Making Connections: Evaluation of a Professional Development Program for Teachers Focused on STEM Integration

This article reports on a 2-year evaluation of a STEM integration professional development (PD) program for 40 math, science, and special education teachers in Grades 5–9 from a large Midwestern public school district. The National Research Council’s framework for integrated STEM education (Honey, Pearson, & Schweingruber, 2014) was used to explain the goals, outcomes, nature and scope, and implementation of the program. Teachers were measured on their growth in STEM content knowledge, technology integration, teaching confidence, pedagogical beliefs, and impact of PD. Increases resulted in all these areas with statistically significant improvements in most of them, particularly in Year 2. A significant increase in math and science scores were also found in 413 students before and after participation in an integrated STEM lesson. According to teachers, the greatest strengths of the program were the STEM connections that teachers began making; the changes in teachers’ instructional practices; improved attitudes, beliefs, and confidence in teaching; increased comfort with using technology; and the enthusiasm that students exhibited during a STEM lesson. Quantitative data and teacher feedback both indicate that the program was highly successful and had a positive impact on teachers and students

Stem cells from human cardiac adipose tissue depots show different gene expression and functional capacities

Altres ajuts: This work was supported by grants from FEDER "Una Manera de Hacer Europa"; the Secretary of University and Research. We thank FIC-Fundacion Jesús Serra, Barcelona, Spain, for their continuous support.Background: The composition and function of the adipose tissue covering the heart are poorly known. In this study, we have investigated the epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) covering the cardiac ventricular muscle and the EAT covering the left anterior descending artery (LAD) on the human heart, to identify their resident stem cell functional activity. Methods: EAT covering the cardiac ventricular muscle was isolated from the apex (avoiding areas irrigated by major vessels) of the heart (ventricular myocardium adipose tissue (VMAT)) and from the area covering the epicardial arterial sulcus of the LAD (PVAT) in human hearts excised during heart transplant surgery. Adipose stem cells (ASCs) from both adipose tissue depots were immediately isolated and phenotypically characterized by flow cytometry. The different behavior of these ASCs and their released secretome microvesicles (MVs) were investigated by molecular and cellular analysis. Results: ASCs from both VMAT (mASCs) and the PVAT (pASCs) were characterized by the expression of CD105, CD44, CD29, CD90, and CD73. The angiogenic-related genes VEGFA, COL18A1, and TF, as well as the miRNA126-3p and miRNA145-5p, were analyzed in both ASC types. Both ASCs were functionally able to form tube-like structures in three-dimensional basement membrane substrates. Interestingly, pASCs showed a higher level of expression of VEGFA and reduced level of COL18A1 than mASCs. Furthermore, MVs released by mASCs significantly induced human microvascular endothelial cell migration. Conclusion: Our study indicates for the first time that the resident ASCs in human epicardial adipose tissue display a depot-specific angiogenic function. Additionally, we have demonstrated that resident stem cells are able to regulate microvascular endothelial cell function by the release of MVs

Reefs at Risk: A Map-Based Indicator of Threats to the Worlds Coral Reefs

This report presents the first-ever detailed, map-based assessment of potential threats to coral reef ecosystems around the world. "Reefs at Risk" draws on 14 data sets (including maps of land cover, ports, settle-ments, and shipping lanes), information on 800 sites known to be degraded by people, and scientific expertise to model areas where reef degradation is predicted to occur, given existing human pressures on these areas. Results are an indicator of potential threat (risk), not a measure of actual condition. In some places, particularly where good management is practiced, reefs may be at risk but remain relatively healthy. In others, this indicator underestimates the degree to which reefs are threatened and degraded.Our results indicate that:Fifty-eight percent of the world's reefs are poten-tially threatened by human activity -- ranging from coastal development and destructive fishing practices to overexploitation of resources, marine pollution, and runoff from inland deforestation and farming.Coral reefs of Asia (Southeastern); the most species-rich on earth, are the most threatened of any region. More than 80 percent are at risk (undermedium and high potential threat), and over half are at high risk, primarily from coastal development and fishing-related pressures.Overexploitation and coastal development pose the greatest potential threat of the four risk categories considered in this study. Each, individually, affects a third of all reefs.The Pacific, which houses more reef area than any other region, is also the least threatened. About 60 percent of reefs here are at low risk.Outside of the Pacific, 70 percent of all reefs are at risk.At least 11 percent of the world's coral reefs contain high levels of reef fish biodiversity and are under high threat from human activities. These "hot spot" areas include almost all Philippine reefs, and coral communities off the coasts of Asia, the Comoros, and the Lesser Antilles in the Caribbean.Almost half a billion people -- 8 percent of the total global population -- live within 100 kilometers of a coral reef.Globally, more than 400 marine parks, sanctuaries, and reserves (marine protected areas) contain coral reefs. Most of these sites are very small -- more than 150 are under one square kilometer in size. At least 40 countries lack any marine protected areas for conserving their coral reef systems

El análisis didáctico-tecnológico del proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje de la Matemática/ The didactic-technological analysis of the teaching-learning process of Mathematics

El proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje de la Matemática en la actualidad se encuentra en constantes cambios y transformaciones producto del desarrollo alcanzado por las Tecnologías de la Información y la Comunicación, lo cual reconocen organizaciones internacionales como la UNESCO en sus objetivos priorizados de la agenda para la Educación 2030. No obstante, este proceso en las carreras universitarias de la Universidad de Camagüey “Ignacio Agramonte Loynaz”, aún no satisface tales exigencias y aspiraciones, dado por algunas deficiencias, alguna de las cuales están dadas, entre otras causas, por la insuficiente formación de los docentes de Matemática en los contenidos didáctico-tecnológicos ante la ausencia de un marco teórico de referencia desde la Didáctica de la Matemática, lo que se constató, a través de la aplicación de entrevistas y encuestas donde las autoras evaluaron la formación didáctico-tecnológica; de igual forma emplearon el análisis-síntesis y la revisión bibliográfica sobre los marcos teóricos que forman el Enfoque Ontosemiótico (EOS) del conocimiento y la  instrucción matemática de Godino et al., el Modelo Teórico del Conocimiento del Contenido Pedagógico Tecnológico (TPACK)de Mishra y Koehler, y el Modelo Teórico del Conocimiento Tecnológico Pedagógico-Práctico Disciplinar (TPACK-PRÁCTICO) de Yeh et al., para construir el marco teórico de referencia que ofrecen las autoras y que  sirve de fundamento para el análisis didáctico-tecnológico del proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje de la Matemática en el siglo XXI. Abstract The teaching-learning process of Mathematics is currently undergoing constant changes resulting from the achievements of Information and Communication Technologies, that UNESCO has recognized a priority of the agenda for the Education 2030. However, majors at the University of Camagüey "Ignacio Agramonte Loynaz” still fails to satisfy such demands and expectations. This fact, among other causes, is due to insufficient Mathematics teachers’ training on the didactic-technological contents, and in the absence of a didactics of mathematics theoretical framework Mathematics Didactics. The authors assessed teachers’ the didactic-technological training by given interviews and surveys, as well making use of analysis-synthesis and studying current theoretical frameworks from Godino’s Onto-semiotic Approach of knowledge and mathematical instruction, the Theoretical Model of Technological Pedagogical Contents Knowledge of Mishra and Koehler and the Theoretical Model of Technological Pedagogical Disciplinary Knowledge-Practical Disciplinary of Yeh. The study of this framework leads the authors to construct the theoretical frame of reference for the didactic-technological analysis of Mathematics teaching-learning process in the 21st century

Unlocking preservation bias in the amber insect fossil record through experimental decay.

Fossils entombed in amber are a unique resource for reconstructing forest ecosystems, and resolving relationships of modern taxa. Such fossils are famous for their perfect, life-like appearance. However, preservation quality is vast with many sites showing only cuticular preservation, or no fossils. The taphonomic processes that control this range are largely unknown; as such, we know little about potential bias in this important record. Here we employ actualistic experiments, using, fruit flies and modern tree resin to determine whether resin type, gut microbiota, and dehydration prior to entombment affects decay. We used solid phase microextraction gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (SPME GC-MS) to confirm distinct tree resin chemistry; gut microbiota of flies was modified using antibiotics and categorized though sequencing. Decay was assessed using phase contrast synchrotron tomography. Resin type demonstrates a significant control on decay rate. The composition of the gut microbiota was also influential, with minor changes in composition affecting decay rate. Dehydration prior to entombment, contrary to expectations, enhanced decay. Our analyses show that there is potential significant bias in the amber fossil record, especially between sites with different resin types where ecological completeness and preservational fidelity are likely affected