The Impact of Fall Efficacy on Occupational Performance in Community-Dwelling Older Adults

Falls are a major health concern in the older adult (OA) population. While there is research on falls and their prevention, research on how low fall efficacy (FE) impacts the occupational engagement of the OA population is limited. FE is defined as the confidence a person has in his/her ability to complete a task without falling (Tinetti & Powell, 1993). A qualitative study was conducted using a phenomenological approach to explore the lived experiences of OAs with low FE and the impact on occupational performance. Participants who scored ≤ 6 on the Modified Fall Efficacy Scale (MFES) engaged in a semi-structured interview, that explored the relationship between low FE and participation in occupations. Researchers asked open-ended questions to explore the activities impacted by participants low FE. A constant comparison method was utilized to analyze the interviews. The findings suggested that participants discontinued certain occupations due to a poor fit between the environment and the occupational challenges. However, those who experienced a good fit between the environment and the occupational challenges continued to participate in the activity using environmental modifications when needed. The occupations that had the lowest average scores on the MFES were occupations that mandated a narrow base of support (BOS) and the shifting of one’s weight. Therefore, occupational performance was impacted by the demands of the activity, the functional ability of the person, and environmental modifications.https://scholar.dominican.edu/ug-student-posters/1087/thumbnail.jp

The Impact of Fall Efficacy on Occupational Performance in Community-Dwelling Older Adults

Falls are a major health concern in the older adult (OA) population. While there is research on falls and their prevention, research on how low fall efficacy (FE) impacts the occupational engagement of the OA population is limited. FE is defined as the confidence a person has in his/her ability to complete a task without falling (Tinetti & Powell, 1993). A qualitative study was conducted using a phenomenological approach to explore the lived experiences of OAs with low FE and the impact on occupational performance. Participants who scored ≤ 6 on the Modified Fall Efficacy Scale (MFES) engaged in a semi-structured interview, that explored the relationship between low FE and participation in occupations. Researchers asked open-ended questions to explore the activities impacted by participants low FE. A constant comparison method was utilized to analyze the interviews. The findings suggested that participants discontinued certain occupations due to a poor fit between the environment and the occupational challenges. However, those who experienced a good fit between the environment and the occupational challenges continued to participate in the activity using environmental modifications when needed. The occupations that had the lowest average scores on the MFES were occupations that mandated a narrow base of support (BOS) and the shifting of one’s weight. Therefore, occupational performance was impacted by the demands of the activity, the functional ability of the person, and environmental modifications

Human central nervous system (CNS) ApoE isoforms are increased by age, differentially altered by amyloidosis, and relative amounts reversed in the CNS compared with plasma

The risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is highly dependent on apolipoprotein-E (apoE) genotype. The reasons for apoE isoform-selective risk are uncertain; however, both the amounts and structure of human apoE isoforms have been hypothesized to lead to amyloidosis increasing the risk for AD. To address the hypothesis that amounts of apoE isoforms are different in the human CNS, we developed a novel isoform-specific method to accurately quantify apoE isoforms in clinically relevant samples. The method utilizes an antibody-free enrichment step and isotope-labeled physiologically relevant lipoprotein particle standards produced by immortalized astrocytes. We applied this method to a cohort of well characterized clinical samples and observed the following findings. The apoE isoform amounts are not different in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from young normal controls, suggesting that the amount of apoE isoforms is not the reason for risk of amyloidosis prior to the onset of advanced age. We did, however, observe an age-related increase in both apoE isoforms. In contrast to normal aging, the presence of amyloid increased apoE3, whereas apoE4 was unchanged or decreased. Importantly, for heterozygotes, the apoE4/apoE3 isoform ratio was increased in the CNS, although the reverse was true in the periphery. Finally, CSF apoE levels, but not plasma apoE levels, correlated with CSF β-amyloid levels. Collectively, these findings support the hypothesis that CNS and peripheral apoE are separate pools and differentially regulated. Furthermore, these results suggest that apoE mechanisms for the risk of amyloidosis and AD are related to an interaction between apoE, aging, and the amount of amyloid burden

Yaxha National Park Tourism Enterprises

Capstone paper for the fulfillment of the Master of Development Practice degree.In order to understand the current work of ASODESTY and its partner, Rainforest Alliance, it is important to situate it within a broader context. Roughly translated as the “land of forests” in one of the ancient Maya languages, Guatemala is located in central America bordering Mexico, Belize, El Salvador and Honduras, and the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean. Today, the country is inhabited by more than 16 million people and is considered the most populated country in Central America, covering 42,042 square miles. The country has a robust manufacturing sector and is a travel destination for many due primarily to its culture and the existence of pre-Columbian archaeological sites of the Maya civilization, making tourism the second largest earner of foreign exchange. According to the CIA World Factbook, unequal income distribution has led to high inequality in Guatemala where the richest 20% of the population own more than 51% of the wealth and more than half of the population lives below the poverty line. Like other nations with comparable histories of colonization, civil conflicts and volatile governments, the people of Guatemala suffer from a wealth disparity. Poverty in Guatemala has been one of the highest in the Americas and has driven a dark, protracted history of civil conflict, food and livelihood insecurity, as well as deforestation and land degradation. This dark past and Guatemala’s goals for a sustainable future have guided the recent passage of laws protecting the rich biodiversity of the nation, as well as creating economic and social development opportunities for the people

Regional correlation of biochemical measures of amyloid and tau phosphorylation in the brain

Alzheimer\u27s disease (AD) neuropathologic change is characterized by amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) that consist of aggregated amyloid beta (Abeta) and hyperphosphorylated tau proteins (p-tau), respectively. Although the global relationship between Abeta and p-tau has been studied for decades, it is still unclear whether a regional correlation exists between Abeta and p-tau in the human brain. Recent studies in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) have suggested that tau phosphorylation at specific sites such as T217 is modified at an early stage of AD when amyloid plaques become detectable. We applied biochemical and mass spectrometry methods in human brain samples with and without Abeta plaque pathology to measure site-specific phosphorylation occupancies in soluble and insoluble tau. Our quantitative results identified multiple residues specifically hyper-phosphorylated in AD, including at sites T111, T153, S184 (or S185), T205, S208, T217, S262, and S285 in brain soluble tau. In contrast, the most enriched phosphorylated residues in brain insoluble tau were T111, S113, T153, T181, S199, S202, T205, T217, T231, S262, and S396. Tau phosphorylation occupancies in the insoluble fraction were relatively constant across brain regions, suggesting that tau has a consistent phosphorylation pattern once it has aggregated into NFTs. We did not find regional association between Abeta42 and insoluble tau. However, the phosphorylation profile of soluble tau in AD brain was highly correlated to that in AD CSF, which was analyzed in a previous study. We also found a higher regional association between total Abeta42 and soluble tau phosphorylation occupancy at residues T111, T153 and T217 in the brain. This study provides insights into regional interactions between amyloidosis and specific tau phosphorylated residues in the human brain and may explain the specific increases of tau species phosphorylation observed in AD CSF

Measuring the Effect of USCG Port Security Advisory Notices On Trade and Port Security Procedures

Overview: The United States Coast Guard’s International Port Security (IPS) Program is the primary port security assessment office and was established in 2003 as part of the U.S. Maritime Transportation Security Act (MTSA) to reduce risks to U.S. ports and ships, and to the entire maritime transport system. Through the assessment of International Ship and Port Facility Security Code implementation and other measures in foreign ports, the International Port Security Program can determine whether or not there is a reasonable and acceptable level of port security at any given foreign port. This report is comprised of qualitative and quantitative research along with two case studies that compare and contrast two countries and/or ports that either succeeded or failed in complying with this program and received a Port Security Advisory (PSA). Hypothesis: Port Security Advisories (PSA) are issued when a port does not meet the International Port Security Program code. They are an instrument to build and sustain port security practices and improvements. PSAs can give standard regulations for those who use ports in compliance with a PSA as well as create maritime security protocols for other countries that do not have strong port standards. As for the economic impacts, there can be both positive and negative factors depending on the country and the situation. However, we hypothesize that overall, PSAs do not significantly influence a country’s volume of trade. Due to non-compliant countries in reporting, there is no discernable method for tracking or ensuring restrictions. Methodology: We will observe quantitative measures of trade to identify negative impacts associated with the issuance of PSAs. We will also look at quantitative data to identify positive impacts associated with PSAs. We will be using USCG’s HOMEPORT website to identify the PSAs and use COMTRADE to examine trade both before and after a PSA was issued. Trade will be compared to similar countries, those which have not received a PSA. Lastly, we will go over local and regional factors and determine what is currently working and what needs to be improved. Conclusions: Our conclusion is that as a system the PSA process is not necessary an influence on trade. There may be correlations between countries with PSAs issued and changes in trade but there are a myriad of other factors that can impact this making the current methodology less than definitive. There also may be certain countries and/or ports where the correlation appears stronger (See Case Study #1); but overall, our conclusion is that PSAs have a negligible impact on a country receiving them in influencing their volume of trade

The Grizzly, February 18, 2016

Norovirus Sickens 200+ • Ursinus Remembers Dr. Richard King • Rainbow Resource Center Comes Back • Mid-term Recharge Created to Help Students Through Slump • Renowned Author Visits Campus • Quaker Group Formalizing • Activities, Meals and Deals for Students Without Wheels • From Bike Lanes to BWC • Opinions: Wismer Wasted by Health Code Violations; Admin Response to Illness Strikes Controversy • For Hot-Shooting Knowles, Injury Ends Season Early But Future Still Shines Bright • Norovirus Keeps Wrestling Team Away from CC Championshipshttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews/1683/thumbnail.jp