64 research outputs found

    Classroom Teachers and School-Based Mental Health Professionals: A Multi-Case Study

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    The purpose of this qualitative, multiple-case study was to understand the pedagogy and attitudes of teachers when faced with the presence of school-based mental health professionals in the classrooms in two schools in southwestern Virginia. Semi-structured interviews, with open-ended questions, document analysis, and participant observations were utilized to collect data. The theory that guided this study was Bandura’s (1993) theory of perceived self-efficacy as it related to an individual teacher’s sense of how capable he or she is of creating an environment conducive to learning. The research centered around understanding how a teacher addresses necessary changes to pedagogy and attitude, given the deviations in the dynamics of the classroom. Three research questions in this study addressed the role of school-based mental health service presence in schools on teachers’ classroom practices and approaches, and more specifically, pedagogy and attitudes toward the classroom environment and students. The data collection occurred at one high school in the Virginia Mountains region. The schools chosen for this study were currently collaborating with school-based mental health programs. Data consisted of interviews, classroom observations, and document analysis. The results of this study provided information on the attitude and pedagogy of the participants as they experienced teaching with School-Based Mental Health professionals in the classroom. The empirical, theoretical, and practical implications were also discussed

    Comparison of Climatological Planetary Boundary Layer Depth Estimates Using the GEOS-5 AGCM

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    Planetary boundary layer (PBL) processes, including those influencing the PBL depth, control many aspects of weather and climate and accurate models of these processes are important for forecasting changes in the future. However, evaluation of model estimates of PBL depth are difficult because no consensus on PBL depth definition currently exists and various methods for estimating this parameter can give results that differ by hundreds of meters or more. In order to facilitate comparisons between the Goddard Earth Observation System (GEOS-5) and other modeling and observational systems, seven PBL depth estimation methods are used to produce PBL depth climatologies and are evaluated and compared here. All seven methods evaluate the same atmosphere so all differences are related solely to the definition chosen. These methods depend on the scalar diffusivity, bulk and local Richardson numbers, and the diagnosed horizontal turbulent kinetic energy (TKE). Results are aggregated by climate class in order to allow broad generalizations. The various PBL depth estimations give similar midday results with some exceptions. One method based on horizontal turbulent kinetic energy produces deeper PBL depths in the winter associated with winter storms. In warm, moist conditions, the method based on a bulk Richardson number gives results that are shallower than those given by the methods based on the scalar diffusivity. The impact of turbulence driven by radiative cooling at cloud top is most significant during the evening transition and along several regions across the oceans and methods sensitive to this cooling produce deeper PBL depths where it is most active. Additionally, Richardson number-based methods collapse better at night than methods that depend on the scalar diffusivity. This feature potentially affects tracer transport

    Incidence of emergency department visits for electric rental scooters using detailed ridership data

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    INTRODUCTION: Electric scooter (e-scooter) rental usage has increased exponentially around the country, expanding to more than 120 cities by the end of 2018. Early attempts to capture the safety effects of widespread adoption of this technology have been hampered by lack of accurate ridership data. Here we describe a 17-month evolution of ridership characteristics in St. Louis, Missouri, and the frequency of e-scooter rental-related injuries serious enough to require an emergency department (ED) visit over this time frame; we also provide estimates of incidence rates of injuries based on company ridership data. METHODS: We performed a combination retrospective chart review and prospective questionnaire-based analysis of adult e-scooter rental-related ED visits in both downtown St. Louis Level 1 trauma centers during the first 17 months of e-scooter rental usage (August 2018-December 2019). The retrospective portion focused on demographics, alcohol use, helmet use, disposition, operative repair, and temporal and severity markers. The prospective portion focused on more detailed crash and rider data. Finally, we used ridership data from both e-scooter rental companies in St. Louis to estimate incidence and temporal trends. RESULTS: A total of 221 patients had e-scooter rental-related ED visits. The median age of our population was 31 years with 58.8% male and 53.8% White. There were no deaths. Ninety-two patients were found to have fractures with 38% requiring surgery. Of the 21 patients diagnosed with head injury, five had an intracranial bleed. Overall incidence of ED visits related to e-scooters was 2.1 per 10,000 trips and 2.2 per 10,000 miles with the number of ED visits by month closely correlated with the number of rides per month (Pearson correlation coefficient = 0.95). CONCLUSION: The number of e-scooter rental-related injuries seen in St. Louis trauma centers was relatively low and correlated closely with overall number of rides. The number of injuries decreased and were less severe from 2018 to 2019 with infrequent intracranial injuries and a large percentage of fractures requiring operative repair

    Polymeric nanocapsules prevent oxidation of core-loaded molecules: evidence based on the effects of docosahexaenoic acid and neuroprostane on breast cancer cells proliferation

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    International audienceBackground:Nanocapsules, as a delivery system, are able to target drugs and other biologically sensitive moleculesto specific cells or organs. This system has been intensively investigated as a way to protect bioactives drugs frominactivation upon interaction with the body and to ensure the release to the target. However, the mechanism ofimproved activity of the nanoencapsulated molecules is far from being understood at the cellular and subcellularlevels. Epidemiological studies suggest that dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) can reduce the morbidityand mortality from breast cancer. This influence could be modulated by the oxidative status of the diet and it hasbeen suggested that the anti-proliferative properties of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are enhanced by pro-oxidantagents Methods:The effect of encapsulation of PUFA on breast cancer cell proliferation in different oxidative mediumwas evaluated in vitro. We compared the proliferation of the human breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231 and ofthe non-cancer human mammary epithelial cell line MCF-10A in different experimental conditions. Results:DHA possessed anti-proliferative properties that were prevented by alpha-tocopherol (an antioxidant) andenhanced by the pro-oxidant hydrogen peroxide that confirmsthat DHA has to be oxidized to exert its anti-proliferativeproperties. We also evaluated the anti-proliferative effects of the 4(RS)-4-F4t-neuroprostane, a bioactive, non-enzymaticoxygenated metabolite of DHA known to play a major role inthe prevention of cardiovascular diseases. DHA-loadednanocapsules was less potent than non-encapsulated DHA while co-encapsulation of DHA with H2O2maintainedthe inhibition of proliferation. The nanocapsules slightly improves the anti-proliferative effect in the case of4(RS)-4-F4t-neuroprostane that is more hydrophilic than DHA. Conclusion:Overall, our findings suggest that the sensitivity of tumor cell lines to DHA involves oxidized metabolites.They also indicate that neuroprostane is a metabolite participating in the growth reducing effect of DHA, but it is not thesole. These results also suggest that NC seek to enhance the stability against degradation, enhance cellular availability,and control the release of bioactive fatty acids following their lipophilicities

    Nutritional Regime and Antral Follicle Count Impact Reproductive Characteristics in Heifers

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    Developing heifers were offered either a modified distillers (MOD), distillers based (DDG), or corn gluten feed based (CGF) supplement while grazing pastures during development. Prior to breeding, antral follicle count (AFC), uterine horn diameter (UHD), ovarian area, and reproductive tract score (RTS) were determined via rectal ultrasonography to examine the effect of protein supplement on heifer reproductive characteristics. Heifers developed on MOD diets had greater RTS, ovarian area, and total AFC compared to DDG and CGF heifers. Small and medium follicle counts had a positive correlation with total AFC. Heifers developed on DDG and CGF had greater overall pregnancy rates compared to MOD heifers. We also conclude that there is a positive relationship between AFC and small and medium follicle counts

    Übergreifende verkehrstechnische Bewertung von Autobahnstrecken und –knotenpunkten

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    Im Rahmen dieses Projektes wurden die mittleren Pkw-Fahrtgeschwindigkeiten und weitere verkehrstechnische Kenngrößen auf Netzabschnitten von Bundesautobahnen (BAB) unter Berücksichtigung der Wechselwirkungen zwischen den Einzelelementen des Abschnittes untersucht. Auf Basis der ermittelten Eigenschaften wurde ein EDV-Programm mit Benutzeroberfläche und Datenhaltung in Microsoft Excel entwickelt, das die Bewertung der Verkehrs- und Angebotsqualität von Netzabschnitten auf Autobahnen ermöglicht. Das im HBS 2015 enthaltene Verfahren unterliegt einer wesentlichen Randbedingung, die die Anwendung des Verfahrens nur erlaubt, wenn keine Teilstrecke bzw. Teilknotenpunkt die Qualitätsstufe F ausweist. Diese Beschränkung wurde modelltechnisch durch eine Erweiterung des derzeitigen Verfahrens über die Grenze der ungesättigten Analyse hinaus behoben. Empirische Untersuchungen von zwei Untersuchungsstrecken (München und Karlsruhe), ergänzt durch mikroskopische Verkehrsflusssimulationen, lieferten die Datengrundlagen. Zunächst wurde die Anwendung des amerikanischen, auf dem Highway Capacity Manual (HCM) basierenden Programms FREEVAL für die Bewertung von deutschen Autobahnen überprüft. Dabei lieferte die Simulation mit FREEVAL ein plausibles Ergebnis für das Laborbeispiel in Karlsruhe. Wegen wesentlicher Unterschiede zwischen HCM- und HBS-Verfahren, hauptsächlich in Bezug auf die Definition von Kapazität, Zeitintervallen und q-V-Beziehungen sowie den entscheidenden Qualitätskriterien des Verkehrsablaufs, wird eine Anwendung des U.S. FREEVALs für deutsche Autobahnen aber nicht empfohlen. Dies hat zu der Entscheidung geführt, ein eigenes Modell zu entwickeln, das eng an das HBS-Verfahren angelehnt ist. Dazu wurde geprüft, welche makroskopischen Verkehrsmodelle für die Abbildung des Verkehrsflusses auf der deutschen Autobahn geeignet sind. Das Cell-Transmission-Modell (CTM) von DAGANZO wurde letztendlich als der geeignete Kandidat für die Modellimplementierung gewählt. Im Vergleich zum U.S. FREEVAL wurde in dem neuen Modellansatz die Diskretisierung so verfeinert, dass eine explizite Modellierung der Staupropagierung ohne zusätzliche Modellerweiterungen möglich wurde. Das Datenmodell des CTM ist insbesondere für die Modellierung von linearen Strecken wie z. B. Richtungsfahrbahnen geeignet. Für die Validierung des entwickelten Modells wurde die BAB A 99 in der Nähe von München an vier verschiedenen Tagen modelliert, an denen jeweils unterschiedliche Stausituationen vorlagen. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass das deutsche FREEVAL eine realistische Darstellung der Verkehrssituation ermöglicht. Bei gravierenden Überlastungen traten allerdings Abweichungen bei den Staugeschwindigkeiten auf, die in der Art des verwendeten Verkehrsflussmodells begründet sind. Das entwickelte Tool kann grundsätzlich als Alternative zu mikroskopischen Simulationstools zur Anwendung für Bemessungsaufgaben und zum Vergleich verschiedener Szenarien in Ergänzung zum HBS empfohlen werden. Es eignet sich nicht für die Abbildung von konkreten Stauereignissen zur Bestimmung der exakten räumlich-zeitlichen Ausprägung.Within this project, the mean travel speeds and further traffic characteristics of freeway facilities are investigated while taking into account the interactions between the successive components of the facility. Based on the outcomes of the research, a novel methodology implemented in a computer program was developed in Microsoft Excel that facilitates the assessment of oversaturated freeway facilities. The methodology of German HBS 2015 may only be applied if none of the segments and junctions shows level of service F. The new approach overcomes this limitation by enhanced models that also apply to oversaturated states. Empirical analyses for two test routes (Munich and Karlsruhe) with additional microscopic simulation models provided the data basis. First, an application of the U.S. HCM-based program FREEVAL was tested for the evaluation of German freeways. The simulation with FREEVAL showed plausible results for the test route in Karlsruhe. Because of basic discrepancies between the methodologies of HCM and HBS, mainly in the definitions of capacity, time intervals, q-V-relations and the key quality criteria, the application of the U.S. FREEVAL for German freeways is not recommended. This lead to the decision to develop a model which is closely connected to the HBS-methodology. Therefore, macroscopic traffic flow models were compared towards German standards. The Cell Transmission Modell (CTM) from DAGANZO was chosen as a candidate for the model implementation. In comparison to the U.S. FREEVAL, the discretization in the German model was refined. The finer structure leads to a more explicit modeling of the congestion propagation without additional model extensions. The data model of CTM is generally very suitable for modeling road sections such as stretches of freeway facilities. Federal freeway BAB A 99 near Munich was modelled with data sets of four days with different congestion patterns. The results show that the German version of FREEVAL allows for a realistic reproduction of the traffic situation. In case of severe overloads, discrepancies in congestion speeds occur, which originate in the type of traffic flow model used. The new tool can be recommended as an alternative to microscopic simulation for design tasks and for comparing different scenarios in addition to using HBS. It is not suitable for reproducing congestion events with exact spatio-temporal specifications
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