Efficient separation of small microparticles at high flowrates using spiral channels: Application to waterborne pathogens

Detecting waterborne pathogens is a challenging task because of their low concentration in water and their wide diversity. In order to ease this detection process, the potential of microfluidics is investigated in this paper. Spiral channels are designed for separating particles, in a single device and without any external forces or additional buffer, depending on their size at high flowrates. This paper focuses first on the impact of the channel length, flowrate, particle concentration and size on the separation efficiency of polystyrene beads of relevant sizes . The system is then tested with viable and non-viable pathogens (Cryptosporidium parvum  ) with an average size around

Reach Out and Read Program: Incorporating Early Literacy Promotion into Practice

Purpose: The purpose of this project was to increase the number of days per week parents read to their children ages six months to five years in order to increase literacy, brain and language development, and improve parent-child relationships and health outcomes. Review of Literature: Between birth and age five, 90% of a child’s brain development occurs (Theriot et al., 2003). The Reach Out and Read© program is an evidence-based program incorporating books into well-child visits by primary care providers ages 6 months to 5 years (Reach Out and Read©, 2014). After being introduced to literacy programs, frequency of shared book reading increased by parents to children (Kumar et al, 2016). Children of parents who read books consistently to their children were found to have higher receptive and expressive vocabulary, greater parent-child relationships, higher cognitive and language development, and greater school readiness (AAP, 2014; Kumar et al., 2014). Individuals with lower health literacy more often were found to have poorer health status, unhealthy behaviors, less utilization of preventative services, higher rates of chronic disease, increased healthcare costs, and eventually poorer health outcomes (Miller, Lee, DeWalt, & Vann, Jr, 2014). Summary of the Project: This project took place at a rural Midwestern primary care clinic which serves patients over their lifespan, primarily Caucasian, English-speaking, and low to middle socioeconomic class. Clinic nurses administered demographic and pre-questionnaires to parents of children 6 months to 5 years of age attending well-child visits assessing at home shared book frequency and attitudes toward book reading. Primary care providers gave a developmentally appropriate book to the child upon entering the well child visit and provided education and guidance to the parent regarding early literacy interventions and anticipatory guidance. Two-months after the visit, a postquestionnaire was mailed or emailed to the parent assessing frequency of reading and attitudes toward book reading. Expected Findings: After introduction to the Reach Out and Read© program, shared book frequency was increased, attitudes toward book reading was enhanced, and literacy outcomes and vocabulary was enhanced through statistical evaluation using paired t-tests. Implications for NPs: This project proves literacy promotion can greatly impact parents and their children. Primary care providers should encourage reading at least three times a week starting at 6 months of age. By encouraging at home shared book reading and educating parents on the importance of starting early, children can thrive through substantial educational and health outcomes

The Impact of Participation or Non-Participation in the Academic Excellence Commitment Area of the NCAA CHAMPS/Life Skills Program on the Academic Progress and Graduation Success Rates of Division I Football Teams

This study examined the difference that participation or nonparticipation in the academic excellence commitment area of the NCAA CHAMPS/Life Skills program had on the academic progress and graduation success of Division I-FBS football teams. A quantitative non-experimental study was conducted on a primary population of 116 Division I-FBS football teams and a secondary population of all athletes at these institutions. The football teams were examined by conference participation and nonparticipation subgroups from 11 of the 12 Division I-FBS conferences, by football teams, and by African-American and Caucasian football player ethnic groups. GSR data for the football teams and all athletes were collected from the 2008 Federal Graduation Reports (FGR) on the NCAA website. APR data for the football teams were collected from the 2008 APR reports on the NCAA website. An independent samples t test was used to analyze the difference between participation and nonparticipation conference subgroups and football teams and their GSRs and football teams and their APRs. A 2 x 2 ANOVA was conducted to analyze the difference between African-American and Caucasian participation and nonparticipation groups and their GSRs. A one-way ANOVA was used to analyze the difference between all athlete participation and nonparticipation groups and their GSRs. The hypothesized significant difference in higher graduation success, as measured by the GSR, between conference subgroups, football teams, African-American and Caucasian ethnic groups and all athletes who had actively participated in the academic excellence commitment area of the CHAMPS program and those who did not participate in the academic excellence commitment area was not supported. Analysis of the t test for conference subgroups showed no statistically significant difference between participation or nonparticipation and the graduation success of these groups, as measured by the GSR. Analysis of the t tests for football teams suggested no statistically significant difference between participation and nonparticipation and their graduation success or academic progress, as measured by the GSR and APR, respectively. Analysis of the 2 x 2 ANOVA for African-American and Caucasian football player ethnic groups suggested no statistically significant difference between participation or nonparticipation and the graduation success of these groups, as measured by the GSR. However, the 2 X 2 ANOVA for African-American and Caucasian football player ethnic groups did support the findings of previous research that showed statistically significant gaps between the graduation success of African-American and Caucasian football players. Examination of all athletes at these institutions using one-way ANOVA suggests no statistically significant difference between participation and nonparticipation and their graduation success, as measured by the GSR. Additional findings based on the GSR of all athletes without football players show no statistically significant difference between participation and nonparticipation or between the all athlete group with football players and the all athlete group without football players

Analysis of the Condition-Specific Regulation of Puf3p Activity and Puf3p-Mediated Translational Repression of mRNA in \u3ci\u3eSaccharomyces cerevisiae\u3c/i\u3e

The Puf family of proteins regulates aspects of eukaryotic development such as embryonic development, and memory formation by promoting translational repression and/or degradation of targeted mRNAs in the cytoplasm. Yeast Puf3p regulates mitochondria biogenesis and function by modulating the stabilities of nuclear-transcribed mitochondrial mRNAs in response to different carbon sources. Dextrose simulates rapid Puf3p-mediated degradation of its mRNA targets via decay complex recruitment. Ethanol, galactose, or raffinose promotes stabilization of mRNA targets, as Puf3p-mediated decay activity is severely inhibited or abolished. In this work, I have established that carbon source-induced inhibition of Puf3p activity is not due to decreased transcription or translation, but is likely regulated by post-translational phosphorylation. In the absence of Puf3p activity, binding interactions between the Puf3 repeat domain and the deadenylation factors Ccr4p and Pop2p are disrupted, while interactions with COX17mRNA are maintained. Analysis of Puf3p localization demonstrated that Puf3p aggregates in multiple cytoplasmic foci in all carbon source conditions, but these foci increase in size in Puf3p inactivating conditions. Puf3p aggregate size is increased in all P-body inducing conditions, with concomitant co-localization of Puf3p with P-bodies. However, the co-localization of Puf3p aggregates with mitochondria is only observed in Puf3p inactivating conditions. These observations present multiple schemes to regulate Puf protein activity, such that post-translational phosphorylation may regulate Puf3p activity and allow rapid changes in mRNA target repression. Inhibition of Puf3p activity may be due to Puf3p’s inability to recruit decay factors to a target mRNA. In Puf3p activating conditions, Puf3p is expressed in the cell cytoplasm to bind target mRNAs and recruit deadenylases, presumably to repress translation. Puf3p-bound transcripts targeted for decay localize within multiple P-bodies where they are decapped and degraded. When Puf3p is inactive, altered Puf3p localization to P-bodies might serve to temporarily store inactive Puf3p pools. Additionally, Puf3p may shuttle its mRNA targets to mitochondria for translation and subsequent mitochondrial import of nascent proteins. Together, this work provides a greater understanding of the role of Puf3p in mRNA decay regulation, and provides insight into the conditional control of Puf3p activity and how Puf3p accomplishes fine tuning of mitochondrial protein production

Identification of New mRNA Targets of Puf3 Protein-Mediated Decay and Analysis of Their Condition-Specific Decay Regulation in Yeast

Eukaryotic Puf proteins function to regulate gene expression by altering mRNA stability. Specifically, Puf proteins bind the 3\u27 untranslated region (UTR) of mRNA targets to stimulate their turnover. Yeast Puf3p was originally found to mediate rapid turnover of COX17 mRNA, which encodes a mitochondrial copper shuttle. More recently, microarray and computational analyses revealed that Puf3p physically associates with \u3e100 nuclear-transcribed mRNAs that encode mitochondrial proteins. Moreover, it was predicted that the steady-state expression levels of these mRNAs are altered by different growth conditions. In this work, I have experimentally validated several new mRNAs that are targeted for turnover by Puf3p, including CYT2 and TUF1. Detailed decay analyses of CYT2 revealed that Puf3p stimulates both deadenylation and decapping of the transcript via 3\u27 UTR binding. I also determined that Puf3p is rapidly activated or inactivated upon carbon source changes. Since Puf3p levels do not decrease under inactivating conditions, Puf3p activity is likely regulated post-translationally

Food colours:a study of the effects of regulation

In the 1960s the benefits of government regulation of technology were believed to outweigh any costs. But recent studies have claimed that regulation has negative effects on innovation, health and consumer choice. This case study on food colours examines such claims. EFFECTS ON HEALTH were measured by allocating a hazard rating to each colour. The negative list of 1925 removed three harmful colours which were rapidly replaced, so the benefits were short-lived. Had a proposed ban been adopted in the 1860s it would have prevented many years exposure to hazardous mineral colours. The positive list of 1957 reduced the proportion of harmful coal tar dyes from 54% of the total to 20%. Regulations brought a greater reduction in hazard levels than voluntary trade action. Delays in the introduction of a positive list created a significant hazard burden. EFFECTS ON INNOVATION were assessed from patents and discovery dates. Until the 1950s food colours were adopted from textile colours. The major period of innovation for coal tar colours was between 1856 and 1910, finishing well before regulations were made in 1957, so regulations cannot be blamed for the decline. Regulations appear to have spurred the development of at least one new coal tar dye, and many new plant colours, creating a new sector of the dye industry. EFFECTS ON CONSUMER CHOICE were assessed by case studies. Coloured milk, for example, was banned despite its popularity. Regulations have restricted choice, but have removed from the market foods that were nutritionally impoverished and poor value for money. Compositional regulations provided health protection because they reduced total exposure to colours from certain staple foods. Restricting colours to a smaller range of foods would be an effective way of coping with problems of quality and imperfect toxicological knowledge today

Teaching and Learning Occupation in Occupational Therapy Education: A Qualitative Evidence Synthesis

Occupation is the core focus of the occupational therapy profession and is a complex concept for students to know and understand. The aim of this review was to understand how teaching and learning occupation has been represented by educators and students across qualitative studies in occupational therapy education. A qualitative evidence synthesis was conducted which included searching four databases; CINAHL, Medline, Scopus, and Embase. Research articles were screened using inclusion and exclusion criteria by two reviewers. The search resulted in 328 records being identified, with 13 articles included. The methodological quality of included articles was assessed using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP). The CASP information was tabulated and then all studies were compared and contrasted. The key characteristics of each article were entered into Excel, and then analyzed to generate themes. According to the CASP qualitative tool the studies were of reasonable methodological quality, with most studies addressing the majority of questions. Themes that emerged from the article findings were: (1) educators are the instruments of occupation-centered education and (2) learning in context and through doing form distinctive pedagogies. The review provided insights about strategies being used by educators to teach occupation such as teaching it as a concept related to self and as a tool for practice, and the use of active and experiential learning approaches. It was evident that the scholarship for teaching occupation is in its early stages. Further research using diverse methods is needed to support the development of evidence-based guidelines for teaching occupation