U.S. Trade in Services: Trends and Policy Issues

[Excerpt] This report provides background information and analysis on U.S. international trade in services. It analyzes policy issues before the United States, especially relating to negotiating international disciplines on trade in services and dealing complexities in measuring trade in services. The report also examines emerging issues and current and potential trade agreements, including the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), the Trade in Services Agreement (TiSA), and the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (T-TIP)

Trade Adjustment Assistance for Firms

The Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) programs were first authorized by Congress in the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, as amended, to help workers and firms adjust to import competition and dislocation caused by trade liberalization. Although overall economic welfare can be increased by trade liberalization, TAA has long been justified on grounds that the government has an obligation to help the “losers” of policy-driven trade openings that may cause adjustment problems for firms and workers adversely affected by import competition. TAA programs that cover workers, firms, and farmers aim to “facilitate efforts by the domestic industry to make a positive adjustment to import competition and provide greater economic and social benefits than costs.” Congress continues to monitor TAA program performance and to periodically reauthorize and amend the governing legislation. This report discusses the Trade Adjustment Assistance for Firms (TAAF) program, which is administered by the Economic Development Administration (EDA) of the Department of Commerce. The TAAF program assists eligible American companies that have been harmed by increasing imports; this harm is defined by lower domestic sales and employment because of increased imports of similar goods and services. Through the TAAF program, EDA provides technical assistance, on a cost-sharing basis, to help eligible businesses create and implement business recovery plans that may allow them to remain competitive in a dynamic international economy. The TAAF program provides technical assistance through a partnership with a national network of 11 EDA-funded Trade Adjustment Assistance Centers (TAACs)

TB86: Waterfowl populations as Related to Habitat Changes in Bog Wetlands of the Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge

The response of waterfowl populations to marsh management on the Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge in eastern Maine was evaluated. The objectives were (1) to estimate populations of breeding waterfowl in 1974 and 1975 and compare these numbers with trends of the past 30 years and (2) to interpret these trends in relation to vegetative and other environmental changes that have occurred. The long-term trend of black duck numbers on the primary study areas was downward. Fluctuating water levels, advanced plant succession and a decrease in the number of open-water areas were factors contributing to the decline. Breeding populations of ring-necked ducks generally increased in sedge wetland because of the preference of that species to nest in floating sedge-bog mat which became more available to the birds due to changes in water levels. By contrast, ring-necked ducks decreased throughout the period in shrub wetland because of the adverse effects of plant succession.https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/aes_techbulletin/1115/thumbnail.jp

Experience Qualities Re-examined: Improving the Measurement of Experiential Conditions in Outdoor Recreation

Visitor use management (VUM) is the proactive and adaptive process for managing characteristics of visitor use and the natural and managerial setting using a variety of strategies and tools to achieve and maintain desired resource conditions and visitor experiences (IVUMC, 2018). For nearly 40 years, the application and operationalization of visitor use management has relied on a normative approach, which assumes that visitors to parks and recreation areas have shared attitudes and preferences about resource and social conditions. Visitor use management frameworks and the normative approach rely on defining management objectives, identifying indicators and thresholds for the visitor experience, monitoring change in recreation conditions, and adapting management strategies where necessary. This dissertation reexamines some of the scientific methods historically used to inform visitor use management decisions. This dissertation focuses on the development of indicators and associated thresholds, which has historically relied on visitor surveys, on-site interviews, and management expertise. Given the importance of incorporating the provision of quality visitor experiences into park and protected area planning, and the difficulties associated with understanding the nuances involved in shaping an experience, the purpose of this dissertation is to offer and explore unique techniques that may facilitate the development of indicators and associated thresholds. This dissertation first used visitor-employed photography to develop indicators of the wildlife viewing experience, where important visitor experience qualities emerged that were not found from survey or interview questions. This dissertation additionally offered a more efficient and perhaps more valid technique for defining thresholds for the indicator of people at one time (PAOT), which is used as a proxy to indicate use-levels and crowding. Results indicate that a combination of the traditional and novel approach may be appropriate. Lastly, this dissertation explored the phenomenon of displacement, which has historically been treated as a negative outcome of the visitor experience. The results of this suggest that displacement should be operationalized as an indicator of the visitor experience, rather than an outcome. This dissertation overall contributes to the development and application of the normative approach to protected area management and planning

Flooding Schools: School Mental Health Providers and the Climate Crisis

This study provides an example of using a problem-solving model to explore the impact of the climate crisis on schools. Using publicly available climate change and flooding prediction data, we estimate that by 2100, assuming a “medium” climate change scenario, more than 1677 schools in the coastal United States are expected to flood every year and more than 2262 schools are expected to flood every 10 years. Within the data, “medium” is defined as warming levels that will lead to an estimated five feet of sea level rise by the year 2100. Limitations in the data suggest these numbers are likely overly conservative estimates and preclude the analysis of more extreme climate models. Potential actions, the role school mental health providers, and the involvement of students in climate advocacy are discussed

Rehabilitation of client with Guillain Barré syndrome in occupational therapy - a case study

Uvod: Guillain-Barré sindrom je vnetna bolezen perifernega živčevja, ki povzroči hude okvare številnih telesnih funkcij in zgradb, kar omejuje posameznika pri opravljanju vsakodnevnih aktivnosti ali okupacij. Večina bolnikov v nekaj mesecih popolnoma okreva, pri nekaterih pa lahko ostanejo trajne posledice na različnih področjih. Vloga delovnega terapevta pri obravnavi oseb z Guillain-Barré sindromom je vzdrževanje ali izboljšanje spretnosti in funkcij, potrebnih za izvedbo aktivnosti ter priprava na vrnitev v domače okolje. Namen: Namen diplomskega dela je poglobljen prikaz delovnoterapevtske obravnave uporabnika z Guillain-Barré sindromom, vključenega v rehabilitacijo na Univerzitetnem rehabilitacijskem inštitutu Republike Slovenije – Soča ter ugotavljanje učinkovitosti obravnave. Metode dela: Raziskava je bila izvedena v obliki študije primera. V trinajsttedensko delovnoterapevtsko obravnavo je bil vključen 33-letni gospod z Guillain-Barré sindromom. Pri spremljanju napredka smo bili osredotočeni na zastavljene cilje, uporabnikovo dojemanje izvedbe in zadovoljstva z izvedbo njemu pomembnih okupacij, stopnjo samostojnosti pri izvajanju dnevnih aktivnosti ter izboljšanje funkcije rok. Rezultati: Povprečna ocena izvedbe in zadovoljstva z izvedbo se je pri COPM-u izboljšala z 1,2 na 6,4. Analiza aktivnosti je pokazala izboljšanje vseh motoričnih spretnosti. Razlika v skupnem seštevku Lestvice FIM pred in po obravnavi znaša 44 točk, pri vseh zastavljenih ciljih po GAS lestvici je dosegel najboljši možen napredek nad pričakovanim. Moč stiska desne roke je bila za 1 kg večja od moči stiska leve roke, skupna ocena indeksa funkcije roke pri SHAP se je pri desni roki izboljšala iz 67 na 98, pri levi iz 60 na 97. Ob vrnitvi v domače okolje je bil ponovno izveden COPM, kjer je sprememba v oceni izvedbe in zadovoljstva z izvedbo po 2. ocenjevanju znašala 1,4 točk. Razprava in zaključek: Uporabnik je dosegel zastavljene cilje. Spremljanje napredka je pokazalo na izboljšanje večine opazovanih parametrov, izboljšala se je spretnost rok, manjši napredek pa je opazen pri funkciji rok. Proces delovnoterapevtske obravnave po AOTA se je v študiji primera izkazal kot ustrezen.Introduction: Guillain-Barré syndrome is an inflammatory disease of the peripheral nervous system that causes impairment of several bodily functions and skills and limitis individuals in performing their daily activities or occupations. Most patients recover completely within a few months, but some lasting consequences may remain. The role of the occupational therapist in treating people with Guillain-Barré syndrome is to maintain or increase the skills and functional needs, essential for performing the activities and to prepare patients for returning to their domestic environment. Purpose: The purpose of the diploma work is an in-depth presentation of occupational therapy treatment of a client with Guillain-Barré syndrome involved in rehabilitation at University Rehabilitation Institute Republic of Slovenia – Soča, as well as the effectiveness of treatment. Methods: The research was conducted in the form of a case study. A 33-year-old man with Guillain-Barré syndrome was involved in a thirteen-week occupational therapy treatment (modelled on the American framework of practice). While monitoring the progress we focused on achieving the goals set, the client\u27s perception of the performance and his satisfaction with the performance of important activities, the degree of independence in performing daily activities and improving hand function. Results: The COPM showed the increase of the performance from 1.2 to 6.4the same with satisfaction. The analysis of the activity showed that a progress in most motor skills was achieved. The FIM showed the difference in the total score, which was 44 points. At all the goals set according to the GAS scale he achieved the best possible progress above expectations. The strength of the right hand grip was 1 kg higher than the strength of the left hand grip. The final score of the hand function index in the SHAP changed from 67 to 98 for the right hand, and increased from 60 to 97 for the left one. After the client’s return to his domestic environment the COPM was done again, whereby the change in performance and satisfaction measured 1.4 points. Discussion and conclusion: The client achieved all the set goals. Monitoring of the progress showed improvement in most of the observed parameters. Motor skills improved, while less progress was observed in hand function. The process of occupational therapy treatment based on the AOTA framework proved to be appropriate to the case study

Enhancing visitor use management in parks and protected areas through qualitative research

Applied research aims to generate knowledge that can be used to improve policy and practice. In the field of visitor use management (VUM), researchers and park managers seek to generate knowledge regarding specific dimensions of visitor experiences within and across parks and other kinds of protected areas. A wide variety of management-centric questions are addressed through VUM research. In this article, we argue that to answer such questions, VUM researchers and managers can use qualitative methods (independent of or coupled with quantitative methods) to deepen our knowledge about visitor experiences while improving visitor use management policies and practices. We present current qualitative research designed to aid in the management of parks, and future directions for qualitative inquiry. Existing qualitative research and future possibilities call to expand our collective understanding of what kind of knowledge “counts” in VUM research

ОЦІНКА РІВНЯ ЗНАНЬ ПРИ ВИКОРИСТАННІ ДИСТАНЦІЙНИХ ТЕХНОЛОГІЙ НАВЧАННЯ В СТОМАТОЛОГІЇ

Questions of necessity of estimation of knowledge level at carrying out the distance training in dentistry are considered. Features and principles of the organisation of diagnostics of knowledge level at carrying out of distance training are allocated. The data about advantages of distance education on the basis of the analysis of results of distance training efficiency at carrying out the experimental lecture for doctors-stomatologists-interns are cited.Рассматриваются вопросы необходимости оценки уровня знаний при проведении дистанционного обучения в стоматологии. Выделяются особенности и принципы организации диагностики уровня знаний при проведении дистанционного обучения. Приводятся данные о преимуществах дистанционного образования на основе анализа результатов эффективности дистанционного обучения при проведении экспериментальной лекции для врачей-стоматологов-интернов.Розглядаються питання необхідності оцінки рівня знань при проведенні дистанційного навчання в стоматології. Виділяються особливості та принципи організації діагностики рівня знань при проведенні дистанційного навчання. Наводяться дані про переваги дистанційної освіти на основі аналізу результатів ефективності дистанційного навчання при проведенні експериментальної лекції для лікарів-стоматологів-інтернів