Watershed Survey and Pilot LCC Project

This describes two projects accomplished in 2010 by the Three Ponds Protective Association (TPPA) and several partners to identify and reduce soil erosion due to storm water runoff into the Milton Three Pond

Self-contained self-rescuer long term field evaluation: combined eighth and ninth phase results

"The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory (NPPTL) and the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) conduct a Long Term Field Evaluation (LTFE) program to evaluate deployed self-contained self-rescuers (SCSRs). The objective of the program is to evaluate how well SCSRs endure the underground coal mining environment with regard to both physical damage and aging when they are deployed in accordance with Federal regulations (30 CFR 75.1714). This report presents findings of the combined eighth and ninth phases of the LTFE. For these phases, over four hundred SCSRs were evaluated. The units tested include the CSE SR-100, Draeger Oxy K-Plus, MSA Life-saver 60, and the OCENCO EBA 6.5. The OCENCO M-20 was evaluated only in Phase 9. Testing was performed between December 2000 and April 2004. Results of the evaluation indicate that all SCSRs experience some performance degradation due to the mining environment. Observed degradation varies from elevated levels of carbon dioxide, high breathing resistance, and reduced capacity. Mechanical degradation to the SCSR components included breathing hoses, chemical beds, outer cases and seals. The LTFE tests discussed in this report are different from tests performed for SCSR certification to the requirements of 42 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 84 (42 CFR, Part 84). LTFE tests reported here are conducted to an end point, oxygen depletion, to enable comparison of the duration of new and deployed SCSRs. The method for obtaining deployed SCSRs for this evaluation was not a random selection from the deployed population of SCSRs. Although the results of these tests are useful for observing performance of the tested SCSRs, they are not representative of all deployed SCSRs. A new evaluation protocol, with revised sampling strategies, test methods, and reporting procedures, is currently being designed to enhance the generalizability of the results. This program will be implemented following completion of Phase 10 of the current LTFE protocol. " - NIOSHTIC-2Title from title screen (viewed on July 9, 2008)."October 2006."Mode of access: Internet at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health web site. Address as of 7/9/08: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/mining/pubs/pdfs/2007-103.pdf; current access available via PURL

Estimating the permeation resistance of nonporous barrier polymers to sulfur mustard (HD) and sarin (GB) chemical warfare agents using liquid simulants

"The purpose of this document is to report the results of the NIOSH Chemical Warfare Agent (CWA) Simulant Project that had the following goals: 1.) Identify chemicals (simulants) that simulate the permeation of Sarin (GB) and sulfur mustard (HD) through elastomeric barrier materials that are commonly used in respirators. 2.) Develop a convenient and reliable laboratory procedure (test method) that can be used by Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) manufacturers for estimating GB and HD permeation rates through barrier materials using the simulants. PPE manufacturers can use this method to screen and deselect candidate barrier materials during product development testing. Advancements in this research can benefit the first responder community by providing PPE manufacturers with information and testing techniques that will reduce the time and resources needed to engineer products that weigh less, have better permeation resistance, are less cumbersome, and could potentially be less expensive." - NIOSHTIC-21. Introduction -- 2. Procedures and Results -- 3. Discussion. -- 4. Summary -- References -- Bibliography: Application of solvent-solute parameters and solubility phase diagrams to chemical defense, unlimited distribution publications -- Appendix A: Standard test method for estimating permeation resistance of nonporous barrier polymers to liquid chemical warfare agents (GB and HD) using liquid simulants -- Appendix B: Liquid permeation cell mechanical drawings -- Appendix C: CWA permeation tablesDonald Rivin, Wendel J. Shuely, Frank Palya, Jr., Robert S. Lindsay, Axel Rodriguez, Philip W. Bartram."July 2008.""This document was prepared by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory (NPPTL) in collaboration with the U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command (RDECOM) including their staff from the Edgewood Chemical Biological Center (ECBC) and the Natick Soldier Center (NSC). " - p. viiiAlso available via the World Wide Web as an Acrobat .pdf file (2.04 MB, 97 p.)Includes bibliographical references (p. 57-63)

Understanding the breathing gas capacities (ratings) of escape respirators for mineworker use

The following information will help workers understand the meaning of breathing gas capacity of a jointly approved National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) closed-circuit escape respirator (CCER). Understanding the uses and limitations of the CCER is important in planning for an escape during a mine emergency.by R. Metzler, T. Rehak, J. Szalajda, R. Berry Ann.May 2013.Also available via the World Wide Web as an Acrobat .pdf file (710 KB, 4 p.)

Kinship Quarterly: Strengthening Families

Quarterly newsletter related to the "Kinship Care by Child Protective Services (CPS)" program run by the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services containing departmental information and announcements, deadlines, and other information of importance to people involved in the program

The Relationship Between Social Anxiety and Alcohol and Marijuana Use Outcomes Among Concurrent Users: A Motivational Model of Substance Use

Background: College students with more social anxiety symptoms are particularly vulnerable to problematic alcohol and marijuana use given their susceptibility for elevated anxiety symptoms in social settings combined with the normative nature of substance use. Existing research has established substance use as coping motivated for these students when examining alcohol and marijuana use problems separately. The next step is to determine whether students with more social anxiety who use both substances do so for similar or different reasons. The current study tested a comprehensive (i.e., all variables in the same model) motivational model of alcohol/marijuana use in a sample of college students from 10 universities across the United States who endorsed both past-month alcohol and marijuana use. Methods: College students were recruited through psychology department participant pools and completed an online survey assessing mental health symptoms, substance use motives, and substances use behaviors. Current sample comprised concurrent alcohol/marijuana users (n = 2,034), 29.6% of whom endorsed clinically indicated levels of social anxiety and nearly one-fourth exceeded the cutoff for hazardous drinking (23.2%) and hazardous marijuana use (21.9%). Results: Across both substances, coping motives significantly mediated the positive relationship between social anxiety symptoms and substance use problems. Unique to alcohol, conformity motives mediated the association between social anxiety symptoms and alcohol-related problems. Conclusions: Taken together, students with more social anxiety who are focused on anxiety management may use either alcohol or marijuana; however, these students may experience more alcohol-related problems when drinking to fit in with peers

Whitepaper : Defining and investigating cognitive reserve, brain reserve, and brain maintenance

Several concepts, which in the aggregate get might be used to account for "resilience" against age- and disease-related changes, have been the subject of much research. These include brain reserve, cognitive reserve, and brain maintenance. However, different investigators have use these terms in different ways, and there has never been an attempt to arrive at consensus on the definition of these concepts. Furthermore, there has been confusion regarding the measurement of these constructs and the appropriate ways to apply them to research. Therefore the reserve, resilience, and protective factors professional interest area, established under the auspices of the Alzheimer's Association, established a whitepaper workgroup to develop consensus definitions for cognitive reserve, brain reserve, and brain maintenance. The workgroup also evaluated measures that have been used to implement these concepts in research settings and developed guidelines for research that explores or utilizes these concepts. The workgroup hopes that this whitepaper will form a reference point for researchers in this area and facilitate research by supplying a common language.Peer reviewe

Kinship Manual

Guide produced by the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) intended for families participating in the "Kinship Care" program to foster children in the state's legal custody. It describes requirements, expectations, procedures, and other information about the program

Kinship Quarterly: Strengthening Families

Quarterly newsletter related to the "Kinship Care by Child Protective Services (CPS)" program run by the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services containing departmental information and announcements, deadlines, and other information of importance to people involved in the program

PRS Update

Newsletter of the Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services discussing information of meetings and events plus descriptions of initiatives and agencies