MOBAQ-LUX8 – Elaboration of competence-oriented test items for 8year-old luxembourgish students

in Journal of the International Federation of Physical Education (2014, February), 83

The general sport motor function ability of Luxembourgian pupils - An analogy between legends and facts

in International Journal of Physical Education (2012), XLIX(4), 23-32

The analysis at hand deals with the question as to whether the physical ability of Luxembourgian pupils has altered. To show this, the current data on physical fitness is compared to older reference ... [more ▼]

The analysis at hand deals with the question as to whether the physical ability of Luxembourgian pupils has altered. To show this, the current data on physical fitness is compared to older reference values. We chose to focus on pupils from the first and second grades aged six to eight because those have not been analyzed in recent studies (Bös et al., 2005) and also because possible causes for an emerging trend are more likely to have affected younger children, as a change in consciousness – coupled with corresponding actions – possibly had a lower chance of becoming effective. Here, two examinations will be discussed, the first of which has been edited and shortened. Two coincidental observations seem to be significant enough to be verified through a repeated random sample. In an additional synopsis, one could draw conclusions on the sport motor function ability of Luxembourgian pupils. Out of this one could initiate curricular and extracurricular physical activities for the students, with focus on the relation and behaviour in these area (Becker, 2008). Results showed that the average performances of the pupils of 1st and 2nd grades in comparison to the old standard values have remained constant, but the form of distribution has changed: There is a higher frequency of well above-average and well below-average performances. The results of Study II demonstrated that children sent to school at the appropriate age show better performances than older children and that boys perform better than girls. Differences between nationalities could not be found. [less ▲]

Identification of the critical sequence elements in the cytoplasmic domain of leptin receptor isoforms required for Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription activation by receptor heterodimers

in Molecular Endocrinology (2002), 16(4), 859-72

Two predominant splice variants of the leptin receptor (LEPR) are coexpressed in leptin-responsive tissues: the long form, LEPRb, characterized as the signal-transducing receptor, and the signaling ... [more ▼]

Two predominant splice variants of the leptin receptor (LEPR) are coexpressed in leptin-responsive tissues: the long form, LEPRb, characterized as the signal-transducing receptor, and the signaling-defective short form, LEPRa. It is unknown whether heterodimers of these isoforms are capable of signal transduction via the Janus kinase (JAK)/signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) pathway. To address this question, chimeric receptors were constructed consisting of the transmembrane and intracellular parts of LEPRb and LEPRa fused with the extracellular domains of either the alpha- or beta-subunit of the IL-5 receptor. This strategy allows the directed heterodimerization of different LEPR cytoplasmic tails and excludes homodimerization. In COS-7 and HEPG2 cells, chimeric receptor heterodimers of LEPRa and LEPRb failed to activate the JAK/STAT pathway, whereas receptor dimers of LEPRb gave rise to the expected ligand-dependent activation of JAK2, phosphorylation of STAT3, and STAT3-dependent promoter activity. Markedly lower amounts of JAK2 were found to be associated with immunoprecipitated LEPRa chimeras than with LEPRb chimeras. Analysis of a series of deletion constructs indicated that a segment of 15 amino acids in addition to the 29 amino acids common to LEPRa and LEPRb was required for partial restoration of JAK/STAT activation. Site-directed mutagenesis of the critical sequence indicated that two hydrophobic residues (Leu896, Phe897) not present in LEPRa were indispensable for receptor signaling. These findings show that LEPRa/LEPRb heterodimers cannot activate STAT3 and identify sequence elements within the LEPR that are critical for the activation of JAK2 and STAT3. [less ▲]