Can Scholarships Alone Help Students Succeed?: Lessons from Two NYC Community Colleges

Low-income adult learners often struggle to finance their college expenses, having to contend with competing responsibilities involving work, family, and school. This report presents findings from a study of performance-based scholarships at two community colleges in New York City -- the Borough of Manhattan Community College and Hostos Community College, both part of the City University of New York system. Students who were eligible for the program could receive up to $2,600 total over two semesters, or up to$3,900 total over two semesters plus a summer semester. Payments were contingent upon maintaining a minimum level of enrollment and grades, and were made directly to students.The program in New York City is one of six being studied as part of the Performance-Based Scholarship (PBS) Demonstration. Each program is designed to serve a different target population and to test an alternative incentive structure, and all employ a random assignment research design.The program in New York City is a test of a scholarship-only program, with no services attached to the award. It targets adult students who are in need of developmental education, and aims to learn whether these scholarships are an effective way to help students progress academically. In addition, the program's design allows researchers to test whether offering students a summer scholarship as well can further improve their academic outcomes. Analysis suggests that the scholarship-only program:* Encouraged more full-time enrollment during the semesters in which the program operated. Full-time enrollment increased 4.1 percentage points in the first semester and 6.0 percentage points in the second semester of the scholarship program.* Did not increase the average number of semesters registered or credits earned over two years. While students who were eligible for the scholarship attempted more credits on average, this impact was small and was not accompanied by impacts on the number of semesters registered or cumulative credits earned. * Increased registration and credit accumulation in the summer semester. However, this increase did not lead to increased registration or credit accumulation over the two-year followup period.* Had impacts on students at one college but not on students at the other college. There is exploratory evidence that the program at one of the colleges had positive impacts on key academic outcomes. The analyses suggest that the impacts varied by college and that the college environments may have influenced these impacts.MDRC will continue to publish findings from each of the six programs in the PBS Demonstration in the coming years. The program in New York makes an important contribution to the overall demonstration and to the study of performance-based scholarships

Designing Scholarships To Improve College Success: Final Report On the Performance-Based Scholarship Demonstration

Performance-based scholarships have two main goals: to give students more money for college and to provide incentives for academic progress. They are designed to reduce the financial burden on low-income students and help them progress academically by offering financial aid contingent upon meeting pre-specified academic benchmarks. The scholarships are intended to cover a modest amount of students' educational costs during the semesters they are offered -- generally between 15 and 25 percent of students' unmet financial need, the difference between students' calculated financial need to attend college and the financial aid they are awarded. The money is paid directly to students, on top of their existing federal and state need-based financial aid, and the students themselves decide how best to use the funds. MDRC launched the Performance-Based Scholarship Demonstration in 2008 to evaluate the effectiveness of these scholarships for as broad a range of low-income students as possible, in a variety of settings, and with varying incentive structures. As such, the evaluation includes more than 12,000 students in institutions across six states to test different performance-based scholarship designs. These results show that even relatively moderate investments in low-income students' education can have modest but long-lasting impacts on their academic outcomes. These findings may be especially relevant to states, institutions, and private scholarship providers seeking purposeful and efficient ways to give low-income students additional financial aid that can also help them succeed academically

Examining Addiction Treatment Facilities: An Observational Study from the Perspective of Medical Students

At the Institute for Research, Education, and Training in Addictions (IRETA), medical students are selected nationwide to learn about addiction and interact with patients undergoing treatment. It is well known that most medical schools do not provide significant training in addiction, and part of IRETA\u27s goal is to remedy this need. In this study, medical students took observational field notes during site visits to various addiction treatment facilities. The data consisted of a comparison of treatment programs, as well as the results of motivational interviewing of patients. A thematic analysis was then conducted by the three students and the IRETA Education Director. The data was coded into five themes essential to the doctor-patient relationship specific to these experiences with patients suffering from substance abuse. The Alcohol and Alcohol Problems and Perceptions Questionnaire (AAPPQ) and the Drug and Drug Problems and Perceptions Questionnaire (DDPPQ) were used as well. From the results, it was found that in categories of Role Support, Therapeutic Commitment, and Role Security, medical students were significantly more comfortable in treating patients with substance abuse. The themes found from compiled data included: Communication, Support, Environment, Empathy, and Physician Education. These themes are useful in educating medical students and professionals alike about the needs of patients suffering from addiction, and the most efficacious way to provide treatment

Ecology and population genetics of the neophyte alien, Hoary Mustard (Hirschfeldia incana (L.) Lagreze-Fossat).

The invasion of natural habitats by alien plant species is now recognised as one of the most important factors contributing to the current loss of biodiversity in our planet. In the UK alone there are now approximately equivalent numbers of alien and native plant species (Stace, 1997), and a small number of these are spreading in rural and urban areas. This study looked at Hirschfeldia incana (L.) Lagreze-Fossat belonging to the family Brassicaceae. Commonly known as Hoary Mustard, it is an established wool, grain and bird-seed alien in the UK. H. incana is native to southwest Europe, the Mediterranean region and southwest Asia. In the UK, this neophyte alien has shown a significant (p=0.004), exponential increase in its spread from 1930 to the year 2000. In this investigation a number of H. incana populations in South Wales were studied, in terms of the communities they were associated with, in semi-natural and natural habitats. The three species most commonly associated with H. incana were Senecio jacohaea, Holcus lanatus and Medicago lupulina, all native to the British flora. Cluster analysis and TWINSPAN indicated three major types of habitats, open urban gap habitat, closed habitat (semi-natural) and sand dune habitat (natural). Species indicative of the three habitats were Mycelis mural is (open urban gap). Euphorbia peplus (closed) and Ammophila arenaria (sand dune). Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) data was collected for England, Wales and southern European populations. Estimated genetic diversities were calculated using Shannon's Index, and showed that diversity was similar in native and alien populations (p=0.271 for H'j, and p= 0.018 for Hj). The genetic diversities between populations compared well with those for other outcrossing plants. The distinct clusters of populations found in the British Isles together with the evidence obtained from the RAPD data suggests that founding populations probably originated from multiple source populations

Paying for College Success: An Introduction to the Performance-Based Scholarship Demonstration

This policy brief describes a demonstration launched by MDRC in four states in 2008 to evaluate whether performance-based scholarships -- paid contingent on attaining academic benchmarks -- are an effective way to improve persistence and academic success among low-income college students. The demonstration builds on positive results from an earlier MDRC study in Louisiana

SIMULTANEOUS ESTIMATION OF FEBUXOSTAT AND NAPROXEN IN SYNTHETIC MIXTURE BY REVERSE PHASE HIGH PERFORMANCE LIQUID CHROMATOGRAPHY METHOD

Objective: To develop simple, precise, rapid, and accurate RP-HPLC method for the simultaneous estimation of Febuxostat and Naproxen in synthetic mixture. To perform complete validation of newly developed analytical methods as per ICH(Q2) R1 [32] Guideline. Methods: In RP-HPLC method for Febuxostat and Naproxen, chromatographic separation was carried out on Shimandzu LC-20AT, Hypersil BDS column (250mm x 4.6mm, 5 μm) using mobile phase ACN: Methanol: Phosphate Buffer (50:35:15 v/v) pH 5, detected at 288 nm, with flow rate 1.0ml/min and injection volume 20 μL. Results: For RP- HPLC Linearity of Febuxostat and Naproxen were found to be 4 – 12 μg/ml and 25 - 75 μg/ml respectively. For both the developed and validated methods the %RSD was found to be less than 2% and the % recovery was found to between 98-102 %. Conclusion: The developed and validated method was found to be simple, accurate, economical, robust and reproducible. There was no interference of any diluent and excipient in the determination of drugs from synthetic mixture. So, the method can be successfully applied for routine Quality control analysis

Unilateral breast abscess due to nalidixic acid resistant salmonella enteric serovar typhi

A breast abscess is a rare complication of Salmonella bacteremia; especially, in immunocompetent patients. In the era of antimicrobial resistance, untreated or resistant Salmonella can lead to abscess formation in various organs of the body. The authors report a case of unilateral breast abscess due to Nalidixic Acid Resistant Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi (NARST) in a 30-year-old immunocompetent female. This case report highlights the importance of culture & sensitivity of breast abscesses especially in patients residing in endemic areas or those with a recent history of typhoid fever

Experiences of language barriers by homoeopathy student interns providing health services at the University of Johannesburg

Abstract: Background: South Africa is a multilingual society, and therefore, the likelihood of healthcare providers (HCPs), including students training to be HCPs, encountering language barriers with patients is high. Aim: To explore and describe the experiences of homoeopathy student interns regarding language barriers in the delivery of health services and to provide guidance towards overcoming language barriers in homoeopathic practice at the University of Johannesburg (UJ). Setting: The interviews and focus group discussions were conducted in English and at a private location that was convenient for the participants in Johannesburg, Gauteng. Methods: This qualitative study used a phenomenological approach. Ten individual interviews were conducted with registered homoeopathy student interns (HSIs) from the UJ. The central question: ‘What has your experience been regarding language barriers between you and your patients at the UJ Homoeopathy clinics?’ was asked and responses were recorded and transcribed for later analysis. The interview results were presented to a focus group for discussion to validate findings that arose from the analysis and to provide an opportunity to add any insight, comment or recommendations that were not expressed in individual interviews and verification of emergent themes. Results: Participants described how language barriers create challenges in understanding between patients and HSIs. Descriptions of the experiences of the intrapersonal and interpersonal effects that are associated with language barriers were provided. Participants also described the influence of language barriers on the various aspects of the health service process. Finally, participants described the mitigation of language barriers through various strategies. Conclusion: Participants reported their experiences of language barriers as challenging. Language barriers were found to adversely affect the various aspects of the health service process as well as the practitioner’s personal feelings and the patient–practitioner relationship. Language acquisition and awareness modules introduced early on in the syllabus is a proposed solution to the mitigation of language barriers

Perceived effectiveness of complementary medicine by mothers of infants with colic in Gauteng

Background: Infantile colic is a self-limiting condition, characterised by spasmodic, excessive and inconsolable crying without apparent cause. Although common, there is no widely accepted conventional treatment approach for colic. Complementary medicine is often promoted as an alternative therapeutic option for infantile colic; however, there is limited research available on its use, safety and effectiveness. Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the perceived effectiveness of complementary medicine by mothers of infants with colic by means of the Infantile Colic Questionnaire. Setting: Mothers of infants who had colic were recruited from complementary medicine pharmacies, schools, baby clinics and various businesses in Gauteng, South Africa. Methods: A quantitative-descriptive design was used whereby data was collected through a randomised, cross-sectional questionnaire. The research sample consisted of 152 participants (mothers), aged between 18 and 45 years, with one or more children who suffered from symptoms of infantile colic, who had used complementary medicine as a form of treatment. Results: Results indicated that most participants made use of both complementary and conventional medicines for their infant’s colic; the most commonly used complementary medicine products were homeopathic remedies, probiotics and herbal medicines. Some participants were, however, unfamiliar with the term ‘complementary medicine’, indicating a need for further patient education. Conclusions: The participants perceived complementary medicines as safe and effective forms of treatment for infantile colic. However, further, larger scale studies should be conducted to validate this finding

Development of antimicrobial packaging materials for food preservation using bacteriocin from Lactobacillus casei

Bacteriocins are proteinaceous toxin produced by bacteria to inhibit the growth of similar or closely related bacteria. Among lactic acid bacteria (LAB), bacteriocins are produced by Streptococcus, Pediococcus, Lactobacillus, etc. In recent years, bacteriocin-producing LAB have attracted significant attention because of their generally recognized as safe status and potential use as safe additives for food preservation. Incorporation of bacteriocins into packaging films to control food spoilage and pathogenic organisms has been an area of active research for last decade. Antimicrobial packaging film prevents microbial growth on food surface by direct contact of the package with the surface of food. The objectives of this study were to isolate bacteriocin-producing LAB from Yakult®, develop antimicrobial packaging system and evaluate their antimicrobial effects on selected spoilage and pathogenic microorganisms. For this reason, the antimicrobial packaging film was made by using the bacteriocin by Lactobacillus casei and coating it or adsorbing it onto the surface of different packaging materials. The antimicrobial activity of the coated films was tested by agar diffusion assay against the test organisms Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. The results obtained proved that bacteriocins can be used to inhibit both the test organisms. Thus antimicrobial packaging systems can be developed using bacteriocins thereby reducing the risk of pathogen development, as well as extending the shelf life of foods