Population Modeling for Resource Allocation and Antimicrobial Stewardship

This dissertation contains two types of population models with applications in conservation biology and epidemiology. In particular, it considers models for resource allocation and antimicrobial stewardship. In a population model with a parabolic differential equation and density dependent growth, we study the problem of allocating resources to maximize the net benefit in the conservation of a single species while the cost of the resource allocation is minimized. The net benefit is measured in terms of maximizing population abundance and the goal of maximizing abundance is divided between the goal of maximizing the overall abundance across space and time and the goal of maximizing abundance at the final time. We consider cases that model a fixed amount of resource as well as cases without this constraint. We regard the resource coefficient as a control and we consider cases where this coefficient varies in space and time as well as cases where it varies only in space. We establish the existence and uniqueness of the solution to the state system given a control and the existence of an optimal control. We establish the characterization of the optimal control and demonstrate uniqueness of the optimal control. Numerical simulations illustrate several cases with Dirichlet and Neumann boundary conditions. We implement an agent-based model for Clostridium difficile transmission in hospitals that accounts for several processes and individual factors including environmental and antibiotic heterogeneity in order to evaluate the efficacy of various control measures aimed at reducing environmental contamination and mitigating the effects of antibiotic use on transmission. In particular, we account for local contamination levels that contribute to the probability of colonization and we account for both the number and type of antibiotic treatments given to patients. Simulations illustrate the relative efficacy of several strategies for the reduction of nosocomial colonizations and nosocomial diseases

12/16/1948 Letter from Wesley Bintz

Letter from Wesley Bintz, Consulting Civil Engineer, to Louis-Philippe Gagné.https://digitalcommons.usm.maine.edu/fac-lpg-letters-1948-07-12/1004/thumbnail.jp

Using freewriting to assess reading comprehension

Building on recent advances in holistic writing assessment, this article reports on an attempt to use freewriting as a tool to assess reading comprehension. It begins by situating this project within several recent efforts to reform reading comprehension assessment. Next, it discusses freewriting as a form of written retelling, a procedure used historically as an alternative form of reading assessment. Then, it presents a taxonomy that illustrates several patterns constructed from using freewriting with proficient readers (graduate students). Finally, implications of this project for thinking differently about reading theory and reading assessment are provided

Image-Based Bidirectional Reflectance Distribution Function of Human Skin in the Visible and Near Infrared

Human detection is an important first step in locating and tracking people in many missions including SAR and ISR operations. Recent detection systems utilize hyperspectral and multispectral technology to increase the acquired spectral content in imagery and subsequently better identify targets. This research demonstrates human detection through a multispectral skin detection system to exploit the unique optical properties of human skin. At wavelengths in the VIS and NIR regions of the electromagnetic spectrum, an individual can be identified by their unique skin parameters. Current detection methods base the skin pixel selection criteria on a diffuse skin reflectance model; however, it can be observed that human skin exhibits a combination of specular and diffuse reflectance. The objective of this effort is to better characterize human skin reflectance by collecting image-based BRDF skin measurements for future model incorporation in the existing multispectral skin detection system. Integrating multispectral BRDF data should reduce misdetections and better describe skin reflectance as a function of illumination source, target, and detector orientation

Daddy, I know what the story means — now, I just need help with the words

This article describes a single instance of literacy learning involving the author and his two daughters, and provides a demonstration of how this literacy event can be unpacked both theoretically and practically in a way that a reflective practitioner could do. The aim of this article is to stimulate some reflective thinking and start some new conversations about what theoretical assumptions should drive reading instruction in the 21st century

Children\u27s Books

Looking For Crabs. (1993) B. Whately; The Mouse and the Apple (1994) Stephen Butler

Is It Just Me, Or Are There Other Parents and Teachers Out There Confused About SOL Reading Assessments?

This article describes an incident involving the author, his daughter, and sample items from a Standards of Learning assessment. The author uses this incident to describe his increasing confusion with SOL assessments, especially in the area of reading, and proposes that educators spend less time testing our kids with SOL assessments, and more time testing their theories so that assessment better reflects recent advances in reading and learning theory

The Literary Canon: Virtue, Vice, or Both

This article evolved from recent conversations with middle and high school English/Language Arts teachers about the literary canon. The conversations were based on a question posed by one teacher in a professional development workshop: “To teach or not to teach the literary canon? That is my question.” Other teachers quickly stated that they have always struggled with this question and still do today. As a former English/Language Arts teacher, I recognized the importance of this question and afterwards spent time asking myself: Is the literary canon a virtue, vice, or both? This article shares my current best thinking about this question. I begin with background on the conversation and then discuss what teachers did and did not talk about. Next, I share a text set of picture books to help teachers and teacher educators continue talking about the literary canon. I end with final thoughts, one of which is that teacher preferences and pragmatics are important but insufficient when talking about the literary canon. Research on reading and curriculum theory is most important

Using Way-In and Stay-In Scientific Picturebooks To Learn About Science and Scientists

The power and potential of literature to learn science has long been recognized by both science and literacy specialists. Literature is often a child\u27s first introduction to science and the first encounter with the concept of science and the role of scientists. The problem is that much science literature focuses mostly on the scientist or the science. This article responds to the imbalanced portrayal between science and scientist in children’s literature. It also discusses the value of scientific picturebook biography to teach science, introduces the notion of Way-In and Stay-In texts, and provides examples of both types of texts along with instructional strategies that can be used to teach disciplinary core ideas in Life Science. Core ideas include: From molecules to organisms: structures and processes; Ecosystems: interactions, energy, and dynamics; Heredity: inheritance and variation of traits: Biological evolution: unity and diversity. It ends with final thoughts