The Relationship between Noncognitive Dimensions and the Academic Performance of Student-Athletes

Due to NCAA eligibility guidelines, coaches and administrators have a special interest in the academic performance of student-athletes. Furthermore, as a nontraditional group, it may be useful to use the NCQ to describe student-athletes. Insight into possible influences on their academic performance may help to improve services, especially academic support services, for student-athletes. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to extend Sedlacek\u27s use of noncognitive dimensions to all student-athletes, regardless of gender, ethnicity, or age. The research questions this study addressed were 1. Do the scores on the NCQ differ among student-athletes by gender? 2. Do the scores on the NCQ differ among student-athletes by race? 3. Do the scores on the NCQ differ among student-athletes by age? 4. Is there a significant relationship between GPA and noncognitive factors measured by the NCQ

An artificial neural network‐based model to predict chronic kidney disease in aged cats

Background Chronic kidney disease (CKD) frequently causes death in older cats; its early detection is challenging. Objectives To build a sensitive and specific model for early prediction of CKD in cats using artificial neural network (ANN) techniques applied to routine health screening data. Animals Data from 218 healthy cats ≥7 years of age screened at the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) were used for model building. Performance was tested using data from 3546 cats in the Banfield Pet Hospital records and an additional 60 RCV cats—all initially without a CKD diagnosis. Methods Artificial neural network (ANN) modeling used a multilayer feed‐forward neural network incorporating a back‐propagation algorithm. Clinical variables from single cat visits were selected using factorial discriminant analysis. Independent submodels were built for different prediction time frames. Two decision threshold strategies were investigated. Results Input variables retained were plasma creatinine and blood urea concentrations, and urine specific gravity. For prediction of CKD within 12 months, the model had accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) of 88%, 87%, 70%, 53%, and 92%, respectively. An alternative decision threshold increased specificity and PPV to 98% and 87%, but decreased sensitivity and NPV to 42% and 79%, respectively. Conclusions and Clinical Importance A model was generated that identified cats in the general population ≥7 years of age that are at risk of developing CKD within 12 months. These individuals can be recommended for further investigation and monitoring more frequently than annually. Predictions were based on single visits using common clinical variables

Silica Biomineralization of Calothrix-Dominated Biofacies from Queen\u27s Laundry Hot-Spring, Yellowstone National Park, USA

Experiments on microorganisms capable of surviving silicification are often conducted to gain a better understanding of the process of silica biomineralization and to gain insights into microbially influenced rock formations and biofabrics like those found in ancient deposits such as the Early Archean Apex Chert formation (Schopf, 1993; House et al., 2000). An ideal microorganism for studying silicification is the large sheathed cyanobacterium Calothrix, which form distinctive organo-sedimentary structures in the low to moderate temperature regions of hydrothermal springs or columnar stromatolitic structures in aquatic systems. Our ability to identify and characterize microfossils from ancient deposits allows us to gain a better understanding of environmental conditions on early Earth. Here we characterized Calothrix-dominated biofacies along the outflow apron of Queen\u27s Laundry Hot-Spring in Yellowstone National Park using microscopy and molecular techniques to examine biofacies morphology and phylogenetic diversity. We found that flow regime and temperature had a profound effect on community composition as identified by the observation of five distinct Calothrix-dominated communities and on biofacies architecture along the outflow apron

Silica Biomineralization of Calothrix-Dominated Biofacies from Queen\u27s Laundry Hot-Spring, Yellowstone National Park, USA

Experiments on microorganisms capable of surviving silicification are often conducted to gain a better understanding of the process of silica biomineralization and to gain insights into microbially influenced rock formations and biofabrics like those found in ancient deposits such as the Early Archean Apex Chert formation (Schopf, 1993; House et al., 2000). An ideal microorganism for studying silicification is the large sheathed cyanobacterium Calothrix, which form distinctive organo-sedimentary structures in the low to moderate temperature regions of hydrothermal springs or columnar stromatolitic structures in aquatic systems. Our ability to identify and characterize microfossils from ancient deposits allows us to gain a better understanding of environmental conditions on early Earth. Here we characterized Calothrix-dominated biofacies along the outflow apron of Queen\u27s Laundry Hot-Spring in Yellowstone National Park using microscopy and molecular techniques to examine biofacies morphology and phylogenetic diversity. We found that flow regime and temperature had a profound effect on community composition as identified by the observation of five distinct Calothrix-dominated communities and on biofacies architecture along the outflow apron

Assessing competency in Evidence Based Practice: strengths and limitations of current tools in practice

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Evidence Based Practice (EBP) involves making clinical decisions informed by the most relevant and valid evidence available. Competence can broadly be defined as a concept that incorporates a variety of domains including knowledge, skills and attitudes. Adopting an evidence-based approach to practice requires differing competencies across various domains including literature searching, critical appraisal and communication. This paper examines the current tools available to assess EBP competence and compares their applicability to existing assessment techniques used in medicine, nursing and health sciences.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>Only two validated assessment tools have been developed to specifically assess all aspects of EBP competence. Of the two tools (<it>Berlin </it>and <it>Fresno </it>tools), only the <it>Fresno </it>tool comprehensively assesses EBP competency across all relevant domains. However, both tools focus on assessing EBP competency in medical students; therefore neither can be used for assessing EBP competency across different health disciplines. The Objective Structured Clinical Exam (OSCE) has been demonstrated as a reliable and versatile tool to assess clinical competencies, practical and communication skills. The OSCE has scope as an alternate method for assessing EBP competency, since it combines assessment of cognitive skills including knowledge, reasoning and communication. However, further research is needed to develop the OSCE as a viable method for assessing EBP competency.</p> <p>Summary</p> <p>Demonstrating EBP competence is a complex task – therefore no single assessment method can adequately provide all of the necessary data to assess complete EBP competence. There is a need for further research to explore how EBP competence is best assessed; be it in written formats, such as the <it>Fresno </it>tool, or another format, such as the OSCE. Future tools must also incorporate measures of assessing how EBP competence affects clinician behaviour and attitudes as well as clinical outcomes in real-time situations. This research should also be conducted across a variety of health disciplines to best inform practice.</p

Levels of resilience and delivery of HIV care in response to urban violence and crime

Aims To understand the impact of urban violence and crime on HIV care delivery. Background Urban violence and crime can put pressure on the health care system and on nursing staff. Whilst the impact this has at the individual level has been researched, there is less research that places this within the context of the overall social eco system. Design A qualitative design using inductive thematic analysis. Methods Between July 2016 February 2017, in‐depth interviews were conducted with 10 nurses working in two neighbourhoods with high levels of violence in Cape Town, South Africa. Results The effects of crime and violence were evident at multiple levels resulting in participants feeling ‘safe and unsafe’ in a context where crime is viewed as endemic. Resilience emerged as a key concept in the findings. Resilience was apparent at individual, community and organizational levels and enabled continued delivery of HIV care. Conclusion The findings demonstrate the potential role of resilience within the social eco‐health system required to sustain delivery of HIV care in the midst of urban violence and gangsterism. Impact This study examined the impact of and response to urban violence on HIV care delivery. The findings indicate that resilience manifests at all levels of the social eco‐system. Understanding the mechanisms employed to cope with endemic violence helps to address these challenges in the study setting, but also has a much wider application to other areas with endemic urban violence and crime

Diving into the vertical dimension of elasmobranch movement ecology

Knowledge of the three-dimensional movement patterns of elasmobranchs is vital to understand their ecological roles and exposure to anthropogenic pressures. To date, comparative studies among species at global scales have mostly focused on horizontal movements. Our study addresses the knowledge gap of vertical movements by compiling the first global synthesis of vertical habitat use by elasmobranchs from data obtained by deployment of 989 biotelemetry tags on 38 elasmobranch species. Elasmobranchs displayed high intra- and interspecific variability in vertical movement patterns. Substantial vertical overlap was observed for many epipelagic elasmobranchs, indicating an increased likelihood to display spatial overlap, biologically interact, and share similar risk to anthropogenic threats that vary on a vertical gradient. We highlight the critical next steps toward incorporating vertical movement into global management and monitoring strategies for elasmobranchs, emphasizing the need to address geographic and taxonomic biases in deployments and to concurrently consider both horizontal and vertical movements

Prognostic model to predict postoperative acute kidney injury in patients undergoing major gastrointestinal surgery based on a national prospective observational cohort study.

Background: Acute illness, existing co-morbidities and surgical stress response can all contribute to postoperative acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients undergoing major gastrointestinal surgery. The aim of this study was prospectively to develop a pragmatic prognostic model to stratify patients according to risk of developing AKI after major gastrointestinal surgery. Methods: This prospective multicentre cohort study included consecutive adults undergoing elective or emergency gastrointestinal resection, liver resection or stoma reversal in 2-week blocks over a continuous 3-month period. The primary outcome was the rate of AKI within 7 days of surgery. Bootstrap stability was used to select clinically plausible risk factors into the model. Internal model validation was carried out by bootstrap validation. Results: A total of 4544 patients were included across 173 centres in the UK and Ireland. The overall rate of AKI was 14·2 per cent (646 of 4544) and the 30-day mortality rate was 1·8 per cent (84 of 4544). Stage 1 AKI was significantly associated with 30-day mortality (unadjusted odds ratio 7·61, 95 per cent c.i. 4·49 to 12·90; P < 0·001), with increasing odds of death with each AKI stage. Six variables were selected for inclusion in the prognostic model: age, sex, ASA grade, preoperative estimated glomerular filtration rate, planned open surgery and preoperative use of either an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor or an angiotensin receptor blocker. Internal validation demonstrated good model discrimination (c-statistic 0·65). Discussion: Following major gastrointestinal surgery, AKI occurred in one in seven patients. This preoperative prognostic model identified patients at high risk of postoperative AKI. Validation in an independent data set is required to ensure generalizability

Global Spatial Risk Assessment of Sharks Under the Footprint of Fisheries

Effective ocean management and conservation of highly migratory species depends on resolving overlap between animal movements and distributions and fishing effort. Yet, this information is lacking at a global scale. Here we show, using a big-data approach combining satellite-tracked movements of pelagic sharks and global fishing fleets, that 24% of the mean monthly space used by sharks falls under the footprint of pelagic longline fisheries. Space use hotspots of commercially valuable sharks and of internationally protected species had the highest overlap with longlines (up to 76% and 64%, respectively) and were also associated with significant increases in fishing effort. We conclude that pelagic sharks have limited spatial refuge from current levels of high-seas fishing effort. Results demonstrate an urgent need for conservation and management measures at high-seas shark hotspots and highlight the potential of simultaneous satellite surveillance of megafauna and fishers as a tool for near-real time, dynamic management