Building-in quality rather than assessing quality afterwards: a technological solution to ensuring computational accuracy in learning materials

[Abstract]: Quality encompasses a very broad range of ideas in learning materials, yet the accuracy of the content is often overlooked as a measure of quality. Various aspects of accuracy are briefly considered, and the issue of computational accuracy is then considered further. When learning materials are produced containing the results of mathematical computations, accuracy is essential: but how can the results of these computations be known to be correct? A solution is to embed the instructions for performing the calculations in the materials, and let the computer calculate the result and place it in the text. In this way, quality is built into the learning materials by design, not evaluated after the event. This is all accomplished using the ideas of literate programming, applied to the learning materials context. A small example demonstrates how remarkably easy the ideas are to apply in practice using the appropriate technology. Given that the technology is available and is easy to use, it would appear imperative that the approach discussed is adopted to improve quality in learning materials containing computational results

Evaluation of Tweedie exponential dispersion model densities by Fourier inversion

The Tweedie family of distributions is a family of exponential dispersion models with power variance functions V (μ) = μ^p for p not between (0, 1). These distributions do not generally have density functions that can be written in closed form. However, they have simple moment generating functions, so the densities can be evaluated numerically by Fourier inversion of the characteristic functions. This paper develops numerical methods to make this inversion fast and accurate. Acceleration techniques are used to handle oscillating integrands. A range of analytic results are used to ensure convergent computations and to reduce the complexity of the parameter space. The Fourier inversion method is compared to a series evaluation method and the two methods are found to be complementary in that they perform well in different regions of the parameter space

Phosphorylation of MCPH1 isoforms during mitosis followed by isoform‐specific degradation by APC/C‐CDH1

Microcephalin‐1 (MCPH1) exists as 2 isoforms that regulate cyclin‐dependent kinase‐1 activation and chromosome condensation during mitosis, with MCPH1 mutations causing primary microcephaly. MCPH1 is also a tumor suppressor protein, with roles in DNA damage repair/checkpoints. Despite these important roles, there is little information on the cellular regulation of MCPH1. We show that both MCPH1 isoforms are phosphorylated in a cyclin‐dependent kinase‐1–dependent manner in mitosis and identify several novel phosphorylation sites. Upon mitotic exit, MCPH1 isoforms were degraded by the anaphase‐promoting complex/cyclosome–CDH1 E3 ligase complex. Anaphase‐promoting complex/cyclosome–CDH1 target proteins generally have D‐Box or KEN‐Box degron sequences. We found that MCPH1 isoforms are degraded independently, with the long isoform degradation being D‐Box dependent, whereas the short isoform was KEN‐Box dependent. Our research identifies several novel mechanisms regulating MCPH1 and also highlights important issues with several commercial MCPH1 antibodies, with potential relevance to previously published data.—Meyer, S. K., Dunn, M., Vidler, D. S., Porter, A., Blain, P. G., Jowsey, P. A. Phosphorylation of MCPH1 isoforms during mitosis followed by isoform‐specific degradation by APC/C‐CDH1. FASEB J. 33, 2796–2808 (2019). www.fasebj.or

Continent-scale pattern in temporal dynamics of avian assemblages

A common method of characterizing the bird assemblages of sites in landscape ecological research is to conduct a series of snapshot-type surveys, often over less than one year (Maron et al. 2005). However, highly mobile taxa such as birds show substantial interannual variability in species richness and community composition (e.g. Holmes et al. 1986), and this may have implications for the veracity of snapshot-derived patterns. The environmental correlates of inter-annual variability in bird assemblages are not well known, although it seems likely that more climatically stable regions support less dynamic avian assemblages (Jarvinen 1979). We conducted a continent-scale study to investigate associations between environmental factors and annual bird assemblage turnover rates in Australia. Correlates of inter-annual bird assemblage variability have rarely been investigated at this scale as long-term data from across a broad area are required. However, the availability of long-term, large-scale databases from volunteer-based monitoring initiatives provides opportunities for comparisons across large areas. For example, data from the North American Breeding Bird Survey revealed increased annual turnover in landscapes with smaller forest patches (Boulinier et al. 2001)

Prostate cancer survivorship care: If not now, when?

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in Australian men, excluding non-melanoma skin cancer, and it is estimated that there are over 220 000 Australian men living with a diagnosis of prostate cancer [1]. Survival for men with prostate cancer is excellent in countries that have accessible screening and treatment services, and in Australia 5-year relative survival is over 95% [1]. High incidence, coupled with improving long-term survival, leads to a correspondingly high prevalence rate and high community disease burden. Many men with prostate cancer experience long-term decrements in their mental and physical quality of life, overall they have a greater suicide risk than their non-cancer peers, and unmet supportive care needs are pervasive [2]. In this context, survivorship care for men with prostate cancer is crucial in both the short and long term. The recent development of a Prostate Cancer Survivorship Essentials Framework in the Australian and New Zealand setting provides an example of a regional response to this issue that delivers guidance for policy makers, clinicians, community and consumers on what is essential for step change in prostate cancer survivorship outcomes [3]

Rasch analysis of the 23-item version of the Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire

Objective: To determine the psychometric properties of the 23-item version of the Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ-23) and to quantify their stability across 2 cultures/languages and 2 types of care-settings. Methods: Rasch analysis of data from 1,000 patients with low back pain from primary care (UK and Denmark) and secondary care (Denmark). Results: The RMDQ-23 is unidimensional if local item dependency issues are accommodated, but contains several misfitting or overdiscriminating items, some poor targeting of items, and the scoring of 4-5 items is differentially affected by common clinical characteristics (such as age, gender, pain intensity, pain duration and care setting), depending on the country. Conclusion: As similar results have been found for the RMDQ-24, we believe it is timely to reconsider whether: (i) the RMDQ should be reconstructed using an item-response theory-based approach that includes consideration of new items and response options; or (ii) the use of alternative questionnaires should be recommended, such as the Oswestry Disability Index, that have shown evidence of fitting the Rasch model; or (iii) a completely new condition-specific questionnaire should be developed, perhaps utilizing a computerized adaptive testing platform

Adenovirus-mediated gene transfer into normal rabbit arteries results in prolonged vascular cell activation, inflammation, and neointimal hyperplasia

Adenovirus vectors are capable of high efficiency in vivo arterial gene transfer, and are currently in use as therapeutic agents in animal models of vascular disease. However, despite substantial data on the ability of viruses to cause vascular inflammation and proliferation, and the presence in current adenovirus vectors of viral open reading frames that are translated in vivo, no study has examined the effect of adenovirus vectors alone on the arterial phenotype. In a rabbit model of gene transfer into a normal artery, we examined potential vascular cell activation, inflammation, and neointimal proliferation resulting from exposure to replication-defective adenovirus. Exposure of normal arteries to adenovirus vectors resulted in: (a) pronounced infiltration of T cells throughout the artery wall; (b) upregulation of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 in arterial smooth muscle cells; (c) neointimal hyperplasia. These findings were present both 10 and 30 d after gene transfer, with no evidence of a decline in severity over time. Adenovirus vectors have pleiotropic effects on the arterial wall and cause significant pathology. Interpretation of experimental protocols that use adenovirus vectors to address either biological or therapeutic issues should take these observations into account. These observations should also prompt the design of more inert gene transfer vectors

A Performance Evaluation of Vis/NIR Hyperspectral Imaging to Predict Curcumin Concentration in Fresh Turmeric Rhizomes

Hyperspectral image (HSI) analysis has the potential to estimate organic compounds in plants and foods. Curcumin is an important compound used to treat a range of medical conditions. Therefore, a method to rapidly determine rhizomes with high curcumin content on-farm would be of significant advantage for farmers. Curcumin content of rhizomes varies within, and between varieties but current chemical analysis methods are expensive and time consuming. This study compared curcumin in three turmeric (Curcuma longa) varieties and examined the potential for laboratory-based HSI to rapidly predict curcumin using the visible–near infrared (400–1000 nm) spectrum. Hyperspectral images (n = 152) of the fresh rhizome outer-skin and flesh were captured, using three local varieties (yellow, orange, and red). Distribution of curcuminoids and total curcumin was analysed. Partial least squares regression (PLSR) models were developed to predict total curcumin concentrations. Total curcumin and the proportion of three curcuminoids differed significantly among all varieties. Red turmeric had the highest total curcumin concentration (0.83 ± 0.21%) compared with orange (0.37 ± 0.12%) and yellow (0.02 ± 0.02%). PLSR models predicted curcumin using raw spectra of rhizome flesh and pooled data for all three varieties (R2c = 0.83, R2p = 0.55, ratio of prediction to deviation (RPD) = 1.51) and was slightly improved by using images of a single variety (orange) only (R2c = 0.85, R2p = 0.62, RPD = 1.65). However, prediction of curcumin using outer-skin of rhizomes was poor (R2c = 0.64, R2p = 0.37, RPD = 1.28). These models can discriminate between ‘low’ and ‘high’ values and so may be adapted into a two-level grading system. HSI has the potential to help identify turmeric rhizomes with high curcumin concentrations and allow for more efficient refinement into curcumin for medicinal purposes