Ecosystem Shock: The Devastating Impacts of Invasive Species on the Great Lakes Food Web

Gives an account of the changes to the Great Lakes ecosystem brought about by non-native aquatic species. Assesses the current and future impacts on fish communities and commercial fisheries. Provides policy and research recommendations

Mothers’ Investments in Child Health in the U.S. and U.K.: A Comparative Lens on the Immigrant 'Paradox'

Research on the immigrant paradox healthier behaviors and outcomes among more socioeconomically disadvantaged immigrants is mostly limited to the U.S. Hispanic population and to the study of birth outcomes. Using data from the Fragile Families Study and the Millennium Cohort Study, we expand our understanding of this phenomenon in several ways. First, we examine whether the healthier behaviors of Hispanic immigrant mothers extend to other foreign-born groups, including non-Hispanic immigrant mothers in the U.S. and white, South Asian, black African and Caribbean, and other (largely East Asian) immigrants in the U.K, including higher SES groups. Second, we consider not only the size of the paradox at the time of the child's birth, but also the degree of its persistence into early childhood. Third, we examine whether nativity disparities are weaker in the U.K., where a much stronger welfare state makes health information and care more readily accessible. Finally, we examine whether differences in mothers’ instrumental and social support both inside and out of the home can explain healthier behaviors among the foreign-born. The results suggest that healthier behaviors among immigrants are not limited to Hispanics or to low SES groups; that nativity differences are fairly persistent over time; that the immigrant advantage is equally strong in both countries; and that the composition and strength of mothers’ support plays a trivial explanatory role in both countries. These findings lead us to speculate that what underlies nativity differences in mothers’ health behaviors may be a strong parenting investment on the part of immigrants.Fragile Families Study, Millennium Cohort Study, immigrants, behavior

Developing an Impella Education Program for the Critical Care Registered Nurse

Every year, hundreds of thousands of patients have coronary angiograms performed in the United States. The Impella is a percutaneous ventricular support device that provides hemodynamic support for patients if hemodynamic instability occurs during the procedure. The critical care nurse is responsible for the recovery and management of the patient with the Impella device in place. The purpose of this scholarly project is to provide registered nurses (RN) who have not previously managed the Impella device with the appropriate education in order to demonstrate competency. The program demonstrated improved RN knowledge about the Impella and increased confidence when managing the Impella device and controller. King\u27s goal attainment theory was used as a framework to develop nurse-patient collaboration. Kirkpatrick\u27s 4-level training evaluation model provided the framework for evaluation of the RN educational program. The sources of evidence included literature and an expert panel that was recruited to evaluate the material prior to implementation of the educational program. The data were analyzed by comparing the results of the preeducational and posteducational questionnaires. The paired t test demonstrated statistical significance based on the scores from the pre- and post-tests taken by the RNs before and after the Impella educational program as p \u3c .001. Increased RN confidence was demonstrated by p \u3c .001, while a change in RN attitude towards the Impella established improvement by p \u3c .001. Providing professional development opportunities has been shown to benefit RNs to allow the delivery of safe care while allowing for positive social change by impacting patient lifestyle and outcomes

MODELING PHYSICAL CHANGES IN HSV GENOMES THAT OCCUR DURING LYTIC AND LATENT INFECTIONS: THE ROLE OF ICP0

Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) is a pervasive human pathogen that can establish both symptomatic productive infections and asymptomatic latent infections. During infection, the HSV genome undergoes physical changes that are regulated by cellular and viral proteins. These changes lead to either a template for genome replication during the productive cycle or a persistent stable genome configuration during latency. Changes in viral genomes and events leading to these changes during a particular life cycle are not clearly understood. Using both Gardella gel analysis for circular HSV genomes and restriction enzyme analysis for end-to-end linkages of HSV genomes, we show that HSV genomes circularize only in the absence of the HSV immediate early gene ICP0. In the presence of ICP0 genome circularization is inhibited. Although HSV replication has been previously thought to initiate by a theta mechanism from a circular genome template, these results suggest that HSV replication initiates from a linear genome template due to the presence of ICP0 during lytic infection. We also show that circular genomes are the stable form during long-term persistent infections that model latency. Because HSV genomes begin as linear, double-stranded DNA during infection, host cells may treat the ends of incoming genomes as DNA double strand breaks (DSB) and subsequently repair these ends by circularization of genomes. However, it is unclear if/how these DSB repair pathways contribute to the manipulation of HSV genome configurations during infection and how viral proteins, in particular ICP0, may alter/counteract this repair response to form a template for replication during the productive cycle. Here we show that the cellular DSB repair mechanism, non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ), is the major mechanism by which HSV genomes are circularized. ICP0 not only inhibits HSV genome circularization but also affects the abundance of proteins involved in NHEJ and the distribution of other repair proteins during infection. The study presented here begins to uncover how the interplay between host cell repair responses and the virus' reply to these responses contributes to forming either a genome template for replication during the productive cycle or a persistent stable configuration during latency

Teaching Listening in the Intermediate Grades of the Elementary School

In teaching music appreciation, the problem is to keep the child interested in the composition long enough to become familiar with it. Participating in a rhythmic activity naturally holds his attention in order that he may know how and when to respond. He doesn\u27t have to be forced into listening but listens in order to know what to do next to express himself; the music is his guide. Listening would be valuable in meeting the needs of all children. All children need to participate in music in some way. A few children are able to play instruments, others are able to sing well, but all are able to participate in listening. Moreover, since music itself is an ever-changing idiom, constant change takes place in its presentation. It is the purpose of this study to stress the importance of the listening lesson and the significant benefits that can be derived therefrom. This study will also deal with the methods of presentation used in the teaching of the listening lesson. Although children have varying abilities, every child has a capacity for the enjoyment of music. Listening to beautiful music is one of the means by which a child can derive pleasure. However, certain knowledge must be acquired, and necessary skills must be taught to aid in the child\u27s development and appreciation of music. It is the purpose of this study (1) to place emphasis on the importance and the need of the listening lesson and, (2) to provide basic examples of materials of instruction that can be used to implement the use of controlled listening in the fourth, fifth, and sixth grades of the elementary school; and (3) to suggest a plan for teaching music appreciation through the use of controlled listening

Graduate Recital: Blessed Are Those Who Mourn: A Journey of Grief and Hope

This program includes: Weep, O Mine Eyes (1599) Sicut Cervus (1604) “The Trumpet Shall Sound” from Messiah (1741) “Wie Lieblich sind deine wohnungen” from the A German Requiem (1865-1868) Great Is Thy Faithfulness (1923) Over the Rainbow (1939) Flying Free (1979) Inscription of Hope (1994) Keep Your Lamps (2003) O Love (2016) Those Who Mourn (2021) All Things New (2021) Hope Waits (2021

An evaluation of the viability of photovoltaics in residential schemes managed by UK registered social landlords

Global demands on fossil fuels require the investigation of renewable and viable alternative energy supplies. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has concluded that current consumption of fossil fuels is untenable as atmospheric emissions of gases, in particular carbon dioxide (CO2), is having a significant and worsening effect on global climate change (IPCC 1992).25% of UK CO2 emissions are generated in the housing sector (UKCCP 2000). As major providers of UK social housing, Registered Social Landlords (RSLs), indirectly make a significant contribution to UK CO2 emissions. In delivering UK Government policies, RSLs are required to meet national social and economic targets, as well as environmental targets. Clearly, social, environmental and economic issues combine in the arena of energy efficiency and social housing.Potentially, the use of photovoltaics (PV) in social housing could assist the UK government in meeting targets in terms of affordable housing, providing &quot;free&quot; electricity to low income tenants, and with minimal environmental impact in urban areas. However, uptake of PV amongst RSLs in the UK has been minimal to date. This paper explores the factors that act as barriers to energy efficiency in this market.<br /

Preparing Our Kids for Education, Work and Life: A Report of the Task Force on Youth Aging Out

Summarizes a study of Massachusetts youth transitioning out of foster care, and offers recommendations for policies, practices, and resource conditions, including "Five Core Resources" to prepare them for higher education, work, and adulthood

Evaluating the triple bottom line in the implementation of photovoltaic systems in UK social housing

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change warnings regarding the detrimental effects of carbon dioxide emissions and global warming have gained acceptance amongst many governments (IPCC 2001). The UK government has agreed to reduce emissions, implement a package of enabling measures (UKCCP 2000) and issued an Energy White Paper (HMSO 2003) calling for a diversification of energy supply policies which will include renewable sources.Housing accounts for approximately 25% of UK CO2 emissions and as providers of social housing, Registered Social Landlords (RSLs) and their tenants are major contributors. RSLs are deliverers of national policy in several areas and contribute to the attainment of governmental environmental, social and economic targets and impact upon the wider demands of housing policy, healthcare, education and law &amp; order (DETR 1999, Cole and Shayer 1998).Photovoltaic (PV) electricity generation could deliver &ldquo;free&rdquo; electricity to the low income households historically housed by RSLs. PV helps address such issues as fuel poverty and could be used as a stimulus for creating interest in areas of low demand for social housing.RSLs provide housing solutions which cross traditional economic, social and environmental divides and this lends their modus operandi to the concept of the triple bottom line. The triple bottom line enables social and environmental aspects to be considered alongside economic considerations within decision-making frameworks (Elkington 1999, Andreason 1995).Using a qualitative research methodology, this paper assesses current commercial viability of PV installations on RSL developments and identifies key barriers to implementation. The paper also investigates whether the application of the triple bottom line can liberate RSLs from viewing PV as a non-viable option by enabling a greater emphasis to be placed on the social &amp; environmental aspects of PV. The paper considers whether a framework for RSLs to improve their decision-making processes by embracing social &amp; environmental factors is feasible.<br /

The design and evaluation of EKE, a semi-automated email knowledge extraction tool

This paper presents an approach to locating experts within organisations through the use of the indispensable communication medium and source of information, email. The approach was realised through the email expert locator architecture developed by the authors, which uses email content in the modelling of individuals' expertise profiles. The approach has been applied to a real-world application, EKE, and evaluated using focus group sessions and system trials. In this work, the authors report the findings obtained from the focus groups sessions. The aim of the sessions was to obtain information about the participants' perceptions, opinions, underlying attitudes, and recommendations with regard to the notion of exploiting email content for expertise profiling. The paper provides a review of the various approaches to expertise location that have been developed and highlights the end-users' perspectives on the usability and functionality of EKE and the socio-ethical challenges raised by its adoption from an industrial perspective. © 2012 Operational Research Society. All rights reserved