Methods for Assessing Child and Family Outcomes in Early Childhood Special Education Programs

Although many concerns have been raised about methods of assessing outcomes in early childhood special education programs, professionals in the field are nevertheless faced with the need to select appropriate instruments for evaluating child and family outcomes as the result of intervention. A conference to address the current assessment needs of professionals was convened. This paper summarizes this conference, in which five prominent individuals in the field of early childhood special education gave specific recommendations for one child and one family outcome measure which would be applicable to a range of handicapped children between birth and age 5 being served in typical early intervention programs.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/68510/2/10.1177_027112148600600202.pd

Suppressive effect of bacterial endotoxin on the expression of cell-mediated anti-listeria immunity.

Intravenous injection of bacterial endotoxin into mice at any time during ongoing infection with Listeria monocytogenes resulted in a markedly increased multiplication of this organism in the liver and spleen. Experiments designed to investigate the basis of this infection-enhancing effect revealed that endotoxin was also capable of inhibiting the expression of adoptive T-cell-mediated anti-Listeria immunity if given to normal recipient mice up to 48 h before they were infused with protective T-cells. On the other hand, endotoxin had only a marginal effect on the expression of adoptive immunity if given to donor mice before their spleen cells were harvested for adoptive transfer. Taken together, these results indicate that endotoxin probably interferes with the antibacterial function of macrophages rather than with mediator lymphocytes. The additional finding that the infection-enhancing action of endotoxin could be greatly reduced by making mice "tolerant" to endotoxin suggests that the acquisition of tolerance to this effect of endotoxin may be an important adaptive mechanism in acquired resistance to infection with gram-negative bacteria

Comparison of the National Survey of Compensation with other surveys of research and development professionals. Final report on universe update

The National Survey of Compensation Paid Scientists and Engineers Engaged in Research and Development (NSC) has been conducted for the Department of Energy since 1967. During this time the NSC has come to be considered the most comprehensive survey of its kind available in the United States. Its methodology and results are reliable and highly useful to compensation personnel in research and development (R and D) establishments. Each year project staff pinpoint areas of improvement which are necessary and desirable. The three tasks that are the subject of this report have been undertaken to maintain and improve the NSC and increase its usefulness to participants. The three tasks are: an update of the universe listing; comparison of NSC survey methodology and results with other surveys of research and development professionals; and development of a methodology to project salaries for the near-term. Each task is described