Mehr Souveränität in der Sprachförderung im Fach mit SCHULWÄRTS!: Ein Bericht aus der Praxis

Das Goethe-Institut hat 2015 ein zentrales, stipendienbasiertes Programm zur Vermittlung von kurzzeitigen Schulpraktika für Lehramtsstudierende und junge Lehrkräfte an vom Goethe-Institut betreuten Schulen im Ausland mit dem Fokus auf Studierende der MINT-Fächer aufgelegt (https://www.goethe.de/schulwaerts). Das Ziel des Praktikums besteht darin, die Förderung der durch das Goethe-Institut betreuten Schulen im Ausland nachhaltiger zu gestalten und die Internationalisierung der deutschen Lehrerausbildung zu unterstützen. Gefördert wird SCHULWÄRTS! durch das Auswärtige Amt sowie die Praktikumsaufenthalte in China und der Türkei durch die Stiftung Mercator. Bewerben können sich deutschlandweit Lehramtsstudierende aller Studienformen und -gänge, Referendare und junge Lehrkräfte aller Fächerkombinationen und Schulformen. Eine wissenschaftlich fundierte Evaluation wird durchgeführt und anschließend veröffentlicht. Folglich kann zum aktuellen Zeitpunkt nur auf subjektive Erfahrungen der SCHULWÄRTS!-Stipendiaten zurückgegriffen werden. Dieser Artikel gibt einen Einblick in die Programm- und Seminarstrukturen von SCHULWÄRTS! und fungiert als Praxisbericht.In 2015, the Goethe-Institut initiated a centrally administered, scholarship-based short-time internship programme for teacher training students and young teachers – with a special focus on natural sciences (MINT) – at partner-schools of the Goethe-Institutes worldwide (https://www.goethe.de/schulwaerts – only available in German). The intention of the internship-programme is to have a sustainable collaboration with the partner-schools of the Goethe-Institut and to support the internationalisation of teacher education in Germany. SCHULWÄRTS! is funded by the German Federal Foreign Office and the Stiftung Mercator which finances the internships in China and Turkey. Teacher trainees from all levels, subject combinations and school types can apply for SCHULWÄRTS!. A scientific evaluation is carried out at the moment and will be published soon. Accordingly, this article only embodies subjective experiences with SCHULWÄRTS! by some fellows. Additionally, it gives an insight into the programme and seminar structures of SCHULWÄRTS! and functions as an experience report

Creating Livable Neighborhoods in Old Hill and Six Corners, Springfield, Massachusetts

This report documents the work of the Graduate Urban Design Studio in Springfield’s Old Hill and Six Corners neighborhoods with 12,000 inhabitants. Both neighborhoods are challenged by a very low average household income, housing foreclosures, lot vacancies, lack of substantial home ownership, high traffic volumes and poor quality of open space. The primary goal of the project was to develop a vision to renew Old Hill and Six Corners to improve livability for their residents and create new opportunities for housing, recreation, working and commercial activities. Crucial keys to attaining this goal will be creating a stronger sense of place throughout the neighborhood and improved connectivity to the existing public open spaces like the Watershops Pond and the proposed recreational trail “Arc of Recreation”. Four physical design objectives were explored: Creating a vision for livable streets - a more livable streetscape improves walkability, urban ecology, commercial activities and provides an enriching sensual experience. Creating a better physical environment for commercial and business activities – attractive streets create a new identity and support existing businesses. Creating and improving a pedestrian and bicycle oriented circulation and coherent public open space system. Exploring new housing opportunities - new sites for housing integrate the student population in the neighborhoods. We are proud that our proposals were recognized after a tornado hit Springfield in June 2011. REBUILDSPRINGFIELD targeted the tornado-impacted neighborhoods in a collaborative effort with engaged citizens and community groups. Our plans created a valuable planning and design framework to rebuild the City

Mehr Souveränität in der Sprachförderung im Fach mit SCHULWÄRTS!: Ein Bericht aus der Praxis

Das Goethe-Institut hat 2015 ein zentrales, stipendienbasiertes Programm zur Vermittlung von kurzzeitigen Schulpraktika für Lehramtsstudierende und junge Lehrkräfte an vom Goethe-Institut betreuten Schulen im Ausland mit dem Fokus auf Studierende der MINT-Fächer aufgelegt (https://www.goethe.de/schulwaerts). Das Ziel des Praktikums besteht darin, die Förderung der durch das Goethe-Institut betreuten Schulen im Ausland nachhaltiger zu gestalten und die Internationalisierung der deutschen Lehrerausbildung zu unterstützen. Gefördert wird SCHULWÄRTS! durch das Auswärtige Amt sowie die Praktikumsaufenthalte in China und der Türkei durch die Stiftung Mercator. Bewerben können sich deutschlandweit Lehramtsstudierende aller Studienformen und -gänge, Referendare und junge Lehrkräfte aller Fächerkombinationen und Schulformen. Eine wissenschaftlich fundierte Evaluation wird durchgeführt und anschließend veröffentlicht. Folglich kann zum aktuellen Zeitpunkt nur auf subjektive Erfahrungen der SCHULWÄRTS!-Stipendiaten zurückgegriffen werden. Dieser Artikel gibt einen Einblick in die Programm- und Seminarstrukturen von SCHULWÄRTS! und fungiert als Praxisbericht

Western Woburn Greenway Study

In spring 2010, the Department of Landscape Architecture and Regional Planning at the University of Massachusetts Amherst was asked to complete a landscape planning study, the “Western Woburn Greenway Study” for the City of Woburn, MA. The study was undertaken by a team of graduate students, supervised by Professor Jack Ahern. The goals of that study are as follows. The City of Woburn currently has two large parcel groups of undeveloped land, Whispering Hill (the north focus area) and Winning/Shannon Farms (the south focus area) that are, or may become, available for acquisition (see “Scope of Project” below). The first goal of the study was to analyze these focus areas and conduct suitability assessments for potential land uses that meet the needs of the residents of Woburn, as well as meet the goals specified by the town’s 2004 Open Space and Recreation Plan. The analysis and land use recommendations could be used by the city in current and future land acquisition decisions. The second goal of the study was to evaluate strategies and actions for connecting these focus areas with linkages to each other, to other existing open spaces in Woburn, and to other green spaces in neighboring towns. These linkages could be obtained with Green Streets an

Recombinant Salmonella Expressing Burkholderia mallei LPS O Antigen Provides Protection in a Murine Model of Melioidosis and Glanders.

Burkholderia pseudomallei and Burkholderia mallei are the etiologic agents of melioidosis and glanders, respectively. These bacteria are highly infectious via the respiratory route and can cause severe and often fatal diseases in humans and animals. Both species are considered potential agents of biological warfare; they are classified as category B priority pathogens. Currently there are no human or veterinary vaccines available against these pathogens. Consequently efforts are directed towards the development of an efficacious and safe vaccine. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is an immunodominant antigen and potent stimulator of host immune responses. B. mallei express LPS that is structurally similar to that expressed by B. pseudomallei, suggesting the possibility of constructing a single protective vaccine against melioidosis and glanders. Previous studies of others have shown that antibodies against B. mallei or B. pseudomallei LPS partially protect mice against subsequent lethal virulent Burkholderia challenge. In this study, we evaluated the protective efficacy of recombinant Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium SL3261 expressing B. mallei O antigen against lethal intranasal infection with Burkholderia thailandensis, a surrogate for biothreat Burkholderia spp. in a murine model that mimics melioidosis and glanders. All vaccine-immunized mice developed a specific antibody response to B. mallei and B. pseudomallei O antigen and to B. thailandensis and were significantly protected against challenge with a lethal dose of B. thailandensis. These results suggest that live-attenuated SL3261 expressing B. mallei O antigen is a promising platform for developing a safe and effective vaccine

Laser Scanning Confocal Microscopy Was Used to Validate the Presence of Burkholderia pseudomallei or B. mallei in Formalin-Fixed Paraffin Embedded Tissues

Burkholderia pseudomallei and B. mallei are Gram-negative, facultative intracellular bacteria that cause melioidosis and glanders, respectively. Currently, there are no vaccines for these two diseases. Animal models have been developed to evaluate vaccines and therapeutics. Tissues from infected animals, however, must be fixed in formalin and embedded in paraffin (FFPE) before analysis. A brownish staining material in infected tissues that represents the exopolysaccharide of the pathogen was seen by bright field microscopy but not the actual microorganism. Because of these results, FFPE tissue was examined by laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM) in an attempt to see the microorganism. Archival FFPE tissues were examined from ten mice, and five nonhuman primates after exposure to B. pseudomallei or B. mallei by LSCM. Additionally, a historical spleen biopsy from a human suspected of exposure to B. mallei was examined. B. pseudomallei was seen in many of the infected tissues from mice. Four out of five nonhuman primates were positive for the pathogen. In the human sample, B. mallei was seen in pyogranulomas in the spleen biopsy. Thus, the presence of the pathogen was validated by LSCM in murine, nonhuman primate, and human FFPE tissues

Serum cytokine response of BALB/c mice following intranasal immunization with <i>S</i>. <i>enterica</i> serovar Typhimurium SL3261 expressing <i>B</i>. <i>mallei</i> O antigen.

<p>Sera were collected 4 weeks post-vaccination, and the data were analyzed by the Mann-Whitney <i>U</i> test. <i>P</i> values were calculated as: Vaccine vs. PBS and Vector vs. PBS.</p

Opsonophagocytosis killing of <i>B</i>. <i>thailandensis</i>.

<p><i>In vitro</i> opsonophagocytic killing of <i>B</i>. <i>thailandensis</i> E264<i>lux</i> using dilutions of pooled antisera collected from intranasally PBS-, SL3261 (vector)-, and SL3261/p1C3 (vaccine)-immunized BALB/c mice. Plates were read at 120 min following the co-incubation of the opsonophagocytosis assay components. Bars represent mean percentage of killing, and error bars represent the standard deviation. Data were analyzed by the Mann-Whitney <i>U</i> test (<i>P<0</i>.<i>0005</i> vaccine vs. no sera; <i>P<0</i>.<i>005</i> vaccine vs. vector).</p

Analysis of LPS expression and immunoreactivity.

<p><b>(A)</b> LPS extracted from <i>B</i>. <i>mallei</i> (Lane 2), SL3261 (Lane 3), and SL3261/p1C3 (Lane 4) was subjected to SDS-PAGE followed by immunoblotting analysis using 5C8-1C3 anti-<i>B</i>. <i>mallei</i>-specific LPS monoclonal antibody (mAb). Molecular weight marker is shown in Lane 1. <b>(B)</b> LPS extracted from <i>B</i>. <i>mallei</i> (<i>B</i>.<i>m</i>.) and <i>B</i>. <i>pseudomallei</i> (<i>B</i>.<i>p</i>) was run, subjected to SDS-PAGE followed by immunoblot using sera collected from SL3261 (vector)-immunized mice; 3B3-5, anti-<i>B</i>. <i>pseudomallei</i> mAb; sera collected from SL3261/p1C3 (vaccine)-immunized mice; and 5C8-1C3, anti-<i>B</i>. <i>mallei</i> mAb. Molecular weight ladder (L).</p