Inflationary Hubble Parameter from the Gravitational Wave Spectrum in the General Slow-roll Approximation

Improved general slow-roll formulae giving the primordial gravitational wave spectrum are derived in the present work. Also the first and second order general slow-roll inverse formulae giving the Hubble parameter $H$ in terms of the gravitational wave spectrum are derived. Moreover, the general slow-roll consistency condition relating the scalar and tensor spectra is obtained

Are We Practicing What We Are Taught in Health Professions’ Education? Coproducing Health Care

Health-care providers and educators are inherently empathetic, compassionate, experienced professionals who entered their profession to assure the complementary missions of public health and health care. These missions work to ensure conditions in which people can be healthy via disease and injury prevention, health promotion, and timely, effective, coordinated care (1). The skills necessary to achieve these crucial outcomes (ie, listening to the patient and their family, exhibiting empathy, and understanding the significance of the social determinants of health, etc) are routinely taught in health professions’ education. To highlight the necessity for these representative competencies covered throughout the course of health professions’ education, the personal experience of one of the author’s children is reported as a narration. The purpose of communicating this patient experience is to remind health-care providers: (a) about the importance of not only listening but hearing the parents of our patients and the patients themselves, (b) to actively practice the art and skill of empathy as the health-care setting can be overwhelming for patients and their families, and (c) to consider the impact of the social determinants of health on one’s health status to date. This 5-part patient experience serves to strengthen our commitment to assure that we practice what we are taught with the goal to coproduce health with our patients and their families

Roosting and Foraging Ecology of Forest Bats in the Southern Appalachian Mountains

Although most bats in the southeastern United States depend on forests for roosting and foraging, we know little about the ecological requirements of bats that live in this region. The objective of this study was to use radio telemetry, acoustic sampling, Akaike\u27s information theoretic procedures, occupancy modeling, and discriminant function analyses to: 1) examine multi-scale roost-site selection for three forest bat species [eastern pipistrelles (Perimyotis subflavus), eastern red bats (Lasiurus borealis), and northern long-eared bats (Myotis septentrionalis)], 2) test the effects of timber harvest on bat foraging ecology in riparian areas, and 3) compare and relate methods of assessing vegetative clutter to the probability of detecting bats. We conducted our study from 2004-2007 in a dense deciduous forest undergoing low-intensity timber management in the southern Appalachian Mountains of western North Carolina, USA. We radiotracked eight red bats to 19 roosts, seven pipistrelles to 15 roosts, and 16 male and 18 female northern long-eared bats to 50 and 52 roosts, respectively. We recorded 48,456 bat passes in riparian areas during 8,309 hours on 832 detector-nights and assessed bat detection probabilities and vegetative clutter at 71 points. Macrohabitat factors were important to male red bats and pipistrelles whereas female northern long-eared bats displayed mainly microhabitat roost-site preferences. Our results indicated that maintaining a diversity of age classes should provide roosting habitat for pipistrelles, red bats, and northern long-eared bats. Leaving large diameter trees and snags of preferred genera (Quercus, Robinia, Carya) during harvests should ensure a continuous supply of suitable roost structures for reproductive female northern long-eared bats. Pipistrelles and female northern long-eared bats may also benefit from retention of mature stands near streams. Riparian areas near small streams in our study area served as foraging habitat for ≥4 bat species and forested buffers affect the foraging activity of bats in riparian areas following timber harvest in adjacent forests. Quantitative measurements of individual variables (specifically midstory live stem count and canopy crown volume) were the most effective measures of clutter relative the other methods we tested because they were good predictors of bat detection and were most effective in discriminating among survey points of different ages and forest types. In future studies of bat foraging habitat, quantitative measures should be used to assess clutter to facilitate comparisons among habitats or studies

Volunteer river monitoring plan for the urban reach of the Santa Fe River Watershed

In designing a monitoring plan, it is important to first look at the overview of the watershed, issues and uses. In our case, we are looking at the Santa Fe River Watershed. It is 241 square miles and approximately 37 miles in river length. The headwaters are in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains at Santa Fe Lake east of the City of Santa Fe. The watershed is split into three reaches: forested, urban and rural. In the forested reach, the river is perennial and flow is captured by a sequence of dams. The water is used for drinking supply. The urban reach is ephemeral, attaining most of its flow during storm events. The rural reach is mainly perennial with flow coming from the waste water treatment plant located at the top of the rural reach with flow augmented by springs. The urban reach is the area of interest since it contains the City and heavy urbanization. The urban reach contains a population of approximately 50,000. The City is too small for a sophisticated storm water runoff system, hence storm water runoff is directed into the Santa Fe River. The urban reach of the river is in poor condition, dewatered and eroded in some areas. It is listed as a category 1 in need of restoration watershed (NMEO). The urban reach is currently not routinely monitored. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is requiring a storm water management plan by 2002. The storm water management plan requires the City to comply with 6 minimum measures , three of which may be fulfilled with this monitoring plan: public participation, public education and outreach on storm water impacts, and illicit charge detection. Monitoring Plan Approach: After reviewing the background of the watershed, one gains a better idea of what the issues are and what area is in need of focus. In our situation, the urban reach is the focus and the issues are lack of routine water quality monitoring, public participation and education, and storm water pollution. The approach to devise appropriate parameters is to research water quality standards and existing monitoring programs. These sources act as a guide only, due to the fact that the urban reach of the river is ephemeral and heavily urbanized. There were no other existing monitoring programs that seemed to fit our situation. Monitoring Plan Implementation: Implementation briefly consists of the following: • Writing of the handbook. • Recruiting volunteers. • Gathering and purchasing monitoring equipment and materals. • Training. • Collection and organization of results. A few concepts to remember when designing a monitoring plan are to think about who will conduct the monitoring, scientists or non-scientists. For a monitoring plan such as this, the plan must be simple enough to keep the interest for those who are volunteers, non-scientists. The other important consideration is to understand the watershed, issues surrounding the watershed, and the area of which monitoring is of interest before deciding on the parameters to be measured

Women in Leadership Positions in Tennessee Public Schools: A Qualitative Study of Female Directors of Schools.

The purpose of this qualitative research study was to determine the best methods for achieving key leadership roles in education. The problem was to define the qualities that are important in leadership positions and to determine how those qualities relate to the top-level positions in school systems across Tennessee. Nineteen female directors of schools were interviewed. Directors also completed the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (5X-Short). Characteristics of transformational and transactional leadership styles were included in the study. Most of the directors scored high on using the transformational factors (idealized influence, inspirational motivation, intellectual stimulation, individualized consideration) of leadership and on using the contingent reward style of transactional leadership. The female directors of this study perceived communication skills, a caring attitude, honesty, being a visionary, and having people skills as important leadership characteristics. Other emergent themes included the qualities of males and females in the workplace, barriers to success, and the best practices that leaders are currently using in the workplace. The retention of top leaders in education is important. The perceptions of the 19 directors of Tennessee\u27s public schools in this study are vital in understanding how women in leadership positions work. Mentoring, peer coaching, and providing time for directors to network, collaborate, and receive quality professional development are essential practices that should be promoted and continued to retain these leaders. The implication from this study is that higher education institutions should also consider best practices for preparing future administrators to be successful. Attention should be paid to the differences in which males and females work and to the difference of personality traits and characteristics of leaders that may affect success in top-level positions in education

Knowledge sharing and referral practices by traditional birth attendants in low-income urban areas of Southwest Nigeria

Traditional birth attendants (TBAs) are important for maternal health care especially in Africa’s low-income areas. Without doubt, the relevance of TBAs in developing countries such as Nigeria is not expected to reduce in the foreseeable future. The knowledge of traditional birth attendants will continue to be needed and considering the tacit nature of their knowledge, there is a need to preserve the knowledge in this profession and promote sharing of best practices to prevent maternal mortality issues. This study investigated the knowledge sharing (KS) and referral practices of TBAs in low-income urban areas of South-west Nigeria. Qualitative approach was adopted and data collected from 25 TBAs through face-to-face interviews. TBAs generally had a positive attitude towards KS and knowledge reciprocity was a strong reason for KS. Challenges to KS were lack of trust, fear of colleagues being into voodoo and lack of appreciation for knowledge shared. Patient referral was a practice especially for complicated cases. Challenges to referrals included excessive hospital bills and sometimes orthodox practitioners’ blaming TBAs for maternal complications. TBAs reported a very good working relationship with orthodox practitioners and support in form of providing advice on safe delivery. The positive attitude of TBAs to KS and patient referrals, as well as improved collaboration with orthodox health practitioners shows a change in narratives earlier reported on traditional health practitioners. Strategies aimed at improving maternal health and achieving 2030 Sustainable Development Goal 3 which targets reduction of maternal mortality, should not exclude the knowledge of TBAs especially in low-income areas where their patronage is substantial

Images of Body Shaming in Ezeigbo’s Magic Breast Bags

Body shaming is an old sociological phenomenon that leaves a mark in the life of its recipients and could drive them to take drastic actions in other to fit into societal perceived and accepted looks. Several literary works expose the open criticism and mockery of a person’s physical appearances which could demoralize or impede the mindset of the individuals and yet nothing is done about it in most situations. The act of body shaming is an act of bullying which the effect oftentimes is trivialized in certain situations and communities. Body shaming might not even be regarded as an act of bullying or wrong-doing to a person’s mental state and general perceptions of their being. The objective of this study is to expose the resultant effect of body shaming, proffer ways in which it can be curbs and examine the role of literature as a corrective medium. From a sociological stand point, using the symbolic interactionist perspective theory, this study draws its strength from Akachi Adimora Ezeigbo Magic Breast Bag a collection of short stories with a focus “Magic Breast Bags”, “The Runaway Prophet” and “I Go Drive Myself”. The selected choices aim at exploring the causes of body shaming, the psychological effect of body shaming and the perceived gender labeling of body shaming