Technology Preparedness and the Impact on a High-Quality Remote Learning Experience: Lessons From COVID-19

The COVID-19 crisis has highlighted the role of remote learning in higher education. Increased investments and understanding of the transition to remote learning today will yield access to high-quality learning. Using data from an institution with a diverse student population, the purpose of this study was to explore students’ transition to remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic by examining aspects within the course that contributed to perceptions of a high-quality remote learning experience. Five elements of the remote learning experience were statistically significant predictors of course quality ratings: ratings of the quality of student supports (Academic Advising, Tutoring, Internships, Financial Aid, etc.), ratings of connectedness to instructors in at least one class, the use of many learning activities by instructors, clear course organization by instructors, and clear communication used by instructors. Analysis of qualitative student interviews reinforced these findings and provided further support for the importance of reliable technology during remote learning

Discovering Networks of Perturbed Biological Processes in Hepatocyte Cultures

The liver plays a vital role in glucose homeostasis, the synthesis of bile acids and the detoxification of foreign substances. Liver culture systems are widely used to test adverse effects of drugs and environmental toxicants. The two most prevalent liver culture systems are hepatocyte monolayers (HMs) and collagen sandwiches (CS). Despite their wide use, comprehensive transcriptional programs and interaction networks in these culture systems have not been systematically investigated. We integrated an existing temporal transcriptional dataset for HM and CS cultures of rat hepatocytes with a functional interaction network of rat genes. We aimed to exploit the functional interactions to identify statistically significant linkages between perturbed biological processes. To this end, we developed a novel approach to compute Contextual Biological Process Linkage Networks (CBPLNs). CBPLNs revealed numerous meaningful connections between different biological processes and gene sets, which we were successful in interpreting within the context of liver metabolism. Multiple phenomena captured by CBPLNs at the process level such as regulation, downstream effects, and feedback loops have well described counterparts at the gene and protein level. CBPLNs reveal high-level linkages between pathways and processes, making the identification of important biological trends more tractable than through interactions between individual genes and molecules alone. Our approach may provide a new route to explore, analyze, and understand cellular responses to internal and external cues within the context of the intricate networks of molecular interactions that control cellular behavior

A resilience -promoting dynamic learning community: A case study of a southern New England high school

A preponderance of educational research targets at-risk student populations by focusing on factors that contribute to student\u27s failure. Emerging from this research, resilience theory is drawing increased attention. Resilience theory posits that resilience is a capacity that allows a person, group or community to prevent and overcome the damaging effects of adversity. The purpose of this research was to identify the ways schools support the at-risk student, calling forth the resilience already present in his or her life and to and to identify ways a school helps at-risk students to be successful in school. Applying constructs from resilience and learning organization theories, two primary research questions sought to locate the sources of resilience promotion and to determine the degree to which each might contribute to a better understanding of the school\u27s role in promoting resilience as a dynamic learning community. Field study data were collected from interviews of students and parents and triangulated with school record documentation and extant literature in a single case-study. Converging themes emerged from quantitative and qualitative analysis of the data. The findings link the emergent themes and the supporting evidence. Themes related to resilience promotion include nurturing, visibility, risk-taking, influence and life skills. Themes related to dynamic learning communities included core, vision, learning, reflection and integration. The findings indicated that resilience promotion must be (1) deliberate and intentional; (2) the product of ongoing discussion among school staff, parents and students; (3) coordinated by school leadership; (4) supported by faculty in-service and training; (5) reflected in school policy. To become dynamic learning communities, the findings suggest that schools must (1) examine core values, assumptions, practices and beliefs; (2) craft a vision for the future; (3) provide cutting edge resources; and (4) provide time for reflection

Regulation of the hamster cholesterol 7alpha-\uf061\uf02dhydroxylase gene: prevalence of negative over positive transcriptional control

Cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase plays a crucial role in cholesterol homeostasis. We investigated the regulation of this enzyme in the hamster, a suitable animal model for studying cholesterol metabolism. DNase I hypersensitivity assay revealed the presence of a hypersensitive region in the proximal promoter. Both negative (bile acids, phorbol esters and insulin) and positive (glucocorticoid hormones) effects were mediated through sequences in the region 318 bp upstream of the ATG codon. All-trans-retinoic acid, cAMP, and LDL did not affect transcriptional activity. These findings show that the hamster cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase gene undergoes a predominant negative regulation, as opposed to the rat CYP7A homologous gen

Identification and characterization of cis-acting elements conferring insulin responsiveness on hamster cholesterol 7alpha-hydroxylase gene promoter.

Bile acid biosynthesis occurs primarily through a pathway initiated by the 7alpha-hydroxylation of cholesterol, catalysed by cholesterol 7alpha-hydroxylase (encoded by CYP7A1). Insulin down-regulates CYP7A1 transcription. The aim of our study was to characterize the sequences of hamster CYP7A1 promoter, mediating the response to insulin. We therefore performed transient transfection assays with CYP7A1 promoter/luciferase chimaeras mutated at putative response elements and studied protein-DNA interactions by means of gel electrophoresis mobility-shift assay. Here we show that two sequences confer insulin responsiveness on hamster CYP7A1 promoter: a canonical insulin response sequence TGTTTTG overlapping a binding site for hepatocyte nuclear factor 3 (HNF-3) (at nt -235 to -224) and a binding site for HNF-4 at nt -203 to -191. In particular we show that the hamster CYP7A1 insulin response sequence is part of a complex unit involved in specific interactions with multiple transcription factors such as members of the HNF-3 family; this region does not bind very strongly to HNF-3 and as a consequence partly contributes to the transactivation of the gene. Another sequence located at nt -138 to -128 binds to HNF-3 and is involved in the tissue-specific regulation of hamster CYP7A1. The sequence at nt -203 to -191 is not only essential for insulin effect but also has a major role in the liver-specific expression of CYP7A1; it is the target of HNF-4. Therefore the binding sites for liver-enriched factors, present in the hamster CYP7A1 proximal promoter in close vicinity and conserved between species, constitute a regulatory unit important for basal hepatic expression and tissue restriction of the action of hormones such as insulin

CD21low B cells in systemic sclerosis: a possible marker of vascular complications

Objectives: To evaluate expansion of CD21low B cells and their role in B cell homeostasis, apoptosis, clinical manifestations and serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in systemic sclerosis (SSc). Materials and methods: B-cells subpopulations and apoptosis have been assessed in 74 SSc patients and 20 healthy donors. Renal Doppler ultrasound, echocardiography, pulmonary function test and VEGF were performed. Results: SSc patients with expanded CD21low B cells (SSc-CD21low) show a distinct B cell profile with increased memory B cells compared to patients without CD21low B cells (SSc-CD21+). Renal resistive index, systolic pulmonary arterial pressure and FVC/DLCO ratio were significantly higher in SSc-CD21low group than SSc-CD21+, DLCO was lower in SSc-CD21low group than SSc-CD21+. We found a positive linear correlation between CD21low and sPAP, RI and FVC/DLCO ratio whereas a negative correlation was observed between CD21low and DLCO and VEGF levels. Conclusions: CD21low B cells are increased in SSc patients with visceral vascular manifestations

PARENTERAL TREATMENT WITH DEFIBROTIDE FOR PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC PERIPHERAL OCCLUSIVE ARTERIOPATHY

The duration of the therapeutic effects of defibrotide after discontinuation of therapy was explored in a random, double-blind study versus placebo. After completing a 14-day washout period, 40 ambulatory patients with intermittent claudication (Leriche's stage 2) were randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups. Group A (n = 20) received defibrotide 200 mg (one ampule) BID intramuscularly for 14 consecutive days. Treatment was then discontinued to day 28, when it was replaced by defibrotide 200 mg IM every other day in open fashion for a further 32 days. Group B (n = 20) received an indistinguishable placebo for the first 14 days, followed by discontinuation to day 28 and then defibrotide 200 mg IM on alternate days for 32 days. At enrollment (day - 14), at baseline, and on days 14, 21, 28, and 60 of the trial, each patient underwent a standard treadmill exercise test with measurements of relative walking distance (RWD) and absolute walking distance (AWD). At day 14, only patients in group A showed a significant increase in RWD (+20%, P < 0.01) and AWD (+19%, P < 0.02), but the differences between treatments were not statistically significant. After discontinuation, the increase in RWD and AWD seen in the patients in group A persisted to day 28. In the next period, when defibrotide dosing was resumed at a lower level, there were no striking changes in test parameters; however, the difference for AWD between days 0 and 60 was significantly greater in group A than in group B (P < 0.05), while a similar, but nonsignificant trend was seen for RWD. These data indicate that the therapeutic effect of defibrotide in patients with intermittent claudication continues for at least 14 days after withdrawal of an intramuscular treatment consistently of 400 mg daily. The lower dosage schedule used in this study, namely, 200 mg IM on alternate days, may be considered of value only as maintenance therapy

Periodontal Disease and Pregnancy: Correlation with Underweight Birth

Periodontal disease is a risk factor for many systemic diseases including preterm birth and underweight birth. The purpose of this systematic review is to analyze the literature and to highlight any clinical correlation. Information sources such as PubMed, MEDLINE, and Web of Science were consulted to obtain our results with these keywords periodontal disease, pregnancy, weight loss using the connector AND. After the first screening by authors, only 27 articles were included in this review. From the analysis of the literature, it was noted that the presence of periodontal disease could have a correlation with underweight birth. Surely, control oral hygiene and oral health is essential during pregnancy to reduce risks, and these results should be essential in establishing a protocol to be maintained during pregnancy