Social Workers\u27 Perceptions of Family Preservation Programs

The passage of the Adoptions and Safe Families Act of 1997, with its focus on child safety and concurrent planning, has presented family preservation workers with new challenges and new opportunities. Twenty volunteers from a large comprehensive social service agency were interviewed to determine their experiences with two models of family preservation—Multisystemic Therapy (MST) and Traditional Family Preservation Service (TFPS) or practice as usual. Workers from both programs were able to articulate values consistent with family preservation as important strengths of the programs— keeping families together and empowering families for example. Information from referring agencies was described as variable and not especially useful when working with seriously troubled families, especially as it related to risk and child safety. Both groups indicated that the jargon of family preservation had permeated their agencies, and that working with other agencies was at times a challenge, though for different reasons. Finally, despite some reservations about the effectiveness of short-term treatment with families that face serious challenges, both groups of workers were generally satisfied with family preservation as an approach to practice

Quantum Hall effect on centimeter scale chemical vapor deposited graphene films

We report observations of well developed half integer quantum Hall effect (QHE) on mono layer graphene films of 7 mm \times 7 mm in size. The graphene films are grown by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) on copper, then transferred to SiO_{2} /Si substrates, with typical carrier mobilities \approx 4000 cm^{2} /Vs. The large size graphene with excellent quality and electronic homogeneity demonstrated in this work is promising for graphene-based quantum Hall resistance standards, and can also facilitate a wide range of experiments on quantum Hall physics of graphene and practical applications exploiting the exceptional properties of graphene

Experimental Feedback Control of Flow Induced Cavity Tones

Discrete-time, linear quadratic methods were used to design feedback controllers for reducing tones generated by flow over a cavity. The dynamics of a synthetic jet actuator mounted at the leading edge of the cavity as observed by two microphones in the cavity were modeled over a broad frequency range using state space models computed from experimental data. Variations in closed loop performance as a function of model order, control order, control bandwidth, and state estimator design were studied using a cavity in the Probe Calibration Tunnel at NASA Langley. The controller successfully reduced the levels of multiple cavity tones at the tested flow speeds of Mach 0.275, 0.35, and 0.45. In some cases, the closed loop results were limited by excitation of sidebands of the cavity tones, or the creation of new tones at frequencies away from the cavity tones. Nonetheless, the results validate the combination of optimal control and experimentally-generated state space models, and suggest this approach may be useful for other flow control problems. The models were not able to account for non-linear dynamics, such as interactions between tones at different frequencies

Energy Use and Concerns of Rural Nebraskans

Energy prices have steadily increased during the past year. Rural residents are now faced with higher costs to drive and heat and cool their homes. Given these conditions, how much of a problem have rising energy costs been for rural Nebraskans? What are their opinions on future energy sources? What changes have they made or do they plan to make due to the price increases? This paper provides a detailed analysis of these questions. This report details 2,496 responses to the 2008 Nebraska Rural Poll, the thirteenth annual effort to understand rural Nebraskans’ perceptions. Respondents were asked a series of questions about energy. For all questions, comparisons are made among different respondent subgroups, that is, comparisons by age, occupation, region, etc. Based on these analyses, some key findings emerged: • Most rural Nebraskans report that rising energy costs have been a somewhat serious problem or a very serious problem for themselves and their family lately. Forty-one percent of rural Nebraskans say rising energy costs have been a very serious problem and 43 percent report it has been a somewhat serious problem. Only one percent say the rising costs have not been a problem at all and 14 percent indicate it has been not too serious a problem. (page 2) • Persons with the lowest household incomes are more likely than persons with higher incomes to report that rising energy prices have been a very serious problem. Fifty-three percent of persons with household incomes under $20,000 say rising energy costs have been a very serious problem, compared to 32 percent of persons with household incomes of$60,000 or more. (page 3) • Many rural Nebraskans have made changes in household spending, driving patterns and household energy use as a result of recent energy price increases. At least three-quarters of rural Nebraskans have done the following items as a result of the recent energy price increases: cut back on luxury household spending (94%), reduced the heat or air conditioning use in your home (91%), cut back how much you drive (91%), attempted to use household appliances more efficiently (89%), cut back on necessary household spending (88%), acquired more goods and services locally (80%), and changed your vacation plans by shortening or postponing the trip (75%). (page 8) • Many rural Nebraskans have also made driving behavior changes as a result of the recent energy price increases. Two-thirds (67%) of rural Nebraskans have driven their most fuel-efficient vehicle more often as a result of the recent energy price increases. Another nine percent are considering this change. Eleven percent of rural Nebraskans have converted to E-85 gasoline and an additional 14 percent are considering making this switch. Only three percent of rural Nebraskans have purchased a hybrid vehicle but 17 percent are considering this type of purchase. (page 11) • Rural Nebraskans are divided in their opinions about whether or not sufficient energy supplies exist or if new technologies and alternative energy sources will help maintain energy supplies. Just under one-half (44%) of rural Nebraskans agree or strongly agree that there are sufficient oil and natural gas supplies around the world to meet U.S. needs for the foreseeable future. Thirty-eight percent disagree or strongly disagree with the statement. Similarly, just under one-half (47%) agree or strongly agree that “even if oil and natural gas supplies do decline, new technologies and alternative energy sources will ensure Americans maintain their current standard of living.” Thirty-two percent disagree or strongly disagree. (page 3) • Most rural Nebraskans think the environment should be protected, even if this means some energy supplies are not available for use. Over one-half (57%) agree or strongly agree with this statement. Seventeen percent disagree or strongly disagree with that statement. Approximately one-quarter (26%) neither agree nor disagree with the statement. (page 3) • Most rural Nebraskans believe that Americans should reduce their energy consumption to prevent an energy crisis and that more should be done to develop renewable energy. Seventy-seven percent of rural Nebraskans agree or strongly agree with the following statement: Americans must change their lifestyles to reduce energy consumption to avoid the onset of an energy “crisis” in the U.S. Only 10 percent disagree or strongly disagree with the statement. The majority (91%) of rural Nebraskans agree or strongly agree that “more should be done to develop renewable energy, such as ethanol, biodiesel or wind energy.” Only three percent disagree or strongly disagree with the statement. (pages 3 and 4) • The vast majority of rural Nebraskans also believe we are too dependent on foreign oil sources. Ninety-three percent of rural Nebraskans agree or strongly agree with that statement, while only three percent disagree or strongly disagree. (page 4) • Most rural Nebraskans see renewable sources as being important energy sources for the next generation. A larger proportion of rural Nebraskans rated wind and solar energy as being important compared to the fossil fuels of oil and natural gas. At least three-quarters of rural Nebraskans rate the following energy sources as being important for the next generation: wind energy (89%), solar energy (89%), oil (87%), natural gas (84%), ethanol from other sources (81%), ethanol from corn (79%), and biodiesel (76%). (page 5) • Most rural Nebraskans rate electricity and unleaded gasoline as being very important or somewhat important to their household. Ninety-seven percent of rural Nebraskans say electricity is important to their household and 95 percent rate unleaded gasoline as important to their household. (page 7

Energy Use and Concerns of Rural Nebraskans

Energy prices have steadily increased during the past year. Rural residents are now faced with higher costs to drive and heat and cool their homes. Given these conditions, how much of a problem have rising energy costs been for rural Nebraskans? What are their opinions on future energy sources? What changes have they made or do they plan to make due to the price increases? This paper provides a detailed analysis of these questions. This report details 2,496 responses to the 2008 Nebraska Rural Poll, the thirteenth annual effort to understand rural Nebraskans’ perceptions. Respondents were asked a series of questions about energy. For all questions, comparisons are made among different respondent subgroups, that is, comparisons by age, occupation, region, etc. Based on these analyses, some key findings emerged: • Most rural Nebraskans report that rising energy costs have been a somewhat serious problem or a very serious problem for themselves and their family lately. Forty-one percent of rural Nebraskans say rising energy costs have been a very serious problem and 43 percent report it has been a somewhat serious problem. Only one percent say the rising costs have not been a problem at all and 14 percent indicate it has been not too serious a problem. (page 2) • Persons with the lowest household incomes are more likely than persons with higher incomes to report that rising energy prices have been a very serious problem. Fifty-three percent of persons with household incomes under $20,000 say rising energy costs have been a very serious problem, compared to 32 percent of persons with household incomes of$60,000 or more. (page 3) • Many rural Nebraskans have made changes in household spending, driving patterns and household energy use as a result of recent energy price increases. At least three-quarters of rural Nebraskans have done the following items as a result of the recent energy price increases: cut back on luxury household spending (94%), reduced the heat or air conditioning use in your home (91%), cut back how much you drive (91%), attempted to use household appliances more efficiently (89%), cut back on necessary household spending (88%), acquired more goods and services locally (80%), and changed your vacation plans by shortening or postponing the trip (75%). (page 8) • Many rural Nebraskans have also made driving behavior changes as a result of the recent energy price increases. Two-thirds (67%) of rural Nebraskans have driven their most fuel-efficient vehicle more often as a result of the recent energy price increases. Another nine percent are considering this change. Eleven percent of rural Nebraskans have converted to E-85 gasoline and an additional 14 percent are considering making this switch. Only three percent of rural Nebraskans have purchased a hybrid vehicle but 17 percent are considering this type of purchase. (page 11) • Rural Nebraskans are divided in their opinions about whether or not sufficient energy supplies exist or if new technologies and alternative energy sources will help maintain energy supplies. Just under one-half (44%) of rural Nebraskans agree or strongly agree that there are sufficient oil and natural gas supplies around the world to meet U.S. needs for the foreseeable future. Thirty-eight percent disagree or strongly disagree with the statement. Similarly, just under one-half (47%) agree or strongly agree that “even if oil and natural gas supplies do decline, new technologies and alternative energy sources will ensure Americans maintain their current standard of living.” Thirty-two percent disagree or strongly disagree. (page 3) • Most rural Nebraskans think the environment should be protected, even if this means some energy supplies are not available for use. Over one-half (57%) agree or strongly agree with this statement. Seventeen percent disagree or strongly disagree with that statement. Approximately one-quarter (26%) neither agree nor disagree with the statement. (page 3) • Most rural Nebraskans believe that Americans should reduce their energy consumption to prevent an energy crisis and that more should be done to develop renewable energy. Seventy-seven percent of rural Nebraskans agree or strongly agree with the following statement: Americans must change their lifestyles to reduce energy consumption to avoid the onset of an energy “crisis” in the U.S. Only 10 percent disagree or strongly disagree with the statement. The majority (91%) of rural Nebraskans agree or strongly agree that “more should be done to develop renewable energy, such as ethanol, biodiesel or wind energy.” Only three percent disagree or strongly disagree with the statement. (pages 3 and 4) • The vast majority of rural Nebraskans also believe we are too dependent on foreign oil sources. Ninety-three percent of rural Nebraskans agree or strongly agree with that statement, while only three percent disagree or strongly disagree. (page 4) • Most rural Nebraskans see renewable sources as being important energy sources for the next generation. A larger proportion of rural Nebraskans rated wind and solar energy as being important compared to the fossil fuels of oil and natural gas. At least three-quarters of rural Nebraskans rate the following energy sources as being important for the next generation: wind energy (89%), solar energy (89%), oil (87%), natural gas (84%), ethanol from other sources (81%), ethanol from corn (79%), and biodiesel (76%). (page 5) • Most rural Nebraskans rate electricity and unleaded gasoline as being very important or somewhat important to their household. Ninety-seven percent of rural Nebraskans say electricity is important to their household and 95 percent rate unleaded gasoline as important to their household. (page 7

A new narrow-beam, multi-frequency, scanning radiometer and its application to in-flight icing detection

AbstractA one degree beamwidth, multi-frequency (20 to 30 and 89GHz), dual-polarization radiometer with full azimuth and elevation scanning capabilities was built with the purpose of improving the detection of in-flight icing hazards to aircraft in the near airport environment. This goal was achieved by collocating the radiometer with Colorado State University's CHILL polarized Doppler radar and leveraging the similar beamwidth and volume scan regiments of the two instruments. The collocated instruments allowed for the liquid water path and water vapor measurements derived from the radiometer to be merged with the radar moment fields to determine microphysical and water phase characteristics aloft. The radiometer was field tested at Colorado State University's CHILL radar site near Greeley, Colorado during the summer of 2009. Instrument design, calibration, and initial field testing results are discussed in this paper

Brain Connectivity-Informed Regularization Methods for Regression

One of the challenging problems in brain imaging research is a principled incorporation of information from different imaging modalities. Frequently, each modality is analyzed separately using, for instance, dimensionality reduction techniques, which result in a loss of mutual information. We propose a novel regularization method to estimate the association between the brain structure features and a scalar outcome within the linear regression framework. Our regularization technique provides a principled approach to use external information from the structural brain connectivity and inform the estimation of the regression coefficients. Our proposal extends the classical Tikhonov regularization framework by defining a penalty term based on the structural connectivity-derived Laplacian matrix. Here, we address both theoretical and computational issues. The approach is first illustrated using simulated data and compared with other penalized regression methods. We then apply our regularization method to study the associations between the alcoholism phenotypes and brain cortical thickness using a diffusion imaging derived measure of structural connectivity. Using the proposed methodology in 148 young male subjects with a risk for alcoholism, we found a negative associations between cortical thickness and drinks per drinking day in bilateral caudal anterior cingulate cortex, left lateral OFC, and left precentral gyrus

Efficacy of turmeric (Curcuma longa) to ameliorate the adverse effects of ochratoxin A in broiler chicks

Abstract only availableA 21-day feeding study was conducted to assess the effectiveness of turmeric (Curcuma longa) powder (TMP), containing a known level of curcumin to offset the adverse effects of ochratoxin A (OA) in broiler chicks. Five pen replicates of 5 chicks each were assigned to each of 6 dietary treatments. Dietary treatments evaluated include: 1) basal diet containing no OA or TMP; 2) basal diet supplemented with 0.67% TMP containing 220 mg/kg total curcuminoids (TCMN); 3) basal diet supplemented with 1 mg/kg OA; 4) basal diet supplemented with 1 mg/kg OA and 220 mg/kg TCMN; 5) basal diet supplemented with 2 mg/kg OA; 6) and basal diet supplemented with 2 mg/kg OA and 220 mg/kg TCMN. The addition of OA to the diet significantly reduced (P < 0.05) feed intake, body weight gain, and caused poor feed conversion . Similarly, there was a significant effect (P < 0.05) of OA on relative liver weight and relative kidney weight.. Results indicated that 220 mg/kg TCMN did not counteract any adverse effects in broiler chicks fed OA at levels of 1 mg/kg and 2 mg/kg. It remains to be seen if OA negatively affected antioxidant status and hepatic gene expression of chicks, and if TCMN will be beneficial in ameliorating any observed adverse effects. Samples are currently being analyzed for antioxidant activity and changes in gene expression.F.B. Miller Undergraduate Research Program in Animal Science