Perceived Impacts of a Public Health Training Center Field Placement Program among Trainees: Findings from a Small Group Externship Experience

There is heightened interest in identifying the impact of the federally-funded Public Health Training Center (PHTC) program. Although evaluation studies have been conducted of public health training in general, evaluations of PHTC programs are rare. Field placement components are Congressionally-mandated requirements of PHTCs. Field placements are typically intensive, supervised externships for students to gain public health experience with local health departments or non-profit organizations. We have found no published evaluations of PHTC field placement components. This may be because of their small size and unique nature. We designed and evaluated a 200-hour field placement program at an established Public Health Training Center. The evaluation included pre/post surveys measuring public health core competencies, and post-experience interviews. We found significant increases in three competency domains among trainees: policy development and program planning, communication skills, and community dimensions of practice. These outcomes contribute to an evidence base on the efficacy of PHTC field placement programs, and underscore their role in public health training

Metabolomics reveals mouse plasma metabolite responses to acute exercise and effects of disrupting AMPK-glycogen interactions

Introduction: The AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a master regulator of energy homeostasis that becomes activated by exercise and binds glycogen, an important energy store required to meet exercise-induced energy demands. Disruption of AMPK-glycogen interactions in mice reduces exercise capacity and impairs whole-body metabolism. However, the mechanisms underlying these phenotypic effects at rest and following exercise are unknown. Furthermore, the plasma metabolite responses to an acute exercise challenge in mice remain largely uncharacterized. Methods: Plasma samples were collected from wild type (WT) and AMPK double knock-in (DKI) mice with disrupted AMPK-glycogen binding at rest and following 30-min submaximal treadmill running. An untargeted metabolomics approach was utilized to determine the breadth of plasma metabolite changes occurring in response to acute exercise and the effects of disrupting AMPK-glycogen binding. Results: Relative to WT mice, DKI mice had reduced maximal running speed (p < 0.0001) concomitant with increased body mass (p < 0.01) and adiposity (p < 0.001). A total of 83 plasma metabolites were identified/annotated, with 17 metabolites significantly different (p < 0.05; FDR<0.1) in exercised (↑6; ↓11) versus rested mice, including amino acids, acylcarnitines and steroid hormones. Pantothenic acid was reduced in DKI mice versus WT. Distinct plasma metabolite profiles were observed between the rest and exercise conditions and between WT and DKI mice at rest, while metabolite profiles of both genotypes converged following exercise. These differences in metabolite profiles were primarily explained by exercise-associated increases in acylcarnitines and steroid hormones as well as decreases in amino acids and derivatives following exercise. DKI plasma showed greater decreases in amino acids following exercise versus WT. Conclusion: This is the first study to map mouse plasma metabolomic changes following a bout of acute exercise in WT mice and the effects of disrupting AMPK-glycogen interactions in DKI mice. Untargeted metabolomics revealed alterations in metabolite profiles between rested and exercised mice in both genotypes, and between genotypes at rest. This study has uncovered known and previously unreported plasma metabolite responses to acute exercise in WT mice, as well as greater decreases in amino acids following exercise in DKI plasma. Reduced pantothenic acid levels may contribute to differences in fuel utilization in DKI mice

Perceived impacts of a Public Health Training Center field placement program among trainees: findings from a small group externship experience

There is heightened interest in identifying the impact of the federally funded Public Health Training Center (PHTC) program. Although evaluation studies have been conducted of public health training in general, evaluations of PHTC programs are rare. Field placement components are congressionally mandated requirements of PHTCs. Field placements are typically intensive, supervised externships for students to gain public health experience with local health departments or non-profit organizations. We have found no published evaluations of PHTC field placement components. This may be because of their small size and unique nature. We designed and evaluated a 200-h field placement program at an established PHTC. The evaluation included pre/post surveys measuring public health core competencies, and post-experience interviews.We found significant increases in three competency domains among trainees: policy development and program planning, communication skills, and community dimensions of practice. These outcomes contribute to evidence based on the efficacy of PHTC field placement programs, and underscore their role in public health training

Perceived impacts of a Public Health Training Center field placement program among trainees: findings from a small group externship experience

There is heightened interest in identifying the impact of the federally funded Public Health Training Center (PHTC) program. Although evaluation studies have been conducted of public health training in general, evaluations of PHTC programs are rare. Field placement components are congressionally mandated requirements of PHTCs. Field placements are typically intensive, supervised externships for students to gain public health experience with local health departments or non-profit organizations. We have found no published evaluations of PHTC field placement components. This may be because of their small size and unique nature. We designed and evaluated a 200-h field placement program at an established PHTC. The evaluation included pre/post surveys measuring public health core competencies, and post-experience interviews.We found significant increases in three competency domains among trainees: policy development and program planning, communication skills, and community dimensions of practice. These outcomes contribute to evidence based on the efficacy of PHTC field placement programs, and underscore their role in public health training

Metabolomics reveals mouse plasma metabolite responses to acute exercise and effects of disrupting AMPK-glycogen interactions

Introduction: The AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a master regulator of energy homeostasis that becomes activated by exercise and binds glycogen, an important energy store required to meet exercise-induced energy demands. Disruption of AMPK-glycogen interactions in mice reduces exercise capacity and impairs whole-body metabolism. However, the mechanisms underlying these phenotypic effects at rest and following exercise are unknown. Furthermore, the plasma metabolite responses to an acute exercise challenge in mice remain largely uncharacterized. Methods : Plasma samples were collected from wild type (WT) and AMPK double knock-in (DKI) mice with disrupted AMPK-glycogen binding at rest and following 30-min submaximal treadmill running. An untargeted metabolomics approach was utilized to determine the breadth of plasma metabolite changes occurring in response to acute exercise and the effects of disrupting AMPK-glycogen binding. Results: Relative to WT mice, DKI mice had reduced maximal running speed (p \u3c 0.0001) concomitant with increased body mass (p \u3c 0.01) and adiposity (p \u3c 0.001). A total of 83 plasma metabolites were identified/annotated, with 17 metabolites significantly different (p \u3c 0.05; FDR \u3c 0.1) in exercised (↑ 6; ↓ 11) versus rested mice, including amino acids, acylcarnitines and steroid hormones. Pantothenic acid was reduced in DKI mice versus WT. Distinct plasma metabolite profiles were observed between the rest and exercise conditions and between WT and DKI mice at rest, while metabolite profiles of both genotypes converged following exercise. These differences in metabolite profiles were primarily explained by exercise-associated increases in acylcarnitines and steroid hormones as well as decreases in amino acids and derivatives following exercise. DKI plasma showed greater decreases in amino acids following exercise versus WT. Conclusion : This is the first study to map mouse plasma metabolomic changes following a bout of acute exercise in WT mice and the effects of disrupting AMPK-glycogen interactions in DKI mice. Untargeted metabolomics revealed alterations in metabolite profiles between rested and exercised mice in both genotypes, and between genotypes at rest. This study has uncovered known and previously unreported plasma metabolite responses to acute exercise in WT mice, as well as greater decreases in amino acids following exercise in DKI plasma. Reduced pantothenic acid levels may contribute to differences in fuel utilization in DKI mice

Next-Step Option Physics (Grant ER54350)

Attachment: Sub-Critical Transmutation Reactors with Tokamak Fusion Neutron Sources / W. M. Stacey, J. Mandrekas and E. A. HoffmanFor more than a decade we have been involved in physics and design analysis of possible nextstep tokamak options, including first ITER, later FIRE and most recently a tokamak neutron source for a near-term transmutation reactor for burning the transuranics in spent nuclear fuel. We have also recently supported the National Transport Code Coordination activity under this grant. In recent years, much of the effort has been devoted to defining the physics and performance characteristics required of a tokamak fusion neutron source that could drive a sub-critical reactor for the transmutation of the transuranics in spent nuclear fuel. This document provides a final report for the activity in each of these areas for the last grant period.Grant ER5435

Stockyard Road, Siler City, North Carolina, Chatham County : a community assessment including secondary and qualitative data collection and analysis

Stockyard Road , a small, rural community in Southwestern Chatham County, North Carolina, is located three miles west of Siler City. We first met the residents of this community in August of 1997 when, as five first-year master’s students at the School of Public Health, we were assigned to Stockyard Road to conduct a “community diagnosis:” A community diagnosis... aims to understand many facets of a community including culture, values and norms, leadership and power structure, means of communication, helping patterns, important community institutions and history. A good diagnosis suggests what it is like to live in a community, what the important health problems in a community are, what interventions are most likely to be efficacious, and how the program would be best evaluated (Steuart, GW and Kark, SL, 1962). As we researched secondary data and talked with residents of Stockyard Road, we frequently struggled with the question of how to define the geographic and social boundaries of this community. None of the service providers that we spoke with actually described Stockyard Road as a "community." The residents themselves rarely used the term community to refer to Stockyard Road unless they were responding to one of our questions about it. Nonetheless, it is apparent that the residents who live here have a unified sense of where their community begins and ends, both in terms of physical and psychological boundaries. As one community member said, "I would say it's this area from highway 64 up to, ya know that intersection I told ya about [Bish Road]. It's not the whole Stockyard Road to me. Further up, that's a different community to me." Said another resident in regard to community boundaries "It's like the White and Black are separated and the people around the curve are separated." Although the primary concern of a community diagnosis is the health of the community, the process recognizes other aspects of a community that impact its wellness. Our team assessed the Stockyard Road community over the course of two semesters, collecting secondary data and interviewing 25 community members and service providers. In the fall, the major focus was on collecting quantitative data from a number of county, state and national sources. However, the conclusions we can draw from this data are limited. This limitation is partly due to the fact that most of the data were only available at the county level, and the demographics of Stockyard Road differ from other parts of Chatham County; namely, it is a small, predominantly African-American neighborhood. Thus, we have placed greater emphasis on the primary data collected during the spring semester through interviews with community members. During the course of interviewing, Stockyard Road residents graciously shared their thoughts and experiences with our team. The following summarizes several important findings that have emerged through observations and conversations with community members and service providers. Stockyard Road is comprised of primarily African American residents. Estimates suggest that there are approximately 60-70 individuals living within this community. Many of the community members have lived in the community all their lives and have extended family in the area. Two churches are located in the Stockyard Road community, the Unity Powerhouse Holiness Church and the Mt. Cavalry Holiness Church. Together these two churches offer a variety of activities and programs to residents. These include adult choirs, children’s choirs, women’s groups and weekly worship services. Stockyard Road residents have many individual talents and skills to offer the community. Residents play musical instruments, sing in the church choir, stake out vegetable gardens and run small businesses. Others find time to volunteer at local civic organizations and schools. The Stockyard Road community is located in an Extra Territorial Jurisdiction and is therefore not within the Siler City limits. This has both political implications and implications in terms of residents’ access to services (mail delivery, trash, sewage and water hook-up, etc.) In recent years, housing conditions in Stockyard Road have deteriorated. On March 10, 1998, ten homes in the area were officially condemned and occupants were issued eviction notices. Many residents in Stockyard Road lack indoor plumbing. As a result, some residents are forced to use neighbors’ facilities or one of two functioning outhouses. Crime and safety are also a major concern to residents of Stockyard Road. Some residents blame rising crime on a recent influx of inexpensive rental housing. Transportation is an issue for the many residents that do not own cars because there is no public transportation system in Chatham County. Many depend on neighbors to drive them to work, to buy groceries, or to receive medical care. Compared to nearby Siler City, there are few economic opportunities available to residents of Stockyard Road. Most of the employees who work at the Carolina Stockyards, located within the community, are from neighboring towns. Residents of Stockyard Road face many barriers to receiving adequate health care. These include lack of insurance, dissatisfaction with the quality of service and inaccessibility to services located in Pittsboro, Greensboro and Chapel Hill. Historically, Stockyard Road is a community that has garnered very little attention within Chatham County. Nonetheless, the complex social, economic and political issues facing this community pose serious challenges for Stockyard Road residents. By utilizing some of the existing resources and developing new ones, Stockyard Road can continue to strengthen community ties and move towards increased community cohesion.Master of Public Healt

The Optical/Infrared Astronomical Quality of High Atacama Sites. II. Infrared Characteristics

We discuss properties of the atmospheric water vapor above the high Andean plateau region known as the Llano de Chajnantor, in the Atacama Desert of northern Chile. A combination of radiometric and radiosonde measurements indicate that the median column of precipitable water vapor (PWV) above the plateau at an elevation of 5000 m is approximately 1.2 mm. The exponential scaleheight of the water vapor density in the median Chajnantor atmosphere is 1.13 km; the median PWV is 0.5 mm above an elevation of 5750 m. Both of these numbers appear to be lower at night. Annual, diurnal and other dependences of PWV and its scaleheight are discussed, as well as the occurrence of temperature inversion layers below the elevation of peaks surrounding the plateau. We estimate the background for infrared observations and sensitivities for broad band and high resolution spectroscopy. The results suggest that exceptional atmospheric conditions are present in the region, yielding high infrared transparency and high sensitivity for future ground-based infrared telescopes.Comment: 25 pages, 11 figures, to appear in the PASP (July 2001

Understanding Farmers’ Forecast Use from Their Beliefs, Values, Social Norms, and Perceived Obstacles

Although the accuracy of weather and climate forecasts is continuously improving and new information retrieved from climate data is adding to the understanding of climate variation, use of the forecasts and climate information by farmers in farming decisions has changed little. This lack of change may result from knowledge barriers and psychological, social, and economic factors that undermine farmer motivation to use forecasts and climate information. According to the theory of planned behavior (TPB), the motivation to use forecasts may arise from personal attitudes, social norms, and perceived control or ability to use forecasts in specific decisions. These attributes are examined using data from a survey designed around the TPB and conducted among farming communities in the region of eastern Nebraska and the western U.S. Corn Belt. There were three major findings: 1) the utility and value of the forecasts for farming decisions as perceived by farmers are, on average, around 3.0 on a 0–7 scale, indicating much room to improve attitudes toward the forecast value. 2) The use of forecasts by farmers to influence decisions is likely affected by several social groups that can provide “expert viewpoints” on forecast use. 3) A major obstacle, next to forecast accuracy, is the perceived identity and reliability of the forecast makers. Given the rapidly increasing number of forecasts in this growing service business, the ambiguous identity of forecast providers may have left farmers confused and may have prevented them from developing both trust in forecasts and skills to use them. These findings shed light on productive avenues for increasing the influence of forecasts, which may lead to greater farming productivity. In addition, this study establishes a set of reference points that can be used for comparisons with future studies to quantify changes in forecast use and influence