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Investigating the reassessment opportunity for prospective teachers within their initial required content course

  • Amanda J. Meiners;Angel Luis Figueroa-Rosado
    • Research in Mathematical Education
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    • v.27 no.2
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    • pp.175-193
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    • 2024
  • In K-12 education, reassessment is a common practice, providing students with opportunities to enhance their understanding through low-stakes assignments. However, reassessment is underutilized in higher education, including during the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Our study advocates for expanding the use of reassessment in university settings to promote holistic learning and focus on what shifts of change were made by students in an initial mathematics content course as they sought to gain licensure for teaching in a birth (daycare/pre-K setting) to eighth-grade classrooms. Our study took place during COVID-19 semesters and aimed to examine how using a reassessment approach early on in a gateway course for Prospective Teachers (PTs) affected the pass rate of the course. Results showed significant differences between the PTs who engaged with the test recovery and those who did not. We propose recovery opportunities like ours provide the necessary guidance to support early degree necessary classes that are typically gatekeeping and, as another, likely cause too few students within the courses because they were able to advance into the teacher pipeline and out into the field. Future studies may consider how the reassessment could be done more before the official summative assessment of a unit or chapter to continue the shifts in teaching practices and pedagogy that are constant within the K-12 education systems at the university level.

Using a Body Scanner in Assessing Perceptions of Attractiveness: Cross-Regional Study

  • Aghekyan, Marine;Kim, Dong-Eun;Lichty, Margaret
    • Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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    • v.37 no.6
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    • pp.799-808
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    • 2013
  • Previous research reported that body size measured as Body Mass Index (BMI) and body shape measured as waist-hip-ratio (WHR) are two essential factors that form the perceptions of body attractiveness. However, the debate on the importance of BMI versus WHR is ongoing. In addition, scholarly articles, that focus on the role of geographic and cultural variability on perceptions of attractiveness, report inconsistent results. Some suggested that according to globalization and the rise of mass media, geographic variability of perceptions of attractiveness have been altered, while others believed that it remains. This study cross-regionally investigates the role of body size and body shape on the perceptions of female attractiveness. Samples were composed of 107 female college students in Alabama and 107 female college students in California. Participants viewed 27 three-dimensional body scan images of women in three body shapes (pear, hourglass, and rectangle) and three body sizes (underweight, normal weight, and overweight) and rated their perceptions of attractiveness. Images were shown to students in a random order with an overhead projector and Microsoft Office PowerPoint software. A three-way mixed-ANOVA was conducted to analyze the data. The results of the study showed that some regional differences exist between the two sample groups. However, regardless of the regional difference, hourglass shapes were perceived to be the most attractive shape and underweight sizes were perceived to be the most attractive size for both samples.

The Effects of Psychosocial Interventions to Improve Stress and Coping in Patients with Breast Cancer (유방암 환자의 스트레스 대응능력 증진을 위한 심리사회적중재의 효과)

  • Kim Cho Ja;Hur Hea Kung;Kang Duck Hee;Kim Bo Hwan
    • Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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    • v.36 no.1
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    • pp.169-178
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    • 2006
  • Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine stress, coping, and immune response effects of a psychosocial intervention program based on the PNI model and Stress-Appraisal-Coping for Korean patients with breast cancer. Methods: A nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest design was used. The participants who had survived breast cancer and lived in Wonju city and the surrounding area were assigned to an intervention group (N=21) or a control group(N=18).We conducted a 12-week intervention, 2 hours a day weekly, and measured the variables at baseline, six and twelve weeks later. Dependent variables are: stress, anxiety-depression and anger, and immune response. Results: Patients in the psychosocial intervention program reported significantly less stress perception (U=31.500, p=.023), more problem solving ability and less problem avoidance in coping (U=20.500, p= .013; U=29.500, p=.040), and less anxiety-depression (U=22.000, p=.023). No difference, however, was found in anger and. immune responses between the two groups. Intervention effects were evident at week 6 and 12 for anxiety-depression, and at week 6 for problem avoidance in coping, the same time that NK cell counts and the T8 decreased. Conclusions: These results suggested positive effects of a psychosocial intervention program. However, the results are inconclusive due to the small sample.

Scanning electronic microscopical studies on the development of the tongue in fetuses and neonates of Korean native goats (한국재래산양의 태아 및 신생아 혀유두 발달에 관한 주사전자현미경적 연구)

  • Kim, Chong-sup;Cho, Gyu-hyen;Lee, Joung-hwan;Kwak, Soo-dong;Song, Chi-won;Won, Chung-kil
    • Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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    • v.40 no.3
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    • pp.439-450
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    • 2000
  • The morphological development of lingual papillae in fetuses between 60, 90, 120 days gestation and neonates of Korean native goat were investigated by scanning electron microscopy. In 60 day old fetuses, the primordia of lingual papillae were observed on the dorsal surface epithelium and those of papillae were primordial fungiform, vallate and conical papillae. The many of microridges and microplicae were observed on the surface of those epithelial cells. In 90 day old fetuses, the rudiment of lentiform and filiform papillae were appeared. There were microplicaes on the surface of the conical papillae epithelium. In the 120 day old fetuses, the lingual papillaes were well developed. The taste bud were opened on the top of vallate papillae that were compactly many of short microvilli. Moreover, secondary papillae partially were observed on top of vallate papillae. In neonate, the fungiform, vallate and lentiform papillae were similar to the adult lingual papillae, but filiform and conical papillae were different from the mature lingual papillae. The outline of filiform papillae were irregularly in indented, but those of conical papillae were regularly. The diameters of filiform, fungiform, conical, vallate and lentiform papillae were about 80~100, 190~250, 230~470, 360~670 and $730{\sim}1,140{\mu}m$, respectively. The height of filiform and conical papillae were about $130{\sim}140{\mu}m$ and $145{\sim}250{\mu}m$.

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The Mucosal Immune System for the Development of New Generation Vaccine

  • Yuki, Yoshikazu;Kiyono, Hiroshi
    • Proceedings of the Korean Society for Applied Microbiology Conference
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    • 2003.06a
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    • pp.55-62
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    • 2003
  • The mucosal immune system provides a first line of defense against invasion of infectious agents via inhalation, ingestion and sexual contact. For the induction of protective immunity at these invasion sites, one must consider the use of the CMIS, which interconnects inductive tissues, including PP and NALT, and effector tissues of the intestinal, respiratory and genitourinary tracts. In order for the CMIS to induce maximal protective mucosal immunity, co-administration of mucosal adjuvant or use of mucosal antigen delivery vehicle has been shown to be essential. When vaccine antigen is administered via oral or nasal route, antigen-specific Th 1 and Th2 cells, cytotoxic T lymphocytes(CTLs) and IgA B cell responses are effectively induced by the CMIS. In the early stages of induction of mucosal immune response, the uptake of orally or nasally administered antigens is achieved through a unique set of antigen-sampling cells, M cells located in follicle-associated epithelium(FAE) of inductive sites. After successful uptake, the antigens are immediately processed and presented by the underlying DCs for the generation of antigen-specific T cells and IgA committed B cells. These antigen-specific lymphocytes are then home to the distant mucosal effector tissues for the induction of antigen-specific humoral(e.g., IgA) and cell-mediated (e.g., CTL and Th1) immune responses in order to form the first line of defense. Elucidation of the molecular/cellular characteristics of the immunological sequence of mucosal immune response beginning from the antigen sampling and processing/presentation by M cells and mucosal DCs followed by the effector phase with antigen-specific lymphocytes will greatly facilitate the design of a new generation of effective mucosal antigen-specific lymphocytes will greatly facilitate the design of a new generation of a new generation of effective mucosal adjuvants and of a vaccine deliver vehicle that maximizes the use of the CMIS.

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Intake and blood concentrations of folate and their association with health-related behaviors in Korean college students

  • Jang, Han-Byul;Han, Young-Hee;Piyathilake, Chandrika J.;Kim, Heon;Hyun, Taisun
    • Nutrition Research and Practice
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    • v.7 no.3
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    • pp.216-223
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    • 2013
  • The purpose of this study is to assess folate intake, and serum and red blood cell (RBC) folate concentrations, and investigate the association between folate status and health-related behaviors among Korean college students. A total of 169 students, aged between 18 and 27 years, participated in this study. Dietary intake data were collected by trained interviewers using a 24-hour recall method for three non-consecutive days in 2009. Information on health-related behaviors was obtained by a self-administered questionnaire. Serum and RBC folate concentrations were measured by microbiological assay. The average intakes of folate were $456{\mu}gDFE$ and $347{\mu}gDFE$ in male and female students, respectively. While the average serum folate concentration was significantly lower in male students (8.9 ng/mL) compared to female students (12.5 ng/mL), RBC concentrations were not significantly different between male (398.6 ng/mL) and female students (405.3 ng/mL). In male students, low serum folate concentrations were associated with total folate intake less than the Estimated Average Requirement, non-use of folic acid supplements, smoking, alcohol drinking at least once a week and low physical activity. In female students, low serum folate concentrations were associated with smoking and alcohol drinking at least two drinks at a time and BMI ${\geq}25$. Alcohol drinking and low physical activity were also associated with low RBC folate concentrations in both male and female students. In order to improve folate nutritional status of college students, the practice of desirable health-related behaviors, such as non-smoking, moderate alcohol drinking, regular physical activity, and maintenance of healthy BMI should be encouraged along with consumption of folate-rich foods and supplements.

Melatonin Rescues Mesenchymal Stem Cells from Senescence Induced by the Uremic Toxin p-Cresol via Inhibiting mTOR-Dependent Autophagy

  • Yun, Seung Pil;Han, Yong-Seok;Lee, Jun Hee;Kim, Sang Min;Lee, Sang Hun
    • Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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    • v.26 no.4
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    • pp.389-398
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    • 2018
  • p-Cresol, found at high concentrations in the serum of chronic kidney failure patients, is known to cause cell senescence and other complications in different parts of the body. p-Cresol is thought to mediate cytotoxic effects through the induction of autophagy response. However, toxic effects of p-cresol on mesenchymal stem cells have not been elucidated. Thus, we aimed to investigate whether p-cresol induces senescence of mesenchymal stem cells, and whether melatonin can ameliorate abnormal autophagy response caused by p-cresol. We found that p-cresol concentration-dependently reduced proliferation of mesenchymal stem cells. Pretreatment with melatonin prevented pro-senescence effects of p-cresol on mesenchymal stem cells. We found that by inducing phosphorylation of Akt and activating the Akt signaling pathway, melatonin enhanced catalase activity and thereby inhibited the accumulation of reactive oxygen species induced by p-cresol in mesenchymal stem cells, ultimately preventing abnormal activation of autophagy. Furthermore, preincubation with melatonin counteracted other pro-senescence changes caused by p-cresol, such as the increase in total 5'-AMP-activated protein kinase expression and decrease in the level of phosphorylated mechanistic target of rapamycin. Ultimately, we discovered that melatonin restored the expression of senescence marker protein 30, which is normally suppressed because of the induction of the autophagy pathway in chronic kidney failure patients by p-cresol. Our findings suggest that stem cell senescence in patients with chronic kidney failure could be potentially rescued by the administration of melatonin, which grants this hormone a novel therapeutic role.

Meta Analysis of the Effects of Massage Intervention for the Laboring Women (산부를 위한 마사지 중재 효과에 대한 메타분석)

  • Yeo, Jung-Hee;Choi, Hwan-Seok
    • Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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    • v.13 no.3
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    • pp.87-99
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    • 2009
  • Objectives : The study was to examine the empirical evidence concerning the effects of massage intervention for the laboring women and to investigate the effect sizes related to the characteristics of intervention. Methods : Meta analysis was performed. A total of 11 trials related to massage intervention between 2000 and 2007 were reviewed. Results : Massage intervention showed a beneficial effect on length of labor(1st stage : U=46.75, p=0.00, 2nd stage : U=6.13, p=0.01), perception of childbirth experience(U=12.57, p=0.00), intensity of uterine contraction at the active(U=6.34, p=0.01) and the transition phases(U=24.83, p=0.00), and interval of uterine contraction at the active phase(U=4.83, p=0.03). Massage decreased systolic(U=10.81, p=0.00) and diastolic blood pressure at the transition phase(U=10.60, p=0.00). However, massage had no effect on subjective and objective labor pain and anxiety. No differences were found in effectiveness of massage according to characteristics of intervention(massage material, massager, and massage site) except for anxiety(QB=4.82, p=0.03) and diastolic blood pressure at the active phase by massage site(QB=4.52, p=0.03). Conclusions :We found that massage intervention for the laboring women had an empirical evidence on improving perception of childbirth experience and shortening length of labor. These results should be interpreted with caution due to the lack of studies. More full-scale randomized clinical trials with reliable designs are recommended to further warrant the effectiveness of massage.

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Individual LPS Responsiveness Depends on the Variation of Toll-like Receptor (TLR) Expression Level

  • JaeKal, Jun;Abraham, Edward;Azam, Tania;Netea, Mihai G.;Dinarello, Charles A.;Lim, Jong-Seok;Yang, Young;Yoon, Do-Young;Kim, Soo-Hyun
    • Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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    • v.17 no.11
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    • pp.1862-1867
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    • 2007
  • An individual's immune response is critical for host protection from many different pathogens, and the responsiveness can be assessed by the amount of cytokine production upon stimulating bacterial components such as lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The difference between individuals in their peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) responsiveness to LPS, a Gram-negative endotoxin, was investigated from 27 healthy individuals. We observed a large variation in $IFN{\gamma}$ production among different individuals. The PBMC of the consistently three highest and three lowest $IFN{\gamma}$ producers were investigated. Since previous studies described that a single point mutation in the coding region of TLR2 and TLR4 is linked to the individual responsiveness to pathogenic bacterial infections, we first examined the known point mutations in the coding region of $TLR2^{Pro681His}$, $TLR4^{Pro714His}$ located in the cytoplasmic regions of the Toll-like domain as well as $TLR4^{Asp299Gly}$ located in the extracellular region. None of these mutations were associated with an individual's responsiveness to LPS, despite the presence of $TLR4^{Asp299Gly}$ mutation. Further investigation revealed that the variation of PBMC responsiveness to LPS among healthy individuals was due to constitutive expression levels of TLR4 and TLR2. This result is consistent with an aging-related low expression of Toll-like receptors in the mouse model of LPS responsiveness. The present study therefore suggests that the constitutive expression levels of TLR2 and TLR4 may contribute to the individual response to LPS.

Tissue Transglutaminase is Not Involved in the Aggregate Formation of Stably Expressed $\alpha$-Synuclein in SH-SY5Y Human Neuroblastoma Cells

  • Suh, Myung-Duk;Park, Chang-Ha;Kim, Sung-Soo;Kil, Myeng-Og;Lee, Geon-Hee;Johnson, Gail V. W.;Chun, Wan-Joo
    • Archives of Pharmacal Research
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    • v.27 no.8
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    • pp.850-856
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    • 2004
  • Intraneuronal deposition containing $\alpha$-synuclein is implicated in the pathogenesis of synuclein-opathies including Parkinsons disease (PD). Although it has been demonstrated that cytoplas-mic inclusions of wild type $\alpha$-synuclein are observed in the brain of PD patients and that $\alpha$-synuclein mutations such as A30P and A53T accelerate aggregate formation, the exact mech-anism by which $\alpha$-synuclein forms insoluble aggregates is still controversial. In the present study, to understand the possible involvement of tissue transglutaminase (tTG) in aggregate formation of $\alpha$-synuclein, SH-SY5Y cell lines stably expressing wild type or mutant (A30P or A53T) $\alpha$-synuclein were created and aggregate formation of $\alpha$-synuclein was observed upon activation of tTG. The data demonstrated that $\alpha$-synuclein negligibly interacted with tTG and that activation of tTG did not result in the aggregate formation of $\alpha$-synuclein in SH-SY5Y cells overexpressing either wild type or mutant $\alpha$-synuclein. In addition, $\alpha$-synuclein was not modi-fied by activated tTG in situ. These data suggest that tTG is unlikely to be a contributing factor to the formation of aggregates of $\alpha$-synuclein in a stable cell model.