Population Pharmacokinetic and Pharmacodynamic Analysis of Buprenorphine for the Treatment of Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome

Neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) is a condition affecting newborns exposed to an opioid in utero. Symptoms of NAS include excessive crying, poor feeding, and disordered autonomic control. Up to 2/3 of infants will require pharmacologic therapies to reach symptom control. Opioids including morphine and methadone are the current first-line treatments. Buprenorphine is being investigated as a treatment of NAS. The purpose of this analysis was to evaluate the pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics (PD) of BUP in infants with NAS. Poster presented at American Society for Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics (ASCPT) 2017 Annual Meeting, March 15-18, 2017 in Washington DC.https://jdc.jefferson.edu/petposters/1004/thumbnail.jp

Ab initio molecular dynamics calculations of ion hydration free energies

We apply ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) methods in conjunction with the thermodynamic integration or "lambda-path" technique to compute the intrinsic hydration free energies of Li+, Cl-, and Ag+ ions. Using the Perdew-Burke-Ernzerhof functional, adapting methods developed for classical force field applications, and with consistent assumptions about surface potential (phi) contributions, we obtain absolute AIMD hydration free energies (Delta G(hyd)) within a few kcal/mol, or better than 4%, of Tissandier 's [J. Phys. Chem. A 102, 7787 (1998)] experimental values augmented with the SPC/E water model phi predictions. The sums of Li+/Cl- and Ag+/Cl- AIMD Delta G(hyd), which are not affected by surface potentials, are within 2.6% and 1.2 % of experimental values, respectively. We also report the free energy changes associated with the transition metal ion redox reaction Ag++Ni+-> Ag+Ni2+ in water. The predictions for this reaction suggest that existing estimates of Delta G(hyd) for unstable radiolysis intermediates such as Ni+ may need to be extensively revised.Comment: 18 pages, 8 figures. This version is essentially the one published in J. Chem. Phy

School Psychologists’ Knowledge and Self-Efficacy in Working with Students with TBI

Approximately 145,000 U.S. children experience lasting effects of traumatic brain injury (TBI) that manifest in social, behavioural, physical, and cognitive challenges in the school setting. School psychologists have an essential role in identifying students who need support and in determining eligibility under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. The purpose of this study was to assess the knowledge and perception of abilities related to TBI in a sample of school psychologists currently working in public schools. We surveyed school psychologists and found persistently low levels of knowledge and of perceived preparedness to work with these students. School psychologists with more experience working with students with TBI rated themselves significantly higher on their perceived ability to perform nearly all key duties of a school psychologist. To meet the academic and behavioural needs of students with TBI, all school psychologists need effective training in working with and evaluating students with TBI

Identification of planthoppers (Hemiptera: Delphacidae) intercepted on aquarium plants in Florida and elucidation of a potential pathway for exotic aquatic and semiaquatic pests

Recent shipments of aquarium plants to pet stores in five Florida counties were found to be infested with an exotic delphacid planthopper. Rearing adult males allowed identification by morphological analysis. Molecular analysis confirmed that it was the same as authoritatively identified reference specimens of the planthopper, Opiconsiva anacharsis (Fennah) (new combination) (Hemiptera: Delphacidae), first reported from Florida in 1989 and known to be established only in Broward County. The host plants, Echinodorus spp. Rich. ex Engelm. (Alismatales: Alismataceae), originally from Thailand, were sold in enclosed plastic cylinders that provided a suitable environment for maintaining the planthoppers. Attempts to trace the shipment histories to these stores suggested a circuitous multi-state pathway leading to a Broward County, Florida, business that receives aquatic plants from Southeast Asia. While the infestation of these plants may have occurred in Florida, trade in semiemergent aquatic plants is shown to be a potential pathway for introduction for insect pests

Inclusion of Individuals With Neurodevelopmental Disorders in Norm-Referenced Language Assessments

Standardized, norm-referenced language assessment tools are used for a variety of purposes, including in education, clinical practice, and research. Unfortunately, normreferenced language assessment tools can demonstrate floor effects (i.e., a large percentage of individuals scoring at or near the lowest limit of the assessment tool) when used with some groups with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), such as individuals with intellectual disability and neurogenetic syndromes. Without variability at the lower end of these assessment tools, professionals cannot accurately measure language strengths and difficulties within or across individuals. This lack of variability may be tied to poor representation of individuals with NDDs in normative samples. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to identify and examine common standardized, norm-referenced language assessment tools to report the representation of individuals with NDDs in normative samples and the range of standard/index scores provided. A systematic search identified 57 assessment tools that met inclusion criteria. Coding of the assessment manuals identified that most assessment tools included a “disability” or “exceptionality” group in their normative sample. However, the total number of individuals in these groups and the number of individuals with specific NDDs was small. Further, the characteristics of these groups (e.g., demographic information; disability type) were often poorly defined. The floor standard/index scores of most assessment tools were in the 40s or 50s. Only four assessment tools provided a standard score lower than 40. Findings of this study can assist clinicians, educators, and researchers in their selections of norm-referenced assessment tools when working with individuals with NDDs

Analyzing Commercial Video Game Instruction through the Lens of Instructional Design

This paper will examine how Gagne’s Nine Events of Instruction (1992) may appear, perhaps inadvertently, within commercial games that guide the user from novice to expert player. By employing a qualitative artifact analysis methodology, we examine a popular action adventure video game to determine if game designers encourage players to build game expertise by employing similar events to Gagne’s instructional design model. We demonstrate that our artifact of analysis does consistently employ Gagne’s events, though often in a manner unique to a digitally mediated space. We conclude that an experiential game setting has the potential to be a platform for instructional delivery

School Psychologists’ Knowledge and Self-Efficacy in Working with Students with TBI

Approximately 145,000 U.S. children experience lasting effects of traumatic brain injury (TBI) that manifest in social, behavioural, physical, and cognitive challenges in the school setting. School psychologists have an essential role in identifying students who need support and in determining eligibility under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. The purpose of this study was to assess the knowledge and perception of abilities related to TBI in a sample of school psychologists currently working in public schools. We surveyed school psychologists and found persistently low levels of knowledge and of perceived preparedness to work with these students. School psychologists with more experience working with students with TBI rated themselves significantly higher on their perceived ability to perform nearly all key duties of a school psychologist. To meet the academic and behavioural needs of students with TBI, all school psychologists need effective training in working with and evaluating students with TBI

The Ursinus Weekly, October 21, 1963

Cry the beloved country to be given at UC Wednesday • Dean Rothenberger in Who\u27s who of American women • Ursinus College is dinner host to 200 neighbors • College Bowl team selected by test • Report from the women\u27s customs committee • 1963 men\u27s customs report • Lantern seeks literary works • Soph bazaar, hop set for Nov. 2 • Spirit Committee plans cheering section • Romaine to lead freshmen; Banquet, dance follow election • Summer projects pre-medders topic • IRC plans first meeting • Editorial: College Bowl team; UC hootenanny • E. Blake on the summer of revolt • Letters to the editor • Parents Day, 1963 • Young Republicans plan for year • 80 UC students visit Winterthur • Have you read: Caravans • Greek gleanings • Former pastor named to Ursinus College faculty • Weekly reporter interviews Thai student • Navy team to visit Ursinus, October 23 • Juniors plan turnabout • John Adams given second going over • Yosts hold first English meeting • Wilkes grinds out 28-8 decision over Bears • UC stops Beaver and West Chester • Jim Garofolo new assistant coach • UC booters off to fast start • Intramural corner: Three team race developshttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/weekly/1254/thumbnail.jp

The Ursinus Weekly, October 21, 1963

Cry the beloved country to be given at UC Wednesday • Dean Rothenberger in Who\u27s who of American women • Ursinus College is dinner host to 200 neighbors • College Bowl team selected by test • Report from the women\u27s customs committee • 1963 men\u27s customs report • Lantern seeks literary works • Soph bazaar, hop set for Nov. 2 • Spirit Committee plans cheering section • Romaine to lead freshmen; Banquet, dance follow election • Summer projects pre-medders topic • IRC plans first meeting • Editorial: College Bowl team; UC hootenanny • E. Blake on the summer of revolt • Letters to the editor • Parents Day, 1963 • Young Republicans plan for year • 80 UC students visit Winterthur • Have you read: Caravans • Greek gleanings • Former pastor named to Ursinus College faculty • Weekly reporter interviews Thai student • Navy team to visit Ursinus, October 23 • Juniors plan turnabout • John Adams given second going over • Yosts hold first English meeting • Wilkes grinds out 28-8 decision over Bears • UC stops Beaver and West Chester • Jim Garofolo new assistant coach • UC booters off to fast start • Intramural corner: Three team race developshttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/weekly/1254/thumbnail.jp