Using a Participatory Approach to Create SEL Programming: The Case of Ahlan Simsim

This paper highlights the use of a participatory, trauma-informed approach in the creation of Ahlan Simsim, a Sesame Street television program for the Middle East, and asserts the importance of using a participatory approach to designing culturally relevant SEL content. Ahlan Simsim is a component of a larger initiative of the same name, which was created by Sesame Workshop and the International Rescue Committee and funded by the MacArthur and LEGO foundations. This program brings early learning and nurturing care to children and families affected by the Syrian crisis through a combination of mass media and direct service programming. In this article, we present a review of the research and consultations Sesame Workshop conducted with local communities and local child-development experts in Iraq, Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon from August to November 2018. Sesame Workshop's aim was to identify and refine the television program's focus area and to create locally relevant, trauma-informed content that draws from social and emotional learning strategies that resonate most and have the greatest impact with audiences in the Syrian response region. We argue that, for SEL programming to achieve maximum impact, it is critical that program designers develop social-emotional frameworks for children from the ground up by working with local caregivers and practitioners.

Control of hearing sensitivity by tectorial membrane calcium

When sound stimulates the stereocilia on the sensory cells in the hearing organ, Ca2+ions flow through mechanically gated ion channels. This Ca2+influx is thought to be important for ensuring that the mechanically gated channels operate within their most sensitive response region, setting the fraction of channels open at rest, and possibly for the continued maintenance of stereocilia. Since the extracellular Ca2+concentration will affect the amount of Ca2+entering during stimulation, it is important to determine the level of the ion close to the sensory cells. Using fluorescence imaging and fluorescence correlation spectroscopy, we measured the Ca2+concentration near guinea pig stereocilia in situ. Surprisingly, we found that an acellular accessory structure close to the stereocilia, the tectorial membrane, had much higher Ca2+than the surrounding fluid. Loud sounds depleted Ca2+from the tectorial membrane, and Ca2+manipulations had large effects on hair cell function. Hence, the tectorial membrane contributes to control of hearing sensitivity by influencing the ionic environment around the stereocilia.

Detecting Glucose Levels in Blood Plasma and Artificial Tear by Au(I) Complex on the Carbopol Polymer: A Microfluidic Paper-Based Method

We report on a selective paper-based method and a microfluidic paper-based analytical device (μPAD) for the detection of human plasma glucose and tear glucose using carbopol polymer-encapsulated Au(I) complex (AuC2C6H4OMe)2(Ph2P(C6H4)3PPh2), (B5). To the best of our knowledge, this demonstrates for the first time the glucose sensing based on dual emission, i.e., fluorescence and phosphorescence, of a single type molecule on the carbopol polymer. Upon addition of human blood treated with anticoagulants to μPADs, plasma is separated from the blood and flows into the response region of the μPADs to react with carbopol polymer-encapsulated B5, in which the ratiometric luminescence is analyzed. The plasma glucose concentration can be quantitively detected at 1.0–50.0 mM on paper, and tear glucose can be detected at 0.1–4.0 mM on μPADs. Owing to the structural design, this device has superior ratiometric changes of dual emission over other Au(I) complexes for signal transduction. The encapsulation of carbopol polymer also offers long-term storage stability. In tear measurement, carbopol polymer is not only used to encapsulate enzyme to remain the enzyme’s activity, but also played as a glue (or media) to connect microfluidic channel and response region. This further improves the sensitivity and limit of detection for glucose. Moreover, this sensor provides a faster response time, a wider range for glucose sensing than reported previously, and no statistical difference of the data from a commercial glucometer, allowing for practical diagnosis of diabetes and healthy individuals.

Broadening the sunlight response region with carbon dot sensitized TiO2 as a support for a Pt catalyst in the methanol oxidation reaction

Carbon dots with upconversion properties harness unused visible light and act as sensitizers for a TiO2 supported Pt catalyst in MOR.

The Forced Response Analysis of Heavy Duty Vehicle’s Cab

An automobile will sustain various incentives from the outside and inside in the process of being driven, in which the impact of the wheel and the vibration of engine mainly dominates. This paper gets the inherent frequency through modal analysis on finite element model in a heavy vehicle’s driving cab. And then it conducts the forced response analysis on finite element model by modeling a condition where the vibration of driving cab is caused by outside incentive. Through analyzing, it finds the main response region generated in driving cab when affected by outside incentive. At the same time, it can provide certain theoretical basis for controlling the noise of driving cab in the future.