Implications of Gender and Racial Intersectionality in the K-8 Classroom

The purpose of this mixed methods study was to seek a better understanding of the phenomenon of intersectionality of gender and race/ethnicity as is it is experienced by White female K-8 teachers. The study explored the possibility that a positive relationship might exist between teachers\u27 intersectionality awareness and their dispositions as culturally responsive educators and social justice activists. Twenty-one K-8 classroom teachers from a Pacific Northwest metropolitan school district completed the web-based Identity and Equity Awareness Survey which included items related to participants\u27 equity training experience and perceived benefits. Additionally, thirteen items borrowed from social psychology and Women\u27s Studies research were related to participants\u27 understanding of intersecting social identities. Qualitative data were collected through participants\u27 written comments. Although a weak positive correlation (.20) was found between teachers\u27 amount and satisfaction with equity training experiences and their intersectionality awareness, discrepancies and contradictions found between the quantitative and qualitative data suggest that the survey instrument did not measure dispositions of culturally responsive educators. Furthermore, the findings suggest that teachers\u27 increased participation in standardized equity professional development increased their use of \u27equity speak\u27 and associated protocols. The equity language and protocols likely prevented teachers\u27 from developing the critical consciousness and authentic language needed to interrogate and contest the inequities they have learned to name. The implication being that the dominant culture epistemological approach to equity professional development reifies the systemic oppressions it claims to transform

Volumetric yield sensing in a combine harvester

This study focused on quantifying the engineering drivers for improving the accuracy of an optical beam-based yield monitor. The development of the single paddle test stand led to the quantification of the relationship between the output response of an optical beam-based mass flow sensor and a corresponding mass of grain traveling on an individual clean grain elevator paddle. The study optimized the design of the clean grain elevator paddle to reduce the variation in the output response from an optical beam-based mass flow sensor. The optimal location and adequate sampling frequency of the optical beam-based mass flow sensor, determined using the single paddle test stand, led to the development of two mass flow yield monitor algorithms. The study evaluated the two mass flow yield monitor algorithms against the Ag Leader and Raven Industries yield monitors. The results concluded that by applying a mass flow yield monitor algorithm utilizing a piecewise regression rather than a completely linear regression, a significant amount of error could be reduced across mass flow rates

Binding Interactions Between Mixed-Monlayer Functionalized Gold Nanoparticles (AuNPs) And the Serum Protein Albumin

This study investigated the protein adsorption interactions of bovine serum albumin (BSA) with three different functionalized 5 nm gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) in order to determine the binding affinity and total amount of protein adsorbed to each AuNP surface chemistry. AuNPs were synthesized using two different capping agents to display three different surface chemistries: a neutral ω-functionalized thiol ligand (mercapto-ethoxy-ethoxy-ethanol, MEEE), a thiol ligand that is negatively charged at pH 7.4 (mercaptohexanoic acid, MHA), and a mixture of the two ligands (mixed-ligand AuNPs). The interactions of this library of AuNPs with bovine serum albumin (BSA) were investigated using UV-visible absorbance spectroscopy, fluorescence titrations, dynamic light scattering (DLS), and a Bradford protein assay. Fluorescence titrations indicated that the binding affinity of BSA was higher for AuNPs with any negative surface charge density, and that the difference between Kas for the mixed-ligand AuNPs and the MHA-capped AuNPs was not significant. Ka for MHA, MEEE, and mixed-ligand AuNPs were 0.47 ± 0.02 nM-1, 0.40 ± 0.02 nM-1, and 0.48 ± 0.02 nM-1, respectively.Hill plot analysis of the fluorescence titration data indicated that for all three AuNP surface chemistries, BSA exhibited cooperative binding behavior. Measurement of the hydrodynamic diameter (Dh) by dynamic light scattering (DLS) suggests that 1 to 2 BSA molecules adsorb to each AuNP, but quantitation of the total protein adsorbed to each AuNP surface chemistry was not possible via Bradford assay due to an inability to adequately separate BSA-AuNP complexes from free BSA

Human germ cell tumours: expression of γ-glutamyl transpeptidase and sensitivity to cisplatin

Previous studies have shown that the enzyme γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) is essential for the nephrotoxicity of cisplatin. This study was designed to determine whether GGT activity is necessary for the therapeutic effect of the drug. The relationship between GGT expression and clinical response to platinum-based chemotherapy was examined in 41 human germ cell tumours. Sections of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tumours were immunohistochemically stained with an antibody directed against human GGT. There was no expression of GGT in any of the 17 seminomas or four dysgerminomas; whereas, 12/12 ovarian yolk sac tumours and 4/4 embryonal carcinomas of the testis were GGT-positive. In stage I tumours fewer tumour cells expressed GGT than in later stage tumours. In four germ cell tumours of mixed histology, the seminomatous and dysgerminoma areas were GGT-negative while the areas of the tumour with yolk sac or embryonal histology contained GGT-positive tumour cells. The patients with seminomas or dysgerminomas who were treated with cisplatin-based chemotherapy, all had a complete response despite the absence of GGT expression in these tumours. Fifteen of the 16 patients with yolk sac or embryonal carcinomas received cisplatin-based chemotherapy following surgery. Twelve had a complete response, while three failed to respond to platinum-based therapy. There was no correlation between the level of GGT-expression and response to therapy in this group. Three of the four patients with tumours of mixed histology were treated with cisplatin-based therapy, and had a complete response. Therefore, expression of GGT is not necessary for the therapeutic effect of cisplatin in germ cell tumours. The results from this study suggest that systemic inhibition of GGT would inhibit the nephrotoxic side-effect of cisplatin without interfering with its activity towards germ cell tumours. © 1999 Cancer Research Campaig

Removal of disinfection by-product precursors by activated carbon and MIEX(R)

Title from PDF of title page (University of Missouri--Columbia, viewed on May 23, 2012).The entire thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file; a non-technical public abstract appears in the public.pdf file.Thesis advisor: Dr. Thomas ClevengerIncludes bibliographical references."July 2011"The objective of this research was to investigate NOM removal with activated carbon and MIEX(R). Hydrophilic (HPI), hydrophobic (HPO), and transphilic (TPI) NOM was fractionated and subsequent DBP formation from these fractions was studied. Several new adsorptive materials (greensand, carbon nanotubes, iron impregnated activated carbon) were tested for DBP reduction potential. Reductions by the materials were poor and therefore the materials were not investigated further. Activated carbons, although similar in structure, perform differently from each other. Aqua Nuchar[copyright] and Hawkins Sabre Series[copyright] had greater than 30% difference in TTHM FP reduction under the same test conditions. None of the activated carbons investigated were found to have potential for brominated DBP precursor removal. When MIEX(R) (magnetic ion exchange) was compared to activated carbon with respect to NOM fraction removal, it was found that MIEX(R) removed more of the HPI and TPI fractions. This was represented well in DBP FP reductions specifically derived from reactions with NOM in these fractions. In particular, MIEX(R) decreased NOM in the HPI fraction only 10% more than activated carbon but decreased TTHM FP 34% greater than activated carbon. This suggests that MIEX(R) preferentially removes DBP precursors to a greater extent than activated carbon. MIEX(R) was also found to decrease formation of brominated DBPs. SUVA, UV254, DOC, and chlorine demand were all investigated as surrogate parameters for DBPs. UV254 was found to correlate best with DBP formation with 0.56<R2<0.80. UV254 absorbed by HPO NOM was found to correlate best with TTHM FP (R2=0.88) with HPI being poorly correlated (R2=0.20). THMs resulting from reactions with HPI NOM accounted for between 40% and 55% of THMs from all fractions

Le mal de vivre : comportements et idéations suicidaires chez les cégépiens de Montréal

Le suicide chez les jeunes est un sujet de préoccupation grandissant. Les suicides réussis ne représentent pourtant qu'une faible portion de l'ampleur du phénomène. Une recherche menée auprès de 666 cégépiens francophones fréquentant quatre C.E.G.E.P.s du territoire de Montréal révèle que 21,2 % d'entre eux disent avoir déjà fait l'expérience d'idéa-tions suicidaires sérieuses. 12.2 % ont vécu ces expériences au cours des douze derniers mois. Il y a également 3,6 % de cégépiens qui avouent avoir fait une tentative de suicide au cours de la même période et 8,1 % au cours de leur vie. Plus de la moitié des cégépiens disent également avoir vécu des obsessions suicidaires comme une peur ou une envie de se jeter devant le métro. La séparation des parents et une mauvaise santé représentent les deux facteurs de risque les plus sérieux. Près de trois quarts des gens qui ont eu des pensées suicidaires sérieuses ont pensé à des plans ou s'en s'ont confié à leur entourage. La réaction de l'entourage fut rapportée comme positive dans la moitié des cas seulement. Une entrevue clinique auprès de 25 répondants a permis de constater que les ideations suicidaires déclarées ont correspondu dans la presque totalité des cas à une période très angoissante. Le fait de penser au suicide a eu en contrepartie quelques effets positifs en faisant prendre conscience de la possibilité d'un contrôle sur sa destinée.Suicide among youth is a subject of growing concern. Successful suicides, however, represent only a slight part of the total problem. A study conducted with 666 francophones students attending four C.E.G.E.P. in the Montreal territory reveals that 21.2 % of them say that they have already experienced serious suicidal ideation. 12.2 % have had these experiences within the last twelve months. There are also 3.6 % of the students who admitted to having attempted suicide during the same period, and 8.1 % during their lifetime. More than half of the students say they also have experienced suicidal obsessions such as a fear or a desire to throw themselves in front of the metro. Parental separation and poor health represent the two most serious risk factors. Nearly three quarters of the people who have had serious suicidal thoughts have thought of plans or have confided them to members of their social circle... The reaction of the milieu was reported as positive in only half the cases. Clinical interviews with 25 of the respondents showed that the suicidal ideation reported, corresponded, in almost all cases, with a period of great anguish. The fact of thinking of suicide did have, on the other hand, some positive effects in producing awareness of the possibility of a control over one's destiny

Climate change could threaten blood supply by altering the distribution of vector-borne disease: an Australian case-study

BACKGROUND Climate change is expected to promote more intense and prolonged outbreaks of vector-borne disease, and alter the geographic boundaries of transmission. This has implications for the safety and supply of fresh blood products around the world. In Australia, a recent outbreak of dengue fever caused a prolonged regional shortage in the supply of fresh blood products. OBJECTIVE To highlight the potential for climate change to affect the safety and supply of blood globally through its impact on vector-borne disease, using the example of dengue in Australia as a case-study. DESIGN We modelled geographic regions in Australia suitable for dengue transmission over the coming century under four climate change scenarios, estimated changes to the population at risk and effect on blood supply. RESULTS Geographic regions with climates that are favourable to dengue transmission could expand to include large population centres in a number of currently dengue-free regions in Australia and reduce blood supply across several states. CONCLUSION Unless there is strong intergovernmental action on greenhouse gas reduction, there could be an eight-fold increase in the number of people living in dengue prone regions in Australia by the end of the century. Similar impacts will be experienced elsewhere and for other vector-borne diseases, with regions currently on the margins of transmission zones most affected. Globally, climate change is likely to compound existing problems of blood safety and supply in already endemic areas and cause future shortages in fresh blood products through its impact on transmission of vector-borne disease.This work was partially funded by the Australian Federal Government’s Garnaut Climate Change Review and the School of Medicine, University of Western Sydney internal grant scheme

The impact of heat on mortality and morbidity in the Greater Metropolitan Sydney Region: A case crossover analysis

Background: This study examined the association between unusually high temperature and daily mortality (1997-2007) and hospital admissions (1997-2010) in the Sydney Greater Metropolitan Region (GMR) to assist in the development of targeted health program

A comparison of methods for calculating population exposure estimates of daily weather for health research

BACKGROUND: To explain the possible effects of exposure to weather conditions on population health outcomes, weather data need to be calculated at a level in space and time that is appropriate for the health data. There are various ways of estimating exposure values from raw data collected at weather stations but the rationale for using one technique rather than another; the significance of the difference in the values obtained; and the effect these have on a research question are factors often not explicitly considered. In this study we compare different techniques for allocating weather data observations to small geographical areas and different options for weighting averages of these observations when calculating estimates of daily precipitation and temperature for Australian Postal Areas. Options that weight observations based on distance from population centroids and population size are more computationally intensive but give estimates that conceptually are more closely related to the experience of the population. RESULTS: Options based on values derived from sites internal to postal areas, or from nearest neighbour sites – that is, using proximity polygons around weather stations intersected with postal areas – tended to include fewer stations' observations in their estimates, and missing values were common. Options based on observations from stations within 50 kilometres radius of centroids and weighting of data by distance from centroids gave more complete estimates. Using the geographic centroid of the postal area gave estimates that differed slightly from the population weighted centroids and the population weighted average of sub-unit estimates. CONCLUSION: To calculate daily weather exposure values for analysis of health outcome data for small areas, the use of data from weather stations internal to the area only, or from neighbouring weather stations (allocated by the use of proximity polygons), is too limited. The most appropriate method conceptually is the use of weather data from sites within 50 kilometres radius of the area weighted to population centres, but a simpler acceptable option is to weight to the geographic centroid