Mapping learner-data journeys: Evolution of a visual co-design tool

© 2018 Copyright held by the owner/author(s). In this paper we present a three-phase process for crafting Learner-Data Journey maps and using them as communication tools to involve other stakeholders in the co-design of a data-intensive educational tool. The three phases in this process are i) scaffolding groups of learners to collaboratively co-create a Learner-Data Journey based on their own experience, ii) distilling key insights from these journey maps, and iii) providing the means for multiple stakeholders to integrate and synthesise key insights from these journey maps to suggest design requirements. We illustrate the process and the kind of tools that can support the co-creation of Learner-Data Journeys in two educational scenarios where learners have become partners of their own 'surveillance'

Constructive procedures to solve 2-dimensional bin packing problems with irregular pieces and guillotine cuts

This paper presents an approach for solving a new real problem in cutting and packing. At its core is an innovative mixed integer programme model that places irregular pieces and defines guillotine cuts. The two-dimensional irregular shape bin packing problem with guillotine constraints arises in the glass cutting industry, for example, the cutting of glass for conservatories. Almost all cutting and packing problems that include guillotine cuts deal with rectangles only, where all cuts are orthogonal to the edges of the stock sheet and a maximum of two angles of rotation are permitted. The literature tackling packing problems with irregular shapes largely focuses on strip packing i.e. minimizing the length of a single fixed width stock sheet, and does not consider guillotine cuts. Hence, this problem combines the challenges of tackling the complexity of packing irregular pieces with free rotation, guaranteeing guillotine cuts that are not always orthogonal to the edges of the stock sheet, and allocating pieces to bins. To our knowledge only one other recent paper tackles this problem. We present a hybrid algorithm that is a constructive heuristic that determines the relative position of pieces in the bin and guillotine constraints via a mixed integer programme model. We investigate two approaches for allocating guillotine cuts at the same time as determining the placement of the piece, and a two phase approach that delays the allocation of cuts to provide flexibility in space usage. Finally we describe an improvement procedure that is applied to each bin before it is closed. This approach improves on the results of the only other publication on this problem, and gives competitive results for the classic rectangle bin packing problem with guillotine constraint

Spanish & Haitian Creole Medical Terminology: Medical Translation Pocket Booklet

Language is an essential tool in the establishment of the doctor-patient relationship and is paramount to successful outcomes. According to the U.S census, 5.7 million Hispanic and 487,632 Haitians reside in Florida. This makes Spanish and Haitian Creole the second and third most predominantly spoken languages in the state. Hispanic physicians make up 6% of physicians in the U.S., and 15% of physicians in Florida. Black physicians make up 5.7% of physicians in the U.S., and 5.6% in Florida. An estimated 15% of Black physicians in the United States are Haitian, with a larger number practicing in states such as Florida. Despite the diversity of physicians in Florida, language barriers persist, causing significant adversity in healthcare. Interpreter services may not be available or the provider may not be adept in using them. To address these concerns, we have created a booklet with common phrases used in medical encounters, organized by subspecialty. We hope that this booklet can aid students and physicians in communicating with patients while waiting to be connected with a professional translator

Long-Term Safety of Tedizolid in a Patient With Spondilodiscitis After Switch From Linezolid Due to Toxicity

The patient is a 57-year-old man with liver cirrhosis, Bricker anastomosis after a radical cystoprostatectomy and, a history of bacteremias caused by extended-spectrum -lactamase-positive Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecium, and Candida albicans. He presented with persistent low back pain and was diagnosed with vertebral osteomyelitis, for which he received ertapenem-linezolid treatment. However, after 20 days, linezolid had to be discontinued because of myelotoxicity and metabolic acidosis. The patient was switched to tedizolid, which, in combination with ertapenem, was successfully given for 114 days until biopsy showed no growth of gram-positive cocci. We conclude that tedizolid can be an alternative to linezolid in case of toxicity, especially in long-term treatments

Photo-strobo-acoustic Imaging at the Microscale by Laser-Induced Ultrasound

The combination of microfluidic technology and optical fluids characterization techniques has been recently applied to produce lab-on-a-chip systems. In the present work, bringing together the imaging technique called photoacoustic imaging (PAI) and microfluidic technology were implemented to obtain micro-scale imaging. Laser-induced ultrasound signals were measured from microdroplets produced in a simple T-junction microfluidic system. Single pulse laser images were produced as a result of the combination of the aforementioned techniques, allowing to obtain of geometrical information of the microdroplets and its spatial position.Comment: Manuscript in proces

Comparison of the TBARS Assay and BODIPY C11 Probes for Assessing Lipid Peroxidation in Red Deer Spermatozoa

P. 360-368Several methods are used to measure lipid peroxidation (LPO) in spermatozoa. The objective of this study was comparing the thiobarbituric acid reactive species (TBARS) method and the BODIPY 581/591 C11 (B581) and BODIPY 665/676 C11 (B665) fluorescent probes to measure induced peroxidative damage in thawed epididymal spermatozoa from Iberian red deer. Samples from three males were thawed, pooled, diluted in PBS, incubated at room temperature and assessed at 0, 3, 6 and 24 h under different experimental conditions: Control, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) 0.1 mm or 1 mm, or tert‐butyl hydroperoxide (TBH) 0.1 mm or 1 mm. LPO was assessed by the TBARS assay [malondialdehyde (MDA) detection] and by the fluorescence probes B581 and B665 (microplate fluorimeter and flow cytometry). Increasing MDA levels were only detectable at 1 mm of TBH or H2O2. Both fluorescence probes, measured with fluorometer, detected significant increases of LPO with time in all treatments, except Control. Flow cytometry allowed for higher sensitivity, with both probes showing a significant linear relationship of increasing LPO with time for all oxidizing treatments (p < 0.001). All methods showed a good agreement, except TBARS, and flow cytometry showed the highest repeatability. Our results show that both B581 and B665 might be used for LPO analysis in Iberian red deer epididymal spermatozoa, together with fluorometry or flow cytometry. Yet, the TBARS method offered comparatively limited sensitivity, and further research must determine the source of that limitation.S

Expression of a barley cystatin gene in maize enhances resistance against phytophagous mites by altering their cysteine-proteases

Phytocystatins are inhibitors of cysteine-proteases from plants putatively involved in plant defence based on their capability of inhibit heterologous enzymes. We have previously characterised the whole cystatin gene family members from barley (HvCPI-1 to HvCPI-13). The aim of this study was to assess the effects of barley cystatins on two phytophagous spider mites, Tetranychus urticae and Brevipalpus chilensis. The determination of proteolytic activity profile in both mite species showed the presence of the cysteine-proteases, putative targets of cystatins, among other enzymatic activities. All barley cystatins, except HvCPI-1 and HvCPI-7, inhibited in vitro mite cathepsin L- and/or cathepsin B-like activities, HvCPI-6 being the strongest inhibitor for both mite species. Transgenic maize plants expressing HvCPI-6 protein were generated and the functional integrity of the cystatin transgene was confirmed by in vitro inhibitory effect observed against T. urticae and B. chilensis protein extracts. Feeding experiments impaired on transgenic lines performed with T. urticae impaired mite development and reproductive performance. Besides, a significant reduction of cathepsin L-like and/or cathepsin B-like activities was observed when the spider mite fed on maize plants expressing HvCPI-6 cystatin. These findings reveal the potential of barley cystatins as acaricide proteins to protect plants against two important mite pests