A qualitative study of how eight teachers moved toward whole language.

The purpose of this study was to gain insight into and knowledge about the perceptions and practices of teachers who have moved toward a whole language, literature-based, process approach to the teaching of reading. The data for the study came from interviews with eight teachers: four were teaching in elementary schools, two were language arts resource people, one was serving as a curriculum coordinator, and one was a university professor. The data are presented in the form of profiles of the eight educators who described their changed way of teaching in their own words. All interviewees reflect on how they feel they have changed the way they teach based on their understandings of how their beliefs about teaching and learning have changed. The researcher\u27s changed beliefs are also examined in this study. The information on which this study is based was gathered in several ways: notes from participant observation during attendance at classes, seminars, conferences, and professional meetings; conversations with knowledgeable colleagues; review of the literature; and primarily, the tape-recorded interviews with selected teachers. The presentation of the interview data is interspersed with information gathered in the above mentioned ways. The literature review examines the theoretical and philosophical aspects of whole language and published descriptions of the reflections of some teachers who have undergone change. The results of this study demonstrate that there is much collegiality and networking among teachers who believe in this approach to the teaching of reading. Teachers undergoing a philosophical change toward whole language need to receive support, but they also give support to others. Support groups and informal support have played a very important part in the grassroots nature of whole language. Many of these teachers have made a strong connection between reading and writing. Experience as a teacher and reflection upon that experience also contribute to teacher change, which usually occurs gradually. Other ways of fostering change include visiting other teachers\u27 classrooms, taking courses and participating in workshops, reading professional literature, becoming knowledgeable about children\u27s literature, and attending and presenting at professional conferences

The statistical impact of the Louisville Slugger 'catalyst' bat on the 2005 Division I collegiate softball season

This study investigated the relationship between composite bat technology and 13 offensive statistics. In addition to bat technology it analyzed the relationship between ball Coefficient of Restitution and offensive statistics. The study included 28 NCAA Division I Louisville Slugger Sponsored programs from the 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005 seasons. All teams were using the same Louisville Composite bat in the 2005 season; the 'Catalyst' and all had the same choices of Louisville bats to choose from in 2002, 2003, and 2004. The ball has been changed from a COR of .50 to a .47. The results indicated that there was no effect for the change in COR, but that there was an effect for change in bat technology. Of the seven statistical categories utilized in the one-way ANOVA, five of them returned a significant result and two did not. The results further indicated that the change in bat is significant in producing more home runs, higher slugging percentages, and better batting averages. The descriptive statistics indicated a dramatic increase in mean home runs and mean hits, with a 45% increase in mean homeruns in 2005

"One of the Proudest Achievements:" Organized Birth Control in Indiana, 1870s to 1950s

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI)Local birth control advocates often found themselves attempting to open birth control clinics in restrictive climates that did not welcome open discussions of sexuality. To accomplish this, the organizers chose their tactics carefully and followed common strategies. After a few stumbles, organized birth control in many states began in earnest in the 1930s. By 1943, just ten years after its opening, the Indianapolis birth control clinic could boast that it had served 4,531 women and openly solicit funds from the community. The Maternal Health League’s plea on its fundraising brochure assured citizens of their patriotic duty to help. The league reminded Hoosiers, “In War and In Peace a Nation is as Strong as the Health of Its Mothers and Children.” Arguments such as these allowed the clinic to open and assured its existence for many years to come. Indiana birth control organizers relied on specific tactics that allowed them to accomplish their goals in a restrictive Midwestern state. Indiana’s birth control story offers modern-day readers a very different picture than that offered by studies of the national movement of birth control. Indiana offers an account that relies more on cooperation and less on confrontation

Apoptosis and schizophrenia: a pilot study based on dermal fibroblast cell lines

Introduction: The aim of this study was to investigate whether there is an increased susceptibility to apoptosis in cultured fibroblasts from patients with schizophrenia

Places of joy : the role of heritage after lockdown

[Abstract not available

Vitamin D depletion aggravates hypertension and target-organ damage

BACKGROUND: We tested the controversial hypothesis that vitamin D depletion aggravates hypertension and target-organ damage by influencing renin. METHODS AND RESULTS: Four-week-old double-transgenic rats (dTGR) with excess angiotensin (Ang) II production due to overexpression of the human renin (hREN) and angiotensinogen (hAGT) genes received vitamin D-depleted (n=18) or standard chow (n=15) for 3 weeks. The depleted group had very low serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels (mean+/-SEM; 3.8+/-0.29 versus 40.6+/-1.19 nmol/L) and had higher mean systolic BP at week 5 (158+/-3.5 versus 134.6+/-3.7 mm Hg, P<0.001), week 6 (176.6+/-3.3 versus 162.3+/-3.8 mm Hg, P<0.01), and week 7 (171.6+/-5.1 versus 155.9+/-4.3 mm Hg, P<0.05). Vitamin D depletion led to increased relative heart weights and increased serum creatinine concentrations. Furthermore, the mRNAs of natriuretic peptides, neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin, hREN, and rRen were increased by vitamin D depletion. Regulatory T cells in the spleen and in the circulation were not affected. Ang metabolites, including Ang II and the counter-regulatory breakdown product Ang 1 to 7, were significantly up-regulated in the vitamin D-depleted groups, while ACE-1 and ACE-2 activities were not affected. CONCLUSIONS: Short-term severe vitamin D depletion aggravated hypertension and target-organ damage in dTGR. Our data suggest that even short-term severe vitamin D deficiency may directly promote hypertension and impacts on renin-angiotensin system components that could contribute to target-organ damage. The findings add to the evidence that vitamin D deficiency could also affect human hypertension