Self-Esteem: A Descriptive Study of Students of San Diego Unified School District at Grades 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 Related to Components of Self-Esteem

The purpose of this study was to assess the self-esteem of students in a large, multicultural, urban, public school system on overall self-esteem and components of self-esteem across various ages. This was a descriptive study in which the researcher attempted to discern changes in levels of self-esteem as the students moved through the school system (grades 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12). Utilizing the Coopersmith Inventory, the researcher compared students\u27 overall level of self-esteem, as well as the individual components of self-esteem: general self, social self/peers, home/parents, and school/academic. Selected teachers also completed a behavioral-observational rating scale on their students. A representative sample of 653 students was surveyed. Students\u27 self-esteem, as measured by the Coopersmith, was compared by the independent variables of age, gender, ethnicity, academic achievement, current exposure to school-based self-esteem interventions, and interactions of the above. Student self-reports were also compared to teacher ratings on the behavioral-observational rating scale. One-way and two-way ANOVAs were used to test hypotheses and interaction between independent variables. An α=.05 was used in all tests of significance, and Fisher post hoc analyses were completed following significant findings. Overall, the research produced no significant findings regarding changes in self-esteem of students from grades four through twelve. There were no significant findings regarding the relationship of gender, academic achievement, ethnicity, and age. District implementation of self-esteem interventions had been inconsistent and, at many schools, nonexistent. The fact that no significant differences were seen by gender may be a reflection of the increased options and equality between the sexes. The fact that students did not diminish in reported self-esteem may indicate that they are successfully navigating the path to responsible and accountable adulthood. However, both of these findings may indicate that unsuccessful students have dropped out of school and were unavailable for the study. Differences found at individual grade levels may indicate the need for increased awareness of cultural norms and values, as well as student values regarding academic achievement. Differences between teacher reports and student reports may signal differences in expectations and manifestations of self-esteem

The role of hair in forensic analysis

Dlaka je jedan od najčešćih dokaza korištenih u forenzičkoj analizi. Zbog jednostavnog prenošenja, lako može povezati sumnjivca s mjestom zločina ili žrtvom. Usporedni mikroskop koristi se pri mikroskopskoj usporedbi poznatog i istraživanog uzorka dlake. Mikroskopska analiza dlake može pomoći u određivanju rase, područja rasta dlake, dobi i spola. Ukoliko iščupana dlaka ima sačuvan korijen ili je na sebi zadržala okolnog folikularnog tkiva, iz nje se može izolirati nuklearna DNA, napraviti DNA profil i individualizirati osobu. Također, pomoć pri identifikaciji pruža i mitohondrijska DNA, ali ona ne može služiti u individualizaciji jer se nasljeđuje po majčinoj liniji. Poboljšavanjem postojećih metoda jednostavnim unaprijeđenjima kao što je fiksacija dlake u apsolutnom etanolu te razvitkom novih metoda značajno se povećava uspješnost izolacije DNA. Upotrebom drugačijih boja kao što je Harris’s Haematoxylin dolazi do poboljšanja dvije stvari. Prva je smanjenje sigurnosnih rizika jer je Harris’s Haematoxylin mnogo sigurnija boja od DAPI-ja. Drugo poboljšanje je eliminacija potrebe za korištenjem fluorescencijskog mikroskopa jer je DNA vidljiva i bez poticanja fluorescencije određenim valnim duljinama.Hair is one of the most common evidence used in forensic analysis. Due to a simple transfer, it can easily connect a suspect to a crime scene or victim. Comparison microscope is used in microscopic comparison of known and unknown hair sample. Microscopic analysis of the hair can help determine someone’s race, part of the body where hair was growing, age and gender. If it has preserved root or parts of surrounding follicular tissue, it can be used for nuclear DNA isolation, profiling and individualization of a person. Mitochondrial DNA can also help in identification but it cannot individualize a person because it is inherited maternally. Improvement in existing methods with simple advancements such as fixation of hair in absolute ethanol and development of new methods significantly increases efficiency of DNA isolation. Using different colors such as Harris’s Haematoxylin, improvement occurs in two things. The first is to reduce security risks because Harris’s Haematoxylin is much more safer than DAPI. Second improvement is the elimination of the need to use fluorescent microscope because DNA is visible without simulating fluorescence by certain wavelengths

Stabilnost nuklearne elektrane Krško

The Krško Nuclear Power Plant (NEK) is of strategic importance for the Republic of Slovenia, producing electricity for users in Slovenia and Croatia. It generates over five billion kWh of electrical energy per year, which represents approximately 40% of the total electricity produced in Slovenia and approximately 17% in Croatia. The high level of security in NEK is of high importance; therefore a comprehensive supervision of structures is carried out. A special attention is given to the security systems, including the measurements of vertical displacements of benchmarks and measurements of horizontal displacements of the dam on the Sava River. Periodic geodetic observations are carried out on important technological structures comprising the nuclear island, the Sava River dam and the nuclear waste storage. The article aims at representing the results of geodetic observations for determination of stability and operational security of this important structure.Nuklearna elektrana Krško (NEK) je za državu Sloveniju objekt od izuzetnog strateškog značaja, koji snabdijeva korisnike u Sloveniji i Hrvatskoj. Godišnja proizvodnja iznosi preko 5 milijardi kWh električne energije, što predstavlja približno 40% ukupne proizvodnje električne energije u Sloveniji i 17% u Hrvatskoj. U NEK se zahtjeva iznimno visok stupanj sigurnosti, stoga se izvodi cjelovit nadzor pojedinih objekata i postrojenja. Posebna pozornost je namijenjena sigurnosnim sustavima, među koje ubrajamo i mjerenja vertikalnih pomaka repera i horizontalnih pomaka brane na Savi. Periodična geodetska opažanja se izvode na objektima, koja po kategorizaciji spadaju u najviši sigurnosni razred koji obuhvaća nuklearni otok, branu na Savi i skladište radioaktivnih otpadaka. U radu želimo prikazati važnost geodetskih mjerenja za utvrđivanje stabilnosti i sigurnosti rada tog važnog objekta

Systems-wide RNAi analysis of CASP8AP2/FLASH shows transcriptional deregulation of the replication-dependent histone genes and extensive effects on the transcriptome of colorectal cancer cells

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Colorectal carcinomas (CRC) carry massive genetic and transcriptional alterations that influence multiple cellular pathways. The study of proteins whose loss-of-function (LOF) alters the growth of CRC cells can be used to further understand the cellular processes cancer cells depend upon for survival.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A small-scale RNAi screen of ~400 genes conducted in SW480 CRC cells identified several candidate genes as required for the viability of CRC cells, most prominently <it>CASP8AP2</it>/<it>FLASH</it>. To understand the function of this gene in maintaining the viability of CRC cells in an unbiased manner, we generated gene specific expression profiles following RNAi. Silencing of <it>CASP8AP2</it>/<it>FLASH </it>resulted in altered expression of over 2500 genes enriched for genes associated with cellular growth and proliferation. Loss of CASP8AP2/FLASH function was significantly associated with altered transcription of the genes encoding the replication-dependent histone proteins as a result of the expression of the non-canonical polyA variants of these transcripts. Silencing of <it>CASP8AP2</it>/<it>FLASH </it>also mediated enrichment of changes in the expression of targets of the NFκB and MYC transcription factors. These findings were confirmed by whole transcriptome analysis of <it>CASP8AP2</it>/<it>FLASH </it>silenced cells at multiple time points. Finally, we identified and validated that CASP8AP2/FLASH LOF increases the expression of neurofilament heavy polypeptide (NEFH), a protein recently linked to regulation of the AKT1/ß-catenin pathway.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>We have used unbiased RNAi based approaches to identify and characterize the function of CASP8AP2/FLASH, a protein not previously reported as required for cell survival. This study further defines the role CASP8AP2/FLASH plays in the regulating expression of the replication-dependent histones and shows that its LOF results in broad and reproducible effects on the transcriptome of colorectal cancer cells including the induction of expression of the recently described tumor suppressor gene <it>NEFH</it>.</p

KIF17 stabilizes microtubules and contributes to epithelial morphogenesis by acting at MT plus ends with EB1 and APC

Cell polarity is determined in part by Kif17-mediated regulation of microtubule dynamics and polymerization rates

Ion chromatography as a method for the determination of anions in atmospheric particulate matter

V sklopu diplomskega dela sem optimizirala in delno validirala analizno metodo za določanje 7 anionov v lebdečih delcih z uporabo ionske kromatografije s konduktometrično detekcijo za potrebe projekta Vpliv onesnaženja s trdnimi delci (PM) na kulturno dediščino. Optimizacijo sem izvedla s pomočjo pripravljenih standardnih raztopin in realnega vzorca. Metodo sem validirala preko določitve delovnega območja, linearnosti in meje določljivosti (LOD) za 7 anionov – fluorid, klorid, nitrit, nitrat, sulfat, oksalat in fosfat. Predhodno sem naredila ekstrakcijsko metodo za analizo realnih vzorcev lebdečih delcev iz zraka zajetih na kvarčnih filtrih, ki se je na koncu izkazala za zelo preprosto, hitro in učinkovito. Izvedla sem tudi analizo realnih vzorcev PM2,5. Z metodo sem uspešno kvalitativno in kvantitativno določila kloridne, nitratne, sulfatne in oksalatne ione. Fluoridnih, nitritnih in fosfatnih ionov v vzorcih nisem detektirala zaradi njihove koncentracije pod mejo določljivosti oz. njihove odsotnosti v analiziranih vzorcih.As part of the diploma thesis optimization and validation of an analytical method for the determination of 7 anions in ambient particulate matter using ion chromatography with conductometric detection was carried out for the project Impacts of PM Pollution on Cultural Heritage. Optimization was performed with prepared standard solutions and a real sample. It was partially validated through the determination of a working range, linearity and limit of detection (LOD) of 7 anions – fluoride, chloride, nitrite, nitrate, sulfate, oxalate and phosphate. The extraction method for real samples of PM captured on a quartz filter was also developed. Ultimately it was proved as very simple, fast and efficient. Analysis of real PM2.5 samples was also performed. The method allowed to successfully qualitatively determine and quantify chloride, nitrate, sulphate and oxalate ions. Fluoride, nitrite and phosphate ions were not detected due to concentrations below the LOD or their absence in the samples

Wireless access to devices with RS-232 interface over Zegbee network

For communications among devices the well-known protocol RS-232 is still frequently used. Since the protocol requires physical connection to devices which can also stand in inaccessible places, a solution that enables data transmission over a wireless network would be greatly appreciated. In the last few years some new wireless communication standards appeared. One of them is ZigBee, which has the advantages of small energy consumption and the possibility of safe and reliable connection of devices in mesh networks. In this work a device is presented, that can transmit data through the ZigBee network between client computers with ZigBee transmitters and several end devices with RS-232 ports. The developed device allows us to plug-in up to four end devices with the RS-232 port, and four wireless clients. Further on, hardware schemes and software modules of the developed device are described in detail together with basic procedures and theoretical descriptions of the standard. The first tests show that the operation of device is reliable and stable