Search

Despite existing research, which has focused on the impacts of intimate partner violence (IPV) on mothers and their children, there is a paucity of research specifically examining mothers’ perceptions of parenting in the context of IPV. This qualitative study explored parenting capacity and meaning making among a purposive sample of 16 female survivors of IPV who experienced IPV during both childhood and adulthood and had at least one school-aged child. Participants completed semi-structured in-person interviews during which they were asked a series of questions about their experiences with IPV and their parenting practices. Analysis revealed that parenting capacity could be categorized by two capacities: relational and operational. Based on these descriptive accounts of the experiences of parenting in contexts of IPV, a preliminary model suggesting a Dual-Part Model of Parenting (relational and operational capacity) is presented to aid in understanding the complexity and nuance of how parenting capacity may be impacted by IPV exposure throughout the lifespan. Strengths-based approaches to supporting survivors in parenting are explored, and future implications for strengths-based approaches to clinical practice with IPV survivors as well as improved research practices and social policies that emphasize an intersectionality approach are discussed.

Under the Ecosystem Exploitation Hypothesis ecosystem productivity predicts trophic complexity, but it is unclear if spatial and temporal drivers of productivity have similar impacts. Long-term studies are necessary to capture temporal impacts on trophic structure in variable ecosystems such as deserts. We sampled ants and measured plant resources in the Simpson Desert, central Australia over a 22-year period, during which rainfall varied 10-fold. We sampled dune swales (higher nutrient) and crests (lower nutrient) to account for spatial variation in productivity. We asked how temporal and spatial variation in productivity affects the abundance of ant trophic guilds. Precipitation increased vegetation cover, with the difference more pronounced on dune crests; seeding and flowering also increased with precipitation. Generalist activity increased over time, irrespective of productivity. Predators were more active in more productive (swale) habitat, i.e. spatial impacts of productivity were greatest at the highest trophic level. By contrast, herbivores (seed harvesters and sugar feeders) increased with long-term rainfall; seed harvesters also increased as seeding increased. Temporal impacts of productivity were therefore greatest for low trophic levels. Whether productivity variation leads to top-down or bottom-up structured ecosystems thus depends on the scale and dimension (spatial or temporal) of productivity.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive respiratory illness characterized by breathing difficulty and restricted lung air flow. Its prevalence in 2010 was estimated at 384 mil...

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted families in a variety of ways with much being written on the potential impact of sheltering in place and quarantining on intimate partner violence and parent-to-child abuse. One area that has received scant attention is that of physical and emotional sibling violence. While physical and emotional sibling violence is a predominant form of family violence, discussion of violence between siblings in the time of COVID-19 has not received the attention it warrants. This article examines the potential for family stress to place siblings at risk for engaging in physical and emotional sibling violence and how this is exacerbated in the time of COVID-19. Also discussed is the the connection between physical and emotional sibling violence and other forms of family violence including intimate partner violence and parent-to-child abuse and neglect which underwrites the need to place physical and emotional sibling violence on the radar of practitioners, policy makers, and researchers. Finally, implications for practice, policy, and research on physical and emotional sibling violence in the context of COVID-19 are discussed.

Based on CSWE’s 2015 EPAS, students in MSW programs are expected to have knowledge of research methods. However, an understanding of how students perceive these courses as they pertain to their fut...

South Asian (SA) immigrants are one of the fastest-growing immigrant groups in the United States. Due to the stigma associated with domestic violence among SAs, disclosing victimization experiences may be challenging. In circumstances where experiences are disclosed, informal help-seeking through family/friends is utilized more often than formal help-seeking. Therefore, it is essential for friends/family to be empowered to effectively intervene. B.R.A.K.E. the Cycle has been developed as an innovative online intervention for SA community members (informal resources) to provide support to those experiencing abuse. The goal of this intervention is to enhance responsibility and knowledge among bystanders. Utilizing a culturally responsive intervention is an integral step in enriching services provided by practitioners serving immigrants, which we highlight in this practice note.

As underscored by their professional code of ethics, all social workers are called to engage in social action that advances social justice. Yet, the focus of the profession has drifted towa...

The decline of ecosystem engineers alters ecosystems, with impacts cascading through to other organisms. Through engineering and predation, digging mammals may affect burrowing invertebrate assemblages, leading to changes in invertebrate-driven soil engineering. Using a mammal reintroduction sanctuary in southern Australia, we tested how digging mammals alter invertebrate burrows (density and size of burrow entrances) and whether these impacts were scale-dependent. We examined the micro-site (pit-scale) effects of mammal foraging pits on invertebrate burrowing activity by comparing natural and artificial pits and bare-ground, and artificial pits of different dimensions within different microhabitat types. To test how mammals affected invertebrate burrows and soil physical and chemical properties at larger scales, we used an exclusion experiment (plot-scale) and surveys inside and outside a reintroduction reserve (landscape scale). Invertebrate burrows were more numerous in mammal pits than bare-ground and artificial pits, and larger in mammal pits than bare-ground. The density and size of invertebrate burrows depended on pit morphology, with burrow density greatest in narrow bilby pits and large burrows favoured by bettong pits. However, the influence of foraging pits on invertebrate burrows was scale-dependent: changes in invertebrate burrows were not detected at the plot or landscape scale. Only 4.5% of land surface area was occupied by pits and this might be insufficient to alter burrow or soil properties detectably in un-stratified surveys at larger scales. Digging mammals altered the small-scale (but not large-scale) distribution of invertebrate burrows, suggesting that their reintroduction provides an avenue through which to restore the heterogeneity of other organisms and functions in ecosystems.

Students in professional social work programs in the United States traditionally receive little direct information about or contact with professional associations. What exposure they do get is haphazard and primarily through extracurricular means. This article describes and evaluates a curricular module to enhance student awareness of and connection to professional associations. The group work classes at a Midwestern United States university were adapted to include a course module addressing the role of professional associations. Components of the module include readings, discussions, presentations and attendance at a professional association meeting. Pre- and post-tests were administered to assess the initial impact of this module. The module appears to have had an impact upon students’ knowledge of and appreciation for professional associations. The authors advocate for increased curricular attention to facilitating this connection.Keywords: professional associations; social work curricula; professional education; NASW; MSW education; professional development

In hot deserts, low, but highly variable precipitation drives resource availability, resulting in dramatic fluctuations of many consumer populations. However, the timeframes over which spe...

An analytical review of mathematical model of the dynamics of the population of small mammals, feeders for ixodic ticks, is presented. Rodents are an essential link in the circulation of agents of numerous zoonoses, as a result, a constant natural nidality within a specific area is maintained. Small mammals also serve as host feeders for a number of hematophagous arthropods, which are natural reservoirs of causative agents of dangerous infections and invasions. Muroid rodents are the most numerous mammals that inhabit the territory of the Russian Federation. A combination of natural disease foci often occurs as a result of territorial convergence and the existence of common vectors and carriers in the same area. Tularemia can be combined with plague, pseudotuberculosis, listeriosis, leptospirosis, pasteurellosis, etc. Small mammals are also involved in the circulation of encephalitis virus, viral hemorrhagic fever, orthohantavirus, Lyme disease, toxoplasmosis, leishmaniasis, babesiosis, anaplasmosis, and many other diseases affecting animals and humans. All the above mentioned diseases require continuous monitoring of the population dynamics of small mammals within a specific natural and climatic area under study. Mathematical models of the dynamics of population of small mammals make it possible to effectively forecast outbreaks of natural focal diseases without significant financial investments. An accurate forecast will provide an opportunity to be prepared and will enable a prompt response to the epizootological situation. The purpose of the study is to develop mathematical models of the population of small mammals in the Kaluga region acting as ixodid tick host feeders, therefore making it possible to estimate the probability of outbreaks of vector-borne zoonoses. The obtained mathematical models enable the risk quantification of outbreaks of vector-borne zoonoses without incurring costs associated with field study and allow to implement competent, timely and effective preventive measures.

Background & Aim Background Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) respond to activation by pro-inflammatory cytokines by secreting anti-inflammatory mediators which downregulate multiple immune pathways. Aim To evaluate whether inflammation at baseline, as measured by C-reactive protein (CRP), predicts clinical responses in COPD patients to the allogeneic mesenchymal stem cell product candidate remestemcel-L. Methods, Results & Conclusion Methods 62 patients with moderate to severe COPD were randomized in a double-blind manner to 4 monthly intravenous infusions of either allogeneic MSCs (remestemcel-L, 100 × 106 cells/infusion) or vehicle control. Subjects were followed for 2 years after the first infusion for safety and efficacy endpoints, including pulmonary function testing, 6-minute walk distance (6MWD) and assessments of systemic inflammation. While full study results were previously reported (DOI: 10.1378/chest.12-2094), here we report post-hoc analyses comparing outcomes of remestemcel-L and controls in patients with CRP levels Results At day 120 (first visit after completing infusions), remestemcel-L treated patients with baseline CRP ≥2, ≥3 or ≥4 mg/mL had significantly greater improvement in FEV1, FVC or 6MWT than controls (Table 1). In contrast, there was no improvement with MSC treatment in patients with CRP Conclusion Stratification of COPD patients by degree of elevated baseline CRP level identifies patients most likely to respond to MSC treatment with improvement in pulmonary and overall physical function. The correlation between highest CRP levels and greatest degree of response suggests that the inflammatory component of the lung disease may trigger and be amenable to the immunomodulatory effects of MSC treatment.

The Cover Feature shows the (111) surface of iridium. Density functional theory was used to calculate the electronic structure of iridium and adsorption of nitrogenous compounds using three methods: B3LYP, B3LYP‐D3, and B97‐D3. Among these methods, we found trends in surface bonding geometry and vibrational spectra. The semi‐empirical B97‐D3 provided results much closer to experimental benchmarks with greater computational efficiency, warranting its future use in low‐cost computations. Additionally, we explored the key differences between adsorption on platinum and iridium, illustrating why Pt‐Ir alloys show promise in electrochemical ammonia synthesis. More information can be found in the Full Paper Esther F. Grossman et al.[Image: see text]

Low-input, household-scale anaerobic digestion (AD) is practical for rural energy generation, but the heating and maintenance of such systems has prevented the use of this technology in temperate climates. This study quantified the temporal variation of fuel production from an unheated, pilot-scale (2 m3) anaerobic digester in southeastern Ohio, USA. The feedstock for the digester consisted of ground, mixed pre- and post-consumer food waste collected daily and diluted to 10% solids with rainwater collected on site. Fuel production varied from 7.96 × 10−6 to 8.45 × 10−2 m3 CH4 kgVSadded−1 following three separate inoculations over the course of two years. The positive relationship between ambient air temperature, biogas yield, and biomethane production rates for both years was a dominant driver affecting fuel quantity and quality. Biogas quality produced from variable feedstocks in these conditions was poor, with an average volumetric methane (CH4) content of 20% and an average CO2:CH4 ratio of 7.8. Methane yields did reach 50% during the warm seasons, but this yield was not consistently maintained. Despite low energy yields that resulted from the wide range of ambient temperatures (−18 °C–33 °C) and variable feedstocks, we achieved a moderate energy return on investment relative to previously published results describing AD system energy requirements. Pilot-scale, unheated AD systems using mixed food waste can be effective in temperate regions, but the systems should be managed to compensate for seasonal temperature changes and feedstock chemistry.

Productivity is a key driver of ecosystem structure and function, so long-term studies are critical to understanding ecosystems with high temporal variation in productivity. In some deserts, productivity, driven by moisture availability, varies immensely over time (rainfall) and space (landscape factors). At high productivity, species richness is expected to be driven in opposing directions by abundance (More Individuals Hypothesis - MIH) and competition. While studies investigating the impacts of spatial variation in productivity on community structure are common, the impacts of temporal variability on productivity are poorly understood. We tested how well rainfall predicted the activity, species numbers and assemblage composition of ants and if responses were moderated by landscape position. We also asked whether the number of species (richness per sampling unit and estimated species richness) responded directly to rainfall or was moderated by ant activity or competition from dominant ants. Over a 22-year period, when annual rainfall fluctuated between 79 mm and 570 mm, we sampled ants using pitfall traps in paired dune and swale habitats in the Simpson Desert, Australia. We used climate records over this period to model changes in ant assemblages. Activity of dominant ants responded primarily to long-term rainfall, increasing exponentially, while subordinate ants responded to short-term weather and time. Consistent with the MIH, the number of ant species was best predicted by activity, particularly that of subordinate ants. Activity of dominant ants had a declining positive effect on numbers of species. Landscape position strongly predicted species composition, while long-term rainfall determined composition at genus level but not species level. Over time, species composition fluctuated, but several genera consistently increased in activity. Productivity moderators such as long-term rainfall and landscape position are key drivers of ant activity and composition in the study ecosystem, acting indirectly on numbers of species. Numbers of species were explained largely by ant activity, making a strong case for the MIH, but not competition. Longer periods of low rainfall may indirectly reduce species richness in desert ecosystems. However, a trend to increasing richness over time may indicate that conservation management can ameliorate this impact.

Melanoma is an aggressive cancer that arises from melanocytes that can both locally invade surrounding tissues as well as metastasize systemically. If detected early, melanoma can be curable with surgical resection. However, despite complete removal, high-risk resected melanomas have a significant rate of both local and distant recurrence. Curative treatment options are typically limited for patients who develop distant recurrence after resections of their primary melanoma. Therefore, adjuvant therapy is typically given after complete resection of high-risk melanomas to try and reduce the risk of recurrent disease. Adjuvant therapy for high-risk resected melanoma has changed considerably over the past couple of years due to the availability of new melanoma therapies that are active in the metastatic setting. Here, we review the new treatment options and ongoing clinical research for adjuvant therapy.

Global extinction drivers, including habitat disturbance and climate change, are thought to affect larger species more than smaller species. However, it is unclear if such drivers interact to affect assemblage body size distributions. We asked how these two key global change drivers differentially affect the interspecific size distributions of ants, one of the most abundant and ubiquitous animal groups on earth. We also asked whether there is evidence of synergistic interactions and whether effects are related to species’ trophic roles. We generated a global dataset on ant body size from 333 local ant assemblages collected by the authors across a broad range of climates and in disturbed and undisturbed habitats. We used head length (range: 0.22–4.55 mm) as a surrogate of body size and classified species to trophic groups. We used generalized linear models to test whether body size distributions changed with climate and disturbance, independent of species richness. Our analysis yielded three key results: 1) climate and disturbance showed independent associations with body size; 2) assemblages included more small species in warmer climates and fewer large species in wet climates; and 3) both the largest and smallest species were absent from disturbed ecosystems, with predators most affected in both cases. Our results indicate that temperature, precipitation and disturbance have differing effects on the body size distributions of local communities, with no evidence of synergistic interactions. Further, both large and small predators may be vulnerable to global change, particularly through habitat disturbance.

The relationship between levels of dominance and species richness is highly contentious, especially in ant communities. The dominance-impoverishment rule states that high levels of dominance only occur in species-poor communities, but there appear to be many cases of high levels of dominance in highly diverse communities. The extent to which dominant species limit local richness through competitive exclusion remains unclear, but such exclusion appears more apparent for non-native rather than native dominant species. Here we perform the first global analysis of the relationship between behavioral dominance and species richness. We used data from 1,293 local assemblages of ground-dwelling ants distributed across five continents to document the generality of the dominance-impoverishment rule, and to identify the biotic and abiotic conditions under which it does and does not apply. We found that the behavioral dominance–diversity relationship varies greatly, and depends on whether dominant species are native or non-native, whether dominance is considered as occurrence or relative abundance, and on variation in mean annual temperature. There were declines in diversity with increasing dominance in invaded communities, but diversity increased with increasing dominance in native communities. These patterns occur along the global temperature gradient. However, positive and negative relationships are strongest in the hottest sites. We also found that climate regulates the degree of behavioral dominance, but differently from how it shapes species richness. Our findings imply that, despite strong competitive interactions among ants, competitive exclusion is not a major driver of local richness in native ant communities. Although the dominance-impoverishment rule applies to invaded communities, we propose an alternative dominance-diversification rule for native communities.

Funding: This article is based on the content of a presentation by R.F. Grossman entitled ‘‘Fluoroquinolones: a role in CAP and TB’’, part of the CME symposium entitled ‘‘Fluoroquinolones: CAP, TB and the importance of differential diagnosis’’ at the 15 th International Congress on Infectious Diseases (ICID), Bangkok, Thailand, June 13–16, 2012, which was sponsored by Bayer HealthCare (Germany). The respiratory fluoroquinolones moxifloxacin, gemifloxacin, and high-dose levofloxacin are recommended in guidelines for effective empirical antimicrobial therapy of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). The use of these antibiotics for this indication in areas with a high prevalence of tuberculosis (TB) has been questioned due to the perception that they contribute both to delays in the diagnosis of pulmonary TB and to the emergence of fluoroquinolone-resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. In this review, we consider some of the important questions regarding the potential use of fluoroquinolones for the treatment of CAP where the burden of TB is high. The evidence suggests that the use of fluoroquinolones as recommended for 5-10 days as empirical treatment for CAP, according to current clinical management guidelines, is appropriate even in TB-endemic regions. It is critical to quickly exclude M. tuberculosis as a cause of CAP using the most rapid relevant diagnostic investigations in the management of all patients with CAP. Publisher PDF

Frequent exacerbations of COPD are associated with accelerated loss of lung function, declining health status, increased mortality, and increased health care costs. Thus, a key objective in the management of COPD is preventing exacerbations or at least reducing their number and severity. When new interventions are examined, their value is sometimes assessed in reference to the minimal clinically important difference (MCID), a theoretical construct that may be defined and estimated numerically in several different ways. There have been limited attempts to calculate the MCID for COPD exacerbations but a figure of 20% reduction in exacerbation frequency is occasionally cited as the "established" MCID from a single manuscript reviewing six clinical trials. Our review suggests that defining and calculating the MCID for COPD exacerbations is problematic, not only because the methodology around developing endpoints for MCIDs is inconsistent, but because the impact of exacerbation reduction is likely to be influenced dramatically by the definitions of exacerbation severity used and the population's baseline status. Reference to current literature shows that at least one other estimate for exacerbation MCID as low as 4%. MCID is sometimes estimated by expert consensus; a review of articles used to shape COPD guidelines shows frequent reference to articles in which interventions yielded exacerbation differences as low as 11%. We find no evidence of an established MCID but suggest that interventions reducing exacerbations by as little as 11% appear to be regarded widely as clinically important.

In recent years the focus in ecology has shifted from species to a greater emphasis on functional traits. In tandem with this shift, a number of trait databases have been developed covering a range of taxa. Here, we introduce the GlobalAnts database.\ud Globally, ants are dominant, diverse and provide a range of ecosystem functions. The database represents a significant tool for ecology in that it (i) contributes to a global archive of ant traits (morphology, ecology and life history) which complements existing ant databases and (ii) promotes a trait-based approach in ant and other insect ecology through a broad set of standardised traits.\ud The GlobalAnts database is unique in that it represents the largest online database of functional traits with associated georeferenced assemblage-level data (abundance and/or occupancy) for any animal group with 9056 ant species and morphospecies records for entire local assemblages across 4416 sites.\ud We describe the structure of the database, types of traits included and present a summary of data coverage. The value of the database is demonstrated through an initial examination of trait distributions across subfamilies, continents and biomes.\ud Striking biogeographic differences in ant traits are highlighted which raise intriguing questions as to the mechanisms generating them.

Social workers, and many of those involved in caregiving professions, are often looking for meditation techniques that can help clients and communities. What is often overlooked is the profound benefit of these same practices for the caregiver. Given the likelihood of burnout and secondary trauma, meditation becomes an essential tool for the social worker. The authors have been exploring the impact of practicing iRest® Yoga Nidra Meditation in their various roles; therapy, supervision, mentoring, teaching, advocacy, and administration. In this chapter, the authors share the ways these practices enable them to be more responsive practitioners, whether working directly with individuals in the therapeutic context, or in an academic setting. They also discuss the ways in which the practice enriches their own lives and by connection, the lives of those they serve.

This study investigates the effectiveness in delivering social services of interim housing programs compared to shelters. Interim housing programs represent a new approach to housing and serving homeless adults, one which provides emergency housing in apartment-like units, and in which use of services is voluntary. Shelters tend to provide congregate care and to expect or rely on clients to access needed services in order to secure resources required to obtain housing. Analyses of original survey data, which correct for sample selection utilizing propensity scores, suggest that clients in interim housing programs obtain more professional, advocacy, and employment services than do clients in shelters. This differential service use is found to reflect not client incentives, but the service offerings and referrals made by the programs. In general, the findings suggest that interim housing programs hold particular promise in service rich environments. They also suggest that program contingencies are more impo...

This work analyzes the relationship between the services clients receive in treatment programs and client ratings of program efficacy. It relies on data from a random sample of clients served by Chicago's homelessness system (N = 554). Regressions utilizing that data suggest that ratings of program efficacy are positively predicted by program ambiance, the ambiance of referral arrangements, residence in programs providing housing, and receipt of employment services. The measures of ambiance are predicted by receipt of professional services and help in locating housing. Receipt of advocacy services does not predict ratings of program efficacy nor ambiance; receipt of tangible services is negatively related to ratings of program efficacy. Results suggest that clients rate highly programs that have a positive ambiance or that provide services that clients view as immediately helpful for solving long-term needs. Clients thereby discount services known to contribute to the amelioration of homelessness.

What forces structure ecological assemblages? A key limitation to general insights about assemblage structure is the availability of data that are collected at a small spatial grain (local assemblages) and a large spatial extent (global coverage). Here, we present published and unpublished data from 51 ,388 ant abundance and occurrence records of more than 2,693 species and 7,953 morphospecies from local assemblages collected at 4,212 locations around the world. Ants were selected because they are diverse and abundant globally, comprise a large fraction of animal biomass in most terrestrial communities, and are key contributors to a range of ecosystem functions. Data were collected between 1949 and 2014, and include, for each geo-referenced sampling site, both the identity of the ants collected and details of sampling design, habitat type, and degree of disturbance. The aim of compiling this data set was to provide comprehensive species abundance data in order to test relationships between assemblage structure and environmental and biogeographic factors. Data were collected using a variety of standardized methods, such as pitfall and Winkler traps, and will be valuable for studies investigating large-scale forces structuring local assemblages. Understanding such relationships is particularly critical under current rates of global change. We encourage authors holding additional data on systematically collected ant assemblages, especially those in dry and cold, and remote areas, to contact us and contribute their data to this growing data set.

International migration has significant effects on the lives of migrants, many resulting from the challenges of cultural adjustment they face in their country of destination. Cultural adjustment or acculturation often includes physical, psychological, spiritual, social, financial, linguistic, and familial adaptation. This process may produce an acculturative stress reaction arising from the psychological difficulties migrants experience as they adapt to unfamiliar social norms, customs, and institutions they encounter in a new cultural context. Protective factors and coping mechanisms may be present to help migrants manage acculturative stress. This study examines the relationship between acculturative stress and family cohesion and social support among low-acculturated Mexican migrants in Chicago. Specifically, the authors hypothesize that there will be a negative relationship between stress level and the measures of family cohesion and social support. Two models are presented. The first examines the rel...

Shelter services are an essential means of providing help to women who are victims of intimate partner violence (IPV), but not all victims receive shelter. This article reports the results of a secondary analysis of statewide data from women using IPV services, comparing victims who did and did not obtain shelter. The demographic characteristics, abuse experiences, and service patterns of these survivors are examined. A model predicting characteristics associated with the likelihood of shelter receipt indicates that women who obtain shelter are more vulnerable and obtain more services than women who do not obtain shelter. The implications of these results are discussed.

It is estimated that 50-70% of acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis (AECB) are caused by bacterial infections. Appropriate selection of antimicrobials may lead to better outcomes and reduced healthcare costs. Respiratory fluoroquinolones (moxifloxacin, levofloxacin and gemifloxacin) have a broad spectrum of activity against most AECB-causing pathogens and are used as first-line treatment in patients with comorbidity, severe airway obstruction or recurrent exacerbations. We review studies, identified through a MEDLINE search, that compared clinical efficacy and speed of recovery for short-course (≤ 5 days) fluoroquinolone therapy with commonly prescribed standard therapy (≥ 7 days). Among 177 studies reporting the use of fluoroquinolones for AECB treatment, 23 used a short-course regimen, shown to be at least as effective as standard therapy of 7 or more days duration. Furthermore, evidence suggests that short-course therapy offers faster resolution of symptoms, faster rate of recovery, fewer relapses, fewer and shorter hospitalizations, and longer time between recurrences.

Summary Background In harvesting free fibula composite flaps, preoperative knowledge of the lower limb vascular anatomy is essential to prevent ischaemic complications or flap failure. Magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) allows imaging of the septocutaneous perforators (≤1–2mm diameter) of the peroneal artery used in the free fibula flap. Methods We investigated seven patients undergoing the free fibula flap preoperatively with high-resolution MRA images to study the following: 1) tibio-peroneal anatomy, 2) peripheral artery disease, 3) the positions of the perforator vessels on the peroneal artery and their course in the posterolateral intermuscular septum and 4) the cutaneous distribution of the perforators, and to compare them to surgical findings. Results MRA demonstrated tibio-peroneal anatomy in sufficient detail to exclude anatomic variants and significant peripheral vascular disease, detected septocutaneous perforators arising from the peroneal artery coursing in the posterolateral intermuscular septum and determined the skin terminus of the septocutaneous perforators. All septocutaneous perforators found during surgery were detected prospectively on high-resolution MRA. Conclusion Lower leg vascular anatomy assessment with high-resolution MRA determined the location of the septocutaneous perforators of the peroneal artery preoperatively with accuracy and precision. This anatomical knowledge provides for a safer procedure and the opportunity to plan surgical details preoperatively.

This article describes and analyzes the development and implementation of a 5-year BSW–MSW program at a Midwestern school of social work. Key pedagogical and programmatic considerations in the development of such programs are identified. Specific information about the admission process and curricular pathway is provided. Five-year and traditional MSW students are compared on their performance in foundation-level MSW courses. The results of evaluative surveys of faculty members and 5-year students are also presented. The potential role of 5-year programs in social work education is discussed.

This analysis compared the characteristics and service patterns of adult survivors of childhood sexual assault/abuse and adult survivors of adult sexual assault/abuse. Utilizing data from sexual assault crisis centers serving survivors in a Midwestern state over a six year period and controlling for revictimization, we describe and compare the demographic characteristics, referral sources, and service patterns of the two groups. Results indicate that paths into service differ for the two groups. Furthermore, adult survivors of childhood sexual assault/abuse obtain significantly more hours of service and service contacts on average than adult survivors of adult sexual assault/abuse. Implications for policy and practice are discussed.