Reliability theory: Properties of probability distributions for lifetimes of systems of components

The purpose of this paper is to make the concepts of reliability theory manageable even for those without an extensive mathematics background. This paper will break down the types of systems, explore the aspects of probability distributions which are important in reliability theory, as well as examine some concepts regarding the differences between system lifetimes and lifetimes of components. The goal of this paper is to allow the reader to gain an understanding of some of the key concepts explored in this theory, to provide examples for the reader to try, and to include proofs that have been broken down for clearer comprehension

Community College Developmental Mathematics Classrooms: Understanding Supportive Faculty Strategies and Impact on Student Success

The purpose of this quantitative study was to explore supportive faculty strategies as described by students and faculty of developmental mathematics courses at two community colleges in Upstate New York. Using validation theory, the study focused on compiling information from students and faculty regarding the importance of supportive factors inside and outside of the developmental mathematics classrooms. Data were collected from surveys administered in the spring 2016 semester, and analyses of these data led to several findings: (a) students significantly rated faculty lower than faculty self-reported on caring instruction; (b) there was a weak, positive correlation that showed the longer an instructor had been teaching and the greater the course load assigned; the higher the ratings for caring instruction and appreciation for diversity; (c) the four subconstructs as a whole significantly predicted student sense of belonging, persistence, and competence; (d) students and faculty agree there must be improved supports to help students perform better on math placement testing; (e) faculty is not a main source of information for middle-skill opportunities; and (f) students are generally unaware of STEM opportunities. There were two recommendations for future research: to conduct a quantitative study which allows for the collection and analysis of paired student and faculty data, and to conduct a qualitative study aimed at examining each subconstruct from the individual perspective of student and of faculty. The recommendations for higher education were to (a) provide professional development for faculty and staff aimed at understanding how to create a supportive environment for students, (b) provide review sessions prior to math placement testing, and (c) establish informational workshops designed to facilitate student and faculty collaboration while providing education on STEM and middle-skill opportunities

Examining Parent–Teacher Relationship Quality and Family Involvement for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Strong parent–teacher relationships are crucial for promoting positive outcomes and serving as a protective factor for at-risk children (Glueck & Reschly, 2014). This may be particularly important for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), who are at increased developmental risk related to ASD symptoms (Garbacz, Santiago, & McIntyre, 2016). However, little research has examined variables that influence relationships for parents and teachers of children with ASD. The present study examined (a) parent–teacher relationship variables in relation to developmental risk and child and family variables and (b) parent–teacher relationship perceptions among a sample of parents and teachers of children with ASD. Data were collected across two waves within a longitudinal study (N = 68 and N = 22, respectively). Results suggest that parents of children with mild ASD symptoms reported better parent–teacher relationship quality relative to parents of children with more ASD symptoms, child adaptive behavior had a significant effect on family involvement, perceived social status had a significant effect on family involvement after controlling for child ASD symptoms, and parent-reported relationship quality and family involvement had a significant effect on positive and consistent ratings of parent–teacher relationship quality by both parents and teachers approximately two years later. Study limitations, future research directions, and clinical implications are discussed.2021-09-1

Gene expression of endangered coral (Orbicella spp.) in flower garden banks National Marine Sanctuary after Hurricane Harvey

About 190 km south of the Texas–Louisiana border, the East and West Flower Garden Banks (FGB) have maintained > 50% coral cover with infrequent and minor incidents of disease or bleaching since monitoring began in the 1970s. However, a mortality event, affecting 5.6 ha (2.6% of the area) of the East FGB, occurred in late July 2016 and coincided with storm-generated freshwater runoff extending offshore and over the reef system. To capture the immediate effects of storm-driven freshwater runoff on coral and symbiont physiology, we leveraged the heavy rainfall associated with Hurricane Harvey in late August 2017 by sampling FGB corals at two time points: September 2017, when surface water salinity was reduced (∼34 ppt); and 1 month later when salinity had returned to typical levels (∼36 ppt in October 2017). Tissue samples (N = 47) collected midday were immediately preserved for gene expression profiling from two congeneric coral species (Orbicella faveolata and Orbicella franksi) from the East and West FGB to determine the physiological consequences of storm-derived runoff. In the coral, differences between host species and sampling time points accounted for the majority of differentially expressed genes. Gene ontology enrichment for genes differentially expressed immediately after Hurricane Harvey indicated increases in cellular oxidative stress responses. Although tissue loss was not observed on FGB reefs following Hurricane Harvey, our results suggest that poor water quality following this storm caused FGB corals to experience sub-lethal stress. We also found dramatic expression differences across sampling time points in the coral’s algal symbiont, Breviolum minutum. Some of these differentially expressed genes may be involved in the symbionts’ response to changing environments, including a group of differentially expressed post-transcriptional RNA modification genes. In this study, we cannot disentangle the effects of reduced salinity from the collection time point, so these expression patterns could also be related to seasonality. These findings highlight the urgent need for continued monitoring of these reef systems to establish a baseline for gene expression of healthy corals in the FGB system across seasons, as well as the need for integrated solutions to manage stormwater runoff in the Gulf of Mexico.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2019.00672/fullPublished versionPublished versio

Environmental Stewardship on the URI Campus

This poster campaign and report was an effort to get environmental stewardship to be more of a part of the student government at URI. It was used to raise awareness and link people\u27s actions to theory so that future work could be built off this and assessed for its effectiveness

Topical immunotherapy for the treatment of periocular basal cell carcinoma

Os autores descrevem um paciente com carcinoma basocelular nodular em canto medial tratado com imiquimode creme 5%. A avaliação patológica de uma biópsia incisional realizada 12 semanas após o tratamento revelou a total resolução da lesão. Embora a cirurgia permaneça como tratamento de primeira escolha, a imunoterapia com imiquimode creme 5% surge como uma opção terapêutica válida para o tratamento ambulatorial do carcinoma basocelular periocular.The authors describe a patient with a medial canthal nodular basal cell carcinoma treated with Imiquimod 5% cream. Pathologic evaluation of an incisional biopsy performed 12 weeks after treatment revealed complete resolution of local disease. Although the treatment of choice continues to be surgery, topical immunotherapy with imiquimod 5% cream is an emerging therapeutic option suitable for the outpatient treatment of periocular basal cell carcinoma

Ocular pathology of uncommon hematologic malignancies: a case series

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>In general, ocular complications of hematologic malignancies such as leukemia are well documented. However, reports of ocular involvement in such diseases as lymphomatoid granulomatosis and chronic myelomonocytic leukemia are uncommon. Here we present cases of these two relatively rare hematologic malignancies demonstrating clinical and subclinical ocular involvement.</p> <p>Case Presentation</p> <p>In the first case, a 54-year-old man with a previous diagnosis of lymphomatoid granulomatosis presented with a new-onset conjunctival lesion while his systemic disease was thought to be in remission. A biopsy was taken that revealed heavy infiltrates of B and T cells at the site of the lesion. Molecular analysis confirmed that these cells were positive for both Epstein-Barr viral DNA and immunoglobulin heavy chain gene rearrangement, consistent with a manifestation of his systemic disease. In the second case, a 51-year-old man with chronic myelomonocytic leukemia died after a waxing and waning clinical course. Post-mortem studies revealed the presence of atypical monocytes in the choroidal and subretinal spaces, consistent with his previous diagnosis.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>While ocular involvement in hematologic malignancies is not uncommon, these two cases describe involvement of the eye by two relatively rare neoplasms. We herein emphasize novel findings in each case, including conjunctival involvement as the first sign of recurrent lymphomatoid granulomatosis and the combination of subretinal and choroidal myelomonocytic leukemic infiltration. With the evolution of new antineoplastic therapies that may prolong life, these cases exemplify the importance of eye care in patients diagnosed with hematologic malignancies.</p

X-ray Flares of EV Lac: Statistics, Spectra, Diagnostics

We study the spectral and temporal behavior of X-ray flares from the active M-dwarf EV Lac in 200 ks of exposure with the Chandra/HETGS. We derive flare parameters by fitting an empirical function which characterizes the amplitude, shape, and scale. The flares range from very short (<1 ks) to long (10 ks) duration events with a range of shapes and amplitudes for all durations. We extract spectra for composite flares to study their mean evolution and to compare flares of different lengths. Evolution of spectral features in the density-temperature plane shows probable sustained heating. The short flares are significantly hotter than the longer flares. We determined an upper limit to the Fe K fluorescent flux, the best fit value being close to what is expected for compact loops.Comment: 9 pages; 9 figures; latex/emulateapj style; Submitted to The Astrophysical Journa

Parental help-seeking behaviour for, and care of, a sick or injured child during the COVID-19 pandemic: a European online survey

BACKGROUND: Globally, the COVID-19 pandemic had a huge impact on patients and healthcare systems. A decline in paediatric visits to healthcare settings was observed, which might have been due to lower incidence of injury and infectious illness, changes in healthcare services and parental concern. The aim of our study was to examine parental experiences of help-seeking for, and care of, a sick or injured child during COVID-19 lockdown periods in five European countries with different healthcare systems in place. METHODS: An online survey for parents with a child with any kind or illness of injury during COVID-19 lockdowns was circulated through social media in five European countries: Italy, Spain, Sweden, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. Parents living in one of these countries with self-identification of a sick or injured child during COVID-19 lockdown periods were eligible to fill in the survey. Descriptive statistics were used for the level of restrictions per country, children's characteristics, family characteristics and reported help-seeking behaviour of parents prior to the lockdown and their real experience during the lockdown. The free text data was subjected to thematic analysis. RESULTS: The survey was fully completed by 598 parents, ranging from 50 to 198 parents per country, during varying lockdown periods from March 2020 until May 2022. Parents who completed the survey were not deterred from seeking medical help for their sick or injured child during the COVID-19 pandemic. This finding was comparable in five European countries with different healthcare systems in place. Thematic analysis identified three main areas: parental experiences of access to healthcare, changes in parents' help-seeking behaviours for a sick or injured child during lockdowns, and the impact of caring for a sick or injured child during the lockdowns. Parents reported limited access to non-urgent care services and were anxious about either their child or themselves catching COVID-19. CONCLUSION: This insight into parental perspectives of help-seeking behaviour and care for a sick or injured child during COVID-19 lockdowns could inform future strategies to improve access to healthcare, and to provide parents with adequate information concerning when and where to seek help and support during pandemics