The Multiple Dimensions of Child Abuse and Neglect: New Insights Into an Old Problem

Outlines the long-term health and cognitive effects and developmental delays that can result from child maltreatment. Makes a case for incorporating child well-being indicators into agencies' databases to monitor and address the needs of at-risk children

Original stories for grade II /

Thesis (Ed. M.)--Boston University, 1949. This item was digitized by the Internet Archive

Microbial growth and spoilage of vacuum packaged country ham slices as affected by preservation treatment

In recent years there has been a trend to reduce the amount of salt and nitrate/nitrite used to produce country cured hams to yield a more moist and mild product. It was thought that this practice has caused problems in maintaining ambient temperature shelf life of vacuum packaged country ham slices. Twelve country hams were collected from a Tennessee country ham producer at a plant experiencing chronic problems in maintaining shelf life of vacuum pack aged country ham slices. Hams collected were in the range of 3.78 to 6.04% (mean) salt. Six center cut slices were cut from each ham and vacuum packaged at the plant site using the exact manner used for hams going to retail sales. Slices were transported to the University of Tennessee laboratories where they were incubated at 28°C for 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6 weeks. Chemical and microbiological test were preformed on the ham slices to determine of there was a relationship between spoilage characteristics and the level of preservatives present. Chemical analysis revealed that the preservatives levels present at the range examined would not prevent spoilage of product. Microbial loads of hams were high initially and increased rapidly in the first week. It was found that hams above 4.5% salt content did not show spoilage characteristics such as distention of package and strong odors until after the second week of incubation. Hams having less than 4.5% salt, began to have off-odors and swelling of packages within one week. Nitrate had the greatest decrease in levels between day 1 and week 1, with a subsequent increase during the second to sixth week storage periods. One reason for this may be that there was generally a decrease in moisture content over the storage period, thus reducing the weight of the sample and concentrating nitrate. Concurrently as nitrate decreased, nitrite increased. This was possibly due to the reduction of nitrate to nitrite by bacteria present in the ham. Ambient temperature storage of ham slices having less than 4.5% salt will not give a satisfactory product for more than one week

Deep Learning How to Fit an Intravoxel Incoherent Motion Model to Diffusion-Weighted MRI

Purpose: This prospective clinical study assesses the feasibility of training a deep neural network (DNN) for intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) model fitting to diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI) data and evaluates its performance. Methods: In May 2011, ten male volunteers (age range: 29 to 53 years, mean: 37 years) underwent DW-MRI of the upper abdomen on 1.5T and 3.0T magnetic resonance scanners. Regions of interest in the left and right liver lobe, pancreas, spleen, renal cortex, and renal medulla were delineated independently by two readers. DNNs were trained for IVIM model fitting using these data; results were compared to least-squares and Bayesian approaches to IVIM fitting. Intraclass Correlation Coefficients (ICC) were used to assess consistency of measurements between readers. Intersubject variability was evaluated using Coefficients of Variation (CV). The fitting error was calculated based on simulated data and the average fitting time of each method was recorded. Results: DNNs were trained successfully for IVIM parameter estimation. This approach was associated with high consistency between the two readers (ICCs between 50 and 97%), low intersubject variability of estimated parameter values (CVs between 9.2 and 28.4), and the lowest error when compared with least-squares and Bayesian approaches. Fitting by DNNs was several orders of magnitude quicker than the other methods but the networks may need to be re-trained for different acquisition protocols or imaged anatomical regions. Conclusion: DNNs are recommended for accurate and robust IVIM model fitting to DW-MRI data. Suitable software is available at (1)

Using Choral Reading to Improve Reading Fluency of Students with Exceptionalities

Despite the existence of a continuum of modeling reading methods (e.g., sustained silent reading, paired reading, repeated reading, and others), the goal of modeling strategies continues to be to prepare learners to read with ease and enjoyment, while gaining content knowledge for academic success. Moving to increasingly more reading independence on the part of the student is a critical goal for emergent readers, and those with exceptionalities. Reducing modeling by the teacher and increasing modeling by other students may lead to greater reading fluency and overall reading achievement and satisfaction. In this paper, the author suggests that choral reading, a major teaching and learning strategy, may not only increase the rate of reading, but also word recognition, comprehension, and academic achievement among students with exceptionalities

The role of alcohol response phenotypes in the risk for alcohol use disorder

Heavy alcohol use is pervasive and one of our most significant global health burdens. Early theories posited that certain alcohol response phenotypes, notably low sensitivity to alcohol (‘low-level response’) imparts risk for alcohol use disorder (AUD). However, other theories, and newer measures of subjective alcohol responses, have challenged that contention and argued that high sensitivity to some alcohol effects are equally important for AUD risk. This study presents results of a unique longitudinal study in 294 young adult non-dependent drinkers examined with alcohol and placebo testing in the laboratory at initial enrolment and repeated 5 years later, with regular follow-up intervals assessing AUD (trial registration: http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00961792). Findings showed that alcohol sedation was negatively correlated with stimulation across the breath alcohol curve and at initial and re-examination testing. A higher rather than lower alcohol response phenotype was predictive of future AUD. The findings underscore a new understanding of factors increasing vulnerability to AUD