Why it is important to keep recess in schools

Recess is a common part of most elementary school schedules yet its benefits are often not clearly articulated. As a result recess may be thought to be expendable from school curricula as school districts adjust already full schedules in an attempt to accommodate every necessary component. This research review explores the relationship of recess to school schedules, time allotments, activities commonly observed at recess, and developmental (social, cognitive, and psychomotor) aspects of recess in schools. Also addressed are common criticisms of recess in schools

Sample Selection in Models of Academic Performance

This article shows how admission and enrollment processes affect the interpretation of simple validation studies of academic performance. In a competitive market for students, optimal behavior of admissions committees and applicants drives the simple correlation between test scores and performance toward zero, regardless of the relationship in the population of prospective students. Data from our university’s MBA program support the prediction that applicants exhibit a higher correlation between test scores and undergraduate GPAs than do current students. This suggests that standard validation studies will understate the importance of GMAT scores in predicting performance of potential MBA students

Community Benefits and Lessons for Local Engagement in a California Open Streets Event: A Mixed-Methods Assessment of Viva CalleSJ 2018

This report presents the findings from an evaluation of the September 2018 Viva CalleSJ open streets event in San José,CA. The research was designed to assess the success of the event, guide planning for future open streets events, and inform potential funders and community partners about the benefits of such events. To gather the impressions of participants, local residents, and workers at businesses along the event route, the mixed-methods study analyzed results from a survey of 1,571participants, 114 interviews with community members and businesses, and participant observations. Researchers also examined social media presence and a related augmented reality gaming component. The study found that Viva CalleSJ 2018 participants were resoundingly positive about their experience. Many said that the event brought people together from across the city and inspired a sense of community and civic pride, and the majority of participants benefited from at least one hour of physical activity. Most local businesses and residents viewed the event positively as well, and many food and beverage outlets appeared to benefit from increased patronage during the event. However, some shop keepers along the event route and residents in surrounding neighborhoods were not aware of Viva CalleSJ in the weeks prior to it happening or did not have a clear understanding of how it might impact them. Some were wary of the road closures and in some cases were ultimately frustrated by what they perceived to be negative impacts on their businesses

Identification by Disaggregation

Standard economic theory predicts that the actions of individual participants in competitive markets have negligible effects on market-determined aggregates. Applied researchers, and even some econometric textbooks, incorrectly infer from this that market prices can be modeled as econometrically exogenous with respect to the quantity demanded of an individual consumer. This faulty inference has even led some researchers (for example, Robert Engle, 1978; Nicholas Kiefer, 1984; Roger Waud, 1974) to employ an estimation strategy we call identification by disaggregation (IBD). This procedure attempts to circumvent the simultaneity problem in a macro regression by disaggregating the dependent variable and estimating the relationship for individual agents or sectors. This note provides a simple proof that estimates using disaggregated dependent variables suffer, on average, from the same degree of simultaneity bias as the estimates using aggregate data

Sixty original plays for primary grades

Thesis (Ed.M.)--Boston Universit

A Family Day program enhances knowledge about medical school culture and necessary supports

BACKGROUND: A Family Day program was implemented at Indiana University School of Medicine to educate the families and friends of in-coming medical students about the rigors of medical school and the factors that contribute to stress. METHODS: Surveys that assessed knowledge, beliefs, and attitudes about medical school were administered to participants before and after the program. RESULTS: After the program, participants showed a significant improvement in their understanding of medical school culture and the importance of support systems for medical students. Post-test scores improved by an average of 29% (P < 0.001) in each of the two years this program was administered. CONCLUSIONS: The inclusion of family members and other loved ones in pre-matriculation educational programs may serve to mitigate the stress associated with medical school by enhancing the students' social support systems

Commercial Generic Bioprocessing Apparatus Science Insert - 03

Commercial Generic Bioprocessing Apparatus Science Insert - 03 (CSI-03) is the third set of investigations in the CSI program series. The CSI program provides the K-12 community opportunities to utilize the unique microgravity environment of the International Space Station as part of the regular classroom to encourage learning and interest in science, technology, engineering and math. CSI-03 will examine the complete life cycle of the painted lady butterfly and the ability of an orb weaving spider to spin a web, eat and remain healthy in space

Cigarette smoking and risk of epithelial ovarian cancer

An increased risk of mucinous ovarian tumors among cigarette smokers has been observed in multiple studies. The association of smoking with other histologic types of ovarian cancer is less clear, but potentially holds greater importance for prevention of disease incidence and mortality. METHODS: In a population-based study of 812 women with ovarian cancer diagnosed in western Washington State from 2002-2005 and 1,313 controls, we assessed the risk associated with cigarette smoking, with a particular focus on tumor subgroups jointly classified according to the degree of invasiveness and histology. Information was collected through in-person interviews, and logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: The incidence of both borderline and invasive mucinous ovarian tumors was increased among women with a history of cigarette smoking (ORs and 95% CIs = 1.8, 1.2-2.9, and 1.8, 0.8-4.3, respectively). Increases in risk of these tumor types were most evident among women with greater smoking duration and pack-years of exposure, and among those who had smoked within the prior 15 years. We noted no clear patterns of risk of serous tumors with duration or pack-years of smoking; however, risk of these tumor types was somewhat elevated among women who had smoked within the previous 15 years (for borderline serous tumors, OR and 95% CI = 1.5, 0.9-2.3; for invasive serous tumors, OR and 95% CI = 1.4, 1.1-1.9). The risk of endometrioid, clear cell, and the remaining histologic types of invasive ovarian cancer was not increased among smokers. CONCLUSION: In the aggregate, evidence is insufficient to determine whether smoking is linked with risk of serous or other non-mucinous histologic types of ovarian cancer. Studies that employ additional histopathologic and molecular techniques to more accurately delineate subsets of tumors may improve our understanding of the impact of smoking on ovarian cancer risk

Risk of epithelial ovarian cancer in relation to benign ovarian conditions and ovarian surgery.

OBJECTIVE: Some forms of ovarian neoplasms may be preventable through the removal of precursor lesions. We assessed the risk associated with a prior diagnosis of, and ovarian surgery following, ovarian cysts and endometriosis, with a focus on characterizing risk among tumor subgroups. METHODS: Information was collected during in-person interviews with 812 women with ovarian cancer diagnosed in western Washington State from 2002 to 2005 and 1,313 population-based controls. Logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: The risk of a borderline mucinous ovarian tumor associated with a history of an ovarian cyst was increased (OR=1.7, 95% CI: 1.0-2.8), but did not vary notably according to receipt of subsequent ovarian surgery. While risk of invasive epithelial ovarian cancer was slightly increased among women with a cyst who had no subsequent ovarian surgery, it was reduced when a cyst diagnosis was followed by surgery (OR = 0.6, 95% CI: 0.4-0.9). This reduction in risk was most evident for serous invasive tumors. Women with a history of endometriosis had a threefold increased risk of endometrioid and clear cell invasive tumors, with a lesser risk increase among women who underwent subsequent ovarian surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest differences in the relation of ovarian cysts and endometriosis with risk of specific subtypes of ovarian cancer as well as the possibility that ovarian surgery in women with these conditions may lower the risk of invasive disease

A Familty Day Program Enhances Knowledge about Medical School Culture and Necessary Supports

Background. A Family Day Program was implemented at Indiana University School of Medicine to educate the families and friends of in-coming medical students about the rigors of medical school and the factors that contribute to stress. Methods. Surveys that assessed knowledge, beliefs, and attitudes about medical school were administered to participants before and after the program. Results. After the program, participants showed a significant improvement in their understanding of medical school culture and the importance of support systems for medical students. Post-test scores improved by an average of 29% (P < 0.001) in each of the two years this program was administered. Conclusions. The inclusion of family members and other loved ones in pre-matriculation educational programs may serve to mitigate the stress associated with medical school by enhancing the students' social support systems