Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services Strategic Plan, 2011-2014

This report outlines the strategic plan for Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services including, goals and mission.

Changes in arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal phenotypes and genotypes in response to plant species identity and phosphorus concentration.

* Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are plant symbionts that improve floristic diversity and ecosystem productivity. Many AMF species are generalists with wide host ranges. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi individuals are heterokaryotic, and AMF populations are genetically diverse. Populations of AMF harbor two levels of genetic diversity on which selection can act, namely among individuals and within individuals. Whether environmental factors alter genetic diversity within populations is still unknown. * Here, we measured genetic changes and changes in fitness-related traits of genetically distinct AMF individuals from one field, grown with different concentrations of available phosphate or different host species. * We found significant genotype-by-environment interactions for AMF fitness traits in response to these treatments. Host identity had a strong effect on the fitness of different AMF, unearthing a specificity of response within Glomus intraradices. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi individuals grown in novel environments consistently showed a reduced presence of polymorphic genetic markers, providing some evidence for host or phosphate-induced genetic change in AMF. * Given that AMF individuals can form extensive hyphal networks colonizing different hosts simultaneously, contrasting habitats or soil properties may lead to evolution in the population. Local selection may alter the structure of AMF populations and maintain genetic diversity, potentially even within the hyphal network of one fungus.

Effect of orthographic processes on letter identity and letter-position encoding in dyslexic children.

The ability to identify letters and encode their position is a crucial step of the word recognition process. However and despite their word identification problem, the ability of dyslexic children to encode letter identity and letter-position within strings was not systematically investigated. This study aimed at filling this gap and further explored how letter identity and letter-position encoding is modulated by letter context in developmental dyslexia. For this purpose, a letter-string comparison task was administered to French dyslexic children and two chronological age (CA) and reading age (RA)-matched control groups. Children had to judge whether two successively and briefly presented four-letter strings were identical or different. Letter-position and letter identity were manipulated through the transposition (e.g., RTGM vs. RMGT) or substitution of two letters (e.g., TSHF vs. TGHD). Non-words, pseudo-words, and words were used as stimuli to investigate sub-lexical and lexical effects on letter encoding. Dyslexic children showed both substitution and transposition detection problems relative to CA-controls. A substitution advantage over transpositions was only found for words in dyslexic children whereas it extended to pseudo-words in RA-controls and to all type of items in CA-controls. Letters were better identified in the dyslexic group when belonging to orthographically familiar strings. Letter-position encoding was very impaired in dyslexic children who did not show any word context effect in contrast to CA-controls. Overall, the current findings point to a strong letter identity and letter-position encoding disorder in developmental dyslexia.

Predictors of physiotherapy and occupational therapy use two years after a vocational rehabilitation for orthopaedic trauma

Introduction.- Health care utilization is an important field of our economy. Nevertheless a minority of cases induce the majority of costs. For instance, in the setting of accident insurance, the most expensive 5% of all injured cases involve 80% of the health care costs. Although physiotherapy and occupational therapy consist of only a small proportion of these costs, it is nevertheless important to evaluate the factors that predict its use in order to improve services (i.e. allocation of resources to those who need them and benefit most).Patients and methods.- In this longitudinal prospective study, the cohort consisted of 2156 consecutively included patients with orthopaedic problems attending the clinique Romande de réadaptation (CRR) at Sion for inpatient rehabilitation after a work, traffic or leisure related injury. Two years after discharge, a questionnaire regarding the use of different health cares was send to the patients (1502 patients returned their questionnaires). The aim of this study was to calculate, with a logistic multivariate model, in-patient hospitalized for orthopaedic problems, the variables that mostly predict physiotherapy use 2 years after discharge.Results.- The full multivariate model contains 46 predictors. The use of physiotherapy and occupational therapy was significantly predicted in this multivariate model by the following predictors: Patients with a spinal problem (OR 1.51 versus lower-extremity problem, 95% CI 1.01 to 2.27), a disability pension (OR 1.69, 95% CI 1.09 to 2.60), patients with sports activities (OR 1.56, 95% CI 1.26 to 1.94), patients with longer stay at the rehabilitation clinic (OR 1.22 per week, 95% CI 1.05 to 1.41), women (OR 1.64, 95% CI 1.09 to 2.48) and those consulting a psychiatrist (OR 1.66, 95% CI 1.06 to 2.60).Discussion.- In this prospective study with a 2-year follow-up, different factors predicted the use of physiotherapy and occupational therapy after an injury. Further studies are needed to clarify the impact of these factors for the health care utilization and the strategies, which would allow to improve allocation of available resources.

Identity and combinations of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal isolates influence plant resistance and insect preference

1. Accumulating evidence indicates that plant resistance against above-ground herbivores can be affected by the presence of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in association with the host plant. Little is known, however, about how AMF composition can influence herbivore choice to feed on a particular plant. 2. Unravelling the preference-performance hypothesis in a multitrophic context is needed to expand our knowledge of complex multitrophic interactions in natural systems. If given mycorrhizal fungal genotypes increase attractiveness for a herbivore (reduced plant resistance), then the benefits of increased unpalatability provided by the mycorrhizal fungi (increased plant resistance) might be outweighed by the increased herbivore recruitment. 3. This was addressed by designing three experiments to test the effects of different AMF genotypes, inoculated either alone or in combination, to measure intraspecific AMF effects on plant resistance and insect herbivore preference. Using strawberry (Fragaria vesca L.) plants that were colonised by eight different combinations of Rhizophagus irregularis isolates, we measured effects on plant growth, insect growth and survival, as well as feeding preferences of a generalist herbivore caterpillar (Spodoptera littoralis Boisduval). 4. Overall, it was found that: (i) AMF influenced plant resistance in an AMF genotype-specific manner; (ii) some AMF inoculations decreased insect performance; (iii) insects preferentially chose to feed more on leaves originating from non-mycorrhizal plants; but also that (iv) in a whole plant bioassay, insects preferentially chose the biggest plant, regardless of their mycorrhizal status. 5. Therefore, AMF-mediated trade-offs between growth and resistance against herbivores have been shown. Such trade-offs, particularly driven by plant attractiveness to herbivores, buffer the positive effects of the mycorrhizal symbiosis on enhanced plant growth.

Iowa Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services Strategic Plan, 2011-2014

Strategic Plan for the Iowa Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services

Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services Performance Plan, FY2015

Agency Performance Plan, Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services

Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services Biennial Report, 2011-2012

The division shall report biennially to the governor the condition of vocational rehabilitation within the state, designating the educational institutions, establishments, plants, factories, and other agencies in which training is being given, and include a detailed statement of expenditures of the state and federal funds in the rehabilitation of individuals with disabilities.

Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services Biennial Report, 2013-2014

The division shall report biennially to the governor the condition of vocational rehabilitation within the state, designating the educational institutions, establishments, plants, factories, and other agencies in which training is being given, and include a detailed statement of expenditures of the state and federal funds in the rehabilitation of individuals with disabilities.

Carnatic music: Svara, Gamaka, Motif and Raga identity

Over the last century in Karnatik music, the method ofunderstanding raga has been to break it down into its variouscomponents, svara, scale, gamaka, and phrases. In this paper, an attempt is made to define the abstract concept of raga in its entirety within the aesthetics of Karnatik music considering the various components and their symbiotic relationship. This paper also attempts to prove that theidentity of a raga exists as a whole. Section 2 explains theconcept of a fundamental musical note or svara. Section 3 illustrates the concept of gamaka or inflections. Section 4 delves into the concept of raga in detail and then flows into Section 5 which enunciates the identity of a raga in terms of svara, gamaka, and phraseology. The paper concludes in Section 6, and Section 7 gives the references.

Mastectomy, Body De-Construction and Impact on Identity: A qualitative study

Objectives: This qualitative study aims at understanding the consequences of body deconstruction through mastectomy on corporality and identity in women with breast cancer. Design: Nineteen women were contacted through the hospital. All had to undergo mastectomy. Some were offered immediate breast reconstruction, others, because of cancer treatments, had no planned reconstruction. A qualitative reflexive methodological background was chosen. Method: Women were invited to participate in three semi-structured interviews, one shortly before or after mastectomy, and the other interviews later in their illness courses, after surgery. All interviews were transcribed verbatim. Thematic analysis was performed. The analysis of the first interview of each woman is presented in this article. Results: Mastectomy provokes a painful experience of body deconstruction. Even when immediate reconstruction is proposed, contrasted feelings and dissonance are expressed when comparing the former healthy body to the present challenged body entity. Body transformations are accompanied with experiences of mutilation, strangeness, and modify the physical, emotional social, symbolic and relational dimensions of the woman's gendered identity. Although the opportunity of breast reconstruction is seen as a possible recovery of a lost physical symmetry and body integrity, grieving the past body and integrating a new corporality leads to a painful identity crisis. Conclusion: With mastectomy, the roots of the woman's identity are challenged, leading to a re-evaluation of her existential values. The consequences of mastectomy transform the woman's corporality and embodiment, and question her identity. Psychological support is discussed in the perspective of our results.