Evaluative criteria for preschool

Thesis (Ed.M.)--Boston Universit

Pacific Oaks Friends School, 1945-1961

The medical case history of an individual has long been an accepted instrument for promoting the health of an individual; and the empirical evidence presented by many such cases histories has been one avenue through which medical research into the cause and cure of disease has been advanced

A survey of curriculum methods in East and Middle Tennessee alternative education programs

In this thesis alternative programs in East and Middle Tennessee were examined for the rate of student recidivism, and teachers\u27 perceptions of these programs are discussed. Specifically, teachers\u27 perceptions were examined in connection with student recidivism rates in these programs. Data were gathered from surveys sent to twenty-four schools in East and Middle Tennessee. Survey respondents were divided into two groups: those who responded that recidivism in their school was 0 to 20% and those who described it as higher. The two groups\u27 answers to questions about curriculum and instruction were examined for differences and similarities and discussed

Phosphorylation and protonation of neighboring MiRP2 sites: function and pathophysiology of MiRP2-Kv3.4 potassium channels in periodic paralysis.

MinK-related peptide 2 (MiRP2) and Kv3.4 subunits assemble in skeletal muscle to create subthreshold, voltage-gated potassium channels. MiRP2 acts on Kv3.4 to shift the voltage dependence of activation, speed recovery from inactivation, suppress cumulative inactivation and increase unitary conductance. We previously found an R83H missense mutation in MiRP2 that segregated with periodic paralysis in two families and diminished the effects of MiRP2 on Kv3.4. Here we show that MiRP2 has a single, functional PKC phosphorylation site at serine 82 and that normal MiRP2-Kv3.4 function requires phosphorylation of the site. The R83H variant does not prevent PKC phosphorylation of neighboring S82; rather, the change shifts the voltage dependence of activation and endows MiRP2-Kv3.4 channels with sensitivity to changes in intracellular pH across the physiological range. Thus, current passed by single R83H channels decreases as internal pH is lowered (pK(a) approximately 7.3, consistent with histidine protonation) whereas wild-type channels are largely insensitive. These findings identify a key regulatory domain in MiRP2 and suggest a mechanistic link between acidosis and episodes of periodic paralysis

A review of the research literature relating to ICT and attainment

Summary of the main report, which examined current research and evidence for the impact of ICT on pupil attainment and learning in school settings and the strengths and limitations of the methodologies used in the research literature

Longitudinal and cross-sectional modelling of health related quality of life in people with cystic fibrosis

People with cystic fibrosis (CF) must endure up to four hours treatment per day to maintain health and are vulnerable to complications. The Cystic Fibrosis Quality of Life Questionnaire was developed to measure health related quality of life (HRQoL) in the UK. Most studies on HRQoL are cross-sectional in design with HRQoL measured once per patient. However, the Cystic Fibrosis Quality of Life Questionnaire has been used to monitor HRQoL longitudinally with measures taken over a 12 year period at one clinic in the UK. These data were modelled with a binomial distribution for a domain score and with fixed and random coefficients for the patient-level clinical and demographic variables. The longitudinal study included 182 patients whose HRQoL was first measured within a single calendar year and were then followed-up. These data provided an opportunity to compare, directly and by simulation, the modelling of a cross-sectional with the modelling of a longitudinal study and so provided insights into the statistical merits of longitudinal studies compared to cross-sectional studies in HRQoL

Confidence in science: interpersonal and institutional influences

Également disponible en version papierTitre de l'écran-titre (visionné le 6 janv. 2010)Bibliogr.: p. 119-12

Clinician and parent views on urine collection in precontinent children in the UK: a qualitative interview study

Objective To explore the experiences of healthcare professionals (HCPs) and parents of urine collection methods, to identify barriers to successful sampling and what could improve the process. Design Qualitative research, using individual semistructured interviews with HCPs and parents. The interviews were audiorecorded, transcribed and thematically analysed. Setting UK-based HCPs from primary and secondary care settings and parents with experience with urine collection in primary and/or secondary care settings. Participants HCPs who were involved in aiding, supervising or ordering urine samples. Parents who had experience with urine collection in at least one precontinent child. Results 13 HCPs and 16 parents were interviewed. 2 participating HCPs were general practitioners (GPs), 11 worked in paediatric secondary care settings (8 were nurses and 3 were doctors). Two parents had children with underlying conditions where frequent urine collection was required to rule out infections. HCPs and parents reported that there were no straightforward methods of urine collection for precontinent children. Each method—‘clean catch’, urine bag and urine pad—had limitations and problems with usage. ‘Clean catch’, regarded as the gold standard by HCPs with a lower risk of contamination, often proved difficult for parents to achieve. Other methods had elevated risk of contamination but were more acceptable to parents because they were less challenging. Many of the parents expressed the need for more information about urine collection. Conclusions Current methods of urine collection are challenging to use and may be prone to contamination. A new device is required to assist with urine collection in precontinent children, to simplify and reduce the stress of the situation for those involved. Parents are key partners in the process of urine collection with young children. Meeting their expressed need for more information could be an important way to achieve better-quality samples while awaiting a new device

Substantial genome synteny preservation among woody angiosperm species: comparative genomics of Chinese chestnut (\u3cem\u3eCastanea mollissima\u3c/em\u3e) and plant reference genomes

Background Chinese chestnut (Castanea mollissima) has emerged as a model species for the Fagaceae family with extensive genomic resources including a physical map, a dense genetic map and quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for chestnut blight resistance. These resources enable comparative genomics analyses relative to model plants. We assessed the degree of conservation between the chestnut genome and other well annotated and assembled plant genomic sequences, focusing on the QTL regions of most interest to the chestnut breeding community. Results The integrated physical and genetic map of Chinese chestnut has been improved to now include 858 shared sequence-based markers. The utility of the integrated map has also been improved through the addition of 42,970 BAC (bacterial artificial chromosome) end sequences spanning over 26 million bases of the estimated 800 Mb chestnut genome. Synteny between chestnut and ten model plant species was conducted on a macro-syntenic scale using sequences from both individual probes and BAC end sequences across the chestnut physical map. Blocks of synteny with chestnut were found in all ten reference species, with the percent of the chestnut physical map that could be aligned ranging from 10 to 39 %. The integrated genetic and physical map was utilized to identify BACs that spanned the three previously identified QTL regions conferring blight resistance. The clones were pooled and sequenced, yielding 396 sequence scaffolds covering 13.9 Mbp. Comparative genomic analysis on a microsytenic scale, using the QTL-associated genomic sequence, identified synteny from chestnut to other plant genomes ranging from 5.4 to 12.9 % of the genome sequences aligning. Conclusions On both the macro- and micro-synteny levels, the peach, grape and poplar genomes were found to be the most structurally conserved with chestnut. Interestingly, these results did not strictly follow the expectation that decreased phylogenetic distance would correspond to increased levels of genome preservation, but rather suggest the additional influence of life-history traits on preservation of synteny. The regions of synteny that were detected provide an important tool for defining and cataloging genes in the QTL regions for advancing chestnut blight resistance research