Special Aids Research Articles

Mobility and Sustainable Cultural Tourism (Case Study: Cracow and Warsaw Old Towns Accessibility)

Research aims: Sustainable tourism means reducing barriers of accessibility in the tourist destinations. It requires the creation and promotion of barrier – free space, facilities and services. The aim of the study was to examine the current accessibility of Cracow and Warsaw historic districts, which are the most popular tourist destinations in Poland. Tourists with motor, visual and hearing impairment require special aids to visit historical cities and tourist attractions (as museums) safely and relatively independently. Our research objective was also to outline a model of principal improvements to enhance accessibility to heritage sites, which could be replicable in the similar contexts of other Polish historic cities (as for example in Torun). Research material and methods: The research was conducted between 2012 and 2015 in Cracow and Warsaw Old Towns both are medieval historic districts enlisted to the UNESCO World Heritage List and create popular tourist destinations. Information on tourist accessibility of the Old Towns was gathered based on experience from the authors’ visits, observations and field research, as well as publications, law regulations, local authorities strategies undertaken to improve accessibility of tourist reception areas. Research results: Accordingly to the law regulations, in Poland newly erected buildings and public space must be accessible to persons with hearing, visual and motor impairments. But still, almost 70% of museums and tourist attractions at heritage sites are inaccessible to persons with motor impairment. There are no enough provision of services and facilities dedicated to disabled. For example visual information is too rarely accompanied by records in the Braille alphabet or with sound – visual assistance. The article presents the most important modifications to be applied in aim to enhance the accessibility of Cracow and Warsaw, the two most popular tourist destinations in Poland, and identifies a number of the ‘best practice’ recommendations to be applied to sustainable planning and management of tourist space of high cultural values with regard to disabled tourists. Conclusions and discussion: Removing barriers for disabled tourists in historical buildings is often difficult not only due to the high costs of such projects, but also due to strict requirements issued by the Polish Heritage Conservatory office (which usually prevent extensive intervention in historical buildings). The open question remains whether entirely ‘mobile tourism’ is achievable in a historic city, on how high costs and how big compromises are necessary. Moreover, as each historic site is unique - an individual approach, rather than universal model, is necessary to enhance tourism sustainability and reduce barriers.

U.S.-Israel Special Aid Relationship Dynamics and Implications for Pakistan

The United States (U.S.) has allocated a total of more than U.S. $ 63 billion economic and over U.S. $ 141 billion military assistance to Israel, more than U.S. $ 200 billion in aggregate over the last six decades. While there are several fluctuations in the amount of aid, there is also a continuum. This paper examines how and why the U.S.-Israel aid relationship is so special and unique. Focusing on historical as well as contemporary U.S. economic and military aid to Israel, the paper explores that, despite some ups and downs, aid to Israel has always remained a constant feature of the ties between the two countries. Israel has not only received the largest amount of aggregate U.S. economic and military aid, but there are also certain other special concessions available to Israel that no other U.S. aid recipient is privileged to avail. The paper identifies key dynamics that play an integral role in keeping the unparalleled U.S.-Israel aid relationship intact. Existing evidence indicates that besides factors such as shared values, including so-called democratic norms, Judo-Christian values and common geo-strategic goals; the Jewish lobby within the U.S., particularly the extremely powerful and well-organized American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) is one of the most influential players tilting U.S. foreign policy in favour of Israel. The paper illustrates that Israel is a unique aid recipient which has been receiving billions of dollars in U.S. civilian and security assistance on account of these factors, rather than purely because of Israel's poverty or developmental needs. The study concludes by highlighting the current state of U.S.-Israel aid ties and the implications of overall U.S.-Israel aid relations for Pakistan.

Allocation analysis of central government AIDS special funding in priority sites of HIV/AIDS prevention and control

To analyze the allocation and trend of central government AIDS special funding in 4 priority sites of HIV/AIDS prevention and control across calendar years. Information about the allocation of central government special AIDS funding and cumulative HIV/AIDS survivor numbers of Z city, D prefecture, L prefecture and D prefecture were collected until 2013. Data were collected from 2004-2013 for Z city and D prefecture, and data from 2009-2013 were collected for L and Y prefecture. Funding allocation among all working areas and their trend over time were analyzed. From 2004-2013, the total amount of special funding in Z prefecture was 110.15 million RMB. The largest three areas of allocation were key population response (29%, 3 190/11 015), surveillance and testing (23%, 2 535/11 015) and human resource (13%, 1 498/11 015). The least area of allocation was follow-up and prevention of discordant couple transmission (2%, 251/11 015). The total amount of special funding in D prefecture from 2004-2013 was 109.77 million RMB. The largest three areas of allocation were treatment and care (25%, 2 691/10 977), follow-up and prevention of discordant couple transmission (17%, 1 843/10 977) and surveillance and testing (15%, 1 656/10 977). The least area was blood safety (1%, 135/10 977). From 2009 to 2013, the total amount of special funding in L prefecture was 55 million RMB. The largest three areas of allocation were surveillance and testing (60%, 3 298/5 500), high risk population intervention (14%, 768/5 500) and follow up and prevention of discordant couple transmission (12%, 675/5 500). The least area was blood safety (0.1%, 8/5 500). From 2009-2013, the total amount of special funding in Y prefecture was 55 million RMB and the largest three areas of allocation were project management and others (28%, 1 527/5 500), key population response (19%, 1 046/5 500) and high risk population intervention (17%, 922/5 500). The least area of special funding was blood safety (2%, 106/5 500). Among three HIV/AIDS epidemic related key areas (surveillance and testing, follow-up and prevention of discordant couple transmission, treatment and care), 2004-2013, allocated funds were between 2.96-3.36, 0-0.37, 0.37-1.97 million RMB in Z city; 0.64-2.35, 0.00-3.00, 2.00-4.70 million RMB in D prefecture; 2009-2013, allocated funds were between 2.67-8.85, 0.41-2.39, 0.35-1.84 million RMB in L prefecture, 1.18-2.84, 0.70-1.05, 0.46-0.89 million RMB in Y prefecture. The allocation patterns of central government AIDS special funding among key working areas were different across 4 different sites; in each individual site, the trend of special funding allocation was stable among HIV epidemic related key areas over calendar years.

Influence of Social Factors to the Quality of Life of the Elderly in Malaysia

Introduction and Aim: The increase in the life expectancy does not necessarily correlate with a higher quality of life. The objective of this study was to determine the influences of social factors to the quality of life of the elderly in Malaysia. Methodology: This cross sectional study was conducted in Penang, Malaysia among 2005 randomly sampled elderly using the WHOQOL-BREF scale. The sample was randomly collected from a list of residents of the state who are aged 60 years and older who receive the special aid provided by the Penang state government to all elderly residing in Penang irrespective of their socio and economic status. Results: Regression analysis showed that after controlling for demographic factors which include age, sex, race, marital status, education and employment; living with spouse and family members and being socially active were significantly associated with increased quality of life scores and being dependent on partner and children as compared to being selfdependent on mobility and having poor and moderate support as compared to good social support were significantly associated with decreased quality of life scores. Conclusion: The quality of life of the elderly is very much influenced by social factors.

Providing free treatment for severe mental disorders in China.

Providing free treatment for severe mental disorders in China.

ORGANIZATION OF SPECIALIZED MEDICAL CARE RENDERED TO PATIENTS WITH ACUTE ARTERIAL OBSTRUCTION

Aim. To improve the direct and long-term results of treatment of patients with acute arterial obstruction by means of rational organization of medical care. Materials and methods. Retrospective analysis of the activity of vascular surgery unit in relation to rendering the first aid to patients with diseases and injuries of magistral vessels for the last 29 years was carried out. At the first stage of this work (from 1984 to 1993), 946 patients were operated for acute arterial obstruction. During the second period, (from 1994 to 2012), 2054 operations for acute arterial obstruction were performed. Results. At the first stage of this work, we gave preference to the principle of removing a patient “by ourselves” for rendering assistance to patients with urgent diseases and vascular injuries. Out of all urgently operated patients only one third was operated “at departure” and only 30,9% of patients were rendered specialized aid during the first 12 hours. For the purpose of solving the problem, that is, reduction of the terms of rendering specialized aid to patients with urgent pathology and vascular injury, the system of organizing assistance to this category of patients was revised. The number of operated patients reaches 80,4% when angiosurgeon is rendering medical care at the hospital where a patient is staying for 12 hours. Blood flow is restored in 80,1% of patients. Conclusion. Specialized assistance should be maximally brought nearer to patients with urgent vascular pathology and reduced in time. The optimal method for rendering an urgent angiosurgical aid consists in creation of specialized emergency teams of constant readiness in collaboration with Territorial Center of Catastrophe Medicine.

PERTARUNGAN SIMBOLIK DALAM WACANA BANTUAN KHUSUS MAHASISWA

This study aims to describe forms of, strategies in, and factors causing symbolic conflicts in the discourse of Special Aids for Students (SAS). The data sources were texts on SAS in mass media. This study employed the Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) by Fairclough. The data were analyzed in three steps, i.e. text analysis (description), process analysis (interpretation) and socio-cultural practice analysis (explanation). The findings can be explained as follows. First, the forms of symbolic conflicts are the introduction and refusal of meaning, logic, perspective, and value. Second, the strategies of symbolic conflicts include making them subtle or vague and making them positive or natural. Third, the factors causing symbolic conflicts include differences in habits and social structure and those in discourse executors’ interests.

Missed Childhood-Onset Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Diagnosed as Chronic Pain: Case Report

We report the case of a 15-year-old girl with a red, swollen, and painful right hand. She first developed symptoms when she was 7 years old. Numerous physicians evaluated her at various institutions but were able to classify her only with chronic pain syndrome. She continued with regular occupational therapy and had to use special aids to compensate throughout school. After 8 years of treatment with no improvement, she presented to our office, where we diagnosed carpal tunnel syndrome. Intraoperative findings revealed a large proximal muscle belly of the index lumbrical, a thickened transverse carpal ligament, and marked compression of the median nerve. Two weeks after the surgery, her symptoms cleared; at 5 months, she remained symptom free.

First Aid Knowledge and Education Needs of Ski Resort Workers

Purpose: This is the descriptive research for providing the basic data necessary for the first aid education after understanding the first aid experience, first aid education, first aid knowledge, and educational needs of ski resorts workers. Methods: 323 workers of domestic 9 ski resorts were surveyed for data, which was collected using the systematic questionnaire from Oct. to , 2011. The collected data has been processed using the program of SPSS Win. Version 14.0 and analyzed that according to the purpose of research in terms of real number, percentage, standard deviation, t-test and ANOVA. Results: 1. 58.8%(190) of ski resort workers experienced an emergency on duty and 33.6%(108) carried out the first aid for emergency patients on duty. 2. 65.6%(210) of workers experienced first aid education. 3. The percentage of correct answers of first aid knowledge was average 46.8% and average points out of total 20 points. 4. The first aid educational necessity indicated as follows: ski resort workers need first aid education (97.5%, 306); workers want to have the education if they have chance (94.6%, 296 persons); in addition, they need the repeated education of first aid (95.6%, 301). Conclusion: It is understood that as special first aid service can be delayed in ski resorts due to their geographical characteristics, the workers of ski resorts need the continuous and systematic first aid education enabling them to play the first responder in the first aid system when emergency situation occurs.

Exploiting the Heavyweight Ontology with Multi-Agent System Using Vocal Command System: A Case Study on E-Mall

With the explosive growth of internet, the precision rate of extracted information from web is decreasing day by day. Several search engines and information fetching tools are available on internet. For the most, these search engines are keyword based. This poses a problem for visually impaired people who want to get the full use from online resources available to other users. Visually impaired users require special aid to get along with any given computer system. Interface and content management are no exception, and vocal tools are required to facilitate the extraction of relevant information from the internet for visually impaired users. Multi-Agent System has proven itself in recent years, an efficient technology to cope with challenging development issues of heterogeneous complex systems. In this research we exploited the heavyweight ontology with multi-agent system to resolve the burning issue of autonomous information extraction using built-in vocal command system. JADE (Java Agent Development Environment), OWL-2 (Web Ontology Language-2) and PAL (Protege Axiom Language) are the underlying technologies, which are used in development of autonomous prototype. A number of experiments were performed to judge the performance prototype software.

Ontology-assisted automatic precise information extractor for visually impaired inhabitants

As the internet grows rapidly, millions of web pages are being added on a daily basis. The extraction of precise information is becoming more and more difficult as the volume of data on the internet increases. Several search engines and information fetching tools are available on the internet, all of which claim to provide the best crawling facilities. For the most part, these search engines are keyword based. This poses a problem for visually impaired people who want to get the full use from online resources available to other users. Visually impaired users require special aid to get along with any given computer system. Interface and content management are no exception, and special tools are required to facilitate the extraction of relevant information from the internet for visually impaired users. The HOIEV (Heavyweight Ontology Based Information Extraction for Visually impaired User) architecture provides a mechanism for highly precise information extraction using heavyweight ontology and built-in vocal command system for visually impaired internet users. Our prototype intelligent system not only integrates and communicates among different tools, such as voice command parsers, domain ontology extractors and short message engines, but also introduces an autonomous mechanism of information extraction (IE) using heavyweight ontology. In this research we designed domain specific heavyweight ontology using OWL 2 (Web Ontology Language 2) and for axiom writing we used PAL (Protege Axiom Language). We introduced a novel autonomous mechanism for IE by developing prototype software. A series of experiments were designed for the testing and analysis of the performance of heavyweight ontology in general, and our information extraction prototype specifically.

Hospitalization replacement technologies in rendering specialized medical aid to patients suffering from dermatoses

The authors present materials describing the administration of specialized (high-end) medical aid to patients suffering from chromic dermatological diseases under the conditions of hospitalization replacement technologies. They demonstrate the expediency of organizing a daytime inpatient department for dermatological patients.

The use and usefulness of a parent questionnaire to help schools identify disability

The Equality Act 2010 will be implemented in full in 2011, and schools in the UK will have to provide special aids or services for children with disabilities where this provision is considered reasonable. This paper reports on staff perspectives on the use and usefulness of a parental questionnaire on disability from a sample of 49 schools (mainstream and special) located in 12 local authorities. Most schools found the process of administering the parent questionnaire undemanding; just under half of the sample indicated that they would take some action as a result of the data collected from the parental questionnaire (e.g., to inform plans for targeting or monitoring support for children, and to contact parents and follow‐up issues they had mentioned); and about one‐third of schools recorded unanticipated findings from the parental questionnaire, that is, the identification of children whose disabilities were not previously known to the school. Implications for schools are discussed.

RESULTS OF REALIZATION OF THE PROGRAM OF THE STATE GUARANTEES OF RENDERING OF CITIZENS OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION OF FREE-OF-CHARGE MEDICAL AID IN 2008

The analysis of realization of the rights of citizens on reception of free-of-charge medical aid has shown, that in the medical organizations of all patterns of ownership in 2008 have free of charge received stationary medical aid 31,5 million person, medical aid in day time hospitals - 6,2 million person. By the first help it is served from above 49 million calls, number of references in out-patient-polyclinic establishments and visitings in-home - nearby 490 million Hi-tech specialized medical aid in federal establishments of public health services have received 190,6 thousand person, in the state and municipal establishments of subjects of the Russian Federation - over 24 thousand person.

The time and effort in taking care for children with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities: a study on care load and support

Accessible summaryIt is not easy for parents to care for a child with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities (PIMD). But we do not know how much effort it actually takes. If we want to help the parents, it is good to understand what it is they need to do and how much time that takes.We asked parents with what basic care tasks they had to help their child. And how much time that took them. We also asked parents if they had help from friends and relatives. We also wanted to know if professionals could really help to make the lives of parents a bit easier. There were 133 parents who answered all those questions.What they told us was important. They said: Our children are very dependent on us. We have to help them with getting up, getting dressed, eating and drinking, and so on. And that will never stop, even if they grow older. Some of us still have to get up night after night to look after the child. This is very tiring. To be up every night is really a burden. We learn to live with the needs that our children have. It is more difficult for younger parents than it is for parents with an older child. The support of professionals from special educational centre’s is very important for us. To us, it is even more important than help from friends. SummaryRaising children with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities is considered to be extremely difficult for parents, but figures on the content and amount of time needed for the caring task of parents is lacking. Data on what the caring task actually means (in terms of amount of time and type of task) is needed to be able to understand the parents’ support needs. A questionnaire was developed in order to collect information about both the caring task and the level of parental burden concerning health‐related tasks and basic need tasks such as eating and drinking, dressing and sleeping. Furthermore, the level of support parents experience from friends, relatives and special services is included and the use of special aids and resources is taken into account. A total of 133 parents completed the questionnaire. Most children are dependent on them for meeting all their basic needs and have several health problems. Significant relationships were found between the number of times parents have to get up at night and the level of burden at night, and between the days a child stayed in hospital and the level of parental burden. The results indicate that the caring task places heavy demands on parents. Professional support is alleviating and extremely important for parents. The caring task is not necessarily indicative for the subjective burden parents experience. Parents of young children express higher levels of burden than parents of older children.

The Library Services to People with Special Needs Section of IFLA: an historical overview

The Library Services to People with Special Needs Section of IFLA was founded in 1931 as the Sub-committee on Hospital Libraries. It was the first sub-committee IFLA formed for a special user group, that is, hospitalized people who could not use external libraries. The young sub-committee soon saw, however, that due to a range of disabilities often secondary to the cause of hospitalization, some patients required special reading aids, for example, sensory or mobility aids. Those needs also became evident among community members, confined or not. Wanting to address them, the sub-committee expanded its focus overtime to include people who, for whatever reason, could not use conventional libraries, materials and services. This paper traces the sub-committee’s evolution from sub-committee, to committee, to sub-section, and finally section that today promotes library resources and services for a broad range of special needs people. Its growth in part reflects the expansion of the Federation itself.

Residential Modifications and Decline in Physical Function Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults

The purpose of this study is to quantify the effect of residential modification on decreasing risk of physical function decline in 2 years. Cohort study using propensity scores method to control for baseline differences between individuals with residential modifications and those without residential modifications. Participants (N = 9,447) were from the Second Longitudinal Study on Aging, a nationally representative sample of the civilian noninstitutionalized population, aged 70 years and older in the United States at the time of baseline interview in 1994-1995. Participants self-reported residential modifications at baseline (e.g., railings, bathroom modifications). Decline in physical functioning was measured by comparing self-reported activities of daily living at baseline and at 2-year follow-up. Compared with individuals without baseline modifications, a higher proportion of those with baseline modifications were aged 85 years and older (16% vs. 10%), used special aides (36% vs. 14%), and lived alone (40% vs. 31%). Using a weighted propensity score method, we found a modest decrease in risk of decline at Wave 2 for those with baseline modifications (risk difference = 3.1%). Respondents with a baseline residential modification were less likely to experience subsequent decline in functional ability (adjusted odds ratio = 0.88, 95% confidence interval = 0.79-0.97) after adjusting for quintile of propensity score in a survey-weighted regression model. Baseline modifications may be associated with reduced risk of decline among a nationally representative sample of older community-dwelling adults. Widespread adoption of residential modifications may reduce the overall population estimates of decline.

Local History Bibliography of the North Caucasus as a Resource of Region Study (Late 19th — Early 20th)

Regional bibliography of North Caucasus was forming gradually in the process of revelation, description, consideration, and classification of historical literature and published regional history sources. In the course of time it turned into a separate field of scientific bibliographical activity. As a result special bibliographical proceedings and training aids, allowing to get new historical knowledge, were developed.

Reflections on the American War on Terror: A Corrective from the Pages of History

Reflections on the American War on TerrorA Corrective from the Pages of History Richard Drake (bio) The American government’s official policy statement on terrorism ignores the historical literature on the subject. The book-length document released by the United States Department of State on April 30, 2007, Country Reports on Terrorism 2006, contains not a single reference to any of the classic or modern studies of terrorism. The State Department’s Country Reports begins with a strategic assessment that celebrates America’s advances in the war on terror. The authors point to the progress that has been made in producing security improvements, reducing terrorist capabilities, and eliminating key terrorist leaders. They lament the problems that remain: Iran, Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Lebanon, al Qaeda and its affiliates worldwide. Indeed, no part of the world is free of terrorism or the threat of it, with the [End Page 67] Middle East, North Africa, and South and Central Asia the regions most at risk. State sponsors of terrorism—chiefly Iran, Syria, and Cuba—are said to provide critical support for nonstate terrorist groups. Nuclear, radiological, biological, and chemical weapons of mass destruction (WMD) attacks from terrorist groups could occur at any time. Uneasy lies the head that wears a superpower’s crown. What is to be done about the manifold threats of terrorism? In Chapter 5 of Country Reports, we receive an answer to this question. In addition to eliminating terrorist leaders and safe havens, “we must address the underlying conditions that terrorists exploit.” The conditions favoring terrorist activity are as follows: lack of economic opportunity and political participation, ethnic conflict, ungoverned space, and political injustice. In commenting on what the United States is doing about the underlying conditions that give rise to terrorism, the State Department authors reveal their ultimate concern: radical Islamic terrorism. All of the other terrorist threats against the United States amount to very little. Europe and Latin America, once hotbeds of terrorist activity, rate only passing mention by the State Department now. The section of Country Reports that deals with underlying causes (in Chapter 5) concerns Islamic societies exclusively. To eliminate these causes, the authors present a program called the Middle East Partnership Initiative as the paramount means of spreading democracy, women’s empowerment, and economic prosperity in the region. In addition, they tout America’s special aid programs for Pakistan and Saudi Arabia as effective counterterrorism measures. Most importantly, “the United States recognizes that the global and generational challenge of countering terrorism is, at its heart, a contest of ideas and values, and that America is more secure when people around the world share the same hopes and freedoms.” Unrecognized by the United States, at least in the pages of the Country Reports, are the particular conflicts that have sparked the firestorm of anti-American sentiment in the Islamic world. The authors immediately move from their statement about the generic conditions favoring terrorism to a listing of America’s counterterrorism measures. Clearly, they missed a step in their analysis. Here is where the approaches of the classic historians, [End Page 68] beginning with Thucydides, can be of help to them in establishing the proper ways to define the threats of terrorism (Drake 2007). If we begin with the premise that terrorism is a particular form of warfare, the efficacy of Thucydides’s explanation for all wars becomes readily apparent. In the introduction to the History of the Peloponnesian War, he lays down the rule that wars result from general and particular causes. For the Peloponnesian War, he establishes a context by analyzing Greek history from the end of the Persian Wars to the outbreak of hostilities between Athens and Sparta, a period of about 50 years. These two powerful states contended for supremacy in Hellas, intermittently clashing with each other. An attempt to establish a meaningful truce did not hold for long: “As to the reasons why they broke the truce, I propose first to give an account of the causes of complaint which they had against each other and of specific instances where their interests clashed: this in order that there should be no doubt in anyone’s mind about...

Individual differences in judging deception: Accuracy and bias.

The authors report a meta-analysis of individual differences in detecting deception, confining attention to occasions when people judge strangers' veracity in real-time with no special aids. The authors have developed a statistical technique to correct nominal individual differences for differences introduced by random measurement error. Although researchers have suggested that people differ in the ability to detect lies, psychometric analyses of 247 samples reveal that these ability differences are minute. In terms of the percentage of lies detected, measurement-corrected standard deviations in judge ability are less than 1%. In accuracy, judges range no more widely than would be expected by chance, and the best judges are no more accurate than a stochastic mechanism would produce. When judging deception, people differ less in ability than in the inclination to regard others' statements as truthful. People also differ from one another as lie- and truth-tellers. They vary in the detectability of their lies. Moreover, some people are more credible than others whether lying or truth-telling. Results reveal that the outcome of a deception judgment depends more on the liar's credibility than any other individual difference.