Vocational and Educational Problems of Epileptic Patients

The results of a study to elicit factors which are associated with an epileptic patient's gaining and keeping employment are presented. Eighty-seven employed patients were compared with 90 unemployed patients on a wide variety of variables. It was found that the employed patients had higher intelligence, less impairment on neuro-psychological tests, less neurological and electroencephalographic abnormalities, and their work history was considerably better than that of the unemployed group. A step-wise discriminant function analysis revealed that the most powerful predictors for employment success were: high motivation for work, good verbal IQ, a self confidence item, and the patient's present level of socialization. A review of the type of employment held by our patients, when compared against the total labor force and the minority labor force (Negro citizens) of the Detroit Metropolitan area, showed that the epileptic patients tend to be similar to the minority labor force, clustering in the lower socio-economic brackets. It was felt that discrimination against both groups is probably only one common denominator. Another, possibly a more important one, is inadequate schooling which results in failure to acquire the skills needed for living successfully in a highly technological, complex, competitive society. It is pointed out that although the majority of epileptic children attend regular schools, their grades tend to be below average and that they are not being prepared for entering the competitive job market. Suggestions how to improve this situation through rehabilitation efforts during the school years and how to more effectively remove the stigma from the illness are also presented.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/65611/1/j.1528-1157.1972.tb04562.x.pd

How Morphological Constraints Affect Axonal Polarity in Mouse Neurons

Neuronal differentiation is under the tight control of both biochemical and physical information arising from neighboring cells and micro-environment. Here we wished to assay how external geometrical constraints applied to the cell body and/or the neurites of hippocampal neurons may modulate axonal polarization in vitro. Through the use of a panel of non-specific poly-L-lysine micropatterns, we manipulated the neuronal shape. By applying geometrical constraints on the cell body we provided evidence that centrosome location was not predictive of axonal polarization but rather follows axonal fate. When the geometrical constraints were applied to the neurites trajectories we demonstrated that axonal specification was inhibited by curved lines. Altogether these results indicated that intrinsic mechanical tensions occur during neuritic growth and that maximal tension was developed by the axon and expressed on straight trajectories. The strong inhibitory effect of curved lines on axon specification was further demonstrated by their ability to prevent formation of multiple axons normally induced by cytochalasin or taxol treatments. Finally we provided evidence that microtubules were involved in the tension-mediated axonal polarization, acting as curvature sensors during neuronal differentiation. Thus, biomechanics coupled to physical constraints might be the first level of regulation during neuronal development, primary to biochemical and guidance regulations

A Meta-Analysis Examining Effects on Student Grades as Well as Government Economic Policies to Coincide with Them

vii, 68 p.Despite having the largest economy in the world, and being viewed by many as the world leader, America has many problems with its education system. Money is not the problem, but rather where this money goes is. The United States ranks in the top five in education spending across the world with $13,600 spent per student per year. Only Luxembourg, Switzerland, Austria, and Norway spend more (National Center for Educational Statistics, 2020), but when it comes to ranking education systems, the United States often times does not finish in the top twenty. Likely meaning stronger choices on where to spend money, as well as policy prescriptions on how to lift the forgotten students upward, this paper will investigate the significance or non-significance of a variety of variables which could prove to be effective policy in improving the education system. In this meta-analysis, there will be a summary of many possible failures within the education system, and then a variety of studies and their variables will be addressed. The results of these studies will then be compared, and recommendations will be put forth. Finally, if future education studies are conducted, the final conclusion will be a recommendation on the type of study to pursue

Quantitative investigations of neuronal architecture and the structural role of the cytoskeleton

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Michigan State University. Department of Physiology, 1989Includes bibliographical references (pages 78-86

Dimensions Of Self-concept Of Later Elementary Children In Relationship To Reading Performance, Sex-role And Socioeconomic Status.

PhDEducational psychologyUniversity of Michigan, Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studieshttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/186786/2/7204851.pd