Palliative and End-of-Life Care: Precepts and Ethics for the Orthopaedic Population

Since the emergence of reports such as the National Consensus Project for Quality Palliative Care (2013) and the National Association of Orthopaedic Nurses Palliative Care Consensus Document (2005), there continues to be a growing recognition of the multiple adverse effects of serious illness and chronic conditions, as well as the potential benefits of receiving palliative or end-of-life care. As modern technology expands its ability to support life, ethical dilemmas may be encountered in the provision of palliative or end-of-life care. Through integration of the precepts of palliative care and consideration of the relevant ethical principles, orthopaedic nurses may best meet their patients\u27 comprehensive needs at an exceedingly difficult time

Electromagnetic wave energy conversion research

Known electromagnetic wave absorbing structures found in nature were first studied for clues of how one might later design large area man-made radiant-electric converters. This led to the study of the electro-optics of insect dielectric antennae. Insights were achieved into how these antennae probably operate in the infrared 7-14um range. EWEC theoretical models and relevant cases were concisely formulated and justified for metal and dielectric absorber materials. Finding the electromagnetic field solutions to these models is a problem not yet solved. A rough estimate of losses in metal, solid dielectric, and hollow dielectric waveguides indicates future radiant-electric EWEC research should aim toward dielectric materials for maximum conversion efficiency. It was also found that the absorber bandwidth is a theoretical limitation on radiant-electric conversion efficiency. Ideally, the absorbers' wavelength would be centered on the irradiating spectrum and have the same bandwith as the irradiating wave. The EWEC concept appears to have a valid scientific basis, but considerable more research is needed before it is thoroughly understood, especially for the complex randomly polarized, wide band, phase incoherent spectrum of the sun. Specific recommended research areas are identified

Codeswitching in Antonio Muñoz Molina's "Carlota Fainberg": Determiner Gender and Noun Phrase Status

El canvi de codi entre determinant i nom, allà on l\u27idioma del determinant senyala el gènere i el del nom no ho fa, ofereix una oportunitat per a un dels dos idiomes de demostrar-ne el domini. Malgrat els estudis que indiquen que l\u27ús de l\u27article masculí és el que s\u27usa per defecte en casos de determinant espanyol + nom anglès, el corpus d\u27aquest estudi demostra una preferència clara per una estratègia de traducció: el determinant en espanyol i altres modificadors concorden amb el gènere de la paraula traduïda a l\u27espanyol. Codeswitching between determiner and noun in which the language of the determiner marks gender and that of the noun does not offer an opportunity for one of the languages in the pair to show its dominance. Despite reports of the masculine article\u27s use as a default in Spanish determiner + English noun constructions, this study\u27s corpus demonstrates a clear preference for a translation strategy: the Spanish determiner and other modifiers agree with the gender of the displaced Spanish word

Comparison of Hybrid Grass Carp and Grass Carp

The hybrid grass carp, a cross between the male bighead carp (Hypothalmichthys nobilis) and the female grass carp (Ctenopharyngodonidella), was first produced in the United States in 1979 for biocontrol purposes. Unlike the fish produced in 1979 and 1980, the hybrid grass carp spawned in 1981 were assumed to be uniform, triploid, and to have growth and feeding rates comparable to those of grass carp. A comparison study to determine differences in the morphology of the 1979, 1980, and 1981 hybrid grass carp revealed that the hybrid grass carp spawned in 1981 have a longer relative gut length, fewer deformities of the gill rakers, and fewer diploid fish than the previous spawns. In feeding trials, the growth rate of the 1981 hybrid grass carp (2.5 to 3.9 g fish-1 day-1) were similar to that of the 1979 and 1980 fish (2.8 and 3.9 g fish-1 day-1, respectively). In field tests, their mortality rate ranged from 20.8 to 97.4% and was similar to that of other hybrid grass carp. Due to the increased gut length, low feeding rate, and high mortality, the 1981 hybrid grass carp were unable to control (eliminate) the growth of aquatic vegetation in field trials in Blue Lake and in a detention pond which had been treated with herbicide prior to stocking. The 1981 hybrid grass carp has proven to be less effective than previous hybrid grass carp spawns as a biocontrol agent

Contextual Perspectives on Heroin Addiction and Recovery: Classic and Contemporary Theories

Drug use and recovery have received considerable attention from social scientists over the past few decades. However, many studies involving heroin use continue to focus on person-centered risk factors surrounding use and, to a lesser extent, recovery processes. There is a need to further develop and use theories that focus on contextual approaches that include opportunity structures and behavioral economic factors. In this article, two classic criminological theories (Differential Opportunity and Subcultural) are reviewed as well as the more recent Social Resource theory (SRT). Differential Opportunity theory focuses on the fact that those involved in illegitimate means of opportunity require a set of learned skills as do those involved in legitimate means. Subcultural theories suggest that deviance is the result of individuals conforming to the values and norms of a social group to which they belong. SRT focuses on the resources embedded within a social network. These theories have helped better understand the microeconomic behaviors of heroin users, and those recovering from heroin addiction. This article provides a review of the application of these theories for researching heroin use and recovery

Effects of factors and people of influence on college choice comparing general population and top academic students

The purpose of this study was to determine if there were statistically significant differences in the factors or people who influenced general population students as compared to top academic students in their choice of college/university. Influences were delineated according to factors or people because recruitment strategies must differ based on these categories. These analyses determined the impact the demographic characteristics of students\u27 gender, community type, high school size, high school type, and anticipated college/major had on higher education choice

The Effects of Parent and Peer Attachment on Risky Behavior in First-Year College Students

National statistics show that there is a marked increase in risky behaviors, such as substance use and risky sex, when students enter college (Youth Risk Behavior Survey, 2009). In order to explain this phenomenon, researchers have explored multiple individual and environmental factors that might explain why some students are at higher risk for engaging in these behaviors. The quality of one’s relationship with a parent(s) has emerged as one key predictor of student adjustment (Larose, Bernier, & Tarabulsy, 2005; Larose & Boivin, 1998). Accordingly, in the current study it was hypothesized that the quality of first-year students’ relationships with parents and friends (parent and peer attachment) would predict the likelihood of engaging in risky behavior. Since few studies have explored more proximal variables that might explain the relations between attachment and risky behavior, the current study examined whether emotion regulation and self-esteem also predicted engagement in risky behavior. It was hypothesized that lower parent/peer attachment would be associated with difficulties in emotion regulation and in turn, problems with emotion regulation would predict substance use. Also, based on previous research, it was expected that higher levels of attachment would be associated with greater self-esteem and, in turn, higher self-esteem would predict lower rates of risky sexual behavior. To test these hypotheses, a sample of first-year Trinity students (N= 69) completed an online survey with questions about their relationships with parents and peers, emotion regulation strategies, self-esteem, alcohol use and related problems, drug use, and risky sexual behavior. As hypothesized, close relationships with parents and peers were associated with less difficulty with emotion regulation and higher levels of self-esteem, and close relationships with parents predicted a lower intensity of heavy drinking. Contrary to the hypotheses, neither quality of parent/peer attachment nor emotion regulation predicted alcohol-related problems, and greater attachment to peers predicted more pronounced heavy drinking. Future research should examine other variables besides emotion regulation that might explain the link between parent attachment and heavy drinking. Given that peer attachment was positively associated with intensity of heavy drinking, future research also should examine, in greater detail, the nature of the link between attachment and heavy drinking