REFRAMING OUR UNDERSTANDING OF INAPPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR AND/OR FEELINGS DISORDERS: WHAT EDUCATIONAL THERAPISTS, SPECIAL EDUCATORS AND COUNSELORS SHOULD KNOW AND UNDERSTAND

In this paper, the authors have chosen to take a closer look at a socio-emotional behavioral condition known as Inappropriate Behavior or Feelings Disorder (IBFD) which is listed in the Educator’s Diagnostic Manual of Disabilities and Disorders (EDM; Pierangelo & Guiliani, 2007). The term (or IBFD for short) used in this diagnostic manual is not found anywhere in the current literature including the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) and the International Classification of Diseases (ICD). According to the EDM, under the IDEA 2004 enactment, it is one of the criteria for the classification of Emotional Disturbance (ED): “inappropriate types of behavior or feelings under normal circumstances” (p.163), and it covers social, emotional, physical and psychological aspects of behavior or feelings. Hence, the term Inappropriate Behavior or Feelings Disorder is coined from this particular IDEA statement of criterion and, in turn, it is used only in the EDM multi-level coding system. The authors argued the need for educational therapists, special educators and counselors to reframe their current understanding of the IBFD, whose symptoms are similar to disruptive behavior disorders (DBD), within the context of the cognition-conation-affect-sensation (CCAS) framework as they continue to observe, record and evaluate the condition in terms of its core symptoms seen, measured and/or profiled before the diagnostic term IBFD is applied under the EDM code ED3.00.   Article visualizations

KINETIC FAMILY DRAWING INTERVIEW QUESTIONNAIRE (KFD-IQ): A TOOL TO LEARN ABOUT THE FAMILY UNIT FROM A DRAWER’S PERSPECTIVE

Although reports on akinetic family drawings or Draw-a-Family (DaF) found in literature can be traced to Hulse (1951, 1952), Burns and Kaufmann (1970, 1972) have been credited as the originators of the Kinetic Family Drawing (KFD), which is used in assessing cognitive, interpersonal, and/or psychological functioning today. Spinetta et al. (1981) revised the KFD measure and used it as an affective measure to work with siblings of children diagnosed with cancer. The focus of this paper is to introduce the Kinetic Family Drawing Interview Questionnaire (KFD-IQ) within the context of a family unit which is based on the triangulation of three key components – composition of a family (C), the relationships of the family members (R), and the dynamics of family activities (D) – involving the social beings (S) that make up the family unit. From these components, the authors of this paper have created the CRDS framework as the model of a family unit. The goal of the KFD-IQ within the CRDS framework is to provide therapists an additional tool to be used with children and adolescents with emotional behavioral issues and also to complement the KFD (Burns & Kaufman, 1970, 1972) or KFD-Revised (Spinetta et al., 1981) scoring system for the KFD analysis.   Article visualizations

Halted Lymphocyte Egress via Efferent Lymph Contributes to Lymph Node Hypertrophy During Hypercholesterolemia

Dyslipidemia is a central component of atherosclerosis and metabolic syndrome linked to chronic inflammation and immune dysfunction. Previously, we showed that hypercholesterolemic apolipoprotein E knock out (apoE−/−) mice exhibit systemic effects including skin inflammation and hypertrophic lymph nodes (LNs). However, the mechanisms accounting for LN hypertrophy in these mice remain unknown. Here, we show that hypercholesterolemia led to the accumulation of lymphocytes in LNs. We excluded that the increased number of lymphocytes in expanded LNs resulted from increased lymphocyte proliferation or entry into those LNs. Instead, we demonstrated that the egress of lymphocytes from the enlarged LN of apoE−/− mice was markedly decreased. Impairment in efferent lymphatic emigration of lymphocytes from LNs resulted from an aberrant expansion of cortical and medullary sinuses that became hyperplastic. Moreover, CCL21 was more abundant on these enlarged sinuses whereas lymph levels of sphingosine 1 phosphate (S1P) were decreased in apoE−/− mice. Normal LN size, lymphatic density and S1P levels were restored by reversing hypercholesterolemia. Thus, systemic changes in cholesterol can sequester lymphocytes in tissue draining LNs through the extensive remodeling of lymphatic sinuses and alteration of the balance between retention/egress signals leading to LN hypertrophy which subsequently may contribute to poor immunity. This study further illustrates the role of lymphatic vessels in immunity through the regulation of immune cell trafficking

Riverine sustainment 2012

Student Integrated ProjectIncludes supplementary materialThis technical report analyzed the Navy's proposed Riverine Force (RF) structure and capabilities for 2012. The Riverine Sustainment 2012 Team (RST) examined the cost and performance of systems of systems which increased RF sustainment in logistically barren environments. RF sustainment was decomposed into its functional areas of supply, repair, and force protection. The functional and physical architectures were developed in parallel and were used to construct an operational architecture for the RF. The RST used mathematical, agent-based and queuing models to analyze various supply, repair and force protection system alternatives. Extraction of modeling data revealed several key insights. Waterborne heavy lift connectors such as the LCU-2000 are vital in the re-supply of the RF when it is operating up river in a non-permissive environment. Airborne heavy lift connectors such as the MV-22 were ineffective and dominated by the waterborne variants in the same environment. Increase in manpower and facilities did appreciable add to the operational availability of the RF. Mean supply response time was the biggest factor effecting operational availability and should be kept below 24 hours to maintain operational availability rates above 80%. Current mortar defenses proposed by the RF are insufficient.N

Asia economic crisis : opportunities and challenges in the banking sector.

The aim of this research is to explore the opportunities that have emerged for foreign banks and regional banks as a result of the Asian Economic Crisis. The factors that have led to the crisis and the aftermath of the crisis on the banking sector will be looked into. Interviews with banks in Singapore led to the identification of opportunities such as Mergers & Acquisitions, Strategic Alliances, Fee-based Income, Expansion & Restructuring of Operations

THE SIX LEVELS OF BEHAVIORAL PROFILE TYPES: FROM BEHAVIORAL DISADVANTAGES TO BEHAVIORAL DISORDERS

In this short paper, the authors begin by giving a general definition of what behavior is. From a wide range of deeds, they select a few key terms such as reactions and responses, processes and operations to explain what they mean as these terms play an important role in our understanding of what behavior is. From the definition of behavior, the authors move on to introduce the six different types of behavioral profile that can be divided into two categories. The first is of sociogenic origin consisting of Level #1 BD-Behavioral Disadvantages (lowest level and least severe), Level #2 BD-Behavioral Differences, and Level #3 BD-Behavioral Dimensions. The second is of neuro-psychogenic origin consists of Level #4 BD-Behavioral Difficulties, Level #5 BD-Behavioral Disabilities, and Level #6 BD-Behavioral Disorders (highest level and most severe). The rationale behind this paper is to inform counselors, educational therapists, teachers as well as parents and interested readers regarding the importance of differentiating among and between the different types of challenging behavior by recognizing the six different levels of behavioral profile according to the increasing degree of severity of behavioral challenges. In this way, appropriate early treatments can be planned to help resolve behavioral challenging issues encountered in the first BD category when these behavioral problems are still at the lower levels of severity. For more serious challenging behavioral issues seen in the second BD category, the treatments for such severe to profound behavioral conditions will be more complicated and they involve medical professionals such as psychiatrists and pharmacists, especially when medication (e.g., Zoloft, Adderall and Concerta) is included as part of the treatment plan. Other allied healthcare professionals such as behavioral psychologists, behavioral therapists and educational therapists may be included to provide intensive behavioral management/modification.  Article visualizations

Business study mission to Thailand agriculture development.

In this paper, we examine the impact of the Asian financial crisis on the Thai agricultural industry and the challenges faced by the industry moving forward.Master of Business Administration (Marketing