Are school administrators and teachers\u27 attitudes toward inclusion influence by the change process?

The purpose of this research study was to examine the relationship between the change process for inclusive teaching practices and the attitudes of educators toward inclusion of students with disabilities in the general educational setting. This research study was based upon the theoretical construct of Rogers\u27 (2003) Diffusion of Innovations, which identifies the specific process in which any innovation is introduced within a social organization. A descriptive correlational design was used to examine the quantitative data collected from teachers and administrators from school districts. Teachers and administrators completed the Opinions Relative to the Integration of Students with Disabilities (ORl; Antonak & Larrivee, 1995) and the Change Process Survey (CPS; Keaster, 2007). The ORl assessed the educators\u27 attitudes toward the inclusion of students with disabilities in the general classroom across four constructs. In addition, the CPS measured participants\u27 responses to the change process in regards to the implementation of inclusion within the schools. The sample consisted of 96 educators (83 teachers and 13 administrators) from 7 schools within a geographical region of south central Kentucky. The data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, and inferential analysis consisting of both parametric and nonparametric methodologies: t-test for independent samples, Mann-Whitney U test, and ANOVA. The results indicated a statistically significant positive correlation between the change process constructs and the educators\u27 attitudes toward the inclusive innovation. However, teachers\u27 attitudes varied significantly as compared to administrators\u27 perceptions of teachers\u27 attitudes, as teachers indicated the need for further training on inclusion in order for the program to be successful. This research contributes to the education field by highlighting the necessity for both teacher preparation programs and school districts to infuse their programs with training on topics of special education, particularly on the inclusive teaching practices for students with disabilities. The results also point out the importance of attention to all parts of the change process when any innovation is introduced in educational settings

WAVE2 is regulated by multiple phosphorylation events within its VCA domain.

addresses: Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medical and Veterinary Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom.notes: PMCID: PMC2798068OnlineOpen Article. This is a copy of an article published in Cell Motility and the Cytoskeleton. This journal is available online at: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1002/(ISSN)1949-3592The definitive version is available at www3.interscience.wiley.comThe (Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome Protein)-family verprolin homologous protein (WAVE) family of proteins occupies a pivotal position in the cell, converting extracellular signals into the formation of branched filamentous (F) actin structures. WAVE proteins contain a verprolin central acidic (VCA) domain at their C-terminus, responsible for binding to and activating the Arp2/3 complex, which in-turn nucleates the formation of new actin filaments. Here we identify five Casein Kinase 2 (CK2) phosphorylation sites within the VCA domain of WAVE2, serines 482, 484, 488, 489, and 497. Phosphorylation of these sites is required for a high affinity interaction with the Arp2/3 complex. Phosphorylation of ser 482 and 484 specifically inhibits the activation of the Arp2/3 complex by the WAVE2 VCA domain, but has no effect on the affinity for the Arp2/3 complex when the other phosphorylation sites are occupied. We demonstrate phosphorylation of all five sites on endogenous WAVE2 and show that their mutation to non-phosphorylatable alanine residues inhibits WAVE2 function in vivo, inhibiting cell ruffling and disrupting the integrity of the leading edge of migrating cells

Things Invisible To See: State Action & Private Property

This Article revisits the state action doctrine, a judicial invention that shields “private” or “non-governmental” discrimination from constitutional scrutiny. Traditionally, this doctrine has applied to discrimination even in places of public accommodation, like restaurants, hotels, and grocery stores. Born of overt racial discrimination, the doctrine has inflicted substantial injustice throughout its inglorious history, and courts have continuously struggled in vain to coherently apply the doctrine. Yet, the United States Supreme Court has not fully insulated “private” or “horizontal” relations among persons from constitutional scrutiny. The cases in which it has applied constitutional norms to non-governmental actors should be celebrated rather than shunned. This Article proposes reinterpreting the state action doctrine to mitigate its historical and contemporary harms. Ultimately, the Authors draw from property law theory to contend that the doctrine should be fundamentally reformed in favor of a more egalitarian conception of the state’s role in ensuring equal protection of law. The insights of property law theory lead the Authors to conclude that: (1) equal protection depends on law, not action; (2) common law is law and, whether it is coercive or permissive, it must comply with the Equal Protection Clause; and (3) common law that allows discriminatory exclusion from the marketplace violates the Equal Protection Clause. What matters, for the purposes of constitutional protection, is not “state action” but whether the law violates the norms of liberty, equality, and dignity recognized by free and democratic societies

Three‐Dimensional Super‐Resolution Imaging of the Midplane Protein FtsZ in Live Caulobacter crescentus Cells Using Astigmatism

Single‐molecule super‐resolution imaging provides a non‐invasive method for nanometer‐scale imaging and is ideally suited to investigations of quasi‐static structures within live cells. Here, we extend the ability to image subcellular features within bacteria cells to three dimensions based on the introduction of a cylindrical lens in the imaging pathway. We investigate the midplane protein FtsZ in Caulobacter crescentus with super‐resolution imaging based on fluorescent‐protein photoswitching and the natural polymerization/depolymerization dynamics of FtsZ associated with the Z‐ring. We quantify these dynamics and determine the FtsZ depolymerization time to be <100 ms. We image the Z‐ring in live and fixed C. crescentus cells at different stages of the cell cycle and find that the FtsZ superstructure is dynamic with the cell cycle, forming an open shape during the stalked stage and a dense focus during the pre‐divisional stage. 3D is here to stay: Three‐dimensional super‐resolution astigmatic optical imaging provides images of the FtsZ Z‐ring in bacterial cells in various stages of the cell cycle. The picture shows, left to right: live stalked cell, live pre‐divisional cell, fixed stalked cell, fixed pre‐divisional cell. Scale bar: 200 nm.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/90573/1/1007_ftp.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/90573/2/cphc_201100686_sm_miscellaneous_information.pd

Examining the Impact of School Suspension on High School Students: Highlighting Student Perspectives and the Significance of Student Voice in the Literature on High School Suspension and Dropout Rates

The existing literature on the topic of high school suspension reveals that heightened suspension rates lead to heightened dropout rates. An extensive body of literature exists with statistical information to back up this finding; however, very little literature provides student voice on the topic. Students currently enrolled in an alternative school in a small city in central North Carolina were surveyed and interviewed about their experience with suspension. The results show that these students do not find suspension to be an effective means of punishment as it caused them academic setbacks and heightened their negativity towards school. Through the responses of these students some possible alternatives to suspension were revealed. This information should be shared with high school educators and administrators to encourage development of policies that have more potential to result in high school graduation for students at risk of failure.Bachelor of Art

Species‐ and C‐terminal linker‐dependent variations in the dynamic behavior of FtsZ on membranes in vitro

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/146365/1/mmi14081.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/146365/2/mmi14081-sup-0001-FigS1-S5.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/146365/3/mmi14081_am.pd

Удосконалення керування інноваційним потенціалом у сфері житлово-комунального господарства в умовах децентралізації регіонів

The aim of the research is to improve the management of innovative potential in the field of Housing and Communal Services (HCS) under conditions of establishment of decentralization of the regions and the formation of measures to provide reforms in this area. Theoretical and methodological basis of the research is the scientific papers and designs of local and foreign authors; the State program of reforming HCS. To achieve the set purpose, we applied general scientific, as well as comparative and analytical methods. The need to manage the innovative potential under conditions of growing competition among national manufacturers in their pursuit of integration into the world economic space was researched. The performed analysis found technical–technological and financial state of HCS in the regions unsatisfactory. Formation of measures to implement the State program of reforming and development of HCS was substantiated. It was demonstrated that the way to engage foreign investments stumbled into certain obstacles, related to the excessive centralization of financial resources and their insufficiency for economic freedom of the regions. Special attention is paid to the fact that innovation activity in Ukraine has low level of development that can be explained by insufficiency of financing of scientific activities (applied research, designs), as well as the lack of incentives for its implementation. Unfavorable macroeconomic situation and the activities of the government bodies to withdraw working capital, increasing taxation burden lead to decrease in innovation activity of enterprises. It was demonstrated that the priority fields of the economy of the state, which need stimulation of investment and innovation, also include HCS, which remains one of the most technically backward industries of the national economy. It was proven that the current state of technological infrastructure did not meet the requirements of a market-driven economy. The qualitative analysis of technological backwardness of HCS in Ukraine by the leading foreign specialists was cited, in particular by the Friedrich Ebert Foundation. The scientific novelty of the research lies in the need to improve the management of innovative potential and to develop proposals of consistent reforms in the area of HCS. Practical significance of the work is to provide recommendations to the urban residents regarding the implementation of the advantages of setting up ACMAB. The prospect of further research is the analysis of existing ACMAB in the regions and preparation of proposals for elimination of the shortcomings in their activity

Investigating the use of ultrasonography for the antenatal diagnosis of structural congenital anomalies in low-income and middle-income countries:Systematic review protocol

Introduction Congenital anomalies are the fifth leading cause of mortality in children under 5 years globally. The greatest burden is faced by those in developing countries, where over 95% of deaths occur. Many of these deaths may have been preventable through antenatal diagnosis and early intervention. This study aims to conduct a systematic review that investigates the use of antenatal ultrasound to diagnose congenital anomalies and improve the health outcomes of infants in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). Methods and analysis A systematic literature review will be conducted using three search strings: (1) structural congenital anomalies, (2) LMICs and (3) antenatal diagnosis. Four electronic databases will be searched: MEDLINE, Embase, PubMed and the Cochrane Library. Title, abstract and full-text screening will be undertaken in duplicate by two reviewers independently using Covidence. Consensus will be sought from the wider authorship for discrepancies. Data extraction will be undertaken by the principal investigator. The primary analysis will focus on the availability and effectiveness of antenatal ultrasound for structural congenital anomalies. Secondary outcomes will include neonatal morbidity and mortality, termination rates and referral rates for further antenatal care. Descriptive statistics and a narrative synthesis will be included in the final report. The methodological quality of the included studies will be evaluated using the Cochrane-approved Risk of Bias for Non-Randomised Studies of Intervention and Risk of Bias in Randomised Trials V.2.0 tools. Ethics and dissemination Ethical approval is not required for conducting the systematic review as there will be no direct collection of data from individuals. The results will be submitted for publication in a scientific journal and presented internationally. Conclusion This is the first study, to our knowledge, to systematically review current literature on the use of antenatal ultrasound for the detection of congenital anomalies in LMICs. This is vital to define current practice, highlight global disparities and evaluate effects on health outcomes for infants in low-resource settings.</p

The Noise Exposure Structured Interview (NESI): an instrument for the comprehensive estimation of lifetime noise exposure

Lifetime noise exposure is generally quantified by self report. The accuracy of retrospective self report is limited by respondent recall, but is also bound to be influenced by reporting procedures. Such procedures are of variable quality in current measures of lifetime noise exposure, and off-the-shelf instruments are not readily available. The Noise Exposure Structured Interview (NESI) represents an attempt to draw together some of the stronger elements of existing procedures and to provide solutions to their outstanding limitations. Reporting is not restricted to pre-specified exposure activities, and instead encompasses all activities that the respondent has experienced as noisy (defined based on sound level estimated from vocal effort). Changing exposure habits over time are reported by dividing the lifespan into discrete periods in which exposure habits were approximately stable, with life milestones used to aid recall. Exposure duration, sound level, and use of hearing protection are reported for each life period separately. Simple-to-follow methods are provided for the estimation of free-field sound level, the sound level emitted by personal listening devices, and the attenuation provided by hearing protective equipment. An energy-based means of combining the resulting data is supplied, along with a primarily energy-based method for incorporating firearm-noise exposure. Finally, the NESI acknowledges the need of some users to tailor the procedures; this flexibility is afforded and reasonable modifications are described. Competency needs of new users are addressed through detailed interview instructions (including troubleshooting tips) and a demonstration video. Limited evaluation data are available and future efforts at evaluation are proposed