Counseling Update: A Flexible Monitoring Method for the Client and Practitioner

Recent years have seen a number of articles questioning both the utility and practicality of single-case designs. The authors propose a flexible monitoring method for practice evaluation. The proposed method is presented as a dynamic model, one that utilizes the existing evaluative procedures of the practitioner. This flexible method is proposed within the general outlines of developmental research. It is proposed as a method designed to lead practitioners toward an empirical model of practice. Some case examples are provided to substantiate the utility and value of the model.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/68429/2/10.1177_104973159300300203.pd

Understanding and measuring child welfare outcomes

The new Children\u27s and Family Services Reviews (CFSR) process focuses on the effectiveness of services to children and families by measuring client outcomes. This article reviews the research literature related to child welfare outcomes in order to provide a context for federal accountability efforts. It also summarizes the 2001 federal mandate to hold states accountable for child welfare outcomes and describes California\u27s response to this mandate. Implications of the outcomes literature review and measurement problems in the CFSR process suggest CSFR measures do not always capture meaningful outcomes. Recommendations for change are made

Comparative genomics of Cluster O mycobacteriophages

Mycobacteriophages - viruses of mycobacterial hosts - are genetically diverse but morphologically are all classified in the Caudovirales with double-stranded DNA and tails. We describe here a group of five closely related mycobacteriophages - Corndog, Catdawg, Dylan, Firecracker, and YungJamal - designated as Cluster O with long flexible tails but with unusual prolate capsids. Proteomic analysis of phage Corndog particles, Catdawg particles, and Corndog-infected cells confirms expression of half of the predicted gene products and indicates a non-canonical mechanism for translation of the Corndog tape measure protein. Bioinformatic analysis identifies 8-9 strongly predicted SigA promoters and all five Cluster O genomes contain more than 30 copies of a 17 bp repeat sequence with dyad symmetry located throughout the genomes. Comparison of the Cluster O phages provides insights into phage genome evolution including the processes of gene flux by horizontal genetic exchange

Clinical and biomarker changes in premanifest Huntington disease show trial feasibility: A decade of the PREDICT-HD study

There is growing consensus that intervention and treatment of Huntington disease (HD) should occur at the earliest stage possible. Various early-intervention methods for this fatal neurodegenerative disease have been identified, but preventive clinical trials for HD are limited by a lack of knowledge of the natural history of the disease and a dearth of appropriate outcome measures. Objectives of the current study are to document the natural history of premanifest HD progression in the largest cohort ever studied and to develop a battery of imaging and clinical markers of premanifest HD progression that can be used as outcome measures in preventive clinical trials. Neurobiological predictors of Huntington’s disease is a 32-site, international, observational study of premanifest HD, with annual examination of 1013 participants with premanifest HD and 301 gene-expansion negative controls between 2001 and 2012. Findings document 39 variables representing imaging, motor, cognitive, functional, and psychiatric domains, showing different rates of decline between premanifest HD and controls. Required sample size and models of premanifest HD are presented to inform future design of clinical and preclinical research. Preventive clinical trials in premanifest HD with participants who have a medium or high probability of motor onset are calculated to be as resource-effective as those conducted in diagnosed HD and could interrupt disease 7–12years earlier. Methods and measures for preventive clinical trials in premanifest HD more than a dozen years from motor onset are also feasible. These findings represent the most thorough documentation of a clinical battery for experimental therapeutics in stages of premanifest HD, the time period for which effective intervention may provide the most positive possible outcome for patients and their families affected by this devastating disease

Determining of a impact of visual disturbances on stability of balance

Ocena wpływu zaburzeń wizualnych na zdolność utrzymywania równowagi może stanowić niezwykle cenny aspekt w kontekście zastosowania Technologii Wirtualnej Rzeczywistości w procesie rehabilitacji. Artykuł porusza zagadnienia związane z metodyką określania wpływu zaburzeń wizualnych na zdolności utrzymania równowagi. W ramach badań wyznaczono wielkości stabilograficzne takie jak: długość ścieżki w osi strzałkowej oraz w osi poprzecznej, pole deltoidu wyznaczonego przez COP, a także stosunek przekątnej deltoidu w osi strzałkowej do przekątnej deltoidu w osi poprzecznej, podczas badań, gdy na osobę badaną nie działały żadne zaburzenia wizualne oraz gdy osoba badana była poddawana wybranym zaburzeniom. Wyniki pozwalają na przeprowadzenie dyskusji w zakresie oceny wpływy zadawanych bodźców wizualnych na wyznaczane wielkości.Determination of impact of visual disorders on stabilographic of human body make very important aspect according to using of Virtual Reality Technology in medicine. This article present results of determining of a impact of visual disturbances on stability of balance. During the study stabilographic parameters such as: path length in the sagittal axis and a transverse axis, the deltoid field defined by the COP as well as the diagonal point of the deltoid in the sagittal axis to the diagonal of the deltoid in the transverse axis were determined. The study was done with and without visual stimuli. The results allow for discussions on the assessment of the influence of visual stimuli on the determined values

The influence of gender, dominant lower limb and type of target on the velocity of taekwon-do front kick

Purpose: The current study aimed to quantify the main influences and the interactions (joint effects) of gender, leg and type of target on the biomechanics of front kick quality. Through the quantification, we tried to identify the relevant factors related to the kick accuracy and maximum velocity for coaching practice. Methods: A ten-camera NIR VICON MX40 motion capture system (250 Hz) was used to determine the kicking foot maximum velocity from two well-trained subject groups (8 males and 6 females). Each subject performed both left and right front kicks in a lateral standing position into the air (without a physical target), to a board, to a table tennis ball and to a training shield. The target were set on a height corresponding to a height of solar plexus of each participant. Results: The results showed that all the three factors (gender, leg and type of target) have significant influences on kicking speed ( p < 0.001) and significant interaction (joint effect) was only found between gender and target ( p < 0.001). Further analysis revealed that the males’ kicking maximum velocity was affected more by board, while females’ one was affected by the size of the target. Conclusions: The results would seem to suggest that, for males, kick-to-a-board may be the more effective method for increasing kick quality, compared to other type of target. For females, kick-to-a-small-ball appears to be effective method for increasing kick maximum velocity

The research of range of movement in joints of upper limb by electrogoniometers

Artykuł przedstawia przeprowadzone badania zakresu ruchomości stawów kończyny górnej za pomocą elektrogoniometrów. Przedstawione wyniki badań z wykorzystaniem elektrogoniometrów elastycznych firmy Biometrics Ltd miały na celu wyznaczenie minimalnego i maksymalnego kąta oraz zakresu ruchomości kątowej w trzech głównych stawach kończyny górnej. Badania składały się z serii pięciu pomiarów dla ruchów zginania i prostowania oraz odwodzenia i przywodzenia stawów barkowego i nadgarstkowego oraz dla ruchu zginania i prostowania stawu łokciowego.The article shows the researches of range of movement in joints of upper limb made with electrogoniometers. The researches were made for typical moves in shoulder, elbow and wrist joint. The results show the minimum and maksimum angle and the range of motion in three main joints of upper limb