The use of stable isotopes to determine the ratio of resident to migrant king rails in southern Louisiana and Texas

Over the past 30 years, the king rail (Rallus elegans) has purportedly declined precipitously throughout its range, with the most severe declines seen in the migratory populations. King rails, however, are considered a game species in Louisiana and Texas, thus, it is important to determine what proportion of king rails wintering there are migratory. This is complicated because there is no reliable method to distinguish between king and clapper rails and few studies have attempted to capture wintering rails. The objectives of this study were to: 1) Determine the best method for capturing wintering rails; 2) Determine if morphometric measurements could be used to identify and sex king and clapper rails; 3) Determine the ratio of resident to migrant king rails in southern Louisiana and Texas using stable isotope analysis of feathers. I captured 523 rails, including 187 tentatively identified king rails, 68 tentatively identified clapper rails, 107 Virginia rails, 123 sora, and 38 yellow rails. The effectiveness of capture techniques were: 1) drop-door traps with drift fencing - 0.0063 rails per trap hour, 2) capturing by hand or net from an airboat at night - 2.13 rails per hour, and 3) capturing by hand or net from an ATV at night - 1.80 rails per hour. Discriminate analysis of morphometric measurements revealed that wing, tarsus and culmen measurements could be used to differentiate between king and clapper rails. Multiple stable isotope analysis of rail feathers, äD, ä13C, ä15N, and ä34S, showed distinct differences among winter collected king rails and known migrants, but did not show differences between the winter collected king rails and residents. This indicates that most, if not all, of the winter collected king rails were resident to Louisiana and Texas. A linear relationship was seen between äDf values and estimated äDp values at the collection locations (r2 = 0.42). The fractionation factor that resulted from this analysis could be used to determine an approximate breeding location for the winter collected rails, and also indicated that most, 99%, of the winter collected king rails were resident to Louisiana and Texas

Partnership functioning and sustainability in nursing academic partnerships: the mediating role of partnership synergy

The United States is presently challenged with numerous high profile issues in health care. The nursing profession is composed of the greatest number of healthcare providers in the system and has the opportunity to effect extensive change. Creating and sustaining academic practice partnerships is a method to meet these profound challenges more efficiently; however, nursing partnerships have not been studied. The purpose of this cross-sectional, descriptive research study is to enhance knowledge about the process by which nursing academic practice partnerships (APP) generate partnership synergy and sustainability. The research sample included participants that are involved in established nursing APP in the United States. The relationships between partnership functioning, synergy and sustainability are illustrated and the mediation of synergy among partnership functioning and sustainability is examined. Descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and path analysis were utilized to address the research questions. The research participants describe themselves, their institutions, and their partnerships similar to what is related in the literature. The short version of the Partnership Self-Assessment Tool (PSAT-S) revealed high Cronbach’s α scores representing good reliability for the tool. All variables revealed statistically significant relationships amongst the variables (p \u3c.05 or p\u3c.01), except the relationship between non-financial resources and sustainability. Partnership synergy was revealed to partially mediate partnership functioning and sustainability; however, efficiency was the only partnership functioning concept that revealed to be a statistically significant negative predicator of partnership synergy. This study serves as foundational research in the area of academic practice partnerships. The association between the partnership functioning, synergy, and sustainability model and the guiding principles and strategies of academic practice partnerships in relation to the Institute of Medication Future of Nursing recommendations are explicated. The need for further research is explored

Decision aids can support cancer clinical trials decisions: Results of a randomized trial

BACKGROUND. Cancer patients often do not make informed decisions regarding clinical trial participation. This study evaluated whether a web-based decision aid (DA) could support trial decisions compared with our cancer center’s website. METHODS. Adults diagnosed with cancer in the past 6 months who had not previously participated in a cancer clinical trial were eligible. Participants were randomized to view the DA or our cancer center’s website (enhanced usual care [UC]). Controlling for whether participants had heard of cancer clinical trials and educational attainment, multivariable linear regression examined group on knowledge, self-efficacy for finding trial information, decisional conflict (values clarity and uncertainty), intent to participate, decision readiness, and trial perceptions. RESULTS. Two hundred patients (86%) consented between May 2014 and April 2015. One hundred were randomized to each group. Surveys were completed by 87 in the DA group and 90 in the UC group. DA group participants reported clearer values regarding trial participation than UC group participants reported (least squares [LS] mean = 15.8 vs. 32, p < .0001) and less uncertainty (LS mean = 24.3 vs. 36.4, p = .025). The DA group had higher objective knowledge than the UC group’s (LS mean = 69.8 vs. 55.8, p < .0001). There were no differences between groups in intent to participate. CONCLUSIONS. Improvements on key decision outcomes including knowledge, self-efficacy, certainty about choice, and values clarity among participants who viewed the DA suggest web-based DAs can support informed decisions about trial participation among cancer patients facing this preference-sensitive choice. Although better informing patients before trial participation could improve retention, more work is needed to examine DA impact on enrollment and retention. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: This paper describes evidence regarding a decision tool to support patients’ decisions about trial participation. By improving knowledge, helping patients clarify preferences for participation, and facilitating conversations about trials, decision aids could lead to decisions about participation that better match patients’ preferences, promoting patient-centered care and the ethical conduct of clinical research

Peptide inhibitors of Streptomyces DD-carboxypeptidases

1. Peptides that inhibit the dd-carboxypeptidases from Streptomyces strains albus G and R61 were synthesized. They are close analogues of the substrates of these enzymes. The enzymes from albus G and R61 strains are in general inhibited by the same peptides, but the enzyme from strain R39 differs considerably. 2. The two C-terminal residues of the peptide substrates and inhibitors appear to be mainly responsible for the initial binding of the substrate to the enzymes from albus G and R61 strains. The side chain in the third residue from the C-terminus seems critical in inducing catalytic activity. 3. Experimental evidence is presented suggesting that the amide bond linking the two C-terminal residues has a cis configuration when bound to the enzymes from strains albus G and R61. 4. The peptide inhibitors are not antibiotics against the same micro-organisms

Examining the text quality of English/Arabic dual language children’s picture books

© 2018 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. Children’s literature plays an essential role in the development of children’s literacy skills. Dual language learners can particularly benefit from the use of picture books to facilitate comprehension, formulaic language acquisition, and vocabulary acquisition. This paper explores the availability and quality of English/Arabic dual language books in an early years setting in the United Arab Emirates. It is a qualitative study that examines the text quality of 24 English/Arabic dual language picture books available within the setting itself and the affiliated university library. The researchers’ combined experiences with literacy in the context of young children, including experience in choosing appropriate texts for young children, as well as their ontological perspectives as researchers, guide this personal appreciation. The study found issues with availability of book information, translation accuracy, and cultural relevance. In order to have a high quality bilingual picture book, it is crucial that the translation is accurate and reviewed very carefully by experienced authors/editors in both languages to avoid any errors. The major categories generated from this study can serve as a checklist to guide researchers in future studies, educators in various settings and parents in the community, in choosing appropriate dual language books

Selecting high quality dual language texts for young children in multicultural contexts: A uae case

© 2019, Western Australian Institute for Educational Research Inc.. All rights reserved. Bilingual literature for children is valuable in encouraging literacy in second language learners. Stories can enhance vocabulary and language abilities, learning encounters, subject content, social aptitude, and other skills in the early reader through text as well as illustrations. This paper explores issues in selecting quality dual language picture books with the aim of deepening understanding of what is meant by ‘quality’ dual language books, in terms of text quality, specifically translation accuracy, cultural relevance and book information. Four English/Arabic bilingual children books were evaluated by three raters from different backgrounds. A mixed method approach was followed to combine qualitative evaluations of these books with quantitative scores based on inter-rater reliability. Findings highlight the importance of interplay between picture and verbal text in picture books, urging educators to give more explicit attention to illustrations in any evaluation of text quality in picture books

An asset based approach to community development within a Southern African context : how local NGO's understand and practice development and empowerment

153 leaves : ill. ; 29 cm.Includes abstract and appendices.Includes bibliographical references (leaves 144-153).With a changing world order leaning gradually toward neo-liberal practices, fewer resources are being allocated for community development. More and more urban and rural communities are being told to take an increasingly active role in their own development. This might be the ideal time to shift the community development focus towards development that is truly community centred and community driven. Development begins inside a community and can be truly sustainable when it focuses on personal attributes (skills), development of leadership abilities and establishing useful bonds and relationships inside and outside the community. Needs based approaches to problem solving, may leave members with a collective sense of hopelessness, inadequacy, dependency and a belief that they cannot solve problems on their own. However, community driven approaches can strengthen community members by highlighting their abilities and assets and may be able to transform the understanding of community development, helping members to realize that they have the power to make a difference in their own communities. It is crucial to discover and recognize the power in communities and how various communities are tapping into that power to drive their development

Binding of beta-lactam antibiotics to the exocellular DD-carboxypeptidase-transpeptidase of Streptomyces R39

Benzylpenicillin and cephaloridine reacted with the exocellular dd-carboxypeptidase-transpeptidase from Streptomyces R39 to form equimolar and inactive antibiotic-enzyme complexes. At saturation, the molar ratio of chromogenic cephalosporin 87-312 to enzyme was 1.3:1, but this discrepancy might be due to a lack of accuracy in the measurement of the antibiotic. Spectrophotometric studies showed that binding of cephaloridine and cephalosporin 87-312 to the enzyme caused opening of their beta-lactam rings. Benzylpenicillin and cephalosporin 87-312 competed for the same site on the free enzyme, suggesting that binding of benzylpenicillin also resulted in the opening of its beta-lactam ring. In Tris-NaCl-MgCl(2) buffer at pH7.7 and 37 degrees C, the rate constants for the dissociation of the antibiotic-enzyme complexes were 2.8x10(-6), 1.5x10(-6) and 0.63x10(-6)s(-1) (half-lives 70, 130 and 300h) for benzylpenicillin, cephalosporin 87-312 and cephaloridine respectively. During the process, the protein underwent reactivation. The enzyme that was regenerated from its complex with benzylpenicillin was as sensitive to fresh benzylpenicillin as the native enzyme. With [(14)C]benzylpenicillin, the released radioactive compound was neither benzylpenicillin nor benzylpenicilloic acid. The Streptomyces R39 enzyme thus behaved as a beta-lactam-antibiotic-destroying enzyme but did not function as a beta-lactamase. Incubation at 37 degrees C in 0.01m-phosphate buffer, pH7.0, and in the same buffer supplemented with sodium dodecyl sulphate caused a more rapid reversion of the [(14)C]benzylpenicillin-enzyme complex. The rate constants were 1.6x10(-5)s(-1) and 0.8x10(-4)s(-1) respectively. Under these conditions, however, there was no concomitant reactivation of the enzyme and the released radioactive compound(s) appeared not to be the same as before. The Streptomyces R39 enzyme and the exocellular dd-carboxypeptidase-transpeptidase from Streptomyces R61 appeared to differ from each other with regard to the topography of their penicillin-binding site

Tapestries revealed : novel methods of characterisation, conservation and presentation

The digital conservation of cultural heritage has received significant attention in recent years. This active area of research endeavors to digitally conserve culturally significant items. The digital archives produced serve as an important resource for conservators. These records allow the accurate tracking of the degradation of the materials used in the construction of these artefacts.This project outlines the digital conservation and subsequent presentation of a historically significant tapestry held by the Royal Collection at Hampton Court Palace. The tapestry is one of The Story of Abraham set constructed by Willem de Kempeneer in Brussels in the 1540s. These tapestries were commissioned by King Henry VIII and were displayed as a reflection of his wealth and power. The materials used in their construction included wool, silk, silver and gold threads. The objectives of the Thesis are as follows:1) To digitally conserve the tapestry, the Oath and Departure of Eliezer.2) To produce a colorimetrically accurate projection system. This system will be used to project an accurate representation of the original tapestry colours onto the current photofaded version.3) To investigate the photo-fading properties of the natural dyes used to produce the Oath and Departure of Eliezer and their interactions with the metallic threads woven within the tapestry.The work presented in this Thesis contributed to a visitor exhibition called "Henry VIII's Tapestries Revealed" held at Hampton Court Palace between April 2009-October 2010 as part of Historic Royal Palaces' celebrations of the 500th anniversary of Henry VIII's accession to the throne.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo