Preservice special education service providers' attitudes on diversity

Journal ArticleThis survey design study involved preservice special education service providers who were in degree seeking programs in the departments of special education, physical therapy, and occupational therapy. Participants provided views and belief structures on diversity issues identified through a review of literature, including (a) English language issues, (b) ability to have success with diverse groups, (c) service provider roles with diverse populations, and (d) the role of institutions of higher education in preparing service providers to work with diverse populations. One of the groups of participants was part of the Service Learning Mexico Project (SLMP) course and the other was a matched group of on-campus traditional students who did not participate in service learning. Our results suggest differences between the two groups which may link to future practices with students from diverse backgrounds

The role of mTORC1 in mesenchymal stem cell fate determination, osteoblast differentiation and skeletal development

As we age, skeletal integrity becomes compromised due to a decrease in bone mineral density. Bone formation is mediated by osteoblast (OB) cells which originate from mesenchymal stem cells (MSC). MSCs, a rare stem cell population within the bone marrow, possess self-renewal and multi-lineage differentiation potential. In aging or diseased states, such as osteoporosis, there is a reduction in osteoblastic differentiation potential of MSCs in favour of differentiation toward fat storing adipocytes (AdC). Several signalling pathways have been shown to regulate osteogenic commitment of MSCs as well as the subsequent processes of osteoblast differentiation and skeletal formation. The mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) has been implicated as a master regulator of cell metabolism that integrates signals which control MSC commitment and OB function. However, the direct role of this complex in these functions remains to be determined. To definitively address the role of mTORC1 in MSC fate determination, OB differentiation and bone accrual, this project utilised the Cre-loxP system of targeted transgenesis, which enabled the tissue-specific and temporal inactivation of Rptor, the gene encoding for the mTORC1 complex-specific protein raptor. In this study Rptor-deficient MSCs cultured under osteogenic and adipogenicinductive conditions displayed a reduced capacity to form lipid-laden AdCs and an increased capacity to form a mineralised matrix. Consistent with the increased osteogenic differentiation, deletion of Rptor in MSC resulted in an up-regulation in the expression of the osteogenic growth factor BMP2, a known inducer of RUNX2 expression, OB maturation and mineral formation. To examine the role of raptor in skeletal development, Rptor was deleted in preosteoblastic cells marked by their expression of the osterix (Osx) gene, by crossing Rptorfl/fl mice with Osx-cre transgenic mice. Deletion of Rptor lead to a reduction in limb length at birth and post-natally and was associated with smaller epiphyseal growth plates. Deletion of Rptor caused a marked reduction in pre- and post-natal bone acquisition in both intramembranous and endochondral ossification leading to skeletal fragility. The decrease in bone acquisition was not due to a reduction in OB numbers but a reduction in OB function. In vitro, primary OBs from knockout animals failed to respond to extracellular factors that promote bone formation including insulin and BMP2 and assessment of bone development markers in Rptor knockout OBs revealed a transcriptional profile consistent with an immature OB phenotype suggesting that OB differentiation was hindered early in osteogenic development. These findings demonstrate that mTORC1 plays an important role in skeletal development by controlling OB differentiation and hence function. Taken together, these studies show that mTORC1 plays an important role in MSC fate determination and bone accrual. Notably, deletion of raptor in pre-osteoblasts blocked osteoblast differentiation causing defective intramembranous and endochondral ossification resulting in a low bone mass phenotype and skeletal fragility.Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Adelaide, Adelaide Medical School, 201

From the Ground Up: Establishing Strong Core Policies for Infants, Toddlers, and Families

Because the earliest years of life are a period of incredible growth, they present an opportunity to shape strong and positive development. Good health, secure and stable families, and positive early learning environments are necessary to foster children's physical, intellectual, and social-emotional development during this significant period. Yet many young children and parents in the United States lack the needed resources to thrive, putting them at greater risk of material hardship, chronic stress, and poor health. Federal and state policies can support vulnerable families and provide a buffer against stress and instability, but most existing programs lack sufficient resources to reach the largenumbers of families who could benefit. Federal and state policymakers must be mindful of the unique needs of infants, toddlers, and families as they consider the policies and investments necessary to change the trajectories for our youngest children

An annotated list of the Lepidoptera of Honduras

A biodiversity inventory of the Lepidoptera of Pico Bonito National Park and vicinity, in the Department of Atlantida of northern Honduras, was initiated in 2009 to obtain baseline data. We present a revised checklist of Honduran butterfly species (updated from the initial 1967 lists), as well as the first comprehensive list of Honduran moths. Our updated list includes 550 species of Papilionoidea, 311 Hesperioidea, and 1,441 moth species

An annotated list of the Lepidoptera of Honduras

A biodiversity inventory of the Lepidoptera of Pico Bonito National Park and vicinity, in the Department of Atlantida of northern Honduras, was initiated in 2009 to obtain baseline data. We present a revised checklist of Honduran butterfly species (updated from the initial 1967 lists), as well as the first comprehensive list of Honduran moths. Our updated list includes 550 species of Papilionoidea, 311 Hesperioidea, and 1,441 moth species

Using an external exposome framework to examine pregnancy-related morbidities and mortalities: Implications for health disparities research

© 2015 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. Objective: We have conducted a study to assess the role of environment on the burden of maternal morbidities and mortalities among women using an external exposome approach for the purpose of developing targeted public health interventions to decrease disparities. Methods: We identified counties in the 48 contiguous USA where observed low birthweight (LBW) rates were higher than expected during a five-year study period. The identification was conducted using a retrospective space-time analysis scan for statistically significant clusters with high or low rates by a Discrete Poisson Model. Results: We observed statistically significant associations of LBW rate with a set of predictive variables. However, in one of the two spatiotemporal models we discovered LBW to be associated with five predictive variables (teen birth rate, adult obesity, uninsured adults, physically unhealthy days, and percent of adults who smoke) in two counties situated in Alabama after adjusting for location changes. Counties with higher than expected LBW rates were similarly associated with two environmental variables (ozone and fine particulate matter). Conclusions: The county-level predictive measures of LBW offer new insights into spatiotemporal patterns relative to key contributory factors. An external framework provides a promising place-based approach for identifying “hotspots” with implications for designing targeted interventions and control measures to reduce and eliminate health disparities

Applying an Exposome-Wide (ExWAS) Approach to Cancer Research

Traditional research approaches, including genome-wide association studies (GWAS), epigenome-wide association studies (EWAS) and Gene × Environment (G × E) studies are limited in their ability to handle the multiplicity of chemical and non-chemical toxicants to which people are exposed in the real world, over their life course, their impact on epigenomics and other biological systems, and their relationship to cancer onset, progression, and outcomes. Exposome-wide association study (ExWAS) provides a new approach for conceptualizing the roles and relationships of multiple chemical and non-chemical exposures in the etiology and progression of cancer at key developmental periods, over the life course, and across generations. ExWAS challenges us to consider the influence of both internal and external environment, chemical and non-chemical stressors, risk and protective factors, and spatial and temporal dimensions of exposures in our models of cancer incidence, outcomes, and disparities. Applying an ExWAS approach to cancer and cancer disparities research supports robust computational models and methods that will allow for analysis of the dynamic and complex interactions between genetics, epigenetics, and exposomics factors. In the coming months, we will spatially and temporally align environmental exposures with SCCS participant data from time of enrollment forward to move us closer to identifying complete exposure pathways that lead to cancer. In the future, we hope to link external sources of exposure to biomarkers of exposure, biomarkers of disease, disease phenotypes, and population level disparities

Prospectus, December 12, 1984

CHRISTMAS EDITION; Have fun with your performance; Staff attends conference; PC Happenings; Children\u27s shows Dec. 15 and 16; Lifelong Learner Club meets; How important is blood?; Absenteeism attacks Stu-Go; Journey through Metamorphosis; Holiday traditions remembered; Where are the police when you need them?; Meter Maids Yes or No; Parkland security; Project Joy; Illegal entry; Winter shelter helps homeless; Try one of Champaign\u27s specialty shops; Branch out-try a new recipe; Christmas customs vary world-wide; Love, sex, friendship and college how well do they mix; Photography contest judging draws hopeful, interested, and anxious crowd; And the winners are...; More winners; Christmas Greetings; What did you think of the Prospectus this semester?; But I have patience; Beginning; Richard dedicates Christmas album to Karen; Vaughan rivals Hendrix as guitar great; P.A.L. will listen; German class films videotape; Festival of lights; Vriners, Vintage Champaign\u27s oldest restaurant; 2010 is stupendous; Catch a movie during break; Talking Heads make sense; Clifton, Pumphrey, Mullens gain honors; Prospectus looks back at 1984 fall sports; Phillips learned a great deal from \u27E-Man\u27; Chesnut, Chastain share similar position; Broken records inevitable for men\u27s track...; ...Women strike similar parallel to men; Women spring past Danville on the road; Lady Cobras defeat Lincoln College, 66-56https://spark.parkland.edu/prospectus_1984/1000/thumbnail.jp