Search

The judging of a market animal at a fair is the highlight of a youth-owned livestock project. Livestock judges are hired to evaluate youth projects at fairs. They are critical ambassadors for agriculture and influence countless youths and adults. Judges must be knowledgeable about current animal evaluation methods that support youth development. The circle of knowledgeable individuals qualified to evaluate animal projects is limited in the Intermountain West, making it difficult to find skilled judges. This necessitates hiring unqualified or untrained judges, limiting the educational experiences for participating youths. The Intermountain Livestock Judges Training was developed to train and update youth livestock judges.

IN ORDER TO MEET THE NEEDS AND EXPECTATIONS OF PAYORS -- AND OF THEIR OWN PROFESSION -- COUNSELORS NEED TO BE MORE METHODICAL In the first part of this article [...]

Today's treatment demands require a new level of skills for addictions counselors In January of this year I attended a conference in San Diego sponsored by the American Society of [...]

Purpose:To test if the Rehabilitation Complexity Scale Extended (RCS-E) can be used as decision support for patient referral to primary rehabilitation as either complex specialized services (CSS) or district specialist services (DSS). Method:Two independent expert teams analyzed medical records on 299 consecutive patients admitted for CSS or DSS rehabilitation. One team provided a golden standard for the patient referrals, and the other team provided RCS-E scores. Models for predicting referrals from RCS-E scores were developed on data for 149 patients and tested on the remaining 150 patients. Results:The optimal RCS-E sum score threshold for referral prediction was 11, predicting the golden standard for patient referral with sensitivity 88%, specificity 78% and correct classification rate 81%. Improved referral prediction performance was achieved by using RCS-E item-wise score thresholds (sensitivity 81%, specificity 89%, correct classification rate 87%). The RCS-E sum score range for patients referred CSS and DSS by the item-wise model was, respectively, 0–12 and 2–22 suggesting strong non-linear interaction of the RCS-E items. Conclusions:We found excellent referral decision support in the RCS-E and the item specific threshold model, when patients with acquired brain injury are to be referred to CSS or DSS as their primary rehabilitation. Implications for RehabilitationEfficient rehabilitation after acquired brain injury requires rehabilitation settings that meet patient needs.Validated tools for referral decision support make the process more transparent.Patient rehabilitation complexity can be stratified by the RCS-E with high sensitivity, specificity and predictive value of positive test.RCS-E is an excellent tool for referral decision support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Yelm Earthworm & Castings Farm in Washington state is one of North America's largest worm farms with a population of more than 15 tons of redworms. The farm, which began in 1990, serves as a seed source for farm-scale and commercial projects in vermicomposting. The farm is situated on a 30,000-sq-ft of enclosed, warehouse type space with concrete floors and insulated walls. The equipment on site includes a fork lift, conveyor, front-end loader, bagging line, harvesting screens and stacking wood trays.

Introduction: The relation between motor and cognitive function and autonomic nervous system (ANS) function during neurorehabilitation following acquired brain injury (ABI) has only been investigated sporadically. In the present study, it was hypothesized that clinical measures in severely injured patients would relate to heart rate variability (HRV), a measure of autonomic function. Methods: HRV measurements were initially performed on 49 patients (enrolled in a previous study) and follow-up (> 28 days) HRV measurements were performed. Standard deviation of normal-to-normal intervals (SDNN) and low frequency (LF) were extracted and these HRV variables were related to the clinical measures, Early Functional Ability (EFA) and Functional Independence Measure (FIM). Associations between HRV and clinical measures were analysed on admission data (only EFA), at follow-up and for the longitudinal change in measures. Results: Follow-up HRV was extracted from 19 patients. SDNN and LF were significantly correlated ( p < 0.05) to the EFA and FIM at follow-up, but not at admission. SDNN and LF changes were significantly correlated to EFA changes, but not FIM changes. Admission SDNN and LF were unable to provide prognostic information for the EFA and FIM at follow-up. Conclusion: HRV and its change during neurorehabilitation were associated to EFA and EFA changes over time. Further studies are required to clarify a number of limitations arising from this observational study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Acquired brain injury (ABI) cause neural deficits. In addition to motor and cognitive deficits, the autonomic nervous system may be affected. This has been shown for neurorehabilitation patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) by means of reduced heart rate variability (HRV). It was hypothesized that patient groups with other ABI aetiology (mainly stroke, subarachnoid haemorrhage and anoxia) would also present reduced HRV. Methods: Patients consecutively admitted and severely ABI injured were considered for HRV measurements. HRV was extracted as a mean of four 5-minute ECG recordings at 6 pm, 10 pm, 2 am and 6 am the following day (scheduled resting periods). One 5-minute HRV recording from a sex- and age-matched group of healthy volunteers constituted control data. Standard deviation of normal-to-normal intervals (SDNN) and low frequency (LF) were primary HRV variables. Results: Of 71 admitted patients, HRV was extracted from 49 patients. Patient SDNN and LF were reduced compared to controls (SDNN: 13 ms (CI = [10.8; 15.3]) vs 40.3 ms (CI = [36.6; 44.2]), p < 0.0001; LF: 29.4 ms2 (CI = [19.8; 43.7]) vs 518 ms2 (CI = [419; 639]), p < 0.0001). HRV appeared identical across ABI aetiology. Conclusion: It was found that HRV was considerably reduced in an heterogenic ABI patient group admitted for neurorehabilitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Describes the Designated Vocational Instructor project to help handicapped students participate in existing vocational education programs. With the use of computers, students can gain skills that will aid in their employability. (JOW)

The judging of a market animal at a fair is the highlight of a youth-owned livestock project. Livestock judges are hired to evaluate youth projects at fairs. They are critical ambassadors for agriculture and influence countless youths and adults. Judges must be knowledgeable about current animal evaluation methods that support youth development. The circle of knowledgeable individuals qualified to evaluate animal projects is limited in the Intermountain West, making it difficult to find skilled judges. This necessitates hiring unqualified or untrained judges, limiting the educational experiences for participating youths. The Intermountain Livestock Judges Training was developed to train and update youth livestock judges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]