A summary of research relating to reading in the intermediate grades

Purpose: To develop and evaluate a method of quick perception with geography vocabulary to see if; (a) quick perception accelerates growth in comprehension, (b) effects speed of reading, and (c) improves reading ability. Materials used: (1) Vocabulary selected from: a) Atwood, The Americas, b) McConnel, Living in the Americas, c) Smith, World Folk. (2) Durrell-Sullivan Achievement Tests, Intermediate Forms A and B. (3) Oral Reading Tests for Speed from the "Durrell Analysis of Reading Difficulty". (4) Silent Reading and Vocabulary Inventory Tests constructed by the writer. (5) Lantern slide projector; screen; words and phrases typed on amber cellphone, faced with red carbon paper, enclosed in glass slides, hinged with tape at the top [TRUNCATED

Mutations in the _SC4MOL_ gene encoding a novel methyl sterol oxidase cause autosomal recessive psoriasisiform dermatitis, microcephaly and developmental delay

Disorders of cholesterol biosynthesis have clinical manifestations involving skeleton, eyes, neurologic development, and skin. We describe a patient with congenital cataracts, developmental delay, microcephaly, and low serum cholesterol who developed severe psoriasiform dermatitis and arthralgias beginning at age 3. Her brain MRI indicatedminor gliosis. Quantitative sterol analysis of patient plasma and skin showed marked elevation of 4alpha-methyl- and 4, 4'-dimethylsterols, indicating a deficiency in the first step of sterol C4 demethylation in cholesterol biosynthesis. Molecular studies showed mutations in _SC4MOL_, a gene predicted to encode a sterol C4 methyl oxidase. Thus, our patient has a previously undescribed inborn error of cholesterol biosynthesis. Cellular studies with patient-derived fibroblasts showed higher mitotic rate than control cells in cholesterol-depleted medium, in which _de novo_ cholesterol biosynthesis was increased with the accumulation of methylsterol. Immunologic analyses showed dysregulation of immune-related receptors in the patient and her father. Inhibition of sterol C4 methyl oxidase in human transformed lymphoblasts or in fresh leukocytes induced activation of cell cycle, and immune receptor dysregulation. These findings suggest that methylsterols influence mitotic capacity and immune function. _SC4MOL_ is situated within the psoriasis susceptibility locus _PSORS9_, and is likely a genetic risk factor for common psoriasis

Orientation Virtual Meeting National Advisory Committee for the National Health Security Preparedness Index

Refining the measures and methodologies used within the National Health Security Preparedness Index will allow users to make more meaningful comparisons of preparedness levels across U.S. geographic areas and to assess changes in preparedness over time

Bank Directors: Heightened Expectations and Blurred Lines in a Changing Regulatory Framework, A Conversation from The Clearing House Annual Conference (Moderators: Lissa L. Broome and Derek M. Bush)

On November 21, 2014, the Center for Banking and Finance at the University of North Carolina School of Law hosted a dialogue on heightened expectations and blurred lines for bank directors in a changing regulatory environment at The Clearing House’s Annual Conference. Biographical information about the moderators and the panelists is set forth before the transcript of the dialogue begins

The National Health Security Preparedness Index: National Advisory Committee Meeting

This meeting of the National Advisory Committee for the National Health Security Preparedness Index program discussed strategies for improving the theoretical framework, measures, and analytic methodologies used in assessing and comparing preparedness levels across U.S. states and the nation as a whole

Simulations of the Dipole-Dipole Interaction Between Two Spatially Separated Groups of Rydberg Atoms

The dipole-dipole interaction among ultracold Rydberg atoms is simulated. We examine a general interaction scheme in which two atoms excited to the x and x(\u27) states are converted to y and y(\u27) states via a Förster resonance. The atoms are arranged in two spatially separated groups, each consisting of only one species of atom. We monitor the state mixing by recording the fraction of atoms excited to the y(\u27) state as the distance between the two groups is varied. With zero detuning a many-body effect that relies on always resonant interactions causes the state mixing to have a finite range. When the detuning is greater than zero, another many-body effect causes a peak in the state mixing when the two groups of atoms are some distance away from each other. To obtain these results it is necessary to include multiple atoms and solve the full many-body wave function. These simulation results are supported by recent experimental evidence. These many-body effects, combined with appropriate spatial arrangement of the atoms, could be useful in controlling the energy exchange among the atoms

Simulations of the Dipole-Dipole Interaction Between Two Spatially Separated Groups of Rydberg Atoms

The dipole-dipole interaction among ultracold Rydberg atoms is simulated. We examine a general interaction scheme in which two atoms excited to the x and x(\u27) states are converted to y and y(\u27) states via a Förster resonance. The atoms are arranged in two spatially separated groups, each consisting of only one species of atom. We monitor the state mixing by recording the fraction of atoms excited to the y(\u27) state as the distance between the two groups is varied. With zero detuning a many-body effect that relies on always resonant interactions causes the state mixing to have a finite range. When the detuning is greater than zero, another many-body effect causes a peak in the state mixing when the two groups of atoms are some distance away from each other. To obtain these results it is necessary to include multiple atoms and solve the full many-body wave function. These simulation results are supported by recent experimental evidence. These many-body effects, combined with appropriate spatial arrangement of the atoms, could be useful in controlling the energy exchange among the atoms

Vessel Reactivity and Blood Flow in Rats Exposed to Neonatal Supplemental Oxygen

Premature babies make up 12.8% of live births per year. Because their lungs are poorly developed, supplemental oxygen is a necessary treatment. Recent studies in our laboratory, in a rat model of prematurity, show that aortic pulse wave velocities were higher in rats exposed to neonatal supplemental oxygen. This is an indicator of significant aortic stiffening. This study aims to determine if supplemental oxygen also affects the downstream vasculature reactivity. We hypothesized that exposure to supplemental oxygen during the neonatal period will decrease vessel reactivity and we will observe smaller changes in blood flow with hypoxic and carbon dioxide challenges. Twelve month old rats exposed to 80% and 21% oxygen for eight days during the neonatal period were ventilated with hypoxic (12% O2), hypercapnic (5% CO2), and room air conditions. Each exposure lasted 10 minutes and followed with different 10 µm neutron-activated BioPAL microspheres injections into the left ventricle. The microspheres were allowed to circulate for 300-400 cardiac cycles. Microspheres lodged in the tissues were used to quantify changes in visceral blood flow. 80% O2 exposed rats showed a decreased baseline cardiac output to tissues compared to controls. In hypoxic and carbon dioxide conditions, 80% O2 exposed rats showed decreased changes in blood flow to tissues compared to controls, but results were not significant. Some tissues showed decreased blood flows when the rats were exposed to hypoxia and carbon dioxide challenges suggesting some vasoconstrictive effects had also occurred

Simulations of the Dipole-Dipole Interaction Between Two Spatially Separated Groups of Rydberg Atoms

The dipole-dipole interaction among ultracold Rydberg atoms is simulated. We examine a general interaction scheme in which two atoms excited to the x and x states are converted to y and y states via a Förster resonance. The atoms are arranged in two spatially separated groups, each consisting of only one species of atom. We monitor the state mixing by recording the fraction of atoms excited to the y state as the distance between the two groups is varied. With zero detuning a many-body effect that relies on always resonant interactions causes the state mixing to have a finite range. When the detuning is greater than zero, another many-body effect causes a peak in the state mixing when the two groups of atoms are some distance away from each other. To obtain these results it is necessary to include multiple atoms and solve the full many-body wave function. These simulation results are supported by recent experimental evidence. These many-body effects, combined with appropriate spatial arrangement of the atoms, could be useful in controlling the energy exchange among the atoms