Unsheltered homelessness among veterans: correlates and profiles

We identified correlates of unsheltered status among Veterans experiencing homelessness and describe d distinct subgroups within the unsheltered homeless Veteran population using data from a screening instrument for homelessness that is administered to all Veterans accessing outpatient care at a Veterans Health Administration (VHA) facility . Correlates o f unsheltered homelessness included male gender, white race, older age, lower levels of VHA eligibility, substance use disorders, frequent use of VHA inpatient and infrequent use of VHA outpatient services, and residing in the West. We identified six disti nct subgroups of unsheltered Veterans; the tri - morbid frequent users represented the highest need group, but the largest group was comprised of Veterans who made highly infrequent use of VHA healthcare services. Differences between sheltered and unshelter ed Veterans and heterogeneity within the unsheltered Veteran population should be considered in targeting housing and other interventions.National Center on Homelessness Among Veteran

Design for Implementation of Image Processing Algorithms

Color image processing algorithms are first developed using a high-level mathematical modeling language. Current integrated development environments offer libraries of intrinsic functions, which on one hand enable faster development, but on the other hand hide the use of fundamental operations. The latter have to be detailed for an efficient hardware and/or software physical implementation. Based on the experience accumulated in the process of implementing a segmentation algorithm, this thesis outlines a design for implementation methodology comprised of a development flow and associated guidelines. The methodology enables algorithm developers to iteratively optimize their algorithms while maintaining the level of image integrity required by their application. Furthermore, it does not require algorithm developers to change their current development process. Rather, the design for implementation methodology is best suited for optimizing a functionally correct algorithm, thus appending to an algorithm developer\u27s design process of choice. The application of this methodology to four segmentation algorithm steps produced measured results with 2-D correlation coefficients (CORR2) better than 0.99, peak-signal-to-noise-ratio (PSNR) better than 70 dB, and structural-similarity-index (SSIM) better than 0.98, for a majority of test cases

Analysis of the transcriptional levels of guinea pig sines and lines

Short and long interspersed DNA elements (SINEs and LINEs, respectively) can “jump” in germ-line cells generating new copies in other chromosomal regions. There is a sharp contrast in the number of SINEs within various rodent genomes. The purpose of this investigation is to assess the relative paucity of SINEs in the guinea pig genome in relation to other rodents. RNA was isolated from brain and kidney tissues of guinea pigs, and from the brain tissue of mice, in order to develop a method to assess the transcriptional regulation of SINEs and the loci that serve as source genes. This involved the use of rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) and C-RACE. The latter technique involved C-tailing the RNA prior to RT-PCR. It was verified that RT-PCR products were amplified. In the future, assaying in gonadal tissues will be contrasted to copy number estimates of SINEs within the genomes of guinea pigs, mice, hamsters, and rabbits

The perceptions of elementary principals regarding homework in the intermediate classroom

This is a qualitative study that explores the perceptions of elementary principals with regards to homework practices in their schools. The purpose of the study was to investigate which strategies are believed by principals to be more valuable when assigning homework in grades three through five as well as their knowledge, and beliefs pertaining to homework as well as investigating from where this knowledge is derived. Eight elementary principals were interviewed from one school district. The district was chosen based on its above average performance on state standardized tests. An interview protocol was developed based on prior research as well as the research questions. Six themes were developed from the data: a) practice is the primary purpose for homework, b)homework is important, c) growth from homework is dependent on support, d)assessments reflect homework effectiveness, e) homework practices change with a teacher’s experience, and f) the delivery of feedback to teachers regarding homework practices.Thesis (D. Ed.

Atomic Interactions in Precision Interferometry Using Bose-Einstein Condensates

We present theoretical tools for predicting and reducing the effects of atomic interactions in Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) interferometry experiments. To address mean-field shifts during free propagation, we derive a robust scaling solution that reduces the three-dimensional Gross-Pitaevskii equation to a set of three simple differential equations valid for any interaction strength. To model the other common components of a BEC interferometer---condensate splitting, manipulation, and recombination---we generalize the slowly-varying envelope reduction, providing both analytic handles and dramatically improved simulations. Applying these tools to a BEC interferometer to measure the fine structure constant (Gupta, et al., 2002), we find agreement with the results of the original experiment and demonstrate that atomic interactions do not preclude measurement to better than part-per-billion accuracy, even for atomic species with relatively large scattering lengths. These tools help make BEC interferometry a viable choice for a broad class of precision measurements.Comment: 8 pages, 6 figures, revised based on reviewer comment

The time resolved measurement of ultrashort THz-band electric fields without an ultrashort probe

The time-resolved detection of ultrashort pulsed THz-band electric field temporal profiles without an ultrashort laser probe is demonstrated. A non-linear interaction between a narrow-bandwidth optical probe and the THz pulse transposes the THz spectral intensity and phase information to the optical region, thereby generating an optical pulse whose temporal electric field envelope replicates the temporal profile of the real THz electric field. This optical envelope is characterised via an autocorrelation based FROG measurement, hence revealing the THz temporal profile. The combination of a narrow-bandwidth, long duration, optical probe and self-referenced FROG makes the technique inherently immune to timing jitter between the optical probe and THz pulse, and may find particular application where the THz field is not initially generated via ultrashort laser methods, such as the measurement of longitudinal electron bunch profiles in particle accelerators.Comment: 7 pages, 3 figures, submitted to AP

Candy elasticity: Halloween experiments on public political statements

This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from Wiley via the DOI in this record.We conducted experiments during trick-or-treating on Halloween in a predominantly liberal neighborhood in the weeks preceding the 2008 and 2012 presidential elections. We decorated one side of a house porch with McCain material in 2008 (Romney material in 2012) and the other side with Obama material. Children were asked to choose a side, with half receiving the same candy on either side and half receiving more candy to go to the McCain/Romney side. This yields a “candy elasticity” of children's political support. Results vary by age: children ages nine and older were two to three times more likely to choose the Republican candidate when offered double candy for voting Republican compared to when offered equal candy, whereas children ages eight and under were particularly sticky and did not waver in their choice of candidate despite the offer of double candy

Risk adjustment for hospital use using social security data: cross sectional small area analysis

OBJECTIVES: To identify demographic and socioeconomic determinants of need for acute hospital treatment at small area level. To establish whether there is a relation between poverty and use of inpatient services. To devise a risk adjustment formula for distributing public funds for hospital services using, as far as possible, variables that can be updated between censuses. DESIGN: Cross sectional analysis. Spatial interactive modelling was used to quantify the proximity of the population to health service facilities. Two stage weighted least squares regression was used to model use against supply of hospital and community services and a wide range of potential needs drivers including health, socioeconomic census variables, uptake of income support and family credit, and religious denomination. SETTING: Northern Ireland. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Intensity of use of inpatient services. RESULTS: After endogeneity of supply and use was taken into account, a statistical model was produced that predicted use based on five variables: income support, family credit, elderly people living alone, all ages standardised mortality ratio, and low birth weight. The main effect of the formula produced is to move resources from urban to rural areas. CONCLUSIONS: This work has produced a population risk adjustment formula for acute hospital treatment in which four of the five variables can be updated annually rather than relying on census derived data. Inclusion of the social security data makes a substantial difference to the model and to the results produced by the formula