Supporting Beginning Teachers Through Mentorship

Beginning teachers are not always aware of the difficulties in teaching. It can be common for beginning teachers to feel overwhelmed, inadequate, and toil with emotions for the first few years of their career. Mentoring programs are established to help support beginning teachers. When the needs of beginning teachers are met, self-efficacy can be developed. Beginning teachers who are self-efficacious believe that they can achieve goals, accomplish tasks, and manage challenges in their practice. They are more competent and confident in the classroom. Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods studies found that supporting the emotional needs of teachers can positively impact beginning teachers’ self-efficacy. Self-efficacy can lead to more positive student interactions, management of students, and student achievement. When teachers are more self-efficacious, they can cope with the difficulties presented in the classroom. This confidence leads to student success, which in turn leads to teacher retention and job satisfaction

Antimicrobial Resistance in Staphylococci at the Human– Animal Interface

The widespread and often indiscriminate use of antimicrobials in animals is considered an important driving force behind the emergence and spread of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria. The emergence of livestock-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and the description of a novel methicillin-resistant gene, mecC, have renewed concerns regarding the role of animals as reservoirs and a source for the evolution of novel, virulent zoonotic pathogens. The transfer of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria residing in, or on, animals to close human contacts or the introduction of the bacteria into the food supply chain is a cause for concern. The purpose of this mini-review is to provide a background to the genus Staphylococcus and the emergence of antimicrobial resistance as well as a discussion on the most significant antimicrobial resistance mechanisms. The use of antimicrobials in animal husbandry is discussed and the interface between humans and different animal populations is closely examined. Finally, the need for antimicrobial monitoring programmes is discussed and is supplemented with information pertaining to antimicrobial susceptibility testing and molecular typing of staphylococcal isolates

TLR9/MyD88 signaling is required for class switching to pathogenic IgG2a and 2b autoantibodies in SLE

Loss of tolerance in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) leads to the generation of autoantibodies, which accumulate in end-organs where they induce disease. Here we show that immunoglobulin (Ig)G2a and 2b autoantibodies are the pathogenic isotypes by recruiting FcγRIV expressing macrophages. Class switching, but not development, of IgM anti-self B cells to these pathogenic subclasses requires the innate immune receptor Toll-like receptor (TLR)9 and MyD88 signaling. In their absence, switching of autoreactive B cells to the IgG2a and 2b subclasses is blocked, resulting in reduced pathology and mortality. In contrast, switching of anti-self B cells to IgG1 is not perturbed and generation of nonautoreactive IgG2a and 2b antibodies is not impaired in TLR9-deficient mice. Thus, the TLR9 pathway is a potential target for therapeutic intervention in SLE

Identification and characterization of Staphylococcus devriesei isolates from bovine intramammary infections in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

BACKGROUND : Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) are among the leading bacterial causes of bovine mastitis in many dairy-producing countries. Among the challenges associated with the specific diagnosis of CoNS infections is the biochemical heterogeneity of the species in the genus and the unavailability of accurate, cost-effective and up-to-date diagnostic tests. A previous study investigating the diversity of CoNS associated with cases of bovine mastitis in South Africa, resulted in six CoNS isolates which could not be identified despite the use of a combination of different molecular assays. The identification and characterisation of the isolates was pursued further in this study. RESULTS : The six CoNS isolates in question were identified by sequencing multiple housekeeping genes (dnaJ, hsp60, rpoB, 16S rRNA) and characterized through the use of matrix-assisted laser/desorption ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) and the Biolog GEN III Microplate™ bacterial identification system. Sequencing of housekeeping genes identified the isolates as S. devriesei. This Staphylococcus species was only described in 2010 and this is the first report documenting the isolation of S. devriesei from cases of bovine IMIs in South Africa. Analysis of mass spectra generated by the six isolates showed intra-species variation which was also observed when evaluating the metabolic profiles of the isolates using the Biolog GEN III system. Neither the MALDITOF MS nor the Biolog database are currently populated with data relating to S. devriesei, resulting in the isolates not being identified, in the case of MALDI-TOF MS analysis, or mis-identified as was observed with the Biolog GEN III system. CONCLUSIONS : The phenotyping data collected during this investigation provides useful information concerning Staphylococcus devriesei which could be used to populate user system databases thereby ensuring the accurate identification of isolates in future. The availability of improved diagnostics will in turn facilitate studies to elucidate the epidemiology, pathogenicity and true prevalence of this species in dairy herds.The research presented herein is funded, in part, by the University of Pretoria, National Health Laboratory Services, RESCOM, the National Research Foundation (NRF) Research Technology Fund and the KZN Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. The MALDI-TOF MS work is supported in part by the National Research Foundation (NRF) of South Africa (Grant specific unique reference number, UID 74426).https://bmcvetres.biomedcentral.comMedical Microbiolog

Diversity and antimicrobial susceptibility profiling of staphylococci isolated from bovine mastitis cases and close human contacts

The objectives of this study were to examine the diversity of Staphylococcus spp. recovered from bovine intramammary infections and humans working in close contact with the animals and to evaluate the susceptibility of the staphylococcal isolates to different antimicrobials. A total of 3,387 milk samples and 79 human nasal swabs were collected from 13 sampling sites in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa. In total, 146 Staph. aureus isolates and 102 coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS) were recovered from clinical and subclinical milk samples. Staphylococcus aureus was isolated from 12 (15.2%) of the human nasal swabs and 95 representative CNS were recovered for further characterization. The CNS were identified using multiplex- PCR assays, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS), and tuf gene sequencing. Seven Staphylococcus spp. were identified among the CNS of bovine origin, with Staph. chromogenes (78.4%) predominating. The predominant CNS species recovered from the human nasal swabs was Staph. epidermidis (80%) followed by Staph. chromogenes (6.3%). The antimicrobial susceptibility of all staphylococcal isolates was evaluated using disk diffusion and was supplemented by screening for specific antimicrobial resistance genes. Ninety-eight (67.1%) Staph. aureus isolates of bovine origin were pansusceptible; 39 (26.7%) isolates were resistant to a single class, and 7 (4.8%) isolates were resistant to 2 classes of antimicrobials. Two Staph. aureus (1.4%) isolates were multidrug-resistant. Resistance to penicillin was common, with 28.8% of the bovine and 75% of the human Staph. aureus isolates exhibiting resistance. A similar observation was made with the CNS, where 37.3% of the bovine and 89.5% of the human isolates were resistant to penicillin. Multidrug-resistance was common among the human CNS, with 39% of the isolates exhibiting resistance to 3 or more classes of antimicrobials. The antimicrobial susceptibility results suggest that resistance among staphylococci causing bovine intramammary infections in South Africa is uncommon and not a significant cause for concern. In contrast, antimicrobial resistance was frequently observed in staphylococcal isolates of human origin, highlighting a possible reservoir of resistance genes. Continued monitoring of staphylococcal isolates is warranted to monitor changes in the susceptibility of isolates to different classes of antimicrobials.University of Pretoria, RESCOM, the National Research Foundation (NRF) of South Africa, and the KZN Department of Agriculture & Rural Development (South Africa).http://www.journals.elsevier.com/journal-of-dairy-science2016-09-30hb201

Challenges and opportunities for quantifying roots and rhizosphere interactions through imaging and image analysis

The morphology of roots and root systems influences the efficiency by which plants acquire nutrients and water, anchor themselves and provide stability to the surrounding soil. Plant genotype and the biotic and abiotic environment significantly influence root morphology, growth and ultimately crop yield. The challenge for researchers interested in phenotyping root systems is, therefore, not just to measure roots and link their phenotype to the plant genotype, but also to understand how the growth of roots is influenced by their environment. This review discusses progress in quantifying root system parameters (e.g. in terms of size, shape and dynamics) using imaging and image analysis technologies and also discusses their potential for providing a better understanding of root:soil interactions. Significant progress has been made in image acquisition techniques, however trade-offs exist between sample throughput, sample size, image resolution and information gained. All of these factors impact on downstream image analysis processes. While there have been significant advances in computation power, limitations still exist in statistical processes involved in image analysis. Utilizing and combining different imaging systems, integrating measurements and image analysis where possible, and amalgamating data will allow researchers to gain a better understanding of root:soil interactions

Examining the levels of psychological support available to haematological cancer patients in England : a mixed methods study

Objectives: The psychological impact of a haematological malignancy is well documented. However, few studies have assessed the provision of psychological support to people with these diagnoses. This study explores the extent and nature of psychological support for people diagnosed with haematological cancer to inform future service provision. Design: This study consisted of an online survey with healthcare professionals (Phase 1) and qualitative interviews with patients (Phase 2) and key health professionals (Phase 3). A descriptive analysis of survey data and thematic analysis of interviews were conducted Participants: Two hundred health professionals practising in England completed the survey. Twenty-five interviews were conducted with people diagnosed with haematological cancer in the past three years, and ten with key health professionals, including haematologists, cancer nurse specialists and psychologists were conducted. Primary Outcome Measures: Level of psychological assessment undertaken with people with haematological cancer, and level and nature of psychological support provided. Results: Less than half(47.3%) of survey respondents strongly agreed/agreed that their patients were well supported in terms of their psychological well-being and approximately half (49.4%) reported providing routine assessment of psychological needs of patients, most commonly at the time of diagnosis or relapse. Patients described their need for psychological support, their experiences of support from health professionals and their experiences of support from psychological therapy services. There was considerable variation in the support patients described receiving. Barriers to providing psychological support reported by health professionals included time, skills, resources and patient barriers. Most doctors(85%) and 40% of nurse respondents reported receiving no training for assessing and managing psychological needs. Conclusions: Psychological well-being should be routinely assessed, and person-centred support should be offered regularly throughout the haematological cancer journey. Greater provision of healthcare professional training in this area and better integration of psychological support services into the patient care pathway is required

A new model for root growth in soil with macropores

Abstract: Background and aimsThe use of standard dynamic root architecture models to simulate root growth in soil containing macropores failed to reproduce experimentally observed root growth patterns. We thus developed a new, more mechanistic model approach for the simulation of root growth in structured soil. Methods: In our alternative modelling approach, we distinguish between, firstly, the driving force for root growth, which is determined by the orientation of the previous root segment and the influence of gravitropism and, secondly, soil mechanical resistance to root growth. The latter is expressed by its inverse, soil mechanical conductance, and treated similarly to hydraulic conductivity in Darcy’s law. At the presence of macropores, soil mechanical conductance is anisotropic, which leads to a difference between the direction of the driving force and the direction of the root tip movement. Results: The model was tested using data from the literature, at pot scale, at macropore scale, and in a series of simulations where sensitivity to gravity and macropore orientation was evaluated. Conclusions: Qualitative and quantitative comparisons between simulated and experimentally observed root systems showed good agreement, suggesting that the drawn analogy between soil water flow and root growth is a useful one

Mental imagery in dentistry: Phenomenology and role in dental anxiety

publisher: Elsevier articletitle: Mental imagery in dentistry: Phenomenology and role in dental anxiety journaltitle: Journal of Anxiety Disorders articlelink: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.janxdis.2018.06.009 content_type: article copyright: © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

GABAA receptor subtype involvement in addictive behaviour

GABAA receptors form the major class of inhibitory neurotransmitter receptors in the mammalian brain. This review sets out to summarise the evidence that variations in genes encoding GABAA receptor isoforms are associated with aspects of addictive behaviour in humans, while animal models of addictive behaviour also implicate certain subtypes of GABAA receptor. In addition to outlining the evidence for the involvement of specific subtypes in addiction, we summarise the particular contributions of these isoforms in control over the functioning of brain circuits, especially the mesolimbic system, and make a first attempt to bring together evidence from several fields to understanding potential involvement of GABAA Receptor Subtypes in addictive behaviour. While the weight of the published literature is on alcohol dependency, the underlying principles outlined are relevant across a number of different aspects of addictive behaviour