The Impact of Situational Elements Upon an Internship Director\u27s Supervisory Style: A Model

This article argues that internship directors must examine the constraints and objectives of their program and then select an appropriate supervisory style in order to be effective. Considering the many benefits associated with the internship experience, it is not surprising that over one thousand colleges and universities in the U.S. offer some type of internship program. What is surprising is that internship directors looking for suggestions on internship administration find little research devoted to developing effective administrative decisions. The relationship between the intern, the faculty coordinator, and the site supervisor may be of a helping nature whereby the faculty coordinator consults with and advises the intern with the hope of improving the intern\u27s understanding of the communication principles operating in the internship. Some directors, on the other hand, may feel that learning is the responsibility of the student, hence the particular workplace becomes the primary locus of education through the internship

Birth Weight as a Risk Factor for Breast Cancer: a Meta-Analysis of 18 Epidemiologic Studies

Background: Birth weight has been identified as a birth-related factor associated with the risk of breast cancer. However, the evidence is inconsistent. Methods: To investigate the association between birth weight and breast cancer, we conducted a meta-analysis of published studies between 1996 and 2008. Eighteen studies encompassing 16,424 breast cancer cases were included in the meta-analysis. Data were combined using a fixed-effect or random-effect model depending on the heterogeneity across studies. Results: Women with their own birth weight \u3e4000 g or 8.5 lb had a higher risk for developing breast cancer than those with birth weight(OR¼1.20, 95% CI 1.08, 1.34). Findings were also consistent with a dose-response pattern effect. The summary effect estimate for breast cancer risk per 1 kg increase in birth weight was statistically significant (random effects OR¼1.07, 95% CI 1.02, 1.12). Conclusions: Although these results provided no evidence indicating whether birth weight is more strongly related to early-onset than to later-onset breast cancer, our findings suggest an association between birth weight and breast cancer. The underlying biological mechanism relating to this phenomenon needs additional study

Potential health impacts of heavy metals on HIV-infected population in USA.

Noninfectious comorbidities such as cardiovascular diseases have become increasingly prevalent and occur earlier in life in persons with HIV infection. Despite the emerging body of literature linking environmental exposures to chronic disease outcomes in the general population, the impacts of environmental exposures have received little attention in HIV-infected population. The aim of this study is to investigate whether individuals living with HIV have elevated prevalence of heavy metals compared to non-HIV infected individuals in United States. We used the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2003-2010 to compare exposures to heavy metals including cadmium, lead, and total mercury in HIV infected and non-HIV infected subjects. In this cross-sectional study, we found that HIV-infected individuals had higher concentrations of all heavy metals than the non-HIV infected group. In a multivariate linear regression model, HIV status was significantly associated with increased blood cadmium (p=0.03) after adjusting for age, sex, race, education, poverty income ratio, and smoking. However, HIV status was not statistically associated with lead or mercury levels after adjusting for the same covariates. Our findings suggest that HIV-infected patients might be significantly more exposed to cadmium compared to non-HIV infected individuals which could contribute to higher prevalence of chronic diseases among HIV-infected subjects. Further research is warranted to identify sources of exposure and to understand more about specific health outcomes

Characterization of the Rapid Proteolytic Shedding of Murine L-Selectin

The structural requirements for L-selectin shedding were studied in murine leukocytes. Upon activation, L-selectin on both lymphocytes and neutrophils undergoes cleavage by a membrane metalloprotease, resulting in the generation of a soluble ectodomain and a membrane- retained 6 kD fragment. Radiochemical sequencing demonstrated a cleavage site in the membrane-proximal region (MPR) between R321 and S322, which is homologous to the human site. Although intact neutrophil L-selectin is larger, it is cleaved at the same, or very close, site. Analysis of several transfectants expressing L-selectin point mutations and chimeric constructs suggest that, like human shedding, the proteolytic process has relatively loose sequence specificity for the substrate site. In addition, some constructs are susceptible to slow constitutive cleavage, but their shedding does not increase upon PMA stimulation, showing that basal and activated shedding are separable processes. Insertion of the 15 amino acid MPR into murine B7.2 conferred upon this molecule susceptibility to constitutive shedding. PMA stimulation results in little or no acceleration of down regulation of this molecule. These results suggest that recognition of both the membrane-proximal cleavage site and of a site distant from the MPR are required for maximal induction of L-selectin shedding

Variability of Contact Process in Complex Networks

We study numerically how the structures of distinct networks influence the epidemic dynamics in contact process. We first find that the variability difference between homogeneous and heterogeneous networks is very narrow, although the heterogeneous structures can induce the lighter prevalence. Contrary to non-community networks, strong community structures can cause the secondary outbreak of prevalence and two peaks of variability appeared. Especially in the local community, the extraordinarily large variability in early stage of the outbreak makes the prediction of epidemic spreading hard. Importantly, the bridgeness plays a significant role in the predictability, meaning the further distance of the initial seed to the bridgeness, the less accurate the predictability is. Also, we investigate the effect of different disease reaction mechanisms on variability, and find that the different reaction mechanisms will result in the distinct variabilities at the end of epidemic spreading.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figure

Habitat Space Used by Northern Bobwhites and Texas Tortoises on South Texas Rangelands

South Texas rangelands are increasingly managed for recreational hunting, particularly northern bobwhite (Colinus virgianus). Effects of habitat management for game species on non-game species are largely unknown. Large private ranches used for recreational hunting could also provide habitat for the threatened Texas tortoise (Gopherus berlandieri). We studied habitat use of Texas tortoises and northern bobwhites on a private ranch in South Texas that undergoes active habitat management. In 2015, tortoises (n = 12) and bobwhite hens (n = 42) were tracked during their active and breeding seasons, respectively, with radio-telemetry. Satellite images were analyzed using ArcGIS 10.3 to delineate habitat through unsupervised classification for relevant habitat categories. Habitats were delineated based on reflectance. Differences in percent habitat composition of observed and random home ranges (100% Minimum Convex Polygon) of tortoises were not significant, but were significant for quail in 3 of 5 habitat categories in only 1 of 2 pastures. These observed quail home ranges included more areas corresponding to light woody cover and moderate herbaceous cover and fewer areas corresponding to sparsely vegetated or bare ground than random home ranges. Tortoise home ranges included more areas with woody brush cover than bobwhite home ranges. Bobwhite home ranges included more areas associated with moderate grass and herbaceous cover than tortoises. This study will continue in 2016 and will include more quail home ranges in areas with tortoises. This research seeks to determine the compatibility of managing for recreational hunting while maintaining landscape characteristics important to Texas tortoises

Carbon Cornhole

The purpose of this design project is to create a durable lightweight yard game for players of all skill levels. Carbon Cornhole is a composite improvement on the already popular yard game, cornhole, with a new twist. The final product is based on valued feedback from customers. The board is manufactured of carbon fiber/epoxy sandwich panels with a closed cell foam core. The composite design provides a lightweight product. The panels are specifically manufactured to retain their mechanical properties when exposed to outdoor elements such as water and UV radiation. The addition of inlayed LED lights and two new skill holes allows for a new playing experience and the ability to play at night. The addition of 3D printed feet allows for the board to be played on multiple different outdoor surfaces such as grass, gravel, or concrete. Testing on the finished product will ensure the customer experiences years of enjoyment from their purchase