Re-Conceptualizing Developmental Areas of Assessment for Screening, Eligibility Determination and Program Planning in Early Intervention

Contemporary recommended practices in early childhood assessment strive to gain a holistic picture of child learning and development to inform screening, eligibility, and program planning decisions. These practices have traditionally focused on competencies reflected in developmental domains with limited attention to the approaches-tolearning used to acquire those competencies. In this article, we call for the examination of early childhood constructs that impact a child’s ability to learn and develop, such as executive function (EF), mastery motivation, self-regulation and selfdetermination, specifically in the infant-toddler period. With EF defined as a wide range of central control processes in the brain that link and categorize information that is discernible in cognitive, motor, and behavioral responses [1], we propose a model of EF as the core construct that drives and unites these learning processes and describe how the model can be applied to Part C early intervention screening, assessment, eligibility determination, and program planning, as well as identify future directions in research and personnel preparation

2D numerical study of the radiation influence on shock structure relevant to laboratory astrophysics

Radiative shocks are found in various astrophysical objects and particularly at different stages of stellar evolution. Studying radiative shocks, their topology, and thermodynamical properties is therefore a starting point to understanding their physical properties. This study has become possible with the development of large laser facilities, which has provided fresh impulse to laboratory astrophysics. We present the main characteristics of radiative shocks modeled using cylindrical simulations. We focus our discussion on the importance of multi-dimensional radiative-transfer effects on the shock topology and dynamics. We present results obtained with our code HERACLES for conditions corresponding to experiments already performed on laser installations. The multi-dimensional hydrodynamic code HERACLES is specially adapted to laboratory astrophysics experiments and to astrophysical situations where radiation and hydrodynamics are coupled. The importance of the ratio of the photon mean free path to the transverse extension of the shock is emphasized. We present how it is possible to achieve the stationary limit of these shocks in the laboratory and analyze the angular distribution of the radiative flux that may emerge from the walls of the shock tube. Implications of these studies for stellar accretion shocks are presented.Comment: 8 pages, 7 figures, accepted for publication in A&

Quantitative proteomic analysis reveals maturation as a mechanism underlying glucocorticoid resistance in B lineage ALL and re-sensitization by JNK inhibition

Glucocorticoid (GC) resistance is a continuing clinical problem in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. A proteomic approach was used to compare profiles of the B-lineage ALL GC-sensitive cell line, PreB 697, and its GC-resistant sub-line, R3F9, pre- and post-dexamethasone exposure. PAX5, a transcription factor critical to B-cell development was differentially regulated in the PreB 697 compared to the R3F9 cell line in response to GC. PAX5 basal protein expression was less in R3F9 compared to its GC-sensitive parent and confirmed to be lower in other GC-resistant sub-lines of Pre B 697 and was associated with a decreased expression of the PAX5 transcriptional target, CD19. Gene set enrichment analysis showed that increasing GC-resistance was associated with differentiation from preB-II to an immature B-lymphocyte stage. GC-resistant sub-lines were shown to have higher levels of phosphorylated JNK compared to the parent line and JNK inhibition caused re-sensitization to GC. Exploiting this maturation may be key to overcoming GC resistance and targeting signalling pathways linked to the maturation state, such as JNK, may be a novel approach

Non-invasive ventilation (NIV) as an aid to rehabilitation in acute respiratory disease

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Non-invasive ventilation (NIV) can increase exercise tolerance, reduce exercise induced desaturation and improve the outcome of pulmonary rehabilitation in patients with chronic respiratory disease. It is not known whether it can be applied to increase exercise capacity in patients admitted with non-hypercapnic acute exacerbations of COPD (AECOPD). We investigated the acceptability and feasibility of using NIV for this purpose.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>On a single occasion, patients admitted with an acute exacerbation of chronic respiratory disease who were unable to cycle for five minutes at 20 watts attempted to cycle using NIV and their endurance time (T_lim) was recorded. To determine feasibility of this approach in clinical practice patients admitted with AECOPD were screened for participation in a trial of regular NIV assisted rehabilitation during their hospital admission.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In 12 patients tested on a single occasion NIV increased T_limfrom 184(65) seconds to 331(229) seconds (p = 0.04) and patients desaturated less (median difference = 3.5%, p = 0.029). In the second study, 60 patients were admitted to hospital during a three month period of whom only 18(30)% were eligible to participate and of these patients, only four (7%) consented to participate.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>NIV improves exercise tolerance in patients with acute exacerbations of chronic respiratory disease but the applicability of this approach in routine clinical practice may be limited.</p> <p>Trial registration</p> <p><url>http://www.controlled-trials.com/ISRCTN35692743</url></p

Temperature, recreational fishing and diapause egg connections : dispersal of spiny water fleas (Bythotrephes longimanus)

© The Author(s), 2011. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial License. The definitive version was published in Biological Invasions 13 (2011): 2513-2531, doi:10.1007/s10530-011-0078-8.The spiny water flea (Bythotrephes longimanus) is spreading from Great Lakes coastal waters into northern inland lakes within a northern temperature-defined latitudinal band. Colonization of Great Lakes coastal embayments is assisted by winds and seiche surges, yet rapid inland expansion across the northern states comes through an overland process. The lack of invasions at Isle Royale National Park contrasts with rapid expansion on the nearby Keweenaw Peninsula. Both regions have comparable geology, lake density, and fauna, but differ in recreational fishing boat access, visitation, and containment measures. Tail spines protect Bythotrephes against young of the year, but not larger fish, yet the unusual thick-shelled diapausing eggs can pass through fish guts in viable condition. Sediment traps illustrate how fish spread diapausing eggs across lakes in fecal pellets. Trillions of diapausing eggs are produced per year in Lake Michigan and billions per year in Lake Michigamme, a large inland lake. Dispersal by recreational fishing is linked to use of baitfish, diapausing eggs defecated into live wells and bait buckets, and Bythothephes snagged on fishing line, anchor ropes, and minnow seines. Relatively simple measures, such as on-site rinsing of live wells, restricting transfer of certain baitfish species, or holding baitfish for 24 h (defecation period), should greatly reduce dispersal.Study of Lakes Superior and Michigan was funded from NSF OCE-9726680 and OCE-9712872 to W.C.K., OCE-9712889 to J. Churchill. Geographic survey sampling and Park studies in the national parks during 2008-2010 were funded by a grant from the National Park Service Natural Resource Preservation Program GLNF CESU Task Agreement No. J6067080012

Predictors of single word spelling in English-speaking children: a cross sectional study

Background: The study aimed to explore to what extent variables associated with lexical and sublexical spelling processes predicted single word spelling ability, and whether patterns of lexical and sublexical processes were different across ages. Methods: Beginning (mean age 7-years, N=144) and advanced (mean age 9-years, N=114) English-speaking spellers completed tasks associated with sublexical processing (phonological ability and phonological short-term memory), lexical processing (visual short-term memory, visual attention span), and factors known to predict spelling (e.g., rapid automatised naming). Results: Phonological ability, rapid automatised naming, visual short-term memory and visual attention span were significant predictors of spelling accuracy for beginning spellers, while for more advanced spellers, only visual attention span was a significant predictor. Conclusions: The findings suggested that for beginning spellers, both lexical and sublexical processes are important for single word spelling, but with increasing literacy experience, lexically related variables are more important

DEC Family Recommended Practices: Knowing Families, Tailoring Practices, Building Capacity

The new DEC Recommended Practices Family monograph is available! This Ignite session will highlight some of the articles illustrating ways the RPs can be put into practice. Monograph authors will briefly present the unique features reflected in their articles, resulting in a lively discussion of the similar and distinctive themes in partnering with each and every family

DEC Family Recommended Practices: Knowing Families, Tailoring Practices, Building Capacity

The new DEC Recommended Practices Family monograph is available! This Ignite session will highlight some of the articles illustrating ways the RPs can be put into practice. Monograph authors will briefly present the unique features reflected in their articles, resulting in a lively discussion of the similar and distinctive themes in partnering with each and every family

DEC Recommended Practices: Family. Knowing Families, Tailoring Practices, Building Capacity

The Division for Early Childhood (DEC) Recommended Practices provide guidance to families and professionals about the most effective ways to improve learning outcomes and promote development of young children, birth through age 5, who have, or are at risk for, developmental delays or disabilities. Family: Knowing Families, Tailoring Practices, Building Capacity is the third edition of the DEC Recommended Practices Monograph Series, and it offers professionals and families multiple ways to implement the family practices across the settings in which children grow and learn. The articles in this collection provide guidance by illustrating how to implement the Family Recommended Practices with fidelity and flexibility. The monograph offers a unique contribution to the field by including authentic family voices as primary or equal contribution