INFORMATION QUALITY, TECHNOLOGY DEPRECIATION, AND BT COTTON ADOPTION IN THE SOUTHEAST

In 1996, Bt cotton became one of the first genetically engineered crops to be available commercially. This study focuses on the various sources and quality of information about Bt cotton profitability available to farmers in the Southeast and assesses the relative importance of such information in the farmers' adoption decisions. A model of the individual decision to adopt is developed to incorporate two recent theories of the role of information quality (the "effective information" hypothesis and the "popularity" hypothesis) as well as the effect of current technology depreciation. The data show some support for all three factors as determinants of adoption.Crop Production/Industries,

Do the Benefits of Family-to-Work Transitions Come at Too Great a Cost?

This research examines the impact of role boundary management on the work-family interface, as well as on organizational (job embeddedness) and family (relationship tension) outcomes. First, we integrate conservation of resources theory with crossover theory, to build a theoretical model of work-family boundary management. Second, we extend prior work by exploring positive and negative paths through which boundary management affects work and family outcomes. Third, we incorporate spouse perceptions to create a dynamic, systems-perspective explanation of the work-family interface. Using a matched sample of 639 job incumbents and their spouses, we found that family-to-work boundary transitions was related to the job incumbents\u27 work-to-family conflict, work-to-family enrichment, and job embeddedness as well as the boundary management strain transmitted to the spouse. We also found that the boundary management strain transmitted to the spouse mediated the relationship between family-to-work boundary transitions and both work-to-family conflict and work-to-family enrichment. Finally, we found significant indirect effects between family-to-work boundary transitions and job embeddedness and relationship tension through both the boundary management strain transmitted to the spouse and the incumbent\u27s work-family conflict, but not through work-family enrichment. Thus, family-to-work boundary transitions offer some benefits to the organization by contributing to job embeddedness, but they also come at a cost in that they are associated with work-family conflict and relationship tension. We discuss the study\u27s implications for theory, research, and practice while suggesting new research directions

Addressing Knowledge Deficit around Narcan Administration in Unhoused Youth in the Greater Seattle Area

Introduction For our project we worked with a non profit organization in downtown Seattle that serves houseless youth ages 18-25 with a day center and overnight shelter. Their day center has health clinics, serves lunches, and provides creative activities for the houseless to enjoy. Their overnight shelters are open every night for the houseless, providing 30 beds. The goal of the facility is to end homelessness among youth by partnering with them on their journey towards housing and sustainability. Recently, the center was approved to become a Narcan (naloxone) distribution site. When assessing the needs of the facility we identified the following nursing diagnosis; a knowledge deficit related to the need for Narcan and how to utilize it. Narcan is a drug used as a rescue medication for someone who is experiencing drug overdose. We wanted to encourage the young adults at the shelter to carry Narcan with them and feel inspired to utilize the distribution site. We created two posters, one with information on what Narcan is, how to use it, and why it is important. Our second poster included resources for getting help with drug abuse. We also created a small card for people to carry with Narcan including the steps to take if they ever have to use it. Background A majority of the young adults the facility serves are either experiencing addiction themselves or are surrounded by people who are experiencing addiction. There are more than 40,000 people in King County who are experiencing homelessness (Point in Time Count, 2022). Many of the drugs individuals can purchase off the streets are being mixed with fentanyl since it is cheaper to produce, which is leading to a rise of fentanyl overdose cases (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2023). Fentanyl is being mixed into pills and powders and is unregulated, therefore, it is impossible to know the amount going into each dose (Laced & Lethal, 2021). Drug overdose cases are more common amongst the houseless population, and the addition of fentanyl to street drugs is making the risk of overdose more likely. In King County, fentanyl-related overdose deaths increased by 164% between 2018 and 2020. Fentanyl is up to 50 times stronger than heroin, tasteless, and odorless, making it all the more dangerous (Laced & Lethal, 2021). Naloxone (Narcan) is the only known treatment to counteract the effects of opioid overdose. Narcan works by blocking the effects of opiates on the brain, which in turn also restores breathing (Charles, 2022). Due to the rise in use and overuse of fentanyl, Narcan is becoming more and more important for everyone to carry. The young adults that this facility targets have a higher likelihood of either needing Narcan for themselves, or being around someone who needs to be rescued with it, because they are at risk youth. According to a study done by the Center for Disease Control (CDC), in nearly forty percent of overdose deaths, someone else was present (2023). Having Narcan available allows bystanders to potentially help save a life during an overdose. Narcan can not harm a person who does not need it, only save a person who does. Since Narcan is available to everyone, it is important for houseless individuals to feel comfortable administering and carrying Narcan as it can save their own lives and the lives around them. Activities with Rationale Based on the needs assessment, we identified knowledge deficits surrounding the topics of Narcan use, drug overdose, and drug safety. For our project we created three resources that target a different need of the organization. Our first resource was directed towards the specific population the site serves. For the houseless young adults we created a wallet-sized card that includes condensed information on how to respond during an overdose. We created the small sized card so that it is easy for people to carry it with them. On the card we included signs and symptoms of overdose, how to administer naloxone, and a directive to call 911. In our literature review, we found that fear of arrest and/or prosecution was a barrier to calling for help, therefore, we also emphasized The Good Samaritan Law so that people do not shy away from calling for help. The literature demonstrates that having access to and using Narcan appropriately can help save lives during an overdose (CDC, 2023). The cards address potential knowledge deficits around Narcan for unhoused youth. In addition, the literature demonstrates easy access to information through products like a badge card can improve both process and outcomes. The other two resources we created were educational posters to be hung on the walls of the facility and serve both the staff and clientele. The first poster provided education about overdose signs and symptoms, facts and figures regarding drug use among the houseless population, information on Narcan and how to administer it, the Good Samaritan Law, and resources outside of the facility that can be utilized by people seeking recovery help. The purpose of this poster was to educate clients on how to identify an overdose and take action so they are able to help save lives. Long term opioid abuse and homelessness has a 25% mortality rate (Fine, n.d.) and we aimed to reduce the incidence of drug-overdose related deaths with this poster. The second poster was an infographic that provided a list of resources to their clients such as, addiction help, needle exchange, and detox programs.This poster was meant to condense the resources the site offers to one place. We chose to do this in an appealing, clear, and concise way so that people felt drawn to look at the poster and utilize the resources. All of the elements of our project were meant to reduce overdose mortality within the houseless population, which we identified to be a major issue within our target population. The literature demonstrates that health posters are an effective strategy for transferring knowledge when attempting to reach a wide audience (Hasanica, 2020). Outcomes After meeting with the staff at the facility and deliberating as a group we identified a knowledge deficit requiring narcan administration education, drug overdose education, and drug safety education. The goal of addressing this deficit is to reduce the mortality rate among houseless individuals. An outcome we identified was for clients to be able to recognize the signs and symptoms of opioid overdose. We believe this outcome was achieved by giving our wallet sized card and poster to the site. Another outcome we identified was the need for the population to feel comfortable administering Narcan. Again, giving our poster and wallet sized card on how to administer Narcan to the site allowed us to achieve this outcome. The goal of this was to offer clients easy access to the information, thus reducing a potential barrier, i.e. having to ask for these resources. We achieved this outcome by creating this list in the form of a poster and displaying it in the day center and overnight shelter. Conclusion Our goal was to create a project that would address the knowledge deficit related to Narcan use/opioid overdose/etc as evidenced by our needs assessment, that would continue to be utilized by the facility beyond the project term. During our needs assessment at the site, we identified that the houseless population served is at high risk for drug misuse. Our research led us to discover that many drugs are being laced with fentanyl, a dangerous substance which is leading to an increase in fentanyl overdose and death. Our research also led us to discover that there are often bystanders present when a person overdoses. Therefore, we identified the nursing diagnosis of knowledge deficit. The clients of the site needed more information on drug overdose, drug safety, and Narcan use. The facility recently becoming a Narcan distribution site set up the perfect opportunity for us to create resources that would address these needs. We created a wallet-sized card with step-by-step instructions on what to do when administering Narcan. When clients or employees administer Narcan, the card will be an easy resource for them to reference in the event that they need to give Narcan to someone. The use of cards for rapid access to health literature is evidence-based practice. We also made a poster with overdose signs and symptoms, facts about drug overdose, Narcan administration instructions, and emphasized the good samaritan law. We created this poster to educate clientele on what overdose looks like, how they can help, and how to take action. Health information posters are demonstrated in the literature as an effective educational tool for large audiences. Lastly, we created a simple and colorful poster with helplines and addiction recovery services resources so participants have access, a need identified by the site. All program outcomes were accomplished. Future recommendations are to continue educating the clientele on the importance of carrying Narcan and updated information on drug overdose in the city of Seattle. References Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023, January 25). Lifesaving naloxone. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved February 1, 2023, from https://www.cdc.gov/stopoverdose/naloxone/index.html Charles, Dowd. (2022, July 25). Naloxone: Frequently asked questions. Anne Arundel County Department of Health. Retrieved February 22, 2023, from https://www.aahealth.org/naloxone-frequently-asked-questions/ Fine, D. R., Dickins, K. A., & Adams, L. D. (n.d.). Drug Overdose Mortality Among People Experiencing Homelessness, 2003 to 2018. Jama Network. Retrieved February 1, 2023, from https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/article-abstract/2787711 Hasanica, N., Ramic-Catak, A., Mujezinovic, A., Begagic, S., Galijasevic, K., & Oruc, M. (2020). The Effectiveness of Leaflets and Posters as a Health Education Method. Materia socio-medica, 32(2), 135–139. https://doi.org/10.5455/msm.2020.32.135-139 Point in time count. KCRHA. (2022, June 29). Retrieved February 22, 2023, from https://kcrha.org/data-overview/king-county-point-in-time-count/ The risk is real:fentanyl 101. Laced & Lethal ❘ See Why Fentanyl Is So Dangerous. (2021). Retrieved February 1, 2023, from https://www.lacedandlethal.com/fentanyl-101/ U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2023, January 9). Fentanyl drugfacts. National Institutes of Health. Retrieved February 1, 2023, from https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugfacts/fentany

Threshold for Onset of Injury in Chinook Salmon from Exposure to Impulsive Pile Driving Sounds

The risk of effects to fishes and other aquatic life from impulsive sound produced by activities such as pile driving and seismic exploration is increasing throughout the world, particularly with the increased exploitation of oceans for energy production. At the same time, there are few data that provide insight into the effects of these sounds on fishes. The goal of this study was to provide quantitative data to define the levels of impulsive sound that could result in the onset of barotrauma to fish. A High Intensity Controlled Impedance Fluid filled wave Tube was developed that enabled laboratory simulation of high-energy impulsive sound that were characteristic of aquatic far-field, plane-wave acoustic conditions. The sounds used were based upon the impulsive sounds generated by an impact hammer striking a steel shell pile. Neutrally buoyant juvenile Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) were exposed to impulsive sounds and subsequently evaluated for barotrauma injuries. Observed injuries ranged from mild hematomas at the lowest sound exposure levels to organ hemorrhage at the highest sound exposure levels. Frequency of observed injuries were used to compute a biological response weighted index (RWI) to evaluate the physiological impact of injuries at the different exposure levels. As single strike and cumulative sound exposure levels (SELss, SELcum respectively) increased, RWI values increased. Based on the results, tissue damage associated with adverse physiological costs occurred when the RWI was greater than 2. In terms of sound exposure levels a RWI of 2 was achieved for 1920 strikes by 177 dB re 1 µPa2⋅s SELss yielding a SELcum of 210 dB re 1 µPa2⋅s, and for 960 strikes by 180 dB re 1 µPa2⋅s SELss yielding a SELcum of 210 dB re 1 µPa2⋅s. These metrics define thresholds for onset of injury in juvenile Chinook salmon

Condition Help: 10 years of experience enhancing our culture of family engagement

“Condition Help” is a family activated rapid response team designed to enhance a partnership between providers and the family. Calling a “Condition Help” results in the rapid arrival of a response team (physician, nurse administrator and patient representative) that assesses the clinical status, listens to families’ concerns and promotes communication to move clinical care forward. “Condition Help” has been an active program for the last 10 years at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC (University of Pittsburgh Medical Center) and has assisted in the care of 608 patient encounters. This article outlines the experience gained using this vital program, summarizes our model, and reviews what we have learned

A Pilot Intervention to Increase Parent-Child Communication About Alcohol Avoidance

Enhancing parent-child communication regarding alcohol use through educational print correspondence is a potentially cost-effective tool in health promotion. The purpose of this pilot study was to examine whether a series of postcards addressing specific alcohol risk and protective factors, sent to the parents/guardians of preadolescents in two different school settings, influenced parent-child communication regarding alcohol use. Subjects for this study included parents of participating 6th grade students attending one neighborhood (N=262) and one magnet (bused) (N=388) inner-city school. Participating students were randomly assigned to the intervention or control group. Baseline data were collected from students, enabling the intervention to be tailored to students\u27 individual needs. Parents of students assigned to the intervention were mailed up to 10 prevention postcards over five weeks. Parents completed a 10-item telephone survey eight weeks after implementation of the prevention postcards. The overall parent response rate was 74% (N=478). Results of this pilot intervention found that postcards increased parent-child communication regarding alcohol use, but that these efects difered by school setting and race. Although significant efects were found for the intervention group, further analysis revealed that efects were found only for White parents at the magnet school. Discussion of these differences and implications for research and educational programming are provided

Effects of Tidal Turbine Noise on Fish Task 2.1.3.2: Effects on Aquatic Organisms: Acoustics/Noise - Fiscal Year 2011 - Progress Report - Environmental Effects of Marine and Hydrokinetic Energy

Naturally spawning stocks of Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) that utilize Puget Sound are listed as threatened (http://www.nwr.noaa.gov/ESA-Salmon-Listings/Salmon-Populations/ Chinook/CKPUG.cfm). Plans exist for prototype tidal turbines to be deployed into their habitat. Noise is known to affect fish in many ways, such as causing a threshold shift in auditory sensitivity or tissue damage. The characteristics of noise, its spectra and level, are important factors that influence the potential for the noise to injure fish. For example, the frequency range of the tidal turbine noise includes the audiogram (frequency range of hearing) of most fish. This study (Effects on Aquatic Organisms, Subtask 2.1.3.2: Acoustics) was performed during FY 2011 to determine if noise generated by a 6-m-diameter open-hydro turbine might affect juvenile Chinook salmon hearing or cause barotrauma. After they were exposed to simulated tidal turbine noise, the hearing of juvenile Chinook salmon was measured and necropsies performed to check for tissue damage. Experimental groups were (1) noise exposed, (2) control (the same handling as treatment fish but without exposure to tidal turbine noise), and (3) baseline (never handled). Preliminary results indicate that low levels of tissue damage may have occurred but that there were no effects of noise exposure on the auditory systems of the test fish

Conserved and Differential Effects of Dietary Energy Intake on the Hippocampal Transcriptomes of Females and Males

The level of dietary energy intake influences metabolism, reproductive function, the development of age-related diseases, and even cognitive behavior. Because males and females typically play different roles in the acquisition and allocation of energy resources, we reasoned that dietary energy intake might differentially affect the brains of males and females at the molecular level. To test this hypothesis, we performed a gene array analysis of the hippocampus in male and female rats that had been maintained for 6 months on either ad libitum (control), 20% caloric restriction (CR), 40% CR, intermittent fasting (IF) or high fat/high glucose (HFG) diets. These diets resulted in expected changes in body weight, and circulating levels of glucose, insulin and leptin. However, the CR diets significantly increased the size of the hippocampus of females, but not males. Multiple genes were regulated coherently in response to energy restriction diets in females, but not in males. Functional physiological pathway analyses showed that the 20% CR diet down-regulated genes involved in glycolysis and mitochondrial ATP production in males, whereas these metabolic pathways were up-regulated in females. The 40% CR diet up-regulated genes involved in glycolysis, protein deacetylation, PGC-1α and mTor pathways in both sexes. IF down-regulated many genes in males including those involved in protein degradation and apoptosis, but up-regulated many genes in females including those involved in cellular energy metabolism, cell cycle regulation and protein deacetylation. Genes involved in energy metabolism, oxidative stress responses and cell death were affected by the HFG diet in both males and females. The gender-specific molecular genetic responses of hippocampal cells to variations in dietary energy intake identified in this study may mediate differential behavioral responses of males and females to differences in energy availability

Exact solutions for diluted spin glasses and optimization problems

We study the low temperature properties of p-spin glass models with finite connectivity and of some optimization problems. Using a one-step functional replica symmetry breaking Ansatz we can solve exactly the saddle-point equations for graphs with uniform connectivity. The resulting ground state energy is in perfect agreement with numerical simulations. For fluctuating connectivity graphs, the same Ansatz can be used in a variational way: For p-spin models (known as p-XOR-SAT in computer science) it provides the exact configurational entropy together with the dynamical and static critical connectivities (for p=3, \gamma_d=0.818 and \gamma_s=0.918 resp.), whereas for hard optimization problems like 3-SAT or Bicoloring it provides new upper bounds for their critical thresholds (\gamma_c^{var}=4.396 and \gamma_c^{var}=2.149 resp.).Comment: 4 pages, 1 figure, accepted for publication in PR