The Influence of Socioeconomic Factors on Fear of Falling and Mobility Outcomes after Lower Limb Loss: a Preliminary Study

Background and Purpose: Current research has revealed that as much as 52.4% of individuals with lower limb loss report falling at least once in the past year. Previous research has also indicated that rehabilitation, including physical therapy (PT), generally improves patient outcomes after definitive amputation. Socioeconomic status has been shown to be an important factor in accessing healthcare but has yet to be investigated in this population. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of socioeconomic status and access to PT, and how limb loss affects mobility and fear of falling perception. We hypothesized: [1] individuals with socioeconomic difficulty would have reduced access to PT after amputation, and [2] individuals with limb loss will have increased fear of falling and decreased mobility performance when compared to non-amputee, age-matched controls. Subjects: 23 participants (7 females,16 males) mean age 51.30 years old (+ 13.17 SD, range 22-70) with lower limb loss ambulating with a definitive prosthesis. Materials/Methods: Participants completed a survey that included the Fear of Falling Avoidance Behavior Questionnaire (FFABQ), questions to determine their socioeconomic status, and whether they received PT after amputation. Mobility outcomes were measured using the standardized Timed Up and Go test (TUG) and the Six Minute Walk Test (6MWT). Results: There was no statistically significant difference in access to PT after amputation between those with and without financial difficulty (p=.354). However, 75% of participants who had no socioeconomic difficulty reported receiving PT, in comparison to only 25% in those who had socioeconomic difficulty. Additionally, 34.8% of our participants reported socioeconomic difficulties. When comparing the participants with amputation to the non-amputee, age-matched controls, there was a significant difference in the TUG (p\u3c.001), 6MWT (p\u3c.001), and FFABQ (p=.008). On average, participants with limb loss were 4.4 seconds slower on the TUG, walked 136.4m less on the 6MWT, and had an increased FFABQ score of 6.6 points out of 56 points. Discussion: Access to physical therapy and socioeconomic status have been overlooked in current literature for individuals after amputation. While the effect of socioeconomic status on PT access did not reach statistical significance in this preliminary study, only 25% of those who reported socioeconomic difficulty received physical therapy after amputation, compared to 75% in those who reported no difficulty. Further research is needed to determine whether low socioeconomic status is predictive of receiving rehabilitation services post-amputation and long-term outcomes. Our findings also showed that when compared to age-matched non-amputees, amputees tend to have impaired mobility and higher degree of fear of falling. These findings agree with current literature. Conclusion: Although not statistically significant, our preliminary findings showed that socioeconomic difficulty may affect access to physical therapy after amputation. Furthermore, our data demonstrated that individuals with lower limb loss exhibit reduced mobility performance and increased fear of falling when compared to the age-matched controls

Hydrologic data for urban studies in the Austin, Texas, metropolitan area, 1981

This technical report includes maps of ground-water data-collection sites, rainfall for specific storms, storm rainfall-runoff for the 1981 water year, monthly water-level measurements of observation wells, water quality data, peak discharge, and daily rainfall summaries for specific gages.Waller Creek Working Grou

Mass Spectrometric Characterization of Oligomers in Pseudomonas aeruginosa Azurin Solutions

We have employed laser-induced liquid bead ion desorption mass spectroscopy (LILBID MS) to study the solution behavior of Pseudomonas aeruginosa azurin as well as two mutants and corresponding Re-labeled derivatives containing a Re(CO)_(3)(4,7-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline)^+ chromophore appended to a surface histidine. LILBID spectra show broad oligomer distributions whose particular patterns depend on the solution composition (pure H_(2)O, 20−30 mM NaCl, 20 and 50 mM NaP_i or NH_(4)P_i at pH = 7). The distribution maximum shifts to smaller oligomers upon decreasing the azurin concentration and increasing the buffer concentration. Oligomerization is less extensive for native azurin than its mutants. The oligomerization propensities of unlabeled and Re-labeled proteins are generally comparable, and only Re126 shows some preference for the dimer that persists even in highly diluted solutions. Peak shifts to higher masses and broadening in 20−50 mM NaP_i confirm strong azurin association with buffer ions and solvation. We have found that LILBID MS reveals the solution behavior of weakly bound nonspecific protein oligomers, clearly distinguishing individual components of the oligomer distribution. Independently, average data on oligomerization and the dependence on solution composition were obtained by time-resolved anisotropy of the Re-label photoluminescence that confirmed relatively long rotation correlation times, 6−30 ns, depending on Re−azurin and solution composition. Labeling proteins with Re-chromophores that have long-lived phosphorescence extends the time scale of anisotropy measurements to hundreds of nanoseconds, thereby opening the way for investigations of large oligomers with long rotation times

The DEF’s of LIGA: An Update to the ABC’s of LIGA

The article offers information on ABC\u27s of Louisiana Insurance Guaranty Association (LIGA), and discusses its role in interpreting and understanding the law applicable to the LIGA, and discusses its benefits to legal practitioners

Critical Issues: Defining and Debunking Misconceptions in Health, Education, Criminal Justice, and Social Work/Social Services

The University of Houston Downtown Committee for the Journal of Family Strengths introduces Volume 18, Issue 1: Critical Issues: Defining and Debunking Misconceptions in Health, Education, Criminal Justice, and Social Work/Social Services

The Space Survivability Test Chamber

The Space Survivability Test chamber is a new ground-based research instrument being used for accelerated testing of environment-induced modifications of diverse samples. The chamber simulates space environment conditions, including neutral gas atmospheres and vacuum (\u3c10-5 Pa) environments, temperature (~100 K to \u3e450 K), ionizing radiation, electron fluxes (\u3c10 eV to ~2½ MeV), and vacuum ultraviolet through mid-infrared photon fluxes. This versatile test chamber is well-suited for cost-effective testing of complete systems up to the size (\u3c 20 cm dia.) of a 1U CubeSat, smaller components or electronics, and individual material samples. Multiple in-flux or in-situ space survivability and radiation exposure tests can be performed simultaneously, as well as extensive before and after ex-situ tests. Currently the chamber is performing a series of radiation experiments using a Sr90 beta radiation source which approximately mimics the geostationary high energy electron spectra at ~4-10X accelerated rates. These measurements will serve to forecast sample radiation damage, predict lifetimes of electronics, and substantiate the ability of the chamber to mimic space environments. Specific tests include: modified efficiency of solar arrays; single event upsets and failure of commercial off-the shelf microcontrollers, memory, and sensors; structural damage and modifications of mechanical and electrical properties; changes in electron transport and arcing of materials; and modification of optical properties of glasses and polymeric materials

Abundance and Density of Mountain Plover (\u3ci\u3eCharadrius montanus\u3c/i\u3e) and Burrowing Owl (\u3ci\u3eAthene cunicularia\u3c/i\u3e) in Eastern Colorado

Because of continental-scale declines of grassland birds over the past century, conservation agendas are focused on increasing understanding of grassland bird ecology and habitat associations. Shortgrass prairie is a unique grassland ecosystem maintained, in part, by Black-tailed Prairie Dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus). The Mountain Plover (Charadrius montanus) and western Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia hypugaea) are species of conservation concern known to be associated with prairie dog colonies. We estimated abundance of Mountain Plovers and Burrowing Owls in three habitats within the Colorado shortgrass prairie ecosystem— prairie dog colonies, grassland not occupied by prairie dogs, and dryland agriculture. Further, we investigated habitat associations of Mountain Plovers and Burrowing Owls at multiple landscape scales. We estimated 8,577 Mountain Plovers (95% CI: 7,511–35,130) and 3,554 Burrowing Owls (95% CI: 3,298–8,445) in eastern Colorado. Mountain Plover density on prairie dog colony plots (ˆD = 2.26 birds per 100 ha, 95% CI: 2.15–5.13) was significantly higher than densities on either grassland (ˆD = 0.23, 95% CI: 0.17–1.76) or dryland- agriculture plots (ˆD = 0.45, 95% CI: 0.44–0.53). Burrowing Owl density on prairie dog colony plots (ˆD = 3.04 birds per 100 ha, 95% CI: 2.82–6.92) was significantly higher than densities on either grassland (ˆD = 0.044, 95% CI: 0.041–0.12) or dryland-agriculture plots (no Burrowing Owls detected). Our results suggest that increased prairie dog colonies would positively influence the abundance of Mountain Plover and Burrowing Owl

The Space Survivability Test Chamber

The Space Survivability Test chamber is a new ground-based research instrument being used for accelerated testing of environment-induced modifications of diverse samples. The chamber simulates space environment conditions, including neutral gas atmospheres and vacuum (\u3c10-5 Pa) environments, temperature (~100 K to \u3e450 K), ionizing radiation, electron fluxes (\u3c10 eV to ~2½ MeV), and vacuum ultraviolet through mid-infrared photon fluxes. This versatile test chamber is well-suited for cost-effective testing of complete systems up to the size (\u3c 20 cm dia.) of a 1U CubeSat, smaller components or electronics, and individual material samples. Multiple in-flux or in-situ space survivability and radiation exposure tests can be performed simultaneously, as well as extensive before and after ex-situ tests. Currently the chamber is performing a series of radiation experiments using a Sr90 beta radiation source which approximately mimics the geostationary high energy electron spectra at ~4-10X accelerated rates. These measurements will serve to forecast sample radiation damage, predict lifetimes of electronics, and substantiate the ability of the chamber to mimic space environments. Specific tests include: modified efficiency of solar arrays; single event upsets and failure of commercial off-the shelf microcontrollers, memory, and sensors; structural damage and modifications of mechanical and electrical properties; changes in electron transport and arcing of materials; and modification of optical properties of glasses and polymeric materials