Professional Development Principles for Teachers of English Language Learners

Since effective professional development is logically embedded in the reality of schools and teachers‘ work, it stands to reason that the principal would consider that reality for teachers of English language learners (ELL). Certainly, in general, professional development would incorporate principles of adult learning as reported by Knowles (1980): (1) adult learners need to be self-directed; (2) they display readiness to learn when they have a perceived need; and (3) they desire immediate application of new skills and knowledge. Based on adult learning theory, then, principals would provide teachers of ELLs professional development that addresses a need for self-direction, that addresses their particular needs, and that addresses the desire to apply what is learned. Time and created situations whereby teachers can dialogue with other teachers and principals can dialogue with other principals is critical for the effective application of the knowledge gained in professional development sessions and afterward as well

Association of acculturation with cardiac structure and function among Hispanics/Latinos: a cross-sectional analysis of the echocardiographic study of Latinos.

OBJECTIVE:Hispanics/Latinos, the largest immigrant population in the USA, undergo the process of acculturation and have a large burden of heart failure risk. Few studies have examined the association of acculturation on cardiac structure and function. DESIGN:Cross-sectional. SETTING:The Echocardiographic Study of Latinos. PARTICIPANTS:1818 Hispanic adult participants with baseline echocardiographic assessment and acculturation measured by the Short Acculturation Scale, nativity, age at immigration, length of US residence, generational status and language. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES:Echocardiographic assessment of left atrial volume index (LAVI), left ventricular mass index (LVMI), early diastolic transmitral inflow and mitral annular velocities. RESULTS:The study population was predominantly Spanish-speaking and foreign-born with mean residence in the US of 22.7 years, mean age of 56.4 years; 50% had hypertension, 28% had diabetes and 44% had a body mass index &gt;30 kg/m2. Multivariable analyses demonstrated higher LAVI with increasing years of US residence. Foreign-born and first-generation participants had higher E/e' but lower LAVI and e' velocities compared with the second generation. Higher acculturation and income &gt;20K were associated with higher LVMI, LAVI and E/e' but lower e' velocities. Preferential Spanish-speakers with an income <20K had a higher E/e'. CONCLUSIONS:Acculturation was associated with abnormal cardiac structure and function, with some effect modification by socioeconomic status

L’intégration des services sur une base locale : acquis et limites

Cet article rend compte d'une expérience locale d'intégration des services auprès d'une clientèle souffrant de troubles mentaux. L'expérience s'est déroulée dans une région rurale entre 1998 et 2001 et a été financée par le Fonds pour l'adaptation des services de santé (FASS). Les auteurs décrivent le contexte particulier de l'expérimentation, le modèle d'intervention qui, fait particulier, comprend une intégration des services de santé au niveau populationnel ainsi que des interventions spécifiques pour la clientèle de la santé mentale. Les auteurs procèdent ensuite à l'évaluation de cette expérimentation et plus particulièrement son implantation en s'appuyant sur le concept de partenariat. Les relations dyadiques entre les acteurs institutionnels, non institutionnels et les personnes utilisatrices sont ainsi examinées. Après avoir mis en évidence les avantages d'une telle expérimentation locale, ils discutent des limites et des enjeux particuliers de ce projet dans le contexte de la santé mentale.Service integration on a local basis : advantages and limits This article describes an experience of integration of services to people with mental health disorders on a local basis. The experience took place in a rural region between 1998 and 2001 and was funded by the Fonds pour l'adaptation des services de santé (FASS). The authors describe th specific context of the experience, the intervention model which includes integration of health services on a population level as well as specific interventions for mental health patients. The authors then evaluate the experience and more particularly, its implementation on the basis of the concept of partnership. Dyadic relationships between institutional, non institutional protagonists and consumers are examined. After emphasizing the advantages of such an experience, the authors discuss the limits and particular stakes of such a project in the context of mental health.La integración de servicios sobre una base local: adquiridos y limites Este artículo da cuenta de una experiencia local de integración de servicios con personas que padecen de problemas mentales. La experiencia se efectuó en una región rural entre 1998 y 2001 y ha sido financiada por el Fondos para la adaptación de servicios de salud (FASS). Los autores describen el contexto particular de la experimentación, el modelo de intervención, cual, hecho particular, incluye una integración de servicios de salud al nivel poblacional aisi que de intervenciones específicas para la clientela de salud mental. Los autores proceden despues a una evaluación de esta experimentación y más particularmente, su establecimiento, apoyandose sobre el concepto de colaboración. Las relaciones dyadicas entre los actores institucionales, non institucionales y las personas utilizadoras estan examinadas. Ponen en evidencia las ventajas de tal experimentación local y discuten de las limites y de cuestiones particulares de este proyecto en el contexto de la salud mental.Integração dos serviços prestados localmente: conquistas e limites Este artigo trata de uma experiência local de integração dos serviços prestados junto a uma clientela que sofre de problemas mentais. A experiência foi realizada em uma região rural entre 1998 e 2001 e foi financiada pelo Fundo para Adaptação dos Serviços de Saúde (FASS). Os autores descrevem o contexto específico da experiência, o modelo da atuação que, especificamente neste caso, inclui uma integração dos serviços de saúde em nível popular e as atuações específicas da clientela de saúde mental. Os autores fazem em seguida uma avaliação desta experiência e, mais especificamente, de sua implantação, apoiando-se no conceito de parceria. Eles examinam as relações diádicas entre os atores institucionais, não institucionais e os usuários. Depois de evidenciar as vantagens desta experiência local, eles discutem sobre os limites e as questões específicas deste projeto no contexto da saúde mental

Direct Conversion of Fibroblasts to Hematopoietic Progenitors

Immunodeficient-causing diseases such as HIV and leukemia have no cures, often require meticulous treatments and result in high morbidity or mortality. Although bone marrow transplants are an option for a subset of leukemia patients, the shortage of donors and the requirement for donor matching restricts the efficacy of this treatment option. Therefore there is a prominent clinical need for alternative sources of hematopoietic stem/progentior cells with lymphopoietic potential. Recently we described the direct conversion of human dermal fibroblasts to multilineage hematopoietic progenitors by ectopic expression of OCT4. This direct conversion method was used to assess whether OCT4-transduced fibroblasts had the capacity to derive cells of the lymphoid lineage. This work shows the transient co-expression of CD34 and CD45 of fibroblasts within 7 days of OCT4 transduction followed by stable expression of CD45 on fibroblasts by day 15. The acquisition of hematopoietic markers, however, did not coincide with colony formation as previously described. Furthermore, CD45+ cells that were enriched and cultured in hematopoietic conducive conditions did not acquire co-expression of CD34 as previously shown. Interestingly, CD34 expression was shown to be inversely correlated with OCT4 expression. Therefore the constitutive expression of OCT4 may have (1) inhibited the acquisition of CD34 expression on CD45+ cells (2) downregulated the expression of CD34 on the day 7 CD34+CD45+ fibroblasts, thereby resulting in the transient expression of these markers. Furthermore, this work shows that expression of CD45 on OCT4-transduced fibroblasts is required for survival on the MS5 stromal cell line used to support hematopoietic progenitors with lymphopoietic potential, while supplementation of CD45+ fibroblasts with hematopoietic progenitor supportive conditions resulting in co-expression of CD34 and CD45 is required for acquisition of CD19, a pan-B cell marker on CD45+ fibroblasts. These findings suggest OCT4-transduced fibroblasts have lymphopoietic potential.Master of Science (MSc

Therapeutic effect of an intensive, comprehensive aphasia program: Aphasia LIFT

The development of intensive, comprehensive aphasia programs (ICAPs) is increasing due to evidence in favour of greater treatment intensity (Cherney, Patterson, Raymer, Frymark, & Schooling, 2008), the adoption of a broad, holistic, biopsychosocial approach in aphasia rehabilitation (Byng & Duchan, 2005; Kagan et al., 2008; Martin, Thompson, & Worrall, 2008; Simmons-Mackie & Kagan, 2007), and the desire to meet the needs of people with aphasia and their family members in therapy (Howe et al., 2012; Worrall et al., 2012). ICAPs comprise a range of therapy approaches (individual therapy, group therapy, patient/family education, technology), delivered at high intensity (minimum of three hours per day over at least two weeks), to a defined group of participants within a specified amount of time (Cherney, Worrall, & Rose, 2012). Aphasia LIFT (Language Impairment and Functioning Therapy) is a research-based ICAP that uses evidence-based therapy approaches to target language and functioning across the World Health Organization’s International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) domains (WHO, 2001). The aim of this study was to determine the therapeutic effect of Aphasia LIFT on language impairment, functional communication, and communication-related quality of life (QOL)

Presence of Toxocara spp. in Domestic Cats in the State of Mexico

Background: Toxocara spp. is a gastrointestinal nematode with cosmopolitan distribution and is the most common parasite in domestic cats, which can deposit fertilized eggs in the environment with feces. Egg maturation starts in the soil, concluding two to three weeks after cat defecation, but eggs can remain viable in the soil for years and spread onto vegetables and into water. Infection of cats and paratenic hosts (among them humans) occurs through ingestion of infected eggs from the environment, through ingestion of paratenic hosts and, in puppies, through milk from infected mothers. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the presence of Toxocara spp. in domestic cats. Materials Methods & Results: In this study, 229 fecal samples from domestic cats were collected in the state of Mexico, Mexico. All of cats had an owner, and fresh feline feces were collected in previously labeled sterile bottles. Coproparasitological examinations were performed on these samples using a flotation technique with sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and sodium nitrate (NaNO3), Toxocara spp. eggs were identified under the microscope, in accordance with the morphological descriptions. The data were analyzed by means of Fishers exact test in order to compare the presence of Toxocara eggs according to cat age and sex. The chi-square test was used to determine associations between variables and odds ratios (OR) were calculated to determine the risk factors. Presence of Toxocara spp. eggs was identified in 42% (96/229) of the cats, of which 23% were males and 19% females. We did find an association between cats under the age of six months (P = 0.01) and the presence of Toxocara spp. eggs, and therefore age was determined to be a risk factor (OR = 1.69) for the presence of Toxocara spp. eggs in feces, cats over one year old showed a statistically significant association (P = 0.02) with the presence of parasite eggs in feces. The presence of Toxocara spp. was found to be a risk factor (OR = 1.57) among male cats aged less than 6 months, while among female cats a statistically significant association was found (P = 0.03) for the presence of Toxocara spp. Meanwhile, comparing positive cats of both sexes with age, a statistically significant difference (P = 0.02) was found regarding cats over one year old. Discussion: It were identified Toxocara spp. eggs in 42% of the feces of domestic cats from the state of Mexico. These results are similar to those reported by other studies in Mexico City, they also reported that there was a larger number of infected cats under one year of age and that males had higher infection rates. Comparison of both sexes with age showed a statistically significant association (P = 0.01) between cats under six months old and the presence of Toxocara eggs in feces. This age was also considered to be a risk factor (OR = 1.69) for parasite eggs in feces, during the first months of life, the larvae migrate and finish their cycle, but when the cat has reached its mature stage, the larvae may become entrenched and avoid finishing their life cycle. Male sex was identified as a risk factor for the presence of Toxocara spp. The prevalence of Toxocara spp. in domestic cats in the state of Mexico is high, and represents a potential risk of human toxocariasis. From the results found, it can be considered that cats are a major source of dissemination of environmental pollution and Toxocara spp

Intensive Comprehensive Aphasia Programs: An International Survey of Practice

Background: In response to the need to simultaneously address multiple domains of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) in aphasia therapy and to incorporate intensive treatment doses consistent with principles of neuroplasticity, a potentially potent treatment option termed intensive comprehensive aphasia programs (ICAPs) has been developed. Objective: To conduct an international survey of ICAPs to determine the extent of their use and to explore current ICAP practices. Methods: A 32-item online survey was distributed internationally through Survey Monkey between May and August 2012. The survey addressed ICAP staffing, philosophy, values, funding, admission criteria, activities, family involvement, outcome measures, and factors considered important to success. Results: Twelve ICAPs responded: 8 from the United States, 2 from Canada, and 1 each from Australia and the United Kingdom. The majority of ICAPs are affiliated with university programs and are funded through participant self-pay. ICAPs emphasize individualized treatment goals and evidence-based practices, with a focus on applying the principles of neuroplasticity related to repetition and intensity of treatment. On average, 6 people with aphasia attend each ICAP, for 4 days per week for 4 weeks, receiving about 100 hours of individual, group, and computer-based treatment. Speech-language pathologists, students, and volunteers staff the majority of ICAPs. Conclusions: ICAPs are increasing in number but remain a rare service delivery option. They address the needs of individuals who want access to intensive treatment and are interested in making significant changes to their communication skills and psychosocial well-being in a short period of time. Their efficacy and cost-effectiveness require future investigation