The influence of adolescents' self-perception of social relationships on personality functioning in the context of inclusive education.

Introduction: Adolescence is a special phase of life in which fundamentals of psychosocial functioning are formed. The present study investigates how adolescents' self-perception of social relationships in inclusive classes affect personality functioning. Furthermore, we examine whether the association between self-perceived social relationships and personality functioning is stronger for students with special educational needs in the domains of learning (SEN L) and social -emotional development (SED) than for students without SEN.

Basic counseling skills in psychology and teaching: validation of a short version of the counselor activity self-efficacy scales.

Background: Counseling self-efficacy is a relevant measure to examine trainees' beliefs about their counseling skills. This study aimed to validate three scales of the revised German version of the Counselor Activity Self-Efficacy Scales (CASES-R) measuring basic counseling skills. To ascertain the scales' sensitivity to change, counseling self-efficacy was assessed before and after specific training.

Effects of Device-Facilitated Lingual Strengthening Therapy on Dysphagia Related Outcomes in Patients Post-Stroke: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Swallowing impairments resulting from stroke have few rehabilitative options. Prior evidence suggests lingual strengthening exercise may provide some benefit, but more randomized controlled trials are required. The purpose of this study was to examine efficacy of progressive lingual resistance training on lingual pressure generative capacity and swallowing outcomes for individuals with dysphagia after stroke.

Implementation of UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in public and private schools in three districts of Uganda.

Background: The study was grounded in the recent developments of implementing the United Nations Convention on the Right of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) in schools in Uganda, leading to a renewed interest in the questionings about inclusive education.

Objectives: The inclusive approach was evaluated in terms of: (1) how public or private schools in Uganda understand inclusive education; (2) how schools implement inclusive education under the influence of the UN Convention; and (3) what determines the course of action and school routine of private and state schools.

Methods: This exploratory qualitative research included interviews with six schools purposively selected in Mukono, Wakiso and Kampala districts of Central Uganda.

Dysphagia Profiles Among Inpatients with Dementia Referred for Swallow Evaluation.

Background: Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) patients who are hospitalized often develop oropharyngeal dysphagia, increasing risk for adverse outcomes, such as aspiration pneumonia. However, prevalence estimates of dysphagia are highly variable and often based on patient report or clinical testing rather than visualization of the swallow.

Objective: The aims of this study were to determine prevalence and severity of dysphagia among inpatients with ADRD referred for swallowing evaluation.

The Influence of Individual and Situational Factors on Teachers' Justice Ratings of Classroom Interactions.

Teachers, as role models, are crucial in promoting inclusion in society through their actions. Being perceived as fair by their students is linked to students' feelings of belonging in school. In addition, their decisions of resource allocations also affect students' academic success.

Pressure abnormalities in patients with Zenker's diverticulum using pharyngeal high-resolution manometry.

Objectives: Zenker's diverticulum is associated with reduced cricopharyngeal compliance and abnormal intrabolus pressure. However, it is unclear how the pharynx compensates for these deficits. Developments in manometric technology have improved our ability to capture pharyngeal pressure events.

Safety and Tolerability of Pharyngeal High-Resolution Manometry.

Purpose Pharyngeal high-resolution manometry is an emerging practice for diagnosis of swallowing disorders in the upper aerodigestive tract. Advancement of a catheter through the upper esophageal sphincter may introduce safety considerations. There are no published studies of catheter placement complications, side effects, or tolerability.

Swallowing outcomes after cricopharyngeal myotomy: A systematic review.

Background: No practice guidelines have been established for swallowing outcomes after cricopharyngeal myotomy (CPM). The purpose of this systematic review was to summarize evidence for swallowing outcomes in patients undergoing CPM to treat symptomatic cricopharyngeal dysfunction, in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) protocol.

Methods: Swallowing outcomes examined included penetration/aspiration ratings, manometric measures, patient-rated dysphagia scales, clinician-rated dysphagia scales, diet level, and weight.

Being a good or a just teacher: Which experiences of teachers' behavior can be more predictive of school bullying?

In two cross-sectional questionnaire studies with N = 2,931 German students, aged between 12 and 17 years (M = 14.1, SD = 0.5), we investigated the relation between students' bullying behavior and their personal belief in a just world (BJW).

Relationship Between Tongue Base Region Pressures and Vallecular Clearance.

Tongue base pressures have been thought to provide primary bolus clearance through the pharynx during swallowing. The relationship between bolus driving pressures and residue remaining in the valleculae after the swallow has not been defined. Thirty-seven dysphagic patients who were evaluated with both videofluoroscopy (VFSS) and high-resolution manometry (HRM) were identified within the University of Wisconsin Voice and Swallowing Outcomes database.

Assessing clinical reasoning (ASCLIRE): Instrument development and validation.

Clinical reasoning is an essential competency in medical education. This study aimed at developing and validating a test to assess diagnostic accuracy, collected information, and diagnostic decision time in clinical reasoning. A norm-referenced computer-based test for the assessment of clinical reasoning (ASCLIRE) was developed, integrating the entire clinical decision process.

Speech pathologist practice patterns for evaluation and management of suspected cricopharyngeal dysfunction.

Speech pathologists are often the first professionals to identify signs of a cricopharyngeal (CP) dysfunction and make recommendations for further care. There are many care options for patients with CP dysfunction, but it is unclear how certain interventions are used in practice. A paper-based survey employing two clinical cases involving suspected CP dysfunction (Case 1 with adequate pharyngeal strength and Case 2 with coexisting pharyngeal weakness) was sent to members of American Speech-Language Hearing Association's Special Interest Group 13.

Implementation of high-resolution manometry in the clinical practice of speech language pathology.

Visual imaging modalities, videofluoroscopic swallow study (VFSS) and fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallow, for assessment of oropharyngeal dysphagia have been part of the speech language pathologist's (SLPs) armamentarium for the diagnosis and treatment of dysphagia for decades. Recently, the addition of high-resolution manometry (HRM) has enabled the SLP to evaluate pharyngeal pressures and upper esophageal sphincter relaxation. Taken together, the use of visual imaging modalities with HRM can improve interpretation of swallowing physiology and facilitate more effective treatment planning.

Collective school-type identity: predicting students' motivation beyond academic self-concept.

In Germany, according to their prior achievement students are tracked into different types of secondary school that provide profoundly different options for their future educational careers. In this paper we suggest that as a result, school tracks clearly differ in their social status or reputation. This should translate into different collective school-type identities for their students, irrespective of the students' personal academic self-concepts.

Validation of core competencies during residency training in anaesthesiology.

Background And Goal: Curriculum development for residency training is increasingly challenging in times of financial restrictions and time limitations. Several countries have adopted the CanMEDS framework for medical education as a model into their curricula of specialty training. The purpose of the present study was to validate the competency goals, as derived from CanMEDS, of the Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine of the Berlin Charité University Medical Centre, by conducting a staff survey.

Influence of different trocar tips on abdominal wall penetration during laparoscopy.

Most trocars currently used to place a cannula through the abdominal wall have a conical or pyramidal tip. Because the risk of inadvertent injury along with removal of the cannula is probably related to (a) the force needed to traverse the abdominal wall, (b) the force needed to remove the trocar, and (c) the defect in the abdominal wall, the optimum configuration of the penetrating tip should be determined. The entry force needed to perforate the abdominal wall, the removal force necessary to remove the trocar, and the defect in the abdominal wall were measured in a porcine model under standardized conditions (general anesthesia, 12 mmHg pneumoperitoneum).

The sequence and phylogenetic analysis of a novel hepatitis E virus isolated from a patient with acute hepatitis reported in the United States.

A variant of hepatitis E virus (HEV), designated HEV US-1, was identified in a hepatitis patient in the United States (US); the patient had no history of travel to areas where HEV is endemic. Nucleotide sequences were obtained from the 5' end of open reading frame (ORF) 1 (1418 nt), the 3' end of ORF1 (1359 nt), the entire ORF2 and ORF3 regions, and the 3'-untranslated region (2127 nt). The HEV US-1 strain is significantly divergent from other human HEV isolates with nucleotide identities ranging from 76.

Seroprevalence of GB virus C and persistence of RNA and antibody.

Exposure to GB virus C (GBV-C) was determined in several U.S. populations by both reverse-transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and by an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for antibodies to mammalian cell-expressed GBV-C envelope protein, E2 (GBV-C E2).

GB virus C E2 glycoprotein: expression in CHO cells, purification and characterization.

A 315 amino acid recombinant segment of the GB virus C (GBV-C) E2 envelope glycoprotein (E2-315) was expressed and secreted from CHO cells. E2-315 was purified by affinity chromatography using a monoclonal antibody directed to a FLAG sequence genetically engineered onto the C terminus of the recombinant protein. The secreted protein had a molecular mass of 48-56 kDa and was shown to be N-glycosylated.

An ELISA for detection of antibodies to the E2 protein of GB virus C.

An ELISA was developed for detection of antibodies to GB virus C (GBV-C) using a recombinant E2 protein expressed in CHO cells. Seroconversion to anti-E2 positivity was noted among several persons infected with GBV-C RNA-positive blood through transfusion. Of 6 blood recipients infected by GBV-C RNA-positive donors, 4 (67%) became anti-E2 positive and cleared their viremia.

Molecular and serologic analysis in the transmission of the GB hepatitis agents.

Two flavivirus-like genomes have recently been cloned from infectious tamarin (Saguinus labiatus) serum, derived from the human viral hepatitis GB strain, which is known to induce hepatitis in tamarins. In order to study the natural history of GB infections, further transmission studies were carried out in tamarins. Reverse-transcription-polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbant assays were developed for the detection of RNA and antibodies associated with the two agents, GB virus-A and GB virus-B.

Selection of multiple human immunodeficiency virus type 1 variants that encode viral proteases with decreased sensitivity to an inhibitor of the viral protease.

Inhibitors of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) protease represent a promising addition to the available agents used to inhibit virus replication in a therapeutic setting. HIV-1 is capable of generating phenotypic variants in the face of a variety of selective pressures. The potential to generate variants with reduced sensitivity to a protease inhibitor was examined by selecting for virus growth in cell culture in the presence of the protease inhibitor A-77003.