268 research outputs found
Crosstalk in the mouse thymus
The development of mature T cells within the thymus is dependent upon intact cortical and medullary microenvironments. In turn, thymic microenvironment themselves are dependent on lymphoid cells to maintain their integrity. Here, Willem van Ewijk and colleagues discuss experiments that have established the phenomenon of âcrosstalkâ within the mouse thymus and suggest a mechanism whereby lymphoid and stromal cells influence each other in a consecutive manner during T-cell development
Antibiotics induced commensal flora disruption favours escherichia coli AIEC colonization and mesenteric translocation in NOD2 knock-out mice
International audienc
Perceived Effectiveness of Virtual Mentoring and Coaching on Teachersâ of ELLâs Pedagogical Practices During COVID19
The purpose of this mixed methods study was to determine teachers' perceptions of Project Massive Open Online Professional Individualized Learning (MOOPIL) Virtual Professional Development and the role it played in their pedagogical practices as they transitioned from face-to-face to online instruction during the initial months of the COVID-19 pandemic. We applied a mixed method approach to understand the experiences of educators engaged in virtual professional development, virtual mentoring and coaching, and an online learning community during a global pandemic in the Spring of 2020. Participants reported various ways Project MOOPIL impacted their experiences as educators. Teachersâ personal experiences in online learning through Project MOOPIL provided insight into the comparable experiences of students who were immersed in online education as well. Teachers reported a successful transfer of knowledge from this experience to their new distance learning domains that not only catered to the needs of ELs in their classes but to native English speakers as well. Furthermore, through their participation in VPLCs and engagement in Project MOOPIL VMC, participants demonstrated the ability to access and benefit from virtual collaborative support even when life got challenging. In this study, we examined virtual professional development intersectionality, distance learning, and the needs of emergent English speakers.  
Perceived Effectiveness of Virtual Mentoring and Coaching on Teachers of English Language Learner's Pedagogical Practices During COVID-19
This mixed-method study aimed to determine teachers' perceptions of Project Massive Open Online Professional Individualized Learning (MOOPIL) Virtual Professional Development and the role it played in their pedagogical practices as they transitioned from face-to-face to online instruction during the initial months of the COVID-19 pandemic. We applied a mixed-method approach to understand the experiences of educators engaged in virtual professional development, virtual mentoring and coaching, and an online learning community during a global pandemic in the Spring of 2020. Participants reported various ways Project MOOPIL impacted their experiences as educators. Teachers' personal experiences in online learning through Project MOOPIL provided insight into the comparable experiences of students who were immersed in online education as well. Teachers reported a successful transfer of knowledge from this experience to their new distance learning domains that not only catered to the needs of English language learners (ELLs) in their classes but to native English speakers as well. Furthermore, through their participation in VPLCs and engagement in Project MOOPIL VMC, participants demonstrated the ability to access and benefit from virtual collaborative support even when life got challenging. In this study, we examined virtual professional development intersectionality, distance learning, and the needs of emergent English speakers
Perceived Effectiveness of Virtual Mentoring and Coaching on Teachersâ of ELLâs Pedagogical Practices During COVID19
The purpose of this mixed methods study was to determine teachers' perceptions of Project Massive Open Online Professional Individualized Learning (MOOPIL) Virtual Professional Development and the role it played in their pedagogical practices as they transitioned from face-to-face to online instruction during the initial months of the COVID-19 pandemic. We applied a mixed method approach to understand the experiences of educators engaged in virtual professional development, virtual mentoring and coaching, and an online learning community during a global pandemic in the Spring of 2020. Participants reported various ways Project MOOPIL impacted their experiences as educators. Teachersâ personal experiences in online learning through Project MOOPIL provided insight into the comparable experiences of students who were immersed in online education as well. Teachers reported a successful transfer of knowledge from this experience to their new distance learning domains that not only catered to the needs of ELs in their classes but to native English speakers as well. Furthermore, through their participation in VPLCs and engagement in Project MOOPIL VMC, participants demonstrated the ability to access and benefit from virtual collaborative support even when life got challenging. In this study, we examined virtual professional development intersectionality, distance learning, and the needs of emergent English speakers.  
Do biotransformation data from laboratory experiments reflect micropollutant degradation in a large river basin?
Identifying a chemical's potential for biotransformation in the aquatic environment is crucial to predict its fate and manage its potential hazards. Due to the complexity of natural water bodies, especially river networks, biotransformation is often studied in laboratory experiments, assuming that study outcomes can be extrapolated to compound behavior in the field. Here, we investigated to what extent outcomes of laboratory simulation studies indeed reflect biotransformation kinetics observed in riverine systems. To determine in-field biotransformation, we measured loads of 27 wastewater treatment plant effluent-borne compounds along the Rhine and its major tributaries during two seasons. Up to 21 compounds were detected at each sampling location. Measured compound loads were used in an inverse model framework of the Rhine river basin to derive kâbio,field values â a compound-specific parameter describing the compoundsâ average biotransformation potential during the field studies. To support model calibration, we performed phototransformation and sorption experiments with all the study compounds, identifying 5 compounds that are susceptible towards direct phototransformation and determining Koc values covering four orders of magnitude. On the laboratory side, we used a similar inverse model framework to derive kâbio,lab values from water-sediment experiments run according to a modified OECD 308-type protocol. The comparison of kâbio,lab and kâbio,field revealed that their absolute values differed, pointing towards faster transformation in the Rhine river basin. Yet, we could demonstrate that relative rankings of biotransformation potential and groups of compounds with low, moderate and high persistence agree reasonably well between laboratory and field outcomes. Overall, our results provide evidence that laboratory-based biotransformation studies using the modified OECD 308 protocol and kâbio values derived thereof bear considerable potential to reflect biotransformation of micropollutants in one of the largest European river basins
Flexible Adaptive Paradigms for fMRI Using a Novel Software Package âBrain Analysis in Real-Timeâ (BART)
In this work we present a new open source software package offering a unified
framework for the real-time adaptation of fMRI stimulation procedures. The
software provides a straightforward setup and highly flexible approach to
adapt fMRI paradigms while the experiment is running. The general framework
comprises the inclusion of parameters from subjectâs compliance, such as
directing gaze to visually presented stimuli and physiological fluctuations,
like blood pressure or pulse. Additionally, this approach yields possibilities
to investigate complex scientific questions, for example the influence of EEG
rhythms or fMRI signals results themselves. To prove the concept of this
approach, we used our software in a usability example for an fMRI experiment
where the presentation of emotional pictures was dependent on the subjectâs
gaze position. This can have a significant impact on the results. So far, if
this is taken into account during fMRI data analysis, it is commonly done by
the post-hoc removal of erroneous trials. Here, we propose an a priori
adaptation of the paradigm during the experimentâs runtime. Our fMRI findings
clearly show the benefits of an adapted paradigm in terms of statistical power
and higher effect sizes in emotion-related brain regions. This can be of
special interest for all experiments with low statistical power due to a
limited number of subjects, a limited amount of time, costs or available data
to analyze, as is the case with real-time fMRI
Spatio-temporal dynamics of oscillatory brain activity during the observation of actions and interactions between point-light agents
Predicting actions from non-verbal cues and using them to optimise one's response behaviour (i.e. interpersonal predictive coding) is essential in everyday social interactions. We aimed to investigate the neural correlates of different cognitive processes evolving over time during interpersonal predictive coding. Thirty-nine participants watched two agents depicted by moving point-light stimuli while an electroencephalogram (EEG) was recorded. One well-recognizable agent performed either a 'communicative' or an 'individual' action. The second agent either was blended into a cluster of noise dots (i.e. present) or was entirely replaced by noise dots (i.e. absent), which participants had to differentiate. EEG amplitude and coherence analyses for theta, alpha and beta frequency bands revealed a dynamic pattern unfolding over time: Watching communicative actions was associated with enhanced coupling within medial anterior regions involved in social and mentalising processes and with dorsolateral prefrontal activation indicating a higher deployment of cognitive resources. Trying to detect the agent in the cluster of noise dots without having seen communicative cues was related to enhanced coupling in posterior regions for social perception and visual processing. Observing an expected outcome was modulated by motor system activation. Finally, when the agent was detected correctly, activation in posterior areas for visual processing of socially relevant features was increased. Taken together, our results demonstrate that it is crucial to consider the temporal dynamics of social interactions and of their neural correlates to better understand interpersonal predictive coding. This could lead to optimised treatment approaches for individuals with problems in social interactions
Predictors of asthma control differ from predictors of asthma attacks in children: The Swiss Paediatric Airway Cohort.
BACKGROUND
It is unclear if predictors of asthma attacks are the same as those of asthma symptom control in children.
OBJECTIVE
We evaluated predictors for these two outcomes in a clinical cohort study.
METHODS
The Swiss Paediatric Airway Cohort (SPAC) is a multicentre prospective clinical cohort of children referred to paediatric pulmonologists. This analysis included 516 children (5-16âyears old) diagnosed with asthma. At baseline, we collected sociodemographic information, symptoms, personal and family history and environmental exposures from a parental baseline questionnaire, and treatment and test results from hospital records. Outcomes were assessed 1âyear later by parental questionnaire: asthma control in the last 4âweeks as defined by GINA guidelines, and asthma attacks defined as any unscheduled visit for asthma in the past year. We used logistic regression to identify and compare predictors for suboptimal asthma control and asthma attacks.
RESULTS
At follow-up, 114/516 children (22%), reported suboptimal asthma control, and 114 (22%) an incident asthma attack. Only 37 (7%) reported both. Suboptimal asthma control was associated with poor symptom control at baseline (e.g. â„1 night wheeze/week OR: 3.2; 95% CI: 1.7-6), wheeze triggered by allergens (2.2; 1.4-3.3), colds (2.3; 1.4-3.6) and exercise (3.2; 2-5), a more intense treatment at baseline (2.4; 1.3-4.4 for Step 3 vs. 1), history of preschool (2.6; 1.5-4.4) and persistent wheeze (2; 1.4-3.2), and exposure to tobacco smoke (1.7; 1-2.6). Incident asthma attacks were associated with previous episodes of severe wheeze (2; 1.2-3.3) and asthma attacks (2.8; 1.6-5 for emergency care visits), younger age (0.8; 0.8-0.9 per 1âyear) and non-Swiss origin (0.3; 0.2-0.5 for Swiss origin). Lung function, exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) and allergic sensitization at baseline were not associated with control or attacks.
CONCLUSION
Children at risk of long-term suboptimal asthma control differ from those at risk of attacks. Prediction tools and preventive efforts should differentiate these two asthma outcomes
Over-use of thyroid testing in Canadian and UK primary care in frequent attenders : a cross-sectional study
Dr Greiver is supported through the Gordon F. Cheesbrough Research Chair in Family and Community Medicine from North York General Hospital.Background Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) is a common test used to detect and monitor clinically significant hypo- and hyperthyroidism. Population based screening of asymptomatic adults for thyroid disorders is not recommended. Objective The research objectives were to determine patterns of TSH testing in Canadian and English primary care practices, as well as patient and physician practice characteristics associated with testing TSH for primary care patients with no identifiable indication. Methods In this two-year cross-sectional observational study, Canadian and English electronic medical record databases were used to identify patients and physician practices. Cohorts of patients aged 18 years or older, without identifiable indications for TSH testing, were generated from these databases. Analyses were performed using a random-effects logistic regression to determine patient and physician practice characteristics associated with increased testing. We determined the proportion of TSH tests done concurrently with at least one common screening blood test (lipid profile or hemoglobin A1c). Standardized proportions of TSH test per family practice were used to examine the heterogeneity in the populations. Results At least one TSH test was done in 35.97 % (N=489,663) of Canadian patients and 29.36% (N=1,030,489) of English patients. Almost all TSH tests in Canada and England (95.69% and 99.23% respectively) were within the normal range (0.40-5.00 mU/L). A greater number of patient-physician encounters was the strongest predictor of TSH testing. 51.40% of TSH tests in Canada and 76.55% in England were done on the same day as at least one other screening blood test. There was no association between practice size and proportion of asymptomatic patients tested. Conclusions This comparative binational study found TSH patterns suggestive of over-testing and potentially thyroid disorder screening in both countries. There may be significant opportunities to improve appropriateness of TSH ordering in Canada and England and therefore improve allocation of limited system resources.PostprintPeer reviewe
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