Relationship Between Scholastic and Health Behaviors and Reading Level in Adolescent Females

This was a study of 102 adolescent females, 12-20 years of age, presenting to a central city clinic for medical care. Participants completed an oral questionnaire that included demographics, and questions regarding scholastic history, sexual behavior, and substance use. Each subject completed the Accuracy Level Test (ALT), a reading test. The subject\u27s reading test grade level was subtracted from her appropriate grade in school to give a reading delay level (RDL). The mean reading grade level for all subjects was 6.7 ±2.6 and the average reading delay was 4.5 ±2.5 grades. Poor school attenders had greater reading delays (5.8 ±3.4 grades behind vs. 4.3 ±2.2 for good attenders

Organizational and Operating Structures of a National Pork Producers Cooperative; Evaluation of Alternatives for Implementation of the Pork America "Umbrella" Model

This paper summarizes the structural components, activities and processes evaluated during the implementation of a national pork producers' cooperative. It reviews and compares various organizational structures considered and identifies the components, activities and processes that would best allow Pork America to fulfil its mission. The paper adds detail to the organizational structure of the "umbrella model" designed by the National Pork Producers Council Cooperative Task Force. More concretely, it outlines, evaluates, and compares alternative activities and processes to implement operations within that structure. It identifies strengths and weakness of each alternative, needs for internal and external competencies, potential business models, management scenarios, and financing options for the alternative approaches considered by Pork America. This approach supported the development of Pork America's master business plan. Governance and operational structures to allow Pork America to function successfully; incorporating local, state and regional groups as members; and be responsive to the restructuring occurring in the pork industry were described. The paper describes the essential components of each structure that was considered, including, but not limited to the following areas: (1) Relationships within operating units, among operating units, between a national headquarters and operating units, and between the board and management. (2) Groupings of employees into departments or operating divisions, within business units, and between business units and the scope of those operating divisions or business units. (3) Systems for communications, coordination, and integration among various divisions and units that make up Pork America, both vertically and horizontally. Methodologically this report is a descriptive case study of the Pork America Cooperative. It outlines the structure of the pork industry in which the cooperative is operating, and develops aspects of the New Generation Cooperative structure that are applicable to this cooperative. Furthermore, the paper identifies alternative activities and processes that Pork America considered or will be considering to implement this structure. Advantages and disadvantages of potential activities and processes are identified and compared. The organizational models discussed are based on those actually considered by the NPPC Task Force and the Pork America Board including: (1) a large-scale three-plant model; (2) a large-scale single-plant format, (3) a service company model, (4) a joint marketing model and (5) a national network model. The paper identifies the alternatives judged to best fulfill Pork America's objectives given the structural components implied in the umbrella model and the changing structure of the pork industry.Agribusiness,

Evaluation of LANDSAT-2 data for selected hydrologic applications

There are no author-identified significant results in this report

Fe-mediated HER vs N_2RR: Exploring Factors that Contribute to Selectivity in P_3^EFe(N_2) (E = B, Si, C) Catalyst Model Systems

Mitigation of the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is a key challenge in selective small molecule reduction catalysis. This is especially true of catalytic nitrogen (N_2) and carbon dioxide (CO_2) reduction reactions (N_2RR and CO_2RR, respectively) using H^+/e• currency. Here we explore, via DFT calculations, three iron model systems, P_3^EFe (E = B, Si, C), known to mediate both N_2RR and HER, but with different selectivity depending on the identity of the auxiliary ligand. It is suggested that the respective efficiencies of these systems for N_2RR trend with the predicted N–H bonds strengths of two putative hydrazido intermediates of the proposed catalytic cycle, P_3^EFe(NNH_2)^+ and P_3^EFe(NNH_2). Further, a mechanism is presented for undesired HER consistent with DFT studies, and previously reported experimental data, for these systems; bimolecular proton-coupled-electron-transfer (PCET) from intermediates with weak N–H bonds is posited as an important source of H_2, instead of more traditional scenarios that proceed via metal hydride intermediates and proton transfer/electron transfer (PT/ET) pathways. Wiberg bond indices provide additional insight into key factors related to the degree of stabilization of P_3^EFe(NNH_2) species, factors that trend with overall product selectivity

The discrepancy in G-band contrast: Where is the quiet Sun?

We compare the rms contrast in observed speckle reconstructed G-band images with synthetic filtergrams computed from two magneto-hydrodynamic simulation snapshots. The observations consist of 103 bursts of 80 frames each taken at the Dunn Solar Telescope (DST), sampled at twice the diffraction limit of the telescope. The speckle reconstructions account for the performance of the Adaptive Optics (AO) system at the DST to supply reliable photometry. We find a considerable discrepancy in the observed rms contrast of 14.1% for the best reconstructed images, and the synthetic rms contrast of 21.5% in a simulation snapshot thought to be representative of the quiet Sun. The areas of features in the synthetic filtergrams that have positive or negative contrast beyond the minimum and maximum values in the reconstructed images have spatial scales that should be resolved. This leads us to conclude that there are fundamental differences in the rms G-band contrast between observed and computed filtergrams. On the basis of the substantially reduced granular contrast of 16.3% in the synthetic plage filtergram we speculate that the quiet-Sun may contain more weak magnetic field than previously thought.Comment: 16 pages, 8 figure

Alloy undercooling experiments

The research accomplished during 1995 can be organized into three parts. The first task involves analyzing the results of microgravity experiments carried out using TEMPUS hardware during the IML-2 mission on STS-65. The second part was to finalize ground-based experimentation which supported the above flight sample analysis. The final part was to provide technical support for post-flight mission activities specifically aimed at improving TEMPUS performance for potential future missions

End-functionalized glycopolymers as mimetics of chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans

Glycosaminoglycans are sulfated polysaccharides that play important roles in fundamental biological processes, such as cell division, viral invasion, cancer and neuroregeneration. The multivalent presentation of multiple glycosaminoglycan chains on proteoglycan scaffolds may profoundly influence their interactions with proteins and subsequent biological activity. However, the importance of this multivalent architecture remains largely unexplored, and few synthetic mimics exist for probing and manipulating glycosaminoglycan activity. Here, we describe a new class of end-functionalized ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) polymers that mimic the native-like, multivalent architecture found on chondroitin sulfate (CS) proteoglycans. We demonstrate that these glycopolymers can be readily integrated with microarray and surface plasmon resonance technology platforms, where they retain the ability to interact selectively with proteins. ROMP-based glycopolymers are part of a growing arsenal of chemical tools for probing the functions of glycosaminoglycans and for studying their interactions with proteins

The expanding repertoire of receptor activity modifying protein (RAMP) function

Receptor activity modifying proteins (RAMPs) associate with G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) at the plasma membrane and together bind a variety of peptide ligands, serving as a communication interface between the extracellular and intracellular environments. The collection of RAMP-interacting GPCRs continues to expand and now consists of GPCRs from families A, B, and C, suggesting that RAMP activity is extremely prevalent. RAMP association with GPCRs can regulate GPCR function by altering ligand binding, receptor trafficking and desensitization, and downstream signaling pathways. Here, we elaborate on these RAMP-dependent mechanisms of GPCR regulation, which provide opportunities for pharmacological intervention

Killin\u27 it on Corporate Ground: The Cultural Politics of Street Performance in a Gentrified Space

On a weekend evening in San Diego’s historic Eclipse district, several buskers capture the attention of passersby as they make their way through the bustling crowds to the nearest restaurant or nightclub. These buskers represent various subcultures within a gentrified entertainment district of urban renewal that caters to the middle class. This ethnographic study aims to examine the cultural politics of busker performances in a highly corporate, gentrified space. Are buskers able to maintain their independence from the market economy or are they unintentionally or willingly reinforcing this system? Through completion of an ethnographic study in the Eclipse district, this research analyzes the reactions, interactions, and dynamics that formulate the gentrified busker experience