Vocational Rehabilitation Outcomes: A study on the relationship between rehabilitation goals and employment outcomes

ABSTRACT Title of Dissertation: VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION OUTCOMES: A STUDY ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN REHABILITATION GOALS AND EMPLOYMENT OUTCOMES. Scott Francis Beveridge, Doctor of Philosophy, 2003 Dissertation directed by: Associate Proffessor Ellen S. Fabian Department of Counseling and Personnel Services The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between vocational rehabilitation clients' Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE) rehabilitation goals and employment outcomes. The study examined the relationship between participants' demographic and disability variables to determine the effect on employment outcomes. The study also explored whether attaining a job congruent with the (IPE) vocational rehabilitation goal increased the participant's vocational satisfaction and wages. Study participants were 171 vocational rehabilitation clients served by the Maryland State Department of Education Division of Rehabilitation Services (DORS) who were successfully rehabilitated and closed (Status 26) in 2002. Participants research data was obtained from the DORS computerized database Results generally supported the relationship between Holland's person-environment congruence constructs to employment outcomes for this population. The IPE goal and employment outcome congruency was found to have a significant effect on participants' wages (at the .01 level). The mean weekly wage for participants who obtained an employment outcome congruent to the IPE goal earned $529.88. Participants who obtained a related employment outcome earned$343.85, and participants who obtained an employment outcome not related to the IPE goal earned $286.22. In addition, educational attainment and disability category were also found to effect vocational rehabilitation outcomes. However, person-environment congruence did not increase participants' vocational satisfaction. This study adds to the literature on vocational rehabilitation employment outcomes by confirming the relationship between Holland's person-environment congruency to successful outcomes among this population. This study was the first to demonstrate a link between person-environment congruency and wages for the vocational rehabilitation population. Theorectical, applied, research implications, limitations of the study and directions for future research are discussed

Preliminary Evaluation of a Measure for Reliable Assessment of Need for Constant Visual Observation in Adults with Traumatic Brain Injury

Primary objective: To develop and provide initial validation of a measure for accurately determining the need for Constant Visual Observation (CVO) in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) admitted to inpatient rehabilitation. Research design: Rating scale development and evaluation through Rasch analysis and assessment of concurrent validity. Methods and procedures: One hundred and thirty-four individuals with moderate–severe TBI were studied in seven inpatient brain rehabilitation units associated with the National Institute for Disability, Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) TBI Model System. Participants were rated on the preliminary version of the CVO Needs Assessment scale (CVONA) and, by independent raters, on the Levels of Risk (LoR) and Supervision Rating Scale (SRS) at four time points during inpatient rehabilitation: admission, Days 2–3, Days 5–6 and Days 8–9. Outcomes and results: After pruning misfitting items, the CVONA showed satisfactory internal consistency (Person Reliability = 0.85–0.88) across time points. With reference to the LoR and SRS, low false negative rates (sensitivity > 90%) were associated with moderate-to-high false positive rates (29–56%). Conclusions: The CVONA may be a useful objective metric to complement clinical judgement regarding the need for CVO; however, further prospective study is desirable to further assess its utility in identifying at-risk patients, reducing adverse events and decreasing CVO costs

Formation and Reactivity of Biogenic Iron Microminerals

The overall purpose of the project was to explore and quantify the processes that control the formation and reactivity of biogenic iron microminerals and their impact on the solubility of metal contaminants. The research addressed how surface components of bacterial cells, extracellular organic material, and the aqueous geochemistry of the DIRB microenvironment impacts the mineralogy, chemical state and micromorphology of reduced iron phases

Formation and Reactivity of Biogenic Iron Microminerals

The overall purpose of the project is to explore and quantify the processes that control the formation and reactivity of biogenic iron microminerals, and the impact of these processes on the solubility of metal contaminants, e.g., uranium, chromium and nickel. The research addresses how surface components of bacterial cells, extracellular organic material, and the aqueous geochemistry of the DIRB microenvironment impacts the mineralogy, chemical state and micromorphology of reduced iron phases

Muon Catalyzed Fusion in 3 K Solid Deuterium

Muon catalyzed fusion in deuterium has traditionally been studied in gaseous and liquid targets. The TRIUMF solid-hydrogen-layer target system has been used to study the fusion reaction rates in the solid phase of D_2 at a target temperature of 3 K. Products of two distinct branches of the reaction were observed; neutrons by a liquid organic scintillator, and protons by a silicon detector located inside the target system. The effective molecular formation rate from the upper hyperfine state of $\mu d$ and the hyperfine transition rate have been measured: $\tilde{\lambda}_(3/2)=2.71(7)_{stat.}(32)_{syst.} \mu/s$, and $\tilde{\lambda}_{(3/2)(1/2)} =34.2(8)_{stat.}(1)_{syst.} \mu /s$. The molecular formation rate is consistent with other recent measurements, but not with the theory for isolated molecules. The discrepancy may be due to incomplete thermalization, an effect which was investigated by Monte Carlo calculations. Information on branching ratio parameters for the s and p wave d+d nuclear interaction has been extracted.Comment: 19 pages, 11 figures, submitted to PRA Feb 20, 199

Identification of new potential downstream transcriptional targets of the strigolactone pathway including glucosinolate biosynthesis.

Strigolactones regulate shoot branching and many aspects of plant growth, development, and allelopathy. Strigolactones are often discussed alongside auxin because they work together to inhibit shoot branching. However, the roles and mechanisms of strigolactones and how they act independently of auxin are still elusive. Additionally, there is still much in general to be discovered about the network of molecular regulators and their interactions in response to strigolactones. Here, we conducted an experiment in Arabidopsis with physiological treatments and strigolactone mutants to determine transcriptional pathways associated with strigolactones. The three physiological treatments included shoot tip removal with and without auxin treatment and treatment of intact plants with the auxin transport inhibitor, N-1-naphthylphthalamic acid (NPA). We identified the glucosinolate biosynthesis pathway as being upregulated across strigolactone mutants indicating strigolactone-glucosinolate crosstalk. Additionally, strigolactone application cannot restore the highly branched phenotype observed in glucosinolate biosynthesis mutants, placing glucosinolate biosynthesis downstream of strigolactone biosynthesis. Oxidative stress genes were enriched across the experiment suggesting that this process is mediated through multiple hormones. Here, we also provide evidence supporting non-auxin-mediated, negative feedback on strigolactone biosynthesis. Increases in strigolactone biosynthesis gene expression seen in strigolactone mutants could not be fully restored by auxin. By contrast, auxin could fully restore auxin-responsive gene expression increases, but not sugar signaling-related gene expression. Our data also point to alternative roles of the strigolactone biosynthesis genes and potential new signaling functions of strigolactone precursors. In this study, we identify a strigolactone-specific regulation of glucosinolate biosynthesis genes indicating that the two are linked and may work together in regulating stress and shoot ranching responses in Arabidopsis. Additionally, we provide evidence for non-auxinmediated feedback on strigolactone biosynthesis and discuss this in the context of sugar signaling.Alicia M. Hellens, Tinashe G. Chabikwa, Franziska Fichtner, Philip B. Brewer, Christine A. Beveridg

Formation and Reactivity of Biogenic Iron Microminerals

The overall purpose of the project is to explore and quantify the processes that control the formation and reactivity of biogenic iron microminerals and their impact on the solubility of metal contaminants. The research addresses how surface components of bacterial cells, extracellular organic material, and the aqueous geochemistry of the DIRB microenvironment impacts the mineralogy, chemical state and micromorphology of reduced iron phases

SEOM Clinical Guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of esophageal cancer (2016)

Esophageal cancer (EC) is an aggressive tumor that represents the 6th most common cause of cancer death worldwide. The estimated incidence in Spain is 2090 cases/year. Two main pathological subtypes exist, squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma. The main differences between them are localization and underlying factors which are the principal cause of the recent incidence changes observed in west countries. Staging techniques and treatment options which combine surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, reflected the high complexity of the EC management. An undeniably multidisciplinary approach is, therefore, required. In this guide, we review the status of current diagnosis and treatment, define evidence and propose recommendations