Promoting the Development of Positive Attitudes in a Culturally Pluralistic Classroom

This project addressed the following question: How can teachers promote positive attitudes in a culturally pluralistic classroom? The review of related literature revealed a shortage of both research and practical applications regarding multicultural approaches in the classroom. Therefore, the purpose of this project was to develop a curriculum which incorporated appropriate learning activities and strategies designed to enhance positive attitudes toward cultural differences in the elementary classroom. The project was developed for third graders and goals which promoted a multicultural perspective were outlined. An attitudinal survey was developed and administered as a pre test to establish entry level attitudes toward diversity. Activities designed to facilitate the goal of the project were implemented during a six-week period. The attitudinal survey was readministered as a post test to assess potential changes in students\u27 attitudes. The data gathered was analyzed using comparisons of pre and post test responses. Positive movement occurred regarding each statement on the survey and ranged from negligible to significant. It was therefore determined that the unit of instruction fostered the development of more positive attitudes in a culturally pluralistic classroom. Other conclusions and recommendations were also included

To Test or to Treat? An Analysis of Influenza Testing and Antiviral Treatment Strategies Using Economic Computer Modeling

BACKGROUND: Due to the unpredictable burden of pandemic influenza, the best strategy to manage testing, such as rapid or polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and antiviral medications for patients who present with influenza-like illness (ILI) is unknown.\ud \ud METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We developed a set of computer simulation models to evaluate the potential economic value of seven strategies under seasonal and pandemic influenza conditions: (1) using clinical judgment alone to guide antiviral use, (2) using PCR to determine whether to initiate antivirals, (3) using a rapid (point-of-care) test to determine antiviral use, (4) using a combination of a point-of-care test and clinical judgment, (5) using clinical judgment and confirming the diagnosis with PCR testing, (6) treating all with antivirals, and (7) not treating anyone with antivirals. For healthy younger adults (<65 years old) presenting with ILI in a seasonal influenza scenario, strategies were only cost-effective from the societal perspective. Clinical judgment, followed by PCR and point-of-care testing, was found to be cost-effective given a high influenza probability. Doubling hospitalization risk and mortality (representing either higher risk individuals or more virulent strains) made using clinical judgment to guide antiviral decision-making cost-effective, as well as PCR testing, point-of-care testing, and point-of-care testing used in conjunction with clinical judgment. For older adults (> or = 65 years old), in both seasonal and pandemic influenza scenarios, employing PCR was the most cost-effective option, with the closest competitor being clinical judgment (when judgment accuracy > or = 50%). Point-of-care testing plus clinical judgment was cost-effective with higher probabilities of influenza. Treating all symptomatic ILI patients with antivirals was cost-effective only in older adults.\ud \ud CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Our study delineated the conditions under which different testing and antiviral strategies may be cost-effective, showing the importance of accuracy, as seen with PCR or highly sensitive clinical judgment.\ud \u

Public health impact and return on investment of Belgium’s pediatric immunization program

ObjectiveWe evaluated the public health impact and return on investment of Belgium’s pediatric immunization program (PIP) from both healthcare-sector and societal perspectives.MethodsWe developed a decision analytic model for 6 vaccines routinely administered in Belgium for children aged 0–10 years: DTaP-IPV-HepB-Hib, DTaP-IPV, MMR, PCV, rotavirus, and meningococcal type C. We used separate decision trees to model each of the 11 vaccine-preventable pathogens: diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, poliomyelitis, Haemophilus influenzae type b, measles, mumps, rubella, Streptococcus pneumoniae, rotavirus, and meningococcal type C; hepatitis B was excluded because of surveillance limitations. The 2018 birth cohort was followed over its lifetime. The model projected and compared health outcomes and costs with and without immunization (based on vaccine-era and pre–vaccine era disease incidence estimates, respectively), assuming that observed reductions in disease incidence were fully attributable to vaccination. For the societal perspective, the model included productivity loss costs associated with immunization and disease in addition to direct medical costs. The model estimated discounted cases averted, disease-related deaths averted, life-years gained, quality-adjusted life-years gained, costs (2020 euros), and an overall benefit–cost ratio. Scenario analyses considered alternate assumptions for key model inputs.ResultsAcross all 11 pathogens, we estimated that the PIP prevented 226,000 cases of infections and 200 deaths, as well as the loss of 7,000 life-years and 8,000 quality-adjusted life-years over the lifetime of a birth cohort of 118,000 children. The PIP was associated with discounted vaccination costs of €91 million from the healthcare-sector perspective and €122 million from the societal perspective. However, vaccination costs were more than fully offset by disease-related costs averted, with the latter amounting to a discounted €126 million and €390 million from the healthcare-sector and societal perspectives, respectively. As a result, pediatric immunization was associated with overall discounted savings of €35 million and €268 million from the healthcare-sector and societal perspectives, respectively; every €1 invested in childhood immunization resulted in approximately €1.4 in disease-related cost savings to the health system and €3.2 in cost savings from a societal perspective for Belgium’s PIP. Estimates of the value of the PIP were most sensitive to changes in input assumptions for disease incidence, productivity losses due to disease-related mortality, and direct medical disease costs.ConclusionBelgium’s PIP, which previously had not been systematically assessed, provides large-scale prevention of disease-related morbidity and premature mortality, and is associated with net savings to health system and society. Continued investment in the PIP is warranted to sustain its positive public health and financial impact

The World Out There

The World Out There is a novel placed in Gainesville, FL during the early nineties and its North-central Florida setting is important as both physical and psychological space. In addition to Spanish moss, heat-radiating highways, and palmettos, the novel explores the violence beneath the glittering surface of the “sunshine” state: racial tensions, neo-conservative violence against nonconformists, and a fictionalization of a brutal string of serial murders at the end of the 20th century, the 1990 Danny Rolling killings. Although neither Rolling nor any of his victims are actual characters in the novel, this fictionalized version of the murders acts as an ominous backdrop for the action. The car wreck into Lake Walters, coming within the first pages of the book, is like a catalyst for action—the concentric waves radiating from the car dropping through that lake surface like the danger reverberating throughout the narrative, danger which touches three of the characters\u27 lives: the child Hank\u27s near-drowning, his mother Jan\u27s rape, a vicious beating which Jan\u27s friend William endures. A big part of the novel concerns reading people, discovering the private personalities that exist beneath the public ones. The chapters from William\u27s perspective are sprinkled with images of his tattoos. These symbols offer us clues as to the secret self William hides beneath his exterior even as he tries to make meaning of the exterior/interior selves of the other characters in the novel. These tattoos also relate to a major theme—the importance of self-expression and connection with others—a theme which keeps the novel from being bleak despite the traumas inflicted on the different characters. In fact, the book is, finally, hopeful, concerning how people manage to find purpose and meaning in a scary, sometimes meaningless world. The novel argues for the necessity of art, for creating beautiful things. Even more importantly, the novel argues that in a very dangerous world people must forge connections with others, that they must overcome their fears, and that they must love

Colonel Edward Means House

Detail of west side elevation with raised basement and piazza; Unusual for the area, this home is brick with the more typical piazza (multi-storey porch) in wood. Progress on the construction of this brick mansion between 1855 and 1857 is documented by surviving correspondence between Means and Franklin Talbird, who supervised its construction. The house was used as Union Hospital #2 during the Civil War. Entered from the end elevation facing east on the "The Green," the interior of the house is notable for its spacious quality. It has fine woodwork, marble mantels, and a beautiful floating spiral staircase. Like most Beaufort antebellum houses, the porch faces south to receive prevailing breezes, sun in winter and shade in summer. Source: Beaufort Online [website]; http://www.beaufortonline.com/ (accessed 5/2/2011

Development of an inventory model for hospital supplies

M.S.David C. Eke

Colonel Edward Means House

View of west side elevation; Unusual for the area, this home is brick with the more typical piazza (multi-storey porch) in wood. Progress on the construction of this brick mansion between 1855 and 1857 is documented by surviving correspondence between Means and Franklin Talbird, who supervised its construction. The house was used as Union Hospital #2 during the Civil War. Entered from the end elevation facing east on the "The Green," the interior of the house is notable for its spacious quality. It has fine woodwork, marble mantels, and a beautiful floating spiral staircase. Like most Beaufort antebellum houses, the porch faces south to receive prevailing breezes, sun in winter and shade in summer. Source: Beaufort Online [website]; http://www.beaufortonline.com/ (accessed 5/2/2011

Colonel Edward Means House

View from the southeast showing piazza and east entry portico; Unusual for the area, this home is brick with the more typical piazza (multi-storey porch) in wood. Progress on the construction of this brick mansion between 1855 and 1857 is documented by surviving correspondence between Means and Franklin Talbird, who supervised its construction. The house was used as Union Hospital #2 during the Civil War. Entered from the end elevation facing east on the "The Green," the interior of the house is notable for its spacious quality. It has fine woodwork, marble mantels, and a beautiful floating spiral staircase. Like most Beaufort antebellum houses, the porch faces south to receive prevailing breezes, sun in winter and shade in summer. Source: Beaufort Online [website]; http://www.beaufortonline.com/ (accessed 5/2/2011