Effective Strategies for Teaching At-Risk African American Males: An Inservice Manual

The purpose of this project was to develop an inservice training manual to guide the delivery of teacher training sessions designed to implement effective teaching strategies for at-risk African American male students at Larchmont Elementary School, in the Tacoma, Washington school district

modCHIMERA: A novel murine closed-head model of moderate traumatic brain injury

AbstractTraumatic brain injury is a major source of global disability and mortality. Preclinical TBI models are a crucial component of therapeutic investigation. We report a tunable, monitored model of murine non-surgical, diffuse closed-head injury—modCHIMERA—characterized by impact as well as linear and rotational acceleration. modCHIMERA is based on the Closed-Head Impact Model of Engineered Rotational Acceleration (CHIMERA) platform. We tested this model at 2 energy levels: 1.7 and 2.1 Joules—substantially higher than previously reported for this system. Kinematic analysis demonstrated linear acceleration exceeding injury thresholds in humans, although outcome metrics tracked impact energy more closely than kinematic parameters. Acute severity metrics were consistent with a complicated-mild or moderate TBI, a clinical population characterized by high morbidity but potentially reversible pathology. Axonal injury was multifocal and bilateral, neuronal death was detected in the hippocampus, and microglial neuroinflammation was prominent. Acute functional analysis revealed prolonged post-injury unconsciousness, and decreased spontaneous behavior and stimulated neurological scores. Neurobehavioral deficits were demonstrated in spatial learning/memory and socialization at 1-month. The overall injury profile of modCHIMERA corresponds with the range responsible for a substantial portion of TBI-related disability in humans. modCHIMERA should provide a reliable platform for efficient analysis of TBI pathophysiology and testing of treatment modalities.</jats:p

An assessment of factors affecting risk management in the South African construction industry

Abstract: Purpose The research aims to assess and evaluate the techniques used in managing risks in South African construction projects, the effectiveness of risk management techniques that are currently in use and the factors that influence the use of risk management by contractors in their projects. Methodology The data used in this paper were derived from both primary and secondary sources. The primary data was obtained through the use of a structured questionnaire survey. This was distributed to Contractors operating in Gauteng province. One hundred and eight structured questionnaires were used for the survey. Out of the 108 questionnaires sent out, all were received back representing 100% response rate, these formed the basis of the analysis for the paper. The secondary data for the study was derived from the review of literatures. Findings The empirical studies have identified that risk management in the South Africa construction is mostly influenced and affected by the size of company, education and experience of construction company and managers. The study also revealed that the majority of South African contractors are aware and make use of the structured process of risk management. Value The study contributes to the body of knowledge the use of risk management in the South African construction industry

Study Of Spatial Biological Systems Using a Graphical User Interface

Proceedings of the Tenth International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction, Crete, Greece, 22-27 June 2003In this paper, we describe a Graphical User Interface (GUI) designed to manage large quantities of image data of a biological system. After setting the design requirements for the system, we developed an ecology quantification GUI that assists biologists in analysing data. We focus on the main features of the interface and we present the results and an evaluation of the system. Finally, we provide some directions for some future work

Environmental monitoring of Mycobacterium bovis in badger feces and badger sett soil by real-time PCR, as confirmed by immunofluorescence, immunocapture, and cultivation

Real-time PCR was used to detect and quantify Mycobacterium bovis cells in naturally infected soil and badger faeces. Immunomagnetic capture, immunofluorescence and selective culture confirmed species identification and cell viability. These techniques will prove useful for monitoring M. bovis in the environment and for elucidating transmission routes between wildlife and cattle

Performance of an environmental test to detect Mycobacterium bovis infection in badger social groups

A study by Courtenay and others (2006) demonstrated that the probability of detecting Mycobacterium bovis by PCR in soil samples from the spoil heaps of main badger setts correlated with the prevalence of excretion (infectiousness) of captured badgers belonging to the social group. It has been proposed that such a test could be used to target badger culling to setts containing infectious animals (Anon 2007). This short communication discusses the issues surrounding this concept, with the intention of dispelling any misconceptions among relevant stakeholders (farmers, policy makers and conservationists)

Soil Phosphate Solubilising Bacteria of the Okavango Floodplains, Botswana

Phosphorus although abundant is among the most limiting macro plant nutrients in some soils. Deficiencies are often seen as purpling of leaves due to unavailability of PO4 in soil solution. In soil solution PO4 solubility is pH dependent; at pH \u3c 6, it is often bound to Fe or Al, while at pH \u3e 7 it forms insoluble complexes with Ca, Mg, K or Na making it unavailable to plants (Brady 2002). Soil organic P requires mineralisation then solubilisation by the enzyme phosphatase before being available. Botswana soils due to the low rainfall (\u3c 450 mm/yr) are characterised by high pH and salt pans scattered all over the semi-arid and arid landscape. Cultivation of most of these soils often results in P deficient crops (Leuschner and Manthe 1996). However, in grassland areas of the Okavango, very few grasses show P deficiency. Studies from other areas indicate that some grasses habour PO4 solubilizing bacteria in their rhizosphere that help them in their P sequencing quest (Duponnois et al. 2005). This study was set up to study the PO4 solubilising bacteria of the Okavango Delta at Seronga. The study also looked at possible mechanisms of solubilisation employed by the bacteria. In the long run, the study will also attempt to use these bacteria on locally grown staple cereal, sorghum (Sorghum vulgare)