Search

Jianzhong Hu,1 Martin Chandler,1 Christopher Matthew Manuel,1 Jorge Caicedo,2 Michael Denne,2 Bruce Ewenstein,2 Ali G Mokdad,2 Shan Xing,3 Michael Recht1,4,5 1American Thrombosis and Hemostasis Network, Rochester, NY, USA; 2Rare Diseases and Hematology, Takeda Pharmaceuticals, U.S.A., Inc, Lexington, MA, USA; 3US Value and Evidence Generation, Takeda Pharmaceuticals, U.S.A., Inc, Lexington, MA, USA; 4Yale Center for Bleeding and Clotting Disorders, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA; 5National Bleeding Disorders Foundation, New York, NY, USACorrespondence: Michael Recht, National Bleeding Disorders Foundation, 7 Penn Plaza, New York, NY, 10001, USA, Tel +1 800-360-2846, Email mrecht@hemophilia.orgIntroduction: Intracranial hemorrhage (ICH), a serious complication in persons with hemophilia A (PWHA), causes high rates of mortality and morbidity. Identified ICH risk factors from patient data spanning 1998– 2008 require reassessment in light of changes in the current treatment landscape.Aim and methods: PWHA identified in the ATHNdataset were evaluated retrospectively to assess incidence of ICH and determine the association between ICH risk and key characteristics using time-to-event analyses (Cox proportional-hazards models, survival curves, and sensitivity analyses).Results: Over a median follow-up time of 10.7 patient-years, 135 of 7837 PWHA over 2 years of age in the ATHNdataset (1.7%) experienced an ICH. Stratification by prophylaxis status and inhibitor status resulted in an incidence rate (IR) ratio (IRR) (IR+/IR−) of 0.63 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.43– 0.94; P=0.020) and 1.76 (95% CI, 0.97– 3.20; P=0.059), respectively. Characteristics associated with greater risk of developing ICH include being aged 2– 12 years; being covered by Medicaid; having had HIV, hepatitis C, or hypertension; and never having received factor VIII or prophylactic treatment. In multivariable analysis with interaction, the estimated hazard ratio for PWHA never receiving prophylaxis was 7.67 (95% CI, 2.24– 26.30), which shrunk to 2.03 (95% CI, 1.30– 9.12) in bootstrapping analysis and 3.09 in the highest-penalty ridge-regression analysis but was still significant. Inhibitor status was found not to be statistically associated with ICH in all analyses.Conclusion: These results align with previous studies demonstrating that prophylaxis confers a protective effect against ICH. Previously, inhibitor positivity had been shown to increase risk for ICH; however, this study did not corroborate those findings.Keywords: bleeding, factor VIII, health insurance, hematologic disease, prophylaxis, risk factors

Research on mathematics interventions for college students with learning disabilities (LD) is sparse, yet mathematics is critical for post-secondary success. Prior research indicates that many effective strategies for teaching mathematics to secondary students with LD (e.g., manipulatives and cognitive strategies) can also improve the mathematics performance of college students with LD. In this article, we summarize mathematics intervention research conducted with college students with LD, and report the findings of a pilot single-case design intervention implemented with one college student with LD, Ada. Results indicate that Ada made improvements in solving rate of change word problems following participation in a six-week intervention that incorporated an integrated Concrete-Representational-Abstract framework and a problem-solving heuristic (POD[checkmark]). Effect sizes were largest for the specific outcome of calculating the correct answer. These results provide initial directions for future research and practice to improve the mathematics performance of college students with LD.

Students with specific learning disability (SLD) are at a greater risk for reading difficulties, academic stress, and deficits in self-efficacy. There are several research-supported interventions used in schools that are effective in increasing reading skills (e.g., reading fluency) but do not explicitly address academic stress or deficient self-efficacy. A possible solution may be the addition of mindfulness techniques, as they have been shown to support a wide range of related student outcomes. Incorporating mindfulness through an app-based delivery approach may be beneficial in this scenario as they are low cost, easily accessible, and a simple tool to help meet the unique social-emotional and academic needs of students with SLD. The current study examined the extent to which adding a brief, app-based mindfulness intervention to an already established evidence-based reading fluency intervention (paired reading) would improve reading fluency, academic stress, and self-efficacy for a student with an SLD in reading.

Hybrid cultivars are valuable in many crop species due to their high yield, uniformity, and other desirable traits. Doubled haploids, which have two identical sets of chromosomes, are valuable for hybrid breeding because they can be produced in one generation, in comparison to the multigenerational process typically used to produce inbred parents for hybrid production. One method to produce haploid plants is manipulation of centromeric histone H3 (CENH3). This method of producing haploids has so far been successful in Arabidopsis, maize (Zea mays), and wheat (Triticum aestivum). Here we describe modification of CENH3 in carrot (Daucus carota) to test for the ability of these modifications to induce uniparental genome elimination, which is the basis for haploid induction. Base editing was used to make cenh3 mutant plants with amino acid substitutions in the region of CENH3 encoding the histone fold domain. These cenh3 mutant plants were then outcrossed with CENH3 wild-type plants. Using PCR-based genotyping assays, we identified two candidates for genome elimination. One candidate was classified as a putative aneuploid plant in which chromosome 7 is in a single copy state. The other candidate was characterized as a putative tetraploid that was likely haploid during its genesis. Our results suggest that this putative tetraploid inherited all of its chromosomes from the CENH3 wild-type parent and that the genome of the cenh3 mutant plant was lost. This study provides evidence that modification of CENH3 in carrot has the potential to induce genome elimination and ploidy changes in carrot.

In this study, the ion composition of flux transfer events (FTEs) observed within the magnetosheath proper is examined. These FTEs were observed just upstream of the Earth's postnoon magnetopause by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) spacecraft constellation. The minor ion characteristics are described using energy spectrograms, flux distributions, and ion moments as the constellation encountered each FTE. In conjunction with electron data and magnetic field observations, such observations provide important contextual information on the formation, topologies, and evolution of FTEs. In particular, minor ions, when combined with the field-aligned streaming of electrons, are reliable indicators of FTE topology. The observations are also placed (i) in context of the solar wind magnetic field configuration, (ii) the connection of the sampled flux tube to the ionosphere, and (iii) the location relative to the modeled reconnection line at the magnetopause. While protons and alpha particles were often depleted within the FTEs relative to the surrounding magnetosheath plasma, the He+ and O+ populations showed clear enhancements either near the center or near the edges of the FTE, and the bulk plasma flow directions are consistent with magnetic reconnection northward of the spacecraft and convection from the dayside toward the flank magnetopause.

Acute stress impairs working memory (i.e., the ability to update and keep information in mind). Although that effect is well established, the boundaries around it are not. In particular, little is known about how recalling an unresolved stressor might influence working memory, or about how stress-or recalling a stressful event-influences the processes underlying working memory task performance (e.g., sustained/controlled attention vs. capacity). We addressed these issues in the present study (N = 171) by randomly assigning participants to write about an unresolved, extremely stressful experience (stressful writing condition; n = 85) or the events of the prior day (control condition; n = 86), and, subsequently, both measured change detection task performance and used computational cognitive modeling to estimate the processes underlying it-namely, attention, capacity, and bias. We found that, relative to the control task, writing about a stressful experience neither impaired performance on the change detection task nor altered any of the processes underlying performance on that task. These results show that the effects of writing about an unresolved, stressful episode do not parallel effects of acute stress on working memory, indicating that experiencing a stressor may have very different cognitive effects than recalling it at a later time. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

To meet collective obligations towards biodiversity conservation and monitoring, it is essential that the world's governments and non-governmental organisations as well as the research community tap all possible sources of data and information, including new, fast-growing sources such as citizen science (CS), in which volunteers participate in some or all aspects of environmental assessments. Through compilation of a database on CS and community-based monitoring (CBM, a subset of CS) programs, we assess where contributions from CS and CBM are significant and where opportunities for growth exist. We use the Essential Biodiversity Variable framework to describe the range of biodiversity data needed to track progress towards global biodiversity targets, and we assess strengths and gaps in geographical and taxonomic coverage. Our results show that existing CS and CBM data particularly provide large-scale data on species distribution and population abundance, species traits such as phenology, and ecosystem function variables such as primary and secondary productivity. Only birds, Lepidoptera and plants are monitored at scale. Most CS schemes are found in Europe, North America, South Africa, India, and Australia. We then explore what can be learned from successful CS/CBM programs that would facilitate the scaling up of current efforts, how existing strengths in data coverage can be better exploited, and the strategies that could maximise the synergies between CS/CBM and other approaches for monitoring biodiversity, in particular from remote sensing. More and better targeted funding will be needed, if CS/CBM programs are to contribute further to international biodiversity monitoring.

Many citizen science projects are place-based - built on in-person participation and motivated by local conservation. When done thoughtfully, this approach to citizen science can transform humans and their environment. Despite such possibilities, many projects struggle to meet decision-maker needs, generate useful data to inform decisions, and improve social-ecological resilience. Here, we define leveraging the ‘power of place’ in citizen science, and posit that doing this improves conservation decision making, increases participation, and improves community resilience. First, we explore ‘place’ and identify five place dimensions: social-ecological, narrative and name-based, knowledge-based, emotional and affective, and performative. We then thematically analyze 134 case studies drawn from CitSci.org (n = 39), The Stewardship Network New England (TSN-NE; n = 39), and Earthwatch (n = 56) regarding: (1) use of place dimensions in materials (as one indication of leveraging the power of place), (2) intent for use of data in decision-making, and (3) evidence of such use. We find that 89% of projects intend for data to be used, 46% demonstrate no evidence of use, and 54% provide some evidence of use. Moreover, projects used in decision making leverage more (t = − 4.8, df = 117; p

Despite the dramatic rise in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) prevalence, limited information is known about ASD knowledge of the general population. The Autism Spectrum Knowledge Scale, General Population version (ASKSG) was collaboratively constructed to create a measure of ASD knowledge specifically for the general population. The ASKSG is a 31-item measure that assesses one's knowledge and understanding of ASD. Adults in the general population participated in the current study (N = 318). Findings indicate that the ASKSG is a valid and reliable measure and can adequately measure ASD knowledge in this population. A greater understanding of general population knowledge pertaining to ASD can be used to better inform identification, intervention, and advocacy, thus improving the outcomes for individuals with ASD.

Abstract Adult fish produce new cells throughout their central nervous system during the course of their lives and maintain a tremendous capacity to repair damaged neural tissue. Much of the focus on understanding brain repair and regeneration in adult fish has been directed at regions of the brainstem and forebrain; however, the mesencephalon (midbrain) and diencephalon have received little attention. We sought to examine differential gene expression in the midbrain/diencephalon in response to injury in the adult fish using RNA-seq. Using the mummichog (Fundulus heteroclitus), we administered a mechanical lesion to the midbrain/diencephalon and examined differentially expressed genes (DEGs) at an acute recovery time of 1 h post-injury. Comparisons of whole transcriptomes derived from isolated RNA of intact and injured midbrain/diencephalic tissue identified 404 DEGs with the vast majority being upregulated. Using qPCR, we validated the upregulation of DEGs pim-2-like, syndecan-4-like, and cd83. Based on genes both familiar and novel regarding the adult brain response to injury, these data provide an extensive molecular profile giving insight into a range of cellular processes involved in the injury response of a brain regenerative-capable vertebrate.

Introduction Although a considerable proportion of Asians in the USA experience depression, anxiety and poor sleep, these health issues have been underestimated due to the model minority myth about Asians, the stigma associated with mental illness, lower rates of treatment seeking and a shortage of culturally tailored mental health services. Indeed, despite emerging evidence of links between psychosocial risk factors, the gut microbiome and depression, anxiety and sleep quality, very few studies have examined how these factors are related in Chinese and Korean immigrants in the USA. The purpose of this pilot study was to address this issue by (a) testing the usability and feasibility of the study’s multilingual survey measures and biospecimen collection procedure among Chinese and Korean immigrants in the USA and (b) examining how stress, discrimination, acculturation and the gut microbiome are associated with depression, anxiety and sleep quality in this population.Method and analysis This is a cross-sectional pilot study among first and second generations of adult Chinese and Korean immigrants in the greater Atlanta area (Georgia, USA). We collected (a) gut microbiome samples and (b) data on psychosocial risk factors, depression, anxiety and sleep disturbance using validated, online surveys in English, Chinese and Korean. We aim to recruit 60 participants (30 Chinese, 30 Korean). We will profile participants’ gut microbiome using 16S rRNA V3-V4 sequencing data, which will be analysed by QIIME 2. Associations of the gut microbiome and psychosocial factors with depression, anxiety and sleep disturbance will be analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics, including linear regression.Ethics and dissemination This study has been approved by the Institutional Review Board at Emory University (IRB ID: STUDY00000935). Results will be made available to Chinese and Korean community members, the funder and other researchers and the broader scientific community.

The current study tested the honing framework, which posits that people in same-, versus different-, sex couples may reduce their social networks to primarily include members perceived as supportive, facilitating more satisfying social interactions and enjoying more positive affect. The honing framework also predicts similarities among people in same- and different-sex couples, including quantity of social interactions, and social interaction links to well-being. Seventy-eight couples participated: 25 women with women, 19 men with men, and 34 different- sex couples. Over two weekends, both partners wore the Electronically Activated Recorder, a device that records audible, naturally-occurring social interactions. Additionally, each partner completed well-being questionnaires. Actor-partner interdependence models mostly supported the honing framework, revealing similarities among same- and different-sex couples, including the quantity of social interactions, as well as interaction quantity links to well-being. The data also revealed a novel, unpredicted component of the honing framework: people in same-sex couples tended to have more oneon- one and fewer group interactions compared to people in different-sex couples. This lends support to and further develops the honing framework, revealing that people in same-sex couples manage to hone their social networks to close, supportive members with whom they have one-on-one, satisfying interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractGenome instability in newly synthesized allotetraploids of peanut has breeding implications that have not been fully appreciated. Synthesis of wild species-derived neo-tetraploids offers the opportunity to broaden the gene pool of peanut; however, the dynamics among the newly merged genomes creates predictable and unpredictable variation. Selfed progenies from the neo-tetraploid Arachis ipaënsisArachis correntinaA. ipaënsisA. correntina4x12A. hypogaeaA. ipaënsisA. correntina4xArachisA. ipaënsisA. correntina012A. hypogaeaA. ipaënsisA. correntina4x2

Despite the dramatic rise in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) prevalence, limited information is known about ASD knowledge of the general population. The Autism Spectrum Knowledge Scale, General Population version (ASKSG) was collaboratively constructed to create a measure of ASD knowledge specifically for the general population. The ASKSG is a 31-item measure that assesses one's knowledge and understanding of ASD. Adults in the general population participated in the current study (N = 318). Findings indicate that the ASKSG is a valid and reliable measure and can adequately measure ASD knowledge in this population. A greater understanding of general population knowledge pertaining to ASD can be used to better inform identification, intervention, and advocacy, thus improving the outcomes for individuals with ASD., Author(s): Maryellen Brunson McClain [sup.1] , Bryn Harris [sup.2] , Sarah E. Schwartz [sup.1] , Kandice J. Benallie [sup.1] , Megan E. Golson [sup.1] , Chandler M. Benney [sup.1] Author [...]

It has been widely hypothesized that stressors occurring over the lifespan exert a cumulative impact on health, but little work has directly tested these theories given the difficulty associated with measuring cumulative stress exposure over the lifespan. We addressed this issue in Brazil by translating the Stress and Adversity Inventory for Adults (Adult STRAIN) into Brazilian Portuguese. We then examined the instrument’s usability and acceptability; concurrent, discriminant, predictive, and incremental validity; and test–retest reliability. Participants were 330 Brazilian adults (238 women; Mage = 32.16; range: 18–76 years old) who completed the Adult STRAIN in Brazilian Portuguese, Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-Short Form (CTQ-SF), and Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). They also completed measures of socioeconomic status, personality, social desirability, negative affect, physical and mental health complaints, sleep quality, executive function, and doctor-diagnosed general health problems and autoimmune disorders. The STRAIN exhibited excellent usability and acceptability and was completed in 16 min and 27 s, on average. It showed good concurrent validity relative to the CTQ-SF and PSS (rs ≥ 0.377) and good discriminant validity, both with and without adjusting for covariates. In addition, the STRAIN significantly predicted all of the health outcomes assessed except for executive function and explained substantial variance in these outcomes over and above the CTQ-SF, PSS, and covariates assessed. Finally, the test–retest reliability indices for total lifetime stressor count and severity were outstanding (ricc = 0.936 and 0.953, respectively, over M = 34.86 days). The Adult STRAIN in Brazilian Portuguese thus exhibits excellent usability and acceptability, good concurrent and discriminant validity, strong predictive and incremental validity across a variety of health outcomes, and outstanding test–retest reliability. We therefore conclude that the STRAIN is a practical, valid, and reliable instrument for researchers and clinicians looking to efficiently assess cumulative lifetime stress exposure in Brazilian Portuguese.