Effective Organizational Practices for Middle and High School Grades

At the request of the Accountability Review Council, Research for Action identified effective organizational practices used by better performing schools serving substantial numbers of low income middle and high school students in the School District of Philadelphia. These practices are organized into three spheres: Conditions for Teaching, Student-Centered School Community, and Instructional Program. For each sphere, the report offers broad strategies and specific practices to enact the strategies. Nuanced school case studies show how the practices can work synergistically and coherently in schools to help students succeed

An Economic Analysis of the Potential Influence of Carbon Credits on Farm Management Practices

The objective of the 1997 Kyoto agreement was to limit greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions among signatory countries and thereby slow global warming. Under the agreement, Canada has committed itself to reduce GHGs over the next decade by 6 percent from estimated 1990 levels. Debate has now begun on the appropriate government policies that will induce the desired GHG reductions. Regulations could be in the form of direct controls or economic incentives, such as a subsidy/tax system or an emission trading system. The success of the U.S. emission market for SO2 (Schmalenseeet al., 1998) has generated growing interest in the use of a similar market mechanism for carbon (Holmes and Friedman, 2000). The existence of a carbon credit market presents the agricultural sector with another potential revenue source (Sandor and Skees, 1999). While agriculture contributes approximately 10 percent of Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions, it also has the potential to sequester carbon through strategies such as zero tillage, reduced summer fallow and improved grazing. These sequestration activities could be incorporated into an emission trading system and create a “carbon credit†for each unit of CO2 that is removed from the atmosphere. Firms with high emission reduction costs could then buy these credits rather than bear the large abatement costs associated with reducing their GHG emission levels. The perception is that the marginal cost of abatement for agriculture is less than that for other sectors (McCarl and Schneider, 2000). Thus, farmers may be able to profit by selling credits for activities that sequester carbon. An example of such a transaction was the purchase of carbon credits from Iowa farmers who adopted no-till by a consortium of Canadian energy companies (GEMCO) (Lessiter, 1999). Whether the development of a carbon credit market will affect the management decisions of an Ontario crop farmer isthe focus of this study.Agricultural and Food Policy, Farm Management,

The 24 hour lung function time profile of olodaterol once daily versus placebo and tiotropium in patients with moderate to very severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Background: Olodaterol is a once-daily long-acting β2-agonist being investigated for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, with ≥ 24 hour bronchodilator activity. Methods: Two replicate, randomized, double-blind, four-way crossover (6-week treatment periods), active (tiotropium 18 μg via HandiHaler®)- and placebo-controlled trials were conducted to evaluate the 24 hour forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) profile of olodaterol (5 and 10 μg) once daily (via Respimat®). Patients continued with inhaled corticosteroids and xanthines. Spirometry was performed at baseline and over the entire 24 hour post-dose period at week 6 of each treatment phase. Co-primary end points were change from study baseline (response) in FEV1 area under the curve from 0–12 hours (AUC0–12) and FEV1 AUC from 12–24 hours (AUC12–24); key secondary end point was FEV1 AUC from 0–24 hours response. Results: In study 1222.39, there was a significant difference from placebo in FEV1 AUC0–12 and AUC12–24 responses (P<0.0001) with olodaterol 5 μg (0.185 and 0.131 L) and 10 μg (0.207 and 0.178 L) at 6 weeks; similar results were observed for tiotropium (0.173 and 0.123 L). In study 1222.40, responses were 0.197 and 0.153 L with olodaterol 5 μg, 0.221 and 0.170 L with 10 μg, and 0.221 and 0.164 L with tiotropium versus placebo (P<0.0001). Incidence of adverse events was comparable across treatments. Conclusions: These data confirm the 24 hour lung-function efficacy profile of once-daily olodaterol, with FEV1 responses comparable to tiotropium

Prevention of cisplatin-induced hearing loss in children: Informing the design of future clinical trials.

Cisplatin is an essential chemotherapeutic agent in the treatment of many pediatric cancers. Unfortunately, cisplatin-induced hearing loss (CIHL) is a common, clinically significant side effect with life-long ramifications, particularly for young children. ACCL05C1 and ACCL0431 are two recently completed Childrens Oncology Group studies focused on the measurement and prevention of CIHL. The purpose of this paper was to gain insights from ACCL05C1 and ACCL0431, the first published cooperative group studies dedicated solely to CIHL, to inform the design of future pediatric otoprotection trials. Use of otoprotective agents is an attractive strategy for preventing CIHL, but their successful development must overcome a unique constellation of methodological challenges related to translating preclinical research into clinical trials that are feasible, evaluate practical interventions, and limit risk. Issues particularly important for children include use of appropriate methods for hearing assessment and CIHL severity grading, and use of trial designs that are well-informed by preclinical models and suitable for relatively small sample sizes. Increasing interest has made available new funding opportunities for expanding this urgently needed research

Outer Retinal Structure in Best Vitelliform Macular Dystrophy

Importance Demonstrating the utility of adaptive optics scanning light ophthalmoscopy (AOSLO) to assess outer retinal structure in Best vitelliform macular dystrophy (BVMD). Objective To characterize outer retinal structure in BVMD using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) and AOSLO. Design, Setting, and Participants Prospective, observational case series. Four symptomatic members of a family with BVMD with known BEST1 mutation were recruited at the Advanced Ocular Imaging Program research lab at the Medical College of Wisconsin Eye Institute, Milwaukee. Intervention Thickness of 2 outer retinal layers corresponding to photoreceptor inner and outer segments was measured using SD-OCT. Photoreceptor mosaic AOSLO images within and around visible lesions were obtained, and cone density was assessed in 2 subjects. Main Outcome and Measure Photoreceptor structure. Results Each subject was at a different stage of BVMD, with photoreceptor disruption evident by AOSLO at all stages. When comparing SD-OCT and AOSLO images from the same location, AOSLO images allowed for direct assessment of photoreceptor structure. A variable degree of retained photoreceptors was seen within all lesions. The photoreceptor mosaic immediately adjacent to visible lesions appeared contiguous and was of normal density. Fine hyperreflective structures were visualized by AOSLO, and their anatomical orientation and size were consistent with Henle fibers. Conclusions and Relevance The AOSLO findings indicate that substantial photoreceptor structure persists within active lesions, accounting for good visual acuity in these patients. Despite previous reports of diffuse photoreceptor outer segment abnormalities in BVMD, our data reveal normal photoreceptor structure in areas adjacent to clinical lesions. This study demonstrates the utility of AOSLO for understanding the spectrum of cellular changes that occur in inherited degenerations such as BVMD. Photoreceptors are often significantly affected at various stages of inherited degenerations, and these changes may not be readily apparent with current clinical imaging instrumentation

Photochemically Etched Construction Technology Developed for Digital Xenon Feed Systems

Electric propulsion systems are quickly emerging as attractive options for primary propulsion in low Earth orbit, in geosynchronous orbit, and on interplanetary spacecraft. The driving force behind the acceptance of these systems is the substantial reduction in the propellant mass that can be realized. Unfortunately, system designers are often forced to utilize components designed for chemical propellants in their electric systems. Although functionally acceptable, these relatively large, heavy components are designed for the higher pressures and mass flow rates required by chemical systems. To fully realize the benefits of electric propulsion, researchers must develop components that are optimized for the low flow rates, critical leakage needs, low pressures, and limited budgets of these emerging systems

Gambling harm and crime careers

Incarcerated populations across the world have been found to be consistently and significantly more vulnerable to problem gambling than general populations in the same countries. In an effort to gain a more specific understanding of this vulnerability the present study applied latent class analysis and criminal career theory to gambling data collected from a sample of English and Scottish, male and female prisoners (N=1057). The analysis found six clusters measured by responses to the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI), primarily distinguished by loss chasing behaviour. Longitudinal offending data drawn from the Police National Computer database found four criminal career types, distinguished by frequency and persistence over time. A significant association was found between higher level loss chasing and high rate offending in criminal careers. High rate offenders whose offending peaked in their mid 20’s were 5.3 times more likely to be higher level loss chasers and high rate chronic persistent offenders 3.7 times more likely than other criminal career types. Theories that link gambling, offending and impulse control are discussed and targeted interventions are proposed