School Leadership, Teachers’ Roles in School Decisionmaking, and Student Achievement

This working paper summarizes the results of a study of leadership in elementary and secondary schools. The study focused in particular on instructional leadership – the extent to which school leaders focus on the core activities of teaching and learning – and teacher leadership – the extent to which teachers have input into school decision-making. This paper is drawn from the full report of the study, entitled School Leadership Counts (Ingersoll, Dougherty and Sirinides 2017), available at www.newteachercenter.org

Leadership Matters: Teachers\u27 Roles in Decision Making and School Performance

Given the prominence of both instructional leadership and teacher leadership in the realms of school reform and policy, not surprisingly, both have also been the focus of extensive empirical research. But there have been limits to this research. It is, for example, unclear which of the many key elements of instructional leadership are more, or less, likely to be adopted in schools across the nation. Similarly, it is unclear which of these elements are more, or less, beneficial for school performance and for student learning and growth. Likewise, though the extent of teacher involvement in school decision making has been widely studied, there has been almost no solid empirical research on whether teacher leadership is beneficial for student learning and growth. These topics are the subject of a study the authors undertook, which this article summarizes

Cisplatin and the Mu Opioid Receptor Antagonist Methylnaltrexone Inhibit Neurite Growth in Cultured Trigeminal Neurons

https://openworks.mdanderson.org/sumexp23/1040/thumbnail.jp

Inhibition of Ly-6A antigen expression prevents T cell activation

Antisense oligonucleotides complementary to the 5' end of the mRNA encoding the Ly-6A protein were used to block the expression of that protein. Using this approach we could inhibit the expression of Ly-6A by 60-80% in antigen-primed lymph node (LN) T cells as well as in the D10 T cell clone. Inhibition of Ly-6 expression resulted in the inability to restimulate in vitro, antigen-primed T cells. It also blocked the activation of normal spleen cells by Con A, monoclonal antibody (mAb) to CD3, and mAb to Ly-6. In contrast, stimulation of normal spleen cells with the pharmacological agents PMA + ionomycin were unaffected by the inhibition of Ly-6 expression. Similar results were obtained with the D10 T cell clone; stimulation with Con A + interleukin 1 (IL-1), antigen-presenting cells (APC), or the clonotypic antibody + IL-1 was greatly reduced in the presence of antisense oligonucleotides to Ly-6. Stimulation with PMA + ionomycin was again unaffected. We also studied the effect of antisense oligonucleotides on stimulation of preactivated D10 cells. Preactivation of D10 cells with Con A + IL-1 renders them receptive to secondary stimulation by other lymphokines. In this case, antisense oligonucleotides to Ly-6 had no effect on secondary activation with IL-2, IL-4 + IL-1, or PMA + ionomycin. We conclude from these studies that Ly-6 expression is required for T cell receptor (TCR)-mediated T cell activation

Internally driven large-scale changes in the size of Saturn’s magnetosphere

Saturn’s magnetic field acts as an obstacle to solar wind flow, deflecting plasma around the planet and forming a cavity known as the magnetosphere. The magnetopause defines the boundary between the planetary and solar dominated regimes, and so is strongly influenced by the variable nature of pressure sources both outside and within. Following from Pilkington et al. (2014), crossings of the magnetopause are identified using 7 years of magnetic field and particle data from the Cassini spacecraft and providing unprecedented spatial coverage of the magnetopause boundary. These observations reveal a dynamical interaction where, in addition to the external influence of the solar wind dynamic pressure, internal drivers, and hot plasma dynamics in particular can take almost complete control of the system’s dayside shape and size, essentially defying the solar wind conditions. The magnetopause can move by up to 10–15 planetary radii at constant solar wind dynamic pressure, corresponding to relatively “plasma-loaded” or “plasma-depleted” states, defined in terms of the internal suprathermal plasma pressure

The Value of In Vivo Reflectance Confocal Microscopy as an Assessment Tool in Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy:A Pilot Study

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a common dose-limiting toxicity with significant sequelae. There is a lack of standardized objective and reliable assessment tools in CIPN. In vivo reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) imaging offers a non-invasive method to identify peripheral neuropathy markers, namely Meissner's corpuscles. This article reports on the feasibility and value of RCM in CIPN.Background There is a lack of standardized objective and reliable assessment tools for chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN). In vivo reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) imaging offers a non-invasive method to identify peripheral neuropathy markers, namely Meissner's corpuscles (MC). This study investigated the feasibility and value of RCM in CIPN. Patients and Methods Reflectance confocal microscopy was performed on the fingertip to evaluate MC density in 45 healthy controls and 9 patients with cancer (prior, during, and post-chemotherapy). Quantification was completed by 2 reviewers (one blinded), with maximum MC count/3 x 3 mm image reported. Quantitative Sensory Testing (QST; thermal and mechanical detection thresholds), Grooved pegboard test, and patient-reported outcomes measures (PROMS) were conducted for comparison. Results In controls (25 females, 20 males; 24-81 years), females exhibited greater mean MC density compared with males (49.9 +/- 7.1 vs 30.9 +/- 4.2 MC/3 x 3 mm; P = .03). Differences existed across age by decade (P < .0001). Meissner's corpuscle density was correlated with mechanical detection (rho = -0.51), warm detection (rho = -0.47), cold pain (rho = 0.49) thresholds (P < .01); and completion time on the Grooved pegboard test in both hands (P <= .02). At baseline, patients had reduced MC density vs age and gender-matched controls (P = .03). Longitudinal assessment of MC density revealed significant relationships with QST and PROMS. Inter-rater reliability of MC count showed an intraclass correlation of 0.96 (P < .0001). Conclusions The findings support the clinical utility of RCM in CIPN as it provides meaningful markers of sensory nerve dysfunction. Novel, prospective assessment demonstrated the ability to detect subclinical deficits in patients at risk of CIPN and potential to monitor neuropathy progression

Synaptically evoked glutamate transporter currents in Spinal Dorsal Horn Astrocytes

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Removing and sequestering synaptically released glutamate from the extracellular space is carried out by specific plasma membrane transporters that are primarily located in astrocytes. Glial glutamate transporter function can be monitored by recording the currents that are produced by co-transportation of Na⁺ions with the uptake of glutamate. The goal of this study was to characterize glutamate transporter function in astrocytes of the spinal cord dorsal horn in real time by recording synaptically evoked glutamate transporter currents.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Whole-cell patch clamp recordings were obtained from astrocytes in the spinal substantia gelatinosa (SG) area in spinal slices of young adult rats. Glutamate transporter currents were evoked in these cells by electrical stimulation at the spinal dorsal root entry zone in the presence of bicuculline, strychnine, DNQX and D-AP5. Transporter currents were abolished when synaptic transmission was blocked by TTX or Cd²⁺. Pharmacological studies identified two subtypes of glutamate transporters in spinal astrocytes, GLAST and GLT-1. Glutamate transporter currents were graded with stimulus intensity, reaching peak responses at 4 to 5 times activation threshold, but were reduced following low-frequency (0.1 – 1 Hz) repetitive stimulation.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These results suggest that glutamate transporters of spinal astrocytes could be activated by synaptic activation, and recording glutamate transporter currents may provide a means of examining the real time physiological responses of glial cells in spinal sensory processing, sensitization, hyperalgesia and chronic pain.</p