Does the Bully Busters Intervention Reduce Bullying in Middle School Students?

Laurenza and Kosine present a brief overview and analysis of the article, Bully busters: A psycho-educational intervention for reducing bullying behavior in middle school students, originally published in the Journal of Counseling & Development. The authors present a summary of the key components of the article including the introduction, method and results of the study. They offer an additional analysis of implications for future practice, including a discussion of the impact of the Bully Busters program on student behavior and teacher skills at detecting and addressing bullying

Muscle Synergies Facilitate Computational Prediction of Subject-Specific Walking Motions.

Researchers have explored a variety of neurorehabilitation approaches to restore normal walking function following a stroke. However, there is currently no objective means for prescribing and implementing treatments that are likely to maximize recovery of walking function for any particular patient. As a first step toward optimizing neurorehabilitation effectiveness, this study develops and evaluates a patient-specific synergy-controlled neuromusculoskeletal simulation framework that can predict walking motions for an individual post-stroke. The main question we addressed was whether driving a subject-specific neuromusculoskeletal model with muscle synergy controls (5 per leg) facilitates generation of accurate walking predictions compared to a model driven by muscle activation controls (35 per leg) or joint torque controls (5 per leg). To explore this question, we developed a subject-specific neuromusculoskeletal model of a single high-functioning hemiparetic subject using instrumented treadmill walking data collected at the subject's self-selected speed of 0.5 m/s. The model included subject-specific representations of lower-body kinematic structure, foot-ground contact behavior, electromyography-driven muscle force generation, and neural control limitations and remaining capabilities. Using direct collocation optimal control and the subject-specific model, we evaluated the ability of the three control approaches to predict the subject's walking kinematics and kinetics at two speeds (0.5 and 0.8 m/s) for which experimental data were available from the subject. We also evaluated whether synergy controls could predict a physically realistic gait period at one speed (1.1 m/s) for which no experimental data were available. All three control approaches predicted the subject's walking kinematics and kinetics (including ground reaction forces) well for the model calibration speed of 0.5 m/s. However, only activation and synergy controls could predict the subject's walking kinematics and kinetics well for the faster non-calibration speed of 0.8 m/s, with synergy controls predicting the new gait period the most accurately. When used to predict how the subject would walk at 1.1 m/s, synergy controls predicted a gait period close to that estimated from the linear relationship between gait speed and stride length. These findings suggest that our neuromusculoskeletal simulation framework may be able to bridge the gap between patient-specific muscle synergy information and resulting functional capabilities and limitations

Client prefects?: Rome and the Cottians in the Western Alps

The Alpine Cottian dynasty offers a model of reaction to and manipulation of Roman authority. Through their monuments and benefactions, the Cottians presented themselves to a domestic audience in a manner that blurred the distinction between Roman and Cottian accomplishments and presented the new alliance in a positive light

Teacher Leaders’ Experiences and Perceptions from Program to Practice

Most studies dedicated to investigating teacher leadership has focused on the impact teacher leaders (TLs) have with professional development and enhancing other teachers\u27 performances or conquering a school\u27s improvement plan. Few studies have set out to explore the impact preparatory teacher leadership programs have on the TLs. There is also a minimal amount of studies discussing the influence TLs feel they are having at their schools and the effects of becoming a teacher leader. This qualitative survey study focused on the first-hand experiences of seven pre-K-12th grade TLs within the southeastern region of the United States. The method of data collection involved an open-ended survey. Data analysis was accomplished through the identification of categories and emerging themes, relationships, summarizations, and comparisons of the different views of the participants. The two most prominent themes that emerged from the data were defining teacher leadership roles and the intrinsic motivation of TLs within the confines of restrictive educational norms of established positions. A result of this research includes an adaptation of five steps to the previously formed steps of effective TL initiatives within schools. Concluding that all levels within the education system, from state agencies to classroom teachers, should align with each other to create a consistent guide which will result in TLs assisting their schools with more relevant skills and resources that can be authentically implemented and redelivered with their staff

Impaired limb shortening following stroke: what's in a name?

BackgroundDifficulty advancing the paretic limb during the swing phase of gait is a prominent manifestation of walking dysfunction following stroke. This clinically observable sign, frequently referred to as 'foot drop', ostensibly results from dorsiflexor weakness.ObjectiveHere we investigated the extent to which hip, knee, and ankle motions contribute to impaired paretic limb advancement. We hypothesized that neither: 1) minimal toe clearance and maximal limb shortening during swing nor, 2) the pattern of multiple joint contributions to toe clearance and limb shortening would differ between post-stroke and non-disabled control groups.MethodsWe studied 16 individuals post-stroke during overground walking at self-selected speed and nine non-disabled controls who walked at matched speeds using 3D motion analysis.ResultsNo differences were detected with respect to the ankle dorsiflexion contribution to toe clearance post-stroke. Rather, hip flexion had a greater relative influence, while the knee flexion influence on producing toe clearance was reduced.ConclusionsSimilarity in the ankle dorsiflexion, but differences in the hip and knee, contributions to toe clearance between groups argues strongly against dorsiflexion dysfunction as the fundamental impairment of limb advancement post-stroke. Marked reversal in the roles of hip and knee flexion indicates disruption of inter-joint coordination, which most likely results from impairment of the dynamic contribution to knee flexion by the gastrocnemius muscle in preparation for swing. These findings suggest the need to reconsider the notion of foot drop in persons post-stroke. Redirecting the focus of rehabilitation and restoration of hemiparetic walking dysfunction appropriately, towards contributory neuromechanical impairments, will improve outcomes and reduce disability

Self Management of Chronic Pain

Abstract Background and Review of Literature: Deaths related to the misuse of opioids for chronic pain management has increased over several years. Policies have been made to control and monitor prescription opioids and decrease the amount prescribed for patients. However, there has been little education provided to patients regarding self-management strategies to help manage their pain independently or with combination of their medications. Purpose: The purpose of this project was to address this gap in self-management strategies through an evidence-based educational intervention. Methods: An evidence based educational intervention was provided to selected primary care patients at an urban community health center. Pre- and post-evaluation of pain self-management ability was measured using the Pain Self-Efficiency Questionnaire (PSEQ). Results: After completing the implementation of this project and the data analysis, it was determined that even though there was a small percentage of drop put rate, the overall mean score for PSEQ scores increased from 21.5 pre implementation to 24.5 after implementation. These results demonstrated the positive effect self-management strategies have on pain management and daily living. Conclusion: Pain self-management programs and non-pharmaceutical strategies have been shown to improve chronic pain management. By providing patients with the latest evidence-based education and resources regarding effective self-management strategies to manage pain have been demonstrated to improve chronic pain management

ELECTROSPUN NANOFIBER SCAFFOLDS AS A PLATFORM FOR BREAST CANCER RESEARCH

Tumorigenesis is a complex process involving numerous cellular signaling cascades and environmental factors. Here, we report the fabrication of 3D scaffolds with different morphologies obtained by to study cancer cell proliferation and migration. Using an FDA approved, biocompatible and biodegradable polymer Polycaprolactone (PCL), we electrospun nanofiber scaffolds having mesh, aligned, and honeycomb morphologies. The role of the morphology and cellular preferences to nutrition in cell adhesion and proliferation was assessed using scaffolds obtained by electrospinning PCL with fluorescent fructose-like molecular probes. Cell viability, cell morphology, localized cellular growth as related to scaffold morphology and availability of the fructose-like molecular probes were investigated. The changes in biophysical properties of tumor microenvironment with change in morphology of the scaffolds were observed. In vitro tests for proliferation, alignment and migration of human dermal fibroblasts (HDFa), normal breast epithelial cells (184B5), adenocarcinoma (MCF-7), pre-malignant (MCF10AneoT) and triple-negative (MDA-MB-231 on the scaffolds on days 1, 2, and 3 were carried out. The morphology of the scaffolds was characterized using FE-SEM while surface characterization was done using FTIR. Mechanical properties of the scaffolds were investigated using a Dynamic Mechanical Analyzer (DMA). Cell proliferation was assessed using CellTiter-Blue® Viability Assay; migration and cell-scaffold interactions were investigated using phalloidin for F-Actin. Our data indicates that while topographical features affected cell adhesion and proliferation, cell lines that responded to the fructose-like probes tended to be more invasive. Furthermore, the preference to a specific scaffold was greatly altered by the presence of the probes with MDA-MB-231 showing least preference after 72 hours and pre-malignant MCF10AneoT showing highest preference. However, there was no significant difference in the cell numbers between scaffolds with probes and those without for the pre-malignant cells while this difference was noticeable in the control cell lines. Hence, a relation between cell preferences, scaffold morphology and nutritional sources may be sought by further exploring this approach

What Is Home Management?

Do you sometimes feel that the things you learn in various courses are stored away in compartments of your brain marked for later use ? Do you ever wonder if you\u27ll be able to take each subject out of its special cubby hole, mix well with judgment and perform well as the situation demands