1,254 research outputs found
Disciplinary Measures in Primary Classrooms
Abstract
The experiment done by the researcher analyzed the effectiveness of each of the research-based disciplinary strategies commonly used in elementary classrooms. These strategies include positive reinforcement, increased movement in the classroom during instructional time, increased parent communication, and reinforcement of the classroom rules/expectations. The strategies’ effectiveness were tracked through behavioral charts kept by each of the students and marked by the classroom teacher throughout the day. Comprehensive data was sent back to parents on a weekly basis to update them on student behavior. The effectiveness on the charts were proven by the number of interruptions throughout each class period. An interruption was categorized by any time the mainstream teacher needed to stop academic instruction due to a disruption by a peer. By the end of the study, it was concluded that positive reinforcement and increased parent communication were most successful with decreasing the amount of interruptions during class time. When positive reinforcement was the strategy of focus, the culture of the classroom was notably better as well. All students were motivated to be chosen as positive role models and wanted to succeed.
Keywords: discipline, positive reinforcement, COVID, rapport, interruptio
Multiplikationsfähigkeiten bei Legasthenie – eine Untersuchung mittels Diffusionstensor-Magnetresonanztomographie
Novel role of JAC1 in influencing photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, and photooxidative stress signalling pathway in Arabidopsis thaliana
Regulation of light absorption under variable light conditions is essential to optimize photosynthetic and acclimatory processes in plants. Light energy absorbed in excess has a damaging effect on chloroplasts and can lead to cell death. Therefore, plants have evolved protective mechanisms against excess excitation energy that include chloroplast accumulation and avoidance responses. One of the proteins involved in facilitating chloroplast movements inArabidopsis thalianais the J domain-containing protein required for chloroplast accumulation response 1 (JAC1). The function of JAC1 relates to the chloroplast actin filaments appearance and disappearance. So far, the role of JAC1 was studied mainly in terms of chloroplasts photorelocation. Here, we demonstrate that the function of JAC1 is more complex, since it influences the composition of photosynthetic pigments, the efficiency of photosynthesis, and the CO(2)uptake rate. JAC1 has positive effect on water use efficiency (WUE) by reducing stomatal aperture and water vapor conductance. Importantly, we show that the stomatal aperture regulation is genetically coupled with JAC1 activity. In addition, our data demonstrate that JAC1 is involved in the fine-tuning of H(2)O(2)foliar levels, antioxidant enzymes activities and cell death after UV-C photooxidative stress. This work uncovers a novel function for JAC1 in affecting photosynthesis, CO(2)uptake, and photooxidative stress responses
Phototropin 1 and 2 influence photosynthesis, UV-C induced photooxidative stress responses, and cell death
Phototropins are plasma membrane-associated photoreceptors of blue light and UV-A/B radiation. The Arabidopsis thaliana genome encodes two phototropins, PHOT1 and PHOT2, that mediate phototropism, chloroplast positioning, and stomatal opening. They are well characterized in terms of photomorphogenetic processes, but so far, little was known about their involvement in photosynthesis, oxidative stress responses, and cell death. By analyzing phot1, phot2 single, and phot1phot2 double mutants, we demonstrated that both phototropins influence the photochemical and non-photochemical reactions, photosynthetic pigments composition, stomata conductance, and water-use efficiency. After oxidative stress caused by UV-C treatment, phot1 and phot2 single and double mutants showed a significantly reduced accumulation of H2O2 and more efficient photosynthetic electron transport compared to the wild type. However, all phot mutants exhibited higher levels of cell death four days after UV-C treatment, as well as deregulated gene expression. Taken together, our results reveal that on the one hand, both phot1 and phot2 contribute to the inhibition of UV-C-induced foliar cell death, but on the other hand, they also contribute to the maintenance of foliar H2O2 levels and optimal intensity of photochemical reactions and non-photochemical quenching after an exposure to UV-C stress. Our data indicate a novel role for phototropins in the condition-dependent optimization of photosynthesis, growth, and water-use efficiency as well as oxidative stress and cell death response after UV-C exposure
Intrafamilial variability in SLC6A1-related neurodevelopmental disorders
Epilepsy; Intellectual disability; Intrafamilial variabilityEpilepsia; Discapacidad intelectual; Variabilidad intrafamiliarEpilèpsia; Discapacitat intel·lectual; Variabilitat intrafamiliarIntroduction: Phenotypic spectrum of SLC6A1-related neurodevelopmental disorders (SLC6A1-NDD) includes intellectual disability (ID), autistic spectrum disorders (ASD), epilepsy, developmental delay, beginning from early infancy or after seizure onset, and other neurological features such as hypotonia and movement disorders. Data on familial phenotypic heterogeneity have been rarely reported, thus in our study we aimed to investigate intrafamilial phenotypic variability in families with SLC6A1 variants.
Methods: We collected clinical, laboratory and genetic data on 39 individuals, including 17 probands, belonging to 13 families harboring inherited variants of SLC6A1. Data were collected through an international network of Epilepsy and Genetic Centers.
Results: Main clinical findings in the whole cohort of 39 subjects were: (a) epilepsy, mainly presenting with generalized seizures, reported in 71% of probands and 36% of siblings or first/second-degree relatives. Within a family, the same epilepsy type (generalized or focal) was observed; (b) ID reported in 100% and in 13% of probands and siblings or first/second-degree relatives, respectively; (c) learning disabilities detected in 28% of the SLC6A1 carriers, all of them were relatives of a proband; (d) around 51% of the whole cohort presented with psychiatric symptoms or behavioral disorders, including 82% of the probands. Out of the 19 patients with psychiatric symptoms, ASD were diagnosed in 40% of them; (e) neurological findings (primarily tremor and speech difficulties) were observed 38.5% of the whole cohort, including 10 probands. Our families harbored 12 different SLC6A1 variants, one was a frameshift, two stop-gain, while the remaining were missense. No genotype–phenotype associations were identified.
Discussion: Our study showed that first-or second-degree relatives presented with a less severe phenotype, featuring mainly mild intellectual and/or learning disabilities, at variance with the probands who suffered from moderate to severe ID, generalized, sometimes intractable, epileptic seizures, behavioral and psychiatric disorders. These findings may suggest that a proportion of individuals with mild SLC6A1-NDD might be missed, in particular those with an older age where genetic testing is not performed. Further studies on intrafamilial phenotypic variability are needed to confirm our results and possibly to expand the phenotypic spectrum of these disorders and benefit genetic counseling
Characterization of the stem cell system of the acoel Isodiametra pulchra
Background: Tissue plasticity and a substantial regeneration capacity based on stem cells are the hallmark of several invertebrate groups such as sponges, cnidarians and Platyhelminthes. Traditionally, Acoela were seen as an early branching clade within the Platyhelminthes, but became recently positioned at the base of the Bilateria. However, little is known on how the stem cell system in this new phylum is organized. In this study, we wanted to examine if Acoela possess a neoblast-like stem cell system that is responsible for development, growth, homeostasis and regeneration.
Results: We established enduring laboratory cultures of the acoel Isodiametra pulchra (Acoela, Acoelomorpha) and implemented in situ hybridization and RNA interference (RNAi) for this species. We used BrdU labelling, morphology, ultrastructure and molecular tools to illuminate the morphology, distribution and plasticity of acoel stem cells under different developmental conditions. We demonstrate that neoblasts are the only proliferating cells which are solely mesodermally located within the organism. By means of in situ hybridisation and protein localisation we could demonstrate that the piwi-like gene ipiwi1 is expressed in testes, ovaries as well as in a subpopulation of somatic stem cells. In addition, we show that germ cell progenitors are present in freshly hatched worms, suggesting an embryonic formation of the germline. We identified a potent stem cell system that is responsible for development, homeostasis, regeneration and regrowth upon starvation.
Conclusions: We introduce the acoel Isodiametra pulchra as potential new model organism, suitable to address developmental questions in this understudied phylum. We show that neoblasts in I. pulchra are crucial for tissue homeostasis, development and regeneration. Notably, epidermal cells were found to be renewed exclusively from parenchymally located stem cells, a situation known only from rhabditophoran flatworms so far. For further comparison, it will be important to analyse the stem cell systems of other key-positioned understudied taxa
The dual role of LESION SIMULATING DISEASE 1 as a condition-dependent scaffold protein and transcription regulator
Since its discovery over two decades ago as an important cell death regulator in Arabidopsis thaliana, the role of LESION SIMULATING DISEASE 1 (LSD1) has been studied intensively within both biotic and abiotic stress responses as well as with respect to plant fitness regulation. However, its molecular mode of action remains enigmatic. Here, we demonstrate that nucleo-cytoplasmic LSD1 interacts with a broad range of other proteins that are engaged in various molecular pathways such as ubiquitination, methylation, cell cycle control, gametogenesis, embryo development and cell wall formation. The interaction of LSD1 with these partners is dependent on redox status, as oxidative stress significantly changes the quantity and types of LSD1-formed complexes. Furthermore, we show that LSD1 regulates the number and size of leaf mesophyll cells and affects plant vegetative growth. Importantly, we also reveal that in addition to its function as a scaffold protein, LSD1 acts as a transcriptional regulator. Taken together, our results demonstrate that LSD1 plays a dual role within the cell by acting as a condition-dependent scaffold protein and as a transcription regulator
- …