Indiana Government Officials and Trust in Nonprofits

This briefing analyzes the extent to which local government officials (LGOs) -- individuals in strategic positions to assess the contribu-tions of Indiana nonprofits -- say they trust local charities and other nonprofits to do the "right thing" and what may explain such trust. It is the fourth in a series of briefings focusing on non-profit-government relations in Indiana from the Indiana Nonprofits: Scope and Community Di-mensions project. The first three briefings ex-plored LGOs' attitudes toward 2-1-1 services, payments in lieu of [property] taxes or PILOTs, and collaboration between local government and nonprofits. Subsequent briefings will up-date our analysis of attitudes towards PILOTs and other topics. All briefings are available at the project website: www.indiana.edu/~non-pro

The ENIGMA Stroke Recovery Working Group: Big data neuroimaging to study brain–behavior relationships after stroke

The goal of the Enhancing Neuroimaging Genetics through Meta‐Analysis (ENIGMA) Stroke Recovery working group is to understand brain and behavior relationships using well‐powered meta‐ and mega‐analytic approaches. ENIGMA Stroke Recovery has data from over 2,100 stroke patients collected across 39 research studies and 10 countries around the world, comprising the largest multisite retrospective stroke data collaboration to date. This article outlines the efforts taken by the ENIGMA Stroke Recovery working group to develop neuroinformatics protocols and methods to manage multisite stroke brain magnetic resonance imaging, behavioral and demographics data. Specifically, the processes for scalable data intake and preprocessing, multisite data harmonization, and large‐scale stroke lesion analysis are described, and challenges unique to this type of big data collaboration in stroke research are discussed. Finally, future directions and limitations, as well as recommendations for improved data harmonization through prospective data collection and data management, are provided

THE MEDIATING EFFECT OF MOTIVATION ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN POSITIVE EXPERIENCES AT SCHOOL AND SELF-EFFICACY OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION STUDENTS

The purpose of this study was to determine the mediating effect of motivation on the relationship between positive experiences at school and the self-efficacy of Physical Education students. Utilizing quantitative, non-experimental design via correlational technique, data were obtained from 350 Grade 12 students of the 7 national high schools under the division of Davao del Sur, Region XI. The researcher utilized stratified random sampling and an online survey mode of data collection. The researcher also utilized statistical tools such as mean, Pearson r, regression and med graph using the Sobel z- test. From the results of the study, it was found that there is a very high level of motivation, a very high level of positive experiences at school and a very high level of self-efficacy among PE students. Furthermore, there is a significant relationship between positive experiences at school and self-efficacy, between motivation and positive experiences at school and between motivation and positive experiences at school and between motivation and self-efficacy among PE students. Further, it was revealed that there was full mediation on the effect of motivation on the relationship between positive experiences at school and self-efficacy. This implies that the positive experiences at school convey motivation of Physical Education students

Undergraduate Retention Rates for Students in Learning Support Math Classes versus Traditional Math Classes Controlling for ACT Mathematics Scores

The purpose of this study was to determine if the 1 – and 2-term retention rates for students with the same ACT mathematics subsection scores were different between students who took a regular section of Probability and Statistics and students who took a learning support section of the same course. The subjects of this study were 2,714 students enrolled in a Probability and Statistics course (either regular sections or learning support sections) at a 4-year institution from the 2013 summer semester to the 2014 fall semester. As expected, students who scored a 19 or greater on the mathematics section of the ACT were significantly more likely to be enrolled in later semesters than students who scored below a 19. When students were grouped by matching ACT mathematics sub scores there was not a significant difference in 1-term and 2-term retention rates between students who took a 4-hour learning support section of probability and statistics and students who opted to take a regular 3-hour version of the same course

Bringing Down the Barriers: American Laws That Impede Trade With the CIS

It is necessary first to establish whether current trade restrictions apply to all former constituent parts of the Soviet Union or only to Russia. Second, the American-Russian trade relationship resembles a minefield. Some of the most powerful trade restrictions remain firmly in place. Others have been defused. This article will attempt to provide some guidance through the minefield. Finally, attention will be given to pending legislation that affects trade with Russia. Hopefully, this analysis will provide some insight into: (1) the past U.S. trade with the former Soviet Union; (2) where the relationship is now; and (3) what direction it should go in light of the demise of the USSR and the rise of the CIS and other independent states

Addressing disparities in maternal health care in Pakistan: gender, class and exclusion

Background: After more than two decades of the Safe Motherhood Initiative and Millennium Development Goals aimed at reducing maternal mortality, women continue to die in childbirth at unacceptably high rates in Pakistan. While an extensive literature describes various programmatic strategies, it neglects the rigorous analysis of the reasons these strategies have been unsuccessful, especially for women living at the economic and social margins of society. A critical gap in current knowledge is a detailed understanding of the root causes of disparities in maternal health care, and in particular, how gender and class influence policy formulation and the design and delivery of maternal health care services. Taking Pakistan as a case study, this research builds upon two distinct yet interlinked conceptual approaches to understanding the phenomenon of inequity in access to maternal health care: social exclusion and health systems as social institutions. Methods/Design: This four year project consists of two interrelated modules that focus on two distinct groups of participants: (1) poor, disadvantaged women and men and (2) policy makers, program managers and health service providers. Module one will employ critical ethnography to understand the key axes of social exclusion as related to gender, class and zaat and how they affect women’s experiences of using maternal health care. Through health care setting observations, interviews and document review, Module two will assess policy design and delivery of maternal health services. Discussion: This research will provide theoretical advances to enhance understanding of the power dynamics of gender and class that may underlie poor women’s marginalization from health care systems in Pakistan. It will also provide empirical evidence to support formulation of maternal health care policies and health care system practices aimed at reducing disparities in maternal health care in Pakistan. Lastly, it will enhance inter-disciplinary research capacity in the emerging field of social exclusion and maternal health and help reduce social inequities and achieve the Millennium Development Goal No. 5

Properties of Poly-γ-Glutamic Acid Producing-Bacillus Species Isolated From Ogi Liquor and Lemon-Ogi Liquor

Poly-γ-glutamic acid (γPGA) is a natural and promising biopolymer synthesized by Bacillus spp. during fermentation. This study isolated Bacillus spp. from ogi steep liquor (OSL) and lemon-ogi steep liquor (LOSL) using standard methods and determined the γPGA-producing ability. The antimicrobial and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activities of γPGA polymer were evaluated and isolates were sequenced. Four isolates (TA004, TA006, TA011, TA012) selected based on phenotypic characterization and stickiness (<15 cm) showed antibacterial activity against different pathogens with the highest activity found in TA004 (22.5 mm) and least in TA011 (16.6 mm). Furthermore, time-kill assay showed that the combined γPGA polymer was more effective and demonstrated bactericidal activity over individual γPGA which are bacteriostatic in nature. All γPGA polymer exhibited ACE properties except TA011. The highest IC50 was observed in TA006 (0.11 mg/ml) and least in TA004 (0.35 mg/ml). TA004 had the highest molecular weight (261 kDa) while TA011 had the least (194.97 kDa). In addition, all γPGA exhibited characteristic peaks at 3413–3268 cm-1 and 1722–1664 cm-1 that corresponded to amine N–H stretching intensities and C = O stretching in COOH. Bacillus isolates were identified as TA004 (B. subtilis-GenBank: MH782061), TA006 (B. amyloliquefaciens- GenBank: MH782075), TA011 (B. subtilis- GenBank: MH782088), TA012 (B. subtilis- GenBank: MH782083). OSL and LOSL have the potential for developing functional foods with a valuable effect on health

Preliminary Trials on Treatment of Esca-Infected Grapevines with Trunk Injection of Fungicides

An increase in trunk diseases (due to esca, Agrobacterium, rugose wood virus, leaf roll viruses, phytoplasma etc.) leading to young vines death is a very serious worry in vineyards in Hungary, as it is in other countries. In response to a demand expressed by grapevine growers, a method was tested for the direct treatment of pathogens in wood tissue. An experiment based on trunk injection was carried out in an esca infected vineyard. The various fungicides (propiconazole, difenoconazole, thiabendazole; propiconazole+ thiabendazole) were injected into the trunk before the beginning of the xylem sap flow at high pressure. As a result the number of symptomatic plants was decreased, and the vigour of the plants was not impaired by the fungicide ingredients. The combination difenoconazole+ thiabendazole showed the best result

Indiana Nonprofit Employment: Trends in Healthcare 1995-2011

Nonprofit organizations make significant contributions to the quality of life for the residents of Indiana. They are also a major force in the state's economy and in the economic health of all regions of the state. In particular, health care nonprofits (e.g., hospitals, outpatient clinics, nursing and group homes for the elderly or people with disabilities, blood banks, etc.) not only provide critical services but also employ a significant number of workers with average wages higher than in most other Indiana industries This report from the Indiana Nonprofits: Scope and Community Dimensions project presents new data on the size, composition, and distribution of paid health care employment in Indiana's private nonprofit sector over the 1995-2011 period. All dollars are adjusted for inflation and are reported in constant 2009 dollars