The Effects of Information Literacy Instruction on Business Students’ Job Readiness

The purpose of this study is to examine college student perceptions of information literacy instruction and to what extent library instruction influences students’ attitudes in their business research during their job-readiness training through the Panthers Advanced Career Experience (PACE). The findings suggest that library instruction intervention positively influenced and increased confidence in completing the information research for their client-based consultation project

Seeking Symbiosis: Designing LibGuides that Bring User-Centered Design and Learner-Centered Practice into Harmony

Libraries around the world use LibGuides to create research guides for students. But is the user-centered approach often employed by libraries when creating these guides enough to meet the needs of today’s learners? A small task force of librarians at Oxford College of Emory University set out to answer this question. After studying the literature, it was found that very few studies focus on instructional design principles in the creation of LibGuides. Furthermore, an examination of their own library’s LibGuides revealed that while the guides addressed many issues of usability, learner-centered design was often absent. (25 minutes) The first portion of the workshop will outline the efforts of the task force to create a LibGuide template for Oxford College’s new first-year seminar courses. The iterative design of the course guide template seeks to bring into symbiosis user-centered design and learner-centered practice. The goal of the template is to point students toward recommended resources and teach them valuable information literacy skills along the way. Results from the initial rollout and subsequent evaluation of the template will be presented. (40 minutes) Attendees will then be divided into groups led by each of the presenters to share their libraries’ experiences in creating course guides. The groups will brainstorm ideas for how these teaching tools can better meet the learning needs of students. A laptop will be provided for each group so that attendees can evaluate their institution’s LibGuides. At the end of the workshop, each group will designate a speaker to present some of their group’s ideas (10 minutes)

Transcriptomic response to divergent selection for flowering times reveals convergence and key players of the underlying gene regulatory network

International audienceArtificial selection experiments are designed to investigate phenotypic evolution of complex traits and its genetic basis. Here we focused on flowering time, a trait of key importance for plant adaptation and life-cycle shifts. We undertook divergent selection experiments from two maize inbred lines. After 13 generations of selection, we obtained a time-lag of roughly two weeks between Early-and Late-populations. We used this material to characterize the genome-wide transcriptomic response to selection in the shoot apical meristem before, during and after floral transition in field conditions during two consecutive years. We validated the reliability of performing RNA-sequencing in uncontrolled conditions. We found that roughly half of maize genes were expressed in the shoot apical meristem, 59.3% of which were differentially expressed. We detected a majority of genes with differential expression between inbreds and across meristem status, and retrieved a subset of 2,451 genes involved in the response to selection. Among these, we found a significant enrichment for genes with known function in maize flowering time. Furthermore, they were more often shared between inbreds than expected by chance, suggesting convergence of gene expression. We discuss new insights into the expression pattern of key players of the underlying gene regulatory network including the Zea mays genes CENTRORADIALIS (ZCN8), RELATED TO AP2.7 (RAP2.7), MADS4 (ZMM4), KNOTTED1 (KN1), GIBBERELLIN2-OXIDASE1 (GA2ox1), as well as alternative scenarios for genetic convergence

Maternal Benzodiazepines and Z-Drugs Use during Pregnancy and Adverse Birth and Neurodevelopmental Outcomes in Offspring:A Population-Based Cohort Study

Introduction: The use of benzodiazepines and/or z-drugs in women of childbearing age has increased. Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate whether gestational benzodiazepine and/or z-drug exposure is associated with adverse birth and neurodevelopmental outcomes. Methods: A population-based cohort including mother-child pairs from 2001 to 2018 in Hong Kong was analysed to compare gestationally exposed and nonexposed children on the risk of preterm birth, small for gestational age, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) through logistic/Cox proportional hazards regression with a 95% confidence interval (CI). Sibling-matched analyses and negative control analyses were applied. Results: When comparing gestationally exposed with gestationally nonexposed children, the weighted odds ratio (wOR) was 1.10 (95% CI = 0.97-1.25) for preterm birth and 1.03 (95% CI = 0.76-1.39) for small for gestational age, while the weighted hazard ratio (wHR) was 1.40 (95% CI = 1.13-1.73) for ASD and 1.15 (95% CI = 0.94-1.40) for ADHD. Sibling-matched analyses showed no association between gestationally exposed children and their gestationally nonexposed siblings for all outcomes (preterm birth: wOR = 0.84, 95% CI = 0.66-1.06; small for gestational age: wOR = 1.02, 95% CI = 0.50-2.09; ASD: wHR = 1.10, 95% CI = 0.70-1.72; ADHD: wHR = 1.04, 95% CI = 0.57-1.90). Similarly, no significant differences were observed when comparing children whose mothers took benzodiazepines and/or z-drugs during pregnancy to children whose mothers took benzodiazepines and/or z-drugs before but not during pregnancy for all outcomes. Conclusions: The findings do not support a causal relationship between gestational benzodiazepines and/or z-drugs exposure and preterm birth, small for gestational age, ASD, or ADHD. Clinicians and pregnant women should carefully balance the known risks of benzodiazepines and/or z-drugs use against those of untreated anxiety and sleep problems.</p

Maternal benzodiazepines and z-drugs use during pregnancy and adverse birth and neurodevelopmental outcomes in offspring: a population-based cohort study

Introduction: The use of benzodiazepines and/or z-drugs in women of childbearing age has increased. / Objective: To evaluate whether gestational benzodiazepines and/or z-drugs exposure is associated with adverse birth and neurodevelopmental outcomes. / Methods: A population-based cohort including mother-child pairs from 2001–2018 in Hong Kong was analysed to compared gestationally exposed and nonexposed children on the risk of preterm birth, small for gestational age, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) through logistic/Cox proportional hazards regression. Sibling-matched analyses and negative control analyses were applied. / Results: When comparing gestationally exposed with gestationally nonexposed children, the weighted odds ratio (wOR) was 1.10 (95%CI=0.97–1.25) for preterm birth and 1.03 (95%CI=0.76–1.39) for small for gestational age while the weighted hazard ratio (wHR) was 1.40 (95%CI=1.13–1.73) for ASD and 1.15 (95%CI=0.94–1.40) for ADHD. Sibling-matched analyses showed no association between gestationally exposed children and their gestationally nonexposed siblings for all outcomes (preterm birth: wOR=0.84, 95%CI=0.66–1.06; small for gestational age: wOR=1.02, 95%CI=0.50–2.09; ASD: wHR=1.10, 95%CI=0.70–1.72; ADHD: wHR=1.04, 95%CI=0.57–1.90). Similarly, no significant differences were observed when comparing children whose mothers took benzodiazepines and/or z-drugs during pregnancy to children whose mothers took benzodiazepines and/or z-drugs before but not during pregnancy for all outcomes. / Conclusions: The findings do not support a causal relationship between gestational benzodiazepines and/or z-drugs exposure and preterm birth, small for gestational age, ASD, or ADHD. Clinicians and pregnant women should carefully balance the known risks of benzodiazepines and/or z-drugs use against that of untreated anxiety and sleep problems

Six-Month Mortality among HIV-Infected Adults Presenting for Antiretroviral Therapy with Unexplained Weight Loss, Chronic Fever or Chronic Diarrhea in Malawi.

In sub-Saharan Africa, early mortality is high following initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART). We investigated 6-month outcomes and factors associated with mortality in HIV-infected adults being assessed for ART initiation and presenting with weight loss, chronic fever or diarrhea, and with negative TB sputum microscopy

YB-1 DNA-binding protein represses interferon gamma activation of class II major histocompatibility complex genes

Interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) is the most potent inducer of class II major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes. This induction is uniquely mediated by three DNA elements in the promoter region of class II MHC genes. One of these DNA elements, Y, contains an inverted CCAAT box. Previously, we have screened a lambda gt11 library for Y-binding proteins and identified the YB-1 gene. Here we provide evidence that YB- 1 can repress the IFN-gamma induction of class II MHC promoter as well as the Invariant chain (Ii) gene which also contains a Y element in its promoter. This was demonstrated by cotransfecting a YB-1 expression vector with promoter-reporter gene constructs. As an alternate approach, an efficient transient transfection system was developed which resulted in a > 70% transfection efficiency. Transfection of YB-1 by this procedure resulted in the near abrogation of IFN-gamma induced HLA-DR antigen and mRNA expression. These findings show the functional suppression of class II MHC gene induction by the YB-1 protein

Disclosing genetic risk for Alzheimer’s dementia to individuals with mild cognitive impairment

IntroductionThe safety of predicting conversion from mild cognitive impairment (MCI) to Alzheimer’s disease (AD) dementia using apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotyping is unknown.MethodsWe randomized 114 individuals with MCI to receive estimates of 3‐year risk of conversion to AD dementia informed by APOE genotyping (disclosure arm) or not (non‐disclosure arm) in a non‐inferiority clinical trial. Primary outcomes were anxiety and depression scores. Secondary outcomes included other psychological measures.ResultsUpper confidence limits for randomization arm differences were 2.3 on the State Trait Anxiety Index and 0.5 on the Geriatric Depression Scale, below non‐inferiority margins of 3.3 and 1.0. Moreover, mean scores were lower in the disclosure arm than non‐disclosure arm for test‐related positive impact (difference: ‐1.9, indicating more positive feelings) and AD concern (difference: ‐0.3).DiscussionProviding genetic information to individuals with MCI about imminent risk for AD does not increase risks of anxiety or depression and may provide psychological benefits.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/154645/1/trc212002_am.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/154645/2/trc212002.pd

COVID-19 shines a light on health inequities in communities of color: a youth-driven photovoice inquiry

This manuscript reports on a youth-driven health assessment engaging youth of color in identifying community health priorities during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Photovoice, a participatory visual ethnographic health assessment strategy, was used to explore the question: What does health or healthiness mean to you and/or your community? Youth captured images that represented their priorities. The photos were discussed using the SHOWed framework and analyzed thematically. Four themes related to community health were identified. Additionally, youth captured their narrative of COVID-19 as "a revealing force that highlights systemic inequities, driving individuals and communities to both cultivate their resilience and take healthcare into their own hands in response to government and policy level failures." Youth are acutely aware of the historical and structural inequities that create multi-level barriers to healthcare access. Health inequities existed long before the pandemic, but the current crisis requires us to examine ways to transform the healthcare landscape moving forward.UL1 TR001430 - NCATS NIH HHSPublished versio

Exposure to phthalates among premenstrual girls from rural and urban Gharbiah, Egypt: A pilot exposure assessment study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Phthalates have been identified as endocrine active compounds associated with developmental and reproductive toxicity. The exposure to phthalates in premenstrual Egyptian females remains unknown. The objective of this study was to characterize phthalate exposure of a potentially vulnerable population of premenstrual girls from urban and rural Egypt.</p> <p>Materials and methods</p> <p>We collected one spot urine sample from 60 10-13 year old females, 30 from rural Egypt, and 30 from urban Egypt from July to October 2009. Samples were analyzed for 11 phthalate metabolites. Additionally, we collected anthropometrics as well as questionnaire data concerning food storage behaviors, cooking practices, and cosmetic use. Phthalate metabolite concentrations were compared between urban and rural Egyptians as well as to age and gender matched Americans.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Monoethyl phthalate (MEP), was detected at the highest concentration in urine of Egyptian girls (median: 43.2 ng/mL in rural, 98.8 ng/mL in urban). Concentrations of urinary metabolites of di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate and dibutyl phthalate were comparable between Egyptians and age matched US girls. Storage of food in plastic containers was a statistically significant predictor of urinary mono-isobutyl phthalate (MiBP) concentrations when comparing covariate adjusted means.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Urinary concentrations of phthalate metabolites were similar in Egyptian and US populations, suggesting that phthalate exposure also occurs in developing nations. Dietary intake is likely an important route of exposure to phthalates in both urban and rural populations.</p