Our Butterfly Effect

This curatorial proposal accounts for an exhibition that investigates on the very delicate relationship between humans and nature, and how both systems intertwine symbiotically. Tiny changes from either side can have drastic impacts on both macro and micro levels, thus the butterfly effect. This exhibition aims to bring the American public’s attention to the importance that every individual contributes to the bigger picture, and consequently has the power to alter the butterfly effect. This awareness is pertinent at a time when the climate change crisis heightens as global temperature levels continue to rise. It is thus in every individual human’s responsibility to comprehend the urgency and act according. The pronoun “our” is especially crucial in the exhibition title as a reminder that we are all in this together and that climate change solutions require a collective effort from every individual

Equivalence Tests For Repeated Measures

Equivalence tests from the null hypothesis significance testing framework are appropriate alternatives to difference tests for demonstrating lack of difference. For determining equivalence among more than two repeated measurements, recently developed equivalence tests include the omnibus Hotelling T2, the pairwise standardized test, the pairwise unstandardized test, and the two one-sided test for negligible trend. With Monte Carlo simulations, the current research evaluated Type I error rates and power rates for these equivalence tests to inform an applied data analytic strategy. Because results suggest that there is no one statistical test that is optimal across all situations, I compare the tests’ statistical behaviours to provide guidance in test selection. Specifically, test selection should be informed by the measurement level of the repeated outcome, correlation structure, and precision

Designing core-shell 3D photonic crystal lattices for negative refraction

We use a plane wave expansion method to define parameters for the fabrication of 3-dimensional (3D) core-shell photonic crystals (PhCs) with lattice geometries that are capable of all-angle negative refraction (AANR) in the midinfrared centered around 8.0 μm. We discuss the dependence of the AANR frequency range on the volume fraction of solid within the lattice and on the ratio of the low index core material to the high index shell material. Following the constraints set by simulations, we fabricate two types of nanolattice PhCs: (1) polymer core-germanium shell and (2) amorphous carbon core-germanium shell to enable experimental observation of 3D negative refraction and related dispersion phenomena at infrared and eventually optical frequencies

Lifespan-increasing drug nordihydroguaiaretic acid inhibits p300 and activates autophagy.

Aging is characterized by the progressive loss of physiological function in all organisms. Remarkably, the aging process can be modulated by environmental modifications, including diet and small molecules. The natural compound nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA) robustly increases lifespan in flies and mice, but its mechanism of action remains unclear. Here, we report that NDGA is an inhibitor of the epigenetic regulator p300. We find that NDGA inhibits p300 acetyltransferase activity in vitro and suppresses acetylation of a key p300 target in histones (i.e., H3K27) in cells. We use the cellular thermal shift assay to uniquely demonstrate NDGA binding to p300 in cells. Finally, in agreement with recent findings indicating that p300 is a potent blocker of autophagy, we show that NDGA treatment induces autophagy. These findings identify p300 as a target of NDGA and provide mechanistic insight into its role in longevity

NATPGE: understanding registered nurses’ attitudes towards post graduate education

Nursing education is a dynamic process designed to enable nurses to competently meet the healthcare needs of society. Health system restructuring has been associated with diminishing postgraduate specialist nursing numbers worldwide. Valid instruments that monitor and evaluate nurses’ attitudes to gauge educational barriers and facilitators are a central component in planning effective education, and have been unavailable. Overall both the CE and the RNs ranked the NATPGE, using the CVI, as a realistic training platform that would be useful for evaluating RNs’ attitudes towards postgraduate education. The comments received from the CE resulted in some minor changes to the wording of some items for better clarity and simplicity. No particular concerns were raised about any of the items by the CE. The CE was agreeable that the items were arranged in a positively and negatively worded sequence, which was intentional as to prevent response bias. The present research indicates very good content and face validity and whilst the test-retest reliability overall was moderate, several individual questions did have poor kappa values

Test-enhanced learning improves learner attendance during a laparoscopic box trainer simulation program

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopy is the gold standard approach for many surgical procedures, but it is a complex skill to learn. Laparoscopic simulation training may help, but it is unclear how to best engage trainees in these programs. Test‐enhanced learning (TEL) uses regular, well‐defined assessments of performance throughout the training phase of learning. AIM: The aim of this study was to assess the effects of TEL on a laparoscopic simulation program involving a cohort of medical student volunteers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective cohort study was performed with a convenience sample of 40 medical students. Students were recruited to participate in a ten‐week laparoscopic simulation program. Twenty students participated in a laparoscopic surgical program with TEL (‘TEL group’), and 20 students participated in a standard laparoscopic simulation program (‘control group’). RESULTS: Attendance in the TEL group was significantly higher than in the standard group (71 vs 51.5%, P = 0.03). There was no difference between groups in mean time scores. Four themes were identified in qualitative data drawn from student surveys – personal traits and motivators, training context, clear goals and feedback enabling understanding of one's own performance. CONCLUSION: Testing laparoscopic skills throughout a learning program, in conjunction with individualised feedback and tracking of learning trajectory, increases trainee attendance. Laparoscopic simulation training programs are encouraged to reflect on the pedagogic framework in which their procedural skills training operates