The Calumet Area Hazardous Substance Data Base : A User's Guide with Documentation

HWRIC Project 88/89-055NTIS PB90-25193

Guidelines and Methods for Conducting Porperty Transfer Site Histories

HWRIC Project 90-077NTIS PB91-10508

Functional cooperation of xenoproteins after hamster‐to‐rat liver transplantation: With particular reference to hamster C3 and secretory component for rat IgA

Abstract: Long‐term survival after hamster‐to‐rat liver xenotransplantation has provided the opportunity to study the posttransplantation source of major serum proteins and the functional consequences of several different receptor‐ligand interactions, where one or the other is a xenogeneic protein. We report here that serum albumin, α‐1‐antitrypsin, complement component 3, and other acute phase reactants switch from recipient to donor origin during the first week after transplantation while serum immunoglobulins remain largely that of recipient. Despite the disparate source of complement (hamster) and immunoglobulins (rat), these two proteins were able to cooperate effectively to produce lysis of sheep red blood cells. Moreover, rat IgA was successfully processed by hamster hepatocytes and biliary epithelial cells, being present in the bile of successful liver xenograft recipients within one day after transplantation. The ability of these liver xenograft recipients to survive long‐term in conventional and viral‐free animal facilities without grossly obvious morbidity or unusual susceptibility to stress, suggests that xenogeneic proteins are able to successfully interact with several different physiologic I systems in the hamster‐to‐rat combination. © 1995 Munksgaar

Theater as an intervention for prejudice reduction: Primary and secondary transfer effects of intergroup contact

Prejudice continues to be a persistent social problem that results in discrimination, inequalities, and violence. Much basic and applied research have been done on ways to reduce prejudice with the most common theory studied being intergroup contact theory, which says that positive contact between group members can improve intergroup relations. Since Gordon Allport proposed the theory almost 70 years ago, researchers have grown the theory and found spillover effects in prejudice reduction to other groups. One understudied area is research into using plays or theater as a vehicle for prejudice reduction (i.e., indirect contact). Building on this literature on direct and indirect intergroup contact, the current study examined if attending live theater may reduce prejudice and raise positive attitudes toward the group portrayed in the play, and generalize to other groups that were not contacted in the play (i.e., secondary transfer effect). Specifically, we assessed people’s attitudes before (Time 1) and after (Time 2) they watched a play about immigrants (experimental condition) vs an unrelated topic (control condition).37 White American participants participated in study, however considering the very small sample size we had to conduct only non-parametric test, showing no differences between participants attitudes towards multiple social groups. Considering this major limitation, we cannot make any conclusions from the current study and further research is needed to test the hypothesized effects.O preconceito continua a ser um problema social persistente que resulta em discriminação, desigualdades, e violência. Tem sido feita muita investigação básica e aplicada sobre as diferentes formas de reduzir preconceitos, sendo a teoria do contacto intergrupal, que diz que o contacto positivo entre grupos socias pode melhorar as relações intergrupais, uma das mais estudadas. Desde que Gordon Allport propôs a teoria há quase 70 anos, os investigadores desenvolveram a teoria e encontraram efeitos mais alargados da redução dos preconceitos para outros grupos. Estudos recentes sugerem que a utilização de peças de teatro como veículo de redução de preconceito (ou seja, contacto indirecto). Com base na literatura sobre o contacto directo e indirecto, o presente estudo examinou se, assistir ao teatro ao vivo pode reduzir o preconceito e melhorar as atitudes em relação ao grupo representado na peça, bem como generalizar a outros grupos que não foram referidos na peça (ou seja, o efeito secundário de transferência). Especificamente, examinamos as atitudes das pessoas antes (Tempo 1) e depois (Tempo 2) de assistirem a uma peça sobre imigrantes (condição experimental) versus um tópico não relacionado (condição de controlo). 37 participantes americanos brancos participaram no estudo, no entanto, considerando o tamanho muito pequeno da amostra, tivemos de realizar apenas testes não paramétricos, não mostrando diferenças entre as atitudes dos participantes em relação a múltiplos grupos sociais. Tendo em conta estas grandes limitações, não podemos tirar quaisquer conclusões do estudo actual e é necessária mais investigação para testar os efeitos hipotéticos

Examining Another Source of Recruitment for Agriculture Education Teachers

The school-based agricultural education (SBAE) profession has been suffering with a shortage of qualified agriculture teachers for more than 40 years (Smith, Lawver, & Foster, 2016; Kantrovich, 2010). Each year, agriculture programs across the country are unable to find enough qualified agriculture teachers to meet the demand, and some agriculture programs have shut down as a result. This shortage has led to the inability for programs to grow and expand, which means less opportunities for students preparing for careers in agriculture and STEM related fields. For years the main method of recruiting agricultural teachers has been through focusing on students enrolled in SBAE programs. However, there are some who make their way into the agricultural education profession who themselves never enrolled in agricultural courses or participated in the FFA in their high school years (henceforth referred to as non-SBAE students). Despite this, there is a dearth of literature exploring this segment of the population in terms of a viable recruitment option. Little is known about the motivations, opportunities, and factors that influence non-SBAE students to pursue a career in agricultural education. The goals of this phenomenological study are to address recruitment by 1) exploring the factors influencing non-SBAE pre-service teachers to pursue a career in agricultural education; and 2) examine the unique challenges that non-SBAE pre-service teachers face as they pursue a career in agricultural education. This qualitative study will use a phenomenological research design in order to identify the factors that influence the choices of non-SBAE pre-service teachers in seeking a career in agricultural education

The Impact of Chronic Stress, Traumatic Experiences and Genes on Behavior

Chronic unpredictable stress (CUS) alters neurotransmission and remodels neural circuits involved in learning, attention and decision making. Glial-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) is essential for the function of neurons. Regulation of GDNF during stress is linked to resiliency while the inability to regulate it causes behavioral alterations. We investigated the effects of CUS on latent inhibition (LI), a measure of selective attention expressed in this model as freezing behavior

A NEEDS-BASED CANADA HEALTH TRANSFER: DRAWING LESSONS FROM AUSTRALIA

Medicare in Canada is a federally and provincially funded public service. The federal government provides financial assistance to the provinces for Medicare through the Canada Health Transfer (CHT), which, along with the other federal transfers (Canada Social Transfer and Equalization), intends to correct the country’s vertical fiscal gap. The federal government has an important role in Medicare, which is to work with the provinces to ensure all Canadians have access to Medicare and to ensure a national standard of Medicare (Government of Canada 1982; Senate 2002). In 2014, the federal government unilaterally amended the CHT formula to an equal-per-capita distribution. This change means the provinces receive their CHT portion based exclusively on their percentage of the national population. The change makes it more difficult for some provincial governments to provide comparable levels of Medicare services because of their relatively lower fiscal capacity and higher medical needs of their populations. A potential way to recognize the inherent differences between provinces and territories is to allocate the CHT based on need. Compared with the simple equal-per-capita allocation, a needs-based formula (NBF) is a fairer allocation of finite resources based on distribution of health needs, but it presents a number of problems. Distributing resources based on need may create inefficiencies or lack transparency because a more complex formula may create unintended consequences, resulting in moral hazards and perverse incentives (a perverse incentive is the negative result of an otherwise good intension). A needs-based CHT formula is likely to succeed only when it properly balances equity, efficiency, and transparency criteria. An equitable, efficient, and transparent formula composition can help an NBF succeed in upholding a national standard, but whether an NBF is feasible depends on the institutional, fiscal, and political context of Canada. Policy makers interested in designing an NBF can look to other countries that use an NBF. However, current literature focuses on formula composition and fails to explain why countries have differing formulas. This study first attempts to fill the gap in the literature by proposing a framework to develop an NBF. Second, the study uses a comparative analysis to understand the historical context of Canada and Australia in developing their respective federal health-transfer programs. Through these analyses, this study aims to answer one question: is it possible to implement a needs-based formula for CHT that is equitable but also minimizes perverse incentives? This study finds that an ideal NBF formula for CHT that meets the criteria of equity, efficiency, and transparency should include age structure, sex, and location of populations. Through the comparative study of Australia and Canada, the study finds that it is possible to implement an NBF formula that considers age structure, sex, and location of populations. However, feasibility of such an NBF in Canada is dependent on establishing a collaborative relationship between the federal, provincial, and territorial governments. In spite of the decentralized fiscal power and regional divides in Canada, it is possible for the governments to collaborate given the strong national support for the Medicare system. Canadians value their Medicare system, which they see as a supranational program that transcends regional interests, and desire to see their governments work together to ensure equitable access to Medicare services. To meet the expectations of Canadians and safeguard Medicare, the federal and provincial governments could adopt the Australian approach and collaborate through a formal body like the Commonwealth Grants Commission or the Council of Australian Governments. By working together through these formal bodies, there is a chance that Canada could adopt an NBF for the CHT, secure a national standard of Medicare, and support the values Canadians have for their Medicare system

An Experimental Test of an Online Growth Mindset Intervention: Challenging College Students\u27 Beliefs about VAK Learning Styles

At post-secondary institutions, student attrition and graduation rates are of great concern. One contributing factor could be a student’s belief in inaccurate information about the brain and human cognition (a neuromyth). Previous studies have shown among teachers, college graduates, and pre-service teachers the prevalence of neuromyth beliefs – the most rampant being the visual, auditory, and kinesthetic (VAK) learning styles myth. Though studies have hinted at some possible negative effects of holding the VAK learning styles myth, none have systematically investigated the matter. Therefore, the purpose of this mixed-methods experimental study was to expose college students’ misconceptions about learning, investigate outcomes to learning for those that believe the VAK myth, and to test the efficacy of a growth mindset intervention designed to correct the VAK misconception. The sample of college students (N = 231) were recruited from an introductory psychology course and randomly assigned to one of two conditions. In both conditions, groups experienced a 20-minute online learning module; however, the treatment group specifically learned about research on neuroplasticity, why learning styles are a myth, and cognitive strategies to improve learning. All participants completed pre- and posttests to assess their beliefs about the brain and neuromyths. The belief in VAK learning styles was highly prevalent in this sample, but intervention had a strong effect on changing college students’ incorrect beliefs. When prompted to describe outcomes of the VAK belief, students most often report limited strategies for learning, poor performance, lack of engagement, and perceived failure

Groundwater-Dependent Ecosystems in Southeastern Utah: An Integrated Analysis of Hydrology, Ecology, and Landscape Change

In Southeastern Utah, springs play a critical role in sustaining groundwater-dependent ecosystems (GDEs) in a semi-arid environment. However, they remain understudied and face growing threats from climate change, land use modifications, and hydrologic alterations. This study addresses knowledge gaps in spring occurrence, hydrologic function, and ecological condition by integrating field surveys, remote sensing, and geospatial analysis across multiple spatial scales. It provides a comprehensive assessment of spring hydrology, water quality, and ecological conditions using field surveys, remote sensing, and GIS analysis to establish a foundational baseline of GDE resources in the region. I applied a multi-scale monitoring approach across the La Sal and Abajo Mountains, covering 59 HUC-12 subwatersheds from 2020 to 2024. During this period, inventory and measurements were taken for water quality, discharge, vegetation composition, disturbances, and developments. A total of 382 previously undocumented springs were discovered across the La Sal and Abajo Mountain ranges, which brought the total number of known springs to 597. For discharge measurements, the results show that higher-elevation springs that emerge from unconsolidated sediments where snowpack is greatest, exhibit the highest flow rates. These springs typically emerge at the base of steep slopes where unconsolidated materials meet finer sediments with silts and clay particles. By contrast, most springs have significantly lower discharge rates and originate from precipitation that infiltrates coarse or fractured sedimentary aquifers. As the water percolates downward through these coarse sedimentary formations, it encounters lower permeable geologic formations or aquitards, which causes water to move laterally until it emerges at the surface as a spring. Using a combination of field-verified spring locations, geologic mapping, and topographic analysis, this study delineated the recharge areas and discharge zones, which helped identify the boundaries of the major aquifer systems within the La Sal and Abajo Mountains. The resulting aquifer maps will provide spatially explicit guidance for future surface management actions aimed at protecting groundwater. Vegetation composition was surveyed across spring sites to evaluate ecological integrity and wetland condition, with particular focus on wetland indicator species as a proxy for hydrologic permanence and ecological resilience. GDEs with a greater proportion of wetland indicator species were interpreted as having a more robust wetland function and greater resistance to disturbances. In addition to dominant GDE vegetation, broader landscape-scale vegetation types surrounding each GDE were also assessed to contextualize site condition within the larger ecological setting. As part of this study, a Water Quality Index (WQI) was developed to quantify and compare spring water quality across varying geologic and ecological settings. The WQI showed that lithology and elevation are interconnected within this region and have the largest influence on water quality. Springs at lower elevations tend to have higher salinity, conductivity, and TDS, which is attributed to longer water residence time within more soluble sediments. In contrast, there appears to be much higher quality of water within formations consistent of intrusive igneous, crystalline rocks. Other factors that play a role in water quality were shown to be livestock and ungulate use within spring sites. Sites highly affected by ungulate and livestock use had higher TDS, specific conductivity and lower dissolved oxygen (DO), but showed to be only statistically significant within the La Sal Mountains. To complement field-based measurements and extend the spatial scope of this study, remote sensing and geospatial analysis were used to investigate broader landscape patterns. Normalized Differential Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Normalized Differential Moisture Index (NDMI) served three main purposes in this study. 1) A tool for identifying undocumented GDE’s: While the remote sensing test did identify very large GDE’s, the 30m resolution of Landsat imagery was far too coarse for accurately detecting the majority of springs. 2) To determine the landscape-scale vegetation response to precipitation variability and determine correlations: The analysis showed a very weak and insignificant correlation between same-year precipitation and vegetation production or greenness. A one-year delayed correlation slightly improved the correlation between precipitation and greenness in the Abajo Mountains. This increased delayed correlation could suggest that groundwater storage and soil moisture retention play a larger role in vegetation trends than annual precipitation alone. 3) To test and determine if grazing has a significant effect on landscape-scale NDVI values between grazed allotments and ungrazed control allotments: A statistical comparison of NDVI between the grazed and ungrazed allotment from 1999 to 2024 showed no statistically significant difference in mean NDVI values. Beyond individual spring sites, a broad livestock pressure analysis was conducted using a Livestock Impact Index (LLI), which used a combination of factors such as stocking density, days of use, precipitation-weighted average, and availability of water sources. The index incorporated data from 1999 to 2024, and the primary purpose for it was to assist land managers and range conservationists on which allotments may have the potential for most livestock impacts within GDE’s. Lastly, this study used spatial interpolation to show long-term precipitation and temperature trends from 1999 to 2024. Data show that the La Sal Mountains receive an average of 21.4 inches of precipitation annually, while the Abajo Mountains receive 18.4 inches. The highest recorded precipitation occurred in 2015, and the lowest in 2020. A slight decrease in precipitation was observed, with reductions of 19 millimeters per decade in the La Sals and 9 millimeters per decade in the Abajos, though interannual variability remains the dominant factor. Temperature trends show a slight warming, with mean annual temperatures of 7.6°C in the La Sals and 8.3°C in the Abajos. The warmest year was 2017, while the coldest were 2011 (La Sals) and 2008 (Abajos). Temperature increases of 0.017°C per decade in the La Sals and 0.161°C per decade in the Abajos were observed