Environments of Respect for Questioning and Discussion

Questioning and discussion techniques are effective instructional methods that develop critical thinking and problem solving skills. There is often inconsistent implementation of these techniques. This case study explored participants’ perceptions of teaching practices about exemplary questioning and discussion techniques. Findings indicated teachers who earned exemplary marks on evaluations for questioning and discussion techniques created environments of respect and cultures for learning

Carina OB Stars: X-ray Signatures of Wind Shocks and Magnetic Fields

The Chandra Carina Complex contains 200 known O- and B type stars. The Chandra survey detected 68 of the 70 O stars and 61 of 127 known B0-B3 stars. We have assembled a publicly available optical/X-ray database to identify OB stars that depart from the canonical Lx/Lbol relation, or whose average X-ray temperatures exceed 1 keV. Among the single O stars with high kT we identify two candidate magnetically confined wind shock sources: Tr16-22, O8.5 V, and LS 1865, O8.5 V((f)). The O4 III(fc) star HD 93250 exhibits strong, hard, variable X-rays, suggesting it may be a massive binary with a period of >30 days. The visual O2 If* binary HD 93129A shows soft 0.6 keV and hard 1.9 keV emission components, suggesting embedded wind shocks close to the O2 If* Aa primary, and colliding wind shocks between Aa and Ab. Of the 11 known O-type spectroscopic binaries, the long orbital-period systems HD 93343, HD 93403 and QZ Car have higher shock temperatures than short-period systems such as HD 93205 and FO 15. Although the X-rays from most B stars may be produced in the coronae of unseen, low-mass pre-main-sequence companions, a dozen B stars with high Lx cannot be explained by a distribution of unseen companions. One of these, SS73 24 in the Treasure Chest cluster, is a new candidate Herbig Be star.Comment: To be published in a special issue of the Astrophysical Journal Supplement on the Chandra Carina Complex Projec

Towards regulation of Endocrine Disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in water resources using bioassays - A guide to developing a testing strategy

Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are found in every environmental medium and are chemically diverse. Their presence in water resources can negatively impact the health of both human and wildlife. Currently, there are no mandatory screening mandates or regulations for EDC levels in complex water samples globally. Bioassays, which allow quantifying in vivo or in vitro biological effects of chemicals are used commonly to assess acute toxicity in water. The existing OECD framework to identify single-compound EDCs offers a set of bioassays that are validated for the Estrogen-, Androgen-, and Thyroid hormones, and for Steroidogenesis pathways (EATS). In this review, we discussed bioassays that could be potentially used to screen EDCs in water resources, including in vivo and in vitro bioassays using invertebrates, fish, amphibians, and/or mammalians species. Strengths and weaknesses of samples preparation for complex water samples are discussed. We also review how to calculate the Effect-Based Trigger values, which could serve as thresholds to determine if a given water sample poses a risk based on existing quality standards. This work aims to assist governments and regulatory agencies in developing a testing strategy towards regulation of EDCs in water resources worldwide. The main recommendations include 1) opting for internationally validated cell reporter in vitro bioassays to reduce animal use & cost; 2) testing for cell viability (a critical parameter) when using in vitro bioassays; and 3) evaluating the recovery of the water sample preparation method selected. This review also highlights future research avenues for the EDC screening revolution (e.g., 3D tissue culture, transgenic animals, OMICs, and Adverse Outcome Pathways (AOPs)).This work was supported by the Fonds de recherche du Québec - Nature et technologies (FRQNT-290501) to JR, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) of Canada (NSERC-DG-2020-06475), and Canada Research Chairs to VSL (CRC-950-232235). LNM was supported by a H2020-Marie Skłodowska-Curie Action MSCA-IF-RI- 2017 awarded by the European Commission (ref. 797725-EpiSTOX). The authors are grateful to the Intersectorial Centre for Endocrine Disruptor Analysis (ICEDA)'s researcher network that facilitated this Special Issue. We thank Peta Neale that compiled references from the literature for EBT value that can be found in Table 3.Peer reviewe

Safety and Long-Term Effects of Splenectomy At the Age of Two for Acute Splenic Sequestration in Sickle Cell Disease: A Retrospective Review

Abstract Abstract 4758 Objective: Despite improved awareness and education about acute splenic sequestration (ASS) in sickle cell disease (SCD), such episodes remain potentially fatal and treatment options are limited. We report our local experience in children splenectomized at the age of two by evaluating long term complications related to sepsis, thrombosis and iron overload. Methods: Retrospective charts review of children with SCD and a history of ASS who underwent total splenectomy between 1996 and 2012 at Ste-Justine Hospital in Montreal, Canada. T-test and Fisher's exact test were used for statistical analysis. Results: 20 patients were included in the study. Median age at splenectomy was 2 years old (range: 2–9 y.o). Median post-splenectomy follow-up was 4 years (range: 1month–16 years). 7 patients (35%) had limited fever in the postoperative setting, including one requiring antibiotics for pneumonia. Median length of stay was 4 days (range: 2–8 days). Three patients were hospitalised for documented sepsis at extended follow-up: two for salmonella at 1 and 12 years post splenectomy, while the third had hemophilus influenzae sepsis five months post-op but also within two months of a sibling cord blood transplantation. Platelet count increased within one month of surgery, and remained elevated at 6 and 12 months post splenectomy (p&lt;0.001 at 1, 6 and 12 months compared to pre-surgery). Deep venous thrombosis was documented in one patient 4 years post splenectomy during hospitalisation for pain crisis. The thrombosis resolved with a three months treatment with enoxaparin. Thrombophilia work-up was negative. 75% of patients were on a transfusion program prior to splenectomy for a median duration of 13 months (11–20 months). Preliminary evaluation of iron overload in seven patients revealed a decrease in ferritinemia in all but two. One patient remained with severe iron overload and still requires oral chelation therapy. HbSS and HbS-Bthal splenectomized patients were more likely to be placed on hydroxyurea (HU) therapy than non-splenectomized patients with an odds ratio of 3 (11/20 vs 39/136 of our local population, p=0.023; 95% CI 1.17–7.9). 2 patients are on a regular transfusion program for elevated transcranial Doppler velocities. One patient underwent match sibling allogeneic transplantation. Conclusion: Our data suggest that performing total splenectomy at a very young age is a well-tolerated and efficacious treatment modality for children with severe and/or recurrent ASS. Performing splenectomy at a younger age may avoid unnecessarily extended transfusion programs and contribute to lessen the degree of iron overload. We consider ASS as a marker of SCD severity, as illustrated by the high rate of HU use in splenectomized patients. Whether splenectomy leads to biological modification contributing to increased SCD severity should be further studied. Concerns over possible increased thrombotic risk should also be further evaluated. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare. </jats:sec

Le care dans le quotidien de personnes professionnelles de la petite enfance oeuvrant dans trois contextes éducatifs au Québec

Le care est omniprésent dans le quotidien des personnes professionnelles qui oeuvrent dans les milieux éducatifs de la petite enfance. Or, le care peine à être rendu visible, plaçant ainsi dans l’ombre une partie importante du travail de ces personnes professionnelles. Cet article vise à apporter un éclairage sur les manifestations quotidiennes du care dans le travail éducatif accompli auprès de jeunes enfants au Québec selon la perspective de personnes professionnelles concernées. Les résultats sont tirés d’entretiens semi-dirigés et proviennent d’une étude qualitative portant sur les contextes éducatifs offerts aux enfants de 4 ans au Québec. L’analyse montre que le care transcende les actions posées par les personnes professionnelles et qu’il s’actualise à travers cinq phases indissociables pour répondre aux besoins des jeunes enfants