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The college promise movement is aimed toward making the attendance and completion of college affordable for eligible Americans in hundreds of local communities and states throughout the United States. Many college promise programs are designed with the intent of enabling students to start and complete college degree and/or postsecondary certificate programs without taking on unmanageable college debt. Two significant issues were examined at the June 2019 symposium "Depicting the Ecosystem of Support and Financial Sustainability for Five College Promise Populations," sponsored by Educational Testing Service (ETS) and the College Promise Campaign with the generous support of the ECMC Foundation and the Strada Education Network. First, how would college promise programs be enhanced if they were reconceived with a deeper understanding and intent to accommodate the diversity within the postsecondary student population (traditional-aged students, adults, undocumented students, veterans, and justice-involved students)? Second, how could extant and new funding models be aligned to leverage the financial support needed to develop and implement these subpopulation-targeted ecosystem designs? The symposium united the higher education community with scholars, policy makers, student representatives and other stakeholders to develop comprehensive ecosystems of support for these five subpopulations as they make their way to, through and beyond college. Additional aims were (a) to identify the cross-group connections for use and adaptation in local communities and states and (b) to explore the variety, and knitting together, of funding opportunities for program supports. [This report is a joint initiative with College Promise.]

In this article, the authors present variants to the classic problem the Prisoner's Dilemma. They discuss how senior secondary school students can use these variations to explore basic game theory concepts and develop mathematical proficiencies and practices. They also suggest how students can apply these concepts to decision-making processes in their own lives as well as to investigating larger societal issues.

Bipedal trackways discovered in 1978 at Laetoli site G, Tanzania and dated to 3.66 million years ago are widely accepted as the oldest unequivocal evidence of obligate bipedalism in the human lineage.sup.1-3. Another trackway discovered two years earlier at nearby site A was partially excavated and attributed to a hominin, but curious affinities with bears (ursids) marginalized its importance to the paleoanthropological community, and the location of these footprints fell into obscurity.sup.3-5. In 2019, we located, excavated and cleaned the site A trackway, producing a digital archive using 3D photogrammetry and laser scanning. Here we compare the footprints at this site with those of American black bears, chimpanzees and humans, and we show that they resemble those of hominins more than ursids. In fact, the narrow step width corroborates the original interpretation of a small, cross-stepping bipedal hominin. However, the inferred foot proportions, gait parameters and 3D morphologies of footprints at site A are readily distinguished from those at site G, indicating that a minimum of two hominin taxa with different feet and gaits coexisted at Laetoli. Reanalysis of bipedal trackways from Laetoli site A in Tanzania suggest that the footprints were made by a hominin that coexisted with at least one other hominin species., Author(s): Ellison J. McNutt [sup.1] [sup.2] , Kevin G. Hatala [sup.3] , Catherine Miller [sup.4] [sup.5] , James Adams [sup.6] [sup.7] , Jesse Casana [sup.4] [sup.5] , Andrew S. Deane [...]

Purpose: This study compared performance on the Syllable Repetition Task (SRT) by preschoolers with diverse speech and language abilities to identify underlying impairments in speech processes. Method: Three groups of 13 children ages 4 and 5 years with (a) typically developing (TD) speech and language, (b) speech sound disorder (SSD), and (c) comorbid developmental language disorder and speech sound disorder (DLD + SSD) completed the SRT. We calculated competence, memory, encoding, and transcoding scores, as well as word-initial stress pattern and vowel accuracy. Results: A 3 × 3 (Group × Syllable length) factorial multivariate analysis of covariance revealed group differences for all measures and syllable length differences for memory, transcoding, and competence. There were no interactions between group and syllable length. TD children obtained the highest scores on each measure, though children with DLD + SSD performed similarly to TD children on encoding when vocabulary was included as a covariate. Children with SSD only outperformed children with DLD + SSD on competence and transcoding, and these two groups performed similarly on memory. A separate exploratory analysis using a 3 × 3 multivariate analysis of covariance revealed that children with DLD + SSD were more likely than children in the other groups to produce weak word-initial stress and vowel errors during syllable repetition. Conclusion: Children with SSD and DLD + SSD exhibit underlying phonological deficits on the SRT compared to TD children. Results support the claim that memory and encoding are deficits in SSD. In addition, transcoding deficits were identified among children with no known oromotor impairment. Therefore, more research is required to identify the relationship between SRT performance and explicit measures of phonological processing.

The collection, cryopreservation, thawing, and culture of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) can profoundly influence T cell viability and immunogenicity. Gold-standard PBMC processing protocols have been developed by the Office of HIV/AIDS Network Coordination (HANC); however, these protocols are not universally observed. Herein, we have explored the current literature assessing how technical variation during PBMC processing can influence cellular viability and T cell immunogenicity, noting inconsistent findings between many of these studies. Amid the mounting concerns over scientific replicability, there is growing acknowledgement that improved methodological rigour and transparent reporting is required to facilitate independent reproducibility. This review highlights that in human T cell studies, this entails adopting stringent standardised operating procedures (SOPs) for PBMC processing. We specifically propose the use of HANC's Cross-Network PBMC Processing SOP, when collecting and cryopreserving PBMCs, and the HANC member network International Maternal Pediatric Adolescent AIDS Clinical Trials (IMPAACT) PBMC Thawing SOP when thawing PBMCs. These stringent and detailed protocols include comprehensive reporting procedures to document unavoidable technical variations, such as delayed processing times. Additionally, we make further standardisation and reporting recommendations to minimise and document variability during this critical experimental period. This review provides a detailed overview of the challenges inherent to a procedure often considered routine, highlighting the importance of carefully considering each aspect of SOPs for PBMC collection, cryopreservation, thawing, and culture to ensure accurate interpretation and comparison between studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Specialized cancer treatments have the potential to exploit glutamine dependence to increase patient survival rates. Glutamine diagnostics capable of tracking a patient's response to treatment would enable a personalized treatment dosage to optimize the tradeoff between treatment success and dangerous side effects. Current clinical glutamine testing requires sophisticated and expensive lab-based tests, which are not broadly available on a frequent, individualized basis. To address the need for a low-cost, portable glutamine diagnostic, this work engineers a cell-free glutamine biosensor to overcome assay background and signal-to-noise limitations evident in previously reported studies. The findings from this work culminate in the development of a shelf-stable, paper-based, colorimetric glutamine test with a high signal strength and a high signal-to-background ratio for dramatically improved signal resolution. While the engineered glutamine test is important progress towards improving the management of cancer and other health conditions, this work also expands the assay development field of the promising cell-free biosensing platform, which can facilitate the low-cost detection of a broad variety of target molecules with high clinical value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study compared performance on the Syllable Repetition Task (SRT) by preschoolers with diverse speech and language abilities to identify underlying impairments in speech processes. Method: Three groups of 13 children ages 4 and 5 years with (a) typically developing (TD) speech and language, (b) speech sound disorder (SSD), and (c) comorbid developmental language disorder and speech sound disorder (DLD + SSD) completed the SRT. We calculated competence, memory, encoding, and transcoding scores, as well as word-initial stress pattern and vowel accuracy. Results: A 3 * 3 (Group x Syllable length) factorial multivariate analysis of covariance revealed group differences for all measures and syllable length differences for memory, transcoding, and competence. There were no interactions between group and syllable length. TD children obtained the highest scores on each measure, though children with DLD + SSD performed similarly to TD children on encoding when vocabulary was included as a covariate. Children with SSD only outperformed children with DLD + SSD on competence and transcoding, and these two groups performed similarly on memory. A separate exploratory analysis using a 3 * 3 multivariate analysis of covariance revealed that children with DLD + SSD were more likely than children in the other groups to produce weak word-initial stress and vowel errors during syllable repetition. Conclusion: Children with SSD and DLD + SSD exhibit underlying phonological deficits on the SRT compared to TD children. Results support the claim that memory and encoding are deficits in SSD. In addition, transcoding deficits were identified among children with no known oromotor impairment. Therefore, more research is required to identify the relationship between SRT performance and explicit measures of phonological processing., Successful imitation of novel words relies on multiple skills, including speech perception, encoding or segmenting the speech sounds in the novel word, storing the representation in memory, accessing that representation, [...]

Objective: This study aims to assess whether the rate of readmissions after ureterorenoscopy (URS) is dependent on results of urine microscopy, culture and sensitivity (MC&S) or nitrite dipstick test performed before the procedure. Patients and Methods: All patients attending for ureteroscopy for stone disease over 12 months were included and had urine dipstick performed immediately prior to the surgery with mid-stream urine (MSU) sample sent for culture. Asymptomatic bacteriuria (ABU) was not treated before ureteroscopy. All included patients received standard antibiotic prophylaxis. Readmissions within 30 days of the procedure were evaluated. Results: A total 120 ureteroscopies were included, of which 20% had ABU. Eight patients (6.67%) were readmitted due to all procedure-related complications; among them, five (4.17%) were readmitted with urinary tract infection (UTI). Readmission rates with UTIs were similar for patients with sterile urine and those who had untreated ABU. Of those patients who were readmitted with UTI, all had a negative nitrite result on preoperative urine dipstick specimens. Most patients (54.17%) who had ABU also had a negative urinary nitrite test. Conclusions: Screening and routine treatment of ABU before ureteroscopy for urolithiasis may be unnecessary provided patients have standard antibiotic prophylaxis. Moreover, urine nitrite testing before ureteroscopy may not be a useful screening test for ABU before ureteroscopy. Level of evidence: 2 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 1938, the first distal femur of a fossil Australopithecus was discovered at Sterkfontein, South Africa. A decade later, another distal femur was discovered at the same locality. These two fossil femora were the subject of a foundational paper authored by Kingsbury Heiple and Owen Lovejoy in 1971. In this paper, the authors discussed functionally relevant anatomies of these two fossil femora and noted their strong affinity to the modern human condition. Here, we update this work by including eight more fossil Australopithecus distal femora, an expanded comparative dataset, as well as additional linear measurements. Just as Heiple and Lovejoy reported a half‐century ago, we find strong overlap between modern humans and cercopithecoids, except for inferiorly flattened condyles and a high bicondylar angle, both of which characterize modern humans and Australopithecus and are directly related to striding bipedalism. All other measured aspects of the femora are by‐products of these key morphological traits. Additional fossil material from the early Pliocene will help to inform the evolution of the hominin distal femur and its condition in the Pan‐Homo common ancestor that preceded bipedal locomotion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Loperamide, an oral over-the-counter μ-opioid receptor agonist used to treat diarrhea, acts primarily in the gut and, when used as recommended, has little to no systemic effect. At high doses, it may cause a "high" like other opioids. Recent literature describes an increasing incidence of loperamide misuse and overdose in the setting of the US opioid epidemic. In this case, we describe a 16-year-old with anorexia nervosa who developed dizziness, syncope, and constipation at the time of weight loss. These symptoms were originally attributed to malnutrition; however, after weight restoration, her symptoms worsened. She did not respond to initial management of suspected postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS). She then developed acute urinary retention requiring hospitalization. Her symptoms were ultimately found to be caused by chronic surreptitious high-dose loperamide use. Her symptoms rapidly improved after cessation. This case illustrates the non-specific symptoms associated with loperamide misuse and the potential overlap with other common adolescent conditions. Adolescent medicine clinicians must be aware of the signs and symptoms of loperamide misuse as well as familiar with recommendations for both the management of acute complications and the treatment of the substance misuse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since 1950, the Prisoner's Dilemma has intrigued economists and amused fans of mathematics. It presents a situation in which two players acting to their own advantage do not do as well together as two players whose actions oppose their individual interests--hence, the dilemma. Variations of the Prisoner's Dilemma have appeared in diverse circumstances, from television police dramas to analysis of political negotiations. Along with the scenarios presented here, we consider settings from the movie "The Dark Knight" (2008), students' take-home exams, and the Tragedy of the Commons in additional examples in an online supplement.

This multi-case study sought to construct meaning using a cultural capital lens in relation to educational leadership preparation programs building the capacities of social justice leaders in demographically changing schools. Data revealed principals' perceptions about preparation, expectations and general beliefs and assumptions related to leadership for social justice emphasizing contradictions between principals' equity-oriented rhetoric and their underlying beliefs and assumptions affecting their diverse school populations. The implications for research and practice include opportunities that principals and principal preparation programs have to implement to keep leadership for social justice at the forefront of the charge to equitably educate all children.

This article describes a project in which students investigate the question: What dihedral angles between pairs of mirrors in a kaleidoscope result in perfectly symmetric images? The unit culminates with students building their own kaleidoscopes. This content aligns with parts of the Common Core's standards for fifth grade (classify two-dimensional figures), sixth grade (solve real-world measurement problems that arise in building the kaleidoscopes), seventh grade (construct triangles with mirrors), and eighth grade (describe rotations and reflections) (CCSSI 2010). Solutions and activity sheets for Mathematical Explorations are online at http://www.nctm.org/mtms.

The poor quality of life associated with the loss of teeth can be improved by the placing of dental implants. However, successful implantation relies on integration with soft tissues or peri-implant inflammatory disease that can lead to the loss of the implant. Pharmacological agents, such as antibiotics and antiseptics, can be used as adjunct therapies to facilitate osseointegration; however, they can have a detrimental effect on cells, and resistance is an issue. Alternative treatments are needed. Hence, this study aimed to examine the safety profile of bergenin (at 2.5 μM and 5 μM), a traditional medicine, towards human gingival fibroblasts cultured on acid-etched zirconia implant surfaces. Cellular responses were analysed using SEM, resazurin assay, and scratch wound healing assay. Qualitative assessment was conducted for morphology (day 1) and attachment (early and delayed), and quantitative evaluation for proliferation (day 1, 3, 5 and 7), and migration (0 h, 6 h and 24 h). The concentrations of bergenin at 2.5 μM and 5 μM did not demonstrate a statistically significant effect with regard to any of the cellular responses (p > 0.05) tested. In conclusion, bergenin is non-cytotoxic and is potentially safe to be used as a local pharmacological agent for the management of peri-implant inflammatory diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study investigated the effects of bisphosphonates, namely, alendronate and zoledronate, on the osteogenic activity of osteoprogenitor cells cultured on titanium surfaces at therapeutic doses in order to assess if altered osteoblastogenesis could compromise osseointegration and contribute to etiopathogenesis of painful disorders such as bisphosphonates-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (BRONJ) following implant placement. Materials and Methods: MC3T3-E1 Subclone 4 cells were utilized in this study. Therapeutic doses of alendronate and zoledronate were calculated based on reported peak plasma concentrations. The viability, proliferation, adhesion, and mineralization potential of cells was assessed using a LIVE/DEAD stain, alamarBlue assay, immunofluorescence microscopy, and Alizarin Red S staining, respectively. Results: Therapeutic doses of zoledronate negatively affected cell viability, whereas therapeutic doses of alendronate significantly enhanced cell differentiation and the amount of bone formation compared with the control. Conclusion: The findings of this study may provide some insight into the pathogenesis of BRONJ development following implant placement in patients treated with zoledronate and may have promising implications toward improved wound healing and osseointegration in patients treated with alendronate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mpox is a new public health outbreak that particularly threatens the homeless population. Street Medicine Phoenix (SMP) is a student-led interprofessional volunteer organization that provides medical care and other essential services to individuals experiencing homelessness in Phoenix, Arizona. In addition to core services such as wound care; health screenings (blood pressure and blood glucose.); vision screenings; HIV testing; naloxone education and distribution; flu, COVID-19, and Hepatitis A vaccinations; and community resource referrals, SMP began offering mpox education and vaccination at outreach events. During an outreach event shortly after the onset of the mpox outbreak, SMP identified 2 suspected mpox cases. Accordingly, SMP has partnered with the Maricopa County Public Health Department to set up mobile mpox vaccination clinics on the streets outside of Phoenix Arizona's largest homeless shelter. We share the details of these 2 cases along with our early efforts vaccinating individuals experiencing homelessness for mpox via our mobile vaccination clinic. Our experiences demonstrate the importance of community agencies providing direct outreach to underserved populations where they are at, particularly the homeless population, to address public health concerns such as emerging disease outbreaks like mpox. In addition, these cases highlight the potential significant impact that street medicine programs can have on their respective homeless communities in the context of infectious disease mitigation and emphasize the importance of partnerships with local health departments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From 1997 until his retirement in 2011, Michel Hersen served as the dean of the School of Professional Psychology (SPP) at Pacific University in Oregon. Through teaching, supervision, and modeling, Michel promoted his vision of a professional school that could compete on the national stage. He grew the program from a regional focus to one with a strong national presence through careful faculty hires and by anticipating national trends in diversity issues and interprofessional education. His decisions as an administrator were sometimes counterintuitive and challenged the status quo, but they often were correct and advanced the program. His footprint as an administrator was quite large and will be difficult to fill. The SPP benefited greatly from his leadership, and it will continue to grow by following the plans he set in place for us.

Starting with the classic Open Box problem, we present extensions of this problem that can be used in high school mathematics classes. We also challenge high school teachers to use this process of problem analysis in their own practice as a way to enrich the content of their lessons and as a means of individualized professional development.

This article presents several activities (some involving graphing calculators) designed to guide students to discover several interesting properties of Fibonacci numbers. Then, we explore interesting connections between Fibonacci numbers and matrices; using this connection and induction we prove divisibility properties of Fibonacci numbers.