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This article explores Lesson Study, a professional development tool for teacher candidates. Teacher candidates engaged in a lesson study cycle focused on dialogic reading, an evidence-based literacy practice for young children. Teacher candidates explored the power of dialogic reading on comprehension and language development, collaboratively planned an interactive lesson, identified data collection methods, implemented the lesson in a PreK classroom, observed the lesson, reflected on the lesson, and revised the lesson to be taught again after making feedback-informed revisions. An explanation of the steps in the lesson study cycle are included as well as teacher candidates' insights on the process.

Objective To combat the heightened risk of opioid overdose death for individuals with criminal justice involvements, enhanced access to Medicaid remains paramount. This study examines the effect of a 2017 policy change in Pennsylvania that allowed for suspension, rather than termination, of Medicaid coverage while in prison on post‐release opioid overdose mortality risk (OOMR) for adults released from Pennsylvania prisons. Methods This retrospective cohort study utilizes administrative records from the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections for adults ≥18 years diagnosed with opioid use disorder (OUD) released in either 2015 or 2018. Death certificate data were used to compare OOMR within a year after release, both prior to and following the policy change. Demographic, treatment, and death characteristics were assessed with bivariate analyses. Multivariable logistic regressions were used to examine the association between qualification of Medicaid suspension and post‐release crude mortality and OOMR. Results Qualification for Medicaid suspension was not associated with a significant decrease in OOMR (OR = 0.82, 95% CI [0.47–1.46]) or crude mortality (OR = 1.02, 95% CI [0.67–1.57]) within 1 year after prison release for individuals diagnosed with OUD. In addition, the risk of opioid overdose mortality after release from prison for adults with an OUD increased from 2015 to 2018 (0.6%–1.7%; p

Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic has claimed around 170,000 lives among nursing home residents and staff in the United States through April 2023. In a cluster randomized controlled trial (RCT) with 136 nursing homes, we delivered training to improve COVID-19 infection control best practices. We sought to assess the implementation of infection control practices in participating nursing homes. Methods Concurrent with the delivery of the RCT (January-November 2021), we surveyed nursing home administrators (NHAs, n = 38) at baseline and 6-month follow-up. Using validated items from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the surveys inquired about 80 infection control best-practice activities (yes/no). The survey also asked seven scales corresponding to inner setting factors that may have impacted implementation. We assessed changes in infection control practices and inner setting factors between baseline and 6-month follow-up. Results Overall, the implementation of 11 best practices changed over time. NHAs reported an increase in the availability of informational materials for residents and families (84% vs. 100%, p = 0.031), the use of alcohol-based hand sanitizer over soap (76% vs. 97%, p = 0.008), and the development of contingency plans for increased postmortem care (53% vs. 82%, p = 0.013). The implementation of four best-practice visitation policies and three communal restrictions decreased between baseline and 6-month follow-up (all p

BackgroundDigital mental health interventions (DMHIs) are capable of closing gaps in the prevention and therapy of common mental disorders. Despite their proven effectiveness and approval for prescription, use rates remain low. The reasons include a lack of familiarity and knowledge as well as lasting concerns. Medical students were shown to have a comparatively higher risk for common mental disorders and are thus an important target group for raising awareness about DMHIs. At best, knowledge is already imparted during medical school using context-sensitive information strategies. Yet, little is known about medical students’ information preferences regarding DMHIs. ObjectiveThis study aims to explore information preferences for DMHIs for personal use among medical students in Germany. MethodsA discrete choice experiment was conducted, which was developed using an exploratory sequential mixed methods research approach. In total, 5 attributes (ie, source, delivery mode, timing, recommendation, and quality criteria), each with 3 to 4 levels, were identified using formative research. Data were analyzed using logistic regression models to estimate preference weights and the relative importance of attributes. To identify subgroups of students varying in information preferences, we additionally performed a latent class analysis. ResultsOf 309 participants, 231 (74.8%) with reliable data were included in the main analysis (women: 217/309, 70.2%; age: mean 24.1, SD 4.0 y). Overall, the conditional logit model revealed that medical students preferred to receive information about DMHIs from the student council and favored being informed via social media early (ie, during their preclinic phase or their freshman week). Recommendations from other students or health professionals were preferred over recommendations from other users or no recommendations at all. Information about the scientific evidence base was the preferred quality criterion. Overall, the timing of information was the most relevant attribute (32.6%). Latent class analysis revealed 2 distinct subgroups. Class 1 preferred to receive extensive information about DMHIs in a seminar, while class 2 wanted to be informed digitally (via email or social media) and as early as possible in their studies. ConclusionsMedical students reported specific needs and preferences regarding DMHI information provided in medical school. Overall, the timing of information (early in medical education) was considered more important than the information source or delivery mode, which should be prioritized by decision makers (eg, members of faculties of medicine, universities, and ministries of education). Study findings suggest general and subgroup-specific information strategies, which could be implemented in a stepped approach. Easily accessible digital information may promote students’ interest in DMHIs in the first step that might lead to further information-seeking behavior and the attendance of seminars about DMHIs in the second step.

This study focuses on the effectiveness of employing Cartoon Cum Strategic Intervention Material as learning instructional techniques to improve Grade 5 learners' ability to make meaning from text. This intervention encourages students to focus on big ideas and to consider how specific details contribute to the big picture. Cartoons can be organized in non-linear way to emphasize the complexities of concepts. Learning, is an active process in which humans construct meaning and interpret circumstances based on their prior knowledge and experiences. The scope of this study includes thirty Grade 5 elementary students from Ateneo Casa Famiglia Servants of the Poor, Inc. prior to employing cartoon cum strategic intervention as teaching material, the researchers assessed the learners' grasp of making meaning from text acquisition. They also carefully evaluated and observed data from Grade 5 students based on pretest and posttest scores on instructional exemplars, as well as the attitudes of students who had been exposed to their logic and reasoning ability, visual and auditory processing, and sustained and selective attention. This study demonstrates that there is a significant difference between the pretest and posttest of Grade 5 students who were exposed to the Cartoon Cum Strategic Intervention Material. This paper assists the researchers in developing a lesson exemplar in English 5 based on the study's findings, as well as gaining a deeper understanding of the said learning technique and its efficacy with young learners. The use of cartoons in the creation of learning materials appeals to students' intrinsic motivation because they are more enjoyable to students to share and review.

This article examines the concept of healthy secularity in the thought of Pope Benedict XVI. In developing the idea of healthy secularity, Benedict builds upon longstanding themes in Catholic social thought while also provoking a deeper engagement with western modernity. Rather than placing Christianity and the secular in an oppositional framework, Benedict positions Christianity as the foundation of an authentic secular order. In so doing, he opens up new modes of critical engagement with western legal and political thought. Yet, while the concept offers a creative theological method for addressing contemporary issues, it depends for its realisation on vanishing cultural resources that are being eroded by the very secular order he aims to heal.

Abstract Generalized linear models (GLMs) are an integral tool in ecology. Like general linear models, GLMs assume linearity, which entails a linear relationship between independent and dependent variables. However, because this assumption acts on the link rather than the natural scale in GLMs, it is more easily overlooked. We reviewed recent ecological literature to quantify the use of linearity. We then used two case studies to confront the linearity assumption via two GLMs fit to empirical data. In the first case study we compared GLMs to generalized additive models (GAMs) fit to mammal relative abundance data. In the second case study we tested for linearity in occupancy models using passerine point‐count data. We reviewed 162 studies published in the last 5 years in five leading ecology journals and found less than 15% reported testing for linearity. These studies used transformations and GAMs more often than they reported a linearity test. In the first case study, GAMs strongly out‐performed GLMs as measured by AIC in modeling relative abundance, and GAMs helped uncover nonlinear responses of carnivore species to landscape development. In the second case study, 14% of species‐specific models failed a formal statistical test for linearity. We also found that differences between linear and nonlinear (i.e., those with a transformed independent variable) model predictions were similar for some species but not for others, with implications for inference and conservation decision‐making. Our review suggests that reporting tests for linearity are rare in recent studies employing GLMs. Our case studies show how formally comparing models that allow for nonlinear relationships between the dependent and independent variables has the potential to impact inference, generate new hypotheses, and alter conservation implications. We conclude by suggesting that ecological studies report tests for linearity and use formal methods to address linearity assumption violations in GLMs.

IntroductionAs the body’s first line of defense against disease and infection, neutrophils must efficiently navigate to sites of inflammation; however, neutrophil dysregulation contributes to the pathogenesis of numerous diseases that leave people susceptible to infections. Many of these diseases are also associated with changes to the protein composition of the extracellular matrix. While it is known that neutrophils and endothelial cells, which play a key role in neutrophil activation, are sensitive to the mechanical and structural properties of the extracellular matrix, our understanding of how protein composition in the matrix affects the neutrophil response to infection is incomplete.MethodsTo investigate the effects of extracellular matrix composition on the neutrophil response to infection, we used an infection-on-a-chip microfluidic device that replicates a portion of a blood vessel endothelium surrounded by a model extracellular matrix. Model blood vessels were fabricated by seeding human umbilical vein endothelial cells on 2, 4, or 6 mg/mL type I collagen hydrogels. Primary human neutrophils were loaded into the endothelial lumens and stimulated by adding the bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa to the surrounding matrix.ResultsCollagen concentration did not affect the cell density or barrier function of the endothelial lumens. Upon infectious challenge, we found greater neutrophil extravasation into the 4 mg/mL collagen gels compared to the 6 mg/mL collagen gels. We further found that extravasated neutrophils had the highest migration speed and distance in 2mg/mL gels and that these values decreased with increasing collagen concentration. However, these phenomena were not observed in the absence of an endothelial lumen. Lastly, no differences in the percent of extravasated neutrophils producing reactive oxygen species were observed across the various collagen concentrations.DiscussionOur study suggests that neutrophil extravasation and migration in response to an infectious challenge are regulated by collagen concentration in an endothelial cell-dependent manner. The results demonstrate how the mechanical and structural aspects of the tissue microenvironment affect the neutrophil response to infection. Additionally, these findings underscore the importance of developing and using microphysiological systems for studying the regulatory factors that govern the neutrophil response.

Abstract Background Implementation science researchers often cite clinical champions as critical to overcoming organizational resistance and other barriers to the implementation of evidence-based health services, yet relatively little is known about who champions are or how they effect change. To inform future efforts to identify and engage champions to support HPV vaccination, we sought to describe the key characteristics and strategies of vaccine champions working in adolescent primary care. Methods In 2022, we conducted a national survey with a web-based panel of 2527 primary care professionals (PCPs) with a role in adolescent HPV vaccination (57% response rate). Our sample consisted of pediatricians (26%), family medicine physicians (22%), advanced practice providers (24%), and nursing staff (28%). Our survey assessed PCPs’ experience with vaccine champions, defined as health care professionals “known for helping their colleagues improve vaccination rates.” Results Overall, 85% of PCPs reported currently working with one or more vaccine champions. Among these 2144 PCPs, most identified the champion with whom they worked most closely as being a physician (40%) or nurse (40%). Almost all identified champions worked to improve vaccination rates for vaccines in general (45%) or HPV vaccine specifically (49%). PCPs commonly reported that champion implementation strategies included sharing information (79%), encouragement (62%), and vaccination data (59%) with colleagues, but less than half reported that champions led quality improvement projects (39%). Most PCPs perceived their closest champion as being moderately to extremely effective at improving vaccination rates (91%). PCPs who did versus did not work with champions more often recommended HPV vaccination at the earliest opportunity of ages 9–10 rather than later ages (44% vs. 33%, p < 0.001). Conclusions Findings of our national study suggest that vaccine champions are common in adolescent primary care, but only a minority lead quality improvement projects. Interventionists seeking to identify champions to improve HPV vaccination rates can expect to find them among both physicians and nurses, but should be prepared to offer support to more fully engage them in implementing interventions.

Abstract Since its emergence, SARS-CoV-2 Omicron clade has shown a marked degree of variability and different clinical presentation compared with previous clades. Here we demonstrate that at least four Omicron lineages circulated in children since December 2021, and studied until November 2022: BA.1 (33.6%), BA.2 (40.6%), BA.5 (23.7%) and BQ.1 (2.1%). At least 70% of infections concerned children under 1 year, most of them being infected with BA.2 lineages (n = 201, 75.6%). Looking at SARS-CoV-2 genetic variability, 69 SNPs were found to be significantly associated in pairs, (phi 0.3 and p-value 0.75). One of these clusters (A23040G, A27259C, T23617G, T23620G) was also positively associated with moderate/severe COVID-19 presentation (AOR [95% CI] 2.49 [1.26–4.89] p-value: 0.008) together with comorbidities (AOR [95% CI] 2.67 [1.36–5.24] p-value: 0.004). Overall, these results highlight the extensive SARS-CoV-2 Omicron circulation in children, mostly aged

The massive increase in telecommunications infrastructure and devices has recently exacerbated the necessity of developing advanced electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding solutions. Porous structures based on conductive polymer composites (CPCs) are currently promoted as feasible options for this task. In this scenario, the chemical foaming process shows suitability for easily fabricating CPC foams with closed cells and variable porosity. Nonetheless, the process and the products have not yet been fully explored in the literature for EMI shielding purposes. Hence, this work proposes the fabrication of foams made of polylactic acid with 10wf% carbon fiber (CF-PLA) via chemical foaming. After the process assessment, the morphological and dielectric characterizations of the samples were discussed in the function of the process parameters. The results show that chemical blowing agent (CBA) weight fraction % and temperature were key in obtaining target structural and dielectric requirements enabling EMI shielding. Numerical analyses on CF-PLA foams, modeled according to morphological outcomes, were performed via the integral finite difference time domain (IFDTD) method. The obtained Scattering Parameters and shielding effectiveness (SE), between 0.5 and 12 GHz, highlighted that when foam relative density and air pore density are simultaneously high, the shielding is mainly accomplished through absorption (SE $_{\mathrm {A}} =20$ dB) while reflection is minimized (SE $_{\mathrm {R}} =2$ dB). Scattering Parameters and SE were also measured in the X-band showing good agreement with the numerical findings; indeed, CF-PLA foams with higher relative density and air cell density exhibited a reduction of SER (3dB) and a SEA with maxima up to 30dB.

Abstract The chemokine receptor CCR5 is known to exist in cell surface subpopulations that differ in their capacity to engage ligands. One proposed explanation for this phenomenon is the presence of CCR5 species with different levels of post-translational modifications (PTMs). Tyrosine sulfation and O-glycan sialylation are PTMs that add negative charges to the extracellular domain of CCR5 and make strong contributions to chemokine binding but it is not known whether cellular mechanisms to control their levels exist. In this study we used a combination of sulfation-sensitive and sulfation-insensitive CCR5 ligands to show that the rate of turnover of CCR5 tyrosine sulfation is more rapid than the rate of turnover of the receptor itself. This suggests that the steady state level of CCR5 sulfation is maintained through the combination of tyrosine protein sulfotransferase (TPST), the trans-Golgi network (TGN)-resident ‘source enzyme, and a ‘sink’ activity that removes tyrosine sulfation from CCR5. By measuring the effects on ligand binding of knockdown and overexpression experiments, we provided evidence that non-lysosomal cellular arylsulfatases, particularly ARSG, ARSI and ARSJ, are CCR5 sulfation ‘sink’ enzymes. We also used targeted knockdown and sialylation-sensitive and insensitive chemokines to identify the sialidase NEU3 as a candidate ‘sink’ enzyme for CCR5 O-glycan sialylation. This study provides the first experimental evidence of activity of sulfatase and sialidase ‘sink’ enzymes on CCR5, providing a potential mechanism for cells to control steady-state levels of these PTMs and thereby exert dynamic control over receptor-ligand interactions at the cell surface and during receptor desensitization.

For early childhood educators, social studies help young children learn what it means to be contributing, productive members of their family, as well as of their classroom, school, neighborhood, community, and the world. In PreK-grade 3 classrooms, children learn about rules--at home, in school, and in the community. While the need for social studies in the primary grades is clear, the amount of time dedicated to social studies has clearly diminished over the past two decades (National Council for Social Studies, 2009; Heafner & Groce, 2007). Educators have found innovative ways to incorporate social studies into the curriculum by integrating social studies content through literacy and other subject areas. This article presents activities to promote quality social studies learning and knowledge while building essential early literacy skills. Not only do the activities in this article extend children's learning beyond the classroom, but they also promote purposefully partnering with families to enhance children's learning and development across learning domains. Along with promoting social studies competence and active literacy learning, intentional family engagement yields strong social-emotional benefits by supporting strong, reciprocal family partnerships with the school and positive caregiver/child relationships (Halgunseth, 2009; U.S. Department of Health and Social Services & U.S. Department of Education, 2016).

Background Studies have reported that female sex predicts superior cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) response. One theory is that this association is related to smaller female heart size, thus increased relative dyssynchrony at a given QRS duration (QRSd). Our objective was to investigate the mechanisms of sex‐specific CRT response relating to heart size, relative dyssynchrony, cardiomyopathy type, QRS morphology, and other patient characteristics. Methods and Results This is a post hoc analysis of the MORE‐CRT MPP (More Response on Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy with Multipoint Pacing) trial (n=3739, 28% women), with a subgroup analysis of patients with nonischemic cardiomyopathy and left bundle‐branch block (n=1308, 41% women) to control for confounding characteristics. A multivariable analysis examined predictors of response to 6 months of conventional CRT, including sex and relative dyssynchrony, measured by QRSd/left ventricular end‐diastolic volume (LVEDV). Women had a higher CRT response rate than men (70.1% versus 56.8%, P

Las comedias áureas colaboradas fueron una creación lúdica y de consumo que llevaron a cabo muchos de los dramaturgos del Siglo de Oro. El análisis de las mismas, su origen, así como sus ediciones, está siendo objeto de estudio en las últimas décadas. Sin embargo, la investigación sobre la puesta en escena de este tipo de comedias todavía no ha sido abordada de manera global con el fin de aportar datos cuantitativos sobre el número de obras mancomunadas que se representaron, el contexto en el que se llevaron a cabo, las principales compañías teatrales que actuaron y los lugares donde tuvieron mayor éxito. El estudio de estos datos permite un primer acercamiento al impacto que este tipo de comedias tuvieron en las tablas del siglo XVII.

The aim of this paper is not to relitigate Qatar’s human rights record but to assess the effectiveness of its labor reforms: the principal concern is dispute resolution and enforceability. While Qatar instituted a broad suite of labor law reforms in the years preceding the World Cup, questions remain about whether they have improved access to justice for migrant workers. More attention needs to be given to the dispute settlement system established by Law No. 13 of 2017 to assess if new legal norms translate into enforceable rights. It is argued that the labor dispute system has largely failed by not taking into account the circumstances that define the employer-employee relationship in Qatar, especially the stark imbalance in power. While reforms might endure at the level of formal law, the dispute system will fail to deliver genuine justice to workers unless it is refashioned.

Las fracturas bifocales de húmero son lesiones infrecuentes, más aun las que ocurren asociadas con fracturas en el húmero proximal y diáfisis. Presentamos a cuatro pacientes con fracturas bifocales de húmero proximal y diafisario (Maresca A2), la planificación quirúrgica, los detalles técnicos y sus resultados funcionales.

Abstract Landscape decisions are multi‐faceted. Framing landscape decision‐making as a governance process that requires a collective approach can encourage key stakeholders to come together to co‐inform a discussion about their priorities and what constitutes good governance, leading to more holistic landscape decisions. In this paper, we recognise that a suite of complementary and multi‐dimensional approaches are in practice used to inform and evaluate land use decisions. We have called these approaches ‘lenses’ because they each provide a different perspective on the same problem. The four lenses are (i) power and market gain, (ii) ecosystem services, (iii) place‐based identity and (iv) ecocentric. Each brings a different set of evidence and viewpoints (narrative, qualitative and experiential, as well as quantitative metrics such as monetary) to the decision‐making process and can potentially reveal problems and solutions that others do not. Considering all lenses together allows dialogue to take place which can reveal the true complexities of landscape decision‐making and can facilitate more effective and more holistic decisions. Employing the lenses requires governance structures that give equal weight to all lenses, enable dialogue and coexistence between top down and bottom‐up approaches, and permit adaptation to local and granular place‐specifics rather than developing “one‐size‐fits‐all” solutions. We propose that formalising the process of balancing all the lenses requires public participation, and that a lens approach should be used to support landscape decisions alongside a checklist that facilitates transparency in the conversation, showing how all evidence has been considered and critically assessed. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

Introduction Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination rates are lower than other recommended adolescent vaccines. Cancer survivor narratives are used to promote cancer prevention and control, but little is known about their impact on adolescent HPV vaccination. Objective This pilot study explored the feasibility and effects of a video education intervention using a cancer survivor narrative to improve parents’ attitudes toward and intentions to get the HPV vaccine. Methods This study utilized a one-group design; participants completed a pre-intervention survey, watched the video before attending their sons’ wellness visits, and completed a post-intervention survey within one week of their appointment. Using the narrative persuasion framework, we developed a 4-minute video of a local HPV-related cancer survivor to promote the HPV vaccine as cancer prevention. We recruited 37 participants between June and October 2020. Participants were parents of males ages 9-17 who had not yet initiated HPV vaccination. Results After the video, more parents agreed that HPV vaccination is safe (pre: 66% vs. post: 82%; P = .045) and that their child’s chances of getting HPV-related cancer in the future are high (pre: 24% vs. post: 46%; P = .014). Overall, 91% of parents felt the cancer survivor story helped them understand the risks of HPV cancers, and 52% said the story influenced their decision to start HPV vaccination for their child. Conclusions Our findings suggest that cancer survivor narratives influence parents’ vaccine opinions and understanding of their child’s risk of HPV infection, leading to increased parental intent to get the HPV vaccine for their adolescent males.

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has spread in the US with more than 100 million human infections and a million deaths since March 2020. A population of concern are high-risk individuals such as adults who are tobacco users, since COVID-19 is a respiratory disease that affects the lungs. Although 79% of the US population ≥ 18 years of age have completed the primary COVID-19 vaccine series; it is imperative to understand the factors associated with receiving or declining the COVID-19 vaccine among high-risk populations to improve vaccination rates. Guided by the diffusion of innovations (DOI) theory, this study identified factors associated with COVID-19 vaccination and the impact on COVID-19 vaccine uptake in adults who use tobacco. We conducted a cross-sectional study using a sample of Pennsylvanian adult tobacco users by sending a unique survey link to 4,081 email addresses in April 2022. Participants were asked about tobacco use, COVID-19 vaccination status, and reasons for receiving/declining the COVID-19 vaccine. Participants (n = 157) were 75% female, 96% White, 74% current tobacco users, and had a mean age of 50.1 (SD = 10.8) years. Nearly 78% (n = 119) received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine (primary series). We categorized all vaccinated tobacco users into adopter categories of the DOI theory; innovators (10%), early adopters (14%), early majority (33%), late majority (11%), and laggards (32%). The major reason that prompted participants to get the COVID-19 vaccine was to ensure they were well protected against COVID-19 infection (77%). Additionally, the only reason for receiving the vaccine that significantly predicted early vaccine uptake (being an innovator or early adopter) was "to loosen restrictions on mask mandates and social/physical distancing" (p = 0.0180). Among the 22% that did not receive a COVID-19 vaccine, the most common major reason they declined the vaccine was because they felt politics played a big role in the vaccine development process (94%). Our findings suggest that major f actors that influenced why adult tobacco users would receive or decline the COVID-19 vaccine included infection control mandates, protection from the COVID-19 infection, and politics. Investigating these factors can help public health professionals design or develop future vaccination programs for high-risk populations in order to scale up vaccination rates.

Abstract Background: Individuals who are unable to meet their basic needs are more likely to respond reactively to their immediate social and financial hardships with behaviors that lead to “diseases of despair,” which include suicide, drug overdose, and alcohol-induced liver diseases. We sought to assess the feasibility of a community-to-clinic referral approach for diseases of despair-related behaviors. Methods: Guided by the Model for Adaptation Design and Impact, we adapted existing clinical risk assessments into a six-item screener and integrated it into the PA 211 Southwest helpline’s workflow. The screener was created to identify helpline callers at risk for suicidal ideation/behavior, alcohol abuse, drug use, and those in need of seasonal flu vaccination. The screener was implemented from December 2020 to March 2021. We invited at-risk individuals who accepted a service referral to complete baseline and follow-up surveys to learn about their satisfaction with screening and use of referrals. Results: 2,868 callers were invited to take the screener, with 37% (n = 1047) participation. Among screened callers, 19% (n = 196) were at risk of alcohol abuse, 11% (n = 118) for drug use, 9% (n = 98) for suicidal ideation/behavior, and 54% (n = 568) needed flu vaccination. Of those, 265 callers accepted at least one of the offered referrals. Forty-seven individuals took our surveys, with almost half of them (n = 22) reported engaging with a referral and 90% recommended the helpline for health referrals. Conclusion: Our findings demonstrate the feasibility of using existing community infrastructure and social service systems to actively screen and link at-risk individuals to needed health referrals in their communities.

Summary: An efficient neutrophil response is critical for fighting bacterial infections, which remain a significant global health concern; therefore, modulating neutrophil function could be an effective therapeutic approach. While we have a general understanding of how neutrophils respond to bacteria, how neutrophil function differs in response to diverse bacterial infections remains unclear. Here, we use a microfluidic infection-on-a-chip device to investigate the neutrophil response to four bacterial species: Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella enterica, Listeria monocytogenes, and Staphylococcus aureus. We find enhanced neutrophil extravasation to L. monocytogenes, a limited overall response to S. aureus, and identify IL-6 as universally important for neutrophil extravasation. Furthermore, we demonstrate a higher percentage of neutrophils generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) when combating gram-negative bacteria versus gram-positive bacteria. For all bacterial species, we found the percentage of neutrophils producing ROS increased following extravasation through an endothelium, underscoring the importance of studying neutrophil function in physiologically relevant models.

A large body of research literature suggests that quality formative assessment has the potential to promote positive outcomes for young children. This paper posits that early childhood educators learn how to use developmentally appropriate assessment practices to effectively assess young children and use these data to make decisions that matter most by having intentional opportunities to engage in a clearly-defined, research-based assessment process. The paper explores an assessment project using the Early Childhood Formative Assessment Protocol (EC-FAP). The paper details each step in the EC-FAP protocol and identifies specific opportunities for collaboration with colleagues and families. The paper concludes by arguing that by engaging in the protocol, early childhood teacher candidates learn to effectively gauge and monitor the learning and development of young children.

Foodborne Salmonella serovars are important facultative intracellular pathogens that cause gastroenteritis in humans. Four strains from three of the more predominant Salmonella serovars in poultry were studied: Typhimurium, Enteritidis, and Heidelberg. Gentamicin susceptibility was determined using an agar disc diffusion test and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) assays for S. Typhimurium ATCC 14028 and S. Heidelberg ARI-14. Both strains were susceptible to gentamicin in disc diffusion. The MIC of gentamicin was approximately 125 mg/ml for all strains tested. These strains’ adhesion and invasion abilities were determined with two different cell lines, a human intestinal epithelial cell line (Caco-2) as well as a chicken macrophage cell line (HD11). Attachment percentages for each Salmonella strain were greater than the strain’s ability to invade cells. Similar attachment percentages to Caco-2 cells were observed for S. Typhimurium and S. Heidelberg. Attachment percentages were lower in HD11 cells than in Caco-2 cells, although Salmonella exhibited higher apparent HD11 invasion, likely from HD11 phagocytosis. Salmonella Enteritidis showed lower rates of adhesion and invasion in HD11 cells compared to Salmonella Typhimurium. Developing a better understanding of Salmonella virulence mechanisms is critical to reducing Salmonella infections.

ABSTRACTVaricella Zoster Virus (VZV) infection is a common childhood exanthematous disease, which in adults and immunocompromised people may result in severe neurologic complications. Up to one-third of infected subjects may have VZV clinical reactivation particularly if immunocompromised. Patients affected by end-stage renal disease on hemodialysis present immunodepression that contributes to their higher incidence of VZV infections and reactivation. While antiviral treatment in these patients shows low efficacy, the prevention of VZV through vaccination avoids the primary infection and the risk of reactivation. Two VZV vaccines are currently available: the live attenuate Zoster Vaccine (LZV) and a Recombinant Zoster Vaccine (RZV), with the latter appearing to provide greater efficacy. Given the higher incidence of VZV infection and reactivation, the lesser response to antivirals and the lower impact of VZ vaccine in hemodialysis patients in terms of side effects, a higher diffusion of VZV vaccination should be promoted by nephrologists in these patients in particular in those with future transplant opportunities.

Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is a bioactive phospholipid that acts as an agonist of six G protein-coupled receptors named LPA receptors (LPA1-6). LPA elicits diverse intracellular events and modulates several biological functions, including cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. Overactivation of the LPA–LPA receptor system is reported to be involved in several pathologies, including cancer, neuropathic pain, fibrotic diseases, atherosclerosis, and type 2 diabetes. Thus, LPA receptor modulators may be clinically relevant in numerous diseases, making the identification and pharmacodynamic characterization of new LPA receptor ligands of strong interest. In the present work, label-free dynamic mass redistribution (DMR) assay has been used to evaluate the pharmacological activity of some LPA1 and LPA2 standard antagonists at the recombinant human LPA1 and LPA2 receptors. These results are compared to those obtained in parallel experiments with the calcium mobilization assay. Additionally, the same experimental protocol has been used for the pharmacological characterization of the new compound CHI. KI 16425, RO 6842262, and BMS-986020 behaved as LPA1 inverse agonists in DMR experiments and as LPA1 antagonists in calcium mobilization assays. Amgen compound 35 behaved as an LPA2 antagonist, while Merck compound 20 from WO2012028243 was detected as an LPA2 inverse agonist using the DMR test. Of note, for all the compounds, similar potency values were estimated by DMR and calcium assay. The new compound CHI was found to be an LPA1 inverse agonist, but with potency lower than that of the standard compounds. In conclusion, we have demonstrated that DMR assay can be successfully used to characterize LPA1 and LPA2 ligands. Compared to the classical calcium mobilization assay, DMR offers some advantages, in particular allowing the identification of inverse agonists. Finally, in the frame of this study, a new LPA1 inverse agonist has been identified.