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Improving STEM MOOC evaluation requires an understanding of the current state of STEM MOOC evaluation, as perceived by all stakeholders. To this end, we investigated what kinds of information STEM MOOC instructors currently use to evaluate their courses and what kinds of information they feel would be valuable for that purpose. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 14 faculty members from a variety of fields and research institutions who had taught STEM MOOCs on edX, Coursera, or Udacity. Four major themes emerged related to instructors' desires: (1) to informally assess learners as an instructor might in a traditional classroom, (2) to assess learners' attainment of personal learning goals, (3) to obtain in-depth qualitative feedback from learners, and (4) to access more detailed learner analytics regarding the use of course materials. These four themes contribute to a broader sentiment expressed by the instructors that they have access to a wide variety of quantitative data for use in evaluation, but are largely missing the qualitative information that plays a significant role in traditional evaluation. Finally, we provide our recommendations for MOOC evaluation criteria, based on these findings.

ObjectiveTo determine whether ibudilast has an effect on brain volume and new lesions in progressive forms of multiple sclerosis (MS).MethodsA randomized, placebo-controlled, blinded study evaluated ibudilast at a dose of up to 100 mg over 96 weeks in primary and secondary progressive MS. In this secondary analysis of a previously reported trial, secondary and tertiary endpoints included gray matter atrophy, new or enlarging T2 lesions as measured every 24 weeks, and new T1 hypointensities at 96 weeks. Whole brain atrophy measured by structural image evaluation, using normalization, of atrophy (SIENA) was a sensitivity analysis.ResultsA total of 129 participants were assigned to ibudilast and 126 to placebo. New or enlarging T2 lesions were observed in 37.2% on ibudilast and 29.0% on placebo (p = 0.82). New T1 hypointense lesions at 96 weeks were observed in 33.3% on ibudilast and 23.5% on placebo (p = 0.11). Gray matter atrophy was reduced by 35% for those on ibudilast vs placebo (p = 0.038). Progression of whole brain atrophy by SIENA was slowed by 20% in the ibudilast group compared with placebo (p = 0.08).ConclusionIbudilast treatment was associated with a reduction in gray matter atrophy. Ibudilast treatment was not associated with a reduction in new or enlarging T2 lesions or new T1 lesions. An effect on brain volume contributes to prior data that ibudilast appears to affect markers associated with neurodegenerative processes, but not inflammatory processes.Classification of evidenceThis study provides Class II evidence that for people with MS, ibudilast does not significantly reduce new or enlarging T2 lesions or new T1 lesions.

BackgroundThere are limited treatments for progressive multiple sclerosis. Ibudilast inhibits several cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases, macrophage migration inhibitory factor, and toll-like receptor 4 and can cross the blood-brain barrier, with potential salutary effects in progressive multiple sclerosis.MethodsWe enrolled patients with primary or secondary progressive multiple sclerosis in a phase 2 randomized trial of oral ibudilast (≤100 mg daily) or placebo for 96 weeks. The primary efficacy end point was the rate of brain atrophy, as measured by the brain parenchymal fraction (brain size relative to the volume of the outer surface contour of the brain). Major secondary end points included the change in the pyramidal tracts on diffusion tensor imaging, the magnetization transfer ratio in normal-appearing brain tissue, the thickness of the retinal nerve-fiber layer, and cortical atrophy, all measures of tissue damage in multiple sclerosis.ResultsOf 255 patients who underwent randomization, 129 were assigned to ibudilast and 126 to placebo. A total of 53% of the patients in the ibudilast group and 52% of those in the placebo group had primary progressive disease; the others had secondary progressive disease. The rate of change in the brain parenchymal fraction was -0.0010 per year with ibudilast and -0.0019 per year with placebo (difference, 0.0009; 95% confidence interval, 0.00004 to 0.0017; P=0.04), which represents approximately 2.5 ml less brain-tissue loss with ibudilast over a period of 96 weeks. Adverse events with ibudilast included gastrointestinal symptoms, headache, and depression.ConclusionsIn a phase 2 trial involving patients with progressive multiple sclerosis, ibudilast was associated with slower progression of brain atrophy than placebo but was associated with higher rates of gastrointestinal side effects, headache, and depression. (Funded by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke and others; NN102/SPRINT-MS ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01982942 .).

MOOCs attract a large number of learners with largely unknown diversity in terms of motivation, ability, and goals. To understand more about learners in highly technical engineering MOOCs, this study investigates patterns of learners' (n = 337) behaviour and performance in the Nanophotonic Modelling MOOC, offered through nanoHUB-U. The authors explored clusters of learner click-stream patterns using the k-means++ algorithm and found five clusters of learner behaviour, labelled according to learners' use of materials: "Fully Engaged," "Consistent Viewers," "One-Week Engaged," "Two-Week Engaged," and "Sporadic learners." The Kruskal-Wallis non-parametric statistical test yielded a significant difference (p<0.01) between learners' access of course materials in each cluster. The researchers then examined the participation and mean scores on course quizzes and exams for each learner group. One-Week Engaged learners, on average, scored significantly lower on the first week's assessment. Two-Week Engaged learners, on average, scored significantly lower on the second week's assessments. Other differences found in learners' participation and performance on quizzes and tests based on the five clusters are discussed. These findings suggest that some of the high dropout numbers in advanced MOOCs may be related to learners' performance on course assessments. In addition, integration of learner access to course material with course assessment scores provides a much richer understanding of learners in a MOOC.

For decades, progress in the field of optical (including solar) energy conversion was dominated by advances in the conventional concentrating optics and materials design. In recent years, however, conceptual and technological breakthroughs in the fields of nanophotonics and plasmonics combined with a better understanding of the thermodynamics of the photon energy-conversion processes reshaped the landscape of energy-conversion schemes and devices. Nanostructured devices and materials that make use of size quantization effects to manipulate photon density of states offer a way to overcome the conventional light absorption limits. Novel optical spectrum splitting and photon-recycling schemes reduce the entropy production in the optical energy-conversion platforms and boost their efficiencies. Optical design concepts are rapidly expanding into the infrared energy band, offering new approaches to harvest waste heat, to reduce the thermal emission losses, and to achieve noncontact radiative cooling of solar cells as well as of optical and electronic circuitries. Light-matter interaction enabled by nanophotonics and plasmonics underlie the performance of the third- and fourth-generation energy-conversion devices, including up- and down-conversion of photon energy, near-field radiative energy transfer, and hot electron generation and harvesting. Finally, the increased market penetration of alternative solar energy-conversion technologies amplifies the role of cost-driven and environmental considerations. This roadmap on optical energy conversion provides a snapshot of the state of the art in optical energy conversion, remaining challenges, and most promising approaches to address these challenges. Leading experts authored 19 focused short sections of the roadmap where they share their vision on a specific aspect of this burgeoning research field. The roadmap opens up with a tutorial section, which introduces major concepts and terminology. It is our hope that the roadmap will serve as an important resource for the scientific community, new generations of researchers, funding agencies, industry experts, and investors.

In metallic interconnects, it is generally assumed that electromigration (EM) failure location is independent of the applied electrical current and always occurs at the highest-current-density area. Our experiments show otherwise. We designed an Al interconnect that alters its failure location by only varying the applied current density. The failure occurs near the high for a current above 2 × 107 A/cm2, but at a location with 59% of the maximum for lower current densities. Thermoreflectance thermal imaging is employed to gather time-dependent high-resolution spatial temperature distributions of the Al interconnect during EM. More importantly, we propose a computationally inexpensive 2D finite element method that tracks EM evolution in time and matches well with the observations from different experimental conditions. A detailed analysis covering the major driving forces of EM is carried out to understand the complex physics behind EM. The atomic depletion rate contributed by each force is quantitatively studied. By examining the results from every tested experimental condition, the model reveals that the temperature gradient is the key reason causing atomic depletion near the failure location. Graphical illustrations and qualitative analysis are provided to intuitively show the key findings of our work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The OCARINA I (NCT03972306) and OCARINA II (NCT05232825) trials showed that ocrelizumab (OCR) subcutaneous (SC) 920 mg (co-formulated with recombinant human hyaluronidase) has a similar benefit–risk profile to OCR intravenous (IV) 600 mg in people with (Pw) relapsing and primary progressive multiple sclerosis (RMS/PPMS). To further characterise the benefit–risk profile of the OCR SC formulation based on updated efficacy and safety data, including new serum neurofilament light chain (sNfL) data, from the OCARINA clinical studies. In OCARINA I, following dose escalation, OCR IV-pretreated/-naive PwRMS/PPMS entered a continuation phase with the OCR SC 920 mg dose for assessment of safety, tolerability and sNfL levels. In OCARINA II, OCR-naive PwRMS/PPMS were randomised to OCR IV 600 mg or SC 920 mg (controlled period) and then all received OCR SC 920 mg (treatment period); efficacy/safety endpoints included MRI lesions, relapses and biomarkers (B-cell count; sNfL levels). Updated safety data from OCARINA I (≤6 consecutive 920 mg injections) and OCARINA II (efficacy/safety up to at least Week [W]48) is presented. In OCARINA I, 118 patients received 1–6 doses of OCR SC 920 mg (median treatment duration: 81.1 weeks [range: 24–127]) and experienced: Adverse events (AEs; n=105, 89.0%), serious AEs (SAEs; n=11, 9.3%) and injection reactions (IRs; n=70, 59.3%) the latter comprising local IRs (LIRs; n=65, 55.1%) and systemic IRs (SIRs; n=13, 11.0%), all of which were mild/moderate and resolved. In the OCARINA II safety population (n=233; IV/SC and SC/SC), AEs were reported in n=175 (75.1%) patients, SAEs in n=6 (2.6%) and IRs in n=120 (51.5%), LIRs were reported in n=117 (50.2%) and SIRs in n=27 (11.6%); all IRs were mild/moderate and 99.2% resolved. OCR SC resulted in near-complete suppression of MRI and relapse activity up to W48, the similar B-cell depletion via IV/SC routes at W24 was maintained at W48. In OCARINA II, sNfL levels were similarly decreased via IV/SC routes: percent change from baseline at W48 (95% CI): IV, -25.8% (-33.1‒-17.7); SC, -23.6% (-31.1‒-15.3). In OCARINA I, reduced sNfL levels were sustained in OCR IV-pretreated/-naive patients with OCR SC up to 144 weeks. Ocrelizumab SC continues to show similar clinical/MRI outcomes compared with ocrelizumab IV, including an initial and sustained reduction of sNfL. Ocrelizumab SC was well tolerated, and no new safety concerns were identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Remibrutinib, a potent, highly selective, covalent, oral Bruton's tyrosine kinase inhibitor, is currently being investigated in 2 phase 3 trials for the treatment of relapsing multiple sclerosis (NCT05147220/NCT05156281). The high selectivity of remibrutinib has the potential to result in a favorable safety profile by minimizing off-target effects. Pooled data from completed phase 2 studies of CSU (including the 52-week open-label extension), SjS, and asthma were analyzed. Safety assessments included adverse events (AEs), serious AEs (SAEs), and AEs of special interest (AESIs). Analyses were conducted for patients receiving any remibrutinib dose (n=391), and specifically for those receiving a 100-mg dose (n=327), using exposure-adjusted incidence rates (EAIRs) per 100 patient-years. Patients receiving any remibrutinib dose had an EAIR of 261.3 for AEs, and the 100-mg subgroup had an EAIR of 225.2. The EAIR for AEs leading to treatment discontinuation was 8.3 for both groups, and the EAIR for SAEs was 4.2 for the any-dose group and 2.9 for the 100-mg subgroup. Infections and infestations were the most frequently reported AEs (EAIR, any dose: 66.0; 100 mg: 56.3) and were mild to moderate in severity, with mostly upper respiratory tract infections. Other reported grouped AEs with EAIRs ≥20 were skin/subcutaneous tissue disorders, gastrointestinal disorders, nervous system disorders, and musculoskeletal disorders. AESIs, other than infections, included bleeding (mostly minor cutaneous) and cytopenia (rare), which were mild to moderate in severity. Overall, EAIRs were similar for remibrutinib and placebo. This integrated safety analysis confirmed the consistently favorable safety profile of remibrutinib across indications and doses, including 100 mg twice daily, with ≤52 weeks of long-term exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]