An Analysis Of The Relationship Between Dropout Variables And The Race And Gender Of High School Students

The purpose of this study was to analyze the relationship between dropout variables and the race and gender of high school students in a mid-south suburban school district. Data was collected on 353 dropouts and 316 graduates that attended one of the district’s eight high schools between the years 2006 - 2011. Variables selected for study included ethnicity, gender, special education classification, socioeconomic status, retention occurrences, absentee rates, behavioral infractions, and grade point average. Descriptive statistics, Correlations, Tests for Differences, and Logistic regression analysis were run to determine both the predictability of these variables and their relationship among the two ethnic and gender groups. The analysis also provided the answers to thirteen research questions posed. Results from the various analyses revealed the variable grade point average was the best predictor for dropout occurrences. In each Hierarchical Logistic Regression model run, grade point average was highly significant. In the absence of grade point average, however, the other identified dropout variables became significant depending on which specific ethnic and/or gender group was being analyzed. Since the results of this quantitative research provide a method for predicting dropout occurrences, both school district administrators and legislators could use a similar data collection and regression testing to predict dropout rates across this nation. Having this accurate knowledge would prove beneficial in establishing intervention programs, allocating resources for prevention, and implementing appropriate graduation policies. Additionally, educators and other practitioners can better comprehend the impact that these variables have upon specific gender and ethnic groups. To this end, educators will be able to pinpoint the areas of need and develop effective intervention strategies that will aid in reducing the dropout rate

Influence of the BDNF Genotype on Amygdalo-Prefrontal White Matter Microstructure is Linked to Nonconscious Attention Bias to Threat

Cognitive processing biases, such as increased attention to threat, are gaining recognition as causal factors in anxiety. Yet, little is known about the anatomical pathway by which threat biases cognition and how genetic factors might influence the integrity of this pathway, and thus, behavior. For 40 normative adults, we reconstructed the entire amygdalo-prefrontal white matter tract (uncinate fasciculus) using diffusion tensor weighted MRI and probabilistic tractography to test the hypothesis that greater fiber integrity correlates with greater nonconscious attention bias to threat as measured by a backward masked dot-probe task. We used path analysis to investigate the relationship between brain-derived nerve growth factor genotype, uncinate fasciculus integrity, and attention bias behavior. Greater structural integrity of the amygdalo-prefrontal tract correlates with facilitated attention bias to nonconscious threat. Genetic variability associated with brain-derived nerve growth factor appears to influence the microstructure of this pathway and, in turn, attention bias to nonconscious threat. These results suggest that the integrity of amygdalo-prefrontal projections underlie nonconscious attention bias to threat and mediate genetic influence on attention bias behavior. Prefrontal cognition and attentional processing in high bias individuals appear to be heavily influenced by nonconscious threat signals relayed via the uncinate fasciculus

The growth companies puzzle: can growth opportunities measures predict firm growth?

While numerous empirical studies include proxies for growth opportunities in their analyses, there is limited evidence as to the validity of the various growth proxies used. Based on a sample of 1942 firm-years for listed UK companies over the 1990-2004 period, we assess the performance of eight growth opportunities measures. Our results show that while all the growth measures show some ability to predict growth in company sales, total assets, or equity, there are substantial differences between the various models. In particular, Tobin's Q performs poorly while dividend-based measures generally perform best. However, none of the measures has any success in predicting earnings per share growth, even when controlling for mean reversion and other time-series patterns in earnings. We term this the 'growth companies puzzle'. Growth companies do grow, but they do not grow in the key dimension (earnings) theory predicts. Whether the failure of 'growth companies' to deliver superior earnings growth is attributable to increased competition, poor investments, or behavioural biases, it is still a puzzle why growth companies on average fail to deliver superior earnings growth

Non-professional caregiver burden is associated with the severity of patients' cognitive impairment

<div><p>Background/Objectives</p><p>To analyse the relationship between caregiver burden and severity of patients’ cognitive impairment.</p><p>Design</p><p>Data were drawn from the cross-sectional 2015/2016 Adelphi Real World Dementia Disease-Specific Programme.</p><p>Setting</p><p>This research was multi-national and studied physicians and their consulting patients with cognitive impairment.</p><p>Participants</p><p>1,201 caregivers completed self-assessment forms.</p><p>Measurements</p><p>Validated instruments of caregiver wellbeing and burden (EQ-5D-3L questionnaire, EQ-VAS, Zarit Burden Interview, and Work Productivity and Activity Impairment questionnaire) and number of caregiver hours were analysed by severity of patients’ cognitive impairment, categorised according to the Mini-Mental State Examination. Data were analysed using Spearman’s rank correlation coefficients and ordinary least squares regression models, to compare outcomes between caregivers of patients with prodromal, mild, moderate, and severe dementia.</p><p>Results</p><p>The majority of caregivers were female (69.1%), lived with the patient they cared for (75.8%), and only approximately one third (28.3%) were in part- or full-time employment. There were statistically significant (p<0.001) increases in caregiver time (36.9 versus 108.6 hours per week for prodromal versus severe dementia, respectively) and measures of caregiver burden and health status (EQ-5D-3L, EQ-VAS, and Zarit Burden Interview) and increases in measures of work productivity and activity impairment with increasing severity of patients’ disease.</p><p>Conclusion</p><p>This study of real-world data confirmed an association between increased caregiver burden and severity of patients’ cognitive impairment by analysis of a wide range of validated measures of caregiver burden. These findings suggest that maintaining patients in the earliest stages of their disease for as long as possible may potentially help to protect caregiver wellbeing, although further research is required to confirm this hypothesis.</p></div

Two novel human cytomegalovirus NK cell evasion functions target MICA for lysosomal degradation

NKG2D plays a major role in controlling immune responses through the regulation of natural killer (NK) cells, αβ and γδ T-cell function. This activating receptor recognizes eight distinct ligands (the MHC Class I polypeptide-related sequences (MIC) A andB, and UL16-binding proteins (ULBP)1–6) induced by cellular stress to promote recognition cells perturbed by malignant transformation or microbial infection. Studies into human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) have aided both the identification and characterization of NKG2D ligands (NKG2DLs). HCMV immediate early (IE) gene up regulates NKGDLs, and we now describe the differential activation of ULBP2 and MICA/B by IE1 and IE2 respectively. Despite activation by IE functions, HCMV effectively suppressed cell surface expression of NKGDLs through both the early and late phases of infection. The immune evasion functions UL16, UL142, and microRNA(miR)-UL112 are known to target NKG2DLs. While infection with a UL16 deletion mutant caused the expected increase in MICB and ULBP2 cell surface expression, deletion of UL142 did not have a similar impact on its target, MICA. We therefore performed a systematic screen of the viral genome to search of addition functions that targeted MICA. US18 and US20 were identified as novel NK cell evasion functions capable of acting independently to promote MICA degradation by lysosomal degradation. The most dramatic effect on MICA expression was achieved when US18 and US20 acted in concert. US18 and US20 are the first members of the US12 gene family to have been assigned a function. The US12 family has 10 members encoded sequentially through US12–US21; a genetic arrangement, which is suggestive of an ‘accordion’ expansion of an ancestral gene in response to a selective pressure. This expansion must have be an ancient event as the whole family is conserved across simian cytomegaloviruses from old world monkeys. The evolutionary benefit bestowed by the combinatorial effect of US18 and US20 on MICA may have contributed to sustaining the US12 gene family

Effectiveness of prolonged use of continuous passive motion (CPM), as an adjunct to physiotherapy, after total knee arthroplasty

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Adequate and intensive rehabilitation is an important requirement for successful total knee arthroplasty.</p> <p>Although research suggests that Continuous Passive Motion (CPM) should be implemented in the first rehabilitation phase after surgery, there is substantial debate about the duration of each session and the total period of CPM application. A Cochrane review on this topic concluded that short-term use of CPM leads to greater short-term range of motion. It also suggested, however, that future research should concentrate on the treatment period during which CPM should be administered.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In a randomised controlled trial we investigated the effectiveness of prolonged CPM use in the home situation as an adjunct to standardised PT. Efficacy was assessed in terms of faster improvements in range of motion (RoM) and functional recovery, measured at the end of the active treatment period, 17 days after surgery.</p> <p>Sixty patients with knee osteoarthritis undergoing TKA and experiencing early postoperative flexion impairment were randomised over two treatment groups. The experimental group received CPM + PT for 17 consecutive days after surgery, whereas the usual care group received the same treatment during the in-hospital phase (i.e. about four days), followed by PT alone (usual care) in the first two weeks after hospital discharge.</p> <p>From 18 days to three months after surgery, both groups received standardised PT. The primary focus of rehabilitation was functional recovery (e.g. ambulation) and regaining RoM in the knee.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Prolonged use of CPM slightly improved short-term RoM in patients with limited RoM at the time of discharge after total knee arthroplasty when added to a semi-standard PT programme. Assessment at 6 weeks and three months after surgery found no long-term effects of this intervention Neither did we detect functional benefits of the improved RoM at any of the outcome assessments.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Although results indicate that prolonged CPM use might have a small short-term effect on RoM, routine use of prolonged CPM in patients with limited RoM at hospital discharge should be reconsidered, since neither long-term effects nor transfer to better functional performance was detected.</p> <p>Trial Registration</p> <p>ISRCTN85759656</p