Role of noncoding RNA in vascular remodelling

Purpose of review: Noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs), such as microRNAs (miRNAs) and long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are becoming fundamentally important in the pathophysiology relating to injury-induced vascular remodelling. We highlight recent studies that demonstrate the involvement of ncRNAs in vein graft disease, in in-stent restenosis and in pulmonary arterial hypertension, with a particular focus on endothelial cell and vascular smooth muscle cell function. We also briefly discuss the emerging role of exosomal-derived ncRNAs and how this mechanism impacts on vascular function. Recent findings: ncRNAs have been described as novel regulators in the pathophysiology of vascular injury, inflammation, and vessel wall remodelling. In particular, several studies have demonstrated that manipulation of miRNAs can reduce the burden of pathological vascular remodelling. Such studies have also shown that exosomal miRNA-mediated, cell-to-cell communication between endothelial cells and vascular smooth muscle cells is critical in the disease process. In addition to miRNAs, lncRNAs are emerging as regulators of vascular function in health and disease. Although lncRNAs are complex in both their sheer numbers and mechanisms of action, identifying their contribution to vascular disease is essential. Summary: Given the important roles of ncRNAs in vascular injury and remodelling together will their capacity for cell-to-cell communication, manipulating ncRNA might provide novel therapeutic interventions

An Exploratory Critical Study of Questioning Strategies Posed by Early Childhood Teachers During Literacy Blocks

The purpose of this study was to examine the cognitive types and functions of questions orally posed by early childhood teachers in kindergarten through 3rd grade during a 90-minute literacy block. The cognitive types of questions were determined by the criteria established using Hess’ Cognitive Rigor Matrix (Hess, Jones, Carlock, & Walkup, 2009). The functions of the posed questions were determined by criteria based on the work of Costa (2001), Hughes (as cited in Fusco, 2012), and Lowery (as cited in Fusco, 2012). This study examined questioning strategies used by 12 early childhood teachers from a Northeast Tennessee School District. The 12 teachers orally posed questions were recorded, scripted, and coded by the researcher to determine each question’s type, frequency, and function and how these indicators serve to increase student engagement during the literacy block. Results from the study show that the majority of questions posed are low in cognitive level requiring students to perform primarily at the basic level of remembering and understanding. The primary function of the recorded posed questions called for students to verify their understanding and many closed questions were asked during the documented lessons. The time teachers gave students to answer a question was minimal and a single student generated response was the predominant vehicle used to glean an answer to a presented question. While the teachers in this study appeared to understand the importance of posing high level cognitive questions in order to increase Common Core Standards instruction, results from this study showed that there seems to be a disconnect between what teachers think they do and their actual practice in regard to posing effective questions as a strategy for active student engagement and learning

Circumpolar Diversity and Geographic Differentiation of mtDNA in the Critically Endangered Antarctic Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus intermedia)

To the best of our knowledge, one or more authors of this paper were federal employees when contributing to this work.\ud This is the publisher’s final pdf. The published article is copyrighted by the Public Library of Science and can be found at: http://www.plosone.org/home.action.The Antarctic blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus intermedia) was hunted to near extinction between 1904 and 1972, declining from an estimated initial abundance of more than 250,000 to fewer than 400. Here, we describe mtDNA control region diversity and geographic differentiation in the surviving population of the Antarctic blue whale, using 218 biopsy samples collected under the auspices of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) during research cruises from 1990-2009. Microsatellite genotypes and mtDNA sequences identified 166 individuals among the 218 samples and documented movement of a small number of individuals, including a female that traveled at least 6,650 km or 131 degrees longitude over four years. mtDNA sequences from the 166 individuals were aligned with published sequences from 17 additional individuals, resolving 52 unique haplotypes from a consensus length of 410 bp. From this minimum census, a rarefaction analysis predicted that only 72 haplotypes (95% CL, 64, 86) have survived in the contemporary population of Antarctic blue whales. However, haplotype diversity was relatively high (0.968 +/- 0.004), perhaps as a result of the longevity of blue whales and the relatively recent timing of the bottleneck. Despite the potential for circumpolar dispersal, we found significant differentiation in mtDNA diversity (F-ST = 0.032, p<0.005) and microsatellite alleles (F-ST = 0.005, p<0.05) among the six Antarctic Areas historically used by the IWC for management of blue whales

Make the adder count: population trends from a citizen science survey of UK adders

Concern has been growing about the status of UK adder populations, with expert opinion reporting widespread declines. Assessing the true scale of these declines, however, has been hampered by a lack of quantitative data. Make the Adder Count began in 2005 as a national surveillance programme collecting standardised counts of adders lying-out after emerging from hibernation. 260 sites have contributed data, confirming a significant decline, on average, across sites with small populations, while the few with large populations (<10 % of sites) are weakly increasing. If these trends continue, within 15‒20 years, adders will be restricted to a few large population sites, significantly increasing the extinction risk for this priority species in the UK. Public pressure/disturbance was reported as the most frequent negative factor affecting sites, followed by habitat management and habitat fragmentation. Negative impacts from habitat management were reported almost as frequently as positive impacts, suggesting many management plans do not adequately consider the requirements of adders. The dataset also demonstrated earlier emergence among males, in warmer springs and at more northerly sites

Evaluation of an After-School Program for African-American and Hispanic Male Youth: Please Call Me Mister

The novel coronavirus significantly impacted the lives of people worldwide. In the United States, the lives of children and youth were disrupted with school closures and lack of access to afterschool programs they previously attended. African American and Hispanic boys attending an after-school program in Franklin County, Kentucky, called Please Call Me Mister, were among the young people affected. A study was conducted to assess the impact of the afterschool program. The boys were surveyed at the start of the program in November 2017 and again in November 2020 to assess their injury risk, substance use, future orientation, resilience, and exposure to cyberbullying. It was anticipated that the COVID-19 pandemic and associated stay-at-home orders would negatively impact program outcomes. Program participants showed outstanding resilience and resistance to most negative behaviors with the exception of marijuana use that increased though not significantly. Their level of depression decreased, but remained at a level that warrants concern. The data collected suggest that the Please Call Me Mister program that continued remotely throughout the pandemic had an overall, long-term, positive impact on program participants

Reducing Premature Death and Renal Failure in Australian Aborigines: A Community-Based Cardiovascular and Renal Program

Objective: To describe results of a systematic treatment program to modify renal and cardiovascular disease in an Aboriginal community whose rates of renal failure and cardiovascular deaths are among the highest in Australia. Design: Longitudinal survey of people during treatment, and comparison of rates of natural death and renal failure with those in a historical control group. Setting: Tiwi Islands (population, about 1800), November 1995 to December 1998. Participants: All adults with blood pressure 140/90, with diabetes and urinary albumin/creatinine ratio (ACR) 3.4 g/mol (microalbuminuria threshold), or with progressive overt albuminuria (ACR 34 g/mol) were eligible for treatment. The historical control group comprised 229 people who satisfied these criteria in the pretreatment period 1992-1995. Interventions: Perindopril, combined with calcium-channel blockers and diuretics if needed to achieve blood pressure goals; attempts to improve control of blood glucose and lipid levels; health education. Main outcome measures: Blood pressure, ACR, serum creatinine level and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) over two years of treatment; rates of renal failure and natural death compared with control group (analysed on intention-to-treat basis). Results: 258 people enrolled in the program, and 118 had complete data for two years of treatment. In these 118, blood pressures fell significantly, while ACR and GFR stabilised. Rates of the combined endpoints of renal failure and natural death per 100 person-years were 2.9 for the treatment group (95% CI, 1.7-4.6) and 4.8 for the control group (95% CI, 3.3-7.0). After adjustment for baseline ACR category, the relative risk of the treatment group versus the control group for these combined endpoints was 0.47 (95% CI, 0.25-0.86; P = 0.013). Treatment benefit was especially marked in people with overt albuminuria or hypertension and in non-diabetic people. The estimates of benefit were supported by a fall in community rates of death and renal failure. Conclusions: Aboriginal people can participate enthusiastically in chronic disease management, with rapid, dramatic improvement in clinical profiles and mortality. Similar programs should be introduced urgently into other Aboriginal communities nationwide

Environmental Indicator Utility in Environmental Decision Making: A Multiple Case Study Analysis

An environmental indicator is a scientific measurement that tracks environmental conditions overtime. Indicators can be a powerful tool in performance-based management/measurement systems. Performance indicators focus attention on outcomes of programs and can be used for strategic planning, priority setting, resource allocation, and other decision-making processes. Many agencies (governmental and non-governmental) are using program results to improve performance and ensure accountability. There are numerous frameworks around which indicators are structured for utilization and a range of performance measures spanning the spectrum of indicator measures. The various frameworks and performance measures clarify the type of environmental information generated by measurement systems and its value to inform decision-making. Outcome measures positioned at the higher end of the indicator hierarchy, those that address reduction of environmental risk or impacts to the ecology and human health, are the most desirable for informing decision-making. The goal of this investigation is to evaluate how environmental indicators are used inside performance based management/measurement systems and assess the logic linking environmental information to planning, resources allocation and performance review to describe environmental progress and inform environmental decision-making.Master of Science in Public Healt

Independent Studies Endorse Superior Strategies for Teaching Reading and Spelling: Hilliard\u27s Journey

Of the many educational outcomes to be achieved in the primary years of schooling, research demonstrates that learning to read is the most significant. The precise way in which the complex processes combine must be understood and demonstrated by teachers in order to identify their students’ needs and to teach most effectively. The activities initiated at Hilliard Christian School to enhance achievement of this goal are shared here to support others with the same aim