Implementing an eleven year through-train model to complete Primary and Secondary Education: creating a platform for accommodating the newest pedagogical practices and technologies in school

In educational transformation, Logos Academy of Hong Kong has started to create space in two aspects: to accommodate for new learning areas, and to use the most updated technologies for learning. In different Learning Stages, new learning areas like "Family Life Education", "Analytical study of Current Issues", Mind-mapping, MegaSkills and Media Education are introduced. The teachers will design different level- and age-appropriate activities and assignments that encourage the mastery of basic concepts and development of aesthetic appreciation, family life education, character formation, physique building and inquiry/research skills. Moreover, integrated tasks and projects intertwining with different study skills are mounted to enable the children to experiment creative designs and try out increasingly complex investigations. To facilitate learning and teaching, Logos Academy also creates new platforms to use the newest technologies for pre-lesson use, for lesson use, and for post-lesson use. It is reviewed that with the aid of some updated technologies, our teachers are committed to facilitate change, reflect on current practices, explore further improvements in new learning areas and to use the new technologies effectively - which will in turn enhance the effectiveness of integrated study skills, self-directed learning, team work and social interaction of the students

Dietary Strategies to Optimize Wound Healing after Periodontal and Dental Implant Surgery: An Evidence-Based Review

Methods to optimize healing through dietary strategies present an attractive option for patients, such that healing from delicate oral surgeries occurs as optimally as possible with minimal patient-meditated complications through improper food choices. This review discusses findings from studies that have investigated the role of diet, either whole foods or individual dietary components, on periodontal health and their potential role in wound healing after periodontal surgery. To date, research in this area has largely focused on foods or individual dietary components that may attenuate inflammation or oxidant stress, or foster de novo bone formation. These studies suggest that a wide variety of dietary components, including macronutrients and micronutrients, are integral for optimal periodontal health and have the potential to accelerate oral wound healing after periodontal procedures. Moreover, this review provides guidance regarding dietary considerations that may help a patient achieve the best possible outcome after a periodontal procedure

Implementing an eleven year through-train model to complete Primary and Secondary Education , is it possible? Why Not? : some challenges and principles

As learning and teaching is moving away from imparting student with mere "knowledge", the simple one-size-fits-all solution of a prescribed years of schooling with some rigid and prescriptive subject syllabuses designated for different year-levels in primary and secondary schools will no longer meet the developmental needs of students. Logos Academy of Hong Kong has started an "Eleven-year Through-train Program in September 2002, to re-define the different key stages in primary, junior and senior secondary levels to provide a broad and balanced curriculum which maintains seamless continuity. The eleven-year program consists of three stages, each with its particular characteristics: Foundation Stage: (FS1- FS3); Developmental Stage: (DS1 - DS5) and Mastery Stage (MS1 - MS3). We have achieved some pleasing outcome so far and we believe that this re-definition of Key Learning Stages is forward looking and keeping abreast of global trends. If this "Eleven-year Through-Train Schooling System" model is proved to be successful, it will throw some light on a new schooling structure - which will have significant implications on the government's funding and planning policie

Implementing an eleven year through-train model to complete Primary and Secondary Education: an innovative curriculum design, and optimizing the roles of subject specialists in the early learning stages

In an eleven year "through-train" model, to construct a new road map for learning, Logos Academy of Hong Kong has delineated clearly the roles of "Homeroom Teachers" and "Subject Specialists". In the Foundation Stage (The first three years in Primary Schooling), the "Homeroom Teachers" will no longer teach most of the academic subjects for their respective Homeroom classes. They will undertake mainly pastoral care functions whilst different subject specialists are deployed to teach different subject areas accordingly. Each Subject teacher will teach ALL the classes within a year-band. In some Subjects like English Studies, two or three teachers will share the teaching load according to their specialties. After putting in practice for two years, evidence has shown that with this "Subject specialist across the year band" approach, the curriculum rigor has been strengthened and children have made much more remarkable progress in specific learning areas. Moreover, it has created space and opportunities for co-teaching and joint projects. This has in turn facilitated communication, collaboration and professional development of teachers in their subject specialty. Within the same subject area, the inter-teacher difference between classes of the same year level has been diminished, and the effectiveness of teaching and learning across the whole year-band may be better monitored and evaluated. The subject specialist is also in a better position to design and organize necessary follow-up actions (including enrichment or remedial work) more efficientl

Ubiquitin Ligase RNF146 Regulates Tankyrase and Axin to Promote Wnt Signaling

Canonical Wnt signaling is controlled intracellularly by the level of β-catenin protein, which is dependent on Axin scaffolding of a complex that phosphorylates β-catenin to target it for ubiquitylation and proteasomal degradation. This function of Axin is counteracted through relocalization of Axin protein to the Wnt receptor complex to allow for ligand-activated Wnt signaling. AXIN1 and AXIN2 protein levels are regulated by tankyrase-mediated poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation (PARsylation), which destabilizes Axin and promotes signaling. Mechanistically, how tankyrase limits Axin protein accumulation, and how tankyrase levels and activity are regulated for this function, are currently under investigation. By RNAi screening, we identified the RNF146 RING-type ubiquitin E3 ligase as a positive regulator of Wnt signaling that operates with tankyrase to maintain low steady-state levels of Axin proteins. RNF146 also destabilizes tankyrases TNKS1 and TNKS2 proteins and, in a reciprocal relationship, tankyrase activity reduces RNF146 protein levels. We show that RNF146, tankyrase, and Axin form a protein complex, and that RNF146 mediates ubiquitylation of all three proteins to target them for proteasomal degradation. RNF146 is a cytoplasmic protein that also prevents tankyrase protein aggregation at a centrosomal location. Tankyrase auto-PARsylation and PARsylation of Axin is known to lead to proteasome-mediated degradation of these proteins, and we demonstrate that, through ubiquitylation, RNF146 mediates this process to regulate Wnt signaling

Differential Inhibitory Effects of CysLT1 Receptor Antagonists on P2Y6 Receptor-Mediated Signaling and Ion Transport in Human Bronchial Epithelia

BACKGROUND: Cysteinyl leukotriene (CysLT) is one of the proinflammatory mediators released by the bronchi during inflammation. CysLTs exert their biological effects via specific G-protein-coupled receptors. CysLT(1) receptor antagonists are available for clinical use for the treatment of asthma. Recently, crosstalk between CysLT(1) and P2Y(6) receptors has been delineated. P2Y receptors are expressed in apical and/or basolateral membranes of virtually all polarized epithelia to control the transport of fluid and electrolytes. Previous research suggests that CysLT(1) receptor antagonists inhibit the effects of nucleotides acting at P2Y receptors. However, the detailed molecular mechanism underlying the inhibition remains unresolved. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: In this study, western blot analysis confirmed that both CysLT(1) and P2Y(6) receptors were expressed in the human bronchial epithelial cell line 16HBE14o-. All three CysLT(1) antagonists inhibited the uridine diphosphate (UDP)-evoked I(SC), but only montelukast inhibited the UDP-evoked [Ca(2+)](i) increase. In the presence of forskolin or 8-bromoadenosine 3'5' cyclic monophosphate (8-Br-cAMP), the UDP-induced I(SC) was potentiated but was reduced by pranlukast and zafirlukast but not montelukast. Pranlukast inhibited the UDP-evoked I(SC) potentiated by an Epac activator, 8-(4-Chlorophenylthio)-2'-O-methyladenosine-3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (8-CPT-2'-O-Me-cAMP), while montelukast and zafirlukast had no such effect. Pranlukast inhibited the real-time increase in cAMP changes activated by 8-CPT-2'-O-Me-cAMP as monitored by fluorescence resonance energy transfer imaging. Zafirlukast inhibited the UDP-induced I(SC) potentiated by N(6)-Phenyladenosine-3',5'-cyclic monophosphorothioate, Sp-isomer (Sp-6-Phe-cAMP; a PKA activator) and UDP-activated PKA activity. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: In summary, our data strongly suggest for the first time that in human airway epithelia, the three specific CysLT(1) receptor antagonists exert differential inhibitory effects on P2Y(6) receptor-coupled Ca(2+) signaling pathways and the potentiating effect on I(SC) mediated by cAMP and Epac, leading to the modulation of ion transport activities across the epithelia

Animal influence on water, sanitation and hygiene measures for zoonosis control at the household level: A systematic literature review

Neglected zoonotic diseases (NZDs) have a significant impact on the livelihoods of the world’s poorest populations, which often lack access to basic services. Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) programmes are included among the key strategies for achieving the World Health Organization’s 2020 Roadmap for Implementation for control of Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs). There exists a lack of knowledge regarding the effect of animals on the effectiveness of WASH measures. This review looked to identify how animal presence in the household influences the effectiveness of water, hygiene and sanitation measures for zoonotic disease control in low and middle income countries; to identify gaps of knowledge regarding this topic based on the amount and type of studies looking at this particular interaction

Multi-ancestry genome-wide association study of 21,000 cases and 95,000 controls identifies new risk loci for atopic dermatitis

Genetic association studies have identified 21 loci associated with atopic dermatitis risk predominantly in populations of European ancestry. To identify further susceptibility loci for this common, complex skin disease, we performed a meta-analysis of >15 million genetic variants in 21,399 cases and 95,464 controls from populations of European, African, Japanese and Latino ancestry, followed by replication in 32,059 cases and 228,628 controls from 18 studies. We identified ten new risk loci, bringing the total number of known atopic dermatitis risk loci to 31 (with new secondary signals at four of these loci). Notably, the new loci include candidate genes with roles in the regulation of innate host defenses and T cell function, underscoring the important contribution of (auto)immune mechanisms to atopic dermatitis pathogenesis

The First Post-Kepler Brightness Dips of KIC 8462852

We present a photometric detection of the first brightness dips of the unique variable star KIC 8462852 since the end of the Kepler space mission in 2013 May. Our regular photometric surveillance started in October 2015, and a sequence of dipping began in 2017 May continuing on through the end of 2017, when the star was no longer visible from Earth. We distinguish four main 1-2.5% dips, named "Elsie," "Celeste," "Skara Brae," and "Angkor", which persist on timescales from several days to weeks. Our main results so far are: (i) there are no apparent changes of the stellar spectrum or polarization during the dips; (ii) the multiband photometry of the dips shows differential reddening favoring non-grey extinction. Therefore, our data are inconsistent with dip models that invoke optically thick material, but rather they are in-line with predictions for an occulter consisting primarily of ordinary dust, where much of the material must be optically thin with a size scale <<1um, and may also be consistent with models invoking variations intrinsic to the stellar photosphere. Notably, our data do not place constraints on the color of the longer-term "secular" dimming, which may be caused by independent processes, or probe different regimes of a single process