Improving access to care in Virginia: Reaching nurse practitioner training capacity through preceptor incentives

Workforce data reinforces the notion that educating nurse practitioners in Virginia is critical in helping to improve access to care in the Commonwealth, particularly in underserved communities. Six of Virginia’s thirty-nine state funded colleges and universities offer nurse practitioner programs. All of these universities report their capacity to train nurse practitioners is not limited by qualified applicants but rather by a shortage of clinical preceptors. This paper provides a summary of public policy initiatives that support preceptors as an example for Virginia to consider

High School Choice in New York City: A Report on the School Choices and Placements of Low-Achieving Students

School choice policies, a fixture of efforts to improve public education in many cities. aim to enable families to choose a school that they believe will best meet their child's needs. In New York City, choice and the development of a diverse portfolio of options have played central roles in the Department of Education's high school reform efforts. This report examines the choices and placements of New York City's lowest-achieving students: those scoring among the bottom 20 percent on standardized state tests in middle school. Focusing on data from 2007 to 2011, the report looks at who these low-achieving students are, including how their demographics compare to other students in NYC, the educational challenges they face, and where they live. The bulk of the report reviews low-achieving students' most preferred schools and the ones to which they were ultimately assigned, assessing how these schools compare to those of their higher-achieving peers. The findings show that low-achieving students attended schools that were lower performing, on average, than those of all other students. This was driven by differences in students' initial choices: low-achieving students' first-choice schools were less selective, lower-performing, and more disadvantaged. Overall, lower-achievingand higher-achieving students were matched to their top choices at the same rate. Importantly, both low- and higher-achieving students appear to prefer schools that are close to home, suggesting that differences in students' choices likely reflect, at least in part, the fact that lower-achieving students are highly concentrated in poor neighborhoods, where options may be more limited

The societal costs of alcohol misuse in Australia

It is well documented that alcohol-related problems compromise individual and social health, and wellbeing. The individual harms are numerous, including premature death, loss of enjoyment and loss of social utility through fear of crime and victimisation. The misuse of alcohol, particularly among those most at risk in our community, presents a major challenge for all levels of government. In this paper, a study is presented that provides a better national-level estimate of the costs of alcohol-related problems in Australia. Despite taking a conservative estimate, the aggregate of a range of societal costs substantially outweighs the tax revenue for the Commonwealth generated from the sale of alcohol. Results of this study provide evidence to policymakers regarding costs to the criminal justice system, costs to the health system, costs resulting from lost productivity and costs related to alcohol-related road accidents. Such evidence will provide an understanding of the economic tradeoffs that are present when making decisions that affect all Australians. Proposals are provided in the conclusion for a greater investment in prevention, based on the sound evaluation of prevention and diversion strategies by comparison with treatment options, in order to ensure better investments for the nation

The development and validation of the Breast Lymphoedema Severity Symptom (BLYSS) questionnaire

The emergence of breast conservation therapy, with reported increased rates of breast lymphoedema encouraged this study. Using a standardised approach and utilising an extensive literature review and key informants including clinical specialists and patients with breast lymphoedema, the BLYSS questionnaire was developed. Through an iterative process, the validity and reliability of the BLYSS questionnaire was established. In addition, a definition for breast lymphoedema was developed using a consensus approach and applied in the study

Controlling Miasma: The Evidence for Cults of Greek Craftspeople from the Archaic to the Hellenistic Period (6th - 2nd c. BCE)

This study addresses a previously neglected aspect of ancient Greek popular religion, the specific practices undertaken by craftspeople to enhance their lives and protect their livelihood. By collecting the archaeological and iconographic evidence of workers\u27 or industrial cult, primarily from the Archaic through the Hellenistic period, I examine beliefs, myths, rituals, and cult figures significant to workers. In chapter one, the gods and goddesses worshipped by craftspeople in civic religion are discussed, in particular Athena Ergane and Hephaistos. Chapter two examines the archaeological remains from workshops for evidence of cult activity, and how this activity differs from civic cult. In chapter three, images of workshops are addressed, particularly those votive objects, plaques, or masks in the background of the action which seem to serve an apotropaic function, an attempt by the workers to protect production processes. Chapter four examines the dedications by craftspeople, which were set up as prayers for future endeavors, or as thank-offerings for past successes. The conclusion discusses the threat of miasma, or pollution, which was a dominating concern for the ancient Greeks. Literary evidence indicates that they believed religious danger was contagious, and thereby always potentially communal, and the consequence of pollution was divine anger. Purification practices were extremely varied, and quite common. Pollution was a particular concern for craftspeople because their jobs brought them into contact with the chthonic deities, demonic spirits who inhabited the underworld and represented for mankind the ultimate form of pollution

The Power of Corrupt Political Environments and its Effects on Museums: A look at Egypt’s Modern-Day ‘Indiana Jones’: Dr. Zahi Hawass

Egypt has been a nation plagued with political corruption since the early years of colonialism. After being under French and then British domination throughout the nineteenth and the first half of the twentieth century, the 1952 Revolution under Egypt’s Free Officers gave, Egypt a rare opportunity for independent political and cultural growth. Although change occurred politically―as seen in the Suez Crisis―Egypt’s antiquities remained stagnant and still under the influence of foreigners. Egypt’s antiquities were directly supervised by the British and the French until that time, but remained influenced even after the political revolution. There were few Egyptians involved in preservation of antiquities or the establishment of the Egyptian Museum in Cairo in 1897. It was not until Dr. Zahi Hawass, regarded by many as ‘Egypt’s Modern Day Indiana Jones,’ that a true transformation of the Egyptian Museum and its antiquities occurred. Hawass rose to the center of his field and became known internationally by his recognizable appearance, dressed in his denim shirts and jeans complete with ‘Indiana Jones’ hat. He also limited foreign access to the dig sites, and tried with some success to reclaim artifacts lost earlier. Yet, Hawass was dogged by corruption charges despite, or perhaps because of these successes. The times―at least in this aspect―never changed

Leaching and surface runoff losses of sulphur and potassium from a Tokomaru soil : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Philosophy in Soil Science at Massey University

Sulphur and potassium surface and subsurface drainage water losses from grazed pastures on a yellow-grey earth soil, the Tokomaru silt loam, were investigated in field experiments. Runoff losses from undrained and drained pastures fertilised in spring or autumn were measured over a six week winter interval in 1976. Losses from undrained pastures were measured throughout the runoff season in 1977. In 1977, S and K leaching losses from pastures fertilised in spring or autumn, were determined by measuring tile drainage water losses and monitoring changes in soil S and K levels. An attempt was also made to relate soil S and K levels to tile drainage water losses. This field study illustrates that SO4 -S is readily leached in the Tokomaru silt loam. Losses in tile drainage waters occurred from all depths above the mole drains (i.e. 45 cm depth) during individual flow events. On average 7.5 kg dissolved S04 -S ha-1 was lost from the two non-irrigated pastures fertilised in spring. An additional 6.7 kg SO4 -S ha-1 was discharged in tile drainage waters from two irrigated pastures fertilised in spring (i.e. total 14.2 kg SO4 -S ha-1 ). Evidence indicated that SO4 -S may have bypassed the drains in water seeping beyond the fragipan. An autumn application of fertiliser S (45 kg S ha-1 ) significantly enhanced the extent of leaching. The equivalent of 10% of the applied S (4.47 ± 1.5 kg SO4 -S ha-1 ) was leached over a period of 17 weeks from July 1 to September 21. Losses occurred throughout this period. On average, 15.2 kg SO4 -S ha>-1 was discharged from the two non-irrigated pastures fertilised in autumn. An additional 3.4 kg SO4 S ha-1 was lost from the two irrigated pastures. An appreciable quantity (13.8 kg SO4 -S ha-1 ) of the fertiliser S applied in autumn but not leached in tile drainage waters, was recovered as water soluble SO4 -S, leached below the 20 cm depth (i.e. below the zone from which pasture species are likely to obtain most of their S. Over a period of six weeks in 1976, 0.9 kg SO4 -S ha-1 was lost in surface runoff from an undrained pasture fertilised (19 kg S ha-1 in superphosphate) in spring. Less SO4 -S was lost from the associated drained plot (0.2 kg SO4 -S ha-1 ). Undrained and drained plots fertilised in autumn (57 kg S ha-1 in superphosphate) lost 8% and 1.8% of the S applied (i.e. 5.5 and 0.9 kg SO4 -S ha-1 ) respectively. In 1977, on average only 0.8 kg SO4 -S ha-1 was transported in surface runoff off two undrained plots fertilised (36 kg S ha-1 in superphosphate) in spring. An average of 8.0 kg SO4 -S ha-1 was lost from two plots fertilised (55 kg solution S ha-1 ) in autumn. Hence surface runoff is an important S loss mechanism if undrained plots are fertilised in autum. Sulphur received in the rainfall over a five month interval in 1977 amounted to 3.1 kg ha-1 . From these results it was concluded that total drainage water losses from non-irrigated, drained pastures were likely to be largely offset by S received in the rain in 1977. A significant net S loss (in relation to annual pasture S requirements) will have occurred from pastures irrigated the preceding summer and/or fertilised in autumn. Sulphur fertilisation in autumn and winter is not recommended. Under the conditions likely to prevail at this time an appreciable fraction of the applied S may be lost in drainage waters. Results of this study indicate that leaching is not an important K loss process in the Tokomaru silt loam. Dissolved K leaching losses from pastures fertilised in spring or autumn averaged 4.66 and 4.05 kg K ha-1 respectively. Potassium surface runoff losses are generally of no consequence. In 1976 only 1.1 kg K ha-1 was lost from an undrained pasture fertilised (50 kg K ha-1 ) in spring, whilst 0.3 kg K ha-1 was discharged from the associated drained plot. A minimal fraction (3%) of the K applied in autumn (50 kg K ha-1 ) to an undrained plot was lost in surface runoff. Less than 1% of that applied was discharged from the associated drained plot. Throughout 1977, on average, 1.35 kg K ha-1 was discharged from undrained plots fertilised (57 kg K ha-1 ) in spring. An additional 3.75 kg K ha-1 was lost from pastures fertilised (55 kg K ha-1 ) in autumn. Rainfall K additions measured ever a five month interval in 1977 were low (total 1.4 kg K ha-1 ). However, because of the trend for K concentrations to vary on a seasonal basis it was concluded that K received in rainfall throughout 1977 was likely to largely offset total drainage water losses from undrained and drained pastures. The results indicate that K deficiencies in pasture on K retentive yellow-grey earth soils are not attributable to drainage water losses. Regression analyses showed that SO4 -S concentrations in leachate, but not SO4 -S loadings, were significantly related to water soluble soil SO4 -S levels (0-40 cm), determined at frequent intervals during the drainage season, if the quantity of water percolating through the soil is measured. No relationship was found between measured water soluble or ammonium acetate extractable soil K levels and leachate K concentrations or loadings