Ethanol’s Affect on Basis in the Corn Belt

Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

Sleep Disordered Breathing Screening in Hospitalized Patients with COPD Using Overnight Oximetry and End-Tidal Carbon Dioxide Monitoring: A Feasibility Study

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and sleep apnea are overlap syndromes and cause an increased systemic inflammatory response, a weakened immune system, poor cognition, and physical inactivity in addition to COPD patients’ comorbid factors causing an overall decreased functional status. Feasibility testing of physiologic measures is needed to promote more accurate screening of sleep-disordered breathing in patients with COPD. This study hypothesizes more effective screening with utilization of overnight oximetry and end-tidal carbon dioxide level monitoring to detect sleep-disordered breathing. This descriptive study will test the feasibility of completing OSA and central sleep apnea screening in hospitalized patients with COPD who have not been diagnosed with a sleep-related breathing disorder. The aim of this study is to evaluate the feasibility of study a) enrollment (recruitment, efficiency, attrition, problems), b) data collection (technology transfer of data, instruments, time required, missing data), and c) clinical data collection from electronic medical record (inpatient and private practice settings). The Chronic Disease Self-Management Theory by Dr. Katie Lorig was utilized as the theoretical framework for this study to incorporate self-management in treatment of these two chronic disorders. This study looks at participants (N=10) who were recruited from Bryan Health in Lincoln, NE and followed post-discharge at Nebraska Pulmonary Specialties, LLC. Following completion of self-reported measures, patients will have overnight oximetry and end-tidal CO2 measured 1-2 days prior to discharge. Study information will be given to their providers at Nebraska Pulmonary Specialties and sleep study data will be obtained if ordered. Descriptive statistics will be completed to evaluate the feasibility of the study after completion. Recruitment and enrollment are underway and results are pending.https://digitalcommons.unmc.edu/surp2021/1041/thumbnail.jp

Molecular heterogeneity in pediatric malignant rhabdoid tumors in patients with multi-organ involvement

Rhabdoid tumors (RTs) of the brain (atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor; AT/RT) and extracranial sites (most often the kidney; RTK) are malignant tumors predominantly occurring in children, frequently those wit

A fluid biomarker reveals loss of TDP-43 splicing repression in presymptomatic ALS-FTD

Although loss of TAR DNA-binding protein 43 kDa (TDP-43) splicing repression is well documented in postmortem tissues of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD), whether this abnormality occurs during early-stage disease remains unresolved. Cryptic exon inclusion reflects loss of function of TDP-43, and thus detection of proteins containing cryptic exon-encoded neoepitopes in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) or blood could reveal the earliest stages of TDP-43 dysregulation in patients. Here we use a newly characterized monoclonal antibody specific to a TDP-43-dependent cryptic epitope (encoded by the cryptic exon found in HDGFL2) to show that loss of TDP-43 splicing repression occurs in ALS-FTD, including in presymptomatic C9orf72 mutation carriers. Cryptic hepatoma-derived growth factor-like protein 2 (HDGFL2) accumulates in CSF at significantly higher levels in familial ALS-FTD and sporadic ALS compared with controls and is elevated earlier than neurofilament light and phosphorylated neurofilament heavy chain protein levels in familial disease. Cryptic HDGFL2 can also be detected in blood of individuals with ALS-FTD, including in presymptomatic C9orf72 mutation carriers, and accumulates at levels highly correlated with those in CSF. Our findings indicate that loss of TDP-43 cryptic splicing repression occurs early in disease progression, even presymptomatically, and that detection of the HDGFL2 cryptic neoepitope serves as a potential diagnostic biomarker for ALS, which should facilitate patient recruitment and measurement of target engagement in clinical trials

Avian Abundance and Diversity on Knoxville Wildlife Area in California Following the County Fire of 2018

Wildfires can have negative impacts on wildlife during and immediately after a burn event, yet these fires are also necessary for plant succession and biodiversity. Knoxville Wildlife Area (KWA) in Napa County, California, USA is a diverse environment that contains oak woodlands, chaparral, grasslands, and riparian corridors. In July 2018, the County Fire burned 36,353 ha in the Northern California Interior Coast Ranges, including 2,429 ha on KWA. California Department of Fish and Wildlife employees used this opportunity to monitor avian abundance and diversity as the burned area revegetates. From 10 June through 14 June 2019, we began a pilot season of distance-based point counts on KWA. We conducted 5-minute point counts at 80 points spaced 1 km apart. Twenty points were within the burned area. We used the half cosine model in Program Distance version 7.2 to determine density for the 5 most frequently detected species. We detected 47 avian species; the most frequently detected species were California quail (Callipepla californica), acorn woodpecker (Melanerpes formicivorus), mourning dove (Zenaida macroura), California scrub-jay (Aphelocoma californica), and oak titmouse (Baeolophus inornatus). California quail populations were slightly denser in the burned area (0.22 birds/ha, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.11–0.44), compared to the nonburned area (0.19 birds/ha, 95% CI = 0.12–0.31). Acorn woodpecker density was similar in the burned (0.59 birds/ha, 95% CI = 0.34–1.02) and nonburned areas (0.58 birds/ha; 95% CI = 0.42–0.80). Mourning dove, California scrub-jay, and oak titmouse populations were slightly denser in the nonburned area; however, 95% CIs overlapped. We conducted approximately approximately 1 year post-burn, and revegetation had started, due in part to the wet winter and spring. Birds were using the burned area, though not at significantly higher densities compared to the rest of the wildlife area. The coronavirus pandemic and a second fire prevented us from surveying the site in 2020 and 2021, but we intend to conduct point counts for at least 2 more years to further monitor avian response to wildfire

The A20 Protein Interacts with the Epstein–Barr Virus Latent Membrane Protein 1 (LMP1) and Alters the LMP1/TRAF1/TRADD Complex

The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1) interacts with the tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR)-associated factor (TRAF) molecules, which are important for LMP1-mediated signaling. Two domains of LMP1 can independently activate NF-kB, carboxyl-terminal activating region 1 (CTAR1) and CTAR2. The activation of NF-kB by CTAR1 occurs through direct interaction of LMP1 with the TRAF molecules, whereas CTAR2 interacts with the TNFR-associated death domain protein (TRADD) to activate NF-kB and the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK). A20, which is induced by LMP1 through NF-kB, can block NF-kB activation from both domains of LMP1 and inhibit JNK activation from CTAR2. A20 also has been shown to associate with TRAF1 and TRAF2. In this study, an interaction between LMP1 and A20 was detected that was increased by TRAF2 overexpression. A20 did not affect the association of TRAF1 with TRAF2 but did displace TRAF1 from the LMP1 complex. The interaction of LMP1 and TRADD was decreased in the presence of A20, and the LMP1-A20 association was decreased by TRADD, suggesting that A20 and TRADD both interact with LMP1 and may compete for binding. These data indicate that A20 alters the interactions between LMP1 and the TRAF molecules and TRADD, affecting the activation of NF-kB, JNK, and perhaps other TRAF-mediated signaling events

Splinting Method for Preventing Thermal Injuries in Patients with Malleolar Fractures of the Ankle after Operative Treatment Performed Under Regional Anesthesia

After performing open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) for treating malleolar fractures of the ankle, surgeons typically use plaster splints during postoperative recovery of patients. Use of regional anesthesia during ORIF has been noted as a risk factor for burns in patients using plaster splints, possibly owing to inability to feel pain after undergoing regional block. We describe a successful postoperative splinting technique used for preventing thermal injuries in this patient population. We reviewed medical records of patients between 2011 and 2013 at our institution with malleolar ankle fractures who had underwent ORIF under general anesthesia, peripheral nerve block, or a combination of both. Patients without follow-up were excluded; therefore, 154 were included. No thermal injuries were noted, operative reduction of the fracture was maintained, and the cost of each splint was $13.19. Use of the current technique in applying plaster splints may help effectively prevent postoperative thermal injuries

The Effect of School Tasks on Principals\u27 and Assistant Principals’ Leadership Self-Efficacy

The pressure to lead schools effectively while fulfilling instructional leadership and school management tasks could impact school administrators’ perceptions of their leadership capabilities. The purpose of this quantitative, cross-sectional study was to identify the relationship between the varied tasks of school administrators as related to their leadership self-efficacy. Data were collected from 73 school administrators to ascertain leadership self-efficacy of principals and assistant principals based upon the completion of instructional leadership tasks and school management tasks. The major findings of the study indicated a positive, linear relationship between leadership self-efficacy and the instructional leadership tasks and school management tasks of school administrators. The practical application of this study provides insight into the types of tasks that impact the leadership self-efficacy of principals and assistant principals and could drive the professional learning of school administrators and the delegation of their tasks

Early JWST imaging reveals strong optical and NIR color gradients in galaxies at z∼2z\sim2 driven mostly by dust

Recent studies have shown that galaxies at cosmic noon are redder in the center and bluer in the outskirts, mirroring results in the local universe. These color gradients could be caused by either gradients in the stellar age or dust opacity; however, distinguishing between these two causes is impossible with rest-frame optical photometry alone. Here we investigate the underlying causes of the gradients from spatially-resolved rest-frame $U-V$ vs. $V-J$ color-color diagrams, measured from early observations with the James Webb Space Telescope. We use $1\, \mu m - 4\, \mu m$ NIRCam photometry from the CEERS survey of a sample of 54 galaxies with $M_* / M_\odot>10$ at redshifts $1.7<z<2.3$ selected from the 3D-HST catalog. We model the light profiles in the F115W, F200W and F356W NIRCam bands using \texttt{imcascade}, a Bayesian implementation of the Multi-Gaussian expansion (MGE) technique which flexibly represents galaxy profiles using a series of Gaussians. We construct resolved rest-frame $U-V$ and $V-J$ color profiles. The majority of star-forming galaxies have negative gradients (i.e. redder in the center, bluer in the outskirts) in both $U-V$ and $V-J$ colors consistent with radially decreasing dust attenuation. A smaller population (roughly 15\%) of star-forming galaxies have positive $U-V$ but negative $V-J$ gradients implying centrally concentrated star-formation. For quiescent galaxies we find a diversity of UVJ color profiles, with roughly one-third showing star-formation in their center. This study showcases the potential of JWST to study the resolved stellar populations of galaxies at cosmic noon.Comment: Updated to match published version, new Figure 5 and some text change

Lasting Effects of a Graduate Pedagogy Course on the Development of Teacher-Scholars

While graduate pedagogy courses may result in specific teaching behaviors in the short term, little is known whether these scholarly teaching behaviors and attitudes endure over time. Multiple evidenced-based assessments of pedagogy courses which continue well past the completion of the course can demonstrate the ongoing development of students’ perceptions of teaching and learning and students’ progression as teacher-scholars. This poster summarizes an investigation exploring the lasting effects of a graduate pedagogy course entitled MSCI M620: Pedagogical Methods in Health Sciences. This course has been offered for two semesters and a total of sixteen graduate students from a variety of science-related disciplines enrolled in the course. We examined whether the course caused students to: 1) Develop more complex and refined attitudes regarding student learning; 2) Evaluate their current teaching methods and explore alternative teaching strategies; 3) Assess their teaching effectiveness; 4) Plan to be involved in a public teaching resource network; and 5) Develop lasting attitudes about scholarly teaching