A Longitudinal Study of Fetal Tissue Transplantation Surgery: The Effects on Quality of Life and Personality for Individuals with Parkinson\u27s Disease

Parkinson\u27s disease (PD) is a chronic and progressive condition that affects the physical, emotional, and social functioning of individuals. Freed et al. (2001) conducted a double-blind sham-controlled trial to investigate the effectiveness of fetal tissue transplantation of those with PD. The authors investigated the effects of the surgery across the dimensions of physical and neurological functioning. A quality of life (QoL) study was conducted to determine if there were differences in QoL when comparing those who received the fetal tissue transplantation to those who received the sham surgery (McRae et al., 2004). While there is little research on the effectiveness of fetal tissue transplantation as a treatment for PD, there is even less literature on longitudinal effects of this treatment. This study examined the longitudinal trajectory of change in QoL since participants received fetal transplant surgery 10-12 years ago. Participants included 11 people who were in the parent (Freed et al., 2001) and original QoL (McRae, 2004) studies. Participants completed a questionnaire that measured the dimensions of QoL along with a personality inventory, the NEO-FFI. Data gathered from the questionnaires were compared to baseline, one-year, and two-year information on the same participants. Trajectory of change in QoL and personality was assessed with a repeated measures analysis of variance. For the present study, significant changes over time were found for the Physical functioning (p \u3c .05) and Emotional functioning (p \u3c .10) dimensions of QoL. A significant result was also found for the Social functioning (p \u3c .05) dimension of QoL that was measured by the Social Provisions Scale. In addition, significant results were found for the Neuroticism (p \u3c .10), Extraversion (p \u3c .05), Openness to Experiences (p \u3c .05), and Conscientiousness (p \u3c .10) factors of the NEO-FFI. Participants reported a decrease in Physical, Emotional, and Social functioning between the two-year and current assessments. Participants reported an increase in Neuroticism, and a decrease in Extraversion, Openness to Experience, and Conscientiousness between the two-year and current assessments. Findings of the current study provided longitudinal information on the trajectories of fetal tissue transplantation on QoL and personality for participants with PD

Between Mandates and Molding Minds: The Challenge of Teacher Autonomy Today

In recent years, Texas schools have witnessed a significant decline in teacher autonomy, attributable primarily to three factors: an increased emphasis on standardized testing, the prevalence of top-down leadership and bureaucracy, and the adoption of third-party curricula and commercialized content. These elements have collectively constrained educators\u27 ability to adapt and innovate according to the unique needs of their students. Additionally, this issue has had profound ripple effects on families and communities in several ways. Possible solutions for increasing teacher autonomy will be provided that offer multiple benefits to the education system, teachers, students, and the broader community

Sentactics®: A Virtual Treatment of Underlying Forms

This study tested the effects of Sentactics®, a computer-automated version of Treatment of Underlying Forms (TUF). Results showed that treatment effects derived from Sentactics® replicated those of clinician-delivered TUF, improving agrammatic patients’ ability to comprehend and produce complex sentences and resulting in generalization to untrained linguistically related forms, of lesser complexity. Additionally, no differences were found in a comparison of the relative effectiveness of computer-delivered Sentactics® and clinician-delivered TUF. These results provide further support for the efficacy of the TUF protocol and demonstrate the viability of computerized therapies in the field of aphasia treatment

The effect of labour legislation in the promotion and integration of persons with disabilities in the labour market

It is argued that a lack of adequate legislation in pre-1994 South Africa resulted in inequality in the workplace and in society in general. The new democracy intended to address this by promulgated legislation and today the South Africa Constitutional and legislative provisions promoting equality are viewed as amongst the most progressive in the world. Conversely, this progressive legislation aimed to protect against discrimination, still seems to fail the very people it intended to promote and protect. The new legislation created awareness of the need for equality; the right of workers to employment – or at least to decent working conditions. The right to equality is accorded to everybody through the Constitution of South Africa. The Bill of Rights is based on the notion of equality before the law, and the prohibition of discrimination on various grounds. Despite this, the perception exist that persons with disabilities as a minority group are still being marginalised and are restricted in their right to exercise the right to participate and make a meaningful contribution to the labour market. This not only seems to be in contradiction with the Constitutional right to choose an occupation, but has wider social and economic consequences. The ethos of equality legislation is to ensure that the workplace is representative of the society we live in. It is understandable that labour as a social phenomenon is not only concerned with workplace related issues but with aspects encompassing the whole of the socio-political and economic scene. South African labour legislation drafted over the last two decades strives to align with the conventions and recommendations of the International Labour Organisations and in terms of the obligations of South Africa as a member state. However, the question prevails: is this legislation adequate to address the discrimination and inequality experienced by persons with disability? If so, why do statistics indicate such high unemployment amongst this group? Yet, there is a growing awareness that persons with disabilities represent enormous, untapped economic potential. According to the ILO report on The Right to Decent Work of Persons with Disabilities (1997), much has been accomplished in the international arena in recent years to improve the lives of persons with disabilities in the workplace. This treatise will attempt to evaluate the efficacy of South African legislation in the promotion and integration of persons with disabilities in the labour market

Changes in vegetative cover on Western Arctic Herd winter range from 1981 to 2005: potential effects of grazing and climate change

The population of the Western Arctic Herd, estimated at 490 000 caribou (Rangifer tarandus granti) in 2003, is at its highest level in 30 years. Twenty permanent range transects were established in the winter range of the Western Arctic Herd in 1981 to assess the impacts of grazing. These transects were revisited in 1995 and 1996 (1995/96). Only 18 of the transects were re-located, so an additional 7 transects were established in 1996. In 2005, all 25 remaining transects were revisited. Lichen coverage dropped by a relative 45.1% between 1981 and 1995/96 and by an additional relative 25.6% between 1995/96 and 2005. There was a significant decline in primary forage lichens between 1995/96 and 2005. Caribou use was greater in areas with high lichen abundance. Graminoid cover increased by a relative 118.4% from 1981 to 1995/96 and again by a relative 26.1% from 1995/96 to 2005. Shrub cover increased during the study whereas forb cover declined. The decline in lichen abundance on the winter range of the Western Arctic Herd over 24 years is an index of caribou habitat condition. The observed changes in vegetation cover can be attributed to caribou grazing, fire, and possibly global climate change. Continued declines in lichen cover could lead to population declines within the herd, range shifts, or both

The antecedents and correlates of the use of self-care for school-age children

The objectives of this study were to: 1) Describe patterns of use of self-care among families participating in a longitudinal study of maternal-child interaction, 2) Propose a conceptual model to explain family choice of selfcare, and 3) Develop and test a set of mathematical models predicting use of self-care during the school-week, using logistic regression. The data on the independent variables used in this study were obtained from a longitudinal study directed by Dr. Earl Schaefer. Three hundred twenty-two women in the last trimester of pregnancy who were receiving prenatal care through the Guilford County Health Department agreed to participate in 1975 and 1976. Data for this study were gathered in two cohorts from 191 mothers (75% black and predominantly low-income) during home-based maternal interviews in 1980 and 1981 and again in 1984 and 1985. Data on use of self-care were gathered from their nine- or ten-year-old children during school-based interviews during the 1985-86 and 1986-87 school years

Development of an Objective Structured Clinical Examination as a Component of Assessment for Initial Board Certification in Anesthesiology.

With its first administration of an Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) in 2018, the American Board of Anesthesiology (ABA) became the first US medical specialty certifying board to incorporate this type of assessment into its high-stakes certification examination system. The fundamental rationale for the ABA's introduction of the OSCE is to include an assessment that allows candidates for board certification to demonstrate what they actually "do" in domains relevant to clinical practice. Inherent in this rationale is that the OSCE will capture competencies not well assessed in the current written and oral examinations-competencies that will allow the ABA to judge whether a candidate meets the standards expected for board certification more properly. This special article describes the ABA's journey from initial conceptualization through first administration of the OSCE, including the format of the OSCE, the process for scenario development, the standardized patient program that supports OSCE administration, examiner training, scoring, and future assessment of reliability, validity, and impact of the OSCE. This information will be beneficial to both those involved in the initial certification process, such as residency graduate candidates and program directors, and others contemplating the use of high-stakes summative OSCE assessments

How partnerships for community-based health professions training were affected by national changes in funding

Background: Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) have contributed to U.S. healthcare workforce training since 1971. National funders recently refocused efforts from K-12 students to matriculated health profession students, which reduced annual funding by $75,000 (25%) per year per Center. Objectives: To describe how community partnership changed due to funding reductions. Methods: Key informant interviews were conducted with all four regional center directors with community partnerships. Lessons learned: Hosted regional centers navigated partnerships in ways that did not significantly change programs because the host institutions supported continuing the partnerships. Independent centers experienced significant changes in partnerships by ending well-established programs and starting new programs with new partners. Both hosted and independent centers took salary cuts, downsized staff, and applied for grants and contracts to fill the funding gap. Improved communication with the Oregon AHEC program office was reported as needed. Conclusions: Navigating partnerships differed according to host status

Gender accommodative versus transformative approaches: a comparative assessment within a post-harvest fish loss reduction intervention

Technical and social constraints limit value chain actors from equitably engaging in and benefiting from capture fisheries in low-income settings. Extension and development programs often focus on the former, which reflects a technocratic orientation of the fisheries sector and uncertainty about effective ways for development programs to engage with gender and other social constraints. This study presents empirical insights that address these challenges to fisheries development. The study took place in fishing camps in the Barotse Floodplain, Zambia to compare two approaches addressing gender constraints within a broader post-harvest fish loss reduction intervention: an accommodative and a transformative approach. The former embodied a more common ‘practical needs’ set of strategies to ensure female participation, while the latter comprised a communication tool embedded in an action research process to build critical consciousness. Results indicate that the use of a transformative approach led to significant changes in gender equal attitudes and women’s empowerment outcomes compared to only using an accommodative approach. Development programs working in fisheries can apply the findings to engage effectively with gender constraints, especially using transformative approaches to help enable women and men to overcome the social and technical barriers that constrain their lives and livelihoods