Previous literature has demonstrated that supplemental magnesium may have a prophylactic effect on noise induced hearing loss (NIHL). The purpose of this study was to replicate the findings of a previous investigation concerning the beneficial effects of supplemental magnesium on TTS in humans. Forty participants with normal hearing were divided into two groups, experimental and control. The experimental group received a single, 150 mg dose of supplemental magnesium and the control group received a placebo. After an hour in a quiet environment, all participants were exposed to a narrowband noise centered at 2000 Hz and presented at 105 dB SPL. Audiometric thresholds were measured for the frequency range 250 Hz - 8000 Hz prior to the noise exposure, and then immediately, 30 minutes, and 60 minutes post-noise exposure. Both groups experienced TTS at and above 2000 Hz. The largest TTS was observed immediately following the noise exposure in both groups. There was no significant difference in TTS between the experimental group and the control group. It was concluded that a single dose of 150 mg of supplemental magnesium was not effective in reducing or preventing TTS.

Previous studies have shown that supplemental magnesium administered prior to exposure to noise has an alleviating effect on temporary threshold shift (TTS). These studies have only used audiometric thresholds to demonstrate changes in the auditory system. However, to help determine the effects on outer hair cells (OHCs), a more sensitive measure should be used. The purpose of this study was to determine if supplemental magnesium administration prior to noise exposure has a beneficial effect on acoustic overexposure using a double-blind research design. This was determined by measuring distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) to determine any changes in cochlear OHC function. DPOAE amplitude and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) measurements were analyzed for two groups of twenty participants (an experimental group and a control group). The experimental group received 150 mg of magnesium gluconate one hour prior to noise exposure. The control group received a placebo pill that was identical in appearance to the magnesium pill. Following noise exposure, the greatest changes in DPOAE amplitude and SNR occurred for the frequencies that were one-half to one octave above the frequency of the stimuli used. The greatest changes in DPOAE measurements were present immediately post TTS-inducing stimulus, with only slight changes present after 30 minutes and no difference between 30 minutes and 60 minutes post-exposure. These results were the same for both groups. It was concluded that this dosage of supplemental magnesium had no apparent protective effect on DPOAEs following intense noise exposure.

A dissertação Por que pacientes com câncer vão à Justiça? Um estudo sobre ações judiciais movidas contra o Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS) e contra os planos de saúde na Cidade de São Paulo descreve e analisa as decisões judiciais proferidas entre 2015 e 2017 pela segunda instância do Tribunal de Justiça do Estado de São Paulo em ações judiciais que demandaram tratamentos para neoplasias. Foram analisadas 1.951 decisões judiciais, sendo 157 delas (8,05% do total) relacionadas ao Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS) e 1.794 (91,95% do total) envolvendo empresas de planos e seguros de saúde privados. A maioria das decisões foi favorável (96,57%) tanto aos pacientes do SUS (88,54%) quanto da saúde suplementar (97,27%). A negativa de cobertura de quimioterapias foi o tema mais frequente nas decisões analisadas (47,00%), presente em 44,87% das decisões contra os planos de saúde e em 71,34% das decisões contra o SUS. O principal motivo alegado pelos gestores para essa recusa é o fato de o tratamento pleiteado não estar contemplado no Rol de Procedimentos e Eventos em Saúde da ANS ou nos protocolos do SUS. Conclui-se que os planos de saúde, se comparados ao SUS, são mais frequentemente reclamados na Justiça por pacientes de câncer, bem como que o Tribunal pesquisado tem posicionamento fortemente favorável aos pacientes. Há similaridades e diferenças na judicialização de tratamento para câncer demandados contra os setores público e privado da saúde. O estudo contribui para discussão e estudos futuros sobre a relação da judicialização da saúde com a qualidade da rede assistencial, a incorporação de tecnologias, as políticas públicas, a regulamentação e a fiscalização das atividades dos planos de saúde / The essay Why cancer patients go to justice? A study on lawsuits filed against health plans and against the SUS in the City of São Paulo describes and analyzes the judicial decisions handed down between 2015 and 2017 by the Court of Appeal of the State of São Paulo, in lawsuits that claimed for treatments for neoplasia. 1,951 judicial decisions were analyzed, being 157 of them (8,05%) related to the unified health system (SUS) and 1,794 (91,95%) involving companies of private health insurance plans. Most of the decisions was favorable (96,57%), both for SUS patients (88,54%) as for health plans patients (97,27%). The denial of coverage of chemotherapy was the most frequent issue in the decisions analyzed (47.00%), present in 44.87% of decisions against health plans and in 71.34% of decisions against the SUS. And the main reason alleged by the managers for such refusal, it was that the claimed treatment is not included in the list of procedures and events in the Health ANS or in protocols of the SUS. It is concluded that the health plans, if compared to the SUS, are most frequently claimed in court by cancer patients, and that the researched Court has a strong patient favorable position. There are similarities and differences in cancer treatment judicialization defendants against the public and private health sectors. The study contributes to the discussion and future studies on the relation of health judicialization to the quality of the health care network, the incorporation of technologies, public policies, regulation and supervision of health plan activities

A typical 1960s Type 2 Construction steel MRF hospital structure in Quebec, representative of a prevalent construction philosophy of the time, was investigated and modelled in OpenSees using an advanced strength degradation model. The structure was then subjected to a nonlinear time-history analysis (NLTHA) for Montreal (MTL) and Vancouver (VAN) ground motions and was found to be deficient under the design hazard levels. Retrofits were proposed for the two orthogonal frames at both sites using a performance-based approach. An experimental program determined that the connections had less ductility than expected and began deteriorating around 2.0% interstorey drift. The OpenSees model was updated according to the experimental connection behaviour and the predicted NLTHA performance of the structure worsened. The proposed retrofit designs for both orthogonal frames in both MTL and VAN were updated with the new connection behaviour and final retrofit designs were proposed.

A typical 1960s Type 2 Construction steel MRF hospital structure in Quebec, representative of a prevalent construction philosophy of the time, was investigated and modelled in OpenSees using an advanced strength degradation model. The structure was then subjected to a nonlinear time-history analysis (NLTHA) for Montreal (MTL) and Vancouver (VAN) ground motions and was found to be deficient under the design hazard levels. Retrofits were proposed for the two orthogonal frames at both sites using a performance-based approach. An experimental program determined that the connections had less ductility than expected and began deteriorating around 2.0% interstorey drift. The OpenSees model was updated according to the experimental connection behaviour and the predicted NLTHA performance of the structure worsened. The proposed retrofit designs for both orthogonal frames in both MTL and VAN were updated with the new connection behaviour and final retrofit designs were proposed.

This dissertation reports on two supplemental instruction implementations in courses with high failure rates. In study one, 27 ultra-short on-line tutorials were created for Principles of Accounting II students (N = 426). In study two, 21 tutorials with a similar design were created for Elementary Statistics students (N = 1,411). Accounting students were encouraged by their instructor to use the resource, but statistics students only saw a brief demonstration by the researcher. Neither course gave students credit for using the tutorials. In study one, 71.4% of the accounting students used the tutorials. Students who used the tutorials had dramatically lower drop rates and better pass rates. Tutorial use was correlated with exam scores, although the effect was moderate. Tutorial use remained at high levels two years after implementation without instructors promoting use of the resource. Course grades were higher for the two-year period after implementation compared to the two years prior to implementation. In study two, statistics sections were randomly assigned to intervention (tutorials; 695 students) or control (716 students). There were no significant differences in drop rates or average grades between intervention and control sections. On average, 46.0% of the intervention students used the tutorials. Users were less likely to drop and more likely to pass compared to non-users and control students; these differences were especially pronounced among low-achieving students. Tutorial use was correlated with slightly higher exam scores, but only for low achievers. The lack of differences between intervention and control sections may have been due to the drop off of usage after the first exam and the small learning effect only accruing to the relatively small number of low achievers. Participants reported the tutorials as “important to their course achievement” more often than other course resources. The important features of the tutorials were convenience (24/7 Internet access), efficiency of learning, and clear instruction. These studies suggest that the magnitude of the learning effect of the ultra-short tutorials depends on the tutorial topics, instructor promotion of the resource, and whether or not they are implemented in a course in which students feel the need to seek extra instruction.

No description available.

This study was conducted to examine the food perceptions, purchasing, preparation, and consumption behaviors of female SNAP participants in East Central Indiana. Twenty participants were interviewed, and interviews were transcribed and compiled in order to identify patterns. Participants were primarily white, had at least a high school education, were food-secure, and 85% were either overweight or obese. Results indicated that the participants interviewed in this study had limited opportunities to participate in food and nutrition education courses unless approached by community agencies. Participants indicated they purchased a large variety of healthy and unhealthy food items from a wide array of grocers. A portion of the participants participated in EFNEP courses (n=4), WIC education (n=7), or conducted self-research (n=9). These participants indicated they retained knowledge by participating in these methods of education. Although participants expressed the desire to exhibit healthy eating behaviors, such as examining food labels, they also indicated they did not understand how to utilize the information to make healthy food choices. Results indicated all participants in SNAP would benefit from food and nutrition education courses that focus on SNAP benefit budgeting, meal planning that includes more fruits and vegetables, low-fat food items, and leaner cuts of meat, and physical activity. Practitioners and SNAP officials should be encouraged to coordinate efforts to make participants aware of educational opportunities in order to improve overall health outcomes. / Department of Family and Consumer Sciences

Thesis (M.S.)--Miami University, Dept. of Zoology, 2005. / Title from first page of PDF document. Includes bibliographical references (p. 31-35).

abstract: The purpose of this study was to explore features of Supplemental Educational Services (SES) implementation at the district level. In the study beliefs, goals, and actions of district office administrators were analyzed against the backdrop of changing federal guidelines and challenges faced by SES implementers across Arizona. The case study focuses on implementation in the 2007-2008, 2008-2009, and 2009-2010 school years. The study uses the 2005 and 2009 Department of Education guidelines, survey responses from Arizona district and school implementers, as well as documents and interviews from an urban Arizona case district. The study separates the implementation activities into task areas, which are analyzed separately. Using a loose coupling perspective, the separate task areas are furthered used as coupling domains and represented in social network graphs. Results show that the case district personnel were highly focused on their primary role, maintaining district compliance with federal guidelines. The district personnel employed several changes over the case study period to centralize their control of SES operations within district. The employment and training of site level coordinators was the most impactful of the strategies. As boundary spanners, the coordinators allowed greater access to information, oversight, and influence at the site level. Despite the growing capacity and earnest efforts of the district personnel, the case district was still very far from being able to measure or assess the impact of SES on student achievement. Centralization in the scholastic task areas was relatively low, and had marginal changes over the case study period. Years into the program, there was still no avenue to accurately gauge the effectiveness. As the district personnel were chiefly concerned with compliance, they had suspended judgment on the program and focused primarily on improving their processes. / Dissertation/Thesis / Ph.D. Educational Leadership and Policy Studies 2011