Challenges to Escaping Homelessness Among Male Veterans: A Systematic Review

Homelessness among adult male veterans continues to exist for numerous reasons including certain key factors consisting of past childhood experiences, socioeconomic status and other environmental issues. Each of these factors contributes to the difficulty in male veterans escaping homelessness. More homeless veterans than non-homeless veterans had either mental health concerns, substance abuse concerns or both. Homeless veterans, who participated in leisure and social activities, were found to be of a lessor risk of mental illness and chemical dependence relapse tendencies. This paper is a systematic review of 16 articles which were used in gathering information about the needs for homeless male veterans in escaping homelessness. These articles were scored by the quality of the study. A three point rating scale was used in scoring each article according to their sample size, sample strategy and comparison group. This systematic review substantiates the factors that contribute to homelessness among male veterans, and will provide clarifying information for the social work professionals, who directly serve this population sub-group

Challenges to Escaping Homelessness Among Male Veterans: A Systematic Review

Homelessness among adult male veterans continues to exist for numerous reasons including certain key factors consisting of past childhood experiences, socioeconomic status and other environmental issues. Each of these factors contributes to the difficulty in male veterans escaping homelessness. More homeless veterans than non-homeless veterans had either mental health concerns, substance abuse concerns or both. Homeless veterans, who participated in leisure and social activities, were found to be of a lessor risk of mental illness and chemical dependence relapse tendencies. This paper is a systematic review of 16 articles which were used in gathering information about the needs for homeless male veterans in escaping homelessness. These articles were scored by the quality of the study. A three point rating scale was used in scoring each article according to their sample size, sample strategy and comparison group. This systematic review substantiates the factors that contribute to homelessness among male veterans, and will provide clarifying information for the social work professionals, who directly serve this population sub-group

Examination of Behavioral Momentum with Staff as Contextual Variables in Applied Settings with Children with Autism

Behavioral momentum theory proposes that the persistence of behavior when exposed to disruptors provides an appropriate measure of the strength of behavior. Basic research has consistently demonstrated that behaviors that occurred in a context with higher overall rates of reinforcement (rich contexts) were more persistent than other behaviors that have occurred in a context with relatively lower rates of reinforcement (lean contexts). More surprisingly, behavioral momentum theory goes on to assert that this greater persistence in richer contexts is found even when rate of responding is lower in the rich context, and when the greater richness is due to noncontingent reinforcement or reinforcement for alternative responses. If behavioral momentum effects documented in laboratory settings are manifested in applied settings, these procedures may be used to increase the persistence of desirable behaviors or decrease the rate of problem behavior while simultaneously increasing its persistence. However, research on behavioral momentum has primarily been conducted by basic researchers using basic preparations. A key component of research on behavioral momentum is the presence of different contexts (typically signaled by color cues) each associated with a different rate of reinforcement. It is currently unclear if behavioral momentum effects are common in applied settings and if so, what variables determine context in applied settings. Thus, translational research should be conducted to examine the extent to which behavioral momentum theory accurately predicts behavior in applied settings while making systematic extensions to the established basic procedures. The purpose of the current study was to make one such extension that may be particularly important for replication of behavioral momentum research in applied settings. Two therapists functioned as two contexts with each participant to examine the effects of two interventions (i.e., contingent reinforcement with or without additional noncontingent reinforcement). Across participants, different patterns of results were found. In addition, participant responding was only partially disrupted during extinction and distraction phases, suggesting the procedures did not arrange a strong test of behavioral momentum theory. Because extinction did not reduce responding to very low levels, tests of reinstatement do not allow for clear conclusions to be drawn. In addition, patterns of responding did not clearly indicate participants were discriminating contexts. Several potential reasons for the lack of strong effects are discussed and suggestions for follow-up research are presented

Generalization of Negatively Reinforced Mands in Children with Developmental Disabilities

Everyone, including children with developmental disabilities, encounters stimuli they find aversive every day (e.g., the sound of a classmate tapping their pencil). These aversive stimuli may not be problematic for typically developing individuals, because they learn to behave in ways that allow them to escape or avoid this aversive stimulation. They could, for example, mand (i.e., request) for something to be changed in the environment (e.g., ask their classmates to stop tapping their pencils). A child with developmental disabilities, however, may not have the communication skills necessary to request the termination of aversive stimuli, which may result in frequent exposure to aversive situations. For these children, it may be useful to acquire a general mand (e.g., saying, No, thank you ) which could be used to avoid or terminate a variety of aversive stimuli. Previous researchers teaching mands for negative reinforcement have focused on replacing problem behavior maintained by escape from task demands. The current study extended the literature on teaching mands for negative reinforcement by teaching children with developmental disabilities to mand for escape from a variety of nonpreferred stimuli, while assessing generalization to untrained stimuli and settings. Participants were two school-aged boys with autism who engaged in problem behavior when they encountered nonpreferred stimuli, and did not use an appropriate mand for negative reinforcement. First, we employed a non-preferred stimulus assessment to identify stimuli for subsequent use in mand training. Next, we conducted mand training sequentially across nonpreferred stimuli until sufficient exemplars were trained for generalization to untrained stimuli to occur. Finally, we conducted probes to assess generalization of the mand response to nontraining contexts outside of the experimental setting. For both participants, training was required across two stimuli before cross-stimulus generalization was observed. Because generalization did not bring the mand to criterion levels with the third stimulus, for either participant, training was introduced to facilitate acquisition. The mand response was acquired with a fourth stimulus in the absence of training. Through the inclusion of appropriate control conditions, we showed that the stimulus control of the mand response was appropriate, occurring almost exclusively in the presence of nonpreferred stimuli. In addition, we showed decreases in problem behavior, for both participants, which corresponded to acquisition of the mand response. We also provided evidence of generalization to nontraining contexts. We discuss limitations of the current study and present suggestions for future research

Soziales Recht zum Ausgleich von Erwerbsminderung: Reformoptionen für Präventionen, Rehabilitation und soziale Sicherung bei Erwerbsminderung

Die Erwerbsminderungsrente war in Politik und Wissenschaft ein Randthema. Erwerbsgeminderte hatten keine starke Lobby. Allzu oft wurde das Thema unter "Frührente" als notwendiges Übel abgetan. Im Arbeitspapier werden Reformoptionen für Prävention, Rehabilitation und soziale Sicherung bei Erwerbsminderung dargestellt. Ausgangspunkt für eine Reform ist die Definition von Risiko und Ziel der Sicherung bei Erwerbsminderung. Das Risiko sollte als Ausfall von Erwerbseinkommen durch Einschränkung der Teilhabe am Arbeitsleben definiert werden. Das Wort "Rente" weckt die falsche Assoziation einer unbefristeten, eng an bisherigen Einzahlungen orientierten Dauerleistung. Der Begriff "Erwerbsminderungsgeld" wäre passender. Für Prävention und Rehabilitation, Zugangsvoraussetzungen und Leistungshöhe wird Reformbedarf beschrieben. So sollte das Betriebliche Eingliederungsmanagement (BEM) als wirksames und frühzeitiges Präventionsinstrument weiterentwickelt werden. Insbesondere ist für Betriebe ohne Betriebsrat eine obligatorische Beteiligung des Rentenversicherungsträgers beim BEM zu prüfen. Bei den versicherungsrechtlichen Voraussetzungen in der Rentenversicherung, ist zu diskutieren, ob die Vorversicherungszeit verkürzt werden könnte oder ob darauf bei einer Risikoversicherung nicht sogar gänzlich verzichtet werden könnte. Wenn als Sicherungsziel eine Lebensstandardsicherung in Proportion zum Erwerbseinkommen erreicht werden soll, etwa in Höhe von 67% wie im Falle der Arbeitslosigkeit, dann muss die Erwerbsminderungsrente anders berechnet werden. So könnten etwa die Grundsicherung integriert werden und die Zurechnungszeit an das steigende Renteneintrittsalter angepasst werden. Jedenfalls müsste auf die schon heute systemwidrigen Abschläge verzichtet werden. Einige Vorschläge, gerade in den Bereichen Prävention und Verfahren, können kurzfristig umgesetzt werden. Ansonsten kann das Rentenversicherungsrecht - jedenfalls bei der Sicherung von Erwerbsminderung - mit einem sehr alten Computerprogramm verglichen werden. Ein Update ist nicht mehr ausreichend und eine Neuprogrammierung wäre besser

Herd Immunity and the Necessity of Vaccinations: Modeling the Effects of MMR Vaccinations

The MMR vaccination is a two dose vaccine given to children between the ages of 12 – 15 months and the second dose between the ages of 4 – 6 years to prevent measles, mumps, and rubella. The objective was to mathematically model the effects of the MMR vaccinations in a hypothetical school through multiple compartment and spatial models. These models were based on each disease individually with their respective vaccine effectiveness and disease infection rates. These models demonstrated the limits of herd immunity. Herd immunity occurs when a high enough percentage of the population is immune or vaccinated to prevent the spread of diseases to those who are susceptible. Once herd immunity was determined, the necessity of the vaccinations became evident. This model demonstrated the effects of not vaccinating a child and how it affected not only the individual but the whole population; by weakening the herd immunity of the whole population (Szabo 2010). Through this, parents, educators, and public health officials can be educated on the importance of getting children vaccinated

Selbstbilder mehrsprachiger Grundschulkinder und ihr sprachliches Lernen im Kontext Schule. Auszüge aus einer qualitativen Interviewstudie

Den Diskurs um kindliche Mehrsprachigkeit prägen überwiegend Perspektiven einsprachiger Erwachsener, Sichtweisen von Kindern bleiben ein Desiderat. Die qualitative Interviewstudie von Groskreutz (2016) trägt dazu bei, diese Forschungslücke zu schließen, und stellt individuelle Sichtweisen von 60 Grundschulkindern rund um ihr mehrsprachiges Aufwachsen ins Zentrum. Die Ergebnisse bieten Einblicke in die heterogenen Lebenswelten der Kinder und verdeutlichen deren hohe Kompetenz zu Selbstauskünften. Dieser Beitrag beleuchtet insbesondere zwei Aspekte. Es werden Originalaussagen, die Rückschlüsse auf sprachlich-kulturelle Selbstbilder der Kinder ermöglichen, und Äußerungen zu sprachlichen (Lern-)Erfahrungen in der Schule analysiert. Abschließend werden sprachpädagogische Konsequenzen, die Studie und ihre Ergebnisse diskutiert sowie weiterführende Forschungsansätze skizziert.The academic discourse about children’s multilingualism is mostly shaped by adults’ perspectives. Views of the children themselves remain a desideratum. The study by Groskreutz (2016), which is based on qualitative interviews, works towards closing this research gap. The core issues are individual perspectives of 60 primary school pupils about growing up multilingually. The results provide an insight into their heterogeneous experiences and illustrate their high-level competence of self-disclosure. This article focusses on two aspects particularly. Firstly, information allowing conclusions with regard to the children’s language and culture related self-images are analysed. Secondly, the children’s statements on their language (learning) experiences at school are outlined. The article finally offers a discussion of pedagogical consequences in language learning contexts, a critical reflection of the study and its results, and prospects for further studies

Selbstbilder mehrsprachiger Grundschulkinder und ihr sprachliches Lernen im Kontext Schule. Auszüge aus einer qualitativen Interviewstudie

Den Diskurs um kindliche Mehrsprachigkeit prägen überwiegend Perspektiven einsprachiger Erwachsener, Sichtweisen von Kindern bleiben ein Desiderat. Die qualitative Interviewstudie von Groskreutz (2016) trägt dazu bei, diese Forschungslücke zu schließen, und stellt individuelle Sichtweisen von 60 Grundschulkindern rund um ihr mehrsprachiges Aufwachsen ins Zentrum. Die Ergebnisse bieten Einblicke in die heterogenen Lebenswelten der Kinder und verdeutlichen deren hohe Kompetenz zu Selbstauskünften. Dieser Beitrag beleuchtet insbesondere zwei Aspekte. Es werden Originalaussagen, die Rückschlüsse auf sprachlich-kulturelle Selbstbilder der Kinder ermöglichen, und Äußerungen zu sprachlichen (Lern-)Erfahrungen in der Schule analysiert. Abschließend werden sprachpädagogische Konsequenzen, die Studie und ihre Ergebnisse diskutiert sowie weiterführende Forschungsansätze skizziert

IMPROVING LIQUID CHROMATOGRAPHY PERFORMANCE: NOVEL DEVELOPMENTS IN PRECONCENTRATION,INSTRUMENTATION AND OPTIMIZATION

Maximizing performance when using real-world samples and small volume, high sensitivity columns which degrade the native chromatographic separation is a challenge. Loss in column performance is due to precolumn dispersion and volume overload. In this work a series of methods based on novel instrumentation and sound theory is presented to improve a chromatographic result for such samples in both isocratic and gradient elution modes. An approach called temperature-assisted solute focusing (TASF) was developed to improve sample focusing or preconcentration. TASF is designed to address precolumn dispersion in capillary scale LC. Volume overload is a common form of precolumn dispersion and degrades LC performance. TASF works by relying on the temperature dependence of solute retention and high power thermoelectric or Peltier elements (TECs) to actively heat/cool a short segment of the column near its inlet during sample loading. Cooling the head of the column transiently increases retention for solutes during injection, improving focusing and solving the volume overload problem. Following focusing rapid heating decreases retention releasing the compressed injection band to the downstream portion of the column. The TASF approach was assessed using a series of three instruments with well characterized solutes developing it into a robust platform capable of routine, unattended use. Three models for solvent-based on-column focusing in isocratic elution were experimentally investigated. Solvent-based on-column focusing is a well-known method to increase concentration sensitivity and combat precolumn dispersion by injecting samples made in weak elution solvents. Additionally, solvent-based focusing occurs naturally as a consequence of increased solute retention in the sample solvent and a step gradient generated by the difference between sample and mobile phase composition. Finally, a simple graphical method for rapid chromatographic optimization was developed. This plot was designed specifically to assist practitioners to determine experimental conditions to achieve a desired column efficiency or peak capacity in a defined time in both isocratic and gradient elution modes

Identification of Transcriptionally Quiescent Regions in the Neurospora crassa Genome

Sexual reproduction and genetic exchange via meiosis are important and highly conserved processes in many living organisms. Occasionally, complications occur during meiosis that can result in chromosome abnormalities. In humans, improper chromosome development can cause life altering disorders such as Down Syndrome, Edwards Syndrome, and Patau Syndrome. Unfortunately, despite its importance, gaps remain in our knowledge of how this process works. For instance, little is known about how homolog identification occurs and what proteins identify matching chromosomes during pairing. This fundamental process occurs early during meiosis and ensures proper development of gametes. Understanding the proteins involved during homolog pairing may be possible by studying a process called meiotic silencing by unpaired DNA (MSUD) in the eukaryotic fungus, Neurospora crassa. During MSUD, unpaired regions (or regions that do not match during homolog identification) are thought to produce special RNA molecules. Discovery of these molecules should help elucidate how unpaired DNA is identified. This is because it is possible that the proteins involved in identifying unpaired regions in MSUD are the same proteins that identify homologs in meiosis. Furthermore, these proteins could contribute to homology searches required for DNA repair, which could contribute in the development of cancer research. To gain a complete understanding of unpaired DNA detection, the Neurospora crassa transcriptome must be identified. The transcriptome represents all the RNA molecules found within an organism at a certain point in time or stage of development. Knowledge of the transcriptome can be used in efforts towards identifying the theoretical RNA molecules of MSUD. The meiotic transcriptome can be determined by performing an RNA-seq analysis on all the RNA transcripts produced during meiosis. These RNA are then aligned to the N. crassa genome. Then, a special algorithm is used to identify key regions of the genome that may prove particularly useful in MSUD research (i.e. transcriptionally quiescent regions). Given the sheer size of the data sets required for identifying these regions, the algorithm must be time and memory efficient due to computational constraints