Explore the vast range of titles available.

Various technological applications for body posture correction have been proposed in order to improve handwriting or facilitate its learning for children, under the assumption that a better posture promotes better handwriting. However, very little research investigates the correlation between body posture quality and handwriting quality. Moreover, investigating this correlation typically necessitates the expertise of human observers, leading to high costs, slow progress, and potential subjectivity issues. Consequently, this method may not be suitable for educational environments that require prompt feedback and interventions. In this paper, we present a fully-automated pipeline for the real-time assessment of body posture quality, which builds upon validated scales from ergonomics, which relies on red green blue depth (RGB-D) camera data to compute the rapid entire body assessment (REBA)/rapid upper limb assessment (RULA) body posture scores. Together with a state-of-the-art tool for the automated, real-time assessment of handwriting quality, we applied our pipeline in an experiment at school involving 31 children, to quantitatively and objectively investigate (i) the correlation between body posture quality scores and handwriting quality measures, as well as (ii) the impact that interventions aimed at improving the children’s body posture have on their handwriting quality. Our findings (i) demonstrate the correlations between specific postural element quality assessment scores (e.g., neck score) and handwriting dimensions (e.g., static features), and (ii) indicate that interventions aiming to improve body posture quality also have an immediate, significant positive effect on handwriting quality.

This study involves survey data collected from 30 diverse undergraduates and their research advisors in oceanography and related fields who participated in the SOEST Scholars Program at the University of Hawai‘i in 2016–17 and 2017–18. At the end of the research experience, students and their advisors each complete online surveys to evaluate student performance and growth over the course of the program on a scale of 1 (low) to 5 (high). The results indicate that, on average, (1) the students (4.06) underrate their performance relative to their advisors’ assessments (4.24), a difference (D = 0.18) that is highly significant (p = 0.005), and (2) there is no statistically significant difference between student and advisor assessments of student growth (p = 0.25). Further analysis by student demographics reveals distinct differences by gender and ethnicity. In particular, women of Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander ancestry showed the greatest (D = 0.36) and most significant (p = 0.02) underrating of their own performances relative to their advisors’ assessments. In contrast, the mean student-advisor differences obtained for men and non-indigenous students were statistically insignificant (p = 0.31 and 0.18, respectively). This paper explores various possible interpretations of these results and their implications for how we train and assess students, and it includes recommendations for undergraduate research programs in oceanography. Specifically, we recommend intentionally focusing on building student self-efficacy alongside technical training, designing evaluation instruments that avoid the use of self-promoting language, and scheduling—or at least revisiting—discussions on STEM pathways and careers toward the end of the undergraduate research experience.

This paper shares four Sea Grant-funded projects from across the United States. The Hawai‘i project integrates Western science and Hawaiian culture in placeand community-based teaching. The Maryland program takes a project-based learning approach to aquaculture education in the formal education system. The Massachusetts (MIT) project focuses on state-of-the-art technology in engineering, robotics, and ocean science. The Virginia project emphasizes science communication and lesson plan design. What all four projects have in common is their focus on environmental literacy and teacher professional development in formal education. This approach aims to raise the quality of STEM instruction by expanding teachers’ knowledge, skills, and resources. Training teachers also efficiently utilizes resources by maximizing the number of students we ultimately reach, thereby creating sustainability.

BackgroundEarly exposure to Computer Science (CS) and Computational Thinking (CT) for all is critical to broaden participation and promote equity in the field. But how does the introduction of CS and CT into primary school curricula impact learning, perception, and gaps between groups of students?MethodologyWe investigate a CS-curricular reform and teacher Professional Development (PD) programme from an equity standpoint by applying hierarchical regression and structural equation modelling on student learning and perception data from three studies with, respectively, 1384, 2433 and 1644 grade 3–6 students (ages 7–11) and their 83, 142 and 95 teachers.ResultsRegarding learning, exposure to CS instruction appears to contribute to closing the performance gap between low-achieving and high-achieving students, as well as pre-existing gender gaps. Despite a lack of direct influence of what was taught on student learning, there is no impact of teachers’ demographics or motivation on student learning, with teachers’ perception of the CS-PD positively influencing learning. Regarding perception, students perceive CS and its teaching tools (robotics, tablets) positively, and even more so when they perceive a role model close to them as doing CS. Nonetheless, gender differences exist all around with boys perceiving CS more positively than girls despite access to CS education. However, access to CS-education affects boys and girls differently: larger gender gaps are closing (namely those related to robotics), while smaller gaps are increasing (namely those related to CS and tablets).ConclusionThis article highlights how a CS curricular reform impacts learning, perception, and equity and supports the importance of (i) early introductions to CS for all; (ii) preparing teachers to teach CS all the while removing the influence of teacher demographics and motivation on student outcomes; and (iii) having developmentally appropriate activities that signal to all groups of students.

A 9-month-old female Jack Russell Terrier was referred because of two episodes of suspected syncope. Echocardiography revealed a large, isolated mid-muscular ventricular septal defect (7 mm) with bidirectional shunting. A diagnosis of Eisenmenger syndrome and erythrocytosis (68.5% of hematocrit) was made and sildenafil therapy (0.5 mg/Kg twice daily) was initiated. Regular follow-up examinations were performed and Sildenafil therapy was gradually increased based on changes in clinical signs, packed cell volume and heart rate. The dog's clinical conditions have been stable without the need of phlebotomy for 4 years and 6 months, until April 2021 (month 74) (about 7 years of survival) when the dog had 80% of hematocrit and signs of hyperviscosity syndrome. The dosage of administered sildenafil reached gradually 6 mg/Kg DIE (2 mg/Kg three times a daily) in June 2022. Lastly, in November 2023 a closed pyometra was diagnosed and the dog was hospitalized and operated. The major concerns in the peri-operative period were hypotension and the profound hypoxemia, but the dog was discharged and recovered normal activity in approximately 11 days. This report describes the long-term management with sildenafil citrate of Eisenmenger syndrome secondary to a muscular ventricular septal defect with right-to-left shunting in a dog. Sildenafil therapy was always well tolerated with no side effects reported, even at higher dosage and drastically reduced the need for phlebotomy.

This study aimed to assess the effects of a four-week circuit resistance training (CRT) program, integrated with a multidisciplinary program for bariatric surgery (MPBS), on body weight, body mass index (BMI), functional capacity, and biochemical markers in women with severe obesity awaiting bariatric surgery. A two-arm, nonrandomized controlled trial was conducted with fourteen participants enrolled in the MPBS, divided into either the CRT group (n = 8; average age 39.9 ± 13.46 years, BMI = 46.8 ± 9.3 kg.m-2) or the control group (CON, n = 6; average age 33.2 ± 5.6 years, BMI = 46.0 ±6.11 kg.m-2) for convenience. The CRT group engaged in eight sessions of circuit resistance training, twice a week for four weeks. At baseline and follow-up, participants were assessed for body weight, BMI, lower limb muscle strength, body balance, flexibility, lipid profile, and fasting glucose. An as-treated analysis was used to address whether the CRT protocol was beneficial if performed. The Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) was executed to verify possible between-group differences, with baseline values included as the covariate. At the four week follow-up, the CRT group presented a significant reduction in body weight (CRT: -3.05 [-4.22, -1.89] kg; CON: -0.25 [-2.79, 2.29] kg; p = 0.023), and BMI (CRT: -1.16 [1.77, -0.75] kg.m-2; CON: -0.08 [-1.07, 0.90] kg.m-2; p = 0.017) compared with the CON group. The CRT group showed a significant increase in the sit-to-stand test (STS) performance (CRT: +4.38 [3.49, 5.26] reps.; CON: 0.00 [-2.10, 2.10] reps.; p = 0.003). No significant changes were observed in the biochemical markers, body balance, and flexibility within or between groups. Performing four weeks of CRT with a MPBS proved to be a feasible strategy before bariatric surgery, possibly improving body weight, BMI, and lower limb muscle strength for women awaiting BS.

This prospective study aimed to investigate the use of ultrasonography for verifying central venous catheter placement in hospitalized cats and dogs, in comparison with radiographic assessment. The investigation was conducted on client-owned animals. The position of the central venous catheter was checked using both thoracic radiography and ultrasonography. Ultrasonographic examination was performed in three steps: two intercostal scans of the cranial thorax (transverse and longitudinal scans), to visualize the course of the cranial vena cava within the mediastinum, and one right parasternal scan (sub-costal bicaval view), to visualize both the cranial and caudal vena cava entering the right atrium. A total of 15 animals (8 dogs and 7 cats) were included in this study. Radiographic evaluation confirmed correct device placement within the cranial vena cava in 15/15 animals, with catheter extension into the right atrium observed in 8/15 cases. Ultrasonographic assessment of the mediastinal region demonstrated good agreement with radiographic findings (94%; CI95%: 83%-100%), and the bicaval atrial view showed high reliability in identifying central venous catheter tip location (Kappa = 0.87; CI95%: 65%-100%). Ultrasound appears to be a reliable, non-invasive method for evaluating central venous catheter position in dogs and cats, with diagnostic accuracy comparable to radiography and the advantage of avoiding ionizing radiation exposure.

Few routinely available biomarkers are clinically useful in assessing dogs with inflammatory protein-losing enteropathy caused by immunosuppressive-responsive enteropathy (IRE-PLE). Only the neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has been studied, while no information exists on the use of the albumin to globulin ratio (AGR) and C-reactive protein to albumin ratio (CRP/ALB). We aimed to evaluate the clinical significance of the NLR, AGR and CRP/ALB in a population of dogs with IRE-PLE. The medical records of 53 IRE-PLE dogs were reviewed at the time of diagnosis (T0) and 1 month after the initiation of immunosuppressants (T1). A control group of 68 healthy dogs was used for comparison. At T0, the median values of the NLR and AGR of sick dogs were significantly higher and lower than those of healthy dogs, respectively. With the increase in the chronic enteropathy activity index, AGR and CRP/ALB significantly decreased and increased, respectively. At T1, NLR and AGR significantly increased, while CRP/ALB significantly decreased. NLR, AGR and CRP/ALB did not differ significantly between dogs classified as responders and nonresponders according to the chronic enteropathy activity index. Further studies are needed to provide more information on this subject.

In patients affected by chronic kidney disease (CKD), some ultrasonographic (US) abnormalities have been shown to correlate better than others with the progression of the disease. The aim of the study was to evaluate the prevalence of the most frequent renal US abnormalities in dogs at different stages of CKD, and to investigate their association with CKD International Renal Interest Society (IRIS) stages. Medical records and ultrasonographical report of 855 dogs were retrospectively included. The most frequent renal ultrasonographic abnormalities were: increased cortical echogenicity, abnormal ratio of cortico-medullary junction (C/M) and pyelectasia. A statistically significant difference in the prevalence of irregular contour, abnormal cortico-medullary junction, abnormal C/M, increased cortical echogenicity, and pyelectasia was found for dogs at different IRIS stages. The number of dogs with more than one US abnormality increased significantly with the progression of IRIS stage. In conclusion, increased cortical echogenicity, abnormal C/M junction and pyelectasia were the most prevalent US abnormalities in our CKD population. Although none of the US abnormalities showed a significantly higher prevalence, the number of dogs presenting > 3 US abnormalities increased significantly from IRIS 2 to IRIS 4. Renal US is an excellent ancillary diagnostic test, which should be used together with renal functional parameters, to monitor the progression of CKD.

Background Ultrasonography to visualize adrenal gland lesions and evaluate incidentally discovered adrenal masses in dogs has become more reliable with advances in imaging techniques. However, correlations between sonographic and histopathological changes have been elusive. The goal of our study was to investigate which ultrasound features of adrenal gland abnormalities could aid in discriminating between benign and malignant lesions. To this end, we compared diagnosis based on ultrasound appearance and histological findings and evaluated ultrasound criteria for predicting malignancy. Results Clinical records of 119 dogs that had undergone ultrasound adrenal gland and histological examination were reviewed. Of these, 50 dogs had normal adrenal glands whereas 69 showed pathological ones. Lesions based on histology were classified as cortical adrenal hyperplasia ( n  = 67), adenocarcinoma ( n  = 17), pheochromocytoma ( n  = 10), metastases ( n  = 7), adrenal adenoma ( n  = 4), and adrenalitis ( n  = 4). Ultrasonographic examination showed high specificity (100%) but low sensitivity (63.7%) for identifying the adrenal lesions, which improved with increasing lesion size. Analysis of ultrasonographic predictive parameters showed a significant association between lesion size and malignant tumors. All adrenal gland lesions >20 mm in diameter were histologically confirmed as malignant neoplasms (pheochromocytoma and adenocarcinoma). Vascular invasion was a specific but not sensitive predictor of malignancy. As nodular shape was associated with benign lesions and irregular enlargement with malignant ones, this parameter could be used as diagnostic tool. Bilaterality of adrenal lesions was a useful ultrasonographic criterion for predicting benign lesions, as cortical hyperplasia. Conclusions Abnormal appearance of structural features on ultrasound images (e.g., adrenal gland lesion size, shape, laterality, and echotexture) may aid in diagnosis, but these features alone were not pathognomic. Lesion size was the most direct ultrasound predictive criterion. Large and irregular masses seemed to be better predictors of malignant neoplasia and lesions <20 mm in diameter and nodular in shape were often identified as cortical hyperplastic nodules or adenomas.