North Carolina K-5 principals' perceptions of the teacher performance appraisal instrument

The purpose of this study was to investigate the perceptions of North Carolina's K-5 public school principals regarding the Teacher Performance Appraisal Instrument, with particular emphasis on whether it is viewed as being a reliable method for discriminating between teachers "at or above standard" and those "below standard". Since July, 1987, all school systems in North Carolina have been required to evaluate teachers using the Teacher Performance Appraisal Instrument (TPAI). A systematic sampling of 316 K-5 public school principals in North Carolina provided the data through responses to a survey. The survey collected information on school and principal demographics, solicited information on seven open-ended questions pertaining to principals' use of the TPAI, and listed the 38 observable practices on the TPAI. Principals were asked to read and rate the 38 observable practices twice; once to indicate the degree to which a specific item allowed them to differentiate between teachers who were "at or above standard" and those "below standard", and once to indicate the degree of importance of the item in evaluating teachers who were "at or above standard" and "below standard"

Mycobacterium phlei cell wall complex directly induces apoptosis in human bladder cancer cells

Intact mycobacteria and mycobacterial cell wall extracts have been shown to inhibit the growth of human and murine bladder cancer. Their mechanism of action is, however, poorly understood. Mycobacterium phlei mycobacterial cell complex (MCC) is a cell wall preparation that has mycobacterial DNA in the form of short oligonucleotides complexed on the cell wall surface. In this study, we have investigated the possibility that MCC has anti-cancer activity that is mediated by two different mechanisms – a direct effect on cancer cell proliferation and viability and an indirect effect mediated by the production of interleukin 12 (IL-12), a cytokine known to possess anti-cancer activity. We have found that, although MCC is a potent inducer of IL-12 and IL-6 synthesis in monocytes and macrophages either in vitro or in vivo, it is unable to induce the synthesis of either IL-12, IL-6 or granulocyte–macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) by the human transitional bladder cancer cell lines HT-1197 and HT-1376. MCC is not directly cytotoxic towards these cancer cells, but induces apoptosis as determined by nuclear DNA fragmentation and by the release of nuclear mitotic apparatus protein. Mycobacterium phlei DNA associated with MCC is responsible for the induction of apoptosis. Our results indicate that MCC directly effects bladder cancer cells by inhibiting cellular proliferation through the induction of apoptosis, and has the potential for an indirect anti-cancer activity by stimulating cancer-infiltrating monocytes/macrophages to synthesize IL-12. © 1999 Cancer Research Campaig

ST3Gal.I sialyltransferase relevance in bladder cancer tissues and cell lines

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The T antigen is a tumor-associated structure whose sialylated form (the sialyl-T antigen) involves the altered expression of sialyltransferases and has been related with worse prognosis. Since little or no information is available on this subject, we investigated the regulation of the sialyltransferases, able to sialylate the T antigen, in bladder cancer progression.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Matched samples of urothelium and tumor tissue, and four bladder cancer cell lines were screened for: <it>ST3Gal.I</it>, <it>ST3Gal.II </it>and <it>ST3Gal.IV </it>mRNA level by real-time PCR. Sialyl-T antigen was detected by dot blot and flow cytometry using peanut lectin. Sialyltransferase activity was measured against the T antigen in the cell lines.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In nonmuscle-invasive bladder cancers, <it>ST3Gal.I </it>mRNA levels were significantly higher than corresponding urothelium (p < 0.001) and this increase was twice more pronounced in cancers with tendency for recurrence. In muscle-invasive cancers and matching urothelium, <it>ST3Gal.I </it>mRNA levels were as elevated as nonmuscle-invasive cancers. Both non-malignant bladder tumors and corresponding urothelium showed <it>ST3Gal.I </it>mRNA levels lower than all the other specimen groups. A good correlation was observed in bladder cancer cell lines between the <it>ST3Gal.I </it>mRNA level, the ST activity (r = 0.99; p = 0.001) and sialyl-T antigen expression, demonstrating that sialylation of T antigen is attributable to ST3Gal.I. The expression of sialyl-T antigens was found in patients' bladder tumors and urothelium, although without a marked relationship with mRNA level. The two <it>ST3Gal.I </it>transcript variants were also equally expressed, independently of cell phenotype or malignancy.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>ST3Gal.I plays the major role in the sialylation of the T antigen in bladder cancer. The overexpression of <it>ST3Gal.I </it>seems to be part of the initial oncogenic transformation of bladder and can be considered when predicting cancer progression and recurrence.</p

Incorporating field wind data to improve crop evapotranspiration parameterization in heterogeneous regions

Accurate parameterization of reference evapotranspiration ( ET0) is necessary for optimizing irrigation scheduling and avoiding costs associated with over-irrigation (water expense, loss of water productivity, energy costs, and pollution) or with under-irrigation (crop stress and suboptimal yields or quality). ET0 is often estimated using the FAO-56 method with meteorological data gathered over a reference surface, usually short grass. However, the density of suitable ET0 stations is often low relative to the microclimatic variability of many arid and semi-arid regions, leading to a potentially inaccurate ET0 for irrigation scheduling. In this study, we investigated multiple ET0 products from six meteorological stations, a satellite ET0 product, and integration (merger) of two stations’ data in Southern California, USA. We evaluated ET0 against lysimetric ET observations from two lysimeter systems (weighing and volumetric) and two crops (wine grapes and Jerusalem artichoke) by calculating crop ET ( ETc) using crop coefficients for the lysimetric crops with the different ET0. ETc calculated with ET0 products that incorporated field-specific wind speed had closer agreement with lysimetric ET, with RMSE reduced by 36 and 45% for grape and Jerusalem artichoke, respectively, with on-field anemometer data compared to wind data from the nearest station. The results indicate the potential importance of on-site meteorological sensors for ET0 parameterization; particularly where microclimates are highly variable and/or irrigation water is expensive or scarce

Neural correlates of a single-session massage treatment

The current study investigated the immediate neurophysiological effects of different types of massage in healthy adults using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Much attention has been given to the default mode network, a set of brain regions showing greater activity in the resting state. These regions (i.e. insula, posterior and anterior cingulate, inferior parietal and medial prefrontal cortices) have been postulated to be involved in the neural correlates of consciousness, specifically in arousal and awareness. We posit that massage would modulate these same regions given the benefits and pleasant affective properties of touch. To this end, healthy participants were randomly assigned to one of four conditions: 1. Swedish massage, 2. reflexology, 3. massage with an object or 4. a resting control condition. The right foot was massaged while each participant performed a cognitive association task in the scanner. We found that the Swedish massage treatment activated the subgenual anterior and retrosplenial/posterior cingulate cortices. This increased blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) signal was maintained only in the former brain region during performance of the cognitive task. Interestingly, the reflexology massage condition selectively affected the retrosplenial/posterior cingulate in the resting state, whereas massage with the object augmented the BOLD response in this region during the cognitive task performance. These findings should have implications for better understanding how alternative treatments might affect resting state neural activity and could ultimately be important for devising new targets in the management of mood disorders

A global experiment on motivating social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic

Significance Communicating in ways that motivate engagement in social distancing remains a critical global public health priority during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study tested motivational qualities of messages about social distancing (those that promoted choice and agency vs. those that were forceful and shaming) in 25,718 people in 89 countries. The autonomy-supportive message decreased feelings of defying social distancing recommendations relative to the controlling message, and the controlling message increased controlled motivation, a less effective form of motivation, relative to no message. Message type did not impact intentions to socially distance, but people’s existing motivations were related to intentions. Findings were generalizable across a geographically diverse sample and may inform public health communication strategies in this and future global health emergencies. Abstract Finding communication strategies that effectively motivate social distancing continues to be a global public health priority during the COVID-19 pandemic. This cross-country, preregistered experiment (n = 25,718 from 89 countries) tested hypotheses concerning generalizable positive and negative outcomes of social distancing messages that promoted personal agency and reflective choices (i.e., an autonomy-supportive message) or were restrictive and shaming (i.e., a controlling message) compared with no message at all. Results partially supported experimental hypotheses in that the controlling message increased controlled motivation (a poorly internalized form of motivation relying on shame, guilt, and fear of social consequences) relative to no message. On the other hand, the autonomy-supportive message lowered feelings of defiance compared with the controlling message, but the controlling message did not differ from receiving no message at all. Unexpectedly, messages did not influence autonomous motivation (a highly internalized form of motivation relying on one’s core values) or behavioral intentions. Results supported hypothesized associations between people’s existing autonomous and controlled motivations and self-reported behavioral intentions to engage in social distancing. Controlled motivation was associated with more defiance and less long-term behavioral intention to engage in social distancing, whereas autonomous motivation was associated with less defiance and more short- and long-term intentions to social distance. Overall, this work highlights the potential harm of using shaming and pressuring language in public health communication, with implications for the current and future global health challenges

FLOATING FORTRESS FLOATING CITY FLOATING MONUMENT: A COMPARITIVE [sic] STUDY OF THREE AMERICAN WARSHIP MUSEUMS

This thesis presents three warship museums within the United States as case studies to examine the needs and practices of a unique subset of museum organizations. A museum warship is simultaneously an exhibit artifact and facility requiring significant maintenance and preservation efforts. In order to understand these organizations it is necessary to analyze the scope of these museums. This analysis attempts to create a comprehensive list of warship museums worldwide and to highlight the dominant presence of American Second World War ships in the field. The case studies have been selected based on the number and types of ships preserved by these museums and the major preservation exhibition curatorial and collection challenges before these museums. This analysis combines naval history historic preservation and museum theory to better understand these organizations and the ships they preserve. Battleship North Carolina oversees its namesake a ship active only during the Second World War. The North Carolina was saved from potential scrapping in the early 1960s due to public support from the ship's namesake state. It has been a museum ship since 1962 located in Wilmington North Carolina. Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum currently maintains the aircraft carrier Yorktown destroyer Laffey and submarine Clamagore and has previously maintained other ships since opening in 1976. All of the museum's current ships were constructed during the Second World War but had lengthy post-war careers. The museum is the focal point of a larger commercial development project across the Cooper River from Charleston South Carolina. USS Lexington Museum On the Bay operates the second aircraft carrier so named. Named in honor of the first carrier sunk during the Battle of the Coral Sea in 1942 it served a variety of roles until its decommissioning in 1991. The ship has been exhibited by the museum since 1992 in the City of Corpus Christi TX Harbor. The study finds common practices at all three museum sites a product of information being informally disseminated through individual communications between organizations. Each museum has demonstrated distinctive strengths and weaknesses. Battleship North Carolina's curatorial practices are the strongest of the three case studies. Patriots Point has struggled to overcome years of poor selection of directors and severe preservation issues and USS Lexington Museum By the Bay has developed the most comprehensive volunteer program.

FLOATING FORTRESS, FLOATING CITY, FLOATING MONUMENT: A COMPARITIVE [sic] STUDY OF THREE AMERICAN WARSHIP MUSEUMS

This thesis presents three warship museums within the United States as case studies to examine the needs and practices of a unique subset of museum organizations. A museum warship is simultaneously an exhibit, artifact, and facility, requiring significant maintenance and preservation efforts. In order to understand these organizations, it is necessary to analyze the scope of these museums. This analysis attempts to create a comprehensive list of warship museums worldwide, and to highlight the dominant presence of American Second World War ships in the field. The case studies have been selected based on the number and types of ships preserved by these museums, and the major preservation, exhibition, curatorial, and collection challenges before these museums. This analysis combines naval history, historic preservation, and museum theory to better understand these organizations and the ships they preserve. Battleship North Carolina oversees its namesake, a ship active only during the Second World War. The North Carolina was saved from potential scrapping in the early 1960s due to public support from the ship's namesake state. It has been a museum ship since 1962, located in Wilmington, North Carolina. Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum currently maintains the aircraft carrier Yorktown, destroyer Laffey, and submarine Clamagore, and has previously maintained other ships since opening in 1976. All of the museum's current ships were constructed during the Second World War, but had lengthy post-war careers. The museum is the focal point of a larger commercial development project across the Cooper River from Charleston, South Carolina. USS Lexington Museum On the Bay operates the second aircraft carrier so named. Named in honor of the first carrier, sunk during the Battle of the Coral Sea in 1942, it served a variety of roles until its decommissioning in 1991. The ship has been exhibited by the museum since 1992 in the City of Corpus Christi, TX, Harbor. The study finds common practices at all three museum sites, a product of information being informally disseminated through individual communications between organizations. Each museum has demonstrated distinctive strengths and weaknesses. Battleship North Carolina's curatorial practices are the strongest of the three case studies. Patriots Point has struggled to overcome years of poor selection of directors and severe preservation issues, and USS Lexington Museum By the Bay has developed the most comprehensive volunteer program

Thomas Merton And His Message To The Poet

In "Thomas Merton and His Message To the Poet," I chose Merton as my subject and his message to the poet as my particular topic because it seemed to me that Merton's life and writing were the embodiment of paradox. Today many people are struggling with the paradoxes of self and society in a bewildering and disordered world. If they are poets, they attempt to express these concrete paradoxes in abstract, yet living symbols. But how does one resolve? And how does one symbolize the conflict

6a NAME OF PERFORMING ORGANIZATION

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