An analysis of parent-school activities in the elementary schools of Worcester, Massachusetts with implications for improvements

Thesis (M.A.)--Boston University, 1948. This item was digitized by the Internet Archive

Pilbara coastal flora

The Pilbara coastal region is an area which will have increased human pressure both for work and recreation. In recent years, rapid expansion of townsites along the coast has meant that areas which were once stable have come under threat. Conservation measures will be needed to protect the coastline, and to ensure that the beauty of the coastal landscape: an be enjoyed by future generations

Neuropsychological characterization of aggressive behavior in children and adolescents with cd/odd and effects of single doses of medications: The protocol of the matrics_wp6-1 study

Aggressive behaviors and disruptive/conduct disorders are some of the commonest reasons for referral to youth mental health services; nevertheless, the efficacy of therapeutic interventions in real-world clinical practice remains unclear. In order to define more appropriate targets for innovative pharmacological therapies for disruptive/conduct disorders, the European Commission within the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) funded the MATRICS project (Multidisciplinary Approaches to Translational Research in Conduct Syndromes) to identify neural, genetic, and molecular factors underpinning the pathogenesis of aggression/antisocial behavior in preclinical models and clinical samples. Within the program, a multicentre case-control study, followed by a single-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over, randomized acute single-dose medication challenge, was conducted at two Italian sites. Aggressive children and adolescents with conduct disorder (CD) or oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) were compared to the same age (10–17 y) typically developing controls (TDC) on a neuropsychological tasks battery that included both “cold” (e.g., inhibitory control, decision making) and “hot” executive functions (e.g., moral judgment, emotion processing, risk assessment). Selected autonomic measures (heart rate variability, skin conductance, salivary cortisol) were recorded before/during/after neuropsychological testing sessions. The acute response to different drugs (methylphenidate/atomoxetine, risperidone/aripiprazole, or placebo) was also examined in the ODD/CD cohort in order to identify potential neuropsychological/physiological mechanisms underlying aggression. The paper describes the protocol of the clinical MATRICS WP6-1 study, its rationale, the specific outcome measures, and their implications for a precision medicine approach

Baker Center Journal of Applied Public Policy - Vol. IV, No. I

This is the 4th volume of the Baker Center Journal on Applied Public Policy. It includes articles on nuclear nonproliferation, American political development, election issues, Tennessee state trial courts, attitudes related to rich and poor people, and two student articles on science, innovation, technology and economic growth and explosive trace detection at airports

Testimony on Pennsylvania SB1306: No Additional Protections for Religious Freedom

On behalf of the Public Rights/Private Conscience Project (PRPCP) at Columbia Law School I offer the following legal analysis of Senate Bill 1306. Overall, the current version of the bill promises to modernize Pennsylvania’s Human Relations Act by expanding antidiscrimination protections in employment to include sexual orientation and gender identity-based discrimination. Were the Pennsylvania legislature to pass SB 1306, the Commonwealth would join twenty-two states that include sexual orientation and nineteen states that include gender identity in their laws assuring equal employment opportunities for their citizens

Sight Distance Standards Based On Observational Data Risk Evaluation Of Passing

The paper presents an application of a reliability analysis for evaluating the risk associated with passing sight distance (PSD) standards in terms of the expected probability of noncompliance. Calculation of PSD is required to determine where drivers can safely execute passing maneuvers. Traditional PSD standards are based on deterministic, theoretical models, which are calibrated with conservative percentile values for uncertain design inputs to account for uncertainty. The PSD standards do not provide information about the risk of deviation from them. Reliability analysis is a technique that is based on limit state design and that accounts for the propagation of variability from input random parameters to the design outputs. A total of 1,098 passing maneuvers were observed on several two-lane highways in Spain; two data collection methodologies were used: external observations and an instrumented vehicle. The most significant factors affecting PSD were impeding-vehicle speed, passing-vehicle acceleration, and head-ways between impeding and passing vehicles. A uniform acceleration model described the passing-vehicle trajectory. The characterized input parameters and the passing model were used to perform a reliability analysis. The results showed the probability of noncompliance in different scenarios, defined as the proportion of cases in which the required PSD would exceed the available sight distance. American and Spanish PSD standards were evaluated. Geometric design standards presented a probability of noncompliance of about 0.15, whereas some marking standards had a probability of noncompliance exceeding 0.85. These standards may be associated with higher risk levels if they are followed by drivers. As well, PSD risk levels were not consistent for different design speeds, since they underestimated operating speed at some locationsThis paper was developed as a result of a mobility study at the University of British Columbia funded by the Erasmus Mundus Program of the European Commission under the Transatlantic Partnership for Excellence in Engineering project. The authors thank the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, which subsidized the research project, and the Spanish Directorate General of Traffic, Spanish Ministry of Public Works, Valencia Regional Department of Transport, and Valencia province road department for their collaboration during the field study.Llorca Garcia, C.; Moreno Chou, AT.; Sayed, T.; García García, A. (2014). Sight Distance Standards Based On Observational Data Risk Evaluation Of Passing. Transportation research record. 2404:18-26. doi:10.3141/2404-03S18262404Ismail, K., & Sayed, T. (2009). Risk-based framework for accommodating uncertainty in highway geometric design. Canadian Journal of Civil Engineering, 36(5), 743-753. doi:10.1139/l08-146Ismail, K., & Sayed, T. (2010). Risk-Based Highway Design. Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, 2195(1), 3-13. doi:10.3141/2195-01Richl, L., & Sayed, T. (2006). Evaluating the Safety Risk of Narrow Medians Using Reliability Analysis. Journal of Transportation Engineering, 132(5), 366-375. doi:10.1061/(asce)0733-947x(2006)132:5(366)Harwood, D. W., Gilmore, D. K., & Richard, K. R. (2010). Criteria for Passing Sight Distance for Roadway Design and Marking. Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, 2195(1), 36-46. doi:10.3141/2195-05Wang, Y., & Cartmell, M. P. (1998). New Model for Passing Sight Distance on Two-Lane Highways. Journal of Transportation Engineering, 124(6), 536-545. doi:10.1061/(asce)0733-947x(1998)124:6(536)Polus, A., Livneh, M., & Frischer, B. (2000). Evaluation of the Passing Process on Two-Lane Rural Highways. Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, 1701(1), 53-60. doi:10.3141/1701-07Llorca, C., & García, A. (2011). Evaluation of Passing Process on Two-Lane Rural Highways in Spain with New Methodology Based on Video Data. Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, 2262(1), 42-51. doi:10.3141/2262-05Carlson, P., Miles, J., & Johnson, P. (2006). Daytime High-Speed Passing Maneuvers Observed on Rural Two-Lane, Two-Way Highway: Findings and Implications. Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, 1961, 9-15. doi:10.3141/1961-02Llorca, C., Moreno, A. T., García, A., & Pérez-Zuriaga, A. M. (2013). Daytime and Nighttime Passing Maneuvers on a Two-Lane Rural Road in Spain. Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, 2358(1), 3-11. doi:10.3141/2358-01Easa, S. M. (1993). Reliability‐Based Design of Intergreen Interval at Traffic Signals. Journal of Transportation Engineering, 119(2), 255-271. doi:10.1061/(asce)0733-947x(1993)119:2(255)Selvanathan, E. A., & Selvanathan, S. (1994). The demand for transport and communication in the United Kingdom and Australia. Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, 28(1), 1-9. doi:10.1016/0191-2615(94)90027-2Easa, S. M. (2000). Reliability Approach to Intersection Sight Distance Design. Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, 1701(1), 42-52. doi:10.3141/1701-06Ibrahim, S. E.-B., & Sayed, T. (2011). Developing safety performance functions incorporating reliability-based risk measures. Accident Analysis & Prevention, 43(6), 2153-2159. doi:10.1016/j.aap.2011.06.006Khoury, J. E., & Hobeika, A. G. (2007). Assessing the Risk in the Design of Passing Sight Distances. Journal of Transportation Engineering, 133(6), 370-377. doi:10.1061/(asce)0733-947x(2007)133:6(370)Khoury, J. E., & Hobeika, A. G. (2012). Integrated Stochastic Approach for Risk and Service Estimation: Passing Sight Distance Application. Journal of Transportation Engineering, 138(5), 571-579. doi:10.1061/(asce)te.1943-5436.0000366Kim, S., & Choi, J. (2013). Effects of preceding geometric conditions on operating speed consistency of multilane highways. Canadian Journal of Civil Engineering, 40(6), 528-536. doi:10.1139/cjce-2012-005

The correlation of RNase A enzymatic activity with the changes in the distance between Nepsilon2-His12 and N delta1-His119 upon addition of stabilizing and destabilizing salts.

The effect of stabilizing and destabilizing salts on the catalytic behavior of ribonuclease A (RNase A) was investigated at pH 7.5 and 25 degrees C, using spectrophotometric, viscometric and molecular dynamic methods. The changes in the distance between N(epsilon2) of His(12) and N(delta1) of His(119) at the catalytic center of RNase A upon the addition of sodium sulfate, sodium hydrogen sulfate and sodium thiocyanate were evaluated by molecular dynamic methods. The compactness and expansion in terms of Stokes radius of RNase A upon the addition of sulfate ions as kosmotropic salts, and thiocyanate ion as a chaotropic salt, were estimated by viscometric measurements. Enzyme activity was measured using cytidine 2', 3'-cyclic monophosphate as a substrate. The results from the measurements of distances between N(epsilon2) of His(12) and N(delta1) of His(119) and Stokes radius suggest (i) that the presence of sulfate ions decreases the distance between the catalytic His residues and increases the globular compactness, and (ii) that there is an expansion of the enzyme surface as well as elongation of the catalytic center in the presence of thiocyanate ion. These findings are in agreement with activity measurements

The First Episode Rapid Early Intervention for Eating Disorders - Upscaled study: Clinical outcomes

BACKGROUND: First Episode Rapid Early Intervention for Eating Disorders (FREED) is a service model and care pathway for emerging adults aged 16 to 25‐years with a recent onset eating disorder (ED) of <3 years. A previous single‐site study suggests that FREED significantly improves clinical outcomes compared to treatment‐as‐usual (TAU). The present study (FREED‐Up) assessed the scalability of FREED. A multi‐centre quasi‐experimental pre‐post design was used, comparing patient outcomes before and after implementation of FREED in participating services. METHODS: FREED patients (n = 278) were consecutive, prospectively ascertained referrals to four specialist ED services in England, assessed at four time points over 12 months on ED symptoms, mood, service utilization and cost. FREED patients were compared to a TAU cohort (n = 224) of similar patients, identified retrospectively from electronic patient records in participating services. All were emerging adults aged 16–25 experiencing a first episode ED of <3 years duration. RESULTS: Overall, FREED patients made significant and rapid clinical improvements over time. 53.2% of FREED patients with anorexia nervosa reached a healthy weight at the 12‐month timepoint, compared to only 17.9% of TAU patients (X2 [1, N = 107] = 10.46, p < .001). Significantly fewer FREED patients required intensive (i.e., in‐patient or day‐patient) treatment (6.6%) compared to TAU patients (12.4%) across the follow‐up period (X2 [1, N = 40] = 4.36, p = .037). This contributed to a trend in cost savings in FREED compared to TAU (−£4472, p = .06, CI −£9168, £233). DISCUSSION: FREED is robust and scalable and is associated with substantial improvements in clinical outcomes, reduction in inpatient or day‐patient admissions, and cost‐savin