ADDRESSING LITERACY RATES AMONG STUDENTS IN GRADES 3-5 WHO ARE ELIGIBLE FOR FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH IN DURHAM COUNTY THROUGH THE READ AND FEED PROGRAM

Improving literacy among children in Durham County warrants immediate public health action. On a national, state, and county level, research shows that students who are eligible for free and reduced lunch through the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) show significantly lower reading proficiency compared to students who are not eligible. Children with low literacy rates have a higher risk of dropping out of school, not attending university, and having lower job prospects compared to their peers that read at a higher literacy level. Taking this data into consideration, we plan to implement a nutrition-supported literacy-based initiative within Durham County Public Schools. The Read and Feed program will serve students in grades 3, 4, and 5 who read at a “not-proficient” literacy level and are enrolled in NSLP. The program’s mission is to impact under-served elementary students by strengthening their reading skills and providing nutritious meals. Keywords: literacy, nutrition, food insecurity, free and reduced lunch, NSLP, elementary students, Durham County, North CarolinaMaster of Public Healt

The Social Care and Support Needs of Adults with Concurrent Dementia and Visual Impairment

Over 100,000 people in the UK have concurrent visual impairment and dementia, resulting in isolation, falls and reduced independence. However, current models of care and support tend to focus on each condition separately, meaning that individual needs are rarely addressed. This can lead to high levels of anxiety and distress as well as placing great demands on carers, highlighting the need for support for informal carers and separate assessment of carer’s needs. This presentation reports on a new study exploring the lived experience of people with both dementia and visual impairment and the views of professionals. The aim was to investigate how best to provide care and support for adults living with both conditions in a range of housing settings, and develop evidence-based practice guidance to improve social care and support. 26 qualitative face-to-face interviews with people with dementia and sight loss, sometimes with their family carers, were conducted. In addition, focus groups were held involving a total of 47 health, social care and housing professionals, using a semi-structured topic guide developed by the project team. Participants were recruited across three sites in England: the North East, the South West and the Midlands. Each interview and focus group was analysed thematically using computer-assisted qualitative data analysis software, with emerging themes being compared and discussed by team members in order to validate the findings. The findings were discussed at a consensus event that included people with dementia and sight loss, family carers and professionals working in housing, health and social care. This led to the development of a set of recommendations for improving social care and support for people with visual impairment and dementia. These include timely diagnosis for both conditions, and a greater focus on holistic care rather than support for one condition over the other

A Prolific Solvate Former, Galunisertib, under the Pressure of Crystal Structure Prediction, Produces Ten Diverse Polymorphs

The solid form screening of galunisertib produced many solvates, prompting an extensive investigation into possible risks to the development of the favored monohydrate form. Inspired by crystal structure prediction, the search for neat polymorphs was expanded to an unusual range of experiments, including melt crystallization under pressure, to work around solvate formation and the thermal instability of the molecule. Ten polymorphs of galunisertib were found; however, the structure predicted to be the most stable has yet to be obtained. We present the crystal structures of all ten unsolvated polymorphs of galunisertib, showing how state-of-the-art characterization methods can be combined with emerging computational modeling techniques to produce a complete structure landscape and assess the risk of late-appearing, more stable polymorphs. The exceptional conformational polymorphism of this prolific solvate former invites further development of methods, computational and experimental, that are applicable to larger, flexible molecules with complex solid form landscapes

Rethinking energy, climate and security: a critical analysis of energy security in the US

Understanding the complicated relationship between energy, climate and security is vital both to the study of international relations and to ensure the continued survival of a world increasingly threatened by environmental change. Climate change is largely caused by burning fossil fuels for energy, but while discussions on the climate consider the role of energy, energy security debates largely overlook climate concerns. This article traces the separation between energy and climate through an analysis of US energy security discourse and policy. It shows that energy security is continually constructed as national security, which enables very particular policy choices and prioritises it above climate concerns. Thus, in many cases, policies undertaken in the name of energy security contribute directly to climate insecurity. The article argues that the failure to consider securing the climate as inherently linked to energy security is not just problematic, but, given global warming, potentially harmful. Consequently, any approach to dealing with climate change has to begin by rethinking energy security and security more broadly, as national (energy) security politics no longer provides security in any meaningful sense

The Inner-Shelf Dynamics Experiment

17 USC 105 interim-entered record; under review.The article of record as published may be found at http://dx.doi.org/10.1175/BAMS-D-19-0281.1The inner shelf, the transition zone between the surfzone and the midshelf, is a dynamically complex region with the evolution of circulation and stratification driven by multiple physical processes. Cross-shelf exchange through the inner shelf has important implications for coastal water quality, ecological connectivity, and lateral movement of sediment and heat. The Inner-Shelf Dynamics Experiment (ISDE) was an intensive, coordinated, multi-institution field experiment from September–October 2017, conducted from the midshelf, through the inner shelf, and into the surfzone near Point Sal, California. Satellite, airborne, shore- and ship-based remote sensing, in-water moorings and ship-based sampling, and numerical ocean circulation models forced by winds, waves, and tides were used to investigate the dynamics governing the circulation and transport in the inner shelf and the role of coastline variability on regional circulation dynamics. Here, the following physical processes are highlighted: internal wave dynamics from the midshelf to the inner shelf; flow separation and eddy shedding off Point Sal; offshore ejection of surfzone waters from rip currents; and wind-driven subtidal circulation dynamics. The extensive dataset from ISDE allows for unprecedented investigations into the role of physical processes in creating spatial heterogeneity, and nonlinear interactions between various inner-shelf physical processes. Overall, the highly spatially and temporally resolved oceanographic measurements and numerical simulations of ISDE provide a central framework for studies exploring this complex and fascinating region of the ocean.U.S. Office of Naval Research (ONR)ONR Departmental Research Initiative (DRI)Inner-Shelf Dynamics Experiment (ISDE

Generational Association Studies of Dopaminergic Genes in Reward Deficiency Syndrome (RDS) Subjects: Selecting Appropriate Phenotypes for Reward Dependence Behaviors

Abnormal behaviors involving dopaminergic gene polymorphisms often reflect an insufficiency of usual feelings of satisfaction, or Reward Deficiency Syndrome (RDS). RDS results from a dysfunction in the “brain reward cascade,” a complex interaction among neurotransmitters (primarily dopaminergic and opioidergic). Individuals with a family history of alcoholism or other addictions may be born with a deficiency in the ability to produce or use these neurotransmitters. Exposure to prolonged periods of stress and alcohol or other substances also can lead to a corruption of the brain reward cascade function. We evaluated the potential association of four variants of dopaminergic candidate genes in RDS (dopamine D1 receptor gene [DRD1]; dopamine D2 receptor gene [DRD2]; dopamine transporter gene [DAT1]; dopamine beta-hydroxylase gene [DBH]). Methodology: We genotyped an experimental group of 55 subjects derived from up to five generations of two independent multiple-affected families compared to rigorously screened control subjects (e.g., N = 30 super controls for DRD2 gene polymorphisms). Data related to RDS behaviors were collected on these subjects plus 13 deceased family members. Results: Among the genotyped family members, the DRD2 Taq1 and the DAT1 10/10 alleles were significantly (at least p < 0.015) more often found in the RDS families vs. controls. The TaqA1 allele occurred in 100% of Family A individuals (N = 32) and 47.8% of Family B subjects (11 of 23). No significant differences were found between the experimental and control positive rates for the other variants. Conclusions: Although our sample size was limited, and linkage analysis is necessary, the results support the putative role of dopaminergic polymorphisms in RDS behaviors. This study shows the importance of a nonspecific RDS phenotype and informs an understanding of how evaluating single subset behaviors of RDS may lead to spurious results. Utilization of a nonspecific “reward” phenotype may be a paradigm shift in future association and linkage studies involving dopaminergic polymorphisms and other neurotransmitter gene candidates

Effect of aliskiren on post-discharge outcomes among diabetic and non-diabetic patients hospitalized for heart failure: insights from the ASTRONAUT trial

Aims The objective of the Aliskiren Trial on Acute Heart Failure Outcomes (ASTRONAUT) was to determine whether aliskiren, a direct renin inhibitor, would improve post-discharge outcomes in patients with hospitalization for heart failure (HHF) with reduced ejection fraction. Pre-specified subgroup analyses suggested potential heterogeneity in post-discharge outcomes with aliskiren in patients with and without baseline diabetes mellitus (DM). Methods and results ASTRONAUT included 953 patients without DM (aliskiren 489; placebo 464) and 662 patients with DM (aliskiren 319; placebo 343) (as reported by study investigators). Study endpoints included the first occurrence of cardiovascular death or HHF within 6 and 12 months, all-cause death within 6 and 12 months, and change from baseline in N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) at 1, 6, and 12 months. Data regarding risk of hyperkalaemia, renal impairment, and hypotension, and changes in additional serum biomarkers were collected. The effect of aliskiren on cardiovascular death or HHF within 6 months (primary endpoint) did not significantly differ by baseline DM status (P = 0.08 for interaction), but reached statistical significance at 12 months (non-DM: HR: 0.80, 95% CI: 0.64-0.99; DM: HR: 1.16, 95% CI: 0.91-1.47; P = 0.03 for interaction). Risk of 12-month all-cause death with aliskiren significantly differed by the presence of baseline DM (non-DM: HR: 0.69, 95% CI: 0.50-0.94; DM: HR: 1.64, 95% CI: 1.15-2.33; P < 0.01 for interaction). Among non-diabetics, aliskiren significantly reduced NT-proBNP through 6 months and plasma troponin I and aldosterone through 12 months, as compared to placebo. Among diabetic patients, aliskiren reduced plasma troponin I and aldosterone relative to placebo through 1 month only. There was a trend towards differing risk of post-baseline potassium ≥6 mmol/L with aliskiren by underlying DM status (non-DM: HR: 1.17, 95% CI: 0.71-1.93; DM: HR: 2.39, 95% CI: 1.30-4.42; P = 0.07 for interaction). Conclusion This pre-specified subgroup analysis from the ASTRONAUT trial generates the hypothesis that the addition of aliskiren to standard HHF therapy in non-diabetic patients is generally well-tolerated and improves post-discharge outcomes and biomarker profiles. In contrast, diabetic patients receiving aliskiren appear to have worse post-discharge outcomes. Future prospective investigations are needed to confirm potential benefits of renin inhibition in a large cohort of HHF patients without D

Boletín Oficial de la Provincia de Oviedo: Número 301 - 1932 diciembre 22

The PAX gene family encodes a group of transcription factors that play important roles during embryogenesis with mutations resulting in developmental abnormalities. Normally expression of these genes is downregulated prior to terminal differentiation with a select few tissues maintaining expression in the adult. Expression of PAX genes has also been observed in a variety of different cancers, although the functions of the aberrantly expressed PAX proteins have yet to be determined. Previous research has shown that knockdown of PAX8 in cancer cell lines results in the downregulation of E2F1 mRNA and protein levels. E2F1 is the major regulator of the cell cycle and its expression is often deregulated in cancer. The overall aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between PAX8 and E2F1 in cancer cells. The first step was to determine the effects of PAX8 knockdown and overexpression on the activity of the E2F1 promoter, using two E2F1 promoter constructs, pE2F1(-242) and pE2F1(-728). The results suggested that PAX8 was involved in the regulation of the E2F1 promoter as the activity levels of both E2F1 constructs decreased following PAX8 knockdown and increased following PAX8 overexpression. The next step was to determine if PAX8 was regulating the E2F1 promoter directly using chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP). Six potential binding sites were predicted in the region of the E2F1 promoter contained in the longer of the two constructs, pE2F1(-728). Of these six predicted sites, PAX8 was found to bind to site 3, thereby demonstrating that PAX8 activates E2F1 transcription by binding directly to the promoter. Finally, deletion constructs and site-directed mutagenesis were employed in an attempt to validate the ChIP results as well as to determine if PAX8 was able to bind to site 2, which was not included in the ChIP experiment as successful primers were not able to be designed. Unfortunately these experiments were unsuccessful and thus no definitive conclusions could be made. Despite this, it was determined that PAX8 binds to and activates the E2F1 promoter in cancer cells. The involvement of PAX8 in the regulation of proliferation (by activating E2F1 transcription) reveals a potential function for PAX8 in cancer