What happens over time to students identified as being at risk of falling behind in numeracy?

This study followed 191 students in 10 schools over three years, investigating what happens over time with students identified as at risk of falling behind in numeracy. The study uses data from a formative, national numeracy mapping test. The results show that students’ test scores often varies from one year to the next. Only 10 students were consistently identified as being at risk. A score pattern analysis revealed that they showed little progress from grade 1 to grade 2 in number concept and counting skills. This improved in grade 3, but they remained behind their peers in conceptual understanding and calculation skills. From a response to intervention perspective, these students would likely have benefitted from teaching interventions in grade 1 to familiarise them with the number line

Evolution and expression of BMP genes in flies.

PublishedJournal ArticleResearch Support, Non-U.S. Gov'tThis is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from Springer Verlag via the DOI in this record.Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) play key roles in development. In Drosophila melanogaster, there are three BMP-encoding genes: decapentaplegic (dpp), glass bottom boat (gbb) and screw (scw). dpp and gbb are found in all groups of insects. In contrast, the origin of scw via duplication of an ancestral gbb homologue is more recent, with new evidence placing it within the Diptera. Recent studies show that scw appeared basal to the Schizophora, since scw orthologues exist in aschizan cyclorrhaphan flies. In order to further localise the origin of scw, we have utilised new genomic resources for the nematoceran moth midge Clogmia albipunctata (Psychodidae). We identified the BMP subclass members dpp and gbb from an early embryonic transcriptome and show that their expression patterns in the blastoderm differ considerably from those seen in cyclorrhaphan flies. Further searches of the genome of C. albipunctata were unable to identify a scw-like gbb duplicate, but confirm the presence of dpp and gbb. Our phylogenetic analysis shows these to be clear orthologues of dpp and gbb from other non-cyclorrhaphan insects, with C. albipunctata gbb branching ancestrally to the cyclorrhaphan gbb/scw split. Furthermore, our analysis suggests that scw is absent from all Nematocera, including the Bibionomorpha. We conclude that the gbb/scw duplication occurred between the separation of the lineage leading to Brachycera and the origin of cyclorrhaphan flies 200-150 Ma ago.This research was funded by the MEC/EMBL agreement for the EMBL/CRG Research Unit in Systems Biology, by AGAUR SGR grant 406 and by Grants BFU2009-10184 and BFU2009-09168 from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (MICINN). EJG is supported by ERASysBio+ Grant P#161 (MODHEART). AAC acknowledges the contribution of an internship by the Caixa Catalunya savings bank, which first brought her into contact with the Jaeger lab. Genome and transcriptome sequences used in this study were acquired, assembled and annotated in collaboration with the Genomics and Bioinformatics Core Facilities at the CRG. We thank Brenda Gavilán for the help with maintaining fly cultures

Non-canonical dorsoventral patterning in the moth midge Clogmia albipunctata

This is the final version of the article. Available from BioMed Central via the DOI in this record.Background Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are of central importance for dorsal–ventral (DV) axis specification. They are core components of a signalling cascade that includes the BMP ligand decapentaplegic (DPP) and its antagonist short gastrulation (SOG) in Drosophila melanogaster. These components are very ancient, with orthologs involved in DV patterning in both protostomes and deuterostomes. Despite such strong conservation, recent comparative work in insects has revealed interesting differences in the way the patterning function of the DV system is achieved in different species. Results In this paper, we characterise the expression patterns of the principal components of the BMP DV patterning system, as well as its signalling outputs and downstream targets, in the non-cyclorrhaphan moth midge Clogmia albipunctata (Diptera: Psychodidae). We previously reported ventral expression patterns of dpp in the pole regions of C. albipunctata blastoderm embryos. Strikingly, we also find ventral sog and posteriorly restricted tkv expression, as well as expanded polar activity of pMad. We use our results from gene knock-down by embryonic RNA interference to propose a mechanism of polar morphogen shuttling in C. albipunctata. We compare these results to available data from other species and discuss scenarios for the evolution of DV signalling in the holometabolan insects. Conclusions A comparison of gene expression patterns across hemipteran and holometabolan insects reveals that expression of upstream signalling factors in the DV system is very variable, while signalling output is highly conserved. This has two major implications: first, as long as ligand shuttling and other upstream regulatory mechanisms lead to an appropriately localised activation of BMP signalling at the dorsal midline, it is of less importance exactly where the upstream components of the DV system are expressed. This, in turn, explains why the early-acting components of the DV patterning system in insects exhibit extensive amounts of developmental systems drift constrained by highly conserved downstream signalling output.This work was funded by the MEC-EMBL agreement for the EMBL/CRG Research Unit in Systems Biology, SGR Grant 406, from the Catalan funding agency AGAUR and by grants BFU2009-10184 and BFU2012-33775 from the Spanish Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad (MINECO). The Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG) acknowledges support from MINECO, “Centro de Excelencia Severo Ochoa 2013-2017”, SEV-2012-0208

Sequence stratigraphy, quaternary basin analyses in the Adriatic Foredeep

This paper intends to give the characterization of Quaternary loose deposits, near and along the sea coast zone, by evaluating lithological-geologic parameters, depositional environments and the tectonic subsidence. The main objectives are: - The lithologic-facial zone by mapping of lithologie composition and facies distribution. - The Quaternary basin analyses by interpreting depositional sequences of third order, where system tracts (lowstand, shelf wedge, transgressive and highstand) are individualized. - The present fluvial processes and delta configuration (Shkumbin, Seman)

The use of carbon dioxide in big bags and containers for the control of pest in food products

Modified atmospheres (MA) based on high carbon dioxide (CO2) contents offer an alternative to synthetic chemical fumigation for insect pest control in food commodities during storage and shipment processes. The present study aimed to establish the efficacy of using CO2 in big bags and containers to prevent pests’ development. Four trials were conducted with gastight big bags (900 x 900 x 1000 or 1600 cm). Two of these trials were conducted with polished rice and samples of Sitophilus oryzae, one trial with chamomile infested with Lasioderma serricorne and one trial with cocoa and samples of Tribolium confusum and Ephestia kuehniella. Initial contents of CO2 were higher than 75%, which decreased depending on exposure time (13 to 90 d) and food product. In all four trials the insects present in the infested samples were controlled with the MA. An additional trial was conducted in a 9 m container containing dried herbs in boxes, big bags and other pacaging formats. Twelve infested samples of L. serricorne and Plodia interpunctella were distributed uniformly at the bottom and top of the container. A concentration between 70% and 15% CO2 was maintained for an exposure time of 18 d. In spite of the decrease in CO2 content, the treatment was also effective to control all insects present in the samples. Our results confirmed that CO2 could be applied to food products during the storage in big bags and containers to control the occurrence of pests. Keywords: Modified atmosphere, Carbon dioxide, Pest control, Stored-product pests