AGED 539 Internship Report - Rancho San Juan High School

This internship and project report includes documentation required in meeting the quality criteria for secondary-level programs of instruction in agriculture. The documents are concurrently used for the Agriculture Incentive Grant review process at Rancho San Juan High School conducted by representatives of the California Department of Education. The supporting material includes information to receive state and local funding, outline the goals and objectives of the program, along with an overview of Rancho San Juan High School, the agriculture program and the community

The Mental Health Needs of Coresident Offspring Dementia Caregivers: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis

This interpretative phenomenological analysis was conducted to deepen understanding of the experience of six daughters who cared for and lived with a mother with dementia. Caregivers for a loved one with dementia experience well-documented stressors, but less is known specific to offspring who care for a parent with dementia, particularly related to their mental health needs and potential means of addressing those needs. Because family caregiving is grounded within the family system, the study utilized a systemic lens, also considering the formal caregiving and societal systems. With the exception of some benefit from paid services of adult day care or in-home care, the formal caregiving and societal systems were largely absent or not supportive in these caregivers’ stories. Findings supported the significance of a caregiver’s family of origin as an exacerbator or revealer of family dynamics in parent care, potentially opening unresolved conflicts or providing opportunities to find resolution. Other findings were that trust is salient to forming a caregiving team with or without one’s siblings; that caregiving challenges a caregiver’s identity; that dementia caregiving entails loss and, in maternal dementia care, there is loss of mother as mother; that in the stresses of dementia caregiving are positives and growth opportunities; and that finding and making meaning are important in coping with caregiving. Identified mental health needs, shaped by the role of dialectics in dementia caregiving, were for thriving, cognitive flexibility, hope, relief from family conflict, respite, and autonomy. Beneficial mental health services suggested by the findings emphasize working from a family systems lens; awareness of identity development and potential loss of self, the importance of meaning-making, the need for hope, and the threats to autonomy in caregiving; and consideration of dialectical behavior therapy skills training. The latter emerged from findings of ambiguities and dialectics experienced by the caregivers and the potential for benefit from greater dichotomous thinking. Areas recommended for further research include the family system in offspring parent care, expansion of previous studies looking at ambiguous loss in dementia caregiving, the mental health needs of understudied caregivers, the potential of dialectical behavior therapy skills training for offspring dementia caregivers, and examination of findings that hint at a phenomenon of reverse attachment in dementia parent care

Adverse Childhood Experiences and Adult Smoking, Nebraska, 2011

Introduction Smoking is a public health risk; the prevalence of smoking among adults in Nebraska is 18-4%. Studies indicate that maltreatment of children alters their brain development, possibly increasing risk for tobacco use. Previous studies have documented associations between childhood maltreatment and adult health behaviors, demonstrating the influence of adverse experiences on tobacco use. We examined prevalence and associations between adverse childhood experiences and smoking among Nebraskans. Methods We analyzed 2011 Nebraska Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (Adverse Childhood Experience module) data, defining adverse childhood experience exposures as physical, sexual, and verbal abuse (ie, direct exposures), and household dysfunction associated with mental illness, substance abuse, divorce, domestic violence, and living with persons with incarceration histories (ie, environmental exposures). We estimated prevalence of exposures, taking into account the complex survey design. We used logistic regression with predicted margins to estimate adjusted relative risk for smoking by direct or environmental exposure. Results Approximately 51% of Nebraskans experienced 1 or more adverse childhood events; 7% experienced 5 or more. Prevalence of environmental exposures (42%) was significantly higher than that of direct exposures (31%). Prevalence of individual exposures ranged from 6% (incarceration of a household member) to 25% (verbal abuse). Adjusted relative risks of smoking for direct and environmental exposures were 1.5 and 1.8, respectively. Conclusion We present a new method of evaluating adverse childhood experience data. Prevalence of adverse childhood experiences is high among Nebraskans, and these exposures are associated with smoking. State-specific strategies to monitor adverse events among children and provide interventions might help to decrease the smoking rate in this population

Adverse Childhood Experiences and Adult Smoking, Nebraska, 2011

Introduction Smoking is a public health risk; the prevalence of smoking among adults in Nebraska is 18-4%. Studies indicate that maltreatment of children alters their brain development, possibly increasing risk for tobacco use. Previous studies have documented associations between childhood maltreatment and adult health behaviors, demonstrating the influence of adverse experiences on tobacco use. We examined prevalence and associations between adverse childhood experiences and smoking among Nebraskans. Methods We analyzed 2011 Nebraska Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (Adverse Childhood Experience module) data, defining adverse childhood experience exposures as physical, sexual, and verbal abuse (ie, direct exposures), and household dysfunction associated with mental illness, substance abuse, divorce, domestic violence, and living with persons with incarceration histories (ie, environmental exposures). We estimated prevalence of exposures, taking into account the complex survey design. We used logistic regression with predicted margins to estimate adjusted relative risk for smoking by direct or environmental exposure. Results Approximately 51% of Nebraskans experienced 1 or more adverse childhood events; 7% experienced 5 or more. Prevalence of environmental exposures (42%) was significantly higher than that of direct exposures (31%). Prevalence of individual exposures ranged from 6% (incarceration of a household member) to 25% (verbal abuse). Adjusted relative risks of smoking for direct and environmental exposures were 1.5 and 1.8, respectively. Conclusion We present a new method of evaluating adverse childhood experience data. Prevalence of adverse childhood experiences is high among Nebraskans, and these exposures are associated with smoking. State-specific strategies to monitor adverse events among children and provide interventions might help to decrease the smoking rate in this population

Investigation of anatomical anomalies in Hanford Site mule deer

Rocky Mountain mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus hemionus), common residents of the Hanford Site, are an important part of the shrub-steppe ecosystem as well as being valued for aesthetics and hunting. Because mule deer have been protected from hunting on the Site for 50 years, the herd has developed unique population characteristics, including a large number of old animals and males with either large or atypically developed antlers, in contrast to other herds in the semi-arid regions of the Northwest. Hanford Site mule deer have been studied since 1991 because of the herd`s unique nature and high degree of public interest. A special study of the mule deer herd was initiated in 1993 after observations were made of a relatively large number of male deer with atypical, velvet-covered antlers. This report specifically describes our analyses of adult male deer found on the Site with atypical antlers. The report includes estimates of population densities and composition; home ranges, habitat uses, and dietary habits; natural and human-induced causes of mortality; and the herd`s overall health and reproductive status

Animal intrusion studies for protective barriers: Status report for FY 1988

The objective of the Biointrusion Control Task is to provide technical support to Westinghouse Hanford Company's Protective Barrier Development Program for evaluating and predicting potential impacts of animal burrowing on long-term barrier performance. This document reviews the major accomplishments for FY 1988, which is the initial year of the work. The scope of work includes a literature review, field studies, and modeling to assess burrowing impacts as they may contribute to increased infiltration of surface water through barriers, increased quantities of soil available for erosion because of surface soil disturbance, and direct physical transport of contaminants to the surface. 68 refs., 8 figs., 5 tabs

Recycled Pulsars Discovered at High Radio Frequency

We present the timing parameters of nine pulsars discovered in a survey of intermediate Galactic latitudes at 1400 MHz with the Parkes radio telescope. Eight of these pulsars possess small pulse periods and period derivatives thought to be indicative of ``recycling''. Six of the pulsars are in circular binary systems, including two with relatively massive white dwarf companions. We discuss the implications of these new systems for theories of binary formation and evolution. One long-period pulsar (J1410-7404) has a moderately weak magnetic field and an exceedingly narrow average pulse profile, similar to other recycled pulsars.Comment: 9 pages, 4 figures. Accepted for publication in Ap

Development of a High Fidelity Dynamic Module of the Advanced Resistive Exercise Device (ARED) Using Adams

NASA's Digital Astronaut Project (DAP) implements well-vetted computational models to predict and assess spaceflight health and performance risks, and enhance countermeasure development. DAP provides expertise and computation tools to its research customers for model development, integration, or analysis. DAP is currently supporting the NASA Exercise Physiology and Countermeasures (ExPC) project by integrating their biomechanical models of specific exercise movements with dynamic models of the devices on which the exercises were performed. This presentation focuses on the development of a high fidelity dynamic module of the Advanced Resistive Exercise Device (ARED) on board the ISS. The ARED module, illustrated in the figure below, was developed using the Adams (MSC Santa Ana, California) simulation package. The Adams package provides the capabilities to perform multi rigid body, flexible body, and mixed dynamic analyses of complex mechanisms. These capabilities were applied to accurately simulate: Inertial and mass properties of the device such as the vibration isolation system (VIS) effects and other ARED components, Non-linear joint friction effects, The gas law dynamics of the vacuum cylinders and VIS components using custom written differential state equations, The ARED flywheel dynamics, including torque limiting clutch. Design data from the JSC ARED Engineering team was utilized in developing the model. This included solid modeling geometry files, component/system specifications, engineering reports and available data sets. The Adams ARED module is importable into LifeMOD (Life Modeler, Inc., San Clemente, CA) for biomechanical analyses of different resistive exercises such as squat and dead-lift. Using motion capture data from ground test subjects, the ExPC developed biomechanical exercise models in LifeMOD. The Adams ARED device module was then integrated with the exercise subject model into one integrated dynamic model. This presentation will describe the development of the Adams ARED module including its capabilities, limitations, and assumptions. Preliminary results, validation activities, and a practical application of the module to inform the relative effect of the flywheels on exercise will be discussed

Relevance of biotic pathways to the long-term regulation of nuclear waste disposal. Topical report on reference eastern humid low-level sites

The purpose of the work reported here was to develop an order-of-magnitude estimate for the potential dose to man resulting from biotic transport mechanisms at a humid reference low-level waste site in the eastern US. A description of the reference site is presented that includes the waste inventories, site characteristics and biological communites. Parameter values for biotic transport processes are based on data reported in current literature. Transport and exposure scenarios are developed for assessing biotic transport during 500 years following site closure. Calculations of radionuclide decay and waste container decomposition are made to estimate the quantities available for biotic transport. Doses to man are calculated for the biological transport of radionucludes at the reference site after loss of institutional control. These dose estimates are compared to dose estimates we calculated for the intruder-agricultural scenarios reported in the DEIS for 10 CFR 61 (NRC). Dose to man estimates as a result of cumulative biotic transport are calculated to be of the same order-of-magnitude as the dose resulting from the more commonly evaluated human intrusion scenario. The reported lack of potential importance of biotic transport at low-level waste sites in earlier assessment studies is not confirmed by findings presented in this report. Through biotic transport, radionuclides can be moved to locations where they can enter exposure pathways to man

Previously Undiagnosed HIV Infections Identified Through Cluster Investigation, North Carolina, 2002–2007

During cluster investigation, index patients name social contacts that are not sex or drug-sharing partners. The likelihood of identifying new HIV infections among social contacts is unknown. We hypothesized greater odds of identifying new infections among social contacts identified by men who report sex with men (MSM). We reviewed North Carolina HIV diagnoses during 2002–2005 and used logistic regression to compare testing results among social contacts of MSM, men who report sex with women only (MSW) and women. HIV was newly diagnosed among 54/601 (9.0%) social contacts tested named by MSM, 16/522 (3.1%) named by MSW, and 23/639 (3.6%) named by women. Compared with those named by MSW, odds of new HIV diagnosis were greater among MSM social contacts (adjusted odds ratio: 2.5; 95% confidence interval: 1.3–4.7). Testing social contacts identified previously undiagnosed HIV infections and could provide an opportunity to interrupt transmission