An Investigation of Professional Learning Communities in North Carolina School Systems

In this work, the researcher examined the effects of professional learning communities (PLCs) on teachers’ perceptions after initial implementation at select high schools in North Carolina, USA. Professional learning communities is a type of school change that emphasizes the importance of trust, collaboration, and job embedded learning by teachers in order to advance academic achievement of students. Professional learning communities entail five main dimensions. These dimensions involve the sharing of leadership, vision, values, and expertise as well as investigating student needs through collaborative inquiry. Professional learning communities need to meet regularly in order to address these dimensions. There were 111 participants who were involved in either the pretest or posttest using the School Professional Staff as Learning Community Questionnaire (SPSaLC, 1996). The survey was provided electronically and data were analyzed using SPSS. The analyses indicated that professional learning communities have the potential to promote academic goals but expanded allocations of time and resources, improved acceptance by teachers, and stronger support of school leaders are needed. Recommendations include conducting a broader study to include more North Carolina School systems that are using professional learning communities. In addition, conducting a study that encompasses all grade levels using professional learning communities would be advantageous. A longitudinal study within school systems using professional learning communities is essential to monitor and determine the progression of professional learning communities

Is Dabigatran Superior to Warfarin in Treating Patients with Atrial Fibrillation?

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not Dabigatran is superior to Warfarin in patients with atrial fibrillation. STUDY DESIGN: Review of three English language primary studies published in 2007, 2009, and 2010. DATA SOURCES: Three randomized control trials found using Cochrane Database. OUTCOME(S) MEASURED: Outcomes measured were presence or absence of stroke or systolic embolism and intracranial hemorrhage. The absence of these events preserved neurologic function in patients with atrial fibrillation. RESULTS: In both VKA-naïve and VKA-experienced patients, Dabigatran 150 mg was superior to Warfarin in both the prevention of stroke and systolic embolism and the prevention of intracranial hemorrhage. Thromboembolic events were most common in the group receiving Dabigatran 50 mg alone. When comparing Dabigatran and Warfarin without including previous VKA status, Dabigatran 150 mg is superior to Warfarin in prevention of stroke and systolic embolism, while Dabigatran 110 mg is noninferior. Hemorrhagic stroke rates were similar in both dose groups. CONCLUSIONS: It is concluded that Dabigatran is superior to Warfarin in 150 mg dose and noninferior to Warfarin in 110 mg dose. Further research is warranted to determine other indications for treatment with Dabigatran

A Comparative Study of Communication Intervention for Nonverbal Children With Autism.

Communication intervention for 3 nonverbal children with autism was compared in an alternating treatment design. Subjects were three males, ages 4--7, 3--6, and 3--5 who met diagnostic criteria for Autism and who were considered to be nonverbal according to developmental history, parent/teacher report and behavioral observation. Alternating treatment conditions included the established treatment format that each subject was receiving in his school setting (Treatment A) and a developmentally-integrated format of intervention structured to facilitate integrated cognitive, social and communicative development (Treatment B). Each intervention was characterized according to profiles of Traditional-Behavioral or Semantic Pragmatic-Developmental intervention formats. Characteristics of adult interaction were examined to identify the interaction style and to define the intervention conditions. Measures of child behavior were examined according to: (a) a behavioral hierarchy of cognitive, social and semiotic development, (b) supportive measures of eye gaze behavior and play elaboration, and (c) qualitative ratings of the subjects\u27 enjoyment and interactivity during alternate treatment conditions. Results indicated that all subjects: (a) evidenced more communicative behaviors, (b) achieved higher levels of integrated development across cognitive, social and communicative domains; and (c) exhibited more elaborated play in terms of numbers of toys, actions upon toys, sequenced play, and functional play characteristics; (d) exhibited more eye gaze toward the adult; and (e) were perceived to be happier and more interactive during the conditions of developmentally-integrated intervention as compared to the established treatment paradigms. Examination of the integrated profiles of functional behavioral levels indicated that one subject achieved a pattern of synergistic cognitive, social and communicative behavior during the developmentally-integrated format, as evidenced by the same level of complexity of behavior exhibited across behavioral domains. Results were related to intervention issues for children with autism including the efficacy of Traditional-Behavioral vs. Semantic-Pragmatic intervention formats, and patterns of developmental progress for children with autism

Exhaust jet wake and thrust characteristics of several nozzles designed for VTOL DOWNWASH suppression. Tests in and out of ground effect with 70 deg F and 1200 deg F nozzle discharge temperatures

Jet wake degradation and thrust characteristics of exhaust nozzles designed for VTOL downwash suppression and fuselage and ground effect

Relationship Between Big 5 Personality Traits and COVID-19 Health-Related Behaviors

The Big 5 personality traits are typically assessed in order to understand the behavior of individuals. The major traits are extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, neuroticism, and openness to experience (McCrae & John, 1991). Health-related behaviors regarding COVID-19 include wearing masks and properly social distancing (CDC, 2020a, CDC, 2020b). Previous research examined the relationship between the Big 5 personality traits and either mask use or social distancing and concluded that there were correlations between personality and the likelihood that participants would engage in COVID-19 precautionary behaviors (Zajenkowski, Jonason, Leniarska, & Kozakiewicz, 2020, Aschwanden et al., 2020, Carvalho, Pianowski, & Goncalves, 2020, Abdelrahman, 2020). The present study investigates the relationship between the Big 5 personality traits and the health-related behaviors of mask use and social distancing among undergraduate students. Specifically, participants completed a three-part survey which assessed the Big 5 traits, mask use and social distancing behavior, and demographic information. We hypothesized that participants who indicated more frequent mask use would rate higher in agreeableness, extraversion, and conscientiousness. We also predicted that participants who indicated more frequent social distancing would rate lower in agreeableness and extraversion and higher in conscientiousness. Six bivariate correlations revealed that initial hypotheses were unsupported by the data with the exception of a significant, positive correlation between agreeableness and mask use. Keywords: personality traits, coronavirus, COVID-19, mask use, social distancing, Big

Indigenous youth justice programs evaluation

In this report, four programs that were already being implemented by states and territories and identified by them under the National Indigenous Law & Justice Framework as promising practice in diversion are examined. Executive summary Diversion from the youth justice system is a critical goal for addressing the overrepresentation of Indigenous young people in the criminal justice system. In this report, four programs that were already being implemented by states and territories and identified by them under the National Indigenous Law & Justice Framework as promising practice in diversion are examined. The programs were evaluated, as part of a broader initiative, to determine whether and on what basis they represent good practice (ie are supported by evidence). State and territory governments nominated the programs for evaluation. The four programs sit at different points along a continuum, ranging from prevention (addressing known risk factors for offending behaviour, such as disengagement from family, school, community or culture), early intervention (with identified at-risk young people), diversion (diverting from court process—usually for first or second time offenders) and tertiary intervention (treatment to prevent recidivism): • Aboriginal Power Cup (South Australia)—a sports-based program for engaging Indigenous young people in education and providing positive role models (prevention). • Tiwi Islands Youth Development and Diversion Unit (Northern Territory)—a diversion program that engages Tiwi youth who are at risk of entering the criminal justice system in prevention activities, such as a youth justice conference, school, cultural activities, sport and recreation (early intervention and diversion). • Woorabinda Early Intervention Panel Coordination Service (Queensland)—a program to assess needs and make referrals for young Indigenous people and their families who are at risk or have offended and have complex needs (early intervention and diversion). • Aggression Replacement Training (Queensland)—a 10 week group cognitivebehavioural program to control anger and develop pro-social skills, delivered to Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth assessed as ‘at risk’ of offending or reoffending (early intervention and tertiary intervention with offenders to reduce risk of reoffending). For each program, the evaluation team developed a ‘program logic’, identifying the activities and goals of the program, and how it articulates within a broader framework of criminal justice prevention. This informed the design of the evaluation and the approach to collecting both qualitative data (from young people participating in the program, program staff, family, or other service providers/community members) and quantitative data to identify any effects of the program on individuals, or the broader community

Session 3 Discussion: The microstructure of eating

The Microstructure of Eating

Regulation of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 in pancreatic and breast cancer cells by Sp proteins

Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR2) is a key angiogenic factor, and angiogenesis is an important physiological process associated with neovascularization, growth, and metastasis of many different tumors. The mechanism of VEGFR2 gene expression was investigated in MiaPaCa-2, Panc-1, and AsPC-1 pancreatic cancer cells transfected with a series of VEGFR2 promoter deletion/mutated constructs, and the results indicated that the GC-rich âÂÂ60 to âÂÂ37 region of the promoter was essential for VEGFR2 expression in these cell lines. EMSA and ChIP assays showed that Sp proteins are expressed and bind to the proximal GC-rich region of the VEGFR2 promoter. RNA interference studies on Sp proteins demonstrated that Sp1, Sp3, and Sp4 all contributed to VEGFR2 gene/protein expression in pancreatic cancer cells. VEGFR2 gene expression was also investigated in ZR-75 and MCF-7 breast cancer cells. ZR-75 cells treated with 10 nM 17b-estradiol (E2) increased VEGFR2 mRNA levels/protein expression. The VEGFR2 promoter was induced by E2 in ZR-75 cells, and analysis of the VEGFR2 promoter identified the GC rich -60 to -37 region that was required for E2-mediated transactivation. EMSA and ChIP assays confirmed that Sp1, Sp3, and Sp4 proteins are expressed in ZR-75 cells and bind the proximal GC-rich region of the VEGFR2 promoter. RNA interference was used to determine the relative contributions of Sp proteins on hormonal regulation of VEGFR2 through ER/Sp complexes, and interestingly, in ZR-75 cells, hormone-induced activation of VEGFR2 involves ERa/Sp3 and ERa/Sp4 but not ERa/Sp1. In MCF-7 cells treated with 10 nM E2, VEGFR2 mRNA levels were decreased. Analysis of the VEGFR2 promoter revealed that the same GC-rich region important for E2-mediated upregulation in ZR-75 cells was responsible for E2-dependent downregulation of VEGFR2 gene expression in MCF-7 cells. EMSA and ChIP assays confirmed that Sp1, Sp3, and Sp4 proteins are expressed in MCF-7 cells and bind to the proximal GC-rich region of the VEGFR2 promoter. RNA interference studies showed that Sp1, Sp3, and Sp4 are involved in the E2-mediated downregulation of VEGFR2 in MCF-7 cells, and ERa/Sp protein-promoter interactions are accompanied by recruitment of the corepressor SMRT using the ChIP assay