The Future of International Education: Why Agility Is Now Integral to Strategic Planning

Based on my experience, agility is truly based on the principles of resiliency. Resiliency is an approach to sustainability that focuses on building capacity to deal with disasters, unexpected changes and/or shifts to our daily routines. ● Kampala, Uganda example shows mild disruption, poor maintenance, and insufficient infrastructure creates a lack of resiliency. At Embry-Riddle, hurricanes are the norm

Information Seeking Behavior of Engineers

Research paper for SI 551 Information Seeking Behavior with Dr Soo Young RiehEngineers are largely specialists trained in areas such as mechanical, chemical, and electrical engineering, yet they work in a broad range of environments, such as research and development, design, testing, manufacturing, construction, management, consulting and sales. Engineers need to seek highly specialized information when working in the industry and need information to provide a product, system, process or service to their customer. The purpose of this study is to understand how engineers find the information they need to effectively perform their job. What sources do most engineers turn to first and why? Do they depend on their corporate library, do they subscribe to databases? Do they read reports, catalogs, handbooks, and trade journals? How do engineers organize their own information - do they form their own systems for papers, computer files, drawings, etc? Are there any cultural barriers that impede their search for information? By studying practicing engineers, we would like to try to understand how they solve their problems when searching for information at work.https://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/135952/6/Information Seeking Behavior of Engineers.pdf-

The impact of visiting the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) on children's and adolescents' psychological well-being: A systematic review

Abstract Objectives The visits of children/adolescents in adult intensive care units are increasingly more common. However, few studies examine the psychological impact of visiting. This systematic review aims to summarise the psychological effects that visiting family members has on children/adolescents. Research methodology A systematic review of research articles published from 1990 to January 2021 was conducted using PsycInfo, PubMed, and CINAHL. Inclusion/exclusion criteria were applied. Those studies included were evaluated using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal tools. A narrative synthesis of the results was conducted. Setting Adult intensive care unit. Results The review identified five studies (three of which qualitative), involving 141 children/adolescents. Although the experience of visiting was potentially traumatic, it enabled children/adolescents to better understand the reality and to preserve their relationships with family members. The impact of visiting was influenced by individual characteristics (e.g., age, past traumatic experiences) and by organisational characteristics (e.g., facilitated visit or not). Regardless of visitation, most children/adolescents presented anxiety and depression symptoms that need to be addressed. Conclusions Child/adolescent visitation seems to have positive effects, provided there is preparation and facilitation. Clinicians should pay attention to individual characteristics and optimise organisational factors (e.g., environment) in order to minimise potentially trauma-inducing aspects

Expression of the pair-rule gene homologs runt, Pax3/7, even-skipped-1 and even-skipped-2 during larval and juvenile development of the polychaete annelid Capitella teleta does not support a role in segmentation

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Annelids and arthropods each possess a segmented body. Whether this similarity represents an evolutionary convergence or inheritance from a common segmented ancestor is the subject of ongoing investigation.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>To investigate whether annelids and arthropods share molecular components that control segmentation, we isolated orthologs of the <it>Drosophila melanogaster </it>pair-rule genes, <it>runt</it>, <it>paired </it>(<it>Pax3/7</it>) and <it>eve</it>, from the polychaete annelid <it>Capitella teleta </it>and used whole mount <it>in situ </it>hybridization to characterize their expression patterns.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>When segments first appear, expression of the single <it>C. teleta runt </it>ortholog is only detected in the brain. Later, <it>Ct-runt </it>is expressed in the ventral nerve cord, foregut and hindgut. Analysis of <it>Pax </it>genes in the <it>C. teleta </it>genome reveals the presence of a single <it>Pax3/7 </it>ortholog. <it>Ct-Pax3/7 </it>is initially detected in the mid-body prior to segmentation, but is restricted to two longitudinal bands in the ventral ectoderm. Each of the two <it>C. teleta eve </it>orthologs has a unique and complex expression pattern, although there is partial overlap in several tissues. Prior to and during segment formation, <it>Ct-eve1 </it>and <it>Ct-eve2 </it>are both expressed in the bilaterial pair of mesoteloblasts, while <it>Ct-eve1 </it>is expressed in the descendant mesodermal band cells. At later stages, <it>Ct-eve2 </it>is expressed in the central and peripheral nervous system, and in mesoderm along the dorsal midline. In late stage larvae and adults, <it>Ct-eve1 </it>and <it>Ct-eve2 </it>are expressed in the posterior growth zone.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p><it>C. teleta eve, Pax3/7 </it>and <it>runt </it>homologs all have distinct expression patterns and share expression domains with homologs from other bilaterians. None of the pair-rule orthologs examined in <it>C. teleta </it>exhibit segmental or pair-rule stripes of expression in the ectoderm or mesoderm, consistent with an independent origin of segmentation between annelids and arthropods.</p

A comprehensive fate map by intracellular injection of identified blastomeres in the marine polychaete Capitella teleta

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The polychaete annelid <it>Capitella teleta </it>(formerly <it>Capitella </it>sp. I) develops by spiral cleavage and has been the focus of several recent developmental studies aided by a fully sequenced genome. Fate mapping in polychaetes has lagged behind other spiralian taxa, because of technical limitations.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>To generate a modern fate map for <it>C. teleta</it>, we injected 1,1'-dioctadecyl-3,3,3'3'-tetramethylindocarbocyanine perchlorate (DiI) into individual identified blastomeres through fourth-quartet micromere formation. Confocal laser scanning microscopy at single-cell resolution was used to characterize blastomere fates during larval stages. Our results corroborate previous observations from classic studies, and show a number of similarities with other spiralian fate maps, including unique and stereotypic fates for individual blastomeres, presence of four discrete body domains arising from the A, B, C and D cell quadrants, generation of anterior ectoderm from first quartet micromeres, and contributions to trunk ectoderm and ventral nerve cord by the 2d somatoblast. Of particular interest are several instances in which the <it>C. teleta </it>fate map deviates from other spiralian fate maps. For example, we identified four to seven distinct origins of mesoderm, all ectomesodermal. In addition, the left and right mesodermal bands arise from 3d and 3c, respectively, whereas 4d generates a small number of trunk muscle cells, the primordial germ cells and the anus. We identified a complex set of blastomere contributions to the posterior gut in <it>C. teleta</it>, which establishes the most complete map of posterior gut territories to date.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our detailed cellular descriptions reveal previously underappreciated complexity in the ontogenetic contributions to several spiralian larval tissues, including the mesoderm, nervous system and gut. The formation of the mesodermal bands by 3c and 3d is in stark contrast to other spiralians, in which 4d generates the mesodermal bands. The results of this study provide a framework for future phylogenetic comparisons and functional analyses of cell-fate specification.</p

Expression and phylogenetic analysis of the zic gene family in the evolution and development of metazoans

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>zic </it>genes are members of the <it>gli/glis/nkl/zic </it>super-family of C2H2 zinc finger (ZF) transcription factors. Homologs of the <it>zic </it>family have been implicated in patterning neural and mesodermal tissues in bilaterians. Prior to this study, the origin of the metazoan <it>zic </it>gene family was unknown and expression of <it>zic </it>gene homologs during the development of early branching metazoans had not been investigated.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Phylogenetic analyses of novel <it>zic </it>candidate genes identified a definitive <it>zic </it>homolog in the placozoan <it>Trichoplax adhaerens</it>, two <it>gli/glis/nkl-</it>like genes in the ctenophore <it>Mnemiopsis leidyi</it>, confirmed the presence of three <it>gli/glis/nkl</it>-like genes in Porifera, and confirmed the five previously identified <it>zic </it>genes in the cnidarian <it>Nematostella vectensis</it>. In the cnidarian <it>N. vectensis</it>, <it>zic </it>homologs are expressed in ectoderm and the gastrodermis (a bifunctional endomesoderm), in presumptive and developing tentacles, and in oral and sensory apical tuft ectoderm. The <it>Capitella teleta zic </it>homolog (<it>Ct-zic</it>) is detectable in a subset of the developing nervous system, the foregut, and the mesoderm associated with the segmentally repeated chaetae. Lastly, expression of <it>gli </it>and <it>glis </it>homologs in <it>Mnemiopsis</it>. <it>leidyi </it>is detected exclusively in neural cells in floor of the apical organ.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Based on our analyses, we propose that the <it>zic </it>gene family arose in the common ancestor of the Placozoa, Cnidaria and Bilateria from a <it>gli/glis/nkl</it>-like gene and that both ZOC and ZF-NC domains evolved prior to cnidarian-bilaterian divergence. We also conclude that <it>zic </it>expression in neural ectoderm and developing neurons is pervasive throughout the Metazoa and likely evolved from neural expression of an ancestral <it>gli/glis/nkl/zic </it>gene. <it>zic </it>expression in bilaterian mesoderm may be related to the expression in the gastrodermis of a cnidarian-bilaterian common ancestor.</p

Sexualidade e gênero: o que a Biologia tem a enunciar?

Este artigo é um recorte de uma pesquisa mais abrangente que articula os campos de estudos de sexualidade, gênero, currículo e os estudos culturais pós-estruturalistas com aporte em teorizações foucaultianas, para analisar os modos pelos quais a Educação Sexual vem sendo abordada no currículo de licenciatura em Biologia na Universidade Federal X. A produção do material empírico envolveu exame de documentos, grupos focais com sete licenciandos/as e/ou recém-licenciados/as e 14 entrevistas semiestruturadas, utilizamos a análise foucaultiana do discurso para problematizar os discursos acerca de sexualidade e gênero que perpassam esse cenário curricular. Desse modo, ao questionarmos ‘o que a biologia tem a enunciar’ sobre sexualidade e gênero, os ditos dos/as (futuros/as) biólogos/as anunciaram confl itualidades e contradições decorrentes de uma multiplicidade de discursos essencialistas, fundacionalistas e universalistas, que instituem binarismos e normatizações acerca dessas dimensões da vida. Entretanto, evidenciamos também um incessante exercício de problematização e desconstrução desses discursos que parecem deixar marcas nesse currículo para além do que a Biologia costumava ‘enunciar’, principalmente ao incitar o reconhecimento de sexualidade e gênero como “constructos socioculturais”.Palavras-chave: Sexualidade. Gênero. Currículo. Biologia.Sexuality and gender: what does Biology has to say?AbstractThis article is a cross-section of a more comprehensive research that articulates the fields of studies of sexuality, gender, curriculum and poststructuralist cultural studies with the contribution of Foucaultian theorizations, to analyze the ways in which Sexual Education has beenapproached in the curriculum of degree in Biology at Federal University X. The production of the empirical material involved the examination of documents, focus groups with seven graduates and recent graduates and 14 semi-structured interviews, using the Foucauldian discourse analysis to problematize speeches about sexuality and gender that permeate this curricular scenario. Thus, by questioning ‘what biology has to say’ about sexuality and gender, the sayings of future biologists have announced conflicts and contradictions stemming from a multitude of essentialist, foundationalist and universalist discourses that institute binarisms and norms about these dimensions of life. However, there is also an incessant exercise of problematization and deconstruction of these discourses that seems to leave marks in this curriculum beyond what Biology used to ‘enunciate’, mainly by inciting the recognition of sexuality and gender as ‘sociocultural constructs’.Keywords: Sexuality. Gender. Curriculum. Biology.Sexualidad y género: ¿qué la Biología tiene en enunciar?ResumenEste artículo es un recorte de una investigación más amplia que articula los campos de estudios de sexualidad, género, currículo y los estudios culturales post-estructuralistas con aporte en teorizaciones foucaultianas, para analizar los modos por los cuales la Educación Sexual viene siendo abordada en el currículo de la educación sexual en la Universidad Federal X. La producción del material empírico involucró el examen de documentos, grupos focales con siete licenciandos/as y/o recién licenciados/as y 14 entrevistas semiestructuradas, utilizando el análisis foucaultiana del discurso para problematizar los discursos acerca de sexualidad y género que atraviesan ese escenario curricular. De este modo, al cuestionar ‘lo que la biología tiene que enunciar’ sobre sexualidad y género, los dichos de los biólogos/as anunciaron conflictos y contradicciones derivadas de una multiplicidad de discursos esencialistas, fundacionalistas y universalistas, que instituyen binarismos y normatizaciones acerca de esas dimensiones de la vida. Sin embargo, se evidencia también un incesante ejercicio de problematización y deconstrucción de esos discursos que parece dejar huellas en ese currículo más allá de lo que la Biología solía “enunciar”, principalmente al incitar el reconocimiento de sexualidad y género como “constructos socioculturales”.Palabras clave: Sexualidad. Género. Plan de estudios. Biología

Nicotinic Acid Receptor Abnormalities in Human Skin Cancer: Implications for a Role in Epidermal Differentiation

Chronic UV skin exposure leads to epidermal differentiation defects in humans that can be largely restored by pharmacological doses of nicotinic acid. Nicotinic acid has been identified as a ligand for the human G-protein-coupled receptors GPR109A and GPR109B that signal through G(i)-mediated inhibition of adenylyl cyclase. We have examined the expression, cellular distribution, and functionality of GPR109A/B in human skin and skin derived epidermal cells.Nicotinic acid increases epidermal differentiation in photodamaged human skin as judged by the terminal differentiation markers caspase 14 and filaggrin. Both GPR109A and GPR109B genes are transcribed in human skin and in epidermal keratinocytes, but expression in dermal fibroblasts is below limits of detection. Receptor transcripts are greatly over-expressed in squamous cell cancers. Receptor protein in normal skin is prominent from the basal through granular layers of the epidermis, with cellular localization more dispersive in the basal layer but predominantly localized at the plasma membrane in more differentiated epidermal layers. In normal human primary and immortalized keratinocytes, nicotinic acid receptors show plasma membrane localization and functional G(i)-mediated signaling. In contrast, in a squamous cell carcinoma derived cell line, receptor protein shows a more diffuse cellular localization and the receptors are nearly non-functional.The results of these studies justify future genetic and pharmacological intervention studies to define possible specific role(s) of nicotinic acid receptors in human skin homeostasis