University of North Carolina at Wilmington

About: University of North Carolina at Wilmington is a education organization based out in Wilmington, North Carolina, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Poison control. The organization has 3329 authors who have published 6797 publications receiving 186308 citations.

Overview of aerosolized Florida red tide toxins: exposures and effects.

Abstract: Florida red tide is caused by Karenia brevis, a dinoflagellate that periodically blooms, releasing its potent neurotoxin, brevetoxin, into the surrounding waters and air along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico. Exposure to Florida red tide toxins has been associated with adverse human health effects and massive fish and marine mammal deaths. The articles in this mini-monograph describe the ongoing interdisciplinary and interagency research program that characterizes the exposures and health effects of aerosolized Florida red tide toxins (brevetoxins). The interdisciplinary research program uses animal models and laboratory studies to develop hypotheses and apply these findings to in situ human exposures. Our ultimate goal is to develop appropriate prevention measures and medical interventions to mitigate or prevent adverse health effects from exposure to complex mixtures of aerosolized red tide toxins.

A continuum of learning: from rote memorization to meaningful learning in organic chemistry

Abstract: The Assimilation Theory of Ausubel and Novak has typically been used in the research literature to describe two extremes to learning chemistry: meaningful learning versus rote memorization. It is unlikely, however, that such discrete categories of learning exist. Rote and meaningful learning, rather, are endpoints along a continuum of learning. This paper reports the results of a qualitative investigation of students' experiences in a spiral, organic chemistry curriculum, specifically describing additional positions along the learning continuum between meaningful learning and rote memorization.

Managing coastal resources in the 21st century

Abstract: Coastal ecosystems are increasingly dominated by humans. Consequently, the human dimensions of sustainability science have become an integral part of emerging coastal governance and management practices. But if we are to avoid the harsh lessons of land management, coastal decision makers must recognize that humans are one of the more coastally dependent species in the biosphere. Management responses must therefore confront both the temporal urgency and the very real compromises and sacrifices that will be necessary to achieve a sustainable coastal ecosystem, one that is economically feasible, socially just, and ecologically sound.

Drinking Outcomes of Alcohol Abusers Diagnosed as Antisocial Personality Disorder

Abstract: Clinical research and wisdom suggest that alcoholics with antisocial personality (ASPs) disorders have poorer drinking outcomes after treatment than alcoholics without this disorder. The present study challenges this wisdom, suggesting that poor prognosis and response to treatment have been confounded by not covarying on pretreatment drinking measures. Thirty-one ASPs are compared with 118 non-ASPs randomly assigned to extended cognitive behavioral and relationship enhancement treatments. Thirteen to 18 months after treatment initiation, ASPs average more abstinent days than do non-ASPs. Drinking intensity is a function of a patient-treatment matching effect: ASPs treated with cognitive behavioral treatment (CB) drink less/drinking day than do either non-ASPs treated in CB or ASPs treated in relationship enhancement. This finding is supportive of a comparable matching effect for CB and ASP found by Kadden et al. (1989). Examination of the process indicates that, irrespective of drinking index, ASPs respond poorly when they experience high posttreatment support for abstinence, whereas non-ASPs respond better with support. We conclude that early pessimism for successful treatment of ASP alcoholic drinking outcome may be unwarranted.