Well‐designed computer or app‐based instruction has a number of potential benefits (eg increasing accessibility and feasibility of high‐quality instruction, reducing time and resources required for ...training expert delivery, saving instructional time). However, variation in implementation can still affect outcomes when using educational technology. Research generally suggests that without follow‐up support after training, implementation of educational interventions is often poor and outcomes reduced. However, the extent to which this is the case when the core element of an intervention is computer or app‐delivered is not yet clear. This study investigated the effects of providing ongoing implementation support for Headsprout Early Reading (HER, an early reading programme accessible via a computer or an app), to determine whether such support leads to better outcomes. Twenty‐two primary schools (269 learners) participated in a cluster‐randomised controlled trial. Eleven schools received initial training followed by ongoing support across the school year, whereas the other 11 schools received initial training and technical support only. Pre‐ and post‐measures of reading skills were conducted using the York Assessment of Reading for Comprehension. We found no effect of implementation support on outcomes, and no effect of implementation support on delivery of the core element of HER. However, there were some effects of implementation support on the implementation of other HER elements relating to the responsiveness of educators to learners' learning within HER. These findings have implications for providing access to high quality online instruction in early reading skills at scale, with minimal training. More broadly, the current study suggests that well‐designed computer or app‐based instruction can yield positive outcomes with minimal implementation support and training. However, further research is required to ensure the interplay between learners' app‐based learning and teacher intervention functions as intended to provide additional support for those who need it.
Practitioner notes
What is already known about this topic
Well‐designed computer or app‐based instruction has a number of potential benefits (eg increasing accessibility and feasibility of high‐quality instruction, reducing time and resources required for training expert delivery, saving instructional time).
Implementation can still affect outcomes when using educational technology, and without follow‐up support after training, implementation of educational interventions is often poor and outcomes reduced.
The extent to which this is the case when the core element of an intervention is computer or app‐delivered is not yet clear.
What this paper adds
We found that providing implementation support for teachers and teaching assistants delivering Headsprout Early Reading (HER; an early reading programme accessible via a computer or an app) did not affect the reading outcomes of learners.
We also found the implementation support did not affect delivery of the core, app‐delivered element of the programme.
However, there were notable differences in implementation of other aspects of the programme, particularly in relation to the role of the teacher or educational practitioner in managing the interplay between the app‐based learning and teacher intervention for learners who require further support.
Implications for practice and policy
These findings have implications for providing access to high quality instruction in early reading skills at scale, with minimal training.
More broadly, the current study suggests that well‐designed computer or app‐based instruction can yield positive outcomes with minimal implementation support and training.
However, the findings of this study identify some potential risk of an over‐reliance on technology to facilitate the learning of all learners accessing the programme.
Further research is required to ensure the interplay between learners' app‐based learning and teacher intervention functions as intended to provide additional support for those who need it.
A priority for the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases is development of a universal influenza vaccine providing durable protection against multiple influenza strains. NIAID will ...use this strategic plan as a foundation for future investments in influenza research.
The translation of batch chemistries onto continuous flow platforms requires addressing the issues of consistent fluidic behaviour, channel fouling and high-throughput processing. Droplet ...microfluidic technologies reduce channel fouling and provide an improved level of control over heat and mass transfer to control reaction kinetics. However, in conventional geometries, the droplet size is sensitive to changes in flow rates. Here we report a three-dimensional droplet generating device that exhibits flow invariant behaviour and is robust to fluctuations in flow rate. In addition, the droplet generator is capable of producing droplet volumes spanning four orders of magnitude. We apply this device in a parallel network to synthesize platinum nanoparticles using an ionic liquid solvent, demonstrate reproducible synthesis after recycling the ionic liquid, and double the reaction yield compared with an analogous batch synthesis.
Transition metal carbides (TMCs) have demonstrated outstanding potential for utilization in a wide range of catalytic applications because of their inherent multifunctionality and tunable ...composition. However, the harsh conditions required to prepare these materials have limited the scope of synthetic control over their physical properties. The development of low-temperature, carburization-free routes to prepare TMCs would unlock the versatility of this class of materials, enhance our understanding of their physical properties, and enable their cost-effective production at industrial scales. Here, we report an exceptionally mild and scalable solution-phase synthesis route to phase-pure molybdenum carbide (α-MoC1–x ) nanoparticles (NPs) in a continuous flow millifluidic reactor. We exploit the thermolytic decomposition of Mo(CO)6 in the presence of a surface-stabilizing ligand and a high boiling point solvent to yield MoC1–x NPs that are colloidally stable and resistant to bulk oxidation in air. To demonstrate the utility of this synthetic route to prepare catalytically active TMC NPs, we evaluated the thermochemical CO2 hydrogenation performance of α-MoC1–x NPs dispersed on an inert carbon support. The α-MoC1–x /C catalyst exhibited a 2-fold increase in both activity on a per-site basis and selectivity to C2+ products as compared to the bulk α-MoC1–x analogue.
One of the obstacles preventing the commercialization of colloidal nanoparticle catalysts is the difficulty in fabricating these materials at scale while maintaining a high level of control over ...their resulting morphologies, and ultimately, their properties. Translation of batch-scale solution nanoparticle syntheses to continuous flow reactors has been identified as one method to address the scaling issue. The superior heat and mass transport afforded by the high surface-area-to-volume ratios of micro- and millifluidic channels allows for high control over reaction conditions and oftentimes results in decreased reaction times, higher yields, and/or more monodisperse size distributions compared to an analogous batch reaction. Furthermore, continuous flow reactors are automatable and have environmental health and safety benefits, making them practical for commercialization. Herein, a discussion of continuous flow methods, reactor design, and potential challenges is presented. A thorough account of the implementation of these technologies for the fabrication of catalytically active metal nanoparticles is reviewed for hydrogenation, electrocatalysis, and oxidation reactions.
This study explores the extent to which a bilingual advantage can be observed for three tasks in an established population of fully fluent bilinguals from childhood through adulthood. Welsh-English ...simultaneous and early sequential bilinguals, as well as English monolinguals, aged 3 years through older adults, were tested on three sets of cognitive and executive function tasks. Bilinguals were Welsh-dominant, balanced, or English-dominant, with only Welsh, Welsh and English, or only English at home. Card sorting, Simon, and a metalinguistic judgment task (650, 557, and 354 participants, respectively) reveal little support for a bilingual advantage, either in relation to control or globally. Primarily there is no difference in performance across groups, but there is occasionally better performance by monolinguals or persons dominant in the language being tested, and in one case-in one condition and in one age group-lower performance by the monolinguals. The lack of evidence for a bilingual advantage in these simultaneous and early sequential bilinguals suggests the need for much closer scrutiny of what type of bilingual might demonstrate the reported effects, under what conditions, and why.
Rho GTPases (20 human members) comprise a major branch of the Ras superfamily of small GTPases, and aberrant Rho GTPase function has been implicated in oncogenesis and other human diseases. Although ...many of our current concepts of Rho GTPases are based on the three classical members (RhoA, Rac1, and Cdc42), recent studies have revealed the diversity of biological functions mediated by other family members. A key basis for the functional diversity of Rho GTPases is their association with distinct subcellular compartments, which is dictated in part by three posttranslational modifications signaled by their carboxyl-terminal CAAX (where C represents cysteine, A is an aliphatic amino acid, and X is a terminal amino acid) tetrapeptide motifs. CAAX motifs are substrates for the prenyltransferase-catalyzed addition of either farnesyl or geranylgeranyl isoprenoid lipids, Rce1-catalyzed endoproteolytic cleavage of the AAX amino acids, and Icmt-catalyzed carboxyl methylation of the isoprenylcysteine. We utilized pharmacologic, biochemical, and genetic approaches to determine the sequence requirements and roles of CAAX signal modifications in dictating the subcellular locations and functions of the Rho GTPase family. Although the classical Rho GTPases are modified by geranylgeranylation, we found that a majority of the other Rho GTPases are substrates for farnesyltransferase. We found that the membrane association and/or function of Rho GTPases are differentially dependent on Rce1- and Icmt-mediated modifications. Our results further delineate the sequence requirements for prenyltransferase specificity and functional roles for protein prenylation in Rho GTPase function. We conclude that a majority of Rho GTPases are targets for pharmacologic inhibitors of farnesyltransferase, Rce1, and Icmt.
Immunotherapy promotes the attack of cancer cells by the immune system; however, it is difficult to detect early responses before changes in tumor size occur. Here, we report the rational design of a ...fluorogenic peptide able to detect picomolar concentrations of active granzyme B as a biomarker of immune-mediated anticancer action. Through a series of chemical iterations and molecular dynamics simulations, we synthesize a library of FRET peptides and identify probe H5 with an optimal fit into granzyme B. We demonstrate that probe H5 enables the real-time detection of T cell-mediated anticancer activity in mouse tumors and in tumors from lung cancer patients. Furthermore, we show image-based phenotypic screens, which reveal that the AKT kinase inhibitor AZD5363 shows immune-mediated anticancer activity. The reactivity of probe H5 may enable the monitoring of early responses to anticancer treatments using tissue biopsies.
The most recent estimates of the number of prevalent and incident sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the United States were for 2008. We provide updated estimates for 2018 using new methods.
...We estimated the total number of prevalent and incident infections in the United States for 8 STIs: chlamydia, gonorrhea, trichomoniasis, syphilis, genital herpes, human papillomavirus, sexually transmitted hepatitis B, and sexually transmitted HIV. Updated per-capita prevalence and incidence estimates for each STI were multiplied by the 2018 full resident population estimates to calculate the number of prevalent and incident infections. STI-specific estimates were combined to generate estimates of the total number of prevalent and incident STIs overall, and by sex and age group. Primary estimates are represented by medians, and uncertainty intervals are represented by the 25th (Q1) and 75th (Q3) percentiles of the empirical frequency distributions of prevalence and incidence for each STI.
In 2018, there were an estimated 67.6 (Q1, 66.6; Q3, 68.7) million prevalent and 26.2 (Q1, 24.0; Q3, 28.7) million incident STIs in the United States. Chlamydia, trichomoniasis, genital herpes, and human papillomavirus comprised 97.6% of all prevalent and 93.1% of all incident STIs. Persons aged 15 to 24 years comprised 18.6% (12.6 million) of all prevalent infections; however, they comprised 45.5% (11.9 million) of all incident infections.
The burden of STIs in the United States is high. Almost half of incident STIs occurred in persons aged 15 to 24 years in 2018. Focusing on this population should be considered essential for national STI prevention efforts.
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