Leading With Full Community Engagement: Facing and Overcoming Multiple Pandemics Together

CorrigendumCorrigendum for Fok et al., volume 123, 2020, 2343–2354Published Online:06 May 2021https://doi.org/10.1152/jn.00123.2020_COROriginal articleMoreSectionsPDF (148 KB)Download PDFDownload PDFPlus ToolsExport citationAdd to favoritesGet permissionsTrack citations ShareShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInEmail Fok KL, Lee JW, Unger J, Chan K, Nozaki D, Musselman KE, Masani K. Cosine tuning determines plantarflexors’ activities during human upright standing and is affected by incomplete spinal cord injury. J Neurophysiol 123: 2343–2354, 2020. First published June 1, 2020. doi:10.1152/jn.00123.2020.After publication of this article, errors in the Participants section and Table 1 of the materials and methods were identified by the authors. The authors provide a revised version of Table 1 and have revised the Participants section. The corrected table and Participants section are presented below. The authors apologize for these errors and state that the changes do not alter the scientific conclusions of the article in any way.Table 1. Summary of participant information such as age, level of impairment, and time since injuryPBT05PBT08PBT10PBT13PBT14PBT16PBT17PBT18PBT20PBT22PBT23PBT24PBT25Mean (SD)SexFMFFFFFFFMFMF Age, yr3260435759553854568838515352.6 (13.9)Weight, kg49.9109.247.310262.347.555.683.373.777.279.981.968.972.2 (19.7)Level of injuryC4C5T6C2C1C5T4C4L5C6T11C3C4 Time since injury, yr3.53.23.92.91.19.11.3131.25.36.87.9397.6 (10.1)CB&M (/96)89707829326N/A27332063523340.2 (27.9)LE strength (/120)*87.5115104.58975907578.57081.5101.59789.588.8 (13.1)Gait speed without aid, m/s1.291.281.100.720.430.880.750.910.940.831.031.290.950.954 (0.251)Usual walking aidNoneNoneNoneCane4WWCane4WWCaneNoneNoneNonePoles/4WWPoles Mini-BESTest Score (/28)25252421425513171222151517.2 (7.3)Fall history†1010011000101 AB1AB2AB3AB4AB5AB6AB7AB8AB9AB10AB11AB12AB13Mean (SD)SexFFFMFFMFFFFMF Age, yr5457476759535784625655514057.1 (10.5)Weight, kg61.942.355.557.449.64575.443.955.744.745.369.953.653.9 (10.4)C, cervical; CB&M, community balance & mobility scale; LE, lower extremity; mini-BESTest, mini-Balance evaluation systems test; T, thoracic; 4WW, 4-wheeled walker.*LE strength measured with manual muscle testing of 12 muscles per LE. Maximum score per muscle is 5, resulting in a total score of 120 for 2 LE.†Retrospective falls in the previous 3 mo.ParticipantsThe data used in this study were previously collected in another work by Chan et al. (2019). In total, 14 young able-bodied (AB) individuals, 15 age- and sex-matched AB individuals, and 21 individuals with iSCI were in the project by Chan et al. (2019). The individuals with iSCI underwent two baseline assessments, separated by 2 wk. Here, we focus on the individuals with iSCI (iSCI-group) during their baseline 1 assessments and the age- and sex-matched AB individuals (AB-group). The age-matched individuals were ±3 yr of age from the corresponding individuals with iSCI and had no medical history of neurological disorders. Two age- and sex-matched participants were excluded from analysis due to technical issues during data collection. Additionally, at the time of data analysis motion capture data from three individuals with iSCI were not yet processed, and an additional five individuals in the iSCI-group were excluded from analysis due to technical issues related to motion capture and electromyography recordings. Therefore, in this study, 13 AB adults (10 females, age: 57.1 ± 10.5 yr), and 13 individuals with iSCI (10 females, age: 52.6 ± 13.9 yr, 7.6 ± 10.1 yr postinjury) were analyzed. The recruited individuals with iSCI were American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale (AIS) C or D (Marino et al. 2003), had moderate trunk control, and could stand for at least 30 s without mobility aids. The participants’ demographic data are summarized in Table 1. There was no significant difference in the age between the two groups (t test, P = 0.366). Body weight was significantly larger in participants with iSCI (t test, P = 0.008). All participants gave their written informed consent to participate in the study, whose experimental procedures were approved by the local ethics committee.A registered physical therapist performed the lower extremity (LE) manual muscle test to evaluate motor function of the MG, SOL, tibialis anterior, rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, vastus medialis, biceps femoris, semitendinosus, semimembranosus, iliopsoas, gluteus medius, and gluteus maximus (Kendall et al. 2005). Additionally, the mini Balance Evaluation Systems Test (mini-BESTest) (Franchignoni et al. 2010) and community balance and mobility (CB&M) (Inness et al. 2011) assessment were performed to assess balance ability. The CB&M scale is a test designed to evaluate balance and mobility in ambulatory individuals who have balance impairments which reduce their full engagement in community living. It has been found to have less of a ceiling effect when compared to the typical Berg Balance Scale, a better ability to capture change in these higher functioning individuals, and is a valid measure for individuals with iSCI (Chan et al. 2017; Inness et al. 2011). Participants are not allowed to use a walking aid during the CB&M assessment’ as a result, one participant was unable to perform the CB&M due to this restriction. Higher values indicate the higher functions.This article has no references to display. Previous Back to Top FiguresReferencesRelatedInformationRelated articlesCosine tuning determines plantarflexors’ activities during human upright standing and is affected by incomplete spinal cord injury 12 Jun 2020Journal of Neurophysiology More from this issue > Volume 125Issue 5May 2021Pages 1798-1799 Crossmark Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2021 the American Physiological Societyhttps://doi.org/10.1152/jn.00123.2020_CORPubMed33956521History Published online 6 May 2021 Published in print 1 May 2021 PDF download Metrics Downloaded 264 times

The Covid-19 pandemic heightened already intense and increased scrutiny of public education in recent years. The administrative impulse to stage community engagement efforts to deliberate upon these questions, however well-intentioned, rarely realises full community engagement and reflection. Based on an examination of public engagement events held at Florida schools related to the Covid-19 health crisis, the proposed essay identifies a more concerning transformation of “public comment” into a weaponisable prop for lawmakers seeking the public legitimacy necessary for their agenda, marrying the worlds of critical studies with those of public administration and its orientations. More than merely failing to genuinely engage the public, we argue that such events forestall a more productive arrangement of the democratic form that does not rely on publicness and the leader that secures that space. Ultimately, we suggest a path that affords the possibility of public engagement, but that does not seal off the possibility of that more radical democratic future to come.

The literature review explores School-Based Management (SBM) in education, highlighting its potential benefits and significant challenges. Mandated by Republic Act 9155, SBM aims to empower school leaders with greater authority and accountability for improving learning outcomes. However, several formidable obstacles hinder effective SBM implementation. Schools often grapple with resource constraints, including limited financial, material, and human resources, which impede their full engagement in SBM initiatives. Moreover, insufficient training and capacity-building efforts for stakeholders hinder their ability to navigate decentralized decision-making processes effectively. Weak mechanisms for monitoring and evaluating SBM initiatives further hamper accountability and oversight. Stakeholder resistance to change poses a significant barrier to the adoption of SBM practices, while inconsistent policies and practices lead to fragmented implementation, undermining its coherence and effectiveness. Additionally, insufficient community engagement diminishes the participatory nature of SBM, hindering alignment with local needs and priorities. Despite these challenges, SBM remains a valuable mechanism for driving educational improvement. Addressing these barriers requires concerted efforts to strengthen support systems, enhance capacity-building initiatives, foster collaboration, and promote equity and inclusion. Continued research, policy advocacy, and concerted action are essential for sustaining SBM initiatives and fostering holistic educational development. By leveraging insights from this review, stakeholders can navigate the complexities of SBM implementation and work towards enhancing student outcomes and fostering inclusive and responsive educational systems.

The development of ACP in New Zealand (NZ) has been driven by clinicians through the National ACP Cooperative (Cooperative). The effective development and deployment of ACP services in NZ requires...

Driving and Community Integration After Traumatic Brain Injury

This paper is a reflection upon the issue of urban flooding, attempts to adapt to it and strategic risk reduction measures of those with responsibility for planning at the level of the city region. Following the introduction, flooding hazards are considered within the context of global environmental processes and rapid urbanisation, and the paper has a discussion of both theoretical and policy perspectives to urban flood risk and vulnerability. Consideration is then given to a broad range of potential interventions that could be available to stakeholders, before, during or after a flooding event, whether the measure would be undertaken by a government, member(s) of the community or the private sector. Finally, in the context of international policy guidance, consideration is given to the role that city planners could make in addressing the risk of flooding emergencies through more strategic, medium and long-term approaches. The paper concludes that collaborative forms of governance with the full engagement of the community are essential for disaster risk resilience

Pastoralism in Nigeria faces challenges and these hampers the productivity that consequentially affect the Nation’s economy. Available grazing lands are diminishing at an alarming rate and livestock pathways are blocked through land use, urbanisation and frontiers. The old grazing routes that existed for centuries are almost gone. Only 2.82% of the grazing reserves have been acquired and these are poorly managed. The increase in population, drying of waterholes, shifting in rainfall pattern leading to drought as a result of the changing climate affects both pastoralists and farmers. Hence, they compete over land leading to conflict, and embedded within these are growing form of capitalists land tenure and delay in the justice system that exacerbates the situation. This study examines the argument of land use conflict as the major cause of farmer-pastoralist conflict in Nigeria. The Nigerian Forestry Management Evaluation and Coordinating Unit (FORMECU) land use and land cover (LULC) dataset and published articles of previous farmer-pastoralist conflicts in the country are used. Results show that between 1976 and 1995, all land uses gain, attesting to the increase in population and competition over dwindling resources. However, overlap maps show intensive crop farming has expanded into grazing lands in many areas over these years. These areas of encroachment agree with most of the conflict points recorded. For a lasting solution, we propose a possible revisit of symbiotic engagements between farmers and pastoralists. The full engagement of communities, Non-governmental Organisations (NGOs), Alternative Dispute Resolutions (ADRs) and government as overseers are suggested.

Is community earning enough? Reflections on engagement processes and drivers in two Italian energy communities

Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) continue to be common in Sub-Saharan Africa, with the region contributing to about 40% of the global burden. In Zimbabwe, Lymphatic Filariasis (LF) is one of the most common NTDs and the government and its health sector partners has committed to eliminate the disease and other NTDs. However, the Zimbabwe NTDs Master Plan (2023-2027) reports that transmission of LF in Zimbabwe is challenging to stop because elimination programs often fail to reach full community coverage. These elimination programs are implemented through Mass Drug Administrations (MDAs) where preventive chemotherapy is performed through administration of Albendazole and Ivermectin. The failure of MDA programs to reach everyone in affected areas is partly because of community members who deliberately not participate in the program. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the social factors affecting community participation in MDA programs to eliminate LF in Zimbabwe. The study used a qualitative case study approach and was conducted in Muzarabani district, one of the areas most affected by LF. Using non-probability convenience sampling, fifteen participants were selected and engaged using semi-structured interviews and five key health personnel working in the district were purposively selected as key informants relevant for the study. Document analysis also complemented the study and the triangulated with interviews to ensure findings credibility. Thematic analysis was used to analyze data and findings were systematically presented in form of most emerging themes. The study found that community participation in MDA programs is affected by several social factors including myths surrounding drugs and vaccine, lack of comprehensive health information and education, history with previous MDA and other vaccination programs and religious beliefs. The study concluded that most of the identified factors stemmed significant gaps in comprehensive health information and education. It recommends that awareness raising, capacity building in health literacy and community engagement stand as the miracle medicine to counter the social factors imbedded in historical colonial prejudice, cultural norms and values presided by socio-religious contexts.