A pilot big data education modular curriculum for engineering graduate education: Development and implmentation

Engineering higher education increasingly produces data in the volume, variety, velocity, and need for veracity such that the output of the research is considered “Big Data”. While engineering faculty members do conceive of and direct the research producing this data, there may be gaps in faculty members’ knowledge in training graduate and undergraduate research assistants in the management of Big Data. The project described herein details the development of a Big Data education module for a group of graduate researchers and undergraduate research assistants in Electrical and Computer Engineering. This project has the following objectives: to document and describe current data management practices; to identify gaps in knowledge that need to be addressed in order for research assistants to successfully manage Big Data; and to create curricular interventions to address these gaps. This paper details the motivation, relevant literature, research methodology, curricular intervention, and pilot presentation of the module. Results indicate that, generally, students involved in Big Data projects need comprehensive introduction to the topic, which will be most effective when contextualized to the work that they are performing in the research or classroom environment

A pilot “big data” education module curriculum for engineering graduate education: Development and implementation

Projects in engineering higher education increasingly produce data in the volume, variety, velocity, and need for veracity such that the output of the research is considered “Big Data”. While engineering faculty members do conceive of and direct the research producing this data, there may be gaps in faculty members’ knowledge in training graduate and undergraduate research assistants in the practical management of Big Data. The project described in this research paper details the development of a Big Data education module for graduate researchers in Electrical and Computer Engineering. The project has the following objectives: to document and describe current data management practices within a specific research group; to identify gaps in knowledge that need to be addressed in order for research assistants to successfully manage Big Data; and to create curricular interventions to address these gaps. This paper details the motivation, relevant literature, research methodology, curricular intervention, and pilot presentation of the Big Data module. Results indicate that the fundamental concepts governing the management of Big Data have been cursorily covered in previous coursework and that students are in need of a comprehensive introduction to the topic, contextualized to the work that they are performing in the research or classroom environment

Skeletal muscle area and density are associated with lipid and lipoprotein cholesterol levels: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis

BackgroundLoss of muscle mass with age may be a key player in metabolic dysregulation. We examined the associations between abdominal muscle area and density with lipids and lipoproteins.MethodsOne thousand eight hundred and sixty eight adults completed health history and physical activity questionnaires, provided venous blood samples for lipids and inflammatory biomarkers, and underwent computed tomography to quantify body composition. Associations between muscle area and density with multiple lipid measures were assessed with multivariable linear and logistic regression.ResultsThe mean age and body mass index of participants was 65 years and 28 kg/m2, respectively, and 50% were female. After adjustment for demographics, cardiovascular disease risk factors, lipid-lowering medications, physical activity, sedentary behavior, inflammatory biomarkers, and central obesity, a 1-standard deviation increase in total abdominal, stability, and locomotor muscle areas was associated with a 13%, 11%, and 8% lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level, respectively (P < .05). With similar adjustment, a 1-standard deviation increase in total abdominal and stability muscle area was associated with a 13% and 12% lower total cholesterol level, respectively (P < .01). Compared to the lowest quartiles of total, stability, and locomotor muscle area, those in the higher quartiles of muscle area had over a 40% reduction in the odds of triglyceride levels greater than 150 mg/dL (P < .05). Total abdominal muscle density was positively associated with total cholesterol (P < .05) but was not associated with the other lipid outcomes.ConclusionMaintaining adequate skeletal muscle mass with age may decrease specific lipid levels related to hyperlipidemia and development of cardiometabolic disease

Unexpected Nickel Complex Speciation Unlocks Alternative Pathways for the Reactions of Alkyl Halides with dppf-Nickel(0)

The mechanism of the reactions between dppf-Ni0 complexes and alkyl halides has been investigated using kinetic and mechanistic experiments and DFT calculations. The active species is [Ni(κ2-dppf)(κ1-dppf)], which undergoes a halide abstraction reaction with alkyl halides and rapidly captures the alkyl radical that is formed. The rates of the reactions of [Ni(COD)(dppf)] with alkyl halides and the yields of prototypical nickel-catalyzed Kumada cross-coupling reactions of alkyl halides are shown to be significantly improved by the addition of free dppf ligand

Vestibular, Cognitive, Oculomotor, and Athletic Performance in Eligible Female Collegiate Soccer and Lacrosse Players

Background Due to the nature of their sports, soccer and lacrosse athletes are at risk for repeated head impacts. Repeated head impacts may influence the athletes’ vestibular function, cognitive function, or athletic performance. Purpose Determine if athletes are fully participating in practices and games with vestibular, cognitive, or athletic performance abnormalities . Participants 30 student athletes from Concordia University in St. Paul, MN Tests Performed Instrumented Dynamic Visual Acuity (iDVA) Clinical Dynamic Visual Acuity (cDVA) Trail Making Test A & B (TMT A/B) Near Point Convergence (NPC) Performance Tests: T Test Agility Drill, 40 yard dash (with and without head turns) Results 15/30 participants tested abnormally on an administered test. The TMT A/B and T test agility drill showed no significant difference compared to published norms and between groups (athletes with normal vs. abnormal vestibular tests) The 40 yard dash results showed no significant differences between athletes with normal vs. abnormal vestibular tests. Conclusion Half of the participants demonstrated abnormal vestibular tests yet are still fully participating in their sport. Despite high numbers of abnormal vestibular tests, the presumed dysfunctions did not impact physical performance as measured in this study. Absence of concussion diagnosis does not discount abnormal vestibular, cognitive, or athletic performance. Clinical Relevance to Physical Therapy Profession and Practice More research is necessary to find a method to properly stress the vestibular system during athletically simulated activities in high level athletes. Our results may influence screening and return to play guidelines. Standardized norms for certain vestibular, oculomotor, and cognitive tests need to be adjusted to reflect the ability of high level athletes

Measuring psychological pain: psychometric analysis of the Orbach and Mikulincer Mental Pain Scale

Background: Suicide is a public health concern, with an estimated 1 million individuals dying each year worldwide. Individual psychological pain is believed to be a contributing motivating factor. Therefore, establishing a psychometrically sound tool to adequately measure psychological pain is important. The Orbach and Mikulincer Mental Pain Scale (OMMP) has been proposed; however, previous psychometric analysis on the OMMP has not yielded a consistent scale structure, and the internal consistency of the subscales has not met recommended values. Therefore, the primary purpose of this study was to assess the psychometric properties of the OMMP in a diverse sample. Methods: A confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) on the 9-factor, 44-item OMMP was conducted on the full sample (n = 1151). Because model fit indices were not met, an exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was conducted on a random subset of the data (n = 576) to identify a more parsimonious structure. The EFA structure was then tested in a covariance model in the remaining subset of participants (n = 575). Multigroup invariance testing was subsequently performed to examine psychometric properties of the refined scale. Results: The CFA of the original 9-factor, 44-item OMMP did not meet recommended model fit recommendations. The EFA analysis results revealed a 3-factor, 9-item scale (i.e., OMMP-9). The covariance model of the OMMP-9 indicated further refinement was necessary. Multigroup invariance testing conducted on the final 3-factor, 8-item scale (i.e., OMMP-8) across mental health diagnoses, sex, injury status, age, activity level, and athlete classification met all criteria for invariance. Conclusions: The 9-factor, 44-item OMMP does not meet recommended measurement criteria and should not be recommended for use in research and clinical practice in its current form. The refined OMMP-8 may be a more viable option to use; however, more research should be completed prior to adoption

Exposure to Household Air Pollution from Biomass-Burning Cookstoves and HbA1c and Diabetic Status Among Honduran Women

Household air pollution from biomass cookstoves is estimated to be responsible for more than two and a half million premature deaths annually, primarily in low and middle‐income countries where cardiometabolic disorders, such as Type II Diabetes, are increasing. Growing evidence supports a link between ambient air pollution and diabetes, but evidence for household air pollution is limited. This cross‐sectional study of 142 women (72 with traditional stoves and 70 with cleaner‐burning Justa stoves) in rural Honduras evaluated the association of exposure to household air pollution (stove type, 24‐hour average kitchen and personal fine particulate matter [PM2.5] mass and black carbon) with glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels and diabetic status based on HbA1c levels. The prevalence ratio (PR) per interquartile range increase in pollution concentration indicated higher prevalence of prediabetes/diabetes (vs normal HbA1c) for all pollutant measures (eg, PR per 84 μg/m3 increase in personal PM2.5, 1.49; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.11‐2.01). Results for HbA1c as a continuous variable were generally in the hypothesized direction. These results provide some evidence linking household air pollution with the prevalence of prediabetes/diabetes, and, if confirmed, suggest that the global public health impact of household air pollution may be broader than currently estimated

A machine learning framework to classify musculoskeletal injury risk groups in military service members

BackgroundMusculoskeletal injuries (MSKIs) are endemic in military populations. Thus, it is essential to identify and mitigate MSKI risks. Time-to-event machine learning models utilizing self-reported questionnaires or existing data (e.g., electronic health records) may aid in creating efficient risk screening tools.MethodsA total of 4,222 U.S. Army Service members completed a self-report MSKI risk screen as part of their unit's standard in-processing. Additionally, participants' MSKI and demographic data were abstracted from electronic health record data. Survival machine learning models (Cox proportional hazard regression (COX), COX with splines, conditional inference trees, and random forest) were deployed to develop a predictive model on the training data (75%; n = 2,963) for MSKI risk over varying time horizons (30, 90, 180, and 365 days) and were evaluated on the testing data (25%; n = 987). Probability of predicted risk (0.00–1.00) from the final model stratified Service members into quartiles based on MSKI risk.ResultsThe COX model demonstrated the best model performance over the time horizons. The time-dependent area under the curve ranged from 0.73 to 0.70 at 30 and 180 days. The index prediction accuracy (IPA) was 12% better at 180 days than the IPA of the null model (0 variables). Within the COX model, “other” race, more self-reported pain items during the movement screens, female gender, and prior MSKI demonstrated the largest hazard ratios. When predicted probability was binned into quartiles, at 180 days, the highest risk bin had an MSKI incidence rate of 2,130.82 ± 171.15 per 1,000 person-years and incidence rate ratio of 4.74 (95% confidence interval: 3.44, 6.54) compared to the lowest risk bin.ConclusionSelf-reported questionnaires and existing data can be used to create a machine learning algorithm to identify Service members' MSKI risk profiles. Further research should develop more granular Service member-specific MSKI screening tools and create MSKI risk mitigation strategies based on these screenings

Intrapopulation Diversity in Isotopic Niche Over Landscapes: Spatial Patterns Inform Conservation of Bear–Salmon Systems

Intrapopulation variability in resource acquisition (i.e., niche variation) influences population dynamics, with important implications for conservation planning. Spatial analyses of niche variation within and among populations can provide relevant information about ecological associations and their subsequent management. We used stable isotope analysis and kernel-weighted regression to examine spatial patterns in a keystone consumer–resource interaction: salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.) consumption by grizzly and black bears (Ursus arctos horribilis, n = 886; and Ursus americanus, n = 557) from 1995 to 2014 in British Columbia (BC), Canada. In a region on the central coast of BC (22,000 km2 ), grizzly bears consumed far more salmon than black bears (median proportion of salmon in assimilated diet of 0.62 and 0.06, respectively). Males of both species consumed more salmon than females (median proportions of 0.63 and 0.57 for grizzly bears and 0.06 and 0.03 for black bears, respectively). Black bears showed considerably more spatial variation in salmon consumption than grizzlies. Protected areas on the coast captured no more habitat for bears with high-salmon diets (i.e., proportions \u3e0.5 of total diet) than did unprotected areas. In a continental region (~692,000 km2 ), which included the entire contemporary range of grizzlies in BC, males had higher salmon diets than females (median proportions of 0.41 and 0.04, respectively). High-salmon diets were concentrated in coastal areas for female grizzly bears, whereas males with high-salmon diets in interior areas were restricted to areas near major salmon watersheds. To safeguard this predator–prey association that spans coastal and interior regions, conservation planners and practitioners can consider managing across ecological and jurisdictional boundaries. More broadly, our approach highlights the importance of visualizing spatial patterns of dietary niche variation within populations to characterize ecological associations and inform management

Association of Blood Biomarkers With Acute Sport-Related Concussion in Collegiate Athletes: Findings From the NCAA and Department of Defense CARE Consortium

Importance: There is potential scientific and clinical value in validation of objective biomarkers for sport-related concussion (SRC). Objective: To investigate the association of acute-phase blood biomarker levels with SRC in collegiate athletes. Design, Setting, and Participants: This multicenter, prospective, case-control study was conducted by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the US Department of Defense Concussion Assessment, Research, and Education (CARE) Consortium from February 20, 2015, to May 31, 2018, at 6 CARE Advanced Research Core sites. A total of 504 collegiate athletes with concussion, contact sport control athletes, and non-contact sport control athletes completed clinical testing and blood collection at preseason baseline, the acute postinjury period, 24 to 48 hours after injury, the point of reporting being asymptomatic, and 7 days after return to play. Data analysis was conducted from March 1 to November 30, 2019. Main Outcomes and Measures: Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase-L1 (UCH-L1), neurofilament light chain, and tau were quantified using the Quanterix Simoa multiplex assay. Clinical outcome measures included the Sport Concussion Assessment Tool-Third Edition (SCAT-3) symptom evaluation, Standardized Assessment of Concussion, Balance Error Scoring System, and Brief Symptom Inventory 18. Results: A total of 264 athletes with concussion (mean [SD] age, 19.08 [1.24] years; 211 [79.9%] male), 138 contact sport controls (mean [SD] age, 19.03 [1.27] years; 107 [77.5%] male), and 102 non-contact sport controls (mean [SD] age, 19.39 [1.25] years; 82 [80.4%] male) were included in the study. Athletes with concussion had significant elevation in GFAP (mean difference, 0.430 pg/mL; 95% CI, 0.339-0.521 pg/mL; P < .001), UCH-L1 (mean difference, 0.449 pg/mL; 95% CI, 0.167-0.732 pg/mL; P < .001), and tau levels (mean difference, 0.221 pg/mL; 95% CI, 0.046-0.396 pg/mL; P = .004) at the acute postinjury time point compared with preseason baseline. Longitudinally, a significant interaction (group × visit) was found for GFAP (F7,1507.36 = 16.18, P < .001), UCH-L1 (F7,1153.09 = 5.71, P < .001), and tau (F7,1480.55 = 6.81, P < .001); the interaction for neurofilament light chain was not significant (F7,1506.90 = 1.33, P = .23). The area under the curve for the combination of GFAP and UCH-L1 in differentiating athletes with concussion from contact sport controls at the acute postinjury period was 0.71 (95% CI, 0.64-0.78; P < .001); the acute postinjury area under the curve for all 4 biomarkers combined was 0.72 (95% CI, 0.65-0.79; P < .001). Beyond SCAT-3 symptom score, GFAP at the acute postinjury time point was associated with the classification of athletes with concussion from contact controls (β = 12.298; 95% CI, 2.776-54.481; P = .001) and non-contact sport controls (β = 5.438; 95% CI, 1.676-17.645; P = .005). Athletes with concussion with loss of consciousness or posttraumatic amnesia had significantly higher levels of GFAP than athletes with concussion with neither loss of consciousness nor posttraumatic amnesia at the acute postinjury time point (mean difference, 0.583 pg/mL; 95% CI, 0.369-0.797 pg/mL; P < .001). Conclusions and Relevance: The results suggest that blood biomarkers can be used as research tools to inform the underlying pathophysiological mechanism of concussion and provide additional support for future studies to optimize and validate biomarkers for potential clinical use in SRC