for the entire 2013 calendar year and had assigned teaching responsibilities. Five were in co-funded positions and 11 were tenured or tenure-track. Five specialized in the area of social and administrative sciences and the remaining department faculty members specialized in pharmacy practice. The mean number of years in academia was 13.7 (median 12, range 1 to 40). Sixteen participants (52%) completed the initial baseline assessment survey instrument, which captured the frequency of use of a variety of teaching techniques during the 2012 calendar year (Figure 1). The most frequently used classroom techniques were traditional lecture, the Blackboard Learning Management System (Blackboard Inc, Washington, DC) discussion board feature, and audience response software (clickers). In the experiential setting, the most frequently used techniques were peer teaching, case discussion, and team-based learning.
Twenty-eight (90%) faculty members completed the post-challenge survey instrument, including the reflection. Of the 28 who completed the survey instrument, 25 completed the challenge (81%), while 3 (19%) did not. Forty percent of respondents who completed the challenge identified themselves as members of the baby boomer generation (1946 to 1964), 40% were members of Generation X ( 1965 to 1979), and 20% were from Generation Y (1980 to 1999). When responses were separated into groups based on self-identified generations, we found no significant differences in strategies selected based on the descriptive data comparison, but more Generation X participants (n=4) tried a flipped classroom strategy (p>0.5 for comparison with Generation Y (n=0) and baby boomer (n=1) generation groups using the Fisher Exact Test).
The majority (67%) of participants reported trying 1 new strategy, while 26% tried 2, and 6% tried 3 new strategies during 2013. When asked to rank the factors that motivated them, the top 3 ranked factors were “to improve student engagement” (17 times [68%]), “to improve student learning” (15 times [60%]), and “to improve teaching” (15 times [60%]). The motivating factor that was least frequently cited on the survey instrument was related to assessment of student achievement relative to learning outcomes (4 times [16%]). When selected, it was the third most relevant choice for implementation of an innovative teaching method. Only 4 respondents ranked “to meet 2013 challenge” in their top 3 motivating factors. The final choice, “to improve patient care,” was only selected 5 times (20%).
Nineteen faculty members (56%) tried their 34 new strategies most commonly in face-to-face classes, 10 (29%) tried them in experiential settings (APPEs and service learning), and 3 (9%) tried them in laboratories/seminars. The face-to-face class size was >50 in 83% of reports and <19 in 18%, and the class was required in 72% of reports. Table 1 reports the types of new-to-you strategies reported in the post-challenge survey instrument. Themes discovered from qualitative review of the survey responses included frequent use of flipped classroom strategies (or related activities), novel presentation software, addition of video media, and use of social media. As a group, faculty reported applying each of the 7 principles of research-based teaching. The most frequently reported principle was “how students organize knowledge influences how they learn and apply what they know” (14 [56%]). Other principles cited were “to develop mastery, students must acquire component skills, practice integrating them and know when to apply what they learned” (13 [52%]) and “students’ motivation determines, directs and sustains what they do to learn” (12 [48%]).
The 25 respondents who completed the challenge also answered the reflective questions. When asked how the success of the new technique was evaluated, 20% reviewed student-learning outcomes, 24% obtained peer feedback, and the remainder reviewed student evaluations or university-administered course survey instruments. When asked about the implications of the challenge on their faculty development (respondents could check all that apply), 60% reported that they explored the pedagogy of the new method, 68% learned the operation of the new method, and 84% reported learning the advantages and disadvantages of the new technique. Ninety-two percent of faculty members reported that the technique met their intended goals. Ninety-six percent stated that participation in the challenge was worth the effort and that they planned to participate in 2014. Forty-four percent of respondents planned to continue to use their new technique without modifications and 56% with some change. For a majority of respondents (83%), the average time spent on the challenge, including background research and implementation, was 9 hours. The remaining faculty members indicated that their respective novel strategies were developed and implemented over the course of a year, so average time spent could not be included as no specific estimate was provided.
The 3 faculty members who responded to the post-survey instrument but did not participate in the challenge cited that they were too busy with other responsibilities, and 1 cited lack of appropriate faculty development. All were motivated by other faculty members’ presentations in department meetings and indicated they would participate in the next year’s challenge.
Nineteen (76%) respondents attended at least 1 of the brief presentations by a colleague describing a new-to-you strategy in departmental meetings. Eighteen (95%) respondents strongly agreed or agreed that the presentations were interesting and 12 (63%) strongly agreed or agreed that they found a strategy that they planned to try in the future. Of those who attended their colleagues’ presentations, 6 (32%) reported developing a new idea for a subsequent new-to-you challenge based on these presentations.
DISCUSSION
The New-for-You Reflective Teaching Challenge accomplished its goal of motivating most of the participants to explore methods that were new to them in a variety of settings. However, faculty members in our department had trialed educational technologies even before the challenge (Figure 1). Participants were at different starting places in terms of adopting new techniques as evidenced by the diverse activities in Table 1, which represented a cross-section of faculty teaching in the department.
Faculty willingness to require nominal documentation of participation in the challenge as part of an annual performance evaluation, combined with the high survey response rate on the post-challenge survey, suggests a culture of commitment to improving teaching in the department. This culture has evolved over the past decade, with adoption of mandatory, formative, peer-faculty teaching assessments,10 and faculty opinion leaders adopting various teaching strategies and demonstrating what is possible while acknowledging the shortfalls.11-14 The finding that 26% of respondents tried more than 1 strategy also provided evidence of this continuous teaching quality improvement culture and the overall perceived value of the challenge. Interestingly, 100% of respondents voluntarily disclosed their names on the post-challenge survey instrument, indicating a culture of openness to continuously improve that was consistent with total quality management principles.15 Lastly, the culture of assessment was also evident in that all faculty members assessed the technique in some form upon completion of the learning session. The responses to the baseline survey instrument also suggested a culture of quality improvement as faculty had already been adopting a range of techniques before we initiated the challenge.
When reviewing the faculty responses, it was noted that 75% of all teaching innovations required the use of technology in one form or another. However, the specific innovations used varied in nature, with 13 separate categories represented. The most frequently cited categories of innovative techniques were the use of flipped classrooms, the use of some method of social media, and the use of a new assignment or project. Additionally, approximately half of all respondents indicated that their teaching strategies were successfully implemented and did not require any future modifications. Faculty members were comfortable exploring new teaching methodologies and were generally successful in their approaches during the challenge.
The challenge enabled most faculty members to stretch themselves as what would be expected by the theories and evidence that guided the design and implementation of the challenge. The importance of faculty members’ feeling comfortable, regardless of the starting place, was an essential component to having their teaching methods evolve. That aspect also contributed to the value of sharing by “near peers” that occurred during faculty meetings. Faculty members were forthcoming about what did not work as planned and these outcomes were received in the mindset of continuous quality improvement, which contributed to the success of the program. The fact that 63% heard about a technique that they would use in the future during a brief presentation supported the importance of the sharing component in the implementation of the challenge. The sharing as well as mandatory reporting of participation on merit documentation also created a sense of accountability among department faculty members.
Limitations of this study included the self-reported nature of all data with no independent validation of what occurred. Additionally, it was unclear whether these results would be generalizable as elements of the social system context enabled the challenge to occur. While some faculty development activities about various topics, including course assessment and transitioning courses to the online setting occurred in 2013, they were not explicitly linked to the challenge. The department did not provide proactive faculty development related to the 7 principles. We provided no definitions or classifications for the techniques included in baseline or post-challenge survey instruments and faculty members could have interpreted names of activities and strategies differently. Lastly, the online survey instrument was tested by the coauthors but not by others, and no reliability-related or validity-related studies were performed.
While there may not have been direct outcomes data to support the impact of the new-to-you approaches identified through the challenge, the positive anecdotal feedback indicated that they benefited both the faculty members and their students. The department agreed to continue the new-to-you challenge for the next academic year with the goal that faculty members will continue to seek out innovative approaches and integrate them into their teaching activities. While faculty members may run into limitations with identifying new approaches to teaching, the possibilities for continued quality improvement are endless. Department task forces will use our study findings to help guide future faculty development offerings to ensure that faculty members feel confident and competent to implement any of the described techniques.
SUMMARY
The New-for-You Reflective Teaching Challenge provided a method for faculty members in our department to learn, implement, integrate, and evaluate new and different teaching strategies into their classroom and experiential offerings. These various teaching approaches in differing settings had a high level of practical application and strengthened links between evidence-based educational principles and day-to-day classroom activities in a practical context. Not only did a number of faculty members move outside of their previous comfort zones in their educational approaches, students experienced new learning methods that they may not have otherwise encountered. The new-to-you design placed accomplishing the challenge within reach of each faculty member, regardless of background, subject, or experience in academia. It also allowed the department to meet the goals of curricular improvement, faculty development, and student-centered instruction concurrently.
- Received December 30, 2013.
- Accepted March 18, 2014. | https://www.ajpe.org/content/78/5/103 |
1) Below are your program student learning outcomes (SLOs). Please update as needed.
The student learning outcomes are 1) attainment of further in-depth technical knowledge in subdiscipline of specialization; 2) an ability to perform engineering utilizing state-of-the-art research and techniques in area of specialization; 3) proficiency in oral and written communication; 4) obtain experience in teaching at the university level; and 5) an ability to carry out independently original research in area of expertise.
2) Your program's SLOs are published as follows. Please update as needed.
Student Handbook. URL, if available online:
Information Sheet, Flyer, or Brochure URL, if available online:
UHM Catalog. Page Number:
Course Syllabi. URL, if available online:
Other:
Other:
3) Below is the link(s) to your program's curriculum map(s). If we do not have your curriculum map, please upload it as a PDF.
- File (10/02/2019)
4) For your program, the percentage of courses that have course SLOs explicitly stated on the syllabus, a website, or other publicly available document is as follows. Please update as needed.
1-50%
51-80%
81-99%
100%
5) For the period June 1, 2010 to September 30, 2011: State the assessment question(s) and/or assessment goals. Include the SLOs that were targeted, if applicable.
During this period, the department developed student performance evaluations for the dissertation defense which include assessment of the program SLOs. The questions cover the degree to which the student is able to demonstrate each of the outcomes at the time of the exam as well as an overall assessment.
6) State the type(s) of evidence gathered to answer the assessment question and/or meet the assessment goals that were given in Question #5.
The evidence to be used includes the completed dissertation document and the procedings of the final oral defense.
7) State how many persons submitted evidence that was evaluated. If applicable, please include the sampling technique used.
The assessment program was completed in summer 2011 and will be approved for implementation beginning in the Fall 2011. No persons have yet been evaluated. All PhD students will be evaluated.
8) Who interpreted or analyzed the evidence that was collected? (Check all that apply.)
Faculty committee
Ad hoc faculty group
Department chairperson
Persons or organization outside the university
Faculty advisor
Advisors (in student support services)
Students (graduate or undergraduate)
Dean/Director
Other: will be all the members of the student's PhD committee
9) How did they evaluate, analyze, or interpret the evidence? (Check all that apply.)
Scored exams/tests/quizzes
Used professional judgment (no rubric or scoring guide used)
Compiled survey results
Used qualitative methods on interview, focus group, open-ended response data
External organization/person analyzed data (e.g., external organization administered and scored the nursing licensing exam)
Other: will be using a rubric
10) For the assessment question(s) and/or assessment goal(s) stated in Question #5:
Summarize the actual results.
Not yet available.
11) State how the program used the results or plans to use the results. Please be specific.
We will use the results to evaluate program course requirements, course effectiveness, need for different/additional requirements such as additional teaching instruction, research methods course or oral/writing presentation course.
12) Beyond the results, were there additional conclusions or discoveries?
This can include insights about assessment procedures, teaching and learning, program aspects and so on.
Not yet available.
13) Other important information.
Please note: If the program did not engage in assessment, please explain. If the program created an assessment plan for next year, please give an overview.
This was described in the answers to the previous questions.
Rubrics were created for assessment of all SLOs at the end of program when the completed dissertation is available and the dissertation defense procedings take place. The results will be reported to and evaluated by the Department Assessment Committee which will determine recommended program modifications. | https://manoa.hawaii.edu/assessment/update2/view.php?view=502 |
Psychological skills and methods that can be applied to working with children and adolescents in sport are examined from a theory-to-practice as well as a practice-to-theory approach. In addition to an emphasis on the reciprocal nature of theory and practice, the philosophy adopted in this paper includes a focus on personal development rather than performance, and a multidisciplinary or integrated sport science approach to understanding children’s experiences in the physical domain. The types of psychological skills discussed are self-perceptions, motivation, positive attitude, coping with stress, and moral development. Psychological methods include environmental influences such as physical practice methods, coach and parent education, communication styles, and modeling; and individual control strategies in the form of goal setting, relaxation, and mental imagery. Numerous anecdotal stories based on the author’s experiences working with children and adolescents are used to support the major philosophical themes advanced in this paper.
Christopher L. Kowalski and Wade P. Kooiman
Coaches influence children’s experiences in sports and have a significant impact on the psychosocial development of young athletes. It is important to understand the coaching-related components of youth sports, including game strategy, motivation, teaching technique, and character building. Coaching efficacy is multidimensional, has a number of sources, and highlights relationships that exist between the coach, athlete, and team. In the present study, parents and coaches’ perceptions of coaching efficacy were examined to see what variables may affect their responses. Coaches’ character-building efficacy was influenced by previous playing experience. Parents’ perceptions of coaches’ efficacy were collectively influenced by parents’ previous playing and coaching experience, attendance at sport-specific educational sessions, and the perceived ability of their child’s team. | https://journals.humankinetics.com/search?q=%22children%E2%80%99s%20experiences%22 |
The word practitioner is defined by the Oxford Dictionary as “A person actively engaged in an art, discipline, or profession.”
Let’s consider this for a moment and how it applies to the music teaching profession. A practitioner is someone who actively and regularly engages, in a disciplined manner, in a profession or art form.
To me, this is epitomised by the memory of my teacher, who was continually enthralled with music. When he was not educating his many students, he would be either practicing technique, learning new repertoire, or listening to music for inspiration.
To me, this conscious and systematic discipline of being actively engaged in your passion is what separates the average music tutor from a music educator. Let’s look at five things that truly effective teachers are always doing…
1. An Effective Teacher Needs to Practice What They Preach
How many piano tutors do you think there are out there?
Yes, most of us took some piano or guitar lessons as a child, learnt to read basic music at school, then probably read some books and watched some Youtube Videos. Some of us even chose music as a partial elective at school, or may have attended a band camp at some stage.
We could then take this limited knowledge we possess, and sell it off to someone who has not yet commenced their musical journey, with the premise that as a tutor or “teacher” you can actually help them improve. Sadly, this is the case with some who call themselves tutors, rather than glorified hobbyists.
A good educator must first have mastered their art and studied the principles underlying human development to fully understand how to teach someone the art of music. This goes far beyond replicating your musical history, or relaying what you think was the right path when you first learnt music.
This means looking critically and objectively at your learning journey, your educators, and at yourself. Were all of your teachers qualified? If not, that’s fine, but what did they teach you that was worthwhile? What didn’t they teach you? How can you fill this gap for your students?
Was your learning journey a structured regimental one filled with many hours of rote repetition? Or were you perhaps brought up in a musical family where playtime meant a jam session with your siblings or parents? In either case, what were you missing? How could your process have been advanced?
Finally, what about your current teaching methodology? Does it remain stagnant and trapped in the past, or does it evolve alongside you?
Bottom line: an effective teacher must practice what he or she preaches and be conscious of how and why they teach the way they do.
2. An Effective Teacher Needs To Stay Up To Date
Still teaching with the same old John Thompson’s Easiest Piano Course?
You may think since it helped you learn, then it must help your students in the same way.
Well, consider this: if the system or course was written so long ago that your teacher’s teacher used it, and in 2018 it hasn’t changed at all, should you still use it?
Unless it’s an indoctrinated staple such as Miles Davis’ Kind of Blue, the answer is a resounding no! You need to stay up to date on the latest teaching resources and methodology, particularly when they demonstrate proven results. One that I particularly like is the Australian Based “Blitz Your Theory” by S. Coates, since it breaks down traditionally difficult and dry theory into manageable and engaging portions, which include rewards and challenges for younger students.
What about the way you teach technique, even classical technique?
Whilst playing four-octave scales based on semiquavers alongside a rigid metronome at 120 bpm was always the epitome of my childhood, I much preferred playing modes with my Jazz teacher who accompanied me whilst we improvised together.
I have applied this principle to my students when it comes to teaching technique. Make it enjoyable, goal-based, and interactive, since that is what they are paying for. Besides, you will create some fond memories in the hearts and minds of your students and their parents if you create music with them rather than supervise them playing scales to the pulse of a machine.
Through study of new methods and techniques, you will remain current. Never stop searching!
3. An Effective Teacher Needs To Engage Their Students
If you’re a teacher, chances are, students today were born in a completely different time than when you grew up. And yes, whilst the greats and classics are always an essential basis for a strong musical foundation, there are many notable current composers and musicians writing repertoire worth learning!
This late Beethoven music which seemed to defy the classical traditions and was frowned upon by some. Recall the introverted Thelonious Monk who was not widely recognised or appreciated to a proper degree until years after his time. Your student’s musical tastes will eventually develop and branch out, perhaps in a different direction from yours.
Hence, be open and willing to learn and teach new repertoire which engages your students.
Thinking classical and baroque? Mix it up with some lesser-known composers whose surnames aren’t Beethoven, Mozart, or Bach. Want to improve phrasing on a melody? Teach your students a jazz piece which requires swung rhythms and 12/8 pulses. Need contemporary repertoire? Then try some modern day composers who are not yet six feet under the earth – you may be surprised by what you find.
4. An Effective Teacher Learns From Others
Meeting and interacting with other teachers of your art form will give you perspective and show you new methods or angles which you may not have yet considered.
Even if you are a respected and established teacher, you cannot deny that somewhere out there is an equally accomplished teacher who may have a few worthwhile ideas and strategies.
This can even be the case for younger or less experienced teachers who have a fresh perspective on the profession. I personally experienced this when observing a lesson from one of the drum teachers at my studio, Contreras Music. Although she was younger and less experienced, she had different ways of building rapport with her students, and even incorporated some music-based games which I had never seen in a private lesson context. I soon recognised and praised her for this, and asked if I could use some of her strategies in my lessons. The results have been very positive and interjected a breath of fresh air into my lessons.
5. A Effective Teacher Is Constantly Practicing
Ask yourself a last but brutally honest question: compared with your most advanced student, how do your weekly hours and goals compare?
Yes, you have been spending long hours teaching and managing the studio, but have you matched your top student’s daily practice routine? Are you learning songs with the same enthusiasm and determination as themt?
How can you, as an effective teacher, ask your students to practice scales and learn new songs if you yourself are not doing the same? Even if you have spent decades learning one instrument in one style of music, can you honestly say that you have covered every angle of your genre and mastered all of the composers who had written for the period and the instrument? I personally look up to Vladimir Horowitz, who even during his later years has still dedicated himself to being a practitioner, a performer, a concert pianist. See him for yourself here performing the Chopin Polonaise in A flat Major, op.53:
Push Your Students and Yourself!
Being a music teacher who inspires their students and produces results takes continuous self-critique, awareness, and practice.
So take a stand above the rest, prove yourself a true educator, and push your students further than you ever went by being an active practitioner of your art form.
Join Musical U to complement your lessons with at-home lessons in musicality to accelerate your music journey!
The post 5 Habits of Effective Music Teachers appeared first on Musical U. | https://www.musicality.world/5-habits-of-effective-music-teachers/ |
Samantha is currently well on her way with her PhD in Medical Studies as part of the Psychology Applied to Health (PAtH) group. Her main research interest is in facilitating behaviour change through impulse management.
In 2008 Samantha obtained her BSc in Psychology from the University of Plymouth which was followed by an MSc in Psychological Research Methods in 2009. Following these early years she moved around between Australia, The Netherlands and the UK to satisfy an interest in travelling. Since 2012 Samantha has been part of the University of Exeter, firstly during her MSc in Social and Organisational Psychology and currently her PhD.
EHPS 2015: Identifying techniques for modifying impulsive influences on eating behaviour: A systematic review.
Annual Research event 2015: Identifying impulse management techniques to support eating behaviour change: A systematic review.
UKSBM 2014 Identifying impulse management techniques to support eating behaviour change: A systematic review.
EHPS 2014: Patient experiences of free internet-based weight loss interventions.
In Samantha's PhD project she focuses on modifying impulsive processes to facilitate behaviour change in health interventions. She is developing a novel practical intervention to facilitate weight management which builds on dual-process models of behaviour (e.g. Reflective Impulsive Model; Strack & Deutsch) and evidence-based techniques identified in a systematic review conducted early in this PhD. The intervention is delivered in the form of a smartphone app (ImpulsePal) and was built using formal intervention development methods (Intervention Mapping).
Identifying, defining, and categorizing techniques to modify impulsive processes associated with unhealthy eating.
Developing a novel weight loss intervention using Intervention Mapping.
ImpulsePal: A feasibility study to aid the planning of a randomized controlled trial and refinement of a smartphone app-based intervention to support weight loss.
Currently funded through a UEMS PhD Studentship.
Techniques for Modifying Impulsive Processes Associated with Unhealthy Eating: a Systematic Review.
Objective: This systematic review aimed to; (i) identify and categorize techniques used to modify or manage impulsive processes associated with unhealthy eating behavior, (ii) describe the mechanisms targeted by such techniques and (iii) summarize available evidence on the effectiveness of these techniques.
Methods: Searches of 5 bibliographic databases identified studies, published in English since 1993, that evaluated at least one technique to modify impulsive processes affecting eating in adults. Data were systematically extracted on study characteristics, population, study quality, intervention techniques, proposed mechanisms of action and outcomes. Effectiveness evidence was systematically collated and described without meta-analysis.
Results: Ninety-two studies evaluated 17 distinct impulse management techniques. They were categorized according to whether they aimed to (1) modify the strength of impulses, or (2) engage the reflective system or other resources in identifying, suppressing or otherwise managing impulses. Although higher quality evidence is needed to draw definitive conclusions, promising changes in unhealthy food consumption and food cravings were observed for visuospatial loading, physical activity, and if-then planning, typically for up to 1-day follow-up.
Conclusions:. A wide range of techniques have been evaluated and some show promise for use in weight management interventions. However, larger-scale, more methodologically-robust, community based studies with longer follow-up times are needed to establish whether such techniques can have a long-term impact on eating patterns.
Informing the development of online weight management interventions: a qualitative investigation of primary care patient perceptions.
Background: the internet is a potentially promising medium for delivering weight loss interventions. The current study sought to explore factors that might influence primary care patients' initial uptake and continued use (up to four-weeks) of such programmes to help inform the development of novel, or refinement of existing, weight management interventions. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 patients purposively sampled based on age, gender and BMI from a single rural general practice. The interviews were conducted 4 weeks after recruitment at the general practice and focused on experiences with using one of three freely available weight loss websites. Thematic Analysis was used to analyse the data. Results: Findings suggested that patients were initially motivated to engage with internet-based weight loss programmes by their accessibility and novelty. However, continued use was influenced by substantial facilitators and barriers, such as time and effort involved, reaction to prompts/reminders, and usefulness of information. Facilitation by face-to-face consultations with the GP was reported to be helpful in supporting change. Conclusions: Although primary care patients may not be ready yet to solely depend on online interventions for weight loss, their willingness to use them shows potential for use alongside face-to-face weight management advice or intervention. Recommendations to minimise barriers to engagement are provided.
A review and content analysis of engagement, functionality, aesthetics, information quality, and change techniques in the most popular commercial apps for weight management. | http://medicine.exeter.ac.uk/people/profile/index.php?web_id=Samantha_van_Beurden |
Describe biological and environmental factors in Personality development.
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Question: Discuss biological and environmental factors in personality development.
Answer:
Biological Factors: By and large, the influences of biological factors on personality structure are limited and indirect.
The biological factors include genetic, hereditary factors, physical appearance and physique and rate of maturation.
Most of these factors have been elaborately discussed in the chapter on development in this book. For personality development, the characteristics such as — aggressiveness, nervousness, timidity and sociability are strongly influenced by genetic endowment.
The constitutional make-up — which is also largely determined by heredity—influences a person’s personality characteristics and influences his personality development in an indirect way. The children reliably classified as active, moderately active or quiet are actually the differences attributable to hereditary endowments, although training and learning may produce noticable modifications. Here, the environment and culture provide a decisive role.
The influence cast by the physical appearance and physique have been thoroughly discussed on the section of physical development and needs no repetition. Only thing to be pointed out is that any deficiency in physical appearance or physique can be compensated by other achievements made in the individual’s life.
The rate of maturing is another important factor in causing striking variations at various ages at which the child reaches due to chronological development. The differences in behaviour is noticeable in the relatively mature or immature adolescents of the same age.
This difference may be due to the adolescent’s exposure to different social-psychological environments. A late maturing boy looks younger than his age and is likely to be regarded and treated as immature by others, while the early maturing boy is likely to be credited with being more grown-up socially and emotionally.
But a caution has to be considered in over-emphasizing the influence of physical characters on personality development. Because, although the rate of maturing and associated factors may affect personality development, the relationship between physical make-up and psychological characteristics is not very rigid and categorical. The relationship can be influenced by a vast number of complex, interacting factors determining the individual’s personality structure.
Environmental Factors of Personality Development: Some environmental factors which affect the development of personality. Four important set of factors are explained below:
Social Acceptance: This is an important factor influencing personality development. We all live in a social group where we expect approval and appreciation of the members of the group. When a person’s performance behaviour and role play is according to group expectations, he gets the approval of the group members. This is an important criteria for self-evaluation by an individual and it influences his self-concept to a large extent.
This factor influences people differently based on the importance they lay on social acceptance. To some people social acceptance holds no value. They will not be affected by the comments of people or by the impression people have of them. People who lay importance on group and who are liked by the group will have a more friendly and congenial nature than those who are rejected by the group.
The degree of impact of social acceptance on the behaviour of the person will depend on two factors:
- The level of security a person has about his status in the group, and
- The importance he gives to social acceptance.
If a person feels secure of his status, he will act freely and not get influenced by others. Again, if the person attaches a lot of value to social acceptance, he will always try to act more to the approval of the members of the group. High social acceptance makes people more outgoing, flexible, daring and active than others with moderate social popularity. But such people, due,to their feeling of superiority are not able to build close relationships with people. They fail to exude the warmth which is required for building a close personal relationship. The reason why these people remain aloof is that they have a feeling of superiority.
There are people who face social rejection as well, on the contrary. These people want Social acceptance but people reject them. The person who faces rejection develops a lot of anger and resentment against the people who have not shown him acceptance. Such persons also become depressed, sad and unhappy. If rejection is faced early in life, the children may become juvenile delinquents (committing a crime before adulthood) or criminals later in life. If in early life a child has good social experiences, as an adult he would be better able to adjust in society and become healthy social members, otherwise they may become antisocial elements.
Social Deprivation: This factor has a huge impact on personality development. Those people who do not get the opportunities to experience social contacts including, love and affection are called socially deprived. Such people become socially isolated and it is highly damaging for the very young and the old people, influencing their personality adversely. Young children are not able to develop a healthy and normal personality. They behave in a socially unacceptable manner and people do not have favorable opinion of them.
Educational Factors: Educational factors are very important for the development of personality. Teachers, school, college and how the child’s experiences are with them, how he regards them, how his attitude is towards school and college, teachers and fellow students, and towards the importance of studies affect his personality a lot. Students enjoy their time at school if they have a favorable outlook towards academics and enjoy warm, cordial relationships with their teachers and peer group. This brings confidence in them and raises their self-esteem.
The opposite happens if the children do not view education as a rewarding experience. If students are psychologically and physically ready for education, their attitude will be favourable.
The emotional climate in the institution affects the attitude of the student towards it, also motivating him or demotivating him. The child’s general emotional reactions, his classroom behaviour, his self-evaluation and evaluation of others, all are affected by the environment in the school.
In addition to the above, the student-teacher relationship plays a major role in influencing the personality of the child. The approach of the teachers towards the students, the teacher’s principles, the disciplinary techniques they use and the teacher’s personality as well’ s how the child views it all are major factors. The students’ academic achievement is influenced in turn, which influences his social and self-evaluation. Having a warm and friendly relationship with teachers helps students to become high achievers while if it is hostile, punitive and rejecting, child will not be able to achieve much. A comfortable relationship will improve self-confidence and self-esteem.
Family Determinants: At all stages of life, family plays a major role in influencing the personality of individuals, both directly and indirectly. The different child-training methods that are used to shape a child’s personality, and how the members communicate their interest, attitude and values directly influence personality. If parents show too much strictness, children become dependent Upon external controls and even become impulsive when they are away from parents influence.
Children follow their parents and their personality traits become similar to their parents through imitation. For example, nervous, anxious and serious parents also make their children nervous and they have sudden angry outbursts. Those children who live with warm, loving, intellectual parents become social and wholesome personalities. Such children develop feelings of affection and goodwill for people outside the home also. | https://ignouanswers.com/question/describe-biological-and-environmental-factors-in-personality-development/ |
Wikis as shared digital artifacts may enable users to participate in processes of knowledge building. To what extent and with which quality knowledge building can take place is assumed to depend on the interrelation between people’s prior knowledge and the information available in a wiki. In two experimental studies we examined the impact on learning and knowledge building of the redundancy (Study 1) and polarity (Study 2) between participants’ prior knowledge and information available in the wiki. Based on the co-evolution model of cognitive and social systems, external assimilation and accommodation were used as dependent variables to measure knowledge building. The results supported the hypotheses that a medium level of redundancy and a high level of polarity foster external accommodation processes. External assimilation was stimulated by low redundancy and a high level of polarity. Moreover, we found that individual learning was influenced by the degree of external assimilation.
Citation
Moskaliuk, J., Kimmerle, J. & Cress, U. (2012). Collaborative knowledge building with wikis: The impact of redundancy and polarity. Computers & Education, 58(4), 1049-1057. Elsevier Ltd. Retrieved October 1, 2022 from https://www.learntechlib.org/p/67468/.
This record was imported from Computers & Education on January 29, 2019. Computers & Education is a publication of Elsevier.Full text is availabe on Science Direct: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2011.11.024
Keywords
- Computer Assisted Instruction
- Cooperative learning
- Cooperative/collaborative learning
- Educational Experiments
- Electronic Publishing
- Instructional Effectiveness
- Interactive Learning Environments
- Learning Processes
- Predictor Variables
- PRIOR LEARNING
- Redundancy
- Social Influences
- Teaching/Learning Strategies
- Web 2.0 Technologies
Cited ByView References & Citations Map
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Evaluating types of students' interactions in a wiki-based collaborative learning project
Maria Prokofieva, Victoria University
Australasian Journal of Educational Technology Vol. 29, No. 4 (Sep 22, 2013)
These links are based on references which have been extracted automatically and may have some errors. If you see a mistake, please contact [email protected]. | https://mail.editlib.org/p/67468/ |
Sources of information for scanning the macro-environment of the school
Any social or scientific research implies fulfilling substantial work on data collection. In many cases, an investigator has to combine different methods of data collection and use different data sources to get a many-sided picture of the studied phenomenon. Considering that a school’s external environment consists of several broad sectors, such as economical, social, technological, political and other, it is reasonable to collect information from the sources of different kinds.
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Particularly, the following information sources can be used:
Elements of the external environment studied with the help of observation
An investigator may attend events and visit institutions that influence the schools’ life and detect existing trends. The task of a person involved in observation is to record, interpret and use the results of their observation (Jupp & Sapsford, 2006, p. 58).
Experience of specialists studied through interviews and questionnaires (p. 93)
An investigator may develop a range of questions based on the theme of study and ask them to the representatives of the institutions that refer to the school’s external environment. As a result, the role of the information source is fulfilled by professionals who are aware of the changes taking place in different sectors of the environment.
Printed and electronic sources (p. 124)
Using books, articles and websites, a researcher can get familiarized with the results of other people’s interpretation and analysis of the primary data collected by them. These sources are especially useful in cases when fulfilling observation, or an interview is impossible.
Documents (p.138)
This range includes institutional and government publications (Goyal & Goyal, 2011, p. 39). When the changes that take place in different sectors are noticed by the representatives of the government or the local powers, it becomes necessary to pass the new laws and issue new regulatory documents to develop these changes or, backwards, restrict them.
Recommendations for decision-makers in assessing and adjusting an organization’s direction to a changing environment
According to Lynn, change takes place at five different levels:
- cultural environment,
- institutional,
- managerial,
- technical,
- political assessment (cited in Longo, Cristofoli, 2007, p. 5).
A school’s environment exists in the state of continuous change, which makes school authorities and representatives detect and interpret changes, and make the corresponding decisions. The following recommendations refer to change management in a school:
- The existing change is crucial, but not the only component to take into account when making a decision. Having noticed the necessity for a change, a decision-maker should develop the purpose and the essence of this change. Thus, a change should be fulfilled in accordance with the organization’s missions, strategy and aims.
- Use diverse and reliable information to make a decision for change. It is important to embrace the data of different kinds and from different sources in order to consider all the important details and make an effective decision.
- Considering that a school is a public institution, it is necessary to take the interests of different stakeholders into account (p. 8). While some of the stakeholders are the direct consumers of the organization’s services, the others benefit from their public value. Analogically, apart from students, the direct consumers of the school’s service, the whole society indirectly benefits from it.
- Pay attention to the internal environment (Jones, Aguirre & Calderone, 2004). One of the factors that may impact the success of a change is the internal resistance to change. It is necessary to introduce the change, its essence and aims to the individuals involved in the organization’s life.
- A change should not be an isolated action; effective change management requires continuity and strategic thinking. A decision-maker should analyze the circumstances and consequences of changes in order to make their change management consistent and effective.
Scan of the school’s internal and external environments
Introduction
The concept of SWOT analysis can be effectively used in environmental scanning: while an investigation of the internal environment helps find an organization’s strengths and weaknesses, a scan of the external environment provides the background for understanding its opportunities and predict the possible threats. Having used such research methods as observation, interview and study of secondary information sources, I have fulfilled the environmental scan for W. T. White High School.
Internal Environment
To scan the school’s internal environment, it is necessary to
- outline the elements included in this notion,
- define the criteria of assessment,
- choose the optimal methods of scanning.
The internal environment includes a wide range of elements; the key components are:
- physical resources,
- technology,
- quality of teaching,
- organization of the learning process,
- emotional environment.
The criteria of assessment of the internal environment are based on the function of a school as an institution: it should provide students with powerful opportunities for broad, up to date education, broad knowledge, personal growth, development of skills, readiness to the successful adult life and professional success (Hanson, 2010). Therefore, the condition of the abovementioned elements should satisfy this aim.
The scan of the internal environment of a school may be fulfilled with the help of observations and interviews. This scan implied the use of both methods due to the broad range of the objects of study.
The following issues were studied:
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- Physical environment. The design and the state of the W. T. White High School’s physical environment can be assessed as good. The environment is safe and comfortable for students’ learning and spending their free time. Much space is the additional strength of the school, as it provides the opportunity to organize the learning process and carry out various events without discomfort and difficulties.
- Technology. After interviewing the Head of IT and having made the observation, I have concluded that the School technology system is outdated, which is the institution’s significant weakness. The new hardware and software should be purchased, and technology should be more actively incorporated into the learning process.
- Teaching process. Evaluating teachers’ performance is a complicated task that requires a thorough many-sided study. To fulfil the preliminary scan, I attended lessons and interviewed students. The study showed that the teaching process is conducted on a high level but requires introducing innovations.
- Learning process. This aspect also includes a wide range of components that require attentive study. Within the borders of the scan, I saw that the students’ performance is high, and the students are highly motivated in class. Besides, there are good opportunities for the students’ personal growth and skill development due to a number of interesting extracurricular activities.
- To study the emotional environment at school, I interviewed the school psychologists and seven students from different classrooms. The preliminary study showed that most students characterize the school environment as friendly and comfortable.
Thus, the school’s internal environment contains a range of significant strengths that should be developed and certain weaknesses that require School authorities’ decisions. The most burning issue to solve is the upgrade of the school technology, which will also influence the organization and quality of the teaching and learning processes.
External Environment
Based on the theoretical background provided in (Goyal & Goyal, 2011, p. 8), the school’s external environment includes:
- economic factors,
- social and cultural factors,
- political and administrative factors,
- legal factors,
- other factors, such as demography, international environment and oth.,
- educational environment.
The last component includes the national and foreign educational institutions, as well as a wide range of organizations serving the educational process.
Each of these factors is very broad and should be studied both separately and linked with the other factors. Within the scan of the W. T. White High School’s external environment, I have fulfilled the preliminary study of the educational environment, economic, social and cultural factors, and demographic issues. For these aims, I used printed and electronic sources.
The population growth in Dallas is predicted to intensify, which will create additional needs in high school education. This should be interpreted not as a threat, but rather as an opportunity, as the service of the school will be in demand, which always serves for a school’s benefit. However, the requirements for high school education are constantly growing, especially in the technological dimension.
If the school does not implement a technology project, this external factor may threat the level of its education and the evaluation of its educational level. As for the economic environment, there is enough evidence for stating that competition for the working places will continue to grow, which also increases the requirements for education. Considering economic, social and technological changes, a school should also adapt innovations in order to cope with the threat of staying behind the general progress.
Interview with a School Representative
The W. T. White High School Principal, Name Surname, is responsible for strategic planning at school. I interviewed the Principal about the use of environmental scanning in her planning activities.
Q: Where do you get the information about the school’s external environment?
for only
A: I actively communicate with the other principals of the schools of our district and beyond it. We exchange the information, and I must say, I often learn something valuable—something that I should take into account when making decisions about the school’s operation.
Q: What about the printed and electronic sources? Do you find something valuable in them?
A: Yes, first of all, as a School Principal, I have to get familiarized with numerous regulatory documents. Besides, I read local newspapers and magazines to understand the environment that surrounds our school. These external events and trends sooner or later echo in the life of the school and our students.
Q: What factors do you pay attention the most? Economical? Technological? Social? OR some other?
A: In my opinion, it is extremely important to understand the cultural and social environment in our city. Our students are the young people from the families that exist within this environment, and understanding it helps me and the teachers understand the students and teach them more effectively.
Q: As a person responsible for strategic planning at school, do you use the results of your environmental scanning in strategic planning?
A: Yes, I do. Or, at least I try to do. The most difficult thing about it is to notice the trend at the proper time. For example, our Head of IT insists on the necessity of upgrading the School IT system. This information was very valuable for me, as I have got used to the traditional organization of the teaching process and stay satisfied with its results. However, the Head’s arguments made me admit the necessity for change. IT is the future of our society, and it is the background for the professional success of our students – these ideas made me include the technological issues into my strategic school plan.
References
Goyal, A. & Goyal, M. (2011). Environment for Managers. New Delhi: V. K. Enterprises.
Hanson, R. (2010). Functions of School. Overcoming Bias. Web.
Jupp, V. & Sapsford, R. (2006). Data Collection and Analysis. London: SAGE, 2006.
Jones, J., Aguirre, D. A., & Calderone, M. (2004). 10 Principles of Change Management. Strategy+Business. Web.
Longo, F. & Cristofoli, D. (2007). Strategic Change Management in the Public Sector: An EFMD European Case Book. Chichester, West Sussex, England; Hoboken, N. J.: John Wiley & Sons. | https://ivypanda.com/essays/w-t-white-high-schools-environmental-analysis/ |
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