Whitefield News

File includes: January 2017 Volume 4, Issue 7 February 2017 Volume 4, Issue 8 March 2017 Volume 4, Issue 9 April 2017 Volume 4, Issue 10 May 2017 Volume 4, Issue 11 June 2017 Volume 4, Issue 12 July 2017 Volume 5, Issue 1 August 2017 Volume 5, Issue 2 September 2017 Volume 5, Issue 3 October 2017 Volume 5, Issue 4 November 2017 Volume 5, Issue 5 December 2017 Volume 5, Issue

Finishing the euchromatic sequence of the human genome

The sequence of the human genome encodes the genetic instructions for human physiology, as well as rich information about human evolution. In 2001, the International Human Genome Sequencing Consortium reported a draft sequence of the euchromatic portion of the human genome. Since then, the international collaboration has worked to convert this draft into a genome sequence with high accuracy and nearly complete coverage. Here, we report the result of this finishing process. The current genome sequence (Build 35) contains 2.85 billion nucleotides interrupted by only 341 gaps. It covers ∼99% of the euchromatic genome and is accurate to an error rate of ∼1 event per 100,000 bases. Many of the remaining euchromatic gaps are associated with segmental duplications and will require focused work with new methods. The near-complete sequence, the first for a vertebrate, greatly improves the precision of biological analyses of the human genome including studies of gene number, birth and death. Notably, the human enome seems to encode only 20,000-25,000 protein-coding genes. The genome sequence reported here should serve as a firm foundation for biomedical research in the decades ahead

Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O104:H4: an emerging pathogen with enhanced virulence

Pathogenic Escherichia coli are genetically diverse and encompass a broad variety of pathotypes, such as enteroaggregative E. coli (EAEC) or enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC), which cause distinct clinical syndromes. The historically large 2011 German outbreak of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), caused by a Shiga-toxin producing E. coli (STEC) of the serotype O104:H4, illustrated the emerging importance of non-O157 STEC. STEC O104:H4, with features characteristic of both enteroaggregative E. coli and enterohemorrhagic E. coli, represents a unique and highly virulent pathotype. The German outbreak both allowed for the evaluation of several potential therapeutic approaches to STEC-induced HUS and emphasizes the importance of early and specific detection of both O157 and non-O157 STEC

Visualizing the Ethnographic Voice of Community Revitalization

Visualizing the Ethnographic Voices of Community Revitalization is an immersive learning opportunity where Ball State University students partner with community residents from the Thomas Park / Avondale neighborhoods to create visual ethnographies. The ethnographies represent the community through the participants' eyes. In this immersive learning opportunity, Ball State University's Ross Immersive Learning Team (JOUR-302 Diversity and Media course) partnered with the Ross Community Center and Muncie Community Residents to create visual ethnographies and engage the community with photography

What Questions Are on the Minds of STEM Undergraduate Students and How Can They Be Addressed?

Addressing common student questions in introductory STEM courses early in the term is one way that instructors can ensure that their students have all been presented with information about how to succeed in their courses. However, categorizing student questions and identifying evidence-based resources to address student questions takes time, and instructors may not be able to easily collect and respond to student questions at the beginning of every course. To help faculty effectively anticipate and respond to student questions, we 1) administered surveys in multiple STEM courses to identify common student questions, 2) conducted a qualitative analysis to determine categories of student questions (e.g., what are best practices for studying, how can in- and out-of- course time be effectively used), and 3) collaboratively identified advice on how course instructors can answer these questions. Here, we share tips, evidence-based strategies, and resources from faculty that instructors can use to develop their own responses for students. We hope that educators can use these common student questions as a starting point to proactively address questions throughout the course and that the compiled resources will allow instructors to easily find materials that can be considered for their own courses

Supporting physical activity for mobility in older adults with mobility-limitations (SuPA Mobility): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Limited mobility in older adults consistently predicts both morbidity and mortality. As individuals age, the rates of mobility disability increase from 1.0% in people aged 15-24 to 20.6% in adults over 65 years of age. Physical activity can effectively improve mobility in older adults, yet compliance with physical activity remains a barrier. To maximize the health span of older adults, it is necessary to find cost-effective interventions that can be delivered on a large scale to improve physical activity, prevent mobility limitations, and improve quality of life in aging adults. We propose a randomized controlled trial to assess the effectiveness and efficiency of health coaching as an intervention to: 1) increase physical activity in mobility-limited older adults; and 2) improve mobility in mobility-limited older adults. Methods: A randomized controlled trial among 290 community-dwelling older adults with limited mobility aged 70-89 years old will be used to compare the effects of a health coaching intervention with a health education control group on increasing physical activity (by 50 minutes per week) and improving mobility. The intervention will be 26-weeks with a 26-week follow-up period, with both groups receiving the same duration and frequency of study visits and activities. The economic evaluation will examine the incremental cost-effectiveness and cost-utility rations generated by using the health coaching intervention versus the control.Discussion: The consequences of limited mobility pose a significant burden on the quality of life of older adults. Effective and efficient strategies that can be deployed on a large scale are necessary to decrease the deleterious impact of limited mobility in older adults. Our trial is novel in that it investigates implementing a dose of physical activity that is known to be effective at improving mobility in older adults utilizing a health coaching intervention, which is perceived to be more cost effective and deployable on a greater scale than supervised exercise programs.<br/