GOING FULL CIRCLE: AN ANALYSIS OF END-USER PERSPECTIVES ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE USMC 360-DEGREE FEEDBACK PROGRAM

The United States Marine Corps’ counseling and development process requires modernization to remain on the leading edge of talent management and to keep pace with both the public sector and the private sector. The Commandant’s plan, titled Talent Management 2030, states that the Marine Corps will implement a 360-degree feedback program to bridge gaps and to retain the best, brightest, and most capable leaders. The purpose of our research is to analyze end-user perspectives to gauge support for 360-degree feedback in both developmental and evaluative capacities and offer recommendations for who should receive feedback and/or when feedback should be distributed. The sample population for our survey study is comprised of Marine Officers assigned to the Naval Postgraduate School. Most of the sample population consists of captains and majors between the ages of 26 and 35, with 6 to 15 years of military service. The results of our survey suggest that there is support for 360-degree feedback, particularly when utilized in a developmental capacity. Our analysis suggests that 360-degree feedback should be targeted toward junior or mid-career company grade officers and should relate to a significant occasion, such as advancement to a position with substantial oversight or influence. Our implementation and scaling recommendations consider civilian organization “best practices” and try to achieve meaningful results, enable growth, and avoid survey fatigue.Major, United States Marine CorpsMajor, United States Marine CorpsCaptain, United States Marine CorpsApproved for public release. Distribution is unlimited

Observed and Modeled Bio-Optical, Bioluminescent, and Physical Properties During a Coastal Upwelling Event in Monterey Bay, California

During spring and summer time, coastal upwelling influences circulation and ecosystem dynamics of the Monterey Bay, California, which is recognized as a National Marine Sanctuary. Observations of physical, bio‐optical properties (including bioluminescence) together with results from dynamical biochemical and bioluminescence models are used to interpret the development of the upwelling event during August 2003 in Monterey Bay, California. Observations and the biochemical model show the development of a phytoplankton bloom in the southern portion of Monterey Bay. Model results show an increase of nutrients in the southern portion of the bay, where nutrient‐rich water masses are brought in by the southward flow and cyclonic circulation inside the bay. This increase in nutrients together with the sluggish circulation in the southern portion of the bay provides favorable conditions for phytoplankton growth. Our observations and models suggest that with the development of upwelling the offshore water masses with the subsurface layer of bioluminescent zooplankton were replaced by water masses advected from the northern coast of the bay with a relatively high presence of mostly nonbioluminescent phytoplankton. Inshore observations from autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) show consistent coincidence of chlorophyll, backscatter, and bioluminescence maxima during upwellingdevelopment. Offshore AUV observations (taken at the entrance to the bay) show a deeper bioluminescence maximum below the surface layers of high chlorophyll and backscatter values during the earlier stages of upwelling development. Later, the observed deep offshore bioluminescence maximum disappeared and became a shallower and much weaker signal, coinciding with high chlorophyll and backscatter values offshore. Based on the biochemical and bioluminescence models, a methodology for estimating the nighttime water leaving radiance due to stimulated bioluminescence is demonstrated and evaluated

Can vertical migrations of dinoflagellates explain observed bioluminescence patterns during an upwelling event in Monterey Bay, California?

Extensive AUVs surveys showed that during the development of upwelling, bioluminescent dinoflagellates from the northern part of the Monterey Bay, California (called the upwelling shadow area), were able to avoid advection by southward flowing currents along the entrance to the Bay, while non-bioluminescent phytoplankton were advected by currents. It is known that vertical swimming of dinoflagellates to deeper layers helps them avoid losses due to advection. In the present paper, we investigate if modeling dinoflagellates’ vertical swimming can explain the observed dinoflagellates’ ability to avoid advection during the upwelling development. The dynamics of a dinoflagellate population is modeled with the tracer model with introduced vertical swimming velocity. Three swimming behaviors are considered: sinking, swimming to the target depth and diel vertical migration. Velocities in all swimming cases are considered in the ranges of documented velocities for the observed dinoflagellates species during the upwelling development in the Monterey Bay. Our modeling confirmed that observed bioluminescent dinoflagellates’ avoidance of advection during the upwelling development can be explained by their vertical swimming ability. In the case of swimming with 20 m/day (which is half of observed maximum swimming velocity), around 40% of dinoflagellates population from the northern part of the Bay were advected along the entrance to the Bay in comparison to the case without swimming. This is in agreement with the ratio of around 45% of observed mean bioluminescence intensity at the entrance to the Bay to the observed mean intensity in the northern part of the Bay. This mechanism also helps explain the general persistence of dinoflagellates in this part of the coastline

Importance of proper diagnosis for management: multifocal choroiditis mimicking ocular histoplasmosis syndrome

PURPOSE: The study aims to evaluate a series of patients with initial diagnosis of ocular histoplasmosis syndrome (OHS) with progression and response to treatments consistent with multifocal choroiditis (MFC). METHODS: Retrospective review of nine patients referred for management of recurrent OHS lesions. Serology panel was conducted to rule out autoimmune and infectious causes. RESULTS: Clinical examination revealed multiple small, punched-out peripheral chorioretinal scars, and peripapillary atrophy. Histoplasma antigen/antibody was negative in all patients. Fluorescein angiography and optical coherence tomography confirmed active inflammation in five patients. Immunomodulatory therapy (IMT) was initiated to control active inflammation. While on IMT, visual acuity stabilized or improved in three patients with no recurrence of CNV or lesion activities over the follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS: MFC may initially masquerade as OHS. Clinical characteristics of recurrent MFC and absence of histoplasma titer may lead to consideration of IMT and other proper treatments for MFC

Comparison of time domain and spectral domain optical coherence tomography in measurement of macular thickness in macular edema secondary to diabetic retinopathy and retinal vein occlusion.

Purpose. To evaluate macular thickness, agreement, and intraclass repeatability in three optical coherence tomography (OCT) devices: the time domain (TD) Stratus OCT and two spectral domain (SD) OCTs, Spectralis and Cirrus SD-OCT, in eyes with macular edema secondary to diabetic retinopathy (DR) and retinal vein occlusion (VO). Methods. In a prospective observational study at a university-based retina practice, retinal thickness tomography was performed simultaneously for fifty-eight patients (91 eyes) with DR and VO employing a time domain and two spectral domain OCTs. Agreement in macular measurements was assessed by constructing Bland-Altman plots. Intraclass repeatability was assessed by intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs). Results. Based on the Bland-Altman plots for central macular thickness, there was low agreement between the measurements of Cirrus SD-OCT and Stratus OCT, Spectralis OCT and Stratus OCT, as well as Spectralis OCT and Cirrus SD-OCT among DR and RVO patients. All three devices demonstrated high intraclass repeatability, with ICC of 98% for Stratus OCT, 97% for Cirrus SD-OCT, and 100% for Spectralis OCT among DR patients. The ICC was 97% for Stratus OCT, 79% for Cirrus SD-OCT, and 91% for Spectralis OCT among RVO patients. Conclusion. There are low agreements among interdevice measurements. However, intraclass repeatability is high in both TD and SD-OCT devices

Original Article Fish Oil Regulates Adiponectin Secretion by a Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor-␥-Dependent Mechanism in Mice

Adiponectin has insulin-sensitizing, antiatherogenic, and anti-inflammatory properties, but little is known about factors that regulate its secretion. To examine the effect of fish oil on adiponectin secretion, mice were fed either a control diet or isocaloric diets containing 27% safflower oil or 27, 13.5, and 8% menhaden fish oil. Within 15 days, fish oil feeding raised plasma adiponectin concentrations twoto threefold in a dose-dependent manner, and the concentrations remained approximately twofold higher for 7 days when the fish oil diet was replaced by the safflower oil diet. Within 24 h, fish oil markedly induced transcription of the adiponectin gene in epididymal adipose tissue but not in subcutaneous fat. The increase of plasma adiponectin by fish oil was completely blocked by administration of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)␥ inhibitor bisphenol-A-diglycidyl ether. In contrast, there was no effect of fish oil feeding on adiponectin secretion in PPAR␣-null mice. These data suggest that fish oil is a naturally occurring potent regulator of adiponectin secretion in vivo and that it does so through a PPAR␥-dependent and PPAR␣-independent manner in epididymal fat. Diabetes 55: 924 -928, 200

The role of the right temporoparietal junction in perceptual conflict: detection or resolution?

The right temporoparietal junction (rTPJ) is a polysensory cortical area that plays a key role in perception and awareness. Neuroimaging evidence shows activation of rTPJ in intersensory and sensorimotor conflict situations, but it remains unclear whether this activity reflects detection or resolution of such conflicts. To address this question, we manipulated the relationship between touch and vision using the so-called mirror-box illusion. Participants' hands lay on either side of a mirror, which occluded their left hand and reflected their right hand, but created the illusion that they were looking directly at their left hand. The experimenter simultaneously touched either the middle (D3) or the ring finger (D4) of each hand. Participants judged, which finger was touched on their occluded left hand. The visual stimulus corresponding to the touch on the right hand was therefore either congruent (same finger as touch) or incongruent (different finger from touch) with the task-relevant touch on the left hand. Single-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) was delivered to the rTPJ immediately after touch. Accuracy in localizing the left touch was worse for D4 than for D3, particularly when visual stimulation was incongruent. However, following TMS, accuracy improved selectively for D4 in incongruent trials, suggesting that the effects of the conflicting visual information were reduced. These findings suggest a role of rTPJ in detecting, rather than resolving, intersensory conflict

Anatomic dissociation of selective and suppressive processes in visual attention

Visual spatial attention is associated with activation in parietal regions as well as with modulation of visual activity in ventral occipital cortex. Within the parietal lobe, localisation of activity has been hampered by variation in individual anatomy. Using fMRI within regions of interest derived from individual functional maps, we examined the response of superior parietal lobule, intraparietal sulcus, and ventral occipital cortex in 11 normal adults as attention was directed to the left and right visual hemifields during bilateral visual stimulation. Activation in ventral occipital cortex was augmented contralateral to the attended hemifield (p < 0.006), while intraparietal activation was augmented ipsilaterally (p < 0.009), and superior parietal lobule showed no modulation of activity as a function of attended hemifield. These findings suggest that spatial enhancement of relevant stimuli in ventral occipital cortex is complemented by an intraparietal response associated with suppression of, or preparation of a reflexive shift of attention towards, irrelevant stimuli. The spatial attention system in superior parietal cortex, in contrast, may be driven to equal degrees by currently attended stimuli and by stimuli that are potential targets of attention