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Different developmental mathematics programs are offered at various institutions across the United States. Many vary from state to state, and even college to college within states. One of the designs that has emerged as a frontrunner is the co-requisite model. This pilot study builds on previous success of the model by exploring the effect of pass rates when the placement range for co-requisite courses is expanded. The goal is for the pilot results to help indicate whether or not more students should place directly into the co-requisite model, bypassing the prerequisite stand alone. Results are promising, and continue to show success for this model.

Methanol to aromatic reaction is an alternative pathway to produce aromatics from non‐petroleum resources. Zn‐modified ZSM‐5 zeolite is the widespread catalyst for MTA due to its high activity and selectivity to aromatics. However, a desired high yield of aromatics is usually accompanied with undesired coke formation and fast deactivation of catalyst, because aromatic molecules also serve as the precursor for coke formation. To decouple the aromatic yield and coke formation rate, in this work we use Zn‐ZSM‐5 to investigate coke formation and catalyst deactivation. The coke distribution along the catalyst bed was analyzed and its correlation with the concentration gradient of methanol, olefins and aromatics along the bed was deciphered. Coke was found to form very fast at catalyst bed in the copresence of methanol and aromatics. On the contrary, much less coke was observed at the later layers of the catalyst bed where methanol had been fully converted and aromatics were present in the highest concentration. Based on this finding, we adjusted the reaction conditions to successfully improve the yield of aromatics without reducing catalyst lifetime in compromise, by applying a higher methanol partial pressure that enables a faster consumption of methanol and reduces the period of copresence of methanol and aromatics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The mechanistic effects of gamma transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) on hippocampal gamma oscillation activity in Alzheimer's Disease (AD) remains unclear. This study aimed to clarify beneficial effects of gamma tACS on cognitive functioning in AD and to elucidate effects on hippocampal gamma oscillation activity. Methods: This is a double-blind, randomized controlled single-center trial. Participants with mild AD were randomized to tACS group or sham group, and underwent 30 one-hour sessions of either 40 Hz tACS or sham stimulation over consecutive 15 days. Cognitive functioning, structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and simultaneous electroencephalography–functional MRI (EEG-fMRI) were evaluated at baseline, the end of the intervention and at 3-month follow-up from the randomization. Results: A total of 46 patients were enrolled (23 in the tACS group, 23 in the sham group). There were no group differences in the change of the primary outcome, 11-item cognitive subscale of the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale (ADAS-Cog) score after intervention (group*time, p = 0.449). For secondary outcomes, compared to the control group, the intervention group showed significant improvement in MMSE (group*time, p = 0.041) and MoCA scores (non-parametric test, p = 0.025), which were not sustained at 3-month follow-up. We found an enhancement of theta-gamma coupling in the hippocampus, which was positively correlated with improvements of MMSE score and delayed recall. Additionally, fMRI revealed increase of the local neural activity in the hippocampus. Conclusion: Effects on the enhancement of theta-gamma coupling and neural activity within the hippocampus suggest mechanistic models for potential therapeutic mechanisms of tACS. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT 03920826; Registration Date: 2019-04-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infantile (fetal and neonatal) megakaryocytes (Mks) have a distinct phenotype consisting of hyperproliferation, limited morphogenesis, and low platelet production capacity. These properties contribute to clinical problems that include thrombocytopenia in neonates, delayed platelet engraftment in recipients of cord blood stem cell transplants, and inefficient ex vivo platelet production from pluripotent stem cell-derived Mks. The infantile phenotype results from deficiency of the actin-regulated coactivator, MKL1, which programs cytoskeletal changes driving morphogenesis. As a strategy to complement this molecular defect, we screened pathways with the potential to affect MKL1 function and found that DYRK1A inhibition dramatically enhanced Mk morphogenesis in vitro and in vivo. Dyrk1 inhibitors rescued enlargement, polyploidization, and thrombopoiesis in human neonatal Mks. Mks derived from induced pluripotent stem cells responded in a similar manner. Progenitors undergoing Dyrk1 inhibition demonstrated filamentous actin assembly, MKL1 nuclear translocation, and modulation of MKL1 target genes. Loss-of-function studies confirmed MKL1 involvement in this morphogenetic pathway. Expression of Ablim2, a stabilizer of filamentous actin, increased with Dyrk1 inhibition, and Ablim2 knockdown abrogated the actin, MKL1, and morphogenetic responses to Dyrk1 inhibition. These results delineate a pharmacologically tractable morphogenetic pathway whose manipulation may alleviate clinical problems associated with the limited thrombopoietic capacity of infantile Mks., Introduction Human megakaryocytes (Mks) undergo dramatic changes during ontogenic progression from fetal through adult stages. These changes include diminishing proliferation and a concomitant increase in adult-type morphogenesis (1-3). Adult-type morphogenesis [...]

Microbial-driven N turnover is important in regulating N fertilizer use efficiency through the secretion of metabolites like glycolipids. Currently, our understanding of the potential of glycolipids to partially reduce N fertilizer use and the effects of glycolipids on crop yield and N use efficiency is still limited. Here, a three-year in situ field experiment was conducted with seven treatments: no fertilization (CK); chemical N, phosphorus and potassium (NPK); NPK plus glycolipids (N+PKT); and PK plus glycolipids with 10% (0.9 N+PKT), 20% (0.8 N+PKT), 30% (0.7 N+PKT), and 100% (PKT) N reduction. Compared with NPK, glycolipids with 0–20% N reduction did not significantly reduce maize yields, and also increased N uptake by 6.26–11.07%, but no significant changes in grain or straw N uptake. The N resorption efficiency under 0.9 N+PKT was significantly greater than that under NPK, while the apparent utilization rates of N fertilizer and partial factor productivity of N under 0.9 N+PKT were significantly greater than those under NPK. Although 0.9 N+PKT led to additional labor and input costs, compared with NPK, it had a greater net economic benefit. Our study demonstrates the potential for using glycolipids in agroecosystem management and provides theoretical support for optimizing fertilization strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]