COREnet: the fusion of social network analysis and target audience analysis

The purpose of this capstone is to highlight and explain how the target audience analysis (TAA) process can be enhanced by incorporating aspects of influence theory, social movement theory (SMT) and social network analysis (SNA). While a large body of literature addresses influence theory, SMT and SNA, little has been written within military information support operations (MISO) doctrine recognizing SNA in the analytical process. This capstone creates a method to apply SNA, SMT, and influence theory to existing MISO doctrine while also developing a scalable web-based application that assists with visualizing and analyzing open source data to draw meaningful conclusions and assist decision making on given operational problem sets. The web-based interface, COREnet, is a high fidelity prototype derived completely from open- source technology. The examples utilized are from a 2006 data set of an Indonesian terrorist network to demonstrate how SNA can be fully integrated into the TAA process.http://archive.org/details/corenetfusionofs1094544638Major, United States ArmyApproved for public release; distribution is unlimited

Still Too Fat to Fight

The problem of junk food sold in schools is not just a national health issue. It is a national security issue.Over the past 40 years, obesity rates have more than tripled for children and teens. About 1 in 4 young American adults is now too overweight to join the military. Being overweight or obese is the number one medical reason why young adults cannot enlist. When weight problems are combined with poor education, criminal backgrounds, and other disqualifiers, an estimated 75 percent of young Americans could not serve in the military if they wanted to

Economic Engagement: An Avenue to Employment for Individuals with Disabilities

The role that employment has played for persons with disabilities over the past several decades has moved from one of no engagement in the workforce to a realization that persons with disabilities can work and are interested in working. The shrinking workforce has increased employers\u27 interest in looking at the full range of potential workers, including those previously considered unemployable. The growing economy—coupled with the declining birth rate, the increase in technology and supports for a diverse workforce, and the increasing expectation that all persons should be provided with the opportunity to work—has led to a new view of individuals with disabilities. Many persons with disabilities perceived as not able to seek employment were not included in the unemployment statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor and thus were not counted as part of the available workforce. Labor force participation rates of persons with disabilities are less than one-third of those without disabilities. Legislative and administrative initiatives in the past ten years have stressed equality of opportunity and workforce participation of persons with disabilities as a high priority. As in the case of welfare reform, the focus has moved to employment as a realistic and preferred goal for many persons with disabilities. In response to these initiatives, the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the primary health care resource for many persons with disabilities, has sought to support states in their effort to assist persons with disabilities interested in working to gain employment. The expansion of the Medicaid Buy-In and the passage of the Ticket to Work legislation (TTWWIIA) have both been directed at addressing some of the major barriers to employment for persons with disabilities. The Medicaid Infrastructure Grants (MIGs) encourage states to review and revise their health coverage practices to support persons with disabilities to enter and remain in employment. Through the expansion of the MIG initiative, CMS has encouraged states to develop supports and services that will enhance employment access and job retention for persons with disabilities

Neighborhood Factors that Contribute to Alcohol Use and Loneliness in HIV Positive Patients

Background: Neighborhood factors contribute to substance abuse and increased health risk behavior. Alcohol use has adverse consequences as it may interfere with antiretroviral medication adherence. In addition, studies have shown that those who are HIV positive have decreased social network size, limited social support, and social isolation as well as decreased treatment adherence. It is hypothesized that participants with high neighborhood density of alcohol outlets combined with increased feelings of loneliness will be more likely to drink. Methods: Participants included 85 patients from an HIV treatment clinic in Jacksonville. Interviewer-administered measures included the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) and UCLA Loneliness Scale. Geographical Information Systems was used to map participant residential area and surrounding neighborhood factors. This study collected cross-sectional, retrospective data. Multi-linear regression using UCLA scores and geographic alcohol outlets availability were used as predictors of drinking behavior. Results: UCLA scores (β = 0.088, p = .012) and number of alcohol outlets (β = 0.040, p = .028) were significant predictors of AUDIT scores. UCLA scores and number of alcohol outlets accounted for 10.4% (R2 = .104) of variance of AUDIT scores. Conclusion: There was co-occurrence of alcohol use and self-reported loneliness among patients currently in treatment for HIV. There also appears to be a relationship with neighborhood factors, alcohol use, and loneliness but further research is needed

A survey of the relative merits of the single and double session plans of elementary school organization

Thesis (Ed.M.)--Boston Universit

Drosophila Muller F Elements Maintain a Distinct Set of Genomic Properties Over 40 Million Years of Evolution

The Muller F element (4.2 Mb, similar to 80 protein-coding genes) is an unusual autosome of Drosophila melanogaster; it is mostly heterochromatic with a low recombination rate. To investigate how these properties impact the evolution of repeats and genes, we manually improved the sequence and annotated the genes on the D. erecta, D. mojavensis, and D. grimshawi F elements and euchromatic domains from the Muller D element. We find that F elements have greater transposon density (25-50%) than euchromatic reference regions (3-11%). Among the F elements, D. grimshawi has the lowest transposon density (particularly DINE-1: 2% vs. 11-27%). F element genes have larger coding spans, more coding exons, larger introns, and lower codon bias. Comparison of the Effective Number of Codons with the Codon Adaptation Index shows that, in contrast to the other species, codon bias in D. grimshawi F element genes can be attributed primarily to selection instead of mutational biases, suggesting that density and types of transposons affect the degree of local heterochromatin formation. F element genes have lower estimated DNA melting temperatures than D element genes, potentially facilitating transcription through heterochromatin. Most F element genes (similar to 90%) have remained on that element, but the F element has smaller syntenic blocks than genome averages (3.4-3.6 vs. 8.4-8.8 genes per block), indicating greater rates of inversion despite lower rates of recombination. Overall, the F element has maintained characteristics that are distinct from other autosomes in the Drosophila lineage, illuminating the constraints imposed by a heterochromatic milieu

Functional Biomarkers for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

The clinical diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) relies on determination of progressive dysfunction of both cortical as well as spinal and bulbar motor neurons. However, the variable mix of upper and lower motor neuron signs result in the clinical heterogeneity of patients with ALS, resulting frequently in delay of diagnosis as well as difficulty in monitoring disease progression and treatment outcomes particularly in a clinical trial setting. As such, the present review provides an overview of recently developed novel non-invasive electrophysiological techniques that may serve as biomarkers to assess UMN and LMN dysfunction in ALS patients

Genetic screening in sporadic ALS and FTD.

The increasing complexity of the genetic landscape in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) presents a significant resource and physician training challenge. At least 10% of those diagnosed with ALS or FTD are known to carry an autosomal dominant genetic mutation. There is no consensus on what constitutes a positive family history, and ascertainment is unreliable for many reasons. However, symptomatic individuals often wish to understand as much as possible about the cause of their disease, and to share this knowledge with their family. While the right of an individual not to know is a key aspect of patient autonomy, and despite the absence of definitive therapy, many newly diagnosed individuals are likely to elect for genetic testing if offered. It is incumbent on the practitioner to ensure that they are adequately informed, counselled and supported in this decision

The Challenges and Psychological Impact of Delivering Nursing Care within a War Zone

Background. Between 2001 and 2014, British military nurses served in Afghanistan caring for both Service personnel and local nationals of all ages. However, there have been few research studies assessing the psychological impact of delivering nursing care in a War Zone hospital. Purpose. To explore the challenges and psychological stressors facing military nurses in undertaking their operational role. Method. A Constructivist Grounded Theory was utilised. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 18 British Armed Forces nurses at Camp Bastion Hospital, Afghanistan, in June - July 2013. Discussion. Military nurses faced prolonged periods of caring for seriously injured poly trauma casualties of all ages, and there were associated distressing psychological effects and prolonged periods of adjustment on returning home. Caring for children was a particular concern. The factors that caused stress, both on deployment and returning home, along with measures to address these issues such as time for rest and exercise, can change rapidly in response to the dynamic flux in clinical intensity common within the deployable environment. Conclusion. Clinical training, a good command structure, the requirement for rest, recuperation, exercise and diet were important in reducing psychological stress within a War Zone. No formal debriefing model was advocated for clinical staff who appear to want to discuss traumatic incidents as a group and this may have contributed to stigma and nurses' feeling isolated. On returning home, military nurses reported being disconnected from the civilian wards and departments. The study raised the question of who cares for the carers, as participants reported a perception that others felt that they should be able to cope without any emotional issues. It is envisioned that the results are transferable internationally to nurses from other Armed forces and will raise awareness with civilian colleagues