Rethinking Traditional Grammars of Schooling: Experiences of White, Middle-class, Female, First-year Aspiring Multicultural Educators in Intercultural Urban Teaching Contexts

Enactment of social justice education is an important step toward rectifying pervasive discrimination woven into public schools and other American institutions. A social justice educator must develop diverse cultural competencies and also recognize oneself as a racialized participant in a system of racial inequity. The demographics of an overwhelmingly White teaching force and increasingly diverse student body creates both need and opportunity to understand the development of White multicultural educators. This is a case study of two White, female, middle-class first-year urban teachers who had completed a social justice-oriented preparation program. Written reflections, interviews, and focus groups captured teachers’ perspectives on their first-year intercultural, urban teaching experiences. Findings illuminated experiences with cultural disequilibrium, culturally relevant teaching, critical consciousness, learning to teach, relationships, and navigating institutional knowledge. Teachers negotiated cultural disequilibrium by both seeking new cultural knowledge, and seeking or creating experiences more consistent with schooling they experienced as students. Culturally relevant teaching emerged through teachers’ critiques of academic policy and practices that disadvantaged their students, yet were coupled with constraints that inhibited cultural synchronization in classrooms. Student achievement was considered a primary responsibility, but teachers were frustrated by accountability to fill perceived large academic gaps. Teachers simultaneously participated in and critiqued the dominant structures, stereotypes, and narratives in place in their schools Teachers viewed themselves as life-long learners and valued foundational preservice experiences and school-based relationships to build knowledge of teaching. Teachers understood the value of relationships with families and students yet felt constrained in developing those relationships to enhance culturally relevant teaching practices. Teaching in a culture of high stakes accountability and monitoring stifled innovative teaching. Implications for teacher supports during induction include preparing teachers to enter the induction process with an experience bank and foundational critical consciousness from which they can build in new contexts, providing opportunities for teachers to build community- and school-based knowledge and relationships as early as possible, and providing supportive mentoring that guides teachers’ critical consciousness in their new school contexts

CDKN2A: a predictive marker for bone mineral density or direct role in osteoblast function

As the population is becoming more aged, osteoporosis is becoming more prevalent and the number of fragility fractures that are occurring is increasing. One of the main predictors of developing osteoporosis in later life is a bone mineral density that is greater than 2.5 standard deviations below the young adult sex-matched mean, though studies have only been able to explain 5% of the variance seen in bone mineral densities between individuals. There is now increasing evidence that the development of osteoporosis can begin in utero and that epigenetic processes, such as DNA methylation, may be central to the mechanism by which early development influences bone mineral density and later bone health.Previous work within the group has identified associations of a 300bp differentially methylated region within the CDKN2A locus with bone mineral content, bone area and areal bone mineral density in offspring from the Southampton Women’s Survey(SWS) cohort. As methylation of CDKN2A increases, bone mineral content, bone area and areal bone mineral density all decrease at both 4 and 6 years of age. The two cell cycle regulators p16INK4A and p14ARF are transcribed from this gene as well as the lncRNA ANRIL. Various techniques were used to determine whether this differentially methylated region has a functional role in osteoblasts or whether it is just a potential marker for predicting bone mineral density. It was shown that there was specific binding in the osteoblast-like SaOS-2 cell line to this region and that methylation of these CpGs led to a decrease in transcription factor binding. Treatment of both SaOS-2 cells and primary osteoblasts with siRNAs against ANRIL caused a decrease in cell number, a decrease in cell proliferation, an increase in cells in G0/G1 phase of the cell cycle and, in SaOS-2 cells, caused an increase in the expression of bone differentiation markers RUNX2 and ALP. Knock down of ANRIL expression also caused a change in genes that have roles in osteoblast specific pathways as well as genes that were involved in molecular functions such as nuclear regulation and acetylation. Associations were found between CpG methylation in RXRA and offspring bone outcomes at birth in both the SWS and MAVIDOS cohorts. Daily maternal cholecalciferol supplementation was also shown to decrease the methylation of CpG loci within RXRA in offspring umbilical cord and further investigation showed that this effect of maternal supplementation was only seen in children born during the winter months.Together, these findings suggest that the association between CDKN2A methylation at birth and later bone health could indicate a potential role for CDKN2A in bone development and function and raises the possibility that differential methylation of CDKN2A may allow the identification of individuals at increased risk of osteoporosis in later life. Due to the effect of ANRIL knock down in primary osteoblasts, which could not be explained through normal cell cycle pathways, results suggest that ANRIL has potential trans-regulatory functions in these cells. These findings suggest that ANRIL could potentially play a role in bone differentiation, cell proliferation and metabolism and that dysregulation of the expression of this lncRNA could have adverse effects on bone health, potentially increasing the risk of individuals developing osteoporosis in later life.<br/

Effects of robotic-assisted gait training on the central vascular health of individuals with spinal cord injury: A pilot study.

Objective: To investigate the effect of a short-term, robotic-assisted (exoskeleton) gait training (RGT) program on central and peripheral hemodynamic measures in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI). Design: Parallel group, non-randomized trial with before (baseline) and after (follow-up) assessments. Setting: Single-center, community-based neuro-physiotherapy practice. Participants: Twelve individuals with SCI (ASI A to C). Interventions: Participants completed either a 5-day RGT program plus physiotherapy (n = 6), or a usual care physiotherapy only program (control group; n = 6). The RGT program consisted of daily 60-min physiotherapy and 90-min of RGT. Outcome measures were measured before and after the rehabilitation program. Main outcome measure(s): The primary outcome measure was arterial wave reflection (Augmentation index [AIx]), with central and peripheral blood pressures also reported. Data are presented as mean (SD) and effect sizes (partial eta squared; η2 p). Results: There was a significant reduction in AIx (30 ± 18–21 ± 15%; η2 p=0.75) and mean arterial pressure (89 ± 11–82 ± 10 mmHg; η2 p=0.47) following completion of the RGT program (both P &lt; 0.05). There were no changes in these measures for the control group. Although not significantly different, medium to large effects were observed in favor of RGT for all other central and peripheral measures (η2 p=0.06–0.21), except for heart rate and pulse pressure (η2 p&lt;0.04). Conclusions: RGT using an exoskeleton is a promising therapy for improving cardiovascular health in patients with SCI. Specifically, this study indicates decreased arterial wave reflection and supports the need for larger randomized controlled trials

The Iowa Homemaker vol.30, no.8

Seniors Say, Harriet LaRue, page 3 Congratulations from the 1921 Staff, page 4 1921-1951, Mrs. Fred Ferguson, Mrs. Frank Kerekes, Mrs. Eloise Hauser, page 5 College Decision, Anne Ekdahl, page 6 Words From a Waiter, Alane Baird, page 7 9 Previews of Home Economics, Barbara Short, page 8 Godey’s Lady’s Book, Patricia Binder, page 11 Here’s An Idea, Carol Dee Legg, page 14 What’s New, Nancy Voss, page 16 Alums in the News, Jane Novak, page 18 Information, Please, Doris Cook, page 20 Trends, Nancy Butler, page 2

Investigating the physiological ecology of mesopelagic zooplankton in the Scotia Sea (Southern Ocean) using lipid and stable isotope signatures

The mesopelagic zooplankton community plays an important role in the cycling and sequestration of carbon via the biological pump. However, little is known about the physiology and ecology of key taxa found within this region, hindering our understanding of their influence on the pathways of energy and organic matter cycling. We sampled the eight most abundant zooplankton (Calanoides acutus, Rhincalanus gigas, Paraeuchaeta spp., Chaetognatha, Euphausia triacantha, Thysanoessa spp., Themisto gaudichaudii and Salpa thompsoni) from within the mesopelagic zone in the Scotia Sea during a sinking diatom bloom and investigated their physiological ecology using lipid biomarkers and stable isotopic signatures of nitrogen. Data suggest that the large calanoid copepods, C. acutus and R. gigas, were in, or emerging from, a period of metabolic inactivity during the study period (November 15th – December 15th 2017). Abundant, but decreasing lipid reserves in the predominantly herbivorous calanoid copepods, suggest these animals may have been metabolising previously stored lipids at the time of sampling, rather than deriving energy solely from the diatom bloom. This highlights the importance of understanding the timing of diapause of overwintering species as their feeding is likely to have an impact on the turnover of particulate organic matter (POM) in the upper mesopelagic. The δ15N signatures of POM became enriched with increasing depth, whereas all species of zooplankton except T. gaudichaudii did not. This suggests that animals were feeding on fresher, surface-derived POM, rather than reworked particles at depth, likely influencing the quantity and quality of organic matter leaving the upper mesopelagic. Our study highlights the complexity of mesopelagic food webs and suggests that the application of broad trophic functional types may lead to an incorrect understanding of ecosystem dynamics

Global malaria predictors at a localized scale

Malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by Plasmodium parasites transmitted by Anopheles mosquitoes. In 2022, more than 249 million cases of malaria were reported worldwide, with an estimated 608,000 deaths. While malaria incidence has decreased globally in recent decades, some public health gains have plateaued, and many endemic hotspots still face high transmission rates. Understanding local drivers of malaria transmission is crucial but challenging due to the complex interactions between climate, entomological and human variables, and land use. This study focuses on highly climatically suitable and endemic areas in Côte d’Ivoire to assess the explanatory power of coarse climatic predictors of malaria transmission at a fine scale. Using data from 40 villages participating in a randomized controlled trial of a household malaria intervention, the study examines the effects of climate variation over time on malaria transmission. Through panel regressions and statistical modeling, the study investigates which variable (temperature, precipitation, or entomological inoculation rate) and its form (linear or unimodal) best explains seasonal malaria transmission and the factors predicting spatial variation in transmission. The results highlight the importance of temperature and rainfall, with quadratic temperature and all precipitation models performing well, but the causal influence of each driver remains unclear due to their strong correlation. Further, an independent, mechanistic temperature-dependent R0 model based on laboratory data, which predicts that malaria transmission peaks at 25°C and declines at lower and higher temperatures, aligns well with observed malaria incidence rates, emphasizing the significance and predictability of temperature suitability across scales. By contrast, entomological variables, such as entomological inoculation rate, were not strong predictors of human incidence in this context. Finally, the study explores the predictors of spatial variation in malaria, considering land use, intervention, and entomological variables. The findings contribute to a better understanding of malaria transmission dynamics at local scales, aiding in the development of effective control strategies in endemic regions

Back pain outcomes in primary care following a practice improvement intervention:- a prospective cohort study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Back pain is one of the UK's costliest and least understood health problems, whose prevalence still seems to be increasing. Educational interventions for general practitioners on back pain appear to have had little impact on practice, but these did not include quality improvement learning, involve patients in the learning, record costs or document practice activities as well as patient outcomes.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We assessed the outcome of providing information about quality improvement techniques and evidence-based practice for back pain using the Clinical Value Compass. This included clinical outcomes (Roland and Morris Disability Questionnaire), functional outcomes, costs of care and patient satisfaction. We provided workshops which used an action learning approach and collected before and after data on routine practice activity from practice electronic databases. In parallel, we studied outcomes in a separate cohort of patients with acute and sub-acute non-specific back pain recruited from the same practices over the same time period. Patient data were analysed as a prospective, split-cohort study with assessments at baseline and eight weeks following the first consultation.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Data for 1014 patients were recorded in the practice database study, and 101 patients in the prospective cohort study. We found that practice activities, costs and patient outcomes changed little after the intervention. However, the intervention was associated with a small, but statistically significant reduction in disability in female patients. Additionally, baseline disability, downheartedness, self-rated health and leg pain had small but statistically significant effects (p < 0.05) on follow-up disability scores in some subgroups.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>GP education for back pain that both includes health improvement methodologies and involves patients may yield additional benefits for some patients without large changes in patterns of practice activity. The effects in this study were small and limited and the reasons for them remain obscure. However, such is the impact of back pain and its frequency of consultation in general practice that this kind of improvement methodology deserves further consideration.</p> <p>Trial registration number</p> <p>ISRCTN: <a href="http://www.controlled-trials.com/ISRCTN30420389">ISRCTN30420389</a></p

Multicenter Diagnostic Evaluation of OnSite COVID-19 Rapid Test (CTK Biotech) among Symptomatic Individuals in Brazil and the United Kingdom

Evaluating rapid diagnostic tests in diverse populations is essential to improving diagnostic responses as it gives an indication of the accuracy in real-world scenarios. In the case of rapid diagnostic testing within this pandemic, lateral flow tests that meet the minimum requirements for sensitivity and specificity can play a key role in increasing testing capacity, allowing timely clinical management of those infected, and protecting health care systems

SARS-CoV-2-specific immune responses and clinical outcomes after COVID-19 vaccination in patients with immune-suppressive disease

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) immune responses and infection outcomes were evaluated in 2,686 patients with varying immune-suppressive disease states after administration of two Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines. Overall, 255 of 2,204 (12%) patients failed to develop anti-spike antibodies, with an additional 600 of 2,204 (27%) patients generating low levels (&lt;380 AU ml−1). Vaccine failure rates were highest in ANCA-associated vasculitis on rituximab (21/29, 72%), hemodialysis on immunosuppressive therapy (6/30, 20%) and solid organ transplant recipients (20/81, 25% and 141/458, 31%). SARS-CoV-2-specific T cell responses were detected in 513 of 580 (88%) patients, with lower T cell magnitude or proportion in hemodialysis, allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and liver transplant recipients (versus healthy controls). Humoral responses against Omicron (BA.1) were reduced, although cross-reactive T cell responses were sustained in all participants for whom these data were available. BNT162b2 was associated with higher antibody but lower cellular responses compared to ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccination. We report 474 SARS-CoV-2 infection episodes, including 48 individuals with hospitalization or death from COVID-19. Decreased magnitude of both the serological and the T cell response was associated with severe COVID-19. Overall, we identified clinical phenotypes that may benefit from targeted COVID-19 therapeutic strategies