Cold regulation of plastid ascorbate peroxidases serves as a priming hub controlling ROS signaling in Arabidopsis thaliana

Background Short cold periods comprise a challenge to plant growth and development. Series of cold stresses improve plant performance upon a future cold stress. This effect could be provoked by priming, training or acclimation dependent hardening. Here, we compared the effect of 24 h (short priming stimulus) and of 2 week long cold-pretreatment (long priming stimulus) on the response of Arabidopsis thaliana to a single 24 h cold stimulus (triggering) after a 5 day long lag-phase, to test Arabidopsis for cold primability. Results Three types of pretreatment dependent responses were observed: (1) The CBF-regulon controlled gene COR15A was stronger activated only after long-term cold pretreatment. (2) The non-chloroplast specific stress markers PAL1 and CHS were more induced by cold after long-term and slightly stronger expressed after short-term cold priming. (3) The chloroplast ROS signaling marker genes ZAT10 and BAP1 were less activated by the triggering stimulus in primed plants. The effects on ZAT10 and BAP1 were more pronounced in 24 h cold-primed plants than in 14 day long cold-primed ones demonstrating independence of priming from induction and persistence of primary cold acclimation responses. Transcript and protein abundance analysis and studies in specific knock-out lines linked the priming-specific regulation of ZAT10 and BAP1 induction to the priming-induced long-term regulation of stromal and thylakoid-bound ascorbate peroxidase (sAPX and tAPX) expression. Conclusion The plastid antioxidant system, especially, plastid ascorbate peroxidase regulation, transmits information on a previous cold stress over time without the requirement of establishing cold-acclimation. We hypothesize that the plastid antioxidant system serves as a priming hub and that priming-dependent regulation of chloroplast-to-nucleus ROS signaling is a strategy to prepare plants under unstable environmental conditions against unpredictable stresses by supporting extra-plastidic stress protection

Quantitative oder qualitative Unterrichtsbeobachtung? Eine falsche Alternative

An die Adresse von Vertretern „quantitativer“ Positionen werden hinsichtlich der Unterrichtsbeobachtung zehn kritische Fragen aus „qualitativer“ Perspektive formuliert. Sie erstrecken sich auf die Theorie/Konstrukt-, die Erhebungs- und die Auswertungs-Ebene. Die Antworten aus „quantitativer“ Sicht werden u. a. anhand von vier Beispielen formuliert, in denen sowohl die Kritik aus „qualitativer“ Sicht aufgenommen wie auch Lösungsperspektiven im Rahmen „quantitativer“ Positionen aufgezeigt werden. Im Fazit wird die Bedeutung des Unterrichtsdokuments betont, das die Ausgangsbasis für detaillierte und unterschiedlichen Perspektiven folgende Unterrichtsanalysen darstellt. (DIPF/Orig.)Out of the „qualitative“ perspective concerning classroom observation ten critical questions are discussed to the advocates of the „quantitative“ position. They extend to the theory/construct level, the inquiry level and the analysis/interpretation level. From the „quantitative“ angle the answers are also illustrated by means of four examples. They include not only the criticism from the „qualitative“ point of view, but also the solution perspectives within the scope of „quantitative“ positions. In the conclusion the importance of the classroom-interaction document is emphasized with respect to detailed and manifold classroom-interaction analysis

Strengthening Uganda's policy environment for investing in university development

The authors examine the policy environment for investment in university development in Uganda, with special attention to the needs of Makerere University. They present data on the structure and financing of higher education, which gets a high priority in government educational spending. A second public university and new private universities have been established since 1986, but Makerere accounts for most university enrollment and government spending on higher education and it trains most of the country's high-level professional and technical manpower. Its revitalization after many years of neglect is central to government and donor plans for investment in human resource development. The authors emphasize how continuing austerity affects staff retention and staff engagement in academic work, as well as the quality of programs Makerere offers. They present a strategy for university development that involves establishing policy structures to: guide and coordinate investments in higher education as a whole; facilitate the expansion of higher education and the development of diploma-granting institutions to accommodate increasing social demand; and promote cost-saving and revenue-generating activities in the public universities - which would require giving them more autonomy in matters affecting their cost structure and budgeting. Among specific actions they recommend: making better use of public university assets by developing night courses, part-time degree and non-degree programs, and contract training and other income-generating activities; investigating possibilities for better use of university farms and other properties; making more use of existing capacity in public institutions and increasing the capacity of the newly established private universities; strengthening secondary education in science subjects and encouraging more women to study science and technology; coordinating future donor investments so they address the broad needs of Makerere and other universities; and raising incomes of academic and nonacademic university staff members.Teaching and Learning,Curriculum&Instruction,Gender and Education,Tertiary Education,Primary Education

The ‘new’ initial teacher education in Germany. From shock in practice to enlightened adoption of professional practice? Teacher education as systemic part of the german educational reform

Seit über zehn Jahren ist die Lehrerbildung in Deutschland in den Bologna Prozess integriert. In der Folge wurde das Studienmodell mit 1. Staatsexamen und anschließendem 2. Staatsexamen zum Abschluss des Vorbereitungsdienstes für den Bereich des Hochschulstudiums auf die Bachelor-Master-Struktur umgestellt. Aktuell wird die zweite Runde der Studienprogramm-Reform implementiert. Diese fokussiert vorrangig die erziehungswissenschaftlichen und die fachdidaktischen Module. Dabei stellt sich durchaus drängend die Frage, wie Konzepte erfahrungsgebundenen feldorientierten Lernens verstärkt in das Studium des Lehramtes eingebunden werden können. Als eine Konsequenz flammen die durchaus kontrovers geführten Debatten über das Verhältnis von `Theorie´ und `Praxis´ in der Lehrerbildung erneut auf. Der Vorwurf der Befürworter erfahrungsbasierter Lernkonzepte lautet, die traditionelle Sichtweise der Lehrerbildung sei als weitgehend gescheitert anzusehen und durch ein Modell zu ersetzen, welches berufliche Kompetenzen zugrunde legt, die sowohl differenzierte wissenschaftlich fundierte Wissensstände als auch verhaltensbasierte Lehrstrategien und Fähigkeiten umfassen. Der folgende Artikel skizziert diese widerstreitenden Diskussionen - aus einer eher theoretischen Sichtweise wie auch aus der kritischen Betrachtung der einschlägigen empirischen Befunde. Dabei wird die Notwendigkeit sichtbar auszuführen, in welchem Ausmaß die aktuellen Reformen in der Lehrerbildung als systemischer Bestandteil des Gesamtkonzepts der Erneuerung des deutschen Schulwesens ausgestaltet werden.Since about ten years initial teacher education in Germany has been integrated into the Bologna Process. Subsequently the 1rst state exam-model has been transformed into study programs beginning at the Bachelor level and including the Master of Education; afterwards, the successful student begins the second part of his professional education within the state dominated internship. Actually, the second round of study program reforms is on the way of implementation. The reforms focus mainly the pedagogical modules and those of special didactics. Subsequently the question how to strengthen field-based learning is one of the most significant requirements. In consequence the question of ‘theory’ and ‘practice’ in initial teacher education gets back into the still controversial debates. The reproval of the field-based proponents is that the traditional view on teacher education has failed and has to be substituted by an underlying model of professional competences including differentiated knowledge as well as behavioral teaching strategies and skills. The following article outlines these conflicting discussions, as well from a more theoretical point of view as from a critical view on the empirical results. For an adequate understanding of these positions it is worthwhile to know that the actual reforms in German teacher education are arranged as a systemic part of the general reforming processes in the educational system. Therefore, the interaction between these two fields of transformation are discussed, too

Notch signaling during human T cell development

Notch signaling is critical during multiple stages of T cell development in both mouse and human. Evidence has emerged in recent years that this pathway might regulate T-lineage differentiation differently between both species. Here, we review our current understanding of how Notch signaling is activated and used during human T cell development. First, we set the stage by describing the developmental steps that make up human T cell development before describing the expression profiles of Notch receptors, ligands, and target genes during this process. To delineate stage-specific roles for Notch signaling during human T cell development, we subsequently try to interpret the functional Notch studies that have been performed in light of these expression profiles and compare this to its suggested role in the mouse

Exploring Differences in Pain Beliefs Within and Between a Large Nonclinical (Workplace) Population and a Clinical (Chronic Low Back Pain) Population Using the Pain Beliefs Questionnaire

BACKGROUND: Beliefs, cognitions, and behaviors relating to pain can be associated with a range of negative outcomes. In patients, certain beliefs are associated with increased levels of pain and related disability. There are few data, however, showing the extent to which beliefs of patients differ from those of the general population. OBJECTIVE: This study explored pain beliefs in a large nonclinical population and a chronic low back pain (CLBP) sample using the Pain Beliefs Questionnaire (PBQ) to identify differences in scores and factor structures between and within the samples. DESIGN: This was a cross-sectional study. METHODS: The samples comprised patients attending a rehabilitation program and respondents to a workplace survey. Pain beliefs were assessed using the PBQ, which incorporates 2 scales: organic and psychological. Exploratory factor analysis was used to explore variations in factor structure within and between samples. The relationship between the 2 scales also was examined. RESULTS: Patients reported higher organic scores and lower psychological scores than the nonclinical sample. Within the nonclinical sample, those who reported frequent pain scored higher on the organic scale than those who did not. Factor analysis showed variations in relation to the presence of pain. The relationship between scales was stronger in those not reporting frequent pain. LIMITATIONS: This was a cross-sectional study; therefore, no causal inferences can be made. CONCLUSIONS: Patients experiencing CLBP adopt a more biomedical perspective on pain than nonpatients. The presence of pain is also associated with increased biomedical thinking in a nonclinical sample. However, the impact is not only on the strength of beliefs, but also on the relationship between elements of belief and the underlying belief structur

Local Induction of Immunosuppressive CD8+ T Cells in the Gut-Associated Lymphoid Tissues

Background: In contrast to intestinal CD4 + regulatory T cells (Tregs), the generation and function of immunomodulatory intestinal CD8 + T cells is less well defined. To dissect the immunologic mechanisms of CD8 + T cell function in the mucosa, reactivity against hemagglutinin (HA) expressed in intestinal epithelial cells of mice bearing a MHC class-I-restricted T-cellreceptor specific for HA was studied. Methodology and Principal Findings: HA-specific CD8 + T cells were isolated from gut-associated tissues and phenotypically and functionally characterized for the expression of Foxp3 + and their suppressive capacity. We demonstrate that intestinal HA expression led to peripheral induction of HA-specific CD8 + Foxp3 + T cells. Antigen-experienced CD8 + T cells in this transgenic mouse model suppressed the proliferation of CD8 + and CD4 + T cells in vitro. Gene expression analysis of suppressive HA-specific CD8 + T cells revealed a specific up-regulation of CD103, Nrp1, Tnfrsf9 and Pdcd1, molecules also expressed on CD4 + T reg subsets. Finally, gut-associated dendritic cells were able to induce HA-specific CD8 + Foxp3 + T cells. Conclusion and Significance: We demonstrate that gut specific antigen presentation is sufficient to induce CD8 + T regs in vivo which may maintain intestinal homeostasis by down-modulating effector functions of T cells

A discrete firefly algorithm to solve a rich vehicle routing problem modelling a newspaper distribution system with recycling policy

A real-world newspaper distribution problem with recycling policy is tackled in this work. In order to meet all the complex restrictions contained in such a problem, it has been modeled as a rich vehicle routing problem, which can be more specifically considered as an asymmetric and clustered vehicle routing problem with simultaneous pickup and deliveries, variable costs and forbidden paths (AC-VRP-SPDVCFP). This is the first study of such a problem in the literature. For this reason, a benchmark composed by 15 instances has been also proposed. In the design of this benchmark, real geographical positions have been used, located in the province of Bizkaia, Spain. For the proper treatment of this AC-VRP-SPDVCFP, a discrete firefly algorithm (DFA) has been developed. This application is the first application of the firefly algorithm to any rich vehicle routing problem. To prove that the proposed DFA is a promising technique, its performance has been compared with two other well-known techniques: an evolutionary algorithm and an evolutionary simulated annealing. Our results have shown that the DFA has outperformed these two classic meta-heuristics