The Influence of Visuospatial Intervention on Mathematical Ability

The research proposal of this study intends to identify whether visuospatial interventions improve mathematical ability in college students. Visuospatial skills are important for identifying the distance between two objects, memory of images, and visualizing objects by mentally rotating them. The two important concepts relating to visuospatial ability are spatial relations and spatial visualizations. These are the abilities to mentally rotate two dimensional and three dimensional objects. Prior research has shown that visuospatial interventions are an effective tool for the improvement mathematical performance. This study is designed to see whether mathematical aptitude improves from pre-test to post-test after participation in visuospatial interventions. A visuospatial assessment, a mathematical assessment, and a demographic survey were utilized to provide data on factors such as age, prior visuospatial experience, gender, and intelligence; factors which we believe could be extraneous variables. After pilot testing, participants scored 60% and 50% on the visuospatial and mathematical diagnoses test, respectively. These preliminary results suggest that further pilot testing and assessment revision is needed in order to accurately measure baseline visuospatial and mathematical ability

Measuring the Edwards-Anderson order parameter of the Bose glass : a quantum gas microscope approach

We thank D Cassettari, A Daley, S Denny, J Keeling, P Kirton and A Trombettoni for insightful discussions and assistance. Computations were performed on the EPSRC CDT Computer Cluster and the University of St Andrews School of Physics & Astronomy computer cluster. SJT acknowledges studentship funding from EPSRC under grant no. EP/G03673X/1. GDB acknowledges support from the Leverhulme Trust RPG-2013-074.With the advent of spatially resolved fluorescence imaging in quantum gas microscopes, it is now possible to directly image glassy phases and probe the local effects of disorder in a highly controllable setup. Here we present numerical calculations using a spatially resolved local mean-field theory, show that it captures the essential physics of the disordered system and use it to simulate the density distributions seen in single-shot fluorescence microscopy. From these simulated images we extract local properties of the phases which are measurable by a quantum gas microscope and show that unambiguous detection of the Bose glass is possible. In particular, we show that experimental determination of the Edwards-Anderson order parameter is possible in a strongly correlated quantum system using existing experiments. We also suggest modifications to the experiments which will allow further properties of the Bose glass to be measured.PostprintPeer reviewe

Can quantum gas microscopes directly image exotic glassy phases?

With the advent of spatially resolved fluorescence imaging in quantum gas microscopes (see e.g. [1]), it is now possible to directly image glassy phases and probe the local effects of disorder in a highly controllable setup. Here we present numerical calculations using a spatially resolved local mean-field theory, show that it captures the essential physics of the disordered system, and use it to simulate the density distributions seen in single-shot fluorescence microscopy [2]. From these simulated images we extract local properties of the phases which are measurable by a quantum gas microscope and show that unambiguous detection of the Bose glass is possible. In particular, we show that experimental determination of the Edwards-Anderson order parameter is possible in a strongly correlated quantum system using existing experiments. We also suggest modifications to the experiments by using spatial light modulators (see [3] and references therein) to tailor the lattice, which will allow further properties of the Bose glass to be measured. References: [1] E Haller, et al., "Single-atom imaging of fermions in a quantum-gas microscope" Nature Physics 11, 738 (2015) [2] S J Thomson, et al., "Measuring the Edwards-Anderson order parameter of the Bose glass: A quantum gas microscope approach" Phys. Rev. A 94, 051601(R) (2016) [3] F Buccheri, et al., "Holographic optical traps for atom-based topological Kondo devices" New J. Phys. 18, 075012 (2016)PostprintNon peer reviewe

Student Confidence in Applying for Post Graduate Training Before and After an Elective Course

Introduction • As residency positions have become more difficult to obtain, the number of students at Southwestern Oklahoma State University College of Pharmacy applying for and matching with residencies has declined. • Two barriers identified by all students included lack of information and confidence in their skills. • A 16-week, two-hour elective was developed and offered to 2nd and 3rd year pharmacy students in January of 2012 and is currently offered each Spring semester

Loss of Niemann Pick type C proteins 1 and 2 greatly enhances HIV infectivity and is associated with accumulation of HIV Gag and cholesterol in late endosomes/lysosomes

Abstract Background Cholesterol pathways play an important role at multiple stages during the HIV-1 infection cycle. Here, we investigated the role of cholesterol trafficking in HIV-1 replication utilizing Niemann-Pick Type C disease (NPCD) cells as a model system. Results We used a unique NPC2-deficient cell line (NPCD55) that exhibited Gag accumulation as well as decreased NPC1 expression after HIV infection. Virus release efficiency from NPCD55 cells was similar to that from control cells. However, we observed a 3 to 4-fold enhancement in the infectivity of virus released from these cells. Fluorescence microscopy revealed accumulation and co-localization of Gag proteins with cholesterol in late endosomal/lysosomal (LE/L) compartments of these cells. Virion-associated cholesterol was 4-fold higher in virions produced in NPCD55 cells relative to virus produced in control cells. Treatment of infected NPCD55 cells with the cholesterol efflux-inducing drug TO-9013171 reduced virus infectivity to control levels. Conclusions These results suggest cholesterol trafficking and localization can profoundly affect HIV-1 infectivity by modulating the cholesterol content of the virions.</p

Building a Global Evidence Base to Guide Policy and Implementation for Group Antenatal Care in Low‐ and Middle‐Income Countries: Key Principles and Research Framework Recommendations from the Global Group Antenatal Care Collaborative

Evidence from high‐income countries suggests that group antenatal care, an alternative service delivery model, may be an effective strategy for improving both the provision and experience of care. Until recently, published research about group antenatal care did not represent findings from low‐ and middle‐income countries, which have health priorities, system challenges, and opportunities that are different than those in high‐income countries. Because high‐quality evidence is limited, the World Health Organization recommends group antenatal care be implemented only in the context of rigorous research. In 2016 the Global Group Antenatal Care Collaborative was formed as a platform for group antenatal care researchers working in low‐ and middle‐income countries to share experiences and shape future research to accelerate development of a robust global evidence base reflecting implementation and outcomes specific to low‐ and middle‐income countries. This article presents a brief history of the Collaborative’s work to date, proposes a common definition and key principles for group antenatal care, and recommends an evaluation and reporting framework for group antenatal care research.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/163383/2/jmwh13143.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/163383/1/jmwh13143_am.pd

Recombinant antibodies derived from laser captured single plasma cells of multiple sclerosis brain identified phage peptides which may be used as tools for characterizing intrathecal IgG response

Oligoclonal bands and increased IgG antibody levels can be detected in the cerebrospinal fluid in vast majority of patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). However, the antigenic specificity of oligoclonal IgG has yet to be determined. Using laser capture microdissection, we isolated single CD38+ plasma cells from lesion areas in two autopsy MS brains, and generated three recombinant antibodies (rAbs) from clonally expanded plasma cells. Panning phage-displayed random peptide libraries was carried out to determine peptide antigen specificities of these MS brain rAbs. We identified 25 high affinity phage peptides from which 5 peptides are unique. Database searches revealed that they shared sequence homologies with Epstein-Barr nuclear antigens 4 and 6, as well as with other viral proteins. Significantly, these peptides were recognized by intrathecal IgG and oligoclonal IgG bands in other MS patients. Our results demonstrate that functional recombinant antibodies can be generated from clonally expanded plasma cells in MS brain lesions by laser capture microdissection, and that these MS brain rAbs have the potential for determining the targets of intrathecal IgG and oligoclonal bands