bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Coupled Cloud Physics–Radiation Parameterization of the Bulk Optical Properties of Cirrus and Its Impact on the Met Office Unified Model Global Atmosphere 5.0 Configuration
Authors: Baran Anthony J. , Hill Peter , Furtado Kalli , Field Paul , Manners James
Published: June 2014

A new coupled cloud physics–radiation parameterization of the bulk optical properties of ice clouds is presented. The parameterization is consistent with assumptions in the cloud physics scheme regarding particle size distributions (PSDs) and mass–dimensional relationships. The parameterization is based on a weighted ice crystal habit mixture model, and its bulk optical properties are parameterized as simple functions of wavelength and ice water content (IWC). This approach directly couples IWC to the bulk optical properties, negating the need for diagnosed variables, such as the ice crystal effective dimension. The parameterization is implemented into the Met Office Unified Model Global Atmosphere 5.0 (GA5) configuration. The GA5 configuration is used to simulate the annual 20-yr shortwave (SW) and longwave (LW) fluxes at the top of the atmosphere (TOA), as well as the temperature structure of the atmosphere, under various microphysical assumptions. The coupled parameterization is directly compared against the current operational radiation parameterization, while maintaining the same cloud physics assumptions. In this experiment, the impacts of the two parameterizations on the SW and LW radiative effects at TOA are also investigated and compared against observations. The 20-yr simulations are compared against the latest observations of the atmospheric temperature and radiative fluxes at TOA. The comparisons demonstrate that the choice of PSD and the assumed ice crystal shape distribution are as important as each other. Moreover, the consistent radiation parameterization removes a long-standing tropical troposphere cold temperature bias but slightly warms the southern midlatitudes by about 0.5 K.
Sentencing and public confidence in Australia: The dynamics and foci of small group deliberations
Authors: Stobbs Nigel , Mackenzie Geraldine , Gelb Karen
Published: June 2014

This study is the first of its kind in Australia to use the deliberative small group methodology to explore participants’ deeper, nuanced thoughts on specific criminal justice issues in order to gain insight into the underlying beliefs that influence people’s opinions on sentencing. The use of small group discussions allows an analysis of the dynamics of people’s interactions and the potential of these to elicit deeper, more thoughtful deliberation. Participants’ comments around two policy areas – mandatory sentencing and the use of alternatives to imprisonment – were founded on concerns about the need for judges to tailor the sentence to fit the specific circumstances of each case. The methodology itself has shown that people may change their initial opinions on complex issues when given the opportunity to discuss and reflect on their beliefs.
Inpatient treatment for mania: A review and rationale for adjunctive interventions
Authors: Crowe Marie , Porter Richard
Published: June 2014

Objective:

To examine the evidence for adjunctive non-pharmacological interventions in the treatment of mania in an acute inpatient setting.

Method:

A selective review of original and review papers was conducted. The electronic databases PsycINFO and PubMed were searched using the following MeSH terms: mania, mania treatment and inpatient.

Results:

Four studies were identified in the search for non-psychopharmacological interventions for mania that commenced in an inpatient setting: Interpersonal and Social Rhythm Therapy (IPSRT), Group Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (G-CBT), sensory room, and dark room therapy. Only two of these were designed exclusively for patients with bipolar disorder and the other two included these patients in a heterogeneous group of acute psychiatric inpatients.

Conclusions:

Sleep and circadian regulation (Social Rhythm Therapy) that focuses on the establishment and maintenance of regular daily rhythms, particularly in relation to sleep–wake times, meal times and socialization, provides a potentially useful model for managing mania in the inpatient setting. However, there is an urgent need for further research into the effective treatment of mania.
Experts Support Safety and Utility of Today’s Diapers
Authors: Counts Jennifer L. , Helmes C. Tucker
Published: June 2014

With the needs of both pediatricians and parents in mind and the safety of babies a top priority, continual innovations in diaper technology have produced meaningful improvements in duration of use and care for the skin, all with the reassurance of extensive safety validation.
Fibromodulin and Biglycan Modulate Periodontium through TGFβ/BMP Signaling
Authors: Wang L. , Foster B.L. , Kram V. , Nociti F.H. , Zerfas P.M. , Tran A.B. , Young M.F. , Somerman M.J.
Published: June 2014

A full understanding of the key regulators controlling periodontal development and homeostasis is necessary for the design of improved periodontal regenerative therapies. Small leucine-rich proteoglycans (SLRPs) are extracellular matrix molecules suggested to regulate collagen organization and cell signaling. Mice with double-deficiency of 2 SLRPs, fibromodulin and biglycan (dKO), acquire skeletal abnormalities, but their roles in regulating the periodontium remain undefined and were the focus of our studies. Transmission electron microscopy studies showed abnormal collagen fibrils in the periodontal ligament (PDL) and altered remodeling of alveolar bone in dKO mice. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) revealed increased staining of SLRPs (asporin, lumican, and decorin) and dentin matrix protein-1 (DMP1, a mechanosensory/osteocyte marker), while osteoblast markers, bone sialoprotein and osteopontin, remained unchanged. Disruption of homeostasis was further evidenced by increased expression of receptor-activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL) and elevated numbers of osteoclasts, especially noted around the alveolar bone of molars (buccal side) and incisors. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) array revealed hyperactive transforming growth factors beta/bone morphogenetic protein (TGFβ/BMP) signaling in dKO PDL tissues, which was further confirmed by elevated expression of phosphorylated Smad5 (p-Smad5) by IHC in dKO PDL. These studies highlight the importance of SLRPs in maintaining periodontal homeostasis through regulation of TGFβ/BMP signaling, matrix turnover, and collagen organization.
A retrospective cohort study describing six months of admissions under Section 136 of the Mental Health Act; the problem of alcohol misuse
Authors: Zisman Sophia , O'Brien Aileen
Published: June 2014

Background

Section 136 of the Mental Health Act 1983 empowers police to remove a person they believe to be suffering from a mental disorder from a place to which the public have access, if they deem them a risk to themselves or others. In the UK, the number of Section 136 orders is increasing.

Objective

This retrospective cohort study identified the demographic profiles, circumstances of detention and assessment outcomes of all individuals detained under Section 136 between February 2012 and July 2012 at a London Mental Health Trust. The study explored the relationship between alcohol and/or drug use, the process and outcomes.

Design and method

This study retrospectively obtained data from electronic notes for a six-month period. Demographic details were recorded. Other variables included previous admissions, reasons for assessment, evidence of intoxication, time taken for assessment and discharge outcomes. The effects of alcohol and/or drug intoxication on the process were recorded.

Results

A total of 245 individuals were assessed during the time period. Threatening to self-harm ( n = 100, 44.8%) was the most common reason for assessment. Of the 245 patients assessed, 108 (44.1%) were found to be intoxicated with drugs and/or alcohol. Intoxication resulted in longer assessment times and a decreased likelihood of admission to hospital (p < .000).
Housing demand forces and land use towards urban compactness: A push-accessibility-pull analysis framework
Authors: Tsai Yu-Hsin
Published: June 2014

This paper focuses on resolving a defect of population-based urban sprawl analysis from a land-use planning perspective. This defect is indicated for a few metropolitan areas, which have experienced a controversial phenomenon of population decentralisation but with potential household centralising force. With the emphasis on household movement, this paper first aims to clarify the role of populations, households and employment that characterises urban sprawl and to check if unmet housing demand in city centres can be identified. Second, we evaluate the influence of household distribution factors, such as unmet housing and land-use related factors, on spatial-structure-based compactness/sprawl, taking time lag into consideration. A new classification of urban forms is developed to identify potential residential centripetal market forces. Additionally, the housing demand generation-distribution + push-accessibility-pull (GD+PAP) analysis framework is applied. The results of an empirical study on the Taipei metropolitan area between 1980–1990 and 1990–2000 suggest that the most significant policy towards compactness is high density. We recommend a prioritisation in city centres, particularly when housing demand is underserved.
Cost-effective usage of membrane oxygenators in extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in infants
Authors: Özyüksel A , Ersoy C , Akçevin A , Türkoğlu H , Çiçek AE , Kahraman A , Kayhan B , Cantürk E
Published: June 2014

Although the poly-methylpentene (PMP) oxygenators have significant advantages in ECMO implementation, their usage may be limited in some situations, which may be related to economic constraints. In this report, we aimed to emphasize our cost-effective usage of a membrane oxygenator at the ECMO setup. We implemented ECMO with eight Capiox® FX05 or Baby RX05 hollow-fiber membrane oxygenators in five neonatal patients. The average ECMO duration was 121 hours (ranging from 41 to 272 hours). Following the termination of the ECMO, the system was broken down into its components for macroscopic analysis. Neither gross blood clots nor plasma leakage were observed in any of the components. The integration of a centrifugal pump and a separate hollow-fiber oxygenator may provide a cost-effective ECMO implementation setup with no adverse effects which may be an encouraging alternative for the low cost usage of ECMO in neonates.
Laser fiber migration into the pelvic cavity: A rare complication of endovenous laser ablation
Authors: Lun Yu , Shen Shikai , Wu Xiaoyu , Jiang Han , Xin Shijie , Zhang Jian
Published: June 2014

Endovenous laser ablation is an established alternative to surgery with stripping for the treatment of varicose veins. Ecchymoses and pain are frequently reported side effects of endovenous laser ablation. Device-related complications are rare but serious. We describe here an exceptional complication, necessitating an additional surgical procedure to remove a segment of laser fiber that had migrated into the pelvic cavity. Fortunately, severe damage had not occurred. This case highlights the importance of checking the completeness of the guidewire, catheter, and laser fiber after endovenous laser ablation.
Methodological challenges in the study of age−victimization patterns. Can we use the accelerated design of the NCVS to reconstruct victim careers?
Authors: Averdijk Margit
Published: June 2014

While the life-course perspective dominates the study of offending, its adoption in the study of victimization has barely begun, leading to calls in the literature for the development of a life-course victimology. However, longitudinal self-report data present methodological challenges. This article investigates these methodological challenges with the ‘accelerated longitudinal design’ of the US National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS). It tests whether multiple age cohorts in the NCVS show one overall underlying age−victimization curve, or whether (and why) they show systematically different age−victimization curves. The analyses show that, for every age cohort studied, self-reported victimization decreases over consecutive measurements. Explanations offered for this decrease include selective panel attrition, the American crime drop, and panel-respondent fatigue. The separate age cohorts do not share the same underlying age−victimization curve. Implications for research are discussed.
Heterobilharzia americana Infection and Congestive Heart Failure in a Llama (Lama glama)
Authors: Corapi W. V. , Eden K. B. , Edwards J. F. , Snowden K. F.
Published: June 2014

The schistosome Heterobilharzia americana infects several mammalian species in the southeastern United States, including horses, but infections have not been reported in camelids. This is a report of H. americana infection in a 6-year-old llama with extensive cardiac pathology and congestive heart failure. Parasite-induced granulomas were widely disseminated and included overwhelming involvement of the lungs and liver. Microscopic lesions in the heart included myofiber degeneration and necrosis, with extensive replacement fibrosis. Polymerase chain reaction amplification and sequencing confirmed the presence of H. americana in the lungs.
Comparative Neuropathology of Ovine Enterotoxemia Produced by Clostridium perfringens Type D Wild-Type Strain CN1020 and Its Genetically Modified Derivatives
Authors: Garcia J. P. , Giannitti F. , Finnie J. W. , Manavis J. , Beingesser J. , Adams V. , Rood J. I. , Uzal F. A.
Published: June 2014

Clostridium perfringens type D causes enterotoxemia in sheep and goats. The disease is mediated by epsilon toxin (ETX), which affects the cerebrovascular endothelium, increasing vascular permeability and leading to cerebral edema. In the present study, we compared the distribution and severity of the cerebrovascular changes induced in lambs by C. perfringens type D strain CN1020, its isogenic etx null mutant, and the ETX-producing complemented mutant. We also applied histochemical and immunohistochemical markers to further characterize the brain lesions induced by ETX. Both ETX-producing strains induced extensive cerebrovascular damage that did not differ significantly between each other in nature, neuroanatomic distribution, or severity. By contrast, lambs inoculated with the etx mutant or sterile, nontoxic culture medium did not develop detectable brain lesions, confirming that the neuropathologic effects observed in these infections are dependent on ETX production. Lambs treated with the wild-type and complemented strains showed perivascular and mural vascular edema, as well as serum albumin extravasation, particularly severe in the cerebral white matter, midbrain, medulla oblongata, and cerebellum. Brains of animals inoculated with the ETX-producing strains showed decreased expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein and increased expression of aquaporin-4 in the end-feet processes of the astrocytes around blood vessels. Early axonal injury was demonstrated with anti–amyloid precursor protein immunohistochemistry. Perivascular accumulation of macrophages/microglia with intracytoplasmic albumin globules was also observed in these animals. This study demonstrates that ETX is responsible for the major cerebrovascular changes in C. perfringens type D–induced disease.
All-Inside Meniscal Repair Devices Compared With Their Matched Inside-Out Vertical Mattress Suture Repair
Authors: Rosso Claudio , Müller Sebastian , Buckland Daniel M. , Schwenk Tanja , Zimmermann Simon , de Wild Michael , Valderrabano Victor
Published: June 2014

Background:

All-inside arthroscopic meniscal repairs are favored by most clinicians because of their lower complication rate and decreased morbidity compared with inside-out techniques. Until now, only 1000 cycles have been used for biomechanical testing.

Hypothesis:

All-inside meniscal repairs will show inferior biomechanical response to cyclic loading (up to 100,000 cycles) and load-to-failure testing compared with inside-out suture controls.

Study Design:

Controlled laboratory study.

Methods:

Bucket-handle tears in 72 porcine menisci were repaired using the Omnispan and Fast-Fix 360 (all-inside devices) and Orthocord 2-0 and Ultrabraid 2-0 sutures (matched controls). Initial displacement, displacement after cyclic loading (100, 500, 1000, 2000, 5000, 10,000, and 100,000 cycles) between 5 and 20 N, ultimate load to failure, and mode of failure were recorded, as well as stiffness.

Results:

Initial displacement and displacement after cyclic loading were not different between the groups. The Omnispan repair demonstrated the highest load-to-failure force (mean ± SD, 151.3 ± 21.5 N) and was significantly stronger than all the other constructs (Orthocord 2-0, 105.5 ± 20.4 N; Ultrabraid 2-0, 93.4 ± 22.5 N; Fast-Fix 360, 76.6 ± 14.2 N) ( P < .0001 for all). The Orthocord vertical inside-out mattress repair was significantly stronger than the Fast-Fix 360 repair ( P = .003). The Omnispan (30.8 ± 3.5 N/mm) showed significantly higher stiffness compared with the Ultrabraid 2-0 (22.9 ± 6.9 N/mm, P < .0001) and Fast-Fix 360 (23.7 ± 3.9 N/mm, P = .001). The predominant mode of failure was suture failure.

Conclusion:

All-inside meniscal devices show comparable biomechanical properties compared with inside-out suture repair in cyclic loading, even after 100,000 cycles.

Clinical Relevance:

Eight to 10 weeks of rehabilitation might not pose a problem for all repairs in this worst-case scenario.
Optimization of activated tungsten inert gas welding of super duplex alloy 2507 based on experimental results
Authors: Korra Nanda Naik , Balasubramanian KR , Vasudevan M
Published: June 2014

In this work, the effect of activated tungsten inert gas welding process parameters on the depth of penetration of super duplex stainless steel alloy 2507 has been analyzed using response surface methodology. The design matrix for conducting the experiments was generated using the central composite rotatable design of response surface methodology of design of experiments. The input process parameters like current, torch speed and arc gap were varied at five levels. Based on the generated design matrix, bead-on-plate welds were made on 10-mm-hick super duplex stainless steel plate. The depth of penetration, which is the response in the present analysis, was measured on the samples. A second-order response surface model was developed. Then, response optimization was performed for obtaining the maximum depth of penetration using desirability approach. The validation of the model showed good agreement between the predicted and actual values of depth of penetration.
Adaptations to Climatic Variability
Authors: Kumar Mayank
Published: June 2014

This Unlike all other elements in nature, water has played a role in all societies at all times. It is therefore a truly universal resource. Water is simultaneously always particularistic and in flux, varying from place to place and from time to time. This inherent dualism—the simultaneous embodiment of the universal and the particular—makes water particularly interesting in a comparative perspective since it has implications for how social development at different times and in different places can be made intelligible. These characteristics combined mean that it is possible to reconstruct, describe, delineate and understand its movement and role in nature and in society and at the same time evade the problems created by natural or biological determinism and social constructionism.
Configurations of Time in Bereaved Parents’ Narratives
Authors: Barak Adi , Leichtentritt Ronit D.
Published: June 2014

In this study, we examined the configurations of time within narratives of bereaved Israeli parents, employing Gadamer’s hermeneutic philosophy as the research methodology. Our results reveal that following a sudden violent loss, parents experienced a change in their sense of time. Three nonexclusive time possibilities were evident in the participants’ narratives: time stopped, time moved forward, and time moved backward. Although most of the social science literature highlights the importance of linear temporal configuration to enhance the coherence of text, based on our study we call for other forms of temporal ordering, as varied time configurations were used by the bereaved and were perceived to have beneficial outcomes. Finally, we outline implications for mental health professionals.
Simulation of Traumatic Brain Injury Symptoms on the Personality Assessment Inventory
Authors: Keiski Michelle A. , Shore Douglas L. , Hamilton Joanna M. , Malec James F.
Published: June 2014

The purpose of this study was to characterize the operating characteristics of the Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI) validity scales in distinguishing simulators feigning symptoms of traumatic brain injury (TBI) while completing the PAI ( n = 84) from a clinical sample of patients with TBI who achieved adequate scores on performance validity tests ( n = 112). The simulators were divided into two groups: (a) Specific Simulators feigning cognitive and somatic symptoms only or (b) Global Simulators feigning cognitive, somatic, and psychiatric symptoms. The PAI overreporting scales were indeed sensitive to the simulation of TBI symptoms in this analogue design. However, these scales were less sensitive to the feigning of somatic and cognitive TBI symptoms than the feigning of a broad range of cognitive, somatic, and emotional symptoms often associated with TBI. The relationships of TBI simulation to consistency and underreporting scales are also explored.
Integrable couplings of the generalized Vakhnenko equation: multiple soliton solutions
Authors: Wazwaz Abdul-Majid
Published: June 2014

In this work, we use the algebra of coupled scalars to construct integrable couplings of the generalized Vakhnenko equation. We use the Cole–Hopf transformation and the simplified Hirota’s method to study the developed couplings. We show that these couplings exhibit soliton solutions and anti-soliton solutions consecutively.
On the periodic orbits of the perturbed Wilberforce pendulum
Authors: de Bustos M Teresa , López Miguel A , Martínez Raquel
Published: June 2014

The aim of the present work is to study the periodic structure of the Wilberforce pendulum under the effects of certain dependent perturbations. We use as a mathematical tool the averaging theory of dynamical systems by providing a system of two nonlinear equations whose simple zeros are linked to periodic solutions of the perturbed system.
Clinical Perspectives on Colorectal Cancer Screening at Latino-Serving Federally Qualified Health Centers
Authors: Coronado Gloria D. , Petrik Amanda F. , Spofford Mark , Talbot Jocelyn , Do Huyen Hoai , Taylor Victoria M.
Published: June 2014

Purpose. Colorectal cancer is the second most common cause of cancer death in the United States, and rates of screening for colorectal cancer are low. We sought to gather the perceptions of clinic personnel at Latino-serving Federally Qualified Health Centers (operating 17 clinics) about barriers to utilization of screening services for colorectal cancer. Method. We conducted one-on-one interviews among 17 clinic personnel at four Latino-serving Federally Qualified Health Center networks in Oregon. All interviews were recorded, transcribed, and coded, and themes were grouped by influences at three levels: the patient, the organization, and the external environment. Results. Estimated proportions of eligible patients who are underscreened for colorectal cancer ranged from 20% to 70%. Underscreening was thought to occur among low-income, underinsured, and undocumented patients and patients having multiple health concerns. Limited funding to pay for follow-up testing in patients with positive screens was cited as the key factor contributing to underscreening. Conclusions. We identified health care provider perceptions about the underutilization of screening services for colorectal cancer; our findings may inform future efforts to promote guideline-appropriate cancer screening.
Examining the Methods for Investigating Behavioral Clues of Special-schooled Children
Authors: Hussein Hazreena , Daud Md Nasir
Published: June 2014

This article discusses the authors’ use of a combination of methods to understand the engagement of special needs children with design features in sensory gardens at two schools in Britain. In addition to observation and behavior mapping, we interviewed landscape architects, teachers, and therapists to anticipate the children’s behavior when experiencing sensory gardens. We report how these groups’ anticipations differed from what we observed. While the groups anticipated that aesthetic value relates significantly to users’ behavior in the garden, we observed that sensory value has a stronger bearing on the behavior. The potential of this finding is important for design studies.
The blind brain: How (lack of) vision shapes the morphological and functional architecture of the human brain
Authors: Ricciardi Emiliano , Handjaras Giacomo , Pietrini Pietro
Published: June 2014

Since the early days, how we represent the world around us has been a matter of philosophical speculation. Over the last few decades, modern neuroscience, and specifically the development of methodologies for the structural and the functional exploration of the brain have made it possible to investigate old questions with an innovative approach. In this brief review, we discuss the main findings from a series of brain anatomical and functional studies conducted in sighted and congenitally blind individuals by our’s and others' laboratories. Historically, research on the ‘blind brain’ has focused mainly on the cross-modal plastic changes that follow sensory deprivation. More recently, a novel line of research has been developed to determine to what extent visual experience is truly required to achieve a representation of the surrounding environment. Overall, the results of these studies indicate that most of the brain fine morphological and functional architecture is programmed to develop and function independently from any visual experience. Distinct cortical areas are able to process information in a supramodal fashion, that is, independently from the sensory modality that carries that information to the brain. These observations strongly support the hypothesis of a modality-independent, i.e. more abstract, cortical organization, and may contribute to explain how congenitally blind individuals may interact efficiently with an external world that they have never seen.
Hospital Volume of Thoracoabdominal Aneurysm Repair Does Not Affect Mortality in California
Authors: Weiss Anna , Anderson Jamie A. , Green Amanda , Chang David C. , Kansal Nikhil
Published: June 2014

Objectives:

Open thoracoabdominal aneurysm repair (TAAR) is a rarely performed but a complicated and morbid procedure. This study compares the morbidity and mortality of open TAAR at high- versus low-volume hospitals.

Methods:

Included patients from California Office of Statewide Health Policy and Development patient discharge database who underwent an open TAAR between 1995 and 2010. High volume was ≥9 cases per year. Outcomes included mortality and postoperative complications. Multivariate analyses compared patients at high- versus low-volume hospitals.

Results:

A total of 122 hospitals were included, with 5 designated as high volume. Adjusted analysis found no difference in the odds ratio (OR) of mortality or morbidity at high-volume hospitals compared to low-volume hospitals (OR 0.37, P = .077; OR 0.94, P = .834, respectively). However, there was a decreased OR of mortality in high- versus low-volume hospitals when a high-volume hospital was defined as each year after meeting the initial threshold of 9 cases (OR 0.40, P = .040).

Conclusion:

We found no difference in mortality between low- and high-volume institutions in California, until high-volume hospitals were defined as each year after meeting initial threshold case volume. This may suggest that the benefits of high-volume hospitals on outcomes are maintained after reaching the requisite case volume.
Stars in Alignment
Authors: Sailor Wayne S. , McCart Amy B.
Published: June 2014

After decades of effort to create inclusive education, the authors assert that the time for full inclusion to manifest at scale may finally be at hand. This article first briefly considers the background and history of the inclusive education movement. The authors then reframe the discourse by defining inclusion through structures and interventions, not student characteristics. They review several emerging best practices that, when deployed within this new framework, increase the likelihood of system change or improvement to advance inclusive education.
Reducing Disruptive Behavior in the Classroom Using Contingent-Interrupted Auditory Stimulation
Authors: Strawbridge Leigh A. , Sisson Lori A. , Van Hasselt Vincent B.
Published: June 2014

The present study evaluated a positive behavior therapy approach to managing disruptive screaming and crying in a classroom setting. A 10-year-old female with severe mental retardation, visual impairment, physical disabilities, and behavior problems served as the subject. Two events (tactile and auditory stimulation) were presented to the child in a contingent-interrupted stimulation paradigm. Specifically, stimuli were withdrawn contingent on targeted inappropriate behaviors. A withdrawal design was employed to assess the efficacy of tactile stimulation (using a back massager). Results indicated that tactile stimulation was ineffective in managing disruptive behavior during a discrimination task. However, application of auditory stimulation (using a tape recording of various environmental sounds) decreased disruptive behavior to zero levels. Experimental control in the latter case was documented in a multiple baseline design across settings (sitting while performing a discrimination task, kneeling, and standing). In addition, auditory stimulation was successfully faded by reducing the volume. Follow-up probes demonstrated maintenance of treatment gains up to 5 months.
The Individualized Curriculum Sequencing Model: Effects on Skill Acquisition and Generalization
Authors: Bambara Linda M. , Warren Steven F. , Komisar Shelley
Published: June 2014

The effects of the Individualized Curriculum Sequencing (ICS) model on the acquisition and generalization of skills by two preschoolers with severe handicaps were evaluated using a within-subject multiple probe design across different target responses. Target skills were taught across three classroom activities and routines that occurred during the school day. Daily training trials were distributed across and within activities using the skill cluster approach. In addition, concurrent stimulus variation was programmed across multiple stimulus dimensions (i.e., trainers, activities, and materials). The results preliminarily support the efficacy of the ICS model. Criterion performance and generalization across novel classroom activities and materials were evident for four of five skills trained. The study was discontinued before training of a second skill for one subject could be completed. Prior to terminating the study, performance on the second skill was highly variable and the effect of training was negligible. Research implications are addressed.
School-Based Vocational Programs and Labor Laws: A 1990 Update
Authors: Moon M. Sherril , Kiernan William , Halloran William
Published: June 2014

This article describes how the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) administered through the United States Department of Labor (DOL) governs school-based employment and vocational training programs. Particular attention is paid to the regulations regarding employment and training for students with disabilities. Because the FLSA was recently reauthorized with final regulations published in late 1989, this paper updates the Journal of the Association for Persons with Severe Handicaps publication by Martin and Husch (1987) on the same topic. It further explains and interprets situations that are often misunderstood by educators and employment specialists through a series of case studies typical of school-based vocational programs for students with severe handicaps. Finally, suggestions for reform in federal and state policy as a result of counterproductive provisions of the FLSA are presented.
Perspectives of Parents Whose Children Have Dual Sensory Impairments
Authors: Giangreco Michael F. , Cloninger Chigee J. , Mueller Patricia H. , Yuan Susan , Ashworth Susan
Published: June 2014

Although educators and other professionals acknowledge the importance of involving parents in their childrens' education, few researchers have investigated parental perceptions of educational and related services. This qualitative study identified four major themes during interviews with 28 families whose children have dual sensory impairments. These concerns clustered around parental perceptions of a “good life” for their children, as well as their experiences with fear, frustration, and change. Implications from the analysis may assist teachers, related service professionals, and administrators working with families to understand more fully parental perspectives.
Supported Employment Personnel: An Assessment of Their Self-Reported Training Needs, Educational Backgrounds, and Previous Employment Experiences
Authors: Everson Jane M.
Published: June 2014

A regional survey of 142 supported employment program managers and 519 direct service personnel, conducted in the states comprising Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) Region III, identified respondents' self-reported training needs, educational backgrounds, and previous employment experiences. The results indicate that currently employed supported employment personnel, both program managers and direct service personnel, are female, young, highly educated, minimally paid, and experienced a variety of employment experiences prior to working in supported employment programs. Personnel training appears to have been effective in introducing personnel to supported employment philosophy, management, and implementation strategies. However, the findings suggest a need for technical assistance to refine the skills of both program managers and direct service staff.
A Preliminary Evaluation of Training Parents to Use Facilitative Strategies with Their Children with Profound Disabilities
Authors: Fox Lise , Westling David
Published: June 2014

This article describes the effects of an intervention in which parents were taught to use facilitative strategies when interacting with their children with profound disabilities. The intervention consisted of reinforcing appropriate parent behavior as it was being observed by them on prerecorded videotapes, A multiple probe design across three subjects was used to assess the relationship between the intervention and participant behavior. Dependent measures included parent use of facilitative strategies, defined as the use of choice, elaboration, social games, and imitation. Child-dependent measures were defined as social and isolate behavior. The results indicated a functional relationship between the training parents received and their increased use of facilitative strategies within training and nontraining situations in two of the dyads. In two of the three subject dyads, parents' use of facilitative strategies appeared related to child's frequency of social behavior. Two of the parents reported positive differences in the quality of their interactions after the intervention. Early childhood special education professionals examined a set of the videotaped observations and rated posttraining tapes higher than baseline tapes on interaction quality for two of the three dyads.
Family Stress Associated with Transition to Adulthood of Young People with Severe Disabilities
Authors: Thorin Elizabeth J. , Irvin Larry K.
Published: June 2014

The transitions from student to adult roles for adolescents and young adults with severe developmental disabilities can produce concern and stress for their families. In order to understand and ultimately to be able to address these transition-related concerns and needs of families, we assessed family members' concerns associated with transition, identified the family members who shared the concerns, and measured the related levels of stressfulness and frequency of occurrence of the concerns. We collected data from 42 members of 19 families of young adults with severe developmental disabilities. Results were as follows. The most frequently mentioned concerns were those from the Young Adult domain, such as getting along with others, self-care capabilities, responsible behavior, and sexuality. The concerns rated most stressful, however, were from the Residential, Family Life, and Professionals and Agencies domains. These included the quality and availability of services, dealing with service providers, and family financial problems and disagreements. The concerns reported to occur most frequently were from the Young Adult, Residential, and School domains, including the young adult's self-care and social capabilities, the quality of residential services and interactions with residential providers, and school academic and work training and interactions with school staff. Concerns from the Residential domain were most predictive of overall individual and family stress. Our results indicated that responses from family members regarding stressful concerns are contingent upon how questions about stress are framed. We discuss these results in terms of Lazarus and Folkman's (1984) stress and coping theory.
Peer Interactions and Social Acceptance of Elementary-Age Children with Severe Disabilities in an Inclusive School
Authors: Evans Ian M. , Salisbury Christine L. , Palombaro Mary M. , Berryman Jennifer , Hollowood Tia M.
Published: June 2014

Although there has been much attention paid to the social relationships of students with severe disabilities in integrated environments, few studies depict the kinds of interactions that can be expected in mainstreamed classrooms. Such information is important for designing classroom ecologies and interventions that will maximize developmental opportunities for all students. Eight children with severe disabilities and eight nonhandicapped peers were observed in their regular elementary school classrooms. Students with severe disabilities received more social approaches than they made. These interactions tended to be receiving assistance, although talk, play, and physical affection were also prevalent. Over the school year the number of interactions declined; however, the pattern (proportions of different types of interaction) became more typical (like those of nonhandicapped peers). Acceptance was measured by sociometric nomination, revealing that some of the students with severe disabilities were very popular, and some were not. Acceptance seemed unrelated to social competence, which did correlate with frequency of interactions initiated by the students with disabilities; acceptance was not related to number of social approaches made or received. The results indicate that children's social acceptance and opportunity for interaction are not uniquely associated with their status as individuals with severe disabilities, and suggest that the implicit standards and values of the students may play a significant role.
Learning within the Context of Play: Providing Typical Early Childhood Experiences for Children with Severe Disabilities
Authors: Hanline Mary Frances , Fox Lise
Published: June 2014

Early childhood educators regard child-initiated, child-directed, teacher-supported play as the primary context in which young children learn, whereas special educators have relied more heavily on teacher-directed activities that are focused on specific skill development. The purpose of this manuscript is to suggest that a play-based environment is the most natural instructional context for young children with severe disabilities. The application of a play-based curriculum requires neither an abandonment of effective instructional special education practice nor a violation of early childhood education best practice. Adopting such an approach, however, does represent a conceptual step away from existing practice. Further, allowing play activities to form the foundation on which effective instruction and classroom organization are built requires the utilization of best practice in the fields of early childhood education and early childhood special education in conjunction with effective practices for educating students with severe disabilities.
Natural Supports: Reconceptualizing Job Coach Roles
Authors: Rogan Pat , Hagner David , Murphy Stephen
Published: June 2014

This article presents four case examples that illustrate various strategies used by agency personnel to promote job supports for employees with disabilities while minimizing the intrusion of supported employment personnel. Specific strategies include: (a) using personal connections to enhance social support, (b) matching individual preferences and attributes to work-site social climates, (c) collaborating with work-site personnel to develop adaptations and modifications, (d) facilitating and supporting the involvement of work-site personnel; and (e) providing general consultation focused on person-environment factors that promote both the success of the supported employee and the overall business. Each of these strategies is discussed within a natural support framework in relation to reexamining job coach roles. The implications of the four case examples are discussed and areas for further research are suggested.
Some Effects of Regular Class Participation on the Social Contacts and Social Networks of High School Students with Severe Disabilities
Authors: Kennedy Craig H. , Itkonen Tiina
Published: June 2014

We studied the effects of participating in regular education classes on the social life of three high school students with severe disabilities. Using a multiple baseline design across students (with an embedded ABAB withdrawal design), participants' social contacts and social networks were analyzed. Data were collected throughout the school day across 1 school year. Regular class participation, the independent variable, was introduced within a baseline focusing upon a community-based curriculum including access to peers without disabilities via peer tutoring and “friendship” programs. Our results indicate that regular class participation: (a) increased the frequency of social contacts students had with peers without disabilities, (b) was the locus for meeting half of the peers without disabilities contacted across the school year, and (c) was an important source for meeting peers without disabilities who subsequently became members of students' social networks. In addition, our results showed that: (a) durable and frequent social contacts also occurred with peers without disabilities met outside of regular education classes, (b) the amount of contact with peers extending outside of regular classes varied across students, and (c) the perceived quality of social contacts did not vary systematically with the locus of initial contact. The results are discussed in relation to possible outcomes relating to regular class participation at the secondary level and areas for future research.
An Examination of the Acceptability of Instructional Practices for Students with Severe Disabilities in General Education Settings
Authors: Billingsley Felix F. , Kelley Bridget
Published: June 2014

This study investigated 51 instructional methods specifically targeted as best practices for the education of students with severe disabilities. A survey was mailed to 120 project directors, professors, administrators, and researchers who provided direct and/or indirect services to individuals with severe disabilities. A total of 53 surveys (44%) was returned and 51 were included in the final data analysis. Participants judged each method on familiarity, soundness, and appropriateness for implementation in general education settings. Findings indicated that all methods were judged both sound and appropriate by the majority of participants. Twelve methods, however, were considered inappropriate in academic settings by 20% or more of the respondents, whereas one method was considered inappropriate by at least 20% of participants in other regular education settings. Implications for practice, research, and preservice teacher preparation programs are discussed.
Easy for you to Say: Teacher Perspectives on Implementing Most Promising Practices
Authors: Ayres Barbara J. , Meyer Luanna H. , Erevelles Nirmala , Park-Lee Seunghee
Published: June 2014

Difficulties in translating innovations that have been validated by researchers into practices that will be used by practitioners are widely acknowledged. Nevertheless, research on systems change is sparse and teachers are seldom asked for their perspectives on the implementation of innovations. Special education teachers (n = 83) from five states in regions known for their efforts to develop quality educational programs for students with severe disabilities were surveyed for their knowledge and skills, the actual presence of quality indicators in their programs, and difficulties they experience in implementing various most promising practices. The results indicate that the self-reported ratings of the presence of the indicators is correlated with both teacher skill and degree of implementation difficulty. Analyses of teachers' comments to an open-ended question reveal common concerns regarding time constraints and administrative support as major obstacles to implementation. The results are discussed in the context of the nature of education as an applied science, the need for a research-to-practice literature on the implementation process for practitioners, and the need to acknowledge explicitly the support variables present in research on educational innovations that may be essential to implementation in practice.
A Preliminary Evaluation of Written Individualized Habilitation Objectives and Their Correspondence with Direct Implementation
Authors: DePaepe Paris , Reichle Joe , Doss Scott , Shriner Cheryl Light , Cameron Jenny
Published: June 2014

A process for examining the correspondence between written individualized habilitation plan (IHP) objectives and the actual implementation of instructional objectives by direct service staff is described and illustrated. Initially, the written IHP plans and objectives of 11 individuals with moderate to profound mental retardation who lived in three small community group homes were evaluated on a series of 16 quality indicators of best practice. Subsequently, the implementation of a randomly obtained subset of the IHP objectives was observed. The correspondence of specific aspects of the observed implemented objectives (i.e., age appropriateness, functionality, natural setting, prompting procedures, and positive consequence contingency) to the written IHP objectives was completed. Results indicated that the written IHP objectives varied with regard to the degree to which each addressed the 16 quality indicators. The evaluation of the correspondence between the written IHPs and the subset of implemented objectives indicated a high degree of desired correspondence on two indicators (i.e., age appropriateness, functionality). However, lower levels of correspondence were found on the other indicators (i.e., natural setting, prompting procedures, and positive consequence contingency). The reasons for the lack of correspondence between the written IHPs and implemented objectives were described.