The Perceptions of General Education Teachers on the Inclusion of Students who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing in the General Education Classroom

Many deaf and hard of hearing (D/HH) children receive their education primarily in the general education classroom with the majority of their academic instruction provided by a general education teacher. The purpose of this study was to investigate how general education teachers in the southeastern region of Mississippi perceive D/HH students included in the general education classroom. Specifically, this study was designed to explore the attitudes of general education teachers toward the inclusion of students with hearing loss, evaluate their feelings of preparedness to teach this unique population, and to identify the type and quality of services currently being provided to D/HH students in this region. Data for this research study was collected through an anonymous online survey that was electronically sent to general education teachers throughout southeastern Mississippi. The results from this study suggest that general education teachers have an overall positive attitude toward the abilities and characteristics of D/HH children and the inclusion of D/HH students in the general education classroom. Despite reporting a positive attitude, many general educators surveyed indicated feeling unprepared to teach students with hearing loss. They also reported that the students with hearing loss at their schools are receiving adequate services, although the majority of students are not receiving services from a teacher of the deaf. Study results suggest that better education is needed for all educators to be aware of the importance of D/HH children receiving services from a teacher of the deaf

Preventing severe hypoxia during emergent intubation: is nasopharyngeal oxygenation the answer?

Critically ill patients requiring emergent endotracheal intubation are at risk for life-threatening hypoxemia during the intubation procedure, particularly when the patient is apneic and not receiving any supplemental oxygen. In a current study, Engström and colleagues investigated the effect of nasopharyngeal oxygenation in eight anesthetized pigs with induced acute lung injury. The investigators confirmed, even in this model, that pharyngeal oxygenation significantly prolonged the time to desaturation during periods of apnea. Recognizing the limitations of directly extrapolating these experimental results to critically ill human subjects, the findings do support the contention that, until proven otherwise, nasopharyngeal oxygenation should at least be considered as one technique to diminish hypoxemic complications in very sick patients, particularly those with underlying pulmonary impairment

Retention, retention, retention: targeting the young in CPR skills training!

The usefulness of basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training in school systems has been questioned, considering that young students may not have the physical or cognitive skills required to perform complex tasks correctly. In the study conducted by Fleishhackl and coworkers, students as young as 9 years were able to successfully and effectively learn basic CPR skills, including automated external defibrillator deployment, correct recovery position, and emergency calling. As in adults, physical strength may limit the depth of chest compressions and ventilation volumes given by younger individuals with low body mass index; however, skill retention is good. Training all persons across an entire community in CPR may have a logarithmic improvement in survival rates for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest because bystanders, usually family members, are more likely to know CPR and can perform it immediately, when it is physiologically most effective. Training captured audiences of trainees, such as the entire work-force of the community or the local school system, are excellent mechanisms to help achieve that goal. In addition to better retention with new half hour training kits, a multiplier effect can be achieved through school children. In addition, early training not only sets the stage for subsequent training and better retention, but it also reinforces the concept of a social obligation to help others

Physical frailty, disability, and dynamics in health perceptions: A preliminary mediation model

Anna Mulasso, Mattia Roppolo, Emanuela Rabaglietti Department of Psychology, University of Torino, Torino, Italy Purpose: Frailty is a condition characterized by loss of functional reserve and altered homeostatic capacity. The aging process is related with complex indicators of physiological state. This study aims, with a preliminary mediation model, to reveal the possible role of mediator of health perceptions variability in the relationship between frailty and disability. Patients and methods: A longitudinal study (100 days) was performed. Data from 92 institutionalized older adults were used in the analysis. Frailty was assessed in baseline using the Italian version of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe – Frailty Instrument; health perceptions were assessed on a daily basis by three visual analog scale questions; and disability was measured in baseline and post-test using the Katz Activities of Daily Living questionnaire. The product-of-coefficient mediation approach was used to test direct and indirect effects of frailty. Results: Results showed that daily variability of health perceptions plays the role of mediator between frailty and disability. In all the steps, statistically significant results were found. Conclusion: This preliminary result may indicate that physical frailty increases the variability in health perceptions contributing to disability. Keywords: functional decline, loss of autonomy, variability, health outcomes, dynamic system

The endodermis—development and differentiation of the plant's inner skin

Controlling external compound entrance is essential for plant survival. To set up an efficient and selective sorting of nutrients, free diffusion via the apoplast in vascular plants is blocked at the level of the endodermis. Although we have learned a lot about endodermal specification in the last years, information regarding its differentiation is still very limited. A differentiated endodermal cell can be defined by the presence of the "Casparian strip” (CS), a cell wall modification described first by Robert Caspary in 1865. While the anatomical description of CS in many vascular plants has been very detailed, we still lack molecular information about the establishment of the Casparian strips and their actual function in roots. The recent isolation of a novel protein family, the CASPs, that localizes precisely to a domain of the plasma membrane underneath the CS represents an excellent point of entry to explore CS function and formation. In addition, it has been shown that the endodermis contains transporters that are localized to either the central (stele-facing) or peripheral (soil-facing) plasma membranes. These features suggest that the endodermis functions as a polar plant epitheliu

Investigation of the Mechanical Properties of a Carbon Fibre-Reinforced Nylon Filament for 3D Printing

Additive manufacturing (i.e., 3D printing) has rapidly developed in recent years. In the recent past, many researchers have highlighted the development of in-house filaments for fused filament fabrication (FFF), which can extend the corresponding field of application. Due to the limited mechanical properties and deficient functionality of printed polymer parts, there is a need to develop printable polymer composites that exhibit high performance. This study analyses the actual mechanical characteristics of parts fabricated with a low-cost printer from a carbon fibre-reinforced nylon filament. The results show that the obtained values differ considerably from the values presented in the datasheets of various filament suppliers. Moreover, the hardness and tensile strength are influenced by the building direction, the infill percentage, and the thermal stresses, whereas the resilience is affected only by the building direction. Furthermore, the relationship between the mechanical properties and the filling factor is not linear