Paraeducator training: An investigation of current practice and related needs

Over the past two decades an increased number of paraeducators have been hired to work with special education teachers (French & Pickett, 1997, Stanovich, 1996). There has been a concurrent shift in paraeducator responsibilities. Instead of primarily providing clerical support, paraeducators are now expected to provide instructional support to the most challenging students in the system (i.e., those with disabilities) (Giangreco, Broer, Edelman, 1999). Numerous researchers, educators, and members of professional organizations have noted concerns about the training and/or lack thereof for paraeducators (French & Pickett, 1997). Debate exists regarding whether or not paraeducators possess adequate training and skills to successfully complete the jobs they are assigned to perform; The purpose of this study was to investigate special education teachers, and special education paraeducators\u27 perceptions related to paraeducator training needs within the Clark County School District. Researcher constructed surveys (i.e., Paraeducator Training Questionnaire for Paraeducators and Paraeducator Training Questionnaire for Teachers) were pilot tested, revised, and then disseminated to 1802 teacher-paraeducator pairs. After two mailings, a total of 589 teachers returned the surveys and a total of 383 paraeducators returned their surveys. This represents a 53.9% return rate. Respondents were asked to indicate need for paraeducator training related to the Council for Exceptional Children Standards for Paraeducators. The three standards that received the highest number of paraeducators indicating a need for training were: (1) use strategies, equipment, materials, and technologies, as directed, to accomplish instructional objectives (160/241, 41.6%), (2) use strategies for managing behavior as directed (154/242,40%), and (3) use strategies as directed to facilitate effective integration into various settings (151/243, 39.2%). The three standards that received the highest number of teachers indicating a need for their paraeducator to receive training were: (1) use strategies for managing behavior as directed, (2) use strategies, equipment, materials, and technologies, as directed, to accomplish instructional objectives, and (3) assist in adapting instructional strategies and materials as directed; Results obtained using the Non-Parametric Crosstabs statistical procedure and a 0.05 confidence level revealed that paraeducators and teachers differ in their perceptions related to paraeducator training needs based on program area (i.e., self contained, resource). Finally, results obtained using Non-Parametric Crosstabs statistical procedure with 0.05 confidence level revealed that paraeducators and teachers differ in their perceptions related to paraeducator responsibilities based on program area

Faster effects on dressing yield, shrinkage, and pH contractile tissue in swine

It is a well established fact that hogs will usually lose weight while in transit from the farm to market or slaughterhouse. This losing weight is commonly called shrinkage or drift and is of vital importance to all persons concerned with the swine industry. Shrinkage may be either excretory or tissue. Excretory shrinkage is defined as the loss in weight resulting from the elimination of excreta, which is usually referred to as the elimination of fill. Loss in weight due to excretion does not affect the carcass weight, therefore, the dressing percent is not changed when based on farm weight. However, tissue shrinkage is a loss in tissue weight thus lowering the carcass weight and dressing percentage. The problem of shrinkage has long been a source of misunderstanding between farmers, transportation agents, marketing men and packers. The problem will become even more important if in the future a greater number of hogs are sold on the basis of grade and yield as is being done in such countries as Denmark and Canada. The amount and kind of shrinkage is a difficult problem to answer because of the great variation in the dressing percentage of similar hogs. Also hogs are produced, transported and marketed under a wide variety of conditions. Examples of these various conditions are the different breeds of hog, types of ration fed, market weights, amount of fill, weather and time in transit, mode of transportation, selling direct or auction or terminal market, etc. If tissue shrinkage does not occ\ir or is not affected materially by watering and feeding while in the marketing process, then fill is an economical waste to society. Dowell and Bjorka in their book Livestock Marketing makes the following statements The packer objects to animals with heavy fill, not only because they dress a relatively small percentage of carcass but also because they are more difficult to handle during the process of slaughtering. Packers often keep the animals they buy in holding pens for a certain length of time in order that part of the fill may be eliminated. The practice (of filling hogs) is wasteful of feed, increases marketing costs, reduces the value of animals for slaughter, and tends to lower rather than increase total net returns to producers. The purposes of this thesis were: 1. To determine the amount of tissue shrinkage as compared to excretory shrinkage during a four day fasting regime. 2. To determine, if possible, what tissues were involved in tissue shrinkage. 3. To study the effects of fasting on the pH of contractile tissue and consequent effects of cured meat. 4. To correlate dressing percentage with various carcass measurements. 5. To study the effect of length of haul on shrinkage percentages

Clinical progression and outcome of dysphagia following thermal burn injury: A prospective cohort study

The objectives of this study were 1) to establish clinical profiles of dysphagic and nondysphagic individuals following thermal burn injury and 2) to provide a clinical profile of the progression and outcome of dysphagia resolution by hospital discharge for a dysphagic cohort. A total of 438 consecutively admitted patients with thermal burns were included. All patients underwent a clinical swallowing examination. Medical parameters regarding burn presentation and its treatment and speech-language pathology specific variables from admission to discharge were collected for each participant. Dysphagia was identified in 49 patients via clinical assessment, and their course of recovery was followed up until the point of dysphagia resolution or discharge. No significant difference was observed between the dysphagic and nondysphagic groups in age, gender, and injury etiology. However, the dysphagic cohort was significantly different from the nondysphagic group in all variables pertaining to injury presentation and medical management. Individuals with dysphagia took significantly longer to start, and maintain, oral intake and required nonoral supplementation for three and a half times longer than those who were nondysphagic. Length of speech-language pathology intervention averaged 1 month for the dysphagics and increased with dysphagia severity. Return to normal fluid consistencies occurred in >75% of dysphagic individuals by week 7 after injury, although resumption of normal diet textures was more protracted, with 75% resuming normal oral intake by week 9. Dysphagia had resolved in 50% of the cohort by week 6, and by hospital discharge, 85% of the dysphagic individuals had resumed normal oral intake of thin fluids and a general diet. This is the first large prospective cohort study to establish clinical profiles of dysphagic and nondysphagic cohorts and document the nature of dysphagia and patterns of recovery within the thermal burn population. These current data will assist the allocation and planning of speech-language pathology services and provide baseline data on the course of dysphagia resolution in the adult thermal burn population

The effect of fatness on some processing and palatability characteristics of pork carcasses

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Michigan State University of Agriculture and Applied Science. Department of Animal Husbandry, 1958Includes bibliographical references (page [53]-59

A systematic review of health service interventions to reduce use of unplanned health care in rural areas

Rationale, aims and objectives: Use of unplanned health care has long been increasing, and not enough is known about which interventions may reduce use. We aimed to review the effectiveness of interventions to reduce the use of unplanned health care by rural populations. Methods: The method used was systematic review. Scientific databases (Medline, Embase and Central), grey literature and selected references were searched. Study quality and bias was assessed using Cochrane Risk of Bias and modified Newcastle Ottawa Scales. Results were summarized narratively. Results: A total of 2708 scientific articles, reports and other documents were found. After screening, 33 studies met the eligibility criteria, of which eight were randomized controlled trials, 13 were observational studies of unplanned care use before and after new practices were implemented and 12 compared intervention patients with non-randomized control patients. Eight of the 33 studies reported modest statistically significant reductions in unplanned emergency care use while two reported statistically significant increases in unplanned care. Reductions were associated with preventative medicine, telemedicine and targeting chronic illnesses. Cost savings were also reported for some interventions. Conclusion: Relatively few studies report on unscheduled medical care by specifically rural populations, and interventions were associated with modest reductions in unplanned care use. Future research should evaluate interventions more robustly and more clearly report the results

Fournier's gangrene in a patient after third-degree burns: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Fournier's gangrene is characterized by tissue ischemia leading to rapidly progressing necrotizing fasciitis.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>We present the case of a patient with Fournier's gangrene after third-degree burns. Clinical manifestations, laboratory results and treatment options are discussed.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Fournier's gangrene is a surgical emergency. Although it can be lethal, it is still a challenging situation in the field of surgical infections.</p