Evaluating the Impact of Environmental Interpretation: A Review of Three Research Studies

This paper reviews three research studies that looked at the impact an intexpreti;e experience has on knoledge, atti_ de, and/or behavior of a park visitor. research methodologies, limitations, and conclusions were discussed for all three studies

Evaluating Short Term and Long Term Retention of Experiences Associated with an Interpretive School Field Trip

The strong evidence that an interpre­tive experience can promote initial knowl­edge retention sets up a more difficult ques­tion: how long do these students hold on to . this information? More precisely, what do the students remember one month or more after the initial treatment? Are these memo­ries associated with interpreter-derived pro­gram objectives or tertiary variables such as social or environmental factors? Can the memories from this experience impact a stu­dent\u27s attitude toward the resource site? These are questions that are looked at through this pilot study evaluating short term and long term retention of experiences associated with an interpretive school field trip

A particle tracking technique for bedload motion

Proceedings of the Seventh International Conference on Hydroscience and Engineering, Philadelphia, PA, September 2006. http://hdl.handle.net/1860/732Nowadays, the advances made in scientific visualization techniques have enhanced our capabilities of tracking sediment and measuring sediment rates. The focus of this study is to provide a new experimental approach to determine the displacement speed of particles rolling atop a well packed layer of spheres and provide a formula that describes the average displacement speed of particles as a function of the particles geometry and weight, settling velocity, and the frictional characteristics of flow. For this purpose, this study presents the measurements of the displacement speeds of three different sized spherical particles under varying flow conditions and bed roughness. The particles, ranging in size from 5/8 of an inch to one inch in diameter, primarily experienced motion due to rolling. The displacement speed information is required for the prediction of sediment fluxes, which can be used to model local sediment entrainment in natural gravel streams. For this purpose, a laboratory flume was used to perform 30 experimental runs. The tests were repeated 15 times, or until repeatability was established. Velocity profiles, shear stress, discharge, and bulk velocity were acquired for each run. An ADV and Swoffer were used to obtain the velocity profiles. Sediment motion was monitored using a plan view from a digital camera mounted above the flume. Individual frames depicting a particle’s motion were produced using Asymetrix DVP and Adobe Photoshop 4.0. Data translation software combined the individual frames to calculate the displacement speed of sediment motion. The results are compared with values predicted by bed load formulas developed by Sekine and Lee. Values observed in this experiment are greater than the values predicted by Sekine and less than the values predicted by Lee

Repetitive Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Impairs Performance in a Rodent Assay of Cognitive Flexibility

Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) occurs in almost 80% of the 3 million reported cases of TBI-related emergency department visits each year in the United States. The majority of mTBIs, sometimes classified as concussions, are due to sports-related activities and typically occur repeatedly over the course of an athlete’s career. mTBI symptoms are generally classified as either somatic or neuropsychiatric/cognitive in nature and include impairments in prefrontal cortex mediated functions, including attention, memory, processing speed, reaction times, problem solving, and cognitive flexibility. To date, there remains a major gap in our understanding of the behavioral manifestations, underlying neurobiology, and treatment of mTBI. An even greater gap exists in our understanding of the consequences of repeated mTBI incidents. The goal of the present study was to examine the effects of repetitive mTBI within a rodent assay of cognitive flexibility. Rats were exposed to a series of three closed head injuries (controlled cortical impact model) within a week prior to performing an automated strategy shifting task, which required rats to learn and shift strategies according to changing task demands. Rats initially acquired a visual cue strategy in which a light illuminated above one of two possible levers (left or right) indicated the correct response for reward. Twenty-four hours after initial acquisition, rats again performed the task using the visual cue strategy followed by a series of strategy shifting and reversal learning challenges. Repetitive mTBI reduced throughput scores, a performance index that blends accuracy and response speed, and increased reaction times within the task. These results indicate that performance and task efficiency in an operant test of cognitive flexibility are impaired after repetitive mTBI. As such, this model presents a useful approach for further investigating the behavioral deficits and potential treatment strategies for patients who have experienced multiple mTBI insults

Service use and access in young children with an intellectual disability or global developmental delay: associations with challenging behaviour

Background Challenging behaviours are frequently shown by children with an intellectual disability. This study documents service use within this population and explores its relationship with challenging behaviours and child and parent characteristics. Method Forty-nine mothers of young children with an intellectual disability or global developmental delay completed questionnaires focusing on child behaviour, parental mental health, and service use. Results Maternal mental health was not associated with services accessed. Cost of services accessed differed by topography of challenging behaviour for destruction of the environment or aggression. No differences were noted for self-injurious behaviour. Conclusion In this small study, topography of challenging behaviour impacts on the frequency and/or duration (and therefore cost) of community-based health care accessed. Behaviours that have external impact, such as aggression and destruction of the environment, are associated with a higher cost of services used, a pattern not noted for behaviours that had less external impact (e.g., self-injurious behaviour)

Evidence-based planning and costing palliative care services for children : novel multi-method epidemiological and economic exemplar

Background: Children’s palliative care is a relatively new clinical specialty. Its nature is multi-dimensional and its delivery necessarily multi-professional. Numerous diverse public and not-for-profit organisations typically provide services and support. Because services are not centrally coordinated, they are provided in a manner that is inconsistent and incoherent. Since the first children’s hospice opened in 1982, the epidemiology of life-limiting conditions has changed with more children living longer, and many requiring transfer to adult services. Very little is known about the number of children living within any given geographical locality, costs of care, or experiences of children with ongoing palliative care needs and their families. We integrated evidence, and undertook and used novel methodological epidemiological work to develop the first evidence-based and costed commissioning exemplar. Methods: Multi-method epidemiological and economic exemplar from a health and not-for-profit organisation perspective, to estimate numbers of children under 19 years with life-limiting conditions, cost current services, determine child/parent care preferences, and cost choice of end-of-life care at home. Results: The exemplar locality (North Wales) had important gaps in service provision and the clinical network. The estimated annual total cost of current children’s palliative care was about £5.5 million; average annual care cost per child was £22,771 using 2007 prevalence estimates and £2,437- £11,045 using new 2012/13 population-based prevalence estimates. Using population-based prevalence, we estimate 2271 children with a life-limiting condition in the general exemplar population and around 501 children per year with ongoing palliative care needs in contact with hospital services. Around 24 children with a wide range of life-limiting conditions require end-of-life care per year. Choice of end-of-life care at home was requested, which is not currently universally available. We estimated a minimum (based on 1 week of end-of-life care) additional cost of £336,000 per year to provide end-of-life support at home. Were end-of-life care to span 4 weeks, the total annual additional costs increases to £536,500 (2010/11 prices). Conclusions: Findings make a significant contribution to population-based needs assessment and commissioning methodology in children’s palliative care. Further work is needed to determine with greater precision which children in the total population require access to services and when. Half of children who died 2002-7 did not have conditions that met the globally used children's palliative care condition categories, which need revision in light of findings

Pre-hospital management protocols and perceived difficulty in diagnosing acute heart failure

Aim To illustrate the pre-hospital management arsenals and protocols in different EMS units, and to estimate the perceived difficulty of diagnosing suspected acute heart failure (AHF) compared with other common pre-hospital conditions. Methods and results A multinational survey included 104 emergency medical service (EMS) regions from 18 countries. Diagnostic and therapeutic arsenals related to AHF management were reported for each type of EMS unit. The prevalence and contents of management protocols for common medical conditions treated pre-hospitally was collected. The perceived difficulty of diagnosing AHF and other medical conditions by emergency medical dispatchers and EMS personnel was interrogated. Ultrasound devices and point-of-care testing were available in advanced life support and helicopter EMS units in fewer than 25% of EMS regions. AHF protocols were present in 80.8% of regions. Protocols for ST-elevation myocardial infarction, chest pain, and dyspnoea were present in 95.2, 80.8, and 76.0% of EMS regions, respectively. Protocolized diagnostic actions for AHF management included 12-lead electrocardiogram (92.1% of regions), ultrasound examination (16.0%), and point-of-care testings for troponin and BNP (6.0 and 3.5%). Therapeutic actions included supplementary oxygen (93.2%), non-invasive ventilation (80.7%), intravenous furosemide, opiates, nitroglycerine (69.0, 68.6, and 57.0%), and intubation 71.5%. Diagnosing suspected AHF was considered easy to moderate by EMS personnel and moderate to difficult by emergency medical dispatchers (without significant differences between de novo and decompensated heart failure). In both settings, diagnosis of suspected AHF was considered easier than pulmonary embolism and more difficult than ST-elevation myocardial infarction, asthma, and stroke. Conclusions The prevalence of AHF protocols is rather high but the contents seem to vary. Difficulty of diagnosing suspected AHF seems to be moderate compared with other pre-hospital conditions

Multiple and Multidimensional life transitions in the context of life-limiting health conditions:Longitudinal study focussing on perspectives of Young Adults, Families and Professionals

Background: There is a dearth of literature that investigates life transitions of young adults (YAs) with life-limiting conditions, families and professionals. The scant literature that is available has methodological limitations, including not listening to the voice of YAs, collecting data retrospectively, at one time point, from one group’s perspective and single case studies. The aim of this study was to address the gaps found in our literature review and provide a clearer understanding of the multiple and multi-dimensional life transitions experienced by YAs and significant others, over a period of time. Methods: This qualitative study used a longitudinal design and data were collected using semi-structured interviews over a 6-month period at 3 time points. Participants included 12 YAs with life-limiting conditions and their nominated significant others (10 family members and 11 professionals). Data were analysed using a thematic analysis approach. Results: Life transitions of YA and significant others are complex; they experience multiple and multi-dimensional transitions across several domains. The findings challenge the notion that all life transitions are triggered by health transitions of YAs, and has highlighted environmental factors (attitudinal and systemic) that can be changed to facilitate smoother transitions in various aspects of their lives. Conclusions: This study makes a unique and significant contribution to literature. It provides evidence and rich narratives for policy makers and service providers to change policies and practices that are in line with the needs of YAs with life-limiting conditions as they transition to adulthood. Families and professionals have specific training needs that have not yet been met fully

Sloan Digital Sky Survey IV: mapping the Milky Way, nearby galaxies, and the distant universe

We describe the Sloan Digital Sky Survey IV (SDSS-IV), a project encompassing three major spectroscopic programs. The Apache Point Observatory Galactic Evolution Experiment 2 (APOGEE-2) is observing hundreds of thousands of Milky Way stars at high resolution and high signal-to-noise ratios in the near-infrared. The Mapping Nearby Galaxies at Apache Point Observatory (MaNGA) survey is obtaining spatially resolved spectroscopy for thousands of nearby galaxies (median ). The extended Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey (eBOSS) is mapping the galaxy, quasar, and neutral gas distributions between and 3.5 to constrain cosmology using baryon acoustic oscillations, redshift space distortions, and the shape of the power spectrum. Within eBOSS, we are conducting two major subprograms: the SPectroscopic IDentification of eROSITA Sources (SPIDERS), investigating X-ray AGNs and galaxies in X-ray clusters, and the Time Domain Spectroscopic Survey (TDSS), obtaining spectra of variable sources. All programs use the 2.5 m Sloan Foundation Telescope at the Apache Point Observatory; observations there began in Summer 2014. APOGEE-2 also operates a second near-infrared spectrograph at the 2.5 m du Pont Telescope at Las Campanas Observatory, with observations beginning in early 2017. Observations at both facilities are scheduled to continue through 2020. In keeping with previous SDSS policy, SDSS-IV provides regularly scheduled public data releases; the first one, Data Release 13, was made available in 2016 July

Sloan Digital Sky Survey IV: Mapping the Milky Way, Nearby Galaxies, and the Distant Universe

We describe the Sloan Digital Sky Survey IV (SDSS-IV), a project encompassing three major spectroscopic programs. The Apache Point Observatory Galactic Evolution Experiment 2 (APOGEE-2) is observing hundreds of thousands of Milky Way stars at high resolution and high signal-to-noise ratios in the near-infrared. The Mapping Nearby Galaxies at Apache Point Observatory (MaNGA) survey is obtaining spatially resolved spectroscopy for thousands of nearby galaxies (median $z\sim 0.03$). The extended Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey (eBOSS) is mapping the galaxy, quasar, and neutral gas distributions between $z\sim 0.6$ and 3.5 to constrain cosmology using baryon acoustic oscillations, redshift space distortions, and the shape of the power spectrum. Within eBOSS, we are conducting two major subprograms: the SPectroscopic IDentification of eROSITA Sources (SPIDERS), investigating X-ray AGNs and galaxies in X-ray clusters, and the Time Domain Spectroscopic Survey (TDSS), obtaining spectra of variable sources. All programs use the 2.5 m Sloan Foundation Telescope at the Apache Point Observatory; observations there began in Summer 2014. APOGEE-2 also operates a second near-infrared spectrograph at the 2.5 m du Pont Telescope at Las Campanas Observatory, with observations beginning in early 2017. Observations at both facilities are scheduled to continue through 2020. In keeping with previous SDSS policy, SDSS-IV provides regularly scheduled public data releases; the first one, Data Release 13, was made available in 2016 July