82 research outputs found
Teaching with the Framework: a Cephalonian Approach
Purpose
This paper aims to provide academic instruction librarians with a model for integrating concepts from the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) Framework into “one-shot” library instruction sessions without losing the practical experience of searching the library resources. Design/methodology/approach
The authors adapted the Cephalonian method as the structure of first-year library instruction sessions for an English composition class. The sessions were re-designed to emphasize the core concepts of information literacy while incorporating active learning activities and discussion. Findings
The authors found the Cephalonian method to be a useful structure for incorporating aspects of the ACRL Framework into the first-year library instruction program. The call-and-response format fosters conversations and leads seamlessly into hands-on activities. When used as part of “flipped” instruction, the Cephalonian method allows instructors to engage students who have completed the online portion and those who have not. Practical implications
This paper offers librarians practical ideas for incorporating the information literacy concepts outlined in the ACRL Framework into one-shot instruction sessions. Originality/value
With the recent adoption of the Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education by ACRL, there is a need for practical examples of how to incorporate the frames into existing library instruction programs
The relationship between ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) genotype and motor unit physiology: preliminary studies
BACKGROUND: Ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) is important for neuronal and muscle development, and genetic variation in the CNTF gene has been associated with muscle strength. The effect of CNTF on nerve development suggests that CNTF genotype may be associated with force production via its influence on motor unit size and firing patterns. The purpose of this study is to examine whether CNTF genotype differentially affects motor unit activation in the vastus medialis with increasing isometric force during knee extension. RESULTS: Sixty-nine healthy subjects were genotyped for the presence of the G and A (null) alleles in the CNTF gene (n = 57 G/G, 12 G/A). They were tested using a dynamometer during submaximal isometric knee extension contractions that were from 10–50% of their maximal strength. During the contractions, the vastus medialis was studied using surface and intramuscular electromyography with spiked triggered averaging to assess surface-detected motor unit potential (SMUP) area and mean firing rates (mFR) from identified motor units. CNTF genotyping was performed using standard PCR techniques from DNA obtained from leucocytes of whole blood samples. The CNTF G/A genotype was associated with smaller SMUP area motor units and lower mFR at higher force levels, and fewer but larger units at lower force levels than G/G homozygotes. The two groups used motor units with different size and activation characteristics with increasing force generation. While G/G subjects tended to utilize larger motor units with increasing force, G/A subjects showed relatively less increase in size by using relatively larger units at lower force levels. At higher force levels, G/A subjects were able to generate more force per motor unit size suggesting more efficient motor unit function with increasing muscle force. CONCLUSION: Differential motor unit responses were observed between CNTF genotypes at force levels utilized in daily activities
Old and New Stories: Revelations from Functional Analysis of the Bovine Mammary Transcriptome during the Lactation Cycle
The cow mammary transcriptome was explored at −30, −15, 1, 15, 30, 60, 120, 240, and 300 d relative to parturition. A total of 6,382 differentially expressed genes (DEG) at a false discovery rate ≤0.001 were found throughout lactation. The greatest number of DEG (>3,500 DEG) was observed at 60 and 120 d vs. −30 d with the largest change between consecutive time points observed at −15 vs. 1 d and 120 vs. 240 d. Functional analysis of microarray data was performed using the Dynamic Impact Approach (DIA). The DIA analysis of KEGG pathways uncovered as the most impacted and induced ‘Galactose metabolism’, ‘Glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchor biosynthesis’, and ‘PPAR signaling’; whereas, ‘Antigen processing and presentation’ was among the most inhibited. The integrated interpretation of the results suggested an overall increase in metabolism during lactation, particularly synthesis of carbohydrates and lipid. A marked degree of utilization of amino acids as energy source, an increase of protein export, and a decrease of the protein synthesis machinery as well cell cycle also were suggested by the DIA analysis. The DIA analysis of Gene Ontology and other databases uncovered an induction of Golgi apparatus and angiogenesis, and the inhibition of both immune cell activity/migration and chromosome modifications during lactation. All of the highly-impacted and activated functions during lactation were evidently activated at the onset of lactation and inhibited when milk production declined. The overall analysis indicated that the bovine mammary gland relies heavily on a coordinated transcriptional regulation to begin and end lactation. The functional analysis using DIA underscored the importance of genes associated with lactose synthesis, lipid metabolism, protein synthesis, Golgi, transport, cell cycle/death, epigenetic regulation, angiogenesis, and immune function during lactation
Functional and gene network analyses of transcriptional signatures characterizing pre-weaned bovine mammary parenchyma or fat pad uncovered novel inter-tissue signaling networks during development
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The neonatal bovine mammary fat pad (<b>MFP</b>) surrounding the mammary parenchyma (<b>PAR</b>) is thought to exert proliferative effects on the PAR through secretion of local modulators of growth induced by systemic hormones. We used bioinformatics to characterize transcriptomics differences between PAR and MFP from ~65 d old Holstein heifers. Data were mined to uncover potential crosstalk through the analyses of signaling molecules preferentially expressed in one tissue relative to the other.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Over 9,000 differentially expressed genes (<b>DEG</b>; False discovery rate ≤ 0.05) were found of which 1,478 had a ≥1.5-fold difference between PAR and MFP. Within the DEG highly-expressed in PAR vs. MFP (n = 736) we noted significant enrichment of functions related to cell cycle, structural organization, signaling, and DNA/RNA metabolism. Only actin cytoskeletal signaling was significant among canonical pathways. DEG more highly-expressed in MFP vs. PAR (n = 742) belong to lipid metabolism, signaling, cell movement, and immune-related functions. Canonical pathways associated with metabolism and signaling, particularly immune- and metabolism-related were significantly-enriched. Network analysis uncovered a central role of <it>MYC</it>, <it>TP53</it>, and <it>CTNNB1 </it>in controlling expression of DEG highly-expressed in PAR vs. MFP. Similar analysis suggested a central role for <it>PPARG</it>, <it>KLF2</it>, <it>EGR2</it>, and <it>EPAS1 </it>in regulating expression of more highly-expressed DEG in MFP vs. PAR. Gene network analyses revealed putative inter-tissue crosstalk between cytokines and growth factors preferentially expressed in one tissue (e.g., <it>ANGPTL1</it>, <it>SPP1</it>, <it>IL1B </it>in PAR vs. MFP; <it>ADIPOQ</it>, <it>IL13</it>, <it>FGF2</it>, <it>LEP </it>in MFP vs. PAR) with DEG preferentially expressed in the other tissue, particularly transcription factors or pathways (e.g., <it>MYC</it>, <it>TP53</it>, and actin cytoskeletal signaling in PAR vs. MFP; <it>PPARG </it>and LXR/RXR Signaling in MFP vs. PAR).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Functional analyses underscored a reciprocal influence in determining the biological features of MFP and PAR during neonatal development. This was exemplified by the potential effect that the signaling molecules (cytokines, growth factors) released preferentially (i.e., more highly-expressed) by PAR or MFP could have on molecular functions or signaling pathways enriched in the MFP or PAR. These bidirectional interactions might be required to coordinate mammary tissue development under normal circumstances or in response to nutrition.</p
A and F stars as probes of outer Galactic disc kinematics
This article has been accepted for publication in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society ©: 2018 Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Royal Astronomical Society.Previous studies of the rotation law in the outer Galactic disc have mainly used gas tracers or clump giants. Here, we explore A and F stars as alternatives: these provide a much denser sampling in the outer disc than gas tracers and have experienced significantly less velocity scattering than older clump giants. This first investigation confirms the suitability of A stars in this role. Our work is based on spectroscopy of ~1300 photometrically selected stars in the red calcium-triplet region, chosen to mitigate against the effects of interstellar extinction. The stars are located in two low Galactic latitude sightlines, at longitudes L = 118°, sampling strong Galactic rotation shear, and L = 178°, near the anticentre. With the use of Markov Chain Monte Carlo parameter fitting, stellar parameters and radial velocities are measured, and distances computed. The obtained trend of radial velocity with distance is inconsistent with existing flat or slowly rising rotation laws from gas tracers (Brand & Blitz 1993; Reid et al. 2014). Instead, our results fit in with those obtained by Huang et al. (2016) from disc clump giants that favoured rising circular speeds. An alternative interpretation in terms of spiral arm perturbation is not straight forward. We assess the role that undetected binaries in the sample and distance error may have in introducing bias, and show that the former is a minor factor. The random errors in our trend of circular velocity are within ±5 kms-1.Peer reviewe
The DART imaging and CaT survey of the Fornax Dwarf Spheroidal Galaxy
As part of the DART project we have used the ESO/2.2m Wide Field Imager in
conjunction with the VLT/FLAMES GIRAFFE spectrograph to study the detailed
properties of the resolved stellar population of the Fornax dwarf spheroidal
galaxy out to and beyond its tidal radius. We re-derived the structural
parameters of the Fornax dwarf spheroidal using our wide field imaging covering
the galaxy out to its tidal radius, and analysed the spatial distribution of
the Fornax stars of different ages as selected from Colour-Magnitude Diagram
analysis. We have obtained accurate velocities and metallicities from spectra
in the CaII triplet wavelength region for 562 Red Giant Branch stars which have
velocities consistent with membership in Fornax dwarf spheroidal. We have found
evidence for the presence of at least three distinct stellar components: a
young population (few 100 Myr old) concentrated in the centre of the galaxy,
visible as a Main Sequence in the Colour-Magnitude Diagram; an intermediate age
population (2-8 Gyr old); and an ancient population (> 10Gyr),which are
distinguishable from each other kinematically, from the metallicity
distribution and in the spatial distribution of stars found in the
Colour-Magnitude Diagram. From our spectroscopic analysis we find that the
``metal rich'' stars ([Fe/H]> -1.3) show a less extended and more concentrated
spatial distribution, and display a colder kinematics than the ``metal poor''
stars ([Fe/H<-1.3). There is tentative evidence that the ancient stellar
population in the centre of Fornax does not exhibit equilibrium kinematics.
This could be a sign of a relatively recent accretion of external material.Comment: 32 pages, 23 figures. Accepted for publication in A&A. The data table
(Table 4) will be available in electronic form after publication. The full
resolution version can be downloaded from
http://www.astro.rug.nl/~gbattagl/battaglia_fullres.p
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptom Network Analysis in U.S. Military Veterans: Examining the Impact of Combat Exposure
Recent work inspired by graph theory has begun to conceptualize mental disorders as networks of interacting symptoms. Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptom networks have been investigated in clinical samples meeting full diagnostic criteria, including military veterans, natural disaster survivors, civilian survivors of war, and child sexual abuse survivors. Despite reliable associations across reported networks, more work is needed to compare central symptoms across trauma types. Additionally, individuals without a diagnosis who still experience symptoms, also referred to as subthreshold cases, have not been explored with network analysis in veterans. A sample of 1,050 Iraq/Afghanistan-era U.S. military veterans (851 males, mean age = 36.3, SD = 9.53) meeting current full-criteria PTSD (n = 912) and subthreshold PTSD (n = 138) were assessed with the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Disorders (SCID). Combat Exposure Scale (CES) scores were used to group the sample meeting full-criteria into high (n = 639) and low (n = 273) combat exposure subgroups. Networks were estimated using regularized partial correlation models in the R-package qgraph, and robustness tests were performed with bootnet. Frequently co-occurring symptom pairs (strong network connections) emerged between two avoidance symptoms, hypervigilance and startle response, loss of interest and detachment, as well as, detachment and restricted affect. These associations replicate findings reported across PTSD trauma types. A symptom network analysis of PTSD in a veteran population found significantly greater overall connectivity in the full-criteria PTSD group as compared to the subthreshold PTSD group. Additionally, novel findings indicate that the association between intrusive thoughts and irritability is a feature of the symptom network of veterans with high levels of combat exposure. Mean node predictability is high for PTSD symptom networks, averaging 51.5% shared variance. With the tools described here and by others, researchers can help refine diagnostic criteria for PTSD, develop more accurate measures for assessing PTSD, and eventually inform therapies that target symptoms with strong network connections to interrupt interconnected symptom complexes and promote functional recovery
Naturalizing Institutions: Evolutionary Principles and Application on the Case of Money
In recent extensions of the Darwinian paradigm into economics, the replicator-interactor duality looms large. I propose a strictly naturalistic approach to this duality in the context of the theory of institutions, which means that its use is seen as being always and necessarily dependent on identifying a physical realization. I introduce a general framework for the analysis of institutions, which synthesizes Searle's and Aoki's theories, especially with regard to the role of public representations (signs) in the coordination of actions, and the function of cognitive processes that underly rule-following as a behavioral disposition. This allows to conceive institutions as causal circuits that connect the population-level dynamics of interactions with cognitive phenomena on the individual level. Those cognitive phenomena ultimately root in neuronal structures. So, I draw on a critical restatement of the concept of the meme by Aunger to propose a new conceptualization of the replicator in the context of institutions, namely, the replicator is a causal conjunction between signs and neuronal structures which undergirds the dispositions that generate rule-following actions. Signs, in turn, are outcomes of population-level interactions. I apply this framework on the case of money, analyzing the emotions that go along with the use of money, and presenting a stylized account of the emergence of money in terms of the naturalized Searle-Aoki model. In this view, money is a neuronally anchored metaphor for emotions relating with social exchange and reciprocity. Money as a meme is physically realized in a replicator which is a causal conjunction of money artefacts and money emotions
Dissecting the Shared Genetic Architecture of Suicide Attempt, Psychiatric Disorders, and Known Risk Factors
Background Suicide is a leading cause of death worldwide, and nonfatal suicide attempts, which occur far more frequently, are a major source of disability and social and economic burden. Both have substantial genetic etiology, which is partially shared and partially distinct from that of related psychiatric disorders. Methods We conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of 29,782 suicide attempt (SA) cases and 519,961 controls in the International Suicide Genetics Consortium (ISGC). The GWAS of SA was conditioned on psychiatric disorders using GWAS summary statistics via multitrait-based conditional and joint analysis, to remove genetic effects on SA mediated by psychiatric disorders. We investigated the shared and divergent genetic architectures of SA, psychiatric disorders, and other known risk factors. Results Two loci reached genome-wide significance for SA: the major histocompatibility complex and an intergenic locus on chromosome 7, the latter of which remained associated with SA after conditioning on psychiatric disorders and replicated in an independent cohort from the Million Veteran Program. This locus has been implicated in risk-taking behavior, smoking, and insomnia. SA showed strong genetic correlation with psychiatric disorders, particularly major depression, and also with smoking, pain, risk-taking behavior, sleep disturbances, lower educational attainment, reproductive traits, lower socioeconomic status, and poorer general health. After conditioning on psychiatric disorders, the genetic correlations between SA and psychiatric disorders decreased, whereas those with nonpsychiatric traits remained largely unchanged. Conclusions Our results identify a risk locus that contributes more strongly to SA than other phenotypes and suggest a shared underlying biology between SA and known risk factors that is not mediated by psychiatric disorders.Peer reviewe
A MODEST review
We present an account of the state of the art in the fields explored by the
research community invested in 'Modeling and Observing DEnse STellar systems'.
For this purpose, we take as a basis the activities of the MODEST-17
conference, which was held at Charles University, Prague, in September 2017.
Reviewed topics include recent advances in fundamental stellar dynamics,
numerical methods for the solution of the gravitational N-body problem,
formation and evolution of young and old star clusters and galactic nuclei,
their elusive stellar populations, planetary systems, and exotic compact
objects, with timely attention to black holes of different classes of mass and
their role as sources of gravitational waves.
Such a breadth of topics reflects the growing role played by collisional
stellar dynamics in numerous areas of modern astrophysics. Indeed, in the next
decade, many revolutionary instruments will enable the derivation of positions
and velocities of individual stars in the Milky Way and its satellites and will
detect signals from a range of astrophysical sources in different portions of
the electromagnetic and gravitational spectrum, with an unprecedented
sensitivity. On the one hand, this wealth of data will allow us to address a
number of long-standing open questions in star cluster studies; on the other
hand, many unexpected properties of these systems will come to light,
stimulating further progress of our understanding of their formation and
evolution.Comment: 42 pages; accepted for publication in 'Computational Astrophysics and
Cosmology'. We are much grateful to the organisers of the MODEST-17
conference (Charles University, Prague, September 2017). We acknowledge the
input provided by all MODEST-17 participants, and, more generally, by the
members of the MODEST communit
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