Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorders Effect on a Student\u27s Academic Achievement

Studies have shown that students with exceptionalities especially those diagnosed with intellectual disabilities struggle in the academic achievement (reading and math) compared to their age-matched controls (Van der Ven et al., 2011). However, there are mixed results were found with students with ADHD, ADHD does not affect the student’s achievement level, it affects their ability to get the information needed. Many receive 504 accommodation compared to getting services under IDEIA (US Department of Education, 2013). This will be a single-subject case study. This study examines academic level of an individual with ADHD. We will be administering three standardized tests to measure a student’s reading and math skills, and their overall level of academic achievement. We will also be conducting a total of six observations, a review of his cumulative folder and interviews with his general and special education teachers. We will analyze the standard scores from the test to gain a full picture of the student

Physical activity promotion in lung transplant recipients

Lung transplantation is an established final treatment option for patients with advanced chronic respiratory disease. Despite its success in enhancing pulmonary function and health-related quality of life (HRQoL), limitations in physical and emotional function have been reported to persist in lung transplant recipients. To confirm this notion and to fully understand the level of physical and emotional functioning in these patients, the present thesis compared accelerometry-derived physical activity and HRQoL outcomes between lung transplant recipients and healthy individuals in the UK. Lung transplant recipients displayed significantly lower levels of daily physical activity across a number of parameters, along with significantly lower HRQoL in domains related to physical functioning, highlighting the need for effective interventions to promote physical activity in this population. Physical inactivity in daily life may contribute to impaired recovery of physical functioning following lung transplantation and diminish long-term outcomes. Given the paucity of research into potential interventions to address physical inactivity in lung transplant recipients, the current thesis includes a systematic review of the evidence supporting the benefits of exercise training for lung transplant candidates and recipients. Whilst exercise training appeared to have a positive impact on exercise capacity and HRQoL, the available evidence is low quality and limited by the lack of randomised controlled trials (RCTs). The main study of the present thesis investigated the feasibility, acceptability, and safety of a 3-month behavioural modification physical activity tele-coaching (TC) intervention in lung transplant recipients that has been proof-tested previously in COPD patients. The intervention consisted of a validated, commercially available pedometer that was used as a motivational tool to monitor daily activity, and a smartphone app, allowing transmission of pedometer activity data to a cloud-based platform that provided feedback, activity goals, education, and telephone contact with the researcher when required. The study employed an RCT design to evaluate the potential effect of the intervention, by assessing the short- (3 months) and longer-term (6 months) impact on physical activity, HRQoL, anxiety and depression, compared to usual care (UC). The results showed that key criteria for progressing to a full-scale RCT study were met. Of the 22 patients eligible, 20 were recruited and randomised to TC or UC and 18 completed (67% male; mean ± SD age; 57 ± 10 years; COPD n=5, ILD n=10, CF n=2, PH n=1): TC (n=10) and UC (n=8). TC was well accepted by patients, with 88% indicating that they enjoyed taking part. Usage of the pedometer was excellent, with 80% of patients wearing it for over 90% of days and rating the pedometer and telephone contact as the most vital aspects. There were no adverse events related to the intervention. After 3 months, both TC and UC displayed clinically important improvements in accelerometer steps/day (by 2945±3056 and 1566±1400 steps/day, respectively) and SF-36 physical component summary (PCS) scores, however TC exceeded UC by clinically important margins (by 1379 steps/day and 5 points, respectively). Only the TC group displayed significant improvement in movement intensity (by 138±148 VMU) and time spent in at least light activity (by 43±28 min/day). At 6 months, the TC group maintained improvements gained in physical activity and HRQoL, however the UC group exhibited clinically important declines in daily steps, SF-36 PCS, and anxiety scores. In conclusion, physical activity TC is a feasible, safe, and well accepted intervention in lung transplant recipients. Whilst there is a degree of natural recovery in physical activity and HRQoL following lung transplantation, physical activity TC has the potential to optimise these outcomes. Furthermore, the implementation of behavioural modification strategies resulted in better maintenance of health outcomes beyond the initial intervention period. Therefore, this thesis can inform a full-scale RCT to determine the true short- and long-term effect of physical activity TC in lung transplant recipients, compared to UC

Exercise training for lung transplant candidates and recipients: a systematic review

Exercise intolerance and impaired quality of life (QoL) are characteristic of lung transplant candidates and recipients. This review investigated the effects of exercise training on exercise capacity, QoL and clinical outcomes in pre- and post-operative lung transplant patients.A systematic literature search of PubMed, Nursing and Allied Health, Cochrane (CENTRAL), Scopus and CINAHL databases was conducted from inception until February, 2020. The inclusion criteria were assessment of the impact of exercise training before or after lung transplantation on exercise capacity, QoL or clinical outcomes.21 studies met the inclusion criteria, comprising 1488 lung transplant candidates and 1108 recipients. Studies consisted of five RCTs, two quasi-experimental and 14 single-arm cohort or pilot studies. Exercise training improved or at least maintained exercise capacity and QoL before and after lung transplantation. The impact on clinical outcomes was less clear but suggested a survival benefit. The quality of evidence ranged from fair to excellent.Exercise training appears to be beneficial for patients before and after lung transplantation; however, the evidence for direct causation is limited by the lack of controlled trials. Well-designed RCTs are needed, as well as further research into the effect of exercise training on important post-transplant clinical outcomes, such as time to discharge, rejection, infection, survival and re-hospitalisation

Expression of calcification and extracellular matrix genes in the cardiovascular system of the healthy domestic sheep (Ovis aries).

The maintenance of a healthy cardiovascular system requires expression of genes that contribute to essential biological activities and repression of those that are associated with functions likely to be detrimental to cardiovascular homeostasis. Vascular calcification is a major disruption to cardiovascular homeostasis, where tissues of the cardiovascular system undergo ectopic calcification and consequent dysfunction, but little is known about the expression of calcification genes in the healthy cardiovascular system. Large animal models are of increasing importance in cardiovascular disease research as they demonstrate more similar cardiovascular features (in terms of anatomy, physiology and size) to humans than do rodent species. We used RNA sequencing results from the sheep, which has been utilized extensively to examine calcification of prosthetic cardiac valves, to explore the transcriptome of the heart and cardiac valves in this large animal, in particular looking at expression of calcification and extracellular matrix genes. We then examined genes implicated in the process of vascular calcification in a wide array of cardiovascular tissues and across multiple developmental stages, using RT-qPCR. Our results demonstrate that there is a balance between genes that promote and those that suppress mineralization during development and across cardiovascular tissues. We show extensive expression of genes encoding proteins involved in formation and maintenance of the extracellular matrix in cardiovascular tissues, and high expression of hematopoietic genes in the cardiac valves. Our analysis will support future research into the functions of implicated genes in the development of valve calcification, and increase the utility of the sheep as a large animal model for understanding ectopic calcification in cardiovascular disease. This study provides a foundation to explore the transcriptome of the developing cardiovascular system and is a valuable resource for the fields of mammalian genomics and cardiovascular research

Corals in the hottest reefs in the world exhibit symbiont fidelity not flexibility

Reef-building corals are at risk of extinction from ocean warming. While some corals can enhance their thermal limits by associating with dinoflagellate photosymbionts of superior stress tolerance, the extent to which symbiont communities will reorganize under increased warming pressure remains unclear. Here we show that corals in the hottest reefs in the world in the Persian Gulf maintain associations with the same symbionts across 1.5 years despite extreme seasonal warming and acute heat stress (≥35°C). Persian Gulf corals predominantly associated with Cladocopium (clade C) and most also hosted Symbiodinium (clade A) and/or Durusdinium (clade D). This is in contrast to the neighbouring and milder Oman Sea, where corals associated with Durusdinium and only a minority hosted background levels of Cladocopium. During acute heat stress, the higher prevalence of Symbiodinium and Durusdinium in bleached versus nonbleached Persian Gulf corals indicates that genotypes of these background genera did not confer bleaching resistance. Within symbiont genera, the majority of ITS2 rDNA type profiles were unique to their respective coral species, confirming the existence of host-specific symbiont lineages. Notably, further differentiation among Persian Gulf sites demonstrates that symbiont populations are either isolated or specialized over tens to hundreds of kilometres. Thermal tolerance across coral species was associated with the prevalence of a single ITS2 intragenomic sequence variant (C3gulf), definitive of the Cladocopium thermophilum group. The abundance of C3gulf was highest in bleaching-resistant corals and at warmer sites, potentially indicating a specific symbiont genotype (or set of genotypes) that may play a role in thermal tolerance that warrants further investigation. Together, our findings indicate that co-evolution of host–Symbiodiniaceae partnerships favours fidelity rather than flexibility in extreme environments and under future warming

Species-specificity of transcriptional regulation and the response to lipopolysaccharide in mammalian macrophages.

Mammalian macrophages differ in their basal gene expression profiles and response to the toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) agonist, lipopolysaccharide (LPS). In human macrophages, LPS elicits a temporal cascade of transient gene expression including feed forward activators and feedback regulators that limit the response. Here we present a transcriptional network analysis of the response of sheep bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDM) to LPS based upon RNA-seq at 0, 2, 4, 7, and 24 h post-stimulation. The analysis reveals a conserved transcription factor network with humans, and rapid induction of feedback regulators that constrain the response at every level. The gene expression profiles of sheep BMDM at 0 and 7 h post LPS addition were compared to similar data obtained from goat, cow, water buffalo, horse, pig, mouse and rat BMDM. This comparison was based upon identification of 8,200 genes annotated in all species and detected at >10TPM in at least one sample. Analysis of expression of transcription factors revealed a conserved transcriptional millieu associated with macrophage differentiation and LPS response. The largest co-expression clusters, including genes encoding cell surface receptors, endosome–lysosome components and secretory activity, were also expressed in all species and the combined dataset defines a macrophage functional transcriptome. All of the large animals differed from rodents in lacking inducible expression of genes involved in arginine metabolism and nitric oxide production. Instead, they expressed inducible transporters and enzymes of tryptophan and kynurenine metabolism. BMDM from all species expressed high levels of transcripts encoding transporters and enzymes involved in glutamine metabolism suggesting that glutamine is a major metabolic fuel. We identify and discuss transcripts that were uniquely expressed or regulated in rodents compared to large animals including ACOD1, CXC and CC chemokines, CD163, CLEC4E, CPM, CSF1, CSF2, CTSK, MARCO, MMP9, SLC2A3, SLC7A7, and SUCNR1. Conversely, the data confirm the conserved regulation of multiple transcripts for which there is limited functional data from mouse models and knockouts. The data provide a resource for functional annotation and interpretation of loci involved in susceptibility to infectious and inflammatory disease in humans and large animal species

Comprehensive transcriptional profiling of the gastrointestinal tract of ruminants from birth to adulthood reveals strong developmental stage specific gene expression

One of the most significant physiological challenges to neonatal and juvenile ruminants is the development and establishment of the rumen. Using a subset of RNA-Seq data from our high-resolution atlas of gene expression in sheep (Ovis aries) we have provided the first comprehensive characterization of transcription of the entire gastrointestinal (GI) tract during the transition from pre-ruminant to ruminant. The dataset comprises 164 tissue samples from sheep at four different time points (birth, one week, 8 weeks and adult). Using network cluster analysis we illustrate how the complexity of the GI tract is reflected in tissueand developmental stage-specific differences in gene expression. The most significant transcriptional differences between neonatal and adult sheep were observed in the rumen complex. Comparative analysis of gene expression in three GI tract tissues from age-matched sheep and goats revealed species-specific differences in genes involved in immunity and metabolism. This study improves our understanding of the transcriptomic mechanisms involved in the transition from pre-ruminant to ruminant by identifying key genes involved in immunity, microbe recognition and metabolism. The results form a basis for future studies linking gene expression with microbial colonization of the developing GI tract and provide a foundation to improve ruminant efficiency and productivity through identifying potential targets for novel therapeutics and gene editing

Feature Improvement and Cost Reduction of Baitcasting Fishing Reels for Emerging Markets

Baitcasting fishing reels are a challenging product to sell to new users in emerging markets. Their complex and less-than-intuitive design make them poor candidates for a novice fisherman selecting his or her first fishing reel. Based upon manufacturer constraints and design requirements, our team lowered the price point and improved the usability of the Okuma Cerros baitcasting fishing reel to make it more appealing to a wider range of consumers, especially in emerging markets. This project resulted in a three-phase redesign: reducing cost via alternative materials and replacing bearings with bushings; prototyping a simplified cast control system; and proposing an improved user interface