Summary of television viewing habits of 3,283 students in the vicinity of Greater Boston.

Thesis (M.V.C.)--Boston Universit

Pressure perturbations from geologic carbon sequestration: Area-of-review boundaries and borehole leakage driving forces

We investigate the possibility that brine could be displaced upward into potable water through wells. Because of the large volumes of CO2 to be injected, the influence of the zone of elevated pressure on potential conduits such as well boreholes could extend many kilometers from the injection site—farther than the CO2 plume itself. The traditional approach to address potential brine leakage related to fluid injection is to set an area of fixed radius around the injection well/zone and to examine wells and other potentially open pathways located in the “Area-of-Review” (AoR). This suggests that the AoR needs to be defined in terms of the potential for a given pressure perturbation to drive upward fluid flow in any given system rather than on some arbitrary pressure rise. We present an analysis that focuses on the changes in density/salinity of the fluids in the potentially leaking wellbore.Bureau of Economic Geolog

Treating Suicidality in African American Adolescents with Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy

Methods for preventing adolescent suicide are surveyed, and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is explored as a method for serving suicidal African American adolescents. Strengths, limitations, and compatibility of CBT with social work values are examined. Although CBT shows much promise in helping suicidal African American adolescents, research on the efficacy and effectiveness of CBT with this population is lacking. Suicide risk and protective factors and social inequities are evaluated as they relate to African American adolescents generally. In addition to relieving suicidal symptoms, CBT potentially could facilitate social liberation for this population

The Effect of Rurality and Region of Residence on the Receipt of Adjuvant Chemotherapy in Colon Cancer Patients: A Look at North Carolina

Social inequalities in cancer outcomes are well documented. The social determinants of these cancer disparities often include factors related to race, age, gender, social capital, socio-economic status, and environment. These determinants often work in combination to create or help sustain the disparities in cancer outcomes that appear to be widespread in the United States. One of the ways that social determinants create inequalities is by promoting differences in the quality of cancer treatment for different patient subgroups. For instance, there is some evidence that colon cancer patients who belong to disadvantaged races, who live in rural areas, or who have low socio-economic status receive recommended adjuvant chemotherapy (ACT) at lower rates than predominant social groups. 14 However, studies examining the link between these social factors and the quality of cancer treatment often offer conflicting results. This study examines the relationship between living in rural areas and the receipt of adjuvant chemotherapy for colon cancer patients in North Carolina. It also examines the relationship between region of residence in North Carolina and the probability of ACT receipt. Patient-level data was acquired from the North Carolina Central Cancer Registry (CCR) to answer the study questions. If a treatment disparity is found it may indicate the need for specific interventions to counter deficiencies in post-operative medical care for rural patients with colon cancer.Master of Public Healt

Generation Z, Learning Preferences, and Technology: An Academic Technology Framework Based on Enterprise Architecture

This work provides an overview of Generation X, Y (Millennials), and Z and their characteristics in academia. We present the ways that mobile technology is infused into their lifestyle. We reference how Generation Y and Z in particular expect technology to be integrated into their educational experience, as well as how it helps faculty to facilitate both synchronous and asynchronous learning. Furthermore, an overview is provided of how technology currently contributes to learning and provides a framework for how educators can better engage current students. The conceptual academic technology framework (ATF) put forth in this work will provide an immediate impact in several key areas. This framework enhances structure during course design, which may be based directly on learning outcomes and department/school objectives. It will also directly improve consistency in faculty/student communication by closely monitoring how changes in communication methods have evolved. Finally, we describe how to integrate technology in a meaningful way, in a manner that does not distract students while preparing them for careers in business

Effect of farm system and milk urea phenotype on milk yield and milk composition of dairy cows in Canterbury

To investigate the effect of farm system, and cow selection for milk urea nitrogen (MUN), on milk yield and milk composition, a farmlet study was carried out between October 2018 and May 2019 in Lincoln, Canterbury. A farm system with a low stocking rate and low N fertiliser input (LSR, 2.9 cows/ha) sown with a conventional ryegrass clover and plantain diverse pastures was compared with a farm system with a moderate stocking rate and moderate N fertiliser (MSR, 3.9 cows/ha) using conventional ryegrass and white clover pastures and supplementing 3 kg DM/cow/d as crushed barley grain. Each farmlet had total herd size of 40 mixed-age HF x J spring-calving dairy cows which included six cows selected solely for a high MUN or a low MUN. There was no effect of farm system on milk fat, protein or lactose content but MUN was lower in LSR compared with MSR. Milk production was also lower for LSR (466 vs 429±12.4 kg MS/cow/ha, P<0.05), owing to poorer quality diet in mid lactation. Cows selected for low MUN tended to produce less milk compared with high MUN cows (4478 vs 3987±174 kg/cow, P<0.10) though this was partially offset by increased protein content in milk of low MUN cows. Farm system and animal selection for MUN have a greater impact on milk yield than on milk composition

Contraceptive practices, preferences and barriers among abortion clients in North Carolina.

Objectives: Abortion clinics provide an ideal setting for women to receive contraceptive care because the women served may not have other contacts with the health system and are at risk for unintended pregnancies. The objective of this study was to understand practices, preferences, and barriers to use of contraception for women obtaining abortions at clinics in North Carolina. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey of abortion clients and facilities at 10 abortion clinics in North Carolina. We collected data on contraceptive availability at each clinic. We collected individual responses on women’s experiences obtaining contraception before the current pregnancy and their intentions for future use of contraception. Results: From October 2015 to February 2016, 376 client surveys were completed at 9 clinics, and 10 clinic surveys were completed. Almost one-third of women (29%) reported that they had wanted to use contraception in the last year but were unable. Approximately three-fourths of respondents (76%) stated that they intend to use contraception after this pregnancy. Approximately one-fifth of women stated that would like to use long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) after this abortion. Only the clinics that accepted insurance for abortion and other services provided LARC at the time of the abortion (40%). Conclusions: This study provides a unique, statewide view into the contraceptive barriers for women seeking abortion in North Carolina. Addressing the relatively high demand for LARC after abortion could help significantly reduce unintended pregnancy and recourse to abortion in North Carolina

Case studies of the application of the Certification Framework to two geologic carbon sequestration sites

We have developed a certification framework (CF) for certifying that the risks of geologic carbon sequestration (GCS) sites are below agreed-upon thresholds. The CF is based on effective trapping of CO2, the proposed concept that takes into account both the probability and impact of CO2 leakage. The CF uses probability estimates of the intersection of conductive faults and wells with the CO2 plume along with modeled fluxes or concentrations of CO2 as proxies for impacts to compartments (such as potable groundwater) to calculate CO2 leakage risk. In order to test and refine the approach, we applied the CF to (1) a hypothetical large-scale GCS project in the Texas Gulf Coast, and (2) WESTCARB's Phase III GCS pilot in the southern San Joaquin Valley, California

Identification and Characterization of Nitrogen Fixing Bacteria Associated with Kudzu Root Nodules

Pueraria montana, better known as kudzu, is an invasive species rapidly spreading throughout the southeastern United States. This plant can form root nodules which house nitrogen-fixing bacteria, allowing atmospheric nitrogen to be converted into biologically available forms of nitrogen for use by the plant host. Given the centrality of these bacteria to the spread of kudzu, isolates from nodules were characterized after collection from seven different locations across the metropolitan Atlanta area. Twenty-five isolates were grown on two different variants of nitrogen free media. Four different carbon sources were evaluated as well. Finally, growth under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions was investigated. Almost all isolates grew better under anaerobic conditions. Additionally, the carbon source and other components of the composition of the media affected growth. These data suggest significant metabolic diversity inside a relatively small geographic area posing questions about the relative contribution of nitrogen fixing bacteria to kudzu’s invasive expansion in this region. In addition, four possible “promiscuous ineffective” isolates were identified using data evaluating relative growth, possibly reflecting reduced nitrogen fixation and corresponding benefit to the host. The kudzu can be described as “promiscuous ineffective” because it allows nodulation of bacteria that have very poor nitrogen fixing capabilities. Two sequences, 16S rRNA and the gene nifD, were amplified from these four isolates. The 16S rRNA sequence reveals minor evolutionary diversity amongst isolates. Analysis of nifD reveals variations between isolates and some correspondence with an ability to fix nitrogen. With these data, further characterization of the “promiscuous ineffective” isolates may reveal the mechanism of reduced fixation rates and provide insight into possible bioremediation of kudzu