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Background: There is a lack of research on psychotherapy interventions for transition-aged students ages 18 to 21 that integrate horses or other equines in the provision of services. A critical early task in researching such complex interventions involves elucidating an intervention's critical elements and theoretical assumptions. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to develop a theory-driven logic model of a psychotherapy program for transition-aged students ages 18 to 21 that incorporated horses. Methodology/Approach: The research approach was qualitative description, a low-inference form of qualitative research. Data were collected via interviews with program stakeholders and through review of program documents, and were analyzed using a directed content analysis. Findings/Conclusions: The resulting logic model elucidates theoretical assumptions, activities, resources, outputs, outcomes, and theorized community impact of the psychotherapy program integrating horses. Implications: This study addresses several gaps in existing research on equine-assisted services, particularly the need to thoroughly describe an intervention and its theoretical assumptions, which can guide future program refinement and replication, and future research.

Christopher M Bloom,1 Ryan J Post,1 Joshua Mazick,1 Brittany Blumenthal,1 Caroline Doyle,1 Brenna Peters,1 Jeff Dyche,2 D Gene Davenport3 1Providence College, Providence, RI, USA; 2James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA, USA; 3Saint Louis University, St Louis, MO, USA Abstract: Traditionally, the signaled avoidance (SA) paradigm has been used in an attempt to better understand human phobia. Animal models of this type have been criticized for ineffectively representing phobia. The SA model characterizes phobia as an avoidance behavior by presenting environmental cues, which act as warning signals to an aversive stimulus (ie, shock). Discriminated conditioned punishment (DCP) is an alternative paradigm that characterizes phobia as a choice behavior in which fear serves to punish an otherwise adaptive behavior. The present study quantifies the differences between the paradigms and suggests that DCP offers an alternative paradigm for phobia. Rats trained on either SA or DCP were compared on a number of behavioral variables relevant to human phobia. Results indicate that rats in the DCP paradigm responded significantly earlier to warning signals and were more effective at preventing shocks than rats in the SA paradigm. Implications of this alternative paradigm are discussed. Keywords: animal models, avoidance, fear conditioning, anxiety disorders

The purpose of this study was to identify appropriate outcome measures and assess preliminary efficacy of occupational therapy in an equine environment (OT[superscript ee] HORSPLAY) for youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Twenty-four youth with ASD aged 6-13 were randomized to 10 weeks of OT[superscript ee] HORSPLAY or to a waitlist control condition, occupational therapy in a garden. Youth demonstrated significantly improved goal attainment and social motivation, and decreased irritability after OT[superscript ee] HORSPLAY. When compared to the subset of participants who completed the waitlist control condition, the OT[superscript ee] HORSPLAY group still demonstrated significant improvements in goal attainment. This study provides preliminary evidence that horses can be integrated into occupational therapy for youth with ASD to improve social and behavioral goals.

While the positive aspects, but also pathologies, of performance measurement and management are today well known, we know less about the impact of NPM reform on governance. Using Bertelsmann SGI data (2009 and 2022) from 30 advanced democracies and a unique dataset measuring NPM reform in 14 countries, we study how core aspects of governing capacity have been impacted by, or triggered as responses to, public management reform. While the executive capacity of government has increased, NPM has not increased the accountability of executive government. Corruption prevention has increased between 2009 and 2022, while legal certainty has improved only marginally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The current paper aimed to assess the feasibility of a modified intervention protocol named "Occupational Therapy using Zones of Regulation Concepts in an Equine Environment" (OT-ZOR Equine). Methods: A single arm A-B feasibility study was conducted, involving 14 autistic youth ages 6-13 years who first received 10-weeks of occupational therapy without horses (OT-ZOR Clinic) followed by 10-weeks of OT-ZOR Equine. Results: All participants completed the study and attended 95% of OT-ZOR Equine sessions. Occupational therapists maintained 91% fidelity to the OT-ZOR Equine intervention protocol and there were no serious adverse events. All participants' caregivers and study occupational therapists rated being satisfied or very satisfied with the OT-ZOR Equine intervention. Youth demonstrated improved self-regulation following participation in the OT-ZOR Clinic and OTZOR Equine interventions. However, participants' social functioning only improved after OT-ZOR Equine. Discussion: This study demonstrated that OT-ZOR Equine is feasible to implement, acceptable to recipients and providers, and may offer additive benefits in social functioning compared to occupational therapy intervention without horses. The current study provides a foundation for future efficacy research aimed at quantifying additive benefits of integrating horses into occupational therapy for autistic youth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Do basic administrative arrangements in the national public sector affect the prevalence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and if so, how? AMR, one of humanity's most pressing challenges according to the World Health Organization, is typically caused by factors inherent to the natural sciences. In this paper, however, we investigate the indirect causal effect of politics and administration on the management of AMR. In a mixed-methodological approach drawing on a panel regression combined with 46 semi-structured interviews with senior bureaucrats and experts from all member states of the European Union (EU), we derive four distinct clusters of countries in AMR governance. The analysis shows that politico-administrative arrangements in the EU follow a north-to-south and east-to-west pattern in the prevalence of AMR. We apply institutional theories of path dependency and administrative autonomy to explain such 'worlds' of AMR governance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]