Longitudinal Examination of Texas Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Academies

The research generated from this dissertation study focuses on the effectiveness of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) schools from different perspectives. The substantial amount of investment given to STEM schools required the investigation of the influence of STEM schools on students’ academic achievement. The research from the first study in this dissertation focuses on the effectiveness of Texas STEM schools (T-STEM academies) from a broader perspective by comparing T-STEM academies in different regions. The second study focuses on the influence of STEM practices on students’ academic achievement by comparing T-STEM academies to traditional high schools longitudinally. The third study focuses on the effectiveness of T-STEM charter schools in comparison to non-T-STEM charter schools. Lastly, the fourth study highlights the importance of the duration of implementation by focusing on the effect of STEM designation in middle school and the years of designation as a T-STEM academy. Results from the first study showed that T-STEM academies located in different regions did not differ in terms of students’ mathematics achievement longitudinally. Schools in regions were supported by Regional Education Service Centers (ESC) in terms of assistance on instruction. According to the findings of the first study, students’ mathematics achievement in T-STEM academies in different ESCs was not statistically significantly different. In the second study, students’ mathematics, reading, and science achievement did not differ longitudinally according to their schools: T-STEM or traditional high schools. However Asian, and at-risk students in T-STEM academies showed better mathematics and reading growth. Students’ mathematics and reading scores, who were in T-STEM charter schools and non-T-STEM charter schools, differed over time. Hispanic students in T-STEM charter schools showed higher positive growth over time than Hispanic students in non-T-STEM charter schools. Lastly, students who attended T-STEM academies in middle school had higher Algebra I and Algebra II scores in high school than their peers, who enrolled in T-STEM academies in ninth grade. In addition, if a T-STEM academy had a designation as an academy for at least four years, students in these academies had higher scores than their counterparts. Overall, results from this dissertation study showed that T-STEM academies partially fulfill their promise. Hispanic and economically disadvantaged students in T-STEM academies showed better growth than their counterparts. The major participants of T-STEM academies were Hispanic and economically disadvantaged students. The results from the four studies showed that instruction in T-STEM academies was beneficial to one group of minority (i.e., Hispanic) students as well as economically disadvantaged students. Moreover, this dissertation study highlights the importance of implementation in schools. Students who are taught using STEM practices in middle grades are highly likely to reach desired results. In addition, the duration of the designation as a STEM school plays an important role on students’ academic achievement

From STEM to STEAM: Students’ Beliefs About the Use of Their Creativity

To be successful in a STEM career, not only STEM knowledge and skills but also creativity is required. Therefore, the arts have been integrated into STEM disciplines and subsequently designated as STEAM education (Sousa & Pilecki, 2013). One example of informal learning environments that STEAM education provided is a summer camp. In this study, middle and highs school students’ use of their creativity in the Project-based Learning (PBL) courses was examined to determine students’ belief about the use of the arts in STEM activities. The results showed that students believed that they used their creativity in eight of the nine classes

Surgical outcome in patients with MRI-negative, PET-positive temporal lobe epilepsy

AbstractPurposeThe purpose of this study was to determine the long-term surgical outcomes of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-negative, fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET)-positive patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) and compare them with those of patients with mesial temporal sclerosis (MTS).MethodsOne hundred forty-one patients with TLE who underwent anterior temporal lobectomy were included in the study. The surgical outcomes of 24 patients with unilateral temporal hypometabolism on FDG-PET without an epileptogenic lesion on MRI were compared with that of patients with unilateral temporal hypometabolism on FDG-PET with MTS on MRI (n=117). The outcomes were compared using Engel's classification at 2 years after surgery. Clinical characteristics, unilateral interictal epileptiform discharges (IEDs), histopathological data and operation side were considered as probable prognostic factors.ResultsClass I surgical outcomes were similar in MRI-negative patients and the patients with MTS on MRI (seizure-free rate at postoperative 2 years was 79.2% and 82% in the MRI-negative and MTS groups, respectively). In univariate analysis, history of febrile convulsions, presence of unilateral IEDs and left temporal localization were found to be significantly associated with seizure free outcome. Multivariate analysis revealed that independent predictors of a good outcome were history of febrile convulsions and presence of unilateral IEDs.ConclusionOur results suggest that epilepsy surgery outcomes of MRI-negative, PET positive patients are similar to those of patients with MTS. This finding may aid in the selection of best candidates for epilepsy surgery

Surgical outcome in patients with MRI-negative, PET-positive temporal lobe epilepsy

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the long-term surgical outcomes of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-negative, fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET)-positive patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) and compare them with those of patients with mesial temporal sclerosis (MTS). Methods: One hundred forty-one patients with TLE who underwent anterior temporal lobectomy were included in the study. The surgical outcomes of 24 patients with unilateral temporal hypometabolism on FDG-PET without an epileptogenic lesion on MRI were compared with that of patients with unilateral temporal hypometabolism on FDG-PET with MTS on MRI (n = 117). The outcomes were compared using Engel's classification at 2 years after surgery. Clinical characteristics, unilateral interictal epileptiform discharges (IEDs), histopathological data and operation side were considered as probable prognostic factors. Results: Class I surgical outcomes were similar in MRI-negative patients and the patients with MTS on MRI (seizure-free rate at postoperative 2 years was 79.2\% and 82\% in the MRI-negative and MTS groups, respectively). In univariate analysis, history of febrile convulsions, presence of unilateral IEDs and left temporal localization were found to be significantly associated with seizure free outcome. Multivariate analysis revealed that independent predictors of a good outcome were history of febrile convulsions and presence of unilateral IEDs. Conclusion: Our results suggest that epilepsy surgery outcomes of MRI-negative, PET positive patients are similar to those of patients with MTS. This finding may aid in the selection of best candidates for epilepsy surgery. (C) 2015 British Epilepsy Association. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Food-induced anaphylaxis in early childhood and factors associated with its severity.

Background: Several factors that increase the risk of severe food-induced anaphylaxis have been identified

Prevalence, etiology, and biopsychosocial risk factors of cervicogenic dizziness in patients with neck pain: A multi-center, cross-sectional study

Objectives: This study aims to investigate the prevalence, etiology, and risk factors of cervicogenic dizziness in patients with neck pain. Patients and methods: Between June 2016 and April 2018, a total of 2,361 patients (526 males, 1,835 females; mean age: 45.0 +/- 13.3 years; range, 18 to 75 years) who presented with the complaint of neck pain lasting for at least one month were included in this prospective, cross-sectional study. Data including concomitant dizziness, severity, and quality of life (QoL) impact of vertigo (via Numeric Dizziness Scale [NDS]), QoL (via Dizziness Handicap Inventory [DHI]), mobility (via Timed Up-and-Go [TUG] test), balance performance [via Berg Balance Scale [BBS]), and emotional status (via Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale [HADS]) were recorded. Results: Dizziness was evident in 40.1% of the patients. Myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) was the most common etiology for neck pain (58.5%) and accompanied with cervicogenic dizziness in 59.7% of the patients. Female versus male sex (odds ratio [OR]: 1.641, 95% CI: 1.241 to 2.171, p=0.001), housewifery versus other occupations (OR: 1.285, 95% CI: 1.006 to 1.642, p=0.045), and lower versus higher education (OR: 1.649-2.564, p<0.001) significantly predicted the increased risk of dizziness in neck pain patients. Patient with dizziness due to MPS had lower dizziness severity scores (p=0.034) and milder impact of dizziness on QoL (p=0.005), lower DHI scores (p=0.004), shorter time to complete the TUG test (p=0.001) and higher BBS scores (p=0.001). Conclusion: Our findings suggest a significant impact of biopsychosocial factors on the likelihood and severity of dizziness and association of dizziness due to MPS with better clinical status