Meta-analysis of gender performance gaps in undergraduate natural science courses

To investigate patterns of gender-based performance gaps, we conducted a meta-analysis of published studies and unpublished data collected across 169 undergraduate biology and chemistry courses. While we did not detect an overall gender gap in performance, heterogeneity analyses suggested further analysis was warranted, so we investigated whether attributes of the learning environment impacted performance disparities on the basis of gender. Several factors moderated performance differences, including class size, assessment type, and pedagogy. Specifically, we found evidence that larger classes, reliance on exams, and undisrupted, traditional lecture were associated with lower grades for women. We discuss our results in the context of natural science courses and conclude by making recommendations for instructional practices and future research to promote gender equity

?2-Microglobulin Amyloid Fibril-Induced Membrane Disruption Is Enhanced by Endosomal Lipids and Acidic pH

Although the molecular mechanisms underlying the pathology of amyloidoses are not well understood, the interaction between amyloid proteins and cell membranes is thought to play a role in several amyloid diseases. Amyloid fibrils of ?2-microglobulin (?2m), associated with dialysis-related amyloidosis (DRA), have been shown to cause disruption of anionic lipid bilayers in vitro. However, the effect of lipid composition and the chemical environment in which ?2m-lipid interactions occur have not been investigated previously. Here we examine membrane damage resulting from the interaction of ?2m monomers and fibrils with lipid bilayers. Using dye release, tryptophan fluorescence quenching and fluorescence confocal microscopy assays we investigate the effect of anionic lipid composition and pH on the susceptibility of liposomes to fibril-induced membrane damage. We show that ?2m fibril-induced membrane disruption is modulated by anionic lipid composition and is enhanced by acidic pH. Most strikingly, the greatest degree of membrane disruption is observed for liposomes containing bis(monoacylglycero)phosphate (BMP) at acidic pH, conditions likely to reflect those encountered in the endocytic pathway. The results suggest that the interaction between ?2m fibrils and membranes of endosomal origin may play a role in the molecular mechanism of ?2m amyloid-associated osteoarticular tissue destruction in DRA

Collage Vol. I

JUDY COCHRAN: Editorial MICHAEL TANGEMAN: Haikus 2-5 ELISE ALBRECHT, CURTIS PLOWGIAN: French Calligrams 6 JASON VARDEN: Waiting 7 ALEXANDER GREEN: Photo 8 EDUARDO JARAMILLO: Formas violentas 9-11 GABRIELE DILLMANN: Photo 12 MICHAEL GOLDSBERG: Funf fur Ashley 13 MEGAN CARLSON: Fur Jared (German) 14 MAGGIE GLOVER: For Jared 14-15 CHRIS FAUR: Painting 16 LINDSEY ESHELMAN: Stuhl (The Chair) 17 HALLE THOMPSON, GWENN DOBOS: Les Bouches 18 JILL BOO: Lacheln (A Smile) 19 ALEXANDER GREEN: Photo 20 JULIA GRAWEMEYER: Villanelle 21, Expressions francaises (French Figures) 22-23, Pour me rappeler (So that I\u27d remember) 24 MICHEL CLIQUET: Photo 25 CHARLES O\u27KEEFE: Photos 26-28 LINE LERYCKE: Photos 29-32 MICHEL CLIQUET: Pierre docile (Docile Stone) 29-32 LOGAN FAVIA: Ataraxia 33 AVRITA SINGH: Absence 34 RACHEL GROTHEER: Compassion 35, Ligne (Line) 36, Nuit, douce nuit (Night, gentle night) 37, Rouge (Red) 38, Bonjour Bleu (Hello Blue) 39, Ligne courbe (Curved Line) 40 AMELIA DUNLAP: Compassion 41-42 KYLE SIMPSON: Separation 43 ALEXANDER GREEN: Photo 44 GWENN DOBOS: Ataraxia 45 SARAH SLOTKIN: Separation 46 CURTIS PLOWGIAN: Absence 47 ELISA VER MERRIS: Photo 48, Attachement (Attachment) 49 JENNIFER JOHNSON: Attachement (Attachment)50 ANNA KELLY: Compassion 51 RICHARD BANAHAN: Photo 52, Mon grand-pere et moit (My grandfather and me) 53 MEREDITH KATZ: Separation 54 BRENDA HEATER: Compassion 55 ZACHARY WALSH: Ataraxia 56 MICHEL CLIQUET: Photos 57-5

English language proficiency and early school attainment among children learning English as an additional language

Children learning English as an additional language (EAL) often experience lower academic attainment than monolingual peers. In this study, teachers provided ratings of English language proficiency and social, emotional, and behavioral functioning for 782 children with EAL and 6,485 monolingual children in reception year (ages 4–5). Academic attainment was assessed in reception and Year 2 (ages 6–7). Relative to monolingual peers with comparable English language proficiency, children with EAL displayed fewer social, emotional, and behavioral difficulties in reception, were equally likely to meet curriculum targets in reception, and were more likely to meet targets in Year 2. Academic attainment and social, emotional, and behavioral functioning in children with EAL are associated with English language proficiency at school entry

Tumor masses support naive T cell infiltration, activation, and differentiation into effectors

Studies of T cell responses to tumors have focused on the draining lymph node (LN) as the site of activation. We examined the tumor mass as a potential site of activation after adoptive transfer of naive tumor-specific CD8 T cells. Activated CD8 T cells were present in tumors within 24 h of adoptive transfer and proliferation of these cells was also evident 4–5 d later in mice treated with FTY720 to prevent infiltration of cells activated in LNs. To confirm that activation of these T cells occurred in the tumor and not the tumor-draining LNs, we used mice lacking LNs. Activated and proliferating tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes were evident in these mice 24 h and 4 d after naive cell transfer. T cells activated within tumors acquired effector function that was evident both ex vivo and in vivo. Both cross-presenting antigen presenting cells within the tumor and tumor cells directly presenting antigen activated these functional CD8 effectors. We conclude that tumors support the infiltration, activation, and effector differentiation of naive CD8 T cells, despite the presence of immunosuppressive mechanisms. Thus, targeting of T cell activation to tumors may present a tool in the development of cancer immunotherapy

2020 ESC Guidelines on sports cardiology and exercise in patients with cardiovascular disease

The Task Force on sports cardiology and exercise in patients with cardiovascular disease of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC

Protein tyrosine phosphatases expression during development of mouse superior colliculus

Protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) are key regulators of different processes during development of the central nervous system. However, expression patterns and potential roles of PTPs in the developing superior colliculus remain poorly investigated. In this study, a degenerate primer-based reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) approach was used to isolate seven different intracellular PTPs and nine different receptor-type PTPs (RPTPs) from embryonic E15 mouse superior colliculus. Subsequently, the expression patterns of 11 PTPs (TC-PTP, PTP1C, PTP1D, PTP-MEG2, PTP-PEST, RPTPJ, RPTPε, RPTPRR, RPTPσ, RPTPκ and RPTPγ) were further analyzed in detail in superior colliculus from embryonic E13 to postnatal P20 stages by quantitative real-time RT-PCR, Western blotting and immunohistochemistry. Each of the 11 PTPs exhibits distinct spatiotemporal regulation of mRNAs and proteins in the developing superior colliculus suggesting their versatile roles in genesis of neuronal and glial cells and retinocollicular topographic mapping. At E13, additional double-immunohistochemical analysis revealed the expression of PTPs in collicular nestin-positive neural progenitor cells and RC-2-immunoreactive radial glia cells, indicating the potential functional importance of PTPs in neurogenesis and gliogenesis