Lesson Study and Lesson Sharing: An Appealing Marriage

Lesson Study and lesson sharing are two educational initiatives that, if merged, have the potential to revolutionize how teachers plan and deliver lessons. Lesson Study is the joint production of lessons by a small team of teachers over the course of a few months. The resulting lesson plan is usually “on paper” and used only locally. Lesson sharing occurs on the Internet, providing contributing teachers with a mechanism for sharing their lessons with others. Typically a single teacher authors these shared lessons. We discuss the advantages and associated implementation barriers of each when viewed as separate activities, and then argue for their joint or merged implementation, describing how each would synergistically support the other. Not only would more vetted lessons be delivered to the Internet, but also the teacher teams participating in lesson creation would develop a much deeper understanding of pedagogy. We offer policy recommendations to support this new educational paradigm: A virtual marriage of Lesson Study and lesson sharing

Assessing the Viability and Degeneration of the Medically Important Filarial Nematodes

The assessment of nematodes as they generate and die is not a simple thing to do due in part to the complexity of the organism, and the fact that still relatively little is known about their physiology and internal biology. Indeed, the pathological changes in the internal organs of the worms are still only recognized in general terms. Obviously dead worms are easily recognized (when fractured, or calcified, etc.) but the lesser obvious changes can be difficult to detect and interpret. The point at which a worm can be defined as dead is not a simple matter; cessation of motility is currently the most commonly used parameter for this but it is not always a robust indicator and better indicators are needed. Various methods can be used to assess the presence, viability, and functionality of nematodes but these must be used with an understanding of the situation at hand and the specific questions being addressed. Careful use of appropriate statistics is essential given the complex nature of the target organism and the variability in the changes that can be seen within even one anatomical component of these worms. Histological assessment of the parasites present in both parasitized host tissues and isolated worms used in in vitro experiments can provide information that gives a more detailed understanding of the changes in nematodes as they degenerate and die. Understanding of the pathways nematodes follows as they degenerate naturally or under various external pressures, such as chemotherapy, remains a fascinating and potentially productive goal for investigation. Likewise, a complete understanding and definition of specific indicators that reflect parasite load, parasite viability, and damage, or reduced fecundity, will greatly help the fight against those nematode infections that currently cause significant burdens of disease in humans and animals

Human monocyte heat shock protein 72 responses to acute hypoxic exercise after 3 days of exercise heat acclimation

The aim of this study was to determine whether short-term heat acclimation (STHA) could confer increased cellular tolerance to acute hypoxic exercise in humans as determined via monocyte HSP72 (mHSP72) expression. Sixteen males were separated into two matched groups. The STHA group completed 3 days of exercise heat acclimation; 60 minutes cycling at 50% V˙O2peak in 40°C 20% relative humidity (RH). The control group (CON) completed 3 days of exercise training in 20°C, 40% RH. Each group completed a hypoxic stress test (HST) one week before and 48 hours following the final day of CON or STHA. Percentage changes in HSP72 concentrations were similar between STHA and CON following HST1 (P=0.97). STHA induced an increase in basal HSP72 (P=0.03) with no change observed in CON (P=0.218). Basal mHSP72 remained elevated before HST2 for the STHA group (P0.05). Percent change in mHSP72 was lower after HST2 in STHA compared to CON (P=0.02). The mHSP72 response to hypoxic exercise was attenuated following 3 days of heat acclimation. This is indicative of improved tolerance and ability to cope with the hypoxic insult, potentially mediated in part by increased basal reserves of HSP72

Local structures of polar wurtzites Zn_{1-x}Mg_{x}O studied by Raman and {67}Zn/{25}Mg NMR spectroscopies and by total neutron scattering

Local compositions and structures of Zn_{1-x}Mg_{x}O alloys have been investigated by Raman and solid-state {67}Zn/{25}Mg nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopies, and by neutron pair-distribution-function (PDF) analyses. The E2(low) and E2(high) Raman modes of Zn_{1-x}Mg_{x}O display Gaussian- and Lorentzian-type profiles, respectively. At higher Mg substitutions, both modes become broader, while their peak positions shift in opposite directions. The evolution of Raman spectra from Zn_{1-x}Mg_{x}O solid solutions are discussed in terms of lattice deformation associated with the distinct coordination preferences of Zn and Mg. Solid-state magic-angle-spinning (MAS) NMR studies suggest that the local electronic environments of {67}Zn in ZnO are only weakly modified by the 15% substitution of Mg for Zn. {25}Mg MAS spectra of Zn_{0.85}Mg_{0.15}O show an unusual upfield shift, demonstrating the prominent shielding ability of Zn in the nearby oxidic coordination sphere. Neutron PDF analyses of Zn_{0.875}Mg_{0.125}O using a 2x2x1 supercell corresponding to Zn_{7}MgO_{8} suggest that the mean local geometry of MgO_{4} fragments concurs with previous density functional theory (DFT)-based structural relaxations of hexagonal wurtzite MgO. MgO_{4} tetrahedra are markedly compressed along their c-axes and are smaller in volume than ZnO_{4} units by ~6%. Mg atoms in Zn_{1-x}Mg_{x}O have a shorter bond to the $c$-axial oxygen atom than to the three lateral oxygen atoms, which is distinct from the coordination of Zn. The precise structure, both local and average, of Zn_{0.875}Mg_{0.125}O obtained from time-of-flight total neutron scattering supports the view that Mg-substitution in ZnO results in increased total spontaneous polarization.Comment: 12 pages, 14 figures, 2 table

Understanding the Pathogenesis of the Major Human Filarial Nematode Infections

Filarial infections are very common across the animal kingdom despite their tendency to be host specific. Although often being silent infections with relatively little clinical consequence, three filarial infections can cause significant morbidity: onchocerciasis (OV) (caused by Onchocerca volvulus) and lymphatic filariasis (LF) (caused by Wuchereria bancrofti or Brugia sp), and in the veterinary world, the common canine condition of dirofilariasis. Successful elimination programs for these have been developed in the endemic countries based on extensive chemotherapy distribution, and these have catalysed a much greater understanding of the treatment and epidemiology of these infections. In contrast, the pathogenesis and clinical presentation of the two human filarial diseases, and a third, loiasis—which can complicate chemotherapy distribution in OV and LF co-endemic areas—are still not well understood. This present discussion addresses recent knowledge concerning the pathogenesis and presentation of the two major human filariases and makes suggestions as to approaches that could be taken to better understand their pathobiology and clinical forms. Better understanding and improved monitoring of the clinical condition are both likely to augment the already successful progress to global elimination

Platelet Accumulation in Brain Microvessels in Fatal Pediatric Cerebral Malaria

The pathogenesis of fatal cerebral malaria (CM) is not well understood, in part because data from patients in whom a clinical diagnosis was established prior to death are rare. In a murine CM model, platelets accumulate in brain microvasculature, and antiplatelet therapy can improve outcome. We determined whether platelets are also found in cerebral vessels in human CM, and we performed immunohistopathology for platelet-specific glycoprotein, GPIIb-IIIa, on tissue from multiple brain sites in Malawian children whose fatal illness was severe malarial anemia, CM, or nonmalarial encephalopathy. Platelets were observed in 3 locations within microvessels: between malaria pigment and leukocytes, associated with malaria pigment, or alone. The mean surface area of platelet staining and the proportion of vessels showing platelet accumulation were significantly higher in patients with CM than in those without it. Platelet accumulation occurs in the microvasculature of patients with CM and may play a role in the pathogenesis of the diseas

Integrated morbidity mapping of lymphatic filariasis and podoconiosis cases in 20 co-endemic districts of Ethiopia

Background: Lymphatic filariasis (LF) and podoconiosis are neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) that pose a significant physical, social and economic burden to endemic communities. Patients affected by the clinical conditions of LF (lymphoedema and hydrocoele) and podoconiosis (lymphoedema) need access to morbidity management and disability prevention (MMDP) services. Clear estimates of the number and location of these patients are essential to the efficient and equitable implementation of MMDP services for both diseases. Methodology/Principle findings: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Ethiopia using the Health Extension Worker (HEW) network to identify all cases of lymphoedema and hydrocoele in 20 woredas (districts) co-endemic for LF and podoconiosis. A total of 612 trained HEWs and 40 supervisors from 20 districts identified 26,123 cases of clinical morbidity. Of these, 24,908 (95.3%) reported cases had leg lymphoedema only, 751 (2.9%) had hydrocoele, 387 (1.5%) had both leg lymphoedema and hydrocoele, and 77 (0.3%) cases had breast lymphoedema. Of those reporting leg lymphoedema, 89.3% reported bilateral lymphoedema. Older age groups were more likely to have a severe stage of disease, have bilateral lymphoedema and to have experienced an acute attack in the last six months. Conclusions/Significance: This study represents the first community-wide, integrated clinical case mapping of both LF and podoconiosis in Ethiopia. It highlights the high number of cases, particularly of leg lymphoedema that could be attributed to either of these diseases. This key clinical information will assist and guide the allocation of resources to where they are needed most

Nearest-Neighbour Interaction from an Abelian Symmetry and Deviations from Hermiticity

We show that Nearest-Neighbour Interaction (NNI) textures for the quark mass matrices can be obtained through the introduction of an Abelian flavour symmetry. The minimal realisation requires a Z_4 symmetry in the context of a two Higgs doublet model. It is further shown that the NNI textures can be in agreement with all present experimental data on quark masses and mixings, provided one allows for deviations of Hermiticity in the quark mass matrices at the 20% level.Comment: 11 pages, 1 figure; references and minor corrections adde