Drawn from the Collection: Part of the Fabric

Exhibition Notes, Number 4, 1998. Artists who use fiber as their medium have offered up images to artists with paint on their hands for millennia: images of human beings, propositions about the natural world, and an abstract formal language of potent and unrelenting power. The rotating exhibitions of Asian textiles in The RISD Museum’s collection offer the opportunity to visit an extraordinarily well stocked and organized attic of collective memory. These textiles are tickets to travel through time and space. Through them we can meditate in a Zen garden, embroider the afternoon away, accept a dinner invitation from a high official, examine a palace paradise, fly with a dragon. The depths, the surfaces, the rhythms, the stories, the colors, the iconography, the implications as source and inspiration all seem unlimited, overwhelming. Ten artists were asked to look, to study, to feel, to respond, to be part of the fabric. They have individually selected works from The RISD Museum’s Asian textile collection and in dialogue with their choices have produced their own artwork. Each artist’s selection and the resulting creation are displayed together in this exhibition. As a teaching method and an adventure, I hope that this show encourages every student and every viewer to see the Asian textile collection, decorative arts, and the Museum as an irresistible set of experiences upon which to draw.https://digitalcommons.risd.edu/risdmuseum_journals/1027/thumbnail.jp

Increasing dengue virus vaccine safety and immunogenicity by manipulating antigenic determinants of the flavivirus envelope protein

2010 Fall.Includes bibliographical references.Dengue virus (DENV), which exists as four closely related serotypes, is a mosquito-borne pathogen causing significant global disease burden, either as classic dengue fever (DF) or in its most severe manifestation, dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF)/dengue shock syndrome (DSS). Severe dengue disease is often associated with secondary DENV infection and hypothesized to frequently be induced by cross-reactive, weakly neutralizing antibodies, a process referred to as antibody-dependent enhancement of infection (ADE). Due to the complex humoral immune response to DENV infection and the complexity of severe DENV disease, currently no licensed DENV vaccine is available. The goal of this dissertation is to increase the safety and immunogenicity of DENV vaccination through a better understanding of the antigenic properties of the envelope protein. To these ends the objectives of this research were to: 1) use site-directed mutagenesis and monoclonal antibody mapping to identify possible cross-reactive epitopes of the DENV-2 E protein which could contribute to ADE (Chapter 2), 2) use B cell epitope modification to construct a serotype-specific DENV-2 vaccine with reduced potential of vaccine-induced ADE (Chapter 3), and 3) identify potential dominant T cell epitopes in West Nile virus E which could act as immunological adjuvants for DENV-2 vaccines (Chapter 4). Humoral immune responses to DENV infection are complex and can exacerbate pathogenicity, yet are essential for immune protection. DENV-2 E protein epitope-specific antigens were created and used to measure immunoglobulin responses to three distinct epitopes in serum samples from DENV-2 infected humans. Immunoglobulin responses to DENV-2 infection exhibited significant levels of individual variation. Antibody populations targeting broadly cross-reactive epitopes centered on the fusion peptide in structural domain II were large, highly variable, and greater in primary than in secondary sera from DENV-2 infected patients, confirming previous studies and identifying the fusion peptide as an immunodominant epitope. E protein domain III cross-reactive immunoglobulin populations were similarly variable and much larger in IgM than in IgG. DENV-2 specific domain III IgG formed a very small proportion of the antibody response, yet was significantly correlated with DENV-2 neutralization, suggesting that the highly protective IgG recognizing this epitope in murine studies plays a role in humans as well. These results begin to tease apart complex humoral immune responses to DENV infection and thus are important for improving our understanding of dengue disease and immunological correlates of protection relevant to DENV vaccine development and testing. DENV vaccines must induce a balanced protective immunity to all four serotypes to reduce the possibility of cross-reactive antibody induced severe disease upon subsequent infection. By modification of immunodominant B cell epitopes of E, cross-reactivity reduced (CRR) DENV-2 DNA vaccine candidates were developed and tested in mice for immunogenicity and potential reductions in developing vaccine induced ADE in mice. Unlike wild-type vaccine, CRR vaccine immunized mouse sera neutralized virus and did not enhance viral infection in vitro. Thus, reducing cross-reactivity in the envelope glycoprotein of DENV may provide a solution to increase vaccine safety and resolve the long-standing obstacle of immune enhancement in dengue vaccine development. DNA vaccination is a highly pursued vaccine platform for its safety, stability, and ease of development, use and manufacturing. However, DNA vaccination is hindered by lower immunogenicity. Methods investigated to increase the immunogenicity of DNA vaccines have included the use of immunological adjuvants; however, few are approved for human use. A dominant, naturally occurring CD4 T cell epitope located in the transmembrane domain of West Nile virus was identified and its ability to increase the immunogenicity of heterologous flavivirus vaccines was investigated. The incorporation of the West Nile virus CD4 epitope into a DENV-2 DNA or protein vaccine significantly increased neutralizing antibody titers compared to parental vaccines without the CD4 epitope. Identifying differential antigenic properties of vaccines may alleviate concerns of imbalanced immunity associated with multivalent vaccinations

DIAGNOSTIC CODING OF PHYSICAL ABUSE AMONG PATIENTS EVALUATED BY A MULTIDISCIPLINARY CHILD PROTECTION TEAM IN A PEDIATRIC LEVEL I TRAUMA CENTER

Child abuse is a substantial public health problem. Numerous studies have used hospital discharge data coded using the International Classification of Diseases, 9th and 10th Editions, Clinical Modification (ICD-9 and ICD-10) to identify cases of physical abuse seen in hospitals. Published studies on the sensitivity and specificity of ICD coding for physical child abuse are limited using ICD-9, and non-existent with ICD-10. This study examined the accuracy of ICD coding for physical child abuse, among patients less than 18 years of age, who were evaluated due to concern for physical abuse by a Multidisciplinary Child Protection Team (MCPT) during 2012-2013 (n=391, using ICD-9) and 2016-2017 (n=303, using ICD-10) in a Pediatric Level I Trauma Center in Texas. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values were calculated for ICD coding using the abuse determination of the MCPT as the gold standard. In 2012-2013, sensitivity of ICD-9 coding was only 21.7% (95% CI 15.2-29.3%) and specificity was 98.4% (95% CI 95.9-99.6%). In 2016-2017, sensitivity of ICD-10 coding was 31.3% (95% CI 24.7-38.6%) and specificity was 85.1% (95% CI 77.5-90.9%). False positive ICD-10 coding primarily involved the code for suspected child physical abuse (T76.12), which had no analogue under ICD-9. Few patients who were evaluated for possible physical abuse received the expected supplementary code for examination for possible physical abuse (19% in 2012-2013 and 4% in 2016-2017). Sensitivity of ICD-coding for physical abuse was very low. Researchers should be cautious in using ICD-coded datasets alone for physical child abuse surveillance

Rift Valley Fever: An Economic Assessment of Agricultural and Human Vulnerability

This research focused on the assessment of the U.S. agricultural sector and human vulnerability to a Rift Valley Fever (RVF) outbreak and the implications of a select set of alternative disease control strategies. Livestock impact assessment is done by using an integrated epidemic/economic model to examine the extent of RVF spread in the Southeast Texas livestock population and its consequences plus the outcome of implementing two different control strategies: emergency vaccination and larvicide vector control separately plus when they are used simultaneously. Human impact assessment utilized an inferential procedure, which comprises of a cost of illness calculation to assess the dollar cost of human illnesses and deaths, as well as a Disability Adjusted Life Year calculation to give an estimate of the burden of disease on public health as a whole. Results indicate substantial potential losses to the U.S., where combined livestock and human national costs ranged from $121 million to$2.3 billion.Rift Valley Fever, Outbreak, Welfare, Vaccination, Larvicide., Environmental Economics and Policy, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, Food Security and Poverty, Health Economics and Policy,

Utilizing Guided Simulation in Conjunction with Digital Learning Tools in Air Traffic Control Training to Enhance Learning at the Collegiate Level

Students in an air traffic control program are required to learn and apply advance knowledge and skills in a limited time frame. All students learn at different rates as well as through different learning styles. Swivl is a video capture tool designed to enhance student learning by allowing students to refer back to their individual classroom lab training session videos via an online portal. Swivl is being utilized in two ATC lab courses. During this research, two technological shortcomings were discovered: (1) Swivl lacks the ability to capture audio from the COA’s existing communication software and (2) Swivl cannot focus on the radar display. As a result, the videos have lacked visual clarity when reviewing the session. Consequently Swivl has been shown to be an ineffective digital learning tool for this situation. Swivl, used in conjunction with a simulated ATC tower, has proven to be effective in enhancing overall learning due to the visual nature of the tower learning environment. The nature of the tower simulator allows for better visual acuity and effective communication exchange within the Swivl videos. Once these two issues are resolved, Swivl will have the potential to be an effective tool in ATC training, and may enhance learning by allowing students to sharpen those skills necessary for advancement in the field of air traffic control

Marriage length, spousal support, and marital satisfaction in dual-income men and women

The introduction of women into the workforce has led to a steady increase in the number of dual-income couples in the United States. Since dual-income married couples now comprise the majority of couples, they are especially important to study. Approximately half of marriages end in divorce, so an increased knowledge of what makes marriages work is essential. Previous studies indicate that as spousal support increases so does marital satisfaction. This study seeks to confirm the above mentioned relationship for dual-income married couples by studying 143 dual-income couples from varying demographic backgrounds. Also, we will investigate whether couples married for a longer amount of time report greater spousal support and marital satisfaction and whether any gender differences occur

Recent epidemiology of sexually transmissible enteric infections in men who have sex with men.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Sexual transmission of enteric pathogens in men who have sex with men (MSM) has been described since the 1970s. Recently, an increasing number of enteric infection outbreaks have been reported in MSM. This article summarizes recent outbreaks and discusses the key issues for prevention and control. RECENT FINDINGS: Sexually transmissible enteric infections (STEIs) can spread rapidly and internationally within highly connected MSM populations and are often associated with antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The infections often cluster in high-risk groups of HIV-positive MSM who are more likely to engage in diverse sexual practices and chemsex, and to have multiple other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). SUMMARY: The roles of asymptomatic and/or persistent infection and other contextual factors in STEI transmission are not well described. STEI-associated AMR is increasing and has potential to spread rapidly in MSM, warranting further public health attention. A better understanding of the factors associated with sexual transmission will enable the development of more effective control measures. A holistic approach that promotes health and wellbeing as well as infection prevention and management is needed

Incorporating Digital Learning Tools in Conjunction with Air Traffic Control Simulation

Learning and applying complex information at a fast rate can be challenging for students within an air traffic control - training program. Incorporating digital learning tools into an air traffic control training programs may increase student learning and success rates. Swivl is a digital learning capture tool designed to enhance student learning by allowing students to refer back to their individual classroom lab training session videos via an online portal. Embry Riddle’s air traffic program has started using Swivl in two separate ATC courses in order to determine if it is a viable solution to increase learning. During our research, we have come to the conclusion that Swivl is most useful in the air traffic control tower simulator, and has shown to be an effective learning tool thus far from the teacher’s perspective. Additional student feedback and analysis is forthcoming . Swivl has the potential to be an effective tool in ATC training and may enhance learning by allowing students to sharpen skills that are necessary to advance in the field of air traffic control. The air traffic control - training academy (used to train air traffic controllers hired by the federal government) has a high failure rate. Incorporating digital learning tools in that setting may increase success rates as well

Utilizing Guided Simulation in Conjunction with Digital Learning Tools in Air Traffic Control Training

For students in an air traffic control discipline, simulated training time is limited to in - class time and is divided among the entire class. Students are required to advance and obtain knowledge, skills, and abilities in the lab because there is almost no way to practice at home. All students learn at different rates as well as through different learning styles. Swivl is a digital learning/capture tool designed to enhance student learning by allowing students to refer back to the individual classroom lab training session via an online portal. Swivl is currently being used in two ATC Lab courses. There are two technological deficiencies that have arisen: (1) Swivl (in the Terminal Radar Approach Control and En - Route Radar environments) lacks the ability to record what is being said over the frequencies. (2) Swivl does not have the ability to focus on the radar scope targets. As a result, the students’ captures have a deficiency in visual clarity. However, the nature of the tower simulator does allow for better visual acuity and effective communication exchange within the Swivl capture

Hierarchical Organization of Frontotemporal Networks for the Prediction of Stimuli across Multiple Dimensions.

Brain function can be conceived as a hierarchy of generative models that optimizes predictions of sensory inputs and minimizes "surprise." Each level of the hierarchy makes predictions of neural events at a lower level in the hierarchy, which returns a prediction error when these expectations are violated. We tested the generalization of this hypothesis to multiple sequential deviations, and we identified the most likely organization of the network that accommodates deviations in temporal structure of stimuli. Magnetoencephalography of healthy human participants during an auditory paradigm identified prediction error responses in bilateral primary auditory cortex, superior temporal gyrus, and lateral prefrontal cortex for deviation by frequency, intensity, location, duration, and silent gap. We examined the connectivity between cortical sources using a set of 21 generative models that embedded alternate hypotheses of frontotemporal network dynamics. Bayesian model selection provided evidence for two new features of functional network organization. First, an expectancy signal provided input to the prefrontal cortex bilaterally, related to the temporal structure of stimuli. Second, there are functionally significant lateral connections between superior temporal and/or prefrontal cortex. The results support a predictive coding hypothesis but go beyond previous work in demonstrating the generalization to multiple concurrent stimulus dimensions and the evidence for a temporal expectancy input at the higher level of the frontotemporal hierarchy. We propose that this framework for studying the brain's response to unexpected events is not limited to simple sensory tasks but may also apply to the neurocognitive mechanisms of higher cognitive functions and their disorders.This work was supported by the Medical Research Council (Grant MC-A060-5PQ30 and a doctoral training award to H.N.P.), the Wellcome Trust (Grants 088324 and 103838 to J.B.R. and L.E.H., Biomedical Research Fellowship WT093811MA to T.A.B.), and the James F. McDonnell Foundation 21st Century Science Initiative: Understanding Human Cognition.This is the final version of the article. It first appeared from Society for Neuroscience via http://dx.doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.5095-14.201