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Abstract Circadian regulation of autonomic tone and reflex pathways pairs physiological processes with the daily light cycle. However, the underlying mechanisms mediating these changes on autonomic neurocircuitry are only beginning to be understood. The brainstem nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS) and adjacent nuclei, including the area postrema and dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus, are key candidates for rhythmic control of some aspects of the autonomic nervous system. Recent findings have contributed to a working model of circadian regulation in the brainstem which manifests from the transcriptional, to synaptic, to circuit levels of organization. Vagal afferent neurons and the NTS possess rhythmic clock gene expression, rhythmic action potential firing, and our recent findings demonstrate rhythmic spontaneous glutamate release. In addition, postsynaptic conductances also vary across the day producing subtle changes in membrane depolarization which govern synaptic efficacy. Together these coordinated pre‐ and postsynaptic changes provide nuanced control of synaptic transmission across the day to tune the sensitivity of primary afferent input and likely govern reflex output. Further, given the important role for the brainstem in integrating cues such as feeding, cardiovascular function and temperature, it may also be an underappreciated locus in mediating the effects of such non‐photic entraining cues. This short review focuses on the neurophysiological principles that govern NTS synaptic transmission and how circadian rhythms impacted them across the day.

Abstract Active machine learning is widely used in computational studies where repeated numerical simulations can be conducted on high performance computers without human intervention. But translation of these active learning methods to physical systems has proven more difficult and the accelerated pace of discoveries aided by these methods remains as yet unrealized. Through the presentation of a general active learning framework and its application to large-scale boundary layer wind tunnel experiments, we demonstrate that the active learning framework used so successfully in computational studies is directly applicable to the investigation of physical experimental systems and the corresponding improvements in the rate of discovery can be transformative. We specifically show that, for our wind tunnel experiments, we are able to achieve in approximately 300 experiments a learning objective that would be impossible using traditional methods.

Patterns of habitat selection for sympatric urial Ovis vignei and Siberian ibex Capra sibirica are poorly known, in part because there are few places where such overlap exists. Using envelope modeling methodology, we analyzed location data of these species in the Hindu Kush range along the Wakhan Valley of the Wakhan National Park (10,950 km2) in northeastern Afghanistan, recorded during field surveys in April-May of 2011, 2015, and 2018. Distribution models showed significant ecological niche differences (P 0) and showed the same avoidance of lower quality areas. Understanding selection criteria of habitat use by urial and ibex in Wakhan Valley, inhabited by over 14,000 people and their livestock (ca. 78,000), will enable adjustments to the protection schemes regarding the requirements of two key mountain ungulate species critical to the sustainability and conservation of this unique ecosystem. This type of information is very scarce in the literature for the sympatric mountain ungulates in Asia.

This paper reports 2 cases of female carriers of the FMR1 premutation for developing spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD). These women had classical presentations of premutation symptoms, including anxiety, depression, and connective tissue problems, all of which can contribute to SCAD. These cases suggest a possible connection between the fragile X premutation and a predisposition to SCAD. (Level of Difficulty: Intermediate.)

The Natural Hazards Engineering Research Infrastructure (NHERI) experimental facility at the University of Florida provides a diverse suite of experimental resources to support wind hazard research. The 40-m long Boundary Layer Wind Tunnel (BLWT) simulates boundary layer flows to characterize wind loading on rigid structural models and assess the response of aeroelastic structures. The use of experimental automation tools provides researchers unparalleled flexibility in their test configurations while supporting high throughput testing and data collection. The Terraformer, an array of 1116 roughness elements, can be rapidly reconfigured to generate terrain conditions in less than 90 s, the test section turntable can move automatically through a range of wind approach angles, and the instrumentation gantry can traverse preset paths to collect wind field measurements anywhere in the tunnel cross-section. These test automation tools, along with mechatronic structural models and real-time data transfer and processing, provide new opportunities in experimental wind tunnel testing. Recent cyber-physical wind tunnel testing projects highlight the benefits of these experimental automation tools. This paper will also discuss the most recent addition to the BLWT, the Flow Field Modulator (FFM). It consists of a 2D array of 319 individually controlled ducted fans driven by electronic speed controllers. The FFM expands the BLWT capabilities by supporting the simulation of non-monotonic profiles and non-stationary events such as gust fronts and downbursts, where mean velocity and turbulence distributions change over short spatial scales. The ability to simulate these flow conditions in a wind tunnel enables the investigation of a wide range of damaging conditions and the solutions for mitigating their impact on structures.

Background The Rwanda Human Resources for Health Program (HRH Program) is a 7-year (2012-2019) health professional training initiative led by the Government of Rwanda with the goals of training a large, diverse, and competent health workforce and strengthening the capacity of academic institutions in Rwanda. Methods The data for this organizational case study was collected through official reports from the Rwanda Ministry of Health (MoH) and 22 participating US academic institutions, databases from the MoH and the College of Medicine and Health Sciences (CMHS) in Rwanda, and surveys completed by the co-authors. Results In the first 5 years of the HRH Program, a consortium of US academic institutions has deployed an average of 99 visiting faculty per year to support 22 training programs, which are on track to graduate almost 4600 students by 2019. The HRH Program has also built capacity within the CMHS by promoting the recruitment of Rwandan faculty and the establishment of additional partnerships and collaborations with the US academic institutions. Conclusion The milestones achieved by the HRH Program have been substantial although some challenges persist. These challenges include adequately supporting the visiting faculty; pairing them with Rwandan faculty (twinning); ensuring strong communication and coordination among stakeholders; addressing mismatches in priorities between donors and implementers; the execution of a sustainability strategy; and the decision by one of the donors not to renew funding beyond March 2017. Over the next 2 academic years, it is critical for the sustainability of the 22 training programs supported by the HRH Program that the health-related Schools at the CMHS significantly scale up recruitment of new Rwandan faculty. The HRH Program can serve as a model for other training initiatives implemented in countries affected by a severe shortage of health professionals.

Teacher quality can have a significant impact on students' academic achievement (Hattie, 2023). Prior research has noted a connection between the loss of experienced teachers at a school and declines in student success (Hanushek, et al., 2016; Holme, et al., 2018). Increased use of social media as a connective public platform to share thoughts, feelings, and beliefs may offer researchers an opportunity to explore perspectives on the work environment and attrition described in teachers' own voices. The purpose of this study is to use thematic content analysis to examine conversations and factors most discussed by teachers centering on attrition using the TikTok social media platform. Social media offers teachers a way to connect with others and share their thoughts while maintaining a perceived level of professional distance from their workplace. This research will explore how teachers use social media to provide a window into their classroom, working conditions, and decisions to leave or stay. The study was guided by the following questions: (1) How are current and former teachers using the TikTok social media platform to discuss or express their views on the teacher resignation trend? and (2) How do perceived and expressed attrition factors differ between teachers who leave and those who stay? [The article's title on the cover page is displayed as: "#TeacherQuitTok: A Content Analysis of How Current and Former Teachers Navigate Attrition on TikTok."]

This paper presents a generalized approach for predicting (i.e., interpolating) the magnitude and distribution of roof pressures near separated flow regions on a low-rise structure based on freestream turbulent flow conditions. A feed-forward multilayer artificial neural network (ANN) using a backpropagation (BP) training algorithm is employed to predict the mean, root-mean-square (RMS), and peak pressure coefficients on three geometrically scaled (1:50, 1:30, and 1:20) low-rise building models for a family of upwind approach flow conditions. A comprehensive dataset of recently published boundary layer wind tunnel (BLWT) pressure measurements was utilized for training, validation, and evaluation of the ANN model. On average, predicted ANN peak pressure coefficients for a group of pressure taps located near the roof corner were within 5.1, 6.9, and 7.7% of BLWT observations for the 1:50, 1:30, and 1:20 models, respectively. Further, very good agreement was found between predicted ANN mean and RMS pressure coefficients and BLWT data.

This paper presents the experimental design and subsequent findings from a series of experiments in a large boundary layer wind tunnel to investigate the variation of surface pressures with increasing upwind terrain roughness on low-rise buildings. Geometrically scaled models of the Wind Engineering Research Field Laboratory experimental building were subjected to a wide range of turbulent boundary layer flows, through precise adjustment of a computer control terrain generator called the Terraformer. The study offers an in-depth examination of the effects of freestream turbulence on extreme pressures under the separation “bubble” for the case of the wind traveling perpendicular to wall surfaces, independently confirming previous findings that the spatial distribution of the peaks is heavily influenced by the mean reattachment length. Further, the study shows that the observed peak pressures collapse if data are normalized by the mean reattachment length and a non-Gaussian estimator for peak velocity pressure.

This paper explores the use of a cyber-physical systems (CPS) “loop-in-the-model” approach to optimally design the envelope and structural system of low-rise buildings subject to wind loads. Both the components and cladding (C&C) and the main wind force resisting system (MWFRS) are considered through multi-objective optimization. The CPS approach combines the physical accuracy of wind tunnel testing and efficiency of numerical optimization algorithms to obtain an optimal design. The approach is autonomous: experiments are executed in a boundary layer wind tunnel (BLWT), sensor feedback is monitored and analyzed by a computer, and optimization algorithms dictate physical changes to the structural model in the BLWT through actuators. To explore a CPS approach to multi-objective optimization, a low-rise building with a parapet wall of variable height is considered. In the BLWT, servo-motors are used to adjust the parapet to a particular height. Parapet walls alter the location of the roof corner vortices, reducing suction loads on the windward facing roof corners and edges, a C&C design load. At the same time, parapet walls increase the surface area of the building, leading to an increase in demand on the MWFRS. A combination of non-stochastic and stochastic optimization algorithms were implemented to minimize the magnitude of suction and positive pressures on the roof of a low-rise building model, followed by stochastic multi-objective optimization to simultaneously minimize the magnitude of suction pressures and base shear. Experiments were conducted at the University of Florida Experimental Facility (UFEF) of the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Natural Hazard Engineering Research Infrastructure (NHERI) program.

In the brainstem nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS), primary vagal afferent neurons express the transient receptor potential vanilloid subfamily member 1 (TRPV1) at their central terminals where it contributes to quantal forms of glutamate release. The endogenous membrane lipid anandamide (AEA) is a putative TRPV1 agonist in the brain, yet the extent to which AEA activation of TRPV1 has a neurophysiological consequence is not well established. We investigated the ability of AEA to activate TRPV1 in vagal afferent neurons in comparison to capsaicin (CAP). Using ratiometric calcium imaging and whole-cell patch clamp recordings we confirmed that AEA excitatory activity requires TRPV1, binds competitively at the CAP binding site, and has low relative affinity. While AEA-induced increases in peak cytosolic calcium were similar to CAP, AEA-induced membrane currents were significantly smaller. Removal of bath calcium increased the AEA current with no change in peak CAP currents revealing a calcium sensitive difference in specific ligand activation of TRPV1. Both CAP- and AEA-activated TRPV1 currents maintained identical reversal potentials, arguing against a major difference in ion selectivity to resolve the AEA differences in signaling. In contrast with CAP, AEA did not alter spontaneous glutamate release at NTS synapses. We conclude: (1) AEA activation of TRPV1 is markedly different from CAP and produces different magnitudes of calcium influx from whole-cell current; and (2) exogenous AEA does not alter spontaneous glutamate release onto NTS neurons. As such, AEA may convey modulatory changes to calcium-dependent processes, but does not directly facilitate glutamate release.

This paper describes a new full-scale (FS) testing apparatus for conducting performance evaluations of FS building envelope systems. The simulator can generate spatially uniform, time-varying pressure conditions associated with Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale Category 5 winds while compensating for large air leakage through the specimen and also operate a high-speed wind tunnel, both with dynamic control. This paper presents system details, operating characteristics, and an early case study on the performance of large sectional door systems under wind pressure loading. Failure mechanisms are discussed, and finite element modeling is validated for two specimens. It demonstrates successful dynamic load control for large component and cladding systems, as well as simulation of flows near the building surface. These capabilities serve to complement other FS wind tunnel facilities by offering tools to generate ultimate load conditions on portions of the building. Further, the paper successfully demonstrates the utility of combining physical testing and computational analysis as a matter of routine, which underscores the potential of evolving FS testing to encompass cyber–physical approaches.

Cyberinfrastructure (CI) empowers the foundational computation resources underlying data analytics, spatial modeling, and many other domains serving the growing knowledge economy in the United States. In every part of these interactions with CI, questions of how to seamlessly integrate CI training into educational programs exist. In this article, the authors present results from a project that addresses the lack of experience using the integrated tools and techniques necessary to address crucial global challenges requiring domain and CI integrations for learners, instructors, and researchers. The authors created a clear curriculum model for educators, the Hour of Cyberinfrastructure (Hour of CI), which integrates CI knowledge and skill-building into a domain-specific curriculum.

Background and objectiveIndividuals with intellectual disability (ID) experience protracted cognitive development compared with typical youth. Sensitive measurement of cognitive change in this population is a critical need for clinical trials and other intervention studies, but well-validated outcome measures are scarce. This study's aim was to evaluate the sensitivity of the NIH Toolbox Cognition Battery (NIHTB-CB) to detect developmental changes in groups with ID-fragile X syndrome (FXS), Down syndrome (DS), and other ID (OID)-and to provide further support for its use as an outcome measure for treatment trials.MethodsWe administered the NIHTB-CB and a reference standard cross-validation measure (Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scales, Fifth Edition [SB5]) to 256 individuals with FXS, DS, and OID (ages 6-27 years). After 2 years of development, we retested 197 individuals. Group developmental changes in each cognitive domain of the NIHTB-CB and SB5 were assessed using latent change score models, and 2-year growth was evaluated at 3 age points (10, 16, and 22 years).ResultsOverall, effect sizes of growth measured by the NIHTB-CB tests were comparable with or exceeded those of the SB5. The NIHTB-CB showed significant gains in almost all domains in OID at younger ages (10 years), with continued gains at 16 years and stability in early adulthood (22 years). The FXS group showed delayed gains in attention and inhibitory control compared with OID. The DS group had delayed gains in receptive vocabulary compared with OID. Unlike the other groups, DS had significant growth in early adulthood in 2 domains (working memory and attention/inhibitory control). Notably, each group's pattern of NIHTB-CB growth across development corresponded to their respective pattern of SB5 growth.DiscussionThe NIHTB-CB is sensitive to developmental changes in individuals with ID. Comparison with levels and timing of growth on the cross-validation measure shows that the NIHTB-CB has potential to identify meaningful trajectories across cognitive domains and ID etiologies. Sensitivity to change within the context of treatment studies and delineation of clinically meaningful changes in NIHTB-CB scores, linked to daily functioning, must be established in future research to evaluate the battery more completely as a key outcome measure.

Growing student populations, accountability policies, and isolation due to remote learning are impacting teacher retention. The present study used narrative inquiry to explore the beliefs, contexts, and experiences that shape principals' perceptions of their role in buffering teacher stress, burnout, and attrition. The researcher worked with school leaders to co-develop individual narratives that described their personal experiences in supporting teacher efficacy and retention in an urban district with high rates of attrition. Principals shared common stress factors including workload, discipline, and accountability. Collegial relationships, autonomy, and mentorship were noted as common supports. Principals felt they made an impact by building relationships, developing support systems, and seeking feedback on individual teacher needs. The narratives shed light on how these principals formed perspectives that framed their leadership approach. The results may serve future leaders as they navigate the issue of teacher support and retention.

In October 2020, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Serological Sciences Network (SeroNet) was established to study the immune response to COVID-19, and "to develop, validate, improve, and implement serological testing and associated technologies" (https://www.cancer.gov/research/key-initiatives/covid-19/coronavirus-research-initiatives/serological-sciences-network). SeroNet is comprised of 25 participating research institutions partnering with the Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research (FNLCR) and the SeroNet Coordinating Center. Since its inception, SeroNet has supported collaborative development and sharing of COVID-19 serological assay procedures and has set forth plans for assay harmonization. To facilitate collaboration and procedure sharing, a detailed survey was sent to collate comprehensive assay details and performance metrics on COVID-19 serological assays within SeroNet. In addition, FNLCR established a protocol to calibrate SeroNet serological assays to reference standards, such as the U.S. severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) serology standard reference material and first WHO international standard (IS) for anti-SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulin (20/136), to facilitate harmonization of assay reporting units and cross-comparison of study data. SeroNet institutions reported development of a total of 27 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) methods, 13 multiplex assays, and 9 neutralization assays and use of 12 different commercial serological methods. FNLCR developed a standardized protocol for SeroNet institutions to calibrate these diverse serological assays to reference standards. In conclusion, SeroNet institutions have established a diverse array of COVID-19 serological assays to study the immune response to SARS-CoV-2 and vaccines. Calibration of SeroNet serological assays to harmonize results reporting will facilitate future pooled data analyses and study cross-comparisons. IMPORTANCE SeroNet institutions have developed or implemented 61 diverse COVID-19 serological assays and are collaboratively working to harmonize these assays using reference materials to establish standardized reporting units. This will facilitate clinical interpretation of serology results and cross-comparison of research data.

BackgroundWhile an association between full mutation CGG-repeat expansions of the Fragile X Mental Retardation 1 (FMR1) gene and connective tissue problems are clearly described, problems in fragile X premutation carriers (fXPCs) CGG-repeat range (55-200 repeats) of the FMR1 gene may be overlooked.ObjectiveTo report five FMR1 fXPCs cases with the hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS) phenotype.MethodsWe collected medical histories and FMR1 molecular measures from five cases who presented with joint hypermobility and loose connective tissue and met inclusion criteria for hEDS.ResultsFive cases were female and ranged between 16 and 49 years. The range of CGG-repeat allele sizes ranged from 66 to 150 repeats. All had symptoms of hEDS since early childhood. Commonalities in molecular pathogenesis and coexisting conditions between the fXPCs and hEDS are also presented. The premutation can lead to a reduction of fragile X mental retardation protein, which is crucial in maintaining functions of the extracellular matrix-related proteins, particularly matrix metallopeptidase 9 and elastin. Moreover, elevated FMR1 messenger RNA causes sequestration of proteins, which results in RNA toxicity.ConclusionBoth hEDS phenotype and premutation involvement may co-occur because of related commonalities in pathogenesis.

BackgroundQuantitative measurement of eye movements can reveal subtle progression in neurodegenerative diseases.ObjectiveTo determine if quantitative measurements of eye movements may reveal subtle progression of fragile X-associated tremor and ataxia (FXTAS).MethodsProsaccade (PS) and antisaccade (AS) behavior was analyzed in 25 controls, 57 non-FXTAS carriers, and 46 carriers with FXTAS.ResultsSymptomatic individuals with FXTAS had longer AS latencies, increased rates of AS errors, and increased AS dysmetria relative to non-FXTAS carriers and controls. These deficits, along with PS latency and velocity, were greater in advanced FXTAS stages.ConclusionAS deficits differentiated FXTAS from non-FXTAS premutation carriers implicating top-down control and frontostriatal deterioration. However, the absence of group differences between non-FXTAS carriers and controls in AS and PS markers suggests saccade performance may not be a sensitive enough measure for detecting conversion to FXTAS, but instead more helpful as translational biomarkers of FXTAS progression.

Speeded Matching (SpM) is a new processing speed match-to-sample test within the NIH Toolbox Cognitive Battery. It was designed to developmentally extend feasibility to younger children or individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities (IDD). SpM reduces cognitive demands to tapping an identical match as opposed to judging and indicating whether two stimuli are identical. In this study, we piloted SpM among 148 participants with fragile X syndrome, Down syndrome, or other intellectual disabilities (chronological age mean = 17.8 years, sd = 5.4; nonverbal mental age mean = 65 months, sd = 19.4). SpM had a high feasibility (96%) and internal consistency (rxx = 0.98). It converged well with other measures of processing speed, fluid cognition, and nonverbal mental age and diverged appropriately from crystallized cognitive skills. The correlation between nonverbal mental age and SpM in the IDD sample was not significantly different than the correlation between chronological age and SpM in a separate sample of 118 neurotypical children (age mean = 3.9 years sd = 0.8). This study provides initial evidence for the reliability and validity of the new SpM task, which may be appropriate as an outcome measure of processing speed for future clinical trials. It is more feasible than tasks designed for adults; it is brief, easy to administer, and engaging for young children and older individuals with lower mental ages associated with IDD.

ObjectiveTo advance the science of cognitive outcome measurement for individuals with intellectual disability (ID), we established administration guidelines and evaluated the psychometric properties of the NIH-Toolbox Cognitive Battery (NIHTB-CB) for use in clinical research.MethodsWe assessed feasibility, test-retest reliability, and convergent validity of the NIHTB-CB (measuring executive function, processing speed, memory, and language) by assessing 242 individuals with fragile X syndrome (FXS), Down syndrome (DS), and other ID, ages 6 through 25 years, with retesting completed after 1 month. To facilitate accessibility and measurement accuracy, we developed accommodations and standard assessment guidelines, documented in an e-manual. Finally, we assessed the sensitivity of the battery to expected syndrome-specific cognitive phenotypes.ResultsAbove a mental age of 5.0 years, all tests had excellent feasibility. More varied feasibility across tests was seen between mental ages of 3 and 4 years. Reliability and convergent validity ranged from moderate to strong. Each test and the Crystallized and Fluid Composite scores correlated moderately to strongly with IQ, and the Crystallized Composite had modest correlations with adaptive behavior. The NIHTB-CB showed known-groups validity by detecting expected executive function deficits in FXS and a receptive language deficit in DS.ConclusionThe NIHTB-CB is a reliable and valid test battery for children and young adults with ID with a mental age of ≈5 years and above. Adaptations for very low-functioning or younger children with ID are needed for some subtests to expand the developmental range of the battery. Studies examining sensitivity to developmental and treatment changes are now warranted.

Pandemic teaching during COVID-19 has further magnified the unsustainable and fraught nature of teaching across schools and universities worldwide (Singer 2020). The remote turn to emergency remote teaching (ERT)--so-called "Zoom University" (Martin et al. 2020)--brings with it immense challenges of access, equity, outreach, and mental health that are impossible to understand and quantify (Heim 2020; Hodges et al. 2020). This article reflects on the authors' ERT experiences specific to teaching Introduction to GIS during an ongoing pandemic. The courses, facing a constant need to adapt, adjust, flex, and flow, were under significant pressure to support students in extraordinary circumstances while maintaining the necessary content and organization for student success beyond the GIS classrooms. The authors employ an autoethnographic approach, particularly the Butz and Besio (2009) typological category "Personal Experience Narrative" to reflect and develop insights into their thinking and reactions throughout the challenges of a full ERT semester of COVID-19--impacted GIS instruction, as well as those of their teaching assistants (TAs) and students, during the Fall 2020 semester. With another semester of COVID-19 affecting higher education ahead, the goal is to share their experiences, successes, failures, and practices to inform others of lessons learned in these times.

Objective: Assess university students' SARS-CoV-2 antibody seroprevalence and mitigation behaviors over time. Participants: Randomly selected college students (N = 344) in a predominantly rural Southern state. Methods: Participants provided blood samples and completed self-administered questionnaires at three timepoints over the academic year. Adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were estimated from logistic regression analyses. Results: SARS-CoV-2 antibody seroprevalence was 18.2% in September 2020, 13.1% in December, and 45.5% in March 2021 (21% for those with no vaccination history). SARS-CoV-2 antibody seroprevalence was associated with large social gatherings, staying local during the summer break, symptoms of fatigue or rhinitis, Greek affiliation, attending Greek events, employment, and using social media as the primary COVID-19 information source. In March 2021, seroprevalence was associated with receiving at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccination. Conclusion: SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence was higher in this population of college students than previous studies. Results can assist leaders in making informed decisions as new variants threaten college campuses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gammaherpesviruses are oncogenic pathogens that establish lifelong infections. There are no FDA-approved vaccines against Epstein–Barr virus or Kaposi sarcoma herpesvirus. Murine gammaherpesvirus-68 (MHV68) infection of mice provides a system for investigating gammaherpesvirus pathogenesis and testing vaccine strategies. Prime-boost vaccination with a replication-dead virus (RDV) that does not express the essential replication and transactivator protein (RTA) encoded by ORF50 (RDV-50.stop) protected against WT virus replication and reduced latency in C57BL/6 mice, and prevented lethal disease in Ifnar1−/− mice. To further improve the RDV vaccine and more closely model KSHV vaccine design, we generated an RDV lacking the unique M1-M4 genes and the non-coding tRNA-miRNA-encoded RNAs (TMERs) 6, 7, and 8 that collectively promote latency of MHV68 in vivo. Prime-boost vaccination of mice with RDV-50.stop∆M1-M4 elicited neutralizing antibodies and virus-specific CD8 T-cell responses in the lungs and spleens, the respective sites of acute replication and latency, that were comparable to RDV-50.stop vaccination. When challenged with WT MHV68, vaccinated mice exhibited a near-complete block of lytic replication and a reduction in latency and reactivation. We conclude that the unique M1-M4 genes and TMERs 6, 7, and 8, which are major determinants of WT MHV68 pathogenesis, are not required for eliciting protective immunity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Circadian regulation of autonomic tone and reflex pathways pairs physiological processes with the daily light cycle. However, the underlying mechanisms mediating these changes on autonomic neurocircuitry are only beginning to be understood. The brainstem nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS) and adjacent nuclei, including the area postrema and dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus, are key candidates for rhythmic control of some aspects of the autonomic nervous system. Recent findings have contributed to a working model of circadian regulation in the brainstem which manifests from the transcriptional, to synaptic, to circuit levels of organization. Vagal afferent neurons and the NTS possess rhythmic clock gene expression, rhythmic action potential firing, and our recent findings demonstrate rhythmic spontaneous glutamate release. In addition, postsynaptic conductances also vary across the day producing subtle changes in membrane depolarization which govern synaptic efficacy. Together these coordinated pre‐ and postsynaptic changes provide nuanced control of synaptic transmission across the day to tune the sensitivity of primary afferent input and likely govern reflex output. Further, given the important role for the brainstem in integrating cues such as feeding, cardiovascular function and temperature, it may also be an underappreciated locus in mediating the effects of such non‐photic entraining cues. This short review focuses on the neurophysiological principles that govern NTS synaptic transmission and how circadian rhythms impacted them across the day. What is the topic of this review?Synaptic encoding of brainstem circadian rhythms.What advances does it highlight?Rhythmic changes in fast neurotransmission span the time frames between transcription/translation and physiological/behavioural responses. Coordinated pre‐ and postsynaptic neurophysiological changes provide nuanced circadian control to synaptic throughput. Spontaneous vesicle release is a unique cellular mechanism for encoding circadian changes to synaptic and circuit function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Students in geographic information systems and science (GIS) require significant experience outside of spatial analysis, cartography, and other traditional geographic topics. Computer science knowledge, skills, and practices exist as essential components of GIS practice, but coursework in this area is not universally offered in geography or GIS degrees. To support those interested in developing such courses, this paper describes the design and implementation of a server-focused course in WebGIS at Texas A&M University. We provide an in-depth discussion of the equipment and resources required to build and operate an on-premise CyberGIS server infrastructure suitable for supporting such classes, providing comparisons with an equivalent solution built on Amazon Web Services (AWS). We consider the comparative costs of these systems, including benefits and drawbacks of each. In comparing these deployment options, we outline the technical expertise, monetary investments, operational expenses, and organizational strategies necessary to run server-based CyberGIS courses. Finally, we reflect on assignments and feedback from students and consider their experiences in a course of this nature. This article provides a resource for GIS instructors, academic departments, or other academic units to consider during infrastructure investment, curriculum redesign, the addition of courses in degree plans, or for the development of CyberGIS components.

The article "Teaching Cyber Literacy: Deploying Lessons from the Hour of Cyberinfrastructure in the Classroom" discusses the integration of cyberinfrastructure (CI) training into geography education. The Hour of Cyberinfrastructure (Hour of CI) project offers 17 lessons that aim to introduce learners to CI concepts through geospatially based topics. The lessons are structured as interactive online modules and are designed to enhance cyberliteracy across various disciplines, providing support for both learners and instructors. The project has received positive feedback from pilot testers, indicating its effectiveness in promoting cyberliteracy and computational skills. [Extracted from the article]