Search

The sample mean in statistics is a concept of great importance, with its properties being extensively utilized in other areas, such as computer science. This research centers on the concept of the sample mean and its characteristics in a cohort of computer engineering students undertaking a required course in statistics at a university in the Netherlands. The objective of this study was to analyze students’ comprehension of the fundamental structure, properties, and applications of the sample mean. A digital mini-course on sample mean was developed and employed with 97 students, who had the option to apply the concepts at their own pace. The action-process-object-schema (APOS) theoretical framework was utilized to analyze the interview responses of seven participants. The majority of participants were able to demonstrate an understanding of the Process conception of the sample mean, with only a minority demonstrating an understanding of the Object conception. The lack of comprehension of the sample mean hindered students’ capacity to effectively utilize the associated applications and properties. These findings imply that educators should strive to ensure that students have a sound comprehension of the sample mean so that they are better equipped to work with related applications. Suggestions of this study and further research ideas are indicated.

Alberta grizzly bears are classified as a threatened species in the province of Alberta as of 2010, with human-caused mortality and habitat loss a primary threat. The people who live, work, and recreate within bear habitat play a crucial role in their conservation. While the public is often enthusiastic about grizzly bears, and opportunistically report their observations to government staff, these reports are not systematic or rigorously collected and lack key information. As such, we developed GrizzTracker as a community science program. Following several years of successful deployment, we analyzed community scientist data and evaluated the efficacy of the program through an online user survey. We found that the GrizzTracker app was useful as a data collection and public engagement tool, yielding information for applied management, and that community scientists were generally satisfied. We provide considerations for future program development, including considerations for human, social, technological, and financial capital investment related to design, development, and implementation of data collection protocols, the importance of clearly communicating outcomes, and opportunities for educational outreach. While there is continued trepidation by traditionally trained scientists to develop or engage in community science programs, and some noted areas of improvement for our program specifically, we think that GrizzTracker offers a success story in community science.

In both state and federal court, to preserve an error for review and correction on appeal, a party must make a specific, contemporaneous objection to the perceived error. (1) These [...]

Ethical conduct is critical to the accounting profession. The commitment to ethics education shows the profession takes the obligation to train its members in this area seriously. Most states require [...]

AbstractTemperature data was collected from seven citizen scientists and one expert scientist at eight study sites for a period of 29 days between January 3rd, 2021 and February 3rd, 2021 within the region of Greater Sudbury, Ontario. The purpose of the study was to determine if significant differences exist between the eight study sites and the only Environment Canada weather station for the Greater Sudbury area that could potentially cause negative influences on a PMI estimation. Ambient air temperature was collected five times daily in 3-hour intervals between the hours of 0900 h and 2100 h. Maximum and minimum daily temperatures were recorded during the 2100 h collection. ANOVA, Tukey HSD, and a t-test were performed, showing that significant differences exist between three of the study sites when they are individually compared to Environment Canada. Microclimatic effects can explain this variation and the results serve to caution forensic practitioners that relying on Environment Canada data without studying crime scene environment could lead to errors in PMI calculation.

AbstractThe dissolution of used nuclear fuel generates a variety of off-gasses including flammable hydrogen and other species that are a concern for environmental release. The H-Canyon facility at the Savannah River Site is currently dissolving aluminum-clad research reactor fuel from material test reactors and the High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR) using a mercury-catalyzed nitric acid flowsheet. Savannah River National Laboratory recently developed and deployed a Raman spectrometer to monitor the off-gas stream from the dissolution process. Results from these measurements indicated a lack of the expected hydrogen, nitrous oxide, and nitric oxide in the off-gas stream. It was proposed that the silver on the silver nitrate–coated berl saddles present in the reactors for iodine capture were acting as a catalytic hydrogen recombiner. Nitric oxide is readily oxidized to nitrogen dioxide under normal conditions, but it was unclear what happened to the nitrous oxide. A laboratory-scale iodine reactor was assembled and filled with silver nitrate–coated berl saddles to help ascertain the fate of nitrous oxide and hydrogen. Testing with this laboratory-scale reactor observed the recombination of hydrogen when a simulated dissolver off-gas was passed through the reactor containing silver nitrate–coated berl saddles at the approximate temperatures seen in H-Canyon. However, the nitrous oxide concentration was unchanged, suggesting a more complex process occurring within the off-gas stream before it reaches the iodine reactors at H-Canyon.

IMPORTANCE: Definitive treatment of primary hyperparathyroidism (pHPT) with curative parathyroidectomy has been shown to improve nonspecific neurocognitive symptoms and may improve long-term quality of life (QOL). However, QOL is not currently routinely assessed preoperatively, and as a result, diminished QOL may be overlooked as an indication for surgery. OBJECTIVE: To examine results for measures of long-term QOL after parathyroidectomy in patients with pHPT. EVIDENCE REVIEW: A systematic, English-language literature review was performed to assess the long-term association of parathyroidectomy, defined as a minimum of 1-year postoperative follow-up, with QOL in patients with pHPT. We conducted a search of PubMed and Scopus using Medical Subject Heading (MeSH) terms for hyperparathyroidism, parathyroid hormone, parathyroidectomy, hypercalcemia, and quality of life. All relevant literature published between June 1998 and February 15, 2021, was included. Study selection was guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) strategy. FINDINGS: Thirty-one studies conducted in 14 countries with a minimum of 1 year of follow-up were included, comprising 3298 patients with pHPT (2975 underwent parathyroidectomy; 323 were observed), 5445 age- and sex-matched control participants, and 386 control patients with benign thyroid disease. To assess QOL, 21 studies (68%) used a general tool, the 36-item Short Form Survey (SF-36), and 8 (26%) used the disease-specific tool Parathyroidectomy Assessment of Symptoms (PAS). The remaining studies used a combination of 10 additional QOL tools. The median follow-up period was 1 year (range, 1-10 years). Of the 31 studies, 27 (87%) demonstrated significant score improvement in long-term QOL after parathyroidectomy, including 1 study that showed continued improvement in QOL 10 years after parathyroidectomy. The remaining 4 studies (13%) reported mixed results. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: This systematic review suggests that parathyroidectomy is associated with improved and sustained QOL in patients with pHPT. Patients with pHPT should be screened with a validated QOL tool such as the SF-36 or PAS at the time of diagnosis to guide discussion of these symptoms in the preoperative setting and the potential for long-term improvement after curative parathyroidectomy.

This study aimed to describe and compare the public’s change in awareness and perceptions of, willingness to use, willingness to pay, and interest in insurance coverage for community pharmacist prescriptive authority services and point of care testing over a time span of 14 years.

In Brief Hyperglycemia in diabetes is known to be associated with both micro- and macrovascular complications. However, multiple studies have raised the question of whether variation in glucose levels, in [...]

Giving and receiving feedback in pharmacy practice is a critical part of providing care. It is not simply a courtesy that is nice to perform. Patients need feedback to improve [...]

In 2003, the Florida Legislature imposed statutory caps on noneconomic damages in medical malpractice cases. See F.S. § 766.118 (2003). Although the legislature attempted to make findings intended to ensure [...]

Elucidating the molecular and regulatory processes underlying tissue damage and repair has critical implications for pain management and postoperative care. Earlier published work from our laboratory exploring the anatomical and spatial landscape of the surgical wound edge in the rat uncovered candidate genes involved in immune cell recruitment, nociceptive signaling pathways, and re-epithelialization. However, the translation and validation of these findings to human models requires greater exploration. The present study investigates molecular events following tissue injury in a human surgical incision model using transcriptomics and multiplex fluorescence in situ hybridization to localize gene-level transcriptional changes. Tissue was collected from surgery patients (n=12; 58% Female) at surgery onset, prespecified timepoints during surgery, and at closure. RNA-Seq was performed to determine and quantify gene expression patterns. Anatomical localization of the most highly induced transcripts was examined through RNAscope. Our findings revealed the induction of secreted signaling molecules including interleukins 6 and 8, metallothionein 2A, oncostatin M, and tissue growth factors. In situ hybridization localized the transcripts superficially in the keratinocyte layer and in deeper follicular structures and gland tissues. We further analyzed our transcriptomic data to assess the ability of these molecules to signal to dorsal root ganglion neurons and to drive pathways involving immuno-chemoattraction, inflammation, nerve terminal sensitization, and algesia mediation. Ultimately, illuminating the network of the nociceptive secretome can inform analgesic development. This abstract is based on a clinical trial registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04224870).

Fasting during pregnancy could increase a woman's risk of premature birth by increasing her blood level of corticotropin-releasing hormone. This hormone stimulates the pituitary to produce corticotropin, which in turn stimulates the adrenal glands to produce the stress hormone cortisol.

Introduction: Healthcare spending Although the rate of increase in healthcare costs has declined in recent years compared to the sometimes double-digit rates of the late 1980s and early 1990s, healthcare [...]

Background: Prostate cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in U.S. men and remains incurable once it has metastasized. Many stages of the metastatic cascade involve cellular interactions mediated by cell surface components, such as carbohydrate-binding proteins, including galactoside-binding lectins (galectins). Modified citrus pectin (pH-modified), a soluble component of plant fiber derived from citrus fruit, has been shown to interfere with cell - cell interactions mediated by cell surface carbohydrate-binding galectin-3 molecules. Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine whether modified citrus pectin, a complex polysaccharide rich in galactosyl residues, could inhibit spontaneous metastasis of prostate adenocarcinoma cells in the rat. Methods: The ability of modified citrus pectin to inhibit the adhesion of Dunning rat prostate cancer MAT-LyLu cells to rat endothelial cells was measured by Cr-labeling[sup.51]. Modified citrus pectin inhibition of MAT-LyLu cell anchorage-independent growth was measured by colony formation in agarose. The presence of galectin-3 in rat MAT-LyLu cells and human prostate carcinoma was demonstrated by immunoblotting and immunohistochemistry. One million MAT-LyLu cells were injected subcutaneously into the hind limb of male Copenhagen rats on day 0. Rats were given 0.0 %, 0.01 %, 0.1 %, or 1.0 % (wt/vol) modified citrus pectin continuously in their drinking water (from day 4 until necropsy on day 30). The number of MAT-LyLu tumor colonies in the lungs were counted. Results: Compared with 15 of 16 control rats that had lung metastases on day 30, seven of 14 rats in the 0.1% and nine of 16 rats in the 1.0% modified citrus-pectin group had statistically significant (two-sided; P

Editor: Annette Nellen, J.D., CPA BUSINESS PROFESSIONALS, ACADEMICS, AND students live in a world of meetings, presentations, and computer slides. The slides serve as visual aids, helping presenters make their [...]

Recent studies have shown that mutations in the glucokinase gene on chromosome 7 can cause an autosomal dominant form of NIDDM with a variable clinical phenotype and onset during childhood. [...]

Four overlapping DNA fragments spanning 32 kb containing the human GLUT4 facilitative glucose-transporter gene were isolated and characterized. The sequence of the GLUT4 gene ([unkeyable]6.3 kb) and 2.0 kb of [...]

THE CHANGING CHARACTERISTICS OF college students provide a challenge for accounting educators and employers. This column creates a profile from recent research of the current group of traditional students (born [...]

The precise development of neuronal morphologies is crucial to the establishment of synaptic circuits and, ultimately, proper brain function. Signaling by the axon guidance cue semaphorin 3A (Sema3A) and its receptor complex of neuropilin-1 and plexin-A4 has multifunctional outcomes in neuronal morphogenesis. Downstream activation of the RhoGEF FARP2 through interaction with the lysine-arginine-lysine motif of plexin-A4 and consequent activation of the small GTPase Rac1 promotes dendrite arborization, but this pathway is dispensable for axon repulsion. Here, we investigated the interplay of small GTPase signaling mechanisms underlying Sema3A-mediated dendritic elaboration in mouse layer V cortical neurons in vitro and in vivo. Sema3A promoted the binding of the small GTPase Rnd1 to the amino acid motif lysine-valine-serine (LVS) in the cytoplasmic domain of plexin-A4. Rnd1 inhibited the activity of the small GTPase RhoA and the kinase ROCK, thus supporting the activity of the GTPase Rac1, which permitted the growth and branching of dendrites. Overexpression of a dominant-negative RhoA, a constitutively active Rac1, or the pharmacological inhibition of ROCK activity rescued defects in dendritic elaboration in neurons expressing a plexin-A4 mutant lacking the LVS motif. Our findings provide insights into the previously unappreciated balancing act between Rho and Rac signaling downstream of specific motifs in plexin-A4 to mediate Sema3A-dependent dendritic elaboration in mammalian cortical neuron development.

Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is an aggressive malignancy typically resistant to chemotherapy and radiation. Surgery, even in the setting of locally recurrent or metastatic disease, remains the only potentially curative option. However, the subset of patients who will benefit from repeat resection in this setting remains ill defined. The objective of this study was to propose a prognostic clinical score that facilitates selection of patients for repeat resection of recurrent ACC.

This case series was designed to educate and inform health care professionals on the importance of providing adequate education on injectable antidiabetic agents and highlighting common medication errors related to diabetes care seen in ambulatory practice. The discussion following case descriptions will attempt to characterize patients who may be at high risk for these errors and identify ways to reduce the potential for error.

We report on the design, performance, and qualification of the injection laser system designed to deliver joule-level chirped pulse beamlets arranged in dual rectangular beam formats into two main laser amplifier beamlines of the National Ignition Facility. The system is designed to meet the requirements of the Advanced Radiographic Capability upgrade with features that deliver performance, adjustability, and long-term reliability.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare the side effect profiles of clozapine and risperidone. Method: The subjects were 20 outpatients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder who were clinically stable on a regimen of clozapine at the time of screening. They underwent a randomized-order crossover comparison of 6 weeks of risperidone treatment and 6 weeks of clozapine treatment. Clinical and neurocognitive variables were assessed by raters blind to medication status, and severity of side effects was determined from patients' self-reports. Results: Side effect measures, but not clinical ratings, were significantly different after 6 weeks of treatment with the two drugs. Patients required more benztropine for motor effects and complained of more insomnia with risperidone and more sedation with clozapine. Body weight was higher at the end of clozapine treatment than at the end of risperidone treatment. Conclusions: In this exploratory study, the side effect profiles of clozapine and risperidone were consistent with the different pharmacodynamic profiles of the two drugs.