Chungmacdonald7328

Our study conducted a preliminary evaluation of a peer-mentoring group program for college men (Freshmen League).

We interviewed first-year men who participated in Freshmen League (

 = 16) and others who did not (

 = 10), asking them questions about authenticity, relationships, masculinity, and community. Using consensual qualitative research, we identified themes in constructions of their experiences and development throughout the year, and compared them across groups.

Men in both groups reflected on becoming their authentic selves, feeling pressure to fit a mold, valuing friendship, and wanting to positively impact their community. However, Freshmen League participants were more likely to talk about vulnerability, positive influences of upperclassmen, connecting with others, alternative social norms, and social justice.

Peer-led mentoring groups represent a promising direction as interventions to promote college men's health and campus culture. Directions for future research and considerations th and campus culture. Directions for future research and considerations for program implementation are discussed.Reading is essential for learning, from literature to physics, from paper to screens on e-readers and smart phones. Even if it is well known that learning to read implies good language skills, children also need to develop good oculomotor and visual-perception skills. Thereby, any deficits in visual processing may affect learning. The possible impact of visual deficits is rarely considered, especially with regard to eye movements and visual perception. Hence, these deficits are usually discovered much later or remain undiagnosed. The present study aimed at assessing the usefulness of visual processing related measures in the early detection of reading difficulties. Syrosingopine Visual skill differences that are apparent early in kindergarten might provide predictive insights into risk for learning difficulties at school entry. We used a prospective, longitudinal approach where visual processes (assessed with the Developmental Eye Movement (DEM) test) were measured in 51 preschoolers, and the impact of these processes on future reading development was explored one year later, in Grade 1. Results showed that (1) 31% of our sample of preschoolers showed visual processing impairments (without any clinical complaints) and (2) reading accuracy and speed in first graders were significantly correlated with visual skills assessed in kindergarten, thus confirming the significant role of oculomotor and visual-perception processes in the acquisition of reading skills. These suggests the potential for these measures to be used clinically for identifying children at risk for low academic achievement, enabling appropriate targeting of early interventions.Tobacco smoking is a well-known risk factor for both fibrogenesis and fibrotic progression; however, the mechanisms behind these processes remain enigmatic. RTKs (receptor tyrosine kinases) have recently been reported to drive profibrotic phenotypes in fibroblasts during pulmonary fibrosis (PF). Using a phospho-RTK array screen, we identified the RTK AXL as a top upregulated RTK in response to smoke. Both expression and signaling activity of AXL were indeed elevated in lung fibroblasts exposed to tobacco smoke, whereas no significant change to the levels of a canonical AXL ligand, Gas6 (growth arrest-specific 6), was seen upon smoke treatment. Notably, we found that smoke-exposed human lung fibroblasts exhibited highly proliferative and invasive activities and were capable of inducing fibrotic lung lesions in mice. Conversely, genetic suppression of AXL in smoke-exposed fibroblasts cells led to suppression of AXL downstream pathways and aggressive phenotypes. We further demonstrated that AXL interacted with MARCKS (myristoylated alanine-rich C kinase substrate) and cooperated with MARCKS in regulating downstream signaling activity and fibroblast invasiveness. Pharmacological inhibition of AXL with AXL-specific inhibitor R428 showed selectivity for smoke-exposed fibroblasts. In all, our data suggest that AXL is a potential marker for smoke-associated PF and that targeting of the AXL pathway is a potential therapeutic strategy in treating tobacco smoking-related PF.Clinical relevance Mobility and fall risk may be important considerations in choosing between intraocular lenses.Background Fall risk in older adults increases when wearing multifocal spectacles, but little is known about mobility among individuals with different types of intraocular lenses. This study compared visual function, fall risk and balance control following bilateral implantation of monofocal or multifocal intraocular lenses.Methods This was a non-randomised, cross-sectional study involving adults with bilateral intraocular lenses. Participants completed questionnaires concerning physical functioning, fall history and balance-related confidence. Binocular visual acuity, contrast sensitivity (Pelli-Robson chart and computerized testing), depth perception and glare sensitivity were assessed. Physical performance measures included the Sensory Organization Test, preferred gait speed, Dynamic Gait Index and wayfinding in a virtual environment.Results Fifteen participants (mean ± standard deviation, 67.1 ± 6.8 years) had monofocal intraocular lenses and 14 participants (68.1 ± 6.1 years) had multifocal intraocular lenses. Contrast sensitivity in the monofocal group was significantly better than that in the multifocal group (p = 0.02) at intermediate and high spatial frequencies. Contrast sensitivity of the monofocal group also was less affected by glare than the contrast sensitivity of the multifocal group, at an intermediate spatial frequency (p = 0.02). However, the multifocal group had significantly better Dynamic Gait Index scores (p = 0.04), even after controlling for perceived physical function.Conclusions The participants with monofocal intraocular lenses generally had better contrast sensitivity than did those with multifocal intraocular lenses. However, the scores on a mobility test that is associated with fall risk were worse for those with monofocal lenses.