Comparing Student Learning From and Perceptions of Open and Commercial Textbook Excerpts: A Randomized Experiment

Open textbooks, which provide students with electronic access to texts without fees, have been developed as alternatives to commercial textbooks. Building on prior quasi-experiments, the purpose of this study is to experimentally compare an open and commercial textbook. College students (N = 144) were randomly assigned to read an excerpt from an open or commercial textbook, answer questions about content, and indicate their perceptions of textbook quality. Learning was similar between textbook types. Perceptions differed in that the discussion of research findings was reported as higher quality in the open textbook while the visuals and writing were reported as higher quality in the commercial textbook. Neither perceptions of research findings nor visuals correlated with learning performance. However, perceptions of writing quality and everyday examples were correlated with learning performance. Findings may inform initiatives for open textbook adoption as well as textbook development, but are limited due to the use of an excerpt. Reading to learn is a fundamental activity for knowledge construction (Duke et al., 2003; Alfassi, 2004; Maggioni et al., 2015). Textbooks are common educational tools for reading to learn, even in the digital age (Fletcher et al., 2012; Knight, 2015; Illowsky et al., 2016). The rising cost of commercial textbooks, along with the affordances of the internet and growing interest in expanding access to knowledge, has brought about the development of open textbooks, which students can access electronically without cost (Smith, 2009). There have been multiple studies indicating that students\u27 learning from and opinions of open textbooks are similar to or better than those of commercial textbooks (e.g., Clinton, 2018; Lawrence and Lester, 2018; Medley-Rath, 2018; Cuttler, 2019; Grissett and Huffman, 2019). However, these studies have all been quasi-experimental or correlational; therefore, causal claims were not possible. Moreover, students in these studies were aware that the open textbooks were free whereas the commercial textbooks were not, which could bias their attitudes (Clinton, 2019). An experimental examination with participants who are naive to the cost of the textbook would address the confounds related to student awareness of cost. The purpose of this experiment is to examine students\u27 learning from and perceptions of an open textbook compared to a commercial textbook

The Vehicle, Spring 2009

Table of Contents Idyllic Has an EndJustine Fittonpage 28 The RemedyJosh Boykinpage 29 True NatureStephen Garciapage 30 We Are All Eaters of SoulsDan Davispage 31 Scarlet on the WindJustin Sudkamppage 34 IlluminatedRashelle McNairpage 35 Lightning RodKim Hunter-Perkinspage 36 TrialDan Davispage 49 Dear GodKristi Kohlenbergpage 50 A Cheap Metaphor Is What We Have for DeathKeith Stewartpage 51 Sad MoonJennifer O\u27Neilpage 52 The Transported ManStephen Garciapage 61 Divine InsanityGrace Lawrencepage 62 Moonglow MemoriesJustin Sudkamppage 63 Poetry The Habits of HusbandsKim Hunter-Perkinspage 4 Young AmericanMaria Rhodespage 5 Kevin Doesn\u27t Live Here AnymoreJustine Fittonpage 6 Summer VacationMary Lieskepage 8 PerfectChristie Cheatlepage 9 Hate for OneMiranda Whitepage 10 The Witch\u27s GraveDan Davispage 16 Medicine WomanLindsey Durbinpage 18 Epistle to a BombshellKim Hunter-Perkinspage 19 GuardedAaron Dillardpage 20 Lean and Hungry in YesteryearTim Ernstpage 21 Dirty TearsBrittany Morganpage 27 I Left the Radio OnSerena Heathpage 83 Untitled, for CourtneyKellen Fasnachtpage 84 Ermine DriveStephen Garciapage 85 Prose TwigDaniel Paquinpage 11 Coyote MoonDan Davispage 22 BloodGretchen Schaiblepage 32 IntroductionSam Sottosantopage 53 The Guitar ManDan Davispage 75 Art Picasso InspirationAlycia Rockeycover StageSarah Fairchildpage 37 ConnectedBrittany Morganpage 65 SpringAnthony Travis Shootpage 66 BodhisattvaSarah Fairchildpage 67 What About Love?Justin Sudkamppage 68 Angry MoonJennifer O\u27Neilpage 69 HauntedKellen Fasnachtpage 70 Haiku #1Justin Sudkamppage 72 ImmobileRashelle McNairpage 73 The ChurningJosh Boykinpage 74 The Old Boat DockJosh Boykinpage 79 Saltwater RaindropsTim Ernstpage 80 Slow MotionGrace Lawrencepage 81 Solid AdviceAnthony Travis Shootpage 82 TreeAlycia Rockeypage 38 TireSarah Fairchildpage 39 What to WearKristy Pearsonpage 40 Figure 1Sean Walkerpage 41 GreenhouseAlycia Rockeypage 42 RomeAlycia Rockeypage 43 Me at the Lamp PostElizabeth Surbeckpage 44 Little Miss LizKristy Pearsonpage 45 DoudnaAlycia Rockeypage 46 FlagAlycia Rockeypage 47 Flag ProtestAlycia Rockeypage 48 Features Note From the EditorRebecca Griffithpage 1 Fall 2008-Spring 2009 Vehicle Award Winnerspage 2 James K. Johnson Creative Writing Awardpage 86 Winning Entry (Nonfiction)Daniel Paquinpage 87 Winning Entries (Poetry)Anthony Travis Shootpage 98 Contributorspage 103https://thekeep.eiu.edu/vehicle/1091/thumbnail.jp

Elective surgery cancellations due to the COVID-19 pandemic: global predictive modelling to inform surgical recovery plans.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted routine hospital services globally. This study estimated the total number of adult elective operations that would be cancelled worldwide during the 12 weeks of peak disruption due to COVID-19. METHODS: A global expert response study was conducted to elicit projections for the proportion of elective surgery that would be cancelled or postponed during the 12 weeks of peak disruption. A Bayesian β-regression model was used to estimate 12-week cancellation rates for 190 countries. Elective surgical case-mix data, stratified by specialty and indication (surgery for cancer versus benign disease), were determined. This case mix was applied to country-level surgical volumes. The 12-week cancellation rates were then applied to these figures to calculate the total number of cancelled operations. RESULTS: The best estimate was that 28 404 603 operations would be cancelled or postponed during the peak 12 weeks of disruption due to COVID-19 (2 367 050 operations per week). Most would be operations for benign disease (90·2 per cent, 25 638 922 of 28 404 603). The overall 12-week cancellation rate would be 72·3 per cent. Globally, 81·7 per cent of operations for benign conditions (25 638 922 of 31 378 062), 37·7 per cent of cancer operations (2 324 070 of 6 162 311) and 25·4 per cent of elective caesarean sections (441 611 of 1 735 483) would be cancelled or postponed. If countries increased their normal surgical volume by 20 per cent after the pandemic, it would take a median of 45 weeks to clear the backlog of operations resulting from COVID-19 disruption. CONCLUSION: A very large number of operations will be cancelled or postponed owing to disruption caused by COVID-19. Governments should mitigate against this major burden on patients by developing recovery plans and implementing strategies to restore surgical activity safely

Parent-reported child appetite moderates relationships between child genetic obesity risk and parental feeding practices

BackgroundFood parenting practices are associated with child weight. Such associations may reflect the effects of parents' practices on children's food intake and weight. However, longitudinal, qualitative, and behavioral genetic evidence suggests these associations could, in some cases, reflect parents' response to children's genetic risk for obesity, an instance of gene–environment correlation. We tested for gene–environment correlations across multiple domains of food parenting practices and explored the role of parent-reported child appetite in these relationships.Materials and methodsData on relevant variables were available for N = 197 parent–child dyads (7.54 ± 2.67 years; 44.4% girls) participating in RESONANCE, an ongoing pediatric cohort study. Children's body mass index (BMI) polygenic risk score (PRS) were derived based on adult GWAS data. Parents reported on their feeding practices (Comprehensive Feeding Practices Questionnaire) and their child's eating behavior (Child Eating Behavior Questionnaire). Moderation effects of child eating behaviors on associations between child BMI PRS and parental feeding practices were examined, adjusting for relevant covariates.ResultsOf the 12 parental feeding practices, 2 were associated with child BMI PRS, namely, restriction for weight control (β = 0.182, p = 0.011) and teaching about nutrition (β = −0.217, p = 0.003). Moderation analyses demonstrated that when children had high genetic obesity risk and showed moderate/high (vs. low) food responsiveness, parents were more likely to restrict food intake to control weight.ConclusionOur results indicate that parents may adjust their feeding practices in response to a child's genetic propensity toward higher or lower bodyweight, and the adoption of food restriction to control weight may depend on parental perceptions of the child's appetite. Research using prospective data on child weight and appetite and food parenting from infancy is needed to further investigate how gene–environment relationships evolve through development

Effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor and angiotensin receptor blocker initiation on organ support-free days in patients hospitalized with COVID-19

IMPORTANCE Overactivation of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) may contribute to poor clinical outcomes in patients with COVID-19. Objective To determine whether angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) initiation improves outcomes in patients hospitalized for COVID-19. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS In an ongoing, adaptive platform randomized clinical trial, 721 critically ill and 58 non–critically ill hospitalized adults were randomized to receive an RAS inhibitor or control between March 16, 2021, and February 25, 2022, at 69 sites in 7 countries (final follow-up on June 1, 2022). INTERVENTIONS Patients were randomized to receive open-label initiation of an ACE inhibitor (n = 257), ARB (n = 248), ARB in combination with DMX-200 (a chemokine receptor-2 inhibitor; n = 10), or no RAS inhibitor (control; n = 264) for up to 10 days. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The primary outcome was organ support–free days, a composite of hospital survival and days alive without cardiovascular or respiratory organ support through 21 days. The primary analysis was a bayesian cumulative logistic model. Odds ratios (ORs) greater than 1 represent improved outcomes. RESULTS On February 25, 2022, enrollment was discontinued due to safety concerns. Among 679 critically ill patients with available primary outcome data, the median age was 56 years and 239 participants (35.2%) were women. Median (IQR) organ support–free days among critically ill patients was 10 (–1 to 16) in the ACE inhibitor group (n = 231), 8 (–1 to 17) in the ARB group (n = 217), and 12 (0 to 17) in the control group (n = 231) (median adjusted odds ratios of 0.77 [95% bayesian credible interval, 0.58-1.06] for improvement for ACE inhibitor and 0.76 [95% credible interval, 0.56-1.05] for ARB compared with control). The posterior probabilities that ACE inhibitors and ARBs worsened organ support–free days compared with control were 94.9% and 95.4%, respectively. Hospital survival occurred in 166 of 231 critically ill participants (71.9%) in the ACE inhibitor group, 152 of 217 (70.0%) in the ARB group, and 182 of 231 (78.8%) in the control group (posterior probabilities that ACE inhibitor and ARB worsened hospital survival compared with control were 95.3% and 98.1%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE In this trial, among critically ill adults with COVID-19, initiation of an ACE inhibitor or ARB did not improve, and likely worsened, clinical outcomes. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT0273570

Anatometric Point Guide for Canine Cranial Cruciate Ligament Suture Repair

Tears to the cranial cruciate ligament account for 90% of all canine hind-limb stifle injuries. The most common surgical repair method, lateral suture stabilization, has a 25% failure rate. The purpose of this project was to create an aiming guide to reproducibly locate anatometric points on the canine stifle. Cyclic cadaver testing and tibial translation testing was completed on 9 cadaver stifles. The results of these tests suggested that femoral point f2, and the tibial point t8 are the most anatometric points due to limited strain on the suture during the stifle range of motion and high forces required for tibial translation. A drill guide was created to aid surgeons in locating the points and ensuring a reproducible surgery. Veterinary surgeons validated the device’s function

Developing an Informal Science Education Program for Use in a Formal Setting

In the past 20 years, Australian students have become troublingly disinterested in science and science-related careers. The Banksia Gardens Community Centre aims to address this issue with an in-school science education program. Utilizing the best practices in informal education, we implemented a pilot science program in three schools in Hume City, and left Banksia with a suite of activities and supporting materials for use in future programs. From our analysis of the pilot program, we concluded that hands-on activities are effective for engaging students, and that the pilot program was successful at cultivating their science interest. We recommend that educators develop these inquiry-based methods, and utilize similar outreach programs to encourage an interest in science

Mechanism of increased clearance of glycated albumin by proximal tubule cells

Serum albumin is the most abundant plasma protein and has a long half-life due to neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn)-mediated transcytosis by many cell types, including proximal tubule cells of the kidney. Albumin also interacts with, and is modified by, many small and large molecules. Therefore, the focus of the present study was to address the impact of specific known biological albumin modifications on albumin-FcRn binding and cellular handling. Binding at pH 6.0 and 7.4 was performed since FcRn binds albumin strongly at acidic pH and releases it after transcytosis at physiological pH. Equilibrium dissociation constants were measured using microscale thermophoresis. Since studies have shown that glycated albumin is excreted in the urine at a higher rate than unmodified albumin, we studied glucose and methylgloxal modified albumins (21 days). All had reduced affinity to FcRn at pH 6.0, suggesting these albumins would not be returned to the circulation via the transcytotic pathway. To address why modified albumin has reduced affinity, we analyzed the structure of the modified albumins using small-angle X-ray scattering. This analysis showed significant structural changes occurring to albumin with glycation, particularly in the FcRn-binding region, which could explain the reduced affinity to FcRn. These results offer an explanation for enhanced proximal tubule-mediated sorting and clearance of abnormal albumins

Safe transition to opioid-free pathway after robotic-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy

To determine whether local anesthetic infiltration and non-narcotic pain medications can safely reduce or eliminate opioid use following robotic-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy while maintaining adequate pain control. After initiation of this quality-improvement project, patients undergoing robotic-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy had surgeon-administered local anesthesia around all incisions into each successive layer from peritoneum to skin, with the majority infiltrated into the transversus abdominis muscle plane and posterior rectus sheath of the midline extraction incision. Post-operatively patients received scheduled acetaminophen plus ketorolac, renal function permitting. A retrospective review was performed for all cases over 19 months, spanning project implementation. 157 cases (76 in opioid-free pathway, 81 in standard pathway) were included. Five patients (6.6%) in the opioid-free pathway required post-operative opioids while inpatient, versus 61 (75.3%) in the standard pathway, p < .001. Mean patient-reported pain score on each post-operative day was lower in the opioid-free pathway compared to the standard pathway [day 0: 2.4 (SD 2.6) vs. 3.9 (SD 2.7), p < .001; day 1: 1.4 [SD 1.6] vs. 3.3 (SD 2.2), p < .001; day 2 0.9 (SD 1.5) vs. 2.6 (SD 1.9), p < .001]. Fewer post-operative complications were seen in the opioid-free pathway versus standard [0 vs. 5 (6.2%), p = 0.028], and there was no statistically significant difference in number of emergency room visits or readmissions within 3 weeks of surgery. The use of surgeon-administered local anesthetic plus scheduled non-narcotic analgesics can safely and significantly reduce opioid use after robotic-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy while improving pain control

Safe transition to opioid-free pathway after robotic-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy.

To determine whether local anesthetic infiltration and non-narcotic pain medications can safely reduce or eliminate opioid use following robotic-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy while maintaining adequate pain control. After initiation of this quality-improvement project, patients undergoing robotic-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy had surgeon-administered local anesthesia around all incisions into each successive layer from peritoneum to skin, with the majority infiltrated into the transversus abdominis muscle plane and posterior rectus sheath of the midline extraction incision. Post-operatively patients received scheduled acetaminophen plus ketorolac, renal function permitting. A retrospective review was performed for all cases over 19 months, spanning project implementation. 157 cases (76 in opioid-free pathway, 81 in standard pathway) were included. Five patients (6.6%) in the opioid-free pathway required post-operative opioids while inpatient, versus 61 (75.3%) in the standard pathway, p \u3c .001. Mean patient-reported pain score on each post-operative day was lower in the opioid-free pathway compared to the standard pathway [day 0: 2.4 (SD 2.6) vs. 3.9 (SD 2.7), p \u3c .001; day 1: 1.4 [SD 1.6] vs. 3.3 (SD 2.2), p \u3c .001; day 2 0.9 (SD 1.5) vs. 2.6 (SD 1.9), p \u3c .001]. Fewer post-operative complications were seen in the opioid-free pathway versus standard [0 vs. 5 (6.2%), p = 0.028], and there was no statistically significant difference in number of emergency room visits or readmissions within 3 weeks of surgery. The use of surgeon-administered local anesthetic plus scheduled non-narcotic analgesics can safely and significantly reduce opioid use after robotic-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy while improving pain control