Estimates of the Number of Liver Carcinogens in Bioassays Conducted by the National Toxicology Program

Estimates were made of the numbers of liver carcinogens in 390 long-term bioassays conducted by the National Toxicology Program (NTP). These estimates were obtained from examination of the global pattern of p-values obtained from statistical tests applied to individual bioassays. Representative estimates of the number of liver carcinogens (90% confidence interval in parentheses) obtained in our analysis compared to NTP's determination are as follows: female rats—49 (23, 76), NTP = 30; male rats—88 (59, 116), NTP = 35; female mice—131 (105, 157), NTP = 81; male mice—100 (73, 126), NTP = 61; overall—166 (135, 197), NTP = 108. The estimator from which these estimates were obtained is biased low by an unknown amount. Consequently, this study provides persuasive evidence of the existence of more rodent liver carcinogens than were identified by the NTP.     

镇北堡西部影视城的民族文化旅游资源开发

在旅游业大发展的今天，旅游者自身素质的提高和游览阅历的丰富，使其对旅游产品的文化品位要求越来越高，影视文化旅游主题公园的旅游产品层次也由陈列式观光的基础层次到表演式展示的提高层次，再到参与体验的发展层次不断提升。由最初的娱乐园向民族历史文化类主题园转化。本文以宁夏镇北堡西部影视城为例，对其旅游资源开发现状进行分析，探讨其民族文化旅游资源开发的策略，以期对同类影视旅游主题公园的民族文化开发提供借鉴。     

生成句法学的最新进展

本文介绍乔姆斯基生成句法学的最简方案假设,阐释了该研究的最新动向——以层阶为基础的句法理论,并运用其理论,通过一些实例具体分析了其推导过程,从中将该理论新近假设对于语言及句法的更强的解释和剖析功能进行了较为深入的论述。     

Poetry

This paper describes the services and procedures of the Philadelphia Geriatric Center's multi-service respite service demonstration project for 305 caregivers of elderly Alzheimer's patients. Selected sections of data are reported that provide information needed by professionals for planning and delivering such services. Of all caregivers who were offered respite, 52% actually availed themselves of the services. Of those, two-thirds chose in-home services, with smaller proportions using day care and institutional respite. Reasons for such choices and for the non-use of respite, the advantages and problems of different types of respite, and implications for development of respite programs are discussed.     

Cost of the NSERC Science Grant Peer Review System Exceeds the Cost of Giving Every Qualified Researcher a Baseline Grant

Using Natural Science and Engineering Research Council Canada (NSERC) statistics, we show that the?$40,000 (Canadian) cost of preparation for a grant application and rejection by peer review in 2007 exceeded that of giving every qualified investigator a direct baseline discovery grant of?$30,000 (average grant). This means the Canadian Federal Government could institute direct grants for 100%?of qualified applicants for the same money. We anticipate that the net result would be more and better research since more research would be conducted at the critical idea or discovery stage. Control of quality is assured through university hiring, promotion and tenure proceedings, journal reviews of submitted work, and the patent process, whose collective scrutiny far exceeds that of grant peer review. The greater efficiency in use of grant funds and increased innovation with baseline funding would provide a means of achieving the goals of the recent Canadian Value for Money and Accountability Review. We suggest that developing countries could leapfrog ahead by adopting from the start science grant systems that encourage innovation.     

The Role of Federal Policies in Supporting Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Families

Abstract

Grandparents caring for their grandchildren is among the oldest practices in child rearing with roots embedded in the traditions across many cultures. However, in recent years, the issue of “grandparents raising their grandchildren” has garnered the attention of researchers, advocates, service providers and even the popular press. Dynamic changes in family life, related social trends and child welfare policies in the United States have resulted in dramatic growth of intergenerational care giving among this population. The 2000 United States Census shows that there are 6 million children living in grandparent- and other relative-maintained households, which represents a thirty-percent increase from the last Census. This growth has created the need for effective federal policies that support and insure the well-being of these families.

This paper examines some of the reasons grandparents raising grandchildren are capturing public attention, and the growing needs for effective federal policies that support this burgeoning population. We will (1) provide a brief demographic sketch of grandparent-headed families, (2) identify some of the challenges faced by these families, and (3) explore some of the most effective federal public policies, in particular the new National Family Caregiver Support Program, which are emerging from an intergenerational agenda directed at assisting these families. We conclude by noting that the issue of “grandparents raising their grandchildren” presents a unique opportunity to develop coalitions and policies that cross sometimes rigidly defined age-based policy structures.     

Effects of Individualized Education Programs on Cognitive Outcomes for Children with Disabilities in Head Start Programs

ABSTRACT

This study investigated the impact of Head Start, disability status, and receipt of an Individualized Education Program (IEP) on early language, literacy, and mathematics skills for low-income children with language, cognitive, emotional/behavioral, sensory, and physical disabilities. Secondary analysis of data was performed on a sample of children with disabilities (N = 570) drawn from the Head Start Impact Study, a nationally representative study of approximately 5,000 children randomly assigned to Head Start or non–Head Start programs. Results of ordinary least squares regression analyses indicated that Head Start participation enhanced outcomes for children with multiple disabilities; language, literacy, and mathematics skills at age 5–6 years were higher for these children compared to non–Head Start attendees. Head Start children with disabilities were more likely to have an IEP, though IEP receipt was associated with lower language, literacy, and mathematics scores among all children. There is a need to ensure that Head Start, and programs similar to Head Start, are more widely available to provide comprehensive, quality early childhood programming to children with cumulative risk factors (low income, multiple disabilities). Future research should clarify why IEP receipt was associated with poorer cognitive outcomes.     

Role of AKRSP on Gender Development: A Case Study in Pakistan

ABSTRACT

In Pakistan, nongovernmental agencies (NGOs) play an important role in program implementation. This study focuses on the contribution of one of these NGO social service programs that serves women in a rural area of Pakistan. To assess program satisfaction and effectiveness, 200 females were surveyed to measure their opinions and overall satisfaction with this particular NGO. The key findings of the study showed that the Aga Khan Rural Support Program (AKRSP) had a significant positive impact on the lives of these women through increasing social and decision-making skills while improving their income and living standards by providing employment opportunities and training. Future recommendations are made to continue to sponsor such programs that focus on a group-support for women while also providing supportive services that empower decision-making and economic standing.     

Impact of the Health Resources and Services Administration’s state oral health workforce grant program on dental workforce density and access to oral health care

BackgroundThe Health Resources and Services Administration’s Grants to States to Support Oral Health Workforce Activities, otherwise known as the State Oral Health Workforce Program (SOHWP), help states develop and implement innovations that address the workforce needs of dental Health Professional Shortage Areas in a manner appropriate to the states’ individual needs.AimThis cross-sectional study explores the broad impact of the SOHWP by comparing measures of dental workforce density and access to oral health care in states with multiple years of funding versus states with few or no years of funding.MethodsWe used data for 2006–2016 SOHWP awardees together with data from the 2016–2017 Area Health Resources Files and the 2016 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System to compare numbers of dentists per 100,000 population and age-adjusted prevalence of annual dental visits among adults for long-term SOHWP-funded states versus states with few or no years of funding.ResultsMulti-year SOHWP funding is associated with higher workforce density and greater access to oral health care, especially in the Midwest and West.ConclusionAllowing states funding utilization flexibility may result in improved outcomes. This finding can help inform planning and policy about whether and how to scale future training and workforce programs to achieve greater impact.