Lung volumes identify an at-risk group in persons with prolonged secondhand tobacco smoke exposure but without overt airflow obstruction.

IntroductionExposure to secondhand smoke (SHS) is associated with occult obstructive lung disease as evident by abnormal airflow indices representing small airway disease despite having preserved spirometry (normal forced expiratory volume in 1 s-to-forced vital capacity ratio, FEV1/FVC). The significance of lung volumes that reflect air trapping in the presence of preserved spirometry is unclear.MethodsTo investigate whether lung volumes representing air trapping could determine susceptibility to respiratory morbidity in people with SHS exposure but without spirometric chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, we examined a cohort of 256 subjects with prolonged occupational SHS exposure and preserved spirometry. We elicited symptom prevalence by structured questionnaires, examined functional capacity (maximum oxygen uptake, VO2max) by exercise testing, and estimated associations of those outcomes with air trapping (plethysmography-measured residual volume-to-total lung capacity ratio, RV/TLC), and progressive air trapping with exertion (increase in fraction of tidal breathing that is flow limited on expiration during exercise (per cent of expiratory flow limitation, %EFL)).ResultsRV/TLC was within the predicted normal limits, but was highly variable spanning 22%±13% and 16%±8% across the increments of FEV1/FVC and FEV1, respectively. Respiratory complaints were prevalent (50.4%) with the most common symptom being ≥2 episodes of cough per year (44.5%). Higher RV/TLC was associated with higher OR of reporting respiratory symptoms (n=256; r2=0.03; p=0.011) and lower VO2max (n=179; r2=0.47; p=0.013), and %EFL was negatively associated with VO2max (n=32; r2=0.40; p=0.017).ConclusionsIn those at risk for obstruction due to SHS exposure but with preserved spirometry, higher RV/TLC identifies a subgroup with increased respiratory symptoms and lower exercise capacity

Photoresponse of KNbO3–AFeO3 (A = Bi3+ or La3+) ceramics and its relationship with bandgap narrowing

The crystal structure of (1-x)KNbO3–xBiFeO3 (KNBF) and (1-x)KNbO3-LaFeO3 (KNLF) (where x=0.00; 0.01; 0.02; 0.04; 0.08; 0.16; 0.32) was evaluated by XRD and Raman spectroscopy. XRD data show the crystal symmetry to evolve from orthorhombic to tetragonal with increasing x. The optical bandgap was found to narrow systematically with increasing x. Raman spectroscopy analysis corroborated long-range polar order in all compositions. The photoresponse of x=0.32 shows a typical diode–like behaviour, with current and voltage of 0.115 µA and 0.075 V for KNBF and 0.19 µA and 0.035 V for KNLF, respectively. To our knowledge these represent the largest values among KNbO3–based ceramics, making them promising for photovoltaic applications

A Training Framework and Follow-Up Observations for Multiculturally Inclusive Teaching: Is Believing That We are Emphasizing Diversity Enough?

The authors present a theoretically and empirically grounded training for multiculturally inclusive teaching for new instructors. After implementing this training, qualitative data were gathered from instructors to identify their experience of the training and concerns related to incorporating issues of diversity into their classrooms (Study 1). At the end of the semester immediately following the training, quantitative data were gathered from instructors and their students to examine the interaction between students’ and instructors’ perceived diversity emphasis (Study 2). When allowed to choose the extent to which they incorporated issues of diversity in their classes, the instructors differentially reported emphasizing diversity in class. In addition, results from multi-level linear modeling analyses demonstrated that instructors’ reported emphasis on diversity in the classroom did not predict students’ perceptions of the inclusion of issues of diversity. The authors discuss implications for the development of multiculturally supportive programs of learning at universities

Child Care for Working Poor Families: Child Development and Parent Employment Outcomes

The results of the Community Child Care Research Project provide data describing the child care experiences of low income working families in 4 urban communities in Indiana. Because the study participants were volunteers rather than randomly selected, conclusions drawn from these findings necessarily have limitations. Despite these limitations, the research results do represent the experiences of more than 300 low income working families, their children, and their child care providers. The results suggest a number of key issues that need further investigation by policy makers and researchers. Many children in this sample scored lower than established norms in areas of cognitive competence. The observed quality levels of all types of child care used by this sample of low income working families in four communities were low. Overall child care quality for infants and toddlers were especially low in all types of settings in all four communities. The significant correlations we found between child care quality and children’s abilities, even after controlling for maternal education and children’s age, suggest that efforts to improve child care quality could have an impact on children’s development. Parents as well as child care leaders pointed to the need for affordable and accessible quality child care that provides more flexibility for low income working families, to accommodate challenging work and school schedules, job training, and child illness

Beautiful Queen Of Night: Reverie

https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/mmb-ps/2548/thumbnail.jp

\u3ci\u3eLabor Relations and Federal Law\u3c/i\u3e, by Donald H. Wollett (1949)

In this excellent and timely little book Mr. Wollett has undertaken to expound for the intelligent layman that most controversial and rapidly changing field, labor law. With such a subject it is difficult for an author, no matter the laudable objectivity of his intentions, to maintain that detached and nonpolitical attitude which fair and just treatment of the subject demands. In this respect the author has outdone himself, and has provided full and unbiased discussion of both sides of each problem