Whole genome transcriptome analysis has revealed that a large proportion of the genome in higher metazoa is transcribed, yet only a small proportion of this transcription is protein-coding. One possible function of non-coding transcription is that it enables complex and diverse body plans to evolve through variation in deployment of a relatively common set of protein-coding genes. Functional studies suggest that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) regulate gene expression via diverse mechanisms, operating in both cis and trans to activate or repress target genes. An emerging theme common to lncRNA function is interaction with proteins that modify chromatin and mediate epigenetic regulation. The Hox gene complexes are particularly rich in lncRNAs and require precise and fine-tuned expression to deploy Hox transcription factors throughout development. Here we identify and functionally characterize two novel lncRNAs within the D. melanogaster Hox complex, in the interval between Scr and Antp. We use nascent transcript fluorescent in-situ hybridization (ntFISH) to characterize the embryonic expression patterns of each lncRNA with respect to flanking Hox genes, and to analyze co-transcription within individual nuclei. We find that the transcription of one lncRNA, ncX, is an initial response to early transcription factors and may activate Scr expression, while transcription of the other lncRNA, ncPRE is consistent with activation and/or maintenance of Scr expression. ntFISH performed in D.virilis embryos revealed the presence of a lncRNA ortholog with highly similar expression to ncX, indicating functional conservation of lncRNA transcription across ~60 million years of evolution. We identify the ncPRE lncRNA locus as a binding site for multiple proteins associated with Polycomb/Trithorax response elements (PREs/TREs) and show that DNA encoding the ncPRE lncRNA functions as a bona fide PRE, mediating trans-interactions between chromosomes and silencing of nearby genes. We find that transcription through the ncPRE DNA relieves silencing, suggesting a role for endogenous transcription of the ncPRE lncRNA in relieving Polycomb-silencing and enabling Scr activation. We demonstrate that both lncRNA transcripts are required for proper Scr expression, and over-expression of either lncRNAs from ectopic genomic loci has no effect on Scr expression, but ectopic expression at the endogenous locus is associated with ectopic Scr activation, indicating that the lncRNA-mediated regulation functions locally at the site of transcription on the chromosome. ncX may mediate transvection effects previously observed at the Scr locus, independent of the protein Zeste. Together our results support a model of competing mechanisms in the regulation of Scr expression - a background of Polycomb repression acting from the ncPRE locus, which in the first thoracic segment is counteracted by lncRNA transcription and Trithorax binding to ncPRE, enabling activation and maintenance of Scr expression. This work provides a functional insight into the complex regulatory interactions between lncRNAs and epigenetic mechanisms, essential to establish and maintain the precise expression pattern of Hox genes through development.

Introduction: In 2014,Lamar and Mary Fowler Holcomb donated a collection of artifacts from the Native American site of Long Swamp to the Cherokee County Historical Society. Holcomb property is on land associated with the Long Swamp site (9CK1), which has allowed the two to gather artifacts from the site throughout the years. The rest of 9CK1 is on the opposite side of SR372. Edwards Pitman Environmental Inc. (EPEI), a local archaeological firm, was contacted in 2007 to investigate 9CK1 on public land, due to damage resulting from an extension of SR372. The archaeologists recovered artifacts in association with Long Swamp. In contrast to the excavation conducted by EPEI, the Holcomb maintained a minimal record of the artifacts they collected, voiding most of context associated with each artifact. Without contextual information, I rely on stylistic variables and to type the pipes. To do this, I compare the pipes from the donated collection to the other materials from Long Swamp and other archaeological sites in Georgia to ascertain the typology and chronology of the artifacts from the Holcomb Collection. Methods: The collection contains sixty-six pipes and pipe fragments. These pipes were measured with plastic, dial calipers, 150 mm/0.0254 mm. Weights were taken using a scale, max weight, 200 g. The pipes were photographed using a Nikon DX AF-S 18-55mm 1:3.5-5.6g D 5.100. Analysis also included a literature review and the investigation of pipes from archaeological collections housed at the University of Georgia, Athens and the University of West Georgia. Results: My analysis resulted in the creation of a typology for the pipes in the collection. Although none of the clay for the pipes was sourced, a cursory study of the different pipes suggests that multiple types of clay were used. Some of the more overt variations among pipe structures are the ratios between height and weight. These variations could indicate different craftsman, throughout time. Conclusion: The Lamar and Mary Fowler Holcomb Collection is the result of several years of collecting. The pipes within the collection appear to span several occupational phases of the Long Swamp site. This supports the findings of the previous research conducted at the site. However, with little contextual support, this can only be inferred based on stylistic attributes that can be compared to the materials from other collections. Further research into sourcing the clay for the pipes may prove useful to learn more about this collection.

Abstract Early sport specialization is a phenomenon that continues to be practiced in today’s youth sports environment. The purpose of this study was to explore practices around early specialization within the minor hockey context in Eastern Ontario. More specifically, the goal of this thesis was to better understand parental perspectives on specialization versus diversification relative to their child’s experience in the sport of ice hockey. Additionally, this study aimed to uncover the rates of specialization in Minor Peewee AA ice hockey players in Eastern Ontario and the factors that influence those who specialize. A concurrent embedded mixed-methods procedure was employed for this study; a total of 114 survey responses and 15 semi-structured interviews formed the study sample. Findings in the study reveal a large majority of parents foster specialization in their child as 87% (n=114) of survey participants identified as having a child who specializes in the sport of ice hockey. However, interview data revealed that parents favor development through diversification. Individual influences such as parents and coaching staff were found to be contributing factors to the phenomenon of specialization. Further, the availability of resources within the hockey context was additionally found to influence specialization. Finally, Hockey Canada’s current position was cogitated with the results to reveal a strong inclination towards elite development. Results indicate a need for parent and coach education regarding their role in early specialization and their support for diversification of sport experiences. It is of particular importance during the transitioning years in particular where stakeholders (parents, coaches, administration) foster the sense of well-rounded development of a participating child not just for the preparation for the elite stages of sport but for overall wellness of the individual.

0 / SPK / specialcollections@tulane.edu

Americans over age 65 constitute a larger percentage of the population each year: from 14% in 2010 (40 million elderly) to possibly 20% in 2030 (70 million elderly). In 2015, an estimated 66 million people provided care to the ill, disabled, and elderly in the United States. In 2000, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 15 million Americans used some form of long-term care: adult day care, home health, nursing home, or hospice. In all, 13% of people over 85 years old, compared with 1% of those ages 65 to 74, live in nursing homes in the United States. Transitions of care, among these various levels of care, are common: Nursing home to hospital transfer, one of the best-studied transitions, occurs in more than 25% of nursing home residents per year. This article follows one patient through several levels of care.

Introuction: The sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) region is making progress in its contraceptive policies that allow for the provision of long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARC). Despite this, the overall utilisation of contraception, especially LARC is low while the burden of unintended pregnancies remains high. Unintended pregnancies pose a significant threat to global public health with far-reaching consequences. There is a need to explore all the reasons for the low uptake of effective LARC methods. The objectives of this systematic review and meta-analysis, was therefore to determine the state of knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions of LARCs among healthcare workers (HCW) in sub-Saharan Africa. Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted of published qualitative and quantitative studies. A search strategy was developed and applied to three major databases (PubMed, Ovid (Medline), and Scopus). Studies of both a qualitative and quantitative nature were included if they assessed either the knowledge, attitude, perception or a combination of the concepts among HCWs toward a LARC method. Data were extracted using a pre-determined data extraction form to conduct a qualitative synthesis using a thematic content analysis framework using ATLAS.ti version 8. In addition to this, data was specifically extracted relating to 11 pre-determined questions to conduct proportion meta-analyses using Stata version 15. Heterogeneity was further explored using the I2-statistic and publication bias using funnel plots and Egger’s tests. Results: A total of 3616 records were screened, of which 3510 were excluded. From 106 full-text articles assessed for eligibility, 50 were included for qualitative synthesis and 21 included in the meta-analysis. From the studies, a total of 12 356 participants were included in the analysis. From the meta-analysis, the overall proportion of HCWs with training in family planning was 62% (95% CI: 48%, 76%) while 60% (95% CI: 41%, 80%) reported providing family planning counselling to their clients. Forty-one percent (95% CI: 20%, 61%) of HCWs had received IUCD insertion training with 63% (95% CI: 44%, 81%) expressing a desire for additional training. Only 27% of HCWs (95% CI: 18%, 36%) deemed IUCD appropriate for HIV-infected women. Moreover, restrictions for IUCD and injectables based on a minimum age were imposed by 56% (95% CI: 33%, 78%) and 60% (95% 41 CI: 36%, 84%) of HCWs, respectively. Lastly, minimum parity restrictions were also observed among 29% (95% CI: 9%, 50%) of HCWs for IUCDs and 36% (95% CI: 16%, 43 56%) for injectable contraceptives. Conclusion: The study revealed that there is a gap in knowledge of HCWs regarding family planning counselling and LARC provision. In addition to this, the results indicate that unnecessary provider-imposed restrictions may hinder the uptake of LARC methods by women in sub-Saharan Africa. With the deadline for the Family Planning 2020 initiative and the 2030 SDGs quickly approaching, there is a need to address these issues. / Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2020. / School of Health Systems and Public Health (SHSPH) / MSc (Epidemiology) / Unrestricted

Phonological processes can be characterized as functions from input strings to output strings, and treating them as mathematical objects like this reveals properties that hold regardless of how we implement them (i.e., with rules, constraints, or other tools). For example, Chandlee (2014) found that a vast majority of phonological processes can be modelled as Strictly Local (SL) functions, which are sensitive to a window of finite size. Long-distance processes like vowel and consonant harmony are exceptions to this generalization, although a key observation is that they look local once irrelevant information is ignored. This thesis shows how such selective attention can be modelled by augmenting SL functions with autosegmental tiers (e.g., Goldsmith, 1976). A single tier is sufficient to capture individual long-distance processes, and having multiple tiers available allows us to model multiple long-distance processes simultaneously as well as interactions between local and non-local patterns. Furthermore, probabilistic variants of these tier-based functions allow for a cognitively plausible model of what Zymet (2015) calls distance-based decay. Unrestricted use of multiple tiers is, however, quite powerful and so I additionally argue that tiersets should be defined from the perspective of individual input elements (i.e., potential process targets). Each input element designates a superset-subset hierarchy of tiers and pays attention to them alone; the tiers specified by another input element are either redundant or irrelevant. Restricting tiersets in this manner has beneficial consequences for learnability as it imparts a structure onto the learner's hypothesis space that can be exploited to great effect. Furthermore, tier-based functions meeting this restriction fail to generate a number of pathological behaviours that can be characterized as subsequential functions, a type of function that has previously been offered as a model of non-local phonological processes (Heinz and Lai, 2013; Luo, 2017; Payne, 2017). In light of their empirical coverage, their comparative lack of pathological predictions, and their efficient learnability, I conclude that tier-based functions act as a more accurate characterization of long-distance phonology.

The site area for the Orizaba Design District is located in central Long Beach, California. Historically the physical development of the area has been heavily influenced by the existence of the Pacific Electric Railroad, which has a right-of-way running diagonally through the site. With the existence of the railroads, as well as the Districts proximity to the Port of Long Beach and major thoroughfares, the area has developed as an industrial site. Despite the industrial nature of the area, starting in 2007 a small group of creative business owners, including architects, graphic designers, interior designers, and others, started to locate in the District, mainly along Coronado and Gladys Avenues. This private investment spurred further development and led to the identification of the site as having the potential to grow into a unique Design District. Based on these realities, the Orizaba Urban Design Plan seeks to provide conceptual and design principles that will provide the City of Long Beach and local business owners with insight into development opportunities. The Plan envisions Orizaba has a safe, pedestrian friendly District that builds on the existing character of the City. To accomplish this, the Plan incorporates elements of site analysis and community meetings into conceptual development, which is further refined to create Plan objectives. The Plan objectives address elements of land use and circulation and explore ways the District can utilize sustainable design principles, particularly Low Impact Development. Finally, form-based codes incorporate Plan objectives into clearly defined design standards. The standards, which address elements of building envelopes, streetscape, visual quality, signage and wayfinding, and street furniture, are provided to aid in implementation and the realization of the District’s potential.

Each year, hospitalizations from long-term care (LTC) settings occur, in part, due to underdeveloped nursing assessment skills, ineffective communication with primary care providers (PCPs), and delayed intervention. Through staff development nursing education, the quality and timeliness of care can be improved. The practice question that guided this doctoral project focused on whether evidence-based research information would assist in decreasing LTC-to-hospital admission rates through improved nursing assessment skills and better communication with PCPs. Using the logic model, the effectiveness of a program was evaluated and the impact of interventions on a predicted outcome was determined. Sources of evidence included obtaining best practice research information from scholarly nursing journals and official nursing websites. Analytical strategies included a review of the literature to examine data from nursing journals, websites, and other publication sources in addition to the use of a synthesis matrix that classified different ideas rated by the Cochrane Consumer Network. The findings of this project might contribute to positive social change by fostering improved patient assessments, enhanced communication with PCPs, early intervention, and decreased LTC-to-hospital admission rates through the improvement of nursing practice policy.

Strategies that provide access to alternative non-drug rewards are among the most effective at reducing substance use in individuals with substance use disorders, but relapse often occurs when alternative rewards are removed. Relapse induced by the loss of alternative rewards is called resurgence, and represents a challenge to otherwise effective strategies for reducing drug use. An animal model has been useful for studying resurgence, but the extant model has two limitations. First, humans usually refer to the negative consequences of drug use as the reason they stop taking drugs, but the extant model uses drug unavailability to reduce drug seeking. Second, individuals with substance use disorders display behaviors that can be summarized as uncontrolled drug seeking, but the extant model does not simulate uncontrolled drug seeking. Chapter 2 addressed the first concern by studying resurgence of previously-punished cocaine seeking. Chapter 3 addressed the second concern by using procedures shown to simulate uncontrolled drug seeking in rats to study resurgence of previously-punished cocaine seeking. Chapter 2 showed that resurgence of cocaine seeking can occur following suppression by punishment, and Chapter 3 showed that resurgence may be unaffected following procedures shown to increase relapse in other models. The models developed herein should contribute to future research into resurgence by better simulating the conditions under which individuals with substance use disorders experience relapse.