In-service and Pre-service Teachers\u27 Implicit Attitudes and Self-efficacy Beliefs Toward Teaching Racial Minority Students

The racial dynamic between teachers and students in the United States is increasing. The population of racial minority students continues to grow while the teacher population stays predominantly White. Equity and inclusion, often the foreground in an educational setting, are now being undervalued when needed the most. This study examined and compared pre-service and in-service teachers\u27 implicit attitudes toward racial minority students while also looking at their self-efficacy beliefs in teaching diverse classrooms. Participants included nine pre-service teachers from a four-year university and nine PreK-3 in-service teachers. All participants were from the Southeastern part of the United States. To test the hypothesis that pre-service teachers will have more negative implicit attitudes toward racial minority students, this study used an Implicit Association Test. Although the t-test result comparing both groups, pre-service teachers versus in-service teachers, showed insignificant differences, raw data from participants\u27 Implicit Association Tests showed that more pre-service teachers showed a slight bias towards students from racial majority groups. Results support recommendations and implications for practitioners to better understand how biases may occur in classrooms and how pre-service teachers can be better prepared to teach in diverse classrooms. Keywords: implicit attitudes, implicit bias, racial dynamics, racial minority students, early childhood educatio

Peripheral T-Cell Lymphoma: Review and Updates of Current Management Strategies

The classification of T-cell and natural-killer- (NK-) cell lymphomas has been updated in the 4th edition of the World Health Organization (WHO) classification of tumors of the haematopoietic and lymphoid tissue published in 2008. Based on recent epidemiological studies, NK-cell lymphomas occur almost exclusively in Asia and South America, although T-cell lymphomas appear to occur in the East as commonly as in the West. Due to the low prevalence of this disease, diagnosis and optimal treatment of patients have not been studied prospectively in large randomized trials. Nevertheless, there has been development in the understanding of T-cell lymphomas and how they should be managed; FDG-PET emerges as an increasingly important tool in diagnosis, gene-expression signatures may aid with prognostication in the future, and novel therapies are currently being studied to improve outcomes in T-cell lymphomas. More work, however, needs to be done, and international collaboration will be pertinent to deriving meaningful results from future clinical studies

Effects of Scleral-lens Tear Clearance on Corneal Edema and Post-lens Tear Dynamics: A Pilot Study.

SignificanceThe present study with small-diameter scleral lenses (SLs) revealed that post-lens tear thickness (PoLTT) was significantly associated with post-lens tear mixing, but not with central corneal edema, after short-term SL wear.PurposeThe aim of this study was to investigate the influence of SL tear clearance (PoLTT) on central corneal thickness and post-lens tear dynamics during 5-hour lens wear.MethodsNeophytes with no active ocular disease were fitted bilaterally with SLs (hofocon A; 15.6-mm diameter; ~438-μm thickness; 97 Dk; 1.44 refractive index) with various initial PoLTT values ranging from 74 to 543 μm. Central corneal thickness and PoLTT were measured using optical coherence tomography during lens wear. Tear mixing was assessed using fluorogram and "out-in" method.ResultsThe mean central corneal edema after 5-hour lens wear was 1.51% (95% confidence interval, 1.26 to 1.76%; P < .001), reached its peak at 2-hour post-lens insertion (1.65% [95% confidence interval, 1.45 to 1.85%]), and was independent of PoLTT. The fastest fluorescence decay of the post-lens tear film was observed superiorly. The fluorescence decay rate increased from center to periphery in all quadrants except superiorly. An inverse relationship was found between PoLTT and fluorescence decay rate at both 20-minute and 5-hour wear after lens insertion (P < .05). Excluding observations with out-in time exceeding 5 minutes, we found a direct relationship between PoLTT at 20 minutes after lens insertion and out-in time (P = .047). The % change in the PoLTT after 5-hour wear was greater with a thinner initial tear clearance than those with a thicker one (P = .034).ConclusionsWithin our study parameters, a thinner PoLTT under a small-diameter SL was associated with faster PoLTT mixing. However, there was no relationship between PoLTT and central corneal thickness during 5-hour SL wear

Investigation of refractive index dynamics during in vitro embryo development using off-axis digital holographic microscopy

Funding: Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council - EP/P030017/1, EP/R004854/1; Australian Research Council - FL210100099; National Health and Medical Research Council - APP2003786; Future Making Fellowship (University of Adelaide); Hospital Research Foundation (Mid-career fellowship C-MCF58-2019).Embryo quality is a crucial factor affecting live birth outcomes. However, an accurate diagnostic for embryo quality remains elusive in the in vitro fertilization clinic. Determining physical parameters of the embryo may offer key information for this purpose. Here, we demonstrate that digital holographic microscopy (DHM) can rapidly and non-invasively assess the refractive index of mouse embryos. Murine embryos were cultured in either low- or high-lipid containing media and digital holograms recorded at various stages of development. The phase of the recorded hologram was numerically retrieved, from which the refractive index of the embryo was calculated. We showed that DHM can detect spatio-temporal changes in refractive index during embryo development that are reflective of its lipid content. As accumulation of intracellular lipid is known to compromise embryo health, DHM may prove beneficial in developing an accurate, non-invasive, multimodal diagnostic.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Applying Stakeholder and Self-Efficacy Theories to Classify Organizational Citizenship Behavior Antecedents

Most studies about organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) focus on particular actions that employees, supervisors, or owners of organizations should exhibit. To encourage OCB in service-oriented Filipino organizations, this paper proposes a classification of OCB antecedents collected from the literature in theory and industry practice. By using the stakeholder and self-efficacy theories, the proposed four clearly defined categories point out whether these antecedents are employee-led, leader-led, organization-led, or HR-led initiatives. Since it would be burdensome for an individual to know all the factors that may influence OCB, categorizing these antecedents will help the individual to identify the behavioral aspects that he or she has control over. Managerial implications are also discussed

Benefits and challenges of electronic prescribing for general practitioners and pharmacists in regional Australia

Objective: To explore the benefits and challenges of electronic prescribing (e-prescribing) for general practitioners (GPs) and pharmacists in regional New South Wales (NSW). Methods: This qualitative study utilised semistructured interviews conducted virtually or in-person between July and September 2021. Setting and Participants: General practitioners and pharmacists practising in Bathurst NSW. Main Outcomes: Self-reported perceived and experienced benefits and challenges of e-prescribing. Results: Two GPs and four pharmacists participated in the study. Reported benefits of e-prescribing included improvement in the prescribing and dispensing process, patient adherence, and prescription safety and security. The increased convenience for the patients was appreciated particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Challenges discussed were how the system was perceived to be unsafe and insecure, costs of messaging and updating general practice software, utilisation of new systems and patient awareness. Pharmacists reported the need for education to patients and staff to minimise the impact of inexperience with the novel technology on workflow efficacy. Conclusion: This study provided first insight and information on the perspectives of GPs and pharmacists 12 months after the implementation of e-prescribing. Further nationwide studies are required to consolidate these findings; provide comparisons with the system's progress since conception; determine whether metropolitan and rural health care professionals share similar perspectives; and shed light on where additional government support may be required

Complete Genome Sequences of Mycobacterium smegmatis Phages Chewbacca, Reptar3000, and Riparian, Isolated in Las Vegas, Nevada

Here, we present the complete genome sequences of Mycobacterium smegmatis phages Chewbacca, Reptar3000, and Riparian, isolated from soil in Las Vegas, NV. The phages were isolated and annotated by undergraduate students enrolled in the Phage Discovery course offered by the School of Life Sciences at the University of Nevada, Las Vega

Vitrification within a nanoliter volume : oocyte and embryo cryopreservation within a 3D photopolymerized device

Open Access funding enabled and organized by CAUL and its Member Institutions. KRD is supported by a Mid-Career Fellowship from the Hospital Research Foundation (C-MCF-58–2019). KD acknowledges funding from the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (grants EP/P030017/1). This study was funded by the Australian Research Council (ARC) Centre of Excellence for Nanoscale BioPhotonics (CE140100003).Purpose Vitrification permits long-term banking of oocytes and embryos. It is a technically challenging procedure requiring direct handling and movement of cells between potentially cytotoxic cryoprotectant solutions. Variation in adherence to timing, and ability to trace cells during the procedure, affects survival post-warming. We hypothesized that minimizing direct handling will simplify the procedure and improve traceability. To address this, we present a novel photopolymerized device that houses the sample during vitrification. Methods The fabricated device consisted of two components: the Pod and Garage. Single mouse oocytes or embryos were housed in a Pod, with multiple Pods docked into a Garage. The suitability of the device for cryogenic application was assessed by repeated vitrification and warming cycles. Oocytes or early blastocyst-stage embryos were vitrified either using standard practice or within Pods and a Garage and compared to non-vitrified control groups. Post-warming, we assessed survival rate, oocyte developmental potential (fertilization and subsequent development) and metabolism (autofluorescence). Results Vitrification within the device occurred within ~ 3 nL of cryoprotectant: this volume being ~ 1000-fold lower than standard vitrification. Compared to standard practice, vitrification and warming within our device showed no differences in viability, developmental competency, or metabolism for oocytes and embryos. The device housed the sample during processing, which improved traceability and minimized handling. Interestingly, vitrification-warming itself, altered oocyte and embryo metabolism. Conclusion The Pod and Garage system minimized the volume of cryoprotectant at vitrification—by ~ 1000-fold—improved traceability and reduced direct handling of the sample. This is a major step in simplifying the procedure.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Skin Gene Expression Correlates of Severity of Interstitial Lung Disease in Systemic Sclerosis

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/100260/1/art38101.pd

The effect of discrete wavelengths of visible light on the developing murine embryo

Open Access funding enabled and organized by CAUL and its Member Institutions KRD is supported by a Mid-Career Fellowship from the Hospital Research Foundation (C-MCF-58–2019). KD is supported by funding from the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EP/P030017/1) and the Australian Research Council (FL210100099). CC acknowledges the support of a PhD scholarship jointly from the University of Adelaide and University of Nottingham. This study was funded by the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Nanoscale BioPhotonics (CE140100003). PR acknowledges funding through the RMIT Vice-Chancellor’s Research Fellowship and ARC DECRA Fellowship scheme (DE200100279).Purpose A current focus of the IVF field is non-invasive imaging of the embryo to quantify developmental potential. Such approaches use varying wavelengths to gain maximum biological information. The impact of irradiating the developing embryo with discrete wavelengths of light is not fully understood. Here, we assess the impact of a range of wavelengths on the developing embryo. Methods Murine preimplantation embryos were exposed daily to wavelengths within the blue, green, yellow, and red spectral bands and compared to an unexposed control group. Development to blastocyst, DNA damage, and cell number/allocation to blastocyst cell lineages were assessed. For the longer wavelengths (yellow and red), pregnancy/fetal outcomes and the abundance of intracellular lipid were investigated. Results Significantly fewer embryos developed to the blastocyst stage when exposed to the yellow wavelength. Elevated DNA damage was observed within embryos exposed to blue, green, or red wavelengths. There was no effect on blastocyst cell number/lineage allocation for all wavelengths except red, where there was a significant decrease in total cell number. Pregnancy rate was significantly reduced when embryos were irradiated with the red wavelength. Weight at weaning was significantly higher when embryos were exposed to yellow or red wavelengths. Lipid abundance was significantly elevated following exposure to the yellow wavelength. Conclusion Our results demonstrate that the impact of light is wavelength-specific, with longer wavelengths also impacting the embryo. We also show that effects are energy-dependent. This data shows that damage is multifaceted and developmental rate alone may not fully reflect the impact of light exposure.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe