A Teacher\u27s Experience in Improvisational Music Therapy with her Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Phenomenological Inquiry

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to examine the lived experience of a teacher who participated in one 30-minute Improvisational Music Therapy (IMT) session with her students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Participants included a teacher who has never participated in music therapy sessions with her students, as well as four of her students, ages 12-17, with a primary diagnosis of ASD, and each of their paraprofessionals. Data were collected and thematically analyzed based on transcriptions of the interview with the teacher and videotaped music and verbal interactions in the session. Four essential themes that emerged were identified as follow: cultivating relationships, following the students\u27 lead, observing the students from a different lens, and gaining and integrating new knowledge. Results of the study highlight the value of this investigation for the teacher who collaborated with her students in the music-making process. She gained new knowledge about their social and communicative abilities that enhanced her desire to implement music-based strategies in her classroom. Overall, this study offers the first evidence about a teacher\u27s lived experience in active music-making process of IMT and provides qualitative support for existing literature about the benefits of employing a relationship-based approach when working with students with ASD

Genetic Engineering of Enzymes and Electrode Modifications for Biosensing Applications

Biosensing efficiency, selectivity and sensitivity rely first and foremost on a successful interfacing between enzymes and sensing interfaces. [...

Highly Efficient Flavin–Adenine Dinucleotide Glucose Dehydrogenase Fused to a Minimal Cytochrome C Domain

Flavin–adenine dinucleotide (FAD) dependent glucose dehydrogenase (GDH) is a thermostable, oxygen insensitive redox enzyme used in bioelectrochemical applications. The FAD cofactor of the enzyme is buried within the proteinaceous matrix of the enzyme, which makes it almost unreachable for a direct communication with an electrode. In this study, FAD dependent glucose dehydrogenase was fused to a natural minimal cytochrome domain in its c-terminus to achieve direct electron transfer. We introduce a fusion enzyme that can communicate with an electrode directly, without the use of a mediator molecule. The new fusion enzyme, with its direct electron transfer abilities displays superior activity to that of the native enzyme, with a <i>k</i>_cat that is ca. 3 times higher than that of the native enzyme, a <i>k</i>_cat/<i>K</i>_M that is more than 3 times higher than that of GDH and 5 to 7 times higher catalytic currents with an onset potential of ca. (−) 0.15 V vs Ag/AgCl, affording higher glucose sensing selectivity. Taking these parameters into consideration, the fusion enzyme presented can serve as a good candidate for blood glucose monitoring and for other glucose based bioelectrochemical systems