The Labor Market, Then and Now: Changing Realities in the 21st Century

Skyrocketing unemployment is only one of a number of profound changes transforming the U.S. labor market, workforce, and education system in the first decade of the 21st Century. The new realities affecting jobs, careers, and retirement are transforming Americans' attitudes toward work. This research brief, capturing the changing perceptions of workers between 1999 and 2009, was prepared by Carl Van Horn and Nicole Corre of the John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development, a research and policy center at Rutgers University. The brief summarizes workforce mega-trends by drawing upon the most authoritative sources available and from the Heldrich Center's Work Trends series of two-dozen nationwide worker surveys that began in 1998. (The complete set of Work Trends surveys is available at www.heldrich.rutgers.edu)

Esophoria and Exophoria in Relation to Personality

How Vision Problems Affect Our Lives Nicole Horn Faculty Sponsor: Charles Collyer, Psychology Vision is much more than simply being able to see 20/20. There are a number of different visual problems which can impact how we see and interact with the world around us. One visual skill, which is looked at in this research, is convergence. Convergence is the ability to turn the eyes so that they both focus in on the same object, at the same time, and at the same distance in space. If the eyes either underconverge or overconverge, this can lead to an altered perception of the world. Overconvergence is also known as esophoria, which is defined as a tendency for the eyes to deviate inwards. Underconvergence, or exophoria, is the tendency for the eyes to deviate outwards. Both of these tendencies can affect how people learn, interact with others, and understand their surroundings. This study includes 50 undergraduate students who were tested to see if they have a tendency towards esophoria or exophoria. A survey was also distributed to them with questions about demographics and a section where participants indicated whether they agreed or disagreed with statements regarding the introvert/extrovert scale and the conscientiousness scale, and a section about vision in general; such as, whether the participant wears glasses and can clearly see the classroom board from across the room. Of the 50 participants in this study, 27 exhibited a tendency towards esophoria at far and 29 a tendency towards esophoria at near. One participant had a tendency towards exophoria at far and four had a tendency toward exophoria at near. My research data showed that there is a correlation between conversion ability and feelings of confidence and paying attention to details. Correlations were also found between being able to see clearly at distance and the ability to pay attention to detail, stick to plans, and the preference for order. The results of the surveys were also assessed to determine how many of the participants cannot clearly see the board across the room and how many regularly go to the eye doctor. This study provides insight into the different aspects of personality that visual convergence can affect, as well as aspects of personality that are affected by clear vision. The impact of having undiagnosed vision problems is also explored

Effective Strategies for Instructing Online Courses

In this research project, the author compares the traditional learning environment to the online learning environment from a facilitators\u27 perspective. Since there can be ambiguity in the instructor\u27s role and function in an online environment, this research project represents an attempt to provide a concise, applicable list of effective strategies that instructors new to the online environment can utilize when teaching online. The strategies are based on methods and techniques utilized by instructors/researchers who have spent years in the field of higher education researching topics such as distance education, independent learning, and online education

Genetics of perioperative pain management

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The current review will discuss the current literature on genetics of pain and analgesia, with special emphasis on perioperative setting. We will also discuss pharmacogenetics-based management guidelines, current clinical status and future perspectives. RECENT FINDINGS: Recent literature suggests that the interindividual variability in pain and postoperative analgesic response is at least in part because of one's genetic make-up. Some of the well characterized polymorphisms that are associated with surgical pain and opioid-related postoperative adverse outcomes are described in catechol-O-methyl transferase, CYP2D6 and μ-opioid receptor (OPRM1), ATP-binding cassette subfamily B member 1, ABCC3, organic cation transporter 1 genes. Clinical Pharmacogenetics Implementation Consortium has put forth recommendations on CYP2D6 genotype-based opioid selection and dosing. The list of drug-gene pairs studied continue to expand. SUMMARY: Pharmacogenetic approach marks the dawn of personalized pain medicine both in perioperative and chronic pain settings

Epidural Analgesia Decreases Narcotic Requirements in Low Level Spina Bifida Patients Undergoing Urologic Laparotomy for Neurogenic Bladder and Bowel

Purpose Concern of anatomical anomalies and worsening neurologic symptoms has prevented widespread use of epidural catheters in patients with low level spina bifida (LLSB). We hypothesize that thoracic epidural placement in the T9-T10 interspace is safe and decreases narcotic requirements in LLSB patients following major open lower urinary tract reconstruction (LUTR). Materials and Methods We reviewed consecutive LLSB patients who had LUTR and epidurals for post-operative pain control. Controls were LLSB patients who received single shot transversus abdominis plane (TAP) blocks with similar procedures. Complications from epidural placement, including changes in motor and sensory status were recorded. Opioid consumption was calculated utilizing equivalent IV morphine doses. Mean and maximum pain scores on post-operative day (POD) 0-3 were calculated. Results 10 LLSB patients who had lower urinary tract reconstruction and epidurals were matched to 10 LLSB patients who had lower urinary tract reconstruction and transverse abdominis plane blocks. Groups were demographically similar. All had full abdominal sensation and functional levels at or below L3. No epidural complications or changes in neurological status were noted. The epidural group had decreased opioid consumption on POD 0-3 (0.75 mg/kg vs. 1.29 mg/kg, p=0.04). Pain scores were similar or improved in the epidural group. Conclusions Thoracic epidural analgesia appears to be a safe and effective opioid sparing option to assist with post-operative pain management following lower urinary tract reconstruction in LLSB patients

College Search Factors That Impact College Matriculation for African American Students: Implications for Policy and Praxis

College access is a top educational priority in the United States as millions of federal and state dollars are funneled into programs to ensure college access for all students, minorities and low-income students in particular (U.S. Department of Education, 2009a; U.S. Department of Education, 2009b). Over 80% of high school students and their parents aspire to attain postsecondary education (Dounay, 2006; Institute for Higher Education Policy, 2007). Yet, minorities\u27 and low-income students\u27 ability to penetrate postsecondary doors remains relatively depressed in comparison to their non-minority high-income student peers (Freeman, 2005; Perna, 2007). Most of the research related to college access focuses on a student\u27s predisposition to attend college (e.g., income, parental education levels and involvement, and academic achievement/rigor) or student college choice (Hossler, Schmit, & Vesper, 1999; Perna, 2005). Few researchers (Cabrera & LaNasa, 2000; Bell, Rowan-Kenyon, & Perna, 2009; De la Rosa, 2006) have investigated factors related to the stage in between college predisposition and college choice where students gather information regarding the college-going process, presenting a gap in the literature. For those recent studies that address how college knowledge impacts college entry, most of them place an emphasis on knowledge regarding financial aid and college tuition pricing (Bell, Rowan-Kenyon, & Perna, 2009; De la Rosa, 2006). To expand the higher education literature pertaining to college access and choice, this study examines cross-sectional data from ELS:2002 using Hierarchical Generalized Linear Modeling (HGLM) to explain how obtaining college knowledge regarding the college-going process (i.e., participating in a college preparation program or obtaining information from a high school counselor regarding college attendance) impacts college matriculation for African Americans in comparison to their counterparts

Effect of induced hypothermia on respiratory parameters in mechanically ventilated patients

Aim: Mild hypothermia is increasingly applied in the intensive care unit. Knowledge on the effects of hypothermia on respiratory parameters during mechanical ventilation is limited. In this retrospective study, we describe the effect of hypothermia on gas exchange in patients cooled for 24 h after a cardiac arrest. Methods: Respiratory parameters were derived from electronic patient files from 65 patients at the start and end of the hypothermic phase and at every centigrade increase in body temperature until normo-temperature, including tidal volume, positive end expiratory pressure (PEEP), plateau pressure, respiratory rate, exhaled CO2 concentrations (etCO(2)) and FIO2. Static compliance was calculated as V-T/P-plateau - PEEP. Dead space ventilation was calculated as (PaCO2-etCO(2))/PaCO2. Results: During hypothermia, PaCO2 decreased, at unchanged PaCO2-etCO(2) gap and minute ventilation. During rewarming, PaCO2 did not change, while etCO(2) increased at unchanged minute ventilation. Dead space ventilation did not change during hypothermia, but lowered during rewarming. During hypothermia, PaO2/FIO2 ratio increased at unchanged PEEP levels. Respiratory static compliance did not change during hypothermia, nor during rewarming. Conclusion: Hypothermia possibly improves oxygenation and ventilation in mechanically ventilated patients. Results may accord with the hypothesis that reducing metabolism with applied hypothermia may be beneficial in patients with acute lung injury, in whom low minute ventilation results in severe hypercapnia. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserve

Criminal Thinking, Psychiatric Symptoms, and Recovery Attitudes Among Community Mental Health Patients

Research suggests it is important to consider criminogenic needs among individuals with severe mental illness. This study aimed to determine the severity of criminal thinking in community-based clinical samples, understand the association between criminal thinking and psychiatric and criminal justice outcomes, and compare these associations between consumers enrolled in Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) and Forensic Assertive Community Treatment (FACT) programs. Participants (N = 234) were male and female consumers enrolled in ACT and FACT programs in five states. Results revealed no significant differences in criminal thinking when comparing participants by program type or history of criminal justice involvement. There were significant positive relations between general criminal thinking and psychiatric symptomatology and the number of lifetime arrests, a negative association between recovery attitudes and general criminal thinking, and ACT participants reported a greater number of lifetime psychiatric hospitalizations than FACT participants. Result implications are discussed with specific reference to treatment programming

Effects of high CO2 and warming on a Baltic Sea microzooplankton community

Global warming and ocean acidification are among the most important stressors for aquatic ecosystems in the future. To investigate their direct and indirect effects on a near-natural plankton community, a multiple-stressor approach is needed. Hence, we set up mesocosms in a full-factorial design to study the effects of both warming and high CO2 on a Baltic Sea autumn plankton community, concentrating on the impacts on microzooplankton (MZP). MZP abundance, biomass, and species composition were analysed over the course of the experiment. We observed that warming led to a reduced time-lag between the phytoplankton bloom and an MZP biomass maximum. MZP showed a significantly higher growth rate and an earlier biomass peak in the warm treatments while the biomass maximum was not affected. Increased pCO2 did not result in any significant effects on MZP biomass, growth rate, or species composition irrespective of the temperature, nor did we observe any significant interactions between CO2 and temperature. We attribute this to the high tolerance of this estuarine plankton community to fluctuations in pCO2, often resulting in CO2 concentrations higher than the predicted end-of-century concentration for open oceans. In contrast, warming can be expected to directly affect MZP and strengthen its coupling with phytoplankton by enhancing its grazing pressure