Folded symplectic forms in contact topology

We establish the relationship between folded symplectic forms and convex hypersurface theory in contact topology. As an application, we use convex hypersurface theory to reprove and strengthen the existence result for folded symplectic forms due to Cannas da Silva, and we generalize to all even dimensions Baykur's $4$-dimensional existence result of folded Weinstein structures and folded Lefschetz fibrations.Comment: 21 pages, 6 figures. Comments welcom

Examining the intra-organizational differences among municipal employees: an empirical investigation of public safety workers in the municipal workforce

Attracting, motivating, and retaining public service employees continues to challenge both state- and municipal-level managers. Beginning with Perry’s (1996) public service motivation (PSM) construct, academics and practitioners focused considerable efforts in the identification of measures and factors influencing levels of motivation with the overall intent of identifying the key components of increasing employee motivations, thereby increasing the possibility of retaining the capable employees. While this effort has focused on managerial distinctions, groupings between genders, racial backgrounds, and tenure lengths, one significant comparison has yet to be explored—the public safety worker. Identifying and examining the motivating factors of police and fire, whose considerably different work requirements and consequences of subpar performance can result in the loss of life will not only lead to future means of addressing retention and motivation, but will also create a new avenue of research in public service motivation in public administration. Stemming from the extensive methodological work by Sangmook Kim (2010), this effort will explore the PSM constructs by utilizing exploratory factor analysis (EFA) to identify the significant factors of PSM for public safety workers, confirm these findings through confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and identify the strengths of the various factors as they pertain to the latent constructs of PSM, job satisfaction, and organizational commitment. PSM, as it pertains to job attraction, selection, commitment, and retention plays a pivotal role in maintaining a productive and successful public organization. In Mississippi, retention and motivation are paramount as neighboring states pay better wages, offer similar benefits, and are within a short travel distance for many state employees. By comparing public safety workers to other groups of municipal employees, this research extends the field of public administration into new territory while providing practical, real-world tools for practitioners and decision-makers to utilize in workforce development and retention efforts. This research will show that there are significant differences between the public safety workers in the municipal workforce and non-public safety workers, particularly in Mississippi. The research shows that differences in public safety workers from non-public safety workers in motivation stem from levels of political involvement, compassion, benevolence, and duty

Some Of These Nights

https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/mmb-vp/3370/thumbnail.jp

Some Of These Nights

https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/mmb-vp/3370/thumbnail.jp

A study of sixteen cases of children born out of wedlock committed to child welfare services in Rhode Island in the year 1952.

Thesis (M.S.)--Boston Universit

Predicting chemical impacts on vertebrate endocrine systems

Animals have evolved diverse protective mechanisms for responding to toxic chemicals of both natural and anthropogenic origin. From a governmental regulatory perspective, these protective responses complicate efforts to establish acceptable levels of chemical exposure. To explore this issue, we considered vertebrate endocrine systems as potential targets for environmental contaminants. Using the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT), hypothalamic-pituitary-gonad (HPG), and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axes as case examples, we identified features of these systems that allow them to accommodate and recover from chemical insults. In doing so, a distinction was made between effects on adults and those on developing organisms. This distinction was required because endocrine system disruption in early life stages may alter development of organs and organ systems, resulting in permanent changes in phenotypic expression later in life. Risk assessments of chemicals that impact highly regulated systems must consider the dynamics of these systems in relation to complex environmental exposures. A largely unanswered question is whether successful accommodation to a toxic insult exerts a fitness cost on individual animals, resulting in adverse consequences for populations. Mechanistically based mathematical models of endocrine systems provide a means for better understanding accommodation and recovery. In the short term, these models can be used to design experiments and interpret study findings. Over the long term, a set of validated models could be used to extrapolate limited in vitro and in vivo testing data to a broader range of untested chemicals, species, and exposure scenarios. With appropriate modification, Tier 2 assays developed in support of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Endocrine Disruptor Screening Program could be used to assess the potential for accommodation and recovery and inform the development of mechanistically based models. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 2011;30:39–51. © 2010 SETACPeer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/78495/1/376_ftp.pd

The Molloy Student Literary Magazine Volume 11

The Molloy Student Literary Magazine, sponsored by Molloy College’s Office of Student Affairs, is devoted to publishing the best previously unpublished works of prose, poetry, drama, literary review, criticism, and other literary genres, that the Molloy student community has to offer. The journal welcomes submissions, for possible publication, from currently enrolled Molloy students at all levels. All submitted work will undergo a review process initiated by the Managing Editor prior to a decision being made regarding publication of said work. Given sufficient content, The Molloy Student Literary Magazine is published twice annually in Spring and Fall. Interested contributors from the currently enrolled Molloy student community should send work via e-mail attachment and brief cover letter (including a two-sentence biographical statement) to: Dr. Damian Ward Hey, Managing Editor, The Molloy Student Literary Magazine: [email protected]. Enrolled students who are interested in becoming members of The Molloy Student Literary Magazine staff may e-mail letters of inquiry. Excelsior!https://digitalcommons.molloy.edu/eng_litmag/1003/thumbnail.jp

Self-reported sleep duration mitigates the association between inflammation and cognitive functioning in hospitalized older men

Examination of predictors of late-life cognitive functioning is particularly salient in at-risk older adults, such as those who have been recently hospitalized. Sleep and inflammation are independently related to late-life cognitive functioning. The potential role of sleep as a moderator of the relationship between inflammation and global cognitive functioning has not been adequately addressed. We examined the relationship between self-reported sleep duration, inflammatory markers, and general cognitive functioning in hospitalized older men. Older men (n = 135; Mean age = 72.9 ± 9.7 years) were recruited from inpatient rehabilitation units at a VA Medical Center to participate in a cross-sectional study of sleep. Participants completed the Mini-Mental State Examination and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and underwent an 8 a.m. blood draw to measure inflammatory markers [i.e., C-reactive protein (CRP), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα), soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1), and interleukin-6 (IL-6)]. Hierarchical regression analyses (controlling for age, education, race, depression, pain, health comorbidity, and BMI) revealed that higher levels of CRP and sICAM are associated with higher global cognitive functioning in older men with sleep duration ≥6 h (β = -0.19, β = -0.18, p's < 0.05, respectively), but not in those with short sleep durations (p's > 0.05). In elderly hospitalized men, sleep duration moderates the association between inflammation and cognitive functioning. These findings have implications for the clinical care of older men within medical settings