An evaluation of a planned program for teaching classification and finding main ideas in grade one.

Thesis (Ed.M.)--Boston Universit

The Politics of Water Resource Management: State-Guided Framing of China’s South to North Water Diversion Project and its Impact on Citizen Perception

Due to China’s geographic and human-exacerbated water scarcity, government leaders have turned to the South to North Water Diversion Project (SNWDP) in order to ensure a reliable source of water for the country’s increasingly parched Northern cities and townships. This thesis examines this inter-basin water transfer project (soon to be the world’s largest) through the lens of how government actors have framed the project. This official framing analysis is presented in tandem with citizen perceptions observed through online commentary in order to evaluate how effective such framing has been. Through such analysis, this research observes a pattern of nationalism and utilitarianism within state framing which is largely echoed in citizen commentary

Edmund Spenser and the Plëiade, a comparison centering in the "Amoretti" and "Les amours"

Typewritten sheets in cover. Thesis (M.A.)--Boston University This item was digitized by the Internet Archive

Petra Kuppers is University\u27s 2021 Earth Day Keynote Speaker

Address to examine crossroads of environmentalism and disabilit

Glacial isostatic adjustment and relative sea level change over the last earthquake cycle in upper Cook Inlet, Alaska, USA

Using observations of land surface deformation, sea level change and geophysical modelling, this thesis considers the interactions of ice mass fluctuations and tectonic deformation over the last great earthquake cycle in south central Alaska. Reconstructions of relative sea level change over the last 900 years, based upon extensive lithological, biostratigraphical and chronological investigations of salt marsh sequences in upper Cook Inlet, Alaska, record changes in marine influence and the direction of sea level that do not fit the expected interseismic model of land level movements. Dating of the sequences suggests the changes in RSL occurred sometime through c. AD 1600 – 1900, during the middle and late phases of Little Ice Age ice mass balance changes. The chronological methods used comprise a multi-method approach: 210Pb, 137Cs, stable lead (206Pb/207Pb) ratios, pollutants associated with the history of regional gold mining and development, tephrochronology and AMS 14C wiggle match dating. The research highlights some of the limitations of applying some of these dating methodologies to recent, high latitude, salt marshes. GIA modelling identifies part of the GPS measured present day uplift in upper Cook Inlet as attributable to post Little Ice Age (AD 1200 – 1900) glacial isostatic adjustment, with a spatial signal over tens of kilometres. A set of viable Earth models, constrained by GPS data and the pattern of post-seismic displacement quantifies the relative displacement and deformation of the ocean geoid at a series of locations in south central Alaska over the past 1000 years. Modelling results show the asthenosphere viscosity and thickness to be the main rheological controls on relative displacement during the last earthquake deformation cycle. Integration of the geological data and geophysical model results show RSL in upper Cook Inlet during the last earthquake deformation cycle is a combination of tectonic land-level changes, ‘local’ processes, glacial isostatic adjustment and deformation of the ocean geoid. To fully quantify the relative contribution of each mechanism requires improvements in the methods of RSL reconstruction, dating of recent salt marsh sediments and GIA modelling

COMMUNITY SLEEP CLINICS RUN BY HEALTH VISITORS -AN EVALUATION OF OUTCOME

Sleep problems in babies and young children are extremely prevalent, yet until recently little attention has been paid to them by health professionals. Sleep problems have often been accepted as part of a developmental process, however research has shown that they are often not transitory, and if not treated effectively in the early years, may have long term consequences for later life. Health visitors are in an ideal position to offer treatment at a primary care level, as they are in regular contact with the families of young children. Existing research has shown that the employment of a behavioural approach is the treatment of choice for childhood sleep problems. The aims of this study were three-fold. Firstly to evaluate the efficacy of a sleep clinic run by health visitors employing behavioural techniques in the treatment of pre-school children with sleep problems. Secondly to assess what aspects of the treatment process result in the outcomes achieved; and finally to make a formal attempt to explore the influence of an improved sleeping pattern on general behaviour. Findings, using a series of n=1 studies that allowed within subject comparisons suggest that field health visitors who have received in-service training on the use of behavioural approaches are able to offer an effective service to the families of children with sleep problems. Parents identified both the behavioural and nonspecific aspects of treatment as being equally helpful, but it remains unclear what actually did help. An improvement in general behaviour was noted for all children, although this was not found to be associated with changes in sleep pattern. Due to the small number of participants, caution must be taken in generalising from the findings. The study is critically evaluated and suggestions for future research together with implications for clinical practice are discussed.Southmead Health Services, NHS Trust, Bristo

Effects of Platelet-Activating Factor on Brain Microvascular Endothelial Cells.

Platelet-activating factor (PAF) is a potent phospholipid mediator that exerts various pathophysiological effects by interacting with a G protein-coupled receptor. PAF has been reported to increase the permeability of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) via incompletely characterized mechanisms. We investigated the effect of PAF on rat brain microvascular endothelial cells (RBMVEC), a critical component of the BBB. PAF produced a dose-dependent increase in cytosolic Ca2+ concentration; the effect was prevented by the PAF receptor antagonist, WEB2086. The effect of PAF on cytosolic Ca2+ was abolished in Ca2+-free saline or in the presence of L-type voltage-gated Ca2+ channel inhibitor, nifedipine, indicating that Ca2+ influx is critical for PAF-induced increase in cytosolic Ca2+. PAF produced RBMVEC depolarization; the effect was inhibited by WEB2086. In cells loaded with [(4-amino-5-methylamino-2\u27,7\u27-difluoro-fluorescein)diacetate] (DAF-FM), a nitric oxide (NO)-sensitive fluorescent dye, PAF increased the NO level; the effect was prevented by WEB2086, nifedipine or by l-NAME, an inhibitor of NO synthase. Immunocytochemistry studies indicate that PAF reduced the immunostaining of ZO-1, a tight junction-associated protein, increased F-actin fibers, and produced intercellular gaps. PAF produced a decrease in RBMVEC monolayer electrical resistance assessed with Electric Cell-Substrate Impedance Sensing (ECIS), indicative of a disruption of endothelial barrier function. In vivo studies indicate that PAF increased the BBB permeability, assessed with sodium fluorescein and Evans Blue methods, via PAF receptor-dependent mechanisms, consequent to Ca2+ influx and increased NO levels. Our studies reveal that PAF alters the BBB permeability by multiple mechanisms, which may be relevant for central nervous system (CNS) inflammatory disorders

Perceptions of Family Violence: Are Companion Animals in the Picture?

Service and education organizations such as the ASPCA claim a connection between family violence against children and companiion animals, but to what extent does the general public share this perception? Sixty-three undergraduates rated their certainty about perceiving family violence using 60 pictures witrh differing potential targets of family violence. Participants showed stronger certainty when the target was a child than when the target was a companion animal, but ratings for companion animals averaged above the midpoint of the scale used. Interview questions were used to obtain information about child recollections of joint discipline situations in which children received punishment for what companion animals did, or vice versa. Thirty-four participants recalled such situations, some of which resulted in the death or discarding of a family's companion animal. The majority of participants affirmed a connection between violence against children and companion animals in the family, with some giving credit for that insight to their taking part in the study

Understanding Successful Strategies Human Service First-Level Managers Utilize when Addressing Workplace Incivility

The social problem of workplace incivility is a well-researched issue that impacts employees, work groups, and organizations across the nation. The purpose of this study was to understand how first-level human service managers describe employee turnover in relation to workplace incivility and what first-level human service managers view as successful strategies they have used to address workplace incivility. The theoretical framework utilized for this study was incivility spiral theory, as described by Andersson and Pearson. The purpose of this generic qualitative study was to gain an understanding of successful strategies that first-level human service managers utilize when addressing workplace incivility that aids in reducing turnover. Semistructured interviews were conducted via ZOOM video conferencing with 10 current or previous first-level managers in a human service organization. The themes that emerged, after interviews were transcribed and coded, not only revealed that good employees are being lost as a result of workplace incivility, but that managers used real life experiences, professional development, and the modeling of former managers when addressing workplace incivility. Implications for positive social change include training that will provide managers with an understanding of how to approach, investigate, and address workplace incivility and the creation of or strengthening of policies that aid in dealing with workplace incivility. Such changes could reduce or eliminate the negative consequences of workplace incivility; exhaustion, intentions to terminate employment, and work-related illnesses and stress