Index-based Insurance and Risk Management Among Nomadic Mongolian Herders

Mongolian herders must contend with the risk of dzuds, harsh winters that can kill large numbers of livestock. To do so, they use a mixture of formal financial tools and traditional risk mitigation techniques. This paper is a study of the interaction between the Mongolian Index-based Livestock Insurance Program and traditional informal risk mitigation techniques. The researcher interviews herders in Bulgan soum, Arhangai aimag and Galuut soum, Bayanhongor aimag to compare the IBLI program’s impact in a community that has had IBLI since 2006 and one that only received IBLI in 2012. This study finds that insurance purchase is positively correlated with stronger social networks. It also finds that lower income herders are less likely to purchase insurance. However, herders trust social networks to support them in dzud years more than they trust formal financial institutions. Herders also face substantial basis risk beyond the risks covered by IBLI. While the IBLI program is growing in popularity and some herders find it a source of greater financial security, this study concludes that more work is needed to enhance other risk mitigation tools and to support IBLI uptake among poor herders to effectively mitigate the risk of dzud

Molecular Hospitality: The Interactions of Brooker’s Merocyanine with Modified Cyclodextrins

The binding of a guest molecule to a host system occurs through weak molecular interactions instead of through the formation of chemical bonds. The relative strength of these interactions can be understood by comparing the binding constant in related host-guest systems. Β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) is a seven-membered ring of glucose units which was used as the host molecule due to its basket-like shape. This shape allows Brooker’s merocyanine (BM), a highly conjugated guest molecule that is sensitive to its environment, to enter the cavity and interact with substituents located along the primary and secondary rims of the CD. This project measured the changes in the equilibrium binding constant due to different modifications to the CD, as well as the isomerization of BM within the cavity using UV-Vis and fluorescence spectroscopy. Binding constants were determined for different CD modifications, including β-CD, hydroxypropyl-β-CD, hydroxyethyl-β-CD, and sulfated β-CD (sodium salt). The largest effect of these substituents was the hindrance of the binding by the sulfate groups due to either steric effects or ionic interactions. A better understanding of these factors that affect binding and how molecules behave within the cavity will allow for more accurate predictions of their behavior under different conditions

Occupational Therapy Caregiver\u27s Guide to Spinal Cord Injury

In 2006, it was estimated that there were 253,000 Americans living with spinal cord injuries (SCI) (Spinal Cord Injury Information Network, 2003, p. 1). Current literature suggests that individuals are transitioning into the community earlier with the majority of care being provided by informal caregivers (Boschen, Tonack, & Gargaro, 2005). These caregivers are often unprepared for the major role they will be assuming in the care of their loved one and often their health and well-being is compromised due to the overwhelming nature of caregiving. A comprehensive literature review was conducted to explore and identify the needs of caregivers. Topics researched included spinal cord injury (SCI), treatments, caregiving, caregiver needs and interventions, and caregiver resources. In addition, the literature was reviewed regarding best practice strategies to deal with the changing needs and lifestyles the family may experience. The literature review revealed that there were few resources examining caregivers of individuals with SCI, many of the needs of the caregiver were identified and shown to be underserved. Based upon the literature review, the Occupational Therapy Caregiver\u27s Guide to Spinal Cord Injll1Y has been developed to assist caregivers in performing their new role of primary caregiver. It provides them with information on basic patient care guidelines as well as information on the caregiver\u27s physical and psychosocial wellbeing. The guide also provides the caregiver with information on the importance of continuing their prior occupations along with their new occupations. Lastly, the guide will provide the caregiver with a list of resources that may be useful in trying times such as the benefits of respite care. The authors hope that the guide will begin to bridge the gap faced by caregivers of individuals with spinal cord injury. It is hoped that unifying the resources and strategies in the guide will decrease the caregivers stress so he or she can be in a more healthy and supportive role during the recovery process

Occupational Therapy Practice Trends for Occupations Impacted by Puberty in Children with ASD

Introduction: Adolescents face physical, social, cognitive, and emotional changes during the developmental stage of puberty. Pubertal changes can be difficult for neurotypical adolescents to cope with, but especially for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Specifically, adolescents with ASD experience challenges with adapting to physical and emotional changes, managing new hygiene routines, abiding to social norms, and inappropriate sexual behaviors (Beddows & Brooks, 2016; Cridland, Caputi, Jones, & Magee, 2015; Cridland, Jones, Caputi, & Magee, 2014). While occupational therapy plays a role in helping adolescents with ASD, a lack of occupational therapy literature on this topic leads to unknown practice trends for practitioners to address puberty-related challenges in individuals with ASD. The purpose of this independent study was to understand the trends of occupational therapy practitioners in addressing developmental changes during puberty for adolescents with ASD. Methodology: A descriptive survey design was used. The Occupational Therapy for Autism and Puberty Survey (OT-APS) was developed based upon a literature review to understand best practices in ASD. Stratified random sampling and convenience sampling were employed with 71 occupational therapy practitioners responding to the descriptive survey. Results and Conclusions: Practice trends gleaned from the survey include: a) The most common assessments used were the Sensory Profile 2 (69.0%), the Sensory Processing vii Measure (63.4%), and the BOT-2 (62.0%). b) The most common interventions practitioners have been trained in were behavioral strategies (94.4%), sensory processing integration (81.7%), and social learning approaches (80.3%). c) The interventions most often used included social learning approaches (M= 5.30, SD = 2.86) and behavioral strategies (M = 5.28, SD = 2.65). d) Practitioners were most comfortable addressing emotional regulation (54.9%) and personal hygiene and self-care (58%) and least comfortable addressing masturbation (88. 7%) and menstruation ( 42.8% ). e) Practitioners were most comfortable using behavioral strategies (56.3%) and social learning approaches (46.5%). Significance: This research study provided evidence regarding the training completed, challenges addressed, interventions used, and comfortability of occupational therapy practitioners to address puberty related changes and challenges with children and adolescents age 8-16 with ASD. The findings provide an understanding of current practice trends and can be compared with best practice approaches and help identify evidence-based interventions that are being more or less utilized. Further research is needed better understand how these interventions are being provided in practice and why interventions are more often or rarely used. The information can be used in determining whether occupational therapy practitioners require further training in and understanding of puberty related changes and challenges within this population

Increasing Motivation to Improve Reading Comprehension

This action research study focused on the effects implementing multiple reading strategies and reading activities had on student reading comprehension and motivation. Research was conducted with 56 students from a first grade, fifth grade, and seventh grade classroom. Data was collected from comprehension assessments, teacher observations, and the implementation of a book challenge adapted from The Book Whisperer: Awakening the Inner Reader in Every Child by Donalyn Miller. Activities from the book challenge included student self reflections, book reviews, reading journals, and student to teacher letter correspondences about reading experiences. Results indicated that student reading comprehension in each classroom improved with the implementation of these reading strategies. Implications of the study suggest that if teachers implement a variety of reading strategies, student comprehension can increase and students may become more motivated readers with more reading exposure. Because of the powerful results of student growth, the instructional and motivational techniques will continue to be implemented

SMALL SCALE VARIABILITY IN SNOW ACCUMULATION AND ABLATION UNDER A HETEROGENEOUS MIXED-CONIFER CANOPY

The spatial patterns of snow accumulation and melt in forested watersheds directly control runoff generation processes and the annual quantity and quality of available water to downstream receiving waters. In the western U.S. nearly three quarters of the annual water input into the hydrologic cycle comes from snow accumulation and melt in forested watersheds. This provision of water is one of the most important forest ecosystem services and is necessary for ecological, economic and social health. Despite our understanding of the coupling of forests and watersheds, the relationship between forest spatial patterns and snow hydrology is poorly understood. Forest canopies exhibit heterogeneity manifested as a mosaic of differing species, spatial arrangements, and canopy densities that differentially intercept incoming precipitation, alter wind patterns, and absorb, trap or reflect radiation; controlling the processes of snow accumulation and ablation. Vegetation patterns have been used as surrogates for processes where we expect that spatially recognizable structures give rise to specific ecological processes and vice versa. We investigated how spatial patterns of snow depth, density, snow water equivalent (SWE), and snow disappearance date (SDD) varied within stands of heterogeneous canopy structure. We collected 780 empirical measurements of snow depth, density, and SWE at peak accumulation on two fully georeferenced, mixed-conifer plots at Lubrecht Experimental Forest in western Montana. Throughout the 49 day melt season, we monitored SDD, snow depth, and SWE every third day with 4900 samples per campaign. In 2014, snow depth, density and SWE ranged from 0.0-67.31 cm, 5.43-49.76%, and 0.75-17.90 cm respectively. A canopy competition index ranged from 0.0-86.8 with non-forested areas averaging 11.5 cm SWE, melting around day 41 compared to mature dense canopy with average SWE of 5.1 cm and a SDD around day 9. This preliminary work suggests a strong linkage between canopy structure and accumulation and snowmelt processes. In the future we seek to link canopy patterns and the specific physical mechanisms that lead to differential snow dynamics in forested landscapes. This understanding is essential for improving process-based models and tools for forest managers to optimize forest water resources in a changing climate

The Effect of the Chirp Wheel and Other Ergogenic Aids on Back Flexion and Recovery

Foam rollers are used frequently as tools by health professionals and athletes to increase joint range of motion, tissue temperature, and blood flow, providing myofascial relief to areas targeted by the user. Standard foam rollers have been the subject of many studies, with limited work regarding foam rolling of the spine, despite this technique being a common practice among athletes. The chirp wheel is a foam rolling product with a groove down the middle, made to increase pressure on deep back muscles which may act to decrease muscle tension and soreness while optimizing perceived recovery. To our knowledge, this is the first study examining the effectiveness of the chirp wheel. Hope College football players were recruited to take part in this 4-week, 5-session counterbalanced study. The first data session consisted of participant information collection and familiarization while the final four sessions involved weightlifting regimens followed by structured recovery and sit and reach tests. Recovery treatments included the application of either a standard foam roller, chirp wheel, or yoga block to muscles in the gluteal, lumbar, thoracic, cervical, and full back regions. Additionally, in each session perceived relief was recorded immediately after working out, post-treatment (standard foam roller, chirp wheel, or yoga block), and 24 hours after the session. The yoga block was used as a placebo to reduce expectancy error. It was hypothesized that the chirp wheel would provide the greatest increase in lumbar flexion and perceived relief, followed by the standard foam roller and yoga block conditions. Significant results would validate company claims regarding the chirp wheel and would support the preferential use of the chirp wheel in foam rolling of the back. This study is ongoing, results will be available during the celebration

Surface-Dependence of Interfacial Binding Strength between Zinc Oxide and Graphene Investigated from First Principles

There is an increasing interest in hybridized materials for applications such as improving the structural integrity of known and commonly used materials. Recent experiments have suggested that the adhesion of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanowires with carbon fibers can significantly improve the interfacial shear strength of fiber-reinforced composites. We have carried out a systematic study of the interaction between ZnO and graphene based on density functional theory, with a focus on the effect of the surface orientation and termination of ZnO. The most thermodynamically stable hexagonal phase of ZnO is modeled by a cluster with (001), (100), and (110) facets, and the (001) surface is constructed to have both Zn-rich and O-rich terminations. The interaction has been explored through varying both the orientation and the binding sites of the interacting surfaces. The interfacial binding strength is calculated by scanning the potential energy surface while bringing the ZnO cluster incrementally closer to graphene. Results from these energy scans will be presented and discussed along with simple physical arguments to rationalize the observed behavior