Trudy\u27s Triumph: A Narrative Life History of an Adolescent Survivor of Abusive Head Trauma

The purpose of this narrative study was to describe the life history of an adolescent survivor of an abusive head trauma in the Southeastern United States. Abusive head trauma is a form of inflicted brain injury, often occurring because of violence in the form of shaking or impact to the head of an infant under the age of two years old (Chevignard & Lind, 2014). Life history is defined as a first-hand account to convey understanding of a life. The primary participant was a 19-year-old, Caucasian female survivor of an abusive head trauma that occurred when she was five months old. Secondary participants include the survivor’s family members, a family friend, a special education teacher and a church youth leader. The theoretical framework of this study was based on Bronfenbrenner’s (1979) ecology of human development, Ungar’s (2012) theory of social-ecological resilience, and Bandura’s (1986) social cognitive theory. The central research question was: What are the lived experiences of an adolescent survivor of an abusive head trauma in the Southeastern United States? Data was collected through interviews, observations, documents, artifacts, video journal, and prolonged engagement with the survivor and her family. Data was analyzed to describe the story and place it in a chronology to present narration focusing on processes, theories, and unique general features of the primary participant’s life. Findings indicated that the primary participant faced neurological, cognitive, behavioral, academic and social challenges, while her resilience mechanisms included a large support network, adaptive behaviors, faith and perseverance. This study makes an original, empirical contribution as the sole account of the life history of an adolescent survivor of an abusive head trauma

Kinematics of Circumgalactic Gas: Feeding Galaxies and Feedback

We present observations of 50 pairs of redshift z ~ 0.2 star-forming galaxies and background quasars. These sightlines probe the circumgalactic medium (CGM) out to half the virial radius, and we describe the circumgalactic gas kinematics relative to the reference frame defined by the galactic disks. We detect halo gas in MgII absorption, measure the equivalent-width-weighted Doppler shifts relative to each galaxy, and find that the CGM has a component of angular momentum that is aligned with the galactic disk. No net counter-rotation of the CGM is detected within 45 degrees of the major axis at any impact parameter. The velocity offset of the circumgalactic gas correlates with the projected rotation speed in the disk plane out to disk radii of roughly 70 kpc. We confirm previous claims that the MgII absorption becomes stronger near the galactic minor axis and show that the equivalent width correlates with the velocity range of the absorption. We cannot directly measure the location of any absorber along the sightline, but we explore the hypothesis that individual velocity components can be associated with gas orbiting in the disk plane or flowing radially outward in a conical outflow. We conclude that centrifugal forces partially support the low-ionization gas and galactic outflows kinematically disturb the CGM producing excess absorption. Our results firmly rule out schema for the inner CGM that lack rotation and suggest that angular momentum as well as galactic winds should be included in any viable model for the low-redshift CGM.Comment: Accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journa

Infalling Faint [OII] Emitters in Abell 851. I. Spectroscopic Confirmation of Narrowband-Selected Objects

We report on a spectroscopic confirmation of narrowband-selected [OII] emitters in Abell 851 catalogued by Martin et al. (2000). The optical spectra obtained from the Keck I Low Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (LRIS) and Keck II Deep Imaging Multi-Object Spectrograph (DEIMOS) have confirmed [OII]3727 emission in narrowband-selected cluster [OII] candidates at a 85% success rate for faint (i <~ 25) blue (g-i < 1) galaxies. The rate for the successful detection of [OII] emission is a strong function of galaxy color, generally proving the efficacy of narrowband [OII] search supplemented with broadband colors in selecting faint cluster galaxies with recent star formation. Balmer decrement-derived reddening measurements show a high degree of reddening [E(B-V) >~ 0.5] in a significant fraction of this population. Even after correcting for dust extinction, the [OII]/Ha line flux ratio for the high-E(B-V) galaxies remains generally lower by a factor of ~2 than the mean [OII]/Ha ratios reported by the studies of nearby galaxies. The strength of [OII] equivalent width shows a negative trend with galaxy luminosity while the Ha equivalent width does not appear to depend as strongly on luminosity. This in part is due to the high amount of reddening observed in luminous galaxies. Furthermore, emission line ratio diagnostics show that AGN-like galaxies are abundant in the high luminosity end of the cluster [OII]-emitting sample, with only moderately strong [OII] equivalent widths, consistent with a scenario of galaxy evolution connecting AGNs and suppression of star-forming activity in massive galaxies.Comment: 11 pages (LaTeX emulateapj), 8 figures, to appear in ApJ. A version with high resolution figures available from the lead autho

Cross-reactivity of venoms and antivenoms determined in vitro using size-exclusion chromatography

Background: Size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) can be used to characterize venom-antivenom immune complex formation. Complex formation would be expected between antivenom and venom used in the antivenom production process. Binding of antivenom with venom not used in the production process might be predicted due to similarities of venom composition, but would typically be confirmed by standard assays, such as inhibition of venom lethality or neutralization of venom toxicity. Evaluation of complex formation is relevant since venom-antivenom binding is required for neutralization of venom lethality or toxicity, though binding does not guarantee protection. SEC may be a useful tool in comparing the binding of different antivenoms to a particular venom, as well as binding of different venoms to a particular antivenom. The data presented in this study demonstrates the use of SEC to evaluate the cross-reactivity of two distinctly different antivenoms with venoms used in antivenom production. Antivenoms: Ovine Fab (FabAV) - Crotalidae Polyvalent Immune Fab (Ovine); Equine F(ab')2 [F(ab')2AV] - Bothropic antivenom, Butantan Institute, Brazil. Venoms: Crotalus atrox (North America) - used in FabAV production; Bothrops jararaca (Brazil) - used in F(ab')2AV production.Methods: Venom, antivenom, and venom-antivenom mixtures were prepared at 4oC in 50 mM sodium phosphate, pH 7.0, containing 0.15 M NaCl (column elution buffer) and incubated for 30 minutes at 37oC. (Samples were stored at 4oC prior to SEC.) Samples (20 uL) were injected into the SEC column (TSKgel G3000SWxl 7.8 mm ID x 30 cm, 5 um, TOSOH Bioscience) at a constant flow rate of 1 mL/min. Elution profiles were monitored using a photodiode array detector (Waters). Three regions within the elution profiles were chosen for integration based on comparison of control and venom-antivenom mixture profiles. Venom-antivenom binding was estimated from differences between control and venom-antivenom mixture region areas (i.e. DArea). Concentration-dependent changes in DArea were fit to a hyperbolic dose-response function (Eq.1) to estimate DAreamax (maximum binding) and C50 [effective concentration of reactants (C) at one-half DAreamax)]. DArea = DAreamax [C/(C50+C)] Eq. 1 Venom and antivenom reactants and venom-antivenom mixtures were comprised of: (1) C. atrox venom, FabAV; (2) C. atrox venom, F(ab')2AV; (3) B. jararaca venom, F(ab')2AV; and (4) B. jararaca venom, FabAV.Results: Complex formation was apparent in all four combinations of venoms and antivenoms. C. atrox venom binding to FabAV was greater than to F(ab')2AV. B. jararaca venom, however, bound to F(ab')2AV greater than to FabAV. Venoms used in antivenom production tended to bind preferentially to the respective antivenom product. Concentrations of venoms at one-half DAreamax (C50) were similar for all four combinations of venom and antivenom.Conclusion: The data presented in this study demonstrate the use of SEC to evaluate the binding of different antivenoms to a particular venom, as well as binding of different venoms to a particular antivenom. SEC may have application in evaluating cross-reactivity of different types of antivenoms and venoms

An unfolded protein-induced conformational switch activates mammalian IRE1.

The unfolded protein response (UPR) adjusts the cell's protein folding capacity in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) according to need. IRE1 is the most conserved UPR sensor in eukaryotic cells. It has remained controversial, however, whether mammalian and yeast IRE1 use a common mechanism for ER stress sensing. Here, we show that similar to yeast, human IRE1α's ER-lumenal domain (hIRE1α LD) binds peptides with a characteristic amino acid bias. Peptides and unfolded proteins bind to hIRE1α LD's MHC-like groove and induce allosteric changes that lead to its oligomerization. Mutation of a hydrophobic patch at the oligomerization interface decoupled peptide binding to hIRE1α LD from its oligomerization, yet retained peptide-induced allosteric coupling within the domain. Importantly, impairing oligomerization of hIRE1α LD abolished IRE1's activity in living cells. Our results provide evidence for a unifying mechanism of IRE1 activation that relies on unfolded protein binding-induced oligomerization

Hanford Single-Shell Tank Leak Causes and Locations - 241-A Farm

This document identifies 241-A Tank Farm (A Farm) leak causes and locations for the 100 series leaking tanks (241-A-104 and 241-A-105) identified in RPP-ENV-37956, Hanford A and AX Farm Leak Assessment Report. This document satisfies the A Farm portion of the target (T04) in the Hanford Federal Facility Agreement and Consent Order milestone M-045-91F

Cultivating Teachers When the School Doors Are Shut: Two Teacher-Educators Reflect on Supervision, Instruction, Change and Opportunity During the Covid-19 Pandemic

Seven weeks into our Spring 2020 semester, the Covid-19 pandemic was wreaking havoc on the world. The pandemic caused immediate shutdowns to schools and universities fundamentally changing how we plan for, teach, guide, and work with students. This paper explores how two first-year Assistant Professors navigated the challenges we faced and the learning opportunities we embraced while continuing our work as teacher educators amid a pandemic-induced shutdown. We employed collective self-study to examine our experiences while transitioning to remote learning with pre-service teachers using Moore\u27s (2012, 1993, 1989) transactional distance theory as an analytical framework to review our work as teachers in an online setting. We found that educators need to be open to continuous enhancements of instructional practices, there is a need to develop ways to equalize positions between the instructor and students, and we need to be conscious of opportunities students have to demonstrate creativity in their work. As part of this review, we developed and used a Four R\u27s Professional Inquiry Model (Recognition, Reflection, Reaction, Results) based on Moore\u27s work to help make meaning of our findings and recommendations for other practitioners

Venom:antivenom immune complex binding assay using size-exclusion high-performance liquid chromatography (SE-HPLC)

The treatment of envenomation with effective snake antivenom immunoglobins has become a critical worldwide health issue. Current methods for testing the effectiveness of new antivenom mixtures in neutralizing venom toxicity/lethality use animal models (e.g. mice). Neutralization of venom toxicity/lethality requires the formation of venom-antivenom immune complexes (though the extent of complex formation in vivo is unknown). Size-exclusion high-performance liquid chromatography (SE-HPLC) is a reproducible quantitative method to characterize venom-antivenom immune complex formation in vitro within a relatively short time. Changes in SE-HPLC elution profiles due to dose-dependent formation of venom-antivenom immune complexes are present for 1) Crotalis atrox (western diamondback rattlesnake) venom and the current antivenom used clinically in North America [FabAV (Ovine); CroFabTM], and 2) Bothrops jararaca venom (Brazil) and Bothropic antivenom [F(ab')2AV (Equine); Brazil]. Changes in profile region areas were fit to a hyperbolic dose-response function to estimate maximum binding and venom/antivenom concentrations at half-maximum binding