Significant Positive Regression Research Articles

Assessing Laboratory Skills Performance in Undergraduate Biology Students

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the laboratory skills performance of undergraduate biology students in Ethiopian universities based on skill performance rubric. Individual laboratory practical skill performance test was implemented with 55 randomly selected third year biology students from three universities in a laboratory setting under supervision of the raters. Five level scale questionnaires were administered to 208 third year biology students, 26 biology instructors and 2 laboratory assistants. The results showed that the laboratory skill performance test score was below the midpoint with significantly different between the old and the middle as well as the new university. Correlation and multiple regression analyses showed that teachers’ experience had significant positive regression weight. From the results of the analysis, it is recommended that in biology laboratory, performance-based assessment needs to be undertaken in placement to written exam and instructors need much more assistance and professional development of biology laboratory performance skills as well as pedagogies of how to assess the laboratory performance skills of their students. DOI: 10.5901/ajis.2016.v5n3p113

PP.LB03.09] ARTERIAL STIFFNESS IN EXTREME DIPPER TREATED HYPERTENSIVES CORRELATES WITH 24-H BLOOD PRESSURE PARAMETERS

Objective: It has been shown that hypertensive extreme dipper patients have stiffer large arteries than dipper patients. The goal of our study was to correlate the arterial stiffness of treated hypertensive extreme dipper patients according to mean 24-h, mean day-time and mean night-time systolic (SBP), diastolic (DBP), mean (MBP) and pulse blood pressure (PP). Design and method: We selected 987 treated hypertensive patients who underwent 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. Extreme dipper profile was defined as a mean night-time SBP reduction of at least 20% compared to the mean daytime SBP. Arterial stiffness was measured using carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (c-f PWV). Patients with secondary hypertension, diabetes mellitus renal failure (glomerular filtration rate < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 calculated using the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease formula), atrial fibrillation, clinical suspicion of sleep apnoea, congestive heart failure, history of coronary artery disease, and those working at night were excluded. Correlations between c-f PWV and 24-h, day-time, night-time of SBP, DBP, MBP and PP were analyzed using a linear regression model. Results: 432 patients were selected, including 56 extreme dippers: 17 men (mean age: 52 ± 9 years old) and 39 women (mean age: 58 ± 8 years old) (p = 0.033). Mean BMI was of 27.06+/−5.06 kg/m2 (17.85–42.19) without any gender difference. Significant positive linear regressions were found only between c-f PWV and mean 24-H SBP (R = 0.59, p < 0.001), mean 24-h PP (R = 0.50, p < 0.001) and mean 24 h MBP (R = 0.41, p = 0.002).Conclusions: In hypertensive extreme dipper patients, the increase in c-f PWV, reflecting increased arterial stiffness, correlates with the elevation of 24-h blood pressure parameters, particularly mean 24-h SBP and mean 24-h PP, although these patients were already treated. These findings should encourage practitioners to control very effectively SBP and the other cardiovascular risk factors to avoid worsening of the arterial stiffness.

On-tree maturity control of peach cultivars: Comparison between destructive and nondestructive harvest indices

Optimal harvest maturity is required for flavorful peach. The supply chain often errs on the side of immature fruit with subsequent consumer dissatisfaction. Maturity indices used to determine harvest date of peach include nondestructive assessments of size and background color, and destructive measurements of flesh color, firmness and soluble solids content (SSC) . More recently an index related to the absorbance of chlorophyll (IAD) can be nondestructively assessed with a DA-meter. This application is particularly useful in red-skinned cultivars in which background color changes from green to yellow are not perceptible to the naked eye. The objective and nondestructive IAD was compared with objective and destructive assessments of firmness and SSC, as indices to make harvest decisions on peach orchards. Seven peach and five nectarine cultivars [Prunus persica (L.) Batsch] were studied. Fruits were assessed with a DA-meter and the resulting IAD values were related to firmness and SSC in several consecutive samplings during the maturity period for each cultivar. Pooling all sampling dates for each cultivar, significant positive linear regressions were observed between IAD and firmness, with coefficients of determination 0.11<R2<0.65. However, in each cultivar the linear regression parameters between IAD and firmness are different and changed in sequential samplings required for maturity control and in successive harvests. No significant relationship was observed between IAD and SSC in any cultivar. In conclusion, the DA-meter cannot replace firmness and SSC measurements during on-tree maturity control, which remain essential for sensory quality management in the supply chain. .

Verification of Inspection Standards and Efficacy of a Systems Approach for Thaumatotibia leucotreta (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) for Export Citrus From South Africa.

A systems approach has been developed for mitigation of risk associated with Thaumatotibia leucotreta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), in citrus fruit exported from South Africa, as an alternative to a stand-alone cold treatment. This study was undertaken to assess compliance with inspection standards applicable to various steps within the systems approach and to determine its overall efficacy. Larval infestation of fruit was monitored weekly in fruit from 33 orchards, until the time of harvest, postpicking, and postpacking into export cartons. Significant positive regressions were recorded between infestation of fruit during the full monitoring period in the orchard and the last 4 wk before harvest, between the last 4 wk before harvest and on delivery to the packinghouse, and on delivery to the packinghouse and in the packed carton. There was an improvement in the level of compliance with each of these successive steps in the system, thus verifying that the grading and inspection thresholds were appropriately sensitive and confirmed the effectiveness of the system. The overall risk mitigation efficacy of the systems approach was calculated. The calculation included several known compounding under estimations of efficacy. Nonetheless, the proportion of fruit that could be infested with T. leucotreta after application of the systems approach was between P ≤ 5.328 × 10(-6) and P ≤ 8.380 × 10(-7), 6-38 times less than the proportion associated with the probit 9 (P ≤ 3.2 × 10(-5)) standard for a stand-alone cold treatment, being three survivors in 100,000 at the 95% confidence level.

Intaken CHO/Fiber as Diagnostic Tool for Diet Quality and Prognostics of Insulin Resistance in Free‐living Adults

Insulin resistance is closely associated with ingested single sugars and refined cereal products, all evaluated as carbohydrate (CHO) intake. In the same category are the dietary fiber and its sources, with different impact on insulin resistance. The CHO/Fiber ratio would provide an indirect form to check the actual sugar consumption. This study aimed to establish the relationship of CHO/Fiber with the plasma HOMA‐IR, metabolic syndrome and dietary quality of adults enrolled in a Lifestyle Modification Program. In a cross‐sectional study, baseline data from 600 subjects (80% females) over 35 yrs old (54.6 ± 11) participants of an ongoing dynamic cohort study (“Move for Health”) were retrospectively collected (2007–2014). They were analyzed for their diet quality (Health Eating Index‐HEI) and food intake (24h recall) in relation to the co‐variables gender, age, anthropometry, plasma biochemistry, blood pressure and presence of Metabolic syndrome (ATP III‐NCEP). Data were divided in quartiles. ANOVA one way, Tukey's post hoc and Linear multiple regression were applied to analyze the influence of co‐variables in the CHO/Fiber ratio (p&lt;0.05). The calculated quartiles for CHO/Fibers were Q1 &lt;9.75(23.7±10.8g/d fibers); Q2 = 9.75–13.05(17.9±8.2g/d fibers); Q3=13.05–18.97(13.1±6.0g/d fibers) and Q4 &gt;18.97(8.3±3.8g/d fibers). CHO/Fiber ratio showed a significant positive linear regression with the daily serving sugars (r=1.74, p=&lt;0.001) and cereals (r=0.72, p=0.03) and negative with body weight (r= −0.08, p=0.017), serving legumes (r= −0.79, p= 0.01) and HEI (r= −0.20, p=&lt;0.001). When adjusted by age, gender, BMI and kcal/day, Q1 was discriminated by the fewer servings of sugar, higher servings of legumes and higher HEI score. Q1 showed also lower HOMA‐IR than the other quartiles. However, with any other significant relationship of Q1 with the presence of metabolic syndrome and neither with its components. Thus, from the found results the CHO/Fiber ratio seems a single tool suitable for diagnosing poor quality CHO‐diets associated with insulin resistance marker.Support or Funding InformationSupported partially by CAPES and CNPq.

Association of the polymorphism in the androgen receptor gene and endothelial function in men with type 2 diabetes

In recent years, actively studied the effect of androgen deficiency on the cardiovascular system, including endothelial function. Genomic effects of testosterone caused by the length of CAG repeats polymorphism in the androgen receptor (AR) gene.Aim. To examine the association of the polymorphism in the AR gene and carbohydrate, lipid metabolism, endothelial function in men with type 2 diabetes.Materials and methods. We examined 88 men, aged 40-65 years (mean age 53±6,4years) with type 2 diabetes. All patients underwent the study of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, the assessment of vasomotor endothelial function of the brachial artery by ultrasound sonography, were studied biochemical markers of endothelial dysfunction – ICAM-1, VCAM-1, p-selectin, e-selectin, resistin and number of CAG-repeats in the AR gene. Statistical analysis was performed using the application package SPSS 21,0 using regression analysis.Results. The number of CAG repeats had a significant positive regression to the level of total testosterone, a weak negative regression of the number of CAG repeats in the AR gene and lipid metabolism: triglycerides, LDL, atherogenic index. The assessment of the brachial artery ultrasonography revealed negative regression of the baseline brachial artery diameter and blood flow velocity in the endothelium-dependent vasodilation. The number of CAG repeats was significantly correlated with the levels of p-selectin and resistin. Thus, increasing the number of CAG repeats in the AR gene via a weakening of sensitivity to androgens leads to disruption of endothelial function in men with type 2 diabetes. Increasing the number of CAG repeats in the AR gene leads to deterioration of linear flow velocity during the test with reactive hyperemia with increasing production of p-selectin and resistin.Conclusions. The number of CAG repeats in the AR gene can be regarded as a predictor of the development and progression of cardiovascular lesions in men with type 2 diabetes.

Impairment of Dynamic Pressure Autoregulation Precedes Clinical Deterioration after Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage.

This study was designed to evaluate the potential of the dynamic autoregulation index (ARI) to serve as an early warning system for an imminent clinical deterioration after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). All patients received a baseline digital subtraction angiography and a computed tomography (CT) prior to treatment. The clinical status, the ARI, and the transcranial Doppler (TCD) values were evaluated daily until discharge from the intensive care unit (ICU). A CT scan at least 10 days after the postictal event was used to determine the occurrence of delayed infarcts. 20 patients were prospectively included in the study. 3 refused further participation between days 2 and 3. Patients with no significant deteriorations of the clinical status and no proximal vasospasm (VS) in the middle cerebral artery (MCA)/delayed infarcts showed a significant positive linear regression of the ARI values in both hemispheres from day 1 till 11 (ARI right: 2.7 + .31/day, ARI left: 2.8 + .27/day; P < .01). All patients with angiographic VS of more than one-third in the MCA showed a corresponding drop of the ARI to values ≤1.7. The ARI drop occurred 2.5 (±1.3) days prior to significant deteriorations of the clinical status, increase of TCD values or the detection of angiographic cerebral VS/delayed infarcts in the corresponding hemispheres. The results demonstrate the capability of the ARI to serve as a reliable early warning system after SAH. Further trials with larger study populations are needed to validate these promising preliminary data.

Selenium speciation in paired serum and cerebrospinal fluid samples of sheep

This study was performed to characterise selenium (Se) and Se species in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of sheep and its relation to the respective Se concentrations in serum. Paired samples from 10 adult sheep were used for the study. Five sheep were fed a diet with a marginal Se concentration of <0.05mg Se/kg diet dry weight (dw, Se–), and five animals were fed the same diet supplemented with sodium selenite revealing a concentration of 0.2mg Se/kg diet dw (Se+). The feeding strategy was conducted for two years; The results on metabolic effects were published previously. At the end of the feeding period, paired samples of serum and CSF were collected and analysed using ion exchange chromatography inductively coupled plasma–dynamic reaction cell–mass spectrometry (IEC-ICP-DRC-MS) technique for total Se concentration and concentrations of Se species. Albumin concentrations were analysed additionally.The feeding strategy caused significant differences (p<0.01) in serum Se concentrations with 33.1±5.11μg Se/l in the Se– group and 96.5±18.3μg Se/l in the Se+ group, respectively. The corresponding total Se concentrations in CSF were 4.38±1.02μg Se/l and 6.13±1.64μg Se/l in the Se– and the Se+ group, respectively, missing statistical significance (p=0.077). IEC-ICP-DRC-MS technique was able to differentiate the Se species selenoprotein P-bound Se (SePP), selenomethionine, glutathione peroxidase-bound Se (Se-GPx), selenocystine, thioredoxin reductase-bound Se, ovine serum albumin-bound Se (Se-OSA), SeIV and SeVI in ovine serum and CSF. Quantitatively, SePP is the main selenoprotein in ovine serum followed by Se-GPx. The CSF/blood ratio of albumin (QAlbumin) reflected a physiological function of the blood-CSF barrier in all sheep. QSe-species were higher than QAlbumin both feeding groups, supporting the hypothesis of local production of Se species in the brain. Significant positive regression lines for CSF vs. serum were found for albumin and Se-OSA only, suggesting a role of albumin to convey Se across the blood-CSF barrier. The ovine model, together with the IEC-ICP-DRC-MS technique to characterise the Se species, might be a worthwhile model for further studies as repeated sample collection as well as modification of the nutritional status is feasible and effective.

Effect of aging on volatile compounds in cooked beef

Volatiles in the headspace of beef cooked at 180°C were analyzed using solid-phase microextraction (SPME) and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS), and the effects of aging were evaluated. Seventy volatile substances including non-aromatic, homocyclic, and heterocyclic compounds were identified. A significant positive regression model for storage could be adopted for toluene, benzeneacetaldehyde, 2-formylfuran, pyrazine, 2,6-dimethylpyrazine, 2,3-dimethylpyrazine, 2-acetylthiazole, and 2-formyl-3-methylthiophene. Increases in the quantity of these compounds, with the exception of toluene, suggest the importance of the Strecker and Maillard reactions in cooked meat previously aged under vacuum conditions. As such, the aging process may lead to an increase not only in the amount of compounds related to the taste of meat, but also in the quantity of odor-active compounds. The increased quantity of toluene during storage seemed to be influenced by lipid oxidation.

Neural correlates of impulsive aggressive behavior in subjects with a history of alcohol dependence.

Alcohol-related aggression is a complex and problematic phenomenon with profound public health consequences. We examined neural correlates potentially moderating the relationship between human aggressive behavior and chronic alcohol use. Thirteen subjects meeting DSM-IV criteria for past alcohol-dependence in remission (AD) and 13 matched healthy controls (CONT) participated in an fMRI study adapted from a laboratory model of human aggressive behavior (Point Subtraction Aggression Paradigm, or PSAP). Blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) activation was measured during bouts of operationally defined aggressive behavior, during postprovocation periods, and during monetary-reinforced behavior. Whole brain voxelwise random-effects analyses found group differences in brain regions relevant to chronic alcohol use and aggressive behavior (e.g., emotional and behavioral control). Behaviorally, AD subjects responded on both the aggressive response and monetary response options at significantly higher rates than CONT. Whole brain voxelwise random-effects analyses revealed significant group differences in response to provocation (monetary subtractions), with CONT subjects showing greater activation in frontal and prefrontal cortex, thalamus, and hippocampus. Collapsing data across all subjects, regression analyses of postprovocation brain activation on aggressive response rate revealed significant positive regression slopes in precentral gyrus and parietal cortex; and significant negative regression slopes in orbitofrontal cortex, prefrontal cortex, caudate, thalamus, and middle temporal gyrus. In these collapsed analyses, response to provocation and aggressive behavior were associated with activation in brain regions subserving inhibitory and emotional control, sensorimotor integration, and goal directed motor activity.

Digit ratio (2D:4D) and altruism: evidence from a large, multi-ethnic sample.

We look at the links between the Digit Ratio—the ratio of the length of the index finger to the length of the ring finger—for both right and left hands, and giving in a Dictator Game. Unlike previous studies with exclusively Caucasian subjects, we consider a large, ethnically diverse sample. Our main results are as follows. First, for Caucasian subjects we estimate a significant positive regression coefficient for the right hand digit ratio and a significant negative coefficient for its squared measure. These results replicate the findings of Brañas-Garza et al. (2013), who also observe an inverted U-shaped relationship for Caucasian subjects. Second, we are not able to find any significant association of the right hand digit ratio with giving in the Dictator Game for the other main ethnic groups in our sample, nor in the pooled sample. Third, we find no significant association between giving in the Dictator Game and the left hand digit ratio.

Examining the utility of bulk otolith δ13C to describe diet in wild-caught black rockfish Sebastes melanops

Otolith carbon isotope δ13C values may provide temporally resolved diet proxies in fish. If otolith δ13C values reflect diet, isotope values from recent otolith and muscle tissue should correlate and known ontogenetic diet shifts should be reflected in comparisons between otolith material deposited during different life history stages. We analyzed paired otolith and muscle samples for δ13C from black rockfish Sebastes melanops to examine the potential of otoliths to reflect diet in small (200−299 mm fork length) and large (≥300 mm) fish. We found a significant positive regression between δ13C values from recent (~12 mo) otolith material and muscle in large fish, but not in small fish. Within individual otoliths, δ13C values were enriched by ~3‰ in recent otolith edge material compared to age-0 otolith core material and were consistent with known nearshore−offshore gradients in δ13C values at the base of the food web. Bulk otolith δ13C appeared to provide a broad indicator of dietary carbon sources, but variation in metabolism and dissolved inorganic carbon δ13C among and within individuals likely influences otolith δ13C as well and limits precision. Nevertheless, the results are promising and bulk otolith δ13C may be an appropriate tool to examine large trophic and ecosystem level shifts that have occurred concurrently with changes in habitat, commercial fishing, invasive species, climate change, and other direct or indirect human impacts using historic or ancient otoliths. Future studies should continue to consider the utility of bulk otolith δ13C to describe diet in other marine fish using this simple approach.

Board #118 - Research Abstract Real Time Quantification of Stress during High-fidelity Human Simulation for a Standardized Learning Experience (Submission #9956)

Hypothesis A curvilinear relationship exists between stress and learning, implying that both extremes of high or low stress negatively impacts learning and performance. Stress is a central component of the High-fidelity Human Simulation (HFHS), which is increasingly being used in nursing education as an active learning tool. A degree of stress during participation arises from factors intrinsic to HFHS, including anticipation of the event, requirement for quick clinical decision-making and acuity of the scenario. Additionally, being watched by peers or educators and being afraid of getting embarrassed in front of everyone adds to the total stress experienced. This study investigated how stress level changes on a real time basis during standardized HFHS and if participants with different personality types and learning styles show distinctive patterns of stress evolution. These results will have significant implications for optimizing stress and maximizing learning in HFHS. Methods First-year novice learners, who have no clinical or HFHS experience were included. Nursing students were involved in an hour-long clinical simulation experience, including a pre-brief session a 20-minute simulation session followed by a debriefing session. Salivary cortisol (pre and post simulation) and heart rate variability low frequency to high frequency ratio (LF/HF-HRV) calculated every 5-minute from real time EKG data (pre, during and post simulation) were used for stress quantification. The BIG 5 Personality test and the Honey and Mumford Learning Styles Inventory that were used to assess personality and learning style respectively were completed at a later time. Multiple regression analysis was used to examine the strength of association. Results Salivary Cortisol levels and LF/HF-HRV showed statistically significant increase from pre to post simulation p<0.05. There was a moderate positive correlation between Salivary Cortisol concentration and LF/HF-HRV, r(20) = .371, p < .0005, with LF/HF-HRV explaining 14% of the variation in salivary cortisol concentration. The Neuroticism personality trait and theorist style of learning had significant positive regression weights, indicating students with higher scores on these scales had higher post-simulation stress levels. Moreover, openness personality trait had a significant negative weight, indicating that students with higher scores on openness to experiences had lower post-simulation stress level. Conclusion Optimal level of stress is essential for effective use of HFHS for acquisition and retention of knowledge and skills. Therefore, this pilot study is important as it provides the first data elucidating the pattern of change in stress during a standardized HFHS scenario. Importantly, results show that LF/HF-HRV is a valid tool that can be used to provide stress level on a real time basis giving the researcher a very high temporal resolution for stress quantification that can be used non-invasively and without interfering the scenario performance. Future research should include larger participants with performance assessment.

Mapping the natural variation in whole bone stiffness and strength across skeletal sites

Traits of the skeletal system are coordinately adjusted to establish mechanical homeostasis in response to genetic and environmental factors. Prior work demonstrated that this ‘complex adaptive’ process is not perfect, revealing a two-fold difference in whole bone stiffness of the tibia across a population. Robustness (specifically, total cross-sectional area relative to length) varies widely across skeletal sites and between sexes. However, it is unknown whether the natural variation in whole bone stiffness and strength also varies across skeletal sites and between men and women. We tested the hypotheses that: 1) all major long bones of the appendicular skeleton demonstrate inherent, systemic constraints in the degree to which morphological and compositional traits can be adjusted for a given robustness; and 2) these traits covary in a predictable manner independent of body size and robustness. We assessed the functional relationships among robustness, cortical area (Ct.Ar), cortical tissue mineral density (Ct.TMD), and bone strength index (BSI) across the long bones of the upper and lower limbs of 115 adult men and women. All bones showed a significant (p<0.001) positive regression between BSI and robustness after adjusting for body size, with slender bones being 1.7–2.3 times less stiff and strong in men and 1.3–2.8 times less stiff and strong in women compared to robust bones. Our findings are the first to document the natural inter-individual variation in whole bone stiffness and strength that exist within populations and that is predictable based on skeletal robustness for all major long bones. Documenting and further understanding this natural variation in strength may be critical for differentially diagnosing and treating skeletal fragility.

Dimensions of Academic Leadership as Predictors of Leadership Capabilities and Competence of Deans and Department Chairs in Northern Mindanao

Supporting the new international agenda for higher education founded on building leadership capacity for academic quality, the study examined the capabilities and competencies necessary to lead this transformation in higher education. Quantitative and qualitative analyses of the perspectives of 114 deans and department heads in five universities determined the multidimensional nature and dynamics of academic leadership roles in higher education. The five dimensions of academic leadership are leadership work, academic context, leadership effectiveness, leadership support, and leadership capability and competence. This study found that the academic leaders demonstrated a strong positive role behavior. The hallmarks of the Philippine Higher Education leadership experience that characterize distinctly the deans and chairs were as follows: a team management style for their highest value on tasks and people, an adaptive leadership in coping with social and competitive pressures, an outcomes-based leadership with highest performance standards on effective implementation and learning and teaching outcomes, a strong skill-approach leadership with role-specific competencies as the key leadership capability, and high commitment to leadership development highly engaged in formal leadership development activities. Issues needing serious attention were on academic context, networking, external accountability, financial performance outcomes, of self-managed and informal learning, and decisive and diagnostic capabilities. Academic leadership varied significantly between academic roles on leadership work and leadership effectiveness, indicating that the academic leaders differed by role behavior and role expectations. Academic leadership also varied significantly between sectors on support for leadership development, indicating that academic leaders differ by types of universities. The study also validated an emerging academic leadership capability and competency framework of the deans and chairs with leadership support and academic context having significant positive regression weights on leadership capability and competence. The predictors contributed more to competencies than to capabilities, and most to cognitive capabilities and personal capabilities, and least to interpersonal capabilities. Keywords - academic leadership, personal and interpersonal capabilities, competencies, academic context, Philippine higher education

Predictors of student success on the physician assistant national certifying examination.

This study examined the association between academic performance in undergraduate science courses - chemistry I, pathophysiology, and biochemistry - and student scores on the PANCE. Covariates gender, age, and admission GPA were included in the analysis to identify factors predicting student passage of the PANCE. A retrospective cohort study of student records of first-attempt chemistry I, pathophysiology, and biochemistry course grades and first-attempt PANCE scores for PA graduates from D'Youville College (n = 155) from 2006-2010 were included, along with age, gender, and admission GPA. Pathophysiology (P < .001) and biochemistry (P = .01) had significant positive regression coefficients, predicting higher PANCE scores of 62.13 points and 33.82 points, respectively, for every one unit increase in pathophysiology and biochemistry course grade (ie, B to A) after controlling for age, gender, and admission GPA. Admission GPA had a significant (P = .02) positive regression coefficient, suggesting that for every unit increase in admission GPA, PANCE score will increase 50.48 points when controlling for age and gender. Higher first-attempt PANCE scores were predicted by higher admission GPA and first-attempt grades achieved in pathophysiology and biochemistry. Identifying predicting factors of PANCE passage may help to identify a student's ability to pass the PANCE early in the curriculum, as well as improve program quality and graduate success.

Is Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease a Risk Factor for Osteoporosis? A Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) Analysis

Background: Osteoporosis (OP) is reported to be far more prevalent in those with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) than in healthy patients. While these two diseases share many common risk factors, studies suggest that COPD itself may be a contributing factor for poor bone health and thus could serve as a useful indicator to institute treatment for osteoporosis. Our study set out to further elucidate this correlation using structural equation modeling (SEM) in a population attending an academic family health team in Kingston, Ontario. Methods: With ethics approval, data was collected from the existing electronic medical record system of the Queen's University Family Health Team in Kingston, Ontario. A path model with both structural and measurement components testing our hypothesis was constructed using the Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) software (SPSS AMOS 21©) using various latent and manifest variables that include the basic demographics, smoking status, alcohol usage and confirmed diagnoses of COPD and/or OP. Regression and covariance analyses were then performed and results were tabulated for discussions. Results: Our proposed SEM model exhibited a goodness of fit index (GFI) of 0.88, which met the threshold (>0.85) of a good fit for our hypothesis. The correlation between poor lung function and poor bone health showed a statistically significant (p<0.05) positive regression coefficient of 5.753, indicating that poor lung function is indeed indicative of poor bone health. Alternatively, vitamin D and calcium intake in our population were found to have a statistically significant (p<0.001) negative regression coefficient of -0.342, -0.776 respectively, paradoxically implying that positive intake of both vitamin D and calcium is inversely correlated with poor lung function. Moreover, known risk factors for poor lung function such as age and smoking were confirmed with our model, and other factors like gender and alcohol intake were not. Limitations of our study included errors in documentation in the EMR and a biased sample that may not be representative for the general population. Conclusions: Other studies have speculated a correlation between COPD and osteoporosis but definitive data is lacking. We performed a SEM analysis basing on electronic medical record data from an academic family health team in Kingston, Ontario, and our data supported a statistically significant correlation between poor lung function upon poor bone health with due regard to other factors including age, smoking, vitamin D and calcium intake.

Correlation and Multiple Regression Analyses of Pituitary Growth Hormone and Hepatic Activities in Hepatitis C Infection and Interferon Response

The prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection varies across the world, with the highest percent of infections reported in Middle East, increasingly in Egypt. The current study aimed at examining the bio-statistical correlation and multiple regression analyses of pituitary growth hormone (GH) and liver activities among HCV genotype-4 patients treated with PEG-IFN-α plus RBV therapy. Herein, the current study was conducted on 100 HCV genotype-4 infected patients and 50 healthy controls. Patients received PEG-IFN-α/RBV for 24weeks. Host RNA was isolated from patients' sera for HCV genotyping and viral load determination. Moreover, the enzymatic activities of the liver, AFP, GH, PT, and CBC were performed in all volunteers. The present study resulted that the activities of the hepatic enzymes among HCV genotype-4 patients correlated together significantly. While, human GH showed a significant positive regression with pre-treatment ALT concentration in responders. Furthermore, multiple regression analysis for GH showed a significant positive correlation with pre-treatment ALT in HCV genotype-4 infected patients. We concluded that there were a putative significant relation between GH and pre-treatment ALT activity in HCV infection and response to IFN-based therapy.

Tropical freshwater ecosystems have lower bacterial growth efficiency than temperate ones

Current models and observations indicate that bacterial respiration should increase and growth efficiency (BGE) should decrease with increasing temperatures. However, these models and observations are mostly derived from data collected in temperate regions, and the tropics are under-represented. The aim of this work was to compare bacterial metabolism, namely bacterial production (BP) and respiration (BR), bacterial growth efficiency (BGE) and bacterial carbon demand (BCD) between tropical and temperate ecosystems via a literature review and using unpublished data. We hypothesized that (1) tropical ecosystems have higher metabolism than temperate ones and, (2) that BGE is lower in tropical relative to temperate ecosystems. We collected a total of 498 coupled BP and BR observations (Ntotal = 498; Ntemperate = 301; Ntropical = 197), calculated BGE (BP/(BP+BR)) and BCD (BP+BR) for each case and examined patterns using a model II regression analysis and compared each parameter between the two regions using non-parametric Mann–Whitney U test. We observed a significant positive linear regression between BR and BP for the whole dataset, and also for tropical and temperate data separately. We found that BP, BR and BCD were higher in the tropics, but BGE was lower compared to temperate regions. Also, BR rates per BP unit were at least two fold higher in the tropics than in temperate ecosystems. We argue that higher temperature, nutrient limitation, and light exposure all contribute to lower BGE in the tropics, mediated through effects on thermodynamics, substrate stoichiometry, nutrient availability and interactions with photochemically produced compounds. More efforts are needed in this study area in the tropics, but our work indicates that bottom-up (nutrient availability and resource stoichiometry) and top-down (grazer pressure) processes, coupled with thermodynamic constraints, might contribute to the lower BGE in the tropics relative to temperate regions.

Investigation of wood properties that influence the final moisture content of air-dried sugi (Cryptomeria japonica) using principal component regression analysis

Sugi (Cryptomeria japonica D. Don) lumber is known to have a large variability in final moisture content (MCf) and is difficult to dry. This study investigated the variability in MCf of sugi in relation to wood properties. The wood property variables included initial moisture content (MCi), basic density (BD), annual ring orientation (ARO), annual ring width (ARW), heartwood ratio (HR) and CIE L * color (L *). Sugi samples were cut from flat-sawn lumbers and air-dried; a principal component regression (PCR) model for predicting MCf was developed with the wood property variables. The wood properties that contributed to the prediction of MCf were evaluated by PCR analysis. Significant positive regression coefficients of the PCR model were observed in the MCi, BD, ARO and HR, whereas negative ones in the L *. There were no significant regression coefficients in the ARW. These results suggest that the MCi, BD, ARO and HR had a positive influence, the L * had a negative influence, and the ARW had little influence on the MCf of air-dried sugi wood. This finding is in line with the general view on the drying characteristics in relation to these wood properties.