ANISE: an application to design mechanobiology simulations of planar epithelia.

SUMMARY: TiFoSi (Tissues Forces & Signaling) is an efficient computational tool for performing mechanobiology simulations of planar epithelia. A drawback of this tool is that it relies on an XML configuration file (input data) that can be cumbersome to set up and/or decode due to the endless possibilities of the software. Moreover, some modeling know-how is needed in order to provide equations that describe gene regulatory interactions. These factors limit the usability of this tool for users with a weak computational and/or mathematical background. Here, we introduce ANISE (grAphical coNfigurator of TiFoSi In Silico Experiments), a web-app that allows to easily setup the configuration of mechanobiology simulations using TiFoSi. The application covers all the configuration modules in TiFoSi comprehensively (from basic to advanced editing options) and uses a graphical approach (e.g. to build the modeling equations of gene regulatory networks). AVAILABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION: http://github.com/lsym-uveg/anise (server: http://lsymserver.uv.es/lsym/ANISE).

Dasatinib-Induced Chylothorax: A Clinical Laboratory's Perspective.

Dasatinib is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor drug used for chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) treatment. Chylothorax has been rarely reported as a secondary effect of dasatinib occurring especially in long-term treated patients, although its pathophysiology is not yet fully understood. Laboratory analysis of the pleural effusion is crucial for chylothorax diagnosis. We report a case of a 53-year-old male patient presenting a chylothorax after 14 years of dasatinib therapy where the clinical laboratory was key in the diagnosis.

A new HLA-based distributed control architecture for agricultural teams of robots in hybrid applications with real and simulated devices or environments.

The control architecture is one of the most important part of agricultural robotics and other robotic systems. Furthermore its importance increases when the system involves a group of heterogeneous robots that should cooperate to achieve a global goal. A new control architecture is introduced in this paper for groups of robots in charge of doing maintenance tasks in agricultural environments. Some important features such as scalability, code reuse, hardware abstraction and data distribution have been considered in the design of the new architecture. Furthermore, coordination and cooperation among the different elements in the system is allowed in the proposed control system. By integrating a network oriented device server Player, Java Agent Development Framework (JADE) and High Level Architecture (HLA), the previous concepts have been considered in the new architecture presented in this paper. HLA can be considered the most important part because it not only allows the data distribution and implicit communication among the parts of the system but also allows to simultaneously operate with simulated and real entities, thus allowing the use of hybrid systems in the development of applications.

Evaluation of five guidelines for option development in multiple-choice item-writing.

This paper evaluates certain guidelines for writing multiple-choice test items. The analysis of the responses of 5013 subjects to 630 items from 21 university classroom achievement tests suggests that an option should not differ in terms of heterogeneous content because such error has a slight but harmful effect on item discrimination. This also occurs with the "None of the above" option when it is the correct one. In contrast, results do not show the supposedly negative effects of a different-length option, the use of specific determiners, or the use of the "All of the above" option, which not only decreases difficulty but also improves discrimination when it is the correct option.

Test Item Taxonomy Based on Functional Criteria.

There are many taxonomies that try to classify and apply some consistency to the very many item types currently in existence. They all have various limitations, however, such as ambiguous classification criteria, little discrimination between format types, and referring almost exclusively to pen-and-paper or screen-based items. This paper aims to overcome these limitations by proposing a new item format taxonomy based on functional criteria. Current classifications are reviewed, the criteria they are based on are examined and their limitations are identified. The proposed alternative classification identifies four essential components of items according to function: the structure of the included content, the device used for transmission of the question to the examinee, the device for receiving the response, and the instructions to the examinee about how to understand and respond to the item. The combination of different facets of these four components allows any format of item to be classified, both existing formats and those that may appear in the future. In addition to systematically and coherently classifying items, this new taxonomy may also be of great utility in the construction and research of new items. The proposed model is illustrated by examples showing how specific items are classified, using a checklist as a guide.

Mathematical background and attitudes toward statistics in a sample of Spanish college students.

To examine the relation of mathematical background and initial attitudes toward statistics of Spanish college students in social sciences the Survey of Attitudes Toward Statistics was given to 827 students. Multivariate analyses tested the effects of two indicators of mathematical background (amount of exposure and achievement in previous courses) on the four subscales. Analysis suggested grades in previous courses are more related to initial attitudes toward statistics than the number of mathematics courses taken. Mathematical background was related with students' affective responses to statistics but not with their valuing of statistics. Implications of possible research are discussed.

Guidelines based on validity criteria for the development of multiple choice items.

BACKGROUND: Many different guidelines have been presented for the construction of multiple choice items. Those guidelines have been based on the observation of errors when constructing items but not on any clear scientific criterion. Our main objective was to draw up guidelines for the development of multiple choice items based on validity criteria. METHOD: We used the properties of adjustment, precision, and differentiation, applying them to three basic phases of instrument construction: the definition of the objective and its context; their expression in the instrument and item stem; and the elaboration of response options. RESULTS: We have combined these properties and phases to give nine general guidelines with a firm theoretical footing. CONCLUSIONS: Finally, we have written a checklist with twenty-four points to check how far the measurement instruments comply with the proposed guidelines.

Funcionamiento de un sistema de información epidemiológica a nivel distrital (1980) / Performance of an epidemiological information system at district level

Una guía informativa actualizada, que describe en forma exhaustiva y funcional el uso adecuado del sistema de información epidemiologica, para ser consultada de acuerdo a los requerimientos y necesidades en cualquier estado del país. Se pretende, unificar criterios, definiciones y procedimientos en la recolección, elaboración de la información que se maneja en un Servicio de Epidemiologia. Por otra parte se resalta la responsabilidad del epidemiologo distrital en las diferentes actividades, en la vigilancia, control y supervision del funcionamiento del sistema de información. Orientando y educando al medico rural, e instruyendo al equipo que labora a nivel distrital