Early childhood teachers' preparation and the quality of program outcomes

The issue of the preparation of effective teachers becomes more critical for teachers of early childhood programs. It has been hypothesized that better program quality depends on better-educated teachers. The purpose of this investigation was to explore the importance of a high level of education for all early childhood education teachers. This issue has intrigued early childhood researchers and has prompted a large amount of research studies over the past decades. In order to assess the status of this line of inquiry and to provide guidance for future research, a critical analysis of 40 studies on the preparation of early childhood education teachers and the quality of their educational programs that were published within a 15-year (1989-2004) period is presented here. The analysis consisted of literal and allegorical critical analysis and interpretative critical analyses, which generated results in three main areas that focused on the professional development of the teachers, including teachers' professional development, the importance of a Bachelor's Degree and educational standards for early childhood education teachers.     

The evolution of today's hospital emergency departments —Current problems and challenges

The announcement of the National Heart Attack Alert Program by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute in June of 1991 prompted leaders of the Florida Chapter of the American College of Cardiology to develop a statewide program to reduce the morbidity and mortality from acute myocardial infarctions within Florida. It became apparent that the success of such a program would require the prompt institution of thrombolytic agents or other revascular-ization procedures in appropriate patients. No longer could the decision regarding institution of therapy await discussion by telephone and/or the arrival at the emergency department (ED) of the patient's primary care physician or cardiologist. Efforts to establish appropriate protocols for therapy revealed that many of the 25,000 or more physicians currently staffing the 5,600 or so EDs in this country were moonlighting residents or practitioners from a variety of specialties or subspe-cialties with limited or no formal EM training. Furthermore, it was learned that there were in the entire country only about 800 postgraduate, year-one Council for Graduate Medical Education accredited training positions. There were only 21 such training positions in the entire state of Florida. The reasons for these deficiencies are discussed and a challenge to correct this person power crisis is issued, not principally to the leadership of EM, but to the entire medical profession.     

The morphogenesis of testicular degeneration induced in rats by orally administered 2,5-hexanedione

The neurotoxic hexacarbon 2,5-hexanedione (2,5-HD) produces testicular atrophy in experimental animals. To examine the morphogenesis of the testicular lesion, 1.0% 2,5-HD was provided in the drinking water of adult F-344 rats for up to 6 weeks. After 3 weeks of administration, there were occasional large vacuoles in the basal region of the germinal epithelium. At 4 weeks, these vacuoles were much larger and more numerous; electron microscopy demonstrated that they were derived from the smooth endoplasmic reticulum. The vacuoles were preferentially associated with stages 12, 13, 14, and 1 of the spermatogenic cycle. Additionally, at 4 weeks there was a significant decrease in the number of tubules in stages 7 and 13, and a concomitant increase in the percentage of tubules in stages 3, 5, and 6. By Week 5, most Golgi-phase and cap-phase spermatids were visibly affected, showing margination of nuclear chromatin, and were becoming dissociated from Sertoli cells. Frequent multinucleated giant cells were seen and electron microscopy of these cells suggested that they were derived from fused spermatocytes or spermatids. After 6 weeks, fewer giant cells were present, most tubules contained cellular debris, and many showed empty lumina encircled by a thin ring of cytoplasm near the basement membrane. Interstitial tissue appeared unaffected. These studies indicate that the Sertoli cell is probably an initial target for 2,5-HD action in the testis.     

A computer program for calculating the acid-base parameters in samples of blood using a mini-computer

Summary A computer program is presented and evaluated, which calculates all acid-base parameters from data provided by either the indirect Astrup method or the direct method using empirical formulae derived from the Siggaard-Andersen curve nomogram. The program is implemented on a PDP 8 in a multi-user FOCAL environment and can be adapted to other electronic calculators.     

核素唾液腺显像的定量分析软件开发与应用

目的开发定量分析唾液腺功能及其图象显示的程序。方法应用Aladdin语言编写ROI模块提取各唾液腺及甲状腺区域的摄取数据及本底,用曲线函数生成各ROI的时间-放射性活度曲线,对曲线数据处理,计算唾液腺摄取、排泌指数等指标,然后把图象、曲线及计算结果显示在一个模板内。结果同一幅输出界面图可显示唾液腺的形态、ROI示意图、唾液腺的摄取与排泌功能数值及其曲线,以标准化的显示格式提供给临床医师。不同操作者处理同一资料的功能指标结果基本一致,软件计算的功能指数与图象显示结果及临床诊断基本相符。结论开发的唾液腺功能定量分析软件,程序运行稳定,结果重复性好。     

Remission of persistent childhood asthma: Early predictors of adult outcomes

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Maintain levels of nicotine but reduce other smoke constituents: A formula for “less-hazardous” cigarettes?

Twenty-two volunteers who smoked more than 20 cigarettes with "high" nicotine yields (0.8 to 1.2 mg) per day participated in an 8-week study designed to test the hypothesis that smoking cigarettes with a constant level of nicotine but reduced deliveries of tar, carbon monoxide, and hydrogen cyanide leads to a decrease in smoke absorption. All subjects smoked their usual high-nicotine brand for the first 3 weeks (P1), and the absorption of smoke constituents was determined from levels of thiocyanate and cotinine in saliva and serum, levels of carbon monoxide in expired air, and levels of carboxyhemoglobin in the blood. During the final 5 weeks (P2), the treatment group (16 subjects) switched to the "light" version of their usual brands (similar yields of nicotine but with reduced yields of tar, carbon monoxide, and hydrogen cyanide); the control group (6 subjects) smoked their usual brands for the duration of the study. Average levels of cotinine for the subjects who switched during P2 were not significantly different from those of the control group as was expected. Slight reductions were noted in average expired-air carbon monoxide levels, blood carboxyhemoglobin, and saliva thiocyanate, but these reductions were smaller than anticipated based on brand characteristics. The results suggest that the ratio of smoke constituents is different when individuals, rather than machines, smoke cigarettes. Yields determined under subject-defined conditions are necessary in order to properly evaluate the role of nicotine in the design of "less-hazardous" cigarettes.     

实施员工关爱计划保障医务人员职业安全与健康

医务人员的身心健康和执业满意度直接影响医疗服务质量。复旦大学附属华山医院从员工需求切入,建立并实施员工关爱计划:横向包括身心健康、社会支持、个人成长与职业生涯发展等;纵向贯彻危机前、危机中、危机后三级援助体系。实践后,员工满意度、社会支持水平、幸福感有所提升,职业倦怠阳性率有所下降。员工关爱计划在管理理念、方案完善、人才培养等方面还有待进一步改进。     

Independent Early Childhood Education Centers’ Experiences Implementing the Revised Child and Adult Care Food Program Meal Pattern Standards: A Qualitative Exploratory Study

BackgroundNationally, approximately one-third of early childhood education centers participating in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) are independently owned and operated (ie, not owned by a corporation, not affiliated with Head Start, and with no food program sponsor). Independent providers are less likely to meet CACFP standards and best practices and would benefit from additional support and technical assistance.ObjectiveTo explore independent early childhood education center key informants’ (KIs) (ie, directors or relevant staff) perspectives on implementing the revised CACFP standards.DesignFollowing qualitative exploratory design, semistructured, in-depth, telephone interviews were conducted with KIs individually.Participants/settingIn summer 2018, 30 randomly sampled KIs from independent CACFP-participating early childhood education centers serving children ages 2 to 5 years nationwide were interviewed. Participants were sampled from respondents to a previously completed nationwide survey of providers.Main outcomesKIs’ perspectives on the CACFP program and revised meal pattern standard implementation.Analysis performedAfter audio recordings were professionally transcribed and reviewed, constant comparative analysis was conducted using Atlas.ti v8 qualitative software (Atlas.ti. version 8 for Windows, 2018, Scientific Software Development GmbH).ResultsKIs indicated that program benefits (eg, health and nutrition benefits, reimbursement, guidelines, and training) outweighed challenges experienced. Challenges associated with revised CACFP standards implementation (eg, availability or acceptability of new, creditable foods) were impacted by enhanced CACFP standards status, reported revised standards, and availability or utilization of outside support. KIs desired more contact with their state representative. KIs found the training and technical assistance on the revised standards useful and suggestions to enhance future training and technical assistance (eg, increasing accessibility, training resources, and audience-specific training).ConclusionsOverall, KIs desired additional resources, training, and increased communication from CACFP state representatives specific to CACFP-approved and reimbursable products, menu ideas, recipes, and cooking demonstrations. The present study suggests that a more tailored training and technical assistance approach is necessary as reported benefits, challenges, and program needs varied based on state-enhanced CACFP standards, reported familiarity with the revised meal pattern, and reported outside support.