163 research outputs found
Mississippi Statewide Accountability System: A Measure Of Academic Attainment Or Other Factors
This quantitative study analyzed the construct validity of the Mississippi Statewide Accountability System through an analysis of the relationship between teacher, financial, socio-economic, and social characteristics and the Quality of distribution index of public school districts in Mississippi. This study sought to determine if there were constructs outside the control of schools and districts that significantly correlated to outcomes of the Mississippi Statewide Accountability System that were not accounted for in the calculations. Educational leaders, communities, and other educational stakeholders have paid close attention to the Mississippi Statewide Accountability System as legislators have chosen to use it to rank schools and districts from A-F. The major component of the Mississippi Statewide Accountability System is the Quality of Distribution Index which is based on student test scores. This research used the Quality of Distribution Index results from 148 public school districts from SY 2011-2012 as the dependent variable. Data was collected from reputable sources from SY 2011-2012 for twelve independent variables, not in control of school personnel that were a part of all school districts. Correlations were determined using a Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient and a Coefficient of Determination at the .01 level (two tailed) of significance. The research findings indicated a significant correlation between Quality of distribution index and eleven of the twelve constructs and thus: The Mississippi Statewide Accountability System has issues with construct validity
Use of a marking rubric and self-assessment to provide feedforward to level 5 undergraduate Sport students: student perceptions, performance and marking efficiency
The aim of this study was to identify whether Level 5 Sport students find a rubric and self-assessment helpful in providing feedforward on a lab report, and if the rubric improved performance andmarking efficiency. A questionnaire was administered to 58 students in order to identify perceptions. Marking time, report grades and classification were compared with the previous year. A significant improvement in the report mark of 7% (ρ=0.029) from the previous year and an increase in the number of passes in the higher classifications, along with a 25-minute decrease in the mean marking time, were observed. Perceptions of the rubric were generally positive in terms of increasing
students’ understanding of the assessment.The role of the rubric in the self-assessment process was beneficial, as it enabled students to understand what they were doing well
and what they needed to improve. Overall, rubrics should be considered when implementing a laboratory-based practical assessment and report
Prokineticin ligands and receptors are expressed in the human fetal ovary and regulate germ cell expression of COX2
CONTEXT: Fetal ovarian development and primordial follicle formation underpin future female fertility. Prokineticin (PROK) ligands regulate cell survival, proliferation and angiogenesis in adult reproductive tissues including the ovary. However, their expression and function during fetal ovarian development remains unclear.OBJECTIVE: To investigate expression and localization of the PROK ligands, receptors and their downstream transcriptional targets in the human fetal ovary.SETTING: This study was conducted at the University of Edinburgh.PARTICIPANTS: Ovaries were collected from 37 morphologically normal human fetuses.DESIGN AND MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: mRNA and protein expression of PROK ligands and receptors was determined in human fetal ovaries using qRT-PCR, immunoblotting and immunohistochemistry. Functional studies were performed using a human germ tumour cell line (TCam-2) stably transfected with PROKR1.RESULTS: Expression of PROK1 and PROKR1 was significantly higher in mid-gestation ovaries (17-20 weeks) than at earlier gestations (8-11 and 14-16 weeks). PROK2 significantly increased across the gestations examined. PROKR2 expression remained unchanged. PROK ligand and receptor proteins were predominantly localised to germ cells (including oocytes within primordial follicles) and endothelial cells, indicating these cell types to be the targets of PROK signalling in the human fetal ovary. PROK1 treatment of a germ cell line stably-expressing PROKR1 resulted in ERK phosphorylation, and elevated COX2 expression.CONCLUSIONS: Developmental changes in expression and regulation of COX2 and pERK by PROK1 suggest that PROK ligands may be novel regulators of germ cell development in the human fetal ovary, interacting within a network of growth and survival factors prior to primordial follicle formation.</p
The Vehicle, Fall 1985
Vol. 27, No. 1
Table of Contents
Satchel AssMichael D. Smithpage 3
PhotoDoug Andersonpage 7
CounselingChristy Dunphypage 8
Grave SiteJay D. Fiskpage 8
Sight-Seeing Outside PhoenixBob Zordanipage 9
PerformanceDan Von Holtenpage 10
NightmareKandy Bellpage 10
Photo (The Loft)Lawrence McGownpage 11
LaboringJanet Gracepage 12
Blood DonorDan Von Holtenpage 13
Photo (Pier)Lawrence McGownpage 14
ExamplesChristopher Albinpage 14
Three PoemsPatrick Peterspage 15
Sometimes I Dream in Cotton CandyKathy Graypage 16
One Day While BoatingF. Link Rapierpage 17
DepartureBob Zordanipage 17
140 Print That\u27s Life Peter Dowlingpage 18
Photo (Around the Bend)Mike Freckerpage 20
Light ConversationDan Hintzpage 22
She Waits For the WorldJim Harrispage 22
HoneyKathy Graypage 23
Photo AlbumPatrick Peterspage 24
Photo (Stairs)Lawrence McGownpage 25
Fallen From Grace to SaturdayF. Link Rapierpage 26
Post MortemF. Link Rapierpage 27
ConfessionJohn Kayserpage 27
Child\u27s PlayChristopher Albinpage 27
Seeking A Friend\u27s Advice on DietingKathy Graypage 28
PhotoDoug Andersonpage 28
She Came Back to MeJim Harrispage 29
Farm BoyDiana Winsonpage 30
DilemmaJanet Wilhelmpage 31
In a Rock or StoneRichard Donnellypage 32
In November He Came To MeJean Kover Chandlerpage 33
EndingChristy Dunphypage 34
The Honor GradEddie Simpsonpage 35
Photo (Thirst)Mike Freckerpage 40https://thekeep.eiu.edu/vehicle/1046/thumbnail.jp
The Gallery 2011
This is a digital copy of the print content produced by the Gallery 2011 team. The Gallery 2011 consists of a box containing a leaflet, four books, and a USB drive. The leaflet lists the works contained on the USB drive in the areas of Time Based Media and Web Design, and provides credits for the Gallery design production team. Content from the USB drive is not included.
The four books contain the artistic works of students in the following genres: Core Studio/Painting, Graphic Design/Illustration, Photography/Printmaking, and Jewelry & Metals/Three Dimensional. Files for individual sections may be viewed on the detailed metadata page by clicking on the book title.https://rdw.rowan.edu/the_gallery/1005/thumbnail.jp
The carbon-rich type Ic supernova 2016adj in the iconic dust lane of Centaurus A: signatures of interaction with circumstellar hydrogen?
We present a comprehensive data set of supernova (SN) 2016adj located within
the central dust lane of Centaurus A. SN 2016adj is significantly reddened and
after correcting the peak apparent -band magnitude ()
for Milky Way reddening and our inferred host-galaxy reddening parameters
(i.e., and ), we estimate
it reached a peak absolute magnitude of . Detailed inspection of
the optical/NIR spectroscopic time-series reveals a carbon-rich SN Ic and not a
SN Ib/IIb as previously suggested in the literature. The NIR spectra shows
prevalent carbon-monoxide formation occurring already by +41 days past -band
maximum, which is days earlier than previously reported in the
literature for this object. Interestingly around two months past maximum, the
NIR spectrum of SN~2016adj begins to exhibit H features, with a +97~d medium
resolution spectrum revealing both Paschen and Bracket lines with absorption
minima of km/s, full-width-half-maximum emission velocities of
km/s, and emission line ratios consistent with a dense emission
region. We speculate these attributes are due to circumstellar interaction
(CSI) between the rapidly expanding SN ejecta and a H-rich shell of material
formed during the pre-SN phase. A bolometric light curve is constructed and a
semi-analytical model fit suggests the supernova synthesized 0.5 solar masses
of Ni and ejected 4.2 solar masses of material, though these values
should be approached with caution given the large uncertainties associated with
the adopted reddening parameters, possible CSI contamination, and known light
echo emission. Finally, inspection of Hubble Space Telescope archival data
yielded no progenitor detection.Comment: Submitted to A&A, comments are welcom
CALANGO: a phylogeny-aware comparative genomics tool for discovering quantitative genotype-phenotype associations across species
Living species vary significantly in phenotype and genomic content. Sophisticated statistical methods linking genes with phenotypes within a species have led to breakthroughs in complex genetic diseases and genetic breeding. Despite the abundance of genomic and phenotypic data available for thousands of species, finding genotype-phenotype associations across species is challenging due to the non-independence of species data resulting from common ancestry. To address this, we present CALANGO (comparative analysis with annotation-based genomic components), a phylogeny-aware comparative genomics tool to find homologous regions and biological roles associated with quantitative phenotypes across species. In two case studies, CALANGO identified both known and previously unidentified genotype-phenotype associations. The first study revealed unknown aspects of the ecological interaction between Escherichia coli, its integrated bacteriophages, and the pathogenicity phenotype. The second identified an association between maximum height in angiosperms and the expansion of a reproductive mechanism that prevents inbreeding and increases genetic diversity, with implications for conservation biology and agriculture
Novel regulators of human gonadal development
The production of viable germ cells during human embryonic development
determines adult reproductive success. This is particularly true for females, as
development of germ cells (GCs) into primordial follicles before birth is imperative
for future fertility. During fetal development GCs migrate to the genital ridge to
form the gonad, after which several tightly regulated events, including proliferation,
differentiation, and association with somatic cells, must occur to form a functional
gonad. In the ovary these processes also include the initiation and subsequent arrest
of meiosis. These developmental processes are orchestrated by local autocrine and
paracrine factors, many of which remain to be identified in the human.
In order to decipher further the pathways by which the gonad and GCs develop,
potential regulators including prostaglandin (PG) E2, the interleukin (IL)6-type
cytokines, and the prokinetecins (PROKs), were examined in the human fetal ovary
and PROKs in the human fetal testis. Patterns of gene expression, protein
localisation, function, and interaction of the potential mediators throughout human
development (8-20 weeks gestation) were determined. Primary fetal tissue was
investigated, in addition to immortalized GCs (T-Cam2 cells) and a murine model of
fetal ovarian development.
PGE2 interacts with known regulators of GC development in non-reproductive
organs. It was postulated PGE2 may regulate GC progression by modulating these
factors. Examination of PGE2 receptors and precursor enzymes in the fetal ovary
revealed that all were present and some were developmentally regulated, with
mRNA expression increasing with gestation. These developmentally regulated
components were localised to the GCs. The PGE2 receptors were among those
differentially expressed, with one localised solely to mature GCs. Culture of human
fetal ovary confirmed that PGE2 regulates known regulators of GC development,
increasing expression of survival and anti-apoptotic factors. To test the hypothesis
that PGE2 is necessary for female GC development, paracetamol, an inhibitor of
PGE2 precursor enzymes, was utilised in a murine model of fetal exposure. Fetal
ovaries from this experiment displayed disruption of normal development. The IL6-type cytokines are also postulated to be involved in early gonad
development, and are known to regulate proliferation and differentiation of mouse
embryonic stem and GCs in vitro. A significant increase in transcript levels of the
shared receptor components was determined in second trimester human ovaries, as
well as developmental increases of several of the IL6-type ligands. Both common
receptor components were located specifically in the GCs identifying them as the
target of IL6 action in the human fetal ovary.
The PROKs regulate cell migration, proliferation and differentiation, and modulate
secretion of PGE2 and expression of some IL6-type cytokines. To-date, PROKs have
not been examined in the human fetal gonad. Transcript levels were higher in the
fetal testis compared to the ovary, with receptor and ligand components increasing
with gestation. Most components also increased with gestation in the ovary.
However, location of PROK components was strikingly different between the two
tissues, with GCs being the primary target of PROK action in the fetal ovary, and
Leydig and interstitial cells being the target in the testis. PROKs interaction with
other regulators of gonad development was examined utilising a GC line in the case
of the ovary and primary interstitial cell cultures in the case of the testis.
These studies have identified new factors involved in human fetal gonad
development, and how they interact with known regulatory pathways of
development
Fast and Not-so-Furious: Case Study of the Fast and Faint Type IIb SN 2021bxu
We present photometric and spectroscopic observations and analysis of
SN~2021bxu (ATLAS21dov), a low-luminosity, fast-evolving Type IIb supernova
(SN). SN~2021bxu is unique, showing a large initial decline in brightness
followed by a short plateau phase. With
during the plateau, it is at the lower end of the luminosity distribution of
stripped-envelope supernovae (SE-SNe) and shows a distinct 10 day plateau
not caused by H- or He-recombination. SN~2021bxu shows line velocities which
are at least slower than typical SE-SNe. It is
photometrically and spectroscopically similar to Type IIb SNe during the
photospheric phases of evolution, with similarities to Ca-rich IIb SNe. We find
that the bolometric light curve is best described by a composite model of shock
interaction between the ejecta and an envelope of extended material, combined
with a typical SN~IIb powered by the radioactive decay of Ni. The
best-fit parameters for SN~2021bxu include a Ni mass of , an ejecta mass of
, and an ejecta
kinetic energy of . From the fits to the properties of the extended material of
Ca-rich IIb SNe we find a trend of decreasing envelope radius with increasing
envelope mass. SN~2021bxu has on the low end compared to
SE-SNe and Ca-rich SNe in the literature, demonstrating that SN~2021bxu-like
events are rare explosions in extreme areas of parameter space. The progenitor
of SN~2021bxu is likely a low mass He star with an extended envelope.Comment: 18 pages, 15 figures, submitted to MNRA
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