Evolutionary Clustering of Apprentices' Self- Regulated Learning Behavior in Learning Journals

Learning journals are increasingly used in vocational education to foster self-regulated learning and reflective learning practices. However, for many apprentices, documenting working experiences is a difficult task. In this article, we profile apprentices' learning behavior in an online learning journal. Based on a pedagogical framework, we propose a novel multistep clustering pipeline that integrates different learning dimensions into a combined profile. Specifically, the profiles are described in terms of effort, consistency, regularity, help-seeking behavior, and quality of the written entries. Our results on two populations of chef apprentices (183 apprentices) interacting with an online learning journal (over 121K entries) show that our pipeline captures changes in learning patterns over time and yields interpretable profiles that can be related to academic performance. The obtained profiles can be used as a basis for personalized interventions, with the ultimate goal of improving the apprentices' learning experience

Epichloë typhina (fungus) - Botanophila lobata (fly) interaction : an invasive "pollinator" system in its introduced range in western Oregon

Epichloë typhina (Ascomycetes: Clavicipitaceae) is an endophytic fungus that infects perennial Pooid grasses and is the causal agent of choke disease. It is endemic to Europe and was inadvertently introduced into orchardgrass seed production fields in western Oregon. Choke disease, which was first recorded in Oregon in 1996, currently infects ~90% of cultivated orchardgrass seed fields in the region, resulting in yield losses >65%. Infective propagules (i.e. ascospores) are produced sexually by the bipolar heterothallic fungus and gamete outcross has been shown to be facilitated in the wild by Botanophila spp. (Diptera: Anthomyiidae), including Botanophila lobata. The fly - fungus interaction is generally considered to be one of obligatory mutualism based on studies conducted in areas endemism. However, recent evidence suggests that the fungus is able to sexually outcross in cultivated Oregon orchardgrass fields without the aid of fly "pollinators." Additionally, ascosporic fertilization has recently been implicated as an alternative mechanism for gamete transfer and might have important impacts on fungal reproduction in Oregon. The objectives of this study were to: 1) explore how two tightly linked species, which appear to have an obligate mutualistic relationship in areas of endemism, interact in a non-native context; 2) quantitatively examine the seasonal and diurnal presence of E. typhina ascospores in a cultivated Oregon orchardgrass field; and 3) test alternative transfer mechanisms of fungal spermatia for E. typhina. To address objective 1), the spatial variability and reproductive success of E. typhina and B. lobata were estimated during surveys of ten cultivated orchardgrass fields in 2008 and four fields in 2009. Fungal distributions were spatially aggregated at five of the study sites in 2008 and three in 2009. Fly distributions were spatially aggregated at three sites in 2008 and one in 2009. Botanophila lobata density exhibited a positive linear relationship with E. typhina density, suggestive of positive density dependence of fly oviposition with fungal density. However, fungal reproductive success was not affected by fly density or fungal density within the range of distributions observed in this study. To address objective 2), airborne ascospores were monitored in a single cultivated orchardgrass field during 2008 and 2009 using a Burkard volumetric spore trap. Ascospore production began in early to middle May and continued into late July during both years of the study. Daily ascospore production exhibited a circadian rhythm, with production peaking on average at 1:08 am and 12:36 am, in 2008 and 2009, respectively. The prolonged duration and high intensity of ascospore production during the growing season suggest a large window within which new plants are at risk to infection, and within which preventative management strategies must be adopted. To address objective 3), splash fertilization, contact fertilization and B. lobata fertilization were tested in the greenhouse. Although only two replicates were completed, both contact and splash fertilization appeared to be viable mechanisms of sexual outcross for E. typhina. The results of this study strongly indicate that E. typhina can successfully reproduce without the presence of B. lobata. Splash and contact fertilization, as well as ascosporic fertilization, provide opportunities for reproduction of the fungus in absence of fly pollinators. It appears that the fly - fungus interaction has shifted from an obligatory mutualism to facultative mutualism or simple fungivory within the introduced range in western Oregon

Cognition as a treatment target in depression

Cognitive dysfunction in depression is associated with poorer clinical outcomes and impaired psychosocial functioning. However, most treatments for depression do not specifically target cognition. Neurocognitive deficits such as memory and concentration problems tend to persist after mood symptoms recover. Improving cognition in depression requires a better understanding of brain systems implicated in depression. A comprehensive approach is warranted for refined methods of assessing and treating cognitive dysfunction in depression

First trimester myomectomy as an alternative to termination of pregnancy in a woman with a symptomatic uterine leiomyoma: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Performing a myomectomy during pregnancy is extremely rare due to the risk of pregnancy loss, hemorrhage and hysterectomy. Favorable outcomes have been demonstrated with select second trimester gravid myomectomies. Literature documenting first trimester surgical management of myomas during pregnancy is scant. Patients with symptomatic myomas failing conservative management in the first trimester may be counseled to abort the pregnancy and then undergo myomectomy. Reports focusing on myomectomy in the first trimester are needed to permit more thorough options counseling for patients failing conservative management in the first trimester.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>A 30-year-old Caucasian primagravid (G1P0) was referred for termination of her pregnancy at 10 weeks due to a 14 cm myoma causing severe pain, constipation and urine retention. Her referring physician planned an interval myomectomy following the abortion. Instead, our patient underwent myomectomy at 11 weeks. Two leiomyomas were successfully removed; she delivered a healthy infant at term.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Patients in the first trimester should not be counseled that termination followed by myomectomy is the best option for symptomatic myomas, failing conservative treatment. Management should be individualized after taking into account the patient's symptoms, gestational age and the location of the myomas in relation to the placenta. Any field providing women's health services will be impacted by the ability to offer more thorough options counseling for women with refractory myomas in the first trimester.</p

Complementary activation of peripheral natural killer cell immunity in nasopharyngeal carcinoma

NK cells and αβ- and γδ-CTL play important roles in cellular immunity against tumors. We previously demonstrated that NPC patients have a quantitative and qualitative deficit in γδ-CTL and EBV-specific αβ-CTL when compared to normal subjects and NPC long-term survivors. In this study we report further observations of a complementary activation of peripheral NK cells in NPC patients. The NK cells in these patients, compared to those of healthy subjects and NPC survivors, were preferentially activated in response to the stimulation of myeloma cell line XG-7 and expanded in the presence of exogenous IL-2. The production of IFN-γ was lowest in the patient group, whereas IL-12, IL-15 and TNF-α were produced in higher levels in patients than in the donors and survivors. The cytolytic effect of the NK cells against NPC cells in the patient group was also higher than that of the donors and survivors. Furthermore, the patients at later stages of NPC had lower γδ-CTL activity but higher NK cytotoxicity towards NPC targets, with higher production of IL-12, IL-15 and TNF-α but lower production of IFN-γ than in patients at earlier stages. This might be part of a triggered compensatory re-activation of the innate immunity, believed to be mediated through various cytokines and chemokines when adaptive T cell immunity is breached. Together, these data suggest complementary roles of innate and adaptive immune response in tumor immunity where NK cells, γδ- and αβ-CTL compensate for the deficits of one another at different stages of tumor invasion. © 2006 Japanese Cancer Association.published_or_final_versio

Sources and characteristics of summertime organic aerosol in the Colorado Front Range: perspective from measurements and WRF-Chem modeling

Abstract. The evolution of organic aerosols (OAs) and their precursors in the boundary layer (BL) of the Colorado Front Range during the Front Range Air Pollution and Photochemistry Éxperiment (FRAPPÉ, July–August 2014) was analyzed by in situ measurements and chemical transport modeling. Measurements indicated significant production of secondary OA (SOA), with enhancement ratio of OA with respect to carbon monoxide (CO) reaching 0.085±0.003 µg m−3 ppbv−1. At background mixing ratios of CO, up to  ∼  1.8 µg m−3 background OA was observed, suggesting significant non-combustion contribution to OA in the Front Range. The mean concentration of OA in plumes with a high influence of oil and natural gas (O&amp;G) emissions was  ∼  40 % higher than in urban-influenced plumes. Positive matrix factorization (PMF) confirmed a dominant contribution of secondary, oxygenated OA (OOA) in the boundary layer instead of fresh, hydrocarbon-like OA (HOA). Combinations of primary OA (POA) volatility assumptions, aging of semi-volatile species, and different emission estimates from the O&amp;G sector were used in the Weather Research and Forecasting model coupled with Chemistry (WRF-Chem) simulation scenarios. The assumption of semi-volatile POA resulted in greater than a factor of 10 lower POA concentrations compared to PMF-resolved HOA. Including top-down modified O&amp;G emissions resulted in substantially better agreements in modeled ethane, toluene, hydroxyl radical, and ozone compared to measurements in the high-O&amp;G-influenced plumes. By including emissions from the O&amp;G sector using the top-down approach, it was estimated that the O&amp;G sector contributed to  &lt;  5 % of total OA, but up to 38 % of anthropogenic SOA (aSOA) in the region. The best agreement between the measured and simulated median OA was achieved by limiting the extent of biogenic hydrocarbon aging and consequently biogenic SOA (bSOA) production. Despite a lower production of bSOA in this scenario, contribution of bSOA to total SOA remained high at 40–54 %. Future studies aiming at a better emissions characterization of POA and intermediate-volatility organic compounds (IVOCs) from the O&amp;G sector are valuable

Single Nucleotide Polymorphism Typing of Mycobacterium ulcerans Reveals Focal Transmission of Buruli Ulcer in a Highly Endemic Region of Ghana

Buruli ulcer (BU) is an emerging necrotizing disease of the skin and subcutaneous tissue caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans. While proximity to stagnant or slow flowing water bodies is a risk factor for acquiring BU, the epidemiology and mode of M. ulcerans transmission is poorly understood. Here we have used high-throughput DNA sequencing and comparisons of the genomes of seven M. ulcerans isolates that appeared monomorphic by existing typing methods. We identified a limited number of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and developed a real-time PCR SNP typing method based on these differences. We then investigated clinical isolates of M. ulcerans on which we had detailed information concerning patient location and time of diagnosis. Within the Densu river basin of Ghana we observed dominance of one clonal complex and local clustering of some of the variants belonging to this complex. These results reveal focal transmission and demonstrate, that micro-epidemiological analyses by SNP typing has great potential to help us understand how M. ulcerans is transmitted

Protocol for the insight study: a randomised controlled trial of single-dose tocilizumab in patients with depression and low-grade inflammation.

INTRODUCTION: Observational studies indicate a potentially causal role for interleukin 6 (IL-6), a proinflammatory cytokine, in pathogenesis of depression, but interventional studies based on patients with depression have not been conducted. Tocilizumab, anti-inflammatory drug, is a humanised monoclonal antibody that inhibits IL-6 signalling and is licensed in the UK for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. The main objectives of this study are to test whether IL-6 contributes to the pathogenesis of depression and to examine potential mechanisms by which IL-6 affects mood and cognition. A secondary objective is to compare depressed participants with and without evidence of low-grade systemic inflammation. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This is a proof-of-concept, randomised, parallel-group, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Approximately 50 participants with International Classification of Diseases 10th revision (ICD-10) diagnosis of depression who have evidence of low-grade inflammation, defined as serum high-sensitivity C reactive protein (hs-CRP) level ≥3 mg/L, will receive either a single intravenous infusion of tocilizumab or normal saline. Blood samples, behavioural and cognitive measures will be collected at baseline and after infusion around day 7, 14 and 28. The primary outcome is somatic symptoms score around day 14 postinfusion. In addition, approximately, 50 depressed participants without low-grade inflammation (serum hs-CRP level <3 mg/L) will complete the same baseline assessments as the randomised cohort. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The study has been approved by the South Central-Oxford B Research Ethics Committee (REC) (Reference: 18/SC/0118). Study findings will be published in peer-review journals. Findings will be also disseminated by conference/departmental presentations and by social and traditional media. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ISRCTN16942542; Pre-results