Social And Emotional Learning In The ELL Classroom: A Case Study

ABSTRACT The goal of social-emotional learning (SEL) is to create a safe environment for students to learn in and improve peer relationships, decrease conduct problems and emotional distress, and promote academic achievement. SEL program implementation has grown over the last decade in U.S. schools; however, these programs are designed for general education, not English Language Learner (ELL) students. Furthermore, research on teaching SEL to ELL students is limited. This study explored what SEL looked like and how bullying prevention and character education programs were adapted in an elementary ELL classroom. The theoretical framework for this study was based on CASEL’s “Five Social and Emotional Learning Core Competencies” (Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning [CASEL], 2012, p. 9) and “Four Strategies that Promote SEL” (Dusenbury, Calin, Domitrovich, & Weissberg, 2015, p. 2). This qualitative case study utilized ethnographic data collection methods (Glesne, 2011) including ELL classroom observations focusing on two ELL teachers as well as interviews with ELL teachers, a school counselor and the school principal. Findings indicate that CASEL’s framework and four approaches to teaching SEL are suitable for teaching SEL to ELL children. However, to meet ELL children’s unique SEL needs, the school and ELL teachers needed to consider both language and cultural background in deciding how to teach SEL and what SEL skills to prioritize. Key implications of this study include the necessity of a school-wide SEL initiative in which teachers, counselor, and school administrators collaboratively address SEL needs of ELL students, integration of SEL into all aspects of the ELL classroom, teaching English language needed for self-awareness and self-management of emotions and behavior as well as interpersonal conflicts, and the need to assess and prioritize what SEL competencies to teach based on ELL students’ unique needs

Hydrolyzed collagen intake increases bone mass of growing rats trained with running exercise

BackgroundSome studies have shown that dietary hydrolyzed collagen peptides (HC) effectively prevent age-related bone loss. However, it is not known whether the intake of HC also has positive effect on bone mass or strength when combined with exercise during growth phase.MethodsWe examined the effects of 11 weeks of HC intake and running exercise on bone mass and strength in growing rats. Rats were randomized into four groups, the 20% casein group (Casein20), the 40% casein group (Casein40), the 20% HC group (HC20), and the 40% HC group (HC40). Each group was further divided into exercise groups (Casein20 + Ex, Casein40 + Ex, HC20 + Ex, HC40 + Ex) and non-exercise group (Casein20, Casein40, HC20, HC40). In the HC intake groups, 30% of casein protein was replaced with HC. Exercise group rats were trained 6 days per week on a treadmill (25–30 m/min, 60 min) for 60 days. After being sacrificed, their bone mineral content (BMC) and bone strength were evaluated.ResultsExercise and dietary HC effects were observed in the adjusted BMC of lumbar spine and tibia among the 20% protein groups (p < 0.001 for exercise; p < 0.05 for dietary HC, respectively). These effects were also noted in the adjusted wet weight and dry weight of femur among the 20% protein groups (p < 0.001, p < 0.01 for exercise; p < 0.01, p < 0.001 for dietary HC, respectively). On the other hand, in adjusted bone breaking force and energy, dietary HC effect was not significant. Among the 40% protein groups, similar results were obtained in the adjusted BMC, femoral weight, bone breaking force, and energy. There were no differences between the 20% protein groups and the 40% protein groups.ConclusionsThe present study demonstrated that moderate HC intake (where the diet contains 20% protein, of which 30% is HC) increased bone mass during growth period and further promoted the effect of running exercise. On the other hand, a higher HC intake (where the diet contains 40% protein, of which 30% is HC) had no more beneficial effect on bone mass than the moderate HC intake

Impaired long-term memory retention and working memory in sdy mutant mice with a deletion in Dtnbp1, a susceptibility gene for schizophrenia

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Schizophrenia is a complex genetic disorder caused by multiple genetic and environmental factors. The dystrobrevin-binding protein 1 (DTNBP1: dysbindin-1) gene is a major susceptibility gene for schizophrenia. Genetic variations in DTNBP1 are associated with cognitive functions, general cognitive ability and memory function, and clinical features of patients with schizophrenia including negative symptoms and cognitive decline. Since reduced expression of dysbindin-1 has been observed in postmortem brains of patients with schizophrenia, the sandy (sdy) mouse, which has a deletion in the Dtnbp1 gene and expresses no dysbindin-1 protein, could be an animal model of schizophrenia. To address this issue, we have carried out a comprehensive behavioral analysis of the sdy mouse in this study.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In a rotarod test, sdy mice did not exhibit motor learning whilst the wild type mice did. In a Barnes circular maze test both sdy mice and wild type mice learned to selectively locate the escape hole during the course of the training period and in the probe trial conducted 24 hours after last training. However, sdy mice did not locate the correct hole in the retention probe tests 7 days after the last training trial, whereas wild type mice did, indicating impaired long-term memory retention. A T-maze forced alternation task, a task of working memory, revealed no effect of training in sdy mice despite the obvious effect of training in wild type mice, suggesting a working memory deficit.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Sdy mouse showed impaired long-term memory retention and working memory. Since genetic variation in DTNBP1 is associated with both schizophrenia and memory function, and memory function is compromised in patients with schizophrenia, the sdy mouse may represent a useful animal model to investigate the mechanisms of memory dysfunction in the disorder.</p

Preparation of sponge cakes without eggs : substitution of Tukuneimo (Dioscrea Batatas Decne)

We prepared sponge cakes without eggs for egg-allergic patients. We prepared sponge cakes as authentically as possible by substituting Tukuneimo (Dioscrea Batatas Decne) for eggs. Baking powder (BP) was suitable as a leavening agent. The use of foam stabilizers (Taiyo Chemistry Co. : SP) resulted in a 50% reduction in the amount of Tukuneimo needed. The coloring of sponge cakes looked more authentic by adding vitamin B2. Adding cocoa or green tea powder masked the smell peculiar to Tukuneimo

Renal cell carcinoma with a tumor thrombus in the ureter: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Renal cell carcinoma (RCCs) is the most common malignancy of the kidney. When RCC progresses, it is known to form tumor thrombus in the renal vein and/or inferior vena cava. However, RCC does not normally form tumor thrombus in the ureter or renal pelvis.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>A 43-year-old man presented to our department for the treatment of a renal tumor with asymptomatic gross hematuria. In a dynamic CT study, contrast enhancement revealed a tumor suspected to be RCC, but atypical finding as a tumor thrombus that filled the renal pelvis and the whole ureter was also observed. Nephroureterectomy was performed, and the tumor was diagnosed histopathologically as RCC.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>We report here a very rare case of RCC with a tumor thrombus in the whole ureter.</p

SR-PSOX/CXCL16 plays a critical role in the progression of colonic inflammation.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is initiated and perpetuated by a dysregulated immune response to unknown environmental antigens such as luminal bacteria in genetically susceptible hosts. SR-PSOX/CXCL16, a scavenger receptor that binds phosphatidylserine and oxidised lipoprotein, has both phagocytic activity and chemotactic properties. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of SR-PSOX/CXCL16 in patients with IBD and experimental murine colitis

Synthesis and pharmacological characterization of potent, selective, and orally bioavailable isoindoline class dipeptidyl peptidase IV inhibitors

Focused structure-activity relationships of isoindoline class DPP-IV inhibitors have led to the discovery of 4b as a highly selective, potent inhibitor of DPP-IV. In vivo studies in Wistar/ST rats showed that 4b was converted into the strongly active metabolite 4l in high yield, resulting in good in vivo efficacy for antihyperglycemic activity

Identification of Physiologically Active Substances as Novel Ligands for MRGPRD

Mas-related G-protein coupled receptor member D (MRGPRD) is a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) which belongs to the Mas-related GPCRs expressed in the dorsal root ganglia (DRG). In this study, we investigated two novel ligands in addition to beta-alanine: (1) beta-aminoisobutyric acid, a physiologically active substance, with which possible relation to tumors has been seen together with beta-alanine; (2) diethylstilbestrol, a synthetic estrogen hormone. In addition to the novel ligands, we found that transfection of MRGPRD leads fibroblast cells to form spheroids, which would be related to oncogenicity. To understand the MRGPRD novel character, oncogenicity, a large chemical library was screened in order to obtain MRGPRD antagonists to utilize in exploring the character. The antagonist in turn inhibited the spheroid proliferation that is dependent on MRGPRD signaling as well as MRGPRD signals activated by beta-alanine. The antagonist, a small-molecule compound we found in this study, is a potential anticancer agent