Self-service reservations: a review of a pilot at Anglia Ruskin University

This article describes the pilot of self-service reservations in the Chelmsford site University Library and the issues that arose and how they were dealt with in order to provide a service to match the longer self-service opening hours

Charles C. Green v. County School Board of New Kent County, U.S. Supreme Court decision

Lesson plan and historical background for the 1968 Charles C. Green et al., v, County School board of New Kent County, Virginia, et al (391 U.S. 430) Supreme Court decision which defined the standards by which federal courts would judge whether a violation of U.S. constitution existed in school desegregation cases

Spatial and seasonal relationships between Pacific harbor seals (Phoca vitulina richardii) and their prey, at multiple scales

Knowing where pinnipeds forage is vital to managing and protecting their populations, and for assessing potential interactions with fisheries. We assessed the spatial relationship between the seasonal distribution of Pacific harbor seals (Phoca vitulina richardii) outfitted with satellite transmitters and the seasonal distributions of potential harbor seal prey species in San Francisco Bay, California. Pearson’s correlation coefficients were calculated between the number of harbor seal locations in an area of the San Francisco Bay and the abundance of specific prey species in the same area. The influence of scale on the analyses was assessed by varying the scale of analysis from 1 to 10 km. There was consistency in the prey species targeted by harbor seals year-round, although there were seasonal differences between the most important prey species. The highest correlations between harbor seals and their prey were found for seasonally abundant benthic species, located within about 10 km of the primary haul-out site. Probable foraging habitat for harbor seals was identified, based on areas with high abundances of prey species that were strongly correlated with harbor seal distribution. With comparable local data inputs, this approach has potential application to pinniped management in other areas, and to decisions about the location of marine reserves designed to protect these species

Lymphedema Therapy for the Treatment of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome

Theory: This proposal presents the theory that the use of early lymphatic management techniques for patients who suffer from complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) can limit CNS remodeling, preventing progression of the disorder. In absence of high quality evidence, we interviewed multiple lymphedema therapists to assist in the generation of a lymphatic management protocol for use with patients experiencing CRPS-associated pain and edema. The pathophysiology of CRPS-associated edema is not fully understood. Potential causes may include vasomotor dysregulation or neurogenic inflammation. Regardless of its cause, edema and pain may lead to excessive muscle guarding and kinesiophobia. Targeting edema early may inhibit progression of the disease before pain becomes centrally mediated. Lymphedema therapy, including manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) and compressive garments, is commonly used to treat patients with compromised circulatory or lymphatic systems. Based on a limited number of low quality studies, MLD has shown conflicted results for improvement of CRPS symptoms. However, these studies have evaluated MLD as an isolated treatment rather than as a component of a comprehensive treatment protocol. None of these studies have investigated the effect of compression garments or early intervention. In light of the limited available research on this topic, expert opinion may provide further insight into the effectiveness of this modality. To support the plausibility of our theory, we have interviewed experienced lymphedema therapists who have treated CRPS with a combination of MLD and compression garments as part of a comprehensive PT treatment plan. Lymphatic drainage applied proximally to the affected limb creates a negative pressure gradient that draws out edematous fluid, providing relief from symptoms without needing to touch the edematous limb. With less pain and discomfort, patients have greater potential to gain functional mobility, which can prevent further complication. Compression garments maintain the pressure gradient for longer treatment effects; interviewed experts report that individual patients have tolerated their use. Traditional protocol for lymphatic drainage is followed for CRPS patients, including teaching independent care, though progression may be slower. No additional contraindications or precautions for the CRPS population were identified. The incorporation of lymphatic management into a comprehensive treatment plan allows for additional tools to decrease disability in CRPS patients with edema. Knowledge of this modality as a treatment option may help improve physical therapy outcomes. Learning to manage CRPS symptoms will help patients decrease kinesiophobia and increase functional capacity

The relationship of readiness factors to Jan. first grade reading achievement

Thesis (Ed.M.)--Boston Universit

Student Loans, Financial Stress, and College Student Retention

This study examined a sample of 2,475 undergraduate students to determine the influence of financial stress, debt loads, and financial counseling on retention rates. Results indicate, among other findings, that financial stress contributes to an increased likelihood of discontinuing college. Self-reported student loan debt contributes to an increased likelihood of discontinuing college, although students with the highest amount of university-reported student loan debt have a decreased likelihood of discontinuing college one year later as compared to students with no student loan debt. Interestingly, in this study students who sought financial counseling were more likely to discontinue college within the next year. Although this contradicts prior studies that have shown that students experience less financial stress immediately after meeting with a peer counselor and for two months later, it is suggested that the timing of the counseling may be an important factor. Implications for practice include early intervention for students who are self funding their education, who are under high financial stress, or have a perception of high student loan debt. At the campus level, financial aid professionals should collaborate with personal finance researchers to better understand how financial stress and student debt relate to retention

Phase-dependent light propagation in atomic vapors

Light propagation in an atomic medium whose coupled electronic levels form a diamond-configuration exhibits a critical dependence on the input conditions. In particular, the relative phase of the input fields gives rise to interference phenomena in the electronic excitation whose interplay with relaxation processes determines the stationary state. We integrate numerically the Maxwell-Bloch equations and observe two metastable behaviors for the relative phase of the propagating fields corresponding to two possible interference phenomena. These phenomena are associated to separate types of response along propagation, minimize dissipation, and are due to atomic coherence. These behaviors could be studied in gases of isotopes of alkali-earth atoms with zero nuclear spin, and offer new perspectives in control techniques in quantum electronics.Comment: 16 pages, 11 figures, v2: typos corrected, v3: final version, to appear in Phys. Rev.

The Effect of Medicaid on Dental Care of Poor Adults: Evidence from the Oregon Health Insurance Experiment.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of Medicaid coverage on dental care outcomes, a major health concern for low-income populations. DATA SOURCES: Primary and secondary data on health care use and outcomes for participants in Oregon\u27s 2008 Medicaid lottery. STUDY DESIGN: We used the lottery\u27s random selection to gauge the causal effects of Medicaid on dental care needs, medication, and emergency department visits for dental care. DATA COLLECTION: Data were collected for lottery participants over 2 years, including mail surveys (N = 23,777) and in-person questionnaires (N = 12,229). Emergency department (ED) records were matched to lottery participants in Portland (N = 24,646). PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Medicaid coverage significantly reduced the share of respondents who reported needing dental care (-9.8 percentage points, p \u3c .001) or having unmet dental care needs (-13.5 percentage points, p \u3c 0.001). Medicaid doubled the share visiting the ED for dental care (+2.6 percentage points, p = .003) and the use of anti-infective medications often prescribed for dental care, but it had no detectable effect on uncovered dental care or out-of-pocket spending. CONCLUSIONS: Expansion of Medicaid covering emergency dental care substantially reduced unmet need for dental care, increasing ED dental visits and medication use, while not changing patient use of uncovered dental services

Tissue Penetration of Meropenem in Patients Undergoing Gynecologic Surgery

The purpose of this study was to assess the tissue-penetrating ability of a new β-lactam antibiotic, meropenem, in 64 patients undergoing elective gynecologic surgery. Patients received a single 500-mg dose intravenously before surgery. Plasma and tissue concentrations of meropenem were highest at ∼1 hour, and good tissue penetration was seen in the variety of specimens evaluated. The median plasma concentration at ∼1 hour was 13.3 µg/mL. The median fluid and tissue concentrations at ∼1 hour were as follows: cervix, 8.5 µg/g; endometrium, 2.3 µg/g; fallopian tube, 1.9 µg/g; myometrium, 3.6 µg/g; ovary, 2.3 µg/g; and uterus, 2.3 µg/g. These tissue concentrations exceed the MICs of meropenem for 90% of typical pathogens associated with gynecologic infections. Meropenem readily penetrates gynecologic tissue. A single 500-mg dose provides adequate tissue concentrations for treatment of gynecologic infections caused by susceptible pathogen

High prevalence of <i>Rickettsia africae</i> variants in <i>Amblyomma variegatum</i> ticks from domestic mammals in rural western Kenya: implications for human health

Tick-borne spotted fever group (SFG) rickettsioses are emerging human diseases caused by obligate intracellular Gram-negative bacteria of the genus Rickettsia. Despite being important causes of systemic febrile illnesses in travelers returning from sub-Saharan Africa, little is known about the reservoir hosts of these pathogens. We conducted surveys for rickettsiae in domestic animals and ticks in a rural setting in western Kenya. Of the 100 serum specimens tested from each species of domestic ruminant 43% of goats, 23% of sheep, and 1% of cattle had immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies to the SFG rickettsiae. None of these sera were positive for IgG against typhus group rickettsiae. We detected Rickettsia africae–genotype DNA in 92.6% of adult Amblyomma variegatum ticks collected from domestic ruminants, but found no evidence of the pathogen in blood specimens from cattle, goats, or sheep. Sequencing of a subset of 21 rickettsia-positive ticks revealed R. africae variants in 95.2% (20/21) of ticks tested. Our findings show a high prevalence of R. africae variants in A. variegatum ticks in western Kenya, which may represent a low disease risk for humans. This may provide a possible explanation for the lack of African tick-bite fever cases among febrile patients in Kenya