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Using a nationally representative sample of 1,475 special education teachers, researchers used factor analysis to test five teacher quality factors with empirical and theoretical grounding in general education research: experience, credentials, self-efficacy, professional activities, and selected classroom practices. These factors were combined to create an aggregate teacher quality measure. All five factors emerged as viable components of an aggregate teacher quality measure, although some modest factor loadings suggested a need for further research into the precise nature of these teacher quality dimensions and the best ways to measure them.

Background: Linkage studies in autism have identified susceptibility loci on chromosomes 2q and 7q, regions containing the DLX1/2 and DLX5/6 bigene clusters. The DLX genes encode homeodomain transcription factors that control craniofacial patterning and differentiation and survival of forebrain inhibitory neurons. We investigated the role that sequence variants in DLX genes play in autism by in-depth resequencing of these genes in 161 autism probands from the AGRE collection. Results: Sequencing of exons, exon/ intron boundaries and known enhancers of DLX1, 2, 5 and 6 identified several nonsynonymous variants in DLX2 and DLX5 and a variant in a DLX5/6intragenic enhancer. The nonsynonymous variants were detected in 4 of 95 families from which samples were sequenced. Two of these four SNPs were not observed in 378 undiagnosed samples from North American populations, while the remaining 2 were seen in one sample each. Conclusion: Segregation of these variants in pedigrees did not generally support a contribution to autism susceptibility by these genes, although functional analyses may provide insight into the biological understanding of these important proteins.

The authors used data from a large, national sample to examine the interaction of various literacy measures among young children with disabilities. Using structural equation modeling, they examined the relationships among measures of phonemic awareness, decoding, vocabulary, and reading comprehension. Child and family factors, including sex, severity of disability, race/ethnicity, household income, and mother's education were used as covariates. The model supported the notion of 2 unique paths to reading comprehension, one through decoding and a second through vocabulary. (Contains 3 tables, 1 figure, and 2 notes.)

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between the home literacy environment of a nationally representative sample of preschoolers with disabilities and their subsequent receptive vocabulary and reading comprehension skills using data from the Pre-Elementary Education Longitudinal Study. Results from linear regressions indicated that only a small amount of the total variance in children's receptive language and passage comprehension skills was explained by the home literacy environment. However, the home literacy environment of 3- to 5-year-olds with less severe disabilities was a significant predictor of scores on a test of receptive vocabulary and reading comprehension in later years. The home literacy environment was not a significant predictor of receptive vocabulary or reading comprehension for children with moderate to severe disabilities. (Contains 4 tables and 2 notes.)

This study used data drawn from a large, national sample to describe transition practices provided to 1989 children with disabilities as they entered their kindergarten year, obtained through a survey administered to kindergarten teachers. Using path modeling, we examined the child and family, school, and district factors that predict which children and families receive high- and low-intensity transition support as they enter kindergarten and, in particular, what types of high-intensity practices they receive. The type of support kindergarten teachers provided was generally comparable to or higher than previously reported data, with low-intensity transition supports more commonly used than high-intensity supports. In a path model that included a range of child and family, classroom, and district factors, four variables emerged as predictors of transition support. Children from larger districts and higher poverty districts who were entering kindergarten from a different setting were less likely to receive support during the transition period. Rural districts differed little overall from suburban districts because they are, on average, higher poverty, but smaller in size. Urban districts demonstrated efforts that counterbalanced the barriers of size and poverty. We include policy implications based on these findings. (Contains 2 tables and 2 figures.)

Relatively little is known about the incidence of declassification among young children who receive preschool special education services or about factors associated with declassification. The Pre-Elementary Education Longitudinal Study (PEELS) follows a nationally representative sample of children who were receiving preschool special education services in 2003-2004. Data from PEELS show that approximately 16% of preschoolers who received special education services stopped receiving those services, or were "declassified," each year over a 2-year period. In a multivariate logistic regression, significant variables predicting declassification included child gender, size of the district's preschool special education program, district wealth, disability category, ratings of problem behaviors, severity of impairment, and scores on the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test. (Contains 3 tables.)

This article presents a profile of early career special educators' (n= 1,153) working conditions, induction support, and career plans using data from the Study of Personnel Needs in Special Education (SPeNSE). The majority of respondents are Caucasion and female, and 80% are certified for their main assignments. Most respondents reported receiving informal support from other teachers and viewed this informal support as more valuable than other forms of support. Approximately 60% of respondents participated in formal mentoring, although one third did not find this support helpful. Those who reported higher levels of induction support reported greater job manageability and success in getting through to difficult students. School climate was related to teachers' intent to remain in special education.

A study of 51,624 Michigan students declassified from special education indicated that the students were academically, socially, and behaviorally well adjusted in general education programs. Teachers and counselors felt that 11% continued to need special education. Four percent of declassified students returned to special education within three years. (CR)

This article explores the possible integration of Title 1 compensatory education and special education programs which currently coexist in about 65% of all public elementary schools. Integration is often achieved through cooperative teaching or blended funding of staff salaries. Profiles of local efforts at program integration are provided. (Author/DB)

Apical reabsorption from the urine has been shown to be important for such processes as the maintenance of critical metaholites in the blood and the excretion of nephrotoxic compounds. The solute carrier (SLC) transporter OAT4 (SLC22A11) is expressed on the apical membrane of renal proximal tubule cells and is known to mediate the transport of a variety of xenobiotic and endogenous organic anions. Functional characterization of genetic variants of apical transporters thought to mediate reabsorption, such as OAT4, may provide insight into the genetic factors influencing the complex pathways involved in drug elimination and metabolite reclamation occurring in the kidney. Naturally occurring genetic variants of OAT4 were identified in public databases and by resequencing DNA samples from 272 individuals comprising 4 distinct ethnic groups. Nine total nonsynonymous variants were identified and functionally assessed using uptake of three radiolabeled substrates. A nonsense variant, R48Stop, and three other variants (R121C, V155G, and V155M) were found at frequencies of at least 2% in an ethnic group specific fashion. The L29P, R48Stop, and H469R variants displayed a complete loss of function, and kinetic analysis identified a reduced [V.sub.max] in the common nonsynonymous variants. Plasma membrane levels of OAT4 protein were absent or reduced in the nonfunctional variants, providing a mechanistic reason for the observed loss of function. Characterization of the genetic variants of reabsorptive transporters such as OAT4 is an important step in understanding variability in tubular reabsorption with important implications in innate homeostatic processes and drug disposition. SLC22A11; SNP; kidney; pharmacogenetics doi: 10.1152/ajprenal.00312.2010.

The human organic anion transporter, OAT3 (SLC22A8), plays a critical role in renal drug elimination, by mediating the entry of a wide variety of organic anions, including a number of commonly used pharmaceuticals, into the renal proximal tubular cells. To understand the nature and extent of genetic variation in OAT3, and to determine whether such variation affects its function, we identified OAT3 variants in a large, ethnically diverse sample population and studied their transport activities in cellular assays. We identified a total of 10 distinct coding-region variants, which altered the encoded amino acid sequence, in DNA samples from 270 individuals (80 African-Americans, 80 European-Americans, 60 Asian-Americans, and 50 Mexican-Americans). The overall prevalence of these OAT3 variants was relatively low among the screened population, with only three variants having allele frequencies of > 1% in a particular ethnic group. Clones of each variant were created by site-directed mutagenesis, expressed in HEK-293 cells, and tested for function using the model substrates, estrone sulfate (ES) and cimetidine (CIM). The results revealed a high degree of functional heterogeneity among OAT3 variants, with three variants (p. Arg149Ser, p. G1n239Stop, and p. Ile260Arg) that resulted in complete loss of function, and several others with significantly reduced function. One of the more common variants (p. Ile305Phe), found in 3.5% of Asian-Americans, appeared to have altered substrate specificity. This variant exhibited a reduced ability to transport ES, but a preserved ability to transport CIM. These data suggest that genetic variation in OAT3 may contribute to variation in the disposition of drugs. anion transporters; SNP; estrone sulfate; cimetidine; kinetics; confocal microscopy; pharmacogenetics

Surfactant proteins-A and -D (SP-A and SP-D) are members of the collectin protein family. Mice singly deficient in SP-A and SP-D have distinct phenotypes. Both have altered inflammatory responses to microbial challenges. To further investigate the functions of SP-A and SP-D in vivo, we developed mice deficient in both proteins by sequentially targeting the closely linked genes in embryonic stem cells using graded resistance to G-418. There is a progressive increase in bronchoalveolar lavage phospholipid, protein, and macrophage content through 24 wk of age. The macrophages from doubly deficient mice express high levels of the matrix metalloproteinase MMP-12 and develop intense but patchy lung inflammation. Stereological analysis demonstrates significant air space enlargement and reduction in alveolar septal tissue per unit volume, consistent with emphysema. These changes qualitatively resemble the lung pathology seen in SP-D-deficient mice. These doubly deficient mice will be useful in dissecting the potential overlap in function between SP-A and SP-D in host defense. surfactant proteins; collectins; alveolar macrophages; sequential gene targeting

Oxidative damage has been implicated in the aging process and in a number of degenerative diseases. To investigate the role of oxygen radicals in the aging process in mammals, the life spans of transgenic mice on a CD-1 background expressing increased levels of CuZn superoxide dismutase (CuZnSOD), the enzyme that metabolizes superoxide radicals, were determined. Homozygous transgenic mice with a two- to five-fold elevation of CuZnSOD in various tissues showed a slight reduction of life span, whereas hemizygous mice with a 1.5- to 3-fold increase of CuZnSOD showed no difference in life span from that of the nontransgenic littermate controls. The results suggest that constitutive and ubiquitous overexpression of CuZnSOD alone is not sufficient to extend the life spans of transgenic mice.