How is the Region Doing? Human Service Use and Service Availability in Allegheny County, PA

Allegheny County is home to approximately 1,600 financially-active nonprofit organizations, including 357 human service providers that deliver a range of health and social services.1 Past research has suggested that Pittsburgh's nonprofits, as a group, are facing important organizational and program challenges as they plan for the future. De Vita & Twombly's study of nonprofit human service organizations in the county (2003) found that, in 2000, nearly 40 percent of these providers had expenses that exceeded their revenues.In a paper discussing the future of nonprofits in the region, Paul C. Light (2005) listed additional challenges: difficulty responding to rapid environmental changes, challenges achieving gender and racial diversity in boards, and precarious financial situations.While these challenges on the service supply side are worrisome, less is known about the demand for human services in Allegheny County, and how it may be impacted. Using client and provider data from the Allegheny County Department of Human Services (DHS), The Hill Group (2005) examined service usage for each DHS Program Office (e.g., Office of Behavioral Health, Agency on Aging, etc). Campos, Inc., in 2004, contrasted the opinions of Allegheny County residents and nonprofit executives about the most serious problems at the community level. Neither one of these studies, however, asked consumers directly about the utilization of services at the household level.To address this gap,The Forbes Funds commissioned the OMG Center for Collaborative Learning to conduct a study of the human service needs of households in Allegheny County. Specifically, OMG's research focused on service use of residents of distressed and non-distressed areas, and attempted to contrast service usage with the array of human services which are currently available.The study also looked at whether or not households were successfully accessing the services they needed, and explored barriers to service receipt and client satisfaction with services

AN EXPLORATION OF LANGUAGE TEACHING PROCESS TO YOUNG LEARNERS (A CLASSROOM RESEARCH AT TK RAISHA LAMPINEUNG BANDA ACEH)

ABSTRACTName : Mayka MorinaStudent No. : 1309200080054Department/Program : English Education/ PostgraduateTitle : An Exploration of Language Teaching Process to Young Learners (Classroom Research at TK Raisha Lampineung Banda Aceh)Keywords: teaching English to young learners, lesson plan, classroom atmosphere, teaching material and mediaThe objectives of this study were to investigate the process of teaching and learning to young learners at TK Raisha Lampineung Banda Aceh in terms of (a) lesson plan and syllabus, (b) classroom atmosphere, (c) teaching materials used, and (d) media used. This study employed a descriptive qualitative method. The subject of this study was an English teacher who taught English class at TK Raisha Lampineung Banda Aceh. The data were collected through observation, interview and documentation. The collected data were analyzed and interpreted through qualitative procedures by using data reduction, data presentation, verification and conclusion drawing. The results showed that the teacher organized and prepared the syllabus and lesson plans before teaching English in terms of preparing the English lesson to young learners. The teacher create syllabus and lesson plan based on school objective. The teacher used the student active learning approach to build up the spirit in the classroom. The teacher created comfortable and fun atmosphere in the teaching learning process. The teaching materials have been selected from various sources and taken from authentic resources by providing appropriate media. The selection of materials is based on the main theme of learning. The teaching methods and techniques used by the English teacher were various and in accordance with the theories of the teaching of English to young learners

Landscape scale buildings. Agadir by Oma and Yokohama by Foa

El objetivo de este artículo es estudiar la relación entre la escala de los edificios y la escala del paisaje, tanto urbano como natural, en el que se encuentran. En el mismo se analizan dos casos de estudio realizados respectivamente por un maestro y sus pupilos, situados en Marruecos y Japón, un Hotel y una Terminal Marítima. La principal razón para estudiar estos dos ejemplos es que ambas propuestas utilizan la escala del territorio en la que se encuentran. La representación gráfica de los mismos es importante de cara a la consecución de sus propósitos proyectuales por lo que las herramientas empleadas son también analizadas. Los estudios que realizan estos proyectos son también mayores en escala y tamaño que los estudios tradicionales: OMA y FOA. Dichos proyectos, que se sitúan respectivamente en Agadir y Yokohama, no son proyectos de gran tamaño, pero si de gran escala. El principal hallazgo es que ambos son dos proyectos que sin ser extremadamente grandes en dimensión si lo son escala, ya que en ellos de hace referencia una escala superior a la arquitectónica, empleando la geometría y la estructura del mega-territorio en el que se sitúan, por lo que pueden considerarse mega-infra-estructuras de dicho territorio, deviniendo en su prolongación y no meros objetos que se depositan en él. Son topografías operativas del mismo y se presentan como una estrategia proyectual muy interesante para proyectistas e investigadores de integración a nivel escalar y programático de los edificios en los entornos en los que estos se sitúan.L’objectiu d’aquest article és estudiar la relació entre l’escala dels edificis i l’escala del paisatge, tant urbà com natural, en el que es troben. En aquest s’analitzen dos casos d’estudi realitzats respectivament per un mestre i els seus deixebles, situats al Marroc i a Japó, un Hotel i una Terminal Marítima. La principal raó per estudiaraquests dos exemple és que ambdues propostes utilitzen l’escala del territori en la que es troben. La representació gràfica d’aquests és important cara a conseguir els seus propòsits projectuals, per tant, les eines utilitzades també són analitzades. Els estudis que realitzen aquests projectes són també majors en escala i mida que els estudis tradicionals: OMA y FOA. Els citats projectes, que es situen respectivament a Agadir i Yokohama, no són projectes de gran envergadura, però sí de gran escala. La principal troballa és que ambdós són projectes que, sense ésser extramadament grans de dimensió, si ho són en escala, ja que en ells es fa referència a una escala superior a l’arquitectònica, utilitzant la geometria i l’estructura del mega-territori en el que es situen, per tant poden considerar-se mega-infraestructures en el citat territori, esdevenint en la seva prolongació i no només simples objectes que es dispositen en aquest. Són topografies operatives d’aquest i es presenten com una estratègia projectual molt interessant per projectistes i investigadors de la integració a nivell escalar i programàtic dels edificis en el seu entorn.The aim of this paper is to study the relationship between the scale of the buildings and the landscape scale, both urban and natural, in which they are located. In the same article are analyzed two case studies conducted by a teacher and his pupils: a hotel in Morocco and the Maritime Terminal in Japan. The main reason for studying these two examples is that both proposals use the scale of the territory in which they find themselves. The graphical representation is important in order to achieve their design purposes, so the tools used are also analyzed. Studios undertaking these projects are also larger in scale and size than traditional studios: OMA and FOA. These projects, which are located respectively in Agadir and Yokohama, are not big size projects, but large scale. The main finding is that both are projects that, while not extremely large in size, they are actually in scale, since in them is referred to a higher architectural scale using geometry and structure of the mega-territory in which they are located, so it can be considered mega-infrastructures of that territory, becoming in its prolongation rather than mere objects deposited on it. Are operative topographies of the project that are presented as an interesting design strategy for project designers and researchers about the integration of surrounding buildings at both scale and programmatic levels.Peer Reviewe

Hibridación y destrucción selectiva como estrategias propulsoras en centros históricos de Salamanca y Estocolmo

El objetivo de este artículo es estudiar la posibilidad de variabilidad y flexibilidad en los centros históricos, analizando las intervenciones de dos casos europeos, Salamanca y Estocolmo. Ambas son ejemplos de la buena adaptación y evolución del tejido histórico en un contexto contemporáneo, siendo el resultado de políticas urbanas muy diferentes. La de Estocolmo, más radical y visionaria, recurre a la "destrucción selectiva" que sacrifica lo que ha dejado de ser útil y no es adaptable. La estrategia de Salamanca, más conservadora y consciente del valor de la historia y la cultura, funciona por "hibridación", mezclando lo antiguo y lo nuevo para darle un nuevo significado. Ambas estrategias urbanas suponen el rechazo a la "ciudad museo" y con ello el acercamiento a una mejor calidad de sus cascos, haciendo que estas herramientas sean propelling (propulsoras) y no pathological (patológicas) del proceso de urbanización.The goal of this article is to address the question of the variability and flexibility in the historical centers, analyzing the activities of two case studies in Europe: Salamanca and Stockholm. Both of them are clear examples of good adaptability and evolution of the fabric in a contemporary context and the result of very different urban policies. Stockholm is more radical and visionary, working by "selective destruction", removing the unnecessary and not adaptable to create a more livable city. Salamanca's strategy is more conservative and runs by "hybridization". It mixes the old and the new, conscious of the value of history and culture, and finds a way to give a new meaning. Both strategies involve the rejection of an obsolete "living museum" and therefore an approach to a better quality of their centers, using propelling tools, not pathological, which improve their urbanization process

Poly(butylene succinate) ionomers and their use as compatibilizers in nanocomposites

A series of low-molecular-weight poly(butylene succinate-co-glutarate-co-2-trimethylammonium chloride glutarate) terpolyester ionomers containing 35% mol of total glutarate units but varying in the content of charged units were synthesized by polycondensation at mild temperatures using a scandium catalyst. The terpolyester ionomers started to decompose at the temperatures of >175°C and all of them were semicrystalline and have glass transition temperature similar to poly(butylene succinate) (PBS). These terpolyesters were used to compatibilize the nanocomposites made of PBS-cloisite (CL) prepared by melt extrusion. X-ray diffraction revealed that an intercalated structure was present in these nanocomposites. The thermal properties of the three-component mixtures did not differ substantially from those of PBS–CL but the mechanical properties were significantly improved by the addition of the ionomer, in particular tenacity. The beneficial effect afforded by the terpolyester ionomer was attributed to its ability for strengthening the binding between the PBS and the nanoclay.A series of low-molecular-weight poly(butylene succinate-co-glutarate-co-2-trimethylammonium chloride glutarate) terpolyester ionomers containing 35% mol of total glutarate units but varying in the content of charged units were synthesized by polycondensation at mild temperatures using a scandium catalyst. The terpolyester ionomers started to decompose at the temperatures of >175°C and all of them were semicrystalline and have glass transition temperature similar to poly(butylene succinate) (PBS). These terpolyesters were used to compatibilize the nanocomposites made of PBS-cloisite (CL) prepared by melt extrusion. X-ray diffraction revealed that an intercalated structure was present in these nanocomposites. The thermal properties of the three-component mixtures did not differ substantially from those of PBS–CL but the mechanical properties were significantly improved by the addition of the ionomer, in particular tenacity. The beneficial effect afforded by the terpolyester ionomer was attributed to its ability for strengthening the binding between the PBS and the nanoclay.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

Poly(butylene succinate) ionomers with enhanced hydrodegradability

A series of poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) ionomers containing up to 14 mol%of sulfonated succinate units have been synthesized by polycondensation in the melt-phase. The copolyesters were obtained with weight average molecular weights oscillating between 33,000 and 72,000 g·mol-1. All copolyesters were semicrystalline with melting temperatures and enthalpies decreasing and glass transition temperatures increasing with the content of ionic units. The thermal stability of PBS was slightly reduced by the incorporation of these units, and it was also found that the copolyesters were stiffer but also more brittle than PBS. The hydrolytic degradability of PBS was enhanced by copolymerization, an effect that was much more pronounced in basic media.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Mycobacteria-induced anaemia revisited : a molecular approach reveals the involvement of NRAMP1 and lipocalin-2, but not of hepcidin

Anaemia is a frequent complication of chronic infectious diseases but the exact mechanisms by which it develops remain to be clarified. In the present work, we used a mouse model of mycobacterial infection to study molecular alterations of iron metabolism induced by infection. We show that four weeks after infection with Mycobacterium avium BALB/c mice exhibited a moderate anaemia, which was not accompanied by an increase on hepatic hepcidin mRNA expression. Instead, infected mice presented increased mRNA expression of ferroportin (Slc40a1), ceruloplasmin (Cp), hemopexin (Hpx), heme-oxygenase-1 (Hmox1) and lipocalin-2 (Lcn2). Both the anaemia and the mRNA expression changes of iron-related genes were largely absent in C.D2 mice which bear a functional allele of the Nramp1 gene. Data presented in this work suggest that anaemia due to a chronic mycobacterial infection may develop in the absence of elevated hepcidin expression, is influenced by Nramp1 and may involve lipocalin-2.This work was supported by the EEC Framework 6 (LSHM-CT-2006037296 EuroIron1) and FCT-approved grant POCTI/MGI/40132/2001, funded by FEDER. Sandro Gomes was supported by FCT PhD grant SFRH/BD/29257/2006