Effectiveness of Executive Functioning Interventions Among Homeless Elementary Aged Students

Elementary-aged children who are homeless face challenges in the areas of self-regulation, working memory, attention, and time management (Wanger-Fuhs et al., 2014). Currently, there is a lack of research on homeless elementary-aged children and the influence occupational therapy can have on their academic success. Specifically, there is no comprehensive source that details the effects of the role of occupational therapy interventions on executive functioning skills such as self-regulation, working memory, attention, and time management for the population of homeless elementary-aged school children. The purpose of this CAT paper was to determine the effect of occupational therapy interventions that focus on promoting executive functioning skills to influence the likelihood of academic success in elementary-aged school children who are homeless

Development of an Orthopedic Trauma Score to Predict Mortality in Low and Middle Income Countries in Sub-Sahara Africa: Improving Outcome and Efficient Resource Use

Background: Despite the huge burden of disease in low to middle income countries (LMICs), trauma, especially orthopedic trauma, has not been well studied. Furthermore, trauma scores in LMICs have had variable levels of success and are often applied retrospectively to show potential applicability. The Kampala Trauma Score, KTS, and the Revised Trauma Score, RTS, were both tested as an outcome predictive tool in Kamuzu Central Hospital (KCH) in Lilongwe Malawi but were found not to be strong enough predictors of mortality to be clinically useful. In this paper I propose a research plan to identify risk factors associated with orthopedic injuries that will aid in creating a simple orthopedic trauma score that can be tested in LMICs. Methods: I include patients with orthopedic injuries and exclude any patients with burn, penetrating, or head injuries. I will use appropriate univariate analysis, bivariate analysis, and logistic regression to determine odds ratios and measure the association with certain patterns of orthopedic injuries. Using this data I will develop a simple orthopedic trauma score that can be tested at KCH and potentially other LMICs as a predictor for mortality. Anticipated Results: I am doing a retrospective (secondary data analysis) of prospectively collected data from the KCH Trauma Surveillance Registry from 2008 to 2014 (n = 8914). I anticipate there will be a difference in mortality among those with different types of fracture, pelvic being the most fatal. Additionally, the odds of death will be higher with patients who have multiple fractures. The orthopedic trauma score will include injury location, severity, and patient characteristics that will yield a percent chance of mortality based on score. Conclusions: Orthopedic injuries are likely underestimated as a cause of morbidity and mortality in LMICs and specifically in Malawi. Orthopedic trauma scores could be easy to implement and improve population outcomes leading to a more efficient use of limited resources.Master of Public Healt

Health Research Participants' Preferences for Receiving Research Results

BACKGROUND: Participants in health research studies typically express interest in receiving results from the studies in which they participate. However, participants’ preferences and experiences related to receiving results are not well understood. In general, existing studies have had relatively small sample sizes and typically address specific and often sensitive issues within targeted populations. METHODS: The present study used an online survey to explore attitudes and experiences of registrants in ResearchMatch, a large database of past, present, and potential health research participants. Survey respondents provided information related to whether or not they received research results from studies in which they participated, the methods used to communicate results, their satisfaction with results, and when and how they would like to receive research results from future studies. 70,699 ResearchMatch registrants were notified of the study’s topic. Of the 5,207 registrants who requested full information about the study, 3,381 respondents completed the survey. RESULTS: Approximately 33% of respondents with previous health research participation reported receiving results. Approximately half of respondents with previous research participation reported no opportunity to request results. However, almost all respondents said researchers should always or sometimes offer results to participants. Respondents expressed particular interest in results related to their (or a loved one's) health, as well as information about studies’ purposes and any medical advances based on the results. In general, respondents’ most preferred dissemination methods for results were email and website postings. The least desirable dissemination methods for results included Twitter, conference calls, and text messages. Across all results, we compare the responses of respondents with and without previous research participation experience, and those who have worked in research organizations vs. those who have not. Compared to respondents who have previous participation experience, a greater proportion of respondents with no participation experience indicated that results should always be shared with participants. Likewise, respondents with no participation experience placed higher importance on the receipt of each type of results information included in the survey. CONCLUSIONS: We present findings from a survey assessing attitudes and experiences of a broad sample of respondents that addresses gaps in knowledge related to participants’ preferences for receiving results. The study’s findings highlight the potential for inconsistency between respondents’ expressed preferences to receive specific types of results via specific methods and researchers’ unwillingness or inability to provide them. We present specific recommendations to shift the approach of new studies to investigate participants’ preferences for receiving research results

Temporary Organizations: Competition Management for Global Formula Racing

The Society of Automotive Engineers organizes the Formula SAE competitions annually for universities internationally to compete in a series of events. Teams compete in several dynamic tests for the vehicle’s handling, performance, and fuel economy, as well as static events that judge the team’s assumptions for cost, design, and business elements. This paper explores the application of management structures to the environment that teams experience when they are at competition. The needs of this temporary organization differ from when at a fixed location, such as a university, in terms of objective, norms, and resources and require a different approach. Background research from similar environments, mobilization practices, and management structures provide a baseline for a theory to be applied to how a Formula SAE could operate more efficiently. Interviews of several members of the team enabled specific applications to be created and used at one competition during 2010. These were then reviewed and modified afterward to be more effective for the next event

Critical Point Mounting of Kinetoplast DNA for Atomic Force Microscopy

Atomic force microscope (AFM) images of intact kinetoplast DNA were obtained from samples prepared utilizing critical point drying. These images are compared with AFM images obtained using conventional methods for DNA deposition. Although the images obtained on chemically pretreated mica show more details than on unmodified mica, images obtained with critical point drying were superior. Kinetoplast networks with expected sizes and structures were routinely observed with critical point drying. The resolution of individual strands of DNA was greatly improved, and image artifacts associated with air dried samples were eliminated. Samples prepared using mildly sonicated kinetoplast DNA show isolated minicircles