Head Start Teaching Center: Differential Training Effects for Head Start Personnel

Driven by research findings regarding the positive relationship between training and enhancement of services, as well as literature on adult learning, the New England Head Start Teaching Center (NEHSTC) was created in 1992 to test the efficacy of participatory, hands-on training. The purpose of this paper is to examine the outcome evaluation results from 4 years of training at the NEHSTC, 1 of 14 federally funded sites, as well as to discuss the implications for delivering this type of participatory training throughout Head Start. Findings suggest that the NEHSTC was successful in implementing high quality, participatory training within the context of an ongoing Head Start program. Head Start staff who participated in the NEHSTC trainings demonstrated gains in knowledge, skills, and expertise compared to similar Head Start employees who did not receive training. Results also reveal a sustained effect of training over time, with NEHSTC participants continuing to demonstrate enhanced knowledge and skills 6 months after training. Similar positive outcomes of training were found for staff with varying levels of experience and holding different Head Start positions. Thus the participatory, hands-on training implemented by the NEHSTC was found to produce positive and lasting outcomes for diverse Head Start staff. An effective and cost efficient model of training Head Start personnel is particularly relevant and timely as Head Start strives to establish universal quality and expansion of services in the 21st Century. The findings are also relevant for improving the quality of all early care and education programs.     

"在线期刊-写作-讨论"结合教学与临床医学教育

以参加教学改革的(01)口腔大专2个班90人为实验组，以采取传统授课方式的(00)口腔大专2个班96人为对照组，实验组采用问卷调查，将实验组和对照组课后对授课内容进行测试的成绩进行横向对比，结果表明与“在线期刊-写作-讨论”结合的临床课教学方式对培养医学生的临床思雄能力、自学能力、解决问题的能力、学生自我表达能力、收集资料能力、文字表达能力等比传统教学方式有明显的提高，对提高临床医学专业专科医学生综合素质有明显的效果。     

Pathology of the lung in the fetus and neonate, with particular reference to problems of growth and maturation

The major forms of lung pathology in the perinatal period are reviewed with emphasis on disturbances of growth and maturation. Lung hypoplasia results from impairment in the physiological control of lung growth during the fetal period. It is more common than organogenetic defects which are discussed only briefly. Hyaline membrane disease is now seldom seen in a pure form due to improvements in perinatal care. However, its complications and sequelae such as interstitial emphysema, pneumothorax and bronchopulmonary dysplasia are encountered more frequently. In addition, a wide variety of pathological processes may localize to, or be expressed in, the lung of the newborn, notably asphyxial changes, persistent pulmonary hypertension, haemorrhage and infection.     

特发性身材矮小儿童成骨细胞的功能状况

目的通过检测特发性身材矮小(ISS)儿童血清骨碱性磷酸酶(BAP)及骨钙蛋白(OC)水平,探讨其成骨细胞的功能状况。方法ISS组36例及健康对照组儿童50例。ISS组分为青春期前组及青春期组。测各组儿童身高、体质量、体质量指数,采用CHN法评定左侧手、腕部骨化指标,计算骨龄。采用ELISA法测其血清BAP及OC水平。结果青春期前,ISS儿童血清BAP及OC水平为(79.90±25.96)U/Lvs(60.96±18.46)μg/L,健康对照组为(152.17±35.36)U/Lvs(76.16±28.03)μg/L;青春期,ISS儿童血清BAP及OC水平为(108.33±35.20)U/Lvs(63.82±24.81)μg/L,健康对照组为(156.30±35.29)U/Lvs(104.92±28.26)μg/L。青春期前及青春期ISS组血清BAP及OC水平均明显低于健康对照组,存在显著性差异(Pa<0.01)。结论ISS儿童以成骨细胞为中心环节的骨塑造和再造能力均较健康生长发育少年儿童差。     

测胎儿器官重量探讨其生长发育规律

根据1022例新鲜胎尸的不同受精龄与体重，十项重要器官（心、肝、脾、左右肺、左右肾、左右肾上腺、胸腺等）的重量进行测量，将所测得的原始数据输入到IBM-PC/XT微型计算机内进行数据处理。探讨胎儿生长发育的基本规律。结果：（1）建立了胎儿体重与胎龄之间的推算式；（2）建立了胎儿各重要器官重量与胎龄之间的推算式；（3）建立了胎儿体重每月平均增长量与胎龄之间的推算式；（4）按胎儿体重每月平均增长量，用有序聚类分析方法，将胎儿生长发育过程划分为三个阶段。     

An investigation of the neuropsychological profile in adults with velo-cardio-facial syndrome (VCFS).

Velo-cardio-facial syndrome (VCFS) is associated with deletions on the long arm of chromosome 22, mild intellectual disability, poor social interaction and a high prevalence of psychosis. However, to date there have been no studies investigating the neuropsychological functioning of adults with VCFS. We compared 19 adults with VCFS with 19 age, gender and IQ matched controls using a comprehensive neuropsychological battery. Compared to controls, adults with VCFS had significant impairments in visuoperceptual ability (Visual Object and Space Perception Battery), problem solving and planning (Tower of London) and abstract and social thinking (Comprehension WAIS-R). It is likely that haploinsufficiency (reduced gene dosage) of a neurodevelopmental gene or genes mapping to chromosome 22q11 underlies the cognitive deficits observed in individuals with VCFS.     

Two types of Na(+)-currents in cultured rat optic nerve astrocytes: changes with time in culture and with age of culture derivation.

Na+ channel expression was studied in cultures of rat optic nerve astrocytes using whole-cell voltage-clamp recordings. Astrocytes from postnatal day 7 rat optic nerve (RON) expressed two distinct types of Na+ currents, which had significantly different h infinity curves. Stellate, GFAP+/A2B5+ astrocytes showed currents with h infinity curve midpoints close to -65 mV, similar to Na+ currents in most neurons. In contrast, flat fibroblast-like GFAP+/A2B5- astrocytes showed Na+ currents with h infinity midpoints around -85 mV, almost 20 mV more hyperpolarized than in neurons or A2B5+ astrocytes. Interestingly, Na+ current expression was maintained in A2B5+ astrocytes but began to decrease in A2B5- astrocytes after 6 days in vitro (DIV) and fell to or below the level of detection (i.e., 1 pA/pF) at 12 DIV. Astrocytes cultured from neonatal rats (P0) are almost exclusively GFAP+/A2B5-. These cells did not display measurable Na+ currents when studied at 2 DIV; however, Na+ current was observed after 5 DIV in A2B5- astrocytes from these neonatal (P0) cultures. These findings were substantiated by immunocytochemical experiments using 7493, an antibody raised against purified rat brain Na+ channels; in P0-derived astrocyte cultures 7493 antibody staining was initially lacking (up to 3 DIV), but it was prominent in cultures after 5 DIV, suggesting that Na+ current expression in RON astrocytes occurs postnatally.     

Aggressive therapy of infants with renal failure

Nine infants, who presented with renal failure within the first 3 months of life, were treated with continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). Seven infants survived to an age of 12–15 months, when they received transplants. Two patients died while on CAPD. Six infants are alive with a functioning renal allograft, at an average age of 35.5 months and an average of 22 months post-transplant. Neurological development is normal in four of the six infants tested. The mean current height of the six transplant recipients is just below 2 SD from the mean.     

二硫化碳对F_1代出生后发育及对F_2代后遗影响的研究

报道了F_0代SD雌性大鼠妊娠前2周和整个妊娠期间染毒二硫化碳(CS_2)对F_1代出生后发育和对F_2代的后遗影响。结果表明,CS_2可使F_1代出生后生长发育明显减慢。CS_2对F_1代行为发育的影响主要表现为表面翻正反射阳性率降低,旷场试验中排便次数明显增加。CS_2对F_2代具有明显致畸作用,主要为胸骨缺失、枕骨骨化迟缓、囟门增大。但对F_2代胎鼠体重和宫内发育未见异常。综上所述,可以认为,CS_2对F_1代甚至F_2代均可产生明显影响和致畸作用。