Teenagers Perceptions of Teachers: A Developmental Argument

Using the concept of a developmental lens (Brighton, 2007; Caskey & Anfara, 2014; Davis, 2006; J-F, Pullen, & Carroll, 2013; National Middle School Association, 2010; Peterson, 2010), this article focuses on young teenage students’ perceptions of teachers. School teachers play an important role in the educational development of teenagers but little is known about how teachers cater for teenage students’ social, emotional, physical and cognitive developmental domains. Even less is known about teenage students’ perceptions of their teachers. The current study asked a cohort of Year 9 students in a secondary school in Brisbane, Australia (N=182) to comment on what they “liked” about their teachers. The students’ responses were mapped against each of the four developmental domains. Analysis of the data showed that students’ emotional and social domains were more salient than their physical and cognitive domains. Specifically, the young teenage students reported liking their teachers when the teachers’ were emotionally positive and socially accommodating. The findings of this paper are discussed via a developmental lens with regard to the implications for teacher education

Gut Microbiota Contribute to Exercise Capacity and Metabolic Profile in a Wildtype and Longevity Model Mouse

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The role of histone arginine methylation in gene expression of airway smooth muscle cells in asthma

Introduction and objectives: Asthma is estimated to affect at least 300 million people globally. About 25% of the patients do not respond to therapy; therefore we need to develop novel treatments. ASM cells have a crucial role in asthma, contributing to airway remodelling, inflammation and airflow obstruction. We have previously shown that epigenetic histone modifications, particularly histone lysine acetylation and methylation regulate the secretion of inflammatory mediators from ASM cells. Here we tested the hypothesis that histone arginine changes are also involved. Protein arginine N-methyltransferases (PRMTs) are the enzymes which catalyse histone arginine methylation (HRme, the addition of a methyl group to arginine residues on the N-terminal tails of histones), and inhibiting them represents a strategy to reduce the secretion of inflammatory mediators from ASM cells. Methods: Studies were performed in cultured human ASM cells from asthmatic and non-asthmatic donors at passage 6. PRMT expression in human ASM cells was investigated by qPCR. Protein levels of four PRMTs in human ASM cells were investigated by western blotting. The effect of inhibiting PRMTs on the secretion of eotaxin, IL-6, CXCL8 and IP-10 from healthy ASM cells, under basal conditions and following stimulation with TNF-α (1ng/ml), was investigated by ELISA. Results: We found that ASM cells express the PRMT1, PRMT2, PRMT3, CARM1, PRMT5, PRMT6, PRMT7 and FBX011 mRNA and PRMT1, CARM1, PRMT5, and PRMT6 protein. The analysis showed no difference in the levels of expression between cells isolated from asthmatic and non-asthmatic donors. Two PRMT inhibitors, namely TCE5003 – a PRMT1 inhibitor, and 217531 - a CARM1 inhibitor, significantly reduced the secretion of inflammatory mediators from ASM cells. Conclusions: ASM cells express a number of PRMTs at mRNA and protein levels. The inhibition of PRMTs results in the reduced secretion of inflammatory mediators from ASM cells. PRMTs may have an important role in regulating chemokine production from ASM cells in asthma, and are a promising target for future investigations in asthma

Statistical inference about the relative efficiency of a new survey protocol, based on paired-tow survey calibration data

Paired-tow calibration studies provide information on changes in survey catchability that may occur because of some necessary change in protocols (e.g., change in vessel or vessel gear) in a fish stock survey. This information is important to ensure the continuity of annual time-series of survey indices of stock size that provide the basis for fish stock assessments. There are several statistical models used to analyze the paired-catch data from calibration studies. Our main contributions are results from simulation experiments designed to measure the accuracy of statistical inferences derived from some of these models. Our results show that a model commonly used to analyze calibration data can provide unreliable statistical results when there is between-tow spatial variation in the stock densities at each paired-tow site. However, a generalized linear mixed-effects model gave very reliable results over a wide range of spatial variations in densities and we recommend it for the analysis of paired-tow survey calibration data. This conclusion also applies if there is between-tow variation in catchability

Antibiotics Reduce While Forced-Exercise Increases Inflammation in the Small Intestine

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Teenagers perceptions of teachers: a developmental argument

Using the concept of a developmental lens (Brighton, 2007; Caskey & Anfara, 2014; Davis, 2006; J-F, Pullen, & Carroll, 2013; National Middle School Association, 2010; Peterson, 2010), this article focuses on young teenage students’ perceptions of teachers. School teachers play an important role in the educational development of teenagers but little is known about how teachers cater for teenage students’ social, emotional, physical and cognitive developmental domains. Even less is known about teenage students’ perceptions of their teachers. The current study asked a cohort of Year 9 students in a secondary school in Brisbane, Australia (N=182) to comment on what they “liked” about their teachers. The students’ responses were mapped against each of the four developmental domains. Analysis of the data showed that students’ emotional and social domains were more salient than their physical and cognitive domains. Specifically, the young teenage students reported liking their teachers when the teachers’ were emotionally positive and socially accommodating. The findings of this paper are discussed via a developmental lens with regard to the implications for teacher education

Poverty alleviation among persons with disabilities via United Nations' sustainable development goals in Ghana: voices of stakeholders with disabilities

Consistently, it has been reported that persons with disabilities face multiple challenges in societies and thus it is important that deliberate intervention programs are initiated to empower them to overcome exclusion. The United Nations has taken the lead through the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) project, which is a framework for assisting countries and donors in their efforts to alleviate poverty. This article documented the experiences of persons with disabilities with respect to global efforts towards poverty reduction via SDGs. Face‐to‐face interviews were conducted with 48 individuals with disabilities (hearing loss n = 11, visual impairment n = 15, and physical disability n = 22) who were drawn from four districts in the Northern Region of Ghana. Analysis of the interview data revealed common themes related to hardship, poverty, limited access to education, and underemployment. The results indicated that the SDG project engendered little tangible improvement in the lives of persons with disabilities. The need for concerted efforts to address barriers faced by individuals with disabilities is discussed extensively

A systematic review of scabies transmission models and data to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of scabies interventions

© 2019 van der Linden et al. Background: Scabies is a common dermatological condition, affecting more than 130 million people at any time. To evaluate and/or predict the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of scabies interventions, disease transmission modelling can be used. Objective: To review published scabies models and data to inform the design of a comprehensive scabies transmission modelling framework to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of scabies interventions. Methods: Systematic literature search in PubMed, Medline, Embase, CINAHL, and the Cochrane Library identified scabies studies published since the year 2000. Selected papers included modelling studies and studies on the life cycle of scabies mites, patient quality of life and resource use. Reference lists of reviews were used to identify any papers missed through the search strategy. Strengths and limitations of identified scabies models were evaluated and used to design a modelling framework. Potential model inputs were identified and discussed. Findings: Four scabies models were published: a Markov decision tree, two compartmental models, and an agent-based, network-dependent Monte Carlo model. None of the models specifically addressed crusted scabies, which is associated with high morbidity, mortality, and increased transmission. There is a lack of reliable, comprehensive information about scabies biology and the impact this disease has on patients and society. Discussion: Clinicians and health economists working in the field of scabies are encouraged to use the current review to inform disease transmission modelling and economic evaluations on interventions against scabies