ADHD or PTSD? : exploring the overdiagnosis of ADHD in minority boys with the potential of PTSD

Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder is a common diagnoses for school aged children. Studies have indicated that within these diagnoses children of color are disproportionately diagnosed in comparison to their white counter parts. Many have questioned whether this disproportionately comes from a lack of cultural awareness on the part of the clinician and/or a potential misdiagnosis of trauma that be being missed throughout the evaluation process. In this study 6 licensed social workers who have worked with Latino boy in the past were interviewed. They were asked to discuss their evaluation process and what measures they take to rule out a potential trauma diagnosis. The study was able to not only explore their varying methods but also the barriers they encounter throughout their process. Findings indicate that every participant varied in their techniques of diagnosing. While their techniques seemed to differ there was found to be commonality in the barriers they faced when diagnosing and how that impacted their work

Study of Solid-State Radiolysis of Behenic, Fumaric, and Sebacic Acids for their Possible Use as Gamma Dosimeters Measured Via ATR-FT-IR Spectroscopy

The intensive use of ionizing radiation has promoted the constant investigation of adequate dosimetric systems in the measurement of doses applied in irradiated products. The objective of this work is to propose gamma dosimetric systems, using carboxylic acids in a solid state and measuring the change via infrared spectroscopy (carboxylic acid/ ATR-FT-IR1). We worked with three systems: (1) behenic acid/ATR-FT-IR, (2) sebacic acid/ATR-FT-IR, and (3) fumaric acid/ATR-FT-IR. The change in absorbance corresponding to the stretching vibration frequency of the carbonyl group to the absorbed dose (in the range of kGy) was measured. The results showed that the acid/ATR-FT-IR systems have a linear response with respect to the absorbed dose, for behenic acid/ATR-FT-IR from 0 to 122 kGy, for ATR-FT-IR sebacic acid from 0 to 61 kGy, and for fumaric acid/ATR-FT-IR from 0 to 34 kGy. The results indicated that the linear response of the absorbance dose in the three systems allows us to continue studying other variables to be able to propose them as chemical dosimeters

Radiolysis and Thermolysis of Cytosine: Importance in Chemical Evolution

An important aspect of chemical evolution is the study of the stability of organic molecules with biological significance in primitive conditions, especially in the presence of constant energy sources. An example of sets of biologically important organic compounds is nitrogenous bases. The presence of these compounds in prebiotic environments is very important in forming more complex systems, such as nucleic acids, in which nitrogenous bases are an essential component. The aim of the present work is to study the stability of cytosine, a pyrimidine base, in high-radiation fields or at high temperature and to evaluate its recovery. Our results show that the cytosine (1x10-4 M aqueous solution, oxygen-free) decomposed completely at a dose of 22 kGy, and 25% recovery was obtained with a dose of 7.4 kGy. The analysis of irradiated samples was followed by HPLC, HPLC-mass spectrometry and UV-VIS spectroscopy. The main product in both thermolysis and radiolysis was uracil, formed via a deamination reaction. Uracil is another nitrogenous base with biological significance

Radiolysis of Nucleosides: Study of Sedimentary Microenvironment Models for the Protection of Bio-Organic Molecules on Early Earth

Nucleic acid bases and their derivatives are important compounds in biological systems. Many efforts have been made to demonstrate the possible prebiotic origin of these molecules, but the abiotic synthesis of these compounds has proved to be very difficult in that conditions. So, if their synthesis actually took place, a study of their stability in prebiotic conditions is quite relevant in chemical evolution studies. In this work, it has been examined and compared the influence of Sodium Montmorillonite on the chemical transformations undergone by two nucleosides (guanosine –purinic– and uridine, –pyrimidinic–) when subjected to conditions simulating the primitive Earth during the period of chemical evolution. The experiments prove the concentration capacity and protective role against external sources of ionizing radiation (specifically γ-ray) that clays can provide to these specific compounds adsorbed on them. By using X-ray diffraction, UV-vis spectrophotometry and HPLC for the analysis, it was found that purinic nucleosides (more than pyrimidinic) are quickly adsorbed on clay at low pH values, and the temperature of mineral desiccation applied after adsorption promotes their decomposition into their corresponding nitrogenous bases. In both, purinic and pyrimidinic, desorption occurs in neutral or slightly basic aqueous solutions, and both are protected by clay. Pyrimidinic nucleosides show more resistance to heat, but less resistance towards ionizing radiation, even when adsorbed in clay

Agent-based Model of Oxidation Reactions of Ferrous Ions

Molecules in comets are formed through chemical oxidation reactions induced by radiation. Thesereactions can be simulated in laboratory experiments applying gamma radiation to samples at low temperatures. The kinetics of the induced reactions can be modeled by a system of coupled non-linear ordinary differential equations describing the mass balance of all of the species involved. However, finding a traditional solution to this system is difficult because of the large number of reactions involved, the need to solve all of the equations simultaneously, and the strong dependence on the initial conditions due to the non-linear character of the equations. For each species, the mass-balance equation includes all of the reaction rates leading to production (source terms) and to destruction (sink terms). In this sense, each equation is analogous to the prey-predator model, with the sink terms consider to be the “prey” and the source terms as the “predators”. Due to this, we can use an agent-based model to follow the kinetics of the chemical reactions. In this paper, we present a code in Python for an agent-based model of the chemical oxidation of ferrous ions (Fe2+) induced by gamma radiation and in the presence of molecular oxygen. We compare the results that this code produces for molar concentrations of Fe3+over time with those obtained in the laboratory

Stability of Aspartic Acid at 77°K under Gamma Radiation in a Comet Cores Simulation: Implications for Chemical Evolution Studies

The synthesis of organic matter in a simulated primitive environment (terrestrial or extraterrestrial) has been widely studied. The stability of organic matter of biological significance, exposed to energy fields in primitive conditions, is equally important in the context of chemical evolution. We present a detailed analysis of the stability of prebiotic organic molecules under the effect of ionizing radiation at a low temperature, simulating a comet core. The laboratory simulation consists of icy phases of prototype organic matter and a mineral in a physical mixture. This chemical system was irradiated with gamma radiation at 77°K. The icy phases are methanol, formic acid, and aspartic acid in aqueous solution, in the presence of sodium montmorillonite as silicates surface.Our results show the stability of aspartic acid in this comet core simulation. We have been identified some radiolytic products of this mixture: ethylene glycol, glycolaldehyde, formamide, alanine, glycine and succinic acid. The products were identified by Gas Chromatography (GC) and High Performance Liquid Chromatography-Electrospray Ionization-Mass Spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-MS). The protection role of the clay in the radiolysis of aspartic acid was observed in this mixture. This result may be due to an energy transfer from the clay. At pH=4, aspartic acid is adsorbed onto the clay at the interlayer channel as is shown in the X-ray diffractograms (XRD)

Stability of Pyruvic Acid Adsorbed Onto Clays and Exposed to Ionizing Radiation: Relevance in Chemical Evolution

Chemical evolution studies focus on the synthesis and stability of organic molecules during various transformative physicochemical processes. Gaining insight into the possible mechanisms behind these processes requires the use of various energy sources and catalysts that can produce such transformations. In this work, ionizing radiation (60Co) was used as a source of energy, and two clays with different exchangeable cations-sodium and iron (III)-were combined with pyruvic acid, a key alpha keto acid in metabolism. The samples of pyruvic acid were prepared at a concentration of 0.01 M; then, adsorption experiments were carried out by combining sodium or iron montmorillonite at different times. The amount that adsorbed onto iron montmorillonite was greater than the amount that adsorbed onto sodium montmorillonite. Samples of alpha keto acid at the same concentration were irradiated-in the absence of clay-at 0 to 146.1 kGy and at two pHs (6.7 and 2.0). The suspended samples with sodium and iron clay were then irradiated at the same doses. The results show that keto acid decomposes more quickly at more acidic pHs. The main reaction to irradiation without clay involves the dimerization of pyruvic acid, and 2,3-dimethyltartaric acid is the majority product. When irradiated in the presence of clay, the main reaction is decarboxylation, and acetic acid is the majority product. The exchangeable cation type modifies the interactions between the organic molecule and the solid phase. The percentage of recovered pyruvic acid is higher for iron montmorillonite than for sodium montmorillonite

Habitability: CAMELOT 4

During 1988 to 1989 the NASA/USRA Advanced Design Program sponsored research and design efforts aimed at developing habitability criteria and at defining a habitability concept as a useful tool in understanding and evaluating dwellings for prolonged stays in extraterrestrial space. The Circulating Auto sufficient Mars-Earth Luxurious Orbital Transport (CAMELOT) was studied as a case in which the students would try to enhance the quality of life of the inhabitants by applying architectural design methodology. The study proposed 14 habitability criteria considered necessary to fulfill the defined habitability concept, which is that state of equilibrium that results from the interaction between components of the Individual Architecture Mission Complex, which allows a person to sustain physiological homeostatis, adequate performance, and acceptable social relationships. Architecture, design development, refinements and revisions to improve the quality of life, new insights on artificial gravity, form and constitution problems, and the final design concept are covered

Bilingual education: selected principals' experiences with programs at their schools

Principals in school districts throughout the United States have seen an increase in the number of English Language Learner (ELL) students entering their schools. ELL students continue to be the fastest growing student population in many school districts throughout the United States. This has a dramatic impact on the work of school principals in that, historically, ELL students have the highest high school dropout rates and have been consistently under performing in terms of academic achievement. There currently exists a plethora of different ELL programs aimed at addressing the academic needs of ELL students. However, there exists little or no research on the experiences of school principals with bilingual educational programs. This study examined the experiences of school principals with bilingual educational programs for their ELL student populations. More specifically, I examined the challenges and successes principals experienced with their bilingual educational programs. This study found that there are several factors that influence a principal’s experience with bilingual programs as well as multiple challenges as well. Furthermore, this study found that there is a tremendous amount of autonomy for principals in working with their bilingual educational programs. In order for principals to experience success with their bilingual educational programs they must adequately address their ELL student population’s needs. This can be accomplished by being aware of the research on bilingual programs. In addition, principals must address the deficit thinking that exists in their respective schools as it relates to their ELL students. Finally, principals must work hard to increase the level of parental involvement in their schools to adequately address and meet the needs of their ELL student populations

Agent Based Model of the Cytosine Radiation Induced Reaction

The stability of cytosine in aqueous solution was studied in the laboratory, simulating prebiotic conditions and using gamma radiation as an energy source, to describe cytosine behavior under radiation. For a better understanding of the radiation-induced processes, we proposed a mathematical model that considers chemical reactions as nonlinear ordinary differential equations. The radiolysis can be computationally simulated by an agent-based model, wherein each chemical species involved is considered to be an agent that can interact with other species with known reaction rates. The radiation is contemplated as a factor that promotes product formation/destruction, and the temperature determines the diffusion speed of the agents. With this model, we reproduce the changes in cytosine concentration obtained in the laboratory under different irradiation conditions