Talking Trash: Ethics, Sustainability, And Organizational Trust

In 1960 Americans generated 88.1 million tons (2.68 lbs./person/day) of municipal solid waste (MSW), by 2012 municipal solid waste increased to 250.9 million tons (4.38 lbs./person/day). The good news is that of the total MSW 5.6 million tons was recycled in 1960 and by 2012 the amount surged to 86.6 million tons. This real-world case (to protect privacy, names have been changed) chronicles the development of a strategic supply chain decision within a heavily regulated industry that is characterized by hybrid public/private organizations. It illustrates the importance of contract compliance and quality control assessment. In addition, it is heavily imbedded within the sustainability conversation. Finally, integral elements of the case are ethics and organizational trust, which, regardless of contract obligations, is essential in reciprocal relationships and community/customer support

Effects of a Physical Education Supportive Curriculum and Technological Devices on Physical Activity

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a physical education supportive curriculum and technological devices, heart rate monitor (HRM) and pedometer (PED), on physical activity. A single-subject ABAB research design was used to examine amount and level of participation in physical activity among 106 suburban fourth and fifth graders during physical education class. A curriculum, which was pedagogically centered on the use of the technological devices, was also developed and studied. Six children from each group and the physical education teacher were interviewed. The results of a one-way ANCOVA indicated group differences between the supportive curriculum and technology for HRMs, PEDs, and increased physical activity

The Strategy Of Sustainable Waste Management: Landfill Management, Recycling, Reduction, And Pollution Prevention

In “The Strategy of Sustainable Waste Management:  Landfill Management, Recycling, Reduction, and Pollution Prevention,” the enduring problem of solid waste management is presented.  As such, this case study deals with a real-life scenario when a recent graduate in the area of journalism and professional writing attempts to branch out and complement her professional interests.  With a fresh MPA in hand, Suzanne Rodgers lands a paid internship with a mid-sized city and takes on the responsibility of researching, planning, and implementing a policy and set of recommendations, for the Public Works Department.  She interviews the key political and economic actors in Winterville, provides a comprehensive description of the city, researches and analyses the incentives and barriers to change and then sets out to develop a plan for a comprehensive residential recycling effort that contains two options:  solid waste management and balancing a landfill fund. This plan and implementation strategy is addressed in a research portfolio.  In the final analysis she is faced with the real world issues of public interests and pressures and at a town hall meeting receives the responses from the citizens of Winterville. In this fast moving three-part case study, Suzanne Rodgers faces the real world of citizen input, conflict, and the role of special interests and pressure groups in making and implementing urban policy.  The case concludes with measurements that were used in Iowa’s Pollution Prevention Intern Program and a summary of the tonnage of waste and pollution reduction and diversion associated with the program from 2001-2014. Cost savings associated with the intern program over the same period are identified and 2014 yearly savings is presented

Molecular dynamics of ion transport through the open conformation of a bacterial voltage-gated sodium channel

The crystal structure of the open conformation of a bacterial voltage-gated sodium channel pore from Magnetococcus sp. (NaVMs) has provided the basis for a molecular dynamics study defining the channel’s full ion translocation pathway and conductance process, selectivity, electrophysiological characteristics, and ion-binding sites. Microsecond molecular dynamics simulations permitted a complete time-course characterization of the protein in a membrane system, capturing the plethora of conductance events and revealing a complex mixture of single and multi-ion phenomena with decoupled rapid bidirectional water transport. The simulations suggest specific localization sites for the sodium ions, which correspond with experimentally determined electron density found in the selectivity filter of the crystal structure. These studies have also allowed us to identify the ion conductance mechanism and its relation to water movement for the NavMs channel pore and to make realistic predictions of its conductance properties. The calculated single-channel conductance and selectivity ratio correspond closely with the electrophysiology measurements of the NavMs channel expressed in HEK 293 cells. The ion translocation process seen in this voltage-gated sodium channel is clearly different from that exhibited by members of the closely related family of voltage-gated potassium channels and also differs considerably from existing proposals for the conductance process in sodium channels. These studies simulate sodium channel conductance based on an experimentally determined structure of a sodium channel pore that has a completely open transmembrane pathway and activation gate

Internships: The Nuts And Bolts Of An Effective Program

Braxston Public Engineering and Consulting Group (BPECG) is a nationally known and respected company that is magnate for students who wish to receive a valued internship experience.   Under the able direction of Amy Greene, the work experiences were coordinated during the summer and interns were well paid for their contributions.  The case study chronicles the trials and tribulations faced by a competent, highly energized engineering intern who faces the malaise of an organization that is unprepared to provide a valid learning experience. As the case unfolds, Greene has an Eureka experience and learns from a colleague how interns can and do make vital contributions (ROI’s) to their assigned organizations. Upon reviewing the contributions that interns made in three organizations, she redesigns Braxston’s Internship program, reviews the State University Intern to Work Program that addresses, among many other factors, the internship purpose, supervision, learning objectives,  and intern and employer obligations.  The case includes an Intern Evaluation form and a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the university and the company. Last, the Questions and Instructions provide for focused discussion and analysis and the references enable learners to research the top internship programs in the United States

Violence Against Authority: Management, Policy, And Research Implications

There has been a steady decline in violent crime in the United States in the past twenty years. Trends indicate that violent crime was down 13.4 percent below the 200l level and for property crime, society is experiencing the tenth straight year of declining rates.  Yet, the Southern region of the U.S is disproportionately represented by percentage of overall violent crimes committed nationally.  Also, the South is over-represented in the number of police officers who are feloniously killed or assaulted. This empirical research concentrates on violence directed against police in the U.S. and begins by examining the type and magnitude of workplace violence, then transitions to a review of the sociological, political, and psychological literature, focusing on the individual and social causes for violence generally.  It ends with an examination of officers feloniously killed (their personal characteristics and that of their assailants), the level of violence against police by type of arrest or enforcement situation, and by region of the country.   This paper provides a comparative analysis of street-level violence for general municipal assaults, robbery, and the most rapidly growing type of felonious assault—ambush attacks. The paper concludes with an analysis of the societal and behavioral characteristics and considerations related to violence against police.  The authors present a number of current trends, training recommendations, and suggestions for improving officer workplace safety.

Acceptability of generic versus innovator oral medicines: not only a matter of taste

Optimum use of generic products would require equivalence, not only in terms of quality, safety, and efficacy in clinical studies, but also patient acceptability to not jeopardize treatment success because of nonadherence which would de facto limit the potential cost saving anticipated by their use. Although acceptability is a requirement for the authorization of pediatric innovator products, our survey of European Union (EU) regulatory authorities showed that few have a formal process for assessing patient acceptability of generic products during the registration processes. The current International Council for Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use (ICH) focus on unifying guidance for the development and scrutiny of generics but should include acceptability alongside the other factors being considered for harmonization

Acceptability of generic versus innovator oral medicines: not only a matter of taste

Optimum use of generic products would require equivalence, not only in terms of quality, safety, and efficacy in clinical studies, but also patient acceptability to not jeopardize treatment success because of nonadherence which would de facto limit the potential cost saving anticipated by their use. Although acceptability is a requirement for the authorization of pediatric innovator products, our survey of European Union (EU) regulatory authorities showed that few have a formal process for assessing patient acceptability of generic products during the registration processes. The current International Council for Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use (ICH) focus on unifying guidance for the development and scrutiny of generics but should include acceptability alongside the other factors being considered for harmonization

A Spontaneous, Recurrent Mutation in Divalent Metal Transporter-1 Exposes a Calcium Entry Pathway

Divalent metal transporter-1 (DMT1/DCT1/Nramp2) is the major Fe(2+) transporter mediating cellular iron uptake in mammals. Phenotypic analyses of animals with spontaneous mutations in DMT1 indicate that it functions at two distinct sites, transporting dietary iron across the apical membrane of intestinal absorptive cells, and transporting endosomal iron released from transferrin into the cytoplasm of erythroid precursors. DMT1 also acts as a proton-dependent transporter for other heavy metal ions including Mn(2+), Co(2+), and Cu(2), but not for Mg(2+) or Ca(2+). A unique mutation in DMT1, G185R, has occurred spontaneously on two occasions in microcytic (mk) mice and once in Belgrade (b) rats. This mutation severely impairs the iron transport capability of DMT1, leading to systemic iron deficiency and anemia. The repeated occurrence of the G185R mutation cannot readily be explained by hypermutability of the gene. Here we show that G185R mutant DMT1 exhibits a new, constitutive Ca(2+) permeability, suggesting a gain of function that contributes to remutation and the mk and b phenotypes