Students as Parents

In totality, these studies suggest that non-traditional students may be more highly motivated due to all of their responsibilities than the more traditional students. Based on this information, it is hypothesized that regardless of all their other work and obligations, non-traditional students have better academic performance, and better attendance when compared to the more traditional students. Moreover, is predicted that older students attend college more for self improvement than to fulfill future career goals

KINEMATIC CHARACTERISTICS OF ALIGNMENT IN ACROBATIC ATHLETES

The purpose of this study was to determine if an underlying structure defining an ‘aligned’ body could be identified in acrobatic athletes, and to assess extreme examples of this structure for specific kinematic differences. Twenty-five male and female competitive gymnasts and divers were assessed for body segment alignment in a straight-standing position. Passive reflective markers were placed on the skin surface covering a variety of anatomical landmarks along the appendages and torso, including the spine. Athletes were instructed to assume the ‘straightest body position possible’ with their arms overhead and eyes forward. An HD digital camcorder recorded this position for approximately 5s. The video was digitized for various angular positions of the upper and lower extremities and the torso. Hierarchical cluster analyses revealed 4 clusters of athletes based on the kinematic variables. Athletes comprising the two most distant clusters (labelled ‘best’ and ‘worst’ with regard to alignment variables) were selected for further comparison. Discriminant and logistic regression identified pelvic tilt relative to vertical and forward head angle as the variables accounting for the most variance between the two groups. Independent t-tests revealed that athletes from the ‘best’ cluster were characterized by a more vertically aligned trunk, upper extremity-sternum, upper extremity-trunk, lower limb, and pelvic tilt, a more forward head position and smaller cervicothoracic angle. Identification of kinematic characteristics associated with an aligned body can help direct coaching and talent identification efforts for achievement of this position

An Introduction to Sheep and Goat Parasite Management in Hawaii

This guide describes parasites in goats and sheep. It details symptoms, prevention, treatment of parasites, particularly gastrointestinal worms

On the growth of the Bergman kernel near an infinite-type point

We study diagonal estimates for the Bergman kernels of certain model domains in $\mathbb{C}^2$ near boundary points that are of infinite type. To do so, we need a mild structural condition on the defining functions of interest that facilitates optimal upper and lower bounds. This is a mild condition; unlike earlier studies of this sort, we are able to make estimates for non-convex pseudoconvex domains as well. This condition quantifies, in some sense, how flat a domain is at an infinite-type boundary point. In this scheme of quantification, the model domains considered below range -- roughly speaking -- from being ``mildly infinite-type'' to very flat at the infinite-type points.Comment: Significant revisions made; simpler estimates; very mild strengthening of the hypotheses on Theorem 1.2 to get much stronger conclusions than in ver.1. To appear in Math. An

VERTICAL IMPACT FORCE AND LOADING RATE ON THE GYMNASTICS TABLE VAULT

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of low and high intensity impact forces on the average loading rate during a forward handspring vault. Peak force, time to peak and impulse were used to characterize the impact vertical force during a vault performed by 12 female gymnasts. Reaction forces from right and left hands were measured at 500 Hz with two PASCO portable force platforms fixed to the vault table surface. Force data were split in two groups: Low intensity (LI: peak forces 0.7 BW). Significant differences (

Enhancing legacy in palliative care: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial of Dignity Therapy focused on positive outcomes.

BackgroundDignity Therapy is a brief psychotherapy that can enhance a sense of legacy while addressing the emotional and existential needs of patients receiving hospice or palliative care. In Dignity Therapy, patients create a formalized "legacy" document that records their most cherished memories, their lessons learned in life, as well as their hopes and dreams for loved ones in the future. To date, this treatment has been studied for its impact on mitigating distress within hospice and palliative care populations and has provided mixed results. This study will instead focus on whether Dignity Therapy enhances positive outcomes in this population.Methods/designIn this study, 90 patients with cancer receiving hospice or palliative care will complete a mixed-methods randomized controlled trial of Dignity Therapy (n = 45) versus Supportive Attention (n = 45). The patients will be enrolled in the study for 3 weeks, receiving a total of six study visits. The primary outcomes examine whether the treatment will quantitatively increase levels of positive affect and a sense of life closure. Secondary outcomes focus on gratitude, hope, life satisfaction, meaning in life, resilience, and self-efficacy. Using a fixed, embedded dataset design, this study will additionally use qualitative interviews to explore patients' perceptions regarding the use of positive outcome measures and whether these outcomes are appropriately matched to their experiences in therapy.DiscussionDignity Therapy has shown mixed results when evaluating its impact on distress, although no other study to date has solely focused on the potential positive aspects of this treatment. This study is novel in its use of mixed methods assessments to focus on positive outcomes, and will provide valuable information about patients' direct experiences in this area.Trial registrationISRCTN91389194