Community of Practice: Supervisor-Mentors Supporting Supervisor-Mentors

Peer support for people who are supervising mentor

Excellence in Supervision: Literature Review

This essay identifies and reviews the literature on supervision since 1993 that have been significant to current members of AFTE

Ingested placenta blocks the effect of morphine on gut transit in Long–Evans rats

Opioids produce antinociception, and ingested placenta or amniotic fluid modifies that antinociception. More specifically, ingested placenta enhances the antinociception produced by selective activation of central n-opioid or y-opioid receptors but attenuates that produced by activation of central A-opioid receptors. Opioids also slow gut transit by acting on central or peripheral A-opioid receptors. Therefore, we hypothesized that ingested placenta would reverse the slowing of gut transit that is produced by morphine, a preferential A-opioid-receptor agonist. Rats were injected with morphine either centrally or systemically and fed placenta, after which gastrointestinal transit was evaluated. We report here that ingested placenta reversed the slowing of gut transit produced by centrally administered morphine but did not affect the slowing of gut transit produced by systemically administered morphine. These results suggest another likely consequence of placentophagia at parturition in mammals—reversal of opioid-mediated, pregnancy-based disruption of gastrointestinal function—as well as an important consideration in opioid-based treatments for pain in humans—enhancement of desirable effects with attenuation of adverse effects

Ingested bovine amniotic fluid enhances morphine antinociception in rats

Ingestion by rats of rat placenta or amniotic fluid enhances opioid-mediated, or partly opioid-mediated, antinociception produced by morphine injection, vaginal or cervical stimulation, late pregnancy, and foot shock. This phenomenon is believed to be produced by a placental\ud opioid-enhancing factor (POEF). Ingestion by rats of human or dolphin placenta has also been shown to enhance opioid antinociception, suggesting that POEF may be common to many mammalian species. We tested bovine amniotic fluid (BAF) for its capacity to enhance morphine antinociception in female Long-Evans rats, as determined by percentage change from baseline tail-flick latency in response to radiant heat, and we report that 0.50 mL BAF effectively enhanced morphine antinociception but did not by itself produce antinociception. The efficacy of POEF across species suggests that POEF may have been functionally (and structurally) conserved during evolution. Furthermore, the availability of POEF at parturition, as well as its ability to enhance pregnancy-mediated antinociception without\ud disrupting maternal behavior, offers a tenable explanation for the long-debated ultimate causality of placentophagia

The Ontological Miseducation and Ontological Reeducation of African Americans: Race, Resistance and Transformation

Carter G. Woodson’s insight that “If you can control a man's thinking you do not have to worry about his action” inspired this dissertation, which critically studies theories of miseducation by Woodson (1933), Jane Roland Martin (2002, 2011), Marcus Garvey (Martin 1976/1986, Brotz, 1999), John Dewey (1916, 1938), Patricia Hill Collins (2009), Franz Fanon (1952/1967, 1959/1965, 1963/2004), Anna Julia Cooper (1892/1989), Paulo Freire (1970/2011, 1974), Noam Chomsky (2000) and William Deresiewicz (2014). This interdisciplinary study re-interprets Ralph Ellison’s life (1919-1994) and his novel Invisible Man (1952/1955) to frame a theory of ontological miseducation (OM), a debilitating hidden curriculum defined by obstacles of indoctrination and control, invisibility, passivity, inability to self-define, zero-sum fallacy, embrace of isms, inflated self-worth, and lack of awareness. Ellison’s work captures the racial relationships that are central to both those “obstructions” of OM and these “beneficials” of ontological reeducation (OR): vision, freedom of thought, affirmation, self-definition, community, humanity, humility and empathy, awareness. This dissertation asks how different individuals and populations, specifically African Americans, have overcome OM’s debilitating impact. How might OM’s targets come to experience the liberating effects of the “beneficials” associated with OR? This inquiry concerning different aspects of OM therefore also analyzes historical cases where African Americans have successfully challenged their own OM and in the process, actually have claimed their OR. This dissertation concludes by offering strategies to engage contemporary populations in solutions that involve critical consciousness and critical resistance that are both necessary to facilitate their transition from OM to OR

Analytic Modeling of Pressurization and Cryogenic Propellant

An analytic model for pressurization and cryogenic propellant conditions during all mission phases of any liquid rocket based vehicle has been developed and validated. The model assumes the propellant tanks to be divided into five nodes and also implements an empirical correlation for liquid stratification if desired. The five nodes include a tank wall node exposed to ullage gas, an ullage gas node, a saturated propellant vapor node at the liquid-vapor interface, a liquid node, and a tank wall node exposed to liquid. The conservation equations of mass and energy are then applied across all the node boundaries and, with the use of perfect gas assumptions, explicit solutions for ullage and liquid conditions are derived. All fluid properties are updated real time using NIST Refprop.1 Further, mass transfer at the liquid-vapor interface is included in the form of evaporation, bulk boiling of liquid propellant, and condensation given the appropriate conditions for each. Model validation has proven highly successful against previous analytic models and various Saturn era test data and reasonably successful against more recent LH2 tank self pressurization ground test data. Finally, this model has been applied to numerous design iterations for the Altair Lunar Lander, Ares V Core Stage, and Ares V Earth Departure Stage in order to characterize Helium and autogenous pressurant requirements, propellant lost to evaporation and thermodynamic venting to maintain propellant conditions, and non-uniform tank draining in configurations utilizing multiple LH2 or LO2 propellant tanks. In conclusion, this model provides an accurate and efficient means of analyzing multiple design configurations for any cryogenic propellant tank in launch, low-acceleration coast, or in-space maneuvering and supplies the user with pressurization requirements, unusable propellants from evaporation and liquid stratification, and general ullage gas, liquid, and tank wall conditions as functions of time

African American Youth Decline to Extend Foster Care Despite Their Needs

AbstractIn the United States, African American children are disproportionately placed in foster care and experience a myriad of problems, including physical and emotional abuse. As a result, negative post-discharge outcomes are revealed in existing literature, such as substance abuse, unemployment, homelessness, sexual promiscuity, and mental health issues. The purpose of this generic qualitative inquiry was to explore the foster care experience from the perspective of African American foster care alumni. The goal was to understand why the decision is made not to extend foster care services, despite their ongoing needs for support and lack of preparation for adulthood. Ecological Systems Theory, person-in-environment, was the theoretical framework that guided this research. Virtual interviews were conducted to collect data from the 10 study participants, ages 18 to 25, who made the decision not to continue in foster care, despite the option to do so. GoToMeet.me was used to transcribe the interviews and Nvivo 12 was used to analyze the data, identify themes and patterns, and code the data. The results provided seven themes, phrases, and patterns that described the attitude and emotional vulnerability of this group. The themes that emerged in this research tended to include youth perceptions of trust in the services provided such as lack of inclusion in decisions that affected their well being, inconsistency of foster care system interventions and misinformation as well as self-doubt and lack of confidence in providing for self-post foster care. The findings suggest an ongoing need for emotional support, financial preparation, and other transitional living skills to improve adulthood readiness

EFSA Panel on Biological Hazards (BIOHAZ); Scientific Opinion on public health risks represented by certain composite products containing food of animal origin

This Opinion reviews the factors that affect microbial survival and growth in composite products, and in foods in general. It concludes that the main factors to be considered are: water activity, pH, temperature and duration of storage, processing, and intensity and duration of other non-thermal physical processes applied. Prevalence and concentration of the pathogens in food are important to determine the risk for consumers. The opinion presents a review of the quantitative microbiology models and databases that can be used to provide quantitative estimations of the impact of the above factors on the survival and growth of the main bacterial pathogens. In composite products, migration and diffusion of moisture and substances among the ingredients may change their physico-chemical parameters, particularly at the interfaces. Therefore, the assessment of the risk posed by composite products needs to consider the combinations of parameters most permissive to survival and growth of pathogens. Two complementary approaches are proposed for the identification and profiling of microbiological hazards in different specific composite products. The first one is based on past outbreaks and prevalence of hazards in the products and leads to the conclusion that the most frequent hazard-composite product combinations are Salmonella in cakes and bakery products. The second one consists in decision tools based on the impact on the pathogens of food composition and food processing. Categorisation of the risk for composite products requires information on their composition, processing and further handling, which can largely differ for foods belonging to the same category. Further conditions may influence the risk and should be verified, i.e. hygienic conditions during preparation of the composite products and their ingredients, shelf-life conditions, and reliability of cooking by consumers to inactivate pathogens. The decision tools developed apply to all composite products considered by the mandate, as well as to all other foods. © European Food Safety Authority, 201

A methodology for state and transitional analysis of the M1A2 Abrams driver's instrument panel

This thesis is an independent study to conduct a detailed problem analysis to determine if a methodology can be derived to map the states of the M1A2 simulator to specific doctrinal tasks. Specifically, what are Tactics, Techniques and Procedures (TTP); Crew Drills; and Battle Drills and can they be mapped to specific states of the M1A2 simulator? If so, then demonstrate such a methodology using a small subset of the M1A2 simulator stimuli and a given doctrinal task. Additionally, to identify problem areas associated with state to task mapping, such as 'state explosion' and recommend a possible solution. We conclude through our research that a methodology can be derived and have demonstrated that it is reasonable to take input in the form of stimuli from the driver's instrument panel and evaluate current state and anticipate future states within the context of a given tactical or training scenario.http://archive.org/details/amethodologyfors109455377Major, United States ArmyCaptain, United States ArmyApproved for public release; distribution is unlimited

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PATIENT PORTALS, ENGAGEMENT, AND OUTCOMES: IS HEALTH LITERACY AN IMPORTANT LINK?

The use of technology to enhance the health care experience was emphasized through the HITECH Act of 2009 and was reinforced by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services in stipulating meaningful use requirements. An important element of these requirements is the engagement of patients and families in their care. In response, healthcare facilities have taken steps to this demand by embracing health information technology like patient portals with the goal of increasing patient knowledge and engagement. The purpose of this review is to examine the broad use of patient portals by patients, and more specifically the importance of its patient education function in improving patient outcomes. We hope to understand if there is a causal relationship between patient engagement and providing education materials via patient portals. A search was conducted in PubMed and Cinahl for articles published in English between 2008-2018. Articles meeting the initial search criteria were kept for further review. After identifying and removing duplicates, the titles and abstracts of each article were reviewed to further narrow the list. The researchers then performed an extensive review of the remaining articles to determine which ones contribute to a better understanding of how patient portals influence patient engagement and outcomes. We included 18 studies that described the relationship between patient portal use and patient engagement with emphasis on patient education. Whether prior health literacy improved engagement and subsequently outcomes remained ambiguous. Research showed that patient portals as an educational tool were accepted and gave patients a heightened sense of self efficacy. While these factors could lead to better health outcomes, research also supported the idea that health literacy is a vital piece in improving patient engagement. One study stated that health literacy was a missing factor in a patient’s ability to understand information in patient portals. Lack of prior health literacy could negatively impact health outcomes. The usefulness of patient portals is apparent across the existing literature, but the factors that influence successful delivery and understanding of information in portals vary. There does seem to be a relationship between education through patient portals, increased engagement, and patient outcomes. Further research is needed to gain a clearer understanding of the role health literacy plays in this relationship