Learning Our Way Out: A Model of Program Planning for Changing Times

This paper describes a community based planning project that led to the identification of a learning model of adult education program planning. The paper identifies the model, locates it within the program planning literature, and suggests implications and limitations for practice

Forced to Learn: Community-based Correctional Education

Community-based correctional education has received scant attention in adult literacy research yet mandatory education is a growing part of the legal system and is fueled by research that suggests a link between correctional education and lower rates of recidivism. Growth in alternative to prison programs affects local ABE and GED programs. Adults who attend community-based correctional programs as a condition of their probation or parole face many challenges. The purpose of this existential-phenomenological study was to understand the experience of those adults. Findings describe students’ experiences of being forced to attend a GED program. Opening a space for these stories may help adult educators in community-based programs improve their practice by understanding how students experience the GED program

“It’s Like a Prison without Bars”: Experiences in a Mandatory GED Program

The purpose of this phenomenological research study was to describe how adult students experience a legally coerced GED program in a community alternative to prison program. A phenomenological-hermeneutical approach was used to derive common themes that represented essence of the students’ experiences

Comparing the SF-12 and SF-36 Health Status Questionnaires in Patients With and Without Obesity

Objective: To assess how well the SF-36, a well-validated generic quality of life (QOL) instrument, compares with its shorter adaptation, the SF-12, in capturing differences in QOL among patients with and without obesity. Methods: We compared the correlation between the physical (PCS) and mental (MCS) component summary measures of the SF-12 and SF-36 among 356 primary care patients using Pearson coefficients (r) and conducted linear regression models to see how these summary measures captures the variation across BMI. We used model R$^{2}$ to assess qualitatively how well each measure explained the variation across BMI. Results: Correlations between SF-12 and SF-36 were higher for the PCS in obese (r = 0.89) compared to overweight (r = 0.73) and normal weight patients (r = 0.75), p < 0.001, but were similar for the MCS across BMI. Compared to normal weight patients, obese patients scored 8.8 points lower on the PCS-12 and 5.7 points lower on the PCS-36 after adjustment for age, sex, and race; the model R$^{2}$ was higher with PCS-12 (R$^{2}$ = 0.22) than with PCS-36 (R$^{2}$ = 0.16). BMI was not significantly associated with either the MCS-12 or MCS-36. Conclusion: The SF-12 correlated highly with SF-36 in obese and non-obese patients and appeared to be a better measure of differences in QOL associated with BMI

Estimation of juvenile striped bass relative abundance in the Virginia portion of Chesapeake Bay : annual progress report : 2015-2016

The 2015 Striped Bass juvenile abundance index was 12.00 and was not significantly greater than the historic average of 8.63. Compared with their respective historic averages abundance indices from individual rivers in 2015 varied, such that significantly higher recruitment was observed in the Rappahannock River and average recruitment was observed in the James and York rivers. Relatively higher catches of young‐of‐the‐year Striped Bass at upriver and downriver auxiliary sites suggest expansion of Striped Bass nursery grounds in 2015. Unlike Striped Bass in Virginia waters, juvenile White Perch abundance indices in 2015 were significantly greater than the historic average for this species. Another below‐average year class for Atlantic Croaker appears to have occurred in 2015. In contrast, American Shad, Alewife, and Blueback Herring abundance indices were above average in Virginia waters in 2015. Average to above‐average indices for many forage fishes suggest adequate production of key prey resources for populations of commercial and recreational piscivores in Virginia waters

Estimation of juvenile striped bass relative abundance in the Virginia portion of Chesapeake Bay : annual progress report : January 2013-December 2013

The 2013 Striped Bass juvenile abundance index was 10.94 and was significantly higher than the historic average of 7.04. Abundance indices from individual rivers varied compared with their respective historic averages, and significantly higher recruitment was observed in the York River (particularly the Mattaponi River). Average recruitment occurred in the other rivers. Increased catches of young‐of‐the‐year Striped Bass at upriver and downriver auxiliary sites suggest an expansion of Striped Bass nursery grounds in 2013. The evident increase in occurrence of young‐of‐the‐year Striped Bass throughout the tidal tributaries in Virginia further supports the observation of an above‐average recruitment year in 2013. In contrast with Striped Bass, juvenile White Perch abundance indices in 2013 were considerably lower than the historic average. A strong year class for Atlantic Croaker appears to have occurred in 2013. Average to above‐average indices for forage fishes suggest adequate trophic support for populations of commercial and recreational piscivores in Virginia waters

A Framework of Contextualized Teaching and Learning: Assisting Developmental Education Instructors

Contextualization in Developmental Education (DE) classrooms is often recommended but underutilized. The Framework of Contextualized Teaching and Learning is based upon existing research and theory in the field. It will help instructors create contextualized lessons and provide researchers a framework for categorizing studies on contextualization

Estimation of juvenile striped bass relative abundance in the Virginia portion of Chesapeake Bay : annual progress report : 2014-2015

The 2014 Striped Bass juvenile abundance index was 11.30 and was not significantly higher than the historic average of 8.56. Abundance indices from individual rivers in 2014 varied compared with their respective historic averages, and significantly higher recruitment was observed in the York and Rappahannock rivers. Average recruitment occurred in the James River. Increased catches of young‐of‐the‐year Striped Bass at upriver and downriver auxiliary sites suggest an expansion of Striped Bass nursery grounds in 2014. Similar to Striped Bass, juvenile White Perch abundance indices in 2014 were above the historic average for this species. A weak year class for Atlantic Croaker appears to have occurred in 2014. Average to above‐average indices for forage fishes suggest adequate prey resources for populations of commercial and recreational piscivores in Virginia waters

Evolutionary History and Phylodynamics of Influenza A and B Neuraminidase (NA) Genes Inferred from Large- Scale Sequence Analyses

Background: Influenza neuraminidase (NA) is an important surface glycoprotein and plays a vital role in viral replication and drug development. The NA is found in influenza A and B viruses, with nine subtypes classified in influenza A. The complete knowledge of influenza NA evolutionary history and phylodynamics, although critical for the prevention and control of influenza epidemics and pandemics, remains lacking. Methodology/Principal findings: Evolutionary and phylogenetic analyses of influenza NA sequences using Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian MCMC methods demonstrated that the divergence of influenza viruses into types A and B occurred earlier than the divergence of influenza A NA subtypes. Twenty-three lineages were identified within influenza A, two lineages were classified within influenza B, and most lineages were specific to host, subtype or geographical location. Interestingly, evolutionary rates vary not only among lineages but also among branches within lineages. The estimated tMRCAs of influenza lineages suggest that the viruses of different lineages emerge several months or even years before their initial detection. The dN/dS ratios ranged from 0.062 to 0.313 for influenza A lineages, and 0.257 to 0.259 for influenza B lineages. Structural analyses revealed that all positively selected sites are at the surface of the NA protein, with a number of sites found to be important for host antibody and drug binding. Conclusions/Significance: The divergence into influenza type A and B from a putative ancestral NA was followed by the divergence of type A into nine NA subtypes, of which 23 lineages subsequently diverged. This study provides a better understanding of influenza NA lineages and their evolutionary dynamics, which may facilitate early detection of newly emerging influenza viruses and thus improve influenza surveillance

Do Medial Pivot Kinematics Correlate With Patient-Reported Outcomes After Total Knee Arthroplasty?

Background Many total knee arthroplasty (TKA) implants are designed to facilitate a medial pivot kinematic pattern. The purpose of this study was to determine whether intraoperative medial pivot kinematic patterns are associated with improved patient outcomes. Methods A retrospective review of consecutive primary TKAs was performed. Sensor-embedded tibial trials determined kinematic patterns intraoperatively. The center of rotation (COR) was identified from 0° to 90° and from 0° to terminal flexion, and designated medial-pivot or non-medial pivot based on accepted criteria. Patient-reported outcomes were measured preoperatively and at minimum one-year follow-up. Results The analysis cohort consisted of 141 TKAs. Mean age and median BMI were 63.7 years and 33.8 kg/m2, respectively. Forty-percent of TKAs demonstrated a medial pivot kinematic pattern intraoperatively. A medial pivot pattern was more common with posterior cruciate-retaining (CR) and posterior cruciate-substituting/anterior lipped (CS) implants when compared to posterior stabilized (PS) TKAs (P ≤.0150). Regardless of bearing type, minimum one-year Knee Society scores and UCLA activity level did not significantly differ based on medial vs non-medial pivot patterns (P ≥.292). For patients with posterior cruciate-sacrificing implants, there were trends for greater median improvement in Knee Society objective (46 vs 31.5 points, P =.057) and satisfaction (23 vs 14 points, P =.067) scores in medial pivot knees. Conclusion A medial pivot pattern may not significantly govern clinical success after TKA based on intraoperative kinematics and modern outcome measures. Further research is warranted to determine if a particular kinematic pattern promotes optimal clinical outcomes