A study of the relation between the type of house and the location for the home activities of preschool children

The growing interest, during the last few years, in the housing needs and preferences of families has been particularly timely in view of the millions of dollars now being spent on housing. The statistical phase of the four regional rural housing surveys, which was recently completed, has made available a fund of information on the kind, scope, and frequency of household activities carried on by farm families in different parts of the country. The studies have also revealed preferences of the homemaker for the location of activities as well as for other house design features.1 Relatively little information was collected in these regional surveys in relation to the home activities of preschool children and the usual location for these activities. In the North Central study, there is a statement, "Children's activities and those adult activities related to children were omitted, not because they were regarded as unimportant, but because the complexity of that problem makes a separate study necessary."

Investigations Of The Forgotten Geum: Genetic Diversity And Population Biology Of Geum Geniculatum Michaux, Bent Avens

Geum geniculatum Michx., bent avens, is a perennial herb that is endemic to high elevations of three mountaintops between North Carolina and Tennessee. While geographically restricted, some populations have been reported to have thousands of individuals. Thorough surveys have been performed for G. geniculatum; however, some sites have not been visited in over a decade and formal biological studies are lacking. In order to address the needs to understand life history, pollination biology and genetic diversity 1) 13 sub-populations were censused, 2) a long-term demography study was established at one population, 3) an insect visitor survey using time-lapse camera was performed and 4) a population genetics study was performed. Results of censusing suggest the most robust populations occur along stream banks with 90 to 95% canopy cover; however, the plant can also withstand varying habitat including grassy balds and trails. Overall, population sizes appear smaller than previously reported. The first-year demography data, while only established for one population, will provide a baseline to understand life history traits for the species and population viability of the smallest metapopulation. The genetic results suggest G. geniculatum has high genetic diversity and is comprised of three highly structured metapopulations with moderate differentiation between them. These data can be utilized by land managers and future researchers to conserve and manage the species along with guiding future research questions

Rock pool mosquito ecology of the southern Appalachian Mountains

The North American rock pool mosquito, Aedes atropalpus (Coquillet) (Diptera: Culicidae), isprimarily a non-biting species of no perceived threat to public health. The species uses riverine rock pools for immature development and coinhabits the pools with an invasive disease vector, Aedes japonicus japonicus (Theobald) in the United States (U.S.). Since the establishment of the invasive species in the United States in the 1990’s, several reports of reductions in Ae.atropalpus abundance have led to the hypothesis that the native species is being displaced by theinvasive one. The rock pool system remains largely undescribed, limiting our overallunderstanding of ecological interactions between mosquito species in the system. Here weconducted two studies with the unified objective of improving our fundamental knowledge ofrock pool ecology. First, we conducted a field study to describe rock pool communities andanalyze the seasonality of rock pool mosquitoes. Aedes j. japonicus was present in rock pools atboth sites year-round, with overwintering larvae collected in January and winter hatchlingsobserved in February and March. Early season hatching of Ae. j. japonicus allowed the presence of late instar larvae in pools when the first Ae. atropalpus eggs hatched for the season, creatingpotential for stage-dependent competition between the two species. Such asymmetric competition may be an important factor in the reduction of Ae. atropalpus populations. We also conducted a laboratory study aimed at understanding the impact of developmental temperature on Ae. atropalpus fitness. We measured common fitness correlates to predict the finite population growth rate for the species at three ecologically relevant temperature ranges. The results illustrate that the fitness of the species suffers at relatively cold temperatures where Ae. j. japonicus is commonly found in high relative abundances, but also that the optimal developmental temperature for the native species may be close to that of Ae. j. japonicus. Thecombined results of these laboratory and field studies reinforce prior observations of theimportance of temperature in the invasion ecology of Ae. j. japonicus and reveal novel observations that will inform further study of the system

Beyond the Farm: Stanford University Global Day of Service

Join the Stanford Latino Alumni and many local organizations in a community tree planting workday in honor of Earth Day. The event will take place at the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy (IMSA). Beyond the Farm seeks to extend Stanford’s spirit of service to communities around the world through the volunteer efforts of alumni, family and friends

Adjusting for verification bias in diagnostic accuracy measures when comparing multiple screening 2 tests - an application to the IP1-PROSTAGRAM study

Introduction Novel screening tests used to detect a target condition are compared against either a reference standard or other existing screening methods. However, as it is not always possible to apply the reference standard on the whole population under study, verification bias is introduced. Statistical methods exist to adjust estimates to account for this bias. We extend common methods to adjust for verification bias when multiple tests are compared to a reference standard using data from a prospective double blind screening study for prostate cancer. Methods Begg and Greenes method and multiple imputation are extended to include the results of multiple screening tests which determine condition verification status. These two methods are compared to the complete case analysis using the IP1-PROSTAGRAM study data. IP1-PROSTAGRAM used a paired84 cohort double-blind design to evaluate the use of imaging as alternative tests to screen for prostate 85 cancer, compared to a blood test called prostate specific antigen (PSA). Participants with positive imaging (index) and/or PSA (control) underwent a prostate biopsy (reference). Results When comparing complete case results to Begg and Greenes and methods of multiple imputation there is a statistically significant increase in the specificity estimates for all screening tests. Sensitivity estimates remained similar across the methods, with completely overlapping 95% confidence intervals. Negative predictive value (NPV) estimates were higher when adjusting for verification bias, compared to complete case analysis, even though the 95% confidence intervals overlap. Positive predictive value (PPV) estimates were similar across all methods. Conclusion Statistical methods are required to adjust for verification bias in accuracy estimates of screening tests. Expanding Begg and Greenes method to include multiple screening tests can be computationally intensive, hence multiple imputation is recommended, especially as it can be modified for low prevalence of the target condition

A Model Of Direct Instruction Applied To Test-Wiseness Instruction For Reading Comprehension Skills

This study was designed to determine: (a) the effect of test-wiseness instruction generated from a model of direct instruction on reading comprehension scores of university freshmen, and (b) to determine how test-wiseness instruction generated from a model of di­rect instruction interacts with the gender of university freshmen

A Prospective Longitudinal Study of the Clinical Outcomes from Cryptococcal Meningitis following Treatment Induction with 800 mg Oral Fluconazole in Blantyre, Malawi

Introduction: Cryptococcal meningitis is the most common neurological infection in HIV infected patients in Sub Saharan Africa, where gold standard treatment with intravenous amphotericin B and 5 flucytosine is often unavailable or difficult to administer. Fluconazole monotherapy is frequently recommended in national guidelines but is a fungistatic drug compromised by uncertainty over optimal dosing and a paucity of clinical end-point outcome data. Methods: From July 2010 until March 2011, HIV infected adults with a first episode of cryptococcal meningitis were recruited at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, Blantyre, Malawi. Patients were treated with oral fluconazole monotherapy 800 mg daily, as per national guidelines. ART was started at 4 weeks. Outcomes and factors associated with treatment failure were assessed 4, 10 and 52 weeks after fluconazole initiation. Results: Sixty patients were recruited. 26/60 (43%) died by 4 weeks. 35/60 (58.0%) and 43/56 (77%) died or failed treatment by 10 or 52 weeks respectively. Reduced consciousness (Glasgow Coma Score ,14 of 15), moderate/severe neurological disability (modified Rankin Score .3 of 5) and confusion (Abbreviated Mental Test Score ,8 of 10) were all common at baseline and associated with death or treatment failure. ART prior to recruitment was not associated with better outcomes. Conclusions: Mortality and treatment failure from cryptococcal meningitis following initiation of treatment with 800 mg oral fluconazole is unacceptably high. To improve outcomes, there is an urgent need for better therapeutic strategies and point-of-care diagnostics, allowing earlier diagnosis before development of neurological deficit

Mitoxantrone and Analogues Bind and Stabilize i-Motif Forming DNA Sequences

YesThere are hundreds of ligands which can interact with G-quadruplex DNA, yet very few which target i-motif. To appreciate an understanding between the dynamics between these structures and how they can be affected by intervention with small molecule ligands, more i-motif binding compounds are required. Herein we describe how the drug mitoxantrone can bind, induce folding of and stabilise i-motif forming DNA sequences, even at physiological pH. Additionally, mitoxantrone was found to bind i-motif forming sequences preferentially over double helical DNA. We also describe the stabilisation properties of analogues of mitoxantrone. This offers a new family of ligands with potential for use in experiments into the structure and function of i-motif forming DNA sequences

Low Temperature Shear Modulus Changes in Solid 4-He and Connection to Supersolidity

Superfluidity, liquid flow without friction, is familiar in helium. The first evidence for "supersolidity", its analogue in quantum solids, came from recent torsional oscillator (TO) measurements involving 4-He. At temperatures below 200 mK, TO frequencies increased, suggesting that some of the solid decoupled from the oscillator. This behavior has been replicated by several groups but solid 4-He does not respond to pressure differences and persistent currents and other signatures of superflow have not been seen. Both experiments and theory indicate that defects are involved. These should also affect the solid's mechanical behavior and so we have measured the shear modulus of solid 4-He at low frequencies and strains. We observe large increases below 200 mK, with the same dependence on measurement amplitude, 3-He impurity concentration and annealing as the decoupling seen in TO experiments. This unusual elastic behavior is explained in terms of a dislocation network which is pinned by 3-He at the lowest temperatures but becomes mobile above 100 mK. The frequency changes in TO experiments appear to be related to the motion of these dislocations, perhaps by disrupting a possible supersolid state.Comment: 18 pages, 4 figues, Supplementary Informatio