Mathematics-related emotions among Finnish adolescents across different performance levels

This study examined the relation of mathematics performance and gender with seven mathematics-related emotions (enjoyment, pride, anger, anxiety, shame, hopelessness and boredom) among adolescents. Using strict and lenient mathematics performance cut-off scores, respective groups of adolescents with mathematics difficulties (MD, n=136), low (LA, n=166) and typical mathematics performance (TA, n=1056) were identified. Our results revealed that the MD group reported more shame than the LA group. The MD group also reported more negative emotions and less positive emotions than the TA group, with the exception of boredom, for which there was no statistically significant difference. The interaction effect between mathematics performance group and gender on emotions was significant. Only females with MD showed significantly higher levels of hopelessness and shame than females with LA, while males with LA even reported more boredom than males with MD. Concerning gender differences, males reported slightly more pride and enjoyment than females. However, the direction and magnitude of the gender differences showed great variance among mathematics performance groups. The practical implications of the results are discussed.Peer reviewe

Att granska granskarna- Kvalitet i revisionsrapporter sett ur ett medborgarperspektiv

I samband med förändrad samhällsstyrning, bland annat i form av flernivåstyre och företagsinspirerade verksamheter, så anser vissa forskare att det demokratiska ansvarsutkrävandet behöver stärkas. Anders Hanberger ger ett förslag som går ut på att de lokala revisionsrapporterna borde utgöra ett informationsunderlag som ger medborgarna möjlighet att utkräva ansvar av politikerna. I uppsatsen analyseras tre revisionsrapporter framtagna på uppdrag av Region Skånes revisorer för att se om dessa håller hög kvalitet sett ur ett medborgarperspektiv, och för att se om rapporterna är lämpliga att använda som informationsunderlag för medborgarna för att dessa ska kunna utkräva ansvar av politikerna. Analysen genomförs med hjälp av ett analysschema som är framtaget av Hanberger med syftet att bedöma kvalitet i utvärderingar ur ett medborgarperspektiv. Slutsatsen är att två av tre rapporter är godkända kvalitetsmässigt utifrån ett medborgarperspektiv medan den tredje inte lever upp till de uppsatta kriterierna. De två rapporterna skulle kunna användas av medborgare för att få informationsunderlag till att utkräva ansvar från politikern. I uppsatsen dras också slutsatsen att bristen med revisionsrapporterna snarare ligger i okunskapen om rapporternas existens och innehåll snarare än deras faktiska innehåll

Achievement emotions among adolescents receiving special education support in mathematics

This study investigated mathematics-related achievement emotions among Finnish adolescents (N = 1379) receiving special education support (SEdS) in self-contained and general mathematics classrooms and receiving no mathematics SEdS through multilevel modeling. Mathematics performance, gender, and classroom size were controlled for. Adolescents receiving SEdS in general classrooms reported less enjoyment and pride and more anger, anxiety, shame, hopelessness, and boredom than those receiving SEdS in self-contained classrooms and those receiving no SEdS. In contrast, adolescents receiving SEdS in self-contained classrooms reported more enjoyment and pride and less anger, anxiety, and hopelessness than those receiving no SEdS. Furthermore, adolescents receiving no SEdS reported more anxiety, hopelessness, and boredom in general classrooms when the proportion of classmates receiving SEdS was higher. We discuss the practical implications for developing SEdS in relation to achievement emotions.Peer reviewe

The G Protein-Coupled Estrogen Receptor 1 (GPER1/GPR30) Agonist G-1 Regulates Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Ca Handling.

The G protein-coupled estrogen receptor GPER1/GPR30 is implicated in blood pressure regulation but the mechanisms are not identified. Here, we hypothesize that GPER1 controls blood pressure by regulating vascular smooth muscle cell Ca(2+) handling. Treatment with the GPER1 agonist G-1 (in the µM concentration range) acutely reduced spontaneous and synchronous Ca(2+) spike activity in A7r5 vascular smooth muscle cells expressing mRNA for GPER1. Furthermore, G-1 (1 µM) attenuated the thromboxane A2 analogue U46619-stimulated Ca(2+) spike activity but had no effect on the U46619-induced increase in the basal level of Ca(2+). The voltage-sensitive L-type Ca(2+) channel blocker nifedipine (100 nM) reduced Ca(2+) spike activity similar to G-1. Pharmacological, but not physiological, concentrations of the estrogen 17β-estradiol reduced Ca(2+) spike activity. The GPER1 antagonist G-15 blocked G-1-induced downregulation of Ca(2+) spike activity, supporting a GPER1-dependent mechanism. G-1 (1 µM) and nifedipine (100 nM) attenuated the 30-mM KCl-evoked rise in intracellular Ca(2+) concentration, suggesting that G-1 blocks inflow of Ca(2+) via voltage-sensitive Ca(2+) channels. In conclusion, we demonstrate that the GPER1 agonist G-1 regulates vascular smooth muscle cell Ca(2+) handling by lowering Ca(2+) spike activity, suggesting a role for this mechanism in GPER1-mediated control of blood pressure. © 2013 S. Karger AG, Basel

DNA Coated Nanoparticle Eight-mers as Programmable Self-Assembly Building Blocks

Abstract. Nanoparticles coated with single stranded DNA have been shown to efficiently hybridize to targets of complementary DNA. This property might be used to implement programmable (or algorithmic-) self-assembly to build nanoparticle structures. However, we argue that a DNA coated nanoparticle by itself cannot be used as a programmable self-assembly building block since it does not have directed bonds. A general scheme for assembling and purifying nanoparticle eight-mers with eight geometrically well-directed bonds is presented together with some preliminary experimental work

The Ovine Cerebral Venous System: Comparative Anatomy, Visualization, and Implications for Translational Research

Cerebrovascular diseases are significant causes of death and disability in humans. Improvements in diagnostic and therapeutic approaches strongly rely on adequate gyrencephalic, large animal models being demanded for translational research. Ovine stroke models may represent a promising approach but are currently limited by insufficient knowledge regarding the venous system of the cerebral angioarchitecture. The present study was intended to provide a comprehensive anatomical analysis of the intracranial venous system in sheep as a reliable basis for the interpretation of experimental results in such ovine models. We used corrosion casts as well as contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance venography to scrutinize blood drainage from the brain. This combined approach yielded detailed and, to some extent, novel findings. In particular, we provide evidence for chordae Willisii and lateral venous lacunae, and report on connections between the dorsal and ventral sinuses in this species. For the first time, we also describe venous confluences in the deep cerebral venous system and an ‘anterior condylar confluent’ as seen in humans. This report provides a detailed reference for the interpretation of venous diagnostic imaging findings in sheep, including an assessment of structure detectability by in vivo (imaging) versus ex vivo (corrosion cast) visualization methods. Moreover, it features a comprehensive interspecies-comparison of the venous cerebral angioarchitecture in man, rodents, canines and sheep as a relevant large animal model species, and describes possible implications for translational cerebrovascular research

The G protein-coupled oestrogen receptor 1 agonist G-1 disrupts endothelial cell microtubule structure in a receptor-independent manner.

The G protein-coupled oestrogen receptor GPER1, also known as GPR30, has been implicated in oestrogen signalling, but the physiological importance of GPER1 is not fully understood. The GPER1 agonist G-1 has become an important tool to assess GPER1-mediated cellular effects. Here, we report that this substance, besides acting via GPER1, affects the microtubule network in endothelial cells. Treatment with G-1 (3 μM) for 24 h reduced DNA synthesis by about 60 % in mouse microvascular endothelial bEnd.3 cells. Treatment with 3 μM G-1 prevented outgrowth of primary endothelial cells from mouse aortic explants embedded in Matrigel. Treatment with G-1 (0.3-3 μM) for 24 h disrupted bEnd.3 cell and HUVEC microtubule structure in a concentration-dependent manner as assessed by laser-scanning confocal immunofluorescence microscopy. G-1-induced (3 μM) disruption of microtubule was observed also after acute (3 and 6 h) treatment and in the presence of the protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide. Disruption of microtubules by 3 μM G-1 was observed in aortic smooth muscle cells obtained from both GPER1 knockout and wild-type mice, suggesting that G-1 influences microtubules through a mechanism independent of GPER1. G-1 dose dependently (10-50 μM) stimulated microtubule assembly in vitro. On the other hand, microtubules appeared normal in the presence of 10-50 μM G-1 as determined by electron microscopy. We suggest that G-1-promoted endothelial cell anti-proliferation is due in part to alteration of microtubule organization through a mechanism independent of GPER1. This G-1-promoted mechanism may be used to block unwanted endothelial cell proliferation and angiogenesis such as that observed in, e.g. cancer

An effective serum- and xeno-free chemically defined freezing procedure for human embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells

BACKGROUND Both human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) bear a great potential in regenerative medicine. In addition to optimized clinical grade culture conditions, efficient clinical grade cryopreservation methods for these cells are needed. Obtaining good survival after thawing has been problematic. METHODS We used a novel, chemically defined effective xeno-free cryopreservation system for cryostorage and banking of hESCs and iPSCs. The earlier established slow freezing protocols have, even after recent improvements, resulted in low viability and thawed cells had a high tendency to differentiate. The medium is a completely serum and animal substance free product containing dimethylsulfoxide, anhydrous dextrose and a polymer as cryoprotectants. The cells were directly frozen at −70°C, without a programmed freezer. RESULTS The number of frozen colonies versus the number of surviving colonies differed significantly for both HS293 (χ2 = 9.616 with one degree of freedom and two-tailed P = 0.0019) and HS306 (χ2 = 8.801 with one degree of freedom and two-tailed P = 0.0030). After thawing, the cells had a high viability (90-96%) without any impact on proliferation and differentiation, compared with the standard freezing procedure where viability was much lower (49%). The frozen-thawed hESCs and iPSCs had normal karyotype and maintained properties of pluripotent cells with corresponding morphological characteristics, and expressed pluripotency markers after 10 passages in culture. They formed teratomas containing tissue components of the three germ layers. CONCLUSION The defined freezing-thawing system described here offers an excellent simple option for banking of hESCs and iPSC

Achievement emotions among adolescents receiving special education support in mathematics

This study investigated mathematics-related achievement emotions among Finnish adolescents (N = 1379) receiving special education support (SEdS) in self-contained and general mathematics classrooms and receiving no mathematics SEdS through multilevel modeling. Mathematics performance, gender, and classroom size were controlled for. Adolescents receiving SEdS in general classrooms reported less enjoyment and pride and more anger, anxiety, shame, hopelessness, and boredom than those receiving SEdS in self-contained classrooms and those receiving no SEdS. In contrast, adolescents receiving SEdS in self-contained classrooms reported more enjoyment and pride and less anger, anxiety, and hopelessness than those receiving no SEdS. Furthermore, adolescents receiving no SEdS reported more anxiety, hopelessness, and boredom in general classrooms when the proportion of classmates receiving SEdS was higher. We discuss the practical implications for developing SEdS in relation to achievement emotions.</p

SPECT/CT imaging reveals CNS-wide modulation of glymphatic cerebrospinal fluid flow by systemic hypertonic saline

Intrathecal administration enables central nervous system delivery of drugs that do not bypass the blood-brain barrier. Systemic administration of hypertonic saline (HTS) enhances delivery of intrathecal therapeutics into the neuropil, but its effect on solute clearance from the brain remains unknown. Here, we developed a dynamic in vivo single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)/computed tomography (CT) imaging platform to study the effects of HTS on whole-body distribution of the radiolabeled tracer (99)mTc-diethylenetriaminepen-taacetic acid (DTPA) administered through intracisternal, intrastriatal, or intravenous route in anesthetized rats. Co-administration of systemic HTS increased intracranial exposure to intracisternal (99)mTc-DTPA by similar to 80% during imaging. In contrast, HTS had minimal effects on brain clearance of intrastriatal (99)mTc-DTPA. In sum, SPECT/CT imaging presents a valuable approach to study glymphatic drug delivery. Using this methodology, we show that systemic HTS increases intracranial availability of cerebrospinal fluid-administered tracer, but has marginal effects on brain clearance, thus substantiating a simple, yet effective strategy for enhancing intrathecal drug delivery to the brain.Peer reviewe