The Writing Processes of Long-Term English Learners and Struggling Native English Speakers

This study sought to identify what differences, if any, distinguish the writing processes of native English speakers (NESs) and long-term English learners (LTELs). During a 90-minute class period, 9th and 11th grade NES and LTEL students recorded themselves thinking aloud as they composed a writing sample for their English teachers, and completed survey questions related to their writing processes and their levels of attention to different aspects of the writing process. LTELs answered additional questions about their language backgrounds and their use of their languages as they write. Several English teachers also scored the students’ essays. Analysis of the results suggests many similarities between the students’ writing processes, such as limited planning, limited self-regulatory activities, and frequent surface editing. One important difference was the use of code switching. On average, when graded with the state writing rubric, the LTEL students scored half a point higher than the NESs, on a scale of zero to 12. The scale measures written expression and mechanics

dOCRL maintains immune cell quiescence in Drosophila by regulating endosomal traffic

Lowe Syndrome is a developmental disorder characterized by eye, kidney, and neurological pathologies, and is caused by mutations in the phosphatidylinositol-5-phosphatase OCRL. OCRL plays diverse roles in endocytic and endolysosomal trafficking, cytokinesis, and ciliogenesis, but it is unclear which of these cellular functions underlie specific patient symptoms. Here, we show that mutation of Drosophila OCRL causes cell-autonomous activation of hemocytes, which are macrophage-like cells of the innate immune system. Among many cell biological defects that we identified in docrl mutant hemocytes, we pinpointed the cause of innate immune cell activation to reduced Rab11-dependent recycling traffic and concomitantly increased Rab7-dependent late endosome traffic. Loss of docrl amplifies multiple immune-relevant signals, including Toll, Jun kinase, and STAT, and leads to Rab11-sensitive mis-sorting and excessive secretion of the Toll ligand Spåtzle. Thus, docrl regulation of endosomal traffic maintains hemocytes in a poised, but quiescent state, suggesting mechanisms by which endosomal misregulation of signaling may contribute to symptoms of Lowe syndrome

Interplay between bladder microbiota and urinary antimicrobial peptides: mechanisms for human urinary tract infection risk and symptom severity.

Resident bacterial communities (microbiota) and host antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are both essential components of normal host innate immune responses that limit infection and pathogen induced inflammation. However, their interdependence has not been investigated in the context of urinary tract infection (UTI) susceptibility. Here, we explored the interrelationship between the urinary microbiota and host AMP responses as mechanisms for UTI risk. Using prospectively collected day of surgery (DOS) urine specimens from female pelvic floor surgery participants, we report that the relative abundance and/or frequency of specific urinary microbiota distinguished between participants who did or did not develop a post-operative UTI. Furthermore, UTI risk significantly correlated with both specific urinary microbiota and β-defensin AMP levels. Finally, urinary AMP hydrophobicity and protease activity were greater in participants who developed UTI, and correlated positively with both UTI risk and pelvic floor symptoms. These data demonstrate an interdependency between the urinary microbiota, AMP responses and symptoms, and identify a potential mechanism for UTI risk. Assessment of bacterial microbiota and host innate immune AMP responses in parallel may identify increased risk of UTI in certain populations

Integrated in vivo multiomics analysis identifies p21-activated kinase signaling as a driver of colitis

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic disorder of the gastrointestinal tract that has limited treatment options. To gain insight into the pathogenesis of chronic colonic inflammation (colitis), we performed a multiomics analysis that integrated RNA microarray, total protein mass spectrometry (MS), and phosphoprotein MS measurements from a mouse model of the disease. Because we collected all three types of data from individual samples, we tracked information flow from RNA to protein to phosphoprotein and identified signaling molecules that were coordinately or discordantly regulated and pathways that had complex regulation in vivo. For example, the genes encoding acute-phase proteins were expressed in the liver, but the proteins were detected by MS in the colon during inflammation. We also ascertained the types of data that best described particular facets of chronic inflammation. Using gene set enrichment analysis and trans-omics coexpression network analysis, we found that each data set provided a distinct viewpoint on the molecular pathogenesis of colitis. Combining human transcriptomic data with the mouse multiomics data implicated increased p21-activated kinase (Pak) signaling as a driver of colitis. Chemical inhibition of Pak1 and Pak2 with FRAX597 suppressed active colitis in mice. These studies provide translational insights into the mechanisms contributing to colitis and identify Pak as a potential therapeutic target in IBD.Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America (Research Fellowship)National Science Foundation (U.S.). Graduate Research Fellowship Program (Grant 1122374)Institute for Collaborative Biotechnologies (W911NF-09-0001

Comparison of Pelvic Floor Characteristics Based on Culture Status.

<p>Clinical factors were collected and analyzed between the 3 cohorts by chi-squared analysis or one-way ANOVA, as appropriate. Significance within the type of surgery (POP, UI or POP/UI), pre-operative pelvic floor symptom scores (based on pre-operative questionnaire) or post-operative urinary symptom status is indicated as <b><i>p-</i></b><b>value</b> (α = 0.05).</p><p>Comparison of Pelvic Floor Characteristics Based on Culture Status.</p

Bacterial diversity correlates with the susceptibility or resistance to UTI.

<p>Phylogenetic tree comparing the bacterial diversity at the Order level within the female urinary microbiome. The bacterial diversity was compared between the three cohorts: POS (Blue), PostI-UTI (Red) and NEG (Green).</p

Wilcox analysis between Genus and Cohort.

<p>For each of the three analyses, all statistically significant correlations are indicated as <b><i>p</i></b><b> value</b>. Non-significant relationships are left blank. The cohort containing a greater abundance of each genus is indicated as <b>Enriched Cohort</b>. None of the <i>Lactobacillus</i> relationships were significant.</p><p>Wilcox analysis between Genus and Cohort.</p

Bacterial abundance and phylogenetic similarity distinguishes the three UTI cohorts.

<p>Heatmap representing urine specimens clustered according to their phylogenetic similarities. The abundance of each bacterial Order is represented by the blue boxes, with greater abundance indicated by darker blue squares. Y-axis: Dendogram based on phylogenetic similarities. X-axis: Order. POS (Blue), PostI-UTI (Red) and NEG (Green).</p