Supporting Educator Professional Growth In Times Of Change

This action research cross-case comparison study is set at an independent school in Maine which serves approximately 1,600 students in grades 6-12. Recently, the administrative team of the school articulated an academic strategic plan focused on increasing student achievement as measured by standardized test scores. The changes created a challenge because administrators raised expectations and accountability of staff members with respect to professional performance. The current climate in the institution presents an opportunity to provide a sense of direction and support for faculty through thoughtful leadership and professional development (PD) programming to support their progress on meeting the goals set by the administration. This study documented the needs of the school’s teachers and provided a plan for supporting these educators throughout the ongoing process of professional growth amidst change. Nine participants were interviewed and the resulting data were categorized using Drago-Severson’s Four Pillars of Professional Development Practice. Results were considered within the context of turbulent change as suggested by Gross’ turbulence theory. In the interviews, teachers shared a desire for professional development which was authentic and mutually supported through the reflection of their peers. The implications of this study are that professional development providers and administrators of schools with a great deal of teacher and leadership autonomy would be well served to understand and support the professional goals of the individuals among their faculty

Advances in the biology, diagnosis and host-pathogen interactions of parvovirus B19

Increased recognition of parvovirus B19(B19), an erythrovirus, as a significant human pathogen that causes fetal loss and severe disease in immunocompromised patients has resulted in intensive efforts to understand the pathogenesis of B19-related disease, to improve diagnostic strategy that is deployed to detect B19 infection and blood-product contamination and, finally, to elucidate the nature of the cellular immune response that is elicited by the virus in diverse patient cohorts. It is becoming clear that at least three related erythrovirus strains (B19, A6/K71 and V9) are circulating in the general population and that viral entry into target cells is mediated by an expanding range of cellular receptors, including P antigen and -integrins. Persistent infection by B19 is emerging as a contributory factor in autoimmune disease, a hypothesis that is constrained by the detection of B19 in the skin of apparently healthy individuals. B19 infection during pregnancy may account for thousands of incidences of fetal loss per annum in Europe, North America and beyond, yet there is currently only minimal screening of pregnant women to assess serological status, and thereby risk of infection, upon becoming pregnant. Whilst major advances in diagnosis of B19 infection have taken place, including standardization of serological and DNA-based detection methodologies, blood donations that are targeted at high-risk groups are only beginning to be screened for B19 IgG and DNAas a means of minimizing exposure of at-risk patients to the virus. It is now firmly established that a Th1-mediated cellular immune response is mounted in immunocompetent individuals, a finding that should contribute to the development of an effective vaccine to prevent B19 infection in selected high-risk groups, including sickle-cell anaemics

Eragrostis (Poaceae): Monophyly and Infrageneric Classification

Eragrostis is a large genus in subfamily Chloridoideae of Poaceae. Recent phylogenetic analyses have suggested that the genus may not be monophyletic, that some of its segregate genera may be better placed within Eragrostis, and that current infrageneric classifications may not represent monophyletic groups. We have used molecular sequence data from the plastid locus rps16 and the nuclear gene waxy from a broad sample of Eragrostis species and representatives of six of the seven segregate genera to address these issues. We found that Eragrostis is monophyletic with the inclusion of several of the segregates, including Acamptoclados, Diandrochloa, and Neeragrostis. The placement of Cladoraphis and Stiburus is uncertain. Thellungia does not belong in Eragrostis and is actually more closely related to Sporobolus. These data also suggest that existing infrageneric classifications are inadequate and do not correspond to monophyletic groups within Eragrostis

Studies in organic and medicinal chemistry: (i) Synthesis, antimicrobial evaluation, and photophysical studies of novel conjugated systems; (ii) Antimicrobial evaluation of pyrazolopyrimidinone heterocycles.

This thesis is divided into three distinct chapters. The first chapter highlights the synthesis of a family of trans-cinnamaldehydes using a Wittig methodology, and their evaluation as antibacterial agents against Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Gram-negative Escherichia coli (E. coli) in vitro. Cinnamaldehydes are known electrophiles, with some literature reports suggesting a Michael acceptor role as part of their antibacterial mode of action. The electrophilicities of our family of transcinnamaldehydes were calculated, and a relationship between electrophilicity and observed antibacterial activity was considered. Here, the more electrophilic cinnamaldehydes appeared to be more active in our antibacterial assays. An in vivo toxicity assessment of a selection of these trans-cinnamaldehydes was undertaken using Galleria mellonella larvae, and an initial mechanism of action study was performed using protein and amino acid leakage as an indication of the effect the trans-cinnamaldehydes might have on the integrity of the bacterial cell wall and/or membrane. The transcinnamaldehydes studied were non-toxic and did show some protein and amino acid leakage, although the results were such that the cell wall/membrane disruption may not be the primary or only mechanism of action. Overall, the antibacterial activity of the trans-cinnamaldehydes was modest to low. They were non-toxic and displayed both an interesting relationship to electrophilicity and an ability to disrupt the cell wall/membrane. However, they are not strong candidates for further development as antibacterial agents and would require further structural modification to improve efficacy. A second antimicrobial study was undertaken with the aim of identifying novel potent antimicrobial agents. An initial screen of novel structures, which was available in the Stephens group, identified a pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidin-7-one family of compounds with antibacterial potential. This family of pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidin-7-ones were synthesized by other group members and I carried out the antimicrobial activity study. One member of this family, 2-butyl-5-(3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl))phenylpyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidin- 7(4H)-one, was identified as a leading hit compound against S. aureus in the preliminary study. The family of thirty-five pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidin-7-ones was divided into groups based on their structure as part of a structure activity relationship (SAR) study, and each member was tested in vitro against S. aureus (Gram-positive bacteria), E. coli (Gramnegative bacteria), and Candida albicans (representative fungus). The pyrazolo[1,5- a]pyrimidin-7-ones showed more potent antibacterial activity than antifungal activity. The SAR studies resulted in the identification of a leading hit pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidin- 7-one, 2-isopropyl-5-(3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl))phenylpyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidin-7(4H)- one, which showed the highest activity against S. aureus, MIC50 of 1.2 μM. The activity of 2-isopropyl-5-(3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl))phenylpyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidin-7(4H)-one was superior to that of the commercial antibiotics tested against S. aureus, in that, a MIC50 of 21.8 μM, 11.03 μM, and 5.22 μM was obtained for ampicillin trihydrate, tetracycline, and streptomycin sulfate, respectively. A selection of pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidin-7-ones, including our most active candidates, were then evaluated against more clinicallyrelevant bacterial strains, namely methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA, Gram-positive), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Gram-negative). The most active compound was 2-(4- trifluoromethylphenyl)-5-(3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl))phenylpyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidin- 7(4H)-one, with an MIC50 of 1.88 μM against MRSA, and compares favourably to the MIC50 of 2.33 mM and 291.72 μM for the commercial antibiotics ampicillin trihydrate and tetracycline, respectively. An in vivo toxicity assessment and an in vivo therapeutic evaluation of the most active compounds was completed, using Galleria mellonella and infected Galleria mellonella respectively. Here, the pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidin-7-ones evaluated were shown to be non-toxic and, in the therapeutic evaluation study, where Galleria mellonella were infected with MRSA and subsequently treated with was 2-(4- trifluoromethylphenyl)-5-(3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl))phenylpyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidin- 7(4H)-one, the survival rate improved by 25% for the treated Galleria mellonella over the non-treated. Chapter two is dedicated to the development of a synthetic methodology that allows access to electron deficient trienes. Important applications of trienes can be broadly divided into (i) medicinal applications and (ii) synthetic applications. An initial attempt to access (1E,3E,5E)-1,3-bis-phenylsulfonyl-6-phenyl-hexa-1,3,5-triene from trans-cinnamaldehyde and (E)-1,3-bis-phenylsulfonylprop-1-ene, using traditional Knoevenagel-condensation reaction conditions, was unsuccessful. We then undertook a study to determine Knoevenagel-type condensation reaction conditions that would allow access to the desired triene. The model reaction chosen was that between transcinnamaldehyde and (E)-1,3-bis-phenylsulfonylprop-1-ene. The study explored reaction variables such as solvent, base, equivalents of base, and temperature, with conversion to triene estimated using quantitative NMR. This allowed us to establish the preferred reaction conditions for our Knoevenagel-type condensation synthetic strategy which used DCM as solvent, 20 ℃, and 15 equivalents of Al2O3 as base. The desired triene was generated in 93% isolated yield and the methodology was successfully applied to the synthesis of 20 trienes. All of these novel compounds underwent full structural characterization using NMR spectroscopy, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), high resolution-mass spectrometry (HR-MS), and infrared (IR) spectroscopy. In terms of substrate scope, our synthetic strategy allowed for variation of the starting cinnamaldehyde, and some variation of the starting propene (nitrile and sulfonyl electron withdrawing groups). However, our studies to date suggest that employing esters as an electron withdrawing group on the propene may not be well tolerated. Within our attempts to employ the esters, an alternative biaryl product was generated when dimethyl glutaconate was employed as the starting ester propene. Other ester variations resulted in the generation of complex mixtures. In chapter three we report a thermal electrocyclization of our electron poor trienes in the synthesis of a family of phenylsulfonyl biaryls. An optimization study led to the identification of preferred reaction conditions and an isolated yield of 88% for our model reaction was obtained using (1E,3E,5E)-1,3-bis-phenylsulfonyl-6-phenyl-hexa-1,3,5- triene as the substrate. This allowed us to access nine phenylsulfonyl biaryl products. All novel compounds underwent full structural characterization using NMR spectroscopy, LC-MS, HR-MS, and IR spectroscopy. A photophysical study was also performed, as the structure of the biaryls suggested that they may possess some interesting fluorescent properties via a possible twisted intramolecular charge transfer (TICT) process. The dimethylamino derivative showed the greatest sensitivity to solvent choice. In terms of the molar extinction coefficient (ε), values of between 17332 and 37964 M-1 cm-1 were recorded in chloroform. The highest value was obtained for the choro derivative, and the lowest value for the dimethylamino substituted derivative. The derivative with the highest quantum yield of 0.92 was also the dimethylamino derivative, but this was only observed in the aprotic solvent chloroform. In methanol, the quantum yield dropped dramatically for the dimethylamino derivative due to a suspected hydrogen bonding effect. The preliminary photophysical properties suggest that these biaryls are potentially useful and versatile fluorescent small molecules

A nine-year longitudinal case study of a 27-year-old male with neurocysticercosis presenting with new onset seizures

Background: Taenia solium is a cestode endemic to regions of Latin America, Asia, sub-Saharan Africa and Oceania, and serves as the most common cause of acquired epilepsy in the world. T. solium eggs are transmitted fecal-orally when a human or pig host ingests contaminated food or water. Larvae hatch from the intestines and invade into muscle, tissue, or organs, forming cysts called cysticerci. Cysticerci involving the central nervous system is termed neurocysticercosis (NCC). Patients with NCC typically remain asymptomatic for 3-5 years in the viable stage until the host’s immune response is activated in the degenerating stage. Immune-mediated degradation of cysticerci and subsequent inflammation and edema in the nonviable stage may manifest as new onset seizures, headache, and other neurological deficits caused by increasing intracranial pressure. The diagnosis of NCC in non-endemic areas is based on clinical symptoms, history of travel to an endemic region, and presence of classic ring-enhancing lesions on neuroimaging. Case Description: A healthy 27-year-old male presents with new onset seizures. The first episode was witnessed by his wife who stated he was washing dishes before he fell to the ground convulsing. The seizure spontaneously resolved upon arrival of the ambulance. The patient denies symptoms of fever, fatigue, unexplained weight change, headaches, focal neurologic deficit, visual changes, cough, rash, recent illness, or head trauma. Further history is noncontributory except for note of travel to China four years ago to visit his in-laws. Vital signs are within normal range. In the Emergency Department, he suffers another witnessed seizure and is treated with lorazepam. He is disoriented and combative in his postictal state necessitating sedation with intubation. A CBC, CMP, troponin, HIV, toxicology, and tuberculosis screen are largely normal. Lumbar puncture reveals elevated leukocytes with normal glucose and protein levels. Parasitology report and blood cultures remain negative throughout the visit. Computerized tomography (CT) scan and contrasted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain show a 3-4 millimeter calcified, ring-enhancing lesion in the right frontal lobe with surrounding edema. He is diagnosed with NCC based on symptoms, travel history, and neuroimaging findings. Conclusion/Discussion: This is an uncomplicated nine-year longitudinal case study of a patient with NCC presenting with new onset seizures four years after traveling to China. Symptomatic management at the time of diagnosis included dexamethasone for brain edema and levetiracetam for prevention of further seizures. Antiparasitics, which can be used in viable or degenerating stages, were not utilized in our patient due to the evidence of a nonviable calcified cysticercus on imaging. The patient ultimately opted for surgical removal of the lesion to definitively treat his seizures. A six-month postoperative MRI confirmed resolution of abnormal findings, at which point the patient was weaned off levetiracetam. Nine years later, the patient remains seizure-free and without complications

Single particle tracking reveals spatial and dynamic organization of the Escherichia coli biofilm matrix

Biofilms are communities of surface-adherent bacteria surrounded by secreted polymers known as the extracellular polymeric substance. Biofilms are harmful in many industries, and thus it is of great interest to understand their mechanical properties and structure to determine ways to destabilize them. By performing single particle tracking with beads of varying surface functionalization it was found that charge interactions play a key role in mediating mobility within biofilms. With a combination of single particle tracking and microrheological concepts, it was found that Escherichia coli biofilms display height dependent charge density that evolves over time. Statistical analyses of bead trajectories and confocal microscopy showed inter-connecting micron scale channels that penetrate throughout the biofilm, which may be important for nutrient transfer through the system. This methodology provides significant insight into a particular biofilm system and can be applied to many others to provide comparisons of biofilm structure. The elucidation of structure provides evidence for the permeability of biofilms to microscale objects, and the ability of a biofilm to mature and change properties over time.National Science Foundation (U.S.) (CBET-1335938)Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (HANES07XX0)Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Charles E. Reed Faculty Initiative Fund)Burroughs Wellcome Fund (Preterm Birth Research Grant)National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (U.S.) (F30 Fellowship 1F30AI110053-01)National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (U.S.) (Training Grant in Toxicology 5 T32 ES7020-37

A guide to Oregon fisheries

A short guide to some of the commonly caught commercial seafood species in Oregon

Age of first cigarette, alcohol, and marijuana use among U.S. biracial/ethnic youth: A population-based study

This study examines age of first cigarette, alcohol, and marijuana use among self-identified biracial youth, using data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health). We found an intermediate biracial phenomenon in which some biracial youth initiate substance use at ages that fall between the initiation ages of their 2 corresponding monoracial groups. When controlling for the covariates, our findings show White-Asian biracial youth begin smoking marijuana and drinking alcohol at earlier ages than Whites and engaging in all forms of substance use at earlier ages than Asian youth. Results indicate White-American Indian youth start smoking cigarettes at earlier ages than all biracial and monoracial groups. Our findings underscore the need for future research to examine substance-use initiation and progression among biracial/ethnic youth

Effects of signal intensity level and noise-simulated hearing loss on auditory language processing persons with aphasia

This study assessed the role of presentation level and high-frequency audibility in auditory processing of participants with aphasia (PWA). Performance of PWA was compared to non-brain-injured participants (NBIP) on the Computerized Revised Token Test (C-RTT) at varying signal intensity levels, and under normal and simulated hearing loss conditions. The PWA performed significantly more poorly than the NBIP under both conditions. Maximum performance required significantly higher presentation levels in the simulated hearing loss condition than in quiet; with similar gain and level requirements were observed for both groups. The results will be discussed relative to auditory language processing in PWA