A framework for documenting and analyzing life-cycle costs using a simple network based representation

The introduction of high reliability systems combined with new ways of operating complex systems, particularly in aircraft design and operation has received much attention in recent years. Some systems are now being introduced into service, however, justifying such systems on a financial basis is difficult and may act to limit the rate of introduction on new products. Conventional life cycle costing based on a hierarchical cost breakdown structure is poor at recording and analysing the cost implications of introducing new technologies that have effects that span more than one phase in the life cycle. There is a risk that too much emphasis is put on ‘faith’ that a candidate technology will reduce cost because the cost analysis methods lack descriptive and analytical power. We describe an approach to representing the costs associated with introducing new technologies and evaluating their total cost. Our aim was to facilitate the comparison of different technological choices in new product development, with a particular interest in how the perceived benefits of enhanced reliability systems can be shown in a way that is inclusive, objective and easy to understand

PSYCHOLOGICAL DYSFUNCTION, DRUG TREATMENT ENGAGEMENT, AND HIV RISK BEHAVIOR AMONG METHADONE MAINTAINED CLIENTS

The impact of opiate addiction on public health has been severe with its links to disease, death, economics, and mental health problems. Many opiate addicts inject drugs several times each day which has been associated with many infectious diseases, including: Hepatitis B and C, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS (National Institutes on Drug Abuse, 2000). This study investigated the relationships of psychological dysfunction, drug treatment engagement, HIV risk reduction attitudes, and HIV risk behaviors among methadone maintained clients. It was guided by the AIDS Risk Reduction Model (ARRM), a heuristic device that helps to explain/predict behavior change of individuals in relationship to sexual and injection drug use transmission of HIV/AIDS. A quantitative cross-sectional research design was utilized to examine the relationship between psychological dysfunction and HIV risk behavior among methadone maintained clients and how drug treatment engagement and HIV risk reduction attitudes affect this relationship. A total of 200 participants who were at least 18 years old and were enrolled in methadone maintenance treatment were included in this investigation. This study found that 60% of the participants had experienced moderate to high levels of psychological dysfunction. Psychological dysfunction was categorized into past depression, anxiety, and hostility symptoms. Multiple regression analyses showed that overall psychological dysfunction and drug treatment engagement predicts HIV risk behavior among methadone maintained individuals (F=13.06; p<.000). However, when the standardized regression coefficients of the individual independent variables were examined, only drug treatment engagement was found to significantly contribute to the prediction of HIV risk behavior ($=-.22; p< .01), indicating that those who reported higher levels of treatment engagement had lower levels of HIV risk behavior. The mediating role of drug treatment engagement on the relationship between psychological dysfunction and HIV risk behavior was supported. Although, it was not supported for HIV risk reduction attitudes, analysis showed that HIV risk reduction attitudes were moderately and significantly correlated with HIV risk behavior. The findings of this study provide social work and public health practitioners who work in the field of drug and alcohol treatment and HIV prevention with vital information This study underscores the need for early identification and modification of psychological problems among methadone maintained individuals. Drug treatment provides a vital opportunity to address psychological problems and HIV risk behavior, there is an irrefutable need for the social work and public health professionals to further research and develop/refine interventions to prevent the spread of HIV disease among this population. Early screening and treatment of psychological problems may help increase drug treatment engagement rates which may reduce HIV risk behavior and ultimately save lives among methadone maintained clients

Culturally Responsive Teaching

In December of 2020, The Illinois State Board of Education approved the Culturally Responsive Teaching Standards to promote a more sensitive approach to matters of race, gender, and sexual orientation in the school curriculum. This presentation will highlight the key components of the newly adopted standards and prepare future educators to teach in classrooms with diverse populations. Participants will understand cultural and community diversity, systems of oppression, examine their own belief systems, and learn how to incorporate students’ experiences, cultures, and community resources into their instruction

Spectral reflectances of natural targets for use in remote sensing studies

A collection of spectral reflectances of 156 natural targets is presented in a uniform format. For each target both a graphical plot and a digital tabulation of reflectance is given. The data were taken from the literature and include laboratory, field, and aircraft measurements. A discussion of the different measurements of reflectance is given, along with the changes in apparent reflectance when targets are viewed through the atmosphere. The salient features of the reflectance curves of common target types are presented and discussed

Victimization in Homeless African American Women and their High-Risk Behaviors: Implication for Counselors

Victimization is an increasing concern among homeless African American women. This study’s aim was to investigate victimization factors (e.g., sexual assault, physical assault, and domestic violence) and its prevalence and effects on African American women high risk behaviors while homeless. Participants were 200 homeless African American women (ages, 18 years to 65 years and above) receiving services from clinics, shelters, and community agencies. The authors examined the predictive power of victimization factors (e.g., sexual assault, physical assault, and domestic violence) of homeless African American women on the number of substance use per week in a large metropolitan area in the Southern region of the United States. Using both multiple and logistic regression tests, the authors were able to find correlations in the variables. Results indicated that physical assault and domestic violence were found to be independently related to the number of substance use per week among homeless African American women

FeH Absorption in the Near-Infrared Spectra of Late M and L Dwarfs

We present medium-resolution z-, J-, and H-band spectra of four late-type dwarfs with spectral types ranging from M8 to L7.5. In an attempt to determine the origin of numerous weak absorption features throughout their near-infrared spectra, and motivated by the recent tentative identification of the E 4\Pi- A ^4\Pi system of FeH near 1.6 microns in umbral and cool star spectra, we have compared the dwarf spectra to a laboratory FeH emission spectrum. We have identified nearly 100 FeH absorption features in the z-, J-, and H-band spectra of the dwarfs. In particular, we have identified 34 features which dominate the appearance of the H-band spectra of the dwarfs and which appear in the laboratory FeH spectrum. Finally, all of the features are either weaker or absent in the spectrum of the L7.5 dwarf which is consistent with the weakening of the known FeH bandheads in the spectra of the latest L dwarfs.Comment: accepted by Ap

Antibody responses to a Cryptosporidium parvum rCP15/60 vaccine

Cryptosporidium parvum is a zoonotic apicomplexa-protozoan pathogen that causes gastroenteritis and diarrhoea in mammals worldwide. The organism is transmitted by ingestion of oocysts, which are shed in faeces, and completes its lifecycle in a single host.^1^ C. parvum is ubiquitous on dairy operations worldwide and is one of the leading causes of diarrhoea in calves on these farms.^2,3^ Here, for the first time, we describe the antibody response in a large group of cows to a recombinant C. parvum oocyst surface protein (rCP15/60) vaccine and the antibody response in calves fed rCP15/60-immune colostrum produced by these vaccinated cows. Results of recent genotype surveys indicate that calves are the only major reservoir for C. parvum infections in humans.^4^ Human C. parvum infections are particularly prevalent and often fatal in neonates in developing countries and to immunocompromised people, such as AIDs patients.^4^ Drug therapy against cryptosporidiosis is limited and not wholly efficacious in either humans or calves^5^, making development of an effective vaccine of paramount importance. To date, there is no commercially available effective vaccine against C. parvum, although passive immunization utilizing different zoite surface (glyco)proteins has showed promise.^6-9^ All cows we vaccinated produced an antibody response to the rCP15/60 vaccine and the magnitude of response correlated strongly with the subsequent level of antibody in their colostrum. All calves fed rCP15/60-immune colostrum showed a dose-dependent absorption of antibody. Our results demonstrate that vaccination of cows with rCP15/60 successfully induces antibodies against CP15/60 in their serum and colostrum and that these antibodies are then well absorbed when fed to neonatal calves. With further research, this C. parvum vaccine may well be a practical method of conferring passive protection to calves against cryptosporidiosis. Furthermore, a specifically targeted immune-colostrum may be valuable in protection and treatment of immunocompromised human patients with cryptosporidiosis