Contentious Contraception: The Controversial History of the ACA\u27s Birth Control Mandate

In this article, Hannah Anderson gives an overview of the Obama administration\u27s contraception mandate and a preview of new lawsuits following the Trump administration\u27s rollback.https://scholarship.law.slu.edu/lawjournalonline/1030/thumbnail.jp

Exploring the Dimensionality of Reading Fluency in Grade 4: Prosody and its Role in Supporting Reading Comprehension

The purpose of the current study was to examine the dimensionality of prosody and its role in supporting comprehension in Grade 4 students (N = 198). Participants were administered a grade-level CBM probe and i-Ready Diagnostic, including the Vocabulary, Literary Text, and Informational Text subtests. Spectrographic analysis was used to extract the prosodic data from audio recordings of the passage reading. A comparison group of 30 adults were recruited. A four-factor measurement model was proposed, with a reading comprehension factor comprised of i-Ready subtest, two prosodic factors comprised of pitch and pausing features gathered from the grade-level passage, and a text reading efficiency (TRE) latent factor comprised of oral reading rate, silent reading rate, and oral reading accuracy. However, results supported a unidimensional fluency model comprised of the prosodic and text reading efficiency indicators, along with a separate reading comprehension factor. An additional ad hoc model with prosody indicator variables was also analyzed. Results indicated that prosody did not constitute a multidimensional construct in this study, and that prosody did not contribute directly or indirectly to reading comprehension. These findings are not consistent with the extant research. Given the sparse literature on this topic, more research is needed to elucidate the relation between prosody and reading comprehension skills in elementary students with varied text difficulty. Keywords: Prosody, fluency, reading comprehension, text reading efficiency, dimensionality, difficulty, pitch, pause, pausin

Heart Healthy Trail Mix

https://openspaces.unk.edu/lp-snacks/1000/thumbnail.jp

Inferences on Criminality Based on Appearance

In our research study, we tested whether people can tell if someone is a criminal or not based on a photograph of their face. The importance of the subject lies in the fact that many people are unfairly judged as criminals based on stereotypes such as race. In this study, we wished to eliminate race and see if any purely facial characteristics are stereotypically defined as criminal or if a person’s initial judgment is an accurate predictor of someone’s character. Extensive research has been dedicated to finding if people have facial features that portray some characteristic about them and this study will focus on criminality. Through the use of a face modulating program, neutral faced photographs were shown to participants with a question that asked if the person in the photograph is a criminal or not. The data gathered will be beneficial in either identifying facial features that are associated with criminals or that show the interesting phenomena of gut instinct

Effects of Passive Heat Stress on Thermoregulation in Smokers versus Non-Smokers

Context: Maintaining thermal balance under heat-stress depends on appropriate increases in sweating and skin blood flow (cutaneous vasodilation). Given the multiple effects on nicotine on the body, it is unknown if sweating and cutaneous vasodilation are impaired, or possibly enhanced in smokers during heat stress. Objective: To examine the effects of passive heating on thermoregulatory responses (i.e., sweating and cutaneous vasodilation) in smokers versus non-smokers. Design: 1 passive heat trial per subject. Patients or Other Participants: 14 male smokers (26 ± 7 y; 180.0 ± 5.5 cm; 81.2 ± 20.7 kg; 3.2 ± 1.9 packs/week) and 12 male non-smokers (26 ± 8 y; 172.4 ± 33.2 cm; 81.2 ± 20.7 kg) volunteered to participate. Intervention: Subjects were passively heated using a water perfused, tube-lined suit until core temperature (TC) increased 1.5°C from baseline. At baseline and each 0.5°C TC increase, core and skin temperatures (Tsk) were assessed. On an exposed forearm, skin blood flow (SKBF) via laser doppler flowmetry, local sweat rate (LSR), sweat gland output (SGO), and sweat gland activation (SGA). Data were analyzed via LabChart 8.0 and ImageJ. Statistical procedures were performed with SPSS v.20.0. Main Outcome Measures: SKBF, LSR, SGO, SGA, Tsk, and TC were all assessed via a two-way ANOVA. Sweat sensitivity, SKBF sensitivity, TC at sweat and SKBF onset, total body sweat-rate and percent body mass loss were all assessed via independent t-tests. Results: There were no significant differences in any measures between smokers and non-smokers (all p\u3e0.05). TC and Tsk increased significantly (p\u3c0.01) from baseline to 1.5°C TC increase (37.0 ± 0.3°C to 38.4 ± 0.2°C and 34.1 ± 0.5°C to 40.1 ± 0.4°C, respectively). Independent of group, SKBF, LSR, and SGO increased significantly (p\u3c0.01) from baseline until TC increased 1.0°C (19.5 ± 13.6 to 65.3 ± 19.4% of max SKBF, 0.0 to 1.0 ± 0.5 mg∙cm-1∙min-1, and 0.0 to 9.2 ± 2.6 μg∙cm-1∙min-1, respectively). Other notable measures were TC at sweat onset (37.0 ± 0.3°C), total body sweat-rate (0.51 ± 0.21 L•hr-1), and percent body mass loss (-0.5 ± 0.1%). Conclusion: Passive heating similarly affected vasodilatory and sweating parameters in smokers and non-smokers. Therefore in these relatively young, male, light smokers, thermoregulation is neither hindered nor enhanced. Funding: This project was funded by the College of Education and Health Professions and Research & Sponsored Programs at the University of Arkansas and the Arkansas Biosciences Institute, the major research component of the Arkansas Tobacco Settlement Proceeds Act of 2000

Content Validity of a Mathematics Placement Test for a Gifted High School

The Content Validity of a mathematics placement test at a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) gifted residential high school is examined. Data were collected from internal and external mathematics subject matter experts (SMEs) using a card- sorting task and were analyzed using Multidimensional Scaling (MDS) and Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA). Results demonstrate some congruence between the two configurations, suggesting marginal evidence of Content Validity

Evaluating Neutrophil Physiological States of Degradation Upon Template Interaction

Our knowledge regarding neutrophil response to biomaterials is still limited. In this study, we classified neutrophil degradation into four physiological states, with the final stage being the release of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs or NETosis). Quantifications of these neutrophil physiological states of degradation were evaluated in response to collagen (COL) and polydioxanone (PDO) electrospun templates with target diameters of 0.4-0.6µm for small diameter (SD) and 1.5-2.0µm for large diameter (LD). Following results found in preliminary research, it was hypothesized that COL, a natural polymer, would induce a less traumatic neutrophil response compared to PDO, a synthetic polymer. Neutrophils were isolated according to protocol, and their in vitro responses to the electrospun biomaterials were evaluated at 4- and 8-hour time points using fluorescent imaging. Neutrophils were classified into the four physiological stages of degradation and quantified. In this preliminary data (n=5 for 3 biological replicates), neither COL nor PDO electrospun biomaterial were shown to cause a statistically significant difference in neutrophil response. However, it was seen that variation in fiber diameter caused a significant difference in neutrophil degradation stages, with LD fibers producing a less traumatic neutrophil response than SD fibers for both natural and synthetic polymers. While this research was not successful in its primary objective of demonstrating the viability of deconvolved z-stack imaging to evaluate neutrophil response, meaningful data was still collected to showed that larger fiber diameter polymers may be more biocompatible than smaller fiber diameter polymers. Further work using deconvolved z-stack imaging or additional sample groups will produce more meaningful data to impact the next generation of regeneration templates

A Psychometric Investigation of a Mathematics Placement Test at a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Gifted Residential High School

Educational institutions, at all levels, must justify their use of placement testing and confront questions of their impact on students’ educational outcomes to assure all stakeholders that students are being enrolled in courses appropriate with their ability in order to maximize their chances of success (Linn, 1994; Mattern & Packman, 2009; McFate & Olmsted III, 1999; Norman, Medhanie, Harwell, Anderson, & Post, 2011; Wiggins, 1989). The aims of this research were to (1) provide evidence of Content Validity, (2) provide evidence of Construct Validity and Internal Consistency Reliability, (3) examine the item characteristics and potential bias of the items between males and females, and (4) provide evidence of Criterion-Related Validity by investigating the ability of the mathematics placement test scores to predict future performance in an initial mathematics course. Students’ admissions portfolios and scores from the mathematics placement test were used to examine the aims of this research. Content Validity was evidenced through the use of a card-sorting task by internal and external subject matter experts. Results from Multidimensional Scaling and Hierarchical Cluster Analysis revealed a congruence of approximately 63 percent between the two group configurations. Next, an Exploratory Factor Analysis was used to investigate the underlying factor structure of the mathematics placement test. Findings indicated a three factor structure of PreCalculus, Geometry, and Algebra 1, with moderate correlations between factors. Thirdly, an item analysis was conducted to explore the item parameters (i.e., item difficulty, and item discrimination) and to test for gender biases. Results from the item analysis suggested that the Algebra 1 and Geometry items were generally easy for the population of interest, while the PreCalculus items presented more of a challenge. Furthermore, the mathematics placement test was optimized by removing eleven items from the Algebra 1 factor and two items from the PreCalculus factor. All Internal Consistency Reliability estimates remained strong and ranged from .736 to .950. Finally, Hierarchical Multiple Linear Regressions were used to examine the relationship between students’ total and factor scores from the mathematics placement test with students’ performance in their first semester mathematics course. Findings from the four Hierarchical Multiple Linear Regressions demonstrate that the total score students’ receive on the mathematics placement test predicts their achievement in their initial mathematics course, above and beyond the contributions of their demographic information and previous academic background. More specifically, the Algebra 1 Factor Score from the mathematics placement test was the strongest predictor of student success among the lower level mathematics courses (i.e., Mathematical Investigations I or II). Similarly, both the Algebra 1 and PreCalculus Factor Scores from the mathematics placement test were significant predictors of students’ grades in their first upper level mathematics course (i.e., Mathematical Investigations III or IV), providing evidence of Predictive Validity. The current mathematics placement test and procedures appear appropriate for the population of interest given the empirical evidence demonstrated in this research study regarding the psychometric properties of the exam. The continued use of the revised mathematics placement test in the course placement decision-making process is advisable