CONVERGENT VALIDITY OF THE FUNCTIONAL ASSESSMENT INFORMANT RECORD FOR TEACHERS (FAIR-T)

This study assessed the convergent validity of the Functional Assessment Informant Record for Teachers (FAIR-T; Edwards, 2002) with analog functional analyses (FAs). Participants were five teachers and students located at a specialized school serving individuals with disabilities. Teachers had worked with the student for a minimum of 1 month, and students displayed a variety of behavioral topographies. The FAIR-T was conducted by the researcher using telephone or video conferencing technology, and analog functional analyses were conducted in a clinic setting by trained therapists within the course of the student’s typical treatment plan. Results of the FAIR-T were coded according to function, and the results of the analog FAs were graphed and analyzed visually. Results of the FAIR-T and FAs indicated limited convergence between the two assessment methods, though results were somewhat inconclusive. Results are discussed in relation to the utility of the FAIR-T, particularly in the school setting. Directions for future research are discussed in light of the need to delineate efficient means with which to conduct functional behavior assessments within the schools

An Exploration of the Relationships among Wellness, Spirituality, and Personal Dispositions of Practicing Professional Counselors

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationships between wellness, spirituality, and personal dispositions of practicing professional counselors. A sequential, mixed-methods case study design was utilized to achieve this purpose. Thirty professional counselors completed three assessment instruments measuring wellness, spirituality, and personal dispositions. Five of these counselors also participated in the qualitative portion of the study. This included the review of photographs of their offices and copies of their résumés and professional disclosure statements as well as participation in a telephone interview. Following the use of Pearson Product Correlations to analyze relationships in the data from the assessment instruments, two positive relationships were found. Spirituality was positively correlated with the disposition of rule-consciousness. A positive relationship was found between wellness and emotional stability. In addition, three negative relationships were found. The dispositions of apprehension, perfectionism, and tension were all negatively correlated with wellness. No significant relationship was found between wellness and spirituality. These data were used to develop the interview protocol for the qualitative portion of the study. The constant comparative method was used to analyze the qualitative data. Five themes were developed within the second iteration of analysis: commitment to the philosophies of the profession, a foundation of ethics, coordination, social networks, and personal fulfillment. These resulted in the development of the third iteration of the professional counselor as an integrated whole. These enhanced the findings of the quantitative portion of the study by providing a description of how the relationships found in the quantitative data impact and present in the work of professional counselors. This was the first known study to utilize a mixed-methods design to explore wellness, spirituality, and personal dispositions in professional counselors. Future studies should continue to explore the relationships among these factors and how they impact professional practice. These should include the use of a larger sample size as well as the identification of specific behaviors utilized by professional counselors to promote the development of wellness and positive personal dispositions

Time theft: exposing a subtle yet serious driver of socioeconomic inequality

Socioeconomic inequality is perpetuated and exacerbated by an overlooked yet serious epidemic of time theft: the act of causing others to lose their time without adequate cause, compensation, or consent. We explain why time theft goes unnoticed, how it drives socioeconomic inequality, and what businesses and policymakers can do to address it

Poems

Poems include: Wolves, by Craig Pierce, In The Shadows, by Sheri Leidig, and To All Men From Woman, by Laura Guye

Addressing Gaps in Nursing Home Emergency Preparedness

Background: Previous studies have identified significant gaps in nursing home emergency preparedness. Few of these studies have specifically surveyed nursing homes about activities that would be helpful in improving preparedness. Methods: In 2012, we mailed to 134 nursing homes in West Texas and New Mexico a survey about the facility, facility preparedness, and types of assistance would be helpful in improving preparedness for their facility. We performed standard statistical analysis on returned surveys and compared facilities in rural communities to those in urban communities. Results: 37/134 (28%) of facilities returned the survey. 21/36 (65%) of surveys were from facilities in rural communities. All facilities had a written all-hazards emergency preparedness plan. 34/36 (95%) included an evacuation plan and 32/37 (86%) included a shelter in place plan. 23/36 (65%) had updated their plan in the past year. Only 12/36 (33%) of facilities had participated in a disaster exercise in the previous 2 years. More than 50% of plans lacked specific guidance about mortuary services, information about building construction, written agreements with transportation companies, a process to rapidly credential volunteers, and prepared educational material. Overall, facilities reported intermediate confidence that their response plan reflected their facilitys ability to respond effectively to a disaster. In the previous 5 years, 16/37 (27%) of facilities had experienced an emergency (prolonged power outage, severe disease outbreak, or gun violence). Though 23/37 (62%) of facilities considered emergency management agencies to be major partners, 13/35 (37%) reported no previous assistance from these agencies. Facilities desired the following items to improve their facility\u27s emergency preparedness: staff training (68%), collaboration during an exercise (68%), and critique of their response plan (62%). There were no statistical differences between facilities in urban and rural communities with regard to the perceived confidence in the plan, plan deficiencies, or desire for assistance in improving emergency preparedness of their facility. Conclusions: This small survey found no difference between rural and urban nursing homes with regard to emergency preparedness, and identified specific activities that could improve nursing home emergency preparedness.\u2

Characterization of putative recognition components of echinoderm coelomic fluid: agglutinins in Strongylocentrotus purpuratus

Due to an interest in the evolutionary origins of vertebrate mechanisms of immunorecognition, researchers have frequently turned to deuterostome invertebrates as model organisms. The purple sea urchin, Strongylocentrotus purpuratus (Echinodermata: Echinoidea), was selected for this study of putative immunorecognition molecules in a deuterostome invertebrate. Hemagglutinins, molecules which agglutinate red blood cells, have been reported in most invertebrates including echinoderms. Most relevant studies have characterized hemagglutinins as lectins, carbohydrate-binding molecules, and for this reason these substances have been proposed as primitive recognition molecules. The work presented here describes the occurrence and range of hemagglutinins in the coelomic fluid of Strongylocentrotus purpuratus, and attempts to characterize the sugar-binding capabilities of these molecules and their responses to various chemical and enzyme treatments. The results of screening and cross-adsorption experiments with vertebrate red blood cells are described. The existence of at least two hemagglutinating activities in the coelomic fluid of S. purpuratus is demonstrated. Results presented for sugar-inhibition tests support this finding. Glycoproteins were found to be the best inhibitors of all hemagglutinating activity in coelomic fluid. This information suggests that the binding sites for S. purpuratus hemagglutinins may be more complex than can be revealed by mono- and simple oligosaccharide inhibition experiments. The agglutinating activities were unaffected by trypsin, pronase, or periodate treatments, and were relatively heat-stable. In general, the information presented in this thesis shows that multiple hemagglutinating activities, that appear to act as lectins, are present in the coelomic fluid of Strongylocentrotus purpuratus

Vegetation and Invertebrate Community Response to Eastern Hemlock Decline in Southern New England

The introduction of Adelges tsugae (Hemlock Woolly Adelgid [HWA]) to the eastern United States has had a devastating impact on Tsuga canadensis (Eastern Hemlock). Although much research has been done to assess HWA impacts on ecosystem processes and vegetation structure, few researchers have examined community-level changes in highly infested forest stands. Here we assess the impact of Eastern Hemlock mortality on vegetation and invertebrate diversity and community structure by comparing low-impact (healthy) stands and stands heavily impacted by HWA. We sampled the vegetative and invertebrate diversity of 8 sites (4 low impact and 4 high impact) in the summer and fall of 2008. We found a shift in the understory plant community and the canopy and subcanopy arthropod communities. Herbaceous plant species richness was significantly higher at high-impact sites, with Betula lenta (Black Birch) being the most common woody species. Overall, forest invertebrate community diversity (measured using the Shannon-Weaver diversity index) was greater in high- versus low-impact sites. Of the 21 indicator species significantly associated with a given forest type, 14 and 7 species were associated with high- and low-impact forests, respectively. Variation in arthropod community structure was driven by above-ground differences; ground-level arthropod community composition did not differ between high- and low-impact sites. These results demonstrate some of the biodiversity impacts that can result from the invasion of an exotic insect into forested systems

Over half of breakpoints in gene pairs involved in cancer-specific recurrent translocations are mapped to human chromosomal fragile sites.

Gene rearrangements such as chromosomal translocations have been shown to contribute to cancer development. Human chromosomal fragile sites are regions of the genome especially prone to breakage, and have been implicated in various chromosome abnormalities found in cancer. However, there has been no comprehensive and quantitative examination of the location of fragile sites in relation to all chromosomal aberrations

Linear and Nonlinear Measures of Postural Control in a Toddler With Cerebral Palsy: Brief Report

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to describe changes in linear and nonlinear measures of postural control along with motor outcomes in a young child with cerebral palsy. Summary of Key Points: Posturography in sitting and standing, the Gross Motor Function Measure-66 (GMFM-66), and the Early Clinical Assessment of Balance (ECAB) were performed prior to, during, and after physical therapy. The child demonstrated independent sitting throughout the study and developed independent standing during the study. He made improvements in the GMFM-66 and ECAB throughout the study. Higher average values were found in all linear and nonlinear measures in standing when compared to sitting, which may indicate less predictable movement due to less experience with standing. Recommendations for Clinical Practice: Greater variability and lower predictability in postural control likely reflect early stages of skill acquisition. Research is needed to understand the optimal levels of movement variability and predictability

Growing Missouri’s aquaculture industry : needs assessment

Missouri’s aquaculture industry contains many small but diverse businesses, based on responses from 20 active businesses that participated in a 2023 aquaculture needs assessment survey. Those businesses represented 17 counties, and the survey had an estimated 70% response rate. The average respondent was a small business with seven employees that had been in business for 39 years. Respondents said they primarily use ponds or flow-through raceways and produce nearly eight different aquaculture species on average. In total, respondents produced 46 different species in 2022. Bluegill and largemouth bass were the two most common. They each contributed between 21% and 25% of total business sales.Mallory Rahe (State Specialist, Agricultural Business and Policy, MU Extension), Laura Gordon (Program Coordinator II, Agricultural Business and Policy, MU Extension), Ryan Milhollin (State Specialist, Agricultural Business and Policy, MU Extension), Alice Roach (Senior Research Associate, Division of Applied Social Sciences), Joe Horner (State Specialist, Agricultural Business and Policy, MU Extension), Robert Pierce (Associate Extension Professor, Fisheries and Wildlife, MU Extension), David Brune (Agricultural Engineering Professor, University of Missouri), Drew Kientzy (Research Program Analyst, University of Missouri)New 6/202