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Lesson study, especially when conducted with support from targeted resources, is often identified as a potentially effective means to support teacher learning. In this study, 80 school-based teams of educators, representing 80 classrooms of third- or fourth-grade students in the US, were randomly assigned to one of four conditions: lesson study supported by fractions resources, lesson study only, fractions resources only, or a comparison group. Fractions instruction was improved in the two conditions that received the fractions resources. Average student performance on a fractions test did not increase relative to the comparison group in any of the three intervention conditions. However, moderation analyses suggest that lesson study, both with and without fractions resources, may have improved student performance in one state, which represented half of the sample. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives To improve the definitions of inflammatory arthritis within the musculoskeletal (MSK) domain of the BILAG-2004 index by incorporating imaging findings and clinical features predictive of response to treatment. Methods The BILAG MSK Subcommittee proposed revisions to the BILAG-2004 index definitions of inflammatory arthritis, based on review of evidence in two recent studies. Data from these studies were pooled and analysed to determine the impact of the proposed changes on the severity grading of inflammatory arthritis. Results The revised definition for severe inflammatory arthritis includes definition of 'basic activities of daily living'. For moderate inflammatory arthritis, it now includes synovitis, defined by either observed joint swelling or MSK US evidence of inflammation in joints and surrounding structures. For mild inflammatory arthritis, the definition now includes reference to symmetrical distribution of affected joints and guidance on how US may help re-classify patients as moderate or no inflammatory arthritis. Data from two recent SLE trials were analysed (219 patients). A total of 119 (54.3%) were graded as having mild inflammatory arthritis (BILAG-2004 Grade C). Of these, 53 (44.5%) had evidence of joint inflammation (synovitis or tenosynovitis) on US. Applying the new definition increased the number of patients classified as moderate inflammatory arthritis from 72 (32.9%) to 125 (57.1%), while patients with normal US (n  = 66/119) could be recategorized as BILAG-2004 Grade D (inactive disease). Conclusions Proposed changes to the definitions of inflammatory arthritis in the BILAG-2004 index will result in more accurate classification of patients who are more or less likely to respond to treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Early elementary school students are expected to solve twelve distinct types of word problems. A math researcher and two teachers pose a structure for thinking about one problem type that has not been studied as closely as the other eleven. In this article, the authors share some of their discoveries with regard to the variety of both-addends-unknown problems and offer suggestions for classroom practice when creating and implementing these types of problems. The authors intended that the analytical structure posed in this article will initiate discussions about important considerations with regard to using both-addends-unknown problems in instruction and assessment. They offer a recommendation that teachers, curriculum developers, and assessment-item writers carefully consider the thoughts and experiences shared in this article when selecting or writing both-addend-unknown problems to pose to students. Finally, the authors encourage careful consideration of number choice, the type of problem (attribute, placement, or model dependent), the inclusion of zero, and how manipulatives will be used in administering the problem. Such careful implementation will offer crucial insight into how students interact with the mathematical ideas inherent in these problems.

Height, diameter, and survival data were obtained from 20 range-wide black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) BSP) provenance trials established from 1973 to 1977. Population response functions based on February minimum temperatures were developed for 23 Ontario and Great Lakes states provenances to predict climate values maximizing height growth for individual seed sources. Site transfer functions based on February maximum temperatures and May maximum temperatures were developed for five test sites to predict climate values maximizing height growth for test locations. Contour lines representing optimal performance were fitted to current (1961-1990) and future (2041-2070) climate grids. For black spruce seed sources from the east of Lake Superior and Lake Huron, optimal height growth was achieved between 45° and 47°N; for the western sources optimal performance moved north between 46° and 48°N. In eastern Ontario, height growth of northern sources may increase with transfer to warmer environments and with future temperature increases. Central sources are currently growing at or close to optimum and will be negatively affected by increased future temperatures. Southern sources may currently benefit from transfer to cooler environments, and the effects of global warming may cause significant height growth loss and the potential extirpation of local populations. Des donnees de hauteur, de diametre et de survie ont ete obtenues pour 20 tests de provenances d' epinette noire (Picea mariana (Mill.) BSP) etablis entre 1973 et 1977 a travers l'aire naturelle de repartition de cette essence. Des fonctions de response de la population bases sur la temperature minimum en fevrier ont ete developpees pour 23 provenances de l'Ontario et des Grands Lacs afin de predire les valeurs du climat qui maximisent la croissance en hauteur de provenances individuelles. Des fonctions de transfert de site basees sur la temperature maximum en fevrier et la temperature maximum en mai ont ete developpees pour cinq sites d'essai afin de predire les valeurs du climat qui maximisent la croissance en hauteur dans les sites d'essai. Des lignes de contour correspondant a la performance optimale ont ete ajustees aux grilles climatiques actuelles (1961-1990) et futures (2041-2070). Dans le cas des provenances d'epinette noire de l'est des lacs Superieur et Huron, la croissance optimale en hauteur survenait entre le 45 et 47°N; dans le cas des provenances de l'ouest, la performance optimale survenait plus au nord entre le 46 et 48° N. Dans l'est de l'Ontario, la croissance en hauteur des provenances nordiques pourrait augmenter en effectuant un transfert vers des milieux plus chauds ou a cause de l'augmentation future de la temperature. Les provenances centrales croissent presentement de facon optimale ou presque et seront affectees negativement par l'augmentation future de la temperature. Les provenances meridionales pourraient des maintenant beneficier d'un transfert vers des milieux plus froids et les effets du rechauffement global pourraient engendrer une perte significative de croissance en hauteur et la disparition potentielle des populations locales. [Traduit par la Redaction], Introduction The primary force determining the vegetation of a region is climate--in particular temperature, precipitation, and seasonal variation (Adams 2007). Over the next century, increasing concentrations of atmospheric carbon dioxide [...]

Primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) is a chronic autoimmune rheumatic disease with symptoms including dryness, fatigue, and pain. The previous work by our group has suggested that certain proinflammatory cytokines are inversely related to patient-reported levels of fatigue. To date, these findings have not been validated. This study aims to validate this observation. Blood levels of seven cytokines were measured in 120 patients with pSS from the United Kingdom Primary Sjögren's Syndrome Registry and 30 age-matched healthy non-fatigued controls. Patient-reported scores for fatigue were classified according to severity and compared to cytokine levels using analysis of variance. The differences between cytokines in cases and controls were evaluated using Wilcoxon test. A logistic regression model was used to determine the most important identifiers of fatigue. Five cytokines, interferon-γ-induced protein-10 (IP-10), tumour necrosis factor-α (TNFα), interferon-α (IFNα), interferon-γ (IFN-γ), and lymphotoxin-α (LT-α) were significantly higher in patients with pSS (n = 120) compared to non-fatigued controls (n = 30). Levels of two proinflammatory cytokines, TNF-α (p = 0.021) and LT-α (p = 0.043), were inversely related to patient-reported levels of fatigue. Cytokine levels, disease-specific and clinical parameters as well as pain, anxiety, and depression were used as predictors in our validation model. The model correctly identifies fatigue levels with 85% accuracy. Consistent with the original study, pain, depression, and proinflammatory cytokines appear to be the most powerful predictors of fatigue in pSS. TNF-α and LT-α have an inverse relationship with fatigue severity in pSS challenging the notion that proinflammatory cytokines directly mediate fatigue in chronic immunological conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies have found that some teacher professional development programs that are based on Cognitively Guided Instruction (CGI) can increase student mathematics achievement. The mechanism through which those effects are realized has been theorized, but more empirical study is needed. In service of this need, we designed a novel measure of instructional practice to assess the extent to which observable features of mathematics instruction are consistent with the principles of CGI. We describe the conceptual foundations and first use of the instrument, which we call M-CLIPS. We found that teachers involved in the first 2 years of a CGI program were using methods consistent with the principles. In contrast, instructional practice in the comparison condition was mostly inconsistent with those principles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the advances of rheumatology in the biologic era which includes the emergence of anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) drugs such as B and T cell blockers, Janus kinases (JAK) and generic biosimilars.

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a significant complication of many systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases (SARDs), although the clinical presentation, severity and outlook may vary widely between individuals. Despite the prevalence, there are no specific guidelines addressing the issue of screening, diagnosis and management of ILD across this diverse group. Guidelines from the ACR and EULAR are expected, but there is a need for UK-specific guidelines that consider the framework of the UK National Health Service, local licensing and funding strategies. This article outlines the intended scope for the British Society for Rheumatology guideline on the diagnosis and management of SARD-ILD developed by the guideline working group. It specifically identifies the SARDs for consideration, alongside the overarching principles for which systematic review will be conducted. Expert consensus will be produced based on the most up-to-date available evidence for inclusion within the final guideline. Key issues to be addressed include recommendations for screening of ILD, identifying the methodology and frequency of monitoring and pharmacological and non-pharmacological management. The guideline will be developed according to methods and processes outlined in Creating Clinical Guidelines: British Society for Rheumatology Protocol version 5.1., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Society for Rheumatology.)