219 research outputs found
Tackling Assessment of Education for Sustainable Development: A Rubric for Collaborative Work
No full textThis reorientation has wide-reaching pedagogical implications for the advancement of skills, attitudes, and values that support sustainable development (Sterling, 2004). Specifically, ESD should prepare students to foster a relationship with and participate in their local as well as the global community (Egan, 2004). Though the movement has been responsible for significant progress in campus sustainability and advancing research interests related to sustainability, curriculum development has lagged, especially in higher education (Everett, 2008; Rode & Michelsen, 2008; Sterling & Scott, 2008). Most notably, assessment remains an area of opportunity (Forum for the Future, 2005; Rode & Michelsen, 2008; Svanström, Lozano-Garcia, Rowe, 2008; Venkataraman, 2009). The purpose of this project was to develop an instrument to assess skill development among undergraduate students receiving a teaching methodology reflective of ESD. Further, as these skills are fundamental to community involvement, the rubric was developed to measure skill use in collaborative work. From a comprehensive review of the literature about ESD, six dominant skills-related themes emerged: Collaboration and cooperation, effective communication, conflict resolution, systems thinking, values-focused thinking, and introspection. The first five themes were used as anchors for the rubric. Descriptors from the literature were organized under each theme by author. Finally, points were refined for student understanding. The sixth theme, introspection, was incorporated into the rubric design, requiring the student to reflect on their own behavior in their collaborative work. The rubric requires a score on a 0-5 scale (quantitative) for each theme by the student and the instructor as well as reflection about their behavior in their group work (qualitative). The rubric is currently being tested in an apparel product development course. Preliminary results will be available by the conference date
A department-wide transition to a new mode of computer-aided assessment using STACK
No full textWe focus on the integration of STACK—a Computer-Aided Assessment (CAA) technology—in the mathematics department of a high-ranking University in the United Kingdom. We study a department-wide project where instructors were expected to implement STACK into continuous assessment tasks for (nearly) all core modules across the first two years of undergraduate study. We present this work as a departmental case study, drawing on semi-structured interviews with six novice STACK assessment designers (and module leaders), supplemented by students’ responses to an open-response feedback questionnaire, and the reflections of a co-project lead (also first author). Our thematic analysis identified four themes related to the design of STACK-based assessments by novice to STACK tutors: the process of ‘STACKification’, technical challenges, users’ perspectives on the role of CAA, and finally, variations in assessment designers’ approaches to the role of feedback. In presenting our results, we are guided by Sangwin’s (2013) design principles for mathematics assessment. We consider various technical aspects of implementing STACK-based assessments as a first-time user, and the knowledge required to do so effectively and coherently. We conclude with a series of reflections on the role of CAA in undergraduate mathematics, and the ways in which such technology can be productively integrated with established practice
Presenting young adult horror fiction
No full textHorror, an increasingly popular subject for books, television, and movies, is especially appealing to teenagers who are enthusiastic fans of ghouls and gore. The appeal of horror literature to young adults cannot be denied or ignored, and in Presenting Young Adult Horror Fiction, the first genre study in the Twayne Young Adult Authors Series, Cosette Kies concentrates on teenage interest in the field. Dr. Kies reminds us that the supernatural has a long literary tradition, including such works as Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights, Henry James's The Turn of the Screw, and Edgar Allan Poe's short stories. Against this literary background, Dr. Kies takes a witty and perceptive look at contemporary manifestations of horror fiction, highlighting those authors that teenagers particularly enjoy. Writers such as V. C. Andrews, Dean Koontz, John Saul, Anne Rice, Chelsea Quinn Yarbro, Robert Bloch, Robert MacCammon, and, of course, Stephen King are examined in depth. Each chapter includes an introduction that touches on historical antecedents, a chronology of biographical highlights and major works for the subject author, and a long quote that allows the writer's individual voice to shed light on his or her literary philosophy. Dr. Kies analyzes theme, plot, and character for the major works with perception and skill. Separate chapters explore the appeal of satanism for young adults in novels such as The Exorcist and Rosemary's Baby, and there is an irreverent look at a recent development in horror writing--splatterpunk. Presenting Young Adult Horror Fiction is a welcome addition for all those interested in horror literature and will also provide much-needed information for librarians, teachers, and parents who want to understand why young adults love horror literature
Characterization of the BAC system : towards the hypothesis of an original Psp system in P. aeruginosa
No full textL’émergence et la propagation des bactéries multirésistantes aux antibiotiques est devenue une problématique majeure de santé publique. En particulier, P. aeruginosa fait partie des pathogènes opportunistes humains pour lesquels il devient urgent de développer de nouvelles stratégies thérapeutiques. P. aeruginosa est un germe qui cible préférentiellement les individus dont le système immunitaire est affaibli. Ainsi, les patients atteints de mucoviscidose, d’un cancer, du SIDA, ou hospitalisés sur une longue durée sont des sujets à haut risque d’infection à P. aeruginosa. Chez ces patients, ces infections sont associées à une forte morbidité et mortalité, en raison de la persistance et de la résistance des bactéries colonisant les tissus de l’hôte sous forme de biofilms.Mes travaux de thèse s’inscrivent dans l’objectif de découvrir de nouvelles cibles pour le design de futurs traitements novateurs. Je décris dans ce manuscrit les derniers éléments de caractérisation du système BAC (pour « Biofilm Associated Cluster »), qui nous permettent de l’envisager comme un système Psp original. Ce système est ainsi constitué de 6 protéines codées par l’opéron bacABCDEF. L’expression de cet opéron se ferait en réponse à des stimuli et serait sous la dépendance du facteur sigma σ54 et du système à deux composants Gac/Rsm. La structure de BacA (protéine présentant un domaine DUF2170), nouvellement élucidée, est homologue à celle de protéines chaperonnes du SST3 suggérant que BacA serait impliquée dans la régulation de l’expression de bacABCDEF. La protéine BacB est quant à elle un homologue structural des protéines PspA et Vipp1 supposant que le système BAC serait impliqué dans la protection membranaire sous l’action d’un stress extra-cytoplasmique encore inconnu. La protéine BacD semble être une flotilline, protéine « échafaudage » connue pour résider dans les microdomaines fonctionnels, aussi appelés lipid rafts.The emergence and spread of bacteria that are multi-resistant to antibiotics has become a real public health concern. In particular, P. aeruginosa is one of the major human opportunistic pathogens for which it is urgent to develop new therapeutic strategies. P. aeruginosa is a microorganism that preferentially targets immuno-compromised individuals. Thus, patients suffering from cystic fibrosis, cancer, AIDS, or hospitalized for a long period are subjects at high risk of P. aeruginosa infection. In these patients, these infections are associated with high morbidity and mortality, due to the persistence and resistance of bacteria colonizing host tissues most often within biofilms.My thesis work is part of the objective of discovering new targets for the design of future innovative treatments. In this manuscript I describe the latest elements of characterization of the BAC system (for “Biofilm Associated Cluster”), which allow us to consider it as an original Psp system. This system is thus made up of 6 proteins encoded by the bacABCDEF operon. The expression of this operon would occur in response to stimuli and would be dependent on the sigma factor σ54 and the Gac/Rsm two-components system. The structure of BacA (protein presenting a DUF2170 domain), newly elucidated, is homologous to that of T3SS chaperone proteins suggesting that BacA is involved in the regulation of bacABCDEF expression. The BacB protein is a structural homolog of the PspA and Vipp1 proteins, suggesting that the BAC system is involved in membrane protection under the action of a yet unknown extra-cytoplasmic stress. The BacD protein appears to be a flotillin, a “scaffolding” protein known to reside in functional membrane microdomains, also called lipid rafts
Contribution to the study of BAC "Biofilm Associated Cluster" in Pseudomonas Aeruginosa
No full textPseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) est une bactérie Gram négatif, pathogène opportuniste, impliquée dans un grand nombre d’infections nosocomiales. Cette bactérie est aussi le principal micro-organisme responsable des surinfections broncho-pulmonaires chez les patients atteints de mucoviscidose. Cette prééminence est due en partie à la capacité de PA à former des biofilms, ce qui lui confèrent une résistance exceptionnelle aux antimicrobiens. Au sein de notre laboratoire, une analyse protéomique différentielle a permis de démontrer, en 2004, l’existence d’un protéome spécifique lorsque la bactérie se développe en mode biofilm. Parmi les protéines spécifiquement exprimées en mode biofilm, la protéine hypothétique PA3731 a été plus particulièrement étudiée. Cette protéine est impliquée dans la formation de biofilm, la production de rhamnolipides, la résistance à la tobramycine et la mobilité de type « swarming ». Des recherches bioinformatiques ont montré que le gène pA3731 appartient à un cluster de 4 gènes allant de pA3729 à pA3732 (système BAC), qui pourraient être impliqués dans l’élaboration et/ou la régulation d’un même système protéique. Cette hypothèse a constitué le point de départ de ce travail de thèse. La présente étude a permis de confirmer l’implication du système BAC dans la formation du biofilm, la résistance aux antibiotiques et la production de rhamnolipides chez PA. Les études protéomiques ont mis en évidence l’implication de ce système dans l’expression de la pompe MexEF-OprN, de la porine OprD, et dans la régulation du Quorum Sensing. Des études intéractomiques, menées en parallèle, ont montré une forte interaction entre la protéine PA3731 et PA3732. Ces études ont également permis de valider une forte interaction entre ces protéines et les rhamnolipides. L’ensemble de ces résultats nous permettent d’avancer une hypothèse quant à l’implication du système BAC dans le transport des rhamnolipides vers le milieu extracellulaire.Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) is a Gram-negative bacterium, opportunistic pathogen, involved in a large number of nosocomial infections. This microorganism is also the main infectious agent involved in bronchopulmonary infections in cystic fibrosis patients. This pre-eminence is partly due to the ability of PA to form biofilms, which confers to the bacterial cells an increased resistance to antibiotics. In our laboratory, a differential proteomic analysis allowed to demonstrate in 2004, the existence of a specific proteome when the bacterium grows in the biofilm mode. This study allowed identifying about 40 proteins, specifically accumulated when bacteria adhere to a surface. Among these proteins, the hypothetical protein PA3731 has been particularly investigated. This protein is involved in the biofilm formation, the rhamnolipids production, the resistance to tobramycin and the swarming mobility. Bioinformatic research showed that the pA3731 gene belongs to a cluster of 4 genes ranging from pA3729 to pA3732 (BAC system), which could be involved in the development and / or regulation of the same protein system. This hypothesis was the starting point of this thesis work. The present study confirmed the involvement of the BAC system in the biofilm formation, the antibiotic resistance and the rhamnolipid production in PA. Proteomic studies highlighted the implication of this system in the expression of the MexEF-OprN pump and that of the OprD porin, and in the regulation of Quorum Sensing. Interactomic investigations, conducted in parallel, showed a strong interaction between PA3731 and PA3732 proteins. These studies have also pointed out a strong interaction between these proteins and rhamnolipids. All these results suggest that the BAC system could play a major role in the transfer of rhamnolipids to the extracellular environment
Obesity induced by a highly fat diet (HFD) and protecting effect of a grape polyphenolic extract (GSSE) : a proteomic approach
No full textLes effets du GSSE (Grape seed and skin extract), extrait de raisin particulièrement riche en antioxydants, ont été étudiés pour prévenir les troubles métaboliques et cardiovasculaires liés à l’obésité. L’obésité est caractérisée par une accumulation ectopique de graisse dans les tissus non adipeux tels que le cerveau. Cette lipotoxicité cérébrale induit une inflammation chronique au niveau du cerveau. Dans ce présent travail, nous avons décrit l’effet anti-obésité du GSSE dans un modèle expérimental d’obésité induite par un régime alimentaire à haute teneur en graisses (HFD) tout en mettant l’accent sur le stress oxydant ainsi que le dysfonctionnement métabolique du cerveau qui n’est pas organe cible de l’obésité. Grâce à ce travail, nous avons développé une approche protéomique quantitative Nano LCMS/MS Label free afin d’identifier les biomarqueurs liés au traitement riche en lipides (HFD) et à la protection apportée au cerveau par le GSSE. Pour ce faire, on a eu recours à un modèle animal afin de mieux comprendre les voies métaboliques potentielles altérées par l’obésité et la protection apportée par le GSSE. Plusieurs protéines ont été identifiées et quantifiées en comparant le protéome cérébral total chez les rats dans les différentes conditions de traitements. On a eu recours à des outils de bioinformatique qui nous ont permis de conclure que ces protéines significativement différenciées sont principalement liées à la voie de la phosphorylation oxydative, de la glycolyse / néoglucogenèse et celle de la signalisation du calcium. Ces résultats ont été confirmés par la mesure de quelques activités enzymatiques métaboliques. Fait intéressant, qu’elles soient sous ou surexprimées par le traitement du HFD, le GSSE corrige l’effet délétère apporté aux différentes protéines et enzymes suite au traitement du HFD. D’autres voies métaboliques cérébrales ont été induites par le GSSE telle que le « HIF signaling pathway ». Ces résultats nous permettent de fournir un élan pour l’investigation thérapeutique du GSSE contre différents désordres métaboliques.The effects of GSSE (Grape seed and skin extract) extracted from grapes particularly rich in antioxidants have been studied to prevent metabolic and cardiovascular disorders related to obesity. Obesity is characterized by an ectopic accumulation of fat in non-adipose tissues such as the brain. This cerebral lipotoxicity induces chronic inflammation of the brain. In this work, using quantitative proteomic analysis, biochemical and bio-informatic tools allows us to identify actors of metabolic and biological pathways that were disregulated in brain of experimentally-induced obese rats and corrected by GSSE treatment. While our data are consistent with previous findings of obesity-induced brain lipotoxicity, such as enhancement of proteins belonging to the OXPHOS and calcium pathways, they also unveiled novel pathways including the up-regulation of HIF-signaling pathway in HFD brains. In the same context, GSSE abrogated HFD-induced signaling pathway elevation either by modulating several proteins or by inducing some others that were not affected by HF
Accompagnement spirituel ou « faire passer un chameau par le trou d’une aiguille… »
No full textCet article offre un état de la question sur le domaine de l’accompagnement spirituel, plus particulièrement de l’intégration de la dimension spirituelle dans les soins. Pour ce faire, l’auteure a choisi quelques thèmes qui reviennent régulièrement dans la littérature médicale et soignante : la difficulté à se mettre d’accord sur des définitions précises, le développement de la recherche, la manière de poser un « diagnostic » spirituel ou une évaluation de la situation spirituelle du patient.Dans une seconde partie, l’auteure propose une réflexion plus personnelle. Elle met par exemple en évidence combien pour les soignants s’ouvrir aux questionnements et aux convictions de leurs malades nécessite un lâcher prise de leurs prétentions de maîtrise, oblige à se laisser surprendre et invite même à célébrer les mystères et les grâces de la vie.This article offers a status questionis on the domaine of spiritual care and especially on the way the spiritual dimension is included in general care. The author chose some topics which often appear in medical and nursing literature as: the difficulty to find a common definition of spiritual care, the areas of research on this topic, the spiritual assessment of the patient.In the second part of the article the author offers a more personal reflection arising from her practice as chaplain in a large hospital. For example, she points to the need for caregivers to let go of their desires for control, to let themselves be surprised and even in awe in front of the mysteries and beauties of life
Presenting Lois Duncan
No full textOne of today's most prominent writers of young adult fiction, Lois Duncan gives credence to the expression "born writer": she already created stories and poems long before entering kindergarten, publishing her first poem at age 10 and her first story at age 13. By age 18 she had won first, second, and third prizes in Seventeen magazine's annual short story contestAnd although she has produced more than 40 books spanning a range of genres, Duncan has remarked, "I am - first and foremost - an author of young adult novels, because I love the sensitivity, vulnerability and responsiveness of that age reader." For books like Killing Mr. Griffin, Daughters of Eve, and I Know What You Did Last Summer - noted for their distinctive combination of mystery, suspense, and the supernatural - Duncan has won an enormous following among young readers and earned the prestigious Margaret AEdwards Award from the American Library Associatio
Proteomic profiling of lysine acetylation in Pseudomonas aeruginosa reveals the diversity of acetylated proteins
No full textInternational audienc
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