Optical Gain from InAs Nanocrystal Quantum Dots in a Polymer Matrix

We report on the first observation of optical gain from InAs nanocrystal quantum dots emitting at 1.55 microns based on a three-beam, time resolved pump-probe technique. The nanocrystals were embedded into a transparent polymer matrix platform suitable for the fabrication of integrated photonic devices.Comment: 8 pages, 3 figures. This second version is excactly the same as the first. It is resubmitted to correct some format errors appeared in the pdf file of the first versio

Validating the Assessing Student Competence and Knowledge of Social Determinants of Health (ASCK-SDH) Instrument

The impact of the social determinants of health (SDH) on health outcomes is receiving increased attention. Health profession students need to learn about SDH; however, there are no validated tools to measure student competence in assessing SDH. There is a need for a brief, valid instrument to measure student competency and knowledge of SDH. This study is a secondary analysis of data collected pre (N=394) and post (N=387) for an interprofessional learning event. We utilized principal component analysis (PCA) with varimax rotation to determine the internal structure of the tool. The original measure consisted of 11 items; the analysis resulted in two factors. Based on the two factors it was determined the three items from Factor 2 were not contributing to the scale; therefore, they were removed. The final measure, Assessing Student Competence & Knowledge of Social Determinants of Health (ASCK-SDH), consists of eight items rated on a 4-point Likert scale. The measure indicated high internal consistency at pre (Cronbach’s α= 0.81) and post (Cronbach’s α=0.89) tests. The ASCK-SDH tool provides a valid instrument to measure student competence and knowledge about SDH and can be used to assess learning

Validating the Assessing Student Competence and Knowledge of Social Determinants of Health (ASCK-SDH) Instrument

The impact of the social determinants of health (SDH) on health outcomes is receiving increased attention. Health profession students need to learn about SDH; however, there are no validated tools to measure student competence in assessing SDH. There is a need for a brief, valid instrument to measure student competency and knowledge of SDH. This study is a secondary analysis of data collected pre (N=394) and post (N=387) for an interprofessional learning event. We utilized principal component analysis (PCA) with varimax rotation to determine the internal structure of the tool. The original measure consisted of 11 items; the analysis resulted in two factors. Based on the two factors it was determined the three items from Factor 2 were not contributing to the scale; therefore, they were removed. The final measure, Assessing Student Competence & Knowledge of Social Determinants of Health (ASCK-SDH), consists of eight items rated on a 4-point Likert scale. The measure indicated high internal consistency at pre (Cronbach’s α= 0.81) and post (Cronbach’s α=0.89) tests. The ASCK-SDH tool provides a valid instrument to measure student competence and knowledge about SDH and can be used to assess learning

The Use of the Four Square Step Test and the Y Balance Test to Assess Balance in Typical Children Ages 6-10 Years

The Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency, 2nd edition (BOT-2) is a widely used standardized tool to assess gross motor function, including balance, in children ages 4-21.The Four Square Step Test (FSST) was developed as a reliable assessment tool to assess fall risk in the geriatric population, however there is limited research on its use in the pediatric population. The Y-Balance Test (YBT) was developed to detect functional deficits in the athletic population, it is unknown if this is a reliable test in the pediatric population.https://ecommons.udayton.edu/dpt_symposium/1018/thumbnail.jp

Delayed Initiation of Therapeutic Hypothermia for Outborn Infants is Associated with Adverse Outcomes

Delayed Initiantion of Therapeutic Hypothermia for Outborn Infants is Associated with Adverse Outcome

Long-Term Crop Rotation Diversification Enhances Maize Drought Resistance Through Soil Organic Matter

Climate change adaptation requires building agricultural system resilience to warmer, drier climates. Increasing temporal plant diversity through crop rotation diversification increases yields of some crops under drought, but its potential to enhance crop drought resistance and the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. We conducted a drought manipulation experiment using rainout shelters embedded within a 36-year crop rotation diversity and no-till experiment in a temperate climate and measured a suite of soil and crop developmental and eco-physiological traits in the field and laboratory. We show that diversifying maize-soybean rotations with small grain cereals and cover crops mitigated maize water stress at the leaf and canopy scales and reduced yield losses to drought by 17.1 ± 6.1%, while no-till did not affect maize drought resistance. Path analysis showed a strong correlation between soil organic matter and lower maize water stress despite no significant differences in soil organic matter between rotations or tillage treatments. This positive relationship between soil organic matter and maize water status was not mediated by higher soil water retention or infiltration as often hypothesized, nor differential depth of root water uptake as measured with stable isotopes, suggesting that other mechanisms are at play. Crop rotation diversification is an underappreciated drought management tool to adapt crop production to climate change through managing for soil organic matter

Exploring the Effect of Minimum Magnitude on California Seismic Hazard Maps

A recent topic of interest is the performance of probabilistic seismic hazard maps relative to historical shaking datasets. Maps developed for different countries appear to overpredict shaking relative to historical shaking datasets. To explore whether this discrepancy arises because of incompleteness in historical datasets, we consider maps and historical data from California. Current probabilistic seismic hazard maps for California appear to predict stronger short period shaking than historical maxima captured by the California Historical Intensity Mapping Project (CHIMP) dataset between 1857 and 2019. We estimate that CHIMP has a magnitude completeness between M 6-6.6, whereas California hazard maps assume a minimum magnitude (MMin) of 5. Disaggregating the maps shows that earthquakes smaller than M 6 and 6.6 respectfully contribute about 25% and 45% of the hazard across California. Increasing the hazard map's MMin to 6 and 6.6 respectively reduces the discrepancy between predicted and observed shaking by approximately 10-20% and 30-35%. These reductions are not enough to bring the maps and data in alignment. Thus, MMin inconsistencies contribute to, but are not the sole cause of, the discrepancy between predicted and historically observed shaking. These results may be generally applicable to maps elsewhere, although MMin will vary for different historical datasets

Synergistic Ca^(2+) Responses by Gα_i- and Gα_q-coupled G-protein-coupled Receptors Require a Single PLCβ Isoform That Is Sensitive to Both Gβ_γ and Gα_q

Cross-talk between Gα_i- and Gα_q-linked G-protein-coupled receptors yields synergistic Ca^(2+) responses in a variety of cell types. Prior studies have shown that synergistic Ca^(2+) responses from macrophage G-protein-coupled receptors are primarily dependent on phospholipase Cβ3 (PLCβ3), with a possible contribution of PLCβ2, whereas signaling through PLCβ4 interferes with synergy. We here show that synergy can be induced by the combination of Gβγ and Gαq activation of a single PLCβ isoform. Synergy was absent in macrophages lacking both PLCβ2 and PLCβ3, but it was fully reconstituted following transduction with PLCβ3 alone. Mechanisms of PLCβ-mediated synergy were further explored in NIH-3T3 cells, which express little if any PLCβ2. RNAi-mediated knockdown of endogenous PLCβs demonstrated that synergy in these cells was dependent on PLCβ3, but PLCβ1 and PLCβ4 did not contribute, and overexpression of either isoform inhibited Ca^(2+) synergy. When synergy was blocked by RNAi of endogenous PLCβ3, it could be reconstituted by expression of either human PLCβ3 or mouse PLCβ2. In contrast, it could not be reconstituted by human PLCβ3 with a mutation of the Y box, which disrupted activation by Gβγ, and it was only partially restored by human PLCβ3 with a mutation of the C terminus, which partly disrupted activation by Gα_q. Thus, both Gβγ and Gα_q contribute to activation of PLCβ3 in cells for Ca^(2+) synergy. We conclude that Ca^(2+) synergy between Gα_i-coupled and Gα_q-coupled receptors requires the direct action of both Gβγ and Gαq on PLCβ and is mediated primarily by PLCβ3, although PLCβ2 is also competent

Identification of glucocorticoid-related molecular signature by whole blood methylome analysis

Objective Cushing's syndrome represents a state of excessive glucocorticoids related to glucocorticoid treatments or to endogenous hypercortisolism. Cushing's syndrome is associated with high morbidity, with significant inter-individual variability. Likewise, adrenal insufficiency is a life-threatening condition of cortisol deprivation. Currently, hormone assays contribute to identify Cushing's syndrome or adrenal insufficiency. However, no biomarker directly quantifies the biological glucocorticoid action. The aim of this study was to identify such markers. Design We evaluated whole blood DNA methylome in 94 samples obtained from patients with different glucocorticoid states (Cushing's syndrome, eucortisolism, adrenal insufficiency). We used an independent cohort of 91 samples for validation. Methods Leukocyte DNA was obtained from whole blood samples. Methylome was determined using the Illumina methylation chip array (~850 000 CpG sites). Both unsupervised (principal component analysis) and supervised (Limma) methods were used to explore methylome profiles. A Lasso-penalized regression was used to select optimal discriminating features. Results Whole blood methylation profile was able to discriminate samples by their glucocorticoid status: glucocorticoid excess was associated with DNA hypomethylation, recovering within months after Cushing's syndrome correction. In Cushing's syndrome, an enrichment in hypomethylated CpG sites was observed in the region of FKBP5 gene locus. A methylation predictor of glucocorticoid excess was built on a training cohort and validated on two independent cohorts. Potential CpG sites associated with the risk for specific complications, such as glucocorticoid-related hypertension or osteoporosis, were identified, needing now to be confirmed on independent cohorts. Conclusions Whole blood DNA methylome is dynamically impacted by glucocorticoids. This biomarker could contribute to better assessment of glucocorticoid action beyond hormone assays

Exploring the Satisfaction and Self-confidence of 3rd Year Medical Technology Students from Manila, Philippines regarding their Simulation Activities during the Enriched Virtual Mode of Delivery

The advent of the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in medical technology education transitioning from traditional face-to-face classes to online classes, which were delivered through online platforms and online laboratories. Along with these changes, the levels of confidence and satisfaction of students may have been affected. The former affects their willingness to participate while the latter keeps the students engaged in the continuous learning process. With this, the study aims to assess the satisfaction and self-confidence levels of 3rd-year medical technology students regarding the simulation activities utilized during the Enriched Virtual Mode of delivery. A survey questionnaire was used to gather the socio-demographic information and the levels of satisfaction and self-confidence of 293 medical technology students from the University of Santo Tomas in relation to their use of  simulation activities during the Enriched Virtual Mode of delivery. The software IBM SPSS was used to analyze the data gathered statistically through descriptive statistics of mean and standard deviation, Spearman’s rank correlation, the Mann-Whitney test, and the Kruskal-Wallis one-way analysis. Results exhibited that a strong positive correlation is observed between the satisfaction and self-confidence of the respondents regarding their simulation activities. However, the relationship between satisfaction regarding the simulation activities and the respondents’ age and gender was weakly positive and negligible. There was also a negligible positive correlation between the socio-demographic variables and the satisfaction of the respondents, and a negligible negative correlation between the socio-demographic variables and the self-confidence of the respondents