Support for Play in Public School Kindergarten Classrooms: A Descriptive Multiple Case Study

This study explored the support for play in public school kindergarten classrooms in a single urban school district in the Northwest region of the United States. Through a three-phased data collection approach that included an online survey, in-person interviews, and classroom observations, the researcher gathered information to describe how teachers are supporting play through five key attributes: teacher perspectives, opportunities for play, the play environment, types of play, and the role of the teacher (teacher practices). The online survey was shared with all kindergarten teachers in the district, with nine survey participants who expressed high support for play selected to participate in one-on-one interviews. From the nine teachers interviewed, three were selected for classroom observations to describe support for play in the real-world context of the kindergarten classroom. The descriptive case studies of these three teachers revealed the following findings on support for play: kindergarten teachers view play as developmentally appropriate and synonymous with learning; daily opportunities are provided for free play and guided play experiences; playful kindergarten environments provide well-defined areas and organized materials for work and play; playful kindergarten classrooms support multiple types of play in child-initiated and teacher-initiated experiences; and teachers support play by creating structures and rules, responding to ensure safety, and advocating for play

Effects of Block Predator Management on Duck and Pheasant Nest Success in Eastern South Dakota

Nest success is the biggest limiting factor governing waterfowl production in the Prairie Pothole Region which supports greater than 50% of North America’s breeding duck population. Depredation by predators accounts for 80% or more of nest losses each year (Klett 1988). Township size block predator management (BPM) has been effective at increasing duck nest success in North Dakota and Canada, but no BPM work has been done in South Dakota. There has also been no research on the effects of BPM on pheasants. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effectiveness of increasing duck and pheasant nest success with the aid of trapping as a management tool. Trappers hired by the Delta Waterfowl Foundation removed mammalian predators in northeast South Dakota on 2 36-square mile blocks from March 15-July15 in 2007 and 2009, and 3 blocks in 2008. Trappers removed 2,578 mammalian predators during this study, with raccoons (Procyon lotor) and striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis) making up 58% of their catch. Trapped blocks along with a representative control block were searched for nests and monitored weekly to determine nest fate. I found 2,706 duck nests and 717 pheasant nests during this study. Mayfield nest success (as modified by Johnson1979) results for ducks ranged from 17.1% to 57.8% in trapped areas and 10.2% to 61.9% in control areas. Mean Mayfield nest success for ducks was not significantly different between treatments (F1,8 = 0.93, P = 0.36), year (F2,8 = 2.01, P = 0.20), or year-treatment (F2,8 = 0.35, P = 0.72) interactions. Mayfield nest success for pheasants ranged from 5.0% to 47.9.0% in trapped areas and 4.1% to 51.7% in control areas. Mean Mayfield nest success for pheasants was not significantly different between treatment (F1,8 = 0.17, P = 0.69), year (F2,8 = 1.47, P = 0.29), or year-treatment (F2,8 = 0.41, P = 0.68) interactions. Positive trends related to trapping in South Dakota were site and year specific for both ducks and pheasants. Future predator management in South Dakota should focus on areas of marginal nesting cover and should evaluate existing predator communities to maximize result

Definition of remission and relapse in polymyalgia rheumatica: data from a literature search compared with a Delphi-based expert consensus

OBJECTIVE: To compare current definitions of remission and relapse in polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) with items resulting from a Delphi-based expert consensus. METHODS: Relevant studies including definitions of PMR remission and relapse were identified by literature search in PubMed. The questionnaire used for the Delphi survey included clinical (n=33), laboratory (n=54) and imaging (n=7) parameters retrieved from a literature search. Each item was assessed for importance and availability/practicability, and limits were considered for metric parameters. Consensus was defined by an agreement rate of ≥80%. RESULTS: Out of 6031 articles screened, definitions of PMR remission and relapse were available in 18 and 34 studies, respectively. Parameters used to define remission and/or relapse included history and clinical assessment of pain and synovitis, constitutional symptoms, morning stiffness (MS), physician's global assessment, headache, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), blood count, fibrinogen and/or corticosteroid therapy. In the Delphi exercise a consensus was obtained on the following parameters deemed essential for definitions of remission and relapse: patient's pain assessment, MS, ESR, CRP, shoulder and hip pain on clinical examination, limitation of upper limb elevation, and assessment of corticosteroid dose required to control symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Assessment of patient's pain, MS, ESR, CRP, shoulder pain/limitation on clinical examination and corticosteroid dose are considered to be important in current available definitions of PMR remission and relapse and the present expert consensus. The high relevance of clinical assessment of hips was unique to this study and may improve specificity and sensitivity of definitions for remission and relapse in PMR

2015 recommendations for the management of polymyalgia rheumatica: a European League Against Rheumatism/American College of Rheumatology collaborative initiative

Therapy for polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) varies widely in clinical practice as international recommendations for PMR treatment are not currently available. In this paper, we report the 2015 European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR)/American College of Rheumatology (ACR) recommendations for the management of PMR. We used the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) methodology as a framework for the project. Accordingly, the direction and strength of the recommendations are based on the quality of evidence, the balance between desirable and undesirable effects, patients'and clinicians'values and preferences, and resource use. Eight overarching principles and nine specific recommendations were developed covering several aspects of PMR, including basic and follow-up investigations of patients under treatment, risk factor assessment, medical access for patients and specialist referral, treatment strategies such as initial glucocorticoid (GC) doses and subsequent tapering regimens, use of intramuscular GCs and disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs), as well as the roles of non-steroidal anti-rheumatic drugs and non-pharmacological interventions. These recommendations will inform primary, secondary and tertiary care physicians about an international consensus on the management of PMR. These recommendations should serve to inform clinicians about best practices in the care of patients with PMR

The effects of the No Child Left Behind Act on the practice of testing students with limited English proficiency

Includes bibliographical references

Liquid-Liquid Equilibria Studies of Potential Organic Solvents as Ethanol Extractants from Aqueous Solutions

Recent years have brought concern for the environment to the forefront, specifically with negative impacts of fossil fuels. Jet fuels are estimated to contribute to 2% of CO2 emissions and are predicted to rise. Many alternatives to petroleum based fuels are being explored, including biofuels which have the potential to reduce CO2 emissions by 85%. However, biofuels do not come without challenges. Inevitably, these fuels will have high water content, due to water formed during biological reactions. Unfortunately, water can be damaging to engines, requiring removal for optimum performance rates. Hydrocarbons, such as ethanol, have unideal interactions with water, forming an azeotrope, and cannot be fully separated via simple chemical engineering separations such as distillation, making the process highly energy-intensive and expensive. Liquid-liquid extraction could be a more cost-effective solution, with a proper solvent, because it can be implemented with smaller equipment and lower energy consumption. This project analyzes the effectiveness of using three organic solvents: castor oil, dodecane, and 2-methylcyclohexanol, to extract ethanol from water. Liquid-liquid equilibrium was determined using the cloud point method and data for the three ternary systems was collected using headspace gas chromatography at 25°C. A ternary diagram for each organic solvent, water, and ethanol was obtained. Preliminary liquid-liquid extractions using a laboratory scale mixer-settler were completed with vegetable oil to provide a proof of concept method for the separation ethanol from the aqueous stream. Parameters gleaned from the ternary systems and the preliminary liquid-liquid extractions studies were used to analyze the potency of each solvent in the separation of ethanol and to determine the conditions for the best separation. Ultimately, this work provides new insights into the use of green solvents as possible ethanol extraction agents in liquid-liquid extractions processes