Oral Health Needs of Virginia Schoolchildren by HMO Regions

Purpose: This study examined differences in oral health status and dental treatment needs by HMO regions in Virginia. Methods: The Division of Dental Health (DDH), Virginia Department of Health (VDH), completed the 1999 Virginia Oral Health Needs Assessment (VSOHNA) with the cooperation of the Virginia Department of Education. The survey used a probability proportional to size (PPS) sample design in selecting school children from public schools in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Surface (DMFS/dfs) and tooth-level (DMFT/dft) data were collected as indicators of dental disease on all children. Child-level data was also recorded for each student consisting of age, race, gender, enrollment in a free and reduced lunch program, medical insurance status, dental insurance status, and history of dental visits. A descriptive and regression analysis was completed to examine the relationship between HMO regions and oral health status indicators. Results: The survey included more than 5,000 children in 200 schools and 52 school districts. The mean DMFT/dft levels were 1.47 (.33) and 1.7 (.03), respectively. The mean level of untreated decay (dt) for all schoolchildren was 0.66 (0.01). First graders had the highest levels of untreated disease at 0.71, while third graders had a mean of 0.66. The Central region of the state appeared to have the highest level of untreated decay. Conclusion: There were no significant differences in the percentage of caries-free children between the HMO regions. Untreated dental disease of Virginia schoolchildren varied according to the region in which they lived

Deepfake Videos: When Seeing Isn\u27t Believing

Videos, known as deepfakes, use readily available software to create a work that shows people saying and doing things they may never have uttered or engaged in. The technology making the videos appear very authentic is advancing at such a rate that people may not be able to detect if the videos are fact or fiction. Given the hasty acceptance of other forms of fake news in society, deepfake videos have the ability to affect the nature of information the public receives about candidates and policies. This study examines the potential use of deepfake videos in the democratic process, analyzes the challenges in regulating this area due to the First Amendment, questions the practicality of the marketplace of ideas metaphor in today’s news and information environment, and explores possible responses to the spread of deepfakes

Exploring Alliance Rupture Resolution Processes in Psychotherapy with Adolescents

This thesis adds to a small but growing body of work exploring in session alliance rupture resolution processes with adolescents in psychotherapy using the Rupture Resolution Rating Scale (3RS). The reviewing of the theoretical and empirical literature shows important differences in how alliance rupture resolution processes might be conceptualised and further studied in work with adolescents from that of adult psychotherapy. Further factors specific to adolescence which are thought to impact on alliance development and how alliance rupture resolution processes are identified, will also be explored The findings from the empirical study suggest Withdrawal ruptures to be a common feature in psychotherapy with adolescents with depression, with patient confrontation marker behaviours slightly increasing in the middle and later therapy phases. Therapists respond less to Mixed Ruptures in the middle phases of treatment and use more Immediate resolution strategies such as Redirects and Changes Tasks and Goals in early treatment phases. Expressive/ Exploratory resolution strategies exploring the patient therapist relationship are most likely to be used in middle treatment phases and suggest a higher average degree of resolution, despite higher therapist contribution to ruptures. This exploratory study suggests the adolescent field would benefit from further qualitative study of the function of Withdrawal ruptures in adolescent psychotherapy

The Neglected “R”: Replicability, Replication, and Writing Center Research

This article makes an argument for the value of both replicable research and replication research in writing center studies. In their discussion of replicability, the authors argue that writing about empirical research so that this research can be replicated will improve the quality of communication in writing center studies whether or not replication studies are subsequently undertaken. The authors further provide for researchers specific guidance on how to create replicable studies, focusing on best practices for describing data sets and sampling, sharing surveys and interview protocols, detailing coding efforts, establishing infrastructure to share data sets, and writing about statistics. Further, the authors explain how replication studies would add new kinds of knowledge to writing center studies. The authors specify that the kinds of replication studies they wish to see should be distinguished from both the positivistic approach to replication taken in other, more quantitative fields and from a looser, iterative approach to building on previous research that has been advocated for within writing studies

Promoter and Leader Sequence Effects on Immunological Potency of Recombinant Modified Vaccinia Virus Ankara Delivering Tuberculosis Antigens

Modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) is a highly attenuated, replication defective strain of Vaccinia virus with the attributes of an optimal viral vaccine delivery system. An improved vaccine for the prevention of tuberculosis (TB) is urgently required and until recently, the most advanced clinical candidate under development for use against TB was based on MVA vectoring a single mycobacterial antigen (MVA85A). Unfortunately, pre-clinical efficacy and potent immunogenicity in humans did not lead to improved protection in BCG vaccinated infants. There are a number of design features to consider in the development of a recombinant MVA (rMVA)-based vaccine. The current study undertook to assess how these might impact upon the immunological potency of MVA vectoring TB antigens. Specifically, the influence of vaccinia promoter selection and leader sequences was assessed. Vaccinia promoter selection influences antigen transcription and thereby expression. The relationship between antigen production, murine immunogenicity and protective efficacy was evaluated. The results support the conclusion that vaccinia promoter optimisation can increase immunological potency and efficacy. Virally vectored antigens can be fused to sorting signals for optimised intracellular processing. The immunomodulatory effects of two leader sequences were compared. The results suggest that the sorting signal currently incorporated in virally vectored TB candidates, such as MVA85A, might be subject to further optimisation for the induction of enhanced T cell responses. Overall, the results demonstrate that rMVA immunogenicity is intrinsically linked to the precise nature of transgene insertion. The value of an optimised vaccinia promoter might be to reduce the dose of rMVA required. Leader sequences represent an opportunity to enhance the quality of the antigen-specific response for improved protection. It is concluded that both vaccinia promoter selection and leader sequence optimisation should be a feature of future rMVA TB vaccine development

The sporulation-specific small regulatory RNAs of Bacillus subtilis

Constantly changing environments in nature have led to bacteria evolving regulatory strategies that result in differential gene expression. A novel and understudied aspect of these networks are regulatory RNAs. The Gram-positive model organism Bacillus subtilis not only modulates gene expression to survive a variety of stresses, but also can form endospores to ensure its survival. Sporulation is an essential survival mechanism for many species, allowing them to enter a state of dormancy with resistance to various harsh conditions. This, in turn, ensures survival of not only the population, but also the species. The process of sporulation requires the controlled expression of approximately a quarter of the genes encoded by B. subtilis. Previous large-scale studies have identified that many transcripts do not encode proteins, but exhibited expression profiles similar to genes already known to be part of the sporulation network. Many of these transcripts were selected to likely function as small regulatory RNAs (sRNAs). This study has shown that many putative sRNAs are active during sporulation, three of which show specific phenotypes that alter germination capabilities in the presence of specific germinants. Cells lacking the necessary components to reverse this process are at a strong disadvantage. Detection of favorable growth conditions is key, but how is this conveyed during metabolic inactivity? Initial selection of putative sRNAs was done by in silico characterization. Prediction of transcriptional control and regulatory regions combined with tiling array profiling was used to select putative sRNAs for confirmation in vivo. Transcriptional fusion constructs were generated to confirm compartmental specific expression during sporulation. Spore specific sRNAs were further characterized with phenotypic studies, which suggested a role in endospore formation. This study explored some of the global analysis methods to identify sRNA targets. Whilst no targets for the four chosen sRNAs could be identified, this study produced the most comprehensive data set of proteins to be identified from a B. subtilis endospore

Gamma oscillatory amplitude encodes stimulus intensity in primary somatosensory cortex

Gamma oscillations have previously been linked to pain perception and it has been hypothesised that they may have a potential role in encoding pain intensity. Stimulus response experiments have reported an increase in activity in the primary somatosensory cortex (SI) with increasing stimulus intensity, but the specific role of oscillatory dynamics in this change in activation remains unclear. In this study, Magnetoencephalography (MEG) was used to investigate the changes in cortical oscillations during 4 different intensities of a train of electrical stimuli to the right index finger, ranging from low sensation to strong pain. In those participants showing changes in evoked oscillatory gamma in SI during stimulation, the strength of the gamma power was found to increase with increasing stimulus intensity at both pain and sub-pain thresholds. These results suggest that evoked gamma oscillations in SI are not specific to pain but may have a role in encoding somatosensory stimulus intensity. © 2013 Rossiter, Worthen, Witton, Hall and Furlong

Digital Citizenry and Personal Branding: An IoT Data Function

Personal Branding is a way to elevate oneself in new marketing concept. For many, building and managing a personal brand is about value, mission, image, and vision. However, with the shift in the marketspace and the rise of the Internet of Things (IoT), Personal Branding has become a data function and a summation of all one’s digital footprints, and how we are seen by Databots and not just from one’s own spectacles or as perceived by others. We are witnessing an upsurge in the use of deep machine learning and predictive analytics to profile and select talents using their personal brand as a data function of their web presence and digital citizenry. We conducted a survey and we observed how many students are not fully aware of their web presence/digital citizenry and how all their digital footprints from their social and professional networks can and will be used to profile them. After identifying this problem, we examined the idea of building and managing a personal brand- with high value by exploring the depths of “Digital Citizenship” concept. To solve this problem, we developed a Personal Branding tool that allows students to develop and promote their own Personal Brand using a Digital Passport. This Digital Citizenry application will also allow students to become fully aware of their Web Presence and manage, facilitate and monitor their Social and Professional Networks with a built-in Digital Footprint Analyzer and their very own Social Media Manager