607 research outputs found
Managing Technology Risks Through Technological Proficiency: Guidance for Local Governments
No full textLike most organizations, local governments face challenges managing technology, the critical resource to meet evolving public service expectations. But benefits associated with adapting the latest technology come with risks, some more apparent than others.
This report details the problems facing municipal officials as they try to maximize the benefits of technology for their communities and constituents in the face of cybersecurity, legal, operational, financial, reputational and societal risks.
The report concludes that top municipal officials must create and maintain an environment of “technological proficiency.” That includes creating a process for making technology decisions, developing an annually reviewed technology plan that is tied to the budget, instituting a “cyber hygiene” training program for all employees in proper computer security practices, and making sure that agency technology is competently managed.
The report is supplemented by a "Best Practices and Resources Guide" that organizations can use to achieve technology proficiency. It provides best practices based on an organization's technology profile.Report and Supplement were prepared for the Municipal Excess Liability Fund, a joint insurance fund of over 600 New Jersey local government agencies
Why people with disabilities might really be leaving work : an exemplar case with lessons for managers
No full textThe author explores the 'silent' problem of unseen illness at work
Pfeiffer syndrome: literature review of prenatal sonographic findings and genetic diagnosis
No full textPfeiffer syndrome (PS) is an autosomal dominant disorder caused by mutations in FGFR1 and FGFR2 genes. Given its wide range of clinical expression and severity, early prenatal diagnosis is difficult and genetic counseling is desirable. We report a literature review of all prenatal diagnosis of PS and a case report, with a focused description of ultrasound findings
Prenatal diagnosis of Pfeiffer syndrome and role of three-dimensional ultrasound: case report and review of literature
No full textPurpose/aim of the study: We report a rare case of autosomal dominant genetic syndrome "Pfeiffer", which is part of the group of acrocephalosyndactyly, with an annual incidence <1/100,000. Three forms are known. Type I is the less common form and it is characterized by moderate-severe mediofacial hypoplasia usually with normal cognitive development. Conversely, types 2 and 3 are more common and they are associated with more severe signs and complications with a more unfavorable prognosis. The type 3 form due to the presence of a cloverleaf skull distinguishes type 2. Materials and methods: Thirty-eight-year-old primigravida was referred to our center, at 28 weeks of gestation due to borderline ventriculomegaly, macrocrania, and a short femur. First trimester screening for chromosomopathies and CF-DNA was low risk; II trimester screening ultrasound showed the presence of "short femur" and macrocrania. Result: Our ultrasound evaluation, assisted by 3D ultrasound, showed cloverleaf skull, turricephaly, moderate ventriculomegaly (13 mm), hypertelorism and exophthalmos, low ear implantation, mild rhizomelia. Ultrasound depicts Pfeiffer syndrome or other acrocephalosyndactyly syndromes (Apert syndromes, Saethre-Chotzen) or other syndromic forms of craniosynostosis like Crouzon syndrome. The NGS panel for molecular analysis of genes involved in skeletal dysplasias showed the mutation of the FGFR2 gene, de novo. Conclusions: Using three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound, it is easier to distinguish rare syndromes characterized by facial dysmorphisms such as exophthalmos, mediofacial hypoplasia, and craniosynostosis
Parachondria (Chondropomorus) caricae Pfeiffer 1858
No full textParachondria (Chondropomorus) caricae (Pfeiffer, 1858) Figures 1 P–W, 5 A Type material. Chondropoma caricae Pfeiffer, 1858: not located. Chondropoma (Chondropomorus) caricae navarretense Bartsch, 1946: NMNH 471990 (2 specimens in lot, holotype listed as 12.2 mm long specimen). Chondropoma (Chondropomorus) caricae sosuense Bartsch, 1946: NMNH 336770, holotype. Type locality. Chondropoma caricae Pfeiffer, 1858: “ Prope Santiago insulae Haiti.” Chondropoma (Chondropomorus) caricae navarretense Bartsch, 1946: “Above Navarrete Station on the railroad running from Puerto Plata to Santiago, Dominican Republic.” See Distribution below. Chondropoma (Chondropomorus) caricae sosuense Bartsch, 1946: “At Sosúa, 17 miles east of Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic.” Type figured. Chondropoma caricae Pfeiffer, 1858: unfigured. Chondropoma (Chondropomorus) caricae navarretense Bartsch, 1946: Bartsch, 1946: pl. 3, fig. 5. C hondropoma (Chondropomorus) caricae sosuense Bartsch, 1946: Bartsch, 1946: pl. 3, fig. 4. Chresonymy. Chondropoma caricae Pfeiffer in Hjalmarson & Pfeiffer, 1858: 142; Bland, 1861: 355; Pfeiffer, 1865: 156–157; Pfeiffer, 1876: 196; Kobelt, 1880: 277; Crosse, 1891: 174; Watters, 2006: 192–193. Chondropoma (Chondropomorus) caricae Pfeiffer, 1858. Henderson & Bartsch, 1920: 61; Clench & Aguayo, 1937: 65. Chondropoma (Chondropomorus) caricae caricae Pfeiffer, 1858. Bartsch, 1946: 20 –22, pl. 3, fig. 2. Chondropoma (Chondropomorus) caricae navarretense Bartsch, 1946: 21 –22, pl. 3, fig. 5; Ruhoff, 1973: 102; Watters, 2006: 193. Chondropoma (Chondropomorus) caricae sosuense Bartsch, 1946: 20 –21, pl. 3, fig. 4; Ruhoff, 1973: 128; Watters, 2006: 193. Parachondria (Parachondria) caricae caricae (Pfeiffer, 1858). Watters, 2006: 46, 192– 193. Parachondria (Parachondria) caricae navarretensis (Bartsch, 1946). Watters, 2006: 46, 193. Parachondria (Parachondria) caricae sosuensis (Bartsch, 1946). Watters, 2006: 46, 193. Distribution and habitat. Authors have identified the habitat of this species as living on papaya trees (Pfeiffer in Hjalmarson & Pfeiffer, 1858; 1865; Crosse, 1891). Pfeiffer (in Hjalmarson & Pfeiffer, 1958: 142) specifically reported specimens “under fallen leaves on the roots of Carica papaya, usually in pairs” (translated here from German). However, papayas are not native to Hispaniola and other records place this species on limestone outcrops in evergreen forests. There are very few records of this species and its actual range is unknown. It is currently known only from the vicinity of Santiago de Los Caballeros in Santiago Province and from Puerto Plata and Sosúa in Puerto Plata Province. Bartsch’s type locality description of C. c. navarretense is somewhat misleading. He implied that Navarrete Station was on the railroad between Puerto Plata and Santiago. Navarrete is now called Bisonó and is located on the railroad that runs from Puerto Plata through Santiago to Bisonó some 25 km further west. It is located in the Cibao Valley between the Cordillera Central and the Cordillera Septentrional. Material examined (17 specimens). Dominican Republic. OSUM 22087 (2), Tacagera [not located], Santiago Province; UF 216562 (15), 3 km W of Puerto Plata, Puerto Plata Province. Redescription. Shell solid, opaque, high-spired, elongate conic. Maximum adult size: 16.1 mm, decollate. Minimum adult size: 9.9 mm, decollate. Adult shell decollated. Protoconch of 1.5 pale tan, smooth whorls. Teleoconch of 4.25–5.25 whorls. Axial sculpture of final whorl of numerous (ca. 100–120) very fine, narrowly spaced, weak threads of varying width. Growth stoppage lines usually present. Spiral sculpture of final whorl outside of umbilicus of ca. 20–30 irregularly sized, weak threads, widely spaced near suture, narrowly spaced elsewhere. Intersections of sculpture form very weak, axially elongated beads. Overall sculpture appearing as weak, irregular fenestrations or scallops. Umbilicus smooth within or with few very indistinct threads. Suture indented but not channeled. 1–3 threads are narrowly expanded at suture into sharp denticles or cusps; these are irregularly spaced. Aperture oval, lip double. Inner lip slightly exserted, thickened. Outer lip thickened, narrowly expanded, except narrower facing umbilicus, slightly recurved abaperturally. Adnate or narrowly detached from body whorl within same population. Weak posterior auricle broad and low. Color pattern pale and not well-defined. Base color off-white or tan. Smudged, pale tan and white axial zig-zags or dots that mark leading edge of growth stoppage areas; bands continue as brown bands on both sides of outer lip, tending to few narrow, weak spiral bands near umbilicus; umbilicus without bands. Beads and sutural denticles white. Operculum paucispiral with granular deposit. Variation in specimens. The few specimens seen differ primarily in having the outer lip either adnate or narrowly detached from the previous whorl. Specimens with a solute outer lip were named C. c. sosuense Bartsch, 1946, but this feature occurs along with adnate outer lipped individuals in a single population. Bartsch (1946) also named C. c. navarretense for specimens having fine sculpture but this is also a variable characteristic. Comparison with other species. This small, pale species is most similar to P. s i l v at i c u s. That species differs in its much coarser sculpture: 70–80 axial threads in P. silvaticus vs. 100–120 threads in P. caricae; 14–16 spiral threads in P. silvaticus vs. 20–30 threads in P. caricae. Remarks. Although the description appeared in Hjalmarson & Pfeiffer (1858) the species was listed as “ Chondropoma Caricae Pfr. ” and Pfeiffer is considered the sole author of the taxon. The species was not figured by Pfeiffer and the type has not been located. Bartsch (1946) identified his specimens based on the locality and the brief description given by Pfeiffer. This is reasonable as this is one of the few members of the complex recorded near Santiago and the description adequately matches Bartsch’s specimens. Original descriptions. Chondropoma caricae Pfeiffer, 1858. Pfeiffer in Hjalmarson & Pfeiffer (1858: 142) (translated here from Latin): “Shell slightly perforate, oblong-turret, solid, spiral raised lines and longitudinally subequally granular-decussated, pale brown, red spots and white variegated streaks; spire regularly narrowed, truncate; suture irregularly and widely crenulated; remaining 5 whorls convex, last not solute; aperture vertical, subangulate-oval; peristome double: inner slightly prominent, outer produced on top, right side shortly expanded, left obsolete.—Operculum flat, cartilaginous.” Chondropoma (Chondropomorus) caricae navarretense Bartsch, 1946: See Bartsch (1946: 21–22). Chondropoma (Chondropomorus) caricae sosuense Bartsch, 1946: See Bartsch (1946: 20–21). Etymology. Chondropoma caricae Pfeiffer, 1858: L. carica, fig or papaya [“ Ad radicae Caricae Papayae,” fide Pfeiffer, 1865: 156–157]. Chondropoma (Chondropomorus) caricae navarretense Bartsch, 1946: Navarrete Station, Dominican Republic. Chondropoma (Chondropomorus) caricae sosuense Bartsch, 1946: Sosúa, Dominican Republic.Published as part of Watters, G. Thomas, 2016, Review of the Hispaniolan Parachondria (Chondropomorus) complex (Gastropoda: Littorinoidea: Annulariidae), pp. 245-275 in Zootaxa 4127 (2) on pages 250-251, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4127.2.2, http://zenodo.org/record/27177
How Dr. Ehrenfried Pfeiffer Contributed to Organic Agriculture in Australia
No full textEhrenfried Pfeiffer (1899-1961) was 25 years old when Rudolf Steiner (1861-1925) delivered his eight lectures on agriculture from 7th June to 16th June 1924. In those eight lectures at Koberwitz, Rudolf Steiner laid the basis for biodynamic agriculture. Steiner advocated an agriculture informed by anthroposophy, and that the ideas he expounded in the eight agriculture lectures should be developed by experiments, practice and observation. Ehrenfried Pfeiffer took up this task and he spent the rest of his life in the pursuit. Pfeiffer published his book ‘Bio-Dynamic Farming and Gardening’ in 1938. It was the first popular account of bio-dynamic agriculture. In that book Pfeiffer presented the practical results of more than a decade of farming practice and experimentation. Pfeiffer was a major contributor to Australia’s first organic farming journal, the 'Organic Farming Digest' (1946-1955); he was the leading contributing author from the USA. Pfeiffer's lecture tour to Australia planned for 1953, and visiting the states of NSW, Victoria, and South Australia, was cancelled at short notice due to his ill health
Noise-Attenuating Headphones and Participation in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder
No full textAbstract
Date Presented 3/31/2017
The purpose of this study was to understand the perceived benefits and limitations of using noise-attenuating headphones for children with ASD for participation in home, community, and school environments to determine feasibility of use and guide intervention planning and future research.
Primary Author and Speaker: Beth Pfeiffer</jats:p
Adverse Family Experiences Are Associated With Age of Diagnosis Among Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder
No full textAbstract
Date Presented 4/1/2017
Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) may pose a significant barrier to timely diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder among U.S. children. By identifying ACEs early in a family’s history, occupational therapy practitioners have the opportunity to reduce family stress and support parents in meeting their children’s treatment needs.
Primary Author and Speaker: Kristin Berg
Additional Authors and Speakers: Beth Pfeiffer
Contributing Authors: Cheng-Shi Shiu, Kruti Acharya, Michael Msall, Elizabeth Pfeiffer</jats:p
Tissue-Specific and Developmental Expression Pattern of Abscisic Acid Biosynthetic Genes in Peach Fruit: Possible Role of the Hormone in the Coordinated Growth of Seed and Mesocarp
No full textPeach fruit tissues start differentiating into mesocarp, endocarp, and seed from the first phases of development. A seed is necessary for fruit set, and it may strongly regulate the growth of the whole fruit through metabolic or hormonal signals. Although the importance of sugar and hormone signaling in growing fruit, such as peach, has been analyzed extensively, no conclusions as to the cross-talk between these signal molecules and their role in seed and flesh development have previously been made. The present study provides insight into the regulatory steps of the carotenoid/ABA biosynthetic pathway to establish possible relationships between growth and accumulation of
pigments, sugar, and hormone in the different tissues of peach fruit (Prunus persica L. Batsch, cv Redhaven). In the
flesh, the transcriptional pattern of most of the genes involved in the ABA synthesis exhibits a good association
with both color changes and hormone accumulation. In contrast, in the seed, along with other nongreen tissues, this
association is not conceivable. The behavior of zeaxanthin epoxidase genes (Ppzep) well represents the presence of
distinct regulatory mechanisms at various steps of the pathway and in a tissue-specific manner. Moreover, the key
role of 9-cis-epoxycarotenoid dioxygenase (NCED) enzyme in regulating ABA synthesis appears to be substantiated by
observed Ppnced expression profiles, both in the flesh and in the seed. Based on the results obtained in this study, a
crucial connection between ABA biosynthesis, sugar content, and sucrose cleavage enzymes (sucrose synthase), at
different stages of fruit development, is proposed
Transcriptional regulation of anthocyanin biosynthesis in ripening fruits of grapevine under seasonal water deficit
No full textAnthocyanin biosynthesis is strongly up-regulated in ripening fruit of grapevines (Vitis vinifera L.) grown under drought conditions. We investigated the effects of long-term water deficit on the expression of genes coding for flavonoid and anthocyanin biosynthetic enzymes and related transcription factors, genes sensitive to endogenous [sugars, abscisic acid (ABA)] and environmental (light) stimuli connected to drought stress, and genes developmentally regulated in ripening berries. Total anthocyanin content has increased at harvest in water-stressed (WS) fruits by 37-57% in two consecutive years. At least 84% of the total variation in anthocyanin content was explained by the linear relationship between the integral of mRNA accumulation of the specific anthocyanin biosynthetic gene UDP-glucose : flavonoid 3-O-glucosyltransferase (UFGT) and metabolite content during time series from véraison through ripening. Chalcone synthase (CHS2, CHS3) and flavanone 3-hydroxylase (F3H) genes of the flavonoid pathway showed high correlation as well. Genes coding for flavonoid 3′,5′-hydroxylase (F3′5′H) and O-methyltransferase (OMT) were also up-regulated in berries from dehydrated plants in which anthocyanin composition enriched in more hydroxylated and more methoxylated derivatives such as malvidin and peonidin, the grape anthocyanins to which human gastric bilitranslocase displays the highest affinity. The induction in WS plants of structural and regulatory genes of the flavonoid pathway and of genes that trigger brassinosteroid hormonal onset of maturation suggested that the interrelationships between developmental and environmental signalling pathways were magnified by water deficit which actively promoted fruit maturation and, in this context, anthocyanin biosynthesis. © 2007 The Authors
- …
