Group Cognition in Problem Solving Dialogues: Analyzing differences between voice and computer transcripts

This project shadows the work of student groups in Math 110, a quantitative literacy class, engaged in exploratory learning excercises. An instructor monitors these groups by both walking around the room and observing group conversation at another computer. Our goal is to put this exercise online, and as a result leave the entire monitoring process up to the computer, assuming the role that the instructor traditionally assumes. Using annotation techniques to decipher meaning in dialogue of students working in groups for a Math 110, we try to see how students collaborate to solve problems together. “Bits of realization”, conversation, and problem solving tags are sorted out and gathered to identify the main points that are expressed during the problem solving of the two-person game, Poison. Expanding upon previous research done by other students, we are able to add bits of realization that students encounter in their work. Our first effort is to explore the differences between voice recorded dialogue and computer-mediated chat dialogue

Ultrasonography of a Helical Left Common Carotid Artery

Case Presentation: An 83-year-old woman was admitted to the intensive care unit for septic shock at which point an internal jugular central venous line was placed. The patient’s common carotid artery was visualized in an atypical location, lateral to the internal jugular vein. Further inspection revealed the common carotid artery travelling in a rotational trajectory around the internal jugular vein.Discussion: For at least two decades, point-of-care ultrasound has become the standard of care for placing central venous lines. This surprising anatomical orientation is rare and cautions physicians to fully explore a patient’s anatomy prior to placing central lines

Computer-Monitored Problem-Solving Dialogues

This project shadows the work of student groups in Math 110, a qualitative literacy class, engaged in exploratory learning exercises. An instructor monitors these groups by both walking around the room and observing group conversation at another computer. Our goal is to put this exercise online, and as a result leave the entire monitoring process up to the computer, assuming the role that the instructor traditionally assumes. Using labeling techniques to decipher meaning in dialogue of students working in groups for Math 110, we try to see how students collaborate to solve problems together. Bits of realization, conversation, and problem-solving tags are sorted out and gathered to identify the main points that are expressed during the problem solving of the two person game, Poison. Expanding upon previous research done by other students, we are able to add to bits of realization that students encounter in their work. One purpose is to explore the differences between voice-recorded dialogue and computer-mediated chat dialogue. By examining these transcripts, researchers can raise questions about what sort of content is discussed to solve a problem and prepare the computer to recognize bits or realization in students\u27 work

Group Cognition in Problem Solving Dialogues: Analyzing differences between voice and computer transcripts

This project shadows the work of student groups in Math 110, a quantitative literacy class, engaged in exploratory learning excercises. An instructor monitors these groups by both walking around the room and observing group conversation at another computer. Our goal is to put this exercise online, and as a result leave the entire monitoring process up to the computer, assuming the role that the instructor traditionally assumes. Using annotation techniques to decipher meaning in dialogue of students working in groups for a Math 110, we try to see how students collaborate to solve problems together. “Bits of realization”, conversation, and problem solving tags are sorted out and gathered to identify the main points that are expressed during the problem solving of the two-person game, Poison. Expanding upon previous research done by other students, we are able to add bits of realization that students encounter in their work. Our first effort is to explore the differences between voice recorded dialogue and computer-mediated chat dialogue

Consumption of kiwifruit capsules increases Faecalibacterium prausnitzii abundance in functionally constipated individuals: a randomised controlled human trial

This study investigated the impact of ACTAZIN™ green (2400 and 600 mg) and Livaux™ (2400 mg) gold kiwifruit supplements on faecal microbial composition and metabolites in healthy and functionally constipated (FC) participants. The participants were recruited into the healthy group (n 20; one of whom did not complete the study) and the FC group (n 9), each of whom consumed all the treatments and a placebo (isomalt) for 4 weeks in a randomised cross-over design interspersed with 2-week washout periods. Modification of faecal microbiota composition and metabolism was determined by 16S rRNA gene sequencing and GC, and colonic pH was calculated using SmartPill® wireless motility capsules. A total of thirty-two taxa were measured at greater than 1 % abundance in at least one sample, ten of which differed significantly between the baseline healthy and FC groups. Specifically, Bacteroidales and Roseburia spp. were significantly more abundant (P < 0·05) in the healthy group and taxa including Ruminococcaceae, Dorea spp. and Akkermansia spp. were significantly more abundant (P < 0·05) in the FC group. In the FC group, Faecalibacterium prausnitzii abundance significantly increased (P = 0·024) from 3·4 to 7·0 % following Livaux™ supplementation, with eight of the nine participants showing a net increase. Lower proportions of F. prausnitzii are often associated with gastrointestinal disorders. The discovery that Livaux™ supplementation increased F. prausnitzii abundance offers a potential strategy for improving gut microbiota composition, as F. prausnitzii is a butyrate producer and has also been shown to exert anti-inflammatory effects in many studies

Genetic and chemical characterisation of the cornexistin pathway provides further insight into maleidride biosynthesis

The biosynthetic gene cluster for the selective herbicide cornexistin 1 from the fungus Paecilomyces variotii has been identified and analysed.</p

Endogenous ileal amino acid excretion in monogastric animals : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Animal Science at Massey University

A new method for the determination of endogenous ileal amino acid excretion under conditions of peptide alimentation was refined and evaluated with studies involving the laboratory rat. The refined method was used to investigate aspects of endogenous ileal amino acid flow in the pig. Five studies were conducted, three with rats and two involving the growing pig. 1. Preliminary investigations evaluated the filtration efficiency of ultrafiltration devices, and examined three pre-filtration treatments for rat ileal digesta: trichloroacetic acid (TCA) and perchloric acid (PCA) precipitation, and centrifugation (SPIN). The recovery of nitrogen following ultrafiltration (molecular weight exclusion limit 10,000 Daltons) of fifteen purified protein, peptide and amino acid solutions indicated an effective filtration (>90%) on nominal molecular weight by the ultrafiltration devices. Determination of nitrogen and amino acids in the resulting fractions following TCA and PCA precipitation and centrifugation of rat ileal digesta indicated that PCA was the most effective precipitant. Endogenous ileal amino acid excretions in the growing rat fed an enzymically hydrolysed casein (EHC) based diet with subsequent treatment of the digesta using the ultrafiltration technology were then determined. Twelve 100 g male rats were fed either an EHC-based diet or a protein-free diet and samples of digesta were collected after slaughter. The digesta from the 6 EHC-fed rats were ultrafiltered after centrifugation and the high molecular weight fraction added to the precipitate. The protein-free fed rats had significantly (P<0.05) lower amino acid flows than those rats fed the EHC-based diet with subsequent treatment of the digesta. 2. The proportions of endogenous protein-, peptide- and free amino acid nitrogen (N) in digesta N from the distal ileum of the rat immediately after collection or following storage frozen (-20°C and -196°C) were compared. Eighteen growing rats were given a protein-free diet for 6 days, euthanased and samples of digesta were collected from the terminal 20 cm of ileum. The storage of digesta did not significantly affect the proportions of N-containing substances in the precipitate plus retentate or ultrafiltrate fractions. On average, 67% of the total digesta N was in the precipitate plus retentate fraction and 33% of total digesta N was in the ultrafiltrate fraction. Free amino acid N and peptide N were 10.4 and 10.6% of total digesta N, respectively. 3. The effect of using different flushing media for the collection of ileal digesta on the composition of endogenous N was examined. Twelve growing rats were given a protein-free diet and samples of ileal digesta were collected from the euthanased animal using either distilled water or physiological saline as the flushing medium. There was no significant effect of collection method on the levels of N-containing substances in rat endogenous ileal digesta. 4. The effects of state of body nitrogen balance and the presence of dietary peptides and protein in the digestive tract on the excretion of endogenous amino acids from the ileum of the pig were investigated. Endogenous lysine excretion was determined for pigs given a protein-free diet, an EHC-, a zein- or a synthetic amino acid-based diet. Endogenous flows for amino acids other than lysine were determined for pigs on the protein-free and EHC-based diets. Six male pigs (15 kg liveweight) were allocated to each of the four diets and received the diet for 10 days. The mean endogenous ileal lysine flows for the zein and EHC fed pigs were not significantly different but were higher (P<0.05) than those for the protein-free and synthetic amino acid fed pigs whose mean flows were not significantly different from each other. The mean endogenous ileal flows for amino acids other than lysine were higher (P<0.05) for the EHC fed pigs compared to the animals on the protein-free diet, except for proline, glycine and arginine. 5. The effect of food dry matter intake on endogenous ileal amino acid excretion of the pig under peptide alimentation was determined. Sixteen male pigs (50 kg liveweight) each fitted with a T-cannula in the terminal ileum were fed at 8 levels of food dry matter intake for periods of 8 days. The experiment involved two trials of 8 pigs each, comprising a cross over design. Each trial involved 4 pairs of pigs with each pair receiving one of 4 sequences of treatment. Each sequence comprised 4 levels of food dry matter intake arranged in a Latin square. The food dry matter intakes were 0.06, 0.08, 0.10 and 0.12, and 0.05, 0.07, 0.09 and 0.11 metabolic liveweight (W0.75) day-1 for the first and second trials, respectively. There was an increase in ileal excretion of amino acids, nitrogen and dry matter with increasing food dry matter. There were significant (P<0.05) linear relationships between endogenous ileal amino acid and nitrogen excretion and food dry matter intake except for lysine, glutamic acid and phenylalanine which increased in a curvilinear manner. These relationships, determined under physiologically more normal conditions than under protein-free alimentation, provide preliminary data on the magnitude of small intestinal amino acid losses in the pig

Human Milk Composition and Dietary Intakes of Breastfeeding Women of Different Ethnicity from the Manawatu-Wanganui Region of New Zealand

Human milk is nutrient rich, complex in its composition, and is key to a baby&rsquo;s health through its role in nutrition, gastrointestinal tract and immune development. Seventy-eight mothers (19&ndash;42 years of age) of Asian, Māori, Pacific Island, or of European ethnicity living in Manawatu-Wanganui, New Zealand (NZ) completed the study. The women provided three breast milk samples over a one-week period (6&ndash;8 weeks postpartum), completed a three-day food diary and provided information regarding their pregnancy and lactation experiences. The breast milk samples were analyzed for protein, fat, fatty acid profile, ash, selected minerals (calcium, magnesium, selenium, zinc), and carbohydrates. Breast milk nutrient profiles showed no significant differences between the mothers of different ethnicities in their macronutrient (protein, fat, carbohydrate, and moisture) content. The breast milk of Asian mothers contained significantly higher levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), omega-3 (n-3) and omega-6 (n-6) fatty acids, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and linoleic acids. Arachidonic acid was significantly lower in the breast milk of Māori and Pacific Island women. Dietary intakes of protein, total energy, saturated and polyunsaturated fat, calcium, phosphorus, zinc, iodine, vitamin A equivalents, and folate differed between the ethnic groups, as well as the number of serves of dairy foods, chicken, and legumes. No strong correlations between dietary nutrients and breast milk components were found