bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sequential application of mineralized electroconductive scaffold and electrical stimulation for efficient osteogenesis
Authors: Oftadeh Mohammad Omid , Bakhshandeh Behnaz , Dehghan Mohammad Mehdi , Khojasteh Arash
Published: December 2017

Osteogenic differentiation is enhanced by many inductive factors including biochemical agents, biomechanical stresses, and electrical stimulation. Regularly studies have focused on one factor at a time, while synergies can promote more effective and functional osteogenesis. Herein, for the first time, functional synergism between application of electrical stimulation and HA nanoparticles was evaluated in osteogenic differentiation. Prepared electrospun biocompatible conductive scaffold by amalgamating chitosan, aniline‐pentamer, and hydroxyapatite incorporation was seeded by human bone‐marrow‐derived mesenchymal stem cells. The cells seeded on the scaffolds with and without hydroxyapatite were exposed to electrical stimulation and subsequently, osteogenic molecular markers and related signaling pathways were investigated. In general, all investigated osteogenic markers (osteocalcin, alkaline phosphatase, osteonectin, and Runx2) were upregulated transcriptionally in the cells seeded on the chitosan‐embedded scaffolds. Separate utilization of electrical stimulation or hydroxyapatite‐enhanced osteogenesis, while the cells exposed to both stimulators simultaneously, expressed higher levels of some of osteogenic genes significantly. Considering the functions and the positions of the markers in osteogenic signaling pathways, it can be concluded that HA might cooperate in the allocation of stem cells to osteoprogenitors in the early phase of osteogenesis while electrical stimulation helps committed cells with maturation and acquiring functional phenotypes. Altogether investigation of the synergism between different stimulators and exploiting the interactions in an optimized manner could lead to more efficient osteogenesis protocol for effective bone regeneration and tissue engineering. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 106A: 1200–1210, 2018.
Influence of ciprofloxacin‐based additives on the hydrolysis of nanofiber polyurethane membranes
Authors: Wright Meghan E. E. , Wong Andrew T. , Levitt Daniel , Parrag Ian C. , Yang Meilin , Santerre J. Paul
Published: December 2017

A degradable polycarbonate urethane (PCNU) and an antimicrobial oligomer (AO) were used to generate anti‐infective nanofiber scaffolds through blend electrospinning. The AO consists of two molecules of ciprofloxacin (CF) bound through hydrolysable linkages to triethylene glycol. The membranes were conceived for use as tissue engineering scaffolds for the regeneration of soft tissues for the periodontium, where there would be a need for a local dose of antibiotic to the periodontal space as the scaffold degrades in order to prevent biomaterial‐associated infection. Scaffolds were made using AO at 7 and 15% w/w equivalent CF, and compared to scaffolds with 15% w/w CF (with HCl counterion). AO was hydrolyzed and released CF continuously over 28 days, while the 15% w/w CF HCl scaffolds showed a burst release within hours, with no subsequent release in the subsequent 28 day period. Released CF from both the AO and CF HCl scaffolds had a similar minimum inhibitory concentration to that of off‐the‐shelf CF. Interestingly, the introduction of drug in either form (AO or CF HCl) was found to increase the hydrolytic stability of the electrospun degradable PCNU scaffold matrix itself. The alteration of hydrolysis kinetics was attributed to changes in the hydrogen bonding character and microstructure within the scaffolds, introduced by the presence of CF. This study has revealed that in generatingin situdrug release systems, the secondary effects of the added drug on the degradation properties of the polymeric carriers must be considered, particularly for systems that act dually as tissue engineering scaffolds. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 106A: 1211–1222, 2018.
Pedagogy in Action: Teaching Culturally Relevant Leadership
Authors: Chunoo (“V”) Vivechkanand S. , Callahan Kathleen
Published: December 2017

All too frequently, leadership educators are positioned to teach from culturally sensitive and inclusivity‐minded perspectives, yet rarely are they prepared to do so effectively. This exploration of culturally relevant leadership pedagogy begins by offering a broad literature base to understand culturally relevant pedagogy from a range of diverse scholars. Drawing from the Culturally Relevant Leadership Learning framework (Bertrand Jones, Guthrie, & Osteen, 2016), we synthesize recommendations into key considerations for leadership educators. Finally, we conclude with the case of Anytown—an example of culturally relevant leadership pedagogy in action beyond the classroom.
AOTEMPO‐mediated dynamic vulcanization: Synthesis of impact‐modified polypropylene
Authors: Bodley Michael W. , Parent J. Scott
Published: December 2017

New chemistry for controlling the dynamics and yields of radical‐mediated polyolefin modifications is adapted to prepare impact‐resistant thermoplastic vulcanizates. Dynamic vulcanization of polypropylene (PP) + poly(ethylene‐co‐octene) (EOC) blends using small amounts of acryloyloxy‐2,2,6,6‐tetramethylpiperidine‐N‐oxyl (AOTEMPO) overcomes the limitations of conventional peroxide formulations, giving products with fine EOC particle dispersions, high PP matrix viscosities, and superior mechanical toughness. Guidelines for selecting starting materials and reagent concentrations are developed before assessing the merits of an AOTEMPO‐derived products relative to benchmark blend materials. Measurements of dispersed‐phase size distributions and melt‐state oscillatory shear rheological properties are combined with solid‐state impact resistance, flexural, and tensile data to identify the strengths and limitations of AOTEMPO chemistry with respect to impact‐toughening applications. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 58:1999–2007, 2018. © 2017 Society of Plastics Engineers
Erratum: ‘The lover of the fine arts is well amused with the choice pictures that adorn the house’
Authors: Avery-Quash Susanna
Published: December 2017

The nucleus of the National Gallery’s collection was formed by a group of thirty-eight paintings, mostly Continental Old Masters, amassed by John Julius Angerstein (1735–1823). Following Angerstein’s death, Lord Liverpool’s government purchased these pictures and the lease on Angerstein’s London town house on Pall Mall, which became the first home of the National Gallery in 1824. What has been overlooked is the ‘other’ Angerstein collection, which was housed in his suburban villa, Woodlands, at Blackheath. This second collection is examined here, in terms of its location, contents, display and access, and its inter-relationship with the primary collection. It thereby suggests what ‘the’ Angerstein collection – as opposed to ‘an’ Angerstein collection – would have looked like in its entirety. Consideration is given to the typicality or otherwise of Angerstein’s collection at Woodlands, especially in relation to its holdings of British art.
Getting Social
Authors: Fiorentino Lisa , Haley Tammy
Published: December 2017

Outcome assessment has become standard in institutions of higher learning and is a requirement of State Boards of Nursing and major accrediting bodies, including all accrediting agencies for programs in nursing. Appropriate identification of student learning outcomes and program outcomes to ensure the collection of relevant and meaningful data is essential. Although much has been written about what should be included in assessment, little information exists on how to best collect the required data for evaluation. This article describes an innovative approach to improving alumni response rates to assess program outcomes through the use of social media.
Self-Esteem, Locus of Control, and First-Time NCLEX-RN Passage of BSN Students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities
Authors: Chavis Pamella Ivey
Published: December 2017

AIM

Relationships between self-esteem, locus of control (LOC), and first-time passage of National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN®) were examined at baccalaureate nursing programs at two historically black colleges and universities.

BACKGROUND

Shortages continue to exceed demands for RNs prepared at the baccalaureate level. Inconsistent pass rates on the NCLEX-RN for graduates of historically black colleges and universities impede the supply of RNs.

METHOD

Surveys and archival data were used to examine characteristics of the sample and explore relationships among variables.

RESULTS

All participants (N = 90) reported high self-esteem and internal LOC. Models suggested that all those with high self-esteem and internal LOC would pass the NCLEX-RN; only 85 percent passed the first time.

CONCLUSION

Statistical analysis revealed a lack of statistical significance between self-esteem, LOC, and first-time passage. Variables not included in the study may have affected first-time passage.
Complete Lower Lip Reconstruction with a Large Lip Switch Flap and a Composite Modiolus Advancement Flap
Authors: Gunnarsson Gudjon L. , Demmissie Meheret Beferkadu , Havemann Ingemar , Topstad Thom Kare , Thomsen Jorn Bo
Published: December 2017

Total loss of the lower lip is debilitating and poses a reconstructive challenge. Aiming to restore oral continence and function and also cosmetic appearance, a successful reconstruction has a huge impact on the quality of life for the individual patient. Early sources of local tissue rearrangement for lip reconstruction date back 3000 years, with earliest reports of lip switch procedures more than 2 centuries ago in Europe, when noma was still endemic in Europe, indicating that the anatomy was better understood by the barber surgeons of the past than we like to acknowledge. We are still faced with such challenging cases all over the world where resources are limited. Our current understanding of perforator anatomy and blood supply makes more frequent revisits to flaps of the past with modern advances. Innovative solutions are imperative for salvage, and old ideas tend to reappear when they prove to be useful. Herein, we describe in open access a new reconstructive method where we combined a large lip switch flap together with a composite advancement modiolus flap to reconstruct a whole lower lip and the donor defect of the upper lip all at once, a procedure that is simple to perform and works in settings where it is greatly needed.
Epidemiology of Infectious Complications During Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation in Children
Authors: Castagnola Elio , Gargiullo Livia , Loy Anna , Tatarelli Paola , Caviglia Ilaria , Bandettini Roberto , Grasso Chiara , Lampugnani Elisabetta , Pezzato Stefano , Tuo Pietro , Moscatelli Andrea
Published: December 2017

Background:

Infections represent a severe complication of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Aim of the present study was to describe the epidemiology of infections acquired during ECMO in a tertiary care children’s hospital.

Methods:

Retrospective analysis of clinical records of patients undergoing ECMO between January 2009 and December 2016. For each patient, data were collected on clinical characteristics, modality of ECMO support, site and etiology of documented infections, survival within 1 week after ECMO weaning and/or at pediatric intensive care unit discharge. These data were employed to evaluate overall infection prevalence, infection rate expressed as episodes/1000 days of support and cumulative risk estimates of infections occurring during ECMO.

Results:

During the study period, a total of 46 ECMO procedures were performed. The overall prevalence of documented infections was 33%, with an infection rate of 27.22 and a cumulative risk of 55%. Bloodstream infection represented the most frequently documented (53%), followed by pneumonia (40%). Coagulase-negative staphylococci and Pseudomonas aeruginosa prevailed as isolated pathogens. Overall survival was 59%, and 46% among those developing infections during ECMO.

Conclusions:

ECMO is a procedure at high risk for infections. Our data, limited to 1 center, represent a recent benchmark for further investigations.
Biennial Pattern of Rotavirus Gastroenteritis in The Netherlands and a Shifting Age Distribution After a Low Rotavirus Season, 2010–2016
Authors: Verberk Janneke D. M. , Pijnacker Roan , Bruijning-Verhagen Patricia , Franz Eelco , Vennema Harry , Hooiveld Mariëtte , Hahné Susan J. M. , de Melker Hester E.
Published: December 2017

A hyperendemic rotavirus season was expected after a low-endemic 2014 season in the Netherlands. Rotavirus detections were however similar in 2015 and lower in 2016 compared with 2010–2013. Gastroenteritis consultation rates were also similar in 2015, but the age distribution shifted to older children because of an accumulation of noninfected children. Results indicate a possible shift to a biennial rotavirus pattern.
Temporal Patterns of Cervical Cancer Screening Among Danish Women 55 Years and Older Diagnosed With Cervical Cancer
Authors: Hammer Anne , Hee Lene , Blaakær Jan , Gravitt Patti
Published: December 2017

Objective

The aim of the study was to describe the screening history in postmenopausal women diagnosed with cervical cancer during 1990–2013 by age and screening period.

Materials and Methods

This hospital-based cohort study included women 55 years and older diagnosed with cervical cancer at Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark, during 1990–2013. Information on their previous history of cervical cancer screening was obtained from the Danish Pathology Databank.

Results

Overall, 47.0% (95% CI = 42.6–51.4) had no record of screening before their cervical cancer diagnosis. This proportion declined over calendar time from 69.8% (95% CI = 61.4–77.3) in 1990–1994 to 20.0% (95% CI = 12.7–29.2) in 2010–2013 and increased by age from 22.5% (95% CI = 14.6–32.0) in women aged 55 to 59 years to 63.2% (95% CI = 49.3–75.6) in women 80 years and older. Cases living in the organized screening era (i.e., birth cohorts 1943–1960) were more likely to have a record of screening than women in the preorganized screening era (i.e., birth cohorts 1901–1942) (p < .001). Of all cases, 17.7% (n = 91) had a record of screening within 5 years of diagnosis and the proportion was highest in the most recent periods and in women aged 55 to 64 years. Of cases with a record of screening within 5 years, 84.6% (95% CI = 14.5–21.2) had a normal cytology result, whereas only 8.8% (95% CI = 2.9–14.7) had high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion or worse.

Conclusions

Cervical cancer in older women may partly be attributed to a lack of screening or due to a failure in screening. However, older women were in general less screened because screening was unavailable.
Left-Lateralized Contributions of Saccades to Cortical Activity during a One-Back Word Recognition Task
Authors: Chang Yu-Cherng C. , Khan Sheraz , Taulu Samu , Kuperberg Gina , Brown Emery N. , Hämäläinen Matti S. , Temereanca Simona
Published: December 2017

Saccadic eye movements are an inherent component of natural reading, yet their contribution to information processing at subsequent fixation remains elusive. Here we use anatomically-constrained magnetoencephalography (MEG) to examine cortical activity following saccades as healthy human subjects engaged in a one-back word recognition task. This activity was compared with activity following external visual stimulation that mimicked saccades. A combination of procedures were employed to eliminate saccadic ocular artifacts from the MEG signal. Both saccades and saccade-like external visual stimulation produced early-latency responses beginning ~70 ms after onset in occipital cortex and spreading through the ventral and dorsal visual streams to temporal, parietal and frontal cortices. Robust differential activity following the onset of saccades versus similar external visual stimulation emerged during 150-350 ms in a left-lateralized cortical network. This network included (i) left lateral occipitotemporal and nearby inferotemporal cortex, (ii) left posterior Sylvian fissure and nearby multimodal cortex, and (iii) medial parietooccipital, posterior cingulate and retrosplenial cortices. Moreover, this left-lateralized network colocalized with word repetition priming effects. Together, results suggest that central saccadic mechanisms influence a left-lateralized language network in occipitotemporal and temporal cortex above and beyond saccadic influences at preceding stages of information processing during visual word recognition.
Cell‐specific resetting of mouse islet cellular clocks by glucagon, glucagon‐like peptide 1 and somatostatin
Authors: Petrenko V. , Dibner C.
Published: December 2017

Aim

Molecular clocks, operative in pancreatic islet cells, represent an intrinsic mechanism regulating intracellular metabolism and hormone secretion. Glucagon, somatostatin and glucagon‐like peptide 1 (GLP‐1) are essential coordinators of islet physiology. Here, we assess the synchronizing capacity of glucagon, somatostatin and GLP‐1 on pancreatic α‐ and β‐cell circadian clocks.

Methods

Triple transgenic mice, expressing a circadian PER2::luciferase (luc) reporter combined with α‐ and β‐cell‐specific fluorescent reporters, were employed. Isolated pancreatic islets and fluorescence‐activated cell sorting‐separated α‐ and β‐cells were synchronized with glucagon, somatostatin analogue or GLP‐1 mimetics, with subsequent real‐time PER2::luc bioluminescence recording. Gene expression of Gcgr, Sstr2, Sstr3 and Glp1r in islet cells was assessed by RNA sequencing and RT‐qPCR.

Results

Glucagon and GLP‐1 mimetics (liraglutide and exenatide) induced high‐amplitude rhythmic expression of the PER2::luc reporter in β‐cells, but not in α‐cells, while the somatostatin analogue octreotide generated a significant phase shift between α‐ and β‐cells. Enrichment of Gcgr and Glp1r transcripts was detected in β‐cells compared to their α‐cell counterparts. The synchronizing effect of glucagon was dose‐dependent and mediated by the adenylate cyclase signalling cascade, as it was diminished by adenylate cyclase inhibitor.

Conclusion

We conclude that proglucagon‐derived peptides and somatostatin exhibit receptor‐mediated cell‐specific synchronizing effects for mouse α‐ and β‐cell oscillators. Differential islet cell clock modulation by glucagon and somatostatin may represent a physiological mechanism underlying paracrine regulation of rhythmic glucagon and insulin secretion. The reported here strong synchronizing properties of GLP‐1 mimetics, widely used for treatment of type 2 diabetes, are of high clinical relevance.
Total Factor Productivity of the Japanese Rice Industry
Authors: Kondo Katsunobu , Yamamoto Yasutaka , Sasaki Jun
Published: December 2017

We calculate partial factor productivity and total factor productivity (TFP) indices for rice production using panel data across 42 Japanese prefectures from 1996 to 2006, and perform panel unit root tests of TFP convergence across prefectures. We find that during this period, the partial factor productivity growth rates for capital, land and materials stagnated at the aggregate national level, as did the TFP growth rate, despite a large increase in labor productivity. We also identify evidence of a convergence in TFP across Japanese prefectures.
Are Self‐Efficacious Individuals more Sensitive to Organizational Justice Issues? The Influence of Self‐Efficacy on the Relationship between Justice Perceptions and Turnover
Authors: Aşkun Duysal , Yeloğlu Hakkı Okan , Yıldırım Olcay Bige
Published: December 2017

Moderating role of self‐efficacy has been studied in several research contexts which also frequently involved organizations. According to the theoretical framework borrowed by social cognitive theory and referent cognitions theory, we have decided to explore the moderating role of self‐efficacy in the relationship between justice perceptions and turnover intentions. Nine‐hundred and four employees coming from private companies in Istanbul and Ankara participated in our study. Our results revealed important findings in relation to the moderating effects of different self‐efficacy dimensions. Many interaction effects were as expected, except for those high in willingness to expend effort in completing the behavior. We discussed the results in light of certain theoretical assumptions and offered related recommendations for organizational practice and future research.
Establishing a comprehensive genetic diagnosis strategy for hemophilia B and its application in Chinese population
Authors: Lin X. Y. , Wang J. , Xiao X. , Xu Y. W. , Yan Q. J. , Jiang W. Y.
Published: December 2017

Introduction

To reduce the incidence of hemophilia B (HB) which with no complete cure currently, prenatal diagnosis and preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) are effective and feasible means. However, previous studies about genetic diagnosis in HB mostly just focused on the detection of patients and carriers. Here, we established a comprehensive genetic diagnosis strategy for HB and worked it out in Chinese population. The strategy includes the detection of patients and carriers, prenatal diagnosis, and PGD.

Methods

Seven unrelated HB families from Chinese population involved in this study. Firstly, probands and available members were carried out coagulation laboratory assays, and the clinical information has been recorded. Secondly, we used DNA direct sequencing to screen the whole FIX gene of them. The pathogenicity of novel mutations was verified according to 2015 ACMG‐AM guidelines. For prenatal diagnosis, a mix of DNA direct sequencing and STR linkage analysis was employed. To explore a better PGD protocol, Karyomapping was first applied in PGD of HB, comparing with conventional PCR‐based methods.

Results

Six different pathogenic mutations including 1 novel duplication (c.660_661dup ATCA) were identified. The results of prenatal diagnosis were consistent with birth outcomes. In the PGD case, 4 of 11 embryos were confirmed to be normal and one of them was transferred and led to a healthy birth.

Conclusions

The established genetic diagnosis strategy for HB in our study was comprehensive and well applied in clinic practice. Besides, we recommended that DNA direct sequencing combined with Karyomapping was a better PGD protocol.
AN ANALYSIS OF SYNDICATED LOAN ANNOUNCEMENTS DURING THE GLOBAL FINANCIAL CRISIS
Authors: Gasbarro Dominic , Le Kim‐Song , Schwebach Robert G. , Zumwalt J. Kenton
Published: December 2017

The recent financial crisis presents an opportunity to examine stock market reactions to syndicated loan decisions reached by borrowers and lenders regarding loan type and loan purpose. We find that during the crisis, the renegotiation flexibility provided by revolving credit is positively valued, whereas during the low‐interest‐rate period following the crisis, both revolving and term loans are viewed favorably. We also examine information asymmetry effects and find that after the crisis, low‐creditworthy borrowers generate a positive market response, but during the crisis, high‐creditworthy borrowers are viewed positively and low‐creditworthy borrowers are punished by the market.
Mismatch between dietary requirements for lipid by a predator and availability of lipid in prey
Authors: Wiggins Will D. , Wilder Shawn M.
Published: December 2017

Growth is an important factor in predicting an organism's overall success as an adult. Understanding how abiotic and biotic factors influence body size is key to predicting how environmental changes will impact organisms and predicting optimal behaviors under varying conditions. Food items can vary widely in nutrient content and this variation can affect growth. We tested how the quantity and macronutrient content of live prey affected the growth of juvenile jumping spiders, Phiddipus audax, using 420 spiderlings raised on one of 21 diets. In addition, we measured the nutrient content of prey from the field and compared average prey nutrient content with the diet at which spiders maximized growth. Our results show that the quantity and nutrient content of prey have significant and interacting effects on the growth of an actively hunting predator. In particular, spiders grew larger in body size (tibia/patella length and posterior lateral eye width) and were heavier on diets with higher lipid content. Yet, data on the nutrient content of prey from the field shows that most potential prey have high protein and low lipid content in their bodies. This apparent mismatch between spider nutritional requirements and prey nutrient availability likely presents a challenge to spiders seeking to maximize growth in the field. Several hypotheses for how these predators overcome this challenge to reach the large body sizes observed in the field are discussed.
The physiology teacher, a facilitator of learning at all levels.
Authors: Akers T K
Published: December 2017

Academic physiologists in universities have three jobs: teaching, research, and service. They also operate at many levels of education: undergraduate, graduate, and medical. Each level carries special problems and special rewards. It is argued in this paper that teachers should be facilitators in learning no matter what level or what aspect of the job. If physiologists behave as facilitators of learning at all levels, then they will be able to help undergraduates by the most appropriate choice of textbooks and handbooks; to develop case histories, scenarios, and summaries; and to show students how physiology got to where it is, developing in the students a healthy concept of skepticism. This can be expanded when the students are graduate students and the teacher acts as an advisor and is still facilitating the students' learning.
Use of computer-assisted courseware in teaching neuroscience: the Graphic Brain.
Authors: Teyler T J , Voneida T J
Published: December 2017

We describe the development of a computer-assisted instructional tool for the neurosciences. Designed to run on readily available MS-DOS computers, the Graphic Brain utilizes computer-generated static and animated images and accompanying text to assist in instruction of neuroanatomy and neurophysiology. We have used the Graphic Brain in our medical neuroscience course and report that, as measured anecdotally and by test scores, it facilitates student comprehension of the space- and time-varying aspects of anatomy and physiology. When the Graphic Brain is used as an adjunct to lecture, we find that we can cover the same material in 75% of the time required using traditional methods.
The life and death of laboratory teaching of medical physiology: a personal narrative. Part II.
Authors: Davenport H W
Published: December 2017

Part II of this essay describes the author's participation in the laboratory course instituted by Eugene Landis at Harvard in 1943, a course that drew heavily on Thomas Lewis's example. He describes in detail his own methods of laboratory teaching at Utah and Michigan when, as department chair, he had the responsibility for organizing courses in physiology for medical students. In conclusion, the author laments the curtailment and eventual abolition of laboratory teaching in the 1970s that resulted from curriculum reform, student revolt, and faculty indifference.
Ten years of basic medical physiology in the Mercer problem-based curriculum.
Authors: Reagan C R , Menninger R P
Published: December 2017

In our curriculum, students learn basic medical physiology and pathophysiology during a 74-week integrated multidisciplinary program. This problem-based program consists of two phases aimed at student acclimation to the educational approach and to coverage of fundamental information, followed by 10 phases devoted to in-depth coverage of the organ systems. Physiological principles are given major emphasis during these latter 10 phases. In this approach, students meet in small groups, identify basic science learning issues (including physiology) from written biomedical cases, research the issues, and discuss these issues in relation to each case. These groups (6-7 students plus a tutor) meet for 3-hour sessions three times each week during each phase. Students receive cases, along with study guides designed to assist in selecting appropriate information sources for each phase. Each student is evaluated on group process skills, oral presentation and defense of a case analysis, and a multiple-choice exam. Internal and external [National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) Part I] evaluations for the Classes of 1987-1993 indicate that our problem-based approach results in student learning of medical physiology.
Certainty and uncertainty in science: the subjectivistic concept of probability in physiology and medicine.
Authors: Jevning R , Anand R , Biedebach M
Published: December 2017

Most physiological scientists have restricted understanding of probability as relative frequency in a large collection (for example, of atoms). Most appropriate for the relatively circumscribed problems of the physical sciences, this understanding of probability as a physical property has conveyed the widespread impression that the "proper" statistical "method" can eliminate uncertainty by determining the "correct" frequency or frequency distribution. However, many relatively recent developments in the theory of probability and decision making deny such exalted statistical ability. Proponents of Bayes's subjectivist theory, for example, assert that probability is "degree of belief," a more tentative idea than relative frequency or physical probability, even though degree of belief assessment may utilize frequency information. In the subjectivist view, probability and statistics are means of expressing a consistent opinion (a probability) to handle uncertainty but never means to eliminate it. In the physiological sciences the contrast between the two views is critical, because problems dealt with are generally more complex than those of physics, requiring judgments and decisions. We illustrate this in testing the efficacy of penicillin by showing how the physical probability method of "hypothesis testing" may contribute to the erroneous idea that science consists of "verified truths" or "conclusive evidence" and how this impression is avoided in subjectivist probability analysis.
An educational tool for understanding the cardiopulmonary changes associated with aging.
Authors: Chandler M P , DiCarlo S E
Published: December 2017

Normal aging is associated with cardiac, vascular, and pulmonary adaptations that significantly affect the individual's ability to maintain homeostasis. To understand the changes associated with aging, we developed a laboratory exercise that compares and contrasts the cardiopulmonary responses to exercise in a young and an older individual. We also developed this interactive tool because it is our experience that learning is better facilitated when students are encouraged, and required, to become an active and integral part of the educational process. This exercise provides a unique opportunity to analyze, integrate, and interpret the changes associated with aging because more is learned about how a system operates when it is forced to perform than when it is idle. In this laboratory exercise, basic anatomical and physiological data about aging are provided. Subsequently, figures are presented that illustrate the responses of specific cardiopulmonary variables during exercise (e.g., heart rate, cardiac output, blood pressure), and the students are challenged to analyze and assimilate information from the figures, answer questions, make calculations, and plot graphs. The laboratory does not require equipment or software, only rules and pencils. Questions, and answers to them, are provided in the appendix. The emphasis is on the application of basic science principles, interpretation of pictorial or tabular material, and problem solving skills. In addition, an evaluation instrument was developed to assess the effectiveness of this instructional tool in an academic setting. Specifically, the evaluation instrument addressed four major components, including aims and objectives, content of materials, components and organization, and summary and recommendations.
An educational tool for understanding the cardiopulmonary changes associated with heart failure.
Authors: Chen Y , DiCarlo S E
Published: December 2017

We wanted a new and innovative method of engaging students in interactive learning. To this end, we developed an educational tool that compares and contracts the cardiopulmonary responses to exercise in an individual with heart failure with an individual with normal cardiac function. This exercise provides a unique opportunity to analyze, integrate, and interpret the changes associated with heart failure because more is learned about how a system operates when it is forced to perform than when it is idle. In this laboratory, basic anatomical and physiological data about heart failure are provided. Subsequently, figures are presented that illustrate the response of specific cardiopulmonary variables during exercise (e.g., heart rate, cardiac output, blood pressure), and the students are challenged to analyze and assimilate information from figures, answer questions, make calculations, and plot graphs. The answers to the questions are provided. The students reported that this tool was an interesting and thoughtful approach to learning cardiopulmonary physiology. We conclude that this method is pedagogically sound inasmuch as students are forced to draw conclusions with directed exercises and questions.
A checklist to help students analyze published articles in basic medical sciences.
Authors: Rangachari P K , Mierson S
Published: December 2017

Because critical analysis of published information is an essential component of scientific life, it is important that students be trained in its practice. Undergraduate students who are more accustomed to reading textbooks and taking lecture notes find it difficult to appreciate primary publications. To help such students, we have developed a checklist that helps them analyze different components of a research article in basic biomedical sciences. Students used the checklist to analyze critically a published article. The students were assigned an article and asked to write a paper (maximum 2 pages of single-spaced type) assessing it. This assignment has been found useful to both undergraduate and graduate students in pharmacology and physiology. Student responses to a questionnaire were highly favorable; students thought the exercise provided them with some of the essential skills for life-long learning.
Xenopus laevis oocyte: using living cells to teach the theory of cell membrane potential.
Authors: Schwab A , Kersting U , Oberleithner H , Silbernagl S
Published: December 2017

We describe a student course in membrane physiology that includes demonstration of the cell membrane potential of a living cell, the Xenopus laevis oocyte. By use of K+ macroelectrodes and a computer simulation program, students are introduced to the membrane concept on the basis of ion gradients, diffusion potentials, and membrane conductances. Subsequently, some basic principles are demonstrated in living cells by measuring the cell membrane potential of a X. laevis oocyte. The dependence of the cell membrane potential on ion gradients is shown by stepwise elevation of the extracellular K+ concentration. The clinical relevance of disturbances of the K+ homeostasis is discussed in this context. The effect of changing the membrane conductance for particular ions on the cell membrane potential is demonstrated by applying a K+ channel blocker. The experiments are discussed in the context of the action of pharmaceuticals and toxins. This student course on membrane physiology has now been held for 2 yr for medical and dental students, and their response to the oocyte demonstration, as evaluated by a student questionnaire, was mainly positive.
Integrative physiology: some texts and methods of integrative study.
Authors: Engelberg J
Published: December 2017

The development of the integrative dimensions of physiology will require texts and forms of study that differ from those to which we have become accustomed in the areas of specialization. The following two types of texts lie at the heart of integrative study: framework statements and case histories. Framework statements are scientific aphorisms that summarize integrative insights; ordered chains of these statements form conceptual frameworks that stimulate integrative dialogue and thought. Case histories are stories that portray the events in the life of a living being, generally human. The nature of these texts, how framework statements are created, and methods of how texts of this kind may be used in group dialogues are discussed.
Graphic format for teaching long-term control of systemic arterial pressure.
Authors: Faber J J
Published: December 2017

Circulatory homeostasis is a difficult notion. The graphic format presented here facilitates the teaching of long-term control of systemic arterial blood pressure and cardiac output. It is based on the view that the following four "function curves" cooperate in long-term regulation: the relation between blood volume and ventricular filling pressure, the relation between ventricular filling pressure and cardiac output, the relation between cardiac output and peripheral resistance, and the relation between arterial pressure and natriuresis. Positioning the function curves in the format presented here clarifies their cooperativity. The distinction between a nonsteady state and a steady state deserves emphasis. Long-term pathophysiology of the circulation is most easily taught on the basis of the assumption that, generally, there will be a steady state. The format clarifies why some known physiological relations are almost impossible to demonstrate in the intact organism, and it discourages explanations of pathophysiology that are not firmly based on physiology.
Debate: a tool for teaching graduate students.
Authors: Moody-Corbett F
Published: December 2017

The introduction of a formal debate was used to stimulate discussion of neuroscience in our graduate program. The debate had several advantages for encouraging student participation. Several students actively participated in the debate: four debaters and five judges. Faculty coaches helped provide background knowledge and guidance before the debate but were not debaters. Faculty directed the judges in methods of evaluation but were not judges. It was felt that this method of teaching was not only fun, but also provided an opportunity to learn current topics in neuroscience, method of presentation, and critical evaluation.
Student perceptions and learning outcomes of computer-assisted versus traditional instruction in physiology.
Authors: Richardson D
Published: December 2017

This study compared student perceptions and learning outcomes of computer-assisted instruction against those of traditional didactic lectures. Components of Quantitative Circulatory Physiology (Biological Simulators) and Mechanical Properties of Active Muscle (Trinity Software) were used to teach regulation of tissue blood flow and muscle mechanics, respectively, in the course Medical Physiology. These topics were each taught, in part, by 1) standard didactic lectures, 2) computer-assisted lectures, and 3) computer laboratory assignment. Subjective evaluation was derived from a questionnaire assessing student opinions of the effectiveness of each method. Objective evaluation consisted of comparing scores on examination questions generated from each method. On a 1-10 scale, effectiveness ratings were higher (P < 0.0001) for the didactic lectures (7.7) compared with either computer-assisted lecture (3.8) or computer laboratory (4.2) methods. A follow-up discussion with representatives from the class indicated that students did not perceive computer instruction as being time effective. However, examination scores from computer laboratory questions (94.3%) were significantly higher compared with ones from either computer-assisted (89.9%; P < 0.025) or didactic (86.6%; P < 0.001) lectures. Thus computer laboratory instruction enhanced learning outcomes in medical physiology despite student perceptions to the contrary.
A different method of teaching peer review systems.
Authors: Lightfoot J T
Published: December 2017

Students often have difficulty grasping the advantages of the various peer review systems used in scientific publishing. In the described exercise, students are assigned a current study and then write three two-page critiques of the article. The three critiques occur at different times in the semester, and thus the students have differing knowledge bases. The critiques are then assigned to other students for peer review using the double-blind, single-blind, or open review systems. After the submission of each peer review, the class discusses the various advantages and disadvantages of each peer review system. In addition to experiencing peer review, in using this method students also gain an appreciation for the difficulty of judging the merit of a peer's work.
Current and future impact of technology on physiology education.
Authors: Carroll R G
Published: December 2017

There are at least three areas in which technology can impact education: teaching, learning, and assessment. Teaching, when viewed as communication of information, has been transformed by the technology revolution. Word processing, multimedia, distance learning, and access to the World Wide Web are some prominent examples. The impact of technology on learning, defined as knowledge or skill acquired by instruction or study, has been less dramatic, in part because of our limited understanding of cognitive processes. Some forms of assessment, the collection of evidence of learning, have benefited from technology, such as item analysis of multiple-choice questions. To be effective, the focus on instruction must start with the learner and, from there, consider what should be done to enhance learning. An emphasis on what is technologically appropriate, rather than what is technologically possible, will improve the quality of both teaching and learning.
SIMPLE TECHNIQUES SUITABLE FOR STUDENT USE TO RECORD ACTION POTENTIALS FROM THE FROG HEART
Authors: Yoshida Shigeru
Published: December 2017

Demonstrating action potentials during class experiments is very educational for science students. It is not easy, however, to obtain a stable intracellular recording of action potentials from the conventionally used skeletal muscle cells, because the tip of a glass microelectrode often comes out or breaks due to muscle contraction. Here, I present a much simpler recording method using a flexible polyethylene electrode with a wide orifice (∼1 mm) for a bullfrog heart beating on automaticity. Extracellular recordings of action potentials (electrocardiogram) can be obtained by placing an electrode on the cardiac surface, and transmembrane potentials can be obtained by rupturing the membrane with negative pressure, i.e., whole cell configuration. Once attached to the heart by suction, the polyethylene electrode does not easily come off during contraction of the heart. Perfusion of the heart via the postcaval vein offers us opportunities for observing the effects of either changing ionic compositions of solutions or applying drugs. The techniques shown here provide a simple and convenient way to perform a variety of class experiments.
ENDOCRINE PBL IN THE YEAR 2000
Authors: Brewer David W.
Published: December 2017

The Southern Illinois University School of Medicine (SIU-SOM) has utilized problem-based learning (PBL) in its curriculum since 1981, when Dr. Howard Barrows joined the faculty. From 1989 to 2000, SIU-SOM implemented two parallel curricula for the basic science years (years I and II), one curriculum being a problem-based learning curriculum (PBLC). An executive decision to design and implement a single curriculum, to begin in Fall 2000, fostered a review of existing pedagogy upon which to base this new curriculum: C2000. The results of this review, which considered formal outcome measures as well as internal review in consideration of the institutional mission, led to PBL becoming the predominant pedagogy for C2000, albeit with some modifications from its PBLC predecessor. C2000, then, represents the third iteration of PBL in use at SIU-SOM, and its design and rationale offer insight for the teaching of Endocrine Physiology in a PBLC.
PHYSIOLOGY’S RECONDITE CURRICULUM
Authors: Hansen Penelope A.
Published: December 2017

Dr. Penny Hansen is an international physiology educator. She was born in America and became a Canadian citizen, and her husband is from Sweden. Dr. Hansen has a reputation throughout the world from international meetings and visiting professorships in North America and Europe. She received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Ohio, and her PhD and entire academic career have been at Memorial University in St. John’s, Newfoundland, which is closer to London than to New Orleans. She found a hospitable environment and stayed. Remember how some jet planes were grounded on Sept. 11 at Gander, Newfoundland; the local people opened their homes, transported passengers in school buses, and served them free meals for a couple of days.

Dr. Hansen has received local and national awards for her teaching skills. At St. John’s, her ideas about education quickly outgrew the Basic Science Division in the Faculty of Medicine. She went from Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Medical Education to Director of Academic Development for Medicine to director of a center for health professional education for five professional schools. With this track record she might have been chosen to be dean of a medical school.

Dr. Hansen’s most notable contribution to international physiology has been in editing our Society’s teaching journal, Advances in Physiology Education, for nine years. During that time, she has written provocative editorials, encouraged authors from developing countries, and found ways to incorporate fresh ideas about teaching. As far as I know, no other society in the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology has a journal devoted to teaching. This is a tribute to Dr. Hansen and her associate editors in their encouragement of teachers to do research on teaching and publish their findings.

Dr. Hansen will continue writing and is authoring a textbook entitled Physiology of Life Situations, which will have unique organization. Dr. Hansen was recently appointed co-chair of the Education Committee for the International Union of Physiological Sciences. In that role, she is responsible for conducting teaching workshops and providing resources to teachers of physiology worldwide, particularly in developing countries. She spends time each winter teaching at St. George’s Medical School in Granada. Dr. Hansen is also the elected chair of the Teaching Section for the next three years.

It is particularly appropriate that, on this Earth Day 2002, whose motto is “One People, One Earth, One Future,” we hear a citizen of Canada who teaches worldwide talk about“Physiology’s Recondite Curriculum.”—Roger TannerThies, PhD, Professor Emeritus of Physiology, The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.