An Exploratory Study of Online Information Regarding Colony Collapse Disorder

The cause or causes of Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) are uncertain. CCD defines specific characteristics of the nationwide deaths of honey bee colonies in the last decade. Adult bees often disappear from the hive and die, leaving the colony weak and vulnerable to disease. Environmental scientists and agriculturalists have developed many different theories about CCD and its origins. The different theories create challenges regarding the effective dissemination of information about CCD to the different realms of public information seekers. There is a need for an exploration of the online communication of CCD information using federal environmental agency web resources. CCD research information dissemination practices are one example of the trans-disciplinary complexity surrounding many current environmental issues. The study addresses different information “packages” offered or not offered for different types of CCD information seekers. The goal of the study is to inform future research addressing the comprehensive construction of federal e-government science information by finding strengths and weaknesses in the current information landscape of CCD resources on the web

Recommended Core Measures for Evaluating the Patient-Centered Medical Home: Cost, Utilization, and Clinical Quality

Outlines the process of the Patient-Centered Medical Home Evaluators' Collaborative for identifying core standardized measures and their recommended principles and measures for evaluating cost and utilization and clinical quality

Wave Profile for Anti-force Waves with Maximum Possible Currents

In the theoretical investigation of the electrical breakdown of a gas, we apply a one-dimensional, steady state, constant velocity, three component fluid model and consider the electrons to be the main element in propagation of the wave. The electron gas temperature, and therefore the electron gas partial pressure, is considered to be large enough to provide the driving force. The wave is considered to have a shock front, followed by a thin dynamical transition region. Our set of electron fluid-dynamical equations consists of the equations of conservation of mass, momentum, and energy, plus the Poisson\u27s equation. The set of equations is referred to as the electron fluid dynamical equations; and a successful solution therefor must meet a set of acceptable physical conditions at the trailing edge of the wave. For breakdown waves with a significant current behind the shock front, modifications must be made to the set of electron fluid dynamical equations, as well as the shock condition on electron temperature. Considering existence of current behind the shock front, we have derived the shock condition on electron temperature, and for a set of experimentally measured wave speeds, we have been able to find maximum current values for which solutions to our set of electron velocity, electron temperature, and electron number density within the dynamical transition region of the wave

Mental Health And The Role Of The States

Researchers from the State Health Care Spending Project -- a collaboration between The Pew Charitable Trusts and the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation -- sought to better understand the country's mental health challenges and, in particular, the states' role in addressing them. The project found that:In 2013, approximately 44 million adults -- 18.5 percent of the population 18 and older -- were classified as having a mental illness. Of these, 10 million had a serious mental illness. The rate of serious mental illness varied from state to state.In 2009, the most recent year for which national mental health data are available, $147 billion was spent on mental health treatment in the United States. A majority of the spending, 60 percent, came from public sources such as Medicaid, state and local governments, Medicare, and federal grants. Private sources, including health insurance and individual out-of-pocket spending, made up the difference.Funding from states and localities totaled$22 billion (15 percent) in 2009. This total does not include state and local Medicaid expenditures. Counting those contributions brings total state and local spending up to $35.5 billion (24 percent).This report is intended to help federal, state, and local policymakers working to address the country's mental health challenges to better understand their prevalence, treatment, and funding trends

Fatiguing Trunk Flexor Exercise Decreases Pain Sensitivity in Postpartum Women

Background: Low back pain (LBP) is common in the general population and among postpartum women. Abdominal muscle exercise is often used to treat LBP, but it is unknown if fatiguing abdominal muscle exercise can produce exercise-induced hypoalgesia (EIH). Objectives: To assess pressure pain thresholds (PPTs) at rest and following fatiguing trunk flexor exercise (EIH) in (1) nulligravid and postpartum women to evaluate the impact of pregnancy and childbirth and (2) nulligravid women and men to examine sex differences. Methods: Seventy healthy adults (31 postpartum women, 23 nulligravid women, 16 men) participated. Postpartum and nulligravid women were tested twice (16–18 weeks apart) to identify changes in EIH with postpartum recovery. PPTs were measured at the nailbed and superior rectus abdominis before and after exercise to investigate systemic and local EIH, respectively. Rectus abdominis muscle thickness was assessed with ultrasound. Results: Postpartum women reported lower PPTs than nulligravid women at the abdomen (p \u3c 0.05) whereas postpartum women had lower PPTs at the nailbed during the first session only. Men reported higher nailbed PPTs (p = 0.047) and similar PPTs at the abdomen than women (p = 0.294). All groups demonstrated EIH at the abdomen (p \u3c 0.05). Systemic EIH was absent in postpartum and nulligravid women (p \u3e 0.05), while men demonstrated hyperalgesia. Local EIH was positively associated with muscle thickness for men and women, which was not significant at the second timepoint. Limitations: Acute exercise response may not reflect changes that occur with exercise training. Conclusion: Fatiguing trunk flexor exercise produced local EIH for all groups including postpartum and nulligravid women. Clinically, trunk exercises may be useful for acute pain relief for clinical populations that are characterized by pain and/or weakness in the abdominal region muscles in populations with abdominal pain syndromes

Risky Sex and Alcohol-Related Behaviors and Cognitions in Adolescents: Evaluating a Values-Based Intervention

The co-occurrence of alcohol use and risky sexual behavior is prevalent among underage drinkers and causes numerous psychosocial and health related consequences. There is a need for interventions to target these risk-taking behaviors. The purpose of this study was to test the efficacy of a values-based intervention to decrease risky sex, problematic alcohol behaviors and related expectancies. These risk-taking behaviors were also examined in the context of an acquired preparedness model (APM). Thirty-eight youth from a high school and university setting completed both time points. Participants were randomly assigned into one of two treatment conditions: a treatment as usual group that received personalized normative feedback and the experimental condition that received an additional values card sort. Results indicated no difference between treatment groups in the reduction of alcohol use behaviors and risky sex. However, the main effect of time was significant with statistically significant reductions in alcohol use [F(1, 35) = 17.76, p \u3c .001], unprotected sex [F(1, 35) = 18.18, p \u3c .001], and sex related alcohol expectancies [F(1, 35) = 10.86, p = .002] in both group conditions. The overall model of serial mediation tested the indirect effects of sex related alcohol expectancies and problematic alcohol use on the relationship between dysregulation and risky sexual behaviors and was significant [R2 = 0.34, F(3, 34) = 5.82, p \u3c .005]. These findings indicate that a values card sort intervention does not evidence greater reductions in alcohol and sexual behaviors over time compared to personalized normative feedback. Underage drinkers who received either type of direct intervention experienced decreases in risk taking behaviors and related expectancies. Additionally, in the context of the APM, individuals with trait dysregulation and positive sex-related alcohol expectancies are at greater risk for engaging in sexual risk taking. Clinical implications, study limitations, and future research directions are discussed

Identification of Opportunity Barriers and Supports for Individuals Using Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) and Stakeholders

Individuals using augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) are supported by many AAC stakeholders and communication partners. Clinical decision making and AAC assessment models consider the capabilities and access needs of the individual using AAC, as well as opportunity barriers and supports imposed by communication partners and environments. The purpose of this research was to investigate opportunity barriers and supports identified by two critical AAC stakeholders: speechlanguage pathologists and caregivers. The first study investigated characteristics of AAC service provision reported by post-professional speech-language pathologists. Speech-language pathologists reported lack of perceived knowledge related to AAC service delivery, inconsistent use of AAC modalities, and persistent barriers to AAC service provision. The second study analyzed parent, guardian, and caregiver perceptions of AAC interventions for school-aged children. Caregivers preferred family-centered rather than patient-centered service delivery models to facilitate AAC use by their child. The third study investigated experiences and contributing factors of stress in adult caregivers of children using AAC. Caregivers’ stress was impacted by the multiple enveloping systems. Within the family, caregivers’ experiences of stress were predicted by number of children and the caregivers’ educational level. Stress was mitigated by support systems which meet caregivers’ needs and expectations. This research reveals opportunity barriers and supports are a critical component to AAC service delivery and clinical decision making as perceived by speech-language pathologists and caregivers. Sustainable and adequate AAC service delivery requires AAC stakeholders to recognize opportunity barriers and implement supports to facilitate the long-term participation and communication of individuals using AAC. Augmentative and alternative communication service delivery in the absence of explicit consideration for communication partners and environments does not address opportunity barriers for the individual using AAC

The Impact of Deinstitutionalization on Individual Who Receive Services from Guild Incorporated

The purpose of this qualitative study is to gain a deeper understanding of the impact that deinstitutionalization has had on individuals who receive case management services from Guild Incorporated. Participants will be gathered for the qualitative portion using a non-probability sample, and identified by a professional within the agency. Research for this portion was conducted through an in-depth interview where participants were asked to describe the impact that deinstitutionalization has had in their lives. Results for this study show that individuals who moved out of Guild Hall initially felt fear and helplessness, loss of support, and financial burden after moving to independent living. Community supports, finding structure and planned social activities helped with the transition. All participants expressed satisfaction with their current living arrangement and preferred independent living to institutionalization. Implications for social work practice and policy are discussed