Principals\u27 perceptions about regular education teachers\u27 attitudes toward integration of students with handicaps

As the movement to integrate students with handicaps into regular education classrooms continues, regular education teachers are a critical component of the successful implementation of the integration process. Because building principals must assume responsibility for selecting the teachers who will be assigned integrated classrooms, this investigation determined the degree to which principals were able to predict the attitudes of regular education teachers toward the integration of students with handicaps. From public school districts in a Midwestern state, 85 pairs of teachers and principals were randomly selected from three educational levels: (a) elementary, (b) middle, and (c) secondary. The data were collected from questionnaires completed by the teachers, and from questionnaires completed by their principals predicting the attitudes of those regular education teachers regarding the following six factors: Factor 1, willingness; Factor 2, location of information; Factor 3, confidence about skills; Factor 4, effects on placement; Factor 5, adequate time; and Factor 6, teacher input. The results showed difference scores between teachers and principals were significant on Factors 2, 3, 5, and 6; whereas, principals\u27 predictions were not significantly different on Factors 1 and 4. With regards to educational level of the school, there were no differences between elementary, middle, or secondary level principals\u27 ability to predict teacher responses. Although principals were able to identify the teachers willing to teach students with handicaps, they overestimated teachers\u27 knowledge of where to obtain help or information about handicapped students, confidence in their personal skills about instruction and management in an integrated classroom, and sufficiency of time for carrying out the integration process. Principals also underestimated teacher attitudes regarding their input into the integration process. Principals can accurately predict teacher attitudes about integration and, therefore, place handicapped students appropriately with willing teachers. False assumptions, based on the overestimation on the three factors, can lead principals to believe that once initiated, the integration process will be maintained and sustained. Therefore, principals need to provide additional information, staff development, and support to the regular education teachers to ensure that the integration of students with handicaps reaches its optimum potential

Sampling Procedures in Estrogen Receptor Determinations

To determine the significance of proteolysis and delayed freezing of tumor samples on estrogen receptor levels, values from 19 of 31 biopsy specimens were compared with that in remaining tumor at the completion of mastectomy. There was a 15-100% decrease in receptor content. Time-decay studies on selected postmastectomy samples showed a further decrease in estrogen receptor content inversely proportional to the time it was exposed to room temperature. Factors that govern the valid measurement of receptor levels include tumor cell concentration, tumor necrosis, and time between devascularization of the specimen to freezing. A carefully procured histologically confirmed sample of fresh tumor is necessary for reliable estrogen receptor values

Effects of Acid Deposition on Dissolution of Carbonate Stone During Summer Storms in the Adirondack Mountains, New York, 1987-89

This study is part of a long-term research program designed to identify and quantify acid rain damage to carbonate stone. Acidic deposition accelerates the dissolution of carbonate-stone monuments and building materials. Sequential sampling of runoff from carbonate-stone (marble) and glass (reference) microcatchments in the Adirondack Mountains in New York State provided a detailed record of the episodic fluctuations in rain rate and runoff chemistry during individual summer storms. Rain rate and chemical concentrations from carbonate-stone and glass runoff fluctuated three to tenfold during storms. Net calcium-ion concentrations from the carbonatestone runoff, a measure of stone dissolution, typically fluctuated twofold during these storms. High net sulfate and net calcium concentrations in the first effective runoff at the start of a storm indicated that atmospheric pollutants deposited on the stone surface during dry periods formed calcium sulfate minerals, an important process in carbonate stone dissolution. Dissolution of the carbonate stone generally increased up to twofold during coincident episodes of low rain rate (less than 5 millimeters per hour) and decreased rainfall (glass runoff) pH (less than 4.0); episodes of high rain rate (cloudbursts) were coincident with a rapid increase in rainfall pH and also a rapid decrease in the dissolution of carbonate-stone. During a storm, it seems the most important factors causing increased dissolution of carbonate stone are coincident periods of low rain rate and decreased rainfall pH. Dissolution of the carbonate stone decreased slightly as the rain rate exceeded about 5 millimeters per hour, probably in response to rapidly increasing rainfall pH during episodes of high rain rate and shorter contact time between the runoff and the stone surface. High runoff rates resulting from cloudbursts remove calcium sulfate minerals formed during dry periods prior to storms and also remove dissolution products formed in large measure by chemical weathering as a result of episodes of low rain rate and decreased rainfall pH during a storm

Dietary electrolytes are related to mood

Dietary therapies are routinely recommended to reduce disease risk; however, there is concern they may adversely affect mood. We compared the effect on mood of a low-sodium, high-potassium diet (LNAHK) and a high-calcium diet (HC) with a moderate-sodium, high-potassium, high-calcium Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH)-type diet (OD). We also assessed the relationship between dietary electrolytes and cortisol, a stress hormone and marker of hypothalamic&ndash;pituitary&ndash;adrenal (HPA) axis activity. In a crossover design, subjects were randomized to two diets for 4 weeks, the OD and either LNAHK or HC, each preceded by a 2-week control diet (CD). Dietary compliance was assessed by 24 h urine collections. Mood was measured weekly by the Profile of Mood States (POMS). Saliva samples were collected to measure cortisol. The change in mood between the preceding CD and the test diet (LNAHK or HC) was compared with the change between the CD and OD. Of the thirty-eight women and fifty-six men (mean age 56&middot;3 (sem 9&middot;8) years) that completed the OD, forty-three completed the LNAHK and forty-eight the HC. There was a greater improvement in depression, tension, vigour and the POMS global score for the LNAHK diet compared to OD (P &lt; 0&middot;05). Higher cortisol levels were weakly associated with greater vigour, lower fatigue, and higher levels of urinary potassium and magnesium (r 0&middot;1&ndash;0&middot;2, P &lt; 0&middot;05 for all). In conclusion, a LNAHK diet appeared to have a positive effect on overall mood.<br /

Exile Vol. XI No. 1

FICTION By the Fire of the Chief by Peggy Schmidt 9-17 From the Diary of a Vanishing Man by Ed Brunner 19-29 Dialogue by Ken Booth 35-37 POETRY Johnny Joe by Bill West 6-7 Caterpillar by Barb Bergantz 17 Poem by Bonnie McCarthy 29 The Queen by Hugh Wilder 31 The Clown by Barb Bergantz 32 Poem by Gretchen Schenck 33 Treatise on Cosmology by P. M. Grout 37 Stimulus by Susan Sherwood 37 Depot by Susan Sherwood 39 GRAPHICS Pen and Ink by Dave Goodwin 7 Pen and Ink by Ramona Gibbs 8 Pen and Ink by Tod Riddell 18 Charcoal by Dave Goodwin 30 Woodcut by Parker Waite III 34 Woodcut by Lela Giles 3

Does stress induce salt intake?

Psychological stress is a common feature of modern day societies, and contributes to the global burden of disease. It was proposed by Henry over 20 years ago that the salt intake of a society reflects the level of stress, and that stress, through its effect on increasing salt intake, is an important factor in the development of hypertension. This review evaluates the evidence from animal and human studies to determine if stress does induce a salt appetite and increase salt consumption in human subjects. Findings from animal studies suggest that stress may drive salt intake, with evidence for a potential mechanism via the sympatho-adrenal medullary system and/or the hypothalamo&ndash;pituitary&ndash;adrenal axis. In contrast, in the few laboratory studies conducted in human subjects, none has found that acute stress affects salt intake. However, one study demonstrated that life stress (chronic stress) was associated with increased consumption of snack foods, which included, but not specifically, highly salty snacks. Studies investigating the influence of chronic stress on eating behaviours are required, including consumption of salty foods. From the available evidence, we can conclude that in free-living, Na-replete individuals, consuming Na in excess of physiological requirements, stress is unlikely to be a major contributor to salt intake.<br /

Deconstructing interventions: approaches to studying behavior change techniques across obesity interventions

Deconstructing interventions into the specific techniques that are used to change behavior represents a new frontier in behavioral intervention research. This paper considers opportunities and challenges in employing the Behavior Change Techniques Taxonomy (BCTTv1) developed by Michie and colleagues, to code the behavior change techniques (BCTs) across multiple interventions addressing obesity and capture dose received at the technique level. Numerous advantages were recognized for using a shared framework for intervention description. Coding interventions at levels of the social ecological framework beyond the individual level, separate coding for behavior change initiation vs. maintenance, fidelity of BCT delivery, accounting for BCTs mode of delivery, and tailoring BCTs, present both challenges and opportunities. Deconstructing interventions and identifying the dose required to positively impact health-related outcomes could enable important gains in intervention science

Identifying the needs of brain tumor patients and their caregivers

The purpose of this study is to identify the needs of brain tumor patients and their caregivers to provide improved health services to these populations. Two different questionnaires were designed for patients and caregivers. Both questionnaires contained questions pertaining to three realms: disease symptoms/treatment, health care provider, daily living/finances. The caregivers’ questionnaires contained an additional domain on emotional needs. Each question was evaluated for the degree of importance and satisfaction. Exploratory analyses determined whether baseline characteristics affect responder importance or satisfaction. Also, areas of high agreement/disagreement in satisfaction between the participating patient-caregiver pairs were identified. Questions for which >50% of the patients and caregivers thought were “very important” but >30% were dissatisfied include: understanding the cause of brain tumors, dealing with patients’ lower energy, identifying healthful foods and activities for patients, telephone access to health care providers, information on medical insurance coverage, and support from their employer. In the emotional realm, caregivers identified 9 out of 10 items as important but need further improvement. Areas of high disagreement in satisfaction between participating patient-caregiver pairs include: getting help with household chores (P value = 0.006) and finding time for personal needs (P value < 0.001). This study provides insights into areas to improve services for brain tumor patients and their caregivers. The caregivers’ highest amount of burden is placed on their emotional needs, emphasizing the importance of providing appropriate medical and psychosocial support for caregivers to cope with emotional difficulties they face during the patients’ treatment process

Epigenome-wide association study reveals duration of breastfeeding is associated with epigenetic differences in children

Several small studies have shown associations between breastfeeding and genome-wide DNA methylation (DNAm). We performed a comprehensive Epigenome-Wide Association Study (EWAS) to identify associations between breastfeeding and DNAm patterns in childhood. We analysed DNAm data from the Isle of Wight Birth Cohort at birth, 10, 18 and 26 years. The feeding method was categorized as breastfeeding duration >3 months and >6 months, and exclusive breastfeeding duration >3 months. EWASs using robust linear regression were performed to identify differentially methylated positions (DMPs) in breastfed and non-breastfed children at age 10 (false discovery rate of 5%). Differentially methylated regions (DMRs) were identified using comb-p. The persistence of significant associations was evaluated in neonates and individuals at 18 and 26 years. Two DMPs, in genes SNX25 and LINC00840, were significantly associated with breastfeeding duration >6 months at 10 years and was replicated for >3 months of exclusive breastfeeding. Additionally, a significant DMR spanning the gene FDFT1 was identified in 10-year-old children who were exposed to a breastfeeding duration >3 months. None of these signals persisted to 18 or 26 years. This study lends further support for a suggestive role of DNAm in the known benefits of breastfeeding on a child’s future healt