Case Study: Teacher Induction Durham Public Education Network (DPEN)

In March 2003, the Durham Public Education Network (DPEN) convened hundreds of public leaders in the community for a high-profile signing ceremony. They were gathered to sign a one-page community covenant would that allow the community to hold district and community leaders accountable for supporting school improvement

Arguing against yourself : exploring the relationship between conflicting episodic memories.

The current study is an attempt to evaluate how participants' memory is altered by information either congruent or incongruent to their original testimony. False memory research consistently shows that exposure to post-event information affects how a specific memory is recalled. However, these manipulations are given without receiving any testimony from the participants. This is a two-part study requiring participants to return a week after their first participation to answer questions based on their testimony. Initial accuracy of statements did not differ between the misinformation and control conditions. In addition, no differences were found between conditions on responses regarding the control questions; however, when misinformation was present, a different pattern emerged. Participants significantly agreed with misinformation more than they denied it. These results varied significantly from responses to the control statements. In addition, whether the initial statement was accurate or inaccurate affected how participants' responded to the misinformation. Confidence was overall lower for manipulated statements, indicating the willingness to testify even during uncertainty

Co-Parenting Influences: A Positive Report for the Millenium

In this correlalional study of later adolescents who experience parental divorce, six co-parenting influences were assessed in an effort to identify predictors and factors that contribute to overall satisfaction with life. Subjects completed a survey comprised of demographic information which included an adaptation of a survey (Silitsky, 1996), a Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) (Diener, E. Simmons, R. Larsen, R. & Griffin, S., 1985), and a Perceived Social Support Family Scale (Pss-Fa) (Procidano, M & Heller, K., 1983). The adapted scale and the PSS-Fa measured perceptions by the later adolescent of their family of origin and their levels of()) parental conflict, (2) parental alcohol and drug use, (3) financial adequacy, (4) custody arrangements, (5) custodial/noncustodial parental affect, and (6) availability of social support. The scores of fifty-five male and females between the ages of 18-25 were analyzed using Correlational and Regression analyses. Results indicated higher than average Satisfaction With Life scores among the Subjects. The analyses showed significantly decreased Satisfaction With Life scores among later adolescents who perceived their custodial parent as sad and/or when they perceived the non-custodial parent as sad and a significantly increased satisfaction with life when desired time with the noncustodial parent was regular and predictable

Silviculture and the red-cockaded woodpecker: Where do we go from here?

Recent standards and guidelines for the protection and management of red-cockaded woodpecker habitat within 3/4 mi of colony sites, and also thinning within colonies to reduce basal area and midstory will have a significant effect on National Forest lands. The relation of these thinnings to forest pest management will be examined as well as the area of forest involved. Current fire regulations in relation to prescribed burns and potential fuel buildup will be examined. Plans for research, including disturbances, hazard, and risk rating for southern pine beetle and landscape changes will be presented

Understanding symptoms in RYR1-Related Myopathies: A mixed-methods analysis based on participants' experience

Background: In rare diseases such as ryanodine receptor 1-related myopathies (RYR1-RM), health-related quality of life (HRQoL) measures are critically important so clinicians and researchers can better understand what symptoms are most important to participants, with the ultimate goal of finding tangible solutions for them. Objectives: The main objective of this study was to characterize symptoms in individuals with RYR1-RM to inform future research. A secondary objective of this study was to analyze positive and negative sentiments regarding symptoms and treatment effects post N-acetylcysteine (NAC) administration in individuals with RYR1-RM. Methods: The study used a mixed-methods design applying methodological triangulation. Qualitative data were collected via semi-structured interviews at three visits to characterize symptoms in individuals with RYR1-RM and to analyze treatment effects. Qualitative data were then transformed into quantitative results to measure the frequency with which each symptom was mentioned by participants. Results: A total of 12 symptoms were identified as areas of interest to participants with RYR1-RM, highlighting fatigue and weakness as key symptoms. Data transformation categorized more than 1000 citations, reporting a greater number of positive comments for post-intervention interviews than for baseline and pre-intervention visits and that NAC group participants stated more positive comments regarding treatment effect than did the placebo group. Conclusions: We present a comprehensive characterization of symptoms in RYR1-RM and how those symptoms influence HRQoL. Furthermore, the introduction of mixed methods may be a valuable way to better understand patient-centered data in rare diseases to support affected individuals in coping with their symptoms

Mixed methods analysis of Health-Related Quality of Life in ambulant individuals affected with RYR1-related myopathies pre-post-N-acetylcysteine therapy

Purpose: To characterize Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) in ambulant individuals with RYR1-RM and to determine if a qualitative PRO tool (subjective self-assessment) complements PROMIS and Neuro-QoL scales to detect changes in HRQoL in ambulant individuals with RYR1-RM post N-acetylcysteine (NAC) treatment. Methods: The study used a mixed methods research (MMR) design applying methodological triangulation. Qualitative data were collected via semi-structured interviews using open-ended questions. Quantitative data were gathered through PROMIS and Neuro-QoL instruments. Additionally, qualitative data were transformed into quantitative data for subjective self-assessment and frequency analyses. Results: Qualitative results identified five domains and 33 subdomains as areas of interest. The most valuable were the importance of social impacts, the development of several coping strategies, both physical and psychological, and the identification of fatigue and weakness as key symptoms. Data transformation then categorized more than 3100 citations on frequency analyses, globally and by domain, visit, and participant. Regarding quantitative results, there was no clear evidence that any of the three PRO tools captured positive changes as a result of NAC treatment. Conclusion: Qualitative results showed a comprehensive characterization of HRQoL in this population based on a symptom/patient-centered approach. These findings will inform future studies. Furthermore, given the similar findings across our multiple methods and endpoints, the introduction of MMR may be a valuable, complementary approach to clinical trials. MMR may be especially useful to incorporate in order to address and follow the FDA's guidance and prioritization on the inclusion of affected individuals' perspectives in clinical trials

Modelling the effects of trafficking and tamping on scaled railway ballast in triaxial tests

Most of the world’s railways are on ballasted track, which is generally used in preference to slab track because of its lower initial cost and the relative ease with which track geometry can be adjusted. However, the accumulation of track movements as a result of trafficking leads to a gradual deterioration in track line and level, hence the need for periodic corrective maintenance. This is usually by tamping; a process in which the track is lifted and vibrating tines are inserted into the ballast and moved horizontally to raise the ballast surface back to the required level. The period before further maintenance is required decreases with each tamp. This paper investigates one of the reasons for the deterioration in ballast robustness following tamping, with reference to triaxial tests on scaled ballast in which vertical loading cycles and the stress reversal caused below the railseat by tamping were simulated. It is shown that the stress reversal disrupts and loosens the vertical load bearing ballast structure developed during trafficking to support vertical train loads. On re-loading after tamping, the track settles significantly and, as a result of the loss of vertical load-bearing structure, with further load cycles rapidly returns to its reduced height. The implication is that maintenance by tamping is, on its own, disruptive to the structure and resilience of the ballast to vertical cyclic loading, and should be carried out as rarely as possible

Mechanics-based model to predict ballast-related maintenance timing and costs

A mechanics-based model has been developed which predicts the timing of required ballast maintenance based on track settlement and roughness. With user-defined track material properties, loading characteristics, and maintenance technique to be applied, the model determines the rate of track roughness increase and applies the desired maintenance when such roughness exceeds a limit. This analysis is continued, usually over the life of the ballast, and the related life cycle cost is calculated. For another ballast material or maintenance technique, a lower or higher cost may be realized. In this way, the model user may observe the effect upon ballast maintenance and cost of using concrete rather than wood ties, a heavier axle load, or increasing the track stiffness. Because the life cycle cost is used, the frequent mistake of determining purchasing decisions based upon the least cost in the present is avoided. Instead, the model allows the user to optimize by considering the associated costs incurred during the component life

METHODS AND PROCEDURES FOR BRINGING ADULT DISTRIBUTIVE EDUCATION TO COMMUNITIES OF 5,000 POPULATION OR LESS

Abstract not availabl