Bioethics (GCSU)

This Grants Collection for Bioethics was created under a Round Ten ALG Textbook Transformation Grant. Affordable Learning Georgia Grants Collections are intended to provide faculty with the frameworks to quickly implement or revise the same materials as a Textbook Transformation Grants team, along with the aims and lessons learned from project teams during the implementation process. Documents are in .pdf format, with a separate .docx (Word) version available for download. Each collection contains the following materials: Linked Syllabus Initial Proposal Final Reporthttps://oer.galileo.usg.edu/biology-collections/1023/thumbnail.jp

Current Trends in Ephemera Cataloging

The current trends in ephemera cataloging and description are in web-based records, finding aids, MARC records. This paper discusses the literature devoted to ephemera cataloging and description since 1973 and identifies what kinds of ephemera cataloging repositories engage in today. Using seven repositories available on the free web at the beginning of 2009, the author has described the commonalities and differences among treatments of main entry and genre/form information. Observations are made on the effectiveness of traditional AACR2 standards of creating main entries and access points. The author makes recommendations for institutions wanting to come into currency with their ephemera descriptive cataloging

Revisit Your Welcome Mat: Successes & Challenges in Library Orientation at the Atlanta University Center

A team of four librarians at the Atlanta University Center Robert W. Woodruff Library (RWWL) discuss success and challenges in library orientation for the four institutions they serve – Clark Atlanta University, the Interdenominational Theological Center, Morehouse College and Spelman College. In 2011, a former library colleague described the partnership and coordination details of new student orientation at RWWL. The team will revisit that presentation and offer further best practices for effective, higher-impact orientation. The presentation will share how RWWL met the challenges their unique institution faces and share the successes they achieved since 2011. The presentation will focus on one-shot instruction, orientation collateral (i.e. handouts or giveaways), and the nature of campus collaboration – both precarious and rewarding – in a complicated environment

A melanocyte lineage program confers resistance to MAP kinase pathway inhibition

BRAFV600E-mutant malignant melanomas depend on RAF/MEK/ERK (MAPK) signaling for tumor cell growth1. RAF and MEK inhibitors show remarkable clinical efficacy in BRAFV600E melanoma2, 3; however, resistance to these agents remains a formidable challenge2, 4. Global characterization of resistance mechanisms may inform the development of more effective therapeutic combinations. Here, we performed systematic gain-of-function resistance studies by expressing >15,500 genes individually in a BRAFV600E melanoma cell line treated with RAF, MEK, ERK, or combined RAF/MEK inhibitors. These studies revealed a cyclic AMP-dependent melanocytic signaling network not previously associated with drug resistance, including G-protein coupled receptors, adenyl cyclase, protein kinase A and cAMP response element binding protein (CREB). Preliminary analysis of biopsies from BRAFV600E melanoma patients revealed that phosphorylated (active) CREB was suppressed by RAF/MEK-inhibition but restored in relapsing tumors. Expression of transcription factors activated downstream of MAP kinase and cAMP pathways also conferred resistance, including c-FOS, NR4A1, NR4A2 and MITF. Combined treatment with MAP kinase pathway and histone deacetylase inhibitors suppressed MITF expression and cAMP-mediated resistance. Collectively, these data suggest that oncogenic dysregulation of a melanocyte lineage dependency can cause resistance to RAF/MEK/ERK inhibition, which may be overcome by combining signaling- and chromatin-directed therapeutics

An observational cohort study of exercise and education for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease not meeting criteria for formal pulmonary rehabilitation programmes

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is offered to patients with functional breathlessness. However, access to PR is limited. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether a 4-week education and exercise programme offered to COPD patients with Medical Research Council (MRC) dyspnoea 1–2 improves disease self-management. Patients were recruited by their GP to attend four weekly 2-h sessions provided by a multidisciplinary team. Patients completed outcome measures before and after the program. Forty-two patients entered the programme and 26 out of 42 (61.9%) completed all sessions. The Bristol COPD Knowledge Questionnaire and Patient Activation Measure improved (both p ≤ 0.001). Disease burden was not reduced according to the COPD assessment test. All patients accepted a referral for ongoing exercise. Fourteen current smokers (81.3%) accepted a referral for smoking cessation, three patients with anxiety or depression (37.5%) accepted a psychological therapies referral. The programme improved COPD disease knowledge, patient activation and stimulated referrals to further services supporting disease management. Randomised controlled trials are warranted for similar interventions for COPD patients with early stage disease