Science and Intractable Conflict

Using illustrative examples, this article describes how science and other types of information often are used in an attempt to settle Conflict. Expectations for science to arbitrate differences may be misplaced, however, and such misuse of science can aggravate and exacerbate Conflict. Instead, effective resolution may be facilitated by focusing on facts that matter, acknowledging the value of varied sorts and sources of information, and recognizing scientific uncertainty

Supporting Career Development and Employment: A Skill Development Practicum

This practicum workbook was designed to aid benefits planners and advocates in supporting the employment decision making process for individuals with disabilities. The first portion of the workbook discusses approaches for understanding interests, preferences, abilities and support needs; impact of choices on financial well-being and independence; supporting the service provider selection process; developing comprehensive work plans; and, quality assurance strategies to evaluate services and supports provided. The workbook concludes with a case application

Supporting Career Development and Employment: Benefits Planning, Assistance and Outreach (BPA&O) and Protection and Advocacy for Beneficiaries of Social Security (PABSS)

This training curriculum is dedicated to increasing knowledge and understanding of the Social Security Administration\u27s disability and return to work programs and work incentive provisions as prescribed in the Social Security Act and Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999 as well as other federal benefit programs. These informational resources were compiled and edited to provide continuing education and print materials for benefits specialists and protection and advocacy personnel on the interplay of these benefit programs and impact or employment

Cis-regulatory basis of sister cell type divergence in the vertebrate retina

Multicellular organisms evolved via repeated functional divergence of transcriptionally related sister cell types, but the mechanisms underlying sister cell type divergence are not well understood. Here, we study a canonical pair of sister cell types, retinal photoreceptors and bipolar cells, to identify the ke

Deer-Vehicle Collision Avoidance

The targeted outcome for this project is to create and build a system that shall be placed alongside the roads where deer are often spotted in the area. The system shall detect an incoming car through a vibration sensor that is firmly mounted against the pavement or dirt road. Once movement is detected, the system will emit an ultrasonic frequency to alert the deer of potential harm. Deer shall either turn around and stop where they are at until the cars have passed. This system will interface with a vibration sensor Fung, Ho 5 that will detect a moving car and emit the signal through a piezo buzzer. The system must also be powered either by battery or by more sustainable means

Stigma and mental health: The curious case of COVID-19

Introduction: This article considers the impact of COVID-19 on stigma and mental health across the life spectrum and the ways that people access services. Purpose: To explore the ways that a pandemic (COVID-19) has changed/shifted the relationship between mental illness or mental ill health and stigma across the life spectrum and call to re-focus resources on sustainable healthy societies, building cultures of peace. Methodology: A literature search was employed, combined with informal interviews and observation. Results and Discussion: On the one hand, the pandemic has opened public discussion of mental health challenges such as anxiety and depression, reducing some of the stigma attached as the experience is more common amongst people who have not previously declared mental health challenges. On the other hand, people previously experiencing mental ill health have mostly had that health challenge exacerbated by the pandemic. With fewer resources available, and changes in service delivery to largely on-line resources, the reduction in stigma has not meant better mental health care and services, but rather further marginalized some of the population. Cultures of peace are inclusive and provide space for full growth of all citizens, in contrast to reactive approaches now more readily applied. Mental health services are a basic right for all people and should be considered as such in all planned health strategies. Limitations: The article focuses on literature review, anecdotal and observation and is focused over a short term, in North America.  It is a preliminary study. Strengths: As a preliminary study, the article highlights an emergent and present dilemma. It also highlights the need for a much more holistic, global approach to mental health and wellbeing across the lifespan. Conclusion: While there are calls for national strategies for mental health services and services for people with dementia, in particular, there is still a need to take a more holistic approach to mental health as part of a whole health strategy to support human dignity and inclusion across the lifespa

Effect of Daily Litter Collection on Health Behavior among Students in Deli Serdang, North Sumatera

Background: Over the past three decades, behavioral and social researchers have identified multi-level determinants of health and health behavior. Previous studies have examined the complex processes linking health to behavior and explored the efficacy of different intervention strategies for fostering healthful behaviors and environments. Recently a new model of health promotion, namely Program Operasi Punggut Sampah Setiap Hari Bang Sampah Pembinaan Berjenjang (Opung Sari Basah Bang), has been introduced to some high schools in Deli Serdang, North Sumatera, which aimed at promoting clean and healthy behavior changes among adolescents. This program is intended to be a long-term maintenance of behavior change, as well as an effective strategy for achieving sustainable health promotion and disease prevention. This study aimed to determine the effect of daily litter collection (Opung Sari Basah Bang) on clean and healthy behavior among students in Deli Serdang, North Sumatera. Subjects and Method: This was a quasi-experiment before and after with no control design conducted at Pancur Batu High School, Deli Serdang, North Sumatera, from April to May 2018. A sample of 88 students was selected for this study. The dependent variable was clean and healthy behavior. The independent variable was daily litter collection model (Opung Sari Basah Bang). Health behavior was measured before and after intervention by questionnaire and observation. The data were analyzed by a chi-square test with Risk Ratio (RR) as the measure of effect. Results: Clean and healthy behavior improved after the implementation of Opung Sari Basah Bang (RR= 32.73; 95% CI= 8.27 to 129.55; p= 0.001). Conclusion: Opung Sari Basah Bang is effective to improve clean and healthy behavior among high school students. Keywords: Opung Sari Basah Bang, daily litter collection, clean and healthy behavio

The Health Status and Unique Health Challenges of Rural Older Adults in California

Examines the demographics, health, and levels of physical activity and food insecurity of rural seniors compared with those of urban and suburban seniors. Outlines environmental and social risk factors that require context-specific policies and programs