Sample records for evaluated primarily involve

  1. Usability and Instructional Design Heuristics for E-Learning Evaluation.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Reeves, Thomas C.; Benson, Lisa; Elliott, Dean; Grant, Michael; Holschuh, Doug; Kim, Beaumie; Kim, Hyeonjin; Lauber, Erick; Loh, Sebastian

    Heuristic evaluation is a methodology for investigating the usability of software originally developed by Nielsen (1993, 2000). Nielsen's protocol was modified and refined for evaluating e-learning programs by participants in a doctoral seminar held at the University of Georgia in 2001. The modifications primarily involved expanding Nielsen's…

  2. Sonographic evaluation of athletic pubalgia.

    PubMed

    Morley, Nicholas; Grant, Thomas; Blount, Kevin; Omar, Imran

    2016-05-01

    Athletic pubalgia, or "sports hernia", represents a constellation of pathologic conditions occurring at and around the pubic symphysis. These injuries are primarily seen in athletes or those involved in athletic activity. In this article, we review the sonographic appearance of the relevant complex anatomy, scanning technique for ultrasound evaluation of athletic pubalgia, and the sonographic appearances of associated pathologic conditions.

  3. LSP Composite Susbtrate Destructive Evaluation Test Assessment Manual

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Kovach, Daniel J.; Erickson, Grant J.

    2013-01-01

    This document specifies the processes to perform post-strike destructive damage evaluation of tested CFRP panels.It is recognized that many factors besides lightning damage protection are involved in the selection of an appropriate Lightning Strike Protection (LSP) for a particular system (e.g., cost, weight, corrosion resistance, shielding effectiveness, etc.). This document strives primarily to address the standardized generation of damage protection performance data.

  4. What Research Says to the Teacher. Team Teaching.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Davis, Jean E.

    Team teaching involves individualized instruction and flexibility in structural and instructional organization, as well as continuous evaluation of students and instructional procedures. By sharing responsibility for instruction, each teacher can function primarily in areas of strength and expertise. It thus becomes more possible to achieve the…

  5. Ethnography, Step by Step (2nd Edition), by David M. Fetterman, Thousand Oaks, Ca: Sage, 1998..

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Green, Jennifer C.; Buell, James

    2000-01-01

    Reviews this edition, which like the first is primarily an organized presentation of fieldwork vignettes and instructive examples from research and evaluation contexts. The presentation is organized by the steps involved in ethnographic fieldwork. This edition is updated with references to electronic technology. (SLD)

  6. Pre-Service Teachers' Conceptions of Effective Teacher Talk: Their Critical Reflections on a Sample Teacher-Student Dialogue

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Lee, Ji-Eun; Kim, Kyoung-Tae

    2016-01-01

    This study aimed to explore pre-service elementary teachers' (PSTs') conceptions of effective teacher talk in mathematics instruction, which were interpreted primarily based on the concept of communicative approach. This was accomplished through a task that involves analyzing and evaluating a sample teacher-student dialogue. This study…

  7. The Inventory of Pre-Marital Conflict: Clinical and Educational Applications.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Fournier, David G.; And Others

    The Inventory of Pre-Marital Conflict (IPMC) is a systematic procedure for the diagnosis and assessment of pre-marital conflict and related issues. The self-report component of the IPMC involves a series of 18 hypothetical conflict situations. The individual responds to each of these by evaluating who is primarily responsible for the problem, and…

  8. How overdrying wood reduces its bonding to phenol-formaldehyde adhesives : a critical review of the literature. Part I, Physical responses

    Treesearch

    Alfred W. Christiansen

    1990-01-01

    This review critically evaluates literature on the ways in which excessive drying (overdrying) inactivates wood surfaces to bonding, primarily for phenolic adhesives. In Part I of a two-part review, three inactivation mechanisms involving physical responses to overdrying are considered: (1) exudation of extractives to the surface, which lowers the wettability or hides...

  9. Flight and Operational Medicine Clinic (FOMC) Task Process Mapping

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2014-03-01

    technicians, nurses, and physician assistants to accomplish the majority of the tasks; physician level tasks are few and primarily involve application of...condition 31, 37, 81? Complete evaluation Present 469 within 5 days of positive pregnancy test Is condition duty/fitness? NO End Process YES Send to ...info to Health IT Ancillary exam module provides requirements/ sends info to Health IT (Audiology, Optometry, Dental , Mental Health) Operational

  10. Empowerment evaluation: An approach that has literally altered the landscape of evaluation.

    PubMed

    Donaldson, Stewart I

    2017-08-01

    The quest for credible and actionable evidence to improve decision making, foster improvement, enhance self-determination, and promote social betterment is now a global phenomenon. Evaluation theorists and practitioners alike have responded to and overcome the challenges that limited the effectiveness and usefulness of traditional evaluation approaches primarily focused on seeking rigorous scientific knowledge about social programs and policies. No modern evaluation approach has received a more robust welcome from stakeholders across the globe than empowerment evaluation. Empowerment evaluation has been a leader in the development of stakeholder involvement approaches to evaluation, setting a high bar. In addition, empowerment evaluation's respect for community knowledge and commitment to the people's right to build their own evaluation capacity has influenced the evaluation mainstream, particularly concerning evaluation capacity building. Empowerment evaluation's most significant contributions to the field have been to improving evaluation use and knowledge utilization. Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

  11. Utility of Horioka’s and Marra’s models for adhesive failure

    Treesearch

    Charles R. Frihart

    2005-01-01

    Bond formation primarily involves adhesive rheology and interface chemistry. Bonded assembly strength, however, primarily involves the viscoelastic dissipation of stress over the entire assembly. Models can aid in the understanding of where and why failure occurs and how to improve the strength of the assembly. Horioka and Marra have both proposed models which define...

  12. How do health service professionals consider human factors when purchasing interactive medical devices? A qualitative interview study.

    PubMed

    Vincent, Christopher James; Blandford, Ann

    2017-03-01

    We present findings of a UK study into how those involved in purchasing interactive medical devices go about evaluating usability, the challenges that arise, and opportunities for improvement. The study focused on procurement of infusion devices because these are used by various professionals across healthcare. A semi-structured interview study was carried out involving a range of stakeholders (20 in total) involved in or impacted by medical device procurement. Data was analysed using thematic analysis, a qualitative method designed to support the identification, analysis and reporting of patterns. In principle, health service purchasing was found to accommodate consideration of equipment usability. In practice, the evaluation process was driven primarily by engineering standards; assessment of local needs did not accommodate substantive assessment of usability; and choice was limited by the availability of equipment on the marketplace. We discuss ways in which purchasing could be improved through techniques that account for social circumstances. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  13. School and Parent Interaction by Household Language and Poverty Status: 2002-03. Issue Brief. NCES 2006-086

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Enyeart, Christine; Diehl, Juliet; Hampden-Thompson, Gillian; Scotchmer, Marion

    2006-01-01

    This Issue Brief describes school-to-home communication practices and opportunities for parent involvement at school as reported by parents of U.S. school-age students from primarily English-and primarily Spanish-speaking households during the 2002-03 school year. Data are drawn from the Parent and Family Involvement in Education Survey of the…

  14. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS OF SNAP 10A THERMOELECTRIC CONVERTER ELEMENT PROCESS DEVELOPMENT VARIABLES

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

    Fitch, S.H.; Morris, J.W.

    1962-12-15

    Statistical analysis, primarily analysis of variance, was applied to evaluate several factors involved in the development of suitable fabrication and processing techniques for the production of lead telluride thermoelectric elements for the SNAP 10A energy conversion system. The analysis methods are described as to their application for determining the effects of various processing steps, estabIishing the value of individual operations, and evaluating the significance of test results. The elimination of unnecessary or detrimental processing steps was accomplished and the number of required tests was substantially reduced by application of these statistical methods to the SNAP 10A production development effort. (auth)

  15. Characteristics of Rosai-Dorfman Disease Primarily Involved in the Central Nervous System: 3 Case Reports and Review of Literature.

    PubMed

    Luo, Zhengxiang; Zhang, Yansong; Zhao, Penglai; Lu, Hucheng; Yang, Kun; Zhang, Yuhai; Zeng, Yanjun

    2017-01-01

    This study aimed to summarize the clinical characteristics of Rosai-Dorfman disease primarily involving the central nervous system and to explore diagnosis and treatment. We analyzed the clinical, imaging, and pathologic characteristics; treatment; and prognosis in 3 cases of Rosai-Dorfman disease primarily involving the central nervous system. We also performed a literature review. The largest of multiple intracranial lesions was totally resected, and steroid administration and radiotherapy were performed in phases for the remaining lesions. During the 1-year follow-up period, the excised lesion did not recur, and no obvious variations were observed in the other lesions. Subtotal resection was performed of the largest of another group of multiple intracranial lesions, and the residual did not show any obvious variations during the 1-year follow-up period. The isolated lesion was totally resected and did not recur during a 2-year follow-up period. Rosai-Dorfman disease with multiple lesions primarily involving the central nervous system is rare. Imaging characteristics are similar to meningiomas, and the pathological features include lymphocytes and plasma cells reaching tissue cells with large volume and abundant cytoplasm. Surgery is the preferred treatment, as the effects of steroid administration and radiotherapy are not apparent. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  16. The Indiana Chronic Disease Management Program

    PubMed Central

    Rosenman, Marc B; Holmes, Ann M; Ackermann, Ronald T; Murray, Michael D; Doebbeling, Caroline Carney; Katz, Barry; Li, Jingjin; Zillich, Alan; Prescott, Victoria M; Downs, Stephen M; Inui, Thomas S

    2006-01-01

    The Indiana Chronic Disease Management Program (ICDMP) is intended to improve the quality and cost-effectiveness of care for Medicaid members with congestive heart failure (chronic heart failure), diabetes, asthma, and other conditions. The ICDMP is being assembled by Indiana Medicaid primarily from state and local resources and has seven components: (1) identification of eligible participants to create regional registries, (2) risk stratification of eligible participants, (3) nurse care management for high-risk participants, (4) telephonic intervention for all participants, (5) an Internet-based information system, (6) quality improvement collaboratives for primary care practices, and (7) program evaluation. The evaluation involves a randomized controlled trial in two inner-city group practices, as well as a statewide observational design. This article describes the ICDMP, highlights challenges, and discusses approaches to its evaluation. PMID:16529571

  17. The Indiana Chronic Disease Management Program.

    PubMed

    Rosenman, Marc B; Holmes, Ann M; Ackermann, Ronald T; Murray, Michael D; Doebbeling, Caroline Carney; Katz, Barry; Li, Jingjin; Zillich, Alan; Prescott, Victoria M; Downs, Stephen M; Inui, Thomas S

    2006-01-01

    The Indiana Chronic Disease Management Program (ICDMP) is intended to improve the quality and cost-effectiveness of care for Medicaid members with congestive heart failure (chronic heart failure), diabetes, asthma, and other conditions. The ICDMP is being assembled by Indiana Medicaid primarily from state and local resources and has seven components: (1) identification of eligible participants to create regional registries, (2) risk stratification of eligible participants, (3) nurse care management for high-risk participants, (4) telephonic intervention for all participants, (5) an Internet-based information system, (6) quality improvement collaboratives for primary care practices, and (7) program evaluation. The evaluation involves a randomized controlled trial in two inner-city group practices, as well as a statewide observational design. This article describes the ICDMP, highlights challenges, and discusses approaches to its evaluation.

  18. A study of the stress wave factor technique for evaluation of composite materials

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Duke, J. C., Jr.; Henneke, E. G., II; Kiernan, M. T.; Grosskopf, P. P.

    1989-01-01

    The acousto-ultrasonic approach for nondestructive evaluation provides a measurement procedure for quantifying the integrated effect of globally distributed damage characteristic of fiber reinforced composite materials. The evaluation procedure provides a stress wave factor that correlates closely with several material performance parameters. The procedure was investigated for a variety of materials including advanced composites, hybrid structure bonds, adhesive bonds, wood products, and wire rope. The research program focused primarily on development of fundamental understanding and applications advancements of acousto-ultrasonics for materials characterization. This involves characterization of materials for which detection, location, and identification of imperfections cannot at present be analyzed satisfactorily with mechanical performance prediction models. In addition to presenting definitive studies on application potentials, the understanding of the acousto-ultrasonic method as applied to advanced composites is reviewed.

  19. Nursing and euthanasia: a review of argument-based ethics literature.

    PubMed

    Quaghebeur, Toon; Dierckx de Casterlé, Bernadette; Gastmans, Chris

    2009-07-01

    This article gives an overview of the nursing ethics arguments on euthanasia in general, and on nurses' involvement in euthanasia in particular, through an argument-based literature review. An in-depth study of these arguments in this literature will enable nurses to engage in the euthanasia debate. We critically appraised 41 publications published between January 1987 and June 2007. Nursing ethics arguments on (nurses' involvement in) euthanasia are guided primarily by the principles of respect for autonomy, nonmaleficence, beneficence and justice. Ethical arguments related to the nursing profession are described. From a care perspective, we discuss arguments that evaluate to what degree euthanasia can be considered positively or negatively as a form of good nursing care. Most arguments in the principle-, profession- and care-orientated approaches to nursing ethics are used both pro and contra euthanasia in general, and nurses' involvement in euthanasia in particular.

  20. Trait-based Affective Processes in Alcohol-Involved Risk Behaviors

    PubMed Central

    Wray, Tyler B.; Simons, Jeffrey S.; Dvorak, Robert D.; Gaher, Raluca M.

    2012-01-01

    This study tested a theoretical model of alcohol use, markers of extreme intoxication, and risk behavior as a function of trait affect, distress tolerance, and affect-based behavior dysregulation. Positive affective pathways to risk behavior were primarily expected to be indirect via high levels of alcohol use, while negative affect paths were expected to be more directly associated with engagement in risk behavior. In addition, we expected trait affectivity and distress tolerance would primarily exhibit relationships with alcohol use and problems through behavioral dysregulation occurring during extreme affective states. To evaluate these hypotheses, we tested a SEM with three alcohol–related outcomes: “Typical” alcohol use, “blackout” drinking,” and risk behavior. Results were complex, but generally supported the hypotheses. High trait negative affect and low tolerance for affective distress contribute to difficulty controlling behavior when negatively aroused and this is directly associated with increased risk behavior when drinking. In contrast, associations between positive urgency and risk behaviors are indirect via increased alcohol consumption. Positive affectivity exhibited both inverse and positive effects in the model, with the net effect on alcohol outcomes being insignificant. These findings contribute important information about the distinct pathways between affect, alcohol use, and alcohol-involved risk behavior among college students. PMID:22770825

  1. Should immunocompromised patients have pets?

    PubMed

    Steele, Russell W

    2008-01-01

    To evaluate the risks and benefits of pet ownership by immunodeficient patients, focusing primarily on organisms that colonize animals and are transmitted to humans. Those diseases that are known to be progressive or more severe in patients with altered immune function are emphasized. A review of the medical and veterinary literature pertaining to zoonoses transmitted by domestic animals was completed. Information pertaining to issues involving immunosuppressed patients including AIDS was carefully evaluated and summarized for inclusion. There are significant clinical and psychosocial benefits to pet ownership. However, numerous diseases can be acquired from these animals which may be more severe in immunocompromised individuals. Simple guidelines for pet ownership by immunosuppressed patients can be implemented to reduce their risk of disease and allow them to safely interchange with their pets.

  2. Facilities, testing, and continuing studies on carbon-black loaded styrene-butadiene rubber

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

    Goldberg, A.; Sanchez, R.J.; LeMay, J.D.

    The Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) has been involved with investigations dealing with the response of the rubber in tank track pads to various loading scenarios, both in the field and in the laboratory. In the laboratory, numerous studies were also performed on a number of other rubber formulations primarily involving a range of carbon-black loadings in SBR and NR. Reference is made to reports and papers addressing each of the studies involved in this program. Work performed during the final stages of this program is described. These studies were directed primarily at developing an understanding of the effects ofmore » cycling and notching histories, notch radius, notch depth, and specimen thickness on the deformation behavior, strain distributions, hysteresis, and residual strength of SBR containing various amounts of carbon black. Significant improvements were realized in our testing methodology, computer-controlled facilities, and data-acquisition system, and in our ability to obtain continuous photomicrographic documentation in ''real time'' of the tearing improvements, as they relate to the various studies, are detailed in this document. Results obtained in these studied involve (1) the fabrication and testing of thick tensile specimens, (2) the effect of notching under load on the residual strength, (3) the effect of cycling on residual strength of notched and notch-free specimens, (4) the effect of cycling on hysteresis, (5) the effect of notch radius for various notch depths on loss of strength, and (6) evaluation of strain at a notch tip and remote from the notch tip at various specimen extensions by analyzing the specimen grid markings, which were obtained with the microscope-video-Polaroid system. 15 refs., 27 figs.« less

  3. Communication and Social Exchange Processes in Community Theater Groups

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Kramer, Michael W.

    2005-01-01

    This study explores the communication experiences of two volunteer groups involved in the production of community theater musicals. Based on social exchange theory, it examined what group members perceived to be the positive benefits (primarily meeting people and having an opportunity to perform) and the negative costs (primarily disorganization,…

  4. Pearson disease in an infant presenting with severe hypoplastic anemia, normal pancreatic function, and progressive liver failure.

    PubMed

    Shapira, Adi; Konopnicki, Muriel; Hammad-Saied, Mohammed; Shabad, Evelyn

    2014-07-01

    Pearson disease is a rare, usually fatal, mitochondrial disorder affecting primarily the bone marrow and the exocrine pancreas. We report a previously healthy 10-week-old girl who presented with profound macrocytic anemia followed by pancytopenia, synthetic liver dysfunction with liver steatosis, and metabolic acidosis with high lactate levels. She had no pancreatic involvement. Multiple cytoplasmic vacuoles in myelocytes and monocytes were seen upon microscopic evaluation of the bone marrow. Genetic analysis of the mitochondrial genome revealed a 5 kbp deletion, thus establishing the diagnosis of Pearson disease.

  5. Public Involvement in BOSC Activities

    EPA Pesticide Factsheets

    EPA policy and the Federal Advisory Committee Act provide for public involvement in committee activities primarily by open access to meetings and records and by providing the public an opportunity to submit comments to the committee.

  6. Empirical development of brief smoking prevention videotapes which target African-American adolescents.

    PubMed

    Sussman, S; Parker, V C; Lopes, C; Crippens, D L; Elder, P; Scholl, D

    1995-07-01

    Two studies are described which provide evaluations for two brief videotapes developed as supplemental materials in the prevention of tobacco use among African-American adolescents. One videotape (the "soap opera") provides a more general audience-oriented presentation of prevention material and it was filmed primarily at a shopping mall, whereas the other videotape (the "rap") provides a "hip-hop generation" presentation, and it was filmed primarily at an outdoor hangout. The first study compared the two videotapes against each other. The second study compared the two videotapes combined in the same presentation, controlling for order of presentation, against a discussion group control. The results of the two studies indicated few differences in receptivity to the two videotapes among primarily African-American and Latino young adolescents. The rap videotape was rated as more accurate in its depiction of the African-American lifestyle, although both videotapes were equally liked. When shown together, the videotapes were not found to be superior in decreasing behavioral intention to smoke compared to a discussion group control. No change in trial of smoking was observed within or across conditions measured over a pre-post summer interval. These data suggest that "culturally sensitive" videotapes have no more of a short-term effect on youth than do other types of brief interventions which involve minority implementers.

  7. Shifting social identities as a strategy for deflecting threatening social comparisons.

    PubMed

    Mussweiler, T; Gabriel, S; Bodenhausen, G V

    2000-09-01

    Results of three studies suggest that the multifaceted nature of identity provides a strategic basis for reducing the threat involved in upward social comparisons. After performing worse than a comparison standard, people may strategically emphasize aspects of their identity that differentiate them from the standard, thereby making the standard less relevant for self-evaluation. On the basis of previous research showing that persons low in self-esteem are less likely to make effective use of self-protection strategies, we hypothesized that this strategy of deflecting the threat involved in upward comparison (i.e., decreasing perceived comparability by emphasizing an unshared social identity) would be used primarily by persons who are characteristically high in self-esteem. This pattern was confirmed in three studies. Moreover, use of the strategy was associated with relatively more positive affect following threatening upward comparisons.

  8. Evaluating the aquatic toxicity of complex organic chemical mixtures: lessons learned from polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon and petroleum hydrocarbon case studies.

    PubMed

    Landrum, Peter F; Chapman, Peter M; Neff, Jerry; Page, David S

    2012-04-01

    Experimental designs for evaluating complex mixture toxicity in aquatic environments can be highly variable and, if not appropriate, can produce and have produced data that are difficult or impossible to interpret accurately. We build on and synthesize recent critical reviews of mixture toxicity using lessons learned from 4 case studies, ranging from binary to more complex mixtures of primarily polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and petroleum hydrocarbons, to provide guidance for evaluating the aquatic toxicity of complex mixtures of organic chemicals. Two fundamental requirements include establishing a dose-response relationship and determining the causative agent (or agents) of any observed toxicity. Meeting these 2 requirements involves ensuring appropriate exposure conditions and measurement endpoints, considering modifying factors (e.g., test conditions, test organism life stages and feeding behavior, chemical transformations, mixture dilutions, sorbing phases), and correctly interpreting dose-response relationships. Specific recommendations are provided. Copyright © 2011 SETAC.

  9. Development of a test protocol for evaluating EVA glove performance

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Hinman, Elaine M.

    1992-01-01

    Testing gloved hand performance involves work from several disciplines. Evaluations performed in the course of reenabling a disabled hand, designing a robotic end effector or master controller, or hard-suit design have all yielded relevant information, and, in most cases, produced performance test methods. Most times, these test methods have been primarily oriented toward their parent discipline. For space operations, a comparative test which would provide a way to quantify pressure glove and end effector performance would be useful in dividing tasks between humans and robots. Such a test would have to rely heavily on sensored measurement, as opposed to questionnaires, to produce relevant data. However, at some point human preference would have to be taken into account. This paper presents a methodology for evaluating gloved hand performance which attempts to respond to these issues. Glove testing of a prototype glove design using this method is described.

  10. Frameworks for evaluating health research capacity strengthening: a qualitative study

    PubMed Central

    2013-01-01

    Background Health research capacity strengthening (RCS) projects are often complex and hard to evaluate. In order to inform health RCS evaluation efforts, we aimed to describe and compare key characteristics of existing health RCS evaluation frameworks: their process of development, purpose, target users, structure, content and coverage of important evaluation issues. A secondary objective was to explore what use had been made of the ESSENCE framework, which attempts to address one such issue: harmonising the evaluation requirements of different funders. Methods We identified and analysed health RCS evaluation frameworks published by seven funding agencies between 2004 and 2012, using a mixed methods approach involving structured qualitative analyses of documents, a stakeholder survey and consultations with key contacts in health RCS funding agencies. Results The frameworks were intended for use predominantly by the organisations themselves, and most were oriented primarily towards funders’ internal organisational performance requirements. The frameworks made limited reference to theories that specifically concern RCS. Generic devices, such as logical frameworks, were typically used to document activities, outputs and outcomes, but with little emphasis on exploring underlying assumptions or contextual constraints. Usage of the ESSENCE framework appeared limited. Conclusions We believe that there is scope for improving frameworks through the incorporation of more accessible information about how to do evaluation in practice; greater involvement of stakeholders, following evaluation capacity building principles; greater emphasis on explaining underlying rationales of frameworks; and structuring frameworks so that they separate generic and project-specific aspects of health RCS evaluation. The third and fourth of these improvements might assist harmonisation. PMID:24330628

  11. Lethal violence and psychosis: a clinical profile.

    PubMed

    Nestor, P G; Haycock, J; Doiron, S; Kelly, J; Kelly, D

    1995-01-01

    To investigate the relationship between lethal violence and psychosis, the authors examined symptomatology, neuropsychological functioning, and the nature of perpetrator-victim relationships of patients with psychotic disorders who were committed to a forensic psychiatric hospital following violent, primarily criminal behavior. A severely violent group, composed primarily of psychotic patients charged with murder, was compared with a less severely violent group that was composed primarily of psychotic patients involved with property crimes. As compared with the less violent group, the severely violent group was more likely to have delusional beliefs about specific personal targets and to have delusions about significant others being replaced by impostors. These beliefs were accompanied by higher scores on neuropsychological tests of intellectual and academic abilities. A high number of their blood relatives were victims of psychotic murder. These results indicated that a higher incidence of lethal or near lethal acts of violence may characterize intellectually intact but psychotic individuals with organize delusions involving personal, accessible targets.

  12. Fire safety evaluation of aircraft lavatory and cargo compartments

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Kourtides, D. A.; Parker, J. A.; Hilado, C. J.; Anderson, R. A.; Tustin, E.; Arnold, D. B.; Gaume, J. G.; Binding, A. T.; Mikeska, J. L.

    1976-01-01

    A program of experimental fires has been carried out to assess fire containment and other fire hazards in lavatory and cargo compartments of wide-body jet aircraft by evaluation of ignition time, burn-through time, fire spread rate, smoke density, evolution of selected combustible and toxic gases, heat flux, and detector response. Two tests were conducted: one involving a standard Boeing 747 lavatory and one involving a simulated DC-10 cargo compartment. A production lavatory module was furnished with conventional materials and was installed in an enclosure. The ignition load was four polyethylene bags containing paper and plastic waste materials representive of a maximum flight cabin waste load. Standard aircraft ventilation conditions were utilized and the lavatory door was closed during the test. Lavatory wall and ceiling panels contained the fire spread during the 30-minute test. Smoke was driven into the enclosure primarily through the ventilation grille in the door and through the gaps between the bifold door and the jamb where the door distorted from the heat earlier in the test. The interior of the lavatory was almost completely destroyed by the fire.

  13. Internal decapitation: survival after head to neck dissociation injuries.

    PubMed

    Ben-Galim, Peleg J; Sibai, Tarek A; Hipp, John A; Heggeness, Michael H; Reitman, Charles A

    2008-07-15

    Case series. To describe survival and outcomes after occipitocervical dissociation injuries. Historically, occipitocervical dissociation injuries have a high rate of associated neurologic deficit with a relatively high incidence of mortality. Six patients with occipitocervical dissociation injuries are reported and their management and imaging findings reviewed. Possible contributory factors for survival are discussed. All patients had upper neck and head dissociation injuries. The pattern of injury in all of these cases included a distraction type mechanism. All cases demonstrated soft tissue disruption in the zone of injury, which was consistent and apparent on all imaging studies. In these patients, the extent and severity of injury was more apparent on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) than on radiograph or computed tomography scan. Management of these injuries included immobilization followed by surgery with particular care taken to avoid application of distraction forces to the neck. Patients with occipitocervical dissociation injuries may survive their injury and even retain neurologic integrity. Initial in-line head stabilization is emphasized to prevent catastrophic neurologic injury. The resting osseous relationships and vertebral alignment at the time of imaging evaluation may be deceivingly normal, and the damage often primarily or exclusively involves disruption of the perivertebral soft tissue structures. Prevertebral soft tissue swelling was apparent in all cases. For these injuries that involve primarily damage to the ligamentous structures, MRI seems to be the optimal test for revealing the magnitude of the injury.

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

    Corsi, P.; D'Aprile, A.; Nico, B.

    Styrene-7,8-oxide (SO), a chemical compound widely used in industrial applications, is a potential hazard for humans, particularly in occupational settings. Neurobehavioral changes are consistently observed in occupationally exposed individuals and alterations of neurotransmitters associated with neuronal loss have been reported in animal models. Although the toxic effects of styrene have been extensively documented, the molecular mechanisms responsible for SO-induced neurotoxicity are still unclear. A possible dopamine-mediated effect of styrene neurotoxicity has been previously demonstrated, since styrene oxide alters dopamine neurotransmission in the brain. Thus, the present study hypothesizes that styrene neurotoxicity may involve synaptic contacts. Primary striatal neurons were exposedmore » to styrene oxide at different concentrations (0.1-1 mM) for different time periods (8, 16, and 24 h) to evaluate the dose able to induce synaptic impairments. The expression of proteins crucial for synaptic transmission such as Synapsin, Synaptophysin, and RAC-1 were considered. The levels of Synaptophysin and RAC-1 decreased in a dose-dependent manner. Accordingly, morphological alterations, observed at the ultrastructural level, primarily involved the pre-synaptic compartment. In SO-exposed cultures, the biochemical cascade of caspases was activated affecting the cytoskeleton components as their target. Thus the impairments in synaptic contacts observed in SO-exposed cultures might reflect a primarily morphological alteration of neuronal cytoskeleton. In addition, our data support the hypothesis developed by previous authors of reactive oxygen species (ROS) initiating events of SO cytotoxicity.« less

  15. Guidelines for Parent Involvement in Chapter 1 Programs.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Weckstein, Paul

    Chapter 1 is the largest federal education program in existence. It provides extra services to help low-achieving students and is targeted primarily at areas where low-income families reside. Parent involvement in designing and implementing the program is an essential part of Chapter 1. However, the parent involvement component is often not as…

  16. Feasibility of Space Disposal of Radioactive Nuclear Waste. 1: Executive Summary

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    1973-01-01

    This NASA study, performed at the request of the AEC, concludes that transporting radioactive waste (primarily long-lived isotopes) into space is feasible. Tentative solutions are presented for technical problems involving safe packaging. Launch systems (existing and planned), trajectories, potential hazards, and various destinations were evaluated. Solar system escape is possible and would have the advantage of ultimate removal of the radioactive waste from man's environment. Transportation costs would be low (comparable to less than a 5 percent increase in the cost of electricity) even though more than 100 space shuttle launches per year would be required by the year 2000.

  17. Sedimentary, tectonic, and sea-level controls on submarine fan and slope-apron turbidite systems

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Stow, D.A.V.; Howell, D.G.; Nelson, C.H.

    1984-01-01

    To help understand factors that influence submarine fan deposition, we outline some of the principal sedimentary, tectonic, and sea-level controls involved in deep-water sedimentation, give some data on the rates at which they operate, and evaluate their probable effects. Three depositional end-member systems, two submarine fan types (elongate and radial), and a third nonfan, slope-apron system result primarily from variations in sediment type and supply. Tectonic setting and local and global sea-level changes further modify the nature of fan growth, the distribution of facies, and the resulting vertical stratigraphic sequences. ?? 1984 Springer-Verlag New York Inc.

  18. Visible infrared spin-scan radiometers (VISSR) for the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) B and C application

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    1977-01-01

    Two visible infrared spin scan radiometer (VISSR) instruments provided for the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite B and C (GOES B and C) spacecrafts are described. The instruments are identical to those supplied previously are summarized. A significant number of changes primarily involving corrections of drawing errors and omissions were also performed. All electrical changes were breadboarded (where complexity required this), were incorporated into the test module, and subjected to verification of proper operation throughout fall instrument temperature range. Evaluation of the changes also included design operating safety margins to account for component variations and life.

  19. 2007 national roadside survey of alcohol and drug use by drivers : alcohol results

    DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

    2009-12-01

    This report presents the prevalence estimates for alcohol-involved driving derived from the recently completed U.S. : national field survey of alcohol- and drug-involved driving (primarily of nighttime weekend drivers, but also daytime : Friday drive...

  20. IS THE U.S. EXPERIENCING AN INCIPIENT EPIDEMIC OF HALLUCINOGEN USE?

    PubMed Central

    Golub, Andrew; Johnson, Bruce D.; Sifaneck, Stephen J.; Chesluk, Benjamin; Parker, Howard

    2008-01-01

    NHSDA and MTF survey data indicate “epidemic”-like growth in hallucinogen use from 1992-1996 and associated increases in cocaine, crack, heroin and amphetamine use. These trends might have resulted from a proliferation of raves and dance clubs in the U.S. as occurred in Europe and elsewhere, although in contrast to evidence regarding European experiences the American epidemic involves primarily teens as opposed to persons in their twenties and involves primarily use of LSD as opposed to MDMA. This analysis highlights the need for further research into the context, significance, and consequences of these recently popular American drug use practices. PMID:11758819

  1. Evaluating patient care communication in integrated care settings: application of a mixed method approach in cerebral palsy programs.

    PubMed

    Gulmans, J; Vollenbroek-Hutten, M M R; Van Gemert-Pijnen, J E W C; Van Harten, W H

    2009-02-01

    In this study, we evaluated patient care communication in the integrated care setting of children with cerebral palsy in three Dutch regions in order to identify relevant communication gaps experienced by both parents and involved professionals. A three-step mixed method approach was used starting with a questionnaire to identify communication links in which parents experienced gaps. In subsequent in-depth interviews with parents and focus group meetings with professionals underlying factors were evaluated. In total, 197 parents completed the questionnaire (response 67%); 6% scored negative on parent-professional communication, whereas 17% scored negative on inter-professional communication, especially between the rehabilitation physician and primary care physiotherapy (16%) and (special) education/day care (15%). In-depth interviews among a subset of 20 parents revealed various sources of dissatisfaction such as lack of cooperation and patient centeredness, inappropriate amount of information exchange and professional use of parents as messenger of information. Focus group meetings revealed that professionals recognized these gaps. They attributed them to capacity problems, lack of interdisciplinary guidelines and clear definition of roles, but also a certain hesitance for contact due to unfamiliarity with involved professionals in the care network. Parents particularly identified gaps in inter-professional communication between (rehabilitation) hospitals and primary care settings. Involved professionals recognized these gaps and primarily attributed them to organizational factors. Improvement initiatives should focus on these factors as well as facilitation of low-threshold contact across the patient's care network.

  2. Relations between Coparenting and Father Involvement in Families with Preschool-Age Children

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Jia, Rongfang; Schoppe-Sullivan, Sarah J.

    2011-01-01

    A sample (N = 112) composed primarily of European American and middle-class two-parent families with a resident father and a 4-year-old child (48% girls) participated in a longitudinal study of associations between coparenting and father involvement. At the initial assessment and 1 year later, fathers reported on their involvement in play and…

  3. Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Librarian Involvement in Grant Projects

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Brandenburg, Marci D.; Cordell, Sigrid Anderson; Joque, Justin; MacEachern, Mark P.; Song, Jean

    2017-01-01

    Librarians are excellent research collaborators, although librarian participation is not usually considered, thereby making access to research funds difficult. The University of Michigan Library became involved in the university's novel funding program, MCubed, which supported innovative interdisciplinary research on campus, primarily by funding…

  4. Identification of genes and gene clusters involved in mycotoxin synthesis

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    Research methods to identify and characterize genes involved in mycotoxin biosynthetic pathways have evolved considerably over the years. Before whole genome sequences were available (e.g. pre-genomics), work focused primarily on chemistry, biosynthetic mutant strains and molecular analysis of sing...

  5. Analysis of fatty infiltration and inflammation of the pelvic and thigh muscles in boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD): grading of disease involvement on MR imaging and correlation with clinical assessments.

    PubMed

    Kim, Hee Kyung; Merrow, Arnold C; Shiraj, Sahar; Wong, Brenda L; Horn, Paul S; Laor, Tal

    2013-10-01

    Prior reports focus primarily on muscle fatty infiltration in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). However, the significance of muscle edema is uncertain. To evaluate the frequency and degree of muscle fat and edema, and correlate these with clinical function. Forty-two boys (ages 5-19 years) with DMD underwent pelvic MRI. Axial T1- and fat-suppressed T2-weighted images were evaluated to grade muscle fatty infiltration (0-4) and edema (0-3), respectively. Degree and frequency of disease involvement were compared to clinical evaluations. Gluteus maximus had the greatest mean fatty infiltration score, followed by adductor magnus and gluteus medius muscles, and had the most frequent and greatest degree of fatty infiltration. Gluteus maximus also had the greatest mean edema score, followed by vastus lateralis and gluteus medius muscles. These muscles had the most frequent edema, although the greatest degree of edema was seen in other muscles. There was correlation between cumulative scores of fatty infiltration and all clinical evaluations (P < 0.05). In DMD, the muscles with the most frequent fatty infiltration had the greatest degree of fatty infiltration and correlated with patient function. However, the muscles with the most frequent edema were different from those with the greatest degree of edema. Thus, edema may not predict patient functional status.

  6. Superselective intra-arterial chemotherapy in the primary management of advanced intra-ocular retinoblastoma: first 4-year experience from a single institution in Turkey.

    PubMed

    Tuncer, Samuray; Sencer, Serra; Kebudi, Rejin; Tanyıldız, Burak; Cebeci, Zafer; Aydın, Kubilay

    2016-11-01

    To report our 4-year experience in Turkey, with advanced intra-ocular retinoblastoma managed primarily with intra-arterial chemotherapy (IAC). From October 2011 to September 2015, 26 group D eyes of 24 treatment-naïve retinoblastoma patients managed primarily with IAC were evaluated in this prospective study. Of 76 procedures, ophthalmic artery cannulation failed in two patients with unilateral involvement. In the remaining 22 patients (24 eyes), the mean age at diagnosis was 18 months (range, 6-55 months). Each eye received a mean of 3 IAC sessions/eye (range, 2-5 sessions). After a median follow-up of 29 months (range, 6-55 months), complete regression of the main tumour was achieved in 23 of 24 eyes. One eye with partial regression required enucleation due to ciliary body involvement by the tumour. Overall, 16 eyes (66.6%) were salvaged with primary IAC with or without additional local treatments, and eight (33.3%) required enucleation. The main IAC-related periocular complications included transient eyelid oedema (n = 13), ptosis (n = 6) and forehead hyperpigmentation (n = 3), each resolving in 2 weeks to 4 months. Intra-ocular complications included chorioretinal atrophy (n = 9), newly noted retinal detachment (n = 5) and vitreous haemorrhage (n = 1). Kaplan-Meier eye estimates of enucleation-free survival rates were 83.3% (95% CI, 68.4-98.1%), 69.1% (95% CI, 49.8-88.3%) and 62.9 (95% CI, 41.9-83.8%) at 6 months, 1 and 2 years, respectively, and stable thereafter. Our first 4-year experience in Turkey showed that enucleation or external-beam radiotherapy could be avoided in two-thirds of eyes with advanced intra-ocular retinoblastoma managed primarily with IAC. © 2016 Acta Ophthalmologica Scandinavica Foundation. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

  7. Climate impact of beef: an analysis considering multiple time scales and production methods without use of global warming potentials

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Pierrehumbert, R. T.; Eshel, G.

    2015-08-01

    An analysis of the climate impact of various forms of beef production is carried out, with a particular eye to the comparison between systems relying primarily on grasses grown in pasture (‘grass-fed’ or ‘pastured’ beef) and systems involving substantial use of manufactured feed requiring significant external inputs in the form of synthetic fertilizer and mechanized agriculture (‘feedlot’ beef). The climate impact is evaluated without employing metrics such as {{CO}}2{{e}} or global warming potentials. The analysis evaluates the impact at all time scales out to 1000 years. It is concluded that certain forms of pastured beef production have substantially lower climate impact than feedlot systems. However, pastured systems that require significant synthetic fertilization, inputs from supplemental feed, or deforestation to create pasture, have substantially greater climate impact at all time scales than the feedlot and dairy-associated systems analyzed. Even the best pastured system analyzed has enough climate impact to justify efforts to limit future growth of beef production, which in any event would be necessary if climate and other ecological concerns were met by a transition to primarily pasture-based systems. Alternate mitigation options are discussed, but barring unforseen technological breakthroughs worldwide consumption at current North American per capita rates appears incompatible with a 2 °C warming target.

  8. Gonococcal cellulitis: an (un)friendly bite.

    PubMed

    Lal, Amos; Rapose, Alwyn

    2018-03-16

    Gonococcal infection can present with wide spectrum of symptoms, most commonly involving the genitals. This case highlights a rare presentation of Neisseria gonorrhoeae infection primarily with skin involvement without uro-genital disease. A 33-year-old male was admitted to the hospital with complaints of painful swelling of his penis. In the emergency room, he underwent incision and drainage of the abscess under local anaesthesia. After microbiological evaluation, he was found to have skin abscess caused by N. gonorrhoeae and was treated with intravenous ceftriaxone and changed to oral agent amoxicillin-clavulanate with complete resolution. The manifestations of gonococcal infection have changed significantly over the last few years, with more involvement of extra genital sites attributed to changes in sexual practices. Our patient was treated for cellulitis and abscess caused by N. gonorrhoeae in the absence of systemic or urethral disease. Recommendations regarding treatment of gonococcal infection have been widely published. However, there is a paucity of evidence-based guidelines regarding the therapy of primary cutaneous gonococcal infection. Pooled data from similar cases may help determine the optimum therapy.

  9. Improving patient information leaflets: developing and applying an evaluative model of patient-centredness for text.

    PubMed

    Fage-Butler, Antoinette

    2013-01-01

    The purpose of this paper is to present an evaluative model of patient-centredness for text and to illustrate how this can be applied to patient information leaflets (PILs) that accompany medication in the European Union. Patients have criticized PILs for sidelining their experiences, knowledge and affective needs, and denying their individuality. The health communication paradigm of patient-centredness provides valuable purchase on these issues, taking its starting point in the dignity and integrity of the patient as a person. Employing this evaluative model involves two stages. First, a Foucauldian Discourse Analysis is performed of sender and receiver and of the main discourses in PILs. These aspects are then evaluated using the perspectives of patient-centredness theory relating to the medical practitioner, patient and content. The evaluative model is illustrated via a PIL for medication for depression and panic attacks. Evaluation reveals a preponderance of biomedical statements, with a cluster of patient-centred statements primarily relating to the construction of the patient. The paper contributes a new method and evaluative approach to PIL and qualitative health research, as well as outlining a method that facilitates the investigation of interdiscursivity, a recent focus of critical genre analysis.

  10. HANDBOOK ON ADVANCED PHOTOCHEMICAL OXIDATION ...

    EPA Pesticide Factsheets

    This handbook summarizes commercial-scale system performance and cost data for advanced photochemical oxidation (APO) treatment of contaminated water, air, and solids. Similar information from pilot- and bench-scale evaluations of APO processes is also included to supplement the commercial-scale data. Performance and cost data is summarized for various APO processes, including vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) photolysis, ultraviolet (UV)/oxidation, photo-Fenton, and dye- or semiconductor-sensitized APO processes. This handbook is intended to assist engineering practitioners in evaluating the applicability of APO processes and in selecting one or more such processes for site-specific evaluation.APO has been shown to be effective in treating contaminated water and air. Regarding contaminated water treatment, UV/oxidation has been evaluated for the most contaminants, while VUV photolysis has been evaluated for the fewest. Regarding contaminated air treatment, the sensitized APO processes have been evaluated for the most contaminants, while VUV photolysis has been evaluated for the fewest.APO processes for treating contaminated solids generally involve treatment of contaminated slurry or leachate generated using an extraction process such as soil washing. APO has been shown to be effective in treating contaminated solids, primarily at the bench-scale level. Information

  11. Positioning Medical Assistants for a Greater Role in the Era of Health Reform.

    PubMed

    Chapman, Susan A; Marks, Angela; Dower, Catherine

    2015-10-01

    Medical assistants (MAs) are one of the fastest-growing occupations in the United States. As of 2014 there were about 585,000 MAs in the United States, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics projected the MA workforce to grow by 29% from 2012 to 2022. The MA population is primarily female, ethnically and racially diverse, and paid about $15.01 per hour. MAs are primarily educated in private schools, many at for-profit institutions. The MA curriculum and length of training can be quite varied and can lead to uneven preparation for practice. Traditionally, the MA role has involved a limited clinical role and little involvement with team care, particularly in larger practices or clinics. Medical groups, clinics, and health systems are now taking a new look at MAs and how they can play a greater role in reforming health care delivery models. Expanded roles for MAs might include health coach, referral coordinator, disease registry manager, and health screener using protocols. In expanding MA roles, education and regulatory issues need to be addressed by the provider community including current inconsistent regulation and certification requirements and the lack of preparation for expanded roles in traditional MA training programs. MAs are well positioned to help address challenges in the health care delivery system including improving access to care while reducing overall cost. Successful model practices using MAs in expanded roles need further formal evaluation and replication across practice settings.

  12. Community-based HIV education and prevention workers respond to a changing environment.

    PubMed

    Guenter, Dale; Majumdar, Basanti; Willms, Dennis; Travers, Robb; Browne, Gina; Robinson, Greg

    2005-01-01

    The purpose of this study was to understand the culture, values, skills and activities of staff involved in education and prevention activities in community-based AIDS Service Organizations (ASOs) in Ontario, Canada, and to understand the role of evaluation research in their prevention programming. In this qualitative study, 33 staff members from 11 ASOs participated in semi-structured interviews that were analyzed using the grounded theory approach. ASO staff experience tension between a historical grassroots organizational culture characterized by responsiveness and relevance and a more recent culture of professionalization. Target populations have changed from being primarily gay men to an almost unlimited variety of communities. Program emphasis has shifted from education and knowledge dissemination to a broadly based mandate of health promotion, community development, and harm reduction. Integration of evidence of effectiveness, social-behavioral theory, or systematic evaluation is uncommon. Understanding these points of tension is important for the nursing profession when it is engaged with ASOs in programming or evaluation research.

  13. PULSED EDDY CURRENT THICKNESS MEASUREMENT OF SELECTIVE PHASE CORROSION ON NICKEL ALUMINUM BRONZE VALVES

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

    Krause, T. W.; Harlley, D.; Babbar, V. K.

    Nickel Aluminum Bronze (NAB) is a material with marine environment applications that under certain conditions can undergo selective phase corrosion (SPC). SPC involves the removal of minority elements while leaving behind a copper matrix. Pulsed eddy current (PEC) was evaluated for determination of SPC thickness on a NAB valve section with access from the surface corroded side. A primarily linear response of PEC amplitude, up to the maximum available SPC thickness of 4 mm was observed. The combination of reduced conductivity and permeability in the SPC phase relative to the base NAB was used to explain the observed sensitivity ofmore » PEC to SPC thickness variations.« less

  14. Work function determination of promising electrode materials for thermionic converters

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Jacobson, D.

    1977-01-01

    Work performed on this contract was primarily for the evaluation of selected electrode materials for thermionic energy converters. The original objective was to characterize selected nickel based superalloys up to temperatures of 1400 K. It was found that an early selection, Inconel 800 produced a high vapor pressure which interfered with the vacuum emission measurements. The program then shifted to two other areas. The first area was to obtain emission from the superalloys in a cesiated atmosphere. The cesium plasma helps to suppress the vaporization interference. The second area involved characterization of the Lanthanum-Boron series as thermionic emitters. These final two areas resulted in three journal publications which are attached to this report.

  15. Sexual behaviors in children: evaluation and management.

    PubMed

    Kellogg, Nancy D

    2010-11-15

    Sexual behaviors in children are common, occurring in 42 to 73 percent of children by the time they reach 13 years of age. Developmentally appropriate behavior that is common and frequently observed in children includes trying to view another person's genitals or breasts, standing too close to other persons, and touching their own genitals. Sexual behaviors become less common, less frequent, or more covert after five years of age. Sexual behavior problems are defined as developmentally inappropriate or intrusive sexual acts that typically involve coercion or distress. Such behaviors should be evaluated within the context of other emotional and behavior disorders, socialization difficulties, and family dysfunction, including violence, abuse, and neglect. Although many children with sexual behavior problems have a history of sexual abuse, most children who have been sexually abused do not develop sexual behavior problems. Children who have been sexually abused at a younger age, who have been abused by a family member, or whose abuse involved penetration are at greater risk of developing sexual behavior problems. Although age-appropriate behaviors are managed primarily through reassurance and education of the parent about appropriate behavior redirection, sexual behavior problems often require further assessment and may necessitate a referral to child protective services for suspected abuse or neglect.

  16. Evaluation of Mobil OCTGAIN{trademark} technology for the manufacture of reformulated gasoline via LP modeling

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

    Poddar, S.K.; Chum, K.; Ragsdale, R.

    1995-09-01

    Sulfur and olefins content of gasoline come primarily from the cat-cracked blendstock. Therefore hydrotreating cat cracked naphtha is a straight forward approach to reduce sulfur and olefin contents of gasoline and thereby reduce auto exhaust emission. However, this approach reduces the Octane number of gasoline which requires addition of Octane enhancer like MTBE to meet the stringent requirement of 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments and to produce Reformulated Gasoline (RFG). The paper examines the economic incentives of an innovative process technology which was developed and commercialized by Mobil known as OCTGAIN. The process utilizes fixed bed low pressure hardware andmore » uses a Mobil proprietary catalyst system to produce catalytically cracked (CC) gasoline component with thorough desulfurization and olefin reduction and practically no loss in Octane number. The economic evaluation of the OCTGAIN technology was conducted with Bechtel`s proprietary linear programming software, Process Industry Modeling System by introducing an OCTGAIN process block to a typical PADD-3 refinery configuration for gasoline production and satisfying RFG specifications. The results of the evaluation which involved twenty case studies, show that within the limitations of the study scope, the introduction of OCTGAIN technology creates a definite economic incentive over conventional hydrofinishing of CC naphtha. The profitability of OCTGAIN technology is dependent on the aromatics component of the gasoline pool. The economic advantage of OCTGAIN technology is realized primarily by higher production of premium gasoline and the ability to process lower cost high sulfur crude. The process also allows a better utilization of the FCCU and hydrocracker, if the refinery operation permits.« less

  17. Parent Involvement in Children's Education: An Exploratory Study of Urban, Chinese Immigrant Families

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Ji, Cheng Shuang; Koblinsky, Sally A.

    2009-01-01

    This exploratory study examined the involvement of Chinese immigrant parents in children's elementary and secondary education. Participants were 29 low-income, urban parents of public school children working primarily in the hospitality sector. Parents were interviewed about their academic expectations, knowledge of school performance, parent…

  18. Oaks and Environmental Education

    Treesearch

    Kay Antunez de Mayolo

    1991-01-01

    A number of educational projects which focus on youth awareness and involvement with California oaks have been developed during the last five years. Primarily used in urban areas where oak populations have declined, many of these programs promote seedling propagation, tree planting and help to develop student understanding of environmental issues involving oaks while...

  19. Adolescent Civic and Political Engagement: Associations between Domain-Specific Judgments and Behavior

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Metzger, Aaron; Smetana, Judith G.

    2009-01-01

    Judgments and justifications for different forms of civic involvement and their associations with organized and civic behavior were examined in 312 middle-class primarily White adolescents (M = 17.01 years). Adolescents applied moral, conventional, and personal criteria to distinguish involvement in community service, standard political, social…

  20. Clinical utilization of musculoskeletal sonography involving non-physician rehabilitation providers: A scoping review

    PubMed Central

    Roll, Shawn C.; Asai, Christina; Tsai, Julieann

    2015-01-01

    Background Musculoskeletal sonography use in point-of-care physical medicine and rehabilitation is rapidly expanding, not only by physiatrists, but also by non-physician rehabilitation providers. Aim To evaluate the current range, extent and nature of literature and to identify emerging areas of evidence for the use of musculoskeletal sonography involving non-physician rehabilitation providers to guide research and clinical practice. Design Scoping Review Setting Inpatient, Outpatient, Other Population Musculoskeletal conditions Methods Five databases were searched and 578 unique abstracts were identified and screened for eligibility. Three raters independently read 68 full texts and 36 articles that reported on applied uses of sonography by non-physician rehabilitation providers were included. Results Eighteen studies described direct clinical use, primarily for outcomes measurement (n=12) or as a biofeedback intervention (n=10). Twelve laboratory studies were included that related morphology to patient reports or validated clinical interventions. Six additional studies, although not involving non-physician providers, were included as they presented potential valuable uses that were not noted in the other included studies, such as monitoring bone healing, tendon repair, and evaluation of idiopathic symptom reports or non-specific primary diagnoses. Conclusion This review indicates that non-physician rehabilitation providers use sonography for outcomes measurement and biofeedback interventions. Research is needed to evaluate effects of these uses on patient outcomes and to explore additional potential uses for clinical reasoning, treatment planning, and monitoring of tissue healing related to intervention. Clinical Rehabilitation Impact Implementation of musculoskeletal sonography by non-physician rehabilitation providers has the potential to be a critically advantageous addition to improve care. PMID:26201705

  1. Uncertainty Evaluation and Appropriate Distribution for the RDHM in the Rockies

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kim, J.; Bastidas, L. A.; Clark, E. P.

    2010-12-01

    The problems that hydrologic models have in properly reproducing the processes involved in mountainous areas, and in particular the Rocky Mountains, are widely acknowledged. Herein, we present an application of the National Weather Service RDHM distributed model over the Durango River basin in Colorado. We focus primarily in the assessment of the model prediction uncertainty associated with the parameter estimation and the comparison of the model performance using parameters obtained with a priori estimation following the procedure of Koren et al., and those obtained via inverse modeling using a variety of Markov chain Monte Carlo based optimization algorithms. The model evaluation is based on traditional procedures as well as non-traditional ones based on the use of shape matching functions, which are more appropriate for the evaluation of distributed information (e.g. Hausdorff distance, earth movers distance). The variables used for the model performance evaluation are discharge (with internal nodes), snow cover and snow water equivalent. An attempt to establish the proper degree of distribution, for the Durango basin with the RDHM model, is also presented.

  2. Benchmarking and Threshold Standards in Higher Education. Staff and Educational Development Series.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Smith, Helen, Ed.; Armstrong, Michael, Ed.; Brown, Sally, Ed.

    This book explores the issues involved in developing standards in higher education, examining the practical issues involved in benchmarking and offering a critical analysis of the problems associated with this developmental tool. The book focuses primarily on experience in the United Kingdom (UK), but looks also at international activity in this…

  3. The role of rehabilitation specialists in Canadian NICUs: a national survey.

    PubMed

    Limperopoulos, Catherine; Majnemer, Annette

    2002-01-01

    Rehabilitation specialists are an integral part of the team in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). A national survey was conducted to elucidate the current roles of rehabilitation specialists. Occupational therapy (OT), physical therapy (PT), and speech and language pathology (SLP) departments in all Canadian health care institutions with tertiary level NICUs (n = 38) were surveyed by telephone. Results indicate that 16% have no rehabilitation coverage, while 11% receive very limited external services (< 1/month). Over half of the OT and PT departments provide weekly services whereas only 5/38 provide SLP coverage. Service delivery includes assessment and a number of therapeutic interventions. Splinting and feeding are predominantly performed by OT, whereas chest physiotherapy and ROM are carried out primarily by PT. Rehabilitation specialists are actively involved in education and case management. The extent of involvement of rehabilitation specialists was discrepant, and highly associated with the type of facility. Rehabilitation services, when provided, are comprehensive and include evaluation, treatment, teaching, decision-making, and family support.

  4. Soy and Health Update: Evaluation of the Clinical and Epidemiologic Literature

    PubMed Central

    Messina, Mark

    2016-01-01

    Soyfoods have long been recognized as sources of high-quality protein and healthful fat, but over the past 25 years these foods have been rigorously investigated for their role in chronic disease prevention and treatment. There is evidence, for example, that they reduce risk of coronary heart disease and breast and prostate cancer. In addition, soy alleviates hot flashes and may favorably affect renal function, alleviate depressive symptoms and improve skin health. Much of the focus on soyfoods is because they are uniquely-rich sources of isoflavones. Isoflavones are classified as both phytoestrogens and selective estrogen receptor modulators. Despite the many proposed benefits, the presence of isoflavones has led to concerns that soy may exert untoward effects in some individuals. However, these concerns are based primarily on animal studies, whereas the human research supports the safety and benefits of soyfoods. In support of safety is the recent conclusion of the European Food Safety Authority that isoflavones do not adversely affect the breast, thyroid or uterus of postmenopausal women. This review covers each of the major research areas involving soy focusing primarily on the clinical and epidemiologic research. Background information on Asian soy intake, isoflavones, and nutrient content is also provided. PMID:27886135

  5. Alterations in protein phosphorylation in the amygdala of the 5XFamilial Alzheimer's disease animal model.

    PubMed

    Yang, Eun-Jeong; Mahmood, Usman; Kim, Hyunju; Choi, Moonseok; Choi, Yunjung; Lee, Jean-Pyo; Chang, Moon-Jeong; Kim, Hye-Sun

    2017-04-01

    Alzheimer's disease is the most common disease underlying dementia in humans. Two major neuropathological hallmarks of AD are neuritic plaques primarily composed of amyloid beta peptide and neurofibrillary tangles primarily composed of hyperphosphorylated tau. In addition to impaired memory function, AD patients often display neuropsychiatric symptoms and abnormal emotional states such as confusion, delusion, manic/depressive episodes and altered fear status. Brains from AD patients show atrophy of the amygdala which is involved in fear expression and emotional processing as well as hippocampal atrophy. However, which molecular changes are responsible for the altered emotional states observed in AD remains to be elucidated. Here, we observed that the fear response as assessed by evaluating fear memory via a cued fear conditioning test was impaired in 5XFamilial AD (5XFAD) mice, an animal model of AD. Compared to wild-type mice, 5XFAD mice showed changes in the phosphorylation of twelve proteins in the amygdala. Thus, our study provides twelve potential protein targets in the amygdala that may be responsible for the impairment in fear memory in AD. Copyright © 2017 The Authors. Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  6. Cardiac Computed Tomography and Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Evaluation of Mitral and Tricuspid Valve Disease: Implications for Transcatheter Interventions.

    PubMed

    Naoum, Christopher; Blanke, Philipp; Cavalcante, João L; Leipsic, Jonathon

    2017-03-01

    Transcatheter interventions to treat mitral and tricuspid valve disease are becoming increasingly available because of the growing number of elderly patients with significant comorbidities or high operative risk. Thorough clinical and imaging evaluation in these patients is essential. The latter involves both characterization of the mechanism and severity of valvular disease as well as determining the hemodynamic consequences and extent of ventricular remodeling, which is an important predictor of future outcomes. Moreover, an assessment of the suitability and risk of complications associated with device-specific therapies is also an important component of the preprocedural evaluation in this cohort. Although echocardiography including 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional methods has an important role in the initial assessment and procedural guidance, cross-sectional imaging, including both computed tomographic imagning and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, is increasingly being integrated into the evaluation of mitral and tricuspid valve disease. In this review, we discuss the role of cross-sectional imaging in mitral and tricuspid valve disease, primarily valvular regurgitation assessment, with an emphasis on the preprocedural evaluation and implications for transcatheter interventions. © 2017 American Heart Association, Inc.

  7. Multicentric intraepithelial neoplasia involving the vulva. Clinical features and association with human papillomavirus and herpes simplex virus.

    PubMed

    Bornstein, J; Kaufman, R H; Adam, E; Adler-Storthz, K

    1988-10-15

    Sixteen of 46 patients (35%) with Grade 3 vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN 3) were found to have an additional site of lower genital tract squamous cell neoplasia, primarily in the cervix. The frequency of multicentricity decreased significantly with age. In addition, patients with multicentric disease (involving the vagina and/or cervix in addition to the vulva) had a significantly higher frequency of multifocal disease involving the vulva (involving more than one location on the vulva) and of recurrence than patients without multicentric disease. Human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA was detected by in situ hybridization in 81% of the women with multicentric squamous cell neoplasia. No significant difference was noticed between patients with multicentric and unicentric squamous cell neoplasia in the detection rate of papillomavirus antigen, HPV DNA, the various HPV types, herpes simplex virus Type 2 (HSV2)-related antigen, type-specific antibodies to HSV, and dual HPV and HSV2 infections. These findings suggest that HPV and HSV2, although strongly associated with VIN 3, do not influence the development pattern of squamous cell neoplasia, and that all patients with VIN 3, especially if they are younger than 50 years of age, should be evaluated periodically for additional centers of lower genital tract squamous cell neoplasia.

  8. A Novel Approach: Chemical Relational Databases, and the ...

    EPA Pesticide Factsheets

    Mutagenicity and carcinogenicity databases are crucial resources for toxicologists and regulators involved in chemicals risk assessment. Until recently, existing public toxicity databases have been constructed primarily as

  9. Prognostic impact of the level of nodal involvement: retrospective analysis of patients with advanced oral squamous cell carcinoma.

    PubMed

    Murakami, R; Nakayama, H; Semba, A; Hiraki, A; Nagata, M; Kawahara, K; Shiraishi, S; Hirai, T; Uozumi, H; Yamashita, Y

    2017-01-01

    We retrospectively evaluated the prognostic impact of the level of nodal involvement in patients with advanced oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Between 2005 and 2010, 105 patients with clinical stage III or IV oral SCC had chemoradiotherapy preoperatively. Clinical (cN) and pathological nodal (pN) involvement was primarily at levels Ib and II. We defined nodal involvement at levels Ia and III-V as anterior and inferior extensions, respectively, and recorded such findings as extensive. With respect to pretreatment variables (age, clinical stage, clinical findings of the primary tumour, and nodal findings), univariate analysis showed that extensive cN was the only significant factor for overall survival (hazard ratio [HR], 3.27; 95% CI 1.50 to 7.13; p=0.001). Univariate analysis showed that all pN findings, including the nodal classification (invaded nodes, multiple, and contralateral) and extensive involvement were significant, and multivariate analysis confirmed that extensive pN (HR 4.71; 95% CI 1.85 to 11.97; p=0.001) and multiple pN (HR 2.59; 95% CI 1.10 to 6.09; p=0.029) were independent predictors of overall survival. Assessment based on the level of invaded neck nodes may be a better predictor of survival than the current nodal classification. Copyright © 2016 The British Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  10. MASSIVE STARS IN THE LOCAL GROUP: Implications for Stellar Evolution and Star Formation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Massey, Philip

    The galaxies of the Local Group serve as important laboratories for understanding the physics of massive stars. Here I discuss what is involved in identifying various kinds of massive stars in nearby galaxies: the hydrogen-burning O-type stars and their evolved He-burning evolutionary descendants, the luminous blue variables, red supergiants, and Wolf-Rayet stars. Primarily I review what our knowledge of the massive star population in nearby galaxies has taught us about stellar evolution and star formation. I show that the current generation of stellar evolutionary models do well at matching some of the observed features and provide a look at the sort of new observational data that will provide a benchmark against which new models can be evaluated.

  11. Pulmonary thromboembolism in a patient with active ulcerative colitis and lung abscess secondary to pulmonary infarction.

    PubMed

    Asker, Selvi; Gunbatar, Hulya; Ekin, Selami; Sertogullarindan, Bunyamin; Sunnetcioglu, Aysel

    2014-12-01

    Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are inflammatory bowel diseases and they primarily involve intestines. Herein we report the case of a young man who, during a clinical recurrence of ulcerative colitis, presented with symptoms suggestive of a lung abscess. When the patient was re-evaluated because of unexplained shortness of breath, an area of infarction was detected that had led to the development of cavitation secondary to submassive embolism and foci of infection contained within. The patient was managed with subcutaneous heparin and he was asymptomatic during 2 months of follow-up. He completed six months of anti-coagulation therapy and any recurrence was not detected during 3 months of post-treatment follow-up.

  12. 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.

  13. Melorheostosis: A Retrospective Clinical Analysis of 24 Patients at the Mayo Clinic.

    PubMed

    Smith, Gabriel C; Pingree, Matthew J; Freeman, Laura A; Matsumoto, Jane M; Howe, Benjamin M; Kannas, Stephanie N; Pyfferoen, Mary D; Struss, Leah T; Wenger, Doris E; Amrami, Kimberly K; Matsumoto, Martha; Jurisson, Mary L

    2017-03-01

    Current understanding of the clinical features of persons with melorheostosis is restricted primarily to individual case reports and small case series. To assess the clinical features of patients with melorheostosis treated at our institution from 1972 through 2010. Chart review. Tertiary academic medical center. Twenty-three patients with "definite" and one patient with "probable" melorheostosis based on radiographic criteria. The eligible study cohort was identified through the Rochester Medical Index database. Further diagnostic confirmation of patients with melorheostosis was performed by radiographic review. We evaluated age at first visit to our institution, gender, affected body area, number of bones affected, presenting symptoms, surgical evaluation, and therapies provided. The average age at first evaluation at our clinic was 36.5 years (median 41.5 years, range 3-68 years). The female to male ratio was 4:1. The lower extremity was most commonly affected (66.6%), followed by upper extremity (33.3%), spine (16.6%), and head (8.3%). One-third of patients had involvement of a single bone; two-thirds had multiple bone involvement. Pain was the most common presenting concern (83.3%), followed by deformity (54.1%), limitation of movement (45.8%), numbness (37.5%), and weakness (25.0%). Most patients had a physician evaluation (87.5%); patients also underwent orthopedic surgery (45.8%), physical therapy (33.3%), and occupational therapy (12.5%). Melorheostosis is a rare sclerotic bone disease resulting in pain, deformity, and dysfunction. An interdisciplinary approach to care should include nonoperative and operative evaluation, as well as appropriate therapies. A prospective approach to evaluation, including imaging and physical examinations, would provide valuable longitudinal data. IV. Copyright © 2017 American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  14. The Impact of Family Involvement on the Education of Children Ages 3 to 8: A Focus on Literacy and Math Achievement Outcomes and Social-Emotional Skills

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Van Voorhis, Frances L.; Maier, Michelle F.; Epstein, Joyce L.; Lloyd, Chrishana M.

    2013-01-01

    This report summarizes research conducted primarily over the past 10 years on how families' involvement in children's learning and development through activities at home and at school affects the literacy, mathematics, and social-emotional skills of children ages 3 to 8. A total of 95 studies of family involvement are reviewed. These include both…

  15. Castor Oil: Properties, Uses, and Optimization of Processing Parameters in Commercial Production

    PubMed Central

    Patel, Vinay R.; Dumancas, Gerard G.; Kasi Viswanath, Lakshmi C.; Maples, Randall; Subong, Bryan John J.

    2016-01-01

    Castor oil, produced from castor beans, has long been considered to be of important commercial value primarily for the manufacturing of soaps, lubricants, and coatings, among others. Global castor oil production is concentrated primarily in a small geographic region of Gujarat in Western India. This region is favorable due to its labor-intensive cultivation method and subtropical climate conditions. Entrepreneurs and castor processors in the United States and South America also cultivate castor beans but are faced with the challenge of achieving high castor oil production efficiency, as well as obtaining the desired oil quality. In this manuscript, we provide a detailed analysis of novel processing methods involved in castor oil production. We discuss novel processing methods by explaining specific processing parameters involved in castor oil production. PMID:27656091

  16. Castor Oil: Properties, Uses, and Optimization of Processing Parameters in Commercial Production.

    PubMed

    Patel, Vinay R; Dumancas, Gerard G; Kasi Viswanath, Lakshmi C; Maples, Randall; Subong, Bryan John J

    2016-01-01

    Castor oil, produced from castor beans, has long been considered to be of important commercial value primarily for the manufacturing of soaps, lubricants, and coatings, among others. Global castor oil production is concentrated primarily in a small geographic region of Gujarat in Western India. This region is favorable due to its labor-intensive cultivation method and subtropical climate conditions. Entrepreneurs and castor processors in the United States and South America also cultivate castor beans but are faced with the challenge of achieving high castor oil production efficiency, as well as obtaining the desired oil quality. In this manuscript, we provide a detailed analysis of novel processing methods involved in castor oil production. We discuss novel processing methods by explaining specific processing parameters involved in castor oil production.

  17. HIV Tat/P-TEFb Interaction: A Potential Target for Novel Anti-HIV Therapies.

    PubMed

    Asamitsu, Kaori; Fujinaga, Koh; Okamoto, Takashi

    2018-04-17

    Transcription is a crucial step in the life cycle of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV 1) and is primarily involved in the maintenance of viral latency. Both viral and cellular transcription factors, including transcriptional activators, suppressor proteins and epigenetic factors, are involved in HIV transcription from the proviral DNA integrated within the host cell genome. Among them, the virus-encoded transcriptional activator Tat is the master regulator of HIV transcription. Interestingly, unlike other known transcriptional activators, Tat primarily activates transcriptional elongation and initiation by interacting with the cellular positive transcriptional elongation factor b (P-TEFb). In this review, we describe the molecular mechanism underlying how Tat activates viral transcription through interaction with P-TEFb. We propose a novel therapeutic strategy against HIV replication through blocking Tat action.

  18. The history of the development of the rectenna

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Brown, W. C.

    1980-01-01

    The history of the development of the rectenna is first reviewed through its early conceptual and developmental phases in which the Air Force and Raytheon Company were primarily involved. The intermediate period of development which involved NASA, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and Raytheon is then reviewed. Some selective aspects of the current SPS rectenna development are examined.

  19. Student Perceptions of School Efforts to Facilitate Student Involvement, School Commitment, Self-Determination, and High School Graduation

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Cavendish, Wendy

    2013-01-01

    This study examined the relationship between student perceptions of school efforts to facilitate student involvement, school commitment, self-determination skills, and on track indicators for graduation in 10th grade and actual graduation outcomes two years later. The participants were 154 primarily minority students in a large, urban school…

  20. Mothers in Substance Abuse Treatment: Differences in Characteristics Based on Involvement with Child Welfare Services

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Grella, Christine E.; Hser, Yih-Ing; Huang; Yu-Chuang

    2006-01-01

    Problem: Greater awareness of the role of parental substance abuse in child maltreatment makes it imperative that the substance abuse treatment and child welfare systems coordinate services for these parents. Yet little is known about the characteristics of child-welfare involved parents (primarily mothers) who enter into substance abuse…

  1. Employers and Child Care: Development of a New Employee Benefit. A BNA Special Report.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Bureau of National Affairs, Inc., Washington, DC.

    Written primarily from the employer's perspective, this report examines the issues involved in providing child care assistance as an employee benefit. Chapter 1 summarizes rapid changes in the work force that have produced employer involvement in child care arrangements. The major findings of the report are highlighted in Chapter 2, including the…

  2. The Impact of Japanese Corporate Transnationalism on Men's Involvement in Family Life and Relationships

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Yasuike, Akiko

    2011-01-01

    This study examines the ways in which Japanese corporate transnationalism affects husbands' involvement in family life and marital relationships primarily from a perspective of wives. It is based on interviews with 22 Japanese wives and 4 husbands. Studies of Japanese corporate transnationalism treat men as mere supervisors to local workers or…

  3. Orientation Manual for Child Care Centres Involved in the Recognition of Overseas Trained Workers.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    l'Anson, Christine, Comp.; Harris, Liz, Comp.

    This manual has been primarily developed to assist child care center staff who are involved in the process of the recognition of the qualifications of overseas workers within the child care industry in Western Australia. The information and practical exercises provided aim to increase staff's level of awareness and acceptance of cultural…

  4. Evaluations of the trans-sulfuration pathway in multiple liver toxicity studies

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

    Schnackenberg, Laura K.; Chen Minjun; Sun, Jinchun

    2009-02-15

    Drug-induced liver injury has been associated with the generation of reactive metabolites, which are primarily detoxified via glutathione conjugation. In this study, it was hypothesized that molecules involved in the synthesis of glutathione would be diminished to replenish the glutathione depleted through conjugation reactions. Since S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe) is the primary source of the sulfur atom in glutathione, UPLC/MS and NMR were used to evaluate metabolites involved with the transulfuration pathway in urine samples collected during studies of eight liver toxic compounds in Sprague-Dawley rats. Urinary levels of creatine were increased on day 1 or day 2 in 8 high dosemore » liver toxicity studies. Taurine concentration in urine was increased in only 3 of 8 liver toxicity studies while SAMe was found to be reduced in 4 of 5 liver toxicity studies. To further validate the results from the metabonomic studies, microarray data from rat liver samples following treatment with acetaminophen was obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Some genes involved in the trans-sulfuration pathway, including guanidinoacetate N-methyltransferase, glycine N-methyltransferase, betaine-homocysteine methyltransferase and cysteine dioxygenase were found to be significantly decreased while methionine adenosyl transferase II, alpha increased at 24 h post-dosing, which is consistent with the SAMe and creatine findings. The metabolic and transcriptomic results show that the trans-sulfuration pathway from SAMe to glutathione was disturbed due to the administration of heptatotoxicants.« less

  5. Genetics Home Reference: chronic granulomatous disease

    MedlinePlus

    ... is primarily active in immune system cells called phagocytes. These cells catch and destroy foreign invaders such as bacteria and fungi. Within phagocytes, NADPH oxidase is involved in the production of ...

  6. Pharyngeal Dystonia Mimicking Spasmodic Dysphonia.

    PubMed

    Shi, Lucy L; Simpson, C Blake; Hapner, Edie R; Jinnah, Hyder A; Johns, Michael M

    2018-03-01

    The aim of this study was to describe the presentation of pharyngeal dystonia (PD), which can occur as a focal or segmental dystonia with a primarily pharyngeal involvement for the discussion of treatment methods for controlling consequent symptoms. PD is specific to speech-related tasks. A retrospective medical record review of four patients with PD was performed. All patients were initially misdiagnosed with adductor spasmodic dysphonia and failed standard treatment with botulinum toxin type A (BTX). On laryngoscopy, the patients were discovered to have segmental or focal dystonia primarily affecting the pharyngeal musculature contributing to their vocal manifestations. A novel treatment regimen was designed, which involved directing BTX injections into the muscles involved in spasmodic valving at the oropharyngeal level. After titrating to an optimal dose, all patients showed improvement in their voice and speech with only mild dysphagia. These patients have maintained favorable results with repeat injections at 6- to 12-week intervals. PD, or dystonia with predominant pharyngeal involvement, is a rare entity with vocal manifestations that are not well described. It can be easily mistaken for spasmodic dysphonia. PD is specific to speech-related tasks. A novel method of BTX injections into the involved muscles results in a significant improvement in voice without significant dysphagia. Copyright © 2018 The Voice Foundation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  7. Is there an efficient trap or collection method for sampling Anopheles darlingi and other malaria vectors that can describe the essential parameters affecting transmission dynamics as effectively as human landing catches? - A Review

    PubMed Central

    Lima, José Bento Pereira; Rosa-Freitas, Maria Goreti; Rodovalho, Cynara Melo; Santos, Fátima; Lourenço-de-Oliveira, Ricardo

    2014-01-01

    Distribution, abundance, feeding behaviour, host preference, parity status and human-biting and infection rates are among the medical entomological parameters evaluated when determining the vector capacity of mosquito species. To evaluate these parameters, mosquitoes must be collected using an appropriate method. Malaria is primarily transmitted by anthropophilic and synanthropic anophelines. Thus, collection methods must result in the identification of the anthropophilic species and efficiently evaluate the parameters involved in malaria transmission dynamics. Consequently, human landing catches would be the most appropriate method if not for their inherent risk. The choice of alternative anopheline collection methods, such as traps, must consider their effectiveness in reproducing the efficiency of human attraction. Collection methods lure mosquitoes by using a mixture of olfactory, visual and thermal cues. Here, we reviewed, classified and compared the efficiency of anopheline collection methods, with an emphasis on Neotropical anthropophilic species, especially Anopheles darlingi, in distinct malaria epidemiological conditions in Brazil. PMID:25185008

  8. Advanced laparoscopic bariatric surgery Is safe in general surgery training.

    PubMed

    Kuckelman, John; Bingham, Jason; Barron, Morgan; Lallemand, Michael; Martin, Matthew; Sohn, Vance

    2017-05-01

    Bariatric surgery makes up an increasing percentage of general surgery training. The safety of resident involvement in these complex cases has been questioned. We evaluated patient outcomes in resident performed laparoscopic bariatric procedures. Retrospective review of patients undergoing a laparoscopic bariatric procedure over seven years at a tertiary care single center. Procedures were primarily performed by a general surgery resident and proctored by an attending surgeon. Primary outcomes included operative volume, operative time and leak rate with perioperative outcomes evaluated as secondary outcomes. A total of 1649 bariatric procedures were evaluated. Operations included laparoscopic bypass (690) and laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (959). Average operating time was 136 min. Eighteen leaks (0.67%) were identified. Graduating residents performed an average of 89 laparoscopic bariatric cases during their training. There were no significant differences between resident levels with concern to operative time or leak rate (p 0.97 and p = 0.54). General surgery residents can safely perform laparoscopic bariatric surgery. When proctored by a staff surgeon, a resident's level of training does not significantly impact leak rate. Published by Elsevier Inc.

  9. Boundary conditions for the influence of unfamiliar non-target primes in unconscious evaluative priming: The moderating role of attentional task sets.

    PubMed

    Kiefer, Markus; Sim, Eun-Jim; Wentura, Dirk

    2015-09-01

    Evaluative priming by masked emotional stimuli that are not consciously perceived has been taken as evidence that affective stimulus evaluation can also occur unconsciously. However, as masked priming effects were small and frequently observed only for familiar primes that there also presented as visible targets in an evaluative decision task, priming was thought to reflect primarily response activation based on acquired S-R associations and not evaluative semantic stimulus analysis. The present study therefore assessed across three experiments boundary conditions for the emergence of masked evaluative priming effects with unfamiliar primes in an evaluative decision task and investigated the role of the frequency of target repetition on priming with pictorial and verbal stimuli. While familiar primes elicited robust priming effects in all conditions, priming effects by unfamiliar primes were reliably obtained for low repetition (pictures) or unrepeated targets (words), but not for targets repeated at a high frequency. This suggests that unfamiliar masked stimuli only elicit evaluative priming effects when the task set associated with the visible target involves evaluative semantic analysis and is not based on S-R triggered responding as for high repetition targets. The present results therefore converge with the growing body of evidence demonstrating attentional control influences on unconscious processing. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  10. The Neurological Compromised Spine Due to Ewing Sarcoma. What First: Surgery or Chemotherapy? Therapy, Survival, and Neurological Outcome of 15 Cases With Primary Ewing Sarcoma of the Vertebral Column.

    PubMed

    Mirzaei, Lida; Kaal, Suzanne E J; Schreuder, Hendrik W B; Bartels, Ronald H M A

    2015-11-01

    The vertebral column is an infrequent site of primary involvement in Ewing sarcoma. Yet when Ewing sarcoma is found in the spine, the urge for decompression is high because of the often symptomatic compression of neural structures. It is unclear in alleviating a neurological deficit whether chemotherapy is preferred over decompressive laminectomy. To underline, in this case series, the efficiency of initial chemotherapy before upfront surgery in the setting of high-grade spinal cord or cauda equina compression of primary Ewing sarcoma. Fifteen patients with Ewing sarcoma primarily located in the spine were treated at our institution between 1983 and 2015. Localization, neurological deficit expressed as Frankel grade, and outcome expressed as Rankin scale before and after initial chemotherapy, the recurrence rate, and overall survival were evaluated. The multidisciplinary approach of 1 case will be discussed in detail. Nine patients (60%) were female. The age at presentation was 15.0 ± 5.5 years (range: 0.9-22.8 years). Ten patients (67%) were initially treated with chemotherapy, and 1 patient (7%) was treated primarily with radiotherapy followed by chemotherapy. The remaining 4 patients (27%) were initially treated with decompressive surgery. All patients treated primarily nonsurgically improved neurologically at follow-up, showing the importance of chemotherapy as an effective initial treatment option. Adequate and quick decompression of neural structures with similar results can be achieved by chemotherapy and radiotherapy, avoiding the local spill of malignant cells.

  11. Cognitive dimensions of recreational user experiences in wilderness: an exploratory study in Adirondack wilderness areas.

    Treesearch

    Chad P. Dawson; Peter Newman; Alan Watson

    1998-01-01

    This exploratory study involved identifying the dimensions of a wilderness experience sought by users based on the available literature and on input from wilderness users. Input was collected using focus group interviews with members of four groups that were primarily involved in wilderness use and preservation in recent years. Positive and negative dimensions are...

  12. Perceptions of legally mandated public involvement processes in the U.S. Forest Service

    Treesearch

    S. Andrew Predmore; Marc J. Stern; Michael J. Mortimer; David N. Seesholtz

    2011-01-01

    Results from an agency-wide survey of U.S. Forest Service personnel indicate that respondents in our sample engage in National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) public involvement processes primarily to accomplish two goals. The most commonly supported goal was to inform and disclose as mandated by the act. The other goal reflected interests in managing agency...

  13. Maternal Depressive Symptoms and Child Behavior Problems among Latina Adolescent Mothers: The Buffering Effect of Mother-Reported Partner Child Care Involvement

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Smith, Erin N.; Grau, Josefina M.; Duran, Petra A.; Castellanos, Patricia

    2013-01-01

    We examined the relations between maternal depressive symptoms and child internalizing and externalizing problems in a sample of 125 adolescent Latina mothers (primarily Puerto Rican) and their toddlers. We also tested the influence of mother-reported partner child care involvement on child behavior problems and explored mother-reported partner…

  14. Proposal for an integrated evaluation model for the study of whole systems health care in cancer.

    PubMed

    Jonas, Wayne B; Beckner, William; Coulter, Ian

    2006-12-01

    For more than 200 years, biomedicine has approached the treatment of disease by studying disease processes (patho-genesis), inferring causal connections and developing specific approaches for therapeutically interfering with those processes. This pathogenic approach has been highly successful in acute and traumatic disease but less successful in chronic disease, primarily because of the complex, multi-factorial nature of most chronic disease, which does not allow for simple causal inference or for simple therapeutic interventions. This article suggests that chronic disease is best approached by enhancing healing processes (salutogenesis) as a whole system. Because of the nature of complex systems in chronic disease, an evaluation model based on integrative medicine is felt to be more appropriate than a disease model. The authors propose and describe an integrated model for the evaluation of healing (IMEH) that collects multilevel "thick case" observational data in assessing complex practices for chronic disease. If successful, this approach could become a blueprint for studying healing capacity in whole medical systems, including complementary medicine, traditional medicine, and conventional primary care. In addition, streamlining data collection and applying rapid informatics management might allow for such data to be used in guiding clinical practice. The IMEH involves collection, integration, and potentially feedback of relevant variables in the following areas: (1) sociocultural, (2) psychological and behavioral, (3) clinical (diagnosis based), and (4) biological. Evaluation and integration of these components would involve specialized research teams that feed their data into a single data management and information analysis center. These data can then be subjected to descriptive and pathway analysis providing "bench and bedside" information.

  15. Prognostic Cell Biological Markers in Cervical Cancer Patients Primarily Treated With (Chemo)radiation: A Systematic Review

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

    Noordhuis, Maartje G.; Eijsink, Jasper J.H.; Roossink, Frank

    2011-02-01

    The aim of this study was to systematically review the prognostic and predictive significance of cell biological markers in cervical cancer patients primarily treated with (chemo)radiation. A PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane literature search was performed. Studies describing a relation between a cell biological marker and survival in {>=}50 cervical cancer patients primarily treated with (chemo)radiation were selected. Study quality was assessed, and studies with a quality score of 4 or lower were excluded. Cell biological markers were clustered on biological function, and the prognostic and predictive significance of these markers was described. In total, 42 studies concerning 82 cell biologicalmore » markers were included in this systematic review. In addition to cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and serum squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC-ag) levels, markers associated with poor prognosis were involved in epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling (EGFR and C-erbB-2) and in angiogenesis and hypoxia (carbonic anhydrase 9 and hypoxia-inducible factor-1{alpha}). Epidermal growth factor receptor and C-erbB-2 were also associated with poor response to (chemo)radiation. In conclusion, EGFR signaling is associated with poor prognosis and response to therapy in cervical cancer patients primarily treated with (chemo)radiation, whereas markers involved in angiogenesis and hypoxia, COX-2, and serum SCC-ag levels are associated with a poor prognosis. Therefore, targeting these pathways in combination with chemoradiation may improve survival in advanced-stage cervical cancer patients.« less

  16. Evaluation of the state water-resources research institutes

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Ertel, M.O.

    1988-01-01

    Water resources research institutes, as authorized by the Water Resources Research Act of 1984 (Public Law 98-242), are located in each state and in the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico , and the Virgin Islands. Public Law 98-242 mandated an onsite evaluation of each of these institutes to determine whether ' . . .the quality and relevance of its water resources research and its effectiveness as an institution for planning, conducting, and arranging for research warrant its continued support in the national interest. ' The results of these evaluations, which were conducted between September 1985 and June 1987, are summarized. The evaluation teams found that all 54 institutes are meeting the basic objectives of the authorizing legislation in that they: (1) use the grant funds to support research that addresses water problems of state and regional concern; (2) provide opportunities for training of water scientists through student involvement on research projects; and (3) promote the application of research results through preparation of technical reports and contributions to the technical literature. The differences among institutes relate primarily to degrees of effectiveness, and most often are determined by the financial, political, and geographical contexts in which the institutes function and by the quality of their leadership. (Lantz-PTT)

  17. Assessment of cosmetic ingredients in the in vitro reconstructed human epidermis test method EpiSkin™ using HPLC/UPLC-spectrophotometry in the MTT-reduction assay.

    PubMed

    Alépée, N; Hibatallah, J; Klaric, M; Mewes, K R; Pfannenbecker, U; McNamee, P

    2016-06-01

    Cosmetics Europe recently established HPLC/UPLC-spectrophotometry as a suitable alternative endpoint detection system for measurement of formazan in the MTT-reduction assay of reconstructed human tissue test methods irrespective of the test system involved. This addressed a known limitation for such test methods that use optical density for measurement of formazan and may be incompatible for evaluation of strong MTT reducer and/or coloured chemicals. To build on the original project, Cosmetics Europe has undertaken a second study that focuses on evaluation of chemicals with functionalities relevant to cosmetic products. Such chemicals were primarily identified from the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) 2010 memorandum (addendum) on the in vitro test EpiSkin™ for skin irritation testing. Fifty test items were evaluated in which both standard photometry and HPLC/UPLC-spectrophotometry were used for endpoint detection. The results obtained in this study: 1) provide further support for Within Laboratory Reproducibility of HPLC-UPLC-spectrophotometry for measurement of formazan; 2) demonstrate, through use a case study with Basazol C Blue pr. 8056, that HPLC/UPLC-spectrophotometry enables determination of an in vitro classification even when this is not possible using standard photometry and 3) addresses the question raised by SCCS in their 2010 memorandum (addendum) to consider an endpoint detection system not involving optical density quantification in in vitro reconstructed human epidermis skin irritation test methods. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  18. An evaluation of the significance of transfers of debris: criteria for association and exclusion.

    PubMed

    Cwiklik, C

    1999-11-01

    Several criteria are proposed for making decisions about comparing sets of debris involving the transfer of non-component particles and fibers--those produced from something other than the item itself--using a model based upon rudimentary set theory. Decisions about the significance of an association or an exclusion based upon trace evidence require an evaluation of debris in its context; reference points for such evaluation are presented. Samples of debris from the sites relevant to the event under investigation must be available, as well as debris standards from the usual environments of the people involved, and must be adequate to permit a determination of normal versus foreign debris. Criteria are proposed for establishing contact based upon corresponding sets of particles and fibers, for excluding contact in the absence of corresponding particles or fibers, and for refraining from making either an association or an exclusion. Conditions for reaching qualified conclusions or other types of associations when these criteria are only partially met are also discussed; conclusions may sometimes be reached if potential sources for debris particles and fibers can be found. Decisions about the strength of an association or an exclusion based upon comparisons of non-component debris particles and fibers can be made by reference to the criteria for reaching a conclusion. The criteria can be tested via Bayes' Theorem. The analysis itself is based primarily upon light microscopy, although other methods may be used as well. Case examples are presented.

  19. Evaluation of human response to structural vibration induced by sonic boom

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Sutherland, L. C.; Czech, J.

    1992-01-01

    This paper addresses the topic of building vibration response to sonic boom and the evaluation of the associated human response to this vibration. The paper reexamines some of the issues addressed in the previous extensive coverage of the topic, primarily by NASA, and attempts to offer a fresh viewpoint for some of the problems that may assist in reassessing the potential impact of sonic boom over populated areas. The topics addressed are: (1) human response to vibration; (2) criteria for, and acoustic signature of rattle; (3) structural response to shaped booms, including definition of two new descriptors for assessing the structural response to sonic boom; and (4) a detailed review of the previous NASA/FAA Sonic Boom Test Program involving structural response measurements at Edwards AFB and an initial estimate of structural response to sonic booms from possible high speed civil transport configurations. Finally, these estimated vibration responses are shown to be substantially greater than the human response and rattle criteria developed earlier.

  20. Proton pump inhibitor resistance, the real challenge in gastro-esophageal reflux disease.

    PubMed

    Cicala, Michele; Emerenziani, Sara; Guarino, Michele Pier Luca; Ribolsi, Mentore

    2013-10-21

    Gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) is one of the most prevalent chronic diseases. Although proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) represent the mainstay of treatment both for healing erosive esophagitis and for symptom relief, several studies have shown that up to 40% of GERD patients reported either partial or complete lack of response of their symptoms to a standard PPI dose once daily. Several mechanisms have been proposed as involved in PPIs resistance, including ineffective control of gastric acid secretion, esophageal hypersensitivity, ultrastructural and functional changes in the esophageal epithelium. The diagnostic evaluation of a refractory GERD patients should include an accurate clinical evaluation, upper endoscopy, esophageal manometry and ambulatory pH-impedance monitoring, which allows to discriminate non-erosive reflux disease patients from those presenting esophageal hypersensitivity or functional heartburn. Treatment has been primarily based on doubling the PPI dose or switching to another PPI. Patients with proven disease, not responding to PPI twice daily, are eligible for anti-reflux surgery.

  1. CALFED--An experiment in science and decisionmaking

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Taylor, Kimberly A.; Jacobs, Katharine L.; Luoma, Samuel N.

    2003-01-01

    The CALFED Bay-Delta Program faces a challenging assignment: to develop a collaborative state-federal management plan for the complex river system and involve multiple stakeholders (primarily municipal, agricultural, and environmental entities) whose interests frequently are in direct conflict. Although many resource-management issues involve multiple stakeholders and conflict is integral to their discussion, the CALFED experience is unique because of its shared state and federal roles, the magnitude and significance of stakeholder participation, and the complexity of the scientific issues involved.

  2. Thin-Film Photovoltaic Device Fabrication

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Scofield, John H.

    2003-01-01

    This project will primarily involve the fabrication and characterization of thin films and devices for photovoltaic applications. The materials involved include Il-VI materials such as zinc oxide, cadmium sulfide, and doped analogs. The equipment ot be used will be sputtering and physical evaporations. The types of characterization includes electrical, XRD, SEM and CV and related measurements to establish the efficiency of the devices. The faculty fellow will be involved in a research team composed of NASA and University researchers as well as students and other junior researchers.

  3. Job Evaluation: Pay Equity Problem or Solution?

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Mecham, Robert C.

    It has been hypothesized that current methods of determining pay rates value the characteristics of jobs held primarily by men differently than the characteristics of jobs held primarily by women, resulting in lower earnings for women. A policy capturing approach using numerically rated job characteristics (PAQ data) was applied separately to the…

  4. Textbook Forum: Who is Anti-Markovnikov?

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Tedder, J. M.

    1984-01-01

    Discusses factors which control rate and orientation of free radical addition to alkenes. Although based primarily on results involving behavior of alkyl radicals, arguments developed apply to addition of atoms and hetero-radicals to olefins. (JN)

  5. EFFICIENT CHEMICAL SYNTHESIS USING MICROWAVES

    EPA Science Inventory

    Synthetic organic transformations performed under non-traditional conditions are becoming popular primarily to circumvent the growing environmental concerns. A solvent-free approach that involves microwave (MW) exposure of neat reactants catalyzed by the surfaces of less-expensiv...

  6. NON-TRADITIONAL 'GREENER' ALTERNATIVES OR ORGANIC TRANSFORMATIONS

    EPA Science Inventory


    Non-traditional 'Greener' Alternatives to Organic Transformations

    Synthetic organic transformations performed under non-traditional conditions are becoming popular primarily to circumvent the growing environmental concerns. A solvent-free approach that involves microw...

  7. Measuring the value of Kentucky vehicle enforcement activities.

    DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

    2008-01-01

    The responsibility for monitoring commercial vehicles on Kentuckys roadways and enforcing the applicable laws and regulations falls primarily on Kentucky Vehicle Enforcement (KVE). KVE personnel are involved in a variety of activities including co...

  8. White-Light, Dispersed-Fringe Interferometric Keratometer

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Hochberg, Eric B.; Baroth, Edmund C.

    1992-01-01

    Proposed keratometer based on scheme involving spectral dispersal of white-light interference fringes. Instrument operates in "snapshot" mode: no scanning necessary, not necessary to immobilize patient's eye. Insensitive to vibration, involves no phase shifting, and has variable sensitivity. Intended primarily for use in medical assessments of human corneas, also used to measure shapes of animal corneas, lenses, and other aspherical or spherical reflective or partly reflective surfaces.

  9. Teenagers' Significant Experiences in Areas of Arts: A Study of the Subjectively Felt Impact and Some Qualitative Aspects of Experiences Involving Productive Arts Activities

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Finnas, Leif

    2012-01-01

    As a part of a larger project, this study focused primarily on Finland-Swedish ninth-graders' "productive" arts experiences (involving music-making, acting, writing, painting/drawing, dancing), as these had been reported when the pupils had been asked to write down descriptions of "strong" experiences in arts areas (music,…

  10. Patterns of adolescents' participation in organized activities: are sports best when combined with other activities?

    PubMed

    Linver, Miriam R; Roth, Jodie L; Brooks-Gunn, Jeanne

    2009-03-01

    Although many adolescents participate in sports and other types of organized activities, little extant research explores how youth development outcomes may vary for youth involved in different combinations of activities. The present study uses the Child Development Supplement of the Panel Study of Income Dynamics, a large, nationally representative sample, to compare activity patterns of adolescents ages 10-18 years (n = 1,711). A cluster analytic technique revealed 5 activity clusters: sports-focused, sports plus other activities, primarily school-based activities, primarily religious youth groups, and low activity involvement. Activity patterns were examined in conjunction with 5 categories of youth development outcomes, including competence (e.g., academic ability), confidence (e.g., self-concept of ability), connections (e.g., talking with friends), character (e.g., externalizing behavior problems), and caring (e.g., prosocial behavior). Results showed that those who participated only in sports had more positive outcomes compared with those who had little or no involvement in organized activities, but less positive outcomes compared with those who participated in sports plus other activities.

  11. Environmental impact assessment of solid waste management in Beijing City, China

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

    Zhao Yan; Key Laboratory for Solid Waste Management and Environment Safety, Ministry of Education of China, Tsinghua University, 100084 Beijing; Christensen, Thomas H.

    2011-04-15

    The environmental impacts of municipal solid waste management in Beijing City were evaluated using a life-cycle-based model, EASEWASTE, to take into account waste generation, collection, transportation, treatment/disposal technologies, and savings obtained by energy and material recovery. The current system, mainly involving the use of landfills, has manifested significant adverse environmental impacts caused by methane emissions from landfills and many other emissions from transfer stations. A short-term future scenario, where some of the landfills (which soon will reach their capacity because of rising amount of waste in Beijing City) are substituted by incinerators with energy recovery, would not result in significantmore » environmental improvement. This is primarily because of the low calorific value of mixed waste, and it is likely that the incinerators would require significant amounts of auxiliary fuels to support combustion of wet waste. As for the long-term future scenario, efficient source separation of food waste could result in significant environmental improvements, primarily because of increase in calorific value of remaining waste incinerated with energy recovery. Sensitivity analysis emphasized the importance of efficient source separation of food waste, as well as the electricity recovery in incinerators, in order to obtain an environmentally friendly waste management system in Beijing City.« less

  12. Perinatal development of conjugative enzyme systems.

    PubMed Central

    Lucier, G W

    1976-01-01

    The problems and priorities involved in studying the role of conjugagive enzymes in developmental pharmacology are discussed and evaluated. The relative rates of UDP glucuronyltransferase and beta-glucuronidase were studied during perinatal development in hepatic and extrahepatic tissues to determine the net balance of glucuronidation or deglucuronidation at different developmental stages. In general, deglucuronidation predominated over glucuronidation in fetal tissues whereas the converse was evident in adults. 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), an extremely toxic contaminant of some organochlorine compounds, was shown to be a potent inducer of some hepatic and extrahepatic drug-metabolizing enzymes. TCDD, administered during gestation, induced the postnatal activities of p-nitrophenol glucuronyltransferase and benzpyrene hydroxylase in rats. Foster mother experiments revealed that the postnatal induction was caused primarily by newborn exposure to TCDD in the mother's milk. Tissue distribution experiments with TCDD-14C confirmed these findings. Although TCDD induced non-steroid glucuronidation, no significant effects were evident on the postnatal development of steroid glucuronidation. The synthetic estrogen diethylstilbestrol (DES) is metabolized primarily by glucuronidation. The postnatal development of DES glucuronidation, like the steroid pathway, was not affected by gestational TCDD treatment. The fetal distribution of DES and DES-glucuronide, at different stages of development, correlated well with the perinatal development of steroid glucuronyltransferase activity. PMID:829487

  13. Single-specialty management and reconstruction of necrotizing fasciitis of the upper extremities: clinical and economic benefits from a case series.

    PubMed

    Mattison, Gennaya; Leis, Amber R; Gupta, Subhas C

    2014-05-01

    Patients with necrotizing fasciitis are managed with multiple prompt, radical surgical debridements and critical care support. Debridement and reconstruction are often provided by different surgical teams. Anecdotally, single-specialty management seemed to be a more efficient management strategy. This study aimed to investigate and compare the outcomes of management by plastic surgery versus multiple disciplines through a retrospective economic and clinical analysis of patients with necrotizing fasciitis treated over 8 years. We also present 3 index cases for which our service functioned as the primary management team. Necrotizing fasciitis cases evaluated and treated by our department, covering both Level I and Level II Trauma Centers, were reviewed for total charges, length of hospital stay, length of intensive care unit (ICU) stay, and number of procedures. The admission Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score was calculated for each patient. Three comparative index cases of upper extremity necrotizing fasciitis managed primarily by the plastic surgery team are presented in greater detail. Patients managed primarily by the plastic surgery service had equivalent Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II scores to patients managed by multiple services for their necrotizing fasciitis, with the average score higher for patients managed by plastic surgery alone. In a case-matched series of upper extremity necrotizing fasciitis, the patients admitted directly to plastic surgery had shorter average lengths of hospital and ICU stays as well as decreased total number of procedures, resulting in decreased average total hospital charges. There were no amputations among the cases treated primarily by the plastic surgery. The patients also required smaller areas of reconstruction with skin grafting despite large initial areas of debridement compared to those whose reconstructive teams differed from the team performing the debridement. Improved economic and clinical outcomes-as indicated by the reduced lengths of overall and ICU stay, the reduced number of procedures, none of the cases requiring amputation, and the reduced need for skin grafting-may be attainable when the surgeon eventually performing the reconstruction is involved early in management. We propose that, in the interest of improving patient care, a closer collaboration should be established between the reconstructive and primary managing teams.

  14. Amyloidosis diagnosed in cytology specimen of pleural effusion: A case report.

    PubMed

    Manur, Rashmi; Lamzabi, Ihab

    2018-06-01

    Amyloidosis is a rare condition resulting from extracellular deposition of amyloid, a fibrillary material derived from various precursor proteins. Involvement of the pleura by amyloidosis is a rare but serious complication. Pleural amyloidosis is primarily diagnosed by identifying amyloid deposition by histology on pleural biopsy specimens. Hereby, we report a case of systemic amyloidosis where we were able to identify amyloid in a pleural effusion specimen sent for cytopathology evaluation. A 59-year-old male with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma and systemic amyloidosis underwent therapeutic thoracentesis. The H&E stained cell block sections revealed a single, less than one millimeter focus of waxy material surrounded by a rim of reactive mesothelial cells suspicious for amyloid deposit in a background of fibrin, lymphocytes, and reactive mesothelial cells. The focus stained salmon pink with Congo-red special stain and showed apple-green birefringence under polarized light. Our finding suggests that pleural involvement in patients with systemic amyloidosis can be identified on effusion specimens and avert the need for more invasive procedures like pleural or pulmonary parenchymal biopsies. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  15. Cognition, emotion and reward networks associated with sex differences for romantic appraisals.

    PubMed

    Yin, Jie; Zou, Zhiling; Song, Hongwen; Zhang, Zhuo; Yang, Bo; Huang, Xiting

    2018-02-12

    Romantic love is a cross-culturally universal phenomenon that serves as a commitment device for motivating pair bonding in human beings. Women and men may experience different feelings when viewing the same warm, romantic scenes. To determine which brain systems may be involved in romance perception and examine possible sex differences, we scanned 16 women and 16 men who were intensely in love, using functional MRI. Participants were required to rate the romance level of 60 pictures showing romantic events that may frequently occur during romantic relationship formation. The results showed that greater brain activation was found for men in the insula, PCC (posterior cingulate cortex), and prefrontal gyrus compared with women, primarily under the High-romance condition. In addition, enhanced functional connectivity between the brain regions involved in the High-romance condition in contrast to the Low-romance condition was only found for men. These data suggest that men and women differ in the processing of romantic information and that it may be  more effortful for men to perceive and evaluate romance degree.

  16. Endovascular Treatment of Infrarenal Abdominal Aortic Lesions With or Without Common Iliac Artery Involvement

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

    Oender, Hakan, E-mail: drhakanonder@hotmail.com; Oguzkurt, Levent; Guer, Serkan

    To evaluate the results of stent placement for obstructive atherosclerotic aortic disease with or without involvement of the common iliac artery. Forty patients had self-expanding stents primarily or after balloon dilatation in the abdominal aorta between January 2005 and May 2011. All patients had trouble walking. Follow-up examinations were performed with clinical visits; these included color Doppler ultrasonography and computed tomographic angiography. Technical, clinical, and hemodynamic success was achieved in all patients. None of the patients underwent reintervention during the follow-up period, which ranged from 3 months to 6 years (median 24 months). Nine complications occurred in six patients. Ofmore » the nine complications, four were distal thromboembolisms, which were successfully treated with catheter-directed thrombolysis or anticoagulation therapy. Endovascular treatment of the obstructive aortic disease using self-expanding stents was safe and effective, with high technical success and long-term patency. Thromboembolic complications were high even though direct stenting was considered protective for thromboembolism formation. Particularly for infrarenal aortic stenosis, it can be recommended as the first-line treatment option for patients with obstructive atherosclerotic aortic disease.« less

  17. Surgical quality assessment. A simplified approach.

    PubMed

    DeLong, D L

    1991-10-01

    The current approach to QA primarily involves taking action when problems are discovered and designing a documentation system that records the deliverance of quality care. Involving the entire staff helps eliminate problems before they occur. By keeping abreast of current problems and soliciting input from staff members, the QA at our hospital has improved dramatically. The cross-referencing of JCAHO and AORN standards on the assessment form and the single-sheet reporting form expedite the evaluation process and simplify record keeping. The bulletin board increases staff members' understanding of QA and boosts morale and participation. A sound and effective QA program does not require reorganizing an entire department, nor should it invoke negative connotations. Developing an effective QA program merely requires rethinking current processes. The program must meet the department's specific needs, and although many departments concentrate on documentation, auditing charts does not give a complete picture of the quality of care delivered. The QA committee must employ a variety of data collection methods on multiple indicators to ensure an accurate representation of the care delivered, and they must not overlook any issues that directly affect patient outcomes.

  18. Accumulation and metabolism of selenium by yeast cells.

    PubMed

    Kieliszek, Marek; Błażejak, Stanisław; Gientka, Iwona; Bzducha-Wróbel, Anna

    2015-07-01

    This paper examines the process of selenium bioaccumulation and selenium metabolism in yeast cells. Yeast cells can bind elements in ionic from the environment and permanently integrate them into their cellular structure. Up to now, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Candida utilis, and Yarrowia lipolytica yeasts have been used primarily in biotechnological studies to evaluate binding of minerals. Yeast cells are able to bind selenium in the form of both organic and inorganic compounds. The process of bioaccumulation of selenium by microorganisms occurs through two mechanisms: extracellular binding by ligands of membrane assembly and intracellular accumulation associated with the transport of ions across the cytoplasmic membrane into the cell interior. During intracellular metabolism of selenium, oxidation, reduction, methylation, and selenoprotein synthesis processes are involved, as exemplified by detoxification processes that allow yeasts to survive under culture conditions involving the elevated selenium concentrations which were observed. Selenium yeasts represent probably the best absorbed form of this element. In turn, in terms of wide application, the inclusion of yeast with accumulated selenium may aid in lessening selenium deficiency in a diet.

  19. Cortical Auditory Deafferentation Induces Long-Term Plasticity in the Inferior Colliculus of Adult Rats: Microarray and qPCR Analysis

    PubMed Central

    Clarkson, Cheryl; Herrero-Turrión, M. Javier; Merchán, Miguel A.

    2012-01-01

    The cortico-collicular pathway is a bilateral excitatory projection from the cortex to the inferior colliculus (IC). It is asymmetric and predominantly ipsilateral. Using microarrays and RT-qPCR we analyzed changes in gene expression in the IC after unilateral lesions of the auditory cortex, comparing the ICs ipsi- and contralateral to the lesioned side. At 15 days after surgery there were mainly changes in gene expression in the IC ipsilateral to the lesion. Regulation primarily involved inflammatory cascade genes, suggesting a direct effect of degeneration rather than a neuronal plastic reorganization. Ninety days after the cortical lesion the ipsilateral IC showed a significant up-regulation of genes involved in apoptosis and axonal regeneration combined with a down-regulation of genes involved in neurotransmission, synaptic growth, and gap junction assembly. In contrast, the contralateral IC at 90 days post-lesion showed an up-regulation in genes primarily related to neurotransmission, cell proliferation, and synaptic growth. There was also a down-regulation in autophagy and neuroprotection genes. These findings suggest that the reorganization in the IC after descending pathway deafferentation is a long-term process involving extensive changes in gene expression regulation. Regulated genes are involved in many different neuronal functions, and the number and gene rearrangement profile seems to depend on the density of loss of the auditory cortical inputs. PMID:23233834

  20. The Science of Strategic Communication

    EPA Science Inventory

    The field of Strategic Communication involves a focused effort to identify, develop, and present multiple types of communication media on a given subject. A Strategic Communication program recognizes the limitations of the most common communication models (primarily “one s...

  1. More Cooperative Games!

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Sobel, Jeffrey

    1993-01-01

    Details instructions for four cooperative games primarily for young children. The games are of low to moderate activity level and involve partners or a group circle. Descriptions include variations of the game and helpful hints for making the game more successful. (KS)

  2. NON-TRADITIONAL 'GREENER' ALTERNATIVES TO ORGANIC SYNTHESES

    EPA Science Inventory

    Synthetic organic transformations performed under non-traditional conditions are becoming popular primarily to circumvent the growing environmental concerns. A solvent-free approach that involves microwave (MW) exposure of neat reactants (undiluted) catalyzed by the surfaces of l...

  3. NON-TRADITIONAL 'GREENER' ALTERNATIVES TO CHEMICAL TRANSFORMATIONS

    EPA Science Inventory

    Synthetic organic transformations performed under non-traditional conditions are becoming popular primarily to circumvent the growing environmental concerns. A solvent-free approach that involves microwave (MW) exposure of neat reactants (undiluted) catalyzed by the surfaces of l...

  4. ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLIER SYNTHETIC ALTERNATIVES USING NON-TRADITIONAL APPROACHES

    EPA Science Inventory

    Synthetic organic transformations performed under non-traditional conditions are becoming popular primarily to circumvent the growing environmental concerns. A solvent-free approach that involves microwave (MW) exposure of neat reactants (undiluted) either in presence of a cataly...

  5. An Urban Agricultural Program

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Foster, Parker V.

    1974-01-01

    A program of Agricultural Education (primarily horticulture) was started in the San Diego, California school district in 1967. The philosophy behind the program, the growth in terms of students involved, and the structural framework of the program are outlined. (KP)

  6. Increasing the use of evaluation data collection in an EPO program

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Taber, J. J.; Bohon, W.; Bravo, T. K.; Dordevic, M.; Dorr, P. M.; Hubenthal, M.; Johnson, J. A.; Sumy, D.; Welti, R.; Davis, H. B.

    2017-12-01

    Over the past two years, the Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology Education and Public Outreach (EPO) program has sought to increase the evaluation rigor of its programs and products. Specifically we sought to make evaluation an integral part of our work; enabling staff to demonstrate why we do the activities we do, enhancing the impact or our products/programs, and empowering staff to make evidence-based claims. The Collaborative Impact Analysis Method (Davis and Scalice, 2015) was selected as it allowed us to combine staff's knowledge of programs, audiences and content with the expertise of an outside evaluation expert, through consultations and a qualitative rubric assessing the initial state of each product/program's evaluation. Staff then developed action plans to make improvements to the programs over time. A key part of the initial action plans has been the collection and analysis of new evaluation data. The most frequently used tools were surveys as they were relatively straightforward to implement and analyze, and could be adapted for different situations. Examples include: brand awareness, value of booth interactions, assessing community interest in a data app, and user surveys of social media and specific web pages. Other evaluation activities included beta testing of new software, and interviews with students and faculty involved in summer field experiences. The surveys have allowed us to document increased impact in some areas, to improve the usability of products and activities, and to provide baseline impact data. The direct involvement of staff in the process has helped staff appreciate the value of evaluation, but there are also challenges to this approach. Since many of the surveys are developed and conducted by EPO staff, rather than being primarily handled by the evaluator, the process takes considerably more staff time to implement. We are still determining how to best manage and present the data and analysis; our current approach is to post evaluation reports on our EPO website so that other groups may be able to benefit from our evaluation results. Davis, H. & Scalice, D. (2015). Evaluate the Impact of your Education and Outreach Program Using the Quantitative Collaborative Impact Analysis Method. Abstract ED53D-0871, 2015 Fall Meeting, AGU.

  7. Isolated extraocular muscle involvement as the ophthalmic manifestation of leukaemia.

    PubMed

    Kiratli, Hayyam; Balci, Kadriye E; Himmetoğlu, Ciğdem; Uner, Ayşegül

    2009-08-01

    Clinical and imaging features of patients with orbital leukaemia primarily involving extraocular muscles were evaluated. This retrospective case series includes patients with leukaemia whose only ophthalmic manifestation was extraocular muscle enlargement. Demographic data, clinical information on the systemic disease, prominent ocular signs and symptoms, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging characteristics, treatments applied and the outcomes were collected. Five patients were diagnosed as leukaemic infiltration of extraocular muscle between 1995 and 2008. The age at presentation ranged between 3 and 61 years. Acute myeloid leukaemia was the diagnosis in two patients, and chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, chronic myeloid leukaemia and biphenotypic acute leukaemia were found in one patient each, respectively. One patient had bilateral involvement. The lateral rectus muscle was affected in four patients and the superior rectus muscle in one case. Restricted ocular motility was the most common finding. In one patient who had no prior history of leukaemia, an incisional biopsy established the diagnosis. All patients received multi-agent chemotherapy. Four patients expired after a rapid decline of the systemic status within a mean period of 7 months. Leukaemic infiltration of extraocular muscles is a rare and late manifestation of the advanced disease associated with relapse and there seems to be a predilection for the lateral rectus muscle. Systemic prognosis remains dismal despite intensive chemotherapy.

  8. Preliminary Laboratory Report of Fungal Infections Associated with Contaminated Methylprednisolone Injections

    PubMed Central

    Pham, Cau D.; Gade, Lalitha; Iqbal, Naureen; Scheel, Christina M.; Cleveland, Angela A.; Whitney, Anne M.; Noble-Wang, Judith; Chiller, Tom M.; Park, Benjamin J.; Litvintseva, Anastasia P.; Brandt, Mary E.

    2013-01-01

    In September 2012, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) initiated an outbreak investigation of fungal infections linked to injection of contaminated methylprednisolone acetate (MPA). Between 2 October 2012 and 14 February 2013, the CDC laboratory received 799 fungal isolates or human specimens, including cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), synovial fluid, and abscess tissue, from 469 case patients in 19 states. A novel broad-range PCR assay and DNA sequencing were used to evaluate these specimens. Although Aspergillus fumigatus was recovered from the index case, Exserohilum rostratum was the primary pathogen in this outbreak and was also confirmed from unopened MPA vials. Exserohilum rostratum was detected or confirmed in 191 specimens or isolates from 150 case patients, primarily from Michigan (n = 67 patients), Tennessee (n = 26), Virginia (n = 20), and Indiana (n = 16). Positive specimens from Michigan were primarily abscess tissues, while positive specimens from Tennessee, Virginia, and Indiana were primarily CSF. E. rostratum antifungal susceptibility MIC50 and MIC90 values were determined for voriconazole (1 and 2 μg/ml, respectively), itraconazole (0.5 and 1 μg/ml), posaconazole (0.5 and 1 μg/ml), isavuconazole (4 and 4 μg/ml), and amphotericin B (0.25 and 0.5 μg/ml). Thirteen other mold species were identified among case patients, and four other fungal genera were isolated from the implicated MPA vials. The clinical significance of these other fungal species remains under investigation. The laboratory response provided significant support to case confirmation, enabled linkage between clinical isolates and injected vials of MPA, and described significant features of the fungal agents involved in this large multistate outbreak. PMID:23761142

  9. The Hygroscopic Nature of Wood,

    DTIC Science & Technology

    The cell walls of wood are organized as a structural system involving filamentous microfibrils , oriented essentially in the direction of the...longitudinal axis embedded in an amorphous matrix of noncrystalline cellulose , hemicelluloses, and lignin. The molecules in the amorphous regions, primarily

  10. Family disintegration: one fusarium verticillioides beta-lactamase at a time

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    Fusarium verticillioides is a mycotoxigenic fungus found commonly on maize, where it primarily exhibits asymptomatic endophytic growth. The F. verticillioides genome possesses approximately 30 regions that potentially encode beta-lactamase enzymatic domains. These enzymes are classically involved ...

  11. Space Projects: Improvements Needed in Selecting Future Projects for Private Financing

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    1990-01-01

    The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and NASA jointly selected seven projects for commercialization to reduce NASA's fiscal year 1990 budget request and to help achieve the goal of increasing private sector involvement in space. However, the efforts to privately finance these seven projects did not increase the commercial sector's involvement in space to the extent desired. The General Accounting Office (GAO) determined that the projects selected were not a fair test of the potential of increasing commercial investment in space at an acceptable cost to the government, primarily because the projects were not properly screened. That is, neither their suitability for commercialization nor the economic consequences of seeking private financing for them were adequately evaluated before selection. Evaluations and market tests done after selection showed that most of the projects were not viable candidates for private financing. GAO concluded that projects should not be removed from NASA's budget for commercial development until after careful screening has been done to determine whether adequate commercial demand exists, development risks are commercially acceptable and private financing is found or judged to be highly likely, and the cost effectiveness of such a decision is acceptable. Premature removal of projects from NASA's budget ultimately can cause project delays and increased costs when unsuccessful commercialization candidates must be returned to the budget. NASA also needs to ensure appropriate comparisons of government and private financing options for future commercialization projects.

  12. Mastocytosis presenting as a skeletal disorder.

    PubMed Central

    Delsignore, J. L.; Dvoretsky, P. M.; Hicks, D. G.; O'Keefe, R. J.; Rosier, R. N.

    1996-01-01

    Mastocytosis is a rare disease of mast-cell proliferation with involvement of the reticuloendothelial systems including skin, bone, gastrointestinal tract, liver, lungs, spleen, and lymph nodes. Systemic mastocytosis is characterized by a combination of symptoms that relate to the mast cells' release of vasoactive substances, such as histamine. These symptoms include urticaria pigmentosa, flushing, syncope with hypotension, headaches, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and occasional bronchospasm. The diagnosis of mastocytosis is typically based on the presence of the characteristic extraosseus manifestations. A well recognized roentgenographic feature seen in 70-75% of patients with mastocytosis is diffuse osteolysis and osteosclerosis, affecting primarily the axial skeleton and the ends of the long bones. Rarely, the bony involvement consists of generalized osteoporosis, which may lead to pathologic fracture, or solitary lesions (mastocytomas) which may cause symptoms of localized pain. Four patients with previously diagnosed systemic mastocytosis had unusual skeletal lesions. Clinical and laboratory evaluation of these patients eventually led to the correct diagnosis of systemic mastocytosis. We report these four cases to emphasize the need for thorough evaluation of unusual musculoskeletal findings in association with extraosseus symptoms that are characteristic of mastocytosis. Knowledge of a wide differential diagnosis of unusual skeletal lesions should include systemic mastosytosis. Images Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3A Figure 3B Figure 4 Figure 5A Figure 5B-5C Figure 6 PMID:9129284

  13. An evaluation of the process and initial impact of disseminating a nursing e-thesis.

    PubMed

    Macduff, Colin

    2009-05-01

    This paper is a report of a study conducted to evaluate product, process and outcome aspects of the dissemination of a nursing PhD thesis via an open-access electronic institutional repository. Despite the growth of university institutional repositories which make theses easily accessible via the world wide web, nursing has been very slow to evaluate related processes and outcomes. Drawing on Stake's evaluation research methods, a case study design was adopted. The case is described using a four-phase structure within which key aspects of process and impact are reflexively analysed. In the conceptualization/re-conceptualization phase, fundamental questions about the purpose, format and imagined readership for a published nursing PhD were considered. In the preparation phase, seven key practical processes were identified that are likely to be relevant to most e-theses. In the dissemination phase email invitations were primarily used to invite engagement. The evaluation phase involved quantitative indicators of initial impact, such as page viewing and download statistics and qualitative feedback on processes and product. Analysis of process and impact elements of e-thesis dissemination is likely to have more than intrinsic value. The advent of e-theses housed in web-based institutional repositories has the potential to transform thesis access and use. It also offers potential to transform the nature and scope of thesis production and dissemination. Nursing scholars can exploit and evaluate such opportunities.

  14. Adolescent civic and political engagement: associations between domain-specific judgments and behavior.

    PubMed

    Metzger, Aaron; Smetana, Judith G

    2009-01-01

    Judgments and justifications for different forms of civic involvement and their associations with organized and civic behavior were examined in 312 middle-class primarily White adolescents (M = 17.01 years). Adolescents applied moral, conventional, and personal criteria to distinguish involvement in community service, standard political, social movement, and social gathering activities. Males judged standard political involvement to be more obligatory and important than did females, who judged community service to be more obligatory and important than did males. For each form of civic involvement, greater involvement was associated with more positive judgments and fewer personal justifications. Structural equation modeling indicated that adolescents' judgments about specific types of civic involvement were associated with similar forms of civic behaviors.

  15. In Search of the Silken Purse: Factors in Attrition among First-Generation Students. Revised.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Billson, Janet Mancini; Terry, Margaret Brooks

    The influence of family background, including parental education, on college student attrition was evaluated with first- and second-generation American students. A total of 701 enrolled students and those who left before graduation were surveyed at a primarily residential private liberal arts college and at a primarily commuter state-supported…

  16. Target population involvement in urban ciclovias: a preliminary evaluation of St. Louis open streets.

    PubMed

    Hipp, J Aaron; Eyler, Amy A; Kuhlberg, Jill A

    2013-12-01

    Ciclovias are active street events when roads are open to walkers, cyclists, and families and closed to automobiles. Over 70 cities in the USA have implemented ciclovias to promote physical activity. The authors evaluated four events during 2010 to determine what activities participants perform and who is attending. For two ciclovia events in St. Louis, Missouri, observation reports of activities, gender, and age of 1,452 participants were collected, and 82 adults were interviewed via direct approach. The survey covered six domains: physical activity, travel to event, sense of community, marketing, economic impact, and demographics. Each event occurred within the city, along multiple streets. Domains were selected from Ciclovia Recreativa developed by Ciclovia Bogota, Pan American Health Organization, and CDC. Additional questions addressed city-specific goals and matched similar evaluations in other cities. Over 50 % of participants met CDC-defined weekly minute thresholds for physical activity. Participants, primarily (>80 %) middle class, college educated, and white, were not representative of the majority minority city population, which has high rates of poverty, and low percentage of college graduates. Cities must work with residents to increase low-income minority population participation in ciclovia-based physical activity.

  17. Energy Remote Sensing Applications Projects at the NASA Ames Research Center

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Norman, S. D.; Likens, W. C.; Mouat, D. A.

    1982-01-01

    The NASA Ames Research Center is active in energy projects primarily in the role of providing assistance to users in the solution of a number of problems related to energy. Data bases were produced which can be used, in combination with other sources of information, to solve spatially related energy problems. Six project activities at Ames are described which relate to energy and remote sensing. Two projects involve power demand forecasting and estimations using remote sensing and geographic information systems; two others involve transmission line routing and corridor analysis; one involves a synfuel user needs assessment through remote sensing; and the sixth involves the siting of energy facilities.

  18. Structural optimization of a motorcycle chassis by pattern search algorithm

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Scappaticci, Lorenzo; Bartolini, Nicola; Guglielmino, Eugenio; Risitano, Giacomo

    2017-08-01

    Changes to the technical regulations of the motorcycle racing world classes introduced the new Moto2 category. The vehicles are prototypes that use single-brand tyres and engines derived from series production, supplied by a single manufacturer. The stability and handling of the vehicle are highly dependent on the geometric properties of the chassis. The performance of a racing motorcycle chassis can be primarily evaluated in terms of weight and stiffness. The aim of this work is to maximize the performance of a tubular frame designed for a motorcycle racing in the Moto2 category. The goal is the implementation of an optimization algorithm that acts on the dimensions of the single pipes of the frame and involves the design of an objective function to minimize the weight of the frame by controlling its stiffnesses.

  19. Perioperative Blood Management in Pediatric Spine Surgery.

    PubMed

    Oetgen, Matthew E; Litrenta, Jody

    2017-07-01

    Blood management strategies are integral to successful outcomes in many types of orthopaedic surgery. These strategies minimize blood loss and transfusion requirements, ultimately decreasing complications, improving outcomes, and potentially eliminating risks associated with allogeneic transfusion. Practices to achieve these goals include preoperative evaluation and optimization of hemoglobin, the use of pharmacologic agents or anesthetic methods, intraoperative techniques to improve hemostasis and cell salvage, and the use of predonated autologous blood. Guidelines can also help manage allogeneic transfusions in the perioperative period. Although the literature on blood management has focused primarily on arthroplasty and adult spine surgery, pediatric spinal fusion for scoliosis involves a large group of patients with a specific set of risk factors for transfusion and distinct perioperative considerations. A thorough understanding of blood management techniques will improve surgical planning, limit transfusion-associated risks, maintain hemostasis, and optimize outcomes in this pediatric population.

  20. Pre-operative assessment and post-operative care in elective shoulder surgery.

    PubMed

    Akhtar, Ahsan; Macfarlane, Robert J; Waseem, Mohammad

    2013-01-01

    Pre-operative assessment is required prior to the majority of elective surgical procedures, primarily to ensure that the patient is fit to undergo surgery, whilst identifying issues that may need to be dealt with by the surgical or anaesthetic teams. The post-operative management of elective surgical patients begins during the peri-operative period and involves several health professionals. Appropriate monitoring and repeated clinical assessments are required in order for the signs of surgical complications to be recognised swiftly and adequately. This article examines the literature regarding pre-operative assessment in elective orthopaedic surgery and shoulder surgery, whilst also reviewing the essentials of peri- and post-operative care. The need to recognise common post-operative complications early and promptly is also evaluated, along with discussing thromboprophylaxis and post-operative analgesia following shoulder surgery.

  1. Development of lithium diffused radiation resistant solar cells, part 2

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Payne, P. R.; Somberg, H.

    1971-01-01

    The work performed to investigate the effect of various process parameters on the performance of lithium doped P/N solar cells is described. Effort was concentrated in four main areas: (1) the starting material, (2) the boron diffusion, (3) the lithium diffusion, and (4) the contact system. Investigation of starting material primarily involved comparison of crucible grown silicon (high oxygen content) and Lopex silicon (low oxygen content). In addition, the effect of varying growing parameters of crucible grown silicon on lithium cell output was also examined. The objective of the boron diffusion studies was to obtain a diffusion process which produced high efficiency cells with minimal silicon stressing and could be scaled up to process 100 or more cells per diffusion. Contact studies included investigating sintering of the TiAg contacts and evaluation of the contact integrity.

  2. 2013-2014 National Roadside Study of alcohol and drug use by drivers : alcohol results.

    DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

    2016-12-01

    This report describes the alcohol results from the 20132014 National Roadside Survey (NRS), a national field study to : estimate the prevalence of alcohol-, drug-, and alcohol-plus-drug-involved driving, primarily among nighttime weekend : drivers...

  3. Strategic Communication and its Utility in Ecosystem Service Science

    EPA Science Inventory

    The field of Strategic Communication involves a focused effort to identify, develop, and present multiple types of communication media on a given subject. A Strategic Communication program recognizes the limitations of the most common communication models (primarily “one s...

  4. ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLIER ORGANIC TRANSFORMATIONS ON MINERAL SUPPORTS UNDER NON-TRADITIONAL CONDITIONS

    EPA Science Inventory

    Synthetic organic reactions performed under non-traditional conditions are gaining popularity primarily to circumvent the growing environmental concerns. A solvent-free approach that involves microwave (MW) exposure of neat reactants (undiluted) either in presence of a catalyst o...

  5. ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLIER ORGANIC TRANSFORMATIONS ON MINERAL SUPPORTS UNDER NONTRADITIONAL CONDITIONS

    EPA Science Inventory

    Synthetic organic reactions performed under non-traditional conditions are gaining popularity primarily to circumvent the growing environmental concerns. A solvent-free approach that involves microwave (MW) exposure of neat reactants (undiluted) either in presence of a catalyst o...

  6. Solving Power Tool Problems in the School Shop

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Irvin, Daniel W.

    1976-01-01

    The school shop instructor is largely responsible for the preventive maintenance of power tools. These preventive measures primarily involve proper alignment, good lubrication, a reasonable maintenance program, and good operating procedures. Suggestions for maintenance of specific equipment is provided. (Author/BP)

  7. 48 CFR 307.7001 - Distinction between acquisition and assistance.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-10-01

    ... purposes: (1) Evaluation (including research of an evaluative nature) of the performance of Government... Government requires primarily for the conduct of its direct operations. (7) Design or development of items...

  8. 48 CFR 307.7001 - Distinction between acquisition and assistance.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-10-01

    ... purposes: (1) Evaluation (including research of an evaluative nature) of the performance of Government... Government requires primarily for the conduct of its direct operations. (7) Design or development of items...

  9. 48 CFR 307.7001 - Distinction between acquisition and assistance.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-10-01

    ... purposes: (1) Evaluation (including research of an evaluative nature) of the performance of Government... Government requires primarily for the conduct of its direct operations. (7) Design or development of items...

  10. 48 CFR 307.7001 - Distinction between acquisition and assistance.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-10-01

    ... purposes: (1) Evaluation (including research of an evaluative nature) of the performance of Government... Government requires primarily for the conduct of its direct operations. (7) Design or development of items...

  11. 48 CFR 307.7001 - Distinction between acquisition and assistance.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-10-01

    ... purposes: (1) Evaluation (including research of an evaluative nature) of the performance of Government... Government requires primarily for the conduct of its direct operations. (7) Design or development of items...

  12. Evaluation and Management: Continuous Professional Growth. [Federal Policy Platform Series. Brief 4

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    New Leaders, 2014

    2014-01-01

    Despite the recent push to design and adopt educator evaluation systems, many states and local educational agencies (LEAs) have focused primarily on teacher evaluations and lack the appropriate attention to design and implementation of school leader evaluations and aligned professional development. And, since principals are responsible for…

  13. MASA Study of Administrator Evaluation, 1974-75.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Michigan Association of School Administrators, East Lansing.

    Intended primarily for Michigan administrators, this document presents a variety of information on administrator evaluation. A survey of Michigan superintendents revealed, among other things, that there is a very high interest in administrative evaluation, that 45 percent of the responding districts have no formal evaluation system, that 36…

  14. 32 CFR 22.215 - Distinguishing grants and cooperative agreements.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-07-01

    ... GRANT AND AGREEMENT REGULATIONS DoD GRANTS AND AGREEMENTS-AWARD AND ADMINISTRATION Selecting the... than an absolute, concept, and that it is primarily based on programmatic factors, rather than requirements for grant or cooperative agreement award or administration. For example, substantial involvement...

  15. 2007 National Roadside Survey of Alcohol and Drug Use by Drivers: Methodology

    DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

    2009-12-01

    This report describes the methodology for the 2007 U.S. national field study to estimate the prevalence of alcohol-, drug-, and alcohol-and-drug-involved driving, primarily among nighttime weekend drivers, but also daytime Friday drivers. This study ...

  16. Manual for Youth Coordinators.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    President's Council on Youth Opportunity, Washington, DC.

    This manual was designed primarily for use by coordinators responsible for developing comprehensive community youth opportunity programs of employment, education, and recreation, but the material may also be of assistance to community and business leaders, educators, and others involved in expanding local opportunities for young people. Contents…

  17. 2013–2014 national roadside study of alcohol and drug use by drivers : methodology.

    DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

    2016-07-01

    This report describes the methodology for the National Roadside Study (NRS), a national field study to estimate the prevalence of alcohol-, drug-, and alcohol-plus-drug-involved driving primarily among nighttime weekend drivers, but also daytime Frid...

  18. The science of Strategic Communication and its utility in natural resource management

    EPA Science Inventory

    The field of Strategic Communication involves a focused effort to identify, develop, and present multiple types of communication media on a given subject. A Strategic Communication program recognizes the limitations of the most common communication models (primarily "one si...

  19. Ensuring and exploiting the genetic diversity of sugarcane

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    Modern sugarcane cultivars are complex interspecific hybrids primarily involving Saccharum officinarum and S. spontaneum. In the late 1800s, early breeders in Java, Indonesia recognized the value of interspecific hybridization and began to hybridize the two species, resulting in vigorous and diseas...

  20. Human Factors Simulation in Construction Management Education

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Jaeger, M.; Adair, D.

    2010-01-01

    Successful construction management depends primarily on the representatives of the involved construction project parties. In addition to effective application of construction management tools and concepts, human factors impact significantly on the processes of any construction management endeavour. How can human factors in construction management…

  1. Fathering: the relationship between fathers' residence, fathers' sociodemographic characteristics, and father involvement.

    PubMed

    Castillo, Jason; Welch, Greg; Sarver, Christian

    2011-11-01

    Literature and research examining father involvement has focused primarily on outcomes associated with the well-being and development of children. The contextual factors associated with fathers, and how these factors shape fathers' involvement with their young children, have received limited attention in this literature. Addressing this limitation, this study focuses on the relationship between fathers' residential status, age, race and ethnicity, educational attainment, financial status and father involvement. Results of the regression models indicate that fathers who reside with their children and fathers who are older are more involved with their children. Given these findings, policymakers, practitioners, and researchers have an opportunity to create and enhance policies and programs that may assist and support fathers in their development as parents and their involvement with their children.

  2. Epithelioid malignant mesothelioma metastatic to the skin: A case report and review of the literature.

    PubMed

    Ward, Rachel Elizabeth; Ali, Stefanie Ann; Kuhar, Matthew

    2017-12-01

    Malignant mesothelioma (MM) is an aggressive and invasive neoplasm primarily affecting the pleura, peritoneum and pericardium. While mesothelioma commonly metastasizes to visceral organs, it has rarely been documented to involve the skin and subcutaneous tissue. There is a paucity of reports of cutaneous metastatic mesothelioma, and histologic examination is often challenging because the tumor closely mimics other primary and metastatic neoplasms. We report a case of a 75-year-old man presenting with a firm, hard nodule on his upper back, which on initial histologic evaluation resembled metastatic adenocarcinoma. However, upon review of his medical history and immunohistochemical evaluation of the lesion, the diagnosis of epithelioid MM metastatic to the skin was rendered. The purpose of this case report and review of the literature is to summarize the most effective available immunostains to aid in the diagnosis of this challenging entity, highlight the histologic similarities between metastatic epithelioid MM and other primary and metastatic neoplasms of the skin, and provide prognostic information for these rare tumors. © 2017 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

  3. Evaluation of ground motion scaling methods for analysis of structural systems

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    O'Donnell, A. P.; Beltsar, O.A.; Kurama, Y.C.; Kalkan, E.; Taflanidis, A.A.

    2011-01-01

    Ground motion selection and scaling comprises undoubtedly the most important component of any seismic risk assessment study that involves time-history analysis. Ironically, this is also the single parameter with the least guidance provided in current building codes, resulting in the use of mostly subjective choices in design. The relevant research to date has been primarily on single-degree-of-freedom systems, with only a few studies using multi-degree-of-freedom systems. Furthermore, the previous research is based solely on numerical simulations with no experimental data available for the validation of the results. By contrast, the research effort described in this paper focuses on an experimental evaluation of selected ground motion scaling methods based on small-scale shake-table experiments of re-configurable linearelastic and nonlinear multi-story building frame structure models. Ultimately, the experimental results will lead to the development of guidelines and procedures to achieve reliable demand estimates from nonlinear response history analysis in seismic design. In this paper, an overview of this research effort is discussed and preliminary results based on linear-elastic dynamic response are presented. ?? ASCE 2011.

  4. Performance evaluation for screening laboratories of the Asia-Pacific region.

    PubMed

    Hannon, W Harry

    2003-01-01

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has a long history of involvement in quality assurance (QA) activities for support of newborn screening laboratories. Since 1978, CDC's Newborn Screening Quality Assurance Program (NSQAP), has distributed dried-blood spot (DBS) materials for external QA and has maintained related projects to serve newborn screening laboratories. The first DBS materials were distributed for congenital hypothyroidism screening in 1978 and by 2001, NSQAP had expanded to over 30 disorders and performance monitoring for all filter paper production lots from approved commercial sources. In 2001, there were 250 active NSQAP participants, 167 laboratories from 45 countries and 83 laboratories in the United States. Of these laboratories, 31 are from the Asia Pacific Region representing nine countries primarily for two disorders. In 1999, US laboratories had more errors for Performance Evaluation (PE) specimens than other laboratories; but in 2000, US laboratories had fewer errors. International laboratories reported 0.3% false-negative PE clinical assessments for congenital hypothyroidism and 0.5% for phenylketonuria (0.5%) in 2000. Paperless PE data-reporting operation using an Internet website has recently been implemented.

  5. Ultrasonic Evaluation and Imaging

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

    Crawford, Susan L.; Anderson, Michael T.; Diaz, Aaron A.

    2015-10-01

    Ultrasonic evaluation of materials for material characterization and flaw detection is as simple as manually moving a single-element probe across a speci-men and looking at an oscilloscope display in real time or as complex as automatically (under computer control) scanning a phased-array probe across a specimen and collecting encoded data for immediate or off-line data analyses. The reliability of the results in the second technique is greatly increased because of a higher density of measurements per scanned area and measurements that can be more precisely related to the specimen geometry. This chapter will briefly discuss applications of the collection ofmore » spatially encoded data and focus primarily on the off-line analyses in the form of data imaging. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) has been involved with as-sessing and advancing the reliability of inservice inspections of nuclear power plant components for over 35 years. Modern ultrasonic imaging techniques such as the synthetic aperture focusing technique (SAFT), phased-array (PA) technolo-gy and sound field mapping have undergone considerable improvements to effec-tively assess and better understand material constraints.« less

  6. The medicalization of love and narrow and broad conceptions of human well-being.

    PubMed

    Nyholm, Sven

    2015-07-01

    Would a "medicalization" of love be a "good" or "bad" form of medicalization? In discussing this question, Earp, Sandberg, and Savulescu primarily focus on the potential positive and negative consequences of turning love into a medical issue. But it can also be asked whether there is something intrinsically regrettable about medicalizing love. It is argued here that the medicalization of love can be seen as an "evaluative category mistake": it treats a core human value (love) as if it were mainly a means to other ends (viz. physical health and hedonic well-being). It is also argued that Earp et al's closing argument (that a scientific perspective on love actually adds more value to love) can be seen as involving another evaluative category mistake: it treats an object of desire and practical interest (namely, love) as if it mainly were an object of scientific contemplation and theoretical interest. It is concluded that, to relate love to health and well-being in a more satisfying way, we should construe the latter two in broader ways, whereby love is itself a component or element of human flourishing.

  7. In-depth survey report: Evaluation of a ventilation system to control formaldehyde exposures during embalming at Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science, Cincinnati, Ohio

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

    Gressel, M.G.

    1990-12-01

    The goal of the study was to develop and evaluate local exhaust ventilation controls which will reduce the embalmer's exposure to formaldehyde (50000). The Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science had three tables set up for conducting embalmings. Two of the tables were in a large room which serves as a laboratory for the students. The third was located in an isolation room and was used primarily for suspected infectious cases. All the embalmings conducted for the study were conducted in the isolation room and all involved noninfectious bodies. The local exhaust ventilation system developed for the mortuary consisted of 6more » foot slot hoods on either side of the embalming table. Of the 32 personal samples taken, the formaldehyde concentration of five samples showed a concentration of 1 part per million. The author recommends that a local exhaust ventilation system similar to the design tested here be installed permanently in the isolation room and on the other tables in the main embalming laboratory.« less

  8. POLAR/CEPPAD Data Analysis

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Baker, D. N.; Hoffman, R. (Technical Monitor)

    2001-01-01

    This final report provides a final report on a NASA sponsored project involving data reduction and scientific analysis related to the Comprehensive Energetic Particle Pitch Angle Distribution (CEPPAD) experiment of POLAR. Dr. D.N. Baker, the chief scientist, has focused primarily on the calibration of CEPPAD sensors and the interpretation of data from the sensors which has led to discoveries regarding storm-substorm relationships in the earth's magnetosphere. The report contains approximately 190 bibliographic references to the activities of Baker and others involved.

  9. Parsing the Behavioral and Brain Mechanisms of Third-Party Punishment

    PubMed Central

    Bonnie, Richard J.; Hoffman, Morris B.; Shen, Francis X.; Simons, Kenneth W.

    2016-01-01

    The evolved capacity for third-party punishment is considered crucial to the emergence and maintenance of elaborate human social organization and is central to the modern provision of fairness and justice within society. Although it is well established that the mental state of the offender and the severity of the harm he caused are the two primary predictors of punishment decisions, the precise cognitive and brain mechanisms by which these distinct components are evaluated and integrated into a punishment decision are poorly understood. Using fMRI, here we implement a novel experimental design to functionally dissociate the mechanisms underlying evaluation, integration, and decision that were conflated in previous studies of third-party punishment. Behaviorally, the punishment decision is primarily defined by a superadditive interaction between harm and mental state, with subjects weighing the interaction factor more than the single factors of harm and mental state. On a neural level, evaluation of harms engaged brain areas associated with affective and somatosensory processing, whereas mental state evaluation primarily recruited circuitry involved in mentalization. Harm and mental state evaluations are integrated in medial prefrontal and posterior cingulate structures, with the amygdala acting as a pivotal hub of the interaction between harm and mental state. This integrated information is used by the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex at the time of the decision to assign an appropriate punishment through a distributed coding system. Together, these findings provide a blueprint of the brain mechanisms by which neutral third parties render punishment decisions. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Punishment undergirds large-scale cooperation and helps dispense criminal justice. Yet it is currently unknown precisely how people assess the mental states of offenders, evaluate the harms they caused, and integrate those two components into a single punishment decision. Using a new design, we isolated these three processes, identifying the distinct brain systems and activities that enable each. Additional findings suggest that the amygdala plays a crucial role in mediating the interaction of mental state and harm information, whereas the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex plays a crucial, final-stage role, both in integrating mental state and harm information and in selecting a suitable punishment amount. These findings deepen our understanding of how punishment decisions are made, which may someday help to improve them. PMID:27605616

  10. Parsing the Behavioral and Brain Mechanisms of Third-Party Punishment.

    PubMed

    Ginther, Matthew R; Bonnie, Richard J; Hoffman, Morris B; Shen, Francis X; Simons, Kenneth W; Jones, Owen D; Marois, René

    2016-09-07

    The evolved capacity for third-party punishment is considered crucial to the emergence and maintenance of elaborate human social organization and is central to the modern provision of fairness and justice within society. Although it is well established that the mental state of the offender and the severity of the harm he caused are the two primary predictors of punishment decisions, the precise cognitive and brain mechanisms by which these distinct components are evaluated and integrated into a punishment decision are poorly understood. Using fMRI, here we implement a novel experimental design to functionally dissociate the mechanisms underlying evaluation, integration, and decision that were conflated in previous studies of third-party punishment. Behaviorally, the punishment decision is primarily defined by a superadditive interaction between harm and mental state, with subjects weighing the interaction factor more than the single factors of harm and mental state. On a neural level, evaluation of harms engaged brain areas associated with affective and somatosensory processing, whereas mental state evaluation primarily recruited circuitry involved in mentalization. Harm and mental state evaluations are integrated in medial prefrontal and posterior cingulate structures, with the amygdala acting as a pivotal hub of the interaction between harm and mental state. This integrated information is used by the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex at the time of the decision to assign an appropriate punishment through a distributed coding system. Together, these findings provide a blueprint of the brain mechanisms by which neutral third parties render punishment decisions. Punishment undergirds large-scale cooperation and helps dispense criminal justice. Yet it is currently unknown precisely how people assess the mental states of offenders, evaluate the harms they caused, and integrate those two components into a single punishment decision. Using a new design, we isolated these three processes, identifying the distinct brain systems and activities that enable each. Additional findings suggest that the amygdala plays a crucial role in mediating the interaction of mental state and harm information, whereas the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex plays a crucial, final-stage role, both in integrating mental state and harm information and in selecting a suitable punishment amount. These findings deepen our understanding of how punishment decisions are made, which may someday help to improve them. Copyright © 2016 Ginther et al.

  11. An IDeA for enhancing undergraduate research at rural primarily undergraduate institutions.

    PubMed

    Sens, Donald A; Cisek, Karen L; Conway, Pat; Doze, Van A

    2017-09-01

    This study documents the efforts of the North Dakota (ND) IDeA Networks of Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE) program to assist in the development of undergraduate research programs at four state-supported primarily undergraduate institutions (PUIs) in ND. The study was initiated in the 2004-2005 academic year and continues to the present. The study shows that gaining initial institutional support for undergraduate research was assisted by providing salary support for faculty involved in undergraduate research. Once research was ongoing, each institution evolved their own unique plan for the use of support from the ND INBRE. Undergraduate student researchers have prepared, presented, and defended their research results on 188 unique posters since initiation of the program, with many posters being presented at more than one meeting. PUI faculty have authored 35 peer-reviewed manuscripts. Evaluation has shown that over 95% of the undergraduate students performing research matriculated with their bachelor's degree. Career choices of 77.2% of these graduates was determined, and 37% pursued a career in the health professions. Of the students not pursuing a post-baccalaureate degree, 81.2% chose careers directly linked to science. The study reinforces the concept that undergraduate research can be performed directly on the PUI campus and be of value in preparing the next generation of health professionals in research, service, and teaching. Copyright © 2017 the American Physiological Society.

  12. Phenotypic and genomic plasticity of alternative male reproductive tactics in sailfin mollies.

    PubMed

    Fraser, Bonnie A; Janowitz, Ilana; Thairu, Margaret; Travis, Joseph; Hughes, Kimberly A

    2014-04-22

    A major goal of modern evolutionary biology is to understand the causes and consequences of phenotypic plasticity, the ability of a single genotype to produce multiple phenotypes in response to variable environments. While ecological and quantitative genetic studies have evaluated models of the evolution of adaptive plasticity, some long-standing questions about plasticity require more mechanistic approaches. Here, we address two of those questions: does plasticity facilitate adaptive evolution? And do physiological costs place limits on plasticity? We examine these questions by comparing genetically and plastically regulated behavioural variation in sailfin mollies (Poecilia latipinna), which exhibit striking variation in plasticity for male mating behaviour. In this species, some genotypes respond plastically to a change in the social environment by switching between primarily courting and primarily sneaking behaviour. In contrast, other genotypes have fixed mating strategies (either courting or sneaking) and do not display plasticity. We found that genetic and plastic variation in behaviour were accompanied by partially, but not completely overlapping changes in brain gene expression, in partial support of models that predict that plasticity can facilitate adaptive evolution. We also found that behavioural plasticity was accompanied by broader and more robust changes in brain gene expression, suggesting a substantial physiological cost to plasticity. We also observed that sneaking behaviour, but not courting, was associated with upregulation of genes involved in learning and memory, suggesting that sneaking is more cognitively demanding than courtship.

  13. PCBs are associated with altered gene transcript profiles in arctic Beluga Whales (Delphinapterus leucas).

    PubMed

    Noël, Marie; Loseto, Lisa L; Helbing, Caren C; Veldhoen, Nik; Dangerfield, Neil J; Ross, Peter S

    2014-01-01

    High trophic level arctic beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas) are exposed to persistent organic pollutants (POP) originating primarily from southern latitudes. We collected samples from 43 male beluga harvested by Inuvialuit hunters (2008-2010) in the Beaufort Sea to evaluate the effects of POPs on the levels of 13 health-related gene transcripts using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Consistent with their role in detoxification, the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (Ahr) (r(2) = 0.18, p = 0.045 for 2008 and 2009) and cytochrome P450 1A1 (Cyp1a1) (r(2) = 0.20, p < 0.001 for 2008 and 2009; r(2) = 0.43, p = 0.049 for 2010) transcripts were positively correlated with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), the dominant POP in beluga. Principal Components Analysis distinguished between these two toxicology genes and 11 other genes primarily involved in growth, metabolism, and development. Factor 1 explained 56% of gene profiles, with these latter 11 gene transcripts displaying greater abundance in years coinciding with periods of low sea ice extent (2008 and 2010). δ(13)C results suggested a shift in feeding ecology and/or change in condition of these ice edge-associated beluga whales during these two years. While this provides insight into the legacy of PCBs in a remote environment, the possible impacts of a changing ice climate on the health of beluga underscores the need for long-term studies.

  14. The Eighteen-Electron Rule

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Mitchell, P. R.; Parish, R. V.

    1969-01-01

    Discusses the stability of the structures of transition metal complexes (primarily carbonyls and organometallic compounds) having 18 electrons or less in their valence shell. Presents molecular orbital diagrams for various structures involving alpha and pi bonding and describes the conditions under which the 18 electron rule applies. (RR)

  15. A Decision Theory Approach to College Resource Allocation.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Baldwin, Charles W.

    Current budgeting techniques are reviewed in relation to their application to higher education, including (1) incremental budgeting, where decisions are based primarily upon former levels of expenditures, (2) zero-based budgeting, involving the establishment and ranking of "decision packages", (3) Planning and Programming Budgeting…

  16. Pathways of Interdisciplinary Cognition

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Nikitina, Svetlana

    2005-01-01

    In this article, I propose that at the juncture of disciplines, the mind is involved in at least 3 cognitive activities: overcoming internal monologism or monodisciplinarity, attaining provisional integration, and questioning the integration as necessarily partial. This claim is supported by interview data I collected primarily from faculty…

  17. Subjective Ratings of Cattell's 17 Personality Factors

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Friedman, Alan F.; And Others

    1976-01-01

    This study compares the direct assessment of personality by self-ratings with the less direct assessment by the Sixteen Personality Factors Questionnaire. The relationships primarily involve indices of social interaction from the 16PF and indices of internal traits from the self-ratings. (Author/DEP)

  18. Interlimb Coordination: An Important Facet of Gross-Motor Ability

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Bobbio, Tatiana; Gabbard, Carl; Cacola, Priscila

    2009-01-01

    Motor development attains landmark significance during early childhood. Although early childhood educators may be familiar with the gross-motor skill category, the subcategory of interlimb coordination needs greater attention than it typically receives from teachers of young children. Interlimb coordination primarily involves movements requiring…

  19. USING REMORE SENSING AND LANDSCAPE ECOLOGY TO ASSESS THE CONDITION OF GREAT LAKES WETLANDS

    EPA Science Inventory

    Geospatial modeling approaches are being used to locate and assess the condition of natural resources (particularly wetland ecosystems) in the Great Lakes Basin. These assessments involve measuring landscape characteristics at multiple scales, primarily focusing

    on surface...

  20. The Development and Maturation of Humanitarian Psychology

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Jacobs, Gerard A.

    2007-01-01

    Humanitarian psychological support as an organized field is relatively young. Pioneers in the field were involved primarily in providing psychological support to refugees and internally displaced persons in conflict and nonconflict situations. This article describes basic principles for the design of psychological support programs and…

  1. Evaluating the Impact of Instructional Multimedia: Workable Techniques.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Rathbun, Gail A.; Goodrum, David A.

    A framework is proposed for the formative evaluation of multimedia. It describes techniques that have worked well in the evaluation of software development and gives examples of the use of evaluation results. The focus is primarily on the degree to which the instructional multimedia program supports the user's activities and tasks in the user's…

  2. Epidemiology and clinical characteristics of sarcoidosis: an update from a population-based cohort study from Olmsted County, Minnesota.

    PubMed

    Ungprasert, P; Crowson, C S; Matteson, E L

    2017-05-22

    Information about the epidemiology, clinical manifestations and comorbidities of sarcoidosis among Caucasians is relatively scarce. This review focuses primarily on the data from a recently published Caucasianpredominant population-based cohort from Olmsted County, Minnesota. Overall, the incidence rate was 10.0 per 100,000 population, which suggested that sarcoidosis is less common in Caucasians than in Blacks, but is more common in Caucasians than in Asians. Intrathoracic involvement was seen in the vast majority of patients, but less than half have respiratory symptoms. The most common extra-thoracic manifestations were skin rash followed by arthralgia, ophthalmologic involvement, hepatic involvement, splenomegaly, renal involvement, neurological involvement, extra-thoracic lymphadenopathy, exocrine gland involvement, upper respiratory tract involvement and cardiac involvement. Compared to sex and age-matched subjects, patients with sarcoidosis suffer from increased rates of cardiovascular disease, venous thromboembolism and hospitalized infection.

  3. Teacher Evaluation. Policy Brief.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Glass, Gene V.

    2004-01-01

    Traditional forms of evaluating teachers (e.g., inspection of credentials, supervisor and peer observation and rating) for purposes of hiring, promotion, and salary increases have served the profession of teaching well for decades and should receive continued support in policy and practice. Newer forms of evaluation--primarily paper-and-pencil…

  4. 42 CFR 8.5 - Periodic evaluation of accreditation bodies.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-10-01

    ... 42 Public Health 1 2011-10-01 2011-10-01 false Periodic evaluation of accreditation bodies. 8.5 Section 8.5 Public Health PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES GENERAL... accreditation bodies. SAMHSA will evaluate periodically the performance of accreditation bodies primarily by...

  5. 42 CFR 8.5 - Periodic evaluation of accreditation bodies.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-10-01

    ... 42 Public Health 1 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Periodic evaluation of accreditation bodies. 8.5 Section 8.5 Public Health PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES GENERAL... accreditation bodies. SAMHSA will evaluate periodically the performance of accreditation bodies primarily by...

  6. Developing Markets for Zero-Emission Vehicles in Goods Movement

    DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

    2018-03-01

    This report evaluates the market status and potential freight market penetration of zero emission vehicles (ZEVs) and near ZEVs in the medium and heavy duty class within the California market. It evaluates alternative technologies, primarily battery ...

  7. Evaluation of the scientific underpinnings for identifying ...

    EPA Pesticide Factsheets

    A major challenge in chemical risk assessment is extrapolation of toxicity data from tested to untested species. Successful cross-species extrapolation involves understanding similarities and differences in toxicokinetic and toxicodynamic processes among species. Herein we consider the toxicodynamic challenge, and propose a hierarchal framework, based on the adverse outcome pathway (AOP) concept, to transparently and systematically assess cross-species conservation of biological pathways that could be perturbed by toxic chemicals. The approach features consideration of computational, in vitro and in vivo evidence to assess molecular initiating and intermediate key events of an AOP in a systematic, comparative manner. To demonstrate practical application of the framework, we consider an assessment question arising from the legislatively-mandated USEPA endocrine disruptor screening program, which involves the degree to which data generated using mammalian systems can be translated to non-mammalian species. Specifically, there is a need to define cross-species conservation of pathways controlled by activation of estrogen receptor-á (ERá), as a basis for using mammalian (primarily human) high-throughput (HTP) in vitro data to prioritize subsequent testing to assess human health and ecological risks of estrogenic chemicals. The initial phase of our analysis revealed good structural conservation the ERá across vertebrate species in terms of amino acid sequence

  8. Easy fix for clinical laboratories for the false-positive defect with the Abbott AxSym total beta-hCG test.

    PubMed

    Cole, Laurence A; Khanlian, Sarah A

    2004-05-01

    False-positive hCG results can lead to erroneous diagnoses and needless chemotherapy and surgery. In the last 2 years, eight publications described cases involving false-positive hCG tests; all eight involved the AxSym test. We investigated the source of this abundance of cases and a simple fix that may be used by clinical laboratories. False-positive hCG was primarily identified by absence of hCG in urine and varying or negative hCG results in alternative tests. Seventeen false-positive serum samples in the AxSym test were evaluated undiluted and at twofold dilution with diluent containing excess goat serum or immunoglobulin. We identified 58 patients with false-positive hCG, 47 of 58 due to the Abbott AxSym total hCGbeta test (81%). Sixteen of 17 of these "false-positive" results (mean 100 mIU/ml) became undetectable when tested again after twofold dilution. A simple twofold dilution with this diluent containing excess goat serum or immunoglobulin completely protected 16 of 17 samples from patients having false-positive results. It is recommended that laboratories using this test use twofold dilution as a minimum to prevent false-positive results.

  9. Toxicological findings in 889 fatally injured obese pilots involved in aviation accidents.

    PubMed

    Chaturvedi, Arvind K; Botch, Sabra R; Ricaurte, Eduard M

    2012-03-01

    Prevalence of drugs in fatally injured obese pilots involved in aviation accidents has not been evaluated. Therefore, toxicological findings in such pilots (body mass index ≥30 kg/m(2) ) were examined in a data set derived from the Civil Aerospace Medical Institute's (CAMI's) Scientific Information System for 1990-2005. Aeromedical histories of these aviators were retrieved from the CAMI medical certification and toxicology databases, and the cause/factors in the related accidents from the National Transportation Safety Board's database. In 311 of the 889 pilots, carbon monoxide, cyanide, ethanol, and drugs were found, and glucose and hemoglobin A(1c) were elevated. Of the 889 pilots, 107 had an obesity-related medical history. The health and/or medical condition(s) of, and/or the use of ethanol and/or drugs by, pilots were the cause/factors in 55 (18%) of the 311 accidents. Drugs found were primarily for treating obesity-related medical conditions such as depression, hypertension, and coronary heart disease. 2011 American Academy of Forensic Sciences. Published 2011. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the U.S.A.

  10. Black–white asymmetry in visual perception

    PubMed Central

    Lu, Zhong-Lin; Sperling, George

    2012-01-01

    With eleven different types of stimuli that exercise a wide gamut of spatial and temporal visual processes, negative perturbations from mean luminance are found to be typically 25% more effective visually than positive perturbations of the same magnitude (range 8–67%). In Experiment 12, the magnitude of the black–white asymmetry is shown to be a saturating function of stimulus contrast. Experiment 13 shows black–white asymmetry primarily involves a nonlinearity in the visual representation of decrements. Black–white asymmetry in early visual processing produces even-harmonic distortion frequencies in all ordinary stimuli and in illusions such as the perceived asymmetry of optically perfect sine wave gratings. In stimuli intended to stimulate exclusively second-order processing in which motion or shape are defined not by luminance differences but by differences in texture contrast, the black–white asymmetry typically generates artifactual luminance (first-order) motion and shape components. Because black–white asymmetry pervades psychophysical and neurophysiological procedures that utilize spatial or temporal variations of luminance, it frequently needs to be considered in the design and evaluation of experiments that involve visual stimuli. Simple procedures to compensate for black–white asymmetry are proposed. PMID:22984221

  11. Northern Ireland and 'The Troubles', outlining an innovative approach to nursing/midwifery student teaching and module evaluation.

    PubMed

    McMullan, Johanna; Clarke, Susan A; O'Hagan, Marie Therese; O'Connor, Tony; Power, John J

    2016-02-01

    This discussion paper outlines an approach to developing and evaluating an educative programme primarily delivered by lay `citizen trainers' in educating student nurses, and student midwives to the impact of and experience of extended and extensive civil unrest within their communities (`the Troubles' ). This is drawn from experience within the Northern Ireland `Troubles' and all of the citizen trainers were directly affected physically/psychologically. The programme was intended to both educate but primarily to help facilitate student nurses and student midwives to better understanding to experience and context and to more effective care delivery to those affected by/damaged by `the Troubles'. Evaluation of the teaching and learning by the students was significantly positive. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  12. 78 FR 57818 - Commission Participation and Commission Employee Involvement in Voluntary Standards Activities

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-09-20

    ... docket number for this rulemaking. All comments received may be posted without change, including any... found in in such locations as homes, schools, and recreational areas. Voluntary standards activity is an... handled primarily by three standards development/coordinating organizations: ASTM International...

  13. A Novel Approach: Chemical Relational Databases, and the Role of the ISSCAN Database on Assessing Chemical Carcinogenity

    EPA Science Inventory

    Mutagenicity and carcinogenicity databases are crucial resources for toxicologists and regulators involved in chemicals risk assessment. Until recently, existing public toxicity databases have been constructed primarily as "look-up-tables" of existing data, and most often did no...

  14. Judy Netter | NREL

    Science.gov Websites

    thermochemical reactions (primarily hydrogen production), and recently Solar Power Tower Receiver design. She has . Her expertise involves the design and fabrication of prototype experimental equipment along with the programs and controls. CSP-related projects include the design of experiments and test equipment for

  15. Fernbank Science Center Forest Teacher's Guide-1967.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Cherry, Jim; And Others

    This guide is designed primarily to familiarize teachers with the types of programs available through the Fernback Science Center. Instructional programs involving the use of the Fernbank Forest are outlined. Programs for secondary students include Plant Taxonomy, Field Ecology, Winter Taxonomy of Plants, and Climax Forest Succession. Elementary…

  16. Teacher's Guide, Ecology, Grade 7.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Yadkin Valley Economic Development District, Inc., Walnut Cove, NC.

    This teacher's guide has been constructed to assist in developing and implementing a life science course with an environment/ecological unit for Grade 7. Designed primarily for use with other science units, it offers numerous multidisciplinary activities which emphasize involvement in problem-solving through open-ended investigation rather than…

  17. Silvicultural systems for managing ponderosa pine

    Treesearch

    Andrew Youngblood

    2005-01-01

    Silviculturists have primarily relied on classical even-aged silvicultural systems (the planned series of treatments for tending, harvesting, and re-establishing a stand) for ponderosa pine, with uneven-aged systems used to a lesser degree. Current management practices involve greater innovation because of conflicting management objectives. Silvicultural systems used...

  18. Educating for Personal and Social Responsibility: A Review of the Literature

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Swaner, Lynn E.

    2005-01-01

    Educating for personal and social responsibility, from the perspective of moral cognition, involves promoting students' cognitive development. The literature suggests several approaches as successful in promoting cognitive development. Though Kohlberg views this development as primarily facilitated by dialogue with individuals in more advanced …

  19. Networked Teaching and Learning.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Benson, Chris, Ed.

    2002-01-01

    This theme issue on networked teaching and learning contains 11 articles written by teachers of English and language arts in Bread Loaf's primarily rural, teacher networks. Most of these narratives describe how teachers have taught writing and literature using online exchanges or teleconferencing involving students in different locations and grade…

  20. Disrupting Faculty Service: Using Technology to Increase Academic Service Productivity

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Burnett, Perry; Shemroske, Kenneth; Khayum, Mohammed

    2014-01-01

    Scholarly attention regarding faculty involvement has primarily focused on faculty opinions of shared governance and faculty influence on institutional decision-making. There has been limited attention given to academic service productivity and the effectiveness of traditional approaches toward the accomplishment of faculty service requirements.…

  1. Visual Literacy. . .An Overview of Theory and Practice.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    DeSantis, Lucille Burbank; Pett, Dennis W.

    Visual Literacy is a field that encompasses a variety of theoretical constructs and practical considerations relating to communicating with visual signs. The theoretical constructs that influence visual communication primarily fall into two closely interrelated categories: those that relate to the individuals involved in the communication process,…

  2. Biological Control of Southern Pine Beetle

    Treesearch

    Fred M. Stephen; C. Wayne Berisford

    2011-01-01

    Exotic invasive forest insects are frequently managed through classical biological control, which involves searching for, introducing, and establishing their exotic natural enemies. Biological control of native bark beetles, including the southern pine beetle (SPB), has been primarily attempted by conserving and manipulating their natural enemies. Knowledge of the role...

  3. Digital Image Manipulation and Avatar Configuration: Implications for Inclusive Classrooms

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Oravec, Jo Ann

    2012-01-01

    This paper outlines concerns for inclusive classrooms involving personal digital image modifications and selections, as well as avatar configurations. Classroom interactions incorporate various dimensions of personal appearance; however, educators try to make them primarily about knowledge and wisdom. Students in environments where they can…

  4. Teacher's Guide, Ecology, Grade 10.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Yadkin Valley Economic Development District, Inc., Walnut Cove, NC.

    This teacher's guide has been constructed to assist in developing and implementing a life science course with an environment/ecological unit for Grade 10. Designed primarily for use with other science units, it offers numerous multidisciplinary activities which emphasize involvement in problem-solving through open-ended investigation rather than…

  5. 5 CFR 534.601 - Coverage.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-01-01

    ... Code, by section 5102(a) or 5102(c) or other provision of law. ... Administrative Appeals Judge Positions § 534.601 Coverage. (a) This subpart implements 5 U.S.C. 5372b and applies... 5 U.S.C. 5108 and which primarily involve reviewing decisions of administrative law judges appointed...

  6. Violence in Children's Programmes on British Television.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Gunter, Barrie; Harrison, Jackie

    1997-01-01

    Studied violence on children's television in Britain. Found 39% of children's programs examined contained violence, primarily involving shootings and physical assault committed for negative purposes and rarely followed by painful consequences. The fast pace of such programs is also a significant factor. Results pose wider implications for those…

  7. The Managerial Roles of Academic Library Directors: The Mintzberg Model.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Moskowitz, Michael Ann

    1986-01-01

    A study based on a model developed by Henry Mintzberg examined the internal and external managerial roles of 126 New England college and university library directors. Survey results indicate that the 97 responding directors were primarily involved with internal managerial roles and work contacts. (CDD)

  8. The effect of a geriatric evaluation on treatment decisions and outcome for older cancer patients - A systematic review.

    PubMed

    Hamaker, Marije E; Te Molder, Marthe; Thielen, Noortje; van Munster, Barbara C; Schiphorst, Anandi H; van Huis, Lieke H

    2018-04-06

    The aim of this systematic review is to summarise all available data on the effect of a geriatric evaluation on the multidisciplinary treatment of older cancer patients, focussing on oncologic treatment decisions, the implementation of non-oncologic interventions and the impact on treatment outcome. A systematic search in MEDLINE and EMBASE for studies on the effect of a geriatric evaluation on oncologic and non-oncologic treatment decisions and outcome for older cancer patients. 36 publications from 35 studies were included. After a geriatric evaluation, the oncologic treatment plan was altered in a median of 28% of patients (range 8-54%), primarily to a less intensive treatment option. Non-oncologic interventions were recommended in a median of 72% of patients (range 26-100%), most commonly involving social issues (39%), nutritional status (32%) and polypharmacy (31%). Effect on treatment outcome was varying, with a trend towards a positive effect on treatment completion (positive effect in 75% of studies) and treatment-related toxicity/ complications (55% of studies). A geriatric evaluation affects oncologic and non-oncologic treatment and appears to improve treatment tolerance and completion for older cancer patients. Fine-tuning the decision-making process for this growing patient population will require more specific and robust data on the effect of a geriatric evaluation on relevant oncologic and non-oncologic outcomes such as survival and quality of life. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

  9. Pathogenic role for macrophage migration inhibitory factor in glioblastoma and its targeting with specific inhibitors as novel tailored therapeutic approach

    PubMed Central

    Mangano, Katia; Mazzon, Emanuela; Basile, Maria Sofia; Di Marco, Roberto; Bramanti, Placido; Mammana, Santa; Petralia, Maria Cristina; Fagone, Paolo; Nicoletti, Ferdinando

    2018-01-01

    Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor (MIF) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine expressed by a variety of cell types. Although MIF has been primarily studied for its role in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases, it has also been shown to promote tumorigenesis and it is over expressed in various malignant tumors. MIF is able to induce angiogenesis, cell cycle progression, and to block apoptosis. As tailored therapeutic approaches for the inhibition of endogenous MIF are being developed, it is important to evaluate the role of MIF in individual neoplastic conditions that may benefit from specific MIF inhibitors. Along with this line, in this paper, we have reviewed the evidence of the involvement of MIF in the etiopathogenesis and progression of glioblastoma and the preclinical data suggesting the possible use of specific MIF inhibition as a potential novel therapeutic strategy for brain tumors. PMID:29707160

  10. Thermal decomposition hazard evaluation of hydroxylamine nitrate.

    PubMed

    Wei, Chunyang; Rogers, William J; Mannan, M Sam

    2006-03-17

    Hydroxylamine nitrate (HAN) is an important member of the hydroxylamine family and it is a liquid propellant when combined with alkylammonium nitrate fuel in an aqueous solution. Low concentrations of HAN are used primarily in the nuclear industry as a reductant in nuclear material processing and for decontamination of equipment. Also, HAN has been involved in several incidents because of its instability and autocatalytic decomposition behavior. This paper presents calorimetric measurement for the thermal decomposition of 24 mass% HAN/water. Gas phase enthalpy of formation of HAN is calculated using both semi-empirical methods with MOPAC and high-level quantum chemical methods of Gaussian 03. CHETAH is used to estimate the energy release potential of HAN. A Reactive System Screening Tool (RSST) and an Automatic Pressure Tracking Adiabatic Calorimeter (APTAC) are used to characterize thermal decomposition of HAN and to provide guidance about safe conditions for handling and storing of HAN.

  11. Development and clinical evaluation of noninvasive near-infrared monitoring of cerebral oxygenation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wickramasinghe, Yappa A.; Rolfe, Peter J.; Palmer, Keith; Watkins, S.; Spencer, S. A.; Doyle, M.; O'Brien, S.; Walker, A.; Rice, C.; Smallpeice, C.

    1994-02-01

    Near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is a relatively new method which is suitable for monitoring oxygenation in blood and tissue in the brain of the fetus and the neonate. The technique involves in-vivo determination of the absorption of light in the wavelength range 775 to 900 nm through such tissue and converting such changes in absorbance to provide information about the changes in the concentration of oxygenated and de-oxygenated haemoglobin (HbO2 and Hb). Recent developments of the methodology now enable the calculation of changes in cerebral blood volume (CBV) as well as absolute CBV and cerebral blood flow (CBF). The attraction of this method is its applicability to monitor cerebral function in a wide variety of patient groups. Although primarily developed for neonatal use it is today applied on the fetus to investigate fetal hypoxia and on adults undergoing surgery.

  12. Infantile ictal apneas in a child with williams-beuren syndrome.

    PubMed

    Myers, Kenneth A; McLeod, D Ross; Bello-Espinosa, Luis

    2013-02-01

    Williams-Beuren syndrome is a genetic disorder rarely associated with seizures. The few described cases of Williams-Beuren syndrome and epilepsy have primarily involved infantile spasms and deletions extending beyond the common deletion region for this disorder. We present the case of a 5-week-old child with ictal apneas and typical Williams-Beuren syndrome deletion. Diagnosis was challenging, because the child had cardiac, respiratory, and gastrointestinal abnormalities typically associated with Williams-Beuren syndrome, which are also associated with cyanotic episodes. The results of interictal electroencephalography were normal, illustrating that prolonged electroencephalography is often essential in evaluation of suspected ictal apneas. Seizure freedom was achieved with carbamazepine. Sudden death is seen in Williams-Beuren syndrome, and this case raises the question whether some of these cases may be related to ictal apneas and could potentially be preventable with appropriate pharmaceutical intervention. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  13. NDE of polymeric composite material bridge components

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Duke, John C., Jr.; Horne, Michael R.

    1998-03-01

    Rapid advancements with respect to utilization of polymeric composite materials for bridge components is occurring. This situation is driven primarily by the potential improvements offered by these materials with respect to long term durability. However, because of the developmental nature of these materials much of the materials characterization has involved short term testing without the synergistic effects of environmental exposure. Efforts to develop nondestructive evaluation procedures, essential for any wide spread use in critical structural applications, have been consequently limited. This paper discuses the effort to develop NDE methods for field inspection of hybrid glass and carbon fiber reinforced vinyl ester pultruded 'double box' I beams that are installed in a small bridge over Tom's Creek, in Blacksburg, Virginia. Integrated structural element sensors, dormant infrared devices, as well as acousto-ultrasonic methods are under development for detecting and monitoring the occurrence and progression of life limiting deterioration mechanisms.

  14. CEMCAN Software Enhanced for Predicting the Properties of Woven Ceramic Matrix Composites

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Murthy, Pappu L. N.; Mital, Subodh K.; DiCarlo, James A.

    2000-01-01

    Major advancements are needed in current high-temperature materials to meet the requirements of future space and aeropropulsion structural components. Ceramic matrix composites (CMC's) are one class of materials that are being evaluated as candidate materials for many high-temperature applications. Past efforts to improve the performance of CMC's focused primarily on improving the properties of the fiber, interfacial coatings, and matrix constituents as individual phases. Design and analysis tools must take into consideration the complex geometries, microstructures, and fabrication processes involved in these composites and must allow the composite properties to be tailored for optimum performance. Major accomplishments during the past year include the development and inclusion of woven CMC micromechanics methodology into the CEMCAN (Ceramic Matrix Composites Analyzer) computer code. The code enables one to calibrate a consistent set of constituent properties as a function of temperature with the aid of experimentally measured data.

  15. Are large-scale flow experiments informing the science and management of freshwater ecosystems?

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Olden, Julian D.; Konrad, Christopher P.; Melis, Theodore S.; Kennard, Mark J.; Freeman, Mary C.; Mims, Meryl C.; Bray, Erin N.; Gido, Keith B.; Hemphill, Nina P.; Lytle, David A.; McMullen, Laura E.; Pyron, Mark; Robinson, Christopher T.; Schmidt, John C.; Williams, John G.

    2013-01-01

    Greater scientific knowledge, changing societal values, and legislative mandates have emphasized the importance of implementing large-scale flow experiments (FEs) downstream of dams. We provide the first global assessment of FEs to evaluate their success in advancing science and informing management decisions. Systematic review of 113 FEs across 20 countries revealed that clear articulation of experimental objectives, while not universally practiced, was crucial for achieving management outcomes and changing dam-operating policies. Furthermore, changes to dam operations were three times less likely when FEs were conducted primarily for scientific purposes. Despite the recognized importance of riverine flow regimes, four-fifths of FEs involved only discrete flow events. Over three-quarters of FEs documented both abiotic and biotic outcomes, but only one-third examined multiple taxonomic responses, thus limiting how FE results can inform holistic dam management. Future FEs will present new opportunities to advance scientifically credible water policies.

  16. Credibility judgments in web page design - a brief review.

    PubMed

    Selejan, O; Muresanu, D F; Popa, L; Muresanu-Oloeriu, I; Iudean, D; Buzoianu, A; Suciu, S

    2016-01-01

    Today, more than ever, knowledge that interfaces appearance analysis is a crucial point in human-computer interaction field has been accepted. As nowadays virtually anyone can publish information on the web, the credibility role has grown increasingly important in relation to the web-based content. Areas like trust, credibility, and behavior, doubled by overall impression and user expectation are today in the spotlight of research compared to the last period, when other pragmatic areas such as usability and utility were considered. Credibility has been discussed as a theoretical construct in the field of communication in the past decades and revealed that people tend to evaluate the credibility of communication primarily by the communicator's expertise. Other factors involved in the content communication process are trustworthiness and dynamism as well as various other criteria but to a lower extent. In this brief review, factors like web page aesthetics, browsing experiences and user experience are considered.

  17. Exploring an increased role for Australian community pharmacy in mental health professional service delivery: evaluation of the literature.

    PubMed

    Hattingh, H Laetitia; Scahill, Shane; Fowler, Jane L; Wheeler, Amanda J

    2016-12-01

    Australian general practitioners primarily treat mental health problems by prescribing medication dispensed by community pharmacists. Pharmacists therefore have regular interactions with mental health consumers and carers. This narrative review explored the potential role of community pharmacy in mental health services. Medline, CINAHL, ProQuest, Emerald, PsycINFO, Science Direct, PubMed, Web of Knowledge and IPA were utilised. The Cochrane Library as well as grey literature and "lay" search engines such as GoogleScholar were also searched. Four systematic reviews and ten community pharmacy randomised controlled trials were identified. Various relevant reviews outlining the impact of community pharmacy based disease state or medicines management services were also identified. International studies involving professional service interventions for mental health consumers could be contextualised for the Australian setting. Australian studies of pharmacy professional services for chronic physical health conditions provided further guidance for the expansion of community pharmacy mental health professional services.

  18. Characterization and Evaluation of Lunar Regolith and Simulants

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Cross, William M.; Murphy, Gloria A.

    2010-01-01

    A NASA-ESMD (National Aeronautics and Space Administration-Exploration Systems Mission Directorate) funded senior design project "Mineral Separation Technology for Lunar Regolith Simulant Production" is directed toward designing processes to produce Simulant materials as close to lunar regolith as possible. The eight undergraduate (junior and senior) students involved are taking a systems engineering design approach to identifying the most pressing concerns in simulant needs, then designing subsystems and processing strategies to meet these needs using terrestrial materials. This allows the students to, not only learn the systems engineering design process, but also, to make a significant contribution to an important NASA ESMD project. This paper will primarily be focused on the implementation aspect, particularly related to the systems engineering process, of this NASA EMSD senior design project. In addition comparison of the NASA ESMD group experience to the implementation of systems engineering practices into a group of existing design projects is given.

  19. Onychomycosis of Toenails and Post-hoc Analyses with Efinaconazole 10% Solution Once-daily Treatment

    PubMed Central

    2016-01-01

    Topical treatment for toenail onychomycosis has been fraught with a long-standing reputation of poor efficaey, primarily due to physical properties of the nail unit that impede drug penetration. Newer topical agents have been formulated as Solution, which appear to provide better therapeutic response in properly selected patients. It is important to recognize the impact the effects that mitigating and concomitant factors can have on efficaey. These factors include disease severity, gender, presence of tinea pedis, and diabetes. This article reviews results achieved in Phase 3 pivotal studies with topical efinaconazole 10% Solution applied once daily for 48 weeks with a focus on how the aforementioned factors influenced therapeutic outcomes. It is important for clinicians treating patients for onychomycosis to evaluate severity, treat concomitant tinea pedis, address control of diabetes if present by encouraging involvement of the patient’s primary care physician, and consider longer treatment courses when clinically relevant. PMID:27047631

  20. [Vaccinovigilance: Reports of adverse reactions in the year 2016].

    PubMed

    Albrecht, N; Ottiger, H

    2017-08-01

    In the year 2016, 107 reports of adverse reactions following the application of various authorized vaccines were received and evaluated by the IVI (Institute of Virology and Immunology). The notifications were submitted primarily by marketing authorization holders (81) or veterinarians and private persons (26). The aim of the Vigilance System is the identification of rare events to assess the individual risks of the vaccine application. During the last year, the correlation between reaction and vaccination was considered probable in 34% of the cases. As in previous years, companion animals were involved in most of the adverse effects (48% dogs, 21% cats), followed by cattle (13%). In dogs, approximately half of the reports concern the combination vaccines against distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus, parainfluenza and leptospirosis. The reported symptoms, such as itching, facial edema, acute vomiting and diarrhea, usually indicated forms of hypersensitivity. In cats, apathy was most frequently observed regardless of the vaccination.

  1. Credibility judgments in web page design – a brief review

    PubMed Central

    Selejan, O; Muresanu, DF; Popa, L; Muresanu-Oloeriu, I; Iudean, D; Buzoianu, A; Suciu, S

    2016-01-01

    Today, more than ever, knowledge that interfaces appearance analysis is a crucial point in human-computer interaction field has been accepted. As nowadays virtually anyone can publish information on the web, the credibility role has grown increasingly important in relation to the web-based content. Areas like trust, credibility, and behavior, doubled by overall impression and user expectation are today in the spotlight of research compared to the last period, when other pragmatic areas such as usability and utility were considered. Credibility has been discussed as a theoretical construct in the field of communication in the past decades and revealed that people tend to evaluate the credibility of communication primarily by the communicator’s expertise. Other factors involved in the content communication process are trustworthiness and dynamism as well as various other criteria but to a lower extent. In this brief review, factors like web page aesthetics, browsing experiences and user experience are considered. PMID:27453738

  2. Indicators for tracking programmes to strengthen health research capacity in lower- and middle-income countries: a qualitative synthesis

    PubMed Central

    2014-01-01

    Background The monitoring and evaluation of health research capacity strengthening (health RCS) commonly involves documenting activities and outputs using indicators or metrics. We sought to catalogue the types of indicators being used to evaluate health RCS and to assess potential gaps in quality and coverage. Methods We purposively selected twelve evaluations to maximize diversity in health RCS, funders, countries, and approaches to evaluation. We explored the quality of the indicators and extracted them into a matrix across individual, institutional, and national/regional/network levels, based on a matrix in the ESSENCE Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation framework. We synthesized across potential impact pathways (activities to outputs to outcomes) and iteratively checked our findings with key health RCS evaluation stakeholders. Results Evaluations varied remarkably in the strengths of their evaluation designs. The validity of indicators and potential biases were documented in a minority of reports. Indicators were primarily of activities, outputs, or outcomes, with little on their inter-relationships. Individual level indicators tended to be more quantitative, comparable, and attentive to equity considerations. Institutional and national–international level indicators were extremely diverse. Although linkage of activities through outputs to outcomes within evaluations was limited, across the evaluations we were able to construct potential pathways of change and assemble corresponding indicators. Conclusions Opportunities for improving health RCS evaluations include work on indicator measurement properties and development of indicators which better encompass relationships with knowledge users. Greater attention to evaluation design, prospective indicator measurement, and systematic linkage of indicators in keeping with theories of change could provide more robust evidence on outcomes of health RCS. PMID:24725961

  3. Using linked data to evaluate collisions with fixed objects in Pennsylvania : Crash Outcome Data Evaluation System (CODES) linked data demonstration project

    DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

    1998-10-01

    This report uses police-reported motor vehicle crash data linked to Emergency Medical Services data and hospital discharge data to evaluate the relative risk of injury posed by specific roadside objects in Pennsylvania. The report focuses primarily o...

  4. ESEA Title I Evaluation and Reporting System: User's Guide.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Tallmadge, G. Kasten; Wood, Christine T.

    This guidebook concentrates primarily on describing the impact-assessment component of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) Title I evaluation and reporting system for users of the system. Three general evaluation models are presented, along with implementation information for each. The first model, a norm-referenced design, may be…

  5. The Use and Evaluation of Interest Inventories and Simulations.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Holland, John L.

    This paper provides a general perspective for evaluating interest inventories and simulations and outlines some activities to stimulate the development of more useful inventories. Previous evaluations have been primarily instrument-specific; have relied generally on opinion rather than evidence; and have focused only on possible sex, age, race, or…

  6. Nursing Faculty Experiences with Student Evaluations

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Beck, Debbie

    2016-01-01

    Faculty members are often evaluated primarily on the results of student end-of-course surveys (SEOCSs) for promotion, teaching contract renewals, and offers of teaching assignments. Consequently, SEOCSs have become a primary focus in faculty evaluations. Rigor in a course and the assignment of grades associated with assessments can be a source of…

  7. Doing Your Community Education Evaluation: A Guide.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Young, Malcolm B.; And Others

    Intended to assist in the evaluation of community education programs, this guide is for program decision makers, primarily at the local level, including staff of school districts, park and recreation departments, other local and state agencies, and private citizens serving on community education boards and councils. Part 1, Evaluation and…

  8. Infections Complicating the Care of Combat Casualties During Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2011-07-01

    nos 75 510 Empyema with fistula 3 510.9 Empyema w/o fistula 10 513 Abscess of lung 2 V46.1 Dependence on respirator 1 Other 041.89 Infection bacteria...recorded deaths (16 with infections). Infections were commonly gram-negative bacteria (47.6%) involving skin/wound infections (26.7%), and lung infections...trauma is primarily associated with gram-negative bacteria typically involving infections of wounds or other skin structures and lung infections such

  9. MRI and MR spectroscopy findings of a case of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis affecting the corpus callosum

    PubMed Central

    Öztürk, Mehmet; Sığırcı, Ahmet; Yakıncı, Cengiz

    2015-01-01

    Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) is a rare, slowly progressive, fatal, inflammatory and neurodegenerative disease that is seen mostly in children and young adolescents, and primarily affects the parieto-occipital lobes. The corpus callosum, cerebellum and basal ganglia are less frequently involved. MR spectroscopy (MRS) may illustrate the pathophysiological features of SSPE. To the best of our knowledge, this is the second report of MRS findings of corpus callosum involvement in a stage 3 SSPE case. PMID:26163552

  10. Virtual field trips: exploring a new approach to ocean education

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Cary, C.; Bryant, T.

    2003-04-01

    During the past four years with primary support from the National Science Foundation, the University of Delaware College of Marine Studies has launched the "Extreme series" of virtual field trips to get students and the public excited -- and learning -- about science by enabling them to follow along with researchers as they explore hydrothermal vents in the Pacific Ocean. The Extreme series has blossomed from a small pilot project involving about 800 students in 14 schools primarily in Delaware, to a thriving program that last year welcomed aboard more than 500 schools representing over 42,000 students from across the United States and in several foreign countries. Participants range from small, rural schools on American Indian reservations and in the landlocked states of America's "heartland," to large public schools in major coastal cities such as New York and Los Angeles. Each participating teacher receives a resource package containing student guides, curricula, evaluation tools, and a documentary video. During the expedition, an interactive Web site serves as the program's "lifeline." Education coordinators aboard ship -- a UD graduate student and a schoolteacher -- post daily journals, conduct experiments submitted by classrooms, and relay photos and video clips back to shore each day for uploading to the Web site. The project also involves selected classrooms in teleconferences with scientists working live on the seafloor aboard the submersible Alvin. Evaluated for its educational quality and impact, the Extreme series continues to grow and develop with the enthusiastic support of teachers.

  11. Skin analysis following dermal exposure to kerosene in rats: the effects of postmortem exposure and fire.

    PubMed

    Hieda, Yoko; Tsujino, Yoshio; Xue, Yuying; Takayama, Koji; Fujihara, Junko; Kimura, Kojiro; Dekio, Satoshi

    2004-02-01

    To evaluate the usefulness of skin analysis for the forensic examination of cases involving postmortem dermal exposure to kerosene and/or fire, an experimental study using rats was performed. Rats received dermal exposure to kerosene before or after death, and the effect of fire was determined by burning an area of exposed skin after death. Kerosene concentrations in skin and blood were determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and microscopic observation was performed for skin samples. No differences were observed in skin kerosene levels between antemortem and postmortem exposure. Kerosene concentrations in mildly burned skin where the stratum corneum (SC) was retained were approximately 84% compared to those in non-burned exposed skin, whereas concentrations in severely burned skin where the SC was almost completely burned off were 28% of non-burned skin. Even in non-exposed control skin 14% of the original kerosene concentrations could be detected, which was considered to be caused by contamination during the experimental protocol combined with kerosene's property of a high affinity for the SC. These results suggest that (1) skin analysis is useful in estimating the type of petroleum product involved in crimes or accidents even for postmortem exposure, (2) whether the SC is retained or not primarily determined the kerosene levels in burned skin, and (3) attention must be paid to evaluate the results obtained from skin samples in the light of the circumstances surrounding the case.

  12. Changing the surgical dogma in frontal sinus trauma: transnasal endoscopic repair.

    PubMed

    Grayson, Jessica W; Jeyarajan, Hari; Illing, Elisa A; Cho, Do-Yeon; Riley, Kristen O; Woodworth, Bradford A

    2017-05-01

    Management of frontal sinus trauma includes coronal or direct open approaches through skin incisions to either ablate or obliterate the frontal sinus for posterior table fractures and openly reduce/internally fixate fractured anterior tables. The objective of this prospective case-series study was to evaluate outcomes of frontal sinus anterior and posterior table trauma using endoscopic techniques. Prospective evaluation of patients undergoing surgery for frontal sinus fractures was performed. Data were collected regarding demographics, etiology, technique, operative site, length involving the posterior table, size of skull base defects, complications, and clinical follow-up. Forty-six patients (average age, 42 years) with frontal sinus fractures were treated using endoscopic techniques from 2008 to 2016. Mean follow-up was 26 (range, 0.5 to 79) months. Patients were treated primarily with a Draf IIb frontal sinusotomies. Draf III was used in 8 patients. Average fracture defect (length vs width) was 17.1 × 9.1 mm, and the average length involving the posterior table was 13.1 mm. Skull base defects were covered with either nasoseptal flaps or free tissue grafts. One individual required Draf IIb revision, but all sinuses were patent on final examination and all closed reductions of anterior table defects resulted in cosmetically acceptable outcomes. Frontal sinus trauma has traditionally been treated using open approaches. Our findings show that endoscopic management should become part of the management algorithm for frontal sinus trauma, which challenges current surgical dogma regarding mandatory open approaches. © 2017 ARS-AAOA, LLC.

  13. Learning for All: The Value of Field Experience in Training a New Generation of Program Evaluators

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Buitrag, Carolina

    2015-01-01

    Professionals in various fields have the opportunity to train in real-life situations before they take on a job by themselves. In program evaluation, however, preservice training usually focuses on coursework oriented to research design and methods. After completing these studies, evaluators go off to conduct evaluations guided primarily by their…

  14. Parents' conceptions of their homework involvement in elementary school.

    PubMed

    Cunha, Jennifer; Rosário, Pedro; Macedo, Lúcia; Nunes, Ana Rita; Fuentes, Sonia; Pinto, Ricardo; Suárez, Natalia

    2015-01-01

    Homework is a universal practice used in schools, and is commonly related to academic achievement. According to literature, parental homework involvement has positive and negative aspects, depending on parents’ behaviors. Assuming a phenomenographic perspective, this study examined 4th graders’ parents’ conceptions of their involvement in homework. With the purpose of mapping the parents’ various conceptions of homework involvement, 32 semi-structured interviews were conducted and analyzed. The results show that parents’ conceptions of homework involvement have a positive meaning, and focus primarily on the role played in the promotion of academic learning by (a) fostering their children’s autonomy, (b) exerting control over their learning, and (c) providing them with emotional encouragement (when children struggle with difficulties). Given that parents perceive their involvement in their children’s homework as important, it is necessary to promote parent-teacher collaboration and parent-training workshops to improve the quality of parental homework involvement.

  15. Addressing policy barriers to paternal involvement during pregnancy.

    PubMed

    Alio, Amina P; Bond, M Jermane; Padilla, Yolanda C; Heidelbaugh, Joel J; Lu, Michael; Parker, Willie J

    2011-05-01

    Efforts to reduce infant mortality in the United States have failed to incorporate paternal involvement. Research suggests that paternal involvement, which has been recognized as contributing to child development and health for many decades, is likely to affect infant mortality through the mother's well-being, primarily her access to resources and support. In spite of that, systemic barriers facing the father and the influence on his involvement in the pregnancy have received little attention. The Commission on Paternal Involvement in Pregnancy Outcomes (CPIPO) has identified the most important social barriers to paternal involvement during pregnancy and outlined a set of key policy priorities aimed at fostering paternal involvement. This article summarizes the key recommendations, including equitable paternity leave, elimination of marriage as a tax and public assistance penalty, integration of fatherhood initiatives in MCH programs, support of low-income fathers through employment training, father inclusion in family planning services, and expansion of birth data collection to include father information.

  16. Monitoring and Evaluating Nonpoint Source Watershed Projects

    EPA Pesticide Factsheets

    This guide is written primarily for those who develop and implement monitoring plans for watershed management projects. it can also be used evaluate the technical merits of monitoring proposals they might sponsor. It is an update to the 1997 Guide.

  17. EVALUATION OF CONFOCAL MICROSCOPY SYSTEM PERFORMANCE

    EPA Science Inventory

    BACKGROUND. The confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM) has enormous potential in many biological fields. Currently there is a subjective nature in the assessment of a confocal microscope's performance by primarily evaluating the system with a specific test slide provided by ea...

  18. Evaluation of joint sealant materials : final report.

    DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

    1977-05-01

    In May, 1968, the Department's Research and Development Section initiated a project to evaluate joint sealants being marketed for use on roads and bridges. In the study, representatives of 31 companies installed 40 products primarily on one road and ...

  19. Home Page, Sweet Home Page: Creating a Web Presence.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Falcigno, Kathleen; Green, Tim

    1995-01-01

    Focuses primarily on design issues and practical concerns involved in creating World Wide Web documents for use within an organization. Concerns for those developing Web home pages are: learning HyperText Markup Language (HTML); defining customer group; allocating staff resources for maintenance of documents; providing feedback mechanism for…

  20. Values Education through Aggadic Stories: The Didactic Rewriter as Interpreter

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Weinstein, Sara

    2016-01-01

    Didactic rewrites of aggadic stories are an important resource in values education. This study, geared primarily toward teachers involved in choosing curricular materials, investigates how the didactic rewriter actually becomes an interpreter, rather than a mere transmitter, of the original text. The personal values of the rewriters can influence…

  1. Implementation Processes, Structures, and Barriers to High School Restructuring: A Case Study.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Whitaker, Kathryn S.

    1998-01-01

    Presents results of a school-restructuring case study involving a high school participating in the Coalition of Essential Schools and RE: Learning Project. Nine common coalition principles were implemented, primarily within the school-within-a-school program. Barriers included staff jealousy, political controversy, decreased staff development…

  2. MoLeNET Mobile Learning Conference 2009: Research Papers

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Guy Parker, Ed.

    2010-01-01

    The Mobile Learning Network (MoLeNET) is a unique collaborative approach to encouraging, supporting, expanding and promoting mobile learning, primarily in English post-14 education and training, via supported shared cost mobile learning projects. Collaboration at national level involves participating institutions and the Learning and Skills…

  3. Folate-genetics and colorectal neoplasia: What we know and need to know next

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    The metabolism of folate involves a complex network of polymorphic enzymes that may explain a proportion of the risk associated with colorectal neoplasia. Over 60 observational studies primarily in non-Hispanic White populations have been conducted on selected genetic variants in specific genes, MTH...

  4. A Scheme for Categorizing Traumatic Military Events

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Stein, Nathan R.; Mills, Mary Alice; Arditte, Kimberly; Mendoza, Crystal; Borah, Adam M.; Resick, Patricia A.; Litz, Brett T.

    2012-01-01

    A common assumption among clinicians and researchers is that war trauma primarily involves fear-based reactions to life-threatening situations. However, the authors believe that there are multiple types of trauma in the military context, each with unique perievent and postevent response patterns. To test this hypothesis, they reviewed structured…

  5. Exploring the role of trehalose metabolism in resistance to oxidative and desiccation stress in Fusarium verticillioides

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    Fusarium verticillioides is a pathogenic filamentous fungus that primarily affects maize. We are exploring stress response mechanisms in F. verticillioides, particularly the role of trehalose, a disaccharide known to be involved in the ability of several organisms to withstand desiccation or drought...

  6. Skills and Strategies for Media Education.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Thoman, Elizabeth

    1999-01-01

    To thrive in our media-saturated culture, children must become media literate and learn five lessons: media messages are constructed by a few for the many; constructions involve creative languages; different people experience the same media message differently; media are primarily profit-driven businesses; and media have embedded values and…

  7. Factors Promoting Engaged Exploration with Computer Simulations

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Podolefsky, Noah S.; Perkins, Katherine K.; Adams, Wendy K.

    2010-01-01

    This paper extends prior research on student use of computer simulations (sims) to engage with and explore science topics, in this case wave interference. We describe engaged exploration; a process that involves students actively interacting with educational materials, sense making, and exploring primarily via their own questioning. We analyze…

  8. Integration of Density Dependence and Concentration Response Models Provides an Ecologically Relevant Assessment of Populations Exposed to Toxicants

    EPA Science Inventory

    The assessment of toxic exposure on wildlife populations involves the integration of organism level effects measured in toxicity tests (e.g., chronic life cycle) and population models. These modeling exercises typically ignore density dependence, primarily because information on ...

  9. Active Learning Methods

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Zayapragassarazan, Z.; Kumar, Santosh

    2012-01-01

    Present generation students are primarily active learners with varied learning experiences and lecture courses may not suit all their learning needs. Effective learning involves providing students with a sense of progress and control over their own learning. This requires creating a situation where learners have a chance to try out or test their…

  10. 25 Legal and Legislative Milestones

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Diverse: Issues in Higher Education, 2009

    2009-01-01

    This timeline reflects some of the most significant legal and legislative milestones that have influenced higher education over the 25 years that "Diverse: Issues in Higher Education," formerly "Black Issues in Higher Education," has been in print. The legal battles have primarily involved the settlement of desegregation cases and the use of race…

  11. Knowledge Activation, Integration, and Validation during Narrative Text Comprehension

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Cook, Anne E.; O'Brien, Edward J.

    2014-01-01

    Previous text comprehension studies using the contradiction paradigm primarily tested assumptions of the activation mechanism involved in reading. However, the nature of the contradiction in such studies relied on validation of information in readers' general world knowledge. We directly tested this validation process by varying the strength of…

  12. The Music Programing of National Educational Television.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Dasher, Richard Taliaferro

    This study surveyed musical productions acquired by National Educational Television (NET) since its inception in 1952 in order to report their nature, circumstances of their acquisition, and their relative usage. Data were obtained primarily from interviews with persons involved in educational television and from detailed examination of NET files…

  13. 12 CFR 226.1 - Authority, purpose, coverage, organization, enforcement, and liability.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-01-01

    ... consumer's principal dwelling, regulates certain credit card practices, and provides a means for fair and... charges applicable to credit card accounts under an open-end (not home-secured) consumer credit plan. The... credit is primarily for personal, family, or household purposes. (2) If a credit card is involved...

  14. Women and Men in the Class Structure.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Collins, Randall

    1988-01-01

    Describes the stratification position of women as generally more complex than that of men, because of class distinction of organizational power. Asserts that many women, in presenting the front-stage image of an organization, in performing considerable surplus domestic labor, and in employment and leisure activities, are involved primarily in…

  15. Grants Management Handbook.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Hale, Carol

    Based on the business practices of the Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD), in Arizona, this handbook provides an overview of activities involved in starting up a new or continuing grant. The handbook begins with the negotiation process but focuses primarily on events after the grant is funded. Following a brief overview of the…

  16. Response Inhibition Is Associated with White Matter Microstructure in Children

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Madsen, Kathrine Skak; Baare, William F. C.; Vestergaard, Martin; Skimminge, Arnold; Ejersbo, Lisser Rye; Ramsoy, Thomas Z.; Gerlach, Christian; Akeson, Per; Paulson, Olaf B.; Jernigan, Terry L.

    2010-01-01

    Cognitive control of thoughts, actions and emotions is important for normal behaviour and the development of such control continues throughout childhood and adolescence. Several lines of evidence suggest that response inhibition is primarily mediated by a right-lateralized network involving inferior frontal gyrus (IFG), presupplementary motor…

  17. Landscape Assessment (LA)

    Treesearch

    Carl H. Key; Nathan C. Benson

    2006-01-01

    Landscape Assessment primarily addresses the need to identify and quantify fire effects over large areas, at times involving many burns. In contrast to individual case studies, the ability to compare results is emphasized along with the capacity to aggregate information across broad regions and over time. Results show the spatial heterogeneity of burns and how fire...

  18. Can Massive but Passive Exposure to Faces Contribute to Face Recognition Abilities?

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Yovel, Galit; Halsband, Keren; Pelleg, Michel; Farkash, Naomi; Gal, Bracha; Goshen-Gottstein, Yonatan

    2012-01-01

    Recent studies have suggested that individuation of other-race faces is more crucial for enhancing recognition performance than exposure that involves categorization of these faces to an identity-irrelevant criterion. These findings were primarily based on laboratory training protocols that dissociated exposure and individuation by using…

  19. Teaching High-Expectation Strategies to Teachers through an Intervention Process

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    McDonald, Lyn; Flint, Annaline; Rubie-Davies, Christine M.; Peterson, Elizabeth R.; Watson, Penny; Garrett, Lynda

    2016-01-01

    This study describes the outcomes of an intervention focused on the strategies and practices of high-expectation teachers. Specifically, the intervention involved 84 teachers who were randomly assigned to control and intervention groups. The research methodology was primarily qualitative, grounded in the interpretive tradition. Data collected from…

  20. Bulletin suisse de linguistique appliquee, 2001 (Swiss Bulletin for Applied Linguistics, 2001).

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Gajo, Laurent, Ed; Mondada, Lorenza, Ed.

    2001-01-01

    This issue, primarily written in French, contains articles by researchers in the fields of linguistics and social sciences and by health care professionals. The articles include the following: "The Collective Working Out of Medical Knowledge" (Lorenza Mondada); "Involvement and Constraint in a Surgical Consultation Room"…

  1. Energy: A Bibliography of Social Science and Related Literature.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Morrison, Denton E.; And Others

    This bibliography contains 2,124 listings pertaining primarily to the social factors involved with energy. Some entries report physical energy information as it relates to social science analysis. Entries are listed by author with a subject index for cross reference. Subject categories include: aesthetic, humanistic, and literary; agriculture;…

  2. Online Collaboration for Programming: Assessing Students' Cognitive Abilities

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Othman, Mahfudzah; Muhd Zain, Nurzaid

    2015-01-01

    This study is primarily focused on assessing the students' logical thinking and cognitive levels in an online collaborative environment. The aim is to investigate whether the online collaboration has significant impact to the students' cognitive abilities. The assessment of the logical thinking involved the use of the online Group Assessment…

  3. Radiological examination of the spine and fitness for work as a helicopter pilot

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Delahaye, R. P.; Auffret, R.; Metges, P. J.

    1980-01-01

    On the matter of spinal fitness for piloting, standards are proposed that suit the critical spinal segments proper to different jobs. Involved here are primarily pilots of combat airplanes and of helicopters. Fitness for one of these does not necessarily mean fitness for the other.

  4. Orienteering: A Swedish Way of Life.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Oliver, Rick

    1984-01-01

    Orienteering involves navigating over an unfamiliar route with a map and a compass and locating control markers as quickly as possible. Originating in Sweden, orienting began primarily as a military event and has grown into "a sport for all." Suggested activities in orienteering to conduct in school conclude the article. (ERB)

  5. An Administrative Perspective of a Two-Way Bilingual Immersion Program.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Armendariz, Abe Lujan; Armendariz, Emma J.

    2002-01-01

    In this interview, a female Hispanic principal discusses the challenges, resources, and support involved in implementing a two-way bilingual immersion model in a Hispanic community in Albuquerque (New Mexico). Program success resulted primarily from supportive parents, faculty, and superintendent and the principal's leadership style, which is…

  6. Nonlinear optical properties of rigid-rod polymers

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Trimmer, Mark S.; Wang, Ying

    1992-01-01

    The purpose of this research project was to integrate enhanced third order nonlinear optical (NLO) properties, especially high x(exp (3)) (greater than 10(exp -8) esu), into Maxdem's novel conjugated rigid-rod polymers while retaining their desirable processing, mechanical, and thermal properties. This work primarily involved synthetic approaches to optimized materials.

  7. Hemispheric Asymmetries in Price Estimation: Do Brain Hemispheres Attribute Different Monetary Values?

    PubMed Central

    Giuliani, Felice; D’Anselmo, Anita; Tommasi, Luca; Brancucci, Alfredo; Pietroni, Davide

    2017-01-01

    The Spatial Numerical Association of Response Codes (SNARC) effect has been associated with a wide range of magnitude processing. This effect is due to an implicit relationship between numbers and horizontal space, according to which weaker magnitudes and smaller numbers are represented on the left, whereas stronger magnitudes and larger numbers are represented on the right. However, for some particular type of magnitudes such as price, judgments may be also influenced by perceived quality and thus involving valence attribution biases driven by brain asymmetries. In the present study, a lateralized tachistoscopic presentation was used in a price estimation task, using a weight estimation task as a control, to assess differences in asymmetries between these two attributes. Results show a side bias in the former condition but not in the latter, thus indicating that other non-numerical mechanisms are involved in price estimation. Specifically, prices were estimated lower in the left visual field than in the right visual field. The proposed explanation is that price appraisal might involve a valence attribution mechanism leading to a better perceived quality (related to higher prices) when objects are processed primarily in the left hemisphere, and to a lower perceived quality (related to lower prices) when objects are processed primarily in the right hemisphere. PMID:29213252

  8. Hemispheric Asymmetries in Price Estimation: Do Brain Hemispheres Attribute Different Monetary Values?

    PubMed

    Giuliani, Felice; D'Anselmo, Anita; Tommasi, Luca; Brancucci, Alfredo; Pietroni, Davide

    2017-01-01

    The Spatial Numerical Association of Response Codes (SNARC) effect has been associated with a wide range of magnitude processing. This effect is due to an implicit relationship between numbers and horizontal space, according to which weaker magnitudes and smaller numbers are represented on the left, whereas stronger magnitudes and larger numbers are represented on the right. However, for some particular type of magnitudes such as price, judgments may be also influenced by perceived quality and thus involving valence attribution biases driven by brain asymmetries. In the present study, a lateralized tachistoscopic presentation was used in a price estimation task, using a weight estimation task as a control, to assess differences in asymmetries between these two attributes. Results show a side bias in the former condition but not in the latter, thus indicating that other non-numerical mechanisms are involved in price estimation. Specifically, prices were estimated lower in the left visual field than in the right visual field. The proposed explanation is that price appraisal might involve a valence attribution mechanism leading to a better perceived quality (related to higher prices) when objects are processed primarily in the left hemisphere, and to a lower perceived quality (related to lower prices) when objects are processed primarily in the right hemisphere.

  9. The Society's Involvement in the Defense of Human Rights

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Gerjuoy, Edward

    2015-04-01

    The history of the Society's involvement in the defense of human rights, a history of which the Society can be proud, will be summarized; the summary will include illustrative specific APS human rights defense actions in illustrative specific cases. As will be emphasized, the aforesaid involvement has been primarily through the activities of the APS Committee on International Freedom of Scientists (CIFS). It is noteworthy-and one of the reasons the Society can be proud-that CIFS is charged with ``monitoring concerns regarding human rights for scientists,'' not solely for physicists, and that CIFS indeed has sought to protect the human rights of nonphysicists.

  10. Testing and injury potential analysis of rollovers with narrow object impacts.

    PubMed

    Meyer, Steven E; Forrest, Stephen; Herbst, Brian; Hayden, Joshua; Orton, Tia; Sances, Anthony; Kumaresan, Srirangam

    2004-01-01

    Recent statistics highlight the significant risk of serious and fatal injuries to occupants involved in rollover collisions due to excessive roof crush. The government has reported that in 2002. Sports Utility Vehicle rollover related fatalities increased by 14% to more than 2400 annually. 61% of all SUV fatalities included rollovers [1]. Rollover crashes rely primarily upon the roof structures to maintain occupant survival space. Frequently these crashes occur off the travel lanes of the roadway and, therefore, can include impacts with various types of narrow objects such as light poles, utility poles and/or trees. A test device and methodology is presented which facilitates dynamic, repeatable rollover impact evaluation of complete vehicle roof structures with such narrow objects. These tests allow for the incorporation of Anthropomorphic Test Dummies (ATDs) which can be instrumented to measure accelerations, forces and moments to evaluate injury potential. High-speed video permits for detailed analysis of occupant kinematics and evaluation of injury causation. Criteria such as restraint performance, injury potential, survival space and the effect of roof crush associated with various types of design alternatives, countermeasures and impact circumstances can also be evaluated. In addition to presentation of the methodology, two representative vehicle crash tests are also reported. Results indicated that the reinforced roof structure significantly reduced the roof deformation compared to the production roof structure.

  11. Long-term clinical evaluation of the automatic stance-phase lock-controlled prosthetic knee joint in young adults with unilateral above-knee amputation.

    PubMed

    Andrysek, Jan; Wright, F Virginia; Rotter, Karin; Garcia, Daniela; Valdebenito, Rebeca; Mitchell, Carlos Alvarez; Rozbaczylo, Claudio; Cubillos, Rafael

    2017-05-01

    The purpose of this study was to clinically evaluate the automatic stance-phase lock (ASPL) knee mechanism against participants' existing weight-activated braking (WAB) prosthetic knee joint. This prospective crossover study involved 10 young adults with an above-knee amputation. Primary measurements consisted of tests of walking speeds and capacity. Heart rate was measured during the six-minute walk test and the Physiological Cost Index (PCI) which was calculated from heart rate estimated energy expenditure. Activity was measured with a pedometer. User function and quality of life were assessed using the Lower Limb Function Questionnaire (LLFQ) and Prosthetic Evaluation Questionnaire (PEQ). Long-term follow-up over 12 months were completed. Walking speeds were the same for WAB and APSL knees. Energy expenditure (PCI) was lower for the ASPL knees (p = 0.007). Step counts were the same for both knees, and questionnaires indicated ASPL knee preference attributed primarily to knee stability and improved walking, while limitations included terminal impact noise. Nine of 10 participants chose to keep using the ASPL knee as part of the long-term follow-up. Potential benefits of the ASPL knee were identified in this study by functional measures, questionnaires and user feedback, but not changes in activity or the PEQ.

  12. Subjective Responses to Oral Tobacco Products: Scale Validation

    PubMed Central

    2013-01-01

    Introduction: Several noncombusted oral tobacco products have been introduced that are primarily marketed to cigarette smokers. An important component of evaluating these products involves assessment of subjective responses to the product. To date, few studies have been undertaken to examine the validity of subjective response questionnaires for oral tobacco products. The goal of this study is to examine the extent subjective responses to a product are related to product preference and extent of product use. Methods: Data from a study examining oral tobacco product preference were used. Smokers were asked to sample a variety of oral tobacco products that differed in formulation (snus versus dissolvables) and dose of nicotine. At the end of the sampling period, subjects were asked to choose the product that they would use to completely substitute for cigarettes for the next 2 weeks. During the sampling period, subjects completed a Product Evaluation Scale (PES) that describes subjective responses to the product. During the treatment phase, they kept record of amount of product use. Results: Subjective responses to the product on the PES were related to product choice and to some extent, the amount of product use. Product choice was associated with different characteristics of the product and smoker needs. Conclusion: The PES may be a useful tool for the evaluation or oral tobacco products. PMID:23239843

  13. An interdisciplinary framework to evaluate bioshield plantations: Insights from peninsular India

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Mukherjee, Nibedita; Dahdouh-Guebas, Farid; Koedam, Nico; Shanker, Kartik

    2015-02-01

    Bioshields or coastal vegetation structures are currently amongst the most important coastal habitat modification activities in south-east Asia, particularly after the December 2004 tsunami. Coastal plantations have been promoted at a large scale as protection against severe natural disasters despite considerable debate over their efficacy as protection measures. In this paper, we provide an interdisciplinary framework for evaluating and monitoring coastal plantations. We then use this framework in a case study in peninsular India. We conducted a socio-ecological questionnaire-based survey on government and non-government organizations directly involved in coastal plantation efforts in three 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami affected states in mainland India. We found that though coastal protection was stated to be the primary cause, socio-economic factors like providing rural employment were strong drivers of plantation activities. Local communities were engaged primarily as daily wage labour for plantation rather than in the planning or monitoring phases. Application of ecological criteria has been undermined during the establishment and maintenance of plantations and there was a general lack of awareness about conservation laws relating to coastal forests. While ample flow of international aid has fuelled the plantation of exotics in the study area particularly after the Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004, the long term ecological consequences need further evaluation and rigorous monitoring in the future.

  14. [Family perceptions and moderating factors of involvement in non-residential fathers].

    PubMed

    Della Casa, André; Spillner, Murielle; Winkler-Metzke, Christa; Steinhausen, Hans-Christoph

    2012-01-01

    The involvement of non-resident fathers with their child was analysed by use of a questionnaire in a sample of 74 divorced or separated families living in the city of Ziurich, Switzerland. Fathers, mothers, and one child separately rated the involvement of the father. The three perspectives were compared and showed significant differences in the dimensions of educational responsibility, cognitive and social support, and the quality of the emotional relationship. The temporal availability and leisure time activities did not show significant differences. The different family perspectives should be considered when assessing a father's involvement with his child. The quality of the relationship of the children to their fathers was primarily fostered by the emotional engagement of the father.

  15. Salinity-induced inhibition of growth in the aquatic pteridophyte Azolla microphylla primarily involves inhibition of photosynthetic components and signaling molecules as revealed by proteome analysis.

    PubMed

    Thagela, Preeti; Yadav, Ravindra Kumar; Mishra, Vagish; Dahuja, Anil; Ahmad, Altaf; Singh, Pawan Kumar; Tiwari, Budhi Sagar; Abraham, Gerard

    2017-01-01

    Salinity stress causes adverse physiological and biochemical changes in the growth and productivity of a plant. Azolla, a symbiotic pteridophyte and potent candidate for biofertilizer due to its nitrogen fixation ability, shows reduced growth and nitrogen fixation during saline stress. To better understand regulatory components involved in salinity-induced physiological changes, in the present study, Azolla microphylla plants were exposed to NaCl (6.74 and 8.61 ds/m) and growth, photochemical reactions of photosynthesis, ion accumulation, and changes in cellular proteome were studied. Maximum dry weight was accumulated in control and untreated plant while a substantial decrease in dry weight was observed in the plants exposed to salinity. Exposure of the organism to different concentrations of salt in hydroponic conditions resulted in differential level of Na + and K + ion accumulation. Comparative analysis of salinity-induced proteome changes in A. microphylla revealed 58 salt responsive proteins which were differentially expressed during the salt exposure. Moreover, 42 % spots among differentially expressed proteins were involved in different signaling events. The identified proteins are involved in photosynthesis, energy metabolism, amino acid biosynthesis, protein synthesis, and defense. Downregulation of these key metabolic proteins appears to inhibit the growth of A. microphylla in response to salinity. Altogether, the study revealed that in Azolla, increased salinity primarily affected signaling and photosynthesis that in turn leads to reduced biomass.

  16. Nonlinearity in Social Service Evaluation: A Primer on Agent-Based Modeling

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Israel, Nathaniel; Wolf-Branigin, Michael

    2011-01-01

    Measurement of nonlinearity in social service research and evaluation relies primarily on spatial analysis and, to a lesser extent, social network analysis. Recent advances in geographic methods and computing power, however, allow for the greater use of simulation methods. These advances now enable evaluators and researchers to simulate complex…

  17. 76 FR 58861 - Notice of Opportunity To Participate, Criteria Requirements and Application Procedure for...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-09-22

    ... evaluate the conversion needs of the airport in its capital development plan to determine the appropriate... evaluate applications for redesignation primarily in terms of warranted projects fundable only under the... evaluate the need for eligible projects based upon information in the candidate airport's five-year Capital...

  18. 78 FR 72142 - Notice of Opportunity To Participate; Criteria and Application Procedures for Participation in...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-12-02

    ... evaluate the conversion needs of the airport in its capital development plan to determine the appropriate... evaluate applications for redesignation primarily in terms of warranted projects fundable only under the... designation and MAP funding. The FAA will evaluate the need for eligible projects based upon information in...

  19. Localization of damage in progressive hydroxychloroquine retinopathy on and off the drug: inner versus outer retina, parafovea versus peripheral fovea.

    PubMed

    de Sisternes, Luis; Hu, Julia; Rubin, Daniel L; Marmor, Michael F

    2015-05-01

    To evaluate the relative involvement of inner and outer retina in hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) retinopathy while on the drug, and after drug cessation, using data from spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). A total of 102 SD-OCT scans were obtained from 11 patients (classified as having early, moderate, or severe stages of toxicity) over a period of 4 years after cessation of HCQ. The inner and outer retina boundaries were identified automatically to measure thickness and characterize progression topographically. The segmentation of retinal layers was verified in SD-OCT cross-sections for all eyes and scans included in this study (a total of 102 scans). Topographic analysis showed that inner retina was not involved in HCQ toxicity to any meaningful degree, either between stages of retinopathy or after the drug is stopped. The characteristic bull's eye pattern of outer macula thinning appears when comparing moderate retinopathy (before any RPE damage) to the early stage. Later damage, as toxicity evolved to a severe stage, was diffuse across most of the macula. If the drug was stopped at an early or moderate stage, progression was limited to the first year and occurred diffusely without parafoveal localization. Hydroxychloroquine retinopathy primarily involves outer retina (photoreceptors). Outer retinal thinning while using HCQ initially involves the parafovea, but becomes diffuse across the macula as damage progresses or after drug cessation. When HCQ is stopped at an early or moderate stage (before RPE damage), progression seems to be limited to the first year.

  20. A review and evaluation of research on the deaf-blind from perceptual, communicative, social and rehabilitative perspectives.

    PubMed

    Rönnberg, J; Borg, E

    2001-01-01

    This paper reviews research on deaf-blind individuals, primarily from behavioral and communicative points of view. Inclusion in the population of deaf-blind is qualified by describing a variety of subgroups and genetically based syndromes associated with deaf-blindness. Sensory assessment procedures--based primarily on residual capacities--are appraised. Consequences for everyday life are described briefly. Non-sensory, alternative classificatory schemes and procedures are presented and the results from behavior modification procedures used for correcting maladaptive behaviors are summarized. Methods for communicating tactilely are described and evaluated. Attention is also drawn to some suggestions regarding learning of alphabetic codes and sign acquisition. Finally, suggestions for future research are proposed.

  1. Overview of International Space Station Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly On-Orbit Operations and Performance

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Matty, Christopher M.

    2013-01-01

    Controlling Carbon Dioxide (CO2) partial pressure in the habitable vehicle environment is a critical part of operations on the International Space Station (ISS). On the United States segment of ISS, CO2 levels are primarily controlled by the Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA). There are two CDRAs on ISS; one in the United States Laboratory module, and one in the Node3 module. CDRA has been through several significant operational issues, performance issues and subsequent re-design of various components, primarily involving the Desiccant Adsorbent Bed (DAB) assembly and Air Selector Valves (ASV). This paper will focus on significant operational and performance issues experienced by the CDRA team from 2008-2012.

  2. Inhomogeneity of microstructure, mechanical properties, magnetism, and corrosion observed in a 12Cr18Ni10Ti fuel assembly shroud irradiated in BN-350 to 59 dpa

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Maksimkin, O. P.; Tsay, K. V.; Garner, F. A.

    2015-12-01

    A hexagonal shroud containing a standard in-core fueled subassembly from the BN-350 reactor was examined after reaching 59 dpa maximum, followed by long-term storage underwater. Specimens were derived from both mid-face and rib-corner positions. It was shown that there were complex spatial variations in void swelling, mechanical properties, microhardness, radiation-induced magnetism as well as corrosion while underwater. The spatial variations arose from two major sources. The first source was variations in height associated with variations in dpa rate and irradiation temperature. The second source was shown to be spatial variations in starting microstructure arising primarily from a higher level of initial deformation and hardness in the rib-corners of the hexagonal shroud. With irradiation the differences in microhardness between the two regions disappeared, but void swelling in the rib areas was larger than at mid-face positions. The swelling enhancement at the corners is thought to arise primarily from the combined effect of temper annealing at a temperature known to remove carbon from the matrix before irradiation, and the influence of higher deformed microstructures to accelerate recrystallization, possibly with assistance from localized residual stresses. Swelling was relatively low at the bottom low-temperature end of the shroud, but increased on the upper end of the assembly, reflecting primarily a transition between a precipitation regime involving titanium carbide to one involving nickel-rich and silicon-rich G-phase.

  3. The need to promote behaviour change at the cultural level: one factor explaining the limited impact of the MEMA kwa Vijana adolescent sexual health intervention in rural Tanzania. A process evaluation.

    PubMed

    Wight, Daniel; Plummer, Mary; Ross, David

    2012-09-14

    Few of the many behavioral sexual health interventions in Africa have been rigorously evaluated. Where biological outcomes have been measured, improvements have rarely been found. One of the most rigorous trials was of the multi-component MEMA kwa Vijana adolescent sexual health programme, which showed improvements in knowledge and reported attitudes and behaviour, but none in biological outcomes. This paper attempts to explain these outcomes by reviewing the process evaluation findings, particularly in terms of contextual factors. A large-scale, primarily qualitative process evaluation based mainly on participant observation identified the principal contextual barriers and facilitators of behavioural change. The contextual barriers involved four interrelated socio-structural factors: culture (i.e. shared practices and systems of belief), economic circumstances, social status, and gender. At an individual level they appeared to operate through the constructs of the theories underlying MEMA kwa Vijana - Social Cognitive Theory and the Theory of Reasoned Action - but the intervention was unable to substantially modify these individual-level constructs, apart from knowledge. The process evaluation suggests that one important reason for this failure is that the intervention did not operate sufficiently at a structural level, particularly in regard to culture. Recently most structural interventions have focused on gender or/and economics. Complementing these with a cultural approach could address the belief systems that justify and perpetuate gender and economic inequalities, as well as other barriers to behaviour change.

  4. EVALUATION OF PERFLUOROOCTANE SULFONATE IN THE RAT BRAIN

    EPA Science Inventory

    Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS) is an environmentally persistent chemical that has been detected in humans and wildlife. PFOS is primarily distributed in liver and blood. The current study evaluated the level of PFOS in the adult and neonatal rat brain and determined whether t...

  5. Future Issues and Perspectives in the Evaluation of Social Development.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Marsden, David; Oakley, Peter

    1991-01-01

    An instrumental/technocratic approach to evaluation of social development relies on primarily quantitative methods. An interpretive approach resists claims to legitimacy and authority of "experts" and questions existing interpretations. The latter approach is characterized by cultural relativism and subjectivity. (SK)

  6. Evaluation of alternative dowel bar materials and coatings.

    DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

    2011-11-01

    This study provided for a continuation of the long-term performance evaluation of 1.5-in (38-mm) diameter FRP dowels : and Type 304 stainless steel solid dowels or mortar-filled tubes compared to epoxy-coated dowels. This primarily : included an eval...

  7. Metamemory Development: Understanding the Role of Similarity in False Memories

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Jaswal, Vikram K.; Dodson, Chad S.

    2009-01-01

    Research on the development of metamemory has focused primarily on children's understanding of the variables that influence how likely a person is to remember something. But metamemory also involves an understanding of why people occasionally misremember things. In this study, 5- and 6-year-olds (N = 38) were asked to decide whether another…

  8. Listeria monocytogenes source distribution analysis indicates regional heterogeneity and ecological niche preference among serotype 4b clones

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    Human illness due to the foodborne bacterial pathogen Listeria monocytogenes frequently involves certain widely disseminated clonal complexes (CCs), primarily of serotype 4b. CC1, CC2 and CC6, previously also designated epidemic clone (EC) I, Ia and II, respectively, have been frequently implicate...

  9. 75 FR 62879 - Individual Exemption Involving General Motors Company, General Motors Holdings LLC, and General...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2010-10-13

    ... returns for the single plan that owns the securities for which the investment bank is responsible. In its... Account with respect to the marketing or underwriting of the securities. For this purpose, an investment..., held back for the payment of expenses (primarily, investment [[Page 62882

  10. Where Does Latin "Sum" Come From?

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Nyman, Martti A.

    1977-01-01

    The derivation of Latin "sum,""es(s),""est" from Indo-European "esmi,""est,""esti" involves methodological problems. It is claimed here that the development of "sum" from "esmi" is related to the origin of the variation "est-st" (less than"esti"). The study is primarily concerned with this process, but chronological suggestions are also made. (CHK)

  11. Penetrating missile-type head injury from a defective badminton racquet.

    PubMed

    Pappano, Dante; Murray, Elizabeth; Cimpello, Lynn Babcock; Conners, Gregory

    2009-06-01

    Injuries occurring during badminton are rarely serious and primarily involve the lower extremities. We report an instance wherein a patient suffered serious brain injury related to playing with a defective badminton racquet. The possibility of similar injuries following the separation of the racquet head and shaft from the handle needs to be disseminated.

  12. Discipline and the TS Child: A Guide for Parents and Teachers of Children with Tourette Syndrome.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Fisher-Collins, Ramona

    This parent and teacher guide considers discipline for children with Tourette Syndrome (TS) who have difficulty with behavioral compliance. Discipline is defined primarily as "training to act in accordance with rules," and is not punishment but involves teaching self-control and observance of societal expectations. Controversy and…

  13. Stepfamily Functioning and Closeness: Children's Views on Second Marriages and Stepfather Relationships

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Jensen, Todd M.; Shafer, Kevin

    2013-01-01

    Current research on stepfamily well-being often overlooks the perspective of children, and deals primarily with factors as reported by the adults involved. The authors examine a number of family role characteristics, parental subsystem characteristics, and resources that might influence how children perceive the quality of their stepfamily…

  14. An Effective Approach to Biomedical Information Extraction with Limited Training Data

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Jonnalagadda, Siddhartha

    2011-01-01

    In the current millennium, extensive use of computers and the internet caused an exponential increase in information. Few research areas are as important as information extraction, which primarily involves extracting concepts and the relations between them from free text. Limitations in the size of training data, lack of lexicons and lack of…

  15. Seeking Coherence and Integrity: Personal and Professional Demands and Expectations of Senior Women Professors

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Hamrick, Florence A.; Benjamin, Mimi

    2004-01-01

    This study of 26 senior women professors at a large research university suggests that, while their negotiation of professional and personal commitments involved calculated balancing acts and strategies, they primarily described searches for integrity and coherence in life. More effective personal management strategies, modified and more realistic…

  16. Must Dewey and Kierkegaard's Inquiry for World Peace Be Violent?

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Webster, R. Scott

    2011-01-01

    Amongst the many aims of education, surely the pursuit of global peace must be one of the most significant. The mandate of UNESCO is to pursue world peace through education by primarily promoting collaboration. The sort of collaboration that UNESCO endorses involves democratic dialogue, where various persons from differing backgrounds can come…

  17. Development of a Stages of Concern Questionnaire for Preservice Teachers.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    O'Sullivan, Kathleen A.; Zielinski, Edward J.

    The Stages of Concerns Questionnaire (SoCQ) is an established instrument which has been used primarily with inservice teachers involved in innovations. While it focuses on inservice teachers' concerns about an innovation, the instrument is based on theoretical constructs developed by the work of Frances Fuller and others during the 1960s with…

  18. Food Preservation Manual: A Guide for School-Community Canneries in Virginia.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Lee, Jasper S., Ed.; Wood, Charles B.

    The manual was intended primarily for use by lay instructors and assistants involved in the daily operation of school-community canneries under the supervision of a high school agricultural education instructor. The first half deals in detail with the fundamentals of food preparation and cannery operation. Food preservation by canning, sanitation…

  19. Development of Early Handwriting: Visual-Motor Control during Letter Copying

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Maldarelli, Jennifer E.; Kahrs, Björn A.; Hunt, Sarah C.; Lockman, Jeffrey J.

    2015-01-01

    Despite the importance of handwriting for school readiness and early academic progress, prior research on the development of handwriting has focused primarily on the product rather than the process by which young children write letters. In contrast, in the present work, early handwriting is viewed as involving a suite of perceptual, motor, and…

  20. Training in the Prevention and Treatment of Child Abuse and Neglect. The User Manual Series.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Broadhurst, Diane D.; MacDicken, Robert A.

    Intended primarily for persons or agencies responsible for providing training to professionals and interested citizens involved in delivery of services to abusive and neglectful families, the manual addresses the importance of training in the identification, reporting, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of child abuse and neglect. Chapters focus…

  1. Spanish Basic Course: Units 46-55.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Trease, B. David; Ulsh, Jack L.

    This final volume in a series of four texts was prepared as an intensive language course in Spanish for Foreign Service Officers and other United States government agencies involved in foreign affairs who need to learn to speak Spanish. This volume differs from the first three primarily in that it is geared to advanced students whose…

  2. Healthy Children: Investing in the Future.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Congress of the U.S., Washington, DC. Office of Technology Assessment.

    This report discusses the status of children's health in the United States, and strategies which involve primarily personal health care services for the prevention of death, disease and injury of children. The report opens with a summary of the contents, and then suggests strategies for public policy for the improvement of children's health. The…

  3. Educational Transitions in the United States: Reflections on the American Dream

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Crawford, Paul T.

    2012-01-01

    Education involves socialization so that individuals become productive members of society. At present, in the United States, educational transitions are primarily viewed in terms of their location in an outcomes-oriented process and framed as helping people achieve the American Dream, but in terms of the status quo national economic interest. But…

  4. Slogging and Stumbling toward Social Justice in a Private Elementary School: The Complicated Case of St. Malachy

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Scanlan, Martin

    2010-01-01

    This case study examines St. Malachy, an urban Catholic elementary school primarily serving children traditionally marginalized by race, class, linguistic heritage, and disability. As a private school, St. Malachy serves the public good by recruiting and retaining such traditionally marginalized students. As empirical studies involving Catholic…

  5. Challenging the Western Approach to Cultural Comparisons: Young Pupils' Affective Structures Regarding Mathematics in Finland and Chile

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Tuohilampi, Laura; Hannula, Markku S.; Varas, Leonor; Giaconi, Valentina; Laine, Anu; Näveri, Liisa; i Nevado, Laia Saló

    2015-01-01

    Large-scale studies measure mathematics-related affect using questionnaires developed by researchers in primarily English-based countries and according to Western-based theories. Influential comparative conclusions about different cultures and countries are drawn based on such measurements. However, there are certain premises involved in these…

  6. The Negro in the Tobacco Industry. The Racial Policies of American Industry.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Northrup, Herbert R.; Ash, Robert I.

    The tobacco industry has employed Negroes since its inception in Colonial Virginia. This study is primarily concerned with the course of Negro employment and industry racial policies in the industry processing, manufacturing, selling, and distributing of cigarettes and manufactured tobacco, as distinct from the cigar industry which involves quite…

  7. The Electric Journalist: An Introduction to Video.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Anderson, Chuck

    This book explores television as an art form and as a means of communication. Aimed primarily at the high school student, most of this book is devoted to the creative process involved in producing material for television programing. The effect of television on the individual and society is also examined, and certain concepts and procedures…

  8. The Mediating Effects of Anonymity and Proximity in an Online Synchronized Competitive Learning Environment

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Yu, Fu-Yun

    2003-01-01

    Since past studies showing that competition has negative effects on group process were primarily conducted in traditional classrooms involving face-to-face situations, this study extends past research by investigating whether the negative effects associated with face-to-face team competition can be mitigated with the support of networking…

  9. Churg-Strauss syndrome: a case report*

    PubMed Central

    Fernandes, Gabriel Lacerda; Teixeira, Arivaldo Araújo; Antón, Ana Graziela Santana; Reis, Alan Timóteo Rodrigues; de Freitas, Ana Carolina Rezende; Basílio, Dunya Bachour

    2014-01-01

    Churg-Strauss syndrome is a rare systemic disease primarily characterized by hypereosinophilia, asthma and vasculitis. The lung is the organ most frequently involved. In the present report, the authors describe a relatively rare finding in this disease - the presence of a pulmonary nodule -, while recalling the main radiological findings and the most relevant differential diagnoses. PMID:25741095

  10. Functional and molecular characterization of genes involved in antagonisms between two maize endophytes, Fusarium verticillioides and Sarocladium zeae

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    Fusarium verticillioides (Fv) is a prevalent seed-borne maize endophyte capable of causing severe kernel rot and fumonisin mycotoxin contamination. Within maize kernels, Fv is primarily confined to the pedicel, while another seed-borne fungal endophyte, Sarocladium zeae (Sz), is observed in embryos....

  11. The Influence of Attentional Focus Instructions and Vision on Jump Height Performance

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Abdollahipour, Reza; Psotta, Rudolf; Land, William M.

    2016-01-01

    Purpose: Studies have suggested that the use of visual information may underlie the benefit associated with an external focus of attention. Recent studies exploring this connection have primarily relied on motor tasks that involve manipulation of an object (object projection). The present study examined whether vision influences the effect of…

  12. Flipped Instruction with English Language Learners at a Newcomer High School

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Graziano, Kevin J.; Hall, John D.

    2017-01-01

    Research on flipped instruction with English Language Learners (ELLs) is sparse. Data-driven flipped research conducted with ELLs primarily involves adult learners attending a college or university. This study examined the academic performance of secondary ELLs who received flipped instruction in an algebra course at a newcomer school compared to…

  13. Practical School Security: Basic Guidelines for Safe and Secure Schools.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Trump, Kenneth S.

    This book is written primarily for elementary and secondary school administrators and teachers, but college faculty involved in providing teacher or administrator education would also benefit from the practical approach to issues of school security. Chapters 1 through 3 establish a framework for dealing with the myths and realities of school…

  14. Science Shorts: "Sounds" Like Science

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Arnone, Kathryn; Morris, Bethany

    2014-01-01

    It seems each new school year brings its own opportunities to grow as an educator. As teachers in a STEM focused school that serves primarily at-risk students, the authors face a new challenge in rethinking their instruction to align with the "Next Generation Science Standards". This involves changing the focus of units previously taught…

  15. Radiation Safety Aspects of Nanotechnology

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

    Hoover, Mark; Myers, David; Cash, Leigh Jackson

    This Report is intended primarily for operational health physicists, radiation safety officers, and internal dosimetrists who are responsible for establishing and implementing radiation safety programs involving radioactive nanomaterials. It should also provide useful information for workers, managers and regulators who are either working directly with or have other responsibilities related to work with radioactive nanomaterials.

  16. Disaster Planning: Preparedness and Recovery for Libraries and Archives: A RAMP Study with Guidelines.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Buchanan, Sally A.; Murray, Toby

    This manual provides guidelines for those who are responsible for disaster planning for libraries and archives. Limited to fire-and-water-related disasters involving books, manuscripts, and photographs, the manual is primarily concerned with planning. Divided into two major areas, disaster preparedness and disaster recovery, the manual covers…

  17. The Impact of Learning Multiple Foreign Languages on Using Metacognitive Reading Strategies

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Razi, Salim

    2008-01-01

    This study aims primarily to investigate the impact of learning multiple foreign languages on the use of metacognitive reading strategies (MRSs) by foreign language teaching (FLT) department students. A number of factors such as gender, hand preference, class, and programme with reference to their belief orientation were also involved in the…

  18. Control Networks and Neuromodulators of Early Development

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Posner, Michael I.; Rothbart, Mary K.; Sheese, Brad E.; Voelker, Pascale

    2012-01-01

    In adults, most cognitive and emotional self-regulation is carried out by a network of brain regions, including the anterior cingulate, insula, and areas of the basal ganglia, related to executive attention. We propose that during infancy, control systems depend primarily upon a brain network involved in orienting to sensory events that includes…

  19. Implementing Interactive Telecommunications Services. Final Report on Problems Which Arise During Implementation of Field Trials and Demonstration Projects.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Elton, Martin C. J.; Carey, John

    Intended primarily for use by individuals about to assume responsibility for the implementation of field trials and demonstration projects built around interactive telecommunication systems, this report provides brief descriptions of 20 telemedicine projects, 12 teleconferencing projects, and seven involving two-way applications of cable…

  20. Critical Thinking about Fables: Examining Language Production and Comprehension in Adolescents

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Nippold, Marilyn A.; Frantz-Kaspar, Megan W.; Cramond, Paige M.; Kirk, Cecilia; Hayward-Mayhew, Christine; MacKinnon, Melanie

    2015-01-01

    Purpose: This study was designed primarily to determine if a critical-thinking task involving fables would elicit greater syntactic complexity than a conversational task in adolescents. Another purpose was to determine how well adolescents understand critical-thinking questions about fables. Method: Forty adolescents (N = 20 boys and 20 girls;…

  1. Summary of U.S. research on wood transportation structures

    Treesearch

    M. A. Ritter; R. C. Moody; S. R. Duwadi

    1996-01-01

    An extensive U.S. research program to further develop wood utilization in transportation structures is currently in progress as a joint effort of the USDA Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory, and the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration. This research is funded primarily by U.S. legislation and involves cooperative research with...

  2. Behavioral Assessment of Impulsivity: A Comparison of Children with and without Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Neef, Nancy A.; Marckel, Julie; Ferreri, Summer J.; Bicard, David F.; Endo, Sayaka; Aman, Michael G.; Miller, Kelly M.; Jung, Sunhwa; Nist, Lindsay; Armstrong, Nancy

    2005-01-01

    We conducted a brief computer-based assessment involving choices of concurrently presented arithmetic problems associated with competing reinforcer dimensions to assess impulsivity (choices controlled primarily by reinforcer immediacy) as well as the relative influence of other dimensions (reinforcer rate, quality, and response effort), with 58…

  3. Beyond Economic Growth: Meeting the Challenges of Global Development. WBI Learning Resources Series.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Soubbotina, Tatyana P.

    This book is designed primarily to help readers broaden their knowledge of global issues, gain insight into their country's situation in a global context, and understand the problems of sustainable development nationally and globally. Because development is a comprehensive process involving economic as well as social and environmental changes, the…

  4. Intimacy Is a Transdiagnostic Problem for Cognitive Behavior Therapy: Functional Analytical Psychotherapy Is a Solution

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Wetterneck, Chad T.; Hart, John M.

    2012-01-01

    Problems with intimacy and interpersonal issues are exhibited across most psychiatric disorders. However, most of the targets in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy are primarily intrapersonal in nature, with few directly involved in interpersonal functioning and effective intimacy. Functional Analytic Psychotherapy (FAP) provides a behavioral basis for…

  5. Classrooms as Sites of Curriculum Delivery or Meaning-Making: Whose Knowledge Counts?

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Yandell, John

    2014-01-01

    Whereas the previous government, regarding education primarily as a means to an end, showed little interest in questions of curriculum content, Gove's counter-revolution involves the enforcement of a deeply authoritarian politics of knowledge. An adequate response to such cultural and curricular conservatism needs to expose the falsity of Gove's…

  6. Wildlife Habitat Improvement Guide for Minnesota Youth.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Halsey, Clifton

    This publication outlines projects to increase wildlife, primarily fowl and deer, and to help rural youth better understand wildlife requirements. The publication outlines six basic steps that are involved in initiating a wildlife project. These are: (1) Determine the types of wild animals for which the land is best suited; (2) Study the life…

  7. High Frequency rTMS over the Left Parietal Lobule Increases Non-Word Reading Accuracy

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Costanzo, Floriana; Menghini, Deny; Caltagirone, Carlo; Oliveri, Massimiliano; Vicari, Stefano

    2012-01-01

    Increasing evidence in the literature supports the usefulness of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) in studying reading processes. Two brain regions are primarily involved in phonological decoding: the left superior temporal gyrus (STG), which is associated with the auditory representation of spoken words, and the left inferior parietal lobe…

  8. Cytokine patterns in paediatric patients presenting serious gastrointestinal and respiratory bacterial infections

    PubMed Central

    Palacios-Martínez, Monika; Rodríguez-Cruz, Leonor; Cortés-Bejar, Consuelo Del Carmen; Valencia-Chavarría, Fernando; Martínez-Gómez, Daniel; González-Torres, María Cristina

    2014-01-01

    In the adaptive immune response, the types of cytokines produced define whether there is a cellular (T1) or a humoral (T2) response. Specifically, in the T1 response, interleukin 2 (IL-2), interferon γ (IFN-γ) and tumor necrosis factor β (TNF-β) are produced, whereas in the T2 response, IL-4, IL-5, IL- 6, IL-10 and IL-13 are primarily produced. Cytokines are primarily involved in the regulation of immune system cells. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the cytokine patterns (Type 1/Type 2) and TNF-α expression levels in children with severe gastrointestinal and respiratory bacterial infections. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique was used to identify the cytokines and the infectious agents. The results obtained demonstrated that, in general, children with bacterial infections experienced an increase in IL-2, IFN-γ and IL-4 concentrations and a decrease in TNF-α, IL-5 and IL-6 concentrations when compared to healthy children. Specifically, type 1 cytokines and an increased TNF-α concentration were found in children with gastrointestinal infections. However, patients with respiratory infections showed increased concentrations of both T2 (IL-4, IL-6 and IL-10) and T1 (IL-2 and IFN-γ) components. Thus, it was concluded that children with gastrointestinal infections exclusively developed a T1 response, whereas children with respiratory infections developed a T1/T2 response to fight the infection. PMID:26155128

  9. Indian Health Service Training Center, Training Course TC-72-2 (April 17-May 5, 1972): Pueblo de Santa Clara - A Description of the Perceived Health Needs of the People of Santa Clara Pueblo and the Management Processes Involved in the Delivery of Health Services to Them.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Public Health Service (DHEW), Washington, DC. Div. of Indian Health.

    Members of the Health Services Management class conducted a descriptive study of the perceived health problems of the people of Santa Clara Pueblo and the management processes involved in the delivery of health services to them. Data were obtained from personal interviews with 38 Tribal members, 9 officals, 6 employees working primarily in the…

  10. Stage fright in singers: three reaction types.

    PubMed

    Berghs, Geert

    2008-01-01

    Drawing on both my own personal experience and that of many colleagues and pupils, I shall describe three kinds of reactions to stage fright. The first is the primarily mental reaction of derealization, which involves feeling cut off from fear and decreasing body awareness. The second and third reactions to stage fright involve (a) increased and (b) decreased muscle tonus and their associated breathing patterns. Furthermore, I shall indicate how singers manage to pull themselves together through the very act of producing their first tones. Copyright 2008 S. Karger AG, Basel.

  11. A Sequential Approach in Treatment of Endo-Perio Lesion A Case Report

    PubMed Central

    Aspalli, Nagaveni; Munavalli, Anil; Ajgaonkar, Nishant; Babannavar, Roopa

    2014-01-01

    Endo-perio lesions primarily occur by way of the intimate anatomic and vascular connections between the pulp and the periodontium. Endodontic-periodontal combined lesion is a clinical dilemma because making a differential diagnosis and deciding a prognosis are difficult. An untreated primary endodontic lesion may become secondarily involved with periodontal breakdown, which clinically present unusual signs and symptoms. This may delay the diagnosis and hence the correct treatment. This case report describes diagnosis and treatment protocol for an endo-perio lesion of primary endodontic with secondary periodontal involvement. PMID:25302276

  12. A sequential approach in treatment of endo-perio lesion a case report.

    PubMed

    Kambale, Sharanappa; Aspalli, Nagaveni; Munavalli, Anil; Ajgaonkar, Nishant; Babannavar, Roopa

    2014-08-01

    Endo-perio lesions primarily occur by way of the intimate anatomic and vascular connections between the pulp and the periodontium. Endodontic-periodontal combined lesion is a clinical dilemma because making a differential diagnosis and deciding a prognosis are difficult. An untreated primary endodontic lesion may become secondarily involved with periodontal breakdown, which clinically present unusual signs and symptoms. This may delay the diagnosis and hence the correct treatment. This case report describes diagnosis and treatment protocol for an endo-perio lesion of primary endodontic with secondary periodontal involvement.

  13. MRI and MR spectroscopy findings of a case of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis affecting the corpus callosum.

    PubMed

    Öztürk, Mehmet; Sığırcı, Ahmet; Yakıncı, Cengiz

    2015-07-10

    Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) is a rare, slowly progressive, fatal, inflammatory and neurodegenerative disease that is seen mostly in children and young adolescents, and primarily affects the parieto-occipital lobes. The corpus callosum, cerebellum and basal ganglia are less frequently involved. MR spectroscopy (MRS) may illustrate the pathophysiological features of SSPE. To the best of our knowledge, this is the second report of MRS findings of corpus callosum involvement in a stage 3 SSPE case. 2015 BMJ Publishing Group Ltd.

  14. Chemical kinetic and photochemical data for use in stratospheric modelling

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Demore, W. B.; Stief, L. J.; Kaufman, F.; Golden, D. M.; Hampton, R. F.; Kurylo, M. J.; Margitan, J. J.; Molina, M. J.; Watson, R. T.

    1979-01-01

    An evaluated set of rate constants and photochemical cross sections were compiled for use in modelling stratospheric processes. The data are primarily relevant to the ozone layer, and its possible perturbation by anthropogenic activities. The evaluation is current to, approximately, January, 1979.

  15. Development Communication Report, 1991.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Development Communication Report, 1991

    1991-01-01

    The four 1991 issues of the newsletter "Development Communication Report" are primarily concerned with the use of communication technologies in developing countries to educate the people. Evaluation is the theme of the first issue, which contains the following articles: "Evaluating Communication Programs: Means and Ends,""Making a Splash: How…

  16. Evaluation of thin epoxy system overlays for concrete bridge decks : interim report No. 1.

    DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

    1986-05-01

    Four epoxy overlay systems were applied to concrete bridge decks in north Louisiana to evaluate their performance as skid resistant surfaces primarily and also as concrete sealers. Dural Flexolith, Poly-Carb Flexogrid, and Con/Chem Cono/Crete were pl...

  17. Evaluation of Federal Social Programs: An Uncertain Impact. Occasional Paper 1992-2.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Levitan, Sar A.

    This paper explores the impact that the evaluation industry has had on the development and implementation of social policy and programs, primarily as carried out by the U.S. Departments of Labor and Health and Human Services. In addition, major tools evaluators have developed and used, and the institutional arrangements through which they have…

  18. A Course Model for Building Evaluation Capacity through a University-Community Partnership

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Bakken, Lori L.; Núñez, Jennifer; Couture, Cathy

    2014-01-01

    Program evaluation is recognized as an essential skill set for practitioners in service-related fields, such as education, nonprofit management, social work, and public health. Recently, the need for a public workforce trained in evaluation has increased and is driven primarily by our nation's emphasis on accountability during a time when…

  19. Surface evaluation of UV-degraded contamination

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Connatser, Robert; Hadaway, James B.

    1992-01-01

    Three different areas of work were accomplished under this contract: (1) contamination testing and evaluation; (2) UV irradiation testing; and (3) surface evaluation testing. Contamination testing was generally performed in the In-Situ Contamination Effects Facility at Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC). UV irradiation testing was also performed primarily at MSFC, utilizing facilities there. Finally, the surface evaluation was done at facilities at UAH Center for Applied Optics.

  20. Preventing alcohol misuse in young people aged 9-11 years through promoting family communication: an exploratory evaluation of the Kids, Adults Together (KAT) Programme

    PubMed Central

    2011-01-01

    Background Alcohol misuse by young people is an important public health issue, and has led to the development of a range of prevention interventions. Evidence concerning the most effective approaches to intervention design and implementation is limited. Parental involvement in school-based interventions is important, but many programmes fail to recruit large numbers of parents. This paper reports findings from an exploratory evaluation of a new alcohol misuse prevention programme - Kids, Adults Together (KAT), which comprised a classroom component, engagement with parents through a fun evening for families with children aged 9-11 years, and a DVD. The evaluation aimed to establish the programme's theoretical basis, explore implementation processes and acceptability, and identify plausible precursors of the intended long-term outcomes. Methods Documentary analysis and interviews with key personnel examined the programme's development. Classroom preparation and KAT family events in two schools were observed. Focus groups with children, and interviews with parents who attended KAT family events were held immediately after programme delivery, and again after three months. Interviews with head teachers and with teachers who delivered the classroom preparation were conducted. Follow-up interviews with programme personnel were undertaken. Questionnaires were sent to parents of all children involved in classroom preparation. Results KAT achieved high levels of acceptability and involvement among both children and parents. Main perceived impacts of the programme were increased pro-social communication within families (including discussions about harmful parental alcohol consumption), heightened knowledge and awareness of the effects of alcohol consumption and key legal and health issues, and changes in parental drinking behaviours. Conclusions KAT demonstrated promise as a prevention intervention, primarily through its impact on knowledge and communication processes within families, and its ability to engage with large numbers of parents. A key programme mechanism was the classroom preparation's facilitation of parental involvement in the family fun evening. The programme also incorporated features identified in the literature as likely to increase effectiveness, including a focus on harm reduction, interactive delivery, and targeting primary-school-age children. Further research is needed to test and develop programme theory through implementation in different school contexts, and to examine potential longer-term impacts, and the feasibility of large scale delivery. PMID:22004185

  1. NIR fluorescent chitosan-based nanoparticles for tracking and delivery of cancer therapeutic molecule in living systems

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Suarato, Giulia; Chin, Amanda; Meng, Yizhi

    2013-03-01

    Tumor metastasis is associated with the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), in which cells lose their polarized phenotype to acquire the asymmetry and motility of mesenchymal cells. Among the many molecular determinants for EMT is bone morphogenetic protein-7 (BMP-7), a critical regulator of skeletal tissue formation and kidney development. Current treatments for metastatic cancer primarily involve surgery and chemotherapy, both with considerable side effects. Therefore the goal of our research is to evaluate the ability of BMP-7 to reverse EMT using a delivery system based on glycol chitosan nanoparticles (GCNP), naturally biodegradable. The GCNP are labeled with Cy5.5, a near infrared (NIR) excitable dye that enables non-invasive imaging in living systems. The chitosan shell provides affinity for the cell surface and protection from intracellular enzymes during transport. Preliminary data show that Cy5.5-GCNP vehicles were successfully delivered to murine preosteoblast (MC3T3-E1), rat osteosarcoma (ROS) 17/2.8 and human embryonic kidney (HEK293) cells. Release kinetics using a model protein (BSA) and BMP-7, and the stability of the protein nano-cargo are currently being evaluated. Cell morphology will be examined with immunofluorescence microscopy.

  2. In Vitro Measures for Assessing Boar Semen Fertility.

    PubMed

    Jung, M; Rüdiger, K; Schulze, M

    2015-07-01

    Optimization of artificial insemination (AI) for pig production and evaluation of the fertilizing capacity of boar semen are highly related. Field studies have demonstrated significant variation in semen quality and fertility. The semen quality of boars is primarily affected by breed and season. AI centres routinely examine boar semen to predict male fertility. Overall, the evaluation of classical parameters, such as sperm morphology, sperm motility, sperm concentration and ejaculate volume, allows the identification of ejaculates corresponding to poor fertility but not high-efficiency prediction of field fertility. The development of new sperm tests for measuring certain sperm functions has attempted to solve this problem. Fluorescence staining can categorize live and dead spermatozoa in the ejaculate and identify spermatozoa with active mitochondria. Computer-assisted semen analysis (CASA) provides an objective assessment of multiple kinetic sperm parameters. However, sperm tests usually assess only single factors involved in the fertilization process. Thus, basing prediction of fertilizing capacity on a selective collection of sperm tests leads to greater accuracy than using single tests. In the present brief review, recent diagnostic laboratory methods that directly relate to AI performance as well as the development of a new boar fertility in vitro index are discussed. © 2015 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.

  3. Rapid resolution of chronic shoulder pain classified as derangement using the McKenzie method: a case series

    PubMed Central

    Aytona, Maria Corazon; Dudley, Karlene

    2013-01-01

    The McKenzie method, also known as Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy (MDT), is primarily recognized as an evaluation and treatment method for the spine. However, McKenzie suggested that this method could also be applied to the extremities. Derangement is an MDT classification defined as an anatomical disturbance in the normal resting position of the joint, and McKenzie proposed that repeated movements could be applied to reduce internal joint displacement and rapidly reduce derangement symptoms. However, the current literature on MDT application to shoulder disorders is limited. Here, we present a case series involving four patients with chronic shoulder pain from a duration of 2–18 months classified as derangement and treated using MDT principles. Each patient underwent mechanical assessment and was treated with repeated movements based on their directional preference. All patients demonstrated rapid and clinically significant improvement in baseline measures and the disabilities of the arm, shoulder, and hand (QuickDASH) scores from an average of 38% at initial evaluation to 5% at discharge within 3–5 visits. Our findings suggest that MDT may be an effective treatment approach for shoulder pain. PMID:24421633

  4. Next generation communications satellites: Multiple access and network studies

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Stern, T. E.; Schwartz, M.; Meadows, H. E.; Ahmadi, H. K.; Gadre, J. G.; Gopal, I. S.; Matsmo, K.

    1980-01-01

    Following an overview of issues involved in the choice of promising system architectures for efficient communication with multiple small inexpensive Earth stations serving hetergeneous user populations, performance evaluation via analysis and simulation for six SS/TDMA (satellite-switched/time-division multiple access) system architectures is discussed. These configurations are chosen to exemplify the essential alternatives available in system design. Although the performance evaluation analyses are of fairly general applicability, whenever possible they are considered in the context of NASA's 30/20 GHz studies. Packet switched systems are considered, with the assumption that only a part of transponder capacit is devoted to packets, the integration of circuit and packet switched traffic being reserved for further study. Three types of station access are distinguished: fixed (FA), demand (DA), and random access (RA). Similarly, switching in the satellite can be assigned on a fixed (FS) or demand (DS) basis, or replaced by a buffered store-and-forward system (SF) onboard the satellite. Since not all access/switching combinations are practical, six systems are analyzed in detail: three FS SYSTEMS, FA/FS, DA/ES, RA/FS; one DS system, DA/DS; and two SF systems, FA/SF, DA/SF. Results are presented primarily in terms of delay-throughput characteristics.

  5. Selective perceptions of hydraulic fracturing.

    PubMed

    Sarge, Melanie A; VanDyke, Matthew S; King, Andy J; White, Shawna R

    2015-01-01

    Hydraulic fracturing (HF) is a focal topic in discussions about domestic energy production, yet the American public is largely unfamiliar and undecided about the practice. This study sheds light on how individuals may come to understand hydraulic fracturing as this unconventional production technology becomes more prominent in the United States. For the study, a thorough search of HF photographs was performed, and a systematic evaluation of 40 images using an online experimental design involving N = 250 participants was conducted. Key indicators of hydraulic fracturing support and beliefs were identified. Participants showed diversity in their support for the practice, with 47 percent expressing low support, 22 percent high support, and 31 percent undecided. Support for HF was positively associated with beliefs that hydraulic fracturing is primarily an economic issue and negatively associated with beliefs that it is an environmental issue. Level of support was also investigated as a perceptual filter that facilitates biased issue perceptions and affective evaluations of economic benefit and environmental cost frames presented in visual content of hydraulic fracturing. Results suggested an interactive relationship between visual framing and level of support, pointing to a substantial barrier to common understanding about the issue that strategic communicators should consider.

  6. Exploring time- and frequency- dependent functional connectivity and brain networks during deception with single-trial event-related potentials

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Gao, Jun-Feng; Yang, Yong; Huang, Wen-Tao; Lin, Pan; Ge, Sheng; Zheng, Hong-Mei; Gu, Ling-Yun; Zhou, Hui; Li, Chen-Hong; Rao, Ni-Ni

    2016-11-01

    To better characterize the cognitive processes and mechanisms that are associated with deception, wavelet coherence was employed to evaluate functional connectivity between different brain regions. Two groups of subjects were evaluated for this purpose: 32 participants were required to either tell the truth or to lie when facing certain stimuli, and their electroencephalogram signals on 12 electrodes were recorded. The experimental results revealed that deceptive responses elicited greater connectivity strength than truthful responses, particularly in the θ band on specific electrode pairs primarily involving connections between the prefrontal/frontal and central regions and between the prefrontal/frontal and left parietal regions. These results indicate that these brain regions play an important role in executing lying responses. Additionally, three time- and frequency-dependent functional connectivity networks were proposed to thoroughly reflect the functional coupling of brain regions that occurs during lying. Furthermore, the wavelet coherence values for the connections shown in the networks were extracted as features for support vector machine training. High classification accuracy suggested that the proposed network effectively characterized differences in functional connectivity between the two groups of subjects over a specific time-frequency area and hence could be a sensitive measurement for identifying deception.

  7. Long-term Benefit of Tumor Volume-Directed Involved Field Radiation Therapy in the Management of Recurrent Ovarian Cancer.

    PubMed

    Albuquerque, Kevin; Patel, Mona; Liotta, Margaret; Harkenrider, Matthew; Guo, Rong; Small, William; Ronald, Potkul

    2016-05-01

    This study aimed to report on long-term effectiveness of involved field radiation therapy (IFRT) in the salvage of localized recurrent ovarian cancer (ROC). A retrospective analysis of 27 patients with a diagnosis of epithelial ovarian cancer who received tumor volume-directed IFRT for localized extraperitoneal recurrences (either as consolidation after cytoreductive surgery (CRS) or as attempted salvage if unresectable) forms the basis of this report. All patients were heavily pretreated with multiple chemotherapy regimens. Involved field radiation therapy was primarily with external beam (median dose, 50.4 Gy). Local recurrence-free survival (LRFS) was defined as freedom from in-field recurrences and was considered as a measure of effectiveness of radiotherapy. Statistical analyses evaluated association between disease-free survival, overall survival, LRFS, and various prognostic factors. Comparison was also made with a similar but unmatched cohort with localized recurrences salvaged by additional chemotherapy instead of local therapies (NIFRT group). Of 27 patients, 17 had optimal CRS before RT. The actuarial survival at 5 and 10 years (in parenthesis) from date of radiation were LRFS (70% and 60%), overall survival (30% and 19%), and disease-free survival (33% and 20%). None of the NIFRT patients survived beyond 5 years from initiation of salvage chemotherapy. Long-term follow-up in this selected series confirmed the benefit of IFRT (±CRS) in localized ROC. Chemotherapy salvage in a similar NIFRT group was not equivalent, suggesting a role for locoregional therapies in selected patients with ROC.

  8. Drug Addiction and Its Underlying Neurobiological Basis: Neuroimaging Evidence for the Involvement of the Frontal Cortex

    PubMed Central

    Goldstein, Rita Z.; Volkow, Nora D.

    2005-01-01

    Objective Studies of the neurobiological processes underlying drug addiction primarily have focused on limbic subcortical structures. Here the authors evaluated the role of frontal cortical structures in drug addiction. Method An integrated model of drug addiction that encompasses intoxication, bingeing, withdrawal, and craving is proposed. This model and findings from neuroimaging studies on the behavioral, cognitive, and emotional processes that are at the core of drug addiction were used to analyze the involvement of frontal structures in drug addiction. Results The orbitofrontal cortex and the anterior cingulate gyrus, which are regions neuroanatomically connected with limbic structures, are the frontal cortical areas most frequently implicated in drug addiction. They are activated in addicted subjects during intoxication, craving, and bingeing, and they are deactivated during withdrawal. These regions are also involved in higher-order cognitive and motivational functions, such as the ability to track, update, and modulate the salience of a reinforcer as a function of context and expectation and the ability to control and inhibit prepotent responses. Conclusions These results imply that addiction connotes cortically regulated cognitive and emotional processes, which result in the overvaluing of drug reinforcers, the undervaluing of alternative reinforcers, and deficits in inhibitory control for drug responses. These changes in addiction, which the authors call I-RISA (impaired response inhibition and salience attribution), expand the traditional concepts of drug dependence that emphasize limbic-regulated responses to pleasure and reward. PMID:12359667

  9. Evaluation of a community-wide incentive program to promote safety restraint use.

    PubMed

    Foss, R D

    1989-03-01

    A program was designed and evaluated to determine the feasibility of implementing an incentive campaign to promote safety restraint use, primarily among children up to age 13. During a five-month period, community residents were eligible to win monthly prizes and a grand prize by buckling up all automobile occupants when driving. Systematic monitoring of traffic and a telephone survey indicate that the program was minimally effective, reaching the attention of only about half the families with children in the community despite extensive advertising. Effects of the program on seat belt use closely paralleled airing of radio announcements, appear to have been confined primarily to children under age four, and tailed off somewhat after the initial response.

  10. Recent Developments in Whole Sediment Toxicity Identification Evaluations: Innovations in Manipulations and Endpoints

    EPA Science Inventory

    Whole sediment Toxicity Identification Evaluation (TIE) methods were developed primarily in the late 1990s and early 2000s in research programs dedicated to developing manipulations and endpoints to characterize and identify causes of toxicity to benthic freshwater and marine org...

  11. Development of an epiphyte indicator of nutrient enrichment: A critical evaluation of observational and experimental studies

    EPA Science Inventory

    An extensive review of the literature on epiphytes on submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV), primarily seagrasses but including some brackish and freshwater rooted macrophytes, was conducted in order to evaluate the evidence for response of epiphyte metrics to increased nutrients. ...

  12. Inner-city African American parental involvement in children's schooling: racial socialization and social support from the parent community.

    PubMed

    McKay, Mary McKernan; Atkins, Marc S; Hawkins, Tracie; Brown, Catherine; Lynn, Cynthia J

    2003-09-01

    Parents (n = 161) and teachers (n = 18) from an urban elementary school serving primarily African American children completed questionnaires regarding racial socialization, social support, and involvement in activities that support youth educational achievement at home and school. Parental reports of racism awareness, and contact with school staff were significantly correlated with parent reports of at-home involvement and at-school involvement. Parent reports of social support from the parent community were significantly related to at-home involvement only. Relative to teacher reports, parents reported more formal contacts with school staff, and higher levels of racism awareness, religiosity, and African American cultural pride. Teachers and parents agreed on school climate and parental levels of at-home and at-school involvement. The results suggest that racial socialization processes are related to parent involvement in children's schooling and that increased efforts are needed to bridge a cultural gap between parents and teachers in inner-city communities.

  13. Stimulant Use in Patients with Sturge-Weber Syndrome: Safety and Efficacy

    PubMed Central

    Lance, Eboni I.; Lanier, Kira E.; Zabel, T. Andrew; Comi, Anne M.

    2015-01-01

    BACKGROUND Sturge Weber Syndrome (SWS) is characterized by a facial port-wine birthmark, vascular eye abnormalities, and a leptomeningeal angioma. Attention and behavioral issues are common in SWS; however, literature evidence for stimulant treatment is minimal. This study evaluates stimulant medication safety and efficacy in SWS patients. METHODS The research database of the Hunter Nelson Sturge-Weber Center (n = 210 subjects with SWS brain involvement) was reviewed for stimulant use. Twelve subjects (mean age 10.5 years, age range 4 to 21 years) on stimulants were seen between 2003 and 2012. A retrospective chart review obtained co-morbid diagnoses, stimulant type and dosage, medication side effects, vital signs, and medication efficacy. RESULTS All twelve subjects had brain involvement (unilateral - nine; bilateral – three). Additional co-morbidities included epilepsy (twelve), hemi-paresis (eight), headaches (eight), and vision deficits (seven). Eight subjects reported side effects, primarily appetite suppression (four) and headaches (three). There were no statistically significant changes in weight or blood pressure six months after medication initiation. Medication efficacy was subjectively reported in eleven subjects. Seven patients remained on stimulants at their most recent follow up visit. CONCLUSIONS This study preliminarily evaluates stimulant medication use in a small group of SWS patients. Stimulants were tolerated and effective in most subjects. Side effects were mostly minor and medication did not negatively impact growth or vital signs. Stimulant medication may be a safe and effective intervention for SWS children with attention issues/attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Further studies with larger sample sizes are needed. PMID:25439578

  14. Different Approaches for Ensuring Performance/Reliability of Plastic Encapsulated Microcircuits (PEMs) in Space Applications

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Gerke, R. David; Sandor, Mike; Agarwal, Shri; Moor, Andrew F.; Cooper, Kim A.

    2000-01-01

    Engineers within the commercial and aerospace industries are using trade-off and risk analysis to aid in reducing spacecraft system cost while increasing performance and maintaining high reliability. In many cases, Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) components, which include Plastic Encapsulated Microcircuits (PEMs), are candidate packaging technologies for spacecrafts due to their lower cost, lower weight and enhanced functionality. Establishing and implementing a parts program that effectively and reliably makes use of these potentially less reliable, but state-of-the-art devices, has become a significant portion of the job for the parts engineer. Assembling a reliable high performance electronic system, which includes COTS components, requires that the end user assume a risk. To minimize the risk involved, companies have developed methodologies by which they use accelerated stress testing to assess the product and reduce the risk involved to the total system. Currently, there are no industry standard procedures for accomplishing this risk mitigation. This paper will present the approaches for reducing the risk of using PEMs devices in space flight systems as developed by two independent Laboratories. The JPL procedure involves primarily a tailored screening with accelerated stress philosophy while the APL procedure is primarily, a lot qualification procedure. Both Laboratories successfully have reduced the risk of using the particular devices for their respective systems and mission requirements.

  15. Reversing the conventional leather processing sequence for cleaner leather production.

    PubMed

    Saravanabhavan, Subramani; Thanikaivelan, Palanisamy; Rao, Jonnalagadda Raghava; Nair, Balachandran Unni; Ramasami, Thirumalachari

    2006-02-01

    Conventional leather processing generally involves a combination of single and multistep processes that employs as well as expels various biological, inorganic, and organic materials. It involves nearly 14-15 steps and discharges a huge amount of pollutants. This is primarily due to the fact that conventional leather processing employs a "do-undo" process logic. In this study, the conventional leather processing steps have been reversed to overcome the problems associated with the conventional method. The charges of the skin matrix and of the chemicals and pH profiles of the process have been judiciously used for reversing the process steps. This reversed process eventually avoids several acidification and basification/neutralization steps used in conventional leather processing. The developed process has been validated through various analyses such as chromium content, shrinkage temperature, softness measurements, scanning electron microscopy, and physical testing of the leathers. Further, the performance of the leathers is shown to be on par with conventionally processed leathers through bulk property evaluation. The process enjoys a significant reduction in COD and TS by 53 and 79%, respectively. Water consumption and discharge is reduced by 65 and 64%, respectively. Also, the process benefits from significant reduction in chemicals, time, power, and cost compared to the conventional process.

  16. Aesthetic concepts, perceptual learning, and linguistic enculturation: considerations from Wittgenstein, language, and music.

    PubMed

    Croom, Adam M

    2012-03-01

    Aesthetic non-cognitivists deny that aesthetic statements express genuinely aesthetic beliefs and instead hold that they work primarily to express something non-cognitive, such as attitudes of approval or disapproval, or desire. Non-cognitivists deny that aesthetic statements express aesthetic beliefs because they deny that there are aesthetic features in the world for aesthetic beliefs to represent. Their assumption, shared by scientists and theorists of mind alike, was that language-users possess cognitive mechanisms with which to objectively grasp abstract rules fixed independently of human responses, and that cognizers are thereby capable of grasping rules for the correct application of aesthetic concepts without relying on evaluation or enculturation. However, in this article I use Wittgenstein's rule-following considerations to argue that psychological theories grounded upon this so-called objective model of rule-following fail to adequately account for concept acquisition and mastery. I argue that this is because linguistic enculturation, and the perceptual learning that's often involved, influences and enables the mastery of aesthetic concepts. I argue that part of what's involved in speaking aesthetically is to belong to a cultural practice of making sense of things aesthetically, and that it's within a socio-linguistic community, and that community's practices, that such aesthetic sense can be made intelligible.

  17. The short-term effects of merger on hospital operations.

    PubMed Central

    Alexander, J A; Halpern, M T; Lee, S Y

    1996-01-01

    OBJECTIVE: The short-term effects of merger on three areas of hospital operations - scale of activity, personnel/staffing practices, and operating efficiency - is examined. DATA SOURCES: Secondary data obtained from the AHA Annual Surveys (1980-1990) were applied to analyze 92 hospital mergers over the period 1982-1989. STUDY DESIGN: The study employed a multiple time-series design involving a six-year longitudinal assessment of change in hospital operating characteristics before and after merger, and a parallel analysis of change in a randomly selected group of nonmerging hospitals. DATA COLLECTION: Pooled, cross-sectional data files were constructed. Comparisons were evaluated using paired and two-sample t-tests. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: General merger effects occurred primarily in areas related to operating efficiency. Merger resulted in slowing rates of preexisting trends, rather than dramatic improvements in operating practices. CONCLUSIONS: The short-term impact of merger was generally modest but differed by the conditions under which the merger occurred. Specifically, mergers occurring later in the study period and mergers between similarly sized hospitals displayed greater change in operating characteristics than those occurring earlier in the study period and those between hospitals of dissimilar size. Such differences are attributed respectively to increased competitive pressures after PPS and to greater opportunities for consolidation and efficiencies in mergers involving similarly sized hospitals. PMID:8591932

  18. Democratizing Process Innovation? On Citizen Involvement in Public Sector BPM

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Niehaves, Björn; Malsch, Robert

    ‘Open Innovation’ has been heavily discussed for product innovations; however, an information systems (IS) perspective on ‘process innovation’ has not yet been taken. Analyzing the example of the public sector in Germany, the paper seeks to investigate the factors that hinder and support ‘open process innovation’, a concept we define as the involvement of citizens in business process management (BPM) activities. With the help of a quantitative study (n=358), six factors are examined for their impact on citizen involvement in local government BPM initiatives. The results show that citizen involvement in reform processes is not primarily motivated by the aim of cost reduction, but rather related to legitimacy reasons and the intent to increase employee motivation. Based on these findings, implications for (design) theory and practice are discussed: Instead of detailed collaborative business processes modeling, the key of citizen involvement in public sector BPM lies in communication and mutual understanding.

  19. Non-resident Fathers’ Social Networks: The Relationship between Social Support and Father Involvement

    PubMed Central

    Castillo, Jason T.; Sarver, Christian M.

    2011-01-01

    Literature and research examining non-resident fathers’ involvement with their chidren has focused primarily on the fathers’ relationship with their child’s mother. Receiving limited attention in the literature has been the inclusion of examining non-resident fathers’ social support networks, the function of these social networks—perceived and received social support, and how these social support networks affect non-resident fathers’ involvement with their children. Using data from Wave One of the Fragile Families and Child Well-being Study, this study examined the social support networks non-resident fathers (n = 895) utilized in their involvement with their children. Results of the regression analyses indicate that non-resident fathers’ relationship with their child’s mother and perceived social support from their social networks contributed positively to their involvement with their children. Policy and practice implications are discussed. PMID:23288998

  20. Digital enhancement of X-rays for NDT

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Butterfield, R. L.

    1980-01-01

    Report is "cookbook" for digital processing of industrial X-rays. Computer techniques, previously used primarily in laboratory and developmental research, have been outlined and codified into step by step procedures for enhancing X-ray images. Those involved in nondestructive testing should find report valuable asset, particularly is visual inspection is method currently used to process X-ray images.

  1. Predictors of Student Defenders of Peer Aggression Victims: Empathy and Social Cognitive Factors

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Barchia, Kirstin; Bussey, Kay

    2011-01-01

    Despite wide recognition of the important role of student bystanders in influencing peer aggression in schools, little is currently known about what influences students to intervene in defense of peer aggression victims. This longitudinal study involving 1,167 primarily white adolescents (aged 12-15 years, 613 females) investigated the role of…

  2. A MOLA-controlled RAND-USGS Control Network for Mars

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Archinal, B. A.; Colvin, T. R.; Davies, M. E.; Kirk, R. L.; Duxbury, T. C.; Lee, E. M.; Cook, D.; Gitlin, A. R.

    2002-01-01

    We are undertaking, in support of the Mars Digital Image Mosaic (MDIM) 2.1, many improvements in the RAND-USGS photogrammetric control network for Mars, primarily involving the use of Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter (MOLA)-derived radii and DIMs to improve control point absolute radii and horizontal positions. Additional information is contained in the original extended abstract.

  3. Automation Problems of 1968; Papers Presented at the Meeting...October 4-5, 1968.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Andrews, Theodora, Ed.

    Librarians and their concerned colleagues met to give, hear and discuss papers on library automation, primarily by computers. Noted at this second meeting on library automation were: (1) considerably more sophistication and casualness about the techniques involved, (2) considerably more assurance of what and where things can be applied and (3)…

  4. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder with Reading Disabilities: Preliminary Genetic Findings on the Involvement of the ADRA2A Gene

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Stevenson, J.; Langley, K.; Pay, H.; Payton, A.; Worthington, J.; Ollier, W.; Thapar, A.

    2005-01-01

    Background: Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and reading disability (RD) tend to co-occur and quantitative genetic studies have shown this to arise primarily through shared genetic influences. However, molecular genetic studies have shown different genes to be associated with each of these conditions. Neurobiological studies have…

  5. Successful E-Learning in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Paulsen, Morten Flate

    2009-01-01

    So far, e-learning has primarily been used when there are many learners involved. The up-front investments related to e-learning are relatively high, and may be perceived as prohibitive for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Some e-learning is, however, getting less expensive, and some e-learning models are more suited for small-scale…

  6. Eye Movement Suppression Interferes with Construction of Object-Centered Spatial Reference Frames in Working Memory

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Wallentin, Mikkel; Kristensen, Line Burholt; Olsen, Jacob Hedeager; Nielsen, Andreas Hojlund

    2011-01-01

    The brain's frontal eye fields (FEF), responsible for eye movement control, are known to be involved in spatial working memory (WM). In a previous fMRI experiment (Wallentin, Roepstorff & Burgess, Neuropsychologia, 2008) it was found that FEF activation was primarily related to the formation of an object-centered, rather than egocentric, spatial…

  7. Pathogenicity, fungicide resistance, and genetic variability of Phytophthora rubi isolates from raspberry (Rubus idaeus) in the Western United States

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    Root rot of raspberry (Rubus idaeus), thought to be primarily caused by Phytophthora rubi, is an economically important disease in the western United States. The objectives of this study were to determine which Phytophthora species are involved in root rot, examine the efficacy of different isolatio...

  8. Different Aspects of Involving Family in School Life

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Blândul, Valentin-Cosmin

    2016-01-01

    The school has come to not have a huge credibility even, sometimes being abandoned, primarily because, nowadays, no matter hierarchy and is not perceived as a value. The actual society no longer has trust in the educational establishment, the values acquired and ranked by the amount of learning embedded in it. Such an attitude is reflected by the…

  9. The Relationship between Monogamous/Polygamous Family Structure and the Mental Health of Bedouin Arab Adolescents

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Elbedour, S.; Bart, William; Hektner, Joel

    2007-01-01

    Previous studies of polygamy and child mental health have primarily focused on younger children. The present studies are among the first to focus on adolescents. The first study involved 210 randomly selected Bedouin Arab adolescents (mean age 15.9), who were administered instruments assessing their family environment and mental health. The second…

  10. CoCom and the Future of Conventional Arms Exports in the Former Communist Bloc

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1993-12-01

    structure and background of each of these firms. The first example is the Godollo Machine Factory which was primarily involved in repair and renovation of...regularizedŚ Such an attitude is noteworthy because the potential for growth in the space industry is so great. Not only does Russia produce the " Energia

  11. African American Mothers of Children with Disabilities: Parental Advocacy within Rural Special Education

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Stanley, Summer Lynn Gainey

    2013-01-01

    Studies on parent involvement in education have most often been gender-neutral, although it is primarily mothers who undertake such work (Reay, 1998; West & Noden, 1998). While African American mothers advocating for their children's educational needs is not a new occurrence, it is one that has yet to receive the attention it necessitates.…

  12. A Lost Horizon: The Experience of an Other and School Bullying

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Jacobson, Ronald B.

    2007-01-01

    To date, research on bullying has largely employed empirical methodologies, including quantitative and qualitative approaches. Through this research we have come to understand bullying as both a dyadic and peer group phenomenon, primarily situated in the heads (thinking) of those involved, or in a lack of skill or expertise, or in the delinquency…

  13. Deer browse resources of north Georgia

    Treesearch

    Thomas H. Ripley; Joe P. McClure

    1963-01-01

    Following tests in the coastal plain and Piedmont of Georgia (Moore et al. 1960), a procedure was developed and used to assess browse resources in 21 counties of north Georgia involving a total land area of approximately 4 million acres (fig. 1). Although the Forest Survey is designed primarily to yield information on timber, it also provides an excellent sampling...

  14. New Information and Communication Technologies in the Democratic Republic of Congo: Strategies and Measures

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Nsomwe-a-nfunkwa, Banza

    2006-01-01

    This article will primarily allow a definition of the strategic development of ICT in the Democratic Republic of Congo, to be put forward. For the most part it involves the precision of many types of measures and strategies (such as institutional, regulatory, infrastructural measures), human resources, the development of content and partnerships,…

  15. Governor's Conference on Drug Dependence and Abuse. An Occasional Paper of the Honors College.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Milliken, William G.; And Others

    1970-01-01

    Following Governor Milliken's address, Dr. Dana Farnsworth defines the problem in terms of who's involved, to what extent, and with which drugs. His presentation focuses primarily on the motives of affluent young people who experiment with or become dependent upon hallucinogens, marihuana and amphetamines. He deals extensively with the drastically…

  16. Teaching More Than English: Connecting ESL Students to Their Community through Service Learning

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Russell, Natalie M.

    2007-01-01

    Language and cultural differences often cause English as a second language (ESL) students to feel alienated from their school and their community. As a result, they tend to make friends primarily within their own ESL classes and avoid interacting with mainstream students and getting involved in school activities. This article describes how…

  17. Teaching Critical Perspectives on Body Weight: The Obesity "Epidemic" and Pro-Ana Movement in Classroom Discussions

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Hutson, David J.

    2017-01-01

    While most sociology students are well prepared to think critically about inequalities involving race, gender, social class, and sexuality, the topics of body weight and health present some challenges for classroom discussion. Primarily, this is due to the body's status in contemporary society as simultaneously malleable (able to be changed) and…

  18. Higher Education in Poland. Part I: Organization and Administration. Bulletin, 1963, No. 19. OE-14062

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Rosen, Seymour M.; Apanasewicz, Nellie

    1963-01-01

    The purpose of this bulletin and of the forthcoming "Part II: Studies and Students" is to provide current basic information on the Polish system of higher education. The material is intended primarily for scholars in the comparative education field, university officials, students involved in academic exchanges, and specialists on Eastern…

  19. The Power of Parent Engagement: Sociocultural Considerations in the Quest for Equity

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Fenton, Patrice; Ocasio-Stoutenburg, Lydia; Harry, Beth

    2017-01-01

    This article explores the difference between parental involvement, where parents' activity levels at school are primarily structured by schools, and parental engagement, where parents have a more active voice in how they take part in what goes on in schools. This difference is underscored as a means of illuminating ways of addressing the issue of…

  20. The Psychological Contract of Science Students: Social Exchange with Universities and University Staff from the Students' Perspective

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    O'Toole, Paddy; Prince, Nike

    2015-01-01

    Considerable research has been undertaken involving the student experience and depicting undergraduate students as consumers of education. This construction of the relationship between students and universities is based primarily on notions of economic exchange. In this paper, using the construct of the psychological contract, we show that social…

  1. The Role of Semantic Processing in Reading Japanese Orthographies: An Investigation Using a Script-Switch Paradigm

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Dylman, Alexandra S.; Kikutani, Mariko

    2018-01-01

    Research on Japanese reading has generally indicated that processing of the logographic script Kanji primarily involves whole-word lexical processing and follows a semantics-to-phonology route, while the two phonological scripts Hiragana and Katakana (collectively called Kana) are processed via a sub-lexical route, and more in a…

  2. Adolescent Health Care Decision Making: The Law and Public Policy.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Gittler, Josephine; And Others

    A large and complicated body of law deals primarily with required parental involvement in health care decisions concerning adolescent children. Addressing that body of legislation, Part 1 of this two-part background paper focuses on a survey of laws requiring parental consent to health services for minors or parental notification of a minor's…

  3. The Influence of Adaptation and Inhibition on the Effects of Onset Asynchrony on Auditory Grouping

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Holmes, Stephen D.; Roberts, Brian

    2011-01-01

    Onset asynchrony is an important cue for auditory scene analysis. For example, a harmonic of a vowel that begins before the other components contributes less to the perceived phonetic quality. This effect was thought primarily to involve high-level grouping processes, because the contribution can be partly restored by accompanying the leading…

  4. 75 FR 78986 - East Cheyenne Gas Storage, LLC; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2010-12-17

    ..., East Cheyenne planned to do enhanced oil recovery (EOR) of petroleum reserves remaining in the storage... primarily involves redeveloping a number of existing oil production wells in the West Peetz and Lewis Creek... of construction and operation of a natural gas storage facility in two nearly depleted oil production...

  5. Voices of Children and Parents from Elsewhere: A Glance at Integration in Italian Primary Schools

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Dusi, Paola; Steinbach, Marilyn

    2016-01-01

    This study involves 35 research participants: 20 immigrant parents (primarily mothers from South America, North Africa, Eastern Europe and the Middle East) and 15 primary school children, aged 10-11. These children were born outside Italy and primary school was their first encounter with the Italian educational system. We observed their processes…

  6. Student Projects in Cosmic Ray Detection

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Brouwer, W.; Pinfold, J.; Soluk, R.; McDonough, B.; Pasek, V.; Bao-shan, Zheng

    2009-01-01

    The Alberta Large-area Time-coincidence Array (ALTA) study has been in existence for about 10 years under the direction of Jim Pinfold of the Centre for Particle Physics at the University of Alberta. The purpose of the ALTA project is to involve Alberta high schools, and primarily their physics classes, to assist in the detection of the presence…

  7. Solar-terrestrial predictions proceedings. Volume 4: Prediction of terrestrial effects of solar activity

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Donnelly, R. E. (Editor)

    1980-01-01

    Papers about prediction of ionospheric and radio propagation conditions based primarily on empirical or statistical relations is discussed. Predictions of sporadic E, spread F, and scintillations generally involve statistical or empirical predictions. The correlation between solar-activity and terrestrial seismic activity and the possible relation between solar activity and biological effects is discussed.

  8. Review: The Development of Coping across Childhood and Adolescence--An Integrative Review and Critique of Research

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Zimmer-Gembeck, Melanie J.; Skinner, Ellen A.

    2011-01-01

    Despite consensus that development shapes every aspect of coping, studies of age differences in coping have proven difficult to integrate, primarily because they examine largely unselected age groups, and utilize overlapping coping categories. A developmental framework was used to organize 58 studies of coping involving over 250 age comparisons or…

  9. The Steel Band Game Plan: Strategies for Starting, Building, and Maintaining Your Pan Program

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Tanner, Chris

    2006-01-01

    This book is the first comprehensive resource devoted to steel band pedagogy, it is a must-have for anyone involved in the steel band idiom today. Written primarily for educators, the book addresses a wide variety of topics, including instrumentation, personnel, basic pan technique, repertoire, and rehearsal strategies. This informative text…

  10. Examining Charging Agreement between Police and Prosecutors in Rape Cases

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Holleran, David; Beichner, Dawn; Spohn, Cassia

    2010-01-01

    Although prior research has contributed to understanding of the factors that influence sexual assault case processing, it has primarily been viewed through the prosecutorial lens. The authors assert that a prosecutor's charging decision involves not only a decision to file or reject the charge but, assuming that the case is not rejected, also a…

  11. The MSA: An Instrument for Measuring Motivation to Study Abroad

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Anderson, Philip H.; Lawton, Leigh

    2015-01-01

    While there is a growing body of research on study abroad programs, as Li, Olson, and Frieze (2013) observed, "Research on study abroad has primarily focused on the effects or outcomes of study abroad participation on the students involved in these programs…Very limited attention has been devoted to studying factors affecting students'…

  12. Fentanyl Law Enforcement Submissions and Increases in Synthetic Opioid-Involved Overdose Deaths - 27 States, 2013-2014.

    PubMed

    Gladden, R Matthew; Martinez, Pedro; Seth, Puja

    2016-08-26

    In March and October 2015, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and CDC, respectively, issued nationwide alerts identifying illicitly manufactured fentanyl (IMF) as a threat to public health and safety (1,2). IMF is unlawfully produced fentanyl, obtained through illicit drug markets, includes fentanyl analogs, and is commonly mixed with or sold as heroin (1,3,4). Starting in 2013, the production and distribution of IMF increased to unprecedented levels, fueled by increases in the global supply, processing, and distribution of fentanyl and fentanyl-precursor chemicals by criminal organizations (3). Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid 50-100 times more potent than morphine (2).* Multiple states have reported increases in fentanyl-involved overdose (poisoning) deaths (fentanyl deaths) (2). This report examined the number of drug products obtained by law enforcement that tested positive for fentanyl (fentanyl submissions) and synthetic opioid-involved deaths other than methadone (synthetic opioid deaths), which include fentanyl deaths and deaths involving other synthetic opioids (e.g., tramadol). Fentanyl deaths are not reported separately in national data. Analyses also were conducted on data from 27 states(†) with consistent death certificate reporting of the drugs involved in overdoses. Nationally, the number of fentanyl submissions and synthetic opioid deaths increased by 426% and 79%, respectively, during 2013-2014; among the 27 analyzed states, fentanyl submission increases were strongly correlated with increases in synthetic opioid deaths. Changes in fentanyl submissions and synthetic opioid deaths were not correlated with changes in fentanyl prescribing rates, and increases in fentanyl submissions and synthetic opioid deaths were primarily concentrated in eight states (high-burden states). Reports from six of the eight high-burden states indicated that fentanyl-involved overdose deaths were primarily driving increases in synthetic opioid deaths. Increases in synthetic opioid deaths among high-burden states disproportionately involved persons aged 15-44 years and males, a pattern consistent with previously documented IMF-involved deaths (5). These findings, combined with the approximate doubling in fentanyl submissions during 2014-2015 (from 5,343 to 13,882) (6), underscore the urgent need for a collaborative public health and law enforcement response.

  13. The Devaluation of Women's Competence.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Lott, Bernice

    1985-01-01

    Research on the evaluation of eminent academic women supports the hypothesis that typical responses (of men, primarily) to competent women include prejudice, stereotyped beliefs, and overt or subtle discrimination. A competent woman is most likely to be devalued when potential consequences exist for the evaluator and when the woman is unfamiliar.…

  14. METRO Achievement Program: Summer 1988. External Evaluation Report.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Thompson, Denise R.

    This document comprises an evaluation of the 1988 METRO Achievement Program, a summer educational program to help develop the academic potential of primarily Black and Hispanic girls entering the seventh and eighth grades in Chicago. The 5-week program included the following components: (1) mathematics, science, and communication skills classes;…

  15. Evaluation of the Occupational Training Information System (OTIS). Final Report.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Macro Systems, Inc., Silver Spring, MD.

    The Occupational Training Information System (OTIS), which is in operation in Oklahoma and in a developmental stage in Kentucky, was evaluated. The principle objective of OTIS is to provide the information necessary to formulate educational, manpower, and economic development plans and policies. OTIS consists primarily of a manpower demand…

  16. Evaluation of whorl damage by fall armyworm (Lepidoptera:Noctuidae) on field and greenhouse grown sweet sorghum plants

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    The fall armyworm [Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)] is an economically important pest of sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L) Moench]. However, resistance to fall armyworm in sweet sorghum has not been extensively studied. A collection of primarily sweet sorghum accessions were evaluated in t...

  17. Evaluating a County-Sponsored Social Marketing Campaign to Increase Mothers' Initiation of HPV Vaccine for their Pre-teen Daughters in a Primarily Rural Area.

    PubMed

    Cates, Joan R; Shafer, Autumn; Diehl, Sandra J; Deal, Allison M

    2011-01-01

    Routine vaccination against human papillomavirus (HPV), the main cause of cervical cancer, is recommended for 11-12 year old girls, yet vaccine uptake is low. This study evaluates a social marketing campaign initiated by 13 North Carolina counties to raise awareness among parents and reduce barriers to accessing the vaccine in a primarily rural area. The 3-month campaign targeted mothers of girls ages 11-12 and healthcare practices serving pre-teen girls in four counties. Principles of social marketing were: product (recommended vaccine against HPV), price (cost, perception of safety and efficacy, and access), promotion (posters, brochures, website, news releases, doctor's recommendation), and place (doctors' offices, retail outlets). We analyzed (1) website traffic, hotline calls, and media placement; (2) cross-sectional surveys of mothers and providers; and (3) HPV immunization rates in intervention versus non-intervention counties. Of respondent mothers (n=225), 82% heard or saw campaign messages or materials. Of respondent providers (n=35), 94% used campaign brochures regularly or occasionally in conversations with parents. HPV vaccination rates within six months of campaign launch were 2% higher for 9-13 year old girls in two of the four intervention counties compared to 96 non-intervention counties. This evaluation supports campaign use in other primarily rural and underserved areas.

  18. Evaluating a County-Sponsored Social Marketing Campaign to Increase Mothers’ Initiation of HPV Vaccine for their Pre-teen Daughters in a Primarily Rural Area

    PubMed Central

    Cates, Joan R.; Shafer, Autumn; Diehl, Sandra J.; Deal, Allison M.

    2011-01-01

    Routine vaccination against human papillomavirus (HPV), the main cause of cervical cancer, is recommended for 11–12 year old girls, yet vaccine uptake is low. This study evaluates a social marketing campaign initiated by 13 North Carolina counties to raise awareness among parents and reduce barriers to accessing the vaccine in a primarily rural area. The 3-month campaign targeted mothers of girls ages 11–12 and healthcare practices serving pre-teen girls in four counties. Principles of social marketing were: product (recommended vaccine against HPV), price (cost, perception of safety and efficacy, and access), promotion (posters, brochures, website, news releases, doctor’s recommendation), and place (doctors’ offices, retail outlets). We analyzed (1) website traffic, hotline calls, and media placement; (2) cross-sectional surveys of mothers and providers; and (3) HPV immunization rates in intervention versus non-intervention counties. Of respondent mothers (n=225), 82% heard or saw campaign messages or materials. Of respondent providers (n=35), 94% used campaign brochures regularly or occasionally in conversations with parents. HPV vaccination rates within six months of campaign launch were 2% higher for 9–13 year old girls in two of the four intervention counties compared to 96 non-intervention counties. This evaluation supports campaign use in other primarily rural and underserved areas. PMID:21804767

  19. Pharmacists teaching in family medicine residency programs

    PubMed Central

    Jorgenson, Derek; Muller, Andries; Whelan, Anne Marie; Buxton, Kelly

    2011-01-01

    Abstract Objective To determine the percentage of family medicine residency programs that have pharmacists directly involved in teaching residents, the types and extent of teaching provided by pharmacists in family medicine residency programs, and the primary source of funding for the pharmacists. Design Web-based survey. Setting One hundred fifty-eight resident training sites within the 17 family medicine residency programs in Canada. Participants One hundred residency program directors who were responsible for overseeing the training sites within the residency programs were contacted to determine the percentage of training sites in which pharmacists were directly involved in teaching. Pharmacists who were identified by the residency directors were invited to participate in the Web-based survey. Main outcome measures The percentage of training sites for family medicine residency that have pharmacists directly involved in teaching residents. The types and the extent of teaching performed by the pharmacists who teach in the residency programs. The primary source of funding that supports the pharmacists’ salaries. Results More than a quarter (25.3%) of family medicine residency training sites include direct involvement of pharmacist teachers. Pharmacist teachers reported that they spend a substantial amount of their time teaching residents using a range of teaching modalities and topics, but have no formal pharmacotherapy curriculums. Nearly a quarter (22.6%) of the pharmacists reported that their salaries were primarily funded by the residency programs. Conclusion Pharmacists have a role in training family medicine residents. This is a good opportunity for family medicine residents to learn about issues related to pharmacotherapy; however, the role of pharmacists as educators might be optimized if standardized teaching methods, curriculums, and evaluation plans were in place. PMID:21918131

  20. Identifying gaps in the surgical training curriculum in Rwanda through evaluation of operative activity at a teaching hospital.

    PubMed

    Rickard, Jennifer L; Ntakiyiruta, Georges; Chu, Kathryn M

    2015-01-01

    To define the operations performed by surgical residents at a tertiary referral hospital in Rwanda to help guide development of the residency program. Cross-sectional study of all patients operated by surgical residents from October 2012 to September 2013. University Teaching Hospital of Kigali (Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Kigali [CHUK]), a public, tertiary referral hospital in Kigali, Rwanda. All patient data were entered into the operative database by surgical residents at CHUK. A total of 2833 cases were entered into the surgical database. Of them, 53 cases were excluded from further analysis because no surgical resident was listed as the primary or assistant surgeon, leaving 2780 cases for analysis. There were 2780 operations involving surgical residents. Of them, 51% of procedures were classified under general surgery, 38% orthopedics, 7% neurosurgery, and 4% urology. Emergency operations accounted for 64% of the procedures, with 56% of those being general surgery and 35% orthopedic. Further, 50% of all operations were trauma, with 71% of those orthopedic and 21% general surgery. Surgical faculty were involved in 45% of operations as either the primary or the assistant surgeons, while the remainder of operations did not involve surgical faculty. Residents were primary surgeons in 68% of procedures and assistant surgeons in 84% of procedures. The operative experience of surgery residents at CHUK primarily involves emergency and trauma procedures. Although this likely reflects the demographics of surgical care within Rwanda, more focus should be placed on elective procedures to ensure that surgical residents are broadly trained. Copyright © 2015 Association of Program Directors in Surgery. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  1. Mommio’s Recipe Box: Assessment of the Cooking Habits of Mothers of Preschoolers and Their Perceptions of Recipes for a Video Game

    PubMed Central

    Ugalde, Maciel; Brand, Leah; Beltran, Alicia; Dadabhoy, Hafza; Chen, Tzu-An; O'Connor, Teresia M; Hughes, Sheryl O; Buday, Richard; Nicklas, Theresa A; Baranowski, Janice

    2017-01-01

    Background Vegetables are an important part of a healthy diet because they help prevent several chronic diseases. Mothers of preschoolers reported difficulty getting their young children to eat vegetables, and many did not know how to cook child-pleasing recipes. Objective The cooking habits of mothers of preschoolers, their perceptions of recipes designed for their children, and the involvement of their children in food preparation were assessed to inform a food parenting video game called Mommio. Methods A cross-sectional survey design was used. Eligibility criteria included mothers of 3- to 5-year-old children who reported difficulty getting their children to eat vegetables. Participants completed a demographic questionnaire with questions about their food preparation practices. They were asked to select up to 4 of the 10 provided recipes they wanted to try and to prepare and report back on their experiences. Results Most (46) of the 50 recipes included in Mommio’s in-game recipe box were evaluated at least once and some up to 5 times with a total of 85 evaluations. This well-educated, mostly employed, sample of 27 mothers of preschoolers preferred simple, quick recipes. They ate primarily at home, made dinners from scratch, and indicated that the 46 recipes were generally simple, quick, and easy to prepare. Involvement in preparation enhanced their child’s acceptance of the food. Prior food and preparation preferences influenced the children’s acceptance of the dish at the ensuing meal. Conclusions The high rate of home recipe preparation indicated that including a recipe selection and preparation component in a food parenting video game could be attractive and may enhance effectiveness. Mothers reported that the recipes provided were generally easy to prepare, tasted good, and the instructions were easy to understand, suggesting they could be helpful to the mothers when playing a vegetable parenting game. Some mothers reported that involving their children in recipe preparation influenced their children’s willingness to eat the vegetables. The highest rated recipes are being included in the game, and mothers will be encouraged to involve their children in recipe preparation. PMID:29042344

  2. "Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics Inside"

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Garscadden, Alan

    2002-05-01

    I was fortunate to enjoy the advice of K. G. Emeleus during my graduate studies and for many years afterwards. He introduced me to the papers of Will Allis and later I was privileged to correspond with him. At this time I had moved from the Queens university environment to work at a large Air Force base. A personal overview is presented on the many roles that atomic, molecular and optical physics, including gaseous electronics, play in programs of the AFRL and subsequently on AF systems and operations. AFRL is not only a laboratory; it is also a defense contracting and evaluation agency. The AF sponsors basic research for several reasons:- to have an educated populace and a highly qualified work force for the nation; to enhance the technology options available to the commerce of the nation; to advance national prestige and to provide the Air Force with the best technical capabilities. The organization of AF science and technology starts with the AFOSR as the single manager of AF basic research, (6.1) funded at approximately 221M per year of which more than 70there are the Exploratory Development programs (6.2 at 695M annually) managed by AFRL where concepts are evaluated and components are developed. These programs involve industry and many universities, especially in cooperation with companies. Some of these programs that succeed transition into advanced development (6.3 at $465M annually) where integration occurs to provide a subsystem or system. While there have been misses, overall there have been many successes with impacts that provide more effective systems as recent experiences have demonstrated. The R process and planning are quite involved with Darwinian competitions for resources which then impact the research initiatives, to which principal investigators are requested to respond. Some example studies, involving primarily electron collisions, lasers, flows and combustion physics, successful and unsuccessful, are discussed.

  3. Human homogamy in facial characteristics: does a sexual-imprinting-like mechanism play a role?

    PubMed

    Nojo, Saori; Tamura, Satoshi; Ihara, Yasuo

    2012-09-01

    Human homogamy may be caused in part by individuals' preference for phenotypic similarities. Two types of preference can result in homogamy: individuals may prefer someone who is similar to themselves (self-referent phenotype matching) or to their parents (a sexual-imprinting-like mechanism). In order to examine these possibilities, we compare faces of couples and their family members in two ways. First, "perceived" similarity between a pair of faces is quantified as similarity ratings given to the pair. Second, "physical" similarity between two groups of faces is evaluated on the basis of correlations in principal component scores generated from facial measurements. Our results demonstrate a tendency to homogamy in facial characteristics and suggest that the tendency is due primarily to self-referent phenotype matching. Nevertheless, the presence of a sexual-imprinting-like effect is also partially indicated: whether individuals are involved in facial homogamy may be affected by their relationship with their parents during childhood.

  4. Electrochemical and spectroscopic study of interfacial interactions between chalcopyrite and typical flotation process reagents

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Urbano, Gustavo; Lázaro, Isabel; Rodríguez, Israel; Reyes, Juan Luis; Larios, Roxana; Cruz, Roel

    2016-02-01

    Comparative voltammetry and differential double-layer capacitance studies were performed to evaluate interfacial interactions between chalcopyrite (CuFeS2) and n-isopropyl xanthate (X) in the presence of ammonium bisulfite/39wt% SO2 and caustic starch at different pH values. Raman spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, contact angle measurements, and microflotation tests were used to establish the type and extent of xanthate adsorption as well as the species involved under different mineral surface conditions in this study. The results demonstrate that the species that favor a greater hydrophobicity of chalcopyrite are primarily CuX and S0, whereas oxides and hydroxides of Cu and Fe as well as an excess of starch decrease the hydrophobicity. A conditioning of the mineral surface with ammonium bisulfite/39wt% SO2 at pH 6 promotes the activation of surface and enhances the xanthate adsorption. However, this effect is diminished at pH ≥ 8, when an excess of starch is added during the preconditioning step.

  5. Bone scan in metabolic bone diseases. Review.

    PubMed

    Abdelrazek, Saeid; Szumowski, Piotr; Rogowski, Franciszek; Kociura-Sawicka, Agnieszka; Mojsak, Małgorzata; Szorc, Małgorzata

    2012-08-25

    Metabolic bone disease encompasses a number of disorders that tend to present a generalized involvement of the whole skeleton. The disorders are mostly related to increased bone turnover and increased uptake of radiolabelled diphosphonate. Skeletal uptake of 99mTc-labelled diphosphonate depends primarily upon osteoblastic activity, and to a lesser extent, skeletal vascularity. A bone scan image therefore presents a functional display of total skeletal metabolism and has valuable role to play in the assessment of patients with metabolic bone disorders. However, the bone scan appearances in metabolic bone disease are often non-specific, and their recognition depends on increased tracer uptake throughout the whole skeleton. It is the presence of local lesions, as in metastatic disease, that makes a bone scan appearance obviously abnormal. In the early stages, there will be difficulty in evaluating the bone scans from many patients with metabolic bone disease. However, in the more severe cases scan appearances can be quite striking and virtually diagnostic.

  6. Face-to-face handoff: improving transfer to the pediatric intensive care unit after cardiac surgery.

    PubMed

    Vergales, Jeffrey; Addison, Nancy; Vendittelli, Analise; Nicholson, Evelyn; Carver, D Jeannean; Stemland, Christopher; Hoke, Tracey; Gangemi, James

    2015-01-01

    The goal was to develop and implement a comprehensive, primarily face-to-face handoff process that begins in the operating room and concludes at the bedside in the intensive care unit (ICU) for pediatric patients undergoing congenital heart surgery. Involving all stakeholders in the planning phase, the framework of the handoff system encompassed a combination of a formalized handoff tool, focused process steps that occurred prior to patient arrival in the ICU, and an emphasis on face-to-face communication at the conclusion of the handoff. The final process was evaluated by the use of observer checklists to examine quality metrics and timing for all patients admitted to the ICU following cardiac surgery. The process was found to improve how various providers view the efficiency of handoff, the ease of asking questions at each step, and the overall capability to improve patient care regardless of overall surgical complexity. © 2014 by the American College of Medical Quality.

  7. Scientific collaboration and team science: a social network analysis of the centers for population health and health disparities.

    PubMed

    Okamoto, Janet

    2015-03-01

    The past decade has seen dramatic shifts in the way that scientific research is conducted as networks, consortia, and large research centers are funded as transdisciplinary, team-based enterprises to tackle complex scientific questions. Key investigators (N = 167) involved in ten health disparities research centers completed a baseline social network and collaboration readiness survey. Collaborative ties existed primarily between investigators from the same center, with just 7 % of ties occurring across different centers. Grants and work groups were the most common types of ties between investigators, with shared presentations the most common tie across different centers. Transdisciplinary research orientation was associated with network position and reciprocity. Center directors/leaders were significantly more likely to form ties with investigators in other roles, such as statisticians and trainees. Understanding research collaboration networks can help to more effectively design and manage future team-based research, as well as pinpoint potential issues and continuous evaluation of existing efforts.

  8. Functional Imaging Biomarkers: Potential to Guide an Individualised Approach to Radiotherapy.

    PubMed

    Prestwich, R J D; Vaidyanathan, S; Scarsbrook, A F

    2015-10-01

    The identification of robust prognostic and predictive biomarkers would transform the ability to implement an individualised approach to radiotherapy. In this regard, there has been a surge of interest in the use of functional imaging to assess key underlying biological processes within tumours and their response to therapy. Importantly, functional imaging biomarkers hold the potential to evaluate tumour heterogeneity/biology both spatially and temporally. An ever-increasing range of functional imaging techniques is now available primarily involving positron emission tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. Small-scale studies across multiple tumour types have consistently been able to correlate changes in functional imaging parameters during radiotherapy with disease outcomes. Considerable challenges remain before the implementation of functional imaging biomarkers into routine clinical practice, including the inherent temporal variability of biological processes within tumours, reproducibility of imaging, determination of optimal imaging technique/combinations, timing during treatment and design of appropriate validation studies. Copyright © 2015 The Royal College of Radiologists. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  9. Body-related pride in young adults: an exploration of the triggers, contexts, outcomes and attributions.

    PubMed

    Castonguay, Andree L; Gilchrist, Jenna D; Mack, Diane E; Sabiston, Catherine M

    2013-06-01

    This study explored body-related emotional experiences of pride in young adult males (n=138) and females (n=165). Data were collected using a relived emotion task and analyzed using inductive content analysis. Thirty-nine codes were identified and grouped into six categories (triggers, contexts, cognitive attributions, and affective, cognitive, and behavioral outcomes) for each of two themes (hubristic and authentic pride). Hubristic pride triggers included evaluating appearance/fitness as superior. Cognitions centered on feelings of superiority. Behaviors included strategies to show off. Triggers for authentic pride were personal improvements/maintenance in appearance and meeting or exceeding goals. Feeling accomplished was a cognitive outcome, and physical activity was a behavioral strategy. Contexts for the experience of both facets of pride primarily involved sports settings, swimming/beach, and clothes shopping. These findings provide theoretical support for models of pride as it applies to body image, and advances conceptual understanding of positive body image. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  10. Treatment alternatives of congenital hand differences with thumb hypoplasia involvement.

    PubMed

    Papadogeorgou, Ellada V; Soucacos, Panayotis N

    2008-01-01

    Congenital thumb hypoplasia is a complex and heterogeneous congenital difference that is detrimental to hand function. Apart from its' classic form, which is now considered to be part of radial dysplasia, it can occur as part of other congenital anomalies including, syndactyly, symbrachydactyly, atypical cleft hand, bifid thumb, triphalangeal thumb, mirror hand, constriction band syndrome, as well as generalized anomalies and syndromes. Management is aimed primarily at restoring basic hand function, specifically, power grasp and precision pinch, and secondarily to improve cosmoses, which inevitably is going to be impaired. Several treatment alternatives have been proposed to manage the specific disabling condition and include, 1st web space reconstruction and opponensplasty, pollicization, toe-to-hand transfer, distraction lengthening, free toe phalangeal transfer or the use of allograft, stabilization of the metacarpophalangeal joint, and surgery of "spare parts." The purpose of this study is to evaluate the various alternatives available today and propose an algorithm applicable for the appropriate management of thumb deficiency, based on their specific characteristics. Copyright 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. Microsurgery, 2008.

  11. Iodine nutrition during pregnancy in Toronto, Canada.

    PubMed

    Katz, Pamela M; Leung, Angela M; Braverman, Lewis E; Pearce, Elizabeth N; Tomlinson, George; He, Xuemei; Vertes, Jaclyn; Okun, Nan; Walfish, Paul G; Feig, Denice S

    2013-01-01

    To evaluate the status of iodine nutrition among pregnant women presenting for routine antenatal care in Toronto, Canada, as determined by the median urine iodine concentration (UIC) of this population. A cross-sectional, observational study was conducted involving 142 pregnant women recruited from four low-risk antenatal outpatient clinics in Toronto, Canada. Subjects completed a questionnaire and provided a spot urine sample for the measurement of iodine concentration. Mean maternal age was 33.8 ± 4.3 years. Mean gestational age was 29.3 ± 7.8 weeks. The median UIC was 221 μg/L (interquartile range, 142 to 397 μg/L). Six women (4.2%) had urine iodine levels <50 μg/L, and 36 women (25.4%) had levels between 50 and 150 μg/L. This cohort of primarily Caucasian, well-educated, and relatively affluent pregnant women in Toronto, Canada, are iodine sufficient, perhaps due to universal salt iodization and/or other dietary and lifestyle factors.

  12. Symbolic inversion of control relationships in model-based expert systems

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Thomas, Stan

    1988-01-01

    Symbolic inversion is examined from several perspectives. First, a number of symbolic algebra and mathematical tool packages were studied in order to evaluate their capabilities and methods, specifically with respect to symbolic inversion. Second, the KATE system (without hardware interface) was ported to a Zenith Z-248 microcomputer running Golden Common Lisp. The interesting thing about the port is that it allows the user to have measurements vary and components fail in a non-deterministic manner based upon random value from probability distributions. Third, INVERT was studied as currently implemented in KATE, its operation documented, some of its weaknesses identified, and corrections made to it. The corrections and enhancements are primarily in the way that logical conditions involving AND's and OR's and inequalities are processed. In addition, the capability to handle equalities was also added. Suggestions were also made regarding the handling of ranges in INVERT. Last, other approaches to the inversion process were studied and recommendations were made as to how future versions of KATE should perform symbolic inversion.

  13. Disentangling the effects of serotonin on risk perception: S-carriers of 5-HTTLPR are primarily concerned with the magnitude of the outcomes, not the uncertainty.

    PubMed

    Millroth, Philip; Juslin, Peter; Eriksson, Elias; Agren, Thomas

    2017-10-01

    Serotonin signaling is vital for reward processing, and hence, also for decision-making. The serotonin transporter gene linked polymorphic region (5-HTTLPR) has been connected to decision making, suggesting that short-allele carriers (s) are more risk averse than long-allele homozygotes (ll). However, previous research has not identified if this occurs because s-carriers (i) are more sensitive to the uncertainty of the outcomes or (ii) are more sensitive to the magnitude of the outcomes. This issue was disentangled using a willingness-to-pay task, where the participants evaluated prospects involving certain gains, uncertain gains, and ambiguous gains. The results clearly favored the hypothesis that s-carriers react more to the magnitude of the outcomes. Self-reported measures of everyday risk-taking behavior also favored this hypothesis. We discuss how these results are in line with recent research on the serotonergic impact on reward processing. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved).

  14. Thalassaemia.

    PubMed

    Taher, Ali T; Weatherall, David J; Cappellini, Maria Domenica

    2018-01-13

    Inherited haemoglobin disorders, including thalassaemia and sickle-cell disease, are the most common monogenic diseases worldwide. Several clinical forms of α-thalassaemia and β-thalassaemia, including the co-inheritance of β-thalassaemia with haemoglobin E resulting in haemoglobin E/β-thalassaemia, have been described. The disease hallmarks include imbalance in the α/β-globin chain ratio, ineffective erythropoiesis, chronic haemolytic anaemia, compensatory haemopoietic expansion, hypercoagulability, and increased intestinal iron absorption. The complications of iron overload, arising from transfusions that represent the basis of disease management in most patients with severe thalassaemia, might further complicate the clinical phenotype. These pathophysiological mechanisms lead to an array of clinical manifestations involving numerous organ systems. Conventional management primarily relies on transfusion and iron-chelation therapy, as well as splenectomy in specific cases. An increased understanding of the molecular and pathogenic factors that govern the disease process have suggested routes for the development of new therapeutic approaches that address the underlying chain imbalance, ineffective erythropoiesis, and iron dysregulation, with several agents being evaluated in preclinical models and clinical trials. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  15. Changing the paradigm for engineering ethics.

    PubMed

    Schmidt, Jon Alan

    2014-12-01

    Modern philosophy recognizes two major ethical theories: deontology, which encourages adherence to rules and fulfillment of duties or obligations; and consequentialism, which evaluates morally significant actions strictly on the basis of their actual or anticipated outcomes. Both involve the systematic application of universal abstract principles, reflecting the culturally dominant paradigm of technical rationality. Professional societies promulgate codes of ethics with which engineers are expected to comply (deontology), while courts and the public generally assign liability to engineers primarily in accordance with the results of their work, whether intended or unintended (consequentialism). A third option, prominent in ancient philosophy, has reemerged recently: virtue ethics, which recognizes that sensitivity to context and practical judgment are indispensable in particular concrete situations, and therefore rightly focuses on the person who acts, rather than the action itself. Beneficial character traits--i.e., virtues--are identified within a specific social practice in light of the internal goods that are unique to it. This paper proposes a comprehensive framework for implementing virtue ethics within engineering.

  16. Berberine, a natural product, combined with cisplatin enhanced apoptosis through a mitochondria/caspase-mediated pathway in HeLa cells.

    PubMed

    Youn, Myung-Ja; So, Hong-Seob; Cho, Hea-Joong; Kim, Hyung-Jin; Kim, Yunha; Lee, Jeong-Han; Sohn, Jung Sook; Kim, Yong Kyu; Chung, Sang-Young; Park, Raekil

    2008-05-01

    Berberine, a main component of Coptidis Rhizoma, has been extensively studied and is known to exhibit multiple pharmacologic activities. In this study, we investigated whether the combination of berberine and cisplatin exhibited significant cytotoxicity in HeLa cells. Apoptosis was evaluated based on DNA fragmentation and cytofluorometrically with the annexin-V/propidium iodide labeling method. Combined treatment with berberine and cisplatin acted in concert to induce loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (Delta Psi m), release of cytochrome-c from mitochondria, and decreased expression of antiapoptotic Bcl-2, Bcl-x/L, resulting in activation of caspases and apoptosis. Further study showed that cell death induced by the combined treatment was associated with increased reactive oxygen species generation and lipid peroxidation. Moreover, we discovered that the combined treatment-induced apoptosis was mediated by the activation of the caspase cascade. These results indicated that the potential of cytotoxicity mediated through the mitochondria-caspase pathway is primarily involved in the combined treatment-induced apoptosis.

  17. Onychomycosis of Toenails and Post-hoc Analyses with Efinaconazole 10% Solution Once-daily Treatment: Impact of Disease Severity and Other Concomitant Associated Factors on Selection of Therapy and Therapeutic Outcomes.

    PubMed

    Del Rosso, James Q

    2016-02-01

    Topical treatment for toenail onychomycosis has been fraught with a long-standing reputation of poor efficaey, primarily due to physical properties of the nail unit that impede drug penetration. Newer topical agents have been formulated as Solution, which appear to provide better therapeutic response in properly selected patients. It is important to recognize the impact the effects that mitigating and concomitant factors can have on efficaey. These factors include disease severity, gender, presence of tinea pedis, and diabetes. This article reviews results achieved in Phase 3 pivotal studies with topical efinaconazole 10% Solution applied once daily for 48 weeks with a focus on how the aforementioned factors influenced therapeutic outcomes. It is important for clinicians treating patients for onychomycosis to evaluate severity, treat concomitant tinea pedis, address control of diabetes if present by encouraging involvement of the patient's primary care physician, and consider longer treatment courses when clinically relevant.

  18. Recent advances in the identification of the host factors involved in dengue virus replication.

    PubMed

    Wang, Yi; Zhang, Ping

    2017-02-01

    Dengue virus (DENV) belongs to the genus Flavivirus of the family Flaviviridae and it is primarily transmitted via Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes. The life cycle of DENV includes attachment, endocytosis, protein translation, RNA synthesis, assembly, egress, and maturation. Recent researches have indicated that a variety of host factors, including cellular proteins and microRNAs, positively or negatively regulate the DENV replication process. This review summarizes the latest findings (from 2014 to 2016) in the identification of the host factors involved in the DENV life cycle and Dengue infection.

  19. On some stochastic formulations and related statistical moments of pharmacokinetic models.

    PubMed

    Matis, J H; Wehrly, T E; Metzler, C M

    1983-02-01

    This paper presents the deterministic and stochastic model for a linear compartment system with constant coefficients, and it develops expressions for the mean residence times (MRT) and the variances of the residence times (VRT) for the stochastic model. The expressions are relatively simple computationally, involving primarily matrix inversion, and they are elegant mathematically, in avoiding eigenvalue analysis and the complex domain. The MRT and VRT provide a set of new meaningful response measures for pharmacokinetic analysis and they give added insight into the system kinetics. The new analysis is illustrated with an example involving the cholesterol turnover in rats.

  20. The 1992 catalog of space science and applications education programs and activities

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    1992-01-01

    This catalog provides information on current, ongoing and pilot programs conducted at precollege through postdoctoral levels which are primarily funded or managed by the Office of Space Science Applications (OSSA). The directory of programs section includes teacher and faculty preparation and enhancement, student enrichment opportunities, student research opportunities, postdoctoral and advanced research opportunities, initiatives to strengthen educational institution involvement in research and initiatives to strengthen research community involvement in education. The Educational Products appendices include tabular data of OSSA activities, NASA Spacelink, NASA education satellites videoconferences, the Teacher Resource Center Network, and a form for requesting further information.

  1. Motivation and Contingency Management Treatments for Substance Use Disorders.

    PubMed

    Walter, Kimberly N; Petry, Nancy M

    2016-01-01

    Contingency management (CM) is a highly efficacious psychosocial treatment for substance use disorders based on the principles of behavioral analysis. CM involves delivering a tangible positive reinforcer following objective evidence of submission of a drug-negative urine sample. Although CM interventions primarily involve applying extrinsic rewards, a patient's intrinsic motivation to change substance use behavior may also be impacted by CM. This chapter provides an introduction to CM interventions for substance use disorders and examines the impact of CM on intrinsic motivation . It also addresses applications of this intervention to other conditions and patient populations.

  2. The need to promote behaviour change at the cultural level: one factor explaining the limited impact of the MEMA kwa Vijana adolescent sexual health intervention in rural Tanzania. A process evaluation

    PubMed Central

    2012-01-01

    Background Few of the many behavioral sexual health interventions in Africa have been rigorously evaluated. Where biological outcomes have been measured, improvements have rarely been found. One of the most rigorous trials was of the multi-component MEMA kwa Vijana adolescent sexual health programme, which showed improvements in knowledge and reported attitudes and behaviour, but none in biological outcomes. This paper attempts to explain these outcomes by reviewing the process evaluation findings, particularly in terms of contextual factors. Methods A large-scale, primarily qualitative process evaluation based mainly on participant observation identified the principal contextual barriers and facilitators of behavioural change. Results The contextual barriers involved four interrelated socio-structural factors: culture (i.e. shared practices and systems of belief), economic circumstances, social status, and gender. At an individual level they appeared to operate through the constructs of the theories underlying MEMA kwa Vijana - Social Cognitive Theory and the Theory of Reasoned Action – but the intervention was unable to substantially modify these individual-level constructs, apart from knowledge. Conclusion The process evaluation suggests that one important reason for this failure is that the intervention did not operate sufficiently at a structural level, particularly in regard to culture. Recently most structural interventions have focused on gender or/and economics. Complementing these with a cultural approach could address the belief systems that justify and perpetuate gender and economic inequalities, as well as other barriers to behaviour change. PMID:22978613

  3. An evidence-based approach to organization evaluation and change in human service organizations evaluation and program planning.

    PubMed

    Schalock, Robert L; Lee, Tim; Verdugo, Miguel; Swart, Kees; Claes, Claudia; van Loon, Jos; Lee, Chun-Shin

    2014-08-01

    The work described in this article focuses primarily on how human service organizations can use an evidence-based, self-assessment approach to organization evaluation to facilitate continuous quality improvement and organization change. Real-life examples are presented, strengths and challenges discussed, and future conceptual and measurement issues identified. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  4. Lincoln Urban Pollutant Reduction Strategies

    EPA Pesticide Factsheets

    This project reviewed existing materials related to Antelope Creek, primarily the Antelope Creek Watershed Basin Management Plan and any resources such as ordinances to categorize and evaluate any potential sources of pollutants.

  5. An evaluation of wilderness and aquatic biointegrity in western Montana

    Treesearch

    Nathaniel P. Hitt; Christopher A. Frissell

    2000-01-01

    Although the Wilderness Act of 1964 was justified in part by the importance of aquatic conservation, implementation of the Act has primarily focused on protecting terrestrial ecosystems. In this paper, we investigated the role of Congressionally-designated wilderness towards conservation of aquatic biointegrity in western Montana. To evaluate trends between 6th code...

  6. Family Planning Evaluation. Abortion Surveillance Report--Legal Abortions, United States, Annual Summary, 1970.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Center for Disease Control (DHEW/PHS), Atlanta, GA.

    This report summarizes abortion information received by the Center for Disease Control from collaborators in state health departments, hospitals, and other pertinent sources. While it is intended primarily for use by the above sources, it may also interest those responsible for family planning evaluation and hospital abortion planning. Information…

  7. Evaluation Issues in the Comprehensive Employment and Training Act (CETA) Legislation.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Spirer, Janet E.

    Underutilization of evaluation findings relative to the Comprehensive Employment and Training Act (CETA) legislation may not stem primarily from factors usually identified in the literature (e.g., methodological reasons) but may be superseded by a more potent factor such as the prominence of the policy or program on the national agenda. Viewed…

  8. An Inter-Disciplinary Problem Solving Approach to Environmental Education, Interim Evaluation Report.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Egan, Thomas A.; Seidel, Janet C.

    Evaluation of an ESEA Title III project, "An Inter-Disciplinary Problem Solving Approach to Environmental Education" located in Berks County, Pennsylvania, is offered in this interim report. The report is primarily concerned with the degree to which operational and management process objectives are being achieved in each of four…

  9. Principal Evaluation--Linking Individual and Building-Level Progress: Making the Connections and Embracing the Tensions

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Zepeda, Sally J.; Lanoue, Philip D.; Price, Noris F.; Jimenez, Albert M.

    2014-01-01

    The article examines the tensions one superintendent in the USA experienced as he evaluated principals in a high-stakes environment that had undergone numerous transformations at the central office. Using qualitative methods, primarily, shadowing techniques, observations and debriefing, the following tensions emerged and were examined in light of…

  10. The Black and White Symbolic Matrix.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Stabler, John R.; Goldberg, Faye J.

    Although many authors have mentioned examples of how black usually connotes a negative evaluation and white a positive evaluation, the literature on the topic has not yet included an attempt to list examples comprehensively. Those which are cited here come from a wide variety of sources: primarily from dictionaries, books of slang, and personal…

  11. Internal Evaluation in American Public School Districts: The Importance of Externally Driven Accountability Mandates

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    King, Jean A.; Rohmer-Hirt, Johnna A.

    2011-01-01

    From the 1980s to the present, educational accountability in the United States has grown dramatically. Such accountability in U.S. school districts, although driven primarily by external demands, has internal manifestations as well. The chapter traces the historical development of internal evaluation in American school districts, then highlights…

  12. Instructional Supervision: A Descriptive Study Focusing on the Observation and Evaluation of Teachers in Cyberschools

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Farley, Gregory Charles

    2010-01-01

    Since 1996, K-12 schools are increasingly moving from a traditional, face-to-face educational environment to an online learning environment utilizing technologies to deliver instruction primarily via the Internet. As this trend continues, administrators familiar with traditional supervisory methods will observe and evaluate teachers of online…

  13. Evaluating the Impact of the Graduate Certificate in Academic Practice (GCAP) Programme

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Chadha, Deesha

    2015-01-01

    Graduate teaching assistants (GTAs) and postgraduates in the UK are taking on greater responsibility for teaching, and therefore it has become increasingly necessary to explore the teacher training that supports them in this endeavour. This paper outlines an impact evaluation carried out on a graduate certificate programme primarily aimed at GTAs…

  14. Final evaluation Report, 1975-76. ESAA III Pilot Project Assist.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Austin Independent School District, TX. Office of Research and Evaluation.

    This evaluation report is presented at the conclusion of the third year of Project Assist, a program funded under the Emergency School Assistant Act (ESAA). The main focus of the project was on improving student reading and mathematics skills primarily through contact with instructional teacher aides and special supplementary instructional…

  15. Energy Considerations in Home Mortgages: An Evaluation Technique.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Maine Audubon Society, Falmouth.

    This document, intended primarily for mortgage lenders, is designed to aid readers in evaluating solar heating technology in the aspects of its capital cost and potential for recovery of investment. Whether or not American consumers will fully exploit this alternative will depend upon interest rates, the allocation of capital to finance the higher…

  16. Evaluation of temperament and transportation stress on body composition traits and meat quality in beef cattle

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    The objective of the first study was to evaluate the combined effects of transportation stress and animal temperament on real-time ultrasound body composition traits (primarily percentage of intramuscular fat) in Angus Crossbred (n = 68) and Brahman (n = 60) steers. Temperament scores (1 to 5 scale)...

  17. Credentials versus Performance: Review of the Teacher Performance Pay Research

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Podgursky, Michael; Springer, Matthew G.

    2007-01-01

    In this article we examine the economic case for merit or performance-based pay for K-12 teachers. We review several areas of germane research. The direct evaluation literature on these incentive plans is slender; highly diverse in terms of methodology, targeted populations, and programs evaluated; and primarily focused on short-run motivational…

  18. Examination of the Family Involvement Questionnaire-Early Childhood (FIQ-EC) with Low-Income, Latino Families of Young Children

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    McWayne, Christine M.; Manz, Patricia H.; Ginsburg-Block, Marika D.

    2015-01-01

    Given the growing numbers of Latino children entering the U.S. educational system, there is a need to understand the ways Latino parents support their children's early education. However, tools used to measure family engagement have been developed primarily with middle-income, English-speaking European American families in the United States. The…

  19. Caveat Emptor: Is There a Relationship between Part-Time Faculty Utilization and Student Learning Outcomes and Retention? Professional File. Number 91, Spring 2004

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Schibik, Timothy; Harrington, Charles

    2004-01-01

    One important factor neglected in the literature involves an investigation into whether the increased utilization of part-time faculty impacts student retention. Are part-time faculty, who are employed primarily to teach introductory courses, having an adverse affect on student retention? Are universities recognizing and studying the potential…

  20. Whole-School Management Issues Concerning the PE Department: "A Natural Division of Labour?"

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Williams, Gareth Mark; Williams, Dean

    2013-01-01

    Utilising the labour ideas of Adam Smith and Emile Durkheim as a theoretical basis, the main objective of this study was to investigate the perception that Heads of Physical Education (HoPE) face unique management and leadership challenges. Results showed that HoPE believe that they are overburdened with tasks primarily involving the delegation of…

  1. Isobutylene Dimerization: A Discovery-Based Exploration of Mechanism and Regioselectivity by NMR Spectroscopy and Molecular Modeling

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Schuster, Mariah L.; Peterson, Karl P.; Stoffregen, Stacey A.

    2018-01-01

    This two-period undergraduate laboratory experiment involves the synthesis of a mixture of isomeric unknowns, isolation of the mixture by means of distillation, and characterization of the two products primarily by NMR spectroscopy (1D and 2D) supported with IR spectroscopy and GC-MS techniques. Subsequent calculation and examination of the…

  2. Selection of Rear Projection Screens for Learning Carrels.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Smith, Edgar A.

    The selection of a rear projection screen for a learning carrel should take into account the viewing angle involved. In some carrels, the viewer can be seated in front of the screen (i.e., on the normal axis) since the screen is used primarily to present information. In these cases, where the screen will be viewed only from a restricted range, a…

  3. Instrumental Relationships: A Potential Relational Model for Inner-City Youth Programs

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Halpern, Robert

    2005-01-01

    In this article, a distinct type of adult-youth relationship found in some youth programs and characterized as instrumental is discussed. Such relationships focus primarily on joint work on a task or project, or in a discipline, with the adult having expertise and a strong identity in the substantive domain involved, rather than in youth work per…

  4. An e-Learning Team's Life on and Offline: A Collaborative Self-Ethnography in Postgraduate Education Development

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Clapp, Alison

    2017-01-01

    This paper primarily discusses the methodology of a case study into interactions and working practices of an elearning team, on and offline. Although several ethnographies have been published on online learning, there are apparently none involving communities developing courses. This is a unique insight, bringing a new view of course and staff…

  5. Community and Cluster Centre Residential Services for Adults with Intellectual Disability: Long-Term Results from an Australian-Matched Sample

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Young, L.

    2006-01-01

    Background: Changes in residential accommodation models for adults with intellectual disability (ID) over the last 20 years in Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States have involved relocation from institutions primarily into dispersed homes in the community. But an evolving alternative service style is the cluster centre. Methods: This…

  6. Where Are "Women Returners" Returning From? Deconstructing Domestication in the Context of Lifelong Learning.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Clarke, Julia

    The question of where "women returners" to education are returning from was examined through an exploration of the life histories of 18 women in southern England. The study focused on the biographies of women who regarded themselves as primarily responsible for the care of others and yet whose aspirations involved some form of continuing…

  7. Modeling Growth in Boys' Aggressive Behavior across Elementary School: Links to Later Criminal Involvement, Conduct Disorder, and Antisocial Personality Disorder

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Schaeffer, Cindy M.; Petras, Hanno; Ialongo, Nicholas; Poduska, Jeanne; Kellam, Sheppard

    2003-01-01

    The present study used general growth mixture modeling to identify pathways of antisocial behavior development within an epidemiological sample of urban, primarily African American boys. Teacher-rated aggression, measured longitudinally from 1st to 7th grade, was used to define growth trajectories. Three high-risk trajectories (chronic high,…

  8. The Columbia Classroom Environments Project...Third Progress Report, May 1971.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Grannis, Joseph C.

    During the report period the researchers were primarily engaged in the spring data collection and in drawing up the outlines of the 1971-72 and 1972-73 phases of the study. This activity involved a great deal of conceptualization and inspection of raw data, toward the end of clarifying the theoretical frame of reference and the purpose and…

  9. The Interaction of Lexical Semantics and Cohort Competition in Spoken Word Recognition: An fMRI Study

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Zhuang, Jie; Randall, Billi; Stamatakis, Emmanuel A.; Marslen-Wilson, William D.; Tyler, Lorraine K.

    2011-01-01

    Spoken word recognition involves the activation of multiple word candidates on the basis of the initial speech input--the "cohort"--and selection among these competitors. Selection may be driven primarily by bottom-up acoustic-phonetic inputs or it may be modulated by other aspects of lexical representation, such as a word's meaning…

  10. Central Nervous System Control of Voice and Swallowing

    PubMed Central

    Ludlow, Christy L.

    2015-01-01

    This review of the central nervous control systems for voice and swallowing has suggested that the traditional concepts of a separation between cortical and limbic and brain stem control should be refined and more integrative. For voice production, a separation of the non-human vocalization system from the human learned voice production system has been posited based primarily on studies of non-human primates. However, recent humans studies of emotionally based vocalizations and human volitional voice production has shown more integration between these two systems than previously proposed. Recent human studies have shown that reflexive vocalization as well as learned voice production not involving speech, involve a common integrative system. On the other hand, recent studies of non-human primates have provided evidence of some cortical activity during vocalization and cortical changes with training during vocal behavior. For swallowing, evidence from the macaque and functional brain imaging in humans indicates that the control for the pharyngeal phase of swallowing is not primarily under brain stem mechanisms as previously proposed. Studies suggest that the initiation and patterning of swallowing for the pharyngeal phase is also under active cortical control for both spontaneous as well as volitional swallowing in awake humans and non-human primates. PMID:26241238

  11. Functional specialization of the primate frontal cortex during decision making.

    PubMed

    Lee, Daeyeol; Rushworth, Matthew F S; Walton, Mark E; Watanabe, Masataka; Sakagami, Masamichi

    2007-08-01

    Economic theories of decision making are based on the principle of utility maximization, and reinforcement-learning theory provides computational algorithms that can be used to estimate the overall reward expected from alternative choices. These formal models not only account for a large range of behavioral observations in human and animal decision makers, but also provide useful tools for investigating the neural basis of decision making. Nevertheless, in reality, decision makers must combine different types of information about the costs and benefits associated with each available option, such as the quality and quantity of expected reward and required work. In this article, we put forward the hypothesis that different subdivisions of the primate frontal cortex may be specialized to focus on different aspects of dynamic decision-making processes. In this hypothesis, the lateral prefrontal cortex is primarily involved in maintaining the state representation necessary to identify optimal actions in a given environment. In contrast, the orbitofrontal cortex and the anterior cingulate cortex might be primarily involved in encoding and updating the utilities associated with different sensory stimuli and alternative actions, respectively. These cortical areas are also likely to contribute to decision making in a social context.

  12. Validating the Student-Teacher Relationship Scale: testing factor structure and measurement invariance across child gender and age in a Dutch sample.

    PubMed

    Koomen, Helma M Y; Verschueren, Karine; van Schooten, Erik; Jak, Suzanne; Pianta, Robert C

    2012-04-01

    The Student-Teacher Relationship Scale (STRS) is widely used to examine teachers' relationships with young students in terms of closeness, conflict, and dependency. This study aimed to verify the dimensional structure of the STRS with confirmatory factor analysis, test its measurement invariance across child gender and age, improve its measurement of the dependency construct, and extend its age range. Teachers completed a slightly adapted STRS for a Dutch sample of 2335 children aged 3 to 12. Overall, the 3-factor model showed an acceptable fit. Results indicated metric invariance across gender and age up to 8years. Scalar invariance generally did not hold. Lack of metric invariance at ages 8 to 12 primarily involved Conflict items, whereas scale differences across gender and age primarily involved Closeness items. The adapted Dependency scale showed strong invariance and higher internal consistencies than the original scale for this Dutch sample. Importantly, the revealed non-invariance for gender and age did not influence mean group comparisons. Copyright © 2011 Society for the Study of School Psychology. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  13. Mega-geomorphology and neotectonics

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Lattman, L. H.

    1985-01-01

    For several decades, subtle neotectonic effects involving several square kilometers have been studied in detail using remote sensing, primarily various types of stereo-aerial photographs at scales of 1:10,000 to 1:80,000. These subtle effects, especially local uplifts associated with growing structures of differential compaction, have been detected by the effect on drainage patterns, changes in hydraulic geometry of individuals channels or groups of channels, tonal halos (soil) and fracture patterns. The studies were extended with the advent of thermal IR imagery particularly in tonal analysis, and SLAR primarily in fracture pattern studies. Lately, quantitative efforts have begun attempting to link measured uplift over known structures with measured changes in hydraulic geometry and alluvial deposition. Thus, efforts are now underway attempting to quantify the relationship between neo- (micro-) tectonic changes and geomorphic parameters of drainage systems.

  14. Novel Materials Containing Single-Wall Carbon Nanotubes Wrapped in Polymer Molecules

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Smalley, Richard E.; O'Connell, Michael J.; Smith, Kenneth; Colbert, Daniel T.

    2009-01-01

    In this design, single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) have been coated in polymer molecules to create a new type of material that has low electrical conductivity, but still contains individual nanotubes, and small ropes of individual nanotubes, which are themselves good electrical conductors and serve as small conducting rods immersed in an electrically insulating matrix. The polymer is attached through weak chemical forces that are primarily non-covalent in nature, caused primarily through polarization rather than the sharing of valence electrons. Therefore, the electronic structure of the SWNT involved is substantially the same as that of free, individual (and small ropes of) SWNT. Their high conductivity makes the individual nanotubes extremely electrically polarizable, and materials containing these individual, highly polarizable molecules exhibit novel electrical properties including a high dielectric constant.

  15. Commercializing solar for industry in California

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Yudelson, J.

    1980-10-01

    The State of California has begun a commercialization program for increasing the rate of solar applications in industry. The components of this program include low interest loans, tax credits, revenue bonds and educational efforts. Many California industries appear to be likely candidates for solar systems, but as yet only a few companies have elected to install them. The various barriers to solar use by industry are primarily perceptual and financial. The emphasis of the state program for commercialization is turning increasingly towards educational seminars for industry groups and development of creative financial tools and arrangements. There are a few remaining legislative changes at state and federal levels, primarily involving leasing and tax laws which, if enacted, would overcome all of the remaining financial barriers to widespread adoption of solar applications by industry.

  16. Concrete wear study.

    DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

    1968-06-01

    This report primarily investigates the wear characteristics of concrete using various cement contents and three different sources of aggregates. Compressive strength and dynamic modulus of elasticity data was also obtained to assist in the evaluation...

  17. The Blackfeet Indian culture camp: Auditioning an alternative indigenous treatment for substance use disorders.

    PubMed

    Gone, Joseph P; Calf Looking, Patrick E

    2015-05-01

    American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) communities experience alarming health disparities, including high rates of substance use disorders (SUDs). Psychological services for AIANs, including SUDs treatment, are primarily funded by the federal Indian Health Service and typically administered by tribal governments. Tribal administration of SUDs treatment programs has routinely involved either inclusion of traditional cultural practices into program activities or adaptation of conventional treatment approaches to distinctive community sensibilities. In this article, we investigate a third possibility: the collaborative, community-based development of an alternative indigenous intervention that was implemented as a form of SUDs treatment in its own right and on its own terms. Specifically, in July of 2012, we undertook a trial implementation of a seasonal cultural immersion camp based on traditional Pikuni Blackfeet Indian cultural practices for 4 male clients from the reservation's federally funded SUDs treatment program. Given a variety of logistical and methodological constraints, the pilot offering of the culture camp primarily served as a demonstration of "proof of concept" for this alternative indigenous intervention. In presenting and reflecting on this effort, we consider many challenges associated with alternative indigenous treatment models, especially those associated with formal outcome evaluation. Indeed, we suggest that the motivation for developing local indigenous alternatives for AIAN SUDs treatment may work at cross-purposes to the rigorous assessment of therapeutic efficacy for such interventions. Nevertheless, we conclude that these efforts afford ample opportunities for expanding the existing knowledge base concerning the delivery of community-based psychological services for AIANs. (c) 2015 APA, all rights reserved).

  18. Diffusion of school-based prevention programs in two urban districts: adaptations, rationales, and suggestions for change.

    PubMed

    Ozer, Emily J; Wanis, Maggie G; Bazell, Nickie

    2010-03-01

    The diffusion of school-based preventive interventions involves the balancing of high-fidelity implementation of empirically-supported programs with flexibility to permit local stakeholders to target the specific needs of their youth. There has been little systematic research that directly seeks to integrate research- and community-driven approaches to diffusion. The present study provides a primarily qualitative investigation of the initial roll-out of two empirically-supported substance and violence prevention programs in two urban school districts that serve a high proportion of low-income, ethnic minority youth. The predominant ethnic group in most of our study schools was Asian American, followed by smaller numbers of Latinos, African Americans, and European Americans. We examined the adaptations made by experienced health teachers as they implemented the programs, the elicitation of suggested adaptations to the curricula from student and teacher stakeholders, and the evaluation of the consistency of these suggested adaptations with the core components of the programs. Data sources include extensive classroom observations of curricula delivery and interviews with students, teachers, and program developers. All health teachers made adaptations, primarily with respect to instructional format, integration of real-life experiences into the curriculum, and supplementation with additional resources; pedagogical and class management issues were cited as the rationale for these changes. Students and teachers were equally likely to propose adaptations that met with the program developers' approval with respect to program theory and implementation logistics. Tensions between teaching practice and prevention science-as well as implications for future research and practice in school-based prevention-are considered.

  19. Brainstem structures are primarily affected in an experimental model of severe scorpion envenomation.

    PubMed

    Guidine, Patrícia Alves Maia; Cash, Diana; Drumond, Luciana Estefani; de Souza E Rezende, Gustavo Henrique; Massensini, André Ricardo; Williams, Steve Charles Rees; Moraes-Santos, Tasso; Moraes, Márcio Flávio Dutra; Mesquita, Michel Bernanos Soares

    2014-01-01

    Severe scorpion envenoming (SSE) is more frequent in children and is characterized by systemic dysfunctions with a mortality rate of up to 9%. Recent evidence shows that the central nervous system (CNS) plays a key role in triggering the cascade of symptoms present in SSE. The age-dependent role of the CNS in SSE lethality may be summarized in 3 hypotheses: (1) the shown increased blood brain barrier permeability of infants to the toxins would especially and primarily compromise neurovegetative control areas, (2) the neurons within these areas have high affinity to the toxins, and (3) the neurovascular interaction is such that SSE metabolically compromises proper function of toxin-targeted areas. A pharmacological magnetic resonance imaging paradigm was used to evaluate localized hemodynamic changes in relative cerebral blood volume (rCBV) for 30 min after the injection of TsTX, the most lethal toxin from the venom of the Tityus serrulatus scorpion. The brainstem showed significant rCBV reduction 1 min after TsTX administration, whereas rostral brain areas had delayed increase in rCBV (confirmed by laser Doppler measurements of cortical cerebral blood flow). Moreover, metabolic activity by 14C-2-deoxyglucose autoradiography showed the highest relative increase at the brainstem. To test whether TsTX has high affinity to brainstem neurons, the lateral ventricle was injected with Alexa Fluor 568 TsTX. Although some neurons showed intense fluorescence, the labeling pattern suggests that specific neurons were targeted. Altogether, these results suggest that brainstem areas involved in neurovegetative control are most likely within the primary structures triggering the cascade of symptoms present in SSE.

  20. Phenotypic characteristics of the p.Asn215Ser (p.N215S) GLA mutation in male and female patients with Fabry disease: A multicenter Fabry Registry study.

    PubMed

    Germain, Dominique P; Brand, Eva; Burlina, Alessandro; Cecchi, Franco; Garman, Scott C; Kempf, Judy; Laney, Dawn A; Linhart, Aleš; Maródi, László; Nicholls, Kathy; Ortiz, Alberto; Pieruzzi, Federico; Shankar, Suma P; Waldek, Stephen; Wanner, Christoph; Jovanovic, Ana

    2018-04-12

    The p.Asn215Ser or p.N215S GLA variant has been associated with late-onset cardiac variant of Fabry disease. To expand on the scarce phenotype data, we analyzed natural history data from 125 p.N215S patients (66 females, 59 males) enrolled in the Fabry Registry (NCT00196742) and compared it with data from 401 patients (237 females, 164 males) harboring mutations associated with classic Fabry disease. We evaluated interventricular septum thickness (IVST), left ventricular posterior wall thickness (LVPWT), estimated glomerular filtration rate and severe clinical events. In p.N215S males, mildly abnormal mean IVST and LVPWT values were observed in patients aged 25-34 years, and values gradually increased with advancing age. Mean values were similar to those of classic males. In p.N215S females, these abnormalities occurred primarily in patients aged 55-64 years. Severe clinical events in p.N215S patients were mainly cardiac (males 31%, females 8%) while renal and cerebrovascular events were rare. Renal impairment occurred in 17% of p.N215S males (mostly in patients aged 65-74 years), and rarely in females (3%). p.N215S is a disease-causing mutation with severe clinical manifestations found primarily in the heart. Cardiac involvement may become as severe as in classic Fabry patients, especially in males. © 2018 The Authors. Molecular Genetics & Genomic Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  1. Catabolic Effects of Endothelial Cell-Derived Microparticles on Disc Cells: Implications in Intervertebral Disc Neovascularization and Degeneration

    PubMed Central

    Pohl, Pedro H. I.; Lozito, Thomas P.; Cuperman, Thais; Yurube, Takashi; Moon, Hong J.; Ngo, Kevin; Tuan, Rocky S.; Croix, Claudette St.; Sowa, Gwendolyn A.; Rodrigues, Luciano M. R.; Kang, James D.; Vo, Nam V.

    2017-01-01

    Neovascularization of intervertebral discs, a phenomenon considered pathological since normal discs are primarily avascular structures, occurs most frequently in annulus fibrosus (AF) of degenerated discs. Endothelial cells (ECs) are involved in this process, but the mechanism of the interaction between AF and endothelial cells is unclear. In this study we evaluated the effects on matrix catabolic activity of AF cells by the extracellular endothelial microparticles (EMPs) and soluble protein factors (SUP fraction) produced from ECs. Passage 1 human AF cells grown in monolayer cultures were treated for 72 hours with 250μg of EMPs or SUP fraction isolated from culture of the microvascular endothelial cell line, HEMC-I. Live-cell imaging revealed uptake of EMPs by AF cells. RT-PCR analysis demonstrated increased mRNA expression of MMP-1 (50.3 fold), MMP-3 (4.5 fold) and MMP-13 (5.5 fold) in AF cell cultures treated with EMPs compared to untreated control. Western analysis also demonstrated increased MMP protein expression in EMP-treated AF cells. AF cells treated with the SUP fraction also exhibited a dramatic increase in MMP mRNA and protein expression. Increased MMP expression is primarily due to EMP or SUP stimulation of AF cells since EMPs or SUP fraction alone contained negligible amount of MMPs. Interestingly, MMP activity was elevated in AF cell cultures treated with EMPs but not with SUP. This study revealed enhanced matrix catabolism as a molecular consequence of action of ECs on AF cells via EMPs, which might be expected during neo-angiogenesis of degenerating disc. PMID:27246627

  2. Energy, wealth, and human development: why and how biomass pretreatment research must improve.

    PubMed

    Dale, Bruce E; Ong, Rebecca G

    2012-07-01

    A high level of human development is dependent on energy consumption (roughly 4 kW per person), and most developed countries that have reached this level have done so through the extensive use of fossil energy. However, given that fossil resources are finite, in order for developed countries to maintain their level of development and simultaneously allow developing countries to reach their potential, it is essential to develop viable renewable energy alternatives. Of particular importance are liquid fuel replacements for petroleum, the fossil resource that primarily drives commerce and economic growth. The intent of this article is to remind our fellow biofuel researchers, particularly those involved in lignocellulosic pretreatment, of these global issues and the serious nature of our work. We hope that this will inspire us to generate and report higher quality and more thorough data than has been done in the past. Only in this way can accurate comparisons and technoeconomic evaluations be made for the many different pretreatment technologies that are currently being researched. The data that primarily influence biorefinery economics can be subdivided into three main categories: yield, concentration, and rate. For these three categories we detail the specific data that should be reported for pretreatment research. In addition, there is other information that is needed to allow for a thorough comparison of pretreatment technologies. An overview of these criteria and our comparison of the current state of a number of pretreatment technologies with respect to these criteria are covered in the last section. Copyright © 2012 American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE).

  3. Nonphysician Care Providers Can Help to Increase Detection of Cognitive Impairment and Encourage Diagnostic Evaluation for Dementia in Community and Residential Care Settings.

    PubMed

    Maslow, Katie; Fortinsky, Richard H

    2018-01-18

    In the United States, at least half of older adults living with dementia do not have a diagnosis. Their cognitive impairment may not have been detected, and some older adults whose physician recommends that they obtain a diagnostic evaluation do not follow through on the recommendation. Initiatives to increase detection of cognitive impairment and diagnosis of dementia have focused primarily on physician practices and public information programs to raise awareness about the importance of detection and diagnosis. Nonphysician care providers who work with older adults in community and residential care settings, such as aging network agencies, public health agencies, senior housing, assisted living, and nursing homes, interact frequently with older adults who have cognitive impairment but have not had a diagnostic evaluation. These care providers may be aware of signs of cognitive impairment and older adults' concerns about their cognition that have not been expressed to their physician. Within their scope of practice and training, nonphysician care providers can help to increase detection of cognitive impairment and encourage older adults with cognitive impairment to obtain a diagnostic evaluation to determine the cause of the condition. This article provides seven practice recommendations intended to increase involvement of nonphysician care providers in detecting cognitive impairment and encouraging older adults to obtain a diagnostic evaluation. The Kickstart-Assess-Evaluate-Refer (KAER) framework for physician practice in detection and diagnosis of dementia is used to identify ways to coordinate physician and nonphysician efforts and thereby increase the proportion of older adults living with dementia who have a diagnosis. © The Author(s) 2018. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The Gerontological Society of America. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

  4. Chemical Kinetics and Photochemical Data for Use in Atmospheric Studies: Evaluation Number 18

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Burkholder, J. B.; Sander, S. P.; Abbatt, J. P. D.; Barker, J. R.; Huie, R. E.; Kolb, C. E.; Kurylo, M. J.; Orkin, V. L.; Wilmouth, D. M.; Wine, P. H.

    2015-01-01

    This is the eighteenth in a series of evaluated sets of rate constants, photochemical cross sections, heterogeneous parameters, and thermochemical parameters compiled by the NASA Panel for Data Evaluation. The data are used primarily to model stratospheric and upper tropospheric processes, with particular emphasis on the ozone layer and its possible perturbation by anthropogenic and natural phenomena. The evaluation is available in electronic form from the following Internet URL: http://jpldataeval.jpl.nasa.gov/

  5. Word classes in the brain: implications of linguistic typology for cognitive neuroscience.

    PubMed

    Kemmerer, David

    2014-09-01

    Although recent research on the neural substrates of word classes has generated some valuable findings, significant progress has been hindered by insufficient attention to theoretical issues involving the nature of the lexical phenomena under investigation. This paper shows how insights from linguistic typology can provide cognitive neuroscientists with well-motivated guidelines for interpreting the extant data and charting a future course. At the outset, a fundamental distinction is made between universal and language-particular aspects of word classes. Regarding universals, prototypical nouns involve reference to objects, and their meanings rely primarily on the ventral temporal lobes, which represent the shape features of entities; in contrast, prototypical verbs involve predication of actions, and their meanings rely primarily on posterior middle temporal regions and frontoparietal regions, which represent the visual motion features and somatomotor features of events. Some researchers maintain that focusing on object nouns and action verbs is inappropriate because it conflates the semantic and grammatical properties of each word class. However, this criticism not only ignores the importance of the universal prototypes, but also mistakenly assumes that there are straightforward morphological and/or syntactic criteria for identifying nouns and verbs in particular languages. In fact, at the level of individual languages, the classic method of distributional analysis leads to a proliferation of constructionally based entity-denoting and event-denoting word classes with mismatching memberships, and all of this variation must be taken seriously, not only by linguists, but also by cognitive neuroscientists. Many of these word classes involve remarkably close correspondences between grammar and meaning and hence are highly relevant to the neurobiology of conceptual knowledge, but so far hardly any of them have been investigated from a neurolinguistic perspective. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  6. Acoustic Evaluation of Sanders Associates ACODAC Sensors

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1983-03-01

    this securing technique because of its susceptibility to in-band resonances. Although this unit was primarily submitted for sensor flow- noise evaluation...of this sensor and prepare it for the required flow- noise evaluation by replacing the defective geophones in the cosine channel. For completeness...channels displayed essentially flat response with a low frequency roll off starting at about 20 Hz and an upper resonance at 3300 Hz. The sensitivity

  7. Urine and plasma metabolomics study on potential hepatoxic biomarkers identification in rats induced by Gynura segetum.

    PubMed

    Qiu, Shoubei; Zhang, Haixia; Fei, Qianqian; Zhu, Fenxia; Wang, Jing; Jia, Xiaobin; Chen, Bin

    2018-04-24

    Gynura segetum (GS) is an herbal medicine containing Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids (PAs) that causes hepatic sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (HSOS). To discover potential biomarkers and metabolic mechanisms involved in the hepatotoxicity induced by GS. SD rats were randomly divided into 4 groups including Saline, the decoction of GS high, medium and low dosage at dosages of 3.75g • kg -1 , 7.5g • kg -1 and 15g • kg -1 . A metabolomics approach using Ultraperformance Liquid Chromatography -Quadrupole-Time-of-Flight / Mass Spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF/MS) was developed to perform the plasma and urinary metabolic profiling analysis, and identified differential metabolites by comparing the saline control group and decoction of GS groups. The herbal was presented dosage-dependent led to ingravescence of hepatotoxicity after the rats were consecutively given with the decoction of GS at varied dosages. A total of 18 differential metabolites of decoction of GS-induced hepatotoxicity were identified, while 10 of them including arginine, proline, glutamate, creatine, valine, linoleic acid, arachidonic acid, sphinganine, phytosphingosine, and citric acid could be discovered in urine and plasma, and primarily involved in Amino acid metabolism, Lipids metabolism and Energy metabolism. The results suggested that the differential metabolites of arginine, creatine, valine, glutamine and citric acid were verified as potential markers of GS-induced hepatotoxicity via the regulation of multiple metabolic pathways primarily involving in Amino acids metabolism and Energy metabolism. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  8. [The results of strontium-90 contact therapy to prevent the recurrence of pterygium].

    PubMed

    Schultze, J; Hinrichs, M; Kimmig, B

    1996-08-01

    Aim of the study was the evaluation of the role of adjuvant radiation therapy in the prevention of recurrence after excision. Between July 1, 1985 and April 1, 1993, 64 patients (43 male, 21 female) were referred to radiation therapy after excision of a nasal pterygium. Radiation therapy was done with a strontium-90 eye applicator and a total dose of 30 Gy, fractionated in 6 fractions of 5 Gy each, 3 times a week. Forty-nine patients were treated primarily, 15 patients underwent radiation therapy for the first time in case of recurrent pterygium after multiple re-excisions. All patients had a following of 1 to 9 years with a median of 5.5 years. In 8 of 64 irradiated patients recurrent pterygium was detected (12.5%). Differentiated into the 2 groups 4 of the primarily treated patients had recurrent pterygium (8.16%), the other 4 were in the group with multiple former re-excisions (26.7%). With regard to the initiation of the irradiation after surgery pterygium did not recur in any of the primarily treated patients who were irradiated in between 3 days after surgery. In contrary 3 of 7 primarily treated patients (42.9%) who started radiation therapy between 7 and 10 days after surgery had recurrent pterygium. For the patients with primarily recurrent pterygium no dependence of the initiation of radiation therapy after surgery could be detected. Adjuvant radiation therapy after excision of pterygium lowers the rate of recurrence from about 40% to 12.5%, in a primarily adjuvant situation to 8.16%. In these patients radiation therapy should be initiated within 3 days after surgery. Patients with primarily recurrent pterygium have an elevated risk of recurrence independently of the initiation of radiation therapy.

  9. Multi-slice MRI reveals heterogeneity in disease distribution along the length of muscle in Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

    PubMed

    Chrzanowski, Stephen M; Baligand, Celine; Willcocks, Rebecca J; Deol, Jasjit; Schmalfuss, Ilona; Lott, Donovan J; Daniels, Michael J; Senesac, Claudia; Walter, Glenn A; Vandenborne, Krista

    2017-09-01

    Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) causes progressive pathologic changes to muscle secondary to a cascade of inflammation, lipid deposition, and fibrosis. Clinically, this manifests as progressive weakness, functional loss, and premature mortality. Though insult to whole muscle groups is well established, less is known about the relationship between intramuscular pathology and function. Differences of intramuscular heterogeneity across muscle length were assessed using an ordinal MRI grading scale in lower leg muscles of boys with DMD and correlated to patient's functional status. Cross sectional T 1 weighted MRI images with fat suppression were obtained from ambulatory boys with DMD. Six muscles (tibialis anterior, extensor digitorum longus, peroneus, soleus, medial and lateral gastrocnemii) were graded using an ordinal grading scale over 5 slice sections along the lower leg length. The scores from each slice were combined and results were compared to global motor function and age. Statistically greater differences of involvement were observed at the proximal ends of muscle compared to the midbellies. Multi-slice assessment correlated significantly to age and the Vignos functional scale, whereas single-slice assessment correlated to the Vignos functional scale only. Lastly, differential disease involvement of whole muscle groups and intramuscular heterogeneity were observed amongst similar age subjects. A multi-slice ordinal MRI grading scale revealed that muscles are not uniformly affected, with more advanced disease visible near the tendons in a primarily ambulatory population with DMD. A geographically comprehensive evaluation of the heterogeneously affected muscle in boys with DMD may more accurately assess disease involvement.

  10. Involvement of astrocyte metabolic coupling in Tourette syndrome pathogenesis.

    PubMed

    de Leeuw, Christiaan; Goudriaan, Andrea; Smit, August B; Yu, Dongmei; Mathews, Carol A; Scharf, Jeremiah M; Verheijen, Mark H G; Posthuma, Danielle

    2015-11-01

    Tourette syndrome is a heritable neurodevelopmental disorder whose pathophysiology remains unknown. Recent genome-wide association studies suggest that it is a polygenic disorder influenced by many genes of small effect. We tested whether these genes cluster in cellular function by applying gene-set analysis using expert curated sets of brain-expressed genes in the current largest available Tourette syndrome genome-wide association data set, involving 1285 cases and 4964 controls. The gene sets included specific synaptic, astrocytic, oligodendrocyte and microglial functions. We report association of Tourette syndrome with a set of genes involved in astrocyte function, specifically in astrocyte carbohydrate metabolism. This association is driven primarily by a subset of 33 genes involved in glycolysis and glutamate metabolism through which astrocytes support synaptic function. Our results indicate for the first time that the process of astrocyte-neuron metabolic coupling may be an important contributor to Tourette syndrome pathogenesis.

  11. Involvement of astrocyte metabolic coupling in Tourette syndrome pathogenesis

    PubMed Central

    de Leeuw, Christiaan; Goudriaan, Andrea; Smit, August B; Yu, Dongmei; Mathews, Carol A; Scharf, Jeremiah M; Scharf, J M; Pauls, D L; Yu, D; Illmann, C; Osiecki, L; Neale, B M; Mathews, C A; Reus, V I; Lowe, T L; Freimer, N B; Cox, N J; Davis, L K; Rouleau, G A; Chouinard, S; Dion, Y; Girard, S; Cath, D C; Posthuma, D; Smit, J H; Heutink, P; King, R A; Fernandez, T; Leckman, J F; Sandor, P; Barr, C L; McMahon, W; Lyon, G; Leppert, M; Morgan, J; Weiss, R; Grados, M A; Singer, H; Jankovic, J; Tischfield, J A; Heiman, G A; Verheijen, Mark H G; Posthuma, Danielle

    2015-01-01

    Tourette syndrome is a heritable neurodevelopmental disorder whose pathophysiology remains unknown. Recent genome-wide association studies suggest that it is a polygenic disorder influenced by many genes of small effect. We tested whether these genes cluster in cellular function by applying gene-set analysis using expert curated sets of brain-expressed genes in the current largest available Tourette syndrome genome-wide association data set, involving 1285 cases and 4964 controls. The gene sets included specific synaptic, astrocytic, oligodendrocyte and microglial functions. We report association of Tourette syndrome with a set of genes involved in astrocyte function, specifically in astrocyte carbohydrate metabolism. This association is driven primarily by a subset of 33 genes involved in glycolysis and glutamate metabolism through which astrocytes support synaptic function. Our results indicate for the first time that the process of astrocyte-neuron metabolic coupling may be an important contributor to Tourette syndrome pathogenesis. PMID:25735483

  12. Remediation System Evaluation, Raymark Superfund Site (PDF)

    EPA Pesticide Factsheets

    The Raymark site occupies 7 acres off Jacksonville Road in an industrial part of Hatboro, Pennsylvania.The pump-and-treat system addresses groundwater contamination, primarily trichloroethylene (TCE),associated with the operations of various ...

  13. Ultrasonic-Based Nondestructive Evaluation Methods for Wood: A Primer and Historical Review

    Treesearch

    Adam C. Senalik; Greg Schueneman; Robert J. Ross

    2014-01-01

    The authors conducted a review of ultrasonic testing and evaluation of wood and wood products, starting with a description of basic ultrasonic inspection setups and commonly used equations. The literature review primarily covered wood research presented between 1965 and 2013 in the Proceedings of the Nondestructive Testing of Wood Symposiums. A table that lists the...

  14. Format of Options in Multiple Choice Test vis-a-vis Test Performance

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Bendulo, Hermabeth O.; Tibus, Erlinda D.; Bande, Rhodora A.; Oyzon, Voltaire Q.; Milla, Norberto E.; Macalinao, Myrna L.

    2017-01-01

    Testing or evaluation in an educational context is primarily used to measure or evaluate and authenticate the academic readiness, learning advancement, acquisition of skills, or instructional needs of learners. This study tried to determine whether the varied combinations of arrangements of options and letter cases in a Multiple-Choice Test (MCT)…

  15. Faculty Perceptions of the National Undergraduate Teaching and Learning Evaluation at Regular Higher Education Institutions from 2003 to 2008 in China

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    An, Jumei

    2012-01-01

    This study explored how faculty members at regular higher education institutions in China perceived the National Undergraduate Teaching and Learning Evaluation (NUTLE). Specifically, this study examined how the NUTLE influenced faculty teaching and research and how the NUTLE influenced student learning outcomes. Primarily descriptive and…

  16. Evaluation of Hydrogel Technologies for the Decontamination ...

    EPA Pesticide Factsheets

    Report This current research effort was developed to evaluate intermediate level (between bench-scale and large-scale or wide-area implementation) decontamination procedures, materials, technologies, and techniques used to remove radioactive material from different surfaces. In the event of such an incident, application of this technology would primarily be intended for decontamination of high-value buildings, important infrastructure, and landmarks.

  17. Conceptual Framework for Therapeutic Training with Biofeedback in Virtual Reality: First Evaluation of a Relaxation Simulator

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Fominykh, Mikhail; Prasolova-Førland, Ekaterina; Stiles, Tore C.; Krogh, Anne Berit; Linde, Mattias

    2018-01-01

    This paper presents a concept for designing low-cost therapeutic training with biofeedback and virtual reality. We completed the first evaluation of a prototype--a mobile learning application for relaxation training, primarily for adolescents suffering from tension-type headaches. The system delivers visual experience on a head-mounted display. A…

  18. Psychometric Analysis of the Diagnostic Evaluation of Language Variation-Screening Test: Extension to Low-Income African American Pre-Kindergarteners

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Terry, Nicole P.; Petscher, Yaacov; Rhodes, Katherine T.

    2017-01-01

    The purpose of this study was to extend a previous investigation of the psychometrics of the "Diagnostic Evaluation of Language Variation-Screening Test" (DELV-S) to include pre-kindergarten children (primarily African American and from low-income households). The previous study (Petscher, Connor, & Al Otaiba, 2012) included a…

  19. Factors Affecting the Mental Development of Very Low Birthweight Infants: An Evaluation Based Primarily on Covariance Structure Analysis.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Honjo, Shuji; And Others

    1998-01-01

    Evaluated statistically the effect of intranatal and early postnatal period factors on mental development of very low-birth-weight infants. Covariance structure analysis revealed direct influence of birth weight and gestational age in weeks on mental development at age 1, and of opthalmological aberrations and respirator disorder on mental…

  20. A Manual for Coding Descriptions, Interpretations, and Evaluations of Visual Art Forms.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Acuff, Bette C.; Sieber-Suppes, Joan

    This manual presents a system for categorizing stated esthetic responses to paintings. It is primarily a training manual for coders, but it may also be used for teaching reflective thinking skills and for evaluating programs of art education. The coding system contains 33 subdivisions of esthetic responses under three major categories: Cue…

  1. Evaluation of a constipation risk assessment scale.

    PubMed

    Zernike, W; Henderson, A

    1999-06-01

    This project was undertaken in order to evaluate the utility of a constipation risk assessment scale and the accompanying bowel management protocol. The risk assessment scale was primarily introduced to teach and guide staff in managing constipation when caring for patients. The intention of the project was to reduce the incidence of constipation in patients during their admission to hospital.

  2. Evaluation of documented drug interactions and contraindications associated with herbs and dietary supplements: a systematic literature review.

    PubMed

    Tsai, H-H; Lin, H-W; Simon Pickard, A; Tsai, H-Y; Mahady, G B

    2012-11-01

    The use of herbs and dietary supplements (HDS) alone or concomitantly with medications can potentially increase the risk of adverse events experienced by the patients. This review aims to evaluate the documented HDS-drug interactions and contraindications. A structured literature review was conducted on PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, tertiary literature and Internet. While 85 primary literatures, six books and two web sites were reviewed for a total of 1,491 unique pairs of HDS-drug interactions, 213 HDS entities and 509 medications were involved. HDS products containing St. John's Wort, magnesium, calcium, iron, ginkgo had the greatest number of documented interactions with medications. Warfarin, insulin, aspirin, digoxin, and ticlopidine had the greatest number of reported interactions with HDS. Medications affecting the central nervous system or cardiovascular system had more documented interactions with HDS. Of the 882 HDS-drug interactions being described its mechanism and severity, 42.3% were due to altered pharmacokinetics and 240 were described as major interactions. Of the 152 identified HDS contraindications, the most frequent involved gastrointestinal (16.4%), neurological (14.5%), and renal/genitourinary diseases (12.5%). Flaxseed, echinacea, and yohimbe had the largest number of documented contraindications. Although HDS-drug interactions and contraindications primarily concerned a relatively small subset of commonly used medications and HDS entities, this review provides the summary to identify patients, HDS products, and medications that are more susceptible to HDS-drug interactions and contraindications. The findings would facilitate the health-care professionals to communicate these documented interactions and contraindications to their patients and/or caregivers thereby preventing serious adverse events and improving desired therapeutic outcomes. © 2012 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

  3. Does Radiation Have a Role in Advanced Stage Hodgkin's or Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma?

    PubMed

    Specht, Lena

    2016-01-01

    Radiation therapy (RT) is one of the most effective agents available in the treatment of lymphomas. However, it is a local treatment, and today, with systemic treatments assuming a primary role for induction of response, RT is primarily used for consolidation. For advanced stage lymphomas, the indications for the use of RT have been questioned and debated, and proper randomized evidence is sparse. RT has significant long-term side effects, and the very extended RT fields of the past yielded unacceptable toxicity in many patients. Modern advanced imaging and conformal RT techniques now enable treatment of larger and anatomically more challenging target volumes with much less radiation to normal tissues and consequently much lower risks of long-term complications. The modern concept of involved site radiation therapy (ISRT) has now been accepted as standard in lymphomas. In advanced Hodgkin lymphoma (HL), RT to residual disease and/or initial bulk benefits some patients, depending on the chemotherapy regimen used. The more intensive the chemotherapy regimen, the fewer patients benefit from RT. In advanced aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), most of the evidence comes from the most common type, the diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL). In patients treated with modern immunochemotherapy, RT to initial bulky disease or extralymphatic involvement is beneficial. For both HL and aggressive NHL, RT to residual masses after systemic treatment is of benefit. The role of PET in the evaluation and indication for RT to residual masses has not been tested in randomized trials. In advanced indolent NHL, very low dose RT offers excellent palliation with very few side effects. Modern RT in advanced lymphomas warrants further evaluation in randomized trials.

  4. The advancement of a new human factors report--'The Unique Report'--facilitating flight crew auditing of performance/operations as part of an airline's safety management system.

    PubMed

    Leva, M C; Cahill, J; Kay, A M; Losa, G; McDonald, N

    2010-02-01

    This paper presents the findings of research relating to the specification of a new human factors report, conducted as part of the work requirements for the Human Integration into the Lifecycle of Aviation Systems project, sponsored by the European Commission. Specifically, it describes the proposed concept for a unique report, which will form the basis for all operational and safety reports completed by flight crew. This includes all mandatory and optional reports. Critically, this form is central to the advancement of improved processes and technology tools, supporting airline performance management, safety management, organisational learning and knowledge integration/information-sharing activities. Specifically, this paper describes the background to the development of this reporting form, the logic and contents of this form and how reporting data will be made use of by airline personnel. This includes a description of the proposed intelligent planning process and the associated intelligent flight plan concept, which makes use of airline operational and safety analyses information. Primarily, this new reporting form has been developed in collaboration with a major Spanish airline. In addition, it has involved research with five other airlines. Overall, this has involved extensive field research, collaborative prototyping and evaluation of new reports/flight plan concepts and a number of evaluation activities. Participants have included both operational and management personnel, across different airline flight operations processes. Statement of Relevance: This paper presents the development of a reporting concept outlined through field research and collaborative prototyping within an airline. The resulting reporting function, embedded in the journey log compiled at the end of each flight, aims at enabling employees to audit the operations of the company they work for.

  5. Pharmacometric Approaches to Personalize Use of Primarily Renally Eliminated Antibiotics in Preterm and Term Neonates.

    PubMed

    Wilbaux, Mélanie; Fuchs, Aline; Samardzic, Janko; Rodieux, Frédérique; Csajka, Chantal; Allegaert, Karel; van den Anker, Johannes N; Pfister, Marc

    2016-08-01

    Sepsis remains a major cause of mortality and morbidity in neonates, and, as a consequence, antibiotics are the most frequently prescribed drugs in this vulnerable patient population. Growth and dynamic maturation processes during the first weeks of life result in large inter- and intrasubject variability in the pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics (PD) of antibiotics. In this review we (1) summarize the available population PK data and models for primarily renally eliminated antibiotics, (2) discuss quantitative approaches to account for effects of growth and maturation processes on drug exposure and response, (3) evaluate current dose recommendations, and (4) identify opportunities to further optimize and personalize dosing strategies of these antibiotics in preterm and term neonates. Although population PK models have been developed for several of these drugs, exposure-response relationships of primarily renally eliminated antibiotics in these fragile infants are not well understood, monitoring strategies remain inconsistent, and consensus on optimal, personalized dosing of these drugs in these patients is absent. Tailored PK/PD studies and models are useful to better understand relationships between drug exposures and microbiological or clinical outcomes. Pharmacometric modeling and simulation approaches facilitate quantitative evaluation and optimization of treatment strategies. National and international collaborations and platforms are essential to standardize and harmonize not only studies and models but also monitoring and dosing strategies. Simple bedside decision tools assist clinical pharmacologists and neonatologists in their efforts to fine-tune and personalize the use of primarily renally eliminated antibiotics in term and preterm neonates. © 2016, The American College of Clinical Pharmacology.

  6. Identification of curcumin derivatives as human LMTK3 inhibitors for breast cancer: a docking, dynamics, and MM/PBSA approach.

    PubMed

    Anbarasu, K; Jayanthi, S

    2018-05-01

    Human lemur tyrosine kinase-3 (LMTK3) is primarily involved in regulation of estrogen receptor-α (ERα) by phosphorylation activity. LMTK3 acts as key biomarker for ERα positive breast cancer and identified as novel drug target for breast cancer. Due to the absence of experimental reports, the computational approach has been followed to screen LMTK3 inhibitors from natural product curcumin derivatives based on rational inhibitor design. The initial virtual screening and re-docking resulted in identification of top three leads with favorable binding energy and strong interactions in critical residues of ATP-binding cavity. ADME prediction confirmed the pharmacological activity of the leads with various properties. The stability and binding affinity of leads were well refined in dynamic system from 25 ns MD simulations. The behavior of protein motion towards closure of ATP-binding cavity was evaluated based on eigenvectors by PCA. In addition, MM/PBSA calculations also confirmed the relative binding free energy of LMTK3-lead complexes in favor of the effective binding. From our study, novel LMTK3 inhibitors tetrahydrocurcumin, curcumin 4,4'-diacetate, and demethoxycurcumin have been proposed with inhibition mechanism. Further experimental evaluation on reported lead candidates might prove its role in breast cancer therapeutics.

  7. DESIGNING PHASE 0 CANCER CLINICAL TRIALS

    PubMed Central

    Murgo, Anthony J.; Kummar, Shivaani; Rubinstein, Larry; Gutierrez, Martin; Collins, Jerry; Kinders, Robert; Parchment, Ralph E.; Ji, Jiuping; Steinberg, Seth M.; Yang, Sherry X.; Hollingshead, Melinda; Chen, Alice; Helman, Lee; Wiltrout, Robert; Tomaszewski, Joseph E.; Doroshow, James H.

    2008-01-01

    Phase 0 trials are designed primarily to evaluate the pharmacodynamic and/or pharmacokinetic properties of selected investigational agents prior to initiating more traditional phase 1 testing. One of the major objectives of phase 0 trials is to interrogate and refine a target or biomarker assay for drug effect in human samples implementing procedures developed and validated in preclinical models. Thus, close collaboration between laboratory scientists and clinical investigators is essential to the design and conduct of phase 0 trials. Given the relatively small number of patients and tissue samples, demonstrating a significant drug effect in phase 0 trials requires precise and reproducible assay procedures and innovative statistical methodology. Furthermore, phase 0 trials involving limited exposure of study agent administered at low doses and/or for a short period allows them to be initiated under the FDA Exploratory IND Guidance with less preclinical toxicity data than usually required for traditional first-in-human studies. Because of the very limited drug exposure, phase 0 trials offer no chance of therapeutic benefit, which can impede patient enrollment, particularly if invasive tumor biopsies are required. However, the challenges to accrual are not insurmountable, and well-designed and executed phase 0 trials are feasible and have great potential for improving the efficiency and success of subsequent trials, particularly those evaluating molecularly targeted agents. PMID:18559582

  8. Development and evaluation of a regression-based model to predict cesium-137 concentration ratios for saltwater fish.

    PubMed

    Pinder, John E; Rowan, David J; Smith, Jim T

    2016-02-01

    Data from published studies and World Wide Web sources were combined to develop a regression model to predict (137)Cs concentration ratios for saltwater fish. Predictions were developed from 1) numeric trophic levels computed primarily from random resampling of known food items and 2) K concentrations in the saltwater for 65 samplings from 41 different species from both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. A number of different models were initially developed and evaluated for accuracy which was assessed as the ratios of independently measured concentration ratios to those predicted by the model. In contrast to freshwater systems, were K concentrations are highly variable and are an important factor in affecting fish concentration ratios, the less variable K concentrations in saltwater were relatively unimportant in affecting concentration ratios. As a result, the simplest model, which used only trophic level as a predictor, had comparable accuracies to more complex models that also included K concentrations. A test of model accuracy involving comparisons of 56 published concentration ratios from 51 species of marine fish to those predicted by the model indicated that 52 of the predicted concentration ratios were within a factor of 2 of the observed concentration ratios. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  9. Objective vestibular testing of children with dizziness and balance complaints following sports-related concussions.

    PubMed

    Zhou, Guangwei; Brodsky, Jacob R

    2015-06-01

    To conduct objective assessment of children with balance and vestibular complaints following sports-related concussions and identify the underlying deficits by analyzing laboratory test outcomes. Case series with chart review. Pediatric tertiary care facility. Medical records were reviewed of 42 pediatric patients with balance and/or vestibular complaints following sports-related concussions who underwent comprehensive laboratory testing on their balance and vestibular function. Patients' characteristics were summarized and results analyzed. More than 90% of the children with protracted dizziness or imbalance following sports-related concussion had at least 1 abnormal finding from the comprehensive balance and vestibular evaluation. The most frequent deficit was found in dynamic visual acuity test, followed by Sensory Organization Test and rotational test. Patient's balance problem associated with concussion seemed to be primarily instigated by vestibular dysfunction. Furthermore, semicircular canal dysfunction was involved more often than dysfunction of otolith organs. Yet, <10% of the children experienced a hearing loss following sports-related concussion. Vestibular impairment is common among children with protracted dizziness or imbalance following sports-related concussion. Our study demonstrated that proper and thorough evaluation is imperative to identify these underlying deficits and laboratory tests were helpful in the diagnosis and recommendation of following rehabilitations. © American Academy of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery Foundation 2015.

  10. Postural Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS)

    PubMed Central

    Low, Phillip A.; Sandroni, Paola; Joyner, Michael; Shen, Win-Kuang

    2014-01-01

    Introduction POTS is defined as the development of orthostatic symptoms associated with a heart rate (HR) increment ≥30, usually to ≥120 bpm without orthostatic hypotension. Symptoms of orthostatic intolerance are those due to brain hypoperfusion and those due to sympathetic overaction. Methods We provide a review of POTS based primarily on work from the Mayo Clinic. Results Females predominate over males by 5:1. Mean age of onset in adults is about 30 years and most patients are between the ages of 20–40 years. Pathophysiologic mechanisms (not mutually exclusive) include peripheral denervation, hypovolemia, venous pooling, β-receptor supersensitivity, psychologic mechanisms, and presumed impairment of brain stem regulation. Prolonged deconditioning may also interact with these mechanisms to exacerbate symptoms. The evaluation of POTS requires a focused history and examination, followed by tests that should include HUT, some estimation of volume status and preferably some evaluation of peripheral denervation and hyperadrenergic state. All patients with POTS require a high salt diet, copious fluids, and postural training. Many require β-receptor antagonists in small doses and low-dose vasoconstrictors. Somatic hypervigilance and psychologic factors are involved in a significant proportion of patients. Conclusions POTS is heterogeneous in presentation and mechanisms. Major mechanisms are denervation, hypovolemia, deconditioning, and hyperadrenergic state. Most patients can benefit from a pathophysiologically based regimen of management. PMID:19207771

  11. Pot economy and one-pot synthesis.

    PubMed

    Hayashi, Yujiro

    2016-02-01

    The one-pot synthesis of a target molecule in the same reaction vessel is widely considered to be an efficient approach in synthetic organic chemistry. In this review, the characteristics and limitations of various one-pot syntheses of biologically active molecules are explained, primarily involving organocatalytic methods as key tactics. Besides catalysis, the pot-economy concepts presented herein are also applicable to organometallic and organic reaction methods in general.

  12. Motivations for Sexual Risk Behavior across Commercial and Casual Partners among Male Urban Drug Users: Contextual Features and Clinical Correlates

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Bornovalova, Marina A.; Daughters, Stacey B.; Lejuez, Carl W.

    2010-01-01

    The current study aimed to develop a measure for assessing the various motivations for sexual risk behavior (SRB) across commercial (involving the exchange of sex for money or drugs) and casual (nonregular) partners in a sample of inner-city, primarily African American drug users, and to examine the relationship of these motivations with a history…

  13. Hazardous Materials Hazard Analysis, Portland, Oregon.

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1981-06-01

    combustible liquids, primarily petroleum products such as gasoline and fuel oil . Although less prevalent, compressed flammable gases (such as liquid...magnitude when hazardous materials are involved. -- Texas City, Texas, 1947--A ship being loaded with ammonium nitrate exploded, killing 468 people...An overturned gasoline or home heating fuel oil tanker or natural gas leak which does not ignite would be a Level 1 emergency. Level 2: A spill or

  14. The Case of the Unhappy Sports Fan: Embracing Student-Centered Learning and Promoting Upper-Level Cognitive Skills through an Online Dispute Resolution Simulation

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Ponte, Lucille M.

    2006-01-01

    Pedagogical experts contend that students learn best when they are actively involved in and responsible for their own learning. In a student-centered learning environment, the instructor ideally serves primarily as a learning resource or facilitator. With the guidance of the instructor, students in active learning environments strive for…

  15. Does Bicarbonate Correct Coagulation Function Impaired by Acidosis in Swine?

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2006-07-01

    requires sufficient fibrinogen available in the circulation . At any time, fibrinogen availabil- Fig. 4. Thrombin generation kinetics at baseline (T0... circulation can potentially impact physiologic function. As the precursor in the coagulation process, fibrinogen is primarily involved in maintaining...with different proteins. It is also possible that following acidosis insult, some of the albumin loss from the circulation was compensated for by

  16. Early Childhood Education for Handicapped Children (Ages 3 through 5). Special Education in North Dakota. Guide VII.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Niebergall, Shelby; Oas, Brenda

    This guide is designed primarily for use by personnel involved in North Dakota public school programs for preschool-age handicapped children (ages 3-5). It is also intended to provide parents and personnel in health, human services, and other child service agencies with an understanding of the scope and purpose of educational services for young…

  17. Administrative Subpoenas in Criminal Investigations: A Sketch

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2006-03-17

    administrative subpoenas primarily or exclusive for use in a criminal investigation in cases involving health care fraud, child abuse , Secret Service...no explicit prohibition on disclosure of the existence or specifics of a subpoena issued under this authority. Health Care, Child Abuse , and...investigations. It is an amalgam of three relatively recent statutory provisions — one, the original, dealing with health care fraud; one with child abuse offenses

  18. A Survey of CAD/CAM Technology Applications in the U.S. Shipbuilding Industry

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1984-01-01

    operation for drafting. Computer Aided Engineering (CAE) analysis is used primarily to determine the validity of design characteristics and produc- tion...include time standard generation, sea trial analysis , and group Systems integration While no systems surveyed Aided Design (CAD) is the technology... analysis . is the largest problem involving software packages. are truly integrated, many are interfaced. Computer most interfaced category with links

  19. Investigating the Relationships among Teacher Social Capital, Teaching Practice, and Student Achievement across Measures and Models

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Schaaf, Kevin J.

    2017-01-01

    The quality of teachers is now a central focus of policy and research. In spite of this focus, two key gaps exist, and this dissertation helps to fill them: First, mediation models involving the study of the effects of teaching are rare; instead, most current investigations of teachers focus primarily on the effects of teachers, with less…

  20. Lessons Learned from the Development and Implementation of a Parent Nutrition Education Program with Low-Income Latina Mothers in an Urban School District Setting

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Thai, Chan Le; Prelip, Michael; Erausquin, Jennifer Toller; Slusser, Wendelin

    2012-01-01

    This article describes the steps involved in the development and implementation of a parent nutrition education workshop series for a low-income, primarily Spanish-speaking population in an urban school district setting. Overall, those parents who participated in the nutrition education workshops showed positive changes in their knowledge,…

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