Unification of the elementary school districts in the Lodi Union High School District

It is the purpose of this study: (1) To provide a description of the seventeen school districts within the boundaries of the Lodi Union High School District in the matters of: (A) Financial status: (i) Assessed valuation per district, (ii) Assessed valuation per A.D.A., (iii) Expenditure costs per A.D.A., (iv) Present tax rate, (v) Bonded indebtedness; (B) Enrollment: (i) Past, present, and projected, (ii) Multiple graded classrooms; (C) Educational services; (D) Schoolhousing and facilities in present use; (E) Ecological factors (2) To examine these facts and conditions in view of the criteria of an adequate unified school district organization in regard to: (A) Financial structure; (B) Size of proposed district; (C) Educational services; (D) Ecological factors (3) Finally, to ascertain if unification of the seventeen elementary school districts will fulfill the objectives as adopted by the State Board of Education, which are as follows: (A) To produce a more effectively coordinated program of education for all levels of the State’s public school system through strong local school district organization, with single administrative control over all levels of public education in a given area.; (B) To provide a more efficient use of public funds, brought about by the creation of school districts capable of furnishing necessary educational services at a reasonable unit cost.; (C) To provide a better and more equalized educational opportunity for all children in the State through the creation of school districts sufficient in size to be able to provide curricular offerings and other services not possible under existing organization.; (D) To effect as great a degree of equalization of financial resources on the local level as circumstances will permit

The Effects of Public School Prekindergarten Attendance on Academic Achievement in Language Arts and Mathematics

The effect of public school prekindergarten (pre-K) attendance on academic achievement has not been extensively studied for the purpose of funding these programs. The MCT2 scale scores in the areas of language arts and math and the report card number grades for the areas of language arts and math were analyzed for 114 students. Of this number, 49 students attended a public school pre-K program, and 65 students did not attend a public school pre-K program. This study was a causal-comparative study. A repeated measures approach with a between-within design was used. An analysis of covariance, ANCOVA, was used to examine if there was a statistically significant difference in the MCT2 scale scores for language arts for 3rd-grade students who attended a public school pre-K program and students who did not attend a public school pre-K program. In addition, 3 separate t-tests were run for each grade level for language arts and math report card grades. Results revealed that there was a statistically significant difference in the MCT2 language arts mean scale scores. For the area of math, the students who attended a public school pre-K program had comparable MCT2 math mean scale scores with the participants who did not attend a public school pre-K program. For language arts and math report card number grades, students who attended a public school pre-K program had higher report card number grades compared with students who did not attend a public school pre-K program. Based on these findings, it can be implied that public school pre-K attendance was effective for the academic areas language arts and math. It is recommended that public school pre-K programs continue to be funded and implemented for 4-year-old students in the Raleigh School District. The subjects of language arts and math should continue to be instructed for the pre-K students. It is also recommended that public school pre-K programs be funded and implemented in school districts across the state of Mississippi, as well as nationwide

Energy Consumption in Large Wastewater Treatment Plants as a Function of Wastewater Strength

Wastewater treatment (WWT) is an energy-intensive process. Strict standards for discharge often require energy intensive advanced treatment technologies. As a result, the number of plants using advanced treatment has increased (Figure 1). Rising energy costs and concerns about greenhouse gas generation present a major incentive for tracking energy usage of WWT. Energy usage in plant, for instance, typically represents 18 to 30% of the operational budget. Water efficient fixtures are also increasing loadings of organic matter to plants while lowering or maintaining overall liquid flow. The increased loadings have a significant impact on energy consumption. Previous work has focused primarily on aeration consumption for activated sludge rather than a plant as whole. There are very few studies that show energy requirements on a plant-wide scale with the Water Environment Federation (WEF) being one major source. This research presents a general methodology for tracking energy usage in a plant with regards to wastewater strength. It is anticipated that this research will provide a tool for designers and owners who wish to predict their energy impact before construction of a new plant or before implementing a new process on an existing plant

Transforming growth factor-β1 treatment of oral cancer induces epithelial-mesenchymal transition and promotes bone invasion via enhanced activity of osteoclasts

This study investigates relationships between EMT and bone invasion by OSCC. Three OSCC cell lines, SCC25, HN5, and Tca8113 were artificially induced to display EMT by adding 5 ng/mL of TGF-β1 to culture media for 1–3 days. Cell morphology and phenotypic changes was examined by immunocytochemical staining of CK and VIM. EMT markers, cell-invasion factors, and osteoclast-related molecules were analysed at mRNA, gelatine and protein levels by real-time PCR, gelatine zymography and Western blotting respectively. Mature osteoclasts differentiated from Raw264.7 cells were treated by conditioned medium (CM) of OSCC cells with/without TGF-β1. Immunohistochemistry was performed to validate proteins of CK, VIM, E-cad and Snail1 in OSCC tissue samples with bone invasion. Results showed minimal staining of VIM was found in SCC25 and HN5, while Tca8113 cells stained strongly. EMT markers Twist1 and N-cad were up-regulated; Snail1 and E-cad down-regulated in all cells. Of factors associated with invasion, MMP-2 was unchanged and MMP-9 increased in SCC25 and Tca8113, while MMP-2 was increased and MMP-9 unchanged in HN5. For osteoclast-related molecules, both MT1-MMP and RANKL were up-regulated, while OPG was down-regulated in all cells. CM of OSCC cells pre-treated with TGF-β1 showed to prolong survival of osteoclasts up to 4 days. All target molecules were validated in OSCC samples of bone invasion. These findings suggest that TGF-β1 not only induces EMT to increase the capacity of OSCC for invasion, but also promotes factors which prolong osteoclast survival. TGF-β1 may enhance the ability of MMP2/9 in resorbing bone and favouring invasion of cancer cells

Comparative analysis of internal and external-hex crown connection systems - a finite element study

The abutment connection with the crown is fundamental to the structural stability of the implant system and to the prevention of mechanical exertion that can compromise the success of the implant treatment. The aim of this study is to clarify the difference in the stress distribution patterns between implants with internal and external-hex connections with the crown using the Finite Element Method (FEM). Material and Methods: The internal and external-hex connections of the Neoss and 3i implant systems respectively, are considered. The geometrical properties of the implant systems are modeled using three-dimensional (3D) brick elements. Loading conditions include a masticatory force of 200, 500 and 1000N applied to the occlusal surface of the crown along with an abutment screw torque of 110, 320 and 550Nmm. The von Mises stress distributions in the crown are examined for all loading conditions. Assumptions made in the modeling include: 1. half of the implant system is modeled and symmetrical boundary conditions applied; 2. temperature sensitive elements are used to replicate the torque within the abutment screw. Results: The connection type strongly influences the resulting stress characteristics within the crown. The magnitude of stress produced by the internal-hex implant system is generally lower than that of the external-hex system. The internal-hex system held an advantage by including the use of an abutment between the abutment screw and the crown. Conclusions: The geometrical design of the external-hex system tends to induce stress concentrations in the crown at a distance of 2.89mm from the apex. At this location the torque applied to the abutment screw also affects the stresses, so that the compressive stresses on the right hand side of the crown are increased. The internal-hex system has reduced stress concentrations in the crown. However, because the torque is transferred through the abutment screw to the abutment contact, changing the torque has greater effect on this hex system than the masticatory force. Overall the masticatory force is more influential on the stress within the crown for the external-hex system and the torque is more influential on the internal-hex system.Griffith Sciences, Griffith School of EngineeringFull Tex

Eliciting the implicit knowledge and perceptions of on-ground conservation managers of the Macquarie Marshes

Knowledge that has been developed through extensive experience of receiving and responding to ecological feedback is particularly valuable for informing and guiding environmental management. This paper captures the implicit understanding of seven experienced on-ground conservation managers about the conservation issues affecting the Ramsar listed Macquarie Marshes in New South Wales, Australia. Multiple interviews, a workshop, and meetings were used to elicit the manager's knowledge. The managers suggest that the Macquarie Marshes are seriously threatened by a lack of water, and immediate steps need to be taken to achieve more effective water delivery. Their knowledge and perceptions of the wider societal impediments to achieving more effective water delivery have also led the managers to suggest that there may be system feedbacks that are reinforcing the tendency for water agencies to favor the short-term interests of the irrigation industry. Although the managers clearly have certain personal interests that influence their understanding and perceptions, much of their knowledge also appears to have been heavily influenced by their ecological understanding of the wetland's dynamics. This paper highlights that although all stakeholders clearly need to be involved in making decisions about conservation and how resources should be used, such decisions should not be confused with the need for consulting people with the appropriate ecological expertise to help determine the degree to which an ecological system is threatened, the likely ecological causes of the threats, and actions that may be needed to restore and maintain a functional ecosystem

A comparison of health state utility values associated with oral potentially malignant disorders and oral cancer in Sri Lanka assessed using the EQ-5D-3 L and the EORTC-8D

Background: It has been suggested that the EQ-5D-3 L preference-based measure of health outcome lacks sensitivity to discriminate between health states in cancer patients. An alternative approach is to use a disease (cancer) specific preference-based measure, such as the EORTC-8D. A limited number of comparisons have been made between generic and disease specific preference-based measures. The aim of this study was to compare the utility scores from the EQ-5D-3 L and the EORTC-8D in a group of patients with oral cancer or with oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMD). Methods: Patients (n = 151) with OPMD or oral cancer were recruited consecutively from six hospitals in Sri Lanka. All participants completed both the EQ-5D-3 L and the EORTC's QLQC-30 instrument. The Sri Lankan EQ-5D-3 L and EORTC-8D scoring algorithms were employed to estimate utility scores. The utility scores from the two instruments were compared for discrimination, responsiveness and correlation. Results: There were significant differences across the two utility scores. The EQ-5D-3 L showed better discrimination than EORTC-8D with higher effect sizes. There were higher ceiling effects observed in the EQ-5D-3 L. There was poor correlation between the dimensions of the two instruments except for the mobility and physical functions. Conclusion: The two instruments captured different aspects of quality of life. The EQ-5D-3 L demonstrated better discrimination than the EORTC-8D. In mild conditions EORTC-8D was more responsive and we recommend further validation of this instrument in diverse cancer conditions

A photometric investigation of the young open cluster Trumpler 15

In this paper we present and analyze new CCD $UBVRI$ photometry down to $V\approx$21 in the region of the young open cluster Trumpler~15, located in the Carina spiral feature. The cluster is rather compact and has a core radius of about 2$^{\prime}$, which translates in about 1 pc at the distance of the cluster. We provide the first CCD investigation and update its fundamental parameters. We identify 90 candidate photometric members on the base of the position in the color-color and color-magnitude diagrams. This sample allows us to obtain a distance of 2.4$\pm$0.3 kpc from the Sun and a reddening E$(B-V)$=0.52$\pm0.07$. We confirm that the cluster is young, and fix a upper limit of 6 million yrs to its age . In addition, we draw the attention on the lower part of the Main Sequence (MS) suggesting that some stars can be in contracting phase and on a gap in the MS, that we show to be a real feature, the $B1-B5$ gap found in other young open clusters. We finally study in details the extinction toward Trumpler~15 concluding that it is normal and suggesting a value of 2.89$\pm$0.19 for the ratio of total to selective absorption $R_V$.\Comment: 11 pages, 13 eps figures, accepted for publication in MNRA

A comparison of health state utility values associated with oral potentially malignant disorders and oral cancer in Sri Lanka assessed using the EQ-5D-3 L and the EORTC-8D

Background: It has been suggested that the EQ-5D-3 L preference-based measure of health outcome lacks sensitivity to discriminate between health states in cancer patients. An alternative approach is to use a disease (cancer) specific preference-based measure, such as the EORTC-8D. A limited number of comparisons have been made between generic and disease specific preference-based measures. The aim of this study was to compare the utility scores from the EQ-5D-3 L and the EORTC-8D in a group of patients with oral cancer or with oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMD). Methods: Patients (n = 151) with OPMD or oral cancer were recruited consecutively from six hospitals in Sri Lanka. All participants completed both the EQ-5D-3 L and the EORTC's QLQC-30 instrument. The Sri Lankan EQ-5D-3 L and EORTC-8D scoring algorithms were employed to estimate utility scores. The utility scores from the two instruments were compared for discrimination, responsiveness and correlation. Results: There were significant differences across the two utility scores. The EQ-5D-3 L showed better discrimination than EORTC-8D with higher effect sizes. There were higher ceiling effects observed in the EQ-5D-3 L. There was poor correlation between the dimensions of the two instruments except for the mobility and physical functions. Conclusion: The two instruments captured different aspects of quality of life. The EQ-5D-3 L demonstrated better discrimination than the EORTC-8D. In mild conditions EORTC-8D was more responsive and we recommend further validation of this instrument in diverse cancer conditions

Intra-Oral Colonization of Macaque Monkeys by Actinobacillus Actinomycetemcomitans

Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans was acquired by captive Macaca fascicularis 3 to 6 months after birth, and all monkeys aged over 6 months harbored detectable levels. This microorganism was most frequently isolated from the gingival plaque of the incisor (and other) teeth compared with other oral sites. Strains were leukotoxic by bioassay and Western blot analysis. Antibodies in macaque serum contained neutralized the leukotoxin of a human A. actinomycetemcomitans strain. High titres of maternal neutralizing anti-leukotoxin antibodies were detected in neonates; the titre then fell rapidly so that by 6 months the antibody titer was zero. Antileukotoxin antibody production was detected after 6 months of age, rapidly reaching a high level within 2 years after birth. The presence of leukotoxic strains of A. actinomycetemcomitans in the gingival region did not appear to be correlated with an increase in susceptibility to periodontal disease