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Purpose: While studies of collective leadership tend to focus on administrators and teachers, schools have other staff present that contribute to leadership in ways that affect the students. We focus on school resource officers (SROs), which have become increasingly common in suburban, predominately White schools and elementary schools because, absent law enforcement responsibilities, little is known about SROs in these settings. We examine perceptions of SRO impacts while exploring differences across roles and between White and non-White participants. Methods: The study is mixed methods, drawing on interviews, focus groups, and surveys of SROs, administrators, teachers, students, and parents. The setting is a suburban county with SROs in all elementary schools. Findings: We describe seven domains of SRO impacts ranging from school climate to learning environments. SROs are often seen as providing general assistance similar to a vice principal, with some describing SROs as an auxiliary “third administrator.” In addition, SROs tend to over-estimate their positive effects compared to school-based stakeholders and underestimate their role in student discipline compared to non-White stakeholders. Implications for Research and Practice: Understanding that SROs in elementary schools can be seen as part of schools’ collective leadership helps us to understand the influence they have on students and the school environment. We question the appropriateness of SROs inclusion in collective leadership, suggesting school leaders not rely on SROs for non-law enforcement duties, if at all. The results have implications for future collective leadership studies and understanding why efforts to remove police from schools have often stalled.

Excluding students from school remains a common form of punishment despite growing critique of the practice. A disparate research base has impeded the ability to make broader assessments on the association between exclusionary discipline (i.e., suspensions and expulsions) and subsequent behavior. This article synthesizes existing empirical evidence (274 effect sizes from 40 primary studies) examining the relationship between exclusionary discipline and delinquent outcomes, including school misconduct/infractions, antisocial behavior, involvement with the justice system, and risky behaviors. This meta-analysis identifies exclusionary discipline as an important and meaningful predictor of increased delinquency. Additional examinations of potential moderators, including race/ethnicity and type of exclusion, revealed no significant differences, suggesting the harm associated with exclusions is consistent across subgroups. These findings indicate exclusionary discipline may inadvertently exacerbate rather than mollify delinquent behaviors.

Although prior research has linked school-based punishment to a series of negative consequences, little is known about how being punished in school predicts future school-based punishment. To address this, the current study examines the extent to which being suspended in 9th grade predicts subsequent suspensions within the same school. Using stereotype congruence theory as a framework, we examine differences by race (black versus white) and household income. The data are drawn from three cohorts of four-wave annual administrative data from a large urban school district in the Midwestern USA (N = 11,006). Findings indicate that being suspended in 9th grade is associated with higher odds of subsequent suspension and a greater number of subsequent suspensions, but not a greater number of days per suspension. Black students suspended in 9th grade were particularly likely to experience more subsequent suspensions. Further, these racial differences are not driven by household income measures. These findings indicate that racially disparate school punishment practices have cascading effects for black students.

Summary Search for resource-efficient materials in vast compositional spaces is an outstanding challenge in creating environmentally stable perovskite semiconductors. We demonstrate a physics-constrained sequential learning framework to subsequently identify the most stable alloyed organic-inorganic perovskites. We fuse data from high-throughput degradation tests and first-principle calculations of phase thermodynamics into an end-to-end Bayesian optimization algorithm using probabilistic constraints. By sampling just 1.8% of the discretized CsxMAyFA1−x−yPbI3 (MA, methylammonium; FA, formamidinium) compositional space, perovskites centered at Cs0.17MA0.03FA0.80PbI3 show minimal optical change under increased temperature, moisture, and illumination with >17-fold stability improvement over MAPbI3. The thin films have 3-fold improved stability compared with state-of-the-art multi-halide Cs0.05(MA0.17FA0.83)0.95Pb(I0.83Br0.17)3, translating into enhanced solar cell stability without compromising conversion efficiency. Synchrotron-based X-ray scattering validates the suppression of chemical decomposition and minority phase formation achieved using fewer elements and a maximum of 8% MA. We anticipate that this data fusion approach can be extended to guide materials discovery for a wide range of multinary systems.

Clinicians frequently prescribe functional communication training (FCT) as a treatment for severe destructive behavior. Recent research has shown that FCT treatments are susceptible to treatment relapse in the form of resurgence of destructive behavior when individuals contact periods in which reinforcers are unavailable. Results of preliminary studies suggest that teaching multiple response alternatives can mitigate the resurgence of target behavior. The current evaluation serves as a preliminary study in which we used a laboratory arrangement to evaluate the effects of a novel approach to training multiple alternative responses on the resurgence of target behavior. Findings showed that multiple-response training did not decrease resurgence of target responding consistently; however, it increased the total amount of target and alternative responding observed during the resurgence phase and decreased the overall probability of the target response.

The proofs of the groundbreaking theorems of [Chiang, Hirsch, and Wu. Stability Regions of Nonlinear Autonomous Dynamical Systems, IEEE Transactions on Automatic Control, 1988] rely on a lemma which states that if the stable manifold of a first hyperbolic closed orbit intersects transversely the unstable manifold of a second (possibly the same) hyperbolic closed orbit, then the dimension of the unstable manifold of the first is strictly less than the dimension of the unstable manifold of the second. However, we provide an example meeting the conditions of the lemma where the dimensions of the unstable manifolds are equal, thereby disproving the lemma. In particular, we present a hyperbolic closed orbit of a smooth vector field over three-dimensional Euclidean space whose stable and unstable manifolds have nonempty, transverse intersection.

Previous studies have shown that Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma, Coactivator 1 Beta (PGC-1β) and Estrogen-Related Receptor Alpha (ERRα) are over-expressed in colorectal cancer and promote tumor survival. In this study, we show that amino acid motif LRELL on PGC-1β is responsible for the physical interaction with ERRα and promotes ERRα mRNA and protein expression. We used RNAsequencing to determine the genes regulated by both PGC-1β & ERRα and found that mitochondrial Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxykinase 2 (PCK2) was the gene that decreased most significantly after depletion of both genes. Depletion of PCK2 in colorectal cancer cells was sufficient to reduce anchorage-independent growth and inhibit glutamine utilization by the TCA cycle. Lastly, shRNA-mediated depletion of ERRα decreased anchorage-independent growth and glutamine metabolism, which could not be rescued by plasmid derived expression of PCK2. These findings suggest that transcriptional control of PCK2 is one mechanism used by PGC-1β and ERRα to promote glutamine metabolism and colorectal cancer cell survival.

Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: None. Background During left atrial ablation for the treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF), effective esophageal protection is essential for reducing or preventing thermal injury. Traditional methods include luminal esophageal temperature (LET) monitoring that lead to frequent pauses in the procedure when temperature alarms alert operators to dangerous temperature levels. While there have been recent studies that demonstrate an association between active esophageal cooling and a reduction in procedure duration regardless of AF type, these retrospective studies have been conducted at single or joint centers which may lead to confounding from other time-saving variables that have changed over time. Purpose Consequently, we sought to perform a large-scale multicenter comparison to better elucidate the association between procedure length and the use of active cooling in patients with persistent and paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. Methods In this study, we collected data from three large hospital centers, one hospital-maintained registry, one physician-maintained registry, and one through EHR data review and aggregated in groups separated by AF type as well as whether the patients received active cooling or LET monitoring. We then compared median procedure durations in each group. Results There were a total of 753 patients included in this study. Of the 360 patients with paroxysmal AF, 179 received active esophageal cooling while 181 underwent LET monitoring. In the persistent AF group with 393 patients, 157 received active esophageal cooling and 236 underwent LET monitoring. Among patients with paroxysmal AF, the median mean procedure duration was 137 minutes in the LET monitored group, and 90 minutes in the actively cooled group with an overall reduction of 47 minutes (P Conclusion In this large multicenter review, there is a significant reduction in procedure length when using active esophageal cooling, regardless of AF type.

Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: None. Background As the burden of atrial fibrillation continues to rise with an aging population, there have been contrasting positions on the efficacy of left atrial ablation. While ablation techniques have continued to improve over the past decades, arrhythmia recurrence rates must be further reduced given the burden of ablation on patients. Since continuity of lesion sets has been associated with greater lesion durability, it has been theorized that the use of active esophageal cooling may facilitate greater freedom from arrhythmia. Purpose In order to investigate the association between use of active esophageal cooling and arrhythmia recurrence, we performed a multicenter retrospective study of arrhythmia recurrence rates in patients that received active cooling and compared them to those that received luminal esophageal temperature (LET) monitoring. Methods In this study, follow up data were collected from patients that underwent pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) at three separate large medical centers. Data were contained in a prospective hospital registry, a prospective physician registry, or the electronic health record, depending on the center. For each patient included, we recorded whether their ablation utilized LET monitoring or active esophageal cooling, along with their rhythm status at 1-year follow up. Rhythm status at follow-up was determined by either electrocardiogram, Holter monitor, or wearable heart rate monitor. Kaplan-Meier (KM) curves were created for freedom-from-arrhythmia at one year comparing those in the LET monitoring group to those in the active cooling group. Results Follow up data were collected from 1035 patients. There were 560 patients that received LET monitoring during their original ablation, and 475 patients that underwent active esophageal cooling. KM estimates for freedom-from-arrhythmia at one year were 42% in the LET monitored group and 65% in the actively cooled group (P Conclusion In this large multicenter study, there is a significant increase in freedom-from-arrhythmia at one year follow-up among patients that received active esophageal cooling as compared to those that underwent LET monitoring.

In human colorectal cancer (CRC) cells the Raf/MEK/ERK scaffold Kinase Suppressor of Ras 1 (KSR1)-dependent signaling is required for the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-like phenotype. Here we show that KSR1 promotes the association of differentially spliced mRNA bearing recognition sites for the Serine/Arginine-Rich (SR) splicing factor SRSF9. CRISPR/Cas9 disruption of KSR1 destabilizes SRSF9 protein, which interacts preferentially with mRNA encoding Epithelial Stromal Interaction 1 (EPSTI1). EPSTI1 protein mediates Ras and KSR1-dependent induction of EMT. Analysis of EPSTI1 splice variants reveals that inclusion of exon 8 is critical to the ability of EPSTI1 to promote the E-to N-cadherin switch and CRC cell motile and invasive behavior. These data reveal a mechanism in CRC cells in which Ras-induced and KSR1-dependent signaling affects pre-mRNA splicing to control behaviors critical to cancer cell dissemination and metastasis.

Although much has been written on the importance of translational research for bridging the continuum of basic science to clinical practice, few authors have described how such work can be carried out practically when working with patient populations in the context of ongoing clinical service delivery, where the priorities for patient care can sometimes conflict with the methods and goals of translational research. In this article, we explore some of the considerations for conducting this type of work while balancing clinical responsibilities that ensure high-quality patient care. We also discuss strategies we have found to jointly facilitate translational research and improve routine, clinical service delivery. A primary goal of this article is to encourage others working in applied settings to contribute to the increasingly important role that translational research plays in our science and practice by helping to better characterize and potentially lessen or remove barriers that may have impeded such investigations in the past.

Adopting school resource officers (SROs) is a popular response to school shootings. Using the advocacy coalition and multiple streams frameworks, we explore how school districts in one county formed a coalition with the Sheriff’s Department, adopting SROs in elementary schools following the Sandy Hook shooting. We describe how this coalition was bound together by shared beliefs on school safety and the goodness of law enforcement. The implementation activities of SROs related to the beliefs of the coalition, focusing on security and relationship building. The beliefs were not uniformly understood by SROs—many interpreted their role to include student discipline and managing behavior of students with disabilities. The findings show the utility of comparing policy adoption processes with implementation activities.

School resource officers (SROs) are common in schools, yet consequences of their presence are poorly understood. This study leveraged mixed-methods data from student surveys and group interviews across 25 schools to examine how the frequency of interactions and trust/comfort between students and SROs relate to disciplinary outcomes and feelings of safety. We found no evidence that, in this context, more frequent interactions or differing trust/comfort with SROs increased disciplinary consequences, perhaps because, as students report, SROs tended to not engage in formal discipline. We found that, although SROs were seen as increasing safety, interactions with SROs may have heightened students’ sense of danger, potentially mitigating any benefit to students’ overall feelings of safety. Implications for use of SROs are discussed.

Background While effective treatments for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) exist, many individuals, including military personnel and veterans fail to respond to them. Equine‐assisted therapy (EAT), a novel PTSD treatment, may complement existing PTSD interventions. This study employs longitudinal neuro‐imaging, including structural magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI), resting state‐fMRI (rs‐fMRI), and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), to determine mechanisms and predictors of EAT outcomes for PTSD. Method Nineteen veterans with PTSD completed eight weekly group sessions of EAT undergoing multimodal MRI assessments before and after treatment. Clinical assessments were conducted at baseline, post‐treatment and at 3‐month follow‐up. Results At post‐treatment patients showed a significant increase in caudate functional connectivity (FC) and reduction in the gray matter density of the thalamus and the caudate. The increase of caudate FC was positively associated with clinical improvement seen immediately at post‐treatment and at 3‐month follow‐up. In addition, higher baseline caudate FC was associated with greater PTSD symptom reduction post‐treatment. Conclusions This exploratory study is the first to demonstrate that EAT can affect functional and structural changes in the brains of patients with PTSD. The findings suggest that EAT may target reward circuitry responsiveness and produce a caudate pruning effect from pre‐ to post‐treatment., This study employs longitudinal neuro‐imaging, including structural magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI), resting state‐fMRI (rs‐fMRI), and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), to determine mechanisms and predictors of EAT outcomes for PTSD.

School resource officer (SRO) behavior varies across schools, but little is known about what shapes their behavior. Social ecological theories state that features of communities shapes individual behavior, including police officers. This may similarly apply to SROs. This study uses the 2015 to 2016 School Survey on Crime and Safety to test the extent to which three aspects of a school’s context related to behavior management (i.e., security measures, disciplinary environment, and restorative practices) shape SROs’ involvement in three roles: law enforcement, teacher, and mentor. Using a generalized structural equation model to examine the relationships between school context and SRO roles, consistent with ecological theories, we find that school context shapes SRO roles. Implications and future research are further discussed.

School safety is a priority for school administrators and policy makers as they seek strategies to provide an environment conducive to learning. Beyond preventing crime, schools must contend with s...