Big Gifts for Little Learners: Making the Case for Philanthropic Investment From Pregnancy Through Preschool

The San Francisco Bay Area is home to some of the wealthiest counties and most generous donors in the country. But how do those individuals choose where to spend their philanthropic dollars?In our 2021 survey of Bay Area donors, which included both affluent individuals and foundations, 40% of respondents said that when considering causes or groups to give to, demonstrated impact would lead them to choose one cause or group over others.In some ways it is surprising, then, that only 15% of donors said they give to early care and learning -- an area with robust research demonstrating positive impact on the children supported (including permanent increases in children's IQ and better health outcomes) as well as on their families and the broader community (e.g., gains in maternal workforce participation)

Un programme d'enseignement clinique structuré pour aider les résidents en médecine familiale à diagnostiquer et à traiter le cancer de la peau

Implication Statement Melanoma is a potentially deadly type of skin cancer that has been increasing in incidence but is curable if found in the early stages. Family physicians are in an ideal situation to examine the skin during routine visits, but studies indicate they are not well trained to detect or treat skin cancers. We piloted a structured, longitudinal, hands-on procedural curriculum to improve family medicine residents’ ability to identify and manage skin cancers. Family medicine residency programs wishing to improve the diagnosis and management of skin cancer by family physicians might consider trialing our structured curriculum and procedure clinic.Énoncé des implications de la recherche Le mélanome est un type de cancer de la peau potentiellement mortel qui est de plus en plus fréquent, mais qui est guérissable sous réserve d'une détection précoce. La visite de routine chez le médecin de famille est l’occasion idéale pour examiner la peau. Les études indiquent toutefois que les médecins de famille n'ont pas le niveau de formation nécessaire pour détecter et traiter les cancers de la peau. Nous avons piloté un programme structuré longitudinal axé sur la pratique visant à améliorer la capacité des résidents en médecine familiale à identifier et à traiter ce type de cancer. Nous invitons les responsables de programmes de résidence en médecine familiale qui souhaitent améliorer le diagnostic et la prise en charge des cancers cutanés par les médecins de famille à expérimenter notre programme structuré sur les procédures cliniques

Children: A JCCI Community Inquiry on Creating Early Learning Success - Final Implementation Report

When the Children: 1-2-3 Inquiry process began in Fall 2011, there was widespread agreement among professionals and stakeholders in the early childhood development sector that it was time for Jacksonville to become a place where all newborns, infants, and toddlers can thrive. In Duval County, 30 percent of children entering kindergarten could not pass the test that shows they are prepared for school learning, virtually assuring years of difficulty in keeping up with their classmates and peers.The first three years of life provide the most rapid period of brain development, and it is during these early years that a one-time window of opportunity exists for maximizing a child's developmental potential. Healthy brain development requires a consistent nurturing environment that is impacted by many factors (e.g., talking to and playing with the child, good nutrition, active movement, uninterrupted sleep, quality childcare, regular visits to pediatricians, etc.).While this unique three-year window has been known to early childhood professionals for years, the Inquiry discovered that others in the community – including many well-meaning and attentive parents – are not fully aware of all the things they can do to provide their children with the best foundation possible for a lifetime of learning. Expanding awareness of the importance of 0-3 throughout every segment of the community was therefore an objective of the highest priority when the Children: 1-2-3 Implementation Task Force came together for the first time in July 2012.The Task Force included 68 members, some of whom were early childhood professionals, while others were simply concerned citizens interested in improving their community. This Final Implementation Report reflects the countless hours of hard work of these Task Force members throughout the last two-plus years. Their dedication to improving the lives of our youngest children has been extraordinary, and it was both humbling and exciting for me to serve as their chair.The Children: 1-2-3 Inquiry developed nine recommendations that essentially fell into two main categories – creating and maintaining an environment where all newborns, infants, and toddlers thrive; and educating the whole community about the critical first three years of childhood development. It was the role of our Task Force to advocate for implementation of these recommendations to the applicable stakeholders and elected leaders in the community

Analysis of the Effect of a Sunscreen Agent on the Suppression of Natural Killer Cell Activity Induced in Human Subjects by Radiation from Solarium Lamps

Previous studies in rodents have shown that ultraviolet radiation (UVR) may have direct effects on the immune system in the skin and at higher doses may induce systemic suppression of immune responses. We have previously shown that UVR from sun or solarium beds may induce systemic effects in human subjects. The purpose of the present study was to examine whether these systemic effects in human subjects could be prevented by use of commercially available sunscreen agents. Groups of 12 normal subjects were exposed to radiation from solarium lamps after application of a sunscreen agent or the base used in its preparation. Twelve half-hourly exposures induced a depression of natural killer (NK) cell activity against a melanoma and the K562 target cell which was not prevented by use of the sunscreen agent. Changes in functional activity were accompanied by a reduction in NK cell numbers assessed by Leu-11 monoclonal antibodies against the labile Fc receptor. Application of the sunscreen agent also did not protect against effects of solarium exposure on recall antigen skin tests and immunoglobulin production in vitro in pokeweed mitogen-stimulated cultures of B and T cells. These results suggest that further evaluation of the wavelength spectrum of UVR and the effectiveness of sunscreen agents in prevention of UVR-induced effects on the immune system is needed

Faculty perceptions of critical thinking at a health sciences university

The fostering of critical thinking skills has become an expectation of faculty, especially those teaching in the health sciences. The manner in which critical thinking is defined by faculty impacts how they will address the challenge to promote critical thinking among their students. This study reports the perceptions of critical thinking held by health sciences faculty representing multiple disciplines. The results provide a working definition of critical thinking and its components, and indicate the importance that critical thinking is given in the education of health care students. Implications of these results for teaching and learning are presented

Assertive Community Treatment for People With Alcohol Dependence: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

Aims: A pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) to assess the feasibility and potential efficacy of assertive community treatment (ACT) in adults with alcohol dependence. Methods: Single blind, individually randomized, pilot RCT of 12 months of ACT plus treatment as usual (TAU) versus TAU alone in adults (age 18+ years) with alcohol dependence and a history of previous unsuccessful alcohol treatment attending specialist community alcohol treatment services. ACT aimed to actively engage participants for 12 months with assertive, regular, minimum weekly contact. ACT was combined with TAU. TAU comprised access to the full range of services provided by the community teams. Primary outcome is mean drinks per drinking day and percent days abstinent at 12 months follow up. Analysis of covariance was conducted using 80% confidence intervals, appropriate in the context of a pilot trial. Results: A total of 94 participants were randomized, 45 in ACT and 49 in TAU. Follow-up was achieved with 98 and 88%, respectively at 12 months. Those in ACT had better treatment engagement, and were more often seen in their homes or local community than TAU participants. At 12 months the ACT group had more problems related to drinking and lower quality of life than TAU but no differences in drinking measures. The ACT group had a higher percentage of days abstinent but lower quality of life at 6 months. The ACT group had less unplanned healthcare use than TAU. Conclusions: An trial of ACT was feasible to implement in an alcohol dependent treatment population. Trial registration: ISRCTN2277553

TECHNOLOGY NEEDS AND STATUS ON CLOSURE OF DOE RADIOACTIVE WASTE TANK ANCILLARY SYSTEMS

This paper summarizes the current state of art of sampling, characterizing, retrieving, transferring and treating the incidental waste and stabilizing the void space in tank ancillary systems and the needs involved with closure of these systems. The overall effort for closing tank and ancillary systems is very large and is in the initial stages of being addressed in a systematic manner. It was recognized in doing this effort, that gaps in both technology and material application for characterization and removal of residual waste and closure of ancillary systems would be identified. Great efficiencies are to be gained by defining the technology need areas early in the closure process and providing recommendations for technical programs to improve the closure strategies. Therefore, this paper will not only summarize the state of closure of ancillary systems but also provide recommendations to address the technology gaps identified in this assessment

Population genetics of seaside Sparrow (Ammodramus maritimus) subspecies along the gulf of Mexico.

Seaside Sparrows (Ammodramus maritimus) along the Gulf of Mexico are currently recognized as four subspecies, including taxa in Florida (A. m. juncicola and A. m. peninsulae) and southern Texas (Ammodramus m. sennetti), plus a widespread taxon between them (A. m. fisheri). We examined population genetic structure of this Gulf Coast clade using microsatellite and mtDNA data. Results of Bayesian analyses (Structure, GeneLand) of microsatellite data from nine locations do not entirely align with current subspecific taxonomy. Ammodramus m. sennetti from southern Texas is significantly differentiated from all other populations, but we found evidence of an admixture zone with A. m. fisheri near Corpus Christi. The two subspecies along the northern Gulf Coast of Florida are significantly differentiated from both A. m. sennetti and A. m. fisheri, but are not distinct from each other. We found a weak signal of isolation by distance within A. m. fisheri, indicating this population is not entirely panmictic throughout its range. Although continued conservation concern is warranted for all populations along the Gulf Coast, A. m. fisheri appears to be more secure than the far smaller populations in south Texas and the northern Florida Gulf Coast. In particular, the most genetically distinct populations, those in Texas south of Corpus Christi, occupy unique habitats within a very small geographic range