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Fostering metacognition can be challenging within large enrollment settings, particularly within STEM fields concentrating on problem-solving skills and their underlying theories. Herein, the research problem of realizing more frequent, insightful, and explicitly-rewarded metacognition activities at significant scale is investigated via a strategy utilizing a hierarchy of assessments. Referred to as the STEM-Optimal Digitized Assessment Strategy (SODAS), this targeted approach engages frequent assessment, instructor feedback, and learner self-reflection across the hierarchy of learning mechanisms comprising Bloom's Taxonomy of Learning Domains. SODAS spans this hierarchy of learning mechanisms via a progression of (i) unregulated online assessment, (ii) proctored Computer-Based Assessment (CBA), (iii) problem-based learning activities assessed in the laboratory setting, and (iv) personalized Socratic discussions of scanned scrap sheets that accompanied each learner's machine-graded formative assessments. Results of a case study integrating SODAS within a high-enrollment Mechanical Engineering Heat Transfer course at a large state university are presented for enrollment of 118 students. Six question types were delivered with lockdown proctored testing via auto-grading within the Canvas Learning Management System (LMS), along with bi-weekly laboratory activities to address the higher layers of Bloom's Taxonomy. Sample assessment formats were validated through student use and schedules of responsibilities for instructors across four tiers of assessment levels (facts, concepts, procedures, and metacognition), two testing delivery mechanisms (electronic textbook exercises and proctored CBA), and three remediation mechanisms (self-paced, score clarification, and experiment clarification), which showed that learning achievement can increase by up to 16.9% compared to conventional assessment strategies, while utilizing comparable instructor resources and workloads. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The combined processes of immunoglobulin (IG) gene rearrangement and somatic hypermutation allow for the creation of an extremely diverse antibody repertoire. Knowledge of the germline sequence of the IG genes is required so that hypermutation and the affinity matured humoral response can be properly studied. Variable region genes can be arranged into subgroups; in humans, there are 11 IGLV subgroups and 6 IGKV subgroups. The rhesus macaque ( Macaca mulatta) is a relevant non-human primate model for human immunological systems. A number of macaque IGHV, IGHD and IGHJ genes have already been reported. We have also previously reported a number of macaque IGKV genes. Here we report the isolation of new macaque IGLV genes by polymerase chain reaction amplification from macaque genomic DNA using primers based on the human sequences. Nine IGLV1, 10 IGLV2, 21 IGLV3, 5 IGLV4 and 7 IGLV5 germline genes for the macaque were found, the open-reading frames of which exhibit high homology to their human counterparts (>89.3, >88.6, >89.0, >94.7 and >87.1%, respectively). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The combined processes of immunoglobulin (IG) gene rearrangement and somatic hypermutation allow for the creation of an extremely diverse antibody repertoire. Knowledge of the germline sequence of the IG genes is required so that hypermutation and the affinity matured humoral response can be properly studied. Variable region genes can be arranged into subgroups; in humans, there are 11IGLVsubgroups and sixIGKVsubgroups. The rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta) is a relevant non-human primate model for human immunological systems. A number of macaqueIGHV,IGHDandIGHJgenes have already been reported, but only one light-chain germline gene has been published so far. Here we report the isolation of new macaqueIGKVgenes by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification from macaque genomic DNA using primers based on the human sequences. Twenty-eightIGKV1, 22IGKV2and 12IGKV3germline genes for the macaque were found, the open reading frames of which exhibit high homology to their human counterparts (>96,>99 and>96%, respectively). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The diversity of the antibody response is achieved, in part, by rearrangement of different immunoglobulin (Ig) genes. The Ig heavy chain is made up of a variable region (IGHV), a diversity region (IGHD) and a joining region (IGHJ). Human germline IGHV genes have been grouped into seven multigene subgroups. Size and usage of these subgroups is not equal, the IGHV3 subgroup is the most commonly used (36%), followed by IGHV1/7 (26%), then IGHV4, IGHV5, IGHV2, IGHV6 (15%, 12%, 4%, 3% respectively). The rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta) is a useful non-human primate model for studies of infection and the database of germline Ig genes for the macaque is gradually growing to become a useful tool in the study of B-cell responses. The proportions of IGHV subgroup usage in the macaque are similar to those in man. Representatives from IGHV3 and IGHV4 subgroups for the macaque have been published, as have germline sequences of the IGHD and IGHJ genes. However, to date there have been no sequences published from the second largest IGHV subgroup, IGHV1. We report the isolation and sequencing of a genomic fragment containing an IGHV1 gene from the macaque. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primers designed from this sequence enabled us to amplify and sequence 25 new IGHV1 germline genes. We also isolated two IGHV7 genes, using the same primers, and two IGHV5 genes, using human IGHV5 primers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We evaluated the differential effect of platelet count in platelet-rich plasma (PRP) on the level of ex vivo inhibition of platelet aggregation provided by abciximab, eptifibatide, and tirofiban as part of a randomized, comparative trial of these agents on platelet function in patients with unstable angina pectoris undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention. Platelet count <350 K/µL in PRP reduced measured platelet inhibition by abciximab, but not eptifibatide nor tirofiban. This observation suggests the need for standardized, uniform platelet counts in PRP during future comparisons of the degree of platelet inhibition by these agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anciximab provides potent, but variable degrees of platelet inhibition both during the duration of intravenous administration and at 12 hours following therapy. Platelet function was assessed using the PC-RPFA system in 78 patients scheduled for percutaneous coronary revascularization who were administered the standard abciximab weight-adjusted bolus and 12-hour infusion. The PC-RPFA system is a cartridge-based, semiautomated point-of-care whole-blood assay that incorporates fibrinogen-coated polystyrene beads, buffers, and a modified thrombin receptor activating peptide (Isotrap) in lyophilized form. The instrument detects the agglutination rate between the stimulated platelets and the fibrinogen-coated beads, and provides a quantitative digital display in less than 2 minutes. No differences in the level of platelet inhibition were observed in these abciximab-treated patients by diabetic status, gender, smoking, diagnosis (unstable angina, chronic stable angina, recent myocardial infarction), or abciximab treatment status (first time vs. retreatment). Nocorrelation of the PC-RPFA rate of platelet aggregation with clinical demographic factors was observed, with the exception of baseline hematocrit (r2 = 0.4556). The relationship between the PC-RPFA rate of aggregation and hematocrit reflects light absorbance by erythrocytes and is specific to the PC-RPFA system. The absolute rate of platelet aggregation (slope) reported by the PC-RPFA is correlated with percent aggregation, thus making it potentially possible to predict the level of aggregation without reference to a baseline (pretreatment) measure of platelet function. This correlation was closest for patients having <40% baseline aggregation (r2 = 0.55). Thus, PC-RPFA provides a rapid point-of-care assessment of platelet function that could allow for adjustment of abciximab dosing to achieve targeted levels of platelet inhibition. The utility of this device to optimize therapy with platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors is currently being evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]