Early Childhood Systems Building from a Community Perspective

Even when children and their families have access to support services from a variety of programs and organizations -- such as early learning centers, nutrition programs, and pediatric, nursing, dental and mental health care providers -- there are challenges in connecting families to these services. The result is that families often have a difficult time learning about, applying for and taking advantage of the services that could benefit their children. This Issue Brief, prepared for The Colorado Trust by Julia Coffman of the Center for Evaluation Innovation and Susan Parker of Clear Thinking Communications, explains systems building as an intentional, organized way to create or improve a system of early care and education services for children

Community in Tension (CiT)

The development and availability of Information Communication Technology (ICT) impacts many sectors yet a digital divide is still present amongst citizens in communities. Not only is there a digital divide evident but also many other factors that causes tension in communities. This paper defines a Community in Tension (CiT) as a community where the wellbeing of its citizens is being threatened. This provides an opportunity to use these available ICTs in communities and have it locally appropriated to empower the citizens and stabilise these communities

LIGNIN VALORIZATION VIA REDUCTIVE DEPOLYMERIZATION USING PROMOTED NICKEL CATALYSTS AND SUB- AND SUPERCRITICAL METHANOL

While lignin has been regarded as the most promising renewable feedstock for the sustainable manufacture of aromatic compounds, lignin valorization is necessary to improve the economic viability of biorefineries. Reductive catalytic fractionation (RCF), which combines delignification and lignin depolymerization into a single stage while maintaining the structure and integrity of the cellulose component, has evolved as an effective method for processing biomass. The ability of Cu and Fe to promote the performance of a 20% Ni/alumina catalyst when converting native lignin to alkylphenols by RCF in sub- and supercritical methanol was tested. The effectiveness of lignin extraction as measured by lignin oil production, the quantity and distribution of identifiable monomers in lignin oil, and the yield of residual solids were examined. All Ni-based catalysts tested performed similarly in terms of product distribution and monomer yields, offering improved yields of lignin oil and detectable monomers along with reduced char formation in conditions relative to blank (sans catalyst) runs. Ni-Cu catalyst in the presence of supercritical methanol, with a monomer yield of 51%, performed better than Ni-Fe and Ni-only formulations. Several catalyst characterization methods were employed to identify the structure-activity relationships underpinning the performance of these catalysts in lignin valorization

Unmasking the Monster: Cathy Ames in John Steinbeck\u27s East of Eden

Critics have considered Cathy Ames, the heinous villain of East of Eden, to be John Steinbeck\u27s most complicated character. Although she is at times truly despicable, readers are prejudiced against her before she is even introduced by the narrator, who couches her entire existence as something monstrous and withholds information that might garner her any sympathy until her literal hour of death. Through a study of both Steinbeck\u27s narrative techniques and his letters to his editor about her, we can see that she may not be as villainous as she is presented to be, but she is most certainly Steinbeck\u27s most fully realized—and fully human—creation

In situ apparatus for the study of clathrate hydrates relevant to solar system bodies using synchrotron X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy

Clathrate hydrates are believed to play a significant role in various solar system environments, e.g. comets, and the surfaces and interiors of icy satellites, however the structural factors governing their formation and dissociation are poorly understood. We demonstrate the use of a high pressure gas cell, combined with variable temperature cooling and time-resolved data collection, to the in situ study of clathrate hydrates under conditions relevant to solar system environments. Clathrates formed and processed within the cell are monitored in situ using synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction and Raman spectroscopy. X-ray diffraction allows the formation of clathrate hydrates to be observed as CO2 gas is applied to ice formed within the cell. Complete conversion is obtained by annealing at temperatures just below the ice melting point. A subsequent rise in the quantity of clathrate is observed as the cell is thermally cycled. Four regions between 100-5000cm-1 are present in the Raman spectra that carry features characteristic of both ice and clathrate formation. This novel experimental arrangement is well suited to studying clathrate hydrates over a range of temperature (80-500K) and pressure (1-100bar) conditions and can be used with a variety of different gases and starting aqueous compositions. We propose the increase in clathrate formation observed during thermal cycling may be due to the formation of a quasi liquid-like phase that forms at temperatures below the ice melting point, but which allows easier formation of new clathrate cages, or the retention and delocalisation of previously formed clathrate structures, possibly as amorphous clathrate. The structural similarities between hexagonal ice, the quasi liquid-like phase, and crystalline CO2 hydrate mean that differences in the Raman spectrum are subtle; however, all features out to 5000cm-1 are diagnostic of clathrate structure.Comment: Astronomy & Astrophysics, in press. 6 page

System for Umbilical Artery Monitoring

journal articleBiomedical Informatic