Analysis of the quasi-nonlocal approximation of linear and circular chains in the plane

We give an analysis of the stability and displacement error for linear and circular atomistic chains in the plane when the atomistic energy is approximated by the Cauchy-Born continuum energy and by the quasi-nonlocal atomistic-to-continuum coupling energy. We consider atomistic energies that include Lennard-Jones type nearest neighbor and next nearest neighbor pair-potential interactions. Previous analyses for linear chains have shown that the Cauchy-Born and quasi-nonlocal approximations reproduce (up to the order of the lattice spacing) the atomistic lattice stability for perturbations that are constrained to the line of the chain. However, we show that the Cauchy-Born and quasi-nonlocal approximations give a finite increase for the lattice stability of a linear or circular chain under compression when general perturbations in the plane are allowed. We also analyze the increase of the lattice stability under compression when pair-potential energies are augmented by bond-angle energies. Our estimates of the largest strain for lattice stability (the critical strain) are sharp (exact up to the order of the lattice scale). We then use these stability estimates and modeling error estimates for the linearized Cauchy-Born and quasi-nonlocal energies to give an optimal order (in the lattice scale) {\em a priori} error analysis for the approximation of the atomistic strain in $\ell^2_\epsilon$ due to an external force.Comment: 27 pages, 0 figure

Effects of Patient-Directed Music Intervention on Anxiety and Sedative Exposure in Critically Ill Patients Receiving Mechanical Ventilatory Support: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Importance: Alternatives to sedative medications, such as music, may alleviate the anxiety associated with ventilatory support. Objective: To test whether listening to self-initiated patient-directed music (PDM) can reduce anxiety and sedative exposure during ventilatory support in critically ill patients. Design, Setting, and Patients: Randomized clinical trial that enrolled 373 patients from 12 intensive care units (ICUs) at 5 hospitals in the Minneapolis-St Paul, Minnesota, area receiving acute mechanical ventilatory support for respiratory failure between September 2006 and March 2011. Of the patients included in the study, 86% were white, 52% were female, and the mean (SD) age was 59 (14) years. The patients had a mean (SD) Acute Physiology, Age and Chronic Health Evaluation III score of 63 (21.6) and a mean (SD) of 5.7 (6.4) study days. Interventions: Self-initiated PDM (n = 126) with preferred selections tailored by a music therapist whenever desired while receiving ventilatory support, self-initiated use of noise-canceling headphones (NCH; n = 122), or usual care (n = 125). Main Outcomes and Measures: Daily assessments of anxiety (on 100-mm visual analog scale) and 2 aggregate measures of sedative exposure (intensity and frequency). Results: Patients in the PDM group listened to music for a mean (SD) of 79.8 (126) (median [range], 12 [0-796]) minutes/day. Patients in the NCH group wore the noise-abating headphones for a mean (SD) of 34.0 (89.6) (median [range], 0 [0-916]) minutes/day. The mixed-models analysis showed that at any time point, patients in the PDM group had an anxiety score that was 19.5 points lower (95% CI, −32.2 to −6.8) than patients in the usual care group (P = .003). By the fifth study day, anxiety was reduced by 36.5% in PDM patients. The treatment × time interaction showed that PDM significantly reduced both measures of sedative exposure. Compared with usual care, the PDM group had reduced sedation intensity by −0.18 (95% CI, −0.36 to −0.004) points/day (P = .05) and had reduced frequency by −0.21 (95% CI, −0.37 to −0.05) points/day (P = .01). The PDM group had reduced sedation frequency by −0.18 (95% CI, −0.36 to −0.004) points/day vs the NCH group (P = .04). By the fifth study day, the PDM patients received 2 fewer sedative doses (reduction of 38%) and had a reduction of 36% in sedation intensity. Conclusions and Relevance: Among ICU patients receiving acute ventilatory support for respiratory failure, PDM resulted in greater reduction in anxiety compared with usual care, but not compared with NCH. Concurrently, PDM resulted in greater reduction in sedation frequency compared with usual care or NCH, and greater reduction in sedation intensity compared with usual care, but not compared with NCH. Trial Registration: clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00440700 Critically ill mechanically ventilated patients receive intravenous sedative and analgesic medications to reduce anxiety and promote comfort and ventilator synchrony. These potent medications are often administered at high doses for prolonged periods and are associated with adverse effects such as bradycardia, hypotension, gut dysmotility, immobility, weakness, and delirium.1-3 Despite protocols and sedation assessment tools that guide clinicians, patients still experience significant levels of anxiety.4,5 Unrelieved anxiety and fear are not only unpleasant symptoms that clinicians want to palliate, but increased sympathetic nervous system activity can cause dyspnea and increased myocardial oxygen demand.6 Sustained anxiety and sympathetic nervous system activation can decrease the ability to concentrate, rest, or relax.6,7 Mechanically ventilated patients have little control over pharmacological interventions to relieve anxiety; dosing and frequency of sedative and analgesic medications are controlled by intensive care unit (ICU) clinicians. Interventions are needed that reduce anxiety, actively involve patients, and minimize the use of sedative medications. Nonpharmacological interventions such as relaxing music are effective in reducing anxiety while reducing medication administration.8,9 Music is a powerful distractor that can alter perceived levels of anxiety10 by occupying attention channels in the brain with meaningful, auditory stimuli11 rather than stressful environmental stimuli. Listening to preferred, relaxing music has reduced anxiety in mechanically ventilated patients in limited trials.12-15 It is not known if music can reduce anxiety throughout the course of ventilatory support, or reduce exposure to sedative medications. We evaluated if a patient-directed music (PDM) intervention could reduce anxiety and sedative exposure in ICU patients receiving mechanical ventilation

No Child Left Behind and the Highly Qualified Teacher : Perceptions of Teachers and Parents

The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB) was signed into law on January 8th, 2002. It appears that in an effort to comply with No Child Left Behind, my school district displaced me from my former secondary teaching position, where I taught students with autism, to an elementary, Emotionally/Behaviorally Disordered (E/BD) position. As an educator and parent, I was not properly informed about the educational act, so I took it upon myself to find out more. This paper will look into NCLB and ask fellow cooperating teachers and parents of students in my program what they know about NCLB. Using the qualitative research method, teachers and parents were asked to share what they knew about NCLB and the highly qualified teacher through interviews and sureys. These perceptions, explanations, and experiences will be documented and analyzed throughout this action research paper

Needs Assessment on Homeless Women

The purpose of this study was to explore the needs of homeless women. This survey included 32 women, who were enrolled in a Transitional Housing Program during 1995. Data collection questionnaire. The collection involved a self-administered questionnaire. The collected data covers several areas: (1) the needs of homeless women from their perspective, (2) improvement in service delivery, and (3) intervention strategies. Of the women surveyed 71.9% were African-American, 12.5% were Caucasian, and 15.6% were Native American. The average age was 25-34. Approximately, 62.5% of the women were single, and never married. And, the women averaged 3-5 children each. Surprisingly, 34.4% of the women have acquired permanent housing. Of the women surveyed 46% were only in transitional housing for 1-4 months. Transitional housing was not utilized as long because the women met their goals quickly. The women cited nine services they needed but, did not receive. The services were (1) support from staff, (2) transportation, (3) financial assistance, (4) furniture, (5) moving assistance, (6) child care, (7) employment, (8) housing, and (9) other resources. Three major responses were cited by the women to meet their needs, and improve transitional housing services. (1) the staff\u27s attitude, (2) more information on available resources, and (3) financial assistance. These women require more ongoing support form transitional housing staff, family, and social networks

An Evaluation of the Freshman Academy\u27s Programs Effectiveness to Provide a Smaller Community Environment

Large schools of 1000 + students have become very prevalent. Studies have shown, however, that small size and tight-knit structured learning communities allow the school to give increased amounts of attention to students (Cotton, 1996). In larges chools, a sense of anonymity prevails causing students to feel disconnected and without roots, sometimes leading to frustration, anger and rage. As the last few years have shown, the results are violence, anti-social behavior and other serious violations of community rules. Research has shown that small schools have a better chance of meeting the needs of these disenfranchised adolescents by giving them roots and a place to belong(Sommers 1997). The purpose of this study was to examine the Freshman Academy Program at the high school in suburban Eden Prairie, Minnesota. The focus of inquiry is to evaluate the programs effectiveness of fostering a smaller community like setting, providing more support services, and increasing adult/student contact for the 9th grade student body. Research for the study was done by a triangulation approach of 1) gathering primary and secondary source data, 2) examining existing surveys, and 3) drawing from school dialogue and meeting minutes

What Factors Influence the Racial Identity Development of Young Biracial Adults

This study explored biracial identity development and the key factors that influence the racial identity development of biracial young adults. In this study biracial is defined as having parents who are African-American and Euro-American. The study participants were fourteen biracial college students between the age of 18 and 26. Data for the study was collected using indepth individual interviews. Participants\u27 perceptions of when their racial identity emerged and their current attitudes about being biracial in todays society was also examined. The majority of participants reported that the right and opportunity of racial choice was a predominate issue that contributed to their racial identity development. Furthermore, the majority of respondents indicated that family, peers, and access to diverse communities were key elements that contributed to their racial identity development. The results of this study provide insight into the developmental stages of these participants\u27 racial identity formation. Results of this study will provide social workers with an understanding of and insight into the main factors which influence the racial identity development process of bi or multiracial children

Evaluation of School Social Worker Tasks and Activities

The purpose of this study was to ascertain school social workers’ perception of how frequent they provide the activities of the school social workers job description. It was hypothesized that if school social worker is in one school building 100% of the time, they are able to provide all of the services required in the job description. Thirteen schools social workers indicated how frequent they provide services by percentage of time spent on each task. Overall, school social workers provided indirect social work services such as consultation with school personnel and crisis intervention. Those assigned to one building more individual counseling to students while those assigned to two buildings provided more diagnostic services such as home visits for special education assessment and writing special education reports. The priority of services showed overall consultation with school personnel as the highest rank services. For those workers assigned to one school services were spread out evenly among the tasks. For those workers assigned to two buildings consultation had the highest ranking

Tribal Workers\u27 Knowledge and Perspectives on the Effectiveness of the Indian Child Welfare Act

This exploratory study surveyed tribal workers\u27 perspectives on the effectiveness of the Indian Child Welfare Act. The purpose of this study was to gain front line perspectives from the people who work directly with the enforcement of the Indian Child Welfare Act. Do the various tribal workers involved with this study feel knowledgeable, trained, supported and most of all do they feel the Indian Child Welfare Act has been effective? If not, Why? What changes if any need to be made to ensure the effectiveness of the Indian Child Welfare Act? Questionnaires were mailed to tribal workers employed by eleven reservations located throughout Minnesota. The results were analyzed descriptively. The results indicate a large percent of Minnesota tribal workers are college educated, and although they felt they were knowledgeable about the Indian Child Welfare Act, only two of the 27 tribal workers surveyed answered four basic ICWA questions correctly

Lesbian Mothers\u27 Interaction with the Lesbian Community

Empirical evidence dating back almost 30 years shows no significant differences between children raised by homosexual and heterosexual parents. Now concentration must shift to how lesbian and gay parenting cope and fulfill their parental roles ln the face of multiple discriminations from both the heterosexual and homosexual communities. A format of focus group discussions is a non-threatening method to determine the level of social changes that lesbian mothers experience after children are added to their families. This study concentrates solely on three lesbian mothers. The participants were solicited through newspaper and bulletin board ads and snowball sampling. Major themes that arose include decreased interaction with lesbian social and political groups and increased involvement with institutions defined as heterosexual and other families with heterosexual parents. Given the small nature of the study, the results cannot be generalized but may provide insight into future studies, interventions, and social advocacy on behalf of this group of parents

A Study of What Criteria are Used to Decide on Flexible Funding for Wraparound Services in a Four County Collaborative

Collaboration is being recognized as a successful approach in the service delivery to children and families. The wraparound process is a collaborative approach that is an alternative to traditional services delivery for children with severe emotional disturbances and their families. A primary mechanism for the wraparound process is the availability and accessibility of flexible funds in order to develop and implement non-categorical services, that is, services not already in categories approved for funding. This study explores flexible funding, the criteria used, and perceptions of the decision makers when reviewing an application for flexible funds. The following two research questions are examined: a) What are the criteria used by the decision makers when reviewing an application for flexible funds? and b) What are the perceptions of the decision makers concerning the process of applying those criteria in approving or denying a request for flexible funds? The participants for this study were those individuals who were decision makers for the flexible funding applications in a four county collaborative in the state of Minnesota. The data for this study were collected through a self-administered questionnaire. Thirteen (13) participants responded to the questionnaire. The findings indicate that there are criteria used in approving or denying a request for flexible funds. The most commonly agreed upon criteria was to what degree the use of flexible funds would benefit the family\u27s experience and life as a family