The impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic on first‐generation women test‐takers: Magnifying adversities, stress, and consequences for bar exam performance

By magnifying gender‐ and socioeconomic status‐based inequalities, the COVID‐19 pandemic caused stress and disrupted career progress for professional students. The present work investigated the impact of pandemic‐related stress and prevailing barriers on structurally disadvantaged women preparing for a high‐stakes professional exam. In Study 1, we found that among US law students preparing for the October 2020 California Bar Exam—the professional exam that enables one to become a practicing attorney in California—first‐generation women reported the greatest stress from pandemic‐related burdens and underperformed on the exam relative to others overall, and particularly compared to continuing‐generation women. This underperformance was explained by pandemic‐related stress they contended with most, as well as by structural demands shouldered most by first‐generation test‐takers regardless of gender. Even when controlling for the structural features of caregiving and working while studying, the psychological burdens experienced most by first‐generation women predicted lower exam success. Study 2 investigated the February 2021 California Bar Exam. Consistent with Study 1, first‐generation women test‐takers reported the most pandemic‐related stress, which predicted lower exam performance above and beyond structural barriers to exam success. We offer policy prescriptions to bolster the success of at‐risk groups in the legal profession pipeline, a challenge magnified by the pandemic. [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Journal of Social Issues is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)

Cytokine pre-activation of cryopreserved xenogeneic-free human mesenchymal stromal cells enhances resolution and repair following ventilator-induced lung injury potentially via a KGF-dependent mechanism.

BACKGROUND: Human mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (hMSCs) represent a promising therapeutic strategy for ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI) and acute respiratory distress syndrome. Translational challenges include restoring hMSC efficacy following cryopreservation, developing effective xenogeneic-free (XF) hMSCs and establishing true therapeutic potential at a clinically relevant time point of administration. We wished to determine whether cytokine pre-activation of cryopreserved, bone marrow-derived XF-hMSCs would enhance their capacity to facilitate injury resolution following VILI and elucidate mechanisms of action. METHODS: Initially, in vitro studies examined the potential for the secretome from cytokine pre-activated XF-hMSCs to attenuate pulmonary epithelial injury induced by cyclic mechanical stretch. Later, anaesthetised rats underwent VILI and, 6 h following injury, were randomized to receive 1 × 107 XF-hMSC/kg that were (i) naive fresh, (ii) naive cryopreserved, (iii) cytokine pre-activated fresh or (iv) cytokine pre-activated cryopreserved, while control animals received (v) vehicle. The extent of injury resolution was measured at 24 h after injury. Finally, the role of keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) in mediating the effect of pre-activated XF-hMSCs was determined in a pulmonary epithelial wound repair model. RESULTS: Pre-activation enhanced the capacity of the XF-hMSC secretome to decrease stretch-induced pulmonary epithelial inflammation and injury. Both pre-activated fresh and cryopreserved XF-hMSCs enhanced resolution of injury following VILI, restoring oxygenation, improving lung compliance, reducing lung leak and improving resolution of lung structural injury. Finally, the secretome of pre-activated XF-hMSCs enhanced epithelial wound repair, in part via a KGF-dependent mechanism. CONCLUSIONS: Cytokine pre-activation enhanced the capacity of cryopreserved, XF-hMSCs to promote injury resolution following VILI, potentially via a KGF-dependent mechanism.

It's public housing stupid! Solutions to homelessness and the housing crisis in Ireland: Reimagining homelessness for policy and practice, by Eoin O'Sullivan, Bristol, Policy Press, 2020, £12.99, ISBN 978-1-4473-5351-5: Housing shock – the Irish housing crisis and how to solve it, by Rory Hearne, Bristol, Policy Press, 2020, £23.99, ISBN: 978-1-4473-5390-4

The last year has seen the publication of more than four important books about Irish housing policy, all of which capture the profound structural housing crisis in Ireland as a trend that risks becoming a permanent crisis. Covid-19, by limiting tourism, has already made some housing available for homes and reduced homelessness, but it is also likely to escalate a private rental arrears crisis, that without some debt resolution, is likely to be a new crisis and structural cause of homelessness. Solutions to homelessness and the housing crisis in Ireland: Reimagining homelessness for policy and practice, by Eoin O'Sullivan, Bristol, Policy Press, 2020, £12.99, ISBN 978-1-4473-5351-5: Housing shock - the Irish housing crisis and how to solve it, by Rory Hearne, Bristol, Policy Press, 2020, £23.99, ISBN: 978-1-4473-5390-4. [Extracted from the article] Copyright of Irish Political Studies is the property of Routledge and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Responses to the COVID-19 crisis in Ireland: From Feminized to Feminist

AbstractIn this article we conceptualise feminist engagement with neo-liberalism, austerity and crisis management and analyse potential to advance a feminist ?recovery? political agenda. Feminist discursive analysis of crisis and a focus on narrative enables analysis of continuity and change in feminist responses to the pandemic and exposes the nature of opportunities and constraints for mobilization on gender equality. A case study of responses to the pandemic in Ireland and empirical data in areas of care, income support and domestic violence is presented to reflect on gendered analysis of austerity and feminist responses to same, on gendered effects of COVID-19 and feminist responses to pandemic crisis management. The case studies allow us to interrogate feminist's use of crisis to advance social transformation. We discuss whether and how feminist actors in Ireland built on learning from previous crises to generate opportunity to advance feminist demands, to break continuities by reframing old problems and to mobilise in relation to COVID-19. We find some continuity over time, but also greater awareness of connective tissues of multiple crises, making overall strategies of feminist actors and organizations less reactive, more innovative, inclusive and independent than the previous crisis with greater potential for social transformation.This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic Among Posthospital Brain Injury Rehabilitation Providers.

Rehabilitation after significant acquired brain injury (ABI) to address complex independent activities of daily living and return to family and community life is offered primarily after initial hospitalization in outpatient day treatment, group home, skilled nursing, and residential settings and in the home and community of the person served. The coronavirus 2019 pandemic threatened access to care and the health and safety of staff, persons served, and families in these settings. This article describes steps taken to contain this threat by 7 leading posthospital ABI rehabilitation organizations. Outpatient and day treatment facilities were temporarily suspended. In other settings, procedures for isolation, transportation, cleaning, exposure control, infection control, and use of personal protective equipment (PPE) were reinforced with staff. Visitation and community activities were restricted. Staff and others required to enter facilities were screened with symptom checklists and temperature checks. Individuals showing symptoms of infection were quarantined and tested, as possible. New admissions were carefully screened for infection and often initially quarantined. Telehealth played a major role in reducing direct interpersonal contact while continuing to provide services both to outpatients and within facilities. Salary, benefits, training, and managerial support were enhanced for staff. Despite early outbreaks, these procedures were generally effective, with preliminary initial infections rates of only 1.1% for persons served and 2.1% for staff. Reductions in admissions, services, and unanticipated expenses (eg, PPE, more frequent and thorough cleaning) had a major negative financial effect. Providers continue to be challenged to adapt rehabilitative approaches and to reopen services.