The Importance of Health Insurance Reform

In her commentary, Republican Senator Nancy Kassebaum of Kansas outlines a proposed bipartisan health insurance reform act which she will introduce in the Senate next year

Susceptibility of the black Portugese millipede, Ommatoiulus moreletii Lucas (Diplopoda : iulidae) to insecticides

Thesis (M. Ag. Sc.) -- University of Adelaide, Dept. of Agriculture, 198

Letter, 1982 October 24, from Nancy Landon Kassebaum to Eva Jessye

1 page, Kassebaum was a Senator for Kansas

Using LiDAR as a monitoring device to calculate volume of rockfall over time

There are many natural hazards which threaten the stability of highway infrastructure and the safety of motoring public. Rockfall and unstable slopes are one of the major concerns. This thesis describes a method which safely and accurately evaluates rockfall on rock outcrops through the use of Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) data. LiDAR is an imaging technology which can be used to measure and evaluate possible rock outcrop hazards such as: rockfall, rock-avalanches, debris flows, and landslides. LiDAR produces a three dimensional point cloud of millions of points which gives spatial data on the scanned object, accurate to millimeters, in minutes. The point cloud can be exported to different formats which then can be analyzed using specialized software. The software used for LiDAR data processing was developed here at Missouri University of Science and Technology using C++ with two open source libraries: OpenCV and OpenG [Trademark]. The program aligns two point clouds and calculates the volume found in between. The volume is the rockfall over time between the two scan dates used. The rockfall volume data is then correlated with rockfall triggering events, such as freeze and thaw cycles, precipitation levels, and seismic (blasting) data. Very few rockfall volume correlations could be made with the rockfall triggering events at the outcrops tested, but further research should be done on the process with other types of rock outcrops. Some possible improvement areas are discussed in the last couple sections of this thesis. Also included are step-by-step instructions for reproducibility of the research --Abstract, page iii

Satisfied Superintendents: A Case Study

The role of the superintendent is viewed as high-stress. Research reports a high turnover rate in the superintendency. Superintendents face pressure and criticism from several fronts. Despite these circumstances, many superintendents find satisfaction within the position. Through the stories of superintendents, we discover new findings about satisfaction derived from the superintendency. The purpose of this study was to examine the common characteristics of satisfied superintendents and the components of the superintendency that provide satisfaction. The major contribution of this study is a greater understanding of how superintendents can increase the likelihood of experiencing satisfaction and longevity in their position. Through interviews, twenty-one superintendents shared their experiences. All interviews were audio-recorded. Data generated were analyzed and coded. Overlap and redundancy of codes were reduced and collapsed into themes. Four themes emerged from the study: motivation to obtain the superintendency, rewards of the superintendency, supports in the superintendency, and routines to maintain health as a superintendent. Based on the findings of the study superintendents who reported satisfaction in their roles: provided a structure for their evaluation to be able to gauge the level of their impact, created support systems to assist them in their work, established routines to promote a healthy lifestyle, and were intentional and meaningful in creating positive interactions with others. Advisor: Marilyn L. Grad

In the Shadow of Best Interest: Negotiating the Facts, Interests, and Interventions in Child Abuse Cases

Most cases of child abuse and neglect are not as extreme or clear-cut as those reported in the media. In routine cases the perpetrator is usually a family member, the evidence of injury is ambiguous and the identity of the perpetrator is uncertain. Prosecution, removal of the child, and therapy for the family are sometimes contradictory mandates which courts and social service agencies must balance. Norm centered negotiation is the decision making process found in this study of child protective work. Child protection workers sometimes negotiate with families in their decisions to confirm abuse, representatives of different agencies negotiate with each other to establish the facts of a case, the best interests of the child, and the service plan. Negotiation is interpreted to be a practical solution to chronic factual uncertainly, contradictory mandates and multi-agency participation in decisions. Recognition and legitimation of negotiation as the actual decision making pro cess in many cases will permit agencies to keep records and data which permit mure adequate monitoring of case processing Legitimation of negotiation will permit explicit training of staff in more effective methods to negotiate in the shadow of the best interests of children

Percentage and severity of periodontal diseases in Turkish adults aged 35+ years, 2009‐10

ObjectiveThis article presents data on the burden of periodontal diseases in Turkish adults aged 35 years or older.MethodsWithin each region of Turkey, a rural and an urban area or city were selected in 2009‐10 using a probability proportional to size method. In the selected towns, local officials who were familiar with their communities assisted in recruiting subjects. Loss of Attachment (LOA) was measured at six sites around each tooth present in the mouth, excluding third molars. Additionally, the Community Periodontal Index was used to assess the severity of periodontal diseases around 12 index teeth. Self‐reported data on key risk factors were also collected. Weights were computed using a raking ratio adjustment procedure and used in all analyses.ResultsAlmost all examined adults had some loss of periodontal attachment. The proportion of those with more than 3 mm LOA ranged from 43 percent in 35‐44 year olds to 91 percent in those aged 65+ years. Among females, older age, low education status, smoking 11‐40+ cigarettes a day, being employed, and presence of high number of missing tooth surfaces were associated with LOA > 3 mm. Among males LOA >3 mm was associated with older age, use of alcohol, and unemployment. The CPI data did not yield the same associations with periodontal diseases and risk factors.ConclusionsPeriodontal diseases in Turkish adults are highly prevalent. A tailored common risk factor health promotion program is recommended to reduce the burden of periodontal infection in Turkey.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/141786/1/jphd12211.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/141786/2/jphd12211_am.pd

Stigmatisierung als biografische Herausforderung professionellen Handelns in der Gleichstellungsarbeit

"Die Implementierung der Position der Gleichstellungsbeauftragten in öffentlichen Institutionen ist in der Regel gelungen. Funktionsträgerinnen auf diesen Posten gehören dabei mittlerweile nicht mehr zwingend einer gesellschaftspolitischen Bewegung an bzw. grenzen sich teilweise explizit von der Frauenrechtsbewegung ab. Darüber hinaus haben sich, beispielsweise durch die Etablierung von Vernetzungsstrukturen, Professionalisierungsprozesse vollzogen. Dennoch haftet der Funktion der Frauen- und Gleichstellungsbeauftragten das "Stigma des Feminismus" an. Vor diesem Hintergrund stellt der Beitrag die Frage nach dem Zusammenspiel biografischer Verletzbarkeit und professionellen Handelns von Gleichstellungsakteurinnen. Stigmatisierungsprozesse in der Gleichstellungsarbeit werden dabei auf der Ebene interpretativer Interaktionsräume verortet und aus feministischer Perspektive betrachtet. Letztlich wird die Notwendigkeit eines reflexiven Stigmamanagements als biografisch dimensioniertes Professionalisierungsprojekt von Gleichstellungsakteurinnen identifiziert." (Autorenreferat)"Gender equality offices have generally been successfully implemented in public institutions. Office-holders no longer have to belong to a socio-political movement or they distance themselves explicitly from the women's rights movement. A process of institutionalisation and (or so it seems) of demarcation of the original female emancipation and women's rights movement has taken place. Nevertheless, women's issues and equal opportunity commissioners are stuck with the stigma of feminism. Against this background, this article analyses the interplay between biographical vulnerability and the professional activity of equal opportunity commissioners. Stigmatisation processes in gender equality work are located on the interpretative level of spaces of interaction and are looked at from a feminist perspective. The article concludes that reflective stigma management is required as a biographically-dimensioned professionalisation project of equal opportunity commissioners." (Autorenreferat