The impact of Qatar national professional standards: Teachers’ perspectives

Over the past twenty years, countries have embraced educational reforms that are driven by standards-based education that include professional standards for teachers. This is the case in Qatar where professional standards for teachers where imported to improve teaching in the midst of a major educational reform. This study presents findings from 333 teachers who completed an open-ended questionnaire designed to gain teachers’ perceptions and experiences with professional standards. Findings describe teachers’ responses regarding professional standards as an effective framework to improve the quality of teaching and learning, the influence on instruction, the positives and negatives of professional standards and the use of standards as a tool for obtaining licensure. Discussion provides additional insight into the issues and challenges of the use of professional standards to improve the quality of instruction

Penerapan Model Problem Based Learning (Pbl) untuk Meningkatkan Kemampuan Pemecahan Masalah Matematis Siswa Kelas X2 SMA Negeri 1 Tanah Merah

This research is a class action research that aims to improve thelearning process and to improve the student\u27s mathematical problem solving ability byapplying Problem Based Learning (PBL). The subjects of this research are the studentof class X2 Senior High School 1 Tanah merah at first semester of academic years2015/2016, which amounts to 29 students. This research consists of two cycles, eachcycle consists of four stages: planning, implementation, observation, and reflection.Data collected through observation and student\u27s mathematical problem solving abilitytest. Data analysis is done by observation data analysis and student\u27s mathematicalproblem solving ability data analysis. The action is successful if the scores of teacher\u27sactivities and student\u27s activities increase in every meeting, improve the student\u27smathematical problem solving ability every cycle and improve the classical\u27smathematical problem solving ability. The result of observation show teacher andstudents activities are improve better than before in every meeting. Based on dataanalisys of student\u27s mathematical problem solving ability test show the average N-gainof student\u27s mathematical problem solving ability in first cycle has improve 0,26, itsmean the student\u27s mathematical problem solving ability in low classification and insecond cycle the average N-gain of student\u27s mathematical problem solving ability hasimprove 0,39, its mean the student\u27s mathematical problem solving ability in mediumclassification. The average score of classical\u27s mathematical problem solving abilityhas improve 31,46 in first cycle than beginning test and the average score of classical\u27smathematical problem solving ability has improve 6,15 in second cycle than first cycle.The result of this research showed that Problem Based Learning improve the learningprocess and increase the the student\u27s mathematical problem solving ability of class X2Senior High School 1 Tanah merah at first semester of academic years 2015/2016

TauCstF-64 Mediates Correct mRNA Polyadenylation and Splicing of Activator and Repressor Isoforms of the Cyclic AMP-Responsive Element Modulator (CREM) in Mouse Testis.

Spermatogenesis is coordinated by the spatial and temporal expression of many transcriptional and posttranscriptional factors. The cyclic AMP-responsive element modulator (CREM) gene encodes both activator and repressor isoforms that act as transcription factors to regulate spermiogenesis. We found that the testis-expressed paralog of CstF-64, tauCstF-64 (gene symbol Cstf2t), is involved in a polyadenylation site choice switch of Crem mRNA and leads to an overall decrease of the Crem mRNAs that are generated from internal promoters in Cstf2t(-/-) mice. More surprisingly, loss of tauCstF-64 also leads to alternative splicing of Crem exon 4, which contains an important activation domain. Thus, testis-specific CREMtau2 isoform protein levels are reduced in Cstf2t(-/-) mice. Consequently, expression of 15 CREM-regulated genes is decreased in testes of Cstf2t(-/-) mice at 25 days postpartum. These effects might further contribute to the infertility phenotype of these animals. This demonstrates that tauCstF-64 is an important stage-specific regulator of Crem mRNA processing that modulates the spatial and temporal expression of downstream stage-specific genes necessary for the proper development of sperm in mice. Biol Reprod 2016 Feb; 94(2):34

MicroRNA-1911-3p targets mEAK-7 to suppress mTOR signaling in human lung cancer cells.

Regulation of mTOR signaling depends on an intricate interplay of post-translational protein modification. Recently, mEAK-7 (mTOR associated protein, eak-7 homolog) was identified as a positive activator of mTOR signaling via an alternative mTOR complex. However, the upstream regulation of mEAK-7 in human cells is not known. Because microRNAs are capable of modulating protein translation of RNA in eukaryotes, we conducted a bioinformatic search for relevant mEAK-7 targeting microRNAs using the Exiqon miRSearch V3.0 algorithm. Based on the score obtained through miRSearch V3.0, the top predicted miRNA (miR-1911-3p) was studied. miR-1911-3p mimics decreased protein levels of both mEAK-7 and mTORC1 downstream effectors p-S6 and p-4E-BP1 in non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) cell lines H1975 and H1299. miR-1911-3p levels and MEAK7 mRNA/mEAK-7/mTOR signaling levels were negatively correlated between normal lung and NSCLC cells. miR-1911-3p directly interacted with MEAK7 mRNA at the 3'-UTR to negatively regulate mEAK-7 and significantly decreased mTOR localization to the lysosome. Furthermore, miR-1911-3p significantly decreased cell proliferation and migration in both H1975 and H1299 cells. Thus, miR-1911-3p functions as a suppressor of mTOR signaling through the regulation of MEAK7 mRNA translation in human cancer cells

Mesenchymal stromal/stem cells modulate response to experimental sepsis-induced lung injury via regulation of miR-27a-5p in recipient mice

INTRODUCTION: Mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC) therapy mitigates lung injury and improves survival in murine models of sepsis. Precise mechanisms of therapeutic benefit remain poorly understood. OBJECTIVES: To identify host-derived regulatory elements that may contribute to the therapeutic effects of MSCs, we profiled the microRNAome (miRNAome) and transcriptome of lungs from mice randomised to experimental polymicrobial sepsis-induced lung injury treated with either placebo or MSCs. METHODS: and results A total of 11 997 genes and 357 microRNAs (miRNAs) expressed in lungs were used to generate a statistical estimate of association between miRNAs and their putative mRNA targets; 1395 miRNA:mRNA significant association pairs were found to be differentially expressed (false discovery rate ≤0.05). MSC administration resulted in the downregulation of miR-27a-5p and upregulation of its putative target gene VAV3 (adjusted p=1.272E-161) in septic lungs. In human pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells, miR-27a-5p expression levels were increased while VAV3 was decreased following lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or tumour necrosis factor (TNF) stimulation. Transfection of miR-27a-5p mimic or inhibitor resulted in increased or decreased VAV3 message, respectively. Luciferase reporter assay demonstrated specific binding of miR-27a-5p to the 3′UTR of VAV3. miR27a-5p inhibition mitigated TNF-induced (1) delayed wound closure, increased (2) adhesion and (3) transendothelial migration but did not alter permeability. In vivo, cell infiltration was attenuated by intratracheal coinstillation of the miR-27a-5p inhibitor, but this did not protect against endotoxin-induced oedema formation. CONCLUSIONS: Our data support involvement of miR-27a-5p and VAV3 in cellular adhesion and infiltration during acute lung injury and a potential role for miR-27a-based therapeutics for acute respiratory distress syndrome

Mesenchymal stromal (stem) cell therapy modulates miR-193b-5p expression to attenuate sepsis-induced acute lung injury

Although mesenchymal stromal (stem) cell (MSC) administration attenuates sepsis-induced lung injury in pre-clinical models, the mechanism(s) of action and host immune system contributions to its therapeutic effects remain elusive. We show that treatment with MSCs decreased expression of host-derived microRNA (miR)-193b-5p and increased expression of its target gene, the tight junctional protein occludin (Ocln), in lungs from septic mice. Mutating the Ocln 3′ untranslated region miR-193b-5p binding sequence impaired binding to Ocln mRNA. Inhibition of miR-193b-5p in human primary pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells prevents tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-induced decrease in Ocln gene and protein expression and loss of barrier function. MSC-conditioned media mitigated TNF-induced miR-193b-5p upregulation and Ocln downregulation in vitro. When administered in vivo, MSC-conditioned media recapitulated the effects of MSC administration on pulmonary miR-193b-5p and Ocln expression. MiR-193b-deficient mice were resistant to pulmonary inflammation and injury induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) instillation. Silencing of Ocln in miR-193b-deficient mice partially recovered the susceptibility to LPS-induced lung injury. In vivo inhibition of miR-193b-5p protected mice from endotoxin-induced lung injury. Finally, the clinical significance of these results was supported by the finding of increased miR-193b-5p expression levels in lung autopsy samples from acute respiratory distress syndrome patients who died with diffuse alveolar damage.Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) (MOP-130331; MPO-106545)Ontario Research Fund (RE07-086)Ontario Graduate ScholarshipSt. Michael's Hospital Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute Graduate ScholarshipMary J. Santalo Fellowship33.809 JCR (2021) Q1, 2/65 Respiratory System4.336 SJR (2021) Q1, 46/24989 Medicine (Miscellaneous)No data IDR 2021UE

Cytoprotective mechanisms of dj‐1: Implications in cardiac pathophysiology

DJ‐1 was originally identified as an oncogene product while mutations of the gene encod-ing DJ‐1/PARK7 were later associated with a recessive form of Parkinson’s disease. Its ubiquitous expression and diversity of function suggest that DJ‐1 is also involved in mechanisms outside the central nervous system. In the last decade, the contribution of DJ‐1 to the protection from ischemia-reperfusion injury has been recognized and its involvement in the pathophysiology of cardiovascular disease is attracting increasing attention. This review describes the current and gaps in our knowledge of DJ‐1, focusing on its role in regulating cardiovascular function. In parallel, we present original data showing an association between increased DJ‐1 expression and antiapoptotic and anti-inflammatory markers following cardiac and vascular surgical procedures. Future studies should address DJ‐1′s role as a plausible novel therapeutic target for cardiovascular disease. © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland