Special education in Christian schools: post-professional development support

Private schools are not required to provide special education services to students who have been identified as needing such services. No prior research shows what programs exist in Christian private schools and how services are provided. This study sought to understand Christian educators\u27 experiences and obstacles when developing a special education program. Participants attended a 1-week summer institute that provided instruction in key areas of special education services, disabilities, and instruction pertinent to serving children with special needs. Participants demonstrated an increase in knowledge and skills following the institute. The institute coordinator provided afterward 3 months of support through a virtual forum. Synchronous and asynchronous communication provided participants with support as they implemented their plans at their school sites. Conclusions relating to the three research questions are as follows: 1. The experience of participants as they applied their knowledge from the institute to their school sites was that (a) the two Catholic schools experienced fewer obstacles in implementation than two of the Lutheran schools; (b) participants reported more success when they had buy-in from the school community; (c) the follow-up virtual forum provided the summer institute participants with a reliable avenue to seek support and guidance; (d) schools differed in their experience of implementing the plans, and their experiences could benefit those interested in determining potential obstacles. 2. Steps that participants took as they experienced obstacles in the implementation of their plans included the following: (a) setting up clearly defined policies and procedures regarding identification of needed services, as well as clarification of general education teachers\u27 roles; (b) recruitment of teachers and parents for student study teams; and (c) professional development for other staff members. 3. The virtual forum support following the professional development summer institute benefited participants in the following ways: (a) provided them immediate and useful feedback, (b) provided a sense of community, and (c) held them to a deadline to report on progress. Recommendations include (a) gathering statistical research about existing private school special needs programs, (b) development of a national private school database, and (c) regular summer institutes supporting special needs program development

Accompagnement réflexif et raisonnement pédagogique : conceptions et pratiques de personnes enseignantes associées et manifestations du raisonnement pédagogique de leur stagiaire

Cette étude s'inscrit dans le contexte du mouvement professionnalisant de la formation initiale à l'enseignement. Dans ce contexte, la personne enseignante associée y joue un rôle important. Toutefois, il est possible d'observer l'absence de consensus sur les façons de remplir ce rôle. À la lumière de la recension des écrits, cette étude stipule que le fait de stimuler le raisonnement pédagogique des stagiaires constitue une visée d'accompagnement cohérente avec les travaux s'insérant dans ce mouvement. De plus, cette étude soutient que l'accompagnement réflexif apparaît comme un accompagnement susceptible de stimuler le raisonnement pédagogique. Cette recherche analyse les conceptions et les pratiques de personnes enseignantes associées au regard du raisonnement pédagogique et de l'accompagnement réflexif. De plus, elle analyse les manifestations du raisonnement pédagogique et des autres activités réflexives des stagiaires. Pour ce faire, la perspective de l'interactionnisme symbolique a été privilégiée tout en s'insérant dans le paradigme interprétatif. Les résultats permettent de constater que les conceptions des personnes enseignantes associées, au regard du raisonnement pédagogique, s'approchent davantage d'une définition de la réflexion. Les résultats soulèvent aussi que les rencontres sont caractérisées par une utilisation prépondérante de questions ainsi que par une tendance générale plutôt non réflexive. De plus, les résultats permettent de constater que les activités réflexives des stagiaires sont caractérisées par un déploiement prépondérant de la confirmation ainsi que par des manifestations de raisonnement pédagogique. Certaines hypothèses sont émises pour interpréter ces résultats dont, entre autres, l'influence probable des caractéristiques de la recherche, de certaines stagiaires à l'étude, de certaines personnes enseignantes associées, etc. Les résultats permettent de mieux cerner la contribution d'un accompagnement réflexif à l'émergence et au développement du raisonnement pédagogique des stagiaires. Toutefois, des recherches supplémentaires doivent être mises sur pied pour tenter de pousser plus loin les hypothèses émises

Physiotherapy Following Emergency Abdominal Surgery

Physiotherapy following elective abdominal surgery has been well documented, but following emergency abdominal surgery, despite poorer outcomes and increased complication rates, physiotherapy interventions for this patient group remain largely uninvestigated. The most common complication following upper abdominal surgery is the development of a post-operative pulmonary complication (PPC). Risk factors for the development of PPCs include duration of anaesthesia, emergency upper abdominal surgery, current smoker status, respiratory comorbidities, obesity, increased age and multiple surgeries. Physiotherapy interventions aim to prevent or remediate PPCs and post-operative complications associated with the sequelae of immobility such as venothrombotic events and to facilitate recovery from surgery and a return to normal activities of daily living and function. Physiotherapy interventions after major surgery include early mobilisation and respiratory physiotherapy techniques. Respiratory therapies include deep breathing and coughing exercises, positive expiratory pressure devices, incentive spirometry and non-invasive ventilation. Early mobilisation has been demonstrated to be safe and efficacious following elective abdominal surgery and for patients who are critically ill. This chapter reviews the evidence in these populations and propose that, until further studies are available to direct care, this evidence is extrapolated to patients following emergency abdominal surgery. As abdominal surgery impacts on physical recovery and health-related quality of life, post-discharge rehabilitation programmes may improve long-term outcomes; however, rehabilitation following major cavity surgery is in its infancy. This chapter investigates post-operative rehabilitation research to date in this population in an attempt to determine the effectiveness of such programmes and make recommendations for future practice

DNA damage induces a meiotic arrest in mouse oocytes mediated by the spindle assembly checkpoint

Extensive damage to maternal DNA during meiosis causes infertility, birth defects and abortions. However, it is unknown if fully grown oocytes have a mechanism to prevent the creation of DNA-damaged embryos. Here we show that DNA damage activates a pathway involving the spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC) in response to chemically induced double strand breaks, UVB and ionizing radiation. DNA damage can occur either before or after nuclear envelope breakdown, and provides an effective block to anaphase-promoting complex activity, and consequently the formation of mature eggs. This contrasts with somatic cells, where DNA damage fails to affect mitotic progression. However, it uncovers a second function for the meiotic SAC, which in the context of detecting microtubule-kinetochore errors has hitherto been labelled as weak or ineffectual in mammalian oocytes. We propose that its essential role in the detection of DNA damage sheds new light on its biological purpose in mammalian female meiosis

Oligosaccharides Isolated from MGO™ Manuka Honey Inhibit the Adhesion of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia Coli O157:H7 and Staphylococcus Aureus to Human HT-29 cells

peer-reviewedHistorically, honey is known for its anti-bacterial and anti-fungal activities and its use for treatment of wound infections. Although this practice has been in place for millennia, little information exists regarding which manuka honey components contribute to the protective nature of this product. Given that sugar accounts for over 80% of honey and up to 25% of this sugar is composed of oligosaccharides, we have investigated the anti-infective activity of manuka honey oligosaccharides against a range of pathogens. Initially, oligosaccharides were extracted from a commercially-available New Zealand manuka honey—MGO™ Manuka Honey (Manuka Health New Zealand Ltd.)—and characterized by High pH anion exchange chromatography coupled with pulsed amperiometric detection. The adhesion of specific pathogens to the human colonic adenocarcinoma cell line, HT-29, was then assessed in the presence and absence of these oligosaccharides. Manuka honey oligosaccharides significantly reduced the adhesion of Escherichia coli O157:H7 (by 40%), Staphylococcus aureus (by 30%), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (by 52%) to HT-29 cells. This activity was then proven to be concentration dependent and independent of bacterial killing. This study identifies MGO™ Manuka Honey as a source of anti-infective oligosaccharides for applications in functional foods aimed at lowering the incidence of infectious diseases

A systematic review of just-in-time adaptive interventions (JITAIs) to promote physical activity.

BACKGROUND: Progress in mobile health (mHealth) technology has enabled the design of just-in-time adaptive interventions (JITAIs). We define JITAIs as having three features: behavioural support that directly corresponds to a need in real-time; content or timing of support is adapted or tailored according to input collected by the system since support was initiated; support is system-triggered. We conducted a systematic review of JITAIs for physical activity to identify their features, feasibility, acceptability and effectiveness. METHODS: We searched Scopus, Medline, Embase, PsycINFO, Web of Science, DBLP, ACM Digital Library, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, ClinicalTrials.gov and the ISRCTN register using terms related to physical activity, mHealth interventions and JITAIs. We included primary studies of any design reporting data about JITAIs, irrespective of population, age and setting. Outcomes included physical activity, engagement, uptake, feasibility and acceptability. Paper screening and data extraction were independently validated. Synthesis was narrative. We used the mHealth Evidence Reporting and Assessment checklist to assess quality of intervention descriptions. RESULTS: We screened 2200 titles, 840 abstracts, 169 full-text papers, and included 19 papers reporting 14 unique JITAIs, including six randomised studies. Five JITAIs targeted both physical activity and sedentary behaviour, five sedentary behaviour only, and four physical activity only. JITAIs prompted breaks following sedentary periods and/or suggested physical activities during opportunistic moments, typically over three to four weeks. Feasibility challenges related to the technology, sensor reliability and timeliness of just-in-time messages. Overall, participants found JITAIs acceptable. We found mixed evidence for intervention effects on behaviour, but no study was sufficiently powered to detect any effects. Common behaviour change techniques were goal setting (behaviour), prompts/cues, feedback on behaviour and action planning. Five studies reported a theory-base. We found lack of evidence about cost-effectiveness, uptake, reach, impact on health inequalities, and sustained engagement. CONCLUSIONS: Research into JITAIs to increase physical activity and reduce sedentary behaviour is in its early stages. Consistent use and a shared definition of the term 'JITAI' will aid evidence synthesis. We recommend robust evaluation of theory and evidence-based JITAIs in representative populations. Decision makers and health professionals need to be cautious in signposting patients to JITAIs until such evidence is available, although they are unlikely to cause health-related harm. REFERENCE: PROSPERO 2017 CRD42017070849.The work was undertaken by the Centre for Diet and Activity Research (CEDAR), a UKCRC Public Health Research Centre of Excellence. Funding from the British Heart Foundation, Cancer Research UK, Economic and Social Research Council, Medical Research Council, the National Institute for Health Research, and the Wellcome Trust, under the auspices of the UK Clinical Research Collaboration (MR/K023187/), is gratefully acknowledged

Geographies of Outer Space : Progress and New Opportunities

Acknowledgements The editors of this forum would like to acknowledge productive contributions to a thematic session at the RGS-IBG Annual International Conference 2016 on ‘Geographies of Outer Space’. We are also grateful to the editorial board of this journal for their support of this endeavour. Declaration of conflicting interests The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. Funding The author(s) received no financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.Peer reviewedPostprin

An in vitro method for determining the bioaccessibility of pharmaceuticals in wildlife

Wildlife can be exposed to human pharmaceuticals via prey that have accumulated the compounds from wastewater, surface water, sediment and soil. One factor affecting internal absorption of pharmaceuticals is bioaccessibility, the proportion of the compound that enters solution in the gastrointestinal tract. Currently, the bioaccessibility of most pharmaceuticals in prey remains unknown for most wildlife species. Here, we evaluate the potential of a two-compartment in vitro gastrointestinal tract model to compare the bioaccessibility of the antidepressant fluoxetine from invertebrate prey for birds and mammals. Samples of gizzard (or stomach) and intestinal phase digestive juices were obtained from the in vitro models along with the residual solid material. HPLC analysis revealed that the bioaccessibility of fluoxetine in the avian in vitro models (75.9% and 78.6%) was statistically significantly lower than in the mammalian models (88.2-89.6%) as a percentage of what was recovered; however there were no statistically or biologically significant inter-species difference in terms of the amount recovered per gram of 'food' inserted at the start of the simulation. Nevertheless, this in vitro model provides a useful method of comparing the bioaccessibility of pharmaceuticals in different prey for species with different gastrointestinal conditions. There may be merit for ecological risk assessments in further developing this in vitro approach to improve estimates of internal exposure for organics. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved