Talking to strangers: Stories

The stories in this manuscript are united by the mystery of human relationships and our often fragile connection to others. A Father\u27s Story reveals what happens when a father and daughter are at odds politically. The Box explores a woman\u27s search for self in an outgrown relationship. Through glimpses into a scientist\u27s life at different ages, Drift tells of his attempt to comprehend the bizarre life of the deep sea and of his dark family history. Tropiezo is told from the perspective of a young Mexican woman who comes to question her position in life through a seemingly insignificant incident in the town square. Da Gamba focuses on thwarted homosexual longing and fragmentation of the self. Finally, a teacher seeks confirmation of herself and her abilities in Semipalatinsk. Pushing herself to overcome an old fear of diving, she only encounters new fears more difficult to name

EFFECT OF LANDING SURFACE AND UPPER EXTREMITY CONSTRAINT ON BIOMECHANICS GRADED BY THE LANDING ERROR SCORING SYSTEM

The purpose of this study was to compare jump-landing biomechanics across 1) landing surface condition; and 2) upper extremity constraint condition as graded by the Landing Error Scoring System (LESS). Recreational athletes (N=40; 21M, 19F) performed three jump-landings with three surface (Grass (GS), Court (CS), and Tile (TS)) and upper extremity constraint conditions (unconstrained (UN), football (AF), and lacrosse stick (LS)). The jump-landings were recorded via 2D videography and graded using the LESS. No differences were observed by surface (GS=5.01±1.40; CS=4.83±1.31; TS=5.09±1.86, p=0.52) or constraint condition (UN=5.09±1.86; FB=4.76±1.65; LS=4.86±1.76; p=0.21). The results indicate that the LESS is a robust instrument biomechanical screening in different landing environments and with sports with different upper extremity equipment

Relationships matter!:Utilising ethics of care to understand transitions in the lives of adults with severe intellectual disabilities

Background Within the current literature, there is a focus on early transition experiences, such as people's school years, while adulthood remains a lesser researched chapter in the lives of people with intellectual disabilities. Furthermore, most studies focus on those with mild or moderate intellectual disabilities and people with severe or profound intellectual disabilities are often excluded from research. Methods This article explores the transition journeys of six adults with severe intellectual disabilities, including transitions from school to adult services and moving out of the family home. Data collection involved observations, document reviews and interviews with families and professionals in Scotland. Taking an ethics of care perspective, our focus was to explore in how far each person had people in their lives able to listen to them and if, in turn, those close to them were listened to during times of transition. Findings Our findings demonstrate that transitions are complex processes that occur across different systems. Additionally, our findings emphasise the importance to consider relationships that are available to people within their adult lives when planning and supporting transitions. Combining interviews with observations helped us to see how the six adults showed agency and were communicating their preferences through the relationships they had with people within their immediate environment. Conclusions The need to reconceptualise participation from a relational and interdependent perspective is stressed to facilitate the involvement of people with severe intellectual disabilities within decision-making processes

APPROACHES IN OSTEOARTHRITIS THERAPY: FROM BIOMATERIALS TO IMMUNOLOGY

Many biomaterials are being researched for applications in tissue regeneration, but so far, none have led to successful disease modification of osteoarthritis (OA). This dissertation details the application of several biomaterials, including ECM and a peptide-polymer, for OA treatment. The first segment details the use of porcine urinary bladder matrix in a post-traumatic mouse model of OA. The second segment details the use and optimization of a hyaluronic acid binding peptide in a post-traumatic mouse model of OA. These studies focus on the potential OA disease modifying activity of applying these therapies intra-articularly to the joint. This work resulted in improved OA disease outcome in a post traumatic mouse model of OA. However, this work led us to question the nature of the immune system in the OA microenvironment to help better understand the state of the knee joint, which will help inform future therapies. The final segment of the dissertation details the study of immune cells in the OA microenvironment during the course of post-traumatic OA progression. This work elucidated alterations in cytokines and immune cell populations that have not previously been studied in OA. These cells and cytokines are new potential targets for OA therapy

Experiences of people with intellectual disability and dementia:A systematic review

Background Dementia disproportionately affects people with intellectual disability. Most qualitative studies explore their experiences by utilising proxy-reports. A smaller number of studies illustrate the possibility of exploring perspectives directly from people with intellectual disability and dementia. Method This systematic review synthesised findings from existing studies (n = 8) that involve people with intellectual disability and dementia as participants to understand their experiences of dementia. Searches were conducted using CINAHL, PsychInfo and Social Services Abstracts. Results Findings include descriptions of changes in individual functioning, a narrowing of social worlds and of how people made sense of the changes despite often having no knowledge of their dementia diagnosis. Additionally, discussion focuses on how people's experiences are shaped by their environments. Conclusion The review recognises the complexities of speaking to people with intellectual disability about dementia, challenges views that people with intellectual and dementia cannot be involved in research and makes recommendations to support inclusion in future studies.Output Status: Forthcoming/Available Onlin

New Faculty Orientation Presentation

Presentation created for the 2019 New Faculty Orientation. Features services provided by the Kennesaw State University Library System.https://digitalcommons.kennesaw.edu/lib_market/1027/thumbnail.jp

Couples with intellectual disability where one partner has dementia – a scoping review exploring relationships in the context of dementia and intellectual disability

Relationships and marriages between couples with intellectual disability are to be celebrated, as is the longer life expectancy now enjoyed by many with intellectual disability. However, dementia disproportionately affects people with intellectual disability, especially people with Down's syndrome. Research into experiences of couples without intellectual disability who are affected by dementia suggests that a relational perspective provides health and social care professionals with information to support the wellbeing of both partners. This dyadic perspective is missing for couples with an intellectual disability where one partner has dementia. There is currently no evidence base informing how each partner may best be supported. This scoping review, with three separate searches, aims to address this gap. The first search sought to establish if any studies had explored the experiences of couples with intellectual disability where one partner has dementia. After determining that no studies have been published to date, the review explores what is known about relationships in the context of dementia (N = 8) and in the context of intellectual disability (N = 10), in second and third searches. Different ways to approach care and support in relationships among partners, staff and other family members were identified and it was evident that support could act as a facilitator as well as a barrier to people and their relationships. While the lives of couples affected by dementia appeared to remain largely private, couples with intellectual disability had a high involvement of staff and family members in their life. Potential implications for future research with couples with intellectual disability affected by dementia are discussed, highlighting the importance of exploring how couples navigate emotional complexities and changes in their relationship, while understanding that the context in which the lives of people with intellectual disability take place and relationships happen is different

Introduction. Knowledge-in-Practice in the Caring Professions

While many health and human service organizations recognize the desirability of multidisciplinary teams, primarily to promote coordinated services, to minimize problems of 'gaps' in services to clients and problems of service duplication and waste of resources, there is less appreciation of how such interprofessional relationships work in practice with actual service users and their particular needs and problems

Couples with intellectual disability where one partner has dementia – a scoping review exploring relationships in the context of dementia and intellectual disability

Relationships and marriages between couples with intellectual disability are to be celebrated, as is the longer life expectancy now enjoyed by many with intellectual disability. However, dementia disproportionately affects people with intellectual disability, especially people with Down's syndrome. Research into experiences of couples without intellectual disability who are affected by dementia suggests that a relational perspective provides health and social care professionals with information to support the wellbeing of both partners. This dyadic perspective is missing for couples with an intellectual disability where one partner has dementia. There is currently no evidence base informing how each partner may best be supported. This scoping review, with three separate searches, aims to address this gap. The first search sought to establish if any studies had explored the experiences of couples with intellectual disability where one partner has dementia. After determining that no studies have been published to date, the review explores what is known about relationships in the context of dementia (N = 8) and in the context of intellectual disability (N = 10), in second and third searches. Different ways to approach care and support in relationships among partners, staff and other family members were identified and it was evident that support could act as a facilitator as well as a barrier to people and their relationships. While the lives of couples affected by dementia appeared to remain largely private, couples with intellectual disability had a high involvement of staff and family members in their life. Potential implications for future research with couples with intellectual disability affected by dementia are discussed, highlighting the importance of exploring how couples navigate emotional complexities and changes in their relationship, while understanding that the context in which the lives of people with intellectual disability take place and relationships happen is different.Output Status: Forthcoming/Available Onlin