Lifting the veil of invisiblity: an interpretative phenomenological study of student perception as related to resiliency

This interactive phenomenological study was an attempt to understand how marginalized, low socioeconomic students in a predominately white suburban school were able to succeed to graduation and beyond. Six students were interviewed using semi-structured questions in an audio-recorded interview while the researcher annotated body language, emotions, and pauses of the participant. The perceptions of the students were examined in relation to Buber\u27s existential I-Thou relational theory as well as other care-oriented educators such as Freire, Dewey, and Nel Noddings. Also informing the conceptual framework of the study were Milstein and others regarding resiliency. Significant themes emerged from the participants\u27 narratives; however, rather than the expected prevailing theme of resiliency, something unexpected emerged. The participants all discussed the necessity of mattering to someone, of being heard and seen. This prevailing theme is what transformed the lives of these young people and gave them the inner strength to cope with often devastating events in their lives

Instream flow methodologies: an evaluation of the Tennant method for higher gradient streams in the national forest system lands in the western U.S.

2006 Fall.Includes bibliographical references.In 1976 Donald Tennant introduced a method for determining instream flow requirements for fish, known as the 'Montana method', or more commonly the Tennant method. The method uses a percentage of average annual flow (AAF) to determine fish habitat quality. From 58 cross sections from 11 streams in Montana, Nebraska, and Wyoming, Tennant concluded that 10% of AAF is the minimum for short term fish survival, 30% of AAF is considered to be able to sustain fair survival conditions, and 60% of AAF is excellent to outstanding habitat. These quantities are employed internationally, regardless of physical and hydrologic setting, due to the simplicity of using only the average annual hydrograph. The purpose of the current study was to determine under what conditions Tennant's fixed percent AAF values apply, to specifically evaluate Tennant's original width, depth, and velocity measurements, to evaluate the applicability of Tennant's percent of AAF, as compared to other methods of determining minimum instream flows, and to determine if there are regional characteristics that relate to the applicability of the Tennant method. Tennant's method was tested to see if percent AAF actually can be used as a surrogate for other hydraulic measures, such as width, depth, and velocity. These physical parameters have been used in other studies to quantify instream flow used for fish. The two other methods that were used in the comparisons were the wetted perimeter method and the physical habitat simulation system (PHABSIM). A set of regional characteristics were used to look for region specific patterns. These characteristics including: stream type, state, ecoregion, and hydro-climatic regime. A total of 151 cross sections were analyzed on seventy river segments throughout the western U.S. (California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Utah, and Washington). The streams were classified as pool-riffle, plane bed, step-pool, and dune-ripple. This study will offer resource managers additional information on the applicability of the Tennant method for determining instream flow needs for the physical, biological, and social setting. This study concluded that Tennant's original dataset was not representative of streams in the western United States. Data collected from lower gradient streams in Nebraska followed the patterns set forth by Tennant much more closely, and therefore the Tennant method is more applicable in similar low gradient streams (slope less than 1%). In higher gradient streams the use of the Tennant method should be with caution and be restricted to planning stages of instream flow recommendations. Further validation and method adaptation is recommended when using the Tennant method for higher gradient stream types. The Tennant method should be used in instream flow protection scenarios and not in restoration scenarios because of the method's assumption that the current average annual hydrograph represents the optimal fish habitat

Nonexpansive directions in the Jeandel-Rao Wang shift

We show that $\{0,\varphi+3,-3\varphi+2,-\varphi+\frac{5}{2}\}$ is the set of slopes of nonexpansive directions for a minimal subshift in the Jeandel-Rao Wang shift, where $\varphi=(1+\sqrt{5})/2$ is the golden mean. This set is a topological invariant allowing to distinguish the Jeandel-Rao Wang shift from other subshifts. Moreover, we describe the combinatorial structure of the two resolutions of the Conway worms along the nonexpansive directions in terms of irrational rotations of the unit interval. The introduction finishes with pictures of nonperiodic Wang tilings corresponding to what Conway called the cartwheel tiling in the context of Penrose tilings. The article concludes with open questions regarding the description of octopods and essential holes in the Jeandel-Rao Wang shift.Comment: v1: 24 pages, 19 figures; v2: 30 pages, 23 figures, new section with open questions on octopods and essential holes; v3: small fixe

Dynamic Characterization of the Crew Module Uprighting System for NASAs Orion Crew Module

The Orion Crew Module Uprighting System is a set of five airbag that are responsible for the uprighting of the crew module in the case of an inverted splashdown. A series of tests during the Underway Recovery Test 7 (URT-7) were run in preparation for the Artemis I mission, where the dynamic characterization of the CMUS in an ocean wave environment was performed. A Datawell Waverider DWR-G4 wave buoy was deployed to the characterize the wave environment during these tests. The heave measurements from this buoy were projected to the Orion Crew Module Buoyancy Test Article location by two different methods: (1) directly time-shifting the data, and (2) performing a frequency-domain, phase-shifting operation. Results demonstrate that the phase-shifting operation led to better correlation with the true crew module response to wave excitation as compared with the purely time-shifted method. Additionally, a novel approach to localize an object in a bidirectional wave field based on its heave response is presented and validated with URT- 7 data. Given a wave measurement device at a known location, one can estimate the relative distance to another object based solely off its heave response. Results show that if signals have sufficiently good correlation, this method can be used to estimate the relative separation between two objects in the same wave field

Deterministic and stochastic modeling of the water entry and descent of three-dimensional cylindrical bodies

Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Ocean Engineering, 2005.Includes bibliographical references (p. 67-70).An effective physics-based model has been developed that is capable of reliably predicting the motion of a three-dimensional mine-shaped object impacting the water surface from air and subsequently dropping through the water toward the sea bottom. This deterministic model, MINE6D, accounts for six-degree-of-freedom motions of the body. MINE6D allows for physics-based modeling of hydrodynamic effects due to water impact, viscous drag associated with flow separation and vortex shedding, air entrainment, and realistic flow environments. Unlike existing tools that are limited to plane motions only, MINE6D captures the myriad of complex three-dimensional motions of cylindrical mines observed in field and laboratory experiments. In particular, accounting for the three-dimensional viscous drag and air entrainment cavity produces an accurate prediction of the velocity, trajectory, and orientation of mines freely dropping in the water. The model development and effects on body motion are presented for both viscous drag and air entrainment cavities.(cont.) Monte Carlo simulation using MINE6D is then used to obtain statistical characterization of mine motions in practical environments. These statistical results are not only the essential input for stochastic bottom impact and burial predictions of mines but also important for the design of mines.by Jennifer L. Mann.S.M

Are we there yet? Exploring the journey to quality stroke care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in rural and remote Queensland

Introduction: The burden of stroke for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia is significant. The National Stroke Foundation has identified that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are more likely to have a stroke at a younger age than the non-Indigenous population and are twice as likely for stroke to result in death, and that those Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in rural and remote areas are less likely to have access to an acute stroke unit. The only acute stroke unit in Far North Queensland treats six times more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients than the Queensland average, a large proportion of whom reside in the rural and remote communities of the Cape and Torres Strait. This article describes part of the qualitative phase of a project titled Culturally appropriate stroke services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people', received Closing the Gap funding to identify the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stroke survivors in Far North Queensland and establish a model of care that is responsive to these needs. Method: Data were collected from 24 stroke survivors, 10 carers and 70 stakeholders through surveys. The surveys incorporated open-ended questions and were administered through face to face interviews with participants from across 18 diverse Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities within Far North Queensland. Guided by the principles of thematic analysis the data were coded, categories created and themes and subthemes identified. Results: This study emphasises the need for an inclusive coordinated and culturally responsive approach to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stroke care that values the role of the client, their family and community. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander liaison officer has a pivotal role within the multidisciplinary team. Resources specific to the language, literacy and cultural needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stroke survivors are required as is advocacy for the availability and use of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander language interpreters. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stroke survivors have limited opportunity to fulfil their rehabilitation potential after hospital discharge. Conclusion: An integrated patient centred model of care that spans the care continuum and places value on an extended role for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health worker workforce is indicated, as is an increased utilisation of allied health and specialist follow-up close to home

A randomised controlled trial of a cognitive behavioural intervention for women who have menopausal symptoms following breast cancer treatment (MENOS 1): Trial protocol

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>This trial aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a group cognitive behavioural intervention to alleviate menopausal symptoms (hot flushes and night sweats) in women who have had breast cancer treatment. Hot flushes and night sweats are highly prevalent but challenging to treat in this population. Cognitive behaviour therapy has been found to reduce these symptoms in well women and results of an exploratory trial suggest that it might be effective for breast cancer patients. Two hypotheses are tested:</p> <p>Compared to usual care, group cognitive behavioural therapy will:</p> <p>1. Significantly reduce the problem rating and frequency of hot flushes and nights sweats after six weeks of treatment and at six months post-randomisation.</p> <p>2. Improve mood and quality of life after six weeks of treatment and at six months post-randomisation.</p> <p>Methods/Design</p> <p>Ninety-six women who have completed their main treatment for breast cancer and who have been experiencing problematic hot flushes and night sweats for over two months are recruited into the trial from oncology and breast clinics in South East London. They are randomised to either six weekly group cognitive behavioural therapy (Group CBT) sessions or to usual care. Group CBT includes information and discussion about hot flushes and night sweats in the context of breast cancer, monitoring and modifying precipitants, relaxation and paced respiration, stress management, cognitive therapy for unhelpful thoughts and beliefs, managing sleep and night sweats and maintaining changes.</p> <p>Prior to randomisation women attend a clinical interview, undergo 24-hour sternal skin conductance monitoring, and complete questionnaire measures of hot flushes and night sweats, mood, quality of life, hot flush beliefs and behaviours, optimism and somatic amplification. Post-treatment measures (sternal skin conductance and questionnaires) are collected six to eight weeks later and follow-up measures (questionnaires and a use of medical services measure) at six months post-randomisation.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>MENOS 1 is the first randomised controlled trial of cognitive behavioural therapy for hot flushes and night sweats that measures both self-reported and physiologically indexed symptoms. The results will inform future clinical practice by developing an evidence-based, non-medical treatment, which can be delivered by trained health professionals.</p> <p>Trial Registration</p> <p>Current Controlled Trials <a href="http://www.controlled-trials.com/ISRCTN13771934">ISRCTN13771934</a></p

The Coast As A Vernacular Region

The study of regions and regional identity is one of the cornerstones of the field of geography. Historically within regionally-based research, there has been interest in vernacular regions and the use of business names as a data source for mapping patterns in regional identity. However, few studies of regional identity and names have taken full advantage of digital methods and the use of powerful online databases and GIS/mapping software. ReferenceUSA, an electronic database was used to collect all business names in the United States that contain the term coast(al). Once data were collected and cleaned, two distinctive avenues of analysis were conducted.   The first was a quantitative mapping of coast(al) business name patterns, finding that even inland establishments identify themselves with the coast. Several maps were produced to visualize the distribution and frequency of coast(al) named businesses and to better understand the spatial patterns of people's identification with the coast as a vernacular region. The second avenue is more of a qualitative image analysis of place naming and branding. Analysis has been done to examine how the physical environment is incorporated into a people's sense of place and why the coast is such a popular and powerful symbol.  M.A

Impact of an integrated community-based model of care for older people with complex conditions on hospital emergency presentations and admissions: a step-wedged cluster randomized trial

Background: Health systems must reorient towards preventative and co-ordinated care to reduce hospital demand and achieve positive and fiscally responsible outcomes for older persons with complex needs. Integrated care models can improve outcomes by aligning primary practice with the specialist health and social services required to manage complex needs. This paper describes the impact of a community-facing program that integrates care at the primary-secondary interface on the rate of Emergency Department (ED) presentation and hospital admissions among older people with complex needs. Methods: The Older Persons Enablement and Rehabilitation for Complex Health Conditions (OPEN ARCH) study is a multicentre randomised controlled trial with a stepped wedge cluster design. General practitioners (GPs; n = 14) in primary practice within the Cairns region are considered ‘clusters’ each comprising a mixed number of participants. 80 community-dwelling persons over 70 years of age if non-Indigenous and over 50 years of age if Indigenous were included at baseline with no new participants added during the study. Clusters were randomly assigned to one of three steps that represent the time at which they would commence the OPEN ARCH intervention, and the subsequent intervention duration (3, 6, or 9 months). Each participant was its own control. GPs and participants were not blinded. The primary outcomes were ED presentations and hospital admissions. Data were collected from Queensland Health Casemix data and analysed with multilevel mixed-effects Poisson regression modelling to estimate the effectiveness of the OPEN ARCH intervention. Data were analysed at the cluster and participant levels. Results: Five clusters were randomised to steps 1 and 2, and 4 clusters randomised to step 3. All clusters (n = 14) completed the trial accounting for 80 participants. An effect size of 9% in service use (95% CI) was expected. The OPEN ARCH intervention was found to not make a statistically significant difference to ED presentations or admissions. However, a stabilising of ED presentations and a trend toward lower hospitalisation rates over time was observed. Conclusions: While this study detected no statistically significant change in ED presentations or hospital admissions, a plateauing of ED presentation and admission rates is a clinically significant finding for older persons with complex needs. Multi-sectoral integrated programs of care require an adequate preparation period and sufficient duration of intervention for effectiveness to be measured