David Carr Aleman Carr & Associates (original) (raw)

Papers by David Carr Aleman Carr & Associates

The Information Resources for the Homeless website was created and designed by the researcher to ... more The Information Resources for the Homeless website was created and designed by the researcher to satisfy the information needs of the homeless, homeless advocates and librarians. This evaluation project aims to determine which online resources are most helpful – and most hope-inspiring-- in empowering the homeless. The resource site was created for this study to make lifelong learning possible for the homeless. A review of the literature on library services to the homeless from the perspective of the homeless patron and of the librarian is included. The causes of homelessness, sources of hope and diversity, getting the homeless off the streets, the homeless and the internet, and communication with the homeless are all important issues that can be addressed by

Archives of Dermatological Research, 2021

Ceruminous carcinomas of the external auditory canal (EAC), encompassing adenoid cystic carcinoma... more Ceruminous carcinomas of the external auditory canal (EAC), encompassing adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC), ceruminous adenocarcinoma (CA), and mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC), are extremely rare with little known regarding the influence of demographics, tumor characteristics, and treatment on survival. This study aimed to summarize existent data and describe prognostic factors affecting survival in ceruminous carcinoma. Cases of ceruminous carcinoma of the EAC in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database were analyzed to provide demographic, cancer-related, and treatment data and assess their influence on disease-specific and overall survival. A literature review was also performed. No significant difference in overall survival (OS) existed for localized versus regional disease, tumor type, or use of radiation therapy. In those with ACC, distant disease had a lower OS compared to regional disease. On review of the literature, local recurrence was a common finding with a low risk for nodal metastasis in ACC and CA. In conclusion, local recurrence was common despite aggressive surgical intervention (± radiation therapy); overall survival was unaffected by radiation therapy, tumor type, or local versus regional disease; and more cases of MEC are needed for analysis.

Population and environment, 2004

Forest conversion for agriculture expansion is the most salient signature of human occupation of ... more Forest conversion for agriculture expansion is the most salient signature of human occupation of the earth's land surface. Although population growth and deforestation are significantly associated at the global and regional scales, evidence for population links to deforestation at micro-scales-where people are actually clearing0020forests-is scant. Much of the planet's forest elimination is proceeding along tropical agricultural frontiers. This article examines the evolution of thought on population-environment theories relevant to deforestation in tropical agricultural frontiers. Four primary ways by which population dynamics interact with frontier forest conversion are examined: population density, fertility, and household demographic composition, and in-migration.

Current Dermatology Reports, 2013

Ingenol mebutate gel, derived from the sap of the Euphorbia peplus plant, recently has been inves... more Ingenol mebutate gel, derived from the sap of the Euphorbia peplus plant, recently has been investigated as a potential topical treatment for actinic keratoses. The medication is proposed to have a dual mechanism of action: rapid lesion necrosis followed by lesion-specific, neutrophilmediated, antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity. A literature review of the data from phase II and III clinical trials reveals that ingenol mebutate gel is an efficacious and safe therapy for actinic keratoses when used on areas of skin up to 25 cm 2. Further research is needed to compare directly ingenol mebutate gel to other treatments available for actinic keratoses, as well as to establish safety and efficacy for application on larger areas of skin.

Human Ecology, 2008

This paper employs cross-tabular analysis, and multivariate and logistic regression to explore de... more This paper employs cross-tabular analysis, and multivariate and logistic regression to explore demographic, political-economic, socioeconomic, and ecological patterns of farm households and land use outcomes in an emergent agricultural frontier: the Sierra de Lacandón National Park (SLNP)-a core conservation zone of the Maya Biosphere Reserve (MBR), Petén, Guatemala. Data were obtained from a 1998 probability sample of 241 farm households, the first large detailed household land use survey in Guatemala's Selva Maya-the largest lowland tropical forest in Central America. Virtually all settler households were poor maize farmers who colonized the SLNP in search of land for subsistence. While they faced similar ecological and economic conditions, land use strategies and patterns of forest clearing varied with demographic, household, and farm characteristics. Findings support and refute elements from previous frontier land use theory and offer policy implications for conservation and development initiatives in the Maya Forest specifically, and in tropical agricultural frontiers in general.

Sport, Ethics and Philosophy, 2010

It is arguable that some of the most profound and perennial issues and problems of philosophy con... more It is arguable that some of the most profound and perennial issues and problems of philosophy concerning the nature of human agency, the role of reason and knowledge in such agency and the moral status and place of responsibility in human action and conduct receive their sharpest definition in Plato's specific discussion in the Republic of the human value of physical activities. From this viewpoint alone, Plato's exploration of this issue might be considered a locus classicus in the philosophy of sport. Indeed, it is in this place that Plato offers a highly distinctive account of the value of physical education in terms of its vital contribution to the development of a part of the soul that he characterises in terms of 'spirit', 'energy' and/or 'initiative'. Drawing on more recent work in ethics and philosophy of action, this paper sets out to revisit and evaluate Plato's argument. While concluding that Plato's case ultimately flounders on fundamental uncertainty regarding the logical role of spirit in the explanation of agency, the paper concludes that there is much to be learned-in the philosophy of sport and elsewhere-from the instructive failures of Plato's argument. Zusammenfassung Man kann darüber streiten, ob einige der tiefsten und zeitlosen Fragen und Probleme der Philosophie, die die Natur menschlicher Handlung, die Rolle der Vernunft und des Wissens in solchen Handlungen sowie den moralischen Status und Ort der Verantwortung für menschliches Handeln und Verhalten betreffen, am besten in der entsprechenden Erörterung über den menschlichen Wert sportlicher Betätigung in Platons Republik definiert werden. Folgt man indes dieser Sichtweise, dann könnte Platons Exploration dieser Frage als ein locus classicus der Philosophie des Sports gelten. Und tatsächlich offenbart diese Stelle in Platons Werk eine klare Beschreibung des Wertes der Leibeserziehung in Bezug auf ihren bedeutenden Beitrag zur Entwicklung der Seelenteile, die er mit Begriffen wie '' Geist'', '' Tatkraft'' und/oder '' Entschlossenheit'' charakterisiert. Im Hinblick auf neuere Arbeiten im Bereich der Handlungsphilosophie, Ethik und Philosophie der Tat kommt dieser Artikel zu einer Ü berarbeitung und Neubewertung von Platons Schlussfolgerungen. Trotz des Fazits, dass Platons Fall letztlich aufgrund grundlegender Unsicherheiten hinsichtlich der logischen Stellung des Geistes in der Erklärung von Handlungen ins Schwimmen gerät, kommt dieser Aufsatz zu dem Schluss, dass die Sportphilosophie und andere Disziplinen eine Menge von den instruktiven Schwächen in Platons Argumentation lernen können.

Seminars in Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery, 2007

This article discusses the approach to the acute, generalized, blistering patient from the perspe... more This article discusses the approach to the acute, generalized, blistering patient from the perspective of the dermatologic consultant. Initially, a case is presented, followed by a discussion of the relevant evaluation, differential diagnosis, and treatment options.

Progress in Human Geography, 2008

This paper reviews the state of knowledge in, and develops a conceptual model for, researching fr... more This paper reviews the state of knowledge in, and develops a conceptual model for, researching frontier migration in the developing world with a focus on Latin America. Since only a small fraction moves to forest frontiers, identifying people and place characteristics associated with frontier migration could usefully inform policies aimed at forest conservation and rural development. Yet population scholars train their efforts on urban and international migration while land use/cover change researchers pay scant attention to these migration flows which directly antecede the most salient footprint of human occupation on the earth's surface: the conversion of forest to agricultural land.

The Professional Geographer, 2005

Central America's tropical forests have been felled more rapidly than those of any other world re... more Central America's tropical forests have been felled more rapidly than those of any other world region during the latter half of the twentieth century. During this time, nearly half of Guatemala's forests were eliminated. Most of this deforestation has been concentrated in the northern department of Petén. The remaining forests in Petén are now mainly concentrated in the Maya Biosphere Reserve (MBR), the heart of the largest lowland tropical forest in Central America. The pace, magnitude, and geography of this trend is of critical importance to forest conservation and rural development efforts. This article examines socioeconomic, political, demographic, and ecological factors behind settler land use and forest clearing among 241 farm households in the Sierra de Lacandón National Park (SLNP), a core conservation zone of the MBR. Some of the factors positively related to forest clearing were household size, Q'eqchí Maya ethnicity, land owned in the previous residence, farm size, land title, and the cropping of velvet bean as a soil amendment. Education, off-farm employment, and farm distance to a road were negatively related to farm-level deforestation.

Population Research and Policy Review, 2008

Since the 1970s, in-migration has driven a growing human presence and dramatic changes in the phy... more Since the 1970s, in-migration has driven a growing human presence and dramatic changes in the physical landscape of the Northern Ecuadorian Amazon frontier, including massive deforestation. Over time, a second phenomenon has emerged with the children of the original migrants often leaving the settler farms of their parents to set out on their own. The vast majority stay in the Amazon region, some contributing to further changes in land use through rural-rural migration and the others to early urbanization. This paper uses longitudinal and multi-scale data on settler colonists in this region between 1990 and 1999 to analyze rural-rural and rural-urban migration among second-generation colonists. After describing the migrants and settlers in terms of their characteristics and those of their households and communities, a multinomial discrete-time hazard model is used to estimate the determinants of out-migration of the second generation settlers to both urban and rural areas. We find significant differences in migrants to the two types of destinations in personal characteristics, human capital endowments, stage of farm household life cycle, migration networks, and access to community resources and infrastructure. The paper also identifies the effects of policy-relevant factors on migrants' choice of rural versus urban destinations.

Population and Environment, 2009

Unprecedented population growth and migration accompanied equally unprecedented land use and land... more Unprecedented population growth and migration accompanied equally unprecedented land use and land cover change in Latin America during the latter decades of the twentieth century. Country-level data are examined with bivariate statistics to determine relationships between changes in population patterns and land use (agriculture and forest cover) from 1961 to 2001. In South America, large forest areas were eliminated during the period, while exceptionally high rates of forest clearing were ubiquitous in the Central America/Caribbean region. These environmental changes accompanied dissimilar initial population densities and different effects of population change on agriculture. While interacting with a host of political, socioeconomic , and geographic processes, it appears that both Malthusian and Boserupian demographic processes were important drivers of deforestation. Given continued, though slowing, population growth, increased urban consumption, and future land use constraints, policy makers face myriad challenges in advancing sustainable agriculture-population dynamics in Latin America.

Population and Environment, 2005

What is the role of population in driving deforestation? This question was put forth as a discuss... more What is the role of population in driving deforestation? This question was put forth as a discussion topic in the cyberseminar hosted by Population Environment Research Network (PERN) in Spring, 2003. Contributors from diverse backgrounds weighed in on the discussion, citing key factors in the population-deforestation nexus and suggesting further courses of action and research. Participants explored themes of their own choosing, with many coming to the forefront. Scale, time, and place-based effects were cited as areas in need of particular attention. Consumption patterns as the mechanism for spurring deforestation were discussed, drawing attention to the differential patterns associated with urban vs. rural demands on forest resources and land. The applicability of the IPAT formula and the influence of its component parts, affluence and technology, when operating in tandem with population, was debated. The relation of demographic factors to these pathways was critically examined. Institutional and governmental influence, such as infrastructure and policies affecting access and incentives, the valuation of resources, and institutional failures such as mismanagement and corruption emerged as a crucial set of factors. This article synthesizes the critical debates in the population-deforestation literature, makes suggestions for future paths of research, and discussed possible policy and direct action initiatives.

New England Journal of Medicine, 2002

Background In early life, the innate immune system can recognize both viable and nonviable parts ... more Background In early life, the innate immune system can recognize both viable and nonviable parts of microorganisms. Immune activation may direct the immune response, thus conferring tolerance to allergens such as animal dander or tree and grass pollen. Methods Parents of children who were 6 to 13 years of age and were living in rural areas of Germany, Austria, or Switzerland where there were both farming and nonfarming households completed a standardized questionnaire on asthma and hay fever. Blood samples were obtained from the children and tested for atopic sensitization; peripheral-blood leukocytes were also harvested from the samples for testing. The levels of endotoxin in the bedding used by these children were examined in relation to clinical findings and to the cytokine-production profiles of peripheral-blood leukocytes that had been stimulated with lipopolysaccharide and staphylococcal enterotoxin B. Complete data were available for 812 children. Results Endotoxin levels in samples of dust from the child's mattress were inversely related to the occurrence of hay fever, atopic asthma, and atopic sensitization. Nonatopic wheeze was not significantly associated with the endotoxin level. Cytokine production by leukocytes (production of tumor necrosis factor a , interferong , interleukin-10, and interleukin-12) was inversely related to the endotoxin level in the bedding, indicating a marked down-regulation of immune responses in exposed children. Conclusions A subject's environmental exposure to endotoxin may have a crucial role in the development of tolerance to ubiquitous allergens found in natural environments.

The Lancet, 2001

Background A farming environment protects against development of asthma, hay fever, and atopic se... more Background A farming environment protects against development of asthma, hay fever, and atopic sensitisation in children. We aimed to establish whether increased exposure to microbial compounds has to occur early in life to affect maturation of the immune system and thereby reduces risk for development of allergic diseases. Methods We did a cross-sectional survey in rural areas of Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. 2618 (75%) of 3504 parents of 6-13-year-old children completed a standardised questionnaire on asthma, hay fever, and atopic eczema. Children from farming families, and a random sample of nonfarmers' children, who gave consent for blood samples to be obtained for measurements of specific serum IgE antibodies to common allergens were invited to participate (n=901). Findings Exposure of children younger than 1 year, compared with those aged 1-5 years, to stables and consumption of farm milk was associated with lower frequencies of asthma (1% [3/218] vs 11% [15/138]), hay fever (3% [7] vs 13% [18]), and atopic sensitisation (12% [27] vs 29% [40]). Protection against development of asthma was independent from effect on atopic sensitisation. Continual long-term exposure to stables until age 5 years was associated with the lowest frequencies of asthma (0•8% [1/122]), hay fever (0•8% [1]), and atopic sensitisation (8•2% [10]). Interpretation Long-term and early-life exposure to stables and farm milk induces a strong protective effect against development of asthma, hay fever, and atopic sensitisation.

Journal of the American Medical Directors Association, 2008

Geographical Review

Guatemala was among the world's leaders in deforestation during the 1990s at a rate of 2% per ann... more Guatemala was among the world's leaders in deforestation during the 1990s at a rate of 2% per annum. Much of Guatemala's recent forest loss has occurred in the emerging agricultural frontiers of the Maya Biosphere Reserve (MBR), the heart of the largest contiguous tropical forest in Central America-La Selva Maya. This paper presents data from 241 heads of households and 219 partners of household heads from a geographically stratified sample of eight (of 28) communities in the Sierra de Lacandón National Park (SLNP), the most ecologically biodiverse region in La Selva Maya and a core conservation zone of the MBR. Settler households are examined relative to a host of factors relating land use and land cover change. Specifically, demographic trends, political and socioeconomic development, and ecological factors are described in this first detailed statistically-representative sample probing human population and environment interactions in an emerging agricultural frontier in Central America.

Hemodialysis International, 2008

In sorbent-based hemodialysis, factors limiting a treatment session are urea conversion capacity ... more In sorbent-based hemodialysis, factors limiting a treatment session are urea conversion capacity and sodium release from the cartridge. In vitro experiments were performed to model typical treatment scenarios using various dialyzers and 4 types of SORB TM sorbent cartridges. The experiments were continued to the point of column saturation with ammonium. The urea nitrogen removed and amount of sodium released in each trial were analyzed in a multi-variable regression against several variables: amount of zirconium phosphate (ZrP), dialysate flow rate (DFR), simulated blood flow rate (BFR), simulated patient whole-body fluid volume (V), initial simulated patient urea concentration (BUN i), dialyzer area permeability (KoA) product, initial dialysate sodium and bicarbonate (HCO 3i) concentrations, initial simulated patient sodium (Na i), pH of ZrP, creatinine, breakthrough time, and average urea nitrogen concentration in dialysate. The urea nitrogen capacity (UNC) of various new SORB TM columns is positively related to ZrP, BFR, V, BUN i , and ZrP pH and negatively to DFR with an R 2 adjusted =0.990. Two models are described for sodium release. The first model is related positively to DFR and V and negatively to ZrP, KoA product, and dialysate HCO 3i with an R 2 adjusted =0.584. The second model incorporates knowledge of initial simulated patient sodium (negative relationship) and urea levels (negative relationship) in addition to the parameters in the first model with an R 2 adjusted =0.786. These mathematical models should allow for prediction of patient sodium profiles and the time of column urea saturation based on simple inputs relating to patient chemistries and the dialysis treatment.

The Gerontologist, 2006

The automobile is a primary mode of transportation for older adults in the United States. The num... more The automobile is a primary mode of transportation for older adults in the United States. The number of licensed drivers over the age of 65 is expected to double to more than 40 million in the next 15 to 20 years (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 2001). Unfortunately, many of these drivers will outlive

Geoforum, 2006

eScholarship provides open access, scholarly publishing services to the University of California ... more eScholarship provides open access, scholarly publishing services to the University of California and delivers a dynamic research platform to scholars worldwide.

European Respiratory Journal, 2002

Lung function of school children with low levels of a 1-antitrypsin and tobacco smoke exposure. O.