Bridgewater College

Extending the theme of curricular integration, this chapter presents how Bridgewater College, a liberal arts school in Virginia, integrated computing throughout its curriculum. The chapter offers lessons for similarly sized and resourced programs and transitions to examples of integration across educational levels.

Since their discovery, β-lactones have garnered significant interest due to their unique chemistry and bioactivity. Our ongoing synthesis and evaluation of β-lactones for biological activity have revealed that DIC lactonization of α-vinyl and α-ethynyl β-EWG- β-hydroxy acids results in 1,3-H transposition, leading to the formation of α-alkylidene and α-allene lactones, respectively. The straightforward synthesis of these compounds will enable us to explore their utility for further chemical transformations.

BackgroundPremeal whey protein (WP) consumption may reduce postprandial glucose (PPG) levels and appetite. We assessed the effects of twice daily consumption of a low-dose non-gelling novel WP formulation (WP microgel [WPM]) on PPG, self-reported appetite, and ad-libitum food consumption.MethodsThis was a randomized, prospective, open-label, controlled, single-center crossover study, and adults with BMI 27–35 kg/m2 were randomized to consume either 125 mL of 10 g WPM or control (water) 15 min before breakfast and lunch for four consecutive days. Three days were under free-living conditions, and the 4th day was at the clinic where breakfast (09:00 a.m.) was standardized (323 kcal, 7.0 g proteins), and lunch (12:00 p.m.) ad-libitum (pizza, 228.8 kcal/9.9 g proteins per 100 g). Following a 3-day wash-out, participants were switched to the opposite regimen. The primary confirmatory endpoint was breakfast 2 h-PPG (assessed using CGM) analyzed as iAUC-15-120min using a linear mixed effects model. Appetite was captured by frequent self-reporting (hunger, desire, amount, fullness, satisfaction) using a visual analogue scale (0–100 mm). Ad-libitum food consumption (lunch) was assessed by weighing the amount consumed.Result18 individuals (8 females, median age 57 years, BMI 29.8 kg/m2, HbA1c 5.5 %) were randomized and consumed products. The breakfast 2 h-PPG iAUC was 39.3 % lower with WPM compared with control (LSM iAUC Ratio WPM/control (95 % CI): 0.607 [0.4 43, 0.831], p = 0.0047), and during lunch numerically reduced (p = 0.0649). Appetite scores during breakfast and lunch supported a modest suppressing effect of the WPM. Food consumption during the ad-libitum lunch was significantly reduced by 9.4 % (WPM vs Control −66.8 kcal [-133.1, −0.6], p = 0.0482).ConclusionsA 125 mL pre-meal dose of WPM consumed twice daily before breakfast and lunch for 4 days in adults with obesity significantly reduced breakfast PPG and had a moderate appetite-suppressing effect, which led to a significantly lower energy consumption during ad-libitum lunch (NCT06593769).

ABSTRACT Invasive species often experience phenotypic change during the invasion process. For example, many invasive species are larger in their non‐native than native ranges, but some invasive species experience body size declines with time since invasion. Mechanisms of these phenotypic changes are poorly known, likely due to a paucity of long‐term datasets and complex interactions among abiotic and biotic factors that affect body size over time. We use a long‐term dataset (1980–2020) in 17 lakes of Wisconsin, United States to investigate trends in body size for an invasive species, the rusty crayfish (Faxonius rusticus). We relate F. rusticus body size to crayfish relative abundance as catch‐per‐unit effort (CPUE) from baited trapping, as well as modelled lake temperatures and pelagic primary productivity, using a structural equation model (SEM). Our use of an SEM allowed us to investigate the direct effect of time on F. rusticus on body size, as well as indirect effects through factors like warming of lakes due to climate change. We found that F. rusticus body size has declined by 10% over the past four decades in our study lakes, from a mean of 36.6 mm total carapace length in 1980 to 32.8 mm in 2020. Faxonius rusticus individuals were larger when lakes were warmer, but the overall effect of time on declining F. rusticus body size was stronger than this predictor. Relative abundance as CPUE had no effect on F. rusticus body size, rejecting a role for density dependence in explaining adult body size of this invasive crayfish. Declining F. rusticus body sizes have accompanied population declines of this invasive crayfish in some Wisconsin lakes, and both trends provide potential for post‐invasion ecosystem recovery. As one example, smaller F. rusticus individuals may be less effective or active predators on fish nests. By contrast, declining F. rusticus body size may also create opportunities for serial or over‐invasion by future crayfish invaders, sustaining a need to discourage crayfish introductions to this region.

The grading of open-ended questions in education is labor-intensive and subject to human error, making it an attractive target for automation through artificial intelligence. This work explores the grading consistency of four open-source large language models (LLMs) in rubric grading algorithms on design, completeness, clarity & readability, and logic. Statistical methods revealed that Anthropic Claude was the most consistent scorer, with an average normalized standard deviation (SD) of 0.17 points and an intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.828, while Microsoft Copilot was the least consistent. The “completeness” rubric category had the lowest average SD, indicating it was graded the most consistently.

ABSTRACT Chlorosplenium is a small genus comprising five species of inoperculate discomycetes in the order Helotiales (Leotiomycetes) often recognizable by their bright yellowish-green colors and gregarious growth on wood. In this study, we describe five new species—C. aotearoa, C. australiense, C. cusucoense, C. epimorsicum, and C. hawaiiense—based on a combination of recent fieldwork and examination of previously collected fungarium specimens. We use an integrative taxonomic approach to support the distinction of new species, incorporating morphology and DNA sequence data with biogeography. Macro- and micromorphological features of apothecia for all species and culture characteristics for four of the five new species are documented. A multilocus phylogeny based on nuc rDNA internal transcribed spacer region ITS1-5.8S-ITS2, partial large subunit nuc ribosomal DNA (28S nuc rDNA), and A–B regions of the largest subunit of RNA polymerase II (RPB1) gene is presented. Additionally, we report Chlorosplenium chlora from Europe for the first time and expand our knowledge of the diversity and distributions of species in this genus in America, Australia, and New Zealand.

Abstract Herbivores alter plant quantity and quality through direct tissue consumption and indirectly via the structural and chemical allocational strategies plants deploy in response to herbivory. Herein, we examine how browsing by white-tailed deer Odocoileus virginianus alters nutritional quality of six regenerating hardwood species: red maple Acer rubrum, black cherry Prunus serotina, birch Betula spp., pin cherry Prunus pennsylvanica, white ash Fraxinus americana, and American beech Fagus grandifolia. Using an established, large-scale experiment that manipulated deer access to fenced plots, we tested whether browsing altered the nutritional quality and biomass as well as nutritional capacity to support deer of six hardwood species in an early successional hardwood forest of Pennsylvania, USA. Pin cherry was the most nutritious of the six species, with greater dry matter digestibility and digestible protein and lesser neutral detergent fiber. Areas exposed to browsing had less browse biomass of stems and leaves yet greater digestible protein, an effect driven by digestible protein of pin cherry. We found no effect of browsing on neutral detergent fiber or dry matter digestibility. Although deer browsing reduced biomass of the six hardwood species, it did not alter the nutritional capacity to support lactating females in the summer. Our results confirm that browsing limits tree regeneration and available browse and provides conservative conclusions on how deer can alter their diet quality.

ABSTRACT Self-efficacy and self-confidence are listed as significant contributors to students’ general attitudes and performance in mathematics. Having negative beliefs toward mathematics is commonplace for children in the United States. These beliefs have an impact on the amount of effort, persistence, and resilience an individual will spend when engaging in any activity. Educators are seeking ways to improve self-efficacy and self-confidence in math through kinesthetic instructional strategies and manipulatives that use repetitive, action-based movements shown to strengthen our brain’s neuroplasticity, which improves computational efficiency and speed of learning. This research examined the effectiveness of kinesthetic learning strategies on 111 fourth-grade students’ self-efficacy and self-confidence toward math and multiplication. Quantitative data analysis was used to determine significant differences in student efficacy from pre-assessment to post-assessment. Quantitative analysis of results revealed statistically significant differences in participants’ self-efficacy and self-confidence toward multiplication after the implementation of kinesthetic instructional strategies and manipulatives.