"Although we still have a long way to go, I don't think we will ever stop." A grassroots EFL teacher development group in South Korea

Recent years have seen an increased interest in teacher-initiated and teacher-led groups (e.g., Cramer, Hurst, & Wilson, 1996; Fishbaugh & Hecimovic, 1994; Holbein & Jackson, 1999; Meyer & Larson, 1998; Rogers & Babinski, 2002). Despite the proliferation of discussion regarding teacher development (TD) groups, few authors have examined how such TD groups are formed, what they focus on, and how they are sustained. Moreover, while a limited amount of empirical research on TD groups has been conducted, this topic has primarily been examined in North American school contexts (e.g., Birchak, Connor, Crawford, Kahn, Kaser, Turner, & Short, 1998; Clair, 1998). Relatively little attention has been paid, either theoretically or empirically, to TD groups in other social and cultural contexts. Also, there has been a significant lack of attention to sociopolitical issues involving the development of TD groups. In order to bridge this gap, it is necessary to illuminate the sociopolitical as well as pedagogical nature of a TD group in a non-Western country context, such as in South Korea. This paper describes an interpretive qualitative investigation of the potential and problems of the current KETG as a grassroots TD group, set within the sociopolitical reality of the promotion of global English and Western cultural values (Canagarajah, 1999; Pennycook, 1994; 2001)

Nicotinamide attenuates the decrease in dendritic spine density in hippocampal primary neurons from 5xFAD mice, an Alzheimers disease animal model

Alzheimers disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disease characterized by memory loss and the presence of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in the patients brains. In this study, we investigated the alterations in metabolite profiles of the hippocampal tissues from 6, 8, and 12 month-old wild-type (WT) and 5xfamiliar AD (5xFAD) mice, an AD mouse model harboring 5 early-onset familiar AD mutations, which shows memory loss from approximately 5 months of age, by exploiting the untargeted metabolomics profiling. We found that nicotinamide and adenosine monophosphate levels have been significantly decreased while lysophosphatidylcholine (LysoPC) (16:0), LysoPC (18:0), and lysophosphatidylethanolamine (LysoPE) (16:0) levels have been significantly increased in the hippocampi from 5xFAD mice at 8 months or 12 months of age, compared to those from age-matched wild-type mice. In the present study, we focused on the role of nicotinamide and examined if replenishment of nicotinamide exerts attenuating effects on the reduction in dendritic spine density in hippocampal primary neurons from 5xFAD mice. Treatment with nicotinamide attenuated the deficits in spine density in the hippocampal primary neurons derived from 5xFAD mice, indicating a potential role of nicotinamide in the pathogenesis of AD. Taken together, these findings suggest that the decreased hippocampal nicotinamide level could be linked with AD pathogenesis and be a useful therapeutic target for AD.This study was financially supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) grant, funded by the Korean Government (2016R1A2B4012232) and also partly supported by Seoul National University Bundang Hospital Research Fund, South Korea (02–2013-015). HJ.K. received a scholarship from the BK21-Plus Education Program provided by the National Research Foundation of Korea

The Association between Disturbed Eating Behavior and Socioeconomic Status: The Online Korean Adolescent Panel Survey (OnKAPS)

Background: A limited amount of research, primarily conducted in Western countries, has suggested that higher socioeconomic status (SES) is associated with higher risk of eating disorders (EDs). However, little is known about this association in Asian countries. We examined the association of SES with disturbed eating behavior (DEB) and related factors in Korean adolescents. Subjects A nationwide online panel survey was conducted in a sample of adolescents (n = 6,943, 49.9% girls). DEB was measured with the 26-item Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26). Participants who scored ≥20 on the EAT-26 were considered to have DEB. Participants’ SES was determined based on self-reported household economic status. Results: The prevalence of DEB was 12.7%: 10.5% among boys and 14.8% among girls. Both boys and girls with DEB were more likely to perceive themselves as obese, experience higher levels of stress, and have lower academic achievement. The risk for DEB was significantly higher in boys of higher SES than in those of middle SES (OR = 1.45, 95%CI = 1.05–1.99 for high SES; OR = 5.16, 95%CI: 3.50–7.61 for highest SES). Among girls, higher risk of DEB was associated with the highest and lowest SES (OR = 1.52, 95%CI: 1.13–2.06 for lowest SES; OR = 2.22, 95%CI: 1.34–3.68 for highest SES). Conclusions: Despite the lower prevalence of obesity in Korea compared with Western countries, the prevalence of DEB in Korean adolescents was high, especially among girls. Moreover, the association between SES and DEB followed a U-shaped curve for girls and a J-shaped curve for boys

Homeobox gene Dlx-2 is implicated in metabolic stress-induced necrosis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In contrast to tumor-suppressive apoptosis and autophagic cell death, necrosis promotes tumor progression by releasing the pro-inflammatory and tumor-promoting cytokine high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), and its presence in tumor patients is associated with poor prognosis. Thus, necrosis has important clinical implications in tumor development; however, its molecular mechanism remains poorly understood.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In the present study, we show that Distal-less 2 (Dlx-2), a homeobox gene of the Dlx family that is involved in embryonic development, is induced in cancer cell lines dependently of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in response to glucose deprivation (GD), one of the metabolic stresses occurring in solid tumors. Increased Dlx-2 expression was also detected in the inner regions, which experience metabolic stress, of human tumors and of a multicellular tumor spheroid, an <it>in vitro </it>model of solid tumors. Dlx-2 short hairpin RNA (shRNA) inhibited metabolic stress-induced increase in propidium iodide-positive cell population and HMGB1 and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release, indicating the important role(s) of Dlx-2 in metabolic stress-induced necrosis. Dlx-2 shRNA appeared to exert its anti-necrotic effects by preventing metabolic stress-induced increases in mitochondrial ROS, which are responsible for triggering necrosis.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>These results suggest that Dlx-2 may be involved in tumor progression via the regulation of metabolic stress-induced necrosis.</p

Therapeutic singing-induced swallowing exercise for dysphagia in advanced-stage Parkinson’s disease

BackgroundWith longer life spans and medical advancements, the rising number of patients with advanced-stage Parkinson’s disease (PD) warrants attention. Current literature predominantly addresses dementia and fall management in these patients. However, exploring the impact of swallowing function on patients with advanced PD is crucial. Previous research has demonstrated notable enhancements in the quality of life related to voice for participants following a group singing-intervention program. To further elucidate the effect of individual singing-induced swallowing exercises, our study aimed to investigate the quantitative and qualitative effects of therapeutic singing on swallowing function in patients with advanced PD in comparison to a matched usual care control group. The hypothesis of this study is that therapeutic singing-induced swallowing exercises can assist to maintain swallowing function in patients with advanced PD.MethodsThis prospective matched control study compared the effects of a 6-week therapeutic singing-based swallowing intervention on swallowing function and quality of life in patients with advanced PD. The intervention group received individual sessions with a music therapist and conventional individual physical therapy. The control group received the same standard physical therapy for 6 weeks without music intervention. The primary outcome measure was Video Fluoroscopic Dysphagia Scale (VDS).ResultsThe study revealed that the intervention group maintained swallowing function, whereas the control group experienced deterioration, indicating significant time-dependent changes in Penetration-Aspiration Scale (PAS), National Institutes of Health-Swallowing Safety Scale (NIH-SSS), and VDS. Analysis of PAS and NIH-SSS liquid food scores in both groups showed significant time effects. However, the intervention group exhibited no significant differences between the pre- and post-tests, indicating preservation of the swallowing function. VDS of liquid food indicated an interaction effect between time and group in the pharyngeal phase and total scores. The Swallowing-Quality of Life showed significant time-effect improvement in the intervention group.ConclusionTherapeutic singing exercises may help maintain swallowing function in advanced PD patients, potentially enhancing quality of life related to swallowing in those with advanced-stage diseases.Clinical trial registrationhttps://cris.nih.go.kr/cris/search/listDetail.do, identifier KCT0008644

The dynamic transcriptional and translational landscape of the model antibiotic producer Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2)

Individual Streptomyces species have the genetic potential to produce a diverse array of natural products of commercial, medical and veterinary interest. However, these products are often not detectable under laboratory culture conditions. To harness their full biosynthetic potential, it is important to develop a detailed understanding of the regulatory networks that orchestrate their metabolism. Here we integrate nucleotide resolution genome-scale measurements of the transcriptome and translatome of Streptomyces coelicolor, the model antibiotic-producing actinomycete. Our systematic study determines 3,570 transcription start sites and identifies 230 small RNAs and a considerable proportion (∼21%) of leaderless mRNAs; this enables deduction of genome-wide promoter architecture. Ribosome profiling reveals that the translation efficiency of secondary metabolic genes is negatively correlated with transcription and that several key antibiotic regulatory genes are translationally induced at transition growth phase. These findings might facilitate the design of new approaches to antibiotic discovery and development

Overexpression of BrSAC1 encoding a phosphoinositide phosphatase isolated from Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa L) improved tolerance to cold, dehydration, and salt stresses in transgenic tobacco

This study demonstrates the isolation and characterization of cDNA encoding a phosphoinositide phosphatase (PIP) from a stem cell cDNA library of Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa) seedling. The full length gene (BrSAC1; GenBank accession no., GU434275) contained 1999 base pairs (bp), with an open reading frame of 1785 bp, encoding a polypeptide of 594 amino acids with a predicted molecular weight of 65 kDa, including a putative N-terminal signal peptide (the signal peptide counted within the 594 residues). Other regions found within the sequence include a conserved KXKXX COPI-binding motif and a consensus Cx5R (T/S) catalytic motif. BrSAC1 protein shares 92% identity with AtSac1B, and 86% identity with AtRHD4 at the amino acid level. Gene expression analyses revealed that BrsSAC1 was constitutively expressed at high levels in the pistil, stamen and flower bud, whereas it was expressed at low levels in the leaf and stem. In addition to injury, BrSAC1 expression was also induced in response to different types of stress condition, namely cold, desiccation, salt, submergence, abscisic acid and heavy metals. Overexpression of BrSAC1 in transgenic tobacco conferred tolerance to cold, dehydration, and salt stress at the seed germination/seedling stage as reflected by the percentage of germination/green seedlings, the fresh weight of seedlings and their development pattern. Our data suggest that BrSAC1 is an important stress response determinant in plants.Keywords: Abiotic stress, Brassica rapa, phosphoinositide phosphatase, transgenic plantAfrican Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 12(15), pp. 1782-179

Pepper EST database: comprehensive in silico tool for analyzing the chili pepper (Capsicum annuum) transcriptome

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>There is no dedicated database available for Expressed Sequence Tags (EST) of the chili pepper (<it>Capsicum annuum</it>), although the interest in a chili pepper EST database is increasing internationally due to the nutritional, economic, and pharmaceutical value of the plant. Recent advances in high-throughput sequencing of the ESTs of chili pepper cv. Bukang have produced hundreds of thousands of complementary DNA (cDNA) sequences. Therefore, a chili pepper EST database was designed and constructed to enable comprehensive analysis of chili pepper gene expression in response to biotic and abiotic stresses.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We built the Pepper EST database to mine the complexity of chili pepper ESTs. The database was built on 122,582 sequenced ESTs and 116,412 refined ESTs from 21 pepper EST libraries. The ESTs were clustered and assembled into virtual consensus cDNAs and the cDNAs were assigned to metabolic pathway, Gene Ontology (GO), and MIPS Functional Catalogue (FunCat). The Pepper EST database is designed to provide a workbench for (i) identifying unigenes in pepper plants, (ii) analyzing expression patterns in different developmental tissues and under conditions of stress, and (iii) comparing the ESTs with those of other members of the <it>Solanaceae </it>family. The Pepper EST database is freely available at <url>http://genepool.kribb.re.kr/pepper/</url>.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The Pepper EST database is expected to provide a high-quality resource, which will contribute to gaining a systemic understanding of plant diseases and facilitate genetics-based population studies. The database is also expected to contribute to analysis of gene synteny as part of the chili pepper sequencing project by mapping ESTs to the genome.</p