The Role of Executive Functions in Classroom Instruction of Students with Learning Disabilities

In this article, we describe executive functions and their role in determining student academic success. We focus on the executive function difficulties of students with learning disabilities and explain how executive dysfunctions can negatively affect different academic areas (e.g., reading comprehension, mathematics). Finally, we offer ways teachers can modify their instruction to better address the diverse needs of students with learning disabilities who are struggling to perform various academic tasks

Cross-cultural adaptation of instruments assessing breastfeeding determinants: a multi-step approach

Background: Cross-cultural adaptation is a necessary process to effectively use existing instruments in other cultural and language settings. The process of cross-culturally adapting, including translation, of existing instruments is considered a critical set to establishing a meaningful instrument for use in another setting. Using a multi-step approach is considered best practice in achieving cultural and semantic equivalence of the adapted version. We aimed to ensure the content validity of our instruments in the cultural context of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Methods: The Iowa Infant Feeding Attitudes Scale, Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale-Short Form and additional items comprise our consolidated instrument, which was cross-culturally adapted utilizing a multi-step approach during August 2012. Cross-cultural adaptation was achieved through steps to maintain content validity and attain semantic equivalence in the target version. Specifically, Lynn’s recommendation to apply an item-level content validity index score was followed. The revised instrument was translated and back-translated. To ensure semantic equivalence, Brislin’s back-translation approach was utilized followed by the committee review to address any discrepancies that emerged from translation. Results: Our consolidated instrument was adapted to be culturally relevant and translated to yield more reliable and valid results for use in our larger research study to measure infant feeding determinants effectively in our target cultural context. Conclusions: Undertaking rigorous steps to effectively ensure cross-cultural adaptation increases our confidence that the conclusions we make based on our self-report instrument(s) will be stronger. In this way, our aim to achieve strong cross-cultural adaptation of our consolidated instruments was achieved while also providing a clear framework for other researchers choosing to utilize existing instruments for work in other cultural, geographic and population settings

CRIMES AND OFFENSES Sexual Offenses: Provide that Under Certain Conditions Chemical Treatment and Treatment by a Qualified Mental Health Professional May be Required as a Condition of Probation by a Court Sentencing a First Time Offender of Child Molestation; Provide for Treatment Prior to Release from Custody; Provide that No Treatment be Administered Until Person has been Fully Informed of Side Effects of Hormonal Chemical Treatment and has Consented in Writing; Provide for Administration of Treatment by State Board of Pardons and Paroles; Provide that Physician of Qualified Mental Health Professional Who Acts in Good Faith Compliance in Administration of Treatment or Counseling be Immune from Civil or Criminal Liability; Provide that Person Undergoing Treatment Participate in and Pay for Counseling

The Act allows a court to require that a first time offender of aggravated child molestation, before sentencing, undergo a psychiatric evaluation to determine whether medroxyprogesterone acetate treatment would be effecting in changing the person\u27s behavior. The Act provides that chemical treatment and treatment by a qualified medical health professional may be required as a condition of probation, and allows such treatment to begin before the person is released from custody. The Act specifies that such treatment shall not be administered until the person has been fully informed of the side effects of the chemical treatment and consents to the treatment in writing. The Act authorizes the Board of Pardons and Paroles to administer the treatment. The Act provides that any physician or qualified mental health professional who administers such treatment in good faith be immune from civil or criminal liability. The Act requires that a person participating in treatment must pay for and participate in counseling from a private or public provider of outpatient mental health services

CRIMES AND OFFENSES Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations; Apply Georgia RICO Act to Interrelated Patterns of Criminal Activity Motivated by or the Effect of Which is Pecuniary Gain or Economic or Physical Threat or Injury to Others

The Act makes interrelated patterns of criminal activity motivated by or resulting in pecuniary gain a violation of the Georgia Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act. The Act imposes sanctions against persons violating the Act and provides compensation to persons injured or aggrieved by violations of the Act. The Act requires a liberal construction to effectuate the remedial purposes of the Act. The Act specifically declares that acts of civil disobedience shall not be prosecuted under the statute

American Legacy Foundation, First Look Report 11. Youth Tobacco Cessation. Results from the 2000 national youth tobacco survey

Using information from a national youth tobacco survey, this report explores tobacco cessation among yoth aged 12 to 19. It describes current smoking behavior, cessation attempts, and factors that influence youth quitting behavior. This report is based on data from the 2000 National Youth Tobacco Survey

Disaster Day: A Simulation-Based Disaster Medicine Curriculum for Novice Learners

Background: Mass casualty and multi-victim incidents have increased in recent years due to a number of factors including natural disasters and terrorism. The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) recommends that medical students be trained in disaster preparedness and response. However, a majority of United States medical students are not provided such education. Objective: The goal of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a 1 day, immersive, simulation-based Disaster Day curriculum. Settings and Design: Learners were first and second year medical students from a single institution. Materials and Methods: Our education provided learners with information on disaster management, allowed for application of this knowledge with hands-on skill stations, and culminated in near full-scale simulation where learners could evaluate the knowledge and skills they had acquired. Statistical analysis used: To study the effectiveness of our Disaster Day curriculum, we conducted a single-group pretest-posttest and paired analysis of self-reported confidence data. Results: A total of 40 first and second year medical students participated in Disaster Day as learners. Learners strongly agreed that this course provided new information or provided clarity on previous training, and they intended to use what they learned, 97.6% and 88.4%, respectively. Conclusions: Medical students’ self-reported confidence of key disaster management concepts including victim triage, tourniquet application, and incident command improved after a simulation-based disaster curriculum. This Disaster Day curriculum provides students the ability to apply concepts learned in the classroom and better understand the real-life difficulties experienced in a resource limited environment

Predicting the environmental fates of emerging contaminants: Synergistic effects in ozone reactions of nitrogen-containing alkenes

While nitro and amino alkenes are common in pharmaceuticals, pesticides, and munitions, their environmental fates are not well known. Ozone is a ubiquitous atmospheric oxidant for alkenes, but the synergistic effects of nitrogen-containing groups on the reactions have not been measured. The kinetics and products of ozonolysis of a series of model compounds with different combinations of these functional groups have been measured in the condensed phase using stopped-flow and mass spectrometry methods. Rate constants span about six orders of magnitude with activation energies ranging from 4.3 to 28.2 kJ mol-1. Vinyl nitro groups substantially decrease the reactivity, while amino groups have the opposite effect. The site of the initial ozone attack is highly structure dependent, consistent with local ionization energy calculations. The reaction of the neonicotinoid pesticide nitenpyram, which forms toxic N-nitroso compounds, was consistent with model compounds, confirming the utility of model compounds for assessing environmental fates of these emerging contaminants

Veterans’ Use of Telehealth for Veterans Health Administration Community Care Urgent Care During the Early COVID-19 Pandemic

BackgroundSince the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, telehealth has been an option for Veterans receiving urgent care through Veterans Health Administration Community Care (CC).ObjectiveWe assessed use, arrangements, Veteran decision-making, and experiences with CC urgent care delivered via telehealth.DesignConvergent parallel mixed methods, combining multivariable regression analyses of claims data with semistructured Veteran interviews.SubjectsVeterans residing in the Western United States and Hawaii, with CC urgent care claims March 1 to September 30, 2020.Key resultsIn comparison to having in-person only visits, having a telehealth-only visit was more likely for Veterans who were non-Hispanic Black, were urban-dwelling, lived further from the clinic used, had a COVID-related visit, and did not require an in-person procedure. Predictors of having both telehealth and in-person (compared with in-person only) visits were other (non-White, non-Black) non-Hispanic race/ethnicity, urban-dwelling status, living further from the clinic used, and having had a COVID-related visit. Care arrangements varied widely; telephone-only care was common. Veteran decisions about using telehealth were driven by limitations in in-person care availability and COVID-related concerns. Veterans receiving care via telehealth generally reported high satisfaction.ConclusionsCC urgent care via telehealth played an important role in providing Veterans with care access early in the COVID-19 pandemic. Use of telehealth differed by Veteran characteristics; lack of in-person care availability was a driver. Future work should assess for changes in telehealth use with pandemic progression, geographic differences, and impact on care quality, care coordination, outcomes, and costs to ensure Veterans' optimal and equitable access to care