Search

Introduction: This study examines the perceptions of preservice teachers concerning the inclusion of students with blindness or low vision (visual impairments) in their classrooms. Methods: Using a modified version of the Preservice Inclusion Scale (PSIS), data were collected from participants in three universities in the United States before and after the completion of an introductory special education course. A Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA) test was conducted to investigate the change in participants’ attitudes toward inclusion. Results: The anxiety measure revealed an increase in the calmness level of preservice teachers, and the receptivity measure revealed a nonsignificant change in their receptivity level toward inclusion. Discussion: There were three main study outcomes: A between-subject effect of the universities was not evident, no significant changes in hostility or receptivity were found, and the confidence of preservice teachers in teaching students with visual impairments was not a predictor of changes in attitudes toward inclusion. Suggestions for future research: Future research should determine the nature and scope of strategies included in coursework, and whether these strategies relate more to improvements in attitudes than to coursework that does not include them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated vocational rehabilitation service providers' opinions about employer attitudes towards people who are visually impaired and what they had found to be the best techniques to encourage an employer to consider these people for employment. We found that rehabilitation counselors tended to have more negative perceptions of employers' attitudes toward hiring persons who are visually impaired than providers who identified themselves as business relations staff. Business relations staff were more likely to approach potential employers from a perspective that focused on employer needs and consumer abilities. Twelve themes of techniques to work with employers were identified and then further grouped into two broader categories: providing information and service delivery strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this empirical study, the authors compare the perceptions of future general educators on two dichotomous scales (hostility/receptivity and anxiety/calmness) regarding the teaching of students with exceptionalities in their classrooms. A total of 116 teacher candidates from one southwestern and two Midwestern universities in the United States completed a modified version of the Pre-Service Inclusion Survey (PSIS) during the first and last class sessions of the semester in an introductory course on disabilities. The authors reported an increase in a positive attitude in the overall PSIS, and in both the anxiety/calmness and the hostility-receptivity subcategories. The researchers noted that knowledge of how to accommodate students with disabilities and fostering positive attitudes when working with these students are necessary for pre-service teachers. Recommendations are advanced for enhancing inclusive practices in pre-service teacher education programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Metabolic syndrome is a complex collection of interrelated conditions. Recent data have shown that metabolic syndrome may play a role in several cancers. Pancreatic adenocarcinoma is the fourth most common cause of death from cancer in the United States and the fifth in Europe. Despite the increasing numbers of published studies the etiology of pancreatic adenocarcinoma is incompletely defined. Therefore, this paper aims to evaluate the risk factors for pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Methods: This was case-control study of pancreatic adenocarcinoma patient who were referred to the Peking Union Medical College Hospital. Controls were randomly selected from an existing database of healthy individuals at the Health Screening Center Data on metabolic syndrome, pancreatic diseases, liver diseases, and a history of diabetes and history of hypertension were collected either by conducting a retrospective review of the patients' records and health examination reports or by interview. Results: A history of smoking (OR = 2.981), diabetes (OR = 2.421), cholecystolithiasis (OR = 5.453), or chronic pancreatitis (OR = 28.264) as well as the levels of fasting blood glucose (OR = 4.241), total cholesterol (OR = 1.793), and apolipoprotein A (OR = 36.065) were significantly related to pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Conclusions: Cholelithiasis, chronic pancreatitis, and certain metabolic syndrome components are potential risk factors for the development of pancreatic adenocarcinoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: For practicing teachers of students with visual impairments, assistive technology has assumed an important role in the education of their students' assessment and learning of content. Little research has addressed this area; therefore, the purpose of the study presented here was to identify the teachers' self-reported possession of knowledge of and skills in assistive technology. Method: The participants completed an online survey rating their level of expertise in assistive technology. The researchers used descriptive statistics and Pearson r correlation coefficients. Results: In total, 840 teachers of students with visual impairments in the United States, Palau, and the Virgin Islands completed an online survey to identify their perceived level of mastery of assistive technology competencies. Regarding the participants' confidence in teaching and supporting the use of assistive technology for students with visual impairments, 40.7% of the participants were confident or very confident, whereas 59.3% reported no to some confidence. In addition, the younger teachers were relatively more confident in teaching assistive technology than were the older teachers. Specifically, the participants felt the least confident with the foundations domain of assistive technology and the most confident with collaboration. Discussion: The results describe teachers' self-perceptions and pinpoint areas for further intervention and dialogue. Personnel preparation programs and in-service training programs can concentrate on these specific areas of assistive technology to improve teachers' levels of confidence with assistive technology domains. Collaborating to create systemic, national interventions is crucial for improving educational and vocational outcomes for all individuals with visual impairments. Implications for practitioners: First, given the findings of the study, it is recommended that all university programs develop a course on assistive technology, as well as embed assistive technology competencies in their training curricula. Second, research is needed to explore further what universities are currently doing to address assistive technology in their curricula. Finally, professional organizations should provide ongoing in-service training in assistive technology for practicing teachers of students with visual impairments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Discoveries of oncogenic driver alterations in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have been accompanied by the development of effective targeted therapies. The frequencies of these mutations vary between populations but are less well characterized in the Vietnamese population. In this study, we analyzed the frequencies of lung cancer driver oncogenic alterations in Vietnamese patients compared with Vietnamese patients treated in the United States., Methods: We collected data on tumor and disease characteristics of Vietnamese patients with NSCLC treated at Stanford. In addition, we collected NSCLC tumor specimens from patients with NSCLC diagnosed in Hue, Vietnam, and performed next-generation-based genotyping on these samples. The molecular and clinical characteristics of these groups were compared., Results: Fifty-nine Vietnamese patients were identified at Stanford. Of the 44 patients with molecular testing results, there were 21 (47.7%) with EGFR alterations, six (13.6%) with ALK alterations, two (4.5%) with KRAS alterations, one (2.3%) with BRAF alterations, and no ROS1 or RET alterations. Across all stages, the median overall survival for patients with a tumor having a targetable genomic alteration driver mutation was 42.4 months, compared with 27.1 months for patients without such alterations. In the 45 genotyped samples from Vietnam, there were 26 (57.8%) with EGFR, 11 (24.4%) with KRAS, and one each (2.2%) with ALK, ROS1, and RET., Conclusion: The majority of tumors from both Stanford and Vietnam had targetable oncogenic alterations. This suggests that routine implementation of molecular testing may have a significant, positive impact on the treatment of Vietnamese patients with NSCLC, but affordability of testing and treatments remains a barrier to adoption.