Interaction in asynchronous discussion boards: a campus-wide analysis to better understand regular and substantive interaction.

Discussion boards can provide a glimpse into the regular and substantive interaction required in online courses. Advances in technology and an increased interest in learning analytics now provides researchers with billions of data points about instructor and student interaction within a learning management system (LMS). This study used LMS data to explore the frequency of interaction between instructors and students in discussion boards in online courses at one institution. Overall, 415 courses were analyzed spanning two semesters. Results from the study found that the average number of posts by an instructor was 32.9. The average instructor interaction was 1.49 instructor posts per student. 23% of courses had no instructor posts. Student posts averaged 470 per course and the average posts per student was 19.9. Based on the discussion board activity, the most discussion interaction occurred during the first two weeks of the semester. Results also suggested that there is no relationship between student satisfaction and the number of total posts in a course. The paper concludes with implications for research and practice.

Aerobic Physical Exercise for Pain Intensity, Aerobic Capacity, and Quality of Life in Patients With Chronic Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Currently, chronic pain is a disabling condition that is difficult to manage, which generates a high burden on health systems. The objective is to determine the effects of aerobic physical exercise in adults with chronic pain. METHODS: A systematic review of searches in databases including MEDLINE, LILACS, ScienceDirect, PEDro, OTseeker, The Cochrane Library, EBSCO, and Google Scholar was conducted. The search process was carried out until July 31, 2020, and the study selection process was independently carried out through a criteria analysis for each phase. Outcome measures were chosen: aerobic capacity, physical function, quality of life, and pain. RESULTS: Twenty-seven studies were included in which aerobic exercise was considered as an option to treat chronic pain. These studies showed significant results compared with other treatment options in terms of pain measurements (-0.22 [-0.42 to -0.03]) and aerobic capacity. For quality of life, there were significant improvements in the physical function component over the mental health component evaluated with the short form health survey-36/12. CONCLUSION: Aerobic exercise is a nonpharmacological therapeutic option for treatment. Also, aerobic capacity and endurance improved when this type of exercise was prescribed, thus resulting in a substantial improvement in the quality of life of people suffering from chronic pain.

Asociación de la fuerza prensil con el riesgo cardiovascular en trabajadores sedentarios / Association of grip strength with cardiovascular risk in sedentary workers

RESUMEN Objetivo Evaluar la fuerza prensil en trabajadores sedentarios como escrutinio de riesgo cardiovascular. Método Se realizó un estudio transversal con personal administrativo. Se midió la fuerza prensil y se relacionó con las variables antropométricas, el nivel de estilo de vida adoptado por los trabajadores, estimado con la prueba FANTÁSTICO, y el nivel de Actividad física, valorado con el Cuestionario IPAQ. Resultados En 152 participantes, no se encontró asociación de la fuerza prensil con las mediciones de actividad física y estilos de vida. Tampoco con marcadores tempranos de riesgo cardiovascular. La población tenía buenos estilos de vida con alto nivel de sedentarismo. A diferencia de otras investigaciones, nuestra población tenía índices de comorbilidad muy bajos y no eran ancianos. Esto podría explicar los resultados diferentes. Conclusión La fuerza prensil no parece ser útil en las evaluaciones de programas de estilos de vida en trabajadores sedentarios adultos con bajo nivel de comorbilidades.

ABSTRACT Objective To assess prehensile strength in administrative personnel as screening for cardiovascular risk. Method A cross-sectional study was carried out with administrative personnel. Prehensile strength was measured and was related to anthropometric variables, the level of lifestyle adopted by the workers, estimated with the FANTASTIC Test, and the level of physical activity, assessed with the IPAQ Questionnaire. Results In 152 participants, no association of prehensile strength was found with physical activity and lifestyles measurements. Nor with early cardiovascular risk markers. The population had good lifestyles with a high level of sedentary behavior. Unlike other investigations, our population had very low comorbidity rates and were not elderly. This could explain the different results. Conclusion Prehensile force does not seem to be useful in evaluating lifestyle programs in administrative personnel with a low level of comorbidities.

Evaluation of the Mean Cost and Activity Based Cost in the Diagnosis of Pulmonary Tuberculosis in the Laboratory Routine of a High-Complexity Hospital in Brazil.

At a global level, with the increase in healthcare costs, there is a need to assess the economic impact of the incorporation of new technologies in different health disorders in different countries. There is scarce information regarding costs incurred with the use of current or new diagnostic tests for tuberculosis or from the vantage point of their incorporation within the healthcare systems of high-burden countries. The present study aimed to assess the mean cost and the activity based cost of the laboratory diagnosis for tuberculosis by means of conventional techniques and from the Detect TB®LabTest molecular test kit in a general high-complexity hospital of the public health system in Brazil. Cost analysis was performed by means of primary data, collected in the Mycobacteria and Molecular Biology Laboratory in 2013. The mean cost and activity based cost were, respectively, U$10.06/U$5.61 for centrifuged bacilloscopy by Ziehl Neelsen (ZN) and Auramine (AU); U$7.42/U$4.15 for direct bacilloscopy by ZN; U$27.38/U$16.50 for culture in a Loweinstein-Jensen solid medium; and U$115.74/U$73.46 for the Detect TB®LabTest Kit. The calculation of the ABC should be used in making decisions by administrators to be the best method of assessing the costs of conventional techniques and molecular method for providing the real value of the tests. So it is need to calculate the ABC, and not of the mean cost, in various scenarios before incorporating new technologies in health institutions.

Evaluation of intraperitoneal pressure and the effect of different osmotic agents on intraperitoneal pressure in children.

OBJECTIVES: To establish intraperitoneal pressure (IPP) in a relatively large pediatric study group and to study the effects of a 3.86% glucose solution and a 7.5% icodextrin solution on IPP during a 4-hour dwell. DESIGN: IPP was measured with the patient in a supine position. The intraperitoneal volume (IPV) was 1200 mL/m2 with a 1.36% glucose solution. The influence of dialysis solutions was obtained by performing two 4-hour peritoneal equilibration tests (PETs) with 3.86% glucose and 7.5% icodextrin as test solution, using an IPV of 1200 mL/m2 and dextran 70 as volume marker. IPP was measured at two consecutive time points (t = 0 and t = 240 minutes). Transcapillary ultrafiltration, net ultrafiltration, and marker clearance were calculated. PATIENTS: IPP was established in 30 patients with median age of 4.5 years (range 1.0 - 14.9 years). Influence of dialysis solutions on IPP was studied in 9 children with median age of 4.2 years (range 1.7 - 10.9 years) and median treatment period of 12 months (range 5.6 - 122.3 months). RESULTS: Mean IPP was 12.0 +/- 6.5 cm H2O. Significant relations were found between the change in IPP and transcapillary ultrafiltration and body surface area during the PET with 3.86% glucose. No relations were seen during the PET with icodextrin. CONCLUSIONS: IPP was established in a large pediatric study group and was similar to previously published values of IPP in a small number of patients. Differences in fluid kinetics have different effects on the change in IPP during a 4-hour dwell period.

Wall imaging of cerebral aneurysms with a modified surface-rendering technique of spiral CT.

BACKGROUND: There has been no detailed documentation of the advantages of three-dimensional (3D) wall imaging of cerebral aneurysms. The usefulness of such endoscopic images obtained with modified spiral computed tomography angiography (CTA) was therefore examined in comparison with conventional spiral CTA and digital subtraction angiography (DSA). METHODS: Fifteen of 45 patients who underwent conventional spiral CTA in our department in the past 4 years, were further studied with a technical modification of surface-rendering reconstruction in spiral CT. Endoscopic images were obtained by regulating the lower and higher thresholds of spiral CT scans in processing. Digital subtraction angiography was also performed for 14 of the 15 patients. The 3D wall images of the cerebral aneurysms were assessed in comparison with findings from conventional CTA and DSA. FINDINGS: The true orifice of the aneurysms could be visualized with the endoscopic mode in all of the 15 cases. In paraclinoid aneurysms, particularly below the anterior clinoid process, the relationships to associated vessels and bone structures were more clearly disclosed with this mode. The endoscopic images of aneurysms with rigid clots or neighboring distended veins were not as adversely affected as conventional CTA. In 4 of the 15 the wall imaging precisely located the branches arising from the dome of aneurysms which DSA could not. INTERPRETATION: Wall imaging of complex or small cerebral aneurysms provided valuable information on their relationships to associated arteries and surrounding bony structures. The endoscopic mode, a simple modification of surface rendering, is easily available in commercial CT processing packages.

Surgical management of cerebral arteriovenous malformations with intraoperative digital subtraction angiography.

Complete excision of cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) is requisite to improving the outcome of patients with AVMs. Five patients with a small or medium cerebral AVM underwent surgery with an intraoperative digital subtraction angiography (DSA) unit. There were no residual AVMs and no complications in the examination of intraoperative DSA. The findings of postoperative angiography were consistent with those of intraoperative DSA. Intraoperative DSA provided the benefits of not only identification of a feeding artery, but also recognition of the complete excision during surgery.

Comparison of a PCR-based diagnostic assay for Mycoplasma pulmonis with traditional detection techniques.

Current diagnosis of infection by Mycoplasma pulmonis, an important pathogen of laboratory rodent colonies worldwide, is based on serological, histopathological and culture techniques which can be slow and unreliable. A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay for M. pulmonis diagnosis was compared to current diagnostic methods. This PCR based technique allows a more specific, sensitive and rapid diagnosis of M. pulmonis from various tissues by comparison with culture and histopathology.

Analysis of the human alpha globin upstream regulatory element (HS-40) in transgenic mice.

We have analysed the effect of a 1.4 kb segment of DNA containing the upstream alpha globin regulatory element (HS-40) on human alpha globin gene expression in fetal mice and lines of transgenic mice. High levels of tissue-specific, human alpha mRNA expression were seen in all transgenic animals and in this sense expression was position independent. However, the level of human alpha mRNA expression per integrated gene copy decreased during development and was inversely related to copy number. The limitation in expression with increasing gene copy number was shown to be in cis since homozygotes for the transgene produced twice as much human alpha mRNA as hemizygotes. In many respects HS -40 appears similar to single elements within the previously described beta globin locus control region and in cross breeding experiments we have shown that HS -40 behaves in a similar manner to such elements in transgenic mice.

A single beta-globin locus control region element (5' hypersensitive site 2) is sufficient for developmental regulation of human globin genes in transgenic mice.

The beta-globin gene complex is regulated by an upstream locus control region (LCR) which is responsible for high-level, position-independent, erythroid-cell-specific expression of the genes in the cluster. Its role in the developmental regulation of beta-like globin gene transcription remains to be established. We have examined the effect of a single LCR element, hypersensitive site 2 (HS2), on the developmental regulation of the human fetal gamma and adult beta genes in transgenic mice. In mice bearing HS2A gamma beta and HS2G gamma A gamma-117 delta beta human globin gene constructs, switching from gamma- to beta-gene expression begins at about day 13.5 of gestation and is largely completed shortly after birth. The larger construct also demonstrates a switch in G gamma- to A gamma-gene expression during the gamma-to-beta switch similar to that observed during normal human development. We conclude that HS2 alone is sufficient for developmental regulation of the human beta-globin genes.

Effect of giving enrofloxacin in the diet to pigs experimentally infected with Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae.

Three groups of 16 pigs were exposed individually when four weeks old to intranasal infection with 10(8.9) viable Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae (serovar 3, strain 2/(10P2); a fourth group was kept in isolation from the others as uninfected controls. Seven days later the 62 surviving animals were killed and necropsied. The organism had caused typical, mainly subacute disease in 12 of the 16 unmedicated animals but in only two of the 16 which had had continuous access to a diet containing 150ppm of enrofloxacin from four hours before exposure to infection, and in six of the 16 given 32 ppm enrofloxacin. However, only 150 ppm enrofloxacin produced marked control of the infection in terms of reduced average severity of thoracic lesions and much reduced prevalence of the organism in the lung at necropsy, and the mean weight gain (1.55 kg) and feed conversion efficiency (2.08) of this infected group over seven days were similar to those of the unmedicated, uninfected controls (1.67 kg and 2.25). The infected but untreated group on average produced detectable antibody seven days after infection whereas in the infected and medicated groups a specific response against serovar 3 was absent.

Molecular and functional analysis of the virus- and interferon-inducible human MxA promoter.

The virus- and interferon-inducible human MxA (IFI-78k) gene is a homologue of the murine influenza resistance gene Mx1. Three overlapping human cosmid clones covering most of the gene including its promoter region were isolated. Sequencing the 5' MxA cDNA derived by RT-PCR (reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction) confirmed the most 5' putative transcriptional start site. The MxA promoter does not contain a TATA or CCAAT box but has three Interferon Stimulated Response Element (ISRE) motifs. Strong induction with type I interferons was demonstrated with a fragment containing only two ISREs in human L132 cells. This induced expression was not adversely affected by 2-aminopurine. However, the promoter showed constitutive expression in transiently or stably transfected murine LM cells.

The influenza resistance murine Mx1 gene is constitutively expressed in the epithelia of the gastrointestinal, respiratory and uterine tracts.

The murine Mx1 gene confers specific resistance against influenza in the inbred A2G mice and in vitro have been shown to be inducible with type I but not type II interferons. Contrary to expectation, we found by in situ hybridisation widespread Mx1 expression along the epithelia of the gastrointestinal, uterine and respiratory tracts in uninduced A2G mice. Several lines of evidence, including further enhancement of Mx1 expression during organ culture and gnotobiotic mice analyses, indicated that this apparent constitutive epithelial Mx1 expression was a locally induced response to stimuli present in the respective lumina. This phenomenon may be a feature found in other interferon-inducible and interferon genes.

A major positive regulatory region located far upstream of the human alpha-globin gene locus.

We have identified a remote, tissue-specific, positive regulatory element that is of major importance in determining the level of human alpha-globin gene expression. Stable transformants containing this DNA segment linked to the alpha gene in mouse erythroleukemia cells expressed human alpha mRNA at levels that are indistinguishable from those seen in interspecific hybrids containing the human alpha genes in their normal context on chromosome 16. Furthermore, all transgenic mice containing the alpha genes linked to this region expressed alpha-globin mRNA at high levels in erythroid tissues; and in one such mouse, readily detectable levels of human alpha-globin chains could be demonstrated in the peripheral blood. There is considerable similarity in the position, structure, and function of this region upstream of the alpha-globin complex with previously described elements within the beta-globin dominant control region (DCR). This is m marked contrast to other structural and functional differences between the two gene clusters. It seems likely that these critical, positive regulatory regions might provide target sequences through which coordinate regulation of the alpha- and beta-like globin genes is achieved.

Passive protection of piglets by monoclonal antibodies against experimental infection with Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae.

Mouse monoclonal antibodies 11C11 (an IgG) and 4A9 (an IgM), which combine with a superficial component of cells belonging, respectively, to serovars 1 or 3 of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae, were given intraperitoneally 24 hours before and intranasally one hour before two-week-old, colostrum-deprived piglets were exposed by the intranasal route to 10(9) viable cells of either strain Shope 4074 (serovar 1) or 2/10 (serovar 3). Compared with control piglets given phosphate buffered saline or the heterologous monoclonal antibody, this procedure conferred substantial protection against the development of peracute or acute pleuropneumonia. Protection against the experimental disease was somewhat less in other piglets to which monoclonal antibody 4A9 was given only by the intranasal route one hour before the organism was administered than in those given the antibody intraperitoneally 24 hours beforehand, although its effect was still significantly greater than in piglets given phosphate buffered saline only. These two monoclonal antibodies consequently offer means of investigating at the molecular level the pathogenesis of the disease associated with A pleuropneumoniae and the potential value of anti-idiotypes as immunising agents.

Mechanisms of temperature acclimation in the carp: a molecular biology approach.

Most fish are unable to regulate their body temperature. Therefore their muscle power output would be expected to decline markedly with decreased environmental temperature. However, some species including carp show a remarkable ability to acclimate. The nature and significance of changes in enzymatic myosin ATPase activity and the recruitment of different muscle fiber types in relation to acclimation and environmental temperature in carp are reviewed. These changes presumably involve qualitative and quantitative changes in gene expression. To approach the problem, we have constructed a carp genomic library and isolated 28 nonoverlapping clones containing sequences of different myosin heavy chain (MHC) isoforms along with a clone containing carp actin sequences. Plasmids containing probes specific for a carp fast muscle MHC and actin RNA were constructed. Hybridization results suggest that the expression of this MHC isoform RNA is increased in warm- relative to cold-acclimated carp. These data indicate that there are different MHC isoform genes that are expressed at warm and cold environmental temperatures.

Use of monoclonal antibodies for classifying Actinobacillus (Haemophilus) pleuropneumoniae.

The serological typing (by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) of 119 isolates of Actinobacillus (Haemophilus) pleuropneumoniae (representing in varying numbers the 12 serovars of this taxon) by monoclonal antibodies derived from the reference strains of serovars 1 to 5 in general correlated reasonably with the serotype previously established for these strains by conventional procedures employing polyclonal antisera. However, where there were reasonable numbers of isolates representing a given serovar to provide a decision, there was no instance where the correlation between the monoclonal and the polyclonal antibody was in complete accord. In addition, some of the differences between monoclonal and polyclonal antibody binding with some isolates suggest that the distribution of the serotype-specific antigens within the taxon may be even more complex than has previously been supposed.

Studies in the in vivo expression of the influenza resistance gene Mx by in-situ hybridisation.

The inbred laboratory mouse strain A2G carries a functional, interferon type 1 inducible gene, Mx which upon expression confers specific resistance to an otherwise lethal dose of influenza virus. We investigated in vivo Mx gene expression by performing Northern hybridisation and in-situ hybridisation on A2G (Mx+) and (CBA/J x C57)F1 (Mx-) mice that were induced either with human, natural interferon; human, recombinant interferon or double stranded poly(I):(C). All 3 inducers were able to stimulate Mx expression in all organs examined in the A2G strain. However, contrary to previous reports, Mx expression was confined to a small number of cell types; the main contributor was most probably mononuclear cells. Specialised cells such as hepatocyte, nephron, ovarian follicle and seminiferous tubules did not show detectable Mx level. There was also constitutive Mx expression in the epithelia of uterus and duodenum which suggested direct gene activation independent of blood-bourne interferon.