Fortifications on Maine’s Northeast Boundary, 1828-1845

This article is taken from the manuscript, Ties of Common Blood, A History of Maine\u27s Northeast Boundary Dispute with Great Britain, 1783-1842, by Geraldine Tidd Scott

A Study to Substantiate the Need for Consumer Economic Education in Norfolk Secondary Schools

The basic objectives of this study were as follows: 1) to conduct a survey using a questionnaire to determine the level of competence in basic business survival skills of a sample of graduates from the Norfolk school system; 2) to clarify status and identify problems of the current consumer economic curriculum by collecting detailed information that describes the existing conditions and practices regarding consumer economic education in the Norfolk City Schools; 3) to make comparisons and evaluations between the existing Norfolk consumer economic curriculum and the findings from the questionnaire regarding the need for consumer economic education in the Norfolk City School syste

Book Reviews

Reviews of the following books: The Living Past, Being the Story of Somesville, Mount Desert, Maine and Its Relationship with Other Areas of the Island.By Virginia Somes-Sanderson; Voice on the Kennebec, 1941-1981, edited by Kathleen A. Martin; Nathan A. Cushman: A Rugged Individualist edited by Franklin P. Cole; and Portsmouth and the Piscataqua by Peter E. Randall

Merging Wildlife and Environmental Monitoring Approaches with Forensic Principles: Application of Unconventional and Non-Invasive Sampling in Eco-Pharmacovigilance

Pharmaceutical residues in the environment have the potential to harm wildlife. A population’s fragility or an animal’s secretive nature may preclude capture and the use of invasive/destructive sampling techniques that are typically used in a risk assessment. Conventionally favoured matrices gathered opportunistically from carcasses have a finite lifespan, thereby limiting the detection window. This multidisciplinary paper aims to promote the use of non-invasive approaches and optimize use of even the most degraded carcasses. We highlight a selection of promising alternative, unconventional and underutilized sample types that could be applied in environmental monitoring efforts and wildlife forensic investigations. With a focus on non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), now under increasing scrutiny in the freshwater and terrestrial environment, we first illustrate current sampling practices and gaps in knowledge by summarizing exposure of: 1) aquatic organisms to urban effluent discharged into waterways, and, 2) scavenging species to veterinary residues in livestock and other carrion. We then consider the merits and limitations of a range of alternative environmentally robust sample options that offer a broader detection interval for NSAIDs, with emphasis on hair, wool and feathers. The viability of eyes/ocular material, bone matter, fecal matter, injection sites, ingesta/pellets and scavenging/coprophagous insects are also discussed

Mouthparts of the bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) exhibit poor acuity for the detection of pesticides in nectar

Bees are important pollinators of agricultural crops, but their populations are at risk when pesticides are used. One of the largest risks bees face is poisoning of floral nectar and pollen by insecticides. Studies of bee detection of neonicotinoids have reported contradictory evidence about whether bees can taste these pesticides in sucrose solutions and hence avoid them. Here, we use an assay for the detection of food aversion combined with single-sensillum electrophysiology to test whether the mouthparts of the buff-tailed bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) detect the presence of pesticides in a solution that mimicked the nectar of oilseed rape (Brassica napus). Bees did not avoid consuming solutions containing concentrations of imidacloprid, thiamethoxam, clothianidin, or sulfoxaflor spanning six orders of magnitude, even when these solutions contained lethal doses. Only extremely high concentrations of the pesticides altered spiking in gustatory neurons through a slight reduction in firing rate or change in the rate of adaptation. These data provide strong evidence that bumblebees cannot detect or avoid field-relevant concentrations of pesticides using information from their mouthparts. As bees rarely contact floral nectar with other body parts, we predict that they are at high risk of unwittingly consuming pesticides in the nectar of pesticide-treated crops

Application of a correlation correction factor in a microarray cross-platform reproducibility study

Background Recent research examining cross-platform correlation of gene expression intensities has yielded mixed results. In this study, we demonstrate use of a correction factor for estimating cross-platform correlations. Results In this paper, three technical replicate microarrays were hybridized to each of three platforms. The three platforms were then analyzed to assess both intra- and cross-platform reproducibility. We present various methods for examining intra-platform reproducibility. We also examine cross-platform reproducibility using Pearson\u27s correlation. Additionally, we previously developed a correction factor for Pearson\u27s correlation which is applicable when X and Y are measured with error. Herein we demonstrate that correcting for measurement error by estimating the disattenuated correlation substantially improves cross-platform correlations. Conclusion When estimating cross-platform correlation, it is essential to thoroughly evaluate intra-platform reproducibility as a first step. In addition, since measurement error is present in microarray gene expression data, methods to correct for attenuation are useful in decreasing the bias in cross-platform correlation estimates

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients accept finger stick blood collection for point-of-care CD4 testing

INTRODUCTION HIV-infected patients require antiretroviral treatment for life. To improve access to care, CD4 enumeration and viral load tests have been redesigned to be used as point-of-care techniques using finger-stick blood. Accurate CD4 counting in capillary blood requires a free flowing blood drop that is achieved by blade incision. The aim of this study was to assess the attitude of the patients toward blade-based finger-stick blood donation. METHODS Four hundred and ninety-nine patients were included (299 patients from South Africa and 200 from Belgium). They completed a questionnaire to express their preference for finger stick or venipuncture, after undergoing both. The South African patient cohort was divided in two groups, receiving either single or multiple finger stick for CD4 and other HIV-related tests. The Belgian patients received a single finger stick for CD4 testing, and were asked to respond directly and again after two days. RESULTS The majority of the patients preferred the finger stick to the venipuncture. The perceived pain using the blade was superior to a small needle, but similar to a large needle. They preferred up to three finger sticks over one venipuncture. Up to 30% of the patients changed their mind over two days. The main reason for choosing a finger stick was continued bleeding after venipuncture. The most cited objection to finger stick was pain/soreness. CONCLUSION Patient perceptions support the implementation of donating capillary blood with bladebased finger stick during CD4 point-of-care testing.S1 File. Questionnaire for group 1 in South Africa. Patients with single finger stick. (PDF)S2 File. Questionnaire for group 2 in South Africa. Patients with multiple finger stick. (PDF)S3 File. First questionnaire in Antwerp (English). For preference immediately after finger stick. (PDF)S4 File. First questionnaire in Antwerp (Dutch). For preference immediately after finger stick. (PDF)S5 File. First questionnaire in Antwerp (French). For preference immediately after finger stick. (PDF)S6 File. Second questionnaire in Antwerp (English). For preference two days after finger stick. (PDF)S7 File. Second questionnaire in Antwerp (Dutch). For preference two days after finger stick. (PDF)S8 File. Second questionnaire in Antwerp (French). For preference two days after finger stick. (PDF)The study in South Africa was funded by Grand Challenges Canada [Grant number 0007-02-01-01, url http://www.grandchallenges.ca]http://www.plosone.orghttp://www.grandchallenges.caam2016Haematolog

Elements of Gameful Design Emerging from User Preferences

© Owners/Authors, 2017. This is the author's version of the work. It is posted here for your personal use. Not for redistribution. The definitive Version of Record was published in CHI PLAY '17 - Proceedings of the Annual Symposium on Computer-Human Interaction in Play.Several studies have developed models to explain player preferences. These models have been developed for digital games; however, they have been frequently applied in gameful design (i.e., designing non-game applications with game elements) without empirical validation of their fit to this different context. It is not clear if users experience game elements embedded in applications similarly to how players experience them in games. Consequently, we still lack a conceptual framework of design elements built specifically for a gamification context. To fill this gap, we propose a classification of eight groups of gameful design elements produced from an exploratory factor analysis based on participants’ self-reported preferences. We describe the characteristics of the users who are more likely to enjoy each group of design elements in terms of their gender, age, gamification user type, and personality traits. Our main contribution is providing an overview of which design elements work best for what demographic clusters and how we can apply this knowledge to design effective gameful systems.SSHRC || 895-2011-1014, IMMERSe NSERC || RGPIN-418622-2012 CFI || 35819 Mitacs || IT07255 CNPq, Brazil Agència de Gestió d’Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca (Generalitat de Catalunya) || Industrial Doctorate programme 2014-DI-00