Effect of indenter velocity on the stiffness of articular cartilage

This presentation looks at the effect of indenter velocity on the stiffness of articular cartilag

Beyond the Numbers: Data Use for Continuous Improvement of Programs Serving Disconnected Youth

The American Youth Policy Forum (AYPF) conducted a series of in-depth case studies to examine how three programs which serve a disconnected youth population are utilizing data as a tool for continuous program improvement and ongoing accountability. The resulting publication, Beyond the Numbers: Data Use for Continuous Improvement of Programs Serving Disconnected Youth, describes data collection and use at three successful programs, and distills the key lessons learned and issues to consider both for practitioners and policymakers aiming to improve outcomes for the disconnected youth population

The Effect of an Education Plan on Nursing Intervention Compliance with Inpatient Post-Operative Colorectal Surgical Patients Using Enhanced Recovery after Surgery (ERAS) Protocols

Abstract BACKGROUND: Compliance with the enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols for colorectal surgery patients in the post-operative inpatient setting is low, creating a gap in successful outcomes of the program. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this project is to evaluate the impact of an education plan on inpatient nursing staff. A second purpose of the study is to examine the relationship between ERAS and specific post-operative nursing interventions linked to length of stay (LOS). METHODS: A prospective cohort study analyzing the effect of a knowledge to action (KTA) education plan on nursing compliance with ERAS protocols was conducted on bedside nursing staff caring for the colorectal ERAS post-operative population using a new test instrument for pre- and post-testing. Patient chart reviews were conducted on 164 pre education intervention and 19 post education intervention. Outcome measures of patient data include time to liquids, solids and mobility, pain modality used first post-operatively, length of stay and readmissions. RESULTS: Nursing knowledge demonstrated post-test improvement in scores by 4.33 points with a p value of 0.058. There was clinical significance in process measures of time to liquids, solids and mobility which decreased by 2.8-13.9 hours from closure time. There was a slight increase is opioid-first mediated pain management which was not statistically significant. Length of stay showed clinical significance in reduction by one day, but ungeneralizable. CONCLUSION: There were limitations in this study most notably small sample size affecting the ability to obtain statistically significant data. The KTA education intervention for nursing staff in areas of ERAS inpatient populations does suggest evidence of increasing compliance to order sets and ERAS initiatives

Understanding Child-Centered Canine Assisted Play Therapy: A Qualitative Collective Case Study

Children are often referred to counseling for a multitude of reasons (e.g. divorce, trauma, abuse, etc.). Given these challenges faced by so many children, counselors are charged with using evidence based forms of counseling to appropriately help children and their families address these issues. One highly researched and effective therapeutic intervention to working with children is play therapy, more specifically child-centered play therapy (CCPT). A recent trend in play therapy is the incorporation of animals into the play therapy process to facilitate healing and growth (Chandler, 2012; Parish-Plass, 2013; Thompson, 2009), in particular the use of canines in CCPT, known as child-centered canine assisted play therapy (CC-CAPT). Much of the foundational literature regarding CC-CAPT is anecdotal and/or conceptual in nature. In particular, the effectiveness of and guidelines for CC-CAPT has not been established through empirical research. More research is needed to identify the proper education, training, and competencies needed for play therapists to use CC-CAPT. This qualitative collective case study explored through one on one interviews and non-confidential documents registered play therapist and registered play therapist supervisor’s experiences and perspectives of using a canine in child-centered play therapy in a play therapy room with children under the age of 12. Results of this study revealed two major themes: Planning, Preparing, and Mitigating CC-CAPT; and Therapeutic Dynamics: “It’s Not a Therapeutic Dyad Anymore.” The results of this study reveal the importance of the intentional selection, training, and certification of a canine for therapy dog work. Results revealed ways in which participants mitigated risks associated with CC-CAPT. Participants used clinical judgment, screening forms, and assessments to determine the goodness of fit between therapy dog and child. Results of this study articulated the importance of understanding canine communication as it relates to the therapist responding appropriately to the canine and the child during a CC-CAPT session. Results of this study revealed that incorporating a therapy dog into the therapeutic process changes the dynamics within the playroom. Thus, requiring the play therapist be responsible for ensuring the session remains therapeutic while also navigating and safeguarding the varying components. The relationship that exists between the child, the therapist, and the dog is critical. The presence and interactions the dog brings to the playroom are necessary because the child and the dog can interact in ways that the therapist and the child may not. Participants offered elaborated descriptions of CC-CAPT sessions, indicating that when all of the critical pieces are in place, CC-CAPT can have successful outcomes

Math Girl Solves the Pattern

During COVID-19 isolation, Dr. Jennifer Austin and her seven-year-old daughter Zoe co-authored the short story Math Girl Solves the Pattern. Here we meet the superheroine Math Girl and her nemesis Minus Girl. Math Girl is observant, curious, and creative. Houses, balls, and sailboats are disappearing! The mystery must be solved. Persevering Math Girl saves the day

Building National Forest and Land-Use Information Systems: Lessons from Cameroon, Indonesia, and Peru

This working paper examines the institutional, human resources, and financial capacities of three countries that have developed a forest and land-use information system, and highlights common enabling factors and challenges

Investigating illusion of control in experienced and non-experienced gamblers:replication and extension

The illusion of control is a phenomenon in which one erroneously believes he or she can exert control over the contingencies of chance events. To date, many of the studies investigating this phenomenon as it applies to gambling have used artificial gambling contexts and participants with no history of gambling beha-vior (i.e., undergraduates). This study replicated the procedures outlined in Di-xon, Hayes and Ebbs (1998) using experienced and inexperienced gamblers in a more natural gambling setting. Participants played 20 rounds of a game of rou-lette in which the default procedure was for the dealer to choose the bets. How-ever, players could choose their own bets by paying extra chips. Results indi-cated that most participants did not buy control of chip placement, indicating an absence of illusion of control. However, the two participants with the highest scores on the South Oaks Gambling Screen engaged in behaviors consistent with illusion of control across almost every trial