Dutch early years classroom teachers facilitating and guiding musical play: problems and opportunities

Musical play is an activity in which young children more or less freely explore and create with sound with limited guidance from a teacher. This study explored the occurrence of musical play in Dutch early years education (4–5 year olds). Twenty early years classroom teachers were interviewed about the content of the music education taking place in their classroom, and about a possible facilitation and guidance of musical play. Findings showed that ten teachers were unfamiliar with musical play, whilst nine experienced it as too difficult due to limited experience and knowledge. One teacher successfully included musical play, due to additional pre-service training. We argue that musical play may be a valuable addition to early years music education, one that enables young children to learn about music more consistent with their age and interests. Based on our outcomes, we advocate the provision of additional teacher education around facilitating musical play

NordAqua, a Nordic Center of Excellence to develop an algae-based photosynthetic production platform

NordAqua is a multidisciplinary Nordic Center of Excellence funded by NordForsk Bioeconomy program (2017-2022). The research center promotes Blue Bioeconomy and endeavours to reform the use of natural resources in a environmentally sustainable way. In this short communication, we summarize particular outcomes of the consortium. The key research progress of NordAqua includes (1) improving of photosynthetisis, (2) developing novel photosynthetic cell factories that function in a "solar-driven direct CO2 capture to target bioproducts" mode, (3) promoting the diversity of Nordic cyanobacteria and algae as an abundant and resilient alternative for less sustainable forest biomass and for innovative production of biochemicals, and (4) improving the bio-based wastewater purification and nutrient recycling technologies to provide new tools for integrative circular economy platforms.Peer reviewe

pH-dependent structural transitions in cationic ionizable lipid mesophases are critical for lipid nanoparticle function

Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) are advanced core-shell particles for messenger RNA (mRNA) based therapies that are made of polyethylene glycol (PEG) lipid, distearoylphosphatidylcholine (DSPC), cationic ionizable lipid (CIL), cholesterol (chol), and mRNA. Yet the mechanism of pH-dependent response that is believed to cause endosomal release of LNPs is not well understood. Here, we show that eGFP (enhanced green fluorescent protein) protein expression in the mouse liver mediated by the ionizable lipids DLin-MC3-DMA (MC3), DLin-KC2-DMA (KC2), and DLinDMA (DD) ranks MC3 ≥ KC2 > DD despite similar delivery of mRNA per cell in all cell fractions isolated. We hypothesize that the three CIL-LNPs react differently to pH changes and hence study the structure of CIL/chol bulk phases in water. Using synchrotron X-ray scattering a sequence of ordered CIL/chol mesophases with lowering pH values are observed. These phases show isotropic inverse micellar, cubic Fd3m inverse micellar, inverse hexagonal and bicontinuous cubic Pn3m symmetry. If polyadenylic acid, as mRNA surrogate, is added to CIL/chol, excess lipid coexists with a condensed nucleic acid lipid phase. The next-neighbor distance in the excess phase shows a discontinuity at the Fd3m inverse micellar to inverse hexagonal transition occurring at pH 6 with distinctly larger spacing and hydration for DD vs. MC3 and KC2. In mRNA LNPs, DD showed larger internal spacing, as well as retarded onset and reduced level of DD-LNP-mediated eGFP expression in vitro compared to MC3 and KC2. Our data suggest that the pH-driven Fd3m- transition in bulk phases is a hallmark of CIL-specific differences in mRNA LNP efficacy.publishedVersio

NordAqua, a Nordic Center of Excellence to develop an algae-based photosynthetic production platform

NordAqua is a multidisciplinary Nordic Center of Excellence funded by NordForsk Bioeconomy program (2017-2022). The research center promotes Blue Bioeconomy and endeavours to reform the use of natural resources in a environmentally sustainable way. In this short communication, we summarize particular outcomes of the consortium. The key research progress of NordAqua includes (1) improving of photosynthetisis, (2) developing novel photosynthetic cell factories that function in a "solar-driven direct CO2 capture to target bioproducts" mode, (3) promoting the diversity of Nordic cyanobacteria and algae as an abundant and resilient alternative for less sustainable forest biomass and for innovative production of biochemicals, and (4) improving the bio-based wastewater purification and nutrient recycling technologies to provide new tools for integrative circular economy platforms.</p

De novo variants predicting haploinsufficiency for DIP2C are associated with expressive speech delay.

The disconnected (disco)-interacting protein 2 (DIP2) gene was first identified in D. melanogaster and contains a DNA methyltransferase-associated protein 1 (DMAP1) binding domain, Acyl-CoA synthetase domain and AMP-binding sites. DIP2 regulates axonal bifurcation of the mushroom body neurons in D. melanogaster and is required for axonal regeneration in the neurons of C. elegans. The DIP2 homologues in vertebrates, Disco-interacting protein 2 homolog A (DIP2A), Disco-interacting protein 2 homolog B (DIP2B), and Disco-interacting protein 2 homolog C (DIP2C), are highly conserved and expressed widely in the central nervous system. Although there is evidence that DIP2C plays a role in cognition, reports of pathogenic variants in these genes are rare and their significance is uncertain. We present 23 individuals with heterozygous DIP2C variants, all manifesting developmental delays that primarily affect expressive language and speech articulation. Eight patients had de novo variants predicting loss-of-function in the DIP2C gene, two patients had de novo missense variants, three had paternally inherited loss of function variants and six had maternally inherited loss-of-function variants, while inheritance was unknown for four variants. Four patients had cardiac defects (hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, atrial septal defects, and bicuspid aortic valve). Minor facial anomalies were inconsistent but included a high anterior hairline with a long forehead, broad nasal tip, and ear anomalies. Brainspan analysis showed elevated DIP2C expression in the human neocortex at 10-24 weeks after conception. With the cases presented herein, we provide phenotypic and genotypic data supporting the association between loss-of-function variants in DIP2C with a neurocognitive phenotype

Variegated squirrel bornavirus 1 in squirrels, Germany and the Netherlands

We screened squirrels in Germany and the Netherlands for the novel zoonotic variegated squirrel bornavirus 1 (VSBV-1). The detection of VSBV-1 in 11 squirrels indicates a considerable risk for transmission to humans handling those animals. Therefore, squirrels in contact with humans should routinely be tested for VSBV-1

Inhalte im Fokus – Mathematische Strategien entwickeln : Tagungsband des AK Grundschule in der GDM 2018

Dieser Tagungsband dokumentiert die Ergebnisse der Jahrestagung des Arbeitskreises Grundschule in der Gesellschaft für Didaktik der Mathematik (GDM), die in diesem Jahr wieder in Bad Salzdetfurth stattfand. Vom 09. bis 11. November 2018 widmete sich der Arbeitskreis dem Thema „Inhalte im Fokus – Mathematische Strategien entwickeln“. Mathematische Bildung in der Grundschule ist eine herausfordernde und langfristige Aufgabe für die Unterrichtspraxis sowie die mathematikdidaktische Forschungs- und Entwicklungsarbeit. Mit Fokus auf die mathematischen Inhaltsbereiche wurde der Themenkomplex ‚Strategien‘ im Rahmen von vier Hauptvorträgen aus verschiedenen Perspektiven beleuchtet und im Plenum diskutiert. Zusätzlich setzten sich acht Arbeitsgruppen mit den Themenfeldern ‚Arithmetik‘, ‚Geometrie‘, ‚Sachrechnen‘, ‚Daten, Häufigkeit und Wahrscheinlichkeit‘, ‚Lehrerfortbildung‘, ‚Kommunikation und Kooperation‘, ‚Lernen, Lehren und Forschen mit digitalen Medien‘ sowie ‚vorschulische Bildung‘ intensiv mit aktuellen Forschungs-und Praxisfragen auseinander. Zentrale Ergebnisse dieser Arbeitsgruppen sind in diesem Band ebenfalls dokumentiert.The Proceedings of the 2018 Conference of the Research Group on Primary Mathematics Education (Arbeitskreis Grundschule in der GDM) focus on mathematical content and the development of mathematical strategies in mathematics education in primary school. Four invited talks addressed the main theme in plenum. Additionally, workings groups on the research areas arithmetic, geometry, modelling, data & probability, as well as groups on teacher education, ICT, and last not least early mathematics education offered discussions on current research issues