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Nitrogen (N) is a key limiting nutrient in terrestrial ecosystems, but there remain critical gaps in our ability to predict and model controls on soil N cycling. This may be in part due to lack of standardized sampling across broad spatial–temporal scales. Here, we introduce a continentally distributed, publicly available data set collected by the National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) that can help fill these gaps. First, we detail the sampling design and methods used to collect and analyze soil inorganic N pool and net flux rate data from 47 terrestrial sites. We address methodological challenges in generating a standardized data set, even for a network using uniform protocols. Then, we evaluate sources of variation within the sampling design and compare measured net N mineralization to simulated fluxes from the Community Earth System Model 2 (CESM2). We observed wide spatiotemporal variation in inorganic N pool sizes and net transformation rates. Site explained the most variation in NEON's stratified sampling design, followed by plots within sites. Organic horizons had larger pools and net N transformation rates than mineral horizons on a sample weight basis. The majority of sites showed some degree of seasonality in N dynamics, but overall these temporal patterns were not matched by CESM2, leading to poor correspondence between observed and modeled data. Looking forward, these data can reveal new insights into controls on soil N cycling, especially in the context of other environmental data sets provided by NEON, and should be leveraged to improve predictive modeling of the soil N cycle. Plain Language Summary: Nitrogen (N) is not only a key limiting nutrient that often constrains plant growth but also a major pollutant in places where supply exceeds demand. However, we lack the ability to accurately predict and model rates of soil N cycling. This paper introduces a first of its kind, standardized and publicly available data set of soil inorganic N pools and net transformation rates spanning the United States. We describe the data set in detail, then examine spatiotemporal trends in N pools and fluxes and how those measurements compare to predictions from an Earth system model. Key Points: The National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) measures soil inorganic nitrogen (N) pools and net flux rates at continental scaleThe most N cycle variation is observed at the site level, followed by plots within sites. Organic horizons have high N pools and flux ratesThe Community Earth System Model 2 poorly predicts temporal trends in net N mineralization. NEON data can be used to improve predictive power [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Historical and contemporary political events underscore that Latinx people do not necessarily view race and racism in the United States through a shared lens with other Latinx people and other communities of color. Thus, it is critical to understand how Latinx youth develop attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors that challenge white supremacy—or anti‐racist identities and behaviors—that actively disrupt racial oppression communities of color face as well as their own communities. In this paper, we review theoretical mechanisms by which Latinx youth may develop anti‐racist identities and actions on behalf of their own ethnic/racial communities and other communities oppressed by white supremacy. We conclude by offering suggestions for how institutions may support Latinx youth's anti‐racist identities and actions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Disasters triggered by natural hazards resulted in an accumulative economic loss of approximately USD 7 trillion and killed some eight million people worldwide in the twentieth century. Given the escalating threat posed by natural hazards to communities, scholars and practitioners are emphasising the importance of mitigation as a strategy to enhance community resilience. Little is known, though, about the extent to which governments' disaster risk reduction efforts have augmented community resilience outcomes. This paper bridges the gap by examining the effects of the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) in the United States, which was designed to improve disaster resilience at the community level. The study analysed natural hazard loss data pertaining to those US counties that received HMGP funds following the pronouncement of presidentially‐declared disasters between 2010 and 2015. The findings suggest that the counties that obtained HMGP funds are likely to experience less property damage owing to future natural hazards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our paper focuses on moments and spaces of encounter in which middle class people come into contact with 'poor others'. Much critical poverty work focuses on the re-inscription of difference across class, race and gender lines. We explore where, when and how middle class actors engage with 'poor others' in ways that (sometimes) lead to shifts in neoliberal and individualized understandings of poverty. Our paper explores boundary-breaking transformative moments that arise through spatial encounters. Drawing on Valentine's 'zones of encounter' we explore how middle class encounters with poverty are mediated by two sets of spatial processes: processes of (self)government and of radical contact. We draw illustrative examples from two projects: on rural poverty in the Pacific Northwest and on community development in Chicago. In each case we trace the ways in which these spaces of encounter foster governance and/or contact processes that reproduce or disrupt dominant discourses about poverty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the central ethical tenets of research in developing countries is the sponsor's obligation to benefit host participants and communities. Two known models of benefits provision dominate the ethical discourse of research in developing countries. The first model, known as the "reasonable availability," endorses the obligation to provide interventions proven to be effective at the end of a study. This contrasts with the second model, known as "fair benefits," which endorses other forms of benefits that host communities may deem as fair beyond those derived directly from the study's findings. This paper explores a third benefit model consistent with the writings of the Human Hereditary and Health in Africa (H3Africa) research initiative. The H3Africa-a North-South collaborative initiative predicated by U.S. National Institutes of Health, the Wellcome Trust and the African Society of Human Genetics upholds a benefit model that endorses capacity building as the primary obligation of its research agenda. This is evident by the endorsement of mechanisms to strengthen capacity building in its research projects. While capacity building remains a plausible means of improving the expertise, quality and independence of research in Africa, sustainable measures are needed to realizing the full potential for African-led research on the continent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While the concept of culture has long been central to community psychology research and intervention, it has most frequently referred to the communities in which such work occurs. The purpose of this paper is to reframe this discussion by viewing community interventions as instances of intercultural contact between the culture of science, reflected in community intervention research, and the culture of the communities in which those interventions occur. Following a brief discussion of the complexities of culture as a concept, two illustrative stories of failed community interventions are provided to highlight the centrality of cultural and contextual understanding as prelude to community intervention. These stories, set 50 years apart, reflect the depth and pervasive influence of both the culture of science and the culture of communities. Next, a series of propositions about the culture of social science as a partial reflection of the broader culture of the United States are offered, and their implications for the conduct of community interventions drawn. The paper concludes with a series of recommendations which, together, provide an ecological mind-set for taking culture seriously in community interventions. Central to this mind set are the importance of focusing on communities rather than programs and emphasizing the intervention goal of choice over change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The scope of usual central place studies is broadened in this paper to include industrial employment, church membership, taverns, and measures of residential socioeconomic status as well as commerce. As other studies have found commerce is becoming increasingly concentrated in larger communities, and communities near larger cities have relatively little commerce for their size. Industrial employment is more concentrated than commerce, but industrial growth has been greatest away from major urban centers. and has shown little tendency to concentrate in particular "growth center" communities, an indication that wage structure is a primary concern for industries in the region. Church membership is greater per capita in small than large towns, and has shown no tendency to concentrate. Taverns have declined, especially in large communities. Indications are that smaller communities have been gaining in average incomes and latter still have higher status. Results suggest smaller communities are losing commercial functions but are retaining and even gaining in residential and social functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is based on a restudy of the 13 New York communities included in the national sample for Brunner's three studies of 140 agricultural villages made in 1924, 1930, and 1936. The paper reports on changes in population 1920&ndash1970, in Dun and Bradstreet business listings 1921&ndash1970, in community boundaries 1936&ndash1974, and in school district boundaries, in 85 community services and facilities and 15 types of voluntary associations 1960&ndash1974, and in industries 1964&ndash1974. The presence of planning and zoning boards in 1974 is noted. All centers were rural by census definition in 1920; 10 still were in 1970. The evidence shows growth and decline, stability and change, depending on the individual community and the time period. Except for a minority of the communities, the evidence suggests that stability and growth prevail over decline. Vitality is generally greater in the noneconomic sectors than in the economic. Differentiation has increased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article suggests that the Shakers attracted ever less well prepared entrants, and were unable to solve the second generation problem of convincing young members to persist in the sect. The life cycle of a religious movement is driven by both an internal dynamic and external factors. The experience of the United Society of Believers in Christ's Second Appearing (Shakers) presents an opportunity to apply some of the perspectives of the "new religious paradigm to the growth and decline of this indigenous American sect. The study of the Shakers is also undergoing a paradigm shift, from descriptive work emphasizing their material culture to revisionist studies based on manuscripts that often use quantitative methods. This paper uses detailed population records of one Shaker community to examine the characteristics of members, both those who were "Believers" for life, and the rarely studied apostates, and how these changed over time. A community with equal distribution of reasonably plentiful resources and a vibrant communal spiritual life might be expected to attract free riders. This paper finds three sources of problems among converts to the New Lebanon Church Family. First, over time the community drew a greater proportion of its entrants from the largest urban areas of the United States and Britain.

This paper reports the findings of a study of the discriminatory characteristics of accepters and non-accepters of an approved farm practice in two Iowa turban communities. Evidence is presented in support of the hypothesis of a trait typology among farm operators in their acceptance of approved technological practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, many in the space weather community have taken up the cause to advocate for an orphan among our own. It's an important fight—for ground‐based sensor networks. Although ground‐based sensors are used across all disciplines of space weather, in terms of long‐term support, they have no single clear home in any United States agency or department. This has resulted in an ongoing struggle throughout the community to maintain important space weather sensors and networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite community health centers' substantial role in local communities and in the broader safety-net healthcare system, very limited research has been conducted on community health center research experience, infrastructure, or needs from a national perspective. A national survey of 386 community health centers was conducted in 2011 and 2012 to assess research engagement among community health centers and their perceived needs, barriers, challenges, and facilitators with respect to their involvement in public health and health services research. This paper analyzes the differences between health centers that currently conduct or participate in research and health centers that have no prior research experience to determine whether prior research experience is indicative of different perceived challenges and research needs in community health center settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives Community HIV testing represents an opportunity for diagnosing HIV infection among individuals who may not have contact with health services, especially in hard-to-reach groups. The aim of this review was to assess the evidence for feasibility, acceptability and effectiveness of HIV testing strategies in community settings in resource-rich countries. Methods The Pub Med database was searched for English language studies of outreach HIV testing in resource-rich countries. Studies were included if they reported one of the following outcome measures: uptake of testing; seropositivity; client acceptability; or provider acceptability. Results Forty-four studies were identified; the majority took place in the USA and targeted men who have sex with men. Uptake of HIV testing varied between 9 and 95% (in 14 studies). Seropositivity was ≥ 1% in 30 of 34 studies. In 16 studies the proportion of patients who received their test results varied from 29 to 100% and rapid testing resulted in a higher proportion of clients receiving their results. Overall, client satisfaction with community HIV testing was high. However, concern remained over confidentiality, professional standards and the need for post-test counselling. Staff reported positive attitudes towards community testing. Conclusions In the majority of studies, the reported seropositivity was higher than 1/1000, the threshold deemed to be cost-effective for routinely offering testing. Rapid testing improved the return of HIV test results to clients. HIV testing in outreach settings may be important in identifying undiagnosed infections in at-risk populations, but appropriate data to evaluate these initiatives must be collected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper conducts an empirical analysis of the relationship between corporate social responsibility (CSR) and political beliefs in the United States. By analyzing the 2004 presidential election results of communities in which corporate headquarters are located, we establish a correlation between the political beliefs of corporate stakeholders and the CSR ratings of their firms. Companies with a high CSR rating tend to be located in Democratic, or “blue” states and counties, while companies with a low CSR rating tend to be located in Republican, or “red” states and counties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Changes in residential accommodation models for adults with intellectual disability (ID) over the last 20 years in Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States have involved relocation from institutions primarily into dispersed homes in the community. But an evolving alternative service style is the cluster centre. Methods This paper reports on the relocation of a matched group of 30 pairs of adults with moderate and severe IDs and challenging behaviour who were relocated from an institution into either dispersed housing in the community or cluster centres but under the same residential service philosophy. Adaptive and maladaptive behaviour, choice-making and objective life quality were assessed prior to leaving the institution and then after 12 and 24 months of living in the new residential model. Results Adaptive behaviour, choice-making and life quality increased for both groups and there was no change in level of maladaptive behaviour compared with levels exhibited in the institution. However, there were some significant differences between the community and cluster centre group as the community group increased some adaptive skills, choice-making and objective life quality to a greater extent than the cluster centre group. Conclusions Both cluster centre and dispersed community living offer lifestyle and skill development advantages compared with opportunities available in large residential institutions. Dispersed community houses, however, offer increased opportunities for choice-making, acquisition of adaptive behaviours and improved life quality for long-term institutionalized adults with IDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Immigrants and refugees are severely underrepresented at all levels of political decision‐making in the United States. These groups face significant barriers to civic and political participation and leadership, despite a frequent commitment to community care and engagement. There is an urgent need to address immigrant integration and underrepresentation through transformative means that go beyond voting to create a more inclusive and socially just society. We investigated outcomes associated with participation in an immigrant integration program designed to increase immigrants' access to civic engagement through a community‐based participatory research and action process that centered the voices, experiences, and wisdom of refugees and immigrants. Thirty immigrants and refugees representing at least eight different communities participated in semi‐structured interviews. Results illustrate how the program assisted in transforming participants' consciousness, skills, and relationships related to meaningful civic engagement and realizing their voice, power, and rights. These results emphasize the impact and potential of community based participatory research to transform individual and collective efficacy, consciousness, and capabilities—a vital first step in transformative justice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) reduces liver transplant waitlist mortality and provides excellent long‐term outcomes for persons with end stage liver disease. Yet, utilization of LDLT has been limited in the United States (US). Methods: In October 2021, the American Society of Transplantation held a consensus conference to identify important barriers to broader expansion of LDLT in the US, including data gaps, and make recommendations for impactful and feasible mitigation strategies to overcome these barriers. Domains addressed encompassed the entirety of the LDLT process. Representation from international centers and living donor kidney transplantation were included for their perspective/experience in addition to members across disciplines within the US liver transplantation community. A modified Delphi approach was employed as the consensus methodology. Results: The predominant theme permeating discussion and polling results centered on culture; the beliefs and behaviors of a group of people perpetuated over time. Conclusions: Creating a culture of support for LDLT in the US is key for expansion and includes engagement and education of stakeholders across the spectrum of the process of LDLT. A shift from awareness of LDLT to acknowledgement of benefit of LDLT is the primary goal. Propagation of the maxim "LDLT is the best option" is pivotal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Regulations under the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments (CAAA) include requirements for preventing accidental chemical releases. Section 112(r) of the CAAA, the Accidental Release Provisions, requires the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to develop and implement regulations for preventing accidental releases to the air of regulated substances and to minimize the consequences of releases that do occur. The regulations require regulated facilities to have in place the structural elements of a sound process safety program, and to practice, document, and communicate the elements of their program. The rule requires also that registered facilities calculate and make available worst case accidental chemical release information. The rule does not set a level of risk that a facility must achieve after it takes the required compliance steps, the level of risk a community must accept, the limit of consequences the community might suffer from a worst case chemical release, nor the specific actions a community must take in its response plan. These are issues that local communities and local officials must decide. Because the regulation involves the community in many unsettled risk issues the Wharton School initiated a project within the City Philadelphia to evaluate the proposition that productive dialogue on the implementation of the Rule and resolution of unsettled risk issues can take place in advance of a crisis occasioned by a major accidental release. This paper describes the steps taken by Wharton to bring together various stakeholders in the community to explore the implementation of the rule and the reaction of those stakeholders to be involved in such a process. It outlines some principal choices communities will have to make in order to implement 112(r) and explains some of the dilemmas associated with these choices. It describes the stakeholder-based implementation effort being undertaken in Philadelphia in the hope that others may benefit from what has been learned there. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Utilizing the concept of environmental justice, this paper examines the differential burdens of toxic and hazardous waste facilities locations in low income minority communities. The association between the presence of facilities and sociocconomic characteristics of places are examined for the state of South Carolina at three different spatial scales: counties, census tracts, and census block groups. Three different types of hazardous waste/toxic facilities are also examined: Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) sites, Treatment, Storage, and Disposal sites (TSD), and inactive hazardous waste sites. At the county level, there was some association between the presence of toxic/hazardous waste facilities and race and income. In South Carolina, this translates to a disproportionate burden on White, more affluent communities in metropolitan areas, rather than low income minority communities. At both the census tract and block group levels, there is no association between race and the location of toxic/hazardous waste facilities. There are slight differences in the income levels between tracts and block groups with facilities and those without. This localized ecology of hazard sources must be expanded to include emission/discharge data in order to adequately address environmental justice issues on who bears the burdens of environmental contamination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The debate over the "community question" has generated several perspectives on the sources of ties to the territorial community in modern society. This paper attempts to empirically assess the utility of each model for predicting the number of ties to the local community and extra-local area, using data on voluntary association memberships in Seattle. Results indicate that the "community of limited liability" perspective is most accurate in predicting the importance of social, economic, and temporal investments for local memberships, and social position for extra-local memberships.' [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using concepts developed to explain the emergence of public welfare in nation-states, this paper proposes a model for explaining welfare effort in communities. This strategy is premised on the assumption that social systems tend to exhibit similar processes whether they are small communities or entire nations. The model assigns prime importance to the influence of economic development as a cause of welfare effort. This relationship is intervened by considerations of urbanization, political environment, the level of government organization, and the presence of a dependent population. The model is tested with a sample of U.S. counties with data from secondary sources by factor and regression analysis. With few exceptions, the model is supported by the data. The implications of the findings are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the effects of including place of origin, place of current residence and place of migration in the Sewell-Hauser basic model of socioeconomic achievement and particularly focuses on the effect on earnings. The analysis is based on data from the Wisconsin longitudinally study of 1957 high school seniors. The inclusion of the residential variables markedly increases the explained variance in earnings, but does not alter the effects of the socioeconomic and ability variables on earnings. Further analysis indicate that current residence is particularly important in accounting for earnings. Earnings are positively related to size of place of current residence, even after adjusting for other variables. The earnings of men living in rural communities, especially those living on farms, are low compared with all other respondents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The articles might be considered an extra dividend from dollars recently invested in rural research. The focus of this particular national research effort was so calculatedly rural and so unusually rural that the research program was given the name Project Rural. From the point of view of ethnographers living their way into these communities, that assignment required them to give inordinate attention to school problems, school programs and school people. Educator designs for supporting cataclysmic and holistic change in the funding agency were largely translated into a new source for funding ongoing operations and the opportunity to employ new support personnel or purchase new curriculum package.

The Michigan Children's Trust Fund (MCTF) funds child abuse and neglect prevention programs and consults with community and clinical psychologists to oversee its research efforts. This paper highlights the role of community psychologists in this capacity and documents the effectiveness of this relationship through an example of the work they are asked to perform. The primary source of funding for MCTF is a voluntary donation line on Michigan's state income tax form. Because even modest changes in the percentage donating have bearing on funding, MCTF sought a greater understanding of forces affecting donations. Given that one half of all tax forms in Michigan are prepared professionally, an exploratory survey of preparers was undertaken. Results found preparers approved of raising money via the check off and were aware of MCTF, although they confused it with other social programs. Differences were found in knowledge and practices toward MCTF based on degree of approval of use of the tax check off, and the age, parental status, and gender of the preparer. These findings were important to MCTF in directing efforts to educate a segment of the population that has influence over the major source of their funding, and may be relevant to other organizations that depend on tax check offs for their income. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents comparison between the associations of British and American voluntary associations. The development of postwar research on the structure and functioning of voluntary associations has been uneven, and there have been marked differences between British and American research in this field. This paper offers a narrow definition of voluntary associations. It defines voluntary associations as groups in which membership is in no sense obligatory, which have a formal constitution, but which do not have paid officials at the local level. The next section of this paper places the subsequent analysis in context by pointing briefly to the very substantial similarities between research in Great Britain and the U.S. The third section discusses differences in the research environments of the two countries, and suggests their relevance to the main problem. The fourth section assesses the differences in research orientations between the two countries, as it has influenced the study of voluntary associations. The final section considers the effect of these differences upon the functional analyses that have been made.

Land surface models such as the Community Land Model version 5 (CLM5) seek to enhance understanding of terrestrial hydrology and aid in the evaluation of anthropogenic and climate change impacts. However, the effects of parametric uncertainty on CLM5 hydrologic predictions across regions, timescales, and flow regimes have yet to be explored in detail. The common use of the default hydrologic model parameters in CLM5 risks generating streamflow predictions that may lead to incorrect inferences for important dynamics and/or extremes. In this study, we benchmark CLM5 streamflow predictions relative to the commonly employed default hydrologic parameters for 464 headwater basins over the conterminous United States (CONUS). We evaluate baseline CLM5 default parameter performance relative to a large (1,307) Latin Hypercube Sampling‐based diagnostic comparison of streamflow prediction skill using over 20 error measures. We provide a global sensitivity analysis that clarifies the significant spatial variations in parametric controls for CLM5 streamflow predictions across regions, temporal scales, and error metrics of interest. The baseline CLM5 shows relatively moderate to poor streamflow prediction skill in several CONUS regions, especially the arid Southwest and Central U.S. Hydrologic parameter uncertainty strongly affects CLM5 streamflow predictions, but its impacts vary in complex ways across U.S. regions, timescales, and flow regimes. Overall, CLM5's surface runoff and soil water parameters have the largest effects on simulated high flows, while canopy water and evaporation parameters have the most significant effects on the water balance. Plain Language Summary: Large‐scale land surface computer models, such as the Community Land Model version 5 (CLM5), play a central role in projecting future changes in water resources and hydrological extreme events such as floods and droughts. These models require representations of land surface processes and properties that vary significantly across space. Consequently, these representations require a large suite of input parameters to distinguish different soils, vegetation, land‐cover, and other features of the landscape that shape flood and drought dynamics. Given the large number of these input parameters required by CLM5 and limits in the information needed to specify them, we hypothesize that they strongly increase uncertainty in our ability to predict floods or droughts. In this study, we develop and apply a diagnostic approach to better understand how CLM5 input parameter uncertainty influences water predictions and the relative importance of different input parameters across the continental United States. We argue and illustrate that addressing model input parameter uncertainty is crucial as the results of uncertainty characterization may have important implications for decision making. This study provides region‐specific insights into CLM5 model input parameter uncertainty and dominant processes for a variety of hydrologic application contexts. Key Points: Community Land Model Version 5 (CLM5) streamflow predictions use default parameters are vulnerable to poor performance especially in the arid Southwest and Central U.SThe effects of CLM5 hydrologic parameter uncertainty are significantly higher for drought versus flood predictions in humid regionsThe dominant hydrologic parameters in CLM5 vary significantly across regions, diagnostic error metrics, and temporal scales [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Native bee species in the United States provide invaluable pollination services. Concerns about native bee declines are growing, and there are calls for a national monitoring program. Documenting species ranges at ecologically meaningful scales through coverage completeness analysis is a fundamental step to track bees from species to communities. It may take decades before all existing bee specimens are digitized, so projections are needed now to focus future research and management efforts. From 1.923 million records, we created range maps for nearly 88% (3158 species) of bee species in the contiguous United States, provided the first analysis of inventory completeness for digitized specimens of a major insect clade, and perhaps most important, estimated spatial completeness accounting for all known bee specimens in USA collections, including undigitized bee specimens. Completeness analyses were very low (3–37%) across four examined spatial resolutions when using the currently available bee specimen records. Adding a subset of observations from community science data sources did not significantly increase completeness, and adding a projected 4.7 million undigitized specimens increased completeness by only an additional 12–13%. Assessments of data, including projected specimen records, indicate persistent taxonomic and geographic deficiencies. In conjunction with expedited digitization, new inventories that integrate community science data with specimen‐based documentation will be required to close these gaps. A combined effort involving both strategic inventories and accelerated digitization campaigns is needed for a more complete understanding of USA bee distributions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Functional traits affect the demographic performance of individuals in their environment, leading to fitness differences that scale up to drive population dynamics and community assembly. Understanding the links between traits and fitness is, therefore, critical for predicting how populations and communities respond to environmental change. However, the net effects of traits on species fitness are largely unknown because we have lacked a framework for estimating fitness across multiple species and environments.We present a modelling framework that integrates trait effects on demographic performance over the life cycles of individuals to estimate the net effect of traits on species fitness. This approach involves (1) modelling trait effects on individual demographic rates (growth, survival and recruitment) as multidimensional performance surfaces that vary with individual size and environment and (2) integrating these effects into a population model to project population growth rates (i.e., fitness) as a function of traits and environment. We illustrate our approach by estimating performance surfaces and fitness landscapes for trees across a temperature gradient in the eastern United States.Functional traits (wood density, specific leaf area and maximum height) interacted with individual size and temperature to influence tree growth, survival and recruitment rates, generating demographic trade‐offs and shaping the contours of fitness landscapes. Tall tree species had high survival, growth and fitness across the temperature gradient. Wood density and specific leaf area had interactive effects on demographic performance, resulting in fitness landscapes with multiple peaks.With this approach it is now possible to empirically estimate the net effect of traits on fitness, leading to an improved understanding of the selective forces that drive community assembly and permitting generalizable predictions of population and community dynamics in changing environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current structural design codes in the United States treat the development of straight bars/lap splices, standard hooks, and deformed headed bars with separate equations. The fib Model Code 2010, on the other hand, uses a more unified approach. Recent changes to the standard hook and headed bar equations in the ACI 318–19 Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete have sparked conversation about the discrepancies between ACI 318–19 and the AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications within the bridge design community. The objective of this research was to develop and validate a unified approach for the design/evaluation of reinforcement anchorage. A procedure based on the partly cracked elastic stage of bond was proposed. The proposed procedure was validated with 1006 tests from the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

What is the function of immature vocalizing in early learning environments? Previous work on infants in the United States indicates that prelinguistic vocalizations elicit caregiver speech which is simplified in its linguistic structure. However, there is substantial cross‐cultural variation in the extent to which children's vocalizations elicit responses from caregivers. In the current study, we ask whether children's vocalizations elicit similar changes in their immediate caregivers' speech structure across two cultural sites with differing perspectives on how to interact with infants and young children. Here, we compare Tseltal Mayan and U.S. caregivers' verbal responses to their children's vocalizations. Similar to findings from U.S. dyads, we found that children from the Tseltal community regulate the statistical structure of caregivers' speech simply by vocalizing. Following the interaction burst hypothesis, where clusters of child‐adult contingent response alternations facilitate learning from limited input, we reveal a stable source of information that may facilitate language learning within ongoing interaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

First and second‐generation immigrant families of young children in the United States face potential challenges that may be mitigated with stakeholder support in their communities. We examined self‐reported views and behaviors among professionals (n = 76) working with families in a mid‐Atlantic urban community, and whether these views correlated with demographic factors. Over half of respondents were not able/willing to report the number of immigrant families served and over half believed immigrant parents are less likely to advocate for themselves or their child. Participants were fairly split in seeking advice from others and comfort in talking with immigrant families about their culture/needs. It is essential to assess stakeholders' views on perceived roles, roadblocks, and desired supports. This analysis informs efforts to work more collaboratively with community partners to improve outreach to immigrant families during those formative years in a child's development. Implications for research, practice, and policy are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Justice reinvestment has been hailed as a solution to mass incarceration across the United States for nearly 20 years. It suggests that inefficiencies in the criminal justice system can be eliminated to reinvest money in high‐incarceration communities to reduce the correlates of crime. However, the implementations have focused on reinvesting criminal justice funds back into public safety, which has led to the "bluewashing" of justice reinvestment. Introduced here, bluewashing occurs when a justice agency that has historically poor social justice performance communicates positive justice performance after implementing a theoretically supported reform in name only. In actuality, the reform has been modified to suit their own continuance. A realignment of the logic and theoretical support of justice reinvestment is critical to produce reforms that can provide relief for states, agencies, and citizens that are promised by justice reinvestment. This work directly connects the justice reinvestment thesis with the spatial interconnectedness of poverty, education, employment, and housing with crime and recidivism. It argues that justice reinvestment is a crime prevention policy that can simultaneously reduce mass incarceration and empower millions of American citizens living in the United States' most brutal conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous research has indicated that witnessing gender discrimination may instigate women's participation in collective action for gender justice. However, relatively little is known about the role of perceived female support in motivating collective action among women who witness gender discrimination in public life. This study aims to analyse whether and when perceived support from feminist‐minded women moderates the association between women's witnessing gender discrimination and their willingness to engage in collective action for gender justice. We argue that the association between witnessing gender discrimination and willingness to engage in collective action depends on the support women perceive from their female friends and family members. In studies of women in the U.S. (Study 1; N = 271) and Ukraine (Study 2; N = 256), witnessing gender discrimination predicted greater willingness to participate in collective action for gender justice, and this association was stronger when female support was perceived to be lower. Study 3 (N = 1,304) replicated the findings of Studies 1 and 2 with self‐identified feminist women in Turkey. Our research offers novel insights regarding why perceived lack of female support may encourage women to engage in collective action for gender justice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When a wildfire strikes, it impacts entire communities. Yet it can be challenging to get communities to take the lead in becoming more prepared, and thus build lasting resilience. Guided by theoretical preparedness models, and using a case study design, this study examines the planning, execution, and subsequent sensemaking around one of the first community‐led wildfire evacuation drills in the United States. Findings illustrate the interplay between individual preparedness, communication, and community involvement as the neighbourhood studied conducted their drill in partnership with multiple emergency response organizations. Our model explains 39% of the variance in individuals' preparedness, finding that people with higher self‐efficacy, more involved with the community, and who felt strong social norms around preparedness had more items prepared for a wildfire. The community's desire to share the preparedness organizing process with external audiences is a unique and important contribution in understanding how communication can be used to sustain community resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To advance equity by developing stakeholder‐driven principles of shared measurement, which is using a common set of measurable goals that reflect shared priorities across communities and systems, such as health care, public health, and human and social services. Data Sources: From October 2019 to July 2021, we collected primary data from leaders in cross‐systems alignment, measurement, and community engagement—including community members and community‐based organization leaders—across the United States. Study Design: In partnership with equity and community engagement experts, we conducted a mixed‐methods study that included multiple formative research activities and culminated in a six‐week, stakeholder‐engaged modified‐Delphi process. Data Collection: Formative data collection occurred through an environmental scan, interviews, focus groups, and an online survey. Principles were developed using a virtual modified Delphi with iterative rapid‐analysis. Feedback on the final principles was collected through virtual focus groups, an online feedback form, and during virtual presentations. Principal Findings: We developed a set of five guiding principles. Measurement that aligns systems with communities toward equitable outcomes: (1) Requires upfront investment in communities; (2) Is co‐created by communities; (3) Creates accountability to communities for addressing root causes of inequities and repairing harm; (4) Focuses on a holistic and comprehensive view of communities that highlights assets and historical context; and (5) Reflects long‐term efforts to build trust. Using an equity‐focused process resulted in principles with broad applicability. Conclusions: Leaders across systems and communities can use these shared measurement principles to reimagine and transform how systems create equitable health by centering the needs and priorities of the communities they serve, particularly communities that historically have been harmed the most by inequities. Intentionally centering equity across all project activities was essential to producing principles that could guide others in advancing equity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Regulation of small‐dollar lending in the United States is heterogeneous, leaving open the question about what policy designs work best for protecting consumers. We compare the effectiveness of regulations that include a consumer eligibility component and regulations that apply to all consumers, centering our analyses on communities with disproportionate exposure to high‐interest lending storefronts. Specifically, we compare how the Military Lending Act (MLA), which provided military‐specific protections, and statewide policies affected high‐cost lender activity in military communities in three states. We find that statewide regulations were effective in reducing the number of high‐cost lenders within local communities across states, including military communities, while the MLA had no impact on the number of lenders around military bases. Our findings have implications for how to regulate small‐dollar lending and protect consumers at increased risk of exposure to high‐cost lending, with specific attention to product alternatives and access to low‐cost financial services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Metacommunities are assembled through a combination of local and regional processes, with the relative importance of the drivers of assembly depending on ecological context. Global change can alter community assembly at both local and regional levels, potentially shifting communities into disequilibrium with their local environmental conditions. We evaluated the spatial variation in environmental filtering and habitat matching of 1078 riverine macroinvertebrate communities distributed across nine ecoregions. Location: Conterminous United States. Taxon: Freshwater macroinvertebrates. Methods: Patterns in environmental filtering, habitat matching and functional trait diversity were compared among ecoregions. Boosted regression trees were used to identify (1) functional trait predictors of environmental filtering and habitat matching and (2) environmental, landscape and network variables that predict functional trait abundances. Results: Environmental filtering but not habitat matching varied strongly by ecoregion. Functional trait diversity varied by ecoregion, but not as strongly as the signatures of environmental filtering. Functional trait predictors of environmental filtering and habitat matching were not consistent, with trait predictors instead varying by individual traits, trait categories and ecoregions. Notwithstanding inconsistent trait predictors, environmental filtering was primarily influenced by habitat preference traits, whereas habitat matching was primarily influenced by both habitat preference and dispersal traits. Predictors of functional traits also varied by trait category and ecoregion, with habitat preference and dispersal traits primarily influenced by network variables. Main conclusions: Our study demonstrates the contingent patterns and drivers of environmental filtering and habitat matching on a macroecological scale. We provide the foundation on which trait–environment relationships can be further quantified and causal explanations established in the context of community disequilibrium and applied to conservation and management of freshwater systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gifts of Time and Money: The Role of Charity in America's Communities, by Arthur C. Brooks (ed.). Lanham, Md.: Rowman & Little.eld, 2005. 224 pp., $75.00 cloth, $24.95 paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The social worker (SW) role in the Hemophilia Treatment Center (HTC) is complex and broad, providing direct support, spanning across micro, mezzo and macro levels of care. Aim: Research demonstrates discrepancy between actual and ideal SW roles among the HTC SW community. Soliciting perceptions from HTC staff about the SW role can provide a deeper understanding of this discrepancy and improve collaboration amongst care team members in meeting the psychosocial needs of HTC patients. Methods: Funded by the National Hemophilia Foundation (NHF), a national online survey was conducted in 2020 to determine the views and attitudes of what the SW role is by HTC staff. Separate surveys were emailed to active HTC SWs and staff to collect anonymous data. Demographics of SWs gathered included age, education, years of practice, full time equivalent (FTE) status, and caseload. All disciplines were asked questions about perceptions, barriers, and potential ways to enhance and strengthen the SW role within HTCs. Results: Results demonstrated that subcategory‐oriented questions (40 in total) and qualitative responses highlighted diverse viewpoints and offered clarity about these differences. Conclusion: Findings indicated most HTC staff value the multi‐faceted role of SW at their centres, and both groups identified time, limited resources, and role confusion as barriers to utilizing SW services. Outcomes will inform the development of a "standards of practice" tool that will provide education for HTC staff, patients, and families, and serve as an empowerment tool for SW to highlight their skillset and define their role. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among the most widely‐cited aspects of Salvadoran life in the United States is the extent to which Salvadorans constitute a transnational community. This transnationalism manifests itself in nearly every aspect of community life, especially religion. In this article we outline four key dimensions of Salvadoran religious transnationalism. First, we note the importance of doctrine regarding evangelism in shaping the transnational textures of Salvadoran religiosity. Second, we offer examples of structural transnationalism built into denominations and churches. Third, we shed light on the transnational dimensions of the Sanctuary Movement of the 1980s. Fourth, we examine cultural celebrations of Salvadoran religious figures. By way of conclusion, we note areas of further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Measuring avian migration can prove challenging given the spatial scope and the diversity of species involved. No one monitoring technique provides all the pertinent measures needed to capture this macroscale phenomenon – emphasizing the need for data integration. Migration phenology is a key metric characterizing large‐scale migration dynamics and has been successfully quantified using weather surveillance radar (WSR) data and community science observations. Separately, both platforms have their limitations and measure different aspects of bird migration. We sought to make a formal comparison of the migration phenology estimates derived from WSR and eBird data – of which we predict a positive correlation. Location: Contiguous United States. Time period: 2002–2018. Major taxa studied: Migratory birds. Methods: We estimated spring and autumn migration phenology at 143 WSR stations aggregated over a 17‐year period (2002–2018), which we contrast with eBird‐based estimates of spring and autumn migration phenology for 293 nocturnally migrating bird species at the 143 WSR stations. We compared phenology metrics derived from all species and WSR stations combined, for species in three taxonomic orders (Anseriformes, Charadriiformes and Passeriformes), and for WSR stations in three North American migration flyways (western, central and eastern). Results: We found positive correlations between WSR and eBird‐based estimates of migration phenology and differences in the strength of correlations among taxonomic orders and migration flyways. The correlations were stronger during spring migration, for Passeriformes, and generally for WSR stations in the eastern flyway. Autumn migration showed weaker correlation, and in Anseriformes correlations were weakest overall. Lastly, eBird‐based estimates slightly preceded those derived from WSR in the spring, but trailed WSR in the autumn, suggesting that the two data sources measure different components of migration phenology. Main conclusions We highlight the complementarity of these two approaches, but also reveal strong taxonomic and geographic differences in the relationships between the platforms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Because transgender individuals experience disproportionately high rates of HIV infection, this population is an increasing focus of epidemiological and implementation science research to combat the epidemic. However, study participants, providers and other advocates have become increasingly concerned about research practices that may alienate, objectify, exploit or even re‐traumatize the communities they are designed to benefit. This commentary explores the common pitfalls of HIV research with transgender communities and provides a potential framework for ethical, community‐engaged research practice. Discussion: We review some of the critical challenges to HIV research with transgender and non‐binary communities that limit the potential for such studies to improve practice. For example, scales that measure stigma perceptions/experiences often include activating language, while the consistent focus in research on risk and trauma can often feel judgemental and redundant. Because of limited employment opportunities, some participants may feel undue influence by research stipends; others may perceive their participation as fuelling the larger research economy without providing research jobs to community members. Questions remain regarding optimal strategies for authentic research partnership beyond community advisory boards or focus groups. Transgender and non‐binary researchers are under‐represented and may be tokenized. Many demonstration projects provide much‐needed services that disappear when the research funding is over, and community‐based dissemination efforts are often perceived as "too little, too late" to effect change. Conclusions: Based on this review and input from study participants across the United States, we detail six recommendations for ethical HIV research with transgender and non‐binary communities, including (1) equitable budgeting with community‐based programme partners; (2) representation in the development of both research agenda and methods; (3) integration of research activities into the ongoing work of any clinical or service site, so that individuals' needs as "clients" can continue to be prioritized over their role as "participants;" (4) mindfully considered compensation that values the contributions of community members, but avoids undue influence; (5) transparent, community‐focused and timely communication at every stage of the study, including research purpose, data usage, preliminary findings and full‐scale results; and (6) planning for sustainability of any programme or services beyond the life of the research project. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Families and community networks serve as sources of cultural capital and provide resources that aid the development of Black male engineers. Community cultural wealth (CCW) has been leveraged by engineering education scholars to understand and highlight student and community assets available in communities of color. Little is known about the diverse ways that Black families support engineering education pathways. Purpose: This study characterized the diverse forms of support that Black families and extended family members provided to undergraduate Black men along their precollege engineering pathways. Method: Thirteen Black undergraduate men majoring in engineering participated in focus groups at two predominantly White institutions in different regions of the United States. Findings: The findings suggest that Black parents are engaged in the engineering learning and development of Black males, which opposes the deficit framing of Black parental engagement. The data revealed how the forms of capital overlap. A compelling finding is that capital has a bidirectional nature—meaning that participants described instances of receiving and providing capital. Conclusions: CCW framework provided a lens to explore how Black men were supported by their family networks and how they used capital to maneuver noninclusive engineering environments. The findings substantiate the role of Black parental engagement on engineering education pathways. This work promotes these parental engagement practices as worthy of inclusion in the canons of effective evidence‐based parental engagement strategies that encourage engineering learning and participation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water consumption and supply for the urban landscape continues to be a concern for many communities throughout the United States. A 2‐yr field study was conducted in the cool‐humid region to determine the irrigation requirements of drought sensitive (DS) and drought resistant (DR) Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.; KBG) and tall fescue [Festuca arundinacea Schreb.; syn. Schedonorus arundinaceus (Schreb.) Dumort., nom. cons.; TF] cultivars maintained at two mowing heights (5.1 or 8.9 cm). Additionally, TF:KBG mixtures 90:10 (w/w) containing DS or DR cultivars were also evaluated. Irrigation was determined using a 70% green coverage threshold (GCT70) approach, where turf was imaged twice weekly, and 12.7 mm of irrigation was applied if an individual plot fell below the GCT70. Time to initially fall below the GCT70 ranged from 15.4 to 50.0 d and varied by species and cultivar, with TF and the TF:KBG mixtures taking the longest time to fall below the threshold. Total irrigation ranged from 61.9 to 173.9 mm over the 74‐d drought events. The DR TF and TF:KBG mixtures containing DR TF required the least irrigation. Mowing height generally had no effect on irrigation requirements of the cultivars or mixtures evaluated in this study. These data reinforce the fact that substantial irrigation can be saved by planting DR species and cultivars and employing a limited irrigation strategy based on a minimum green coverage threshold. Core Ideas: Irrigating based on a 70% green coverage threshold reduced irrigation compared with a set schedule.Tall fescue and mixtures took the longest to initially fall below 70% green compared with Kentucky bluegrass.Compared with Kentucky bluegrass, tall fescue cultivars and mixtures reduced irrigation requirements.Mowing height generally had no effect on irrigation requirements during this field study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Assisted living (AL) is the largest residential long‐term care provider in the United States, including for persons with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. Despite recognizing the challenge of infection control for persons with dementia, this study of 119 AL communities is the first to describe dementia‐relevant COVID‐19 infection control across different types of AL communities, and to discuss implications for the future. Methods: From a parent study sampling frame of 244 AL communities across seven states, 119 administrators provided data about COVID‐19 infection control practices and resident behaviors. Data were collected from July 2020 through September 2021. Communities were differentiated based on the presence of beds/units dedicated for persons living with dementia, as being either dementia‐specific, mixed, or integrated. Data obtained from administrators related to feasibility of implementing seven infection control practices, and the extent to which residents themselves practiced infection prevention. Analyses compared practices across the three community types. Results: Less than half of administrators found it feasible to close indoor common areas, all community types reported a challenge organizing group activities for safe distancing, and more than half of residents with dementia did not wear a face covering or maintain physical distance from other residents when indicated. Dementia‐specific AL communities were generally the most challenged with infection control during COVID‐19. Conclusion: All AL community types experienced infection control challenges, more so in dementia‐specific communities (which generally provide care to persons with more advanced dementia and have fewer private beds). Results indicate a need to bolster infection prevention capacity when caring for this especially vulnerable population, and have implications for care in nursing homes as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The long‐term sustainability and stability of the evaluation profession is dependent on superior, evaluation‐specific education programs designed to help increase the quality, numbers, visibility, and collective impact of evaluation theory and practice in society. Recent studies illustrate the breadth of colleges and universities in the United States that are offering certificates, master's degrees, and doctoral degrees with a specialization in evaluation. Less attention has been paid, however, to the ways higher education institutions prepare would‐be evaluators to recognize the limits of their expertise and to work with individuals and communities that may not share their expertise or background. The importance of this awareness is compounded by the ethical challenges associated with facilitating evaluative work with diverse, historically marginalized groups such as LGBTQ+ communities, which may have their own fraught histories with evaluation. This chapter will discuss LGBTQ+ perspectives that educators should include in their evaluation curricula to help inform high‐quality, ethical practice, and conclude with a dialogue between the authors about the process of writing the chapter, their concerns, and their hopes for the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]