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Current quantitative gender and mathematics research exists as separate ability and postsecondary access studies, each drawing different conclusions. But if gender, achievement and enrollment (measurable proxies) are modeled together it will be possible to investigate possible associations. Using 106,473 standardized Grades 3, 6 and 9 Ontario student test responses from a single cohort, likelihood of enrolling in Grade 9 academic mathematics was modeled against elementary achievement and gender in a binary response model. Males achieved higher, (0.028=d=0.118), and occupied both achievement extremes in greater numbers, (1.04=VR=1.10), while females were 1.5 times more likely to enroll in academic courses. These paradoxical results are discussed in relation to the utility of achievement and enrollment as research metrics in gender and mathematics research.

Protease-activated receptor (PAR)-1 is a cellular receptor for thrombin that is activated after proteolytic cleavage. The contribution of PAR-1 to inflammatory cell-mediated renal injury was assessed in murine crescentic glomerulonephritis (GN). A pivotal role for thrombin in this model was demonstrated by the capacity of hirudin, a selective thrombin antagonist, to attenuate renal injury. Compared with control treatment, hirudin significantly reduced glomerular crescent formation, T cell and macrophage infiltration, fibrin deposition, and elevated serum creatinine, which are prominent features of GN. PAR-1-deficient (PAR-1(-/-)) mice, which have normal coagulation, also showed significant protection from crescentic GN compared with wild-type mice. The reductions in crescent formation, inflammatory cell infiltration, and serum creatinine were similar in PAR-1(-/-) and hirudin-treated mice, but hirudin afforded significantly greater protection from fibrin deposition. Treatment of wild-type mice with a selective PAR-1-activating peptide (TRAP) augmented histological and functional indices of GN, but TRAP treatment did not alter the severity of GN in PAR(-/-) mice. These results indicate that activation of PAR-1 by thrombin or TRAP amplifies crescentic GN. Thus, in addition to its procoagulant role, thrombin has proinflammatory, PAR-1-dependent effects that augment inflammatory renal injury.

Presents a detailed case study of a ninth grade science teacher to explain how school science constrains the development of her professional knowledge. Concludes that the version of experiment and inquiry seemingly prescribed by the institutional science of school is antithetical to the sort of explanatory inquiry the teacher uses when planning and changing her own teaching. (Contains 15 references.) (Author/WRM)

Abstract Background Damp and mould in homes have been established as risk factors for respiratory health. There is a need for a relatively straightforward assessment of the home that quantifies this risk. Methods Using data from 891 New Zealand houses, the utility of a Respiratory Hazard Index quantifying key attributes related to damp and mould was tested by studying its associations with self-reported respiratory symptoms. Results A dose–response relationship was found whereby each unit increase in the Respiratory Hazard Index was associated with an 11% increase in the odds of at least one episode of wheezing/whistling in the chest over the last 12 months (relative odds of 1.11 with a 95% CI 1.04%–1.20%). An 11% increase in the odds of an asthma attack over the last 12 months was estimated (relative odds of 1.11 with a 95% CI 1.01%–1.22%). These estimates were adjusted for household crowding levels, age, sex and smoking status. There was suggestive evidence of more steeply increasing odds of respiratory symptoms with increasing levels of the Respiratory Hazard Index for children aged under 7. In the worst performing houses according to the Index, a 33% reduction in the number of people experiencing respiratory symptoms (relative risk 0.67 with 95% CI 0.53 to 0.85) could be expected if people were housed in the best performing houses. Conclusions This study showed that increased evidence of housing conditions supporting dampness and mould was associated with increased odds of respiratory symptoms. A valid housing assessment tool can provide a rational basis for investment in improved housing quality to improve respiratory health.

Byline: Mikael Boulic, Robyn Phipps, Malcolm Cunningham, Don Cleland, Par Fjallstrom The indoor climate was investigated in 25 dwellings during the winter of 2005, in the Hutt Valley region (Greater Wellington, New Zealand). A temperature/relative humidity sensor and a fungal detector were attached to the indoor side of the external wall in the living room and in the asthmatic child's bedroom for an average period of 42 days. Germinated spores in the fungal detector were counted under a microscope. Only 2% of the Aspergillus penicillioides, 6% of the Eurotium herbariorum and 22% of the Alternaria alternata inclusions, showed germination of spores. Severe visible mould contamination was observed in only 12% of rooms studied. Consistent with these results, the measured average temperature of 16.7[degrees]C [+ or -] 0.2[degrees]C and relative humidity of 63% [+ or -] 1% were lower than normally considered necessary for significant mould development. To confirm these results, the experiment will be repeated in the same dwellings during the winter of 2006.

The article presents abstracts of marketing. They include "The Impact of Environmental/ Situational Forces on Industrial Channel Management," "The Impact of Logistics on the Demand for Mature Industrial Products," "Perceptions of Wholesaler Fimctional Role Prescriptions in Marketing Channels," "The Integration of Marketing Flows in Channels of Distribution," "Recruitment, Motivation, Training and Evaluation of Overseas Distributors," and "Performing Export Tasks in Industrial Channels of Distribution."

A letter to the editor is presented regarding side effects like eye tics and subjective hearing impairment during fluoxetine therapy in patients.

Introduction: This study examines whether being a client in the Northwest Ohio Pathways HUB program reduces stress and improves mental wellbeing for perinatal mothers. The HUB works to improve health by connecting mothers to community health workers (CHWs) who assess mothers' risk factors and connect them to evidence-based care pathways to reduce known risks associated with adverse birth outcomes., Methods: A one-time survey of 119 mothers in the program and monthly semi-structured interviews with 41 mothers, totaling 220 interviews., Results: Almost all mothers reported significantly reduced stress after joining the program. The majority also reported an improved sense of safety, security, and hope. Interviews show additional moderate reductions in stress over time while being a program client. Interviews also indicate that mothers' relationship with their CHW is key to these improvements: CHW provide social-emotional support, access to tangible goods, and help navigating social service bureaucracies., Discussion: The results support the broader literature on the health benefits of community health workers and address identified gaps within the literature, which has infrequently studied CHWs in the perinatal context., Conclusion: CHWs may be one way to address racial inequity in birth outcomes linked to infant mortality, given research on the links between inequitable exposure to stressors, the impacts of racism-induced stress, and preterm and low birth weight babies. Further, the findings indicate the need to better support CHWs, and the programs that utilize them, with increased funding, insurance reimbursement, and certification., Competing Interests: The research in this article is part of a larger program evaluation of the Hospital Council of Northwest Ohio (HCNO) Pathways HUB program that was funded by a grant received from the Ohio Department of Higher Education. The co-authors of this study were all part of the funded grant team. Two of the co-authors (C.S., H.P.) work for or used to work for HCNO. One co-author (C.M.) currently works for HCNO but was involved in the study as an undergraduate research assistant while a student at Bowling Green State University. Two co-authors (C.A., M.C.) work for or used to work for ProMedica Health System, where some of the research participants were recruited. To maintain the objectivity of the research, coauthors from these organizations were involved in the project in an advisory capacity and identifying information about the research participants (CHWs, mothers) was kept confidential from these co-authors. In their advisory capacity as experts in the fields of medicine and public health, these co-authors shared study recruitment flyers with their staff and clients and provided a sounding board for questions about the research and feedback on the results. However, all decisions about research design, along with data collection and analysis, were conducted by the co-authors at (or formerly at) Bowling Green State University (J.R., N.F., J.A.W., M.M., C.M., A.H.)., (© Justin Rex et al., 2024; Published by Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.)