1. Determination of Manganese in Biological Samples. 2. Studies of the Effects of Aluminum and Decaying Vegetation on Aquatic Life Exposed to Acidity.

Part One. Determination of Manganese in Sweat and Urine. A method has been developed for the direct determination of manganese in perspiration using graphite furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy. This method was applied to a study of manganese concentrations in perspiration and urine samples. Concentrations of manganese found in sweat were significantly higher than the concentrations in urine. Determination of the chemical form of manganese in sweat was attempted. Analysis of sweat using anodic stripping voltammetry strongly indicated that the manganese was organically bound. In addition the potential of interfacing liquid chromatography and inductively coupled plasma emission spectroscopy for the speciation of metal complexes was shown. Part Two. Effects of Aluminum and Decaying Vegetation on Aquatic Life Exposed to Acidity. Acid rain is a pollutant that can kill fish and other form of aquatic life. At pH 7.0 the fish survived irrespective of the aluminum concentration. However, at pH 5.0 and 4.5 the presence of aluminum increased toxicity. The decomposition products of leaves had several modifying effects on the toxicity of pH and aluminum. Decaying leaves increased the pH of water from 4.5 to about 6, which is considered to be a safe pH for fish survival. In addition, the buffer capacity of the waters increased significantly. A method for the speciation of aluminum in freshwater was developed using Chelex-100. This method allowed the determination of ionic forms and organically complexed forms of aluminum. This method was applied to the study of aluminum in leafwater. The degree of complexation varied with the leaf species and the concentration of the decomposition products. Furthermore, the effect of leaf decomposition products on the toxicity of aluminum was investigated at pH 4.5 and 5.0. Leafwater had no effect of the toxicity of 100 ppm aluminum and pH 4.5. However, leafwater was observed to mitigate the toxic synergistic effect of aluminum at pH 5.0. The toxic effect of aluminum on fish was significantly decreased presumably because the decomposition products complexed the aluminum creating a non-toxic form. This work has provided a basis for further study and may lead to the formulation of a natural buffering or complexing agent capable of providing protection to our lakes and waterways

Accreditation Criteria and Forensics: Essential Principles for Directors of Forensics

Assessment pressures abound for all institutions of higher learning. During her tenure as Secretary of Education, Margaret Spellings frequently called for transparency and greater accountability in our colleges and universities. This paper review each of the criteria for accreditation established by the Higher Learning Commission, putting our teams and events to the test to determine our activity\u27s ability to meet each of the criteria and contribute to our academic mission, vision, and objectives. The skills and knowledge derived from forensics, in particular the limited preparation events, provide evidence of engaging and challenging our students and creating effective learning environments for students who live and work in a global, diverse, and technological society

Fall Prevention in Acute Psychiatric Patients

Patient falls have been an issue in hospital settings for many years. Patient falls not only lead to increased costs for the hospital, but affects the safety and care for patients. Many studies have assessed potential, contributable factors leading to falls, fall risk assessment tools, and fall prevention interventions in different settings. However, there are limited studies done in inpatient psychiatric settings. The acute-psychiatric unit at a large metropolitan hospital has seen an increase in falls in the last year, yet current interventions have not addressed this issue. The purpose of this project is to conduct an assessment of the unit’s current fall risk assessment tool, interventions, and processes, while collecting and analyzing data of each fall and patients who have fallen. The results will help determine potential causes to the increased falls and help lead to solutions that can prevent future falls. Data was collected from patients’ chart reviews, Unusual Occurrence Reports, and RN interviews. Analysis of data show that many patients were not identified as a fall risk at the time of his or her fall, while nurses on the unit had differing definitions of the current falls protocol and policy on the unit. The following interventions are recommended: education on the use of a fall risk assessment tool that is appropriate for the acute-psychiatric population, instead of the current Schmid Fall Risk Assessment Tool that is used for all departments of the hospital and training for nurses on the unit to provide a clearer understanding of the unit’s falls protocol and policy and fall prevention interventions

A quantitative assessment of variation in Holocene Khoesan crania from South Africa's western, south-western, southern and south-eastern coasts and coastal forelands

Includes bibliographical references (leaves 274-325)

Analisis Penggunaan Reinforced Set-on Branch 12”-12”-6” pada Proses Hot-Tapping

Abstract - One of the state-owned companies engaged in the processing and distribution of oil and gas aims to replace the pipeline network that is almost beyond its design life so that it requires hot-tapping to create branches without shutting down the operating system. The branch type reinforced set-on branch is selected to connect pipes 12”-12”-6”. Practical calculations need to be made to ensure safety in the hot-tapping process. The first stage is the calculation of the minimum required thickness, the resul was 0.312 mm. The calculation of the heat input generated from the fillet weld reinforced set on branch was 651.71 mm. Welding on the reinforced set-on branch causes part of the existing pipe wall to melt or decrease (penetration depth) was 1.25 mm so that the available thickness of the pipe was 4.7 mm. The calculated normal stress value, whether it is a manual calculation or through the ANSYS software, is below the maximum allowable stress so that it is declared safe. Based on the procurement and workmanship, the estimated cost of hot-tapping using a reinforced set-on branch is Rp 326,668,300. The branch type reinforced set-on branch is self-fabricated by the related party (contractor) so that it saves more costs

Efecto de un programa de intervención en los procesos y estrategias para la comprensión lectora en estudiantes de 5º y 6º grado

Background: Various investigations have revealed that the promotion of cognitive and metacognitive strategies can improve reading comprehension and that when readers receive this type of instruction, they can use monitoring processes and regulation strategies adequately. The goal of this work is to analyze the effects of strategic and metacognitive instruction on reading comprehension processes and strategies, using the "Aprender a Comprender" [Learning to Understand] program. Method: Instruction was carried out in the classroom by two teachers during six months. Ninety-four students participated, 49 from 5th grade and 45 from 6th grade. A pretest-intervention-posttest-follow-up design was used with a comparison group by grade. Results: The analysis of variance shows an impact of the intervention and its differential maintenance in each grade. The 5th-grade intervention group scored higher than the comparison group in the reading comprehension test, both at posttest and at follow-up. The 6th-grade intervention group scored higher than the comparison group in the Planning scale, both at posttest and at follow-up. Conclusions: Textual strategy instruction favors reading comprehension and the progressive development of planning, which is necessary for supervision and regulation, and its effects are maintained over time.Antecedentes: diferentes investigaciones han evidenciado que el fomento de estrategias cognitivas y metacognitivas puede mejorar la comprensión lectora y su instrucción favorece la utilización adecuada de los procesos de monitoreo y de las estrategias de regulación. El objetivo del estudio es analizar los efectos de la instrucción estratégica y metacognitiva con el programa “Aprender a Comprender” en los procesos y estrategias para la comprensión lectora. Método: la instrucción se llevó a cabo durante seis meses, en el aula, a cargo de dos docentes. Participaron 94 escolares, 49 de 5º grado y 45 de 6º grado. Se utilizó un diseño pretest-intervenciónpostest-seguimiento con un grupo de comparación por grado. Resultados: los análisis de varianza muestran un impacto de la intervención y su mantenimiento diferencial en cada grado. Los estudiantes del grupo de intervención de 5º grado puntuaron más alto en la prueba de comprensión lectora en postest y en el seguimiento. Los del grupo de intervención de 6º grado puntuaron más alto en la escala de planifi cación tanto en postest como en el seguimiento. Conclusiones: la instrucción estratégica textual favorece la comprensión lectora y el progresivo desarrollo de la planifi cación necesaria para su supervisión y regulación, manteniendo sus efectos en el tiempo.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The Flying Fish Persistent Ocean Surveillance Platform

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/77030/1/AIAA-2009-1902-584.pd