Art Education as Potential Space: A Conversation About Navigating Divides in the Process of Becoming an Art Teacher

The authors reflect on some challenges, opportunities, and lessons learned in the process of planning and implementing an artistic investigation of physical space in a public high school in Chicago. This article is the result of conversations between a student teacher and a preservice teacher educator working in collaboration. Our definition of ‘divides’ includes both the sense in which divides function as obstacles, barriers, and/or forms of constraint, and also productively as opportunities to navigate and work through tensions between opposites. Working with the psychoanalytic concept of potential space, we suggest how students, art teachers, and teacher educators might make use of the tensions in-between divides as a resource for our conversations, teaching experiments, and school-based art projects. The article combines theory and practice to propose a way of thinking about the subject of art teacher preparation, or the teacher candidate, as learning to navigate the divide between her fantasies of teaching, and the realities of classroom life

Comparative genomic analysis reveals a novel mitochondrial isoform of human rTS protein and unusual phylogenetic distribution of the rTS gene

BACKGROUND: The rTS gene (ENOSF1), first identified in Homo sapiens as a gene complementary to the thymidylate synthase (TYMS) mRNA, is known to encode two protein isoforms, rTSα and rTSβ. The rTSβ isoform appears to be an enzyme responsible for the synthesis of signaling molecules involved in the down-regulation of thymidylate synthase, but the exact cellular functions of rTS genes are largely unknown. RESULTS: Through comparative genomic sequence analysis, we predicted the existence of a novel protein isoform, rTS, which has a 27 residue longer N-terminus by virtue of utilizing an alternative start codon located upstream of the start codon in rTSβ. We observed that a similar extended N-terminus could be predicted in all rTS genes for which genomic sequences are available and the extended regions are conserved from bacteria to human. Therefore, we reasoned that the protein with the extended N-terminus might represent an ancestral form of the rTS protein. Sequence analysis strongly predicts a mitochondrial signal sequence in the extended N-terminal of human rTSγ, which is absent in rTSβ. We confirmed the existence of rTS in human mitochondria experimentally by demonstrating the presence of both rTSγ and rTSβ proteins in mitochondria isolated by subcellular fractionation. In addition, our comprehensive analysis of rTS orthologous sequences reveals an unusual phylogenetic distribution of this gene, which suggests the occurrence of one or more horizontal gene transfer events. CONCLUSION: The presence of two rTS isoforms in mitochondria suggests that the rTS signaling pathway may be active within mitochondria. Our report also presents an example of identifying novel protein isoforms and for improving gene annotation through comparative genomic analysis

Transient knockdown and overexpression reveal a developmental role for the zebrafish enosf1b gene

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Despite detailed <it>in vivo </it>knowledge of glycolytic enolases and many bacterial non-enolase members of the superfamily, little is known about the <it>in vivo </it>function of vertebrate non-enolase enolase superfamily members (ENOSF1s). Results of previous studies suggest involvement of the β splice form of ENOSF1 in breast and colon cancers. This study used the zebrafish (<it>Danio rerio</it>) as a vertebrate model of ENOSF1β function.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Whole mount in situ hybridization (WISH) showed that zebrafish ENOSF1β (<it>enosf1b</it>) is zygotic and expressed ubiquitously through the first 24 hours post fertilization (hpf). After 24 hpf, <it>enosf1b </it>expression is restricted to the notochord. Embryos injected with <it>enosf1b</it>-EGFP mRNA grew slower than EGFP mRNA-injected embryos but caught up to the EGFP-injected embryos by 48 hpf. Embryos injected with ATG or exon 10 <it>enosf1b </it>mRNA-targeting morpholinos had kinked notochords, shortened anterior-posterior axes, and circulatory edema. WISH for <it>ntl </it>or <it>pax2a </it>expression showed that embryos injected with either morpholino have deformed notochord and pronephros. TUNEL staining revealed increased apoptosis in the peri-notochord region.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This study is the first report of ENOSF1 function in a vertebrate and shows that ENOSF1 is required for embryonic development. Increased apoptosis following <it>enosf1b </it>knockdown suggests a potential survival advantage for increased ENOSF1β expression in human cancers.</p

Phellodendron and Citrus extracts benefit cardiovascular health in osteoarthritis patients: a double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The objective of this clinical study was to assess the potential benefit of a dietary supplement, NP 06-1, on cardiovascular protective properties in overweight and normal weight adults diagnosed with osteoarthritis of the knee.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>An 8-week, placebo-controlled, randomized, double-blind study was conducted with four groups, comparing the effects of NP 06-1 to placebo in overweight and normal weight subjects diagnosed with primary osteoarthritis of the knee. NP 06-1 (a combination of two botanical extracts; <it>Phellodendron amurense </it>bark and <it>Citrus sinensis </it>peel) or matching placebo was given in a dose of two capsules (370 mg each) twice daily. The outcome measures reported are lipid levels, weight, BMI, blood pressure and fasting glucose. Analyses of variance were used to compare changes of physiological measures over the trial period and between groups.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Eighty (80) subjects were enrolled and 45 subjects completed the study. No serious adverse events were reported. NP 06-1 administration was associated with a general improvement in lipid levels. Both the overweight and normal weight treatment groups had significant reductions in triglycerides and LDL-cholesterol, as well as a significant increase in HDL-cholesterol compared to their respective control groups.</p> <p>Overall there were decreases in blood pressure in both overweight and normal weight treatment groups compared to respective placebo groups. There was also a significant decrease in fasting glucose levels in the overweight treatment group compared to the start of the study and to the overweight placebo group. There was no change in fasting blood sugar for the normal weight groups.</p> <p>Both overweight and normal weight treatment groups lost a significant amount of weight compared to their respective placebo groups. The overweight treatment group lost an average of 5% body weight after 8 weeks, which was associated with a significant loss in BMI over time.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>In this pilot study NP 06-1 had a beneficial effect on cardiovascular risk factors; namely lipid levels, blood pressure and fasting glucose levels. Administration of NP 06-1 was also associated with weight loss.</p

dUTPase inhibition augments replication defects of 5-Fluorouracil

The antimetabolite 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) is used in the treatment of various forms of cancer and has a complex mode of action. Despite 6 decades in clinical application the contribution of 5-FdUTP and dUTP [(5-F)dUTP] and 5-FUTP misincorporation into DNA and RNA respectively, for 5-FU-induced toxicity is still under debate. This study investigates DNA replication defects induced by 5-FU treatment and how (5-F)dUTP accumulation contributes to this effect. We reveal that 5-FU treatment leads to extensive problems in DNA replication fork progression, causing accumulation of cells in S-phase, DNA damage and ultimately cell death. Interestingly, these effects can be reinforced by either depletion or inhibition of the deoxyuridine triphosphatase (dUTPase, also known as DUT), highlighting the importance of (5-F)dUTP accumulation for cytotoxicity. With this study, we not only extend the current understanding of the mechanism of action of 5-FU, but also contribute to the characterization of dUTPase inhibitors. We demonstrate that pharmacological inhibition of dUTPase is a promising approach that may improve the efficacy of 5-FU treatment in the clinic

Elastic scattering of the hyperons

We propose to measure the elastic scattering of the hyperons {Eta}{sup -}, {Xi}{sup -}, {Omega}{sup -} and {Lambda}{sup 0} over a region of momentum transfer up to about 1 GeV/c. As part of this program we will measure the production cross sections of the negative and positive hyperons and carry out a search for new particles with lifetime {approx}&gt; 10{sup -11} seconds. This experimental program is based on the use of novel detectors of high spatial resolution which we have developed

Elastic scattering of the long-lived hadrons

The authors propose to measure the elastic scattering of the charged hadrons {pi}{sup {+-}}, K{sup {+-}}, p and {bar p} over a region of momentum transfer up to about 1 GeV/c. Special attention will be given to the Coulomb interference region. This experimental program is based on the use of novel detectors of high spatial resolution which we have developed

Charge independence studied in NN→dπNN\to d\pi reactions

We review to what extent charge independence breaking (\emph{CIB}) in isospin related reactions of the type $NN\to d\pi$ can or could be seen in existing data. In doing this we present fits to global and threshold cross sections including most recent data. Applying these we point out the probable impossibility to make model independent predictions even based solely on the different threshold energies and the well known $pp\to d\pi^+$. A possible discrepancy is seen between the $np\to d\pi^0$ and $pp\to d\pi^+$ data, which may require invoking explicitly isospin symmetry breaking interactions.Comment: 20 pages, 12 picture