Search

Given that English learners (ELs) comprise one of the fastest growing populations in PK-12 environments, long-term English learners (LTELs) form one subgroup that provokes particular concern. This article explores current understandings of the LTEL designation and discusses diagnostic processes and assessment tools for determining English language proficiency. Complexities of referring ELs/LTELs for special education are then probed with regard to drawing the careful line between language proficiency processes and special education needs. Finally, the authors present possible interventions for LTELs, including the Internationals Network as a large-scale intervention model, followed by smaller scale interventions made on behalf of LTELs in existing schools. The article concludes with strategies and suggestions toward better outcomes for LTELs in school.

Arguably, the most important parameter in treating cognitive decline associated with Alzheimer's disease is the length of time in which improvement, if achieved at all, is sustained. However, monotherapies such as donepezil and memantine are associated with a more rapid decline than no treatment in patients over multi-year follow-ups. Furthermore, anti-amyloid antibody treatment, which at best simply slows decline, is associated with accelerated cerebral atrophy, resulting in earlier dementia-associated brain volumes for those treated at the MCI stage than untreated patients. In contrast, a precision medicine approach, in which the multiple potential drivers of cognitive decline are identified for each patient and then targeted with a personalized protocol (such as ReCODE), has led to documented improvements in patients with cognitive decline, but long-term follow-up (>5 years) has not been reported previously. Therefore, here, we report sustained cognitive improvement, in some cases for over a decade, in patients treated with a precision medicine protocol—something that has not been reported in patients treated with anti-cholinesterase, glutamate receptor inhibitory, anti-amyloid, or other therapeutic methods. These case studies warrant long-term cohort studies to determine how frequently such sustained cognitive improvements occur in patients treated with precision medicine protocols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Longest Common Subsequence for Multiples Sequences problem (LCSM), has been studied for more than 40 years, mainly motivated by its multiple applications in Bioinformatics. In this article we present a heuristic algorithm that estimates one or more solutions to the LCSM problem, using the Shannon’s Entropy as a measure of information in order to determine alignments with the greatest number of matches.

Abstract A poor understanding of the interactions between biophysical and social elements within rural mountainous landscapes can lead to suboptimal management and recommendations. The objective of this study was to contribute to more contextualized natural resource management in a rural landscape in the Ecuadorian Andes by (1) identifying biophysical patterns in soil properties, biodiversity, and C stocks that emerge from natural landscape pedogenic processes, resulting from elevation‐induced climate gradients, erosion and soil textural patterns, and (2) assessing farm management and land‐use effects on and their interactions with these biophysical patterns. Our findings revealed that the climate and soil texture gradients within the landscape led to an exponential increase in SOC with elevation moderated by slope gradient, indicating significant erosion processes. Farmers adapted their farm management according to the observed environmental patterns creating three distinct management zones. Differentiated agricultural management in these zones and asymmetrical distribution of land‐uses in turn were observed to significantly influence soil and agroecosystem properties. For example, available P was found to be significantly higher in the upper and middle agricultural management zones (24.0 and 28.7 mg/kg, respectively), where agricultural inputs were higher compared to the lower agricultural management zone (8.9 mg/kg, P

Quality control (QC) measures are less prevalent in teaching laboratories than commercial settings possibly owing to a lack of commercial incentives or teaching resources. This article focuses on the use of QC assessment in the analytical techniques of high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-vis) at undergraduate and master's level. Data were collected over 2 semesters and the use of limits generated by staff were compared to the limits based on student data. This comparison enabled us to balance the learning of practical laboratory skills with providing sufficient incidences requiring troubleshooting and discussion on quality within the class. The QC limits chosen do not necessarily follow the perceived difficulty of an instrumental procedure. Staff-generated limits proved the most useful for the HPLC experiment, while broader student-based limits were deemed necessary for the simpler UV-vis experiment. Corrected calculations and computer templates were used in later QC charts as calculation errors were found to overshadow the identification of laboratory errors. The unique QC limits for any instrumental practical can be established and fine tuned in the same way as in the examples illustrated here. (Contains 6 figures and 2 notes.)

This study investigated the degree of stress in 50 African American grandparents ("M" = 63.12 years) who are raising their grandchildren and identified the importance of caregiver characteristics, the caregiving situation, and specific coping strategies that influence stress. Data were collected via interview at senior centers and churches in Harris County, Texas. The instruments used to measure stress and coping were the Parenting Stress Index and the Ways of Coping Questionnaire. Of grandparents, 94% reported a clinically significant level of stress. Use of professional counseling, special school programs, and length of caregiving longer than 5 years were associated with less stress. Coping strategies significantly correlated with less stress included accepting responsibility, confrontive coping, self-control, positive reappraisal, planful problem solving, and distancing. This study adds to the limited information about custodial grandparents and suggests counseling, support groups, and education to help them manage stress associated with their caregiving situation more effectively. (Contains 8 tables.)

Examines the growth of automation at two university libraries, with particular attention to the stages in the evolution of the academic systems librarian. Discusses a growth in digitized resources; integration of systems; developments in client/server technology, especially as they relate to the World Wide Web; and changes I organizational structure. (Author/LRW)

La microabrasión dental es un procedimiento efectivo y conservador frente a los defectos superficiales del esmalte. Las manchas blancas del esmalte dental, aparecen frecuentemente en los niños por caries de esmalte inactiva, hipoplasias y fluorosis. Cuando estas manchas afectan a los dientes anteriores producen un efecto antiestético. Se describe dos casos clínicos de microabrasión del esmalte utilizando H3PO4 al 37 % y piedra pómez, mediante una técnica mecánica (micromotor), en un niño de 7 años con diagnóstico de hipoplasia del esmalte y otro niño de 7 años con diagnostico de caries de esmalte inactivo, en ambos casos la manchas blancas fueron localizados en el sector anterosuperior. El objetivo fue comparar la efectividad de la microabrasión sobre manchas superficiales del esmalte utilizando el ácido ortofosfórico al 37 % mediante el empleo de diferentes aditamentos en la técnica mecánica. Se observó que después de realizar una primera sesión de microabrasión, el resultado más eficiente se obtuvo con el uso de copas para pulir resina y piedra de acrílico elaborada respecto al grupo que usó copas de caucho para profilaxis, pero estas diferencias estéticas fueron desapareciendo en los controles posteriores.