The Counselor As Expert Witness: Changes in the Michigan Hearsay Rule

This article discusses the expanding role of the professional counselor as expert witness. The preferred role of the expert witness is one in which the expert informatively presents the facts and does not act as an advocate trying to influence a legal decision. The expert witness in Michigan now has to consider changes in the Michigan Rules of Evidence which disallows any hearsay evidence the counselor may have acquired during counseling. Additionally, supporting documentation for opinions may not simply be cited, but must be placed into evidence. This article concludes with suggestions for counselors in preparing for the role as expert witness in the courts

Counseling for Life Skills Development in the Disadvantaged Adult: A Review

This article provides an overview of research relevant to the disadvantaged adult. A majority of the disadvantaged are excluded from participation in educational programs because of the nature of current educational programs, e.g., prerequisites to training. Inadequate educational background is highly related to unemployment and low aspirational levels. Conversely, low income and a poverty level of life predisposes one to a negative view of education and self. A vicious cycle develops. The implications for education and counseling are explored in terms of (1) a basic education program and (2) life skills development. The thrust of both educator and counselor must be toward specific skill development rather than abstract learnings

New Directions for Disadvantaged Adults in the Community College

There is a need today for new methods of helping disadvantaged adults and youth through community colleges. Canadian community colleges can help in the delivery of educational and service programs to a long neglected student. This article describes a life-skills program with its major objective to assist disadvantaged adults in obtaining employment opportunities. There is a need for faculty to respond to the culturally different, for a new curriculum which has been modified to their needs, and for new teaching consistent with learning styles of the alienated. Specific program guide-lines are presented

Novel Double-Hit Model of Radiation and Hyperoxia-Induced Oxidative Cell Damage Relevant to Space Travel

Spaceflight occasionally requires multiple extravehicular activities (EVA) that potentially subject astronauts to repeated changes in ambient oxygen superimposed on those of space radiation exposure. We thus developed a novel in vitro model system to test lung cell damage following repeated exposure to radiation and hyperoxia. Non-tumorigenic murine alveolar type II epithelial cells (C10) were exposed to >95% O2 for 8 h only (O2), 0.25 Gy ionizing γ-radiation (IR) only, or a double-hit combination of both challenges (O2 + IR) followed by 16 h of normoxia (ambient air containing 21% O2 and 5% CO2) (1 cycle = 24 h, 2 cycles = 48 h). Cell survival, DNA damage, apoptosis, and indicators of oxidative stress were evaluated after 1 and 2 cycles of exposure. We observed a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in cell survival across all challenge conditions along with an increase in DNA damage, determined by Comet analysis and H2AX phosphorylation, and apoptosis, determined by Annexin-V staining, relative to cells unexposed to hyperoxia or radiation. DNA damage (GADD45α and cleaved-PARP), apoptotic (cleaved caspase-3 and BAX), and antioxidant (HO-1 and Nqo1) proteins were increased following radiation and hyperoxia exposure after 1 and 2 cycles of exposure. Importantly, exposure to combination challenge O2 + IR exacerbated cell death and DNA damage compared to individual exposures O2 or IR alone. Additionally levels of cell cycle proteins phospho-p53 and p21 were significantly increased, while levels of CDK1 and Cyclin B1 were decreased at both time points for all exposure groups. Similarly, proteins involved in cell cycle arrest was more profoundly changed with the combination challenges as compared to each stressor alone. These results correlate with a significant 4- to 6-fold increase in the ratio of cells in G2/G1 after 2 cycles of exposure to hyperoxic conditions. We have characterized a novel in vitro model of double-hit, low-level radiation and hyperoxia exposure that leads to oxidative lung cell injury, DNA damage, apoptosis, and cell cycle arrest