A counterfactual impact evaluation of a bilingual program on students' grade point average at a spanish university.

This observational study intends to estimate the causal effects of an English as a Medium of Instruction (EMI) program (as predictor) on students Grade Point Average (GPA) (as outcome) at a particular University in Spain by using a Counterfactual Impact Evaluation (CIE). The need to address the crucial question of causal inferences in EMI programs to produce credible evidences of successful interventions contrasts, however, with the absence of experimental or quasi-experimental research and evaluation designs in the field. CIE approach is emerging as a methodologically viable solution to bridge that gap. The program evaluated here consisted in delivering an EMI program in a Primary Education Teacher Training Degree group. After achieving balance on the observed covariates and recreating a situation that would have been expected in a randomized experiment, three matching approaches such as genetic matching, nearest neighbor matching and Coarsened Exact Matching were used to analyze observational data from a total of 1288 undergraduate students, including both treatment and control group. Results show unfavorable effects of the bilingual group treatment condition. Potential interpretations and recommendations are provided in order to strengthen future causal evidences of bilingual education programs' effectiveness in Higher Education.

Different genetic impact in the development of renal length and width: a twin study.

BACKGROUND: Ultrasound measurements of renal dimensions are conventionally limited to renal length, shape and cortical thickness. These are regarded as adequate for normal therapeutic decision-making and volume measurements are reserved for a few clinical trials. However, there is no evidence concerning the degree to which renal length or volume is independently susceptible to heritable and environmental influences. AIM: We aimed to determine whether renal length or width (as a surrogate of volume) was more influenced by heritability. METHODS: A single operator measured renal length and width in 114 adult monozygotic and same-sex dizygotic Hungarian twin pairs (mean age 43.6 ± 16.3 years), using an Esaote MyLab 70X ultrasound machine with curved array transducer (1-8 MHz, CA431). RESULTS: Analysis of within-pair co-twin correlations adjusted for age and gender showed that the age- and sex-adjusted heritability of average renal length was 51% (95% confidence interval, 29-72%). Renal width showed negligible genetic influence. Common environmental effects had no influence, and unshared environments were responsible for 49-80% of the variance, mainly renal width. CONCLUSIONS: This study is the first to demonstrate the moderate heritability and limited environmental influence on renal length, and the contrasting lack of heritability of renal width, which is mainly influenced by unshared environmental components, that is lifestyle habits. Renal width therefore better represents the influence of modifiable environmental factors than renal length. The results suggest that renal width not length should be reported to facilitate early detection and monitoring of renal disease.

Genetic effects on refraction and correlation with hemodynamic variables: a twin study.

Spherical equivalent (SE) has not been linked to increased cardiovascular morbidity. Methods: 132 Hungarian twins(age 43.3±16.9 years) underwent refraction measurements (Huvitz MRK-3100 Premium AutoRefractokeratometer)and oscillometry (TensioMed Arteriograph). Results: Heritability analysis indicated major role for genetic components in the presence of right and left SE (82.7%, 95%CI, 62.9 to 93.7%, and 89.3%, 95%CI, 72.8 to 96.6%),while unshared environmental effects accounted for 17% (95%CI, 6.3% to 37%), and 11% (95%CI, 3.4% to 26.7%)of variations adjusted for age and sex. Bilateral SE showed weak age-dependent correlations with augmentation index (AIx), aortic pulse wave velocity (r ranging between 0.218 and 0.389, all p < 0.01), aortic systolic blood pressure and pulse pressure (r between 0.188 and 0.289, p < 0.05). Conclusions: These findings support heritability of spherical equivalent, which does not coexist with altered hemodynamics (e.g. accelerated arterial aging).Accordingly, SE and the investigated hemodynamic parameters seem neither phenotypically nor genetically associated.

Effects of genetic vs. environmental factors on cardiovascular autonomic function: a twin study.

AIMS: Cardiovascular autonomic function is often assessed in patients with diabetes by measuring heart rate variability and baroreflex sensitivity, the heritability of which is not fully understood. The present study was aimed to determine the effects of genetic and environmental factors on heart rate variability and baroreflex sensitivity in monozygotic and dizygotic adult healthy twin pairs. METHODS: A total of 101 (63 monozygotic, 38 dizygotic) adult twin pairs (n = 202; mean age 44.3 years) were investigated. Anthropometric variables and serum metabolic markers were measured, while environmental characteristics were evaluated by questionnaires. Linear and spectral indices of heart rate variability and baroreflex sensitivity were determined by non-invasive methods. All measurements were adjusted for age and gender (model 1) and for all significantly relevant covariates (model 2). Heritability A-C-E structural equation models were used for characterizing the proportion of additive genetic, shared and unshared environmental influences. RESULTS: Genetic influence of different cardiovascular autonomic indices was estimated between 10.3 and 39.4%, common environmental influence was found between 0.0 and 33.2%, while unshared environmental influence was observed between 60.6 and 81.4% in model 1 analysis. In multivariable-adjusted heritability estimates (model 2), the magnitude of the genetic effects decreased to 0.0%, common environmental influence was nearly unchanged (values between 4.4 and 14.5%), while unshared environmental influence slightly increased (values between 85.5 and 96.5%). CONCLUSIONS: Unshared environmental but not genetic factors have substantial influence on cardiovascular autonomic function, suggesting that appropriate treatment of all modifiable environmental factors is of importance in order to prevent or ameliorate cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy.