Supporting SoTL development through communities of practice

Increasingly, academics are engaging with the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL). However, within United Kingdom higher education, the definition of and activities that constitute SoTL remain open to debate. In this article, we explore SoTL through four career histories that give insight into how SoTL has developed and played a role in the careers of four life sciences-based, teaching-focused academics in UK universities at different points in their careers. The recurring themes in the career histories include collaboration; professional development; sharing and dissemination; and funding. The career histories also highlight aspects of and the importance of communities of practice. We reflect on the role of communities of practice in supporting SoTL and discuss how communities of practice external to one’s home institution can play a role in developing SoTL and teaching practice. Internationally there is a growing focus on SoTL, and although the four career histories presented here are authored by academics based in UK institutions and focused on the UK context, the themes they reveal are widely applicable

Tracking Differential Gene Expression in MRL/MpJ Versus C57BL/6 Anergic B Cells: Molecular Markers of Autoimmunity

Background: Anergy is a key mechanism controlling expression of autoreactive B cells and a major site for failed regulation in autoimmune diseases. Yet the molecular basis for this differentiated cell state remains poorly understood. The current lack of well-characterized surface or molecular markers hinders the isolation of anergic cells for further study. Global gene profiling recently identified transcripts whose expression differentiates anergic from naïve B cells in model mouse systems. The objective of the current study was to evaluate the molecular and cellular processes that differentiate anergic cells that develop in the healthy C57BL/6 (B6) milieu from those that develop in the autoimmune-prone MRL/MpJ (MRL) background. This approach takes advantage of B6 and MRL mice bearing an anti-laminin Ig transgene with a well characterized anergic B cell phenotype.Results: Global gene expression was evaluated in purified transgenic B cells using Operon version 3.0 oligonucleotide microarray assaying 31,000 oligoprobes. Genes with a 2-fold expression difference in B6 as compared to MRL anergic B cells were identified. Expression of selected genes was confirmed using quantitative RT-PCR. This approach identified 43 probes corresponding to 37 characterized genes, including Ptpn22, CD74, Birc1f/Naip, and Ctla4, as differentially expressed in anergic B cells in the two strains. Gene Ontology classification identified differentiation, cell cycle, proliferation, development, apoptosis, and cell death as prominently represented ontology groups. Ingenuity Pathway Analysis identified two major networks incorporating 27 qualifying genes. Network 1 centers on beta-estradiol and TP53, and Network 2 encompasses RB1, p38 MAPK, and NFkB cell growth, proliferation, and cell cycle signaling pathways.Conclusion: Using microarray analysis we identified 37 characterized genes and two functional pathways engaged in maintenance of B cell anergy for which expression is distorted by underlying autoimmune genetic susceptibility. This approach identifies a new biological role for multiple genes and potential new therapeutic targets in autoimmunity

BRCA1 as a Therapeutic Target in Sporadic Epithelial Ovarian Cancer

In sporadic epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC), the inactivation of BRCA1 through various mechanisms is a relatively common event. BRCA1 protein dysfunction results in the breakdown of various critical pathways in the cell, notably, the DNA damage response and repair pathway. Tumors from patients with BRCA1 germline mutations have an increased sensitivity to DNA damaging chemotherapeutic agents, such as cisplatin, due to defective DNA repair. Thus, inhibiting BRCA1 in sporadic EOC using novel targeted therapies is an attractive strategy for the treatment of advanced or recurrent EOC. Several classes of small molecule inhibitors that affect BRCA1 have now been tested in preclinical and clinical studies suggesting that this is a rational therapeutic approach. The aim of this paper is to provide an understanding of how BRCA1 has evolved into a promising target for the treatment of sporadic disease and to outline the main potential small molecule inhibitors of BRCA1 in EOC

4-H Mindfulness Project Annotated Bibliography

The 4-H Healthy Living Initiative is focused on providing learning opportunities that address physical, social, and emotional health; the 4-H Mindfulness Project focuses on increasing youths’ ability to lead a healthy lifestyle and develop the skills needed to be a health advocate in their communities. This annotated bibliography of English children’s literature was developed as a resource for 4-H project leaders and families. These books can support primary members’ understanding and practice of mindfulness

Dynamic association between perfusion and white matter integrity across time since injury in Veterans with history of TBI.

ObjectiveCerebral blood flow (CBF) plays a critical role in the maintenance of neuronal integrity, and CBF alterations have been linked to deleterious white matter changes. Although both CBF and white matter microstructural alterations have been observed within the context of traumatic brain injury (TBI), the degree to which these pathological changes relate to one another and whether this association is altered by time since injury have not been examined. The current study therefore sought to clarify associations between resting CBF and white matter microstructure post-TBI.Methods37 veterans with history of mild or moderate TBI (mmTBI) underwent neuroimaging and completed health and psychiatric symptom questionnaires. Resting CBF was measured with multiphase pseudocontinuous arterial spin labeling (MPPCASL), and white matter microstructural integrity was measured with diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). The cingulate cortex and cingulum bundle were selected as a priori regions of interest for the ASL and DTI data, respectively, given the known vulnerability of these regions to TBI.ResultsRegression analyses controlling for age, sex, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms revealed a significant time since injury × resting CBF interaction for the left cingulum (p < 0.005). Decreased CBF was significantly associated with reduced cingulum fractional anisotropy (FA) in the chronic phase; however, no such association was observed for participants with less remote TBI.ConclusionsOur results showed that reduced CBF was associated with poorer white matter integrity in those who were further removed from their brain injury. Findings provide preliminary evidence of a possible dynamic association between CBF and white matter microstructure that warrants additional consideration within the context of the negative long-term clinical outcomes frequently observed in those with history of TBI. Additional cross-disciplinary studies integrating multiple imaging modalities (e.g., DTI, ASL) and refined neuropsychiatric assessment are needed to better understand the nature, temporal course, and dynamic association between brain changes and clinical outcomes post-injury

Crowdsourcing Classroom Observations to Identify Misconceptions in Data Science

Web-browsing histories, online newspapers, streaming music, and stock prices all show that we live in an age of data. Extracting meaning from data is necessary in many fields to comprehend the information flow. This need has fueled rapid growth in data science education aiming to serve the next generation of policy makers, data science researchers, and global citizens. Initially, teaching practices have been drawn from data science\u27s parent disciplines (e.g., computer science and mathematics). This project addresses the early stages of developing a concept inventory of student difficulty within the newly emerging field of data science. In particular this project will address three primary research objectives: (1) identify student misconceptions in data science courses; (2) document students’ prior knowledge and identify courses that teach early data science concepts; and (3) confirm expert identification of data science concepts, and their importance for introductory-level data science curricula. During the first year of this grant, we have collected approximately 200 responses for a survey to confirm concepts from an existing body of knowledge presented by the Edison Project. Survey respondents are comprised of faculty and industry practitioners within data science and closely related fields. Preliminary analysis of these results will be presented with respect to our third research objective. In addition, we developed and launched a pilot assessment for identifying student difficulties within data science courses. The protocol includes regular responses to reflective questions by faculty, teaching assistants, and students from selected data science courses offered at the three participating institutions. Preliminary analyses will be presented along with implications for future data collection in year two of the project. In addition to the anticipated results, we expect that the data collection and analysis methodologies will be of interest to many scholars who have or will engage in discipline-based educational research

The caregiving perspective in heart failure: a population based study

Background: Heart failure (HF) is a frequent condition in the elderly and mortality is high. This study sought to describe the profile of those providing care in the community and their needs. Methods: The South Australian Health Omnibus is an annual, random, face-to-face, cross sectional survey conducted within the state. Having standardized data to the whole population, the study describes the subset of the population who identify that they actively cared for someone at the end of life with HF in the five years before survey administration

The role of ondansetron in the management of cholestatic or uremic pruritis - a systematic review

Pruritus associated with hepatic or renal failure can be a troublesome symptom, refractory to treatment, associated with significant physical and emotional distress, and reduction in quality of life for patients already burdened with chronic disease. Serotonin has been implicated as a possible pathological mediator, and therefore 5HT3 antagonists have been suggested as a possible therapeutic intervention. Objectives This review of the literature systematically explores the role of ondansetron in the management of cholestatic or uraemic pruritus. Methods Electronic databases were systematically searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) examining the role of ondansetron in cholestatic or uraemic pruritus between 1966 and 2008. Results Five RCTs were included in this systematic review: three for cholestatic pruritus, and two for uraemic pruritus. All trials examined ondansetron versus placebo, however with differing treatment protocols. Overall, three studies showed no benefit to ondansetron over placebo, however two studies in cholestatic pruritus showed small reductions in pruritus with questionable clinical significance. Conclusion Ondansetron was demonstrated to have negligible effect on cholestatic or uraemic pruritus on the basis of a limited number of studies

Evaluation of EDISON\u27s Data Science Competency Framework Through a Comparative Literature Analysis

During the emergence of Data Science as a distinct discipline, discussions of what exactly constitutes Data Science have been a source of contention, with no clear resolution. These disagreements have been exacerbated by the lack of a clear single disciplinary \u27parent.\u27 Many early efforts at defining curricula and courses exist, with the EDISON Project\u27s Data Science Framework (EDISON-DSF) from the European Union being the most complete. The EDISON-DSF includes both a Data Science Body of Knowledge (DS-BoK) and Competency Framework (CF-DS). This paper takes a critical look at how EDISON\u27s CF-DS compares to recent work and other published curricular or course materials. We identify areas of strong agreement and disagreement with the framework. Results from the literature analysis provide strong insights into what topics the broader community see as belonging in (or not in) Data Science, both at curricular and course levels. This analysis can provide important guidance for groups working to formalize the discipline and any college or university looking to build their own undergraduate Data Science degree or programs