The contribution of multi-sensory aids to a meaningful art program.

Thesis (Ed.M.)--Boston Universit

Guide for investigators conducting international cancer research involving developing nations

No abstract.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/69169/1/24860_ftp.pd

Global visibility for global health: Is it time for a new descriptor in Medical Subject Heading (MeSH) of MEDLINE/PubMed?

Despite a large body of research in global health (almost 9000 articles published in PubMed until 2012), the term “global health” is not included in the Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) of the NLM – its controlled vocabulary thesaurus which NLM uses to index articles in MEDL INE. There are only 6 journals currently covered by PubMed which specialize in global health, including Journal of Global Health

Stiffness Analysis of the Tethered Coulomb Structure Concept and Application

This thesis investigates the Tethered Coulomb Structure (TCS) concept and its operating regime for creating large space structures and for providing satellite situational awareness. A TCS consists of a three-dimensional tethered spacecraft formation that uses electrostatic forces to repel the spacecraft and inflate the formation to a semi-rigid structure. The influential force modeling and equations of motion are given. Numerical simulations of a two-node TCS show that TCS systems have the greatest translational and rotational stiffness when the nodes have high voltage, low separation distance and low mass. Single tether two node TCS at 30 kV with 5 m separation are shown to withstand up to 50 deg/min initial rotations before reaching an entangled state. Multiple tether TCS simulations demonstrate that additional tethers between TCS nodes provides full three-dimensional stiffness and reduces the maximum absolute rotation for the system due to an initial perturbation. Using a double- or triple-tether TCS increases the maximum allowable initial rotation by 40-60%. Orbital perturbations, differential gravity and solar radiation pressure, are examined and it is demonstrated that both can be considered negligible for this study. A TCS configuration where one small spacecraft is tethered to a large spacecraft in orbit is presented. Simulations using a simple attitude control law show that a TCS in this configuration can be used to hold the smaller craft at a relatively fixed arbitrary position and rotation relative to the larger craft. Using multiple tethers for this configuration allows for separation distances of up to 10 m with less than 5 deg and 1 cm relative rotation and translation, respectively

Treatment of amblyopia with the CAM vision stimulator: a review

Recent reports on the CAM vision stimulator have generated great interest because of the effectiveness and simplicity of this form of treatment for amblyopia. Results have shown rapid improvements in visual acuity and contrast sensitivity without any adverse side effects. The efficacy of the CAM vision stimulator was comparable to conventional occlusion. However, the contibution of grating stimulation to the gains in vision were insignificant. The improvements were attributed to short term occlusion in association with intensive use of the amblyopic eye

Effects of a 16-Week Home-Based Strength Training Randomized Controlled Trial on Depression in Obese Latino Adolescent Boys

While the data has shown that the overall prevalence of depression is 6% in adolescents, these statistics are primarily based on white children. Latino children are more likely to suffer anxiety, depression and other mental health disorders compared to their non-Latino peers. While incidents are higher in Latino kids (22% suffer from depression), few receive treatment when compared to white children (8% vs 14% respectively). Given the prevailing burden and impact of mental health disorders in youth, it is essential that effective interventions are identified and implemented. PURPOSE: To assess the effects of a 16-week (2x/week) home-based strength training (HBST) program on the reduction of depression symptoms in obese Latino adolescent boys. METHODS: 32 Obese Latino boys aged 14-17 years, were recruited, and randomly assigned to one of two groups: 1) Control (n=16) or 2) Home-Based Strength Training (n=16). C – No intervention. HBST – Progressive program consisted of a 2X weekly program for 16 weeks. Body Mass Index (BMI) percentiles for age and gender were determined using CDC age-appropriate cut-offs. Height and weight were measured using a beam medical scale and wall-mounted stadiometer. Depression was assessed using the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression scale (CES-D). All testing was performed before and after the 16-week intervention. RESULTS: A total of 30 boys (mean age = 15.5 + 0.9 years) completed the study. All thirty adolescents had a BMI in the 95% percentile. All participants attended \u3e85 % of the strength training sessions. Repeated Measures General Liner Model showed significant improvements in the intervention group only, with participants reporting an “increased happiness” (p=0.06) and increased “enjoyment in life” (p=0.009). In the intervention group, scores improved for questions such as “I felt depressed”, and “I felt sad”, although these improvements were not statistically significant (p=0.16, p=0.17 respectively). CONCLUSION: In a sample of obese male Latino adolescent males, small improvements were seen in feeling happy and enjoyment of life after a 16 week, 2x week home based strength training intervention. Future studies should consider strength training as an acceptable modality for improving mental health in obese Latino adolescent boys

Metallic foreign body in middle ear: an unusual cause of hearing loss

This is a rare case report of a foreign metallic body found in the middle ear. During the use of an electric welding by a metalworker, a glowing drop of dissolved metal overrun, burning the skin of his external auditory meatus, perforated the tympanic membrane and finally was implanted around the ossicles as a foreign body. Due to difficulty of the physical examination and the moderate symptoms (hearing loss and sense of fullness), the foreign body was detected six months after the incident, by CT scanning and it was removed by a transcanal approach under general anesthesia. A successful ossiculoplasty-tympanoplasty was followed four weeks later

Effect of Artemether-Lumefantrine Policy and Improved Vector Control on Malaria Burden in KwaZulu–Natal, South Africa

BACKGROUND: Between 1995 and 2000, KwaZulu–Natal province, South Africa, experienced a marked increase in Plasmodium falciparum malaria, fuelled by pyrethroid and sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine resistance. In response, vector control was strengthened and artemether-lumefantrine (AL) was deployed in the first Ministry of Health artemisinin-based combination treatment policy in Africa. In South Africa, effective vector and parasite control had historically ensured low-intensity malaria transmission. Malaria is diagnosed definitively and treatment is provided free of charge in reasonably accessible public-sector health-care facilities. METHODS AND FINDINGS: We reviewed four years of malaria morbidity and mortality data at four sentinel health-care facilities within KwaZulu–Natal's malaria-endemic area. In the year following improved vector control and implementation of AL treatment, malaria-related admissions and deaths both declined by 89%, and outpatient visits decreased by 85% at the sentinel facilities. By 2003, malaria-related outpatient cases and admissions had fallen by 99%, and malaria-related deaths had decreased by 97%. There was a concomitant marked and sustained decline in notified malaria throughout the province. No serious adverse events were associated causally with AL treatment in an active sentinel pharmacovigilance survey. In a prospective study with 42 d follow up, AL cured 97/98 (99%) and prevented gametocyte developing in all patients. Consistent with the findings of focus group discussions, a household survey found self-reported adherence to the six-dose AL regimen was 96%. CONCLUSION: Together with concurrent strengthening of vector control measures, the antimalarial treatment policy change to AL in KwaZulu–Natal contributed to a marked and sustained decrease in malaria cases, admissions, and deaths, by greatly improving clinical and parasitological cure rates and reducing gametocyte carriage