Parents\u27 Perceptions of Life Skill Development and Satisfaction With Utah 4-H

The 4-H program is the nation’s largest youth development program with near six million members nationwide. Utah 4-H provides this program to the residents of Utah through Utah State University’s Extension Service. The program focuses on teaching life skills to youth to prepare them for their future using hands on educational programs tied to project areas, or particular topics like equine science or fine arts. Utah 4-H has many different stakeholders, one of which being the parents of its members. For youth programs to continue to be successful, these programs must show stakeholders their significance and ensure that its audience is meeting desired outcomes. The purpose of this study was to evaluate parents’ perceptions of Utah 4-H. To accomplish this the study sought to identify emerging issues impacting youth, parent perceptions of life skills development, and parent satisfaction with Utah 4-H. Parents perceived that Utah 4-H should create programs addressing health, appropriate technology use, mental health, and financial literacy. As for life skill development, all 36 life skill presented showed a need for further development from Utah 4-H. Through reallocation of resources and policy changes, Utah 4-H can better teach life skills to its members. With the exception of one item, parents were moderately satisfied with Utah 4-H on each component of the program presented and overall, as well

Health and cancer prevention: knowledge and beliefs of children and young people

Objective: To collect information from children and young people about their knowledge of and attitudes towards cancer and their understanding of health and health related behaviours to inform future health promotion work. Design: Questionnaire survey of 15-16 year olds, and interviews with play materials with 9-10 year old children. Setting: Six inner city, suburban, and rural schools. Subjects: 226 children aged 15-16 years and 100 aged 9-10 years. Main outcome measures: Knowledge about different types of cancer; beliefs about health; sources of information; quality of research data obtainable from young children about cancer and health. Results: Both samples knew most about lung cancer, but there was also some knowledge of breast and skin cancer and leukaemia. Smoking, together with pollution and other environmental factors, were seen as the dominant causes of cancer. Environmental factors were mentioned more often by the inner city samples. Television and the media were the most important sources of information. Young people were more worried about unemployment than about ill health. More than half the young people did not describe their health as good, and most said they did not have a healthy lifestyle. Children were able to provide detailed information about their knowledge and understanding by using drawings as well as interviews. Conclusions: Children and young people possess considerable knowledge about cancer, especially about lung cancer and smoking, and show considerable awareness of predominant health education messages. Despite this knowledge, many lead less than healthy lifestyles. Health is not seen as the most important goal in life by many young people; the circumstances in which many children and young people live are not experienced as health promoting

Tracking performance with two breathing oxygen concentrations after high altitude rapid decompression

Current military aircraft Liquid Oxygen (LOX) systems supply 99.5 pct. gaseous Aviator's Breathing Oxygen (ABO) to aircrew. Newer Molecular Sieve Oxygen Generation Systems (MSOGS) supply breathing gas concentration of 93 to 95 pct. O2. The margin is compared of hypoxia protection afforded by ABO and MSOGS breathing gas after a 5 psi differential rapid decompression (RD) in a hypobaric research chamber. The barometric pressures equivalent to the altitudes of 46000, 52000, 56000, and 60000 ft were achieved from respective base altitudes in 1 to 1.5 s decompressions. During each exposure, subjects remained at the simulated peak altitude breathing either 100 or 94 pct. O2 with positive pressure for 60 s, followed by a rapid descent to 40000 ft. Subjects used the Tactical Life Support System (TLSS) for high altitude protection. Subcritical tracking task performance on the Performance Evaluation Device (PED) provided psychomotor test measures. Overall tracking task performance results showed no differences between the MSOGS breathing O2 concentration of 94 pct. and ABO. Significance RMS error differences were found between the ground level and base altitude trials compared to peak altitude trials. The high positive breathing pressures occurring at the peak altitudes explained the differences

Structural insights into omega-class glutathione transferases: a snapshot of enzyme reduction and identification of a non-catalytic ligandin site

Glutathione transferases (GSTs) are dimeric enzymes containing one active-site per monomer. The omega-class GSTs (hGSTO1-1 and hGSTO2-2 in humans) are homodimeric and carry out a range of reactions including the glutathione-dependant reduction of a range of compounds and the reduction of S-(phenacyl)glutathiones to acetophenones. Both types of reaction result in the formation of a mixed-disulfide of the enzyme with glutathione through the catalytic cysteine (C32). Recycling of the enzyme utilizes a second glutathione molecule and results in oxidized glutathione (GSSG) release. The crystal structure of an active-site mutant (C32A) of the hGSTO1-1 isozyme in complex with GSSG provides a snapshot of the enzyme in the process of regeneration. GSSG occupies both the G (GSH-binding) and H (hydrophobic-binding) sites and causes re-arrangement of some H-site residues. In the same structure we demonstrate the existence of a novel "ligandin" binding site deep within in the dimer interface of this enzyme, containing S-(4-nitrophenacyl)glutathione, an isozyme-specific substrate for hGSTO1-1. The ligandin site, conserved in Omega class GSTs from a range of species, is hydrophobic in nature and may represent the binding location for tocopherol esters that are uncompetitive hGSTO1-1 inhibitors.This work was supported by National Health and Medical Research Council Project Grant 366731. AJO is supported by an Australian Research Council Future Fellowship FT0990287

Design Considerations for 1-3 Composites Used in Transducers for Medical Ultrasonic Imaging

Ceramic polymer piezoelectric composites with 1-3 connectivity have become an important tool in the design and manufacture of thickness-mode transducers for medical diagnostic ultrasonic imaging. The authors compare annular array transducers made from ceramics alone to those made with these composites to demonstrate the advantages of composites. They examine some of the trade-offs involved in optimizing composite designs for this application. The effects of varying Young\u27s modulus and Poisson\u27s ratio of the polymer phase on the coupling coefficient and high-frequency lateral resonances of the composite are presente

ISO/IEC 15504 measurement applied to COBIT process maturity

Purpose: The assessment of COBIT process maturity levels is fraught with a number of problems regarding the objectivity of the assessment results. Unlike ISO/IEC 15504, COBIT does not define an assessment model. The purpose of this paper is to align the behavioural aspects of the six COBIT process attributes with achievement results defined for the nine process attributes associated with the ISO/IEC 15504-2 measurement scale. The authors believe that this alignment permits a translation of the ISO/IEC 15504 assessment data into an objective COBIT process maturity rating. Design/methodology/approach: The tables presented in the paper identify the COBIT process attributes, the applicable ISO/IEC 15504 process attribute achievement results and the aggregated rating that pertains to the selected achievement results. A final table lists the derived COBIT process maturity level in terms of the ratings for the ISO/IEC 15504 process attribute achievement results for an assessed process. Findings: The objectivity of the aggregated result (COBIT process maturity level) appeals strongly to end-users of this measurement result, particularly where contractual obligations must be satisfied. Practical implications: The method is useful where measurement rigour must be demonstrated in the computation of the COBIT process maturity levels. Originality/value: This assessment and computational method was developed and trialled in the second half of 2010 in the context of the assessment of 13 information technology (IT) service management processes at two different customer sites. The material is of special value to service managers in companies that have outsourced IT service management processes to external IT service providers. © Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Design, synthesis and characterization of sequence-specific DNA-cleaving metalloproteins

This thesis describes research pursued in two areas, both involving the design and synthesis of sequence specific DNA-cleaving proteins. The first involves the use of sequence-specific DNA-cleaving metalloproteins to probe the structure of a protein-DNA complex, and the second seeks to develop cleaving moieties capable of DNA cleavage through the generation of a non-diffusible oxidant under physiological conditions. Chapter One provides a brief review of the literature concerning sequence-specific DNA-binding proteins. Chapter Two summarizes the results of affinity cleaving experiments using leucine zipper-basic region (bZip) DNA-binding proteins. Specifically, the NH_2-terminal locations of a dimer containing the DNA binding domain of the yeast transcriptional activator GCN4 were mapped on the binding sites 5'-CTGACTAAT-3' and 5'ATGACTCTT- 3' using affinity cleaving. Analysis of the DNA cleavage patterns from Fe•EDTA-GCN4(222-281) and (226-281) dimers reveals that the NH_2-termini are in the major groove nine to ten base pairs apart and symmetrically displaced four to five base pairs from the central C of the recognition site. These data are consistent with structural models put forward for this class of DNA binding proteins. The results of these experiments are evaluated in light of the recently published crystal structure for the GCN4-DNA complex. Preliminary investigations of affinity cleaving proteins based on the DNA-binding domains of the bZip proteins Jun and Fos are also described. Chapter Three describes experiments demonstrating the simultaneous binding of GCN4(226-281) and 1-Methylimidazole-2-carboxamide-netropsin (2-ImN), a designed synthetic peptide which binds in the minor groove of DNA at 5'-TGACT-3' sites as an antiparallel, side-by-side dimer. Through the use of Fe•EDTA-GCN4(226-281) as a sequence-specific footprinting agent, it is shown that the dimeric protein GCN4(226-281) and the dimeric peptide 2- ImN can simultaneously occupy their common binding site in the major and minor grooves of DNA, respectively. The association constants for 2-ImN in the presence and in the absence of Fe•EDTA-GCN4(226-281) are found to be similar, suggesting that the binding of the two dimers is not cooperative. Chapter Four describes the synthesis and characterization of PBA-β-OH-His- Hin(139-190), a hybrid protein containing the DNA-binding domain of Hin recombinase and the putative iron-binding and oxygen-activating domain of the antitumor antibiotic bleomycin. This 54-residue protein, comprising residues 139-190 of Hin recombinase with the dipeptide pyrimidoblamic acid-β-hydroxy-L-histidine (PBA-β-OH-His) at the NH2 terminus, was synthesized by solid phase methods. PBA-β-OH-His-Hin(139- 190) binds specifically to DNA at four distinct Hin binding sites with affinities comparable to those of the unmodified Hin(139-190). In the presence of dithiothreitol (DTT), Fe•PB-β-OH-His-Hin(139-190) cleaves DNA with specificity remarkably similar to that of Fe•EDTA-Hin(139-190), although with lower efficiency. Analysis of the cleavage pattern suggests that DNA cleavage is mediated through a diffusible species, in contrast with cleavage by bleomycin, which occurs through a non-diffusible oxidant. </p

The role of launch planning in the early commercial success of high technology products

This thesis examines the association between launch planning and the early commercial success of high-tech products. The literature suggests that the launch phase is of great importance to new product success and that launch planning is a critical issue. The high cost of most launches also places a premium upon undertaking this activity effectively. A sample of 30 firms was drawn from the population of UK, mid-sized electronics companies. This group was chosen because of its importance to the national economy and its innovative record. Data was gathered by personal interviews with marketing directors and managers. Respondents were asked to nominate a successful new product launch to serve as a case example. Performance was measured on a dependent variable designed to capture the degree of commercial success one year after launch. Analysis of the contribution of the independent variables to success was by means of parametric & non-parametric statistical tests, complemented by verbatim records. The results of the research strongly confirm the hypothesised association between more sophisticated planning and superior new product commercial performance. Additionally, a more concentrated marketing strategy (incorporating: 'ambition', 'effort', and 'focus') was also associated with better performance. However, contrary to expectations, sophisticated planning was the senior partner having a much stronger relationship with success. The implication is that the planning process is more important than the content of the marketing strategy. Consequently, the findings provide strong support for the proposition that a sophisticated, well executed launch planning process is a vital contributor to the early success of new high-tech products. Planning pays! The practical implications of the findings are that firms should devote more attention to their launch planning. Not simply by formalising the process, but with measures designed to improve information gathering, participation from inside and outside the firm, monitoring & control and a willingness to adapt the plans during the post-launch phase. It was found that most of the sample companies were trying to implement similar marketing strategies. What has the greatest impact upon launch success is the attention given to the planning process over both planning initiation and implementation (ie the pre & post launch phases). From a theoretical perspective the thesis has contributed to three areas - (1) Contrary to the emphasis given by some researchers to the pre-development stages of NPD, this study indicates that it is just as important to effectively execute the latter stages. (2) It demonstrates the value of measuring planning as a dynamic, multi-dimensional process extending over both initiation and implementation phases. (3) The results indicate that launch planning practices can have a more significant impact upon early commercial success than the realized strategy ie 'process' can be more important than 'content'

Does achieving the best practice tariff improve outcomes in hip fracture patients? An observational cohort study

Objectives: To determine if the introduction of the best practice tariff (BPT) has improved survival of the elderly hip fracture population, or if achieving BPT results in improved survival for an individual. Setting: A single university-affiliated teaching hospital. Participants: 2,541 patients aged over 60 admitted with a neck of femur fracture between 2008 and 2010 and from 2012 to 2014 were included, to create two cohorts of patients, before and after the introduction of BPT. The post-BPT cohort was divided into two groups, those who achieved the criteria and those who did not. Primary and Secondary Outcome Measures: Primary outcomes of interest were differences in mortality across cohorts. Secondary analysis was performed to identify associations between individual BPT criteria and mortality. Results: The introduction of BPT did not significantly alter overall 30-mortality in the hip fracture population (8.3% pre-BPT vs 10.0% post-BPT; p = 0.128). Neither was there a significant reduction in length of stay (15 days (IQR 9-21) pre-BPT vs 14 days (IQR 11-22); p=0.236). However, the introduction of BPT was associated with a reduction in the time from admission to theatre (median 44hours pre-BPT (IQR 24-44) vs 23hours post-BPT (IQR 17-30); p<0.005). 30-day mortality in those who achieved BPT was significantly lower (6.0% vs 21.0% in those who did not achieve-BPT; p < 0.005). There was a survival benefit at one year for those who achieved BPT (28.6% vs 42.0% did not achieve-BPT; p<0.005). Multivariate logistic regression revealed that of the BPT criteria, AMT monitoring and expedited surgery were the only BPT criteria that significantly influenced survival. Conclusion: The introduction of the BPT has not led to a demonstrable improvement in outcomes at organisational level, though other factors may have confounded any benefits. However, patients where BPT criteria are met appear to have improved outcomes