Utilization of a school specific intervention manual to increase teacher perceptions of the I&RS process and reduce special education referrals

One of the primary purposes of the Intervention and Referral Services (I & RS) process is to assist school staff in addressing students\u27 learning, behavior, or health needs (N.J.A.C. 6A:16-7.1 [a]). This study sought to improve I & RS process and student outcomes in a southern New Jersey elementary school that services students from grades Pre-Kindergarten through second grade. At the outset of the study, school administrators reported that an area of need was to formulate an intervention resource for the school\u27s I & RS committee and teaching staff. It was determined that an online/interactive intervention manual would be created allowing teaching staff to support each other when intervening with at-risk students. Interventions were developed for the manual by the researcher, and additional interventions were offered by teaching staff. Pre- and post-survey information, interview information, and referral statistics were used to identify and examine study effects. It was found that there was little effect on staff perceptions of the I & RS process and student referrals to the child study team were unchanged. The researcher concluded that the study did begin to move school I & RS processes in a more collaborative, supportive direction

Employment and employability profiles of psychology graduates from the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s professional psychology master’s programmes: a graduate tracer study.

Masters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg.This dissertation reports on a graduate tracer study of professional psychology master’s programme graduates from one South African university (i.e., the University of KwaZulu-Natal). Since its inception in 2004, the University of KwaZulu-Natal has offered professional psychology training in clinical, counselling, educational, industrial, and research psychology. This tracer study aimed to identify these graduates’ employment patterns and employability and to provide a retrospective evaluation of the professional training programmes that the graduates underwent. The study is also linked to current debates of relevance around South African psychology and higher education, and whether South African psychologists are appropriately trained to meet the demands of the specific South African labour market and the complex mental health needs of the population. Between 2005 and 2020, the University of KwaZulu-Natal produced close to 500 professional psychology graduates. Drawing on this sampling frame, this tracer study managed to survey 112 of these graduates (i.e., 25.28% response rate) via an online questionnaire designed specifically for the purposes of the study. The findings indicate that the University of KwaZulu-Natal professional psychology graduates who participated in the study are employed in a variety of fields, but most predominantly in private practice (36,6%) and public higher education (21,8%). Moreover, graduates possess a wide variety of skills that can be applied to the working environment, implying good employability skills. Qualitative findings show an overall positive view towards the institution and the training received. The study importantly indicates the University of KwaZulu-Natal is training students who are able to secure employment and contribute towards the profession of psychology within the South African context

The utilisation of nitrogenous compounds by commercial non-Saccharomyces yeasts associated with wine

Thesis (MScAgric)--Stellenbosch University, 2017.ENGLISH SUMMARY: Nitrogen is an essential element for yeast growth and metabolism. During winemaking, the uptake of nitrogen sources ensures the completion of alcoholic fermentation while participating in the production of aroma compounds. Preference for certain nitrogen sources has been determined for Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the main wine yeast, but not in other yeast species, collectively referred to as non-Saccharomyces yeasts. Yet, the latter are becoming increasingly used in industry in combination with S. cerevisiae and the preferences of these yeasts should also be investigated in order to ensure optimal fermentation ability and aroma compound production. This could unravel possible competition between yeast species and consequently potential needs for supplementation to avoid stuck fermentations and production of off-aroma compounds. This study investigated the nitrogen source preferences of a number of commercial non-Saccharomyces yeasts (Pichia kluyveri Viniflora® FootZen™, Torulaspora delbrueckii Biodiva™ TD291, Metschnikowia pulcherrima Flavia® MP346 and Lachancea thermotolerans Viniflora® Concerto™) by conducting pure culture fermentations in a synthetic grape must medium with nitrogen sources present at equal assimilable nitrogen concentrations. Uptake varied between yeast species, however P. kluyveri and M. pulcherrima showed similar uptake trends, as did L. thermotolerans and T. delbrueckii. Nitrogen uptake was also proportional to CO2 release, sugar consumption and yeast growth. L. thermotolerans and T. delbrueckii took up a greater amount of the nitrogen sources than P. kluyveri and M. pulcherrima, as well as at a faster rate. Variations in amino acid preferences between yeast species were observed. The presence of ammonium was shown to affect the % uptake of certain amino acids for the different species as well as the onset of amino acid uptake for T. delbrueckii. Sequential fermentations with grape must-like nitrogen concentrations revealed that L. thermotolerans and T. delbrueckii pose a larger problem regarding competition with S. cerevisiae compared to P. kluyveri and M. pulcherrima. This was reflected in fermentation kinetics of sequential fermentations as well as the levels of aroma compound production. This suggests that sequential fermentations with L. thermotolerans and T. delbrueckii may require higher nitrogen source supplementation than P. kluyveri and M. pulcherrima for S. cerevisiae to complete fermentation as well as increase the concentration of desirable aroma compounds. Some correlations were observed regarding nitrogen source uptake and aroma compounds produced, for example the uptake of threonine and resulting propanol production. The data showed that, after inoculation with S. cerevisiae Lalvin® EC1118, the population of non-Saccharomyces yeasts declined and the cells probably autolyse, thereby releasing nitrogen sources that can be taken up by S. cerevisiae. This study improved our knowledge of non-Saccharomyces yeasts’ nitrogen source preferences, and establishes some links between nitrogen source uptake and aroma compound production. Competition between yeasts was also demonstrated and linked with nitrogen uptake and fermentation ability.AFRIKAANS OPSOMMING: Stikstof is ‘n essensiële element vir gis groei en gis metabolisme. Gedurende die wynmaak proses, verseker die opname van stikstof bronne die voltooiing van alkoholiese fermentasie terwyl die aroma verbindings geproduseer word. Voorkeur vir sekere stikstof bronne is vasgestel vir S. cerevisiae, die hoof wyngis, maar nie vir ander gis spesies, gegroepeer en bekend as nie-Saccharomyces giste, nie. Alhoewel, die laasgenoemde word al hoe meer gebruik in die industrie saam met S. cerevisiae en die voorkeur van hierdie giste moet ondersoek word om optimale fermentasie en produksie van aroma verbindings te verseker. Dit kan die potensieële kompetisie tussen gis spesies ontrafel en daarmee saam ook potensieële byvoegings behoeftes om staak fermentasies en produksie van nie-geurige aroma verbindings te verhoed. Hierdie studie ondersoek die stikstofbron voorkeur van ‘n aantal kommersiële nie-Saccharomyces giste (Pichia kluyveri Viniflora® FootZenTM, Torulaspora delbrueckii BiodivaTM TD291, Metschnikowia pulherrima Flavia® MP346 en Lanchancea thermotolerans Viniflora® ConcertoTM) deur reinkultuur fermentasies in sintetiese wynmedium met stikstofbronne by gelyke bruikbare stikstof konsentrasies te doen. Opname verskil tussen die verskillende gisspesies, alhoewel P.kluyveri en M.pulcherrima soortgelyke opname getoon het so ook het L. thermotolerans en T.delbrueckii. Stikstof opname was ook proporsioneel aan CO2 vrystelling, suiker verbruik en gisgroei. L.thermotolerans en T.delbrueckii het ‘n groter aantal stikstofbronne opgeneem as P.kluyverii en M.pulcherrima asook teen ‘n vinniger tempo. Verskille in die stikstofbron voorkeur is tussen die giste waargeneem. Die teenwoordigheid van stikstof het die % van aminosure wat opgeneem word tussen die verskillende giste beinvloed asook die begin van aminosuur opname deur T.delbrueckii. Opeenvolgende fermentasies van druiwesap met gelyke stikstof konsentrasies toon dat L.thermotelarns en T.delbrueckii in groter kompetisie is met S.cerevisiae as P.kluyveri en M.pulcherrima. Hierdie kompetisie word getoon in die fermentasie kinetika van opeenvolgende fermentasies asook die vlakke van aromaverbinding produksie. Dit wil voorstel dat opeenvolgende fermentasies met L.thermotolerans en T.delbrueckii hoër stikstofbron byvoegings mag benodig as fermentasies met P.kluyveri en M.pulcherrima, vir S.cerevisiae om die fermentasie te voltooi asook om die konsentrasie van voorkeur aroma verbindings te verhoog. Sommige ooreenkomste word gesien ivm die opname van stikstofbronne en die aroma verbindings geproduseer, byvoorbeeld die opname van treonien en die ooreenstemmende popanol produksie. Die data wys dat, na inkulasie met S. cerevisiae, die populasie van nie-Saccharomyces giste afneem en die selle moontlik outoliseer, waardeur stikstof bronne vrygestel en wat deur S.cerevisiae opgeneem kan word. Hierdie studie verbeter ons kennis van nie-Saccharomyces giste se stikstof voorkeure en bepaal skakels tussen stikstof bron opname en aroma verbinding produksie. Kompetisie tussen giste is en skakels met stikstof opname en fermentasie vermoë is ook bewys

Peripheral vision field fatigue during simulated driving : the effects of time on task and time of day on selected psychophysiological, performance and subjective responses

Worldwide, motor accidents are responsible for a large number of deaths and disabilities (Connor et al., 2001), and one of the major causes of motor accidents is driver fatigue. Although majority of drivers are aware of the dangers of fatigued driving, accidents related to this continues to contribute to a large percentage of all accidents, between 5 and 50% (Nilsson et al., 1997; Williamson et al., 2011). The purpose of the research was to establish the effect that fatigue renders on an individual’s peripheral visual field and to determine whether a decrement in driving performance occurs at the same rate as a decrement in peripheral visual performance. Fatigue was induced through time of day as well as time on task. Sixteen students from Rhodes University were recruited, subject to no previous sleep disorders, among other criteria. Each participant was required to partake in two conditions, namely a day condition (09h00–11h00) and a night condition (23h00– 01h00). Each condition consisted of a 90 minute dual task; the primary task was a tracking task, in which participants were instructed to track a white line as accurately as possible. A secondary peripheral response task was introduced, in which participants were instructed to respond as quickly as possible to the peripheral stimuli, by pressing one of two clickers located on the steering wheel. The peripheral stimuli were located at 20º, 30º and 40º visual angle. Psychophysiological, performance and subjective measures were obtained before, during and after the main task. The pre- and post-tests included core body temperature, critical flicker fusion frequency threshold, a digit span memory test, Wits Sleepiness Scale and a NASA-TLX questionnaire. The psychophysiological and performance measures of heart rate, heart rate variability, blink frequency, blink duration, lane deviation, number of saccades towards peripheral stimuli, response time to peripheral stimuli and the percentage of missed peripheral responses were all recorded throughout the 90 minute main dual task. The results revealed significant differences (p<0.05) for heart rate variability, number of saccades towards peripheral stimuli and the Wits Sleepiness Scale, with regard to time of day. For time on task, significant effects were established for lane deviation, response time to peripheral stimuli, percentage of missed peripheral responses, heart rate, heart rate variability, blink frequency, blink duration, critical flicker fusion frequency threshold, core body temperature and the Wits Sleepiness Scale. Eccentricity was analysed and found to be significant for response time to peripheral stimuli, as well as for the percentage of missed peripheral responses; there was a significant increase in both measures with an increase in the stimuli eccentricity. No significances were established for time of day or between the pre- and post-tests conducted for the digit span memory performance; however, a significant interactional effect between the two was established. When assessing the percentage rate of decrement of driving performance compared to the percentage rate in the decrement of the missed peripheral responses, it was found that the percentage rate of decrement was equal for both measures. Thus from this research it can be seen that, concurrent with a decrement in driving performance, there are adverse effects on an individuals' peripheral vision, which have great implications for the safety of workers in industry and transport, as well as motorists. It was also established that time on task is possibly a more appropriate variable to consider than time of day, when implementing work schedules and rest breaks in industry, transport and fields alike, as more significant findings were seen for time on task compared to time of day.Adobe Acrobat 9.53 Paper Capture Plug-i

Association of Suicidality and Depression With 5α-Reductase Inhibitors

IMPORTANCE There have been concerns raised by patients and regulatory agencies regarding serious psychiatric adverse effects associated with 5α-reductase inhibitors. OBJECTIVE To determine if there is an increased risk of suicide, self-harm, or depression among older men starting a 5α-reductase inhibitor for prostatic enlargement. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS A population-based, retrospective, matched cohort study using linked administrative data for 93 197 men ages 66 years or older (median [IQR] age, 75 [70-80] years) in Ontario, Canada, who initiated a new prescription for a 5α-reductase inhibitor during the study period (2003 through 2013). Participants were matched (using a propensity score that included 44 of our 96 covariates that included medical comorbidities, medication usage, and health care system utilization) to an equal number of men not prescribed a 5α-reductase inhibitor. EXPOSURES Duration of finasteride or dutasteride usage. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Suicide. Secondary outcomes were self-harm and depression. RESULTS Men who used 5α-reductase inhibitors were not at a significantly increased risk of suicide (HR, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.53-1.45). Risk of self-harm was significantly increased during the initial 18 months after 5α-reductase inhibitor initiation (HR, 1.88; 95% CI, 1.34-2.64), but not thereafter. Incident depression risk was elevated during the initial 18 months after 5α-reductase inhibitor initiation (HR, 1.94; 95% CI, 1.73-2.16), and continued to be elevated, but to a lesser degree, for the remainder of the follow-up period (HR, 1.22; 95% CI, 1.08-1.37). The absolute increases in the event rates for these 2 outcomes were 17 per 100 000 patient-years and 237 per 100 000 patient-years, respectively. The type of 5α-reductase inhibitor (finasteride or dutasteride) did not significantly modify the observed associations with suicide, self-harm, and depression. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE In a large cohort of men ages 66 years or older, we did not demonstrate an increased risk of suicide associated with 5α-reductase inhibitor use. However, the risk of self-harm and depression were increased compared with unexposed men. This is in keeping with postmarketing experience and patient concerns, and discontinuation of the medication in these circumstances may be appropriate

Examining Urban Agriculture in Toronto

This report focuses on the density of urban agriculture in Toronto. To begin with, the group reviewed literature to determine the current setup of food production and distribution in the city. As a result of our initial research, it appears that Toronto is lacking a strong focus on agriculture. In collaboration with Fresh City Farms, the group reveals the current spatial pattern of community gardens and urban farms, two major sites of food production in Toronto. The team made use of various scholarly literature, websites, suggestions from Fresh City Farms, Toronto’s Open Data resource, QuantumGIS (QGIS) and the Google search engine to come up with the data necessary to complete this assignment. In QGIS, team members plotted locations for both community gardens and urban farms by digitizing. These spatial and attribute data were gathered through Google searches and the ‘Toronto Community Garden Network’ webpage. The address and contact information in relation to the plotted points were recorded in order to properly identify the establishments. In addendum to this report, the team has also uploaded maps with corresponding tables, via fusion tables, of contact information for community gardens and urban farms onto Google Sites . Subsequent to the mapping process, this report makes use of David Hulchanski’s (2006) research on the Three Cities model in Toronto. Through this framework, this report offers an analysis section that describes the possibility of discriminatory practices in the distribution of public goods, in this case, community gardens and urban farms, based on incomes, as measured by census tracts. The team suspects this as a result of a clustering of community gardens in certain regions of the downtown core (City #1, in Hulchanski’s terms) and few to no community gardens in some of the middle (City #2) and peripheral (City #3) regions of Toronto. We conclude that the results align partially with our hypothesis, as the densest bundles of community gardens are in relatively more affluent areas. Further, this report includes sections that communicate the process of our research.Examining Urban Agriculture in Toronto - sponsored by Fresh City Farm

Evaluating strategies for managing anthropogenic mortality on marine mammals : an R implementation with the package RLA

Funding: ADERA provided support for salaries (MA).Bycatch, the undesirable and non-intentional catch of non-target species in marine fisheries, is one of the main causes of mortality of marine mammals worldwide. When quantitative conservation objectives and management goals are clearly defined, computer-based procedures can be used to explore likely population dynamics under different management scenarios and estimate the levels of anthropogenic removals, including bycatch, that marine mammal populations may withstand. Two control rules for setting removal limits are the Potential Biological Removal (PBR) established under the US Marine Mammal Protection Act and the Removals Limit Algorithm (RLA) inspired from the Catch Limit Algorithm (CLA) developed under the Revised Management Procedure of the International Whaling Commission. The PBR and RLA control rules were tested in a Management Strategy Evaluation (MSE) framework. A key feature of PBR and RLA is to ensure conservation objectives are met in the face of the multiple uncertainties or biases that plague real-world data on marine mammals. We built a package named RLA in the R software to carry out MSE of control rules to set removal limits in marine mammal conservation. The package functionalities are illustrated by two case studies carried out under the auspices of the Oslo and Paris convention (OSPAR) (the Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic) Marine Mammal Expert Group (OMMEG) in the context of the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive. The first case study sought to tune the PBR control rule to the conservation objective of restoring, with a probability of 0.8, a cetacean population to 80% of carrying capacity after 100 years. The second case study sought to further develop a RLA to set removals limit on harbor porpoises in the North Sea with the same conservation objective as in the first case study. Estimation of the removals limit under the RLA control rule was carried out within the Bayesian paradigm. Outputs from the functions implemented in the package RLA allows the assessment of user-defined performance metrics, such as time to reach a given fraction of carrying capacity under a given level of removals compared to the time needed given no removals.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Coproducing Aboriginal patient journey mapping tools for improved quality and coordination of care

Journal Compilation © La Trobe University 2017 Open Access CC BY-NC-NDThis paper describes the rationale and process for developing a set of Aboriginal patient journey mapping tools with Aboriginal patients, health professionals, support workers, educators and researchers in the Managing Two Worlds Together project between 2008 and 2015. Aboriginal patients and their families from rural and remote areas, and healthcare providers in urban, rural and remote settings, shared their perceptions of the barriers and enablers to quality care in interviews and focus groups, and individual patient journey case studies were documented. Data were thematically analysed. In the absence of suitable existing tools, a new analytical framework and mapping approach was developed. The utility of the tools in other settings was then tested with health professionals, and the tools were further modified for use in quality improvement in health and education settings in South Australia and the Northern Territory. A central set of patient journey mapping tools with flexible adaptations, a workbook, and five sets of case studies describing how staff adapted and used the tools at different sites are available for wider use

Saccharomyces boulardii CNCM I-745 Modulates the Fecal Bile Acids Metabolism During Antimicrobial Therapy in Healthy Volunteers

Saccharomyces boulardii CNCM I-745 (SB) is a probiotic yeast used to lower the incidence of antibiotic-associated Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) infection, though its mechanism of action remains unclear. Cholic acid is a primary bile acid, which triggers the germination and promotes the growth of C. difficile. The intestinal microbiota transforms primary into secondary bile acids. This study examined (1) the antimicrobial-induced alteration of fecal bile acid content, and (2) whether the concomitant administration of SB influences this transformation. This is an ancillary work from a randomized study, which revealed that SB modulates fecal microbiota dysbiosis during antibiotic treatment. Healthy subjects were randomly assigned to (1) SB only, (2) amoxicillin-clavulanate (AC), (3) SB plus AC, or (4) no treatment. We analyzed fecal concentrations of BA by high performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry. Compared to the untreated or the SB-treated groups, AC decreased the percentage of fecal secondary BA significantly (days 3 and 7). When SB and AC were administered concomitantly, this decrease in secondary BA was no longer significant. Following treatment with AC, a significant peak of fecal CA was measured on days 3 and 7, which was prevented by the concomitant administration of SB. AC administered to healthy volunteers altered the microbial transformation of primary BA, decreased secondary BA, and increased CA. The latter was prevented by the concomitant administration of SB and AC, suggesting a potent mechanism protection conferred by SB against post-antimicrobial C. difficile infection.Clinical Trial Registration:www.ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier NCT01473368