Transforming the Professional Flight Program Curriculum: Justification, Process, and Future Development

According to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), by 2036 the aviation sector will need 620,000 new pilots, 125,000 new air traffic controllers, and 1.3 million aircraft maintenance personnel (ICAO, 2018); Pilots seeking a first officer position (a common entry-level position at Part 121 air carriers) are required to possess an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) Certificate and 1,500 hours of total flight time; There are some exceptions! Support from administration Quantity vs Quality; How can flight faculty improve student learning and job readiness

Stimulation of gastrointestinal antibody to Shiga toxin by orogastric immunization in mice

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/141579/1/imcb69.pd

Fas/CD95 Deficiency in ApcMin/+ Mice Increases Intestinal Tumor Burden

Fas, a member of the tumor necrosis family, is responsible for initiating the apoptotic pathway when bound to its ligand, Fas-L. Defects in the Fas-mediated apoptotic pathway have been reported in colorectal cancer.In the present study, a variant of the Apc(Min/+) mouse, a model for the human condition, Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP), was generated with an additional deficiency of Fas (Apc(Min/+)/Fas(lpr)) by cross-breeding Apc(Min/+) mice with Fas deficient (Fas(lpr)) mice. One of the main limitations of the Apc(Min/+) mouse model is that it only develops benign polyps. However, Apc(Min/+)/Fas(lpr) mice presented with a dramatic increase in tumor burden relative to Apc(Min/+) mice and invasive lesions at advanced ages. Proliferation and apoptosis markers revealed an increase in cellular proliferation, but negligible changes in apoptosis, while p53 increased at early ages. Fas-L was lower in Apc(Min/+)/Fas(lpr) mice relative to Apc(Min/+) cohorts, which resulted in enhanced inflammation.This study demonstrated that imposition of a Fas deletion in an Apc(Min/+) background results in a more aggressive phenotype of the Apc(Min/+) mouse model, with more rapid development of invasive intestinal tumors and a decrease in Fas-L levels

Uncertainty of biomass contributions from agriculture and forestry to renewable energy resources under climate change

In the future, Germany's land-use policies and the impacts of climate change on yields will affect the amount of biomass available for energy production. We used recent published data on biomass potentials in the federal states of Germany to assess the uncertainty caused by climate change effects in the potential supply of biomass available for energy production. In this study we selected three climate scenarios representing the maximum, mean and minimum temperature increase for Germany out of 21 CMIP5-projections driven by the Representative Concentration Pathways (RCP) 8.5 scenario. Each of the three selected projections was downscaled using the regional statistical climate model STARS. We analysed the yield changes of four biomass feedstock crops (forest, short-rotation coppices (SRC), cereal straw (winter wheat) and energy maize) for the period 2031–2060 in comparison to 1981–2010. The mean annual yield changes of energy wood from forest and short-rotation coppices were modelled using the process-based forest growth model 4C. The yield changes of winter wheat and energy maize from agricultural production were simulated with the statistical yield model IRMA. Germany's annual biomass potential of 1500 PJ varies between minus 5 % and plus 8 % depending on the climate scenario realisation. Assuming that 1500 PJ of biomass utilisation can be achieved, climate change effects of minus 75 (5 %) PJ or plus 120 (8 %) PJ do not impede overall bioenergy targets of 1287 PJ in 2020 and 1534 PJ in 2050. In five federal states the climate scenarios lead to decreasing yields of energy maize and winter wheat. Impacts of climate scenarios on forest yields are mainly positive and show both positive and negative effects on yields of SRC

The Association between Critical Thinking and Scholastic Aptitude on First-time Pass Rate of the National Physical Therapy Examination

Objectives: 1) To investigate the relationships among critical thinking (CT) abilities, overall academic performance in the Doctorate of Physical Therapy (DPT) program as measured by cumulative grade point average (GPA), and National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) licensure scores, and 2) To determine if NPTE scores were significantly different between groups of students who were classified as having low, moderate or high CT abilities. Background: It is well-established that physical therapy practice requires good clinical reasoning skills. Passage of the NPTE is required for licensure. Research to date has been mixed as to whether CT abilities or GPA can predict success on national board licensure examinations such as the NPTE. The conflicting results may be partially due to weak research methodologies, uncontrolled confounders, and the use of non-standardized assessment instruments. Methods and Measures: A convenience sample of 91 DPT students completed a standard assessment of CT abilities three times. Repeated measure (RM) general linear model (GLM) tests were run to determine if mean California Critical Thinking Skills Test (CCTST) scores changed significantly over the course of the DPT program. A Pearson’s correlation matrix was constructed to investigate the relationships among NPTE scores, GPA, and CT. A univariate GLM test was run to determine if there was a statistically significant difference in mean NPTE scores between low, medium, and high CCTST groups. Results: Complete sets of the three CCTST scores were available for 69 students, and NPTE scores were available for 73 graduates. The strongest correlation with the first-time NPTE score was the GPA (r = 0.735, p = 0.001), followed by the CCTST score at Measurement 1 (r = 0.413, p = 0.0001). Graduates who were classified as having low CT abilities had a 100% failure rate on the first attempt for the NPTE, and scored significantly lower on the exam compared to graduates with moderate or high CT abilities (615.33, 634.6, and 652.43, respectively p = 0.0005). Conclusion: Implementing pedagogical practices that foster CT abilities and/or using a CCTST score of 18 or greater as DPT program entry criterion may equate to greater first-time NPTE pass rates for program graduates

Comparison of the Host Ranges and Antigenicity of Cryptosporidium parvum and Cryptosporidium wrairi from Guinea Pigs

Oocysts of a Cryptosporidium isolate from guinea pigs were not infectious for adult mice, but were infectious for two of three newborn calves and for suckling mice. However, oocysts isolated from calves or mice infected with guinea pig Cryptosporidium were not infectious for guinea pigs. Four isolates of C. parvum from calves were incapable of infecting weanling guinea pigs. Microscopic examination of tissue from the colon and cecum of suckling guinea pigs inoculated with C. parvum revealed sparse infection of some pups. These host range studies and previously described differences in 125 I-labeled oocyst surface protein profiles between Cryptosporidium sp. from guinea pigs and C. parvum suggest they are distinct species. We propose the name Cryptosporidium wrairi be retained. Studies with monoclonal antibodies indicate that C. wrairi and C. parvum are antigenically related.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/75184/1/j.1550-7408.1992.tb01471.x.pd

River infiltration to a subtropical alluvial aquifer inferred using multiple environmental tracers

Chloride (Cl−), stable isotope ratios of water (δ18O and δ2H), sulfur hexafluoride (SF6), tritium (3H), carbon-14 (14C), noble gases (4He, Ne, and Ar), and hydrometry were used to characterize groundwater-surface water interactions, in particular infiltration rates, for the Lower Namoi River (New South Wales, Australia). The study period (four sampling campaigns between November 2009 and November 2011) represented the end of a decade-long drought followed by several high-flow events. The hydrometry showed that the river was generally losing to the alluvium, except when storm-derived floodwaves in the river channel generated bank recharge—discharge cycles. Using 3H/14C-derived estimates of groundwater mean residence time along the transect, infiltration rates ranged from 0.6 to 5 m yr−1. However, when using the peak transition age (a more realistic estimate of travel time in highly dispersive environments), the range in infiltration rate was larger (4–270 m yr−1). Both river water (highest δ2H, δ18O, SF6, 3H, and 14C) and an older groundwater source (lowest δ2H, δ18O, SF6, 3H, 14C, and highest 4He) were found in the riparian zone. This old groundwater end-member may represent leakage from an underlying confined aquifer (Great Artesian Basin). Environmental tracers may be used to estimate infiltration rates in this riparian environment but the presence of multiple sources of water and a high dispersion induced by frequent variations in the water table complicates their interpretation

Field Safety Experience with an Autologous Cancer Vaccine in Tumor-Bearing Cats: A Retrospective Study of 117 Cases (2015-2020)

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine the frequency and severity of adverse events (AEs) reported from use of an adjuvanted whole-cell autologous cancer vaccine in cats with solid tumors under field conditions. METHODS: The case accession database at Torigen Pharmaceuticals was searched to identify client-owned cats that underwent biopsy or surgical resection of their primary tumor, had histologic confirmation of neoplasia and received at least one subcutaneous dose of an adjuvanted whole-cell autologous cancer vaccine. Records were reviewed for any reported AEs. RESULTS: In total, 117 cats met the inclusion criteria and received 422 doses of autologous cancer vaccine. Six (5.1%) cats had seven reported AEs, with the majority of these (85.7%) being characterized as grade 1 or 2 (mild) and resolving without medical intervention. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: AEs were infrequent in cats treated with an adjuvanted whole-cell autologous cancer vaccine under typical field use conditions. This form of active cancer immunotherapy appears to be well tolerated by cats and may represent a treatment option for owners who are concerned about AEs associated with chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Additional studies are warranted to determine the efficacy of this form of individualized immunotherapy in cats with solid tumors