Making the Decision: Factors that Affect the Information Available to Parents with Young Children about Charter Schools in Central Florida

In the opening decades of the 21st Century, a movement towards parental choice in public schools has taken flight. One of the choices becoming more readily available to parents of young children is charter schools. Charter schools are expanding across the United States and Central Florida is representative of this growth. Parents are faced with more choices as they make decisions on their children\u27s educational future than ever before making the availability of quality, accurate information about local schools paramount. While scholarly work on charter schools, the effects of media coverage on public opinion, and how parents make choices for their children exists, in many cases the research offers inconclusive results and rarely was there an attempt to connect all three. This paper, written from a parent\u27s perspective, analyzes research, newspaper articles, interviews, and surveys of Central Florida\u27s media outlets, public school representatives, and parents of young children to determine the types of information on charter schools available to parents of young children in Central Florida. The purpose of this thesis will be to investigate the information available to parents when considering a charter school for their young children by comparing the stated opinions of the local media, district school boards, and the charters themselves. It also identifies who is responsible for disseminating this information, and how the parents choose to gather and use this information

Student Perception of Relevance of Biology Content to Everyday Life: A Study in Higher Education Biology Courses

The purpose of this mixed method case study was to examine the effects of methods of instruction on students’ perception of relevance in higher education non-biology majors’ courses. Nearly ninety percent of all students in a liberal arts college are required to take a general biology course. It is proposed that for many of those students, this is the last science course they will take for life. General biology courses are suspected of discouraging student interest in biology with large enrollment, didactic instruction, covering a huge amount of content in one semester, and are charged with promoting student disengagement with biology by the end of the course. Previous research has been aimed at increasing student motivation and interest in biology as measured by surveys and test results. Various methods of instruction have been tested and show evidence of improved learning gains. This study focused on students’ perception of relevance of biology content to everyday life and the methods of instruction that increase it. A quantitative survey was administered to assess perception of relevance pre and post instruction over three topics typically taught in a general biology course. A second quantitative survey of student experiences during instruction was administered to identify methods of instruction used in the course lecture and lab. While perception of relevance dropped in the study, qualitative focus groups provided insight into the surprising results by identifying topics that are more relevant than the ones chosen for the study, conveying the affects of the instructor’s personal and instructional skills on student engagement, explanation of how active engagement during instruction promotes understanding of relevance, the role of laboratory in promoting students’ understanding of relevance as well as identifying external factors that affect student engagement. The study also investigated the extent to which gender affected changes in students’ perception of relevance. The results of this study will inform instructors’ pedagogical and logistical choices in the design and implementation of higher education biology courses for non-biology majors. Recommendations for future research will include refining the study to train instructors in methods of instruction that promote student engagement as well as to identify biology topics that are more relevant to students enrolled in non-major biology courses

Un modelo de simulación sobre la dinámica poblacional de Rhodnius prolixus y Triatoma infestans (Hemíptera, Reduviidae) y sobre la dinámica de transmisión del trypanosoma cruzi : comportamiento y estabilidad

Se desarrolló un modelo de simulación determinístico que describe los cambios diarios que ocurren en una población de insectos. Se trabajó con Rhodnius prolixus y Triatoma infestans, dos de las principales especies vectoras de la Enfermedad de Chagas. El modelo incluyó el proceso de transmisión del parásito (Trypanosoma cruzi) causante de la enfermedad. Se modeló la dinámica de la población del insecto, y de la población de hospedadores humanos y animales que representan la fuente de alimento para el vector. Con respecto a la población del insecto se la dividió en tres estadios: huevos, ninfa y adulto. A su vez los estadios huevo y ninfa fueron subdivididos en clases de edades. Los mecanismos de regulación poblacional se consideraron densodependientes y actuando sobre la natalidad y la mortalidad. La unidad espacial de la población fue la vivienda humana. Aquellos parámetros poblacionales de los cuales no se tenían estimaciones independientes fueron calibrados utilizando series naturales. De acuerdo a los resultados del modelo, y pese al carácter determinístico del mismo, se observa que las densidades poblacionales de las dos especies en estudio fluctúan en el tiempo y lo hacen con una periodicidad muy similar a la reportada para poblaciones naturales. Estas periodicidades parecerían reflejar el tiempo de desarrollo desde huevo hasta adulto, característico de cada especie, e indicarían que el crecimiento poblacional de las vinchucas estaría dándose por pulsos reproductivos espaciados en el tiempo. Además, la presencia de fluctuaciones también se relacionaría con los valores de determinados parámetros poblacionales, tales como la tasa de natalidad y la densidad de insectos a partir de la cual comienzan los efectos de la irritabilidad del hospedador sobre la supervivencia (mortalidad por inanición). Estos resultados, y teniendo en cuenta que en el modelo no se consideró la variación climática, favorecen la hipótesis que la aparición de las fluctuaciones en la densidad se deben a características intrínsecas de la población, tales como la existencia de estadios que son regulados a través de diferentes procesos actuando retardados en el tiempo y/o la de una regulación densodependiente de los mismos actuando sobre la natalidad y la mortalidad. Con respecto a la dinámica de la transmisión del T. cruzi, en ambas especies, independientemente del número de hospedadores en la casa, se observa que el porcentaje de infección de los vectores fluctúan periódicamente en el tiempo, acompañando las oscilaciones de la población de adultos y con el mismo período que estas. Los resultados al variar el número de perros presentes en la casa demuestran que el aumento en el número de perros infectados provoca un aumento en la prevalencia de los vectores y de los humanos. Este hecho indicaría que, a pesar que los perros estarían desviando un importante número de contactos potencialmente infectantes de los humanos, su alta infectividad tendría un efecto más pronunciado en el proceso de transmisión del T. cruzi. Los valores de prevalencias, tanto en humanos como en vectores, obtenidas mediante el modelo se acercaron en forma altamente significativa a varios valores observados en condiciones naturales, indicando que el modelo refleja satisfactoriamente la dinámica del proceso. Otro resultado importante observado en este trabajo es que, de acuerdo al modelo, el mantenimiento de las gallinas en la casa disminuiría los niveles de parasitemia tanto en la población del vector como en la humana. El remover las gallinas de la casa no mejoraría sino que empeoraría la situación de la transmisión de T. cruzi. Todos estos resultados podrían ser utilizados a la hora de planificar estrategias de control no convencionales. En la segunda parte de esta tesis se analizó el comportamiento de estabilidad de la dinámica poblacional del insecto vector, basándose fundamentalmente en una población de R. prolixus. Al variar los valores de determinados parámetros se observa que, pequeños cambios en los mismos provocan cambios en el comportamiento de estabilidad del sistema. Los criterios utilizados para identificar los diferentes comportamientos fueron: a) la simple observación de las series temporales obtenidas (densidad vs. tiempo), b) el cálculo de los espectros de potencias de dichas series, y c) el cálculo de los coeficientes de Lyapunov. Se identificaron cuatro comportamientos diferentes: a) puntos de equilibrio, b) ciclos límites, c) caos y d) situaciones intermedias entre ciclos límites y caos (períodos complejos). Se determinó la causa de la aparición de fluctuaciones en el sistema: la existencia de mecanismos regulatorios densodependientes no lineales actuando sobre los estadios ninfa y adulto, y la presencia de un tiempo de retardo entre la postura de los huevos y su eclosión como ninfas. Estos resultados podrían ser utilizados a la hora de optimizar estrategias de control a aplicar sobre la población del vector.Fil: Himschoot, Patricia Hilda. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina

The ins and outs of Ca2+ in plant endomembrane trafficking

Trafficking of proteins and lipids within the plant endomembrane system is essential to support cellular functions and is subject to rigorous regulation. Despite this seemingly strict regulation, endomembrane trafficking needs to be dynamically adjusted to ever-changing internal and environmental stimuli, while maintaining cellular integrity. Although often overlooked, the versatile second messenger Ca2+ is intimately connected to several endomembrane-associated processes. Here, we discuss the impact of electrostatic interactions between Ca2+ and anionic phospholipids on endomembrane trafficking, and illustrate the direct role of Ca2+ sensing proteins in regulating endomembrane trafficking and membrane integrity preservation. Moreover, we discuss how Ca2+ can control protein sorting within the plant endomembrane system. We thus highlight Ca2+ signaling as a versatile mechanism by which numerous signals are integrated into plant endomembrane trafficking dynamics

Identification of novel inhibitors of auxin-induced Ca2+ signaling via a plant-based chemical screen

Many signal perception mechanisms are connected to Ca2+-based second messenger signaling to modulate specific cellular responses. The well-characterized plant hormone auxin elicits a very rapid Ca2+ signal. However, the cellular targets of auxin-induced Ca2+ are largely unknown. Here, we screened a biologically annotated chemical library for inhibitors of auxin-induced Ca2+ entry in plant cell suspensions to better understand the molecular mechanism of auxin-induced Ca2+ and to explore the physiological relevance of Ca2+ in auxin signal transduction. Using this approach, we defined a set of diverse, small molecules that interfere with auxin-induced Ca2+ entry. Based on annotated biological activities of the hit molecules, we found that auxin-induced Ca2+ signaling is, among others, highly sensitive to disruption of membrane proton gradients and the mammalian Ca2+ channel inhibitor bepridil. Whereas protonophores nonselectively inhibited auxin-induced and osmotic-stress-induced Ca2+ signals, bepridil specifically inhibited auxin-induced Ca2+. We found evidence that bepridil severely alters vacuolar morphology and antagonized auxin-induced vacuolar remodeling. Further exploration of this plant-tailored collection of inhibitors will lead to a better understanding of auxin-induced Ca2+ entry and its relevance for auxin responses

Pharmacological and genetic manipulations of Ca2+ signaling have contrasting effects on auxin-regulated trafficking

A large part of a plants’ developmental plasticity relies on the activities of the phytohormone auxin and the regulation of its own distribution. This process involves a cohort of transcriptional and non-transcriptional effects of auxin on polar auxin transport, regulating the abundancy, biochemical activity and polar localization of the molecular components, predominantly PIN auxin exporters. While the transcriptional auxin signaling cascade has been well characterized, the mechanism and role of non-transcriptional auxin signaling remains largely elusive. Here, we addressed the potential involvement of auxin-induced Ca2+ signaling in auxin’s inhibitory effect on PIN endocytic trafficking. On the one hand, exogenous manipulations of Ca2+ availability and signaling effectively antagonized auxin effects suggesting that auxin-induced Ca2+ signaling is required for inhibition of internalization. On the other hand, we addressed the auxin-mediated inhibition of PIN internalization in the auxin signaling (tir1afb2,3) or Ca2+ channel (cngc14) mutants. These mutants were strongly defective in auxin-triggered Ca2+ signaling, but not in auxin-inhibited internalization. These data imply that, while Ca2+ signaling may be required for normal PIN trafficking, auxin-mediated increase in Ca2+ signaling is not a direct part of a downstream mechanism that mediates auxin effects on Brefeldin A-visualized PIN intercellular aggregation. These contrasting results obtained by comparing the mutant analysis versus the exogenous manipulations of Ca2+ availability and signaling illustrate the critical importance of genetics to unravel the role of Ca2+ in a process of interest

Association of Female Genital Schistosomiasis With the Cervicovaginal Microbiota and Sexually Transmitted Infections in Zambian Women.

BACKGROUND: The cervicovaginal microbiota, including sexually transmitted infections (STIs), have not been well described in female genital schistosomiasis (FGS). METHODS: Women (aged 18-31, sexually active, nonpregnant) were invited to participate at the final follow-up of the HPTN 071 (PopART) Population Cohort in January-August 2018. We measured key species of the cervicovaginal microbiota (Lactobacillus crispatus, L. iners, Gardnerella vaginalis, Atopobium vaginae, and Candida) and STIs (Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Trichomonas vaginalis, and Mycoplasma genitalium) using quantitative PCR (qPCR). We evaluated associations of the microbiota and STI presence and concentration with FGS (qPCR-detected Schistosoma DNA in any of 3 genital specimens). RESULTS: The presence and concentration of key cervicovaginal species did not differ between participants with (n = 30) or without FGS (n = 158). A higher proportion of participants with FGS had T. vaginalis compared with FGS-negative women (P = .08), with further analysis showing that T. vaginalis was more prevalent among women with ≥2 Schistosoma qPCR-positive genital specimens (50.0%, 8/16) than among FGS-negative women (21.5%, 34/158; P = .01). CONCLUSIONS: We found weak evidence of an association between the presence of T. vaginalis and FGS, with a stronger association in women with a higher-burden FGS infection. Additional research is needed on potential between-parasite interactions, especially regarding HIV-1 vulnerability