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Mind mapping was introduced as a culturally relevant pedagogy aimed at enhancing the teaching and learning experience in a general education, Environmental Science class for mostly Emirati English Language Learners (ELL). Anecdotal evidence suggests that the students are very artistic and visual and enjoy group-based activities. It was decided to integrate an intervention that would incorporate Emirati artistic and collaborative practices, in an effort to engage them on all levels, such that their academic attainment is positively affected. Preliminary results based on a group of 60 students, from on-going active research, suggest that this method is quite useful in helping pupils summarise lengthy lessons and increase student engagement and communication amongst peers, which helps them to reinforce scientific theories and concepts. This method further facilitates on-the-spot identification of misconceptions that students may have, as the instructor can proffer an immediate feedback. Students seem more responsive and motivated as they positively contribute to their learning environment, which is believed can only further strengthen their internal locus of control. The results satisfy paucity in the literature on effective pedagogic strategies for Arabic ELLs in science.

The messaging application WhatsApp is often adopted in urban neighbourhoods to distribute and discuss information as part of neighbourhood watch programmes. In this context, certain notions of information sharing and the cherishing this implies, are often entangled with ideals of protection in the neighbourhood. Using the case study of an enclosed neighbourhood in Johannesburg, this essay draws on theories of affect and mobility to introduce the concept of affective mooring. That is, that a neighbourhood WhatsApp group constitutes an affective mooring-an established practice and point of fixity-that generates a sense of being held in a community through feelings of collective presence and safety. Notably, these feelings of presence and safety are hinged on acts of resistance and alienation towards strangers. In this way, WhatsApp as an affective mooring in the neighbourhood is also a site for negotiating ideals of belonging.

The effect of caffeine ingestion on neutrophil oxidative burst responses to prolonged cycling was investigated. Findings indicate that caffeine ingestion was associated with an increase in adrenaline but was not associated with an expected decrease in neutrophil function, suggesting that caffeine ingestion influenced neutrophil function through alternative mechanisms.

Abstract Background Multifamily group psychoeducation (MFG) has been shown to reduce relapse rates among individuals with first-episode psychosis. However, given the cognitive demands associated with participating in this intervention (e.g., learning and applying a structured problem-solving activity), the cognitive deficits that accompany psychotic disorders may limit the ability of certain individuals to benefit from this intervention. Thus, the goal of this study is to examine whether individuals with first-episode psychosis who participate simultaneously in MFG and cognitive remediation--an intervention shown to improve cognitive functioning among individuals with psychotic disorders--will be less likely to experience a relapse than individuals who participate in MFG alone. Methods/Design Forty individuals with first-episode psychosis and their caregiving relative will be recruited to participate in this study. Individuals with first-episode psychosis will be randomized to one of two conditions: (i) MFG with concurrent participation in cognitive remediation or (ii) MFG alone. The primary outcome for this study is relapse of psychotic symptoms. We will also examine secondary outcomes among both individuals with first-episode psychosis (i.e., social and vocational functioning, health-related quality of life, service utilization, independent living status, and cognitive functioning) and their caregiving relatives (i.e., caregiver burden, anxiety, and depression) Discussion Cognitive remediation offers the possibility of ameliorating a specific deficit (i.e., deficits in cognitive functioning) that often accompanies psychotic symptoms and may restrict the magnitude of the clinical benefits derived from MFG. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials (NCT): NCT01196286

Tris(triazolyl)borate (Ttz) is a proton responsive ligand, and the redox potential of Ttz complexes can be altered by protonation. Protonation events can therefore alter the thermodynamics of reduction of copper complexes, and this is relevant to nitrite reduction mediated by copper complexes wherein Cu(II) reduction to Cu(I) is the first step. The electrochemical behavior of tris(triazolyl)borate and the corresponding copper complexes, Ttz tBu,Me CuCl ( 1 ) and Ttz tBu,Me CuNO 2 ( 2 ), was investigated under both neutral and acidic conditions. Upon protonation, reduction of 1 is shifted more positive (ΔE pc = 290 mV) upon addition of 1.0 equiv. of acid. This result indicates that ligand protonation facilitates the reduction process, which is also evident from the UV–Vis spectral data. In contrast, with the Ttz tBuMe CuNO 2 ( 2 ) analog, the reduction peak shifted towards a more negative potential while UV–Vis spectra shows no significant changes as acid is added. This suggests that the protons may not be involved in assisting the redox process but rather lead to decomposition events at reducing potentials. Other electrochemical control studies on a series of compounds, namely (Ttz tBu,Me )ZnCl ( 3 ), (Ttz tBu,Me )K ( 4 ), H(Ttz tBu,Me ) ( 5 ), and Htz tBu,Me ( 6 ), were also conducted with and without acid present. These studies have shown that triazole rings, by themselves and in metal complexes, are not redox active under the conditions we have used. We therefore conclude that the Ttz ligand (including in 1 and 2 ) is not a site for reduction in our studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]