A Survey of Research Productivity in Respiratory Therapy Educational Programs

ABSTRACT RESEARCH PRODUCTIVITY IN RESPIRATORY THERAPY DEPARTMENTS IN THE UNITED STATES Issue: There is a need to standardize faculty evaluations across departments, particularly at research intensive universities. To date, there is no such standard to measure research productivity of respiratory therapy (RT) professors and programs in the U.S. This study asked: How is research productivity described in RT? What is the research productivity ranking of researchers? and What is the research productivity ranking of departments? Methods: After IRB approval, 56 B.S./M.S. degree RT programs were surveyed by email. Data were analyzed for descriptive statistics and correlations. Outcomes: Response rate was 52%. Research productivity in RT is best described using H-Index and M quotient. Range of H-Index for professors was 0 to 44 with a mean of 2.37. Outcome variables found to have positive correlation with H-Index were highest degree earned, academic rank, accreditation role, and Carnegie Classification. Mean program H-Index ranged from 0 to 10.17 with a mean of 1.99. Conclusion: A positive relationship exists between H-Index of RT professors and several outcome variables. Faculty and program directors seeking to increase research productivity can by way of changes in hiring practice and furthering faculty development

From Coherent States In Adjacent Graphene Layers Toward Low-Power Logic Circuits

Colleagues and we recently proposed a new type of transistor, a Bilayer PseudoSpin Field Effect Transistor (BiSFET), based on many-body coherent states in coupled electron and hole layers in graphene. Here we review the basic BiSFET device concept and ongoing efforts to determine how such a device, which would be far from a drop-in replacement for MOSFETs in CMOS logic, could be used for low-power logic operation, and to model the effects of engineerable device parameters on the formation and gating of interlayer coherent state.Electrical and Computer Engineerin

UNDERSTANDING CONSERVATION SPECIALISTS’ ROLE IN THE ADOPTION OF PRECISION AGRICULTURE IN NEBRASKA

There is a complex issue by the need for strategic development of agricultural lands to ensure we can feed a growing world, while simultaneously reducing impacts on our natural resources such as water pollution from runoff, soil degradation, and habitat fragmentation. To address these growing concerns, researchers are looking for ways to optimize both agricultural production and natural resource conservation. Precision conservation was developed to ensure sustainable ecosystems for future generations. Our research evaluates conservation specialists’ ability to clearly articulate how precision conservation can help agricultural producers feed a growing world while simultaneously reducing impacts on our natural resources, I convened a panel of 20 conservation specialists to examine the current diverse perspectives on the progression and integration of precision agriculture in conservation management prescriptions through the Delphi Method research approach. Through the evaluation of the Delphi Method through a systematic review, I highlight the areas of agreeance in the field of natural resources, but also note the areas of concern moving forward for researchers looking to apply in their own research. We used the E-Delphi method to gather data through a series of three 3 surveys to test the hypothesis that the use of precision agriculture is becoming increasingly prevalent in the field of conservation. Our results support the hypotheses, suggesting that conservation specialists are, in fact, using precision agriculture practices in their conservation positions, but with noticeable variance in the confinements of which practices were utilized. Furthermore, the results highlight the need to provide a united message when delivering precision agriculture across varying agency and organizational platforms. Advisors: Andrew Little, Christopher Chizinsk

Evaluation of Classification Procedures for Estimating Wheat Acreage in Kansas

This report presents the results of experiments which were performed to evaluate procedures for estimating wheat acreage in intensive test sites (ITS\u27s) in Kansas. An analyst/interpreter (AI) selected and labeled fields from Landsat-1 satellite imagery. Statistics were generated for each selected ITS, and the imagery was classified using a maximum likelihood classifier. Various components of the classification process were tested

A case of septicaemic anthrax in an intravenous drug user

<p><b>Background:</b> In 2000, Ringertz et al described the first case of systemic anthrax caused by injecting heroin contaminated with anthrax. In 2008, there were 574 drug related deaths in Scotland, of which 336 were associated with heroin and or morphine. We report a rare case of septicaemic anthrax caused by injecting heroin contaminated with anthrax in Scotland.</p> <p><b>Case Presentation:</b> A 32 year old intravenous drug user (IVDU), presented with a 12 hour history of increasing purulent discharge from a chronic sinus in his left groin. He had a tachycardia, pyrexia, leukocytosis and an elevated C-reactive protein (CRP). He was treated with Vancomycin, Clindamycin, Ciprofloxacin, Gentamicin and Metronidazole. Blood cultures grew Bacillus anthracis within 24 hours of presentation. He had a computed tomography (CT) scan and magnetic resonance imagining (MRI) of his abdomen, pelvis and thighs performed. These showed inflammatory change relating to the iliopsoas and an area of necrosis in the adductor magnus.</p> <p>He underwent an exploration of his left thigh. This revealed chronically indurated subcutaneous tissues with no evidence of a collection or necrotic muscle. Treatment with Vancomycin, Ciprofloxacin and Clindamycin continued for 14 days. Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT) device was applied utilising the Venturi™ wound sealing kit. Following 4 weeks of treatment, the wound dimensions had reduced by 77%.</p> <p><b>Conclusions:</b> Although systemic anthrax infection is rare, it should be considered when faced with severe cutaneous infection in IVDU patients. This case shows that patients with significant bacteraemia may present with no signs of haemodynamic compromise. Prompt recognition and treatment with high dose IV antimicrobial therapy increases the likelihood of survival. The use of simple wound therapy adjuncts such as NPWT can give excellent wound healing results.</p&gt