Labor Force Participation and Income of Individuals with Disabilities in Sheltered and Competitive Employment: Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Analyses of Seven States During the 1980s and 1990s

The purpose of this investigation was to examine the labor force participation and wages of individuals with disabilities who have transitioned from facility-based (i.e., sheltered) work to employment in integrated and competitive settings. The investigators had access to data from seven states on the labor force participation and wages of more than 3000 individuals with disabilities who have moved from institutional to community placements over the past two decades. Among the findings: the majority of individuals in these geographically diverse samples were unemployed over time; sheltered employment prepared some individuals for entry into employment in integrated settings and resulted in substantial gains in earned income and reported higher levels of daily living skills. However, the daily life functioning of many individuals who remained in sheltered employment was comparable to that of those who transitioned to integrated employment. Avenues for future research, and legal and policy analysis are discussed

Chemical analysis of proecessed human hair extentions for use in forensic casework.

In forensic laboratories, hair analysis is performed in the trace evidence unit and the DNA unit. The completed analysis of hair can include a variety of tests, but generally, microscopic analysis is performed and is followed by mitochondrial DNA analysis. With the increasing use of hair extensions, it is possible that a hair sample discovered at a crime scene may be a processed human hair extension and has no physical or genetic connection to the individual wearing the hair extensions. This can be misleading in an investigation and result in a misuse of time and resources. Being able to identify a hair as a processed human hair extension is valuable in determining its entire evidentiary value and result in the forensic laboratory adjusting its approach to analysis. Current literature is limited pertaining to hair extensions as forensic evidence. Only one study has focused extensively on processed human hair extensions for their probative value in forensic case work. This study involved the microscopic examination and genetic analysis of processed human hair extensions but found no features that differentiated natural human head hairs from human hair extensions. There are multiple articles that research chemical analysis of hair, but few are looking into applications into the forensic laboratory. The lack of literature proves the necessity for this research.This research determined whether a chemical difference was present between natural human head hair and processed human hair extensions through ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Three different hair extension brands and five different natural human hair samples were used in this research. Multiple organic solid-liquid extractions were completed using hexanes, Colorist SecretsTM Hair Color Remover, methanol, 1-octanol, and chloroform-d. The extraction solvents were then used for instrumental analysis by ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The resulting spectra were analyzed and compared to determine differences between processed human hair extensions and natural human head hairs. This study proves that there is a chemical difference between processed human hair extensions and natural human head hair. This was indicated by the differences observed in spectra on the UV-Vis, GC/MS, and NMR between the natural human head hairs and processed human hair extensions. The processed human hair extensions have a higher absorbance, when analyzed with UV-Vis spectroscopy than the natural human head hair samples. In addition, there are specifics in the processed human hair extensions that are visualized by GC/MS and NMR analysis that are not present in the control natural human head hair samples. The higher absorbance and peaks show a chemical difference between the samples. This chemical difference can be used to differentiate samples in a forensic laboratory, which could change how hair is analyzed for casework. This research is significant because it allows for the chemical identification of processed human hair extensions which may help in determining if the hair has probative value in a forensic case. The ability to chemically identify a hair extension collected from a crime scene would provide investigate leads and help to preserve time and resources. Also, chemical analysis might allow a processed human hair extension collected from a crime scene to be definitively associated with others from the same manufacturing package. This would be beneficial if the extensions were still attached to the suspect's head. This research has the potential to change the way that hair analysis is viewed and used throughout the forensic laboratory. Further research needs to be completed: analysis of more hair extension brands, determine a concise method of analysis, and the best extraction solvent. The study is a precursor to all of this and proves that there is a necessity for further analysis and implementation to forensics. But before any of that can happen, a reliable and consistent method needs to be determined and validated. This study proves this need for further research in this area, and ultimately updating the process for hair analysis throughout forensic laboratories

Information Systems: No Boundaries! A Concise Approach to Understanding Information Systems for All Disciplines

This book was created to provide a different experience for students beginning their studies in information systems. Instead of being bombarded with information from a business systems perspective, the goal of this book is to provide a baseline of material regarding information systems in all disciplines, not just business systems - hence the name No Boundaries!https://scholars.fhsu.edu/all_oer/1002/thumbnail.jp

A role for the classical complement pathway in hippocampal dendritic injury and hippocampal dependent memory deficits in a model of acquired epilepsy

Status epilepticus (SE) triggers pathological changes to hippocampal dendrites that may promote epileptogenesis. The microtubule associated protein 2 (Map2) helps stabilize microtubules of the dendritic cytoskeleton. Recently, we reported a substantial decline in Map2 that coincided with robust microglia accumulation in the CA1 hippocampal region after an episode of SE. A spatial correlation between Map2 loss and reactive microglia was also reported in human cortex from refractory epilepsy. New evidence supports that microglia are guided by proteins of the classical complement pathway (C1q and C3) to prune dendritic structures. Furthermore, components of complement have been shown to be upregulated in human and experimental epilepsy. Thus, to identify a potential role of the classical complement pathway in SE-induced Map2 and microglial changes, we characterized the spatiotemporal profile of these events. We used immunohistochemistry to determine the distribution of Map2 and the microglia marker IBA1 in the hippocampus after pilocarpine-induced SE from 4 hours to 35 days. We found a decline in Map2 immunoreactivity in the CA1 area that reached minimal levels at 14 days post-SE and partially increased thereafter. In contrast, maximal microglia accumulation occurred in the CA1 area at 14 days post-SE. We then mapped the spatiotemporal profile of C1q using immunohistochemistry at 3-35 days after SE, where substantial Map2 and microglial alterations were observed. We used western blot to determine the levels of C3 and its cleavage products. C1q and C3 were both increased in the hippocampus at 14 days after SE, when Map2 and microglia changes were most profound. Our data indicate that SE-induced Map2 and microglial changes parallel each other’s spatiotemporal profiles. These findings also suggest a potential role for the classical complement pathway in SE-induced Map2-microglial interactions

The effect of standing and sitting postures on breathing in brass players

Purpose: The object of this study was to examine the effect of posture on breathing in brass players. Breathing when standing was compared with sitting erect on a flat, downward or upward sloping seat, or on a reclining seat. Methods: Spirometry was used to measure aspects of lung function. Muscle activity and respiratory movements during different playing tasks were recorded using electromyography and inductive plethysmography. Results: Only sitting in a reclining position produced statistically significantly lower values for VC, FVC, FEV1, PEF than standing. When players were asked to produce a note of maximum duration, only a downward sloping seat caused a significant change (an 11% reduction) compared to standing. When seated, the abdominal component of respiratory movement was significantly higher during these long notes than when standing, though maximum activity in abdominal wall muscles was significantly reduced (by 32–44%). On a downward sloping seat, muscle activity was significantly higher (9%) than on a flat seat. Tongued and untongued sforzando notes recruited significantly less abdominal muscle activity (33–67%) when sitting than when standing. When playing a trumpet study, abdominal muscle activity was significantly reduced on a downward sloping seat (by 32%) and on a flat seat (by 40%) in comparison to standing. Muscle activity in the two sitting positions were not significantly different. Conclusion: Though brass players are often told to “sit as if standing”, abdominal muscle activity is always significantly reduced when sitting on a flat or downward sloping seat, however when greater respiratory effort is required, activity on downward sloping seats may rise closer to that of standing

A time budget of the male dickcissel (Spiza americana)

Call number: LD2668 .T4 1969 M33Master of Scienc

The interrelationships of university student characteristics and the Keller ARCS motivation model in a blended digital literacy course

Doctor of PhilosophyCurriculum and InstructionRosemary TalabThe purpose of this study was to examine student motivation in a blended learning digital literacy course and its relation to student characteristics. The study consisted of 136 student participants enrolled in a blended learning digital literacy course at a Midwestern university. The Keller ARCS Motivation Model was the theoretical framework. The Course Interest Survey was used in the study, which was designed to measure motivation using Keller ARCS categories. Data was collected through the Course Interest Survey to voluntary student participants and through data obtained from the research setting. The study examined the following research questions: Research Question 1: Do statistically significant relationships exist between non-performance student characteristics and the Keller ARCS Course Interest Survey student motivation scores in a blended digital literacy course? Research Question 2: Do statistically significant relationships exist between pre-course performance student characteristics and the Keller ARCS Course Interest Survey scores in a blended digital literacy course? Research Question 3: Do statistically significant relationships exist between post-course performance student characteristics and the Keller ARCS Course Interest Survey student motivation scores in a blended digital literacy course? To examine these relationships, the study utilized MANOVAs to analyze the student characteristics on the four categories of the Keller ARCS Motivation Model. One significant relationship was found for Confidence within Academic Rank (p < .05), between Seniors and Freshmen. Seniors reported a .4799 higher Confidence score, on average, than Freshmen. Other characteristics did not have significant relationships. The mean change in pretest and posttest scores in digital literacy on the ALTSA assessment was 6.64. Recommendations for the research setting included the use of student focus groups to better understand and increase Freshmen confidence and the Freshmen experience, a review of course design and delivery methods, an exploration of variations of blended learning models, an examination of current test-out procedures, and adjustment of the scale used in this study to provide a wider range of motivation responses. Recommendations for future studies included a qualitative study of student performance characteristics, a mixed methods study of different learning models for course delivery, and an exploratory study aimed at expanding student characteristics