Answering Questions and Questioning Answers. Part II. University of Central Florida Conference Papers.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Miller, C. C.; And Others

1982-01-01

Brief analyses are provided of presentations made at a conference, held at the University of Central Florida in Orlando, which addressed questions and answers relating to research and education. Conference sessions explored the role of research in relation to educational practices with special focus on theory, research, issues and application.…

1977 Florida Statewide Conference on Institutional Research. The Shift in Decision Making Responsibilities: Institutional Research Response.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Strenglein, Denise, Ed.

Centralized control of budgets and programs, a growing consumerism among students, and collective bargaining are among the issues addressed in a Florida statewide conference on institutional research. papers and reports include: the keynote address; a legislative workshop; a collective bargaining panel; The New College Story as Told by 103 Alumni…

Teaching Water: Connecting across Disciplines and into Daily Life to Address Complex Societal Issues

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Eisen, Arri; Hall, Anne; Lee, Tong Soon; Zupko, Jack

2009-01-01

A central problem in higher education is how to best develop in students interdisciplinary thinking and application skills necessary to work and engage effectively in the twenty-first century. Traditional university structures make addressing this problem especially challenging. Using as a model courses with diverse perspectives on water taught by…

Design of a multisensor data fusion system for target detection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Thomopoulos, Stelios C.; Okello, Nickens N.; Kadar, Ivan; Lovas, Louis A.

1993-09-01

The objective of this paper is to discuss the issues that are involved in the design of a multisensor fusion system and provide a systematic analysis and synthesis methodology for the design of the fusion system. The system under consideration consists of multifrequency (similar) radar sensors. However, the fusion design must be flexible to accommodate additional dissimilar sensors such as IR, EO, ESM, and Ladar. The motivation for the system design is the proof of the fusion concept for enhancing the detectability of small targets in clutter. In the context of down-selecting the proper configuration for multisensor (similar and dissimilar, and centralized vs. distributed) data fusion, the issues of data modeling, fusion approaches, and fusion architectures need to be addressed for the particular application being considered. Although the study of different approaches may proceed in parallel, the interplay among them is crucial in selecting a fusion configuration for a given application. The natural sequence for addressing the three different issues is to begin from the data modeling, in order to determine the information content of the data. This information will dictate the appropriate fusion approach. This, in turn, will lead to a global fusion architecture. Both distributed and centralized fusion architectures are used to illustrate the design issues along with Monte-Carlo simulation performance comparison of a single sensor versus a multisensor centrally fused system.

Autonomy as Process and Outcome: Revisiting Cultural and Practical Issues in Motivation for Counseling

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lynch, Martin F.; Vansteenkiste, Maarten; Deci, Edward L.; Ryan, Richard M.

2011-01-01

Three commentators (Carter, 2011; Kim, 2011; Scheel, 2011) concurred with a central proposition of the target article (Ryan, Lynch, Vansteenkiste, & Deci, 2011): that client motivation for counseling is of critical importance to counselors and therapists. In this Reply, we acknowledge and address a number of issues raised by the commentators,…

LF "Wh"-Movement and Its Locality Constraints in Child Japanese

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sugisaki, Koji

2012-01-01

In natural languages, the mapping from surface form to meaning is often quite complex, and hence the acquisition of the phenomena at the boundary between syntax and semantics has been one of the central issues in current acquisition research. This study addresses the issue of whether children have adult-like knowledge of LF "wh"-movement and its…

CDL description of the CDC 6600 stunt box

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hertzog, J. B.

1971-01-01

The CDC 6600 central memory control (stunt box) is described utilizing CDL (Computer Design Language), block diagrams, and text. The stunt box is a clearing house for all central memory references from the 6600 central and peripheral processors. Since memory requests can be issued simultaneously, the stunt box must be capable of assigning priorities to requests, of labeling requests so that the data will be distributed correctly, and of remembering rejected addresses due to memory conflicts.

Perplexity and Passion: Further Consideration of the Role of Positive Psychology in the Workplace

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Martin, Andrew

2005-01-01

The set of articles in this issue do not fully address a central tenet of Wiegand and Geller's thesis: the vital role of internal states in the workplace. This is perplexing given the centrality of internal states such as enjoyment (or lack thereof) in most people's description and perception of their work. This rejoinder draws on recent research…

Advanced power assessment for Czech lignite, Task 3.6, Part 2. The 2nd international conference on energy and environment: Transitions in East Central Europe

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Sondreal, E.A.; Mann, M.D.; Weber, G.W.

1995-12-01

On November 1-5, 1994, the Energy & Environmental Research Center (EERC) and Power Research Institute of Prague cosponsored their second conference since 1991 in the Czech Republic, entitled ``Energy and Environment: Transitions in East Central Europe.`` This conference was a continuation of the EERC`s joint commitment, initiated in 1190, to facilitate solutions to short- and long-term energy and environmental problems in East Central Europe. Production of energy from coal in an environmentally acceptable manner is a critical issue facing East Central Europe, because the region continues to rely on coal as its primary energy source. The goal of the conferencemore » was to develop partnerships between industry, government, and the research community in East Central Europe and the United States to solve energy and environmental issues in a manner that fosters economic development. Among the topics addressed at the conference were: conventional and advanced energy generation systems; economic operation of energy systems; air pollution controls; power system retrofitting and repowering, financing options; regulatory issues; energy resource options; waste utilization and disposal; and long-range environmental issues. Selected papers in the proceedings have been processed separately for inclusion in the Energy Science and Technology database.« less

Addressing global change challenges for Central Asian socio-ecosystems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Qi, Jiaguo; Bobushev, Temirbek S.; Kulmatov, Rashid; Groisman, Pavel; Gutman, Garik

2012-06-01

Central Asia is one of the most vulnerable regions on the planet earth to global climate change, depending on very fragile natural resources. The Soviet legacy has left the five countries (Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan) with a highly integrated system but they are facing great challenges with tensions that hinder regional coordination of food and water resources. With increasing climate variability and warming trend in the region, food and water security issues become even more crucial now and, if not addressed properly, could affect the regional stability. The long-term drivers of these two most critical elements, food and water, are climate change; the immediate and probably more drastic factors affecting the food and water security are land uses driven by institutional change and economic incentives. As a feedback, changes in land use and land cover have directly implications on water uses, food production, and lifestyles of the rural community in the region. Regional and international efforts have been made to holistically understand the cause, extent, rate and societal implications of land use changes in the region. Much of these have been understood, or under investigation by various projects, but solutions or research effort to develop solutions, to these urgent regional issues are lacking. This article, serves as an introduction to the special issue, provides a brief overview of the challenges facing the Central Asian countries and various international efforts in place that resulted in the publications of this special issue.

The Outdoor Air Pollution and Brain Health Workshop

EPA Science Inventory

Accumulating evidence suggests that air pollution may have a significant impact on central nervous system (CNS) health and disease. To address this issue, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences/National Institute of Health convened a panel of research scientists...

Love of Learning.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Shugart, Sanford C.

2002-01-01

Argues that a central problem in higher education may be the "commoditization" of learning, or the idea of student as customer. Contends that learning-centered colleges must address the issue of passion for learning as they develop strategic plans for improving outcomes of education. (NB)

Quality Education for the Pastoralist in Public Primary Schools in Kajiado County, Kenya: Case Study of Dupoto-E-Maa Education Project in Kajiado Central District

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ouda, James Bill; Opiyo, Rose Atieno; Wambiya, Pascal

2015-01-01

Conditions of learning are critical in determining quality of education. There have been real concerns raised by stakeholders regarding the quality of education for pastoralists in public primary schools in Kajiado Central District in Kenya. Interventions have been put in place to address the issue of quality education. One such intervention is…

Medication education and consultation at a senior dining program for independently living seniors.

PubMed

Schmiedt, Dean; Ellingson, Jody

2010-08-01

To determine if pharmacist involvement within a senior dining program benefits diners by addressing their medication-related questions, using educational sessions, and providing individual consultations. Catholic Charities Senior Dining sites in central Minnesota. Pharmacists went to three senior dining sites, providing educational sessions and individual consultations to independently living senior diners. Pharmacists developed a program, in a nontraditional setting, that used educational sessions and individual consultations to assist seniors with their medication-related questions. The number of diner questions, significant issues raised, issues addressed, and level of diner satisfaction. Pharmacists made 36 visits from January to December 2009. During those visits they presented educational talks to 3,089 diners, and 12.4% of all diners spoke individually with pharmacists. Pharmacists addressed 581 questions or concerns from 384 diners. Significant issues were noted in 25.8% of individual consultations (144 questions). The most common significant issues included: adverse drug reactions (59), indications without treatment (27), and drug interactions (23). Nonopioid analgesics, antilipemics, and antihypertensive medications were most commonly involved in significant issues. Satisfaction surveys were strongly positive, with 97% indicating pharmacists had addressed their medication-related concern; only 3% did not reply. Almost half (42.7%) of satisfaction surveys indicated the diner would change something as a result of meeting with the pharmacist. Pharmacist availability in a nontraditional setting can assist seniors with addressing potentially significant medication-related issues. Independently living seniors will seek out information from a pharmacist in a convenient setting.

The power dynamics perpetuating unsafe abortion in Africa: a feminist perspective.

PubMed

Braam, Tamara; Hessini, Leila

2004-04-01

Tens of thousands of African women die every year because societies and governments either ignore the issue of unsafe abortion or actively refuse to address it. This paper explores the issue of abortion from a feminist perspective, centrally arguing that finding appropriate strategies to reclaim women's power at an individual and social level is a central lever for developing effective strategies to increase women's access to safe abortion services. The paper emphasises the central role of patriarchy in shaping the ways power plays itself out in individual relationships, and at social, economic and political levels. The ideology of male superiority denies abortion as an important issue of status and frames the morality, legality and socio-cultural attitudes towards abortion. Patriarchy sculpts unequal gender power relationships and takes power away from women in making decisions about their bodies. Other forms of power such as economic inequality, discourse and power within relationships are also explored. Recommended solutions to shifting the power dynamics around the issue include a combination of public health, rights-based, legal reform and social justice approaches.

Towards a Dynamic Systems Approach to Moral Development and Moral Education: A Response to the "JME" Special Issue, September 2008

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kim, Minkang; Sankey, Derek

2009-01-01

Is "development" a concept that properly belongs to mind and morality and, if it does, what account can we give of moral development now that Piagetian and Kohlbergian models are increasingly being abandoned in developmental psychology? In addressing this central issue, it is hoped that the paper will contribute to the quest for a new integrated…

Common Elements in Rare Kidney Diseases: Conclusions from a Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) Controversies Conference.

PubMed

Aymé, Ségolène; Bockenhauer, Detlef; Day, Simon; Devuyst, Olivier; Guay-Woodford, Lisa M; Ingelfinger, Julie R; Klein, Jon B; Knoers, Nine V A M; Perrone, Ronald D; Roberts, Julia; Schaefer, Franz; Torres, Vicente E; Cheung, Michael; Wheeler, David C; Winkelmayer, Wolfgang C

2017-10-01

Rare kidney diseases encompass at least 150 different conditions, most of which are inherited. Although individual rare kidney diseases raise specific issues, as a group these rare diseases can have overlapping challenges in diagnosis and treatment. These challenges include small numbers of affected patients, unidentified causes of disease, lack of biomarkers for monitoring disease progression, and need for complex care. To address common clinical and patient issues among rare kidney diseases, the KDIGO Controversies Conference entitled, Common Elements in Rare Kidney Diseases, brought together a panel of multidisciplinary clinical providers and patient advocates to address five central issues for rare kidney diseases. These issues encompassed diagnostic challenges, management of kidney functional decline and progression of chronic kidney disease, challenges in clinical study design, translation of advances in research to clinical care, and provision of practical and integrated patient support. Thus, by a process of consensus, guidance for addressing these challenges was developed and is presented here. Copyright © 2017 International Society of Nephrology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

INNOVATIVE IN-SITU MICROWAVE-ULTRASONIC REACTOR FOR ALGAL BIOMASS HARVESTING AND BIODIESEL PRODUCTION

EPA Science Inventory

The proposed research design project addresses critical process issues of harvesting, drying, and extraction stages of algal biofuel processes. The process operates under mild conditions which eliminates the need for high pressure vessels and high processing costs. Central ...

A CASE STUDY OF NONPOINT SOURCES BACTERIAL CONTRIBUTION TO RURAL SURFACE WATER

EPA Science Inventory

The presentation will address several bacterial issues affecting the Turkey Creek (TC) watershed, in north central Ok. Our results from seasonal stream Escherichia coli (E. coli) analysis, bacterial source tracking, and antibiotic resistance will be shared and discussed in relat...

Autonomic responses to exercise: where is central command?

PubMed

Williamson, J W

2015-03-01

A central command is thought to involve a signal arising in a central area of the brain eliciting a parallel activation of the autonomic nervous system and skeletal muscle contraction during exercise. Although much of the neural circuitry involved in autonomic control has been identified, defining the specific higher brain region(s) serving in a central command capacity has proven more challenging. Investigators have been faced with redundancies in regulatory systems, feedback mechanisms and the complexities ofhuman neural connectivity. Several studies have attempted to address these issues and provide more definitive neuroanatomical information. However, none have clearly answered the question, "where is central command?" Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Public policy issues. A Southern California Gas Company project SAGE report

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Barbieri, R. H.; Hirsberg, A. S.

1978-01-01

The use of solar energy to stretch our supplies of fossil fuels was investigated. Project SAGE (semi-automated ground environment) addresses itself to one application of this goal, solar assistance in central water heating systems for multifamily projects. Public policy issues that affect the rate of adoption of solar energy systems were investigated and policy actions were offered to accelerate the adoption of SAGE and other solar energy systems.

Multibeam Data and Socio-Economic Issues in West-Central San Francisco Bay, California

USGS Publications Warehouse

Chin, John L.; Carlson, Paul R.; Wong, Florence L.; Cacchione, David A.

1998-01-01

San Francisco Bay is the largest estuary on the conterminous U.S. Pacific Coast and is one of the world's largest natural harbors. It is a biologically productive and diverse environment. San Francisco Bay has a maritime economy that annually generates over $7.5 billion, handles 50 million tons of cargo, and involves thousands of jobs. Recent investigations by the USGS in this estuary help address both socio-economic and scientific issues: *Trimming pinnacles may prevent a calamitous oil spill. *Can San Francisco Bay accept more dredge spoil? *Bay floor biological habitats are quite varied. *How thick and how variable is the sediment fill in central San Francisco Bay?

Design and emplacement of an integrated lunar power system - Issues and concerns

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sprouse, Kenneth M.; Robin, James E.; Metcalf, Kenneth J.; Cataldo, Robert

1991-01-01

Issues regarding the construction and operation of a stationary lunar surface power system that must be resolved in order to create a permanent manned presence on the moon are addressed. The issues considered include: (1) the centralization or decentralization of the electrical power system; (2) whether power transmission should be ac or dc; (3) what mix of power generating technology should be used; and (4) the physical interface requirements between the power-system hardware and the construction equipment to be used in placing the hardware on the lunar surface.

Diversity and ethnicity in nurse education: the perspective of nurse lecturers.

PubMed

Nairn, Stuart; Hardy, Carolyn; Harling, Martyn; Parumal, Logan; Narayanasamy, Melanie

2012-04-01

This paper is a report on a qualitative study which considered the issue of how lecturers feel about teaching and managing the topic of culture and racism within their role as nurse educators. The issue of cultural diversity and the related issue of racism within nursing and society more generally means that the problem cannot be ignored since one of the central tenets of nursing is that care should be delivered in non-discriminatory ways. We interviewed a group of lecturers within a UK university to explore their views on the topic. We produced six themes: Culture; the existence of racism within nursing; challenging racism; political correctness; strategies adopted to address issues in the classroom and the presence of cultural diversity within the curriculum. We identified that the lecturers in our study were keen to address the issue but were also very concerned about their own abilities and confidence in this area. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Logomachia: The Conflict of the Faculties.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rand, Richard, Ed.

This book provides a collection of papers that address issues central to university ideals: the teaching of values, the role of philosophy and literary studies in their sister disciplines (especially history), the precarious balance between research and teaching, the defense of intellectual autonomy, and the public responsibility of the…

Acoustic telemetry and fisheries management

USGS Publications Warehouse

Crossin, Glenn T.; Heupel, Michelle R.; Holbrook, Christopher; Hussey, Nigel E.; Lowerre-Barbieri, Susan K.; Nguyen, Vivian M.; Raby, Graham D.; Cooke, Steven J.

2017-01-01

This paper reviews the use of acoustic telemetry as a tool for addressing issues in fisheries management, and serves as the lead to the special Feature Issue of Ecological Applications titled “Acoustic Telemetry and Fisheries Management”. Specifically, we provide an overview of the ways in which acoustic telemetry can be used to inform issues central to the ecology, conservation, and management of exploited and/or imperiled fish species. Despite great strides in this area in recent years, there are comparatively few examples where data have been applied directly to influence fisheries management and policy. We review the literature on this issue, identify the strengths and weaknesses of work done to date, and highlight knowledge gaps and difficulties in applying empirical fish telemetry studies to fisheries policy and practice. We then highlight the key areas of management and policy addressed, as well as the challenges that needed to be overcome to do this. We conclude with a set of recommendations about how researchers can, in consultation with stock assessment scientists and managers, formulate testable scientific questions to address and design future studies to generate data that can be used in a meaningful way by fisheries management and conservation practitioners. We also urge the involvement of relevant stakeholders (managers, fishers, conservation societies, etc.) early on in the process (i.e. in the co-creation of research projects), so that all priority questions and issues can be addressed effectively.

Exploring experiences of Personal Support Worker education in Ontario, Canada.

PubMed

Kelly, Christine

2017-07-01

There is growing attention to the training and education of Personal Support Workers, or PSWs, who work in community, home and long-term care settings supporting older people and people with disabilities. In Ontario, Canada, amid a volatile policy landscape, the provincial government launched an effort to standardise PSW education. Using qualitative methods, this study considered the question: What are the central educational issues reflected by students, working PSWs and key informants, and are they addressed by the PSW programme and training standards? Phase one was a public domain analysis completed between January and March 2014 and updated for major developments after that period. Phase two, completed between August 2014 and March 2015, included 15 key informant interviews and focus group discussions and mini-phone interviews with 35 working PSWs and current PSW students. According to the participants, the central educational issues are: casualisation of labour that is not conveyed in educational recruitment efforts, disconnect between theory and working conditions, overemphasis on long-term care as a career path, and variability of PSW education options. While the standards should help to address the final issue, they do not address the other key issues raised, which have to do with the structural organisation of work. There is thus a disconnect between the experiences of students, PSWs and key informants and the policy decisions surrounding this sector. This is particularly significant as education is often touted as a panacea for issues in long-term and community care. In fact, the curriculum of some of the PSW programmes, especially those in public college settings, is robust. Yet, the underlying issues will remain barring a structural overhaul of the organisation of long-term and community care sectors founded on a social revaluing of older people and the gendered work of care. © 2017 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Curriculum Approaches in Language Teaching: Forward, Central, and Backward Design

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Richards, Jack C.

2013-01-01

The development and implementation of language teaching programs can be approached in several different ways, each of which has different implications for curriculum design. Three curriculum approaches are described and compared. Each differs with respect to when issues related to input, process, and outcomes, are addressed. Forward design starts…

Ethical Dimensions of Mathematics Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Boylan, Mark

2016-01-01

The relationships between mathematics, mathematics education and issues such as social justice and equity have been addressed by the sociopolitical tradition in mathematics education. Others have introduced explicit discussion of ethics, advocating for its centrality. However, this is an area that is still under developed. There is a need for an…

The Politics of Public Accountability: Implications for Centralized Music Education Policy Development and Implementation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Horsley, Stephanie

2009-01-01

This article addresses accountability issues that affect music education policy and implementation in the neoliberal education system. Using examples from education reform in Ontario, Canada, the author argues that two forms of accountability imbalances fostered by the neoliberal state--hierarchical answerability over communicative reason and…

Propensity Score Matching within Prognostic Strata

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kelcey, Ben

2013-01-01

A central issue in nonexperimental studies is identifying comparable individuals to remove selection bias. One common way to address this selection bias is through propensity score (PS) matching. PS methods use a model of the treatment assignment to reduce the dimensionality of the covariate space and identify comparable individuals. parallel to…

A Framework for Residence Hall Community Development.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Davis, Alan H.; Daugherty, Michael S.

This paper addresses the issue of improving student retention and quality of life on campus through the application of principles expressed by Sabre (1980) involving community development. Sabre's ethical principle of nurturing the capacity for mutual persuasion is discussed as a central vision and purpose for organizing and guiding community…

The Language Situation in Cameroon

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kouega, Jean-Paul

2007-01-01

This monograph examines the language situation in Cameroon, a Central African country where fewer than 20 million people speak close to 250 languages. Specifically, the monograph addresses the issues of language use and spread, language policy and planning, and language maintenance and prospects. The study is divided into five parts. The…

Multilevel Propensity Score Matching within and across Schools

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kelcey, Benjamin

2011-01-01

A central issue in nonexperimental studies is the identification of comparable individuals (e.g. students) to remove selection bias. One such increasingly common method to identify comparable individuals and address selection bias is the propensity score (PS). PS methods rely on a model of the treatment assignment to identify comparable…

Getting Users to Library Resources: A Delicious Alternative

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kapucu, Aysegul; Hoeppner, Athena; Dunlop, Doug

2008-01-01

The article gives an overview of social bookmarking in libraries and discusses the University of Central Florida (UCF) Libraries Delicious project and its outcomes in depth. It also addresses technical issues involved with setting up a library Delicious account; barriers to participation; training requirements; integration with other library sites…

Rural Health Issues. Keynote Address.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hart, Gary

Medical students that come from rural areas are more likely to return to rural areas to practice, but rural students apply for medical school at half the rate of urban students. Factors that contribute to this problem are the lack of rural representation on medical school selection committees; centralization of medical education facilities in…

Effectively Addressing Mental Health Issues in Permanency-Focused Child Welfare Practice

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ornelas, Laura A.; Silverstein, Deborah N.; Tan, Sherylle

2007-01-01

Children and families built by adoption or relative caregiving have specialized needs. This paper proposes a rubric for the central elements of permanency-focused mental health services in child welfare practice. Kinship Center provides an innovative mental health service delivery system, weaving foster and adoptive placement programs, adoption…

Defense Acquisition Research Journal. Volume 24, Number 1, Issue 80

DTIC Science & Technology

2017-01-01

aol.com. ISSUE 80 JANUARY 2017 VOL. 24 NO. 1 1 We’re on the Web at: http://www.dau.mil/publications/DefenseARJ/default.aspx and http...central website that would help facilitate teaming among complementary small businesses. • For technical proposals, use white papers as an initial screen...Engineering from The University of Alabama in Huntsville. (E-mail address: ronnie.schilling@mda.mil) Dr. Thomas A . Mazzuchi is cha ir of the Department

Addressing controversies in science education: a pragmatic approach to evolution education

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hildebrand, David; Bilica, Kimberly; Capps, John

2008-09-01

Science education controversies typically prove more intractable than those in scientific research because they involve a wider range of considerations (e.g., epistemic, social, ethical, political, and religious). How can educators acknowledge central issues in a controversy (such as evolution)? How can such problems be addressed in a way that is ethically sensitive and intellectually responsible? Drawing in part on pragmatic philosopher John Dewey, our solution is politically proactive, philosophically pragmatic, and grounded in research. Central to our proposal is (1) steps toward creating a philosophical “total attitude” that is democratic, imaginative, and hypothetical; (2) a deeper understanding of how scientific theories can be pragmatically true; and (3) an assessment of differing pedagogical approaches for teaching evolution in the classroom.

Race, Culture, and Transfer: Factors That Shape Faculty Attitudes and Beliefs About Race and Inclusion

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hodari, Apriel K.

2005-10-01

Many faculty members realize that they need to find ways to connect to the diverse perspectives and experiences of all of their students. In physics, it is often difficult to measure and address diversity issues because doing so is not perceived as central to our discipline. In this poster, I examine the ideas of aversive racism and colorblind racism, and how university faculty might address the challenges of inclusion in physics education reform and research. Results from a workshop designed to address these challenges, particularly by rejecting the ``smog of bias,'' are presented.

Centralized remote structural monitoring and management of real-time data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Han, Liting; Newhook, John P.; Mufti, Aftab A.

2004-07-01

Structural health monitoring (SHM) activities in civil engineering are increasing at a rapid pace in both research and field applications. This paper addresses the specific issue of incorporating internet technology into a structural health monitoring program. The issue of data volume versus communication speed is discussed along with a practical solution employed by ISIS Canada. The approach is illustrated through reference to several current case studies which include two bridges and a statue. It is seen that although the specifics of the projects and monitoring needs are different, the manner in which on-line monitoring can be conducted is very similar and easily allows for centralized monitoring. A general framework for website construction integrating sensing data and web camera options are presented. Issues related to simple real-time performance indices versus more comprehensive complex data analysis are discussed. Examples of on-line websites which allow visualization of new and historic data are presented. The paper also discusses future activities and research needs related to centralized remote structural monitoring and management of real-time data.

What's in a name: what analyst and patient call each other.

PubMed

Barron, Grace Caroline

2006-01-01

Awkward moments often arise between patient and analyst involving the question, "What do we call each other?" The manner in which the dyad address each other contains material central to the patient's inner life. Names, like dreams, deserve a privileged status as providing a royal road into the paradoxical analytic relationship and the unconscious conflicts that feed it. Whether an analyst addresses the patient formally, informally, or not at all, awareness of the issues surrounding names is important.

Qualitative inquiry and the debate between hermeneutics and critical theory.

PubMed

Shaw, James A; DeForge, Ryan T

2014-11-01

Two issues have been central to ongoing disputes about judgments of quality in qualitative inquiry: (a) the ways in which paradigmatic orientations are understood to guide procedural decisions and (b) the meaning and intelligibility of paradigmatic incommensurability. In this article, we address these two key issues through an exploration of the debates between hermeneutics and critical social theory, including the exchanges between Hans-Georg Gadamer and Jurgen Habermas, and between Richard Rorty and Thomas McCarthy. We suggest that the key epistemological issue addressed in these debates is the nature of interpretation, separating the two philosophical camps based on beliefs about whether foundational knowledge is possible to achieve. We conclude the article by discussing the implications of these different positions for beliefs about quality in qualitative inquiry, and comment on the role of judgment in assessments of the value and quality of different approaches to qualitative research. © The Author(s) 2014.

Patterns of Drug Distribution: Implications and Issues#

PubMed Central

Johnson, Bruce D.

2007-01-01

This article delineates various patterns of illicit sales of drugs, especially at the retail (and near-retail) level, addressing a variety of central issues about drug sales and distribution documented during the past 30 years, including: a) the links between drug consumption and drug distribution activities; b) the various distribution roles; c) various levels of the distribution hierarchy; d) types of retail and wholesale markets; e) the association of drug distribution with nondrug associated criminality and violence. The article also will address the implications of drug distribution: whether various public policies such as supply reduction and source interdiction affect illicit drug markets, and how policing strategies and various law enforcement strategies can influence the involvement of individual participation in drug distribution activities. The overlooked contribution of treatment for “drug abuse” to reducing drug sales and distribution activities also will be considered as will other critical unresolved issues. PMID:14582578

Patterns of drug distribution: implications and issues.

PubMed

Johnson, Bruce D

2003-01-01

This article delineates various patterns of illicit sales of drugs, especially at the retail (and near-retail) level, addressing a variety of central issues about drug sales and distribution documented during the past 30 years. including: a) the links between drug consumption and drug distribution activities; b) the various distribution roles; c) various levels of the distribution hierarchy; d) types of retail and wholesale markets; e) the association of drug distribution with nondrug associated criminality and violence. The article also will address the implications of drug distribution: whether various public policies such as supply reduction and source interdiction affect illicit drug markets, and how policing strategies and various law enforcement strategies can influence the involvement of individual participation in drug distribution activities. The overlooked contribution of treatment for "drug abuse" to reducing drug sales and distribution activities also will be considered as will other critical unresolved issues.

Evaluating European Climate Change Policy: An Ecological Justice Approach

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Muhovic-Dorsner, Kamala

2005-01-01

To date, the concept of ecological justice, when applied to international climate change policy, has largely focused on the North-South dichotomy and has yet to be extended to Central and Eastern European countries. This article argues that current formulations of climate change policy cannot address potential issues of ecological injustice to…

Critical Thinking: Attitudes, Skills, and Ambiguity.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Shaughnessy, Michael F.

This paper provides an overview of the realm of critical thinking. The document explores the development of a critical thinking attitude and specific skills relative to logic, rationality, and reasoning that must be fostered to facilitate and enhance future learning. The issue of ambiguity also is addressed as a central construct of the critical…

Quality Management in Higher Education: Towards a Better Understanding of an Emerging Field

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pratasavitskaya, Halina; Stensaker, Bjorn

2010-01-01

The article analyses how quality management is understood in higher education research. By reviewing a number of academic contributions addressing quality management issues in "Quality in Higher Education" from 1995-2008, the article identifies central concepts associated with quality management, discusses whether there are commonalities to be…

Community Destruction and Traumatic Stress in Post-Tsunami Indonesia

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Frankenberg, Elizabeth; Nobles, Jenna; Sumantri, Cecep

2012-01-01

How are individuals affected when the communities they live in change for the worse? This question is central to understanding neighborhood effects, but few study designs generate estimates that can be interpreted causally. We address issues of inference through a natural experiment, examining post-traumatic stress at multiple time points in a…

The Impact of Writing Assignments in Business Education: Toward a Competitive Advantage in the Workplace

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Washington, Melvin C.

2014-01-01

Twenty-first century organizations are increasingly becoming global information networks where the emphasis on written communication is growing exponentially. Effective writing skills are becoming more essential to workplace success and thus a central focus in business programs across the country. This article addresses writing issues in business…

New Perspectives and New Directions in Foreign Language Education. The ACTFL Foreign Language Education Series.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Birckbichler, Diane W., Ed.

The five essays in this volume address broad trends and issues in foreign language education. "Bandwagons Revisited: A Perspective on Movements in Foreign Language Education" (Frank M. Grittner) suggests that the bandwagons flourish because of lack of standardization and centralized authority in American education. Characteristics and results of…

Balancing Certainty and Uncertainty in Clinical Practice

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kamhi, Alan G.

2011-01-01

Purpose: In this epilogue, I respond to each of the five commentaries, discussing in some depth a central issue raised in each commentary. In the final section, I discuss how my thinking about certainty and uncertainty in clinical practice has evolved since I wrote the initial article. Method: Topics addressed include the similarities/differences…

The Role of Language Learning Progressions in Improved Instruction and Assessment of English Language Learners

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bailey, Alison L.; Heritage, Margaret

2014-01-01

This article addresses theoretical and empirical issues relevant for the development and evaluation of language learning progressions. The authors explore how learning progressions aligned with new content standards can form a central basis of efforts to describe the English language needed in school contexts for learning, instruction, and…

Debtor States and the World Market: Explaining Mexican and Brazilian Foreign Economic Policy.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gayle, Dennis John

The ways in which world market instabilities affect indebted developing countries and explanations of their differential policy responses are the central issues addressed in this paper. The development of Brazil and Mexico is examined as examples of middle-income developing nations whose economies have assumed dependent development. Dependent…

Identifying and addressing contemporary issues in central coast oak woodlands

Treesearch

Erin Rice; Doug Piirto; Royce Larsen; Bill Tietje; Ryan Cooper; Ulric Lund

2008-01-01

Recently, questions about the extent of thinning, the sustainability of forest management practices, and the compatibility with other uses were raised by the media, agency personnel, and environmental groups. In response, University of California Cooperative Extension and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo’s Natural Resources Management Department collaborated to...

A Psychology Fulbright Year in China

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Portnoy, Robert N.

2013-01-01

This article shares a series of personal observations and anecdotes about central issues in college mental health in China based on my Fulbright year there. There are many cultural and structural forces that both support and constrain the growth of the mental health field in China. This article addresses these forces in terms of their impact on…

Understanding, Embracing and Reflecting upon the Messiness of Doctoral Fieldwork

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Naveed, Arif; Sakata, Nozomi; Kefallinou, Anthoula; Young, Sara; Anand, Kusha

2017-01-01

This Forum issue discusses the centrality of the fieldwork in doctoral research. The inevitability of researchers' influence and of their values apparent during and after their fieldwork calls for a high degree of reflexivity. Since the standard methodology textbooks do not sufficiently guide on addressing such challenges, doctoral researchers go…

Thinking in, around, and about the Curriculum: The Role of Cognitive Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Haywood, H. Carl

2004-01-01

Although everybody agrees that education reform is needed, there is little agreement on the nature of the problems, and certainly not on the remedies; nevertheless, there is a central focus on curriculum issues. Three principal points are addressed in this paper: (a) new approaches in education are urgently needed, (b) new educational approaches…

Thinking In, Around, and About the Curriculum: The Role of Cognitive Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Haywood, H. Carl

2004-01-01

Although everybody agrees that education reform is needed, there is little agreement on the nature of the problems, and certainly not on the remedies; nevertheless, there is a central focus on curriculum issues. Three principal points are addressed in this paper: (a) new approaches in education are urgently needed, (b) new educational approaches…

The Open Road Student Involvement Project. Technical Assistance Bulletin 29.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

National School Resource Network, Washington, DC.

Twelve junior and senior high schools in California and ten in New York City are working to mitigate violence and vandalism in their schools and reduce high droupout and absentee rates by addressing a problem central to these issues--student alienation. Through the Open Road Student Involvement Project, natural student leaders form a volunteer…

Life and Self Meaning: The Process of Their Creation.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Weenolsen, Patricia

Research has not addressed issues of life meaning in a life-span developmental framework. The Loss and Transcendence paradigm was developed as a humanistic-existential approach to life-span development which has as its central theme the concept that individuals are in a continuous process of creating their lives and their selves. To explore loss…

Rethinking Teaching and Learning Mathematics for Social Justice from a Critical Race Perspective

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Larnell, Gregory V.; Bullock, Erika C.; Jett, Christopher C.

2016-01-01

What is teaching and learning mathematics for social justice (TLMSJ)? How has TLMSJ been taken up in mathematics education--both historically and contemporarily? Along with unpacking these two central questions, this article assesses the current capacity and stance of TLMSJ toward addressing issues of racial injustice. The authors begin with an…

Addressing Three Common Myths about the Next Generation Science Standards

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Huff, Kenneth L.

2016-01-01

Science education is central to the lives of all Americans. Students face a world where they will frequently be required to make important decisions on issues that range from health care to the environment. Achieving literacy in science will require coherence at all levels and across components of the system including curriculum, assessment, and…

Improving the Quality of Higher Education in Central Europe: Approach Based on GAP Analysis

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hrnciar, Miroslav; Madzík, Peter

2013-01-01

A growing social pressure on addressing the issues of quality in administration of educational institutions has resulted in various national and international initiatives focused on development of recommendations and procedures for assurance of quality of education. The topic is getting more urgent in the period of global recession when the…

American Higher Education in the Twenty­-First Century: Social, Political, and Economic Challenges. Fourth Edition

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bastedo, Michael N., Ed.; Altbach, Philip G., Ed.; Gumport, Patricia J., Ed.

2016-01-01

First published in 1999, "American Higher Education in the Twenty First Century" offered a comprehensive introduction to the central issues facing American colleges and universities. This thoroughly revised edition brings the classic volume up to date. The contributors have rewritten every chapter to address major changes in higher…

'Change of Heart!': A New E-Learning Model Geared to Addressing Complex and Sensitive Public Health Issues

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hillier, Dawn; Mitchell, Alice; Millwood, Richard

2005-01-01

Psychosocial risk factors for poor health show that we are highly sensitive to particular dimensions of the social and work environments. Central is the contrast between mutually supportive collaborative relationships versus stressful relationships of social dominance--in the workplace and at home. These social ordeals can exacerbate the effect of…

Exploring RTI Reading Intervention for Hispanic English Learning Kindergarten Students in Central Alabama: A Mixed Methods Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hill, Kelly Leah

2013-01-01

This study addressed issues in implementing RTI Tier II reading intervention in kindergarten classrooms which contained Hispanic students learning English. In addition, the scope of reading progress of Hispanic students learning English was explored. The purpose of this research was to examine the frequency in providing RTI reading interventions…

Gender and Schooling in Appalachia: Historical Lessons for an Era of Economic Restructuring. Research Paper 9411.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Maggard, Sally Ward

This paper addresses issues involving the designing of new job training and education programs in central Appalachia in response to national policies for economic improvement. In March 1994, the Reemployment Act of 1994 was announced as the Clinton administration's response to problems caused by radical and worldwide economic restructuring. The…

Internet Co-Governance: Towards a Multilayer Multiplayer Mechanism of Consultation, Coordination and Cooperation (M3C3)

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kleinwachter, Wolfgang

2006-01-01

This article addresses issues central to the task of Internet governance and, especially, to the management of the Internet's core resources. Early conceptions of the Internet as a virtual space that required no regulation resisted initial governance activity. More recently, work by people like Lawrence Lessig has clarified the complex…

Working without Shame in International Educational Development? From Consequentialism to Casuistry

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bridges, David

2015-01-01

The central question addressed in this paper is about the ethics of engaging with educational development in countries perceived as undemocratic or as failing to respect human rights. More particularly, it examines the nature of the arguments that are brought to bear on this issue. It suggests that these are essentially consequentialist in…

Maintaining and Revitalising Indigenous Languages in Latin America: State Planning vs. Grassroots Initiatives.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hornberger, Nancy H.

1999-01-01

Introduces a collection of papers that address issues related to the maintenance and revitalization of indigenous languages in Latin and Central America. Two papers focus on the case of Quechua, another considers bilingual intercultural education to help sustain the Harakmbut languages in Peru, and the last considers one of three native language…

Development of inexpensive blood imaging systems: where are we now?

PubMed

Chu, Kaiqin; Smith, Zachary J; Wachsmann-Hogiu, Sebastian

2015-01-01

Clinical applications in the developing world, such as malaria and anemia diagnosis, demand a change in the medical paradigm of expensive care given in central locations by highly trained professionals. There has been a recent explosion in optical technologies entering the consumer market through the widespread adoption of smartphones and LEDs. This technology commoditization has enabled the development of small, portable optical imaging systems at an unprecedentedly low cost. Here, we review the state-of-the-field of the application of these systems for low-cost blood imaging with an emphasis on cellular imaging systems. In addition to some promising results addressing specific clinical issues, an overview of the technology landscape is provided. We also discuss several key issues that need to be addressed before these technologies can be commercialized.

TUTORIAL: Validating biorobotic models

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Webb, Barbara

2006-09-01

Some issues in neuroscience can be addressed by building robot models of biological sensorimotor systems. What we can conclude from building models or simulations, however, is determined by a number of factors in addition to the central hypothesis we intend to test. These include the way in which the hypothesis is represented and implemented in simulation, how the simulation output is interpreted, how it is compared to the behaviour of the biological system, and the conditions under which it is tested. These issues will be illustrated by discussing a series of robot models of cricket phonotaxis behaviour. .

Middle School Students' Perceptions of Bullying and the Effects of an Anti-Bullying Policy

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jones, Ann M.

2013-01-01

The problem of bullying in schools is an issue of national importance. Research points to an abundance of negative impacts on students involved in bullying and require the attention of adults to address and resolve bullying incidents between students. This study, giving credence to the voices of eighth graders in one central Massachusetts middle…

Examining Off-Campus Students' Sense of Belonging and Behaviors in a Town-Gown Context

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Carter, Erin Hundley

2017-01-01

The current study emerged from the need to address student behavior issues in town-gown communities and the practical need to know more about off-campus students as central actors in these behaviors. Off-campus students have long been labeled as commuter students because of limited recognition of the known diversity within the commuter population…

On Developing Independent Critical Thinking: What We Can Learn from Studies of the Research Process.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Stotsky, Sandra

1991-01-01

Examines studies of what students do as they select and narrow a topic, locate sources, sift through these sources, and develop a central research question or thesis statement. Notes limitations of a related body of research focusing on other kinds of academic writing. Raises conceptual and methodological issues for researchers to address in…

A revised managers handbook for red pine in the North Central Region

Treesearch

Daniel W. Gilmore; Brian J. Palik

2006-01-01

This new version of the Red Pine Managers Guide gathers up-to-date information from many disciplines to address a wide range of red pine management issues. It provides guidance on managing red pine on extended rotations with a focus on landscape-scale objectives along with the traditional forest management tools focusing on production silviculture. The insect and...

Advising ePortfolios to Improve First-Generation Student Engagement in Higher Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ambrose, G. Alex

2013-01-01

This study considers how advising ePortfolios are uniquely situated to address a current challenge in the application of educational technologies: using the right tool for the right job for the right reason at the right time. The particular problem identified for investigation lies at the intersection of two central issues: first, in the age of…

Initial Development of a Measure of Emotional Dysregulation for Individuals with Cluster B Personality Disorders

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Newhill, Christina E.; Mulvey, Edward P.; Pilkonis, Paul A.

2004-01-01

Individuals with DSM-IV Cluster B personality disorders are at particular risk of violence toward self or others. Emotional dysregulation is likely to be a factor in such incidents and is a central issue addressed in therapies with personality-disordered individuals. This article reports findings from a study that developed an original 18-item…

Teaching Justice and Teaching Justly: Reflections on Teaching World Religions at a Jesuit Liberal Arts College

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Schmalz, Mathew N.

2005-01-01

This paper examines how the teaching of world religions at Catholic Christians institutions can contribute to teaching justice and teaching justly. The paper compares central issues engaged by History of Religions as a discipline with those addressed within the Jesuit tradition of higher education as it developed in the wake of the Second Vatican…

Recreation at the Redding Resource Area in California

Treesearch

Patricia L. Winter

2000-01-01

In 1993 a cooperative study was initiated by the USDI Bureau of Land Management and the USDA Forest Service’s Pacific Southwest Research Station to study the recreational needs of visitors to the Redding Resource Area in central and northern California. The study addressed specific issues in the Redding Resource Management Plan, such as attracting recreationists from...

Communicating climate change and health in the media.

PubMed

Depoux, Anneliese; Hémono, Mathieu; Puig-Malet, Sophie; Pédron, Romain; Flahault, Antoine

2017-01-01

The translation of science from research to real-world change is a central goal of public health. Communication has an essential role to play in provoking a response to climate change. It must first raise awareness, make people feel involved and ultimately motivate them to take action. The goal of this research is to understand how the information related to this issue is being addressed and disseminated to different audiences-public citizens, politicians and key climate change stakeholders. Initial results show that the scientific voice struggles to globally highlight this issue to a general audience and that messages that address the topic do not meet the challenges, going from a dramatic framing to a basic adaptation framing. Communication experts can help inform scientists and policy makers on how to best share information about climate change in an engaging and motivating way. This study gives an insight about the key role of the media and communications in addressing themes relating to climate change and transmitting information to the public in order to take action.

Are the psychosocial aspects of weapons of mass destruction incidents addressed in the Federal Response Plan: summary of an expert panel.

PubMed

Becker, S M

2001-12-01

Within the domestic preparedness community, there is a growing recognition of the importance of psychosocial issues in weapons of mass destruction (WMD) incidents. Whereas social and behavioral issues were only infrequently considered just a few years ago, they are now coming to be seen as central to consequence management efforts. As a result, discussions in the domestic preparedness community are beginning to consider the extent to which psychosocial effects are addressed in the Federal Response Plan and the degree to which additional preparedness and response steps may be needed. To grapple with this crucial issue, an expert panel was brought together at the International Conference on the Operational Impact of Psychological Casualties from Weapons of Mass Destruction. The panel brought together a wide range of specialists from federal agencies, the armed services, and the academic community. This article summarizes the views and assessments of the panelists as well as their policy recommendations for enhancing preparedness.

Measures of node centrality in mobile social networks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gao, Zhenxiang; Shi, Yan; Chen, Shanzhi

2015-02-01

Mobile social networks exploit human mobility and consequent device-to-device contact to opportunistically create data paths over time. While links in mobile social networks are time-varied and strongly impacted by human mobility, discovering influential nodes is one of the important issues for efficient information propagation in mobile social networks. Although traditional centrality definitions give metrics to identify the nodes with central positions in static binary networks, they cannot effectively identify the influential nodes for information propagation in mobile social networks. In this paper, we address the problems of discovering the influential nodes in mobile social networks. We first use the temporal evolution graph model which can more accurately capture the topology dynamics of the mobile social network over time. Based on the model, we explore human social relations and mobility patterns to redefine three common centrality metrics: degree centrality, closeness centrality and betweenness centrality. We then employ empirical traces to evaluate the benefits of the proposed centrality metrics, and discuss the predictability of nodes' global centrality ranking by nodes' local centrality ranking. Results demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed centrality metrics.

75 FR 56979 - Central Electric Power Cooperative, Inc.: Notice of Intent To Hold a Public Scoping Meeting and...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-09-17

... issue a special use permit for the proposal. RUS is the lead agency conducting the EIS, and the USFS... refined as part of the EIS scoping process and will be addressed in the EIS. Public health and safety, environmental impacts, and engineering aspects of the proposal will be considered in the EIS. RUS is the lead...

Postmodernity, Cultural Pluralism and the Nation-State: Problems of Language Rights, Human Rights, Identity and Power.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rassool, Naz

1998-01-01

Argues that language provides not only a central identity variable but also constitutes a key means by which people can either gain access to power or be excluded from the right to exercise control over their lives. Argues that, if language is materially and culturally rooted, issues of language rights cannot be addressed outside of social policy.…

Demonstrating the value of a social science research program to a natural resource management agency

Treesearch

Pamela J. Jakes; John F. Dwyer; Deborah S. Carr

1998-01-01

With ever tightening resources to address an increased number of diverse and complex issues, it has become common for scientists and managers to be called upon to demonstrate the value of their programs. In the spring of 1995, social scientists at the USDA Forest Service North Central Forest Experiment Station we so called upon. This paper discusses an effort to...

Use of a Nationwide Personally Controlled Electronic Health Record by Healthcare Professionals and Patients: A Case Study with the French DMP.

PubMed

Seroussi, Brigitte; Bouaud, Jacques

2017-01-01

If the wide adoption of electronic health records (EHRs) is necessary to address health information sharing and care coordination issues, it is not sufficient. In order to address health information sharing, some countries, among which, France, have implemented a centralized framework with "new" nationwide care records. The French DMP is a centralized, nationally shared, electronic medical record, created according to the opt-in model. More than five years after the launching of the DMP project, DMPs have been created for 1.5% of the target population, which demonstrates the poor adoption of the tool by healthcare professionals. Among the 583,997 existing DMPs in June 2016, 41% were empty, and 24% of non-empty DMPs were actually accessed. If these "active" DMPs were equally accessed by both healthcare professionals and patients, patients accessed DMP documents four times more than healthcare professionals.

Speech and language pathology & pediatric HIV.

PubMed

Retzlaff, C

1999-12-01

Children with HIV have critical speech and language issues because the virus manifests itself primarily in the developing central nervous system, sometimes causing speech, motor control, and language disabilities. Language impediments that develop during the second year of life seem to be especially severe. HIV-infected children are also susceptible to recurrent ear infections, which can damage hearing. Developmental issues must be addressed for these children to reach their full potential. A decline in language skills may coincide with or precede other losses in cognitive ability. A speech pathologist can play an important role on a pediatric HIV team. References are included.

The RCP Information Laboratory (iLab): breaking the cycle of poor data quality.

PubMed

Croft, Giles P; Williams, John G

2005-01-01

A review of data quality in the NHS by the Audit Commission cited a lack of clinician involvement in the validation and use of centrally held activity data as one of the key issues to resolve. The perception that hospital episode statistics cannot support the needs of the individual clinician results in mistrust and disinterest. This in turn leads to under-development of such data from a clinical perspective, and the cycle continues. The RCP Information Laboratory (iLab) aims to address this problem by accessing, analysing and presenting information from these central repositories concerning the activity of visiting individual consultant physicians. With support from iLab staff--an information analyst and a clinician--local data quality issues are highlighted and local solutions sought. The information obtained can be used as an objective measure of activity to support the processes of appraisal and revalidation.

Overview of Contemporary Issues of Forest Research and Management in China

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

He, Hong S.; Shifley, Stephen R.; Thompson, Frank R.

2011-12-01

With 207 million ha of forest covering 22% of its land area, China ranks fifth in the world in forest area. Rapid economic growth, climate change, and forest disturbances pose new, complex challenges for forest research and management. Progress in meeting these challenges is relevant beyond China, because China's forests represent 34% of Asia's forests and 5% of the worlds' forests. To provide a broader understanding of these management challenges and of research and policies that address them, we organized this special issue on contemporary forest research and management issues in China. At the national level, papers review major forest types and the evolution of sustainable forestry, the development of China's forest-certification efforts, the establishment of a forest inventory system, and achievements and challenges in insect pest control in China. Papers focused on Northern China address historical, social, and political factors that have shaped the region's forests; the use of forest landscape models to assess how forest management can achieve multiple objectives; and analysis and modeling of fuels and fire behavior. Papers addressing Central and South China describe the "Grain for Green" program, which converts low productivity cropland to grassland and woodland to address erosion and soil carbon sequestration; the potential effects of climate change on CO2 efflux and soil respiration; and relationships between climate and net primary productivity. China shares many forest management and research issues with other countries, but in other cases China's capacity to respond to forest management challenges is unique and bears watching by the rest of the world.

Making families: organizational boundary work in US egg and sperm donation.

PubMed

Johnson, Katherine M

2013-12-01

Egg and sperm donation can create distinct issues for designating family boundaries. These issues come to the forefront as relations between donors, recipients, and donor-conceived children have been shifting from anonymous to more open arrangements in the US and other western countries. In this study, I address US organizational practices and family boundary construction. Fertility clinics, egg donation agencies, and sperm banks are central providers of US gamete donation services. Given the disruptive potential of gamete donation, how do they manage relationships between parties? Through a content analysis of materials from twenty fertility clinics, twenty egg donation agencies, and thirty-one sperm banks, I address three major strategies of organizational boundary work: 1) creating identity categories, 2) managing information, and 3) managing interaction. I ultimately argue that even as many organizations offer opportunities for connections between parties, they exercise social control over donation arrangements through bounded relationships. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Approaches for Advancing Girls' Education in Ghana: A Symposium To Examine Current Practices and Identify Future Directions (1st, Ajumako, Central Region, Ghana, June 25-26, 2001).

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Academy for Educational Development, Washington, DC.

The Girls' Education Unit (GEU) of the Basic Education Division of Ghana Education Service (GES) organized this Approaches for Advancing Girls' Education (AAGE) symposium to address the issues of girls' education, to construct a comprehensive picture of what interventions related to girls' education are currently being implemented, and identify…

The Substantive and Procedural Due Process Rights of Students Accused of Criminal Behavior in School and the Educational Rights of Adjudicated Youths.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Brown, Frank

This paper--part of a collection of 54 papers from the 48th annual conference of the Education Law Association held in November 2002-- addresses juvenile justice. Its central issue is how to protect children of color in elementary and secondary schools with constitutional due process where attendance is compulsory and, at the same time, maintain a…

Proceedings of the 2002 fire conference: managing fire and fuels in the remaining wildlands and open spaces of the Southwestern United States

Treesearch

Marcia G. Narog

2008-01-01

Many issues confront scientists, land managers, policymakers, and the public who deal with or are affected by management of fire and fuels across the southwestern United States (Utah, Colorado, Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, and California). The 2002 Fire Conference was convened to tackle these concerns. It began with a plenary session addressing the central problems of...

There Are No Children Here: The Case of an Inner-City School Addressing Issues Facing Children and Families Living in Poverty

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sallee, Mariel; Boske, Christa

2013-01-01

This case is based on real-life experiences of community school members within Horner School--an inner-city public school. Specifically, the case explores challenges faced by Cathleen, a 1st-year, White, female principal, who was hired by central office to "revamp a charter school" to promote a quality education for all children. The case raises…

Distributed data fusion across multiple hard and soft mobile sensor platforms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sinsley, Gregory

One of the biggest challenges currently facing the robotics field is sensor data fusion. Unmanned robots carry many sophisticated sensors including visual and infrared cameras, radar, laser range finders, chemical sensors, accelerometers, gyros, and global positioning systems. By effectively fusing the data from these sensors, a robot would be able to form a coherent view of its world that could then be used to facilitate both autonomous and intelligent operation. Another distinct fusion problem is that of fusing data from teammates with data from onboard sensors. If an entire team of vehicles has the same worldview they will be able to cooperate much more effectively. Sharing worldviews is made even more difficult if the teammates have different sensor types. The final fusion challenge the robotics field faces is that of fusing data gathered by robots with data gathered by human teammates (soft sensors). Humans sense the world completely differently from robots, which makes this problem particularly difficult. The advantage of fusing data from humans is that it makes more information available to the entire team, thus helping each agent to make the best possible decisions. This thesis presents a system for fusing data from multiple unmanned aerial vehicles, unmanned ground vehicles, and human observers. The first issue this thesis addresses is that of centralized data fusion. This is a foundational data fusion issue, which has been very well studied. Important issues in centralized fusion include data association, classification, tracking, and robotics problems. Because these problems are so well studied, this thesis does not make any major contributions in this area, but does review it for completeness. The chapter on centralized fusion concludes with an example unmanned aerial vehicle surveillance problem that demonstrates many of the traditional fusion methods. The second problem this thesis addresses is that of distributed data fusion. Distributed data fusion is a younger field than centralized fusion. The main issues in distributed fusion that are addressed are distributed classification and distributed tracking. There are several well established methods for performing distributed fusion that are first reviewed. The chapter on distributed fusion concludes with a multiple unmanned vehicle collaborative test involving an unmanned aerial vehicle and an unmanned ground vehicle. The third issue this thesis addresses is that of soft sensor only data fusion. Soft-only fusion is a newer field than centralized or distributed hard sensor fusion. Because of the novelty of the field, the chapter on soft only fusion contains less background information and instead focuses on some new results in soft sensor data fusion. Specifically, it discusses a novel fuzzy logic based soft sensor data fusion method. This new method is tested using both simulations and field measurements. The biggest issue addressed in this thesis is that of combined hard and soft fusion. Fusion of hard and soft data is the newest area for research in the data fusion community; therefore, some of the largest theoretical contributions in this thesis are in the chapter on combined hard and soft fusion. This chapter presents a novel combined hard and soft data fusion method based on random set theory, which processes random set data using a particle filter. Furthermore, the particle filter is designed to be distributed across multiple robots and portable computers (used by human observers) so that there is no centralized failure point in the system. After laying out a theoretical groundwork for hard and soft sensor data fusion the thesis presents practical applications for hard and soft sensor data fusion in simulation. Through a series of three progressively more difficult simulations, some important hard and soft sensor data fusion capabilities are demonstrated. The first simulation demonstrates fusing data from a single soft sensor and a single hard sensor in order to track a car that could be driving normally or erratically. The second simulation adds the extra complication of classifying the type of target to the simulation. The third simulation uses multiple hard and soft sensors, with a limited field of view, to track a moving target and classify it as a friend, foe, or neutral. The final chapter builds on the work done in previous chapters by performing a field test of the algorithms for hard and soft sensor data fusion. The test utilizes an unmanned aerial vehicle, an unmanned ground vehicle, and a human observer with a laptop. The test is designed to mimic a collaborative human and robot search and rescue problem. This test makes some of the most important practical contributions of the thesis by showing that the algorithms that have been developed for hard and soft sensor data fusion are capable of running in real time on relatively simple hardware.

Eigenvector centrality for geometric and topological characterization of porous media

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jimenez-Martinez, Joaquin; Negre, Christian F. A.

2017-07-01

Solving flow and transport through complex geometries such as porous media is computationally difficult. Such calculations usually involve the solution of a system of discretized differential equations, which could lead to extreme computational cost depending on the size of the domain and the accuracy of the model. Geometric simplifications like pore networks, where the pores are represented by nodes and the pore throats by edges connecting pores, have been proposed. These models, despite their ability to preserve the connectivity of the medium, have difficulties capturing preferential paths (high velocity) and stagnation zones (low velocity), as they do not consider the specific relations between nodes. Nonetheless, network theory approaches, where a complex network is a graph, can help to simplify and better understand fluid dynamics and transport in porous media. Here we present an alternative method to address these issues based on eigenvector centrality, which has been corrected to overcome the centralization problem and modified to introduce a bias in the centrality distribution along a particular direction to address the flow and transport anisotropy in porous media. We compare the model predictions with millifluidic transport experiments, which shows that, albeit simple, this technique is computationally efficient and has potential for predicting preferential paths and stagnation zones for flow and transport in porous media. We propose to use the eigenvector centrality probability distribution to compute the entropy as an indicator of the "mixing capacity" of the system.

Understanding safety and production risks in rail engineering planning and protection.

PubMed

Wilson, John R; Ryan, Brendan; Schock, Alex; Ferreira, Pedro; Smith, Stuart; Pitsopoulos, Julia

2009-07-01

Much of the published human factors work on risk is to do with safety and within this is concerned with prediction and analysis of human error and with human reliability assessment. Less has been published on human factors contributions to understanding and managing project, business, engineering and other forms of risk and still less jointly assessing risk to do with broad issues of 'safety' and broad issues of 'production' or 'performance'. This paper contains a general commentary on human factors and assessment of risk of various kinds, in the context of the aims of ergonomics and concerns about being too risk averse. The paper then describes a specific project, in rail engineering, where the notion of a human factors case has been employed to analyse engineering functions and related human factors issues. A human factors issues register for potential system disturbances has been developed, prior to a human factors risk assessment, which jointly covers safety and production (engineering delivery) concerns. The paper concludes with a commentary on the potential relevance of a resilience engineering perspective to understanding rail engineering systems risk. Design, planning and management of complex systems will increasingly have to address the issue of making trade-offs between safety and production, and ergonomics should be central to this. The paper addresses the relevant issues and does so in an under-published domain - rail systems engineering work.

Residential Central Air Conditioning and Heat Pump Installation – Workshop Outcomes

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Goetzler, William; Zogg, Robert; Young, Jim

DOE's Building Technologies Office works with researchers and industry partners to develop and deploy technologies that can substantially reduce energy consumption in residential and commercial buildings. This report aims to advance BTO’s energy savings, emissions reduction, and other program goals by identifying research and development (R&D), demonstration and deployment, and other non-regulatory initiatives for improving the design and installation of residential central air conditioners (CAC) and central heat pumps (CHP). Improving the adoption of CAC/CHP design and installation best practices has significant potential to reduce equipment costs, improve indoor air quality and comfort, improve system performance, and most importantly, reducemore » household energy consumption and costs for heating and cooling by addressing a variety of common installation issues.« less

Management of Complex Cardiac Issues in the Pregnant Patient.

PubMed

Hu, Huayong; Pasca, Ioana

2016-01-01

Management of peripartum heart disease in the intensive care unit requires optimization of maternal hemodynamics and maintenance of fetal perfusion. This requires fetal monitoring and should address the parturient's oxygen saturation, hemoglobin, and cardiac output as it relates to uterine blood flow. Pharmacologic strategies have limited evidence pertaining to hemodynamic stabilization and fetal perfusion. There is some evidence that surgical management of critical mitral stenosis should be percutaneous when possible because cardiac bypass is associated with increased fetal mortality. Fetal monitoring strategies should address central organ perfusion because peripheral scalp pH has not been associated with improved fetal outcomes. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The Outdoor Air Pollution and Brain Health Workshop

PubMed Central

Block, Michelle L.; Elder, Alison; Auten, Rick L.; Bilbo, Staci D.; Chen, Honglei; Chen, Jiu-Chiuan; Cory-Slechta, Deborah A.; Costa, Daniel; Diaz-Sanchez, David; Dorman, David C.; Gold, Diane; Gray, Kimberly; Jeng, Hueiwang Anna; Kaufman, Joel D.; Kleinman, Michael T.; Kirshner, Annette; Lawler, Cindy; Miller, David S.; Nadadur, Sri; Ritz, Beate; Semmens, Erin O.; Tonelli, Leonardo H.; Veronesi, Bellina; Wright, Robert O.; Wright, Rosalind

2013-01-01

Accumulating evidence suggests that outdoor air pollution may have a significant impact on central nervous system (CNS) health and disease. To address this issue, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences/National Institute of Health convened a panel of research scientists that was assigned the task of identifying research gaps and priority goals essential for advancing this growing field and addressing an emerging human health concern. Here, we review recent findings that have established the effects of inhaled air pollutants in the brain, explore the potential mechanisms driving these phenomena, and discuss the recommended research priorities/approaches that were identified by the panel. PMID:22981845

Human agency in social cognitive theory.

PubMed

Bandura, A

1989-09-01

The present article examines the nature and function of human agency within the conceptual model of triadic reciprocal causation. In analyzing the operation of human agency in this interactional causal structure, social cognitive theory accords a central role to cognitive, vicarious, self-reflective, and self-regulatory processes. The issues addressed concern the psychological mechanisms through which personal agency is exercised, the hierarchical structure of self-regulatory systems, eschewal of the dichotomous construal of self as agent and self as object, and the properties of a nondualistic but nonreductional conception of human agency. The relation of agent causality to the fundamental issues of freedom and determinism is also analyzed.

[Driving and dementia : An issue for general practice?!

PubMed

Leve, Verena; Ilse, Katharina; Ufert, Marie; Wilm, Stefan; Pentzek, Michael

2017-05-01

With most forms of dementia, the risk of road traffic accidents increases with disease progression. Addressing the issue of fitness to drive at an early stage can help to reduce driving-related risks and simultaneously preserve mobility. General practitioners (GPs) are central contact persons for dementia patients and their relatives in medical and psychosocial matters, and also play a key role in addressing the issue of driving safety. Identification of relevant aspects of managing fitness to drive in dementia, as well as of support requirements for German general practice. Seven focus groups with dementia patients, family caregivers and GPs were conducted in order to define the different requirements for counselling in the general practice setting. The transcribed discussions were analysed by a multiprofessional research team using content analysis. For people with dementia, declining mobility and driving cessation is related to a loss of autonomy. Addressing fitness to drive in dementia is thus a subject of conflict and uncertainty for both family caregivers and GPs. The difficulties include the assessment of fitness to drive in the general practice setting, concerns about compromising the patient-physician relationship by raising the issue of driving fitness, as well as uncertainties about the GP's own role. GPs consider the involvement of caregivers to be important to successfully address the topic of driving safety and organise alternative transport. Support is required in the form of criteria defining the time point at which fitness to drive should be assessed, information on compensation possibilities and mobility alternatives. Resource-oriented and patient-centred development of management strategies for limited mobility is needed in general practice. Finding the correct balance between documentation, adequately informing the patient and establishing patient-centred strategies represents a challenge.

The CEECHE: a practical approach for reducing exposures and disease outcomes in Central and Eastern Europe.

PubMed

Suk, William A

2017-03-01

While each region of the world faces unique challenges, environmental threats to vulnerable populations throughout Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) present a significant public health challenge. Environmental pollution is widespread, resulting from the consequences of rapid industrialization during the Soviet Union era. To help address these concerns, a meeting, sponsored in part by the National Institutes of Health (NIH)/National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) Superfund Research Program (SRP), was convened in 1994. The meeting, "Hazardous Wastes - Exposure, Remediation, and Policy," brought together representatives of the governments of seven countries in the region, scientists from the United States and Western Europe, and representatives from international organizations to explore hazardous waste problems in the region. Since 1994, the SRP and partners have been holding meetings throughout CEE to share important information regarding environmental health. The general sessions have shifted from a focus on describing the problems in each country related to hazardous waste, exposure assessment, risk reduction, and risk communication, to an exchange of information to better define links between health and the environment and strategies to improve regional problems. The 1994 meeting and subsequent meetings raised issues such as heavy metal contamination, exposures from hazardous waste, and pollution caused by deficiencies in disposal of waste overall. Research priorities that were identified included development of reliable biomarkers, better understanding of the relationship between nutrition and chemical toxicity, more epidemiological studies in CEE, better methods of environmental data analysis, and development of remediation tools. Here, we review examples of research from current SRP grantees that address many of these issues. In 2004, the first official Central and Eastern European Conference on Health and the Environment (CEECHE) was held, and has been held biannually at venues across CEE. The CEECHE provides a forum for researchers and engineers, and organizations with diverse professional expertise and backgrounds, to jointly examine pressing environment and health issues, engage in cooperative research, and develop and disseminate innovative prevention strategies for addressing these issues. The CEECHE facilitates more intentional integration of disciplines to achieve a fundamental understanding of biological, environmental, and engineering processes and exploit this knowledge to contribute to solving environmental exposure-related issues. Critical to the CEECHE mission is the participation of trainees and junior scientists who will share their data and engage broadly with the scientific community. Scientific inquiry that supports a paradigm whereby knowledge gained through understanding disease processes resulting from environmental exposures would further our understanding of potential human health effects, and provide a creative, holistic approach to integrate seemingly discrete biological systems and geological, ecological and human health risk assessments into more comprehensive models. Such models will be discussed which advance the mission of reducing the public health burden of hazardous substances through interdisciplinary research and training.

Mesoscale Simulations During the Double Trouble State Park Wildfire in East-Central New Jersey on June 2, 2002

Treesearch

Joseph J. Charney; Xindi Bian; Brian E. Potter; Warren E. Heilman

2003-01-01

The 2000 fire season brought to the forefront the issue of severe wildland fires in the United States. To address the need for new research and for the development of predictive tools for the management of wildland fires, Congress allocated funding under the National Fire Plan (NFP) to better equip government agencies to fight and study forest fires. As part of the NFP...

Max '91: Flare research at the next solar maximum

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dennis, Brian; Canfield, Richard; Bruner, Marilyn; Emslie, Gordon; Hildner, Ernest; Hudson, Hugh; Hurford, Gordon; Lin, Robert; Novick, Robert; Tarbell, Ted

1988-01-01

To address the central scientific questions surrounding solar flares, coordinated observations of electromagnetic radiation and energetic particles must be made from spacecraft, balloons, rockets, and ground-based observatories. A program to enhance capabilities in these areas in preparation for the next solar maximum in 1991 is recommended. The major scientific issues are described, and required observations and coordination of observations and analyses are detailed. A program plan and conceptual budgets are provided.

The archaeological record speaks: bridging anthropology and linguistics.

PubMed

Balari, Sergio; Benítez-Burraco, Antonio; Camps, Marta; Longa, Víctor M; Lorenzo, Guillermo; Uriagereka, Juan

2011-01-01

This paper examines the origins of language, as treated within Evolutionary Anthropology, under the light offered by a biolinguistic approach. This perspective is presented first. Next we discuss how genetic, anatomical, and archaeological data, which are traditionally taken as evidence for the presence of language, are circumstantial as such from this perspective. We conclude by discussing ways in which to address these central issues, in an attempt to develop a collaborative approach to them.

Programming support environment issues in the Byron programming environment

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Larsen, Matthew J.

1986-01-01

Issues are discussed which programming support environments need to address in order to successfully support software engineering. These concerns are divided into two categories. The first category, issues of how software development is supported by an environment, includes support of the full life cycle, methodology flexibility, and support of software reusability. The second category contains issues of how environments should operate, such as tool reusability and integration, user friendliness, networking, and use of a central data base. This discussion is followed by an examination of Byron, an Ada based programming support environment developed at Intermetrics, focusing on the solutions Byron offers to these problems, including the support provided for software reusability and the test and maintenance phases of the life cycle. The use of Byron in project development is described briefly, and some suggestions for future Byron tools and user written tools are presented.

Centralized and distributed control architectures under Foundation Fieldbus network.

PubMed

Persechini, Maria Auxiliadora Muanis; Jota, Fábio Gonçalves

2013-01-01

This paper aims at discussing possible automation and control system architectures based on fieldbus networks in which the controllers can be implemented either in a centralized or in a distributed form. An experimental setup is used to demonstrate some of the addressed issues. The control and automation architecture is composed of a supervisory system, a programmable logic controller and various other devices connected to a Foundation Fieldbus H1 network. The procedures used in the network configuration, in the process modelling and in the design and implementation of controllers are described. The specificities of each one of the considered logical organizations are also discussed. Finally, experimental results are analysed using an algorithm for the assessment of control loops to compare the performances between the centralized and the distributed implementations. Copyright © 2012 ISA. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The Archaeological Record Speaks: Bridging Anthropology and Linguistics

PubMed Central

Balari, Sergio; Benítez-Burraco, Antonio; Camps, Marta; Longa, Víctor M.; Lorenzo, Guillermo; Uriagereka, Juan

2011-01-01

This paper examines the origins of language, as treated within Evolutionary Anthropology, under the light offered by a biolinguistic approach. This perspective is presented first. Next we discuss how genetic, anatomical, and archaeological data, which are traditionally taken as evidence for the presence of language, are circumstantial as such from this perspective. We conclude by discussing ways in which to address these central issues, in an attempt to develop a collaborative approach to them. PMID:21716806

Research on Somatization and Somatic Symptom Disorders: Ars longa, vita brevis.

PubMed

Dimsdale, Joel E

The new Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition defines somatic symptom and related disorders as long-standing somatic symptoms that are associated with disproportionate thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, irrespective of whether or not a medical cause for these symptoms can be determined. In this Special Section of Psychosomatic Medicine, several articles address diagnostic issues and the central nervous system correlates of somatic symptom and related disorder and document new developments in its treatment.

Report on Prevention of Youth Suicide: As Reported by the State Board of Education. Submitted to the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and the Seventy-First Texas Legislature.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Texas Education Agency, Austin.

This report addresses the issues delineated by the 70th Texas Legislature in directing the Central Education Agency to study the problem of youth suicide. "Causes and Factors Contributing to Youth Suicide" presents data on national suicide rates for 15- to 19-year-olds and deaths by suicide in Texas for children between the ages of 5 and 19.…

Prioritizing environmental issues around the world: opinions from an international Central and Eastern European environmental health conference.

PubMed

Craft, Elena S; Donnelly, Kirby C; Neamtiu, Iulia; McCarty, Kathleen M; Bruce, Erica; Surkova, Irina; Kim, David; Uhnakova, Iveta; Gyorffy, Erika; Tesarova, Eva; Anderson, Beth

2006-12-01

As the next generation of scientists enters the field of environmental health, it is imperative that they view their contributions in the context of global environmental stewardship. In this commentary, a group of international graduate students facilitated by three experienced environmental health scientists present their views on what they consider to be the global environmental health concerns of today. This group convened initially in October 2004 at an international health conference in Prague, Czech Republic. In this report we identify perceived environmental health concerns that exist around the world, with a focus on Central and Eastern Europe. Additionally, we address these perceived problems and offers some potential solutions. At the meeting, students were invited to participate in two panel discussions. One group of young international scientists identified several significant global environmental health concerns, including air pollution, occupational hazards, and risk factors that may exacerbate current environmental health issues. The second panel determined that communication, education, and regulation were the mechanisms for addressing current environmental challenges. In this commentary we expand on the views presented at the meeting and represent the concerns of young investigators from nine different countries. We provide ideas about and support the exchange of information between developed and developing countries on how to handle the environmental health challenges that face the world today.

Feminism and public health ethics

PubMed Central

Rogers, W A

2006-01-01

This paper sketches an account of public health ethics drawing upon established scholarship in feminist ethics. Health inequities are one of the central problems in public health ethics; a feminist approach leads us to examine not only the connections between gender, disadvantage, and health, but also the distribution of power in the processes of public health, from policy making through to programme delivery. The complexity of public health demands investigation using multiple perspectives and an attention to detail that is capable of identifying the health issues that are important to women, and investigating ways to address these issues. Finally, a feminist account of public health ethics embraces rather than avoids the inescapable political dimensions of public health. PMID:16731735

Feminism and public health ethics.

PubMed

Rogers, W A

2006-06-01

This paper sketches an account of public health ethics drawing upon established scholarship in feminist ethics. Health inequities are one of the central problems in public health ethics; a feminist approach leads us to examine not only the connections between gender, disadvantage, and health, but also the distribution of power in the processes of public health, from policy making through to programme delivery. The complexity of public health demands investigation using multiple perspectives and an attention to detail that is capable of identifying the health issues that are important to women, and investigating ways to address these issues. Finally, a feminist account of public health ethics embraces rather than avoids the inescapable political dimensions of public health.

Dendritic cells for active immunotherapy: optimizing design and manufacture in order to develop commercially and clinically viable products.

PubMed

Nicolette, C A; Healey, D; Tcherepanova, I; Whelton, P; Monesmith, T; Coombs, L; Finke, L H; Whiteside, T; Miesowicz, F

2007-09-27

Dendritic cell (DC) active immunotherapy is potentially efficacious in a broad array of malignant disease settings. However, challenges remain in optimizing DC-based therapy for maximum clinical efficacy within manufacturing processes that permit quality control and scale-up of consistent products. In this review we discuss the critical issues that must be addressed in order to optimize DC-based product design and manufacture, and highlight the DC based platforms currently addressing these issues. Variables in DC-based product design include the type of antigenic payload used, DC maturation steps and activation processes, and functional assays. Issues to consider in development include: (a) minimizing the invasiveness of patient biological material collection; (b) minimizing handling and manipulations of tissue at the clinical site; (c) centralized product manufacturing and standardized processing and capacity for commercial-scale production; (d) rapid product release turnaround time; (e) the ability to manufacture sufficient product from limited starting material; and (f) standardized release criteria for DC phenotype and function. Improvements in the design and manufacture of DC products have resulted in a handful of promising leads currently in clinical development.

Feasibility of a mindfulness-based intervention to address youth issues in Vietnam.

PubMed

Le, Thao N; Trieu, Don T

2016-06-01

Youth problems including risky sex, drug use, violence and mental health issues are on the rise in Vietnam. Mindfulness is proposed as one way to address unskillful responses to stress that give rise to these behavioral and psychosocial issues in Vietnam. This study explores the feasibility of a mindfulness program for adolescents and young adults in a central city in Vietnam. The mindfulness-based intervention was comprised 1-h daily session over 3 weeks that was conducted at two different sites, one with handicapped adolescents/young adults at the Vocational School for Handicapped and the other with at-risk youth at a semi-private high school. Forty-two Vietnamese youth participants and five Vietnamese teachers/facilitators who were trained in the mindfulness program provided personal reflections of their experiences. Analyses of the qualitative data suggest that mindfulness was enthusiastically received and accepted by both youth and teachers. There is strong indication that mindfulness is promising as a prevention strategy to help with stress and to build important life skills among Vietnamese youth. © The Author 2014. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Turning Access into a web-enabled secure information system for clinical trials.

PubMed

Dongquan Chen; Chen, Wei-Bang; Soong, Mayhue; Soong, Seng-Jaw; Orthner, Helmuth F

2009-08-01

Organizations that have limited resources need to conduct clinical studies in a cost-effective, but secure way. Clinical data residing in various individual databases need to be easily accessed and secured. Although widely available, digital certification, encryption, and secure web server, have not been implemented as widely, partly due to a lack of understanding of needs and concerns over issues such as cost and difficulty in implementation. The objective of this study was to test the possibility of centralizing various databases and to demonstrate ways of offering an alternative to a large-scale comprehensive and costly commercial product, especially for simple phase I and II trials, with reasonable convenience and security. We report a working procedure to transform and develop a standalone Access database into a secure Web-based secure information system. For data collection and reporting purposes, we centralized several individual databases; developed, and tested a web-based secure server using self-issued digital certificates. The system lacks audit trails. The cost of development and maintenance may hinder its wide application. The clinical trial databases scattered in various departments of an institution could be centralized into a web-enabled secure information system. The limitations such as the lack of a calendar and audit trail can be partially addressed with additional programming. The centralized Web system may provide an alternative to a comprehensive clinical trial management system.

Mental health inpatients' and staff members' suggestions for reducing physical restraint: A qualitative study.

PubMed

Wilson, C; Rouse, L; Rae, S; Kar Ray, M

2018-04-01

WHAT IS KNOWN ON THE SUBJECT?: Restraint has negative psychological, physical and relational consequences for mental health patients and staff. Restraint reduction interventions have been developed (e.g., "Safewards"). Limited qualitative research has explored suggestions on how to reduce physical restraint (and feasibility issues with implementing interventions) from those directly involved. WHAT DOES THIS PAPER ADD TO EXISTING KNOWLEDGE?: This paper explores mental health patients' and staff members' suggestions for reducing physical restraint, whilst addressing barriers to implementing these. Findings centred on four themes: improving communication and relationships; staffing factors; environment and space; and activities and distraction. Not all suggestions are addressed by currently available interventions. Barriers to implementation were identified, centring on a lack of time and/or resources; with the provision of more time for staff to spend with patients and implement interventions seen as essential to reducing physical restraint. WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE?: Improving communication and relationships between staff/patients, making staffing-related changes, improving ward environments and providing patient activities are central to restraint reduction in mental healthcare. Fundamental issues related to understaffing, high staff turnover, and lack of time and resources need addressing in order for suggestions to be successfully implemented. Introduction Physical restraint has negative consequences for all involved, and international calls for its reduction have emerged. Some restraint reduction interventions have been developed, but limited qualitative research explores suggestions on how to reduce physical restraint (and feasibility issues with implementation) from those directly involved. Aims To explore mental health patients' and staff members' suggestions for reducing physical restraint. Methods Interviews were conducted with 13 inpatients and 22 staff members with experience of restraint on adult mental health inpatient wards in one UK National Health Service Trust. Results Findings centred on four overarching themes: improving communication and relationships between staff/patients; making staff-related changes; improving ward environments/spaces; and having more activities. However, concerns were raised around practicalities/feasibility of their implementation. Discussion Continued research is needed into best ways to reduce physical restraint, with an emphasis on feasibility/practicality and how to make time in busy ward environments. Implications for Practice Improving communication and relationships between staff/patients, making staffing-related changes, improving ward environments and providing patient activities are central to restraint reduction in mental healthcare. However, fundamental issues related to understaffing, high staff turnover and lack of time/resources need addressing in order for these suggestions to be successfully implemented. © 2018 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

ewrapper: Operationalizing engagement strategies in mHealth

PubMed Central

Wagner, Blake; Liu, Elaine; Shaw, Steven D.; Iakovlev, Gleb; Zhou, Linlu; Harrington, Christina; Abowd, Gregory; Yoon, Carolyn; Kumar, Santosh; Murphy, Susan; Spring, Bonnie; Nahum-Shani, Inbal

2018-01-01

The advancement of digital technologies particularly in the domain of mobile health (mHealth) holds great promise in the promotion of health behavior. However, keeping users engaged remains a central challenge. This paper proposes a novel approach to address this issue by supplementing existing and future mHealth applications with an engagement wrapper - a collection of engagement strategies integrated into a single, coherent model. The engagement wrapper is operationalized within the format of an ambient display on the lock screen of mobile devices. PMID:29362728

ewrapper: Operationalizing engagement strategies in mHealth.

PubMed

Wagner, Blake; Liu, Elaine; Shaw, Steven D; Iakovlev, Gleb; Zhou, Linlu; Harrington, Christina; Abowd, Gregory; Yoon, Carolyn; Kumar, Santosh; Murphy, Susan; Spring, Bonnie; Nahum-Shani, Inbal

2017-09-01

The advancement of digital technologies particularly in the domain of mobile health (mHealth) holds great promise in the promotion of health behavior. However, keeping users engaged remains a central challenge. This paper proposes a novel approach to address this issue by supplementing existing and future mHealth applications with an engagement wrapper - a collection of engagement strategies integrated into a single, coherent model. The engagement wrapper is operationalized within the format of an ambient display on the lock screen of mobile devices.

Water quality in the central Nebraska basins, Nebraska, 1992-95

USGS Publications Warehouse

Frenzel, S.A.; Swanson, R.B.; Huntzinger, T.L.; Stamer, J.K.; Emmons, P.J.; Zelt, R.B.

1998-01-01

This report is intended to summarize major findings that emerged between 1992 and 1995 from the water-quality assessment of the Central Nebraska Basins Study Unit and to relate these findings to water-quality issues of regional and national concern. The information is primarily intended for those who are involved in waterresource management. Indeed, this report addresses many of the concerns raised by regulators, water-utility managers, industry representatives, and other scientists, engineers, public officials, and members of stakeholder groups who provided advice and input to the USGS during this NAWQA Study-Unit investigation. Yet, the information contained here may also interest those who simply wish to know more about the quality of water in the rivers and aquifers in the area where they live.

Advanced practice psychiatric mental health nursing, finding our core: the therapeutic relationship in 21st century.

PubMed

Perraud, Suzanne; Delaney, Kathleen R; Carlson-Sabelli, Linnea; Johnson, Mary E; Shephard, Rebekah; Paun, Olimpia

2006-11-01

Increasingly, students from various professional backgrounds are enrolling in Psychiatric Mental Health (PMH) Nursing graduate programs, especially at the post-master's level. Faculty must educate these students to provide increasingly complex care while socializing them as PMH advanced practitioners. To present how one online program is addressing these issues by reasserting the centrality of the relationship and by assuring it has at least equal footing with the application of a burgeoning knowledge base of neurobiology of mental illness. Published literature from nursing and psychology. The PMH graduate faculty believes that they have developed strategies to meet this challenge and to help build a PMH workforce that will maintain the centrality of the relationship in PMH practice.

Microenvironment Tracker (MicroTrac) | Science Inventory ...

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

Epidemiologic studies have shown associations between air pollution concentrations measured at central-site ambient monitors and adverse health outcomes. Using central-site concentrations as exposure surrogates, however, can lead to exposure errors due to time spent in various indoor and outdoor microenvironments (ME) with pollutant concentrations that can be substantially different from central-site concentrations. These exposure errors can introduce bias and incorrect confidence intervals in health effect estimates, which diminish the power of such studies to establish correct conclusions about the exposure and health effects association. The significance of this issue was highlighted in the National Research Council (NRC) Report “Research Priorities for Airborne Particulate Matter”, which recommends that EPA address exposure error in health studies. To address this limitation, we developed MicroTrac, an automated classification model that estimates time of day and duration spent in eight ME (indoors and outdoors at home, work, school; inside vehicles; other locations) from personal global positioning system (GPS) data and geocoded boundaries of buildings (e.g., home, work, school). MicroTrac has several innovative design features: (1) using GPS signal quality to account for GPS signal loss inside certain buildings, (2) spatial buffering of building boundaries to account for the spatial inaccuracy of the GPS device, and (3) temporal buffering of GPS positi

Pedicled fat flap to increase lateral fullness in upper blepharoplasty.

PubMed

Sozer, Sadri O; Agullo, Francisco J; Palladino, Humberto; Payne, Phileemon E; Banerji, Soumo

2010-03-01

The eyelid of a young person can be distinguished by the lateral fullness of the upper eyelid. With aging, lateral fullness decreases. Volume restoration in the periorbital area has been previously addressed by fat draping and grafting. More recently, techniques for regaining lateral fullness of the upper eyelid have focused on fat grafting, although effective graft take, reabsorption, and irregularities have been a concern. To address these issues, the concept of pedicled fat draping in the upper eyelid was explored. In a retrospective study from June 2006 to August 2008, 31 patients underwent upper blepharoplasty with augmentation of the lateral fullness with a pedicled fat flap from the central fat pad. The fat from the central compartment was elevated, dissected, and then transposed to the lateral upper eyelid below the orbicularis muscle. All patients were women ranging in age from 43 to 68 years. Pre- and postoperative picture comparison demonstrated a more youthful appearance with increased lateral fullness of the upper eyelids. There were no cases of fat necrosis encountered. Increased volume remained stable over an average of one-year follow-up. No complications were recorded. Transposing a pedicled fat pad from the central compartment laterally has proven to be an effective technique for achieving predictable upper lateral eyelid fullness and thus achieving a long-lasting, more youthful appearance.

Stroke care in Central Eastern Europe: current problems and call for action.

PubMed

Lenti, Laura; Brainin, Michael; Titianova, Ekaterina; Morovic, Sandra; Demarin, Vida; Kalvach, Pavel; Skoloudik, David; Kobayashi, Adam; Czlonkowska, Anna; Muresanu, Dafin F; Shekhovtsova, Ksenia; Skvortsova, Veronica I; Sternic, Nadezda; Beslac Bumbasirevic, Ljiljana; Svigelj, Viktor; Turcani, Peter; Bereczki, Dániel; Csiba, László

2013-07-01

Stroke is a major medical problem and one of the leading causes of mortality and disability all over in Europe. However, there are significant East-West differences in stroke care as well as in stroke mortality and morbidity rates. Central and Eastern European countries that formerly had centralized and socialist health care systems have serious and similar problems in organizing health and stroke care 20 years after the political transition. In Central and Eastern Europe, stroke is more frequent, the mortality rate is higher, and the victims are younger than in Western Europe. High-risk patients live in worse environmental conditions, and the socioeconomic consequences of stroke further weaken the economic development of these countries. To address these issues, a round table conference was organized. The main aim of this conference was to discuss problems to be solved related to acute and chronic stroke care in Central and Eastern European countries, and also, to exchange ideas on possible solutions. In this article, the discussed problems and possible solutions will be summarized, and introduce 'The Budapest Statement of Stroke Experts of Central and Eastern European countries'. © 2012 The Authors. International Journal of Stroke © 2012 World Stroke Organization.

Why is neuroimmunopharmacology crucial for the future of addiction research?

PubMed

Hutchinson, Mark R; Watkins, Linda R

2014-01-01

A major development in drug addiction research in recent years has been the discovery that immune signaling within the central nervous system contributes significantly to mesolimbic dopamine reward signaling induced by drugs of abuse, and hence is involved in the presentation of reward behaviors. Additionally, in the case of opioids, these hypotheses have advanced through to the discovery of the novel site of opioid action at the innate immune pattern recognition receptor Toll-like receptor 4 as the necessary triggering event that engages this reward facilitating central immune signaling. Thus, the hypothesis of major proinflammatory contributions to drug abuse was born. This review will examine these key discoveries, but also address several key lingering questions of how central immune signaling is able to contribute in this fashion to the pharmacodynamics of drugs of abuse. It is hoped that by combining the collective wisdom of neuroscience, immunology and pharmacology, into Neuroimmunopharmacology, we may more fully understanding the neuronal and immune complexities of how drugs of abuse, such as opioids, create their rewarding and addiction states. Such discoveries will point us in the direction such that one day soon we might successfully intervene to successfully treat drug addiction. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled 'NIDA 40th Anniversary Issue'. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Dialysis access: an increasingly important clinical issue.

PubMed

Gallieni, Maurizio; Martini, Alma; Mezzina, Nicoletta

2009-12-01

Dialysis access, including vascular access for hemodialysis and peritoneal access for peritoneal dialysis, is critical in the clinical care of patients with end-stage renal disease. It is associated with increases in morbidity, mortality, and health care costs. A number of problematic issues are involved, some of which are addressed in this paper with reference to the most recent publications, including: the inappropriately low prevalence of peritoneal dialysis in Western countries, which is relevant to access placement in the pre-dialysis stage; the excessively high use of central venous catheters in incident and prevalent dialysis patients; the diagnosis and treatment of steal syndrome; the advantages and limitations of antiplatelet therapy; and finally, the correct pre-operative evaluation and subsequent surveillance of the vascular access.

Performance and scalability evaluation of "Big Memory" on Blue Gene Linux.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Yoshii, K.; Iskra, K.; Naik, H.

2011-05-01

We address memory performance issues observed in Blue Gene Linux and discuss the design and implementation of 'Big Memory' - an alternative, transparent memory space introduced to eliminate the memory performance issues. We evaluate the performance of Big Memory using custom memory benchmarks, NAS Parallel Benchmarks, and the Parallel Ocean Program, at a scale of up to 4,096 nodes. We find that Big Memory successfully resolves the performance issues normally encountered in Blue Gene Linux. For the ocean simulation program, we even find that Linux with Big Memory provides better scalability than does the lightweight compute node kernel designed solelymore » for high-performance applications. Originally intended exclusively for compute node tasks, our new memory subsystem dramatically improves the performance of certain I/O node applications as well. We demonstrate this performance using the central processor of the LOw Frequency ARray radio telescope as an example.« less

Critical issues in NASA information systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1987-01-01

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration has developed a globally-distributed complex of earth resources data bases since LANDSAT 1 was launched in 1972. NASA envisages considerable growth in the number, extent, and complexity of such data bases, due to the improvements expected in its remote sensing data rates, and the increasingly multidisciplinary nature of its scientific investigations. Work already has begun on information systems to support multidisciplinary research activities based on data acquired by the space station complex and other space-based and terrestrial sources. In response to a request from NASA's former Associate Administrator for Space Science and Applications, the National Research Council convened a committee in June 1985 to identify the critical issues involving information systems support to space science and applications. The committee has suggested that OSSA address four major information systems issues; centralization of management functions, interoperability of user involvement in the planning and implementation of its programs, and technology.

Health sector reform in central and eastern Europe: the professional dimension.

PubMed

Healy, J; Mckee, M

1997-12-01

The success or failure of health sector reform in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe depends, to a large extent, on their health care staff. Commentators have focused on the structures to be put in place, such as mechanisms of financing or changes in ownership of facilities, but less attention has been paid to the role and status of the different groups working in health care services. This paper draws on a study of trends in staffing and working conditions throughout the region. It identifies several key issues including the traditionally lower status and pay of health sector workers compared to the West, the credibility crisis of trade unions, and the under-developed roles of professional associations. In order to implement health sector reforms and to address the deteriorating health status of the population, the health sector workforce has to be restructured and training programmes reoriented towards primary care. Finally, the paper identifies emerging issues such as the erosion of 'workplace welfare' and its adverse effects upon a predominantly female health care workforce.

Race, racism and health: disparities, mechanisms, and interventions.

PubMed

Brondolo, Elizabeth; Gallo, Linda C; Myers, Hector F

2009-02-01

The goals of this special section are to examine the state-of-the-science regarding race/ethnicity and racism as they contribute to health disparities and to articulate a research agenda to guide future research. In the first paper, Myers presents an integrative theoretical framework for understanding how racism, poverty, and other major stressors relate to health through inter-related psychosocial and bio-behavioral pathways. Williams and Mohammed review the evidence concerning associations between racism and health, addressing the multiple levels at which racism can operate and commenting on important methodological issues. Klonoff provides a review and update of the literature concerning ethnicity-related disparities in healthcare, and addresses factors that may contribute to these disparities. Brondolo and colleagues consider racism from a stress and coping perspective, and review the literature concerning racial identity, anger coping, and social support as potential moderators of the racism-health association. Finally, Castro and colleagues describe an ecodevelopmental model that can serve as an integrative framework to examine multi-level social-cultural influences on health and health behavior. In aggregate, the special section papers address theoretical and methodological issues central to understanding the determinants of health disparities, with the aim of providing direction for future research critical to developing effective interventions to reduce these disparities.

Galaxy Selection and the Surface Brightness Distribution

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McGaugh, Stacy S.; Bothun, Gregory D.; Schombert, James M.

1995-08-01

Optical surveys for galaxies are biased against the inclusion of low surface brightness (LSB) galaxies. Disney [Nature, 263,573(1976)] suggested that the constancy of disk central surface brightness noticed by Freeman [ApJ, 160,811(1970)] was not a physical result, but instead was an artifact of sample selection. Since LSB galaxies do exist, the pertinent and still controversial issue is if these newly discovered galaxies constitute a significant percentage of the general galaxy population. In this paper, we address this issue by determining the space density of galaxies as a function of disk central surface brightness. Using the physically reasonable assumption (which is motivated by the data) that central surface brightness is independent of disk scale length, we arrive at a distribution which is roughly flat (i.e., approximately equal numbers of galaxies at each surface brightness) faintwards of the Freeman (1970) value. Brightwards of this, we find a sharp decline in the distribution which is analogous to the turn down in the luminosity function at L^*^. An intrinsically sharply peaked "Freeman law" distribution can be completely ruled out, and no Gaussian distribution can fit the data. Low surface brightness galaxies (those with central surface brightness fainter than 22 B mag arcsec^-2^) comprise >~ 1/2 the general galaxy population, so a representative sample of galaxies at z = 0 does not really exist at present since past surveys have been insensitive to this component of the general galaxy population.

Evidence, Engagement, and Technology: Themes of and the State of Primary Care Practice-based Network Research.

PubMed

Nease, Donald E

2016-01-01

Practice-based research supported by practice-based research network (PBRN) infrastructure has historically provided an important method for challenging guidelines and evidence arising from secondary and tertiary care settings. This sample of current practice-based research in this issue of the JABFM provides an opportunity to ask whether practice-based research continues to address questions relevant to primary care practices and clinicians and whether a PBRN infrastructure is instrumental to maintaining the relevance and feasibility of practice-based research. Based on this issue's articles, the current state of practice-based research seems to be good, at face value addressing relevant issues for primary care practices. Less clear is the degree to which PBRN infrastructures and relationships informed the questions asked and facilitated the implementation of the studies presented. Practice-based research-related articles that routinely report about how study questions arose-from practices and their clinicians, staff and communities, or elsewhere-could help directly answer questions of relevance. In addition, reporting how practices are recruited to practice-based research studies could inform the degree to which ongoing relationships central to PBRNs facilitate the recruitment and conduct of practice-based research. © Copyright 2016 by the American Board of Family Medicine.

Involving indigenous peoples in protected area management: comparative perspectives from Nepal, Thailand, and China.

PubMed

Nepal, Sanjay K

2002-12-01

Despite over two decades of efforts towards involving indigenous and traditional peoples in protected area management, there are few successful examples. Several international principles and guidelines on indigenous peoples' involvement in protected areas exist. However, because of the lack of evaluation of whether or not these principles and guidelines have been put into practice, there is hardly any information that indicates the actual involvement of indigenous peoples in protected areas. This paper attempts to compare efforts in partnership between indigenous peoples and protected area authority in three Asian countries: Nepal, Thailand, and China. It shows that the involvement of indigenous peoples is more successful where park planning is participatory and where political and socioeconomic reforms are underway. Indigenous peoples are in conflict with park authorities where park management is centralized and nonparticipatory. Unless concrete efforts are made to address livelihood issues of indigenous peoples living in and around protected areas, park management aimed to protect wildlife will rarely succeed. Participatory park management that involves indigenous peoples and that addresses livelihood issues of indigenous communities will ultimately succeed in its efforts toward wildlife conservation.

Assessment of the MIMOSA model: experience learned from the development of a demonstrator

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gibaud, Bernard; Gandon, Yves; Garfagni, Herve; Hervault, Bernard; Lussot, Eric; Bares, Bernard; Klipfel, Bruno; Bourgeois, Laurent; Quideau, Jean-Christophe

1995-05-01

This paper recalls the major motivations for developing the MIMOSA model (medical image management in an open system architecture). It gives an overview of the content of this model and focuses on the validation brought by the prototyping activity. The paper describes the functional scenario addressed by the demonstrator developed at the University Hospital of Rennes, France. Emphasis is put on methodology and architectural issues, allowing a portable MIMOSA-based PACS core to be built while addressing the integration of local PACS components by means of an ad-hoc adaptation layer. Openness is also a central issue: the architecture has been designed in such a way that the MIMOSA services can be requested and provided using established standards. The influence of the DICOM standard with respect to this concern is analyzed in detail. Achievements and current limitations are highlighted. Conclusions are drawn concerning the technical assessment of that part of the model involved in the demonstrator. Clinical validation is not discussed here since the system should be introduced in clinical routine in the course of 1995.

Heritage Forward: The Central Command Historical-Cultural Advisory Group

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-10-22

other provision of law , no person shall be subject to any penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information if it does not display a...ol Defame (000] together m an «Hon to :tqprmt cultural and heritage WWriawi ol m.iit»r> Benenne I .»»«rating ■■■■«■i BUtufepf tneUeMeri&aHi...ROTC curriculum dealing with the Law of Warfare, in which the issue of Cultural Property Protection is addressed with reference to the U.S

The American Experience in the Transition from Vocational Schools to Work: A Report to the United Nations Education, Scientific, and Cultural Organization. International Symposium on Problems of Transition from Technical and Vocational Schools to Work (Berlin, German Democratic Republic, 14-18 April, 1980).

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dunham, Daniel B.

This paper discusses the central problems and issues of the transition from school to worklife in the United States. Developed from a framework which outlines the structure of the education system and the place of vocational-technical education within it, the paper addresses measures the United States has taken to facilitate the transition from…

Species-specific photorespiratory rate, drought tolerance and isoprene emission rate in plants.

PubMed

Dani, K G Srikanta; Jamie, Ian M; Prentice, I Colin; Atwell, Brian J

2015-01-01

The effect of drought on plant isoprene emission varies tremendously across species and environments. It was recently shown that an increased ratio of photosynthetic electron transport rate (ETR) to net carbon assimilation rate (NAR) consistently supported increased emission under drought. In this commentary, we highlight some of the physiological aspects of drought tolerance that are central to the observed variability. We briefly discuss some of the issues that must be addressed in order to refine our understanding of plant isoprene emission response to drought and increasing global temperature.

26 CFR 1.895-1 - Income derived by a foreign central bank of issue, or by Bank for International Settlements, from...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

... issue, or by Bank for International Settlements, from obligations of the United States or from bank... by a foreign central bank of issue, or by Bank for International Settlements, from obligations of the... issue. (1) A foreign central bank of issue is a bank which is by law or government sanction the...

26 CFR 1.895-1 - Income derived by a foreign central bank of issue, or by Bank for International Settlements, from...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

... issue, or by Bank for International Settlements, from obligations of the United States or from bank... by a foreign central bank of issue, or by Bank for International Settlements, from obligations of the... issue. (1) A foreign central bank of issue is a bank which is by law or government sanction the...

26 CFR 1.895-1 - Income derived by a foreign central bank of issue, or by Bank for International Settlements, from...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

... issue, or by Bank for International Settlements, from obligations of the United States or from bank... by a foreign central bank of issue, or by Bank for International Settlements, from obligations of the... issue. (1) A foreign central bank of issue is a bank which is by law or government sanction the...

26 CFR 1.895-1 - Income derived by a foreign central bank of issue, or by Bank for International Settlements, from...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... issue, or by Bank for International Settlements, from obligations of the United States or from bank... by a foreign central bank of issue, or by Bank for International Settlements, from obligations of the... issue. (1) A foreign central bank of issue is a bank which is by law or government sanction the...

Application of controller partitioning optimization procedure to integrated flight/propulsion control design for a STOVL aircraft

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Garg, Sanjay; Schmidt, Phillip H.

1993-01-01

A parameter optimization framework has earlier been developed to solve the problem of partitioning a centralized controller into a decentralized, hierarchical structure suitable for integrated flight/propulsion control implementation. This paper presents results from the application of the controller partitioning optimization procedure to IFPC design for a Short Take-Off and Vertical Landing (STOVL) aircraft in transition flight. The controller partitioning problem and the parameter optimization algorithm are briefly described. Insight is provided into choosing various 'user' selected parameters in the optimization cost function such that the resulting optimized subcontrollers will meet the characteristics of the centralized controller that are crucial to achieving the desired closed-loop performance and robustness, while maintaining the desired subcontroller structure constraints that are crucial for IFPC implementation. The optimization procedure is shown to improve upon the initial partitioned subcontrollers and lead to performance comparable to that achieved with the centralized controller. This application also provides insight into the issues that should be addressed at the centralized control design level in order to obtain implementable partitioned subcontrollers.

Sovereignty Under Siege: Drug Trafficking and State Capacity in the Caribbean and Central America

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-06-01

CARIBBEAN AND CENTRAL AMERICA 5. FUNDING NUMBERS 6. AUTHOR(S) Ryan Thomas King 7. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) Naval...Postgraduate School Monterey, CA 93943-5000 8. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION REPORT NUMBER 9. SPONSORING /MONITORING AGENCY NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) N/A...trafficking organizations have increased their prominence throughout the Caribbean and Central America. These organizations undermine the rule of law

Geometric and topological characterization of porous media: insights from eigenvector centrality

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jimenez-Martinez, J.; Negre, C.

2017-12-01

Solving flow and transport through complex geometries such as porous media involves an extreme computational cost. Simplifications such as pore networks, where the pores are represented by nodes and the pore throats by edges connecting pores, have been proposed. These models have the ability to preserve the connectivity of the medium. However, they have difficulties capturing preferential paths (high velocity) and stagnation zones (low velocity), as they do not consider the specific relations between nodes. Network theory approaches, where the complex network is conceptualized like a graph, can help to simplify and better understand fluid dynamics and transport in porous media. To address this issue, we propose a method based on eigenvector centrality. It has been corrected to overcome the centralization problem and modified to introduce a bias in the centrality distribution along a particular direction which allows considering the flow and transport anisotropy in porous media. The model predictions are compared with millifluidic transport experiments, showing that this technique is computationally efficient and has potential for predicting preferential paths and stagnation zones for flow and transport in porous media. Entropy computed from the eigenvector centrality probability distribution is proposed as an indicator of the "mixing capacity" of the system.

Emotion, philosophical issues about.

PubMed

Deonna, Julien; Tappolet, Christine; Teroni, Fabrice

2015-01-01

We start this overview by discussing the place of emotions within the broader affective domain-how different are emotions from moods, sensations, and affective dispositions? Next, we examine the way emotions relate to their objects, emphasizing in the process their intimate relations to values. We move from this inquiry into the nature of emotion to an inquiry into their epistemology. Do they provide reasons for evaluative judgments and, more generally, do they contribute to our knowledge of values? We then address the question of the social dimension of emotions, explaining how the traditional nature versus nurture contrast applies to them. We finish by exploring the relations between emotions, motivation and action, concluding this overview with a more specific focus on how these relations bear on some central ethical issues. © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Using NIAM to capture time dependencies in a domain of discourse

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Becker, S.D.

1994-07-01

This paper addresses the issues surrounding the use of NIAM to capture time dependencies in a domain of discourse. The NIAM concepts that support capturing time dependencies are in the event and process portions of the NIAM metamodel, which are the portions most poorly supported by a well-established methodology. This lack of methodological support is a potentially serious handicap in any attempt to apply NIAM to a domain of discourse in which time dependencies are a central issue. However, the capability that NIAM provides for validating and verifying the elementary facts in the domain may reduce the magnitude of themore » event/process-specification task to a level at which it could be effectively handled even without strong methodological support.« less

I. DEVELOPMENTAL METHODOLOGY AS A CENTRAL SUBDISCIPLINE OF DEVELOPMENTAL SCIENCE.

PubMed

Card, Noel A

2017-06-01

This first chapter introduces the main goals of the monograph and previews the remaining chapters. The goals of this monograph are to provide summaries of our current understanding of advanced developmental methodologies, provide information that can advance our understanding of human development, identify shortcomings in our understanding of developmental methodology, and serve as a flagpost for organizing developmental methodology as a subdiscipline within the broader field of developmental science. The remaining chapters in this monograph address issues in design (sampling and big data), longitudinal data analysis, and issues of replication and research accumulation. The final chapter describes the history of developmental methodology, considers how the previous chapters in this monograph fit within this subdiscipline, and offers recommendations for further advancement. © 2017 The Society for Research in Child Development, Inc.

GEWEX Cloud Systems Study (GCSS)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Moncrieff, Mitch

1993-01-01

The Global Energy and Water Cycle Experiment (GEWEX) Cloud Systems Study (GCSS) program seeks to improve the physical understanding of sub-grid scale cloud processes and their representation in parameterization schemes. By improving the description and understanding of key cloud system processes, GCSS aims to develop the necessary parameterizations in climate and numerical weather prediction (NWP) models. GCSS will address these issues mainly through the development and use of cloud-resolving or cumulus ensemble models to generate realizations of a set of archetypal cloud systems. The focus of GCSS is on mesoscale cloud systems, including precipitating convectively-driven cloud systems like MCS's and boundary layer clouds, rather than individual clouds, and on their large-scale effects. Some of the key scientific issues confronting GCSS that particularly relate to research activities in the central U.S. are presented.

An alternative framework for responding to the amphibian crisis

USGS Publications Warehouse

Muths, Erin L.; Fisher, Robert N.

2017-01-01

Volumes of data illustrate the severity of the crisis affecting amphibians, where > 32% of amphibians worldwide are threatened with declining populations. Although there have been isolated victories, the current approach to the issue is unsuccessful. We suggest that a radically different approach, something akin to human emergency response management (i.e. the Incident Command System), is one alternative to addressing the inertia and lack of cohesion in responding to amphibian issues. We acknowledge existing efforts and the useful research that has been conducted, but we suggest that a change is warranted and that the identification of a new amphibian chytrid provides the impetus for such a change. Our goal is to recognize that without a centralized effort we (collectively) are likely to fail in responding to this challenge.

Computing at DESY — current setup, trends and strategic directions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ernst, Michael

1998-05-01

Since the HERA experiments H1 and ZEUS started data taking in '92, the computing environment at DESY has changed dramatically. Running a mainframe centred computing for more than 20 years, DESY switched to a heterogeneous, fully distributed computing environment within only about two years in almost every corner where computing has its applications. The computing strategy was highly influenced by the needs of the user community. The collaborations are usually limited by current technology and their ever increasing demands is the driving force for central computing to always move close to the technology edge. While DESY's central computing has a multidecade experience in running Central Data Recording/Central Data Processing for HEP experiments, the most challenging task today is to provide for clear and homogeneous concepts in the desktop area. Given that lowest level commodity hardware draws more and more attention, combined with the financial constraints we are facing already today, we quickly need concepts for integrated support of a versatile device which has the potential to move into basically any computing area in HEP. Though commercial solutions, especially addressing the PC management/support issues, are expected to come to market in the next 2-3 years, we need to provide for suitable solutions now. Buying PC's at DESY currently at a rate of about 30/month will otherwise absorb any available manpower in central computing and still will leave hundreds of unhappy people alone. Though certainly not the only region, the desktop issue is one of the most important one where we need HEP-wide collaboration to a large extent, and right now. Taking into account that there is traditionally no room for R&D at DESY, collaboration, meaning sharing experience and development resources within the HEP community, is a predominant factor for us.

How Well Can Saliency Models Predict Fixation Selection in Scenes Beyond Central Bias? A New Approach to Model Evaluation Using Generalized Linear Mixed Models.

PubMed

Nuthmann, Antje; Einhäuser, Wolfgang; Schütz, Immo

2017-01-01

Since the turn of the millennium, a large number of computational models of visual salience have been put forward. How best to evaluate a given model's ability to predict where human observers fixate in images of real-world scenes remains an open research question. Assessing the role of spatial biases is a challenging issue; this is particularly true when we consider the tendency for high-salience items to appear in the image center, combined with a tendency to look straight ahead ("central bias"). This problem is further exacerbated in the context of model comparisons, because some-but not all-models implicitly or explicitly incorporate a center preference to improve performance. To address this and other issues, we propose to combine a-priori parcellation of scenes with generalized linear mixed models (GLMM), building upon previous work. With this method, we can explicitly model the central bias of fixation by including a central-bias predictor in the GLMM. A second predictor captures how well the saliency model predicts human fixations, above and beyond the central bias. By-subject and by-item random effects account for individual differences and differences across scene items, respectively. Moreover, we can directly assess whether a given saliency model performs significantly better than others. In this article, we describe the data processing steps required by our analysis approach. In addition, we demonstrate the GLMM analyses by evaluating the performance of different saliency models on a new eye-tracking corpus. To facilitate the application of our method, we make the open-source Python toolbox "GridFix" available.

26 CFR 1.895-1 - Income derived by a foreign central bank of issue, or by Bank for International Settlements, from...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... issue, or by Bank for International Settlements, from obligations of the United States or from bank... foreign central bank of issue, or by Bank for International Settlements, from obligations of the United... foreign central bank of issue is a bank which is by law or government sanction the principal authority...

Physical Therapy in the Treatment of Central Pain Mechanisms for Female Sexual Pain.

PubMed

Vandyken, Carolyn; Hilton, Sandra

2017-01-01

The complexity of female sexual pain requires an interdisciplinary approach. Physical therapists trained in pelvic health conditions are well positioned to be active members of an interdisciplinary team addressing the assessment and treatment of female sexual pain. Changes within physical therapy practice in the last ten years have resulted in significant utilization of pelvic floor muscle relaxation and manual therapy techniques to address a variety of pelvic pain conditions, including female sexual pain. However, sexual pain is a complex issue giving credence to the necessity of addressing all of the drivers of the pain experience- biological, psychological and social. This review aims to reconcile current pain science with a plan for integrating a biopsychosocial approach into the evaluation and subsequent treatment for female sexual pain for physical therapists. A literature review of the important components of skilled physical therapy interventions is presented including the physical examination, pain biology education, cognitive behavioral influences in treatment design, motivational interviewing as an adjunct to empathetic practice, and the integration of non-threatening movement and mindfulness into treatment. A single case study is used to demonstrate the biopsychosocial framework utilized in this approach. Appropriate measures for assessing psychosocial factors are readily available and inform a reasoned approach for physical therapy design that addresses both peripheral and central pain mechanisms. Decades of research support the integration of a biopsychosocial approach in the treatment of complex pain, including female sexual pain. It is reasonable for physical therapists to utilize evidence based strategies such as CBT, pain biology education, Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), yoga and imagery based exercises to address the biopsychosocial components of female sexual pain. Copyright © 2016 International Society for Sexual Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Geology of the Stegall Mountain 7.5-minute quadrangle, Shannon and Carter Counties, south-central Missouri

USGS Publications Warehouse

Harrison, Richard W.; Orndorff, Randall C.; Weary, David J.

2002-01-01

The bedrock exposed in the Stegall Mountain Quadrangle, Missouri, comprises Mesoproterozoic aged volcanic rocks overlain by Late Cambrian and Early Ordovician aged dolomite, sandstone, and chert. The sedimentary rocks are nearly flat-lying except where they drape around knobs of the volcanic rocks or where they are adjacent to faults. The carbonates are karstified and the area contains numerous sinkholes, springs, caves, and losing-streams. This map is one of several being produced under the U.S. Geological Survey National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program to provide geologic data applicable to land-use problems in the Ozarks of south-central Missouri. Ongoing and potential industrial and agricultural development in the Ozarks region has presented issues of ground-water quality in karst areas. A National Park in this region (Ozark National Scenic Riverways, Missouri ) is concerned about the effects of activities in areas outside of their stewardship on the water resources that define the heart of this Park. This task applies geologic mapping and karst investigations to address issues surrounding competing land use in south-central Missouri. This task keeps geologists from the USGS associated with the park and allows the Parks to utilize USGS expertise and aid the NPS on how to effectively use geologic maps for Park management. For more information see: http://geology.er.usgs.gov/eespteam/Karst/index.html

A gated Thomson parabola spectrometer for improved ion and neutral atom measurements in intense laser produced plasmas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tata, Sheroy; Mondal, Angana; Sarkar, Soubhik; Lad, Amit D.; Krishnamurthy, M.

2017-08-01

Ions of high energy and high charge are accelerated from compact intense laser produced plasmas and are routinely analysed either by time of flight or Thomson parabola spectrometry. At the highest intensities where ion energies can be substantially large, both these techniques have limitations. Strong electromagnetic pulse noise jeopardises the arrival time measurement, and a bright central spot in the Thomson parabola spectrometer affects the signal to noise ratio of ion traces that approach close to the central spot. We present a gated Thomson parabola spectrometer that addresses these issues and provides an elegant method to improvise ion spectrometry. In addition, we demonstrate that this method provides the ability to detect and measure high energy neutral atoms that are invariably present in most intense laser plasma acceleration experiments.

A gated Thomson parabola spectrometer for improved ion and neutral atom measurements in intense laser produced plasmas.

PubMed

Tata, Sheroy; Mondal, Angana; Sarkar, Soubhik; Lad, Amit D; Krishnamurthy, M

2017-08-01

Ions of high energy and high charge are accelerated from compact intense laser produced plasmas and are routinely analysed either by time of flight or Thomson parabola spectrometry. At the highest intensities where ion energies can be substantially large, both these techniques have limitations. Strong electromagnetic pulse noise jeopardises the arrival time measurement, and a bright central spot in the Thomson parabola spectrometer affects the signal to noise ratio of ion traces that approach close to the central spot. We present a gated Thomson parabola spectrometer that addresses these issues and provides an elegant method to improvise ion spectrometry. In addition, we demonstrate that this method provides the ability to detect and measure high energy neutral atoms that are invariably present in most intense laser plasma acceleration experiments.

Ghrelin in the CNS: From hunger to a rewarding and memorable meal?

PubMed Central

Olszewski, Pawel K.; Schiöth, Helgi B.; Levine, Allen S.

2008-01-01

Ghrelin, the endogenous agonist of the growth hormone secretagogue receptor, has been shown to induce robust feeding responses in numerous experimental models. Although ghrelin comes from both peripheral and central sources, its hyperphagic properties, to a large extent, arise from activity at the brain level. The current review focuses on describing central mechanisms through which this peptide affects consumption. We address the issue of whether ghrelin serves just as a signal of energy needs of the organism or – as suggested by the most recent findings -also affects food intake via other feeding-related mechanisms, including reward and memory. Complexity of ghrelin’s role in the regulation of ingestive behavior is discussed by characterizing its influence on consumption, reward and memory as well as by defining its function within the brain circuitry and interplay with other neuropeptides. PMID:18308399

The Protected Areas Visitor Impact Management (PAVIM) framework: A simplified process for making management decisions

USGS Publications Warehouse

Farrell, T.A.; Marion, J.L.

2002-01-01

Ecotourism and protected area visitation in Central and South America have resulted in ecological impacts, which some protected areas managers have addressed by employing visitor impact management frameworks. In this paper, we propose the Protected Area Visitor Impact Management (PAVIM) framework as an alternative to carrying capacity and other frameworks such as Limits of Acceptable Change. We use a set of evaluation criteria to compare the relative positive and negative attributes of carrying capacity, other decision-making frameworks and the new framework, within the context of their actual and potential use in Central and South America. Positive attributes of PAVIM include simplicity, flexibility, cost effectiveness, timeliness, and incorporating input from stakeholders and local residents. Negative attributes include diminished objectivity and cultural sensitivity issues. Further research and application of PAVIM are recommended.

Affect integration and reflective function: clarification of central conceptual issues.

PubMed

Solbakken, Ole André; Hansen, Roger Sandvik; Monsen, Jon Trygve

2011-07-01

The importance of affect regulation, modulation or integration for higher-order reflection and adequate functioning is increasingly emphasized across different therapeutic approaches and theories of change. These processes are probably central to any psychotherapeutic endeavor, whether explicitly conceptualized or not, and in recent years a number of therapeutic approaches have been developed that explicitly target them as a primary area of change. However, there still is important lack of clarity in the field regarding the understanding and operationalization of affect integration, particularly when it comes to specifying underlying mechanisms, the significance of different affect states, and the establishment of operational criteria for measurement. The conceptual relationship between affect integration and reflective function thus remains ambiguous. The present article addresses these topics, indicating ways in which a more complex and exhaustive understanding of integration of affect, cognition and behavior can be attained.

Pursuit of proteomic excellence and the excitement in Košice, Slovakia, at the 11th Central and Eastern European Proteomic Conference (CEEPC).

PubMed

Gadher, Suresh; Bhide, Mangesh; Kovarova, Hana

2018-05-01

The Central and Eastern European Proteomic Conference (CEEPC) successfully launched its second decade of proteomics in Košice, Slovakia with a program of systems biology, cellular, clinical, veterinary and sports proteomics. Whilst many conferences are struggling to attract participants, CEEPC with its outstanding track record and unique 'family - feel' packaged with excellent ambiance is thriving and bringing together proteomics experts from academia, industry, scientific specialties, clinics and precision medicine communities interested in resolving mysteries about protein functionalities in health and disease. CEEPC is also renowned for addressing humanitarian global healthcare issues, may it be ageing, chronic diseases or global epidemics. This year CEEPC intertwined with Košice Peace Marathon's pursuit of excellence in sports and initiatives including sports medicine and global peace.

The Shape of Ecosystem Management to Come: Anticipating Risks and Fostering Resilience

PubMed Central

Seidl, Rupert

2014-01-01

Global change is increasingly challenging the sustainable provisioning of ecosystem services to society. Addressing future uncertainty and risk has therefore become a central problem of ecosystem management. With risk management and resilience-based stewardship, two contrasting approaches have been proposed to address this issue. Whereas one is concentrated on anticipating and mitigating risks, the other is focused on fostering the ability to absorb perturbations and maintain desired properties. While they have hitherto been discussed largely separately in the literature, I here propose a unifying framework of anticipating risks and fostering resilience in ecosystem management. Anticipatory action is advocated when the predictability of risk is high and sufficient knowledge to address it is available. Conversely, in situations in which predictability and knowledge are limited, resilience-based measures are paramount. I conclude that, by adopting a purposeful combination of insights from risk and resilience research, we can make ecosystem services provisioning more robust to future uncertainty and change. PMID:25729079

Secure data aggregation in heterogeneous and disparate networks using stand off server architecture

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vimalathithan, S.; Sudarsan, S. D.; Seker, R.; Lenin, R. B.; Ramaswamy, S.

2009-04-01

The emerging global reach of technology presents myriad challenges and intricacies as Information Technology teams aim to provide anywhere, anytime and anyone access, for service providers and customers alike. The world is fraught with stifling inequalities, both from an economic as well as socio-political perspective. The net result has been large capability gaps between various organizational locations that need to work together, which has raised new challenges for information security teams. Similar issues arise, when mergers and acquisitions among and between organizations take place. While integrating remote business locations with mainstream operations, one or more of the issues including the lack of application level support, computational capabilities, communication limitations, and legal requirements cause a serious impediment thereby complicating integration while not violating the organizations' security requirements. Often resorted techniques like IPSec, tunneling, secure socket layer, etc. may not be always techno-economically feasible. This paper addresses such security issues by introducing an intermediate server between corporate central server and remote sites, called stand-off-server. We present techniques such as break-before-make connection, break connection after transfer, multiple virtual machine instances with different operating systems using the concept of a stand-off-server. Our experiments show that the proposed solution provides sufficient isolation for the central server/site from attacks arising out of weak communication and/or computing links and is simple to implement.

From Latifundia to Central Planning and Onward to Agribusiness: A Rejoinder to Joachim Singelmann's Presidential Address on "From Central Planning to Markets"

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Szelenyi, Ivan

2011-01-01

This article presents the author's rejoinder to Joachim Singelmann's presidential address on "From Central Planning to Markets." Joachim Singelmann in his presidential address challenged the received wisdom: socialism was doomed to fail; during the market transition all of its basic institutions had to be abolished and replaced by the…

Groundwater availability of the Central Valley Aquifer, California

USGS Publications Warehouse

Faunt, Claudia C.

2009-01-01

California's Central Valley covers about 20,000 square miles and is one of the most productive agricultural regions in the world. More than 250 different crops are grown in the Central Valley with an estimated value of $17 billion per year. This irrigated agriculture relies heavily on surface-water diversions and groundwater pumpage. Approximately one-sixth of the Nation's irrigated land is in the Central Valley, and about one-fifth of the Nation's groundwater demand is supplied from its aquifers. The Central Valley also is rapidly becoming an important area for California's expanding urban population. Since 1980, the population of the Central Valley has nearly doubled from 2 million to 3.8 million people. The Census Bureau projects that the Central Valley's population will increase to 6 million people by 2020. This surge in population has increased the competition for water resources within the Central Valley and statewide, which likely will be exacerbated by anticipated reductions in deliveries of Colorado River water to southern California. In response to this competition for water, a number of water-related issues have gained prominence: conservation of agricultural land, conjunctive use, artificial recharge, hydrologic implications of land-use change, and effects of climate variability. To provide information to stakeholders addressing these issues, the USGS Groundwater Resources Program made a detailed assessment of groundwater availability of the Central Valley aquifer system, that includes: (1) the present status of groundwater resources; (2) how these resources have changed over time; and (3) tools to assess system responses to stresses from future human uses and climate variability and change. This effort builds on previous investigations, such as the USGS Central Valley Regional Aquifer System and Analysis (CV-RASA) project and several other groundwater studies in the Valley completed by Federal, State and local agencies at differing scales. The principal product of this new assessment is a tool referred to as the Central Valley Hydrologic Model (CVHM) that accounts for integrated, variable water supply and demand, and simulates surface-water and groundwater-flow across the entire Central Valley system. The development of the CVHM comprised four major elements: (1) a comprehensive Geographic Information System (GIS) to compile, analyze and visualize data; (2) a texture model to characterize the aquifer system;(3) estimates of water-budget components by numerically modeling the hydrologic system with the Farm Process (FMP); and (4) simulations to assess and quantify hydrologic conditions.

Space station crew safety: Human factors interaction model

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cohen, M. M.; Junge, M. K.

1985-01-01

A model of the various human factors issues and interactions that might affect crew safety is developed. The first step addressed systematically the central question: How is this space station different from all other spacecraft? A wide range of possible issue was identified and researched. Five major topics of human factors issues that interacted with crew safety resulted: Protocols, Critical Habitability, Work Related Issues, Crew Incapacitation and Personal Choice. Second, an interaction model was developed that would show some degree of cause and effect between objective environmental or operational conditions and the creation of potential safety hazards. The intermediary steps between these two extremes of causality were the effects on human performance and the results of degraded performance. The model contains three milestones: stressor, human performance (degraded) and safety hazard threshold. Between these milestones are two countermeasure intervention points. The first opportunity for intervention is the countermeasure against stress. If this countermeasure fails, performance degrades. The second opportunity for intervention is the countermeasure against error. If this second countermeasure fails, the threshold of a potential safety hazard may be crossed.

A critical review of recent US market level health care strategy literature.

PubMed

Wells, R; Banaszak-Holl, J

2000-09-01

In this review, we argue that it would be profitable if the neoclassical economic theories that have dominated recent US market level health care strategy research could be complemented by greater use of sociological frameworks. Sociological theory can address three central questions that neoclassical economic theories have tended to slight: (1) how decision-makers' preferences are determined; (2) who the decision-makers are; and (3) how decision-makers' plans are translated into organizational action. We suggest five sociological frameworks that would enable researchers to address these issues better relative to market level strategy in health care. The frameworks are (1) institutional theory, (2) organizational ecology, (3) social movements, (4) social networks, and (5) internal organizational change. A recent global trend toward privatization of health care provision makes US market level strategy research increasingly applicable to non-US readers.

Public discourse on mental health and psychiatry: Representations in Swedish newspapers.

PubMed

Ohlsson, Robert

2018-05-01

Mass media plays a central role in shaping public discourse on health and illness. In order to examine media representations of mental health and expert knowledge in this field, two major Swedish daily newspapers from the year 2009 were qualitatively analysed. Drawing on the theory of social representations, the analysis focused on how issues concerning mental health and different perspectives are represented. The results show how the concept of mental illness is used in different and often taken-for-granted ways and how the distinction between normal and pathological is a central underlying question. Laypersons' perspectives are supplemented by views of professionals in the newspapers, where signs of confidence and dependence on expert knowledge are juxtaposed with critique and expressions of distrust. The newspaper discourse thus has salient argumentative features and the way that conflicts are made explicit and issues concerning authoritative knowledge are addressed indicates ambivalence towards the authoritative role of expert knowledge concerning mental health. In this way, the newspapers provide a complex epistemic context for everyday sense-making that can be assumed to have implications for relations between laypersons and professionals in the field of mental health.

Geologic Map of the Wilderness and Handy Quadrangles, Oregon, Carter, and Ripley Counties, Missouri

USGS Publications Warehouse

Harrison, Richard W.; McDowell, Robert C.

2003-01-01

The bedrock exposed in the Wilderness and Handy Quadrangles, Missouri, comprises Early Ordovician aged dolomite, sandstone, and chert. The sedimentary rocks are nearly flat-lying except where they are adjacent to faults. The carbonate rocks are karstified and the area contains numerous sinkholes, springs, caves, and losing-streams. This map is one of several being produced under the U.S. Geological Survey National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program to provide geologic data applicable to land-use problems in the Ozarks of south-central Missouri. Ongoing and potential industrial and agricultural development in the Ozarks region has presented issues of ground-water quality in karst areas. These quadrangles contain significant areas of the Mark Twain National Forest, including part of the Eleven Point National Scenic Riverway and the Irish Wilderness Roadless Area. A National Park in this region (Ozark National Scenic Riverways, Missouri ) is concerned about the effects of activities in areas outside of their stewardship on the water resources that define the heart of this Park. This task applies geologic mapping and karst investigations to address issues surrounding competing land use in south-central Missouri. For more information see: http://geology.er.usgs.gov/eespteam/Karst/index.html

Geologic map of the Fremont quadrangle, Shannon, Carter, and Oregon Counties, Missouri

USGS Publications Warehouse

Orndorff, Randall C.

2003-01-01

The bedrock exposed in the Fremont Quadrangle, Missouri, comprises Early Ordovician aged dolomite, sandstone, and chert. The sedimentary rocks are nearly flat-lying except where they are adjacent to faults. The carbonate rocks are karstified and the area contains numerous sinkholes, springs, caves, and losing-streams. This map is one of several being produced under the U.S. Geological Survey National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program to provide geologic data applicable to land-use problems in the Ozarks of south-central Missouri. Ongoing and potential industrial and agricultural development in the Ozarks region has presented issues of ground-water quality in karst areas. National Park in this region (Ozark National Scenic Riverways, Missouri) is concerned about the effects of activities in areas outside of their stewardship on the water resources that define the heart of this Park. This task applies geologic mapping and karst investigations to address issues surrounding competing land use in south-central Missouri. This task keeps geologists from the USGS associated with the park and allows the Parks to utilize USGS expertise and aid the NPS on how to effectively use geologic maps for Park management. For more information see: http://geology.er.usgs.gov/eespteam/Karst/index.html

Research challenges in municipal solid waste logistics management.

PubMed

Bing, Xiaoyun; Bloemhof, Jacqueline M; Ramos, Tania Rodrigues Pereira; Barbosa-Povoa, Ana Paula; Wong, Chee Yew; van der Vorst, Jack G A J

2016-02-01

During the last two decades, EU legislation has put increasing pressure on member countries to achieve specified recycling targets for municipal household waste. These targets can be obtained in various ways choosing collection methods, separation methods, decentral or central logistic systems, etc. This paper compares municipal solid waste (MSW) management practices in various EU countries to identify the characteristics and key issues from a waste management and reverse logistics point of view. Further, we investigate literature on modelling municipal solid waste logistics in general. Comparing issues addressed in literature with the identified issues in practice result in a research agenda for modelling municipal solid waste logistics in Europe. We conclude that waste recycling is a multi-disciplinary problem that needs to be considered at different decision levels simultaneously. A holistic view and taking into account the characteristics of different waste types are necessary when modelling a reverse supply chain for MSW recycling. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Risk and supervised exercise: the example of anorexia to illustrate a new ethical issue in the traditional debates of medical ethics

PubMed Central

Giordano, S

2005-01-01

Sport and physical activity is an area that remains relatively unexplored by contemporary bioethics. It is, however, an area in which important ethical issues arise. This paper explores the case of the participation of people with anorexia nervosa in exercise. Exercise is one of the central features of anorexia. The presence of anorexics in exercise classes is becoming an increasingly sensitive issue for instructors and fitness professionals. The ethics of teaching exercise to anorexics has, however, seldom, if ever, been addressed. Codes of ethics and legislation do not offer guidelines pertinent to the case and it is left unclear whether anorexics should be allowed to participate in exercise classes. It is shown by this paper that there are strong ethical reasons to let anorexics participate in exercise classes. However, the paper also explains why, despite these apparently cogent ethical reasons, there is no moral obligation to allow a person with anorexia to take part in exercise/sports activities. PMID:15634747

A special issue on volcanic centers as targets for mineral exploration

USGS Publications Warehouse

Elston, Wolfgang E.; Plumlee, Geoffrey S.

1994-01-01

NEPTUNE or Pluto? Since the days of Hutton and Werner, every generation of economic geologists has addressed this question in a new light. Most papers in this special issue deal with the thin and leaky roof of Pluto's underworld. It allows hot emanations from Hades to leak out, only to be quenched and diluted by waters percolating down from Neptune's realm. The title of the special issue was taken from a symposium held in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on April 24, 1991, during a joint meeting of the Rocky Mountain and South-Central Sections of the Geological Society of America. More than half of the present authors participated. Although no restrictions were placed on subject matter in the original call for papers, all of the articles in this special issue deal with mineralization related to continental or epicontinental siliceous volcanism. One of us (Elston) summarizes them in his contribution. More than three years have passed since the call for manuscripts was issued. Their preparation, technical editing, reviewing, revision, and copy editing turned out to be a formidable task. Our sincere thanks are due to authors, reviewers, and the staff of Economic Geology for their hard work, dedication, and patience.

Carbon nanotube uptake and toxicity in the brain.

PubMed

Zhang, Leying; Alizadeh, Darya; Badie, Behnam

2010-01-01

The development of novel drug delivery systems is essential for the improvement of therapeutics for most human diseases. Currently used cellular delivery systems, such as viral vectors, liposomes, cationic lipids, and polymers, may have limited clinical efficacy because of safety issues, low gene transfer efficiency, or cytotoxicity. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have garnered much interest as possible biological vectors after the recent discovery of their capacity to penetrate cells. Inspite of the prominence of CNT studies in the nanotechnology literature, exploration of their application to central nervous system (CNS) therapeutics is at a very early stage. Before CNTs are used for treatment of brain and spinal cord disorders, however, several issues such as their CNS penetration and toxicity need to be addressed. Here, we discuss methods by which CNT uptake and toxicity can be assessed in animal models.

Tobacco control in the 21st century: a critical issue for the nursing profession.

PubMed

Sarna, Linda; Bialous, Stella

2005-01-01

Tobacco control is central to reducing death and disability and improving quality of life worldwide and nursing action is imperative. This article addresses tobacco as a global health issue with implications for nursing practice, education, research, and policy development. The lack of knowledge and skills, lack of expectation for clinical intervention, limited research, an absence of professional policies, and minimal nursing leadership have diminished the critical role that nurses can play in confronting this epidemic. Swift action is needed to ensure that all nurses are prepared to effectively engage in activities to prevent tobacco use, provide evidence-based cessation interventions, and support efforts to prevent exposure to secondhand smoke. Increased opportunities are needed to support creative nursing research efforts that test interventions and strategies to reduce barriers to tobacco control within different cultures, subcultures, and countries.

Innovation: an emerging focus from cells to societies.

PubMed

Hochberg, Michael E; Marquet, Pablo A; Boyd, Robert; Wagner, Andreas

2017-12-05

Innovations are generally unexpected, often spectacular changes in phenotypes and ecological functions. The contributions to this theme issue are the latest conceptual, theoretical and experimental developments, addressing how ecology, environment, ontogeny and evolution are central to understanding the complexity of the processes underlying innovations. Here, we set the stage by introducing and defining key terms relating to innovation and discuss their relevance to biological, cultural and technological change. Discovering how the generation and transmission of novel biological information, environmental interactions and selective evolutionary processes contribute to innovation as an ecosystem will shed light on how the dominant features across life come to be, generalize to social, cultural and technological evolution, and have applications in the health sciences and sustainability.This article is part of the theme issue 'Process and pattern in innovations from cells to societies'. © 2017 The Author(s).

Innovation: an emerging focus from cells to societies

PubMed Central

Boyd, Robert

2017-01-01

Innovations are generally unexpected, often spectacular changes in phenotypes and ecological functions. The contributions to this theme issue are the latest conceptual, theoretical and experimental developments, addressing how ecology, environment, ontogeny and evolution are central to understanding the complexity of the processes underlying innovations. Here, we set the stage by introducing and defining key terms relating to innovation and discuss their relevance to biological, cultural and technological change. Discovering how the generation and transmission of novel biological information, environmental interactions and selective evolutionary processes contribute to innovation as an ecosystem will shed light on how the dominant features across life come to be, generalize to social, cultural and technological evolution, and have applications in the health sciences and sustainability. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Process and pattern in innovations from cells to societies’. PMID:29061887

Measuring the Impact of Programs that Challenge the Public Stigma of Mental Illness

PubMed Central

Corrigan, Patrick W.; Shapiro, Jenessa R.

2010-01-01

Public stigma robs people with mental illnesses from rightful opportunities related to work and other important life goals. Advocates have developed anti-stigma programs meant to address the prejudice and discrimination associated with these conditions. Evidence is now needed to make sense of program impact; this paper looks at measurement issues related to stigma change. Community based participatory research is central to this research and includes the involvement of a diverse collection of stakeholders in all phases of evaluation. Investigators should be cautious about measures vis-à-vis social desirability effects and should directed by social validity of targeted audiences. Conceptual domains with some research support that correspond with assessments include behavior, penetration, psychological perspective, knowledge, and physiological/information processes. These issues are summarized as ten recommendations for evaluation of anti-stigma programs. PMID:20674114

Long Pulse Operation on Tore-Supra: Towards Steady State

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Moreau, P.; Bucalossi, J.; Brosset, C.

The experimental programme of Tore Supra is devoted to the study of technology and physics issues associated to long-duration high performance discharges. This new domain of operation requires simultaneously and in steady state: heat removal capability, particle exhaust, fully non-inductive current drive, advanced technology integration and real time plasma control. The long discharge allows for addressing new time scale physic such as the wall particle retention and erosion. Moreover, the physics of fully non-inductive discharges is full of novelty, namely: the MHD stability, the slow spontaneous oscillation of the central electron temperature or the outstanding inward particle pinch.

Compilation of Trade Studies for the Constellation Program Extravehicular Activity Spacesuit Power System

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Fincannon, James

2009-01-01

This compilation of trade studies performed from 2005 to 2006 addressed a number of power system design issues for the Constellation Program Extravehicular Activity Spacesuit. Spacesuits were required for spacewalks and in-space activities as well as lunar and Mars surface operations. The trades documented here considered whether solar power was feasible for spacesuits, whether spacesuit power generation should be a distributed or a centralized function, whether self-powered in-space spacesuits were better than umbilically powered ones, and whether the suit power system should be recharged in place or replaced.

Representing Chronic Disorders of Consciousness:

PubMed Central

Hall, Alice

2014-01-01

This article explores problems of voicelessness in Isabel Allende’s Paula (1995) through a focus on the story of Paula’s illness and subsequent death from porphyria in 1992. I argue that the language, categories and stories through which disorders of consciousness are constructed are central to ethical decision-making and shifting cultural understandings of these conditions. In Paula, Allende uses an experimental, hybrid narrative form that draws on illness narrative, magical realist novel, national history, letters, and memoir to challenge traditional depictions of “coma” and to create a new public space through which these issues of voicelessness can be addressed. PMID:25055709

Biotech crops: imperative for achieving the millenium development goals and sustainability of agriculture in the climate change era.

PubMed

Husaini, Amjad M; Tuteja, Narendra

2013-01-01

Biotechnological intervention in the development of crops has opened new vistas in agriculture. Central to the accomplishment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), biotech-agriculture is essential in meeting these targets. Biotech crops have already made modest contributions toward ensuring food and nutrition security by reducing losses and increasing productivity, with less pesticide input. These crops could help address some of the major challenges in agriculture-based economies created by climate change. Projections of global climate change expect the concentration of greenhouse gases to increase, aridization of the environment to increase, temperature fluctuations to occur sharply and frequently, and spatial and temporal distribution of rainfall to be disturbed-all of which will increase abiotic stress-related challenges to crops. Countering these challenges and to meet the food requirement of the ever-increasing world population (expected to reach 9 billion by 2030) we need to (1) develop and use biotech crops for mitigating adverse climatic changes; (2) develop biotech crops resilient to adverse environmental conditions; and (3) address the issues/non-issues raised by NGO's and educate the masses about the benefits of biotech crops.

Why Are There So Few Ethics Consults in Children's Hospitals?

PubMed

Carter, Brian; Brockman, Manuel; Garrett, Jeremy; Knackstedt, Angie; Lantos, John

2018-06-01

In most children's hospitals, there are very few ethics consultations, even though there are many ethically complex cases. We hypothesize that the reason for this may be that hospitals develop different mechanisms to address ethical issues and that many of these mechanisms are closer in spirit to the goals of the pioneers of clinical ethics than is the mechanism of a formal ethics consultation. To show how this is true, we first review the history of collaboration between philosophers and physicians about clinical dilemmas. Then, as a case-study, we describe the different venues that have developed at one children's hospital to address ethical issues. At our hospital, there are nine different venues in which ethical issues are regularly and explicitly addressed. They are (1) ethics committee meetings, (2) Nursing Ethics Forum, (3) ethics Brown Bag workshops, (4) PICU ethics rounds, (5) Grand Rounds, (6) NICU Comprehensive Care Rounds, (7) Palliative Care Team (PaCT) case conferences, (8) multidisciplinary consults in Fetal Health Center, and (9) ethics consultations. In our hospital, ethics consults account for only a tiny percentage of ethics discussions. We suspect that most hospitals have multiple and varied venues for ethics discussions. We hope this case study will stimulate research in other hospitals analyzing the various ways in which ethicists and ethics committees can build an ethical environment in hospitals. Such research might suggest that ethicists need to develop a different set of "core competencies" than the ones that are needed to do ethics consultations. Instead, they should focus on their skills in creating multiple "moral spaces" in which regular and ongoing discussion of ethical issues would take place. A successful ethicist would empower everyone in the hospital to speak up about the values that they believe are central to respectful, collaborative practice and patient care. Such a role is closer to what the first hospital philosophers set out to do than in the role of the typical hospital ethics consultant today.

The Navruz Project: Transboundary Monitoring for Radionuclides and Metals in Central Asia Rivers. Sampling and Analysis Plan and Operational Manual

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Passell, Howard D.; Barber, David S.; Betsill, J. David

2002-04-02

The transboundary nature of water resources demands a transboundary approach to their monitoring and management. However, transboundary water projects raise a challenging set of problems related to communication issues, and standardization of sampling, analysis and data management methods. This manual addresses those challenges and provides the information and guidance needed to perform the Navruz Project, a cooperative, transboundary, river monitoring project involving rivers and institutions in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan facilitated by Sandia National Laboratories in the U.S. The Navruz Project focuses on waterborne radionuclides and metals because of their importance to public health and nuclear materials proliferation concernsmore » in the region. This manual provides guidelines for participants on sample and data collection, field equipment operations and procedures, sample handling, laboratory analysis, and data management. Also included are descriptions of rivers, sampling sites and parameters on which data are collected. Data obtained in this project are shared among all participating countries and the public through an internet web site, and are available for use in further studies and in regional transboundary water resource management efforts. Overall, the project addresses three main goals: to help increase capabilities in Central Asian nations for sustainable water resources management; to provide a scientific basis for supporting nuclear transparency and non-proliferation in the region; and to help reduce the threat of conflict in Central Asia over water resources, proliferation concerns, or other factors.« less

An overview of Ireland's National Radon Policy.

PubMed

Long, S; Fenton, D

2011-05-01

In Ireland radon is a significant public health issue and is linked to 150-200 lung cancer deaths each year. Irish National Radon Policy aims to reduce individual risk by identifying and remediating buildings with high radon concentrations and also to reduce collective dose through radon prevention as required by revised building regulations. Achievements to date are significant and include the completion of the National Radon Survey, the testing of every school in Ireland, the on-going testing of social housing, collaboration between the public health and radiation protection authorities and the inclusion of radon in inspections of workplaces. However, this work now needs to be drawn together centrally to comprehensively address the radon problem. The RPII and the relevant central governing department, the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government are currently working to constitute a group of key experts from relevant public authorities to drive the development of a National Radon Control Strategy.

The use of non-economic criteria in pricing and reimbursement decisions in Central and Eastern Europe: issues, trends and recommendations.

PubMed

Kolasa, Katarzyna; Kalo, Zoltan; Zah, Vladimir

2016-08-01

According to some experts, there is still room for improvement with regard to the inclusion of ethical considerations in Health Technology Assessment (HTA). The pros and cons of the introduction of non-economic criteria in the HTA process in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) are discussed. In comparison to Western Europe, financial considerations are even more important in CEE settings; however, it could also be said that attachment to equity and justice is part of CEE's heritage. Therefore, the trade-off between conflicting principles is evaluated. Expert commentary: To ensure the right balance between equity and efficiency in decision making, the current HTA framework has to be further augmented to allow all conflicting criteria to be addressed to a satisfactory degree. Following other examples, the applicability of multi criteria decision analysis technique to CEE settings should be further investigated.

Patient and healthcare perspectives on the importance and efficacy of addressing spiritual issues within an interdisciplinary bone marrow transplant clinic: a qualitative study

PubMed Central

Sinclair, Shane; McConnell, Shelagh; Raffin Bouchal, Shelley; Ager, Naree; Booker, Reanne; Enns, Bert; Fung, Tak

2015-01-01

Objectives The purpose of this study was to use a qualitative approach to better understand the importance and efficacy of addressing spiritual issues within an interdisciplinary bone marrow transplant clinic from the perspectives of patients and healthcare providers. Setting Participants were recruited from the bone marrow transplant clinic of a large urban outpatient cancer care centre in western Canada. Participants: Focus groups were conducted with patients (n=7) and healthcare providers (n=9) to explore the importance of addressing spiritual issues across the treatment trajectory and to identify factors associated with effectively addressing these needs. Results Data were analysed using the qualitative approach of latent content analysis. Addressing spiritual issues was understood by patients and healthcare providers, as a core, yet under addressed, component of comprehensive care. Both sets of participants felt that addressing basic spiritual issues was the responsibility of all members of the interdisciplinary team, while recognising the need for specialised and embedded support from a spiritual care professional. While healthcare providers felt that the impact of the illness and treatment had a negative effect on patients’ spiritual well-being, patients felt the opposite. Skills, challenges, key time points and clinical indicators associated with addressing spiritual issues were identified. Conclusions Despite a number of conceptual and clinical challenges associated with addressing spiritual issues patients and their healthcare providers emphasised the importance of an integrated approach whereby basic spiritual issues are addressed by members of the interdisciplinary team and by an embedded spiritual care professional, who in addition also provides specialised support. The identification of clinical issues associated with addressing spiritual needs provides healthcare providers with clinical guidance on how to better integrate this aspect of care into their clinical practice, while also identifying acute incidences when a more targeted and specialised approach may be of benefit. PMID:26614623

Methods for structuring scientific knowledge from many areas related to aging research.

PubMed

Zhavoronkov, Alex; Cantor, Charles R

2011-01-01

Aging and age-related disease represents a substantial quantity of current natural, social and behavioral science research efforts. Presently, no centralized system exists for tracking aging research projects across numerous research disciplines. The multidisciplinary nature of this research complicates the understanding of underlying project categories, the establishment of project relations, and the development of a unified project classification scheme. We have developed a highly visual database, the International Aging Research Portfolio (IARP), available at AgingPortfolio.org to address this issue. The database integrates information on research grants, peer-reviewed publications, and issued patent applications from multiple sources. Additionally, the database uses flexible project classification mechanisms and tools for analyzing project associations and trends. This system enables scientists to search the centralized project database, to classify and categorize aging projects, and to analyze the funding aspects across multiple research disciplines. The IARP is designed to provide improved allocation and prioritization of scarce research funding, to reduce project overlap and improve scientific collaboration thereby accelerating scientific and medical progress in a rapidly growing area of research. Grant applications often precede publications and some grants do not result in publications, thus, this system provides utility to investigate an earlier and broader view on research activity in many research disciplines. This project is a first attempt to provide a centralized database system for research grants and to categorize aging research projects into multiple subcategories utilizing both advanced machine algorithms and a hierarchical environment for scientific collaboration.

Incorporating intersectionality into psychology: An opportunity to promote social justice and equity.

PubMed

Rosenthal, Lisa

2016-09-01

Intersectionality is receiving increasing attention in many fields, including psychology. This theory or framework has its roots in the work of Black feminist scholar-activists, and it focuses on interlocking systems of oppression and the need to work toward structural-level changes to promote social justice and equity. Thus, the current interest in intersectionality in psychology presents an opportunity to draw psychologists' attention more to structural-level issues and to make social justice and equity more central agendas to the field. The large, ever-growing bodies of research demonstrating the wide-ranging adverse consequences of structural- and interpersonal-level oppression, inequality, and stigma for the health and well-being of many diverse groups of people support that these issues are central to the field of psychology. We as individual psychologists and the field as a whole can work to fully incorporate the insights of intersectionality and therefore contribute to making social justice and equity more central across the varied subfields and realms of our work. Specific ways that we can do this are to (a) engage and collaborate with communities, (b) address and critique societal structures, (c) work together/build coalitions, (d) attend to resistance in addition to resilience, and (e) teach social justice curricula. There are important examples both within and outside of psychology that can guide us in achieving these goals. These suggestions are meant to foster conversation and consideration by psychologists across all subfields and areas of focus. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved).

Caregiver-Provided Physical Therapy Home Programs for Children with Motor Delay: A Scoping Review.

PubMed

Gorgon, Edward James R

2018-06-01

Caregiver-provided physical therapy home programs (PTHP) play an important role in enhancing motor outcomes in pediatric patient populations. This scoping review systematically mapped clinical trials of caregiver-provided PTHP that were aimed at enhancing motor outcomes in children who have or who are at risk for motor delay, with the purpose of (1) describing trial characteristics; (2) assessing methodologic quality; and (3) examining the reporting of caregiver-related components. Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro), Cochrane CENTRAL, PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, ProQuest Central, CINAHL, LILACS, and OTseeker were searched up to July 31, 2017. Two reviewers independently assessed study eligibility. Randomized or quasi-randomized controlled trials on PTHP administered by parents, other family members, friends, or informal caregivers to children who had or who were at risk for motor delay were included. Two reviewers independently appraised trial quality on the PEDro scale and extracted data. Twenty-four articles representing 17 individual trials were identified. Populations and interventions investigated were heterogeneous. Most of the trials had important research design limitations and methodological issues that could limit usefulness in ascertaining the effectiveness of caregiver-provided PTHP. Few (4 of 17) trials indicated involvement of caregivers in the PTHP planning, assessed how the caregivers learned from the training or instructions provided, or carried out both. Included studies were heterogeneous, and unpublished data were excluded. Although caregiver-provided PTHP are important in addressing motor outcomes in this population, there is a lack of evidence at the level of clinical trials to guide practice. More research is urgently needed to determine the effectiveness of care-giver-provided PTHP. Future studies should address the many important issues identified in this scoping review to improve the usefulness of the trial results.

Integrating Sustainability into the Curriculum: Crossing Disciplinary Boundaries

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pushnik, J.

2012-12-01

The next generation will confront an increased number of global issues that interface the complexities of socioeconomic perspectives, environmental stability, poverty and development. Recently California State University Chico undertook a general education reform, providing a unique opportunity to craft a general education pathway to prepare students for these challenges by focusing a curriculum on sustainability. The Sustainability Pathway emphasizes a system thinking approach to help students understand and be able to address a set of problems involving the biosphere processes, human institutions and the economic vitality. The curriculum intentionally integrates courses from across the disciplines of natural sciences, social sciences, agriculture, engineering, economics, arts and humanities into a central focused theme of sustainability. The diverse backgrounds and academic focus of the participating faculty has necessitate the development of a common language and a cohesion within the curriculum. To address these needs a faculty learning community (FLC) was established to build on a common set of case studies. Three regional environmental water related issues were selected that had demonstrable socioeconomic, equity/ethical dimensions and environmental consequences. These case studies are Klamath River basin in northern California, the Bay-Delta project in the central part of the state and the Sultan Sea in southern California. Members of the FLC has contributed a perspective from their academic discipline which includes proposed reading lists, web based resources and PowerPoint presentations which are housed in common web- based resource repository. The pedagogical rational is to create linkages and cohesion among the courses in the curriculum by iteratively examining these case studies as basis for development of a multidisciplinary perspective as students progress through their general education.

Addressing Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) Issues in Teacher Education: Teacher Candidates' Perceptions

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kitchen, Julian; Bellini, Christine

2012-01-01

Homophobic harassment and bullying are persistent issues in Canadian schools despite recent initiatives to improve school climate. Among the reasons is that educators feel reluctant or ill-prepared to address these issues. The purpose of this paper is to examine how teacher education can help make schools safer by addressing LGBTQ issues and…

Complexities and Challenges of Singapore Nurses Providing Postacute Home Care in Multicultural Communities: A Grounded Theory Study.

PubMed

Wong, Alfred Ka-Shing; Ong, Shu Fen; Matchar, David Bruce; Lie, Desiree; Ng, Reuben; Yoon, Kirsten Eom; Wong, Chek Hooi

2017-10-01

Studies are needed to inform the preparation of community nurses to address patient behavioral and social factors contributing to unnecessary readmissions to hospital. This study uses nurses' input to understand challenges faced during home care, to derive a framework to address the challenges. Semistructured interviews were conducted to saturation with 16 community nurses in Singapore. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and transcripts independently coded for emergent themes. Themes were interpreted using grounded theory. Seven major themes emerged from 16 interviews: Strained social relationships, complex care decision-making processes within families, communication barriers, patient's or caregiver neglect of health issues, building and maintaining trust, trial-and-error nature of work, and dealing with uncertainty. Community nurses identified uncertainty arising from complexities in social-relational, personal, and organizational factors as a central challenge. Nursing education should focus on navigating and managing uncertainty at the personal, patient, and family levels.

Integrated Strategies to Address Maternal and Child Health and Survival in Low-Income Settings: Implications for Haiti

PubMed Central

Bhutta, Zulfiqar A

2016-01-01

The Millennium Development Goals for improving maternal and child health globally were agreed on in 2000, and several monitoring and evaluation strategies were put in place, including “Countdown to 2015” for monitoring progress and intervention coverage to reach the goals. However, progress in achieving the goals has been slow, with only 13 of the 75 participating Countdown countries on track to reach the targets for reducing child mortality. An overview of child mortality rates in low-income countries is presented, followed by a discussion of evidenced-based interventions that can bridge the equity gaps in global health. Finally, comments are included on the companion article in this issue, “Addressing the Child and Maternal Mortality Crisis in Haiti through a Central Referral Hospital Providing Countrywide Care” (page 59), and what is needed for that new project to succeed. PMID:27065474

Stuck in the middle: the impact of collaborative interprofessional communication on patient expectations.

PubMed

Stewart, Michael Adrian

2018-01-01

A central aim of modern day healthcare is to deliver a high quality, patient-centred service that addresses the expectations of its service users. However, mounting research evidence highlights a lack of patient satisfaction across a range of healthcare settings, with an overwhelming proportion of complaints relating to interprofessional communication. The link between interprofessional miscommunication and poor patient outcomes has been well documented. All too often, patients are left feeling stuck in the middle between opposing opinions, differing diagnoses and conflicting clinical outlooks. This article aims to highlight the issues surrounding interprofessional communication in healthcare, at the same time as addressing the potential facilitators and barriers for developing improved collaborative links between healthcare providers. Several key questions will be considered: (i) what are the underlying causes of interprofessional miscommunication; (ii) what do patients expect from healthcare professionals; and (iii) how might we reduce the risk of miscommunication and develop interprofessional collaboration?

Spatial patterns of leprosy in an urban area of central Brazil.

PubMed

Martelli, C M; Moraes Neto, O L; Andrade, A L; Silva, S A; Silva, I M; Zicker, F

1995-01-01

Reported is the spatial variation of leprosy in an urban area of Brazil and its correlation with socioeconomic indicators. From November 1991 to October 1992 a total of 752 newly diagnosed leprosy patients who were attending all outpatient clinics in Goiânia city, central Brazil, were identified. A database o leprosy cases was set up linking patients' addresses to 64 urban districts. Leprosy cases were detected in 86% of the districts and three risk strata were identified. The highest-risk area for leprosy was in the outskirts of the city and detection rates increased on moving from more developed to poorer areas. The risk of detecting leprosy cases was 5.3-fold greater (95% CI: 3.8-7.4) in the outskirts of the town than in the central zone. Discussed are the methodological issues related to leprosy case ascertainment, completeness and reliability of information, and the interpretation of the spatial distribution of leprosy per unit area. Highlighted also are the lack of leprosy control activities in primary health care units and the usefulness of geographical analysis in planning health services.

Spatial patterns of leprosy in an urban area of central Brazil.

PubMed Central

Martelli, C. M.; Moraes Neto, O. L.; Andrade, A. L.; Silva, S. A.; Silva, I. M.; Zicker, F.

1995-01-01

Reported is the spatial variation of leprosy in an urban area of Brazil and its correlation with socioeconomic indicators. From November 1991 to October 1992 a total of 752 newly diagnosed leprosy patients who were attending all outpatient clinics in Goiânia city, central Brazil, were identified. A database o leprosy cases was set up linking patients' addresses to 64 urban districts. Leprosy cases were detected in 86% of the districts and three risk strata were identified. The highest-risk area for leprosy was in the outskirts of the city and detection rates increased on moving from more developed to poorer areas. The risk of detecting leprosy cases was 5.3-fold greater (95% CI: 3.8-7.4) in the outskirts of the town than in the central zone. Discussed are the methodological issues related to leprosy case ascertainment, completeness and reliability of information, and the interpretation of the spatial distribution of leprosy per unit area. Highlighted also are the lack of leprosy control activities in primary health care units and the usefulness of geographical analysis in planning health services. PMID:7614663

Potential impacts of historical disturbance on green turtle health in the unique & protected marine ecosystem of Palmyra Atoll (Central Pacific).

PubMed

McFadden, Katherine W; Gómez, Andrés; Sterling, Eleanor J; Naro-Maciel, Eugenia

2014-12-15

Palmyra Atoll, in the Central Pacific, is a unique marine ecosystem because of its remarkably intact food web and limited anthropogenic stressors. However during World War II the atoll was structurally reconfigured into a military installation and questions remain whether this may have impacted the health of the atoll's ecosystems and species. To address the issue we assessed green sea turtle (n=157) health and exposure to contaminants at this foraging ground from 2008 to 2012. Physical exams were performed and blood was sampled for testosterone analysis, plasma biochemistry analysis, hematology and heavy metal exposure. Hematological and plasma chemistries were consistent with concentrations reported for healthy green turtles. Heavy metal screenings revealed low concentrations of most metals, except for high concentrations of iron and aluminum. Body condition indices showed that <1% of turtles had poor body condition. In this study, we provide the first published blood values for a markedly healthy sea turtle population at a remote Central Pacific Atoll. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Genetic Issues in Mental Retardation, 1996-1997.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Genetic Issues in Mental Retardation, 1996

1996-01-01

This document consists of the first six issues of a newsletter, which discusses current knowledge about and concerns related to genetics and mental retardation. The second issue addresses the problem of genetic discrimination. The third issue considers genetic testing, screening, and counseling. The fourth issue addresses genetic privacy issues.…

Return of research results from pharmacogenomic versus disease susceptibility studies: what’s drugs got to do with it?

PubMed Central

Dressler, Lynn G

2012-01-01

One of the most controversial ethical issues in genomics research is the return of individual research results to research subjects. As new technologies, including whole-genome sequencing, provide an increased opportunity for researchers to find clinically relevant research results, the questions related to if, when and how individual research results should be returned become more central to the ethical conduct of genomic research. In the absence of federal guidance on this issue, many groups and individuals have developed recommendations and suggestions to address these questions. Most of these recommendations have focused on the return of individual results from disease susceptibility studies. However, in addition to predicting the development of disease, genomic research also includes predicting an individual’s response to drugs, especially the risk of developing adverse events. This article evaluates and compares the return of individual research results from disease susceptibility studies versus pharmacogenomic studies. PMID:22676197

Return of research results from pharmacogenomic versus disease susceptibility studies: what's drugs got to do with it?

PubMed

Dressler, Lynn G

2012-06-01

One of the most controversial ethical issues in genomics research is the return of individual research results to research subjects. As new technologies, including whole-genome sequencing, provide an increased opportunity for researchers to find clinically relevant research results, the questions related to if, when and how individual research results should be returned become more central to the ethical conduct of genomic research. In the absence of federal guidance on this issue, many groups and individuals have developed recommendations and suggestions to address these questions. Most of these recommendations have focused on the return of individual results from disease susceptibility studies. However, in addition to predicting the development of disease, genomic research also includes predicting an individual's response to drugs, especially the risk of developing adverse events. This article evaluates and compares the return of individual research results from disease susceptibility studies versus pharmacogenomic studies.

Health effects of digital textbooks on school-age children: a grounded theory approach.

PubMed

Seomun, Gyeongae; Lee, Jung-Ah; Kim, Eun-Young; Im, Meeyoung; Kim, Miran; Park, Sun-A; Lee, Youngjin

2013-10-01

This qualitative study used the grounded theory approach to analyze digital textbook-related health experiences of school-age children. In-depth interviews were held with 40 elementary school students who had used digital textbooks for at least a year. Data analysis revealed a total of 56 concepts, 20 subcategories, and 11 categories related to digital textbook health issues, the central phenomena being "health-related experiences." Students' health-related experiences were classified into "physical" and "psychological" symptoms. Adverse health effects related to digital textbook usage were addressed via both "student-led" and "instructor-led" coping strategies. Students' coping strategies were often inefficient, but instructor-led strategies seemed to prevent health problems. When health issues were well managed, students tended to accept digital textbooks as educational tools. Our findings suggest that students can form healthy computer habits if digital textbook usage is directed in a positive manner.

Some implementational issues of convection schemes for finite volume formulations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Thakur, Siddharth; Shyy, Wei

1993-01-01

Two higher-order upwind schemes - second-order upwind and QUICK - are examined in terms of their interpretation, implementation as well as performance for a recirculating flow in a lid-driven cavity, in the context of a control volume formulation using the SIMPLE algorithm. The present formulation of these schemes is based on a unified framework wherein the first-order upwind scheme is chosen as the basis, with the remaining terms being assigned to the source term. The performance of these schemes is contrasted with the first-order upwind and second-order central difference schemes. Also addressed in this study is the issue of boundary treatment associated with these higher-order upwind schemes. Two different boundary treatments - one that uses a two-point scheme consistently within a given control volume at the boundary, and the other that maintains consistency of flux across the interior face between the adjacent control volumes - are formulated and evaluated.

Some implementational issues of convection schemes for finite-volume formulations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Thakur, Siddharth; Shyy, Wei

1993-01-01

Two higher-order upwind schemes - second-order upwind and QUICK - are examined in terms of their interpretation, implementations, as well as performance for a recirculating flow in a lid-driven cavity, in the context of a control-volume formulation using the SIMPLE algorithm. The present formulation of these schemes is based on a unified framework wherein the first-order upwind scheme is chosen as the basis, with the remaining terms being assigned to the source term. The performance of these schemes is contrasted with the first-order upwind and second-order central difference schemes. Also addressed in this study is the issue of boundary treatment associated with these higher-order upwind schemes. Two different boundary treatments - one that uses a two-point scheme consistently within a given control volume at the boundary, and the other that maintains consistency of flux across the interior face between the adjacent control volumes - are formulated and evaluated.

Family learning research in museums: An emerging disciplinary matrix?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ellenbogen, Kirsten M.; Luke, Jessica J.; Dierking, Lynn D.

2004-07-01

Thomas Kuhn's notion of a disciplinary matrix provides a useful framework for investigating the growth of research on family learning in and from museums over the last decade. To track the emergence of this disciplinary matrix we consider three issues. First are shifting theoretical perspectives that result in new shared language, beliefs, values, understandings, and assumptions about what counts as family learning. Second are realigning methodologies, driven by underlying disciplinary assumptions about how research in this arena is best conducted, what questions should be addressed, and criteria for valid and reliable evidence. Third is resituating the focus of our research to make the family central to what we study, reflecting a more holistic understanding of the family as an educational institution within larger learning infrastructure. We discuss research that exemplifies these three issues and demonstrates the ways in which shifting theoretical perspectives, realigning methodologies, and resituating research foci signal the existence of a nascent disciplinary matrix.

Pedagogical Content Knowledge Development and Pre-Service Physics Teacher Education: A Case Study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sperandeo-Mineo, R. M.; Fazio, C.; Tarantino, G.

2006-09-01

This paper addresses the question of how to develop prospective teachers' pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) in science teacher education. The main focus is on the knowledge transformation process and on the cognitive strategies used to shift prospective teachers' explanations within the domain of modelling thermal physical phenomena. This study investigates the development of PCK within a group of 28 pre-service physics teachers during the first semester of their two-year post-graduate teacher education program. It focuses on the central issue of the relationships between observable phenomena, like macroscopic thermal properties of matter and their interpretation and/or explanation in terms of corpuscular characteristics and/or thermodynamics theory. The strategy is based on the consideration that knowledge transformation is not a one-way process from subject matter knowledge to pedagogical content knowledge, as literature suggests, but a bidirectional process involving deepening of subject matter knowledge and increasing awareness of pedagogical issues.

A Philosophical Perspective on Evolutionary Systems Biology

PubMed Central

Soyer, Orkun S.; Siegal, Mark L.

2015-01-01

Evolutionary systems biology (ESB) is an emerging hybrid approach that integrates methods, models, and data from evolutionary and systems biology. Drawing on themes that arose at a cross-disciplinary meeting on ESB in 2013, we discuss in detail some of the explanatory friction that arises in the interaction between evolutionary and systems biology. These tensions appear because of different modeling approaches, diverse explanatory aims and strategies, and divergent views about the scope of the evolutionary synthesis. We locate these discussions in the context of long-running philosophical deliberations on explanation, modeling, and theoretical synthesis. We show how many of the issues central to ESB’s progress can be understood as general philosophical problems. The benefits of addressing these philosophical issues feed back into philosophy too, because ESB provides excellent examples of scientific practice for the development of philosophy of science and philosophy of biology. PMID:26085823

[A network of LIFE projects to promote the transfer and exchange of knowledge on environment and health].

PubMed

Cori, Liliana; Carducci, Annalaura; Donzelli, Gabriele; La Rocca, Cinzia; Bianchi, Fabrizio

2018-01-01

Eleven projects within the LIFE programme (through which the Directorate-General for Environment of the European Commission provides funding for projects aim at protecting environment and nature) addressing environmental-health-related issues have been involved in a collaborative network called KTE LIFE EnvHealth Network. The shared issues tackled by that projects are knowledge transfer and exchange (KTE). The objective of the LIFE programme is to support the implementation of the environmental legislation in the European Union, to provide new tools and knowledge that will help to better protect both the territory and the communities. Transferring knowledge to decision makers, at the appropriate and effective level, is therefore a central function of the projects. The Network promotes national and international networking, which intends to involve other projects, to provide methodological support, to make information and successful practices circulate, with the aim of multiplying the energies of each project involved.

The death of the Job plot, transparency, open science and online tools, uncertainty estimation methods and other developments in supramolecular chemistry data analysis.

PubMed

Brynn Hibbert, D; Thordarson, Pall

2016-10-25

Data analysis is central to understanding phenomena in host-guest chemistry. We describe here recent developments in this field starting with the revelation that the popular Job plot method is inappropriate for most problems in host-guest chemistry and that the focus should instead be on systematically fitting data and testing all reasonable binding models. We then discuss approaches for estimating uncertainties in binding studies using case studies and simulations to highlight key issues. Related to this is the need for ready access to data and transparency in the methodology or software used, and we demonstrate an example a webportal () that aims to address this issue. We conclude with a list of best-practice protocols for data analysis in supramolecular chemistry that could easily be translated to other related problems in chemistry including measuring rate constants or drug IC 50 values.

Newborn screening by tandem mass spectrometry: ethical and social issues.

PubMed

Avard, Denise; Vallance, Hilary; Greenberg, Cheryl; Potter, Beth

2007-01-01

Emerging technologies like Tandem Mass Spectrometry (TMS) enable multiple tests on a single blood sample and allow the expansion of Newborn Screening (NBS) to include various metabolic diseases. Introducing TMS for NBS raises important social and ethical questions: what are the criteria for adding disorders to screening panels? What evidence justifies expansion of screening? How can equity in NBS access and standards be ensured? How can policy standards be set, given the multiplicity of stakeholders? To address emerging issues, policy-makers, patient advocates, clinicians and researchers had a workshop during the 2005 Garrod Symposium. The participants received a summary of the discussion and understood the workshop's goal was to provide a basis for further discussion. This article contributes to this ongoing discussion. Several proposed recommendations assert the centrality of including social and ethical issues in the assessment of whether or not to introduce TMS. The article outlines five key recommendations for advancing the NBS agenda: national public health leadership; transparency; increased national consistency in NBS strategy, including minimum standards; collaboration between the federal and provincial/territorial governments and diverse stakeholders; and supporting research and/or programs based on effectiveness, which integrate ethical and social issues into assessment.

Security Implications of Physical Design Attributes in the Emergency Department.

PubMed

Pati, Debajyoti; Pati, Sipra; Harvey, Thomas E

2016-07-01

Security, a subset of safety, is equally important in the efficient delivery of patient care. The emergency department (ED) is susceptible to violence creating concerns for the safety and security of patients, staff, and visitors and for the safe and efficient delivery of care. Although there is an implicit and growing recognition of the role of the physical environment, interventions typically have been at the microlevel. The objective of this study was to identify physical design attributes that potentially influence safety and efficiency of ED operations. An exploratory, qualitative research design was adopted to examine the efficiency and safety correlates of ED physical design attributes. The study comprised a multimeasure approach involving multidisciplinary gaming, semistructured interviews, and touring interviews of frontline staff in four EDs at three hospital systems across three states. Five macro physical design attributes (issues that need to be addressed at the design stage and expensive to rectify once built) emerged from the data as factors substantially associated with security issues. They are design issues pertaining to (a) the entry zone, (b) traffic management, (c) patient room clustering, (d) centralization versus decentralization, and (e) provisions for special populations. Data from this study suggest that ED security concerns are generally associated with three sources: (a) gang-related violence, (b) dissatisfied patients, and (c) behavioral health patients. Study data show that physical design has an important role in addressing the above-mentioned concerns. Implications for ED design are outlined in the article. © The Author(s) 2016.

Building Interdisciplinary Research Capacity: a Key Challenge for Ecological Approaches in Public Health.

PubMed

Galway, Lindsay P; Parkes, Margot W; Allen, Diana; Takaro, Tim K

2016-01-01

The shortcomings of public health research informed by reductionist and fragmented biomedical approaches and the emergence of wicked problems are fueling a renewed interest in ecological approaches in public health. Despite the central role of interdisciplinarity in the context of ecological approaches in public health research, inadequate attention has been given to the specific challenge of doing interdisciplinary research in practice. As a result, important knowledge gaps exist with regards to the practice of interdisciplinary research. We argue that explicit attention towards the challenge of doing interdisciplinary research is critical in order to effectively apply ecological approaches to public health issues. This paper draws on our experiences developing and conducting an interdisciplinary research project exploring the links among climate change, water, and health to highlight five specific insights which we see as relevant to building capacity for interdisciplinary research specifically, and which have particular relevance to addressing the integrative challenges demanded by ecological approaches to address public health issues. These lessons include: (i) the need for frameworks that facilitate integration; (ii) emphasize learning-by-doing; (iii) the benefits of examining issues at multiple scales; (iv) make the implicit, explicit; and (v) the need for reflective practice. By synthesizing and sharing experiences gained by engaging in interdisciplinary inquiries using an ecological approach, this paper responds to a growing need to build interdisciplinary research capacity as a means for advancing the ecological public health agenda more broadly.

Building Interdisciplinary Research Capacity: a Key Challenge for Ecological Approaches in Public Health

PubMed Central

Galway, Lindsay P.; Parkes, Margot W.; Allen, Diana; Takaro, Tim K.

2016-01-01

The shortcomings of public health research informed by reductionist and fragmented biomedical approaches and the emergence of wicked problems are fueling a renewed interest in ecological approaches in public health. Despite the central role of interdisciplinarity in the context of ecological approaches in public health research, inadequate attention has been given to the specific challenge of doing interdisciplinary research in practice. As a result, important knowledge gaps exist with regards to the practice of interdisciplinary research. We argue that explicit attention towards the challenge of doing interdisciplinary research is critical in order to effectively apply ecological approaches to public health issues. This paper draws on our experiences developing and conducting an interdisciplinary research project exploring the links among climate change, water, and health to highlight five specific insights which we see as relevant to building capacity for interdisciplinary research specifically, and which have particular relevance to addressing the integrative challenges demanded by ecological approaches to address public health issues. These lessons include: (i) the need for frameworks that facilitate integration; (ii) emphasize learning-by-doing; (iii) the benefits of examining issues at multiple scales; (iv) make the implicit, explicit; and (v) the need for reflective practice. By synthesizing and sharing experiences gained by engaging in interdisciplinary inquiries using an ecological approach, this paper responds to a growing need to build interdisciplinary research capacity as a means for advancing the ecological public health agenda more broadly. PMID:29546171

"One Big Family": Pastoral Care and Treatment Seeking in an Egyptian Coptic Church in England.

PubMed

Shenouda, John E A; Cooper, Maxwell J F

2017-08-01

Little is known about Coptic migrants' chronic disease health beliefs and treatment-seeking behaviours. Interviews to explore these issues and their relationship with church membership were conducted with 15 Coptic migrants in Southern England. Obesity and cardiovascular disease (CVD) were most frequently identified as health risks for Coptic migrants. CVD was ascribed to stress and considered amenable to spiritual healing. Lay referral to medical practitioners who were church members was common but may devalue perceptions of family medicine. The Coptic Church functions as a community that addresses members' wider vulnerability. Central to this is the "parish nurse" role of the priest.

Archaeology as a social science.

PubMed

Smith, Michael E; Feinman, Gary M; Drennan, Robert D; Earle, Timothy; Morris, Ian

2012-05-15

Because of advances in methods and theory, archaeology now addresses issues central to debates in the social sciences in a far more sophisticated manner than ever before. Coupled with methodological innovations, multiscalar archaeological studies around the world have produced a wealth of new data that provide a unique perspective on long-term changes in human societies, as they document variation in human behavior and institutions before the modern era. We illustrate these points with three examples: changes in human settlements, the roles of markets and states in deep history, and changes in standards of living. Alternative pathways toward complexity suggest how common processes may operate under contrasting ecologies, populations, and economic integration.

Connecting Dirac and Majorana neutrino mass matrices in the minimal left-right symmetric model.

PubMed

Nemevšek, Miha; Senjanović, Goran; Tello, Vladimir

2013-04-12

Probing the origin of neutrino mass by disentangling the seesaw mechanism is one of the central issues of particle physics. We address it in the minimal left-right symmetric model and show how the knowledge of light and heavy neutrino masses and mixings suffices to determine their Dirac Yukawa couplings. This in turn allows one to make predictions for a number of high and low energy phenomena, such as decays of heavy neutrinos, neutrinoless double beta decay, electric dipole moments of charged leptons, and neutrino transition moments. We also discuss a way of reconstructing the neutrino Dirac Yukawa couplings at colliders such as the LHC.

Induced starburst and nuclear activity: Faith, facts, and theory

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Shlosman, Isaac

1990-01-01

The problem of the origin of starburst and nuclear (nonstellar) activity in galaxies is reviewed. A physical understanding of the mechanism(s) that induce both types of activity requires one to address the following issues: (1) what is the source of fuel that powers starbursts and active galactic nuclei; and (2) how is it channeled towards the central regions of host galaxies? As a possible clue, the author examines the role of non-axisymmetric perturbations of galactic disks and analyzes their potential triggers. Global gravitational instabilities in the gas on scales approx. 100 pc appear to be crucial for fueling the active galactic nuclei.

Plant phenomics: an overview of image acquisition technologies and image data analysis algorithms

PubMed Central

Perez-Sanz, Fernando; Navarro, Pedro J

2017-01-01

Abstract The study of phenomes or phenomics has been a central part of biology. The field of automatic phenotype acquisition technologies based on images has seen an important advance in the last years. As with other high-throughput technologies, it addresses a common set of problems, including data acquisition and analysis. In this review, we give an overview of the main systems developed to acquire images. We give an in-depth analysis of image processing with its major issues and the algorithms that are being used or emerging as useful to obtain data out of images in an automatic fashion. PMID:29048559

The science of medical librarianship: investing in the future.

PubMed Central

Love, E

1987-01-01

Information science is changing from an applied service-oriented activity to a basic research discipline. The library profession must earn a central place in this endeavor, and must address a number of important issues. These include ownership and intellectual property rights, a stronger research component for the profession, development of quality assurance systems for health information services, and a conceptual framework for training and career development of health sciences library technicians. The future of medical librarianship as a profession depends on a lasting commitment to research, a clear vision of the profession's fundamental mission and of the library's place in society. PMID:3450341

Scholarships for High School Teachers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hach, Bryce

2007-12-01

The Hach Scientific Foundation 's mission is very focused and very simple: supporting chemistry education, primarily at the K 12 level. Through the recruitment of new teachers, addressing the issues of existing teacher retention, and supporting the best instruction and assessment strategies in chemistry education, the Foundation has a firm commitment to making the life of the chemistry student and teacher the most positive and educational experience possible. Although the Foundation's charter has its roots firmly planted in chemistry, the outgrowth of Hach Co. cofounder Clifford Hach's love of the "central science", it took more than 20 years before the Foundation announced it would narrow its aim singly on chemistry education.

Archaeology as a social science

PubMed Central

Smith, Michael E.; Feinman, Gary M.; Drennan, Robert D.; Earle, Timothy; Morris, Ian

2012-01-01

Because of advances in methods and theory, archaeology now addresses issues central to debates in the social sciences in a far more sophisticated manner than ever before. Coupled with methodological innovations, multiscalar archaeological studies around the world have produced a wealth of new data that provide a unique perspective on long-term changes in human societies, as they document variation in human behavior and institutions before the modern era. We illustrate these points with three examples: changes in human settlements, the roles of markets and states in deep history, and changes in standards of living. Alternative pathways toward complexity suggest how common processes may operate under contrasting ecologies, populations, and economic integration. PMID:22547811

Atmospheric dynamics of tidally synchronized extrasolar planets.

PubMed

Cho, James Y-K

2008-12-13

Tidally synchronized planets present a new opportunity for enriching our understanding of atmospheric dynamics on planets. Subject to an unusual forcing arrangement (steady irradiation on the same side of the planet throughout its orbit), the dynamics on these planets may be unlike that on any of the Solar System planets. Characterizing the flow pattern and temperature distribution on the extrasolar planets is necessary for reliable interpretation of data currently being collected, as well as for guiding future observations. In this paper, several fundamental concepts from atmospheric dynamics, likely to be central for characterization, are discussed. Theoretical issues that need to be addressed in the near future are also highlighted.

Meeting the psychological needs of community-living stroke patients and carers: a study of third sector provision.

PubMed

Morris, Reg

2016-01-01

To elucidate how community stroke staff in a major third sector organisation experienced their role and understood and responded to clients' psychological needs. In stage 1, three focus groups of 28 staff in total were recorded, transcribed and analysed using inductive thematic analysis. Themes were authenticated by new staff groups. In stage 2, these themes informed the construction of a questionnaire delivered through the organisation's intranet by "Survey Monkey". Five themes emerged from the focus groups: background and context; perceptions of clients' psychological issues; approaches to meeting psychological needs; the experience of working with psychological needs and sources of support; aspirations for future development. Four themes were used in constructing the questionnaire. Responses from 144 staff with diverse qualifications and experience were received; over half encountered 16 (of 35) psychological issues at least once per week. Stroke survivors' needs predominated over carers' needs. Skills used to address psychological problems were identified, also training and support needs and future aspirations. Support needs included information, training and access to specialist consultants. Psychological issues were central in the work of third sector community stroke staff; psychological skills were routinely used. Attention to means of supporting and developing these skills is required. Service leaders and commissioners should be aware that third sector community stroke staff frequently deal with a diverse range of psychological issues and perceive psychological care as central. Service leaders should consider providing training in assessment and management of mood and cognition, risk assessment and management and basic counselling. Staff should be provided with access to specialist consultation and better information about psychological aspects of referrals. There is uncertainty about key methods for supporting the delivery of psychological care (supervision, mentoring and peer support) which requires consideration.

Twenty-First Century Pathologists' Advocacy.

PubMed

Allen, Timothy Craig

2017-07-01

Pathologists' advocacy plays a central role in the establishment of continuously improving patient care quality and patient safety, and in the maintenance and progress of pathology as a profession. Pathology advocacy's primary goal is the betterment of patient safety and quality medical care; however, payment is a necessary and appropriate component to both, and has a central role in advocacy. Now is the time to become involved in pathology advocacy; the Medicare Access and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA) and the Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014 (PAMA) are 2 of the most consequential pieces of legislation impacting the pathology and laboratory industry in the last 20 years. Another current issue of far-reaching impact for pathologists is balance billing, and yet many pathologists have little or no understanding of balance billing. Pathologists at all stages of their careers, and in every professional setting, need to participate. Academic pathologists have a special obligation to, if not become directly involved in advocacy, at least have a broad and current understanding of those issues, as well as the need and responsibility of pathologists to actively engage in advocacy efforts to address them, in order to teach residents the place of advocacy, and its value, as an inseparable and indispensable component of their professional responsibilities.

Geologic Map of the Big Spring Quadrangle, Carter County, Missouri

USGS Publications Warehouse

Weary, David J.; McDowell, Robert C.

2006-01-01

The bedrock exposed in the Big Spring quadrangle of Missouri comprises Late Cambrian and Early Ordovician aged dolomite, sandstone, and chert. The sedimentary rocks are nearly flat lying except where they are adjacent to faults. The carbonate rocks are karstified, and the area contains numerous sinkholes, springs, caves, and losing streams. This map is one of several being produced under the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program to provide geologic data applicable to land-use problems in the Ozarks of south-central Missouri. Ongoing and potential industrial and agricultural development in the Ozarks region has presented issues of ground-water quality in karst areas. A national park in this region (Ozark National Scenic Riverways, Missouri) is concerned about the effects of activities in areas outside of their stewardship on the water resources that define the heart of this park. This task applies geologic mapping and karst investigations to address issues surrounding competing land use in south-central Missouri. This task keeps geologists from the USGS associated with the park and allows the park to utilize USGS expertise and aid the NPS on how to effectively use geologic maps for park management. For more information, see: http://geology.er.usgs.gov/eespteam/Karst/index.html

Geologic map of the Van Buren South quadrangle, Carter County, Missouri

USGS Publications Warehouse

Weary, D.J.; Schindler, J.S.

2004-01-01

The bedrock exposed in the Van Buren South quadrangle, Missouri, comprises Late Cambrian and Early Ordovician aged dolomite, sandstone, and chert. The sedimentary rocks are nearly flat-lying except where they are adjacent to faults. The carbonate rocks are karstified and the area contains numerous sinkholes, springs, caves, and losing-streams. This map is one of several being produced under the U.S. Geological Survey National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program to provide geologic data applicable to land-use problems in the Ozarks of south-central Missouri. Ongoing and potential industrial and agricultural development in the Ozarks region has presented issues of ground-water quality in karst areas. A National Park in this region (Ozark National Scenic Riverways, Missouri ) is concerned about the effects of activities in areas outside of their stewardship on the water resources that define the heart of this Park. This task applies geologic mapping and karst investigations to address issues surrounding competing land use in south-central Missouri. This task keeps geologists from the USGS associated with the park and allows the Parks to utilize USGS expertise and aid the NPS on how to effectively use geologic maps for Park management. For more information see: http://geology.er.usgs.gov/eespteam/Karst/index.html

Geologic map of the Low Wassie Quadrangle, Oregon and Shannon counties, Missouri

USGS Publications Warehouse

Weems, Robert E.

2002-01-01

The bedrock exposed in the Low Wassie Quadrangle, Missouri, comprises Late Cambrian and Early Ordovician aged dolomite, sandstone, and chert. The sedimentary rocks are nearly flat-lying except where they are adjacent to faults. The carbonates are karstified and the area contains numerous sinkholes, springs, caves, and losing-streams. This map is one of several being produced under the U.S. Geological Survey National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program to provide geologic data applicable to land-use problems in the Ozarks of south-central Missouri. Ongoing and potential industrial and agricultural development in the Ozarks region has presented issues of ground-water quality in karst areas. A National Park in this region (Ozark National Scenic Riverways, Missouri ) is concerned about the effects of activities in areas outside of their stewardship on the water resources that define the heart of this Park. This task applies geologic mapping and karst investigations to address issues surrounding competing land use in south-central Missouri. This task keeps geologists from the USGS associated with the park and allows the Parks to utilize USGS expertise and aid the NPS on how to effectively use geologic maps for Park management. For more information see: http://geology.er.usgs.gov/eespteam/Karst/index.html.

Geologic map of the Winona Quadrangle, Shannon County, Missouri

USGS Publications Warehouse

Orndorff, R.C.; Harrison, R.W.

2001-01-01

The bedrock exposed in the Winona Quadrangle, Missouri, comprises Mesoproterozoic aged volcanic rocks overlain by Late Cambrian and Early Ordovician aged dolomite, sandstone, and chert. The sedimentary rocks are nearly flat-lying except where they drape around knobs of the volcanic rocks or where they are adjacent to faults. The carbonates are karstified and the area contains numerous sinkholes, springs, caves, and losing-streams. This map is one of several being produced under the U.S. Geological Survey National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program to provide geologic data applicable to land-use problems in the Ozarks of south-central Missouri. Ongoing and potential industrial and agricultural development in the Ozarks region has presented issues of ground-water quality in karst areas. A National Park in this region (Ozark National Scenic Riverways, Missouri ) is concerned about the effects of activities in areas outside of their stewardship on the water resources that define the heart of this Park. This task applies geologic mapping and karst investigations to address issues surrounding competing land use in south-central Missouri. This task keeps geologists from the USGS associated with the park and allows the Parks to utilize USGS expertise and aid the NPS on how to effectively use geologic maps for Park management. For more information see: http://geology.er.usgs.gov/eespteam/Karst/index.html

Moral distress experienced by health care professionals who provide home-based palliative care.

PubMed

Brazil, Kevin; Kassalainen, Sharon; Ploeg, Jenny; Marshall, Denise

2010-11-01

Health care providers regularly encounter situations of moral conflict and distress in their practice. Moral distress may result in unfavorable outcomes for both health care providers and those in their care. The purpose of this study was to examine the experience of moral distress from a broad range of health care occupations that provide home-based palliative care as the initial step of addressing the issue. A critical incident approach was used in qualitative interviews to elicit the experiences on moral distress from 18 health care providers drawn from five home visiting organizations in south central Ontario, Canada. Most participants described at least two critical incidents in their interview generating a total of 47 critical incidents. Analyses of the critical incidents revealed 11 issues that triggered moral distress which clustered into three themes, (a) the role of informal caregivers, b) challenging clinical situations and (c) service delivery issues. The findings suggest that the training and practice environments for health care providers need to be designed to recognize the moral challenges related to day-to-day practice. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A review of breast cancer survivorship issues from survivors' perspectives.

PubMed

Cho, Jihyoung; Jung, So-Youn; Lee, Jung Eun; Shim, Eun-Jung; Kim, Nam Hyoung; Kim, Zisun; Sohn, Guiyun; Youn, Hyun Jo; Kim, Ku Sang; Kim, Hanna; Lee, Jong Won; Lee, Min Hyuk

2014-09-01

Despite the fact that more breast cancer survivors are currently enjoying longer lifespans, there remains limited knowledge about the factors and issues that are of greatest significance for these survivors, particularly from their perspectives. This review was based on the concept that the topics addressed should focus on the perspectives of current survivors and should be extended to future modalities, which physicians will be able to use to gain a better understanding of the hidden needs of these patients. We intended to choose and review dimensions other than the pathology and the disease process that could have been overlooked during treatment. The eight topics upon which we focused included: delay of treatment and survival outcome; sexual well-being; concerns about childbearing; tailored follow-up; presence of a family history of breast cancer; diet and physical activity for survivors and their families; qualitative approach toward understanding of breast cancer survivorship, and; mobile health care for breast cancer survivors. Through this review, we aimed to examine the present clinical basis of the central issues noted from the survivors' perspectives and suggest a direction for future survivorship-related research.

Ethical issues in the export, storage and reuse of human biological samples in biomedical research: perspectives of key stakeholders in Ghana and Kenya.

PubMed

Tindana, Paulina; Molyneux, Catherine S; Bull, Susan; Parker, Michael

2014-10-18

For many decades, access to human biological samples, such as cells, tissues, organs, blood, and sub-cellular materials such as DNA, for use in biomedical research, has been central in understanding the nature and transmission of diseases across the globe. However, the limitations of current ethical and regulatory frameworks in sub-Saharan Africa to govern the collection, export, storage and reuse of these samples have resulted in inconsistencies in practice and a number of ethical concerns for sample donors, researchers and research ethics committees. This paper examines stakeholders' perspectives of and responses to the ethical issues arising from these research practices. We employed a qualitative strategy of inquiry for this research including in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with key research stakeholders in Kenya (Nairobi and Kilifi), and Ghana (Accra and Navrongo). The stakeholders interviewed emphasised the compelling scientific importance of sample export, storage and reuse, and acknowledged the existence of some structures governing these research practices, but they also highlighted the pressing need for a number of practical ethical concerns to be addressed in order to ensure high standards of practice and to maintain public confidence in international research collaborations. These concerns relate to obtaining culturally appropriate consent for sample export and reuse, understanding cultural sensitivities around the use of blood samples, facilitating a degree of local control of samples and sustainable scientific capacity building. Drawing on these findings and existing literature, we argue that the ethical issues arising in practice need to be understood in the context of the interactions between host research institutions and local communities and between collaborating institutions. We propose a set of 'key points-to-consider' for research institutions, ethics committees and funding agencies to address these issues.

How should the completeness and quality of curated nanomaterial data be evaluated?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Marchese Robinson, Richard L.; Lynch, Iseult; Peijnenburg, Willie; Rumble, John; Klaessig, Fred; Marquardt, Clarissa; Rauscher, Hubert; Puzyn, Tomasz; Purian, Ronit; Åberg, Christoffer; Karcher, Sandra; Vriens, Hanne; Hoet, Peter; Hoover, Mark D.; Hendren, Christine Ogilvie; Harper, Stacey L.

2016-05-01

Nanotechnology is of increasing significance. Curation of nanomaterial data into electronic databases offers opportunities to better understand and predict nanomaterials' behaviour. This supports innovation in, and regulation of, nanotechnology. It is commonly understood that curated data need to be sufficiently complete and of sufficient quality to serve their intended purpose. However, assessing data completeness and quality is non-trivial in general and is arguably especially difficult in the nanoscience area, given its highly multidisciplinary nature. The current article, part of the Nanomaterial Data Curation Initiative series, addresses how to assess the completeness and quality of (curated) nanomaterial data. In order to address this key challenge, a variety of related issues are discussed: the meaning and importance of data completeness and quality, existing approaches to their assessment and the key challenges associated with evaluating the completeness and quality of curated nanomaterial data. Considerations which are specific to the nanoscience area and lessons which can be learned from other relevant scientific disciplines are considered. Hence, the scope of this discussion ranges from physicochemical characterisation requirements for nanomaterials and interference of nanomaterials with nanotoxicology assays to broader issues such as minimum information checklists, toxicology data quality schemes and computational approaches that facilitate evaluation of the completeness and quality of (curated) data. This discussion is informed by a literature review and a survey of key nanomaterial data curation stakeholders. Finally, drawing upon this discussion, recommendations are presented concerning the central question: how should the completeness and quality of curated nanomaterial data be evaluated?Nanotechnology is of increasing significance. Curation of nanomaterial data into electronic databases offers opportunities to better understand and predict nanomaterials' behaviour. This supports innovation in, and regulation of, nanotechnology. It is commonly understood that curated data need to be sufficiently complete and of sufficient quality to serve their intended purpose. However, assessing data completeness and quality is non-trivial in general and is arguably especially difficult in the nanoscience area, given its highly multidisciplinary nature. The current article, part of the Nanomaterial Data Curation Initiative series, addresses how to assess the completeness and quality of (curated) nanomaterial data. In order to address this key challenge, a variety of related issues are discussed: the meaning and importance of data completeness and quality, existing approaches to their assessment and the key challenges associated with evaluating the completeness and quality of curated nanomaterial data. Considerations which are specific to the nanoscience area and lessons which can be learned from other relevant scientific disciplines are considered. Hence, the scope of this discussion ranges from physicochemical characterisation requirements for nanomaterials and interference of nanomaterials with nanotoxicology assays to broader issues such as minimum information checklists, toxicology data quality schemes and computational approaches that facilitate evaluation of the completeness and quality of (curated) data. This discussion is informed by a literature review and a survey of key nanomaterial data curation stakeholders. Finally, drawing upon this discussion, recommendations are presented concerning the central question: how should the completeness and quality of curated nanomaterial data be evaluated? Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available: (1) Detailed information regarding issues raised in the main text; (2) original survey responses. See DOI: 10.1039/c5nr08944a

“You Don't Go Tell White People Nothing”: African American Women's Perspectives on the Influence of Violence and Race on Depression and Depression Care

PubMed Central

Timmons, Vanessa; Thomas, Mary Jo; Waters, A. Star; Wahab, Stephanie; Mejia, Angie; Mitchell, S. Renee

2010-01-01

Objectives. We sought to understand how African American women's beliefs regarding depression and depression care are influenced by racism, violence, and social context. Methods. We conducted a focus group study using a community-based participatory research approach. Participants were low-income African American women with major depressive disorder and histories of violence victimization. Results. Thirty women participated in 4 focus groups. Although women described a vicious cycle of violence, depression, and substance abuse that affected their health, discussions about health care revolved around their perception of racism, with a deep mistrust of the health care system as a “White” system. The image of the “strong Black woman” was seen as a barrier to both recognizing depression and seeking care. Women wanted a community-based depression program staffed by African Americans that addressed violence and drug use. Conclusions. Although violence and drug use were central to our participants' understanding of depression, racism was the predominant issue influencing their views on depression care. Providers should develop a greater appreciation of the effects of racism on depression care. Depression care programs should address issues of violence, substance use, and racism. PMID:20558811

Information needs of survivors and families after childhood CNS tumor treatment: a population-based study.

PubMed

Hovén, Emma; Lannering, Birgitta; Gustafsson, Göran; Boman, Krister K

2018-05-01

This study examines information needs and satisfaction with provided information among childhood central nervous system (CNS) tumor survivors and their parents. In a population-based sample of 697 adult survivors in Sweden, 518 survivors and 551 parents provided data. Information needs and satisfaction with information were studied using a multi-dimensional standardized questionnaire addressing information-related issues. Overall, 52% of the survivors and 48% of the parents reported no, or only minor, satisfaction with the extent of provided information, and 51% of the survivors expressed a need for more information than provided. The information received was found useful (to some extent/very much) by 53%, while 47% did not find it useful, or to a minor degree only. Obtaining written material was associated with greater satisfaction and usefulness of information. Dissatisfaction with information was associated with longer time since diagnosis, poorer current health status and female sex. The survivors experienced unmet information needs vis-à-vis late effects, illness education, rehabilitation and psychological services. Overall, parents were more dissatisfied than the survivors. These findings have implications for improvements in information delivery. Information in childhood CNS tumor care and follow-up should specifically address issues where insufficiency was identified, and recognize persistent and with time changing needs at the successive stages of long-term survivorship.

Building the evidence base for urgent action: HIV epidemiology and innovative programming for men who have sex with men in sub-Saharan Africa

PubMed Central

Wolf, R Cameron; Cheng, Alison Surdo; Kapesa, Laurent; Castor, Delivette

2013-01-01

While still an understudied area, there is a growing body of studies highlighting epidemiologic data on men who have sex with men (MSM) in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) which challenge the attitudes of complacency and irrelevancy among donors and country governments that are uncomfortable in addressing key populations (KPs). While some of the past inaction may be explained by ignorance, new data document highly elevated and sustained HIV prevalence that is seemingly isolated from recent overall declines in prevalence. The articles in this series highlight new studies which focus on the stark epidemiologic burden in countries from concentrated, mixed and generalized epidemic settings. The issue includes research from West, Central, East and Southern Africa and explores the pervasive impact of stigma and discrimination as critical barriers to confronting the HIV epidemic among MSM and the intersecting stigma and marginalization found between living with HIV and sexual minority status. Interventions to remove barriers to service access, including those aimed at training providers and mobilizing communities even within stigmatized peri-urban settings, are featured in this issue, which further demonstrates the immediate need for comprehensive action to address HIV among MSM in all countries in the region, regardless of epidemic classification. PMID:24321118

Multimodal psychoanalytically informed aid work with children traumatized by the Chechen war.

PubMed

Cerfolio, Nina E

2009-01-01

As demonstrated in three cases, this paper illustrates how psychoanalytically informed multimodal care was an essential element of effective medical treatment of children traumatized by the Chechen war. Multimodal psychoanalytically informed aid work involves holding a variety of psychoanalytic viewpoints, including but not restricted to those represented by the Freudian, Interpersonal, and Relational orientations; its purpose is to allow for greater clarity in conceptualizing the traumatized child's response to war in order to provide the necessary care during the therapeutic process. Among the issues addressed are how traumatic memory can initially be expressed nonverbally, and therefore the use of embodied life-metaphors and witnessing are central to the survivors' ability to remember and symbolize. In addition, the significance of cultural awareness and sensitivity are explored as key components to the children's care. In the first case, the author illustrates how a traumatic life-metaphor can be resolved at an embodied, rather than an exclusively verbal, level. In the second case, cultural tradition and relativism have a significant impact on addressing medical and quality of life issues for the child. The third case illustrates how the analyst functions as recognizing witness to a parent's trauma; the "being with" of the relationship becomes the agent of the parent's change.

Simulation and spatiotemporal pattern of air temperature and precipitation in Eastern Central Asia using RegCM.

PubMed

Meng, Xianyong; Long, Aihua; Wu, Yiping; Yin, Gang; Wang, Hao; Ji, Xiaonan

2018-02-26

Central Asia is a region that has a large land mass, yet meteorological stations in this area are relatively scarce. To address this data issues, in this study, we selected two reanalysis datasets (the ERA40 and NCEP/NCAR) and downscaled them to 40 × 40 km using RegCM. Then three gridded datasets (the CRU, APHRO, and WM) that were extrapolated from the observations of Central Asian meteorological stations to evaluate the performance of RegCM and analyze the spatiotemporal distribution of precipitation and air temperature. We found that since the 1960s, the air temperature in Xinjiang shows an increasing trend and the distribution of precipitation in the Tianshan area is quite complex. The precipitation is increasing in the south of the Tianshan Mountains (Southern Xinjiang, SX) and decreasing in the mountainous areas. The CRU and WM data indicate that precipitation in the north of the Tianshan Mountains (Northern Xinjiang, NX) is increasing, while the APHRO data show an opposite trend. The downscaled results from RegCM are generally consistent with the extrapolated gridded datasets in terms of the spatiotemporal patterns. We believe that our results can provide useful information in developing a regional climate model in Central Asia where meteorological stations are scarce.

A Case Study on Science Teacher Leadership to Address Diversity and Equity through Professional Development

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Doraiswamy, Nithya

2015-01-01

This qualitative case study focused on the multifaceted issue of exploring science teacher leaders understanding and addressing of issues of diversity and equity with peers through professional development. The purpose of the study was to highlight the opportunities and barriers to the addressing of issues of diversity and equity through the work…

Innovative Approaches to Collaborative Groundwater Governance in the United States: Case Studies from Three High-Growth Regions in the Sun Belt.

PubMed

Megdal, Sharon B; Gerlak, Andrea K; Huang, Ling-Yee; Delano, Nathaniel; Varady, Robert G; Petersen-Perlman, Jacob D

2017-05-01

Groundwater is an increasingly important source of freshwater, especially where surface water resources are fully or over-allocated or becoming less reliable due to climate change. Groundwater reliance has created new challenges for sustainable management. This article examines how regional groundwater users coordinate and collaborate to manage shared groundwater resources, including attention to what drives collaboration. To identify and illustrate these facets, this article examines three geographically diverse cases of groundwater governance and management from the United States Sun Belt: Orange County Water District in southern California; Prescott Active Management Area in north-central Arizona; and the Central Florida Water Initiative in central Florida. These regions have different surface water laws, groundwater allocation and management laws and regulations, demographics, economics, topographies, and climate. These cases were selected because the Sun Belt faces similar pressures on groundwater due to historical and projected population growth and limited availability of usable surface water supplies. Collectively, they demonstrate groundwater governance trends in the United States, and illustrate distinctive features of regional groundwater management strategies. Our research shows how geophysical realities and state-level legislation have enabled and/or stimulated regions to develop groundwater management plans and strategies to address the specific issues associated with their groundwater resources. We find that litigation involvement and avoidance, along with the need to finance projects, are additional drivers of regional collaboration to manage groundwater. This case study underscores the importance of regionally coordinated and sustained efforts to address serious groundwater utilization challenges faced by the regions studied and around the world.

Innovative Approaches to Collaborative Groundwater Governance in the United States: Case Studies from Three High-Growth Regions in the Sun Belt

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Megdal, Sharon B.; Gerlak, Andrea K.; Huang, Ling-Yee; Delano, Nathaniel; Varady, Robert G.; Petersen-Perlman, Jacob D.

2017-05-01

Groundwater is an increasingly important source of freshwater, especially where surface water resources are fully or over-allocated or becoming less reliable due to climate change. Groundwater reliance has created new challenges for sustainable management. This article examines how regional groundwater users coordinate and collaborate to manage shared groundwater resources, including attention to what drives collaboration. To identify and illustrate these facets, this article examines three geographically diverse cases of groundwater governance and management from the United States Sun Belt: Orange County Water District in southern California; Prescott Active Management Area in north-central Arizona; and the Central Florida Water Initiative in central Florida. These regions have different surface water laws, groundwater allocation and management laws and regulations, demographics, economics, topographies, and climate. These cases were selected because the Sun Belt faces similar pressures on groundwater due to historical and projected population growth and limited availability of usable surface water supplies. Collectively, they demonstrate groundwater governance trends in the United States, and illustrate distinctive features of regional groundwater management strategies. Our research shows how geophysical realities and state-level legislation have enabled and/or stimulated regions to develop groundwater management plans and strategies to address the specific issues associated with their groundwater resources. We find that litigation involvement and avoidance, along with the need to finance projects, are additional drivers of regional collaboration to manage groundwater. This case study underscores the importance of regionally coordinated and sustained efforts to address serious groundwater utilization challenges faced by the regions studied and around the world.

26 CFR 1.1471-6 - Payments beneficially owned by exempt beneficial owners.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

... issue described in paragraph (d) of this section; any government of a U.S. territory described in... (h) of this section, the term foreign central bank of issue means a bank that is by law or government... bank of issue in the normal course of its operations as a central bank of issue. (e) Governments of U.S...

SoxNeuro orchestrates central nervous system specification and differentiation in Drosophila and is only partially redundant with Dichaete

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

Background Sox proteins encompass an evolutionarily conserved family of transcription factors with critical roles in animal development and stem cell biology. In common with vertebrates, the Drosophila group B proteins SoxNeuro and Dichaete are involved in central nervous system development, where they play both similar and unique roles in gene regulation. Sox genes show extensive functional redundancy across metazoans, but the molecular basis underpinning functional compensation mechanisms at the genomic level are currently unknown. Results Using a combination of genome-wide binding analysis and gene expression profiling, we show that SoxNeuro directs embryonic neural development from the early specification of neuroblasts through to the terminal differentiation of neurons and glia. To address the issue of functional redundancy and compensation at a genomic level, we compare SoxNeuro and Dichaete binding, identifying common and independent binding events in wild-type conditions, as well as instances of compensation and loss of binding in mutant backgrounds. Conclusions We find that early aspects of group B Sox functions in the central nervous system, such as stem cell maintenance and dorsoventral patterning, are highly conserved. However, in contrast to vertebrates, we find that Drosophila group B1 proteins also play prominent roles during later aspects of neural morphogenesis. Our analysis of the functional relationship between SoxNeuro and Dichaete uncovers evidence for redundant and independent functions for each protein, along with unexpected examples of compensation and interdependency, thus providing new insights into the general issue of transcription factor functional redundancy. PMID:24886562

Creating an infrastructure for training in the responsible conduct of research: the University of Pittsburgh's experience.

PubMed

Barnes, Barbara E; Friedman, Charles P; Rosenberg, Jerome L; Russell, Joanne; Beedle, Ari; Levine, Arthur S

2006-02-01

In response to public concerns about the consequences of research misconduct, academic institutions have become increasingly cognizant of the need to implement comprehensive, effective training in the responsible conduct of research (RCR) for faculty, staff, students, and external collaborators. The ability to meet this imperative is challenging as universities confront declining financial resources and increasing complexity of the research enterprise. The authors describe the University of Pittsburgh's design, implementation, and evaluation of a Web-based, institution-wide RCR training program called Research and Practice Fundamentals (RPF). This project, established in 2000, was embedded in the philosophy, organizational structure, and technology developed through the Integrated Advanced Information Management Systems grant from the National Library of Medicine. Utilizing a centralized, comprehensive approach, the RPF system provides an efficient mechanism for deploying content to a large, diverse cohort of learners and supports the needs of research administrators by providing access to information about who has successfully completed the training. During its first 3 years of operation, the RPF served over 17,000 users and issued more than 38,000 training certificates. The 18 modules that are currently available address issues required by regulatory mandates and other content areas important to the research community. RPF users report high levels of satisfaction with content and ease of using the system. Future efforts must explore methods to integrate non-RCR education and training into a centralized, cohesive structure. The University of Pittsburgh's experience with the RPF demonstrates the importance of developing an infrastructure for training that is comprehensive, scalable, reliable, centralized, affordable, and sustainable.

Addressing Personal Issues in Supervision: Impact of Counselors' Experience Level on Various Aspects of the Supervisory Relationship.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sumerel, Marie B.; Borders, L. Dianne

1996-01-01

In this study, entry-level and advanced counselors (N=40) rated videotaped supervision sessions in which either the counselor's personal issues or skills deficits were addressed. The study's goal was to determine the impact that addressing counselors' personal issues in supervision has on relationship, quality of the session, postsession mood, and…

Guidance for Catastrophic Emergency Situations Involving Asbestos

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

This document addresses the types of asbestos issues that may arise during catastrophic events and how EPA has addressed such issues. It replaces the Guidelines for Catastrophic Emergency Situations Involving Asbestos which was issued in 1992.

Industry and water security: overarching conclusions.

PubMed

Stigson, B

2001-01-01

Fresh water is key to sustainable development. World Business Council for Sustainable Development members are addressing fresh water use "within the corporate fenceline". However, to address water issues "outside the corporate fenceline" will require creative new public-private partnerships. Government's role is to provide sound framework conditions that will encourage businesses to invest time, staff and resources to address vital fresh water issues. Industry is committed to best practice within its internal operations and is ready to enter into partnerships to address broader fresh water issues.

Handbook on Teaching Social Issues. NCSS Bulletin 93.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Evans, Ronald W., Ed.; Saxe, David Warren, Ed.

This handbook explores the issues-centered curriculum for social studies teaching and how student performance reflects an intellectual capacity to address public issues. The book is divided into 11 parts with essays to address specific aspects of the approach. The foreword, written by Shirley Engle, establishes a context for issues-based…

Reinventing District Central Offices to Expand Student Learning. Issue Brief

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Honig, Meredith I.; Copland, Michael A.

2008-01-01

This issue brief examines the role of central office administrators in the reinvention process and what research and experience matters for expanding student learning. The brief includes examples from central office reinvention efforts currently planned or under way in Atlanta Public Schools, New York City Public Schools, and Oakland Unified…

Inclusion of ethical issues in dementia guidelines: a thematic text analysis.

PubMed

Knüppel, Hannes; Mertz, Marcel; Schmidhuber, Martina; Neitzke, Gerald; Strech, Daniel

2013-08-01

Clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) aim to improve professionalism in health care. However, current CPG development manuals fail to address how to include ethical issues in a systematic and transparent manner. The objective of this study was to assess the representation of ethical issues in general CPGs on dementia care. To identify national CPGs on dementia care, five databases of guidelines were searched and national psychiatric associations were contacted in August 2011 and in June 2013. A framework for the assessment of the identified CPGs' ethical content was developed on the basis of a prior systematic review of ethical issues in dementia care. Thematic text analysis and a 4-point rating score were employed to assess how ethical issues were addressed in the identified CPGs. Twelve national CPGs were included. Thirty-one ethical issues in dementia care were identified by the prior systematic review. The proportion of these 31 ethical issues that were explicitly addressed by each CPG ranged from 22% to 77%, with a median of 49.5%. National guidelines differed substantially with respect to (a) which ethical issues were represented, (b) whether ethical recommendations were included, (c) whether justifications or citations were provided to support recommendations, and (d) to what extent the ethical issues were explained. Ethical issues were inconsistently addressed in national dementia guidelines, with some guidelines including most and some including few ethical issues. Guidelines should address ethical issues and how to deal with them to help the medical profession understand how to approach care of patients with dementia, and for patients, their relatives, and the general public, all of whom might seek information and advice in national guidelines. There is a need for further research to specify how detailed ethical issues and their respective recommendations can and should be addressed in dementia guidelines. Please see later in the article for the Editors' Summary.

Inclusion of Ethical Issues in Dementia Guidelines: A Thematic Text Analysis

PubMed Central

Knüppel, Hannes; Schmidhuber, Martina; Neitzke, Gerald

2013-01-01

Background Clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) aim to improve professionalism in health care. However, current CPG development manuals fail to address how to include ethical issues in a systematic and transparent manner. The objective of this study was to assess the representation of ethical issues in general CPGs on dementia care. Methods and Findings To identify national CPGs on dementia care, five databases of guidelines were searched and national psychiatric associations were contacted in August 2011 and in June 2013. A framework for the assessment of the identified CPGs' ethical content was developed on the basis of a prior systematic review of ethical issues in dementia care. Thematic text analysis and a 4-point rating score were employed to assess how ethical issues were addressed in the identified CPGs. Twelve national CPGs were included. Thirty-one ethical issues in dementia care were identified by the prior systematic review. The proportion of these 31 ethical issues that were explicitly addressed by each CPG ranged from 22% to 77%, with a median of 49.5%. National guidelines differed substantially with respect to (a) which ethical issues were represented, (b) whether ethical recommendations were included, (c) whether justifications or citations were provided to support recommendations, and (d) to what extent the ethical issues were explained. Conclusions Ethical issues were inconsistently addressed in national dementia guidelines, with some guidelines including most and some including few ethical issues. Guidelines should address ethical issues and how to deal with them to help the medical profession understand how to approach care of patients with dementia, and for patients, their relatives, and the general public, all of whom might seek information and advice in national guidelines. There is a need for further research to specify how detailed ethical issues and their respective recommendations can and should be addressed in dementia guidelines. Please see later in the article for the Editors' Summary PMID:23966839

26 CFR 1.1471-6 - Payments beneficially owned by exempt beneficial owners.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

... issue described in paragraph (d) of this section; any government of a U.S. territory described in... foreign central banks of issue for purposes of this section. (3) Bank for International Settlements. The Bank for International Settlements is a foreign central bank of issue for purposes of this section. (4...

Identifying veterinary students' capacity for moral behavior concerning animal ethics issues.

PubMed

Verrinder, Joy M; Phillips, Clive J C

2014-01-01

Veterinarians face unique animal ethics challenges as practitioners and policy advisors to government and industry. Changing societal attitudes, cultural diversity, and the often conflicting needs and interests of patients and clients contribute to moral distress. Yet little has been done to identify veterinarians' capacity to address these animal ethics issues. In this study, first-year and final-year veterinary students in an Australian university were surveyed to explore moral sensitivity, moral motivation, and moral character and their relationship with moral reasoning. The majority of students were concerned about animal ethics issues and had experienced moral distress in relation to the treatment of animals. Most believed that veterinarians should address the wider social issues of animal protection and that veterinary medicine should require a commitment to animals' interests over owners'/caregivers' interests. There was less agreement that the veterinary profession was sufficiently involved in addressing animal ethics issues. The principal motivators for studying veterinary medicine were, in declining importance, enjoyment in working with animals, helping sick and injured animals, and improving the way animals are treated. However, most students had taken little or no action to address animal ethics issues. These results suggest that both first- and fifth-year veterinary students are sensitive to animal ethics issues and are motivated to prioritize the interests of animals but have little experience in taking action to address these issues. Further research is needed to determine ways to identify and assess these moral behavior components in veterinary education to develop veterinarians' capacity to address animal ethics issues.

Some steps toward a central theory of ecosystem dynamics.

PubMed

Ulanowicz, Robert E

2003-12-01

Ecology is said by many to suffer for want of a central theory, such as Newton's laws of motion provide for classical mechanics or Schroedinger's wave equation provides for quantum physics. From among a plurality of contending laws to govern ecosystem behavior, the principle of increasing ascendency shows some early promise of being able to address the major questions asked of a theory of ecosystems, including, "How do organisms come to be distributed in time and space?, what accounts for the log-normal distribution of species numbers?, and how is the diversity of ecosystems related to their stability, resilience and persistence?" While some progress has been made in applying the concept of ascendency to the first issue, more work is needed to articulate exactly how it relates to the latter two. Accordingly, seven theoretical tasks are suggested that could help to establish these connections and to promote further consideration of the ascendency principle as the kernel of a theory of ecosystems.

Global Health in the Anthropocene: Moving Beyond Resilience and Capitalism

PubMed Central

van de Pas, Remco

2017-01-01

There has been much reflection on the need for a new understanding of global health and the urgency of a paradigm shift to address global health issues. A crucial question is whether this is still possible in current modes of global governance based on capitalist values. Four reflections are provided. (1) Ecological –centered values must become central in any future global health framework. (2) The objectives of ‘sustainability’ and ‘economic growth’ present a profound contradiction. (3) The resilience discourse maintains a gridlock in the functioning of the global health system. (4) The legitimacy of multi-stakeholder governance arrangements in global health requires urgent attention. A dual track approach is suggested. It must be aimed to transform capitalism into something better for global health while in parallel there is an urgent need to imagine a future and pathways to a different world order rooted in the principles of social justice, protecting the commons and a central role for the preservation of ecology. PMID:28812849

Structured Cable for High-Current Coils of Tokamaks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Benson, Christopher; McIntyre, Peter; Sattarov, Akhdiyor; Mann, Thomas

2011-10-01

The 45 kA superconducting cable for the ITER central solenoid coil has yielded questionable results in two recent tests. In both cases the cable Tc increased after cycling only a fraction of the design life, indicating degradation due to fatigue and fracture among the superconducting strands. The Accelerator Research Lab at Texas A&M University is developing a design for a Nb3Sn structured cable suitable for such tokamak coils. The superconductor is configured in 6 sub-cables, and each subcable is supported within a channel of a central support structure within a high-strength armor sheath. The structured cable addresses two issues that are thought to compromise opposition at high current. The strands are supported without cross-overs (which produce stress concentration); and armor sheath and core structure bypass stress through the coil and among subcables so that the stress within each subcable is only what is produced directly upon it. Details of the design and plans for development will be presented.

Estimation of Supersonic Stage Separation Aerodynamics of Winged-Body Launch Vehicles Using Response Surface Methods

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Erickson, Gary E.

2010-01-01

Response surface methodology was used to estimate the longitudinal stage separation aerodynamic characteristics of a generic, bimese, winged multi-stage launch vehicle configuration at supersonic speeds in the NASA LaRC Unitary Plan Wind Tunnel. The Mach 3 staging was dominated by shock wave interactions between the orbiter and booster vehicles throughout the relative spatial locations of interest. The inference space was partitioned into several contiguous regions within which the separation aerodynamics were presumed to be well-behaved and estimable using central composite designs capable of fitting full second-order response functions. The underlying aerodynamic response surfaces of the booster vehicle in belly-to-belly proximity to the orbiter vehicle were estimated using piecewise-continuous lower-order polynomial functions. The quality of fit and prediction capabilities of the empirical models were assessed in detail, and the issue of subspace boundary discontinuities was addressed. Augmenting the central composite designs to full third-order using computer-generated D-optimality criteria was evaluated. The usefulness of central composite designs, the subspace sizing, and the practicality of fitting lower-order response functions over a partitioned inference space dominated by highly nonlinear and possibly discontinuous shock-induced aerodynamics are discussed.

The equilibrium point hypothesis and its application to speech motor control.

PubMed

Perrier, P; Ostry, D J; Laboissière, R

1996-04-01

In this paper, we address a number of issues in speech research in the context of the equilibrium point hypothesis of motor control. The hypothesis suggests that movements arise from shifts in the equilibrium position of the limb or the speech articulator. The equilibrium is a consequence of the interaction of central neural commands, reflex mechanisms, muscle properties, and external loads, but it is under the control of central neural commands. These commands act to shift the equilibrium via centrally specified signals acting at the level of the motoneurone (MN) pool. In the context of a model of sagittal plane jaw and hyoid motion based on the lambda version of the equilibrium point hypothesis, we consider the implications of this hypothesis for the notion of articulatory targets. We suggest that simple linear control signals may underlie smooth articulatory trajectories. We explore as well the phenomenon of intraarticulator coarticulation in jaw movement. We suggest that even when no account is taken of upcoming context, that apparent anticipatory changes in movement amplitude and duration may arise due to dynamics. We also present a number of simulations that show in different ways how variability in measured kinematics can arise in spite of constant magnitude speech control signals.

Moral education for the elite of democracy: the classe de philosophie between sociology and philosophy.

PubMed

Barberis, Daniela S

2002-01-01

In this article, I address the issues at stake in the relationship between sociology and philosophy in the second half of the nineteenth century by focusing on a debate between two parties: Emile Durkheim, who was attempting to found an independent scientific sociology, and the editors and collaborators of the Revue de métaphysique et de morale (RMM), one of the central philosophical journals of the period. This debate focused on the role of philosophy in secondary school education, but at its heart, this was a struggle between two disciplines over which ought to direct the formation of good citizens for Third Republic France. Copyright 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Lessons Learned about Neurodegeneration from Microglia and Monocyte Depletion Studies

PubMed Central

Lund, Harald; Pieber, Melanie; Harris, Robert A.

2017-01-01

While bone marrow-derived Ly6Chi monocytes can infiltrate the central nervous system (CNS) they are developmentally and functionally distinct from resident microglia. Our understanding of the relative importance of these two populations in the distinct processes of pathogenesis and resolution of inflammation during neurodegenerative disorders was limited by a lack of tools to specifically manipulate each cell type. During recent years, the development of experimental cell-specific depletion models has enabled this issue to be addressed. Herein we compare and contrast the different depletion approaches that have been used, focusing on the respective functionalities of microglia and monocyte-derived macrophages in a range of neurodegenerative disease states, and discuss their prospects for immunotherapy. PMID:28804456

A technical guide to tDCS, and related non-invasive brain stimulation tools

PubMed Central

Woods, AJ; Antal, A; Bikson, M; Boggio, PS; Brunoni, AR; Celnik, P; Cohen, LG; Fregni, F; Herrmann, CS; Kappenman, ES; Knotkova, H; Liebetanz, D; Miniussi, C; Miranda, PC; Paulus, W; Priori, A; Reato, D; Stagg, C; Wenderoth, N; Nitsche, MA

2015-01-01

Transcranial electrical stimulation (tES), including transcranial direct and alternating current stimulation (tDCS, tACS) are non-invasive brain stimulation techniques increasingly used for modulation of central nervous system excitability in humans. Here we address methodological issues required for tES application. This review covers technical aspects of tES, as well as applications like exploration of brain physiology, modelling approaches, tES in cognitive neurosciences, and interventional approaches. It aims to help the reader to appropriately design and conduct studies involving these brain stimulation techniques, understand limitations and avoid shortcomings, which might hamper the scientific rigor and potential applications in the clinical domain. PMID:26652115

Arts, health & wellbeing: reflections on a national seminar series and building a UK research network

PubMed Central

Stickley, Theo; Parr, Hester; Atkinson, Sarah; Daykin, Norma; Clift, Stephen; De Nora, Tia; Hacking, Sue; Camic, Paul M; Joss, Tim; White, Mike; Hogan, Susan J

2017-01-01

Abstract An account is provided of a UK national seminar series on Arts, Health and Wellbeing funded by the Economic and Social Research Council during 2012–13. Four seminars were organised addressing current issues and challenges facing the field. Details of the programme and its outputs are available online. A central concern of the seminar programme was to provide a foundation for creating a UK national network for researchers in the field to help promote evidence-based policy and practice. With funding from Lankelly Chase Foundation, and the support of the Royal Society for Public Health, a Special interest Group for Arts, Health and Wellbeing was launched in 2015. PMID:28163778

Spectral Collocation Time-Domain Modeling of Diffractive Optical Elements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hesthaven, J. S.; Dinesen, P. G.; Lynov, J. P.

1999-11-01

A spectral collocation multi-domain scheme is developed for the accurate and efficient time-domain solution of Maxwell's equations within multi-layered diffractive optical elements. Special attention is being paid to the modeling of out-of-plane waveguide couplers. Emphasis is given to the proper construction of high-order schemes with the ability to handle very general problems of considerable geometric and material complexity. Central questions regarding efficient absorbing boundary conditions and time-stepping issues are also addressed. The efficacy of the overall scheme for the time-domain modeling of electrically large, and computationally challenging, problems is illustrated by solving a number of plane as well as non-plane waveguide problems.

Sexuality and life skills education. A multistrategy intervention in Mexico.

PubMed

Pick, Susan; Givaudan, Martha; Poortinga, Ype H

2003-03-01

This contribution presents a set of intervention programs in the area of reproductive health, sexuality, and life-skills education that are now widely used in Mexico and with Latin American populations elsewhere. First, the authors briefly indicate how a research-informed approach has been central to the development and implementation of these interventions. Thereafter they describe how the programs were initially designed, taking into consideration the Mexican cultural context and its implications for Mexican adolescents. They also mention subsequent evaluation-based extensions of the programs to reach other target populations, to broaden the range of issues addressed, to promote their dissemination, and to advocate society-wide sexuality and life-skills education.

Regional-Scale Climate Change: Observations and Model Simulations

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Bradley, Raymond S; Diaz, Henry F

2010-12-14

This collaborative proposal addressed key issues in understanding the Earth's climate system, as highlighted by the U.S. Climate Science Program. The research focused on documenting past climatic changes and on assessing future climatic changes based on suites of global and regional climate models. Geographically, our emphasis was on the mountainous regions of the world, with a particular focus on the Neotropics of Central America and the Hawaiian Islands. Mountain regions are zones where large variations in ecosystems occur due to the strong climate zonation forced by the topography. These areas are particularly susceptible to changes in critical ecological thresholds, andmore » we conducted studies of changes in phonological indicators based on various climatic thresholds.« less

Understanding independence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Annan, James; Hargreaves, Julia

2016-04-01

In order to perform any Bayesian processing of a model ensemble, we need a prior over the ensemble members. In the case of multimodel ensembles such as CMIP, the historical approach of ``model democracy'' (i.e. equal weight for all models in the sample) is no longer credible (if it ever was) due to model duplication and inbreeding. The question of ``model independence'' is central to the question of prior weights. However, although this question has been repeatedly raised, it has not yet been satisfactorily addressed. Here I will discuss the issue of independence and present a theoretical foundation for understanding and analysing the ensemble in this context. I will also present some simple examples showing how these ideas may be applied and developed.

Observer enhanced control for spin-stabilized tethered formation in earth orbit

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guang, Zhai; Yuyang, Li; Liang, Bin

2018-04-01

This paper addresses the issues relevant to control of spin-stabilized tethered formation in circular orbit. Due to the dynamic complexities and nonlinear perturbations, it is challenging to promote the control precision for the formation deployment and maintenance. In this work, the formation dynamics are derived with considering the spinning rate of the central body, then major attention is dedicated to develop the nonlinear disturbance observer. To achieve better control performance, the observer-enhanced controller is designed by incorporating the disturbance observer into the control loop, benefits from the disturbance compensation are demonstrated, and also, the dependences of the disturbance observer performance on some important parameters are theoretically and numerically analyzed.

Plant phenomics: an overview of image acquisition technologies and image data analysis algorithms.

PubMed

Perez-Sanz, Fernando; Navarro, Pedro J; Egea-Cortines, Marcos

2017-11-01

The study of phenomes or phenomics has been a central part of biology. The field of automatic phenotype acquisition technologies based on images has seen an important advance in the last years. As with other high-throughput technologies, it addresses a common set of problems, including data acquisition and analysis. In this review, we give an overview of the main systems developed to acquire images. We give an in-depth analysis of image processing with its major issues and the algorithms that are being used or emerging as useful to obtain data out of images in an automatic fashion. © The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press.

Effect of safety issues with HIV drugs on the approval process of other drugs in the same class: an analysis of European Public Assessment Reports.

PubMed

Arnardottir, Arna H; Haaijer-Ruskamp, Flora M; Straus, Sabine M J; de Graeff, Pieter A; Mol, Peter G M

2011-11-01

Knowledge on the safety of new medicines is limited at the time of market entry. Nearly half of all drugs used to treat HIV registered in the EU required ≥1 Direct Healthcare Professional Communication (DHPC) in the past 10 years for safety issues identified post-approval. The aim was to evaluate the extent to which regulators and industry have addressed the risk of safety issues for HIV drugs based on prior experience with other drugs in the same class and whether doing so impacts development time of these drugs. HIV drugs receiving ≥1 DHPC in the Netherlands between January 1999 and December 2008 were identified. Each drug with a DHPC ('index' drug) was paired with subsequently approved HIV drug(s) in the same class (Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical [ATC] 4th level) ['follow-on' drugs]. Characteristics of safety issues were extracted from the DHPCs of the 'index' drugs. European Public Assessment Reports (EPARs) were reviewed regarding whether the safety issues had been considered during development and approval. Consideration of previously identified safety issues in 'follow-on' drug applications was assessed regarding attention paid to adverse drug reaction (ADR) symptoms in pre-marketing studies, Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) and postmarketing commitments, and whether size of the safety population was in accordance with Regulatory guidelines. 'Index' drugs were also paired with drugs in the same class already on the market ('older' drugs). For 'older' drugs, we identified whether the safety issue led to appropriate changes in the current SmPC (January 2011) compared with the SmPC at the time of marketing authorization. Clinical development time was assessed using time from first patent application to market authorization as proxy, and comparison was made between 'index' and 'follow-on' drugs. For 9 (43%) of the 21 centrally authorized HIV drugs, 11 serious safety issues that required a DHPC were identified. Two drugs were excluded from our analysis (DHPCs related to contamination/medication error). Six 'index' drugs were paired, each with one to six 'follow-on' drugs. Three concerned drug-drug interactions (DDIs); the other three were intracranial haemorrhage, neuromuscular weakness and severe skin/hepatic reactions. All but one 'follow-on' drug had information in the EPAR on that specific ADR (i.e. attention was paid to the ADR). The DDIs were addressed in pre-marketing studies and/or the SmPC. Two of the other ADRs were addressed by postmarketing surveillance commitments; intracranial haemorrhage was not addressed. Three safety issues for two 'index' drugs could not be paired with a 'follow-on' drug as no drug in the same class was approved after the corresponding DHPCs were issued. Five of the nine safety issues were added to at least one of the current SmPCs for the 'older' drugs already on the market at the time of DHPC issue. Two safety issues were already in the SmPC of the 'older' drugs at time of market approval and two were not introduced into the SmPC of 'older' drugs. Population size to assess short-term safety complied with the guidelines for four 'index', seven 'follow-on' and three 'older' drugs; population size to assess long-term safety complied for one, three and two drugs, respectively. For five drugs, EPARs did not provide adequate information on population size. No statistically significant difference in development time between 'index' and 'follow-on' drugs was found. Generally, safety issues were taken into account in the approval process of other drugs in the class. The approaches were different and determined by the nature of the ADR. Taking safety issues into account in the approval process did not seem to impact on the time taken to perform the pre-approval clinical programme.

The Precision Medicine Initiative's All of Us Research Program: an agenda for research on its ethical, legal, and social issues.

PubMed

Sankar, Pamela L; Parker, Lisa S

2017-07-01

The Precision Medicine Initiative (PMI) is an innovative approach to developing a new model of health care that takes into account individual differences in people's genes, environments, and lifestyles. A cornerstone of the initiative is the PMI All of Us Research Program (formerly known as PMI-Cohort Program) which will create a cohort of 1 million volunteers who will contribute their health data and biospecimens to a centralized national database to support precision medicine research. The PMI All of US Research Program is the largest longitudinal study in the history of the United States. The designers of the Program anticipated and addressed some of the ethical, legal, and social issues (ELSI) associated with the initiative. To date, however, there is no plan to call for research regarding ELSI associated with the Program-PMI All of Us program. Based on analysis of National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding announcements for the PMI All of Us program, we have identified three ELSI themes: cohort diversity and health disparities, participant engagement, and privacy and security. We review All of Us Research Program plans to address these issues and then identify additional ELSI within each domain that warrant ongoing investigation as the All of Us Research Program develops. We conclude that PMI's All of Us Research Program represents a significant opportunity and obligation to identify, analyze, and respond to ELSI, and we call on the PMI to initiate a research program capable of taking on these challenges.Genet Med advance online publication 01 December 2016.

Ethical issues in autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) in advanced breast cancer: a systematic literature review.

PubMed

Droste, Sigrid; Herrmann-Frank, Annegret; Scheibler, Fueloep; Krones, Tanja

2011-04-15

An effectiveness assessment on ASCT in locally advanced and metastatic breast cancer identified serious ethical issues associated with this intervention. Our objective was to systematically review these aspects by means of a literature analysis. We chose the reflexive Socratic approach as the review method using Hofmann's question list, conducted a comprehensive literature search in biomedical, psychological and ethics bibliographic databases and screened the resulting hits in a 2-step selection process. Relevant arguments were assembled from the included articles, and were assessed and assigned to the question list. Hofmann's questions were addressed by synthesizing these arguments. Of the identified 879 documents 102 included arguments related to one or more questions from Hofmann's question list. The most important ethical issues were the implementation of ASCT in clinical practice on the basis of phase-II trials in the 1990s and the publication of falsified data in the first randomized controlled trials (Bezwoda fraud), which caused significant negative effects on recruiting patients for further clinical trials and the doctor-patient relationship. Recent meta-analyses report a marginal effect in prolonging disease-free survival, accompanied by severe harms, including death. ASCT in breast cancer remains a stigmatized technology. Reported health-related-quality-of-life data are often at high risk of bias in favor of the survivors. Furthermore little attention has been paid to those patients who were dying. The questions were addressed in different degrees of completeness. All arguments were assignable to the questions. The central ethical dimensions of ASCT could be discussed by reviewing the published literature.

Collaborative international research: ethical and regulatory issues pertaining to human biological materials at a South African institutional research ethics committee.

PubMed

Sathar, Aslam; Dhai, Amaboo; van der Linde, Stephan

2014-12-01

Human Biological Materials (HBMs) are an invaluable resource in biomedical research. To determine if researchers and a Research Ethics Committee (REC) at a South African institution addressed ethical issues pertaining to HBMs in collaborative research with developed countries. Ethically approved retrospective cross-sectional descriptive audit. Of the 1305 protocols audited, 151 (11.57%) fulfilled the study's inclusion criteria. Compared to other developed countries, a majority of sponsors (90) were from the USA (p = 0.0001). The principle investigators (PIs) in all 151 protocols informed the REC of their intent to store HBMs. Only 132 protocols informed research participants (P < 0.0001). In 148 protocols informed consent (IC) was obtained from research participants, 116 protocols (76.8%) solicited broad consent compared to specific consent (32; 21.2%) [p < 0.0001]. In 105 cases a code was used to maintain confidentiality. HBMs were anonymised in 14 protocols [p < 0.0001]. More protocols informed the REC (90) than the research participants (67) that HBMs would be exported (p = 0.011). Export permits (EPs) and Material Transfer Agreements (MTAs) were not available in 109 and 143 protocols, respectively. Researchers and the REC did not adequately address the inter-related ethical and regulatory issues pertaining to HBMs. There was a lack of congruence between the ethical guidelines of developed countries and their actions which are central to the access to HBMs in collaborative research. HBMs may be leaving South Africa without EPs and MTAs during the process of international collaborative research. © 2013 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Ethical issues in autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) in advanced breast cancer: A systematic literature review

PubMed Central

2011-01-01

Background An effectiveness assessment on ASCT in locally advanced and metastatic breast cancer identified serious ethical issues associated with this intervention. Our objective was to systematically review these aspects by means of a literature analysis. Methods We chose the reflexive Socratic approach as the review method using Hofmann's question list, conducted a comprehensive literature search in biomedical, psychological and ethics bibliographic databases and screened the resulting hits in a 2-step selection process. Relevant arguments were assembled from the included articles, and were assessed and assigned to the question list. Hofmann's questions were addressed by synthesizing these arguments. Results Of the identified 879 documents 102 included arguments related to one or more questions from Hofmann's question list. The most important ethical issues were the implementation of ASCT in clinical practice on the basis of phase-II trials in the 1990s and the publication of falsified data in the first randomized controlled trials (Bezwoda fraud), which caused significant negative effects on recruiting patients for further clinical trials and the doctor-patient relationship. Recent meta-analyses report a marginal effect in prolonging disease-free survival, accompanied by severe harms, including death. ASCT in breast cancer remains a stigmatized technology. Reported health-related-quality-of-life data are often at high risk of bias in favor of the survivors. Furthermore little attention has been paid to those patients who were dying. Conclusions The questions were addressed in different degrees of completeness. All arguments were assignable to the questions. The central ethical dimensions of ASCT could be discussed by reviewing the published literature. PMID:21496244

Building translational ecology communities of practice: insights from the field

USGS Publications Warehouse

Lawson, Dawn M.; Hall, Kimberly R.; Yung, Laurie; Enquist, Carolyn A. F.

2017-01-01

Translational ecology (TE) prioritizes the understanding of social systems and decision contexts in order to address complex natural resource management issues. Although many practitioners in applied fields employ translational tactics, the body of literature addressing such approaches is limited. We present several case studies illustrating the principles of TE and the diversity of its applications. We anticipate that these examples will help others develop scientific products that decision makers can use “off the shelf” when solving critical ecological and social challenges. Our collective experience suggests that research of such immediate utility is rare. Long‐term commitment to working directly with partners to develop and reach shared goals is central to successful translation. The examples discussed here highlight the benefits of translational processes, including actionable scientific results, more informed policy making, increased investment in science‐driven solutions, and inspiration for partnerships. We aim to facilitate future TE‐based projects and build momentum for growing this community of practice.

[Hans Jonas: Nature Conservation, Conservation of Life].

PubMed

Burgui Burgui, Mario

2015-01-01

This article discusses three of the problems that the German philosopher Hans Jonas studied. The first one addresses the need for a specific ethic dedicated to the moral dimension of environmental problems, from a different perspective to the traditional. The second problem is crucial in the discussion on environmental ethics: the value of the nature. Does the nature have an intrinsic value or an instrumental value only (to satisfy the interests of the human being)? The thesis of Jonas, which claimed that nature is a good in itself, were further elaborated here. And the third problem is the derivation of moral norms and the role of man in this ethic that recognizes a good in itself in nature. According to Jonas, the human being is not diminished by recognizing the intrinsic value of nature, since the man's uniqueness and value are unquestionable. From these three central issues, the paper highlights the importance of seeking the links between bioethics and environmental ethics to address the current environmental, social and economic crisis.

Concept definition study for an extremely large aerophysics range facility

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Swift, Hallock F.

1993-01-01

A conceptual design of a very large aeroballistic range is presented, as are its operational characteristics and procedures. The proposed model launcher is a two-stage light-gas gun, having a launch tube diameter of 254 mm, and the capability of accelerating a 14 kg launch mass to 6.1 km/sec. The gun's 91.4 cm diameter piston is driven by pressurized helium. High pressures in the central breech are contained by a multiple disk arrangement. The blast tank and sabot separation tank are described, as are methods for arresting sabot segments. The conceptual design of the range itself includes a 3.3 m diameter test or flight chamber some 330 m in length. Provisions are made for testing of free flight models and tests in which the model is confined by a track system. Methods for model deceleration and recovery are described. Provisions required for future addition of advanced model launchers such as an electromagnetic launcher or ram accelerator are addressed. Siting and safety issues are also addressed.

Addressing the determinants of child mental health: intersectionality as a guide to primary health care renewal.

PubMed

McPherson, Charmaine M; McGibbon, Elizabeth A

2010-09-01

Primary health care (PHC) renewal was designed explicitly to attend to the multidimensional factors impacting on health, including the social determinants of health. These determinants are central considerations in the development of integrated, cross-sectoral, and multi-jurisdictional policies such as those that inform models of shared mental health care for children. However, there are complex theoretical challenges in translating these multidimensional issues into policy. One of these is the rarely discussed interrelationships among the social determinants of health and identities such as race, gender, age, sexuality, and social class within the added confluence of geographic contexts. An intersectionality lens is used to examine the complex interrelationships among the factors affecting child mental health and the associated policy challenges surrounding PHC renewal. The authors argue that an understanding of the intersections of social determinants of health, identity, and geography is pivotal in guiding policy-makers as they address child mental health inequities using a PHC renewal agenda.

Coherent electron-spin-resonance manipulation of three individual spins in a triple quantum dot

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Noiri, A.; Yoneda, J.; Nakajima, T.

2016-04-11

Quantum dot arrays provide a promising platform for quantum information processing. For universal quantum simulation and computation, one central issue is to demonstrate the exhaustive controllability of quantum states. Here, we report the addressable manipulation of three single electron spins in a triple quantum dot using a technique combining electron-spin-resonance and a micro-magnet. The micro-magnet makes the local Zeeman field difference between neighboring spins much larger than the nuclear field fluctuation, which ensures the addressable driving of electron-spin-resonance by shifting the resonance condition for each spin. We observe distinct coherent Rabi oscillations for three spins in a semiconductor triple quantummore » dot with up to 25 MHz spin rotation frequencies. This individual manipulation over three spins enables us to arbitrarily change the magnetic spin quantum number of the three spin system, and thus to operate a triple-dot device as a three-qubit system in combination with the existing technique of exchange operations among three spins.« less

A category adjustment approach to memory for spatial location in natural scenes.

PubMed

Holden, Mark P; Curby, Kim M; Newcombe, Nora S; Shipley, Thomas F

2010-05-01

Memories for spatial locations often show systematic errors toward the central value of the surrounding region. This bias has been explained using a Bayesian model in which fine-grained and categorical information are combined (Huttenlocher, Hedges, & Duncan, 1991). However, experiments testing this model have largely used locations contained in simple geometric shapes. Use of this paradigm raises 2 issues. First, do results generalize to the complex natural world? Second, what types of information might be used to segment complex spaces into constituent categories? Experiment 1 addressed the 1st question by showing a bias toward prototypical values in memory for spatial locations in complex natural scenes. Experiment 2 addressed the 2nd question by manipulating the availability of basic visual cues (using color negatives) or of semantic information about the scene (using inverted images). Error patterns suggest that both perceptual and conceptual information are involved in segmentation. The possible neurological foundations of location memory of this kind are discussed. PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved.

Complementary and alternative medicine: the challenges of ethical justification. A philosophical analysis and evaluation of ethical reasons for the offer, use and promotion of complementary and alternative medicine.

PubMed

Mertz, Marcel

2007-09-01

With the prevalence of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) increasing in western societies, questions of the ethical justification of these alternative health care approaches and practices have to be addressed. In order to evaluate philosophical reasoning on this subject, it is of paramount importance to identify and analyse possible arguments for the ethical justification of CAM considering contemporary biomedical ethics as well as more fundamental philosophical aspects. Moreover, it is vital to provide adequate analytical instruments for this task, such as separating 'CAM as belief system' and 'CAM as practice'. Findings show that beneficence and non-maleficence are central issues for an ethical justification of CAM as practice, while freedom of thought and religion are central to CAM as belief system. Many justification strategies have limitations and qualifications that have to be taken into account. Singularly descriptive premises in an argument often prove to be more problematic than universal ethical principles. Thus, non-ethical issues related to a general philosophical underpinning--e.g. epistemology, semantics, and ontology--are highly relevant for determining a justification strategy, especially when strong metaphysical assumptions are involved. Even if some values are shared with traditional biomedicine, axiological differences have to be considered as well. Further research should be done about specific CAM positions. These could be combined with applied qualitative social research methods.

Gender is crucial issue in slowing the spread of HIV.

PubMed

During the UN General Assembly Special Session, Peter Piot, executive director of the Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), spoke about gender inequality and its role in the AIDS epidemic. According to Piot, gender inequality is a fundamental driving force of the AIDS epidemic and therefore must be addressed centrally in responding to the epidemic. Biological and social factors make women and girls more vulnerable to AIDS than men; hence, equity in health, education, environment, and economy are essential if women are to act to protect themselves against HIV and AIDS. This concept is supported by the World AIDS Campaign, in which harmful concepts of masculinity are challenged and the view is affirmed that changing long-held beliefs and attitudes must be part of preventive efforts. In addition, Piot recommends that AIDS prevention programs should give greater emphasis to the role of men in health care and create better ways for men and women to communicate and take responsibility for issues of concern in preventing HIV/AIDS.

Evil acts and malicious gossip: a multiagent model of the effects of gossip in socially distributed person perception.

PubMed

Smith, Eliot R

2014-11-01

Although person perception is central to virtually all human social behavior, it is ordinarily studied in isolated individual perceivers. Conceptualizing it as a socially distributed process opens up a variety of novel issues, which have been addressed in scattered literatures mostly outside of social psychology. This article examines some of these issues using a series of multiagent models. Perceivers can use gossip (information from others about social targets) to improve their ability to detect targets who perform rare negative behaviors. The model suggests that they can simultaneously protect themselves against being influenced by malicious gossip intended to defame specific targets. They can balance these potentially conflicting goals by using specific strategies including disregarding gossip that differs from a personally obtained impression. Multiagent modeling demonstrates the outcomes produced by different combinations of assumptions about gossip, and suggests directions for further research and theoretical development. © 2014 by the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, Inc.

Stochastic dynamics and the predictability of big hits in online videos.

PubMed

Miotto, José M; Kantz, Holger; Altmann, Eduardo G

2017-03-01

The competition for the attention of users is a central element of the Internet. Crucial issues are the origin and predictability of big hits, the few items that capture a big portion of the total attention. We address these issues analyzing 10^{6} time series of videos' views from YouTube. We find that the average gain of views is linearly proportional to the number of views a video already has, in agreement with usual rich-get-richer mechanisms and Gibrat's law, but this fails to explain the prevalence of big hits. The reason is that the fluctuations around the average views are themselves heavy tailed. Based on these empirical observations, we propose a stochastic differential equation with Lévy noise as a model of the dynamics of videos. We show how this model is substantially better in estimating the probability of an ordinary item becoming a big hit, which is considerably underestimated in the traditional proportional-growth models.

Exascale Storage Systems the SIRIUS Way

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Klasky, S. A.; Abbasi, H.; Ainsworth, M.; Choi, J.; Curry, M.; Kurc, T.; Liu, Q.; Lofstead, J.; Maltzahn, C.; Parashar, M.; Podhorszki, N.; Suchyta, E.; Wang, F.; Wolf, M.; Chang, C. S.; Churchill, M.; Ethier, S.

2016-10-01

As the exascale computing age emerges, data related issues are becoming critical factors that determine how and where we do computing. Popular approaches used by traditional I/O solution and storage libraries become increasingly bottlenecked due to their assumptions about data movement, re-organization, and storage. While, new technologies, such as “burst buffers”, can help address some of the short-term performance issues, it is essential that we reexamine the underlying storage and I/O infrastructure to effectively support requirements and challenges at exascale and beyond. In this paper we present a new approach to the exascale Storage System and I/O (SSIO), which is based on allowing users to inject application knowledge into the system and leverage this knowledge to better manage, store, and access large data volumes so as to minimize the time to scientific insights. Central to our approach is the distinction between the data, metadata, and the knowledge contained therein, transferred from the user to the system by describing “utility” of data as it ages.

Stochastic dynamics and the predictability of big hits in online videos

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Miotto, José M.; Kantz, Holger; Altmann, Eduardo G.

2017-03-01

The competition for the attention of users is a central element of the Internet. Crucial issues are the origin and predictability of big hits, the few items that capture a big portion of the total attention. We address these issues analyzing 106 time series of videos' views from YouTube. We find that the average gain of views is linearly proportional to the number of views a video already has, in agreement with usual rich-get-richer mechanisms and Gibrat's law, but this fails to explain the prevalence of big hits. The reason is that the fluctuations around the average views are themselves heavy tailed. Based on these empirical observations, we propose a stochastic differential equation with Lévy noise as a model of the dynamics of videos. We show how this model is substantially better in estimating the probability of an ordinary item becoming a big hit, which is considerably underestimated in the traditional proportional-growth models.

The doctor-patient relationship as the business case for quality: doing well by doing right.

PubMed

Gosfield, Alice G

2004-01-01

The idea that healthcare quality in America has lagged behind optimal levels has been a central national policy issue since at least 1998. Reform efforts, however, have failed to acknowledge the critical and unique role physicians play in making quality initiatives real. This Article argues physicians are at the core of any effort to propel quality forward in a significant way and, therefore, must be taken into account directly and without apology. The Article examines the quality-accountability context present in this country. It addresses why the physician nexus on these issues is vital for real change to take place and sets forth a clear statement of what is essential to support the doctor-patient relationship in any quality agenda. Finally, it reiterates the author's previously proposed five principles for quality, as well as her unified field theory of quality, all of which are designed to advance quality in a very different way.

BAYESIAN BICLUSTERING FOR PATIENT STRATIFICATION.

PubMed

Khakabimamaghani, Sahand; Ester, Martin

2016-01-01

The move from Empirical Medicine towards Personalized Medicine has attracted attention to Stratified Medicine (SM). Some methods are provided in the literature for patient stratification, which is the central task of SM, however, there are still significant open issues. First, it is still unclear if integrating different datatypes will help in detecting disease subtypes more accurately, and, if not, which datatype(s) are most useful for this task. Second, it is not clear how we can compare different methods of patient stratification. Third, as most of the proposed stratification methods are deterministic, there is a need for investigating the potential benefits of applying probabilistic methods. To address these issues, we introduce a novel integrative Bayesian biclustering method, called B2PS, for patient stratification and propose methods for evaluating the results. Our experimental results demonstrate the superiority of B2PS over a popular state-of-the-art method and the benefits of Bayesian approaches. Our results agree with the intuition that transcriptomic data forms a better basis for patient stratification than genomic data.

Simulation of olive grove gross primary production by the combination of ground and multi-sensor satellite data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brilli, L.; Chiesi, M.; Maselli, F.; Moriondo, M.; Gioli, B.; Toscano, P.; Zaldei, A.; Bindi, M.

2013-08-01

We developed and tested a methodology to estimate olive (Olea europaea L.) gross primary production (GPP) combining ground and multi-sensor satellite data. An eddy-covariance station placed in an olive grove in central Italy provided carbon and water fluxes over two years (2010-2011), which were used as reference to evaluate the performance of a GPP estimation methodology based on a Monteith type model (modified C-Fix) and driven by meteorological and satellite (NDVI) data. A major issue was related to the consideration of the two main olive grove components, i.e. olive trees and inter-tree ground vegetation: this issue was addressed by the separate simulation of carbon fluxes within the two ecosystem layers, followed by their recombination. In this way the eddy covariance GPP measurements were successfully reproduced, with the exception of two periods that followed tillage operations. For these periods measured GPP could be approximated by considering synthetic NDVI values which simulated the expected response of inter-tree ground vegetation to tillages.

Violations of human rights: health practitioners as witnesses.

PubMed

Orbinski, James; Beyrer, Chris; Singh, Sonal

2007-08-25

For humanitarian health-care practitioners bearing witness to violations of human dignity has become synonymous with denunciations, human rights advocacy, or lobbying for political change. A strict reliance on legal interpretations of humanitarianism and human rights is inadequate for fully understanding the problems inherent in political change. With examples from the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the USA, the Rwandan genocide, and physician-led political activism in Nepal, we describe three cases in which health practitioners bearing witness to humanitarian and human-rights issues have had imperfect outcomes. However these acts of bearing witness have been central to the promotion of humanitarianism and human rights, to the pursuit of justice that they have inevitably and implicitly endorsed, and thus to the politics that have or might yet address these issues. Despite the imperfections, bearing witness, having first-hand knowledge of humanitarian and human-rights principles and their limitations, and systematically collecting evidence of abuse, can be instrumental in tackling the forces that constrain the realisation of human health and dignity.

Variable frequency microprocessor clock generator

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Branson, C.N.

A microprocessor-based system is described comprising: a digital central microprocessor provided with a clock input and having a rate of operation determined by the frequency of a clock signal input thereto; memory means operably coupled to the central microprocessor for storing programs respectively including a plurality of instructions and addressable by the central microprocessor; peripheral device operably connected to the central microprocessor, the first peripheral device being addressable by the central microprocessor for control thereby; a system clock generator for generating a digital reference clock signal having a reference frequency rate; and frequency rate reduction circuit means connected between themore » clock generator and the clock input of the central microprocessor for selectively dividing the reference clock signal to generate a microprocessor clock signal as an input to the central microprocessor for clocking the central microprocessor.« less

Central Contractor Registration Handbook (CCR)

DTIC Science & Technology

2002-03-01

Assistance Center 888-227-2423 or 616-961-4725 Report Documentation Page Report Date 00/03/2002 Report Type N/A Dates Covered (from... to) - Title and......Work Unit Number Performing Organization Name(s) and Address(es) Central Contractor Registration Assistance Center (888-227-2423) or (616-961-4725

The use of reflective and permeable pavements as a potential practice for heat island mitigation and stormwater management

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, H.; Harvey, J. T.; Holland, T. J.; Kayhanian, M.

2013-03-01

To help address the built environmental issues of both heat island and stormwater runoff, strategies that make pavements cooler and permeable have been investigated through measurements and modeling of a set of pavement test sections. The investigation included the hydraulic and thermal performance of the pavements. The permeability results showed that permeable interlocking concrete pavers have the highest permeability (or infiltration rate, ˜0.5 cm s-1). The two permeable asphalt pavements showed the lowest permeability, but still had an infiltration rate of ˜0.1 cm s-1, which is adequate to drain rainwater without generating surface runoff during most typical rain events in central California. An increase in albedo can significantly reduce the daytime high surface temperature in summer. Permeable pavements under wet conditions could give lower surface temperatures than impermeable pavements. The cooling effect highly depends on the availability of moisture near the surface layer and the evaporation rate. The peak cooling effect of watering for the test sections was approximately 15-35 °C on the pavement surface temperature in the early afternoon during summer in central California. The evaporative cooling effect on the pavement surface temperature at 4:00 pm on the third day (25 h after watering) was still 2-7 °C lower compared to that on the second day, without considering the higher air temperature on the third day. A separate and related simulation study performed by UCPRC showed that full depth permeable pavements, if designed properly, can carry both light-duty traffic and certain heavy-duty vehicles while retaining the runoff volume captured from an average California storm event. These preliminarily results indicated the technical feasibility of combined reflective and permeable pavements for addressing the built environment issues related to both heat island mitigation and stormwater runoff management.

Exploring accessibility issues of a public building for the mobility impaired. Case study: interstate bus terminal (ISBT), Vijayawada, India.

PubMed

Alagappan, Valliappan; Hefferan, Albert; Parivallal, Aarthi

2018-04-01

Right to access in the built environment creates equal and nondiscriminatory opportunities to a person with disabilities in order to move freely around and interact positively without hindrance and barriers. The objective of the study is to understand the existing accessibility related issues and implementation of guidelines and standards for public buildings. The technical verification using onsite and offsite access audit format for current provision of facilities in the internal and external environment has been carried out with the format prepared in reference to Central Public Works Department (CPWD) accessibility guidelines for mobility impaired and elderly and American Disability Act (ADA) guidelines. The access audit format included parameters like accessibility, safety, security, comfort and convenience and it addresses the barriers faced by wheel chair users, people with crutches, prosthetics and with non-assistive devices. The study addressed accessibility compliance in three zones of the building with initiation from parking area zone, inside the building, and area outside the building premises. The findings highlight the environmental barriers encountered by mobility impaired people and represented graphically in the layout plan and physical effort required to overcome the challenges in the built environment. The overall accessibility compliance is 42% in the interstate bus terminal. Implications for rehabilitation The study identifies the environmental limitations, human and technologically facilitators with the help of Central Public Works Department (CPWD) and American Disability Act (ADA) guidelines (1990). It highlights barriers for mobility-impaired users, by demonstrating in a spatial layout and the means to facilitate easy access with minimal frustration, stress and with less physical effort. It demonstrates the need for preparation of separate guidelines for making the existing types of buildings to be access and disabled-friendly. New accessibility guidelines shall be prepared by incorporating concepts like such as relative accessibility into new bus terminal buildings. Guidelines help the disabled in the process of rehabilitation and develop inclusiveness not rather than alienation.

Cochlear Implants:System Design, Integration and Evaluation

PubMed Central

Rebscher, Stephen; Harrison, William V.; Sun, Xiaoan; Feng, Haihong

2009-01-01

As the most successful neural prosthesis, cochlear implants have provided partial hearing to more than 120,000 persons worldwide; half of which being pediatric users who are able to develop nearly normal language. Biomedical engineers have played a central role in the design, integration and evaluation of the cochlear implant system, but the overall success is a result of collaborative work with physiologists, psychologists, physicians, educators, and entrepreneurs. This review presents broad yet in-depth academic and industrial perspectives on the underlying research and ongoing development of cochlear implants. The introduction accounts for major events and advances in cochlear implants, including dynamic interplays among engineers, scientists, physicians, and policy makers. The review takes a system approach to address critical issues from design and specifications to integration and evaluation. First, the cochlear implant system design and specifications are laid out. Second, the design goals, principles, and methods of the subsystem components are identified from the external speech processor and radio frequency transmission link to the internal receiver, stimulator and electrode arrays. Third, system integration and functional evaluation are presented with respect to safety, reliability, and challenges facing the present and future cochlear implant designers and users. Finally, issues beyond cochlear implants are discussed to address treatment options for the entire spectrum of hearing impairment as well as to use the cochlear implant as a model to design and evaluate other similar neural prostheses such as vestibular and retinal implants. PMID:19946565

Cochlear implants: system design, integration, and evaluation.

PubMed

Zeng, Fan-Gang; Rebscher, Stephen; Harrison, William; Sun, Xiaoan; Feng, Haihong

2008-01-01

As the most successful neural prosthesis, cochlear implants have provided partial hearing to more than 120000 persons worldwide; half of which being pediatric users who are able to develop nearly normal language. Biomedical engineers have played a central role in the design, integration and evaluation of the cochlear implant system, but the overall success is a result of collaborative work with physiologists, psychologists, physicians, educators, and entrepreneurs. This review presents broad yet in-depth academic and industrial perspectives on the underlying research and ongoing development of cochlear implants. The introduction accounts for major events and advances in cochlear implants, including dynamic interplays among engineers, scientists, physicians, and policy makers. The review takes a system approach to address critical issues in cochlear implant research and development. First, the cochlear implant system design and specifications are laid out. Second, the design goals, principles, and methods of the subsystem components are identified from the external speech processor and radio frequency transmission link to the internal receiver, stimulator and electrode arrays. Third, system integration and functional evaluation are presented with respect to safety, reliability, and challenges facing the present and future cochlear implant designers and users. Finally, issues beyond cochlear implants are discussed to address treatment options for the entire spectrum of hearing impairment as well as to use the cochlear implant as a model to design and evaluate other similar neural prostheses such as vestibular and retinal implants.

A sense of place: rural training at a regional medical school campus.

PubMed

Crump, William J; Barnett, Darel; Fricker, Steve

2004-01-01

Traditionally, rural students experience urban disruption during the many years of education and training in urban environments before choosing a practice site. Regional rural campuses that allow students to live and work in small towns during the last 2 years of medical school are one strategy to address this issue. To report the results of the first 10 years of a rural campus in western Kentucky, including response to difficulties filling openings for third- and fourth-year medical students at the campus. A survey was sent to all 76 students who had shown interest in the rural campus, asking them to prioritize the important issues in their campus choice. Students not choosing the rural campus placed a higher priority on large-city amenities, better opportunities for their spouse, and proximity to family in eastern and central Kentucky. Students who chose the rural campus placed a higher priority on one-on-one clinical training and interest in small town life. For the rural clinical campus to reach its potential, more rural students from the western part of the state must be admitted to medical school and then choose this campus. Strategies to reinforce the sense of place among rural students focus on experiential programs in rural areas. Initial results suggest that medical educators should consider geography more carefully when designing approaches to address physician maldistribution.

Parallel Distributed Processing at 25: further explorations in the microstructure of cognition.

PubMed

Rogers, Timothy T; McClelland, James L

2014-08-01

This paper introduces a special issue of Cognitive Science initiated on the 25th anniversary of the publication of Parallel Distributed Processing (PDP), a two-volume work that introduced the use of neural network models as vehicles for understanding cognition. The collection surveys the core commitments of the PDP framework, the key issues the framework has addressed, and the debates the framework has spawned, and presents viewpoints on the current status of these issues. The articles focus on both historical roots and contemporary developments in learning, optimality theory, perception, memory, language, conceptual knowledge, cognitive control, and consciousness. Here we consider the approach more generally, reviewing the original motivations, the resulting framework, and the central tenets of the underlying theory. We then evaluate the impact of PDP both on the field at large and within specific subdomains of cognitive science and consider the current role of PDP models within the broader landscape of contemporary theoretical frameworks in cognitive science. Looking to the future, we consider the implications for cognitive science of the recent success of machine learning systems called "deep networks"-systems that build on key ideas presented in the PDP volumes. Copyright © 2014 Cognitive Science Society, Inc.

From single steps to mass migration: the problem of scale in the movement ecology of the Serengeti wildebeest.

PubMed

Torney, Colin J; Hopcraft, J Grant C; Morrison, Thomas A; Couzin, Iain D; Levin, Simon A

2018-05-19

A central question in ecology is how to link processes that occur over different scales. The daily interactions of individual organisms ultimately determine community dynamics, population fluctuations and the functioning of entire ecosystems. Observations of these multiscale ecological processes are constrained by various technological, biological or logistical issues, and there are often vast discrepancies between the scale at which observation is possible and the scale of the question of interest. Animal movement is characterized by processes that act over multiple spatial and temporal scales. Second-by-second decisions accumulate to produce annual movement patterns. Individuals influence, and are influenced by, collective movement decisions, which then govern the spatial distribution of populations and the connectivity of meta-populations. While the field of movement ecology is experiencing unprecedented growth in the availability of movement data, there remain challenges in integrating observations with questions of ecological interest. In this article, we present the major challenges of addressing these issues within the context of the Serengeti wildebeest migration, a keystone ecological phenomena that crosses multiple scales of space, time and biological complexity.This article is part of the theme issue 'Collective movement ecology'. © 2018 The Author(s).

What Is the Purpose of the Theses Addressing the Issue of Program Evaluation in Turkey? (The Case of Curriculum and Instruction: 1997-2015)

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Alkin-Sahin, Senar; Tunca, Nihal

2016-01-01

In the current study, the aim is to investigate the theses addressing the issue of program evaluation in the field of Curriculum and Instruction (C&I) in 1997-2015. The study employed the survey model. The universe of the study consists of totally 87 theses addressing the issue of program evaluation in the field of C&I in 1997-2015. As the…

Importance of Addressing Sexuality in Certified Rehabilitation Counselor Practice

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kazukauskas, Kelly A.; Lam, Chow S.

2009-01-01

This study investigated Certified Rehabilitation Counselors' (CRCs) beliefs about the importance of addressing sexuality issues during rehabilitation. A modified version of the Family Life Sex Education Goals Questionnaire (FLSEGQ) was completed by 199 CRCs to determine which issues CRCs believe are most important to address. Six sexuality-related…

Opportunity Foregone: Education in Brazil.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Birdsall, Nancy, Ed.; Sabot, Richard H., Ed.

The studies presented in this volume help readers to understand the constraints faced in addressing the key problems within the Brazilian education system. Steps to address the issues and benefits to be gained by addressing those issues are discussed. Forty-two authors reiterate that the success of Brazil's education reform will have an important…

The Distance Education Evolution: Issues and Case Studies

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Monolescu, Dominique; Schifter, Catherine; Greenwood, Linda

2004-01-01

"The Distance Education Evolution: Case Studies" addresses issues regarding the development and design of online courses, and the implementation and evaluation of an online learning program. Several chapters include design strategies for online courses that range from the specific to the universal. Many authors address pedagogical issues from both…

Afterschool: A Strategy for Addressing and Preventing Middle School Bullying. MetLife Foundation Afterschool Alert. Issue Brief No. 51

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Afterschool Alliance, 2011

2011-01-01

The Afterschool Alliance, in partnership with MetLife Foundation, is proud to present the second in a series of four issue briefs examining critical issues facing middle school youth and the vital role afterschool programs play in addressing these issues. This brief focuses on bullying awareness and prevention. Bullying is a dangerous behavior…

Security and health research databases: the stakeholders and questions to be addressed.

PubMed

Stewart, Sara

2006-01-01

Health research database security issues abound. Issues include subject confidentiality, data ownership, data integrity and data accessibility. There are also various stakeholders in database security. Each of these stakeholders has a different set of concerns and responsibilities when dealing with security issues. There is an obvious need for training in security issues, so that these issues may be addressed and health research will move on without added obstacles based on misunderstanding security methods and technologies.

Public health workforce: challenges and policy issues

PubMed Central

Beaglehole, Robert; Dal Poz, Mario R

2003-01-01

This paper reviews the challenges facing the public health workforce in developing countries and the main policy issues that must be addressed in order to strengthen the public health workforce. The public health workforce is diverse and includes all those whose prime responsibility is the provision of core public health activities, irrespective of their organizational base. Although the public health workforce is central to the performance of health systems, very little is known about its composition, training or performance. The key policy question is: Should governments invest more in building and supporting the public health workforce and infrastructure to ensure the more effective functioning of health systems? Other questions concern: the nature of the public health workforce, including its size, composition, skills, training needs, current functions and performance; the appropriate roles of the workforce; and how the workforce can be strengthened to support new approaches to priority health problems. The available evidence to shed light on these policy issues is limited. The World Health Organization is supporting the development of evidence to inform discussion on the best approaches to strengthening public health capacity in developing countries. WHO's priorities are to build an evidence base on the size and structure of the public health workforce, beginning with ongoing data collection activities, and to map the current public health training programmes in developing countries and in Central and Eastern Europe. Other steps will include developing a consensus on the desired functions and activities of the public health workforce and developing a framework and methods for assisting countries to assess and enhance the performance of public health training institutions and of the public health workforce. PMID:12904251

A general purpose subroutine for fast fourier transform on a distributed memory parallel machine

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dubey, A.; Zubair, M.; Grosch, C. E.

1992-01-01

One issue which is central in developing a general purpose Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) subroutine on a distributed memory parallel machine is the data distribution. It is possible that different users would like to use the FFT routine with different data distributions. Thus, there is a need to design FFT schemes on distributed memory parallel machines which can support a variety of data distributions. An FFT implementation on a distributed memory parallel machine which works for a number of data distributions commonly encountered in scientific applications is presented. The problem of rearranging the data after computing the FFT is also addressed. The performance of the implementation on a distributed memory parallel machine Intel iPSC/860 is evaluated.

Permanent magnet design for magnetic heat pumps using total cost minimization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Teyber, R.; Trevizoli, P. V.; Christiaanse, T. V.; Govindappa, P.; Niknia, I.; Rowe, A.

2017-11-01

The active magnetic regenerator (AMR) is an attractive technology for efficient heat pumps and cooling systems. The costs associated with a permanent magnet for near room temperature applications are a central issue which must be solved for broad market implementation. To address this problem, we present a permanent magnet topology optimization to minimize the total cost of cooling using a thermoeconomic cost-rate balance coupled with an AMR model. A genetic algorithm identifies cost-minimizing magnet topologies. For a fixed temperature span of 15 K and 4.2 kg of gadolinium, the optimal magnet configuration provides 3.3 kW of cooling power with a second law efficiency (ηII) of 0.33 using 16.3 kg of permanent magnet material.

A Highly Flexible and Efficient Passive Optical Network Employing Dynamic Wavelength Allocation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hsueh, Yu-Li; Rogge, Matthew S.; Yamamoto, Shu; Kazovsky, Leonid G.

2005-01-01

A novel and high-performance passive optical network (PON), the SUCCESS-DWA PON, employs dynamic wavelength allocation to provide bandwidth sharing across multiple physical PONs. In the downstream, tunable lasers, an arrayed waveguide grating, and coarse/fine filtering combine to create a flexible new optical access solution. In the upstream, several distributed and centralized schemes are proposed and investigated. The network performance is compared to conventional TDM-PONs under different traffic models, including the self-similar traffic model and the transaction-oriented model. Broadcast support and deployment issues are addressed. The network's excellent scalability can bridge the gap between conventional TDM-PONs and WDM-PONs. The powerful architecture is a promising candidate for next generation optical access networks.

Nanoparticles: A Challenging Vehicle for Neural Stimulation

PubMed Central

Colombo, Elisabetta; Feyen, Paul; Antognazza, Maria Rosa; Lanzani, Guglielmo; Benfenati, Fabio

2016-01-01

Neurostimulation represents a powerful and well-established tool for the treatment of several diseases affecting the central nervous system. Although, effective in reducing the symptoms or the progression of brain disorders, the poor accessibility of the deepest areas of the brain currently hampers the possibility of a more specific and controlled therapeutic stimulation, depending on invasive surgical approaches and long-term stability, and biocompatibility issues. The massive research of the last decades on nanomaterials and nanoscale devices favored the development of new tools to address the limitations of the available neurostimulation approaches. This mini-review focuses on the employment of nanoparticles for the modulation of the electrophysiological activity of neuronal networks and the related transduction mechanisms underlying the nanostructure-neuron interfaces. PMID:27047327

Measuring Exposure Opportunities: Using Exogenous Measures in Assessing Effects of Media Exposure on Smoking Outcomes

PubMed Central

Liu, Jiaying; Hornik, Robert

2016-01-01

Measurement of exposure has long been one of the most central and fundamental issues in communication research. While self-reported measures remain dominant in the field, alternative approaches such as exogenous or hybrid measures have received increasing scholarly attention and been employed in various contexts for the estimation of media exposure; however, systematic scrutiny of such measures is thin. This study aims to address the gap by systematically reviewing the studies which utilized exogenous or hybrid exposure measures for examining the effects of media exposure on tobacco-related outcomes. We then proceed to discuss the strengths and weaknesses, current developments in this class of measurement, drawing some implications for the appropriate utilization of exogenous and hybrid measures. PMID:27746848

Annual Status Report (Fiscal Year 2011) Composite Analysis of Low-Level Waste Disposal in the Central Plateau at the Hanford Site

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Nichols, W. E.

2012-03-12

In accordance with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) requirements in DOE O 435.1 Chg 11, and as implemented by DOE/RL-2000-29, Rev. 22, the DOE Richland Operations Office (DOE-RL) has prepared this annual summary of the composite analysis for fiscal year (FY) 2011 as originally reported in PNNL-118003 (henceforth referred to as the Composite Analysis). The main emphasis of DOE/RL-2000-29, Rev. 2 is to identify additional data and information to enhance the Composite Analysis and the subsequent PNNL-11800 Addendum 14 (hereinafter referred to as the Addendum), and to address secondary issues identified during the review of the Composite Analysis.

The Essential Role for Laboratory Studies in Atmospheric Chemistry.

PubMed

Burkholder, James B; Abbatt, Jonathan P D; Barnes, Ian; Roberts, James M; Melamed, Megan L; Ammann, Markus; Bertram, Allan K; Cappa, Christopher D; Carlton, Annmarie G; Carpenter, Lucy J; Crowley, John N; Dubowski, Yael; George, Christian; Heard, Dwayne E; Herrmann, Hartmut; Keutsch, Frank N; Kroll, Jesse H; McNeill, V Faye; Ng, Nga Lee; Nizkorodov, Sergey A; Orlando, John J; Percival, Carl J; Picquet-Varrault, Bénédicte; Rudich, Yinon; Seakins, Paul W; Surratt, Jason D; Tanimoto, Hiroshi; Thornton, Joel A; Tong, Zhu; Tyndall, Geoffrey S; Wahner, Andreas; Weschler, Charles J; Wilson, Kevin R; Ziemann, Paul J

2017-03-07

Laboratory studies of atmospheric chemistry characterize the nature of atmospherically relevant processes down to the molecular level, providing fundamental information used to assess how human activities drive environmental phenomena such as climate change, urban air pollution, ecosystem health, indoor air quality, and stratospheric ozone depletion. Laboratory studies have a central role in addressing the incomplete fundamental knowledge of atmospheric chemistry. This article highlights the evolving science needs for this community and emphasizes how our knowledge is far from complete, hindering our ability to predict the future state of our atmosphere and to respond to emerging global environmental change issues. Laboratory studies provide rich opportunities to expand our understanding of the atmosphere via collaborative research with the modeling and field measurement communities, and with neighboring disciplines.

Availability and affordability of treatment for Human African Trypanosomiasis.

PubMed

Etchegorry, M G; Helenport, J P; Pecoul, B; Jannin, J; Legros, D

2001-11-01

Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT) is a re-emerging disease whose usual treatments are becoming less efficient because of the increasing parasite resistance. Availability of HAT drugs is poor and their production in danger because of technical, ecological and economic constraints. In view of this dramatic situation, a network involving experts from NGOs, WHO and pharmaceutical producers was commissioned with updating estimates of need for each HAT drug for the coming years; negotiations with potential producers of new drugs such as eflornithine; securing sustainable manufacturing of existing drugs; clinical research into new combinations of these drugs for first and second-line treatments; centralizing drug purchases and their distribution through a unique non-profit entity; and addressing regulatory and legal issues concerning new drugs.

Roadmapping Future E-Government Research

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bicking, Melanie

Global electronic markets, virtual organisations, virtual identities, virtual products and services, and Internet-related crime are growing in prominence and importance. In a world that is increasingly non-physical and borderless, what are government's roles, responsibilities and limitations? The Internet plays a central role within the transformation process from traditional governments towards modern and innovative government that the requirements of an Information Society. Based on the findings of the eGovRTD2020 project, that aims at identifying key research challenges and at implementing a model for a holistic government with horizon 2020, this paper explains the necessity to investigate and understand the Internet and in particular government's role and responsibilities in it. Furthermore, the paper provides a research roadmap that details how to address certain issue related research questions.

A technical guide to tDCS, and related non-invasive brain stimulation tools.

PubMed

Woods, A J; Antal, A; Bikson, M; Boggio, P S; Brunoni, A R; Celnik, P; Cohen, L G; Fregni, F; Herrmann, C S; Kappenman, E S; Knotkova, H; Liebetanz, D; Miniussi, C; Miranda, P C; Paulus, W; Priori, A; Reato, D; Stagg, C; Wenderoth, N; Nitsche, M A

2016-02-01

Transcranial electrical stimulation (tES), including transcranial direct and alternating current stimulation (tDCS, tACS) are non-invasive brain stimulation techniques increasingly used for modulation of central nervous system excitability in humans. Here we address methodological issues required for tES application. This review covers technical aspects of tES, as well as applications like exploration of brain physiology, modelling approaches, tES in cognitive neurosciences, and interventional approaches. It aims to help the reader to appropriately design and conduct studies involving these brain stimulation techniques, understand limitations and avoid shortcomings, which might hamper the scientific rigor and potential applications in the clinical domain. Copyright © 2015 International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology. All rights reserved.

Thought beyond language: neural dissociation of algebra and natural language.

PubMed

Monti, Martin M; Parsons, Lawrence M; Osherson, Daniel N

2012-08-01

A central question in cognitive science is whether natural language provides combinatorial operations that are essential to diverse domains of thought. In the study reported here, we addressed this issue by examining the role of linguistic mechanisms in forging the hierarchical structures of algebra. In a 3-T functional MRI experiment, we showed that processing of the syntax-like operations of algebra does not rely on the neural mechanisms of natural language. Our findings indicate that processing the syntax of language elicits the known substrate of linguistic competence, whereas algebraic operations recruit bilateral parietal brain regions previously implicated in the representation of magnitude. This double dissociation argues against the view that language provides the structure of thought across all cognitive domains.

Gunshot wounds to the hand. The Martin Luther King, Jr, General Hospital experience.

PubMed

Phillips, P; Hansraj, K K; Cox, E E; Ashley, E M

1995-01-01

This article is a retrospective review of patients who presented to Martin Luther King, Jr./Drew Medical Center with gunshot wounds and had either isolated or associated injuries to the hand. The following is an account of those injuries noting the location, soft-tissue or bony involvement, and interventional methods that were implemented in the treatment of these patients who resided primarily in South Central Los Angeles. Prompt evaluation and initiation of treatment is essential in the management of both high- and low-velocity gunshot wounds so as to decrease the potential morbidity that often follows. Society must also look at the prevalence of these injuries and address the underlying issues that often are the root of the acts of violence.

Moving to a Soft Path for Water: Integrated Research and Management Needs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gleick, P. H.

2011-12-01

Water on Earth in its three fundamental phases is integral to the functioning, dynamics, and variability of the global climatological and biological support systems. From a purely scientific point of view, understanding the complexity of the hydrological cycle is of paramount interest and central to our understanding of other planetary geological, atmospheric, chemical, and physical processes. But water is more than that: water is key to economic, social, and political issues as well, including some of the core challenges of our time such central to issues of poverty, health, environmental sustainability, conflict, and economic prosperity. The more society seeks to solve these challenges, the more obvious it becomes that we must improve more than just our understanding of the fundamental science of the hydrological cycle and its links with related global processes; we must also improve our understanding of the complex social, economic, and structural challenges facing water managers and users. We must move to a different paradigm where water is managed in a far more integrated way - what I call the "soft path for water." Central to our basic science needs are (1) an expansion of the frequency and nature of the data we collect, (2) the development of systems for managing, sharing, and analyzing those data, and (3) improvements in our ability to model and forecast the hydrological cycle together with other climatological, geophysical, and biochemical systems. These improvements would lead to a far better understanding of the local, regional, and global details of the water balance on timescales from minutes to millennia. These needs are increasingly well understood in the research community and extensive efforts in these areas are underway under the auspices of national research centers, universities, and international scientific collaborations. But it is also becoming increasingly apparent that many of the current water challenges facing society are not going to be resolved solely through improvements in scientific understanding. Many water challenges lie at the intersection between pure science and applied science, or between the sciences and economics and policy. Any effort to summarize future needs must therefore also acknowledge the urgent need to improve our understanding of how humans are increasingly influencing and changing the hydrologic cycle and the ultimate consequences of those changes for societal well-being. Such efforts would be greatly enhanced by interdisciplinary research and policy efforts involving the scientific community and a broader range of engineers, economists, utility managers, irrigators, and local communities. For example, as one measure of the recognition of these challenges, the Hydrology Section of the American Geophysical Union has just constituted a new Technical Committee on Water and Society to broaden the issues addressed by AGU members and to develop alternative paths - including "soft paths" to addressing a wide range of water-related challenges.

Ethics: The Role of Adult and Vocational Education. Trends and Issues Alert No. 24.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wonacott, Michael E.

Ethics and social responsibility are the subject of both curriculum materials and research in adult and vocational education. State academic standards and curriculum frameworks address citizenship and personal and social responsibility. Ethical and legal issues for specific occupations are addressed in curricula issued by states, professional…

Addressing Career Issues Online: Perceptions of Counselor Education Professionals

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lewis, Jacqueline; Coursol, Diane

2007-01-01

The Internet is the latest arena in which counseling services are available for a variety of issues. This study surveyed counselor education professionals about their perceptions regarding the use of online counseling to address various mental health issues including career counseling. It also examined their perceptions about 3 formats of online…

Measuring Up: Assessment Issues for Teachers, Counselors, and Administrators.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wall, Janet E., Ed.; Walz, Garry R., Ed.

This book attempts to promote improved understanding of assessment concepts by addressing the broad expanse of issues facing educators as they go about their duties and fulfill their responsibilities in schools and classrooms. The chapters in the book address some of the "hot button" issues related to testing and assessment in our nation's…

Top-Down Modulation on Perceptual Decision with Balanced Inhibition through Feedforward and Feedback Inhibitory Neurons

PubMed Central

Wang, Cheng-Te; Lee, Chung-Ting; Wang, Xiao-Jing; Lo, Chung-Chuan

2013-01-01

Recent physiological studies have shown that neurons in various regions of the central nervous systems continuously receive noisy excitatory and inhibitory synaptic inputs in a balanced and covaried fashion. While this balanced synaptic input (BSI) is typically described in terms of maintaining the stability of neural circuits, a number of experimental and theoretical studies have suggested that BSI plays a proactive role in brain functions such as top-down modulation for executive control. Two issues have remained unclear in this picture. First, given the noisy nature of neuronal activities in neural circuits, how do the modulatory effects change if the top-down control implements BSI with different ratios between inhibition and excitation? Second, how is a top-down BSI realized via only excitatory long-range projections in the neocortex? To address the first issue, we systematically tested how the inhibition/excitation ratio affects the accuracy and reaction times of a spiking neural circuit model of perceptual decision. We defined an energy function to characterize the network dynamics, and found that different ratios modulate the energy function of the circuit differently and form two distinct functional modes. To address the second issue, we tested BSI with long-distance projection to inhibitory neurons that are either feedforward or feedback, depending on whether these inhibitory neurons do or do not receive inputs from local excitatory cells, respectively. We found that BSI occurs in both cases. Furthermore, when relying on feedback inhibitory neurons, through the recurrent interactions inside the circuit, BSI dynamically and automatically speeds up the decision by gradually reducing its inhibitory component in the course of a trial when a decision process takes too long. PMID:23626812

Top-down modulation on perceptual decision with balanced inhibition through feedforward and feedback inhibitory neurons.

PubMed

Wang, Cheng-Te; Lee, Chung-Ting; Wang, Xiao-Jing; Lo, Chung-Chuan

2013-01-01

Recent physiological studies have shown that neurons in various regions of the central nervous systems continuously receive noisy excitatory and inhibitory synaptic inputs in a balanced and covaried fashion. While this balanced synaptic input (BSI) is typically described in terms of maintaining the stability of neural circuits, a number of experimental and theoretical studies have suggested that BSI plays a proactive role in brain functions such as top-down modulation for executive control. Two issues have remained unclear in this picture. First, given the noisy nature of neuronal activities in neural circuits, how do the modulatory effects change if the top-down control implements BSI with different ratios between inhibition and excitation? Second, how is a top-down BSI realized via only excitatory long-range projections in the neocortex? To address the first issue, we systematically tested how the inhibition/excitation ratio affects the accuracy and reaction times of a spiking neural circuit model of perceptual decision. We defined an energy function to characterize the network dynamics, and found that different ratios modulate the energy function of the circuit differently and form two distinct functional modes. To address the second issue, we tested BSI with long-distance projection to inhibitory neurons that are either feedforward or feedback, depending on whether these inhibitory neurons do or do not receive inputs from local excitatory cells, respectively. We found that BSI occurs in both cases. Furthermore, when relying on feedback inhibitory neurons, through the recurrent interactions inside the circuit, BSI dynamically and automatically speeds up the decision by gradually reducing its inhibitory component in the course of a trial when a decision process takes too long.

Transport, energy and environment

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1996-12-01

The conference addressed economic and broader policy issues as well as technological perspectives. Further, focus was primarily on medium to long term aspects. The conference was primarily devoted to Euorpean issues, but papers were also addressing g...

Measuring students' attitudes toward college education's role in addressing social issues.

PubMed

Weber, James E; Weber, Paula S; Craven, Barney L

2008-06-01

As service-learning projects have spread throughout academia, efforts to assess the service-learning experience have assumed a greater importance. The BERSI scale (Business Education's Role in addressing Social Issues) was developed as a measure of business students' attitudes toward social issues being addressed as part of a business education. As such, it was intended to be useful in assessing attitudinal outcomes of service learning. In order for the BERSI to be useful for nonbusiness students, the scale would need to be reconceptualized and revalidated. This study modified the BERSI items with a focus on college students in general rather than business students, making the resulting scale, College Education's Role in addressing Social Issues (CERSI), potentially helpful to service-learning researchers in a broader setting. The CERSI scale was then validated using standard techniques and normative data were reported.

Policy issues in space analogues

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Auger, Robin N.; Facktor, Debra D.

Space mission planning is increasingly focusing on destinations beyond Earth orbit. Advancements in technology will inevitably be required to enable long-duration human spaceflight missions, and breakthroughs in the policy arena will also be needed to achieve success in such missions. By exploring how policy issues have been addressed in analogous extreme environments, policymakers can develop a framework for addressing these issues as they apply to long-term human spaceflight. Policy issues that need to be addressed include: crew selection, training, organization, and activities, medical testing, illness, injury, and death; communication; legal accountability and liability; mission safety and risk management; and environmental contamination. This paper outlines the approach of a study underway by The George Washington University and ANSER to examine how these policy issues have been addressed in several analogues and how the experiences of these analogues can help formulate policies for long-duration human spaceflight missions. Analogues being studied include Antarctic bases, submarine voyages, undersea stations, Biosphere 2, and the U.S. Skylab and Russian Mir space stations.

26 CFR 1.1441-8 - Exemption from withholding for payments to foreign governments, international organizations...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

... foreign governments, international organizations, foreign central banks of issue, and the Bank for... for payments to foreign governments, international organizations, foreign central banks of issue, and the Bank for International Settlements. (a) Foreign governments. Under section 892, certain specific...

26 CFR 1.1441-8 - Exemption from withholding for payments to foreign governments, international organizations...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

... foreign governments, international organizations, foreign central banks of issue, and the Bank for... for payments to foreign governments, international organizations, foreign central banks of issue, and the Bank for International Settlements. (a) Foreign governments. Under section 892, certain specific...

26 CFR 1.1441-8 - Exemption from withholding for payments to foreign governments, international organizations...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

... foreign governments, international organizations, foreign central banks of issue, and the Bank for... for payments to foreign governments, international organizations, foreign central banks of issue, and the Bank for International Settlements. (a) Foreign governments. Under section 892, certain specific...

26 CFR 1.1441-8 - Exemption from withholding for payments to foreign governments, international organizations...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... foreign governments, international organizations, foreign central banks of issue, and the Bank for... for payments to foreign governments, international organizations, foreign central banks of issue, and the Bank for International Settlements. (a) Foreign governments. Under section 892, certain specific...

U.S.-China Military Contacts: Issues for Congress

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-02-01

Military Contacts: Issues for Congress 5a. CONTRACT NUMBER 5b. GRANT NUMBER 5c. PROGRAM ELEMENT NUMBER 6. AUTHOR( S ) 5d. PROJECT NUMBER 5e. TASK...NUMBER 5f. WORK UNIT NUMBER 7. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME( S ) AND ADDRESS(ES) Congressional Research Service,The Library of Congress,101...Independence Ave, SE,Washington,DC,20540-7500 8. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION REPORT NUMBER 9. SPONSORING/MONITORING AGENCY NAME( S ) AND ADDRESS(ES) 10. SPONSOR

U.S.-China Military Contacts: Issues for Congress

DTIC Science & Technology

2007-12-12

Military Contacts: Issues for Congress 5a. CONTRACT NUMBER 5b. GRANT NUMBER 5c. PROGRAM ELEMENT NUMBER 6. AUTHOR( S ) 5d. PROJECT NUMBER 5e. TASK...NUMBER 5f. WORK UNIT NUMBER 7. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME( S ) AND ADDRESS(ES) Congressional Research Center,The Library of Congress,101...Independence Ave, SE,Washington,DC,20540-7500 8. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION REPORT NUMBER 9. SPONSORING/MONITORING AGENCY NAME( S ) AND ADDRESS(ES) 10. SPONSOR

Multi-User Performance Issues in Wireless Impulse Radio Networks

DTIC Science & Technology

2004-01-01

Performance Issues in Wireless Impulse Radio Networks 5a. CONTRACT NUMBER 5b. GRANT NUMBER 5c. PROGRAM ELEMENT NUMBER 6. AUTHOR( S ) 5d. PROJECT...NUMBER 5e. TASK NUMBER 5f. WORK UNIT NUMBER 7. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME( S ) AND ADDRESS(ES) North Carolina State University,Department of...Electrical and Computer Engineering,Raleigh,NC,27695 8. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION REPORT NUMBER 9. SPONSORING/MONITORING AGENCY NAME( S ) AND ADDRESS(ES) 10

2014 Australian Association for Research in Education Presidential Address: Educational Research and the Tree of Knowledge in a Post Human Digital Age

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Moss, Julianne

2016-01-01

The 2014, 41st Australian Association for Research in Education (AARE) presidential address is both inspired and guided by the discursive genres of presidential addresses and the role of the president in a member association such as AARE. In the address, typically the president speaks to the members on an issue or issues that are to shape or…

Addressing HIV/AIDS Education: A Look at Teacher Preparedness in Ghana

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Weiler, Jim Martin; Martin-Weiler, Cassandra J.

2012-01-01

Our research shows that social science university trained Ghanaian student/teachers do have the knowledge, confidence, and willingness to address HIV/AIDS issues in their teaching, yet they do not. The reason, we argue, is that teachers have little incentive to address contentious issues in the classroom. Questionnaires were administered to 382…

The Full Scope of Family Physicians' Work Is Not Reflected by Current Procedural Terminology Codes.

PubMed

Young, Richard A; Burge, Sandy; Kumar, Kaparaboyna Ashok; Wilson, Jocelyn

2017-01-01

The purpose of this study was to characterize the content of family physician (FP) clinic encounters, and to count the number of visits in which the FPs addressed issues not explicitly reportable by 99211 to 99215 and 99354 Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes with current reimbursement methods and based on examples provided in the CPT manual. The data collection instrument was modeled on the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey. Trained assistants directly observed every other FP-patient encounter and recorded every patient concern, issue addressed by the physician (including care barriers related to health care systems and social determinants), and treatment ordered in clinics affiliated with 10 residencies of the Residency Research Network of Texas. A visit was deemed to include physician work that was not explicitly reportable if the number or nature of issues addressed exceeded the definitions or examples for 99205/99215 or 99214 + 99354 or a preventive service code, included the physician addressing health care system or social determinant issues, or included the care of a family member. In 982 physician-patient encounters, patients raised 517 different reasons for visit (total, 5278; mean, 5.4 per visit; range, 1 to 16) and the FPs addressed 509 different issues (total issues, 3587; mean, 3.7 per visit; range, 1 to 10). FPs managed 425 different medications, 18 supplements, and 11 devices. A mean of 3.9 chronic medications were continued per visit (range, 0 to 21) and 4.6 total medications were managed (range, 0 to 22). In 592 (60.3%) of the visits the FPs did work that was not explicitly reportable with available CPT codes: 582 (59.3%) addressed more numerous issues than explicitly reportable, 64 (6.5%) addressed system barriers, and 13 (1.3%) addressed concerns for other family members. FPs perform cognitive work in a majority of their patient encounters that are not explicitly reportable, either by being higher than the CPT example number of diagnoses per code or the type of problems addressed, which has implications for the care of complex multi-morbid patients and the growth of the primary care workforce. To address these limitations, either the CPT codes and their associated rules should be updated to reflect the realities of family physicians' practices or new billing and coding approaches should be developed. © Copyright 2017 by the American Board of Family Medicine.

Scheduling for Emergency Tasks in Industrial Wireless Sensor Networks

PubMed Central

Xia, Changqing; Kong, Linghe; Zeng, Peng

2017-01-01

Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) are widely applied in industrial manufacturing systems. By means of centralized control, the real-time requirement and reliability can be provided by WSNs in industrial production. Furthermore, many approaches reserve resources for situations in which the controller cannot perform centralized resource allocation. The controller assigns these resources as it becomes aware of when and where accidents have occurred. However, the reserved resources are limited, and such incidents are low-probability events. In addition, resource reservation may not be effective since the controller does not know when and where accidents will actually occur. To address this issue, we improve the reliability of scheduling for emergency tasks by proposing a method based on a stealing mechanism. In our method, an emergency task is transmitted by stealing resources allocated to regular flows. The challenges addressed in our work are as follows: (1) emergencies occur only occasionally, but the industrial system must deliver the corresponding flows within their deadlines when they occur; (2) we wish to minimize the impact of emergency flows by reducing the number of stolen flows. The contributions of this work are two-fold: (1) we first define intersections and blocking as new characteristics of flows; and (2) we propose a series of distributed routing algorithms to improve the schedulability and to reduce the impact of emergency flows. We demonstrate that our scheduling algorithm and analysis approach are better than the existing ones by extensive simulations. PMID:28726738

Addressing Physical and Emotional Issues in Children's Literature

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Johnson, Jonathon

2010-01-01

The purpose of this paper is to examine how physical and mental disabilities are addressed in children's literature. Many authors are able to integrate the issues into their work in a way that enhances the story and benefits the reader. As young readers learn about the issues and struggles faced by children with mental and physical disabilities,…

Student Teachers as Advocates for Student-Led Research-Informed Socioscientific Activism

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bencze, J. Lawrence; Sperling, Erin R.

2012-01-01

Progress has been made in addressing socioscientific issues, such as debates about merits of nuclear power, by encouraging school students to consider complex issues and take positions about them. We contend, however, that they also need to learn to take research-informed actions to address issues. In the study reported here, we concluded--based…

The Democratic Imperative to Address Sexual Equality Rights in Schools

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gereluk, Dianne

2013-01-01

Issues of sexual orientation elicit ethical debates in schools and society. In jurisdictions where a legal right has not yet been established, one argument commonly rests on whether schools ought to address issues of same-sex relationships and marriage on the basis of civil equality, or whether such controversial issues ought to remain in the…

Space Station Engineering Design Issues

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mcruer, Duane T.; Boehm, Barry W.; Debra, Daniel B.; Green, C. Cordell; Henry, Richard C.; Maycock, Paul D.; Mcelroy, John H.; Pierce, Chester M.; Stafford, Thomas P.; Young, Laurence R.

1989-01-01

Space Station Freedom topics addressed include: general design issues; issues related to utilization and operations; issues related to systems requirements and design; and management issues relevant to design.

Proceedings of the Flat-Plate Solar Array Project Research Forum on the Design of Flat-Plate Photovoltaic Arrays for Central Stations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1983-01-01

The Flat Plate Solar Array Project, focuses on advancing technologies relevant to the design and construction of megawatt level central station systems. Photovoltaic modules and arrays for flat plate central station or other large scale electric power production facilities require the establishment of a technical base that resolves design issues and results in practical and cost effective configurations. Design, qualification and maintenance issues related to central station arrays derived from the engineering and operating experiences of early applications and parallel laboratory reserch activities are investigated. Technical issues are examined from the viewpoint of the utility engineer, architect/engineer and laboratory researcher. Topics on optimum source circuit designs, module insulation design for high system voltages, array safety, structural interface design, measurements, and array operation and maintenance are discussed.

An Infrastructure to Enable Lightweight Context-Awareness for Mobile Users

PubMed Central

Curiel, Pablo; Lago, Ana B.

2013-01-01

Mobile phones enable us to carry out a wider range of tasks every day, and as a result they have become more ubiquitous than ever. However, they are still more limited in terms of processing power and interaction capabilities than traditional computers, and the often distracting and time-constricted scenarios in which we use them do not help in alleviating these limitations. Context-awareness is a valuable technique to address these issues, as it enables to adapt application behaviour to each situation. In this paper we present a context management infrastructure for mobile environments, aimed at controlling context information life-cycle in this kind of scenarios, with the main goal of enabling application and services to adapt their behaviour to better meet end-user needs. This infrastructure relies on semantic technologies and open standards to improve interoperability, and is based on a central element, the context manager. This element acts as a central context repository and takes most of the computational burden derived from dealing with this kind of information, thus relieving from these tasks to more resource-scarce devices in the system. PMID:23899932

Distributed controller clustering in software defined networks.

PubMed

Abdelaziz, Ahmed; Fong, Ang Tan; Gani, Abdullah; Garba, Usman; Khan, Suleman; Akhunzada, Adnan; Talebian, Hamid; Choo, Kim-Kwang Raymond

2017-01-01

Software Defined Networking (SDN) is an emerging promising paradigm for network management because of its centralized network intelligence. However, the centralized control architecture of the software-defined networks (SDNs) brings novel challenges of reliability, scalability, fault tolerance and interoperability. In this paper, we proposed a novel clustered distributed controller architecture in the real setting of SDNs. The distributed cluster implementation comprises of multiple popular SDN controllers. The proposed mechanism is evaluated using a real world network topology running on top of an emulated SDN environment. The result shows that the proposed distributed controller clustering mechanism is able to significantly reduce the average latency from 8.1% to 1.6%, the packet loss from 5.22% to 4.15%, compared to distributed controller without clustering running on HP Virtual Application Network (VAN) SDN and Open Network Operating System (ONOS) controllers respectively. Moreover, proposed method also shows reasonable CPU utilization results. Furthermore, the proposed mechanism makes possible to handle unexpected load fluctuations while maintaining a continuous network operation, even when there is a controller failure. The paper is a potential contribution stepping towards addressing the issues of reliability, scalability, fault tolerance, and inter-operability.

The future of graduate medical education in Germany - position paper of the Committee on Graduate Medical Education of the Society for Medical Education (GMA).

PubMed

David, Dagmar M; Euteneier, Alexander; Fischer, Martin R; Hahn, Eckhart G; Johannink, Jonas; Kulike, Katharina; Lauch, Robert; Lindhorst, Elmar; Noll-Hussong, Michael; Pinilla, Severin; Weih, Markus; Wennekes, Vanessa

2013-01-01

The German graduate medical education system is going through an important phase of changes. Besides the ongoing reform of the national guidelines for graduate medical education (Musterweiterbildungsordnung), other factors like societal and demographic changes, health and research policy reforms also play a central role for the future and competitiveness of graduate medical education. With this position paper, the committee on graduate medical education of the Society for Medical Education (GMA) would like to point out some central questions for this process and support the current discourse. As an interprofessional and interdisciplinary scientific society, the GMA has the resources to contribute in a meaningful way to an evidence-based and future-oriented graduate medical education strategy. In this position paper, we use four key questions with regards to educational goals, quality assurance, teaching competence and policy requirements to address the core issues for the future of graduate medical education in Germany. The GMA sees its task in contributing to the necessary reform processes as the only German speaking scientific society in the field of medical education.

Evaluation of community pharmacies regarding dispensing practices of antibiotics in two districts of central Nepal.

PubMed

Ansari, Mukhtar

2017-01-01

To evaluate the status of community pharmacies, their staff, and practices toward dispensing antibiotics. Cross-sectional, prospective. Community pharmacies in two districts of central Nepal, from March 2016 to May 2016. A systematic random sampling approach was adopted to sample 161 community pharmacies. Data on the registration status of pharmacies, qualification or training of dispensing staff, and the practice of dispensing antibiotics were collected using a pre-tested questionnaire. Face to face interviews were carried out by a previously trained interviewer. Data were analyzed for descriptive and inferential statistics using IBM SPSS Statistics 21. Among 161 community pharmacies, 25% were not registered and most of them were located in rural areas. It was typical (66.5%) to dispense antibiotics without prescription and most (91.4%) of the staffs involved in dispensing were non-pharmacists. Furthermore, the study revealed common practices of replacing one brand of antibiotic with other brands (66%), dispensing incomplete courses of antibiotics (73%), and not giving any advice regarding antibiotic use (39%) or completion of a full course of therapy (80%). There were significant (p < 0.001) relationships between the location of pharmacies (rural vs urban) and the qualifications of the pharmacy staff. Dispensing antibiotics without prescription and by non-pharmacists are common in this region. The study also found several issues regarding the irrational use of antibiotics. Thus, there is an urgent need to address these issues and promote the informed use of antibiotics.

Hermeneutics of medicine in the wake of Gadamer: the issue of phronesis.

PubMed

Svenaeus, Fredrik

2003-01-01

The relevance of the Aristotelian concept of phronesis--practical wisdom--for medicine and medical ethics has been much debated during the last two decades. This paper attempts to show how Aristotle's practical philosophy was of central importance to Hans-Georg Gadamer and to the development of his philosophical hermeneutics, and how, accordingly, the concept of phronesis will be central to a Gadamerian hermeneutics of medicine. If medical practice is conceived of as an interpretative meeting between doctor and patient with the aim of restoring the health of the latter, then phronesis is the mark of the good physician, who through interpretation comes to know the best thing to do for this particular patient at this particular time. The potential fruitfulness of this hermeneutical appropriation of phronesis for the field of medical ethics is also discussed. The concept can be (and has been) used in critiques of the conceptualization of bioethics as the application of principle-based theory to clinical situations, since Aristotle's point is exactly that problems of praxis cannot be approached in this way. It can also point the way for alternative forms of medical ethics, such as virtue ethics or a phenomenological and hermeneutical ethics. The latter alternative would have to address the phenomena of health and the good life as issues for medical practice. It would also have to map out in detail the terrain of the medical meeting and the acts of interpretation through which phronesis is exercised.

Exploring factors influencing farmers' willingness to pay (WTP) for a planned adaptation programme to address climatic issues in agricultural sectors.

PubMed

Ahmed, Adeel; Masud, Muhammad Mehedi; Al-Amin, Abul Quasem; Yahaya, Siti Rohani Binti; Rahman, Mahfuzur; Akhtar, Rulia

2015-06-01

This study empirically estimates farmers' willingness to pay (WTP) for a planned adaptation programme for addressing climate issues in Pakistan's agricultural sectors. The contingent valuation method (CVM) was employed to determine a monetary valuation of farmers' preferences for a planned adaptation programme by ascertaining the value attached to address climatic issues. The survey was conducted by distributing structured questionnaires among Pakistani farmers. The study found that 67 % of respondents were willing to pay for a planned adaptation programme. However, several socioeconomic and motivational factors exert greater influence on their willingness to pay (WTP). This paper specifies the steps needed for all institutional bodies to better address issues in climate change. The outcomes of this paper will support attempts by policy makers to design an efficient adaptation framework for mitigating and adapting to the adverse impacts of climate change.

A Case Study on Science Teacher Leadership to Address Diversity and Equity Through Professional Development

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Doraiswamy, Nithya

This qualitative case study focused on the multifaceted issue of exploring science teacher leaders understanding and addressing of issues of diversity and equity with peers through professional development. The purpose of the study was to highlight the opportunities and barriers to the addressing of issues of diversity and equity through the work of a community of teachers leaders in science professional development. To frame this study, the researcher drew from the interdisciplinary field of multicultural education, transformative learning, and teacher leadership. In drawing out the connections from these vast bodies of literature, the study speaks to the need of both, creating teacher leaders in science education who are capable of meeting the twin demands of excellence and equity, and also attending to the challenges in the professional learning continuums of teachers leaders and their peers towards addressing issues of diversity and equity in science education.

Energy Logic (EL): a novel fusion engine of multi-modality multi-agent data/information fusion for intelligent surveillance systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rababaah, Haroun; Shirkhodaie, Amir

2009-04-01

The rapidly advancing hardware technology, smart sensors and sensor networks are advancing environment sensing. One major potential of this technology is Large-Scale Surveillance Systems (LS3) especially for, homeland security, battlefield intelligence, facility guarding and other civilian applications. The efficient and effective deployment of LS3 requires addressing number of aspects impacting the scalability of such systems. The scalability factors are related to: computation and memory utilization efficiency, communication bandwidth utilization, network topology (e.g., centralized, ad-hoc, hierarchical or hybrid), network communication protocol and data routing schemes; and local and global data/information fusion scheme for situational awareness. Although, many models have been proposed to address one aspect or another of these issues but, few have addressed the need for a multi-modality multi-agent data/information fusion that has characteristics satisfying the requirements of current and future intelligent sensors and sensor networks. In this paper, we have presented a novel scalable fusion engine for multi-modality multi-agent information fusion for LS3. The new fusion engine is based on a concept we call: Energy Logic. Experimental results of this work as compared to a Fuzzy logic model strongly supported the validity of the new model and inspired future directions for different levels of fusion and different applications.

Promoting Physical Understanding through Peer Mentoring

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nossal, S. M.; Huesmann, A.; Hooper, E.; Moore, C.; Watson, L.; Trestrail, A.; Weber, J.; Timbie, P.; Jacob, A.

2015-12-01

The Physics Learning Center at the University of Wisconsin-Madison provides a supportive learning community for students studying introductory physics, as well as teaching and leadership experience for undergraduate Peer Mentor Tutors who receive extensive training and supervision. Many of our Peer Tutors were former Physics Learning Center participants. A central goal of the Physics Learning Center is to address achievement/equity gaps (e.g. race, gender, socio-economic status, disability, age, transfer status, etc.) for undergraduate students pursuing majors and coursework in STEM fields. Students meet twice a week in small learning teams of 3-8 students, facilitated by a trained Peer Mentor Tutor or staff member. These active learning teams focus on discussing core physical concepts and practicing problem-solving. The weekly training of the tutors addresses both teaching and mentoring issues in science education such as helping students to build confidence, strategies for assessing student understanding, and fostering a growth mindset. A second weekly training meeting addresses common misconceptions and strategies for teaching specific physics topics. For non-science majors we have a small Peer Mentor Tutor program for Physics in the Arts. We will discuss the Physics Learning Center's approaches to promoting inclusion, understanding, and confidence for both our participants and Peer Mentor Tutors, as well as examples from the geosciences that can be used to illustrate introductory physics concepts.

The 'sensory tolerance limit': A hypothetical construct determining exercise performance?

PubMed

Hureau, Thomas J; Romer, Lee M; Amann, Markus

2018-02-01

Neuromuscular fatigue compromises exercise performance and is determined by central and peripheral mechanisms. Interactions between the two components of fatigue can occur via neural pathways, including feedback and feedforward processes. This brief review discusses the influence of feedback and feedforward mechanisms on exercise limitation. In terms of feedback mechanisms, particular attention is given to group III/IV sensory neurons which link limb muscle with the central nervous system. Central corollary discharge, a copy of the neural drive from the brain to the working muscles, provides a signal from the motor system to sensory systems and is considered a feedforward mechanism that might influence fatigue and consequently exercise performance. We highlight findings from studies supporting the existence of a 'critical threshold of peripheral fatigue', a previously proposed hypothesis based on the idea that a negative feedback loop operates to protect the exercising limb muscle from severe threats to homeostasis during whole-body exercise. While the threshold theory remains to be disproven within a given task, it is not generalisable across different exercise modalities. The 'sensory tolerance limit', a more theoretical concept, may address this issue and explain exercise tolerance in more global terms and across exercise modalities. The 'sensory tolerance limit' can be viewed as a negative feedback loop which accounts for the sum of all feedback (locomotor muscles, respiratory muscles, organs, and muscles not directly involved in exercise) and feedforward signals processed within the central nervous system with the purpose of regulating the intensity of exercise to ensure that voluntary activity remains tolerable.

A Nationwide Study of Pharmacists' Perception of the Impact of Medicare Part D on the Pharmacist-Patient Relationship.

PubMed

Spooner, Joshua J; Spotts, Harlan; Khan, Shamima

2017-10-01

Medicare Part D was implemented in 2006, introducing change to the community pharmacy marketplace, with profound disruption to independent pharmacy operations across the United States. To understand pharmacist perceptions about Part D and their perceived obligation to address Part D issues on behalf of their beneficiaries. A nationwide, cross-sectional survey of pharmacists was conducted between April and July 2013. The 43-item online survey collected information about demographics, implications of Part D on community pharmacy and patients, and beliefs about ideal pharmacy practice. Pharmacists reported more responsibility to address prior authorization issues (55.3% strongly agree or agree) than dispensing preferred medications (43.5%) or addressing patient copayment issues (38.1%). Predictors of the perceived responsibility to assist patients varied and included practice site, pharmacist age, pharmacy prescription volume, and pharmacy financial performance. Financial concerns continue to be the most significant issue following Part D implementation. The degree to which pharmacists feel responsible for addressing patient Part D concerns is variable and dependent on a variety of factors. Pharmacists who felt a personal responsibility to address patient copayment issues reported a better pharmacy financial performance, a larger increase in prescription volume, and a better pharmacist-patient relationship since Part D implementation. Nationwide, Part D financial concerns remain significant. Pharmacists can assist patients with managing cost issues, which can help alleviate pharmacy financial concerns. Many pharmacists practicing at independent locations do not feel responsible for addressing patient cost concerns, which may inadvertently impart a negative financial effect upon their pharmacy.

Issues in Peer Review of the Scientific Basis for Regulatory Decisions.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

American Chemical Society, Washington, DC.

This document is intended to provide a discussion of the issues that need to be addressed in the development of peer review guidelines, the options for addressing the issues, and a range of views about such options. The document focuses on peer review with regard to regulatory decisions and contains major sections which deal with: (1) what should…

Addressing Individual Difficulties in Reading: Issues Relating to Reading Recovery and Pause, Prompt, Praise

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wearmouth, Janice

2004-01-01

Recently the DfES has issued guidance on ways to address the needs of students who experience difficulties in literacy through Wave Three provision in the National Literacy Strategy (DfES, 2002). This guidance raises the issue of what kind of programmes might be initiated in mainstream schools that will improve what is available generally for…

Secondary Education Systemic Issues: Addressing Possible Contributors to a Leak in the Science Education Pipeline and Potential Solutions

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Young, Hollie

2005-01-01

To maintain the legacy of cutting edge scientific innovation in the United States our country must address the many pressing issues facing science education today. One of the most important issues relating to science education is the under-representation of African Americans and Hispanics in the science, technology, and engineering workforce.…

A New Approach: Making Ethical Decisions regarding Adult Learner Issues.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Missey, Jeanne T.

Many new student affairs professionals have had little or no experience in applying such codes to different learners. How to address issues where codes are insufficient and how to make student affairs professionals sensitive to the moral and ethical issues of adult learners are addressed in this paper. It is not meant as a guide, but as a tool for…

32 CFR Appendix C to Part 22 - Administrative Requirements and Issues To Be Addressed in Award Terms and Conditions

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... 32 National Defense 1 2013-07-01 2013-07-01 false Administrative Requirements and Issues To Be Addressed in Award Terms and Conditions C Appendix C to Part 22 National Defense Department of Defense... AND ADMINISTRATION Pt. 22, App. C Appendix C to Part 22—Administrative Requirements and Issues To Be...

Encouraging the Spiritual Development of Counseling Students and Supervisees Using Fowler's Stages of Faith Development.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Erwin, Terry McVannel

The impact of faith on individuals has been described in research for many years, yet counseling programs often do not address issues of spirituality. Little has been documented about how to integrate spirituality and religious issues into counseling programs and practices. In an attempt to address the need for more discussion on issues of…

ARN Integrated Retail Module (IRM) & 3D Whole Body Scanner System at Fort Carson, Colorado

DTIC Science & Technology

2006-12-01

the Central Issue Facility (CIF), Ft. Carson, CO; and, 4) Develop and validate dynamic local tariffs. Additional information on Apparel...Scanner; 3) Integrate 3D Whole Body scanning technology with the ARN Integrated Retail Module (IRM) for clothing issue at the Central Issue Facility ...CIF), Ft. Carson, CO; and, 4) Develop and validate dynamic local tariffs. The main goals of the ARN 3D scanning research initiative at the Ft

THE ROLE OF RISK ASSESSMENT IN ADDRESSING HAZARDOUS WASTE ISSUES

EPA Science Inventory

Risk assessment plays many important roles in addressing hazardous waste issues. In addition to providing a scientific framework and common health metric to evaluate risks. Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA or "Superfund") risk assessm...

Paleoclimate networks: a concept meeting central challenges in the reconstruction of paleoclimate dynamics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rehfeld, Kira; Goswami, Bedartha; Marwan, Norbert; Breitenbach, Sebastian; Kurths, Jürgen

2013-04-01

Statistical analysis of dependencies amongst paleoclimate data helps to infer on the climatic processes they reflect. Three key challenges have to be addressed, however: the datasets are heterogeneous in time (i) and space (ii), and furthermore time itself is a variable that needs to be reconstructed, which (iii) introduces additional uncertainties. To address these issues in a flexible way we developed the paleoclimate network framework, inspired by the increasing application of complex networks in climate research. Nodes in the paleoclimate network represent a paleoclimate archive, and an associated time series. Links between these nodes are assigned, if these time series are significantly similar. Therefore, the base of the paleoclimate network is formed by linear and nonlinear estimators for Pearson correlation, mutual information and event synchronization, which quantify similarity from irregularly sampled time series. Age uncertainties are propagated into the final network analysis using time series ensembles which reflect the uncertainty. We discuss how spatial heterogeneity influences the results obtained from network measures, and demonstrate the power of the approach by inferring teleconnection variability of the Asian summer monsoon for the past 1000 years.

Synthetic biology strategies toward heterologous phytochemical production.

PubMed

Kotopka, Benjamin J; Li, Yanran; Smolke, Christina D

2018-06-13

Covering: 2006 to 2018Phytochemicals are important sources for the discovery and development of agricultural and pharmaceutical compounds, such as pesticides and medicines. However, these compounds are typically present in low abundance in nature, and the biosynthetic pathways for most phytochemicals are not fully elucidated. Heterologous production of phytochemicals in plant, bacterial, and yeast hosts has been pursued as a potential approach to address sourcing issues associated with many valuable phytochemicals, and more recently has been utilized as a tool to aid in the elucidation of plant biosynthetic pathways. Due to the structural complexity of certain phytochemicals and the associated biosynthetic pathways, reconstitution of plant pathways in heterologous hosts can encounter numerous challenges. Synthetic biology approaches have been developed to address these challenges in areas such as precise control over heterologous gene expression, improving functional expression of heterologous enzymes, and modifying central metabolism to increase the supply of precursor compounds into the pathway. These strategies have been applied to advance plant pathway reconstitution and phytochemical production in a wide variety of heterologous hosts. Here, we review synthetic biology strategies that have been recently applied to advance complex phytochemical production in heterologous hosts.

Is social attention impaired in schizophrenia? Gaze, but not pointing gestures, is associated with spatial attention deficits.

PubMed

Dalmaso, Mario; Galfano, Giovanni; Tarqui, Luana; Forti, Bruno; Castelli, Luigi

2013-09-01

The nature of possible impairments in orienting attention to social signals in schizophrenia is controversial. The present research was aimed at addressing this issue further by comparing gaze and arrow cues. Unlike previous studies, we also included pointing gestures as social cues, with the goal of addressing whether any eventual impairment in the attentional response was specific to gaze signals or reflected a more general deficit in dealing with social stimuli. Patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder and matched controls performed a spatial-cuing paradigm in which task-irrelevant centrally displayed gaze, pointing finger, and arrow cues oriented rightward or leftward, preceded a lateralized target requiring a simple detection response. Healthy controls responded faster to spatially congruent targets than to spatially incongruent targets, irrespective of cue type. In contrast, schizophrenic patients responded faster to spatially congruent targets than to spatially incongruent targets only for arrow and pointing finger cues. No cuing effect emerged for gaze cues. The results support the notion that gaze cuing is impaired in schizophrenia, and suggest that this deficit may not extend to all social cues.

Planning and Design of Water Resources Systems Under Climate Change and Variability

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Strzepek, K. M.

2014-12-01

Regional and local water supplies and demands are impacted by global and national systems: climate, economics, population and energy as well as policies: development, energy, and environmental. These drivers can result in complex interactions that require deeper understanding in order to provide actionable information for water planners and stakeholders to develop strategic plans in the face of a changing and growing world. To add more complexity to this issue is the fact that all these drivers are uncertain and the type of uncertainty is not the same. This talk will address approaches to Water Resource Planning at sub-national water regions, national levels and trans-boundary river basins under a non-stationary hydro-climatic future. Additionally the talk will address the design of specific water resource projects such as reservoirs and hydroplants that are being designed now but will operate far in the future when the hydro-climatology will be very different. Examples will be drawn from recent work in Africa, Eastern Europe and Central Asia, and North America and some insights and outstanding questions will be presented.

The right to the city and International Urban Agendas: a document analysis.

PubMed

Andrade, Elisabete Agrela de; Franceschini, Maria Cristina Trousdell

2017-12-01

Considering social, economic and demographic issues, living in the city implies inadequate living conditions, social exclusion, inequities and other problems to the population. At the same time, the city is a setting of cultural, social and affective production. As a result, there is a need to reflect on the right to the city and its relationship with promoting the health of its inhabitants. To that effect, urban agendas have been developed to address the city's ambiguity. This paper aims to analyze four of these agendas through the lenses of Health Promotion. A qualitative document review approach was conducted on urban agendas proposed by international organizations and applied to the Brazilian context: Healthy Cities, Sustainable Cities, Smart Cities and Educating Cities. Results indicate some level of effort by the analyzed agendas to assume social participation, intersectoriality and the territory as central to addressing exclusion and inequities. However, more in-depth discussions are required on each of these concepts. We conclude that urban agendas can contribute greatly toward consolidating the right to the city, provided that their underpinning concepts are critically comprehended.

Barriers to Coverage of Transborder Environmental Issues in the Ferghana Valley of Central Asia

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Freedman, Eric

2014-01-01

Three former Soviet republics occupy Central Asia's Ferghana Valley, a region of serious transborder environmental problems, especially ones that involve water and energy. Most news organizations in Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan provide little in-depth coverage of these issues. Journalists in one country usually do not seek news sources…

78 FR 58240 - International Fisheries; Western and Central Pacific Fisheries for Highly Migratory Species...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-09-23

... rule. SUMMARY: NMFS issues regulations under authority of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries... has a legal and moral mandate to reduce bigeye tuna mortality immediately. Response: As stated in the... sections of this final rule, above. The analysis follows: Significant Issues Raised by Public Comments in...

Development of leadership self-efficacy and collective efficacy: adolescent girls across castes as peer educators in Nepal.

PubMed

Posner, J; Kayastha, P; Davis, D; Limoges, J; O'Donnell, C; Yue, K

2009-01-01

Adolescent girls in Nepal face enormous social barriers to accessing education and health services due to exclusionary socio-religious traditions and years of conflict. The programme and study reported here address two issues that a national assembly of in-school and out-of-school adolescent girls, who had completed a basic life skills class, and, in the case of unschooled girls, an intensive literacy course, identified as important to their well-being - menstrual restrictions and HIV awareness and prevention. Local non-governmental organizations developed a peer education programme in three districts of Nepal that paired girls from different castes and different educational levels. The programme sought to increase peer educators' (PE) leadership and collective efficacy for informing peers and adults in their communities about the effects that these issues have on women and girls. In total, 504 girls were selected and trained as PEs. They conducted targeted discussion sessions with other girls and organised mass awareness events, reaching 20,000 people. Examination of the effects of participating in the programme on key outcome measures showed that leadership self-efficacy, which was a central theoretical construct for the programme, provided a strong predictor of both increased HIV knowledge and of practicing fewer menstrual restrictions at endline. The project demonstrated that girls from different caste and educational backgrounds are able to work together to change individual behaviour and to address socio-cultural norms that affect their lives and well-being within their communities.

The Political Self: How Identity Aligns Preferences With Epistemic Needs.

PubMed

Federico, Christopher M; Ekstrom, Pierce D

2018-06-01

Numerous studies have indicated that the need for closure predicts political preferences. We examined a potential moderator of this relationship: political-identity centrality, or the extent to which individuals' political preferences are central to their self-concept. We tested three hypotheses. First, we predicted that need for closure would be more strongly related to political identity (symbolic ideology and party identification; Hypothesis 1) and issue positions (operational ideology; Hypothesis 2) among individuals who see their political preferences as more self-central. Then we predicted that the stronger relationship between need for closure and issue positions among individuals high in centrality would be accounted for by stronger relationships between need for closure and political identity and between political identity and issue positions (Hypothesis 3). Data from a nationally representative survey provide evidence for these hypotheses, suggesting that the relationship between epistemic needs and political preferences differs as a function of how self-relevant politics is.

Hope for the future: intensifying spirituality in the workplace.

PubMed

Batcheller, Joyce; Davis, James; Yoder-Wise, Patricia S

2013-01-01

Healthy workplaces address various issues. Work focused on ergonomics addresses physical issues, satisfaction surveys reveal psychosocial issues; and other approaches address spirituality issues. Spirituality in the workplace contributes to holistic care and to the worth of the individual. Incorporating the concept of spirituality, in its broad sense, into the workplace enriches leadership practice and contributes to a holistic work environment. Spirituality is core to the servant leader approach to leadership and beneficial to other approaches. Followers benefit from a holistic approach to leadership; and some specific practices can exhibit the belief an organization holds related to the worth of the individual. Incorporating spirituality into an organization reflects the same values nursing holds for person-centered care, a view of integration of physical, psychological, and spiritual needs.

Piaget's epistemic subject and science education: Epistemological vs. psychological issues

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kitchener, Richard F.

1993-06-01

Many individuals claim that Piaget's theory of cognitive development is empirically false or substantially disconfirmed by empirical research. Although there is substance to such a claim, any such conclusion must address three increasingly problematic issues about the possibility of providing an empirical test of Piaget's genetic epistemology: (1) the empirical underdetermination of theory by empirical evidence, (2) the empirical difficulty of testing competence-type explanations, and (3) the difficulty of empirically testing epistemic norms. This is especially true of a central epistemic construct in Piaget's theory — the epistemic subject. To illustrate how similar problems of empirical testability arise in the physical sciences, I briefly examine the case of Galileo and the correlative difficulty of empirically testing Galileo's laws. I then point out some important epistemological similarities between Galileo and Piaget together with correlative changes needed in science studies methodology. I conclude that many psychologists and science educators have failed to appreciate the difficulty of falsifying Piaget's theory because they have tacitly adopted a philosophy of science at odds with the paradigm-case of Galileo.

Progress Toward Remediation of Uranium Tailings in Mailuu-Suu, Kyrgyzstan

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Buckley, P B; Ranville, J; Honeyman, B D

2003-07-09

The town of Mailuu-Suu in Kyrgyzstan inherited 23 distinct tailings deposits from Soviet-Era uranium mining operations. Mailuu-Suu is located in the narrow landslide-prone valley of the Mailuu-Suu River about 25 km from the Uzbekistan border. Large-scale release of the radioactive tailings, as a result of landslides, could lead to irreversible contamination of the river and downstream areas. The Mailuu-Suu River is a tributary to the Syr-Darya River, the Fergana valley's main source of irrigation water. The Fergana Valley is a key agricultural region and major population center that spans Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. The trans-boundary nature of the Mailuu-Suu tailingsmore » issue presents an opportunity for collaboration among these Central Asian states. A cooperative approach to addressing environmental issues such as Mailuu-Suu may contribute to the region's stability by facilitating peaceful associations. Experience from remediation of sites in the US under the Uranium Mill Tailings Remediation Action Project (UMTRA) will be useful in progressing toward remediation at Mailuu-Suu.« less

Workplace assessments and functional capacity evaluations: current beliefs of therapists in Australia.

PubMed

Innes, Ev; Straker, Leon

2003-01-01

The purpose of this study was to understand the current beliefs of therapists in Australia, and the strategies they use to address the issues of credibility, reliability, consistency, trustworthiness, validity, generalisability and quality in conducting work-related assessments. In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with 26 occupational therapists and physiotherapists from around Australia. Participants expressed the belief that the therapist was the assessment instrument and was central to the credibility of an assessment. Conflict was reported when participants modified standardised assessments in an attempt to focus on context relevant activities and tasks. Participants were aware of the issues of reliability and validity but believed it was not practical to establish these aspects formally in most work-related assessments. The strategies used to achieve credibility, reliability, consistency, trustworthiness, validity, generalisability and quality were similar to those recommended for use in qualitative research. The strategies identified in this study can provide the basis for therapists to examine how they conduct work-related assessments and consider whether they currently use these strategies or have the opportunity to implement others.

[German research institute/Max-Planck Institute for psychiatry].

PubMed

Ploog, D

1999-12-01

The Deutsche Forschungsanstalt für Psychiatrie (DFA, German Institute for Psychiatric Research) in Munich was founded in 1917 bel Emil Kraepelin. For a long time it was the only institution in Germany entirely devoted to psychiatric research. Because of its strictly science-oriented and multidisciplinary approach it also became a model for institutions elsewhere. Kraepelin's ideas have certainly had a strong influence on psychiatry in the twentieth century. The fascinating and instructive history of the DFA reflects the central issues and determinants of psychiatric research. First, talented individuals are needed to conduct such research, and there was no lack in this regard. Second, the various topics chosen are dependent on the available methods and resources. And finally, the issues addressed and the ethical standards of the researchers are heavily dependent on the zeitgeist, as is evident in the three epochs of research at the DFA, from 1917 to 1933, from 1933 to 1945, and from the postwar period to the present. With the introduction of molecular biology and neuroimaging techniques into psychiatric research a change in paradigm took place and a new phase of the current epoch began.

Auditory neuroimaging with fMRI and PET.

PubMed

Talavage, Thomas M; Gonzalez-Castillo, Javier; Scott, Sophie K

2014-01-01

For much of the past 30 years, investigations of auditory perception and language have been enhanced or even driven by the use of functional neuroimaging techniques that specialize in localization of central responses. Beginning with investigations using positron emission tomography (PET) and gradually shifting primarily to usage of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), auditory neuroimaging has greatly advanced our understanding of the organization and response properties of brain regions critical to the perception of and communication with the acoustic world in which we live. As the complexity of the questions being addressed has increased, the techniques, experiments and analyses applied have also become more nuanced and specialized. A brief review of the history of these investigations sets the stage for an overview and analysis of how these neuroimaging modalities are becoming ever more effective tools for understanding the auditory brain. We conclude with a brief discussion of open methodological issues as well as potential clinical applications for auditory neuroimaging. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Human Auditory Neuroimaging. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

"Did you feel it?" Intensity data: A surprisingly good measure of earthquake ground motion

USGS Publications Warehouse

Atkinson, G.M.; Wald, D.J.

2007-01-01

The U.S. Geological Survey is tapping a vast new source of engineering seismology data through its "Did You Feel It?" (DYFI) program, which collects online citizen responses to earthquakes. To date, more than 750,000 responses have been compiled in the United States alone. The DYFI data make up in quantity what they may lack in scientific quality and offer the potential to resolve longstanding issues in earthquake ground-motion science. Such issues have been difficult to address due to the paucity of instrumental ground-motion data in regions of low seismicity. In particular, DYFI data provide strong evidence that earthquake stress drops, which control the strength of high-frequency ground shaking, are higher in the central and eastern United States (CEUS) than in California. Higher earthquake stress drops, coupled with lower attenuation of shaking with distance, result in stronger overall shaking over a wider area and thus more potential damage for CEUS earthquakes in comparison to those of equal magnitude in California - a fact also definitively captured with these new DYFI data and maps.

Realising the ICPD 20 years later: shifting the paradigms for research and education.

PubMed

Gruskin, Sofia; Ravindran, T K Sundari

2014-01-01

The extent to which people can enjoy their sexual and reproductive health is invariably intertwined with issues of disadvantage, inequality and human rights. Increased conservatism, lack of political will, outright resistance and the limited incorporation of human rights norms and standards into sexual and reproductive health policies and programmes are central challenges. Building capacity and skills to understand and address the range of issues raised by sexual and reproductive health and rights is of critical importance. Committed to the principles underlying the ICPD agenda and heavily involved in research and education, with a shared desire to bring global attention to the need for gender- and rights-oriented research and training in sexual and reproductive health, a group of us came together to form the Rights-Oriented Research and Education (RORE) Network for Sexual and Reproductive Health at the end of 2012. To generate dialogue, discussion and action, we propose what we mean by a human rights orientation to sexual and reproductive health and what we believe is needed going forward to achieve a human rights orientation to sexual and reproductive health education and research.

49 CFR 192.933 - What actions must be taken to address integrity issues?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... Transmission Pipeline Integrity Management § 192.933 What actions must be taken to address integrity issues? (a... any indication of metal loss, cracking or a stress riser. (iii) An indication or anomaly that in the...

49 CFR 192.933 - What actions must be taken to address integrity issues?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... Transmission Pipeline Integrity Management § 192.933 What actions must be taken to address integrity issues? (a... any indication of metal loss, cracking or a stress riser. (iii) An indication or anomaly that in the...

49 CFR 192.933 - What actions must be taken to address integrity issues?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... Transmission Pipeline Integrity Management § 192.933 What actions must be taken to address integrity issues? (a... any indication of metal loss, cracking or a stress riser. (iii) An indication or anomaly that in the...

ITS National Architecture -- Rural Issues Workshop

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1995-06-15

THE PURPOSE OF THE WORKSHOP IS TO BRING TOGETHER A DIVERSITY OF PEOPLE INTERESTED IN HOW THE NATIONAL ITS ARCHITECTURE IS ADDRESSING ISSUES THAT IMPACT IMPLEMENTATION OF ITS IN RURAL AREAS (AND TO WHAT DEGREE IT ADDRESSES THEM). : THE TWO-DAY AGEN...

The Dangers of Art "Appreciation."

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Irvine, Hope

1991-01-01

Addresses the issue of the fame of Leonardo da Vinci's "Mona Lisa." Describes several kitsch objects that have been created about the painting. Maintains that students need to address this issue otherwise such exploitation will depreciate the value of the art work. (KM)

Measuring the quality of life of the elderly in health promotion intervention clinical trials.

PubMed Central

Kutner, N G; Ory, M G; Baker, D I; Schechtman, K B; Hornbrook, M C; Mulrow, C D

1992-01-01

The Multicenter Trials of Frailty and Injuries: Cooperative Studies of Intervention Techniques (FICSIT) is a series of clinical trials of biomedical, behavioral, and environmental interventions to reduce the risks of frailty and injury among the elderly. Reliable assessment of the quality of life reported by the subjects is a central issue in evaluating the interventions. An intervention may have a significant impact on an elderly person's sense of well-being, even though significant improvement is not observed in selected physical outcome measures. Elderly persons' compliance with particular intervention regimens may be influenced by the quality of life effects that they perceive in relation to the intervention. The researchers review the definition and measurement of quality of life in the trials, with particular attention to issues in determining common measures used at all study locations. Practical considerations in the selection and use of quality of life measures in both community and institutional populations are addressed. Topics discussed include the interrelation of aging, functional capacities, and quality of life; the multi-dimensionality of quality of life in relation to differential intervention effects; and age-related issues in the collection of quality of life data. Preliminary observations are reviewed, and potential contributions of FICSIT to intervention-sensitive quality of life assessments among the elderly are noted. PMID:1410233

12th meeting of Asian Parliamentarians on Population and Development.

PubMed

1999-01-01

At the 12th annual Asian Parliamentarians Meeting on Population and Development, co-sponsored by the Asian Population and Development Association (APDA) of Japan and the Philippine Legislative Committee on Population and Development (PLCPD), the adverse effect of population growth on economic development and the importance of improvements in women's status were central themes. Fukusaburo Maeda, President of APDA Japan, noted that an understanding of women's issues is key to solving global population problems. Numerous participants urged rapid implementation of plans outlined at recent conferences in Cairo and Beijing to empower women and involve them in all stages of the development process. Even issues of food security are linked to women's issues, since women are generally responsible for feeding their families. Participants voted to adopt the "Manila Resolution on Women, Gender, Population, and Development"--a call for social and economic empowerment of women and resources for gender-related programs. Dr. Patricia Licuanan, Chair of the UN Committee on the Status of Women, noted that men should not feel threatened by women holding positions of power; rather, they should welcome an equal partnership between men and women. In her closing address, Senator Leticia Ramos Shahani, Chair of PLCPD, stressed the importance of placing women's empowerment on various parliamentary agendas and commended APDA for its research and population-based surveys in Asia.

Teaching socioscientific issues: classroom culture and students' performances

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tal, Tali; Kedmi, Yarden

2006-12-01

The "Treasures in the Sea: Use and Abuse" unit that deals with authentic socioscientific issues related to the Mediterranean was developed as part of a national effort to increase scientific literacy. The unit aimed to enhance active participation of the learners and encourage higher order thinking in class by applying teaching methods that reduce the unfamiliarity felt by students. This was expected through an explicit use of a variety of teaching and assessment-for-learning methods, suitable for Science for All students. Our main goal was to examine the culture of Science for All classes in which the unit was enacted. In order to address the main learning objectives, we monitored students' performances in tasks that required the higher order thinking skills of argumentation and value judgment, which are central constituents of decision-making processes. We show that while socioscientific issues were discussed in whole class and small group sessions, and students' argumentation improved, there is still a long way to go in applying a thinking culture in non-science major classes. We suggest that science teachers should shift from traditional content-based and value-free approach, to a sociocultural approach that views science as a community practice and the students as active participants in decision-making processes.

Lessons Learned Implementing DOORS in a Citrix Environment

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bussman, Marie

2005-01-01

NASA's James Web Space Telescope (JWST) Project is a large multi-national project with geographically dispersed contractors that all need access to the Projects requirement database. Initially, the project utilized multiple DOORS databases with the built-in partitions feature to exchange modules amongst the various contractor sites. As the requirements databases matured the use of partitions became extremely difficult. There have been many issues such as incompatible versions of DOORS, inefficient mechanism for sharing modules, security concerns, performance issues, and inconsistent document import and export formats. Deployment of the client software with limited IT resources available was also an issue. The solution chosen by JWST was to integrate the use of a Citrix environment with the DOORS database to address most of the project concerns. The use of the Citrix solution allowed a single Requirements database in a secure environment via a web interface. The Citrix environment allows JWST to upgrade to the most current version of DOORS without having to coordinate multiple sites and user upgrades. The single requirements database eliminates a multitude of Configuration Management concerns and facilitated the standardization of documentation formats. This paper discusses the obstacles and the lessons learned throughout the installation, implementation, usage and deployment process of a centralized DOORS database solution.

Building Innovation and Sustainability in Programs of Research.

PubMed

Villarruel, Antonia M

2018-01-01

Innovation and sustainability are two important concepts of impactful programs of research. While at first glance these concepts and approaches may seem at odds, they are synergistic. We examine the social, political, and policy context as it relates to innovation and sustainability. We present an exemplar of a program of research and discuss factors to consider in developing innovative and sustainable programs of research. Innovation is an important component of sustainable programs of research. Understanding the social and political context and addressing relevant policy issues are factors to be considered in both innovation and sustainability. Innovation and sustainability, important components of research, are also central to clinical practice. Open communication between researchers and clinicians can support the acceleration of innovations and the integration of evidence-based findings in practice. © 2017 Sigma Theta Tau International.

Causes and consequences of reduced blood volume in space flight - A multi-discipline modeling study

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Leonard, J. I.

1983-01-01

A group of mathematical models of various physiological systems have been developed and applied to studying problems associated with adaptation to weightlessness. One biomedical issue which could be addressed by at least three of these models from varying perspectives was the reduction in blood volume that universally occurs in astronauts. Accordingly, models of fluid-electrolyte, erythropoiesis, and cardiovascular regulation were employed to study the causes and consequences of blood volume loss during space flight. This analysis confirms the notion that alterations of blood volume are central to an understanding of adaptation to prolonged space flight. More importantly, the modeling studies resulted in specific hypotheses accounting for plasma volume and red cell mass losses and testable predictions concerning the behavior of the circulatory system.

A canonical neural mechanism for behavioral variability

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Darshan, Ran; Wood, William E.; Peters, Susan; Leblois, Arthur; Hansel, David

2017-05-01

The ability to generate variable movements is essential for learning and adjusting complex behaviours. This variability has been linked to the temporal irregularity of neuronal activity in the central nervous system. However, how neuronal irregularity actually translates into behavioural variability is unclear. Here we combine modelling, electrophysiological and behavioural studies to address this issue. We demonstrate that a model circuit comprising topographically organized and strongly recurrent neural networks can autonomously generate irregular motor behaviours. Simultaneous recordings of neurons in singing finches reveal that neural correlations increase across the circuit driving song variability, in agreement with the model predictions. Analysing behavioural data, we find remarkable similarities in the babbling statistics of 5-6-month-old human infants and juveniles from three songbird species and show that our model naturally accounts for these `universal' statistics.

Electronic Medical Records (EMRs), Epidemiology, and Epistemology: Reflections on EMRs and Future Pediatric Clinical Research

PubMed Central

Wasserman, Richard C.

2011-01-01

Electronic medical records (EMRs) are increasingly common in pediatric patient care. EMR data represent a relatively novel and rich resource for clinical research. The fact, however, that pediatric EMR data are collected for the purposes of clinical documentation and billing rather than research creates obstacles to their use in scientific investigation. Particular issues include accuracy, completeness, comparability between settings, ease of extraction, and context of recording. Although these problems can be addressed through standard strategies for dealing with partially accurate and incomplete data, a longer term solution will involve work with pediatric clinicians to improve data quality. As research becomes one of the explicit purposes for which pediatricians collect EMR data, the pediatric clinician will play a central role in future pediatric clinical research. PMID:21622040

The Essential Role for Laboratory Studies in Atmospheric Chemistry

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Burkholder, James B.; Abbatt, Jonathan P. D.; Barnes, Ian

Laboratory studies of atmospheric chemistry characterize the nature of atmospherically relevant processes down to the molecular level, providing fundamental information used to assess how human activities drive environmental phenomena such as climate change, urban air pollution, ecosystem health, indoor air quality, and stratospheric ozone depletion. Laboratory studies have a central role in addressing the incomplete fundamental knowledge of atmospheric chemistry. This paper highlights the evolving science needs for this community and emphasizes how our knowledge is far from complete, hindering our ability to predict the future state of our atmosphere and to respond to emerging global environmental change issues. Finally,more » laboratory studies provide rich opportunities to expand our understanding of the atmosphere via collaborative research with the modeling and field measurement communities, and with neighboring disciplines.« less

The structure and regulation of the Irish equine industries: Links to considerations of equine welfare

PubMed Central

2008-01-01

The equine industries in Ireland are vibrant and growing. They are broadly classified into two sectors: Thoroughbred racing, and sports and leisure. This paper describes these sectors in terms of governance, education and training in equine welfare, and available data concerning horse numbers, identification, traceability and disposal. Animal welfare, and specifically equine welfare, has received increasing attention internationally. There is general acceptance of concepts such as animal needs and persons' responsibilities toward animals in their care, as expressed in the 'Five Freedoms'. As yet, little has been published on standards of equine welfare pertaining to Ireland, or on measures to address welfare issues here. This paper highlights the central role of horse identification and legal registration of ownership to safeguard the health and welfare of horses. PMID:21851704

Sink or Swim: The Marine Corps Capacity to Conduct a Marine Expeditionary Brigade Amphibious Assault using Expeditionary Maneuver Warfare

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-03-01

Expeditionary Maneuver Warfare? This study addresses the equipment issues surrounding the Marine expeditionary brigade ’s’ ability to conduct an amphibious...addresses the equipment issues surrounding the expeditionary brigade’s ability to conduct an amphibious assault under expeditionary maneuver warfare in...1 Issues and Elements of the Modern-Day MEB Assault .................................................................. 2 The Marine Corps

Focus on Infants & Toddlers (Ages 0-3): A Quarterly Newsletter for the Education Community, 1999-2000.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Barry, Virginia M., Ed.; Cantor, Patricia, Ed.

2000-01-01

These four quarterly newsletter issues address various topics of interest to child caregivers. Each issue focuses on a theme and includes articles on that theme, along with regular news or vice president's columns. The Fall 1999 issue addresses family play and seeks to encourage families to regard play as a way of relaxing and finding contentment…

NIH Research Addresses Aging Issues and Disparities in Oral Health | NIH MedlinePlus the Magazine

MedlinePlus

... JavaScript on. Feature: Oral Health and Aging NIH Research Addresses Aging Issues and Disparities in Oral Health ... NIH Why is it important to have a research focus on older adults? One reason is that ...

Effective Organizational Structures and Processes: Addressing Issues of Change

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Andrade, Maureen Snow

2016-01-01

This chapter describes organizational structures and processes at the institutional and project levels for the development and support of distance learning initiatives. It addresses environmental and stakeholder issues and explores principles and strategies of effective leadership for change creation and management.

Addressing Social Issues.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Schoebel, Susan

1991-01-01

Maintains that advertising can help people become more aware of social responsibilities. Describes a successful nationwide newspaper advertising competition for college students in which ads address social issues such as literacy, drugs, teen suicide, and teen pregnancy. Notes how the ads have helped grassroots programs throughout the United…

Addressing Measurement Issues Related to Bullying Involvement

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Casper, Deborah M.; Meter, Diana J.; Card, Noel A.

2015-01-01

In this article, we address measurement issues related to select aspects of bullying involvement with the goal of moving psychometrically sound measurement practices toward applied bullying research. We first provide a nontechnical introduction to psychometric considerations in measuring bullying involvement, highlighting the importance of…

North Central IPM Center

Science.gov Websites

) solutions, based in the North Central region. North Central IPM Center Invasive Plants in Trade Working webpage to learn about the North Central IPM Center's grants program and other IPM-related funding Tribal IPM Urban Ag IPM Partners In IPM Working Groups Critical Issues Projects North Central IPM

Ground-water quality assessment of the central Oklahoma Aquifer, Oklahoma; project description

USGS Publications Warehouse

Christenson, S.C.; Parkhurst, D.L.

1987-01-01

In April 1986, the U.S. Geological Survey began a pilot program to assess the quality of the Nation's surface-water and ground-water resources. The program, known as the National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) program, is designed to acquire and interpret information about a variety of water-quality issues. The Central Oklahoma aquifer project is one of three ground-water pilot projects that have been started. The NAWQA program also incudes four surface-water pilot projects. The Central Oklahoma aquifer project, as part of the pilot NAWQA program, will develop and test methods for performing assessments of ground-water quality. The objectives of the Central Oklahoma aquifer assessment are: (1) To investigate regional ground-water quality throughout the aquifer in the manner consistent with the other pilot ground-water projects, emphasizing the occurrence and distribution of potentially toxic substances in ground water, including trace elements, organic compounds, and radioactive constituents; (2) to describe relations between ground-water quality, land use, hydrogeology, and other pertinent factors; and (3) to provide a general description of the location, nature, and possible causes of selected prevalent water-quality problems within the study unit; and (4) to describe the potential for water-quality degradation of ground-water zones within the study unit. The Central Oklahoma aquifer, which includes in descending order the Garber Sandstone and Wellington Formation, the Chase Group, the Council Grove Group, the Admire Group, and overlying alluvium and terrace deposits, underlies about 3,000 square miles of central Oklahoma and is used extensively for municipal, industrial, commercial, and domestic water supplies. The aquifer was selected for study by the NAWQA program because it is a major source for water supplies in central Oklahoma and because it has several known or suspected water-quality problems. Known problems include concentrations of arsenic, chromium, selenium, and gross-alpha activity that exceed drinking-water standards. Suspected problems include possible contamination of the aquifer by oil-field brines and drilling fluids, pesticides, industrial chemicals, septic-tank effluent, fertilizers, and leakage from sewage systems and underground tanks used for storage of hydrocarbons. There are four major components of the Central Oklahoma aquifer project. The first component is the collection and analysis of existing information, including chemical, hydrologic, and land-use data. The second component is the geohydrologic and geochemical investigations of the aquifer flow system. The third component is the sampling for a wide variety of inorganic, organic, and radioactive constituents as part a regional survey that will produce a consistent set of data among all ground-water pilot projects. These data can be used to: (1) Define regional ground-water quality within the Central Oklahoma aquifer, and (2) compare water quality in the Central Oklahoma aquifer to the water quality in the other ground-water study units of the NAWQA program. The fourth component is topical studies that will address, in more detail, some of the major water-quality issues pertaining to the aquifer.

20 CFR 404.1588 - Your responsibility to tell us of events that may change your disability status.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

... may change your disability status. 404.1588 Section 404.1588 Employees' Benefits SOCIAL SECURITY... issue a receipt to you or your representative at least until a centralized computer file that records... centralized computer file is in place, we will continue to issue receipts to you or your representative if you...

20 CFR 404.1588 - Your responsibility to tell us of events that may change your disability status.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

... may change your disability status. 404.1588 Section 404.1588 Employees' Benefits SOCIAL SECURITY... issue a receipt to you or your representative at least until a centralized computer file that records... centralized computer file is in place, we will continue to issue receipts to you or your representative if you...

20 CFR 404.1588 - Your responsibility to tell us of events that may change your disability status.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... may change your disability status. 404.1588 Section 404.1588 Employees' Benefits SOCIAL SECURITY... issue a receipt to you or your representative at least until a centralized computer file that records... centralized computer file is in place, we will continue to issue receipts to you or your representative if you...

20 CFR 404.1588 - Your responsibility to tell us of events that may change your disability status.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

... may change your disability status. 404.1588 Section 404.1588 Employees' Benefits SOCIAL SECURITY... issue a receipt to you or your representative at least until a centralized computer file that records... centralized computer file is in place, we will continue to issue receipts to you or your representative if you...

Entrepreneurship: A U.S. Perspective. Series on Public Issues No. 5.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dethloff, Henry C.; Bryant, Keith L., Jr.

The argument of this booklet, one of a series intended to apply economic principles to major social and political issues of the day, is that entrepreneurs are central to the development of the American economy. In an historical look at American entrepreneurship, it is noted that entrepreneurs have become central figures in the American economy…

Physicians’ perspectives on cancer survivors’ work integration issues

PubMed Central

Morrison, Tricia; Thomas, Roanne; Guitard, Paulette

2015-01-01

Abstract Objective To explore physicians’ perspectives on supporting cancer survivors’ work integration (WI) issues. Design Using vignette methodology, 10 physicians were individually interviewed. Interviews were audiorecorded, transcribed, and subsequently analyzed. Setting Ontario. Participants A total of 10 physicians participated: 5 oncologists and 5 FPs. Methods An inductive interpretive description approach was used to identify themes across the entire data set. Main findings Physicians primarily focused on patients’ medical needs and did not spontaneously address WI issues with them. Instead, it was their patients who raised WI issues, most often owing to insurance requirements. Physicians readily completed insurance forms to aid patients’ well-being, but they did not believe their guidance was empirically sound based upon their limited WI training; rather, they recognized other health professionals, such as occupational therapists, as being better equipped to address cancer survivors’ WI issues. Despite this recognition, referrals for WI support were not routinely facilitated owing to a lack of resources or knowledge. Conclusion Owing to a lack of training and time, as well as the belief that WI issues are not part of their mandate of care, physicians perceive themselves as ill-equipped to address cancer survivors’ WI issues. These findings underscore the need for enhanced awareness of cancer survivors’ WI issues and the need for accessible support services offered by duly trained health care professionals, such as occupational therapists, ideally working in a multidisciplinary team to holistically address cancer survivors’ unique needs. PMID:25756147

The emergence and effectiveness of global health networks: findings and future research.

PubMed

Shiffman, Jeremy; Schmitz, Hans Peter; Berlan, David; Smith, Stephanie L; Quissell, Kathryn; Gneiting, Uwe; Pelletier, David

2016-04-01

Global health issues vary in the amount of attention and resources they receive. One reason is that the networks of individuals and organizations that address these issues differ in their effectiveness. This article presents key findings from a research project on the emergence and effectiveness of global health networks addressing tobacco use, alcohol harm, maternal mortality, neonatal mortality, tuberculosis and pneumonia. Although networks are only one of many factors influencing priority, they do matter, particularly for shaping the way the problem and solutions are understood, and convincing governments, international organizations and other global actors to address the issue. Their national-level effects vary by issue and are more difficult to ascertain. Networks are most likely to produce effects when (1) their members construct a compelling framing of the issue, one that includes a shared understanding of the problem, a consensus on solutions and convincing reasons to act and (2) they build a political coalition that includes individuals and organizations beyond their traditional base in the health sector, a task that demands engagement in the politics of the issue, not just its technical aspects. Maintaining a focused frame and sustaining a broad coalition are often in tension: effective networks find ways to balance the two challenges. The emergence and effectiveness of a network are shaped both by its members' decisions and by contextual factors, including historical influences (e.g. prior failed attempts to address the problem), features of the policy environment (e.g. global development goals) and characteristics of the issue the network addresses (e.g. its mortality burden). Their proliferation raises the issue of their legitimacy. Reasons to consider them legitimate include their members' expertise and the attention they bring to neglected issues. Reasons to question their legitimacy include their largely elite composition and the fragmentation they bring to global health governance. Published by Oxford University Press in association with The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine © The Author 2016; all rights reserved.

The emergence and effectiveness of global health networks: findings and future research

PubMed Central

Shiffman, Jeremy; Peter Schmitz, Hans; Berlan, David; Smith, Stephanie L; Quissell, Kathryn; Gneiting, Uwe; Pelletier, David

2016-01-01

Global health issues vary in the amount of attention and resources they receive. One reason is that the networks of individuals and organizations that address these issues differ in their effectiveness. This article presents key findings from a research project on the emergence and effectiveness of global health networks addressing tobacco use, alcohol harm, maternal mortality, neonatal mortality, tuberculosis and pneumonia. Although networks are only one of many factors influencing priority, they do matter, particularly for shaping the way the problem and solutions are understood, and convincing governments, international organizations and other global actors to address the issue. Their national-level effects vary by issue and are more difficult to ascertain. Networks are most likely to produce effects when (1) their members construct a compelling framing of the issue, one that includes a shared understanding of the problem, a consensus on solutions and convincing reasons to act and (2) they build a political coalition that includes individuals and organizations beyond their traditional base in the health sector, a task that demands engagement in the politics of the issue, not just its technical aspects. Maintaining a focused frame and sustaining a broad coalition are often in tension: effective networks find ways to balance the two challenges. The emergence and effectiveness of a network are shaped both by its members’ decisions and by contextual factors, including historical influences (e.g. prior failed attempts to address the problem), features of the policy environment (e.g. global development goals) and characteristics of the issue the network addresses (e.g. its mortality burden). Their proliferation raises the issue of their legitimacy. Reasons to consider them legitimate include their members’ expertise and the attention they bring to neglected issues. Reasons to question their legitimacy include their largely elite composition and the fragmentation they bring to global health governance. PMID:27067141

Sustainable design guidelines to support the Washington State ferries terminal design manual : stormwater and material issues.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2011-08-01

In an effort to assist the developers of the terminal design manual in potentially addressing : sustainable design issues, the overall goal is to produce Sustainable Design Guidelines that : will specifically address the unique needs and requirements...

Privacy Questions from Practicing School Nurses

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bergren, Martha Dewey

2004-01-01

This Question and Answer (Q&A) article addresses practice issues related to school health records and school nursing documentation that were posed by school nurses in the field. Specifically, the questions addressed concern the following: education records, medication privacy issues, sharing of sensitive health information, privacy of…

New Haven Conn. Group Awarded EPA Grant to Help Air and Water Issues

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

A Connecticut organization working to address water and air pollution issues in New Haven was one of three groups in New England to receive an EPA grant award of $30,000 each, to help communities directly address local environmental concerns.

Space station operations task force. Panel 4 report: Management integration

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1987-01-01

The Management Integration Panel of the Space Station Operations Task Force was chartered to provide a structure and ground rules for integrating the efforts of the other three panels and to address a number of cross cutting issues that affect all areas of space station operations. Issues addressed include operations concept implementation, alternatives development and integration process, strategic policy issues and options, and program management emphasis areas.

Homelessness and the Public's Health: Legal Responses.

PubMed

Hodge, James G; DiPietro, Barbara; Horton-Newell, Amy E

2017-03-01

This commentary addresses public health issues underlying homelessness and related law, policy, and advocacy options. After framing public health issues for affected individuals and the community, legal and policy approaches and related barriers are assessed. Major topics include deficits in housing availability, the role of state-based Medicaid programs, criminalization of homelessness, and the use of emergency declarations seeking to address particular issues related to homelessness in select states and localities.

Laboratory challenges conducting international clinical research in resource-limited settings.

PubMed

Fitzgibbon, Joseph E; Wallis, Carole L

2014-01-01

There are many challenges to performing clinical research in resource-limited settings. Here, we discuss several of the most common laboratory issues that must be addressed. These include issues relating to organization and personnel, laboratory facilities and equipment, standard operating procedures, external quality assurance, shipping, laboratory capacity, and data management. Although much progress has been made, innovative ways of addressing some of these issues are still very much needed.

Addressing Social Issues in the Classroom and Beyond: The Pedagogical Efforts of Pioneers in the Field. Research in Curriculum and Instruction

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Totten, Samuel, Ed.; Pedersen, Jon, Ed.

2007-01-01

Addressing Social Issues in the Classroom and Beyond: The Pedagogical Efforts of Pioneers in the Field is comprised of essays that delineate the genesis and evolution of the thought and work of pioneers in the field of social issues and education. The authors (many of whom, themselves, are noted professors of education and who have done…

Evaluating the utility of vegetation indices to monitoring forests in South America, Western & Central Africa, and Southeast Asia

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cherrington, E. A.; Vincent, G.; Barbier, N.; Pélissier, R.; Sabatier, D.; Berger, U.

2017-12-01

In recent years, there has been controversy regarding applying vegetation indices (VIs) for monitoring tropical forests because of data artefacts related to sun-sensor geometry issues. One means of addressing the issue is comparing the VI variation of tropical forests in similar latitudes. That is, if intra-annual variation in VIs is not driven by real structural and biological changes in the vegetation, then one would expect that forests on the same latitudes should display similar patterns of VI variation. Data from multiple vegetation indices (from MODIS and SPOT VEGETATION) were analyzed over three ten degree by ten degree tiles covering the Guianas, western-central Africa, and northern Borneo in Southeast Asia. In addition to comparing the intra-annual trends across the three regions, the trends were also compared with intra-annual patterns of temporal variation, to see if these explained the VI variation. Those analyses showed that not only did the VI variation across the three regions differ significantly, but the patterns in VI variation for at least two of the three regions were largely correlated with intra-annual variation in environmental factors such as rainfall or light availability. For the Guianas, the pattern of VI variation was largely correlated with the variation in solar radiation, while for western-central Africa, the pattern of variation was more correlated to the variation in rainfall. In contrast, for northern Borneo, the pattern of VI variation did not correlate well with either variation in solar elevation or with intra-annual variation in environmental factors. Firstly, the data would seem to suggest that the patterns of variation in VI data for tropical forests are not strongly biased by artefacts related to sun-sensor geometry effects. More importantly, however, the results also suggest that the phenological of forests in both the Guianas and in western-central Africa are governed by different environmental regimes. That is to say, the forests in the Guianas appear to be light-limited, whereas in contrast, the forests in western-central Africa appear to be moisture-limited. This research suggests that vegetation index data - when corrected for artefacts related to bi-directional effects - can indeed be used to study patterns of temporal variation of forests in the tropics.

Addressing chronic operational issues at the W. M. Keck Observatory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nordin, Tom; Matsuda, Richard

2016-07-01

The W. M. Keck Observatory (WMKO) has a good track record at addressing large critical faults which impact observing. Our performance tracking and correcting chronic minor faults has been mixed, yet this class of problems has a significant negative impact on scientific productivity and staff effectiveness. We have taken steps to address this shortcoming. This paper outlines the creation of a program to identify, categorize and rank these chronic operational issues, track them over time, and develop management options for their resolution. The success of the program at identifying these chronic operational issues and the advantages of dedicating observatory resources to this endeavor are presented.

An Upward Spiral? The Gate Project: A Case Study of the Role of Training in Addressing Homelessness in Central London. Monographs in Continuing Education.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Carter, Julia

In 1990, the London Enterprise Agency, a private sector consortium dedicated to inner-city regeneration in London, established a project to address homelessness. Later called GATE (Guaranteed Accommodation and Training for Employment), the project had three central features: a focus on employment as a means of tackling homelessness; the use of a…

The Woodlands, Texas.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McHaney, Larry J.; Bernhardt, Jerry

1988-01-01

The authors describe the "central project" concept for implementing technology education while addressing education reform. The central project is a topic around which students, teachers, administrators, and the community focus their energies as a team. At McCullough High School (Texas), the central project involved design and…

Evaluation of structural issues related to isolation of the 100-KE/100-KW discharge chute

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Winkel, B.V.; Hyde, L.L.

The issue of excessive post-seismic leakage in the discharge chute of the K East and K West fuel storage basins was resolved by designing isolation barriers to maintain basin water levels if the discharge chute should drain. This report addresses the structural issues associated with isolation of the discharge chute. The report demonstrates the structural adequacy of the components associated with chute isolation for normal and seismic loading. Associated issues, such as hardware drop accidents and seismic slosh heights are also addressed.

The Differential Effect of Attentional Condition on Subsequent Vocabulary Development

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mohammed, Halah Abdulelah; Majid, Norazman Abdul; Abdullah, Tina

2016-01-01

This study addressed the potential methodological issues effect of attentional condition on subsequent vocabulary development from a different perspective, which addressed several potential methodological issues of previous research that have been based on psycholinguistic notion of second language learner as a limited capacity processor. The…

Federal Offices That Address Women's Issues.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Weber, Patricia A.; And Others

This directory contains a listing of federal offices that address women's issues. Among the departments and agencies included are: the executive branch and the executive agencies departments of agriculture, commerce, defense (Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, National Guard and Navy), education, health and human services, housing and…

49 CFR 192.933 - What actions must be taken to address integrity issues?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

...) PIPELINE AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS SAFETY ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (CONTINUED) PIPELINE SAFETY TRANSPORTATION OF NATURAL AND OTHER GAS BY PIPELINE: MINIMUM FEDERAL SAFETY STANDARDS Gas Transmission Pipeline Integrity Management § 192.933 What actions must be taken to address integrity issues? (a...

38 CFR 61.43 - Rating criteria for special needs grant applications.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

...; and (4) Address safety and security issues including segregation procedures from other program... activities, physical activity, and plans for social engagement within the program and in the community; (3) Provide opportunities for participants to address life transitional issues and separation and/or loss...

38 CFR 61.43 - Rating criteria for special needs grant applications.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

...; and (4) Address safety and security issues including segregation procedures from other program... activities, physical activity, and plans for social engagement within the program and in the community; (3) Provide opportunities for participants to address life transitional issues and separation and/or loss...

Nonhydrostatic thermohaline convection in the polar oceans

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Potts, Mark Allen

Sea ice cover in the polar and sub-polar seas is an important and sensitive component of the Earth's climate system. It mediates the transfer of heat and momentum between the ocean and the atmosphere in high latitude oceans. Where open patches occur in the ice cover a large transfer of heat from the ocean to the atmosphere occurs that accounts for a large fraction of energy exchange between the wintertime polar ocean and atmosphere. Although the circumstances under which leads and polynyas form are considerably different, similar brine driven convection occurs under both. Convection beneath freezing ice in leads and polynyas can be modeled using either the hydrostatic or nonhydrostatic form of the governing equations. One important question is the degree of nonhydrostaticity, which depends on the vertical accelerations present. This issue is addressed through the application of a nonhydrostatic model, with accurate treatment of the turbulent mixing. The results suggest that mixing and re-freezing considerably modify the fluid dynamical processes underneath, such as the periodic shedding of saline plumes. It also appears that overall, the magnitude of the nonhydrostaticity is small, and hydrostatic models are generally adequate to deal with the problem of convection under leads. Strong wintertime cooling drives deep convection in sub-polar seas and in the coastal waters surrounding Antarctica. Deep convection results in formation of deep water in the global oceans, which is of great importance to the maintenance of the stratification of its deep interior, and the resulting meridional circulation is central to the Earth's climatic state. Deep convection falls into two general categories: open ocean deep convection, which occurs in deep stretches of the high latitude seas far from topographical influences, and convection on or near the continental shelves, where topography exerts a considerable influence. Nonhydrostatic models are central to the study of deep convection, but the presence of the bottom leads to significant complications in shallower waters. This issue of deep convection in the presence of topography is addressed for the first time with a non-hydrostatic model through the adaptation of the virtual boundary method and used to simulate convection over the Mertz Glacier polynya in the Antarctic in both two and three dimensions.

Public involvement and consensus building in the Verde River Watershed in central Arizona

Treesearch

Tom Bonomo

1996-01-01

Currently an organization called the Verde Watershed Association is the central point for consensus building and public involvement in water issues in the Verde River Watershed. The association is the out growth of efforts towards the resolution of watershed issues without passing new laws, initiating regulations, or entering the win-lose arena of litigation. The...

Nanomedicines for the Treatment of CNS Diseases.

PubMed

Reynolds, Jessica L; Mahato, Ram I

2017-03-01

Targeting and delivering macromolecular therapeutics to the central nervous system (CNS) has been a major challenge. The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is the main obstacle that must be overcome to allow compounds to reach their targets in the brain. Therefore, much effort has been channelled into improving transport of therapeutics across the BBB and into the CNS including the use of nanoparticles. In this thematic issue, several reviews and original research are presented that address "Nanomedicines for CNS Diseases." The articles in this issue are concentrated on either CNS-HIV disease or CNS tumors. In regards to CNS-HIV disease, there are two reviews that discuss the role of nanoparticles for improving the delivery of HIV therapeutics to the CNS. In addition, there are two original articles focusing on therapies for CNS-HIV, one of them uses nanoparticles for delivery of siRNA specific to a key protein in autophagy to microglia, and another discusses nanoparticle delivery of a soluble mediator to suppress neuroinflammation. Furthermore, a comprehensive review about gene therapy for CNS neurological diseases is also included. Finally, this issue also includes review articles on enhanced drug targeting to CNS tumors. These articles include a review on the use of nanoparticles for CNS tumors, a review on functionalization (ligands) of nanoparticles for drug targeting to the brain tumor by overcoming BBB, and the final review discusses the use of macrophages as a delivery vehicle to CNS tumors. This thematic issue provides a wealth of knowledge on using nanomedicines for CNS diseases.

The Presidential Address to the Association for Career and Technical Education Research: Using Standards to Reform Teacher Preparation in Career and Technical Education--A Successful Reformation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Whittington, M. Susie

2005-01-01

This article presents the presidential address at the annual conference of the Association for Career and Technical Education Research by M. Susie Whittington, ACTER President 2005. The purpose of the presidential address is to examine a current issue facing the profession, and pose challenges to the membership in the context of that issue. In her…

Web-Based Geospatial Tools to Address Hazard Mitigation, Natural Resource Management, and Other Societal Issues

USGS Publications Warehouse

Hearn,, Paul P.

2009-01-01

Federal, State, and local government agencies in the United States face a broad range of issues on a daily basis. Among these are natural hazard mitigation, homeland security, emergency response, economic and community development, water supply, and health and safety services. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) helps decision makers address these issues by providing natural hazard assessments, information on energy, mineral, water and biological resources, maps, and other geospatial information. Increasingly, decision makers at all levels are challenged not by the lack of information, but by the absence of effective tools to synthesize the large volume of data available, and to utilize the data to frame policy options in a straightforward and understandable manner. While geographic information system (GIS) technology has been widely applied to this end, systems with the necessary analytical power have been usable only by trained operators. The USGS is addressing the need for more accessible, manageable data tools by developing a suite of Web-based geospatial applications that will incorporate USGS and cooperating partner data into the decision making process for a variety of critical issues. Examples of Web-based geospatial tools being used to address societal issues follow.

Integrating health-related quality of life into cross-national clinical trials.

PubMed

Cella, D F; Wiklund, I; Shumaker, S A; Aaronson, N K

1993-12-01

When planning to implement health-related quality of life (HRQL) assessment in a multinational clinical trial, there are at least four general considerations: the natural history of the disease or condition, the characteristics of the population, the treatment under consideration, and the structure and function of the clinical trial organization. Each of these considerations must be addressed simultaneously when planning, implementing and analysing a cross-national clinical trial. There are five relevant polar components of the natural history of a given disease or condition: (1) time frame (acute versus chronic); (2) life threat (yes versus no); (3) symptomatology (present versus absent); (4) symptom expression (episodic versus constant); and (5) functional impact (present versus absent). Differences in population characteristics, (e.g., age, conditions, co-morbidity), embedded within any cross-national trial, must be addressed conceptually prior to initiating the trial, methodologically when planning implementation, and statistically after the collection of the data. In terms of treatment, issues such as adverse and positive effects and timing of effects must be considered. The methods entailed in planning, implementing and analysing HRQL data will depend upon the degree of centralization of personnel and resources within any given clinical trial. The range of possibilities runs from complete centralization, in which all planning and coordination of data collection and transmittal is done by one office, to complete decentralization, in which the work is distributed to participating sites and interested investigators. Finally, successful implementation of HRQL data collection is enhanced by heightening awareness of the importance of, and value in, assessing HRQL in clinical trials.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

A survey and audit of the first ‘Guides to Local Health Services’ produced by Primary Care Trusts in England

PubMed Central

Noble, Jenny; Hann, Mark; Sheaff, Rod; Marshall, Martin

2005-01-01

Abstract Background  Providing more information for the public about the range and quality of health services is an important part of improving accountability, quality and public responsiveness. Most sources of information to date have failed to address the information needs of people about their local services. The launch in England in 2002 of a new publication, Guides to Local Health Services, was designed to address this deficiency. We conducted an audit of the first Guides, and surveyed those responsible for their production, in order to examine the Guides’ development, content, presentation and dissemination, and to critique the purpose of the initiative. Methods  A semi‐structured questionnaire survey of those responsible for producing the Guides, and an audit of the Guides produced by Primary Care Trusts (PCTs). Results  Most PCTs complied with central guidance about structure and content, but in meeting multiple requirements the Guides lost their clarity of purpose. The content was dominated by information relating to financial and strategic accountability. In producing the Guides, external consultation was limited, particularly with the public but also with local partnership providers of health and social care. The main issues were the lack of a clear focus for Guide information, the level of central direction, the short production lead times, difficulties with distribution, and the many competing demands being made on PCT resources. Conclusions  Guide content should be clearly focused on information that the public wants. Greater responsibility should be devolved to front line PCT staff to determine content in consultation with local users. PMID:15860054

Menopause: A Life Cycle Transition.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Evarts, Barbara Kess; Baldwin, Cynthia

1998-01-01

Family therapists need to address the issue of menopause proactively to be of benefit to couples and families during this transitional period in the family life cycle. Physical, psychological, and psychosocial factors affecting the menopausal woman and her family, and ways to address these issues in counseling are discussed. (Author/EMK)

Research-Practice Integration in Real Practice Settings: Issues and Suggestions

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cheung, Monit; Ma, Anny K.; Thyer, Bruce A.; Webb, Ann E.

2015-01-01

At the National Bridging the Research and Practice Gap Symposium to discuss evidence-based practice (EBP) in social work, 150 participants attended five breakout groups to address real practice setting applications. These participants from social work academia and practice communities addressed issues and looked for solutions to promote…

The Future of Academic Freedom.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Menand, Louis, Ed.

These nine essays address controversial issues of academic freedom and values at the university level. The book, which was derived from two years of debate and lectures presented to national meetings of the American Association of University Professors, is organized in three sections which address such issues as: the purpose of academic freedom,…

The Importance of Exposure in Addressing Current and Emerging Air Quality Issues

EPA Science Inventory

The air quality issues that we face today and will face in the future are becoming increasingly more complex and require an improved understanding of human exposure to be effectively addressed. The objectives of this paper are (1) to discuss how concepts of human exposure and ex...

77 FR 18251 - Development of Animal Models of Pregnancy To Address Medical Countermeasures for Influenza in the...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-03-27

... during pregnancy. Specifically, this workshop will address experimental design issues in selecting the... countermeasures, including influenza therapies, that may be used during pregnancy; and (3) experimental design... pharmacokinetic studies, and (3) additional issues in experimental design. Background information on the public...

The Time-Limited Hot Line.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Loring, Marti Tamm; Wimberley, Edward T.

1993-01-01

Notes that media have become involved in creating programs and addressing issues that have been historically exclusive purview of mental health and human services agencies. Explains how time-limited hot line has been used to address specific issues raised by these programs. Provides overview of this type of hot line, offering triangular model of…

Library Off-Site Shelving: Guide for High-Density Facilities.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Nitecki, Danuta A., Ed.; Kendrick, Curtis L., Ed.

This collection of essays addresses the planning, construction, and operating issues relating to high-density library shelving facilities. The volume covers essential topics that address issues relating to the building, its operations, and serving the collections. It begins with an introduction by the volume's editors, "The Paradox and…

Academic and Pedagogical Issues in Teaching the Holocaust.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Stotsky, Sandra

This essay addresses six pedagogical issues that English language arts teachers should consider in preparing to use Holocaust literature to address "intolerance and bigotry" in their teaching. Teachers should ask themselves: (1) Does the literature unit emphasize anti-Semitism as a cause of the Holocaust?; (2) Does the unit provide all…

Optimizing Wartime Materiel Delivery: An Overview of DoD containerization. Volume 2. Framework for Action to Address DoD Containerization Issues

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1988-10-01

This second volume of the study entitled, Optimizing Wartime Materiel Delivery: An Overview of DOD Containerization Efforts, -outlines a framework for action to address containerization issues identified in Volume I. The objectives of the study inclu...

Pennsylvania Principals' Perceptions of Childhood Obesity

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wolfrom, Sean E.

2017-01-01

The purpose of this study was to determine Pennsylvania principals' perceptions and understanding of the physical and psychosocial impact of childhood obesity, whether they believe schools should be addressing the issue, who they feel should be leading efforts within schools, what actions they believe are taking place to address the issue within…

Family Connections: Addressing Behavior Issues--Practical Tips for Parents

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

LaCaze, Donna; Kirylo, James D.

2012-01-01

When parents get together, the subject of appropriately addressing the behavior of their children often comes to the forefront of conversations. Parents share various challenges they face with their children, including issues associated with listening, eating vegetables, doing chores, and a host of other discipline-related situations. The plethora…

23 CFR 636.501 - What issues may be addressed in discussions?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

... 23 Highways 1 2012-04-01 2012-04-01 false What issues may be addressed in discussions? 636.501 Section 636.501 Highways FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION ENGINEERING AND...-take, and may apply to price, schedule, technical requirements, type of contract, or other terms of a...

23 CFR 636.501 - What issues may be addressed in discussions?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

... 23 Highways 1 2013-04-01 2013-04-01 false What issues may be addressed in discussions? 636.501 Section 636.501 Highways FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION ENGINEERING AND...-take, and may apply to price, schedule, technical requirements, type of contract, or other terms of a...

23 CFR 636.501 - What issues may be addressed in discussions?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... 23 Highways 1 2011-04-01 2011-04-01 false What issues may be addressed in discussions? 636.501 Section 636.501 Highways FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION ENGINEERING AND...-take, and may apply to price, schedule, technical requirements, type of contract, or other terms of a...

23 CFR 636.501 - What issues may be addressed in discussions?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... 23 Highways 1 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false What issues may be addressed in discussions? 636.501 Section 636.501 Highways FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION ENGINEERING AND...-take, and may apply to price, schedule, technical requirements, type of contract, or other terms of a...

23 CFR 636.501 - What issues may be addressed in discussions?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

... 23 Highways 1 2014-04-01 2014-04-01 false What issues may be addressed in discussions? 636.501 Section 636.501 Highways FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION ENGINEERING AND...-take, and may apply to price, schedule, technical requirements, type of contract, or other terms of a...

A Symposium on Career Information Systems: Issues for Reactions.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Smith, Gerald C.; And Others

The document consists of three symposium addresses, pertaining to the provision and use of career information systems. Gerald C. Smith, Department of Labor, opened the symposium with an address on "Occupational Information systems: Uses, Developments, and Issues", which focused on career information systems currently being developed by the…

From Digital Divide to Digital Democracy.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

de los Santos, Gerardo E., Ed.; de los Santos, Alfredo G., Jr., Ed.; Milliron, Mark David, Ed.

This publication is one of many efforts of the League for Innovation in the Community College to address the issue of societal technology access and learning needs. This work addresses the issue of the digital divide, which includes the often conflicting perspectives of information technology (IT) access and literacy needs held by government…

Studio Approaches to Art Therapy.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Malchiodi, Cathy A.

A need exists within the profession of art therapy to address issues of managed care, licensure, and provider reimbursement. While the profession struggles on both the state and national level with issues of livelihood and recognition, there are still philosophical questions within the field which remain unexplored. This article addresses a theme…

Current Status of Research in Teaching and Learning Evolution: I. Philosophical/Epistemological Issues

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Smith, Mike U.

2010-01-01

Scholarship that addresses teaching and learning about evolution has rapidly increased in recent years. This review of that scholarship first addresses the philosophical/epistemological issues that impinge on teaching and learning about evolution, including the proper philosophical goals of evolution instruction; the correlational and possibly…

Addressing Issues Related to Technology and Engineering

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Technology Teacher, 2008

2008-01-01

This article presents an interview with Michael Hacker and David Burghardt, codirectors of Hoftra University's Center for Technological Literacy. Hacker and Burghardt address issues related to technology and engineering. They argue that teachers need to be aware of the problems kids are facing, and how to present these problems in an engaging…

Searching for scientific literacy and critical pedagogy in socioscientific curricula: A critical discourse analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cummings, Kristina M.

The omnipresence of science and technology in our society require the development of a critical and scientifically literate citizenry. However, the inclusion of socioscientific issues, which are open-ended controversial issues informed by both science and societal factors such as politics, economics, and ethics, do not guarantee the development of these skills. The purpose of this critical discourse analysis is to identify and analyze the discursive strategies used in intermediate science texts and curricula that address socioscientific topics and the extent to which the discourses are designed to promote or suppress the development of scientific literacy and a critical pedagogy. Three curricula that address the issue of energy and climate change were analyzed using Gee's (2011) building tasks and inquiry tools. The curricula were written by an education organization entitled PreSEES, a corporate-sponsored group called NEED, and a non-profit organization named Oxfam. The analysis found that the PreSEES and Oxfam curricula elevated the significance of climate change and the NEED curriculum deemphasized the issue. The PreSEES and Oxfam curricula promoted the development of scientific literacy while the NEED curricula suppressed its development. The PreSEES and Oxfam curricula both promoted the development of the critical pedagogy; however, only the Oxfam curricula provided authentic opportunities to enact sociopolitical change. The NEED curricula suppressed the development of critical pedagogy. From these findings, the following conclusions were drawn. When socioscientific issues are presented with the development of scientific literacy and critical pedagogy, the curricula allow students to develop fact-based opinions about the issue. However, curricula that address socioscientific issues without the inclusion of these skills minimize the significance of the issue and normalize the hegemonic worldview promoted by the curricula's authors. Based on these findings, additional research is necessary to confirm the connection between the way curricula address a socioscientific issue and develop or suppress scientific literacy. Additionally, further analysis is necessary to confirm the connection between corporate-sponsored curricula and the suppression of socioscientific issues, scientific literacy, and critical pedagogy. Finally, this study addressed only the intended results of the curricula. Further research is necessary to measure the actual impacts of these curricula on students.

A Novel Addressing Scheme for PMIPv6 Based Global IP-WSNs

PubMed Central

Islam, Md. Motaharul; Huh, Eui-Nam

2011-01-01

IP based Wireless Sensor Networks (IP-WSNs) are being used in healthcare, home automation, industrial control and agricultural monitoring. In most of these applications global addressing of individual IP-WSN nodes and layer-three routing for mobility enabled IP-WSN with special attention to reliability, energy efficiency and end to end delay minimization are a few of the major issues to be addressed. Most of the routing protocols in WSN are based on layer-two approaches. For reliability and end to end communication enhancement the necessity of layer-three routing for IP-WSNs is generating significant attention among the research community, but due to the hurdle of maintaining routing state and other communication overhead, it was not possible to introduce a layer-three routing protocol for IP-WSNs. To address this issue we propose in this paper a global addressing scheme and layer-three based hierarchical routing protocol. The proposed addressing and routing approach focuses on all the above mentioned issues. Simulation results show that the proposed addressing and routing approach significantly enhances the reliability, energy efficiency and end to end delay minimization. We also present architecture, message formats and different routing scenarios in this paper. PMID:22164084

A novel addressing scheme for PMIPv6 based global IP-WSNs.

PubMed

Islam, Md Motaharul; Huh, Eui-Nam

2011-01-01

IP based Wireless Sensor Networks (IP-WSNs) are being used in healthcare, home automation, industrial control and agricultural monitoring. In most of these applications global addressing of individual IP-WSN nodes and layer-three routing for mobility enabled IP-WSN with special attention to reliability, energy efficiency and end to end delay minimization are a few of the major issues to be addressed. Most of the routing protocols in WSN are based on layer-two approaches. For reliability and end to end communication enhancement the necessity of layer-three routing for IP-WSNs is generating significant attention among the research community, but due to the hurdle of maintaining routing state and other communication overhead, it was not possible to introduce a layer-three routing protocol for IP-WSNs. To address this issue we propose in this paper a global addressing scheme and layer-three based hierarchical routing protocol. The proposed addressing and routing approach focuses on all the above mentioned issues. Simulation results show that the proposed addressing and routing approach significantly enhances the reliability, energy efficiency and end to end delay minimization. We also present architecture, message formats and different routing scenarios in this paper.

Bio-ethical and legal issues in relation to HIV/AIDS: the Uganda experience.

PubMed

Yusuf, N K

1998-01-01

In Uganda, as in many other countries, there is a vacuum regarding an appropriate legal and ethical response to the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Whereas much has been done to address the HIV/AIDS pandemic in a multidisciplinary way, very little has been done regarding legal and ethical issues. Hence, cases of claimants to have cures for AIDS, spiritual healers and sale of fake drugs plus unauthorized vaccine and drug trials are on the increase. The rights and needs of people infected with HIV/AIDS are not adequately addressed. The property rights of those affected by the pandemic continue to be abused. Therefore there is need to mobilize doctors, lawyers and human rights activists who should advocate and address these issues. This paper therefore highlights the critical bio-ethical and legal issues in relation to HIV/AIDS.

Does Money Matter: Earnings Patterns Among a National Sample of the US State Governmental Public Health Agency Workforce

PubMed Central

Castrucci, Brian C.; Leider, Jonathon P.; Liss-Levinson, Rivka; Sellers, Katie

2015-01-01

Context: Earnings have been shown to be a critical point in workforce recruitment and retention. However, little is known about how much governmental public health staff are paid across the United States. Objective: To characterize earnings among state health agency central office employees. Design: A cross-sectional survey was conducted of state health agency central office employees in late 2014. The sampling approach was stratified by 5 (paired HHS) regions. Balanced repeated replication weights were used to correctly calculate variance estimates, given the complex sampling design. Descriptive and bivariate statistical comparisons were conducted. A linear regression model was used to examine correlates of earnings among full-time employees. Setting and Participants: A total of 9300 permanently employed, full-time state health agency central office staff who reported earnings information. Main Outcome Measure: Earnings are the main outcomes examined in this article. Results: Central office staff earn between $55 000 and $65 000 on average annually. Ascending supervisory status, educational attainment, and tenure are all associated with greater earnings. Those employed in clinical and laboratory positions and public health science positions earn more than their colleagues in administrative positions. Disparities exist between men and women, with men earning more, all else being equal (P < .001). Racial/ethnic disparities also exist, after accounting for other factors. Conclusions: This study provides baseline information to characterize the workforce and key challenges that result from earnings levels, including disparities in earnings that persist after accounting for education and experience. Data from the survey can inform strategies to address earnings issues and help reduce disparities. PMID:26422496

Does Money Matter: Earnings Patterns Among a National Sample of the US State Governmental Public Health Agency Workforce.

PubMed

Castrucci, Brian C; Leider, Jonathon P; Liss-Levinson, Rivka; Sellers, Katie

2015-01-01

Earnings have been shown to be a critical point in workforce recruitment and retention. However, little is known about how much governmental public health staff are paid across the United States. To characterize earnings among state health agency central office employees. A cross-sectional survey was conducted of state health agency central office employees in late 2014. The sampling approach was stratified by 5 (paired HHS) regions. Balanced repeated replication weights were used to correctly calculate variance estimates, given the complex sampling design. Descriptive and bivariate statistical comparisons were conducted. A linear regression model was used to examine correlates of earnings among full-time employees. A total of 9300 permanently employed, full-time state health agency central office staff who reported earnings information. Earnings are the main outcomes examined in this article. Central office staff earn between $55,000 and $65,000 on average annually. Ascending supervisory status, educational attainment, and tenure are all associated with greater earnings. Those employed in clinical and laboratory positions and public health science positions earn more than their colleagues in administrative positions. Disparities exist between men and women, with men earning more, all else being equal (P < .001). Racial/ethnic disparities also exist, after accounting for other factors. This study provides baseline information to characterize the workforce and key challenges that result from earnings levels, including disparities in earnings that persist after accounting for education and experience. Data from the survey can inform strategies to address earnings issues and help reduce disparities.

Diversity in Laboratory Animal Science: Issues and Initiatives

PubMed Central

Alworth, Leanne; Ardayfio, Krystal L; Blickman, Andrew; Greenhill, Lisa; Hill, William; Sharp, Patrick; Talmage, Roberta; Plaut, Victoria C; Goren, Matt J

2010-01-01

Since diversity in the workplace began receiving scholarly attention in the late 1980s, many corporations and institutions have invested in programs to address and manage diversity. We encourage laboratory animal science to address the challenges and to build on the strengths that personal diversity brings to our field and workplaces. Diversity is already becoming increasingly relevant in the workplace and the laboratory animal science field. By addressing issues related to diversity, laboratory animal science could benefit and potentially fulfill its goals more successfully. To date, diversity has received minimal attention from the field as a whole. However, many individuals, workplaces, and institutions in industry, academia, and the uniformed services that are intimately involved with the field of laboratory animal science are actively addressing issues concerning diversity. This article describes some of these programs and activities in industry and academia. Our intention is that this article will provide useful examples of inclusion-promoting activities and prompt further initiatives to address diversity awareness and inclusion in laboratory animal science. PMID:20353686

Diversity in laboratory animal science: issues and initiatives.

PubMed

Alworth, Leanne; Ardayfio, Krystal L; Blickman, Andrew; Greenhill, Lisa; Hill, William; Sharp, Patrick; Talmage, Roberta; Plaut, Victoria C; Goren, Matt

2010-03-01

Since diversity in the workplace began receiving scholarly attention in the late 1980s, many corporations and institutions have invested in programs to address and manage diversity. We encourage laboratory animal science to address the challenges and to build on the strengths that personal diversity brings to our field and workplaces. Diversity is already becoming increasingly relevant in the workplace and the laboratory animal science field. By addressing issues related to diversity, laboratory animal science could benefit and potentially fulfill its goals more successfully. To date, diversity has received minimal attention from the field as a whole. However, many individuals, workplaces, and institutions in industry, academia, and the uniformed services that are intimately involved with the field of laboratory animal science are actively addressing issues concerning diversity. This article describes some of these programs and activities in industry and academia. Our intention is that this article will provide useful examples of inclusion-promoting activities and prompt further initiatives to address diversity awareness and inclusion in laboratory animal science.

Best Practices for Unstructured Grid Shock-Fitting

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

McCoud, Peter L.

2017-01-01

Unstructured grid solvers have well-known issues predicting surface heat fluxes when strong shocks are present. Various efforts have been made to address the underlying numerical issues that cause the erroneous predictions. The present work addresses some of the shortcomings of unstructured grid solvers, not by addressing the numerics, but by applying structured grid best practices to unstructured grids. A methodology for robust shock detection and shock-fitting is outlined and applied to production-relevant cases. Results

Technical report on the potential impacts on business revenues during construction of the central corridor light rail project

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2011-02-01

This report investigates the potential impacts to business revenues along the Central Corridor resulting from the construction of the Central Corridor Light Rail Project. This study addresses the potential loss of revenue by local businesses during t...

Asking the Presidents: The Most Pressing Issues at Community Colleges in the North Central Region. AIR 1988 Annual Forum Paper.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Budig, Jeanne E.

A survey of 350 presidents at two-year colleges in the North Central Accreditation Region generated a list of their perceptions of the currently most pressing issues related to accreditation, academic transfer and vocational/technical education. A total of 162 usable responses was received. Results included the finding that the most pressing issue…

Path forward: emerging issues and challenges.

PubMed

Gillen, Matt; Gittleman, Janie L

2010-06-01

The NIOSH Construction Program worked with industry stakeholders to develop a National Occupational Safety and Health Construction Agenda to target future research and activities. The Program and its partners are also cognizant that new developments can emerge over time and that research can play an important role in helping to understand and address these emerging issues. Examples of emerging issues relevant to construction safety and health are described. These include: (a) climate change and energy considerations; (b) green construction developments and opportunities; (c) new materials; (d) changes in industry structure and practice; (e) workforce developments and disparities; (f) injury underreporting and cost and risk shifting; and (g) increased interest in addressing root causes. Responding to emerging issues while maintaining a focus on fundamental longstanding issues represents an ongoing challenge for researchers and industry organizations. Additional research to understand the diffusion and adoption of research by the industry is also needed. Research accomplished to date provides a strong foundation for addressing future industry needs and trends. (c) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

NGNP High Temperature Materials White Paper

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lew Lommers; George Honma

2012-08-01

This white paper is one in a series of white papers that address key generic issues of the combined construction and operating license (COL) pre-application program key generic issues for the Next Generation Nuclear Plant reactor using the prismatic block fuel technology. The purpose of the pre-application program interactions with the NRC staff is to reduce the time required for COL application review by identifying and addressing key regulatory issues and, if possible, obtaining agreements for their resolution

A science of integration: frameworks, processes, and products in a place-based, integrative study

USGS Publications Warehouse

Kliskey, Andrew; Alessa, Lilian; Wandersee, Sarah; Williams, Paula; Trammell, Jamie; Powell, Jim; Grunblatt, Jess; Wipfli, Mark S.

2017-01-01

Integrative research is increasingly a priority within the scientific community and is a central goal for the evolving field of sustainability science. While it is conceptually attractive, its successful implementation has been challenging and recent work suggests that the move towards interdisciplinarity and transdisciplinarity in sustainability science is being only partially realized. To address this from the perspective of social-ecological systems (SES) research, we examine the process of conducting a science of integration within the Southcentral Alaska Test Case (SCTC) of Alaska-EPSCoR as a test-bed for this approach. The SCTC is part of a large, 5 year, interdisciplinary study investigating changing environments and adaptations to those changes in Alaska. In this paper, we review progress toward a science of integration and present our efforts to confront the practical issues of applying proposed integration frameworks. We: (1) define our integration framework; (2) describe the collaborative processes, including the co-development of science through stakeholder engagement and partnerships; and (3) illustrate potential products of integrative, social-ecological systems research. The approaches we use can also be applied outside of this particular framework. We highlight challenges and propose improvements for integration in sustainability science by addressing the need for common frameworks and improved contextual understanding. These insights may be useful for capacity-building for interdisciplinary projects that address complex real-world social and environmental problems.

Views of adolescents on addressing violence in semi-rural secondary schools in Mafikeng, North West province.

PubMed

Mosome, Connie; Poggenpoel, Marie; Myburgh, Chris

2011-11-17

Violence is a public health problem and often an issue of criminal justice.Violence in schools is a worldwide phenomenon and exposes adolescents to premature death. The purpose of this study was to explore and describe adolescents' views on addressing violence in semi-rural secondary schools in Mafikeng. A qualitative, explorative, descriptive and contextual research design was utilised. Purposive sampling was used to select adolescents from semi-rural secondary schools in Mafikeng who fell between the ages of 13 and 20 years and who were involved in community youth groups or associations. In-depth focus group discussion using audiotape, reflexive notes and naïve sketches were used for data collection. The central question which was asked was 'What are the adolescents' views on addressing violence in semi-rural secondary schools?' Data were analysed by means of open coding. The results showed that adolescents understood the complexities associated with violence in this country, and they suggested multiple approaches and interventions. The adolescents were of the opinion that responsible communication patterns in the school environment could build healthy relationships between learners and educators and lead to a decrease in violence in the school setting. They also felt that enforcement of a secure teaching environment through encouragement of behavioural and attitudinal change guided by school codes of conduct and provision of firm security will help reduce violence in schools.

77 FR 8178 - Test Procedures for Central Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps: Public Meeting

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-02-14

... distribution of those central air conditioning systems and heat pump systems manufactured after January 1, 2010... system central air conditioners and heat pumps be tested using ``the evaporator coil that is likely to... issued two guidance documents surrounding testing central air conditioner and heat pump systems utilizing...

The AIDS Memorial Quilt as preventative education: a developmental analysis of the Quilt.

PubMed

Knaus, C S; Austin, E W

1999-12-01

This study consisted of a survey given to college students (N = 560) at a rural university in the Pacific Northwest. The sample was randomly assigned into four groups, following the Solomon four-group study design. The two levels of treatment included interventions consisting of a visit to the AIDS Memorial Quilt for the experimental groups and attendance at an unrelated event for the control groups. Pretests were completed 4 weeks prior to interventions; posttests were completed by the entire sample 4 weeks after the interventions. Results confirmed expected differences among the four groups in terms of social distance, perceptions of people with AIDS, self-efficacy, and discussion of risky behavior. The results suggest that the AIDS Memorial Quilt addresses issues centrally related to behavior change and indicates support for the message interpretation process and stages of change models.

Photovoltaic system criteria documents. Volume 1: Guidelines for evaluating the management and operations planning of photovoltaic applications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Koenig, John C.; Billitti, Joseph W.; Tallon, John M.

1979-01-01

Guidelines are provided to the Field Centers for organization, scheduling, project and cost control, and performance in the areas of project management and operations planning for Photovoltaics Test and Applications. These guidelines may be used in organizing a T and A Project Team for system design/test, site construction and operation, and as the basis for evaluating T and A proposals. The attributes are described for project management and operations planning to be used by the Field Centers. Specifically, all project management and operational issues affecting costs, schedules and performance of photovoltaic systems are addressed. Photovoltaic tests and applications include residential, intermediate load center, central station, and stand-alone systems. The sub-categories of system maturity considered are: Initial System Evaluation Experiments (ISEE); System Readiness Experiments (SRE); and Commercial Readiness Demonstration Projects (CRDP).

A canonical neural mechanism for behavioral variability

PubMed Central

Darshan, Ran; Wood, William E.; Peters, Susan; Leblois, Arthur; Hansel, David

2017-01-01

The ability to generate variable movements is essential for learning and adjusting complex behaviours. This variability has been linked to the temporal irregularity of neuronal activity in the central nervous system. However, how neuronal irregularity actually translates into behavioural variability is unclear. Here we combine modelling, electrophysiological and behavioural studies to address this issue. We demonstrate that a model circuit comprising topographically organized and strongly recurrent neural networks can autonomously generate irregular motor behaviours. Simultaneous recordings of neurons in singing finches reveal that neural correlations increase across the circuit driving song variability, in agreement with the model predictions. Analysing behavioural data, we find remarkable similarities in the babbling statistics of 5–6-month-old human infants and juveniles from three songbird species and show that our model naturally accounts for these ‘universal' statistics. PMID:28530225

Evolutionary rescue: linking theory for conservation and medicine.

PubMed

Alexander, Helen K; Martin, Guillaume; Martin, Oliver Y; Bonhoeffer, Sebastian

2014-12-01

Evolutionary responses that rescue populations from extinction when drastic environmental changes occur can be friend or foe. The field of conservation biology is concerned with the survival of species in deteriorating global habitats. In medicine, in contrast, infected patients are treated with chemotherapeutic interventions, but drug resistance can compromise eradication of pathogens. These contrasting biological systems and goals have created two quite separate research communities, despite addressing the same central question of whether populations will decline to extinction or be rescued through evolution. We argue that closer integration of the two fields, especially of theoretical understanding, would yield new insights and accelerate progress on these applied problems. Here, we overview and link mathematical modelling approaches in these fields, suggest specific areas with potential for fruitful exchange, and discuss common ideas and issues for empirical testing and prediction.

Radiological Hazard of Spallation Products in Accelerator-Driven System

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Saito, M.; Stankovskii, A.; Artisyuk, V.

The central issue underlying this paper is related to elucidating the hazard of radioactive spallation products that might be an important factor affecting the design option of accelerator-driven systems (ADSs). Hazard analysis based on the concept of Annual Limit on Intake identifies alpha-emitting isotopes of rare earths (REs) (dysprosium, gadolinium, and samarium) as the dominant contributors to the overall toxicity of traditional (W, Pb, Pb-Bi) targets. The matter is addressed from several points of view: code validation to simulate their yields, choice of material for the neutron producing targets, and challenging the beam type. The paper quantitatively determines the domainmore » in which the toxicity of REs exceeds that of polonium activation products broadly discussed now in connection with advertising lead-bismuth technology for the needs of ADSs.« less

Rural-to-Urban Migrants and the HIV Epidemic in China

PubMed Central

Hong, Yan; Stanton, Bonita; Li, Xiaoming; Yang, Hongmei; Lin, Danhua; Fang, Xiaoyi; Wang, Jing; Mao, Rong

2006-01-01

China is the next probable frontier for the global HIV epidemic. Central to this anticipated growth of the epidemic is the nation’s new and growing population of rural-to-urban migrants. Although there are an estimated 120 million migrants, little information is available about their social and cultural context of their lives in urban areas and their HIV-related perceptions and behaviors. On the basis of the in-depth individual interviews conducted among 90 rural-to-urban migrants in 2 major Chinese cities, Beijing and Nanjing, this qualitative study was designed to explore these issues with a particular focus on their relevance to sexual transmission of HIV. The findings suggest an urgent need for HIV/STI prevention programs that address the cultural, social, and economic constraints facing the migrant population in China. PMID:16421651

Coupled Ethical-Epistemic Analysis of Climate Change

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vezer, M.

2015-12-01

Are there inherent limitations to what we can know about how the climate will change in the years ahead? How can we use what is known about the future climate in a way that promotes ethical decision-making? These questions call for urgent attention because important policy decisions need to be made in order to prepare for climate change in North America and around the world. While the science of climate change is central to this line of inquiry, the fields of epistemology, moral, political and environmental philosophy may provide insights on how these issues should be addressed. Detailing the relationship between evidential and ethical dimensions of climate change, this research aims to improve our understanding of the interconnections among several lines of inquiry and to develop solutions to problems of decision-making under conditions of scientific uncertainty.

Decoherence and dissipation for a quantum system coupled to a local environment

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gallis, Michael R.

1994-01-01

Decoherence and dissipation in quantum systems has been studied extensively in the context of Quantum Brownian Motion. Effective decoherence in coarse grained quantum systems has been a central issue in recent efforts by Zurek and by Hartle and Gell-Mann to address the Quantum Measurement Problem. Although these models can yield very general classical phenomenology, they are incapable of reproducing relevant characteristics expected of a local environment on a quantum system, such as the characteristic dependence of decoherence on environment spatial correlations. I discuss the characteristics of Quantum Brownian Motion in a local environment by examining aspects of first principle calculations and by the construction of phenomenological models. Effective quantum Langevin equations and master equations are presented in a variety of representations. Comparisons are made with standard results such as the Caldeira-Leggett master equation.

On teaching the nature of science: perspectives and resources

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Radloff, Jeffrey

2016-06-01

In this paper, I present a critical review of the recent book, On Teaching the Nature of Science: Perspectives and Resources, written by Douglas Allchin (2013). This publication presents an in-depth examination of the nature of science construct, as well as instruction for educators about how to teach it effectively utilizing historical case studies as vehicles for knowledge. Although several themes in the book merit further attention, a central issue present across all chapters is the largely masculine, monocultural nature of science presented, which is common to a multitude of scientific publications. In this review, I illustrate how culture and gender in science is not addressed throughout the book. I also discuss where we can build on the work of the author to integrate more aspects of gender and culture in teaching the nature of science.