The Pursuit of Equitable Virtual Learning: District Leaders’ Understanding of the Influences on Designing 100% Virtual Learning Experiences During the Covid-19 Pandemic

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Virginia Governor Ralph Northam required all schools to close their doors from March 13, 2020, through the remainder of the school year, causing districts in the Commonwealth to create distance learning plans for PreK-12 education within a matter of weeks. The continued fluctuation of COVID-19 positive case numbers throughout the spring and summer led to several school districts choosing to open the 2020-2021 school year using a 100% virtual model for all students. This qualitative, grounded theory study sought to determine how superintendents understood the influences on the design of their district’s 100% virtual learning plans. Fifteen superintendents were interviewed using semi-structured interviews that each lasted 30-60 minutes. Data was iteratively collected, analyzed, and coded to reveal major categories regarding superintendents’ understanding of influences. Findings showed that districts sought to plan equitable virtual learning experiences for all students based on unintentional influences and the district’s intentional responses. The Influence and Response Complex Emergence (IRCE) Theory explains that, during an educational crisis, learning plans emerge as a result of the feedback between unintentional influences (politics, availability of resources, and needs of stakeholders) and district leaders’ intentional responses (leveraging relationships, communicating purposefully, and reinforcing the educational mission). A major implication of this study is a better understanding of how learning designs are developed during long-term crisis

Peripheral Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) in Bulimia Nervosa: A Systematic Review

Currently, there is limited understanding of the etiology of BN. While multifaceted etiology is likely, several neurobiological factors may play a role. Brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a potential biomarker linked to eating and weight disorders, is one factor of recent investigation. This paper examined studies comparing BDNF blood levels in BN to healthy control (HC) subjects.Methods: A systematic review of the literature was conducted utilizing five databases (PubMed, CINAHL, EMBASE, PsycINFO, and Medline). Key terms included eating disorders, BDNF, and bulimia nervosa.Conclusions: BDNF blood levels appear lower in BN than in HC subjects; however, studies are needed to examine the influence of possible correlates including symptom severity, mood, medications, exercise, and substance use. Bulimia nervosa (BN) is an eating disorder characterized by episodes of eating a large amount of food in a short period of time with a subjective experience of loss of control (American Psychiatric Association [APA], 2013). The caloric content resulting from the binge episodes is then compensated in some way such as self-induced vomiting or laxative misuse (APA, 2013). The onset of the disorder typically occurs during adolescence or young adulthood and affects more women than men (Hudson, Hiripi, Pope, & Kessler, 2007). BN is associated with significant medical morbidity including electrolyte imbalances, dental erosion, and arrhythmias (Mehler, 2011). Currently there is limited understanding of the etiology of BN. Several biomarkers have been implicated in the etiology of BN, including brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) (Nakazato, Hashimoto, Shimizu, Niitsu, & Iyo, 2012). The purpose of this review is to examine investigations to date to further elucidate the possible role of BDNF in BN

Glenohumeral Joint Dissection: A New Protocol

Objectives: The glenohumeral joint, as a component of the shoulder girdle, is one of the most frequently injured joints of the upper extremity. Typical dissection of the glenohumeral joint does not allow an intracapsular view without sacrificing the joint capsule and surrounding structures. Methods: A dissection method is presented which reveals the internal capsule of the glenohumeral joint, the glenoid labrum, the proximal insertion of the long head of the biceps tendon, and glenohumeral joint surfaces while preserving the posterior aspect of the capsule and surrounding supportive muscles and tendons of the joint. Results: The novel dissection technique allowed for preservation of glenohumeral joint structures and consideration or reexamination of the relationships and structures. Conclusion: The authors present an alternative protocol for dissection of the glenohumeral joint that minimizes destruction of the surrounding structures while allowing visualization of the internal capsule and maintains the relationships of the surrounding supporting structures of the pectoral girdle that may be used for study at a later time. Conclusion: The authors present an alternative protocol for dissection of the glenohumeral joint that minimizes destruction of the surrounding structures while allowing visualization of the internal capsule and maintains the relationships of the surrounding supporting structures of the pectoral girdle that may be used for study at a later time

Draft Genome Sequence of Escherichia coli K-12 (ATCC 29425)

A draft genome sequence for Escherichia coli ATCC 29425 was investigated. The size of the genome was 4,608,319 bp, with an observed G+C content of 50.68%. This assembly consisted of 80 contigs, with an average coverage of 122.2×, including one contig representative of the complete genome for the temperate phage P1

Stroke-Like Presentation Following Febrile Seizure in a Patient with 1q43q44 Deletion Syndrome

Hemiconvulsion–hemiplegia–epilepsy syndrome (HHE) is a rare outcome of prolonged hemiconvulsion that is followed by diffuse unilateral hemispheric edema, hemiplegia, and ultimately hemiatrophy of the affected hemisphere and epilepsy. Here, we describe the case of a 3-year-old male with a 1;3 translocation leading to a terminal 1q43q44 deletion and a terminal 3p26.1p26.3 duplication that developed HHE after a prolonged febrile seizure and discuss the pathogenesis of HHE in the context of the patient’s complex genetic background

Stroke-Like Presentation Following Febrile Seizure in a Patient with 1q43q44 Deletion Syndrome

Hemiconvulsion–hemiplegia–epilepsy syndrome (HHE) is a rare outcome of prolonged hemiconvulsion that is followed by diffuse unilateral hemispheric edema, hemiplegia, and ultimately hemiatrophy of the affected hemisphere and epilepsy. Here, we describe the case of a 3-year-old male with a 1;3 translocation leading to a terminal 1q43q44 deletion and a terminal 3p26.1p26.3 duplication that developed HHE after a prolonged febrile seizure and discuss the pathogenesis of HHE in the context of the patient’s complex genetic background

Draft Genome Sequence of Escherichia coli K-12 (ATCC 10798)

Here, we present the draft genome sequence of Escherichia coli ATCC 10798. E. coli ATCC 10798 is a K-12 strain, one of the most well-studied model microorganisms. The size of the genome was 4,685,496 bp, with a G+C content of 50.70%. This assembly consists of 62 contigs and the F plasmid

GIS as an investigative tool: groundwater contamination and private wells in Guilford County, North Carolina

The purpose of this research is twofold: 1. to demonstrate the effectiveness of GIS and spatial analysis as a tool for investigating groundwater contamination; and 2. to show the need for regular water quality testing of private wells. The research was conducted using secondary data freely available to the public and well construction records obtained from the Guilford County Environmental Health Department. The results of this study show GIS to be useful in the study of groundwater contamination and confirm the need for regular water quality tests of private wells. Because regular testing is currently not required, it is rarely done. Water from wells involved in this study was only tested after construction of the well or as a result of an ancillary event at the request of a government agency. Analysis revealed leaking underground storage tanks as the primary source of known groundwater contamination in Guilford Country. Gasoline, heating oil and diesel fuel were the major contaminates. Although counter intuitive, as the impervious surface area increased, so did the incidents of groundwater contamination

Draft Genome Sequence of Micrococcus luteus (Schroeter) Cohn (ATCC 12698)

The actinobacterium Micrococcus luteus can be found in a wide variety of habitats. Here, we report the 2,411,958-bp draft genome sequence of the type strain M. leuteus (Schroeter) Cohn (ATCC 12698). Characteristic of this taxa, the genome sequence has a high G+C content, 73.14%

Design of Substrate Transmembrane Mimetics as Structural Probes for γ-Secretase

This document is the Accepted Manuscript version of a Published Work that appeared in final form in Journal of the American Chemical Society (JACS), copyright © American Chemical Society after peer review and technical editing by the publisher. To access the final edited and published work see https://doi.org/10.1021/jacs.9b13405.γ-Secretase is a membrane-embedded aspartyl protease complex central in biology and medicine. How this enzyme recognizes transmembrane substrates and catalyzes hydrolysis in the lipid bilayer is unclear. Inhibitors that mimic the entire substrate transmembrane domain and engage the active site should provide important tools for structural biology, yielding insight into substrate gating and trapping the protease in the active state. Here we report transmembrane peptidomimetic inhibitors of the γ-secretase complex that contain an N-terminal helical peptide region that engages a substrate docking exosite and a C-terminal transition-state analog moiety targeted to the active site. Both regions are required for stoichiometric inhibition of γ-secretase. Moreover, enzyme inhibition kinetics and photoaffinity probe displacement experiments demonstrate that both the docking exosite and the active site are engaged by the bipartite inhibitors. The solution conformations of these potent transmembranemimetic inhibitors are similar to those of bound natural substrates, suggesting these probes are preorganized for high-affinity binding and should allow visualization of the active γ-secretase complex, poised for intramembrane proteolysis, by cryo-electron microscopy.NIH R01 grant GM 122894NIH grant P30GM110761NIH grant P41GM11113