The Youth in Service to Elders (YISTE) Program: A Case Study

The Youth In Service To Elders (YISTE) Program was developed in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to meet some of the psychosocial needs of the frail elderly and young student volunteers. The objectives were to promote positive interactions between these groups, to improve the psychosocial well-being of the frail elderly, and to improve the student volunteers\u27 feelings about themselves and about aging. This paper describes the YISTE program and its evaluation. The program sequence was recruitment of youth and elders, training of youth participants, supervision of the youth and elder participants, recognition, and evaluation. Two distinctive features of the program were the involvement of a full-time YISTE coordinator and a comprehensive and structured program to train volunteers and their corresponding agencies. During the 1984/85 program year, 300 frail elders and 250 students interacted in a variety of environments and activities. The evaluations for the 1984/85 program year indicated that positive outcomes were obtained for both groups

Deep sequencing of foot-and-mouth disease virus reveals RNA sequences involved in genome packaging

Non-enveloped viruses protect their genomes by packaging them into an outer shell or capsid of virus-encoded proteins. Packaging and capsid assembly in RNA viruses can involve interactions between capsid proteins and secondary structures in the viral genome as exemplified by the RNA bacteriophage MS2 and as proposed for other RNA viruses of plants, animals and human. In the picornavirus family of non-enveloped RNA viruses, the requirements for genome packaging remain poorly understood. Here we show a novel and simple approach to identify predicted RNA secondary structures involved in genome packaging in the picornavirus foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV). By interrogating deep sequencing data generated from both packaged and unpackaged populations of RNA we have determined multiple regions of the genome with constrained variation in the packaged population. Predicted secondary structures of these regions revealed stem loops with conservation of structure and a common motif at the loop. Disruption of these features resulted in attenuation of virus growth in cell culture due to a reduction in assembly of mature virions. This study provides evidence for the involvement of predicted RNA structures in picornavirus packaging and offers a readily transferable methodology for identifying packaging requirements in many other viruses. Importance: In order to transmit their genetic material to a new host, non-enveloped viruses must protect their genomes by packaging them into an outer shell or capsid of virus-encoded proteins. For many non-enveloped RNA viruses the requirements for this critical part of the viral life cycle remain poorly understood. We have identified RNA sequences involved in genome packaging of the picornavirus foot-and-mouth disease virus. This virus causes an economically devastating disease of livestock affecting both the developed and developing world. The experimental methods developed to carry out this work are novel, simple and transferable to the study of packaging signals in other RNA viruses. Improved understanding of RNA packaging may lead to novel vaccine approaches or targets for antiviral drugs with broad spectrum activity

Using the Topology of Large Scale Structure to constrain Dark Energy

The use of standard rulers, such as the scale of the Baryonic Acoustic oscillations (BAO), has become one of the more powerful techniques employed in cosmology to probe the entity driving the accelerating expansion of the Universe. In this paper, the topology of large scale structure (LSS) is used as one such standard ruler to study this mysterious `dark energy'. By following the redshift evolution of the clustering of luminous red galaxies (LRGs) as measured by their 3D topology (counting structures in the cosmic web), we can chart the expansion rate and extract information about the equation of state of dark energy. Using the technique first introduced in (Park & Kim, 2009), we evaluate the constraints that can be achieved using 3D topology measurements from next-generation LSS surveys such as the Baryonic Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey (BOSS). In conjunction with the information that will be available from the Planck satellite, we find a single topology measurement on 3 different scales is capable of constraining a single dark energy parameter to within 5% and 10% when dynamics are permitted. This offers an alternative use of the data available from redshift surveys and serves as a cross-check for BAO studies.Comment: 8 pages, 5 figures, 2 tables, Submitted to MNRAS, updated acknowledgement

Beyond modernisation? Social care and the transformation of welfare governance

This article reflects on the process and outcomes of modernisation in adult social care in England and Wales, drawing particularly on the recently completed Modernising Adult Social Care (MASC) research programme commissioned by the Department of Health. We begin by exploring the contested status of ‘modernisation’ as a descriptor of reform. We then outline some of the distinctive features of adult social care services and suggest that these features introduce dynamics likely to shape both the experiences and outcomes of policy ambitions for modernisation. We then reflect on the evidence emerging from the MASC studies and develop a model for illuminating some of the dynamics of welfare governance. Finally, we highlight the emerging focus on individualisation and on user-directed and controlled services. We argue that the current focus of modernisation involves a reduced emphasis on structural and institutional approaches to change and an increased emphasis on changes in the behaviours and roles of adult social care service users. This focus has implications for both the future dynamics of welfare governance and for conceptions of citizenship

CHANGES IN BALANCE AND JOINT POSITION SENSE DURING A 12-DAY HIGH ALTITUDE TREK

The purpose of this study was to investigate changes in postural control and knee joint position sense (KJPS) during a trek to high altitude. Postural control during standing balance and KJPS were measured in 12 participants at sea-level, 3619m, 4600m and 5140m. Total (p = 0.003, d=1.9) and anterior-posterior sway velocity (p= 0.001, d=1.9) during standing balance with eyes open velocity was significantly greater at altitudes of 3619m and 5140m when compared with sea level. Despite a gradual ascent profile, exposure to 3619 m was associated with impairments in postural control. Importantly, these impairments did not worsen at higher altitudes. The present findings should be considered during future trekking expeditions when considering specific strategies to manage impairments in postural control that occur with increasing altitude

Quantifying beliefs regarding telehealth: Development of the Whole Systems Demonstrator Service User Technology Acceptability Questionnaire

Introduction: Telehealth (TH) is a potential solution to the increased incidence of chronic illness in an ageing population.The extent to which older people and users with chronic conditions accept and adhere to using assistive technologies is a potential barrier to mainstreaming the service. This study reports the development and validation of the Whole Systems Demonstrator (WSD) Service User Technology Acceptability Questionnaire (SUTAQ). Methods: Questionnaires measuring the acceptability of TH, quality of life, well-being and psychological processes were completed by 478 users of TH. The 22 acceptability items were subject to principal components analysis (PCA) to determine sub-scales. Scale scores, relationships between scales and other patient reported outcome measures (PROMs), and group differences on scales were utilised to check the reliability and validity of the measure. Results: PCAs of SUTAQ items produced 6 TH acceptability scales: enhanced care, increased accessibility, privacy & discomfort, care personnel concerns, kit as substitution, and satisfaction. Scale scores indicated, individuals with long term conditions held beliefs. Significant correlations within these beliefs and between these scales and additional PROMs were coherent and the SUTAQ subscales were able to predict those more likely to refuse TH. Discussion: The SUTAQ is an instrument that can be used to measure user beliefs about the acceptability of TH, and has the ability to discriminate and predict individual differences in beliefs and behaviour. Measuring acceptability beliefs of TH users can provide valuable information to direct and target provision of services to increase uptake and maintain use of TH

Female athlete experiences of seeking and receiving treatment for an eating disorder

Clinical eating disorders are common among athletes; however research has yet to explore the process of seeking and receiving treatment for an eating disorder in this population. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 13 female athletes currently receiving treatment for an eating disorder. A total of three themes emerged: challenges to treatment seeking, feeling out of place, and coping with exercise transitions. Athletes reported low levels of eating disorder literacy and lacked motivation to engage with therapy due to a lack of perceived relevance. Athletes found it challenging to relinquish exercise behaviours in treatment and expressed concerns around managing a return to sport. It may be necessary to provide additional support to athletes when embarking on and leaving treatment programs, particularly with regards to managing expectations about exercise

Development of the Mealtime Emotions Measure for adolescents (MEM-A): Gender differences in emotional responses to family mealtimes and eating psychopathology

This study aimed to examine the factor structure of the Mealtime Emotions Measure for adolescents (MEM-A), a novel measure of emotional responses experienced during family mealtimes. Additionally, it examined gender differences in mealtime emotions and also the relationships between mealtime emotions and levels of eating psychopathology, when controlling for anxiety or depression. Adolescent participants (N = 527; 282 girls, 245 boys) with a mean age of 15.9 years completed the new mealtime measure for adolescents (MEM-A), in addition to questions about family mealtime atmosphere, and measures assessing symptoms of anxiety, depression, and eating psychopathology. Factor analysis produced a three factor solution for the MEM-A with two subscales relating to different types of negative mealtime emotions (Anxiety-related mealtime emotions and Anger-related mealtime emotions) and one subscale relating to Positive mealtime emotions. Generally, girls reported experiencing more Anxiety-related mealtime emotions compared to boys. Having conducted separate analyses controlling for levels of either anxiety or depression, there were several significant associations for both girls and boys between mealtime emotions, particularly Anxiety-related emotions, and eating psychopathology. The findings suggest that some mealtime emotions are associated with increased eating psychopathology. Replication and detailed examination of these emotional responses is required. Keywords: Anxiety; Depression; Positive mealtime emotions; Negative mealtime emotions; Family mealtime environment; Eating behaviours; Anger

Evaluating Active U: an Internet-mediated physical activity program.

Background: Engaging in regular physical activity can be challenging, particularly during the winter months. To promote physical activity at the University of Michigan during the winter months, an eight-week Internet-mediated program (Active U) was developed providing participants with an online physical activity log, goal setting, motivational emails, and optional team participation and competition. Methods: This study is a program evaluation of Active U. Approximately 47,000 faculty, staff, and graduate students were invited to participate in the online Active U intervention in the winter of 2007. Participants were assigned a physical activity goal and were asked to record each physical activity episode into the activity log for eight weeks. Statistics for program reach, effectiveness, adoption, and implementation were calculated using the Re-Aim framework. Multilevel regression analyses were used to assess the decline in rates of data entry and goal attainment during the program, to assess the likelihood of joining a team by demographic characteristics, to test the association between various predictors and the number of weeks an individual met his or her goal, and to analyze server load. Results: Overall, 7,483 individuals registered with the Active U website (≈16% of eligible), and 79% participated in the program by logging valid data at least once. Staff members, older participants, and those with a BMI < 25 were more likely to meet their weekly physical activity goals, and average rate of meeting goals was higher among participants who joined a competitive team compared to those who participated individually (IRR = 1.28, P < .001). Conclusion: Internet-mediated physical activity interventions that focus on physical activity logging and goal setting while incorporating team competition may help a significant percentage of the target population maintain their physical activity during the winter months