Book Review:Culturally Responsive Pedagogy: Teaching Like Our Students \u27Lives Matter

The book clarifies the key concepts and issues that language teachers, language learners, administrators, and language test experts are faced with. It was written to provide a connection between the theories of culturally responsive pedagogy with practicalities of this pedagogy. It covers our language teacher-students\u27 questions about how to ‘deal with\u27 culturally responsive pedagogy. It provides not only a set of tools or methods for teaching language but also an amalgamation of theory, research, and a conceptual structure for dealing with cultural responsiveness to students

Investigation of TSGA10 gene expression, localization and protein interaction in human and mouse spermatogenesis.

Isolation of the testis-specific human gene TSGA10 was reported in 2001 (Modarressi et al.). In this project, I have carried on the work by further characterising the gene and its product by cloning and sequencing the mouse homologue (Tsga10) (GenBank Accession no. AF5300501). Tsga10 was localised by FISH to mouse chromosome 1 band B, and RNA in situ hybridization and RT-PCR experiments showed that Tsga10 transcripts were developmentally regulated and expressed in pachytene cells of the testis. It was also expressed in some other actively dividing cells such as foetal tissues, primary tumors and astrocytes. Interestingly, the program Pfam (which predicts protein structural motifs) suggests that the Tsga10 protein contains a 'myosin like' coiled-coil domain. A Green fluorescent protein (GFP)-Tsgal10 fusion gene was constructed and cell transfection resulted in the formation of short thick protein filaments. Antibodies raised individually against the N-terminus and C-terminus parts of the Tsga10 protein were used to localise Tsga10 protein expression by immunohistochemistry. In collaboration with Hossein Modarressi and Frans Van der Hoorn, using immuno-blotting and staining techniques, I discovered that Tsga10 encodes a 82 kD precursor protein in spermatids which is incorporated into sperm tails. Upon passage of sperm into the epididymis this is processed to a 27 kD protein which is associated with the fibrous sheath, a major tail structure. Using Tsga10 as bait in a yeast two-hybrid experiment, citestis cDNA library was screened for proteins that interacted with Tsga10. Three candidate interacting proteins were found; Odf2, a previously described protein of the fibrous sheath, the rat homologue of FU32880, (a hypothetical human protein whose gene is expressed predominantly in spermatocytes, spermatids and mature sperm cells), and the mitochondrial protein cytochrome cl. Using immunocytochemistry I then localised FLJ32880 (newly named as TSGA10 interacting protein, TSGA10IP) in the sperm tail as another fibrous sheath protein. These results support the theory that Tsga10 has a role to play in the fibrous sheath of the sperm tail, and also suggest a possible functional involvement with a mitochondrial protein. Antibody was raised against the mouse homologue of TSGA10IP for further study. I suggest that Tsga10 plays multiple roles, one in sperm tail formation and possibly a second role in cell cycle regulation

What is the right theory for Anderson localization of light?

Anderson localization of light is traditionally described in analogy to electrons in a random potential. Within this description the disorder strength -- and hence the localization characteristics -- depends strongly on the wavelength of the incident light. In an alternative description in analogy to sound waves in a material with spatially fluctuating elastic moduli this is not the case. Here, we report on an experimentum crucis in order to investigate the validity of the two conflicting theories using transverse-localized optical devices. We do not find any dependence of the observed localization radii on the light wavelength. We conclude that the modulus-type description is the correct one and not the potential-type one. We corroborate this by showing that in the derivation of the traditional, potential-type theory a term in the wave equation has been tacititly neglected. In our new modulus-type theory the wave equation is exact. We check the consistency of the new theory with our data using a field-theoretical approach (nonlinear sigma model)

Composite fermions close to the one-half filling of the lowest Landau level revisited

By strictly adhering to the microscopic theory of composite fermions for the Landau-level filling fractions nu_e = p/(2 p + 1), we reproduce, with remarkable accuracy, the surface-acoustic-wave (SAW)-based experimental results by Willett and co-workers concerning two-dimensional electron systems with nu_e close to 1/2. Our results imply that the electron band mass m_b, as distinct from the composite fermion mass m_*, must undergo a substantial increase under the conditions corresponding to nu_e approximately equal to 1/2. In view of the relatively low aerial electronic densities n_e to which the underlying SAW experiments correspond, our finding conforms with the experimental results by Shashkin et al. [Phys. Rev. B 66, 073303 (2002)], concerning two-dimensional electrons in silicon, that signal sharp increase in m_b for n_e decreasing below approximately 2 x 10^{11} cm^{-2}. We further establish that a finite mean-free path l_0 is essential for the observed linearity of the longitudinal conductivity sigma_{xx}(q) as deduced from the SAW velocity shifts.Comment: 5 pages, 2 postscript figure

Presence of lead in opium.

Opium addiction is a common form of addiction in Middle East countries such as Iran. Recently several reports suggested some kinds of pathologic findings such as abdominal pain, nephropathy, and anemia in opium addict patients. Such pathologic findings suggest lead poisoning in the patients. In this study, the concentration of lead in 10 opium samples was evaluated. The mean concentration of lead in the opium samples was 1.88 ppm. This may explain some of the pathologic findings found in addict patients. The authors would suggest further investigations to evaluate the lead concentration in opium addicts' sera and also routine screening for lead poisoning in opium addict patients

Boron Nitride Nanotubes: Force Field Parameterization, Epoxy Interactions, and Comparison with Carbon Nanotubes for High-Performance Composite Materials

Boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) are a very promising reinforcement for future high-performance composites because of their excellent thermo-mechanical properties. To take full advantage of BNNTs in composite materials, it is necessary to have a comprehensive understanding of the wetting characteristics of various high-performance resins. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations provide an accurate and efficient approach to establish the contact angle values of engineering polymers on reinforcement surfaces, which offers a measure for the interaction between the polymer and reinforcement. In this research, MD simulations and experiments are used to determine the wettability of various epoxy systems on BNNT surfaces. The reactive interface force field (IFF-R) is parameterized and utilized in the simulations to accurately describe the interaction of the epoxy monomers with the BNNT surface. The effect of the epoxy monomer type, hardener type, local atomic charges, and temperature on the contact angle is established. The results show that contact angles decrease with increases in temperature for all the epoxy/hardener systems. The bisphenol-A-based epoxy system demonstrates better wettability with the BNNT surface than the bisphenol-F based epoxy system. Furthermore, the MD predictions demonstrate that these observations are validated with experimental results, wherein the same contact angle trends are observed for macroscopic epoxy drops on nonwoven nanotube papers. As wetting properties drive the resin infusion in the reinforcement materials, these results are important for the future manufacturing of high-quality BNNT/epoxy nanocomposites for high-performance applications such as aerospace and aeronautical vehicles

A rare case of Sjogren-Larsson syndrome with recurrent pneumonia and asthma

Sjogren-Larsson syndrome (SLS) is a rare autosomal recessive neurocutaneous disorder with worldwide incidence of 0.4 per 100,000 people. It is characterized by the triad of congenital ichthyosis, spastic diplegia or quadriplegia, and mental retardation. Herein we report a 2-year-old male child with SLS, asthma, and recurrent pneumonia. SLS was confirmed by a molecular genetics study that revealed a deletion mutation in the ALDH3A2 gene. An ALDH3A2 gene mutation results in dysfunction of the microsomal enzyme fatty aldehyde dehydrogenase and impaired metabolism and accumulation of leukotriene B4, which is a key molecule and a pro-inflammatory mediator in developing allergic diseases, especially asthma. An increased level of leukotriene B4 has been reported in SLS patients. As far as we are aware, this is the first report of SLS associated with asthma and recurrent pneumonia. In conclusion, pediatricians should be aware of and evaluate patients with SLS for possible associated asthma and allergic disorders. © 2016 by The Korean Pediatric Society

Bell�s palsy following growth hormone therapy in a patient with Prader-Willi syndrome: The first report

Prader�Willi Syndrome (PWS) is a complex genetic disorder with different manifestations in infancy and childhood including obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, mild to moderate intellectual impairment and learning disabilities. In this syndrome, growth hormone therapy improves outcomes. For the first time, here we report an 11-year-old boy with PWS who presented with three episodes of unilateral facial palsy after starting growth hormone therapy. © 2017 The Authors