College Readiness Among High School Students with Special Education Needs

A large number of students who are graduating from high school are not prepared to be successful in a postsecondary environment. The purpose of this study was to determine what college readiness skills high school students with special educational needs developed prior to graduation. Through qualitative methods, interviews were conducted and data was collected with four high school students with differing categories of disabilities, gender and post secondary expectations. Findings from the study indicated that the students\u27 high school experiences impacted their high school performance, time management and self-advocacy skills, knowledge of services offered at college and meaningful relationships with staff and peers. The findings also indicated that students who were average to above average academically in high school were prepared for college; however they felt unprepared regarding services and programs available to them in the postsecondary setting. An area of recommendation is for schools to increase focus on time management and organizational skills and curriculum for all high school students

Utilization of 31-P NMR in the Phosphorus Speciation of Aquatic Systems in Northwestern Ohio

Eutrophication continues to be an issue in the western Lake Erie basin as dissolved phosphorus (DRP) loads have increased since the mid-1990’s. Efforts to mitigate and reduce DRP loads have not produced the intended results. P retained in sediments can buffer DRP concentrations in aquatic systems, particularly if held in unreactive forms. To date, however, little has been done to relate chemical speciation with sorption behavior. This study utilized P-31 NMR spectroscopy to determine the chemical speciation of extractable P from benthic sediments in the Tiffin and Blanchard Rivers. The relationship between chemical form and sorption parameters suggests that organic modification (e.g., monoesters) reduced sorption capacity and equilibrium P concentrations. Better understanding of chemical speciation may ultimately lead to the development of better mitigation strategies and reductions in DRP loads into Lake Erie

An Examination of the Big Five, Mental Illness Stigma, and Crisis Intervention Training

The number of individuals incarcerated with mental illness continues to grow, and correctional officers may play a critical role in rehabilitation. A correlation analysis was conducted between Big Five personality traits and mental illness stigma to determine whether there is a significant relationship in a sample of state correctional officers who participated in Crisis Intervention Training. A mixed model ANOVA was also conducted to assess whether personality traits impacted levels of mental illness stigma following completion of the training. A moderate negative correlation was found between agreeableness and mental illness stigma. All other findings were not clinically significant, potentially due to the study’s limitations. Future research is necessary to continue to address the gap in the research regarding personality and mental illness stigma amongst correctional officers

A Safety and Emissions Analysis of Continuous Flow Intersections

Increasing travel demand, and challenges associated with high percentages of left-turning vehicles, have encouraged the introduction of significant infrastructure advancements. Certain alternative intersection designs, such as continuous flow intersections, median U-turns, and jughandles, eliminate the traditional protected left-turn, increasing the intersection\u27s optional efficiency. While the design and operations of these intersection types have been studied to varying degrees, their safety and emissions-related impacts are not well-understood. This project develops a series of microsimulation models for two continuous flow intersections (CFI) located in Missouri and Colorado, and uses the Surrogate Safety Assessment Model (SSAM) to determine the impact of those designs on the location and type of conflicts compared to conventional signalized intersections. Additionally, an emissions model, CMEM, was used in the analysis of the Colorado study site to determine whether CFIs have the potential to reduce emissions compared to conventional signalized intersections. As hypothesized, the number of total conflicts did decrease upon installation of a CFI for both study sites, despite lane-change conflicts experiencing an insignificant increase at the Loveland, CO study site. While too small of a sample size to provide a definite validation of SSAM, these results show SSAM can accurately predict the types of conflicts likely to occur as well as indicate a reduction in total vehicle conflicts when a conventional signalized intersection is converted into a CFI. Emission rates per mile at the CFI were lower than those at a conventional signalized intersection, most likely due to fewer total stops and lower delay times for users. The CMEM analysis was repeated for four other volume scenarios, varying left-turn demand. Under all scenarios, the CFI performed better than the conventional signalized intersection. This improvement increased as volume increased, showing that the environmental performance of a CFI is less sensitive to demand than a conventional signalized intersection. This project set forth to quantify sustainability benefits to the installation of a CFI for practitioners. Ultimately, this research can aid transportation decision-makers by providing quantitative evidence that CFIs can improve the safety impacts for vehicle users and environmental impacts for the general population in both rural and urban applications

Interoperative Pain Management: Attenuating Postoperative Pain in Paramedic Patients

Intraoperative Pain Management: Attenuating Postoperative Pain in Pediatric Patients More than 5 million children undergo surgery in the United States each year, and it is estimated that up to 75% (3.75 million) of them experience significant postoperative pain (Fortier, MacLaren, Martink, Perret-Karimi, & Kain, 2009). While we have come a long way in our knowledge of pain in children, it is often found that pain is inadequately assessed and treated. Aside from the cost associated with increased utilization of medical visits, psychological implications (anxiety, avoidance, sleep disturbances), and increased parental distress related to pediatric pain, there are many physiologic changes associated with pain that may delay or prevent wound healing. Increasing awareness of pharmacologic trends in pediatric analgesia may assist anesthesia staff in providing adequate intraoperative analgesia and decreasing postoperative pain. the extensive amount of research available on this topic, for the purposes of this independent project, research will be limited to those children ages 2-12 years old undergoing tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy (T &A). T &A is one of the most common pediatric surgical procedures and is well known to be associated with significant postoperative pain (Fortier et al., 2009). The purpose of this independent project is to identify pharmacologic agents that are presently being employed intraoperatively to provide analgesia to the pediatric population. A comprehensive review of the literature was performed using PubMed and CINAHL databases. Current research findings on the topic of interest and related topics were reviewed. Malsack and Wall\u27s gate control theory of pain was used as a theoretical framework. Pain is defined by the International Association for the Study of Pain as an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage, or described in terms of such damage (!ASP, 1994). Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) and other anesthesia providers are responsible for providing anesthesia, amnesia, and analgesia to patients who are undergoing surgical procedures. Analgesia is defined as the absence of pain in response to stimulation which would nounally be painful (IASP, 1994). The physiological indicators of blood pressure, hem rate, and respiratory rate are among the most commonly used to assess pain in patients who are anesthetized. Inability to communicate verbally does not negate the possibility that an individual is experiencing pain and is in need of appropriate pain-relieving treatment (IASP, 1994 Good pain management is associated with improved outcomes from surgery, quicker clinical recovery, shorter hospital stays, fewer readmissions, improved quality of life, and improved patient and parent satisfaction (Trudeau, Lamb, Gowans, & Lauder, 2009). 1n light of the present advances in technology and the progress that has been made in the science of pharmacology, a specific formula for providing children the most effective analgesia has eluded healthcare providers due to variability in children\u27s perception and response to pain. Research conducted on the pediatric population is also subject to many ethical considerations which results in comparably few randomized controlled trials that direct pain management in children. Anesthesia providers must strive to provide adequate analgesia to the pediatric population. The clinical question of interest remains: what pharmacologic agents utilized intraoperatively provide the most effective analgesia in the immediate postoperative period

Intraoperative Pain Management: Attenuating Postoperative Pain in Pediatric Patients

More than 5 million children undergo surgery in the United States each year, and it is estimated that up to 75% (3.75 million) of them experience significant postoperative pain (Fortier, MacLaren, Martink, Perret-Karimi, & Kain, 2009). While we have come a long way in our knowledge of pain in children, it is often found that pain is inadequately assessed and treated. Aside from the cost associated with increased utilization of medical visits, psychological implications (anxiety, avoidance, sleep disturbances), and increased parental distress related to pediatric pain, there are many physiologic changes associated with pain that may delay or prevent wound healing. Increasing awareness of pharmacologic trends in pediatric analgesia may assist anesthesia staff in providing adequate intraoperative analgesia and decreasing postoperative pain. Many components that contribute to postoperative pediatric pain have been studied. Due to the extensive amount of research available on this topic, for the purposes of this independent project, research will be limited to those children ages 2-12 years old undergoing tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy (T&A). T&A is one of the most common pediatric surgical procedures and is well known to be associated with significant postoperative pain (Fortier et all., 2009). The purpose of this independent project is to identify pharmacologic agents that are presently being employed intraoperatively to provide analgesia to the pediatric population. A comprehensive review of the literature was performed using PubMed and CINAHL databases. Current research findings on the topic of interest and related topics were reviewed. Melzack and Wall’s gate control theory of pain was used as a theoretical framework

A Model for Comparative Collective Memory Studies: Regime Types, Cultural Traditions, and Difficult Histories

Collective memory research examines how the process of individual memory formation is a social and collective experience, rather than one that is wholly psychological and individual. The stories that societies tell about themselves are an important part of this process, as they seek to socialize new members into the national community. But sometimes that national history is very difficult to deal with. Most collective memory research is based on a single case study approach. What is lacking in collective memory research, although not absent, are broader comparative studies. This article develops a general model for the process of collective memory formation, which I can then use in my ongoing empirical research into how several different authoritarian and democratic societies with Eastern and Western cultural traditions have dealt with their violent histories. The cases include Germany (East and West), Japan, Turkey, Yugoslavia and Spain. In this article, I develop a general model of collective memory formation while drawing upon these five cases to illustrate different points. While democratic societies have a greater potential for dealing more fully with their difficult histories, it is far from guaranteed that they will do so

Electrical-power-system data base for consumables analysis. Volume 2: Electrical equipment utilization

A catalogue is presented of space shuttle electrical equipment as used within a standardized data base for EPS consumables analyses. The general function and expected usage of each type of electrical equipment are described, and the usage of specific equipment of each type in the performance of EPS consumables analyses is defined

Electrical-power-system data base for consumables analysis. Volume 1: Electrical equipment list, activity blocks, and time lines

A standardized data base is described which consists of a space shuttle electrical equipment list, activity blocks defining electrical equipment utilization, and activity-block time lines for specific mission analyses. Information is presented to facilitate utilization of the data base, to provide the basis for the electrical equipment utilization to enable interpretation of analyses based on the data contained herein

The Evolution of Occupational Therapy Practice: Life History of Susan Haiman, MPS, OT/L, FAOTA

Objective: This life history is one of 30 life history interviews, which are part of a larger project, Histories of Individuals Who Have Been Influential in Developing Occupational Therapy (OT) at the National Level and Beyond. The purpose of this qualitative study is to provide current and future generations of occupational therapists a view of the history of occupational therapy and how the practice has evolved from the beginning to its current practice through the life history stories of accomplished occupational therapists. Method: An in-depth, semi-structured, 120-minute interview was conducted with Susan Haiman via telephone from the University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences. Questions were created using the Kawa model as a guide to gather the information that added to the understanding of different aspects of the participant\u27s life that shaped them in the practice of OT. The interview was audio-recorded and later transcribed and coded for emergent themes. Results: The predominant themes representing the major elements of Susan’s success as a leader was her passion for education, personal experiences, policy, and occupational therapy as a profession. The findings indicate that she has made a large impact on the profession by serving the needs of her clients and being a strong advocate for mental health. Conclusion: Susan’s interview provided a profound understanding and insight into her values and motivations that carried her through her OT career and allowed her to partake in her various leadership and educational positions successfully. Through Susan’s curriculum vitae, interview, and other outside research, the researchers were able to develop an understanding of the major challenges and accomplishments that impacted her career. Susan’s passion for the profession and the ability to take the initiative allowed her to make many significant changes in the field of occupational therapy