Conflict within Special Education for Mothers of Children with Invisible Disabilities: A Case Study

In the United States, children with disabilities receive special education services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which provides free appropriate public education (FAPE) in the least restrictive environment (LRE). Evidence shows that parents of children who receive special education (SPED) experience conflict within the school system. Invisible disabilities (NVD) are unseen but affect learning or behavior in school, include attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and learning disabilities, are eligible for special education. There is evidence that parents of children with NVD experience conflict while accessing the system and receiving services and mothers are often the primary advocate for SPED services for their child. What is not fully understood is how NVD influences the conflict process and influences the experiences for mothers. This study explored the experience of mothers of children with NVD who experienced conflict in the special education system using a qualitative case study methodology. Interviews and Kawa River Model drawings of the conflict experiences provided insight into the conflict experience, using Deutsch’s model of conflict as the primary theoretical framework. The findings included the following themes: Square Peg in a Round Hole, Bear the Brunt, Adding Insult to Injury, Game Changer, and Sea Change. Key findings include NVD-related conflicts involve identification and eligibility, the conflict experiences evolve from intrapersonal, interpersonal, and structural level conflicts, which influence their advocacy, and the paradoxical experience of being both a professional in the workplace and a mother advocating for her child in special education, and how that influences conflict

Serotype k Streptococcus mutans Binding to Collagen and Fibrinogen in Nicotine

poster abstractBackground: Streptococcus mutans is a gram-positive coccus-shaped, facultatively anaerobic bacterium that is commonly found in the human oral cavity and is a major contributor to tooth decay. The bacterium has the potential to make its way into the blood stream and adhere to endothelial cell proteins such as collagen and fibrinogen in the arteries through specific receptors potentially leading to atherosclerosis. Endothelial cells secrete cell-associated and cell-free collagen and fibrinogen. Specifically, serotype k S. mutans have been associated with atherosclerosis and nicotine has been shown to increase the biofilm formation of S. mutans (serotype k). The focus of this research was to measure S. mutans ability to bind to collagen type I and fibrinogen when the cells were grown in the presence of nicotine. Methods: S. mutans serotype k strains 51, 52, and 89 were cultured in 0–2 mg/mL nicotine. Formaldehyde was added to kill the cells followed by labeling the cells with biotin. Collagen type I and fibrinogen were coated (1 μg/mL) onto 96-well microtiter plates. The plates were washed and 1% BSA was added to block the wells. Then the biotinylated nicotine-treated S. mutans were added, incubated to allow binding to the endothelial cell proteins, and washed. Finally, ExtrAvidin HRP and OPD were added to the plate and the optical density was measured at an absorbance of 490 nm. Results: The optical density was directly related to the relative number of cells bound to collagen type I and fibrinogen. Conclusion: The results demonstrated a significant increase in all three strains of S. mutans binding to the proteins when cultured in 1 and 2 mg/mL concentrations of nicotine compared to the 0 nicotine control. The increased numbers of nicotine-treated S. mutans binding to the endothelial cell proteins may have the ability to contribute to atherosclerosis

Effects of Nicotine on Aerobic and Anaerobic Serotype K Streptococcus mutans Biofilm Formation

poster abstractAtherosclerosis is a specific form of arteriosclerosis where the walls of arteries began to thicken as a result of bacterial invasion and accumulation of inflammatory white blood cells. There could be a direct correlation of atherosclerosis and the intake of nicotine. Nicotine has been reported to increase the amount of the cariogenic oral bacteria known as Streptococcus mutans; thus possibly leading to an increase of dental caries. Serotype K S. mutans has been associated strongly with atherosclerosis. Objective: This study focused on the biofilm formation of S. mutans serotype K when incubated in various dilutions of nicotine. Methods: S. mutans UA159 (stereotype C), and stereotype K strains 89, 52, and 51 were cultured in tryptic soy broth (TSB) overnight and then added to dilutions of TSB with 1% sucrose (TSBS) containing concentrations of nicotine between 0 and 32 mg/ml. Each dilution was added to 96-well microtiter plates, inoculated with bacteria and incubated for 24 hours aerobically at 37oC in 5% CO2 and anaerobically. The plates were treated with formaldehyde, crystal violet, and isopropanol and biofilm formation was measured at an absorbance of 490 nm. Results: Strains UA159, 89, 52, and 51 all demonstrated significantly higher biofilm formation (p<0.05) at a nicotine dilution of 8 mg/ml. When comparing the anaerobic results to the aerobic results, anaerobic incubation increased the overall biofilm formation across the majority of nicotine dilutions. Conclusion: It was established that when S. mutans strains UA159, 89, 52, and 51 were incubated anaerobically and aerobically biofilm formation was enhanced. Smoking can lead to a higher population of S. mutans in the oral cavity that potentially has traits of significantly enhanced biofilm formation when presented with moderately high levels of nicotine which may lead to increased binding to endothelial cells contributing to atherosclerosis

Eviction and Homelessness in Hennepin County

Professional paper for the fulfillment of the Master of Public Policy degree.Approximately 6,000 eviction filings occur in Hennepin County each year, and about 90% of all eviction judgements are due to nonpayment of rent. Eviction results in forced displacement, contributing to instability within neighborhoods and potentially harmful effects for children, families, and individuals. Despite the growing number of studies on the subject, the link between county service use, an eviction filing or judgement, and shelter entry in Hennepin County was unsubstantiated. Our report aims to fill this gap. At the request of Hennepin County, we sought to demonstrate the link between evictions and homelessness as well as identify barriers in the eviction prevention process. Our research team conducted a mixed-method analysis using quantitative and qualitative data. In our qualitative research, we interviewed individuals in organizations that provide services and monetary aid aimed at preventing eviction. We employed snowball sampling to speak with 19 staff members at different governmental and nonprofit providers across the county, using semi-structured interviews to catalogue their experiences and perspectives