An Investigation of Protagonists in Storybook Apps for Children

Children’s literature has historically been rife with implicit biases and underlying themes, and few scholars have investigated the impact technology has had on those elements appearing in children’s literature. In response, this study used a content analysis methodology to evaluate 38 storybook applications (apps) for containing implicit biases and underlying messages related to the narrative’s protagonists. These storybook apps were designed for young children to engage on their iPads. Overall, the study found that the storybooks apps predominantly featured protagonists who were White, middle-class, able-bodied males. The researchers first provide their rationale for the study along with their theoretical framework before describing their methodology and findings. The researchers conclude with implications for teacher educators, preservice and in-service teachers, storybook authors and app developers, and future researchers

Qualitative Assessment Of Dried And Fresh Capsicum tllllllllllll L.

Fresh and ,,'•·ied pepper !.apsicum mmuwn (Tat ashe), commo11(1' n\·ed in Nigeria as spice, were analyzed for microbial ,'rJad, p!i, protein, vitamin C, fcl( and moisture contents. 1'l1e bacterial count and thefwtgaf · cot111t .fi·om dric •. ! f!epper samples purclwsedji·om tilree markets in Minna were 6.4x I 06 - 7. 7xl 06 c.fulg and 38-46 (-:fi1lg whereas the respective values.forji·esh pepfl!!r were 3.2x/O(I- 4.4x/06 and 19-29 c.fulg. 'l'lte isolated bacteria .fi'om both ji-esh and dried pepJICI' were ,\pecies (?(Staphylococcus, Bacillus , Streptococcus and E. coli. '11w isolated jimgi were species 'if Penicillium, A.1pergillus, Rlrizop11s and /1-fucor. q{ these orr.wJisms, /Jacil!u.\· species were the predominant contaminants followed by A.1pergillus species. Nutritional mw(1•si.\· ret•ealed that dried pepper contain less protein (1.12-1. 20%) and less vitamin C (54-62 mg/1 OOg) COIIIfJtll'ed to protf'ill contellt (3.0-4./fJI;) and vitamin C content ( 199-221 mg/ I OOg) found in .fresh 1n:pper. 1'l1e values (:i/1t (%}for fl'esh and dried samples were 12.07- 12. fN% and I. 99-2.03% rCSfJI!.C:tively. l'reliminm:J' iiiVt?stiBolion showed that both ji·esh and dried pepper extracts pvssess definite antibacterial activity against [~. coli, S. nureus and B. subtili

Libraries as Indispensable Partners and Connectors in Data Science

Libraries play an integral role as learning partners and connectors throughout the data science lifecycle in curriculum and research. We will discuss the UNC library system-wide data science initiative around the following issues (1) how to scaffold the integration of data science competencies through layers of education and help solve real-world problems; (2) how to harness the expertise from interdisciplinary experts, and incorporate pedagogical approaches that facilitate problem-based learning; (3) how to bridge the gaps in skill acquisition, application of data science tools, and allocation of resources by playing an intermediary role. The discussion will be framed around social sciences and humanities, digital humanities, and a special emphasis on biomedical and health sciences. Examples will include the research collaborations that the UNC Health Sciences Library established with several campus units, including North Carolina Translational and Clinical Science Institute, UNC School of Medicine, School of Pharmacy, and other entities on campus that host large volumes of data

Evaluating role of parity in progress of labour and its outcome using modified WHO partograph

Background: The progress of labour and its outcome differ based on the parity. These can be graphically proven by using an inexpensive tool -the modified WHO partograph. The plotting also helps to early recognition and prevention of the complications of labour. The objective of the study was to study and compare the course of labour and its outcome in primigravidae and mutigravidae using a graphical tool-Modified WHO partograph.Methods: The study was undertaken at SSG hospital, Baroda from August 2012 to July 2013. One hundred twenty four primigravidae and 124 multigravidae women were recruited according to defined inclusion and exclusion criteria. The progress of labour in active stage was assessed and plotted on Modified WHO partograph. The outcomes studied were: duration of active first stage and second stage, cervicometric progress, Incidence of labour augmentation, Incidence of operative delivery and neonatal outcome (Apgar score, NICU stay and birth weight).Results: The duration of active first stage (5.07 hrs) and second stage (33.57 min) was longer in primigravidae with a slower progress of labour as plotted on the Modified WHO partograph, than in multigravidae (3.78 hrs and 22.86 min respectively). The cervical dilatation rate in primigravidae was 1.22 ± 0.287 cm/hr which was slower than that of multigravidae (1.65 ± 0.408 cm/hr). There was also a higher rate of operative delivery in primigravidae (16.93% vs 3.22%).Conclusions: The results highlight that the modified WHO partograph worked as a useful tool in our population in comparing the progress of labour

Novel Targeting Approaches of Nanoparticles for Anticancers Drug Delivery: A Focused Review

Nanoparticles have presented a new paradigm in anticancer drug delivery to reduce adverse effects and improve therapeutic outcomes. Nanoparticle surface properties and morphology significantly affect the drug delivery to tumors while passive targeting. Conjugations with hyaluronic acid, transferrin and aptamers have shown to be effective in active targeting of anticancer drugs to tumor tissues. This review presents an overview of some credible techniques of passive and active drug delivery to tumors

Promoting Work in Public Housing: The Effectiveness of Job-Plus

Measures the effectiveness of employment related assistance, use of rent breaks as an incentive to work more, and activities that promote neighbor-to-neighbor support for work in Baltimore, Chattanooga, Dayton, Los Angeles, St. Paul, and Seattle

Instructional Designers\u27 Perceptions Regarding Preparation For Practice In A Health Care Environment

This study utilized a multi-case, bounded case, single-site case study research design to examine how well instructional designers perceive themselves able to practice ID in health care industries. Questions central to this study focused on how instructional designers perceive their preparation to practice, usefulness of professional development organizations or affiliations in which they participated while practicing ID, both academic and non-academic curricula, and utilization of ID practices when designing and developing ID projects in health care environments. The site selected for this study was a teaching hospital in Southeast Metropolitan Detroit, Michigan. Sampling size was limited to five instructional designers who had been working in the health care environment. Using a case study approach, convenient sampling was utilized to obtain detailed information about the experiences of instructional designers in the health care sector. Upon completion of interviews, participants had the opportunity to show completed work projects and were provided an opportunity to reflect on ID practice via journal entries over a two week time period. The constant comparative method was utilized for data analysis whereby a within - case analysis was conducted followed by a cross case analysis. Findings of this research showed that participants felt well prepared to practice ID in their respective health care environment and offered a variety of ways in which an instructional designer can explore the field of health care, how academic program administrators can collaborate with health care organizations to provide ID opportunities for students, and ways in which health care administrators can explore additional learning opportunities for their ID employees

Childhood adversity and asthma prevalence: evidence from 10 US states (2009–2011)

Background: Existing evidence on stress and asthma prevalence has disproportionately focused on pregnancy and postpregnancy early life stressors, largely ignoring the role of childhood adversity as a risk factor. Childhood adversity (neglect, stressful living conditions and maltreatment) may influence asthma prevalence through mechanisms on the hypothalamic-pituitary axis. Methods: Data from the Center for Disease Control's (CDC's) Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) surveys were used to examine cross-sectional associations of adverse childhood experiences (ACE) with lifetime and current asthma prevalence. Information on childhood adversity was available from 84 786 adult respondents in 10 US states. Poisson regression models (with robust SE) were used to estimate prevalence ratios (PRs) relating overall ACE score and dimensions of exposure ACE to asthma prevalence, adjusting for socioeconomic status. Results: Greater ACE was associated with a higher prevalence of asthma (adjusted PRcat 4=1.78 (95% CI 1.69 to 1.87), adjusted PRcat 1=1.21 (95% CI 1.16 to 1.27)). Reported experiences of sexual abuse (adjusted PR=1.48* (1.42 to 1.55)) and physical abuse (adjusted PR=1.38* (1.33 to 1.43)) were associated with a higher asthma prevalence. No clear socioeconomic gradient was noted, but those reporting lowest education and income levels reported high rates of asthma and adversity. Sensitivity analyses indicated that ACE exposures were interrelated. Conclusions: Report of childhood adversity predicts asthma prevalence among US adults. Frameworks for asthma prevention need to recognise and integrate aspects related to childhood adversity. Further investigation into specific time periods of exposure would provide meaningful inferences for interventions

Bias in Estimating the Causal Hazard Ratio When Using Two-Stage Instrumental Variable Methods

Two-stage instrumental variable methods are commonly used to estimate the causal effects of treatments on survival in the presence of measured and unmeasured confounding. Two-stage residual inclusion (2SRI) has been the method of choice over two-stage predictor substitution (2SPS) in clinical studies. We directly compare the bias in the causal hazard ratio estimated by these two methods. Under a principal stratification framework, we derive a closed-form solution for asymptotic bias of the causal hazard ratio among compliers for both the 2SPS and 2SRI methods when survival time follows the Weibull distribution with random censoring. When there is no unmeasured confounding and no always takers, our analytic results show that 2SRI is generally asymptotically unbiased, but 2SPS is not. However, when there is substantial unmeasured confounding, 2SPS performs better than 2SRI with respect to bias under certain scenarios. We use extensive simulation studies to confirm the analytic results from our closed-form solutions. We apply these two methods to prostate cancer treatment data from Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results-Medicare and compare these 2SRI and 2SPS estimates with results from two published randomized trials