A Writer, an Editor, an Instructor, and an Alumna Walk into the Writing Center

As the writing center director, I believe our professional tutors provide valuable expert perspectives to student writers. They also help me mentor the peer tutors and push me to reevaluate our practices. They add staffing stability to the center (whose peer tutors never stay for more than three years). Finally, these trusted writing experts professionalize the writing center’s status among administration, faculty, and students. In the following paragraphs, Amy, Ellen, Chris, and Lindsey illustrate the rich variety of skills and perspectives professional writing tutors can contribute to a writing centerUniversity Writing Cente

On the Map: Charting the Landscape of Girl Work

This document presents the United Nations Foundation (UNF) and the International Center for Research on Women (ICRW) and how they have worked for many years to advance girls around the world. Recognizing the recent growth in girl-related attention and investment, ICRW undertook an initial mapping exercise in 2009 to understand more about the current landscape of "girl work" in the developing world. This paper presents the key findings from this exercise, describing what we have learned about the donors and organizations engaged in girl work, the policy and program efforts underway, and current and future directions for the field. It is hoped that the findings and considerations emerging from this mapping exercise will contribute toward a more strategic and coordinated effort to mobilize additional actors, resources and ideas on behalf of girls around the worl

The use of complementary and alternative medicine among california adults with and without cancer.

This article examines the extent and correlates of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use among a population-based sample of California adults that is highly diverse in terms of sociodemographic characteristics and health status. As a follow-up to a state-wide health survey of 55,428 people, 9187 respondents were interviewed by phone regarding their use of 11 different types of CAM providers, special diets, dietary supplements, mind-body interventions, self-prayer and support groups. The sample included all participants in the initial survey who reported a diagnosis of cancer, all the non-white respondents, as well as a random sample of all the white respondents. The relation of CAM use to the respondents' demographic characteristics and health status is assessed. CAM use among Californians is generally high, and the demographic factors associated with high rates of CAM use are the same in California as have been found in other studies. Those reporting a diagnosis of cancer and those who report other chronic health problems indicate a similar level of visits to CAM providers. However, those with cancer are less likely to report using special diets, and more likely to report using support groups and prayer. Health status, gender, ethnicity and education have an independent impact upon CAM use among those who are healthy as well as those who report suffering from chronic health problems, although the precise relation varies by the type of CAM used

Entrapment of Bacteria in Fluid Inclusions in Laboratory-Grown Halite

This is the publisher's version, also available electronically from "http://online.liebertpub.com".Cells of the bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which were genetically modified to produce green fluorescent protein, were entrapped in fluid inclusions in laboratory-grown halite. The bacteria were used to inoculate NaCl-saturated aqueous solutions, which were allowed to evaporate and precipitate halite. The number, size, and distribution of fluid inclusions were highly variable, but did not appear to be affected by the presence of the bacteria. Many of the inclusions in crystals from inoculated solutions contained cells in populations ranging from two to 20. Microbial attachment to crystal surfaces was neither evident nor necessary for entrapment. Cells occurred exclusively within fluid inclusions and were not present in the crystal matrix. In both the inclusions and the hypersaline solution, the cells fluoresced and twitched, which indicates that the bacteria might have remained viable after entrapment. The fluorescence continued up to 13 months after entrapment, which indicates that little degradation of the bacteria occurred over that time interval. The entrapment, fluorescence, and preservation of cells were independent of the volume of hypersaline solution used or whether the solutions were completely evaporated prior to crystal extraction. The results of this study have a wide range of implications for the long-term survival of microorganisms in fluid inclusions and their detection through petrography. The results also demonstrate the preservation potential for microbes in hypersaline fluid inclusions, which could allow cells to survive harsh conditions of space, the deep geologic past, or burial in sedimentary basins

Use of a Pressure Guidewire to Assess Pulmonary Artery Band Adequacy in the Hybrid Stage I Procedure for High‐risk Neonates with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome and Variants

Objective The hybrid stage I procedure is an alternative palliative strategy for patients with hypoplastic left heart syndrome who traditionally have undergone the N orwood operation. At our institution, the hybrid stage I procedure is employed only for patients with high operative risk. Our objective was to describe our use of a pressure guidewire during the hybrid stage I procedure to assess quantitatively pulmonary artery band adequacy. Design After reviewing the charts on all high‐risk patients who underwent a hybrid stage I procedure at our institution, we compared two groups of patients: those who underwent the standard hybrid stage I palliation (standard cohort) and those with pressure wire‐facilitated assessment of distal branch pulmonary artery pressure (pressure wire cohort) to evaluate the impact of pressure guidewire use on procedural risk, radiation time, patient outcomes, and need for reoperation for pulmonary artery band adjustment. Results The pressure guidewire was used in 8 of 14 patients at the time of hybrid stage I procedure and was successful and without complication in all attempts. In the standard cohort, 67% of patients needed reoperation for pulmonary artery band adjustment, compared to 12.5% of patients in the pressure wire cohort ( P =.09). Procedure time, radiation exposure, and survival to hospital discharge were not different between groups. Conclusions This novel use of a pressure guidewire to assess quantitatively pulmonary artery band adequacy at the time of placement is feasible, safe and may decrease the need for reoperation for pulmonary artery band adjustment.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/97511/1/chd12005.pd

The Impact of Electrical Stimulation and Exercise on Independent Static Standing Balance

Purpose: Maintaining balance requires a complex integration of input from multiple sensory systems. Studies have shown positive effects of using transcutaneous electrical stimulation (TENS) and neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) to enhance somatosensory feedback and muscular strength associated with balance. The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of electrical stimulation on independent standing balance during single leg stance (SLS) using either NMES with exercise, TENS with exercise, or exercise alone. Subjects: Fourteen subjects were recruited through a convenience sample on the University of Puget Sound campus. Methods: Randomized control trial. Subjects participated in this study five times per week for a total of six weeks. Participants were randomly assigned into each group: NMES with home exercise program (HEP),TENS with HEP and HEP-only. The experimental groups performed 60 minutes of electrical stimulation. All groups received the same HEP. SLS balance assessment was performed on each participant at one and six weeks. Results: Change in SLS over time showed no significant difference (p=0.67; power=0.10). There was no significant difference between groups (p=0.96; power=0.05). There was a significant difference in SLS time between eyes open versus eyes closed (p Conclusions: There was no significant difference in SLS time with the use of NMES, TENS or exercise alone. Relevance: This study suggests that applying electrical stimulation with described protocols may not have an effect on independent static standing balance. Further research should be done that incorporates other protocols and parameters

A Delphi process to address medication appropriateness for older persons with multiple chronic conditions

BACKGROUND: Frameworks exist to evaluate the appropriateness of medication regimens for older patients with multiple medical conditions (MCCs). Less is known about how to translate the concepts of the frameworks into specific strategies to identify and remediate inappropriate regimens. METHODS: Modified Delphi method involving iterative rounds of input from panel members. Panelists (n = 9) represented the disciplines of nursing, medicine and pharmacy. Included among the physicians were two geriatricians, one general internist, one family practitioner, one cardiologist and two nephrologists. They participated in 3 rounds of web-based anonymous surveys. RESULTS: The panel reached consensus on a set of markers to identify problems with medication regimens, including patient/caregiver report of non-adherence, medication complexity, cognitive impairment, medications identified by expert opinion as inappropriate for older persons, excessively tight blood sugar and blood pressure control among persons with diabetes mellitus, patient/caregiver report of adverse medication effects or medications not achieving desired outcomes, and total number of medications. The panel also reached consensus on approaches to address these problems, including endorsement of strategies to discontinue medications with known benefit if necessary because of problems with feasibility or lack of alignment with patient goals. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the Delphi process provide the basis for an algorithm to improve medication regimens among older persons with MCCs. The algorithm will require assessment not only of medications and diagnoses but also cognition and social support, and it will support discontinuation of medications both when risks outweigh benefits and when regimens are not feasible or do not align with goals