Parents who reapply to a child guidance clinic

Thesis (M.S.)--Boston UniversityThis is a study of thirteen families with an emotionally disturbed child, who reapplied to the Douglas A. Thom Clinic for Children after the termination of a treatment contact. The study explored (1) factors which might reflect that these parents will reapply; (2) factors existing at termination of the first contact which might relate to the bases on which these cases were reaccepted for further treatment, if this occurred; and (3) factors relating to the use of help when they reapplied

The Implications of Chronic Stress on Obesity: Allostatic Load on Body Mass Index (BMI) Classification in the United States, NHANES 2005-2006

ABSTRACT The Implications of Chronic Stress on Obesity: Allostatic Load on Body Mass Index (BMI) Classification in the United States, NHANES 2005-2006 INTRODUCTION: In this modern environment, our world is reflecting an exponential increase in not only population, but in body size. Obesity is an overwhelming public health concern among the United States population. Research has shown there is a positive correlation between adiposity and stress. Allostatic load (AL) has been presented to be a consistent measure of chronic stress damage on the body. Yet, there is few studies exemplifying the presence AL on classification of body mass index (BMI). AIM: The aim of this study is to find a relationship between allostatic load (AL) and body mass index (BMI) classification in the United States adult population on a large national scale. This complex interaction can predetermine who among the US population will be at greater risk for excess adiposity following this psychoneuroendocrinology. METHODS: A representative sample size of n=3826 was gathered using NHANES data (2005-2006). Criteria for sample included all United States adults that had numerical values for 10 biomarkers chosen to represent chronic stress damage (allostatic load) along with individual body mass index (BMI). Allostatic load (low, high) and BMI classification (underweight to class III obese) were further categorized on severity and computed in SPSS to find significance between gradients of each variable (α=.05). Cross-sectional analysis and logistical regression (multivariate) were used to further decipher an association between allostatic load and BMI category. RESULTS: A strong positive correlation between allostatic load risk and BMI category was found (p\u3c.001). Also among the variables in the study, significance was found within the strata of age, gender, race, smoking status and poverty income ratio (PIR). Findings show a strong statistically significant relationship between allostatic load and BMI. DISCUSSION: It is imperative to decipher the directional relationship between stress and obesity to provide effective treatment. Understanding the pathology of how stress affects adiposity could open the door for many clinical and public health interventions to eradicate a very preventable outcome. By addressing the effect of chronic stress, a new avenue of prevention can be developed to combat the growing obesity rates in the United States

Issues and options related to management of Silver Springs rhesus macaques

Management options for the Silver Springs free-ranging rhesus macaque population range from removal to active maintenance of the population in situ. Selection of a management option is dependent upon which issues are perceived to be true problems. Management options are presented along with their effectiveness in dealing with issues previously described.(31 page document

Sea turtle nesting activity along Eglin Air Force Base on Cape San Blas and Santa Rosa Island, Florida from 1994 to 1997.

Along EAFB on Cape San BIas, the only sea turtle species nest observed has been the loggerhead turtle. The first green turtle nest documented along the Florida panhandle coast was observed on EAFB property, however (D. Atencio, EAFB, pers. comm). Santa Rosa Island, located approximately 150 miles west of Cape San BIas supports a small but consistent, group of nesting green turtles (Fig. 2). Although erosion is not as severe along Santa Rosa Island as it is on Cape San BIas, and vehicular traffic is not permitted, sea turtles nesting on this barrier island must survive severe tropical storms, predation, and artificial lighting to be successful. Because this area supports a rare group of nesting green turtles and is disturbed by intense artificial lighting from Air Force missions and adjacent resort towns, continued monitoring is necessary. The sea turtle species that nest along this barrier island, and the human activities that disturb those sea turtles present unique circumstances for management ofthis area. Protection ofthe significant nesting populations of sea turtles on EAFB properties on Cape San BIas and Santa Rosa Island requires yearly monitoring of the nesting activity and the natural and human disturbances influencing the nesting females. The objectives ofthis study were to monitor sea turtle nesting along EAFB on Cape San BIas to determine number of nests and hatching success, assess disturbances, and determine proper management to ensure successful nesting and hatching.(56 page document

Internet Versus Mailed Questionnaires: A Randomized Comparison (2)

BACKGROUND Low response rates among surgeons can threaten the validity of surveys. Internet technologies may reduce the time, effort, and financial resources needed to conduct surveys. OBJECTIVE We investigated whether using Web-based technology could increase the response rates to an international survey. METHODS We solicited opinions from the 442 surgeon–members of the Orthopaedic Trauma Association regarding the treatment of femoral neck fractures. We developed a self-administered questionnaire after conducting a literature review, focus groups, and key informant interviews, for which we used sampling to redundancy techniques. We administered an Internet version of the questionnaire on a Web site, as well as a paper version, which looked similar to the Internet version and which had identical content. Only those in our sample could access the Web site. We alternately assigned the participants to receive the survey by mail (n=221) or an email invitation to participate on the Internet (n=221). Non-respondents in the mail arm received up to three additional copies of the survey, while non-respondents in the Internet arm received up to three additional requests, including a final mailed copy. All participants in the Internet arm had an opportunity to request an emailed Portable Document Format (PDF) version. RESULTS The Internet arm demonstrated a lower response rate (99/221, 45%) than the mail questionnaire arm (129/221, 58%) (absolute difference 13%, 95% confidence interval 4%-22%, P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS. Our Internet-based survey to surgeons resulted in a significantly lower response rate than a traditional mailed survey. Researchers should not assume that the widespread availability and potential ease of Internet-based surveys will translate into higher response rates.Department of Surgery, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canad

Injuries from Electronic Power Sources

In order to understand how the existing products liability law applies to electronic products, it is necessary to examine the methods by which such products are distributed, and the manufacturers\u27 attitude toward the inclusion of safety devices in the production of these products. The four characteristics of electronic products that most affect their legal treatment will be identified and discussed, and the three principal theories most often used for the prosecution of products liability cases will be described herein, with emphasis on the features most likely to be involved in electronic cases

Injuries from Electronic Power Sources

In order to understand how the existing products liability law applies to electronic products, it is necessary to examine the methods by which such products are distributed, and the manufacturers\u27 attitude toward the inclusion of safety devices in the production of these products. The four characteristics of electronic products that most affect their legal treatment will be identified and discussed, and the three principal theories most often used for the prosecution of products liability cases will be described herein, with emphasis on the features most likely to be involved in electronic cases

Impact of Vehicular Traffic on Beach Habitat and Wildlife at Cape San Blas, Florida

Cape San Bias is located on a barrier spit, St. Joseph peninsula, between St. Joseph Bay and the Gulf of Mexico in Gulf County, Florida (Fig. 1). Locally, the name of the cape is often used to refer to the entire peninsula. St. Joseph Peninsula State Park (SJPSP) comprises the northern 10 miles of the 22 mile-long peninsula. This section is closed to development and provides protection for representative coastal habitats, including sand dune and scrub pine. Two other parks are found on the peninsula, Joe B. Rish Park, a state-managed facility for the handicapped, and county-managed Salinas Park. Much of the cape itself falls under the domain of Eglin Air Force Base (AFB) (775 acres), and includes 2.8 miles of shoreline. The remainder of the peninsula is privately owned land developed principally for beach residences. All beach on the peninsula below mean high water is state-owned with Gulf County exercising proprietary jurisdiction. Cape San Bias (outside the state park) is the only area in the Florida panhandle, other than short stretches of shore in Walton County, where beach driving is still allowed. Vehicular access to the shore is managed by Gulf County under a permit system. Although beach driving is valued by local surf anglers and beachfarers, concerns have been raised regarding its effects on beachfarer safety, habitat quality, and wildlife, particularly locally occurring species that are federally listed as endangered or threatened. Eglin AFB property on the cape is believed to provide important regional habitat for a variety of nesting and migrant shorebirds, as well as nesting loggerhead marine turtles (Caretta caretta). The objectives of this study were to (1) determine the magnitude and types of vehicular traffic on Eglin AFB property; (2) assess current knowledge of federally listed species on Cape San Bias to determine distribution, habitat needs and other biological requirements; (3) conduct surveys of marine turtle nesting activities in cooperation with other entities on the peninsula; (4) assess the relationship between human/vehicular disturbance and the federally listed species; (5) conduct a winter survey of federally listed shorebirds on Air Force property; and (6) provide management options. (Document has 58 pages