Increasing uninterrupted walking distance for students with autism spectrum disorder

Students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) do not engage in an adequate amount of physical activity. Often, students with a Level 2 or Level 3 diagnosis of ASD engage in behavior that may make it increasingly difficult for practitioners to encourage the increase of physical activity. The purpose of this study was to determine if preference assessment increase Uninterrupted Walking Distance in students with ASD. Researchers have demonstrated positive outcomes on physical activity levels when students are given the opportunity to choose their most preferred physical activity as a reinforcement. Results from this study showed statistically relevant walking data when the students were allowed to access their first preferred activity (P \u3c .03. Mall) as opposed to their second (P \u3c .2. Bike) and third (P \u3c .1, Yoga. Physio Ball). The results from this research expand on previous studies that have focused on increasing the levels of physical exercise for students with ASD

Concepciones sobre la diversidad sexo genérica y la ideología de género de un movimiento social conservador peruano y ecuatoriano: una aproximación etnográfica entre octubre del 2017 y mayo del 2018

La presente investigación busca plasmar las concepciones sobre la diversidad sexo genérica e ideología de género de un movimiento social conservador. Se hace una investigación de tipo cualitativo, de corte exploratorio, mediante una etnografía en línea que permitió transcribir los discursos de personas pertenecientes al movimiento, publicados en redes sociales como YouTube y Facebook, adicional se agregó los discursos de una página web dedicada al tratamiento psicológico de la homosexualidad, debido a que éstos eran afines al pensamiento del movimiento. Además, se utilizó como estrategia metodológica el análisis del discurso de Wetherell y Potter (1988), lo que permitió evidenciar las funciones, el origen y el contexto del discurso mediante el análisis de variabilidad, así como la generación de ciertos repertorios interpretativos en base a la categorización de recurrencias discursivas. Finalmente, esta investigación concluye con la manifestación de las concepciones del grupo conservador en lo que respecta a la diversidad sexo-genérica e ideología de género.This investigation attempt to keep up the conceptions about gender diversity and gender ideology in a conservative social movement. This work has been carried out with a qualitative and exploratory research, by means of the online ethnographic method, that allowed us to transcribe discourses of the people who belong to the movement, many of discourses were published on social networks such as YouTube and Facebook. Also were added other speeches, which were taken of a web page, that concentrate their job in psychological treatment of homosexuality, those arguments were considered because they were related to the thought of the movement In addition, Wetherell and Potter’s discourse analysis (1988), was used as a methodological strategy, because it also allowed us to demonstrate the functions, origin and context of the discourse through the analysis of variability, as well as the generation of interpretative repertoires based on categorization of discursive recurrences. Finally, this research concludes with the manifestation of conservative’s group about: sex-gender diversity, gender ideology and emerging subcategories

Increasing Public Health Mosquito Surveillance in Hidalgo County, Texas to Monitor Vector and Arboviral Presence

From 2016 to 2018, Hidalgo County observed the emergence of Zika virus (ZIKV) infections along with sporadic cases of Dengue virus (DENV) and West Nile virus (WNV). Due to the emergence of ZIKV and the historical presence of other mosquito-borne illnesses, Hidalgo County obtained funding to enhance mosquito surveillance and educate residents on arboviruses and travel risks. During this time period, Hidalgo County mosquito surveillance efforts increased by 1.275%. This increase resulted in \u3e8000 mosquitoes collected, and 28 mosquito species identified. Aedes aegypti, Ae albopictus and Culex quinquefasciatus made up approximately two-thirds of the mosquitoes collected in 2018 (4122/6171). Spatiotemporal shifts in vector species composition were observed as the collection period progressed. Significantly, temperature variations (p \u3c 0.05) accounted for associated variations in vector abundance, whereas all other climate variables were not significant

State-of-the-art monitoring in treatment of dengue shock syndrome: a case series

BACKGROUND: Early recognition and treatment of circulatory volume loss is essential in the clinical management of dengue viral infection. We hypothesized that a novel computational algorithm, originally developed for noninvasive monitoring of blood loss in combat casualties, could: (1) indicate the central volume status of children with dengue during the early stages of shock ; and (2) track fluid resuscitation status. METHODS: Continuous noninvasive photoplethysmographic waveforms were collected over a 5-month period from three children of Thai ethnicity with clinical suspicion of dengue. Waveform data were processed by the algorithm to calculate each child\u27s Compensatory Reserve Index, where 1 represents supine normovolemia and 0 represents the circulatory volume at which hemodynamic decompensation occurs. Values between 1 and 0 indicate the proportion of reserve remaining before hemodynamic decompensation. RESULTS: This case report describes a 7-year-old Thai boy, another 7-year-old Thai boy, and a 9-year-old Thai boy who exhibited signs and symptoms of dengue shock syndrome; all the children had secondary dengue virus infections, documented by serology and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. The three boys experienced substantial plasma leakage demonstrated by pleural effusion index \u3e 25, ascites, and \u3e 20 % hemoconcentration. They received fluid administered intravenously; one received a blood transfusion. All three boys showed a significantly low initial Compensatory Reserve Index ( \u3e /=0.20), indicating a clinical diagnosis of near shock . Following 5 days with fluid resuscitation treatment, their Compensatory Reserve Index increased towards normovolemia (that is, Compensatory Reserve Index \u3e 0.75). CONCLUSIONS: The results from these cases demonstrate a new variation in the diagnostic capability to manage patients with dengue shock syndrome. The findings shed new light on a method that can avoid possible adverse effects of shock by noninvasive measurement of a patient\u27s compensatory reserve rather than standard vital signs or invasive diagnostic methods

Shear Forces during Blast, Not Abrupt Changes in Pressure Alone, Generate Calcium Activity in Human Brain Cells

Blast-Induced Traumatic Brain Injury (bTBI) describes a spectrum of injuries caused by an explosive force that results in changes in brain function. The mechanism responsible for primary bTBI following a blast shockwave remains unknown. We have developed a pneumatic device that delivers shockwaves, similar to those known to induce bTBI, within a chamber optimal for fluorescence microscopy. Abrupt changes in pressure can be created with and without the presence of shear forces at the surface of cells. In primary cultures of human central nervous system cells, the cellular calcium response to shockwaves alone was negligible. Even when the applied pressure reached 15 atm, there was no damage or excitation, unless concomitant shear forces, peaking between 0.3 to 0.7 Pa, were present at the cell surface. The probability of cellular injury in response to a shockwave was low and cell survival was unaffected 20 hours after shockwave exposure

Paleotemperature Proxies from Leaf Fossils Reinterpreted in Light of Evolutionary History

Present-day correlations between leaf physiognomic traits (shape and size) and climate are widely used to estimate paleoclimate using fossil floras. For example, leaf-margin analysis estimates paleotemperature using the modern relation of mean annual temperature (MAT) and the site-proportion of untoothed-leaf species (NT). This uniformitarian approach should provide accurate paleoclimate reconstructions under the core assumption that leaf-trait variation principally results from adaptive environmental convergence, and because variation is thus largely independent of phylogeny it should be constant through geologic time. Although much research acknowledges and investigates possible pitfalls in paleoclimate estimation based on leaf physiognomy, the core assumption has never been explicitly tested in a phylogenetic comparative framework. Combining an extant dataset of 21 leaf traits and temperature with a phylogenetic hypothesis for 569 species-site pairs at 17 sites, we found varying amounts of non-random phylogenetic signal in all traits. Phylogenetic vs. standard regressions generally support prevailing ideas that leaf-traits are adaptively responding to temperature, but wider confidence intervals, and shifts in slope and intercept, indicate an overall reduced ability to predict climate precisely due to the non-random phylogenetic signal. Notably, the modern-day relation of proportion of untoothed taxa with mean annual temperature (NT-MAT), central in paleotemperature inference, was greatly modified and reduced, indicating that the modern correlation primarily results from biogeographic history. Importantly, some tooth traits, such as number of teeth, had similar or steeper slopes after taking phylogeny into account, suggesting that leaf teeth display a pattern of exaptive evolution in higher latitudes. This study shows that the assumption of convergence required for precise, quantitative temperature estimates using present-day leaf traits is not supported by empirical evidence, and thus we have very low confidence in previously published, numerical paleotemperature estimates. However, interpreting qualitative changes in paleotemperature remains warranted, given certain conditions such as stratigraphically closely-spaced samples with floristic continuity

City of Hitchcock Comprehensive Plan 2020-2040

Hitchcock is a small town located in Galveston County (Figure 1.1), nestled up on the Texas Gulf Coast. It lies about 40 miles south-east of Houston. The boundaries of the city encloses an area of land of 60.46 sq. miles, an area of water of 31.64 sq. miles at an elevation just 16 feet above sea level. Hitchcock has more undeveloped land (~90% of total area) than the county combined. Its strategic location gives it a driving force of opportunities in the Houston-Galveston Region.The guiding principles for this planning process were Hitchcock’s vision statement and its corresponding goals, which were crafted by the task force. The goals focus on factors of growth and development including public participation, development considerations, transportation, community facilities, economic development, parks, and housing and social vulnerabilityTexas Target Communitie

Restoration of soil quality using biochar and brown coal waste: A review

Soils in intensively farmed areas of the world are prone to degradation. Amendment of such soils with organic waste materials attempts to restore soil quality. Organic amendments are heterogeneous media, which are a source of soil organic matter (SOM) and maintain or restore chemical, physical, biological and ecological functionality. More specifically, an increase in SOM can influence the soil microclimate, microbial community structure, biomass turnover and mineralisation of nutrients. The search is on-going for locally sourced alternatives as many forms may be costly or geographically limiting. The present review focuses on a heterogeneous group of amendments i.e. biochar and brown coal waste (BCW). Both biochar (made from a variety of feedstocks at various temperatures) and BCW (mined extensively) are options that have worldwide applicability. These materials have very high C contents and soil stability, therefore can be used for long-term C sequestration to abate greenhouse gas emissions and as conditioners to improve soil quality. However, biochar is costly for large-scale applications and BCW may have inherently high moisture and pollutant contents. Future studies should focus on the long-term application of these amendments and determine the physicochemical properties of the soil, bioavailability of soil contaminants, diversity of soil communities and productivity of selected crops. Furthermore, the development of in situ technologies to lower production and processing costs of biochar and BCW would improve their economic feasibility for large-scale application

Riparian Research and Management: Past, Present, Future: Volume 1

Fifty years ago, riparian habitats were not recognized for their extensive and critical contributions to wildlife and the ecosystem function of watersheds. This changed as riparian values were identified and documented, and the science of riparian ecology developed steadily. Papers in this volume range from the more mesic northwestern United States to the arid Southwest and Mexico. More than two dozen authors—most with decades of experience—review the origins of riparian science in the western United States, document what is currently known about riparian ecosystems, and project future needs. Topics are widespread and include: interactions with fire, climate change, and declining water; impacts from exotic species; unintended consequences of biological control; the role of small mammals; watershed response to beavers; watershed and riparian changes; changes below large dams; water birds of the Colorado River Delta; and terrestrial vertebrates of mesquite bosques. Appendices and references chronicle the field’s literature, authors, “riparian pioneers,” and conferences

An epidemiological study of invasive pneumococcal disease in a South Texas-Mexico border metropolitan community

Committee members: Isabel, Jeanne; Wilson, James.Advisor: Kim, Jinsook.Includes illustrations and maps.Includes bibliographical references.This research study examines the epidemiology of invasive pneumococcal disease in Hidalgo County, Texas. Invasive pneumococcal disease is a bacterial infection, causing severe types of clinical manifestations, including bacteremia and meningitis. Hidalgo County is the largest metropolitan statistical area along the Texas-Mexico border. Supporting a 2016 census population estimate of nearly 850,000, this community facilitates frequent bi-national travel, providing unique attributes towards disease transmission. This study aims to identify if population characteristics for infection aligned with current Advisory Committee for Immunization Practice recommendations for vaccination against pneumococcal disease. This includes identifying if the general healthy adult healthy population has an increased risk for infection, now that other populations are eligible for vaccination. Furthermore, this study aims to identify other population characteristics at increased risk for infection, so that prevention and intervention methods can be targeted to such groups.Ph.D. (Doctor of Philosophy