A Comparison of Intelligent Agent Technology and Traditional Preference Assessment Implementation Methods for Preservice Speech-Language Pathologists

Identifying preferred stimuli is an initial step in many evidence-based educational programs for young children. Preference assessments, such as the Multiple Stimulus Without Replacement (MSWO), provide an empirically validated way of identifying and ranking these stimuli. Traditional methods of training professionals to implement MSWO often require the presence of an expert trainer, involve lengthy instructional time, require additional training to transfer skills into the clinical or classroom setting, and necessitate follow-up training to maintain skills over time. Intelligent agent technology may overcome these challenges by providing professionals with easily accessible, consistent instruction. The purpose of the current study was to compare the use of intelligent agent technology with pen and paper self-instructional methods in training preservice speech-language pathologists to implement MSWO with young children. The results demonstrate significant increases in implementation fidelity for two out of five participants and slight increases for the remaining three during the intelligent agent condition. Additionally, the participants collectively scored the results of the MSWO incorrectly nearly half of the time while using traditional methods. In contrast, all participants were able to score and interpret the results accurately during every session using intelligent agent technology. There was a significant reduction in duration of implementation for two participants, a moderate reduction for two participants, and a slight reduction for the remaining participant while using intelligent agent technology. Results of the follow-up survey suggest that all participants found intelligent agent technology had a higher treatment acceptability and was more effective at producing socially significant outcomes than traditional methods. Recommendations for clinicians and future research are discussed

Integrating ensemble species distribution modeling and statistical phylogeography to inform projections of climate change impacts on species distributions

Species distribution models (SDMs) are commonly used to forecast climate change impacts on species and ecosystems. These models, however, are subject to important assumptions and limitations. By integrating two independent but complementary methods, ensemble SDMs and statistical phylogeography, I was able to address key assumptions and create robust assessments of climate change impacts on species\u27 distributions while improving the conservation value of these projections. This approach was demonstrated using Rhodiola integrifolia, an alpine-arctic plant distributed at high elevations and latitudes throughout the North American cordillera. SDMs for R. integrifolia were fit to current and past climates using eight model algorithms, two threshold methods, and between one and three climate data sets (downscaled from general circulation models, GCMs). This ensemble of projections was combined using consensus methods to create a map of stable climate (refugial habitat) since the Last Interglacial (124,000 years before present). Four biogeographic hypotheses were developed based on the configuration of refugial habitat and were tested using a statistical phylogeographic approach. Statistical phylogeography evaluates the probability of alternative models of population history given uncertainty about past population parameters, such as effective population sizes and the timing of divergence events. The multiple-refugia hypothesis was supported by both methods, validating the assumption of niche conservatism in R. integrifolia, and justifying the projection of SDMs onto future climates. SDMs were projected onto two greenhouse gas scenarios (A1B and A2) for 2085 using climate data downscaled from five GCMs. Ensemble and consensus methods were used to illustrate variability across these GCMs. Projections at 2085 showed substantial losses of climatically suitable habitat for R. integrifolia across its range. Southern populations had the greatest losses, though the biogeographic scale of modeling may overpredict extinction risks in areas of topographic complexity. Finally, past and future SDM projections were assessed for novel values of climate variables; projections in areas of novel climate were flagged as having higher uncertainty. Integrating molecular approaches with spatial analyses of species distributions under global change has great potential to improve conservation decision-making. Molecular tools can support and improve current methods for understanding species vulnerability to climate change, and provide additional data upon which to base conservation decisions, such as prioritizing the conservation of areas of high genetic diversity in order to build evolutionary resiliency within populations

A Comparison of Intelligent Agent Technology and Traditional Preference Assessment Implementation Methods for Preservice Speech-Language Pathologists

Identifying preferred stimuli is an initial step in many evidence-based educational programs for young children. Preference assessments, such as the Multiple Stimulus Without Replacement (MSWO), provide an empirically validated way of identifying and ranking these stimuli. Traditional methods of training professionals to implement MSWO often require the presence of an expert trainer, involve lengthy instructional time, require additional training to transfer skills into the clinical or classroom setting, and necessitate follow-up training to maintain skills over time. Intelligent agent technology may overcome these challenges by providing professionals with easily accessible, consistent instruction. The purpose of the current study was to compare the use of intelligent agent technology with pen and paper self-instructional methods in training preservice speech-language pathologists to implement MSWO with young children. The results demonstrate significant increases in implementation fidelity for two out of five participants and slight increases for the remaining three during the intelligent agent condition. Additionally, the participants collectively scored the results of the MSWO incorrectly nearly half of the time while using traditional methods. In contrast, all participants were able to score and interpret the results accurately during every session using intelligent agent technology. There was a significant reduction in duration of implementation for two participants, a moderate reduction for two participants, and a slight reduction for the remaining participant while using intelligent agent technology. Results of the follow-up survey suggest that all participants found intelligent agent technology had a higher treatment acceptability and was more effective at producing socially significant outcomes than traditional methods. Recommendations for clinicians and future research are discussed

Enhancement of NAFLD risk by vinyl chloride : role of adipose tissue in a mouse model.

Background: Vinyl chloride (VC), an environmental contaminant, is directly hepatotoxic at high concentrations. However, our group has recently demonstrated that VC and the VC metabolite chloroethanol (CE), at concentrations that are not considered hepatotoxic, enhanced liver injury caused by high-fat diet (HFD). These data therefore suggest that the impact of VC exposure on hepatic tissue may be enhanced with underlying metabolic syndrome and/or liver injury. It is known that there is an axis between adipose and hepatic tissue in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), with the former impacting pathology in the hepatic tissue via release of pro-inflammatory cytokines and/or lipolysis. The current study investigated the impact of CE on epidydimal white adipose tissue (WAT) inflammation and lipolysis. Methods: Mice were administered CE (or vehicle) once, 10 weeks after being fed a diet high in saturated fatty acids (HFD: 42% milk fat), or a low fat control diet (LFD: 13% milk fat). Animals were sacrificed 0-24 hours after CE exposure. Plasma, liver and WAT samples were harvested for determination of liver damage, changes in energy metabolism, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, and inflammation. Results: Hepatic steatosis and inflammation caused by HFD was significantly enhanced by CE. Moreover, while HFD significantly increased the size of epididymal fat pads, this increase was enhanced by CE. Adipocyte lipid droplets relative size was also increased in the HFD/CE group; which correlated with the increased expression of lipid-associated proteins (e.g., perilipin; PLINs). Although adipose tissue of LFD-fed mice was not affected by CE, CE significantly enhanced HFD-increased indices of WAT inflammation, and ER stress. It has been shown that hepatic-derived fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) is a major modulator of WAT lipolysis and is hypothesized to thereby regulate hepatic steatosis [1, 2]. Here we demonstrate that circulating levels of FGF21 are significantly increased by CE in animals fed a HFD, suggesting a possible role for WAT-mediated hepatic steatosis due to changes in WAT lipolysis. Conclusion: Chloroethanol (as a VC surrogate) can enhance local inflammation and alter lipid metabolism in WAT in experimental obesity. Taken together these data support the hypothesis that environmental toxicant exposure can exacerbate the severity of NAFLD or non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and supports a role of the liver-adipose axis in this process

Developmental Mode in Opisthobranch Molluscs from the Northeast Pacific Ocean: Additional Species from Southern California and Supplemental Data

We document development type for 33 species of benthic opisthobranch gastropods – 15 for the first time – collected mainly from the Southern California Bight. Fourteen of the newly examined species had planktotrophic development, while the dorid nudibranch Atagema alba had capsular metamorphic development, the first example of direct development in a non-dendrodoridid nudibranch known from the northeast Pacific Ocean. For the remaining 18 species our new data are either consistent with earlier determinations of development type, or confirm previous inferences. The new data also broaden geographic coverage for some species, and for the sacoglossan Stiliger fuscovittatus and the nudibranch Melibe leonina, suggest that egg size is inversely related to temperature. We correct the previous erroneous identification of nephrocysts as eyespots in the hatching planktotrophic larvae of the nudibranchs Tritonia festiva and Janolus fuscus. These results further highlight the predominance of planktotrophic development in benthic opisthobranchs from the northeast Pacific Ocean

Selective Vulnerabilities of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) Receptors During Brain Aging

N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors are present in high density within the cerebral cortex and hippocampus and play an important role in learning and memory. NMDA receptors are negatively affected by aging, but these effects are not uniform in many different ways. This review discusses the selective age-related vulnerabilities of different binding sites of the NMDA receptor complex, different subunits that comprise the complex, and the expression and functions of the receptor within different brain regions. Spatial reference, passive avoidance, and working memory, as well as place field stability and expansion all involve NMDA receptors. Aged animals show deficiencies in these functions, as compared to young, and some studies have identified an association between age-associated changes in the expression of NMDA receptors and poor memory performance. A number of diet and drug interventions have shown potential for reversing or slowing the effects of aging on the NMDA receptor. On the other hand, there is mounting evidence that the NMDA receptors that remain within aged individuals are not always associated with good cognitive functioning. This may be due to a compensatory response of neurons to the decline in NMDA receptor expression or a change in the subunit composition of the remaining receptors. These studies suggest that developing treatments that are aimed at preventing or reversing the effects of aging on the NMDA receptor may aid in ameliorating the memory declines that are associated with aging. However, we need to be mindful of the possibility that there may also be negative consequences in aged individuals

EVALUATION OF ELECTRODE SURFACE TREATMENTS IN SLUDGE ELECTRO-OSMOSIS DEWATERING”

The drying of sludge produced by Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTPs) is a very hard process due to the presence of the colloid fraction. Electro-osmosis could be a suitable technique to reduce the water content of the final sludge. Electrical fields of 10 V/cm, 15 V/cm and 20 V/cm have been studied for electro-osmosis tests in a static or dynamic apparatus, obtaining a dry solids content up to 40-45%, with respect to 25-30% obtained by mechanical methods. In order to optimise the apparatus, the corrosion behaviour of the anodic material appears the main critical aspect, due to the high circulating current density. Moreover, wear may be detrimental for the surface of rotating electrodes. We then investigated the behaviour of materials used as electrodes mainly by evaluating the efficiency of the process and their surface aspect after treatment. The full understanding of the electrochemical reactions developed at the anode are a key factor for the material choice. We compared the efficiency and the corrosion resistance of anodes made of titanium MMO with respect to bare stainless steel (AISI 304) and stainless steel coated by PVD technique with TiN, AlTiN and DLC. Characterization of the anodes samples by roughness tests and by AFM show that corrosion resistance of the DSA was the most suitable for our application. However, efficiencies of the electro-osmosis process for all the materials used have been found comparable, in terms of developed current densities and total energy consumptions, for low-test duration

Quasi-topological Reissner-Nordstr\"om Black Holes

We consider Reissner-Nordstrom solutions in quasi-topological gravity, obtaining exact solutions to the field equations yielding charged quasi-topological black holes. We study their thermodynamic behaviour over a range of parameters that yield ghost-free and stable space times. We find that a sufficiently negative quasi-topological parameter can yield black holes with 2 horizons, even for zero charge. We discuss the thermodynamic stability for the class of solutions we obtain. We also describe the structure of exact charged solutions to $k^{th}$ order quasi-topological gravity.Comment: LaTeX, 16 pages, 9 figures; added references and corrected typo

Integrating Environmental, Molecular, and Morphological Data to Unravel an Ice-age Radiation of Arctic-alpine Campanula in Western North America

Many arctic-alpine plant genera have undergone speciation during the Quaternary. The bases for these radiations have been ascribed to geographic isolation,abiotic and biotic differences between populations, and/or hybridization andpolyploidization. The Cordilleran Campanula L. (Campanulaceae Juss.), a monophyletic clade of mostly endemic arctic-alpine taxa from western North America, experienced a recent and rapid radiation. We set out to unravel the factors that likely influenced speciation in this group. To do so, we integrated environmental, genetic, and morphological datasets, tested biogeographic hypotheses, and analyzed the potential consequences of the various factors on the evolutionary history of the clade. We created paleodistribution models to identify potential Pleistocene refugia for the clade and estimated niche space for individual taxa using geographic and climatic data. Using 11 nuclear loci, we reconstructed a species tree and tested biogeographic hypotheses derived from the paleodistribution models. Finally, we tested 28 morphological characters, including floral, vegetative, and seed characteristics, for their capacity to differ- entiate taxa. Our results show that the combined effect of Quaternary climatic variation, isolation among differing environments in the mountains in western North America, and biotic factors influencing floral morphology contributed to speciation in this group during the mid-Pleistocene. Furthermore, our biogeographic analyses uncovered asynchronous consequences of interglacial and glacial periods for the timing of refugial isolation within the southern and northwestern mountains, respectively. These findings have broad implications for understanding the processes promoting speciation in arctic-alpine plants and the rise of numerous endemic taxa across the region