Current literature is plentiful on computer-based technology's influence on students. There are only a few studies which have looked at the influence that computer-based technology has on teachers. This is a study of factors which influence teachers' use of computer-based technology. It is based on inconsistencies in previous studies, areas not addressed in previous surveys and the dramatic changes in computer-based technology and Internet access using Web browsers since the previous surveys on computer-based technology were conducted. A survey was conducted of K-12 teachers in two rural county school systems. One was in southern West Virginia and the other was in southwestern Virginia. This survey found that computer access in the classroom influenced the frequency of use for some instructional activities. Lack of Internet access and obsolete computer equipment resulted in a negative influence to the teachers use of computer-based technology in the classroom. Teachers also expressed a desire for a continuous type of training program for the use of computers. / Ph. D.

Ziel dieser Arbeit war es, den Einfluss von IL-12 auf die Rezeptoren DNAM-1, TIGIT und CD96 auf NK-Zellen näher zu untersuchen. Wir konnten nachweisen, dass IL-12 den Rezeptor DNAM-1 hochreguliert. CD96 wurde nach 48-stündiger Inkubation mit IL-12 bei frisch isolierten NK-Zellen zunächst ebenfalls hochreguliert, nach längerer in vitro Kultur mit IL-2/IL-15 und anschließender Intervention mit IL-12 für 48h fiel CD96 allerdings wieder unter das Ausgangsniveau ab. Die höchste Steigerung der Expression durch IL-12 konnte an den Rezeptoren CD62L (Adhäsion) und CD161 (Inhibition) beobachtet werden. Die Ergebnisse wiesen darauf hin, dass IL-12 einen Einfluss auf das Verhältnis der NK-Subpopulationen besitzt, indem es durch Hochregulation von CD56 und Herabregulation von CD16 zu einer Umwandlung von CD56dimCD16+ NK-Zellen zu CD56brightCD16- NK-Zellen beitrug. Während bei beiden Populationen DNAM-1 hochreguliert wurde, stieg die Expression von CD96 in der CD56dim Population, fiel aber in der CD56bright Population. Die Expression von TIGIT verhielt sich in der IL-15 Gruppe gegensätzlich dazu. IFN-γ konnte die Expression der Liganden für DNAM-1, TIGIT und CD96 auf einer der untersuchten Tumorzelllinien (SK-ES-1) steigern. Die Zytotoxizität von NK-Zellen konnte nicht durch IL-12 gesteigert werden. Indessen konnten wir feststellen, dass DNAM-1 für die Aufrechterhaltung der zytotoxischen Funktion essentiell war und eine Blockierung von DNAM-1 zu einer drastischen Verringerung derselben geführt hat. Dagegen konnten die NK-Zellen ihre Funktion nach der Blockierung von CD96 weitestgehend aufrechterhalten, es kam allerdings auch nicht zu einer gesteigerten Lyse von Tumorzellen. Die Ergebnisse verdeutlichten, dass IL-12 zwar die Expression von DNAM-1 auf NK-Zellen zu steigern vermochte, dies allerdings nicht zu einer gesteigerten Zytotoxizität der NK-Zellen gegenüber den getesteten drei Tumorzelllinien geführt hat. / The main focus of this work was to examine the influence of IL-12 on the receptors DNAM-1, CD96 and TIGIT on natural killer cells. We could show that IL-12 upregulates DNAM-1 expression. CD96 was upregulated on fresh isolated NK cells as well after 48h incubation with IL-12, however after 7 days in culture with IL-2/IL-15 CD96 was downregulated after treatment with IL-12. The highest increase of expression after treatment with IL-12 was observed for the receptors CD62L (adhesion) and CD161 (inhibitory). Our data suggested that IL-12 has an impact on the balance of the two subpopulations of NK cells. We suggested that via upregulation of CD56 and downregulation of CD16, IL-12 led to a turn from the CD56dimCD16+ NK-cell-population to the CD56brightCD16- population. In both populations DNAM-1 was upregulated, whereas the expression of CD96 was upregulated in the CD56dim population but downregulated in the CD56bright population. The expression of TIGIT was contrary to that of CD96 (in the IL-15 treated group). IFN-Y could increase the expression of the ligands of DNAM-1, TIGIT and CD96 (CD155 and CD112) on one of the examined tumor cell lines (SK-ES-1). Treatment with IL-12 was not able to increase the cytotoxicity of NK cells towards tumor cell lines. Instead we could demonstrate that DNAM-1 was essential for NK cell function and blocking of DNAM-1 dramatically decreased cytotoxicity. However blocking of CD96 had no impact on NK cell cytotoxicity. Our results show that although IL-12 increased expression of DNAM-1 on NK cell surface it had no positive impact on NK cell cytotoxicity towards three different tumor cell lines.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Diabetes is a morbid metabolic disorder that affects almost 500 million people worldwide. Although multiple factors contribute to diabetes pathogenesis, pancreatic islet inflammation and dysfunction are shared characteristics of its major forms. 12- lipoxygenase (12-LOX), an enzyme involved in lipid metabolism, has been implicated in islet inflammation. 12-LOX generates reactive oxygen species (ROS) that activate inflammation and serve as major contributors to islet dysfunction. Importantly, since ROS are transient moieties, they are challenging to study in vivo. Hence, establishing better animal models of ROS-mediated stress is critical to facilitate the discovery and preclinical testing of novel diabetes therapeutics. Here, I have adapted a zebrafish model of conditional β-cell injury, which is regulated by the administration of the prodrug metronidazole (MTZ), to study responses to ROS in vivo. I demonstrate that with MTZ treatment, ROS are generated within β-cells and subsequently exhibit recruitment of macrophages into the islet and induction of β-cell death. I utilized this model to uncover roles for macrophages and 12-LOX during islet injury. Excessive macrophage infiltration exacerbates islet inflammation and dysfunction. Interestingly, on the depletion of macrophages in zebrafish, I observed that β-cells recovered normal function upon cessation of prodrug treatment. This suggests that infiltrating macrophages promote maladaptive inflammation and premature removal of damaged β-cells. Thus, limiting the macrophage infiltration may be a therapeutic approach to restoring β-cell function. Based on the established roles of 12-LOX in other contexts, I hypothesized that its inhibition would prevent the localized infiltration of proinflammatory macrophages. To test this, I used both zebrafish and mouse models and observed a significant reduction in macrophage migration upon loss of 12- LOX activity. Furthermore, I found that expression of CXCR3, a crucial receptor regulating migration, was significantly reduced in 12-LOX loss-of-function macrophages. These data suggest a role for 12-LOX in macrophages, which is conserved across species. Collectively, my study reveals novel roles for 12-LOX in macrophage function and provides testable therapeutic targets for the resolution of inflammation-induced damage in the pancreatic islets. / 2020-11-19

No description available.

With the growing concern over the reduction of university students pursuing degrees in STEM fields, there are a number of entities sponsoring and implementing programs for young people in order to promote interest in and self-efficacy for these fields. Summer Engineering Academies (SEAs) are implemented in a variety of settings by stakeholders with a single purpose: to expose young people to the fields and work of engineers in the hope of recruiting them. This study is seeks to identify whether any positive changes to the self-efficacy of the participants occurs through the curricula of the program. This self-efficacy can be the driving force for many young people as they feel that they are both capable of success in addition to the desire to pursue a career in the field. The SEAs in this study serve a variety of age groups and specialized demographic sub-groups; of greatest interest is the possible impact of these programs on traditionally under-represented groups. Each program hosts a specific demographic sub-group but they all share specific pedagogical practices in order to identify which may emerge as best practices in affecting change on the self-efficacy of the participants toward engineering. A secondary purpose was to identify which, if any, practices had a positive impact on the participants’ self-efficacy and presume those as best practices across demographics. The programs were found to have a positive effect on the participants as identified through focus groups, journal entries, and personal interviews with the students. There were no identifiable differences in the impact of the practices between the subgroups. Each subgroup had gains in self-efficacy from each of the instructional practices which may allow for the distinction of best practice to be used in their description. These practices include: the use mentors or role models in face to face experiences; hands-on learning with tangible results; and recognizable real-world applications. Each practice yielded a positive result, but none of them appeared to be more successful with any group than the others. This allows them each to be considered a productive instructional strategy for the increase of self-efficacy of participants toward engineering.

In the relentless pursuit of human progress, technological innovations have always played a key role in shaping our society. In recent years, the convergence of innovative measurement technologies with Mixed Reality (MR) has emerged as a groundbreaking paradigm, offering transformative solutions to enhance individuals across multiple domains. This dissertation focuses on MR-based applications designed and optimized to restore human centrality, fostering advances in healthcare, education, and industry. The primary purpose is to provide end users with the best tools to enhance their perception-action loop in work or education, empowering them to better achieve and control their final goals. Through the synergy between immersive visualization technologies and a framework based on innovative measurement systems, unique environments are created to enhance end users at different levels of the perception-action loop, leading to improved outcomes and overall well-being. Measurement technologies include three-dimensional cameras, wearable sensors, inertial sensors, thermal cameras, and pressure matrices. Many challenges were overcome in this dissertation, such as designing and testing the proper measurement frame and interface, finding new calibration procedures for measurement systems, and developing original data processing techniques in computer vision and machine learning.

Non-Nutritive Serial Varnish is a song written and arranged for big band which explores several stylistic and compositional techniques developed during the 20th century. Serial techniques are used as the structural underpinning during melodic presentation. Eventually these serial structures work their way to the surface to reveal themselves as source material. The salient aesthetic, overarching form and harmony are derived from conventional jazz. The use of semi-improvised melodic modules is also employed.

Il presente lavoro propone una nuova edizione critica commentata delle due orazioni ruzantiane. A un'analisi introduttiva delle due operette, che ne circostanzia temi e occasione di recita, segue il testo criticamente rivisto delle orazioni, accompagnato da una traduzione di servizio e da un commento continuo e puntuale al testo, che mira a enuclearne il significato e i rimandi intertestuali; nella successiva "Nota al testo" si descrive il testimoniale completo, manoscritto e a stampa, delle due tradizioni, per poi procedere alla ricostruzione dei rapporti fra i testimoni e alla scelta del testo-base dell'edizione, di cui vengono individuate e corrette le mende; si stila in seguito un apparato delle varianti di tipo negativo. Concludono il lavoro l'illustrazione dei criteri di edizione e una nota bibliografica.

Il lavoro presenta l’edizione di un corpus di lettere mercantili in volgare, risalenti all’ultimo ventennio del Trecento, inviate da alcuni esponenti della famiglia parmense dei Garso al fondaco di Francesco di Marco Datini a Pisa, oggi conservate presso il fondo Datini dell’Archivio di Stato di Prato. L’edizione dei 64 testi (finora inediti, ad eccezione di uno) è accompagnata da un commento linguistico che si propone di individuare, accanto ai fenomeni genericamente settentrionali da una parte e alle tracce di contaminazione linguistica con il toscano dall’altra, alcuni tratti caratteristici del volgare parmense. Conclude il lavoro un glossario selettivo che raccoglie il materiale lessicale di uso locale, così come gli elementi riconducibili al formulario mercantile medievale.

The primary purpose of this study was to examine the characteristics, duties, and training needs of district level technology coordinators in Mississippi school districts. Prior research was limited on the role of technology coordinators in the United States, and no research was found in the literature that focused specifically on technology coordinators at the district level in Mississippi. The research design for the study was descriptive. A survey instrument was used to collect demographic data. The survey was emailed to 138 technology coordinators. There were 4 technology coordinators that opted out of the survey, 8 emails were bounced back to the research and 55 responded for a response rate of 43.6%. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze data for the 4 research questions. The results of this study indicated that district technology coordinators in Mississippi have a multitude of responsibilities that vary greatly. The majority of participants in this study are responsible for duties that range from working one-on-one with teachers, installing and troubleshooting hardware and software, purchasing technology resources, planning technology related professional development activities for other staff members, as well as other duties. A majority of respondents indicated that they needed additional training to perform their duties effectively. Participants were given the opportunity to rank their most important training needs as administrative, technical, or educational research oriented. Administrative training was chosen as more important than any other training need.