bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Network Analysis to Visualize Qualitative Results: Example From a Qualitative Content Analysis of The National Child Abuse Hotline
Authors: Schwab-Reese Laura M. , Lenfestey Nicholas C. , Hartley Amelia W. , Renner Lynette M. , Prochnow Tyler
Published: October 2024

Data visualization, such as figures created through network analysis, may be one way to present more complete information from qualitative analysis. Segments of qualitatively coded data can be treated as objects in network analysis, thus creating visual representations of the code frequency (i.e., nodes) and the co-occurrence (i.e., edges). By sharing an example of network analysis applied to qualitative data, and then comparing our process with other applications, our goal is to help other researchers reflect on how this approach may support their interpretation and visualization of qualitative data. A total of 265 de-identified transcripts between help-seekers and National Child Abuse Hotline crisis counselors were included in the network analysis. Post-conversation surveys, including help-seekers’ perceptions of the conversations, were also included in the analysis. Qualitative content analysis was conducted, which was quantified as the presence or absence of each code within a transcript. Then, we divided the dataset based on help-seekers’ perceptions. Individuals who responded that they “Yes/Maybe” felt more hopeful after the conversation were in the “hopeful” dataset, while those who answered “No” were in the “unhopeful” dataset. This information was imported to UCINET to create co-occurrence matrices. Gephi was used to visualize the network. Overall, code co-occurrence networks in hopeful conversations were denser. Furthermore, the average degree was higher in these hopeful conversations, suggesting more codes were consistently present. Codes in hopeful conversations included information, counselor support, and problem-solving. Conversely, non-hopeful conversations focused on information. Overall, network analysis revealed patterns that were not evident through traditional qualitative analysis.
Paraeducator Involvement in Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports: A Brief Report
Authors: Walker Virginia L. , Carpenter Megan E. , Loman Sheldon L.
Published: October 2024

Paraeducators assume a range of responsibilities to assist school members in supporting students who receive special education services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (2004). These responsibilities often include supporting the behavioral needs of students with extensive support needs. Given the growing adoption of school-wide positive behavioral interventions and supports (PBIS) as a framework for supporting students’ social, emotional, and behavioral needs and increasing reliance on paraeducators among schools in the United States, we conducted an exploratory survey study of 82 paraeducators to explore their involvement and perceived importance of involvement in various PBIS aspects, perceived barriers and facilitators of involvement in PBIS, and their interest in professional development to learn about PBIS. Our findings suggest that, although paraeducators valued involvement in PBIS, their overall level of involvement was low across most aspects. Common barriers included limited training and membership on PBIS teams, and paraeducators viewed in-district workshops and one-on-one coaching and mentoring as the most preferred approaches for learning about PBIS.
Drafting a Law, Dissolving a Proposal: Food Sovereignty and the State in Ecuador
Authors: Flores Alexandra Martinez , Ruivenkamp Guido , Jongerden Joost
Published: October 2024

Upon being sworn in as the 56th Ecuadorian President on 15 January 2007, Rafael Correa immediately convened, through a referendum, a National Constituent Assembly to draw up a new constitution. One of the concerns of the assembly was to translate into law a food-sovereignty proposal put forward by social movements. In the process of becoming law, the food-sovereignty proposal was much changed. How is it possible that the final version, the law, so far fell short of the food-sovereignty movement’s original proposal? Addressing this question implies a reflection on the role of the state. We argue that (a) instead of strengthening the role of peasants, their participation was reduced to a bureaucratic structure (a ‘council’) that lacked the capacity to define or implement policies, and (b) the issue of the social function of land and land-reform was removed. I therefore conclude that the social movements’ proposal for food sovereignty was stripped of its essentials.
Book review: James Young (2017), Union Power: The United Electrical Workers in Erie
Authors: Shinde Pradeep
Published: October 2024

James Young (2017), Union Power: The United Electrical Workers in Erie. Pennsylvania: Monthly Review Press, pp. 264, $95.00 (Hardback), ISBN: 9781583676196 (E-Book).
Women’s Tears or Coffee Blight? Gender Dynamics and Livelihood Strategies in Contexts of Agricultural Transformation in Tanzania
Authors: Howland Olivia , Brockington Dan , Noe Christine
Published: October 2024

The transformations of the coffee sector have posed major challenges to rural farmers who have lost an important source of income. However, the way in which such shocks are experienced by families hinges on the gender relations governing families’ production and sale of coffee. In this article, it is argued that in Meru, Tanzania, which once had a strong coffee economy, the production of coffee depended on the subjugation of women by men. The collapse of coffee has created new opportunities for women. They do not mourn its demise, as one might expect from a merely financial perspective. At the same time, women’s new opportunities for income earning and business are also contested by men. The changes in this part of Tanzania in response to recent transformations can only be understood through the gender dynamics, and the contests, they fuel.
Evolution of Customary Land Tenure Institutions in Zambia: The Case of Lufwanyama District in the Copperbelt Province
Authors: Munshifwa Ephraim Kabunda , Chileshe Roy Alexander , Jain Niraj
Published: October 2024

Customary norms, as informal institutions, contribute to social order and stability, which support economic growth and agricultural production in most rural areas of sub-Saharan Africa. Customary rights on land are granted under this structure. Traditionally, grants of rights in these areas were unwritten, while the rights themselves were undefined and untradable. However, all this is changing under pressure of various factors. This article examines the key factors responsible for this change in three chiefdoms (Shimukunami, Shibuchinga, and Fungulwe) in Lufwanyama District in the Copperbelt Province. The study finds that the demands of a cash economy, a pervasive land market, increased demand by foreign and local investors, and the state’s own actions were exerting pressure on customary tenure and contributing to increased insecurity and changing livelihood practices in the area. The response to these threats by traditional administrators is to formulate local documents, such as village and farm permits, in a bid to strengthen villagers’ rights to land. Data were collected using household questionnaires, focus group discussions and in-depth interviews.
Thandika, Indefatigably Human
Authors: Shivji Issa G.
Published: October 2024

This article is a tribute to the late Thandika Mkandawire, who passed away on 27 March 2020. It remarks on Thandika’s essential simplicity and humour, and highlights his contribution to our understanding of the state and the peasantry in Africa. He put forward the thesis that post-colonial rebel movements have been largely urban-based aiming to conquer power whose seat is essentially in urban centres. This thesis needs to be revisited critically and debated, especially in the context of widespread land grabbing, which has shifted the terrain of struggle in the countryside.
Economic Growth and Rural Crisis in India: Imagining Cooperatives as a Viable Solution
Authors: Bhowmik Manas Ranjan , Thakurata Saswata Guha , Biswas Debolina
Published: October 2024

Despite sustained high growth in India over the past three decades or so, barring the recent turn of events, structural transformation has been characterized by deepening agrarian crisis, high unemployment, and a lack of remunerative and good quality jobs. These are the major contributors to the problem of burgeoning inequality in India. In this article, using various macro-level data sets, secondary case study reports, and one primary survey, it is argued that the neoliberal model of development cannot solve the ongoing rural crisis in India. This, in turn, calls for looking beyond this paradigm. Considering that agrarian (or broadly speaking, rural) distress has its own class dynamics, which lead to disproportionate suffering among the class of marginal farmers/tenants, agricultural workers, and others, it is argued that cooperativism presents itself as an alternative model for remedying India’s ongoing rural crisis. In this context, strong management and external support are key factors to ensure the success of cooperatives.
Globalization and the Abridgement of Freedom
Authors: Patnaik Prabhat
Published: October 2024

This article argues that for large masses of the workers, peasants, agricultural laborers, and petty producers, especially in the Third World, for whom freedom consists in their ability to struggle to improve their living condition, globalization entails a loss of freedom compared even to what they had enjoyed under earlier dirigiste regimes that had functioned within a democratic set up. They become victims of growing inequality and even of growing absolute nutritional poverty through the spontaneous working of the neoliberal arrangement that characterizes contemporary globalization. At the same time, their capacity to bring about changes through collective political intervention is also taken away from them because of this very phenomenon of globalization, under which finance is globalized while the state remains a nation-state. The article also argues that delinking is also extremely difficult, as it brings in its wake transitional difficulties which are not just immense in themselves but become even more formidable because of the sanctions imposed at the behest of advanced countries. The working people of the Third World are thus kept in a bind. Moreover, as globalization gets engulfed in an economic crisis, this bind is further tightened through the institution of authoritarian and fascistic political regimes that launch an assault on individual rights and democratic institutions: the abridgement of freedom is then carried to an even higher level.
Book review: Vikas Rawal and Dorian Kalamvrezos Navarro (Eds.) (2019). The Global Economy of Pulses
Authors: Varma Poornima
Published: October 2024

Vikas Rawal and Dorian Kalamvrezos Navarro (Eds.) (2019). The Global Economy of Pulses, Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization. ISBN 978-92-5-109730-4, 174 pp., available at http://www.fao.org/3/i7108en/I7108EN.pdf .
Patient Experiences With Telemental Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Steidtmann Dana , McBride Samantha , Mishkind Matthew
Published: October 2024

Telemental health (TMH) was an effective and relatively well-accepted way of delivering mental health care prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and has become widely adopted through the pandemic. Although recent findings show telehealth remains relatively well accepted across health care broadly, little is known about how patient experiences of TMH may have changed through the pandemic as many sectors were virtualized. These findings describe patient experiences with TMH at an outpatient mental health clinic approximately 1 year after the clinic rapidly transitioned to full TMH due to COVID-19. Respondents are 137 adult patients. Most patients reported TMH to be extremely or very effective (85.0%) and better than anticipated (76.8%). Most patients (74.6%) were interested in continuing at least some visits by TMH after the pandemic. A small subset of patients who rated their relationship with their provider as better in-person than by TMH also reported a preference for most or all visits in-person. Results provide preliminary support that TMH remains a well-accepted option for many patients. Mental health clinics may best serve patients by offering a hybrid model of care that includes both TMH and in-person services.
Screen time and mental health: a prospective analysis of the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study
Authors: Nagata Jason M. , Al-Shoaibi Abubakr A.A. , Leong Alicia W. , Zamora Gabriel , Testa Alexander , Ganson Kyle T. , Baker Fiona C.
Published: October 2024

Background

Despite the ubiquity of adolescent screen use, there are limited longitudinal studies that examine the prospective relationships between screen time and child behavioral problems in a large, diverse nationwide sample of adolescents in the United States, which was the objective of the current study.

Methods

We analyzed cohort data of 9,538 adolescents (9–10 years at baseline in 2016–2018) with two years of follow-up from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study. We used mixed-effects models to analyze associations between baseline self-reported screen time and parent-reported mental health symptoms using the Child Behavior Checklist, with random effects adjusted for age, sex, race/ethnicity, household income, parent education, and study site. We tested for effect modification by sex and race/ethnicity.

Results

The sample was 48.8% female and racially/ethnically diverse (47.6% racial/ethnic minority). Higher total screen time was associated with all mental health symptoms in adjusted models, and the association was strongest for depressive (B = 0.10, 95% CI 0.06, 0.13, p < 0.001), conduct (B = 0.07, 95% CI 0.03, 0.10, p < 0.001), somatic (B = 0.06, 95% CI 0.01, 0.11, p = 0.026), and attention-deficit/hyperactivity symptoms (B = 0.06, 95% CI 0.01, 0.10, p = 0.013). The specific screen types with the greatest associations with depressive symptoms included video chat, texting, videos, and video games. The association between screen time and depressive, attention-deficit/hyperactivity, and oppositional defiant symptoms was stronger among White compared to Black adolescents. The association between screen time and depressive symptoms was stronger among White compared to Asian adolescents.

Conclusions

Screen time is prospectively associated with a range of mental health symptoms, especially depressive symptoms, though effect sizes are small. Video chat, texting, videos, and video games were the screen types with the greatest associations with depressive symptoms. Future research should examine potential mechanisms linking screen use with child behavior problems.
A landscape of resistance gene analogs in sour cherry (Prunus cerasus L.)
Authors: Wöhner Thomas Wolfgang , Emeriewen Ofere Francis
Published: October 2024

Objective

This research aims to analyze the presence and distribution of resistance genes in the avium and fruticosa subgenomes of Prunus cerasus through computational methods and bioinformatics tools.

Results

Analysis of genome and transcriptome sequencing data revealed a total of 19,570 transcripts with at least one resistance gene domain in Prunus cerasus subgenome avium and 19,142 in Prunus cerasus subgenome fruticosa. Key findings include the identification of 804 “complete” resistance gene transcripts in Prunus cerasus subgenome avium and 817 in Prunus cerasus subgenome fruticosa, with distinct distributions of resistance gene classes observed between the subgenomes. Phylogenetic analysis showed clustering of resistance genes, and unique resistance proteins were identified in each subgenome. Functional annotation comparisons with Arabidopsis thaliana highlighted shared and unique resistance genes, emphasizing the complexity of disease resistance in cherry species. Additionally, a higher diversity of RLKs and RLPs was observed, with 504 transcripts identified and 18 showing similarity to known reference genes.
An evaluation of the preprints produced at the beginning of the 2022 mpox public health emergency
Authors: Sterian Melanie , Samra Anmol , Pussegoda Kusala , Corrin Tricia , Qamar Mavra , Baumeister Austyn , Israr Izza , Waddell Lisa
Published: October 2024

Background

Preprints are scientific articles that have not undergone the peer-review process. They allow the latest evidence to be rapidly shared, however it is unclear whether they can be confidently used for decision-making during a public health emergency. This study aimed to compare the data and quality of preprints released during the first four months of the 2022 mpox outbreak to their published versions.

Methods

Eligible preprints (n = 76) posted between May to August 2022 were identified through an established mpox literature database and followed to July 2024 for changes in publication status. Quality of preprints and published studies was assessed by two independent reviewers to evaluate changes in quality, using validated tools that were available for the study design (n = 33). Tools included the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale; Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies 2 (QUADAS-2); and JBI Critical Appraisal Checklists. The questions in each tool led to an overall quality assessment of high quality (no concerns with study design, conduct, and/or analysis), moderate quality (minor concerns) or low quality (several concerns). Changes in data (e.g. methods, outcomes, results) for preprint-published pairs (n = 60) were assessed by one reviewer and verified by a second.

Results

Preprints and published versions that could be evaluated for quality (n = 25 pairs) were mostly assessed as low quality. Minimal to no change in quality from preprint to published was identified: all observational studies (10/10), most case series (6/7) and all surveillance data analyses (3/3) had no change in overall quality, while some diagnostic test accuracy studies (3/5) improved or worsened their quality assessment scores. Among all pairs (n = 60), outcomes were often added in the published version (58%) and less commonly removed (18%). Numerical results changed from preprint to published in 53% of studies, however most of these studies (22/32) had changes that were minor and did not impact main conclusions of the study.

Conclusions

This study suggests the minimal changes in quality, results and main conclusions from preprint to published versions supports the use of preprints, and the use of the same critical evaluation tools on preprints as applied to published studies, in decision-making during a public health emergency.
Cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the 2021 Louisiana Needs Assessment Questionnaire for Arabic-speaking people living with HIV
Authors: Sultan Eman Anwar , Elweshahi Heba Mahmoud , Mohamed Fatma Tharwat , Ashry Mona
Published: October 2024

Background

Despite the global decline in HIV infections and mortality worldwide, the HIV epidemic is still growing in the MENA region. In the region, People Living with HIV (PLWH) are facing many challenges related to cultural values, norms, and provided services which create significant obstacles to HIV prevention and control efforts. This study aimed to translate, culturally adapt, and validate the “2021 Louisiana Needs Assessment Questionnaire” for use among Egyptians and Arabic-speaking population.

Methods

Arabic translation and cultural adaptation of the questionnaire passed through five stages. The questionnaire was translated forward and backward then an expert committee reviewed the translated version. Another expert committee reviewed the developed version after modification to assess the content validity using the Content Validity Index (CVI). The last step included a cognitive interview of a convenient sample of 50 adult PLWH in five consecutive rounds to assess subjects’ understanding of questions and response items and their meanings.

Results

Modifications were carried out all through the translation and adaptation process of the questionnaire including used words, nomenclature of services, adding or omitting response items, and ordering of questions and response items. The synthesized Arabic-adapted questionnaire has adequate content validity and all questions are clearly understood by the studied subjects. The calculated Content Validity Index of all questionnaire items ranged from 0.82 to 1.

Conclusion

The developed culturally adapted questionnaire has adequate content validity/semantic appropriateness. It can be used to assess the needs of PLWH in the MENA region with minor adaptations to fit each country. It can also be used to follow the outcome and impact of implemented programs and services. Further research is recommended to assess its psychometric properties.
Microbial enzymes and major applications in the food industry: a concise review
Authors: Kumar Anu , Dhiman Sunny , Krishan Bhanu , Samtiya Mrinal , Kumari Ankita , Pathak Nishit , Kumari Archana , Aluko Rotimi E. , Dhewa Tejpal
Published: October 2024

The use of enzymes in the production of food products is an ancient practice. Microbes provide several enzymes that are involved in improving the taste, texture, as well as aroma of food items, offering several benefits to the food industry. Subsequently, the ease of availability of these microbial enzymes has increased their utilization in the food industry. This cost-effectiveness and ease of commercial-scale production make enzymes ideal tools for various industrial uses. Microbial enzymes are utilized in processing food products such as those associated with the brewery, dairy and bakery industries. In addition, the nutritional value, color, aroma and texture of food products can be improved by using microbial enzymes. With the progress in technology, several novel enzymes in various applications of the food and beverages industry have been developed and demand is constantly increasing. The present review provides a comparative narrative of the applications of some of the predominating enzymes, such as phytases, lipases, lactases, pectinases, and laccases, commonly used as processing aids in the food industry.

Graphical Abstract
5045 The Effects Of Non-functioning Adrenal Incidentalomas On Metabolic Comorbidities And Clinical Characteristics Changes: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis
Authors: Li X , Lan H , Wen J , Chen G , Lin W
Published: October 2024

Disclosure: X. Li: None. H. Lan: None. J. Wen: None. G. Chen: None. W. Lin: None.

The Effects of Non-functioning Adrenal Incidentalomas on Metabolic Comorbidities and Clinical Characteristics Changes: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Context: Adrenal incidentalomas (AI) are frequently detected during abdominal imaging, with non-functioning adrenal incidentalomas (NFAI) being particularly common, even in elderly individuals. This meta-analysis investigates the influence of NFAI on metabolic comorbidities, comparing non-surgical and surgical patient groups, and assessing alterations in NFAI characteristics. Design: Our comprehensive meta-analysis utilized data from multiple databases, encompassing studies from January 2000 to August 21, 2023.Setting: Data sources included PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science. Participants: The analysis comprises 24 articles involving 2,770 NFAI patients, categorized into non-surgical and surgical groups. Intervention: The non-surgical group underwent no surgery, while the surgical group underwent tumor resection. Main Outcome Measure: The study investigated changes in metabolic comorbidities (hypertension, diabetes, obesity, lipid metabolism disorders), tumor characteristics, and hormone production in NFAI patients during follow-up or after surgery. Results: In the non-surgical NFAI patient group (20 studies), metabolic comorbidities exhibited a discernible upward trajectory during follow-up. The initial hypertension prevalence of 58.3% increased by 4.2% over a 4-5 year follow-up period. Moreover, diabetes, obesity, and lipid metabolism disorders experienced significant increases of 5.8%, 2.2%, and 8.8%, respectively. In contrast, the surgical group (6 studies) demonstrated a notable reduction in hypertension, with 43.9% of initially hypertensive patients achieving hypertension-free status after surgery. As for tumor changes in the non-surgical group, they were generally inconsequential, with only 5% of patients witnessing tumor growth exceeding 10mm over approximately 3.3 years, and 8% undergoing functional changes. These findings underscore the divergent impact of non-surgical and surgical interventions on metabolic comorbidities in NFAI patients. Conclusion: The study advocates for regular monitoring of blood glucose and blood pressure in NFAI patients, especially those with metabolic comorbidities. When necessary, adenoma resection should be considered. Further investigation is warranted to elucidate the mechanisms connecting NFAI with metabolic factors.

Presentation: 6/1/2024
6981 Atypical hypoglycemia in a teenage boy with prediabetes
Authors: Shahid Nabiha , Salgado Claudia , Gurtunca Nursen
Published: October 2024

Disclosure: N. Shahid: None. C. salgado: None. N. Gurtunca: None.

Background: Hypoglycemia in teenagers is seen less commonly than in younger children. Overweight children with prediabetes presenting with hypoglycemia symptoms are often considered to have reactive post-prandial hypoglycemia due to the degree of hyperinsulinemia with insulin resistance seen in these children. We present a 13-year-old boy with prediabetes, who presented with episodes of altered mental status and was found to have hypoglycemia due to a solitary insulin secreting tumor. Case presentation: A 13-yr old boy with pre-diabetes presented to the ER with altered consciousness and non-ketotic, non-acidotic hypoglycemia [25 mg/dl] & trace ketonuria in the setting of Influenza A infection. Weight and BMI above the 99th%ile and acanthosis nigricans in the skin creases. No access to oral hypoglycemic agents. Urine toxicology was negative. EEG was normal. Euglycemia and level of consciousness restored after IV dextrose & this was considered a possible hypoglycemic seizure episode secondary to poor oral intake. 4 months later he had another episode of altered mental status, jittery movements and was found to be hypoglycemic [41 mg/dl]. He was admitted for further workup of recurrent hypoglycemia. Adrenal insufficiency was ruled out and a diagnostic fast was started. After 15 hours, he developed non-ketotic hypoglycemia [<50 mg/dl]. Critical sample [Table 1] and Glucagon challenge [Table 2] at the termination of the fast confirmed hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia. Given the unusual age and presentation, an MRI abdomen was done which showed a 1.6 cm lesion in the pancreatic body [Fig 1]. Dotatate whole body PET scan confirmed the insulinoma with no evidence of nodal or distant metastasis [Fig 2]. He underwent surgical enucleation of the insulinoma. Intraoperative secretin showed no evidence of pancreatic duct dilatation or leakage. Hereditary endocrine tumor panel including multiple endocrine neoplasia [MEN] gene analysis was negative. The postoperative course was complicated by a persistent pancreatic leak and pancreatitis eventually requiring an ERCP and stent placement 2 months post operatively. Conclusion: Insulinomas are very rare neuroendocrine tumors in pediatric population, with a prevalence of one in 250,000 and median age at presentation of 45-50 years. About 90% insulinomas are benign and less than 10% are associated with MEN-1 syndrome. Chronic hypoglycemia irrespective of the underlying insulin resistance of prediabetes can be seen with insulinoma and can cause hypoglycemia unawareness as seen in our patient. This has also been reported in literature to be misdiagnosed as refractory epilepsy or psychiatric disorders. Hypoglycemic symptoms at any age should be promptly worked up. Ruling out associated neuroendocrine hereditary tumor syndromes is crucial and prognosis of benign solitary insulinomas after surgical removal is mostly favorable.

Presentation: 6/3/2024
8070 Atypical New Onset Diabetes Mellitus in a Young Male: Is this LADA vs Type 1 or Type 2?
Authors: Devineni S K , Shaik S , Gilden J L
Published: October 2024

Disclosure: S.K. Devineni: None. S. Shaik: None. J.L. Gilden: None.

Background: Recent literature suggests that autoantibody seropositivity is common in new onset autoimmune Diabetes Mellitus (DM), especially in younger patients. Latent autoimmune diabetes of adults (LADA), a form of adult-onset autoimmune DM. is considered a mix of type 1 and type 2 DM, sharing similar immune cell characteristics to both subtypes. Unlike type 1, LADA patients do not require insulin for glycemic control for the first six months after diagnosis. Unlike type 2, LADA patients are positive for single islet autoantibody, glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD), and anti-gliadin antibodies. Patients with LADA often present with symptoms (polyuria, polydipsia, nocturia, fatigue, and visual changes). We present a case of new onset Diabetes Mellitus in a young male, autoantibody seronegative, at the time of diagnosis. Case report: A 19-year-old Caucasian male was sent to the Emergency Department with a serum blood glucose (BG) level of 579 mg% after routine blood tests. He denied any clinical symptoms and serum levels showed no elevation in ketones, nor bicarbonate levels, ruling out ketoacidosis. His hemoglobin A1c at that time was 14.7%. He denied prior knowledge of personal or family history of DM. or other autoimmune disorders. However, it was discovered that routine labs done 1 ½ months earlier on a Health Screen revealed BG=295 mg% with urine positive for ketones (80 mg/dl) and glucose (>1000 mg/dL). Physical Exam: (HT=178 cm; WT=79 Kg) was unremarkable. Autoantibodies for GAD 65, islet-cell, Zinc transporter 8, and Islet Antigen 2 were all negative. He was hospitalized for 9 days. BG levels were difficult to control and required increasing doses of both long acting and short acting insulin. He was discharged with insulin therapy (30 units of glargine at nighttime and 12 units of premeal aspart). One week later, the patient ate several gummy bears as a nighttime snack and subsequently woke up in the middle of the night feeling shaky and having blurry vision. BG was greater than 300 mg%. In the emergency room, he. received intravenous fluids. No insulin was given as his BG normalized and he was discharged. Later, a continuous glucose monitor revealed multiple hypoglycemic episodes. The patient was living in a situation where he only had limited access to certain foods, and thus his insulin regimen was decreased (28 units glargine and 10 units aspart for meals) Conclusion: We present the case of new onset atypical DM in a young patient whose insulin sensitivity and risk factors seem to resemble a pattern of type 1 DM; despite seronegative autoantibodies We predict that he may eventually seroconvert to type 1 DM. It is also possible that he may have an unusual presentation of LADA or type 2 DM, although he had no hyperglycemic symptoms.

Presentation: 6/3/2024
5180 Atypical Presentation of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in a 72Year Old Caucasian Male with Hemoglobin J-Baltimore Variant: A Case Report
Authors: Muojieje Chukwudi , Luzuriaga Maria
Published: October 2024

Disclosure: C. Muojieje: None. M. Luzuriaga: None.

Objective: This case report discusses the unusual manifestation of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) in a 72-year-old Caucasian male possessing a rare Hemoglobin variant, Hemoglobin J-Baltimore. It emphasizes the importance of recognizing how hemoglobin variants can impact HbA1c measurements. Alternative markers, such as fructosamine and HbA1c measurement using turbidimetric inhibition immunoassay (TINIA), are discussed as potential tools for a more precise assessment of glycemic control. Furthermore, it accentuates the effectiveness of tailored treatment strategies in such cases. Methods: A 72-year-old Caucasian male with a history of T2DM was referred to an endocrinology clinic due to substantial discordance between the blood glucose (BG) values when self-monitoring and HbA1c. The patient was diagnosed with T2DM a decade ago due to fasting hyperglycemia. His HbA1c levels had remained within normal range. He exhibited signs of diabetic nephropathy with moderately increased albuminuria. He was never prescribed an oral hypoglycemic agent. He reported polyuria, weight loss, and fatigue, prompting him to monitor his BG at home twice daily, revealing readings > 200 mg/dl. HbA1c measurement using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was 4.8%. His fasting plasma glucose was 190 mg/dl, and fructosamine levels were 292 umol/L (205 - 285 umol/L). An HbA1c level via TINIA was 6.4%. Hemoglobin electrophoresis unveiled the presence of Hemoglobin J-Baltimore. We started metformin, resulting in an improvement in HbA1c from 6.4% to 5.8%. Fructosamine levels improved from 292 umol/L to 210 umol/L. Fasting blood glucose remained > 150 mg/dl. Dulaglutide was introduced. Follow-up analysis showed an improvement in FBS to < 120 mg/dl. HbA1c remained unchanged at 5.9%. Conclusion: The significance of hemoglobin variants, exemplified by Hemoglobin J-Baltimore, cannot be overstated in the context of patients with T2DM, especially within populations where these variants are uncommon. This case underscores the need for a nuanced approach to glycemic control assessment in such individuals. The utilization of alternative markers, such as HbA1c values obtained through TINIA, emerges as a valuable strategy. The role of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) is crucial, providing real-time and comprehensive data, which enhances the quality of care and contributes to more tailored and effective treatment strategies.

Presentation: 6/1/2024
The case against simplistic genetic explanations of evolution
Authors: Cooper Kimberly L.
Published: October 2024

Humans are curious to understand the causes of traits that distinguish us from other animals and that distinguish vastly different species from one another. We also have a proclivity for simple stories and sometimes tend toward seeking and accepting simple genetic explanations for large evolutionary shifts, even to a single gene. Here, I reveal how a biased expectation of mechanistic simplicity threads through the long history of evolutionary and developmental genetics. I argue, however, that expecting a simple mechanism threatens a deeper understanding of evolution, and I define the limitations for interpreting experimental evidence in evolutionary developmental genetics.
Pathway to independence: perspectives on the future
Authors: Birtele Marcella , Cerise Martina , Djenoune Lydia , Kale Girish , Maniou Eirini , Prahl Louis S. , Schuster Keaton , Villeneuve Clementine
Published: October 2024

In this Perspective, our 2024 Pathway to Independence Fellows provide their thoughts on the future of their field. Covering topics as diverse as plant development, tissue engineering and adaptation to climate change, and using a wide range of experimental organisms, these talented postdocs showcase some of the major open questions and key challenges across the spectrum of developmental biology research.
Myosin II tension sensors visualize force generation within the actin cytoskeleton in living cells
Authors: Hart Ryan G. , Kota Divya , Li Fangjia , Zhang Mengdi , Ramallo Diego , Price Andrew J. , Otterpohl Karla L. , Smith Steve J. , Dunn Alexander R. , Huising Mark O. , Liu Jing , Chandrasekar Indra
Published: October 2024

Nonmuscle myosin II (NMII) generates cytoskeletal forces that drive cell division, embryogenesis, muscle contraction and many other cellular functions. However, at present there is no method that can directly measure the forces generated by myosins in living cells. Here, we describe a Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET)-based tension sensor that can detect myosin-associated force along the filamentous actin network. Fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM)-FRET measurements indicate that the forces generated by NMII isoform B (NMIIB) exhibit significant spatial and temporal heterogeneity as a function of donor lifetime and fluorophore energy exchange. These measurements provide a proxy for inferred forces that vary widely along the actin cytoskeleton. This initial report highlights the potential utility of myosin-based tension sensors in elucidating the roles of cytoskeletal contractility in a wide variety of contexts.
Hyperoxia does not improve the acute upper thermal tolerance of a tropical marine fish (Lutjanus apodus)
Authors: Sandrelli Rebeccah M. , Porter Emma S. , Gamperl Anthony K.
Published: October 2024

Fish can experience hyperoxia in shallow environments due to photosynthetic activity and this has been suggested to provide them with a metabolic refuge during acute warming. However, this hypothesis has never been tested on a tropical marine species. Thus, we fitted 29°C-acclimated wild schoolmaster snapper (Lutjanus apodus; a species known to experience diel hyperoxia in mangrove creeks and coastal waters) with Transonic® flow probes and exposed them to an acute increase in temperature (at 1°C h−1) in respirometers under normoxia and hyperoxia (150% air saturation), until their critical thermal maximum (CTmax). The CTmax of both groups was ∼39°C, and no differences in maximum cardiac function were recorded as the fish were warmed. However, temperature-induced factorial aerobic scope was significantly greater in fish tested under hyperoxia. These data suggest that hyperoxia will not protect coastal tropical fish species during marine heat waves, despite its effects on metabolic scope/capacity.
How do fish miss? Attack strategies of threespine stickleback capturing non-evasive prey
Authors: Shirazi Seth , Higham Timothy E.
Published: October 2024

Most predators rely on capturing prey for survival, yet failure is common. Failure is often attributed to prey evasion, but predator miscalculation and/or inaccuracy may also drive an unsuccessful event. We addressed the latter using threespine stickleback as predators and bloodworms (non-evasive) as prey. High-speed videography of the entire attack allowed us to determine the strike tactics leading to successful or missed strikes. We analyzed movements and morphological traits from 57 individuals. Our results reveal that kinematics drive the strike outcome and that failed strikes primarily arise from incorrect timing of mouth opening, often beginning too far from the prey for suction to be effective. This likely stems from the lack of integration between locomotion and feeding systems. Our study begins to unravel the important link between behavior and success in fish feeding.
Comparing Risk and Protective Factors to Mental Illness: First- vs Second-Generation Latino Immigrants
Authors:   , Yanouri Lamia Lourdes
Published: October 2024

Latinos generally have equal or lower rates of mental illness relative to their White counterparts (the so-called Hispanic paradox). In addition, first-generation Latino immigrants have decreased odds of psychiatric illness than second-generation Latino immigrants (referred to as the immigrant paradox). Unfortunately, our understanding of mechanisms underlying the Hispanic and immigrant paradoxes has been limited by methodological issues in extant research, resulting in only a vague understanding of the resiliency of Latinos to psychiatric illness. The current project addresses these shortcomings by comparing risk and protective factors to mental illness among first- and second-generation Latinos. Results of this study indicate that first-generation Latinos report higher national identity exploration, pressure to acculturate, and social status and lower language-based acculturation in comparison to second-generation Latinos. Regression analyses suggest that higher ethnic discrimination and acculturative stress, lower perceived social status, and residency in an ethnic enclave increase Latinos' risk to mental illness, whereas higher American and Latino identification and social support reduce this risk. Results of moderation analyses indicate that ethnic discrimination and certain dimensions of acculturative stress exacerbate associations between age of immigration and years in the U.S. and negative mental health outcomes for first-generation Latinos. These findings, taken together, provide a greater understanding of the underlying processes of the Hispanic and immigrant paradoxes. Study limitations, policy and clinical implications, and future directions are presented.
Community and Connectedness: An Exploratory Study of Online Community Development in the Learning Technologies Program
Authors:   , Lipscomb Sharonda R.
Published: October 2024

The purpose of this exploratory study was to investigate graduate student perceptions of community and connectedness enrolled in an online doctoral program at a Texas university. This research is relevant to students enrolled at the University of North Texas in the learning technologies (LTEC) PhD program. The aim was to identify elements that facilitate community and connectedness among residential and distributed students. The study utilized a mixed method approach employing the Brief Sense of Community Survey (BSCS) and the Online Student Connectedness Survey (OSCS) for the quantitative data along with semi-structured interviews for qualitative analysis. Survey data was collected from twenty-nine residential and distributed students ranging from first year to dissertation stage. Semi-structure interviews were conducted from five student volunteers to further identify participants' perception of community and connectedness within the program. Results reveal that while current features of community designed within the program (i.e. annual meeting, associate graduate faculty support, and cohort model) are beneficial in helping students develop a sense of community and sense of connectedness. However, students desire deeper connections with peers, faculty and the program at various phases of the doctoral process. Doctoral support during the dissertation phase, additional student support such as alumni and current student mentoring and the development of an online community emerged as beneficial in further creating community and connectedness among students in the program.
Motivational Climate as an Antecedent to Teamwork Behaviors and the Development of Sport Enjoyment, Athlete Satisfaction with Team Performance, and Collective Efficacy
Authors:   , Sokoloff Derek Michael
Published: October 2024

I used structural equation modeling to analyze different models representing the direct and indirect relationships between coach-created motivational climates (i.e., empowering and disempowering) and teamwork behaviors to collegiate women athletes' (N = 592) perceptions of sport enjoyment, satisfaction with team performance, and collective efficacy. The total effects model represented a better fit to the data than did the indirect effects model; empowering and disempowering climates were associated directly with teamwork behaviors (R2 = .50). As expected, teamwork behaviors were related significantly to each outcome: enjoyment, athlete satisfaction with team performance, and collective efficacy. Although only empowering was related to enjoyment, the indirect effects of both motivational climates were significant: (a) empowering climate X teamwork X sport enjoyment, (b) athlete satisfaction with team performance, (c) collective efficacy, (d) disempowering climate X teamwork X sport enjoyment, (e) athlete satisfaction with team performance, and (f) collective efficacy. The total effect of empowering climate, which included the direct and indirect effects, were significant for enjoyment, athlete satisfaction with team performance, and collective efficacy. No total effect for disempowering climate was significant. The results suggest that the types of climates coaches create, particularly ones that are empowering, may help improve their teams' performance through more and better engagement in teamwork behaviors. Sport psychologists should work with coaches to help them develop such environments and help their teams thrive.
Siamese Network with Dynamic Contrastive Loss for Semantic Segmentation of Agricultural Lands
Authors:   , Pendotagaya Srinivas
Published: October 2024

This research delves into the application of semantic segmentation in precision agriculture, specifically targeting the automated identification and classification of various irrigation system types within agricultural landscapes using high-resolution aerial imagery. With irrigated agriculture occupying a substantial portion of US land and constituting a major freshwater user, the study's background highlights the critical need for precise water-use estimates in the face of evolving environmental challenges, the study utilizes advanced computer vision for optimal system identification. The outcomes contribute to effective water management, sustainable resource utilization, and informed decision-making for farmers and policymakers, with broader implications for environmental monitoring and land-use planning. In this geospatial evaluation research, we tackle the challenge of intraclass variability and a limited dataset. The research problem centers around optimizing the accuracy in geospatial analyses, particularly when confronted with intricate intraclass variations and constraints posed by a limited dataset. Introducing a novel approach termed "dynamic contrastive learning," this research refines the existing contrastive learning framework. Tailored modifications aim to improve the model's accuracy in classifying and segmenting geographic features accurately. Various deep learning models, including EfficientNetV2L, EfficientNetB7, ConvNeXtXLarge, ResNet-50, and ResNet-101, serve as backbones to assess their performance in the geospatial context. The data used for evaluation consists of high-resolution aerial imagery from the National Agriculture Imagery Program (NAIP) captured in 2015. It includes four bands (red, green, blue, and near-infrared) with a 1-meter ground sampling distance. The dataset covers diverse landscapes in Lonoke County, USA, and is annotated for various irrigation system types. The dataset encompasses diverse geographic features, including urban, agricultural, and natural landscapes, providing a representative and challenging scenario for model assessment. The experimental results underscore the efficacy of the modified contrastive learning approach in mitigating intraclass variability and improving performance metrics. The proposed method achieves an average accuracy of 96.7%, a BER of 0.05, and an mIoU of 88.4%, surpassing the capabilities of existing contrastive learning methods. This research contributes a valuable solution to the specific challenges posed by intraclass variability and limited datasets in the realm of geospatial feature classification. Furthermore, the investigation extends to prominent deep learning architectures such as Segformer, Swin Transformer, Convexnext, and Convolution Vision Transformer, shedding light on their impact on geospatial image analysis. ConvNeXtXLarge emerges as a robust backbone, demonstrating remarkable accuracy (96.02%), minimal BER (0.06), and a high MIOU (85.99%).