The Groundwork for Successful Cohort- Based Fiscal Capacity-Building: An Evaluation of the Strengthening Financial Management Initiative

This article is based on the findings of an evaluation of The Wallace Foundation’s Strengthening Financial Management initiative, which show that it is possible, with well-designed training and support, to enhance the ability of nonprofit leaders to strategically manage their resources for long-term sustainability and programmatic quality. The initiative tested two models of capacity building – a relatively high-intensity approach and a lighter, though still substantive, model. While the two shared a common core of content, the amount of resources provided in each of the two models was dramatically different. In addition to the two main findings – that building nonprofit financial-management capacity is possible and that the gains arising from the more limited model were comparable to those seen in the higher-intensity approach – the study uncovered some key success factors with clear implications not only for potential replications of this type of project, but for cohort-based, nonprofit capacity-building efforts more broadly

An Interdisciplinary Learning Experience Through Applied Clinical Practice with Community Volunteers

Allied health professionals typically begin working on an interdisciplinary health care team immediately upon entering the workforce. Interdisciplinary health care teams are believed to be cost-effective, to result in better patient outcomes, and to lower staff burnout and turnover. Although teamwork often is standard practice in the workplace, allied health students may receive little to no formal training in working with other professionals while in school. Instead, it may be assumed that this knowledge is inherent or that developing the skills necessary to work as part of a team while on clinical affiliation or postgraduation is acceptable

Impact of Singing Intervention on Vocal Fatigue Effects : A Single Subject Study

This single subject descriptive study investigated the efficacy of singing intervention on the effects of vocal fatigue on the speaking voice of a non-singing individual. Baseline measures were taken on a single subject prior to voice treatment. Data were collected before and after the subject performed a vocally fatiguing task of 1 hour of prolonged reading at 80% of his maximum vocal intensity level. Data collection consisted of the following acoustic and aerodynamic characteristics of the subject\u27s speaking voice: fundamental frequency, jitter, shimmer, maximum intensity level, and maximum phonation duration, as well as obtainment of the subject\u27s self-perceptions of vocal quality, tension, and pain in his own speaking voice. The subject underwent 4 weeks of singing intervention. The goal of singing intervention was to reduce the fatiguing effects of prolonged, loud, speaking. After 4 weeks of singing intervention, the collection of acoustic, physiologic, and perceptual data was repeated before and after the subject performed 1 hour of reading at 80% of his maximum vocal intensity level. Pre-treatment data were compared to posttreatment data using descriptive techniques. Based on the comparison of pre-treatment data to post-treatment data, the results indicated that singing intervention allowed for a reduction in the fatiguing effects of prolonged aloud reading as measured by fundamental frequency, jitter, maximum intensity level, and maximum phonation duration. Specifically, prior to singing intervention, fundamental frequency (Fo) exceeded normal limits when the patient was vocally fatigued. Following singing intervention, Fo remained within normal limits during both the pre and post-fatigue conditions. The subject\u27s jitter values were not within normal limits prior to intervention; jitter values improved, but continued to fall outside the normative data for an individual of the subject\u27s age and gender. The subject\u27s shimmer values remained constant throughout the study. In the pretreatment condition, the subject\u27s maximum intensity and maximum phonation duration levels were negatively affected by fatigue. Fatigue effects were no longer observed on these levels following intervention. Singing intervention had no effect on the subject\u27s perceptions of vocal quality, laryngeal muscular tension, and sensations of pain

The evolution of challenges for adoptive families: the impact of age as a framework for differentiation

This exploratory study examined issues parents (n=20) experienced after adoption through the child welfare system. The findings suggest that the primary differences between struggling and non-struggling families was whether the family was internally-protected or externally-focused. Internally-protected families were able to insulate and protect their family from many outside forces and meet their children’s needs. In contrast, externally-influenced families tended to have negative involvement with the school, community, and/or law enforcement, often resulting from children’s disruptive behavior. The parents had limited choices as to whether outside entities were involved in their children’s lives. Participants reported that sustained support after adoption is necessary so parents do not burn out, and that different resources are needed based on the child’s current age

Observing and Promoting Normative Developmental Outcomes: Reciprocity is Key

Background: Occupational therapists focus on caregiver-infant reciprocity, which is influenced by a host of biopsychosocial factors and is predictive of developmental outcomes across domains. It is important for early intervention professions to understand how different forms of reciprocity may predict infant development in salient domains (i.e., language, mobility, and co-occupation). Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate associations among related measures of development in and across age, while also exploring how reciprocity influences the acquisition of developmental milestones. Method: We examined these important areas of development in relation to novel caregiver-infant co-occupational constructs in addition to well-established domains of reciprocity (i.e., language, touch, and emotional sensitivity). In a cohort of 16 caregiver-infant dyads, we investigated infant language, motor, and affective development at 8, 12, and 16 months of age in relation to caregiver-infant reciprocity in the same domains. Results: Findings identify relations among domains, as well as novel, bidirectional associations among these domains, and caregiver-infant reciprocity. In particular, infant utterances, standing, and positive affect were related to caregiver sensitivity and responsivity to infant affect, touch, and/or physicality. Conclusion: These findings suggest that aspects of caregiver-infant reciprocity may predict development in several important domains

Exile Vol. XIV No. 1

POETRY For George Wallace by Tom Cook 5 For Candy by Tom Cook 6-7 G. M. by Nancy Scott 13 Spinning Song by Karen Cozart 14 Traps by Bob Martin 21 Potato Cellar by Bob Martin 21 untitled by Jeffrey Smith 23 Summer Correspondence I by Lauren Shakely 39 Untitled by Hank Vyner 40 When He Returns, Tell Him by Barb Ingle 40 untitled by Tim Cope 41 FICTION The Elephants by Cem Kozlu 9-12 A Hill by Dick Devine 15-20 Man Minus 1 by Tom Cook 26-38 A Playmate by Jim Ruddock 43-44 ART Pen and Ink by Charles Greacen 4 Illustration For The Elephants by Kee MacFarlane 8 Pen and Ink by Bob Willis 20 Illustration For Career Girl 22 Illustration for A Playmate by Bob Tauber 42 Cover art by Kee MacFarlan

PATH-38. ROSETTE-FORMING GLIONEURONAL TUMOR IS DEFINED BY FGFR1 ACTIVATING ALTERATIONS WITH FREQUENT ACCOMPANYING PI3K AND MAPK PATHWAY MUTATIONS

Abstract BACKGROUND Rosette-forming glioneuronal tumor (RGNT) is an uncommon CNS tumor originally described in the fourth ventricle characterized by a low-grade glial neoplasm admixed with a rosette-forming neurocytic component. METHODS We reviewed clinicopathologic features of 42 patients with RGNT. Targeted next-generation sequencing was performed, and genome-wide methylation profiling is underway. RESULTS The 20 male and 22 female patients had a mean age of 25 years (range 3–47) at time of diagnosis. Tumors were located within or adjacent to the lateral ventricle (n=16), fourth ventricle (15), third ventricle (9), and spinal cord (2). All 31 tumors assessed to date contained FGFR1 activating alterations, either in-frame gene fusion, kinase domain tandem duplication, or hotspot missense mutation in the kinase domain (p.N546 or p.K656). While 7 of these 31 tumors harbored FGFR1 alterations as the solitary pathogenic event, 24 contained additional pathogenic alterations within PI3-kinase or MAP kinase pathway genes: 5 with additional PIK3CA and NF1 mutations, 4 with PIK3CA mutation, 3 with PIK3R1 mutation (one of which also contained focal RAF1 amplification), 5 with PTPN11 mutation (one with additional PIK3R1 mutation), and 2 with NF1 deletion. The other 5 cases demonstrated anaplastic features including hypercellularity and increased mitotic activity. Among these anaplastic cases, 3 harbored inactivating ATRX mutations and two harbored CDKN2A homozygous deletion, in addition to the FGFR1 alterations plus other PI3-kinase and MAP kinase gene mutations seen in those RGNT without anaplasia. CONCLUSION Independent of ventricular location, RGNT is defined by FGFR1 activating mutations or rearrangements, which are frequently accompanied by mutations involving PIK3CA, PIK3R1, PTPN11, NF1, and KRAS. Whereas pilocytic astrocytoma and ganglioglioma are characterized by solitary activating MAP kinase pathway alterations (e.g. BRAF fusion or mutation), RGNT are genetically more complex with dual PI3K-Akt-mTOR and Ras-Raf-MAPK pathway activation. Rare anaplastic examples may show additional ATRX and/or CDKN2A inactivation

Author Correction: Convalescent plasma for hospitalized patients with COVID-19: an open-label, randomized controlled trial (Nature Medicine, (2021), 27, 11, (2012-2024), 10.1038/s41591-021-01488-2)

In the version of this Article initially published, there was an omission in the member list for the CONCOR-1 Study Group. Valérie Arsenault (Héma-Québec, Montreal, Quebec, Canada) has now been included in the CONCOR-1 Study Group in the online version of the article

Using a New Odour-Baited Device to Explore Options for Luring and Killing Outdoor-Biting Malaria Vectors: A Report on Design and Field Evaluation of the Mosquito Landing Box.

Mosquitoes that bite people outdoors can sustain malaria transmission even where effective indoor interventions such as bednets or indoor residual spraying are already widely used. Outdoor tools may therefore complement current indoor measures and improve control. We developed and evaluated a prototype mosquito control device, the 'Mosquito Landing Box' (MLB), which is baited with human odours and treated with mosquitocidal agents. The findings are used to explore technical options and challenges relevant to luring and killing outdoor-biting malaria vectors in endemic settings. Field experiments were conducted in Tanzania to assess if wild host-seeking mosquitoes 1) visited the MLBs, 2) stayed long or left shortly after arrival at the device, 3) visited the devices at times when humans were also outdoors, and 4) could be killed by contaminants applied on the devices. Odours suctioned from volunteer-occupied tents were also evaluated as a potential low-cost bait, by comparing baited and unbaited MLBs. There were significantly more Anopheles arabiensis, An. funestus, Culex and Mansonia mosquitoes visiting baited MLB than unbaited controls (P<=0.028). Increasing sampling frequency from every 120 min to 60 and 30 min led to an increase in vector catches of up to 3.6 fold (P<=0.002), indicating that many mosquitoes visited the device but left shortly afterwards. Outdoor host-seeking activity of malaria vectors peaked between 7:30 and 10:30pm, and between 4:30 and 6:00am, matching durations when locals were also outdoors. Maximum mortality of mosquitoes visiting MLBs sprayed or painted with formulations of candidate mosquitocidal agent (pirimiphos-methyl) was 51%. Odours from volunteer occupied tents attracted significantly more mosquitoes to MLBs than controls (P<0.001). While odour-baited devices such as the MLBs clearly have potential against outdoor-biting mosquitoes in communities where LLINs are used, candidate contaminants must be those that are effective at ultra-low doses even after short contact periods, since important vector species such as An. arabiensis make only brief visits to such devices. Natural human odours suctioned from occupied dwellings could constitute affordable sources of attractants to supplement odour baits for the devices. The killing agents used should be environmentally safe, long lasting, and have different modes of action (other than pyrethroids as used on LLINs), to curb the risk of physiological insecticide resistance