Effect of Soy Isoflavone Protein and Soy Lecithin on Endothelial Function in Healthy Postmenopausal Women

The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of soy isoflavone protein concentrate and soy lecithin on endothelial function measured as flow mediated dilation (FMD) of the brachial artery in healthy postmenopausal women. In this randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled crossover trial, twenty-five subjects (mean age 61 years; BMI 25.46 kg/m2) were recruited from the general population of southwestern Connecticut. Subjects underwent endothelial function testing using high frequency ultrasound at baseline and following 4 weeks of each randomly assigned treatment with intervening 4-week washout periods. Treatment assignment included: soy isoflavone protein (SP, 25gm/day) or soy lecithin (SL, 20gm/day) alone with placebo for the alternative treatment; both active treatments; or double placebo. Main outcome measures were endothelial function, assessed as flow mediated dilation (FMD) of the brachial artery, and serum lipids. Twenty-two women completed the trial. Baseline FMD (pre-treatment FMD) was 8.60 + 7.20. No statistically significant (P \u3e 0.05) difference was seen in FMD between treatment assignments. A trend was suggested, however, with FMD highest after treatment with both soy protein and lecithin (7.50 + 9.85), followed by soy protein and placebo lecithin (5.51 + 10.11), placebo protein and soy lecithin (5.35 + 6.13), and lowest after double placebo (4.53 + 7.84). Soy isoflavone protein and soy lecithin significantly (P \u3c 0.05) increased HDL/LDL relative to baseline value (soy isoflavone protein and soy lecithin, 0.64 ± 0.19; soy isoflavone protein and placebo lecithin, 0.58 ± 0.17; placebo protein and soy lecithin, 0.65 ± 0.18; baseline, 0.49 ± 0.15). In this sample of healthy postmenopausal women, soy isoflavone protein and soy lecithin significantly improved the lipid profile. A favorable influence on endothelial function by soy isoflavone and soy lecithin was suggested but could not be confirmed statistically, possibly due to small sample size, timing of testing, dose, or delivery vehicle. Although soy protein consumption is generally recommended as part of a heart-healthy diet, its favorable effects on cardiovascular disease risk factors such as endothelial function and lipids have not been consistently demonstrated in clinical trials, and further investigation into its effects on specific cardiovascular outcomes is necessary before a substantial cardioprotective role for soy protein can be asserted

Art for Academic\u27s Sake

Research demonstrates strong support for including art in the kindergarten through high school curriculum as a way of engaging the students and providing them with an education that encourages selfesteem, problem-solving skills, collaborative effort and academic success. However, with the focus on science, math, grammar and other curriculum areas, the arts are often ignored. This project therefore advocates the inclusion of art both as a separate subject and as a valuable learning tool in the content area classrooms

The critical elements of effective academic-practice partnerships: a framework derived from the Department of Veterans Affairs Nursing Academy.

BackgroundThe nursing profession is exploring how academic-practice partnerships should be structured to maximize the potential benefits for each partner. As part of an evaluation of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Nursing Academy (VANA) program, we sought to identify indicators of successful partnerships during the crucial first year.MethodsWe conducted a qualitative analysis of 142 individual interviews and 23 focus groups with stakeholders from 15 partnerships across the nation. Interview respondents typically included the nursing school Dean, the VA chief nurse, both VANA Program Directors (VA-based and nursing school-based), and select VANA faculty members. The focus groups included a total of 222 VANA students and the nursing unit managers and staff from units where VANA students were placed. An ethnographic approach was utilized to identify emergent themes from these data that underscored indicators of and influences on Launch Year achievement.ResultsWe emphasize five key themes: the criticality of inter-organizational collaboration; challenges arising from blending different cultures; challenges associated with recruiting nurses to take on faculty roles; the importance of structuring the partnership to promote evidence-based practice and simulation-based learning in the clinical setting; and recognizing that stable relationships must be based on long-term commitments rather than short-term changes in the demand for nursing care.ConclusionsDeveloping an academic-clinical partnership requires identifying how organizations with different leadership and management structures, different responsibilities, goals and priorities, different cultures, and different financial models and accountability systems can bridge these differences to develop joint programs integrating activities across the organizations. The experience of the VANA sites in implementing academic-clinical partnerships provides a broad set of experiences from which to learn about how such partnerships can be effectively implemented, the barriers and challenges that will be encountered, and strategies and factors to overcome challenges and build an effective, sustainable partnership. This framework provides actionable guidelines for structuring and implementing effective academic-practice partnerships that support undergraduate nursing education

Small-Mammal Seed Predation Limits the Recruitment and Abundance of Two Perennial Grassland Forbs

Although post-dispersal seed predators are common and often reduce seed density, their influence on plant population abundance remains unclear. On the one hand, increasing evidence suggests that many plant populations are seed limited, implying that seed predators could reduce plant abundance. On the other hand, it is generally uncertain whether the magnitude of seed limitation imposed by granivores is strong enough to overcome density-dependent processes that could compensate for seed loss at later stages. We examined the impact of seed predation by small mammals, primarily deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus), on seedling recruitment and subsequent plant establishment of two perennial grassland forbs in western Montana, USA: Lupinus sericeus (Fabaceae) and Lithospermum ruderale (Boraginaceae). The experiment combined graded densities of seed addition for each species with a small-mammal exclusion treatment. Seedling recruitment and plant establishment were monitored in the experimental plots for up to three years. For both species, small-mammal exclusion increased the total number of seedlings that emerged, and these effects were still significant three years after seed addition, resulting in greater numbers of established plants inside exclosures than in control plots. We also found evidence of seed limitation, with increasing density of seeds added leading to increased numbers of seedlings. Results from seed addition and small-mammal exclusion experiments in later years also revealed significant impacts of small mammals on seedling emergence. These results suggest that granivores can have potentially important impacts in limiting forb abundance in grasslands communities

Environnements didactiques informatiques et pédagogie du projet analyse de l'intervention éducative d'un enseignant en milieu scolaire socioéconomiquement faible

Cette étude de cas analyse l'intervention éducative d'un enseignant du primaire qui a mis en oeuvre un dispositif didactique et pédagogique intégrant de façon systématique l'informatique scolaire à une pédagogie du projet dans le but de mieux répondre aux besoins liés à l'apprentissage d'élèves provenant d'un milieu socioéconomiquement faible.Cette étude longitudinale (1998-2001) fait ressortir l'impact de l'agir professionnel sur la réussite scolaire. La problématique de notre recherche s'inscrit dans la foulée de la réforme en cours, dont l'une des visées est de contrer le retard scolaire au primaire et le risque d'échec et d'abandon scolaire précoce au secondaire. Quatre dimensions éclairent l'implémentation du dispositif: l'équité sociale, les changements épistémologiques, une orientation vers la socialisation et le rôle des TIC pour soutenir le développement des compétences transversales. Le cadre conceptuel s'appuie sur une perspective socioconstructiviste cohérente avec la théorie de l'anthropologie culturelle de Vygotsky (1978) pour qui l'apprentissage ne se fait pas seul, mais avec l'aide de pairs plus avancés en contexte de cognition située. La médiation de l'enseignant, par sa réflexion en action , en synchronie avec les besoins immédiats de ses élèves, établit le lien entre enseignant et apprenants, pour qu'ils puissent développer un esprit d'initiative, ainsi que la responsabilité et l'autonomie pour assumer leurs apprentissages. Une méthodologie mixte interreliant des méthodes qualitatives et quantitatives a exigé un recueil de données sur des dimensions descriptives et évaluatives. Des données de deuxième ordre, issues d'une recherche FCAR (98-NT-004), ont permis de dégager des caractéristiques spécifiques à la planification, à la gestion de classe et aux comportements de l'"enseignant-cible" en contexte de pédagogie du projet. Les résultats obtenus par les 23 élèves aux examens sommatifs de 6e année témoignent de l'efficacité de l'intervention. La présente étude pourrait avoir des retombées en tant que modèle pour d'autres chercheurs intéressés à étudier l'impact des TIC comme matériel didactique. Sur le plan de la pratique, ce type d'intervention serait un moyen efficace pour contrer le décrochage scolaire chez les élèves en mobilisant leurs capacités de s'adapter avec succès à leur environnement, malgré les facteurs de risque qui pourraient les inhiber

Measuring the Attitudes of Teachers of Students with Significant Disabilities about Aspects of Their Jobs

This study measured the attitudes of teachers of students with significant disabilities with the Attitudes of Teachers of Students with Significant Disabilities about Aspects of Their Jobs survey. Teachers who worked with at least one student with significant disabilities were contacted via e-mail throughout four states in the United States, including a state in the west, midwest, south, and east. Teachers were also recruited via on-line methods, and through professional contacts. One-hundred and eighty teachers successfully completed the on-line survey. Pearson correlation coefficients were used to analyze the data, as well as means, standard deviations, and other demographic data were reported after data collection, in order to examine three research questions including: 1. Do the attitudes of teachers of students with significant disabilities about aspects of their jobs become less positive the older the students? 2. Do the attitudes about their jobs become less positive the longer teachers have been teaching? 3. Do the attitudes about aspects of their jobs become less positive the longer teachers of students with significant disabilities have been teaching students with significant disabilities? Initial results indicated that no significant results supported the research questions for this study. Post hoc results displayed positive results when comparing two of the independent variables with two subdomains of the survey. These results do not support the research questions, but do suggest that further research and study should occur utilizing this survey with teachers of students with significant disabilities. Future research should especially focus on examining what experiences teachers may have while teaching that create positive research results, and whether these findings could assist in designing interventions that may assist in bridging the gap between past research related to teacher attrition and burnout, and practices that occur within the design of special educator's jobs