Department of Correctional Services

Abstract BackgroundOf the hundreds of millions of COVID-19 cases globally, most have been non-fatal, though “Long COVID” after acute infection has been documented in many. While many studies have reported post-COVID increases chronic disease incidence including hypertension (HTN), racial/ethnic minority study participants are underrepresented and studies often lacks controls for potential confounds.MethodsWe conducted a case-control cohort time-to-event study of 39,746 individuals incarcerated in 31 California state prisons. The main outcome was incident diagnosed HTN among individuals incarcerated continuously since January 1, 2019 with no HTN diagnosis prior to March 1, 2020 (beginning of the unexposed period of observation). The main exposure was a positive COVID-19 test, with the exposure period beginning 31 days afterwards (post-acute period). Covariates included age, gender, race/ethnicity, BMI, and blood pressure at the pandemic’s start, frequency of healthcare contacts prior to the pandemic, and COVID-19 testing frequency prior to testing positive. We excluded individuals who lacked BMI or blood pressure measurements prior to or during the pandemic or were never tested for COVID-19 along with those who had been prescribed blood pressure-altering medications. We estimated multivariate Cox proportional hazard models: 1) exposure variable and covariates; 2) adding interactions between the exposure and each covariate. We assessed whether confounding due to changes in HTN testing post-COVID could explain our results.ResultsCOVID-19 infection significantly increased the rate of incident HTN (main effects model HRR: 1.44 [95%CI: 1.32-1.57]; including interactions HRR: 2.05 [1.50-2.79]). If all individuals in our study had a COVID-19 infection, the 2-year cumulative risk of hypertension was 7.1% [5.7%-8.5%] versus 5.0% [4.2%-5.9%] if none had been infected. The largest absolute effects of COVID-19 on HTN incidence were in those with higher BMIs, higher pre-pandemic blood pressure levels and older ages. Our findings remained consistent with different definitions of the post-acute period and to confounding due to changes in HTN testing post-COVID.ConclusionCOVID-19 increases the risk of incident hypertension long after acute infection. As so many people have had COVID-19 and elevated blood pressure, additional provider awareness and clinical consideration are warranted.

In hierdie bydrae word gefokus op die geskiedenis van die Suid-Afrikaanse Akademie vir Wetenskap en Kuns in die tydperk ná die Akademie se eeufees in 2009. Die geskiedenis wat 2009 voorafgegaan het, is in verskeie bronne gedokumenteer, soos in Hertzog en Nienaber (1950), Moll (1984) en Kapp (2009).2 In die genoemde tydperk, naamlik 2009 tot 2025, het die Akademie se werksaamhede redelik konstant gebly en was die Akademie steeds getrou aan sy doelstellings, naamlik die ontwikkeling en bevordering van die wetenskap, die tegnologie en die literatuur in Afrikaans en die kunste, asook die bevordering van die gebruik en die gehalte van Afrikaans. 'n Oorsig word gegee oor aktuele sake en projekte waarmee die Akademie die afgelope 16 jaar deurlopend besig was, wat wissel van erkenning vir uitnemendheid, ontwikkeling van woordeboeke, die uitgee van twee vaktydskrifte wat die mens- en natuur-wetenskappe onderskeidelik dek, sowel as ander publikasies, uitreiking na ander Akademies in die buiteland, die omarming van die digitale wêreld in al sy fasette, en vele meer.

IntroductionOne of the forms of early comprehensive care for children after severe brain injuries is inpatient habilitation/ rehabilitation. Children receive help from a team of medical, psychological and pedagogical specialists. The process of special education consists mainly in the development of cognitive interest, because it is the basis of socialization.ObjectivesTo study cognitive activity in children who have suffered severe brain damage.Methodsobservation, pedagogical examination, psychiatric supervision.Materials36 children aged 1.2-1.8 years during hospital treatment.ResultsAccording to the results of the pedagogical survey, three groups of children were identified.Group 1 (11%): fixed gaze; emotional response to sound (smile); short-term eye tracking of an object; ability to touch an object and hold it for a short time; walking skill is formed.Group 2 (33%): short-term gaze fixation; reaction to sound by involuntary hand movements; lack of eye tracking of an adult’s face; lack of ability to touch or hold an object; walking skill is formed.Group 3 (56%): lack of fixed gaze; reaction to sound by shouting and increased motor activity; lack of ability to touch or hold an object; lack of walking skills.ConclusionsIndicative responses to an adult’s voice and face, eye tracking of an object, sensorimotor activity, and so on. these are indicators that show whether a child has cognitive activity. The rehabilitation team can rely on these indicators when choosing treatment and the content of the special educational process.Key words: early intervention, toddlers, organic damage of central nervous system, rehabilitation/ habilitationDisclosure of InterestNone Declared

The 2022's second edition of Indonesian Law Journal Volume 15 has been published. The discussion topic of this edition is Dynamics and Development of Investment Law in The Digital Age. This edition presents 3 (three) articles and a book review from authors with various backgrounds. Please enjoy reading as we hope these article in our Journal are beneficial and constructive towards the development of national law.

The general objective of this study was to identify and understand factors that affect the performance of micro finance institutions in eradication of poverty in Migwani Sub-county of Kitui County. The objectives of the study wereto identify development projects among the women in Migwani Sub County which have been funded by Loans procured from microfinance institutions, to establish the level of management knowledge and training among the women who utilize loans from microfinance institutions in Migwani sub-county, to establish the role played by Microfinance institutions in the eradication of poverty among the women in Migwani Sub County and to examine factors related to the performance of MFI funded projects among women in Migwani Sub-County. Lottery method was used to determine the groups that were to be involved in the study where three groups were selected through that. Then systematic sampling was used to select the appropriate individuals to include in the study, Data was collected through the questionnaire administered to 95 women who were selected from these three groups and interview guide administered to the Loan officers and the Managers of Micro finance institutions within Migwani Sub County. Data collected was analysed using the SPSS and excel programs and the use of thematic or content analysis. Themes that relate to the factors that affect the performance of microfinance institutions were analysed. The analysed data was presented using both descriptive and inferential statistics namely tables, pie charts, frequencies, percentages, cross tabulations. The important factors that affect the performance of Microfinance institutions were identified from the microfinance beneficiaries and also the loan officers and managers of the microfinance institutions within Migwani Sub-County. Lack of knowledge and training among the loan beneficiaries, little involvement of the MFIs to the loan beneficiaries, improper steps taken to the loan defaulters by the Microfinance institutions are the major factors that were found to immensely affect the performance of MFIs in poverty eradication. The study proposed that the microfinance institutions should train the beneficiaries before entrusting them with loans, Microfinance institutions to venture in the field of research in order to carry out the study on the challenges that face the MFI borrowers.

The issue of sexual abuse is a global socio-political one, which means that, despite international differences in sexual harm policy and practice surrounding sexual abuse, the creation and implementation of these policies and practices are politically sensitive. This chapter critically considers the risk-management strategies that are “common” internationally (including imprisonment, community supervision, treatment, registration, notification/disclosures, and residence restrictions). It highlights that, despite international differences with regard to punitivism, all sexual offense-related policies and practices are rooted in a common frame of public protection and risk management. The chapter also highlights the collateral consequences of these policies on the individuals who experience them, and what that means with respect to public protection and risk management. It also discusses how the emerging discourse of prevention fits within a risk-management framework.

International health studies have shown that inmates have higher rates of infectious diseases, chronic diseases and psychiatric disorders relative to the general population. We conducted a systematic collection of data on chronic physical health conditions reported by newly admitted inmates in Canadian federal penitentiaries. Over a 6-month period from April to September 2012, we collected and analyzed data from a standardized health interview routinely conducted with consenting incoming male inmates (n = 2273). Prevalence rates of health conditions were determined and disaggregated by age (<50 yr and ≥50 yr) and by Aboriginal status. The most common health conditions reported by respondents were head injury (34.1%), back pain (19.3%), asthma (14.7%) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection (9.4%). Rates of many health conditions were higher among inmates 50 years of age or older than among younger inmates. Compared with their non-Aboriginal counterparts, Aboriginal inmates had higher rates of head injury and HCV infection. Our study provides a benchmark that can be used to examine health trends within Canada's federal penitentiaries over time and points to subgroups of newly admitted inmates for whom health services may need to be concentrated.