Family Stressors and Problem Behaviors of At-Risk Elementary School Girls: A Latent Class Analysis

In order to obtain a closer look into the relationships between an at-risk populations’ family stressors and future school problem behaviors, a Latent Class Analysis (LCA) of family stressor variables was performed on at-risk elementary school girls from Health Zone 1. Participants were 308 girls with a mean age of 8.79 years. The dataset was inherited from the Delores Barr Weaver Policy Center and analyses were run to uncover latent classes of family stressors. Class membership was then utilized to predict future behavioral referrals and suspensions from school. A total of three classes emerged from the LCA: “Exposure to Trauma”; “Familial Stress”; and “Stable Home.” Chi-square analysis between class membership and future behavioral referrals and suspensions failed to reach significance. However, chi-square analyses between class membership and some future family stressors were significant. It appears that latent classes of stressors can be uncovered, and these classes can be utilized in the meaningful prediction of outcome variables. Implications for researchers and policy makers are discussed

Crossover considerations: performing three works by Ludmila Ulehla, Phil Woods and Bill Dobbins

When musicians prepare a piece of music for performance, they utilize various sources of background knowledge that are available to them. This knowledge can be organized into groups of stylistic attributes suited for the various genres that are in question. This process is made possible by the perspective that history provides. One can comprise a compendium of performance practices provided evidence exists of consistency throughout the style period being addressed. An exciting opportunity presents itself when dealing with the present time. The relationship between the collaborating performers of any music is a delicate one. This task is made challenging with the presence of a style of composition that combines jazz improvisation with historically established models of form. This difficulty is further complicated by the absence of consistent and widespread performance of works of this nature. The purpose of this research is to explore the different interpretive issues that must be considered when performing music of this kind, a style occasionally referred to as crossover music. The three crossover sonatas examined in this study are Sonata for Improvisation by Ludmila Ulehla, Sonata for Alto Saxophone and Piano by Phil Woods and Bill Dobbins’ Sonata for Soprano Saxophone and Piano. Although the backgrounds and compositional styles of these composers are very different, an integral feature of all three pieces is the presence of improvisation. These pieces represent the efforts of a contemporary composer in the case of Ludmila Ulehla, a well-known performing jazz artist in the case of Phil Woods and a seasoned jazz arranger and composer in the case of Bill Dobbins. Approaches to these pieces will be explored by performing the same series of analytical tasks on each piece. Each task will be implemented in a separate chapter

Aldosterone upregulates transient receptor potential melastatin 7 (TRPM7)

Transient receptor potential melastatin 7 (TRPM7) is a ubiquitously expressed Mg2+-permeable ion channel fused to a C-terminal α-kinase domain. Recently, aldosterone was shown to increase intracellular Mg2+ levels and alter inflammatory signaling in TRPM7-expressing HEK293 cells. This study was undertaken to assess whether these effects were related to an aldosterone-mediated increase of TRPM7 current and/or plasma membrane localization. Using HEK293 cells stably expressing WT-TRPM7, we found that 18-h application of aldosterone significantly increased TRPM7 current and TRPM7 plasma membrane protein expression by 48% and 34%, respectively. The aldosterone-mediated increase of TRPM7 current was inhibited by eplerenone, a mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) blocker, and GSK-650394, an inhibitor of the serum- and glucocorticoid-regulated kinase 1 (SGK1). SGK1 blockade also prevented the aldosterone-induced increase of TRPM7 plasma membrane protein. It was further determined that K1648R-TRPM7, the phosphotransferase-inactive TRPM7 mutant, was unresponsive to aldosterone. Therefore, chronic aldosterone treatment increases the plasma membrane expression of TRPM7, which is associated with an increase of TRPM7 current. This process occurs via an MR-dependent, genomic signaling cascade involving SGK1 and a functioning TRPM7 α-kinase domain. We suggest that this mechanism may be of general relevance when interpreting the effects of aldosterone because the MR receptor is found in multiple tissues, and TRPM7 and SGK1 are ubiquitously expressed

Understanding how the various definitions of Permanent Establishment can limit the taxation ability of resource- rich source countries

Double Taxation Agreements (DTAs) are bilateral tax treaties that are designed to reduce the negative impact of double taxation through the allocation of taxing rights to the State of residence (i.e. where the company has its base) and to the State of source (i.e. where the taxable operations takes place). The allocation of the rights to tax business profits of non-resident entities’ operations depends on whether these operations can constitute a “Permanent Establishment” (PE) according to the definition included in each DTA. If non-resident entities fulfill the criteria established in this PE definition, taxation is due at the source State. On the contrary, if non-resident entities fall outside of the scope of this definition, the residence State obtains these rights. DTAs can therefore result in source States losing significant tax revenue from operations of non-residents (unless such operations are conducted under a PE). Loosely defining the PE without due regard for the risk of loopholes might encourage companies to structure their investments in order to avoid fulfilling the criteria of the PE definition and thus avoid taxation at source. For the purpose of extractive industries, these tax avoidance structures normally involve bypassing the time threshold that triggers a PE (by splitting long term contracts into short term contracts), and/or structuring and dividing contracts to enable them to be considered of preparatory or auxiliary nature, thus fitting into then general exclusions of PE that exist in most DTAs (fragmentation of activities and/or misuse/abuse of specific activity exemptions); The UN and OECD Model DTAs – normally used as basis for DTAs – are not aimed at covering the specific characteristics of extractive industries. Resource rich States should thus aim to include specific clauses that cover these issues; after explaining the various options to optimize taxing rights related to PE in the context of extractives, CCSI’s brief presents a sample PE clause to that effect

The Pulsed Power Converter and Septum Magnet System for Injection into the Electron Storage Ring at ESRF

At ESRF, the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility in Grenoble, electrons are accelerated, via a 200 MeV Linac and a 6 GeV synchrotron booster, and injected into the storage ring at 10 Hz rate. Two thin septum blade magnets and an eddy current sheet type septum magnet provide the final deflection of the injected beam. The operational requirements of the e- injection scheme and the resulting demanding hardware specifications are recalled. The pulsed septum magnets are briefly described. The design, circuit layout and construction of the power converters are related with emphasis on innovative aspects of general interest. Results of tests during commissioning are reported

Ramanujan sums for signal processing of low frequency noise

An aperiodic (low frequency) spectrum may originate from the error term in the mean value of an arithmetical function such as M\"obius function or Mangoldt function, which are coding sequences for prime numbers. In the discrete Fourier transform the analyzing wave is periodic and not well suited to represent the low frequency regime. In place we introduce a new signal processing tool based on the Ramanujan sums c_q(n), well adapted to the analysis of arithmetical sequences with many resonances p/q. The sums are quasi-periodic versus the time n of the resonance and aperiodic versus the order q of the resonance. New results arise from the use of this Ramanujan-Fourier transform (RFT) in the context of arithmetical and experimental signalsComment: 11 pages in IOP style, 14 figures, 2 tables, 16 reference

Parent-Child Interaction Therapy: Theory and Research to Practice

This chapter will focus on the theory behind and research on Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), a treatment developed for young children with disruptive behavior problems. We will describe and provide details about PCIT, which is based on both attachment and social learning models, and incorporates an innovative approach to treatment in which therapists coach caregivers “live” via a wireless headset while each caregiver interacts with their child. In addition, we will review research that has examined PCIT with a variety of diverse populations (e.g., children with developmental delay, physical abuse histories, anxiety and depression, and children from underrepresented racial and ethnic minority families), settings (e.g., clinic, home, school) and formats (e.g., individual, group, intensive). Finally, we will present a case study of PCIT with a child younger than 2 years to demonstrate the effectiveness of PCIT and highlight some common challenges and pitfalls that clinicians may face in clinical practice