Search

Marketing classes are often focused on the micro level, failing to account for wider societal issues. In this article, we argue for the inclusion of a wider macro-sustainability focus, one that "hacks" marketing education. With that objective in mind, we developed and delivered an introductory marketing course that integrated both the micro and the macro, thus infusing the course with macro-sustainability. This was done through an "expanded voice" perspective that included alternate complementary micro and macro class sessions while using a traditional managerial marketing textbook supplemented by macro-sustainability materials. We also integrated a controversies approach to support discussion and learning. We taught this course to 150 undergraduate students and conducted both quantitative and qualitative assessments of the course, including comparing results with an "unhacked" marketing course. Findings indicated increased awareness of macro-sustainability topics and movement on appreciation of sustainability and the role marketing can have in achieving this awareness. Finally, we offer a model of how marketing classes at all levels can be "hacked" with a macro-sustainability approach.

Summary: Synapses preferentially respond to particular temporal patterns of activity with a large degree of heterogeneity that is informally or tacitly separated into classes. Yet, the precise number and properties of such classes are unclear. Do they exist on a continuum and, if so, when is it appropriate to divide that continuum into functional regions? In a large dataset of glutamatergic cortical connections, we perform model-based characterization to infer the number and characteristics of functionally distinct subtypes of synaptic dynamics. In rodent data, we find five clusters that partially converge with transgenic-associated subtypes. Strikingly, the application of the same clustering method in human data infers a highly similar number of clusters, supportive of stable clustering. This nuanced dictionary of functional subtypes shapes the heterogeneity of cortical synaptic dynamics and provides a lens into the basic motifs of information transmission in the brain.

OBJECTIVES/GOALS: Since 2017, we have used the Design Lab methodology to support investigators taking innovative approaches to clinical effectiveness trial design. To date we have held 12 Design Labs and this year we are creating a handbook that will support dissemination of this approach across the Clinical and Translational Science Award consortium. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: The Clinical Trial Design Lab brings together a multi-stakeholder group to consider innovative and impactful clinical trial designs. An investigative team is selected from a competitive pool of applicants, after which expert-led consultations support the investigator team to think about evidence generation in the context of the full treatment development pathway. Teams map the stakeholders at each step of this pathway (e.g. clinicians, patients, researchers, funders, industry experts, policy experts, regulatory experts, payers) and consider innovative design solutions. These consultations prepare investigators for an event that involves all stakeholders in a structured and facilitated discussion about trial designs that generate the best evidence and increase potential for health impact. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: The result of our work will be a set of Design Lab principles, a handbook with templates that support stakeholder mapping and structured discussions, and educational resources to accompany the handbook. The work is supported by a literature review that characterizes the multi-component processes included in the Design Lab, situates them within the larger context of team science interventions, and lays groundwork for the development of process metrics and impact evaluation criteria to assess the Design Lab method. In this poster presentation, we will share our multi-component broadly engaged team science approach, provide a brief outline of the principles and educational resources, and include an early version of the evaluation criteria. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE: Broadly engaged team science supports innovative thinking about study design and is especially important in the development of clinical trials. We have grown the Design Lab program of work over the past seven years and are now able to characterize our team science methodology and support others to use this approach to innovate for health impact.

IntroductionBivalve molluscs are among the most prominent coastal benthic-suspension-feeders and their farming is the largest and fastest-growing sector of aquaculture. More than a century of intensive laboratory studies (but surprisingly few in-situ studies) has yielded the consensus view that bivalves mainly capture particles >4µm. Nonetheless, bivalves thrive throughout the world’s oceans that are mostly oligotrophic, characterized by low food concentration and dominated by minute autotrophic picoplankton (10 µm.DiscussionThese results suggest that the same basic anatomical tool kit, variably modulated according to taxa, habitat, or life history traits, enables the remarkable evolutionary and ecological success of bivalves in trophically-diverse habitats.

Gender discrimination, both direct and indirect, is a leading cause of statelessness worldwide. Most often, direct discrimination is reflected in patriarchal nationality laws that restrict women’s ability to acquire, retain, and pass on their nationality to their children and/or spouses. There are also many indirect forms of discrimination owing to women’s often subordinate status that can impact women’s (and their children’s) vulnerability to statelessness. Overall, women are subject to a range of elevated and compounded risks of statelessness linked to patriarchal norms and deeply rooted gender inequalities. Despite the substantial impact of gender discrimination on statelessness, this issue is an understudied topic in the literature. This article discusses how gender discrimination impacts statelessness broadly and analyses how relevant international and selected Southern African and domestic law and policy frameworks have responded to this issue. First, the article briefly discusses some of the leading causes of statelessness arising from direct and indirect gender discrimination, and some of the key consequences of statelessness for women. Second, the article provides a critical gender analysis of the international legal framework on statelessness. It discusses how relevant international human rights legal and policy frameworks offer a robust protection of women’s nationality rights and gender equality. Third, the article analyses selected regional and national law and policy developments related to gender and statelessness in Southern Africa. Overall, while the analysis indicates progress in some areas, there remain ongoing challenges in bridging the statelessness gender discrimination gap and a need for further research in this area.

Abstract To determine the proportion of inviable oocytes that are spawned along with normal oocytes in marine bivalves, we turned to a time‐honored technique not previously used on invertebrate oocytes: the neutral red vital stain. Despite the difficulty in obtaining induced spawns from field‐collected Cerastoderma edule (L), the results and insights from this simple procedure to answer a simple question were unexpected and far‐reaching. Mean proportions of inviable oocytes in the spawns of cockle C. edule ranged from 35% to 85%, with the vast majority represented by atresic (autolyzing) oocytes. These levels are in agreement with previous quantitative histological observations of prespawning atresia in both C. edule and the Manila clam Tapes philippinarum. Such elevated prefertilization inviability mirrors the known high level of postfertilization inviability in bivalves. Together, these high levels of inviability may account for much of the early mortality in the type III survivorship curves typical of marine bivalves. The combination of high fecundity and high oocyte inviability suggests a Red Queen‐type reproductive dilemma in these species. In addition, the great degree of interindividual variation observed in oocyte inviability suggests that cockles, and perhaps other intertidal bivalves, present a Sweepstakes Reproductive Strategy, in which highly variable individual fecundity confronts a highly variable environment. The neutral red technique promises to be a useful tool for investigating prespawning inviability in other marine taxa, as well as for aquaculture, conservation, restocking, ecophysiology, and environmental monitoring.

Short-term synaptic dynamics differ markedly across connections and strongly regulate how action potentials communicate information. To model the range of synaptic dynamics observed in experiments, we have developed a flexible mathematical framework based on a linear-nonlinear operation. This model can capture various experimentally observed features of synaptic dynamics and different types of heteroskedasticity. Despite its conceptual simplicity, we show that it is more adaptable than previous models. Combined with a standard maximum likelihood approach, synaptic dynamics can be accurately and efficiently characterized using naturalistic stimulation patterns. These results make explicit that synaptic processing bears algorithmic similarities with information processing in convolutional neural networks.

Abstract A new field of shorebird feeding ecology has been opened, stemming directly from natural history observations of previously overlooked morphological and behavioral features. We describe how the pieces of this puzzle were assembled to reveal a fascinating story of small shorebird migration, trophic level shift, and direct feeding upon mudflat superficial biofilm just prior to breeding. Many unexplored avenues of research have arisen, including a trampoline effect of resource timing, the potential trade‐off between trophic imperatives and toxic co‐products, and the particular utilization of this resource in small, as opposed to large, shorebirds.

Abstract Digital dermatitis (DD) presents as painful, ulcerative or proliferative lesions that lead to bovine lameness affecting economic efficiency and animal welfare. Although DD etiological agent(s) have not been established, it is widely accepted that DD is a polymicrobial disease significantly associated with species of Treponema and the non-linear disease progression may be attributed to interactions among infecting bacteria. We postulated the morphological changes associated with DD lesion grades are related to interactions among infecting species of Treponema. We developed a novel species-specific qPCR that can identify the absolute abundance of the four of the most common species of Treponema in DD, T. phagedenis, T. medium, T. pedis and T. denticola, in a single reaction. We found species abundance and the number of distinct Treponema species present is higher in active, ulcerative lesions than in healing lesions, chronic lesions, and DD-free skin. Treponema spp. were present in both DD-free skin and M3 lesions following treatment with oxytetracycline. We have also found positive correlations among T. phagedenis, T. medium and T. pedis indicating they are significantly more likely to be found together than apart and their absolute quantities tend to increase together, a relationship which is not present with T. denticola. Further, we found Treponema, particularly viable T. denticola, in lesions 5 days post treatment with oxytetracycline (M3). Our findings suggest that pathogenicity may be closely associated with Treponema abundance, particularly T. phagedenis, T. medium and T. pedis, and interactions among them, independent of T. denticola. Our results provide a novel, consistent method to identify species of Treponema within DD lesions and associate Treponema spp. and abundance with morphological changes related to host pathogenicity.

Digital dermatitis (DD) commonly associated with Treponema spp. infection is a prevalent infectious bovine foot disease characterized by ulcerative and necrotic lesions. Lesions associated with DD are often classified using the M-stage scoring system, with M0 indicating healthy heel skin and M4 indicating chronic lesions. Current treatments utilizing antimicrobials or chemical footbaths are often ineffective and rarely cure DD lesions. Understanding the function of the innate immune response in the pathogenesis of DD will help to identify novel therapeutic approaches. In this study, the expression of the local innate host defense peptides cathelicidins and β-defensins was investigated in cows with DD and associated with the presence of treponemes and inflammatory reactions. Samples from active ulcerative DD lesions (M2) had considerable epidermal neutrophilic infiltration and increased gene expression of β-defensin tracheal antimicrobial peptides compared to control skin. Samples from acute lesions also had elevated local Cxcl-8 and TLR4 gene expression and abundant treponemes as identified by direct visualization, immunohistochemistry, and culture. Conversely, the anti-inflammatory peptide IL-10 was elevated in skin from chronic (M4) lesions, whereas bovine cathelicidin myeloid antimicrobial peptide 28 (Bmap-28) was increased in skin from oxytetracycline-treated M2 lesions. Experiments using cultured human keratinocytes challenged with Treponema spp. isolated from clinical cases of bovine DD showed that structural products from treponemes are able to initiate the innate immune response, in part through TLR2 signaling. These findings indicate that neutrophil influx, Cxcl-8, and β-defensin are key markers of active DD. Cathelicidins and IL-10 seem important in response to treatment or during the chronic proliferative stages of the disease.

• Despite recommendations, booster vaccination for adults, children and adolescents remain low. • Booster vaccination for all groups differed by sociodemographic characteristics. • Further efforts are needed to address disparities in uptake of booster vaccines. • The main reason for non-booster vaccination is the belief that it's not necessary. • Being up-to-date for all eligible boosters is needed to prevent infection and disease. We assessed COVID-19 booster vaccination coverage and reasons for non-receipt using a large, nationally representative survey (June – August, 2022). Booster vaccination coverage was 71.7% among adults, 36.8% among children, and 51.6% among adolescents. Reasons for non-receipt included the belief that it was not necessary and lack of time for vaccination. All eligible individuals should receive the updated booster vaccines as soon as possible to protect against new variants of COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inhibitory control can be investigated with the countermanding task, which requires subjects to make a response to a go signal and cancel that response when a stop signal is presented occasionally. Adult humans performing the countermanding task typically exhibit impaired response time, stop signal response time and response accuracy as they get older, but little change in post-error slowing. Rodent models of the countermanding paradigm have been developed recently, yet none have directly examined age-related changes in performance throughout the lifespan. Male Wistar rats (N = 16) were trained to respond to a visual stimulus (go signal) by pressing a lever directly below an illuminated light for food reward, but to countermand the lever press subsequent to a tone (stop signal) that was presented occasionally (25% of trials) at a variable delay. Subjects were tested in 1 hour sessions at approximately 7 and 12 months of age with intermittent training in between. Rats demonstrated longer go trial response time, a higher proportion of go trial errors and performed less total trials at 12, compared to 7 months of age. Consistent stop signal response time and post-error slowing were observed for rats at both ages. These results suggest that the countermanding performance of rats does vary throughout the lifespan, in a manner similar to humans, suggesting that rodents may provide a suitable model for behavioral impairment related to normal aging. These findings also highlight the importance of indicating the age at which rodents are tested in countermanding investigations.

The World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) currently registers all Pacific cupped oysters that were formerly members of the genus Crassostrea in a new genus, Magallana. Magallana gigas is designated [...]

Cyberfeminism is a woman-centered perspective that advocates women’s use of new information and communications technologies for empowerment. This paper explores the role of information technologies, in particular the role of social media, in empowering women entrepreneurship in emerging economies via increased social capital and improved self-efficacy. A conceptual model is offered and propositions are explicated.

The Iowa Gambling Task (IGT) is widely used to assess real life decision-making impairment in a wide variety of clinical populations. Our study evaluated how IGT learning occurs across two sessions, and whether a period of intervening sleep between sessions can enhance learning. Furthermore, we investigate whether pre-sleep learning is necessary for this improvement. A 200-trial version of the IGT was administered at two sessions separated by wake, sleep or sleep and wake (time-of-day control). Participants were categorized as learners and non-learners based on initial performance in session one. In session one, participants initially preferred the high-frequency reward decks B and D, however, a subset of learners decreased choice from negative expected value 'bad' deck B and increased choices towards with a positive expected value 'good' decks (decks C and D). The learners who had a period of sleep (sleep and sleep/wake control conditions) between sessions showed significantly larger reduction in choices from deck B and increase in choices from good decks compared to learners that had intervening wake. Our results are the first to show that post-learning sleep can improve performance on a complex decision-making task such as the IGT. These results provide new insights into IGT learning and have important implications for understanding the neural mechanisms of "sleeping on" a decision.

• About 15% are unvaccinated, 17% are not fully vaccinated, and 45% are not boosted. • Vaccination coverage was lowest for younger age groups for all vaccination categories. • Booster doses were lowest among adults with lower education and income. • Frontline and family business workers were less likely to be vaccinated. • Main reasons for not being vaccinated were concerns about side effects (53.4%). We assessed COVID-19 vaccination coverage (≥1 dose, full vaccination, and booster vaccination) using a large, nationally representative survey of US households (December 29, 2021-January 10, 2022). Almost 1 in 6 adults have not been vaccinated or not been fully vaccinated, and almost one-half of fully vaccinated adults have not received a booster vaccine. All eligible individuals should receive the recommended number of vaccines to prevent further transmission of COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Primary polydipsia, excessive drinking without known medical cause, is especially associated with a diagnosis of schizophrenia. We used animal models of schizophrenia-like symptoms to examine the effects on schedule-induced polydipsia: post-weaning social isolation rearing, subchronic MK-801 treatment (an NMDA-receptor antagonist) or the two combined. Male, Sprague-Dawley rats reared in groups or in isolation beginning at postnatal day 21 were further divided to receive subchronic MK-801 (0.5 mg/kg twice daily) or saline for 7 days beginning on postnatal day 62. Following a 4-day withdrawal period, all groups were trained on a schedule-induced polydipsia paradigm. Under food-restriction, animals reared in isolation and receiving food pellets at 1-min intervals developed significantly more drinking behavior than those reared with others. The addition of subchronic MK-801 treatment did not significantly augment the amount of water consumed. These findings suggest a predisposition to polydipsia is a schizophrenia-like behavioral effect of post-weaning social isolation.