Targeting Trauma: Improving School Outcomes for Students in Out-of-Home Care

The central purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of The Cognitive Behavioral Intervention for Trauma in Schools (CBITS; Jaycox, 2002) program as implemented with students residing in out-of-home care (OHC) placements in an urban public high school in the Midwest United States. Utilizing single-case design methodology, CBITS was implemented. Six students (three in the treatment group and three in the waitlist control group) participated in this study, alongside their classroom teachers and parents/guardians. Three key school outcomes were assessed: traumatic stress symptomology, problematic classroom behaviors, and academic disengagement. Screening results suggested that rates of exposure to trauma and resulting Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms were common among participating students. All students screened for this study reported multiple symptoms of PTSD. Compared to the waitlist control participants, students receiving CBITS experienced reduced traumatic stress symptoms as well as decreased problematic classroom behaviors and academic disengagement. Follow-up results also suggested that students partaking in CBITS rated the program as effective and easy to understand. Implications of these findings for future research and practice are discussed, including recommendations for program delivery with similar student populations

Metal Layer Architectures for 2D TMD Heterostructures

Two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) are of interest because of their potential for use in transistors and sensors due to their unique electronic and optical properties, coupled with mechanical flexibility. The band gaps of TMDs differ depending on the transition metal and dichalcogenide, the thickness of the TMD, and the structure of the TMD. To be able to tune the electronic and optical properties of TMDs, thin transition metal layers of molybdenum, tungsten, and rhenium were deposited on a silicon substrate with a 200nm oxide layer using a magnetron sputtering chamber. The film thickness and structure, surface characteristics, and conductivity were measured using atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and a voltmeter, respectively. The thin transition metal films were then sent to collaborators to be exposed to sulfur or selenium to form TMDs. The TMD heterostructure will then be characterized using an AFM, SEM and Raman Spectroscopy. Then, transition metal bilayers were formed by sequentially depositing the transition metals on the silicon substrate with a 200nm oxide layer using a magnetron sputtering chamber. The film characteristics were then determined using the same methods as the single transition metal layer. The transition metal bilayers were then sent to collaborators to be exposed to sulfur or selenium to form TMDs. The bilayer TMD heterostructure will then be characterized using an AFM, SEM and Raman Spectroscopy and its optical and electronic properties will be characterized. Specifically, the electronic band gap will be evaluated and compared to the values for the monolithic monolayers. By varying the order of TMD layers, semiconductors with different band gaps will be able to be produced. This would allow for greater tailorability of the TMD semiconductors for use in applications such as flexible transistors and molecular sensors

Experiences of Somali and Oromo Youth in the Child Protection System

Background: Little is known about the experiences or proportion of refugees involved with child protective services (CPS) in the United States, because they are not an identifiable group in CPS data systems. This study utilized an innovative data matching project to identify refugees in CPS data systems and explored the experiences of Somali and Oromo youth in Minnesota\u27s child protection system. Methods: A sample of 629 Somali and 62 Oromo youth who were involved with CPS between 2000 and 2013 were identified by linking datasets from the Minnesota Departments of Education and Human Services. Descriptive statistics, chi-square analysis, and t-tests were used to explore the proportion and characteristics of children involved with CPS, placement experiences, and child protection professionals\u27 documentation of families\u27 strengths and needs. Results: Somali and Oromo youth were involved with CPS at low rates (3.7%). Residential treatment facilities were the most common out-of-home (OHP) placement settings for Somali youth (41%), and almost a third of placements for Oromo youth were in a correctional facility (31.6%). Strengths identified for both groups included low alcohol and other drug use and few health issues. Needs included social support, mental health/coping support, and parenting skills. Conclusions: OHP settings for Somali and Oromo youth were highly restrictive. More research is needed to determine what is driving the high utilization of restrictive placements for Somali and Oromo youth, how accurately the Structured Decision Making tool assesses strengths and needs for families with refugee backgrounds, and how CPS professionals\u27 assessments of strengths and needs compare to the refugee families\u27 perceptions of their own strengths and needs

Maternal Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Concerning Interpregnancy Interval

Introduction. Few studies have examined maternal intentions andpractices related to interpregnancy interval (IPI). IPI less than 18months has been linked to increased preterm birth and infant mortality.This manuscript reports on a cross-sectional survey of mothersconducted to understand maternal knowledge, attitudes, and practiceof IPI in Sedgwick County, Kansas. Methods. New and expectant mothers and mothers of neonatalinfant care unit (NICU) graduates (n = 125) were surveyed regardingthe issues surrounding IPI. Front desk staff handed out self-administeredsurveys, which were returned to a nurse upon completion.NICU participants were emailed a link to the survey hosted on SurveyMonkey®. Results. Fewer than 30% of mothers reported previously receivinginformation about IPI from any source. When asked about risks associatedwith IPI, women frequently (n = 58, 45%) identified increasedrisk for birth outcomes with no known association with short IPI.Findings regarding maternal attitudes surrounding optimal IPI weremixed with many mothers defining ideal IPI as less than 18 months(n = 52, 42%), while broadly reporting they believed that a woman’sbody needs time to heal between pregnancies. Respondents from theNICU sample generally reported shorter optimal IPI values than theother participants. When IPI was estimated from participants’ pastpregnancies, half of IPIs were less than 18 months. Mothers reportedthey favored healthcare providers as a source for IPI education. Faceto-face discussions or printed materials were the preferred modes ofeducation. Conclusions. Women were aware of the need for spacing betweenpregnancies, however, that knowledge was unassociated with pastbehavior. These findings should be taken into consideration whenformulating future interventions. Kans J Med 2018;11(4):86-90

Numerical simulation of explosive volcanic eruptions from the conduit flow to global atmospheric scales

Volcanic eruptions are unsteady multiphase phenomena, which encompass many inter-related processes across the whole range of scales from molecular and microscopic to macroscopic, synoptic and global. We provide an overview of recent advances in numerical modelling of volcanic effects, from conduit and eruption column processes to those on the Earth s climate. Conduit flow models examine ascent dynamics and multiphase processes like fragmentation, chemical reactions and mass transfer below the Earth surface. Other models simulate atmospheric dispersal of the erupted gas-particle mixture, focusing on rapid processes occurring in the jet, the lower convective regions, and pyroclastic density currents. The ascending eruption column and intrusive gravity current generated by it, as well as sedimentation and ash dispersal from those flows in the immediate environment of the volcano are examined with modular and generic models. These apply simplifications to the equations describing the system depending on the specific focus of scrutiny. The atmospheric dispersion of volcanic clouds is simulated by ash tracking models. These are inadequate for the first hours of spreading in many cases but focus on long-range prediction of ash location to prevent hazardous aircraft - ash encounters. The climate impact is investigated with global models. All processes and effects of explosive eruptions cannot be simulated by a single model, due to the complexity and hugely contrasting spatial and temporal scales involved. There is now the opportunity to establish a closer integration between different models and to develop the first comprehensive description of explosive eruptions and of their effects on the ground, in the atmosphere, and on the global climate

Structural connectivity in a single case of progressive prosopagnosia: The role of the right inferior longitudinal fasciculus

Progressive prosopagnosia (PP) is a clinical syndrome characterized by a progressive and selective inability to recognize and identify faces of familiar people. Here we report a patient (G.S.) with PP, mainly related to a prominent deficit in recognition of familiar faces, without a semantic (cross-modal) impairment. An in-depth evaluation showed that his deficit extended to other classes of objects, both living and non-living. A follow-up neuropsychological assessment did not reveal substantial changes after about 1 year. Structural MRI showed predominant right temporal lobe atrophy. Diffusion tensor imaging was performed to elucidate structural connectivity of the inferior longitudinal fasciculus (ILF) and the inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus (IFOF), the two major tracts that project through the core fusiform region to the anterior temporal and frontal cortices, respectively. Right ILF was markedly reduced in G.S., while left ILF and IFOFs were apparently preserved. These data are in favour of a crucial role of the neural circuit subserved by right ILF in the pathogenesis of PP

Molecular and Functional Characterization of the Odorant Receptor2 (OR2) in the Tiger Mosquito Aedes albopictus

In mosquitoes, the olfactory system plays a crucial role in many types of behavior, including nectar feeding, host preference selection and oviposition. Aedes albopictus, known also as the tiger mosquito, is an anthropophilic species, which in the last few years, due to its strong ecological plasticity, has spread throughout the world. Although long considered only a secondary vector of viruses, the potential of its vector capacity may constitute a threat to public health. Based on the idea that an improved understanding of the olfactory system of mosquitoes may assist in the development of control methods that interfere with their behavior, we have undertaken a study aimed at characterizing the A. albopictus Odorant Receptors. Here we report the identification, cloning and functional characterization of the AalOR2 ortholog, that represents the first candidate member of the odorant receptor (OR) family of proteins from A. albopictus. AalOR2 is expressed in the larval heads and antennae of adults. Our data indicate that A. albopictus OR2 (AalOR2) shares a high degree of identity with other mosquito OR2 orthologs characterized to date, confirming that OR2 is one of the most conserved mosquito ORs. Our data indicate that AalOR2 is narrowly tuned to indole, and inhibited by (-)-menthone. In agreement with this results, these two compounds elicit two opposite effects on the olfactory-based behavior of A. albopictus larvae, as determined through a larval behavioral assay. In summary, this work has led to the cloning and de-orphaning of the first Odorant Receptor in the tiger mosquito A. albopictus. In future control strategies this receptor may be used as a potential molecular target

Taste processing in Drosophila larvae.

The sense of taste allows animals to detect chemical substances in their environment to initiate appropriate behaviors: to find food or a mate, to avoid hostile environments and predators. Drosophila larvae are a promising model organism to study gustation. Their simple nervous system triggers stereotypic behavioral responses, and the coding of taste can be studied by genetic tools at the single cell level. This review briefly summarizes recent progress on how taste information is sensed and processed by larval cephalic and pharyngeal sense organs. The focus lies on several studies, which revealed cellular and molecular mechanisms required to process sugar, salt, and bitter substances