Making connections in science: engaging with ICT to enhance curriculum understanding

The “Teaching Teachers for the Future” (TTF) project (DEEWR, 2012) provided the La Trobe University School of Education with the opportunity to rethink the integration of Information and Communication Technology in the science curriculum subjects offered in their teacher education programs. The La Trobe University iteration of the Teaching Teachers for the Future (TTF) project focused initially on subject in the second semester, third year of the Bachelor of Education course called the Multi-Disciplinary Science & Technology Integrated Experience (MSTIE). Two pairs of pre-service teachers were placed in the school where the TTF ICT Pedagogy Officer (ICTPO) worked as an ICT specialist. The two teams worked with classroom teachers and the ICTPO to cooperatively plan, teach and evaluate a science curriculum project enhanced by strong ICT integration. The experience was a catalyst for significant educational insight, for the students involved, but also for other pre-service teachers and teachers from the school and university. In the second cycle of the project the ICTPO worked with academics from the university to draw on findings from the first cycle in order to design and implement integrated ICT initiatives in a first semester, second year Science curriculum subject. This structure means that students who will take MSTIE in their third year will have a strong foundation of Science ICT integration on which to base their MSTIE preparation and implementation. &nbsp

Design and Characterization of Bifunctional Glucocorticoid Ligands Capable of Producing Novel Transcriptional Profiles.

The process of transcription underlies the expression of all gene profiles. Normal expression is caused by carefully coordinating the assembly of transcriptional proteins at specific genes, a procedure mediated through transcription factors that bind specific sequences of DNA. The glucocorticoid receptor (GR) is a transcription factor that influences the expression of genes involved in inflammation pathways. Drug-like molecules targeting GR are capable of stimulating GR to bind DNA; however, these molecules are unable to exert complete control over the members of the transcriptional complex recruited by GR. As such, we are limited in our control of GR activity. My dissertation focuses on addressing this with new GR ligands designed to recruit specific transcriptional proteins to produce novel, desired expression profiles. We first conjugated a GR molecule to a ligand of the protein FKBP. This bifunctional ligand was capable of localizing GR to DNA, recruiting FKBP-fusions to the GR-regulated gene, and producing transcriptional activity dictated by the recruitment. This was achieved with the recruitment of both a transcriptionally activating protein and a repressing protein, demonstrating the adaptability of this system to toggle the output of a gene of interest. The design of our system benefits from its inherent modularity; expanding to new targets is simply achieved through synthetic conjugation to an alternative ligand. In a first application of this strategy, we conjugated an agonistic GR ligand to a selective inhibitor of the transcriptional protein BRD4. Recruitment of BRD4 to GR resulted in the suppression of transcription at select genes, and this selectivity drives a novel profile of activated and suppressed genes. In a second application, we conjugated a GR antagonist to the BRD4 inhibitor, allowing forthe further production of novel transcriptional profiles with potential pharmacological utility. This dissertation also includes a study aimed at introducing undergraduate students to the scientific principles of modern chemical biology research. To enhance student learning, we have developed a new guided-inquiry experimental module for biochemistry laboratory courses. This has been well received, and assessment metrics indicate that the incorporation into the University of Michigan’s biochemistry course has raised student cognitive abilities in analysis and application.PHDChemical BiologyUniversity of Michigan, Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studieshttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/113323/1/jcarolan_1.pd

Interview with the Creators of 'Love/Hate'

On 25th November 2015, Studies in Arts and Humanities (SAH) Journal hosted a public interview with leading Irish film and television producer James Flynn (Octagon Productions) and creator/writer of the groundbreaking Irish television drama Love/Hate Stuart Carolan. The interview was conducted by Conor Murphy (Editor-in-Chief, SAH Journal) at Filmbase Ireland before a live audience comprising students and faculty from the film schools of Dublin Business School, Filmbase and Pulse College. This lively and thought-provoking interview provided key insights into the artistic and production processes behind the making of a successful TV drama. James Flynn gave a detailed overview of the funding and legislative frameworks in which the modern day film producer operates both in Ireland and overseas. He provided a fascinating timeline of developments in the filmmaking industry in Ireland in parallel with his own career over the last twenty years. Stuart Carolan explained how the rich and varied characters that inhabit Love/Hate come into being and offered an insight into the daily writing rituals that shaped the development of character, plot and pace. He also spoke about the significance of casting in Love/Hate on the development of the story. The casting of John Connors, for example, influenced Stuart to develop a traveller theme to a greater extent than initially intended. Stuart’s passion for social justice and equality was evident throughout the interview. The interview is replete with analysis of the process of developing Love/Hate including the logistics of shooting in multiple locations and the tight deadlines under which they operated. In addition, James and Stuart offered focussed, helpful and encouraging advice for emerging screenwriters and filmmakers

Midwest memoir: Cole Carolan

A memoi

Exhaled breath condensate: a novel matrix for biological monitoring to assess occupational exposure to respirable crystalline silica

Biological monitoring (BM) is a useful way of determining overall exposures to chemical substances; however, in the case of respirable crystalline silica (RCS), this has not been analytically feasible in conventional biological matrices. The aim of this study was to investigate the utility of exhaled breath condensate (EBC) as a potential biological matrix in which to determine exposure to RCS. A small pilot study was undertaken collecting EBC from six quarry workers and six occupationally unexposed persons; the samples were analysed using both single particle inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (spICP-MS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results showed that EBC obtained from the occupationally unexposed persons exhibited low background levels of dissolved silica whilst silica particles of various sizes were present in samples from quarry workers. This is the first study to report EBC as a potential biological matrix that allows differentiation of RCS concentrations between samples from workers and occupationally unexposed controls. The results shown here confirm the presence of RCS in EBC by both spICP-MS and TEM. However, there are difficult analytical challenges still to be overcome before this can be used as a BM method to determine workplace exposure, these are currently being investigated. [Abstract copyright: © Crown copyright 2017.

Proteomic Insights into the Hidden World of Phloem Sap Feeding

The physical interface between a phloem-feeding insect and its host plant is a single cell buried deep within the plant tissue. As such, the molecular interactions between these notorious agricultural pests and the crop plants upon which they feed are diffi cult to study. ‘Omic’ technologies have proved crucial in revealing some of the fascinating detail of the molecular interplay between these partners. Here we review the role of proteomics in identifying putative components of the secreted saliva of phloem-feeding insects, particularly aphids, and discuss the limited knowledge concerning the function of these proteins

Bumblebees of the Azores (Apidae: Bombus)

Bombus terrestris and Bombus pratorum were found for the first time in the Azores in 2005. Until then Bombus ruderatus was the only bumblebee species known from this group of nine midAtlantic islands. The identity of B. terrestris was confirmed by DNA barcoding

The effect of entomopathogenic fungal culture filtrate on the immune response and haemolymph proteome of the large pine weevil, Hylobius abietis

peer-reviewedThe large pine weevil Hylobius abietis L. is a major forestry pest in 15 European countries, where it is a threat to 3.4 million hectares of forest. A cellular and proteomic analysis of the effect of culture filtrate of three entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) species on the immune system of H. abietis was performed. Injection with Metarhizium brunneum or Beauvaria bassiana culture filtrate facilitated a significantly increased yeast cell proliferation in larvae. Larvae co-injected with either Beauvaria caledonica or B. bassiana culture filtrate and Candida albicans showed significantly increased mortality. Together these results suggest that EPF culture filtrate has the potential to modulate the insect immune system allowing a subsequent pathogen to proliferate. Injection with EPF culture filtrate was shown to alter the abundance of protease inhibitors, detoxifing enzymes, antimicrobial peptides and proteins involved in reception/detection and development in H. abietis larvae. Larvae injected with B. caledonica culture filtrate displayed significant alterations in abundance of proteins involved in cellulolytic and other metabolic processes in their haemolymph proteome. Screening EPF for their ability to modulate the insect immune response represents a means of assessing EPF for use as biocontrol agents, particularly if the goal is to use them in combination with other control agents.This research was funded by the Irish Government (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine) (10/RD/MCOP/NUIM/720) under the National Development Plan 2007–2013 and through the MU Department of Biology Contingency Fund. The Q-Exactive quantitative mass spectrometer was funded under the SFI Research Infrastructure Call 2012; Grant Number: 12/RI/2346 (3) to Prof. S. Doyle