280 research outputs found
Environmental Systems Analysis - Penn State, University Park
Undergraduate course in environmental systems analysis offered at Penn State, University Park in Fall 2014
RISK ANALYSIS OF ADOPTING ZERO RUNOFF SUBIRRIGATION SYSTEMS IN GREENHOUSE OPERATIONS: A MONTE CARLO SIMULATION APPROACH
Zero runoff subirrigation (ZRS) technology can effectively manage fertilizer input while improving greenhouse production efficiency. However, high capital investment costs and inadequate technical information to growers are impediments for adoption. A Monte Carlo simulation was used to compare the profitability and risks of alternative ZRS system investments for greenhouse operations in the northeastern and north central United States. Results showed that the Dutch movable tray system and the flood floor system were most profitable and least risky for small potted plant and bedding crop flat production, respectively. The trough bench system was least favorable because its profitability was low and highly volatile.Risk and Uncertainty,
The Effects of Surrogate Caregivers on The Relationship Between Fatherless/Fatherloss African American Male Youths and Their Level of Delinquent Behavior
This study hypothesized that fathers and surrogates (male role models) contribute
a unique set of factors that help guide African American male youths (N=496) during
their normal developmental stages. This study hypothesized that surrogate caregivers
would have an impact on the overall level of delinquent behavior of this population. A
path analysis tested direct and mediated effects of exposure to violence on delinquent
behavior, with anger/aggression level as a potential mediator for all three levels of
caregiver presence or absence as a moderator.
In the analysis of archival data from 496 African American male youths, the
findings did not support these hypotheses consistently. Exposure to family violence as a
mediator consistently predicted level of anger, and level of anger negatively predicted
delinquent behavior for the fatherless sample. However, exposure did not have a direct positive effect on delinquent behavior in any of the three samples. Implications of these
findings as well as other unpredicted findings with these three groups are explored
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Development and Testing of Single-Parameter Precipitation Distributions
Distributed temperature data are used as input and
as calibration data for an energy based temperature model
of a first order stream in Luxembourg. A DTS (Distributed
Temperature Sensing) system with a fiber optic cable of
1500m was used to measure stream water temperature with
1m resolution each 2 min. Four groundwater inflows were
identified and quantified (both temperature and relative discharge).
The temperature model calculates the total energy
balance including solar radiation (with shading effects),
longwave radiation, latent heat, sensible heat and river bed
conduction. The simulated temperature is compared with the
observed temperature at all points along the stream. Knowledge
of the lateral inflow appears to be crucial to simulate the
temperature distribution and conversely, that stream temperature
can be used successfully to identify sources of lateral
inflow. The DTS fiber optic is an excellent tool to provide
this knowledge
Perinatal depression: Factors affecting help-seeking behaviours in asylum seeking and refugee women. A systematic review
YesPurpose
Perinatal depression is one of the most commonly diagnosed mental health conditions in the general maternity population but whilst the prevalence is thought to be much higher in asylum seeking and refugee (AS&R) women, it is less frequently identified and diagnosed by health care professionals.
Method
A systematic review was undertaken to address âwhat factors influence help-seeking behaviours in asylum seeking and refugee women with symptoms of perinatal depressionâ. The review focussed on women accessing care in high income countries. 12 studies met the eligibility criteria and a narrative synthesis was undertaken resulting in two main themes: women's perceptions of depression and access to healthcare and support services.
Results
Findings indicated that many of the influences on help-seeking were also present in the general population and women from ethnic minority populations, with the exception of migration experiences; but that women from a AS&R background may experience more of these barriers, exacerbating inequality in access to and engagement with healthcare.
Conclusion
Further research is needed to provide more detailed insight into the experiences of asylum seeking and refugee women to identify ways that barriers in help-seeking can be addressed
Striving for excellence in maternity care: The Maternity Stream of the City of Sanctuary.
yesAsylum-seeking and refugee (AS&R) women living in the UK often have complex health and social care needs, with poor underlying mental and physical health and an increased risk of negative pregnancy outcomes. Despite this, AS&R women are less likely to attend for timely maternity care and when they do, care may be poor, with staff not understanding their specific needs and displaying poor attitudes. This article discusses the Maternity Stream of the City of Sanctuary and how this charity aims to work with statutory and voluntary sector maternity-related services and groups to develop services that are inclusive for AS&R women and meet their specific needs. Volunteer AS&R women are central to the activities of the Maternity Stream and this article discusses how they engage with midwives and other maternity workers to facilitate the development of services that may ultimately improve pregnancy outcomes for AS&R women
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Calibration and Testing of a Daily Rainfall Erosivity Model
A general procedure is presented for calibrating a model
for rainfall erosivity based on daily rainfall. The approach
is based on probability distributions of wet-day
precipitation amount and monthly erosivities which are
inferred from published data summaries. The calibrated
model was tested by comparisons with erosivities
computed from hourly precipitation data. Model results
were generally consistent with values based on hourly data
and explained over 85% and 70%, respectively, of the
variations in annual and event erosivities. Model results for
extreme values (annual erosivities exceeded in 5% of the
years and l-in-20-year event erosivities) often substantially
exceeded values computed for hourly data. To facilitate
general use of the daily model, calibration coefficients
were calculated for 33 sites in the eastem and central U.S.This is the publisherâs final pdf. The published article is copyrighted by American Society of Agricultural Engineers and can be found at: http://elibrary.asabe.org/toc.asp
Culture and communication in ethically appropriate care
yesThis article considers the difficulties with using Gillon's model for health care ethics in the context of clinical practice. Everyday difficulties can arise when caring for people from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds, especially when they speak little or no English. A case is presented that establishes, owing to language and cultural barriers, that midwives may have difficulty in providing ethically appropriate care to women of Pakistani Muslim origin in the UK. The use of interpreters is discussed; however, there are limitations and counter arguments to their use. Training is identified as needed to prepare service providers and midwives for meeting the needs of a culturally diverse maternity population
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