An analysis of behavior management strategies used within parent-child interaction therapy to facilitate verbalizations by children with developmental disabilities

We examined the effects of the procedures recommended for interventions using the Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) protocols on child verbalizations. The effects of the procedures of Child-Directed Interaction (CDI) were examined in a non-concurrent multiple baseline across participants design. Two seven-year-old participants with developmental disabilities and language delay experienced a baseline condition followed by two experimental conditions during a free play environment. A range of child toys were rotated systematically throughout the study. The total number of therapist-child interactions remained consistent across all experimental conditions. The experimenter received bug-in-the-ear feedback about her use of the therapy components in order to maintain similar interaction frequencies across the study. Only the topography of the interactions varied across conditions. During the first experimental condition the therapist used descriptive-labeled praise, behavior descriptions, and motor imitation of appropriate play. During the second experimental condition the therapist systematically added the use of reflections of child vocalizations. Within the non-concurrent design, total verbalizations, total different verbalizations, and mean length of utterance increased following the introduction of the first intervention condition. Total verbalizations and total different verbalizations increased further following the systematic introduction of reflections of child verbalizations

The Association Between a History of Adverse Childhood Experiences and Current Parenting Beliefs and Attitudes

Background: Adverse Childhood Experiences are a significant health problem with some negative consequences persisting into subsequent generations. One proposed mechanism for this is the influence of ACEs on parenting behavior. Objective: This study seeks to examine the relationship between a history of ACEs and parenting attitudes and styles. Participants and Setting: This study investigates the baseline data of the Child Adult Relationship Enhancement in Primary Care (PriCARE) trial at the University of North Carolina Children’s Primary Care Clinic. 150 parents of 2 to 6 year old children were enrolled. Methods: Parents filled out questionnaires that assessed ACEs and parenting beliefs and styles. The measures to assess parenting beliefs and styles included the Adult Adolescent Parenting Interview-2 (AAPI-2) and the Parenting Scale. Further data were collected on demographics, depression risk, and resiliency. Regression analyses were used to analyze the relationships. Results: After adjustment for gender, race, and income, when compared to experiencing zero ACEs, prior exposure to four or more ACEs was associated with lower odds of being high risk for inappropriate parental empathy and oppression of children’s power and independence using the AAPI-2. A history of ACEs was not associated with differences in the parenting scale measures. Experiencing an increasing number of ACEs did not demonstrate increased odds in adopting riskier parenting behaviors in a dose-responsive manner. Conclusions: These findings contradict previous and expected findings of a positive relationship between number of ACEs and higher risk parenting attitudes and styles. Findings indicate the need to identify additional factors that may moderate the relationship between a history of adversity and parenting beliefs.Master of Public Healt

Impact of fallow management regimes on nutgrass (Cyperus rotundus L.) tubers in irrigable broadacre crops in central Queensland

The effect of sequential applications of various herbicides applied during a long fallow period on nutgrass tubers has been recorded and compared with untreated unweeded controls as well as cultivated controls. Over 32 months, tuber mortality ranged between 15 and 95% for the different treatments. Brief implications to cropping systems management are drawn

The potential use of sugarcane varieties for the identification of genetic markers.

Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 1996.The use of genetic markers that are linked to specific traits in sugarcane has the potential to increase the efficiency of the selection of improved varieties. Conventionally, markers are identified by analysing the segregation of potential markers and traits in the progeny of single crosses. However, this approach is not practical for sugarcane breeding programmes where replicated, well characterized progenies do not exist. The objective of this project was to investigate the potential of using commercial varieties for identifying markers associated with some of the important traits in sugarcane. This approach would be far more effective than dealing with single progenies since the traits of commercial varieties have already been characterized. The DNA of fifty commercial varieties of sugarcane was amplified by RAPD PCR using forty-one arbitrary decamer primers. Analysis of the resulting banding profiles, obtained by agarose gel electrophoresis, yielded fifty-four reliable polymorphic fragments. Two approaches were used to identify putative markers linked to the traits of resistance to eldana, sugarcane mosaic virus, and smut: (1) a correlation approach which attempted to identify whether the presence of any polymorphisms could be used to imply the existence of a particular phenotypic state, and (2) multiple regression analysis, in order to determine whether polymorphisms could be used to predict the performance of the varieties for each of the traits. Both approaches appeared to identify associations between polymorphisms and the traits, although multiple regression analysis yielded the most informative results and was able to assign statistical values to the associations. Using multiple regression, the best predictive model was obtained for sugarcane mosaic virus resistance. This model consisted of four polymorphisms and had an r² of 0.40l. By dividing the resistance ratings into three groups (resistant, intermediate and susceptible), 52% of the varieties were correctly classified and only 2% of the varieties were predicted in opposite groups (i .e. predicted susceptible when actually resistant, and vice versa). The predictive model for eldana resistance consisted offour polymorphisms and had an r² of 0.347. This model classified 30% of the varieties in the correct group of three while none of the varieties were predicted in opposite groups. The predictive model for smut resistance consisted of three polymorphisms and had an r² of 0.316. This model classified 30% of the varieties in the correct group of three while 2% of the varieties were predicted in opposite groups. Further analysis of sugarcane varieties using additional polyrnorphisrns has the potential to identify markers linked to important traits. These markers could be used for marker-assisted selection to increase the efficiency of selecting for improved sugarcane genotypes for commercial release

Save the Turtles! Examining Motivators for Pro-Environmental Behaviors

In response to multiple vivid images about plastic straw pollution, multiple major corporations have started to reduce their straw waste or completely ban straw use. These images are assumed to lead to increased guilt, environmental identity, and environmental concern that is thought to then motivate additional pro-environmental behaviors (PEBs). In the first part of the study (Time 1), participants were randomly assigned to either watch a saddening video of a turtle struggling with a plastic straw stuck in its nose (the environmental appeal), or to not watch the video (controls). They were then surveyed on their levels of guilt, pro-environmental identity, and concern for the environment. The participants who watched the video were then asked to reduce their use of single-use plastic straws and to track their use for one week, while control participants were only asked to track their straw use for one week. After a week (Time 2), the participants were surveyed on their straw use, environmental policy support, levels of guilt, pro-environmental identity, and concern. This study supports the idea of guilt being a powerful motivator, but that eco-guilt can be reduced over time. On the other hand, other motivators, such as pro-environmental identity and concern, may not be affected by this particular environmental appeal. Overall, an individual’s straw use seems to be unaffected by the chosen environmental appeal, as well as an individual’s support for policies against single-use plastics

“I Notice My Feelings:” Exploring Mindfulness with 1st Graders and their Families

This paper explores a study completed with 1st grade students while a five-week mindfulness unit was implemented in their classroom. The paper discusses tactics for teaching mindfulness strategies to students and results observed in the students over the course of the five-week study. It also contains journal entries completed by students and their families both in the classroom and at home

The impact of strictly protected areas in a deforestation hotspot

Protected areas are often thought of as a key conservation strategy for avoiding deforestation and retaining biodiversity; therefore, it is crucial to know how effective they are at achieving this purpose. Using a case study from Queensland, Australia, we identified and controlled for bias in allocating strictly protected areas (IUCN Class I and II) and evaluated their impact (in terms of avoiding deforestation) using statistical matching methods. Over the 30 years between 1988 and 2018, approximately 70,481 km2 of native forest was cleared in the study region. Using statistical matching, we estimated that 10.5% (1,447 km2) of Category I and II (strict) protected areas would have been cleared in the absence of protection. Put differently, 89.5% of strictly protected areas are unlikely to have been cleared, even if they were never protected. While previous studies have used statistical matching at a country or state level, we conducted an analysis that allows regional comparison across a single State. Our research indicates that strictly protected areas are marginally effective at preventing deforestation, and this likely due to biases in establishing protected areas on unproductive land

Treatment of Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/90240/1/phco.31.3.312.pd