A study of laterality as it is related to certain gross motor skills of one hundred and fifteen children at the kindergarten and primary grade levels

Thesis (Ed.M.)--Boston University This item was digitized by the Internet Archive

Nitric oxide in acute and chronic inflammation.

PhDNitric oxide (NO) is a signalling molecule formed when L-arginine is converted to L-citrulline by the enzyme NO synthase (NOS. NOS exists as three isoforms, ecNOS is constitutively expressed in endothelial cells and nNOS in neuronal cells, while a third isoform (iNOS) is induced in response to inflammatory stimuli and is capable of sustained production of high levels of NO. NO produced in response to an inflammatory insult, has been shown by use of NOS inhibitors to be detrimental during inflammation by producing the potent oxidising agent peroxynitrite. However, iNOS knockout animals generally produce a similar inflammatory profile to wild type controls. Hence, there is a discrepancy between the effects of phamacological inhibition and gene deletion of iNOS in vivo. Therefore, the aim of this thesis is to use a number of approaches to modulate NO production in acute and chronic inflammatory models and to assess the effects on the NOS pathway and other markers of the inflammatory response. In this thesis, it was established that iNOS protein expression and nitrite formation was significantly elevated after injection of the inflammatory stimulus in the carrageenin-induced pleurisy (RCIP), bovine serum albumin (BSA)-induced pleurisy and methylated BSA-induced pleurisy in the rat, and a murine models of croton oil-induced chronic granulomatous tissue of the air pouch (MCGTAP). The majority of immunostaining was associated with migrating inflammatory cells. NO production was modulated in acute and chronic models of inflammation using NOS inhibitors and NSAIDs. Local injection of NOS inhibitors in the RCIP model caused an increase in pro-inflammatory mediators, including superoxide, histamine and PMN chemoattractants that resulted in an exacerbation of inflammation. This was a result of inhibition of both eNOS and NOS at the inflammatory site. In contrast, systemic inhibition of NOS reduced both inflammatory cell influx and exudation into the pleural cavity. A similar inhibitory ABSTRACT result was obtained after NOS inhibition in the MCGTAP model. This antiinflammatory effect was supported by experiments in mice whose iNOS gene had been genetically deleted. Interestingly, oral aspirin administration significantly elevated nitrite formation in both the RCIP and MCGTAP with a concomitant decrease in inflammation. Further analysis demonstrated that aspirin was able to elevate NO production in lipopolysaccharide induced J774 macrophages and A23187 stimulated EA. hy926 endothelial cells, suggesting that both cell types may be involved in the pharmacological actions of aspirin. In conclusion, NO is a multi-functional free-radical which had advantageous effects in the acute resolving model and detrimental effects in chronic inflammation. Therefore, depending on the levels and micro-environment in which it is produced NO can be either good or ba

A new methodology for learning design

This paper describes the development of a new methodology for learning design. Our approach is predicated on the view that no one, simple, view of design is appropriate, because of the inherently messy and creative nature of design. Instead we are adopting an interactive and multi-faceted approach which consists of a series of cycles of user consultation, focus groups and workshops alongside the development of learning design tools and resources. In particular we will describe how we have adapted an existing mind mapping and argumentation tool, Compendium, so that it can be used as a means of guiding designers through the learning design decision making process in the creation of learning activities. We will describe the initial evaluations of the use of this tool, along with our findings to date on a series of fact finding exercises to better understand individual and team approaches to design

Teaching general problem solving does not lead to mathematical skills or knowledge

Sweller, J., Clark, R. E., & Kirschner, P. A. (2010). Teaching general problem solving does not lead to mathematical skills or knowledge. Notices of the American Mathematical Society, 57, 1303-1304.Problem solving is central to mathematics. Yet problem-solving skill is not what it seems. Indeed, the field of problem solving has recently undergone a surge in research interest and insight but many of the results of this research are both counterintuitive and contrary to many widely held views

Mathematical ability relies on knowledge, Too

Sweller, J., Clark, R. E., & Kirschner, P. A. (2010). Mathematical ability relies on knowledge too. American Educator, 34(4), 34-35.Problem solving is central to mathematics. Yet problem-solving skill is not what it seems. Indeed, the field of problem solving has recently undergone a surge in research interest and insight, but many of the results of this research are both counterintuitive and contrary to many widely held views

Putting Students on the Path to Learning:The Case for Fully Guided Instruction

Clark, R. E., Kirschner, P. A., & Sweller, J. (2012). Putting students on the path to learning: The case for fully guided instruction. American Educator, 36(1), 6-11.Disputes about the impact of instructional guidance during teaching have been ongoing for more than a half century. On one side of this argument are those who believe that all people—novices and experts alike—learn best when provided with instruction that contains unguided or partly guided segments. This is generally defined as instruction in which learners, rather than being presented with all essential information and asked to practice using it, must discover or construct some or all of the essential information for themselves. On the other side are those who believe that ideal learning environments for experts and novices differ: while experts often thrive without much guidance, nearly everyone else thrives when provided with full, explicit instructional guidance (and should not be asked to discover any essential content or skills

Evaluation of post-harvest disease resistance in blackberry genotypes

Forty-nine blackberry genotypes (19 cultivars and 30 breeding selections) were evaluated for post-harvest fruit-rot resistance in June and July 2003. Fully mature, undamaged berries were harvested on two dates for each genotype at the University of Arkansas Fruit Substation, Clarksville. After transporting in chilled coolers back to the Plant Pathology Department in Fayetteville, two replications of 10 berries of each genotype were placed in a high-humidity chamber for 3 d (21-23°C; 16-h daylength). This provided a total of four replications for each entry across the two harvest dates. Natural inoculum from the field provided the post-harvest pathogens, and no additional inoculations were conducted. Berries were evaluated after 3 d in the chambers for the presence of postharvest rot. If rot was present, then a rating scale of 1 to 3 (1- very little mycelial growth present; 3=berry totally covered by mycelia) was used to quantify rot. The fungal growth was examined visually and microscopically to identify the causal pathogen. There was a wide range of post-harvest fruit-rot responses among the genotypes. The cultivars with the least rot were ‘Kiowa’, ‘Triple Crown’, and A-1689, with 80%, 73%, and 60% of berries free of any rots, respectively. Botrytis cinerea was identified on all berries that had any presence of rot and was the most important pathogen that contributed to berry decay. Colletotrichum spp. was found less frequently on rotted berries. Results indicate that substantial fruit-rot resistance existed among genotypes and variation for resistance could likely be used in breeding. Botrytis cinerea is the primary pathogen to target in post-harvest fruit-rot breeding resistance at this study location

Characterization and inheritance assessment of fruit and leaf shape in unique Vitis seedlings

From August to October of 2009, two separate studies were conducted to assess fruit shape of Vitis section Euvitis hybrid bunch grapes using digital photography (Study 1) and evaluate inheritance of leaf shape in unique populations of V. rotundifolia hybrids (Vitis section Muscadinia) (Study 2). All vines studied were located at the University of Arkansas Fruit Research Station, Clarksville. Study 1 used SigmaScan® digital photography analysis software to calculate shape factor, major:minor axis ratio, and compactness of highly variable, unique-shaped fruit from a population of 182 Euvitis seedlings. SigmaScan® accurately characterized fruit shape elongation as had been recorded in previous studies. Although elongated shapes were measured accurately, the calculations used were unable to conclusively analyze ovoid or pear-shaped fruits. Study 2 evaluated the inheritance of leaf shape (lobing) in several populations of V. rotundifolia crosses within the University of Arkansas fruit breeding program. Based on previous studies, it was hypothesized that leaf lobing was a dominant trait. The two populations expected to segregate into a 3:1, lobed:standard, phenotypic ratio were successfully observed, while only two of the six expected to demonstrate a 1:1, lobed:standard, phenotypic ratio were observed. Previous studies suggest the unexpected ratios observed may be attributed to a lethal allele combination, where homozygous dominant progeny are not viable, or modifier genes impacted leaf shape of the seedlings. Further evaluation of these and other populations in addition to molecular analysis would be helpful in characterizing inheritance of leaf lobing in muscadine hybrid