The Social and Economic Effects of School Closure During an H1N1 Influenza A Epidemic in the United States

In the summer of 2009, more than 209 countries officially reported 25,174 deaths from influenza A H1N1 virus infection to the World Health Organization (WHO). As of mid-February 2010, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimated that 57 million people in the United States had contracted the H1N1 virus, resulting in approximately 257,000 hospitalizations and 17,160 deaths. In the event of an influenza pandemic, policies are implemented in order to attempt to lessen the spread of the disease. One of these regards school closure, a non-pharmaceutical intervention, often suggested for mitigating influenza pandemic in a population. Proactive school closure is defined as closing schools ahead of a pandemic arriving in an area, whereas reactive school closure occurs simply because many students and staff are sick and the schools feel it is necessary. Health officials making the decision to close schools must weigh the potential health benefits of reducing transmission against high economic and social costs, difficult ethical issues, and the possible disruption of key services such as health care. This paper examines the public health relevance of school closure as a public health policy in response to an influenza epidemic and shows that school closure as a mitigation strategy will have substantial economic, social, and ethical effects. Seven studies are examined regarding economic costs, social costs, social justice and ethical issues, and effect on the healthcare system, to evaluate the effects of school closure during an H1N1 influenza. Modeling studies are also discussed. Epidemiology studies and surveys highlight the social effects, ethical issues, and healthcare effects. Vulnerable populations often suffer disproportionately during an epidemic, therefore the sources of socioeconomic and racial/ethnic disparities during an epidemic are examined. Finally, there is a discussion on communication and implementation of school closure policies and recommendations for improvement of preventative methods as well as specific plans to minimize the disparities. Overall, closing schools in the United States for an average of four weeks could cost up to $47 billion dollars (0.3% of GDP) and lead to a reduction of 19% in key healthcare workers. School closure also raises a range of ethical and social issues, particularly since families from underprivileged backgrounds are likely to be most affected by the intervention. Some recommendations include simple educational campaigns to be implemented within schools and local businesses to help educate the community about H1N1 influenza. Because it can be extremely difficult for parents to take time off work to get their children vaccinated, doctor offices should offer H1N1 vaccinations during regular check-ups, and schools should try to hold vaccination programs. Finally, due to evidence of existing health care disparities among socially disadvantaged groups, distribution plans of vaccinations may need to include mobile community health centers that can travel to low-income areas and nontraditional sites like soup kitchens and shelters

Backward Amplification and Beam Cleanup of a Raman Fiber Laser Oscillator using a Multi-Mode Graded Index Fiber Amplifier

This thesis tested a CW fiber-based Raman amplifier implemented in a backward pumped geometry. To create a seed for the amplifier, a CW Nd:YAG laser operating at 1.064µm was used to pump a 50µm multimode graded index fiber using fiber Bragg gratings to create a Raman Fiber Laser (RFL) Oscillator with a Stokes beam at 1.116µm. The Stokes beam was then used to seed two lengths, 5.3km and 2.5km, of 50µm multimode graded index fiber. The fiber amplifier was pumped by a second CW Nd:YAG laser in the backward geometry. Spectral data taken for both fibers indicated that the backward geometry avoided the problem of Four Wave Mixing (FWM) present in the forward geometry for amplification. Gain and beam cleanup were observed in both lengths of fiber. An M2 of 6.7 ± 0.2 was observed in the 5.3km fiber with 5 W of pumping. With 9 W of pump, a gain of 321.3% was observed, but severe attenuation due to the length of fiber prevented overall amplification of the seed with the available pump power. The 2.5km fiber produced an M2 of 3.9 ± 0.5 with 5 W of pumping. With 10 W of pump, a gain of 241.8% and overall amplification of 153.1% was observed

WordPress+Qualtrics: A Plugin Supporting Research and New Pedagogy to Develop Personal Sustainability via 360° Evaluation

Fostering deep and meaningful self-reflection that leads to action, growth, and personal change among students challengesprofessors of large classes. Over 280 students in a single lecture course on critical thinking were asked to take part in a selfanalysisand also were provided multisource (360°) feedback. The combination of personalized feedback from the self andfrom known others appears to facilitate processes related to self-insight and developmental goal setting. This pedagogicalapproach would not have been possible without the development of software integrating WordPress, a popular, free, opensourcecontent management system (CMS), with Qualtrics, an online survey tool. This paper describes how this technologyserved both as a pedagogical tool, as well as a research tool

Ruthenium-Tris(Pyrazolyl)methane complexes as potential candidates for cancer chemotherapy agents

The MeCN ligands of complex 1 were substitutionally inert, however, under forcing conditions the DMSO ligands of complex 2 were displaced by chelating 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane to produce complex 6. Structural characterization of compounds 1-8 was performed by NMR spectroscopy, and an X-ray diffraction analysis of complex 7 provided additional evidence for the proposed structures

Early-Stage Thinning for the Restoration of Young Redwood--Douglas-Fir Forests in Northern Coastal California, USA

Among forested parks and reserves of the Pacific Coast of the United States, the restoration of late-successional conditions to second-growth stands is a management priority. Some traditional silvicultural treatments may help achieve this objective. We evaluated early-stage thinning as a restoration treatment to facilitate the growth and development of young (33- to 45-year old), homogeneous, and second-growth stands of coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) and Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii). Targeting both stand-level responses and dominant (focal) tree responses for analysis, we compared structural attributes of adjacent thinned and unthinned stands, 12–17 years after thinning. Thinned stands displayed enhanced metrics of tree vigor, growth, and mechanical stability, thereby improving response to future restoration treatments and broadening the range of potential stand conditions. We conclude that early-stage thinning has been successful as a preliminary restoration treatment because it accomplished many initial goals of forest restoration, while retaining sufficient tree numbers to buffer against possible attrition from future disturbances

Grief, Bereavement, and Positive Psychology

What does positive psychology have to offer people who are grieving? We explore this question in depth and consider how viewing bereavement and grief through the lens of positive psychology can help to normalize the grieving process and encourage the use of effective coping approaches. We provide research evidence in support of narrative reconstruction, posttraumatic growth, positive emotions, and spirituality as means to help survivors of loss to adjust and even to gain a new sense of meaning. We provide practical suggestions for individuals who are grieving and for those who are in relationship with them