Early Predictors of Long-Term Participation in Stroke Survivors – A Survey of a Rehabilitation Cohort in Nigeria

This study sought to identify early predictors of long-term participation among stroke survivors using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health as the conceptual framework. Individuals diagnosed with first-ever stroke were recruited from medical wards of a university teaching hospital in Nigeria. Data on age, gender, pre-stroke employment and marital status, stroke sub-type, laterality and severity (personal factors) were obtained. Motor function (body function) and functional activity (activity) were also assessed within the first month of stroke onset using the short-form Fugl Meyer Scale and the motor sub-scale of the Functional Independence Measure respectively. Participation was assessed at one year with the London Handicap Scale at each stroke survivor’s residence. Multivariable regression analysis was performed to identify significant predictors of participation at an alpha value of 0.05. Fifty-five stroke survivors were assessed with a male majority (60%). Age (β = -0.33; P = < 0.05) emerged as the only significant predictor of participation. The negative beta (β) for age indicated that increasing age predicted poorer participation outcome. With an adjusted R2 = 0.40, the regression model explained only 40% of the variance in participation. Age was identified as the sole predictor of participation at one year. This finding has implications for planning and providing participation-enhancing care for elderly stroke survivors while also relevant for setting realistic rehabilitation goals for enhancing long-term post-stroke participation. Keywords: age; aging; Nigeria; participation; predictors; stroke; stroke survivor

Progress report: religion and old age

© 1998 Cambridge University PressThe interconnections between religion and old age are complex; the more so given that the concept of age itself has – for a large part of human history – been determined by religious understandings of life. In traditional societies, religion played a crucial part in structuring the transitions between one stage of the life and the next and in defining maturity and fulfilment. And up to a point it still does: in Western societies at the turn of the millennium the association of religious rituals with key moments in the life course – birth, adolescence, marriage and above all death – remains widespread. Such interconnections change over time, however; they also vary from place to place

Nurture Africa: Patient Journey Map

We created a document that illustrates the entire arc of patient engagement with Nurture Africa. A diagram of the patient journey is accompanied by a detailed description of the patient’s actions, motivations, questions and barriers at each touch point between the patient and Nurture Africa. The Map will aid the organization in identifying areas of strength and those that can be improved in order to better the patient experience

Early school leaving and wellbeing in Malta and beyond : a statistical analysis

Early school leaving is a complex educational, economic, and social issue with significant negative consequences for individuals, societies, and national economies. While Malta has been applauded for its fast declining rates of early school leaving, the country is still significantly above the EU average and above the rate of early school leaving in all other EU countries, bar one. Due to inherited educational structures and prevailing social, economic, and labour market conditions, Malta is recently experiencing slower rates in decline of early school leaving and a slight increase in the number of females in the early school leaving bracket. One hopes that recent comprehensive measures included in the Malta National Reform Programme and Education policies of recent years will contribute to the further decrease of the early school leaving rate in Malta, hopefully close to the ambitious target of halving the ESL rate from 20.4% to 10% by 2020. This study aims to contribute to the ongoing analysis, debate, and efforts focused on the reduction of the early school leaving rate by providing relevant evidence for understanding potential links between early school leaving and various aspects of wellbeing. The study also sets out to identify the knowledge gaps that exist in this domain and to prepare background information for a potential second phase of the study, which would focus on conversations with early school leavers around issues flagged by the present study. Ultimately, we intend for this research to prepare the way for future applied studies of early school leaving.peer-reviewe

Strategic competence and agency : individuals overcoming barriers to change in South African higher education

Abstract: Social relations, institutional arrangements and cultures bequeathed by South Africa’s system of apartheid continue be felt in the present despite the country’s formal transition to democracy almost 25 years ago. Race, class and gender inequities continue to structure South African society in ways that have proven intransigent to change, leading to growing frustration and widespread public dissatisfaction expressed in multiple arenas including worker strikes, service delivery and university student protests. While it is clear that social structures inherited from the past are difficult to change, it is also the case that change does happen. In this paper, we discuss the findings of a hermeneutic phenomenological study with 10 academics at one historically white university in South Africa, who have been agents of change within their particular context..

Preliminary Assessment of Growing Oyster Mushroom, Pleurotus sajor-caju on Coconut Husk Substrate Supplemented with Different Amounts of Copra Cake

Mushroom cultivation is a newly introduced technology in the Marshall Islands to promote food security and community health due to its soluble fiber content and nutritive values. Mushroom is also known to have naturally occurring beta-glucans that could prevent high cholesterol and some other non-communicable disease (NCDs). Majuro Atoll has an ample amount of coconut husk and copra cake, a by-product from Tobolar Copra Processing Plant. The study aimed to assess the possibility of using copra cake for mushroom cultivation. The capability of oyster mushroom in utilizing coconut by-product was assessed in terms of mycelial growth, number of fruiting body, cap diameter and biological efficiency conversion (BEC). The mushroom growing media used for this study were composed of shredded coconut husk, dolomitic lime, brown sugar and varying amounts (0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%) of copra cake with 45-60% moisture content. It was hypothesized that copra cake supplementation will increase production yield. Treatments were distributed in 10 replications and data were analyzed using the Duncan’s Multiple Test Range at 5% level of significance. Mycelial growth occurred in all treatments in the following order: 10%\u3e 0%, 5%, 15% \u3e20% \u3e25%. Thin mycelial growth occurred at 0%, and slowest growth was observed for 25%. Fruiting bodies did not take place for treatment without copra cake supplementation (0%). The overall growth performance was observed to be very favorable at 10% copra cake supplementation. This result suggests that coconut husk supplemented with the right amount of copra cake could be utilized effectively as locally available materials for mushroom cultivation

Mediating Effect of Dynamic Capabilities on Human Capital as a Driver of Research Productivity of Academic Staff in Kenyan Universities

Research productivity is increasingly being recognised as a key measure of achievement and is therefore a basis for promotion and tenure for academic staff as well as an important component in the global ranking of universities. However, research productivity of academic staff in Kenyan universities is characterised by limited publications, resulting in the low positioning of Kenyan universities in global rankings. The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of human capital and dynamic capabilities on research productivity of academic staff in Kenyan universities. This study adopted a correlational research design and sampled 392 academic staff members. Both regression and bootstrap analyses were used to test the hypotheses. The findings revealed that human capital has a significant influence on research productivity of academic staff in Kenyan universities; however, the influence of human capital is not direct, but is partially mediated by dynamic capabilities. The outcomes of the study provide insight to academic staff to invest heavily in both human capital and dynamic capabilities to foster research productivity. Additionally, the results of the study provide an understanding to the university management on possible strategic choices that can boost the research productivity of academic staff

Fighting fires and fatigue: sleep, physical activity, and physical task performance

 During bushfires, firefighters often work long shifts with little sleep. Grace’s research showed that although firefighters’ sleep is restricted, it does not adversely affect their ability to perform physical tasks. This contrasts the cognitive impairments associated with sleep loss and could prompt revision of fatigue management guidelines in physically-demanding occupations

Training needs of businesses in the retail industry: A business case in the United Arab Emirates

People in the organization are said to be an important asset. They need to be equipped with the needed skills to contribute to become abreast with the latest trends and demands in the industry. This research focused on an inquiry about how to make the retail industry employees skillful and relevant in the industry. The quantitative results have indicated the significance of training employees in terms of how well they apply the necessary skills at their workplaces. People who have been trained on various skills use the required skills to complete their jobs, which translates effectively to positive productivity, quality output, and satisfactory customer services.  Apart from providing services to clients, employees are the cornerstone of productivity and implement the policies of the organization based on its mission, vision and core values. The results have also indicated that the majority of the employees lack the skills needed in executing daily activities. This study is significant in that it has proved beyond doubt that training needs analysis is the first step towards understanding the skill gap in an organization. That way, the company can create the needed measures and strategies for training to equip its employees with the necessary skills for increased production, quality, and improved customer services. This could result in a seamless operation that would significantly cut the overall cost of operations for the firm