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Disability/Human Mortality/ Science Education and Disability Edward C. Keller Jr., Professor Emeritus |
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Disability/Human Mortality/ Science Education and Disability Edward C. Keller Jr., Professor Emeritus |
Mortality
Trends of Human Traits in West Virginia
We
are also investigating the trends of the major types of human mortalities
in West Virginia between the years 1959 to 1994. Earlier trend analyses
(1959 to 1982) of such information indicated increasing, almost parallel
male and female trends of human cancer mortality (from 1959 through 1982).
The female in overall incidence showed a somewhat increased rate as compared
to the increased rate for males. The overall 36 year average cancer rate
(1959-1994) was higher in absolute numbers for males. Please see Cancer
Mortality Trends in WV, 1959-1994.
Environmental/Mortality
Relationships
Multiple
regression models of various human mortally incidences with environmental,
genetic, socio/economic, and other factors are also underway. Preliminary
models indicate that for mortality due to diseases of the heart, about
10% of the variation can be assigned to a genetic component. However, in
mortality due to hypertension, about 75% of the variation were assigned
to genetic components. Other types of mortality examined did not show any
significant variation for genetic components. A considerable amount of
overall variation was accounted for in all the mortality types examined.
These studies were conducted by a former student, Dr. Narifa Alie.
Ethnic/Mortality
Relationships
We
are also currently doing a statistical investigation of the effect of ethnic
distributions in the counties of West Virginia (from the 1910 census) as
related to the relative distributions of human mortalities in those same
counties in the 1959-1994 mortality window. Differential example distributions
are given in three
Example County Ethnic Distributions. These pie charts indicate quite
different ethnic county profiles.
Northern
vs. Southern Mortality Comparisons
In
regard to cardiovascular and cancer mortalities, geographical and statistical
analyses have indicated some mortality dichotomy between northern (higher
incidences) and southern (lower incidences) areas of West Virginia. A line
of Dichotomy
of Mortality in West Virginia exists for the counties of WV. Part of
our present research effort is to gain insights into the nature of this
dichotomy. The "line" of dichotomy roughly approximates the "line" of watershed
drainage in WV where the waters North and West represent the line of drainage
north and west. South of that line, all waters drain South and West.
Human
Mortality and Commercial Coal Seams
Another
project concerns the relationship between the incidence of various human
mortalities and the various commercial types of coal seams of the counties
of West Virginia. This study indicates that there are significant associations
between some characteristics of the seams in the counties and the incidence
of certain mortalities in those same counties.
Longevity
in Northern vs. Southern WV (1959-1994).
Examination
of longevity in West Virginia for the years of 1959 through 1982 produced
some interesting results. The data examined consisted of 498,077 death
records. For both sexes there was a greater lifespan for residents of northern
counties versus those of southern counties. Overall there was a greater
lifespan of 4.7 years for females versus males. There was a difference
of 5.3 years in the lifespan between males and females in northern counties
and a difference of 3.3 years in the southern counties. The mean lifespan
for males in northern West Virginia was 65.3 years and in southern West
Virginia 63.2 years a difference of 2.1 years. The mean lifespan for females
in northern West Virginia was 70.0 years and 67.9 years. In southern West
Virginia a difference again, of 2.1 years. Link here to the lifespan article.
Current Science Education Activities
Strategies
for Teaching Science and Mathematics to Students with Disabilities
There
is a lack of easily available information and strategies to assist students with
disabilities in science teaching and learning. Currently, we have
a web site for science and special education teachers to
assist them in preparing for and mitigating of the functional limitations
of science students with disabilities: Inclusion in Science Education for Students with Disabilities and
Inclusion in Mathematics Education for Students with Disabilities. The website for the Mathematics mitigative
strategies for teaching students with disabilities and mathematics education is under construction and
is found at Inclusion in Science Education for Students with
Disabilities and Inclusion in Mathematics Education for Students with
Disabilities.
Demonstrations/Exhibits
on Mitigation Teaching/Testing Strategies for Students with Disabilities
in Science Education.
We
are presenting dissemination/demonstration
exhibits throughout the country concerning the variety of materials,
techniques, and technologies concerning the accommodations necessary to
create more optimal and inclusive science learning environments for students
with disabilities.
Research Associate
Ed
Keller III: Exhibit Operator, Workshop Presentator, Editor. VITA
Undergraduate Students
Krislen Bell - Teaching Assistant
Kristin Bintrim - Research Assistant
Yew Choong Cheong - WebCT programmer
Tammy Hart - Research Assistant
Stefanie Puher - Teaching Assistant
Amanda Shaffer - Research Assistant
Hui Ling Son - Editor/Literature Researcher
Lauren
Stamm - Research Assistant
1987 Beverly Foose and E. C. Keller, Jr. Distribution of Cancer Mortality Rates in West Virginia. Proc. W.Va. Acad. of Sci. 59:55-67.
1996 Jessen, E. and E. C. Keller, Jr. The Occurrence, Distribution, and Environmental Associations of Spina Bifida in the Counties of West Virginia. WV Acad. of Sci. Vol 63.
2001 Samsell, J. and E.C. Keller, Jr. Longeviety in Cardiovascular Disease in Northern and Southern WV. WV Academic of Science.
1964 E. C. Keller, Jr. and D. F. Mitchell. Interchromosomal Genotypic Interactions in Drosophila. II. An Analysis of Viability Characters. Genetics, 49: 292-307.
1964 E. Glassman, J. D. Karam, and E. C. Keller, Jr. Regulatory Effects of lxd (low xanthine dehydrogenase) on the ma-1+ Complementation Factor of Xanthine Dehydrogenase. Genetics, 50: 250-256.
1964 E. C. Keller, Jr. Quantitative Differences in Xanthine Dehydrogenase Activity in Wild Strains of Drosophila melanogaster. Zeit. fur Vere., 95: 326-332.
1965 R. H. T. Mattoni, E. C. Keller, Jr., and H. N. Myrick. Application of the Industrial Photosynthesis Process to Waste Renovation. Proc. Purdue Indust. Waste Conf. 25: 684-705.
1966 R. H. T. Mattoni and E. C. Keller, Jr. Preliminary Studies of the Dynamics of Algae Populations in High Rate Photosynthetic Reactors. Advancing Frontiers of Plant Science, 16: 137-160.
1966 E. C. Keller, Jr., R. H. T. Mattoni, and M. S. B. Seiger. Preferential Return of Artificially Displaced Butterflies. Animal Behavior, 14: 197-200.
1967 M. Fradkin and E. C. Keller, Jr. Environmental Induction of Lysogeny. Proc. Pa. Acad. of Sci., 41: 118-121.
1971 Bob G. Sanders, E. C. Keller, Jr., and Kay L. Wiley. Identification of Chlorella Strains by Serological Techniques. J. Phycol., 7: 63-64.
1971 R. H. T. Mattoni, W. T. Ebersold, F. A. Eiserling, W. R. Romig, and E. C. Keller, Jr. Induction of Lysogenic Bacteria in the Space Environment. The Experiments of Biosatellite II. NASA, Wash., D.C. Experiment P-1135, 309-324.
1973 S. G. Muckerjee and E. C. Keller, Jr. Isolation of Sugar and Antibiotic Mutants in Chlorella vulgaris with a New Replica Plating Technique. Mutation Res., 21: 313-318.
1975 F. Kosmakos, E. C. Keller, Jr., and W. E. Collins. Effects of Mechanical Vibration on Rat Plasma Calcium, Magnesium, Phosphate, and Xanthine Oxidase. Aviat. Space and Envir. Med., 46: 1363-1367.
1978 P. Canary and E. C. Keller, Jr. Genetic Diversity of Chlorella from Diverse Environments. Castanea, 43: 174-182.
1979 R. H. T. Mattoni, W. T. Ebersold, F. A. Eiserling, W. R. Romig, and E. C. Keller, Jr. Introduction of Lysogenic Bacteria in the Space Environment. BIOSPEX. NASA Technical Memo. # 58217. NASA Science and Tech. Inf. Office, Washington, D.C.
1981 E. J. Harner, G. H. Hobbs, E. C. Keller, Jr., and A. G. Everett. Assessing Estimates of the 99th Percentile of a Distribution. Proc. Conf. on Environmentrics '81. SIAM & The Amer. Stat. Soc. Assoc.: pp. 198-199.
1981 G. R. Hobbs, E. J. Harner, D. M. Chilco, M. Miller, E. C. Keller, Jr., and A. G. Everett. A Comparison of Various Possible Methodologies for the Determination of NOx Control Requirements. Proc. Conf. on Environmentrics '81. SIAM & The Amer. Stat. Asso. pp. 330-331.
1981 M. Moll and E. C. Keller, Jr. Antibiotic Resistance of Periphyton Isolated from Three Aquatic Environments. Proc. W.Va. Acad. Sci., 53: 54-61.1983
N. Strouse, E. C. Keller, Jr., and J. D. Tucker. Relationships Between Legal Game Harvests and Environmental Variables in West Virginia. Proc. W.Va. Academy of Sci., 55: 125-131.
1984 S. Schaeffer, E. C. Keller, Jr., and N. E. Buroker. Population Genetics of Melampus bidentatis (Gastropoda: Pulmonata): The Effect of Planktonic Development on Gene Flow. Genetica 66: 223-229.
1984 P.A. Whitman, J. A. Marshall, and E. C. Keller, Jr. Tonic Immobility in the Smooth Dogfish Shark Mastelus canis (Pisces, CARCHARHINIDAE). Copeia 3: 829-832.
SCIENCE EDUCATION PUBLICATIONS
1984 Hawkins, T. A., (E. C. Keller, Jr., Editor). Resource Guide for Epileptic College Students. Publ. Office of Disabled Students, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV.
1985 Stefanich, G. P., R. Anderson, C. Cummings, J. Egelston-Dodd, H. W. Hofman, E. C. Keller, Jr., and B. J. Mendins. Addressing Orthopedic Handicaps in the Science Classroom. U.S. Dept. of Education, Educational Resources Information Center, Washington, D.C. 20208. Document # ED 258 802.
1990 Keller, E. C., Jr., and T. A. Hawkins. (Book) Careers in Oceanography with Emphasis on Disabled Students. Oceanographic Society, Washington, DC.
1991 Keller, E. C., Jr., Ed Keller III, and R. Keefer. "Hearing Impaired Youth in the Marine Sciences." Current 11: 62 - 68.
1993 Keller, E. C., Jr., R. Keefer, and E. Keller, III. Overview of Literature on Outdoor Education for Students with Disabilities. J. Sci. Pers. with Dis. 1: 11-14.
1993 Keller, E. C., Jr. Science Education for the Motor/Orthopedically Impaired Student. Proceedings of the Conference on Disabled Students in Science. NSTA invited paper, Annual Meeting in Kansas City. (Proc Working Conference on Science for Students with Disabilities).
1994 Keller, E. C., Jr., E. Keller, III, and R. Keefer. A Historical Overview of Literature Concerning Science and Math Curricula for Students with Disabilities. J. Sci. Pers. with Dis. 2: No. 1: 16-24.
1994 Keller, E, C., Jr., Barriers in Science Careers for Persons with Disabilities. Newsletter of the Sci. Asso. for Persons with Disabilities. (Spring Issue).
Inclusion in Science Education for Students with Disabilities
Inclusion in Mathematics Education for Students with Disabilities
Foundation for Science and Disability
Science Education for Students with Disabilities
Dr. Keller received his baccalaureate, masters, and doctoral degrees at Penn State in 1956, '59, and '61. While at Penn State, as a student with a disability, he was supported by the Pennsylvania Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, a fellowship from The US Public Health Service, and a grant from the National Institutes of Health (for his Masters and Doctoral programs). Last year, he was elected as a Fellow in the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the largest scientific association in the world.
He also recently received the highest award for service to science education from the 55,000 member National Science Teachers Association. In addition to his teaching (general Biology and Environmental Science), research (Environmental Relationships with Mortality and Disability in West Virginia), and service (workshops and lectures) activities at WVU, he is the State Coordinator of The Coordinated and Thematic Science (CATS) program for Equity and Access in grades 6-10 in West Virginia (funded by The National Science Foundation $4.1 million). He is designing and working on two World Wide Web sites on ways to make science education more accessible to students with disabilities and to assure more equitable learning environments for those who are underrepresented in science. Partial funding for these projects is obtained from the WV Department of Education (project CATS) and the National Science Foundation. He is also the State Coordinator for the Mathematics MERIT NSF grant ($ 6.3 million).
In 1970, he received an honorary degree from Salem College for his efforts to help students with disabilities learn science. In 1991, WVU awarded him their Social Justice Award. He was also on the Mentor team of the DO-IT National Program (funded by the National Science Foundation) that was awarded the 1997 Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring for underrepresented groups in Science, Engineering, and Mathematics. The award was presented by the White House Office of Science and Technology and The National Science and Technology Council. This mentoring group was also awarded 1st Place in the 1997 National Infrastructure Champions of Cyberspace awards.
Dr. Keller was chairman of the West Virginia University Biology department until 1972, and about that time he began to work on education in science for students with disabilities. He applied for and obtained funds from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to support summer programs in marine science for all types of students with disabilities. This was in addition to his regular teaching duties and research on aquatic ecology and pollution. During his career as an educator, Dr. Keller has taken a special interest in ensuring that learning about science does not exclude students with disabilities. Over time, as his own types of disabilities have altered his access to the aquatic environments he studied, his research endeavors have shifted to studies of mortality/environmental associations and the study disability distributions in West Virginia.
Dr. Keller has been physically impaired most of his life: polio at age 17, diabetes in his mid 40s, retinopathy in his early 50s, arterial sclerosis in his early 60s (5-way heart by pass), and, most recently, a stroke. Still, he teaches about 550 college students each year in his four classes, does workshops for teachers on teaching students with disabilities, and he exhibits and demonstrates assistive technology and materials throughout the nation in the summers. All this from his wheelchair.
Dr.
Keller is currently working on three extensive web sites:
Inclusion
in Science of Students with Disabilities
Inclusion in Mathematics of Students with Disabilities
that provide strategies to assist teachers in their classrooms, laboratories, and field trips to help structure individualized education programs for students with disabilities in the public school systems of the nation. The second site is concerned with aspects of equity for those students whose minority, rural, or economic status affects their opportunities in obtaining an equitable access to learning. The third site is similar to the first site, but with an emphasis on Mathematics inclusion.
In addition to his numerous research publications, Keller has done many reports for governmental groups, other colleges and universities, and for industry. In his early research years, he worked on enzymatic inheritance, renovation of sewage, poultry use of sewage renovation by-products, stability in algal genetic systems under stress, space biology (as co-investigator of the lysogenic bacteria project on America's first biological space program---Biosatellite) (see Titan rocket launch HERE). He was also selected to represent all of the experimenters at the Goddard Space Flight Center during the Biosatellite program.
In his mid-research career, he worked on acid mine drainage problems and their impact on natural aquatic ecosystems in West Virginia. Later, he focused on environmental influences in cancer and cardiovascular mortalities and their distributions in West Virginia.
He was an environmental/statistical consultant for Environmental Protection Agency in the landmark case of Tacomite pollution in Lake Superior, the case of Ocean Dumping by the City of Philadelphia, on procedural aspects of Pesticide Certification Program when the program was shifted to the EPA from the USDA. He was also employed by the American Petroleum Institute (e.g., off shore drilling and deck drainage, refinery classification and regulation, and air pollution monitoring procedures). In addition, he worked on determining placement of nuclear and coal power plants, liquefied gas plants, assessment of the Valdez oil spill and ecosystem recovery plans.
Dr. Keller was member of the West Virginia delegation to the White House Conference on Persons with Disabilities. He has also served the NSF as an expert in disability, was co-writer of the NSF report on Science and Engineering Education for Persons with Disabilities, and was a member of the focus groups on disability aspects of the National Science Educational Standards done by the National Academy of Sciences. He has served on the NSF Committee on Equal Opportunity in Science and Engineering for two terms and also on the NSF Advisory Committee in Science and Engineering Education Division. The NSTA has three times appointed him to chair its Advisory Board for Special Education.
Tim Terman, Associate Director, News and Information Services, WVU
