Factors Influencing Immunization Status in Primary Care Clinics

Background and Objectives: National standards and goals for childhood immunization rates are well established. Yet, despite clear standards and goals, physicians do not achieve the desired rate (90%) for immunization coverage. This study examined factors related to immunization status for 2-year-old children in pediatric and family practice settings. Methods: Specially trained personnel used computer software to audit 2,552 records from 42 practices in Northeast Florida throughout 1997–1999. Immunization records were judged as either complete or incomplete, and factors related to immunization status were studied. Clinic type and 18 immunization practice standards were reviewed for effect on immunization status. Results: The probability of complete immunization status for children in pediatric clinics was greater than for those in family practice clinics. Multivariate logistic regression revealed that use of semiannual audits (odds ratio [OR]=2.00, confidence interval [CI]=1.65–2.42) was the most important factor for immunization completion. This was followed by availability of discounted immunizations (OR=.44, CI=.27–.73) and the use of an immunization tracking system (OR=1.48, CI=1.18–1.70). Factors that were not found to contribute included clinic type and the remaining 15 practice standards. Conclusions: Considering the significant factors, immunization status was not affected by the type of clinic providing immunizations. Based on this analysis, family physicians should implement tracking systems and should perform semiannual audits to match the success of pediatricians in immunizing children. Neither group met nationally established goals for administration of immunizations for 2-year-old children

Microsoft: A Case Study in International Competitiveness, High Technology, and the Future of Antitrust Law

By traditional business standards, Microsoft looked like an ideal target for investigation by the Department of Justice\u27s Antitrust Division: As competitors lined up to allege unfair business practices against Microsoft, about 80 percent of the personal computers in the world used the company\u27s operating system. The Justice Department and Microsoft settled during the summer of 1994, before the case went to trial. This Note argues that by settling, the government acknowledges that traditional antitrust definitions may be counterproductive against companies that are playing the key roles in building the information superhighway. In the high technology industries, where small, innovative companies gain a dominant position by the quality of their ideas, antitrust weapons traditionally used against the monolithic computer industries of the past may be inappropriate. By analyzing the Microsoft case, including competitors\u27 charges, this Note proposes that the Department of Justice reevaluate its antitrust definitions as it formulates new enforcement mechanisms for information-providing businesses

Microsoft: A Case Study in International Competitiveness, High Technology, and the Future of Antitrust Law

By traditional business standards, Microsoft looked like an ideal target for investigation by the Department of Justice\u27s Antitrust Division: As competitors lined up to allege unfair business practices against Microsoft, about 80 percent of the personal computers in the world used the company\u27s operating system. The Justice Department and Microsoft settled during the summer of 1994, before the case went to trial. This Note argues that by settling, the government acknowledges that traditional antitrust definitions may be counterproductive against companies that are playing the key roles in building the information superhighway. In the high technology industries, where small, innovative companies gain a dominant position by the quality of their ideas, antitrust weapons traditionally used against the monolithic computer industries of the past may be inappropriate. By analyzing the Microsoft case, including competitors\u27 charges, this Note proposes that the Department of Justice reevaluate its antitrust definitions as it formulates new enforcement mechanisms for information-providing businesses

A MIXED-METHODS EXAMINATION OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE SELF AND ADAPTIVE COPING IN MILITARY WIVES

Purpose: Previous research indicates that identity relates to use of specific coping strategies. Exploring the relationship between self and coping in military wives is crucial to understanding how they manage military lifestyle-related stressors. The researcher hypothesized that levels of emotion-focused coping (EFC) strategies in managing stressors will be related to higher degrees of well-being and individuals who endorsed the most mature identity status and higher degrees of self-concept clarity, self-monitoring, and mastery will report greater use of EFC. Role conflict was hypothesized to predict greater use of problem-focused coping (PFC) strategies. Methods: 202 participants completed an online survey containing standardized scales and two open-ended questions. Quantitative data was analyzed via Pearson correlations and multiple regression analysis. Qualitative questions explored ways these women perceived sense of self influencing coping. Qualitative data was analyzed via thematic analysis. Results: Well-being was negatively correlated with EFC but positively correlated with PFC. Multiple regression analyses revealed EFC had positive relationships with achieved identity status and role conflict. PFC had positive relationships with moratorium status, self-concept clarity, self-monitoring, and mastery. Qualitative analysis indicated that participants view acceptance, self-reliance, flexibility, seeking social support, and cognitive reframing as helpful. Certain aspects of self were helpful in facilitating adaptive coping. Conclusions and Implications: Findings suggest that PFC may be adaptive for military wives. Those higher in “achieved” status and role conflict may cope less adaptively than those with “moratorium” status and high self-concept clarity, self-monitoring, and mastery. Social workers can assist military wives in promoting adaptive coping strategies

Fibroblasts derived from long-lived insulin receptor substrate 1 null mice are not resistant to multiple forms of stress

Reduced signalling through the insulin/insulin-like growth factor-1 signalling (IIS) pathway is a highly conserved lifespan determinant in model organisms. The precise mechanism underlying the effects of the IIS on lifespan and health is currently unclear, although cellular stress resistance may be important. We have previously demonstrated that mice globally lacking insulin receptor substrate 1 (Irs1−/−) are long-lived and enjoy a greater period of their life free from age-related pathology compared with wild-type (WT) controls. In this study, we show that primary dermal fibroblasts and primary myoblasts derived from Irs1−/− mice are no more resistant to a range of oxidant and nonoxidant chemical stressors than cells derived from WT mice

Ground water level measurements in selected boreholes near the site of the proposed repository

The purpose of this report is to summarize the work and present conclusions of Project Activity Task FY-04-005 conducted under DE-FC28-04RW12232 between the U.S. Department of Energy and the Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE). The work was conducted in the Harry Reid Center for Environmental Studies of the University of Nevada – Las Vegas from Oct 1, 2003 to Sept 30, 2007

The Impact Of Selected Special Education Co-Teaching Models On Math And Reading Student Achievement And On Student Behavior In Kindergarten Through Fifth Grade

Providing special education services for students with identified special education needs in the least restrictive environment continues to be a challenge for schools. The co-teaching model of special education service delivery provides an opportunity for students to receive individualized instruction, remediation, and practice in the general education classroom by the general education teacher or the special education teacher. Given the uncertainty surrounding the efficacy of co-teaching, there is a need to evaluate the practice based on its effectiveness in the specific setting of a small-town elementary school and based on important criteria of the specific setting. The purpose of this program evaluation study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the co-teaching model in this specific setting and whether this inclusive model of service delivery for special education students, impacts student achievement, student behavior, and what challenges and successes the teacher who work within this model face. Benchmark data and student behavior data were analyzed and the results showed that the co-teaching model had no effect on general education or special education students’ performance on benchmark tests or behavior. Despite co-teaching having no effect on student behavior or benchmark performance, the teachers interviewed spoke very favorably about the practice of co-teaching. Teachers believed that co-teaching was a challenge to implement with fidelity, but that contrary to the evidence, the practice of co-teaching was successful. Recommendations include continued training and professional learning on co-teaching, as well as professional development on high yield instructional strategies

Behind the Blue Line: Investigating Police Officers’ Attitudes toward Rape

The current study contributes to what is known about police officers’ attitudes toward rape. A survey was administered to 891 sworn police officers in two states in the southeastern United States. The surveys were designed to assess police officers’ acceptance of rape myths. It was hypothesized that police officers would be accepting of rape myths, which are inherently misogynistic. Attitudes toward rape were expected to vary according to educational attainment and experience with rape investigations, such that higher levels of education and more experience with rape investigations would lead to the rejection of rape myths. There was a significant difference in the acceptance of rape myths with varying levels of educational attainment and experience with rape investigations

Judging Women and Defining Crime: Police Officers’ Attitudes Toward Women and Rape

Research demonstrates a positive relationship between public attitudes toward women and rape myth acceptance. Little is known about whether this relationship also exists within police culture. The current study assesses the relationship between police officers' attitudes toward women and their attitudes toward rape. The effect of educational attainment on these attitudes is also assessed. A survey was administered to 891 police officers from two states in the southeastern United States. There was a significant difference on measures of modern sexism and the acceptance of rape myths with varying levels of educational attainment

North Carolina Sexual Offender Legislation: Policy Placebo?

Current legislation at the state and federal level is largely based on the premise that we can best protect children by prohibiting sexual offenders’ access to children through the use of residency restrictions, employment sanctions, and community notification. While well intentioned, these policies are short sighted and based more on public misperceptions than empirical research. In this study, the authors assess sexual offenders’ perceptions of residency restrictions in the state of North Carolina. The study population was comprised of a nonrandom sample of 231 adult sexual offenders from 11 outpatient sexual offender treatment sites in North Carolina. The majority (151) of sexual offenders stated that housing restrictions do nothing to prevent them from reoffending. More than half (135) indicated that no residency restrictions would serve as an effective deterrent. These findings indicate the need for a more comprehensive approach to the community management of sexual offenders