How Explicit Vocabulary Instruction Leads English Language Learners In Early Elementary Ages To Become Proficient Readers

The number of English Language Learners (ELLs) continues to increase nationwide. Early elementary teachers are tasked in laying a foundation of reading, and ELLs face a gap in their literacy journey compared to their English speaking peers. The research question for this project was: how does explicit vocabulary instruction lead English language learners in early elementary ages to become proficient readers? The literature review focuses on vocabulary instruction, proficient readers, ELLs, and professional development. It discusses research with ELLs in the classroom and in reading instruction. Within the extensive world of literacy, explicit vocabulary instruction has been shown to have positive benefits with ELLs and guides them to become proficient readers. The project for this capstone was professional development (PD) created for teachers of ELLs. The PD walks through research and background of ELLs and vocabulary instruction, gives examples, and provides opportunities to create and implement for their individual classrooms

Pressure relieving support surfaces (PRESSURE) trial : cost effectiveness analysis

Objective To assess tire cost effectiveness of alternating pressure mattresses compared with alternating pressure overlays for the prevention of pressure ulcers in patients admitted to hospital. Design Cost effectiveness analysis carried out alongside the pressure relieving support surfaces (PRESSURE) trial; a multicentre UK based pragmatic randomised controlled trial. Setting 11 hospitals in six UK NHS trusts. Participants Intention to treat population comprising 1971 participants. Main outcome measures Kaplan Meier estimates of restricted mean time to development of pressure ulcers and total costs for treatment in hospital. Results Alternating pressure mattresses were associated with lower overall costs (283.6 pound per patient on average, 95% confidence interval -377.59 pound to. 976.79) pound mainly due to reduced length of stay in hospital, and greater benefits (a delay in time to ulceration of 10.64 days on average, - 24.40 to 3.09). The differences in health benefits and total costs for hospital stay between alternating pressure mattresses and alternating pressure overlays were not statistically significant; however, a cost effectiveness acceptability curve indicated that on average alternating pressure mattresses compared with alternating pressure overlays were associated with air 80% probability of being cost saving. Conclusion Alternating pressure mattresses for the prevention of pressure ulcers are more likely to be cost effective and are more acceptable to patients than alternating pressure overlays

In Pursuit of Physical Perfection: Weight Lifting and Steroid Use in Men

This study used a qualitative method to examine eight men’s motivations for weight lifting and steroid use. Results indicated that these men desired self-improvement, but their goal of obtaining the ideal masculine body became all-consuming and impeded their social and occupational functioning. Complex cognitive, interpersonal, mental health and personality issues became evident. In-depth assessment, accurate case conceptualization, and creative and individualized counseling or treatment are recommended for helping these individuals reach their goal of self-improvement in a healthier manner.Ye

"Being the Best," One Man's Experience with Steroids: An Interview with Josh

Permission to include this article granted by Journal of ExcellenceThis article describes one man’s experience with weight lifting and steroid use. Men may engage in heavy weight lifting and steroid use in order to change their bodies, possibly developing behaviours associated with eating disorders and muscle dysmorphia. Previous research has examined the risks associated with steroid use and exercise abuse, however, very little research has used qualitative methodologies to investigate men’s actual lived experience with this phenomenon. The purpose of this article is to present the transcript of an interview with a man who is currently weight lifting and using steroids to gain an insiders perspective into his lived experience, and demonstrate how a qualitative methodology may add depth and richness to our understanding of this phenomenon

Association between extra-genital congenital anomalies and hypospadias outcome

Extra-genital congenital anomalies are often present in cases of hypospadias, but it is unclear whether they have an association with the outcome of hypospadias surgery. The aim of this study was to review all hypospadias cases that had surgery between 2009 and 2015 at a single centre and identify clinical determinants of the surgical outcome. An extra-genital congenital anomaly was reported in 139 (22%) boys and 62 (10%) had more than 1 anomaly. Of the 626 boys, 54 (9%), including 44 with proximal hypospadias, had endocrine as well as limited genetic evaluation. Of these, 10 (19%) had a biochemical evidence of hypogonadism and 5 (9%) had a molecular genetic abnormality. At least 1 complication was reported in 167 (27%) patients, with 20% of complications (most frequently fistula) occurring after 2 years of surgery. The severity of hypospadias and the existence of other anomalies were clinical factors that were independently associated with an increased risk of complications (p < 0.001). In conclusion, complications following surgery are more likely in those cases that are proximal or who have additional extra-genital anomalies. To understand the biological basis of these complications, there is a greater need to understand the aetiology of such cases

HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis for women and infants prevents vaginal and oral HIV transmission in a preclinical model of HIV infection

Approximately 1.5 million HIV-positive women become pregnant annually. Without treatment, up to 45% will transmit HIV to their infants, primarily through breastfeeding. These numbers highlight that HIV acquisition is a major health concern for women and children globally. They also emphasize the urgent need for novel approaches to prevent HIV acquisition that are safe, effective and convenient to use by women and children in places where they are most needed

The Peak of the Fallback Rate from Tidal Disruption Events: Dependence on Stellar Type

A star completely destroyed in a tidal disruption event (TDE) ignites a luminous flare that is powered by the fallback of tidally stripped debris to a supermassive black hole (SMBH) of mass $M_{\bullet}$. We analyze two estimates for the peak fallback rate in a TDE, one being the "frozen-in" model, which predicts a strong dependence of the time to peak fallback rate, $t_{\rm peak}$, on both stellar mass and age, with $15\textrm{ days} \lesssim t_{\rm peak} \lesssim 10$ yr for main sequence stars with masses $0.2\le M_{\star}/M_{\odot} \le 5$ and $M_{\bullet} = 10^6M_{\odot}$. The second estimate, which postulates that the star is completely destroyed when tides dominate the maximum stellar self-gravity, predicts that $t_{\rm peak}$ is very weakly dependent on stellar type, with $t_{\rm peak} = \left(23.2\pm4.0\textrm{ days}\right)\left(M_{\bullet}/10^6M_{\odot}\right)^{1/2}$ for $0.2\le M_{\star}/M_{\odot} \le 5$, while $t_{\rm peak} = \left(29.8\pm3.6\textrm{ days}\right)\left(M_{\bullet}/10^6M_{\odot}\right)^{1/2}$ for a Kroupa initial mass function truncated at $1.5 M_{\odot}$. This second estimate also agrees closely with hydrodynamical simulations, while the frozen-in model is discrepant by orders of magnitude. We conclude that (1) the time to peak luminosity in complete TDEs is almost exclusively determined by SMBH mass, and (2) massive-star TDEs power the largest accretion luminosities. Consequently, (a) decades-long extra-galactic outbursts cannot be powered by complete TDEs, including massive-star disruptions, and (b) the most highly super-Eddington TDEs are powered by the complete disruption of massive stars, which -- if responsible for producing jetted TDEs -- would explain the rarity of jetted TDEs and their preference for young and star-forming host galaxies.Comment: 10 pages, 4 figures, ApJL accepte

Coordinated Regulation of SIV Replication and Immune Responses in the CNS

Central nervous system (CNS) invasion during acute-stage HIV-infection has been demonstrated in a small number of individuals, but there is no evidence of neurological impairment at this stage and virus infection in brain appears to be controlled until late-stage disease. Using our reproducible SIV macaque model to examine the earliest stages of infection in the CNS, we identified immune responses that differentially regulate inflammation and virus replication in the brain compared to the peripheral blood and lymphoid tissues. SIV replication in brain macrophages and in brain of SIV-infected macaques was detected at 4 days post-inoculation (p.i.). This was accompanied by upregulation of innate immune responses, including IFNβ, IFNβ-induced gene MxA mRNA, and TNFα. Additionally, IL-10, the chemokine CCL2, and activation markers in macrophages, endothelial cells, and astrocytes were all increased in the brain at four days p.i. We observed synchronous control of virus replication, cytokine mRNA levels and inflammatory markers (MHC Class II, CD68 and GFAP) by 14 days p.i.; however, control failure was followed by development of CNS lesions in the brain. SIV infection was accompanied by induction of the dominant-negative isoform of C/EBPβ, which regulates SIV, CCL2, and IL6 transcription, as well as inflammatory responses in macrophages and astrocytes. This synchronous response in the CNS is in part due to the effect of the C/EBPβ on virus replication and cytokine expression in macrophage-lineage cells in contrast to CD4+ lymphocytes in peripheral blood and lymphoid tissues. Thus, we have identified a crucial period in the brain when virus replication and inflammation are controlled. As in HIV-infected individuals, though, this control is not sustained in the brain. Our results suggest that intervention with antiretroviral drugs or anti-inflammatory therapeutics with CNS penetration would sustain early control. These studies further suggest that interventions should target HIV-infected individuals with increased CCL2 levels or HIV RNA in the CNS

Patient-reported outcomes from a randomized, active-controlled, open-label, phase 3 trial of burosumab versus conventional therapy in children with X-linked hypophosphatemia

Changing to burosumab, a monoclonal antibody targeting fibroblast growth factor 23, significantly improved phosphorus homeostasis, rickets, lower-extremity deformities, mobility, and growth versus continuing oral phosphate and active vitamin D (conventional therapy) in a randomized, open-label, phase 3 trial involving children aged 1-12 years with X-linked hypophosphatemia. Patients were randomized (1:1) to subcutaneous burosumab or to continue conventional therapy. We present patient-reported outcomes (PROs) from this trial for children aged ≥ 5 years at screening (n = 35), using a Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) questionnaire and SF-10 Health Survey for Children. PROMIS pain interference, physical function mobility, and fatigue scores improved from baseline with burosumab at weeks 40 and 64, but changed little with continued conventional therapy. Pain interference scores differed significantly between groups at week 40 (- 5.02, 95% CI - 9.29 to - 0.75; p = 0.0212) but not at week 64. Between-group differences were not significant at either week for physical function mobility or fatigue. Reductions in PROMIS pain interference and fatigue scores from baseline were clinically meaningful with burosumab at weeks 40 and 64 but not with conventional therapy. SF-10 physical health scores (PHS-10) improved significantly with burosumab at week 40 (least-squares mean [standard error] + 5.98 [1.79]; p = 0.0008) and week 64 (+ 5.93 [1.88]; p = 0.0016) but not with conventional therapy (between-treatment differences were nonsignificant). In conclusion, changing to burosumab improved PRO measures, with statistically significant differences in PROMIS pain interference at week 40 versus continuing with conventional therapy and in PHS-10 at weeks 40 and 64 versus baseline