Exploring The Challenges Of School Counseling: Voices From Rural Alaska

Thesis (Ph.D.) University of Alaska Fairbanks, 2011School counselors in rural locations deal with many of the same issues and concerns of those in most urban areas, but have several additional challenges due to the geographic and demographic characteristics of their populations. The research in this dissertation investigated the specific challenges experienced by school counselors in the state of Alaska. All school counselors working in a rural public school were surveyed to determine what challenges they experienced, what resources they utilize, what additional resources they would like, and to discuss any information they believed would be helpful for a counselor about to enter the rural school setting. From the original 93 survey responses, 24 counselors were interviewed to provide further depth to the investigation. Analysis revealed similar challenges as discussed previously in the literature regarding rural counselor practice, but highlighted crisis situations, isolation variables, limited community resources, multiple roles, rural culture issues, and cultural issues. Alaska school counselors currently utilize a variety of resources to help them address the concerns in their communities. They did not request anything different than the resources they currently access, but rather wanted more of those resources. Recommendations are made for school counselors, school districts, state organizations, and counselor education training institutes

Investigations on acetone vapour photoluminescence for applications in molecular tagging techniques

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Nucleic-Acid Based Lateral Flow Strip Biosensor via Competitive Binding for Possible Dengue Detection

A low-cost, simple, rapid and selective nucleic-acid based lateral flow strip biosensor (LFSB) for possible dengue viral RNA detection is described in this study. The detection is based on competitive binding, where gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), with average size of ~10 nm confirmed using UV-Vis, TEM and AFM images, are used as visualizing agents. These are bioconjugated with DNA which competitively binds with its complementary strand either in the sample or in the test line of the LFSB. The detection scheme reduces the number of probes which effectively lowers the cost for the design of the test strip. The whole test took less than five minutes to complete and a red line signifies a negative result, while the absence of the line signifies a positive result. Quantification of the intensity of the red band reveals proportionality of the color to the amount of DNA present in the sample. The visual limit of detection of the LFSB is 10-7 M. It demonstrates selectivity in a blood matrix and selectivity over a synthetic Influenza. This study brings us closer to an amplification-free, point-of-care method for dengue detection

Effect Of Gender And Lifestyle Behaviors On BMI Trends In A Sample Of The First State’s Undergraduate Population

The 2010 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report indicates that 63.4% of Delaware’s adult population is overweight and 28% is obese. Here, the authors reveal analyses acquired from detailed investigations about the importance of gender, and other lifestyle factors and behaviors on the Body Mass Index (BMI) trends amongst an indiscriminate sample of the Wesley College (Wesley) undergraduate population. A 25-question paper-format survey was distributed to 307 randomly chosen Wesley undergraduates. The accrued qualitative (or categorical) data were transferred to an Excel spreadsheet to construct and observe frequency distributions. A Chi-square test of independence (?2) was performed between BMI status (normal, overweight, obese) and the following factors: gender, diet plan, adherence to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) MyPlate nutrition guide, use of the seasonal flu shot, weekly workout schedule, supplement usage, participation on athletic teams, questioning of label nutritional facts, and the use of added salt in food. A 2-sample proportion test was performed between students who were overweight or obese for the same factors. Also performed were t-tests for mean BMI for those who followed USDA MyPlate guidelines and for those who did not. An analysis of 278 completed surveys show that 29.5% of the Wesley respondents are overweight and 19.8% are obese. The mean BMI for males was statistically higher than the mean BMI for females. The mean BMI for students living on-campus was statistically higher than the mean BMI for students living off-campus. The results also demonstrate that adhering to the USDA dietary recommendations for fruit and dairy can be important factors in reducing the risk of obesity.

Molecular tagging velocimetry for confined rarefied gas flows: Phosphorescence emission measurements at low pressure

International audienceRarefied gas flows have a central role in microfluidic devices for many applications in various scientific fields. Local thermodynamic non-equilibrium at the wall-gas interface produces macroscopic effects, one of which is a velocity slip between the gas flow and the solid surface. Local experimental data able to shed light on this physical phenomenon are very limited in the literature. The molecular tagging velocimetry (MTV) could be a suitable technique for measuring velocity fields in gas micro flows. However, the implementation of this technique in the case of confined and rarefied gas flows is a difficult task: the reduced number of molecules in the system, which induces high diffusion, and the low concentration of the molecular tracer both drastically reduce the intensity and the duration of the exploitable signal for carrying out the velocity measures. This work demonstrates that the application of the 1D-MTV by direct phosphorescence to gas flows in the slip flow regime and in a rectangular long channel is, actually, possible. New experimental data on phosphorescence emission of acetone and diacetyl vapors at low pressures are presented. An analysis of the optimal excitation wavelength is carried out to maximize the intensity and the lifetime of the tracer emission. The experimental results demonstrate that a little concentration of about 5-10 % of acetone vapor excited at 310 nm or of diacetyl vapor excited at 410 nm in a helium mixture at pressures on the order of 1 kPa provides an intense and durable luminescent signal. In a 1-mm deep channel, a gas flow characterized by these thermodynamic conditions is in the slip flow regime. Moreover, numerical experiments based on DSMC simulations are carried out to demonstrate that an accurate measurement of the velocity profile in a laminar pressure-driven flow is possible for the rarefied conditions of interest

Computational study of a novel Knudsen pump design exploiting drilling and 3D printing techniques in low thermal conductivity materials

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Molecular Adhesion between Cartilage Extracellular Matrix Macromolecules

In this study, we investigated the molecular adhesion between the major constituents of cartilage extracellular matrix, namely, the highly negatively charged proteoglycan aggrecan and the type II/IX/XI fibrillar collagen network, in simulated physiological conditions. Colloidal force spectroscopy was applied to measure the maximum adhesion force and total adhesion energy between aggrecan end-attached spherical tips (end radius R ≈ 2.5 μm) and trypsin-treated cartilage disks with undamaged collagen networks. Studies were carried out in various aqueous solutions to reveal the physical factors that govern aggrecan–collagen adhesion. Increasing both ionic strength and [Ca2+] significantly increased adhesion, highlighting the importance of electrostatic repulsion and Ca2+-mediated ion bridging effects. In addition, we probed how partial enzymatic degradation of the collagen network, which simulates osteoarthritic conditions, affects the aggrecan–collagen interactions. Interestingly, we found a significant increase in aggrecan–collagen adhesion even when there were no detectable changes at the macro- or microscales. It is hypothesized that the aggrecan–collagen adhesion, together with aggrecan–aggrecan self-adhesion, works synergistically to determine the local molecular deformability and energy dissipation of the cartilage matrix, in turn, affecting its macroscopic tissue properties.National Science Foundation (U.S.) (Grant CMMI-0758651)National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (Grant AR60331)United States. Dept. of Defense (National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship (Grant N00244-09-1-0064))Shriners of North AmericaDrexel University (Faculty Start-up Grant

Relationship between enamel fluorosis severity and fluoride content

OBJECTIVES: Enamel fluorosis is a hypomineralization caused by chronic exposure to high levels of fluoride during tooth development. Previous research on the relationship between enamel fluoride content and fluorosis severity has been equivocal. The current study aimed at comparing visually and histologically assessed fluorosis severity with enamel fluoride content. METHODS: Extracted teeth (n=112) were visually examined using the Thylstrup and Fejerskov Index for fluorosis. Eruption status of each tooth was noted. Teeth were cut into 100 μm slices to assess histological changes with polarized light microscopy. Teeth were categorized as sound, mild, moderate, or severe fluorosis, visually and histologically. They were cut into squares (2 × 2 mm) for the determination of fluoride content (microbiopsy) at depths of 30, 60 and 90 μm from the external surface. RESULTS: Erupted teeth with severe fluorosis had significantly greater mean fluoride content at 30, 60 and 90 μm than sound teeth. Unerupted teeth with mild, moderate and severe fluorosis had significantly greater mean fluoride content than sound teeth at 30 μm; unerupted teeth with mild and severe fluorosis had significantly greater mean fluoride content than sound teeth at 60 μm, while only unerupted teeth severe fluorosis had significantly greater mean fluoride content than sound teeth at 90 μm. CONCLUSIONS: Both erupted and unerupted severely fluorosed teeth presented higher mean enamel fluoride content than sound teeth. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Data on fluoride content in enamel will further our understanding of its biological characteristics which play a role in the management of hard tissue diseases and conditions

Behandlung komorbider Störungen, Syndrome und Symptome der Posttraumatischen Belastungsstörung nach Missbrauchserfahrungen in der Kindheit mit STAIR-NT. Klinische Empfehlungen und Herausforderungen

Background: Early interpersonal traumatic events, such as childhood maltreatment, increase the risk of developing complex posttraumatic stress symptoms. The biphasic treatment program STAIR-NT (Skills Training for Affective and Interpersonal Regulation with Narrative Therapy), developed specifically for this patient group, combines interventions to improve emotion regulation and interpersonal skills with narrative therapy. Objective: Many affected patients with PTSD after childhood maltreatment also suffer from various comorbid mental disorders and symptoms that can affect and impede the course and outcome of treatment with STAIR-NT. Method: Based on experience from a current treatment study, we provide recommendations for integrating treatment of comorbid mental symptoms into STAIR-NT. Results / Conclusion: Training affective and interpersonal regulation skills in the first treatment phase offers various interventions to efficiently adapt transdiagnostic mechanisms such as emotion dysregulation. In cases of severe comorbid mental disorders or symptoms, adding disorder-specific interventions to STAIR-NT may be indicated.Hintergrund: Frühe interpersonelle traumatische Erfahrungen, wie Misshandlung und Missbrauch in Kindheit und Jugend, erhöhen das Risiko eine komplexe posttraumatische Belastungssymptomatik zu entwickeln. Das zwei-phasische Therapieprogramm STAIR-NT (Skillstraining zur affektiven und interpersonellen Regulation mit narrativer Therapie), das speziell für diese Gruppe von Patient_innen entwickelte wurde, kombiniert Interventionen zur Verbesserung der Emotionsregulation und der interpersonellen Fähigkeiten mit einer narrativen Therapie. Fragestellung: Viele der Betroffenen mit einer PTBS nach Misshandlung und Missbrauch in der Kindheit leiden unter einer Vielzahl komorbider psychischer Symptome, die den Verlauf und das Ergebnis der Behandlung mit STAIR-NT beeinflussen und behindern können. Methode: Basierend auf den Erfahrungen aus einer aktuellen Therapiestudie werden hier Empfehlungen für die Integration der Behandlung komorbider psychischer Symptomatik in STAIR-NT gegeben. Ergebnis / Schlussfolgerung: Vor allem das Training affektiver und interpersoneller Regulationsfähigkeiten in der ersten Therapiephase bietet vielfältige Interventionen zur Veränderung störungsübergreifender Mechanismen wie Emotionsdysregulation. Bei besonders schwerwiegender komorbider Symptomatik kann die zusätzliche Anwendung von störungsspezifischen Interventionen zur STAIR-NT indiziert sein