Using a new design rules practice and science talk development to enhance conceptual understanding, scientific reasoning, and transfer in Learning by Design classrooms

Thesis (M.S.Ed.)--University of Kansas, Teaching and Leadership, 2003

Analysis of the cyclostratigraphy at the Devonian-Carboniferous boundary in south-central Oklahoma

An outcrop in La Serre, France, was officially ratified by the ICS in 1989, and the IUGS in 1990, as the location of the Global Boundary Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP) for the Famennian–Tournaisian, and subsequently the Devonian–Carboniferous (D–C) boundary. GSSPs, like this one, are official outcrops that provide physical representations of geologic time boundaries, essentially geological standards that define geologic time, providing a vital framework to model a variety of interpretations of geological phenomena from paleoclimate to paleontological. It has been acknowledged that the GSSP in La Serre, France is in need of revision due to fossil reworking and general outcrop quality. The D–C boundary has also traditionally been a challenging boundary to place with precision because of problems associated with Siphonodella sulcata, whose first occurrence is the current definition of the boundary. With the aim of improving D–C boundary correlation, especially in the central United States, outcrops from the Woodford Shale in south-central Oklahoma and a New Albany Shale core from Johnson County, Indiana have been analyzed for cyclostratigraphy through measurement of mass-dependant, low-field magnetic susceptibility (χ), and also gamma radiation (GR). Gamma Ray Spectroscopy (GRS; field based) measurements were used for general correlation, along with previous conodont biostratigraphic work. Combined use of χ and GR measurements for 40K allows for a deeper layer of stratigraphic comparison. With the combined statistical techniques of the periodogram, multi-taper method (MTM), and wavelet analysis, a detailed timescale was pieced together for both the Oklahoma outcrops and Indiana core by comparing the periodic elements of the cyclostratigraphic signal represented by these geophysical proxies. Future work studying faunal assemblages can be compared with the cyclostratigraphic framework provided here to allow greater precision in interpretation

Dose Effect of Whey Protein on Gut Hormone Responses in Pre-Diabetics and Type 2 Diabetics

GLP-1 and GIP have been shown to increase following a 50 g dose of whey protein prior to a high glycemic load in type 2 diabetics. However, this increase is reduced in diabetics compared to healthy individuals. Pancreatic polypeptide (PP) and peptide tyrosine tyrosine (PYY) also increase, while ghrelin decreases after the consumption of whey protein; however, it is not known if a similar hormone response occurs with a lower dose of whey protein prior to a glycemic load or if there is a dose effect. Our hypothesis was that 20 g and 30 g of whey protein would increase GLP-1, GIP, PP, and PYY and decrease ghrelin in a dose dependent manner. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of two different doses of whey protein ingested 30 min prior to a 50 g OGTT on gut hormone and incretin response. METHODS: Nine diabetic and pre-diabetic participants (n=9, mean ± SD; age: 64.3 + 8.1 yrs.; BMI: 29.4 + 6.0 kg/m2; HbA1c: 6.4 + 0.6%) completed three trials. The randomly assigned trials consisted of: ingestion of 250ml of water (CON); 250 ml of water + 20 g whey (20g); 250ml of water + 30 g whey (30g), prior to completing a 50 g OGTT. Blood was collected at -30, 0, 15, 30, 60, 90, 120, and 150 min for the measurement of GIP, GLP-1, ghrelin, PP, and PYY. The whey protein was administered immediately following the -30 min and the 50 g OGTT began immediately after the 0 min blood draw. Metabolites were measured using multiplex fluorescent detection. One-way repeated measure ANOVA was used for statistical analysis for each dependent variable (P \u3c 0.05). RESULTS: 20g and 30g of whey protein significantly increased incremental area under the curve (AUC) of GIP 32% and 38% compared to CON. 30g significantly decreased ghrelin AUC -13.9% and -20% compared to 20g and CON. 30g significantly increased PP AUC 28% compared to CON only. There were no differences in ghrelin and PP AUC between 20g and CON. There were no significant differences for GLP-1 and PYY between all trials. CONCLUSION: 30 g of whey protein prior to a glucose challenge increased secretion of GIP and PP and decreased ghrelin in type 2 and pre-diabetics. There seems to be a dose effect relationship between whey, ghrelin, and PP. 30 g of whey preload may induce insulinotropic and satiety effects from GIP, PP, and ghrelin responses in type 2 and pre-diabetics

Utilization of base deficit and reliability of base deficit as a surrogate for serum lactate in the peri-operative setting

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Base deficit (BD) is commonly used in the operating room (OR) as an endpoint of resuscitation. BD is used as a surrogate marker for the accumulation of lactic acid(Lac). However, the BD can be affected by large amounts of saline.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We conducted a survey of anesthesiologists regarding the use of BD. We also studied the reliability of BD to determine the presence of hyperlactatemia (HL). Patients undergoing general anesthesia were eligible for enrollment if they were receiving an arterial line as part of their routine care. If an arterial blood gas was drawn by the operative team as part of the routine care, the remainder of the unused blood was also used to measure Lac.</p> <p>Results</p> <p><it>Survey</it>: 73 staff anesthesiologists were surveyed. Over 70% of respondents used BD as an endpoint of resuscitation.</p> <p><it>Base Deficit Study</it>: 35 patients were enrolled resulting in 88 arterial blood gases with corresponding Lac. Mean age was 61.4 ± 14.3 years, 43% were male. Mean pH was 7.39 ± 0.05, the mean bicarbonate was 23.0 ± 2.3 meq/L, the mean BD 1.34 ± 2.3, and the mean Lac was 1.58 ± 0.71 mmol/L. Mean ASA risk score was 3.16 ± 0.71. ROC area under the curve for base deficit to detect HL was 0.58.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>BD can often mislead the clinician as to the actual Lac. Lac can now be measured in the OR in real time. Therefore, if clinicians in the operative setting want to know the Lac, it should be measured directly.</p

The Dose Effect of Whey Protein on Insulin Responses in Pre-Diabetics and Type 2 Diabetics

People with pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes have shown an increase in insulin secretion after ingesting 55 g of whey protein coupled with a glycemic challenge. However, the effect of lower amounts of whey protein on insulin responses remains unclear. Our hypothesis was that both 20 g and 30 g of whey consumption prior to an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) would produce an increase in insulin secretion, with 30 g producing the greatest increase compared to a control. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of two different doses of whey protein ingested 30 min prior to a 50 g OGTT on glucose, insulin, C-peptide, and glucagon responses. METHODS: Diabetic or pre-diabetic participants (n=9, mean ± SD; age: 64.3 + 8.1 yrs; BMI: 29.4 + 6.0 kg/m2; body fat percentage: 42.5 + 7.8 %; fasting plasma glucose: 6.9 + 1.2 mmol/l; HbA1c: 6.4 + 0.6 %) completed three trials. The randomly assigned trials consisted of: 250 ml of water (CON), 250 ml of water + 20 g whey (20g), and 250 ml of water + 30 g whey (30g), followed by an OGTT. Blood was collected at -30, 0, 15, 30, 60, 90, 120, and 150 min for the measurement of glucose, insulin, C-peptide, and glucagon. The whey protein mixture was administered immediately following the -30 min blood draw, and the 50 g OGTT began immediately following the 0 min blood draw. Glucose was analyzed using a YSI 2900D glucose analyzer and insulin, C-peptide, and glucagon were measured via multiplex fluorescent detection (MagPix). A one-way repeated measures ANOVA (pRESULTS: Incremental area under the curve (AUC) for glucose presented no difference between the 3 trials. Insulin AUC was significantly increased from CON to 20g (p=0.004, 36.3%), CON to 30g (p=0.002, 61.7%), and 20g to 30g (p=0.030, 18.6%). C-peptide and glucagon AUC significantly increased from CON to 20g (p=0.018, 20.6%; p=0.046, 33.1%) and CON to 30g (p=0.001, 30.1%; p=0.017, 33.7%). CONCLUSION: Whey protein elicited a dose response on plasma insulin, increasing concentrations from CON to 20g, and 20g to 30g, however plasma glucose was unaffected. 20g and 30g displayed similar responses for glucagon. Neither 20 g nor 30 g of whey protein may be adequate to provide glycemic improvement in the disease management of type 2 or pre-diabetes

Epithelioid Glioblastoma Presenting as Aphasia in a Young Adult with Ovarian Cancer: A Case Report

Our patient\u27s clinical history and preoperative radiographic evaluation suggested central nervous system (CNS) metastatic disease. Ultimately, final pathology revealed epithelioid glioblastoma (eGBM), a newly classified CNS primary tumor. This reinforces the importance of direct tissue sampling and including eGBM on the differential for young patients with histories of systemic cancer presenting with new CNS lesions

Nitrogen Production in Starburst Galaxies Detected by GALEX

We investigate the production of nitrogen in star-forming galaxies with ultraviolet (UV) radiation detected by the Galaxy Evolution Explorer Satellite (GALEX). We use a sample of 8745 GALEX emission-line galaxies matched to the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) spectroscopic sample. We derive both gas-phase oxygen and nitrogen abundances for the sample and apply stellar population synthesis models to derive stellar masses and star formation histories of the galaxies. We compare oxygen abundances derived using three different diagnostics. We derive the specific star formation rates of the galaxies by modeling the seven-band GALEX+SDSS photometry. We find that galaxies that have log (SFR/M_*) ≳ − 10.0 typically have values of log (N/O) ~ 0.05 dex less than galaxies with log (SFR/M_*) ≾ − 10.0 and similar oxygen abundances

Persistently Altered Brain Mitochondrial Bioenergetics After Apparently Successful Resuscitation From Cardiac Arrest

Background Although advances in cardiopulmonary resuscitation have improved survival from cardiac arrest (CA), neurologic injury persists and impaired mitochondrial bioenergetics may be critical for targeted neuroresuscitation. The authors sought to determine if excellent cardiopulmonary resuscitation and postresuscitation care and good traditional survival rates result in persistently disordered cerebral mitochondrial bioenergetics in a porcine pediatric model of asphyxia‐associated ventricular fibrillation CA. Methods and Results After 7 minutes of asphyxia, followed by ventricular fibrillation, 5 female 1‐month‐old swine (4 sham) received blood pressure–targeted care: titration of compression depth to systolic blood pressure of 90 mm Hg and vasopressor administration to a coronary perfusion pressure \u3e20 mm Hg. All animals received protocol‐based vasopressor support after return of spontaneous circulation for 4 hours before they were killed. The primary outcome was integrated mitochondrial electron transport system (ETS) function. CA animals displayed significantly decreased maximal, coupled oxidative phosphorylating respiration (OXPHOSCI+CII) in cortex (PPPPCI PCII PCIPCII PCI+CII), as well as a 30% reduction in citrate synthase activity (P\u3c0.04). Conclusions Mitochondria in both the cortex and hippocampus displayed significant alterations in respiratory function after CA despite excellent cardiopulmonary resuscitation and postresuscitation care in asphyxia‐associated ventricular fibrillation CA. Analysis of integrated ETS function identifies mitochondrial bioenergetic failure as a target for goal‐directed neuroresuscitation after CA. IACUC Protocol: IAC 13‐001023

Flexible hardware acceleration for instruction-grain program monitoring

Instruction-grain program monitoring tools, which check and analyze executing programs at the granularity of individual instructions, are invaluable for quickly detecting bugs and security attacks and then limiting their damage (via containment and/or recovery). Unfortunately, their fine-grain nature implies very high monitoring overheads for software-only tools, which are typically based on dynamic binary instrumentation. Previous hardware proposals either focus on mechanisms that target specific bugs or address only the cost of binary instrumentation. In this paper, we propose a flexible hardware solution for accelerating a wide range of instruction-grain monitoring tools. By examining a number of diverse tools (for memory checking, security tracking, and data race detection), we identify three significant common sources of overheads and then propose three novel hardware techniques for addressing these overheads; Inheritance Tracking, Idempotent Filters, and Metadata-TLBs. Together, these constitute a general-purpose hardware acceleration framework. Experimental results show our framework reduces overheads by 2-3X over the previous state-of-the-art, while supporting the needed flexibility. © 2008 IEEE