Characterizing Heat Mitigation Strategies Utilized by Beef Processors in the United States

Abstract During lairage at slaughter plants, cattle can be exposed to extreme heat conditions from pen densities and holding pen microclimates. While research outlining heat mitigation strategies used in other sectors of the beef supply chain is available, there is no published data on the use of heat mitigation strategies at slaughter plants. The objective of this study was to characterize short-term heat mitigation strategies used by commercial beef slaughter plants in the United States. Twenty-one beef slaughter plants, representing an estimated 60% of beef slaughter in the United States, were included in the study. All plants indicated use of at least one heat mitigation strategy, and five of them used more than one type. Sprinklers/misters were the most commonly used heat mitigation type (n=17, 81%), and fans were the least common type (n=4, 19%). Shade usage was present in several plants (n=7, 33%), ranging from barn style roofs to shade cloths. Respondents indicated that they believed heat mitigation strategies provide benefits both to cattle well-being and meat quality outcomes. Future research should focus on the effectiveness of these techniques in improving animal well-being and quality outcomes in the slaughter plant environment and protocols for optimum implementation.

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Experiences of Older Adults During the 2020 COVID-19 Pandemic in the United States: An Initial Exploration of Nationally Representative Data at the Intersection of Gender and Race

Journal of Applied Gerontology ◽

10.1177/07334648211048258 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 073346482110482

Author(s):

Takashi Yamashita ◽

Wonmai Punksungka ◽

Samuel Van Vleet ◽

Abigail Helsinger ◽

Phyllis Cummins

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Older Adults ◽

Well Being ◽

The United States ◽

Future Research ◽

Gender And Race ◽

Baseline Information ◽

Nationally Representative ◽

Project Data ◽

Older Populations

Little is known about the overall experiences and feelings of diverse older populations during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. To provide the baseline information for future research and policy, this study analyzed the 2020 Health and Retirement Study COVID-19 project data ( n = 1782). More than 70% of older adults reported the following activities: watching TV (98%), reading (90%), using a computer and the internet (83%), gardening (82%), walking (75%), baking and cooking (73%), and praying (73%). Volunteering and attending community groups, which are known to benefit well-being, were unpopular (less than 8%). During the pandemic, older adults were generally satisfied with their lives, but more than half of them were concerned about their own health, family’s health, and future prospects. Our study also showed the differences in the experiences and feelings by gender and race as well as the intersection of gender and race in the United States.

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Predictors and Outcomes of U.S. Quality Maternity Leave: A Review and Conceptual Framework

Journal of Career Development ◽

10.1177/08948453211037398 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 089484532110373

Author(s):

Haley M. Sterling ◽

Blake A. Allan

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Conceptual Framework ◽

Maternity Leave ◽

Well Being ◽

The United States ◽

Poor Quality ◽

Future Research ◽

Subjective Experiences ◽

Individual Level ◽

Work Related

Maternity leave includes the time that mothers take off from work to care for their baby and heal after childbirth. The United States’ maternity leave provisions lag behind other industrialized countries, resulting in poor quality maternity leave (QML) for many mothers. Accordingly, scholars have begun examining QML, a new construct that captures mothers’ subjective experiences of their leave, including dimensions like time off and flexibility. However, researchers know little about predictors and outcomes of QML. Therefore, in this literature review, we will integrate societal-, work-, and individual-level predictors as well as well-being and work-related outcomes of maternity leave into a testable conceptual framework for QML. This review has important implications for U.S. policy makers and organizations regarding their support of mothers. Future research should continue to build this framework to ensure that mothers and parents in the United States and internationally are provided the QML they need to thrive.

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Particulate sulfate ion concentration and SO<sub>2</sub> emission trends in the United States from the early 1990s through 2010

Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics Discussions ◽

10.5194/acpd-12-19311-2012 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 12 (8) ◽

pp. 19311-19347 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

J. L. Hand ◽

B. A. Schichtel ◽

W. C. Malm ◽

M. L. Pitchford

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Power Plant ◽

Power Plants ◽

The United States ◽

Mitigation Strategies ◽

Sulfate Ion ◽

So2 Emissions ◽

Short Term ◽

The West ◽

Seasonal Behavior

Abstract. We examined particulate sulfate ion concentrations across the United States from the early 1990s through 2010 using remote/rural data from the Interagency Monitoring of Protected Visual Environments (IMPROVE) network and from early 2000 through 2010 using data from the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) urban Chemical Speciation Network (CSN). We also examined measured sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions from power plants from 1995 through 2010 from the EPA's Acid Rain Program. The 1992–2010 annual mean sulfate concentrations at long-term sites in the United States have decreased significantly and fairly consistently across the United States at a rate of −2.7% yr−1 (p < 0.01). Short-term annual mean trends at rural and urban sites were −4.6% yr−1 (p < 0.01) from 2001 to 2010 and −6.2% yr−1 (p < 0.01) from 2002 to 2010, respectively. Annual total SO2 emissions from power plants across the United States have decreased at a similar rate as sulfate concentrations from 2000 to 2010 (−4.9% yr−1, p < 0.01), suggesting a linear relationship between SO2 emissions and average sulfate concentrations. This linearity was strongest in the eastern United States and weakest in the West where power plant SO2 emissions were lowest and sulfate concentrations were more influenced by non-power-plant and international SO2 emissions. In addition, annual mean, short-term sulfate concentrations decreased more rapidly in the East relative to the West due to differences in seasonal behavior at certain regions in the West. Specifically, increased wintertime concentrations in the central and northern Great Plains and increased springtime concentrations in the western United States were observed. These seasonal and regional increased concentrations could not be explained by changes in local and regional SO2 emissions, suggesting other contributing influences. This work implies that on an annual mean basis across the United States, air quality mitigation strategies have been successful in reducing the particulate loading of sulfate in the atmosphere; however, for certain seasons and regions, especially in the West, current mitigation strategies appear insufficient.

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The Unceasing Significance of Colorism: Skin Tone Stratification in the United States

Daedalus ◽

10.1162/daed_a_01847 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 150 (2) ◽

pp. 76-90

Author(s):

Ellis P. Monk

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

African Americans ◽

Well Being ◽

The United States ◽

Skin Tone ◽

Future Research ◽

Past Century ◽

White Americans ◽

Social Scientists ◽

Life Chances

Abstract For many decades now, social scientists have documented immense ethnoracial inequalities in the United States. Much of this work is rooted in comparing the life chances, trajectories, and outcomes of African Americans to White Americans. From health to wealth and nearly every measure of well-being, success, and thriving one can find, White Americans remain ahead of Black Americans. What this focus on ethnoracial inequality between “groups” obscures, however, is long-standing skin tone inequality within groups. In this essay, I trace the trajectory of colorism and skin tone stratification in the United States over the past century. Next, I high-light the contemporary persistence of skin tone stratification, not only among African Americans, but among Latinx and Asian Americans as well. I conclude by arguing that future research on colorism will be essential to understand comprehensively the significance of race/ethnicity in a demographically shifting United States (such as immigration and “multiraciality”).

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Colombians in the United States: A Study of Their Well-Being

Advances in Social Work ◽

10.18060/3795 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 14 (1) ◽

pp. 26-48 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Cándida Madrigal

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Ethnic Identity ◽

Health Assessment ◽

Well Being ◽

The United States ◽

Self Esteem ◽

Future Research ◽

Political Refugees ◽

Assessment And Treatment ◽

Policies And Programs

This study examined the extent to which four factors—acculturation, ethnic identity, self-esteem, and resilience—can explain the well-being of Colombian immigrants in the United States across three waves of immigration (wave 1, from 1945–1964; wave 2, from 1965–1989; and wave 3, from 1990–2008). The results indicate that of the four factors, self-esteem most correlated with and was a predictor of well-being. Participants exhibited high levels of well-being as their level of self-esteem increased. Ethnic identity negatively predicted well-being, especially for men who entered during wave 3; as the extent of their ethnic identity increased, their well-being decreased. Correspondingly, Colombians who entered as political refugees reported a lower level of well-being. This research was groundbreaking in assessing factors contributing to the well-being of Colombian immigrants and assisting in the search for appropriate scales to study this population. Although its results have to be considered with caution, the study opens doors to future research, policies, and programs regarding the mental health assessment and treatment of Colombians in the United States.

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Eating Disorders on College Campuses in the United States: Current Insight on Screening, Prevention, and Treatment

Current Psychopharmacologye ◽

10.2174/2211556009999200416153022 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (2) ◽

pp. 91-102

Author(s):

Anne C. Grammer ◽

Ellen E. Fitzsimmons-Craft ◽

Olivia Laing ◽

Bianca De Pietro ◽

Denise E. Wilfley

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Eating Disorders ◽

Well Being ◽

The United States ◽

College Campuses ◽

Screening Tools ◽

Future Research ◽

Evidence Based ◽

Treatment Approaches ◽

Prevention And Treatment

Background: Eating disorders are prevalent on college campuses and pose significant risks to student health, well-being, and academic performance. However, few students receive access to evidence-based prevention and treatment. Objective: The present review synthesizes the recent literature on ED screening, prevention, and treatment approaches on college campuses in the United States. We provide an overview of ED screening efforts on college campuses, including relevant screening tools, summarize the extant literature on prevention programming, as well psychological and pharmacological treatment approaches, and outline limitations of current programming and provide future directions for research. Conclusion: Recent advances in ED screening, prevention, and treatment efforts highlight the importance of early detection and intervention. Innovative approaches to screening and dissemination of evidence-based prevention and treatment programs on college campuses are warranted. Implications for future research are discussed.

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WHICH CAME FIRST, WELL-BEING OR PHYSICAL HEALTH? A LONGITUDINAL INVESTIGATION IN MID- TO LATE LIFE

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igz038.2642 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. S721-S721

Author(s):

Tarah Raldiris ◽

Joseph Dzierzewski

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Physical Health ◽

Psychological Health ◽

Personal Growth ◽

Age Groups ◽

Purpose In Life ◽

Well Being ◽

The United States ◽

Future Research ◽

Positive Aging

Abstract As the United States population continues to age, focus has turned toward understanding and promoting positive aging processes. However, positive aging is not only about maintaining physical health, but also about maintaining and improving psychological health. Though previous research has found well-being to be predictive of physical health outcomes, research has yet to examine the temporal associations between these variables. The aim of the current study was to begin to disentangle these temporal associations by investigating how well-being and physical health relate over the course of nearly two decades in a nationwide sample of adults (N = 7,419, Mage = 46.38 at Time 1). The current study employed a cross-lagged panel SEM design across three time points to investigate if well-being, operationalized as purpose in life and personal growth, predicted future self-rated physical health. Data from the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) study was analyzed from 1995, 2004, and 2014. Cross-lagged analyses revealed well-being was significantly predictive of future physical health, and physical health was also significantly predictive of future well-being. However, the magnitude of the path loadings indicated well-being was a stronger predictor of future physical health than physical health was of future well-being. Thus, these results suggest that personal growth and purpose in life may be particularly important for the promotion of physical health as individuals age. Future research should investigate if these predictive associations apply to all age-groups, as well as for individuals who self-identify as caregivers.

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Particulate sulfate ion concentration and SO<sub>2</sub> emission trends in the United States from the early 1990s through 2010

Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics ◽

10.5194/acp-12-10353-2012 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 12 (21) ◽

pp. 10353-10365 ◽

Cited By ~ 140

Author(s):

J. L. Hand ◽

B. A. Schichtel ◽

W. C. Malm ◽

M. L. Pitchford

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Power Plant ◽

Power Plants ◽

The United States ◽

Mitigation Strategies ◽

Sulfate Ion ◽

So2 Emissions ◽

Short Term ◽

The West ◽

Rural Sites

Abstract. We examined particulate sulfate ion concentrations across the United States from the early 1990s through 2010 using remote/rural data from the Interagency Monitoring of Protected Visual Environments (IMPROVE) network and from early 2000 through 2010 using data from the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) urban Chemical Speciation Network (CSN). We also examined measured sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions from power plants from 1995 through 2010 from the EPA's Acid Rain Program. The 1992–2010 annual mean sulfate concentrations at long-term rural sites in the United States have decreased significantly and fairly consistently across the United States at a rate of −2.7% yr−1 (p < 0.01). The short-term (2001–2010) annual mean trend at rural sites was −4.6% yr−1 (p < 0.01) and at urban sites (2002–2010) was −6.2% yr−1 (p < 0.01). Annual total SO2 emissions from power plants across the United States have decreased at a similar rate as sulfate concentrations from 2001 to 2010 (−6.2% yr−1, p < 0.01), suggesting a linear relationship between SO2 emissions and average sulfate concentrations. This linearity was strongest in the eastern United States and weakest in the West where power plant SO2 emissions were lowest and sulfate concentrations were more influenced by non-power-plant and perhaps international SO2 emissions. In addition, annual mean, short-term sulfate concentrations decreased more rapidly in the East relative to the West due to differences in seasonal trends at certain regions in the West. Specifically, increased wintertime concentrations in the central and northern Great Plains and increased springtime concentrations in the western United States were observed. These seasonal and regional positive trends could not be explained by changes in known local and regional SO2 emissions, suggesting other contributing influences. This work implies that on an annual mean basis across the United States, air quality mitigation strategies have been successful in reducing the particulate loading of sulfate in the atmosphere; however, for certain seasons and regions, especially in the West, current mitigation strategies appear insufficient.

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THE DISUNITED STATES’ DECOUPLING FROM ITS FORLORN FOREIGN AFFAIRS’ ENTANGLEMENTS

Society Register ◽

10.14746/sr.2021.5.4.06 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 5 (4) ◽

pp. 87-94

Author(s):

ANTHONY ST. JOHN

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Well Being ◽

The United States ◽

Foreign Affairs ◽

Short Term ◽

Sense Of Direction ◽

The World

The short-term ‘reign’ of the United States as leader of the world, policeman of the world, is being seriously challenged not only by pundits all over the world but by even political scientists and analysts in the United States itself. In fact, many are seriously opining that the United States is in decline—that it has lost its sense of direction, has taken itself too seriously, and has led the world for its own profit and well-being while disregarding the realities of other nations and peoples. The article attempts to trace the reasons for this sudden reversal of popularity of the DisUnited States of America.

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Cultural Awareness of Students in Communication Sciences and Disorders: A Mixed-Methods Study

Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Groups ◽

10.1044/2020_persp-19-00167 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 5 (5) ◽

pp. 1231-1242

Author(s):

Celeste Domsch ◽

Lori Stiritz ◽

Jay Huff

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Study Abroad ◽

Cultural Awareness ◽

Qualitative Data ◽

The United States ◽

Self Report ◽

Global Awareness ◽

Short Term ◽

Term Study ◽

Short Term Study

Purpose This study used a mixed-methods design to assess changes in students' cultural awareness during and following a short-term study abroad. Method Thirty-six undergraduate and graduate students participated in a 2-week study abroad to England during the summers of 2016 and 2017. Quantitative data were collected using standardized self-report measures administered prior to departure and after returning to the United States and were analyzed using paired-samples t tests. Qualitative data were collected in the form of daily journal reflections during the trip and interviews after returning to the United States and analyzed using phenomenological methods. Results No statistically significant changes were evident on any standardized self-report measures once corrections for multiple t tests were applied. In addition, a ceiling effect was found on one measure. On the qualitative measures, themes from student transcripts included increased global awareness and a sense of personal growth. Conclusions Measuring cultural awareness poses many challenges. One is that social desirability bias may influence responses. A second is that current measures of cultural competence may exhibit ceiling or floor effects. Analysis of qualitative data may be more useful in examining effects of participation in a short-term study abroad, which appears to result in decreased ethnocentrism and increased global awareness in communication sciences and disorders students. Future work may wish to consider the long-term effects of participation in a study abroad for emerging professionals in the field.

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