The Effectiveness of Additional Guided Reading Instruction on Fourth Grade Reading Achievement in a NJ Urban School District Measured by Renaissance Star Reading and the PARCC

This study examined if additional Guided Reading instruction increased the oral reading fluency and comprehension of fourth-grade students as measured by the Renaissance Star Reading and PARCC state assessment in a low-socioeconomic school district located in northern New Jersey. Propensity score matching was utilized to select the sample to provide a balanced sampling technique. The final sample was comprised of 12 participating schools which consisted of 374 fourth-grade students during the 2016-2017 school year. Three out of the 12 schools provided additional Guided Reading instruction in addition to the mandatory Guided Reading instruction during the literacy block. The variables that were included in the study were gender, ethnicity, students with disabilities, English Language Learners, past reading performance on the Renaissance Star Reading, and PARCC state assessment. Analyses were conducted using a simultaneous multiple regression model. Results of this study indicated that additional Guided Reading instruction had a statistically significant negative influence on the performance of the PARCC 2017 English Language Arts/Literacy state assessment. Overall, additional Guided Reading instruction did not have a statistically significant influence on oral reading fluency and comprehension as measured by the Renaissance Star Reading assessment. Further research is needed in the area of additional Guided Reading instruction to determine why it had a negative influence on the reading achievement of fourth-grade students

Portable device for impedance measurement

Tato práce se zabývá návrhem přenosného zařízení pro měření impedancí. Samostatná kapitola je věnována teorii týkající se konstrukce přenosného impedančního analyzátoru. V té jsou také uvedeny některé komerčně dostupné impedanční analyzátory. Dále práce obsahuje popis principu funkce impedančního analyzátoru, jehož zapojení je rozděleno do jednotlivých funkčních bloků a doplněno o řídící obvody. Velká část práce je věnována návrhu analogové měřicí části, kde jsou taktéž představeny vhodné měřicí metody. Funkčnost analogových částí zařízení byla ověřena obvodovou simulací v programu PSpice a do značné míry také experimentálně. Výběr některých zvolených součástek je zdůvodněn v příslušných kapitolách, kde jsou taktéž vypsané podstatné parametry z katalogových listů součástek. Výsledkem práce je navržený prototyp zařízení, na kterém byla provedena testovací měření. Na základě zjištěných poznatků byly navrženy některé úpravy, tak aby bylo možné zařízení využít v praxi. K práci je přiložen návrh desek plošných spojů finální verze zařízení.This thesis targets on design of portable device for impedance measurement. Theoretical knowledge related to the construction of a portable impedance analyzer is summarized in a separate chapter. This section also compares some commercially available impedance analyzers. In addition, this thesis contains a description of the principle of operation of the impedance analyzer, which is divided into individual function blocks and supplemented by control circuits. A large part of the work focuses on the design of the analog measurement circuit, where suitable measuring methods are also presented. The functionality of the analog blocks of the device was verified by circuit simulation in the PSpice program and by experimental tests. Selection of some components is mentioned in the relevant chapters, where the essential parameters from datasheets are listed. The output of the work deals with a designed prototype of the device, which was tested. Based on the findings some modifications of the device were proposed for practical usability. The attachment of the thesis contains final version of designed printed circuit board.

Effectiveness of bacteriophages against bloater-causing bacteria Enterobacter cloacae in a model food system

Effectiveness of bacteriophages against bloater-causing bacteria Enterobacter cloacae in a model food system Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology Ashley Reed, Dzhuliya Ignatova, Sandra Kopic, Unique Sardeneta, and Jean Lu Abstract Cucumber fermentation is one of the most important vegetable fermentations in the United States and Europe. Enterobacter cloacae and other gas-producing bacteria can cause bloater defect (the gas pockets or hollow cavities formed in fermented cucumbers) which lowers the quality and the yield of fermented cucumbers, thereby resulting in significant economic losses to the pickling industry. Cost-effective strategies to control E. cloacae and other microbiota need to be developed. Using bacteriophages (phages) to eliminate undesired bacteria is an emerging and promising biocontrol method. Our lab recently isolated two phages, F107E and F115E, infecting E. cloacae strains 107E and 115E, respectively. In this study, we measured 1-step growth curve of phage F107E at a multiplicity of infection (MOI) of 0.01 and 37°C in cucumber juice. The data showed that the eclipse period (not including 10-min adsorption) is only 10 min and the burst size is 28 virions per infected cell. We also evaluated the effectiveness of the two phages as biocontrol agents against E. cloacae in cucumber juice. The infection with F107E at MOI of 100 or 1 effectively eliminated its host within 2 or 3 hours, indicating very high lytic activity against its host. The infection with F115E at MOI of 0.2 or 0.02 caused more than 3 log unit reduction in its host concentration within 2 or 3 hours. But thereafter, phage-resistant bacterial mutants emerged. Thus, phage F107E has a greater potential to be used in commercial cucumber fermentation to eliminate its host in order to reduce bloater defect

The Issue of Affected People in Crisis Planning

Diplomová práce se zabývá vyhodnocením přístupů k zabezpečování pomoci duševně a tělesně postiženým osobám jakožto obětem následků krizové situace. Kromě objasnění legislativního prostředí na domácí i mezinárodní úrovni je v práci popsáno srovnání přístupů ke zdravotně postižené komunitě České republiky se zástupci Unijního i neunijního zástupce předních ekonomik světa. Závěrečné vyhodnocení situace je doplněno adekvátními návrhy na případné zlepšení situace v řešené oblasti.This disertation deals with the evaluation of approaches to securing help the mentally and physically disabled persons as a victims of the consequences of the crisis. In addition to the clarification of the legislative environment for domestic and international level, the work describes a comparison of approaches to the disabled community, of the Czech Republic and the others representatives in and out of Europe as a leders of world economies. Final evaluation of the situation is accompanied by appropriate proposals for possible improvements in the solved area.050 - Katedra ochrany obyvatelstvavelmi dobř

First measured intrathoracic blood volume in icu patients indicates the appropriateness of circulatory volume management

Hemodynamic monitoring in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) settings is usually introduced when a patient becomes hemodynamically unstable. We analyzed how empirically guided volume management relates to first measured intrathoracic blood volume (ITBV), at the moment of the beginning of Puls Contour Cardiac Output (PiCCO) hemodynamic monitoring. Data and measurements from 37 ICU patients, divided into four groups according to diagnosis of primary condition, were retrospectively studied. The first group consisted of polytrauma patients, second group of patients with pancreatitis and/or peritonitis, third group were postoperative patients, and fourth group were patients with various medical diagnosis: sepsis, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), acute lung failure (ALF), and acute heart failure (AHF). PiCCO monitor was introduced when the signs of hemodynamic instability were observed. First measured ITBV was recorded and analyzed according to deviation from reference values. First measured ITBV was in reference range in 14 (37.8%) patients. Volume overloading was observed in 16 (43.2%) and hypovolemia in 7 (18.9%) patients. The observed inappropriate blood volume in patients of all studied groups suggests that there is the need for defining indications and earlier application of hemodynamic monitoring, as well as reassessment of usual empirically guided infusion therapy in ICU setting

First measured intrathoracic blood volume in icu patients indicates the appropriateness of circulatory volume management

Hemodynamic monitoring in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) settings is usually introduced when a patient becomes hemodynamically unstable. We analyzed how empirically guided volume management relates to first measured intrathoracic blood volume (ITBV), at the moment of the beginning of Puls Contour Cardiac Output (PiCCO) hemodynamic monitoring. Data and measurements from 37 ICU patients, divided into four groups according to diagnosis of primary condition, were retrospectively studied. The first group consisted of polytrauma patients, second group of patients with pancreatitis and/or peritonitis, third group were postoperative patients, and fourth group were patients with various medical diagnosis: sepsis, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), acute lung failure (ALF), and acute heart failure (AHF). PiCCO monitor was introduced when the signs of hemodynamic instability were observed. First measured ITBV was recorded and analyzed according to deviation from reference values. First measured ITBV was in reference range in 14 (37.8%) patients. Volume overloading was observed in 16 (43.2%) and hypovolemia in 7 (18.9%) patients. The observed inappropriate blood volume in patients of all studied groups suggests that there is the need for defining indications and earlier application of hemodynamic monitoring, as well as reassessment of usual empirically guided infusion therapy in ICU setting

Übertragung von Kontaminationen durch Umluftbetrieb sowie Leckagen in zentralen und dezentralen Lüftungsanlagen

Durch den Einsatz von Raumlufttechnischen (RLT) Anlagen lassen sich Schadstoffkonzentrationen in Räumen effektiv reduzieren. Dies gilt grundsätzlich auch für die Konzentration von luftgetragenen Krankheitserregern. Es existieren Anlagentypen, die aufgrund ihrer Konfiguration ein Risikopotential bieten. Hierbei kann kontaminierte Abluft über die RLT-Anlage in nicht kontaminierte Bereiche verteilt werden. In dieser Studie wurde betrachtet, wie hoch die Übertragung derartiger Kontaminationen durch den Umluftbetrieb sowie durch eventuell vorhandene interne Leckagen in zentralen und dezentralen Lüftungsanlagen ist. Hierfür wurden verschiedene Fälle ausgewählt und die Verdünnung der Konzentration bestimmt. Neben einer dezentralen Lüftung für einen einzelnen Raum wurden zentrale Lüftungssysteme mit einer unterschiedlichen Anzahl angeschlossener Räume und damit verschiedenen Gesamtvolumenströmen betrachtet. Bei dem dezentralen Fall und einem Umluftanteil von 40 % am Zuluftvolumenstrom liegt die Verdünnung bei 60 %. Da ein dezentrales System typischerweise raumweise arbeitet, ist eine Übertragung in andere Räume über die raumlufttechnische Anlage ausgeschlossen. Bei einem zentralen System erhöht sie sich mit steigender Anzahl der versorgten Räume auf 80 – ca. 95 % unter der Annahme einer einzigen Kontaminationsquelle in nur einem der Räume. Die Versorgung mehrerer Räume führt gleichzeitig zu einem höheren Gesamtzuluftvolumenstrom im Vergleich zu dem dezentralen Fall. Die Verdünnung vergrößert sich je geringer der Leckage- bzw. Umluftanteil am Zuluftvolumenstrom ist. Im nächsten Schritt wurde für ein kleines Büro ein Vergleich der Belastung pro m3 Raumvolumen als Maß für die Kontamination mit vier verschiedenen Lüftungsszenarien (unbelüftet sowie nach DIN EN 16798-1 Kategorie I bis III) vorgenommen. Abschließend wurden für drei Bürogrößen Belastungen für die Fälle mit Umluftanteilen von 20 % und von 40 % berechnet und mit Luftvolumenströmen nach Kategorie II und III verglichen. Außerdem wurde für eine Anlage ohne Umluft betrachtet, wie sich interne Leckagen (bspw. durch Wärmerückgewinnungssysteme selbst oder den Einbau dieser) von 5% auswirken. Es ist zu erkennen, dass sich die Luftqualität bei der Nutzung einer dezentralen Lüftungsanlage und einem Umluftanteil von 40 % um eine Kategorie verschlechtert. Zu beachten ist, dass es sich um eine vereinfachte Rechnung des ungünstigsten Falls handelt, bei der die Wirkung von Filtern nicht betrachtet wurde. Bei Einbeziehung von Filterleistungen in die Berechnung ist mit einer Verringerung der Belastung zu rechnen [1]. Insgesamt ist zu bemerken, dass durch den Einsatz von Umluft in zentralen Lüftungssystemen das Risiko der Übertragungen von Kontaminationen aus der Abluft in die Zuluft nur sehr gering erhöht wird. Das Vorhandensein von Leckagen (Annahme 5%) durch Wärmerückgewinnungssysteme führt zu einem unerheblichen Einfluss. Dennoch sollte stets der Außenluftluftanteil möglichst hoch sein, um die Raumlufthygiene auf einem hohen Standard zu halten.BMWI, 03EN1038, EnOB: MinInfekt - Notwendige Luftmengen zur Minderung des Infektionsrisikos über Aerosole effektiv und energieeffizient bereitstelle

Global health partnerships: building multi-national collaborations to achieve lasting improvements in maternal and neonatal health

Abstract Background In response to health care challenges worldwide, extensive funding has been channeled to the world’s most vulnerable health systems. Funding alone is not sufficient to address the complex issues and challenges plaguing these health systems. To see lasting improvement in maternal and infant health outcomes in the developing world, a global commitment to the sharing of knowledge and resources through international partnerships is critical. But partnerships that merely introduce western medical techniques and protocols to low resource settings, without heeding the local contexts, are misguided and unsustainable. Forming partnerships with mutual respect, shared vision, and collaborative effort is needed to ensure that all parties, irrespective of whether they belong to resource rich or resource poor settings, learn from each other so that meaningful and sustained system strengthening can take place. Methods In this paper, we describe the partnership building model of an international NGO, Kybele, which is committed to achieving childbirth safety through sustained partnerships in low resource settings. The Kybele model adapts generic stages of successful partnerships documented in the literature to four principles relevant to Kybele’s work. A multiple-case study approach is used to demonstrate how the model is applied in different country settings. Results The four principle of Kybele’s partnership model are robust drivers of successful partnerships in diverse country settings. Conclusions Much has been written about the need for multi-country partnerships to achieve sustainable outcomes in global health, but few papers in the literature describe how this has been achieved in practice. A strong champion, support and engagement of stakeholders, co-creation of solutions with partners, and involvement of partners in the delivery of solutions are all requirements for successful and sustained partnerships