1,903 research outputs found
Single- and Multi-Transducer Arrays Employing Nanoparticle Interface Layers as Vapor Detectors for a Microfabricated Gas Chromatograph.
This body of research focuses on improving microsensor arrays used as detectors in Si-microfabricated gas chromatographs (ĀµGC) for the determination of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). By means of such improvements, ĀµGC technology should find wider application in homeland security, disease diagnosis, and environmental monitoring. The microsensors considered here all employ thiolate-monolayer-protected gold nanoparticles (MPN) as vapor sorptive interface layers. The central hypothesis is that by altering the MPN ligand, core size, and/or the underlying transducer, the diversity of responses to VOCs provided by microsensor arrays with MPN interfaces can be improved. The first study evaluated a single transducer (ST) array of MPN-coated chemiresistors (CR) as a ĀµGC detector for three semi-volatile markers of the explosive 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene in the presence of alkane interferences of similar volatility. The effects of flow rate and temperature on chromatographic resolution, sensitivity, and limits of detection (LOD) were assessed. Under optimized conditions, a complete analysis required 95%). These types of sensor arrays can enhance the vapor discrimination of sorption-based detectors utilized in ĀµGC technology, making the analysis of complex VOC mixtures possible.PHDChemistryUniversity of Michigan, Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studieshttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/111430/1/lkamos_1.pd
Variables Affecting First-Time Parents\u27 Feeding Behaviors
After deciding whether to breastfeed or formula feed, parents must determine when to introduce solid foods. We examined feeding behaviors of 131 first-time parents, applying the theory of planned behavior to our investigation. Results indicated that parents\u27 attitudes influenced infant feeding behavior at 6 months old. Therefore, Extension professionals should consider providing programming and materials to encourage healthful attitudes, in addition to focusing on general nutrition information. Moreover, our sample relied heavily on health professionals, friends and family, and books or videos for infant feeding information, so Extension professionals should consider targeting other influential groups in addition to targeting parents directly
Variables Affecting First-Time Parents\u27 Feeding Behaviors
After deciding whether to breastfeed or formula feed, parents must determine when to introduce solid foods. We examined feeding behaviors of 131 first-time parents, applying the theory of planned behavior to our investigation. Results indicated that parents\u27 attitudes influenced infant feeding behavior at 6 months old. Therefore, Extension professionals should consider providing programming and materials to encourage healthful attitudes, in addition to focusing on general nutrition information. Moreover, our sample relied heavily on health professionals, friends and family, and books or videos for infant feeding information, so Extension professionals should consider targeting other influential groups in addition to targeting parents directly
Online Professional Development for Child Care Providers: Do They Have Appropriate Access to and Comfort with the Internet?
With the expansion of online trainings today, Extension professionals have an opportunity to reach child care providers in more convenient ways. However, having convenient, reliable Internet access can be a barrier to online training for some child care providers, especially those with limited financial resources. This study investigated child care providersā ability to access online training through convenient, reliable Internet access by asking 494 child care providers in Georgia about their access to and comfort with the Internet. Participants completed a brief 12-question survey that included questions about their Internet access and use for both personal and professional purposes (i.e., whether or not they have Internet access, where they have access, how often they use it, and how comfortable they feel using it). The majority of child care providers reported having Internet access (89.68%) and feeling comfortable using the Internet (68.62%), and therefore, have the technological resources to participate in online professional development
Family experiences of engagement in inclusive childcare programs for toddlers
Previous research has explored family engagement experiences and practices in childcare programs. The purpose of this study was to explore family membersā experiences related to their engagement in decision-making processes across various inclusive, toddler childcare programs. Five early educators and eight parents participated in the study. Four parents had a child with a diagnosed disability or developmental delays, were at-risk for developmental delays, and/or received speech, occupational, or physical therapy. Eligible early educators participating in the study taught toddlers (18 to 30 months) in a private, faith-based, or university childcare program. A semi-structured interview style was used to collect family participant responses. The early educatorsā inclusive practice indicator rubric scores previously collected from the larger grant funded project were used to triangulate data. Through a phenomenological qualitative design, this study gained a better understanding of familiesā decision-making experiences, facilitators and barriers that may impact family engagement, and opportunities early educators have provided or not provided to encourage family engagement in inclusive, toddler childcare programs
Fit for work? Health, employability and challenges for the UK welfare reform agenda
This article introduces a special issue of Policy Studies entitled āFit for work? Health, employability and challenges for the UK welfare reform agendaā. Growing from a shared concern over the need to expand the evidence base around the processes that led to large numbers of people claiming disability benefits in the UK, it brings together contributions from leading labour market and social policy researchers providing evidence and commentary on major reforms to Incapacity Benefit (IB) in the UK. This special issue address three key questions: what are the main causes of the long-term rise in the number of people claiming IBs; what will reduce the number of claimants; and what is likely to deliver policy effectively and efficiently? This introduction first explains and examines the challenges to reforms to IB in the UK, and then, in conclusion, highlights the answers to the previous three questions ā first, labour market restructuring and marginalisation have driven the rise in numbers claiming IBs. Second, economic regeneration in the Britainās less prosperous areas coupled with intensive and sustained supply-side support measures will bring numbers down. Third, delivery need to be flexible and tailored to individual needs and needs to be able to access local and expert knowledge in a range of organisations, including Job Centre Plus, the NHS as well as the private and voluntary sectors
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Implementing AAC with children with profound and multiple learning disabilities: a study in rationale underpinning intervention
There is a developing research base to support the rationale underpinning augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) for people with learning disabilities. However, there is a paucity of research examining the process involved in implementing AAC support for people who have profound disabilities. This paper seeks to explore the processes involved in planning and implementing AAC systems to support the communication of two six year olds with profound and multiple learning disabilities. Following assessment, a plan of intervention involving specific implementation of objects of reference, gestures and signs was implemented to enhance communication opportunities for both children. Both children improved their communication skills through use of specific AAC supports. Results suggest that important aspects to include when planning intervention are understanding the level of each childās cognition in relation to their receptive abilities, and a consistent, collaborative approach where strategies are agreed between team members. Specific challenges are discussed
Baseline Affective Experiences and Valence Asymmetry in Emotional Differentiation
The proposed study will look at one of the potential mechanisms underlying
increased emotional differentiation for negative emotions. The hypothesis of the
current study is that individuals will experience greater differentiation for
any type of valenced state (degree of negativity or positivity) that is a shift
from their baseline. To test this hypothesis, this research examined the impact
of positive or negative affect induction on differentiation for positive or
negative emotions.Bachelor of Art
Microflare Heating of a Solar Active Region Observed with NuSTAR, Hinode/XRT, and SDO/AIA
NuSTAR is a highly sensitive focusing hard X-ray (HXR) telescope and has
observed several small microflares in its initial solar pointings. In this
paper, we present the first joint observation of a microflare with NuSTAR and
Hinode/XRT on 2015 April 29 at ~11:29 UT. This microflare shows heating of
material to several million Kelvin, observed in Soft X-rays (SXRs) with
Hinode/XRT, and was faintly visible in Extreme Ultraviolet (EUV) with SDO/AIA.
For three of the four NuSTAR observations of this region (pre-, decay, and post
phases) the spectrum is well fitted by a single thermal model of 3.2-3.5 MK,
but the spectrum during the impulsive phase shows additional emission up to 10
MK, emission equivalent to A0.1 GOES class. We recover the differential
emission measure (DEM) using SDO/AIA, Hinode/XRT, and NuSTAR, giving
unprecedented coverage in temperature. We find the pre-flare DEM peaks at ~3 MK
and falls off sharply by 5 MK; but during the microflare's impulsive phase the
emission above 3 MK is brighter and extends to 10 MK, giving a heating rate of
about erg s. As the NuSTAR spectrum is purely
thermal we determined upper-limits on the possible non-thermal bremsstrahlung
emission. We find that for the accelerated electrons to be the source of the
heating requires a power-law spectrum of with a low energy
cut-off keV. In summary, this first NuSTAR microflare
strongly resembles much more powerful flares.Comment: Accepted for publication in ApJ. 14 pages with 12 figures and 1 tabl
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