Using honey to heal diabetic foot ulcers

Diabetic ulcers seem to be arrested in the inflammatory/proliferative stage of the healing process, allowing infection and inflammation to preclude healing. Antibiotic-resistant bacteria have become a major cause of infections, including diabetic foot infections. It is proposed here that the modern developments of an ancient and traditional treatment for wounds, dressing them with honey, provide the solution to the problem of getting diabetic ulcers to move on from the arrested state of healing. Honeys selected to have a high level of antibacterial activity have been shown to be very effective against antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria in laboratory and clinical studies. The potent anti-inflammatory action of honey is also likely to play an important part in overcoming the impediment to healing that inflammation causes in diabetic ulcers, as is the antioxidant activity of honey. The action of honey in promotion of tissue regeneration through stimulation of angiogenesis and the growth of fibroblasts and epithelial cells, and its insulin-mimetic effect, would also be of benefit in stimulating the healing of diabetic ulcers. The availability of honey-impregnated dressings which conveniently hold honey in place on ulcers has provided a means of rapidly debriding ulcers and removing the bacterial burden so that good healing rates can be achieved with neuropathic ulcers. With ischemic ulcers, where healing cannot occur because of lack of tissue viability, these honey dressings keep the ulcers clean and prevent infection occurring

Predicting Success, Preventing Failure: An Investigation of the California High School Exit Exam

Examines early indicators that identify fourth-grade students in San Diego who are at risk of failing the California High School Exit Exam, discusses implications for when and how to intervene to address those factors, and makes policy recommendations

Lessons in Reading Reform: Finding What Works

Evaluates elements of reforms designed to improve reading scores among students identified as lagging behind, including extended-length English classes and school years. Considers the role of teachers' experience, lessons learned, and policy implications

To chain or not to chain trade-weighted exchange rate indexes

With the advent of chain calculations for the U.S. national income and product accounts, it seems reasonable to contemplate using the chain approach for other indexes, such as trade-weighted exchange rates (TWEXs). A fundamental criticism of measuring the growth of gross domestic product by a fixed-base-year method is that the estimates are highly sensitive, especially when the economy?s structure is changing dramatically, to the arbitrary choice of the base year. Such a criticism can be levied against TWEXs. In fact, even TWEXs constructed using a Paasche index rather than a Laspeyres index have problems related to base periods. We examine theoretically and empirically the use ofa chain TWEX in relation to two well-known TWEX indexes: the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta index, which uses a Laspeyres index, and the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas index, which uses a Paasche index. The choice of base year alters the behavior ofthe dollar in these two indexes. We contrast this result with the behavior of the dollar in comparable chain TWEXs, where the base year sensitivity is absent. Our results indicate that developers of TWEXs, as well as those revising TWEXs, should consider a chain approach. Furthermore, users need to be aware of the sensitivity of TWEXs to changes in either the base period for trade weights or the reference base period for exchange ratesForeign exchange rates ; Dollar, American

Passing the California High School Exit Exam: Have Recent Policies Improved Student Performance?

This report evaluates the effectiveness of three support services in helping struggling students pass the California High School Exit Examination (CAHSEE). The report highlights the need to help students before they first take the exam in grade 10 and introduces the CAHSEE Early Warning Model, a forecasting tool to identify at-risk students in earlier grades

Black Lesbian Spirituality: Hearing Our Stories

This paper examines the intersection of race, gender, sexual orientation and spirituality, specifically Black lesbian spirituality. One of the difficulties in citing current research is the dearth of published research on the spirituality of women of color, who identify a sexual minority. There have been many studies and books written about spirituality, culture, gender and sexuality, however the study of Black lesbian spiritual identity remains largely untouched. The purpose of this study is to explore how spiritual development and the expression of spirituality is connected to the African American lesbian culture through narrative inquiry meets autoethnography. The findings indicate that Black lesbian spiritual development is largely inspired by the influence of spiritual facilitators and spiritual constrictors that create a fluid balance, defined as spiritual wholeness

Gender Differences In Multiple Jobholding: Moonlighting Among Teachers

Moonlighting can be considered an alternative source of work-related outcomes for the individual.  This is especially true for occupations which are known to have high rates of multiple jobholding, such as uniformed professions (police, firefighters), medical fields (nursing, physicians) and teachers and therefore warrants study by organization and occupation researchers.  In this paper the findings of a recent multiple jobholding survey of 312 k-12 teachers are reported.  Among the findings are differences in the patterns of moonlighting behavior between female and male teachers.  These differences include the prevalence, pay and type of moonlighting activity

Contingency Theory: Science Or Technology?

An answer to the research question, 'Is Contingency Theory Science or Technology?' is proposed in this paper.  Contingency theories and a contingency perspective are popular among researchers in organization theory and design.  They are based on the idea that a proper fit between contingency variables and organizational design parameters will result in the highest performance.  Does the identification of a 'contingency theory' consisting of a set contingency variable/design parameter matches constitute scientific theory or prescriptive technology?  Justifications are made for these theories as science, technology and both.  The conclusion presented is that a contingency theory is both science and technology, but often ineffective as technology because it is not applied.  General recommendations are made for researchers to increase emphasis on (1) multiple rather than single contingencies and (2) explanations of relationships