bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The postmortem μ‐calpain activity, protein degradation and tenderness of sheep meat from Duolang and Hu breeds
Authors: Yan Xianglin , Liu Rui , Zhang Chaoyang , Ren Xiaopu , Zhang Wangang , Zhou Guanghong
Published: December 2017

This study aimed to investigate the differences in meat tenderisation between two Chinese native sheep breeds, Duolang and Hu. The tenderness of longissimus thoracis (LT) muscle, μ‐calpain autolysis and proteolysis of myofibrillar protein was measured at 1‐ and 7‐days postmortem storage at 4 °C. At 7‐days postmortem ageing, meat from Duolang sheep was more tender compared to that from Hu sheep. The Warner–Bratzler shear force of Duolang and Hu sheep was reduced by 55.20% and 41.51% at 7 days compared with 1 day, respectively. In Duolang LT, a higher proportion of 80‐kDa μ‐calpain was autolyzed than in the Hu samples at 1‐day postmortem ageing, but they did not differ significantly at 7 days. More titin, desmin and troponin‐T were degraded in Duolang sheep compared to Hu sheep. Additionally, pH values at the different ageing time were not significantly different, indicating that pH may be not a determinant factor contributing to the tenderness difference between the two breeds. Our data suggest the earlier activation of μ‐calpain and a larger extent of proteolysis of key structural proteins may contribute to the higher rate of tenderisation of Duolang compared to Hu sheep during postmortem ageing.
Fatty acid composition and oxidative stability of oils recovered from acid silage and bacterial fermentation of fish (Sea bass – Dicentrarchus labrax) by‐products
Authors: Özyurt Gülsün , Özkütük Ali Serhat , Uçar Yılmaz , Durmuş Mustafa , Özoğul Yeşim
Published: December 2017

Lipid quality and fatty acid compositions of fish oils recovered from fish (Sea bass – Dicentrarchus labrax) waste silages produced with formic acid (FA) and five different LAB strains (Lactobacillus plantarum (LP), Pediococcus acidilactici (PA), Enterococcus gallinarum (EG), Lactobacillus brevis (LB) and Streptococcus spp. (ST)) were assessed to ensure for the usage for human consumption. Generally, it was observed that there were no significant differences between PUFA contents (23.27–23.64%). Peroxide (PV) (2.12 meq active O2/per kg of oil) and TBA values (1.07 mg malonaldehyde (MA) g−1 oil) of fish oils from acid silage were significantly higher than those of the fermented ones (1.14–1.91 meq active O2 kg−1, 0.67–0.81 mgMA g−1 oil, respectively). Anisidine values (AV) were determined in range of 8.04–11.14 for fermented silages and 13.08 from acid silage. The highest totox value (17.33 ± 0.88) was also detected in acid silage oil whereas fermented groups gave totox value in the range of 10.40–13.88. It can be concluded that the initial lipid quality of fermented fish waste silages was better than the initial lipid quality of acid fish waste silage. Therefore, fish oils recovered from fermented silages can be used as food additives or supplements for animal and human diets.
Reductionin Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella enterica and Escherichia coli O157:H7 in vitro and on tomato by sophorolipid and sanitiser as affected by temperature and storage time
Authors: Olanya Ocen M. , Ukuku Dike O. , Solaiman Daniel K.Y. , Ashby Richard D. , Niemira Brendan A. , Mukhopadhyay Sudarsan
Published: December 2017

Increased consumption of produce by consumers has been attributed to perceived health benefits of postharvest produce. Pathogen control is crucial because periodic occurrences and contamination of tomato and leafy greens have exacerbated food safety risks for consumers. We investigated the effects of temperatures (5 and 25 °C), storage time (30 min and 24 h) for inactivation of Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella enterica and Escherichia coli O157:H7 by sophorolipid (SL‐p) produced fermentatively using palmitic acid as a co‐substrate at different concentrations in vitro. Reduction in pathogenic bacteria on grape tomato by SL‐p, sanitiser (Lovit) and combinations of SL‐p and sanitiser was determined. Temperature and storage time significantly (P < 0.05) affected pathogen inactivations by SL‐p as pathogen reductions were greater at 25 °C and 24 h than at 5 °C and 30 min of storage. L. monocytogenes was the most sensitive to SL‐p treatment as reductions of 5 log relative to untreated controls were attained at 0.12% of SL‐p. Significant reductions in S. enterica (1.91–3.85 logs) and E. coli O157:H7 (0.87–4.09 logs) were recorded at 2–5% of SL‐p. Lower populations of Salmonella and E. coli O157:H7 were inactivated than L. monocytogenes. On grape tomato, pathogen populations inactivated increased at higher SL‐p levels at 25 °C. Sanitiser and sanitiser + SL‐p reduced bacterial populations on tomato by 5.29–5.76 logs and 0.71–3.3.66 logs, respectively. These results imply the interactions of temperature, storage time and SL‐p significantly (P < 0.05) affected pathogen strain reductions. The combination of SL‐p with sanitiser led to synergistic effect on E. coli O157:H7, but not L. monocytogenes and S. enterica.
Orientation‐dependent mechanical and thermal properties of plasma‐sprayed ceramics
Authors: Smith Gregory M. , Resnick Michael , Kjellman Björn , Wigren Jan , Dwivedi Gopal , Sampath Sanjay
Published: December 2017

Due to droplet‐based assembly, microstructure anisotropy is expected in atmospheric plasma‐sprayed coatings (APS), with lamellar separations and interfaces having critical effects on properties. Quantitative determination of these anisotropic properties is difficult due to geometric test constraints. This has been overcome in the literature through a variety of indirect, local, or modeled evaluation, however direct measurement on like‐dimensioned coatings is not available. In this work, 25‐mm thick ceramic coating variants, deposited at two different feed rates, were obtained from industry and macroscopic mechanical and thermal properties were evaluated in both in‐plane and out‐of‐plane orientations using identical specimen geometries. As expected, and confirming select past work, coating anisotropy has a direct influence on measured properties. The response of each property is microstructure‐dependent, highlighting the specific interaction: for instance, the fracture toughness is 120% higher in the through‐thickness orientation versus in‐plane after thermal aging, while the thermal conductivity was 24% lower in the through‐thickness. The former benefits from the lamellar interfaces that provide obstacles to crack propagation while the latter sees these interfaces as efficient phonon scatters. The results provide insights for design through robust property measurements and into operational mechanisms in this class of highly defected ceramics.
Robustness of the approximate likelihood of the protracted speciation model
Authors: Simonet C. , Scherrer R. , Rego‐Costa A. , Etienne R. S.
Published: December 2017

The protracted speciation model presents a realistic and parsimonious explanation for the observed slowdown in lineage accumulation through time, by accounting for the fact that speciation takes time. A method to compute the likelihood for this model given a phylogeny is available and allows estimation of its parameters (rate of initiation of speciation, rate of completion of speciation and extinction rate) and statistical comparison of this model to other proposed models of diversification. However, this likelihood computation method makes an approximation of the protracted speciation model to be mathematically tractable: it sometimes counts fewer species than one would do from a biological perspective. This approximation may have large consequences for likelihood‐based inferences: it may render any conclusions based on this method completely irrelevant. Here, we study to what extent this approximation affects parameter estimations. We simulated phylogenies from which we reconstructed the tree of extant species according to the original, biologically meaningful protracted speciation model and according to the approximation. We then compared the resulting parameter estimates. We found that the differences were larger for high values of extinction rates and small values of speciation‐completion rates. Indeed, a long speciation‐completion time and a high extinction rate promote the appearance of cases to which the approximation applies. However, surprisingly, the deviation introduced is largely negligible over the parameter space explored, suggesting that this approximate likelihood can be applied reliably in practice to estimate biologically relevant parameters under the original protracted speciation model.
SHORT‐TERM RETURN PREDICTABILITY AND REPETITIVE INSTITUTIONAL NET ORDER ACTIVITY
Authors: Murphy Dermot P. , Thirumalai Ramabhadran S.
Published: December 2017

Half‐hour returns predict same‐half‐hour returns on subsequent days. We hypothesize that this is due to institutional traders who execute their parent orders over multiple days (“repetitive institutional traders”). Using a unique data set that provides masked trader identification and trader type, we find that the half‐hour net order submission activity of repetitive institutional traders is predictive of same‐half‐hour returns on subsequent days, and that this relation subsumes the return predictability at shorter intervals. Repetitive institutional traders incur lower transaction costs than their nonrepetitive counterparts, suggesting that other traders compete to provide liquidity to the anticipated order flow originating from the repetitive traders.
Improving Emergency Department Discharge Care with Telephone Follow‐Up. Does It Connect?
Authors: Hwang Ula , Hastings S. Nicole , Ramos Katherine
Published: December 2017

This editorial comments on the article by Biese et al.
A finite element analysis of the optimal bending angles in a running loop for mesial translation of a mandibular molar using indirect skeletal anchorage
Authors: Kim M.‐J. , Park J. H. , Kojima Y. , Tai K. , Chae J.‐M.
Published: December 2017

Structured Abstract

Objectives

To estimate the optimal bending angles in the running loop for mesial translation of a mandibular second molar using indirect skeletal anchorage and to clarify the mechanics of tipping and rotating the molar.

Methods

A three‐dimensional finite element model was developed for predicting tooth movement, and a mechanical model based on the beam theory was constructed for clarifying the force systems.

Results

When using a running loop without bends, the molar tipped mesially 14.4° and lingually 0.6°, rotated counterclockwise 4.1°, and the incisors retracted 0.02 mm and intruded 0.05 mm. These angles were about the same as those estimated by the beam theory. When the amount of tip back and toe‐in angles was 11.0°, mesial translation of the molar was achieved, and incisors retracted 0.10 mm and intruded 0.30 mm.

Conclusions

Mesial translation of a mandibular second molar without any significant movement of anterior teeth was achieved during protraction by controlling the tip back and toe‐in angles and enhancing anterior anchorage with the combined use of a running loop and indirect skeletal anchorage.
Moral Panics and Punctuated Equilibrium in Public Policy: An Analysis of the Criminal Justice Policy Agenda in Britain
Authors: Jennings Will , Farrall Stephen , Gray Emily , Hay Colin
Published: December 2017

How and when issues are elevated onto the political agenda is a perennial question in the study of public policy. This article considers how moral panics contribute to punctuated equilibrium in public policy by drawing together broader societal anxieties or fears and thereby precipitating or accelerating changes in the dominant set of issue frames. In so doing they create opportunities for policy entrepreneurs to disrupt the existing policy consensus. In a test of this theory, we assess the factors behind the rise of crime on the policy agenda in Britain between 1960 and 2010. We adopt an integrative mixed‐methods approach, drawing upon a combination of qualitative and quantitative data. This enables us to analyze the rise of crime as a policy problem, the breakdown of the political‐institutional consensus on crime, the moral panic that followed the murder of the toddler James Bulger in 1993, the emergence of new issue frames around crime and social/moral decay more broadly, and how—in combination—these contributed to an escalation of political rhetoric and action on crime, led by policy entrepreneurs in the Labour and Conservative parties.
Computational Fluid Dynamics Investigation of a Core-Mounted Target-Type Thrust Reverser—Part 1: Reverser Stowed Configuration
Authors: Mahmood Tashfeen , Jackson Anthony , Sethi Vishal , Khanal Bidur , Ali Fakhre
Published: December 2017

During the second half of the 90 s, NASA performed experimental investigations on six novel thrust reverser (TR) designs; core-mounted target-type thrust reverser (CMTTTR) design is one of them. To assess the CMTTTR efficiency and performance, NASA conducted several wind tunnel tests at sea level static (SLS) conditions. The results from these experiments are used in this paper series to validate the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) results. This paper is part one of the three-part series. Parts 1 and 2 discuss the CMTTTR in stowed and deployed configurations; all analyses in the first two papers are performed at SLS conditions. Part 3 discusses the CMTTTR in the forward flight condition. The key objectives of this paper are: first, to perform the three-dimensional (3D) CFD analysis of the reverser in stowed configuration; all analyses are performed at SLS condition. The second objective is to validate the acquired CFD results against the experimental data provided by NASA (Scott, C. A., 1995, “Static Performance of Six Innovative Thrust Reverser Concepts for Subsonic Transport Applications: Summary of the NASA Langley Innovative Thrust Reverser Test Program,” NASA—Langley Research Centre, Hampton, VA, Report No. TM-2000-210300). The third objective is to verify the fan and overall engine net thrust values acquired from the aforementioned CFD analyses against those derived based on one-dimensional (1D) engine performance simulations. The fourth and final objective is to examine and discuss the overall flow physics associated with the CMTTTR under stowed configuration. To support the successful implementation of the overall investigation, full-scale 3D computer aided design (CAD) models are created, representing a fully integrated GE-90 engine, B777 wing, and pylon configuration. Overall, a good agreement is found between the CFD and test results; the difference between the two was less than 5%.
Mathematical Tools for Automating Digital Fixture Setups: Constructing T-Maps and Relating Metrological Data to Coordinates for T-Maps and Deviation Spaces
Authors: Kalish N. J. , Davidson J. K. , Ramnath S. , Haghighi P. , Shah Jami J. , Shah Jiten V.
Published: December 2017

Mathematical tools underlie a method that has strong potential to lower the cost of fixture-setup when finishing large castings that have machined surfaces where other components are attached. One math tool, the kinematic transformation, is used for the first time to construct Tolerance-Map® (T-Map)® models of geometric and size tolerances that are applied to planar faces and to the axes of round shapes, such as pins or holes. For any polygonal planar shape, a generic T-Map primitive is constructed at each vertex of its convex hull, and each is sheared uniquely with the kinematic transformation. All are then intersected to form the T-Map of the given shape in a single frame of reference. For an axis, the generic T-Map primitive represents each circular limit to its tolerance-zone. Both are transformed to a central frame of reference and are intersected to form the T-Map. The paper also contains the construction for the first five-dimensional (5D) T-Map for controlling the minimum wall thickness between two concentric cylinders with a least-material-condition (LMC) tolerance specification on position. It is formed by adding the dimension of size to the T-Map for an axis. The T-Maps described are consistent with geometric dimensioning and tolerancing standards and industry practice. Finally, transformations are presented to translate between small displacement torsor (SDT) coordinates and the classical coordinates for lines and planes used in T-Maps.
Marginal cost of the calving interval in beef cows is not uniform
Authors: Raboisson Didier , Citerne Philippe
Published: December 2017

To understand the profitability of reproduction management measures, an economic assessment based on a beef cow life simulation was proposed. It accounted for the discounted feeding costs of the dam and its calves for the different periods of their lives up to their sale and for the overall production from calves adjusted by mortality and culling. The calibration was proposed for various combinations of typical French and European situations. The maximal cash flow was observed for the lowest calving interval, corresponding to the maximal number of calves produced. The marginal cost of the calving interval was not uniform: on average, it was twice as high at a calving interval of 360 days (€1/day) as at 500 days (€0.5/day). It was also higher when age at first calving was lower and when culling was late or the replacement rate was low. The results were sensitive to the costs of the calves’ diets and to the market prices for calves. These assessments may assist the evaluation of the profitability of various measures taken in the field when faced with deteriorating calving intervals in beef production.
A comparison of interactive videodisc instruction with live animal laboratories.
Authors: Fawver A L , Branch C E , Trentham L , Robertson B T , Beckett S D
Published: December 2017

This study compared interactive videodisc-simulated laboratories with two types of traditional labs: a traditional general cardiovascular physiology participation lab and a traditional fibrillation/positive pressure ventilation demonstration lab. The two laboratory sections (a total of 85 first-year veterinary medical students) were divided into 12 lab groups of 3-4 students per lab section. These groups were randomly assigned to either a traditional live animal laboratory or an interactive videodisc-simulated laboratory to compare the effectiveness and efficiency of these methods in teaching physiology. A 22-item, multiple-choice/short answer test was given to all students after the laboratories. In both the participation and the demonstration laboratories, there were no significant differences between group test scores of the interactive videodisc groups and the live animal laboratory groups, but there were differences in time spent by both students and instructors. It was concluded that the interactive videodisc-simulated lab was as effective as the traditional live-animal labs and was more time efficient than the traditional participation lab.
Undergraduate teaching project of the American Gastroenterological Association: a pathophysiology resource.
Authors: Hofmann A F , Bayless T M , Alpers D H
Published: December 2017

The Undergraduate Teaching Project was founded as a committee of the American Gastroenterological Association to improve medical school teaching of the pathophysiological basis of gastrointestinal and liver diseases. Twenty-six units of colored illustrations have been produced in 18 years, which are designed to be used by instructors to supplement their own material. The slides are the result of extensive reviews and revisions, a process that has created a unique repository of educational concepts utilized by most US medical schools and over 50 foreign schools. This brief summary of the genesis and operation of this venture may be of interest to other professional societies concerned with the development of teaching materials.
Integrating undergraduate laboratories into the curriculum.
Authors: Burnett L E
Published: December 2017

Developing a curriculum that integrates laboratory, field, and nonlaboratory experiences requires solid planning, cooperation, and compromise among the faculty members in a department. This is especially true for laboratory experiences where basic skills and familiarity with the different groups of plants and animals carry over to upper-division courses. In an introductory Principles of Biology laboratory, for example, exercises can be designed to give students a clear idea of a statistical distribution and the consequences of random molecular motion. Both concepts are used in nearly all upper-division courses to some extent. Some important but "mechanical" features of courses within a curriculum, such as adopting within the department a single format for writing a scientific paper, will go a long way in tying together different laboratory experiences. Other similar but simpler ideas are to develop appendexes to laboratory exercises that can be used in introductory and upper-division courses, e.g., how to do dilutions, the use of SI units, etc. The latter may be a good way to stimulate departments to think more carefully about continuity and consistency in the design of the overall curriculum. Continuity of instruction from lower-division to upper-division courses and among upper-division courses requires communication between instructors at all levels.
Relationship between personality type and achievement in an undergraduate physiology course.
Authors: Tharp G D
Published: December 2017

The Myers-Briggs type indicator (MBTI) was given to 163 students in an undergraduate Human Physiology course at a large state university. Selected MBTI personality types were compared for achievement in the course using a t test to compare total points earned. High grades were earned by students stronger in the traits of introversion (I) and judgment (J), whereas the extraverted (E) and perceptive (P) types had the lowest grades and dropped out of the course in the largest numbers. When combinations of MBTI types were compared, the highest grades were earned as follows: SJ greater than ST greater than IN greater than IJ greater than IS (S, sensing; T, thinking; N, intuitive). This ranking indicates that a sensing personality also has a strong relationship to achievement in this Human Physiology course when it is combined with judgment, thinking, or introversion. Instructors and students need to be aware of the relationship between personality and learning so they can modify their teaching style and learning behavior to enhance academic achievement.
Sensory adaptation: extracellular recording from locust wing hinge stretch receptor.
Authors: Robertson R M
Published: December 2017

Good student laboratory exercises that do not require much manipulative or technical expertise of the student and that have minor equipment demands are hard to find. One experiment that has these desirable characteristics is the description of adaptation of the firing frequency of the locust forewing stretch receptor after elevation of the wing. Unambiguous recordings of the activity of the stretch receptor can be made using a simple monopolar hook electrode inserted into the thoracic cavity of a decapitated locust. Elevation movements of the forewing are simple to perform and measure. The response of the stretch receptor as a function of time and the stimulus history is monitored. Within a relatively short time it is possible to collect enough data to characterize thoroughly the adequate stimulus of a single sensory neuron. There is considerable scope for student innovation, and several important concepts of sensory physiology can be discussed.
The word is the deed: the ideology of the research paper in experimental science.
Authors: Rangachari P K
Published: December 2017

The research publication epitomizes the practice of contemporary science. This article emphasizes the underlying ideological basis and comments on the educational implications, particularly for graduate students. An attitudinal shift in the acquisitions of knowledge led to Henry Oldenburg's "invention" of the research article in the 17th century. Science was seen to be an open, cooperative activity, incremental in nature, with contributors building on previous work and submitting their work to scrutiny. Brief papers replaced weighty tomes. Subtle changes over the next century led to the current format. Ethnographic and textual analyses have shown that scientific facts are not revealed but constructed and that the research paper is carefully crafted to serve its twin functions, to inform and to persuade. Manufactured knowledge must be communicated and certified to preserve the communal nature of the investigative enterprise. Publication in a recognized forum fulfills that need. The word IS the deed.
A simplified representation of biochemical principles based on the dynamics of chemical flow systems.
Authors: Tienari J
Published: December 2017

This work suggests that the amount of information included in biochemistry texts is artificially increased, because the knowledge presented contains tautologies that are obscured by the use of inappropriate methods of representation. The work then proposes alternative methods of representation for describing biochemical systems that are based on the dynamics of an idealized chemical open-flow system. They would clarify the fact, in an open system, the concentrations of the reactants and reaction products depend not only on the equilibrium constants but on the absolute velocities of the reactions as well. Similar rules apply to phenomena involving other processes, such as diffusion of ions. Biochemical systems are considered as a set of chemical flow systems in which individual processes have the potential for interactions if their end products influence the rate of other processes. These interactions are used to explain how biochemical systems maintain themselves in states of high order. By use of these formulations, some of the logical sequences by which biochemical principles can be deduced from the principles of chemistry can be given simple and illustrative expression.
Teaching physiology by combined passive (pedagogical) and active (andragogical) methods.
Authors: Richardson D , Birge B
Published: December 2017

Pedagogy and andragogy are models of education based, respectively, on passive and active learning. This project compared two balanced sections of an undergraduate course in physiology. Both sections used the pedagogical method of didactic lectures to present basic material. Students in section 01 were given multiple-choice examinations, a pedagogical procedure, over the lecture content for the purpose of performance evaluation. In section 02 the lectures were used as an information source, which students combined with other information researched in the library to draft essays on assigned topics, i.e., an andragogical approach. Grading of the essays constituted 75% of a student's performance evaluation, with participation in class discussions making up the remaining 25%. There was no significant difference in overall performance outcome between the two sections (P > 0.47). Students from both sections valued the lectures, even though they served a different purpose in each section. However, overall the student rating of section 02 was significantly higher than that of section 01 (P < or = 0.05). This reflected different teaching methods rather than different teachers, because the ratings of the two instructors were virtually identical (P > 0.98). These results suggest that a combined pedagogical and andragogical approach is an acceptable model for teaching introductory physiology.
Understanding physiology by acting out concepts.
Authors: Yucha C B
Published: December 2017

Typically, classes in anatomy and physiology are taught via lecture and visual aids. This seems to work well for students who are primarily auditory and visual learners but not for those who learn better through kinesthetic experiences. This is the first report describing the use of improvisation to act out physiological concepts within an anatomy and physiology course. Improvisational techniques encourage active participation and allow students to personally interact with and experience difficult concepts in the classroom. In this paper, sensory modality preferences for learning will be discussed briefly. Improvisational techniques will be described, and examples of improvisations useful to convey intricate physiological concepts will be provided. Last, student responses to the use of improvisational techniques in an anatomy and physiology course will be reported.
Preparing students to participate in an active learning environment.
Authors: Modell H I
Published: December 2017

Most students have spent the majority of their school career in passive learning environments in which faculty were disseminators of information, and students were required to memorize information or use specified algorithms to "solve problems." In an active learning environment, students are encouraged to engage in the process of building and testing their own mental models from information that they are acquiring. In such a learner-centered environment, faculty become facilitators of learning, and students become active participants, engaging in a dialogue with their colleagues and with the instructor. To create a successful active learning environment, both faculty and students must make adjustments to what has been their respective "traditional" roles in the classroom. For the instructor who is committed to promoting active learning, the challenge lies in helping students understand the necessity of becoming active colleagues in learning. This process can be facilitated if the curriculum includes exercises to direct students' attention to a number of issues that impact their learning. This paper describes four such exercises designed to help students form appropriate course expectations, recognize the need for seeking clarification when communicating, recognize the role of personal experience in building mental models, and become familiar with study aids for building formal models.
Use of World Wide Web server and browser software to support a first-year medical physiology course.
Authors: Davis M J , Wythe J , Rozum J S , Gore R W
Published: December 2017

We describe the use of a World Wide Web (Web) server to support a team-taught physiology course for first-year medical students. Our objectives were to reduce the number of formal lecture hours and enhance student enthusiasm by using more multimedia materials and creating opportunities for interactive learning. On-line course materials, consisting of administrative documents, lecture notes, animations, digital movies, practice tests, and grade reports, were placed on a departmental computer with an Internet connection. Students used Web browsers to access on-line materials from a variety of computing platforms on campus, at home, and at remote sites. To assess use of the materials and their effectiveness, we analyzed 1) log files from the server, and 2) the results of a written course evaluation completed by all students. Lecture notes and practice tests were the most-used documents. The students' evaluations indicated that computer use in class made the lecture material more interesting, while the on-line documents helped reinforce lecture materials and the textbook. We conclude that the effectiveness of on-line materials depends on several different factors, including 1) the number of instructors that provide materials; 2) the quantity of other materials handed out; 3) the degree to which computer use is demonstrated in class and integrated into lectures; and 4) the ease with which students can access the materials. Finally, we propose that additional implementation of Internet-based resources beyond what we have described would further enhance a physiology course for first-year medical students.
A quarter-long exercise that introduces general education students to neurophysiology and scientific writing.
Authors: Krilowicz B I , Henter H , Kamhi-Stein L
Published: December 2017

Providing large numbers of general education students with an introduction to science is a challenge. To meet this challenge, a quarter-long neurophysiology project was developed for use in an introductory biology course. The primary goals of this multistep project were to introduce students to the scientific method, scientific writing, on-line scientific bibliographic databases, and the scientific literature, while improving their academic literacy skills. Students began by collecting data on their own circadian rhythms in autonomic, motor, and cognitive function, reliably demonstrating the predicted circadian changes in heart rate, eye-hand coordination, and adding speed. Students wrote a journal-style article using pooled class data. Students were prepared to write the paper by several methods that were designed to improve academic language skills, including a library training exercise, "modeling" of the writing assignment, and drafting of subsections of the paper. This multistep neurophysiology project represents a significant commitment of time by both students and instructors, but produces a valuable finished product and ideally gives introductory students a positive first experience with science.
A problem-based learning course in physiology for undergraduate and graduate basic science students.
Authors: Mierson S
Published: December 2017

In small-group problem-based learning (PBL), students work cooperatively to solve complex, real-world problems. The problems lead the students to learn basic concepts rather than being presented as applications of concepts they have already learned. The goals are for students to learn and be able to apply the disciplinary content, develop critical thinking abilities, and acquire skills of life-long learning, communication, and team building. PBL has been widely used in recent years in medical and related areas of professional education. In those settings each small group typically has its own faculty facilitator. PBL can be successfully adapted for teaching undergraduate and graduate basic science students, in part by having multiple groups meet in one room with a roving facilitator. This report describes a two-semester PBL sequence in organ-systems physiology. To keep the interest of a diverse group of seniors and graduate students, several types of problems were used: clinical, laboratory research-based, real-life scenarios, and published research articles. The majority of students have responded enthusiastically.
Modeling of blood flow as the result of filtration-reabsorption processes in capillaries.
Authors: Kozlova E K , Chernysh A M , Matteys T N
Published: December 2017

In our previous article (Am J Physiol Adv Physiol Educ 272: S26-S30, 1997) we proposed a model that permits analysis for the change of hemodynamics in vessels with local stenosis. This problem is connected with the blood-tissue metabolism. This article continues the classroom research on concepts related to blood flow physiology. We take into consideration the problem of the blood-tissue fluid exchange. A model based on basic principles of hydrodynamics and mathematics is proposed for analysis of "filtration-reabsorption equilibrium" and its disturbances under different external influences. It permits medical students to develop a scientific analytic approach to the solution of physiological and pathophysiological hemodynamics problems.
Information age testing: making rigorous exams fun to write and easy to grade.
Authors: Hiebert S M
Published: December 2017

This essay discusses methods by which an exam writer can achieve three objectives: 1) producing questions that test a student's understanding, defined as the ability to apply knowledge in a novel context; 2) writing questions that require minimal grading time; and 3) keeping current and excited about the field, which is critical for transmitting personal enthusiasm to students. Included are descriptions of practical, time-saving methods for processing and filing examination material; ways to use readily available databases for quickly generating rigorous, interesting questions, with examples of questions generated in this way; suggestions for structuring questions so that they are easily graded; and general advice for preparing students to take this kind of examination.
DESIGN AND EVALUATION OF A NATIONAL SET OF LEARNING OBJECTIVES: THE MEDICAL PHYSIOLOGY LEARNING OBJECTIVES PROJECT
Authors: Carroll Robert G.
Published: December 2017

In 1998, the American Physiological Society (APS) and the Association of Chairs of Departments of Physiology (ACDP) began collaboration on a project to develop a set of physiology learning objectives for medical students. Over the next 2 years, more than 50 physiologists collaborated in the development a comprehensive draft containing its 695 learning objectives. Faculty in 31 medical schools in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico evaluated these objectives. On the basis of this evaluation, the ACDP recommended deleting 13 of them. The final project, containing 682 objectives, was approved in December 2000 by the ACDP and published on the APS website http://www.the-aps.org/education/MedPhysObj/medcor.htm . The identification of the “content” of medical physiology instruction provides the APS and the ACDP with a tool to introduce emerging topics, such as the physiology of aging and gender differences, at a national level. The medical physiology learning objectives project provides a guide for directing current and future medical physiology instruction in the United States.
ACTIVE LEARNING OF RESPIRATORY PHYSIOLOGY IMPROVES PERFORMANCE ON RESPIRATORY PHYSIOLOGY EXAMINATIONS
Authors: Rao Sumangala P. , DiCarlo Stephen E.
Published: December 2017

Active involvement in the learning process has been suggested to enhance creative thinking, judgement, interpretation, and problem-solving skills. Therefore, educators are encouraged to create an active-learning environment by incorporating active-learning strategies into the class. However, there is very little documentation of the effectiveness of active-learning strategies. Furthermore, faculty are often reluctant to incorporate new strategies without documentation of the effectiveness of these strategies. To address this concern, we compared the performance of two individual classes on an identical respiratory physiology examination. One class was taught respiratory physiology using active-learning strategies. The other class was taught respiratory physiology using the traditional lecture format. The results document that students who learned using active-learning strategies did significantly better ( P < 0.05) on the respiratory physiology examination than students who learned by the traditional lecture format (61 ± 2.2 vs. 86 ± 1.0). Thus, by actively involving students in the learning process, academic performance is enhanced.
THE EFFECTS OF DISCOVERY LEARNING IN A LOWER-DIVISION BIOLOGY COURSE
Authors: Wilke R. Russell , Straits William J.
Published: December 2017

This study investigated discovery learning pedagogy and its effects on students’ achievement and attitudes toward instruction in a lower-division biology course, entitled Structure and Function of Organisms. Instruction was primarily lecture-based but included four discovery learning activities. Results indicate that students had greater achievement on content learned through discovery methods than lecture-based instruction. Findings regarding students’ attitudes toward discovery-based instruction suggest that students enjoyed active, discovery-based problems, believed that discovery helped them gain an understanding of the material and helped them to develop skills that could be used in other courses. The study presented here shows that a moderate amount of discovery learning used in combination with traditional methods of instruction may be an effective means for promoting students’ achievement.
Evaluating the impact of physical renovation, computerization, and use of an inquiry approach in an undergraduate, allied health human anatomy and physiology lab
Authors: Harrison Jon F. , Nichols Jennifer S. , Whitmer Allison C.
Published: December 2017

This paper describes and evaluates a major renovation of a human anatomy and physiology lab for allied health students. A Howard Hughes Medical Institute award funded an extensive collaboration between faculty involved in teaching the course and faculty with expertise in industrial and furniture design. The resulting physical lab has unique features designed to improve work in groups, student movement, and integration of computers with wet laboratories. The anatomy curriculum was switched from fetal pig dissections to the use of human cadavers, computer animations, and plastic models. An inquiry approach was integrated into the physiology curriculum. Student attitude surveys suggest that the physical and curricular changes resulted in a significant increase in student learning. An experiment designed to specifically test the effect of new vs. old equipment did not support a benefit to new equipment independent of changes in the lab physical environment and curriculum. Because the improvements in student attitude surveys occurred in the physiology but not the anatomy labs, we suggest that at least a portion of the increase is due to the institution of the inquiry approach.
MULTIPLE-FORMAT SESSIONS FOR TEACHING ENDOCRINE PHYSIOLOGY
Authors: Legan Sandra J.
Published: December 2017

The University of Kentucky medical curriculum was revised in 1994 to implement a more interactive approach. The Endocrine Physiology section of the new physiology course, Human Function, was modified from its former daily lecture and weekly laboratory format to eight daily 3½-h sessions. Each session is composed of four components: a didactic lecture, a whole class discussion session, a quiz, and a patient presentation. These components are presented in a staggered format over the course of 2 days, i.e., the lecture is presented on the first day, and the remaining three components take place on the second day. This allows students to assimilate the new lecture material before participating in the discussion session, quiz, and patient presentation, which are more interactive. This format has been received favorably by the students because of its variety, and it is easier to keep up with the material.
Mechanical properties of taenia coli smooth muscle in spontaneous contraction
Authors: Price J. M. , Patitucci P. , Fung Y. C.
Published: December 2017

The following mechanical tests have been performed on spontaneously contracting taenia coli: isometric step stretch, isotonic step loading, and length-tension. Passive stress-strain tests have also been done. Information on spontaneous contraction was more readily obtained in isometric tests. In length-tension tests, each isometric contraction was analyzed on a phase plane which is a representation of muscle stress, sigma(t), versus the rate of change of stress, sigma(t). The curve in the phase plane provided parameters for describing spontaneous contraction as a function of muscle length, L. The maximum active stress in a cycle of spontaneous contraction, S(L)max, and the maximum rate of increasing active stress, [S(L)]max, were shown to depend on L in the same way. Both parameters attain a maximum value (upper bound) at the same muscle length, Lmax. When L less than Lmax, the minimum stress in a spontaneous contraction, sigma(l)min, is negligible. If L greater than Lmax, sigma(L)min increases nonlinearly and is equal to the passive stress, tau(L), in an epinephrine-relaxed muscle. The results show that the ratio of [S(L)]max to S(L)max, eta(L), is constant for a physiological range of muscle length. This suggests that eta(L) may be used as an index of contractility for taenia coli.
Dynamic stiffness of rabbit mesotubarium smooth muscle: effect of isometric length
Authors: Meiss R. A.
Published: December 2017

The dynamic stiffness of mesotubarium smooth muscle from nonpregnant adult rabbits was measured continuously during isometric contraction by applying small (0.5 percent of the muscle length) sinusoidal length perturbations and measuring the amplitude and phase of the resulting tension perturbations. Stiffness during contraction was directly proportional to muscle tension; during relaxation stiffness at all tensions was significantly increased as compared to the values encountered during the rise of tension. Peak isometric tension and dynamic stiffness (determined at a common tension level) both decreased at shorter muscle lengths; the relative falloff in stiffness was significantly less than the tension decrease. Varying levels of muscle activation (obtained by changing stimulus strength and by applying quick releases to active muscle) had little effect on the measured elastic modulus. Comparisons of these results with published data on single-cell contractile properties imply a cellular locus for a portion of the measured stiffness.
An inexpensive, high output voltage, voltage clamp for epithelial membranes
Authors: Schoen H. F. , Candia O. A.
Published: December 2017

A circuit is described that can produce a high output voltage to automatically short-circuit an epithelial tissue mounted in an Ussing chamber. Because of its high output voltage it can short-circuit preparations requiring over 500 muA even in conjunction with high-resistance agar bridges. The circuit, which is easy to build, uses an inexpensive, low-voltage, integrated circuit operational amplifier, which is electrically isolated from the high-voltage part of the circuit by an optical isolator. The device can also be modified for use as a high impedance preamplifier for monitoring the spontaneous membrane potential.
Stimulus-secretion coupling in the rat lacrimal gland
Authors: Putney J. W. , VandeWalle C. M. , Leslie B. A.
Published: December 2017

The role of calcium in stimulus-secretion coupling in the lacrimal gland was investigated. Rat exorbital lacrimal gland slices released peroxidase into the incubation medium after muscarinic or alpha-adrenergic receptor stimulation. In both cases, secretion appeared to involve exocytosis as revealed by electron microscopy. Secretion due to the muscarinic agonist carbachol was inhibited by Ca omission and by lanthanum. Secretion due to the alpha-adrenergic agonist phenylephrine was inhibited by Ca omission at 10(-5) M concentration but not at 10(-4) M concentration. The effects of 10(-4) M phenylephrine could be blocked by lanthanum or by reduction of extracellular Na. Both agonists stimulated 45Ca efflux, but phenylephrine was less efficacious. These results suggest that the agonists may cause exocytosis by stimulating influx of Ca or release of cellular Ca. Sodium may play a role in the Ca-release mechanism.
Evaluation of oxidative phosphorylation in hearts from euthyroid, hypothyroid, and hyperthyroid rats
Authors: Nishiki K. , Erecinska M. , Wilson D. F. , Cooper S.
Published: December 2017

The energy relationships between cytosolic and mitochondrial metabolism were studied in the hearts from euthyroid, hypothyroid, and hyperthyroid rats. Isolated mitochondria showed high respiratory control ratios and impermeability to exogenous NADH. Hypo- and hyperthyroidism, respectively, resulted in lower and higher contents of both cytochromes per mitochondrion and mitochondrial protein per gram of wet weight of heart without changes in the ratio of cytochrome c to cytochrome aa3. In isolated perfused heart, the hyperthyroid state led to an increase in work rate and thereby an elevation of Vo2, which resulted in an increase oxidation-reduction turnover number for the cytochromes. An agreement was found between [ATP]/[ADP][Pi] of cytosolic free adenine nucleotides and the value calculated from a mathematical model of mitochondrial respiration. This implies that mitochondrial respiration is controlled at the cytochrome oxidase reaction and that oxidative phosphorylation in intact tissue is tightly coupled irrespective of thyroid state. It is concluded that thyroid hormone causes an increase in the mitochondrial mass, mitochondrial cytochrome content, and respiratory rate, and consequently expands the capacity of oxidative metabolism without an uncoupling effect on oxidative phosphorylation.