Black Coaches' Roles in the Holistic Development of Student-Athletes

This study examined Black coaches' (n=123) roles in the holistic development of student-athletes, and barriers impeding the coaches' contributions. The data were obtained by surveying Black coaches in attendance at a national Black coaches convention. The results revealed differences based on coaches' personal and team demographics. The findings indicated that: (a) coaches generally agreed with their responsibilities regarding assisting student-athletes with personal problems and academics, yet were in less agreement concerning offering spiritual guidance and monitoring student-athletes' friends and social support groups; (b) Black student-athletes' experiences were less favorable than others; and (c) time constraints, institutional barriers, and coaching demands were the most prevalent barriers coaches face(regarding their contributions to student-athlete development). MANOVA were performed to examine differences in the responses based on the coaches' demographics (i.e., whether a head or assistant coach) and team demographics (i.e., the race and gender composition of teams coached). The suggestions offered by the coaches focused on: (a) the encouragement of more interaction between student-athletes and coaches, (b) greater attention to life skills issues, (c) collaborations with community and campus entities, and (d) better student-athlete support programs. Assistant coaches usually serve as liaisons between athletes and head coaches, and therefore athlete development may be inherent in the job responsibilities of their respective positions. Coaches believed that student-athletes in general are having "good" sport experiences, however, they believed that Black-student-athletes' experiences are less favorable than the experiences of most athletes in general. Responsibilities coaches were generally in strongest agreement with were: assisting athletes with their personal problems, taking an active role in study table and athlete's academic progress, and encouraging athletes to confide in them. The results of this study revealed that Black coaches perceived the overall experiences of Black student-athletes to be less satisfying than those of all student-athletes (male, female, Black, White, etc.). Thus, addressing the holistic development of Black student-athletes begins with recognizing the manner in which their cuItured (racial/ethnic) identity influences their development process

The New Eclipsing Cataclysmic Variable SDSS 154453+2553

The cataclysmic variable SDSS154453+2553 was recently identified in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. We obtained spectra and photometry at the MDM Observatory, which revealed an eclipse with a 6.03 hour period. The H{\alpha} emission line exhibits a strong rotational disturbance during eclipse, indicating that it arises in an accretion disk. A contribution from an M-type companion is also observed. Time-series photometry during eclipse gives an ephemeris of 2454878.0062(15) + 0.251282(2)E. We present spectroscopy through the orbit and eclipse photometry. Our analysis of the secondary star indicates a distance of 800 {\pm} 180 pc.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figures, Accepted for publication in PAS

Geographical variation in certification rates of blindness and sight impairment in England, 2008-2009

To examine and interpret the variation in the incidence of blindness and sight impairment in England by PCT, as reported by the Certificate of Vision Impairment (CVI). Design: Analysis of national certification data. Setting: All Primary Care Trusts, England. Participants: 23 773 CVI certifications issued from 2008 to 2009. Main Outcome measures: Crude and Age standardised rates of CVI data for blindness and sight loss by PCT. Methods: The crude and age standardised CVI rates per 100 000 were calculated with Spearman's rank correlation used to assess whether there was any evidence of association between CVI rates with Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) and the Programme Spend for Vision. Results: There was high-level variation, almost 11-fold (coefficient of variation 38%) in standardised CVI blindness and sight impairment annual certification rates across PCTs. The mean rate was 43.7 and the SD 16.7. We found little evidence of an association between the rate of blindness and sight impairment with either the IMD or Programme Spend on Vision. Conclusions: The wide geographical variation we found raises questions about the quality of the data and whether there is genuine unmet need for prevention of sight loss. It is a concern for public health practitioners who will be interpreting these data locally and nationally as the CVI data will form the basis of the public health indicator ‘preventable sight loss’. Poor-quality data and inadequate interpretation will only create confusion if not addressed adequately from the outset. There is an urgent need to address the shortcomings of the current data collection system and to educate all public health practitioners

The debris disk - terrestrial planet connection

The eccentric orbits of the known extrasolar giant planets provide evidence that most planet-forming environments undergo violent dynamical instabilities. Here, we numerically simulate the impact of giant planet instabilities on planetary systems as a whole. We find that populations of inner rocky and outer icy bodies are both shaped by the giant planet dynamics and are naturally correlated. Strong instabilities -- those with very eccentric surviving giant planets -- completely clear out their inner and outer regions. In contrast, systems with stable or low-mass giant planets form terrestrial planets in their inner regions and outer icy bodies produce dust that is observable as debris disks at mid-infrared wavelengths. Fifteen to twenty percent of old stars are observed to have bright debris disks (at wavelengths of ~70 microns) and we predict that these signpost dynamically calm environments that should contain terrestrial planets.Comment: Contribution to proceedings of IAU 276: Astrophysics of Planetary System

The Role of Organic Carbon in the Southern Uplands-Down-Longford Terrane Accretionary Prism, Scotland and Ireland

Fluid inclusions were measured by M. Baron. Electron Microscopy was performed with the help of J. Still in the ACEMAC Facility at the University of Aberdeen. Skilled technical support was also provided by J. Johnston & C. Taylor. P. Carey and A. Lings assisted field sampling. The manuscript benefitted from careful reviews by I. Scotchman and W. Meredith. The research was partly supported by NERC grant NE/T003677/1.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Mercury Orbiter: Report of the Science Working Team

The results are presented of the Mercury Orbiter Science Working Team which held three workshops in 1988 to 1989 under the auspices of the Space Physics and Planetary Exploration Divisions of NASA Headquarters. Spacecraft engineering and mission design studies at the Jet Propulsion Lab were conducted in parallel with this effort and are detailed elsewhere. The findings of the engineering study, summarized herein, indicate that spin stabilized spacecraft carrying comprehensive particles and fields experiments and key planetology instruments in high elliptical orbits can survive and function in Mercury orbit without costly sun shields and active cooling systems

The effect of a diet containing 70% protein from plants on mineral metabolism and musculoskeletal health in chronic kidney disease

BACKGROUND: Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is associated with alterations in phosphorus excretion, and increases in fibroblast growth factor (FGF23) and parathyroid hormone (PTH). Plant protein-based phytate-bound phosphorus, is less bioavailable than that from animal sources. Our one-week study that was conducted previously showed that a nearly 100% plant protein-based diet benefits mineral metabolism in CKD; however, this diet may not be acceptable to patients. Here we hypothesize that a diet containing 70% protein from plants has similar efficacy and is tolerated by CKD patients. METHODS: Thirteen subjects with CKD 3-4 received an omnivorous diet containing 70% protein from plants for 4 weeks. The primary outcome was change in 24 h urine phosphorus. Secondary outcomes were changes in serum phosphorus, FGF23, PTH, urine sodium excretion, grip strength and fat free mass. Repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to test differences in parameters over the 4 weeks. RESULTS: Mean age of subjects was 54.8 years. Median eGFR was 26 (IQR 14.7) ml/min/1.73 m(2). Over the 4-week period, urine phosphorus significantly decreased by 215 ± 232 mg/day (p < 0.001). No significant changes in serum FGF23, phosphorus or PTH were noted. Urine sodium and titratable acid decreased significantly on the diet. Hand grip strength and fat-free mass did not change. There were two hyperkalemia events both 5.8 mEq/l, corrected by food substitutions. No other adverse events were observed. CONCLUSIONS: A 70% plant protein diet is safe, tolerated, and efficacious in lowering urine phosphorus excretion and may be an alternative to phosphate binders