Creating, executing, and assessing a staff development program on developmental reading instruction strategies in the social studies content area in an urban junior senior high school.

This study documented the process of creating, executing, and assessing, a cost-effective, school based, researcher conducted staff development program which included one African American seventh grade social studies faculty member, one European American tenth grade faculty member, and one European American Chapter I reading teacher, at Roosevelt Junior Senior High School, Roosevelt, New York, during the 1989-1990 school year. The objective was to obtain more information about increasing school effectiveness in low income school districts. Staff development efforts were aimed at broadening faculty members\u27 preparedness in developing reading instruction strategies used in the content area of social studies, which conform more concisely with urban African American students\u27 range of reading levels in three homogeneously grouped classes. The goals of (a) improving students\u27 academic performance, (b) attending to individual needs, and (c) providing the tools needed to control learning, are addressed. Five collaboratively designed staff development workshops on developmental reading instruction strategies in the social studies content area enabled members of the faculty to: (a) reevaluate perceptions of teaching reading in the social studies classroom, (b) develop the techniques needed to enable students to independently evaluate the many types of printed material, and, (c) professionally incorporate a concern for teaching the what of content, and how the student may obtain the content. Informal and formal discussions, realization of self-concepts, interests, attitudes, completion of evaluations, diagnosis and prescription, conferencing, and observations, led the researcher to the determination that members of the faculty: (a) developed a unified strategy for teaching students how to read their social studies texts with fluency and efficiency, (b) collaboratively planned lessons stressing reading skills without loss of social studies content, (c) realized that content was naturally acquired as a result of improved reading skills, (d) regarded the process of reading as a necessary component in the curriculum, a skill that opens the door to higher level thinking, and, (e) viewed reading not as an isolated skill but rather as a means of enhancing and enriching the social studies curriculum. The students in this study: (a) demonstrated improved reading skills, for example, increased levels of comprehension, (b) learned how their textbook was organized and how to make the best use of all its parts, (c) increased their vocabulary, (d) obtained a better idea of their own interests in social studies, and, (e) acquired techniques to improve study skills which included taking notes and studying for and taking tests. Indications of increased school effectiveness imply that staff development is practical in low income school districts where there is evidence of a corroborative Board of Education, administrative team, faculty, and curriculum and instructional designers

Comparative actions of salicylate on the amphibian lateral line and guinea pig cochlea

1. 1. Salicylate actions on afferent nerve activity in the Xenopus lateral line and on cochlear potentials in guinea pig were investigated.2. 2. In the lateral line, salicylate (0.3-2.5 mM) suppressed spontaneous activity, water motion evoked excitation and responses to -glutamate (1-2 mM) and kainate (10-20[mu]M).3. 3. In the guinea pig, salicylate (0.6-10 mM) suppressed the compound action potential (CAP) and increased N1 latency at low but not high sound intensities.4. 4. In the lateral line salicylate action may involve an antagonism of the hair-cell transmitter on the afferent nerve.5. 5. In the cochlea salicylate may suppress the active process or cochlear amplifier.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/28123/1/0000573.pd

The Grizzly, November 8, 2001

Construction on Campus Continues as Scheduled • UC Leadership Scholars Attend Annual Halloween Concert • An Evening with Alice Parker a Musical Success • Peace Corps and City Year Representatives Speak About Careers in Common Good • Anthrax Vaccine at Center of Controversy • Opinions: Closed Courses and Wait Lists: Nightmares of Registration; Pop Goes the Quiz! • Gospel Choir Sings out for Peace, Prayer and Healing; Concert a Great Success • Judy Chicago is Coming! World-famous Artist to Visit Ursinus • Influenza Season is Upon Us • Comparative Prices on Museums • Self Protection Facts: What You Need to Know • Power of Dance • Rushing Season Begins Again • Gettysburg Becomes New CC Men\u27s Soccer Champion • UC Women\u27s Rugby Fighting the Good Fight • NCAA Volleyball Semi-finals • UC Downs FDUhttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews/1500/thumbnail.jp

The Grizzly, November 29, 2001

UC Blueskies Calls for Help with Recycling • AIDS Legacy Continues in Poor Countries • Economics and Business Administration Panel Discussion Offers Students Advice on Finding Job Connections • Volunteers Wanted for NBA League Jam Session • UC Group Makes Plans for Alternative Spring Break • New California Law Enables Women to Obtain Emergency Contraceptive Pills without a Prescription • Opinions: So This is Christmas?; Family Bonding is Better than Trip to Spain; Letter of Apology • Messiah to Hit the Stage • Jazz Ensemble Keeps it Swinging • Comparative Pricing: Local Gasoline • Dougherty Finishes 123rd at Nationals • 8+6+9 = Success for UC Wrestling Team • Lady Bears Knocked off by Susquehanna • Duncan Selected as a Finalist for the Gagliardi Trophy • Captains Leading the Way to Victory for Bears Swimming • Bears Basketball Still Looking for First Winhttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews/1502/thumbnail.jp

The Grizzly, October 18, 2001

Sisters of Omega Chi Sponsor Blood Drive • Taking a Hike with the Environmental Studies Classes • World Cultures Club Encourages Campus-Wide Cultural Awareness • Gil Cook and Heather Potts Named 2001 Homecoming King and Queen • Understanding the Social Norms at Ursinus College • Ursinus Bookstore Holding Coat and Blanket Drive • Ursinus Alumna Martha Kriebel Reflects on the Unexpected Turns in Life\u27s Path • The Economic Effects of Terrorism • Struggling to Survive: The Way of Life for Women in Afghanistan • From Mexico to Collegeville: International Exchange Student Enrique Cobarrubias • Sophomore Week: Helping Students Reach Academic Goals • Second Annual Take Back the Night Rally & March Planned for Next Week • Opinions: Lady Wismer Attacks Students Saying Next Time, I\u27m Gonna Nail You! ; A Student\u27s Battle with Smoking; New Gym is Great, not Awkward; Message of Tolerance and Peace; One Resident Complains: Loss of Interest in Special Interest Houses • Dr. David Releases his own CD • New Road Brewhouse Ready to Rock! • Scary Way to Have a Fun Fall Day • Chinese Food: The Staple of Every College Student\u27s Diet • Can\u27t Decide What to do after Graduation? This Online Program Will Help • Class of 2003 has a new President • Ruby\u27s Restaurant: A Tasty Time Capsule • Give the Wismer Staff a Break: They\u27re Working for You • Who is Grizzly the Bear? • Ursinus Field Hockey Takes Victory over Holy Cross • Bears Wake from Hibernation; Crush Gettysburg 31-7 • Men\u27s Soccer Meets Gettysburg • Volleyball Wins Against Bryn Mawr and U. of the Sciences • XC Cleans up at Lehigh University • Barth Becomes Record-holder for Points • Field Hockey Changing NCAA Division • Women\u27s Soccer Rocks the Househttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews/1497/thumbnail.jp

Environmental and biological controls on Mg and Li in deep-sea scleractinian corals

Author Posting. © The Author(s), 2010. This is the author's version of the work. It is posted here by permission of Elsevier B.V. for personal use, not for redistribution. The definitive version was published in Earth and Planetary Science Letters 300 (2010): 215-225, doi:10.1016/j.epsl.2010.09.029.Deep-sea scleractinian corals precipitate aragonite skeletons that provide valuable archives of past ocean conditions. During calcification biological mediation causes variability in trace metal incorporation and isotopic ratios of the aragonite such that signals caused by environmental controls can be overwhelmed. This complicates the interpretation of geochemical proxies used for paleo-reconstructions. In this study we examine the environmental controls on the Mg/Li ratio of 34 individuals from seven genera of deep-sea scleractinian corals: Desmophyllum, Balanophyllia, Caryophyllia, Enallopsammia, Flabellum, Trochocyanthus, and Lophelia. In addition we examine the distributions of Mg and Li in Desmophyllum and Balanophyllia using laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). Both Mg/Ca and Li/Ca ratios increased by more than a factor of 2 in the center of calcification regions compared to the outer, fibrous regions of the coral skeleton. As a result, replicate ~10 mg subsamples of coral show less variability in the Mg/Li ratio than Mg/Ca. Microscale Mg and Li results are consistent with Rayleigh-type incorporation of trace metals with additional processes dominating composition within centers of calcification. Comparison of Mg/Li to seawater properties near the site of collection shows that the ratio is not controlled by either carbonate ion or salinity. It appears that temperature is the major control on the Mg/Li ratio. For all 34 samples the temperature correlation (R2=0.62) is significantly better than for Mg/Ca (R2=0.06). For corals of the family Caryophyllidae the R2 value increases to 0.82 with the exclusion of one sample that was observed to have an altered, chalky texture. Despite this excellent correlation the scatter in the data suggests that the Mg/Li ratio of deep-sea corals cannot be used to reconstruct temperature to better than approximately ±1.6°C without better temperature control and additional calibration points on modern coral samples.Financial Support was provided by the USGS WHOI Co-operative agreement, NSF-ANT grant numbers 0636787 and 80295700 and the WHOI Ocean Life Institute. David Case was supported by the WHOI Summer Student Fellowship

Peritoneal inflammation precedes encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis: results from the GLOBAL Fluid Study

BACKGROUND: Encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis (EPS) is an uncommon condition, strongly associated with a long duration of peritoneal dialysis (PD), which is itself associated with increased fibrosis in the peritoneal membrane. The peritoneal membrane is inflamed during PD and inflammation is often associated with fibrosis. We hypothesized that patients who subsequently develop EPS might have a more inflamed peritoneal membrane during PD. METHODS: We performed a nested, case-control study identifying all EPS cases in the UK arm of the GLOBAL Fluid Study and matching them by centre and duration of PD with two to three controls. Dialysate and plasma samples were taken during repeated peritoneal equilibration tests prior to cessation of PD from cases and controls. Samples were assayed by electrochemiluminescence immunoassay for interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß), tumour necrosis factor a (TNF-a), interferon-? (IFN-?) and IL-6. Results were analysed by linear mixed models adjusted for age and time on PD. RESULTS: Eleven EPS cases were matched with 26 controls. Dialysate TNF-a {0.64 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.23, 1.05]} and IL-6 [0.79 (95% CI 0.03, 1.56)] were significantly higher in EPS cases, while IL-1ß [1.06 (95% CI -0.11, 2.23)] and IFN-? [0.62 (95% CI -0.06, 1.29)] showed a similar trend. Only IL-6 was significantly higher in the plasma [0.42 (95% CI 0.07, 0.78)]. Solute transport was not significantly different between cases and controls but did increase in both groups with the duration of PD. CONCLUSIONS: The peritoneal cavity has higher levels of inflammatory cytokines during PD in patients who subsequently develop EPS, but neither inflammatory cytokines nor peritoneal solute transport clearly discriminates EPS cases. Increased systemic inflammation is also evident and is probably driven by increased peritoneal inflammation

Holocene break-up and reestablishment of the Petermann Ice Tongue, Northwest Greenland

Over the last decade, two major calving events of the Petermann Ice Tongue in Northwest Greenland have led to speculation on its future stability and contribution to further Greenland Ice Sheet mass loss. However, it has been unclear if these events are anomalous or typical within the context of limited historical observations. We extend the historical record of the floating ice tongue using the stratigraphy of Petermann Fjord sediments to provide a longer-term perspective. Computed tomography (CT) scans, X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) scans, Ice-Rafted Debris (IRD) counts, and the magnetic properties of specific particle size fractions constrain changes in depositional processes and sediment sources at our core sites, allowing for reconstructions of past behavior of the Petermann Ice Tongue. Radiocarbon dating of foraminifera, 210Pb, and paleomagnetic secular variation (PSV) provide age control and help to address uncertainties in radiocarbon reservoir ages. A floating ice tongue in Petermann Fjord formed in late glacial time as Petermann Glacier retreated from an advanced grounded position. This paleo-ice tongue broke-up during the early Holocene when high northern latitude summer insolation was higher than present. After gradual regrowth of the ice tongue associated with regional cooling, the ice tongue reached its historical extent only within the last millennium. Little or no ice tongue was present for nearly 5000 years during the middle Holocene, when decadal mean regional temperatures are estimated to be 0.8e2.9 °C higher than preindustrial (1750 CE) and seasonal sea-ice in the Lincoln Sea was reduced. This pre-historical behavior shows that recent anthropogenic warming may already be in the range of ice tongue instability and future projected warming increases the risk of ice tongue break-up by the mid- 21st Century

Itaconate is an anti-inflammatory metabolite that activates Nrf2 via alkylation of KEAP1.

The endogenous metabolite itaconate has recently emerged as a regulator of macrophage function, but its precise mechanism of action remains poorly understood. Here we show that itaconate is required for the activation of the anti-inflammatory transcription factor Nrf2 (also known as NFE2L2) by lipopolysaccharide in mouse and human macrophages. We find that itaconate directly modifies proteins via alkylation of cysteine residues. Itaconate alkylates cysteine residues 151, 257, 288, 273 and 297 on the protein KEAP1, enabling Nrf2 to increase the expression of downstream genes with anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory capacities. The activation of Nrf2 is required for the anti-inflammatory action of itaconate. We describe the use of a new cell-permeable itaconate derivative, 4-octyl itaconate, which is protective against lipopolysaccharide-induced lethality in vivo and decreases cytokine production. We show that type I interferons boost the expression of Irg1 (also known as Acod1) and itaconate production. Furthermore, we find that itaconate production limits the type I interferon response, indicating a negative feedback loop that involves interferons and itaconate. Our findings demonstrate that itaconate is a crucial anti-inflammatory metabolite that acts via Nrf2 to limit inflammation and modulate type I interferons