The Supreme Court Must Be Curbed

Date unknownhttps://egrove.olemiss.edu/citizens_pamph/1076/thumbnail.jp

Using Admissions Data to Create a First-Semester Academic Success Model

Higher education is attracting more students from diverse background especially at public community colleges. These institutions can help these students attain a quality education at a reasonable price. Unfortunately, community colleges have lower graduation rates than 4-year institutions in part due to the diverse needs and variety in academic preparedness amongst their populations. It can be difficult to identify students most at risk of performing poorly until it is too late. There are multiple ways to predict students’ performance. In this study, three common data mining techniques are compared for their accuracy in predicting academic success using only data collected at the point of admissions. Accurate early prediction can allow academic support professionals to intervene and provide intrusive assistance. A neural network model was found to be more accurate than logistic regression and decision tree models. Moreover, data elements of high school GPA, age, and sex were the most important factors in the neural network model

New findings on venous thrombogenesis

Venous thrombosis (VT) is the third most common cause of cardiovascular death worldwide. Complications from VT and pulmonary embolism are the leading cause of lost disability-adjusted life years. Risks include genetic (e.g., non-O blood group, activated protein C resistance, hyperprothrombinemia) and acquired (e.g., age, surgery, cancer, pregnancy, immobilisation, female hormone use) factors. Pathophysiologic mechanisms that promote VT are incompletely understood, but involve abnormalities in blood coagulability, vessel function, and flow (so-called Virchow’s Triad). Epidemiologic studies of humans, animal models, and biochemical and biophysical investigations have revealed contributions from extrinsic, intrinsic, and common pathways of coagulation, endothelial cells, leukocytes, red blood cells, platelets, cell-derived microvesicles, stasis-induced changes in vascular cells, and blood rheology. Knowledge of these mechanisms may yield new therapeutic targets. Characterisation of mechanisms that mediate VT formation and stability, particularly in aging, are needed to advance understanding of VT

Newly-Recognized Roles of Factor XIII in Thrombosis

Arterial and venous thrombosis are major contributors to coagulation-associated morbidity and mortality. Greater understanding of mechanisms leading to thrombus formation and stability is expected to lead to improved treatment strategies. Factor XIII (FXIII) is a transglutaminase found in plasma and platelets. During thrombosis, activated FXIII crosslinks fibrin and promotes thrombus stability. Recent studies have provided new information about FXIII activity during coagulation and its effects on clot composition and function. These findings reveal newly-recognized roles for FXIII in thrombosis. Herein, we review published literature on FXIII biology and effects on fibrin structure and stability, epidemiologic data associating FXIII with thrombosis, and evidence from animal models indicating FXIII has an essential role in determining thrombus stability, composition, and size

Defining the Interactions Between Coagulation Factor XIII, Fibrin(ogen), and Red Blood Cells

Blood coagulation is the process where a cascade of enzymatic reactions generates a clot to stem the flow of blood following injury. Unfortunately, the same cascade can also form pathologic intravenous clots in a process termed venous thrombosis. Current anticoagulant therapies used to prevent thrombosis also carry a risk of bleeding. Further investigation of the basic biochemical and regulatory mechanisms underlying coagulation are required to identify new antithrombotic strategies with reduced risk of bleeding. The studies presented in this dissertation examine the interactions between three key players in the terminal stages of blood coagulation: factor XIII (FXIII), fibrin(ogen), and red blood cells (RBCs). First, we examined the mechanism of FXIII-mediated RBC retention in clots. We found that FXIII does not promote RBC retention by crosslinking RBCs directly to the clot or by modulating fibrin network density. Instead, specific FXIII-mediated crosslinking of the fibrin α-chains is required for normal RBC retention in clots. This finding is the first to reveal a pathophysiologic role of α-chain crosslinking, and establishes this process as a crucial mediator of venous thrombosis. Second, we investigated the nature of the FXIII-fibrinogen binding interaction to determine the domains of each protein involved in binding. We found that FXIII binds to fibrinogen γ-chain residues 390-396 via the FXIII-B subunits. These findings enhance our understanding of this important interaction in both physiologic and pathologic coagulation. Third, we examined the regulation of the FXIII-A and -B subunits. We found that the FXIII subunits exhibit inter-tissue, reciprocal regulation whereby FXIII-B promotes FXIII-A stability in circulation, while FXIII-A increases FXIII-B stability and production. FXIII-A upregulates liver RNA-binding proteins and may modulate post-transcriptional regulation of FXIII-B synthesis. These data clarify the mechanisms governing FXIII levels in plasma and identify a unique regulatory relationship between two protein subunits synthesized in different tissues. These data also expose a new liver-regulatory function of FXIII-A. Collectively, these studies greatly extend our understanding of the interactions between FXIII, fibrin(ogen), and RBCs, three crucial mediators of clot dynamics. Importantly, this dissertation also emphasizes the utility of basic mechanistic studies to inform translational research efforts.Doctor of Philosoph

Australian cardiac rehabilitation exercise parameter characteristics and perceptions of high-intensity interval training: a cross-sectional survey

Purpose: This study explored current demographics, characteristics, costs, evaluation methods, and outcome measures used in Australian cardiac rehabilitation (CR) programs. It also determined the actual usage and perceptions of high-intensity interval training (HIIT). Methods: A cross-sectional observational web-based survey was distributed to 328 Australian CR programs nationally. Results: A total of 261 programs completed the survey (79.6% response rate). Most Australian CR programs were located in a hospital setting (76%), offered exercise sessions once a week (52%) for 6–8 weeks (49%) at moderate intensity (54%) for 46–60 min (62%), and serviced 101–500 clients per annum (38%). HIIT was reported in only 1% of programs, and 27% of respondents believed that it was safe while 42% of respondents were unsure. Lack of staff (25%), monitoring resources (20%), and staff knowledge (18%) were the most commonly reported barriers to the implementation of HIIT. Overall, Australian CR coordinators are unsure of the cost of exercise sessions. Conclusion: There is variability in CR delivery across Australia. Only half of programs reassess outcome measures postintervention, and cost of exercise sessions is unknown. Although HIIT is recommended in international CR guidelines, it is essentially not being used in Australia and clinicians are unsure as to the safety of HIIT. Lack of resources and staff knowledge were perceived as the biggest barriers to HIIT implementation, and there are inconsistent perceptions of prescreening and monitoring requirements. This study highlights the need to educate health professionals about the benefits and safety of HIIT to improve its usage and patient outcomes

High-intensity interval training versus moderate-intensity continuous training within cardiac rehabilitation:a systematic review and meta-analysis

Aerobic capacity has been shown to be inversely proportionate to cardiovascular mortality and morbidity and there is growing evidence that high-intensity interval training (HIIT) appears to be more effective than moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) in improving cardiorespiratory fitness within the cardiac population. Previously published systematic reviews in cardiovascular disease have neither investigated the effect that the number of weeks of intervention has on cardiorespiratory fitness changes, nor have adverse events been collated.We aimed to undertake a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) within the cardiac population that investigated cardiorespiratory fitness changes resulting from HIIT versus MICT and to collate adverse events.A critical narrative synthesis and meta-analysis was conducted after systematically searching relevant databases up to July 2017. We searched for RCTs that compared cardiorespiratory fitness changes resulting from HIIT versus MICT interventions within the cardiac population.Seventeen studies, involving 953 participants (465 for HIIT and 488 for MICT) were included in the analysis. HIIT was significantly superior to MICT in improving cardiorespiratory fitness overall (SMD 0.34 mL/kg/min; 95% confidence interval [CI; 0.2-0.48]; p6-week duration. Programs of 7-12 weeks' duration resulted in the largest improvements in cardiorespiratory fitness for patients with coronary artery disease. HIIT appears to be as safe as MICT for CR participants

Formal operations: A systematic reformulation

In the present paper it is argued that the original model of formal operations failed to make a clear distinction between the organization of knowledge and the ability to solve tasks. Additionally, too much emphasis was placed on the scientific reasoning aspect of formal operations in previous accounts. The present paper proceeds by first describing a recasted model of formal operations which retains only its essential, nondeletable aspects. Relevant empirical literature is reviewed within the perspective of this recasted model. Then, some positive heuristics, i.e., methodological approaches designed to avoid anomalous results, are proposed as direct tests of this model. Finally, the similarity and differences between the present account and other accounts of formal operations are discussed.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/27373/1/0000400.pd

Address by Governor James F. Byrnes at rally of South Carolinians for Eisenhower in Charleston, S.C.

Governor James F. Byrnes made a campaign speech at the rally of South Carolinians for Eisenhower, announcing his support of Dwight Eisenhower for president

Developmental and individual differences in conditional reasoning: The role of contradiction training and cognitive style

Previous research has suggested that logical competence may not always be reflected in task performances but is influenced by various moderator variables that affect the actual application of competence. The present research examines the development of conditional reasoning from the perspective of a competencemoderator-performance approach (Overton, 1985; Overton & Newman, 1982). The effects of task interpretation and cognitive style as moderator variables for conditional reasoning were examined with 8th, 10th, and 12th grade students. Half of the students at each grade received training with contradictory evidence to alert them to faulty task interpretations. Generalization of training was assessed with a second conditional reasoning task. Cognitive style was assessed with the Matching Familiar Figures test. Results indicate that only the 12th graders benefit from training and training generalized to the subsequent task. It was also found that a reflective style enhanced performance at each grade level for the initial task. However, the beneficial effects of a reflective style were restricted on the generalization task to 12th graders who had received contradiction training. Conditional reasoning has been a central concern of recent research on logical though