Are Leader Behavior and Emotional Intelligence related to Teacher Efficacy?

There is general agreement and the research supports the contention that school leadership is related to student learning/achievement (Hallinger & Heck, 1996; Ross & Gray, 2006; Francera & Bliss, 2011; Shatzer, Caldarella, Hallam, & Brown, 2014). However, the nature and strength of that relationship is still uncertain. Identifying the effects, whether direct or indirect, leaders have on student learning/achievement is imperative to the further development of school leadership theory. Direct leader effects on student achievement/learning may be identified at some point. However, given that a leader impacts many factors related to student achievement/learning indirectly, the identification of indirect leader effects on student achievement/learning seems more likely. This study examined the relationships between and among school leader behaviors, leader emotional intelligence, and teacher efficacy. The findings revealed that leader behaviors were found to be inversely correlated to general teaching efficacy but that leadership behaviors and leader emotional intelligence were positively correlated. Also, leader emotional intelligence was found to be positively correlated (though weakly or moderately) to general teaching efficacy, and/or personal teacher efficacy

Are Leader Behavior and Emotional Intelligence related to Teacher Efficacy?

There is general agreement and the research supports the contention that school leadership is related to student learning/achievement (Hallinger & Heck, 1996; Ross & Gray, 2006; Francera & Bliss, 2011; Shatzer, Caldarella, Hallam, & Brown, 2014). However, the nature and strength of that relationship is still uncertain. Identifying the effects, whether direct or indirect, leaders have on student learning/achievement is imperative to the further development of school leadership theory. Direct leader effects on student achievement/learning may be identified at some point. However, given that a leader impacts many factors related to student achievement/learning indirectly, the identification of indirect leader effects on student achievement/learning seems more likely. This study examined the relationships between and among school leader behaviors, leader emotional intelligence, and teacher efficacy. The findings revealed that leader behaviors were found to be inversely correlated to general teaching efficacy but that leadership behaviors and leader emotional intelligence were positively correlated. Also, leader emotional intelligence was found to be positively correlated (though weakly or moderately) to general teaching efficacy, and/or personal teacher efficacy

In Vitro Anti-Hepatitis B Virus Activities of 5’-O-Myristoyl Analogue Derivatives of 3’-Fluoro-2’,3’-dideoxythymidine (FLT) and 3’-Azido-2’,3’- dideoxythymidine (AZT)

Purpose: The objective of this study was to evaluate a dual action prodrug concept wherein an unnatural myristic acid analogue is coupled via an ester moiety to the 5’-position of FLT or AZT. Subsequent intracellular cleavage of the prodrug ester would simultaneously release FLT or AZT that could inhibit reverse transcriptase (RT), and the myristic acid analogue that could inhibit myristoyl- CoA:protein N-myristoyltransferase (NMT). Methods: Cytotoxicity (2.2.15 cell culture), and antihepatitis B activity of 5’-O-myristoyl analogue prodrug derivatives of FLT and AZT (2-8) were evaluated in vitro using human liver hepatitis B virus (HBV) producing 2.2.15 cell lines. Results: The 5’- O-(12-methoxydodecanoyl) ester derivatives of AZT (2, EC50 = 2.7 ± 0.3 mM; CC50 = 727 ± 19 μM) and FLT (4, EC50 = 2.8 ± 0.3 μM; CC50 = 186 ± 20 μM) were the most effective anti-hepatitis B virus (anti-HBV) compounds of this series in a replication assay. In the series of 5’-O-myristic acid analogue ester prodrug derivatives of FLT, the relative anti-HBV potency order was MeO(CH2)11CO2- \u3e N3(CH2)11CO2- and Br(CH2)11CO2- \u3e EtS(CH2)nCO2-(n = 10 or 11) \u3e Me(CH2)12CO2- (myristoyl). Conclusions: The in vitro data suggest that the 5’-Omyristoyl analogue prodrug concept offers a potential drug design approach to design dual acting antiiviral agents, with superior pharmacokinetic, biodistribution, reduced cytotoxicity and/or increased efficacy. In this regard, the 5’-O-(12-methoxydodecanoyl) prodrug ester of 3’-thia-3’-deoxythymidine (3TC) may offer the greatest potential for the treatment of HBV infection

A Black Hole in the X-Ray Nova Velorum 1993

We have obtained 17 moderate-resolution (~2.5 A) optical spectra of the Galactic X-ray Nova Velorum 1993 in quiescence with the Keck-II telescope. The orbital period (P) is 0.285206 +/- 0.0000014 d, and the semiamplitude (K_2) is 475.4 +/- 5.9 km/s. Our derived mass function, f(M_1) = PK_2^3 /2 pi G = 3.17 +/- 0.12 M_sun, is close to the conventional absolute limiting mass for a neutron star (~ 3.0-3.2 M_sun) -- but if the orbital inclination i is less than 80 degrees (given the absences of eclipses), then M_1 is greater than 4.2-4.4 M_sun for nominal secondary-star masses of 0.5 M_sun (M0) to 0.65 M_sun (K6). The primary star is therefore almost certainly a black hole rather than a neutron star. The velocity curve of the primary from H-alpha emission has a semiamplitude (K_1) of 65.3 +/- 7.0 km/s, but with a phase offset by 237 degrees (rather than 180 degrees) from that of the secondary star. The nominal mass ratio q = M_2/M_1 = K_1/K_2 = 0.137 +/- 0.015, and hence for M_2 = 0.5-0.65 M_sun we derive M_1 = 3.64-4.74 M_sun. An adopted mass M_1 ~ 4.4 M_sun is significantly below the typical value of ~ 7 M_sun found for black holes in other low-mass X-ray binaries. Keck observations of MXB 1659-29 (V2134 Oph) in quiescence reveal a probable optical counterpart at R = 23.6 +/- 0.4 mag.Comment: 16 pages, 9 figures, added references, revised per. referee's comments Accepted for publication in August 1999 issue of PAS

Dopamine depletion in neonatal rats: effects on behavior and striatal dopamine release assessed by intracerebral microdialysis during adulthood

Rats depleted of dopamine (DA) by intraventricular 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) in infancy show behavioral impairments as adults, but their basic sensory-motor functions and feeding abilities are intact; at least relative to the pronounced deficits seen in rats given similar v treatment in adulthood. Here we investigate whether presynaptic changes culminating in enhanced DA release are present in adult rats that received neonatal damage, and whether these are of a sufficient magnitude to contribute to the sparing of function. We used microdialysis in rats during the resting state, walking on a treadmill, and after a systemic injection of amphetamine. It was found that neonatal 6-OHDA produced a nearly complete (<1% of control) depletion of DA in postmortem tissue, but this was not accompanied by a comparable decline in the basal extracellular concentrations of DA, which were only reduced by 12-54% of control values. In contrast, the extracellular concentrations of DA metabolites were greatly reduced, reflecting the post-mortem tissue concentrations of DA. Nevertheless, neonatally depleted animals were markedly deficient in their ability to respond to an amphetamine challenge, both behaviorally and in their ability to further increase DA release. Thus, following neonatal DA depletion there appear to be extensive changes in the few remaining DA terminals that are sufficient to maintain relatively high extracellular (and presumably synaptic) concentrations of DA during the resting state, but the capacity of the remaining DA neurons to respond to increased demand is very limited. This presynaptic compensatory response may play a role in the sparing of behavioral function seen following neonatal damage.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/28748/1/0000578.pd

Evaluating Retail Distribution Strategies During Covid-19 Pandemic in South Africa Using Best Worst Method Multicriteria Decision Technique

This paper evaluates the distribution strategies adopted by South African retailers during the Covid-19 pandemic and how such strategies have been adjusted for a more resilient post-Covid-19 world. Using the Best Worst method multicriteria decision technique and exploiting data collected from decision makers from the retail industry to rank the distribution strategies according to their level of importance, we show that omnichannel distribution strategy ranked highest, followed by direct shipment distribution capability in contributing to the success of retail distribution during the Covid-19 pandemic. On the other hand, inventory pooling, transhipment, centralised or decentralised strategy, and cross-docking ranked lower while retail distribution strategy was lowest ranked. Finally, particular emphasis must be placed on the critical factors identified in the evaluation in terms of their challenging dimension and impact as they pave way for a more capable retail resilience distribution capability

Everything But the Merits: Analyzing the Procedural Aspects of the Healthcare Litigation

The role of States as Litigants in the Mandate Litigation Panel featured E. Duncan Getchell, Jr., Solicitor General of Virginia; William F. Brockman, Acting Solicitor General of Maryland; and William P. Marshall, the William Rand Kenan, Jr. Distinguished Professor of Law at the University of North Carolina School of Law. The Defining the Scope and Legal Effect of the Challenges to the Individual Mandate Panel featured Edward A. Hartnett, Richard J. Hughes Professor at the Seton Hall University School of Law; Tobias A. Dorsey, Special Counsel for the United States Sentencing Commission (USSC); and Kevin C. Walsh, Assistant Professor of Law at the University of Richmond School of Law The Situating the Mandate Litigation in the Broader Regulatory and Political Landscape Panel featured Bradley W. Joondeph, Santa Clara University School of Law, Creator of the ACA litigation blog; A. Christopher Bryant, Professor of Law at the University of Cincinnati College of Law; and Elizabeth Weeks Leonard, Associate Professor of Law at the University of Georgia Law School

Racial Difference in Human Platelet PAR4 Reactivity Reflects Expression of PCTP and miR-376c

Racial differences in the pathophysiology of atherothrombosis are poorly understood. We explored the function and transcriptome of platelets in healthy black (n = 70) and white (n = 84) subjects. PAR4 thrombin receptor induced platelet aggregation and calcium mobilization were significantly greater in black subjects. Numerous differentially expressed (DE) RNAs were associated with both race and PAR4 reactivity, including phosphatidylcholine transfer protein (PCTP), and platelets from blacks expressed higher levels of PC-TP protein. PC-TP inhibition or depletion blocked activation of platelets or megakaryocytic cell lines through PAR4 but not PAR1. MiR-376c levels were DE by race and PAR4 reactivity, and were inversely correlated with PCTP mRNA levels, PC-TP protein levels and PAR4 reactivity. MiR-376c regulated expression of PC-TP in human megakaryocytes. A disproportionately high number of miRNAs DE by race and PAR4 reactivity, including miR-376c, are encoded in the DLK1-DIO3 locus, and were lower in platelets from blacks. These results support PC-TP as a regulator of the racial difference in PAR4-mediated platelet activation, indicate a genomic contribution to platelet function that differs by race, and emphasize a need to consider race effects when developing anti-thrombotic drugs