Relationship of match/mismatch of student-teacher learning styles, stress, and academic achievement

This exploratory study investigated the relationship between student-teacher learning style match/mismatch and perceived stress and the effect on academic achievement. Subjects were 167 undergraduate college students enrolled in one of two courses (psychology and mathematics) at Iowa State University;Data-gathering consisted of the administration of the Kolb Learning Style Inventory (LSI) to determine the learning style of each student and the learning/teaching styles of the respective instructors. Spielberger\u27s State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-Y) was administered to the subjects during the class period week prior to a major examination in each course. The scores on the State portion were used as an indicator of perceived stress. ACT scores were used as indicators of prior ability and this influence was removed through regression analysis to obtain course grade residuals. Final course grade residuals were then used as the measure of academic achievement;Statistical techniques employed in this study included descriptive statistics, correlation coefficients, simple regression analysis, and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). The level of statistical significance accepted was the.05 probability level;Results did not support the speculation that mismatch between learning styles of student and instructor would affect stress levels of students and subsequent academic achievement. Significant relationships were not determined for any of the variables studied. Findings did not affirm research on learning styles;Suggestions for further research were offered including: (1) the inclusion of several instructors with differing learning styles from each discipline, (2) the use of interviews with subjects to obtain a clearer picture of difficulties they may be having with the course, and (3) the use of blood pressure checks to more accurately identify elevated stress levels

Amplification and reversal of Knudsen force by thermoelectric heating

We show that the Knudsen thermal force generated by a thermally-induced flow over a heated beam near a colder wall could be amplified significantly by thermoelectric heating. Bidirectional actuation is achieved by switching the polarity of the thermoelectric device bias voltage. The measurements of the resulting thermal forces at different rarefaction regimes, realized by changing geometry and gas pressure, are done using torsional microbalance. The repulsive or attractive forces between a thermoelectrically heated or cooled plate and a substrate are shown to be up to an order of magnitude larger than for previously studied configurations and heating methods due to favorable coupling of two thermal gradients. The amplification and reversal of the Knudsen force is confirmed by numerical solution of the Boltzmann-ESBGK kinetic modelequation. Because of the favorable scaling with decreasing system size, the Knudsen force with thermoelectric heating offers a novel actuation and sensing mechanism for nano/microsystems

CRT-700.34 Short-Term Outcomes Among Aortic Valve Stenosis Patients Undergoing Impella-Supported High-Risk Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

Background: Among patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), severe aortic stenosis (AS) is associated with an increased risk of adverse outcomes. Although the use of mechanical circulatory support with Impella has been shown to improve 90-day outcomes in patients undergoing high-risk PCI (HRPCI), there is little information about the safety of this approach in pts with severe AS. We, therefore, sought to evaluate the efficacy and safety outcomes of Impella-supported HRPCI among patients with varying severity of AS. Methods: We studied patients enrolled in PROTECT III—a multicenter study of patients undergoing Impella-supported HRPCI. Patients were classified according to the severity of AS: none/trivial, mild, moderate, and severe. The primary outcome was the rate of major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) at 90 days, defined as the composite of all-cause death, MI, stroke/ TIA, and revascularization. Secondary outcomes included in-hospital PCI-related complications, stroke/TIA, and vascular complications requiring surgery. Results: Of 596 patients with echocardiographic data, 490 had no/trivial AS, and 34, 27, and 45 had mild, moderate, or severe AS, respectively. Patients with AS were older, less likely to have diabetes, more likely to have left main disease, and had higher left ventricular ejection fractions (Table). Severely calcified lesions and the use of atherectomy were more frequent among patients with moderate or severe AS. There were no differences in rates of PCI-related complications, stroke/TIA, 30-day MACCE, or 90-day MACCE according to AS severity. Rates of transfusion were higher among patients with AS—regardless of severity. Conclusion: Among patients undergoing Impella-supported HRPCI, PCI-related complications and 90-day outcomes did not differ based on AS status or severity

CRT-700.05 Impella Utilization in High-Risk Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Mitigates the Risks of Procedural and Clinical Adverse Events Independent of Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction: The Protect III Study

Background: Left ventricular (LV) dysfunction is associated with an increased risk of adverse events in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). However, the impact of LV ejection fraction (LVEF) on the outcomes of Impella-supported high-risk PCI (HRPCI) is unknown. Methods: Patients enrolled in the prospective, multicenter, and observational PROTECT III study from March 2017 to March 2020 who underwent Impella-supported HRPCI at the operator’s discretion (non-cardiogenic shock). Patients were divided into three tertiles (T) based on baseline LVEF: T1 (the lowest), T2, and T3 (the highest). The primary outcome is the rate of 90-day major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE), defined as the composite of all-cause death, myocardial infarction, stroke/transient ischemic attack, and repeated revascularization as adjudicated by an independent CEC. Results: Of 1237 patients, 940 with available baseline LVEF were analyzed. T1 included 353 patients (mean LVEF 19.6±4.7), T2 included 274 patients (mean LVEF 32.2±3.5), and T3 included 313 patients (mean LVEF 52.6±9.2). Patients in the higher tertiles were older, more likely to be females, presented more with acute coronary syndrome, and had more frequent left main disease. Also, severely calcified lesions and atherectomy utilization were more frequent in the higher tertiles. The rates of 90-day MACCE were comparable across all tertiles. Furthermore, PCI-related complications and 1-year mortality were also comparable (Table). After multivariable adjustment, 90-day MACCE was not significantly different between the LVEF tertiles (p=0.32). Conclusion: In patients with HRPCI supported by Impella, the rates of in-hospital adverse events, PCI-related complications, 90-day MACCE, and 1-year mortality were comparable among the different LVEF tertiles

Treatment with Hydroxychloroquine, Azithromycin, And Combination in Patients Hospitalized with COVID-19

Significance: The United States is in an acceleration phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. Currently there is no known effective therapy or vaccine for treatment of SARS-CoV-2, highlighting urgency around identifying effective therapies. Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of hydroxychloroquine therapy alone and in combination with azithromycin in hospitalized patients positive for COVID-19. Design: Multi-center retrospective observational study. Setting: The Henry Ford Health System (HFHS) in Southeast Michigan: large six hospital integrated health system; the largest of hospitals is an 802-bed quaternary academic teaching hospital in urban Detroit, Michigan. Participants: Consecutive patients hospitalized with a COVID-related admission in the health system from March 10, 2020 to May 2, 2020 were included. Only the first admission was included for patients with multiple admissions. All patients evaluated were 18 years of age and older and were treated as inpatients for at least 48 h unless expired within 24 h. Exposure: Receipt of hydroxychloroquine alone, hydroxychloroquine in combination with azithromycin, azithromycin alone, or neither. Main outcome: The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. Results: Of 2,541 patients, with a median total hospitalization time of 6 days (IQR: 4–10 days), median age was 64 years (IQR:53–76 years), 51% male, 56% African American, with median time to follow-up of 28.5 days (IQR:3–53). Overall in-hospital mortality was 18.1% (95% CI:16.6%–19.7%); by treatment: hydroxychloroquine + azithromycin, 157/783 (20.1% [95% CI: 17.3%–23.0%]), hydroxychloroquine alone, 162/1202 (13.5% [95% CI: 11.6%–15.5%]), azithromycin alone, 33/147 (22.4% [95% CI: 16.0%–30.1%]), and neither drug, 108/409 (26.4% [95% CI: 22.2%–31.0%]). Primary cause of mortality was respiratory failure (88%); no patient had documented torsades de pointes. From Cox regression modeling, predictors of mortality were age\u3e65 years (HR:2.6 [95% CI:1.9–3.3]), white race (HR:1.7 [95% CI:1.4–2.1]), CKD (HR:1.7 [95%CI:1.4–2.1]), reduced O2 saturation level on admission (HR:1.5 [95%CI:1.1–2.1]), and ventilator use during admission (HR: 2.2 [95%CI:1.4–3.3]). Hydroxychloroquine provided a 66% hazard ratio reduction, and hydroxychloroquine + azithromycin 71% compared to neither treatment (p \u3c 0.001). Conclusions and relevance: In this multi-hospital assessment, when controlling for COVID-19 risk factors, treatment with hydroxychloroquine alone and in combination with azithromycin was associated with reduction in COVID-19 associated mortality. Prospective trials are needed to examine this impact

Hospital Outcomes in Patients Hospitalized for COVID-19 Pneumonia: The Effect of SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination and Vitamin D Status

SARS-CoV-2 vaccination promises to improve outcomes for patients with COVID-19 pneumonia (most notably those with advanced age and at high risk for severe disease). Here, we examine serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) status and outcomes in both old (\u3e70 years) and young vaccinated (n = 80) and unvaccinated (n = 91) subjects, who were hospitalized due to COVID- 19 pneumonia in a single center (Connolly Hospital Dublin). Outcomes included ICU admission and mortality. Serum 25(OH)D levels were categorized as D30 (/L), D40 (30–49.99 nmol/L) and D50 (50 nmol/L). In multivariate analyses, D30 was independently associated with ICU admission (OR: 6.87 (95% CI: 1.13–41.85) (p = 0.036)) and mortality (OR: 24.81 (95% CI: 1.57–392.1) (p = 0.023)) in unvaccinated patients, even after adjustment for major confounders including age, sex, obesity and pre-existing diabetes mellitus. While mortality was consistently higher in all categories of patients over 70 years of age, the highest observed mortality rate of 50%, seen in patients over 70 years with a low vitamin D state (D30), appeared to be almost completely corrected by either vaccination, or having a higher vitamin D state, i.e., mortality was 14% for vaccinated patients over 70 years with D30 and 16% for unvaccinated patients over 70 years with a 25(OH)D level greater than 30 nmol/L. We observe that high mortality from COVID-19 pneumonia occurs in older patients, especially those who are unvaccinated or have a low vitamin D state. Recent vaccination or having a high vitamin D status are both associated with reduced mortality, although these effects do not fully mitigate the mortality risk associated with advanced age

Computed Tomography-Derived 3D Modeling to Guide Sizing and Planning of Transcatheter Mitral Valve Interventions

A plethora of catheter-based strategies have been developed to treat mitral valve disease. Evolving 3-dimensional (3D) multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) technology can accurately reconstruct the mitral valve by means of 3-dimensional computational modeling (3DCM) to allow virtual implantation of catheter-based devices. 3D printing complements computational modeling and offers implanting physician teams the opportunity to evaluate devices in life-size replicas of patient-specific cardiac anatomy. MDCT-derived 3D computational and 3D-printed modeling provides unprecedented insights to facilitate hands-on procedural planning, device training, and retrospective procedural evaluation. This overview summarizes current concepts and provides insight into the application of MDCT-derived 3DCM and 3D printing for the planning of transcatheter mitral valve replacement and closure of paravalvular leaks. Additionally, future directions in the development of 3DCM will be discussed

Finishing the euchromatic sequence of the human genome

The sequence of the human genome encodes the genetic instructions for human physiology, as well as rich information about human evolution. In 2001, the International Human Genome Sequencing Consortium reported a draft sequence of the euchromatic portion of the human genome. Since then, the international collaboration has worked to convert this draft into a genome sequence with high accuracy and nearly complete coverage. Here, we report the result of this finishing process. The current genome sequence (Build 35) contains 2.85 billion nucleotides interrupted by only 341 gaps. It covers ∼99% of the euchromatic genome and is accurate to an error rate of ∼1 event per 100,000 bases. Many of the remaining euchromatic gaps are associated with segmental duplications and will require focused work with new methods. The near-complete sequence, the first for a vertebrate, greatly improves the precision of biological analyses of the human genome including studies of gene number, birth and death. Notably, the human enome seems to encode only 20,000-25,000 protein-coding genes. The genome sequence reported here should serve as a firm foundation for biomedical research in the decades ahead

Optimizing Stakeholder Objectives of Space Exploration Architectures Using Portfolio Optimization

The large number and significant variety of systems available for space exploration missions produce countless potential architecture combinations. Compounding this are the scheduling intricacies of system life-cycle phases, time dependent operational dependencies, as well as the uncertainty associated with each system and technology in terms of cost, schedule, and performance. Traditional architecting emphasizes the individual design of component systems over the wide-ranging and robust assessment of architecture options early in mission design. A top down method that can assess the capabilities, requirements, and risks associated with the diversity of available space systems and form optimal portfolios of interdependent systems is necessary. This dissertation describes and demonstrates a portfolio optimization technique that can design and assess Lunar space exploration architectures by optimizing on programmatic objectives such as cost, performance, schedule, and robustness while simultaneously accounting for system operational interdependencies and schedule dependencies of the selected systems. Several specific enhancements to the Robust Portfolio Optimization method are produced, resulting in the the novel Progarmamtic Portfolio Optimization (PPO) approach: including life-cycle phase modeling, variable capability sizing of systems, and multi-domain constraints to model time dependent objectives