The Role of ErbB Receptors in Neisseria gonorrhoeae Invasion of Genital Epithelial Cells

Neisseria gonorrhoeae, the causative agent of the sexually transmitted infection gonorrhea, adheres to and invades genital epithelial cells. This study investigates host components that are used by the bacteria for their entry into epithelial cells. I found that the interaction of gonococci with the surface of HEC-1-B, a human endometrial carcinoma, and ME180, a human cervical epidermoid carcinoma, caused redistribution of both epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and ErbB2, a related family member. Both EGFR and ErbB2 were translocated from the basolateral to the apical membrane in polarized HEC-1-B cells and concentrated under the microcolonies. Gonococcal infection increased EGFR and ErbB2 phosphorylation, indicating activation of the receptors. Kinase inhibitors of EGFR and ErbB2 inhibited and enhanced bacterial invasion, respectively, but had no effect on gonococcal adherence or the recruitment of EGFR and ErbB2 to the microcolonies. Gonococcal inoculation upregulated the transcription levels and matrix metalloproteinases (MMP)-mediated surface shedding of ligands of EGFR. Inhibition of the surface shedding of EGFR ligands by an MMP inhibitor and by heparin wash reduced gonococcal invasion without altering their adherence. N. gonorrhoeae induced the activation of the MAP Kinase ERK, PI3K/AKT and PLCγ signaling pathways in an EGFR tyrosine kinase-dependent manner. Blocking Ca2+ flux, the downstream pathway of PLCγ but not ERK and PI3K by inhibitors reduced gonococcal invasion. These data indicate that N. gonorrhoeae utilizes host signaling pathways to drive its invasion. The bacteria modulates host signaling by recruiting and activating EGFR and ErbB2. N. gonorrhoeae induces EGFR activation by increasing the expression and MMP-mediated shedding of EGFR ligands

How Play Therapists Integrate Knowledge of Attachment Theory Into Clinical Practice: A Grounded Theory

The quality of the dynamics within individuals’ early relationships with their caregivers can impact the overall mental health, functioning, and quality of future relationships for those individuals (Aguilar, Sroufe, Egeland, & Carlson, 2000; Bowlby, 1988; Carlson, 1998; Cassidy & Shaver, 2008; Deklyen & Greenberg, 2008; Johnson & Whiffen, 2003; Levy & Orlans, 1998; Ogawa et al., 1997; Renken et al., 1989; Warren, Huston, Egeland, & Sroufe, 1997). Attachment Theory describes the nature, characteristics, and dynamics of the relationship between a child and caregiver, and delineates how an internal concept of self and self and others is created via those relationships (Bowlby, 1988; Brisch, 2011; Levy & Orlans, 1998; Solomon & George, 1999). Assessing for and addressing attachment issues early in life, and helping to establish a secure base for a child, can serve as a preventative measure for thwarting a variety of interpersonal and self-concept issues (Bowlby, 1988; Martin, 2005; Morisset et al., 1990; Rutter, 1987). Several play therapy interventions for addressing attachment issues exist, yet no framework existed to describe how theoretical knowledge of Attachment Theory may be integrated into clinical practice from initial contact through termination. The purpose of this research was to generate a framework that explored and described how play therapists integrated knowledge of Attachment Theory within their treatment planning. The constructed framework may be used by educators, play therapists and families to conceptualize the play therapy process from an attachment-based perspective

Faculty Development and Adult Learning: A Model for Transforming Higher Education

Excerpt: Summer classes were about to begin and we sat around a table wondering what the three of us might have in common to teach the seventy master\u27s students coming next week. Leo was a sociologist and we (Karen and Mary) are curriculum and instruction faculty. We all agreed it was going to require a transformed approach to teaching and collaborating together; that was six years and three cohorts ago. Our intent is to share..

Assessing the association between pre-course metrics of student preparation and student performance in introductory statistics: Results from early data on simulation-based inference vs. nonsimulation based inference

The recent simulation-based inference (SBI) movement in algebra-based introductory statistics courses (Stat 101) has provided preliminary evidence of improved student conceptual understanding and retention. However, little is known about whether these positive effects are preferentially distributed across types of students entering the course. We consider how two metrics of Stat 101 student preparation (pre-course performance on concept inventory and math ACT score) may or may not be associated with end of course student performance on conceptual inventories. Students across all preparation levels tended to show improvement in Stat 101, but more improvement was observed across all student preparation levels in early versions of a SBI course. Furthermore, students' gains tended to be similar regardless of whether students entered the course with more preparation or less. Recent data on a sample of students using a current version of an SBI course showed similar results, though direct comparison with non-SBI students was not possible. Overall, our analysis provides additional evidence that SBI curricula are effective at improving students' conceptual understanding of statistical ideas post-course regardless student preparation. Further work is needed to better understand nuances of student improvement based on other student demographics, prior coursework, as well as instructor and institutional variables.Comment: 16 page

An evaluation of using the spiral model to teach media at Oregon State University

A decade after the School of Education at Oregon State University adopted a spiral model of curriculum for teacher education, a study was conducted to determine if Instructional Media, one thread of that model, was spiralled in the curriculum. A survey was conducted of graduating seniors, using a questionnaire to determine if media is taught in a spiral model. Topics were chosen for the questionnaire from the topics in the ED 309 and ED 406 Media Competency course syllabus. The topics chosen for the questionnaire were microcomputer, 16mm film projector, slide projector and 35mm SLR camera overhead projector and transparencies, audio tape recorder and video tape recorder and lettering and design. A computer program was used to help evaluate the data collected. Graphs were constructed from the student answers. Topic one, the microcomputer was only recently introduced into the curriculum and from students' responses showed little evidence of spiralling. In topic two, use of the 16mm film projector and films, spiralling occurred in thirty percent of the sample. In topic three, slide projectors and programs very few of the students spiralled, fourteen percent. Topic four, the use of overhead projectors and transparencies, spiralling was present in thirty-eight percent of the sample. In the fifth topic, reel to reel audio tape recorders and video tape recorders, twenty-four percent of the students were seen to spiral. The last topic surveyed, lettering and design, fourteen percent of the student answers indicated that topic was spiralled. From the results of this study, and comments of the students, recommendations for improving the curriculum have been made

Determining readability by computer analysis using the Fourier transform to calculate the spatial frequencies of words

The black and white pattern formed when an individual word is printed on a page was analyzed by the Fourier transform. The Fourier transform produces a sequence of sinusodial functions, usually called spatial frequencies, whose amplitudes depend upon the particular pattern analyzed. These amplitudes were examined to determine if the amplitudes of the spatial frequencies with particular frequencies indicated a level of readability. An extensive literature search indicated that there were no studies using the Fourier transform to study the readability of words. There were, however, many studies that indicated a renewed interest in a fast and easy method of determining readability. Words for this study were randomly chosen from Dale's 769 Word List, easier words, and Fry's word list of Spelling Demons, harder words. The data from the statistical analysis of the amplitudes of the spatial frequencies of these words correctly predicted whether the word was on the hard list of words or on the easy list of words with over 80 percent accuracy

Food Availability, Foraging Behavior, and Diet of Autumn Migrant Landbirds in the Boise Foothills of Southwestern Idaho

Food availability and acquisition are critical components of a stopover site\u27s suitability, but we know relatively little about how changes in food availability affect the stopover ecology of migrating landbirds. We examined fruit and arthropod availability in three habitats, studied foraging behavior and diet, and investigated use versus availability for passerines migrating through southwestern Idaho in autumn. Hemiptera dominated foliage-dwelling arthropod communities in all three habitats, whereas Hymenoptera were most numerous among ground-dwelling arthropods. Mountain shrubland had relatively high biomass of both ground-dwelling and foliage-dwelling arthropods, whereas conifer forest had high biomass of foliage-dwelling arthropods only and shrub steppe had high biomass of ground-dwelling arthropods only. Species\u27 foraging behavior varied, but most species foraged in mountain shrubland more often than expected by chance. Diets of most species included a high proportion of certain Hemiptera and Hymenoptera with smaller proportions of Coleoptera, Diptera, and Heteroptera; Coleoptera and some Hemiptera were consistently preferred by most species. Importantly, all 19 bird species examined consumed some fruit, and this is the first documentation of frugivory for two warbler species. These data point to the importance of several arthropod taxa, especially the Hemiptera and Hymenoptera, and fruits to landbirds migrating in mountain shrubland in autumn. Finally, we found no effect of annual variation of fruit or arthropod abundance on migrants\u27 energetic condition, suggesting that food was sufficient for mass gain in all years of this study and/or that foraging behavior may be plastic enough to allow birds to gain mass despite annual differences in food availability

Pilot Safety Evaluation of Varenicline for the Treatment of Methamphetamine Dependence.

Despite the worldwide extent of methamphetamine dependence, no medication has been shown to effectively treat afflicted individuals. One relatively unexplored approach is modulation of cholinergic system function. Animal research suggests that enhancement of central cholinergic activity, possibly at nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs), can reduce methamphetamine-related behaviors. Further, preliminary findings indicate that rivastigmine, a cholinesterase inhibitor, may reduce craving for methamphetamine after administration of the drug in human subjects. We therefore performed a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover pilot study of the safety and tolerability of varenicline in eight methamphetamine-dependent research subjects. Varenicline is used clinically to aid smoking cessation, and acts as a partial agonist at α4β2 nAChRs with full agonist properties at α7 nAChRs. Oral varenicline dose was titrated over 1 week to reach 1 mg bid, and then was co-administered with 30 mg methamphetamine, delivered in ten intravenous infusions of 3 mg each. Varenicline was found to be safe in combination with IV methamphetamine, producing no cardiac rhythm disturbances or alterations in vital sign parameters. No adverse neuropsychiatric sequelae were detected either during varenicline titration or following administration of methamphetamine. The results suggest that varenicline warrants further investigation as a potential treatment for methamphetamine dependence