Meta-Analytic Structural Equation Modeling of the Influences of Family-Centered Care on Parent and Child Psychological Health

Background. Family-centered care is now practiced throughout the world by physicians, nurses, and allied health care professionals. The call for adoption of family-centered care is based on the contention that the physical and psychological health of a child is influenced by parents' psychological health where family-centered care enhances parent well-being which in turn influences child well-being. We empirically assessed whether these relationships are supported by available evidence. Method. Meta-analytic structural equation modeling was used to test the direct and indirect influences of family-centered care and self-efficacy beliefs on parent and child psychological health. Data from more than 2900 parents and other caregivers in 15 studies were used for the analyses. Results. Family-centered care had indirect effects on parent and child psychological health mediated by self-efficacy beliefs. Conclusion. The relationships posited in the literature about family-centered care were supported by the study results

Factors Associated with Head Start Staff Participation in Classroom-Based Professional Development

Factors associated with Head Start staff participation in a classroom-based professional development project to promote their use of evidence-based child learning opportunity practices and evidence-based responsive teaching procedures were examined in a study of 36 teachers and teacher assistants in 19 different classrooms. The factors constituting the focus of investigation included work climate, staff belief appraisals (career aspirations, personal motivation, Developmentally Appropriate Practices beliefs), staff receptiveness to the professional development training, staff judgments of the social validity of the practices constituting the focus of training, and staff background characteristics (age, education, years of experience). Results showed that Head Start staff members’ personal beliefs, receptiveness to the training, and their judgments of the social validity of the classroom practices constituting the focus of training were related to staff judgments of their participation in the training which in turn were related to their active engagement in learning to use the classroom practices. The implications of the findings for practice are described in terms of the need to use methods and procedures that actively engage staff in professional development opportunities

Emerging Role of Hypofractionated Radiotherapy with Simultaneous Integrated Boost in Modern Radiotherapy of Breast Cancer

Hypofractionated radiotherapy for breast cancer is becoming increasingly important. The scientific background of this development as well as the introduction of the simultaneous integrated boost to the primary tumor region in this context are discussed here

Effective wound closure with a new two-component wound closure device (Prineo™) in excisional body-contouring surgery: experience in over 200 procedures

In excisional body-contouring surgery the surgeon is often confronted with time-consuming closure of long wounds. Recently, a new combination of a self-adhering mesh together with a liquid 2-octyl cyanoacrylate adhesive (Prineo™; Ethicon, Inc., Somerville, NJ, USA) has been introduced to replace intracutaneous running suture

The interaction of phylloxera infection, rootstock, and irrigation on young Concord grapevine growth

Concord roots are moderately resistant to phylloxera, which form nodosities on the fine roots and weaken the root system. Rootstocks and vineyard floor management both have the potential to eliminate or reduce the effect of phylloxera in New York Concord vineyards. Young, container-grown Concord grapevines were used to evaluate the interaction between rootstock (own-rooted, Couderc 3309), irrigation, and phylloxera infection on vine growth. Phylloxera inoculation alone caused a 21 % decrease in vine dry mass and lack of irrigation (mid-day stem water potential: -0.9 to -1.0 M Pa) alone caused a 34 % decrease in vine dry mass. The combination of phylloxera stress and water stress was additive and caused a 54 % decrease in vine dry mass. Because C3309 rootstock is resistant to phylloxera, the grafted vines showed a response to irrigation but not phylloxera inoculation. This container study shows the potential benefits of irrigating own-rooted Concord grapevines or the use of rootstocks without irrigation to withstand phylloxera infection.

Early intervention in Portugal: study of professionals’ perceptions

Early intervention (EI) has been characterized by considerable advances in its domain, which has had great repercussions in the implementation of the family-centered approach. These changes have had implications in the practices and in the adoption and learning of new values that should be implemented in EI. This study evaluates the professional perspectives regarding familycentered practices in EI programs in Portugal. The results highlight the importance of effective collaboration and coordination between health, education, and social services and the importance of providing child and family support in a natural context. These results reinforce the need to invest in professional training to improve the quality of services offered to families in EI.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) no âmbito do projecto PEst-OE/CED/UI1661/2014 do CIEd

Economics of Drip Irrigation for Juice Grape Vineyards in New York State

R.B. 99-01Grape growers need investment and cost guidelines for drip irrigation to evaluate the economics of getting vines into production as quickly as possible and to avoid periods of drought during the productive life of the vineyard. The benefits of irrigation may include: better vine survival, earlier fruit production, greater yields, more efficient distribution of nutrients, less plant stress, reduced yield variability and improved fruit quality. Research was undertaken to determine drip irrigation investment and annual costs. This project was designed to assist growers in determining the investment, fixed and variable annual costs and expected returns from drip irrigation. Irrigation suppliers provided typical equipment needs and investment costs for various drip irrigation designs. Economic worksheets are provided to assist growers in estimating fixed and variable costs of drip irrigation. The economics of yield data were applied to replicated multiyear irrigation studies to assist growers in determining yield response from drip irrigation. Net present value (NPV) methodology was used to determine the discounted break-even investment results from published responses to drip irrigation. Growers with typical drip irrigation systems and various water sources can expect investments in drip irrigation of $550 to$1,150 per acre with 10 acre blocks of vines. Based upon eight years of data from trials in Fredonia, NY, in the Lake Erie grape belt, average yield increases due to irrigation on establishment and growing of Niagara grapes were 2.8 ton per production year per acre, resulting in a break-even investment of approximately $1,600 per acre. But on established minimal pruned Concord grapes, seven years of data showed a 1.1 ton increase due to irrigation and a break-even investment of only$200 per acre which was well below the total cost of a complete microirrigation drip system. On a new planting of Concords, with droughty soils, the analysis may very well show cost effectiveness. Growers who were interviewed were unable to quantify the benefits and costs of drip irrigation but were pleased with their irrigated yields and brix responses from drip irrigation. This analysis has provided the economic rationale for the investment in microirrigation with some varieties and under certain soil types

An Implementation Science Framework for Conceptualizing and Operationalizing Fidelity in Early Childhood Intervention Studies

An implementation science framework is used to differentiate between two types of practices (implementation and intervention) and to describe how the fidelity of the two practices are related and would be expected to influence outcomes of interest. The two practices are the methods and procedures used by implementation agents (e.g., a coach) to promote adoption of early childhood intervention practices and the methods and procedures used by intervention agents (e.g., early childhood practitioners) to influence changes or improvements in individual or group outcomes. Data from a study using an evidence-based adult learning practice to promote Head Start staff use of an evidence-based naturalistic instructional practice are used to illustrate the applicability of the fidelity framework

Estrogens Determine Adherens Junction Organization and E-Cadherin Clustering in Breast Cancer Cells via Amphiregulin

Estrogens play an important role in the development and progression of human cancers, particularly in breast cancer. Breast cancer progression depends on the malignant destabilization of adherens junctions (AJs) and disruption of tissue integrity. We found that estrogen receptor alpha (ER alpha) inhibition led to a striking spatial reorganization of AJs and microclustering of E-Cadherin (E-Cad) in the cell membrane of breast cancer cells. This resulted in increased stability of AJs and cell stiffness and a reduction of cell motility. These effects were actomyosindependent and reversible by estrogens. Detailed investigations showed that the ERa target gene and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) ligand Amphiregulin (AREG) essentially regulates AJ reorganization and E-Cad microclustering. Our results not only describe a biological mechanism for the organization of AJs and the modulation of mechanical properties of cells but also provide a new perspective on how estrogens and anti-estrogens might influence the formation of breast tumors

can concomitant diseases predict the compliance with cisplatin plus rt in patients with la scchn an exploratory endpoint analysis of the comply trial

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