American potash industry.

Thesis (M.B.A.)--Boston University This item has been digitized by the Internet Archive

A Biological Investigation of Skeletal Remains from the Mouse Creek Phase and a Comparison with Two Late Mississippian Skeletal Populations from Middle and East Tennessee

This study examines the biological characteristics of the Late Mississippian Mouse Creek Phase skeletal series of Ledford Island, Rymer and Mouse Creek and relates them to other Late Mississippian skeletal populations (the Toqua and Averbuch samples) by using a comparative and holistic approach. The purpose of the study is to assess the biological relationships between these populations, based on the multidimensional biological variables of paleodemography, stature, paleopathology and craniometrics. No evidence of significant Mouse Creek Phase demographic stress was found. All of the Mouse Creek Phase site populations exhibited low mortality, probability of death, and crude mortality rates and high survivorship and life expectancy values. In contrast, the Toqua and Averbuch populations manifested substantially greater degrees of demographic stress. Stature estimates based on maximum femur mean lengths from all of the Mouse Creek Phase sites compared favorably to those recorded for other low-stressed Amerindian populations. No evidence of significantly reduced stature possibly indicative of environmental (nutritional) stress was found. In the comparative analysis, Averbuch and Mouse Creek Phase females differed significantly from each other and from all other sex and site groups. Pathology class incidence was low across all of the Mouse Creek Phase sites, with Ledford Island exhibiting the lowest (age-related) and Rymer the highest (infectious disease- and trauma- related) incidences. Pathology class incidences for all the Mouse Creek Phase sites were not nearly as high as expected for young subadults. Porotic hyperostosis/cribra orbitalia frequencies were significantly higher at Toqua than at Averbuch or the Mouse Creek Phase sites. Differential utilization of maize across the three populations or the erroneous association of these disease states necessarily with maize utilization were offered as possible explanations for the observed differences. A similar result in the periostitis frequency comparison was explained in terms of the greater length of occupation, more dense settlement distribution, and more central location of the Toqua site, resulting in higher possibilities of bacterial infection. Finally, genetic relationships between these populations were explored via a canonical discriminant analysis of selected Toqua, Averbuch and Mouse Creek Phase site crania using eight craniofacial measurements. Biological relatedness was suggested between many of the Mouse Creek crania and the Toqua crania. Mouse Creek Phase and Toqua male crania showed similarities to each other, while crania from Mouse Creek Phase, Toqua and Averbuch females exhibited distinct differences. No evidence was found suggesting a close Mouse Creek Phase-Averbuch cranial association. These results, in combination with available archaeological data, strongly question the Mouse Creek-Middle Cumberland connection established by Lewis and Kneberg

TEACHER EVALUATIONS, PBIS IMPLEMENTATION, AND STUDENT OUTCOMES

This study explored the relationship between the Mississippi Department of Education’s (MDE) Professional Growth System school-wide Teacher Growth Rubric (TGR) score averages by standard and student academic and behavioral outcomes (i.e. state assessment scores, discipline referrals, suspensions, attendance.). The study also examined the relationship among Schoolwide Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (SWPBIS) implementation fidelity, MDE TGR scores, and student outcomes. Twenty-seven schools were selected to participate in the study. Fifteen of the schools were implementing with fidelity during the 2021-2022 school year, as measured by the Tiered Fidelity Inventory (TFI), and twelve schools were not implementing SWPBIS during the 2021-2022 school year. Results found significant relationships between some MDE TGR standards and student outcomes. Additionally, the results showed that schools implementing SWPBIS to fidelity had more positive student behavioral outcomes but lower academic and overall MDE TGR average scores. Future research with larger samples is recommended to further explore the impact of teacher evaluations and SWPBIS on teacher and student outcomes and inform the development of teacher evaluation tools

A Functional Model for Masticatory-Related Mandibular, Dental, and Craniofacial Microevolutionary Change Derived From a Selected Southeastern Indian Skeletal Temporal Series

In the present study, 66 metric as well as numerous morphological observations are utilized from 299 individuals representing a skeletal temporal series (Archaic, Woodland, Mississippian) from West, Middle, and East Tennessee. These groups reflect a documented subsistence shift from a relatively hard-textured, hunting and gathering Archaic to a soft-textured, Mississippian agricultural diet. Mandibular, craniofacial, and mandibular anterior dental dimensions are compared within and between these groups in order to evaluate a model of masticatory-related diachronic change in the mandibular complex. This model proposes strong correlations between mandibular, craniofacial, and mandibular anterior dental measurements within each group. Cumulative age-related functional stress is expected to be higher in the Archaic. Across the temporal groups, gracilization in linear dimensions of the mandible, lower face, and mandibular anterior teeth is predicted, as well as change in the size and orientation of masticatory muscles. Indications of functional (masticatory-related) skeletal stress in the mandible and lower face are expected to decrease through time. It is hypothesized that these changes are the result of the documented dietary shift noted above. Results indicate a fair amount of congruency with the model expectations. Intercorrelations between the 66 measurements are weaker than predicted; however, fairly strong relationships are noted between height of the mandible and face within both the Archaic and Mississippian. Mandibular measurement age variation is greater in the Archaic compared to the Mississippian. This difference is interpreted within the context of greater masticatory functional demands and thus cumulative stress for Archaic mandibles. Neither Archaic nor Mississippian facial dimensions vary significantly with age. Age-related dental variability is similar between the two groups. In the between-group (temporal) comparison, reductions in several linear dimensions of the mandible, lower face, and mandibular anterior dentition are documented through time. And, masticatory muscles become less robust and more posteriorly oriented. Many manifestations of skeletal masticatory-related stress (e.g., midfacial prognathism) reduce as well. Several dimensions (e.g., total mandibular length), however, increase across the temporal span. All of these results are used in a revision of the model of masticatory-related microevolutionary mandibular and craniofacial change

Effects of Rumination on Problem-Solving, Mood and Confidence in Post-natal

Previous studies have sought to investigate the effects of rumination and distraction on social problem-solving, mood and confidence of dysphoric and depressed individuals. The current study is aimed at extending this literature by examining the effects of rumination on parental problem-solving, mood and problem-solving confidence among dysphoric post-natal women. Fifty-nine post-natal women took part in the study and were allocated to either the dysphoric or control group based upon the Edinburgh Post-natal Depression Scale (Cox, Holden & Sagovsky, 1987). Women were asked to complete measures of mood, confidence and four problem-solving tasks following a rumination or distraction mood induction. Results indicated that dysphoric post-natal women induced to ruminate showed poorer problemsolving and lower mood than dysphoric women induced to distract and non-dysphoric women induced to distract or ruminate. No significant differences were seen in reported confidence levels for dysphoric post-natal women induced to ruminate than dysphoric women induced to distract and non-dysphoric women induced to distract or ruminate. Consideration is given to the clinical implications of these findings as well as the limitations and possibilities for future research

Obesity and undernutrition in sub-Saharan African immigrant and refugee children in Victoria, Australia

The study assessed the anthropometric status of 337 sub-Saharan African children aged between 3-12 years who migrated to Australia. These children were selected using a snowball sampling method stratified by age, gender and region of origin. The prevalence rates for overweight and obesity were 18.4% (95%CI: 14 - 23%) and 8.6% (95%CI: 6% -12%) respectively. The prevalence rates for the indicators of undernutrition were: wasting 4.3% (95%CI: 1.6%-9.1%), underweight 1.2% (95%CI: 0.3%-3.0%), and stunting 0.3 (95%CI: 0.0%-1.6%). Higher prevalence of overweight/obesity was associated with lower household income level, fewer siblings, lower birth weight, western African background, and single parent households (after controlling for demographic and socio-economic factors). Higher prevalence rates for underweight and wasting were associated with lower household income and shorter lengths of stay in Australia respectively. No effect was found for child\u27s age, gender, parental education and occupation for both obesity and undernutrition indices. In conclusion, obesity and overweight are very prevalent in SSA migrant children and undernutrition, especially wasting, was also not uncommon in this target group

Four genomic islands that mark post-1995 pandemic Vibrio parahaemolyticus isolates

BACKGROUND: Vibrio parahaemolyticus is an aquatic, halophilic, Gram-negative bacterium, first discovered in 1950 in Japan during a food-poisoning outbreak. Infections resulting from consumption of V. parahaemolyticus have increased globally in the last 10 years leading to the bacterium's classification as a newly emerging pathogen. In 1996 the first appearance of a pandemic V. parahaemolyticus clone occurred, a new O3:K6 serotype strain that has now been identified worldwide as a major cause of seafood-borne gastroenteritis. RESULTS: We examined the sequenced genome of V. parahaemolyticus RIMD2210633, an O3:K6 serotype strain isolated in Japan in 1996, by bioinformatic analyses to uncover genomic islands (GIs) that may play a role in the emergence and pathogenesis of pandemic strains. We identified 7 regions ranging in size from 10 kb to 81 kb that had the characteristics of GIs such as aberrant base composition compared to the core genome, presence of phage-like integrases, flanked by direct repeats and the absence of these regions from closely related species. Molecular analysis of worldwide clinical isolates of V. parahaemolyticus recovered over the last 33 years demonstrated that a 24 kb region named V. parahaemolyticus island-1 (VPaI-1) encompassing ORFs VP0380 to VP0403 is only present in new O3:K6 and related strains recovered after 1995. We investigated the presence of 3 additional regions, VPaI-4 (VP2131 to VP2144), VPaI-5 (VP2900 to VP2910) and VPaI-6 (VPA1254 to VPA1270) by PCR assays and Southern blot analyses among the same set of V. parahaemolyticus isolates. These 3 VPaI regions also gave similar distribution patterns amongst the 41 strains examined. CONCLUSION: The 4 VPaI regions examined may represent DNA acquired by the pandemic group of V. parahaemolyticus isolates that increased their fitness either in the aquatic environment or in their ability to infect humans

Finding Function in the Unknown

Through high-throughput RNA sequencing (RNAseq), transcriptomes for a single cell, tissue, or organism(s) can be ascertained at a high resolution. While a number of bioinformatic tools have been developed for transcriptome analyses, significant challenges exist for studies of non-model organisms. Without a reference sequence available, raw reads must first be assembled de novo followed by the tedious task of BLAST searches and data mining for functional information. We have created a pipeline, PyRanger, to automate this process. The pipeline includes functionality to assess a single transcriptome and also facilitate comparative transcriptomic studies

Observation of Amounts of Movement Practice Provided during Stroke Rehabilitation

Objective To investigate how much movement practice occurred during stroke rehabilitation, and what factors might influence doses of practice provided. Design Observational survey of stroke therapy sessions. Setting Seven inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation sites. Participants We observed a convenience sample of 312 physical and occupational therapy sessions for people with stroke. Interventions Not applicable. Main Outcome Measures We recorded numbers of repetitions in specific movement categories and data on potential modifying factors (patient age, side affected, time since stroke, FIM item scores, years of therapist experience). Descriptive statistics were used to characterize amounts of practice. Correlation and regression analyses were used to determine whether potential factors were related to the amount of practice in the 2 important categories of upper extremity functional movements and gait steps. Results Practice of task-specific, functional upper extremity movements occurred in 51% of the sessions that addressed upper limb rehabilitation, and the average number of repetitions/session was 32 (95% confidence interval [CI]=20–44). Practice of gait occurred in 84% of sessions that addressed lower limb rehabilitation and the average number of gait steps/session was 357 (95% CI=296–418). None of the potential factors listed accounted for significant variance in the amount of practice in either of these 2 categories. Conclusions The amount of practice provided during poststroke rehabilitation is small compared with animal models. It is possible that current doses of task-specific practice during rehabilitation are not adequate to drive the neural reorganization needed to promote function poststroke optimally