Profiling first-year university students in an academic transition course.

First-year student characteristics relating to demographics (age, gender, major, etc.) were examined. Specifically, characteristics were examined relating to students\u27 desire to attend university, their academic preparedness, perceived level of skills, use of campus resources, perception about social support, time spent on various activities and use of time management strategies. Age differences, interaction effects and responses at Time 1 (T1) and Time 2 (T2) were examined. Responses to key questions with regard to expectations of university and actual experiences were examined along with students\u27 end of first-year grade point average (GPA). Key findings included differences in responses by Age with regard to note taking skills, end of first year GPA, and the likelihood of seeking academic counselling. Differences in responses between Time 1 and Time 2 were noted with regard to expected GPA, expected time spent on preparatory work, use of campus resources and activities, achievement, involvement and confidence levels. Based on the findings of this research, implications and recommendations include the need for universities to conduct ongoing research to obtain an accurate profile of first-year students, especially with regard to the potential for different levels of maturity. Furthermore, universities require a better understanding about the support programs that would most benefit first-year students and the need to provide transition programming throughout their entire first year of university. Paper copy at Leddy Library: Theses & Major Papers - Basement, West Bldg. / Call Number: Thesis2005 .O25. Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 44-01, page: 0057. Thesis (M.Ed.)--University of Windsor (Canada), 2005

What counts as good evidence

Making better use of evidence is essential if public services are to deliver more for less. Central to this challenge is the need for a clearer understanding about standards of evidence that can be applied to the research informing social policy. This paper reviews the extent to which it is possible to reach a workable consensus on ways of identifying and labelling evidence. It does this by exploring the efforts made to date and the debates that have ensued. Throughout, the focus is on evidence that is underpinned by research, rather than other sources of evidence such as expert opinion or stakeholder views.Publisher PD

A randomized clinical trial on the effects of extracorporeal shockwave therapy, joint mobilizations and exercise on plantar heel pain in patients with plantar fasciitis.

Plantar fasciitis (PF) is the most common cause of heel pain today impacting on the patient’s walking ability, work tolerance, and ability to participate in active sport. Two million people in the United States (US) are treated for PF yearly with heel pain accounting for 11 to 15% of visits to medical professionals. It is estimated that 10% of the US population will develop PF during their lifetime. Treatment for PF may include a variety of interventions ranging from conservative treatment to surgical interventions. One of the suggested treatments for PF is the use of extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ECSWT). ECSWT is a relatively new therapeutic modality that has been used in the treatment of PF and a variety of other musculoskeletal disorders with some success reported. Normally healthcare providers do not treat with the use of only one modality or treatment approach but rather a combination of treatments in an attempt to obtain a desired positive effect on the patient. The research available on the use of ECSWT is limited in that it has not been determined whether this modality used in isolation, or in combination is the most effective. Research has been conducted comparing ECSWT to placebo and a variety of controls but the effectiveness of combinations of treatment has not been studied. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to compare the effects of ECSWT alone, to ECSWT and joint mobilization, and ECSWT and exercise, on heel pain in patients with PF, as measured by the visual analog scale (VAS) and Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS). Subjects (N=75) were randomly assigned into 3 groups: ECSWT, ECSWT and joint mobilizations to the talocrural, subtalar, and first metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint, or ECSWT and stretching for the gastrocnemius, soleus, and plantar fascia and strengthening for the ankle. Subjects received three treatments in total spaced one week apart. A VAS for pain and LEFS were measured pre-treatment and three months post-treatment. All groups demonstrated statistically significant improvement over time in all VAS scores and in the LEFS (P\u3c.05). There was a statistically significant difference in VAS for heel pain following activity between the ECSWT and joint mobilization group and ECSWT and exercise group (F= 3.577, p= .033) with a greater reduction in pain in the ECSWT and joint mobilization group. Further research is required using an alternative study design to compare the combinations of treatment to a control or placebo group. The findings of this study, however, indicate that if ECSWT is going to be combined with another treatment, then the combination of ECSWT and joint mobilization may be more effective than combining ECSWT with exercise

Isolation of mip (microtubule interacting protein) mutations of Aspergillus nidulans

This is the publisher's version, also available electronically from "http://mcb.asm.org".We identified four mutations in two previously undescribed loci involved in microtubule function in Aspergillus nidulans as extragenic suppressors of benA33, a heat-sensitive beta-tubulin mutation. Three of the four mutations map to a locus closely linked to riboB on linkage group VIII; we designated this locus mipA (for microtubule-interacting protein). We were not able to map the remaining suppressor because of chromosomal rearrangements. However, since it recombines with riboB at a significantly higher frequency than the mipA alleles, it is unlikely to be in mipA; thus, we designated it mipB1. The mip mutations are not allelic to the previously identified loci that encode alpha- and beta-tubulin, and it is likely that mipA and mipB encode previously unidentified nontubulin proteins involved in microtubule function. Each of the mip mutations suppresses the heat sensitivity conferred by benA33 and suppresses the blockage of nuclear division and movement conferred by this mutation at high temperatures. Interactions between mipA and benA are allele specific. All of the mipA mutations are cryptic in a wild-type benA background but cause cold sensitivity in combination with benA33. These mutations also confer cold sensitivity in combination with benA31 and benA32 and reduce the resistance conferred by these mutations to the antimicrotubule agent benomyl but do not suppress the heat sensitivity conferred by these alleles. Finally, the mipA alleles suppress the heat sensitivity conferred by benA11, benA17, and benA21 but do not confer cold sensitivity in combination with these alleles

The use of beta-D-glucanase as a substitute for Novozyme 234 in immunofluorescence and protoplasting

Novozym 234 has been used for many years to prepare protoplasts of Aspergillus nidulans and other fungi for transformation. It has also been very useful in immunofluorescence studies for partially digesting walls of fixed hyphae or germlings to allow antibodies to penetrate into the cytoplasm. In recent years, the availability of Novozym 234 has become problematic, and we have searched for combinations of available enzymes that are suitable for protoplasting and immunofluorescence studies in A. nidulans

Alanine-scanning mutagenesis of Aspergillus γ-tubulin yields diverse and novel phenotypes

This is the publisher's version, also available electronically from "www.molbiolcell.org".We have created 41 clustered charged-to-alanine scanning mutations of the mipA, γ-tubulin, gene of Aspergillus nidulans and have created strains carrying these mutations by two-step gene replacement and by a new procedure, heterokaryon gene replacement. Most mutant alleles confer a wild-type phenotype, but others are lethal or conditionally lethal. The conditionally lethal alleles exhibit a variety of phenotypes under restrictive conditions. Most have robust but highly abnormal mitotic spindles and some have abnormal cytoplasmic microtubule arrays. Two alleles appear to have reduced amounts of γ-tubulin at the spindle pole bodies and nucleation of spindle microtubule assembly may be partially inhibited. One allele inhibits germ tube formation. The cold sensitivity of two alleles is strongly suppressed by the antimicrotubule agents benomyl and nocodazole and a third allele is essentially dependent on these compounds for growth. Together our data indicate that γ-tubulin probably carries out functions essential to mitosis and organization of cytoplasmic microtubules in addition to its well-documented role in microtubule nucleation. We have also placed our mutations on a model of the structure of γ-tubulin and these data give a good initial indication of the functionally important regions of the molecule

Integrating Process with Outcome Data in a Randomized Controlled Trial of Sex Education

Integration of process with outcome evaluations has been recommended as a way of addressing some of the criticisms of Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) for evaluating social interventions. This is the second of two articles (the first was published in issue 10(4) of this journal) discussing the design, implementation and analysis of a process evaluation as an integral part of the RIPPLE (Randomized Intervention of Pupil Peer-Led sex Education) Study. The methods for integrating process and outcome data are outlined and findings are presented to illustrate how integration of process and outcome data enabled exploration of: 1) variation between schools in the extent and quality of the intervention implemented, and any impact of this on outcomes; 2) the processes by which the intervention might affect outcomes; and 3) the extent to which different subgroups of students or schools may have responded differently to the intervention. The article concludes with a discussion of the methodological issues arising from this attempt at integrating process and outcome evaluations within the design of an RCT

Relationship of Urinary Incontinence to Hysterectomy and Episiotomy

BACKGROUND: Urinary incontinence (UI) is a problem that affects women of all ages. Research has identified many risk factors for the development of UI but is inconclusive regarding the relationship between episiotomy and hysterectomy and the development of UI symptoms. Physical therapists are emerging as primary care providers which increases the importance of attention to and knowledge of risk factors facilitate timely screening and care for women at risk or who have UI signs and symptoms. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between episiotomy and hysterectomy and incidence of urinary incontinence. SUBJECTS: The subjects included the female patient population of a local women\u27s health care clinic, and female faculty and staff of a small university community. METHODS: Information was gathered using a survey from 2 cluster samples. Information included age, parity, history of episiotomy and/or hysterectomy, type and symptoms of incontinence, treatment received, the woman\u27s perception of treatment success, and medications prescribed. ANALYSES: Analyses was done separately for the 2 cluster samples. Means and standard deviations were calculated for weight and parity status. Frequencies of response to all other questions were calculated. Comparisons between those who had surgical procedures and those who did not were done using a Chi square. Data was considered significant if at p \u3c 0.05. RESULTS: The data from the 2 cluster samples were analyzed and are presented separately. Two hundred thirty three surveys were completed by one group and 73 from the other group. Combining the surveys, 18% (n=55) reported the presence of incontinence, however, 77% (n=236) reported one or more symptoms of incontinence. For all the respondents, there was a significant difference between the incidence of incontinence for the women who had the surgical procedures of episiotomy (p \u3c .003) and hysterectomy (p \u3c .001), and those who did not have surgeries. CONCLUSION: Among the women in our study there was a significant association between the incidence of UI and history of either episiotomy or hysterectomy. An important finding, not related to the original intent ofthe study, was that a high percentage of women have symptoms of UI, while not reporting that they have UI. Whether this is from lack of information regarding what UI is, or from a desire not to be classified as having UI, the resultant difference in frequency was significant and should be considered by clinicians in they way they ask specific questions

Assembly of a heptameric STRIPAK complex is required for coordination of light-dependent multicellular fungal development with secondary metabolism in Aspergillus nidulans

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.Eukaryotic striatin forms striatin-interacting phosphatase and kinase (STRIPAK) complexes that control many cellular processes including development, cellular transport, signal transduction, stem cell differentiation and cardiac functions. However, detailed knowledge of complex assembly and its roles in stress responses are currently poorly understood. Here, we discovered six striatin (StrA) interacting proteins (Sips), which form a heptameric complex in the filamentous fungus Aspergillus nidulans. The complex consists of the striatin scaffold StrA, the Mob3-type kinase coactivator SipA, the SIKE-like protein SipB, the STRIP1/2 homolog SipC, the SLMAP-related protein SipD and the catalytic and regulatory phosphatase 2A subunits SipE (PpgA), and SipF, respectively. Single and double deletions of the complex components result in loss of multicellular light-dependent fungal development, secondary metabolite production (e.g. mycotoxin Sterigmatocystin) and reduced stress responses. sipA (Mob3) deletion is epistatic to strA deletion by supressing all the defects caused by the lack of striatin. The STRIPAK complex, which is established during vegetative growth and maintained during the early hours of light and dark development, is mainly formed on the nuclear envelope in the presence of the scaffold StrA. The loss of the scaffold revealed three STRIPAK subcomplexes: (I) SipA only interacts with StrA, (II) SipB-SipD is found as a heterodimer, (III) SipC, SipE and SipF exist as a heterotrimeric complex. The STRIPAK complex is required for proper expression of the heterotrimeric VeA-VelB-LaeA complex which coordinates fungal development and secondary metabolism. Furthermore, the STRIPAK complex modulates two important MAPK pathways by promoting phosphorylation of MpkB and restricting nuclear shuttling of MpkC in the absence of stress conditions. SipB in A. nidulans is similar to human suppressor of IKK-ε(SIKE) protein which supresses antiviral responses in mammals, while velvet family proteins show strong similarity to mammalian proinflammatory NF-KB proteins. The presence of these proteins in A. nidulans further strengthens the hypothesis that mammals and fungi use similar proteins for their immune response and secondary metabolite production, respectively