Dr. Beth Levine (second from left) and UT Southwestern colleagues – including Dr. Philipp Scherer, Dr. Kai Sun and Dr. Congcong He – have found that the process of autophagy could explain some of the health benefits of exercise.

Autophagy is a process by which a cell responds to starvation and other stresses by degrading damaged or unneeded parts of itself to produce energy. It is sometimes called the cell’s housekeeping pathway.

“Exercise is known to have many health benefits but the mechanisms have been unclear. Autophagy is also known to have several health benefits, and these benefits correspond closely to the effects of exercise. We hypothesized that some of the health benefits of exercise might be explained through autophagy,” said senior author Dr. Beth Levine, professor of internal medicine and microbiology who leads the Center for Autophagy Research at UT Southwestern.

Dr. Levine, a Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) investigator at the medical center, decided to focus on one specific health effect of exercise – the ability of exercise to prevent blood sugar abnormalities in the face of a high-fat diet. Her mouse study provides the first evidence that exercise stimulates autophagy.

The researchers found that mice genetically unable to increase autophagy in response to short-term exercise have decreased endurance and fail to experience the normal benefits of exercise on blood sugar metabolism.

This discovery led the team to investigate whether autophagy is important in the protective effects of chronic exercise on diabetes. A high-fat diet induced diabetes-like changes in blood sugar metabolism in both control mice and in test mice that were genetically unable to increase autophagy above baseline levels, said Dr. Congcong He, lead author and a postdoctoral researcher in Dr. Levine’s lab. However, the researchers found that exercise reversed these blood sugar abnormalities in control mice but not in the autophagy-deficient mice.

“Our finding that exercise fails to improve glucose metabolism in autophagy-deficient mice strongly suggests that autophagy is an important mechanism by which exercise protects against diabetes,” said Dr. Levine. “It also raises the possibility that activation of autophagy may contribute to other health benefits of exercise, including protection against cancer, neurodegenerative diseases and aging.

Dr. Levine has made fundamental discoveries previously that are in large part credited for expanding the field of autophagy research. In 1999, she identified the first mammalian autophagy gene, beclin 1, and its link to the suppression of breast cancer, which marked the first discovery of an association between defects in an autophagy gene and a human disease.

She similarly is credited with demonstrating that autophagy functions in innate immunity – protecting against lethal viral encephalitis – as well as initially reporting that autophagy plays a role in lifespan extension, shown in a study of C. elegans worms.

Other UT Southwestern researchers involved in the Nature study include Dr. Kai Sun, assistant instructor of internal medicine; Dr. Yongjie Wei, assistant professor of internal medicine; research specialist Zhongju Zou; graduate student Zhenyi An; computational biologist Dr. Qihua Sun; Dr. Milton Packer, chairman of clinical sciences and professor of internal medicine; research scientist Herman May; Dr. Joseph Hill, director of the Harry S. Moss Heart Center, chief of cardiology, and professor of internal medicine and molecular biology; Dr. Christopher Gilpin, assistant professor of cell biology; Dr. Guanghua Xiao, assistant professor of clinical sciences; Dr. Rhonda Bassel-Duby, professor of molecular biology; Dr. Philipp Scherer, professor of  internal medicine and cell biology and director of the Touchstone Center for Diabetes Research; and former postdoctoral researcher Dr. Viviana Moresi of molecular biology.

Researchers from the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Washington University and the University of California at San Francisco also contributed.

The study was funded by grants from the National Institutes of Health and the HHMI.

Oklahoma will learn later this month whether the state has been granted a number of exemptions from federal education law in exchange for new reforms developed by lawmakers and Barresi.

Barresi was a guest on the Oklahoma Republican Party’s Facebook Town Hall on Monday and the interview was streamed live online. In the weeks leading up to the interview, Facebook followers posted questions for Barresi on the Republican Party’s Facebook page.

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Such as, superintendents get paid more than principals (I got an A on this quiz nailed it!).

Usually, this lesson is enough to pique ones interest.

They also teach you about public relations, finances, and school law.

Thats the good part.

The bad part is they dont teach you everything.  Some things you just have to learn on the job.

This is not very reassuringfor the superintendent and school board.

Lots of Responsibility + Lack of Knowledge = Ruh Roh, Raggy!

In a perfect world, superintendents would be prepared when they started their new careers, but as you mightve heard, the world isnt always perfect (if this is news to you Im sorry you had to hear it here).

The superintendentcy is a big job, so I cant really blame universities if some things fall through the cracks.

Not to complain but there is one little tidbit I would like to see college professors share before diplomas are handed out.

Teach future educational leaders how to say “No”.

Everyone can say “Yes”, but only a select few can say “No”.

I think this gets many people into trouble.  Its almost like new superintendents need a safe word.

Personally, mine is “Serenity now!” (if you see me screaming this while huddled in a corner rocking back and forth in a fetal position please back away slowly and notify the authorities).

Saying no sounds simple, but its hard.

Really hard.

Especially for people who havent been taught.

I want it noted this is the only blog where you get  Superintendent talk mixed in with Seinfeld and Scooby-Doo references.  Youre welcome.

Congress restored the moribund  program, which seeks to promote literacy from birth to the end of high school, as part of an omnibus spending bill for fiscal 2012 that President Barack Obama signed into law late last month. The literacy program received no federal aid last year, but in a quirk of the budget process, money from the year before that is fueling $180 million in grants was awarded to six states in September.  The Striving Readers Comprehensive Literacy (SRCL) program is authorized  under the Title I demonstration authority (Part E, Section 1502 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act ESEA).

The purpose of the Striving Readers Comprehensive Literacy (SRCL) discretionary grants is to create a comprehensive literacy program to advance literacy skills — including pre-literacy skills, reading, and writing — for students from birth through grade 12, including limited-English-proficient students and students with disabilities.

Schoodoodle.com carries a wide selection of instructional materials that qualify for the program.  Browse materials for students in preschool through high school to enhance teaching and learning in , ESL, special education and more.

Customer service is the process of taking care of customers needs and desires in a professional and courteous manner. It is the provision of service to customers before, during and after purchases. This means that customer services personnel must have a good knowledge of their particular industry, product, or service, customer service skills, good communication skills, and knowledge of company policies and regulations. Other skills include keyboard skills and data entry skills (ten-key) telephone skills, arithmetic skills, and computing skills. Employment is available in banking, call centers, retail, e-commerce etc. Customer service representatives should have an in-depth knowledge of the product or service they support, in addition to skills in communication, conflict mediation, and knowledge of company policies and regulations.

Online Customer Service Degree Programs

Jones International University

• BBA in Customer Care Management

Florida Career College

• Associate’s Degree – Professional Sales and Customer Service
• Diploma – Professional Sales and Customer Service

Customer Service Education and Training

Customer service representatives and call center personnel have responsibilities that include responding to customer and client questions and complaints. With customer service training students usually get an associate degree in business, a certificate in customer care management, or bachelor’s degree in business. Often time, customer service training is provided directly by the employer, although in many situations it is helpful to have attained basic qualifications and training, for example by completing a bachelors or associate degree in business.

Customer Service Careers

Many customer service positions require employees to have at least a high school diploma or GED, but most companies prefer their applicants who have training and a degree or a diploma. Many companies do their own in-house training or internal customer service training. Therefore, having a degree or customer service training will give you a competitive edge. In fact most management and supervisory positions in customer service require a degree and experience.

Expected Salary and Projected Career Growth

The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that customer care positions should grow by about 25% in the next few years, with bilingual speakers being more in demand. Earns are about $15.00 an hour for most industries. Many customer service positions are entry-level jobs.

The median salary according to the United States Department of Labor is about $27,500, but varies greatly by industry and experience level. The top 10% of customer service professionals earn about $40,000, and managers and supervisor positions earn more, ranging from $56,000 to $80,000 a year. Having a customer service degree is certainly an advantage to higher income and promotion.

Educational institutions provide training and skills required in cardiac catheterization, angioplasty, and echocardiography. Also students may consider additional training in Holter monitoring and stress tests. The course includes learning how to perform medical transcription, and how to keep the patient’s records. A certification course can be finished in about twelve months of special training or faster if a person is specialized in other medical field.

The prospects for this occupation are simply outstanding. Employment opportunities for EKG technicians will remain high and should increase as the demand for care related to heart, especially for aging population, is rising in the United States. The best job prospects will have technicians who have experience in multiple non-invasive technologies. On an average, the median annual income is $ 30 000 – 35 000, depending on different factors, such as your level of training and experience. As you gain more experience, you can even take advantage of salary up to $ 50 000 per year or more according to national salary surveys. Also, once you have completed the certificate program, you also get to work in a medical practice, cardiology department, or a variety of testing facilities.

During an interview with Smalley a few months ago, he told me that he had no idea his son – a small, sweet boy who was bullied because of his size – had ever considered suicide as a way to put an end to his suffering. When the unimaginable happened, Kirk’s life changed completely.

Channeling an unimaginable grief

There are different ways to deal with the sorrow of losing a child. Smalley took his anguish and funneled it into a fervent mission to save as many children as he could from his sons fate.

When I wrote about Ty Field-Smalleys death and Kirk Smalleys work to fight bullying in October of this year, GreatSchools received more Facebook “likes” than any single article in our sites history.

Theres a reason. Smalleys tireless message, told with compassion (for victims and bullies alike), is taking hold worldwide in a way that many anti-bullying efforts dont. By his count, hes gone to 280 schools and spoken to over 400,000 kids. Why is he getting through to parents, principals, teachers, and most particularly children? “Kids have a built-in bs detector,” Smalley tells me. “They can tell when you are pulling something over on them. They can tell the message is coming from the heart. They get emotional. They cry with us. They feel like they can talk with us.”

Through his non-profit organization, Stand for the Silent, Smalley speaks at any and every school that invites him. He recently even spoke – via the web – to a class of seventh grade students in Bangalore, India. These days, he can barely keep up with the demand; hes fully booked nearly six months in advance.

Remembering the “800 babies who have killed themselves”

“I have a list of over 800 babies who have killed themselves,” Smalley says. We tell the stories of who they were. [The kids] get to see this person. They see this isnt a number, a percentage, a statistic.”

Smalley says he has folders overflowing with emails from bullying victims who said they were going to kill themselves – until they heard him speak. He has another fat folder from reformed bullies who vow to stop tormenting other kids. “We teach [kids] I am somebody. We teach them they can make a difference. They have a right to be who they are. We love them no matter who they are.”

If you want Kirk Smalley to come speak at your school, email him. Some schools have money to pay for his transportation but even if they dont, he promises hell come. “If theres a need,” he says, “God finds a way.”

Smalley left his job months ago so he could devote himself full-time to Stand for the Silent. Remarkably, he doesnt ask for a speaking fee when he visits schools.

This year, if you want to add ending bullying to your list of New Years resolutions, you can start by going to his site and clicking “Donate” (a yellow button at the bottom of the home page). All donations are tax-deductible.

The university was ranked No. 98 on the magazine’s list of the top 100 best values in public colleges for 2011-12, education officials announced Tuesday. Last year, Cal State Long Beach was No. 79.

The ranking each year recognizes four-year public institutions that combine excellent education with affordability.

Cal State Long Beach was one of 11 universities in California to make the list and one of four CSU campuses. The other three are San Diego State University at 77, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo at 83 and Cal Poly Pomona at 91.

Coming in at No. 1 this year was the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, followed by the University of Florida, Gainesville, and the University of Virginia, Charlottesville.

The top institutions were selected from a pool of more than 500 colleges and universities. They were ranked according to academic quality, admission and retention rates, student-faculty ratios and graduation rates.

Cal State Long Beach President F. King Alexander said the university is pleased to once again make the list, but is struggling to keep student tuition low under an onslaught of state budget cuts.

“Access to higher education begins first and foremost with the ability to afford a college degree, and at Cal State Long Beach we continue to

This week, they got their reward an outdoor school makeover, or Green Up. The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company, a sponsor of last years contest, sent 60 employees to make over the exterior of the South Bumby Avenue school during the companys international convention in Orlando.

The Miracle-Gro employees built a massive, raised vegetable garden for Ellis class, created a butterfly garden and made over the landscaping in front of the school.

On Thursday, Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the senior Democrat on the Committee, took part in a Financial Services Committee hearing entitled, “The Homeless Children and Youth Act of 2011: Proposals to Promote Economic Independence for Homeless Children and Youth.” Watch his statement and read his prepared remarks below:

Thank you, Chairwoman Biggert for holding this hearing on such a critical issue facing our nation today. 

I want to thank you for your leadership on this issue in the Committee on Education and the Workforce.  You have been a consistent champion for homeless children and families and it has been a pleasure to partner with you on such important topics.

I also want to thank all the young people who are here to tell their stories today. 

I want to make sure you know that we hear you. 

Your presence tells me how bright you are and how promising your futures are.  Congratulations on your education success to date.

I can’t tell you how important that Congress hears directly on the realities y that you and your families face because of a lack of adequate housing.

I have served on the education committee for my entire time in public office and I know what a dramatic impact housing and mobility have on a student’s education.

Public schools have a unique perspective on social and economic issue like homelessness.

Unlike other community service organizations, schools see the full range of children without housing – not just the children and youth who make it into a shelter. They see kids moving from place to place – from couch to basement to car to motel to another couch.

None of these places can or should be considered a home.

Schools have witnessed a 38 percent increase in child and youth homelessness over the past three years. Those numbers aren’t going down.

And because public schools don’t see infants and toddlers, who comprise a large group of children in homeless situations, the total number is even larger.

We know that homelessness puts kids at risk of much higher risk educational failure; students without stable housing have more attendance problems, and they don’t do as well in school.

Student homelessness is also an often overlooked contributor to the nation’s dropout crisis.

A recent study from the Government Accountability Office found that students with more than two school changes from 8th to 12th grade were twice as likely to drop out of high school as stable students.

Without an education, these students will not be able to obtain jobs that pay decent wages, and are likely to experience homelessness as adults.

Federal education law, through the McKinney-Vento Act, requires schools to support homeless students in a number of ways, including keeping homeless students in the same school when it is in their best interest and providing transportation, or immediately enrolling them in a new school.

However, education is only part of the answer.

In order for homeless students to succeed in school, they must receive housing and other supportive services that will stabilize their situations and enable them to concentrate on their education.

Unfortunately, school districts face barriers when they try to refer kids to Department of Housing and Urban Development homeless programs because of a difference in the definition of ‘homeless’.

This prevents kids from getting services they need and limits community collaboration.

And perhaps equally disturbing, this mismatch in definitions also keeps the true scale of child and youth homelessness hidden from view.

H.R. 32 is similar to legislation enacted by the Education & Workforce Committee – the Child Nutrition Act and the Higher Education Act.

Both of those laws help homeless kids get services through other programs by taking advantage of point people in public schools.

Similarly, H.R 32 gets rid of interagency barriers by allowing school district liaisons and other federal child and youth programs to verify children and youth for HUD homeless services.

It breaks down silos and eliminates the documentation and other requirements that are difficult or impossible for homeless families and youth to meet.

H.R. 32 also looks beyond public schools, recognizing that Head Start and Early Intervention Programs under Individuals with Disabilities Education Act are serving many homeless children. These programs should also be authorized to verify a child as eligible for HUD homeless services.

Runaway and Homeless Youth Act programs also need this ability in order to ensure that unaccompanied homeless youth have access to the housing and services they need.

The Elementary and Secondary Education Act; Head Start; IDEA; Higher Education all include policies that recognize the instability and vulnerability of homeless children and youth.

These federal laws contain provisions for immediate enrollment or expedited services, reducing mobility, and the elimination of documentation and other barriers.

HUD homeless programs should follow suit so that federal policies are aligned for children and youth in every homeless situation.

I hope the message these brave young people hear today is that we are here to help you, not make your situation more difficult.

We can address their challenges, or we can ignore them.  And pretending their experience isn’t real won’t help anyone. 

This isn’t a question of whether we know what to do, this is a question of having the will to address these very real problems.

Thank you for allowing me to participate in today’s hearing.

Dr. Bruce A. Beutler

“It was an honor to meet President Obama, especially in the company of my fellow Nobel laureates. It was a prize in itself to know that our country, represented by the president, holds our work in such high esteem,” said Dr. Beutler, who recently returned to UT Southwestern, where he made his seminal discoveries, to become the director of the new Center for the Genetics of Host Defense.

The Nobel laureates’ day of recognition in Washington included a seminar at the Embassy of Sweden and a black-tie dinner in their honor at the home of Jonas Hafström, the Swedish ambassador. Dr. Beutler and the other honorees will receive their awards in ceremonies on Dec. 10 in Stockholm.

Dr. Beutler and Dr. Jules A. Hoffmann of Strasbourg University’s Institut de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire in France shared half the Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine for their discovery of receptor proteins that recognize disease-causing agents and activate innate immunity, the first step in the body´s immune response. The other half of the prize went to the late Dr. Ralph M. Steinman of Rockefeller University in New York for his discovery of the dendritic cell and its role in adaptive immunity.

Dr. Beutler was a faculty member and a Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator at UT Southwestern from 1986 to 2000. From 1993 to 1998, he searched for a receptor capable of binding the bacterial product called lipopolysaccharide (LPS), which can cause life-threatening septic shock, a condition that involves overstimulation of the immune system.

Dr. Beutler’s original studies at UT Southwestern led to the identification of Toll-like receptors as sensors that act like sentinels to alert the host immune system when infection is present.

In 1998, he and his colleagues discovered that mice resistant to LPS had a mutation in a gene that was quite similar to the Toll gene in the fruit fly, the organism Dr. Hoffmann studied.

This Toll-like receptor (TLR) turned out to be the elusive LPS receptor. When it binds LPS, signals are activated that cause inflammation in mammals. Excessive LPS overstimulates the immune system and causes septic shock. These findings showed that mammals and fruit flies use similar molecules to activate innate immunity when encountering pathogenic microorganisms. The discoveries of Drs. Beutler and Hoffmann triggered an explosion of research investigating innate immunity.

Drs. Beutler and Dr. Hoffmann also shared the Shaw Prize in a Sept. 28 award ceremonies in Hong Kong with Dr. Ruslan M Medzhitov of Yale University.

UT Southwestern faculty members now have won five Nobel Prizes since 1985. Dr. Michael Brown and Dr. Joseph Goldstein (1985), Dr. Johann Deisenhofer (1988) and Dr. Alfred Gilman (1994) preceded Dr. Beutler in being honored by the Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institutet.

Prior to his return to UT Southwestern, Dr. Beutler – elected to both the National Academy of Sciences, and the Institute of Medicine in 2008 – was chairman of the Department of Genetics at Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, Calif.

STAFF REPORTS

Little boy: “Are you Mr. Superintendent?”

Me: “Yes.”

Little boy: “My dad says you are great.”

Me: “Thanks.”

Little boy” “My mom says you’re terrible.”

Me: Speechless.

My job performance is evidently 50/50. Pretty good. I’ll take it.