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Political song, especially that which fits new words to existing melodies' semiotic associations, has been used by Americans as an oppositional tool throughout the history of the United States. Activists employed tunes' "virality" to disseminate political stances and these practices played a key role in the rise of the modern labor movement. This article traces that history, through a succession of contextualized examples linking nineteenth-century political song to contemporary activism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For many years after the discovery of the two stable isotopes of B (10B,11B) in 1920 it was not used routinely as a tracer in the biological sciences until the development of inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry in the early 1980s. This development provided an impetus to the study of the role of B in plant nutrition, although many seminal discoveries were made beforehand without the aid of isotopes. Thus, much information on the mobility and physiological function of B in plants is post-1985. Boron is unusual in plant nutrition in that it is taken up by plants through roots or foliage as undissociated boric acid, unlike other essential elements that are taken up in ionic form. The within-plant mobility of B in species important in agriculture and horticulture is examined in the present review including the role of sugar alcohols in xylem to phloem transfer. The molecular basis of its movement at the cellular level via transporters as revealed through the strategic application of enriched 11B and 10B is addressed. Few studies have been carried out on B use efficiency by crops and results show great variability. Suggestions for future applications of tracing with 10B and 11B are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the past two decades, interest has developed in regard to the possibility that plant roots can take up organic N compounds directly, a concept which challenges the conventional wisdom that soil inorganic N forms ( NH 4 + and NO 3 − ) are the sole primary sources of N absorbed by plant roots. We reviewed the literature based on single or dual (15N, 13C) stable isotope labelling techniques to test the hypothesis of direct uptake. Both isotopically enriched and natural abundance approaches were reviewed. Of the methods examined, the dual enrichment technique, when combined with compound specific and position-specific stable isotope analysis, provided incontrovertible evidence for direct uptake of simple amino acids. We demonstrate that dual labelling lacks overall sensitivity due to the high C concentration in plant tissue relative to N, and the higher natural abundance of 13C cf. 15N, which limits the period of measurement due to isotope dilution, and hence an assessment of the long-term contribution of direct uptake to the N economy of plant communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Schools regularly screen students for hearing and vision impairments because they present impediments to academic progress. For the same reason, schools should consider adding a universal screening for social challenges, which may also impede the learning process. This study reports on the development of the Social Challenges Screening Questionnaire (SCSQ), an efficient teacher-report screening questionnaire that identifies students with challenges who may benefit from a psychological evaluation. Further, the questionnaire may help identify students with Autism Spectrum Disorder who were previously undiagnosed. The SCSQ was administered to 549 general education students in the third and fourth grades. Internal consistency was.85. A smaller sample of students (n = 50) was selected for additional follow up assessment using the Social Responsiveness Questionnaire, Second Edition. Scores on the two instruments were strongly correlated (r =.87, p <.01), and sensitivity (.94) and specificity (.88) indicate the SCSQ can efficiently detect students with social challenges in need of a formal evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the effects China's government policies on geography and political ecology of pandemic disease outbreaks such as HIV/AIDS, SARS, and H1N1 on the past two decades. It relates the concerns that emerged with the policies which highlight the unexpected side-effects in location, incidence, and pandemics as well as its impact on the progression of disease outbreaks. The suggestion that state policies prompted the severity of pandemic diseases in the country is also stated.

The article offers information on the monumental urban design in China. It outlines the major landmarks and land use projects in several cities in China, including Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou. Details related to the effect of Chinese State's regulation in everyday urban life are presented. The monumental works in preparation for the Beijing Olympics are presented, followed by discussion on how the event are continuously shaping the Chinese urban cities. It is mentioned that the current clearing of city neighborhoods, as well as mass displacement of residents to give way for megaproject-related constructions, have prompted opposition and resistance at the local levels.

The article presents the analysis of the restructuring of Beijing's social space as preparation for the 2008 Olympic Games. American geographers presented observations on the preparation carried for the Olympic Games which is focused on some of the more prominent geographical impacts stemming from construction, relocation, and related measures contracted by the authorities to accommodate the event. Part of the literature are segments on environmental concerns especially in air pollution, infrastructure such as water supply, automobile traffic, and mass transit, relocation and displacement of residents specifically the migrants and other disfavored section of the society.

Heat shock proteins (Hsps) are known to be induced in response to short-term stress. The present study aimed to evaluate the potential of Hsp70 as a biomarker of stress produced by increased temperature, osmotic pressure, and exposure to cadmium and sodium chloride in marine macroalgae and fresh water plant species. An indirect competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (IC-ELISA) was developed with a working range of 0.025-10 μg ml -1 using a monoclonal antibody raised against purified Hsp70 of Phaseolus aureus (mung bean). Fucus serratus (toothed wrack), Chondrus crispus (Stackhouse or Carrageen moss), Ulva lactuca (sea lettuce) and Lemna minor (common duckweed) sample extracts were stressed for up to 24 h and then tested in the IC-ELISA. The presence of Hsp70 and cross-reactivity of the monoclonal antibody was confirmed by Western blot. The heat shock response was confirmed in each species using a 2-h 42°C treatment. Following heat shock, Hsp70 concentrations increased to a peak at 2 h ( F. serratus ) or 4 h ( L. minor ), after which concentrations decreased. Osmotic and cadmium stresses also resulted in elevated Hsp70 concentrations in samples of F. serratus and L. minor when compared with unstressed controls. In both, osmotic and metal stress, the production of Hsp70 increased to a maximum and subsequently decreased as the stressor levels increased. Results suggest that Hsp70 IC-ELISA could potentially be applied to the detection of stress in these aquatic species, although it would probably be most effective when used in conjunction with other measurements to provide a stressor-specific biomarker profile or fingerprint. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sample preparation techniques using solid-phase extraction (SPE) and solid-phase microextraction (SPME) are compared for the analysis of monohydroxy polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (OHPAH) in human urine. Urine samples spiked with five carbon-13 labeled internal standards are first enzymatically hydrolyzed. Sixteen OHPAH from eight parent compounds (naphthalene, fluorene, phenanthrene, fluoranthene, pyrene, chrysene, benzo[ c ]phenanthrene, and benz[ a ]anthracene) are then extracted along with the internal standards by these two different techniques. The analytes are derivatized by a silylating reagent before final analysis. Final separation and detection are performed by temperature-programmed capillary gas chromatography (GC) and high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS). The two extraction techniques are compared for sample preparation time, cost, throughput, reinjection possibility, frequency of outliers, matrix interference, signal linearity, and method detection limit. SPE demonstrates major advantages over SPME for most of these aspects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The foundation for a systematic approach utilizing spectral/structural correlations was established for unambiguous identification of monohydroxylated polyaromatic hydrocarbon metabolite (PAHm) isomers. Using elements of a theoretical/empirical valence-bond model developed earlier in our laboratory for isomer identification of chlorinated dibenzo- p -dioxin isomers, both gas chromatography/Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (GC/FTIR) and carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance ( 13 C NMR) spectroscopy were employed for PAHm isomer identification. Results indicate that PAHm isomers also can be systematically identified by these techniques. However, many of the parameters leading to the success of the dioxin analysis (high symmetry of the parent dioxin molecule and laterally stabilized delocalization from chlorine substituents through ether linkage oxonium ions) are not generally present in the PAHm ring systems under investigation. The observed infrared parameters in PAH metabolites are C--O stretch, O--H stretching and bending vibrations, along with C=C skeletal stretching vibrations. In addition, 13 C NMR parameters such as chemical shift perturbations for carbons adjacent to functional groups have been observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Proposes that the work of geographers in New Zealand on the relationships between housing, homelessness and mental health should consider literature concerning the nature of home in contemporary society. Distinction between literal, incipient and metaphorical homelessness; Reflections on home and homelessness; Relation of housing and mental health.

Explores the links between housing-related stressors and psychological distress among the seriously mentally ill. Mitigating adverse household effects through effective social supports; Result of study conducted in Auckland, New Zealand; Prior level of distress as primary predictor; Support from friends; Need to strengthen social bonds within the community.

This paper describes a longitudinal study of dwelling‐related stress among a sample of inadequately housed urban New Zealanders. At the time of the first interview, the respondents were asked to describe the housing problems they were encountering and to list some of the coping strategies they were planning. From an analysis of the survey data we conclude that housing stress has a significant negative effect on the well being of the respondents, particularly in the area of mental health. In the second interview, conducted six months later, we were able to determine which of the households had moved. Our analysis suggested that individuals in households that were rehoused by New Zealand's public housing agency (the Housing Corporation of New Zealand) reported significantly improved mental health after the move, largely as a result, we hypothesise, of living in dwellings that were less stressful. These findings are discussed in light of the diminishing state presence in the provision of public housing, both in New Zealand and elsewhere. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Women householders living alone or with children have been identified as one of a number of marginalised groups within the housing markets of Western cities. An extensive literature suggests that many such women are likely to experience discrimination, poverty and inadequate housing. In this paper we review the status of lone women parents in New Zealand housing policy as a prelude to reporting on the housing experiences of a sample of applicants seeking state housing assistance in Auckland and Christchurch. The samples, drawn from the waiting lists of the (former) Housing Corporation of New Zealand (1989-90), included both women with partners (n=50) and women living alone or with children (n=119). The lone women were slightly poorer, they had less access to private transport, and they reported higher levels of residential mobility. However, these women reported that the physical condition of their housing was significantly better, and characteristics of the neighbourhood such as safety and proximity to friends were more important influences on their housing satisfaction than for partnered women. We conclude that lone women appear to make more demands on their neighbourhood, and more often seek housing assistance from the state for reasons of refuge than is the case for partnered women. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]