40 research outputs found
The Predisposed Agency of Genomic Fiction
No full textHamner's essay analyzes Richard Powers's novel Generosity: An Enhancement as an example of genomic fiction, a genre-bending science fiction subgenre focused on relationships between biology and identity. Prefacing this study with brief readings of novels by Michael Crichton and evangelical author Angela Hunt, the essay reflects extensively on the metaphors and mythologies involved in contemporary genomics. Here Powers has the distinct advantage of being one of only eight individuals, as of 2008, to have had his entire genome sequenced. Hamner interweaves essays about such experiences from Powers and others with questions about the extent to which genomics can be expected to yield new self-understanding. The essay's broadest argument is that by juxtaposing fictional creativity and genomic modification, Generosity effectively illustrates the need for bridge-building across science-religion, religion-humanities, and humanities-science divides. Specifically, Powers reveals the extent to which genes are gaining sacrosanct status in U.S. culture, and in response offers a postsecular, metanarratival science fiction that contextualizes some of the more inflated rhetoric. Defending scientific research but denouncing its metamorphosis into techno-transcendent spectacle, Powers's work aligns fiction and evolution as processes of painfully slow, bottom-up “compositing,” wherein complexity emerges from simplicity, purpose appears in apparent randomness, and agency persists in tension with both inherited and environmental determinants. Ultimately, Hamner's essay shows that beneath questions about genomic identity lie even more profound ones about the nature and purposes of narrative.</jats:p
Pediatr Blood Cancer
No full textBackgroundPediatric cancer is associated with a host of negative psychosocial consequences; however, outcomes vary extensively suggesting a need to better understand this variation. Empirical research suggests a positive association between time since diagnosis (TSD) and Quality of Life (QoL). In addition to TSD, family stressors have been found to be particularly important in predicting QoL among children. The current study examined parental chronic stress beyond TSD in explanation of QoL functioning among a sample of pediatric patients with cancer.ProcedureParticipants included 43 pediatric patients aged 5\u201318 years (Mage = 10.2 \ub1 3.6) who were undergoing oncological treatment. Parents reported on TSD, child\u2019s QoL, and their own chronic stress.ResultsTSD was associated with greater physical functioning (r = 0.30, P< 0.05). Parental chronic stress was associated with poorer emotional (r = 120.54, P< 0.01), physical (r = 120.41, P<0.01), and social functioning (r = 120.44, P<0.01). Further, hierarchal linear regression analyzes indicated parental chronic stress contributed incrementally beyond TSD in the explanation of physical (\u3b2 = 120.37, t = 122.58, P< 0.01), emotional (\u3b2 = 120.47, t = 123.51, P< 0.00), and social functioning (\u3b2 = 120.38, t = 122.67, P< 0.01).ConclusionsParental chronic stress is associated with reduced levels of emotional, physical, and social functioning among pediatric patients. Future research is needed to further investigate the process by which chronic stress within the family interferes with adaptive coping among pediatric patients. In addition, clinical services may benefit from increased consideration of family factors, such as parental chronic stress, during oncological treatment.CC999999/Intramural CDC HHS/United States2018-03-06T00:00:00Z25755193PMC5839300vault:2747
Nanda-Hamner curves show huge latitudinal variation but no circadian components in Drosophila montana photoperiodism
No full textAbstractInsect species with a wide distribution offer a great opportunity to trace latitudinal variation in the photoperiodic regulation of traits important in reproduction and stress tolerances. We measured this variation in the photoperiodic time-measuring system underlying reproductive diapause in Drosophila montana, using a Nanda-Hamner (NH) protocol. None of the study strains showed diel rhythmicity in female diapause proportions under a constant day length (12 h) and varying night lengths in photoperiods ranging from 16 to 84 h at 16°C. In the northernmost strains (above 55°N), nearly all females entered diapause under all photoperiods and about half of them even in continuous darkness, while the females of the southern strains showed high diapause proportions only in the circadian 24 h photoperiod. Significant correlation between the strains’ mean diapause proportions in ≥ 24 h photoperiods and critical day length (CDL; half of the females enter diapause) suggests at least partial causal connection between the traits. Interestingly, females of the northern strains entered diapause even in ≤ 24 h photoperiods, where the night length was shorter than their critical night length (24 h — CDL), but where the females experienced a higher number of Light:Dark cycles than in 24 h photoperiods. NH experiments, performed on the control and selection lines in our previous selection experiment, and completed here, gave similar results and confirmed that selection for shorter, southern-type CDL decreases female diapausing rate in non-circadian photoperiods. Overall, our study shows that D. montana females measure night length quantitatively, that the photoperiodic counter may play a prominent but slightly different role in extra short and extra long photoperiods and that northern strains show high stability against perturbations in the photoperiod length and in the presence of LD cycles. These features are best explained by the quantitative versions of the damped external coincidence model.Abstract
Insect species with a wide distribution offer a great opportunity to trace latitudinal variation in the photoperiodic regulation of traits important in reproduction and stress tolerances. We measured this variation in the photoperiodic time-measuring system underlying reproductive diapause in Drosophila montana, using a Nanda-Hamner (NH) protocol. None of the study strains showed diel rhythmicity in female diapause proportions under a constant day length (12 h) and varying night lengths in photoperiods ranging from 16 to 84 h at 16°C. In the northernmost strains (above 55°N), nearly all females entered diapause under all photoperiods and about half of them even in continuous darkness, while the females of the southern strains showed high diapause proportions only in the circadian 24 h photoperiod. Significant correlation between the strains’ mean diapause proportions in ≥ 24 h photoperiods and critical day length (CDL; half of the females enter diapause) suggests at least partial causal connection between the traits. Interestingly, females of the northern strains entered diapause even in ≤ 24 h photoperiods, where the night length was shorter than their critical night length (24 h — CDL), but where the females experienced a higher number of Light:Dark cycles than in 24 h photoperiods. NH experiments, performed on the control and selection lines in our previous selection experiment, and completed here, gave similar results and confirmed that selection for shorter, southern-type CDL decreases female diapausing rate in non-circadian photoperiods. Overall, our study shows that D. montana females measure night length quantitatively, that the photoperiodic counter may play a prominent but slightly different role in extra short and extra long photoperiods and that northern strains show high stability against perturbations in the photoperiod length and in the presence of LD cycles. These features are best explained by the quantitative versions of the damped external coincidence model
Children with perinatal stroke are at increased risk for autism spectrum disorder: Prevalence and co-occurring conditions within a clinically followed sample.
No full textOBJECTIVE: Children with perinatal stroke are at increased risk for developmental language disorders, learning difficulties, and other mental health conditions. However to date, autism (ASD) prevalence in this group has not been reported. Given that early identification of ASD is essential to promoting optimal outcomes, our goal was to establish prevalence of ASD in children with perinatal stroke.
METHOD: A prospectively enrolled, single-center stroke registry maintained at our institution since 2005 was queried for all potentially eligible patients with a history of perinatal stroke. Information regarding stroke features, ASD diagnosis/concern, intellectual disability/global developmental delay, cerebral palsy/hemiparesis, epilepsy, and language disorder were collected via retrospective chart review from electronic health records.
RESULTS: 311 children were identified, of which 201 complete records were analyzed. Twenty-three cases were formally diagnosed with ASD (11.4%). First concerns were noted in toddlerhood (Mage = 2.66 years), yet the average age of diagnosis was 6.26 years. Children with ASD were more likely to have earlier diagnoses of intellectual disability/global developmental delay or a mixed receptive-expressive language disorder (
DISCUSSION: Children with perinatal stroke have an increased prevalence of ASD (11.4%) than in the general population. ASD concerns arise at a similar age as the general population, yet ASD is diagnosed almost two years later than the general population and 3.60 years after first concerns present. Co-occurring neurological conditions are common. Clinicians must be aware of increased prevalence and implement screening as part of routine care for all pediatric patients with perinatal stroke
Exposure to Community Violence, Parental Involvement, and Aggression Among Immigrant Adolescents
No full textCB library celebrates Banned Book Week
No full textThe author discusses the Coos Bay Library\u27s policies regarding materials selection and refers to a challenge at a Gold Beach elementary school that occurred in 1994. The author mentions titles that have been challenged in the past and lists reasons why materials are typically challenged
The Gross Anatomy of the Alimentary Canal of Solubea Pugnax (Fab.) (Heteroptera, Pentatomidae)
No full textAuthor Institution: State College, Mississipp
Differences in Google Analytics between Web 1.0 and Web 2.0: A case study
No full textThis thesis is designed to study the field of Google Analytics and apply it to real-world projects—the official website of Texas Woman's University and MatrixZK. The science of Google Analytics includes storing and analyzing users' information for a specific web site. Google Analytics works completely with the official website of TWU (Web 1.0). For studying Web 2.0, the author designed and programmed MatrixZK; however, the contents category did not observe useful data. After several testing, the author added functions of Google Analytics API to MatrixZK in order to monitor visitors' actions in the Web 2.0 website
