Resonant nonlinear spectroscopy in strong fields

A method is presented to describe multiple resonant nonlinear spectra in the presence of strong laser fields. The Liouville equation for the d. operator of the mol. system is transformed to a time-independent linear equation system. This can be easily solved rigorously by numerical methods or, after partitioning into a strong-field part and a perturbation, the soln. can be obtained anal. by a novel perturbative approach. The results account for power broadening. Rabi splitting of signals, and power-induced extra resonances, the latter being related to the pure dephasing-induced resonances in the weak-field limit. The method can be applied to a large no. of multiple resonant nonlinear spectroscopies, esp. CARS, CSRS, coherent Rayleigh scattering and sum- or difference-frequency generation

Making Language Access to Health Care Meaningful: The Need for a Federal Health Care Interpreters\u27 Statute

This Note will argue that there are strong public policy, and legal and equity considerations for Congress to enact a federal statute to address the inadequacies of the current policies and regulations pertaining to language access to health care. The issue has become a significant one throughout the United States, given the influx of LEP (Limited English Proficiency) Americans navigating the health care system. Part II of this writing discusses the existing federal laws dealing with language access and the hurdles faced by LEP individuals in bringing legal action, because of existing case law on the subject. Part II also describes other federal statutes considering language access and how the same rationales can be applied to a statute for the provision of certified interpreters in the health care context. Part III of this Note argues that there is a lack of minimum standards of competency required from language providers that makes the quality of language services inconsistent, and often deficient, throughout the nation. Consequently, the health outcomes of LEP patients are jeopardized and the exposure to civil liability on the part of physicians and health providers is increased. Part III also argues that current practices with respect to policy, legal, and financial considerations justify the enactment of a federal statute dealing with the certification of health care interpreters. The Note provides some policy issues that may be considered in the enactment of a statute. Part IV concludes that the enactment of a federal health care interpreter statute will ensure meaningful access to health care for LEP patients and will help health care providers comply with the intent of current laws

A Policy Analysis of the Commercial Fishing Industry Vessel Safety Act of 1988

During the mid-1980\u27s, the crisis in marine insurance and growing concern over fishing vessel safety combined to stimulate passage of the Commercial Fishing Industry Vessel Safety Act of 1988. This law was enacted with the goal of improving the overall safety of commercial fishing industry vessels. However, the Act as passed by Congress contained no provisions for marine insurance reform. As a result, the commercial Fishing Industry Vessel Safety Act offered little incentive for the industry to improve upon its dubious safety record. With the exception of self-insurance clubs, the vast burden of implementing the Act has fallen upon the U.S. Coast Guard. Implementation of any congressional mandate necessarily involved identification of Congressional intent. In the case of the Commercial Fishing Industry Vessel Safety Act, the intent of Congress was to promote a proactive risk management system and the use of voyage terminations as a primary enforcement mechanism. Unfortunately, this policy has been implemented within the Coast Guard such that the authority to terminate a fishing vessel voyage is concentrated at a high level within that agency, and the Coast Guard has been precluded from effectively utilizing the enforcement tool which Congress provided for in the Act. Instead, the Coast Guard has focused its enforcement efforts on post-contact control measures such as mandating exposure suits and life rafts, and in so doing has missed the opportunity to prevent accidents by creating a new risk management regime. By refocusing enforcement efforts within the Coast Guard in order to create a more effective risk management system, the fishing vessel safety program currently in place in this country could be vastly improved. Likewise, a more aggressive data gathering protocol and the utilization of risk management methodology to measure and identify hazards within the commercial fishing industry is necessary to the effectiveness of this program

Precision Requirements for Space-based XCO2 Data

Precision requirements have been determined for the column-averaged CO2 dry air mole fraction (X(sub CO2)) data products to be delivered by the Orbiting Carbon Observatory (OCO). These requirements result from an assessment of the amplitude and spatial gradients in X(sub CO2), the relationship between X(sub CO2) precision and surface CO2 flux uncertainties calculated from inversions of the X(sub CO2) data, and the effects of X,,Z biases on CO2 flux inversions. Observing system simulation experiments and synthesis inversion modeling demonstrate that the OCO mission design and sampling strategy provide the means to achieve the X(sub CO2) precision requirements. The impact of X(sub CO2) biases on CO2 flux uncertainties depend on their spatial and temporal extent since CO2 sources and sinks are inferred from regional-scale X(sub CO2) gradients. Simulated OCO sampling of the TRACE-P CO2 fields shows the ability of X(sub CO2) data to constrain CO2 flux inversions over Asia and distinguish regional fluxes from India and China

Identifying children who are struggling in school

Abstract : Introduction : School-age children with motor coordination challenges typically require formal referral for occupational therapy services and often experience lengthy wait times for one-to-one intervention. In a new service delivery model called Partnering for Change, therapists work collaboratively with educators in classrooms to observe, identify, and support children. This study describes children identified through a traditional referral process and compares them with children identified by occupational therapists through classroom observation and dynamic performance analysis. Methods : Participants included 246 children enrolled in a 2-year evaluative study of the Partnering for Change service delivery. Parents completed a demographic questionnaire, the Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire, and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Children’s educators completed the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire and the School Function Assessment. Children completed the Movement Assessment Battery for Children. Results : Children identified were significantly younger and more likely to be girls than those referred under the traditional model. Using observation and dynamic performance analysis, occupational therapists identified children who had equally marked difficulties as those who came from the waitlist. In the Partnering for Change model, waitlists for service were eliminated for all children. Conclusions : Occupational therapists can identify children who are experiencing significant challenges participating at school without the need for standardized assessment, formal referrals, and waitlists

A Spectrum for Children with Cerebral Palsy in Order to Improve Quality of Life

Develop a spectrum that will increase the quality of life in children with Cerebral Palsy (CP). A spectrum is beneficial in order to categorize the severity of symptoms and direct families to specific treatment plans tailored to meet the unique needs and symptoms of each child. Current assessment tools will be amalgamated to develop a CP spectrum. CP is a group of disorders affecting communication, gross motor function, and fine motor movement abilities of an individuals affected. CP is caused by traumatic injury to the developing brain or abnormal brain development during fetal growth. There is no cure; symptom management only. Patient symptom variability makes early detection and intervention difficult. Three assessment tools are currently in use: Communication Function Classification System, Gross Motor Function Classification System, and Manual Abilities Classification System. These assessment tools allow for measurement of motor, communication, and manual ability. These tools were proven to be very beneficial but, after data is extracted, there is a dead end on where measurements go. Since each child with CP is unique, this enables treatment plans to vary. There is a need for coordination of information and care among healthcare providers to alleviate disparities in care and caregiver stress. Currently confirmed by literature, there is a lack of dissemination of knowledge, stress of multiple doctors\u27 appointments, and a lack of protocol for appropriate and adequate treatment. Unfortunately, quality of life varies for CP patients due to a lack of spectrum diagnosis. A spectrum will allow order, direction, efficient communication, and best suited treatments for each unique case of CP

Metagenomic Insights Into The Full-Scale Anaerobic Digestion of Cow Manure and Pre-Treated Food Waste

Anaerobic digestion provides many benefits, such as diverting organic waste from landfills, promoting nutrient recovery, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and producing renewable energy. A complex community of microorganisms is responsible for the anaerobic digestion process that converts organic matter into biogas, a renewable energy source. The start-up phase of an anaerobic digester is considered a crucial point in solidifying the core microbial community that will ensure a stable anaerobic digester. A full-scale anaerobic digester that co-digests cow manure and pre-treated food waste from a hydrolysis tank was studied from start-up through stable performance in order to better understand the dynamics of the core microbial community, assess gene abundance, and relate population dynamics to operational parameters. The microbial community in the hydrolysis tank, which was operated at a low pH of 3.5 to 4.4, consisted of organisms known to ferment carbohydrates to acetate and lactate, such as those in the genera Lactobacillus, Prevotella, and Bifidobacterium. Genes for the Bifid shunt were abundant while genes for hydrogen production and ferredoxin production and consumption were absent, suggesting that fermentation likely did not result in H2 production. The methanogenic archaeal community in the anaerobic digester had a high relative abundance up to 25%. The inoculation of the digester had little impact on abundant organisms, as Methanoculleus and an unclassified Methanomicrobiales genera were highly abundant before and after inoculation, though the abundance of total methanogenic archaea decreased after inoculation. While some genes related to acetoclastic methanogenesis were present, two diagnostic genes of this pathway (ack and pta) were absent, suggesting that hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis was the primary route. The high abundance of genes involved in ferredoxin cycling and H2 generation suggest that bacteria in the digester were likely producing H2