Identificando fatores pessoais e contextuais que contribuem para as taxas de abandono nos docentes das escolas públicas do Texas

Teacher attrition is a significant problem facing schools, with a large percentage of teachers leaving the profession within their first few years. Given the need to retain high-quality teachers, research is needed to identify those teachers with higher retention rates. Using survival analyses and a large state dataset, researchers examined teacher data to identify those teacher and school variables associated with attrition. Unique to this study was the investigation of testing era (basic competency vs. higher standards based), school districts’ yearly ratings based on state-mandated testing, and charter school status. Analyses revealed that teacher attrition was greater during the high stakes-testing era, at low-performing schools, and for charter schools; however, beginning teacher age, gender, and school level moderated several attrition rates. Implications for public policy are discussed.El abandono de la docencia es un problema importante que enfrentan las escuelas con un alto porcentaje de maestros que abandonan la profesión todavía en los primeros años. Dada la necesidad de retener a los profesores de alta calidad, es necesario investigar para identificar los docentes con mayores tasas de retención. Utilizando el análisis de supervivencia y un gran conjunto de datos del estado de Texas, los investigadores examinaron los datos de los docentes para identificar las variables escolares y  profesionales asociadas con abandonar la profesión. La particularidad de este estudio fue investigar el tipo de prueba (competencias básicas en comparación con la competencia basada en estándares más altos), los rankings anuales de los distritos escolares con base en los exámenes estatales requeridos y el estado de las escuelas charter. Los análisis muestran que el abandono de los docentes fue mayor durante el periodo de exámenes con consecuencias graves, en escuelas de bajo rendimiento y en escuelas charter. Sin embargo, los primeros años de carrera, el género y nivel educativo de moderaban la  deserción profesionales. En las conclusiones se discuten varias implicaciones para las políticas públicas.O abandono do magistério é um problema significativo nas escolas, com uma grande percentagem de professores que abandonam a profissão ainda nos primeiros anos. Dada a necessidade de reter professores de elevada qualidade, é necessário investigar para identificar os professores com maiores taxas de retenção. Usando análises de sobrevivência e um grande conjunto de dados do Estado de Texas, pesquisadores examinaram dados dos professores para identificar as variáveis escolares e dos professores associadas com o abandono. Exclusivo para este estudo foi a investigação da tipo de testes (competência básica versus competência baseadas em padrões mais elevados), as classificações anuais dos distritos escolares, baseados em testes estaduais obrigatórios  e o status das escolas charter.  Análises revelam que o abandono dos professores foi maior durante o período de exames com consequências severas, nas escolas de baixo desempenho e para as escolas charter. No entanto, professores no início de carreira, gênero e nível de ensino das escolas as taxas moderam as taxas de abandono. Várias implicações para as políticas públicas são discutidas

Importance of abortive shock capability with electrogram storage in cardioverter-defibrillator devices

AbstractObjectives. This study evaluates the ability of a third-generation cardioverter-defibrillator to abort energy delivery and the importance of electrogram storage in analyzing the aborted events.Background. In the Cadence Tiered Therapy Defibrillator, when a tachycardia satisfies detection criteria for cardioversion or defibrillation therapy, high voltage capacitors begin charging. The Cadence defibrillator continues monitoring the rhythm during charging and if the rate decreases to below the rate triggering therapy, charging is terminated. This event is registered as an aborted shock. The defibrillator also has the ability to store intracardiac electrogram recordings of the electrical events that precipitate device therapy or aborted shocks.Methods. During a mean follow-up interval of 10 ± 7 months, 55 aborted events were registered by the Cadence defibrillator in 18 of the 49 patients who received it. Thirty-two stored ventricular etectrograms of events leading to aborted shocks were available for analysis in 15 patients.Results. Intracardiac electrogram recordings demonstrated the probable electrical events leading to these aborted shocks included nonsustained ventricular tachycardia (n = 10), nonsustained rapid polymorphic ventricular tachycardia/ventricular fibrillation (n = 2), atrial fibrillation (n = 5), supraventricular tachycardia (n = 2) and electrical noise (n = 13). Eleven patients had a therapeutic intervention initiated as a consequence of the diagnostic information provided by analysis of intracardiac electrogram recordings. Four of the 15 patients had no changes made. During a follow-up period of 9 ± 5 months after therapy was altered, no patient had subsequent aborted shocks. Five patients have had seven appropriate shocks for sustained ventricular tachycardias.Conclusions. The ability of Cadence defibrillator to continue tachycardia sensing during capacitor charging and to abort shock therapy for self-terminating events prevented unnecessary shocks in 18 (37%) of the 49 patients. Intracardiac electrogram recordings were critical for instituting appropriate therapy that may have prevented unnecessary device charging and inappropriate discharges

Gratitude among Filipino College Students

The present study intended to disclose the concepts included in pasasalamat or gratitude as it is associated with two other elements of Filipino ethics, namely, the concepts of loob or holistic and relational will, and kapwa or shared self, shared identity, or self-in-the-other (Reyes, 2015). The study used the principles of quantitative and qualitative research. It blended results of a 4- stage study analysis to understand and describe gratitude. The qualitative data was analyzed using Moustakas’ modification of Van Kaam’s phenomenological analysis. The study is participated by 507 Filipino college students coming from the National Capital region (NCR). Results of the study showed that gratitude, as relationship-building cycle that recognizes the recipient and donor, discloses the dignity, honor and identity of the human person. It highlighted the connection of pasasalamat (gratitude) with positive inner-debt-of-gratitude (utang na loob). Gratitude as choice is the expression of kapwa, pagkatao (personhood), pagpupugay (honor), dangal (dignity), kalooban (inner self) and kagandahang loob (inner goodness). These are values that make positive reading of utang (debt) and hiya (shame) - important elements of pasasalamat. As a personal response to a kagandahang loob, the practice of gratitude defines and determines the manner by which the co-participants live and express their personal values. Gratitude modified and changed the respondents’ perspectives. Gratitude is their source of pride. It identifies and diversifies a person in his or her specific sector or specialization. The novelty of study is in the use of the dynamics of virtue ethics, adopted from the work of same Reyes (2015), in describing gratitude. Ethics, taken in this sense, is not just interested with standards and criteria morality. Virtue ethics considers values as associated with the growth and maturity of individuals – inalienable subjects of morality. The nature of gratitude or pasasalamat is then seen within the existential web of associated virtue-expressions

Usefulness of electrophysiologic study to determine the clinical tolerance of arrhythmia recurrences during amiodarone therapy

The relation of clinical and electrophysiologic variables to outcome was evaluated in 121 patients treated with amiodarone for sustained ventricular tachyarrhythmias. Electrophysiologic study was performed in all patients a mean of 14 days after beginning amiodarone therapy. Forty-six patients who were given oral amiodarone therapy experienced arrhythmia recurrence. Multivariate analysis was performed using 16 clinical and electrophysiologic variables to determine which factors were associated with 1) arrhythmia recurrence and 2) a poorly tolerated arrhythmia recurrence (that is, cardiac arrest or sudden cardiac death) during oral amiodarone therapy. No variable predicted arrhythmia recurrence. Five variables correlated significantly with a poorly tolerated arrhythmia recurrence. Hemodynamic stability of the arrhythmia induced on electrophysiologic testing during amiodarone therapy had the best predictive value (p < 0.001). Younger age, lower ejection fraction, a poorly tolerated rhythm at clinical presentation and absence of left ventricular aneurysm were also associated with a poorly tolerated arrhythmia recurrence.Only 3 of 57 patients who had a well tolerated arrhythmia induced on electrophysiologic testing during amiodarone therapy had recurrence of a poorly tolerated arrhythmia versus 19 of 47 who had hemodynamically unstable arrhythmias induced during amiodarone therapy (p < 0.001). Thus, electrophysiologic testing during amiodarone therapy appears useful in identifying patients who are prone to have catastrophic arrhythmia recurrences and could allow for the institution of additional or alternative modes of therapy

Impactos de las especies exóticas invasoras en los servicios ecosistémicos del Bajo Ebro.

Las especies exóticas invasoras (EEI) constituyen una de las principales causas de pérdida de biodiversidad en el mundo. Entre las más dañinas se encuentra el caracol manzana, término que engloba distintas especies del género Pomacea (familia Ampullariidae), procedentes del sur de América y el cangrejo azul (Callinectes sapidus) procedente del Atlántico Occidental, ambos con una gran capacidad colonizadora, las cuales producen grandes pérdidas tanto económicas como ecológicas donde se establecen. En la Península Ibérica existe un único foco con presencia de ambas especies, aunque todo el arco mediterráneo es susceptible de sufrir la invasión. Ante esta amenaza, este proyecto pretende determinar y cuantificar los impactos producidos, tanto en el ecosistema como en las poblaciones de macroinvertebrados presentes en el tramo bajo del rio Ebro y determinar si la biodiversidad y los servicios del ecosistema se recuperan una vez gestionados. Para ello se han realizado 45 muestreos de parámetros fisicoquímicos y macroinvertebrados en distintos tramos del rio y mediante análisis estadísticos se han comprobado las posibles afecciones. Los resultados sugieren que la presencia del caracol manzana no afecta a todos los gasterópodos acuáticos por igual, además de tener la capacidad de variar los componentes orgánicos del medio (característica que comparte con el cangrejo azul).<br /

Intermediary Role of Lung Alveolar Type 1 Cells in Epithelial Repair upon Sendai Virus Infection

The lung epithelium forms the first barrier against respiratory pathogens and noxious chemicals; however, little is known about how more than 90% of this barrier, made of AT1 (alveolar type 1) cells, responds to injury. Using the Sendai virus to model natural infection in mice, we find evidence that AT1 cells have an intermediary role by persisting in areas depleted of AT2 cells, upregulating IFN responsive genes, and receding from invading airway cells. Sendai virus infection mobilizes airway cells to form alveolar SOX2+ (Sry-box 2+) clusters without differentiating into AT1 or AT2 cells. Large AT2 cell-depleted areas remain covered by AT1 cells, which we name AT2-less regions , and are replaced by SOX2+ clusters spreading both basally and luminally. AT2 cell proliferation and differentiation are largely confined to topologically distal regions and form de novo alveolar surface, with limited contribution to in situ repairs of AT2-less regions. Time-course single-cell RNA sequencing profiling and RNAscope validation suggest enhanced immune responses and altered growth signals in AT1 cells. Our comprehensive spatiotemporal and genomewide study highlights the hitherto unappreciated role of AT1 cells in lung injury-repair

Antifungal Nanocomposites Inspired by Titanate Nanotubes for Complete Inactivation of Botrytis cinerea Isolated from Tomato Infection

"Antifungal silver nanocomposites inspired by titanate nanotubes (AgTNTs) were successfully evaluated for the effective inactivation of the phytopathogenic fungus Botrytis cinerea within 20 min. One-dimensional H2Ti3O7 nanotubes functionalized with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) exhibit unique surface and antifungal properties for the photoinactivation of B. cinerea. Nanostructured titanates were synthesized by the eco-friendly, practical, microwave-induced, hydrothermal method followed by a highly monodispersive AgNP UV-photodeposition. Protonated nanotubes of ∼11 nm in diameter and four-layers displayed high surface areas, 300 m2/g, with a size functionalization of 5 nm for the AgNPs. UV–vis DRS and XPS allowed the characterization and/or quantification of surface reactive species and cytotoxic silver species such as Ag°, Ag+. The effective biocidal properties of the nanocomposites were confirmed by using the well-known Gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli, and then proceeding to the effective inactivation of the phytopathogenic fungus under visible light. The photoassisted inactivation mechanism was examined by HAADF-STEM, HRTEM, and FESEM electronic microscopies. A plasmalemma invagination due to oxidative stress caused by reactive oxygen, silver cytotoxicity species, and AgTNT sharp morphology damage expands the conidia to induce the cell death. The impact of the eco-friendly inactivation is significant because of the ease with which it is carried out and the possibility of being performed in situ with plants like tomato and grapes, which are ranked among the most valuable agricultural products worldwide.

Hepatitis C virus infection in blood donors from the state of Puebla, Mexico

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Worldwide, 130 million persons are estimated to be infected with HCV. Puebla is the Mexican state with the highest mortality due to hepatic cirrhosis. Therefore, it is imperative to obtain epidemiological data on HCV infection in asymptomatic people of this region. The objective of present study was to analyze the prevalence of antibodies and genotypes of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in blood donors from Puebla, Mexico.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The overall prevalence was 0.84% (515/61553). Distribution by region was: North, 0.86% (54/6270); Southeast, 1.04% (75/7197); Southwest, 0.93% (36/3852); and Central, 0.79% (350/44234). Ninety-six donors were enrolled for detection and genotyping of virus, from which 37 (38.5%) were HCV-RNA positive. Detected subtypes were: 1a (40.5%), 1b (27.0%), mixed 1a/1b (18.9%), undetermined genotype 1 (5.4%), 2a (2.7%), 2b (2.7%), and mixed 1a/2a (2.7%). All recovered donors with S/CO > 39 were HCV-RNA positive (11/11) and presented elevated ALT; in donors with S/CO < 39 HCV-RNA, positivity was of 30.4%; and 70% had normal values of ALT. The main risk factors associated with HCV infection were blood transfusion and surgery.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>HCV prevalence of donors in Puebla is similar to other Mexican states. The most prevalent genotype is 1, of which subtype 1a is the most frequent.</p

Depopulation impacts on ecosystem services in Mediterranean rural areas

Despite the exponential increase in human population at global scale, some rural areas have experienced a progressive abandonment over the last decades. Under particular socioecological and policy contexts, changes in demography may promote land-use changes and, consequently, alter ecosystem services (ES) supply. However, most studies on this topic have targeted urban population increase, whereas depopulation has been rarely addressed. Here, we examined how shifts in demographic variables (human population, population density, and number of villages) affect provisioning (water supply, food and biomass production) and regulating (soil retention, water and nutrient regulation) ES in Mediterranean rural areas with contrasting environmental, so-cioeconomic and land-use contexts. When depopulation results in underuse of socio-ecological systems, we ex-pected a decrease of provisioning and an increase of regulating ES, whereas we expected the opposite pattern when it results in land-use intensification. To test this hypothesis, we compared demographic data and ES estimated with Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) linked to land-use changes between the 1950s and 2000s in three rural areas of Arag ́on (NE Spain). Generalized Additive Mixed Models and Linear Mixed-Effect Models were used to analyze demographic trends, ES changes and the relationship between them. We found severe depopulation (− 42% inhabitants) and associated land-use changes in the three areas, which was particularly evident in isolated mountainous zones (− 63% inhabitants). Depopulation trends significantly affected land use and, consequently, all of the ES evaluated. In mountainous depopulated areas, land abandonment and rewilding resulted in the increase in water regulation (>1000%) and soil retention (>400%). In contrast, agriculture was intensified in more fertile and easy-to-access lowland areas, boosting the food production service (>600%). Accordingly, the interactions among depopulation, crop production and regulating ES should be considered in the management schemes and policies targeting rural areas for a balanced and sustainable supply of ES in the long term

A global database for metacommunity ecology, integrating species, traits, environment and space

The use of functional information in the form of species traits plays an important role in explaining biodiversity patterns and responses to environmental changes. Although relationships between species composition, their traits, and the environment have been extensively studied on a case-by-case basis, results are variable, and it remains unclear how generalizable these relationships are across ecosystems, taxa and spatial scales. To address this gap, we collated 80 datasets from trait-based studies into a global database for metaCommunity Ecology: Species, Traits, Environment and Space; “CESTES”. Each dataset includes four matrices: species community abundances or presences/absences across multiple sites, species trait information, environmental variables and spatial coordinates of the sampling sites. The CESTES database is a live database: it will be maintained and expanded in the future as new datasets become available. By its harmonized structure, and the diversity of ecosystem types, taxonomic groups, and spatial scales it covers, the CESTES database provides an important opportunity for synthetic trait-based research in community ecology