Professional development is key to improved student and school success, however research in this field is relatively new and teacher learning is often lackluster. Additionally, alternative strategies are needed to address the unique professional development needs of experienced teachers. One possible strategy is classroom-embedded reciprocal coaching, such as that used in the National Science Foundation's GK-12 program, between experienced classroom teachers and graduate student scientists. Teachers were surveyed to determine if their participation in GK-12 provided a positive professional development experience. It was found that teachers benefited from this type of professional development with a perceived increase in their science content knowledge and an overall high level of satisfaction with the program. Interviews revealed common themes such as the teacher's viewpoint of whether this was professional development, the teachers' areas of learning, the reciprocal nature of the coaching relationship, and the prospect of sustainability. / text

The evolution of novel protein functions and protein families is a fundamental question within both evolutionary biology and biochemistry. While many gene families follow predictable patterns of molecular tinkering, many protein families exist with completely novel functions now essential. The guanylate kinase protein interaction domain (GKPID) of the membrane associated guanylate kinases (MAGUK) represents a model system for the study of protein evolution in which a protein scaffolding domain has evolved from a nucleotide kinase ancestor. Here we elucidate the ancient mechanisms by which these new functions evolved by combining ancestral protein reconstruction with in vitro and cell-biological molecular experiments. We found that the GKPID's capacity to serve as a mitotic spindle-orienting scaffold evolved by duplication and divergence of an ancient guanylate kinase enzyme before the divergence of animals and choanoflagellates. Re-introducing a single historical substitution into the ancestral guanylate kinase is sufficient to abolish the ancestral enzyme activity, confer the derived scaffolding function, and establish the capacity to mediate spindle orientation in cultured cells. This substitution appears to have revealed a latent protein-binding site, rather than constructing a novel interaction interface, apparently by altering the dynamics or conformational occupancy of a hinge region that determines whether the binding site is exposed or hidden. Three further substitutions also conveyed a measure of ligand specificity to phosphorylated Pins, which is necessary in metazoan spindle orientation pathways. These findings show how a small number of simple, ancient genetic changes caused the evolution of novel molecular functions crucial for the evolution of complex animals and laid the groundwork for an entirely new family of metazoan scaffolding proteins. This dissertation contains previously unpublished, co-authored material.

The Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech), one of the nations leading engineering schools, has limited institutional history of collaboration with surrounding K-12 schools. K-12 outreach is not a part of Georgia Techs mission, though recent years have seen greater outreach activities. Campus organizations have sponsored tutoring, academic schools have sponsored recruitment fairs and the College of Engineering has established a partnership with a high school. Two offices within Georgia Tech, the Center for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning (CETL) and the Center for Education Integrating Science, Math and Computers (CEISMC), have been working to expand and deepen Georgia Techs K-12 outreach through a National Science Foundation grant program combining graduate student development and K-12 outreach. Through this program, the Student and Teacher Enhancement Partnership (STEP), CETL and CEISMC seek to build meaningful and lasting relationships between Georgia Tech and local high schools. Given the novelty of mutually rewarding relationships between Georgia Tech and local high schools, this study attempts to account for differences in outcomes of the (STEP) program over its first three years. STEPs Project Officers at Georgia Tech developed dyadic relationships with high school personnel with the same programmatic goals in mind. However, at the end of three years, some of these pairings were more mutually rewarding. A narrative analysis of these relationships is presented through case studies and tested against a literature-based logic model depicting factors likely to lead to successful, inter-organizational partnerships.

La GK és clau en la regulació del metabolisme glucídic tant per la seva funció al pàncrees en què determina la secreció d’insulina, com per la seva funció al fetge on controla les vies d’utilització i d’emmagatzematge de glucosa. Per aquest motiu és una bona diana per a la teràpia de la diabetis, i diverses companyies farmacèutiques estan desenvolupant activadors sintètics de la GK (GKA) pel tractament de la diabetis de tipus 2. Els estudis de GKAs existents avaluen l’activació de la GK a nivell sistèmic i no es coneixen els seus efectes específis sobre la GK al fetge. Per indagar-los, com que no disposàvem d’un GKA específic per a la GK del fetge, ens vam proposar la sobrexpressió d’una forma de GK amb una mutació activadora (GK-A456V) que confereix característiques cinètiques a l’enzim idèntiques a les obtingudes amb els GKAs. L’introduírem al fetge perivenós mitjançant transfecció gènica hidrodinàmica (perquè és la zona on s’expressa majoritàriament l’enzim salvatge en condicions fisiològiques). Un dels controls emprats en l’estudi fou la sobrexpressió de la GK salvatge també a la zona perivenosa, que ens permetria comparar els resultats d’aquesta sobrexpressió local de la GK amb la sobrexpressió no zonal descrita a la bibliografia. Per una banda, avaluàrem els efectes de la sobrexpressió i de l’activació de la GK hepàtica en el context d’un animal sa a llarg termini, per determinar si hi havia risc de resistència a insulina (com s’esdevé en alguns models de sobrexpressió no zonal de GK al fetge). Tant l’activació com la sobrexpressió de GK al fetge perivenós a curt termini comportaren una disminució de la glicèmia i de la insulinèmia. No obstant, en avaluar-ho a llarg termini, la sobrexpressió de GK generà un fenotip de resistència a insulina exclusivament al fetge. En canvi, la GK-A456V comportà un fenotip amb un perfil metabòlic similar als animals controls, sense alteracions dels nivells de glúcids i lípids (sèrics i hepàtics). Al fetge, malgrat que no provocava canvis en el metabolisme glucídic i lipídic, l’activació de la GK va promoure la desregulació per GKRP i la inducció de la glucosa-6-fosfatasa. Per altra banda, la presència de la GK activada al fetge resultà en una activació del catabolisme al teixit adipós. Per altra banda, vam emprar un model de diabetis de tipus 1 per determinar els efectes de la GK-A456V sobre el fenotip diabètic independentment de la insulina, amb la finalitat de valorar l’activació de la GK hepàtica com a tractament alternatiu als GKAs sistèmics. La sobrexpressió perivenosa de GK, tot i que comportà un increment del metabolisme de glucosa al fetge (increment del glicogen hepàtic, de ub-PFK-2, de L-PK, c-myc) i una disminució de la gluconeogènesi (reducció dels nivells de PEPCK), va provocar dislipidèmia com a resultat de la disminució de la β-oxidació d’àcids grassos (reducció dels nivells de Cpt-1) i una inducció de la lipogènesi hepàtica (augment de FAS, ACC, ChREBP). Altres models de sobrexpressió de GK, descrits a la literatura, que no tenien en compte el concepte de zonació hepàtica, també presentaven alteracions en el metabolisme lipídic. En canvi, l’activació de la GK comportà una rellevant disminució de la hiperglicèmia diabètica tot i tenir un lleu efecte sobre l’activació del metabolisme de glucosa i sobre la inhibició de la gluconeogènesi. Sobretot és interessant que la millora de la hiperglicèmia diabètica no va acompanyada d’alteracions del metabolisme lipídic. En conjunt, aquest treball suggereix que l’activació de la GK exclusivament al fetge és una estratègia terapèutica millor per a la diabetis que la sobrexpressió de la GK. / Synthetic glucokinase activators have been used in the context of type 2 diabetes therapy, mainly for their insulin secretagogue activity. However, the impact of these drugs on liver GK has not been studied in vivo. Since GK activators and activating GK mutations confer identical kinetic properties to GK, we hypothesize that hepatic overexpression of a mutated form of GK, GKA456V, described in a patient with Persistent Hyperinsulinemic Hypoglycemia of Infancy (PHHI), shall mimic the liver-specific effects of GK-activating drugs. GKA456V was overexpressed in the liver of streptozotocin diabetic mice and also in healthy mice. Metabolite profiling in serum and liver extracts, together with key components of glucose and lipid homeostasis, were analyzed and compared to GK wild-type transfected animals. Cell compartmentalization of mutant and wild-type GK was also examined in vivo. In the type 1 diabetic mice, GKA456V overexpression markedly reduced blood glucose in the absence of dislipidemia, in contrast to wild-type GK-overexpressing mice. Enhanced glucose utilization did not correlate with glycogen synthesis or lactate production. PEPCK mRNA was not affected, whereas the mRNA for the catalytic subunit of glucose-6-phosphatase was upregulated ~4-fold in the liver of GKA456V treated animals. Moreover, GKA456V was not translocated to the nucleus after a short fast, confirming that this activating mutation disrupted GKRP regulation. In healthy mice, the overexpression of hepatic GK resulted in insulin resistance. Otherwise, GKA456V overepxressing animals were not insulin resistant. They showed increased mRNA and protein content of the catalytic subunit of glucose-6-phosphatase in the liver, and an idnuction of catabolism in their adipose tissue. Our results validate liver specific GK activation as a strategy for diabetes therapy and provide new insights into the complex GK regulatory network.

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La gravité est un facteur environnemental majeur. C’est cette force qui a façonné la vie et le fonctionnement de notre organisme est intimement lié à la gravité. Pour rester en bonne santé, nous devons bénéficier de l’influence quotidienne de la gravité et d’un apport alimentaire adapté à notre activité physique. L’objectif de ce travail de thèse est d’étudier le remodelage vasculaire et la dysfonction endothéliale dans des modèles de sédentarité et de troubles métaboliques ainsi que d’explorer des moyens de contre mesures. Un alitement de 60 jours chez des sujets sains masculins induit un remodelage de la macrocirculation au niveau de l’artère fémorale ainsi qu’une dysfonction endothéliale au niveau de la microcirculation. La prise quotidienne d’extraits végétaux complexes issus de la médecine traditionnelle chinoise (Taikong Yangxin) a permis de prévenir l’atteinte endothéliale.Dans un modèle de rat diabétique avec atteinte vasculaire (rats GK),nous avons testé le salidroside, important composé issus du Taikong Yangxin. Bien qu’il n’ait pas d’effets sur le diabète, cecomposé a montré un effet bénéfique sur la vasodilatation endothéliale -dépendante et -indépendante. Dans une dernière partie nous avons étudié chez la souris l’implication du récepteur de type 2 à l’angiotensine et des récepteurs aux estrogènes dans les dysfonctions cardiovasculaires induite par une alimentation hypercalorique. L’inactivité physique induit un remodelage morphologique et fonctionnel au niveau de l’arbre vasculaire ce qui en fait un facteur de risque majeur et indépendant des maladies cardio-vasculaires. Des extraits végétaux simples ou complexes ont des effets bénéfiques sur les fonctions endothéliales. Le récepteur de type 2 à l’angiotensine et ses interactions possibles avec le récepteur aux oestrogènes pourrait être une cible pharmacologique comme contre mesure des atteintes vasculaires liées à l’environnement. / Gravity is a major environmental factor. This force that shaped the life and the functioning of our body is closely related to gravity. To remain healthy, we should benefit from the daily influence of gravity and a food intake adapted to our physical activity. The objective of this thesis is to study vascular remodeling and endothelial dysfunction in sedentary models and metabolic disorders and to explore ways of countermeasures. 60 days of head down bed rest in healthy male induce a macrocirculation remodeling at the femoral artery and an endothelial dysfunction at the microcirculation level. Daily intake of complex plant extracts from traditional Chinese medicine (Taikong Yangxin) helped to prevent endothelial dysfunction. In a diabetic rat model with vascular dysfunction (GK rats), we tested the salidroside, an important compound from the Taikong Yangxin. Although it has no effect on diabetes, this compound showed a beneficial effect on endothelial -dependent and -independent vasodilation. In the last part of our work, we studied the involvement of type 2 angiotensin receptor and estrogen receptor in cardiovascular dysfunction induced by a high calorie diet in mice. Physical inactivity induces morphological and functional remodeling in the vascular tree, making it a major risk factor independent of cardiovascular diseases. Simple or complex plant extracts have beneficial effects on endothelial function. Angiotensin type 2 receptor and its interaction with the estrogen receptor could be a pharmacological target as a countermeasure against vascular damage related to the environment.

Die Promotionsarbeit untersucht ca. 600 Stücke aus der Zeit von den ersten Vorläufern des Sturm und Drang bis zur Märzrevolution auf die Darstellung und die dramaturgische Funktion des Todes. Nachdem sie zunächst klärt, auf welche Weise der Tod dem Publikum bzw. dem Leser vermittelt wird, folgt eine Untersuchung im Hinblick auf vier verschiedene Aspekte: Struktur, Sprechakte, Szenenbilder und Figuren. Dabei werden unter anderem der Einfluss der Position des Todes im Stück auf dessen Darstellung geklärt, die typischen Merkmale des Sterbemonologs erläutert, das Arrangieren von Leichen im Szenenbild beschrieben und das Verhältnis des Todes von Haupt- und Nebenfiguren untersucht. In einem abschließenden Teil werden die einzelnen Ergebnisse zu einer Dramaturgie des Sterbens verknüpft und deren Leitlinien herausgearbeitet. / The dissertation examines about 600 plays from the time of the first precursors of the Sturm und Drang up to the March Revolution on the depiction and dramaturgical function of death. After first clarifying the way in which death is conveyed to the public or the reader, an investigation follows with regard to four different aspects: structure, speech acts, scene images and characters. Among other things, it clarifies the influence of the position of death in the play on its representation, explains the typical features of the death monologue, describes the arrangement of corpses in the scene and examines the relationship between the death of main and minor characters. In a concluding part, the individual results are linked to a dramaturgy of dying and its guidelines are explained.

Darbe atlikta teorinė gyvenimo kokybės sampratos ir lėtiniu inkstų nepakankamumu sergančių pacientų gyvenimo bruožų analizė.Iškelta hipotezė, kad dialize gydomi pacientai blogai vertina visas pagrindines gyvenimo kokybės sritis. Gyvenimo kokybės klausimynu ir interviu pokalbio metodais buvo atliktas tyrimas, kurio tikslas - ištirti dialize gydomų pacientų gyvenimo kokybę. Tyrimo duomenys apdoroti statistinių programų paketu SPSS Statistics 17.0, Microsoft Excel ir turinio (angl. content) analizės metodu. Tyrime dalyvavo 100 dialize gydomų pacientų, iš kurių 5 pacientai dalyvavo interviu pokalbyje. Empirinėje dalyje nagrinėjamas dialize gydomų pacientų pagrindinių gyvenimo sričių (fizinės sveikatos, psichologinės, socialinių santykių, aplinkos sričių) vertinimas ir gyvenimo kokybės ypatumai. / The work carried out in the theoretical concept of quality of life and chronic renal failure patients living traits analyzed.The hypothesis that dialysis patients bad the quality of life of all the key areas.The quality of life questionnaire and interview techniques interview was conducted with the aim - to investigate dialysis patients quality of life. The data processing of the statistical software package SPSS 17.0, Microsoft Excel, and text content analysis.The study included 100 dialysis patients, of which five patients participated in the interview conversation.In the empirical part of dialysis patients major life domains (physical health, psychological, social relationships, environment areas) Assessment of quality of life features.

Improving student achievement is a major concern across the United States. One strategy being implemented to help students achieve in math and science is the partnering of teachers with professionals in math and science careers. One such program is the Fellows Integrate Math/Science in Rural Middle Schools program, from which this research stems. The intent of the program was to match middle school teachers with graduate students preparing for careers in science, technology, mathematics, or engineering fields. The graduate students spent ten hours a week in classrooms, interacting with teachers and students. Improved student performance in math and science, improved teacher content knowledge, and improved graduate student communication skills were expected program outcomes. This research assessed the impact of program participation on the teachers and graduate students involved. Data were collected from 33 middle school teachers and 33 graduate students over the course of two years of program participation. Questionnaires included a pre post measurement of knowledge, experience, and comfort level with education related groups and issues and summative program evaluations. Major findings of the research included: 1. Teacher knowledge, experience, and comfort levels with education related groups and issues did not change significantly because of participation in the program. 2. Graduate students experienced a decrease in knowledge, experience, and comfort level with several education related groups and issues from the beginning of the school year to the end. Knowledge decreases were noted with the following groups and issues: a. High school students b. Teaching college students c. Theories of learning d. Planning a project e. Following through on project tasks Experience level decreases were noted with the following groups and issues: a. Science education reform b. Current issues in K-12 education c. Teaching college students d. Theories of learning e. Assessing student learning Comfort level decreases were noted with the following groups and issues: a. Elementary school students b. University faculty engaged in K-12 education c. Science education reform d. Teaching college students e. Theories of learning f. Evaluating educational activities 3. Graduate student gender, race, and age were not found to be predictors of success in this partnership program.

No description available.