Executive Function in the Presence of Sleep Disordered Breathing

The purpose of the study was to investigate whether sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) impairs executive functioning in children. Additionally, the study sought to identify the executive functions at risk in SDB and the contribution of daytime sleepiness. SDB represents a spectrum of upper airway conditions that can be mild, such as snoring, or severe, such as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Children with these problems may present with excessive sleepiness, failure to thrive, and a variety of cognitive and behavioral dysfunctions including impaired executive functioning. Beebe and Gozal (2002) developed a theoretical model to explain the impact of sleepiness and hypoxia on executive functioning. This model provided a framework to examine links between the medical disorder and the neuropsychological consequences. Twenty-seven children with suspected SDB were tested with polysomnography (PSG) and a neuropsychological battery. Parents completed subjective measures of cognitive function and sleep symptoms. The children were ages 8 to 18 and had no congenital or acquired brain damage. They were matched for age and gender with 21 healthy controls. The executive function protocol included subtests from the Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System (D-KEFS), the digit span subtest from the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-IV), the Tower of London-II-Drexel University (TOL-II), the Behavioral Rating Inventory of Executive Functioning (BRIEF), and the Conners’ Continuous Performance Test (CPT-II). Statistical analysis was performed using 2 statistical software packages, SAS and NCSS. Regression analysis was used to evaluate all variables. Due to significant group differences in socio-economic status (SES), SES was included as a covariate, along with IQ. No group differences in IQ were found. Significantly less robust executive function in children with SDB was identified in the domains of cognitive flexibility and impulsivity. Additionally, poorer executive planning and overall inattentiveness was also associated with SDB. Level of significance was set at 0.05 and trends (0.05 \u3c p \u3c 0.10) were acknowledged. Other areas of executive function, including working memory, behavioral and emotional inhibition, and processing speed were not associated with SDB. Moreover, academic functioning was significantly lower in children with SDB, although the differences can be shared equally with SDB, SES and IQ

What’S Going On? The Disproportionate Discipline of Upper Elementary Male Students in Little Tiger Elementary School

This action research study investigates the problem of disproportionate male discipline at LTES, specifically through the implementation of the PBIS program. Both quantitative and qualitative data provide a thorough explanation of student misbehaviors and discipline reporting practices at LTES. Through the utilization of teacher surveys, interviews, descriptive statistics, and anecdotal notes, the researcher presents findings which provide hope for improving male student behavior and discipline reporting practices. The study focuses on answering the overarching question, did the action plan result in a 20% decrease of male student discipline referrals within the first year of implementation? To answer this question a school leadership team was formed, teacher surveys and teacher interviews were conducted, a focus group meeting was held, classroom observations were conducted, and target year discipline data was collected. Findings revealed no statistically significant difference in male discipline data after PBIS program implementation. Qualitative findings reveal promising suggestions for further study. Male students have a greater chance of success in the educational environment when male mentors are provided as support. Teacher training in behavior management, building relationships, and cultural understanding is essential in male student success. Lastly, extracurricular activities provide male students with the opportunity to create a more positive school culture and experience

Dissecting Paraventricular Hypothalamic Neural Circuits Involved in Energy Balance Control.

The dramatic increase in obesity and its comorbidities in recent years highlight the critical importance of understanding the factors contributing to dysregulated energy balance. While a relatively small percentage of genetic loci have been correlated with bodyweight, the genetic variations that have been characterized with obesity highlight hypothalamic circuits in the central nervous system (CNS) as an essential regulator of energy homeostasis. The paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVH) is a necessary node in satiety regulation, since alterations in PVH development or function in mice and humans result in hyperphagic obesity. Yet, as a heterogenous nucleus, little is known about the specific cell-types used by the PVH to coordinate feeding suppression and/or energy expenditure. Therefore, we first identified the circuitry of genetically-defined PVH subpopulations in order to hypothesize their functional relevance based on projection targets. We combined this methodology with chemogenetic activation and neuronal ablation techniques to determine the function of separate PVH neuronal subpopulations in distinct energy balance parameters. Finally, we attempted to characterize the neural circuit map of afferent inputs to specific PVH cell populations based on their projection targets with the hypothesis that disparate PVH physiologic outputs may be regulated by non-overlapping neural populations. First, we identify a genetic PVH population expressing neuronal nitric oxide synthase 1 (Nos1) that is capable of feeding suppression, presumably through projections to hindbrain regions known to be involved in feeding control. Moreover, while PVH oxytocin (OXT) neurons, a subset of the Nos1PVH field, do not control feeding behavior, they are capable of increasing energy expenditure, likely through connections to the spinal cord. We then characterize a non-Nos1, non-OXT PVH population expressing insulin receptor substrate 4 (IRS4) that is necessary for normal feeding. IRS4PVH neurons also regulate energy expenditure, highlighting the significance of multiple, mutually exclusive, PVH populations in both feeding and energy expenditure control. Lastly, we highlight the dense interconnectivity of PVH subpopulations, with numerous PVH subtypes directly upstream of centrally-projecting PVH populations. Altogether, our results suggest the relevance of a complex intra-PVH network engaging distinct PVH subpopulations in order to ultimately coordinate feeding and energy expenditure regulation.PhDMolecular and Integrative PhysiologyUniversity of Michigan, Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studieshttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/120707/1/amysutto_1.pd

Regulation of ecto‐apyrase CD39 (ENTPD1) expression by phosphodiesterase III (PDE3)

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/154432/1/fsb2027011011.pd

Leadership en matière de recherche pour le développement : document de synthèse 2

English version available in IDRC Digital Library: Integrating organizational strengthening into program design : key questions for consideratio

Leadership en matière de recherche pour le développement : document de synthèse 4

English version available in IDRC Digital Library: Who are the leaders of tomorrow? : addressing gender equality and inclusion in leadershi

Leadership in research for development series : brief 4

French version available in IDRC Digital Library: Qui sont les leaders de demain? : aborder l'égalité des genres et l'inclusion dans le leadershipFunders have a key role to play in ensuring that gender and inclusion considerations form part of selection criteria, team composition, project design, implementation and engagement. This brief explores how to address gender equality and inclusion in supporting research for development (R4D) leaders at both individual and organizational levels. This requires an understanding of who has traditionally participated in the field, which groups are underrepresented and the challenges marginalized groups may face. Explicit strategies are needed to support a diversity of emerging leaders, as well as target setting for engaging researchers from marginalized backgrounds

Leadership in research for development series : brief 3

French version available in IDRC Digital Library: Modalités de financement pour le renforcement organisationnel dans la recherche pour le développementFunding modalities that enable organizational strengthening typically include core funding, flexible research grants and strategic organizational development (OD) support programs. These modalities have demonstrated contributions to higher-quality research, better positioning for use, networking and partnerships, while facilitating internal learning processes. This policy brief covers how to fund for organizational strengthening. Feedback from two IDRC evaluations suggested for instance, that tailored support from program officers emerged as a more important factor for effectiveness than the provision of support for any specific length of time

Leadership en matière de recherche pour le développement : document de synthèse 3

English version available in IDRC Digital Library: Funding modalities for organizational strengthening in research for developmen

Leadership in research for development series : brief 2

French version available in IDRC Digital Library: Intégrer le renforcement organisationnel dans la conception des programmes : questions clés à prendre en compteWhile the provision of effective funding support typically requires a fluid, tailored partnership rather than a formulaic approach, patterns emerge around the types of questions that funders can ask themselves. This brief uses the “Evaluation of IDRC’s Contribution to Building Leading Organizations” to share lessons on how to incorporate organizational strengthening. It suggests questions to consider in program design and implementation, with the aim of informing how research for development (R4D) funders can foster leading organizations and networks