Using the instructional computing design process to introduce and incorporate the Boys Town social skills

The following paper takes an inside look on how to use the Instructional Computing Design process to create instructional software that focuses on the Boys Town Social Skills. Within the planning, designing, and development of this multimedia project, the paper will also concentrate on the projects standards, management of the project, and an ongoing evaluation of the project. A great amount of discussion in the paper focuses on how to develop software that is used to instruct and guide learners using the Boys Town Social Skills. Each step of the ICD process will be described to reveal how the Boys Town Social Skills Model was implemented into the curriculum effectively and efficiently as a software program. The project will then be described by taking a tour within the program, and finish off with insights gained from the ICD process and the description of possible future projects

Public Sector Capacity and Political Stability in Latin America

Research project funded in academic years 2004-05, 2005-06, 2006-07, 2007-08, and 2008-09The University Archives has determined that this item is of continuing value to OSU's history.Why do some Latin American governments maintain stable democracies while others succumb to political unrest? To answer this question, Marcus Kurtz examined the institutional capacity of states, or their ability to respond to economic inequality and political unrest in ways that prevent escalation into crises that threaten the regime.Mershon Center for International Security StudiesProject summar

Detection of grapevine leaf stripe disease symptoms by hyperspectral sensor

Hyperspectral sensors can measure reflectance in a wide range of the electromagnetic spectrum. These can be used as an indirect method for detecting plant disease, by comparing the specific spectral signatures between symptomatic and asymptomatic vegetation. Grapevine Leaf Stripe Disease (GLSD), including the Esca complex, is a very important Grapevine Trunk Disease (GTD) worldwide. With the objective of developing an innovative method for quantitative and qualitative analyses of symptomatic plants using remote sensing, this study measured and characterized the spectral behaviour of GLSD asymptomatic and symptomatic grapevine leaves using a hyperspectral sensor. Asymptomatic, initial and final GLSD symptomatic leaves were collected in two stages of the phenological cycle (before and after harvest) from a ‘Merlot’ vineyard in Veranópolis, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Reflectance measurements (350 to 2,500 nm) were performed using a spectroradiometer. The spectral behaviour of vine leaves with GLSD symptoms changed especially in the visible light range; reflectance increased in the green edge (520-550 nm) and red edge (700 nm) associated with reduced photosynthetic pigments (especially chlorophyll b). At near-infrared, reflectance decreased, especially in leaves with advanced GLSD, due to cell structure loss and toxin accumulation induced by pathogens. Even at different intensities, leaf reflectance changed in initial and final GLSD symptoms and at different stages of the cycle. These results showed that proximal, non-destructive sensing techniques may be useful tools for detecting the changing spectral behaviour of grapevine leaves with GLSD, which could be used for disease identification and detection

Modelo de previsão para fenologia de cultivares de videira com tratamento de água quente

The objective of this work was to prepare a prediction model for the phenology of grapevine cultivars (Bordô, Cabernet Sauvignon, Moscato Embrapa, Paulsen 1103, SO4, and IAC 572) using hot water treatment. The heat treatment with hot water consisted of ombinations of three temperatures (50, 53, and 55°C) and three time periods (30, 45, and 60 min), with or without previous hydration for 30 min. After the treatments, the cuttings were planted in the field and their phenological development was evaluated during two months. The six studied cultivars presented different responses to the effects of the factors temperature and time, but did not differ significantly regarding hydration. It was possible to develop a mathematical model for the use of hot water treatment in grapevine cuttings, based on phenological development (yphenology = 48.268 - 0.811x1 - 0.058x2) and validated by the variables sprouting and root emission. From the developed model, it is recommended that the hot water treatment be applied in the temperature range between 48 and 51°C for cuttings of all cultivars.O objetivo deste trabalho foi elaborar um modelo de previsão da fenologia de cultivares de videira (Bordô, Cabernet Sauvignon, Moscato Embrapa, Paulsen 1103, SO4 e IAC 572) com uso de tratamento de água quente. O tratamento térmico com água quente consistiu de combinações de três temperaturas (50, 53 e 55°C) com três intervalos de tempo (30, 45 e 60 min), com ou sem hidratação prévia por 30 min. Após os tratamentos, as estacas foram plantadas a campo e seu desenvolvimento fenológico foi avaliado por dois meses. As seis cultivares estudadas apresentaram respostas distintas quanto à influência dos fatores temperatura e tempo, mas não diferiram significativamente quanto à hidratação. Foi possível desenvolver um modelo matemático para uso do tratamento de água quente em estacas de videira, baseado no desenvolvimento fenológico (yfenologia= 48,268 - 0,811x1 - 0,058x2) e validado com as variáveis brotação e emissão de raízes. Recomenda-se, a partir do modelo desenvolvido, que o tratamento de água quente seja aplicado na faixa de temperatura entre 48 e 51°C para estacas de todas as cultivares

Explore, Scale Up, Move Out: Three Phases to Managing Change under Conditions of Uncertainty

Private sector development is dominated by the use of ‘good practice’ solutions, driven by a desire of the development donors to control the outcome of development initiatives – with limited success. Bottom?up participatory approaches are more appropriate to find solutions for the complex challenge of market and private sector development. Theory?based approaches are used to design and deliver solutions to economic development challenges. We argue that these approaches have limited potential to manage interventions that target systemic change in complex contexts. On the other hand, alternative approaches based on emergence have some essential shortcomings from the perspective of the international development system. Based on our own working experience, we propose a pragmatic way forward that aims to build on the strengths of emergence?based approaches in complex contexts but is designed to work in the current development environment

Long-term durability of alumina ceramic heads in THA

Background: The optimal type of bearing for hip arthroplasty remains a matter of debate. Ceramic-on-polyethylene (CoP) bearings are frequently used in younger and more active patients to reduce wear and increase biocompatibility compared to Metal-on-Polyethylene (MoP) bearings. However, in comparison to metal heads, the fracture risk of ceramic heads is higher. In addition, ceramic head fractures pose a serious complication which often necessitates major revision surgery. To date, there are no long-term data (>20 years of follow-up) reporting fracture rates of the ceramic femoral heads in CoP bearings. The purpose of this research was to investigate long-term CoP fracture rate. Methods: We evaluated the clinical and radiographic results of 348 cementless THAs treated with 2nd generation Biolox® Al2O3 Ceramic-on-Polyethylene (CoP) bearings consecutively implanted between January 1985 and December 1989. The mean age at implantation was 57 years. The patients were followed for a minimum of 20 years. At the final 111 had died, and 5 were lost to follow-up. The cumulative incidence of ceramic head fractures in the long-term was estimated using a competing risk analysis. Results: The cumulative incidence of ceramic head fracture after 22-years was estimated with a competing risk analysis at 0.29% after 22-years (SE = 2.09%; 95% - CI: 0.03-1.5%). The radiographic analysis revealed no impending failures at final follow-up. Discussion/Conclusion: The fracture rate of second-generation ceramic heads using a CoP articulation remains very low into the third decade after cementless THA

A randomized clinical trial of a peri-operative behavioral intervention to improve physical activity adherence and functional outcomes following total knee replacement

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Total knee replacement (TKR) is a common and effective surgical procedure to relieve advanced knee arthritis that persists despite comprehensive medical treatment. Although TKR has excellent technical outcomes, significant variation in patient-reported functional improvement post-TKR exists. Evidence suggests that consistent post-TKR exercise and physical activity is associated with functional gain, and that this relationship is influenced by emotional health. The increasing use of TKR in the aging US population makes it critical to find strategies that maximize functional outcomes.</p> <p>Methods/Design</p> <p>This randomized clinical trial (RCT) will test the efficacy of a theory-based telephone-delivered Patient Self-Management Support intervention that seeks to enhance adherence to independent exercise and activity among post- TKR patients. The intervention consists of 12 sessions, which begin prior to surgery and continue for approximately 9 weeks post-TKR. The intervention condition will be compared to a usual care control condition using a randomized design and a probabilistic sample of men and women. Assessments are conducted at baseline, eight weeks, and six- and twelve- months. The project is being conducted at a large healthcare system in Massachusetts. The study was designed to provide greater than 80% power for detecting a difference of 4 points in physical function (SF36/Physical Component Score) between conditions (standard deviation of 10) at six months with secondary outcomes collected at one year, assuming a loss to follow up rate of no more than 15%.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>As TKR use expands, it is important to develop methods to identify patients at risk for sub-optimal functional outcome and to effectively intervene with the goal of optimizing functional outcomes. If shown efficacious, this peri-TKR intervention has the potential to change the paradigm for successful post-TKR care. We hypothesize that Patient Self-Management Support to enhance adherence to independent activity and exercise will enhance uniform, optimal improvement in post-TKR function and patient autonomy, the ultimate goals of TKR.</p> <p>Trial Registration</p> <p>ClinicalTrials.gov: <a href="http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00566826">NCT00566826</a></p

Distributive Politics and Social Protection in the 21st Century

The University Archives has determined that this item is of continuing value to OSU's history.Dramatic economic and demographic transitions have prompted societies around the world to renegotiate the social bargains underpinning national social protection systems. In the process, social welfare reforms have laid bare deep fault lines of distributive conflict, cleaving societies across generations, income levels, and risk groups. Although considerable scholarly attention has been paid to the distinctive contours of these reforms, much of this inquiry remains bound within regional or national lines. As a step toward bridging these empirical and theoretical gaps, this workshop will bring together scholars engaged in research on social protection and distributive conflict in diverse regions of the world, from Latin America to Europe and Asia. Questions addressed in the workshop will include efforts to understand the longer-term implications of social welfare transformations, while asking what changes in social welfare spending, structure and function will imply for longer-term distributions of political and economic resources, risk and life chances. Lastly, participants in the workshop will ask how the shift of risks from collective social insurance programs to individuals affect social cohesion, and democratic stability.Ohio State University. Mershon Center for International Security StudiesEvent webpage, handou