Psychology of Learning Spaces: Impact on Teaching and Learning

New research is emerging that focuses on the role the physical classroom space plays in the teaching-learning dynamic.  The purpose of this exploratory research is to describe the students’ and instructors’ perspectives of how the classroom space and environment impact teaching and learning.  Focus groups were utilized with data points coming from the transcribed interactions of the participants.  There were four focus groups: two groups of college students (N=15), and two groups of college faculty (N=9).  Results yielded three main themes: 1) the Conditions theme, which represented all the issues in the rooms such as space, temperature, and light, 2) the Outcomes theme, which entails all the consequences of the rooms, such as concentration, engagement, and student grades, and 3) the Values theme, which exemplifies the extent classrooms impact teaching and learnin

Information Management Systems for Cultural Heritage and Conservation of World Heritage Sites. The Silk Roads Case Study

This paper discusses the application of Information Management Systems (IMS) in cultural heritage. IMS offer a set of tools for understanding, inventorying and documenting national, regional and World Heritage properties.  Information Management Systems can assist State Parties, stakeholders and heritage site managers involved in cultural heritage management and conservation by easily mining, sharing and exchanging information from multiple sources based on international standards. Moreover, they aim to record, manage, visualize, analyze and disseminate heritage information. In close collaboration with five Central Asian countries, namely, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan; a Belgian consortium headed by the Raymond Lemaire International Centre for Conservation (RLICC), K.U.Leuven is developing the Silk Roads Cultural Heritage Resource Information System (CHRIS). This Web-based Information Management System supports the preparation of the Central Asia Silk Roads serial and transnational nominations on the UNESCO World Heritage list. The project has been set up thanks to the financial support of the Belgian Federal Science Policy Office (BELSPO) and in collaboration with UNESCO World Heritage Centre in conjunction with the People’s Republic of China and the Japanese Funds-in-Trust UNESCO project. It provides a holistic approach for the recording, documenta tion, protection and monitoring tasks as part of the management of these potential World Heritage Properties. The Silk Roads CHRIS is easily accessible to the general user, presented in a bilingual English and Russian frame and interoperable, i.e. open for other applications to connect to. In this way, all information for the nomination dossiers is easily verified regarding consistency and quality and ready for managing, periodic reporting and monitoring processes in the respect to the property listed. Fina lly, this study provides a general framework to establish the effectiveness and limits of the use of information systems for serial transnational nominations of World Heritage Properties and to demonstrate the potentials of an improved heritage documentation system

Confronting the Embedded Nature of Whiteness: Reflections on a Multi-Campus Project to Diversify the Professoriate

This paper examines the persistence of whiteness in DEI initiatives. Through case studies at three universities, the authors consider the challenges and successes of resisting the embedded nature of whiteness. They argue that equity within faculty reward systems is only possible by decentering white voices, recognizing BIPOC faculty expertise, and resisting tokenization. A shift in thinking that moves away from an instrumental value of BIPOC faculty—their labor is valuable insofar as they provide “diversity” for the institution and contribute to student success—and towards recognition of the inherent value of their research and leadership is crucial to more fully realizing equity

Permissible Exposure Level for Lunar Dusts: Gaps are Closing

Space faring nations plan to return human explorers to the moon within the next decade. Experience during the Apollo flights suggests that lunar dust will invariably get into the habitat where the finest portion (less than 5 micrometers) could be inhaled by the crew before it is cleared from the atmosphere. NASA is developing a database from which a 6-month, episodic exposure standard for lunar dust can be set. Three kinds of moon dust were prepared from a parent sample of Apollo 14 regolith #14003,96. Our goal was to prepare each type of dust sample with a mean diameter less than 2 m, which is suitable for instillation into the lungs of rats. The three samples were prepared as follows: separation from the parent sample using a fluidized bed, grinding using a jet mill grinder, or grinding with a ball-mill grinder. Grinding simulated restoration of surface activation of dust expected to occur at the surface of the moon on native lunar dust. We used two grinding methods because they seemed to produce different modes of activation. The effects of grinding were preserved by maintaining the dust in ultra-pure nitrogen until immediately before it was placed in suspension for administration to rats. The dust was suspended in physiological saline with 10% Survanta, a lung surfactant. Rats were given intratrachael instillations of the dust suspension at three doses. In addition to the three moon dusts (A, C and E), we instilled the same amount of a negative control (TiO2, B) and a highly-toxic, positive control (quartz, D). These additional mineral dusts were selected because they have well-established and very different permissible exposure levels (PELs). Our goal was to determine where lunar dusts fit between these extremes, and then estimate a PEL for each lunar dust. We evaluated many indices of toxicity to the lung. The figure shows the changes in lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), a marker of cell death, for the five dusts. Benchmark dose software (Version 2.1.2) from the Environmental Protection Agency was used to estimate the 10% effect levels (BMD(sub 10)) using five models. The best-fitting model was used to estimate the optimal BMD(sub 10) (table

IP3R-driven increases in mitochondrial Ca2+ promote neuronal death in NPC disease

Ca2+ is the most ubiquitous second messenger in neurons whose spatial and temporal elevations are tightly controlled to initiate and orchestrate diverse intracellular signaling cascades. Numerous neuropathologies result from mutations or alterations in Ca2+ handling proteins; thus, elucidating molecular pathways that shape Ca2+ signaling is imperative. Here, we report that loss-of-function, knockout, or neurodegenerative disease-causing mutations in the lysosomal cholesterol transporter, Niemann-Pick Type C1 (NPC1), initiate a damaging signaling cascade that alters the expression and nanoscale distribution of IP3R type 1 (IP3R1) in endoplasmic reticulum membranes. These alterations detrimentally increase Gq-protein coupled receptor-stimulated Ca2+ release and spontaneous IP3R1 Ca2+ activity, leading to mitochondrial Ca2+ cytotoxicity. Mechanistically, we find that SREBP-dependent increases in Presenilin 1 (PS1) underlie functional and expressional changes in IP3R1. Accordingly, expression of PS1 mutants recapitulate, while PS1 knockout abrogates Ca2+ phenotypes. These data present a signaling axis that links the NPC1 lysosomal cholesterol transporter to the damaging redistribution and activity of IP3R1 that precipitates cell death in NPC1 disease and suggests that NPC1 is a nanostructural disease

miRNA Expression in Control and FSHD Fetal Human Muscle Biopsies

International audienceBackground :Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is an autosomal-dominant disorder and is one of the most common forms of muscular dystrophy. We have recently shown that some hallmarks of FSHD are already expressed in fetal FSHD biopsies, thus opening a new field of investigation for mechanisms leading to FSHD. As microRNAs (miRNAs) play an important role in myogenesis and muscle disorders, in this study we compared miRNAs expression levels during normal and FSHD muscle development. Methods :Muscle biopsies were obtained from quadriceps of both healthy control and FSHD1 fetuses with ages ranging from 14 to 33 weeks of development. miRNA expression profiles were analyzed using TaqMan Human MicroRNA Arrays. Results :During human skeletal muscle development, in control muscle biopsies we observed changes for 4 miRNAs potentially involved in secondary muscle fiber formation and 5 miRNAs potentially involved in fiber maturation. When we compared the miRNA profiles obtained from control and FSHD biopsies, we did not observe any differences in the muscle specific miRNAs. However, we identified 8 miRNAs exclusively expressed in FSHD1 samples (miR-330, miR-331-5p, miR-34a, miR-380-3p, miR-516b, miR-582-5p, miR-517* and miR-625) which could represent new biomarkers for this disease. Their putative targets are mainly involved in muscle development and morphogenesis. Interestingly, these FSHD1 specific miRNAs do not target the genes previously described to be involved in FSHD. Conclusions :This work provides new candidate mechanisms potentially involved in the onset of FSHD pathology. Whether these FSHD specific miRNAs cause deregulations during fetal development, or protect against the appearance of the FSHD phenotype until the second decade of life still needs to be investigated

Further Examination of the Candidate Genes in Chromosome 12p13 Locus for Late-Onset Alzheimer Disease

A broad region on chromosome 12p13 has been intensely investigated for novel genetic variants associated with Alzheimer disease (AD). We examined this region with 23 microsatellite markers using 124 North European (NE) families and 209 Caribbean Hispanic families with late-onset AD (FAD). Significant evidence for linkage was present in a 5-cM interval near 20 cM in both the NE FAD (LOD = 3.5) and the Caribbean Hispanic FAD (LOD = 2.2) datasets. We further investigated these families and an independent NE case-control dataset using 14 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). The initial screening of the region at approximately 20 cM in the NE case-control dataset revealed significant association between AD and seven SNPs in several genes, with the strongest result for rs2532500 in TAPBPL (p = 0.006). For rs3741916 in GAPDH, the C allele, rather than the G allele as was observed by Li et al. (Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 101(44):15688-15693, 2004), was the risk allele. When the two family datasets were examined, none of the SNPs were significant in NE families, but two SNPs were associated with AD in Caribbean Hispanics: rs740850 in NCAPD2 (p = 0.0097) and rs1060620 in GAPDH (p = 0.042). In a separate analysis combining the Caribbean Hispanic families and NE cases and controls, rs740850 was significant after correcting for multiple testing (empirical p = 0.0048). Subsequent haplotype analyses revealed that two haplotype sets-haplotype C-A at SNPs 6-7 within NCAPD2 in Caribbean Hispanics, and haplotypes containing C-A-T at SNPs 8-10 within GAPDH in Caribbean Hispanic family and NE case-control datasets-were associated with AD. Taken together, these SNPs may be in linkage disequilibrium with a pathogenic variant(s) on or near NCAPD2 and GAPD

A assistência psíquica no Sistema Único de Saúde: um relato de experiência

The aim was to describe an experience report about the assistance offered by the Unified Health System to psychiatric patients and how this support network can be fundamental in their lives. This is a qualitative, descriptive research, which will report the experience lived in Primary Care correlated with the theoretical aspects of the course, in the context of Mental Health. Some evidenced literatures were selected. Thus, they were used to search for articles on the Google Scholar and Scientific Electronic Library Online search platforms. For the discussion, the two categories were listed: Primary Care in mental health care and multi- and interdisciplinarity in psychiatric and mental health care, which were later analyzed and claimed. It is concluded that the psychic assistance provided to patients with mental problems is essential for them to achieve: autonomy, freedom, exercise their citizenship, equity and access to quality health services.O objetivo principal foi descrever um relato de experiência acerca da assistência ofertada pelo Sistema Único de Saúde aos pacientes psiquiátricos e como essa rede de apoio pode ser fundamental em suas vidas. Trata-se de uma pesquisa qualitativa, do tipo descritiva, que relatará a experiência vivenciada na Atenção Primária correlacionadas com as vertentes teóricas do curso, no âmbito da Saúde Mental. Foram selecionadas algumas literaturas evidenciadas. Desse modo, foram utilizadas para busca de artigos nas plataformas de pesquisa Google Acadêmico e Scientific Electronic Library Online. Para a discussão, foram elencadas as duas categorias: A Atenção Primária na assistência à saúde mental e a multi e interdisciplinaridade no cuidado psiquiátrico e de saúde mental, sendo que, posteriormente, os mesmos foram analisados e pleiteados. Conclui-se que a assistência psíquica prestada aos pacientes com problemas mentais é fundamental para que eles consigam: autonomia, liberdade, exercer sua cidadania, equidade e acesso à serviços de saúde de qualidade

A assistência psíquica no Sistema Único de Saúde: um relato de experiência

The aim was to describe an experience report about the assistance offered by the Unified Health System to psychiatric patients and how this support network can be fundamental in their lives. This is a qualitative, descriptive research, which will report the experience lived in Primary Care correlated with the theoretical aspects of the course, in the context of Mental Health. Some evidenced literatures were selected. Thus, they were used to search for articles on the Google Scholar and Scientific Electronic Library Online search platforms. For the discussion, the two categories were listed: Primary Care in mental health care and multi- and interdisciplinarity in psychiatric and mental health care, which were later analyzed and claimed. It is concluded that the psychic assistance provided to patients with mental problems is essential for them to achieve: autonomy, freedom, exercise their citizenship, equity and access to quality health services.O objetivo principal foi descrever um relato de experiência acerca da assistência ofertada pelo Sistema Único de Saúde aos pacientes psiquiátricos e como essa rede de apoio pode ser fundamental em suas vidas. Trata-se de uma pesquisa qualitativa, do tipo descritiva, que relatará a experiência vivenciada na Atenção Primária correlacionadas com as vertentes teóricas do curso, no âmbito da Saúde Mental. Foram selecionadas algumas literaturas evidenciadas. Desse modo, foram utilizadas para busca de artigos nas plataformas de pesquisa Google Acadêmico e Scientific Electronic Library Online. Para a discussão, foram elencadas as duas categorias: A Atenção Primária na assistência à saúde mental e a multi e interdisciplinaridade no cuidado psiquiátrico e de saúde mental, sendo que, posteriormente, os mesmos foram analisados e pleiteados. Conclui-se que a assistência psíquica prestada aos pacientes com problemas mentais é fundamental para que eles consigam: autonomia, liberdade, exercer sua cidadania, equidade e acesso à serviços de saúde de qualidade