Your Next Steps: Regional Summit Binder

Welcome to the 2001 Next Steps Regional Summit: Schools and Communities Working Together! Inside this Resource Binder, you will find a treasury of information on community education, service-learning, school reform, and related issues. We\u27ve included examples of projects, policies, initiatives, and tips from practitioners and policymakers. You\u27ll find articles, brochures, journals, and website information too. Although the materials are divided into sections, many pieces could be cross-listed under other sections as well; we have provided annotations in the bibliography to help you browse for materials that will suit you best

Osteoblast response to disordered nanotopography

The ability to influence stem cell differentiation is highly desirable as it would help us improve clinical outcomes for patients in various aspects. Many different techniques to achieve this have previously been investigated. This concise study, however, has focused on the topography on which cells grow. Current uncemented orthopaedic implants can fail if the implant fails to bind to the surrounding bone and, typically, forms a soft tissue interface which reduces direct bone contact. Here, we look at the effect of a previously reported nanotopography that utilises nanodisorder to influence mesenchymal stromal cell (as may be found in the bone marrow) differentiation towards bone and to also exert this effect on mature osteoblasts (as may be found in the bone). As topography is a physical technique, it can be envisaged for use in a range of materials such as polymers and metals used in the manufacture of orthopaedic implants

Developing a School-Based Multi-Tiered Model for Self-Regulation

Self-regulation is the control mechanism that enables a student to manage attention, emotion, behavior and cognition to engage in goal-directed actions, like learning. Too often, students at- risk for poor school outcomes do not enter school with strongly developed self-regulation skills and have difficulty developing them on their own. Self-regulation skills can be taught however, and are especially effective when introduced within the school setting. This manuscript describes a school based model for fostering self-regulation. We created the model within the Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) framework, to facilitate successful implementation

Looking From The Outside In: The Issue of Equal Access to Computer-Mediated Learning by Distance Learners in Higher Education

This study examines the experience of distance learners, particularly those who fit into different equity groups, with online learning in higher education. Cyber education is no longer the realm of science fiction. Instead, the use of computer technology has now become an integral part of learning in the modern university. Computer-mediated communication (CMC) - it is hoped - will extend opportunities for learning outside the preexisting parameters of distance education and enhance the learning opportunities and outcomes for all students within these courses. Whilst there are many potentials for the new technology, the implementation of CMC in distance education, however, may assume that students will possess a pre-existing practical knowledge of computer technology. It also may assume equality of students in terms of access, competency, and opportunity. However, not all students have had the opportunity, the desire, or even the confidence to gain access to this medium. Often factors such as little or no income, geographical isolation, gender, time constraints, age, cultural background and disabilities compound to separate distance learners from the very technology that has the capabilities to provide them with greater opportunities in tertiary education. This study, conducted over a five-year period from 1998 to 2003, spans a time of rapid change in tertiary institutions in Australia, from the initial incorporation to the now widespread utilisation of computer-mediated technology in distance learning, the so-called 'third-generation' of distance learning. The aim of the study has been to explore the lived reality of a select group of 35 distance education students through their experiences with CMC

Alcohol consumption and lower risk of cardiovascular and all-cause mortality: the impact of accounting for familial factors in twins

Background. A moderate to high alcohol consumption is associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality in comparison with low consumption. The mechanisms underlying this association are not clear and have been suggested to be caused by residual confounding. The main objective of this study was to separate the familial and individual risk for CVD mortality and all-cause mortality related to alcohol consumption. This will be done by estimating the risk for CVD mortality and all-cause mortality in twin pairs discordant for alcohol consumption. Methods. Alcohol consumption was assessed at two time points using self-report questionnaires in the Norwegian Twin Registry. Data on CVD mortality was obtained from the Norwegian Cause of Death Registry. Exposure–outcome associations for all-cause mortality and mortality due to other causes than CVD were estimated for comparison. Results. Coming from a family with moderate to high alcohol consumption was protective against cardiovascular death (HR = 0.54, 95% CI 0.65–0.83). Moderate and high alcohol consumption levels were associated with a slightly increased risk of CVD mortality at the individual level (HR = 1.33, 95% CI 1.02–1.73). There was no association between alcohol consumption and all-cause mortality both at the familial nor at the individual level. Conclusions. The protective association of moderate to high alcohol consumption with a lower risk of CVD mortality was accounted for by familial factors in this study of twins. Early life genetic and environmental familial factors may mask an absence of health effect of moderate to high alcohol consumption on cardiovascular mortality

Discerning differences: Ion beam analysis of ancient faience from Naukratis and Rhodes

Faience technology was known in Egypt since the Predynastic Period and practiced for a period also in Bronze Age Greece, but, having been lost, was reintroduced to the Greek world only in the first half of the first millennium BC. The Greek island of Rhodes and the Greek-Egyptian trade harbour of Naukratis in the Nile Delta are suspected to be key centres of early Greek-style faience production, exporting amulets and vessels across the Mediterranean region. Yet the nature and scale of their production and their role in technology transfer, vis-à-vis Egyptian and Levantine/Phoenician production, remain little understood. The main aim of this study was to discover whether it is possible to define chemical characteristics for the faience produced and found at Naukratis, and to use this data to differentiate between artefacts produced here and elsewhere.A programme of ion beam (PIXE and PIGE) analysis was conducted under the CHARISMA transnational access scheme, known to be a suitable tool for studying ancient vitreous artefacts as it provides a non-destructive means of obtaining precise and accurate quantitative compositional data. Both the internal body of damaged objects as well as the outer glaze layer were analysed, of which only the latter are discussed here. The results of this study indicate that the faience found at both Naukratis and on Rhodes is compositionally similar. However, some small differences were found in the raw materials used in its production which may help us to better characterise the production of different faience manufacturing centres.La technique de la faïence, connue en Égypte depuis la période prédynastique et utilisée également pendant un certain temps en Grèce à l’âge du Bronze, s’est perdue ensuite. Elle ne fut réintroduite dans le monde grec que vers la première moitié du Ier millénaire av. J.-C. On pense que l’île grecque de Rhodes et le port marchand gréco-égyptien de Naucratis dans le delta du Nil furent de grands foyers de production de faïences, exportant des amulettes et des vases dans tout le pourtour méditerranéen. Cependant, la nature et l’ampleur de leur production restent mal connues, de même que leur rôle dans la diffusion des techniques de fabrication en Égypte et au Levant/Phénicie. Cette recherche avait pour principal objectif de savoir s’il était possible de déterminer les caractéristiques chimiques des faïences fabriquées et découvertes à Naucratis, afin de mieux discerner les différences entre les objets produits sur ce site et ailleurs.Nous avons pu conduire des analyses par faisceaux d’ions (méthodes PIXE et PIGE) dans le cadre du programme européen CHARISMA d’accès transnational, offrant un outil adapté à l’étude des objets antiques vitrifiés, car c’est un moyen non-destructeur de recueillir des données quantitatives précises et fiables sur la composition des matériaux. Nous avons analysé aussi bien la pâte, à l’intérieur d’objets abîmés, que la glaçure extérieure, et c’est cette dernière qui est décrite ici. Les résultats de notre étude font apparaître une composition similaire pour les faïences découvertes à Naucratis et à Rhodes. Quelques petites variations découvertes dans les matières premières employées pourraient faciliter la caractérisation des faïences fabriquées dans les différents foyers de production

Nanotopography controls cell cycle changes involved with skeletal stem cell self-renewal and multipotency

In culture isolated bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (more precisely termed skeletal stem cells, SSCs) spontaneously differentiate into fibroblasts, preventing the growth of large numbers of multipotent SSCs for use in regenerative medicine. However, the mechanisms that regulate the expansion of SSCs, while maintaining multipotency and preventing fibroblastic differentiation are poorly understood. Major hurdles to understanding how the maintenance of SSCs is regulated are (a) SSCs isolated from bone marrow are heterogeneous populations with different proliferative characteristics and (b) a lack of tools to investigate SSC number expansion and multipotency. Here, a nanotopographical surface is used as a tool that permits SSC proliferation while maintaining multipotency. It is demonstrated that retention of SSC phenotype in culture requires adjustments to the cell cycle that are linked to changes in the activation of the mitogen activated protein kinases. This demonstrates that biomaterials can offer cross-SSC culture tools and that the biological processes that determine whether SSCs retain multipotency or differentiate into fibroblasts are subtle, in terms of biochemical control, but are profound in terms of determining cell fat

Educational attainment and mortality in schizophrenia

Background Individuals suffering from schizophrenia have a reduced life expectancy with cardiovascular disease (CVD) as a major contributor. Low educational attainment is associated with schizophrenia, as well as with all-cause and CVD mortality. However, it is unknown to what extent low educational attainment can explain the increased mortality in individuals with schizophrenia. Aim Here, we quantify associations between educational attainment and all-cause and CVD mortality in individuals with schizophrenia, and compare them with the corresponding associations in the general population. Method All Norwegian citizens born between January 1, 1925, and December 31, 1959, were followed up from January 1, 1990, to December 31, 2014. The total sample included 1,852,113 individuals, of which 6548 were registered with schizophrenia. We estimated hazard ratios (HR) for all-cause and CVD mortality with Cox models, in addition to life years lost. Educational attainment for index persons and their parents were included in the models. Results In the general population individuals with low educational attainment had higher risk of all-cause (HR: 1.48 [95% CI: 1.47–1.49]) and CVD (HR: 1.59 [95% CI: 1.57–1.61]) mortality. In individuals with schizophrenia these estimates were substantially lower (all-cause: HR: 1.13 [95% CI: 1.05–1.21] and CVD: HR: 1.12 [95% CI: 0.98–1.27]). Low educational attainment accounted for 3.28 (3.21–3.35) life years lost in males and 2.48 (2.42–2.55) years in females in the general population, but was not significantly associated with life years lost in individuals with schizophrenia. Results were similar for parental educational attainment. Conclusions Our results indicate that while individuals with schizophrenia in general have lower educational attainment and higher mortality rates compared with the general population, the association between educational attainment and mortality is smaller in schizophrenia subjects than in the general population.publishedVersio

Epidemiology, prehospital care and outcomes of patients arriving by ambulance with dyspnoea: An observational study

Background: This study aimed to determine epidemiology and outcome for patients presenting to emergency departments (ED) with shortness of breath who were transported by ambulance. Methods: This was a planned sub-study of a prospective, interrupted time series cohort study conducted at three time points in 2014 and which included consecutive adult patients presenting to the ED with dyspnoea as a main symptom. For this sub-study, additional inclusion criteria were presentation to an ED in Australia or New Zealand and transport by ambulance. The primary outcomes of interest are the epidemiology and outcome of these patients. Analysis was by descriptive statistics and comparisons of proportions. Results: One thousand seven patients met inclusion criteria. Median age was 74 years (IQR 61-68) and 46.1 % were male. There was a high rate of co-morbidity and chronic medication use. The most common ED diagnoses were lower respiratory tract infection (including pneumonia, 22.7 %), cardiac failure (20.5%) and exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (19.7 %). ED disposition was hospital admission (including ICU) for 76.4 %, ICU admission for 5.6 % and death in ED in 0.9 %. Overall in-hospital mortality among admitted patients was 6.5 %. Discussion: Patients transported by ambulance with shortness of breath make up a significant proportion of ambulance caseload and have high comorbidity and high hospital admission rate. In this study, >60 % were accounted for by patients with heart failure, lower respiratory tract infection or COPD, but there were a wide range of diagnoses. This has implications for service planning, models of care and paramedic training. Conclusion: This study shows that patients transported to hospital by ambulance with shortness of breath are a complex and seriously ill group with a broad range of diagnoses. Understanding the characteristics of these patients, the range of diagnoses and their outcome can help inform training and planning of services