Computer competency of New Hampshire high school students : an outcome assessment.

This study measured the computer competency of New Hampshire high school seniors, using the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) 1986 assessment. Six different test booklets, cumulatively containing 124 cognitive items and 75 demographic items were used. An additional 35 demographic questions beyond the NAEP items were collected from a survey designed for this dissertation. One hundred and sixty-eight students (95 males, 68 females, 5 unknown) from eight public and two private high schools across the state were sampled based upon an enrollment size distribution. The total enrollment of the sample schools represented 15% of the total state high school enrollment of 52,400 students. 8.4% of the seniors at participating schools were assessed. Essentially all students have completed a one semester computer competency course, as required by state regulations. The data was analyzed utilizing non-parametric statistics for demographics and Z-Tests for comparisons to the NAEP national sample. The microcomputer statistical packages of MINITAB and EXECUSTAT were used. Conclusions. First, the computer competency levels of New Hampshire are significantly greater than both the national average and the higher New England average as measured during the NAEP national survey in 1986 at the 95% confidence level. Secondly, it made no difference whether the computer competency course was taken in (1) In high school or junior high school. (2) A Public or private school. (3) A small, medium or large school. (4) Different types of communities (i.e. city, rural etc.). Third, the cognitive outcome was significantly correlated at the 95% confidence level with: (1) Sex of the student. (2) Number of years of computer usage. (3) The curriculum content of the first course. (4) Semesters of computer courses studied. (5) Time of the first computer course. (6) Word processing usage. Finally, the cognitive outcome was not significantly affected by the following characteristics: (1) Attitude. (2) Self-assessment. (3) Home computer. (4) Programming courses. (5) Timing of last computer class. Students perceived that computers were not integrated into the curriculum as many in the state expected. Classroom computer usage was substantially limited to computer classes. Students overwhelmingly desired more computer usage in classes

Thermal Habitat for RNA Amplification and Accumulation

The RNA world scenario posits replication by RNA polymerases. On early Earth, a geophysical setting is required to separate hybridized strands after their replication and to localize them against diffusion. We present a pointed heat source that drives exponential, RNA-catalyzed amplification of short RNA with high efficiency in a confined chamber. While shorter strands were periodically melted by laminar convection, the temperature gradient caused aggregated polymerase molecules to accumulate, protecting them from degradation in hot regions of the chamber. These findings demonstrate a size-selective pathway for autonomous RNA-based replication in a natural non-equilibrium condition

The Ricci Curvature of Half-flat Manifolds

We derive expressions for the Ricci curvature tensor and scalar in terms of intrinsic torsion classes of half-flat manifolds by exploiting the relationship between half-flat manifolds and non-compact $G_2$ holonomy manifolds. Our expressions are tested for Iwasawa and more general nilpotent manifolds. We also derive expressions, in the language of Calabi-Yau moduli spaces, for the torsion classes and the Ricci curvature of the \emph{particular} half-flat manifolds that arise naturally via mirror symmetry in flux compactifications. Using these expressions we then derive a constraint on the K\"ahler moduli space of type II string theories on these half-flat manifolds.Comment: 38 pages, no figures. v3: typos corrected, references added, a new appendix added. Version to appear in JHE

Cross-tissue, single-cell stromal atlas identifies shared pathological fibroblast phenotypes in four chronic inflammatory diseases

BackgroundPro-inflammatory fibroblasts are critical for pathogenesis in rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, interstitial lung disease, and Sjögren’s syndrome and represent a novel therapeutic target for chronic inflammatory disease. However, the heterogeneity of fibroblast phenotypes, exacerbated by the lack of a common cross-tissue taxonomy, has limited our understanding of which pathways are shared by multiple diseases.MethodsWe profiled fibroblasts derived from inflamed and non-inflamed synovium, intestine, lungs, and salivary glands from affected individuals with single-cell RNA sequencing. We integrated all fibroblasts into a multi-tissue atlas to characterize shared and tissue-specific phenotypes.FindingsTwo shared clusters, CXCL10+CCL19+ immune-interacting and SPARC+COL3A1+ vascular-interacting fibroblasts, were expanded in all inflamed tissues and mapped to dermal analogs in a public atopic dermatitis atlas. We confirmed these human pro-inflammatory fibroblasts in animal models of lung, joint, and intestinal inflammation.ConclusionsThis work represents a thorough investigation into fibroblasts across organ systems, individual donors, and disease states that reveals shared pathogenic activation states across four chronic inflammatory diseases.FundingGrant from F. Hoffmann-La Roche (Roche) AG

Cross-tissue, single-cell stromal atlas identifies shared pathological fibroblast phenotypes in four chronic inflammatory diseases

BackgroundPro-inflammatory fibroblasts are critical for pathogenesis in rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, interstitial lung disease, and Sjögren’s syndrome and represent a novel therapeutic target for chronic inflammatory disease. However, the heterogeneity of fibroblast phenotypes, exacerbated by the lack of a common cross-tissue taxonomy, has limited our understanding of which pathways are shared by multiple diseases.MethodsWe profiled fibroblasts derived from inflamed and non-inflamed synovium, intestine, lungs, and salivary glands from affected individuals with single-cell RNA sequencing. We integrated all fibroblasts into a multi-tissue atlas to characterize shared and tissue-specific phenotypes.FindingsTwo shared clusters, CXCL10+CCL19+ immune-interacting and SPARC+COL3A1+ vascular-interacting fibroblasts, were expanded in all inflamed tissues and mapped to dermal analogs in a public atopic dermatitis atlas. We confirmed these human pro-inflammatory fibroblasts in animal models of lung, joint, and intestinal inflammation.ConclusionsThis work represents a thorough investigation into fibroblasts across organ systems, individual donors, and disease states that reveals shared pathogenic activation states across four chronic inflammatory diseases.FundingGrant from F. Hoffmann-La Roche (Roche) AG

Multi-Society Guideline for Reprocessing Flexible Gastrointestinal Endoscopes

Flexible gastrointestinal endoscopy is a valuable diagnostic and therapeutic tool for the care of patients with gastrointestinal and pancreaticobiliary disorders. Compliance with accepted guidelines for the reprocessing of gastrointestinal endoscopes between patients is critical to the safety and success of their use. When these guidelines are followed, pathogen transmission can be effectively prevented. Increased efforts and resources should be directed to improve compliance with these guidelines. Further research in the area of gastrointestinal endoscope reprocessing should be encouraged. The organizations that endorsed this guideline are committed to assisting the FDA and manufacturers in addressing critical infection control issues in gastrointestinal device reprocessing