Instructional Models for Course-Based Research Experience (CRE) Teaching

The course-based research experience (CRE) with its documented educational benefits is increasingly being implemented in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education. This article reports on a study that was done over a period of 3 years to explicate the instructional processes involved in teaching an undergraduate CRE. One hundred and two instructors from the established and large multi-institutional SEA-PHAGES program were surveyed for their understanding of the aims and practices of CRE teaching. This was followed by large-scale feedback sessions with the cohort of instructors at the annual SEA Faculty Meeting and subsequently with a small focus group of expert CRE instructors. Using a qualitative content analysis approach, the survey data were analyzed for the aims of inquiry instruction and pedagogical practices used to achieve these goals. The results characterize CRE inquiry teaching as involving three instructional models: 1) being a scientist and generating data; 2) teaching procedural knowledge; and 3) fostering project ownership. Each of these models is explicated and visualized in terms of the specific pedagogical practices and their relationships. The models present a complex picture of the ways in which CRE instruction is conducted on a daily basis and can inform instructors and institutions new to CRE teaching

Models of classroom assessment for course-based research experiences

Course-based research pedagogy involves positioning students as contributors to authentic research projects as part of an engaging educational experience that promotes their learning and persistence in science. To develop a model for assessing and grading students engaged in this type of learning experience, the assessment aims and practices of a community of experienced course-based research instructors were collected and analyzed. This approach defines four aims of course-based research assessment—(1) Assessing Laboratory Work and Scientific Thinking; (2) Evaluating Mastery of Concepts, Quantitative Thinking and Skills; (3) Appraising Forms of Scientific Communication; and (4) Metacognition of Learning—along with a set of practices for each aim. These aims and practices of assessment were then integrated with previously developed models of course-based research instruction to reveal an assessment program in which instructors provide extensive feedback to support productive student engagement in research while grading those aspects of research that are necessary for the student to succeed. Assessment conducted in this way delicately balances the need to facilitate students’ ongoing research with the requirement of a final grade without undercutting the important aims of a CRE education

Simulations for the Locking and Alignment Strategy of the DRMI Configuration of the Advanced Virgo Plus Detector

The Advanced Virgo Plus project aims to increase the sensitivity of the Virgo gravitational-wave detector, given the forthcoming O4 Observing Run. One of the major upgrades is the addition of the Signal Recycling Mirror in the optical layout. This additional mirror will provide a broadband improvement to the sensitivity curve of the instrument, but poses significant challenges in the acquisition and operation of the detector’s working point. The process which brings the main optical components from the uncontrolled state to the final working point, which ensures the best detector sensitivity, is called lock acquisition: the lock acquisition is made by moving through increasingly more complex configurations toward the full control of all the interferometer’s longitudinal degrees of freedom. This paper will focus on the control of the Dual-Recycled Michelson Interferometer (DRMI, the central part of the Virgo interferometer), presenting a comprehensive study of the optical simulations used in the design and the commissioning of this configuration. Treated topics include: the characterization of optical fields, powers, and error signals for the controls; the development of a trigger logic to be used for the lock acquisition; the study of the alignment sensing and control system. The interdependence between the three items has also been studied. Moreover, the validity of the studied techniques will be assessed by a comparison with experimental data

Free-breathing dynamic (19)F gas MR imaging for mapping of regional lung ventilation in patients with COPD

Purpose: To quantify regional lung ventilation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) by using free-breathing dynamic fluorinated (fluorine 19 [(19)F]) gas magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. Materials and Methods: In this institutional review board-approved prospective study, 27 patients with COPD were examined by using breath-hold (19)F gas wash-in MR imaging during inhalation of a normoxic fluorinated gas mixture (perfluoropropane) and by using free-breathing dynamic (19)F gas washout MR imaging after inhalation of the gas mixture was finished for a total of 25-30 L. Regional lung ventilation was quantified by using volume defect percentage (VDP), washout time, number of breaths, and fractional ventilation (FV). To compare different lung function parameters, Pearson correlation coefficient and Fisher z transformation were used, which were corrected for multiple comparisons with the Bonferroni method. Results: Statistically significant correlations were observed for all evaluated lung function test parameters compared with median and interquartile range of (19)F washout parameters. An inverse linear correlation of median number of breaths (r = -0.82; P < .0001) and median washout times (r = -0.77; P < .0001) with percentage predicted of forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) was observed; correspondingly median FV (r = 0.86; P < .0001) correlated positively with percentage predicted FEV1. Comparing initial with late phase, median VDP of all subjects decreased from 49% (25th-75th percentile, 35%-62%) to 6% (25th-75th percentile, 2%-10%; P < .0001). VDP at the beginning of the gas wash-in phase (VDPinitial) significantly correlated with percentage predicted FEV1 (r = -0.74; P = .0028) and FV (r = 0.74; P = .0002). Median FV was significantly increased in ventilated regions (11.1% [25th-75th percentile, 6.8%-14.5%]) compared with the defect regions identified by VDPinitial (5.8% [25th-75th percentile, 4.0%-7.4%]; P < .0001). Conclusion Quantification of regional lung ventilation by using dynamic (19)F gas washout MR imaging in free breathing is feasible at 1.5 T even in obstructed lung segments

Genetic Variation in CCL18 Gene Influences CCL18 Expression and Correlates with Survival in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis—Part B

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive disease with high mortality. CC-chemokine ligand 18 (CCL18) is predictive of survival in IPF. We described correlation of CCL18 serum levels with the genotype of rs2015086 C &gt; T polymorphism the CCL18-gene, which was associated with survival in a pre-antifibrotic cohort (Part-A). Herein (Part-B), we aimed to validate these findings and to study the effects of antifibrotics. Two cohorts were prospectively recruited, cohort-A (n = 61, pre-antifibrotic) and cohort B (n = 101, received antifibrotics). Baseline CCL18 serum level measurement by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA, serially in cohort B) and genotyping of rs2015086 was performed and correlated with clinical outcomes. The CT genotype was present in 15% and 31% of patients. These patients had higher CCL18 levels compared to the TT-genotype (cohort-A: 234 vs. 115.8 ng/mL, p &lt; 0.001; cohort B: 159.5 vs. 120 ng/mL, p = 0.0001). During antifibrotic therapy, CCL18 increased (p = 0.0036) regardless of rs2015086-genotype and antifibrotic-agent. In cohort-A, baseline CCL18-cutoff (&gt;120 ng/mL) and CT-genotype were associated with mortality (p = 0.041 and p = 0.0051). In cohort-B, the CCL18-cutoff (&gt;140 ng/mL) was associated with mortality (p = 0.003) and progression (p = 0.004), but not the CT/CC-genotype. In conclusion, we validated the correlation between rs2015086-genotype and CCL18 serum levels, which was predictive of (progression-free)-survival in two prospective validation cohorts

Late outcomes after acute pulmonary embolism: rationale and design of FOCUS, a prospective observational multicenter cohort study

Acute pulmonary embolism (PE) is a frequent cause of death and serious disability. The risk of PE-associated mortality and morbidity extends far beyond the acute phase of the disease. In earlier follow-up studies, as many as 30 % of the patients died during a follow-up period of up to 3 years, and up to 50 % of patients continued to complain of dyspnea and/or poor physical performance 6 months to 3 years after the index event. The most feared 'late sequela' of PE is chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH), the true incidence of which remains obscure due to the large margin of error in the rates reported by mostly small, single-center studies. Moreover, the functional and hemodynamic changes corresponding to early, possibly reversible stages of CTEPH, have not been systematically investigated. The ongoing Follow-Up after acute pulmonary embolism (FOCUS) study will prospectively enroll and systematically follow, over a 2-year period and with a standardized comprehensive program of clinical, echocardiographic, functional and laboratory testing, a large multicenter prospective cohort of 1000 unselected patients (all-comers) with acute symptomatic PE. FOCUS will possess adequate power to provide answers to relevant remaining questions regarding the patients' long-term morbidity and mortality, and the temporal pattern of post-PE abnormalities. It will hopefully provide evidence for future guideline recommendations regarding the selection of patients for long-term follow-up after PE, the modalities which this follow-up should include, and the findings that should be interpreted as indicating progressive functional and hemodynamic post-PE impairment, or the development of CTEPH