An Auto-Ethnographical View of the Growth in a Pre-Service Teacher

This thesis is an auto-ethnography that examines how field experiences in diverse classrooms can grow and deepen a pre-service teacher\u27s understanding of complex pedagogical ideas. It examines how experiences changed the subject’s view on the role of classroom culture in classroom management, and how the intersection of those two important aspects of teaching can increase positive classroom space. Also examined are the similarities and differences between hands-on learning and inquiry-based learning, as well as how using those together results in greater understanding, deeper comprehension, and a higher level of enjoyment in the students. Lastly, this auto-ethnography shows how interacting with students on many different levels can increase ones understanding of students and of the relationships between students, their peers, and their teachers. The purpose of this reflective auto-ethnography is to show how a teacher preparation program can enhance and deepen the understanding of a pre-service teacher, as well as to explore the different facets of important pedagogical ideas

A Comparison of Traditional American, German and French Oboe Reeds

Abstract not available

The Process of Exercise Participation in the Community for Functional Recovery Post Formal Rehabilitation among Survivors of Stroke: a grounded theory study

The effects of stroke pose a challenge on independence and community participation, which are common goals among survivors of stroke during recovery. Exercises are implemented during rehabilitation services and have a profound effect on functional recovery; however, services are limited, where adherence levels to exercise post discharge are less than ideal. The aim of this research was to understand the process of exercise participation for functional recovery among community living survivors of stroke following discharge from formal rehabilitation. Findings of this constructivist grounded theory study provided insight into the phases leading to exercise commitment –contact with a healthcare provider, desire to improve post stroke life, navigating options, and commitment to exercise. Further, the findings gave rise to key insights, which may foster healthcare providers and community services in promoting continued exercise participation among people living with the effects of stroke

Profiling of RNAs from Human Islet-Derived Exosomes in a Model of Type 1 Diabetes

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is characterized by the immune-mediated destruction of insulin-producing islet β cells. Biomarkers capable of identifying T1D risk and dissecting disease-related heterogeneity represent an unmet clinical need. Toward the goal of informing T1D biomarker strategies, we profiled coding and noncoding RNAs in human islet-derived exosomes and identified RNAs that were differentially expressed under proinflammatory cytokine stress conditions. Human pancreatic islets were obtained from cadaveric donors and treated with/without IL-1β and IFN-γ. Total RNA and small RNA sequencing were performed from islet-derived exosomes to identify mRNAs, long noncoding RNAs, and small noncoding RNAs. RNAs with a fold change ≥1.3 and a p-value <0.05 were considered as differentially expressed. mRNAs and miRNAs represented the most abundant long and small RNA species, respectively. Each of the RNA species showed altered expression patterns with cytokine treatment, and differentially expressed RNAs were predicted to be involved in insulin secretion, calcium signaling, necrosis, and apoptosis. Taken together, our data identify RNAs that are dysregulated under cytokine stress in human islet-derived exosomes, providing a comprehensive catalog of protein coding and noncoding RNAs that may serve as potential circulating biomarkers in T1D

Visible light reduces C. elegans longevity.

The transparent nematode Caenorhabditis elegans can sense UV and blue-violet light to alter behavior. Because high-dose UV and blue-violet light are not a common feature outside of the laboratory setting, we asked what role, if any, could low-intensity visible light play in C. elegans physiology and longevity. Here, we show that C. elegans lifespan is inversely correlated to the time worms were exposed to visible light. While circadian control, lite-1 and tax-2 do not contribute to the lifespan reduction, we demonstrate that visible light creates photooxidative stress along with a general unfolded-protein response that decreases the lifespan. Finally, we find that long-lived mutants are more resistant to light stress, as well as wild-type worms supplemented pharmacologically with antioxidants. This study reveals that transparent nematodes are sensitive to visible light radiation and highlights the need to standardize methods for controlling the unrecognized biased effect of light during lifespan studies in laboratory conditions

The Long and Winding Road: Developing an Online Research Curriculum

In the realm of online research instruction, electronic research vendors (such as LexisNexis and Westlaw) play various roles in teaching and training law students. Some students take advantage of all free training opportunities, while others ignore even mandatory trainings assigned as supplemental course instruction through a first-year legal writing program. This article details the results of a cooperative initiative among a law professor, a librarian, and the Westlaw and LexisNexis academic account managers, designed to integrate online research instruction into the first-year curriculum. The multiple goals of the initiative included taking advantage of the vendors’ expertise and resources, reinforcing lessons taught in legal research courses, formalizing the online research instruction to all first-year students, and improving law students’ research skills

Foundation Support of Immigrant Communities: Insights From a Survey of Immigrants in Minnesota’s Twin Cities

Immigration brings both benefits and challenges to communities. This article provides insight into the needs of these communities and offers suggestions for how foundations can consider immigrant and refugee communities in their work. This article combines information from Minnesota Compass, a foundation-governed social-indicators initiative, and Speaking for Ourselves, a study of immigrants and refu- gees in Minnesota’s Twin Cities metropolitan area that identifies the needs and strengths immigrants bring to our communities. The results can help guide foundations and their grantees on how to improve a community’s quality of life for immigrants and refugees – to the benefit of all residents. By understanding demographic trends and cultural nuances, organizations can increase awareness, access, and trust among immigrants and refugees, and influence public policy

Antagonistic interactions between honey bee bacterial symbionts and implications for disease

BACKGROUND: Honey bees, Apis mellifera, face many parasites and pathogens and consequently rely on a diverse set of individual and group-level defenses to prevent disease. One route by which honey bees and other insects might combat disease is through the shielding effects of their microbial symbionts. Bees carry a diverse assemblage of bacteria, very few of which appear to be pathogenic. Here we explore the inhibitory effects of these resident bacteria against the primary bacterial pathogen of honey bees, Paenibacillus larvae. RESULTS: Here we isolate, culture, and describe by 16S rRNA and protein-coding gene sequences 61 bacterial isolates from honey bee larvae, reflecting a total of 43 distinct bacterial taxa. We culture these bacteria alongside the primary larval pathogen of honey bees, Paenibacillus larvae, and show that many of these isolates severely inhibit the growth of this pathogen. Accordingly, symbiotic bacteria including those described here are plausible natural antagonists toward this widespread pathogen. CONCLUSION: The results suggest a tradeoff in social insect colonies between the maintenance of potentially beneficial bacterial symbionts and deterrence at the individual and colony level of pathogenic species. They also provide a novel mechanism for recently described social components behind disease resistance in insect colonies, and point toward a potential control strategy for an important bee disease