Baltimore County Public Schools

Background: Prone trans-psoas (PTP) interbody fusion is a minimally invasive technique for sagittal correction in adult spinal deformity. Advantages include enhanced lordosis due to prone positioning and avoidance of patient repositioning. The same approach allows for anterior longitudinal ligament release, which may improve lordotic correction. However, limited data exist on the combined technique, prompting this investigation into postoperative complications and radiographic outcomes of PTP interbody fusion versus combined PTP with anterior longitudinal ligament (ALL) release (PTP-ALL). Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted at a tertiary academic center from November 2020 to October 2023. Patients were grouped into two cohorts: PTP and PTP-ALL. Radiographic outcomes included changes in segmental lordosis, lumbar lordosis, L4-S1 lordosis, pelvic incidence-lumbar lordosis (PI-LL) mismatch, T1-pelvic angle, and sagittal vertical axis. Complications assessed were wound infections, venous thromboses, transfusions, and mortalities. Welch’s modified two-sample t-tests and chi-squared tests were used for analysis. Results: Twenty-two patients underwent PTP and six underwent PTP-ALL. There were no significant differences in operative time ( P =0.443), length of stay ( P =0.169), or estimated blood loss ( P =0.795). No complications occurred in the PTP-ALL group. Compared to PTP, PTP-ALL achieved greater improvements in segmental lordosis (9.3° vs. 1.6°, P =0.134), lumbar lordosis (30.6° vs. 8.5°, P =0.003), L4-S1 lordosis (10.2° vs. 6°, P =0.25), and PI-LL mismatch correction (25.8° vs. 8.9°, P =0.036). Conclusions: PTP with ALL release may be a safe and effective option to enhance sagittal correction in adult spinal deformity without increasing perioperative complications. However, the small sample size limits the generalizability of these findings and underscores the need for further study. Level of Evidence: III

Two teachers describe how to use Fermi Questions to illuminate the connections between the Standards for Mathematical Practice and the social and emotional learning competencies.

Engineering education has increasingly become an area of interest at the P-12 level, yet attempts to align engineering knowledge, skills, and habits to existing elementary and secondary educational programming have been parochial in nature (e.g., for a specific context, grade, or initiative). Consequently, a need exists to establish a coherent P-12 content framework for engineering teaching and learning, which would serve as both an epistemological foundation for the subject and a guide for the design of developmentally appropriate educational standards, performance expectations, learning progressions, and assessments. A comprehensive framework for P-12 engineering education would include a compelling rationale and vision for the inclusion of engineering as a compulsory subject, content organization for the dimensions of engineering literacy, and a plan for the realization of this vision. The absence of such a framework could yield inconsistency in authentically educating students in engineering. In response, this study was conducted to establish a taxonomy of concepts related to both engineering knowledge and practices to support the development of a P-12 curricular framework. A modified Delphi method and a series of focus groups—which included teachers, professors, industry professionals, and other relevant stakeholders—were used to reach a consensus on engineering concepts deemed appropriate for secondary study. As a result, a content taxonomy for knowledge and practices appropriate for P-12 engineering emerged through multiple rounds of refinement. This article details the efforts to develop this taxonomy, and discusses how it can be used for standards creation, curriculum development, assessment of learning, and teacher preparation.

In recent decades, school choice policies predicated on student mobility have gained prominence as urban districts address chronically low-performing schools. However, scholars have highlighted equity concerns related to choice policies. The case of post-Hurricane Katrina New Orleans provides an opportunity to examine student mobility patterns in a choice-based district. This paper analyzes student mobility between and within the various sectors and school types using a multinomial framework. We find rates of student mobility in post-Katrina New Orleans to be similar to other traditional urban school districts. Overall, our results indicate that high-achieving students switch to high-quality schools whereas low-achieving students transfer to low-quality schools. It is clear some students are taking advantage of the ability to choose a high-quality educational option, although many students are still not. Policy implications, especially for education policy makers implementing or considering school choice policies, and areas for future research are discussed.

This article gives the music therapist a basic understanding of the IEP related to music therapy. A good understanding of the IEP (who it is for, how it is composed, how it relates to and affects music therapy, and how special education law relates to and affects music therapy) is essential for the school based music therapist. This article explains what an IEP is and summarizes the basic sections required by law to be included in an IEP. Sections of a current IEP document are included to help further this understanding. Types of IEP teams and service delivery, the assessment process and guidance on writing IEP goals are discussed.

Autism commonly refers to a collection of disorders affecting communication, socialization, and behavior. Each year, an increasing number of families hear the words "your child has autism." We help you understand these mysterious disorders and their challenging care.

The mission of the Baltimore County Department of Aging (BCDA) is to develop and administer programs and activities that support senior citizens in their efforts to remain healthy, active, and independent members of the community and to provide, coordinate, and advocate for services which ensure the highest quality of life for both active and health-impaired seniors, their families, and caregivers. PURPOSE: To survey functional ability in older adults attending the Senior Expo 2009 event sponsored by the BCDA. METHODS: 307 men and women aged 69.8±7.9 yrs (range 52-92) volunteered to perform functional tests typically assessed in this population (chairs stand, arm curl, back scratch, 8ft up-and-go) as well as percent body fat (%BF) via BIA, Height (ht), Weight (wt) and BMI. Data were analyzed for mean±SD and t-tests for differences between genders. RESULTS: Of the 307 at the event, there were significantly more women in attendance (28%M vs 72%W). Chair stand was 14.6±4.3stands in 30 sec, with more stands completed by men. Arm curl was 18.2±5.6reps in 30 sec, with more reps completed by men. Back scratch was -3.5±4.8 in, with men demonstrating more flexibility. 8ft up-and-go was 5.9±1.6sec with no difference in genders. %BF was 33.9±9.2% with women having higher %BF. Ht was 64.9±3.6in, Wt was 75.1±15.7kg, as men were taller and heavier. There was no difference in BMI (27.5±5.1kg/m2). BCDA has 19 senior centers of which 8 contain fitness centers each with Directors. During 7/2008-6/2009, there were 48,400 visits from the 964 members enrolled across 8 fitness centers out of a total of 15,931 total members at the 19 centers. CONCLUSIONS: These senior centers in Baltimore County serve as community focal points for programs, activities and services for residents age 60 and older. Most centers are nationally accredited by National Institute of Senior Centers. The Senior Expo outreach event was successful surveying over 300 older adults in the community in terms of functional ability. Generally, men had more functional ability than women in these tests, even though there were significantly more women in attendance. One future goal of these outreach events is to increase awareness of functional ability and increase the enrollment of older adults at the senior fitness centers.

In 2004, levels of radioactivity exceeding federal drinking water standards were found by state laboratories in two separate areas of Maryland through gross alpha and beta screening measurements. It was desired to know which radionuclides were responsible for the activity and what effect water softener systems installed in individual households had on the mitigating problem. Non-destructive gamma-spectrometry and gross alpha-beta liquid scintillation measurements, as well as chemical separations followed by measurements of 222Rn, 226Ra and 228Ra, uranium and thorium isotopes, 210Po, and 210Pb were carried out by National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). The results of the studies indicated disequilibrium among the decay products in the Th and U decay chains had a major influence on the radionuclide content. Unsupported 210Po was found to be the predominant radionuclide in drinking water at one of the locations. Furthermore, the influence of the use of water softeners was found to be much more effective for radium than for uranium.

This paper reviews the results of the City of Baltimore's pilot large-diameter pipe inspection program, originally undertaken to develop and implement an inspection, condition assessment and asset management program for raw and finished water mains within the Baltimore Metropolitan Area. The transmission mains of primary concern are those of prestressed concrete cylinder pipe (PCCP), with a particular emphasis on those constructed in the early 1970's. Many of these PCCP transmission mains were fabricated with Class IV prestressing wire and such mains have had a significant history of breaking. An unexpected outcome of the inspections was the identification of a large number of 54- and 36-inch pipe sections in deteriorating condition which posed the threat of incipient main failure if returned to service. These findings required that the joint owner/operators of the system repair or replace the identified pipe reaches on an emergency basis, while at the same time maintaining adequate water supply for the system's customers. The paper describes the two types of internal inspections that were employed for this project, the action plan developed in response to the defective pipes identified, and the design and construction of repairs and replacements of the damaged pipes. It also discusses the careful coordination required between Baltimore City, and Baltimore, Howard, and Anne Arundel Counties in response to the inspection findings.