Localized agriculture is theorized to provide socio-environmental benefits to the community while ensuring a livelihood for local farmers. Much of the food systems literature refers to such an arrangement as civic agriculture, which is characterized as promoting community development by strengthening social ties among the various nodes of the localized food system. However, there is little literature that identifies the attributes of community and the specific mechanisms through which community qualities are produced, modeled, or replicated. This study's goal is to identify the meaning of community as used in the phrase "community supported agriculture" (CSA) by asking members and operators of local CSAs how they define community within the context of their membership. On-site interviews were conducted at the produce pick-up locations of four CSA farms in central Pennsylvania, resulting in a convenience sample of 97 CSA members and four operators. The survey instrument utilized open and closed-ended questions to collect information on farmer and member perceptions of their CSA community, motivations to join, and satisfaction with their experiences. The results suggest respondents are highly satisfied with products and services provided through their CSA. However, there are statistically significant differences in satisfaction scores across the four sampled farms. These differences support findings drawn from the open-ended questions indicating these CSA farms varied in member-defined attributes of a CSA community. Farm management practices, level of personal interactions, and other factors appear to have significant effects on CSA members' perception of community.
Objective: To review outcomes of cochlear implantation (CI) in children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Study Design: Retrospective case review and parent survey. Setting: Tertiary care children's hospital. Patients: Thirty children with ASD who underwent CI between 1991 and 2018. Mean age at CI ¼ 3.5 years (0.8-11.8), mean age at diagnosis of ASD ¼ 5.1 years (2.0-15.0) (22/30 diagnosed after CI), mean follow-up ¼ 10.5 years (1.4-21.6). Parents of 7 children returned a survey. Intervention: Unilateral or bilateral cochlear implantation. Main Outcome Measures: Speech perception; expressive communication mode; educational placement; social engagement; consistency of CI use; parent survey of child behavior change. Results: Thirty-three percent of all and 45% of the 22 consistent device users developed measurable open-set speech perception by an average of 4.5 years of device use.Educational placement at last follow-up included 13% mainstreamed without interpreter, 50% Special Education programs, 10% therapeutic residential or day programs, 23% total communication programs, and one home schooled. Spoken language alone was used by 31% and spoken plus sign by 14%, with the remainder using sign alone, augmentative communication devices or no mode of communication. By parent report, 86% showed improvement in social engagement compared to pre-CI. Survey results showed the behaviors most frequently ranked as most affected by CI were communication and attention, while awareness of environment had the lowest (most affected) mean ranking. Conclusions: Findings support a growing body of literature that cochlear implantation has the potential to improve auditory skills, language, and enhance social engagement in some deaf children with autism spectrum disorder.
Cultural Resource Analysts, Inc., personnel completed a records review and cultural resource survey for the proposed expansion of the existing Six Mile Boat Ramp in Sabine County, Texas. This work was performed to assist the Sabine River Authority of Texas in complying with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (Public Law 89-665, 16 U.S.C. 470h-2) as an applicant for a Section 404 Clean Water Act Permit from the US Army Corps of Engineers, and the provisions of the Texas Administrative Code regarding archaeological resources on public lands. The Texas Administrative Code requires review of projects on state-owned lands by the Texas Antiquities Commission. The Sabine River Authority of Texas is considered a political subdivision of the State of Texas, and therefore it has a responsibility to provide the Texas Antiquities Commission an opportunity to review projects that may affect potential or designated archaeological sites. This project was performed under Texas Antiquities Permit (No. 9155). All work was performed pursuant to the guidelines published by the Council of Texas Archeologists and adopted by the Texas Historical Commission, and this report was prepared following the short report format in the Guidelines for Cultural Resource Management Reports published by the Council of Texas Archeologists. The current proposed project includes the expansion of the Six Mile Boat Ramp on the Toledo Bend Reservoir in Sabine County, Texas. The proposed development includes the addition of a handicap-accessible floating boat ramp, the clearing of approximately 0.4 ha (1.0 acre) of trees, the construction of a parking area, the addition of a vault toilet, the addition of two tables on concrete platforms, and the clearing of trees along the shoreline to provide an enhanced scenic view. In order to provide some flexibility in siting these facilities, the direct and visual areas of potential effect for this project were within a polygon adhering on its southern and western boundaries to the property line, and roughly buffered to the north and east by the existing shoreline of the Toledo Bend Reservoir. It is estimated that the area of potential effect for this project measures 1.2 ha (3.0 acres), of which approximately 0.9 ha (2.2 acres) could be surveyed, excluding paved surfaces. The records review for this project was conducted on October 18, 2019, prior to the commencement of the field survey, to identify cultural resources or cultural resource investigations previously documented within the area. This file search utilized online files maintained by the Texas Archaeological Research Laboratory at the University of Texas. Additionally, historic maps were examined to identify the locations of any potential historic archaeological sites. The records review indicated that one previously documented site, 41SB58, was located within approximately 50 m (164 ft) to the north of the proposed project area. Additionally, one historic structure was depicted within the project area on historic mapping. Fieldwork was conducted on November 19, 2019, and was completed in 11.5 person hours. The project area was systematically investigated by pedestrian survey and screened shovel tests spaced at a 30 m (98 ft) interval on pedestrian transects spaced at 30 m. The fieldwork for this project resulted in one newly recorded isolated find that is not eligible for designation as a Texas State Archeological Landmark or for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. Based on the findings of this work, it is recommended that the project area be considered cleared from a cultural resource perspective.
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