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Major nonprimate-primate differences in cortico-genesis include the dimensions, precursor lineages, and developmental timing of the germinal zones (GZs). microRNAs (miRNAs) of laser-dissected GZ compartments and cortical plate (CP) from embryonic E80 macaque visual cortex were deep sequenced. The CP and the GZ including ventricular zone (VZ) and outer and inner subcompartments of the outer subventricular zone (OSVZ) in area 17 displayed unique miRNA profiles. miRNAs present in primate, but absent in rodent, contributed disproportionately to the differential expression between GZ subregions. Prominent among the validated targets of these miRNAs were cell-cycle and neurogenesis regulators. Coevolution between the emergent miRNAs and their targets suggested that novel miRNAs became integrated into ancient gene circuitry to exert additional control over proliferation. We conclude that multiple cell-cycle regulatory events contribute to the emergence of primate-specific cortical features, including the OSVZ, generated enlarged supragranular layers, largely responsible for the increased primate cortex computational abilities.

These authors state that, while New England schools serve the children of the affluent very well, many children from low-income backgrounds are left behind at key points in the "non-system" that is perpetuated from preschool through college and beyond. They suggest that all segments of New England education should work more closely together so that more children, especially urban and rural students, could complete college degrees. Nationally, the State Higher Education Executive Officers association, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and the National Governors Association have defined higher expectations around preschool through "grade 20" collaboration, and, with the Nellie Mae Education Foundation, have invested $10 million in the New England states. The authors reviewed how the six New England states began persuading higher education to work with the early childhood and K-12 systems toward the the "P-20" goal. This article presents the findings of this review, citing the progress that has been made, and the barriers that persist.

At 75, encouraged by an 18-year veteran board member who decided to seek election to the state legislature, the author decided to run for election to the five-member regional school board that represents the voters in the four-town New Hampshire seacoast. He had been superintendent of a five-town area in New Hampshire and in the Boston suburb of Wellesley, Massachusetts, and had led many workshops for school boards and superintendents during his 20 years at the University of New Hampshire and 10 years with the New England School Development Council. In this article, the author tells why, in his mid-70s, he opted to serve on a local school board and why other retired superintendents should consider doing so.

To improve board-administrator relations, superintendents should establish a firm foundation for teamwork, nurture mutual respect and support, understand their roles, be a supercoach, encourage frequent, two-way communication, avoid surprises, discourage micromanagement, avoid wasting teammates' time, tackle conflict, and assess the team's progress. (Contains 24 references.) (MLH)

In this creative nonfiction piece, the author presents his views on football player Pete Dawkins in Metropolitan Museum of Art. Topics discussed include photographs of athletes on the wall; social groups in Cranbrook School for athletes and non-athletes; and link between Pete Dawkins and any boy who tried out for the football team as well as Campbell's relationship with Pete Dawkins.

Describes a lawsuit filed in January 1982 by New Hampshire students, parents, and school districts charging that the state's elementary and secondary education system's heavy reliance on local property taxes violates the state constitution by creating substantial inequities in the funds available per pupil in each district. (Author/RW)

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine whether surgery and anesthesia exposure is an independent risk factor for cognitive impairment after major noncardiac surgery associated with critical illness. Summary of Background Data: Postoperative cognitive impairment is a prevalent individual and public health problem. Data are inconclusive as to whether this impairment is attributable to surgery and anesthesia exposure versus patients' baseline factors and hospital course. Methods: In a multicenter prospective cohort study, we enrolled ICU patients with major noncardiac surgery during hospital admission and with non-surgical medical illness. At 3 and 12 months, we assessed survivors' global cognitive function with the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status and executive function with the Trail Making Test, Part B. We performed multivariable linear regression to study the independent association of surgery/anesthesia exposure with cognitive outcomes, adjusting initially for baseline covariates and subsequently for in-hospital covariates. Results: We enrolled 1040 patients, 402 (39%) with surgery/anesthesia exposure. Median global cognition scores were similar in patients with surgery/anesthesia exposure compared with those without exposure at 3 months (79 vs 80) and 12 months (82 vs 82). Median executive function scores were also similar at 3 months (41 vs 40) and 12 months (43 vs 42). Surgery/anesthesia exposure was not associated with worse global cognition or executive function at 3 or 12months inmodels incorporating baseline or in-hospital covariates (P > 0.2). Higher baseline education level was associated with better global cognition at 3 and 12 months (P < 0.001), and longer in-hospital delirium duration was associated with worse global cognition (P < 0.02) and executive function (P < 0.01) at 3 and 12 months. Conclusions: Cognitive impairment after major noncardiac surgery and critical illness is not associated with the surgery and anesthesia exposure but is predicted by baseline education level and in-hospital delirium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Rapid growth of the older adult population requires greater epidemiologic characterization of dementia. We developed national prevalence estimates of diagnosed dementia and subtypes in the highest risk United States (US) population. Methods We analyzed Centers for Medicare & Medicaid administrative enrollment and claims data for 100% of Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries enrolled during 2011–2013 and age ≥68 years as of December 31, 2013 (n = 21.6 million). Results Over 3.1 million (14.4%) beneficiaries had a claim for a service and/or treatment for any dementia subtype. Dementia not otherwise specified was the most common diagnosis (present in 92.9%). The most common subtype was Alzheimer's (43.5%), followed by vascular (14.5%), Lewy body (5.4%), frontotemporal (1.0%), and alcohol induced (0.7%). The prevalence of other types of diagnosed dementia was 0.2%. Discussion This study is the first to document concurrent prevalence of primary dementia subtypes among this US population. The findings can assist in prioritizing dementia research, clinical services, and caregiving resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food safety regulators request prediction of allergenicity for newly expressed proteins in genetically modified (GM) crops and in novel foods. Some have suggested using animal models to assess potential allergenicity. A variety of animal models have been used in research to evaluate sensitisation or elicitation of allergic responses. However, protocols for sensitisation and challenge, animal species and strains, diets and other environmental factors differ widely. We present a comprehensive review of published, peer-reviewed experimental animal models used for the evaluation of allergenicity of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]