Oral Communication Apprehension and Its Relationship to Language Achievement and Attitudes Toward the Language Arts

This study examined the occurrence of oral communication apprehension (OCA) among 547 sixth grade students in two Maryland schools. The focus was on the relationship between OCA and language achievement, as well as attitudes towards the language arts including sex differences. The Personal Report of Communication Fear Scale (McCroskey, 1977) was administered to categorize the subjects into five OCA levels - Low, Moderately Low, Moderate, Moderately High, and High. The scores gained on the Iowa Test of Basic Skills - Language Subtest were used to assess students' levels of language achievement, and their attitudes toward the language arts were measured by their scores on the Attitudes Toward the Language Arts Scale (Arlin-Hills) Frequencies and percentages were computed for estimating differences in the occurrence of oral communication apprehension among the groups and sexes while Chi-square analysis was used for testing significance of sex differences. Two-way ANOVA and Scheffe test for testing significance of sex differences in language achievement and attitudes to the language arts, as well as one-way ANOVA and intercorrelations of the scores of the PRCF and the two other measures were done to assess relationships between these variables. The following were the findings: 1. The High OCA group consisted of 15 percent of the sample, the Low 16 percent and the three combined Moderate OCA groups 69 percent. 2. Sex differences in the occurrence of OCA at each level were of no statistical significance, but slightly more girls than boys were highly apprehensive about oral communication. 3. The Low and Moderate OCA girls' groups scored significantly higher in language achievement than boys in these groups. 4. Sex differences in attitudes toward the language arts were not significant. 5. There was a relationship between OCA and language achievement indicated by a statistically significant difference among the five group means and the high apprehensives scored below the sample mean, while the low apprehensives scored above. 6. There was no relationship between OCA and attitudes towards the language arts as there was no statistically significant difference among the five OCA group means for the attitude scale

The HANDE-QMC project: open-source stochastic quantum chemistry from the ground state up

Building on the success of Quantum Monte Carlo techniques such as diffusion Monte Carlo, alternative stochastic approaches to solve electronic structure problems have emerged over the last decade. The full configuration interaction quantum Monte Carlo (FCIQMC) method allows one to systematically approach the exact solution of such problems, for cases where very high accuracy is desired. The introduction of FCIQMC has subsequently led to the development of coupled cluster Monte Carlo (CCMC) and density matrix quantum Monte Carlo (DMQMC), allowing stochastic sampling of the coupled cluster wave function and the exact thermal density matrix, respectively. In this article we describe the HANDE-QMC code, an open-source implementation of FCIQMC, CCMC and DMQMC, including initiator and semi-stochastic adaptations. We describe our code and demonstrate its use on three example systems; a molecule (nitric oxide), a model solid (the uniform electron gas), and a real solid (diamond). An illustrative tutorial is also included

A comprehensive model of factors associated with subjective perceptions of living well with dementia: findings from the IDEAL study

Background: The concept of ‘living well’ is increasingly used to indicate that it is, or should be, possible for a person living with dementia to experience a subjective sense of ‘comfort, function and contentment with life.’ We used a theoretically-derived conceptual framework to investigate capability to ‘live well’ with dementia through identifying the relative contribution of domains associated with the subjective experience of living well. Methods: We analysed data from 1550 community-dwelling individuals with mild to moderate dementia participating in the baseline wave of the Improving the experience of Dementia and Enhancing Active Life (IDEAL) cohort study. Subjective perceptions of ability to live well were obtained by generating a living well latent factor from responses on the Quality of Life in Alzheimer’s disease (QoL-AD), Satisfaction with Life and WHO-5 Well-being scales. Multivariate modelling and structural equation modelling was used to investigate variables potentially associated with living well. Variables were grouped into five domains, latent variables were constructed representing Social Location, Capitals, Assets and Resources, Psychological Characteristics and Psychological Health, Physical Fitness and Health, and Managing Everyday Life with Dementia, and associations with living well were examined. All models were adjusted for age, sex and dementia sub-type. Results: Considering the domains singly, the Psychological Characteristics and Psychological Health domain was most strongly associated with living well (3.56; 95% CI: 2.25, 4.88), followed by Physical Fitness and Physical Health (1.10, 95% CI: -2.26, 4.47). Effect sizes were smaller for Capitals, Assets and Resources (0.53; 95% CI: -0.66, 1.73), Managing Everyday Life with Dementia (0.34; 95% CI: 0.20, 0.87), and Social Location (-0.12; 95% CI: -5.72, 5.47). Following adjustment for the Psychological Characteristics and Psychological Health domain, other domains did not show independent associations with living well. Conclusions: Psychological resources are central to subjective perceptions of living well and offer important targets for immediate intervention. Availability of social and environmental resources, and physical fitness, underpin these positive psychological states, and also offer potential targets for interventions and initiatives aimed at improving the experience of living with dementia

Future applications of host direct therapies for infectious disease treatment

New and emerging pathogens, such as SARS-CoV2 have highlighted the requirement for threat agnostic therapies. Some antibiotics or antivirals can demonstrate broad-spectrum activity against pathogens in the same family or genus but efficacy can quickly reduce due to their specific mechanism of action and for the ability of the disease causing agent to evolve. This has led to the generation of antimicrobial resistant strains, making infectious diseases more difficult to treat. Alternative approaches therefore need to be considered, which include exploring the utility of Host-Directed Therapies (HDTs). This is a growing area with huge potential but difficulties arise due to the complexity of disease profiles. For example, a HDT given early during infection may not be appropriate or as effective when the disease has become chronic or when a patient is in intensive care. With the growing understanding of immune function, a new generation of HDT for the treatment of disease could allow targeting specific pathways to augment or diminish the host response, dependent upon disease profile, and allow for bespoke therapeutic management plans. This review highlights promising and approved HDTs that can manipulate the immune system throughout the spectrum of disease, in particular to viral and bacterial pathogens, and demonstrates how the advantages of HDT will soon outweigh the potential side effects

Future applications of host direct therapies for infectious disease treatment

New and emerging pathogens, such as SARS-CoV2 have highlighted the requirement for threat agnostic therapies. Some antibiotics or antivirals can demonstrate broad-spectrum activity against pathogens in the same family or genus but efficacy can quickly reduce due to their specific mechanism of action and for the ability of the disease causing agent to evolve. This has led to the generation of antimicrobial resistant strains, making infectious diseases more difficult to treat. Alternative approaches therefore need to be considered, which include exploring the utility of Host-Directed Therapies (HDTs). This is a growing area with huge potential but difficulties arise due to the complexity of disease profiles. For example, a HDT given early during infection may not be appropriate or as effective when the disease has become chronic or when a patient is in intensive care. With the growing understanding of immune function, a new generation of HDT for the treatment of disease could allow targeting specific pathways to augment or diminish the host response, dependent upon disease profile, and allow for bespoke therapeutic management plans. This review highlights promising and approved HDTs that can manipulate the immune system throughout the spectrum of disease, in particular to viral and bacterial pathogens, and demonstrates how the advantages of HDT will soon outweigh the potential side effects

Light-Responsive Liquid Crystal Surface Topographies for Dynamic Stimulation of Cells

All biological surfaces possess distinct dynamic surface topographies. Due to their versatility, these topographies play a crucial role in modulating cell behavior and, when intentionally designed, can precisely guide cellular responses. So far, biomechanical responses have predominantly been studied on static surfaces, overlooking the dynamic environment in the body, where cells constantly interact with shifting biomechanical cues. In this work, we designed and fabricated a light-responsive liquid crystal polymer film to study the effect of micrometer-scale, dynamic surface topographies on cells under physiologically relevant conditions. The light-responsive liquid crystal polymers enable on-demand surface topographical changes, reaching pillar heights of 800 nm and grooved topographies with 700 nm height differences at 37 °C in water. The light-induced surface topographies increased mechanosensitive cell signaling by up to 2-fold higher yes-associated protein (YAP) translocation to the nucleus, as well as up to 3-fold more heterogeneity in distribution of focal adhesions, in a topography-related manner. The pillared topography was seen to cause a lower cellular response, while the grooved topography caused an increased mechanical activation, as well as cell alignment due to a more continuous and aligned physical cue that enhances cell organization. Excitingly, we observed that subsequent surface topography changes induced a 3-fold higher YAP nuclear translocation in fibroblast cells, as well as a 5-fold higher vinculin heterogeneity distribution, indicating that multiple cycles of topography exposure ampliated the cell response. Our work emphasizes the potential of light-responsive liquid crystal polymer films generating dynamic biomechanical cues that allow us to modulate and steer cells in vitro.</p

A comprehensive model of factors associated with subjective perceptions of living well with dementia: findings from the IDEAL study

Background: The concept of ‘living well’ is increasingly used to indicate that it is, or should be, possible for a person living with dementia to experience a subjective sense of ‘comfort, function and contentment with life.’ We used a theoretically-derived conceptual framework to investigate capability to ‘live well’ with dementia through identifying the relative contribution of domains associated with the subjective experience of living well. Methods: We analysed data from 1550 community-dwelling individuals with mild to moderate dementia participating in the baseline wave of the Improving the experience of Dementia and Enhancing Active Life (IDEAL) cohort study. Subjective perceptions of ability to live well were obtained by generating a living well latent factor from responses on the Quality of Life in Alzheimer’s disease (QoL-AD), Satisfaction with Life and WHO-5 Well-being scales. Multivariate modelling and structural equation modelling was used to investigate variables potentially associated with living well. Variables were grouped into five domains, latent variables were constructed representing Social Location, Capitals, Assets and Resources, Psychological Characteristics and Psychological Health, Physical Fitness and Health, and Managing Everyday Life with Dementia, and associations with living well were examined. All models were adjusted for age, sex and dementia sub-type. Results: Considering the domains singly, the Psychological Characteristics and Psychological Health domain was most strongly associated with living well (3.56; 95% CI: 2.25, 4.88), followed by Physical Fitness and Physical Health (1.10, 95% CI: -2.26, 4.47). Effect sizes were smaller for Capitals, Assets and Resources (0.53; 95% CI: -0.66, 1.73), Managing Everyday Life with Dementia (0.34; 95% CI: 0.20, 0.87), and Social Location (-0.12; 95% CI: -5.72, 5.47). Following adjustment for the Psychological Characteristics and Psychological Health domain, other domains did not show independent associations with living well. Conclusions: Psychological resources are central to subjective perceptions of living well and offer important targets for immediate intervention. Availability of social and environmental resources, and physical fitness, underpin these positive psychological states, and also offer potential targets for interventions and initiatives aimed at improving the experience of living with dementia

What’s Cooking? Adaptation &amp; Mitigation in the UK Food System

Greenhouse gas targets will be missed unless policymakers take account of the potential impacts of climate change on food-related emissions, according to a new report from the Sustainable Consumption Institute published on 3 July 2012. Much emphasis is placed on decarbonising the energy system, yet the emissions associated with agriculture, particularly the greenhouse gas nitrous oxide, are likely to be much more difficult to cut. Not only that, as climate change impacts become more severe over the coming decades, more fertiliser may need to be added just to achieve the same yields, which will further elevate levels of nitrous oxide. Because emissions are cumulative, this means that the harder it is to cut nitrous oxide emissions, the greater the efforts needed to curb the carbon dioxide emissions from energy for the same climate impact. The new report, which has been led by researchers within the School of Mechanical, Civil and Aerospace Engineering, developed suites of food-system scenarios to explore the triad of challenges relating to mitigation, adaptation and the growing demand for food. The work involved stakeholders from agriculture, retail and manufacturing as well as consumer focus groups. The report is launched to stakeholders and policymakers in London on 4 July and in Manchester on the 13 July

Chlorpyrifos Affects Phenotypic Outcomes in a Model of Mammalian Neurodevelopment: Critical Stages Targeting Differentiation in PC12 Cells

The organophosphate insecticide chlorpyrifos (CPF) adversely affects mammalian brain development through multiple mechanisms. To determine if CPF directly affects neuronal cell replication and phenotypic fate, and to identify the vulnerable stages of differentiation, we exposed PC12 cells, a model for mammalian neurodevelopment, to CPF concentrations spanning the threshold for cholinesterase inhibition (5–50 μM) and conducted evaluations during mitosis and in early and mid-differentiation. In undifferentiated cells, exposure to 5 μM CPF for 1–3 days reduced DNA synthesis significantly without eliciting cytotoxicity. At the same time, CPF increased the expression of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), the enzymatic marker for the catecholamine phenotype, without affecting choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), the corresponding marker for the cholinergic phenotype. Upon exposure to nerve growth factor (NGF), PC12 cells developed neuritic projections in association with vastly increased TH and ChAT expression accompanying differentiation into the two phenotypes. CPF exposure begun at the start of differentiation significantly reduced ChAT but not TH activity. In contrast, when CPF was added in mid-differentiation (4 days of NGF pretreatment), ChAT was unaffected and TH was increased slightly. Thus, CPF exerts stage-specific effects, reducing DNA synthesis in the undifferentiated state, impairing development of the cholinergic phenotype at the start of differentiation, and promoting expression of the catecholaminergic phenotype both in undifferentiated and differentiated cells. CPF administration in vivo produces deficits in the number of neurons and cholinergic function, and because we were able to reproduce these effects in vitro, our results suggest that CPF directly influences the phenotypic fate of neuronal precursors