Teaching Beliefs and Their Relationship to Professional Development in Special Education Teachers

Access to high-quality, meaningful professional development (PD) for in-service teachers around inclusive practices is an important element that has the potential to influence change in classroom practice and student outcomes. This is particularly important for children with identified disabilities. Previous research has identified that a teacher’s self-efficacy impacts the adoption of PD and subsequent implementation of new educational strategies. In addition, teacher beliefs about their own teaching ability (i.e., self-efficacy) has been shown to be related to motivation and the willingness to seek out PD experiences. The current study investigates the relationship of PD and teaching self-efficacy for inclusive practices. A random sample of 250 Kansas early childhood educators were selected to participate in the study. Participants received an electronic survey containing questions related to PD and teaching self-efficacy to complete. Of the original 250 participants, 62 people completed the survey with a final sample of 27. Frequency counts of PD participation were identified, and subsequent correlation and regression analyses were conducted. Results indicated that there were no relationships between teaching self-efficacy for preschool-related practices, or individual subscales, and the extent to which PD activities allowed them to apply skills within their classroom. When teaching self-efficacy was examined for infant-toddler practices, a significant relationship was noted. Given the insufficient availability of advanced PD for teachers currently working in the field, it is necessary to determine what gaps exist and how they relate to teaching self-efficacy. Only then, can the determination be made for how to address need for further education and training for professionals working in the field

The Relationship Between Pre-Service Training and Teaching Self-Efficacy for Inclusive Practices

Pre-service programming is instrumental in providing skills to teachers that builds positive teaching self-efficacy. This becomes increasingly important for those teachers who are hired to work in inclusive settings. Directives by the Division for Early Childhood and the Individuals for Disabilities Act have outlined content areas that teachers working in special education settings should have knowledge of and are comfortable in implementing (Division of Early Childhood 2014; United States Department of Education 2017). Many teachers, however, continue to come away from pre-service experiences without these skills (Lewis et al. 1999). Institutions continue to struggle with the integration of course content and curriculum around early intervention (Cochran et al. 2012; Stayton, Whittaker, Jones, & Kersting 2001). The purpose of this study is two-fold: 1) to examine the relationship between teaching self-efficacy for inclusive practices and perceptions of pre-service preparation and 2) to determine of perceptions of pre-service preparation predict measures of teaching self-efficacy for inclusive practices. A random sample of 250 licensed teachers from a Kansas were surveyed, 62 responded and 27 were included in the analyses. Results indicated that perceptions of pre-service preparation were related to overall teaching self-efficacy and measures of competence, not confidence

Evaluating deliberative dialogues focussed on healthy public policy

Background: Deliberative dialogues have recently captured attention in the public health policy arena because they have the potential to address several key factors that influence the use of research evidence in policymaking. We conducted an evaluation of three deliberative dialogues convened in Canada by the National Collaborating Centre for Healthy Public Policy in order to learn more about deliberative dialogues focussed on healthy public policy. Methods: The evaluation included a formative assessment of participants’ views about and experiences with ten key design features of the dialogues, and a summative assessment of participants’ intention to use research evidence of the type that was discussed at the dialogue. We surveyed participants immediately after each dialogue was completed and again six months later. We analyzed the ratings using descriptive statistics and the written comments by conducting a thematic analysis. Results: A total of 31 individuals participated in the three deliberative dialogues that we evaluated. The response rate was 94% (N = 29; policymakers (n = 9), stakeholders (n = 18), researchers (n = 2)) for the initial survey and 56% (n = 14) for the follow-up. All 10 of the design features that we examined as part of the formative evaluation were rated favourably by all participant groups. The findings of the summative evaluation demonstrated a mean behavioural intention score of 5.8 on a scale from 1 (strongly disagree) to 7 (strongly agree). Conclusion: Our findings reinforce the promise of deliberative dialogues as a strategy for supporting evidence-informed public health policies. Additional work is needed to understand more about which design elements work in which situations and for different issues, and whether intention to use research evidence is a suitable substitute for measuring actual behaviour change

A compilation of digitized satellite imagery of the Gulf Stream (1982, 1983, and 1985)

Ninety plots of digitized temperature boundaries from infared satellite images of the Gulf Stream along with corresponding image snapshots were compiled to determine stream width propagation speed. The satellite images are from the years 1982, 1983, and 1985 and are often of consecutive days. In this report, these images and digitized plots are presented.Funding was provided by the Office of Naval Research through contract Number N00014-87-K-0007, and by the National Science Foundation under grant Numbers OCE 87-00601 and OCE 85-10828

Th Ages for Metal-Poor Stars

With a sample of 22 metal-poor stars, we demonstrate that the heavy element abundance pattern (Z > 55) is the same as the r-process contributions to the solar nebula. This bolsters the results of previous studies that there is a universal r-process production pattern. We use the abundance of thorium in five metal-poor stars, along with an estimate of the initial Th abundance based on the abundances of stable r-process elements, to measure their ages. We have four field red giants with errors of 4.2 Gyr in their ages and one M92 giant with an error of 5.6 Gyr, based on considering the sources of observational error only. We obtain an average age of 11.4 Gyr, which depends critically on the assumption of an initial production ratio of Th/Eu of 0.496. If the Universe is 15 Gyr old, then the initial Th/Eu value should be 0.590, in agreement with some theoretical models of the r-process.Comment: 26 pages, to be published in Ap

NEPA, a new fixed combination of netupitant and palonosetron, is a cost-effective intervention for the prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in the UK

Background: The objective was to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of NEPA, an oral fixed combination netupitant (NETU, 300 mg) and palonosetron (PA, 0.5 mg) compared with aprepitant and palonosetron (APPA) or palonosetron (PA) alone, to prevent chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) in patients undergoing treatment with highly or moderately emetogenic chemotherapy (HEC or MEC) in the UK. Scope: A systematic literature review and meta-analysis were undertaken to compare NEPA with currently recommended anti-emetics. Relative effectiveness was estimated over the acute (day 1) and overall treatment (days 1–5) phases, taking complete response (CR, no emesis and no rescue medication) and complete protection (CP, CR and no more than mild nausea [VAS scale <25 mm]) as primary efficacy outcomes. A three-health-state Markov cohort model, including CP, CR and incomplete response (no CR) for HEC and MEC, was constructed. A five-day time horizon and UK NHS perspective were adopted. Transition probabilities were obtained by combining the response rates of CR and CP from NEPA trials and odds ratios from the meta-analysis. Utilities of 0.90, 0.70 and 0.24 were defined for CP, CR and incomplete response, respectively. Costs included medications and management of CINV-related events and were obtained from the British National Formulary and NHS Reference Costs. The expected budgetary impact of NEPA was also evaluated. Findings: In HEC patients, the NEPA strategy was more effective than APPA (quality-adjusted life days [QALDs] of 4.263 versus 4.053; incremental emesis-free and CINV-free days of +0.354 and +0.237, respectively) and was less costly (£80 versus £124), resulting in NEPA being the dominant strategy. In MEC patients, NEPA was cost effective, cumulating in an estimated 0.182 extra QALDs at an incremental cost of £6.65 compared with PA. Conclusion: Despite study limitations (study setting, time horizon, utility measure), the results suggest NEPA is cost effective for preventing CINV associated with HEC and MEC in the UK

Junior Recital: Andrew Francois, Violin; Jennifer Hedstrom, Piano; Michelle Krewer, Violin; Matthew Harper, Viola; Eunkyung Son, Cello; March 28, 2010

Kemp Recital HallMarch 28, 2010Sunday Evening7:30 p.m

Effect of Baseline Subretinal Fluid on Treatment Outcomes in VIVID-DME and VISTA-DME Studies

Purpose To evaluate the effect of baseline subretinal fluid (SRF) on treatment outcomes with intravitreal aflibercept injection (IAI) versus laser treatment in patients with diabetic macular edema (DME) in the VIVID and VISTA studies. Design Post hoc analysis of 2 randomized controlled trials. Participants Eight hundred seventy-two patients with DME. Methods We randomized patients to receive IAI 2 mg every 4 weeks (2q4), IAI 2 mg every 8 weeks after 5 monthly doses (2q8), or laser. Main Outcome Measures Effect of presence or absence of baseline SRF on visual outcomes in the integrated dataset at weeks 52 and 100. Results Mean best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) gains in the 2q4, 2q8, and laser arms at week 52 were +14.5, +11.0, and –2.3 letters, respectively, (those with baseline SRF) and +10.3, +10.6, and +2.5 letters, respectively, (those without). At week 100, mean gains were +13.5, +10.9, and −2.3 letters (those with baseline SRF) and +10.6, +10.0, and +2.7 letters (those without). The treatment effect for IAI versus laser from baseline to week 52 of 100 was greater for patients with baseline SRF versus those without (nominal P Conclusions This post hoc analysis demonstrated the visual outcome benefits of IAI over laser, regardless of baseline SRF status. A greater treatment effect of IAI was observed in patients with baseline SRF versus those without; however, no meaningful impact of baseline SRF status on treatment outcomes with IAI was demonstrated, indicating that the differential effects of laser might have been the driving force behind the different treatment outcomes in both groups

Stable and Unstable Regimes of Mass Accretion onto RW Aur A

We present monitoring observations of the active T Tauri star RW Aur, from 2010 October to 2015 January, using optical high-resolution (R>10000) spectroscopy with CFHT-ESPaDOnS. Optical photometry in the literature shows bright, stable fluxes over most of this period, with lower fluxes (by 2-3 mag.) in 2010 and 2014. In the bright period our spectra show clear photospheric absorption, complicated variation in the Ca II 8542 A emission}profile shapes, and a large variation in redshifted absorption in the O I 7772 and 8446 A and He I 5876 A lines, suggesting unstable mass accretion during this period. In contrast, these line profiles are relatively uniform during the faint periods, suggesting stable mass accretion. During the faint periods the photospheric absorption lines are absent or marginal, and the averaged Li I profile shows redshifted absorption due to an inflow. We discuss (1) occultation by circumstellar material or a companion and (2) changes in the activity of mass accretion to explain the above results, together with near-infrared and X-ray observations from 2011-2015. Neither scenario can simply explain all the observed trends, and more theoretical work is needed to further investigate their feasibilities.Comment: 23 pages, 11 figures, 4 tables, accepted by Astrophysical Journal; some typos corrected on 4/18/201