1,887 research outputs found
The Relationship Between Residential Learning Communities and Student Engagement
Residential learning communities (RLCs) are residence hall environments designed to deliver academic and social benefits. For decades, many have argued RLCs are an effective means for increasing student success. Yet substantial changes in the defining characteristics of campus housing and student diversity have led to new questions about the impact of living on campus and the benefits of RLCs in particular. Consequently, we investigated the continued efficacy of RLCs as an effective educational practice. Using data from a diverse, multi-institution sample of first-year and sophomore students, this study provides insight into the relationships between RLC participation, student engagement, and perceived gains in learning
The MacroH2A1.1 – PARP1 Axis at the Intersection Between Stress Response and Metabolism
The exchange of replication-coupled canonical histones by histone variants endows chromatin with specific features. The replacement of the canonical H2A histone for the histone variant macroH2A is one of the most remarkable epigenetic modifications. The three vertebrate macroH2A proteins have a unique tripartite structure consisting of H2A-like domain, unstructured linker, and macrodomain. Macrodomains are ancient globular folds that are able to bind nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) derived metabolites. Here, we will briefly describe the physiological relevance of the metabolite binding in the context of chromatin. In particular, we will focus on the macroH2A1.1 isoform that binds ADP-ribose and poly-ADP-ribose polymerase 1 (PARP1) enzyme, a cellular stress sensor. We will discuss the impact of this interaction in the context of cancer, senescence, cell stress and energy metabolism
Comparing Machine Learning Classifiers and Linear/Logistic Regression to Explore the Relationship between Hand Dimensions and Demographic Characteristics
Understanding the relationship between physiological measurements from human subjects and their demographic data is important within both the biometric and forensic domains. In this paper we explore the relationship between measurements of the human hand and a range of demographic features. We assess the ability of linear regression and machine learning classifiers to predict demographics from hand features, thereby providing evidence on both the strength of relationship and the key features underpinning this relationship. Our results show that we are able to predict sex, height, weight and foot size accurately within various data-range bin sizes, with machine learning classification algorithms out-performing linear regression in most situations. In addition, we identify the features used to provide these relationships applicable across multiple applications
Dealing with tough moments: Assessing faculty preparation for teaching challenges
Faculty are increasingly placed in situations where they have to navigate difficult teaching situations (student incivility, disclosure of sensitive information, controversial events, etc.) and challenging conversations with students (sexual assault, racism, mental health, etc.). As such, it is important to examine faculty preparation for managing such situations, what strategies they implement when they encounter these concerns, and what related training they wish they had received. Findings from a large-scale quantitative and qualitative study of teaching challenges will guide a discussion about assessing and supporting faculty efforts to navigate difficult teaching situations through professional development programming
Application of full-scale aerobic granular sludge technology for removing nitrate from groundwater intended for human consumption
The dependence on groundwater for human consumption has increased worldwide in the last decades. Nitrate (NO3−) often reaches groundwater and causes significant degradation in groundwater quality. In an effort to address this issue, a full-scale water treatment plant using aerobic granular sludge (AGS) technology was built to remove NO3− from nitrate-polluted groundwater intended for human consumption in a rural village. The impact of changes in the operational conditions of hydraulic retention time (HRT) and organic matter loading (OML) rate on NO3− removal, overall system performance, and the granule microbiome were studied. Regardless of the HRT, the AGS technology was successful in removing NO3− with removal rates >50 % with an optimal OML rate of 75 mg L−1. No significant variations in the total abundance of any of the denitrification genes were observed. The composition of prokaryotic and eukaryotic communities was affected by changes in the HRT and OML rate. Specific prokaryotic taxa were identified as responsive to changes in operational parameters and their abundances were linked to the removal of NO3−, confirming that the microbes are critical to the NO3− removal process. This study demonstrates that the AGS technology can be successfully implemented to treat nitrate-polluted groundwater in rural villages to produce water of drinking quality. In addition, the reported hydraulic retention times and organic matter loading rate can be used to further improve the system performance to remove nitrate from groundwater
What Happens When You Close the Door on Remote Proctoring? Moving Toward Authentic Assessments with a People-Centered Approach
The COVID-19 pandemic made traditionally proctored in-person exams impossible. This article provides a summary of the arguments against institutional adoption of remote proctoring services with a focus on equity, an account of the decision to avoid remote proctoring on the University of Michigan–Dearborn campus, and conclusions and suggestions for other teaching and learning professionals who would like to take a similar approach. Remote proctoring services require access to technology that not all students are guaranteed to have, can constitute an invasion of privacy for students, and can discriminate against students of color and disabled students. Administrators and teaching and learning staff at the University of Michigan–Dearborn made the decision to avoid adopting remote proctoring technologies and to instead invest in instructional design staff and faculty development programming to help faculty transition to authentic assessments. Lessons learned and recommendations are provided for other educational developers or institutions who want to resist remote proctoring on their campuses
Navigating difficult discourse: Understanding faculty strategies for challenging teaching situations
Using critical pedagogy as a guide, we illuminate how educators can approach teaching in a way that humanizes students and encourages the examination of oppressive practices and ideologies through discourse centered on difficult topics. Presenters will offer insights from a large-scale mixed-methods study of faculty preparation for dealing with difficult situations in their courses and supporting students with complex concerns. This session will provide evidence-based practices and strategies to support the work of faculty and faculty developers in dealing with difficult situations involving incivility, disclosure of sensitive information, sexual assault, mental health, and other challenging topics
Difficult Discourse and Critical Pedagogies: A Large-Scale Mixed-Methods Exploration of Faculty Practice
Using critical pedagogy as our framework, this study’s purpose is to explore faculty members’ ability to engage in difficult discourse with their students and their use of related critical pedagogies. The findings come from a large-scale multi-institution mixed-methods study to provide guidance for faculty to participate in this work
Trial and Error: Socialization’s Failure to Teach Us How to Teach
Socialization is a major component to faculty development, but without intentional direction it can fail to produce effective educators. The purpose of this large-scale mixed-methods study is to explore teaching influences, missed opportunities to prepare faculty for handling challenging teaching situations, and ways we can improve the socialization process. Results highlight the importance of faculty experiences as undergraduate and graduate students, the value of professional associations and conference participation, and the great range in faculty desires for professional development as educators. Potential implications include a focus on early socialization experiences, encouraging the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, and providing equitable opportunities to support vulnerable populations
The Histone Variant MacroH2A1 Regulates Key Genes for Myogenic Cell Fusion in a Splice-Isoform Dependent Manner
Altres ajuts: This research project was supported by the Fundació La Marató de TV3 257/C/2019 (to MB). Research at the IJC is supported by the 'La Caixa' Foundation, the Fundació Internacional Josep Carreras, Celgene Spain.MacroH2A histone variants have functions in differentiation, somatic cell reprogramming and cancer. However, at present, it is not clear how macroH2As affect gene regulation to exert these functions. We have parted from the initial observation that loss of total macroH2A1 led to a change in the morphology of murine myotubes differentiated ex vivo. The fusion of myoblasts to myotubes is a key process in embryonic myogenesis and highly relevant for muscle regeneration after acute or chronic injury. We have focused on this physiological process, to investigate the functions of the two splice isoforms of macroH2A1. Individual perturbation of the two isoforms in myotubes forming in vitro from myogenic C2C12 cells showed an opposing phenotype, with macroH2A1.1 enhancing, and macroH2A1.2 reducing, fusion. Differential regulation of a subset of fusion-related genes encoding components of the extracellular matrix and cell surface receptors for adhesion correlated with these phenotypes. We describe, for the first time, splice isoform-specific phenotypes for the histone variant macroH2A1 in a physiologic process and provide evidence for a novel underlying molecular mechanism of gene regulation
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