The Predictive Power of Out-of-School Community and Family Level Demographic Factors on District Level Student Performance on the New Jersey PARCC in Algebra 1 and Grade 10 English Language Arts/Literacy

The purpose of this study was to determine the predictive accuracy of community and family demographic variables, which are found through the use of the 2010 U.S. Census data, on the percentage of students at a district level who are Meeting or Exceeding Expectations on the 2016 New Jersey PARCC in Algebra 1 and Grade 10 English Language Arts/Literacy. The results of this study support the past research and existing literature that has found out-of-school community and family demographics affect and predict how students will perform on state standardized assessments. Based on this study, we can conclude that out certain combinations of out-of- school variables found in the 2010 U.S. Census can be used to predict with accuracy the percentage of students at a district level who are Meeting or Exceeding Expectations on the 2016 New Jersey PARCC in Algebra 1 and Grade 10 English Language Arts/Literacy

SYSTEMATIC ASSEMBLY OF AN INFECTIOUS cDNA CLONE OF MHV-1 AND OPTIMIZATION OF VIRAL RESCUE

The Sudden Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (SARS-CoV) caused a severe atypical pneumonia in humans with close to a 10% mortality rate, and caused a global outbreak in 2003. To better understand the pathogenesis of coronavirus pneumovirulence, a related coronavirus model is being developed, Murine Hepatitis Virus 1 (MHV-1). A complete reverse genetic system for MHV-1 is in the process of being completed. The reverse genetic system uses 7 cDNA fragments that cover the entire MHV-1 genome. These fragments are recovered from reverse transcribed viral RNA, and unique restriction sites were added to flank each fragment in order to allow systematic assembly of the complete genomic cDNA. The genomic cDNA can be transcribed, and the recovered RNA can be transfected into susceptible mammalian cells to rescue virus. The transfection process is currently being optimized by investigating the benefits of different electroporation techniques and different overlay cell confluences on amount of infectious centers produced from each attempt of viral recovery. Once the reverse genetic system is complete and tested the system will be used to generate mutant virus, impossible to make with out the reverse genetic system

The Role of the Medial Prefrontal Cortex-Amygdala Circuit in Stress Effects on the Extinction of Fear

Stress exposure, depending on its intensity and duration, affects cognition and learning in an adaptive or maladaptive manner. Studies addressing the effects of stress on cognitive processes have mainly focused on conditioned fear, since it is suggested that fear-motivated learning lies at the root of affective and anxiety disorders. Inhibition of fear-motivated response can be accomplished by experimental extinction of the fearful response to the fear-inducing stimulus. Converging evidence indicates that extinction of fear memory requires plasticity in both the medial prefrontal cortex and the amygdala. These brain areas are also deeply involved in mediating the effects of exposure to stress on memory. Moreover, extensive evidence indicates that gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) transmission plays a primary role in the modulation of behavioral sequelae resulting from a stressful experience, and may also partially mediate inhibitory learning during extinction. In this review, we present evidence that exposure to a stressful experience may impair fear extinction and the possible involvement of the GABA system. Impairment of fear extinction learning is particularly important as it may predispose some individuals to the development of posttraumatic stress disorder. We further discuss a possible dysfunction in the medial prefrontal cortex-amygdala circuit following a stressful experience that may explain the impaired extinction caused by exposure to a stressor

Primary Hydatidosis Of The Tibia: A Tricky Diagnosis

Primary hydatidosis of the tibia is a rare disease. In an endemic area, it should be considered in the differential diagnosis of a hypolucent osteolytic lesion on xray. If not properly managed, anaphylactic shock may occur intraoperatively, as well as increased reccurence of the disease. This is a case report of a primary tibial hydatid cyst, treated first with curettage and phenolizaton, and then after recurrence, treated with total knee arthroplasty. We will review the literature of diagnosis and treatment of a hydatid cyst of the tibia