Chessie is an enthralling exploration of the profound power of a symbol that underscores both the affection the public continues to have for the monster and the cultural transformations in the region at the end of the twentieth century.
Could fungal pathogens outsmart us before we find ways to combat them?Humans and fungi share 50 percent of the same DNA. Because we're related, designing drugs to combat the varieties that attack us is a challenge. Meanwhile, in an ever hotter, wetter world, fungi may be finding new ways to thrive, queueing up global outbreak potentials for which no vaccine and woefully few medications exist; some fungi are already finding ways to resist treatment. Among other lifeforms, bats, amphibians, and essential crops are also increasingly threatened by these pathogens. Enter fungal kingdom frontiersman Dr. Arturo Casadevall, an epidemiologist, professor, and inventor. Casadevall shares how the 1990s AIDS epidemic's fungal complications drove his medical mycology work, how COVID-19's fungal incidences underscored the continuing threat to the immunocompromised, and how he and his Johns Hopkins University laboratory team are discovering ways to counter the threats posed by these smart, hungry combatants.What If Fungi Win? describes the beneficial roles of fungi along with their mischievous and deadly impacts and illustrates how committed experts like Casadevall are researching ways to save us and our food supplies. In addition to an overview of blights, lichens, molds, mushrooms, rusts, and smuts, readers will learn about: - how fungi proliferated following the mass dinosaur extinction- Oregon's ancient 2,384-acre Armillaria ostoyae--Earth's largest organism - the rye fungus ergot that may have fueled the Salem witch trials- mushrooms used to create vegan leather and eco-friendly packaging, as well as plastic-consuming fungi- why it's critical that funding institutions pay attention to fungal risks and aid scientists in their work.
A groundbreaking expose on the rise of gun violence in recent years.Journalist Josiah Bates pulls back the curtain on a crisis that continues to plague the United States in this gripping narrative. Fueled by the convergence of the COVID-19 pandemic and social unrest, gun violence has surged to unprecedented levels, devastating marginalized communities and urban areas across the nation. Bates embarks on a heart-wrenching journey, crisscrossing the country to meet victims, perpetrators, community activists, and renowned scholars. Through their powerful stories, he unearths the hidden causes behind the escalating gun violence epidemic. From the corrosive effects of poverty to the contentious debates surrounding policing and calls to defund law enforcement, Bates fearlessly navigates the intricate web of factors influencing gun violence. Through firsthand accounts and expert analysis, he exposes the systemic failures that perpetuate this cycle of destruction and delivers a powerful clarion call for change. Bates amplifies rarely heard voices in this debate, including both victims and perpetrators of shootings, some of whom now work tirelessly to dismantle the violence in their communities. Their stories, alongside Bates's unflinching reporting, illuminate a path toward long-term solutions. As the nation grapples with this relentless epidemic, Bates presents a compelling case for unity and action. In These Streets is a groundbreaking investigation that uncovers the deep-rooted causes of gun violence, empowering readers with the knowledge, empathy, and inspiration needed to drive meaningful transformation.
The compelling autobiography of a nurse-turned-state senator determined to make health care equitable and available for all.From her childhood in Jamaica to her early days in nursing and, eventually, to her entry into politics, Shirley Nathan-Pulliam has exemplified what it means to translate principles and values into action through legislation and advocacy. Saving Stella takes readers on her personal and political journey by highlighting the injustices faced by Stella, a woman diagnosed with breast cancer. The experience of helping Stella-a woman whose position in society denied her timely diagnosis and treatment for her breast cancer--inspired much of Nathan-Pulliam's professional path. Her gripping accounts of political battles, strategic alliances, and landmark bills provide insight into the art of governance and politics and the power of courage, perseverance, and remarkable compassion in the face of seemingly insurmountable challenges. Nathan-Pulliam's passion to ensure a future where people like Stella can get the care they need drives her tireless efforts to address health disparities and fight for meaningful change. Saving Stella is a poignant and thought-provoking autobiography that sheds light on the complex realities of health care and the profound impact of policy decisions. It is a testament to one woman's determination to make a difference and create a more equitable and compassionate health care system for all.
"This work addresses how the titular question, in and of itself, facilitates the commercialization of higher education"--
"This work is a practical guide to strategic planning for nonprofits: what it is, why you should be doing it, and how to get it done"--
"This work provides a comprehensive analysis of contemporary leadership scholarship that examines how leadership is conceptualized within higher education"--
Explores human dignity and care in the face of disease and disability.Complex contemporary experiences with disease, death, and disability in the United States have made the concept of human dignity seem outdated. In Doing Dignity: Ethical Praxis and the Politics of Care, Christa Teston challenges conventional notions of dignity and, based on analyses of clinical observations, interviews, and focus groups, encourages a new understanding of care.This thought-provoking book presents a practice-based approach to human dignity through three compelling case studies: US health care professionals' COVID-19 caretaking experiences, legislative debates about medical aid in dying, and clinical interactions between wheelchair users and health care professionals. Teston demonstrates how dignity is not an abstract idea but rather is a set of practices embedded in the politics and complexities of care. Drawing from feminist care ethics, rhetorical theory, disability studies, and critical Black studies, Doing Dignity offers a fresh perspective on the moral underpinnings of modern-day medicine. Teston explores how health care professionals enact dignity despite the challenges of market-based medicine, the commodification of care, and shifting societal discourse on disease, dying, and disability. This book transcends philosophical debates and provides practical insights for both patients and practitioners. Without falling into sentimentality or hopelessness, Doing Dignity honors human vulnerability while revealing how situational factors influence the practice of dignified care.
Explores the historical development and severe ramifications of America's strict abortion regulations.Nearly one in four women in the United States undergoes an abortion during their lives. In Regulating Abortion, Deborah R. McFarlane and Wendy L. Hansen uncover the history of the complex web of regulations surrounding abortion in the United States and shed light on the stark reality of this heavily regulated and politically divisive health care service. McFarlane and Hansen delve into the historical development of abortion regulations since Roe v. Wade. They explore the underlying reasons for the extensive regulation of what they assert is a routine and safe medical procedure. The authors examine the multitude of factors that influence state-level abortion policies, including party affiliation, religion, the representation of women in legislatures, and political contributions. By demonstrating how these factors shape the landscape of abortion regulation across different states, they reveal the varying methods and justifications used to either restrict or protect abortion access, with a particular focus on the disproportionate impacts on women of color. The recent landmark US Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization overturned long-standing precedents. McFarlane and Hansen provide timely insights into the implications of this ruling and how it further amplifies the disparities among states in regulating abortion. An essential resource for understanding the influences driving this divide, Regulating Abortion offers a comprehensive analysis of US abortion policy contextualized by relevant Supreme Court decisions and a comparative exploration of abortion regulation in Western Europe.
Humanities have the potential to transform human culture--and an obligation to preserve it.In The Public Humanities Turn, Philip Lewis argues that universities are uniquely equipped to act as catalysts for cultural change in the face of the climate crisis. In closely linked essays that explore the evolution of the academic humanities in the era of climate change, he foregrounds the rise of the public humanities, a movement that has been gaining momentum over the past two decades. Surveying a variety of approaches to the public humanities, Lewis relates their emergence to the evolution of higher education and its achievements, problems, and goals. Current academic efforts to engage with the public at large, led by scholars with interdisciplinary commitments, are significant yet far from sufficient. Situating the university as a global institution, Lewis contends that it faces an urgent imperative to collaboratively address common needs and looming crises in a public-facing initiative that integrates the arts, humanities, and social sciences and draws them into a future-oriented dialogue with earth systems science. Advocating for the urgent educational mission of safeguarding humanity's survival on a habitable earth, Lewis proposes a sharpened focus for the public humanities that would position universities as active agents of cultural transformation. The Public Humanities Turn is a clarion call for institutional and cultural change and a must-read for anyone interested in the humanities, climate change, activism, organizational reform, and the future of higher education.
"This work comprises essays from a wide range of perspectives, from scholars to poets, to create an engaging text that challenges readers on both sides to move beyond a simplistic understandings of immigration history and policy"--
The fascinating history of the St. Louis Bridge, the first steel structure in the world.In Spanning the Gilded Age, John K. Brown tells the daring, improbable story of the construction of the St. Louis Bridge, known popularly as the Eads Bridge. Completed in 1874, it was the first structure of any kind--anywhere in the world--built of steel. This history details the origins, design, construction, and enduring impact of a unique feat of engineering, and it illustrates how Americans built their urban infrastructure during the nineteenth century. With three graceful arches spanning the Mississippi River, the Eads Bridge's twin decks carried a broad boulevard above a dual-track railroad. To place its stone piers on bedrock, engineer James Eads pioneered daring innovations that allowed excavators to work one hundred feet beneath the river. With construction scarcely begun, Eads circulated a prospectus--offering a 500 percent return on investment--that attracted wealthy investors, including J. Pierpont Morgan in New York and his father, Junius, in London. This record-breaking design, which employed a novel method to lay its foundations and an untried metal for its arches, was projected by a steamboat man who had never before designed a bridge. By detailing influential figures such as James Eads, the Morgans, Andrew Carnegie, and Jay Gould, Spanning the Gilded Age offers new perspectives on an era that saw profound changes in business, engineering, governance, and society. Beyond the bridge itself, Brown explores a broader story: how America became urban, industrial, and interconnected. This triumph of engineering reflects the Gilded Age's grand ambitions, and the bridge remains a vital transportation artery today.
A captivating exploration of Black American civil rights activism through the lens of sport.In Frontline Bodies, Nicolas Martin-Breteau argues that sports are not--and have never been--purely about entertainment for Black Americans. Instead, beginning in the 1890s during Reconstruction, Black Americans proactively used athletics as a tactic to fight racial oppression. Since the body was the primary target of anti-Black racial oppression, African Americans turned sports into a key medium in their struggles for dignity, equality, and justice. Although Black photography and art also aimed at displaying the dignity of the Black body, sports arguably had the greatest impact on American and international public opinion. Martin-Breteau considers the work of Edwin B. Henderson, a prominent Black physical educator, civil rights activist, and historian of Black sports. Training Black children as athletes, Henderson felt, would work both to fortify racial pride and to dismantle racial prejudices--two necessary requirements for a successful political liberation struggle. In this way, physical education became political education. By the end of World War II, the tactic of racial uplift through sports had reached its peak of popularity, only to subsequently lose its appeal among younger activists, many of whom believed that the strategy was ineffective in fighting institutional racism and served mainly as an emulation of middle-class white norms. By the end of the twentieth century, Martin-Breteau argues, racial uplift through sports had lost its emancipating power. The emphasis on the accumulation of wealth for professional athletes, as well as sports' ability to reinforce anti-Black stereotypes, had become a political problem for true collective liberation. For a marginalized group of people that has been physically excluded from the democratic process, however, sports remain a political resource. By studying the relationship between athletics and politics, Frontline Bodies renews the history of minority bodies and their power of action.
"This book targets higher education leaders and provides a rare playbook for what to do and how to avoid various pitfalls"--
"This book highlights the rich social and cultural history of the transportation revolution"--
"This work speaks directly to the needs and strengths of the voices of leaders from marginalized groups"--
"This work illustrates how people like Smith Islanders claim their lives in an ecologically changing unstable place"--
"This work shows how university leaders can apply their values, principles, and practices during crisis"--
A spirited look at how funeral homes impacted American consumerism, the built environment, and national identities.Funeral homes--those grand, aging mansions repurposed into spaces for embalming, merchandising, funeral services, and housing for the funeral director and their family--are immediately recognizable features of the American landscape, and yet the history of how these spaces emerged remains largely untold. In Preserved, Dean Lampros uses the history of this uniquely American architectural icon to explore the twentieth century's expanding consumer landscape and reveal how buildings can help construct identities.Across the United States, Lampros traces the funeral industry's early twentieth-century exodus from gloomy downtown undertaking parlors to outmoded Victorian houses in residential districts. As savvy retailers and accidental preservationists, funeral directors refashioned the interiors into sumptuous retail settings that stimulated consumer demand for luxury burial goods. These spaces allowed for more privacy, more parking, and helped turn Americans away from traditional home funerals toward funeral homes instead. Moreover, by moving into neighborhoods that were once the domain of white elites, African American funeral directors uplifted their industry and altered the landscape of white supremacy.The funeral home has tracked major changes in American culture, including an increased reliance on the automobile and the rise of consumer culture. Preserved offers an in-depth cultural history of a space that is both instantly familiar and largely misunderstood.
The most up-to-date and gorgeous photographic collection of all 1,144 bird species in North America (including Hawaii!).A Great Blue Heron, a Wood Duck, a Baltimore Oriole, an Eastern Bluebird, or a Belted Kingfisher--which North American bird species is your favorite? In Birds of North America: A Photographic Atlas, Bruce M. Beehler provides the information and images you need to identify and enjoy each of the 1,144 amazing and diverse bird species recorded in the United States and Canada, including Hawaii and Alaska. Featuring more than 1,200 full-color photographs and illustrations and more than 700 range maps, this comprehensive reference provides both beginners and seasoned birders with important facts about each bird's ecology, behavior, seasonal movements, nesting biology, and conservation status. Birds of North America gives bird-lovers everything they could ask for: The photographs and illustrations, selected and curated by Brian E. Small, one of America's most talented nature photographers, depict each species in its most beautiful plumage and natural habitat. The largest, most detailed, and most up-to-date range maps available anywhere provide invaluable insider information on the best birding hotspots. And the special sections rounding out the book offer helpful guidance on birding gear, field trip planning, critical resources, and conservation issues. This is the book for aspiring and veteran bird enthusiasts alike.
"This work provides a comprehensive review of the natural history of the 58 species living tortoises, the majority of which are threatened by extinction"--
Introduces a vision for the future of health equity and explains practical policy measures for how to achieve it.Health inequity is one of the defining problems of our time. But current efforts to address the problem focus on mitigating the harms of injustice rather than confronting injustice itself. Ultimately, this only makes the problem harder to solve. What the field of health equity needs is an egalitarian politics that directly challenges social inequality. In Equal Care, Seth A. Berkowitz, MD, MPH, offers an innovative vision for the future of health equity by examining the social mechanisms that link injustice to poor health. He also presents practical policies designed to create a system of social relations that ensures equal care for everyone.As Berkowitz illustrates, the project of social democracy works to improve health by bringing relationships of equality to the sites of human cooperation: in civil society, in political processes, and in economic activities. This book synthesizes three elements necessary for such a project--normative justification, mechanistic knowledge, and technical proficiency--into a practical vision of how to create health equity. Drawing from the fields of medicine, social epidemiology, sociology, economics, political science, philosophy, and more, Berkowitz makes clear that healthy inequity is social failure embodied, and the only true cures are political. This makes Equal Care essential reading for anyone concerned with the future of health equity.
A groundbreaking look at the complex relationship between the built environment and population health in small-town America.The links between urban settings and health issues are well established, but the built environments of smaller cities and towns also play a crucial role in population well-being. In this book, Mahbub Rashid--who employs innovative spatial and social network analysis techniques to examine the impact of built form and space on people's behavior, psychology, society, and culture--uses extensive spatial, demographic, and health data to study the crucial role of the built environment in small Kansas cities. Rashid reveals the health disparities in these communities and offers spatial design and planning guidelines rooted in the World Health Organization's Healthy Cities and Communities model. This comprehensive book tackles physical health, mental health, lifestyle, and community well-being, shedding light on the interconnected factors that shape population health. Rashid presents groundbreaking strategies and solutions for public health professionals and policymakers, empowering them to foster healthier communities. The first book of its kind, Built Environment and Population Health in Small-Town America sheds light on the critical factors shaping the well-being of these communities and provides valuable insights for building healthier futures.
An essential guide to transforming the college experience for student success.In The Learning-Centered University, renowned historian Steven Mintz unveils a comprehensive blueprint for addressing the critical issues of stagnating incomes and productivity, persistent wealth inequalities, and political polarization plaguing colleges and universities today. With practical strategies and a deep understanding of the history and future of higher education, Mintz outlines how we can transform higher education to promote access, affordability, degree attainment, and equity. Mintz provides a thought-provoking analysis of the challenges facing higher education, from the growing disparities in resources and facilities to the need for a more holistic approach to students' development. He offers actionable solutions to create a more interactive, engaging, and skills-focused learning environment. From seamless community college transfers to embedding career preparation throughout the undergraduate experience, Mintz steers institutions toward a future that embraces innovation and student success. This essential guide also explores the transformative potential of technology in education, the importance of equity and student support services, and the future of the humanities. Drawing on his vast teaching experience and expertise in student success, Mintz provides practical insights and strategies for driving academic innovation and overcoming resistance to change. The Learning-Centered University is an invaluable resource for educators, administrators, and policy makers who are dedicated to offering a more equitable, accessible, and impactful learning experience for all students.
Armed conflict poses a huge threat to public health but perhaps not in the way you would think. It's time to reconsider our entire approach to human security.Thanks to our increasingly connected world, we can now witness the worst manifestations of war in ways we never could before. This makes it easier than ever to recognize dangerous conflicts as a threat to health and well-being--at least for those populations living in war zones. In How War Kills, Yara M. Asi exposes the devastating repercussions of war that extend far beyond the battlefield.By tracing the trajectory of violence throughout history, with a focus on contemporary conflicts, Asi argues that war has been overlooked from a public health perspective. From the breakdown of sanitation and other vital infrastructure to the scarcity of essential resources, war creates a perilous environment ripe for disease outbreaks and widespread suffering far beyond the reach of bullets and bombs. She also challenges the reactive nature of current humanitarian responses and calls for more proactive measures to prevent the catastrophic consequences of war and militarism. Drawing on data and stories from around the world, Asi breaks down the complex mechanics of war and how they impact human security. War is not an inevitable part of the human condition but is rather a global health crisis in dire need of intervention. Aimed at anyone seeking to understand why increased national security spending has left us feeling more insecure than ever, this book provides an eye-opening perspective on the "war machine" and makes an urgent call to dismantle it for everyone's sake.
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