Sulfur Accumulation in Xylem Tissue of Forest Trees from Kentucky & Tennessee & Its Relation to Yearly Growth

The levels of sulfur present in xylem tissue of Quercus alba (white oak) show a statistically significant increase from 1970 to 1983. This increase was found in trees from three different sites in Kentucky and Tennessee. The levels of sulfur present in Tsuga canadensis (hemlock) show a statistically significant increase from 1955 to 1970. Sensitivity, growth response to the tree\u27s environment, decreased in oaks from 1933 to 1968 but increased slightly in hemlocks during the same time period. The data tend to support a direct relationship between increasing sulfur levels and a reduction in growth. Physiological and ecological studies of the impact of sulfur on trees should be continued to investigate all aspects of sulfur dioxide damage

A GEOMETRIC APPROACH TO MODELLING INTERACTING POPULATIONS

The purpose of this thesis is to present a different approach to the formulation of differential equation mathematical models for interacting populations. It does this through considering a geometric method. The solution to the differential equations are forced, through theuformulation, to lie on the surface of well known three-dimensional shapes. It is this that allows detailed analysis of how, and why, the solution of the equations behave as they do. The thesis firstly reviews some of the skills and techniques used in the formulation and alysis of differential equation models to give a background for some of the analysis used the geometric approach to modelling. The geometrical approach is then presented using two three-dimensional surfaces, the ellipsoid and the torus. Also examined is an extension of the basic shape to higher dimensions. Using the three-dimensional shape as a reference, a four-dimensional representation is formulated. This increase in the number of variables in the model allows more situations to be modelled. The thesis concludes by discussing the use of the type of model produced by the geometric approach by addressing some of the advantages and disadvantages of this approach. It ends with some extensions to this study of geometric models for future work

Limiting loss: a grounded theory of mothers who use illicit drugs

Illicit drug use is a major public health problem with women who use illicit drugs being one of the most marginalised minority groups in our society. In Australia, the most commonly used illicit drug is marijuana/cannabis, followed by ecstasy, meth/amphetamines, opioids (heroin, non-maintenance methadone, and other opiates), and cocaine, with polydrug use being common practice.This research focuses on Western Australian women who use illicit drugs whilst pregnant and mothering. There is a paucity of literature related to the multifaceted psychosocial phenomenon of mothers who use illicit drugs. As a result, the extent of problems faced by these women and their families has been poorly understood. Grounded theory was the method of choice to investigate the phenomenon as it allowed an exploration of participants’ experiences from within their social context. The method provided strategies to discover the shared basic psychosocial problem, the processes employed to cope with the identified problem, and the conditions influencing the problem and the process.Women who were experiencing the phenomenon, were knowledgeable about the topic and were able to articulate detailed experiential information were invited to participate. This thesis presents the findings from 14 mothers who were using illicit drugs and is supported by interviews with relevant health professionals. The 14 mothers had 60 pregnancies with 35 live births, 2 women were pregnant at the time of interview, and the mothers had collectively experienced 31 loss experiences. Twenty eight children were in the custody of their mother at the time of interview. Data were collected from individual in-depth interviews, informal interviews, field observations, review of case records, and a brief quantitative questionnaire to elicit demographic information. Data were managed using QSR NUD*IST software and analysed using the constant comparative method consistent with grounded theory methodology.The central problem, relevant to all study participants, was the threat of loss. The threat of loss emanated from (a) judgment and disapproval by self and others; (b) being abused, manipulated, overwhelmed, and dependent; (c) damaging myself and damaging my baby; (d) losing my baby or having my baby taken off me; (e) having a sense of not belonging; and (f) not trusting others and not being trusted. These problems resulted in loss of respect; loss of freedom; loss of health; loss of child; loss of identity; and loss of trust. In an attempt to overcome the threat of loss, the basic psychosocial process employed by mothers who use illicit drugs was: limiting loss through a process of safeguarding.The mothers engaged in this core process through three sub-processes: safeguarding during pregnancy; safeguarding as mother; and safeguarding to preserve integrity. Depending on the perceived nature of the threat and the influencing conditions, the safeguarding processes employed by the mothers oscillated between reactive responses of struggling and proactive strategies of taking back control. Whilst struggling during pregnancy the mothers struggled to make decisions and struggled to find a way. When struggling as mother they engaged in trial and error nurturing; and when safeguarding to preserve integrity they struggled to preserve their integrity. However, when they were stronger, had more resources, and were more knowledgeable they were able to take back control and promote health during pregnancy. This was achieved by changing their priorities and by actively taking care of self. When taking back control as mother they were able to strive to be ‘good mother’ through nurturing and by increasing their capacity. When taking back control when safeguarding to preserve integrity the mothers engaged in redefining to preserve integrity where they actively created a better environment; controlled events; accessed support systems; and remodelled self. Conditions that influenced the mothers’ threat of loss and limiting loss through a process of safeguarding included: the self; the nature of support from significant others; negative influences of others; attitudes and practice of health professionals; fear of being ‘bad mother’; and maturation of children.This substantive theory of limiting loss through a process of safeguarding provides a better understanding of the subjective experience of mothers who use illicit drugs. Whilst it has previously been reported that these mothers fear losing their baby to social services, this study has identified that it is multiple forms of loss that is problematic for these mothers. Additionally, this theory presents new understandings of mothers who use illicit drugs and demonstrates not only the struggle they endure but attributes of strength, resilience, motivation, capacity and ‘good mothering’. The development of this theoretical framework has provided a foundation on which to inform health care provision, future research, education and policy development for this vulnerable but resilient group of women

Interview with Regina Sharp

Regina Sharp talks about growing up in Danvillehttps://digital.kenyon.edu/lak_interviews/1016/thumbnail.jp

Mobile Phones, Nutrition and Agriculture in Ghana: Business Modelling Baseline Report

This is the baseline report for the business modelling analysis of the Vodafone Farmers Club, Ghana (VFC), a Value Added Service supported by a grant from the GSM Association (GSMA) as a part of the mNutrition programme. It presents a baseline description of the service and an analysis of the business models based on data available at the beginning of the mNutrition evaluation. mNutrition is a global initiative supported by DFID, organised by GSMA, and implemented by in-country mobile network operators (MNOs) to use mobile technology to improve the health and nutritional status of children and adults in low-income countries around the world. This report forms part of the evaluation of mobile based services, which draws on a number of methods and interlinked components to gather evidence about the impact of the intervention in Ghana supported by the mNutrition programme

Leading by Example

Leading by example, three nonprofits faced tough decisions and significant organizational changes to ensure the sustainability and growth of successful leadership programs in Maine. Lessons shared provide insights that may be useful to other nonprofits facing similar challenges

Enhancing the Effectiveness of the Telescope Assembly Alignment Simulator

SOFIA - Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy is a 747sp Boeing aircraft modified to carry a 2.7m telescope. This unique aircraft uses infrared light to study the hidden universe, create a greater understanding of local galaxies and observe the past of our universe. To enhance the effectiveness of the telescope on SOFIA, a baseline of an ideal science instrument needs to be established in a lab setting to help reduce time and make things more efficient when SOFIA is flying. This baseline can be done using the TAAS – Telescope Assembly Alignment Simulator, an instrument that simulates the telescope on SOFIA. In this project, the research team uses the Focus Chop Light Source (FCLS) instrument to mimic a blackbody source on the TAAS. There are 6 different sized aperture holes on the FCLS. These sizes represent different magnitudes of starlight. Optimization of the light path for the TAAS is needed to ensure an ideal baseline

Cumulative Sexual Victimization and Mental Health Outcomes Among Incarcerated Women

This research explores the relationship between three different types of self-reported sexual victimization and subsequent mental health problems in a sample of incarcerated women. Previous literature establishes a link between victimization histories and poor mental health outcomes. This study focuses on sexual victimization experienced as a child, as an adolescent and as an adult, both individually and cumulatively, in relation to entering prison with a mental health diagnosis as well as reporting current depressive symptoms while incarcerated. Each type of victimization is significantly related to both prior mental health diagnosis and current depression in prison. Furthermore, there is an additive effect on both mental health diagnosis and symptoms of depression

Prenatal anxiety, maternal stroking in infancy, and symptoms of emotional and behavioral disorders at 3.5 years

Animal findings of long-term effects of maternal behaviors mediated via altered GR gene expression will, if translated into humans, have far reaching implications for our understanding of child and adolescent psychopathology. We have previously shown that mothers’ self-reported stroking of their infants modifies associations between prenatal depression and anxiety and child outcomes at 29 weeks and 2.5 years. Here, we examine whether the effect of early maternal stroking is evident at 3.5 years, and in a much larger sample than in previous publications. A general population sample of 1233 first-time mothers completed anxiety measures at 20 weeks gestation, 865 reported on infant stroking at 9 weeks, and 813 on child symptoms at 3.5 years. Maternal stroking moderated the association between pregnancy-specific anxiety and internalizing (p = 0.010) and externalizing (p = 0.004) scores, such that an effect of PSA to increase symptoms was markedly reduced for mothers who reported high levels of stroking. There was no effect of maternal stroking on general anxiety. The findings confirm the previously reported effect of maternal stroking, and in a much larger sample. They indicate that there are long-term effects of early maternal stroking, modifying associations between prenatal anxiety and child emotional and behavioral symptoms

Why Ask Why?

In the spring of 2018, librarians at the University of Kentucky discussed a curious article, which set a yearlong program in motion