1,616 research outputs found
Working Together to Build Beacon Centers in San Francisco: Evaluation Findings from 1998-2000
Since 1996, private and public funders in San Francisco have supported a city-wide Beacons Initiative. Eight Beacon Centers, located in public schools, serve 7500 youth and adults each year, providing a rich array of developmental activities in the non-school hours. This report looks at how the centers were created; it describes the centers' operation; and investigates the role of the initiative's "theory of change" in organizing and guiding the effort
Glucocorticoid programming of neuroimmune function
Work attributed to the ideas presented within this manuscript was supported by the BBSRC (Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, UK) under the EASTBIO doctoral training program [grant no. BB/J01446X/1], awarded to DJW. KAS was also part funded by a BBSRC grant [no. BB/L002264/1].Throughout life physiological systems strive to maintain homeostasis and these systems are susceptible to exposure to maternal or environmental perturbations, particularly during embryonic development. In some cases, these perturbations may influence genetic and physiological processes that permanently alter the functioning of these physiological systems; a process known as developmental programming. In recent years, the neuroimmune system has garnered attention for its fundamental interactions with key hormonal systems, such as the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis. The ultimate product of this axis, the glucocorticoid hormones, play a key role in modulating immune responses within the periphery and the CNS as part of the physiological stress response. It is well-established that elevated glucocorticoids induced by developmental stress exert profound short and long-term physiological effects, yet there is relatively little information of how these effects are manifested within the neuroimmune system. Pre and post-natal periods are prime candidates for manipulation in order to uncover the physiological mechanisms that underlie glucocorticoid programming of neuroimmune responses. Understanding the potential programming role of glucocorticoids may be key in uncovering vulnerable windows of CNS susceptibility to stressful experiences during embryonic development and improve our use of glucocorticoids as therapeutics in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe
Plain Talk: Addressing Adolescent Sexuality Through A Community Initiative: A Final Evaluation Report Prepared for The Annie E. Casey Foundation
Plain Talk is a community change initiative that attempts to help sexually active youth protect themselves from pregnancy and disease. Plain Talk neighborhoods mobilize their residents and enlist agencies that would increase access to and support the effective use of contraception. The report discusses how residents were involved in developing and implementing community outreach efforts to change sexual attitudes and practices of adults, teenagers and service providers; the political and moral issues that arose in crafting the Plain Talk message; and the sites' efforts to improve reproductive health care services for adolescents
After-School Pursuits: The Executive Summary
This document summarizes the major findings from P/PV's Examination of Outcomes in the San Francisco Beacon Initiative
After-School Pursuits: An Examination of Outcomes in the San Francisco Beacon Initiative
The San Francisco Beacon Initiative (SFBI) has been in effect in the San Francisco Unified School District since 1996. A collaboration of public and private funders, SFBI operates comprehensive after-school programs in six middle schools, one elementary school and one high school. P/PVs evaluation found that SFBI programs consisted of high quality after-school activities, provided young people with important developmental experiences (such as adult support) and prevented declines in school effort (typical among middle school youth). Although the initiative did not explicitly set out to improve young peoples academic outcomes, these were also examined. Despite the high quality of the centers developmental programs, participants showed no academic gains, and the authors conclude that positive developmental experiences are not sufficient for ensuring academic success among youth who are already struggling in school
16S rRNA gene-based profiling of the human infant gut microbiota is strongly influenced by sample processing and PCR primer choice
Acknowledgements The authors acknowledge the assistance of Grietje Holtrop (RINH-BioSS) with the statistical analysis of the data and the Wellcome Trust Sanger Instituteās 454 pyrosequencing team for generating 16S rRNA gene data. AWW, PS and JP received core funding support from the Wellcome Trust [grant number 098051]. AWW, JCM, HJF and KPS are funded by the Scottish Government (SG-RESAS).Peer reviewedPublisher PD
Acute and chronic effects of multivitamin/mineral supplementation on objective and subjective energy measures
Background: Vitamins and minerals play an essential role within many cellular processes including energy
production and metabolism. Previously, supplementation with a multivitamin/mineral (MVM) for ā„28 days resulted
in improvements to cognition and subjective state. We have also demonstrated shifts in metabolism during
cognitively demanding tasks following MVM in females, both acutely and following 8-week supplementation. The
current study aimed to assess these effects further in males and females using metabolically challenging exercise
and cognitive tasks.
Methods: The current randomised, placebo-controlled, parallel groups study investigated the effects of a MVM
complex in 82 healthy young (18-35y) exercisers. Subjective ratings and substrate metabolism were assessed during
30 min each of increasingly effortful incremental exercise and demanding cognitive tasks. Assessments took place
on acute study days following a single dose (Day 1) of MVM, containing 3 times recommended daily allowance of
water-soluble vitamins plus CoQ10, and following 4-week supplementation (Day 28).
Results: Energy expenditure (EE) was increased during cognitive tasks following MVM across Day 1 and Day 28,
with greater effects in males. In males, MVM also increased carbohydrate oxidation and energy expenditure during
exercise across Day 1 and Day 28. In females, mental tiredness was lower during exercise; increases in physical
tiredness following 30 min of exercise were attenuated; and stress ratings following cognitive tasks were reduced
following MVM. In males, MVM only lowered mental tiredness following 10 min of exercise. These effects were
apparent irrespective of day, but effects on mental tiredness were greater on Day 28. Ferritin levels were also higher
on Day 28 in those receiving MVM.
Conclusion: These findings extend on existing knowledge, demonstrating increased carbohydrate oxidation and
increased energy expenditure in males following MVM supplementation for the first time. Importantly, they show
modulation of energy expenditure and subjective tiredness following a single dose, providing further evidence for
acute effects of MVM. Differential effects in men and women suggest that sex may play an important role in the
effects of MVM on energy metabolism and should be considered in future research.
Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03003442. Registered 22nd November 2016 ā retrospectively registere
Multiple Choices After School: Findings from the Extended-Service Schools Initiative
In the summer of 2002, every state became eligible to receive federal funds for after-school programs. With this opportunity came the need to make decisions about the goals, design and content of after-school programming -- decisions that will influence which youth participate, what they experience and how they may benefit. This report aims to put policymakers and program operators on firmer ground as they grapple with these decisions; it shares lessons from existing school-based after-school programs
Dissolved oxygen dynamics during a phytoplankton bloom in the Ross Sea polynya
The Ross Sea polynya is one of the most productive regions in the Southern Ocean. However, limited access and high spatio-temporal variability of physical and biological processes limit the use of conventional oceanographic methods to measure early season primary productivity. High-resolution observations from two Seagliders provide insights into the timing of a bloom in the southern Ross Sea polynya in December 2010. Changes in chlorophyll and oxygen concentrations are used to assess bloom dynamics. Using a ratio of dissolved oxygen to carbon, net primary production is estimated over the duration of the bloom showing a sensitive balance between net autotrophy and heterotrophy. The two gliders, observing spatially distinct regions during the same period, found net community production rates of -0.9Ā±0.7 and 0.7Ā±0.4 g C m-2 d-1. The difference highlights the spatial variability of biological processes and is probably caused by observing different stages of the bloom. The challenge of obtaining accurate primary productivity estimates highlights the need for increased observational efforts, particularly focusing on subsurface processes not resolved using surface or remote observations. Without an increased observational effort and the involvement of emerging technologies, it will not be possible to determine the seasonal trophic balance of the Ross Sea polynya and quantify the shelf's importance in carbon export
Development of the Orion Crew Module Static Aerodynamic Database
This work describes the process of developing the nominal static aerodynamic coefficients and associated uncertainties for the Orion Crew Module for Mach 8 and below. The database was developed from wind tunnel test data and computational simulations of the smooth Crew Module geometry, with no asymmetries or protuberances. The database covers the full range of Reynolds numbers seen in both entry and ascent abort scenarios. The basic uncertainties were developed as functions of Mach number and total angle of attack from variations in the primary data as well as computations at lower Reynolds numbers, on the baseline geometry, and using different flow solvers. The resulting aerodynamic database represents the Crew Exploration Vehicle Aerosciences Project's best estimate of the nominal aerodynamics for the current Crew Module vehicle
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