The Need to Be Apart In an Inclusive Educational Setting

This paper illustrates the need for direct acknowledgement and support of children and faculty of color in inclusive educational settings. Muslin recounts her experiences at many different schools and how each offered a new perspective on diversity. The most profound impacts she has made in her community stem from her work at Bank Street School for Children, where she and her fellow faculty recognized the importance of having separate meetings and focus groups devoted to the concerns of people of color within the institution

Serine 58 of 14-3-3ζ Is a molecular switch regulating ASK1 and oxidant stress-induced cell death

Oxidant stress is a ubiquitous stressor with negative impacts on multiple cell types. ASK1 is a central mediator of oxidant injury, but while mechanisms of its inhibition, such as sequestration by 14-3-3 proteins and thioredoxin, have been identified, mechanisms of activation have remained obscure and the signaling pathways regulating this are not clear. Here, we report that phosphorylation of 14-3-3ζ at serine 58 (S58) is dynamically regulated in the cell and that the phosphorylation status of S58 is a critical factor regulating oxidant stress-induced cell death. Phosphorylation of S58 releases ASK1 from 14-3-3ζ, and ASK1 then activates stress-activated protein kinases, leading to cell death. While several members of the mammalian sterile 20 (Mst) family of kinases can phosphorylate S58 when overexpressed, we identify Ste20/oxidant stress response kinase 1 (SOK-1), an Mst family member known to be activated by oxidant stress, as a central endogenous regulator of S58 phosphorylation and thereby of ASK1-mediated cell death. Our findings identify a novel pathway that regulates ASK1 activation and oxidant stress-induced cell death

Quantification of Osmolytes in the Sargasso Sea Surface Layer Water Column

Oceanic carbon cycling plays a major role in determining global atmospheric CO₂. A better understanding of dissolved organic matter and its constituents in the water column and how it affects marine carbon cycling is sought after. This study successfully measured osmolytes, low molecular zwitterionic compounds derived from amino acids, in depth profiles from the surface to 300 meters in the Sargasso Sea. Dimethylsulfionopropionate (DMSP), glycine betaine, and TMAo are three osmolytes that have been extensively studied. This study identified seven additional osmolytes in seawater for the first time: alanine betaine, propionobetaine, trigonelline, L-proline betaine, betonicine, butyrobetaine, and L-carnitine. We found that these compounds reached a maximum at different depths in the water column. Osmolyte concentrations were in the picomolar (pM) range, and fluctuated depending on time of day, suggesting a relationship to photosynthetic activity. Total osmolytes reached a maximum between 250 and 400 pM at the deep chlorophyll maximum at 80 to 120 meters below surface waters during all sampling times. In addition to these environmental measurements, experiments with cultured photosynthetic organisms were used to investigate the production of osmolytes in extracellular organic matter released by cells. These experiments yielded evidence of the production in culture of many of the osmolytes we had detected in seawate

Interaction of 14-3-3 with Signaling Proteins Is Mediated by the Recognition of Phosphoserine

AbstractThe highly conserved and ubiquitously expressed 14-3-3 family of proteins bind to a variety of proteins involved in signal transduction and cell cycle regulation. The nature and specificity of 14-3-3 binding is, however, not known. Here we show that 14-3-3 is a specific phosphoserine-binding protein. Using a panel of phosphorylated peptides based on Raf-1, we have defined the 14-3-3 binding motif and show that most of the known 14-3-3 binding proteins contain the motif. Peptides containing the motif could disrupt 14-3-3 complexes and inhibit maturation of Xenopus laevis oocytes. These results suggest that the interactions of 14-3-3 with signaling proteins are critical for the activation of signaling proteins. Our findings also suggest novel roles for serine/threonine phosphorylation in the assembly of protein–protein complexes

Meldonium and neuroprotection. Theory, experiment and clinical practice.

In this review the possibilities of correction of brain metabolism in cases of acute cerebral ischemia (ACI) under using meldonium were considered. The biochemical specificity of this remedy in Krebs cycle, influence on cerebral glycolysis, by activating the stress-limiting system, lactate-glutamate and glycogen mechanisms of the biochemical shunt were discussed. There were described effects of meldonium on cerebral processes that can be conditionally separated into carnitine-dependent and carnitine-independent. Results of experimental research of meldonium proved certain metabolic influence on NMDA receptor system. The analysis of the results of experimental and clinical studies makes it possible to consider that any neuroprotective pharmacological remedies have comparatively low efficacy in cases of acute cerebral ischemia. Meldonium effects do not differ from others similar neuroprotective remedies in such cases. In experimental works meldonium can improve metabolism in central nervous system (CNS) and would be considered as a pharmacological remedy that creates conditions for optimizing and economizing metabolism of the CNS. Meldonium in experimental conditions (predominantly in mice) can help to optimize metabolism of glucose in the CNS, especially aerobic glycolysis that creates opportunities to form economizing way of the basic metabolism. In target usage of the drug in the experiment a "smooth exit" from the ischemic state and decrease of the negative effects of oxidative stress is possible. Possible areas and clinicaly unproved efficiency of the drug in ACI should be considered while planning therapy of ACI and at the stages of rehabilitation

METODE KOMUNIKASI INSTRUKSIONAL OLEH PENGASUH MA’HAD AL JAMI’AH DALAM MEMBINA KEDISIPLINAN MAHASANTRI (STUDI KASUS PADA MA’HAD AL-JAMI’AH UIN SULTHAN THAHA SAIFUDDIN JAMBI)

Penelitian ini membahas tentang metode komunikasi instruksional oleh pengasuh dalam membina kedisiplinan mahasantri di Ma’had Al –Jami’ah UIN Sulthan Thaha Saifuddin Jambi, dengan pokok masalah yaitu bagaimana metode komunikasi instruksioanal yang digunakan dalam membina mahasantri di Ma’had Al –Jami’ah UIN Sulthan Thaha Saifuddin Jambi?. Dengan tujuan untuk mengetahui metode komunikasi instruksioanal yang digunakan oleh pengasuh mahasantri di Ma’had Al –jami’ah UIN Sulthan Thaha Saifuddin Jambi. Jenis penelitian ini tergolong penelitian kualitatif. Adapun pendekatan penelitian yang digunakan adalah pendekatan komunikasi. Subyek terteliti adalah pengasuh atau pimpinan, kemahasantrian, pengurus, dan mahasantri. Metode pengumpulan data dengan teknik observasi, wawancara dan dokumentasi. Teknik analisis data yang digunakan yaitu reduksi data, penyajian data dan penarikan kesimpulan. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa ada tiga metode yang digunakan dalam membina mahasantri yaitu; (1) metode komunikasi informatif yang disampaikan melalui metode ceramah, (2) metode komuniasi persuasif yang bersifat mengajak, memengaruhi dan meyakinkan komunikan, dan (3) metode komunikasi koersif. Adapun faktor penghambat dalam membina santri adalah faktor kepribadian dan latar belakang santri yang berbeda-beda, kurangnya kesadaran dalam melaksanakan tugasnya sebagai santri sehingga menjadikan santri banyak yang melanggar peraturan yang telah ditetapkan. Implikasi penelitian ini adalah diharapkan kepada pengasuh dan para pembina agar lebih mempermudah komunikasi serta mengasah terus-menerus kemampuan dalam membina para santri, serta kepada para pengeurus Ma’had al-jami’ah agar lebih mengawasi mahasantri dalam menjalankan setiap program agar terciptanya sikap santri yang disiplin

Turning up by turning over : the change of scenery effect in major league baseball

Purpose: This study examined a “change of scenery” effect on performance in major league baseball (MLB). We also tested this effect for voluntary versus involuntary employee departures, as well as employees returning to a past employer. Design/Methodology/Approach: This study uses publicly available MLB performance data from 2004 to 2015. The data comprise 712 team changes for players following two consecutive years with the same organization. Data were analyzed using MANCOVA to assess the impact of changing teams on player performance. Findings: Results indicate players with declining performance benefited significantly from a change of scenery. Following a team change, these players experienced a significant increase in their performance that remained stable through a subsequent season. The effect was not different for players who changed teams via trade and free agency and was modest for those returning to a past organization. Analysis also showed that players leaving while their performance was improving suffered a subsequent performance drop-off in the new organization. Implications: As the war for talent escalates and employees change jobs more frequently, extending our understanding of how performance can be influenced by work context may provide new insight into organization staffing policies. Originality/Value: Results extend field theory by highlighting how past performance interacts with new work contexts to influence performance. This is one of the few studies evaluating the job change-performance relationship, and perhaps the first to account for the effects of performance trends prior to exit

Development of a multiplex real-time PCR surveillance assay for monitoring the health status of Ecuadorian amphibians at risk of extinction

Chytrid fungi and viruses within the genus Ranavirus have been associated with mass mortality events and declines in amphibian populations worldwide. The fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) was reported in Ecuador; however, other chytrid fungi like Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal) or ranaviruses have not been described in the country so far. To prevent the introduction of pathogens into amphibian populations under conservation programs and to implement a successful disease surveillance program, the development of a sensitive and specific diagnostic assay was required. We describe here the optimization of one TaqMan probe-based multiplex quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assay that enables the simultaneous detection of Bsal and ranavirus, and one monoplex TaqMan qPCR assay for the detection of Bd. Standard curves, with a high linear correlation (r2 > 0.995), were generated using a synthetic genome template (gBlocks®) containing the target sequences from all three pathogens. Different samples from skin, liver, kidney, spleen, and lung from six different amphibian species were tested, and both qPCR assays showed highly reproducible and reliable results. To our knowledge, this method is the first multiplex qPCR system developed in Ecuador for identifying amphibian pathogens and represents a valuable tool for the early detection of these pathogens and for infection and co-infection monitoring in future epidemiological surveillance of amphibian species at risk of extinction

Meldonium and neuroprotection. Theory, experiment and clinical practice.

In this review the possibilities of correction of brain metabolism in cases of acute cerebral ischemia (ACI) under using meldonium were considered. The biochemical specificity of this remedy in Krebs cycle, influence on cerebral glycolysis, by activating the stress-limiting system, lactate-glutamate and glycogen mechanisms of the biochemical shunt were discussed. There were described effects of meldonium on cerebral processes that can be conditionally separated into carnitine-dependent and carnitine-independent. Results of experimental research of meldonium proved certain metabolic influence on NMDA receptor system. The analysis of the results of experimental and clinical studies makes it possible to consider that any neuroprotective pharmacological remedies have comparatively low efficacy in cases of acute cerebral ischemia. Meldonium effects do not differ from others similar neuroprotective remedies in such cases. In experimental works meldonium can improve metabolism in central nervous system (CNS) and would be considered as a pharmacological remedy that creates conditions for optimizing and economizing metabolism of the CNS. Meldonium in experimental conditions (predominantly in mice) can help to optimize metabolism of glucose in the CNS, especially aerobic glycolysis that creates opportunities to form economizing way of the basic metabolism. In target usage of the drug in the experiment a "smooth exit" from the ischemic state and decrease of the negative effects of oxidative stress is possible. Possible areas and clinicaly unproved efficiency of the drug in ACI should be considered while planning therapy of ACI and at the stages of rehabilitation