Spiders & Webs: The Core Curriculum and Tutoring

Describes the connection between a child\u27s tutoring sessions and her school success

Muon-Tau Symmetry and Leptogenesis in the Minimal Seesaw Model

The measured values for the mixture angles in neutrino oscillations suggest the existence of a symmetry of interchange of flavor between muon and tau neutrinos. Using this symmetry we analyzed the minimal seesaw model for neutrino masses, where the Majorana mass was diagonalized, and it is demonstrated that the model supports at most 3 CP violation phases and 5 real masses at high energies. Nevertheless, at low energies, only 4 parameters of mass and one relative Majorana CP phase remain. Therefore using the experimental values of the masses square differences, the mixture angles and the hierarchy, we can determine some parameters of the model but not all. Also we propose the use of the parameter of baryonic asymmetry of the universe due to leptogenesis to determine one more phase of the model. Finally we used a normal hierarchy for the masses of the right handed neutrinos to make an approximation, that allowed us to completely reconstruct the mass matrix for left handed neutrinos. In special the value of mee is determined which can be compared with the results of the neutrinoless double decay beta.Comment: This is a thesis written to obtain a Master in Science degree, made under the advise of Abdel Perez Lorenzana, Ph

Privacy preserving protocol for detecting genetic relatives using rare variants.

MotivationHigh-throughput sequencing technologies have impacted many areas of genetic research. One such area is the identification of relatives from genetic data. The standard approach for the identification of genetic relatives collects the genomic data of all individuals and stores it in a database. Then, each pair of individuals is compared to detect the set of genetic relatives, and the matched individuals are informed. The main drawback of this approach is the requirement of sharing your genetic data with a trusted third party to perform the relatedness test.ResultsIn this work, we propose a secure protocol to detect the genetic relatives from sequencing data while not exposing any information about their genomes. We assume that individuals have access to their genome sequences but do not want to share their genomes with anyone else. Unlike previous approaches, our approach uses both common and rare variants which provide the ability to detect much more distant relationships securely. We use a simulated data generated from the 1000 genomes data and illustrate that we can easily detect up to fifth degree cousins which was not possible using the existing methods. We also show in the 1000 genomes data with cryptic relationships that our method can detect these individuals.AvailabilityThe software is freely available for download at http://genetics.cs.ucla.edu/crypto/

Exclusionary Discipline in Early Childhood

The purpose of this exploratory qualitative study was to examine how the perceptions and experiences of teachers relate to the suspension and expulsion of preschoolers in Catholic schools.Results indicated that teachers have a range of experiences with suspension, from children being removed from the classroom temporarily to out-of-school suspensions lasting up to a week. Most participants also had experienced expelling a student because of behavior. Patterns that emerged from the data included a frequency of extreme behavior from some children, the application of various strategies in response to challenging behavior, the use of exclusionary discipline when other strategies did not work, and a resistance to change practices without additional supports. Implications for research and practice are discussed

Children Enrolled in Multiple Programs

Many preschool children with special needs who require full-day child care are dually enrolled in a special education preschool and another early childhood program. The purpose of this descriptive study was to obtain information regarding current practices in staff communication across these programs in 6 communities. A sample of 24 teachers of children enrolled in more than 1 program completed a questionnaire and participated in a structured interview. Findings indicate that teachers recognized the need for staff communication; however, the intensity and nature of their communication varied. Teachers communicated most frequently across programs when behavior problems were evident and when time and resources were available. A comparison of actual to ideal practices yielded differences in both frequency and method of communication.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/67290/2/10.1177_105381519602000201.pd

New serological markers in medical mycology: (1,3) –B-D-glucan and Aspergillus galactomannan

Invasive fungal infections present a great challenge in modern medicine. The recent development of serologic markers represents a clear advance in the field. Two serological tests have been developed: (1,3)-β-D glucan and Aspergillus galactomannan. This review discusses highlights of both tests.Fil: Ostrosky Zeichner, Luis. University of Texas Medical School; Estados UnidosFil: Vitale, Roxana Gabriela. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Agudos "Ramos Mejía"; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Nucci, Marcio. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; Brasi

Piano Instructors’ Experiences in and Perceptions Of Preparation, Success, and Confidence Teaching Students with Neurodevelopmental Disabilities

The purpose of this study was to investigate piano instructors’ perceived levels of confidence, success, and preparation in teaching students with neurodevelopmental disabilities. A secondary purpose of the study was to learn about the varied contexts in which piano instructors learn how to teach students with neurodevelopmental disabilities. Specifically, I wanted to examine (a) how confident and successful piano instructors believed themselves to be in teaching students with neurodevelopmental disabilities, (b) to what extent did piano instructors include students with various neurodevelopmental disabilities in their piano studios, (c) which neurodevelopmental disabilities did piano instructors have familiarity and experience with, and to what degree, and (d) in what contexts did piano instructors learn to teach students with neurodevelopmental disabilities. Historically, these exceptional students have been marginalized in educational practice, and while movements in classroom education have sought to ameliorate many issues, research and practice in applied music instruction has not kept pace. To date, there are no requirements for special education coursework for piano pedagogy or applied piano majors at any level, according to the National Association of Schools of Music standards. With millions of people affected by neurodevelopmental disabilities, it is likely that piano teachers will teach students diagnosed with neurodevelopmental disabilities, whether they are prepared or not. Non-collegiate piano instructors were recruited from the Music Teachers National Association and from social media sites to complete the survey and data were collected from N = 749 piano instructor respondents in the spring of 2023. Findings indicated that (a) respondents were willing to teach students with neurodevelopmental disabilities in at least some circumstances, (b) most teachers had taught or were currently teaching at least one student with a neurodevelopmental disability, and (c) that they felt underprepared to do so. Findings also showed that confidence was higher when the respondent had taken at least one course addressing neurodevelopmental disabilities. Implications for piano instructors, future or “pre-service” piano instructors, and piano pedagogy professors are discussed

Trends of Azole Antifungal Prescription in the United States: Medicare Part D Provider Utilization and Payment Data Analysis

BACKGROUND: Invasive fungal infections carry a substantial risk of mortality and morbidity. Azole antifungals are used in the treatment of such infections; however, their extensive use can lead to the emergence of antifungal resistance and increased costs to patients and healthcare systems. The aim of this study is to evaluate trends in these antifungals use and costs. METHODS: The secular and regional trends of outpatient azole antifungals were analyzed using Medicare Part D Prescriber Public Use Files for the years 2013-2020. The total days supply (TDS), total drug cost (TDC) per 100 000 enrollees, and cost per day (CPD) were evaluated. RESULTS: The azole antifungal TDS for Medicare Part D enrollees increased by 12% between 2013 and 2020, and increases were noted for each azole. Southern US regions had the highest TDS, with Arizona having the highest TDS among US states in 2020. Cost analysis showed that TDC of all azoles has increased by 93% over the years, going up from $123 316 in 2013 to$238 336 per 100 000 enrollees in 2020. However, CPD showed an increase only for fluconazole and isavuconazole, with CPD of $1.62 per day and$188.30 per day, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Combined azole antifungal prescriptions TDS increased among Medicare Part D enrollees. The trend in CPD was mixed, whereas overall costs consistently increased over the same period. Such findings provide an insight into the impact of azole antifungal prescriptions, and increasing use could foreshadow more antifungal resistance. Continued studies to evaluate different prescribers\u27 trends are warranted