Forthcoming Publications - A

This research introduces a unique multiple choice exam design to observe and measure the degree to which students copy answers from their peers. Using data collected from the exam, an empirical experiment is conducted to determine whether random seat assignment deters cheating relative to a control group of students allowed to choose their seats. Empirical results demonstrate a significant decline in measured cheating within the assigned seating sample. This study contributes to the literature by providing a measurement of actual cheating frequency among students, as opposed to relying on reported cheating in anonymous surveys, and by demonstrating that an easily implemented deterrent can significantly reduce instances of cheating

Examining the Focus of SoTL Literature—Teaching and Learning?

Although the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) claims to focus on student learning, some have argued that SoTL studies often adopt a narrow view of learning and focus more on teaching than on learning. In this paper, we explore whether teaching is the primary focus of recent articles published from 2013-2017 in three international, self-identified SoTL journals: Teaching and Learning Inquiry: The ISSOTL Journal (TLI), The International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (ijSOTL), and The Journal of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (JoSoTL). Based on our analysis of the 299 empirical articles, we argue that they portray SoTL as a field focused primarily on teacher activity rather than student learning, despite efforts to broaden its scope

P3-[2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-oxo]ethyl ATP for the Rapid Activation of the Na+,K+-ATPase

This is the published version, also available here: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0006-3495(00)76387-9.P3-[2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-oxo]ethyl ATP (pHP-caged ATP) has been investigated for its application as a phototrigger for the rapid activation of electrogenic ion pumps. The yield of ATP after irradiation with a XeCl excimer laser (λ = 308 nm) was determined at pH 6.0–7.5. For comparison, the photolytic yields of P3-[1-(2-nitrophenyl)]ethyl ATP (NPE-caged ATP) and P3-[1,2-diphenyl-2-oxo]ethyl ATP (desyl-caged ATP) were also measured. It was shown that at λ = 308 nm pHP-caged ATP is superior to the other caged ATP derivatives investigated in terms of yield of ATP after irradiation. Using time-resolved single-wavelength IR spectroscopy, we determined a lower limit of 106 s−1 for the rate constant of release of ATP from pHP-caged ATP at pH 7.0. Like NPE-caged ATP, pHP-caged ATP and desyl-caged ATP bind to the Na+,K+-ATPase and act as competitive inhibitors of ATPase function. Using pHP-caged ATP, we investigated the charge translocation kinetics of the Na+,K+-ATPase at pH 6.2–7.4. The kinetic parameters obtained from the electrical measurements are compared to those obtained with a technique that does not require caged ATP, namely parallel stopped-flow experiments using the voltage-sensitive dye RH421. It is shown that the two techniques yield identical results, provided the inhibitory properties of the caged compound are taken into account. Our results demonstrate that under physiological (pH 7.0) and slightly basic (pH 7.5) or acidic (pH 6.0) conditions, pHP-caged ATP is a rapid, effective, and biocompatible phototrigger for ATP-driven biological systems

Phase-Locked Signals Elucidate Circuit Architecture of an Oscillatory Pathway

This paper introduces the concept of phase-locking analysis of oscillatory cellular signaling systems to elucidate biochemical circuit architecture. Phase-locking is a physical phenomenon that refers to a response mode in which system output is synchronized to a periodic stimulus; in some instances, the number of responses can be fewer than the number of inputs, indicative of skipped beats. While the observation of phase-locking alone is largely independent of detailed mechanism, we find that the properties of phase-locking are useful for discriminating circuit architectures because they reflect not only the activation but also the recovery characteristics of biochemical circuits. Here, this principle is demonstrated for analysis of a G-protein coupled receptor system, the M3 muscarinic receptor-calcium signaling pathway, using microfluidic-mediated periodic chemical stimulation of the M3 receptor with carbachol and real-time imaging of resulting calcium transients. Using this approach we uncovered the potential importance of basal IP3 production, a finding that has important implications on calcium response fidelity to periodic stimulation. Based upon our analysis, we also negated the notion that the Gq-PLC interaction is switch-like, which has a strong influence upon how extracellular signals are filtered and interpreted downstream. Phase-locking analysis is a new and useful tool for model revision and mechanism elucidation; the method complements conventional genetic and chemical tools for analysis of cellular signaling circuitry and should be broadly applicable to other oscillatory pathways

Functional antibody and T-cell immunity following SARS-CoV-2 infection, including by variants of concern, in patients with cancer: the CAPTURE study

Patients with cancer have higher COVID-19 morbidity and mortality. Here we present the prospective CAPTURE study (NCT03226886) integrating longitudinal immune profiling with clinical annotation. Of 357 patients with cancer, 118 were SARS-CoV-2-positive, 94 were symptomatic and 2 patients died of COVID-19. In this cohort, 83% patients had S1-reactive antibodies, 82% had neutralizing antibodies against WT, whereas neutralizing antibody titers (NAbT) against the Alpha, Beta, and Delta variants were substantially reduced. Whereas S1-reactive antibody levels decreased in 13% of patients, NAbT remained stable up to 329 days. Patients also had detectable SARS-CoV-2-specific T cells and CD4+ responses correlating with S1-reactive antibody levels, although patients with hematological malignancies had impaired immune responses that were disease and treatment-specific, but presented compensatory cellular responses, further supported by clinical. Overall, these findings advance the understanding of the nature and duration of immune response to SARS-CoV-2 in patients with cancer

Antibodies against endogenous retroviruses promote lung cancer immunotherapy

B cells are frequently found in the margins of solid tumours as organized follicles in ectopic lymphoid organs called tertiary lymphoid structures (TLS). Although TLS have been found to correlate with improved patient survival and response to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB), the underlying mechanisms of this association remain elusive. Here we investigate lung-resident B cell responses in patients from the TRACERx 421 (Tracking Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer Evolution Through Therapy) and other lung cancer cohorts, and in a recently established immunogenic mouse model for lung adenocarcinoma. We find that both human and mouse lung adenocarcinomas elicit local germinal centre responses and tumour-binding antibodies, and further identify endogenous retrovirus (ERV) envelope glycoproteins as a dominant anti-tumour antibody target. ERV-targeting B cell responses are amplified by ICB in both humans and mice, and by targeted inhibition of KRAS(G12C) in the mouse model. ERV-reactive antibodies exert anti-tumour activity that extends survival in the mouse model, and ERV expression predicts the outcome of ICB in human lung adenocarcinoma. Finally, we find that effective immunotherapy in the mouse model requires CXCL13-dependent TLS formation. Conversely, therapeutic CXCL13 treatment potentiates anti-tumour immunity and synergizes with ICB. Our findings provide a possible mechanistic basis for the association of TLS with immunotherapy response

Antibodies against endogenous retroviruses promote lung cancer immunotherapy

B cells are frequently found in the margins of solid tumours as organized follicles in ectopic lymphoid organs called tertiary lymphoid structures (TLS)1,2. Although TLS have been found to correlate with improved patient survival and response to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB), the underlying mechanisms of this association remain elusive1,2. Here we investigate lung-resident B cell responses in patients from the TRACERx 421 (Tracking Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer Evolution Through Therapy) and other lung cancer cohorts, and in a recently established immunogenic mouse model for lung adenocarcinoma3. We find that both human and mouse lung adenocarcinomas elicit local germinal centre responses and tumour-binding antibodies, and further identify endogenous retrovirus (ERV) envelope glycoproteins as a dominant anti-tumour antibody target. ERV-targeting B cell responses are amplified by ICB in both humans and mice, and by targeted inhibition of KRAS(G12C) in the mouse model. ERV-reactive antibodies exert anti-tumour activity that extends survival in the mouse model, and ERV expression predicts the outcome of ICB in human lung adenocarcinoma. Finally, we find that effective immunotherapy in the mouse model requires CXCL13-dependent TLS formation. Conversely, therapeutic CXCL13 treatment potentiates anti-tumour immunity and synergizes with ICB. Our findings provide a possible mechanistic basis for the association of TLS with immunotherapy response

Sleep deprived? Take your courses online.

Hershner and Chervin (2014) report that seventy percent of college students suffer from sleep deprivation. The University Health Center at the University of Georgia finds that most college students get 6.0 to 6.9 hours of sleep per night, or about eighty percent of what is required. Students experiencing chronic sleep deprivation are more likely to have lower grade point averages and experience increased risk of academic failure. In this study, we empirically prove that the convenience and flexibility of taking a course online completely offsets, all else constant, the impact of sleep deprivation on learning outcomes

Risk Aversion as a Driver Of Gender Differences in Business Education

It is an oft-visited topic that women have long been under-represented in the sciences and engineering. While the numbers are not as dramatic as in engineering and the sciences, business schools have similar gender imbalances. To explore this gender-divergence issue, we will present evidence of an empirical study involving over 550 students (about 250 online and 300 regular classroom students). We use a rich data set that includes standard university data for each student, such as degree(s) earned, GPA, grades in critical courses (such as accounting, communications, finance, math, etc.), gender, and age. Additionally, for each student, we have survey results on her/his learning styles and a measure of personal risk aversion. The motivation for including the risk aversion measure stems from the large body of evidence in the investments field that males and females tend to have much different risk attitudes and investment patterns. Our intent is that the results of this study can be used for more-effective academic advising for students and/or enhanced career exploration earlier in a student\u27s college career