Assessing the Gains from Concept Mapping in Introductory Statistics

In an effort to improve active learning in introductory statistics, we introduce the use of concept mapping techniques as part of the course. While previous papers have touted the use of this and other interactive teaching methods in statistics education, we add to this literature by providing additional assessment of its efficacy. This comes through an experimental design that involves a single instructor teaching two sections of the same statistics course over the same semester. Both cover the same material in the same way with the exception that concept mapping is used in one section, but not the other. Assessment of learning outcomes is done through the use of pre-tests and post-tests of understanding of statistical concepts. We also track changes in student’s study habits over the semester through additional surveys. We find only weak evidence that concept mapping is effective in aiding student learning of statistics

Student Attitudes and Approaches to Online Homework

Over the past two decades there has been increasing movement toward the use of computers and the internet in conjunction with many courses across the educational spectrum. In addition to having consequences for course delivery, both inside and outside of the classroom, this movement has had an impact on the coursework that is required of students. In this study we consider the use of online homework as an alternative to the traditional medium of pencil and paper. Surveys were conducted to gather data on students\u27 attitudes and practices related to online homework, and these data have been linked to course outcomes. In this paper we present the survey results and examine relationships between student characteristics, study behaviors, and the perceived benefits of online homework systems. In general we find a positive reaction to the use of online homework, with little variance across the particular platforms being used

Technological and Disruptive Innovations in a Nation\u27s Industrialization and Leadership Development

The turn of this new century has been witnessing the effort of various leading developed and developing countries in their attempt to materialize next round of industrialization by emphasizing on innovations. To potentially provide guidance to such national efforts, this paper explores the relationship between technological innovation and industrialization and the importance of disruptive innovation in the development of a nation\u27s international leadership. By employing the rigor of game theory, this work first looks at key conditions under which an established market invites competition and innovation. On top of such generally true results, it is consequently shown that technological innovation is a driving force behind industrialization and that disruptive innovation can assist a nation to become an international leader. Other than providing policy recommendations, this paper concludes with open problems for future research

Цитокіновий профіль у вагітних з хламідійно-вірусною інфекцією

Урогенитальный хламидиоз и вирусная инфекция – это актуальная медико-социальная проблема, поэтому углубленные исследования клинических, иммунологических и эндокринологических аспектов этой проблемы у беременных, разработка и внедрение лечебно-профилактических программ является одним из перспективных резервов снижения репродуктивных потерь, материнской и перинатальной заболеваемости. Вместе с этим, такие исследования составляют значительный научный интерес и большую практическую ценность. При изучении механизмов осложнений беременности большой интерес вызывают исследования функционального состояния клеток ММС (путем определения уровня провоспалительных цитокинов ИЛ - 1β, ФНО -α), а также Т-лимфоцитов (путем определения провоспалительных цитокинов ИЛ -2, ИФН-γ и провоспалительных цитокинов ИЛ -4, ИЛ -10).Urogenital chlamydia and viral infection are actual medical and social problems. That is why the most promising reserves to reduce reproductive losses, maternal and perinatal morbidity are deep study of clinical, immunological, microbiological and endocrinological aspects of this problem among pregnant women, as well as developing and implementing of health care programs. Moreover, such studies have significant scientific interest and great practical value. While studying the mechanisms of pregnancy complications, the most interesting are the study of the functional state of MMS cells (by determining the level of proinflammatory cytokines IL-1β TNF-α), and T-lymphocytes (by determining the level of proinflammatory cytokines IL-2, IFN-γ and anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-4, IL-10)

Integrated care in patients with atrial fibrillation- a predictive heterogeneous treatment effect analysis of the ALL-IN trial

Introduction:Integrated care is effective in reducing all-cause mortality in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) in primary care, though time and resource intensive. The aim of the current study was to assess whether integrated care should be directed at all AF patients equally. Methods:The ALL-IN trial (n = 1,240 patients, median age 77 years) was a cluster-randomized trial in which primary care practices were randomized to provide integrated care or usual care to AF patients aged 65 years and older. Integrated care comprised of (i) anticoagulation monitoring, (ii) quarterly checkups and (iii) easy-access consultation with cardiologists. For the current analysis, cox proportional hazard analysis with all clinical variables from the CHA2DS2-VASc score was used to predict all-cause mortality in the ALL-IN trial. Subsequently, the hazard ratio and absolute risk reduction were plotted as a function of this predicted mortality risk to explore treatment heterogeneity. Results:Under usual care, after a median of 2 years follow-up the absolute risk of all-cause mortality in the highest-risk quarter was 31.0%, compared to 4.6% in the lowest-risk quarter. On the relative scale, there was no evidence of treatment heterogeneity (p for interaction = 0.90). However, there was substantial treatment heterogeneity on the absolute scale: risk reduction in the lowest risk- quarter of risk 3.3% (95% CI -0.4% - 7.0) compared to 12.0% (95% CI 2.7% - 22.0) in the highest risk quarter. Conclusion:While the relative degree of benefit from integrated AF care is similar in all patients, patients with a high all-cause mortality risk have a greater benefit on an absolute scale and should therefore be prioritized when implementing integrated care.</p

International Guillain-Barré Syndrome Outcome Study (IGOS): protocol of a prospective observational cohort study on clinical and biological predictors of disease course and outcome in Guillain-Barré syndrome

Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is an acute polyradiculoneuropathy with a highly variable clinical presentation, course, and outcome. The factors that determine the clinical variation of GBS are poorly understood which complicates the care and treatment of individual patients. The protocol of the ongoing International GBS Outcome Study (IGOS), a prospective, observational, multi-centre cohort study that aims to identify the clinical and biological determinants and predictors of disease onset, subtype, course and outcome of GBS is presented here. Patients fulfilling the diagnostic criteria for GBS, regardless of age, disease severity, variant forms, or treatment, can participate if included within two weeks after onset of weakness. Information about demography, preceding infections, clinical features, diagnostic findings, treatment, course and outcome is collected. In addition, cerebrospinal fluid and serial blood samples for serum and DNA is collected at standard time points. The original aim was to include at least 1000 patients with a follow-up of 1-3 years. Data are collected via a web-based data entry system and stored anonymously. IGOS started in May 2012 and by January 2017 included more than 1400 participants from 143 active centres in 19 countries across 5 continents. The IGOS data/biobank is available for research projects conducted by expertise groups focusing on specific topics including epidemiology, diagnostic criteria, clinimetrics, electrophysiology, antecedent events, antibodies, genetics, prognostic modelling, treatment effects and long-term outcome of GBS. The IGOS will help to standardize the international collection of data and biosamples for future research of GBS. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01582763

Free faecal water: What do we know and can equine faecal microbiota transplantation be used to manage this issue?

Free Faecal Water (FFW) is a condition recognised in horses. Horses with this condition defaecate normal faeces but before, after, or during defaecation (or sometimes even independently of defaecation) faecal water runs out of the anus (Kienzle et al. 2016). This condition is also often referred to as Faecal Water Syndrome or Free Faecal Liquid. Cases are normally isolated, with only one horse from a group or stable yard being affected. In general, horses often seem to be in good general health and do not appear to be affected negatively by the condition. However, FFW can be a real management issue to the owner who is involved in the daily care of the horse. For example, daily cleaning of the tail and legs of the horse may be required depending on frequency and amount of the faecal water produced. In some cases, the faecal water can cause skin irritation and skin lesions, subsequently affecting the horse’s welfare. FFW is recognized in horses of all breeds, including warm bloods and painted horses. No official information is available on prevalence of FFW, but the condition is seen frequently by equine veterinarians in Western Europe. Unfortunately, very little information on FFW is published (Ertelt and Gehlen 2015; Kienzle et al. 2016; Valle et al. 2013). Many different causes have been implicated in the development of FFW (see below), and several treatment options for FFW have been suggested or applied by equine practitioners. The limited published information on FFW prevents evidence-based conclusions with respect to its aetiology and the objective evaluation of treatment. This paper provides an overview of the current state of knowledge regarding the aetiology and potential management and treatment options associated with FFW. This paper was written as a starting point for a multidisciplinary discussion at the 9th European Equine Health & Nutrition Congress. The paper includes empirical information from the authors in terms of dealing with FFW cases, as well as some preliminary results of their clinical studies

Visual pigments, ocular filters and the evolution of snake vision

Much of what is known about the molecular evolution of vertebrate vision comes from studies of mammals, birds and fish. Reptiles (especially snakes) have barely been sampled in previous studies despite their exceptional diversity of retinal photoreceptor complements. Here we analyse opsin gene sequences and ocular media transmission for up to 69 species to investigate snake visual evolution. Most snakes express three visual opsin genes (rh1, sws1, lws). These opsin genes (especially rh1 and sws1) have undergone much evolutionary change, including modifications of amino acid residues at sites of known importance for spectral tuning, with several tuning site combinations unknown elsewhere among vertebrates. These changes are particularly common among dipsadine and colubrine ‘higher’ snakes. All three opsin genes are inferred to be under purifying selection, though dN/dS varies with respect to some lineages, ecologies, and retinal anatomy. Positive selection was inferred at multiple sites in all three opsins, these being concentrated in transmembrane domains and thus likely to have a substantial effect on spectral tuning and other aspects of opsin function. Snake lenses vary substantially in their spectral transmission. Snakes active at night and some of those active by day have very transmissive lenses, while some primarily diurnal species cut out shorter wavelengths (including UVA). In terms of retinal anatomy, lens transmission, visual pigment spectral tuning and opsin gene evolution the visual system of snakes is exceptionally diverse compared to all other extant tetrapod orders

A randomised, multi-centre phase III study of 3 different doses of intravenous immunoglobulin 10% in patients with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (ProCID trial): Study design and protocol

Patients with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP) show varying degrees of response to intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) therapy. This randomised phase III study in patients with CIDP (ProCID trial) will compare the efficacy and safety of 3 different doses (0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 g/kg) of IVIg 10% (panzyga) administered every 3 weeks for 24weeks. The primary efficacy endpoint is the rate of treatment response, defined as a decrease in adjusted inflammatory neuropathy cause and treatment disability score of ≥1 point, in the IVIg 1.0 g/kg arm at week 24. Patients with definite or probable CIDP according to European Federation of Neurological Sciences/Peripheral Nerve Society criteria with IVIg or corticosteroid dependency and active disease are eligible. All potentially eligible patients will undergo IVIg or corticosteroid dose reduction (washout phase) over ≤12weeks or until deterioration of CIDP (active disease). Patients with deterioration during the washout phase will be randomised to receive study treatment during a dose-evaluation phase starting with a loading dose of IVIg 2.0 g/kg followed by maintenance treatment with IVIg 0.5, 1.0, or 2.0 g/kg every 3 weeks. Rescue medication (2 doses of IVIg 2.0 g/kg given 3 weeks apart) will be administered to patients in the IVIg 0.5 and 1.0 g/kg groups who deteriorate after week 3 and before week 18 or who do not improve at week 6. Safety, tolerability and quality of life will be assessed. The ProCID study will provide new information on the best maintenance dose of IVIg for patients with CIDP