Implementation of a program to support direct support professionals to promote a healthy lifestyle for people with moderate to profound intellectual disabilities

Background There is a lack of theory-based interventions for direct support professionals (DSPs) to support a healthy lifestyle for people with moderate to profound intellectual disabilities (ID) despite their major role in this. This study aims to evaluate the preparation, implementation, and preliminary outcomes of a theory-based training and education program for DSPs to learn how to support these individuals. Methods The program consisting of e-learning, three in-person sessions, and three assignments was implemented. The implementation process was evaluated with a mixed method design with the following components: preparation phase, implementation phase, and the outcomes. These components were measured with project notes, questionnaires, interviews, reflections, assignments, food diaries, Actigraph/Actiwatch, and an inventory of daily activities. Results Regarding the preparation phase, enough potential participants met the inclusion criteria and the time to recruit the participants was 9 months. The program was implemented in four (residential) facilities and involved individuals with moderate to profound ID (n = 24) and DSPs (n = 32). The e-learning was completed by 81% of the DSPs, 72–88% attended the in-person sessions, and 34–47% completed the assignments. Overall, the fidelity of the program was good. DSPs would recommend the program, although they were either negative or positive about the time investment. Mutual agreement on expectations were important for the acceptability and suitability of the program. For the outcomes, the goals of the program were achieved, and the attitudes of DSPs towards a healthy lifestyle were improved after 3 months of the program (nutrition: p = < 0.01; physical activity: p = 0.04). A statistically significant improvement was found for food intake of people with ID (p = 0.047); for physical activity, no statistically significant differences were determined. Conclusions The theory-based program consisting of a training and education section for DSPs to support a healthy lifestyle for people with moderate to profound ID was feasible to implement and, despite some barriers regarding time capacity and mutual expectations, it delivered positive changes in both persons with moderate to profound ID and DSPs. Thus, the program is a promising intervention to support DSPs.

ANALYSIS OF REGULATED PROCUREMENT PROCEDURES IN THE REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN FOR LOCAL CONTENT REQUIREMENTS

In connection with membership in the World Trade Organization and the Eurasian Economic Union, the Republic of Kazakhstan has taken several obligations to create equal conditions for producers of goods, works and services of all participating countries. This circumstance makes it difficult to provide direct support to domestic producers. The purchases of government bodies, quasi-government organizations and subsoil users of solid minerals, hydrocarbons and uranium (government-regulated purchases) create a significant volume of demand for various kinds of goods, works and services. Therefore, within the framework of the research, a literary review of the regulatory legal acts governing the procurement of these entities was carried out. An assessment of the norms contributing to an increase in the share of local content in purchases is given. As a result, proposals were formed to improve legislation in order to increase the effectiveness of these norms.

Oman will struggle to balance social and fiscal needs

Significance The additional income is being partly used to direct support to poorer segments of society. However, this has not ended the mounting popular pressure for accelerated change. The main demands, expressed on social media platforms, include expedited employment and fiscal relief programmes, curbs on government bureaucracy and limits to the number of state-owned enterprises competing with the private sector. Impacts The high-employment tourism and construction sectors could be slow to recover post-pandemic and manufacturing may take a hit. Saudi and Emirati investment offers benefits but conditions could strain Oman’s policy of regional neutrality. Difficulties in accessing credit for non-state employees will keep people focused on seeking government jobs.

COT-7 Online supports for opening of the tumor treating field

Background: EF-14 trial showed the efficacy of tumor treating fields (TTF), and TTF was approved as a standard therapy for glioblastoma in Japan. In TTF opening, Device Support Specialist (DSS) explains how to use it for the patient and the family. Because there is no DSS in Yamaguchi prefecture, DSS has to come to our hospital across other prefectures. On the other hand, COVID-19 is still spreading and it is sometimes tough to move from a big city to countryside. Here, we would present the experiences of TTF opening with online DSS support. Method: From June 2020, Zoom was used for 4 patients, and from June 2021, iPad/Face-Time was used for one patient. TTF was introduced via online DSS support with direct support from our nurse in our out clinic. After that, initial times of TTF change were performed via online DSS support in patient’s home. Two patients who used Zoom had trouble to connect to internet, however finally completed with relative helps.Conclusion: Online medicine should be absolutely spreading in country sides. Now, we change from Zoom to iPad, because the old patients in country sides were hard to use internet utility. We should make efforts to provide patients more brief methods of online support.

The Informal Sector Facing COVID-19: The Case of Cameroon

This study aims to analyze the effects of COVID-19 on actors in the informal economy in Cameroon. To analyze the effects of the COVID-19 crisis on actors in the informal economy, we use secondary data from the National Institute of Statistics (NIS). These data come from a survey of 1310 households. We performed data analysis using comparative methods and a labor market participation model that considers changes in people’s behavior towards health risks in order to explore and compare empirical results with earlier studies. From this analysis, it was revealed that job losses are more important in the informal sector (and, in particular, among men). We note that the absence of wearing a mask decreases the chances of having an informal job and of being suspended from one’s job during the crisis. Likewise, time restrictions that are not appreciated by workers will push actors more towards the informal sector. These results lead to recommendations that contribute towards providing support or direct support to informal workers in the sector.

Abstraction Logic

Abstraction Logic is introduced as a foundation for Practical Types and Practal. It combines the simplicity of first-order logic with direct support for variable binding constants called abstractions. It also allows free variables to depend on parameters, which means that first-order axiom schemata can be encoded as simple axioms. Conceptually abstraction logic is situated between first-order logic and second-order logic. It is sound with respect to an intuitive and simple algebraic semantics. Completeness holds for both intuitionistic and classical abstraction logic, and all abstraction logics in between and beyond.

Assessing the Contribution of Vision 2020 Umurenge Programme on Poverty Reduction in Kigabiro Sector, Rwanda

The study aimed at assessing the contribution of VUP in poverty reduction especially in Kigabiro sector. This study has general objective which is to assess the contribution of Vision 2020 Umurenge programme on poverty reduction supported by three specific objectives which are to assess the contribution of public works on poverty reduction, to determine the contribution of financial services on poverty reduction, and also to evaluate the contribution of direct support services on poverty reduction especially in Kigabiro sector located in Rwamagana district, Eastern province. Internationally, poverty can describe different things in different part of the world to different people, but it can be defined as when people are not able to afford basic needs. USA has come a long way in addressing the problem, but progress seems to have slowed despite the recent years of economic recovery. In Africa, hundred millions of people in the poorer countries are worries only with survival and elementary needs and average poverty rate for sub-Saharan Africa stands at about 41 percent, and of the world’s 28 poorest countries, 27 are in sub-Saharan Africa all with a poverty rate above 30 percent. Referring to Rwanda, because may people in Rwanda live in rural area, they also live-in poverty line which is so hard for GoR to answer each Rwandan’s problem but poverty alleviation program has been established in order to reduce gap of lower bad living condition of Rwandans due to genocide took place in 1994 against Tutsi. In 1994 the poverty rate was 78%, in year of 2000 poverty rate was 60.4%, 2011 poverty rate was 44.9%. 2014 poverty rate was 39.1% and in 2020 poverty rate was 20%. So, even if the poverty rate mentioned above are decreasing, poverty rate of 20% in 2020 is still high meaning that many people are in the poverty which is the main problem in this studies.