Non-traditional Strategies Research Articles

Breaking from Traditionalism: Strategies for the Recruitment of Physical Education Teachers

Teacher education programs across the country are being asked to systematically and deliberately recruit teacher candidates who are not only highly qualified, but represent diverse backgrounds. Coupled with dwindling enrollments, these programs may want to reevaluate the types of students recruited into a career in physical education. This article uses occupational socialization theory as the framework for discussing how breaking away from traditional recruitment strategies may be necessary to keep physical education teacher education programs thriving. To address this point, current recruitment practices in physical education teacher education are critiqued, and nontraditional strategies for recruiting highly qualified candidates who also represent diverse backgrounds are discussed. It is argued that the future of the physical education discipline rests on the ability to recruit and train students who are focused on lifetime physical activity rather than team sports.

Big Data Tools-An Overview

With the increasing of data to be analyzed either in social media, industry applications, or even science, there is a need for nontraditional methods for data analysis. Big data is a way for nontraditional strategies and techniques to organize, store, and process huge data collected from large datasets. Large dataset, in this context, means too large data that cannot be handled, stored, or processed using traditional tools and techniques or one computer. Therefore, there is a challenge to come up with different analytical approaches to analyze massive scale heterogeneous data coming with high speed. Consequently, big data has some characteristics that makes it different from any other data which are Veracity, Volume, Variety, Velocity, and Value. Veracity means variety of resources while Variety means data from different sources. Big data Value characteristic is one of the ultimate challenge that could be complex enough to be stored, extracted, and processed. The Volume deals with the size of the data and required storage while Velocity is related to data streaming time and latency. Throughout this paper, we review the state-of-the-art of big data tools. For the benefits of researchers, industry and practitioners, we review a large number of tools either commercial or free tools. The article also shows some of the important characteristics of the collected tools to make it easy on organizations and scientists to select the best tool for the type of data to be handled.

Possible role of interleukin-17 and macrophage migration inhibitory factor in cutaneous warts.

Cutaneous warts (CW), or verrucae, are benign proliferation of skin that result from infection with human papilloma viruses. Cellular immune reactivity plays a significant role in wart regression. The aim of this study was to elucidate the cellular immune status of patients with CW through measurements of their serum levels of interleukin-17 (IL-17) and macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF,) and, identify the possible role of IL-17 and MIF in CW. We assessed serum IL-17 and MIF levels in patients with different forms of CW and compare the results with controls. Serum levels of IL-17 and MIF were measured using commercially available ELISA assay kits in 60 patients with CW and 20 healthy controls. Serum levels of IL-17 and MIF were significantly lower in patients with CW when compared with the controls (P-value <.01, <.05, respectively). There was nonsignificant correlation between IL-17 and MIF. Low IL-17 and MIF levels may have a contributory role in occurrence, maintenance, severity, and recurrence of different types of CW which depend mainly on the defect of cell-mediated immunity. This may shed new light on nontraditional strategies for the future medical treatments of CW through regulation of IL-17 and MIF.

New molecules modulating bone metabolism - new perspectives in the treatment of osteoporosis.

In this review the authors outline traditional antiresorptive pharmaceuticals, such as bisphosphonates, monoclonal antibodies against RANKL, SERMs, as well as a drug with an anabolic effect on the skeleton, parathormone. However, there is also a focus on non-traditional strategies used in therapy for osteolytic diseases. The newest antiosteoporotic pharmaceuticals increase osteoblast differentiation via BMP signaling (harmine), or stimulate osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells through Wnt/beta-catenin (icarrin, isoflavonoid caviunin, or sulfasalazine). A certain promise in the treatment of osteoporosis is shown by molecules targeting non-coding microRNAs (which are critical for osteoclastogenesis) or those stimulating osteoblast activity via epigenetic mechanisms. Vitamin D metabolites have specific antiosteoporotic potencies, modulating the skeleton not only via mineralization, but markedly also through the direct effects on the bone microstructure.

Red Bull (Abridged)

This case (an abridged version of UVA-M-0663) describes the history of the Red Bull brand and how the company stimulated and harnessed word of mouth to build a new product category (functional energy drinks) and brand franchise. The case concludes by asking the reader to consider where Red Bull will take its brand, product line, and marketing next, in light of many competitive challenges in the United States. The case was written to foster discussion of nontraditional brand-building strategies and the growing globalization of brands and products targeted toward younger consumers.

Abstract 2504: Assessing the efficacy of the anti metabolic drug, CPI-613, for targeting of ovarian cancer stem cells

Abstract Cancer stem cells (CSC) are believed to contribute to the recurrent and often platinum resistant ovarian cancer (OvCa). Moreover, it has been suggested that some anticancer treatments result in an increased frequency of CSC relative to non-CSC. More recently, we have determined that the PARP inhibitor olaparib increased the frequency of CD133, CD117 and ALDH positive cells in the established serous OvCa cell lines OVCAR4 and CaOV4 and in primary cell lines derived from serous carcinomas obtained with IRB approval at the time of initial surgery. We also showed that olaparib treatment increased sphere forming capacity, expression of stemness genes and CSC proliferation suggesting that olaparib has the unintended effect of stimulating CSC function. Previous work has shown that the metabolic inhibitor CPI-613 preferentially targets ovarian CSCs due to their altered metabolism. Our objective here was to determine whether CPI-613 could negate the effect of olaparib on CSC function. OVCAR4 and CaOV4 cells were treated with 50 μM CPI-613 and the relative frequency of CD133+ and CD177+ cells was assessed at 72 hours post treatment by flow cytometry with cell viability analyzed by MTT. Additionally, the sphere forming capacity of CPI-613 treated cells relative to that of vehicle treated cells was determined in an extreme limiting dilution assay. Finally, the expression of stemness genes in the CPI-613 treated and vehicle treated cells was evaluated by RT-PCR. Treatment of OVCAR4 and CaOV4 cells with CPI-613 decreased the frequency of CD133+ and CD117+ positive cells relative to untreated cells (p &amp;lt;0.001) without affecting cell viability. Additionally, sphere forming capacity was reduced in the CPI-613 treated cells. The decrease in both CD133+ and CD117+ cell frequency and sphere forming capacity suggests that CPI-613 is targeting the CSC population in these cells. Dual treatment with olaparib and CPI-613 blunted the increase in CD133+ and CD117+ cell frequency induced by single agent olaparib. Parallel treatment of CSC-rich spheres resulted in a considerable decrease in cell viability and frequency of CD133+ and CD117+ cells Clinical trials with olaparib in OvCa have resulted in increased progression free survival but no significant difference in overall survival has been observed. This raises the question of whether treatment with olaparib selects for the recurrence of more resistant disease, driven in part by the proliferation of CSCs. Our results suggest that CPI-613-mediated disruption of the mitochondrial respiratory pathway preferentially targets CSC and suppresses olaparib's effects on CSC function. In conclusion, targeting CSCs with non-traditional strategies could augment clinical outcomes and CPI-613 represents a promising candidate for combination with FDA approved olaparib treatment in OvCa. Citation Format: Chiara Bellio, Rosemary Foster, Whitfield B. Growdon, Bo R. Rueda. Assessing the efficacy of the anti metabolic drug, CPI-613, for targeting of ovarian cancer stem cells. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 2504.

A pilot study on how speech-language pathologists include social participation in aphasia rehabilitation

Background: People with aphasia have trouble achieving satisfying social participation. Despite recommendations to include social participation in rehabilitation, it is unknown how speech-language pathologists (SLPs) integrate it in their practice.Aim: The goal was to explore factors that influenced how SLPs included social participation in rehabilitation of people with aphasia.Methods and procedures: A group interview was conducted with three SLPs working in a rehabilitation centre of Quebec, Canada. The transcript of the interview was analysed using qualitative content analysis.Outcomes and results: Participants described their practice as mainly based on assessing and reducing language impairment. Social participation was perceived as the underlying, implicit goal of speech-language therapy. Participants tried to integrate non-traditional strategies and principles to foster patients’ social participation in a more explicit manner, but reported being limited by numerous social and organisational factors.Conclusions: In the setting studied, speech-language therapy practice appeared to be anchored in a traditional medical model. Changes in healthcare organisation and university curricula seem necessary for SLP practice to follow a social participation-based model. On a personal level, it seemed SLPs also needed to develop the motivation for transforming their practice.

Refining analgesia strategies using lasers.

Sound programs for the humane care and use of animals within research facilities incorporate experimental refinements such as multimodal approaches for pain management. These approaches can include non-traditional strategies along with more established ones. The use of lasers for pain relief is growing in popularity among companion animal veterinary practitioners and technologists. Therefore, its application in the research sector warrants closer consideration.

The International Rehabilitation Forum: an academic consortium that builds medical rehabilitation in low resource regions through participation, mentoring, and disruptive innovation

Program/Project Purpose: The economic consequences of noncommunicable diseases may relate more to a lifetime of disability than either death or health care expenitures. Medical rehabilitation and Physiatry are proven to alter disability, save lives, decrease cost, and improve contribution to society. However the vast majority of persons with disability in low resource countries receive no rehabilitation whatsoever. It must be concluded that past academic, philanthropic, and socio-political efforts have failed. The solution may come from non-traditional strategies. Program: The International Rehabilitation Forum (IRF, www.rehabforum.org) is a not-for-profit organization built by American and international academics to advance medical rehabilitation by purposefully working outside of traditional mechanisms. Structure/Method/Design: IRF principles include: 1) Participation: Stable executive leadership, but informal membership without dues or obligation in order to encourage low-resource participation and bypass universities’ bylaws. 2) Mentoring: Identifying and mentoring rising leaders in low-resource countries and bi-cultural high-resource professional. 3) Disruptive innovation: Researching absurdities in policy and presenting these in the most politically advantageous ways. Holding inexpensive ‘world congresses’ in lowresource countries so the organization’s local partnership can leverage the prestige. Bypassing academics to work with the famous, rich, and influential. Outcomes & Evaluation: The nature of the strategy precludes accurate assessment of impact, however some specifics are illustrative; 1) participation: ‘supporters’ include 50 academic and aid organizations and at least 321 professionals from around the world. 2) Mentoring: IRF mentored the Pakistani 2014 global AuthorAID Mentor of the Year from residency through global prominence; two bicultural Americans from medical school through MD, FAAPMR, and MPH to faculty appointments; and the national leaders of rehabilitation medicine of three countries. Low-resource professionals have coauthored at least 12 publications initiated by high-resource IRF mentors. 3) Disruptive innovation: An ironic IRF expose on Physiatry in Africa and Antarctica was published simultaneously in 5 global journals and changed WHO policy. Sham ‘American’ physiatry consultations in an African trauma ward proved a profound deficit in care. An IRF-commissioned video game, ‘Language Independent Functional Evaluation’ has outperformed traditional functional assessments and is used on 4 continents. IRF’s ‘Captain Crip’ videos have gained global attention. World congresses have caused promises from three universities to build rehabilitation units. An IRF meeting launched the ISPRM/WHO committee on disaster rehabilitation. Four ministries of health have now commissioned the IRF to design their medical rehabilitation policies. Going Forward: Next steps include a ‘global on-line synchronous residency training program’ for isolated Physiatrist faculty, 24-7 coverage of an African rehab unit and research center, and an on-line magazine/journal with mentoring peer-reviewers. Financial sustainability, volunteer management, and succession planning are organizational challenges. The IRF’s success in disruptive innovation illustrates weak points in traditional global health strategies and may encourage others to look for non-traditional change strategies. Funding: No funding listed. Abstract #: 01NCD010

Project-Based Learning to Promote High Order Thinking and Problem Solving Skills in Geotechnical Courses

In todayâ??s society engineer professionals play a crucial role in tackling challenges such as climate change or economic constraints, in order to promote economical development and increase of quality of life ensuring principles like sustainability or safety. It is fundamental to prepare the future engineers to these and future challenges. According to the literature, traditional engineering educational strategies used to prepare the future engineers (lectures, lab experiences and homework) have two main drawbacks. Firstly, they inadequately prepare engineering students to engage in collaborative partnerships (essential for the practicing engineer) and, secondly, they promote passive learning and contribute to a compartmentalized curriculum. As such, the traditional deductive learning may not adequately prepare students for their innovative and flexible role as future engineers. An alternative approach is the use of non-traditional learning strategies, as in the case study hereby presented. Active learning strategies, namely project-based learning, were used to contribute to enhancing problem solving and higher order thinking skills of the graduates in Civil Engineering program of University of Aveiro, Portugal. Seizing the opportunity created by the Bologna process, two complementary courses on Geotechnical subjects (Soil Mechanics I and II) have been redesigned. The non-traditional strategies implemented include project-based learning using cooperative and collaborative models, put into practice since 2007/2008. The learning strategies referred are described and discussed. Their contribution to the development of problem solving and high order thinking skills of students is pointed out. Several strategies used to promote acceptance by students are put forward. The models were assessed using three strategies: studentsâ?? feedback during the semester; academic performance; questionnaires at the end of the semester. The evolution of the studentsâ?? response to these models is discussed using data collected in the courses. The models have been adapted to overcome some of the difficulties faced during their implementation.

Reconnecting with urban youth enrolled in a randomized controlled trial and overdue for a 12-month follow-up survey

Retention of study participants in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) is crucial to study validity. We analyzed the results of four retention strategies used to reconnect with urban teens enrolled in a school-based RCT and overdue for a 12-month follow-up survey. Traditional retention strategies used to reconnect with teens categorized as 'unable to contact' were weekly redials of nonworking telephone numbers and mailings to the student's home. Nontraditional retention strategies were obtaining assistance from school administration and performing outreach on Facebook. Of the 422 students enrolled, 125 (29.5%) were overdue for a 12-month follow-up survey, but had no working telephone number (unable to contact). We made 196 attempts to contact these 125 students, of which 82 attempts (41.8%) were successful in 'reconnecting' with the student. Using 'mailed reminder letters' as the referent category, odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) for the association between the strategy used and reconnecting were 4.60 (1.8-11.8), 1.94 (1.01-3.73), and 2.91 (0.58-14.50), respectively, for telephone number redials, Facebook outreach, and school administration assistance. Of the 422 students, 380 (90%) ultimately completed the 12-month follow-up survey. Retention strategies were not applied hierarchically or systematically. We were unable to determine student preference for a particular strategy. Findings are likely only applicable to similar study populations. A mix of traditional retention strategies and more contemporary methods was effective in reconnecting with urban teenagers enrolled in a school-based RCT and in controlling attrition during the 12-month follow-up survey period.

Barriers to Prostate Cancer Prevention and Community Recommended Health Education Strategies in an Urban African American Community in Jackson, Mississippi

This article describes the use of survey research in collaboration with the African American urban community of Georgetown, Jackson, Mississippi to identify and understand prostate cancer knowledge, resource utilization, and health education strategies considered most effective in reaching the community with prostate cancer prevention messages. The study revealed profound needs in disease identification and resources awareness and utilization. Barriers to utilization were identified by participants to include lack of self-efficacy, low self-esteem, lack of trust in the health care system, limited knowledge of prostate pathology, and limited ability to pay. Participants' recommended strategies for reaching the community with prostate cancer education include traditional and nontraditional strategies. The list of recommendations exclude modern-day outlets such as handheld devices, Twitter, Facebook, blogs, wikis, and other Internet-based outlets. The findings provide a road map for program development and an intervention research agenda custom-tailored to the Georgetown community of Jackson, Mississippi.

Red Bull (Abridged)

This case (an abridged version of UVA-M-0663) describes the history of the Red Bull brand and how the company stimulated and harnessed word of mouth to build a new product category (functional energy drinks) and brand franchise. The case concludes by asking the reader to consider where Red Bull will take its brand, product line, and marketing next, in light of many competitive challenges in the United States. The case was written to foster discussion of nontraditional brand-building strategies and the growing globalization of brands and products targeted toward younger consumers.

El turismo rural como estrategia de dinamización territorial. El caso del sudoeste bonaerense

In recent years, the process of technological and productive change in rural areas has caused a strong impact on the territory organization. On the other hand, from the urban areas there is a revival of rural spaces, both for the location of second homes, as well as tourism and recreation. This article focuses on this new dynamic that is identified as new rurality, which emphasizes the territorial dimension. From this new perspective, relationships between human settlements are expressed in an urban-rural continuum, which begins to show the progressive development of non-traditional agricultural activities and non-agricultural activities in rural areas. The analysis of these changes, in the case of the immediate area of influence of a middle-sized city (Bahía Blanca, Argentina), highlights the dynamic role of tourism and recreational activities in rural development as one of the rural non-traditional strategies most used.

Social Determinants of Health in Minority Populations: A Call for Multidisciplinary Approaches to Eliminate Diabetes-Related Health Disparities

In Brief This article explores current discourse regarding the limitations of linear approaches to addressing diabetes prevention and control typically reported in efficacy investigations. The authors discuss the need for health professionals to understand the link between social determinants of health and health outcomes. They define social determinants of health, provide examples, and discuss how these social determinants affect minority health. This information can lead to the adoption of nontraditional strategies that involve the use of nontraditional partners and the identification of opportunities for improving or preventing negative health outcomes in communities affected by inequitable conditions.

The Role of the Black Church, the Barbershop/Beauty Salon, and Digital Communication to Support African American Persons Living With HIV/AIDS

‘Perspectives’ is a special feature included in this issue of Journal of Creativity in Mental Health that provides mental health professionals with an opportunity to discuss their positions on a variety of creativity-related topics. In this column, Yegan Pillay shares his perspective on the roles of the Black church and barbershops/beauty salons and the use of digital technology as resources to support African American persons living with HIV/AIDS. Yegan Pillay is a South African who has worked as a researcher/mental health practitioner in Botswana and South Africa and is the current director of the HIV/AIDS in Africa Education Program. He incorporates into his research, writing, and practice creative and innovative nontraditional strategies that enhance the psychological well-being of people. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2010) reports that approximately 1 million people in the United States are living with HIV. African Americans comprise 12% of the population yet account for approximately 46% of the people living with HIV. The rising prevalence rate among African Americans is an anomaly given that the prevalence rate is on a downward trend globally. Traditional intervention strategies are evidently ineffective, and therefore, alternative, creative, and innovative methods should be explored. The author examines the role of the Black church and barbershops/beauty salons and the use of digital technology as resources to supplement prevention and treatment strategies.

Municipalities and the Institutionalization of Market-Based Governance: Nested Holons within the Institutional Environment of the State

Local governments walk a fine line between the traditional values of financial stewardship and accountability and those related to entrepreneurialism and profitability. Recent decades have seen an increase in the adoption of contracting-out, the implementation of service fees, the development of public authorities, and other non-traditional revenue strategies that are often referred to as market-based governance policies. Although these non-traditional practices have not been widely discussed in relation to one another, they are all underscored by a spirit of business-like efficiency, responsiveness, and cost-saving that has traditionally been associated with the private sector. This research empirically assesses the adoption of market based governance policies and hypothesizes that policymakers are more likely to adopt these policies than the politically charged alternative of tax increases. The adoption decision is mediated by the institutional environment of both state and local fiscal conditions, stakeholder influences and administrative capacities. A multilevel ordered logit is used to determine which factors influence the adoption of the several policy options.

University – government – international donor community cooperation in research, teaching and community engagement

World geo-economics of the last two decades have seriously impacted on governments’ capability to finance university teaching, research and community engagement, especially in the developing world. Over the same period however, the demands and expectations exerted on universities by government and society have increased phenomenally. To meet these demands and expectations, universities have resorted to non-traditional strategies of financing their teaching, research and community engagement endeavour. One such strategy is the university – government – international donor community cooperation in teaching, research and community engagement, where government and/or international donor community finance university teaching, research and community engagement within clear predetermined outputs such as training and development of government personnel and local community members; exposure of students to community dynamics; and production of problem-solving databased research. The article relates these insights to the Multilingual, Informatics and Development Programme (MIDP) being actualised by the University of the Free State.

Determining the safety of enzymes used in animal feed

The purpose of this paper is to provide guidance for evaluating the safety of enzyme preparations used in animal feed. Feed enzymes are typically added to animal feed to increase nutrient bioavailability by acting on feed components prior to or after consumption, i.e., within the gastrointestinal tract. In contrast, food processing enzymes are generally used during processing and then inactivated or removed prior to consumption. The enzymes used in both applications are almost always impure mixtures of active enzyme and other metabolites from the production strain, hence similar safety evaluation procedures for both are warranted. We propose that the primary consideration should be the safety of the production strain and that the decision tree mechanism developed previously for food processing enzymes (Pariza and Johnson, 2001) is appropriate for determining the safety of feed enzymes. Thoroughly characterized non-pathogenic, non-toxigenic microbial strains with a history of safe use in enzyme manufacture are also logical candidates for generating safe strain lineages, from which additional strains may be derived via genetic modification by traditional and non-traditional strategies. For new feed enzyme products derived from a safe strain lineage, it is important to ensure a sufficiently high safety margin for the intended use, and that the product complies with appropriate specifications for chemical and microbial contamination.

Indigenous employment—it works

It is predicted that by 2020 the Northern Territory’s Aboriginal population will rise from 33% to 50% of the total population base. Parallel to this, business and government agencies will need to source thousands of new employees in anticipation of northern Australia’s economic growth forecast. In a wider context, if we struck an arc from Geraldton in Western Australia to Gladstone in Queensland, we know the resources sector is investing billions of dollars in new projects. In this same area of Australia we find thousands of Indigenous candidates seeking employment opportunities who are both willing and capable of operating and maintaining the assets. This paper will outline how Universal Engineering—a small fabrication and engineering contractor in the oil and gas industry—has approached its skill shortage problems. By encouraging non-traditional recruitment and retention strategies, various solutions and achievements are highlighted, showing how Universal Engineering has succeeded with recruiting, training and retaining Indigenous apprentices as part of its overall employment growth strategy. By engaging Indigenous employees over the past 10 years, Universal Engineering has refined its Indigenous training strategies and would like to share its knowledge with other employers in the oil and gas sectors. Our key success factors include the development of human resources systems, ensuring that parents—Mum, Auntie or Grandma—are willing to mentor their children through the initial training and employment phases and by adopting school based apprenticeships (taking place in years 11 and 12). These greatly assist with literacy and numeracy improvements and help the transition into the workplace. In the longer term, Universal is establishing role models and strong career planning to let our employees know they have stability and a future in the company, and indeed in the industry as a whole.