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PurposeCorneal dysmorphologies (CDs) are typically classified as either regressive degenerative corneal dystrophies (CDtrs) or defective growth and differentiation-driven corneal dysplasias (CDyps). Both eye disorders have multifactorial etiologies. While previous work has elucidated many aspects of CDs, such as presenting symptoms, epidemiology, and pathophysiology, the genetic mechanisms remain incompletely understood. The purpose of this study was to analyze phenotype data from 8,707 knockout mouse lines to identify new genes associated with the development of CDs in humans.Methods8,707 knockout mouse lines phenotyped by the International Mouse Phenotyping Consortium were queried for genes associated with statistically significant (P

The study of 'technological readiness and online learning self-efficacy' has been thoroughly examined across multiple fields in recent years. Most investigations on this topic have consistently shown a contradictory relationship between the two factors. Moreover, there is a dearth of studies undertaken in the field of Physical Education within higher education, particularly in the setting of the Philippines. This study aimed to investigate the correlation between Technological Readiness (TR) and Online Learning Self Efficacy (OLSE) among a sample of 305 Physical Education Teacher Education (PETE) students in a higher education institution in the Philippines. Correlational and predictive analyses, specifically Pearson-r and Multiple Regression, were employed to ascertain the association between the four aspects of TR (Optimism, Insecurity, Innovativeness, and Discomfort) and OLSE. The findings indicate a positive and direct correlation between TR and OLSE. Moreover, the four dimensions of TR, exhibit a positive correlation with OLSE. According to the results, PETE students' inclination to utilise advanced tools through online learning platforms could greatly enhance their online learning self-efficacy. The following recommendations and prospective research initiatives are hereby provided.

The study determined the self-reported Zoom exhaustion and fatigue (ZEF) levels of physical education teacher education (PETE) students in the Philippines who are attending a flexible learning setup (i.e., synchronous and asynchronous learning) offered by their university as a solution to continue classes during the coronavirus disease (COVID)-19 pandemic. Utilizing a cross-sectional comparative research design, the study indicates that PETE students were very tired and exhausted both in general and visually after a series of video conferencing within a semester. Furthermore, they were socially-, motivationally-, and emotionally- moderately tired and exhausted. It was observed that students in the PETE program experienced moderate to very tired and exhausted levels of fatigue whenever they participated in synchronous online classes, such as attendance at a video teleconferencing platform. Exploration of how specific mental aspects relate to their general health with regard to their culture and habits is worth exploring, either for students, teachers, or professionals in general.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is becoming prevalent among younger people who have dual roles at both work and home. A possible contributor to CVD is conflict between work and home life. Thus, this study investigated the impact of work-to-family conflict (WFC) and family-to-work conflict (FWC) on metabolic risk factors. We used longitudinal data with a 4-yr interval from the Midlife in Japan study. 152 participants who were employed at baseline without missing variables of interest were included. We assessed the associations of baseline WFC and FWC with changes in metabolic risk factors between baseline and follow-up using Generalized Estimating Equations. After adjusting for baseline sociodemographic, work and family-related, and lifestyle factors, the fully adjusted model showed WFC was significantly associated with changes in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and Total cholesterol (TC)/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) ratio. However, FWC was not significantly associated with changes in any metabolic risk factors. Our findings indicated a significant impact of WFC on LDL-C and TC/HDL-C ratio but no significant impact of FWC on metabolic health. Since these metabolic risk factors cause CVD, understanding the physiological responses to occupational psychosocial stress could help create primary prevention interventions and assess their effects on workers metabolic health.

BACKGROUND: Although type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) disproportionately affects Filipino Americans, they have not received much attention in the literature. Focusing on how Filipino Americans social and cultural contextual experiences affect their self-management is critical. This study examined T2DM self-management among Filipino Americans by describing their sociocultural experiences, strategies, and significance of self-management. METHOD: An interpretive descriptive qualitative design was used. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis. The study followed the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ) checklist. RESULTS: Filipino Americans (n = 19) with T2DM were interviewed. Three themes emerged: (a) cultural paradox of being Filipino American, (b) movement from invisibility to ownership of T2DM, and (c) definition of successful management of T2DM. CONCLUSION: Results contribute to a greater understanding of Filipino Americans T2DM self-management experiences. Implications include the provision of culturally congruent health care, being aware of Filipino Americans sociocultural experiences, and involvement of family/community.

Capacity strengthening activities -- be that in the form of courses, workshops, seminars -- have become embedded in research projects as a requirement for funding and as a means for researchers to demonstrate positive societal impacts. We apply qualitative research techniques including interviews, questionnaires and observations to scrutinise and document an international capacity strengthening course aimed at informing and supporting environmental management practice and policy in the Philippines. We appraise power gradients and dynamics between course instructors and participants from different cultures and geographical locations in the design and delivery of this course. We identify five key factors that course instructors should consider as part of their pedagogy: (i) active learning, (ii) knowledge scaffolding and consolidation, and (iii) situated learning, as well as being attuned to (iv) the language dynamics and (v) expertise and networking within the room when teaching the course. Practical efforts to address these issues require that instructors work with participants to co-produce knowledge, rather than assuming epistemic authority and imposing knowledge. This entails reflexive and adaptable practices before, during and after the course. It is recommended that such practices should be central to projects that include capacity strengthening activities, whether delivered locally or internationally.

With the global pandemic driving the adoption of digital health, understanding the predictors or determinants of digital health usage and information sharing gives an opportunity to advocate for broader adoption. We examined the prevalence and predictors of digital health usage and information-sharing behaviors among American adults. Data were from the Health Information National Trends Survey 5 Cycle 4. More than two-thirds used a digital resource for health-related activities (eg, to check test results). About 81% were willing to share their digital data with their provider, 75% with family, and 58% with friends. Only 14% shared health information on social media. Gender, education, device types, and performance expectancy of digital health were common factors associated with both digital health usage and information-sharing behaviors. Other predictors included rurality, patient portal access, income, and having a chronic disease. Of note, we found that Asian American Pacific Islanders, compared with Whites, were less likely to share information with providers. Performance expectancy was a significant determinant of information sharing. Those diagnosed with diabetes were 4% less likely to share information with their providers. With the growing digital divide, there is a need to advocate for more usable and accessible digital health to assist with person-centered care.

The interdisciplinary field of human movement sciences (HMS) has gained massive interest among educational institutions around the world, not only in terms of academic programs but also in research. With this emergence, the researchers aimed to describe the productivity of HMS research in the Philippines. The descriptive bibliometric analysis phase of this paper considered papers published and indexed in Google Scholar from January 2010 to June 2021 and was analyzed after data cleaning and preprocessing. Results revealed that a total of 274 research publications were recorded between the years 2010 and 2021 with an average annual publication rate of 28.6% as far as the dataset was concerned. Also, public higher education institutions (HEIs) emerged to be the most productive generators of research outputs, specifically topped by the University of the Philippines (UP). Moreover, UP-based authors dominated the rankings of the most productive HMS researchers, with "Jeffrey Pagaduan" in the top rank. Results further indicated that 75% of the authors collaborated with fellow researchers within or outside their institution. Meanwhile, the term "physical education" was recorded to be the most frequently appearing word in most of the publications. Through the aid of the data mining approach social network analysis (SNA), five (5) researchers from public HEIs and two from private HEIs were identified to have the largest networks as discussed in the paper. The exploration of research in terms of productivity and the embedded social network of researchers may serve as a springboard in defining the future development of the field in the Philippines.

BACKGROUND: Among patients who express interest in bariatric surgery, dropout rates from bariatric surgery programs are reported as high as 60%. There is a lack of understanding how we can better support patients to obtain treatment of this serious chronic disease. METHODS: Semi-structured interviews with individuals who dropped out of bariatric surgery programs from three clinical sites were conducted. Transcripts were iteratively analyzed to understand patterns clustering around codes. We mapped these codes to domains of the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) which will serve as the basis of future theory-based interventions. RESULTS: Twenty patients who self-identified as 60% female and 85% as non-Hispanic White were included. The results clustered around codes of perceptions of bariatric surgery, reasons for not undergoing surgery, and factors for re-considering surgery. Major drivers of attrition were burden of pre-operative workup requirements, stigma against bariatric surgery, fear of surgery, and anticipated regret. The number and time for requirements led patients to lose their initial optimism about improving health. Perceptions regarding being seen as weak for choosing bariatric surgery, fear of surgery itself, and possible regret over surgery grew as time passed. These drivers mapped to four TDF domains: environmental context and resources, social role and identity, emotion, and beliefs about consequences, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This study uses the TDF to identify areas of greatest concern for patients to be used for intervention design. This is the first step in understanding how we best support patients who express interest in bariatric surgery achieve their goals and live healthier lives.

Granular information on material deprivation including financial and economic well-being among people with diabetes can better inform policy, practice and interventions to support diabetes management. The purpose of this study was to describe in-depth the state of economic burden, financial stress, and coping among people with high A1c. Data came from the 2019-2021 baseline assessment in an ongoing U.S. trial that addresses social determinants of health among people with diabetes and high A1c who report at least one financial burden or cost-related non-adherence (CRN) (n = 600). Mean age of participants was 53 years. Planning behaviors were the most common financial well-being behavior, while savings was least frequently endorsed. Nearly a quarter of participants report spending more than $300 per month out-of-pocket to manage all of their health conditions. Participants reported spending the most out-of-pocket on medications (52%), special foods (40%), doctor's visits (27%), and blood glucose supplies (22%). Along with health insurance, these were also the most cited as sources of financial stress and where assistance. Seventy-two percent reported high levels of financial stress. Maladaptive coping was evident through CRN, and less than half engaged in adaptive coping such as talking to a doctor about cost or using a resource to address their needs. Economic burden, financial stress, and cost-related coping are highly relevant constructs among people with diabetes and high A1cs. More evidence-generation is needed for diabetes self-management programs to address sources of financial stress, facilitate behaviors to enhance financial well-being, and address unmet social needs to alleviate economic burdens.

Little is known about the experiences of Filipino Americans with type 2 diabetes regarding their self-management during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. We conducted a qualitative research study using semistructured interviews. In total, 19 interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed by 4 independent coders. We situated our understanding of these results using three concepts from an indigenous Filipino knowledge system called Sikolohiyang Pilipino: Kapwa (shared identity), Bahala Na (determination), and Pakikibaka (spaces of resistance). The following three main themes emerged: (1) stressors of the pandemic, (2) coping behaviors (with two subthemes: emotional and lifestyle-focused responses), and (3) diabetes self-management outcomes. Participants experienced stresses, anxiety, and loneliness during the pandemic magnified by the complexities of self-management. Although many admitted the pandemic brought challenges, including burnout, they coped by using existing resources-support from family, friends, the use of technology, and various emotional coping mechanisms. Many said that they made few diabetes self-management changes.

Purpose: Language sampling is a critical component of language assessments. However, there are many ways to elicit language samples that likely impact the results. The purpose of this study was to examine how different discourse types and elicitation tasks affect various language sampling outcomes. Method: A diverse group of K-3 students (N = 1,037) contributed eight spoken language samples in four elicitation conditions: (a) expository generation, (b) expository retell, (c) narrative generation, and (d) narrative retell. Samples were audio-recorded, transcribed, and coded for number of total words, number of different words, mean length of utterance in words (MLUW), and number of clauses per communication unit (i.e., Subordination Index [SI]). Results: Narrative retell and expository generation conditions yielded the largest samples with the greatest lexical diversity when compared to narrative generation and expository retell. MLUW was higher in expository conditions, but mean SI was higher in narrative conditions. For both measures of syntax, narrative retell and expository generation yielded the highest mean scores. For each out-come, there were expected increases corresponding to grades; however, the differences faded between second and third grade. Conclusion: As a component of language assessments, clinicians' selection of language sampling procedures will impact the sample length, lexical diversity, utterance length, and syntactical complexity of the samples. [This article was published in "American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology."]

AIMS: A discussion of the personal and social contexts for Millennial family caregivers and the value of including complex identity and intersectionality in Millennial family caregiving research with practical application. DESIGN: Discussion paper. DATA SOURCES: This discussion paper is based on our own experiences and supported by literature and theory. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING: Millennial family caregivers have distinct generational, historical and developmental experiences that contribute to the care they provide as well as their own well-being. Complex identity, the integration of multiple identities, and intersectionality, systems and structures that disempower and oppress individuals with multiple identities, need to be addressed in nursing research so intervention tailoring and health equity can be better supported in this population. From research conceptualization and design to data analysis, data must be used intentionally to promote equity and reduce bias. The inclusion of diverse Millennial caregivers throughout all stages of the research process and having a diverse nursing research workforce will support these efforts. CONCLUSION: Millennial family caregivers comprise one-quarter of the family caregiving population in the United States, and they are more diverse than previous family caregiving generational cohorts. Their needs will be more fully supported by nursing scientists with the adoption of methods and techniques that address complex identity and intersectionality. IMPACT: Nursing researchers can use the following research approaches to address complex identity and intersectionality in Millennial caregivers: inclusion of qualitative demographic data collection (participants can self-describe); data disaggregation; data visualization techniques to augment or replace frequencies and descriptive statistics for demographic reporting; use of researcher reflexivity throughout the research process; advanced statistical modelling techniques that can handle complex demographic data and test for interactions and differential effects of health outcomes; and qualitative approaches such as phenomenology that centre the stories and experiences of individuals within the population of interest.

Most accounts of single- and multi-unit responses in auditory cortex under anesthetized conditions have emphasized V-shaped frequency tuning curves and low-pass sensitivity to rates of repeated sounds. In contrast, single-unit recordings in awake marmosets also show I-shaped and O-shaped response areas having restricted tuning to frequency and (for O units) sound level. That preparation also demonstrates synchrony to moderate click rates and representation of higher click rates by spike rates of non-synchronized tonic responses, neither of which are commonly seen in anesthetized conditions. The spectral and temporal representation observed in the marmoset might reflect special adaptations of that species, might be due to single- rather than multi-unit recording, or might indicate characteristics of awake-versus-anesthetized recording conditions. We studied spectral and temporal representation in the primary auditory cortex of alert cats. We observed V-, I-, and O-shaped response areas like those demonstrated in awake marmosets. Neurons could synchronize to click trains at rates about an octave higher than is usually seen with anesthesia. Representations of click rates by rates of non-synchronized tonic responses exhibited dynamic ranges that covered the entire range of tested click rates. The observation of these spectral and temporal representations in cats demonstrates that they are not unique to primates and, indeed, might be widespread among mammalian species. Moreover, we observed no significant difference in stimulus representation between single- and multi-unit recordings. It appears that the principal factor that has hindered observations of high spectral and temporal acuity in the auditory cortex has been the use of general anesthesia.

This research aimed to identify trends on promotion challenges and concerns (CaCs) encountered by the faculty members in selected State universities and colleges (SUCs) in the Philippines. To specifically identify significant CaCs, the study employed the mixed-method research design utilizing the delphi model technique for data collection. Thematic data coding was thoroughly conducted to come up with a consensus from the experts in the field of promotion in higher education. There were 10 focal persons from the SUCs in the national capital region (NCR) purposively chosen as the study participants. The identified challenges and concerns as the trend indicators were categorized into themes such as appreciation of documents, faculty engagement for promotion, information dissemination, schedule of implementation, responsiveness of the national budget circular No. 461 (NBC 461) focal persons to promotion-related concerns, faculty engagement to promotion, and stakeholders' engagement to promotion. These indicators would be a relevant implication to the holistic and a uniform faculty promotion scheme in higher education institutions of the country. Hence, the result of the study shall be utilized by the SUCs policymakers in crafting the standardized NBC 461 policy guideline that is inclusive for implementing equal promotion opportunity as well as job security.

In this study we investigated how English learners (ELs) interacted with "®" summative English language arts (ELA) and mathematics items, the embedded online tools, and accessibility features. We focused on how EL students navigated the assessment items; how they selected or constructed their responses; how they interacted with the assessment content; the problems they encountered while completing the items; and the perceptions they had of the items, online tools, and accessibility features. We conducted one-on-one cognitive interviews with 44 students, including 29 ELs and 15 non-EL students and found that EL students were able to complete the items on their own. Our findings suggest that the Winsight ELA and mathematics items are appropriate for ELs and allow them to demonstrate their knowledge and skills.