CRIMINAL PROCEDURE Trial: Amend Provisions Relating to Closed Circuit Television Testimony of Child Victims of Certain Sexual Offenses

The Act provides that a child victim of rape, sodomy, child molestation, cruelty to children, or sexual assault may testify out of court, and such testimony will be broadcast in the courtroom by way of closed circuit television. During testimony, only the judge, attorneys, camera operators, and a representative of the child may be in the room with the child. The Act does not prohibit the presence of both the child and the defendant in the courtroom at the same time for the purpose of identification

Factors influencing the effectiveness of a family intervention for adolescent versus adult mothers

1998 Fall.Includes bibliographical referencesA family intervention program entitled DARE To Be You was found to be equally effective for both adolescent and adult mothers, but the factors that predicted program effectiveness differed for the two groups. Adolescent mothers were defined as those who were 19 or younger when their youngest child was born and were 23 or younger upon entry into the program, while the adult mothers were older than 22 when their youngest child was born and had a current age of 25 or older. The sample consisted primarily of Hispanic and Anglo mothers from both urban and rural sites, and Ute and Navajo Native Americans from rural or reservation sites. For both age groups, a low sense of competence in the maternal role prior to the intervention predicted a larger increase in maternal sense of competence, but an internal locus of control was only predictive of larger improvements in sense of competence for the adolescent mothers. Large social support networks were associated with larger improvements in positive parent-child interactions and nurturance for the adult mothers and improvements in the effective use of discipline for the Anglo adolescent mothers, but large support networks were associated with less improvement in the effective use of discipline for Native American and Hispanic adolescent mothers. Adolescent Native Americans did not increase as much as the other two ethnic groups in nurturance, and there was a trend toward an analogous difference for the adult mothers in the effective use of discipline. The amount of the variance explained by variables that predicted program effectiveness iii was greater for the adolescent mothers (12% to 48%) than for the adult mothers (6% to 27%). A second line of inquiry examined the relation between maternal self-appraisals and parenting practices both before and after the intervention. The two significant differences that existed between the two age groups at follow-up were between positive attitude toward the maternal role and both communication and the use of harsh punishment. The relation between positive attitude and communication was positive for the adults and near zero for the adolescents, and the relation with harsh punishment was positive for the adolescents and negative for the adults. In conclusion, even after adolescent mothers become adults, they are still different from mothers who waited until adulthood to have children and may need special attention when they are involved in intervention programs

Teachers\u27 practices and perceptions concerning the implementation of inquiry-based instruction in middle school science

The purpose of this research study was to investigate West Virginia middle school science teachers’ perceptions regarding inquiry-based instruction. Teacher efficacy level, extent of use, and supports and obstacles in regard to inquiry-based instruction were considered. In addition, demographic relationships were explored in comparison with efficacy level and extent of use in regard to inquiry-based instruction. Demographics included number of preps taught, years of science teaching experience, class size, class time, planning time, professional development opportunities attended, and exposure to inquiry-based instruction in education science course work. West Virginia middle school science teacher perceptions of this study were measured using a 6-point Likert scale and included three qualitative questions in regard to supports, obstacles, and additional comments concerning inquiry-based instruction. Fifty-seven West Virginia middle school science teachers from 26 schools across six counties were included in this study. The data revealed the majority of respondents felt comfortable using inquiry-based instruction, recognized its effectiveness in teaching students science, and perceived inquirybased instruction to be more effective than lecture or text-based instruction. Conversely, many respondents feel they were not adequately trained in inquiry-based instruction in their science education course work and are not comfortable creating inquiry-based instruction that aligns with state standards. Furthermore, many respondents disagreed that the West Virginia Next Generation Science Content Standards and Objectives are effective teacher guidelines for creating inquiry-based instruction. Administration, colleagues, and student level of enjoyment and engagement were agreed as forms of support for inquiry-based instruction. Lack of laboratory supplies, lack of funding, and limited class and planning time were perceived as obstacles in the use of inquiry-based instruction. Further research on equitable funding for middle school science classrooms, across West Virginia, could benefit student achievement in science and eliminate many barriers middle school teachers face in the use of inquiry-based instruction. Additionally, the creation of a state-level professional development program that addresses the use of inquiry-based instruction that aligns with West Virginia Next Generation Science Content Standards and Objectives could greatly benefit teacher efficacy levels in inquiry-based instruction, especially for new and uncertified middle school science teachers

HEALTH Comprehensive Nursing Home Legislation

This package of nursing home legislation amends and adds several new Code sections relating to nursing home abuse, management, licensure, and safety. The Acts provide immunity and confidentiality for employees who report nursing home abuse; availability of a list of nursing homes that have been sanctioned; and irrevocable letters of credit to secure residents\u27 personal funds. In addition, hearing officers in contested licensure cases were given the power to consider mitigating factors before imposing sanctions. Also, funds were set aside in the budget for the installation of automatic fire suppression sprinkler systems in nursing homes

HEALTH Comprehensive Nursing Home Legislation

This package of nursing home legislation amends and adds several new Code sections relating to nursing home abuse, management, licensure, and safety. The Acts provide immunity and confidentiality for employees who report nursing home abuse; availability of a list of nursing homes that have been sanctioned; and irrevocable letters of credit to secure residents\u27 personal funds. In addition, hearing officers in contested licensure cases were given the power to consider mitigating factors before imposing sanctions. Also, funds were set aside in the budget for the installation of automatic fire suppression sprinkler systems in nursing homes

LGBT Health and Rights in East Africa: A Snapshot of Successes and Challenges for the Advocacy Community

Outlines issues for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) health and rights in the region, such as the legal and political climate, homophobia, and funding needs. Lists LGBT groups and other resources, advocacy opportunities, and recommendations

Colleen Browning: The Early Works & A Brush With Magic Exhibition Catalogue

Exhibition catalogue for concurrent shows at the Bellarmine Museum of Art and the Thomas J. Walsh Art Gallery - January 24 - March 24, 2013 focusing on the work of Colleen Browning (1918-2003).https://digitalcommons.fairfield.edu/browning-ephemera/1000/thumbnail.jp

Do Employees From Less-Healthy Communities Use More Care and Cost More? Seeking to Establish a Business Case for Investment in Community Health.

INTRODUCTION: Few studies have examined the impact of community health on employers. We explored whether employed adults and their adult dependents living in less-healthy communities in the greater Philadelphia region used more care and incurred higher costs to employers than employees from healthier communities. METHODS: We used a multi-employer database to identify adult employees and dependents with continuous employment and mapped them to 31 zip code regions. We calculated community health scores at the regional level, by using metrics similar to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) County Health Rankings but with local data. We used descriptive analyses and multilevel linear modeling to explore relationships between community health and 3 outcome variables: emergency department (ED) use, hospital use, and paid claims. Business leaders reviewed findings and offered insights on preparedness to invest in community health improvement. RESULTS: Poorer community health was associated with high use of ED services, after controlling for age and sex. After including a summary measure of racial composition at the zip code region level, the relationship between community health and ED use became nonsignificant. No significant relationships between community health and hospitalizations or paid claims were identified. Business leaders expressed interest in further understanding health needs of communities where their employees live. CONCLUSION: The health of communities in which adult employees and dependents live was associated with ED use, but similar relationships were not seen for hospitalizations or paid claims. This finding suggests a need for more primary care access. Despite limited quantitative evidence, business leaders expressed interest in guidance on investing in community health improvement

Dynamics of cognitive function in older patients after intravenous anestesia

To define the effect of various drugs for total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) on cognitive function (CF) in older patients

Is it possible to estimate the minimal clinically important treatment effect needed to change practice in preterm birth prevention? Results of an obstetrician survey used to support the design of a trial

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Sample sizes for obstetrical trials are often based on the opinion of investigators about clinically important effect size. We surveyed Canadian obstetricians to investigate clinically important effect sizes required before introducing new treatments into practice to prevent preterm birth.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Questionnaires were mailed to practicing obstetricians, asking the magnitude of pregnancy prolongation required to introduce treatments into practice. The three prophylactic treatments were of increasing invasiveness: vaginal progesterone, intramuscular progesterone, and cervical cerclage. We also asked about the perceived most relevant outcome measures for obstetrical trials and current obstetrical practice in preterm birth prevention.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>544/1293(42.1%) completed questionnaires were received. The majority of respondents required one or two weeks' increase in length of gestation before introducing vaginal (372,77.1%), and intramuscular progesterone(354,67.9%). At least three weeks increase was required before introducing prophylactic cervical cerclage(326,62.8%). Clinicians who already used a treatment required a smaller difference before introducing it into practice. Decreasing neonatal morbidity was cited as the most important outcome for obstetrical trials (349,72.2%).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Obstetricians would require a larger increase in treatment effect before introducing more invasive treatments into practice. Although infant morbidity was perceived as a more important outcome, clinicians appeared willing to change practice on the basis of prolongation of pregnancy, a surrogate outcome. We found that there is not a single minimum clinically important treatment effect that will influence all practising clinicians: rather the effect size that will influence physicians is affected by the nature of the treatment, the reported outcome measure and the clinician's own current clinical practice.</p