Professional learning places and spaces: The staffroom as a site of beginning teacher induction and transition

This paper argues that the staffroom is an important professional learning space where beginning teachers interact to understand who they are and the nature of their professional work. The authors highlight the theoretical importance of space and place in the construction and negotiation of beginning teacher subjectivities. To illustrate the staffroom as a particular place where important professional learning could occur the authors use two narratives based on the lived experiences of two beginning teachers, one in a primary context, the other secondary. The authors conclude by calling for greater research attention to the significance of the staffroom and its interaction with teacher subjectivities. At the level of practice we also call for the teaching profession to recognise staffrooms as important sites of professional learning and places that should support induction and mentoring of beginning teachers. Such recognition could enhance the retention, satisfaction, and effectiveness of new and experienced teachers alike.

Generalized self-assembly of scalable two-dimensional transition metal oxide nanosheets

Two-dimensional (2D) transition metal oxide systems present exotic electronic properties and high specific surface areas, and also demonstrate promising applications ranging from electronics to energy storage. Yet, in contrast to other types of nanostructures, the question as to whether we could assemble 2D nanomaterials with an atomic thickness from molecules in a general way, which may give them some interesting properties such as those of graphene, still remains unresolved. Herein, we report a generalized and fundamental approach to molecular self-assembly synthesis of ultrathin 2D nanosheets of transition metal oxides by rationally employing lamellar reverse micelles. It is worth emphasizing that the synthesized crystallized ultrathin transition metal oxide nanosheets possess confined thickness, high specific surface area and chemically reactive facets, so that they could have promising applications in nanostructured electronics, photonics, sensors, and energy conversion and storage devices.

The mesenchymal-to-epithelial reverting transition is enriched in metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer and correlates with poor survival

Despite recent recognition that the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) program acts in a dynamic manner (termed Epithelial to Mesenchymal Plasticity or EMP) during carcinoma metastasis, it has largely been ignored in the discovery and development of EMT-targeted therapies. In part, this has stemmed from a lack of preclinical models that can mimic the full dynamic nature of EMP and the perception that the EMT-reverting transition [or mesenchymal-epithelial reverting transition; (MErT)] is a mere antithesis of EMT. The objective of this study was to develop the first PCa model capable of recapitulating the dynamic nature of EMP.