Non-parental caregivers, parents, and the school readiness of the children of Latino/a immigrants

School readiness generally predicts trajectories of academic achievement over time, motivating efforts to support the development of school readiness skills by expanding access to and improving the quality of early childhood care and education. One dimension of early childhood care and education concerns the beliefs that non-parental caregivers (e.g. preschool teachers, relatives, child care providers) in these settings have about school readiness and how these beliefs may differ from parent beliefs. Non-parental caregivers’ beliefs—and their alignment with parents’ beliefs—may be especially significant for certain segments of the child population, namely children of Latino/a immigrant parents in the U.S., who are overrepresented among students who enter school with underdeveloped academic skills and whose parents may not have the resources nor the familiarity with the U.S. education system to know what schools will expect of their children upon school entry. Latino/a immigrant parents and their children, therefore, may be more influenced by the school readiness beliefs of non-parental caregivers than other groups. This study uses the Early Childhood Longitudinal Survey-Birth Cohort (ECLS-B) to investigate whether non-parental early caregivers’ beliefs about school readiness and their alignment with parental beliefs are associated with children’s achievement test scores at kindergarten entry—in general and especially among the children of Latino/a immigrant parents.Sociolog

Probable Displacement of Riffle-Dwelling Invertebrates by the Introduced Rusty Crayfish, \u3ci\u3eOrconectes Rusticus\u3c/i\u3e (Decapoda: Cambaridae) in a North-Central Wisconsin Stream

The rapid northward range expansion of the rusty crayfish, Orconectes rusticus, and its negative effects on Wisconsin lakes have been the subjects of intense study throughout the last fifteen years. In this study, we investigated the possible impact of rusty crayfish on the benthic macroinvertebrate community structure of the Prairie River in north-central Wisconsin. Rusty crayfish and other invertebrates were collected during August and September, 1994, from three sections of the Prairie River. Rusty crayfish relative abundance increased significantly from the upper to middle, and middle to lower sections; and correlated negatively with a significant 77% decrease in total density of aquatic invertebrates between sections. Mean density of all important invertebrate families and trophic guilds decreased significantly between the upper and lower sections. Due to the similarity of most environmental conditions between river sections, decrease of invertebrates is attributed to the increased abundance of rusty crayfish and its interactions with the native rouna. Our results suggest that a high abundance of rusty crayfish may negatively impact Wisconsin lotic systems

Electronic band gap reduction and intense luminescence in Co and Mn ion-implanted SiO2_2

Cobalt and manganese ions are implanted into SiO$_2$ over a wide range of concentrations. For low concentrations, the Co atoms occupy interstitial locations, coordinated with oxygen, while metallic Co clusters form at higher implantation concentrations. For all concentrations studied here, Mn ions remain in interstitial locations and do not cluster. Using resonant x-ray emission spectroscopy and Anderson impurity model calculations, we determine the strength of the covalent interaction between the interstitial ions and the SiO$_2$ valence band, finding it comparable to Mn and Co monoxides. Further, we find an increasing reduction in the SiO$_2$ electronic band gap for increasing implantation concentration, due primarily to the introduction of Mn- and Co-derived conduction band states. We also observe a strong increase in a band of x-ray stimulated luminescence at 2.75 eV after implantation, attributed to oxygen deficient centers formed during implantation.Comment: 8 pages, 6 figure

Evaluating cardiovascular dysfunction during increased activity and exercise rehabilitation following incomplete thoracic spinal cord injury in the adult rat.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) results in whole-body dysfunction. While the majority of SCI research is focused on improving locomotor function after injury, cardiovascular (CV) disease continues to be the leading cause of morbidity in the chronic SCI patient population. The combination of injury-induced destruction of autonomic pathways, maladaptive plasticity within lumbosacral circuits, and the progressive decline in physical fitness contribute to the poor CV status of SCI individuals. Currently, there is little emphasis on implementing appropriately-timed acute rehabilitation techniques aimed to curtail maladaptive remodeling and improve CV outcomes. Furthermore, no pre-clinical or clinical studies have investigated the most appropriate time-course for exercise implementation or directly compared the CV effects of various exercise modalities. Most clinical studies examine the benefits of exercise in the chronic SCI population, a time by which the effects of maladaptive plasticity in autonomic circuitry may already be impacting CV control. We hypothesize that acute rehabilitation implementation will protect against maladaptive autonomic remodeling, improve CV control and function, and result in cardio-metabolic protective effects post-SCI. The work presented in this dissertation focuses on elucidating the physiological mechanisms responsible for maintaining CV control following a clinically-relevant model of incomplete SCI. A combination of echocardiography and blood pressure telemetry was used to assess CV control and function during rest and exercise challenge, and following acutely-implemented exercise-associated rehabilitation in SCI rodents. Incomplete SCI resulted in austere CV dysfunction, most notably during exercise challenge. Further, neither acutely-implemented passive hind-limb cycling nor active swimming rehabilitation attenuated the lack of CV control

The Cell Wall Teichuronic Acid Synthetase (TUAS) Is an Enzyme Complex Located in the Cytoplasmic Membrane of Micrococcus luteus

The cell wall teichuronic acid (TUA) of Micrococcus luteus is a long-chain polysaccharide composed of disaccharide repeating units [-4-β-D-ManNAcAp-(1→6)α-D-Glcp−1-]n, which is covalently anchored to the peptidoglycan on the inner cell wall and extended to the outer surface of the cell envelope. An enzyme complex responsible for the TUA chain biosynthesis was purified and characterized. The 440kDa enzyme complex, named teichuronic acid synthetase (TUAS), is an octomer composed of two kinds of glycosyltransferases, Glucosyltransferase, and ManNAcA-transferase, which is capable of catalyzing the transfer of disaccharide glycosyl residues containing both glucose and the N-acetylmannosaminuronic acid residues. TUAS displays hydrophobic properties and is found primarily associated with the cytoplasmic membrane. The purified TUAS contains carotinoids and lipids. TUAS activity is diminished by phospholipase digestion. We propose that TUAS serves as a multitasking polysaccharide assembling station on the bacterial membrane.National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (Public Health Service Grants AI-08295); American Lung Association (RG-107-N

Quality rating and improvement system state evaluations and research

A quality rating and improvement system (QRIS) is a method used by states and local jurisdictions to assess the level of quality of child care and early education programs, improve quality, and convey quality ratings to parents and other consumers. A typical QRIS incorporates the following components: quality standards for participating providers; a system for measuring and monitoring provider quality; resources for providers to support quality improvement; financial incentives for providers who meet quality standards; and education and outreach to families about the ratings and how to choose a quality program for their children. In 2010, Assessing States' Child Care Quality Rating Systems (QRS), a project funded by the U.S. Administration for Children and Families, Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation, produced a compendium that documented features of QRISs in 25 states that had them at the time. An updated online version of the compendium was released in 2014, which included information on 38 states with QRISs. Many jurisdictions with QRISs, as well as other interested organizations and individuals, have undertaken research and evaluation efforts to improve their understanding of QRIS implementation, validity, results, and impacts. This Topic of Interest provides a comprehensive list of state QRIS evaluations and research in the Research Connections collection

Spartan Daily, February 10, 1981

Volume 76, Issue 12https://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/spartandaily/6716/thumbnail.jp

Beacon Light: Spring 1988

Senior Vice President Sister Paul Revier Leaves Hospital; Carries on Benedictine Philosophy in New Role New Clinic\u27s Close Proximity Enhances Continuity of Care; Benefits Physicians and Patients Listening, Laughing, Loving All Part of Hospice Volunteering Team Approach Used by Radiation Therapists Benefits Cancer Patients and Their Families Expanding Outpatient Needs Causes Hospital Administration to Consider Space Allocation Change