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Despite a persistent link between homelessness, mental illness, and increased psychiatric hospitalizations, there is a dearth of research examining risk factors for higher utilization of mental hea...

The 1918 “Spanish flu” epidemic has been described as the “most severe pandemic in recent history” (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). Studying the history of that pandemic may provide us...

This study examined the perceived talent development environment (TDE) of youth track and field athletes within the Caribbean region and explores the relationship with their subjective wellbeing and burnout levels. A sample of 400 Caribbean youth track and field athletes (male = 198, and female = 202; age 13-20 years) participated in this cross-sectional study. Athletes responded to a survey which included the Talent Development Environment Questionnaire (TDEQ-5), the World Health Organization Wellbeing Index (WHO-5) and the Athlete Burnout Questionnaire (ABQ). Structural equation modelling showed that a positive and supportive TDE was associated with better athlete wellbeing and lower athlete burnout. Moreover, gender and hours of training moderated relationships of athletes' perceptions of their development environment with wellbeing and burnout levels respectively. Furthermore, there was a positive association between the support network and athlete wellbeing, while holistic quality preparation was negatively associated with athlete burnout. Development environments perceived as supportive and geared towards a holistic athlete-centred approach were associated with better athlete wellbeing and lower burnout.

Although previous work provides evidence that observers experience biases in visual processing when they view stimuli in perihand space, a few recent investigations have questioned the reliability ...

In Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, sand dunes are widespread on the sandy floor of former Glacial Lake Algonquin, and many of the nearby uplands also have thin mantles of loess. Previous work concluded...

Objective/Background: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and related conditions (e.g., depression) are common in Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation New Dawn (OEF/OIF/OND) veterans. High anxiety sensitivity (AS), defined as fear of anxiety and anxiety-related consequences, is related to greater PTSD and depressive symptoms; however, few studies have identified possible modifiers of these associations. The current study examined the moderating role of sleep quality in the associations between AS and PTSD and depressive symptoms. Participants: Participants were 155 OEF/OIF/OND community veterans ages 21-40 (12.3% women). Methods: Participants completed a semi-structured clinical interview for DSM-IV PTSD symptoms (Clinician Administered PTSD Scale; CAPS) and self-report measures of anxiety sensitivity (Anxiety Sensitivity Index), sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index global score; PSQI), and depressive symptoms (Beck Depression Inventory-II; BDI-II). Results: Results of hierarchical linear regression models indicated that the main effects of AS and global PSQI score were significantly associated with greater PTSD and depressive symptoms (both with sleep items removed), above and beyond the covariates of trauma load and military rank. Sleep quality moderated the relationship between AS and PTSD symptoms (but not depressive symptoms), such that greater AS was associated with greater PTSD symptoms for individuals with good sleep quality, but not poor sleep quality. Conclusions: Sleep quality and AS account for unique variance in PTSD and depressive symptoms in combat-exposed veterans. AS may be less relevant to understanding risk for PTSD among combat-exposed veterans experiencing poor sleep quality.

India has the highest-burden of tuberculosis (TB) patients globally and TB control has been the focus of the Government of India’s Revised National TB Control Programme (RNTCP) [1–3]. The National ...

Total electron content (TEC) was investigated using the Nigerian Global Navigation Satellite System Reference Network (NIGNET) global positioning system (GPS) station close to the two communities, ...

In 1988 the Library of Congress and eight library participants undertook a two-year pilot known as the National Coordinated Cataloging Program (NCCP) to increase the number of quality bibliographic...

In Nigeria, paracetamol is readily available in several retail outlets where the conditions of storage can be poor leading to elevated levels of para-aminophenol (PAP), which is known to be nephrotoxic and hepatotoxic. However, the routine analysis of PAP is mostly by chromatographic separation which requires expensive instrumentation not often available in developing countries. The objective of this research was to develop a sensitive colorimetric method for the quantification of PAP in paracetamol. The method was based on the diazo coupling reaction between diazotised PAP and chromotropic acid. Various reaction parameters critical for optimal detector response were optimized. The validation of the new method was done following the determination of parameters including repeatability, reproducibility and selectivity using current ICH guidelines. The new method was also applied to the assay of PAP in 14 paracetamol tablet samples. The calibration was linear between 0.0297 and 0.2229 µg/mL at 470 nm with limits of detection and quantification of 0.0061 and 0.0185 µg/mL, respectively. The recovery was in the range of 95.96 and 102.21 while intra- and inter-day precisions at three different concentrations did not exceed 4.03%. The new method was successfully applied to quantify PAP in paracetamol with percent content varying from 0.14 to 0.21%w/w. A simple and reliable method for the quantification of PAP has been developed and successfully employed to report, for the first time, the presence of the degradation product at levels beyond the allowable limits in paracetamol dosage forms in Nigeria.

Evaluation of online instructors is a developing field of research. Institutions have made great progress in recent years to refine their efforts to evaluate online teaching in order to improve onl...

A new simple, accurate and economic spectrophotometric method based on azo dye derivatization for the determination of gabapentin (GBP) was developed. Critical factors were optimized. The method was validated and assay of dosage forms was done. Spot tests and TLC confirmed the formation of azo adduct. A 0.3 M NaNO2 solution using 2 M HCl was used for diazotization. The optimal temperature and time were 30°C and 10 min. Azo adducts were determined at 430 nm. Methanol was found to be the best solvent. Gabapentin coupled at a ratio of 1:1 with DMAB. The assays of GBP were linear over the range 1–6 µg/mL (r = 0.9973) and LOD of 0.8322 µg/mL. The methods were accurate (error .05). The successful diazotization of gabapentin and the azo adduct formation with DMAB is reported for the first time.

to identify all studies of Karate injuries and assess injury rates, types, location, and causes.Six electronic and four grey literature databases were searched. Two reviewers independently assessed titles/abstracts, abstracted data and assessed risk-of-bias with the Newcastle-Ottawa scale. Average injury rates/1000AE (AE = athletic-encounter) and/1000minutesAE, injury location and type weighted by study size were calculated.In competitions rates of injury/1000AE and/1000 minutesAE were similar for males (111.4/1000AE, 75.4/1000 minAE) and females (105.8/1000AE, 72.8/1000 minAE). Location of injury rates/1000AE for males were 44.0 for head/neck, 11.9 lower extremities, 8.1 torso and 5.4 upper extremities and were similar for females: 41.2 head/neck, 12.4 lower extremities, 9.1 torso and 6.3 upper extremities. Injury rates varied widely by study. Rates/1000AE for type of injury were contusions/abrasions/lacerations/bruises/tooth avulsion for males (68.1) and females (30.4); hematomas/bleeding/epistaxis males (11.4) and females (12.1); strains/sprains males (3.5) and females (0.1); dislocations males (2.9) and females (0.9); concussions males (2.5) and females (3.9); and fractures males (2.9) and females (1.4). Punches were a more common mechanism of injury for males (59.8) than females (40.8) and kicks similar (males 19.7, females 21.7). Weighted averages were not calculated for weight class or belt colour because there were too few studies. Nineteen injury surveys reported annual injury rates from 30% to rates ten times higher but used different reporting methods. Studies provided no data to explain wide rate ranges.Studies need to adopt one injury definition, one data-collection form, and collect comprehensive data for each study for both training and competitions. More data are needed to measure the effect of weight, age and experience on injuries, rates and types of injury during training, and for competitors with high injury rates. RCTs are needed of interventions such as training and feedback of performance data to reduce injury rates.

As children transition from the early to later grades of elementary school, they become increasingly skilled at employing a variety of techniques – such as rehearsal and organizational strategies –...

OBJECTIVE: Trauma exposure is common, with estimates of 28 to 90% of adults reporting at least one traumatic event over their lifetime. Those exposed to traumatic events are at risk for alcohol misuse (i.e., binge drinking), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or both. A potential underlying mechanism for this comorbidity is increased impulsivity—the tendency to act rashly. Little work to date has examined the impact of different impulsogenic traits on this comorbidity. METHODS: This study (n = 162) investigated trauma-exposed young adults (age 21–30) who had endorsed a lifetime interpersonal trauma. Additionally, three impulsogenic traits (motor, non-planning, and attentional) were measured. RESULTS: Over and above the covariates for age, gender, race, and traumatic events, greater attentional impulsivity was associated with greater likelihood of meeting criteria for PTSD and binge drinking, compared to meeting criteria for PTSD, binge drinking, or neither. Neither non-planning impulsivity nor motor impulsivity exerted unique effects. CONCLUSIONS: Young adults who report difficulty attending to immediate stimuli within their environment may be unable to think about and/or process the traumatic event, potentially increasing risk for PTSD and maladaptive coping skills to manage this distress (e.g., alcohol misuse, binge drinking).

To identify all studies of injuries in wrestling, assess risk of bias and compute weighted average injury rates.17 online databases and nine grey literature resources were searched with no language/date limitations. Abstracts were assessed for inclusion and data abstracted independently by two reviewers.Eleven studies of competitions, 27 databases, four surveys (699 wrestlers) and seventeen case reports (604 cases) were included. Studies provided varying completeness of data. Weighted average injury rates of 16.3/1000AE (AE = Athletic encounter) could be computed for 8/11 studies of competitions and 69.5/1000AE for 5/27 databases. Eleven of the databases focused on specific injuries. Weighted average injury rates by location for 8/11 competition studies and 7/16 databases were similar for the upper extremities (competitions 26%, databases 24%) and torso (15%, 12%), but dissimilar for head/neck (31%, 20%) and lower extremities (24%, 39%). Weighted average injury rates by injury type varied from 6/11 to 2/11 competition studies and 6/16 to 3/16 database studies. Percentages were similar for fractures (6%, 7%), dislocations/subluxations (6%, 6%), ligament tears/cartilage injuries (12%, 17%) and concussions/1000AE (2 competition studies, 1 database) in competitions (25%, 27%) and training (5.7%, 7.1%). Percentages were dissimilar for lacerations/abrasions/contusions (23%, 4%) and sprains/strains (38%, 26%). The differences may be due to the small number of databases providing specific data and the unknown proportion of training injuries. Databases extrapolating injuries to the national US level reported high annual numbers.Average injury rates weighted by sample size are 16.3/1000AE for 8/11 competition studies and 69.5/1000AE for 5/27 databases. Competition data are likely to be accurate because they were observed by physicians, trainers and referees and the completeness and accuracy of database studies vary. Databases which extrapolated data to provide annual national rates estimated large numbers. Few studies provided data about the situations in which injuries occur and the causes of injuries.

To assess injury rates in all mixed martial arts (MMA) studies.Six online databases were searched until November 2017 including MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, Web of Science, PubMed, Google/Google Scholar and conference proceedings. All included studies were entered in Pub Med Single Citation Matcher and all citation chains followed. Abstracts and titles were assessed for relevance, data independently abstracted and risk of bias for all competition studies evaluated independently by two reviewers.There are data for 5,374 male and 108 female MMA fighters. For 2407 males the weighted average injury rate/1000Athletic Encounters (AE) was 246.4 and for one study of 108 females 101.9. One study provided data by professional status: professionals 135.5/1000AE and amateurs 71.0/1000AE. Reasons for stopping matches were knockout/technical knockout 173.9/1000AE for males and 175.9/1000AE for females, submission 228.6/1000AE, and referee's decision 98.2/1000AE. Losers can experience large amounts of trauma especially head trauma as matches terminate. Two studies of competitions provided personally conducted ringside assessments and both pre- and post-match examination results. The other studies reported retrospective assessments of fight records or videos or videos and scorecards. There are no studies of training injuries of professionals or injuries of amateurs or long-term follow-up of musculoskeletal injuries or neurological damage. Studies are limited to the US and Canada. There are no systematic reviews of newspaper or media accounts of fights to assess rates and numbers of injuries or mortality. The few published surveys and case reports markedly understate the worldwide situation.There are high rates of trauma in MMA. The authorities who regulate MMA and referees and physicians who monitor MMA fighters have an inadequate database to guide their work. Researchers need to adopt the same set of complete definitions of all possible injuries and measure the high and early rate of neurological damage.

Human activities have transformed the landscape and altered geochemical pathways through intensive land uses such as agriculture and urbanization. This study quantified the individual and cumulative influence of land-use drivers on nutrient concentrations for 29 Ontario tributaries flowing to Lake Erie and Lake Huron. For each watershed, measures of agriculture, urbanization and population served by municipal sewage treatment plants were quantified at multiple spatial scales; stream-water nutrients (nitrogen, N, and phosphorus, P) were sampled on 10 occasions between May and November 2012, and were also compiled from government records for concurrent (2012) and prior (2007, 2008, 2011) years. Application of ordinary least squares regression analysis showed that in 2012, concentrations of N and P (total as well as dissolved forms) were primarily driven by sewage treatment and urban activity, with agricultural activity as a secondary influence on variability. Evaluation of model predictive performance under...

Assess rates/1000athletic encounters(AE) in Taekwondo of injuries/age/gender/type/location.Searches in 17 electronic, 7 grey-literature databases. Two researchers independently assessed Abstracts/titles and abstracted data. Risk-of-bias assessed with Newcastle-Ottawa scale. Rates/1000AE computed, weighted by study sizes.Eighteen studies included 3 Olympic, 4 world, 1 European, 13 national, 10 provincial and one national school competition. Seventeen studies provided an injury definition and recorded injuries on forms. Rates are average rate/1000AE, weighted by study size. For ten studies which provided rates by gender, rate for males(n = 9,286) was 58/1000AE and females(n = 3,720) 52.7/1000AE. For six studies which provided data on injuries/1000minutes/exposure by gender rate for males(n = 6,885) was 10.7/1000minutes/exposure and for females(n = 2,539) 10.4. For two studies which provided data by age and gender, rate for males 11-13 years(n = 949) was 29.6, 14-17(n = 512) 53.1 and ≥18(n = 711) 40.7, and for females 11-13 years(n = 472) 30.5, 14-17(n = 338) 72 and ≥18(n = 240) 37.5. For eight studies which provided injury location rates by gender rate for all ages for males(n = 5,856) for head/neck injuries was 13.3, torso 4.2, upper-extremity 9.4 and lower-extremity 21.7 and females(n = 2,126) for head/neck injuries was 14.2, torso 3.1, upper-extremity 7.3 and lower-extremity 26.6. For nine studies which provided injury type rates by gender, rate for all ages for males(n = 7,509) for abrasions/contusions/lacerations was 37.5, for sprains/strains 10.3 and fractures 5.9, and for females(n = 2,852) for abrasions/contusions/lacerations 27.9, for sprains/strains 8.7 and fractures 3.8. For concussions for eight studies for males(n = 9,078) rate was 13.3 and females(n = 3628) 11.4. The majority of injuries occurred to the lower extremities, and in defence (61%).There are published data on 20,210 Taekweondo competitors. Only 8/18 studies reported prior injuries. Longitudinal studies are needed of injuries, ascertainment of causes, identify participants with higher rates, measure the results of preventive measures, rule change to exclude head kicks, and encourage non-contact Taekwondo especially for participants with high injury rates.

The charge-transfer complexation (CTC) formed between olanzapine and chloranilic acid have been studied and used as a sensitive colorimetric method for the determination of olanzapine. Evidence for the formation of the CTC between chloranilic acid (CAA) and olanzapine (OLP) was established by spot tests and TLC. Method development was carried out through selection of analytical wavelength, optimization and validation studies. Physicochemical parameters such as energy of transition, transition dipole, oscillator frequency and ionization energies were estimated and related to the stability of the formed CT band. Thermodynamic properties of the CT band at four temperature levels were also estimated and their inter-relationship established. The reaction was completed at room temperature within 10 min with the evidence of formation of purple-coloured solution with CAA that absorbed maximally at 520 nm. Linearity was obtained in the concentration range of 2–40 μg/mL for OLP (r = 0.9977) with a limit of detection of 1.57 μg/mL. Estimates of accuracies and precisions gave error values less than 2% for both intra- and inter-day assessments. The transition energies were of the order of 2.303 eV. The Gibbs energy varied with the temperature and room temperature values favoured formation of stable complexes. The thermodynamic studies revealed small positive entropy for slightly negative enthalpy change. The method was successfully applied to estimate OLP in tablets and the method was found to be of equivalent accuracy with the Indian Pharmacopoeia's HPLC method (p > 0.05). The method could find application as a rapid and sensitive determination technique for olanzapine.

Family Medicine trainees are often assessed in Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs). The purpose of this survey is to document the quality in terms of psychometrics and standard setting of OSCEs as used in Family Practice (FP)/General Practice (GP) training programs.Nine electronic data bases were searched from inception to December 2015 and included articles were searched in the PubMed single citation matcher. Two authors independently assessed all titles/abstracts/full texts and abstracted data. Articles were searched for OSCEs used for performance assessment of FP/GP trainees.Twenty-one studies were identified which met our criteria published between 1987 and 2014. Content validity was reported in 18, construct validity in nine, and criterion (concurrent and/or predictive) validity in five. Five articles considered the consequences of testing. Internal reliability was reported by 12 studies, inter-rater reliability by seven, generalisability by four. Nine set pass-fail standards of which four were by criterion standards. In addition, we tabulated sources of validity and reliability as with particular reference to medical education.We found few articles which vigorously provided evidence of validity and reliability. Standard-setting, when done, was normative in all high stakes exams. OSCEs used for formative purposes had lower psychometric standards.

This article describes the phenomenon of therapeutic resistance and reactance from the perspective of the wounded self. The concept of the wounded self is first presented as it is applied to anxiety and depression and then extended to anger applications. The wounded self can be seen as deeply embedded in human cognitive structures (or core beliefs) of tacit knowledge. The operation of tacit knowledge is then described in everyday life as well as in the therapeutic process. Then there is a discussion of the role of resistance and psychological reactance in psychotherapy with implications for the therapeutic alliance. Finally, a case of a resistant client with anger issues using the cognitive hypnotherapy model is presented.

Capsule: Global Positioning System (GPS)-tagged adult Golden Eagles Aquila chrysaetos breeding in forests in northern Sweden selected clear-cuts, coniferous forests with lichens and steep slopes during the breeding season but avoided wetlands and mixed forest.Aims: To investigate the habitat selection patterns of tree-nesting Golden Eagles, and identify how potential conflicts with wind farm development could be minimized.Methods: The study is based on GPS tracking data from 22 adult eagles. We estimated home range sizes using a biased random bridge approach and habitat selection patterns using resource selection functions following a use-availability design.Results: Core home range size among adults was variable during the breeding season (5–30 km2). Individual movement extents were variable, but sexes did not significantly differ in their scale of movement. At the landscape scale, individuals selected for clear-cuts and coniferous forest with ground lichens, whereas wetland, water bodies and mix...

Programs and reforms to prevent healthcare-associated infections encounter structural barriers that affect their adoption and effective implementation. This article is based on interviews with 55 frontline healthcare providers, infection control and quality experts, and policymakers from 2010–2013 primarily in Vancouver, Canada. This article reports the perceptions of participants regarding the consequences that structural barriers, including physical structure, staffing levels, education, policy variations, and authority, have on their ability to prevent healthcare-associated infections. The findings suggest the need to shift more funding to preventative measures, such as more infection-prevention professionals, higher participation in quality programs and increased availability of isolation rooms to reduce healthcare-associated infections. In addition, leadership and resources are needed to expand (1) mandatory annual infection prevention education sessions to all hospital staff with point of care follo...

When nonlibrarians ask what you do, and you respond that you work in a library, a frequent comment heard is that it must be a fun place to work, surrounded by so many books, getting to read all day...

The lack of a theory-based understanding of indoor tanning is a major impediment to the development of effective messages to prevent or reduce this behavior. This study applied the Comprehensive Indoor Tanning Expectations (CITE) scale in an analysis of indoor tanning behavior among sorority women (total N = 775). Confirmatory factor analyses indicated that CITE positive and negative expectations were robust, multidimensional factors and that a hierarchical structure fit the data well. Social cognitive theory-based structural equation models demonstrated that appearance-oriented variables were significantly associated with outcome expectations. Outcome expectations were, in turn, significantly associated with temptations to tan, intention to tan indoors, and indoor tanning behavior. The implications of these findings for the development of messages to prevent and reduce indoor tanning behavior are discussed in two domains: (a) messages that attempt to change broader societal perceptions about tan skin, and (b) messages that focus more narrowly on indoor tanning-challenging positive expectations, enhancing negative expectations, and encouraging substitution of sunless tanning products.

I. IntroductionThe phrase 'rule of law with Chinese characteristics' has been a slogan for many years in China.1 The phrase is an adaptation from the phrase 'socialism with Chinese characteristics,' a slogan that was used to justify market reforms that were inconsistent with main-line Marxist-Leninism.2 In both cases, the phrase suggests a departure from the traditional ideology to make it more 'Chinese.' In the case of socialism, the departure was a move to the right, towards capitalism, by introducing elements of free enterprise, such as individual property ownership.3In the case of 'rule of law,' what is meant by 'Chinese' characteristics is less clear, but it probably means a move to the left, away from the more mainstream rule of law ideology. One reason it is less clear is because of general uncertainty about what is meant by the 'rule of law.'4 Some critics have suggested that the phrase is devoid of meaning, that it is simply a rhetorical device used to suggest that the matter in question makes a positive contribution in some legalistic way.5 For example, the claim that a certain criminal justice reform will promote the rule of law is simply a way to say that the reform will make the criminal justice system better in some legalistic way.6This article will not try to sort out the particulars of what is meant by rule of law, the extent to which it has meaning, if at all, or whether law with 'Chinese characteristics' is a movement to the left or the right. Instead, it will use empirical information to present a cultural interpretation of the phrase 'rule of law with Chinese characteristics.' This interpretation is made in the context of comparisons of China, Hong Kong, and Singapore, three jurisdictions that are historically 'Chinese' in a cultural sense, but three jurisdictions which are different from the standpoint of rule of law. Hong Kong and Singapore provide an interesting point of comparison with China because they were British colonies for over a hundred years, and during that time adopted many legal practices and institutions that were British in origin. However, with the return of Hong Kong to China, that legal system operates under Chinese supervision and therefore may have Chinese characteristics because of the legal structure rather than because of culture. Singapore, on the other hand, became independent in 1965, so continuing similarities with China are more likely to be due to common cultural perspectives. What I believe the data and analysis below will show is that notwithstanding the Western influence of British colonisers, both Hong Kong and Singapore remain culturally Chinese. Yet both have also reached significant levels of rule of law. Looking at these two jurisdictions may provide some insight into what might be expected of rule of law with Chinese characteristics.The article begins with an examination of the rule of law in China, Hong Kong and Singapore relying on the data generated by the World Justice Project. It will consider whether there are any patterns or similarities between those three jurisdictions. The article then turns to some cultural data to see if the identified patterns may be explained by culture. The final section draws some tentative conclusions and identifies a number of areas for further research.II. The Rule of Law in China, Hong Kong and SingaporeAlthough there is considerable debate about the meaning of the rule of law, including whether there are 'thick' and 'thin' versions,7 this article uses the definitions developed and relied upon by the World Justice Project.The World Justice Project ('WJP') is a non-profit organisation that was founded in 2006. Its goal 'is to advance the rule of law around the world.'8 In seeking to advance this goal, the World Justice Project developed an index to perform a quantitative assessment of a country's adherence to rule of law.9 This assessment relies on data from a general population poll in each country and a questionnaire administered to legal experts in each country. …

Free radicals are formed as a result of cellular processes and play a key role in predisposition to and development of numerous diseases and of premature aging. Recently, we reported the syntheses of a number of novel phenolic antioxidants for possible application in food industry. In the present study, analyses of the cellular processes and molecular gene expression effects of some of the novel antioxidants in normal human tissues and in cancer cells were undertaken. Results indicated that whereas the examined antioxidants showed no effects on morphology and gene expression of normal human oral and gingival epithelial tissues, they exerted a profound cell killing effect on breast cancer cells, including on chemotherapy-resistant breast cancer cells and on oral squamous carcinoma cells. Among the tested antioxidants, N-decyl-N-(3-methoxy-4-hydroxybenzyl)-3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl) propanamide and N-decyl-N-(3,5-dimethoxy-4-hydroxybenzyl)-3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl) propanamide were the most promising, with excellent potential for cancer treatment. Moreover, our gene expression databases can be used as a roadmap for future analysis of mechanisms of antioxidant action.

Crispness and crunchiness are important factors in the enjoyment of many foods, but they are defined differently among dictionaries, consumers, and researchers. Sensory, mechanical, and acoustic methods have been used to provide data on crispness and crunchiness. Sensory measurements include biting force and sound intensity. Mechanical techniques resemble mastication and include flex, shear, and compression. Acoustical techniques measure frequency, intensity, and number of sound events. Water and oil content contribute to crispness and crunchiness, which also have temporal aspects. Information in the literature is compared in this article to develop definitions of crispness and crunchiness.

Social interaction and participation in leisure activities are positively related to the health and well-being of elderly people. The main focus of this exploratory study was to investigate elderly peoples' perceptions and experiences of social interaction and leisure activities living in a residential aged care (RAC) facility. Six residents were interviewed. Themes emerging from discussions about their social interactions included: importance of family, fostering friendships with fellow residents, placement at dining room tables, multiple communication methods, and minimal social isolation and boredom. Excursions away from the RAC facility were favourite activities. Participants commonly were involved in leisure activities to be socially connected. Poor health, family, the RAC facility, staffing, transportation, and geography influenced their social interaction and participation in leisure activities. The use of new technologies and creative problem solving with staff are ways in which residents could enhance their social lives and remain engaged in leisure activities.

Students often enter graduate healthcare/biomedical schools with insufficient undergraduate instruction in effective writing, yet the ability to write well affects their career opportunities in health care and in scientific research.The present study was conducted to determine the value and effectiveness of instruction by faculty with expertise in teaching writing at a writing center at an academic health science center.Two separate sources of data were collected and analyzed. First, an anonymous campus-wide survey assessed students' satisfaction and utilization of the university's Writing Center. Second, a nonexperimental objective study was conducted comparing a subsample of students who used versus those who did not receive instruction at the Writing Center on quality of writing, as determined by an evaluator who was blind to students' utilization status.From the campus-wide survey, more than 90% of respondents who used the center (which was 26% of the student body) agreed that it was a valuable and effective resource. From the objective study of writing quality, students who used the Writing Center were twice as likely as students who did not to receive an A grade on the written assignment, and the blinded evaluator accurately estimated which students used the Writing Center based on the clarity of writing.The instruction at the Writing Center at our university is highly valued by students, and its value is further supported by objective evidence of efficacy. Such a center offers the opportunity to provide instruction that medical and other healthcare students increasingly need without requiring additions to existing curricula. By developing competency in writing, students prepare for scholarly pursuits, and through the process of writing, they engage critical thinking skills that can make them more attuned to narrative and more reflective and empathetic in the clinical setting.

Exposing an extruded corn snack, an extruded biodegradable packing material, carrots, and wood chip cork to relative humidity conditions ranging from 29.5 to 97.5% changed their moisture content and affected the respective internal structures. The extruded corn snack and extruded biodegradable packing material specimens evaluated after 24 h, absorbed moisture and lost crispness. Carrot and cork specimens were evaluated after 48 h; carrots lost moisture, became softer, and decreased in hardness from 55.02 ± 7.59 to 23.6 ± 8.6 N, while cork specimens were unchanged. For all products, loss of moisture increased surface roughness. Increasing moisture amplified turgidity and strength in extruded biodegradable packing material, decreased crispness in extruded corn snack, and stiffness in carrot, but produced no changes in the wood chip cork.

Copper corroles exhibit inherent saddling, driven by ligand non-innocence, which may be viewed as a form of multideterminantal character. The saddling is enhanced by sterically hindered peripheral substituents. The sterically hindered complex Cu[(CF3)8T(pFP)C] (wherein the ligand is β-octakis(trifluoromethyl)-meso-tris(p-fluorophenyl)corrolato) is thus exceedingly saddled with adjacent pyrrole rings nearly orthogonal to one another. By contrast, Au[(CF3)8T(pFP)C] has a nearly planar corrole macrocycle, implying an innocent corrole ligand.

This research examines two factors that have an impact on the self-esteem of African Americans and whites: religion and socioeconomic status (SES). Using data from the National Survey of Families and Households, we find that for whites, belief in the Bible (i.e., that it is the literal word of God) and self-identifying as fundamentalist were significant predictors of self-esteem. For African Americans, belief in the Bible and being Catholic were significant predictors of self-esteem. However, the association between belief in the Bible and self-esteem was stronger for African Americans than whites. SES was positively associated with self-esteem for both groups. The interactions between SES and the measures of religiosity reveal a greater impact on self-esteem for lower SES respondents. This was especially true for African Americans. These findings are discussed in light of the resource compensation hypothesis.

Two faculty members developed and implemented a successful, holistic, goal-oriented peer-mentoring project for two years at a midsize, urban university to enhance student success and retention. In year one, 12 juniors and seniors mentored 34 freshmen and sophomores; in year two, 14 upperclassmen mentored 40 underclassmen. A grounded theory approach was used to analyze goal-progress tracking data, postintervention survey data self-reported by proteges, and mentor journals. The following six themes emerged from this data analysis: academic skills and knowledge, career decision-making, connectedness to others, maturity, physical well-being, and aspiration. Findings advance our summary understanding of the context in which students may grow and develop because of holistic mentoring, understanding that may have value in informing the intelligent design of future mentoring experiences. Results also support program efficacy, from an overall standpoint as well as regarding improvements from the year one to year t...

We assessed the ability of benthic algal biomonitoring protocols to detect effects of differences in shoreline development in the littoral zone of oligo- to mesotrophic Precambrian Shield lakes in south-central Ontario. The study sites (n = 28 in Aug 2006, n = 29 in Aug 2007) spanned a broad gradient of shoreline development (e.g., intact forest, cottages, marinas) but a modest gradient of nutrient concentration (3–22 μg/L total phosphorus). Each site was sampled for water chemistry (nutrients, ions, metals, pH) and 5 levels of benthic algal bioassessment, which differed in the amount of time, resources and expertise required. Level 1 involved visual descriptions of algal cover; Level 2 involved biomass measurements (chlorophyll a, ash-free dry mass); Level 3 involved enumeration of algae to a coarse taxonomic level (i.e., the major algal classes); Level 4 involved quantification of photosynthetic pigments by high-performance liquid chromatography; and Level 5 involved high taxonomic resolution e...

Tendon fibroblasts synthesize and assemble collagen fibrils, the basic structural unit of tendons. Regulation of fibrillogenesis is essential for tendon development and function. Fibril assembly begins within extracellular micro-domains associated with the fibroblast surface. We hypothesize that molecules crucial to the regulation of fibril assembly are membrane associated and/or within the pericellular micro-environment. This report defines proteins in the surfaceome, that is, plasma membrane and pericellular matrix, from mouse flexor digitorum longus tendons. Proteomic analysis identified a set of surfaceome molecules including collagens, fibronectin, integrins, proteoglycans, and receptors in extracts from mouse tendons at postnatal day 1, a developmental stage when collagen protofibril nucleation and initial steps in fibril assembly predominate. The proteomic results were validated for molecules identified with a small number of unique peptides and/or low sequence coverage. For these analyses, proteins were selected based on their potential roles in fibril nucleation, that is, collagen V; organization of fibrillogenesis, that is, integrins and fibronectin; and known localization to the plasma membrane with potential to impact matrix assembly, that is, CD44, syndecan-1, epidermal growth factor receptor, and matrix metalloproteinase 25. These molecules were all detected in extracts of the developing tendon, demonstrating that the surfaceome included molecules hypothesized to regulate fibrillogenesis as well as many with no known function in this capacity. This report, therefore, generates an unbiased set of cell surface-associated molecules, providing a resource to identify novel or unexpected regulatory molecules involved in collagen fibril and matrix assembly.

We analyzed patients with small B-cell clonal populations in a non-hospital based pathology laboratory servicing metropolitan and regional areas of New South Wales, Australia. There were 414 patients with a finding of a B-cell clone with total B-lymphocytes5.0 × 10(9)/L, fulfilling the criteria for monoclonal B-lymphocytosis (MBL). There were 212 males (51%) and 202 females (49%) with a mean age of 69.7 years. Patients could be clearly divided into two dominant groups: 322 (77.7%) with a typical chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) phenotype, MBL[cll], and 92 (22.3%) with a "non-CLL" or lymphoma-like phenotype, MBL[nhl]. Analysis of MBL[cll] showed 168 (52.2%) males and 154 (47.8%) females with a mean age of 70.6 years. The mean clonal level (CD19/CD5+) was 2.36 × 10(9)/L and the absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) was 0.4-10.5 × 10(9)/L. The ALC was within the reference range (1.0-4.0 × 10(9)/L) in 22%. The 92 patients with MBL[nhl] were 44 (47.8%) males and 48 (52.2%) females, with a mean age of 66.7 years. The mean clonal level was 1.27 × 10(9)/L. There were 65 patients with a "lymphoma unclassifiable" clone and the remainder had a probable disease-specific diagnosis. In a large community cohort of patients, MBL can be divided into two dominant groups, MBL[cll] and the more heterogeneous MBL[nhl].

A gap exists in the adhesive landscape for adhesives that bind strongly, yet reversibly in aqueous environments such as those found at tissue surfaces. Many cells and organisms such as the bacteria Escherichia coli have evolved sophisticated mechanisms to achieve just this ability. In this paper, we begin to investigate whether E. coli's mannose-binding FimH receptor and associated fimbrial linkage can be harnessed to create a reversible wet adhesive. Atomic force microscopy is used to measure adhesive interactions between a polystyrene sphere coated with a thin film containing mannose and a planar polystyrene surface coated with a thin film containing FimH. Adhesion maintained 70% of its original strength through 200 consecutive interactions at the same location. The adhesive was also non-fouling as demonstrated by the return of adhesion after addition and removal of a soluble inhibitor. Incorporation of the fimbrial linkages into the adhesive surfaces allowed adhesion to scale better to larger sizes and...

Summary Honey fungus (Armillaria mellea) is an important pathogen that can cause severe damage to infected trees and other plants. In this study we investigated the effect of air-spading and/or inoculation with a bio-control fungus as controls for honey fungus. Air-spading uses compressed air to de-compact soil while causing minimal disturbance or damage to the root system. Air-spading can also use compressed air to permanently remove soil from the base of the tree trunk to the depth at which main roots originate, a technique known as root collar excavation. The bio-control fungus Trichoderma harzianum strain (Trade name Trianum) is a root symbiont that is known to protect host plants from a range of pathogenic fungi. Raised beds were constructed and artificially inoculated with A. mellea while non-A. mellea infected beds acted as controls. One year later A. mellea infected raised beds were subjected to one of the following treatments i) no treatment ii) air-spading, iii) air-spading + T. harzianum or iv) T. harzianum only. The effectiveness and longevity of air-spading and T. harzianum was determined by potting up strawberry plants cv Cambridge favourite (highly susceptible to honey fungus attack) at month 6, 12, 18 and 24 after treatment. A. mellea infection was then quantified at day 90 after potting up by assessing visual by plant condition, leaf chlorophyll fluorescence Fv/Fm, leaf chlorophyll content (SPAD) values and fruit yield per plant. Air-spading A. mellea infested soil with and without T. harzianum resulted in a two year protective period in which A. mellea failed to re-infect strawberry plants. In addition, failure to re-isolate A. mellea from media after air-spading indicates the air

Britain is regarded by some as an Upper Palaeolithic cultural backwater, but this part of northwestern Europe also encountered the ravages of the Devensian with the southern limit of the ice margin extending a few kilometers north of the limestone caves on the Gower Peninsula, South Wales. Following sudden climatic warming, groups of hunter/fisher/gatherers started to utilize this sometimes hostile landscape, seasonally occupying many of the caves that are cut and shaped into the limestone outcropping that frequents the Gower Peninsula. At this time an extensive landmass would have replaced much of the present Bristol Channel (Jacobi 1980). It is indeed a rare occurrence for Pleistocene rock art to be discovered within the British Isles, with only one authenticated discovery made in 2003 at Church Hole Cave at Creswell Crags on the Derbyshire/Nottinghamshire border (Bahn and Pettitt 2009). It is not too fanciful to suggest that in order to secure a successful hunt or merely to revere a spiritual b...

Comparative methodologies may have taken a back seat in slavery scholarship since the transnational turn, but works in the last decade by the likes of David Brion Davis, Seymour Drescher, Stanley E...

This special section began, as many do, with an Association of American Geographers conference. In 2007 Paul Kingsbury and I organized two sessions with a total of nine papers (and ten scholars) th...