An Ecological Approach to Evaluating Collaborative Practice in NSF Sponsored Partnership Projects: The SPARC Model

From co-authored publications to sponsored projects involving multiple partner institutions, collaborative practice is an expected part of work in the academy. As evaluators of a National Science Foundation (NSF) Alliances for Graduate Education and the Professoriate (AGEP) grant awarded to four university partners in a large southern state, the authors recognized the increasing value of collaborative practice in the design, implementation, evaluation, and dissemination of findings in the partnership over time. When planning a program among partnering institutions, stakeholders may underestimate the need for, and value of, collaborative practice in facilitating partnership functioning. This method paper outlines an evaluative model to increase the use of collaborative practice in funded academic partnership programs. The model highlights collaborative practice across multiple stakeholder groups in the academic ecology: Sponsors of funded programs (S), Program partners and participants (P), Assessment and evaluation professionals (A), academic researchers (R), and the national and global Community (C). The SPARC model emphasizes evidence-based benefits of collaborative practice across multiple outcome domains. Tools and frameworks for evaluating collaborative practice take a view of optimizing partnership operational performance in achieving stated goals. Collaborative practice can also be an integral element of program activities that support the academic success and scholarly productivity, psychosocial adjustment, and physical and psychological well-being of stakeholders participating in the program. Given the goal of our alliance to promote diversification of the professoriate, the model highlights the use of collaborative practice in supporting stakeholders from groups historically underrepresented in STEM fields across these outcome domains. Using data from a mixed-methods program evaluation of our AGEP alliance over 4 years, the authors provide concrete examples of collaborative practice and their measurement. Results discuss important themes regarding collaborative practice that emerged in each stakeholder group. Authors operationalize the SPARC model with a checklist to assist program stakeholders in designing for and assessing collaborative practice in support of project goals in funded academic partnership projects, emphasizing the contributions of collaborative practice in promoting diversification of the professoriate.

A Guide to Elucidate the Hidden Multicomponent Layered Structure of Plant Cuticles by Raman Imaging

The cuticle covers almost all plant organs as the outermost layer and serves as a transpiration barrier, sunscreen, and first line of defense against pathogens. Waxes, fatty acids, and aromatic components build chemically and structurally diverse layers with different functionality. So far, electron microscopy has elucidated structure, while isolation, extraction, and analysis procedures have revealed chemistry. With this method paper, we close the missing link by demonstrating how Raman microscopy gives detailed information about chemistry and structure of the native cuticle on the microscale. We introduce an optimized experimental workflow, covering the whole process of sample preparation, Raman imaging experiment, data analysis, and interpretation and show the versatility of the approach on cuticles of a spruce needle, a tomato peel, and an Arabidopsis stem. We include laser polarization experiments to deduce the orientation of molecules and multivariate data analysis to separate cuticle layers and verify their molecular composition. Based on the three investigated cuticles, we discuss the chemical and structural diversity and validate our findings by comparing models based on our spectroscopic data with the current view of the cuticle. We amend the model by adding the distribution of cinnamic acids and flavonoids within the cuticle layers and their transition to the epidermal layer. Raman imaging proves as a non-destructive and fast approach to assess the chemical and structural variability in space and time. It might become a valuable tool to tackle knowledge gaps in plant cuticle research.

Optimized Protocol for Chelex-based Extraction of DNA from Historical Skeletal Remains and Forensic Trace Samples

PCR-based analysis of skeletonized human remains is a common aspect in both forensic human identification as well as Ancient DNA research. In this, both areas not merely utilize very similar methodology, but also share the same problems regarding quantity and quality of recovered DNA and presence of inhibitory substances in samples from excavated remains. To enable amplification based analysis of the remains, development of optimized DNA extraction procedures is thus a critical factor in both areas.The method paper here presents an optimized protocol for DNA extraction from ancient skeletonized remains using Chelex-100, with improved effectively in yielding amplifiable extracts from sample material excavated after centuries in a soil environment, which consequently have high inhibitor content and overall limited DNA preservation. Further studies showed that the optimized protocol can likewise be utilized for extraction of DNA from common and trace Forensic sample material.

POTENSI PEMANFAATAN DAUN SIRIH HUTAN DAN DAUN MIMBA UNTUK MENGENDALIKAN HAMA GUDANG KACANG TANAH DENGAN METODA BANTALAN KASA : LITERATURE REVIEW

Application of synthetic chemical insectices is known to be the most effective approach in addressing infestation of insect pests. However, conventional insecticides are not appropriate to be applied against pests of stored food materials, such as peanut due to the residue issue. Method of fumigation which negate the residue issue is also not feasible for public practice due to the hazard potency. This consideration necessitates the exploration of safe insecticide material such as neem leaf and piper leaf using suitable method. Paper presented here is a literature review design to analyze related to the important pest of stored peanut, content and effication of neem and piper leaves, and the efficiency of muslin-cloth pad containing the botanicals. Based on the neem characteristics which is anteefedant and the characteristics of piper leaf which is volatile. It can be concluded that botanicals from these two species prepared in muslin-cloth pad, would be able to control pest of stored peanut.

Generation of human midbrain organoids from induced pluripotent stem cells

The development of brain organoids represents a major technological advance in the stem cell field, a novel bridge between traditional 2D cultures and in vivo animal models. In particular, the development of midbrain organoids containing functional dopaminergic neurons producing neuromelanin granules, a by-product of dopamine synthesis, represents a potential new model for Parkinson’s disease. To generate human midbrain organoids, we introduce specific inductive cues, at defined timepoints, during the 3D culture process to drive the stem cells towards a midbrain fate. In this method paper, we describe a standardized protocol to generate human midbrain organoids (hMOs) from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). This protocol was developed to demonstrate how human iPSCs can be successfully differentiated into numerous, high quality midbrain organoids in one batch. We also describe adaptations for cryosectioning of fixed organoids for subsequent histological analysis.

Qualitative Evidence Synthesis: Where Are We at?

Qualitative evidence syntheses (QES) have increased in prominence and profile over the last decade as a discrete set of methodologies to undertake systematic reviews of primary qualitative research in health and social care and in education. The findings from a qualitative evidence synthesis can enable a richer interpretation of a particular phenomenon, set of circumstances, or experiences than single primary qualitative research studies can achieve. Qualitative evidence synthesis methods were developed in response to an increasing demand from health and social professionals, policy makers, guideline developers and educationalists for review evidence that goes beyond “what works” afforded by systematic reviews of effectiveness. The increasing interest in the synthesis of qualitative research has led to methodological developments documented across a plethora of texts and journal articles. This “State of the Method” paper aims to bring together these methodological developments in one place, contextualizing advances in methods with exemplars to support readers in making choices in approach to a synthesis and aid understanding. The paper clarifies what a “qualitative evidence synthesis” is and explores its role, purpose and development. It details the kind of questions a QES can explore, the processes associated with a QES, including the methods for synthesis. The rational and methods for integrating a QES with systematic reviews of effectiveness are also detailed. Finally approaches reporting and recognition of what a “good” or rigorous QES look like are provided.

RESEARCH OF THE CETLIN METHOD OF AUTOMATIC ARRHYTHMIA DETECTION BY ECG SIGNALS FROM MIT-BIH

This article presents and solves the problem of evaluating the quality of the Cetlin method, which classifies the sequence of RR-intervals by the recordings of ECG signals from MIT-BIH, which have labels on R-peaks. To solve this problem, author proposes new quality metrics and describes developed algorithms for calculating them in real time with taking into account segmentation errors. Author analyzes the influence of the accuracy of the segmentation procedure for extracting the positions of R-peaks from ECG signal on the proposed quality metrics. Paper compares the quality of the Cetlin method and other existing algorithms for arrhythmia detection that analyze the duration of RR-intervals in accordance with a set of rules in real time. Article reveals advantages and limitations of the method. Paper shows that the method successfully detects SVEB and VEB arrhythmias. but has inertia, that leads to false positives, and is immune to morphological abnormalities that do not change the duration of RR-intervals. Author analyzes the influence of parameters of the Cetlin method on its quality according to the proposed metrics. Paper describes the procedure for searching the best parameters configuration. In conclusion, author reveals that there is no the only configuration, that achieves the best quality for each signal from MIT-BIH.

Remo measurement system: Development of a measuring system to assert on-water rowing performance

In crew rowing movement synchronisation is generally regarded as one of the main determinants of optimal performance. In my dissertation “Coordination dynamics of crew rowing” I conducted various studies to investigate rowers’ ability to coordinate their movements, both in traditional synchronised (in-phase) and the more innovative antiphase rowing, during which the rowers alternate their strokes (Cuijpers, 2019). To be able to measure crew coordination and the movements of the boat on-water, I developed a measurement system using open-source computer hardware and software that allows building digital devices and interactive objects. The aim of this method paper is to provide insight in how this measurement system was developed and build. While the measurement system was developed for scientific research, it can also be used in training practice to analyse crew technique and the effects thereof on boat behaviour for the benefit of crew performance.

Robustness Assessment Based on Pseudo-Static Full Probabilistic Approach

Accordance with a new EN 1992 the robustness of the structural systems must be analyzed. When applying proposed new strategy, it has been verified that the structure has sufficient redundancy and possibility to mobilize so-called alternate load path (AP-method). Paper presents a modified complex method for robustness estimation in case of the RC-structural systems. Proposed pseudo-static method based on the energy-saving approach. Paper also presents a full probabilistic pseudo-static nonlinear method which was developed for structural robustness assessment, taking into account the statistical variability of the materials properties and, as a consequence, parameters of the plastic hinges and possible failure modes.

Generation of human midbrain organoids from induced pluripotent stem cells

The development of brain organoids represents a major technological advance in the stem cell field, a novel bridge between traditional 2D cultures and in vivo animal models. In particular, the development of midbrain organoids containing functional dopaminergic neurons producing neuromelanin granules, a by-product of dopamine synthesis, represents a potential new model for Parkinson’s disease. To generate human midbrain organoids, we introduce specific inductive cues, at defined timepoints, during the 3D culture process to drive the stem cells towards a midbrain fate. In this method paper, we describe a standardized protocol to generate human midbrain organoids (hMOs) from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). This protocol was developed to demonstrate how human iPSCs can be successfully differentiated into numerous, high quality midbrain organoids in one batch. We also describe adaptations for cryosectioning of fixed organoids for subsequent histological analysis.