A Comparison of Social Skills in Graded and Nongraded Elementary Schools

Previous studies comparing the effects of graded and nongraded schools have focused on students\u27 achievement, attitude, and mental health variables. However, social skills have not been directly compared in these instructional settings examined. The current study compared graded and nongraded school structures in relation to students\u27 social skills. Students in four elementary schools were evaluated by the Social Skills Rating System (SSRS), as rated by themselves. It was predicted that students in nongraded schools would demonstrate better social skills. In addition, the Cooperation subscale of the SSRS was expected to be more predictive of the nongraded schools

Nongraded versus Graded Elementary Schools: An Analysis of Achievement and Social Skills

In the last decade nongraded schools have regained popularity. Researchers and practitioners question the impact of the present applications of the nongraded structure on students. Two separate studies were conducted that compared the effects of nongraded and graded school grouping structures. The first study analyzed academic outcomes in reading, math, written language, and spelling. The second study evaluated the relationship between school type and social skills. Results indicated that students in the primary level (grades 1, 2, and 3) who attended the nongraded school performed better than their counterparts in the graded school on the reading and math assessment, but there were no differences in written language or spelling. At the intermediate level (grades 4, 5, and 6), students at the nongraded school performed better in written language and spelling, but the scores did not differ in reading or math. Students in the nongraded schools reported a higher level of social skills than students at the graded schools. The results and implications for school practice are discussed.Au cours des dix dernières années, les écoles décloisonnées ont connu un regain de popularité. Les chercheurs et les enseignants se posent des questions quant à l'impact qu'a la structure sans classe distincte sur les élèves. On a entrepris deux études séparées pour comparer les effets des cadres cloisonnés et décloisonnés. La première a analysé le rendement académique dans les domaines suivants: lecture, mathématiques, rédaction et orthographe. La deuxième a évalué le rapport entre le type d'école et les habiletés sociales. Les résultats indiquent que les élèves de l r e , 2e et 3e années qui allaient à l'école décloisonnée obtenaient de meilleurs résultats en lecture et en mathématiques que leurs homologues dans l'école cloisonnée. Aucune différence n'a été perçue en rédaction ou en orthographe. En 4e, 5e et 6e années, les élèves de l'école décloisonnée réussissaient mieux les épreuves de rédaction et d'orthographe, mais ne manifestaient aucune différence en lecture et en mathématiques. Les élèves dans les écoles décloisonnées faisaient preuve de meilleures habiletés sociales que les élèves dans les écoles cloisonnées. On discute des résultats et des implications pour la pratique scolaire

Phosphorylation by protein kinase CK2 modulates the activity of the ATP-binding cassette A1 (ABCA1) transporter.

In a previous characterization of the ABCA subfamily of the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters, we identified potential protein kinase 2 (CK2) phosphorylation sites, which are conserved in eukaryotic and prokaryotic members of the ABCA transporters (Peelman, F., Labeur, C., Vanloo, B., Roosbeek, S., Devaud, C., Duverger, N., Denefle, P., Rosier, M., Vandekerckhove, J., and Rosseneu, M. ( 2003) J. Mol. Biol. 325, 259 - 274). These phosphorylation residues are located in the conserved cytoplamic R1 and R2 domains, downstream of the nucleotide binding domains NBD1 and NBD2. To study the possible regulation of the ABCA1 transporter by CK2, we expressed the recombinant cytoplasmic domains of ABCA1, NBD1 + R1 and NBD2 + R2. We demonstrated that in vitro ABCA1 NBD1 + R1, and not NBD2 + R2, is phosphorylated by CK2, and we identified Thr-1242, Thr-1243, and Ser-1255 as the phosphorylated residues in the R1 domain by mass spectrometry. We further investigated the functional significance of the threonine and serine phosphorylation sites in NBD1 by site-directed mutagenesis of the entire ABCA1 followed by transfection into Hek-293 Tet-Off cells. The ABCA1 flippase activity, apolipoprotein AI and AII binding, and cellular phospholipid and cholesterol efflux were enhanced by mutations preventing CK2 phosphorylation of the threonine and serine residues. This was confirmed by the effect of specific protein kinase CK2 inhibitors upon the activity of wild type and mutant ABCA1 in transfected Hek-293 Tet-Off cells. The activities of the mutants mimicking threonine phosphorylation were close to that of wild type ABCA1. Our data, therefore, suggest that besides protein kinase A and C, protein kinase CK2 might play an important role in vivo in regulating the function and transport activity of ABCA1 and possibly of other members of the ABCA subfamily

Development of an international Delphi survey to establish core outcome domains for trials in adults with glomerular disease

Outcomes relevant to treatment decision-making are inconsistently reported in trials involving glomerular disease. Here, we sought to establish a consensus-derived set of critically important outcomes designed to be reported in all future trials by using an online, international two-round Delphi survey in English. To develop this, patients with glomerular disease, caregivers and health professionals aged 18 years and older rated the importance of outcomes using a Likert scale and a Best-Worst scale. The absolute and relative importance was assessed and comments were analyzed thematically. Of 1198 participants who completed Round 1, 734 were patients/ caregivers while 464 were health care professionals from 59 countries. Of 700 participants that completed Round 2, 412 were patients/caregivers and 288 were health care professionals. Need for dialysis or transplant, kidney function, death, cardiovascular disease, remission-relapse and life participation were the most important outcomes to patients/caregivers and health professionals. Patients/ caregivers rated patient-reported outcomes higher while health care professionals rated hospitalization, death and remission/relapse higher. Four themes explained the reasons for their priorities: confronting death and compounded suffering, focusing on specific targets in glomerular disease, preserving meaning in life, and fostering self-management. Thus, consistent reporting of these critically important outcomes in all trials involving glomerular disease is hoped to improve patient-centered decision-making

A Focus Group Study of Self-Management in Patients With Glomerular Disease

IntroductionPatients with glomerular disease experience symptoms that impair their physical and mental health while managing their treatments, diet, appointments and monitoring general and specific indicators of health and their illness. We sought to describe the perspectives of patients and their care partners on self-management in glomerular disease.MethodsWe conducted 16 focus groups involving adult patients with glomerular disease (n = 101) and their care partners (n = 34) in Australia, Hong Kong, the United Kingdom, and United States. Transcripts were analyzed thematically.ResultsWe identified the following 4 themes: empowered in autonomy (gaining confidence through understanding, taking ownership of disease and treatment, learning a positive health approach); overwhelmed by compounding treatment burdens (financially undermined and depleted, demoralized by side effects and harms, frustrated by fragmented and inflexible care, fear of possible drug harms); striving for stability and normalcy (making personal sacrifices, maximizing life participation, attentiveness to bodily signs, avoiding precarious health states, integrating medicines into routines); and necessity of health-sustaining relationships (buoyed by social support, fulfilling meaningful responsibilities, sharing and normalizing experiences, seeking a trusting and respectful alliance).ConclusionPatients with glomerular disease and their care partners value their capacity for autonomy and disease ownership, stability of their health, and relationships that support self-management. Strategies directed at strengthening these factors may increase self-efficacy and improve the care and outcomes for patients with glomerular disease

A Focus Group Study of Self-Management in Patients With Glomerular Disease

Introduction: Patients with glomerular disease experience symptoms that impair their physical and mental health while managing their treatments, diet, appointments and monitoring general and specific indicators of health and their illness. We sought to describe the perspectives of patients and their care partners on self-management in glomerular disease. Methods: We conducted 16 focus groups involving adult patients with glomerular disease (n = 101) and their care partners (n = 34) in Australia, Hong Kong, the United Kingdom, and United States. Transcripts were analyzed thematically. Results: We identified the following 4 themes: empowered in autonomy (gaining confidence through understanding, taking ownership of disease and treatment, learning a positive health approach); over-whelmed by compounding treatment burdens (financially undermined and depleted, demoralized by side effects and harms, frustrated by fragmented and inflexible care, fear of possible drug harms); striving for stability and normalcy (making personal sacrifices, maximizing life participation, attentiveness to bodily signs, avoiding precarious health states, integrating medicines into routines); and necessity of health-sustaining relationships (buoyed by social support, fulfilling meaningful responsibilities, sharing and normalizing experiences, seeking a trusting and respectful alliance). Conclusion: Patients with glomerular disease and their care partners value their capacity for autonomy and disease ownership, stability of their health, and relationships that support self-management. Strategies directed at strengthening these factors may increase self-efficacy and improve the care and outcomes for patients with glomerular disease

A Core Outcome Set for Trials in Glomerular Disease

Background and objectives Outcomes reported in trials in adults with glomerular disease are often selected with minimal patient input, are heterogeneous, and may not be relevant for clinical decision making. The Standardized Outcomes in Nephrology–Glomerular Disease (SONG-GD) initiative aimed to establish a core outcome set to help ensure that outcomes of critical importance to patients, care partners, and clinicians are consistently reported.Design, setting, participants, and measurements We convened two 1.5-hour workshops in Melbourne, Australia, and Washington, DC, United States. Attendees were identified purposively with 50 patients/care partners and 88 health professionals from 19 countries; 51% were female. Patients and care partners were from the United States, Australia, and Canada, and had experience of a glomerular disease with systemic features (n=9), kidney-limited nephrotic disease (n=9), or other kidney-limited glomerular disease (n=8). Attendees reviewed the results of the SONG-GD Delphi survey and aims of the workshop and then discussed potential core outcomes and their implementation in trials among moderated breakout groups of eight to 12 people from diverse backgrounds. Transcripts of discussions were analyzed thematically.Results Three themes were identified that supported the proposed core outcomes: limiting disease progression, stability and control, and ensuring universal relevance (i.e., applicable across diverse populations and settings). The fourth theme, preparedness for implementation, included engaging with funders and regulators, establishing reliable and validated measures, and leveraging existing endorsements for patient-reported outcomes.Conclusions Workshop themes demonstrated support for kidney function, disease activity, death, life participation, and cardiovascular disease, and these were established as the core outcomes for trials in adults with glomerular disease. Future work is needed to establish the core measures for each domain, with funders and regulators central to the uptake of the core outcome set in trials.</div