Cincinnati State Technical and Community College

Abstract This paper describes the development of a new measure of student online course satisfaction called the Remote Learning Best Practices (RLBP) survey. “Remote” learning encompasses asynchronous online courses and those with a synchronous virtual component such as lectures via Zoom or Microsoft Teams. Unlike other instruments of its kind, RLBP creation was guided by a qualitative analysis of students’ reports of their course experiences. This unique methodology is to address that direct student input has not been a primary consideration in satisfaction survey development. Rational refinement of the initial item pool resulted in a 25-item scale with higher scores indicating stronger course satisfaction. RLBP factor composition favors the prominence of instructor presence and course design but downplays student interaction. Investigation of scale psychometric properties demonstrated a clear factor structure, strong reliability, and emerging evidence of construct validity. Results suggest the RLBP may add incremental value to a multi-measure approach of online course quality assessment.

IntroductionDespite learning health systems' focus on improvement in health outcomes, inequities in outcomes remain deep and persistent. To achieve and sustain health equity, it is critical that learning health systems (LHS) adapt and function in ways that directly prioritize equity.MethodsWe present guidance, including seven core practices, borne from theory, evidence, and experience, for actors within LHS pursuing equity.ResultsWe provide a foundational definition of equity. We then offer seven core practices for how LHS may effectively pursue equity in health: establish principle, measure for equity, lead from lived experience, co‐produce, redistribute power, practice a growth mindset, and engage beyond the healthcare system. We include three use cases that illustrate ways in which we have begun to center equity in the work of our own LHS.ConclusionThe achievement of equity requires real transformation at individual, institutional, and structural levels and requires sustained and persistent effort.

With the ever-increasing popularity in social media use among college students, research is needed to more fully understand the specific content and messaging utilized in specific social media platforms. The purpose of this study was to examine the depiction of sexuality on a Snapchat account aimed at university students. Over a 3-month period, a total of 394 screenshots (“snaps”) involving sexuality were collected and analyzed. Of these snaps, 86.6% displayed a female(s) only, 13.4% displayed a male(s) and female(s), 34.1% showed the individual’s face, 78.0% were considered to be a selfie (‘consensual’), and 22.0% were considered to be photographed by another person and deemed nonconsensual. Results also indicated that 40.1% contained individuals who were nude. The top two most frequently displayed body parts were breasts (36.4%) and buttocks (25.5%). Concerns exist regarding the potential erroneous messaging that is not congruent with social norms surrounding sexuality among the majority of university students. Such information could potentially assist health educators and campus health professionals in ensuring that accurate messages regarding social norms are being received by university students.

The United States Department of Labor predicts the demand in healthcare sector careers to soar as patient demographics continue to change with the aging population of adults (Henderson, 2012). To meet this demand, community colleges will continue to play a vital role in the education of healthcare occupations, as nearly 60% of all healthcare workers are educated in these institutions. Furthermore, student demographics within community colleges are becoming more ethnically diverse. The dramatic changes in population and labor force composition suggest a more robust approach be taken when teaching professionalism skills. In order to promote student completion rates and recognize the evolving changes within the healthcare system, a health and public safety division within a large community college surveyed its faculty members and their clinical affiliates to determine what professional skills should be taught within an entry-level healthcare course. This brief paper describes the survey findings and implications for the development of a future healthcare professionalism course.

The selectivity of an optical sensor can be improved by combining optical detection with electrochemical oxidation or reduction of the target analyte to change its spectral properties. The changing signal can distinguish the analyte from interferences with similar spectral properties that would otherwise interfere. The analyte is detected by measuring the intensity of the electrochemically modulated signal. In one form this spectroelectrochemical sensor consists of an optically transparent electrode (OTE) coated with a film that preconcentrates the target analyte. The OTE functions as an optical waveguide for attenuated total reflectance (ATR) spectroscopy, which detects the analyte by absorption. Sensitivity relies in part on a large change in molar absorptivity between the two oxidation states used for electrochemical modulation of the optical signal. A critical part of the sensor is the ion selective film. It should preconcentrate the analyte and exclude some interferences. At the same time the film must not interfere with the electrochemistry or the optical detection. Therefore, since the debut of the sensor’s concept one major focus of our group has been developing appropriate films for different analytes. Here we report the development of a series of quaternized poly(vinylpyridine)-co-styrene (QPVP-co-S) anion exchange films for use in spectroelectrochemical sensors to enable sensitive detection of target anionic analytes in complex samples. The films were either 10% or 20% styrene and were prepared with varying degrees of quaternized pyridine groups, up to 70%. Films were characterized with respect to thickness with spectroscopic ellipsometry, degree of quaternization with FTIR, and electrochemically and spectroelectrochemically using the anions ferrocyanide and pertechnetate.

Key message An ABC transporter gene ( OsABCG15 ) was proven to be involved in pollen development in rice. The corresponding protein was localized on the plasma membrane using subcellular localization. Wax, cutin, and sporopollenin are important for normal development of the anther cuticle and pollen exine, respectively. Their lipid soluble precursors, which are produced in the tapetum, are then secreted and transferred to the anther and microspore surface for polymerization. However, little is known about the mechanisms underlying the transport of these precursors. Here, we identified and characterized a member of the G subfamily of ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters, OsABCG15, which is required for the secretion of these lipid-soluble precursors in rice. Using map-based cloning, we found a spontaneous A-to-C transition in the fourth exon of OsABCG15 that caused an amino acid substitution of Thr-to-Pro in the predicted ATP-binding domain of the protein sequence. This osabcg15 mutant failed to produce any viable pollen and was completely male sterile. Histological analysis indicated that osabcg15 exhibited an undeveloped anther cuticle, enlarged middle layer, abnormal Ubisch body development, tapetum degeneration with a falling apart style, and collapsed pollen grains without detectable exine. OsABCG15 was expressed preferentially in the tapetum, and the fused GFP-OsABCG15 protein was localized to the plasma membrane. Our results suggested that OsABCG15 played an essential role in the formation of the rice anther cuticle and pollen exine. This role may include the secretion of the lipid precursors from the tapetum to facilitate the transfer of precursors to the surface of the anther epidermis as well as to microspores.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s00299-014-1666-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors are important antiretroviral agents for the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus. Some non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors, in particular efavirenz, have prominent effects on sleep, cognition and psychiatric variables that limit their tolerability. To avoid confounds due to drug-drug and drug-disease interactions, we assessed the effects of efavirenz in healthy volunteers on sleep, cognition and psychological endpoints during the first week of treatment. Forty healthy male subjects were randomized to receive placebo or efavirenz 600 mg nightly for 7 days after completion of a 3-day placebo run-in period. Treatment with efavirenz was associated with reduced time to sleep onset in the Maintenance of Wakefulness Test, an increase in non-rapid eye movement sleep, a large exposure-related decrease in sigma band spectral density and sleep spindle density during non-rapid eye movement sleep, and reduced performance on an attention switching task. Because efavirenz has been shown to have serotonin 2A receptor partial-agonist properties, we reasoned that antagonism of serotonin 2A receptor signalling in the thalamic reticular nucleus, which generates sleep spindles and promotes attention, may be responsible. Consistent with predictions, treatment of healthy volunteers with a single dose of a serotonin 2A receptor antagonist was found to significantly suppress sigma band spectral density in an exposure-related manner and modulated the overall spectral profile in a manner highly similar to that observed with efavirenz, consistent with the notion that efavirenz exhibits serotonin 2A receptor partial-agonist pharmacology in humans.

Background: Transforaminal technique for epidural steroid injections, unlike other approaches, is uniquely associated with permanent, bilateral, lower extremity paralysis. Objective: To review the literature and analyze the reported cases of paralysis from lumbar transforaminal epidural steroid injections to possibly establish a cause and to prevent this complication. Study Design: Eighteen cases of paralysis from transforaminal epidural injection have been reported. We could analyze the position of the needle within the neural foramen based on the available images and/or description among 10 of these 18 cases. Five cases were performed with computed tomography guidance and 12 cases were performed with fluoroscopic guidance [unknown in one case]. Additionally, other variables associated with the procedure, including the technique, were also examined. Methods: Analysis of the needle position in the neural foramen in cases of paralysis from transforaminal epidural steroid injections. This analysis is based on images and/or description provided in published reports. Results: Paralysis in these cases seems to be associated with a well performed traditional safe triangle approach with good epidural contrast spreads. Analyzed data shows that 77.7% of the time, the needle was in the superior part of the foramen. In 71.4% of the cases, the needle was in the anterior part of the foramen. This coincides with the location of the radicular artery in the foramen. In 22.2%, the needle was in the midzone (neither in the superior nor inferior zone). No level was spared as this event occurred at every foramen from T12 to S1. Ten of these events happened during a left-sided procedure and 8 during a right-sided procedure. No relation to this complication was noted when other variables like type and size of the needles, side of the injection, local anesthetic, contrast, or volume of injectate were taken into consideration. Limitations: Only 18 cases of paralysis from transforaminal epidurals have been reported. Out of these, only 10 cases included images or descriptions which could be evaluated for our study. Conclusion: In light of the anatomical and radiological evidence in the literature that radicular arteries dwell in the superior part of the foramen and along with our needle position analysis, we suggest that the traditional technique of placing the needle in the superior and anterior part of the foramen must be reexamined. Alternative, safer techniques must be considered, one of which is described. Key words: Lumbar epidural injection, lumbar transforaminal, approach, selective nerve root block, paralysis, steroid, particulate, nonparticulate, safe triangle, radicular artery, artery of Adamkiewicz