Non-U.S. Funders of Media Assistance Projects

Examines support for independent media by government agencies, foundations, and multi-national groups outside the U.S. and provides a list of active donors in the field. Explores the effectiveness of media assistance efforts

Effects of Early-Adolescent, Mid-Adolescent, or Adult Stress on Morphine Conditioned Place Preference

Early-life stress is correlated with negative mental health outcomes, including illicit drug abuse. One mechanism that may contribute to drug abuse is stress-induced elevation of drug reward. Place conditioning paradigms show that exposure to uncontrollable stress as an adult enhances opiate conditioned place preference, CPP. The present work addressed whether early-adolescent, mid-adolescent, or adult stress amplified morphine CPP. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to stress or no stress conditions and received stress during early-, mid-adolescence, or adulthood. Stressors were unpredictable consisting of exposure to synthetic fox odor (trimethylthiazoline) and an elevated platform. Morphine place conditioning occurred during adulthood, and all animals received either morphine (15 mg/kg) on the initially non-preferred side or saline (1 ml/kg) on the initially preferred side. A post-test was conducted and time on non-preferred side was analyzed. A 2 (S/NS) x 2 (pre-/post-test) x 3 (early-adolescent/mid-adolescent/adult) mixed ANOVA revealed a significant main effect of test, F(1,42)=115.90, p \u3c .001

String Network from M-theory

We study the three string junctions and string networks in Type IIB string theory by explicity constructing the holomorphic embeddings of the M-theory membrane that describe such configurations. The main feature of them such as supersymmetry, charge conservation and balance of tensions are derived in a more unified manner. We calculate the energy of the string junction and show that there is no binding energy associated with the junction.Comment: 16 pages, harvmac, 2 figures, references adde

Evidence flow graph methods for validation and verification of expert systems

The results of an investigation into the use of evidence flow graph techniques for performing validation and verification of expert systems are given. A translator to convert horn-clause rule bases into evidence flow graphs, a simulation program, and methods of analysis were developed. These tools were then applied to a simple rule base which contained errors. It was found that the method was capable of identifying a variety of problems, for example that the order of presentation of input data or small changes in critical parameters could affect the output from a set of rules

Perennial weed response to soil tillage

The effects of seedbed tillage and row cultivation on established hemp dogbane (Apocynum cannabinum) and the establishment of perennial weed species were studied. Moldboard plow, chisel plow, tandem disk, and no tillage with and without subsequent row cultivations were compared on an established stand of hemp dogbane. Intensive seedbed tillage coupled with 1-2 row cultivations did not reduce hemp dogbane populations or root carbohydrate reserves compared to no tillage treatments after 3 years;Hemp dogbane root development and structure below the plow layer were not altered by seedbed tillage. Tillage effects on root development within the plow layer were discussed. Morphological development was affected by seedbed tillage, but these differences lessened and were nonexistent at the end of each season;Hemp dogbane root carbohydrate levels fluctuated, with seasonal lows occurring during flowering. Starch was the major carbohydrate storage form. Lipid levels did not show any appreciable trends. Hemp dogbane emergence did not appear strictly regulated by soil temperatures. Longer photoperiod daylengths enhanced intact crown root dormancy break in growth chamber studies;Hemp dogbane and American germander (Teucrium canadense) populations increased regardless of seedbed tillage practices used after five years of no tillage, till-plant, chisel plow, and moldboard plow systems in the perennial weed establishment study. Hemp dogbane and American germander populations increased at a faster rate, although not significantly, where no tillage and till-plant systems were used

Attitudes of fathers toward their latency age sons

Thesis (M.S.)--Boston Universit

Ohio State University\u27s Merger: Journalism and Communication

Presents the author\u27s opinion on events surrounding proposed and completed changes in communication research and instruction at Ohio State University, as of September 1995. Implications of reducing resources devoted to communication education, research and service for the university; Key issue facing the School of Journalism; Criteria for evaluating the success of the university

A comparative investigation of the indications for renal replacement therapy and the optimal timing for commencing the therapy

ThesisEnd stage renal disease (ESRD) is a major health problem resulting in conside rably increased morbidity and mortality, in decreased qual ity of life and in high costs from renal replacement therapy (RRT) . There are almost a million people that owe their lives to dialys is and currently there is a 5 yea r survival rate of chronic renal failure (CRF) patients . Today optimization of dialys is must guarantee the full time restitution t o . society of a totally rehab ilitated individual. This study a ims at investigating the indications for commencing RRT and the optima l timing for commencing the therapy , derived from comparative investigations , and incorporat ing factors affecting renal failure patients. It includes the benefits of screening high risk individua ls for renal d isease, and the benefits of managing factors affecting renal function to pro long the pretreatment phase . It also looks at the effectiveness and opt imal timing for commencing a pre-end stage renal disease (PESRD) program, and considers whether there is patient imp rovement in patients managed before development of renal failure . Finally the study aims at investigating a way to reduce the financial aspect related to treatment. The research was twofold. First ly it involved a screening of 100 indiv iduals at tht: risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD), whereby a serum creat in ine va lue was taken and the glomerular filtration rate (OFR) calculated . Secondly it incorporated a biochemical and clinical assessment of 95 CRF patients , a month prior to RRT, at commencement of RRT, at I month and 3 months after RRT. The screening revealed a mean creatin ine for males 128.45 flmollL and for females 108 .99 flmollL. Twen ty-four percent (24%) of patien ts had a OFR of between 30 - 59 , 6% of patients had a OFR of between 15 29, and 3% of pat ients had a OFR of < 15 ml / minlI.73m2. T his strongly ind icates the need to screen individua ls at risk for renal failure . The second part of the study revealed that at commencement the mean OFR was 6.7 ml/ minlI .73m2, uremia , malnutrition, anemia, hyperparathyroid ism, hyperphosphatemia, and other electro lyte imbalances were present , all predisposing a patient to a poor clinical outcome , an inc rease in morbidity and mortal ity, and a dec rease in the qual ity of life. From the investigation of patients commencing dialysis it was determined that the optimal timing for commenc ing RRT was at the first clin ical evidence of deterioration in the presence of uremia and / o r malnutrit ion despite medical in tervention . It was found that RRT should not be postponed until creatinine falls within mandated range , as postponement adversely affects the patient, and the survival of dialysis patients depends on their condition at the time dialysis is first initiated. Postponing treatment was found to have adverse effects on patients commencing RRT, with an increase in the number of acute hemodialysis (AHD) sessions and increase in the number of access. Patients managed prior to commencement of RRT and patients commencing dialys is at a higher GFR experienced fewer complications, when compared to patients who commenced dialysis later. There is an improvement in patient outcome in patients managed prior to the commencement of RRT and it is beneficial to manage factors affecting renal function in order to prolong the pre-treatment phase . The PESRD educational program is an effective component in the management of kidney disease and initiating a PESRD program early in the course of kidney disease is advantageous to the patient. The financial costs related to renal replacement are extremely high, and can be reduced allowing more patients to be treated for the same amount of money. From the results obtained from the study it is clear that effective PESRD management and early commencement of RRT in dialysis patients leads to an improved qual ity of life, and a decline in complications experienced

A comparative investigation of the indications for renal replacement therapy and the optimal timing for commencing the therapy

ThesisEnd stage renal disease (ESRD) is a major health problem resulting in conside rably increased morbidity and mortality, in decreased qual ity of life and in high costs from renal replacement therapy (RRT) . There are almost a million people that owe their lives to dialys is and currently there is a 5 yea r survival rate of chronic renal failure (CRF) patients . Today optimization of dialys is must guarantee the full time restitution t o . society of a totally rehab ilitated individual. This study a ims at investigating the indications for commencing RRT and the optima l timing for commencing the therapy , derived from comparative investigations , and incorporat ing factors affecting renal failure patients. It includes the benefits of screening high risk individua ls for renal d isease, and the benefits of managing factors affecting renal function to pro long the pretreatment phase . It also looks at the effectiveness and opt imal timing for commencing a pre-end stage renal disease (PESRD) program, and considers whether there is patient imp rovement in patients managed before development of renal failure . Finally the study aims at investigating a way to reduce the financial aspect related to treatment. The research was twofold. First ly it involved a screening of 100 indiv iduals at tht: risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD), whereby a serum creat in ine va lue was taken and the glomerular filtration rate (OFR) calculated . Secondly it incorporated a biochemical and clinical assessment of 95 CRF patients , a month prior to RRT, at commencement of RRT, at I month and 3 months after RRT. The screening revealed a mean creatin ine for males 128.45 flmollL and for females 108 .99 flmollL. Twen ty-four percent (24%) of patien ts had a OFR of between 30 - 59 , 6% of patients had a OFR of between 15 29, and 3% of pat ients had a OFR of < 15 ml / minlI.73m2. T his strongly ind icates the need to screen individua ls at risk for renal failure . The second part of the study revealed that at commencement the mean OFR was 6.7 ml/ minlI .73m2, uremia , malnutrition, anemia, hyperparathyroid ism, hyperphosphatemia, and other electro lyte imbalances were present , all predisposing a patient to a poor clinical outcome , an inc rease in morbidity and mortal ity, and a dec rease in the qual ity of life. From the investigation of patients commencing dialysis it was determined that the optimal timing for commenc ing RRT was at the first clin ical evidence of deterioration in the presence of uremia and / o r malnutrit ion despite medical in tervention . It was found that RRT should not be postponed until creatinine falls within mandated range , as postponement adversely affects the patient, and th