Women Leaders in Agriculture: Data-Driven Recommendations for Action and Perspectives on Furthering the Conversation

The presence of women in positions of power in the agriculture industry is lacking. This article highlights findings generated from the 2016 Southern Region Women\u27s Agricultural Leadership Summit attended by women from 13 southern states. The research revealed that women working in Extension should (a) formally connect with leadership mentors, (b) envision themselves in leadership roles, and (c) support one another as they work to lead in the agriculture industry. To further the conversation, we provide recommendations that are inherent in the data and intended to assist early-career women professionals as well as middle managers and administrators who desire to advance women\u27s leadership development in Extension

Characterization of Wild-Type and F508 Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Regulator in Human Respiratory Epithelia

Previous studies in native tissues have produced conflicting data on the localization and metabolic fate of WT and ΔF508 cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator (CFTR) in the lung. Combining immunocytochemical and biochemical studies utilizing new high-affinity CFTR mAbs with ion transport assays, we examined both 1) the cell type and region specific expression of CFTR in normal airways and 2) the metabolic fate of ΔF508 CFTR and associated ERM proteins in the cystic fibrosis lung. Studies of lungs from a large number of normal subjects revealed that WT CFTR protein localized to the apical membrane of ciliated cells within the superficial epithelium and gland ducts. In contrast, other cell types in the superficial, gland acinar, and alveolar epithelia expressed little WT CFTR protein. No ΔF508 CFTR mature protein or function could be detected in airway specimens freshly excised from a large number of ΔF508 homozygous subjects, despite an intact ERM complex. In sum, our data demonstrate that WT CFTR is predominantly expressed in ciliated cells, and ΔF508 CFTR pathogenesis in native tissues, like heterologous cells, reflects loss of normal protein processing

Proceedings of the 3rd Biennial Conference of the Society for Implementation Research Collaboration (SIRC) 2015: advancing efficient methodologies through community partnerships and team science

It is well documented that the majority of adults, children and families in need of evidence-based behavioral health interventionsi do not receive them [1, 2] and that few robust empirically supported methods for implementing evidence-based practices (EBPs) exist. The Society for Implementation Research Collaboration (SIRC) represents a burgeoning effort to advance the innovation and rigor of implementation research and is uniquely focused on bringing together researchers and stakeholders committed to evaluating the implementation of complex evidence-based behavioral health interventions. Through its diverse activities and membership, SIRC aims to foster the promise of implementation research to better serve the behavioral health needs of the population by identifying rigorous, relevant, and efficient strategies that successfully transfer scientific evidence to clinical knowledge for use in real world settings [3]. SIRC began as a National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)-funded conference series in 2010 (previously titled the “Seattle Implementation Research Conference”; $150,000 USD for 3 conferences in 2011, 2013, and 2015) with the recognition that there were multiple researchers and stakeholdersi working in parallel on innovative implementation science projects in behavioral health, but that formal channels for communicating and collaborating with one another were relatively unavailable. There was a significant need for a forum within which implementation researchers and stakeholders could learn from one another, refine approaches to science and practice, and develop an implementation research agenda using common measures, methods, and research principles to improve both the frequency and quality with which behavioral health treatment implementation is evaluated. SIRC’s membership growth is a testament to this identified need with more than 1000 members from 2011 to the present.ii SIRC’s primary objectives are to: (1) foster communication and collaboration across diverse groups, including implementation researchers, intermediariesi, as well as community stakeholders (SIRC uses the term “EBP champions” for these groups) – and to do so across multiple career levels (e.g., students, early career faculty, established investigators); and (2) enhance and disseminate rigorous measures and methodologies for implementing EBPs and evaluating EBP implementation efforts. These objectives are well aligned with Glasgow and colleagues’ [4] five core tenets deemed critical for advancing implementation science: collaboration, efficiency and speed, rigor and relevance, improved capacity, and cumulative knowledge. SIRC advances these objectives and tenets through in-person conferences, which bring together multidisciplinary implementation researchers and those implementing evidence-based behavioral health interventions in the community to share their work and create professional connections and collaborations

Extending gifted education pedagogy to regular classrooms: A multisite case study of professional development practices

The U.S. Department of Education\u27s (1993) release of National Excellence: A Case for Developing America\u27s Talent highlighted improvements in educating gifted and talented youngsters; however, it also described the “quiet crisis” that continues to prevent them from reaching their potential. The report included recommendations for providing appropriate educational programs for students, including the provision of professional development practices that will enable teachers to provide a challenging curriculum and varied learning opportunities for students. Although the fields of gifted education and professional development have established research bases, much of the knowledge gained from each is overshadowed by skepticism, criticism, and conflict. ^ The purpose of this study was to identify professional development practices that increase the likelihood that classroom teachers change instructional and curricular practices through the use of gifted education pedagogy. A multiple-case (embedded) design was used for the selection of cases as well as for multiple units of analysis. The data collection techniques included observation, interview, document analysis, and case study notes. Key participants included central office administrators, staff development coordinators, gifted education specialists, principals, and classroom teachers. Research questions guiding the study sought to identify the factors that contribute to effective professional development practices, and how these factors contribute to teachers\u27 use of gifted education strategies in the regular classroom. ^ The within-case analyses revealed five key categories that included professional development plans and practices in general, changes in teachers\u27 curricular and instructional practices, gifted education training opportunities, impact of training, and impact of design components associated with professional development. Although the key categories remained the same for both sites, minor differences in factors were identified within key categories. The cross-case analyses findings focused specifically on factors that contributed to extending gifted education strategies to the regular classroom: (a) professional development plan and practices, (b) gifted education training opportunities, (c) impact of gifted education training experiences on teachers and students, (d) impact of design components for all professional development experiences, and (e) changes in curricular and instructional practices.

Creative Composition: Inspiration and Techniques for Writing Instruction

Christine Stewart-Nunez (with Rochelle L. Harris) is a contributing author, Sought-After Sophistications: Crafting a Curatorial Stance in the Creative Writing and Composition Classrooms. Book description: For decades theorists have opined that the lines between creative writing and composition need to be lifted, yet little has been written about the pedagogical methods that allow a cohesive approach between the disciplines. This book brings together contemporary authors and well-respected creative writing instructors and theorists to explore ways creativity in composition may be encouraged in student writers. The question in this anthology is not ‘Can writing be taught?’ but ‘How can we inspire students to embrace the creative process no matter what they write?’ This book offers multiple strategies to merge the best practices of teaching writing, regardless of the genre.https://openprairie.sdstate.edu/english_book/1008/thumbnail.jp

Reservations Regarding O-RADS Recommendations Response

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Women\u27s Representation Among Members and Leaders of National Medical Specialty Societies

PURPOSE: National medical specialty societies speak for their respective fields in policy debates, influence research, affect trainees\u27 specialization decisions, provide career development opportunities, and confer awards and recognitions. This study provides a comprehensive overview of the gender demographics of society members and leaders. METHOD: In 2016, the Group on Women in Medicine and Science (of the Association of American Medical Colleges) sought to characterize the gender of members and leaders of specialty societies from 2000-2015. This report provides descriptive data, including how many of the responding societies (representing each of 30 major medical specialties) had substantial ( \u3e 10%) increases in women\u27s representation among leadership between the first and second halves of the study period. RESULTS: The average proportion of female full members in responding societies was 25.4% in 2005; 29.3% in 2015. The proportion of women serving as the highest-ranking elected leader between 2000-2015 in each specialty ranged from 0 to 37.5% (mean 15.8%). The mean proportion of women on governing boards ranged from 0 to 37.3% (mean of means, 18.8%) in 2000-07 and from 0 to 47.6% (mean of means, 25.2%) in 2008-2015. In 9 specialties, the mean percentage of women serving on governing boards increased by \u3e 10% from the first to second half of the study period. CONCLUSIONS: Although many women are full members of specialty societies, women still constitute a minority of leaders. This report establishes a baseline from which to evaluate the effect of societies\u27 efforts to improve diversity, equity, and inclusion