Centre on Dynamics of Ethnicity

Both Critical Race Theory (CRT) and abolitionist theory are grounded in radical critiques of existing systems, sharing a commitment to understanding and fostering structural change. This article brings these traditions into conversation, exploring their combined potential as an analytical framework for understanding reform, social change, and retrenchment. Using the Greater Manchester-based No Police in Schools campaign as a case study, I analyse Manchester City Council's reported decision to remove School-Based Police Officers – a move first celebrated by some as a victory but later found to be fraught with complexity. Applying the CRT concepts of interest convergence and contradiction closure alongside the abolitionist concept of non-reformist reforms, I develop a ‘theoretical synergy” that illuminates the limitations of this “victory”. This synergy enhances theoretical understanding by clarifying the dynamics behind the shortcomings of reforms, while offering practical insights for campaigns to identify superficial changes and sustain focus on systemic transformation.

We study the effect of inflation on the swelling-induced wrinkling of thin elastic membranes in a set-up that is commonly used to create microchannels in lab-on-chip applications. Using a combination of experiments and associated numerical simulations, we demonstrate that the out-of-plane deformation of the inflated membrane and the resulting anisotropic stress lead to two distinct instabilities as the swelling progresses. The membrane first develops small-amplitude wrinkles that retain the cross-channel symmetry. Their wavelength depends on the pressure and is set in a process similar to the axisymmetric buckling of pressurised, uni-axially compressed cylindrical shells. As swelling increases, the membrane undergoes a secondary instability during which the wrinkles coarsen into large-amplitude folds whose morphology can be controlled by the degree of pre-inflation. We elucidate the fundamental mechanisms responsible for this behaviour and explain how inflation can be used as a control mechanism in the manufacture of microchannels.

Immigration and Freedom is a though-provoking monograph effectively bringing a new argument to the immigration debate, focusing on the consequences of immigration enforcement on the whole society.

The past 5 years has seen a rapid growth in teacher professional learning programs at scale to address the significant shortage of computer science (CS) teachers (Code.org, 2017a; Cuny, 2011). The focus has been primarily on intensive face-to-face workshops aligned with a specific curriculum (Code.org, 2019a). The long-term success of a broad-scale CS initiative, however, requires a more flexible, personalizable approach to professional learning that will attract, retain, and support new CS teachers beyond an initial week of workshops (Zhao, 2018). In this chapter we present a model for effective, personalizable CS professional learning that has been designed and successfully implemented in North Carolina. The program brings together effective professional learning activities, including online courses, web-based learning resources, and communities of practice to supplement widely-used face-to-face workshops. We discuss barriers that limit teacher engagement in CS as well as the underlying principle components of the model for effective, personalizable CS professional development. Finally, opportunities for further development and study across research, practice and policy are offered with a lens toward scaling to other states and refining the model to adapt to the rapidly changing field of CS education.

Photodeposition of Cu nanoparticles on ceria (CeO2) aerogels generates a high surface area composite material with sufficient metallic Cu to exhibit an air-stable surface plasmon resonance. We show that balancing the surface area of the aerogel support with the Cu weight loading is a critical factor in retaining stable Cu0. At higher Cu weight loadings or with a lower support surface area, Cu aggregation is observed by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Analysis of Cu/CeO2 using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy finds a mixture of Cu2+, Cu+, and Cu0, with Cu+ at the surface. At 5 wt% Cu, Cu/CeO2 aerogels exhibit high activity for heterogeneous CO oxidation catalysis at low temperatures (94% conversion of CO at 150 °C), substantially out-performing Cu/TiO2 aerogel catalysts featuring the same weight loading of Cu on TiO2 (20% conversion of CO at 150 °C). The present study demonstrates an extension of our previous concept of stabilizing catalytic Cu nanoparticles in low oxidation states on reducing, high surface area aerogel supports. Changing the reducing power of the support modulates the catalytic activity of mixed-valent Cu nanoparticles and metal oxide support.

Abstract Aims:We examined the associations between informal social support from church members and social support from extended family members and depressive symptoms within a national probability sample of African American adults ranging in age from 18 to 93.Methods:This analysis used data from the National Survey of American Life and accounted for religious service attendance and various demographic variables that have known associations with and are consequential for mental health.Results:Frequency of contact with church and family members and emotional support from family were inversely associated with depressive symptoms, and negative church and family interactions were positively associated with depressive symptoms. Emotional support from church members, however, was unrelated to depressive symptoms.Conclusion:This study underscores the important contributions of church relationships to depressive symptoms among African Americans across the adult life span, and confirms that these associations are independent of family relationship factors and religious service attendance.

BackgroundFor different migrant groups living in an area with few people from the same ethnic background is associated with increased psychosis incidence (the ethnic density effect). We set out to answer the question: are there generational differences in this effect? MethodsAnalysis of a population based cohort (2.2 million) comprising all those born 1st January 1965, or later, living in Denmark on their 15th birthday. This included 90,476 migrants from Africa, Europe (excluding Scandinavia) and the Middle East, with 55% first generation and the rest second-generation migrants. Neighbourhood co-ethnic density was determined at age 15 and we adjusted for age, gender, calendar period, parental psychiatric history and parental income. ResultsFor first-generation migrants from Africa, there was no statistically significant difference (p=0.30) in psychosis rates when comparing lowest with highest ethnic density quintiles, whereas the second generation showed a 3.87-fold (95% CI 1.77–8.48) increase. Similarly, for migrants from the Middle East, the first generation showed no evidence of an ethnic density effect (p=0.94) while the second showed a clear increase in psychosis when comparing lowest with highest quintiles, incidence rate ratio (IRR) 2.43 (95% CI, 1.18–5.00). For European migrants, there was some limited evidence of an effect in the first generation, (IRR) 1.69 (95% CI, 1.19–2.40), with this slightly raised in the second: IRR 1.80 (95% CI, 1.27–2.56). ConclusionsWe found strong evidence for an ethnic density effect on psychosis incidence for second-generation migrants but this was either weak or absent for the first generation.

Abstract This abstract is being presented as a short talk in the scientific program. A full abstract is printed in the Proffered Abstracts section (PR14) of the Conference Proceedings. Citation Format: Artitaya Lophatananon, Kawthar Alajmi, Emma Thorpe, John Hughes, Joanna Blodgett, Bernadette Fisher, Simon Rogers, Erika K. Waters, Kenneth R. Muir. Development of a cancer risk prediction tool for use in the Risk Estimation For Lifestyle Enhancement Combined Trial (REFLECT). [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference: Improving Cancer Risk Prediction for Prevention and Early Detection; Nov 16-19, 2016; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2017;26(5 Suppl):Abstract nr B10.