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Comparing the Effects of Blocking and Interleaving Schedules on Student Learning of the Imperfect and Preterite Spanish Grammar Tenses
No full textThe preterite and imperfect past tenses, which do not have exact English equivalents, exemplify grammatical nuance in the Spanish classroom. These nuances evoke questions regarding effective ways to present this material to students. Some evidence suggests that interleaved schedules of practice, in which material is presented in a mixed order during learning, benefit learning of grammar in a non-native language (Nakata & Suzuki, 2019; Pan et al., 2019); however, other evidence suggests that blocked schedules of practice benefit pronunciation learning (Carpenter & Mueller, 2013). Given these mixed outcomes, I compared blocked and interleaved schedules of practice on learning of the preterite and imperfect tenses in Spanish. Participants were randomly assigned to interleaved or blocked practice, in which they classified verb constructions as imperfect or preterite (when conjugated to Spanish) and were given feedback following each item. Participants then completed multiple tests assessing their grammar learning. The interleaved and blocked groups did not significantly differ in their test performance; however, both groups showed significantly improved performance compared to a pre-test, indicating that learning did occur. These outcomes can inform pedagogical practice. Future research should consider time processing feedback, and extend these outcomes to Spanish language learners, with materials translated into Spanish
Where do philosophers appeal to intuitions (if they do)?
No full textIt might be that intuitions are central to philosophy, and it might be that this is true because when philosophers give case-based arguments for philosophical claims (in published philosophy), the case verdict is typically (a) an intuited proposition and (b) either left undefended or defended on the grounds that it is an intuited proposition. This paper remains neutral on these global issues, however, and instead focuses on whether there is a nontrivial (or many-membered) class of case-based arguments in philosophy in which the case verdict is defended by appeal to background beliefs and not on the grounds that it is an intuited proposition. The paper argues that the answer is affirmative by examining seven such arguments that are referred to as paradigm cases of case-based arguments in which the verdict is justified via an appeal to intuition
Supply chain visibility types and contextual characteristics: A literature-based synthesis
No full textExisting literature offers multiple interpretations of how managers might develop and deploy supply chain visibility (SCV). However, current visibility research lacks rigorous definitions of visibility types and their relationships to contextual factors. Our systematic literature review and analysis extends previous studies by identifying visibility objects, potentially important contextual characteristics, and their interrelationships. We highlight research trends and develop a framework that links types of visibility to relational, environmental, and operational characteristics that either support visibility development or moderate its value for a firm. In addition, we offer a synthesis and critique of research questions, theoretical perspectives, and methods researchers have used to address SCV concepts and relationships. The review findings suggest rich opportunities for future research
Injection Drug Use Increases Internalized and Anticipated Stigma Among Justice-Involved Individuals
No full textResearch Question: Are there differing levels of anticipated and/or internalized stigma based on demographic categories such as marital status, education level, and IV drug use for individuals with substance use history and recent involvement with the criminal-legal system?Background and Significance: Individuals with criminal-legal system involvement comprise a population that is more vulnerable than the general population to higher rates of opioid use disorder (OUD) and substance use disorder (SUD) more broadly, as well as associated infectious diseases such as HIV. For this reason, it is pertinent to have intervention early after release from the criminal legal system. Despite the effort of early intervention with mobile health unit (MHU) and patient navigators (PN) in this research study, many individuals may refuse social and health support due to substance abuse and HIV-related anticipated and internalized stigma. Anticipated stigma is the expectation that one might experience discrimination, while internalized stigma is the internalization of negative views of specific characteristics such as substance use disorder.Materials and Methods: The current research is being conducted as part of a larger National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) funded project entitled “Addressing Risk Through Community Treatment for Infectious Disease and Opioid Use Disorder Now Among Justice-Involved Populations” (ACTION) research study. The ACTION project is a collaboration between Texas Christian University (TCU) Institute of Behavioral Research (IRB), University of Texas Southwestern (UTSW), and Yale University School of Medicine. Participants are being recruited from Dallas and Tarrant County communities in Texas as well as New London and Windham/Tolland Counties in Connecticut. Participants’ levels of anticipated and internalized stigma were determined using a questionnaire of demographics and perceived stigma that given to participants during the baseline study visit. Stigma scores were evaluated in relation to subject’s education level and marital status and correlation analysis was performed testing if history of injection drug use was related to self-reported stigma.Results: All study subjects were included after undergoing a two-step screening process and consisted of 356 subjects that were 77.0% male. Evaluation of the stigma questionnaire demonstrated that education level and marital status were unrelated to stigma (p = 0.05). However, among persons with a history of injection drug use, the frequency of injection drug use was positively associated with internalized stigma, r = 0.34, p < 0.01, R2 = 11.6%, and anticipated stigma, r = 0.26, p = 0.02, R2 = 6.8%.Conclusion: The stigma results suggest that as injection drug use becomes more frequent, so does a person’s internalized and anticipated stigma. I anticipate that results from the main study will show that criminal justice involved individuals will have higher rates of both anticipated and internalized stigma compared to the general population, but anticipated will be higher than internalized. There will be higher scores of stigma for IV drug users, individuals with lower levels of education, and married participants. By examining the differing demographics by marital status, education level, and IV drug use, we can better understand the stigma experienced by each group
Stratigraphic and geochemical analysis of the Woodbine-Eagle Ford transition, North-Central Texas
No full textConfusion over the nomenclature and ages of the Woodbine-Eagle Ford transition in north Texas obscured its stratigraphic relationships and the nature of this transition. This study attempts to delineate the transition and its timing using lithostratigraphy, elemental handheld XRF data, and paleontologic data from two near-surface cores provided by the USGS and three outcrops representative of the transition within the DFW Metroplex and Fannin County. The study identified eight lithofacies; those found in the Tarrant (Woodbine) are associated with tidally-influenced environments, contained higher concentrations of aluminum and silicon, and are dominated by benthic foraminifera. The lithofacies in the Britton (Eagle Ford) are associated with distal dysoxic to anoxic environments, contained higher concentrations of calcium and redox proxies, and are dominated by planktic foraminifera. The transition in the sections examined is interpreted to represent a gradual transition from a tidally-influenced estuarine or shallow marine environment to a deeper water, anoxic shelf
Imaging findings of IIH: The value of MRI in predicting the presence of disease
No full textResearch Question: Can MR imaging findings predict the presence of IIH, and can we reproduce and reinforce existing knowledge in literature.Background and Significance: Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) is a condition characterized by an increase in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) with a lack of identifiable etiology. We believe that MR imaging findings can predict the presence of IIH and we attempted to reproduce and reinforce existing knowledge in the literature.Materials and Methods: This study was a retrospective data analysis of MRI reports completed during 2020 at John Peter Smith hospital (Fort Worth, TX). Reports containing ¿Idiopathic intracranial hypertension¿ were reviewed and patients with a lumbar puncture confirming the diagnosis were included. All cases were de?identified and randomized. These MRI studies were reviewed by three neuroradiologists who were blinded to the diagnoses. The presence or absence of each of four characteristic imaging findings were noted. Inter?rater reliability (IRR) and Odds Ratios (OR) were analyzed for each finding using a generalized linear mixed model.Results: Our results demonstrated substantial agreement amongst radiologists when identifying empty pituitary sella, enlarged optic nerve sheaths, and posterior globe flattening (IRR value >0.6). However, there was only moderate agreement amongst radiologists when assessing bilateral transverse sinus stenosis (? value 0.569). ORs for each imaging finding were statistically significant (OR range 10.8?49.3). Posterior globe flattening had the highest OR (49.3) and was not observed in controls.Conclusion: Our results reinforced existing evidence that there are characteristic imaging findings on MRI that suggest a diagnosis of IIH. A limitation to this study was the lack of vascular imaging such as MR Venography, which is likely responsible for the low IRR in identifying bilateral transverse sinus stenosis. A future retrospective study could include vascular imaging
Evaluating palatability in young children: a mini-review of relevant physiology and assessment techniques
No full textThe palatability of pediatric pharmaceutical products plays a crucial role of influencing medication compliance. Rejection of unpalatable medications can potentially lead to treatment failure which can have immediate and delayed consequences. With advances in both the food and pharmaceutical industries, the systematic assessment of palatability has gained importance. Various methods such as visual analogue scales, facial hedonic scales, and facial recognition software, have been employed to assess palatability. While proven to be useful, these methods have significant limitations and may not be workable for young children. Despite these advancements, a universally accepted "gold standard" for assessing pediatric mediation palatability, recognized by drug regulatory agencies, is yet to be established
ACL Reconstruction and Lower-Limb Asymmetries
No full textResearch Question: What are the musculoskeletal and morphological lower-limb asymmetries between those who have undergone anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) and non-surgical controls, and how does sex affect these asymmetries and perceptions of knee function in ACLR patients? This research question will be addressed via cross-sectional cohort analysis.Background and Significance: Recovery from ACL reconstructive surgery can last around nine months, and even longer for athletes planning to make a return to sport. Even after, deficits in quadriceps morphology and strength between the affected and unaffected limbs may persist for up to five years, with an increased likelihood of developing osteoarthritis in the reconstructed knee. Inconsistencies in lower-limb symmetry, along with graft-type influences, may impact recovery timeline in post-ACLR patients, particularly those aiming to return to sports. Females may have a greater risk of ACL injury than males with worse subjective post-ACLR outcomes. This study seeks to examine the degree of lower-limb musculoskeletal tissue asymmetries between male and female patients who have undergone ACLR, with the goal of identifying what areas of musculoskeletal tissue may require advanced monitoring in post-ACLR rehabilitation to benefit recovery and prevent risk of future re-injury.Materials and Methods: Individuals (female n=11, male n=11) with a history of ACLR and matched controls (female n=10, male n=9) completed Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA) scans to measure lower-body bone mineral content (BMC), Fat%, and lean mass (LM). Self-reported perceptions of knee function were captured via the International Knee Documentation Committee 2000 (IKDC) instrument, and inter-limb asymmetry indices (AI%) were calculated for each DXA outcome. Surgical groups and sexes were compared using independent t-tests (p<0.05) and Cohen’s effect sizes (d). Additionally, Pearson’s Correlations Coefficients evaluated the association between AI% and IKDC scores.Results: The ACLR group showed greater lower-body asymmetries, specifically less BMC and LM and greater Fat% in the ACLR limb (p=0.044; d=0.63–0.87). ACLR group sex comparisons found that females had lower IKDC scores, greater asymmetries for BMC and LM (p=0.027, d=0.40–0.74), and these asymmetries were negatively correlated with IKDC scores (all r=0.755; p=0.007) while males demonstrated no such correlations.Conclusion: Individuals with a history of ACLR have persistent musculoskeletal tissue asymmetries of the non-surgical leg. These asymmetries were greater in female than male patients and were associated with lower self-perceptions of knee function. Post-ACLR rehabilitation and post-surgical monitoring will likely benefit from comprehensive musculoskeletal imaging
Exploring Divergent Views: A Comparative Study Of Uterus Transplantation Perceptions Among Transplant And Obstetrics/Gynecology Providers
No full textResearch Question: What are the perceptions of uterine transplantation (UTx) among OB/GYN attending the 2023 ACOG conference? What are the perceptions of UTx among transplant physicians attending the 2023 American Transplant Congress? What are the similarities and differences between perceptions of OB/GYNs and transplant physicians regarding UTx?Background and Significance: Uterus transplantation (UTx) is a procedure that provides women with absolute uterine-factor infertility (AUFI) the opportunity to carry their own pregnancy and deliver a child. There are multiple ethical and medical concerns associated with UTx. It is important to investigate the opinions of healthcare providers involved in diagnosing patients with AUFI and performing the transplantation, for UTx to move into regular clinical practice. The last survey evaluating the perception of UTx among OB/Gyns, transplant surgeons, internists, and family medicine practitioners in the United States was performed in 2018. Since then, there have been additional reports of successful transplantations and pregnancies. This study aims to identify and understand the perception of UTx among providers who are generally involved in the diagnosis of AUFI and on the transplant team. The second aim of this study is to compare these perceptions to each other and evaluate how opinions have changed since previous surveys were conducted. Addressing these aims will help us understand knowledge gaps among providers and determine what barriers must be overcome for UTx to be used in general clinical practice.Materials and Methods: This study was a survey study conducted via REDCap surveys. Study subjects included OB/GYN physicians recruited at the 2023 American College of Obstetrics & Gynecology (ACOG) conference and transplant physicians recruited at the 2023 American Transplant Congress (ATC). Participants were recruited by medical student volunteers. Potential participants were asked if they would be interested in reading an introduction pertaining to uterus transplantation and then answering a short survey. Physicians interested in participating were asked to sign an online consent form and then proceed to the survey on an iPad.Results: 200 physicians completed the survey between the ACOG and ATC conferences. Overall, 42% of providers from ACOG reported that they agreed to have medical concerns related to UTx compared to 22% of the providers from ATC. Survey responses for all participants showed that 76% of participants agreed that UTx should be an option for patients with congenital AUFI.Conclusion: Ultimately, this study further elucidates the perception of uterine transplantation among Ob/Gyns and transplant physicians regarding UTx. We found greater support for the procedure among providers compared to results from previous studies
A topology on E-theory
No full textFor separable -algebras and , we define a topology on the set [[,]] consisting of homotopy classes of asymptotic morphisms from to . This gives an enrichment of the Connes-Higson asymptotic category over topological spaces. We show that the Hausdorffization of this category is equivalent to the shape category of Dadarlat. As an application, we obtain a topology on the -theory group (,) with properties analogous to those of the topology on (,). The Hausdorffized -theory group (,) = (,)/{0} is also introduced and studied. We obtain a continuity result for the functor (,), which implies a new continuity result for the functor (,)