Competence and Acceptance of Children with Developmental Disabilities: An Examination of Self-concept

The purpose of this research was to examine the relationship of the self-concepts of a sample of 248 children with developmental disabilities with demographic variables and measures of child functioning and family situational variables. In addition, responses on a measure of self-concept were compared with those of a normative sample provided by Harter. Results indicated that, using this measure and these populations, there were no differences in the self-concept of children with disabilities and those without disabilities. Canonical correlation analysis indicated that children\u27s cognitive achievement and independent functioning skills were moderately related to their self-concepts, but demographic variables and family functioning explained very little of the variance of the self-concept constructs as measured here

Wartime Internment of Japanese-Americans: An Examination of Wartime Reparations Proposals

This comment analyzes the proposed Japanese internment remedies in light of the injury done by the interment. First, a discussion of the history surrounding the internment establishes the existence of an injury and the extent of the injury suffered by the Japanese-Americans. Second, the previous remedy is examined. Third, this comment establishes that Congress has the power to satisfy judicially noncognizable claims and that Japanese-American claims justify Congressional action. Fourth, the goals a remedial plan must seek to achieve are examined. Finally, the individual remedial plans are analyzed in light of those goals, ultimately concluding a plan involving both direct and indirect compensation most effectively meets those goals

A qualitative exploration of women firefighters\u27 experience in the Western Australian Volunteer Bushfire Service

Recent events have shown how invaluable Australia\u27s volunteer firefighters are to communities, for example, Black Saturday. Volunteer numbers appear to be declining nation-wide and a majority of volunteer fire services report under-representation of women in operational roles. To ascertain an understanding of experiences and issues faced by women in volunteer fire services, the aim of the current study was to explore female volunteer firefighters\u27 experience, and how their experiences impact on their perceptions of themselves as firefighters. A qualitative research methodology was employed, which enabled investigation of issues and challenges related to the firefighting experience. A total of 12 women participated in semi-structured interviews, which were recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. A total of two dominant themes and six sub-themes were identified: (1) positive experiences and outcomes (life meaning, facilitation of confidence, positive atmosphere, competence in getting the job done); (2) negative experiences and outcomes (negative behaviour towards women, \u27few guy\u27 syndrome). The findings have provided insight into the way in which women perceive themselves as firefighters, and the influences of past experiences which impacted on these perceptions. Furthermore, this study contributes towards the understanding of how to effectively engage and empower women, and also to the development of programs and strategies conducive to the enhancement of women in Australian volunteer-based fire agencies

16S rRNA sequencing reveals likely beneficial core microbes within faecal samples of the EU protected slug Geomalacus maculosus

The EU-protected slug Geomalacus maculosus Allman occurs only in the West of Ireland and in northern Spain and Portugal. We explored the microbial community found within the faeces of Irish specimens with a view to determining whether a core microbiome existed among geographically isolated slugs which could give insight into the adaptations of G. maculosus to the available food resources within its habitat. Faecal samples of 30 wild specimens were collected throughout its Irish range and the V3 region of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene was sequenced using Illumina MiSeq. To investigate the influence of diet on the microbial composition, faecal samples were taken and sequenced from six laboratory reared slugs which were raised on two different foods. We found a widely diverse microbiome dominated by Enterobacteriales with three core OTUs shared between all specimens. While the reared specimens appeared clearly separated by diet in NMDS plots, no significant difference between the slugs fed on the two different diets was found. Our results indicate that while the majority of the faecal microbiome of G. maculosus is probably dependent on the microhabitat of the individual slugs, parts of it are likely selected for by the host

A resiliency perspective of the lived experience of parenting infants and young children with cystic fibrosis in the context of early lung disease surveillance

Scientific and technological advances over the past few decades have contributed to an exponential increase in life expectancy for infants born with cystic fibrosis (CF), which can cause fatal lung disease. There has been a paradigmatic shift from reactive treatment towards early disease detection and aggressive intervention of paediatric CF. Previous research has investigated parents’ experiences of the diagnosis phase and later life stages such as adolescence and transition to adulthood. Less is understood about the experience of parenting infants and young children with CF, and no research addresses this during early surveillance for CF lung disease. Early surveillance is rapidly emerging as the likely framework for future therapeutic intervention trials in young children, nationally and internationally. Thus, understanding parents’ mental health is essential to providing support to families during their child’s intensive, early treatment. This research aimed to explore how parents construct their lived experiences of parenting and how they attribute meaning to these experiences. Particular attention was given to coping strategies, informed by a salutogenic model of protective factors that may contribute to family adaptation and resilience. A qualitative methodology, guided by theoretical underpinnings of phenomenology and constructivism was used to explore parents’ experiences. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 67 parents (46 mothers and 21 fathers aged between 23 and 52 years) across sites where early surveillance for CF lung disease operates in Australia. A thematic analytic approach was used to analyse the data. Data revealed that whilst parents described adverse psychological consequences of their child’s participation in early surveillance, it was also evident that beneficial outcomes eclipsed adversities. Five major themes represent the emergent structure of parents’ lived experience: Redefined Expectations and Reimagined Identity, Redefined Reality; Understanding the Unknown and Understanding Uncertainty; Good Days and Bad Days, Fluctuation between Positive and Negative Outlook On Life; Early Surveillance is a Significant Event; And Early Surveillance is in the Best Interest of my Child. Collectively, these highlight that only attending to adverse experiences and outcomes would be to overlook significant beneficial psychological experiences and outcomes of this unique parenting experience. Pathways that enable adaptation to paediatric chronic disease in the context of early surveillance were also identified using a resiliency framework of family adjustment and adaption. These findings contribute to current conceptualisations of parenting children with chronic conditions undergoing modern interventions that aim to delay disease. This research may also inform policy-making and models of best paediatric clinical practice, particularly those embracing a biopsychosocial model of care that promotes parents’ mental health, as well as family resilience and adaptation. The importance of these findings underscores the need for further research to expand our understanding of the parenting experience in the unique context of early surveillance

Walk this Way

Do you wonder what skills are needed for students to be successful in general education? Why do special education students struggle in regular education? This session will focus on how learning walks can help you answer these questions. Attendees will participate in a mock learning walk and protocol to provide you with a first-hand experience to take back to your school. Join us for a walk on the wild side! Participant Objectives Define learning walk Be able to set norms and expectations for this type of professional learning Facilitate conversation within a team of people to determine take-aways from a learning walk including reflection and applicatio

Survival, biofilm formation, and growth potential of environmental and enteric escherichia coli strains in drinking water microcosms

E. coli is the most commonly used indicator for faecal contamination in a drinking water distribution system (WDS). The assumption is that E. coli are of enteric origin and cannot persist for long outside their host, therefore acting as indicators of recent contamination events. This study investigates the fate of E. coli in drinking water; specifically addressing survival, biofilm formation under shear stress, and regrowth in a series of laboratory-controlled experiments. We show the extended persistence of three E. coli strains (two enteric and one soil isolate) in sterile and non-sterile drinking water microcosms, at 8 and 17°C, with T90 values ranging from 17.4 ± 1.8 to 149 ± 67.7 days, using standard plate counts and a series of (RT)-Q-PCR assays targeting 16S rRNA, tuf, uidA, and rodA genes and transcripts. Furthermore, each strain was capable of attaching to a surface and replicating to form biofilm in the presence of nutrients under a range of shear stress values (0.6, 2.0, and 4.4 dyn cm-2; BioFlux, Fluxion); however, cell numbers did not increase when drinking water was flowed over (t-test; p > 0.05). Finally, E. coli regrowth within drinking water microcosms containing PE-100 pipe-wall material was not observed in the biofilm or water phase using a combination of culturing and Q-PCR methods for E. coli. The results of this work highlight that when E. coli enters drinking water it has the potential to survive and attach to surfaces but that regrowth within drinking water or biofilm is unlikely

An investigation of mentor and program characteristics associated with mentor perception of relationship quality

Title from PDF of title page (University of Missouri--Columbia, viewed on October 30, 2012).The entire thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file; a non-technical public abstract appears in the public.pdf file.Dissertation advisor: Dr. Melissa StormontIncludes bibliographical references.Vita.Ph. D. University of Missouri--Columbia 2012."July 2012"Mentoring between adults and youth or children at risk is a widely used intervention. However, mentoring relationships often end prematurely and this may place a vulnerable mentee at even greater risk. Research suggests that mentors who are more satisfied with the relationship may be more likely to persist longer in the relationship. The purpose of this study was to identify specific characteristics within- mentors and mentoring programs that are associated with mentor perceived relationship quality with the mentoring experience. The study specifically investigated whether mentors' motivations for engaging in the mentoring program, mentoring style, and previous training and experience are associated with mentors' perception of relationship quality. Within-program characteristics such as program training and support provided to the mentor was also examined to determine how these factors may be related to the mentor's perception of relationship quality. Mentors were contacted through the administrator of their program and asked to complete an online survey which queried specific within-mentor and within-program characteristics. Five mentoring programs participated in the survey with a total n= 72 of mentors included in the study. Results from the study suggest that mentors' perception of relationship quality may be influenced by mentoring style, a within- mentor characteristic. This within-mentor characteristic explained 22% of the variance of mentor perception of relationship quality. Demographic information was also gathered on mentor characteristics such as education, age, and career of the mentor as well as possible risk factors of the mentees according to the perception of the mentor. Limitations of the study and contributions to the field of mentoring and future research directions are discussed.Includes bibliographical reference

A rapid culture independent methodology to quantitatively detect and identify common human bacterial pathogens associated with contaminated high purity water

Background: Water and High Purity Water (HPW) distribution systems can be contaminated with human pathogenic microorganisms. This biocontamination may pose a risk to human health as HPW is commonly used in the industrial, pharmaceutical and clinical sectors. Currently, routine microbiological testing of HPW is performed using slow and labour intensive traditional microbiological based techniques. There is a need to develop a rapid culture independent methodology to quantitatively detect and identify biocontamination associated with HPW. Results: A novel internally controlled 5-plex real-time PCR Nucleic Acid Diagnostics assay (NAD), was designed and optimised in accordance with Minimum Information for Publication of Quantitative Real-Time PCR Experiments guidelines, to rapidly detect, identify and quantify the human pathogenic bacteriaStenotrophomonas maltophilia, Burkholderia species, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Serratia marcescenswhich are commonly associated with the biocontamination of water and water distribution systems. The specificity of the 5-plex assay was tested against genomic DNA isolated from a panel of 95 microorganisms with no cross reactivity observed. The analytical sensitivities of the S. maltophilia, B. cepacia, P. aeruginosa and the S. marcescens assays are 8.5, 5.7, 3.2 and 7.4 genome equivalents respectively. Subsequently, an analysis of HPW supplied by a Millipore Elix 35 water purification unit performed using standard microbiological methods revealed high levels of naturally occurring microbiological contamination. Five litre water samples from this HPW delivery system were also filtered and genomic DNA was purified directly from these filters. These DNA samples were then tested using the developed multiplex real-time PCR NAD assay and despite the high background microbiological contamination observed, both S. maltophilia andBurkholderia species were quantitatively detected and identified. At both sampling points the levels of both S. maltophilia and Burkholderia species present was above the threshold of 10 cfu/100 ml recommended by both EU and US guidelines. Conclusions: The novel culture independent methodology described in this study allows for rapid (<5 h), quantitative detection and identification of these four human pathogens from biocontaminated water and HPW distribution systems. We propose that the described NAD assay and associated methodology could be applied to routine testing of water and HPW distribution systems to assure microbiological safety and high water quality standards

Sex, Race, and Politics in the U.S.: A Call to Action to Address Racial Justice in Sexuality Education

Sex education is not exempt from the evil of systemic racism and white supremacy woven in American Society. In fact, the mythology of white supremacy is based on an idealized goal of the United States (U.S.) as a white nation state that exerts population controls to maintain power over racial and ethnic minority groups through political, economic, and social dominance.State departments of education, individual school districts, and even sex educators themselves must update their sex education provisions and curricula to ensure comprehensive sex education programs utilize a racial justice lens. This will support young people in developing a shared understanding of how racial stereotypes distort public perceptions of sexuality and impact the lived experiences of POC in America. These steps must be taken in order to create a shared responsibility to resist these stereotypes and the racist behaviors and public policies that perpetuate them.Thus, the purpose of this publication is to offer a rationale and a call to action for creating anti-racist sex education programs that purposefully abandon any "color-blind" approaches to sex education. This resource includes: a timeline of historical experiences of racism; an exploration of the formation of racialized sexual identities and how the sexualization of race was used to suppress and impact marginalized communities including Black, Native American or Indigenous, Asian American, Pacific Islander, and Latinx communities; ways that systemic racism has impacted the classroom and student experiences of sex education; and, finally, examples of how sex educators can incorporate anti-racist lessons into programs in alignment with the National Sex Education Standards (NSES), second edition