Creating Collaborative Subject Guides for Multi-Insitutional Digital Collection: A Case Study from the Louisiana Digital Library

This case study focuses on the development of subject guides for the Louisiana Digital Library (LDL), a state-wide digital repository for digital cultural heritage. While subject guides are always important for navigating large collections, during the state-wide shutdown of libraries due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the need for the guides was greater than ever. In keeping with the LDL’s multi-institutional and collaborative nature, representatives from seven Louisiana-based institutions responded to an open call to form a rapid-response working group. Within three weeks, ten guides were developed and published. Equally important, an iterative workflow for building and updating guides was established to allow flexible, responsive guides and input from a wide range of professionals and patrons

Louisiana Digital Library Collections As Data Intro Survey: Selected Survey Results to Support Reports and Publications

Selected survey results pertaining to the effectiveness of the Louisiana Digital Library Collections as Data grant deliverables

Signals 1, 2 and B cell fate or: Where, when and for how long?

Diverse B cell responses are important for generating antibody‐mediated protection against highly variable pathogens. While some antigens can trigger T‐independent B cell proliferation and short‐term antibody production, development of long‐term humoral immunity requires T‐dependent B cell responses. The “two‐signal” model of B cell activation has long been invoked to explain alternate B cell recruitment into immune response to foreign antigens vs. induction of tolerance to self‐antigens. However, a number of other factors appear to influence the fate of mature B cells responding to antigen in vivo. In this review, we will discuss how various spatiotemporal scenarios of antigen access into secondary lymphoid organs, antigen valency and cellular environment of antigen acquisition by B cells, duration of B cell access to antigen and the timing of T cell help may affect follicular B cell fate, including death, survival, anergy, and recruitment into T‐dependent responses. We will also highlight unresolved questions related to B cell activation and tolerance in vivo that may have important implications for vaccine development and autoimmunity.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/156186/2/imr12865.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/156186/1/imr12865_am.pd

Access to recreational physical activities by car and bus : an assessment of socio-spatial inequalities in mainland Scotland

Obesity and other chronic conditions linked with low levels of physical activity (PA) are associated with deprivation. One reason for this could be that it is more difficult for low-income groups to access recreational PA facilities such as swimming pools and sports centres than high-income groups. In this paper, we explore the distribution of access to PA facilities by car and bus across mainland Scotland by income deprivation at datazone level. GIS car and bus networks were created to determine the number of PA facilities accessible within travel times of 10, 20 and 30 minutes. Multilevel negative binomial regression models were then used to investigate the distribution of the number of accessible facilities, adjusting for datazone population size and local authority. Access to PA facilities by car was significantly (p<0.01) higher for the most affluent quintile of area-based income deprivation than for most other quintiles in small towns and all other quintiles in rural areas. Accessibility by bus was significantly lower for the most affluent quintile than for other quintiles in urban areas and small towns, but not in rural areas. Overall, we found that the most disadvantaged groups were those without access to a car and living in the most affluent areas or in rural areas

Muscle size and strength : debunking the “completely separate phenomena” suggestion

This is a post-peer-review, pre-copyedit version of an article published in European Journal of Applied Physiology. The final authenticated version is available online at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00421-017-3616-

Placenta-specific Slc38a2/SNAT2 knockdown causes fetal growth restriction in mice

Fetal growth restriction (FGR) is a complication of pregnancy that reduces birth weight, markedly increases infant mortality and morbidity and is associated with later-life cardiometabolic disease. No specific treatment is available for FGR. Placentas of human FGR infants have low abundance of sodium-coupled neutral amino acid transporter 2 (Slc38a2/SNAT2), which supplies the fetus with amino acids required for growth. We determined the mechanistic role of placental Slc38a2/SNAT2 deficiency in the development of restricted fetal growth, hypothesizing that placenta-specific Slc38a2 knockdown causes FGR in mice. Using lentiviral transduction of blastocysts with a small hairpin RNA (shRNA), we achieved 59% knockdown of placental Slc38a2, without altering fetal Slc38a2 expression. Placenta-specific Slc38a2 knockdown reduced near-term fetal and placental weight, fetal viability, trophoblast plasma membrane (TPM) SNAT2 protein abundance, and both absolute and weight-specific placental uptake of the amino acid transport System A tracer, 14C-methylaminoisobutyric acid (MeAIB). We also measured human placental SLC38A2 gene expression in a well-defined term clinical cohort and found that SLC38A2 expression was decreased in late-onset, but not early-onset FGR, compared with appropriate for gestational age (AGA) control placentas. The results demonstrate that low placental Slc38a2/SNAT2 causes FGR and could be a target for clinical therapies for late-onset FGR

Chronic cigarette smoke exposure induces systemic hypoxia that drives intestinal dysfunction

Crohn's disease (CD) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). Cigarette smoke (CS) exposure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are risk factors for CD, although the mechanisms involved are poorly understood. We employed a mouse model of CS-induced experimental COPD and clinical studies to examine these mechanisms. Concurrent with the development of pulmonary pathology and impaired gas exchange, CS-exposed mice developed CD-associated pathology in the colon and ileum, including gut mucosal tissue hypoxia, HIF-2 stabilization, inflammation, increased microvasculature, epithelial cell turnover, and decreased intestinal barrier function. Subsequent smoking cessation reduced GIT pathology, particularly in the ileum. Dimethyloxaloylglycine, a pan-prolyl hydroxylase inhibitor, ameliorated CS-induced GIT pathology independently of pulmonary pathology. Prior smoke exposure exacerbated intestinal pathology in 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid-induced (TNBS-induced) colitis. Circulating vascular endothelial growth factor, a marker of systemic hypoxia, correlated with CS exposure and CD in mice and humans. Increased mucosal vascularisation was evident in ileum biopsies from CD patients who smoke compared with nonsmokers, supporting our preclinical data. We provide strong evidence that chronic CS exposure and, for the first time to our knowledge, associated impaired gas exchange cause systemic and intestinal ischemia, driving angiogenesis and GIT epithelial barrier dysfunction, resulting in increased risk and severity of CD

A cross-national study on the antecedents of work–life balance from the fit and balance perspective

Drawing on the perceived work–family fit and balance perspective, this study investigates demands and resources as antecedents of work–life balance (WLB) across four countries (New Zealand, France, Italy and Spain), so as to provide empirical cross-national evidence. Using structural equation modelling analysis on a sample of 870 full time employees, we found that work demands, hours worked and family demands were negatively related to WLB, while job autonomy and supervisor support were positively related to WLB. We also found evidence that resources (job autonomy and supervisor support) moderated the relationships between demands and work–life balance, with high resources consistently buffering any detrimental influence of demands on WLB. Furthermore, our study identified additional predictors of WLB that were unique to some national contexts. For example, in France and Italy, overtime hours worked were negatively associated with WLB, while parental status was positively associated with WLB. Overall, the implications for theory and practice are discussed.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

Reconsidering the reasons for heightened inflammation in major depressive disorder

Background Increased circulating pro-inflammatory markers have repeatedly been associated with major depressive disorder (MDD). However, it remains unclear whether inflammation represents a causal mechanism for MDD, or whether the association is influenced by confounding factors such as body mass index (BMI). Methods To better understand this complex relationship, we generated polygenic risk scores (PRS) for MDD and BMI in a population cohort and attempted to isolate the impact these potential risk factors have on adulthood inflammation. Peripheral blood samples were collected as part of the South East London Community Health study, where we generated individualized PRS for MDD and BMI and quantified inflammatory markers using multiplex ELISA-based technology. We performed linear regressions to investigate the effects of PRS for MDD and BMI on inflammatory marker levels. Results Out of 35 inflammatory markers, we found a nominal effect of PRS for MDD on interleukin-10. We also found a significant positive effect of BMI on nine inflammatory markers, of which the two most strongly affected markers, interleukin-6 (IL-6) and C-reactive protein (CRP), were also nominally predicted by BMI PRS. Limitations The study utilized a cross-sectional design with a moderately sized sample. Conclusions Our findings suggest there may not be a shared genetic mechanism contributing to MDD and higher inflammatory marker levels. However, there may be shared genetic etiology between BMI and adulthood levels of CRP and IL-6. Therefore, polygenic risk scores for BMI may represent a useful indicator for heightened levels of inflammation in adulthood