1,162 research outputs found

    L'implantation de la médiation scolaire au primaire au Québec : une étude de cas

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    La médiation scolaire fait partie des dispositifs créés afin de répondre – adéquatement ou pas – à la tendance actuelle à la dénonciation de la « violence en milieu scolaire », phénomène qui exprime à lui seul une facette de la crise de nos systèmes de régulation sociale. Sorte de solution prodige à la sur-visibilité des tensions quotidiennes identifiables en milieux éducatifs, la médiation scolaire pose de nombreuses questions, traditionnellement réduites à celles de la conciliation de la fonction régulatrice de la médiation avec le statut d’enfant ou de jeune dans un établissement scolaire, ou encore à celle, plus simple, des bénéfices qui peuvent découler de la pratique de médiation au regard de la relation éducative. Une recherche qualitative exploratoire, débutée en 2013, a investigué la question de l’originalité de tels dispositifs à l’égard des contraintes pratiques posées par le devoir de réponse à la « violence » imposé désormais aux établissements scolaires. Pour ce faire, des entrevues semi-dirigées ont été réalisées dans une dizaine d’écoles primaires du Québec, écoles qui bénéficient pourtant, préalablement, d’une culture propice à la prise en charge et à l’appropriation de tels programmes de médiation. Ciblés sur les orientations prises par différents acteurs occupés à implanter des projets de médiation dans leurs milieux respectifs, les résultats de cette recherche permettront d’ouvrir la discussion sur les concepts de culture (par le fait même, de contre-culture) et d’empowerment propres à ces milieux, et évoqueront les limites qui se posent à cet égard aux intervenants sociaux et aux professionnels du monde scolaire. Mots clés : Médiation, implantation, culture, adhérence, empowerment.School mediation is one of the devices created to meet - well or not - the current trend in the denunciation of "school violence" phenomenon that expresses itself a facet of the crisis of our social control systems. Kind of miracle solution to over-visibility of daily tensions identifiable educational, school mediation raises many questions, traditionally reduced to those of the reconciliation of regulatory function of mediation with the status of child or young person in school, or to more simple, the benefits that may arise from the practice of mediation in relation to the educational relationship. An exploratory qualitative research, begun in 2013, to investigate the question of the uniqueness of such devices against practical constraints posed by the response of having to "violence" now imposed on schools. To do this, semi-structured interviews were conducted in ten primary schools in Quebec, schools benefiting yet previously, a culture conducive to management and ownership of such mediation programs. Focused on the directions taken by the various actors engaged in implementing mediation projects in their respective communities, the results of this research will open the discussion on the concepts of culture (by extension, of cons-culture) and empowerment specific to these areas, and will discuss the limitations that arise in this regard to social workers and professionals in the academic world. Keywords : Mediation, implantation, culture, adherence, empowerment.La mediación escolar es uno de los dispositivos creados para satisfacer - bien o no - a la tendencia actual en la denuncia del fenómeno de "violencia escolar" que en sí expresa una faceta de la crisis de nuestros sistemas de control social. Tipo de solución milagrosa a un exceso de visibilidad de las tensiones diarias de identificación personal, la mediación escolar educativa plantea muchas preguntas, tradicionalmente reducidos a los de la conciliación de la función reguladora de la mediación con la condición de niño o joven en una escuela, o simplemente, los beneficios que pueden derivarse de la práctica de la mediación en relación con la relación educativa. Una investigación cualitativa exploratoria, iniciada en 2013, ha investigado el tema de la originalidad de estos dispositivos frente a las limitaciones prácticas que plantea la respuesta a "la violencia" ahora impuesta a las escuelas. Para ello, entrevistas semi-estructuradas se realizaron en diez escuelas primarias de Quebec, escuelas que beneficiaban previamente, una cultura favorable a la gestión y propiedad de estos programas de mediación. Centrado en las direcciones tomadas por los diferentes actores que participan en la implementación de proyectos de mediación en sus respectivas comunidades, los resultados de esta investigación abriran la discusión sobre los conceptos de cultura (por extensión, de la contra-cultura) y empoderamiento específica a estas áreas, y discutirán las limitaciones que surgen en este sentido a los trabajadores sociales y profesionales del mundo académico. Palabras clave : Mediación, cultura, empoderamiento, adhesión, implantación

    Evidence for the fixation of gene duplications by positive selection in \u3ci\u3eDrosophila\u3c/i\u3e

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    Gene duplications play a key role in the emergence of novel traits and in adaptation. But despite their centrality to evolutionary processes, it is still largely unknown how new gene duplicates are initially fixed within populations and later maintained in genomes. Long-standing debates on the evolution of gene duplications could be settled by determining the relative importance of genetic drift vs. positive selection in the fixation of new gene duplicates. Using the Drosophila Global Diversity Lines (GDL), we have combined genome-wide SNP polymorphism data with a novel set of copy number variant calls and gene expression profiles to characterize the polymorphic phase of new genes. We found that approximately half of the roughly 500 new complete gene duplications segregating in the GDL lead to significant increases in the expression levels of the duplicated genes and that these duplications are more likely to be found at lower frequencies, suggesting a negative impact on fitness. However, we also found that six of the nine gene duplications that are fixed or close to fixation in at least one of the five populations in our study show signs of being under positive selection, and that these duplications are likely beneficial because of dosage effects, with a possible role for additional mutations in two duplications. Our work suggests that in Drosophila, theoretical models that posit that gene duplications are immediately beneficial and fixed by positive selection are most relevant to explain the long-term evolution of gene duplications in this species. Supplemental materials attached below

    Receptor Tyrosine Kinases Fall into Distinct Classes Based on Their Inferred Signaling Networks

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    Although many anticancer drugs that target receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) provide clinical benefit, their long-term use is limited by resistance that is often attributed to increased abundance or activation of another RTK that compensates for the inhibited receptor. To uncover common and unique features in the signaling networks of RTKs, we measured time-dependent signaling in six isogenic cell lines, each expressing a different RTK as downstream proteins were systematically perturbed by RNA interference. Network models inferred from the data revealed a conserved set of signaling pathways and RTK-specific features that grouped the RTKs into three distinct classes: (i) an EGFR/FGFR1/c-Met class constituting epidermal growth factor receptor, fibroblast growth factor receptor 1, and the hepatocyte growth factor receptor c-Met; (ii) an IGF-1R/NTRK2 class constituting insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor and neurotrophic tyrosine receptor kinase 2; and (iii) a PDGFRβ class constituting platelet-derived growth factor receptor β. Analysis of cancer cell line data showed that many RTKs of the same class were coexpressed and that increased abundance of an RTK or its cognate ligand frequently correlated with resistance to a drug targeting another RTK of the same class. In contrast, abundance of an RTK or ligand of one class generally did not affect sensitivity to a drug targeting an RTK of a different class. Thus, classifying RTKs by their inferred networks and then therapeutically targeting multiple receptors within a class may delay or prevent the onset of resistance.W. M. Keck FoundationNational Institutes of Health (U.S.) (R21 CA126720)National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (P50 GM068762)National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (RC1 HG005354)National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (U54-CA112967)National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (R01-CA096504)Alfred and Isabel Bader (Fellowship)Jacques-Emile Dubois (fellowship

    Be Healthy in Pregnancy: Exploring factors that impact pregnant women\u27s nutrition and exercise behaviours

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    Excess gestational weight gain is associated with short- and long-term pregnancy complications. Although a healthy diet and physical activity during pregnancy are recommended and shown to reduce the risk of complications and improve outcomes, adherence to these recommendations is low. The aims of this study were to explore women\u27s view of nutrition and physical activity during pregnancy and to describe barriers and facilitators experienced in implementing physical activity and nutrition recommendations. In a substudy of the Be Healthy in Pregnancy randomized trial, 20 semistructured focus groups were conducted with 66 women randomized to the control group when they were between 16 and 24 weeks gestation. Focus groups were recorded, transcribed verbatim, coded and thematically analysed. The results indicate that women felt motivated to be healthy for their baby, but competing priorities may take precedence. Participants described limited knowledge and access to information on safe physical activity in pregnancy and lacked the skills needed to operationalize both physical activity and dietary recommendations. Women\u27s behaviours regarding diet and physical activity in pregnancy were highly influenced by their own and their peers\u27 beliefs and values regarding how weight gain impacted their health during pregnancy. Pregnancy symptoms beyond women\u27s control such as fatigue and nausea made physical activity and healthy eating more challenging. Counselling from care providers about nutrition and physical activity was perceived as minimal and ineffective. Future interventions should address improving counselling strategies and address individual\u27s beliefs around nutrition and activity in pregnancy

    Maternal Choline Supplementation during Normal Murine Pregnancy Alters the Placental Epigenome: Results of an Exploratory Study

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    The placental epigenome regulates processes that affect placental and fetal development, and could be mediating some of the reported effects of maternal choline supplementation (MCS) on placental vascular development and nutrient delivery. As an extension of work previously conducted in pregnant mice, the current study sought to explore the effects of MCS on various epigenetic markers in the placenta. RNA and DNA were extracted from placentas collected on embryonic day 15.5 from pregnant mice fed a 1X or 4X choline diet, and were subjected to genome-wide sequencing procedures or mass-spectrometry-based assays to examine placental imprinted gene expression, DNA methylation patterns, and microRNA (miRNA) abundance. MCS yielded a higher (fold change = 1.63-2.25) expression of four imprinted genes (Ampd3, Tfpi2, Gatm and Aqp1) in the female placentas and a lower (fold change = 0.46–0.62) expression of three imprinted genes (Dcn, Qpct and Tnfrsf23) in the male placentas (false discovery rate (FDR) \u3c 0.05 for both sexes). Methylation in the promoter regions of these genes and global placental DNA methylation were also affected (p \u3c 0.05). Additionally, a lower (fold change = 0.3; Punadjusted = 2.05 x 10; FDR = 0.13) abundance of miR-2137 and a higher (fold change = 1.25–3.92; p \u3c 0.05) expression of its target genes were detected in the 4X choline placentas. These data demonstrate that the placental epigenome is responsive to maternal choline intake during murine pregnancy and likely mediates some of the previously described choline-induced effects on placental and fetal outcomes

    Experiences regarding nutrition and exercise among women during early postpartum: A qualitative grounded theory study

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    Background: Excess gestational weight gain has long- and short-term implications for women and children, and postpartum weight retention is associated with an increased risk of long-term obesity. Despite the existence of dietary and exercise guidelines, many women struggle to return to pre-pregnancy weight. Experiences of women in tackling postpartum weight loss are poorly understood. We undertook this study to explore experiences related to nutrition, exercise and weight in the postpartum in women in Ontario, Canada. Methods: This was a nested qualitative study within The Be Healthy in Pregnancy Study, a randomized controlled trial. Women randomized to the control group were invited to participate. Semi-structured focus groups were conducted at 4-6 months postpartum. Focus groups were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim, coded and analyzed thematically using a constructivist grounded theory approach. Results: Women experienced a complex relationship with their body image, due to unrealistic expectations related to their postpartum body. Participants identified barriers and enablers to healthy habits during pregnancy and postpartum. Gestational weight gain guidelines were regarded as unhelpful and unrealistic. A lack of guidance and information about weight management, healthy eating, and exercise in the postpartum period was highlighted. Conclusion: Strategies for weight management that target the unique characteristics of the postpartum period have been neglected in research and in patient counselling. Postpartum women may begin preparing for their next pregnancy and support during this period could improve their health for subsequent pregnancies

    Comparative transcriptional profiling of canine acanthomatous ameloblastoma and homology with human ameloblastoma

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    Ameloblastomas are odontogenic tumors that are rare in people but have a relatively high prevalence in dogs. Because canine acanthomatous ameloblastomas (CAA) have clinicopathologic and molecular features in common with human ameloblastomas (AM), spontaneous CAA can serve as a useful translational model of disease. However, the molecular basis of CAA and how it compares to AM are incompletely understood. In this study, we compared the global genomic expression profile of CAA with AM and evaluated its dental origin by using a bulk RNA-seq approach. For these studies, healthy gingiva and canine oral squamous cell carcinoma served as controls. We found that aberrant RAS signaling, and activation of the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition cellular program are involved in the pathogenesis of CAA, and that CAA is enriched with genes known to be upregulated in AM including those expressed during the early stages of tooth development, suggesting a high level of molecular homology. These results support the model that domestic dogs with spontaneous CAA have potential for pre-clinical assessment of targeted therapeutic modalities against AM

    A comprehensive platform for highly multiplexed mammalian functional genetic screens

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    <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Genome-wide screening in human and mouse cells using RNA interference and open reading frame over-expression libraries is rapidly becoming a viable experimental approach for many research labs. There are a variety of gene expression modulation libraries commercially available, however, detailed and validated protocols as well as the reagents necessary for deconvolving genome-scale gene screens using these libraries are lacking. As a solution, we designed a comprehensive platform for highly multiplexed functional genetic screens in human, mouse and yeast cells using popular, commercially available gene modulation libraries. The Gene Modulation Array Platform (GMAP) is a single microarray-based detection solution for deconvolution of loss and gain-of-function pooled screens.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Experiments with specially constructed lentiviral-based plasmid pools containing ~78,000 shRNAs demonstrated that the GMAP is capable of deconvolving genome-wide shRNA "dropout" screens. Further experiments with a larger, ~90,000 shRNA pool demonstrate that equivalent results are obtained from plasmid pools and from genomic DNA derived from lentivirus infected cells. Parallel testing of large shRNA pools using GMAP and next-generation sequencing methods revealed that the two methods provide valid and complementary approaches to deconvolution of genome-wide shRNA screens. Additional experiments demonstrated that GMAP is equivalent to similar microarray-based products when used for deconvolution of open reading frame over-expression screens.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Herein, we demonstrate four major applications for the GMAP resource, including deconvolution of pooled RNAi screens in cells with at least 90,000 distinct shRNAs. We also provide detailed methodologies for pooled shRNA screen readout using GMAP and compare next-generation sequencing to GMAP (i.e. microarray) based deconvolution methods.</p

    lincRNAs act in the circuitry controlling pluripotency and differentiation

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    Although thousands of large intergenic non-coding RNAs (lincRNAs) have been identified in mammals, few have been functionally characterized, leading to debate about their biological role. To address this, we performed loss-of-function studies on most lincRNAs expressed in mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells and characterized the effects on gene expression. Here we show that knockdown of lincRNAs has major consequences on gene expression patterns, comparable to knockdown of well-known ES cell regulators. Notably, lincRNAs primarily affect gene expression in trans. Knockdown of dozens of lincRNAs causes either exit from the pluripotent state or upregulation of lineage commitment programs. We integrate lincRNAs into the molecular circuitry of ES cells and show that lincRNA genes are regulated by key transcription factors and that lincRNA transcripts bind to multiple chromatin regulatory proteins to affect shared gene expression programs. Together, the results demonstrate that lincRNAs have key roles in the circuitry controlling ES cell state.Broad InstituteHarvard UniversityNational Human Genome Research Institute (U.S.)Merkin Family Foundation for Stem Cell Researc

    Unbiased Reconstruction of a Mammalian Transcriptional Network Mediating Pathogen Responses

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    Models of mammalian regulatory networks controlling gene expression have been inferred from genomic data but have largely not been validated. We present an unbiased strategy to systematically perturb candidate regulators and monitor cellular transcriptional responses. We applied this approach to derive regulatory networks that control the transcriptional response of mouse primary dendritic cells to pathogens. Our approach revealed the regulatory functions of 125 transcription factors, chromatin modifiers, and RNA binding proteins, which enabled the construction of a network model consisting of 24 core regulators and 76 fine-tuners that help to explain how pathogen-sensing pathways achieve specificity. This study establishes a broadly applicable, comprehensive, and unbiased approach to reveal the wiring and functions of a regulatory network controlling a major transcriptional response in primary mammalian cells
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