An Application of a Computer Instructional Management Package.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sullivan, David W.

Following the presentation of a conceptual framework for computer-based education (CBE), this paper examines the use of one aspect of CBE, computer-managed instruction (CMI), in a Major Appliance Serving Program. The paper begins with definitions and a graphic illustration of CBE and its components and uses, i.e., CMI, tutorial or…

Does Competency-Based Education Have a Role in Academic Pharmacy in the United States?

PubMed Central

Medina, Melissa S.

2017-01-01

Competency-based Education (CBE) is an educational model that allows students to learn and demonstrate their abilities at their own pace. CBE is growing in popularity in undergraduate educational programs and its role in pharmacy education in the United States (US) is under review. In comparison, medical education is utilizing competency-based approaches (such as competencies and Entrustable Professional Activities) to ensure that students possess the required knowledge, skills, and attitudes prior to graduation or program completion. The concept of competency-based approaches is growing in use in pharmacy education in the US, but the future related to aspects of this concept (e.g., mandatory Entrustable Professional Activities) is not certain. A review of pharmacy education’s evolution in the US and a comparison of competency-related terms offers insight into the future use of competency-based approaches and CBE in pharmacy education in the US through the lens of benefits and challenges. PMID:28970425

The Council of Regional Accrediting Commissions Framework for Competency-Based Education: A Grounded Theory Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Butland, Mark James

2017-01-01

Colleges facing pressures to increase student outcomes while reducing costs have shown an increasing interest in competency-based education (CBE) models. Regional accreditors created a joint policy on CBE evaluation. Two years later, through this grounded theory study, I sought to understand from experts the nature of this policy, its impact, and…

CBE: The Right Angle for Learning.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Seitz, Fred

Designed for instructors at Beaufort Technical College (BTC) in South Carolina, this handbook provides a brief guide to competency-based education (CBE) and to the available resources at the college for assistance. Section 1 offers introductory comments on the concept of quality control and the five basic components of educational quality control.…

Student nurses' learning on community-based education in Ethiopia.

PubMed

Salmon, Karen; Keneni, Gutema

2004-07-01

At Jimma University educational goals are to apply the concept of community-oriented education through community-based education (CBE) of health students. This study examined the experiences of student nurses on CBE. The aims of the study were to identify factors that students considered had helped or hindered their learning on CBE and to ascertain if the stated learning objectives were met. A quantitative, descriptive, survey design was adopted, using a single, anonymous questionnaire. Some qualitative data were gained using open questions. A convenience sample of 95 students participated in the research. Participants represented 90% of all students who had completed their CBE placements. Participation, mentors' willingness to answer questions and the relevance of the placement were factors that facilitated learning. Factors reported by students that hindered learning were difficulties of self-expression in a group, mentors emphasising mistakes and weakness and the short time-frame due to ongoing lectures during placement. Students said learning objectives most met were socio-demographic assessment, identifying health problems and action planning. Objectives reported to be least met were identifying environmental health problems, planning preventive health interventions and implementing health interventions. These include the need to develop students' group skills, prepare mentors to facilitate learning, organise CBE in spiral phases, avoid concurrent lectures and improve study facilities.

Exploring Competence Based Education (CBE) in Rural Secondary Schools in Tanzania: English Language Teachers' Conceptions and Experiences

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lukindo, Jesse John

2016-01-01

This study aimed at getting an insight on the implementation of Competence Based Education in Tanzania (CBE) in Tanzania. A study was conducted in Changchun, Jilin in China due to limited time the researcher had. The study was guided by the following research objective; specifically this study did the following; to assess the knowledge that rural…

State Policies to Support Competency-Based Education for Overage, Under-Credited Students. Ask the CCRS Center

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tomasello, Jenna; Brand, Betsy

2016-01-01

How can states ensure that students who are overage or under-credit (OA/UC) not only graduate high school but are prepared for college or the workforce? Competency-based education (CBE) is one emerging strategy for addressing the needs of at-risk youth. CBE can address the needs of at-risk students because it is personalized to individual…

A Computer Based Education (CBE) Program for Middle School Mathematics Intervention

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gulley, Bill

2009-01-01

A Computer Based Education (CBE) program for intervention mathematics was developed, used, and modified over a period of three years in a computer lab at an Arizona Title I middle school. The program is described along with a rationale for the need, design, and use of such a program. Data was collected in the third year and results of the program…

Childbirth Education Class and Birth Plans Are Associated with a Vaginal Delivery.

PubMed

Afshar, Yalda; Wang, Erica T; Mei, Jenny; Esakoff, Tania F; Pisarska, Margareta D; Gregory, Kimberly D

2017-03-01

To determine whether the mode of delivery was different between women who attended childbirth education (CBE) class, had a birth plan, or both compared with those who did not attend CBE class or have a birth plan. This is a retrospective cross-sectional study of women who delivered singleton gestations > 24 weeks at our institution between August 2011 and June 2014. Based on a self-report at the time of admission for labor, women were stratified into four categories: those who attended a CBE class, those with a birth plan, both, and those with neither CBE or birth plan. The primary outcome was the mode of delivery. Multivariate logistic regression analyses adjusting for clinical covariates were performed. In this study, 14,630 deliveries met the inclusion criteria: 31.9 percent of the women attended CBE class, 12.0 percent had a birth plan, and 8.8 percent had both. Women who attended CBE or had a birth plan were older (p < 0.001), more likely to be nulliparous (p < 0.001), had a lower body mass index (p < 0.001), and were less likely to be African-American (p < 0.001). After adjusting for significant covariates, women who participated in either option or both had higher odds of a vaginal delivery (CBE: OR 1.26 [95% CI 1.15-1.39]; birth plan: OR 1.98 [95% CI 1.56-2.51]; and both: OR 1.69 [95% CI 1.46-1.95]) compared with controls. Attending CBE class and/or having a birth plan were associated with a vaginal delivery. These findings suggest that patient education and birth preparation may influence the mode of delivery. CBE and birth plans could be used as quality improvement tools to potentially decrease cesarean rates. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

The current provision of community-based teaching in UK medical schools: an online survey and systematic review.

PubMed

Lee, Sandra W W; Clement, Naomi; Tang, Natalie; Atiomo, William

2014-12-01

To evaluate the current provision and outcome of community-based education (CBE) in UK medical schools. An online survey of UK medical school websites and course prospectuses and a systematic review of articles from PubMed and Web of Science were conducted. Articles in the systematic review were assessed using Rossi, Lipsey and Freeman's approach to programme evaluation. Publications from November 1998 to 2013 containing information related to community teaching in undergraduate medical courses were included. Out of the 32 undergraduate UK medical schools, one was excluded due to the lack of course specifications available online. Analysis of the remaining 31 medical schools showed that a variety of CBE models are utilised in medical schools across the UK. Twenty-eight medical schools (90.3%) provide CBE in some form by the end of the first year of undergraduate training, and 29 medical schools (93.5%) by the end of the second year. From the 1378 references identified, 29 papers met the inclusion criteria for assessment. It was found that CBE mostly provided advantages to students as well as other participants, including GP tutors and patients. However, there were a few concerns regarding the lack of GP tutors' knowledge in specialty areas, the negative impact that CBE may have on the delivery of health service in education settings and the cost of CBE. Despite the wide variations in implementation, community teaching was found to be mostly beneficial. To ensure the relevance of CBE for 'Tomorrow's Doctors', a national framework should be established, and solutions sought to reduce the impact of the challenges within CBE. This is the first study to review how community-based education is currently provided throughout Medical Schools in the UK. The use of Rossi, Lipsey and Freeman's method of programme evaluation means that the literature was analysed in a consistent and comprehensive way. However, a weakness is that data from the online survey was obtained from online medical school prospectuses. This means the data may be incomplete or out of date. Data in the literature review may also be skewed by publication bias. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions.

The current provision of community-based teaching in UK medical schools: an online survey and systematic review

PubMed Central

Lee, Sandra W W; Clement, Naomi; Tang, Natalie; Atiomo, William

2014-01-01

Objective To evaluate the current provision and outcome of community-based education (CBE) in UK medical schools. Design and data sources An online survey of UK medical school websites and course prospectuses and a systematic review of articles from PubMed and Web of Science were conducted. Articles in the systematic review were assessed using Rossi, Lipsey and Freeman's approach to programme evaluation. Study selection Publications from November 1998 to 2013 containing information related to community teaching in undergraduate medical courses were included. Results Out of the 32 undergraduate UK medical schools, one was excluded due to the lack of course specifications available online. Analysis of the remaining 31 medical schools showed that a variety of CBE models are utilised in medical schools across the UK. Twenty-eight medical schools (90.3%) provide CBE in some form by the end of the first year of undergraduate training, and 29 medical schools (93.5%) by the end of the second year. From the 1378 references identified, 29 papers met the inclusion criteria for assessment. It was found that CBE mostly provided advantages to students as well as other participants, including GP tutors and patients. However, there were a few concerns regarding the lack of GP tutors’ knowledge in specialty areas, the negative impact that CBE may have on the delivery of health service in education settings and the cost of CBE. Conclusions Despite the wide variations in implementation, community teaching was found to be mostly beneficial. To ensure the relevance of CBE for ‘Tomorrow's Doctors’, a national framework should be established, and solutions sought to reduce the impact of the challenges within CBE. Strengths and limitations of this study This is the first study to review how community-based education is currently provided throughout Medical Schools in the UK. The use of Rossi, Lipsey and Freeman's method of programme evaluation means that the literature was analysed in a consistent and comprehensive way. However, a weakness is that data from the online survey was obtained from online medical school prospectuses. This means the data may be incomplete or out of date. Data in the literature review may also be skewed by publication bias. PMID:25448625

The effectiveness of competency-based education in equipping primary health care workers to manage chronic disease in Australian general practice settings.

PubMed

Glasgow, Nicholas J; Wells, Robert; Butler, James; Gear, Anna

2008-04-21

To review the literature on the effectiveness of competency-based education (CBE) as a means of equipping the Australian general practice workforce to deliver optimal chronic disease outcomes to articulate policy options for the Australian context. Systematic review of the literature (1991-2005) using a narrative approach followed by analysis of the findings using the actors/context/ processes/content framework of Buse et al. Few high-quality studies were identified. National policy options include incorporating clear statements about education and training, research and evaluation in any policy document targeting chronic disease; and provision of funding to enhance general practice teaching facilities and/or facilitate the development of supportive coordinating and administrative structures for training practices. Designers of CBE should consider five key questions: Are the educational objectives of the CBE clearly aligned with the chronic disease or workforce-related outcomes of interest? Is the design of the CBE sound? Have similar educational programs targeting the same outcomes been identified and every attempt made to maximise synergies between programs? Are the educational designers fully aware of and working within the existing complexity of the training environment? Are all involved in the program actively managing the process of change? Policy options range from those relatively simple and achievable to more complex and difficult. The full report is available at http://www.anu.edu.au/aphcri/Domain/Workforce/final_25_glasgow.pdf.

Nurse educators' experiences of case-based education in a South African nursing programme.

PubMed

Daniels, Felicity M; Fakude, Lorraine P; Linda, Ntombizodwa S; Marie Modeste, Rugira R

2015-12-09

A school of nursing at a university in the Western Cape experienced an increase in student enrolments from an intake of 150 students to 300 students in the space of one year. This required a review of the teaching and learning approach to ensure that it was appropriate for effective facilitation of large classes. The case-based education (CBE) approach was adopted for the delivery of the Bachelor of Nursing programme in 2005. The aim of the study was to explore nurse educators' experiences, current practices and possible improvements to inform best practice of CBE at the nursing school in the Western Cape. A participatory action research method was applied in a two day workshop conducted with nurse educators in the undergraduate nursing programme. The nominal group technique was used to collect the data. Three themes emerged from the final synthesis of the findings, namely: teaching and learning related issues, student issues and teacher issues. Amongst other aspects, theory and practice integration, as well as the need for peer support in facilitation of CBE, were identified as requiring strengthening. It was concluded that case-based education should continue to be used in the school, however, more workshops should be arranged to keep educators updated and new staff orientated in respect of this teaching and learning approach.

From Community Laywomen to Breast Health Workers: A Pilot Training Model to Implement Clinical Breast Exam Screening in Malawi.

PubMed

Gutnik, Lily; Moses, Agnes; Stanley, Christopher; Tembo, Tapiwa; Lee, Clara; Gopal, Satish

2016-01-01

Breast cancer burden is high in low-income countries. Inadequate early detection contributes to late diagnosis and increased mortality. We describe the training program for Malawi's first clinical breast exam (CBE) screening effort. Laywomen were recruited as Breast Health Workers (BHWs) with the help of local staff and breast cancer advocates. The four-week training consisted of lectures, online modules, role-playing, case discussions, CBE using simulators and patients, and practice presentations. Ministry of Health trainers taught health communication, promotion, and education skills. Breast cancer survivors shared their experiences. Clinicians taught breast cancer epidemiology, prevention, detection, and clinical care. Clinicians and research staff taught research ethics, informed consent, data collection, and professionalism. Breast cancer knowledge was measured using pre- and post-training surveys. Concordance between BHW and clinician CBE was assessed. Breast cancer talks by BHW were evaluated on a 5-point scale in 22 areas by 3 judges. We interviewed 12 women, and 4 were selected as BHWs including 1 breast cancer survivor. Training was dynamic with modification based on trainee response and progress. A higher-than-anticipated level of comprehension and interest led to inclusion of additional topics like breast reconstruction. Pre-training knowledge increased from 49% to 91% correct (p<0.0001). Clinician and BHW CBE had 88% concordance (kappa 0.43). The mean rating of BHW educational talks was 4.4 (standard deviation 0.7). Malawian laywomen successfully completed training and demonstrated competency to conduct CBE and deliver breast cancer educational talks. Knowledge increased after training, and concordance was high between BHW and clinician CBE.

UPTAKE AND PERFORMANCE OF CLINICAL BREAST EXAM SCREENING BY TRAINED LAYWOMEN IN MALAWI.

PubMed

Gutnik, L; Lee, C; Msosa, V

2017-09-01

Breast cancer awareness and early detection are limited in sub-saharan Africa. Resource limitations make screening mammography or clinical breast examination (CBE) by physicians or nurses impractical in many settings. We aimed to assess feasibility and performance of CBE by laywomen in urban health clinics. Four laywomen were trained to deliver breast cancer educational talks and conduct CBE. Eligible women were 30 years, with no prior breast cancer or breast surgery, and clinic attendance for reasons other than a breast concern. Women with abnormal CBE were referred to a study surgeon. All palpable masses confirmed by surgeon examination were pathologically sampled. Patients with abnormal screening CBE but normal surgeon examination underwent breast ultrasound confirmation. Among 1220 eligible women, 1000 (82%) agreed to CBE. Lack of time (69%) was the commonest reason for refusal. Educational talk attendance was associated with higher CBE participation (83% versus 77%, P¼ 0.012). Among 1000 women screened, 7% had abnormal CBE. Of 45 women with normal CBE randomized to physician examination, 43 had normal examinations and two had axillary lymphadenopathy not detected by CBE. Sixty of 67 women (90%) with abnormal CBE attended the referral visit. Of these, 29 (48%) had concordant abnormal physician examination. Thirty-one women (52%) had discordant normal physician examination, all of whom also had normal breast ultrasounds. Compared with physician examination, sensitivity for CBE by laywomen was 94% (confidence interval (CI, 79%-99%), specificity 58% (CI, 46%-70%), positive predictive value 48% (CI, 35%-62%), and negative predictive value 96% (CI, 85%-100%). Of 13 women who underwent recommended pathologic sampling of a breast lesion, two had cytologic dysplasia and all others benign results. CBE uptake in Lilongwe clinics was high. CBE by laywomen compared favourably with physician examination and followup was good. Our intervention can serve as a model for wider implementation.

From Community Laywomen to Breast Health Workers: A Pilot Training Model to Implement Clinical Breast Exam Screening in Malawi

PubMed Central

Gutnik, Lily; Moses, Agnes; Stanley, Christopher; Tembo, Tapiwa; Lee, Clara; Gopal, Satish

2016-01-01

Background Breast cancer burden is high in low-income countries. Inadequate early detection contributes to late diagnosis and increased mortality. We describe the training program for Malawi’s first clinical breast exam (CBE) screening effort. Methods Laywomen were recruited as Breast Health Workers (BHWs) with the help of local staff and breast cancer advocates. The four-week training consisted of lectures, online modules, role-playing, case discussions, CBE using simulators and patients, and practice presentations. Ministry of Health trainers taught health communication, promotion, and education skills. Breast cancer survivors shared their experiences. Clinicians taught breast cancer epidemiology, prevention, detection, and clinical care. Clinicians and research staff taught research ethics, informed consent, data collection, and professionalism. Breast cancer knowledge was measured using pre- and post-training surveys. Concordance between BHW and clinician CBE was assessed. Breast cancer talks by BHW were evaluated on a 5-point scale in 22 areas by 3 judges. Results We interviewed 12 women, and 4 were selected as BHWs including 1 breast cancer survivor. Training was dynamic with modification based on trainee response and progress. A higher-than-anticipated level of comprehension and interest led to inclusion of additional topics like breast reconstruction. Pre-training knowledge increased from 49% to 91% correct (p<0.0001). Clinician and BHW CBE had 88% concordance (kappa 0.43). The mean rating of BHW educational talks was 4.4 (standard deviation 0.7). Conclusions Malawian laywomen successfully completed training and demonstrated competency to conduct CBE and deliver breast cancer educational talks. Knowledge increased after training, and concordance was high between BHW and clinician CBE. PMID:26959980

Community-Based Education in Egypt: Is It Achieving Its Stated Goals?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Langsten, Ray

2016-01-01

Egypt promises "education for all". Primary attendance and completion have increased substantially. Still, many children remain out of school. There remain questions about the quality of education. Since the early 1990s, community-based education (CBE) has been part of Egypt's educational programme. Community-based education is meant to…

CLINICAL BREAST EXAMINATION SCREENING BY TRAINED LAYWOMEN IN MALAWI INTEGRATED WITH OTHER HEALTH SERVICES.

PubMed

Gutnik, L; Lee, C; Msosa, J

2017-06-01

Breast cancer awareness and early detection are limited in Sub-Saharan Africa. Resource limitations make screening mammography or clinical breast examination (CBE) by physicians or nurses impractical in many settings. Four laywomen were trained to deliver breast cancer educational talks and conduct CBE. After training, screening was implemented in diverse urban health clinics. Eligible women were 30 years old, with no prior breast cancer or breast surgery, and clinic attendance for reasons other than a breast concern. Women with abnormal CBE were referred to a study surgeon. All palpable masses confirmed by surgeon examination were pathologically sampled. Patients with abnormal screening CBE but normal surgeon examination underwent breast ultrasound confirmation. In addition, 50 randomly selected women with normal screening CBE underwent breast ultrasound, and 45 different women with normal CBE were randomly assigned to surgeon examination. Among 1220 eligible women, 1000 (82%) agreed to CBE. Lack of time (69%) was the commonest reason for refusal. Educational talk attendance was associated with higher CBE participation (83% versus 77%, P ¼ 0.012). Among 1000 women screened, 7% had abnormal CBE. Of 45 women with normal CBE randomised to physician examination, 43 had normal examinations and two had axillary lymphadenopathy not detected by CBE. Sixty of 67 women (90%) with abnormal CBE attended the referral visit. Of these, 29 (48%) had concordant abnormal physician examination. Thirty-one women (52%) had discordant normal physician examination, all of whom also had normal breast ultrasounds. Compared with physician examination, sensitivity for CBE by laywomen was 94% (confidence interval [CI] 79%-99%), specificity 58% (CI, 46%-70%), positive predictive value 48% (CI, 35%-62%), and negative predictive value 96% (CI, 85%-100%). Of 13 women who underwent recommended pathologic sampling of a breast lesion, two had cytologic dysplasia and all others benign Results. CBE uptake in Lilongwe clinics was high. CBE by laywomen compared favourably with physician examination and followup was good. Our intervention can serve as a model for wider implementation. Performance in rural areas, effects on cancer stage and mortality, and cost effectiveness require evaluation.

Do Something, Even if It's Wrong! An Approach to Better Management and Planning in Public Schools through a Systematic Approach to Improvement of Basic Skills.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Noggle, Vernon R.

Maintaining that lack of action is one of the biggest errors school managers make, this author describes development of competency based education (CBE) programs as one example of how action can be taken by identifying a problem area and systematically approaching it. He defines CBE programs as those involving identification of basic skills, a…

Clinical breast examination screening by trained laywomen in Malawi integrated with other health services.

PubMed

Gutnik, Lily; Lee, Clara; Msosa, Vanessa; Moses, Agnes; Stanley, Christopher; Mzumara, Suzgo; Liomba, N George; Gopal, Satish

2016-07-01

Breast cancer awareness and early detection are limited in sub-Saharan Africa. Resource limitations make screening mammography or clinical breast examination (CBE) by physicians or nurses impractical in many settings. We aimed to assess feasibility and performance of CBE by laywomen in urban health clinics in Malawi. Four laywomen were trained to deliver breast cancer educational talks and conduct CBE. After training, screening was implemented in diverse urban health clinics. Eligible women were ≥30 y, with no prior breast cancer or breast surgery, and clinic attendance for reasons other than a breast concern. Women with abnormal CBE were referred to a study surgeon. All palpable masses confirmed by surgeon examination were pathologically sampled. Patients with abnormal screening CBE but normal surgeon examination underwent breast ultrasound confirmation. In addition, 50 randomly selected women with normal screening CBE underwent breast ultrasound, and 45 different women with normal CBE were randomly assigned to surgeon examination. Among 1220 eligible women, 1000 (82%) agreed to CBE. Lack of time (69%) was the commonest reason for refusal. Educational talk attendance was associated with higher CBE participation (83% versus 77%, P = 0.012). Among 1000 women screened, 7% had abnormal CBE. Of 45 women with normal CBE randomized to physician examination, 43 had normal examinations and two had axillary lymphadenopathy not detected by CBE. Sixty of 67 women (90%) with abnormal CBE attended the referral visit. Of these, 29 (48%) had concordant abnormal physician examination. Thirty-one women (52%) had discordant normal physician examination, all of whom also had normal breast ultrasounds. Compared with physician examination, sensitivity for CBE by laywomen was 94% (confidence interval [CI] 79%-99%), specificity 58% (CI, 46%-70%), positive predictive value 48% (CI, 35%-62%), and negative predictive value 96% (CI, 85%-100%). Of 13 women who underwent recommended pathologic sampling of a breast lesion, two had cytologic dysplasia and all others benign results. CBE uptake in Lilongwe clinics was high. CBE by laywomen compared favorably with physician examination and follow-up was good. Our intervention can serve as a model for wider implementation. Performance in rural areas, effects on cancer stage and mortality, and cost effectiveness require evaluation. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Clinical breast exam screening by trained laywomen in Malawi integrated with other health services

PubMed Central

Gutnik, Lily; Lee, Clara; Msosa, Vanessa; Moses, Agnes; Stanley, Christopher; Mzumara, Suzgo; Liomba, N. George; Gopal, Satish

2016-01-01

Background Breast cancer awareness and early detection are limited in sub-Saharan Africa. Resource limitations make screening mammography or clinical breast exam (CBE) by physicians or nurses impractical in many settings. We aimed to assess feasibility and performance of CBE by laywomen in urban health clinics in Malawi. Methods Four laywomen were trained to deliver breast cancer educational talksand conduct CBE. After training, screening was implemented in diverse urbanhealth clinics. Eligible women were ≥30 years, with no prior breast cancer or breast surgery, and clinic attendance for reasons other than abreast concern. Wo men with abnormal CBE were referred to a study surgeon. All palpable masses confirmed by surgeon exam were pathologically sampled. Patients with abnormal screening CBE but normal surgeon exam underwentbreast ultrasound con firmation. Additionally, 50 randomly selected women with normal screening CBE underwent breast ultrasound, and 45 different women with normal CBE were randomly assigned to surgeon exam. Results Among 1,220 eligible women, 1,000 (82%) agreed to CBE. Lack of time (69%) was the commonest reason for refusal. Educational talk attendance was associated with higher CBE participation (83% vs 77%, p=0.012). Among 1,000 women screened, 7% had abnormal CBE. Of 45 women with normal CBE randomized to physician exam, 43 had normal exams and two had axillary lymphadenopathy not detected by CBE. Sixty of 67 women (90%) with abnormal CBE attended the referral visit. Of these, 29 (48%) had concordant abnormal physician exam. Thirty-one women (52%) had discordant normal physician exam, all of whom also had normal breast ultrasounds. Compared to physician exam, sensitivity for CBE by laywomen was 94% (CI 79-99%), specificity 58% (CI 46-70%), positive predictive value 48% (CI 35-62%), and negative predictive value 96% (CI 85-100%). Of 13 women who underwent recommended pathologic sampling of a breast lesion, two had cytologic dysplasia and all others benign results. Conclusions and relevance CBE uptake in Lilongwe clinics was high. CBE by laywomen compared favorably with physician exam, and follow-up was good. Our intervention can serve as a model for wider implementation. Performance in rural areas, effects on cancer stage and mortality, and cost-effectiveness require evaluation. PMID:27451869

Principles for Developing Competency-Based Education Programs

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Johnstone, Sally M.; Soares, Louis

2014-01-01

The 2013 US college/university policy agenda, "Making College Affordable: A Better Agenda for the Middle Class," highlighted the role of developing technologies, institutional curriculum-design processes, and new delivery methods as keys to providing quality, affordable postsecondary education. Competency-based education (CBE) is given…

All Hands on Deck: Ten Lessons from Early Adopters of Competency-Based Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Book, Patricia A.

2014-01-01

The perceived value of postsecondary education to economic competitiveness and individual success is driving innovation in higher education. Competency-based education (CBE) is the latest disruption that seeks to respond to the growing sense of national urgency to boost education attainment. The target audience generally includes those adult…

Early Results in Capella's Prior Learning Assessment Experimental Site Initiative

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Klein, Jillian

2017-01-01

In July 2014, the U.S. Department of Education announced a new round of experimental sites focusing on competency-based education. Capella University was selected to participate in three of the Department of Education's competency-based education (CBE) experiments and began by implementing the prior learning assessment experiment, which allows…

Implementing Competency-Based Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Curry, Lynn; Docherty, Marcia

2017-01-01

The rapid and widespread adoption of competency-based education (CBE) has brought into sharp focus long-standing tensions built into education systems, particularly for graduate and professional schools. We all share the desire to produce graduates equipped to respond capably in a rapidly changing world. However, many of us struggle with the…

Funding Mechanisms, Cost Drivers, and the Distribution of Education Funds in Alberta: A Case Study.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Neu, Dean; Taylor, Alison

2000-01-01

Critical analysis of historical financial data of the Calgary Board of Education (CBE) examined the impact of Alberta's 1994 funding changes on the CBE and the distribution of Alberta's education funding. Findings illustrate how funding mechanisms are used to govern from a distance and how seemingly neutral accounting/funding techniques function…

The Nature of Study Programmes in Vocational Education: Evaluation of the Model for Comprehensive Competence-Based Vocational Education in the Netherlands

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sturing, Lidwien; Biemans, Harm J. A.; Mulder, Martin; de Bruijn, Elly

2011-01-01

In a previous series of studies, a model of comprehensive competence-based vocational education (CCBE model) was developed, consisting of eight principles of competence-based vocational education (CBE) that were elaborated for four implementation levels (Wesselink et al. "European journal of vocational training" 40:38-51 2007a). The…

Competency-Based Education: Leadership Challenges

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Nodine, Thad; Johnstone, Sally M.

2015-01-01

Competency-based education (CBE) refers to online and hybrid courses and programs that offer credit or degrees based on evidence of student learning, or competencies, rather than on the amount of time spent in a course. Students work at their own pace, receive personalized academic support, and demonstrate mastery as they progress through their…

Designing CBE for Continuing Professional Education.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rees, Keith

Deakin Australia (DA) CBE (Continuing Business Education) programs are designed for use in conjunction with print and audio materials which are distributed as distance learning packages to business studies graduates working or planning to work as accountants, who are enrolled in the professional licensing program run by the Australian Society of…

Competency-Based Education: A Quantitative Study of the U.S. Air Force Noncommissioned Officer Academy

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Houser, Bonnie L.

2017-01-01

There are relatively few empirical studies that examine whether using a competency-based education (CBE) approach results in increased student learning or achievement when compared to traditional education approaches. This study uses a quantitative research methodology, a nonexperimental comparative descriptive research design, and a two-group…

Teaching Representations of Competency-Based Education. A Case Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Covarrubias-Papahiu, Patricia

2016-01-01

The aim of this research was to know how the Competency-Based Education (CBE) approach is represented by professors who are part of the professional education of psychologists, and the challenges and implications of, in their opinion, incorporating it in the classroom practice. Therefore, a research was conducted to know the type of…

Computer-Based Education. The Best of ERIC, June 1976-August 1980.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hall, Keith A.

This bibliography contains annotations of reports, reviews, conference proceedings, other documents, and journal articles on computer based education (CBE), most of which were derived from a search of the Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC) system. Covering June 1976 through August 1980, this compilation serves as an update to two…

Teacher's Guide for Competency-Based Education Curriculum for Floriculture.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Associated Educational Consultants, Inc., Pittsburgh, PA.

This teacher's guide is designed to facilitate use of the West Virginia floriculture competency-based education (CBE) curriculum by instructors in floriculture programs. The curriculum is organized into 13 learning units, correlated with specific competencies. Each competency includes a learning checklist, learning activities, and evaluative…

Hybrid Simulation in Teaching Clinical Breast Examination to Medical Students.

PubMed

Nassif, Joseph; Sleiman, Abdul-Karim; Nassar, Anwar H; Naamani, Sima; Sharara-Chami, Rana

2017-10-10

Clinical breast examination (CBE) is traditionally taught to third-year medical students using a lecture and a tabletop breast model. The opportunity to clinically practice CBE depends on patient availability and willingness to be examined by students, especially in culturally sensitive environments. We propose the use of a hybrid simulation model consisting of a standardized patient (SP) wearing a silicone breast simulator jacket and hypothesize that this, compared to traditional teaching methods, would result in improved learning. Consenting third-year medical students (N = 82) at a university-affiliated tertiary care center were cluster-randomized into two groups: hybrid simulation (breast jacket + SP) and control (tabletop breast model). Students received the standard lecture by instructors blinded to the randomization, followed by randomization group-based learning and practice sessions. Two weeks later, participants were assessed in an Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE), which included three stations with SPs blinded to the intervention. The SPs graded the students on CBE completeness, and students completed a self-assessment of their performance and confidence during the examination. CBE completeness scores did not differ between the two groups (p = 0.889). Hybrid simulation improved lesion identification grades (p < 0.001) without increasing false positives. Hybrid simulation relieved the fear of missing a lesion on CBE (p = 0.043) and increased satisfaction with the teaching method among students (p = 0.002). As a novel educational tool, hybrid simulation improves the sensitivity of CBE performed by medical students without affecting its specificity. Hybrid simulation may play a role in increasing the confidence of medical students during CBE.

Grappling with the literature of education research and practice.

PubMed

Dolan, Erin L

2007-01-01

The absence of a central database and use of specialized language hinder nonexperts in becoming familiar with the science teaching and learning literature and using it to inform their work. The challenge of locating articles related to a specific question or problem, coupled with the difficulty of comprehending findings based on a variety of different perspectives and practices, can be prohibitively difficult. As I have transitioned from bench to classroom-based research, I have become familiar with how to locate, decipher, and evaluate the education research literature. In this essay, I point out analogies to the literature of science research and practice, and I reference some of the literature that I have found useful in becoming an education researcher. I also introduce a new regular feature, "Current Insights: Recent Research in Science Teaching and Learning," which is designed to point CBE--Life Sciences Education (CBE-LSE) readers to current articles of interest in life sciences education, as well as more general and noteworthy publications in education research.

Reform of the Method for Evaluating the Teaching of Medical Linguistics to Medical Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Zhang, Hongkui; Wang, Bo; Zhang, Longlu

2014-01-01

Explorating reform of the teaching evaluation method for vocational competency-based education (CBE) curricula for medical students is a very important process in following international medical education standards, intensify ing education and teaching reforms, enhancing teaching management, and improving the quality of medical education. This…

The Landscape of Competency-Based Education: Enrollments, Demographics, and Affordability. AEI Series on Competency-Based Higher Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kelchen, Robert

2015-01-01

Competency-based education (CBE), broadly defined as a form of higher education in which credit is provided on the basis of student learning rather than credit or clock hours, has begun to catch the attention of federal and state policymakers, foundations, and colleges. Among the model's promising features are its potential to lower college costs…

Competency-Based Education. Innovations in Teaching and Learning. Research Brief 1

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Katz, Philip M.

2015-01-01

Competency-based education (CBE) is an approach to pedagogy that emphasizes the mastery of skills and concepts rather than credit hours or seat time. The assessment of mastery can take several forms, including formal assessments of prior learning (such as portfolio reviews or examinations) and automated evaluations of online coursework. Advocates…

An analysis of the structure of the compound biological effectiveness factor.

PubMed

Ono, Koji

2016-08-01

This report is an analysis of the structure of the compound biological effectiveness (CBE) factor. The value of the CBE factor previously reported was revalued for the central nervous system, skin and lung. To describe the structure, the following terms are introduced: the vascular CBE (v-CBE), intraluminal CBE (il-CBE), extraluminal CBE (el-CBE) and non-vascular CBE (nv-CBE) factors and the geometric biological factor (GBF), i.e. the contributions that are derived from the total dose to the vasculature, each dose to vasculature from the intraluminal side and the extraluminal side, the dose to the non-vascular tissue and the factor to calculate el-CBE from il-CBE, respectively. The el-CBE factor element was also introduced to relate il-CBE to el-CBE factors. A CBE factor of 0.36 for disodium mercaptoundecahydrododecaborate (BSH) for the CNS was independent of the (10)B level in the blood; however, that for p-Boron-L-phenylalanine (BPA) increased with the (10)B level ratio of the normal tissue to the blood (N/B). The CBE factor was expressed as follows: factor = 0.32 + N/B × 1.65. The factor of 0.32 at 0 of N/B was close to the CBE factor for BSH. GBFs had similar values, between BSH and BPA, 1.39 and 1.52, respectively. The structure of the CBE factor for BPA to the lung was also elucidated based on this idea. The factor is described as follows: CBE factor = 0.32 + N/B × 1.80. By this elucidation of the structure of the CBE factor, it is expected that basic and clinical research into boron neutron capture therapy will progress. © The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The Japan Radiation Research Society and Japanese Society for Radiation Oncology.

Using ultrasound CBE imaging without echo shift compensation for temperature estimation.

PubMed

Tsui, Po-Hsiang; Chien, Yu-Ting; Liu, Hao-Li; Shu, Yu-Chen; Chen, Wen-Shiang

2012-09-01

Clinical trials have demonstrated that hyperthermia improves cancer treatments. Previous studies developed ultrasound temperature imaging methods, based on the changes in backscattered energy (CBE), to monitor temperature variations during hyperthermia. Echo shift, induced by increasing temperature, contaminates the CBE image, and its tracking and compensation should normally ensure that estimations of CBE at each pixel are correct. To obtain a simplified algorithm that would allow real-time computation of CBE images, this study evaluated the usefulness of CBE imaging without echo shift compensation in detecting distributions in temperature. Experiments on phantoms, using different scatterer concentrations, and porcine livers were conducted to acquire raw backscattered data at temperatures ranging from 37°C to 45°C. Tissue samples of pork tenderloin were ablated in vitro by microwave irradiation to evaluate the feasibility of using the CBE image without compensation to monitor tissue ablation. CBE image construction was based on a ratio map obtained from the envelope image divided by the reference envelope image at 37°C. The experimental results demonstrated that the CBE image obtained without echo shift compensation has the ability to estimate temperature variations induced during uniform heating or tissue ablation. The magnitude of the CBE as a function of temperature obtained without compensation is stronger than that with compensation, implying that the CBE image without compensation has a better sensitivity to detect temperature. These findings suggest that echo shift tracking and compensation may be unnecessary in practice, thus simplifying the algorithm required to implement real-time CBE imaging. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Does medical students' preference of test format (computer-based vs. paper-based) have an influence on performance?

PubMed

Hochlehnert, Achim; Brass, Konstantin; Moeltner, Andreas; Juenger, Jana

2011-10-25

Computer-based examinations (CBE) ensure higher efficiency with respect to producibility and assessment compared to paper-based examinations (PBE). However, students often have objections against CBE and are afraid of getting poorer results in a CBE.The aims of this study were (1) to assess the readiness and the objections of students to a CBE vs. PBE (2) to examine the acceptance and satisfaction with the CBE on a voluntary basis, and (3) to compare the results of the examinations, which were conducted in different formats. Fifth year medical students were introduced to an examination-player and were free to choose their format for the test. The reason behind the choice of the format as well as the satisfaction with the choice was evaluated after the test with a questionnaire. Additionally, the expected and achieved examination results were measured. Out of 98 students, 36 voluntarily chose a CBE (37%), 62 students chose a PBE (63%). Both groups did not differ concerning sex, computer-experience, their achieved examination results of the test, and their satisfaction with the chosen format. Reasons for the students' objections against CBE include the possibility for outlines or written notices, a better overview, additional noise from the keyboard or missing habits normally present in a paper based exam. The students with the CBE tended to judge their examination to be more clear and understandable. Moreover, they saw their results to be independent of the format. Voluntary computer-based examinations lead to equal test scores compared to a paper-based format.

Does Medical Students' Preference of Test Format (Computer-based vs. Paper-based) have an Influence on Performance?

PubMed Central

2011-01-01

Background Computer-based examinations (CBE) ensure higher efficiency with respect to producibility and assessment compared to paper-based examinations (PBE). However, students often have objections against CBE and are afraid of getting poorer results in a CBE. The aims of this study were (1) to assess the readiness and the objections of students to a CBE vs. PBE (2) to examine the acceptance and satisfaction with the CBE on a voluntary basis, and (3) to compare the results of the examinations, which were conducted in different formats. Methods Fifth year medical students were introduced to an examination-player and were free to choose their format for the test. The reason behind the choice of the format as well as the satisfaction with the choice was evaluated after the test with a questionnaire. Additionally, the expected and achieved examination results were measured. Results Out of 98 students, 36 voluntarily chose a CBE (37%), 62 students chose a PBE (63%). Both groups did not differ concerning sex, computer-experience, their achieved examination results of the test, and their satisfaction with the chosen format. Reasons for the students' objections against CBE include the possibility for outlines or written notices, a better overview, additional noise from the keyboard or missing habits normally present in a paper based exam. The students with the CBE tended to judge their examination to be more clear and understandable. Moreover, they saw their results to be independent of the format. Conclusions Voluntary computer-based examinations lead to equal test scores compared to a paper-based format. PMID:22026970

An Approach for the Visualization of Temperature Distribution in Tissues According to Changes in Ultrasonic Backscattered Energy

PubMed Central

Li, Qiang; Liu, Hao-Li; Chen, Wen-Shiang

2013-01-01

Previous studies developed ultrasound temperature-imaging methods based on changes in backscattered energy (CBE) to monitor variations in temperature during hyperthermia. In conventional CBE imaging, tracking and compensation of the echo shift due to temperature increase need to be done. Moreover, the CBE image does not enable visualization of the temperature distribution in tissues during nonuniform heating, which limits its clinical application in guidance of tissue ablation treatment. In this study, we investigated a CBE imaging method based on the sliding window technique and the polynomial approximation of the integrated CBE (ICBEpa image) to overcome the difficulties of conventional CBE imaging. We conducted experiments with tissue samples of pork tenderloin ablated by microwave irradiation to validate the feasibility of the proposed method. During ablation, the raw backscattered signals were acquired using an ultrasound scanner for B-mode and ICBEpa imaging. The experimental results showed that the proposed ICBEpa image can visualize the temperature distribution in a tissue with a very good contrast. Moreover, tracking and compensation of the echo shift were not necessary when using the ICBEpa image to visualize the temperature profile. The experimental findings suggested that the ICBEpa image, a new CBE imaging method, has a great potential in CBE-based imaging of hyperthermia and other thermal therapies. PMID:24260041

Investigating Pre-Service Early Childhood Teachers' Attitudes towards the Computer Based Education in Science Activities

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Yilmaz, Nursel; Alici, Sule

2011-01-01

The purpose of this study was to investigate pre-service early childhood teachers' attitudes towards using Computer Based Education (CBE) while implementing science activities. More specifically, the present study examined the effect of different variables such as gender, year in program, experience in preschool, owing a computer, and the…

Instructors' Perceptions of Mostly Seated Exercise Classes: Exploring the Concept of Chair Based Exercise.

PubMed

Robinson, Katie R; Masud, Tahir; Hawley-Hague, Helen

2016-01-01

Chair based exercise (CBE) can be used to engage older adults unable to take part in standing exercise programmes. Defining and understanding the context of CBE have been acknowledged as a challenge. We explore instructor experiences of delivering mostly seated exercise classes for older people and how this helps us to further understand the concept of CBE. We extracted qualitative data from a cross-sectional survey with 731 exercise instructors. 378 delivered mostly seated classes and 223 of those instructors provided qualitative data. There were 155 instructors who did not provide any qualitative comments. Framework analysis was used and informed by a Delphi consensus study on CBE. Instructors perceived mostly seated classes as predominantly CBE; they defined it as an introductory class that should be offered as part of a continuum of exercise. It was considered suitable for those with limitations and older adults in long-term care and with dementia. Instructors reported CBE used inappropriately for more active older people. Instructors reported observing improvements in mood and cognition and broader social benefits. Instructors' perspectives largely support expert consensus that CBE has an important role in a continuum of exercise. Providers of CBE need to ensure that more challenging exercises are introduced where appropriate. Further research is needed to explore older adults' perceptions of CBE.

Evaluating a community-based exercise intervention with adults living with HIV: protocol for an interrupted time series study

PubMed Central

O'Brien, Kelly K; Bayoumi, Ahmed M; Solomon, Patricia; Tang, Ada; Murzin, Kate; Chan Carusone, Soo; Zobeiry, Mehdi; Nayar, Ayesha; Davis, Aileen M

2016-01-01

Introduction Our aim was to evaluate a community-based exercise (CBE) intervention with the goal of reducing disability and enhancing health for community-dwelling people living with HIV (PLWH). Methods and analysis We will use a mixed-methods implementation science study design, including a prospective longitudinal interrupted time series study, to evaluate a CBE intervention with PLWH in Toronto, Canada. We will recruit PLWH who consider themselves medically stable and safe to participate in exercise. In the baseline phase (0–8 months), participants will be monitored bimonthly. In the intervention phase (8–14 months), participants will take part in a 24-week CBE intervention that includes aerobic, resistance, balance and flexibility exercise at the YMCA 3 times per week, with weekly supervision by a fitness instructor, and monthly educational sessions. In the follow-up phase (14–22 months), participants will be encouraged to continue to engage in unsupervised exercise 3 times per week. Quantitative assessment: We will assess cardiopulmonary fitness, strength, weight, body composition and flexibility outcomes followed by the administration of self-reported questionnaires to assess disability and contextual factor outcomes (coping, mastery, stigma, social support) bimonthly. We will use time series regression analysis to determine the level and trend of outcomes across each phase in relation to the intervention. Qualitative assessment: We will conduct a series of face-to-face interviews with a subsample of participants and recreation providers at initiation, midpoint and completion of the 24-week CBE intervention. We will explore experiences and anticipated benefits with exercise, perceived impact of CBE for PLWH and the strengths and challenges of implementing a CBE intervention. Interviews will be audio recorded and analysed thematically. Ethics and dissemination Protocol approved by the University of Toronto HIV/AIDS Research Ethics Board. Knowledge translation will occur with stakeholders in the form of presentations and publications in open access peer-reviewed journals. Trial registration number NCT02794415; Pre-results. PMID:27798038

The contested space: The impact of competency-based education and accreditation on dietetic practice in Australia.

PubMed

Ash, Susan; Palermo, Claire; Gallegos, Danielle

2018-05-06

Competency-based Education (CBE) has underpinned the education of dietitians in Australia since the first Competency Standards (CS) were published; however, little is known about how CBE has influenced dietetic practice. The aim of this paper is to explore how a CBE framework and the CS have influenced dietetic practice in Australia since 1990. A qualitative investigation explored concepts of dietetic practice. Data analysed were original interviews previously undertaken with recent graduate dietitians during 1991 (n = 26), 1998 (n = 23) and 2007 (n = 19) and seven guided discussions with dietitians and employers (n = 28) conducted in 2014 to identify themes. The DAA Competency Standards and Accreditation Manuals/Standards since 1990 were also analysed to triangulate the interview data and to investigate how the CS were interpreted. Themes identified from interviews included: (i) communicating for better care, (ii) scientific enquiry for effective practice, (iii) critical thinking and evidence-based practice and (iv) professionalism, which remained core to dietetic practice over time, but leadership, advocacy, business management and entrepreneurial skills have emerged more strongly as the scope of practice has diversified. The landscape in which dietitians' practice showed increasing complexity and clear boundaries separating professional roles were disappearing. The 2015 CS and the 2017 Accreditation Standards highlighted that competency remains a shifting construct and that professional behaviours change depending on economic and political reasons in the play of power. Accreditation policy and current standards have successfully maintained a standard of dietetic practice across a diverse country but have the potential to constrain innovation. © 2018 Dietitians Association of Australia.

HIV Treatment and Prevention: A Simple Model to Determine Optimal Investment.

PubMed

Juusola, Jessie L; Brandeau, Margaret L

2016-04-01

To create a simple model to help public health decision makers determine how to best invest limited resources in HIV treatment scale-up and prevention. A linear model was developed for determining the optimal mix of investment in HIV treatment and prevention, given a fixed budget. The model incorporates estimates of secondary health benefits accruing from HIV treatment and prevention and allows for diseconomies of scale in program costs and subadditive benefits from concurrent program implementation. Data sources were published literature. The target population was individuals infected with HIV or at risk of acquiring it. Illustrative examples of interventions include preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP), community-based education (CBE), and antiretroviral therapy (ART) for men who have sex with men (MSM) in the US. Outcome measures were incremental cost, quality-adjusted life-years gained, and HIV infections averted. Base case analysis indicated that it is optimal to invest in ART before PrEP and to invest in CBE before scaling up ART. Diseconomies of scale reduced the optimal investment level. Subadditivity of benefits did not affect the optimal allocation for relatively low implementation levels. The sensitivity analysis indicated that investment in ART before PrEP was optimal in all scenarios tested. Investment in ART before CBE became optimal when CBE reduced risky behavior by 4% or less. Limitations of the study are that dynamic effects are approximated with a static model. Our model provides a simple yet accurate means of determining optimal investment in HIV prevention and treatment. For MSM in the US, HIV control funds should be prioritized on inexpensive, effective programs like CBE, then on ART scale-up, with only minimal investment in PrEP. © The Author(s) 2015.

Family correlates of childhood binge eating: A systematic review.

PubMed

Saltzman, Jaclyn A; Liechty, Janet M

2016-08-01

Binge Eating Disorder is the most prevalent eating disorder in the US, and binge eating has been identified in children as young as five. As part of a larger registered systematic review, we identified family correlates of binge eating in children (C-BE) aged 12 and under. Using established guidelines, we searched PubMed and PsycInfo for peer-reviewed studies published in English between 1980 and April 2015 that examined family correlates and predictors of C-BE. This yielded 736 records for review; after exclusions fifteen studies were reviewed. Risk of bias was assessed. A risk factor typology was used to classify correlates. Nine of the included studies were cross-sectional and six longitudinal. Family weight teasing and parent emotional unresponsiveness were correlates of C-BE. Parent weight, education/socio-economic situation, and parent race/ethnicity were not associated with C-BE in any study reviewed. There was insufficient or unclear evidence regarding associations between C-BE and parent disordered eating, weight or thinness concern, harsh discipline, maternal dieting, attachment security, and mealtimes and feeding practices. Limitations included too few studies on many of the correlates to summarize, inconsistency of findings, homogenous samples, and predominately cross-sectional designs. Weight-related teasing in families and parental emotional unresponsiveness are correlates of C-BE and important areas to address in parent education and eating disorder prevention programs with families. Further longitudinal studies on putative risk factors for binge eating in childhood are needed to address current limitations, enable synthesis across studies, and inform public health efforts to prevent binge eating problems in children. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Competency Based Instructional Resource Guide. Sample Format. Welding.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hoerner, James L.; Horne, Ralph A.

The purpose of this sample guide is to assist teachers and curriculum specialists in developing instructional materials that are competency based and that meet Virginia standards for competency-based education (CBE) programs. The sample deals with the occupation of welding, but it is the format that is of interest here, not the subject matter.…

What Makes Teacher Teams in a Vocational Education Context Effective?: A Qualitative Study of Managers' View on Team Working

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Truijen, K. J. P.; Sleegers, P. J. C.; Meelissen, M. R. M.; Nieuwenhuis, A. F. M.

2013-01-01

Purpose: At a time when secondary vocational education is implementing competence-based education (CBE) on a large scale, to adapt to the needs of students and of the labour market in a modern society, many vocational schools have recognised that interdisciplinary teacher teams are an important condition for this implementation. In order to…

Evaluating the knowledge of breast cancer screening and prevention among Arab-American women in Michigan.

PubMed

Arshad, Samia; Williams, Karen Patricia; Mabiso, Athur; Dey, Subhojit; Soliman, Amr S

2011-03-01

Arab-American women are more likely to be diagnosed with advanced staged breast cancer. We analyzed data from 100 women utilizing a breast cancer literacy assessment tool aimed at understanding functional literacy levels about breast-self exams (BSE), clinical breast exams (CBE), and mammograms. The educational program improved women's knowledge of BSE (OR = 0.15; 95% CI = 0.04, 0.50) and CBE (OR = 0.15; 95% CI = 0.04, 0.54), more for women with higher education. Consideration of women's educational status is an important factor in planning educational programs to improve knowledge on breast cancer screening and prevention in this minority population.

Interventions Promoting Breast Cancer Screening Among Turkish Women With Global Implications: A Systematic Review.

PubMed

Secginli, Selda; Nahcivan, Nursen O; Gunes, Gussun; Fernandez, Ritin

2017-08-01

Breast cancer is a major health concern and remains the most common malignancy in women worldwide and in Turkey. Mammography, clinical breast examination (CBE), and breast self-examination (BSE) are recommended methods to detect early breast cancer in women. Many strategies have been developed to increase the rates of mammography, CBE, and BSE among Turkish women. Despite the benefits of breast cancer screening, these modalities are still underutilized by the majority of Turkish women. To systematically review the scientific evidence on the effectiveness of various strategies aimed at improving screening behaviors for breast cancer in Turkish women. A systematic review of the literature published between 2000 and 2015 was conducted, searching 10 databases of Ovid MEDLINE, PubMed, Cochrane CENTRAL Register of Controlled Trials, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Web of Knowledge, Scopus, Google Scholar, ULAKBIM Turkish Medical Database, and Council of Higher Education Thesis Center. Twenty-three studies were included in the final review. The majority of the studies investigated the effects of multiple strategies to improve BSE. Group education comprised educational sessions, printed and audiovisual materials, which significantly improved BSE, CBE, and mammography screening rates at 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months after the intervention. One-to-one education demonstrated no significant difference in BSE rates at 6-month and 12-month follow-up. However, one-to-one education demonstrated significant differences in CBE and mammography rates at the 3-month follow-up. The use of group education comprising a multicomponent intervention demonstrated an increase in breast-screening behaviors among Turkish women. Further research investigating the duration of educational interventions is needed in order to suggest a "dose response." © 2017 Sigma Theta Tau International.

Evaluating a community-based exercise intervention with adults living with HIV: protocol for an interrupted time series study.

PubMed

O'Brien, Kelly K; Bayoumi, Ahmed M; Solomon, Patricia; Tang, Ada; Murzin, Kate; Chan Carusone, Soo; Zobeiry, Mehdi; Nayar, Ayesha; Davis, Aileen M

2016-10-20

Our aim was to evaluate a community-based exercise (CBE) intervention with the goal of reducing disability and enhancing health for community-dwelling people living with HIV (PLWH). We will use a mixed-methods implementation science study design, including a prospective longitudinal interrupted time series study, to evaluate a CBE intervention with PLWH in Toronto, Canada. We will recruit PLWH who consider themselves medically stable and safe to participate in exercise. In the baseline phase (0-8 months), participants will be monitored bimonthly. In the intervention phase (8-14 months), participants will take part in a 24-week CBE intervention that includes aerobic, resistance, balance and flexibility exercise at the YMCA 3 times per week, with weekly supervision by a fitness instructor, and monthly educational sessions. In the follow-up phase (14-22 months), participants will be encouraged to continue to engage in unsupervised exercise 3 times per week. Quantitative assessment: We will assess cardiopulmonary fitness, strength, weight, body composition and flexibility outcomes followed by the administration of self-reported questionnaires to assess disability and contextual factor outcomes (coping, mastery, stigma, social support) bimonthly. We will use time series regression analysis to determine the level and trend of outcomes across each phase in relation to the intervention. Qualitative assessment: We will conduct a series of face-to-face interviews with a subsample of participants and recreation providers at initiation, midpoint and completion of the 24-week CBE intervention. We will explore experiences and anticipated benefits with exercise, perceived impact of CBE for PLWH and the strengths and challenges of implementing a CBE intervention. Interviews will be audio recorded and analysed thematically. Protocol approved by the University of Toronto HIV/AIDS Research Ethics Board. Knowledge translation will occur with stakeholders in the form of presentations and publications in open access peer-reviewed journals. NCT02794415; Pre-results. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://www.bmj.com/company/products-services/rights-and-licensing/.

Rescuing the Clinical Breast Examination: Advances in Classifying Technique and Assessing Physician Competency.

PubMed

Laufer, Shlomi; D'Angelo, Anne-Lise D; Kwan, Calvin; Ray, Rebbeca D; Yudkowsky, Rachel; Boulet, John R; McGaghie, William C; Pugh, Carla M

2017-12-01

Develop new performance evaluation standards for the clinical breast examination (CBE). There are several, technical aspects of a proper CBE. Our recent work discovered a significant, linear relationship between palpation force and CBE accuracy. This article investigates the relationship between other technical aspects of the CBE and accuracy. This performance assessment study involved data collection from physicians (n = 553) attending 3 different clinical meetings between 2013 and 2014: American Society of Breast Surgeons, American Academy of Family Physicians, and American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Four, previously validated, sensor-enabled breast models were used for clinical skills assessment. Models A and B had solitary, superficial, 2 cm and 1 cm soft masses, respectively. Models C and D had solitary, deep, 2 cm hard and moderately firm masses, respectively. Finger movements (search technique) from 1137 CBE video recordings were independently classified by 2 observers. Final classifications were compared with CBE accuracy. Accuracy rates were model A = 99.6%, model B = 89.7%, model C = 75%, and model D = 60%. Final classification categories for search technique included rubbing movement, vertical movement, piano fingers, and other. Interrater reliability was (k = 0.79). Rubbing movement was 4 times more likely to yield an accurate assessment (odds ratio 3.81, P < 0.001) compared with vertical movement and piano fingers. Piano fingers had the highest failure rate (36.5%). Regression analysis of search pattern, search technique, palpation force, examination time, and 6 demographic variables, revealed that search technique independently and significantly affected CBE accuracy (P < 0.001). Our results support measurement and classification of CBE techniques and provide the foundation for a new paradigm in teaching and assessing hands-on clinical skills. The newly described piano fingers palpation technique was noted to have unusually high failure rates. Medical educators should be aware of the potential differences in effectiveness for various CBE techniques.

Integrating interprofessional education in community-based learning activities: case study.

PubMed

Hosny, Somaya; Kamel, Mohamed H; El-Wazir, Yasser; Gilbert, John

2013-01-01

Faculty of Medicine/Suez Canal University (FOM/SCU) students are exposed to clinical practice in primary care settings within the community, in which they encounter patients and begin to work within interprofessional health teams. However, there is no planned curricular interaction with learners from other professions at the learning sites. As in other schools, FOM/SCU faces major challenges with the coordination of community-based education (CBE) program, which include the complexity of the design required for Interprofessional Education (IPE) as well as the attitudinal barriers between professions. The aim of the present review is to: (i) describe how far CBE activities match the requirements of IPE, (ii) explore opinions of graduates about the effectiveness of IPE activities, and (iii) present recommendations for improvement. Graduates find the overall outcome of their IPE satisfactory and believe that it produces physicians who are familiar with the roles of other professions and can work in synergy for the sake of better patient care. However, either a specific IPE complete module needs to be developed or more IPE specific objectives need to be added to current modules. Moreover, coordination with stakeholders from other health profession education institutes needs to be maximized to achieve more effective IPE.

The Perspectives of Students and Teachers in the English Department in the College of Basic Education on the Student Evaluation of Teachers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Taqi, Hanan A.; Al-Nouh, Nowreyah A.; Dashti, Abdulmuhsin A.; Shuqair, Khaled M.

2014-01-01

In the context of students' evaluation of teachers in higher education, this paper examines the perspectives of students and faculty members in the English Department in the college of Basic education (CBE) in the State of Kuwait. The study is based on a survey that covered 320 students and 19 members of staff in the English department. The study…

Fast multi-core based multimodal registration of 2D cross-sections and 3D datasets.

PubMed

Scharfe, Michael; Pielot, Rainer; Schreiber, Falk

2010-01-11

Solving bioinformatics tasks often requires extensive computational power. Recent trends in processor architecture combine multiple cores into a single chip to improve overall performance. The Cell Broadband Engine (CBE), a heterogeneous multi-core processor, provides power-efficient and cost-effective high-performance computing. One application area is image analysis and visualisation, in particular registration of 2D cross-sections into 3D image datasets. Such techniques can be used to put different image modalities into spatial correspondence, for example, 2D images of histological cuts into morphological 3D frameworks. We evaluate the CBE-driven PlayStation 3 as a high performance, cost-effective computing platform by adapting a multimodal alignment procedure to several characteristic hardware properties. The optimisations are based on partitioning, vectorisation, branch reducing and loop unrolling techniques with special attention to 32-bit multiplies and limited local storage on the computing units. We show how a typical image analysis and visualisation problem, the multimodal registration of 2D cross-sections and 3D datasets, benefits from the multi-core based implementation of the alignment algorithm. We discuss several CBE-based optimisation methods and compare our results to standard solutions. More information and the source code are available from http://cbe.ipk-gatersleben.de. The results demonstrate that the CBE processor in a PlayStation 3 accelerates computational intensive multimodal registration, which is of great importance in biological/medical image processing. The PlayStation 3 as a low cost CBE-based platform offers an efficient option to conventional hardware to solve computational problems in image processing and bioinformatics.

Tomographic image reconstruction using the cell broadband engine (CBE) general purpose hardware

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Knaup, Michael; Steckmann, Sven; Bockenbach, Olivier; Kachelrieß, Marc

2007-02-01

Tomographic image reconstruction, such as the reconstruction of CT projection values, of tomosynthesis data, PET or SPECT events, is computational very demanding. In filtered backprojection as well as in iterative reconstruction schemes, the most time-consuming steps are forward- and backprojection which are often limited by the memory bandwidth. Recently, a novel general purpose architecture optimized for distributed computing became available: the Cell Broadband Engine (CBE). Its eight synergistic processing elements (SPEs) currently allow for a theoretical performance of 192 GFlops (3 GHz, 8 units, 4 floats per vector, 2 instructions, multiply and add, per clock). To maximize image reconstruction speed we modified our parallel-beam and perspective backprojection algorithms which are highly optimized for standard PCs, and optimized the code for the CBE processor. 1-3 In addition, we implemented an optimized perspective forwardprojection on the CBE which allows us to perform statistical image reconstructions like the ordered subset convex (OSC) algorithm. 4 Performance was measured using simulated data with 512 projections per rotation and 5122 detector elements. The data were backprojected into an image of 512 3 voxels using our PC-based approaches and the new CBE- based algorithms. Both the PC and the CBE timings were scaled to a 3 GHz clock frequency. On the CBE, we obtain total reconstruction times of 4.04 s for the parallel backprojection, 13.6 s for the perspective backprojection and 192 s for a complete OSC reconstruction, consisting of one initial Feldkamp reconstruction, followed by 4 OSC iterations.

The effectiveness of using standardized patients to improve community physician skills in mammography counseling and clinical breast exam.

PubMed

Costanza, M E; Luckmann, R; Quirk, M E; Clemow, L; White, M J; Stoddard, A M

1999-10-01

Traditional didactic continuing education is relatively ineffective in improving physicians' clinical skills. We hypothesized that a centralized course including small group workshops utilizing standardized patients could improve clinical skills for a reasonable cost. We designed a 5-h course aimed at improving physicians' counseling skills (re: screening mammography) and clinical breast exam (CBE) skills. The course included lectures, demonstrations, and small group skills sessions utilizing standardized patients and was offered to 156 typical community-based primary care physicians. Pre- and postcourse evaluation included in-office assessments of physician CBE and counseling performance by standardized patients and a written test of knowledge and attitudes. A total of 54.5% of eligible physicians participated. They improved modestly in only one of three areas of counseling skills measured (providing counseling appropriate to the patient's readiness to accept mammography, P = 0.01). The overall CBE score increased substantially from 24.8 to 34.7 (P < 0.0001). Knowledge in all areas measured and confidence in counseling patients also increased. The basic course cost $202 per physician trained. Most community-based primary care physicians may find small group training and in-office evaluation involving standardized patients acceptable. Such training may be more effective in improving physical exam skills than complex communication skills.

Texas Affordable Baccalaureate Program: A Collaboration between the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, South Texas College, and Texas A&M University-Commerce. CBE Case Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Klein-Collins, Rebecca; Glancey, Kathleen

2015-01-01

This case study is part of a series on newer competency-based degree programs that have been emerging in recent years. In January 2014, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB), South Texas College (STC), and Texas A&M University-Commerce (A&M Commerce) launched the Texas Affordable Baccalaureate Program, the state's first…

Evaluation Checklist for Student Writing in Grades K-3, Ottawa County.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ottawa County Office of Education, OH.

Developed to assist teachers in Ottawa County, Ohio, in monitoring students' pupil performance objectives (PPOs) in grades K-3, this writing evaluation form is the primary record keeping tool in the Competency Based Education (CBE) Program. The form consists of: (1) the evaluation checklist; (2) the intervention code; and (3) record keeping…

Awareness of breast cancer and barriers to breast screening uptake in Bangladesh: A population based survey.

PubMed

Islam, Rakibul M; Bell, Robin J; Billah, Baki; Hossain, Mohammad B; Davis, Susan R

2016-02-01

To investigate the awareness of breast cancer (BCa) and BCa screening amongst women at midlife in Bangladesh. A nationally representative cross-sectional survey of women aged 30-59 years was conducted in 7 districts of the 7 divisions in Bangladesh, using a multistage cluster sampling technique. The factors associated with the awareness of BCa and breast assessment of asymptomatic women were investigated separately, using multivariable logistic regression. Of the 1590 participants, mean age 42.3 (±8.0) years, 81.9% had ever heard of BCa and 64.2% of any methods of BCa screening, respectively. Awareness of BCa was associated with being aged 40-49 years (adjusted OR 2.04, 95% CI 1.46-2.84), aged 49-59 years (1.96, 1.32-2.91), being overweight (1.46, 1.07-2.01) and obesity (1.62, 1.01-2.62), while inversely associated with rural dwelling (0.37, 0.22-0.61), primary education (0.44, 0.27-0.70), having no education (0.23, 0.14-0.36) and parity (0.62, 0.44-0.87). Of the 750 women who were aware of clinical breast examination (CBE) or mammography, reasons provided for not undergoing screening included that they had no symptoms (92%) and that they did not know screening was needed (40%). 8% of women reported CBE. Women with no education were less likely to have undergone CBE (0.38, 0.141.04; p=0.059). Lack of understanding of the assessment of asymptomatic women is the key obstacle to BCa screening uptake in Bangladesh. Health education programs, especially BCa awareness programs, have the potential to increase BCa awareness and down-staging of the disease. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Benefits of community-based education to the community in South African health science facilities

PubMed Central

Flack, Penny

2013-01-01

Abstract Background Community-based education (CBE) is utilised by health science faculties worldwide to provide a relevant primary care experience for students and a service to underserved communities and, hopefully, to affect student career choices. The benefits to training institutions and students are well documented, but it may well be that communities, too, will be able to benefit from a more balanced partnership, where they are consulted in the planning of such training programmes. Method An exploratory qualitative study was undertaken by three South African universities in the provinces of Limpopo, KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape. Focus group interviews were conducted in their local languages with groups of community leaders, patients and supervisors at community sites involved in CBE training. A thematic analysis of their views was undertaken with the aid of NVivo (version 9). Ethics approval was obtained from the respective universities and health care training sites. Results Benefits to the community could be categorised into short-term and long-term benefits. Short-term benefits included improved service delivery, reduction in hospital referrals, home visits and community orientated primary health care, improved communication with patients and enhanced professionalism of the health care practitioner. Long-term benefits included improved teaching through a relationship with an academic institution and student familiarity with the health care system. Students also became involved in community upliftment projects, thereby acting as agents of change in these communities. Conclusion Communities can certainly benefit from well-planned CBE programmes involving a training site - community site partnership.

Fast multi-core based multimodal registration of 2D cross-sections and 3D datasets

PubMed Central

2010-01-01

Background Solving bioinformatics tasks often requires extensive computational power. Recent trends in processor architecture combine multiple cores into a single chip to improve overall performance. The Cell Broadband Engine (CBE), a heterogeneous multi-core processor, provides power-efficient and cost-effective high-performance computing. One application area is image analysis and visualisation, in particular registration of 2D cross-sections into 3D image datasets. Such techniques can be used to put different image modalities into spatial correspondence, for example, 2D images of histological cuts into morphological 3D frameworks. Results We evaluate the CBE-driven PlayStation 3 as a high performance, cost-effective computing platform by adapting a multimodal alignment procedure to several characteristic hardware properties. The optimisations are based on partitioning, vectorisation, branch reducing and loop unrolling techniques with special attention to 32-bit multiplies and limited local storage on the computing units. We show how a typical image analysis and visualisation problem, the multimodal registration of 2D cross-sections and 3D datasets, benefits from the multi-core based implementation of the alignment algorithm. We discuss several CBE-based optimisation methods and compare our results to standard solutions. More information and the source code are available from http://cbe.ipk-gatersleben.de. Conclusions The results demonstrate that the CBE processor in a PlayStation 3 accelerates computational intensive multimodal registration, which is of great importance in biological/medical image processing. The PlayStation 3 as a low cost CBE-based platform offers an efficient option to conventional hardware to solve computational problems in image processing and bioinformatics. PMID:20064262

Preparing educators for problem-based and community-based curricula: a student's experiences.

PubMed

Dana, N

1997-03-01

The Department of Nursing at the University of Natal Durban (UND) introduced a one year Masters Degree in Progressive Education for Health Professionals in 1996, the aim of which is to prepare educators of health professionals to understand better innovative methods of teaching, learning and more specifically problem-based learning (PBL) and community-based education (CBE). The author of this paper is a registered nurse and this paper focuses on her experiences as a student in this programme. Most of the experiences gained are related to the use of a Personal and Academic Development Portfolio, which covered activities from both her own classes and those related to facilitation of basic student's learning.

A Comparative Analysis of Meeting the Whole Child Initiatives through Standardized and Competency-Based Education Systems in Terms of Achievement and Meeting the Whole Child Initiatives: Comparing Professional Perceptions and Identified Measurable Results

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ward, Jacqueline M.

2011-01-01

Traditional education (TE) largely uses a standardized (SbE) approach while alternatives (nTE) tend to more of a competency (CbE), or student-centered approach. This comparative analysis examines essential aspects of such pedagogies in determining the effectiveness of schooling systems in meeting the Whole Child Initiative (Souza, 1999; Carter et…

Misconceptions Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Leonard, Mary J.; Kalinowski, Steven T.; Andrews, Tessa C.

2014-01-01

A recent essay in "CBE-Life Sciences Education" criticized biology education researchers' use of the term "misconceptions" and recommended that, in order to be up-to-date with education research, biology education researchers should use alternative terms for students' incorrect ideas in science. We counter that…

Education at the National Academies

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Labov, Jay B.

2003-01-01

The past three issues of "Cell Biology Education" (CBE) have provided overviews of education projects within the National Research Council's (NRC's) Center for Education, Board on Life Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, and National Academy of Science's Office of Public Understanding of Science. In this article, the author provides…

Restriction/modification polypeptides, polynucleotides, and methods

DOEpatents

Westpheling, Janet; Chung, DaeHwan; Huddleston, Jennifer; Farkas, Joel A

2015-02-24

The present invention relates to the discovery of a novel restriction/modification system in Caldicellulosiruptor bescii. The discovered restriction enzyme is a HaeIII-like restriction enzyme that possesses a thermophilic activity profile. The restriction/modification system also includes a methyltransferase, M.CbeI, that methylates at least one cytosine residue in the CbeI recognition sequence to m.sup.4C. Thus, the invention provides, in various aspects, isolated CbeI or M.CbeI polypeptides, or biologically active fragments thereof; isolated polynucleotides that encode the CbeI or M.CbeI polypeptides or biologically active fragments thereof, including expression vectors that include such polynucleotide sequences; methods of digesting DNA using a CbeI polypeptide; methods of treating a DNA molecule using a M.CbeI polypeptide; and methods of transforming a Caldicellulosiruptor cell.

One-session computer-based exposure treatment for spider-fearful individuals--efficacy of a minimal self-help intervention in a randomised controlled trial.

PubMed

Müller, Birgit H; Kull, Sandra; Wilhelm, Frank H; Michael, Tanja

2011-06-01

Computer-based self-help treatments have been proposed to provide greater access to treatment while requiring minimum input from a therapist. The authors employed a randomised controlled trial to investigate the efficacy of one-session computer-based exposure (CBE) as a self-help treatment for spider-fearful individuals. Spider-fearful participants in a CBE group underwent one 27-min session of standardised exposure to nine fear-eliciting spider pictures. Treatment outcome was compared to spider-fearful control participants exposed to nine neutral pictures. Fear reduction was quantified on a subjective level by the Fear of Spiders Questionnaire (FSQ) and complemented with a behavioural approach test (BAT). Results demonstrate that compared to control participants, CBE participants showed greater fear reduction from pre- to posttreatment on both the subjective level (FSQ) and the behavioural level (BAT). Moreover, in contrast to the control group, the obtained subjective fear reduction effect remained stable in the CBE group at 1-month follow-up. These findings highlight the role of computer-based self-help as a minimal but effective intervention to reduce fear of spiders. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Screening behaviors among African American women at high risk for breast cancer: do beliefs about god matter?

PubMed

Kinney, Anita Yeomans; Emery, Gwyn; Dudley, William N; Croyle, Robert T

2002-06-01

To examine the relationship between beliefs about God as a controlling force in health and adherence to breast cancer screening among high-risk African American women. Cross-sectional cohort. In-person interviews in rural, southeastern Louisiana and telephone interviews conducted at the University of Utah. 52 females who were members of a large kindred with a BRCA1 mutation; no subjects had breast cancer. Survey through in-person or telephone interviews. Belief in God as a controlling agent over health measured by the God Locus of Health Control (GLHC) scale; screening behaviors measured by self-report. Adherence was based on consensus-approved recommendations for BRCA1 carriers or women at risk of being carriers. Bivariate analysis indicated that presence of a primary care provider and low GLHC scores were associated with seeking clinical breast examination (CBE) and mammography. With the variable "presence of a primary care provider" excluded, GLHC scores were inversely associated with seeking CBE and mammography. African American women at increased risk for breast cancer and with high GLHC scores may have a decreased inclination to adhere to CBE and mammography recommendations. Assessing religious and spiritual beliefs and incorporating belief systems into education and counseling sessions may improve understanding and acceptance of presented material.

Attitude and Practice Regarding Breast Cancer Early Detection among Iranian Women: A Systematic Review

PubMed Central

Badakhsh, Mahin; Balouchi, Abbas; Taheri, Safiyeh; Bouya, Salehoddin; Ahmadidarehsima, Sudabeh; Aminifard, Mohammadnaem

2018-01-01

Objectives: To determining attitudes and practice regarding breast cancer early detection techniques (breast self-examination (BSE), clinical breast examination (CBE) and mammography) among Iranian woman. Methods: International (PubMed, ISI, and Google Scholar) and national (SID and Magiran) databases were reviewed up to September 2017 to identify articles related to the attitudes and practices of Iranian women concerning breast cancer screening behavior with reference to BSE , CBE and mammography. The screening steps, analysis of quality of the studies and extraction of the papers were performed by two reviewers. Results: Of the 532 studies included initially, 21 performed on 10,521 people were considered eligible. Subjects with a positive attitude toward BSE in various studies were 13.5% to 94.0% with an average of 47.6%. Positive attitudes to CBE and mammography were found in 21.0% and 26.4%, respectively. Participant performance of BSE ranged from 2.6% to 84.7%, with an average of 21.9%. The respective figures for CBE and mammography were 15.8% and 16.7%. Conclusion: Considering the poor performance and low rates for positive attitudes, it is suggested that educational programs should be conducted across the country. PMID:29373873

Aronia melanocarpa (chokeberry) polyphenol-rich extract improves antioxidant function and reduces total plasma cholesterol in apolipoprotein E knockout mice.

PubMed

Kim, Bohkyung; Ku, Chai Siah; Pham, Tho X; Park, Youngki; Martin, Derek A; Xie, Liyang; Taheri, Rod; Lee, Jiyoung; Bolling, Bradley W

2013-05-01

We hypothesized that a polyphenol-rich chokeberry extract (CBE) would modulate hepatic lipid metabolism and improve antioxidant function in apolipoprotein E knockout (apoE(-/-)) mice. ApoE(-/-) mice were fed diets containing 15% fat with 0.2% cholesterol alone or supplemented with 0.005% or 0.05% CBE for 4 weeks. CBE polyphenol content was determined by the total phenols, 4-dimethylaminocinnamaldehyde, and ultra high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry methods. The 0.05% CBE diet provided mice with mean daily doses of 1.2 mg gallic acid equivalents of total phenols, 0.19 mg anthocyanins, 0.17 mg phenolic acids, 0.06 mg proanthocyanidins (as catechin-equivalents), and 0.02 mg flavonols. The 0.05% CBE group had 12% less plasma total cholesterol concentrations than the control. Despite the hypocholesterolemic effect of CBE, hepatic mRNA levels of low-density lipoprotein receptor, hydroxyl-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase and cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase in CBE-fed mice were not significantly different from controls. Dietary CBE did not alter hepatic lipid content or the hepatic expression of genes involved in lipogenesis and fatty acid β-oxidation such as fatty acid synthase, carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1 and acyl-CoA oxidase. Plasma paraoxonase and catalase activities were significantly increased in mice fed 0.05% CBE. Both CBE diets increased hepatic glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity but the 0.05% CBE group had 24% less proximal intestine GPx activity relative to controls. Thus, dietary CBE lowered total cholesterol and improved plasma and hepatic antioxidant function at nutritionally-relevant doses in apoE(-/-) mice. Furthermore, the CBE cholesterol-lowering mechanism in apoE(-/-) mice was independent of hepatic expression of genes involved in cholesterol metabolism. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

[Undergraduate psychiatric training in Turkey].

PubMed

Cıngı Başterzi, Ayşe Devrim; Tükel, Raşit; Uluşahin, Aylin; Coşkun, Bülent; Alkın, Tunç; Murat Demet, Mehmet; Konuk, Numan; Taşdelen, Bahar

2010-01-01

The current trend in medical education is to abandon the experience-based traditional model and embrace the competency-based education model (CBE). The basic principle behind CBE is standardization. The first step in standardization is to determine what students must know, what they must accomplish, and what attitude they should display, and the establishment of educational goals. One of the goals of the Psychiatric Association of Turkey, Psychiatric Training Section is to standardize psychiatric training in Turkish medical schools. This study aimed to determine the current state of undergraduate psychiatric training in Turkish medical schools. Questionnaires were sent to the psychiatry department chairs of 41 medical schools. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistical methods. Of the 41 department chairs that were sent the questionnaire, 29 (70%) completed and returned them, of which 16 (66.7%) reported that they had already defined goals and educational objectives for their undergraduate psychiatric training programs. The Core Education Program, prepared by the Turkish Medicine and Health Education Council, was predominately used at 9 (37.5%) medical schools. Pre-clinical and clinical training schedules varied between medical schools. In all, 3 of the medical schools did not offer internships in psychiatry. The majority of chairs emphasized the importance of mood disorders (49.9%) and anxiety disorders (40%), suggesting that these disorders should be treated by general practitioners. Computer technology was commonly used for lecturing; however, utilization of interactive and skill-based teaching methods was limited. The most commonly used evaluation methods were written examination (87.5%) during preclinical training and oral examination (91.6%) during clinical training. The most important finding of this study was the lack of a standardized curriculum for psychiatric training in Turkey. Standardization of psychiatric training in Turkish medical schools must be developed.

Recent Research in Science Teaching and Learning

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Allen, Deborah

2013-01-01

This feature is designed to point "CBE-Life Sciences Education" readers to current articles of interest in life sciences education, as well as more general and noteworthy publications in education research. URLs are provided for the abstracts or full text of articles. This themed issue focuses on recent studies of concepts and…

Recent Research in Science Teaching and Learning

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Allen, Deborah

2014-01-01

This feature is designed to point "CBE - Life Sciences Education" readers to current articles of interest in life sciences education as well as more general and noteworthy publications in education research. URLs are provided for the abstracts or full text of articles. For articles listed as "Abstract available," full text may…

Recent Research in Science Teaching and Learning

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Allen, Deborah

2013-01-01

This article is designed to point "CBE-Life Sciences Education" readers to current articles of interest in life sciences education as well as more general and noteworthy publications in education research. URLs are provided for the abstracts or full text of articles. For articles listed as "Abstract available," full text may be…

Rural physicians' perspectives on cervical and breast cancer screening: a gender-based analysis.

PubMed

Ahmad, F; Stewart, D E; Cameron, J I; Hyman, I

2001-03-01

Several studies highlight the role of physicians in determining cervical and breast cancer screening rates, and some urban studies report higher screening rates by female physicians. Rural women in North America remain underscreened for breast and cervical cancers. This survey was conducted to determine if there were significant gender differences in practices and perceptions of barriers to breast and cervical cancer screening among rural family physicians in Ontario, Canada. One hundred ninety-one family physicians (response rate 53.1%) who practiced in rural areas, small towns, or small cities completed a mail questionnaire. The physicians' mean age was 44.4 years (SD 9.9), and mean number of years in practice was 16.6 years (SD 10.3). Over 90% of physicians reported that they were very likely to conduct a Pap test and clinical breast examination (CBE) during a periodic health examination, and they had high levels of confidence and comfort in performing these procedures. Male (68%) and female (32%) physicians were similar in their likelihood to conduct screening, levels of confidence and comfort, and knowledge of breast and cervical cancer screening guidelines. However, the self-reported screening rates for Pap tests and CBE performed during last year were higher for female than male physicians (p < 0.01). Male physicians reported they were asked more frequently by patients for a referral to another physician to perform Pap tests and CBE (p < 0.001). Also, male physicians perceived patients' embarrassment as a stronger barrier to performing Pap tests (p < 0.05) and CBE (p < 0.01) than female physicians. No gender differences were observed in screening rates or related barriers to mammography referrals. These findings suggest that physicians' gender plays a role in sex-sensitive examination, such as Pap tests and CBE. There is a need to facilitate physician-patient interactions for sex-sensitive cancer screening examinations by health education initiatives targeting male physicians and women themselves. The feasibility of providing sex-sensitive cancer screening examinations by a same-sex health provider should also be explored.

Partner Resources at CBE

Science.gov Websites

Resources CBE's Next Industry Advisor Board Meeting CBE's Industry Advisory Board (IAB) provides guidance meeting logistics page >> Partner Website We maintain a website that allows partner access to all searchable by keyword and author on the eRepository, a service of the California Digital Library. Go to CBE

Chemical, Biological, and Explosive Sensors for Field Measurements

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kevin Kyle, Manuel Manard, Stephan Weeks

Special Technologies Laboratory (STL) is developing handheld chemical, biological, and explosive (CBE) detection systems and sensor motes for wireless networked field operations. The CBE sensors are capable of detecting and identifying multiple targeted toxic industrial chemicals (TICs) and high-explosive vapor components. The CBE devices are based on differential mobility spectrometry (DMS) coupled with fast gas chromatography (GC) or mass spectrometry. The systems all include the concepts of: 1. Direct air/particulate “smart” sampling 2. Selective, continuous real-time (~1 sec) alert monitoring using DMS 3. Highly selective, rapid dual technology separation/verification analysis The biosensor technology is based on Raman aerosol particle flowmore » cytometry for target detection and identification. Monitoring and identifying trace level chemical vapors directly from ambient air will allow First Responders to quickly adapt situational response strategies and personal protective equipment needs to the specific response scenario being encountered. First Responders require great confidence in the measurements and ability of a given system to detect CBE below threshold levels without interferences. The concept of determining the background matrix in near real-time to allow subsequent automated field-programmable method selection and cueing of high-value assets in a wide range of environs will be presented. This provides CBE information for decisions prior to First Responders entering the response site or sending a portable mobile unit for a remote site survey of the hazards. The focus is on real-time information needed by those responsible for emergency response and national security.« less

Human Resource Management Strategies and Teacher's Efficiency within Schools: A Co-Relational Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hashmi, Kiran

2014-01-01

The aim of the paper is to study Human Resource Management and Development (HRMD) strategies and their effect on teachers' efficiency within the Catholic Board of Education (CBE) schools of Pakistan whose teachers are graduates in educational leadership courses from a private teacher education institutes in Karachi. The study endeavored to build a…

Implementing community-based education in basic nursing education programs in South Africa.

PubMed

Mtshali, N G

2009-03-01

Education of health professionals using principles of community-based education is the recommended national policy in South Africa. A paradigm shift to community-based education is reported in a number of nursing education institutions in South Africa. Reviewed literature however revealed that in some educational institutions planning, implementation and evaluation of Community-based Educational (CBE) programmes tended to be haphazard, uncoordinated and ineffective, resulting in poor student motivation. Therefore the purpose of this study was to analyse the implementation of community-based education in basic nursing education programmes in South Africa. Strauss and Corbin's (1990) grounded theory approach guided the research process. Data were collected by means of observation, interviews and document analysis. The findings revealed that collaborative decision-making involving all stakeholders was crucial especially during the curriculum planning phase. Furthermore, special criteria should be used when selecting community learning sites to ensure that the selected sites are able to facilitate the development of required graduate competencies. Collaborative effort, true partnership between academic institutions and communities, as well as government support and involvement emerged as necessary conditions for the successful implementation of community-based education programmes.

Polyphenol-rich black chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa) extract regulates the expression of genes critical for intestinal cholesterol flux in Caco-2 cells.

PubMed

Kim, Bohkyung; Park, Youngki; Wegner, Casey J; Bolling, Bradley W; Lee, Jiyoung

2013-09-01

Black chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa) is a rich source of polyphenols. The hypolipidemic effects of polyphenol-rich black chokeberry extract (CBE) have been reported, but underlying mechanisms have not been well characterized. We investigated the effect of CBE on the expression of genes involved in intestinal lipid metabolism. Caco-2 cells were incubated with 50 or 100 μg/ml of CBE for 24 h for quantitative realtime polymerase chain reaction analysis. Expression of genes for cholesterol synthesis (3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase and sterol regulatory element binding protein 2), apical cholesterol uptake (Niemann-Pick C1 Like 1 and scavenger receptor class B Type 1) and basolateral cholesterol efflux [ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1)] was significantly decreased by CBE compared with control. Western blot analysis confirmed that CBE inhibited expression of these proteins. In contrast, CBE markedly induced mRNA and/or protein levels of ABCG5 and ABCG8 that mediate apical cholesterol efflux to the intestinal lumen. Furthermore, CBE significantly increased mRNA and protein levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor, and cellular LDL uptake. Expression of genes involved in lipid metabolism and lipoprotein assembly, including sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1c, fatty acid synthase and acyl-CoA oxidase 1, was significantly decreased by CBE in a dose-dependent manner. Concomitantly, CBE significantly increased sirtuin 1, 3 and 5 mRNA levels, while it decreased SIRT-2. Our data suggest that hypolipidemic effects of CBE may be attributed, at least in part, to increased apical efflux of LDL-derived cholesterol and to decreased chylomicron formation in the intestine; and specific isoforms of SIRT may play an important role in this process. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Dissipationless transport of spin-polarized electrons and Cooper pairs in an electron waveguide

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Levy, J.; Annadi, A.; Lu, S.; Cheng, G.; Tylan-Tyler, A.; Briggeman, M.; Tomczyk, M.; Huang, M.; Pekker, D.; Irvin, P.; Lee, H.; Lee, J.-W.; Eom, C.-B.

Electron systems undergo profound changes in their behavior when constrained to move along a single axis. To date, clean one-dimensional (1D) electron transport has only been observed in carbon-based nanotubes and nanoribbons, and compound semiconductor nanowires. Complex-oxide heterostructures can possess conductive two-dimensional (2D) interfaces with much richer chemistries and properties, e.g., superconductivity, but with mobilities that appear to preclude ballistic transport in 1D. Here we show that nearly ideal 1D electron waveguides exhibiting ballistic transport of electrons and non-superconducting Cooper pairs can be formed at the interface between the two band insulators LaAlO3 and SrTiO3. The electron waveguides possess gate and magnetic-field selectable spin and charge degrees of freedom, and can be tuned to the one-dimensional limit of a single spin-polarized quantum channel. The strong attractive electron-electron interactions enable a new mode of dissipationless transport of electron pairs that is not superconducting. The selectable spin and subband quantum numbers of these electron waveguides may be useful for quantum simulation, quantum informatio We gratefully acknowledge financial support from ONR N00014-15-1-2847 (JL), AFOSR (FA9550-15-1-0334 (CBE) and FA9550-12-1-0057 (JL, CBE)), AOARD FA2386-15-1-4046 (CBE) and NSF (DMR-1104191 (JL), DMR-1124131 (CBE, JL) and DMR-1234096 (CBE)).

CBe5Hn((n-4)) (n = 2-5): Hydrogen-Stabilized CBe5 Pentagons Containing Planar or Quasi-Planar Pentacoordinate Carbons.

PubMed

Guo, Jin-Chang; Ren, Guang-Ming; Miao, Chang-Qing; Tian, Wen-Juan; Wu, Yan-Bo; Wang, Xiaotai

2015-12-31

The diagonal relationship between beryllium and aluminum and the isoelectronic relationship between BeH unit and Al atom were utilized to design a new series ppC- or quasi-ppC-containing species C5v CBe5H5(+), Cs CBe5H4, C2v CBe5H3(-), and C2v CBe5H2(2-) by replacing the Al atoms in previously reported global minima planar pentacoordinate carbon (ppC) species D5h CAl5(+), C2v CAl4Be, C2v CAl3Be2(-), and C2v CAl2Be3(2-) with BeH units. The three-center two-electron (3c-2e) bonds formed between Be and bridging H atoms were crucial for the stabilization of these ppC species. The natural bond orbital (NBO) and adaptive natural density partitioning (AdNDP) analyses revealed that the central ppCs or quasi-ppCs possess the stable eight electron-shell structures. The AdNDP analyses also disclosed that these species are all 6σ+2π double-aromatic in nature. The aromaticity was proved by the calculated negative nucleus-independent chemical shifts (NICS) values. DFT and high-level CCSD(T) calculations revealed that these ppC- or quasi-ppC species are the global minimum or competitive low-lying local minimum (Cs CBe5H4) on their potential energy surfaces. The Born-Oppenheimer molecular dynamic (BOMD) simulations revealed that the H atoms in C2v CBe5H3(-) and C2v CBe5H2(2-) can easily rotate around the CBe5 cores and the structure of quasi-planar C5v CBe5H5(+) will become the planar structure at room temperature; however, these interesting dynamic behaviors did not indicate the kinetic instability as the basic ppC structures were maintained during the simulations. Therefore, it would be potentially possible to realize these interesting ppC- or quasi-ppc-species in future experiments.

A Computer-Based Educational Approach to the Air Command and Staff College Associate Program

DTIC Science & Technology

1985-04-01

control interactive vid e o, grade student responses and perform some analysis on the dat a . Its main advantages lie in the ability of the author to...basic goal of provid- ing the instructor with assitance in the development of good CBE. One way of viewing the different tools on the market is to...ractice , tutorials and simple games all have as their premise the computer replacing the teacher in a one-on-one en- counter. The other modes, simulation

Plasma esterases in the tegu lizard Tupinambis merianae (Reptilia, Teiidae): impact of developmental stage, sex, and organophosphorus in vitro exposure.

PubMed

Basso, Agustín; Attademo, Andrés M; Lajmanovich, Rafael C; Peltzer, Paola M; Junges, Celina; Cabagna, Mariana C; Fiorenza, Gabriela S; Sanchez-Hernandez, Juan Carlos

2012-01-01

In this study, we determined normal serum butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) and carboxylesterase (CbE) activities in Tupinambis merianae in order to obtain reference values for organophosphorus pesticide monitoring. Forty-two T. merianae individuals were grouped by sex and size to identify potential differences in their enzyme levels to allow for proper representation of normal values for females, males, juveniles, and hatchlings. Mean CbE was determined using two model substrates: alpha-naphtylacetate (α-NA) and p-nitrophenyl valerate (4-NPV). BChE and CbE sensitivity to malaoxon (Mx) was also evaluated as well as the possibility of BChE reactivation with pyridine-2-aldoxime methochloride (2-PAM). Mean adult females' BChE was significantly higher than adult males, juveniles, and hatchlings. No significant differences were found between groups regarding CbE. CbE (4-NPV) activity showed slightly negative correlation with lizard snout-vent length, while BChE and CbE (α-NA) showed no correlation with body size. Apparent IC(50) values for BChE and CbE (α-NA) suggested different sensitivities among groups. CbE (4-NPV) could not be inhibited. All Mx-inhibited groups treated with 2-PAM in a final concentration of 2.8 mM showed clear signs of reactivation. In conclusion, the results demonstrate that (1) plasma esterase activity did not vary with age and sex, except for BChE activity, and (2) because biological and environmental variables could be confounding factors in the response of plasma cholinesterases, complementary biomarkers like CbE inhibition and oxime-induced reactivation of esterases are strongly recommended.

Teaching rural women in Nicaragua the principles of breast health.

PubMed

Duda, Rosemary B; Bhushan, Devika

2011-09-01

Breast cancer has emerged as an important health condition worldwide, including developing countries. Screening is limited or non-existent in resource-poor areas. The purpose of this study was to assess knowledge, attitudes, and practices of self (SBE) and clinical (CBE) breast examinations among 198 rural Nicaraguan women. Ten (5.1%) had performed a SBE, and 16 (8.1%) had a CBE. CBE was significantly associated with a pre-instruction total score of 70% or greater (OR = 13.7, 95% CI = 1.26, 149.70, p = 0.03). Family history of breast cancer was significantly associated with performing a SBE (OR = 5.5, 95% CI = 1.10, 27.81, p = 0.037) and a CBE (OR = 7.1, 95% CI = 1.40, 35.94, p = 0.018). A CBE is a significant determinant of pre-existing breast health knowledge. Physicians or physician extenders should be encouraged to perform a CBE as a routine component of health care delivery and cancer screening for women.

Call for Papers. Correctional Education Association 1986 Annual Conference (Cincinnati, Ohio, July 6-9, 1986).

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Littlefield, John F., Ed.

The 13 papers in this volume are: "Behind Bars with CBE--Look What's Happening to Inmate Training" (Beverly A. Stitt, Rita Noel); "Communication Skills: Relevance, Respect, Responsibility and the Process of Change" (Meredith Whaley); "The Educational Needs of Inmates in the Kingston Prison for Women" (Richard Volpe, Colleen Kearney); "The Effects…

Factors associated with routine screening for the early detection of breast cancer in cultural-ethnic and faith-based communities.

PubMed

Freund, Anat; Cohen, Miri; Azaiza, Faisal

2017-07-04

Studies have shown a lower adherence to health behaviors among women in cultural-ethnic minorities and faith-based communities, especially lower screening attendance for the early detection of breast cancer. This study compares factors related to cancer screening adherence in two distinct cultural-ethnic minorities in Israel: Arab women as a cultural-ethnic minority and Jewish ultra-Orthodox women as a cultural-ethnic faith-based minority. During the year 2014, a total of 398 Jewish ultra-Orthodox women and 401 Arab women between the ages of 40-60, were randomly selected using population-based registries. These women answered questionnaires regarding adherence to mammography and clinical breast examination (CBE), health beliefs and cultural barriers. Arab women adhered more than ultra-Orthodox women to mammography (p < .001) and CBE exams (p < .01). Religious beliefs, exposure barriers and perceived risk were higher among the ultra-Orthodox women, while social barriers, accessibility barriers and perceived severity were higher among the Arab women (p < .01). Adjusting for background factors, higher adherence to CBE and mammography were associated with lower levels of religious beliefs (AOR = 0.90, 95% CI = 0.69-1.17 AOR = 0.62, 95% CI = 0.39-0.82, respectively), perceiving a higher risk of cancer (AOR = 1.93, 95% CI = 1.23-3.04 and AOR = 3.22, 95% CI = 1.53-6.61), and having more fears related to cancer-related losses (AOR = 1.51, 95% CI = 1.19-3.00 and AOR = 1.24, 95% CI = 0.63-1.22). In addition, perceiving greater advantages of CBE was associated with higher adherence to CBE (AOR = 1.82, 95% CI = 1.45-2.29), while not receiving a physician's recommendation was associated with lower adherence to mammography (AOR = 1.82, 95% CI = 1.45-2.29). This study addressed a lacuna in screening behaviors of women from cultural-ethnic and faith-based communities. In order to increase adherence, health care professionals and policymakers should direct their attention to the specific nature of each community.

Characteristics of successful and unsuccessful completers of 3 postacute brain injury rehabilitation pathways.

PubMed

Malec, James F; Degiorgio, Lisa

2002-12-01

To determine whether successful participants along different postacute brain injury rehabilitation pathways differ on demographic, injury-related, disability, and outcome variables. Secondary analysis of pre- and posttreatment, and 1-year follow-up data obtained in a previous study of specialized vocational services (SVS) for persons with brain injury. Outpatient brain injury rehabilitation clinic. One hundred fourteen persons with acquired brain injury. Participants in 3 distinct rehabilitation pathways were studied: SVS only; SVS and a 3-h/wk community reintegration outpatient group; and SVS and 6-h/d comprehensive day treatment (CDT). Mayo-Portland Adaptability Inventory (MPAI); Vocational Independence Scale; and "success," as defined by community-based employment (CBE) at 1-year follow-up. The percentage (77%-85%) of participants in CBE at 1-year follow-up did not differ among the 3 pathways. CDT participants had more limited educational backgrounds, were less recently injured, and showed greater disability and more impaired self-awareness than those receiving limited intervention (ie, SVS or community reintegration outpatient group). MPAI scores for limited-intervention participants who were unsuccessful were similar in level to successful participants in CDT. Logistic regression models were developed to predict the probability of success with limited intervention and CDT. Different rehabilitation pathways result in CBE for a large percentage of persons with brain injury if the intensity of service is appropriately matched to the severity of the disability, the time since injury, and other participant characteristics. Copyright 2002 by the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine and the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

The Comprehensive Business Exam: Usefulness for Assessing Instructional and Student Performance Outcomes

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hahn, William; Leslie, Beth

2017-01-01

The authors explore the results of the Comprehensive Business Exam (CBE) administered to business majors during their senior-year business capstone course. The study results identified students' SAT and grade point average as a predictor of CBE performance, and variables that explain the correlation between CBE performance, SAT score, and grade…

Membership in CBE's Industry Consortium

Science.gov Websites

Membership Benefits of Membership Membership FAQs Become a Member Board Meeting Logistics CBE's Overview CBE's research program is supported and guided by its Industry Advisory Board (IAB). Twice a year projects, and identify new research topics. Our Industry Advisory Board mirrors the diversity of the

Self-detection and clinical breast examination: comparison of the two "classical" physical examination methods for the diagnosis of breast cancer.

PubMed

Schwab, Fabienne Dominique; Huang, Dorothy Jane; Schmid, Seraina Margaretha; Schötzau, Andreas; Güth, Uwe

2015-02-01

This is the first comprehensive analysis comparing specific aspects of tumor detection between the two "traditional" breast cancer detection methods self-detection (SD) and clinical breast examination (CBE). a) Which method is better in detecting smaller tumors? Both methods showed similar mean tumor diameters (SD: 22.1 mm vs. CBE: 21.9 mm; p = 0.991). b) Different frequency distributions of tumor locations would indicate that certain locations in the breast are more difficult to palpate: comparison of both methods showed comparable results (p = 0.835). c) General differences in tumor sizes with regard to certain locations would be of importance because the patients and/or the physicians could be educated to pay particular attention to certain locations during physical examination, where larger tumors tend to be found: tumors located in the central region were with 25.0 mm significantly larger than those in the peripheral regions of the breast (superior: 21.6 mm, p = 0.001; inferior: 21.6 mm, p = 0.015; lateral: 21.9 mm, p = 0.002; medial (20.9 mm, p = 0.001). Tumor sizes within the four peripheral regions did not differ significantly. d) Patients whose tumors were found by CBE were older than those whose tumors were found by SD (67 years vs. 60 years, p < 0.001). annual CBE should be an integral part of general medical care in older women. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Influence of supercritical CO(2) pressurization on the phase behavior of mixed cholesteryl esters.

PubMed

Huang, Zhen; Feng, Mei; Su, Junfeng; Guo, Yuhua; Liu, Tie-Yan; Chiew, Yee C

2010-09-15

Evidences indicating the presence of phase transformations in the mixed cholesteryl benzoate (CBE) and cholesteryl butyrate (CBU) under the supercritical CO(2) pressurization, by means of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and X-ray diffraction (XRD), are presented in this work. These include (1) the DSC heating curve of pure CBU; (2) the DSC heating curves of CBU/CBE mixtures; (3) the XRD spectra of pure CBU; (4) the XRD spectra of CBU/CBE mixtures; (5) CBU and CBE are miscible in either solid phase or liquid phase over the whole composition range. As a result of the presence of these phase transformations induced by pressurization, it could be deduced that a solid solution of the CBU/CBE mixture might have formed at the interfaces under supercritical conditions, subsequently influencing their dissolving behaviors in supercritical CO(2). Copyright 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Grappling with the Literature of Education Research and Practice

PubMed Central

2007-01-01

The absence of a central database and use of specialized language hinder nonexperts in becoming familiar with the science teaching and learning literature and using it to inform their work. The challenge of locating articles related to a specific question or problem, coupled with the difficulty of comprehending findings based on a variety of different perspectives and practices, can be prohibitively difficult. As I have transitioned from bench to classroom-based research, I have become familiar with how to locate, decipher, and evaluate the education research literature. In this essay, I point out analogies to the literature of science research and practice, and I reference some of the literature that I have found useful in becoming an education researcher. I also introduce a new regular feature, “Current Insights: Recent Research in Science Teaching and Learning,” which is designed to point CBE—Life Sciences Education (CBE-LSE) readers to current articles of interest in life sciences education, as well as more general and noteworthy publications in education research. PMID:18056300

Cost-effectiveness of alternative strategies for integrating MRI into breast cancer screening for women at high risk.

PubMed

Ahern, C H; Shih, Y-C T; Dong, W; Parmigiani, G; Shen, Y

2014-10-14

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is recommended for women at high risk for breast cancer. We evaluated the cost-effectiveness of alternative screening strategies involving MRI. Using a microsimulation model, we generated life histories under different risk profiles, and assessed the impact of screening on quality-adjusted life-years, and lifetime costs, both discounted at 3%. We compared 12 screening strategies combining annual or biennial MRI with mammography and clinical breast examination (CBE) in intervals of 0.5, 1, or 2 years vs without, and reported incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs). Based on an ICER threshold of $100,000/QALY, the most cost-effective strategy for women at 25% lifetime risk was to stagger MRI and mammography plus CBE every year from age 30 to 74, yielding ICER $58,400 (compared to biennial MRI alone). At 50% lifetime risk and with 70% reduction in MRI cost, the recommended strategy was to stagger MRI and mammography plus CBE every 6 months (ICER=$84,400). At 75% lifetime risk, the recommended strategy is biennial MRI combined with mammography plus CBE every 6 months (ICER=$62,800). The high costs of MRI and its lower specificity are limiting factors for annual screening schedule of MRI, except for women at sufficiently high risk.

Evaluation of clinical breast examination and breast ultrasonography among pregnant women in Abakaliki, Nigeria

PubMed Central

Ezeonu, Paul Olisaemeka; Ajah, Leonard Ogbonna; Onoh, Robinson Chukwudi; Lawani, Lucky Osaheni; Enemuo, Vincent Chidi; Agwu, Uzoma MaryRose

2015-01-01

Background Breast cancer in pregnancy accounts for 2%–3% of all breast cancers. The increased vascularity and lymphatic drainage from the breast during pregnancy potentiate the metastatic spread of the cancer to the regional lymph nodes. However, the increased breast density in pregnancy makes it difficult to detect breast lesions early. Aim To evaluate and compare the detection rate of breast lesions using clinical breast examination (CBE) and breast ultrasonography among pregnant women. Methodology A cross-sectional comparative study involving antenatal clinic attendees at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, was conducted between March 3, 2014, and December 31, 2014. CBE and breast ultrasonography were done in the participants at booking and repeated at 6 weeks postpartum. Fine-needle aspiration cytology and histology were done in women with suspicious breast lesions on CBE or breast ultrasonography or both. Data analysis was both descriptive and inferential at the 95% confidence level using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 17.0. Test of significance was done using chi-square test. A P-value of less than or equal to 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results A total of 320 pregnant women participated in the study. Of these, 267 (83.4%) were aware of breast cancer. Although more lesions were detected with breast ultrasonography than by CBE, there was no statistically significant difference between them (25 versus 17; P=0.26). The histology of the lesions revealed 21 benign lesions and 4 normal breast tissues. The sensitivity of breast ultrasonography was 95.2%, while that of CBE was 66.7%. The specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were similar between CBE and breast ultrasonography. Conclusion The detection rates of breast lesions by both CBE and breast ultrasonography were equivalent during pregnancy and 6 weeks postpartum, making CBE a convenient and very cost-effective method of detecting breast lesions in the low-risk population. However, both CBE and breast ultrasonography should be done in women with high risk of breast malignancy. PMID:25999736

Plant Behavior

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Liu, Dennis W. C.

2014-01-01

Plants are a huge and diverse group of organisms, ranging from microscopic marine phytoplankton to enormous terrestrial trees epitomized by the giant sequoia: 300 feet tall, living 3000 years, and weighing as much as 3000 tons. For this plant issue of "CBE-Life Sciences Education," the author focuses on a botanical topic that most…

Cultural beliefs and clinical breast examination in Hmong American women: the crucial role of modesty.

PubMed

Lee, Hee Yun; Vang, Suzanne

2015-06-01

Despite grave cancer disparities in Hmong American women, investigation of the group's breast cancer screening behavior is sparse. This study examined how cultural factors are associated with breast cancer screening utilization, specifically clinical breast exam (CBE), in this population. One hundred and sixty-four Hmong American women between ages 18 and 67 were recruited from a large Midwestern metropolitan area with a median age of 28.0 years. Logistic regression was used to assess the association of cultural variables with receipt of CBE. Roughly 73% of Hmong American women reported ever having had a CBE. Logistic regression revealed that endorsing more modest views was the greatest barrier to ever having had a CBE. Age and language preference were also found to be significant predictors of past CBE use. Cultural factors should be considered in developing interventions aimed at promoting breast cancer screening in this population. In particular, Hmong American women who have less English proficiency and are relatively younger should be targeted in breast cancer screening efforts.

3-D in vitro estimation of temperature using the change in backscattered ultrasonic energy.

PubMed

Arthur, R Martin; Basu, Debomita; Guo, Yuzheng; Trobaugh, Jason W; Moros, Eduardo G

2010-08-01

Temperature imaging with a non-invasive modality to monitor the heating of tumors during hyperthermia treatment is an attractive alternative to sparse invasive measurement. Previously, we predicted monotonic changes in backscattered energy (CBE) of ultrasound with temperature for certain sub-wavelength scatterers. We also measured CBE values similar to our predictions in bovine liver, turkey breast muscle, and pork rib muscle in 2-D in vitro studies and in nude mice during 2-D in vivo studies. To extend these studies to three dimensions, we compensated for motion and measured CBE in turkey breast muscle. 3-D data sets were assembled from images formed by a phased-array imager with a 7.5-MHz linear probe moved in 0.6-mm steps in elevation during uniform heating from 37 to 45 degrees C in 0.5 degrees C increments. We used cross-correlation as a similarity measure in RF signals to automatically track feature displacement as a function of temperature. Feature displacement was non-rigid. Envelopes of image regions, compensated for non-rigid motion, were found with the Hilbert transform then smoothed with a 3 x 3 running average filter before forming the backscattered energy at each pixel. CBE in 3-D motion-compensated images was nearly linear with an average sensitivity of 0.30 dB/ degrees C. 3-D estimation of temperature in separate tissue regions had errors with a maximum standard deviation of about 0.5 degrees C over 1-cm(3) volumes. Success of CBE temperature estimation based on 3-D non-rigid tracking and compensation for real and apparent motion of image features could serve as the foundation for the eventual generation of 3-D temperature maps in soft tissue in a non-invasive, convenient, and low-cost way in clinical hyperthermia.

What Should Count as Worthwhile Knowledge in Determining a Curriculum for Supporting Out-of-school Children and Youth?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Nampota, Dorothy Cynthia

2009-01-01

Due to the increasing number of children and youth dropping out of school, the Malawi government came up with a strategy to address their learning needs through non-formal means in its Education for All (EFA) plan. This resulted in the introduction of a three-year cycle pilot programme known as Complementary Basic Education (CBE). Funded by GTZ, a…

Visiting Scholars Program in Building Science at UC Berkeley

Science.gov Websites

part of the evaluation process, as it is essential that there is a relationship between your interests and the research being conducted at CBE. Visiting scholars must have some prior research experience with information on education, research experience, papers published and technical skills (e.g

Utilization of Mammography Services among Elderly Rural and Urban African American Women

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Agho, Augustine O; Mosley, Barbara W; Rivers, Patrick A; Parker, Shandowyn

2007-01-01

Purpose: This study was a two-year educational intervention and research project aimed at increasing the awareness of breast cancer and the utilization of Clinical Breast Examination (CBE) services and Self-Breast Examination (SBE) among elderly rural and urban African American women who are Medicare beneficiaries. Design: The study was…

Effect of diet on carboxylesterase activity of tadpoles (Rhinella arenarum) exposed to chlorpyrifos.

PubMed

Attademo, A M; Sanchez-Hernandez, J C; Lajmanovich, R C; Peltzer, P M; Junges, C

2017-01-01

An outdoor microcosm was performed with tadpoles (Rhinella arenarum) exposed to 125μgL -1 chlorpyrifos and fed two types of food, i.e., lettuce (Lactuca sativa) and a formulated commercial pellet. Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and carboxylesterase (CbE) activities were measured in liver and intestine after 10 days of pesticide exposure. Non-exposed tadpoles fed lettuce had an intestinal AChE activity almost two-fold higher than that of pellet-fed tadpoles. No significant differences were observed, however, in liver AChE activity between diets. Likewise, intestinal CbE activity - measured using two substrates, i.e. 1-naphthyl acetate (1-NA) and 4-nitrophenyl valerate (4-NPV) - was higher in tadpoles fed lettuce than in those fed pellets. However, the diet-dependent response of liver CbE activity was opposite to that in the intestine. Chlorpyrifos caused a significant inhibition of both esterase activities, which was tissue- and diet-specific. The highest inhibition degree was found in the intestinal AChE and CbE activities of lettuce-fed tadpoles (42-78% of controls) compared with pellet-fed tadpoles (<60%). Although chlorpyrifos significantly inhibited liver CbE activity of the group fed lettuce, this effect was not observed in the group fed pellets. In general, intestinal CbE activity was more sensitive to chlorpyrifos inhibition than AChE activity. This finding, together with the high levels of basal CbE activity found in the intestine, may be understood as a detoxification system able to reduce intestinal OP uptake. Moreover, the results of this study suggest that diet is a determinant factor in toxicity testing with tadpoles to assess OP toxicity, because it modulates levels of this potential detoxifying enzyme activity. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Impact of the addition of cocoa butter equivalent on the volatile compounds profile of dark chocolate.

PubMed

de Silva Souza, Cristiano; Block, Jane Mara

2018-02-01

The effect of the partial replacement of cocoa butter (CB) by cocoa butter equivalent (CBE) in the release of volatile compounds in dark chocolate was studied. The fatty acid profile, triacylglyceride composition, solid fat content (SFC) and melting point were determined in CB and CBE. Chocolate with CB (F1) and with different content of CBE (5 and 10%-F2 and F3, respectively) were prepared. Plastic viscosity and Casson flow limit, particle size distribution and release of volatile compounds using a solid phase microextraction with gas chromatography (SMPE-GC) were determined in the chocolate samples. The melting point was similar for the studied samples but SFC indicated different melting behavior. CBE showed a higher saturated fatty acid content when compared to CB. The samples showed similar SOS triglyceride content (21 and 23.7% for CB and CBE, respectively). Higher levels of POS and lower POP were observed for CB when compared to CBE (44.8 and 19.7 and 19 and 41.1%, respectively). The flow limit and plastic viscosity were similar for the studied chocolates samples, as well as the particle size distribution. Among the 27 volatile compounds identified in the samples studied, 12 were detected in significantly higher concentrations in sample F1 (phenylacetaldehyde, methylpyrazine, 2,6-dimethylpyrazine, 2-ethyl-5-methylpyrazine, 2-ethyl-3,5-dimethylpyrazine, tetramethylpyrazine, trimethylpyrazine, 3-ethyl-2,5-dimethylpyrazine, phenethyl alcohol, 2-acetylpyrrole, acetophenone and isovaleric acid). The highest changes were observed in the pyrazines group, which presented a decrease of more than half in the formulations where part of the CB was replaced by the CBE.

A Comparative Study of Natural Antimicrobial Delivery Systems for Microbial Safety and Quality of Fresh-Cut Lettuce.

PubMed

Hill, Laura E; Oliveira, Daniela A; Hills, Katherine; Giacobassi, Cassie; Johnson, Jecori; Summerlin, Harvey; Taylor, T Matthew; Gomes, Carmen L

2017-05-01

Nanoencapsulation can provide a means to effectively deliver antimicrobial compounds and enhance the safety of fresh produce. However, to date there are no studies which directly compares how different nanoencapsulation systems affect fresh produce safety and quality. This study compared the effects on quality and safety of fresh-cut lettuce treated with free and nanoencapsulated natural antimicrobial, cinnamon bark extract (CBE). A challenge study compared antimicrobial efficacy of 3 different nanoencapsulated CBE systems. The most effective antimicrobial treatment against Listeria monocytogenes was chitosan-co-poly-N-isopropylacrylamide (chitosan-PNIPAAM) encapsulated CBE, with a reduction on bacterial load up to 2 log 10 CFU/g (P < 0.05) compared to the other encapsulation systems when fresh-cut lettuce was stored at 5 °C and 10 °C for 15 d. Subsequently, chitosan-PNIPAAM-CBE nanoparticles (20, 40, and 80 mg/mL) were compared to a control and free CBE (400, 800, and 1600 μg/mL) for its effects on fresh-cut lettuce quality over 15 d at 5 °C. By the 10th day, the most effective antimicrobial concentration was 80 mg/mL for chitosan-PNIPAAM-CBE, up to 2 log 10 CFU/g reduction (P < 0.05), compared with the other treatments. There was no significant difference between control and treated samples up to day 10 for the quality attributes evaluated. Chitosan-PNIPAAM-CBE nanoparticles effectively inhibited spoilage microorganisms' growth and extended fresh-cut lettuce shelf-life. Overall, nanoencapsulation provided a method to effectively deliver essential oil and enhanced produce safety, while creating little to no detrimental quality changes on the fresh-cut lettuce. © 2017 Institute of Food Technologists®.

Cranberry extract attenuates hepatic inflammation in high fat-fed obese mice

PubMed Central

Glisan, Shannon L.; Ryan, Caroline; Neilson, Andrew P.; Lambert, Joshua D.

2016-01-01

Cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) consumption has been associated with health beneficial effects. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a co-morbidity of obesity. In the present study, we investigated the effect of a polyphenol-rich cranberry extract (CBE) on hepatic inflammation in high fat-fed obese C57BL/6J mice. Following dietary treatment with 0.8% CBE for 10 weeks, we observed no change in body weight or visceral fat mass in CBE supplemented mice compared to high fat-fed control mice. We did observe a significant decrease in plasma alanine aminotransferase (31%) and histological severity of NAFLD (33% decrease in area of involvement, 29% decrease in lipid droplet size) compared to high fat-fed controls. Hepatic protein levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha and C-C chemokine ligand 2 were reduced by 28% and 19%, respectively, following CBE supplementation. CBE significantly decreased hepatic mRNA levels of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4, 63%) and nuclear factorκ B (NFκB, 24%), as well as a number of genes related to the nucleotide-binding domain, leucine-rich-containing family, pyrin domain-containing-3 inflammasome. In conclusion, CBE reduced NAFLD and hepatic inflammation in high fat-fed obese C57BL/6J mice. These effects appear to be related to mitigation of TLR4-NFκB related signaling, however further studies into the underlying mechanisms of these hepatoprotective effects are needed. PMID:27619543

Bioelectrochemically-assisted anaerobic composting process enhancing compost maturity of dewatered sludge with synchronous electricity generation.

PubMed

Yu, Hang; Jiang, Junqiu; Zhao, Qingliang; Wang, Kun; Zhang, Yunshu; Zheng, Zhen; Hao, Xiaodi

2015-10-01

Bioelectrochemically-assisted anaerobic composting process (AnCBE) with dewatered sludge as the anode fuel was constructed to accelerate composting of dewatered sludge, which could increase the quality of the compost and harvest electric energy in comparison with the traditional anaerobic composting (AnC). Results revealed that the AnCBE yielded a voltage of 0.60 ± 0.02 V, and total COD (TCOD) removal reached 19.8 ± 0.2% at the end of 35 d. The maximum power density was 5.6 W/m(3). At the end of composting, organic matter content (OM) reduction rate increased to 19.5 ± 0.2% in AnCBE and to 12.9 ± 0.1% in AnC. The fuzzy comprehensive assessment (FCA) result indicated that the membership degree of class I of AnCBE compost (0.64) was higher than that of AnC compost (0.44). It was demonstrated that electrogenesis in the AnCBE could improve the sludge stabilization degree, accelerate anaerobic composting process and enhance composting maturity with bioelectricity generation. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

As mammography use increases, are some providers omitting clinical breast examination?

PubMed

Burns, R B; Freund, K M; Ash, A S; Shwartz, M; Antab, L; Hall, R

1996-04-08

To explore use of clinical breast examination (CBE) among women receiving mammography. A retrospective cohort analysis of 100 women aged 50 years or older with at least one bilateral mammogram. Chart review documented demographic information, severity of illness, and performance of CBE (from 1 year prior to 18 months after the mammogram). The mean age of the 100 women was 63 years. They were predominantly unmarried (60%), nonwhite (58%), and not currently employed (57%). Three quarters (76%) had mammography and CBE (comprehensive screening), while the remaining 24% had mammography only. Sociodemographic factors did not differ for women with and without comprehensive screening (P>.1). However, patients of female providers were more likely to receive comprehensive screening than patients of male providers. Specifically, 95% of women seen by female attending physicians or fellows had comprehensive screening vs 67% for male attending physicians or fellows and 61% for residents (P=.008). Mammography may be replacing CBE especially among patients of male providers. Interventions targeted to these providers could help improve the use of CBE and mammography.

Why competencies in graduate health management and policy education?

PubMed

Calhoun, Judith G; Vincent, Eric T; Calhoun, Gary L; Brandsen, Laura E

2008-01-01

During the past decade there has been a growing interest in learning and competency-based systems in various areas of education, training, and professional development. As a result, a number of competency initiatives have been undertaken across the health professions, including medicine, nursing, and pharmacy. Concurrent with these activities have been the resounding calls for: 1) both curricular content and process review in health administration and related training programs, 2) rethinking and reform of current educational practices, and 3) evidence-based, outcomes-focused education in health management and policy education. In spite of governmental mandates and accrediting body specification for educational improvement, the debate about the use of competency models, competencies themselves, and competency-based education (CBE) still continues in a number of post-secondary educational settings-both within and outside of the professions. Specifically, faculties in health management and policy educational programs, including undergraduate and graduate education across the US, have questioned the need for the evolving competencies, competency models, and outcomes-based educational processes and assessment methods currently being developed and or adopted within the profession. Outlined in this paper are four of the current inflection points related to the competency/outcomes-based movement in the professions during the past decade: 1) The Changing Workforce and Workplace, 2) Reform in the Educational Continuum, 3) Evolving Accreditation Requirements, and 4) Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) in Health Management and Policy Education.

CBE awarded to DoH officer (england).

PubMed

2000-02-01

Julie Hartley-Jones, Department of Health (England) nursing officer with responsibilities for acute and specialist services including A & E, has been awarded a CBE in the New Year's honours list. Ms Hartley-Jones, who was awarded her CBE for services to renal nursing, is also a former president of the European Dialysis and Transplant Nurses Association/European Renal Care Association. She recently spoke at the RCN A & E Nursing Association Conference on 'Making a Difference' and has a keen interest in emergency nursing issues.

Community-based exercise programs as a strategy to optimize function in chronic disease: a systematic review.

PubMed

Desveaux, Laura; Beauchamp, Marla; Goldstein, Roger; Brooks, Dina

2014-03-01

Chronic diseases are the leading cause of death and disability worldwide. Preliminary evidence suggests that community-based exercise (CBE) improves functional capacity (FC) and health-related quality of life (HRQL). To describe the structure and delivery of CBE programs for chronic disease populations and compare their impact on FC and HRQL to standard care. Randomized trials examining CBE programs for individuals with stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, osteoarthritis, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease were identified. Quality was assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias tool. Meta-analyses were conducted using Review Manager 5.1. The protocol was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42012002786). Sixteen studies (2198 individuals, mean age 66.8±4.9 y) were included to describe program structures, which were comparable in their design and components, irrespective of the chronic disease. Aerobic exercise and resistance training were the primary interventions in 85% of studies. Nine studies were included in the meta-analysis. The weighted mean difference for FC, evaluated using the 6-minute walk test, was 41.7 m (95% confidence interval [CI], 20.5-62.8). The standardized mean difference for all FC measures was 0.18 (95% CI, 0.05-0.3). The standardized mean difference for the physical component of HRQL measures was 0.21 (95% CI, 0.05-0.4) and 0.38 (95% CI, 0.04-0.7) for the total score. CBE programs across chronic disease populations have similar structures. These programs appear superior to standard care with respect to optimizing FC and HRQL in individuals with osteoarthritis; however, the effect beyond this population is unknown. Long-term sustainability of these programs remains to be established.

Cranberry extract attenuates hepatic inflammation in high-fat-fed obese mice.

PubMed

Glisan, Shannon L; Ryan, Caroline; Neilson, Andrew P; Lambert, Joshua D

2016-11-01

Cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) consumption has been associated with health beneficial effects. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a comorbidity of obesity. In the present study, we investigated the effect of a polyphenol-rich cranberry extract (CBE) on hepatic inflammation in high fat (HF)-fed obese C57BL/6J mice. Following dietary treatment with 0.8% CBE for 10 weeks, we observed no change in body weight or visceral fat mass in CBE-supplemented mice compared to HF-fed control mice. We did observe a significant decrease in plasma alanine aminotransferase (31%) and histological severity of NAFLD (33% decrease in area of involvement, 29% decrease in lipid droplet size) compared to HF-fed controls. Hepatic protein levels of tumor necrosis factor α and C-C chemokine ligand 2 were reduced by 28% and 19%, respectively, following CBE supplementation. CBE significantly decreased hepatic mRNA levels of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4, 63%) and nuclear factor κB (NFκB, 24%), as well as a number of genes related to the nucleotide-binding domain, leucine-rich-containing family, pyrin domain-containing 3 inflammasome. In conclusion, CBE reduced NAFLD and hepatic inflammation in HF-fed obese C57BL/6J mice. These effects appear to be related to mitigation of TLR4-NFκB related signaling; however, further studies into the underlying mechanisms of these hepatoprotective effects are needed. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Kindergarten Children and Language Learning: Missing Pillars for Language Acquisition

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Al-Darwish, Salwa

2013-01-01

This study examines the perceptions of the Kuwaiti kindergarten school teachers and parents as well as the English curriculum in an attempt to identify areas that need to be improved in the kindergarten teachers' program at the CBE (College of Basic Education). In addition, the paper looks closely into the delivery of information and sequence of…

Integration of physics and biology: synergistic undergraduate education for the 21st century.

PubMed

Woodin, Terry; Vasaly, Helen; McBride, Duncan; White, Gary

2013-06-01

This is an exciting time to be a biologist. The advances in our field and the many opportunities to expand our horizons through interaction with other disciplines are intellectually stimulating. This is as true for people tasked with helping the field move forward through support of research and education projects that serve the nation's needs as for those carrying out that research and educating the next generation of biologists. So, it is a pleasure to contribute to this edition of CBE-Life Sciences Education. This column will cover three aspects of the interactions of physics and biology as seen from the viewpoint of four members of the Division of Undergraduate Education of the National Science Foundation. The first section places the material to follow in context. The second reviews some of the many interdisciplinary physics-biology projects we support. The third highlights mechanisms available for supporting new physics-biology undergraduate education projects based on ideas that arise, focusing on those needing and warranting outside support to come to fruition.

Clinical breast examination and mammography: inequalities in Southern and Northeast Brazilian regions.

PubMed

Borges, Zaida da Silva; Wehrmeister, Fernando César; Gomes, Ana Paula; Gonçalves, Helen

2016-03-01

To evaluate the prevalence and associated factors of doing clinical breast examinations (CBE) and mammogram (MMG) in the Southern and Northeast Brazilian regions, focusing on some social inequalities. This is a cross-sectional study using data from the 2008 National Household Sampling Survey (PNAD). We evaluated the prevalence of CBE during the last year and of the MMG in the last two years, which were analyzed based on demographic (age, skin color, and marital status) and socioeconomic (income and schooling) variables. Gross and adjusted prevalence ratios were obtained using Poisson regression models. All analyses were stratified by region. The sample comprised 27,718 women aged 40 to 69 years. Less than a half of the women followed the recommendation of annual CBE performance in both the regions. The MMG prevalence during the last two years was 58.6 and 45.5% for the Southern and Northeast regions, respectively. More than a quarter of the women had never had a MMG (26.5% in the Southern and 40.6% in the Northeast regions). Not having performed both examinations was almost two times higher in the Northeast region (29.7%) when compared with the Southern (15.9%). The risk for not having performed both examinations was greater among nonwhite women, aged 60 to 69 years, with lower schooling level and family income. Important inequalities were seen between the Southern and Northeast regions for CBE and MMG. Health public policies should prioritize the most vulnerable groups to reduce these inequalities.

Smart phones: platform enabling modular, chemical, biological, and explosives sensing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Finch, Amethist S.; Coppock, Matthew; Bickford, Justin R.; Conn, Marvin A.; Proctor, Thomas J.; Stratis-Cullum, Dimitra N.

2013-05-01

Reliable, robust, and portable technologies are needed for the rapid identification and detection of chemical, biological, and explosive (CBE) materials. A key to addressing the persistent threat to U.S. troops in the current war on terror is the rapid detection and identification of the precursor materials used in development of improvised explosive devices, homemade explosives, and bio-warfare agents. However, a universal methodology for detection and prevention of CBE materials in the use of these devices has proven difficult. Herein, we discuss our efforts towards the development of a modular, robust, inexpensive, pervasive, archival, and compact platform (android based smart phone) enabling the rapid detection of these materials.

Optical imaging for breast cancer prescreening

PubMed Central

Godavarty, Anuradha; Rodriguez, Suset; Jung, Young-Jin; Gonzalez, Stephanie

2015-01-01

Breast cancer prescreening is carried out prior to the gold standard screening using X-ray mammography and/or ultrasound. Prescreening is typically carried out using clinical breast examination (CBE) or self-breast examinations (SBEs). Since CBE and SBE have high false-positive rates, there is a need for a low-cost, noninvasive, non-radiative, and portable imaging modality that can be used as a prescreening tool to complement CBE/SBE. This review focuses on the various hand-held optical imaging devices that have been developed and applied toward early-stage breast cancer detection or as a prescreening tool via phantom, in vivo, and breast cancer imaging studies. Apart from the various optical devices developed by different research groups, a wide-field fiber-free near-infrared optical scanner has been developed for transillumination-based breast imaging in our Optical Imaging Laboratory. Preliminary in vivo studies on normal breast tissues, with absorption-contrasted targets placed in the intramammary fold, detected targets as deep as 8.8 cm. Future work involves in vivo imaging studies on breast cancer subjects and comparison with the gold standard X-ray mammography approach. PMID:26229503

Real-time evaluation and visualization of learner performance in a mixed-reality environment for clinical breast examination.

PubMed

Kotranza, Aaron; Lind, D Scott; Lok, Benjamin

2012-07-01

We investigate the efficacy of incorporating real-time feedback of user performance within mixed-reality environments (MREs) for training real-world tasks with tightly coupled cognitive and psychomotor components. This paper presents an approach to providing real-time evaluation and visual feedback of learner performance in an MRE for training clinical breast examination (CBE). In a user study of experienced and novice CBE practitioners (n = 69), novices receiving real-time feedback performed equivalently or better than more experienced practitioners in the completeness and correctness of the exam. A second user study (n = 8) followed novices through repeated practice of CBE in the MRE. Results indicate that skills improvement in the MRE transfers to the real-world task of CBE of human patients. This initial case study demonstrates the efficacy of MREs incorporating real-time feedback for training real-world cognitive-psychomotor tasks.

Quality of breast cancer early detection services conducted by well woman clinics in the district of Gampaha, Sri Lanka.

PubMed

Vithana, Palatiyana Vithanage Sajeewanie Chiranthika; Ariyaratne, May; Jayawardana, Pl

2013-01-01

Breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in females in Sri Lanka and early detection can lead to reduction in morbidity and mortality. To evaluate selected aspects of breast cancer early detection services implemented through well woman clinics (WWCs) in the Gampaha District. The study consisted of two components. A retrospective descriptive arm assessed clinical breast examination (CBE) coverage of target age group women (TGW) of 35-59 years in all the WWCs in Gampaha district over 2003- 2007. A cross sectional descriptive study additionally assessed quality of breast cancer early detection services. The Lot Quality Assurance Sampling (LQAS) technique was used to decide on the lot size and threshold values, which were computed as twenty and six clinics. Checklists were employed in assessing coverage, physical facilities and clinic activities. Client satisfaction on WWC services was assessed among 200 TGW attending 20 WWCs using an interviewer-administered questionnaire. CBE coverage in the Gampaha district increased only from 1.1-2.2% over 2003-2007. With regard to physical facilities, the number of clinics that were rated substandard varied between 7-18 (35- 90%). The items that were lacking included dust bins, notice boards, stationary, furniture and linen, and cleanliness of outside premises and toilets. With regard to clinic activities, punctuality of staff, late commencement of clinics, provision of health education, supervision, CBE and breast self-examination (BSE) were substandard in 7- 20 clinics (35-100%). Client satisfaction for WWC services was 45.2% (IQR: 38.7-54.8%) and only 11% had a score of ≥70%, the cut off set for satisfaction. Breast cancer early detection service coverage in the Gampaha district remained low (2.2%) in 2007, 11 years after commencing WWCs. All 20 clinics were substandard for overall CBE and BSE.

Does perceived risk predict breast cancer screening use? Findings from a prospective cohort study of female relatives from the Ontario site of the breast cancer family registry.

PubMed

Walker, Meghan J; Mirea, Lucia; Glendon, Gord; Ritvo, Paul; Andrulis, Irene L; Knight, Julia A; Chiarelli, Anna M

2014-08-01

While the relationship between perceived risk and breast cancer screening use has been studied extensively, most studies are cross-sectional. We prospectively examined this relationship among 913 women, aged 25-72 with varying levels of familial breast cancer risk from the Ontario site of the Breast Cancer Family Registry. Associations between perceived lifetime breast cancer risk and subsequent use of mammography, clinical breast examination (CBE) and genetic testing were assessed using logistic regression. Overall, perceived risk did not predict subsequent use of mammography, CBE or genetic testing. Among women at moderate/high familial risk, those reporting a perceived risk greater than 50% were significantly less likely to have a CBE (odds ratio (OR) = 0.52, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.30-0.91, p = 0.04), and non-significantly less likely to have a mammogram (OR = 0.70, 95% CI: 0.40-1.20, p = 0.70) or genetic test (OR = 0.61, 95% CI: 0.34-1.10, p = 0.09) compared to women reporting a perceived risk of 50%. In contrast, among women at low familial risk, those reporting a perceived risk greater than 50% were non-significantly more likely to have a mammogram (OR = 1.13, 95% CI: 0.59-2.16, p = 0.78), CBE (OR = 1.11, 95% CI: 0.63-1.95, p = 0.74) or genetic test (OR = 1.29, 95% CI: 0.50-3.33, p = 0.35) compared to women reporting a perceived risk of 50%. Perceived risk did not significantly predict screening use overall, however this relationship may be moderated by level of familial risk. Results may inform risk education and management strategies for women with varying levels of familial breast cancer risk. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The transtheoretical model, health belief model, and breast cancer screening among Iranian women with a family history of breast cancer.

PubMed

Farajzadegan, Ziba; Fathollahi-Dehkordi, Fariba; Hematti, Simin; Sirous, Reza; Tavakoli, Neda; Rouzbahani, Reza

2016-01-01

Participation of Iranian women with a family history of breast cancer in breast cancer screening programs is low. This study evaluates the compliance of women having a family history of breast cancer with clinical breast exam (CBE) according to the stage of transtheoretical model (TTM) and health belief model (HBM). In this cross-sectional study, we used Persian version of champion's HBM scale to collect factors associated with TTM stages applied to screening from women over 20 years and older. The obtained data were analyzed by SPSS, using descriptive statistics, Chi-square test, independent t -test, and analysis of covariance. Final sample size was 162 women. Thirty-three percent were in action/maintenance stage. Older women, family history of breast cancer in first-degree relatives, personal history of breast disease, insurance coverage, and a history of breast self-examination were associated with action/maintenance stage. Furthermore, women in action/maintenance stages had significantly fewer perceived barriers in terms of CBE in comparison to women in other stages ( P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in other HBM subscales scores between various stages of CBE screening behavior ( P > 0.05). The finding indicates that the rate of women in action/maintenance stage of CBE is low. Moreover, results show a strong association between perceived barriers and having a regular CBE. These clarify the necessity of promoting national target programs for breast cancer screening, which should be considered as the first preference for reducing CBE barriers.

Vision and Change in the Biology Community: Snapshots of Change

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Vasaly, Helen L.; Feser, Jason; Lettrich, Matthew D.; Correa, Kevin; Denniston, Katherine J.

2014-01-01

When the authors were first invited to write these columns, the editors felt it would be an interesting way to give the readers of "CBE - Life Sciences Education" an agency's-eye view of its concerns, workings, and accomplishments. This column is written with that charge in mind. It is intended to inform the community about outreach…

Multimodality approach to classifying hand utilization for the clinical breast examination.

PubMed

Laufer, Shlomi; Cohen, Elaine R; Maag, Anne-Lise D; Kwan, Calvin; Vanveen, Barry; Pugh, Carla M

2014-01-01

The clinical breast examination (CBE) is performed to detect breast pathology. However, little is known regarding clinical technique and how it relates to diagnostic accuracy. We sought to quantify breast examination search patterns and hand utilization with a new data collection and analysis system. Participants performed the CBE while the sensor mapping and video camera system collected performance data. From this data, algorithms were developed that measured the number of hands used during the exam and active examination time. This system is a feasible and reliable method to collect new information on CBE techniques.

Effects of chlorpyrifos on soil carboxylesterase activity at an aggregate-size scale.

PubMed

Sanchez-Hernandez, Juan C; Sandoval, Marco

2017-08-01

The impact of pesticides on extracellular enzyme activity has been mostly studied on the bulk soil scale, and our understanding of the impact on an aggregate-size scale remains limited. Because microbial processes, and their extracellular enzyme production, are dependent on the size of soil aggregates, we hypothesized that the effect of pesticides on enzyme activities is aggregate-size specific. We performed three experiments using an Andisol to test the interaction between carboxylesterase (CbE) activity and the organophosphorus (OP) chlorpyrifos. First, we compared esterase activity among aggregates of different size spiked with chlorpyrifos (10mgkg -1 wet soil). Next, we examined the inhibition of CbE activity by chlorpyrifos and its metabolite chlorpyrifos-oxon in vitro to explore the aggregate size-dependent affinity of the pesticides for the active site of the enzyme. Lastly, we assessed the capability of CbEs to alleviate chlorpyrifos toxicity upon soil microorganisms. Our principal findings were: 1) CbE activity was significantly inhibited (30-67% of controls) in the microaggregates (<0.25mm size) and smallest macroaggregates (<1.0 - 0.25mm), but did not change in the largest macroaggregates (>1.0mm) compared with the corresponding controls (i.e., pesticide-free aggregates), 2) chlorpyrifos-oxon was a more potent CbE inhibitor than chlorpyrifos; however, no significant differences in the CbE inhibition were found between micro- and macroaggregates, and 3) dose-response relationships between CbE activity and chlorpyrifos concentrations revealed the capability of the enzyme to bind chlorpyrifos-oxon, which was dependent on the time of exposure. This chemical interaction resulted in a safeguarding mechanism against chlorpyrifos-oxon toxicity on soil microbial activity, as evidenced by the unchanged activity of dehydrogenase and related extracellular enzymes in the pesticide-treated aggregates. Taken together, these results suggest that environmental risk assessments of OP-polluted soils should consider the fractionation of soil in aggregates of different size to measure the CbE activity, and other potential soil enzyme activities. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Star-like superalkali cations featuring planar pentacoordinate carbon

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Guo, Jin-Chang; Tian, Wen-Juan; Zhao, Xue-Feng

Superalkali cations, known to possess low vertical electron affinities (VEAs), high vertical detachment energies, and large highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO)-lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) energy gaps, are intriguing chemical species. Thermodynamically, such species need to be the global minima in order to serve as the promising targets for experimental realization. In this work, we propose the strategies of polyhalogenation and polyalkalination for designing the superalkali cations. By applying these strategies, the local-minimum planar pentacoordinate carbon (ppC) cluster CBe{sub 5} can be modified to form a series of star-like superalkali ppC or quasi-ppC CBe{sub 5}X{sub 5}{sup +} (X = F,more » Cl, Br, Li, Na, K) cations containing a CBe{sub 5} moiety. Polyhalogenation and polyalkalination on the CBe{sub 5} unit may help eliminate the high reactivity of bare CBe{sub 5} molecule by covering the reactive Be atoms with noble halogen anions and alkali cations. Computational exploration of the potential energy surfaces reveals that the star-like ppC or quasi-ppC CBe{sub 5}X{sub 5}{sup +} (X = F, Cl, Br, Li, Na, K) clusters are the true global minima of the systems. The predicted VEAs for CBe{sub 5}X{sub 5}{sup +} range from 3.01 to 3.71 eV for X = F, Cl, Br and 2.12–2.51 eV for X = Li, Na, K, being below the lower bound of the atomic ionization potential of 3.89 eV in the periodic table. Large HOMO-LUMO energy gaps are also revealed for the species: 10.76–11.07 eV for X = F, Cl, Br and 4.99–6.91 eV for X = Li, Na, K. These designer clusters represent the first series of superalkali cations with a ppC center. Bonding analyses show five Be–X–Be three-center two-electron (3c-2e) σ bonds for the peripheral bonding, whereas the central C atom is associated with one 6c-2e π bond and three 6c-2e σ bonds, rendering (π and σ) double aromaticity. Born-Oppenheimer molecular dynamics simulations indicate that the CBe{sub 5} motif is robust in the clusters. As planar hypercoordination carbon species are often thermodynamically unstable and highly reactive, the superalkali cation characters of these ppC species should be highlighted, which may be suitable for experimental realization.« less

The anti-inflammatory effect of cherry blossom extract (Prunus yedoensis) used in soothing skincare product.

PubMed

Zhang, Y Q; Guan, L; Zhong, Z Y; Chang, M; Zhang, D K; Li, H; Lai, W

2014-12-01

Previous investigations suggested that cherry blossoms could provide valuable bioactive materials. However, few observations regarding the anti-inflammatory effect of cherry blossoms were reported. This study was to explore the anti-inflammatory effect of cherry blossom extract (CBE), which was used as a soothing ingredient in skincare product. In vitro study, the anti-inflammatory effect of CBE on the nitric oxide (NO) inhibition assay in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated RAW 264.7 cells was investigated. In vivo study, 40 volunteers were included in a randomized, single-blinded, placebo-controlled trial. 24-hour-occlusive test chambers were applied on the flexor side of the forearm with 3% sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS). Subsequently, the test areas were treated on 9 subsequent days with a cream containing 3% CBE or a placebo. Evaluation included a visual score and determination of erythema value (E value). In vitro study, 2% CBE reduced NO production by 31.83% compared to the placebo. In the SLS irritant patch test, the visual score and erythema value of CBE were lower than that of the placebo on D5 and D9. Cherry blossom extract shows good anti-inflammatory effect in vitro and in vivo and represents a promising functional ingredient in soothing skincare product by reducing skin inflammation. © 2014 Society of Cosmetic Scientists and the Société Française de Cosmétologie.

Correlates of clinical breast examination among lesbian, gay, bisexual, and queer women.

PubMed

Lacombe-Duncan, Ashley; Logie, Carmen H

2016-12-27

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and queer (LGBQ) women have increased risk of breast cancer yet lower use of early detection screening than heterosexual women. This lower use may be due in part to sexual stigma. The study purpose was to explore correlates of past two-year clinical breast examination (CBE) among LGBQ women to better understand screening disparities, particularly among gender non-conforming LGBQ women. A cross-sectional Internet-based survey was conducted with LGBQ women in 2011-2012. We conducted multivariate logistic regression to assess the associations between individual, social/structural and health care factors and past two-year CBE among LGBQ women (n = 414), including a subsample of gender non-conforming LGBQ women (n = 148). In multivariate analyses, significant correlates of past two-year CBE among the full sample included sexually transmitted infection knowledge (OR: 1.12, 95% CI: 1.05, 1.19), sexual risk practices (OR: 0.92, 95% CI: 0.87, 0.98), past two-year Papanicolaou test (OR: 8.36, 95% CI: 4.24, 16.45), having a regular source of health care (OR: 4.84, 95% CI: 2.60, 9.01), and health care provider knowing one's sexual orientation (OR: 3.60, 95% CI: 2.29, 5.81). Among gender non-conforming LGBQ women, perceived gender non-conformity stigma (OR: 0.85, 95% CI: 0.74, 0.99) and belief that one's health care provider is uncomfortable with one's sexual orientation (OR: 0.33, 95% CI: 0.11, 1.00) were also associated with lower screening. These findings enhance understanding of individual, social/structural, and health care factors correlated with CBE among LGBQ women. More research is needed to understand the complex interplay of these factors to inform multi-level interventions to address screening disparities for diverse LGBQ women.

[Cost-effectiveness of multiple screening modalities on breast cancer in Chinese women from Shanghai].

PubMed

Wu, F; Mo, M; Qin, X X; Fang, H; Zhao, G M; Liu, G Y; Chen, Y Y; Cao, Z G; Yan, Y J; Lyu, L L; Xu, W H; Shao, Z M

2017-12-10

Objective: To determine the most cost-effective modality for breast cancer screening in women living in Shanghai. Methods: A Markov model for breast cancer was redeveloped based on true effect which was derived from a project for detection of women at high risk of breast cancer and an organized breast cancer screening program conducted simultaneously in Minhang district, Shanghai, during 2008 to 2012. Parameters of the model were derived from literatures. General principles related to cost-effectiveness analysis were used to compare the costs and effects of 12 different screening modalities in a simulated cohort involving 100 000 women aged 45 years. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) was used to determine the most cost-effective modality. Sensitivity analysis was conducted to evaluate how these factors affected the estimated cost-effectiveness. Results: The modality of biennial CBE followed by ultrasonic and mammography among those with positive CBE was observed as the most cost-effective one. The costs appeared as 182 526 Yuan RMB per life year gained and 144 386 Yuan RMB per quality adjusted life-year (QALY) saved, which were within the threshold of 2-3 times of local per capita Gross Domestic Product. Results from sensitivity analysis showed that, due to higher incidence rate of breast cancer in Shanghai, the cost per QALY would be 64 836 Yuan RMB lower in Shanghai than the average level in China. Conclusion: Our research findings showed that the biennial CBE program followed by ultrasonic and mammography for those with positive CBE results might serve as the optimal breast cancer screening modality for Chinese women living in Shanghai, and thus be widely promoted in this population elsewhere.

A Framework for Strategic Planning and Change in Higher Education: The Case of a Business School. AIR 1993 Annual Forum Paper.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Baker, Douglas D.; Markin, Rom J.

At Washington State University's College of Business and Economics (CBE) a strategic planning program was introduced using a focus on the student as the product and the potential employers as the customers of the product. Using this approach the focus of planning is redirected with future employers the most heavily weighted source of feedback on…

Knowledge, attitude and practice about breast cancer and breast self-examination among women seeking out-patient care in a teaching hospital in central India.

PubMed

Siddharth, Rao; Gupta, D; Narang, R; Singh, P

2016-01-01

Breast cancer (BC) continues to be a major cause of morbidity and mortality throughout the world. Early detection of BC and early treatment increases the chance of survival. According to Breast Health Global Initiative guidelines for low and middle income countries, diagnosing BCs early by promoting breast self-awareness; clinical breast examination (CBE) and resource adapted mammographic screening will reduce BC mortality. There is a paucity of data on the knowledge and awareness of BC and self-breast examination in India. We designed this hospital based cross sectional descriptive study to evaluate the current status of knowledge, awareness and practices related to BC and breast self-examination in the female rural population attending a teaching hospital. We did a random sampling to identify and enroll 360 women and their female relatives. We excluded a participant from the study if she had already undergone a screening mammography or had had a BC. The data was collected by a self-administered questionnaire in vernacular language. Our study population included 360 women with a mean age of 45.81 (±10.9) years. Only 5 (1.38%) females had a family history of BC. A whopping 81% of women did not have any knowledge about BC. All the women thought that CBE by doctors was the only way for screening BC. We concluded that with the results of this study, it is imperative to increase awareness about BC and its detection methods in the community through health education campaigns. We should have major policy changes to increase future screening programs and health education programs which would have an overall positive impact on reducing the disease burden.

Antiphotoaging Effect of Prunus yeonesis Blossom Extract via Inhibition of MAPK/AP-1 and Regulation of the TGF-βI/Smad and Nrf2/ARE Signaling Pathways.

PubMed

Li, Lu; Hwang, Eunson; Ngo, Hien T T; Lin, Pei; Gao, Wei; Liu, Ying; Yi, Tae-Hoo

2018-02-08

Cherry blossoms have attracted attention as an ingredient with potential for use in skincare products. However, no skin photoaging-related research has been performed with this plant. In this study, cherry blossom extract (CBE) at 1, 10 and 100 μg mL -1 was investigated for its skin antiphotoaging effects in UVB-irradiated normal human dermal fibroblasts (NHDF) cells in vitro. Our results showed that CBE markedly increased type-I procollagen during UVB exposure via two pathways. Firstly, transcription activator protein-1 expression and MAP kinases were downregulated, consequently reducing the production of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1 and MMP-3. Secondly, transforming growth factor TGF-βI secretion was upregulated by Smads. Application of CBE facilitated the nuclear translocation of Nrf2 against reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced damage, which is essential for the coordinated induction of cytoprotective enzymes. Together, our findings suggest that CBE may be a promising ingredient for skin aging therapy and provide a novel approach for alleviating cutaneous aging. © 2018 The American Society of Photobiology.

Breast Cancer Knowledge, Behaviors, and Preferences in Malawi: Implications for Early Detection Interventions From a Discrete Choice Experiment.

PubMed

Kohler, Racquel E; Gopal, Satish; Lee, Clara N; Weiner, Bryan J; Reeve, Bryce B; Wheeler, Stephanie B

2017-10-01

Breast cancer is the most common female cancer in Africa and leading cause of death resulting from cancer; however, many countries lack early detection services. In Malawi, women are frequently diagnosed with large tumors after long symptomatic periods. Little is known about local cancer knowledge. We administered a cross-sectional survey with a discrete choice experiment to a random sample in urban and rural areas of Lilongwe district. Bivariable and multivariable analyses determined factors associated with knowledge. Preference utilities for early detection interventions were estimated using a hierarchical Bayesian model in Sawtooth software. Of 213 women recruited, fewer than half were aware of breast cancer. In multivariable analysis, electricity at home and knowing someone with cancer increased the odds of awareness. Women were more knowledgeable about symptoms than treatment or risk factors; more than 60% erroneously believed local misconceptions. Seventeen percent were aware of breast self-examination, and 20% were aware of clinical breast examination (CBE); few reported either behavior. Common barriers included not knowing where to access CBE and transportation difficulties. Discrete choice experiment results indicated the detection strategy (breast health awareness, CBE, or both) was the most important attribute of an intervention, followed by the encounter setting and travel time. Addressing misconceptions in health messages and engaging survivors to promote early detection may help improve breast cancer knowledge in Malawi. Program designs accounting for women's preferences should provide breast health education and CBEs in convenient settings to address transportation barriers, particularly for women with low socioeconomic position.

Breast Cancer Knowledge, Behaviors, and Preferences in Malawi: Implications for Early Detection Interventions From a Discrete Choice Experiment

PubMed Central

Gopal, Satish; Lee, Clara N.; Weiner, Bryan J.; Reeve, Bryce B.; Wheeler, Stephanie B.

2017-01-01

Purpose Breast cancer is the most common female cancer in Africa and leading cause of death resulting from cancer; however, many countries lack early detection services. In Malawi, women are frequently diagnosed with large tumors after long symptomatic periods. Little is known about local cancer knowledge. Methods We administered a cross-sectional survey with a discrete choice experiment to a random sample in urban and rural areas of Lilongwe district. Bivariable and multivariable analyses determined factors associated with knowledge. Preference utilities for early detection interventions were estimated using a hierarchical Bayesian model in Sawtooth software. Results Of 213 women recruited, fewer than half were aware of breast cancer. In multivariable analysis, electricity at home and knowing someone with cancer increased the odds of awareness. Women were more knowledgeable about symptoms than treatment or risk factors; more than 60% erroneously believed local misconceptions. Seventeen percent were aware of breast self-examination, and 20% were aware of clinical breast examination (CBE); few reported either behavior. Common barriers included not knowing where to access CBE and transportation difficulties. Discrete choice experiment results indicated the detection strategy (breast health awareness, CBE, or both) was the most important attribute of an intervention, followed by the encounter setting and travel time. Conclusion Addressing misconceptions in health messages and engaging survivors to promote early detection may help improve breast cancer knowledge in Malawi. Program designs accounting for women’s preferences should provide breast health education and CBEs in convenient settings to address transportation barriers, particularly for women with low socioeconomic position. PMID:29094086

A new miniature hand-held solar-blind reagentless standoff chemical, biological, and explosives (CBE) sensor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hug, W. F.; Reid, R. D.; Bhartia, R.; Lane, A. L.

2008-04-01

Improvised explosive devices (IEDs), vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices (VBIEDs), and suicide bombers are a major threat to many countries and their citizenry. The ability to detect trace levels of these threats with a miniature, hand-held, reagentless, standoff sensor represents a major improvement in the state of the art of CBE surface sensors. Photon Systems, Inc., in collaboration with Jet Propulsion Laboratory, recently demonstrated a new technology hand-held sensor for reagentless, close-range, standoff detection and identification of trace levels CBE materials on surfaces. This targeted ultraviolet CBE (TUCBE) sensor is the result of an Army Phase I STTR program. The resulting 5lb, 5W, flashlight-sized sensor can discriminate CBE from background materials using a combination of deep UV excited resonance Raman (RR) and laser induced native fluorescence (LINF) emissions resulting from excitation by a new technology deep UV laser. Detection and identification is accomplished in less than 1ms. Standoff excitation of suspicious packages, vehicles, persons, and other objects that may contain hazardous materials is accomplished using wavelengths below 250nm where Raman and native fluorescence emissions occupy distinctly different wavelength regions. This enables simultaneous detection of RR and LINF emissions with no interferences. The sensor employs fused RR/LINF chemometric methods to extract the identity of targeted materials from background clutter. Photon Systems has demonstrated detection and identification of 100ng/cm2 of explosives materials at a distance of 1 meter using a sensor with 3.8 cm optical aperture. Expansion of the optical aperture to 38 cm in a lantern-sized sensor will enable similar detection and identification of CBE materials at standoff distances of 10 meters. As a result of excitation and detection in the deep UV and the use of a gated detection system, the sensor is solar blind and can operate in full daylight conditions.

Learning and Doing: An Interview with Bill Wood.

PubMed

Wood, William B

2016-06-01

THE Genetics Society of America's Elizabeth W. Jones Award for Excellence in Education recognizes significant and sustained impact on genetics education. As well as having made major contributions to biochemistry and developmental genetics, the 2016 awardee William B. Wood has been a pioneer in the reform of science teaching. Wood's leadership has been crucial in several national initiatives and programs, including the development of the influential National Academies Summer institutes on Undergraduate Education in Biology. He has also catalyzed change in education through his service as Editor-in-Chief of CBE-Life Sciences Education, a peer-reviewed journal published by the American Society for Cell Biology, in editorial partnership with the GSA. Copyright © 2016 by the Genetics Society of America.

Breast Cancer Screening (PDQ®)—Patient Version

Cancer.gov

Breast cancer screening is performed using mammogram, clinical breast exam (CBE), and MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) tests. Learn about these and other tests that have been studied to detect or screen for breast cancer in this expert-reviewed and evidence-based summary.

InP tunnel junction for InGaAs/InP tandem solar cells

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Vilela, M. F.; Freundlich, A.; Bensaoula, A.; Medelci, N.; Renaud, P.

1995-01-01

Chemical beam epitaxy (CBE) has been shown to allow the growth of high quality materials with reproducible complex compositional and doping profiles. The main advantage of CBE compared to metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD), the most popular technique for InP-based photovoltaic device fabrication, is the ability to grow high purity epilayers at much lower temperatures (450-530 C). We have previously shown that CBE is perfectly suited toward the fabrication of complex photovoltaic devices such as InP/InGaAs monolithically integrated tandem solar cells, because its low process temperature preserves the electrical characteristics of the InGaAs tunnel junction commonly used as an ohmic interconnect. In this work using CBE for the fabrication of optically transparent (with respect to the bottom cell) InP tunnel diodes is demonstrated. Epitaxial growth were performed in a Riber CBE 32 system using PH3 and TMIn as III and V precursors. Solid Be (p-type) and Si (n-type) have been used as doping sources, allowing doping levels up to 2 x 10(exp -19)/cu cm and 1 x 10(exp -19)/cu cm for n and p type respectively. The InP tunnel junction characteristics and the influence of the growth's conditions (temperature, growth rate) over its performance have been carefully investigated. InP p(++)/n(++) tunnel junction with peak current densities up to 1600 A/sq cm and maximum specific resistivities (V(sub p)/I(sub p) - peak voltage to peak current ratio) in the range of 10(exp -4) Omega-sq cm were obtained. The obtained peak current densities exceed the highest results previously reported for their lattice matched counterparts, In(0.53)Ga( 0.47)As and should allow the realization of improved minimal absorption losses in the interconnect InP/InGaAs tandem devices for Space applications. Owing to the low process temperature required for the top cell, these devices exhibit almost no degradation of its characteristics after the growth of subsequent thick InP layer suggesting minimal doping cross diffusion in the narrow space-charge region (approximately 1-5 nm) of the device. The fabrication of tandem devices using InP tunnel diodes as interconnect is in progress and will be reported at the conference.

Breast and cervical cancer-screening uptake among females in Ardabil, northwest Iran: a community-based study.

PubMed

Farzaneh, Esmaeil; Heydari, Heshmatolah; Shekarchi, Ali Akbar; Kamran, Aziz

2017-01-01

Breast and cervical cancers are the most commonly diagnosed type of cancer and cause of cancer-related deaths in Iranian females. In contrast to previous studies, this study was carried out with a large sample size for assessment of breast self-examination (BSE)-, clinical breast examination (CBE)-, mammography-, and Pap smear-uptake rates and determination of associations among these screening behaviors with sociodemographic and cognitive variables in Azeri females. This was a cross-sectional, community-based study that was carried out among 1,134 females 20-60 years old during March-June 2016. Data-collection variables included sociodemographic questions, screening behaviors for breast and cervical cancer, self-efficacy, beliefs, and barriers to breast and cervical cancer screening. Collected data were analyzed by SPSS version 13 using χ 2 , Mann-Whitney U , and logistic regression tests. Among the 1,134 participants, 53.9%, 9.8%, and 28.1% had done BSE, CBE, and Pap smear tests, respectively, and among the 625 females aged >40 years, 187 (29.9%) had done the mammography test. Moreover, 416 (36.7%), 103 (16.5%), and 64 (5.6%) females had done BSE, mammography, and CBE regularly, respectively. Beliefs, barriers, income, health insurance, number of children, and age were all important factors for BSE and regular BSE and mammography. Females who had high belief scores were more likely to undertake mammography (odds ratio [OR]: 1.2, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.03-1.5), regular mammography (OR: 4.2, 95% CI: 1.9-9.3), regular CBE (OR: 1.25, 95% CI: 1.2-1.3), and Pap smears (OR: 1.2, 95% CI: 1.1-1.4). Also, females who had high self-efficacy scores were more likely to perform regular BSE (OR: 1.8, 95% CI: 1.4-2.5) and mammography (OR: 2.5, 95% CI: 1.4-4.6) than females with lower self-efficacy scores. The frequency of breast and cervical cancer screening was low in our study. The findings of this study indicated that beliefs, self-efficacy, and barriers were important predictive factors of cancer-screening behavior among the females studied.

Therapeutic implications of continuing bonds expressions following the death of a pet.

PubMed

Packman, Wendy; Carmack, Betty J; Ronen, Rama

Through the exploration of 12 continuing bonds expressions (CBE), this current study investigated the grief reaction and continuing impact of the death of a pet. Thirty-three individuals were interviewed to determine the degree of connection maintained with the deceased pet and how that affects their coping. Findings emphasize that the majority of respondents frequently maintain ongoing meaningful ties with their deceased pet through the use of CBE such as fond memories, rituals, dreams. The findings suggest that it is not the number of CBE but the degree of adaptability that is significant. The importance of recognizing the unique, total experience of those grieving the death of a pet is addressed. Implications for those working with and supporting those in grief are included. Future directions for research are described.

Chemical beam epitaxy for high efficiency photovoltaic devices

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bensaoula, A.; Freundlich, A.; Vilela, M. F.; Medelci, N.; Renaud, P.

1994-01-01

InP-based multijunction tandem solar cells show great promise for the conversion efficiency (eta) and high radiation resistance. InP and its related ternary and quanternary compound semiconductors such as InGaAs and InGaAsP offer desirable combinations for energy bandgap values which are very suitable for multijunction tandem solar cell applications. The monolithically integrated InP/In(0.53)Ga(0.47)As tandem solar cells are expected to reach efficiencies above 30 percent. Wanlass, et.al., have reported AMO efficiencies as high as 20.1% for two terminal cells fabricated using atmospheric-pressure metalorganic vapor phase epitaxy (APMOVPE). The main limitations in their technique are first related to the degradation of the intercell ohmic contact (IOC), in this case the In(0.53)Ga(0.47)As tunnel junction during the growth of the top InP subcell structure, and second to the current matching, often limited by the In(0.53)Ga(0.47)As bottom subcell. Chemical beam epitaxy (CBE) has been shown to allow the growth of high quality materials with reproducible complex compositional and doping profiles. The main advantage of CBE compared to metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD), the most popular technique for InP-based photovoltaic device fabrication, is the ability to grow high purity epilayers at much lower temperatures (450 C - 530 C). In a recent report it was shown that cost-wise CBE is a breakthrough technology for photovoltaic (PV) solar energy progress in the energy conversion efficiency of InP-based solar cells fabricated using chemical beam epitaxy. This communication summarizes our recent results on PV devices and demonstrates the strength of this new technology.

CBE Faculty and Staff

Science.gov Websites

About Us Research Staff Edward Arens Fred Bauman Gail Brager Darryl Dickerhoff Ali Ghahramani Uhl Zhe Wang Tom Webster Hui Zhang Research Affiliates Student Researchers Visiting Scholars Industry interdisciplinary group based in several academic departments, who collaborate regularly on research to improve the

Optimization of synthesis process of thermally-responsive poly-n-isopropylacrylamide nanoparticles for controlled release of antimicrobial hydrophobic compounds

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hill, Laura E.; Gomes, Carmen L.

2014-12-01

The goal of this study was to develop an effective method to synthesize poly-n-isopropylacrylamide (PNIPAAM) nanoparticles with entrapped cinnamon bark extract (CBE) to improve its delivery to foodborne pathogens and control its release with temperature stimuli. CBE was used as a model for hydrophobic natural antimicrobials. A top-down procedure using crosslinked PNIPAAM was compared to a bottom-up procedure using NIPAAM monomer. Both processes relied on self-assembly of the molecules into micelles around the CBE at 40 °C. Processing conditions were compared including homogenization time of the polymer, hydration time prior to homogenization, lyophilization, and the effect of particle ultrafiltration. The top-down versus bottom-up synthesis methods yielded particles with significantly different characteristics, especially their release profiles and antimicrobial activities. The synthesis methods affected particle size, with the bottom-up procedure resulting in smaller (P < 0.05) diameters than the top-down procedure. The controlled release profile of CBE from nanoparticles was dependent on the release media temperature. A faster, burst release was observed at 40 °C and a slower, more sustained release was observed at lower temperatures. PNIPAAM particles containing CBE were analyzed for their antimicrobial activity against Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium LT2 and Listeria monocytogenes Scott A. The PNIPAAM particles synthesized via the top-down procedure had a much faster release, which led to a greater (P < 0.05) antimicrobial activity. Both of the top-down nanoparticles performed similarly, therefore the 7 min homogenization time nanoparticles would be the best for this application, as the process time is shorter and little improvement was seen by using a slightly longer homogenization.

Cranberry extract-enriched diets increase NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase and catalase activities in obese but not in nonobese mice.

PubMed

Boušová, Iva; Bártíková, Hana; Matoušková, Petra; Lněničková, Kateřina; Zappe, Lukáš; Valentová, Kateřina; Szotáková, Barbora; Martin, Jan; Skálová, Lenka

2015-10-01

Consumption of antioxidant-enriched diets is 1 method of addressing obesity, which is associated with chronic oxidative stress and changes in the activity/expression of various enzymes. In this study, we hypothesized that the modulation of antioxidant enzymes and redox status through a cranberry extract (CBE)-enriched diet would differ between obese and nonobese mice. The CBE used in this study was obtained from the American cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon, Ericaceae), a popular constituent of dietary supplements that is a particularly rich source of (poly)phenols and has strong antioxidant properties. The present study was designed to test and compare the in vivo effects of 28-day consumption of a CBE-enriched diet (2%) on the antioxidant status of nonobese mice and mice with monosodium glutamate-induced obesity. Plasma, erythrocytes, liver, and small intestine were studied concurrently to obtain more complex information. The specific activities, protein, and messenger RNA expression levels of antioxidant enzymes as well as the levels of malondialdehyde and thiol (SH) groups were analyzed. Cranberry extract treatment increased the SH group content in plasma and the glutathione S-transferase activity in the erythrocytes of the obese and nonobese mice. In addition, in the obese animals, the CBE treatment reduced the malondialdehyde content in erythrocytes and increased quinone oxidoreductase (liver) and catalase (erythrocytes and small intestine) activities. The elevation of hepatic quinone oxidoreductase activity was accompanied by an increase in the corresponding messenger RNA levels. The effects of CBE on the activity of antioxidant enzymes and redox status were more pronounced in the obese mice compared with the nonobese mice. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

An mHealth Model to Increase Clinic Attendance for Breast Symptoms in Rural Bangladesh: Can Bridging the Digital Divide Help Close the Cancer Divide?

PubMed Central

Chowdhury, Mridul; Wu, Wei; Chowdhury, Md Touhidul Imran; Pal, Bidhan Chandra; Hasan, Rifat; Khan, Zahid H.; Dutta, Dali; Saeem, Arif Abu; Al-Mansur, Raiyan; Mahmud, Sahin; Woods, James H.; Story, Heather H.; Salim, Reza

2014-01-01

Objective. To demonstrate proof of concept for a smart phone-empowered community health worker (CHW) model of care for breast health promotion, clinical breast examination (CBE), and patient navigation in rural Bangladesh. Methods. This study was a randomized controlled trial; July 1 to October 31, 2012, 30 CHWs conducted door-to-door interviews of women aged 25 and older in Khulna Division. Only women who disclosed a breast symptom were offered CBE. Arm A: smart phone with applications to guide interview, report data, show motivational video, and offer appointment for women with an abnormal CBE. Arm B: smart phone/applications identical to Arm A plus CHW had training in “patient navigation” to address potential barriers to seeking care. Arm C: control arm (no smart phone; same interview recorded on paper). Outcomes are presented as the “adherence” (to advice regarding a clinic appointment) for women with an abnormal CBE. This study was approved by Women’s College Hospital Research Ethics Board (Toronto, Ontario, Canada) and district government officials (Khulna, Bangladesh). Funded by Grand Challenges Canada. Results. In 4 months, 22,337 women were interviewed; <1% declined participation, and 556 women had an abnormal CBE. Control group CHWs completed fewer interviews, had inferior data quality, and identified significantly fewer women with abnormal breast exams compared with CHWs in arms A and B. Arm B had the highest adherence. Conclusion. CHWs guided by our smart phone applications were more efficient and effective in breast health promotion compared with the control group. CHW “navigators” were most effective in encouraging women with an abnormal breast examination to adhere to advice regarding clinic attendance. PMID:24396050

An mHealth model to increase clinic attendance for breast symptoms in rural Bangladesh: can bridging the digital divide help close the cancer divide?

PubMed

Ginsburg, Ophira M; Chowdhury, Mridul; Wu, Wei; Chowdhury, Md Touhidul Imran; Pal, Bidhan Chandra; Hasan, Rifat; Khan, Zahid H; Dutta, Dali; Saeem, Arif Abu; Al-Mansur, Raiyan; Mahmud, Sahin; Woods, James H; Story, Heather H; Salim, Reza

2014-02-01

To demonstrate proof of concept for a smart phone-empowered community health worker (CHW) model of care for breast health promotion, clinical breast examination (CBE), and patient navigation in rural Bangladesh. This study was a randomized controlled trial; July 1 to October 31, 2012, 30 CHWs conducted door-to-door interviews of women aged 25 and older in Khulna Division. Only women who disclosed a breast symptom were offered CBE. Arm A: smart phone with applications to guide interview, report data, show motivational video, and offer appointment for women with an abnormal CBE. Arm B: smart phone/applications identical to Arm A plus CHW had training in "patient navigation" to address potential barriers to seeking care. Arm C: control arm (no smart phone; same interview recorded on paper). Outcomes are presented as the "adherence" (to advice regarding a clinic appointment) for women with an abnormal CBE. This study was approved by Women's College Hospital Research Ethics Board (Toronto, Ontario, Canada) and district government officials (Khulna, Bangladesh). Funded by Grand Challenges Canada. In 4 months, 22,337 women were interviewed; <1% declined participation, and 556 women had an abnormal CBE. Control group CHWs completed fewer interviews, had inferior data quality, and identified significantly fewer women with abnormal breast exams compared with CHWs in arms A and B. Arm B had the highest adherence. CHWs guided by our smart phone applications were more efficient and effective in breast health promotion compared with the control group. CHW "navigators" were most effective in encouraging women with an abnormal breast examination to adhere to advice regarding clinic attendance.

Basic Biological Concepts: What Should the World's Children Know? Proceedings from the International Union of Biological Sciences and the Commission for Biological Education (IUBS/CBE) Symposium (Colorado Springs, Colorado, August 30-September 5, 1992).

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McWethy, Patricia J., Ed.

Science is not a phenomenon restricted to one group of people. Instead it is something that is experienced by all, though often its form is unrecognized. Because science is experienced by many, one would expect that different groups of people would share common experiences in science. In an effort to determine whether there are similarities in…

Discovery and Broad Relevance May Be Insignificant Components of Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experiences (CUREs) for Non-Biology Majors.

PubMed

Ballen, Cissy J; Thompson, Seth K; Blum, Jessamina E; Newstrom, Nicholas P; Cotner, Sehoya

2018-01-01

Course-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs) are a type of laboratory learning environment associated with a science course, in which undergraduates participate in novel research. According to Auchincloss et al. (CBE Life Sci Educ 2104; 13:29-40), CUREs are distinct from other laboratory learning environments because they possess five core design components, and while national calls to improve STEM education have led to an increase in CURE programs nationally, less work has specifically focused on which core components are critical to achieving desired student outcomes. Here we use a backward elimination experimental design to test the importance of two CURE components for a population of non-biology majors: the experience of discovery and the production of data broadly relevant to the scientific or local community. We found nonsignificant impacts of either laboratory component on students' academic performance, science self-efficacy, sense of project ownership, and perceived value of the laboratory experience. Our results challenge the assumption that all core components of CUREs are essential to achieve positive student outcomes when applied at scale.

Reliability and validity of Champion's Health Belief Model Scale for breast cancer screening among Malaysian women.

PubMed

Parsa, P; Kandiah, M; Mohd Nasir, M T; Hejar, A R; Nor Afiah, M Z

2008-11-01

Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in Malaysian women, and the use of breast self-examination (BSE), clinical breast examination (CBE) and mammography remain low in Malaysia. Therefore, there is a need to develop a valid and reliable tool to measure the beliefs that influence breast cancer screening practices. The Champion's Health Belief Model Scale (CHBMS) is a valid and reliable tool to measure beliefs about breast cancer and screening methods in the Western culture. The purpose of this study was to translate the use of CHBMS into the Malaysian context and validate the scale among Malaysian women. A random sample of 425 women teachers was taken from 24 secondary schools in Selangor state, Malaysia. The CHBMS was translated into the Malay language, validated by an expert's panel, back translated, and pretested. Analyses included descriptive statistics of all the study variables, reliability estimates, and construct validity using factor analysis. The mean age of the respondents was 37.2 (standard deviation 7.1) years. Factor analysis yielded ten factors for BSE with eigenvalue greater than 1 (four factors more than the original): confidence 1 (ability to differentiate normal and abnormal changes in the breasts), barriers to BSE, susceptibility for breast cancer, benefits of BSE, health motivation 1 (general health), seriousness 1 (fear of breast cancer), confidence 2 (ability to detect size of lumps), seriousness 2 (fear of long-term effects of breast cancer), health motivation 2 (preventive health practice), and confidence 3 (ability to perform BSE correctly). For CBE and mammography scales, seven factors each were identified. Factors for CBE scale include susceptibility, health motivation 1, benefits of CBE, seriousness 1, barriers of CBE, seriousness 2 and health motivation 2. For mammography the scale includes benefits of mammography, susceptibility, health motivation 1, seriousness 1, barriers to mammography seriousness 2 and health motivation 2. Cronbach's alpha reliability coefficients ranged from 0.774 to 0.939 for the subscales. The translated version of the CHBMS was found to be a valid and reliable tool for use with Malaysian women. It can be used easily to evaluate the health beliefs about breast cancer, BSE, CBE and mammography and for planning interventions. For greater applicability, it is recommended that this tool be tested among ethnically diverse populations.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Terenziani, Monica; Casalini, Patrizia; Scaperrotta, Gianfranco

Purpose: To assess the occurrence of breast cancer (BC) after exposure to ionizing radiation for pediatric cancer, by means of a multimodal screening program. Patients and Methods: We identified 86 patients who had received chest wall radiation therapy for pediatric cancer. Clinical breast examination (CBE), ultrasound (US), and mammography (MX) were performed yearly. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was added as of October 2007. We calculated the risk of developing BC by radiation therapy dose, patient age, and menarche before or after primary treatment. Results: Eleven women developed a BC from July 2002-February 2010. The sensitivity of the screening methods wasmore » 36% for CBE, 73% for MX, 55% for US, and 100% for MRI; the specificity was 91%, 99%, 95%, and 80% for CBE, MX, US, and MRI, respectively. The annual BC detection rate was 2.9%. The median age at BC diagnosis was 33 years. Although age had no influence, menarche before as opposed to after radiation therapy correlated significantly with BC (P=.027): the annual BC detection rate in the former subgroup was 5.3%. Conclusions: Mammography proved more sensitive and specific in our cohort of young women than CBE or US. Magnetic resonance imaging proved 100% sensitive (but this preliminary finding needs to be confirmed). Our cohort of patients carries a 10-fold BC risk at an age more than 20 years younger than in the general population.« less

Breast and cervical cancer-screening uptake among females in Ardabil, northwest Iran: a community-based study

PubMed Central

Farzaneh, Esmaeil; Heydari, Heshmatolah; Shekarchi, Ali Akbar; Kamran, Aziz

2017-01-01

Purpose Breast and cervical cancers are the most commonly diagnosed type of cancer and cause of cancer-related deaths in Iranian females. In contrast to previous studies, this study was carried out with a large sample size for assessment of breast self-examination (BSE)-, clinical breast examination (CBE)-, mammography-, and Pap smear-uptake rates and determination of associations among these screening behaviors with sociodemographic and cognitive variables in Azeri females. Materials and methods This was a cross-sectional, community-based study that was carried out among 1,134 females 20–60 years old during March–June 2016. Data-collection variables included sociodemographic questions, screening behaviors for breast and cervical cancer, self-efficacy, beliefs, and barriers to breast and cervical cancer screening. Collected data were analyzed by SPSS version 13 using χ2, Mann–Whitney U, and logistic regression tests. Results Among the 1,134 participants, 53.9%, 9.8%, and 28.1% had done BSE, CBE, and Pap smear tests, respectively, and among the 625 females aged >40 years, 187 (29.9%) had done the mammography test. Moreover, 416 (36.7%), 103 (16.5%), and 64 (5.6%) females had done BSE, mammography, and CBE regularly, respectively. Beliefs, barriers, income, health insurance, number of children, and age were all important factors for BSE and regular BSE and mammography. Females who had high belief scores were more likely to undertake mammography (odds ratio [OR]: 1.2, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.03–1.5), regular mammography (OR: 4.2, 95% CI: 1.9–9.3), regular CBE (OR: 1.25, 95% CI: 1.2–1.3), and Pap smears (OR: 1.2, 95% CI: 1.1–1.4). Also, females who had high self-efficacy scores were more likely to perform regular BSE (OR: 1.8, 95% CI: 1.4–2.5) and mammography (OR: 2.5, 95% CI: 1.4–4.6) than females with lower self-efficacy scores. Conclusion The frequency of breast and cervical cancer screening was low in our study. The findings of this study indicated that beliefs, self-efficacy, and barriers were important predictive factors of cancer-screening behavior among the females studied. PMID:28255244

Coherent Backscattering Effect in Saturnian vs. Uranian Satellites: Observations and Enhanced MSTM Modeling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pitman, Karly M.; Kolokolova, Ludmilla; Verbiscer, Anne J.; Joseph, Emily C.; Mackowski, Daniel W.; Buratti, Bonnie J.; Momary, Thomas W.

2014-11-01

We continue our campaign to extract spectra and measure absorption band parameters from Cassini Visual & Infrared Mapping Spectrometer (VIMS) and ground-based near-infrared observations of saturnian and uranian icy satellites. We compare these spectra to numerical models to study the coherent backscattering effect (CBE; constructive interference of radiation) that should significantly alter the interpretation of spacecraft spectra obtained at solar phase angles α < 2 degrees. To quantify CBE, we extract VIMS spectra for different α from the same location on the icy satellite surface, ideally within +/- 1-2 degrees in subspacecraft latitude and longitude. Using 2013-2014 calibration updates for VIMS, we present groups of VIMS spectra (pairs or trios) for 3 saturnian moons that most closely fit these ideal criteria. We also show models of the light-scattering characteristics of icy surfaces using a new version of the Multiple Sphere T-Matrix (MSTM) code (Mackowski, D., 2014, in Proceedings of the Workshop “Scattering by aggregates (on surfaces)”, Bremen, Germany, 24 - 25. March 2014, p. 6-9). This code, called MSTM4, allows users to build large, thick slabs of dozens of thousands of spheres to model planetary regolith more accurately. The results clearly indicate the influence of CBE on the spectra and show significant dependence on the size of particles and their packing. To extend the low phase angle coverage of Cassini VIMS data and examine CBE on darker surfaces, we also compare to spectra of several uranian satellites (Titania, Oberon Ariel) acquired using Triplespec ( 3500) at Apache Point Observatory, New Mexico. Synthesizing such results will ultimately place limits on the size and packing fraction of icy satellite regolith particles and aid in interpretations of the structure, composition, and evolution of icy satellites.This work is supported by NASA’s Outer Planets Research program (NNX12AM76G; PI Pitman), Planetary Astronomy program (NNX09AD06G; PI Verbiscer), and NASA’s Advanced Supercomputing Division. Calibrated Cassini VIMS data cubes appear courtesy of the Cassini VIMS team and the PDS.

Fear of missing a lesion: use of simulated breast models to decrease student anxiety when learning clinical breast examinations.

PubMed

Pugh, Carla M; Salud, Lawrence H

2007-06-01

Medical students experience a considerable amount of discomfort during their training. The purpose of the current study was to identify sources of student anxiety when learning clinical breast examinations (CBEs) and to evaluate the effects of simulated breast models on student comfort. Simulated breast models were introduced into the curriculum for 175 second-year medical students. Using surveys, students identified sources of anxiety and rated their comfort levels when learning CBE skills. "Fear of missing a lesion" and the "Intimate/personal nature of the exam" accounted for 73.8% of student anxiety when learning CBEs. In addition, there were significant improvements (P < .05) in student comfort levels when using simulated breast models to learn CBE skills. We have identified 2 of the top causes of anxiety for second-year medical students learning CBE. In addition, we found simulated breast models to be effective in increasing student comfort levels when learning CBEs.

Characterization of temperature and pH-responsive poly-N-isopropylacrylamide-co-polymer nanoparticles for the release of antimicrobials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hill, Laura E.; Gomes, Carmen L.

2014-09-01

Chitosan and alginate are both pH-responsive biopolymers extracted from crustacean exoskeletons and brown algae, respectively. Poly-N-isopropylacrylamide (PNIPAAM) is a hydrogel that becomes hydrophobic at a lower-critical solution temperature. This study sought to combine pH- and temperature-responsive polymers via crosslinking, in order to create a dual-stimuli responsive polymer for hydrophobic antimicrobial compounds delivery, improving their antimicrobial effects. Cinnamon bark extract (CBE) was used as a model for hydrophobic antimicrobial. Two co-polymers were synthesized to create two nanoparticles types: chitosan-co-PNIPAAM and alginate-co-PNIPAAM. Nanoparticles were formed from the resulting co-polymers using a self-assembly top-down process followed by glutaraldehyde or calcium chloride crosslinking. These nanoparticles were then used as controlled delivery vehicles for CBE, whose rapid release could be triggered by specific external stimuli. For the same pH and temperature conditions, the chitosan-co-PNIPAAM nanoparticles were significantly more potent bacterial inhibitors against both pathogens and also exhibited a faster CBE release over time as well as slightly higher entrapment efficiency. The alginate-co-PNIPAAM nanoparticles were significantly smaller and exhibited a slow, gradual release over a long time period. Although both nanoparticles were able to effectively inhibit pathogen growth at lower (P < 0.05) concentration than free CBE, the chitosan-co-PNIPAAM nanoparticles were more effective in delivering a natural antimicrobial with controlled release against foodborne pathogens.

Sequences in the intergenic spacer influence RNA Pol I transcription from the human rRNA promoter

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Li, W.M.; Sylvester, J.E.

1994-09-01

In most eucaryotic species, ribosomal genes are tandemly repeated about 100-5000 times per haploid genome. The 43 Kb human rDNA repeat consists of a 13 Kb coding region for the 18S, 5.8S, 28S ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs) and transcribed spacers separated by a 30 Kb intergenic spacer. For species such as frog, mouse and rat, sequences in the intergenic spacer other than the gene promoter have been shown to modulate transcription of the ribosomal gene. These sequences are spacer promoters, enhancers and the terminator for spacer transcription. We are addressing whether the human ribosomal gene promoter is similarly influenced. In-vitro transcriptionmore » run-off assays have revealed that the 4.5 kb region (CBE), directly upstream of the gene promoter, has cis-stimulation and trans-competition properties. This suggests that the CBE fragment contains an enhancer(s) for ribosomal gene transcription. Further experiments have shown that a fragment ({approximately}1.6 kb) within the CBE fragment also has trans-competition function. Deletion subclones of this region are being tested to delineate the exact sequences responsible for these modulating activities. Previous sequence analysis and functional studies have revealed that CBE contains regions of DNA capable of adopting alternative structures such as bent DNA, Z-DNA, and triple-stranded DNA. Whether these structures are required for modulating transcription remains to be determined as does the specific DNA-protein interaction involved.« less

Breast cancer screening (breast self-examination, clinical breast exam, and mammography) in women referred to health centers in Tabriz, Iran.

PubMed

Khalili, Azizeh Farshbaf; Shahnazi, Mahnaz

2010-04-01

Breast cancer is the most common cancer and the most common cause of death in Iranian women aged 35-55 years. Breast cancer screening comprises breast self-examination (BSE), clinical breast examination (CBE) and mammography. The study aimed to examine the performance of screening methods among women referring to health centers of Tabriz, Iran. This was a descriptive-analytical research carried out on 400 women aged 20-50 years. The samples were chosen through random multistage sampling among health centers of Tabriz then active records of women. A questionnaire and observational checklist was used to elicit socio-demographic information and performance of women towards breast cancer screening methods. Descriptive and inferential statistics (chi-square and Fisher's exact test) were used to analyze the data. Only 18.8% of women did breast self-examination, 19.1% had clinical breast examination and 3.3% had mammogram. Statistical test showed a significant relationship between performing BSE and educational level, employment, income, number of children, breastfeeding history, breastfeeding quality and family history of breast cancer. There was a significant correlation between performing CBE and history of breast tumor and also, between performing the mammography and family history of breast cancer and history of breast tumor (P < 0.05). The findings showed that the performance of breast cancer screening methods was not satisfactory. Performance in high risk women was very desirable than others. The presentation of imperative education about breast cancer screening methods through health staff especially in pregnancy, post-partum and even in pre marriage counseling periods seems necessary.

Validation of the COURAGE Built Environment Self-Reported Questionnaire.

PubMed

Raggi, Alberto; Quintas, Rui; Bucciarelli, Paola; Franco, Maria Grazia; Andreotti, Alessandra; Miret, Marta; Zawisza, Katarzyna; Olaya, Beatriz; Chatterji, Somnath; Sainio, Päivi; Frisoni, Giovanni Battista; Martinuzzi, Andrea; Minicuci, Nadia; Power, Mick; Leonardi, Matilde

2014-01-01

The built environment (BE) impacts on people's disability and health, in terms of overweight, depression, alcohol abuse, poor self-rated health and presence of psychological symptoms; it is reasonable to assume that BE also impacts on participation levels. This paper presents the validation of the COURAGE Built Environment Self-Reported Questionnaire (CBE-SR), an instrument designed to evaluate BE in the context of health and disability. Subjects participating to COURAGE, a cross-sectional study conducted on 10,800 citizens of Poland, Finland and Spain, completed a protocol inclusive of the CBE-SR. Psychometric properties and factor structure were analysed, and factor scores created. Gender differences, differences between persons from different age groups and persons reporting the environment as facilitating, hindering or neutral were calculated. Eight items were deleted so that the final version of CBE-SR comprises 19 items. Cronbach's alpha ranged from 0.743 to 0.906, and test-retest stability was demonstrated for the majority of items. Four subscales were identified: Usability of the neighbourhood environment; Hindrance of walkable environment; Easiness of use of public buildings, places and facilities; and Risk of accidents and usability of the living place. Younger respondents reported their neighbourhood as more usable but perceived walkways as more hindering and public buildings as less easy to use; gender differences were almost inexistent. The CBE-SR is a four-scale instrument with good psychometric properties that measures the person-environment interaction. It is sensitive across age groups and is consistent with the subject's overall judgement of the degree to which the environment is facilitating or hindering. Poor built environments have a negative impact on the level of a person's participation. However, instruments measuring the person-environment interaction are lacking. The CBE-SR is a valid and reliable instrument that researchers can use to assess the relationships between the intrinsic health state and the objective features of the environment. Understanding this relationship would provide further insight into the need of addressing the individual's functioning either by means of interventions directed to the individual or by making changes to the individual's environment. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Physical examination prior to initiating hormonal contraception: a systematic review.

PubMed

Tepper, Naomi K; Curtis, Kathryn M; Steenland, Maria W; Marchbanks, Polly A

2013-05-01

Provision of contraception is often linked with physical examination, including clinical breast examination (CBE) and pelvic examination. This review was conducted to evaluate the evidence regarding outcomes among women with and without physical examination prior to initiating hormonal contraceptives. The PubMed database was searched from database inception through March 2012 for all peer-reviewed articles in any language concerning CBE and pelvic examination prior to initiating hormonal contraceptives. The quality of each study was assessed using the United States Preventive Services Task Force grading system. The search did not identify any evidence regarding outcomes among women screened versus not screened with CBE prior to initiation of hormonal contraceptives. The search identified two case-control studies of fair quality which compared women who did or did not undergo pelvic examination prior to initiating oral contraceptives (OCs) or depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA). No differences in risk factors for cervical neoplasia, incidence of sexually transmitted infections, incidence of abnormal Pap smears or incidence of abnormal wet mount findings were observed. Although women with breast cancer should not use hormonal contraceptives, there is little utility in screening prior to initiation, due to the low incidence of breast cancer and uncertain value of CBE among women of reproductive age. Two fair quality studies demonstrated no differences between women who did or did not undergo pelvic examination prior to initiating OCs or DMPA with respect to risk factors or clinical outcomes. In addition, pelvic examination is not likely to detect any conditions for which hormonal contraceptives would be unsafe. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Improved high-frequency equivalent circuit model based on distributed effects for SiGe HBTs with CBE layout

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sun, Ya-Bin; Li, Xiao-Jin; Zhang, Jin-Zhong; Shi, Yan-Ling

2017-08-01

Not Available Project supported by the National Natural Science Funds of China (Grant Nos. 61574056 and 61504156), the Natural Science Foundation of Shanghai, China (Grant No. 14ZR1412000), Shanghai Sailing Program, China (Grant No. 17YF1404700), and the Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality, China (Grant No. 14DZ2260800).

Structural and optical properties of GaxIn1-xP layers grown by chemical beam epitaxy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Seong, Tae-Yeon; Yang, Jung-Ja; Ryu, Mee Yi; Song, Jong-In; Yu, Phil W.

1998-05-01

Chemical beam epitaxial (CBE) GaxIn1-xP layers (x≈0.5) grown on (001) GaAs substrates at temperatures ranging from 490 to 580°C have been investigated using transmission electron diffraction (TED), transmission electron microscopy, and photoluminescence (PL). TED examination revealed the presence of diffuse scattering 1/2{111}B positions, indicating the occurrence of typical CuPt-type ordering in the GaInP CBE layers. As the growth temperature decreased from 580 to 490°C, maxima in the intensity of the diffuse scattering moved from ½{111}B to ½{-1+δ,1-δ,0} positions, where δ is a positive value. As the growth temperature increased from 490 to 550°C, the maxima in the diffuse scattering intensity progressively approached positions of 1/2\\{bar 110\\} , i.e., the value of δ decreased from 0.25 to 0.17. Bandgap reduction (˜45 meV) was observed in the CBE GaInP layers and was attributed to the presence of ordered structures.

Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Breast Cancer Control Interventions in Peru

PubMed Central

Zelle, Sten G.; Vidaurre, Tatiana; Abugattas, Julio E.; Manrique, Javier E.; Sarria, Gustavo; Jeronimo, José; Seinfeld, Janice N.; Lauer, Jeremy A.; Sepulveda, Cecilia R.; Venegas, Diego; Baltussen, Rob

2013-01-01

Objectives In Peru, a country with constrained health resources, breast cancer control is characterized by late stage treatment and poor survival. To support breast cancer control in Peru, this study aims to determine the cost-effectiveness of different breast cancer control interventions relevant for the Peruvian context. Methods We performed a cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) according to WHO-CHOICE guidelines, from a healthcare perspective. Different screening, early detection, palliative, and treatment interventions were evaluated using mathematical modeling. Effectiveness estimates were based on observational studies, modeling, and on information from Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Neoplásicas (INEN). Resource utilizations and unit costs were based on estimates from INEN and observational studies. Cost-effectiveness estimates are in 2012 United States dollars (US$) per disability adjusted life year (DALY) averted. Results The current breast cancer program in Peru ($8,426 per DALY averted) could be improved through implementing triennial or biennial screening strategies. These strategies seem the most cost-effective in Peru, particularly when mobile mammography is applied (from $4,125 per DALY averted), or when both CBE screening and mammography screening are combined (from $4,239 per DALY averted). Triennially, these interventions costs between $63 million and $72 million per year. Late stage treatment, trastuzumab therapy and annual screening strategies are the least cost-effective. Conclusions Our analysis suggests that breast cancer control in Peru should be oriented towards early detection through combining fixed and mobile mammography screening (age 45-69) triennially. However, a phased introduction of triennial CBE screening (age 40-69) with upfront FNA in non-urban settings, and both CBE (age 40-49) and fixed mammography screening (age 50-69) in urban settings, seems a more feasible option and is also cost-effective. The implementation of this intervention is only meaningful if awareness raising, diagnostic, referral, treatment and basic palliative services are simultaneously improved, and if financial and organizational barriers to these services are reduced. PMID:24349314

Cost-effectiveness analysis of breast cancer control interventions in Peru.

PubMed

Zelle, Sten G; Vidaurre, Tatiana; Abugattas, Julio E; Manrique, Javier E; Sarria, Gustavo; Jeronimo, José; Seinfeld, Janice N; Lauer, Jeremy A; Sepulveda, Cecilia R; Venegas, Diego; Baltussen, Rob

2013-01-01

In Peru, a country with constrained health resources, breast cancer control is characterized by late stage treatment and poor survival. To support breast cancer control in Peru, this study aims to determine the cost-effectiveness of different breast cancer control interventions relevant for the Peruvian context. We performed a cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) according to WHO-CHOICE guidelines, from a healthcare perspective. Different screening, early detection, palliative, and treatment interventions were evaluated using mathematical modeling. Effectiveness estimates were based on observational studies, modeling, and on information from Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Neoplásicas (INEN). Resource utilizations and unit costs were based on estimates from INEN and observational studies. Cost-effectiveness estimates are in 2012 United States dollars (US$) per disability adjusted life year (DALY) averted. The current breast cancer program in Peru ($8,426 per DALY averted) could be improved through implementing triennial or biennial screening strategies. These strategies seem the most cost-effective in Peru, particularly when mobile mammography is applied (from $4,125 per DALY averted), or when both CBE screening and mammography screening are combined (from $4,239 per DALY averted). Triennially, these interventions costs between $63 million and $72 million per year. Late stage treatment, trastuzumab therapy and annual screening strategies are the least cost-effective. Our analysis suggests that breast cancer control in Peru should be oriented towards early detection through combining fixed and mobile mammography screening (age 45-69) triennially. However, a phased introduction of triennial CBE screening (age 40-69) with upfront FNA in non-urban settings, and both CBE (age 40-49) and fixed mammography screening (age 50-69) in urban settings, seems a more feasible option and is also cost-effective. The implementation of this intervention is only meaningful if awareness raising, diagnostic, referral, treatment and basic palliative services are simultaneously improved, and if financial and organizational barriers to these services are reduced.

Effects of high source flow and high pumping speed on gas source molecular beam epitaxy / chemical beam epitaxy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McCollum, M. J.; Jackson, S. L.; Szafranek, I.; Stillman, G. E.

1990-10-01

We report the growth of GaAs by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE), gas source molecular beam epitaxy (GSMBE), and chemical beam epitaxy (CBE) in an epitaxial III-V reactor which features high pumping speed. The system is comprised of a modified Perkin-Elmer 430P molecular beam epitaxy system and a custom gas source panel from Emcore. The growth chamber is pumped with a 7000 1/s (He) diffusion pump (Varian VHS-10 with Monsanto Santovac 5 oil). The gas source panel includes pressure based flow controllers (MKS 1150) allowing triethylaluminum (TEA), triethylgallium (TEG), and trimethylindium (TMI) to be supplied without the use of hydrogen. All source lines, including arsine and phosphine, are maintained below atmospheric pressure. The high pumping speed allows total system flow rates as high as 100 SCCM and V/III ratios as high as 100. The purity of GaAs grown by MBE in this system increases with pumping speed. GaAs layers grown by GSMBE with arsine flows of 10 and 20 SCCM have electron concentrations of 1 × 10 15 cm -3 (μ 77=48,000 cm 2/V·) and 2 × 10 14 cm -3 (μ 77=78,000 cm 2/V·s) respectively. El ectron concentration varies with hydride injector temperature such that the minimum in electron concentration occurs for less than complete cracking. The effect of V/III ratio and the use of a metal eutectic bubbler on residual carrier concentration in GaAs grown by CBE is presented. Intentional Si and Be doping of CBE grown GaAs is demonstrated at a high growth rate of 5.4 μm/h.

Croissance epitaxiale de GaAs sur substrats de Ge par epitaxie par faisceaux chimiques

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Belanger, Simon

La situation energetique et les enjeux environnementaux auxquels la societe est confrontee entrainent un interet grandissant pour la production d'electricite a partir de l'energie solaire. Parmi les technologies actuellement disponibles, la filiere du photovoltaique a concentrateur solaire (CPV pour concentrator photovoltaics) possede un rendement superieur et mi potentiel interessant a condition que ses couts de production soient competitifs. La methode d'epitaxie par faisceaux chimiques (CBE pour chemical beam epitaxy) possede plusieurs caracteristiques qui la rendent interessante pour la production a grande echelle de cellules photovoltaiques a jonctions multiples a base de semi-conducteurs III-V. Ce type de cellule possede la meilleure efficacite atteinte a ce jour et est utilise sur les satellites et les systemes photovoltaiques a concentrateur solaire (CPV) les plus efficaces. Une des principales forces de la technique CBE se trouve dans son potentiel d'efficacite d'utilisation des materiaux source qui est superieur a celui de la technique d'epitaxie qui est couramment utilisee pour la production a grande echelle de ces cellules. Ce memoire de maitrise presente les travaux effectues dans le but d'evaluer le potentiel de la technique CBE pour realiser la croissance de couches de GaAs sur des substrats de Ge. Cette croissance constitue la premiere etape de fabrication de nombreux modeles de cellules solaires a haute performance decrites plus haut. La realisation de ce projet a necessite le developpement d'un procede de preparation de surface pour les substrats de germanium, la realisation de nombreuses sceances de croissance epitaxiale et la caracterisation des materiaux obtenus par microscopie optique, microscopie a force atomique (AFM), diffraction des rayons-X a haute resolution (HRXRD), microscopie electronique a transmission (TEM), photoluminescence a basse temperature (LTPL) et spectrometrie de masse des ions secondaires (SIMS). Les experiences ont permis de confirmer l'efficacite du procede de preparation de surface et d'identifier les conditions de croissance optimales. Les resultats de caracterisation indiquent que les materiaux obtenus presentent une tres faible rugosite de surface, une bonne qualite cristalline et un dopage residuel relativement important. De plus, l'interface GaAs/Ge possede une faible densite de defauts. Finalement, la diffusion d'arsenic dans le substrat de germanium est comparable aux valeurs trouvees dans la litterature pour la croissance a basse temperature avec les autres procedes d'epitaxie courants. Ces resultats confirment que la technique d'epitaxie par faisceaux chimiques (CBE) permet de produire des couches de GaAs sur Ge de qualite adequate pour la fabrication de cellules solaires a haute performance. L'apport a la communaute scientifique a ete maximise par le biais de la redaction d'un article soumis a la revue Journal of Crystal Growth et la presentation des travaux a la conference Photovoltaics Canada 2010 . Mots-cles : Epitaxie par jets chimiques, Chemical beam epitaxy, CBE, MOMBE, Germanium, GaAs, Ge

Performance status of a small robot-mounted or hand-held, solar-blind, standoff chemical, biological, and explosives (CBE) sensor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hug, W. F.; Reid, R. D.; Bhartia, R.; Lane, A. L.

2009-05-01

Photon Systems and JPL are continuing development of a new technology robot-mounted or hand-held sensor for reagentless, short-range, standoff detection and identification of trace levels CBE materials on surfaces. This deep ultraviolet CBE sensor is the result of ongoing Army STTR and DTRA programs. The evolving 6 lb, 15W, lantern-size sensor can discriminate CBE from background clutter materials using a combination of deep UV excited resonance Raman (RR) and laser induced native fluorescence (LINF) emissions resulting from excitation by a new technology deep UV laser. Standoff excitation of suspicious packages, vehicles, persons, and other objects that may contain hazardous materials is accomplished using wavelengths below 250nm where RR and LINF emissions occupy distinctly different wavelength regions. This enables simultaneous detection of RR and LINF emissions with no spectral overlap or interference of LINF over RR or RR over LINF. The new eye-safe targeted ultraviolet chemical, biological, and explosives (TUCBE) sensor can detect and identify less than 1 μg/cm2 of explosives or 104 bacterial spores at 10 meters standoff, or 10 ng/cm2 of explosives or 102 bacterial spores/cm2 at 1 meter standoff. Detection and identification requires less than 1 ms and has a sample rate up to 20 Hz. Lower concentrations of contamination can be detected and identified as closer ranges and higher concentrations at longer ranges. The sensor is solar blind and can be operated in full daylight conditions as a result of excitation and detection in the deep UV and the use of a gated detection system.

Structure of an Insecticide Sequestering Carboxylesterase from the Disease Vector Culex quinquefasciatus: What Makes an Enzyme a Good Insecticide Sponge?

PubMed

Hopkins, Davis H; Fraser, Nicholas J; Mabbitt, Peter D; Carr, Paul D; Oakeshott, John G; Jackson, Colin J

2017-10-17

Carboxylesterase (CBE)-mediated metabolic resistance to organophosphate and carbamate insecticides is a major problem for the control of insect disease vectors, such as the mosquito. The most common mechanism involves overexpression of CBEs that bind to the insecticide with high affinity, thereby sequestering them before they can interact with their target. However, the absence of any structure for an insecticide-sequestering CBE limits our understanding of the molecular basis for this process. We present the first structure of a CBE involved in sequestration, Cqestβ2 1 , from the mosquito disease vector Culex quinquefasciatus. Lysine methylation was used to obtain the crystal structure of Cqestβ2 1 , which adopts a canonical α/β-hydrolase fold that has high similarity to the target of organophosphate and carbamate insecticides, acetylcholinesterase. Sequence similarity networks of the insect carboxyl/cholinesterase family demonstrate that CBEs associated with metabolic insecticide resistance across many species share a level of similarity that distinguishes them from a variety of other classes. This is further emphasized by the structural similarities and differences in the binding pocket and active site residues of Cqestβ2 1 and other insect carboxyl/cholinesterases. Stopped-flow and steady-state inhibition studies support a major role for Cqestβ2 1 in organophosphate resistance and a minor role in carbamate resistance. Comparison with another isoform associated with insecticide resistance, Cqestβ1, showed both enzymes have similar affinity to insecticides, despite 16 amino acid differences between the two proteins. This provides a molecular understanding of pesticide sequestration by insect CBEs and could facilitate the design of CBE-specific inhibitors to circumvent this resistance mechanism in the future.

The Cosmic Background Explorer

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gulkis, Samuel; Lubin, Philip M.; Meyer, Stephan S.; Silverberg, Robert F.

1990-01-01

The Cosmic Background Explorer (CBE), NASA's cosmological satellite which will observe a radiative relic of the big bang, is discussed. The major questions connected to the big bang theory which may be clarified using the CBE are reviewed. The satellite instruments and experiments are described, including the Differential Microwave Radiometer, which measures the difference between microwave radiation emitted from two points on the sky, the Far-Infrared Absolute Spectrophotometer, which compares the spectrum of radiation from the sky at wavelengths from 100 microns to one cm with that from an internal blackbody, and the Diffuse Infrared Background Experiment, which searches for the radiation from the earliest generation of stars.

High-Speed Computation of the Kleene Star in Max-Plus Algebraic System Using a Cell Broadband Engine

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Goto, Hiroyuki

This research addresses a high-speed computation method for the Kleene star of the weighted adjacency matrix in a max-plus algebraic system. We focus on systems whose precedence constraints are represented by a directed acyclic graph and implement it on a Cell Broadband Engine™ (CBE) processor. Since the resulting matrix gives the longest travel times between two adjacent nodes, it is often utilized in scheduling problem solvers for a class of discrete event systems. This research, in particular, attempts to achieve a speedup by using two approaches: parallelization and SIMDization (Single Instruction, Multiple Data), both of which can be accomplished by a CBE processor. The former refers to a parallel computation using multiple cores, while the latter is a method whereby multiple elements are computed by a single instruction. Using the implementation on a Sony PlayStation 3™ equipped with a CBE processor, we found that the SIMDization is effective regardless of the system's size and the number of processor cores used. We also found that the scalability of using multiple cores is remarkable especially for systems with a large number of nodes. In a numerical experiment where the number of nodes is 2000, we achieved a speedup of 20 times compared with the method without the above techniques.

A longitudinal study of women’s memories of their childbirth experiences at five years postpartum

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

Background Few studies have investigated whether women can accurately recall their birthing experiences after a long period. We investigated the consistency of women’s memories of their childbirth experiences between those at a few days postpartum and 5 years later. Methods This prospective cohort study comprised 1,168 women who delivered at a maternity hospital and four maternity homes in Japan between May 2002 and August 2003. Data were collected using structured interviews and transcriptions from medical records. The childbirth experience was assessed using the Childbirth Experience Scale (CBE-Scale) at a few days postpartum and 5 years later. Results We obtained 584 (50.0%) valid responses from women who completed the survey at a few days postpartum and 5 years later. Significant differences were observed in 16 out of 18 items on the CBE-Scale when responses were compared at both time points. Women who answered "yes" to any item on the CBE-Scale at the baseline survey tended to demonstrate a more precise recollection for that item 5 years after childbirth than those who answered "no" for the corresponding item. Conclusions We conclude that women remember their childbirth experience clearly at 5 years after the childbirth. PMID:24996683

Response of rat skin to boron neutron capture therapy with p-boronophenylalanine or borocaptate sodium.

PubMed

Morris, G M; Coderre, J A; Hopewell, J W; Micca, P L; Rezvani, M

1994-08-01

The effects of boron neutron capture irradiation employing either BPA or BSH as neutron capture agents has been assessed using the dorsal skin of Fischer 344 rats. Pharmacokinetic studies, using prompt gamma spectrometry, revealed comparable levels of boron-10 (10B) in blood and skin after the intravenous infusion of BSH (100 mg/kg body wt.). The 10B content of blood (12.0 +/- 0.5 micrograms/g) was slightly higher than that of skin (10.0 +/- 0.5 micrograms/g) after oral dosing with BPA. Biphasic skin reactions were observed after irradiation with the thermal neutron beam alone or in combination with BPA or BSH. The time of onset of the first phase of the skin reaction, moist desquamation, was approximately 2 weeks. The time at which the second-wave skin reaction, dermal necrosis, became evident was dose-related and occurred after a latent interval of > or = 24 weeks, well after the acute epithelial reaction had healed. The incidence of both phases of skin damage was also dose-related. The radiation doses required to produce skin damage in 50% of skin sites (ED50 values) were calculated from dose-effect curves and these values were used to determine relative biological effectiveness (RBE) and compound biological effectiveness (CBE) factors for both moist desquamation and dermal necrosis. It was concluded on the basis of these calculations that the microdistribution of the two neutron capture agents had a critical bearing on the overall biological effect after thermal neutron activation. BSH, which was possibly excluded from the cytoplasm of epidermal cells, had a low CBE factor value (0.56 +/- 0.06) while BPA, which may be selectively accumulated in epidermal cells had a very high CBE factor (3.74 +/- 0.7). For the dermal reaction, where vascular endothelial cells represent the likely target cell population, the CBE factor values were comparable, at 0.73 +/- 0.42 and 0.86 +/- 0.08 for BPA ad BSH, respectively.

Hydroacoustics for the discovery and quantification of Nassau grouper ( Epinephelus striatus) spawning aggregations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Egerton, J. P.; Johnson, A. F.; Le Vay, L.; McCoy, C. M.; Semmens, B. X.; Heppell, S. A.; Turner, J. R.

2017-06-01

Fish spawning aggregations (FSAs) are vital life-history events that need to be monitored to determine the health of aggregating populations; this is especially true of the endangered Nassau grouper ( Epinephelus striatus). Hydroacoustics were used to locate Nassau grouper FSAs at sites on the west end of Little Cayman (LCW), and east ends of Grand Cayman (GCE) and Cayman Brac (CBE). Fish abundance and biomass at each FSA were estimated via echo integration and FSA extent. Acoustic mean fish abundance estimates (±SE) on the FSA at LCW (893 ± 459) did not differ significantly from concurrent SCUBA estimates (1150 ± 75). Mean fish densities (number 1000 m-3) were significantly higher at LCW (33.13 ± 5.62) than at the other sites (GCE: 7.01 ± 2.1, CBE: 4.61 ± 1.16). We investigate different acoustic post-processing options to obtain target strength (TS), and we examine the different TS to total length (TL) formulas available. The SCUBA surveys also provided measures of TL through the use of laser callipers allowing development of an in situ TS to TL formula for Nassau grouper at the LCW FSA. Application of this formula revealed mean fish TL was significantly higher at LCW (65.4 ± 0.7 cm) than GCE (60.7 ± 0.4 cm), but not CBE (61.1 ± 2.5 cm). Use of the empirical TS to TL formula resulted in underestimation of fish length in comparison with diver measurements, highlighting the benefits of secondary length data and deriving specific TS to TL formulas for each population. FSA location examined with reference to seasonal marine protected areas (Designated Grouper Spawning Areas) showed FSAs were partially outside these areas at GCE and very close to the boundary at CBE. As FSAs often occur at the limits of safe diving operations, hydroacoustic technology provides an alternative method to monitor and inform future management of aggregating fish species.

Monitoring/Verification using DMS: TATP Example

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Stephan Weeks, Kevin Kyle, Manuel Manard

Field-rugged and field-programmable differential mobility spectrometry (DMS) networks provide highly selective, universal monitoring of vapors and aerosols at detectable levels from persons or areas involved with illicit chemical/biological/explosives (CBE) production. CBE sensor motes used in conjunction with automated fast gas chromatography with DMS detection (GC/DMS) verification instrumentation integrated into situational operations-management systems can be readily deployed and optimized for changing application scenarios. The feasibility of developing selective DMS motes for a “smart dust” sampling approach with guided, highly selective, fast GC/DMS verification analysis is a compelling approach to minimize or prevent the illegal use of explosives or chemical and biologicalmore » materials. DMS is currently one of the foremost emerging technologies for field separation and detection of gas-phase chemical species. This is due to trace-level detection limits, high selectivity, and small size. Fast GC is the leading field analytical method for gas phase separation of chemical species in complex mixtures. Low-thermal-mass GC columns have led to compact, low-power field systems capable of complete analyses in 15–300 seconds. A collaborative effort optimized a handheld, fast GC/DMS, equipped with a non-rad ionization source, for peroxide-based explosive measurements.« less

Monitoring/Verification Using DMS: TATP Example

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kevin Kyle; Stephan Weeks

Field-rugged and field-programmable differential mobility spectrometry (DMS) networks provide highly selective, universal monitoring of vapors and aerosols at detectable levels from persons or areas involved with illicit chemical/biological/explosives (CBE) production. CBE sensor motes used in conjunction with automated fast gas chromatography with DMS detection (GC/DMS) verification instrumentation integrated into situational operationsmanagement systems can be readily deployed and optimized for changing application scenarios. The feasibility of developing selective DMS motes for a “smart dust” sampling approach with guided, highly selective, fast GC/DMS verification analysis is a compelling approach to minimize or prevent the illegal use of explosives or chemical and biologicalmore » materials. DMS is currently one of the foremost emerging technologies for field separation and detection of gas-phase chemical species. This is due to trace-level detection limits, high selectivity, and small size. GC is the leading analytical method for the separation of chemical species in complex mixtures. Low-thermal-mass GC columns have led to compact, low-power field systems capable of complete analyses in 15–300 seconds. A collaborative effort optimized a handheld, fast GC/DMS, equipped with a non-rad ionization source, for peroxide-based explosive measurements.« less

Determination of esterase activity and characterization of cholinesterases in the reef fish Haemulon plumieri.

PubMed

Leticia, Alpuche-Gual; Gerardo, Gold-Bouchot

2008-11-01

White grunt (Haemulon plumieri) has been proposed by the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System (MBRS) Synoptic Monitoring Program as a bioindicator species. It is in this sense that the present study has a main goal to evaluate this organism's suitability as an indicator species. Individuals were captured during three seasons at the port of Sisal, Yucatan, Mexico which is located in an area that is considered to be weakly impacted by human activities such as agriculture or industry. Both cholinesterase (ChE) and carboxylesterase (CbE) activities were measured in brain, muscle, liver and eye of sampled individuals. Results indicated that ChE and CbE activities were greatest in the brain (256.3 ± 43) and in the liver (191 ± 21), respectively. Furthermore, ChEs detected in brain, liver and muscle were characterized, and results suggested that the acetylcholinesterase (AChE) type was more abundant relative to pseudocholinesterase (BChE) which was rare. In addition, K(m) and V(max) and IC(50) values were calculated from the Michaelis-Menten equation. Finally, an additional experiment in vitro showed a significant decrease in both ChE and CbE activities when different tissues were exposed to model xenobiotics, such as benzo[a]pyrene and Chlorpyrifos. In conclusion, findings from this study confirm the potential suitability of H. plumieri as an organic pollution bioindicator species, and thus of practical use for environmental biomonitoring purposes.

High reflectance and low stress Mo2C/Be multilayers

DOEpatents

Bajt, Sasa; Barbee, Jr., Troy W.

2001-01-01

A material for extreme ultraviolet (EUV) multilayers that will reflect at about 11.3 nm, have a high reflectance, low stress, and high thermal and radiation stability. The material consists of alternating layers of Mo.sub.2 C and Be deposited by DC magnetron sputtering on a substrate, such as silicon. In one example a Mo.sub.2 C/Be multilayer gave 65.2% reflectance at 11.25 nm measured at 5 degrees off normal incidence angle, and consisted of 70 bilayers with a deposition period of 5.78 nm, and was deposited at 0.83 mTorr argon (Ar) sputtering pressure, with the first and last layers being Be. The stress of the multilayer is tensile and only +88 MPa, compared to +330 MPa of a Mo/Be multilayers of the same thickness. The Mo.sub.2 C/Be multilayer was capped with carbon which produced an increase in reflectivity of about 7% over a similar multilayer with no carbon capping material, thus raising the reflectivity from 58.3% to over 65%. The multilayers were formed using either Mo.sub.2 C or Be as the first and last layers, and initial testing has shown the formation of beryllium carbide at the interfaces between the layers which both stabilizes and has a smoothing effect, and appear to be smoother than the interfaces in Mo/Be multilayers.

Industry Partners at CBE

Science.gov Websites

* Charles M. Salter Associates DIALOG HGA Architects and Engineers HOK Integral Group Interface Engineering + Will SERA Architects Taylor Engineering Team: Atelier Ten Taylor Engineering TRC Energy Services

Mission of the Future. Proceedings of the Annual Convention of the Association for the Development of Computer-Based Instructional Systems. Volume I: General Session Papers and Project Reports (San Diego, California, February 27 to March 1, 1979).

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Association for the Development of Computer-based Instructional Systems.

The first of three volumes of papers presented at the 1979 ADCIS convention, this collection includes most of the 30 papers presented at the general session and 34 project reports. The general session opened with seven papers on various aspects of videodisc technology and five papers describing phases in the life of CBE sites. The remaining…

Implementing goals for non-cognitive outcomes within a basic science course.

PubMed

Derstine, Pamela L

2002-09-01

An essential principle of competency-based education (CBE) is use of observable outcomes with assessments as judgments of competence based on defined criteria. Faculty are accustomed to using learning objectives as the defining criteria for knowledge, assessing students using written exams. Faculty are less familiar with how the principles of CBE are applied to other competencies. We recently adopted school-wide goals and objectives, modeled after the ACGME Outcomes Project. The present objective was to give faculty first-hand experience in CBE within a basic science course, including both cognitive and non-cognitive outcomes. The format for the learner-centered, first-year Cell and Molecular Biology course was previously described.(1) Course goals were that students: (1) gain an understanding of the principles and concepts of cell and molecular biology, (2) develop an appreciation for how these principles and concepts are important to medicine, (3) demonstrate an ability to think critically using these principles and concepts. Goal 1 was measured by written exams. We assumed goals 2 and 3 were met through small-group problem-solving sessions, and outcomes were not assessed. The revised 2001 course goals were to prepare students for medical knowledge and lifelong learning and communication and professionalism. The goals for medical knowledge and lifelong learning were to: (1) demonstrate ability to use principles and concepts of cell biology, molecular biology, and genetics to analyze medically relevant data, solve problems, make predictions, and determine a course of action; (2) effectively use information technology to search, evaluate, and critically review scientific evidence related to principles and concepts covered in the course; (3) use appropriate techniques to teach peers in a conference setting. The goals for communication and professionalism were to: (1) use appropriate skills and attitudes to collaborate effectively with peers and faculty to accomplish learning goals; (2) maintain a personal learning portfolio to develop habits of reflective learning, broaden understanding of content beyond recall, and enhance communication with faculty; (3) demonstrate personal integrity in meeting course requirements and in interactions with peers and faculty throughout the course. Goals for medical knowledge and lifelong learning were assessed by written exams and by separate tools utilizing four-point Likert scales (novice, advanced beginner, proficient, distinguished) with specific observable criteria for a written research paper and a group PowerPoint presentation. Faculty and student assessments generated a number that was combined with exam grades for a lettered competency grade. A 19-item, five-point Likert scale was used by students to self- and peer-assess goals for communication and professionalism. Small-group faculty facilitators used the tool to give formative feedback midcourse, summative feedback at course conclusion, and competency grades. The tools may be viewed at: . Faculty achieved enhanced understanding of students, assisted by descriptive criteria, while suggesting improvements in forms. Better agreement on criteria definitions and consistency in form use is needed. Students developed understanding and improved communication/professionalism skills, based on repeated exposures to criteria and feedback. It remains to be seen whether the skills are used/developed in other courses. A majority of students did not use the learning portfolio as envisioned. Better design and implementation of school-wide rather than course-specific reflective portfolios may increase use and integrate learning in all courses with all six competencies.

Hepatitis C and Incarceration

MedlinePlus

... the following: fever, stomach pain, feeling very tired, grey–colored stool, not wanting to eat, bone or ... Cbe treated? Yes, but not everyone needs medical treatment or can benefit from it. If possible, it ...

Assessment of biological effectiveness of boron neutron capture therapy in primary and metastatic melanoma cell lines.

PubMed

Rossini, Andrés E; Dagrosa, Maria A; Portu, Agustina; Saint Martin, Giselle; Thorp, Silvia; Casal, Mariana; Navarro, Aimé; Juvenal, Guillermo J; Pisarev, Mario A

2015-01-01

In order to optimize the effectiveness of Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT), Relative Biological Effectiveness (RBE) and Compound Biological Effectiveness (CBE) were determined in two human melanoma cell lines, M8 and Mel-J cells, using the amino acid p-boronophenylalanine (BPA) as boron carrier. The effects of BNCT on the primary amelanotic cell line M8 and on the metastatic pigmented melanoma cell line Mel-J were studied using colony formation assay. The RBE values were determined using both a gamma ray source, and the neutron beam from the Nuclear Reactor of the National Atomic Energy Commission (RA-3). For the determination of the RBE, cells were irradiated with increasing doses of both sources, between 1 and 8 Gy; and for the determination of CBE factors, the cells were pre-incubated with BPA before irradiation. Afterwards, the cell surviving fraction (SF) was determined for each treatment. Marked differences were observed between both cell lines. Mel-J cells were more radioresistant than the M8 cell line. The clonogenic assays showed that for a SF of 1%, the RBE values were 1.3 for M8 cells and 1.5 for Mel-J cells. Similarly, the CBE values for a 1% SF were 2.1 for M8 and 3 for Mel-J cell lines. For the endpoint of 0.1% of SF the RBE values obtained were 1.2 for M8 and 1.4 for Mel-J cells. Finally, CBE values calculated for a 0.1% were 2 and 2.6 for M8 and Mel-J cell lines respectively. In order to estimate the uptake of the non-radioactive isotope Boron 10 ((10)B), a neutron induced autoradiographic technique was performed showing discrepancies in (10)B uptake between both cell lines. These obtained in vitro results are the first effectiveness factors determined for human melanoma at the RA-3 nuclear reactor and show that BNCT dosimetry planning for patients could be successfully performed using these new factors.

Breast cancer prevention and control programs in Malaysia.

PubMed

Dahlui, Maznah; Ramli, Sofea; Bulgiba, Awang M

2011-01-01

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in Malaysian females. The National Cancer Registry in 2003 and 2006 reported that the age standardized incidence of breast cancer was 46.2 and 39.3 per 100,000 populations, respectively. With the cumulative risk at 5.0; a woman in Malaysia had a 1 in 20 chance of developing breast cancer in her lifetime. The incidence of cancer in general, and for breast cancer specifically was highest in the Chinese, followed by Indians and Malays. Most of the patients with breast cancers presented at late stages (stage I: 15.45%, stage II: 46.9%, stage III: 22.2% and stage IV: 15.5%). The Healthy Lifestyles Campaign which started in the early nineties had created awareness on breast cancer and after a decade the effort was enhanced with the Breast Health Awareness program to promote breast self examination (BSE) to all women, to perform annual clinical breast examination (CBE) on women above 40 and mammogram on women above 50. The National Health Morbidity Survey in 2006 showed that the prevalence rate of 70.35% by any of three methods of breast screening; 57.1% by BSE, 51.8% by CBE and 7.6% by mammogram. The current screening policy for breast cancer focuses on CBE whereby all women at the age of 20 years and above must undergo breast examination by trained health care providers every 3 years for age between 20-39 years, and annually for age 40 and above. Several breast cancer preventive programs had been developed by various ministries in Malaysia; among which are the RM50 subsidy for mammogram by the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development and the SIPPS program (a call-recall system for women to do PAP smear and CBE) by the Ministry of Health. Measures to increase uptake of breast cancer screening and factors as to why women with breast cancer present late should be studied to assist in more development of policy on the prevention of breast cancer in Malaysia.

Use of Simulators to Explore Specialty Recommendation for a Palpable Breast Mass

PubMed Central

Laufer, Shlomi; Ray, Rebecca D.; D'Angelo, Anne-Lise D.; Jones, Grace F.; Pugh, Carla M.

2015-01-01

Background The study aim was to evaluate recommendation patterns of different specialties for the work-up of a palpable breast mass using simulated scenarios and clinical breast examination (CBE) models. Methods Study participants were a convenience sample of physicians (n=318) attending annual surgical, family practice and obstetrics and gynecology (OB/GYN) conferences. Two different silicone-based breast models (superficial mass vs chest wall mass) were used to test CBE skills and recommendation patterns (imaging, tissue sampling, and follow-up). Results Participants were more likely to recommend mammography (p<.001) and core biopsy (p<.0001) and less likely to recommend needle aspiration (p<.043) and 1-month follow up (p<.001) for the chest wall mass compared to the superficial mass. Family practitioners were less likely to recommend ultrasound (p<.001) and OB/GYNs were less likely to recommend mammogram (p<.006) across models. Surgeons were more likely to recommend core biopsy and less likely to recommend needle aspiration across models (p<.001) Conclusions Recommendation patterns differed across the two models in line with existing practice guidelines. Additionally, differences in practice patterns between primary care and specialty providers may represent varying clinician capabilities, health care resources, and individual preferences. Our work shows that simulation may be used to track adherence to practice guidelines for breast masses. PMID:26198334

Development of the movement domain in the global body examination.

PubMed

Kvåle, Alice; Bunkan, Berit Heir; Opjordsmoen, Stein; Friis, Svein

2012-01-01

The purpose of this study was to develop a new Movement domain, based on 16 items from the Global Physiotherapy Examination-52 (GPE-52) and 18 items from the Comprehensive Body Examination (CBE). Furthermore, we examined how well the new domain and its scales would discriminate between healthy individuals and different groups of patients, compared to the original methods. Two physiotherapists, each using one method, independently examined 132 individuals (34 healthy, 32 with localized pain, 32 with generalized pain, and 34 with psychoses). The number of items was reduced by means of correlational and exploratory factor analysis. Internal consistency was examined with Cronbach's alpha. For examination of discriminative validity, Mann-Whitney U-test and Area under the Curve (AUC) were used. The initial 34 items were reduced to two subscales with 13 items: one for range of movement and balance and one for flexibility. Cronbach's alpha was 0.84 and 0.87 for the two subscales. The new subscales showed very good to excellent discriminating ability between healthy persons and the different patient groups (p < 0.001; AUC 0.82-0.95). Furthermore, patients with localized pain had significantly less movement aberrations than the other patient groups. The new Movement domain had fewer items than the GPE-52 and CBE, without losing discriminative validity.

Tunable Magneto-electric Subbands in Oxide Electron Waveguides

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cheng, Guanglei; Annadi, Anil; Lu, Shicheng; Lee, Hyungwoo; Lee, Jungwoo; Eom, Chang-Beom; Huang, Mengchen; Irvin, Patrick; Levy, Jeremy

Strontium titanate-based complex-oxide interfaces hold great promise for exploring new correlated electron physics and applications in quantum technologies. Previous reports show electron mobility can be greatly enhanced in 1D, while the 2D interface can contain 1D channels due to the presence of ferroelastic domains. In addition, carrier density measurements at the 2D interface by Shubnikov-de Haas (SdH) oscillations and Hall effect reveal a large discrepancy. Here we fabricate quasi-1D electron waveguides at the LaAlO3/SrTiO3 (LAO/STO) interface to locally probe the interface. The conductance of the waveguides is fully quantized, and the corresponding magneto-electric subbands can be depopulated by increasing the magnetic field. The 2D carrier densities (1012 cm-2) extracted from magnetic depopulation are consistent with measurements by SdH oscillations at the 2D interface. Our results show that magneto-electric subbands of quasi-1D electron waveguides can reproduce known SdH signatures without discrepancies in electron density, and suggest that 2D SdH measurements may also arise from quasi-1D channels. We gratefully acknowledge financial support from AFOSR (FA9550-12-1- 0057 (JL) and FA9550-12-1-0342 (CBE)), ONR N00014-15-1-2847 (JL), and NSF DMR-1234096 (CBE).

Careers at the Center for the Built Environment

Science.gov Websites

Careers Job Opportunities at CBE Staff Positions We do not currently have any open positions. Student Positions We are not currently accepting applications for student positions except those from current UC

A sensitive and reproducible fluorescent-based HPLC assay to measure the activity of acid as well as neutral beta-glucocerebrosidases.

PubMed

Hayashi, Yasuhiro; Zama, Kouta; Abe, Eriko; Okino, Nozomu; Inoue, Takehiko; Ohno, Kousaku; Ito, Makoto

2008-12-01

The activity of lysosomal acid beta-glucocerebrosidase (AGC, EC 3.2.1.45), which hydrolyzes the O-glycosidic linkage between D-glucose and ceramide of glucosylceramide (GlcCer), is a marker for the diagnosis of Gaucher disease because the disease is caused by dysfunction of AGC due to mutations in the gene. The activity of AGC is potently inhibited by conduritol B epoxide (CBE), whereas CBE-insensitive nonlysosomal neutral beta-glucocerebrosidase (NGC) activities have been found in various vertebrates, including humans. We report here a new reliable method to determine AGC as well as NGC activities using normal-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and NBD (4-nitrobenzo-2-oxa-1,3-diazole)- or BODIPY (4,4-difluoro-4-boro-3a,4a-diaza-s-indacene)-labeled GlcCer as a substrate. The reaction products of the enzymes, C6-NBD-ceramide and C12-BODIPY-ceramide, were clearly separated from the corresponding substrates on a normal-phase column within 5 min using a different solvent system. Reaction products could be detected quantitatively at concentrations ranging from 50 fmol to 50 pmol for C6-NBD-ceramide and from 10 fmol to 5 pmol for C12-BODIPY-ceramide. V(max)/K(m) values of human fibroblast AGC for fluorescent GlcCer were much higher than those for 4-methylumbelliferyl-beta-d-glucoside (4MU-Glc), which is used prevalently for Gaucher disease diagnosis. As a result, AGC activity was detected quantitatively using fluorescent GlcCer, but not 4MU-Glc, using 5 microl of human serum or 1 x 10(4) cultured human fibroblasts. The current method clearly showed the decrease of AGC activities in fibroblasts and serum from the patient with Gaucher disease compared with normal individuals, suggesting that the method is applicable for the diagnosis of Gaucher disease. Furthermore, this method was found to be useful for measuring the activities of nonlysosomal NGC of various cells and tissues in the presence of CBE.

Standardizing assessment practices of undergraduate medical competencies across medical schools: challenges, opportunities and lessons learned from a consortium of medical schools in Uganda.

PubMed

Mubuuke, Aloysius Gonzaga; Mwesigwa, Catherine; Maling, Samuel; Rukundo, Godfrey; Kagawa, Mike; Kitara, David Lagoro; Kiguli, Sarah

2014-01-01

Health professions education is gradually moving away from the more traditional approaches to new innovative ways of training aimed at producing professionals with the necessary competencies to address the community health needs. In response to these emerging trends, Medical Education for Equitable Services to All Ugandans (MESAU), a consortium of Ugandan medical schools developed key competencies desirable of graduates and successfully implemented Competency Based Education (CBE) for undergraduate medical students. To examine the current situation and establish whether assessment methods of the competencies are standardized across MESAU schools as well as establish the challenges, opportunities and lessons learned from the MESAU consortium. It was a cross-sectional descriptive study involving faculty of the medical schools in Uganda. Data was collected using focus group discussions and document reviews. Findings were presented in form of themes. Although the MESAU schools have implemented the developed competencies within their curricular, the assessment methods are still not standardized with each institution having its own assessment procedures. Lack of knowledge and skills regarding assessment of the competencies was evident amongst the faculty. The fear for change amongst lecturers was also noted as a major challenge. However, the institutional collaboration created while developing competencies was identified as key strength. Findings demonstrated that despite having common competencies, there is no standardized assessment blue print applicable to all MESAU schools. Continued collaboration and faculty development in assessment is strongly recommended.

Standardizing assessment practices of undergraduate medical competencies across medical schools: challenges, opportunities and lessons learned from a consortium of medical schools in Uganda

PubMed Central

Mubuuke, Aloysius Gonzaga; Mwesigwa, Catherine; Maling, Samuel; Rukundo, Godfrey; Kagawa, Mike; Kitara, David Lagoro; Kiguli, Sarah

2014-01-01

Introduction Health professions education is gradually moving away from the more traditional approaches to new innovative ways of training aimed at producing professionals with the necessary competencies to address the community health needs. In response to these emerging trends, Medical Education for Equitable Services to All Ugandans (MESAU), a consortium of Ugandan medical schools developed key competencies desirable of graduates and successfully implemented Competency Based Education (CBE) for undergraduate medical students. Objectives To examine the current situation and establish whether assessment methods of the competencies are standardized across MESAU schools as well as establish the challenges, opportunities and lessons learned from the MESAU consortium. Methods It was a cross-sectional descriptive study involving faculty of the medical schools in Uganda. Data was collected using focus group discussions and document reviews. Findings were presented in form of themes. Results Although the MESAU schools have implemented the developed competencies within their curricular, the assessment methods are still not standardized with each institution having its own assessment procedures. Lack of knowledge and skills regarding assessment of the competencies was evident amongst the faculty. The fear for change amongst lecturers was also noted as a major challenge. However, the institutional collaboration created while developing competencies was identified as key strength. Conclusion Findings demonstrated that despite having common competencies, there is no standardized assessment blue print applicable to all MESAU schools. Continued collaboration and faculty development in assessment is strongly recommended. PMID:25995778

The Minorities Affairs Committee of the American Society for Cell Biology-Fostering the Professional Development of Scientists from Underrepresented Minority Backgrounds.

PubMed

Segarra, Verónica A; Carrero-Martínez, Franklin; Shugart, Erika

2017-01-01

As part of its mission, the American Society for Cell Biology (ASCB) works to increase diversity in the scientific workforce, in part through the work of its Minorities Affairs Committee. It is for this reason that the ASCB was happy to welcome the special September 2016 issue of CBE-Life Sciences Education ( LSE ) focused on broadening participation. As a response to this special issue, we update our ASCB community and LSE readership on the society's efforts to broaden participation of underrepresented minorities in the biological sciences. © 2017 V. A. Segarra et al. CBE—Life Sciences Education © 2017 The American Society for Cell Biology. This article is distributed by The American Society for Cell Biology under license from the author(s). It is available to the public under an Attribution–Noncommercial–Share Alike 3.0 Unported Creative Commons License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0).

Coherent backscattering enhancement in cavities. Highlights of the role of symmetry.

PubMed

Gallot, Thomas; Catheline, Stefan; Roux, Philippe

2011-04-01

Through experiments and simulations, the consequences of symmetry on coherent backscattering enhancement (CBE) are studied in cavities. Three main results are highlighted. First, the CBE outside the source is observed: (a) on a single symmetric point in a one-dimensional (1-D) cavity, in a disk and in a symmetric chaotic plate; (b) on three symmetric points in a two-dimensional (2-D) rectangle; and (c) on seven symmetric points in a three-dimensional (3-D) parallelepiped cavity. Second, the existence of enhanced intensity lines and planes in 2-D and 3-D simple-shape cavities is demonstrated. Third, it is shown how the anti-symmetry caused by the special boundary conditions is responsible for the existence of a coherent backscattering decrement with a dimensional dependence of R = (½)(d), with d = 1,2,3 as the dimensionality of the cavity.

Opportunistic Breast Cancer Education and Screening in Rural Honduras

PubMed Central

Kennedy, Linda S.; Bejarano, Suyapa A.; Onega, Tracy L.; Stenquist, Derek S.

2016-01-01

Purpose In Honduras, the breast cancer burden is high, and access to women’s health services is low. This project tested the connection of community-based breast cancer detection with clinical diagnosis and treatment in a tightly linked and quickly facilitated format. Methods The Norris Cotton Cancer Center at Dartmouth College partnered with the Honduran cancer hospital La Liga Contra el Cancer to expand a cervical cancer screening program, which included self-breast exam (SBE) education and clinical breast exams (CBEs), to assess patient attitudes about and uptake of breast cancer education and screening services. The cervical cancer screening event was held in Honduras in 2013; 476 women from 31 villages attended. Results Half of the women attending elected to receive a CBE; most had concerns about lactation. Clinicians referred 12 women with abnormal CBEs to La Liga Contra el Cancer for additional evaluation at no cost. All referred patients were compliant with the recommendation and received follow-up care. One abnormal follow-up mammogram/ultrasound result was negative on biopsy. One woman with an aggressive phyllodes tumor had a mastectomy within 60 days. Multimodal education about breast cancer screening maximized delivery of women’s health services in a low-tech rural setting. Conclusion The addition of opportunistic breast cancer education and screening to a cervical cancer screening event resulted in high uptake of services at low additional cost to program sponsors. Such novel strategies to maximize delivery of women’s health services in low-resource settings, where there is no access to mammography, may result in earlier detection of breast cancer. Close follow-up of positive results with referral to appropriate treatment is essential. PMID:28717699

Breast cancer knowledge, attitudes and screening behaviors among Indian-Australian women.

PubMed

Kwok, C; Tranberg, R; Lee, F C

2015-12-01

The aims of the study were to report breast cancer screening practices among Indian-Australian women and to examine the relationship between demographic characteristics, cultural beliefs and women's breast cancer screening (BCS) behaviors. A descriptive and cross-sectional method was used. Two hundred and forty two Indian-Australian women were recruited from several Indian organizations. English versions of the Breast Cancer Screening Beliefs Questionnaire (BCSBQ) were administered. The main research variables are BCS practices, demographic characteristics and total scores on each of the BCSBQ subscales. The majority of participants (72.7%-81.4%) had heard of breast awareness, clinical breast examination (CBE) and mammograms. Only 28.9% performed a BSE monthly and although 60% had practiced CBE, only 27.3% of women within the targeted age group had annual CBE. Only 23.6% of women within the targeted age group reported they had a mammogram biennial. Marital status and length of stay in Australia were positively associated with women's screening behaviors. In terms of BCSBQ score, women who had the three screening practices regularly as recommended obtained significantly higher scores on the "attitude towards general health check-ups" and "barriers to mammographic screening" subscales. There was a significant difference in the mean score of the "knowledge and perceptions about breast cancer" between women who did and who did not engage in breast awareness. Our study reveals that attitudes toward health check-ups and perceived barriers to mammographic screening were influential in determining compliance with breast cancer screening practices among Indian-Australian women. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Adjustment of Conduction Band Edge of Compact TiO2 Layer in Perovskite Solar Cells Through TiCl4 Treatment.

PubMed

Murakami, Takurou N; Miyadera, Tetsuhiko; Funaki, Takashi; Cojocaru, Ludmila; Kazaoui, Said; Chikamatsu, Masayuki; Segawa, Hiroshi

2017-10-25

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) without a mesoporous TiO 2 layer, that is, planar-type PSCs exhibit poorer cell performance as compared to PSCs with a porous TiO 2 layer, owing to inefficient electron transfer from the perovskite layer to the compact TiO 2 layer in the former case. The matching of the conduction band levels of perovskite and the compact TiO 2 layer is thus essential for enhancing PSC performance. In this study, we demonstrate the shifting of the conduction band edge (CBE) of the compact TiO 2 layer through a TiCl 4 treatment, with the aim of improving PSC performance. The CBE of the compact TiO 2 layer was shifted to a higher level through the TiCl 4 treatment and then shifted in the opposite direction, that is, to a lower level, through a subsequent heat treatment. These shifts in the CBE were reflected in the PSC performance. The TiCl 4 -treated PSC showed an increase in the open-circuit voltage of more than 150 mV, as well as a decrease of 100 mV after being heated at 450 °C. On the other hand, the short-circuit current decreased after the treatment but increased after heating at temperatures higher than 300 °C. The treated PSC subjected to subsequent heating at 300 °C exhibited the best performance, with the power conversion efficiency of the PSC being 17% under optimized conditions.

Microduplications at 22q11.21 are associated with non-syndromic classic bladder exstrophy.

PubMed

Draaken, Markus; Reutter, Heiko; Schramm, Charlotte; Bartels, Enrika; Boemers, Thomas M; Ebert, Anne-Karoline; Rösch, Wolfgang; Schröder, Annette; Stein, Raimund; Moebus, Susanne; Stienen, Dietlinde; Hoffmann, Per; Nöthen, Markus M; Ludwig, Michael

2010-01-01

The exstrophy-epispadias complex (EEC) comprises a spectrum of urogenital anomalies in which part or all of the distal urinary tract fails to close. The present study aimed to identify microaberrations characterized by loss or gain of genomic material that contribute to the EEC at a genome-wide level. Molecular karyotyping, utilizing 549,839 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with an average spacing of 5.7 kilobases, was performed to screen an initial cohort of 16 patients with non-syndromic EEC. A de novo microduplication involving chromosomal region 22q11.21 was identified in one patient with classic exstrophy of the bladder (CBE). Subsequent multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) analysis was performed with an MLPA 22q11 kit in a further 50 non-syndromic EEC cases. We identified one CBE patient with an overlapping 22q11.21 duplication in whom the duplication had been transmitted from the unaffected mother. Chromosomal region 22q11 is well known for its susceptibility to genomic rearrangements, and these are associated with various syndromes including the velo-cardio-facial/DiGeorge syndrome (VCFS/DGS), the der(22) syndrome, and the cat-eye syndrome. Duplications in this region result in a wide and variable spectrum of clinical presentations that include features of the VCFS/DGS, while some carriers present with a completely normal phenotype. Our findings extend the phenotypic spectrum of the 22q11.2 duplication syndrome, and indicate that this aberration predisposes to CBE with incomplete penetrance. Copyright 2009 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Guidelines for breast cancer screening in Lebanon Public Health Communication.

PubMed

Adib, Salim M; El Saghir, Nagi S; Ammar, Walid

2009-01-01

The accumulation of national epidemiological data since the late 1990s has led to the adoption of evidence-based guidelines for breast cancer screening in Lebanon (2006). Almost 50% of breast cancer patients in Lebanon are below the age of 50 years and the age-adjusted incidence rate is estimated at 69 new cases per 100,000 per year (2004). This official notification calls for breast self-examination (BSE) every month starting age 20, and a clinical breast examination (CBE) performed by a physician every three years between the ages of 20 and 40 years. Starting age 40, and for as long as a woman is in good health, an annual CBE and mammography are recommended. Women with known genetic family history of breast cancer should start screening 10 years earlier than the first young patient in the family, or earlier depending on medical advice. The Breast Cancer National Task Force (BCNTF) recommends certification of mammography centers and continued training of personnel to assure high quality mammograms, and to minimize unnecessary investigations and surgeries.It recommends that a national program should record call-backs of women for annual screening and follow-up data on abnormal mammograms. BCNTF encourages the adoption of these guidelines and monitoring of their results, as well as follow-up of breast cancer epidemiology and registry in Lebanon, and scientific progress in early breast cancer detection to determine needs for modifications in the future.

Coherent backscattering effect in spectra of icy satellites and its modeling using multi-sphere T-matrix (MSTM) code for layers of particles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pitman, Karly M.; Kolokolova, Ludmilla; Verbiscer, Anne J.; Mackowski, Daniel W.; Joseph, Emily C. S.

2017-12-01

The coherent backscattering effect (CBE), the constructive interference of light scattering in particulate surfaces (e.g., regolith), manifests as a non-linear increase in reflectance, or opposition surge, and a narrow negative polarization feature at small solar phase angles. Due to a strong dependence of the amplitude and angular width of this opposition surge on the absorptive characteristics of the surface material, CBE also produces phase-angle-dependent variations in the near-infrared spectra. In this paper we present a survey of such variations in the spectra of icy satellites of Saturn obtained by the Cassini spacecraft's Visual and Infrared Mapping Spectrometer (VIMS) and in the ground-based spectra of Oberon, a satellite of Uranus, obtained with TripleSpec, a cross-dispersed near-infrared spectrometer on the Astrophysical Research Consortium 3.5-m telescope located at the Apache Point Observatory near Sunspot, New Mexico. The paper also presents computer modeling of the saturnian satellite spectra and their phase-angle variations using the most recent version of the Multi-Sphere T-Matrix (MSTM) code developed to simulate light scattering by layers of randomly distributed spherical particles. The modeling allowed us not only to reproduce the observed effects but also to estimate characteristics of the icy particles that cover the surfaces of Rhea, Dione, and Tethys.

Costs, effects and cost-effectiveness of breast cancer control in Ghana.

PubMed

Zelle, Sten G; Nyarko, Kofi M; Bosu, William K; Aikins, Moses; Niëns, Laurens M; Lauer, Jeremy A; Sepulveda, Cecilia R; Hontelez, Jan A C; Baltussen, Rob

2012-08-01

Breast cancer control in Ghana is characterised by low awareness, late-stage treatment and poor survival. In settings with severely constrained health resources, there is a need to spend money wisely. To achieve this and to guide policy makers in their selection of interventions, this study systematically compares costs and effects of breast cancer control interventions in Ghana. We used a mathematical model to estimate costs and health effects of breast cancer interventions in Ghana from the healthcare perspective. Analyses were based on the WHO-CHOICE method, with health effects expressed in disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), costs in 2009 US dollars (US$) and cost-effectiveness ratios (CERs) in US$ per DALY averted. Analyses were based on local demographic, epidemiological and economic data, to the extent these data were available. Biennial screening by clinical breast examination (CBE) of women aged 40-69 years, in combination with treatment of all stages, seems the most cost-effective intervention (costing $1299 per DALY averted). The intervention is also economically attractive according to international standards on cost-effectiveness. Mass media awareness raising (MAR) is the second best option (costing $1364 per DALY averted). Mammography screening of women of aged 40-69 years (costing $12,908 per DALY averted) cannot be considered cost-effective. Both CBE screening and MAR seem economically attractive interventions. Given the uncertainty about the effectiveness of these interventions, only their phased introduction, carefully monitored and evaluated, is warranted. Moreover, their implementation is only meaningful if the capacity of basic cancer diagnostic, referral and treatment and possibly palliative services is simultaneously improved. © 2012 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

First Evaluation of the Biologic Effectiveness Factors of Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) in a Human Colon Carcinoma Cell Line

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Dagrosa, Maria Alejandra, E-mail: dagrosa@cnea.gov.a; National Research Council; Crivello, Martin

2011-01-01

Purpose: DNA lesions produced by boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) and those produced by gamma radiation in a colon carcinoma cell line were analyzed. We have also derived the relative biologic effectiveness factor (RBE) of the neutron beam of the RA-3- Argentine nuclear reactor, and the compound biologic effectiveness (CBE) values for p-boronophenylalanine ({sup 10}BPA) and for 2,4-bis ({alpha},{beta}-dihydroxyethyl)-deutero-porphyrin IX ({sup 10}BOPP). Methods and Materials: Exponentially growing human colon carcinoma cells (ARO81-1) were distributed into the following groups: (1) BPA (10 ppm {sup 10}B) + neutrons, (2) BOPP (10 ppm {sup 10}B) + neutrons, (3) neutrons alone, and (4) gammamore » rays ({sup 60}Co source at 1 Gy/min dose-rate). Different irradiation times were used to obtain total absorbed doses between 0.3 and 5 Gy ({+-}10%) (thermal neutrons flux = 7.5 10{sup 9} n/cm{sup 2} sec). Results: The frequency of micronucleated binucleated cells and the number of micronuclei per micronucleated binucleated cells showed a dose-dependent increase until approximately 2 Gy. The response to gamma rays was significantly lower than the response to the other treatments (p < 0.05). The irradiations with neutrons alone and neutrons + BOPP showed curves that did not differ significantly from, and showed less DNA damage than, irradiation with neutrons + BPA. A decrease in the surviving fraction measured by 3-(4,5-dimetiltiazol-2-il)-2,5-difeniltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay as a function of the absorbed dose was observed for all the treatments. The RBE and CBE factors calculated from cytokinesis block micronucleus (CBMN) and MTT assays were, respectively, the following: beam RBE: 4.4 {+-} 1.1 and 2.4 {+-} 0.6; CBE for BOPP: 8.0 {+-} 2.2 and 2.0 {+-} 1; CBE for BPA: 19.6 {+-} 3.7 and 3.5 {+-} 1.3. Conclusions: BNCT and gamma irradiations showed different genotoxic patterns. To our knowledge, these values represent the first experimental ones obtained for the RA-3 in a biologic model and could be useful for future experimental studies for the application of BNCT to colon carcinoma.« less

Rater cognition: review and integration of research findings.

PubMed

Gauthier, Geneviève; St-Onge, Christina; Tavares, Walter

2016-05-01

Given the complexity of competency frameworks, associated skills and abilities, and contexts in which they are to be assessed in competency-based education (CBE), there is an increased reliance on rater judgements when considering trainee performance. This increased dependence on rater-based assessment has led to the emergence of rater cognition as a field of research in health professions education. The topic, however, is often conceptualised and ultimately investigated using many different perspectives and theoretical frameworks. Critically analysing how researchers think about, study and discuss rater cognition or the judgement processes in assessment frameworks may provide meaningful and efficient directions in how the field continues to explore the topic. We conducted a critical and integrative review of the literature to explore common conceptualisations and unified terminology associated with rater cognition research. We identified 1045 articles on rater-based assessment in health professions education using Scorpus, Medline and ERIC and 78 articles were included in our review. We propose a three-phase framework of observation, processing and integration. We situate nine specific mechanisms and sub-mechanisms described across the literature within these phases: (i) generating automatic impressions about the person; (ii) formulating high-level inferences; (iii) focusing on different dimensions of competencies; (iv) categorising through well-developed schemata based on (a) personal concept of competence, (b) comparison with various exemplars and (c) task and context specificity; (v) weighting and synthesising information differently, (vi) producing narrative judgements; and (vii) translating narrative judgements into scales. Our review has allowed us to identify common underlying conceptualisations of observed rater mechanisms and subsequently propose a comprehensive, although complex, framework for the dynamic and contextual nature of the rating process. This framework could help bridge the gap between researchers adopting different perspectives when studying rater cognition and enable the interpretation of contradictory findings of raters' performance by determining which mechanism is enabled or disabled in any given context. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Improved sensing using simultaneous deep-UV Raman and fluorescence detection-II

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hug, W. F.; Bhartia, R.; Sijapati, K.; Beegle, L. W.; Reid, R. D.

2014-05-01

Photon Systems in collaboration with JPL is continuing development of a new technology robot-mounted or hand-held sensor for reagentless, short-range, standoff detection and identification of trace levels chemical, biological, and explosive (CBE) materials on surfaces. This deep ultraviolet CBE sensor is the result of Army STTR and DTRA programs. The evolving 10 to 15 lb, 20 W, sensor can discriminate CBE from background clutter materials using a fusion of deep UV excited resonance Raman (RR) and laser induced native fluorescence (LINF) emissions collected is less than 1 ms. RR is a method that provides information about molecular bonds, while LINF spectroscopy is a much more sensitive method that provides information regarding the electronic configuration of target molecules. Standoff excitation of suspicious packages, vehicles, persons, and other objects that may contain hazardous materials is accomplished using excitation in the deep UV where there are four main advantages compared to near-UV, visible or near-IR counterparts. 1) Excited between 220 and 250 nm, Raman emission occur within a fluorescence-free region of the spectrum, eliminating obscuration of weak Raman signals by fluorescence from target or surrounding materials. 2) Because Raman and fluorescence occupy separate spectral regions, detection can be done simultaneously, providing an orthogonal set of information to improve both sensitivity and lower false alarm rates. 3) Rayleigh law and resonance effects increase Raman signal strength and sensitivity of detection. 4) Penetration depth into target in the deep UV is short, providing spatial/spectral separation of a target material from its background or substrate. 5) Detection in the deep UV eliminates ambient light background and enable daylight detection.

Avoidance behaviour response and esterase inhibition in the earthworm, Lumbricus terrestris, after exposure to chlorpyrifos.

PubMed

Martínez Morcillo, S; Yela, J L; Capowiez, Y; Mazzia, C; Rault, M; Sanchez-Hernandez, Juan C

2013-05-01

The avoidance response of earthworms to polluted soils has been standardised using a simple and low-cost test, which facilitates soil toxicity screening. In this study, the avoidance response of Lumbricus terrestris was quantified in chlorpyrifos-spiked soils, depending on the pesticide concentration and exposure duration. The inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and carboxylesterase (CbE) activities was also determined as indirect measures of pesticide bioavailability. The effects of different chlorpyrifos concentrations were examined in a standardised test (two-chamber system) with 0.6, 3 and 15 mg/kg chlorpyrifos. A modification of the test involved a pre-exposure step (24, 48 or 72 h) in soils spiked with 15 mg/kg. In both protocols, earthworms were unable to avoid the contaminated soils. However, the esterase activities showed that all earthworms were exposed to chlorpyrifos. Acetylcholinesterase activity did not change in earthworms in the standardised behavioural test (0.58 ± 0.20 U/mg protein, mean ± SD; n = 72), whereas the CbE activity was significantly inhibited (62-87 % inhibition) in earthworms exposed to 3 and 15 mg/kg. In the modified test, earthworms had greatly inhibited AChE activity (0.088 ± 0.034 U/mg protein, n = 72), which was supported by reactivation of the inhibited enzyme activity in the presence of pralidoxime (2-PAM). Similarly, the CbE activity was significantly inhibited in earthworms with all treatments. This study suggests that the avoidance behaviour test for organophosphorus-contaminated soils could be supported by specific biomarkers to facilitate a better understanding of pesticide exposure and toxicity during this test.

Urogynaecological and obstetric issues in women with the exstrophy-epispadias complex.

PubMed

Mathews, R I; Gan, M; Gearhart, J P

2003-06-01

To review of the sexual and urogynaecological issues faced by a large cohort of women with the exstrophy-epispadias complex (EEC). The study comprised 83 women and girls with EEC; a confidential survey was mailed to identify their social and sexual concerns. Fifty-six women had classical bladder exstrophy (CBE), 13 had female epispadias (FE) and 14 had cloacal exstrophy (CE). Data on the initial method of reconstruction and urogynaecological problems were obtained from a review of the hospital records. Information on continence, infection and sexual function was obtained from 34 completed surveys. The bladder was closed in 51 patients with CBE and 13 with CE. Urinary calculi developed in 10 patients with CBE, two with FE and three with CE. Vaginal and uterine prolapse occurred an earlier age in patients with EEC. Eight women had 13 pregnancies, eight of which resulted in normal healthy children. Overall continence was achieved in 85% of the women surveyed. Urinary tract infections remained a frequent problem for women with EEC; only 27% of respondents indicated that they were infection-free. Women aged > 18 years (24) who responded indicated that they had appropriate sexual desire; 16 were sexually active and the mean age for commencing sexual activity was 19.9 years. Six patients had dyspareunia and 10 indicated that they had orgasms. However, five additional patients indicated that they had restricted intercourse, as they were dissatisfied with the cosmesis of their external genitalia. Sexual and gynaecological issues become increasingly important in patients with EEC as they become adults. Understanding these issues faced by patients with EEC as they mature will permit better counselling of future patients.

Utilization of breast cancer screening methods in a developing nation: results from a nationally representative sample of Malaysian households.

PubMed

Dunn, Richard A; Tan, Andrew K G

2011-01-01

As is the case in many developing nations, previous studies of breast cancer screening behavior in Malaysia have used relatively small samples that are not nationally representative, thereby limiting the generalizability of results. Therefore, this study uses nationally representative data from the Malaysia Non-Communicable Disease Surveillance-1 to investigate the role of socio-economic status on breast cancer screening behavior in Malaysia, particularly differences in screening behaviour between ethnic groups. The decisions of 816 women above age 40 in Malaysia to screen for breast cancer using mammography, clinical breast exams (CBE), and breast self-exams (BSE) are modeled using logistic regression. Results indicate that after adjusting for differences in age, education, household income, marital status, and residential location, Malay women are less likely than Chinese and Indian women to utilize mammography, but more likely to perform BSE. Education level and urban residence are positively associated with utilization of each method, but these relationships vary across ethnicity. Higher education levels are strongly related to using each screening method among Chinese women, but have no statistically significant relationship to screening among Malays. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

People Interview: Black-tie science gets modern

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

2009-03-01

INTERVIEW Black-tie science gets modern Baroness Susan Greenfield CBE is director of the Royal Institution and professor of pharmacology at Oxford where she heads a multidisciplinary group studying neurodegenerative disorders. David Smith speaks to her about specialities, keeping busy and how science is changing.

Is there a propeller neutron star in γ Cas?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Smith, M. A.; Lopes de Oliveira, R.; Motch, C.

2017-08-01

γ Cas is the prototype of a small population of B0-B1.5 III-V classical Be (cBe) stars that emit anomalous and hard X-rays with a unique array of properties. γ Cas is known to host, like other cBe stars, a decretion disc and also a low-mass companion. Recently, Postnov et al. have posited that this companion is a magnetized rapidly spinning neutron star that deflects direct gravitational accretion from a stellar/disc wind via the 'propeller mechanism'. These authors state that the key X-ray observations are 'remarkably well produced' in this scenario. We re-examine this mechanism in detail and conclude that there are a number of fatal objections in its application to the γ Cas case. Among other considerations these issues include the prediction under the propeller scenario of a much smaller population of γ Cas stars than is observed and the lack of allowance for observed correlations of X-ray and UV and/or optical properties over a variety of time-scales.

Aharanov-Bohm quantum interference in a reconfigurable electron system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Irvin, P.; Lu, S.; Annadi, A.; Cheng, G.; Tomczyk, M.; Huang, M.; Levy, J.; Lee, J.-W.; Lee, H.; Eom, C.-B.

Aharanov-Bohm (AB) interference can arise in transport experiments when magnetic flux threads through two or more transport channels. The existence of this behavior requires long-range ballistic transport and is typically observed only in exceptionally clean materials. We observe AB interference in wide (w 100 nm) channels created at the LaAlO3/SrTiO3 interface using conductive AFM lithography. Interference occurs above a critical field B 4 T and increases in magnitude with increasing magnetic field. The period of oscillation implies a ballistic length that greatly exceeds the micron-scale length of the channel, consistent with Fabry-Perot interference in 1D channels. The conditions under which AB oscillations are observed will be discussed in the context of the electron pairing mechanism in LaAlO3/SrTiO3. We gratefully acknowledge financial support from AFOSR FA9550-12-1-0342 (CBE), NSF DMR-1234096 (CBE), and ONR N00014-15-1-2847 (JL).

CBE Worplace Performance Webinar Series

Science.gov Websites

Speech Privacy Task Ambient Conditioning Team Space Design Study Thermal Comfort Automotive Research , Design and Evaluation Theory, tools and strategies to help professionals create and support successful Design With Science View slide presentation (PDF) Janice Barnes, PhD, LEED AP, Principal and Global

Bipolar Cascade Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Lasers for RF Photonic Link Applications

DTIC Science & Technology

2007-09-01

6 IV Current versus Voltage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 MBE Molecular Beam Epitaxy ...of carrying maximum photocur- rent. Numerous material parameters have been studied. Growth parameters for molecular beam epitaxy (MBE), metal-organic...12 MOCVD Metal-Organic Chemical Vapor Deposition . . . . . . . . . . 12 CBE Chemical Beam Epitaxy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 LPE

Brief Report: Group Social-Multimodal Intervention for HFASD

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bauminger, Nirit

2007-01-01

Current study is the second part of a 2-year cognitive-behavioral-ecological (CB-E) intervention for high-functioning (HF) children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). We examined the utility of a group-centered intervention on children's ability to interact cooperatively with peers during structured and non-structured social situations. Direct…

Predicting performance using background characteristics of international medical graduates in an inner-city university-affiliated Internal Medicine residency training program.

PubMed

Kanna, Balavenkatesh; Gu, Ying; Akhuetie, Jane; Dimitrov, Vihren

2009-07-13

IMGs constitute about a third of the United States (US) internal medicine graduates. US residency training programs face challenges in selection of IMGs with varied background features. However data on this topic is limited. We analyzed whether any pre-selection characteristics of IMG residents in our internal medicine program are associated with selected outcomes, namely competency based evaluation, examination performance and success in acquiring fellowship positions after graduation. We conducted a retrospective study of 51 IMGs at our ACGME accredited teaching institution between 2004 and 2007. Background resident features namely age, gender, self-reported ethnicity, time between medical school graduation to residency (pre-hire time), USMLE step I & II clinical skills scores, pre-GME clinical experience, US externship and interest in pursuing fellowship after graduation expressed in their personal statements were noted. Data on competency-based evaluations, in-service exam scores, research presentation and publications, fellowship pursuance were collected. There were no fellowships offered in our hospital in this study period. Background features were compared between resident groups according to following outcomes: (a) annual aggregate graduate PGY-level specific competency-based evaluation (CBE) score above versus below the median score within our program (scoring scale of 1 - 10), (b) US graduate PGY-level specific resident in-training exam (ITE) score higher versus lower than the median score, and (c) those who succeeded to secure a fellowship within the study period. Using appropriate statistical tests & adjusted regression analysis, odds ratio with 95% confidence intervals were calculated. 94% of the study sample were IMGs; median age was 35 years (Inter-Quartile range 25th - 75th percentile (IQR): 33-37 years); 43% women and 59% were Asian physicians. The median pre-hire time was 5 years (IQR: 4-7 years) and USMLE step I & step II clinical skills scores were 85 (IQR: 80-88) & 82 (IQR: 79-87) respectively. The median aggregate CBE scores during training were: PG1 5.8 (IQR: 5.6-6.3); PG2 6.3 (IQR 6-6.8) & PG3 6.7 (IQR: 6.7 - 7.1). 25% of our residents scored consistently above US national median ITE scores in all 3 years of training and 16% pursued a fellowship.Younger residents had higher aggregate annual CBE score than the program median (p < 0.05). Higher USMLE scores were associated with higher than US median ITE scores, reflecting exam-taking skills. Success in acquiring a fellowship was associated with consistent fellowship interest (p < 0.05) and research publications or presentations (p <0.05). None of the other characteristics including visa status were associated with the outcomes. Background IMG features namely, age and USMLE scores predict performance evaluation and in-training examination scores during residency training. In addition enhanced research activities during residency training could facilitate fellowship goals among interested IMGs.

Predicting performance using background characteristics of international medical graduates in an inner-city university-affiliated Internal Medicine residency training program

PubMed Central

Kanna, Balavenkatesh; Gu, Ying; Akhuetie, Jane; Dimitrov, Vihren

2009-01-01

Background IMGs constitute about a third of the United States (US) internal medicine graduates. US residency training programs face challenges in selection of IMGs with varied background features. However data on this topic is limited. We analyzed whether any pre-selection characteristics of IMG residents in our internal medicine program are associated with selected outcomes, namely competency based evaluation, examination performance and success in acquiring fellowship positions after graduation. Methods We conducted a retrospective study of 51 IMGs at our ACGME accredited teaching institution between 2004 and 2007. Background resident features namely age, gender, self-reported ethnicity, time between medical school graduation to residency (pre-hire time), USMLE step I & II clinical skills scores, pre-GME clinical experience, US externship and interest in pursuing fellowship after graduation expressed in their personal statements were noted. Data on competency-based evaluations, in-service exam scores, research presentation and publications, fellowship pursuance were collected. There were no fellowships offered in our hospital in this study period. Background features were compared between resident groups according to following outcomes: (a) annual aggregate graduate PGY-level specific competency-based evaluation (CBE) score above versus below the median score within our program (scoring scale of 1 – 10), (b) US graduate PGY-level specific resident in-training exam (ITE) score higher versus lower than the median score, and (c) those who succeeded to secure a fellowship within the study period. Using appropriate statistical tests & adjusted regression analysis, odds ratio with 95% confidence intervals were calculated. Results 94% of the study sample were IMGs; median age was 35 years (Inter-Quartile range 25th – 75th percentile (IQR): 33–37 years); 43% women and 59% were Asian physicians. The median pre-hire time was 5 years (IQR: 4–7 years) and USMLE step I & step II clinical skills scores were 85 (IQR: 80–88) & 82 (IQR: 79–87) respectively. The median aggregate CBE scores during training were: PG1 5.8 (IQR: 5.6–6.3); PG2 6.3 (IQR 6–6.8) & PG3 6.7 (IQR: 6.7 – 7.1). 25% of our residents scored consistently above US national median ITE scores in all 3 years of training and 16% pursued a fellowship. Younger residents had higher aggregate annual CBE score than the program median (p < 0.05). Higher USMLE scores were associated with higher than US median ITE scores, reflecting exam-taking skills. Success in acquiring a fellowship was associated with consistent fellowship interest (p < 0.05) and research publications or presentations (p <0.05). None of the other characteristics including visa status were associated with the outcomes. Conclusion Background IMG features namely, age and USMLE scores predict performance evaluation and in-training examination scores during residency training. In addition enhanced research activities during residency training could facilitate fellowship goals among interested IMGs. PMID:19594918

Electronic Reverse Auctions in the Federal Government

DTIC Science & Technology

2007-12-01

William R. Gates _____________________________________ Peter J. Coughlan _____________________________________ Robert N. Beck ...AND ACRONYMS BAA Buy American Act BPA Blanket Purchase Agreement CBE Competitive Bidding Event CCR Central Contractor Registration CECOM...BUY AMERICAN ACT Even if a buyer employs e-RAs to determine the price of an item, the regulations such as the Buy American Act ( BAA ) still apply

Transient surface states during the CBE growth of GaAs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Farrell, T.; Hill, D.; Joyce, T. B.; Bullough, T. J.; Weightman, P.

1997-05-01

We report the occurrence of a transient surface state during the initial stages of CBE GaAs(0 0 1) growth. The state was detected in real-time reflectance ( R) and reflectance anisotropy spectroscopy (RAS) growth monitoring. At low growth rates, less than 1 μm/h, beam equivalent pressure (BEP) of triethylgallium (TEG) < 2.5 × 10 -5 mbar there was no change in R and the RAS signal changed from its pre-growth value under arsenic stabilisation at the growth temperature to its "during growth" value upon admission of the TEG, with the familiar monolayer oscillations. At higher TEG BEPs there was a rapid increase in R at all monitoring wavelengths, followed by a monotonic decay to its pre-growth value. This transient increase in R was accompanied by a change in the RAS signal, the magnitude and sign of which varied with wavelength. The initial increase in R is shown to be associated with the development of a metallic-like surface whereas the changes in the RAS signal are consistent with the formation of Ga dimers.

Nitrogen-Induced Perturbation of the Valence Band States in GaP1-xNx Alloys

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Dudiy, S. V.; Zunger, A.; Felici, M.

2006-01-01

The effects of diluted nitrogen impurities on the valence- and conduction-band states of GaP{sub 1-x}N{sub x} have been predicted and measured experimentally. The calculation uses state-of-the-art atomistic modeling: we use large supercells with screened pseudopotentials and consider several random realizations of the nitrogen configurations. These calculations agree with photoluminescence excitation (PLE) measurements performed for nitrogen concentrations x up to 0.035 and photon energies up to 1 eV above the GaP optical-absorption edge, as well as with published ellipsometry data. In particular, a predicted nitrogen-induced buildup of the L character near the valence- and conduction-band edges accounts for the surprising broad-absorptionmore » plateau observed in PLE between the X{sub 1c} and the {Lambda}{sub 1c} critical points of GaP. Moreover, theory accounts quantitatively for the downward bowing of the indirect conduction-band edge and for the upward bowing of the direct transition with increasing nitrogen concentration. We review some of the controversies in the literature regarding the shifts in the conduction band with composition, and conclude that measured results at ultralow N concentration cannot be used to judge behavior at a higher concentration. In particular, we find that at the high concentrations of nitrogen studied here ({approx}1%) the conduction-band edge (CBE) is a hybridized state made from the original GaP X{sub 1c} band-edge state plus all cluster states. In this limit, the CBE plunges down in energy as the N concentration increases, in quantitative agreement with the measurements reported here. However, at ultralow nitrogen concentrations (<0.1%), the CBE is the nearly unperturbed host X{sub 1c}, which does not sense the nitrogen cluster levels. Thus, this state does not move energetically as nitrogen is added and stays pinned in energy, in agreement with experimental results.« less

78 FR 67985 - Supplemental Applications Proposing Labeling Changes for Approved Drugs and Biological Products

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-11-13

... reference listed drug (RLD) upon submission to FDA of a ``changes being effected'' (CBE-0) supplement. The.... Effective Date VIII. Federalism IX. Request for Comments X. References Executive Summary Purpose of the.... Costs and Benefits The economic benefits to the public health from adoption of the proposed rule are not...

Field Research in the Teaching of Undergraduate Soil Science

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brevik, Eric C.; Senturklu, Songul; Landblom, Douglas

2015-04-01

Several studies have demonstrated that undergraduate students benefit from research experiences. Benefits of undergraduate research include 1) personal and intellectual development, 2) more and closer contact with faculty, 3) the use of active learning techniques, 4) creation of high expectations, 5) development of creative and problem-solving skills, 6) greater independence and intrinsic motivation to learn, and 7) exposure to practical skills. The scientific discipline also benefits, as studies have shown that undergraduates who engage in research experiences are more likely to remain science majors and finish their degree program (Lopatto, 2007). Research experiences come as close as possible to allowing undergraduates to experience what it is like to be an academic or research member of their profession working to advance their discipline. Soils form in the field, therefore, field experiences are very important in developing a complete and holistic understanding of soil science. Combining undergraduate research with field experiences can provide extremely beneficial outcomes to the undergraduate student, including increased understanding of and appreciation for detailed descriptions and data analysis as well as an enhanced ability to see how various parts of their undergraduate education come together to understand a complex problem. The experiences of the authors in working with undergraduate students on field-based research projects will be discussed, along with examples of some of the undergraduate research projects that have been undertaken. In addition, student impressions of their research experiences will be presented. Reference Lopatto, D. 2007. Undergraduate research experiences support science career decisions and active learning. CBE -- Life Sciences Education 6:297-306.

pH-Switchable Interaction of a Carboxybetaine Ester-Based SAM with DNA and Gold Nanoparticles.

PubMed

Filip, Jaroslav; Popelka, Anton; Bertok, Tomas; Holazova, Alena; Osicka, Josef; Kollar, Jozef; Ilcikova, Marketa; Tkac, Jan; Kasak, Peter

2017-07-11

We describe a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) on a gold surface with a carboxybetaine ester functionality to control the interaction between DNA and gold nanoparticles via pH. The negatively charged phosphate backbone of DNA interacts with and adsorbs to the positively charged carboxybetaine esters on the SAM. DNA release can be achieved by the hydrolysis of carboxybetaine ester (CBE) to a zwitterionic carboxybetaine state. Furthermore, the adsorption of negatively charged citrate-capped gold nanoparticles to a SAM-modified plain gold surface can be controlled by the pH. The SAM based on carboxybetaine ester allows for the homogeneous adsorption of particles, whereas the SAM after hydrolysis at high pH repels AuNP adsorption. The antifouling surface properties of the surface modified with carboxybetaine were investigated with protein samples.

Learning French as a Second Official Language in Canada: Comparing Monolingual and Bilingual Students at Grade 6

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mady, Callie

2014-01-01

This paper presents the results of a study that compared the French as a second official achievement of three groups of students: (1) Canadian-born English speaking (CBE), (2) Canadian-born multilingual (CBM), and (3) immigrant multilinguals (IMM) as determined by multiskills test results. ANOVAs and subsequent post hoc tests revealed that the…

Sir John and Lady Rita Cornforth: a distinguished chemical partnership.

PubMed

Purchase, Rupert; Hanson, James R

2015-01-01

This review describes the life of Sir John Cornforth AC CBE FRS, who was awarded the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 1975. It covers his early life in Australia, his work in Oxford, the National Institute for Medical Research, the Milstead Laboratory of Chemical Enzymology and the University of Sussex, together with the contributions made by his wife, Lady Rita Cornforth.

Tactile Imaging of an Imbedded Palpable Structure for Breast Cancer Screening

PubMed Central

2015-01-01

Apart from texture, the human finger can sense palpation. The detection of an imbedded structure is a fine balance between the relative stiffness of the matrix, the object, and the device. If the device is too soft, its high responsiveness will limit the depth to which the imbedded structure can be detected. The sensation of palpation is an effective procedure for a physician to examine irregularities. In a clinical breast examination (CBE), by pressing over 1 cm2 area, at a contact pressure in the 70–90 kPa range, the physician feels cancerous lumps that are 8- to 18-fold stiffer than surrounding tissue. Early detection of a lump in the 5–10 mm range leads to an excellent prognosis. We describe a thin-film tactile device that emulates human touch to quantify CBE by imaging the size and shape of 5–10 mm objects at 20 mm depth in a breast model using ∼80 kPa pressure. The linear response of the device allows quantification where the greyscale corresponds to the relative local stiffness. The (background) signal from <2.5-fold stiffer objects at a size below 2 mm is minimal. PMID:25148477

1D quantum simulation using a solid state platform

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kirkendall, Megan; Irvin, Patrick; Huang, Mengchen; Levy, Jeremy; Lee, Hyungwoo; Eom, Chang-Beom

Understanding the properties of large quantum systems can be challenging both theoretically and numerically. One experimental approach-quantum simulation-involves mapping a quantum system of interest onto a physical system that is programmable and experimentally accessible. A tremendous amount of work has been performed with quantum simulators formed from optical lattices; by contrast, solid-state platforms have had only limited success. Our experimental approach to quantum simulation takes advantage of nanoscale control of a metal-insulator transition at the interface between two insulating complex oxide materials. This system naturally exhibits a wide variety of ground states (e.g., ferromagnetic, superconducting) and can be configured into a variety of complex geometries. We will describe initial experiments that explore the magnetotransport properties of one-dimensional superlattices with spatial periods as small as 4 nm, comparable to the Fermi wavelength. The results demonstrate the potential of this solid-state quantum simulation approach, and also provide empirical constraints for physical models that describe the underlying oxide material properties. We gratefully acknowledge financial support from AFOSR (FA9550-12-1- 0057 (JL), FA9550-10-1-0524 (JL) and FA9550-12-1-0342 (CBE)), ONR N00014-15-1-2847 (JL), and NSF DMR-1234096 (CBE).

Pascal Liquid Phase in Electronic Waveguides

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tomczyk, M.; Briggeman, M.; Tylan-Tyler, A.; Huang, M.; Tian, B.; Pekker, D.; Lee, J.-W.; Lee, H.; Eom, C.-B.; Levy, J.

Clean one-dimensional electron transport has been observed in very few material systems. The development of exceptionally clean electron waveguides formed at the interface between complex oxides LaAlO3 and SrTiO3 enables low-dimensional transport to be explored with newfound flexibility. This material system not only supports ballistic 1D transport, but possesses a rich phase diagram and strong attractive electron-electron interactions which are not present in other solid-state systems. Here we report an unusual phenomenon in which quantized conductance increases by steps that themselves increase sequentially in multiples of e2 / h . The overall conductance exhibits a Pascal-like sequence: 1, 3, 6, 10... e2 / h , which we ascribe to ballistic transport of 1, 2, 3, 4 ... bunches of electrons. We will discuss how subband degeneracies can occur in non-interacting models that have carefully tuned parameters. Strong attractive interactions are required, however, for these subbands to lock together. This Pascal liquid phase provides a striking example of the consequences of strong attractive interactions in low-dimensional environments. We gratefully acknowledge financial support from AFOSR (FA9550-12-1- 0057 (JL) and FA9550-12-1-0342 (CBE)), ONR N00014-15-1-2847 (JL), and NSF DMR-1234096 (CBE).

Investigating Autism-Related Symptoms in Children with Prader-Willi Syndrome: A Case Study

PubMed Central

Bennett, Jeffrey A.; Hodgetts, Sandra; Mackenzie, Michelle L.; Haqq, Andrea M.; Zwaigenbaum, Lonnie

2017-01-01

Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS), a rare genetic disorder caused by the lack of expression of paternal genes from chromosome 15q11-13, has been investigated for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) symptomatology in various studies. However, previous findings have been variable, and no studies investigating ASD symptomatology in PWS have exclusively studied children. We aimed to characterize social communication functioning and other ASD-related symptoms in children with PWS, and assessed agreement across measures and rates of ASD diagnosis. Measures included the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule-2 (ADOS-2), the Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ), Social Responsiveness Scale-2 (SRS-2), Social Skills Improvement System-Rating Scales (SSIS-RS), and the Vineland Adaptive Behavioral Scales-II (VABS-II). General adaptive and intellectual skills were also assessed. Clinical best estimate (CBE) diagnosis was determined by an experienced developmental pediatrician, based on history and review of all available study measures, and taking into account overall developmental level. Participants included 10 children with PWS, aged 3 to 12 years. Three of the 10 children were male and genetic subtypes were two deletion (DEL) and eight uniparental disomy (UPD) (with a total of 6 female UPD cases). Although 8 of the 10 children exceeded cut-offs on at least one of the ASD assessments, agreement between parent questionnaires (SCQ, SRS-2, SSIS-RS) and observational assessment (ADOS-2) was very poor. None of the children were assigned a CBE diagnosis of ASD, with the caveat that the risk may have been lower because of the predominance of girls in the sample. The lack of agreement between the assessments emphasizes the complexity of interpreting ASD symptom measures in children with PWS. PMID:28264487

Investigating Autism-Related Symptoms in Children with Prader-Willi Syndrome: A Case Study.

PubMed

Bennett, Jeffrey A; Hodgetts, Sandra; Mackenzie, Michelle L; Haqq, Andrea M; Zwaigenbaum, Lonnie

2017-02-28

Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS), a rare genetic disorder caused by the lack of expression of paternal genes from chromosome 15q11-13, has been investigated for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) symptomatology in various studies. However, previous findings have been variable, and no studies investigating ASD symptomatology in PWS have exclusively studied children. We aimed to characterize social communication functioning and other ASD-related symptoms in children with PWS, and assessed agreement across measures and rates of ASD diagnosis. Measures included the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule-2 (ADOS-2), the Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ), Social Responsiveness Scale-2 (SRS-2), Social Skills Improvement System-Rating Scales (SSIS-RS), and the Vineland Adaptive Behavioral Scales-II (VABS-II). General adaptive and intellectual skills were also assessed. Clinical best estimate (CBE) diagnosis was determined by an experienced developmental pediatrician, based on history and review of all available study measures, and taking into account overall developmental level. Participants included 10 children with PWS, aged 3 to 12 years. Three of the 10 children were male and genetic subtypes were two deletion (DEL) and eight uniparental disomy (UPD) (with a total of 6 female UPD cases). Although 8 of the 10 children exceeded cut-offs on at least one of the ASD assessments, agreement between parent questionnaires (SCQ, SRS-2, SSIS-RS) and observational assessment (ADOS-2) was very poor. None of the children were assigned a CBE diagnosis of ASD, with the caveat that the risk may have been lower because of the predominance of girls in the sample. The lack of agreement between the assessments emphasizes the complexity of interpreting ASD symptom measures in children with PWS.

Reactions of Methamidophos with Mammalian Cholinesterase,

DTIC Science & Technology

1978-07-01

dynamics of its reactions with insmvnstlian cholinesterase (CbE), Methamidophos is highly toxic to the cosmon housefly , Muaca domestics L., exhibiting a...between two properties which tend to oppose each other. It does not react rapidly with housefly —head ChE. However , the enzyme—inhibitor complex...toxicity of methamidophos to female houseflies was reported (Quistad et al., 1970) to be approximately the same as that of other potent

Esterases activity in the axolotl Ambystoma mexicanum exposed to chlorpyrifos and its implication to motor activity.

PubMed

Robles-Mendoza, Cecilia; Zúñiga-Lagunes, Sebastian R; Ponce de León-Hill, Claudia A; Hernández-Soto, Jesús; Vanegas-Pérez, Cecilia

2011-10-01

The axolotl Ambystoma mexicanum is a neotenic salamander considered a good biological model due to its ability to regenerate limbs, tail, brain and heart cells. Nevertheless, severe reduction of A. mexicanum wild populations in the lacustrine area of Xochimilco, the natural habitat of the axolotl, could be related to several environmental pressures as the presence of organophosphate pesticides (OPPs), intensively applied in agricultural activities in Xochimilco. Thus the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of environmentally realistic chlorpyrifos (CPF) concentrations, a OPP commonly used in this zone, on esterases activity (acetylcholinesterase and carboxylesterase) and bioconcentration of CPF and to relate them with the motor activity of A. mexicanum juveniles. Axolotls were exposed 48 h to 0.05 and 0.1mg CPF/L, and the responses were evaluated at the end of the CPF exposure. Results suggest that CPF is bioconcentrated into axolotls and that the CPF internal concentrations are related with the observed inhibition activity of AChE (>50%) and CbE (≈ 50%). CPF concentration responsible of the inhibition of the 50% of AChE activity (IC50) was estimated in 0.04 mg CPF/L; however IC50 for CbE activity was not possible to calculate since inhibition levels were lower than 50%, results that suggest a higher resistance of CbE enzymatic activity to CPF. However, motor activity was a more sensitive endpoint to CPF poisoning since time that axolotls spent active and walking, frequency and speed of swimming, frequency of prey attack were reduced >90% of control groups. The motor activity alterations in the axolotl could be related with the registered esterases inhibition. Thus important alterations on axolotls were identified even at short time and low concentrations of CPF exposure. Also, it was possible to link biochemical responses as esterases activity with higher levels of biological organization as behavior. This study provides tools for the regulation of the use of organophosphorus pesticides in the natural habitat of the axolotl. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Long-Term Cancer Outcomes From Study NRG Oncology/RTOG 9517: A Phase 2 Study of Accelerated Partial Breast Irradiation With Multicatheter Brachytherapy After Lumpectomy for Early-Stage Breast Cancer

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

White, Julia, E-mail: Julia.White@osumc.edu; Winter, Kathryn; Kuske, Robert R.

Purpose: To examine 10-year rates of local, regional, and distant recurrences, patterns of recurrence, and survival rates for breast cancer patients enrolled on Study NRG Oncology/Radiation Therapy Oncology Group 9517, a multi-institutional prospective trial that studied one of the earliest methods of accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI), multicatheter brachytherapy (MCT). Methods and Materials: Eligibility included stage I/II unifocal breast cancer <3 cm in size after lumpectomy with negative surgical margins and 0 to 3 positive axillary nodes without extracapsular extension. The APBI dose delivered was 34 Gy in 10 twice-daily fractions over 5 days for high-dose-rate (HDR); and 45 Gy in 3.5 to 5 days formore » low-dose-rate (LDR) brachytherapy. The primary endpoint was HDR and LDR MCT reproducibility. This analysis focuses on long-term ipsilateral breast recurrence (IBR), contralateral breast cancer events (CBE), regional recurrence (RR), and distant metastases (DM), disease-free, and overall survival. Results: The median follow-up was 12.1 years. One hundred patients were accrued from 1997 to 2000; 98 were evaluable; 65 underwent HDR and 33 LDR MCT. Median age was 62 years; 88% had T1 tumors; 81% were pN0. Seventy-seven percent were estrogen receptor and/or progesterone receptor positive; 33% received adjuvant chemotherapy and 64% antiendocrine therapy. There have been 4 isolated IBRs and 1 IBR with RR, for 5.2% 10-year IBR without DM. There was 1 isolated RR, 1 with IBR, and 1 with a CBE, for 3.1% 10-year RR without DM. The 10-year CBE rate was 4.2%, with 5 total events. Eleven patients have developed DM, 8 have died of breast cancer, and 22 have died from other causes. The 10-year DFS and OS rates are 69.8% and 78.0%, respectively. Conclusion: This multi-institutional, phase 2 trial studying MCT-APBI continues to report durable in-breast cancer control rates with long-term follow-up.« less

Long-Term Cancer Outcomes From Study NRG Oncology/RTOG 9517: A Phase 2 Study of Accelerated Partial Breast Irradiation With Multicatheter Brachytherapy After Lumpectomy for Early-Stage Breast Cancer.

PubMed

White, Julia; Winter, Kathryn; Kuske, Robert R; Bolton, John S; Arthur, Douglas W; Scroggins, Troy; Rabinovitch, Rachel A; Kelly, Tracy; Toonkel, Leonard M; Vicini, Frank A; McCormick, Beryl

2016-08-01

To examine 10-year rates of local, regional, and distant recurrences, patterns of recurrence, and survival rates for breast cancer patients enrolled on Study NRG Oncology/Radiation Therapy Oncology Group 9517, a multi-institutional prospective trial that studied one of the earliest methods of accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI), multicatheter brachytherapy (MCT). Eligibility included stage I/II unifocal breast cancer <3 cm in size after lumpectomy with negative surgical margins and 0 to 3 positive axillary nodes without extracapsular extension. The APBI dose delivered was 34 Gy in 10 twice-daily fractions over 5 days for high-dose-rate (HDR); and 45 Gy in 3.5 to 5 days for low-dose-rate (LDR) brachytherapy. The primary endpoint was HDR and LDR MCT reproducibility. This analysis focuses on long-term ipsilateral breast recurrence (IBR), contralateral breast cancer events (CBE), regional recurrence (RR), and distant metastases (DM), disease-free, and overall survival. The median follow-up was 12.1 years. One hundred patients were accrued from 1997 to 2000; 98 were evaluable; 65 underwent HDR and 33 LDR MCT. Median age was 62 years; 88% had T1 tumors; 81% were pN0. Seventy-seven percent were estrogen receptor and/or progesterone receptor positive; 33% received adjuvant chemotherapy and 64% antiendocrine therapy. There have been 4 isolated IBRs and 1 IBR with RR, for 5.2% 10-year IBR without DM. There was 1 isolated RR, 1 with IBR, and 1 with a CBE, for 3.1% 10-year RR without DM. The 10-year CBE rate was 4.2%, with 5 total events. Eleven patients have developed DM, 8 have died of breast cancer, and 22 have died from other causes. The 10-year DFS and OS rates are 69.8% and 78.0%, respectively. This multi-institutional, phase 2 trial studying MCT-APBI continues to report durable in-breast cancer control rates with long-term follow-up. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Perceived Discrimination Is Associated with Reduced Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening: The Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (SWAN)

PubMed Central

Rathouz, Paul J.; Karavolos, Kelly; Everson-Rose, Susan A.; Janssen, Imke; Kravitz, Howard M.; Lewis, Tené T.; Powell, Lynda H.

2014-01-01

Abstract Background: Racial disparities in breast and cervical cancer screening have been documented in African American, Hispanic, and Asian populations. Perceived discrimination may contribute to this disparity. The aim of this study was to understand the relationship between perceived everyday racial/ethnic and other discrimination and receipt of breast and cervical cancer screening in a multiethnic population of women. Methods: We analyzed data from 3,258 women participating in the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (SWAN), a multiethnic/racial, longitudinal cohort study of the natural history of the menopausal transition conducted at seven U.S. sites. Participants completed a validated measure of perceived discrimination and reasons for believing that they were treated differently, along with Pap smears, clinical breast exams (CBE), and mammography at each follow-up period. We used multiple logistic regression for the binary outcomes of having a Pap smear, CBE, or mammogram in each of the two follow-up years, using self-reported “race discrimination” and “other discrimination” at baseline as the main predictors. Results: African American women reported the highest percentage of racial discrimination (35%), followed by Chinese (20%), Hispanic (12%), Japanese (11%), and non-Hispanic white women (3%). Non-Hispanic white women reported the highest percentage of “other” discrimination (40%), followed by Chinese (33%), African American (24%), Japanese (23%), and Hispanic women (16%). Perceived racial discrimination was not associated with reduced receipt of preventive screening, except in one fully adjusted model. Reported discrimination owing to “other” reasons, such as age or gender, was associated with reduced receipt of Pap smear (odds ratio [OR] 0.85; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.74–0.99), CBE (OR 0.78; 95% CI 0.67–0.91), and mammography (OR 0.80; 95% CI 0.69–0.92) regardless of patient race. Conclusions: Perceived discrimination is an important issue across racial/ethnic groups and is negatively associated with receipt of breast and cervical cancer screening. This is an important issue that needs to be further explored and addressed in efforts to improve the delivery of healthcare to all groups. PMID:24261647

Perceived discrimination is associated with reduced breast and cervical cancer screening: the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (SWAN).

PubMed

Jacobs, Elizabeth A; Rathouz, Paul J; Karavolos, Kelly; Everson-Rose, Susan A; Janssen, Imke; Kravitz, Howard M; Lewis, Tené T; Powell, Lynda H

2014-02-01

Racial disparities in breast and cervical cancer screening have been documented in African American, Hispanic, and Asian populations. Perceived discrimination may contribute to this disparity. The aim of this study was to understand the relationship between perceived everyday racial/ethnic and other discrimination and receipt of breast and cervical cancer screening in a multiethnic population of women. We analyzed data from 3,258 women participating in the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (SWAN), a multiethnic/racial, longitudinal cohort study of the natural history of the menopausal transition conducted at seven U.S. sites. Participants completed a validated measure of perceived discrimination and reasons for believing that they were treated differently, along with Pap smears, clinical breast exams (CBE), and mammography at each follow-up period. We used multiple logistic regression for the binary outcomes of having a Pap smear, CBE, or mammogram in each of the two follow-up years, using self-reported "race discrimination" and "other discrimination" at baseline as the main predictors. African American women reported the highest percentage of racial discrimination (35%), followed by Chinese (20%), Hispanic (12%), Japanese (11%), and non-Hispanic white women (3%). Non-Hispanic white women reported the highest percentage of "other" discrimination (40%), followed by Chinese (33%), African American (24%), Japanese (23%), and Hispanic women (16%). Perceived racial discrimination was not associated with reduced receipt of preventive screening, except in one fully adjusted model. Reported discrimination owing to "other" reasons, such as age or gender, was associated with reduced receipt of Pap smear (odds ratio [OR] 0.85; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.74-0.99), CBE (OR 0.78; 95% CI 0.67-0.91), and mammography (OR 0.80; 95% CI 0.69-0.92) regardless of patient race. Perceived discrimination is an important issue across racial/ethnic groups and is negatively associated with receipt of breast and cervical cancer screening. This is an important issue that needs to be further explored and addressed in efforts to improve the delivery of healthcare to all groups.

Epidemiology and diagnostic testing for meningitis in adults as the meningococcal epidemic declined at Middlemore Hospital.

PubMed

McBride, Stephen; Fulke, Jennifer; Giles, Hannah; Hobbs, Mark; Suh, Jun; Sathyendran, Vani; Thompson, Emily; Taylor, Susan; Holland, David

2015-03-13

To describe changes in epidemiology and diagnostic techniques for adult meningitis at Middlemore Hospital following the decline of the meningococcal epidemic. Retrospective audit of cases of meningitis from 2000 to 2009. Microbiologically-confirmed diagnosis (MCD) was established in 296 of 743 episodes (40%), most commonly enterovirus (123/296, 42%), Neisseria meningitidis (43/296, 15%) and Streptococcus pneumoniae (34/296, 11%). N. meningitidis meningitis declined and herpes viruses increased over time, without significant change in overall meningitis case numbers. By 2009, S. pneumoniae constituted a greater proportion of cases than N. meningitidis. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and pneumococcal immunochromatographic testing (PICT) increased over time as did the proportion of cases with MCD. CSF Gram stain was positive in 45% (53/118) and CSF culture made MCD in 37% (44/118) of confirmed bacterial episodes (CBE). PCR provided MCD in 59% (26/54) of CBE and 99% (168/170) of viral episodes. CSF PICT was tested in 76% (26/34) of S. pneumoniae meningitis (positive in 92% (24/26). As the epidemic waned, local incidence of meningococcal meningitis decreased without significant decreasing meningitis overall. Empiric treatment for meningitis in New Zealand adults should routinely include pneumococcal cover. Increased PCR testing increases MCD in meningitis.

Impact of insecticide exposure on the predation activity of the European earwig Forficula auricularia.

PubMed

Malagnoux, Laure; Capowiez, Yvan; Rault, Magali

2015-09-01

The European earwig Forficula auricularia is an effective predator in apple orchards. It is therefore crucial to study whether insecticides affect this natural pest control agent. Predation activity, i.e., the number of aphids eaten in 24 h, was determined under laboratory conditions after exposure of fourth-instar nymphs and adult earwigs to widely used insecticides (acetamiprid, chlorpyrifos-ethyl, deltamethrin, and spinosad), which were applied at the normal application rates. Inhibition of acetylcholinesterase and carboxylesterase activities were also measured as indicators of pesticide exposure. Predation activity decreased significantly in nymphs exposed to spinosad (62%) and chlorpyrifos-ethyl (98%) compared with controls. A similar response was found for both esterase activities. Spinosad had a stronger effect on AChE (-33%) whereas chlorpyrifos-ethyl affected CbE activity preferentially (-59%). Spinosad (20% of controls), acetamiprid (28%), and chlorpyrifos-ethyl (66%) also significantly decreased the predation behavior of adult male but not female (5 to 40%) earwigs. Adult AChE and CbE activities were also significantly reduced (28 to 67% of controls) in pesticide-exposed earwigs. Our results suggest that earwigs should be included in the environmental risk assessment framework for authorization of newly marketed plant protection products. Their predation behavior appears to be a sensitive and complementary biomarker.

Probing 1D superlattices at the LaAlO3 / SrTiO3 interface

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Briggeman, M.; Huang, M.; Tylan-Tyler, A.; Irvin, P.; Levy, J.; Lee, J.-W.; Lee, H.; Eom, C.-B.

Complex oxides and other quantum systems exhibit behavior that is currently too complex to be understood using analytic or computational methods. One approach is to use a configurable quantum system whose Hamiltonian can be mapped onto the system of interest. This approach, known as quantum simulation, requires a rich physical system whose quanta and interactions can be controlled precisely, at the level of single electrons and other degrees of freedom. Here we describe steps toward developing a quantum simulation platform, using the complex oxide heterostructure LaAlO3 / SrTiO3 , by creating quantum systems with features comparable to the mean spacing between electrons. This interface has strong, sign changing, gate-tunable electron-electron interactions that can strongly influence the quantum ground state. We explore the magnetotransport properties of 1D superlattices, where periodic modulation produces reproducible dispersive features not seen in control structures. The results of these experiments can be compared with effective 1D model Hamiltonians to bridge experiment and theory and enable quantum simulation of more complex systems. We gratefully acknowledge financial support from AFOSR (FA9550-12-1- 0057 (JL) and FA9550-12-1-0342 (CBE)), ONR N00014-15-1-2847 (JL), and NSF DMR-1234096 (CBE).

Density Functional Theory Calculation of the Band Alignment of (101̅0) In(x)Ga(1-x)N/Water Interfaces.

PubMed

Meng, Andrew C; Cheng, Jun; Sprik, Michiel

2016-03-03

Conduction band edge (CBE) and valence band edge (VBE) positions of InxGa1-xN photoelectrodes were computed using density functional theory methods. The band edges of fully solvated GaN and InN model systems were aligned with respect to the standard hydrogen electrode using a molecular dynamics hydrogen electrode scheme applied earlier to TiO2/water interfaces. Similar to the findings for TiO2, we found that the Purdew-Burke-Ernzerhof (PBE) functional gives a VBE potential which is too negative by 1 V. This cathodic bias is largely corrected by application of the Heyd-Scuseria-Ernzerhof (HSE06) hybrid functional containing a fraction of Hartree-Fock exchange. The effect of a change of composition was investigated using simplified model systems consisting of vacuum slabs covered on both sides by one monolayer of H2O. The CBE was found to vary linearly with In content. The VBE, in comparison, is much less sensitive to composition. The data show that the band edges straddle the hydrogen and oxygen evolution potentials for In fractions less than 47%. The band gap was found to exceed 2 eV for an In fraction less than 54%.

Cost-effectiveness of breast cancer control strategies in Central America: the cases of Costa Rica and Mexico.

PubMed

Niëns, Laurens M; Zelle, Sten G; Gutiérrez-Delgado, Cristina; Rivera Peña, Gustavo; Hidalgo Balarezo, Blanca Rosa; Rodriguez Steller, Erick; Rutten, Frans F H

2014-01-01

This paper reports the most cost-effective policy options to support and improve breast cancer control in Costa Rica and Mexico. Total costs and effects of breast cancer interventions were estimated using the health care perspective and WHO-CHOICE methodology. Effects were measured in disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) averted. Costs were assessed in 2009 United States Dollars (US$). To the extent available, analyses were based on locally obtained data. In Costa Rica, the current strategy of treating breast cancer in stages I to IV at a 80% coverage level seems to be the most cost-effective with an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of US$4,739 per DALY averted. At a coverage level of 95%, biennial clinical breast examination (CBE) screening could improve Costa Rica's population health twofold, and can still be considered very cost-effective (ICER US$5,964/DALY). For Mexico, our results indicate that at 95% coverage a mass-media awareness raising program (MAR) could be the most cost-effective (ICER US$5,021/DALY). If more resources are available in Mexico, biennial mammography screening for women 50-70 yrs (ICER US$12,718/DALY), adding trastuzumab (ICER US$13,994/DALY) or screening women 40-70 yrs biennially plus trastuzumab (ICER US$17,115/DALY) are less cost-effective options. We recommend both Costa Rica and Mexico to engage in MAR, CBE or mammography screening programs, depending on their budget. The results of this study should be interpreted with caution however, as the evidence on the intervention effectiveness is uncertain. Also, these programs require several organizational, budgetary and human resources, and the accessibility of breast cancer diagnostic, referral, treatment and palliative care facilities should be improved simultaneously. A gradual implementation of early detection programs should give the respective Ministries of Health the time to negotiate the required budget, train the required human resources and understand possible socioeconomic barriers.

Cost-Effectiveness of Breast Cancer Control Strategies in Central America: The Cases of Costa Rica and Mexico

PubMed Central

Niëns, Laurens M.; Zelle, Sten G.; Gutiérrez-Delgado, Cristina; Rivera Peña, Gustavo; Hidalgo Balarezo, Blanca Rosa; Rodriguez Steller, Erick; Rutten, Frans F. H.

2014-01-01

This paper reports the most cost-effective policy options to support and improve breast cancer control in Costa Rica and Mexico. Total costs and effects of breast cancer interventions were estimated using the health care perspective and WHO-CHOICE methodology. Effects were measured in disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) averted. Costs were assessed in 2009 United States Dollars (US$). To the extent available, analyses were based on locally obtained data. In Costa Rica, the current strategy of treating breast cancer in stages I to IV at a 80% coverage level seems to be the most cost-effective with an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of US$4,739 per DALY averted. At a coverage level of 95%, biennial clinical breast examination (CBE) screening could improve Costa Rica's population health twofold, and can still be considered very cost-effective (ICER US$5,964/DALY). For Mexico, our results indicate that at 95% coverage a mass-media awareness raising program (MAR) could be the most cost-effective (ICER US$5,021/DALY). If more resources are available in Mexico, biennial mammography screening for women 50–70 yrs (ICER US$12,718/DALY), adding trastuzumab (ICER US$13,994/DALY) or screening women 40–70 yrs biennially plus trastuzumab (ICER US$17,115/DALY) are less cost-effective options. We recommend both Costa Rica and Mexico to engage in MAR, CBE or mammography screening programs, depending on their budget. The results of this study should be interpreted with caution however, as the evidence on the intervention effectiveness is uncertain. Also, these programs require several organizational, budgetary and human resources, and the accessibility of breast cancer diagnostic, referral, treatment and palliative care facilities should be improved simultaneously. A gradual implementation of early detection programs should give the respective Ministries of Health the time to negotiate the required budget, train the required human resources and understand possible socioeconomic barriers. PMID:24769920

Boron microlocalization in oral mucosal tissue: implications for boron neutron capture therapy

PubMed Central

Morris, G M; Smith, D R; Patel, H; Chandra, S; Morrison, G H; Hopewell, J W; Rezvani, M; Micca, P L; Coderre, J A

2000-01-01

Clinical studies of the treatment of glioma and cutaneous melanoma using boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) are currently taking place in the USA, Europe and Japan. New BNCT clinical facilities are under construction in Finland, Sweden, England and California. The observation of transient acute effects in the oral mucosa of a number of glioma patients involved in the American clinical trials, suggests that radiation damage of the oral mucosa could be a potential complication in future BNCT clinical protocols, involving higher doses and larger irradiation field sizes. The present investigation is the first to use a high resolution surface analytical technique to relate the microdistribution of boron-10 (10B) in the oral mucosa to the biological effectiveness of the 10B(n,α)7Li neutron capture reaction in this tissue. The two boron delivery agents used clinically in Europe/Japan and the USA, borocaptate sodium (BSH) and p-boronophenylalanine (BPA), respectively, were evaluated using a rat ventral tongue model. 10B concentrations in various regions of the tongue mucosa were estimated using ion microscopy. In the epithelium, levels of 10B were appreciably lower after the administration of BSH than was the case after BPA. The epithelium:blood 10B partition ratios were 0.2:1 and 1:1 for BSH and BPA respectively. The 10B content of the lamina propria was higher than that measured in the epithelium for both BSH and BPA. The difference was most marked for BSH, where 10B levels were a factor of six higher in the lamina propria than in the epithelium. The concentration of 10B was also measured in blood vessel walls where relatively low levels of accumulation of BSH, as compared with BPA, was demonstrated in blood vessel endothelial cells and muscle. Vessel wall:blood 10B partition ratios were 0.3:1 and 0.9:1 for BSH and BPA respectively. Evaluation of tongue mucosal response (ulceration) to BNC irradiation indicated a considerably reduced radiation sensitivity using BSH as the boron delivery agent relative to BPA. The compound biological effectiveness (CBE) factor for BSH was estimated at 0.29 ± 0.02. This compares with a previously published CBE factor for BPA of 4.87 ± 0.16. It was concluded that variations in the microdistribution profile of 10B, using the two boron delivery agents, had a significant effect on the response of oral mucosa to BNC irradiation. From a clinical perspective, based on the findings of the present study, it is probable that potential radiation-induced oral mucositis will be restricted to BNCT protocols involving BPA. However, a thorough high resolution analysis of 10B microdistribution in human oral mucosal tissue, using a technique such as ion microscopy, is a prerequisite for the use of experimentally derived CBE factors in clinical BNCT. © 2000 Cancer Research Campaign PMID:10839288

Tunable Emission Wavelength Stacked InAs/GaAs Quantum Dots by Chemical Beam Epitaxy for Optical Coherence Tomography

PubMed Central

Ilahi, Bouraoui; Zribi, Jihene; Guillotte, Maxime; Arès, Richard; Aimez, Vincent; Morris, Denis

2016-01-01

We report on Chemical Beam Epitaxy (CBE) growth of wavelength tunable InAs/GaAs quantum dots (QD) based superluminescent diode’s active layer suitable for Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT). The In-flush technique has been employed to fabricate QD with controllable heights, from 5 nm down to 2 nm, allowing a tunable emission band over 160 nm. The emission wavelength blueshift has been ensured by reducing both dots’ height and composition. A structure containing four vertically stacked height-engineered QDs have been fabricated, showing a room temperature broad emission band centered at 1.1 µm. The buried QD layers remain insensitive to the In-flush process of the subsequent layers, testifying the reliability of the process for broadband light sources required for high axial resolution OCT imaging. PMID:28773633

Osteocyte Alterations Induce Osteoclastogenesis in an In Vitro Model of Gaucher Disease.

PubMed

Bondar, Constanza; Ormazabal, Maximiliano; Crivaro, Andrea; Ferreyra-Compagnucci, Malena; Delpino, María Victoria; Rozenfeld, Paula Adriana; Mucci, Juan Marcos

2017-01-13

Gaucher disease (GD) is caused by mutations in the glucosylceramidase β ( GBA 1 ) gene that confer a deficient level of activity of glucocerebrosidase (GCase). This deficiency leads to the accumulation of the glycolipid glucocerebroside in the lysosomes of cells, mainly in the monocyte/macrophage lineage. Its mildest form is Type I GD, characterized by non-neuronopathic involvement. Bone compromise is the most disabling aspect of the Gaucher disease. However, the pathophysiological aspects of skeletal alterations are not yet fully understood. The bone tissue homeostasis is maintained by a balance between resorption of old bone by osteoclasts and new bone formation by osteoblasts. A central player in this balance is the osteocyte as it controls both processes. We studied the involvement of osteocytes in an in vitro chemical model of Gaucher disease. The osteocyte cell line MLO-Y4 was exposed to conduritol-β-epoxide (CBE), an inhibitor of GCase, for a period of 7, 14 and 21 days. Conditioned media from CBE-treated osteocytes was found to induce osteoclast differentiation. GCase inhibition caused alterations in Cx43 expression and distribution pattern and an increase in osteocyte apoptosis. Osteoclast differentiation involved osteocyte apoptotic bodies, receptor activator of nuclear factor κ-B ligand (RANKL) and soluble factors. Thus, our results indicate that osteocytes may have a role to play in the bone pathophysiology of GD.

Interaction of Type IV Toxin/Antitoxin Systems in Cryptic Prophages of Escherichia coli K-12.

PubMed

Wen, Zhongling; Wang, Pengxia; Sun, Chenglong; Guo, Yunxue; Wang, Xiaoxue

2017-03-01

Toxin/antitoxin (TA) systems are widespread in prokaryotic chromosomes and in mobile genetic elements including plasmids and prophages. The first characterized Type IV TA system CbtA/CbeA was found in cryptic prophage CP4-44 in Escherichia coli K-12. Two homologous TA loci of CbtA/CbeA also reside in cryptic prophages of E. coli K-12, YkfI/YafW in CP4-6 and YpjF/YfjZ in CP4-57. In this study, we demonstrated that YkfI and YpjF inhibited cell growth and led to the formation of "lemon-shaped" cells. Prolonged overproduction of YkfI led to the formation of "gourd-shaped" cells and immediate cell lysis. YafW and YfjZ can neutralize the toxicity of YkfI or YpjF. Furthermore, we found that YkfI and YpjF interacted with cell division protein FtsZ in E. coli , but ectopic expression in Pseudomonas and Shewanella did not cause the formation of "lemon-shaped" cells. Moreover, deletion of all of the three toxin genes together decreased resistance to oxidative stress and deletion of the antitoxin genes increased early biofilm formation. Collectively, these results demonstrated that the homologous Type IV TA systems in E. coli may target cell division protein FtsZ in E. coli and may have different physiological functions in E. coli .

Interaction of Type IV Toxin/Antitoxin Systems in Cryptic Prophages of Escherichia coli K-12

PubMed Central

Wen, Zhongling; Wang, Pengxia; Sun, Chenglong; Guo, Yunxue; Wang, Xiaoxue

2017-01-01

Toxin/antitoxin (TA) systems are widespread in prokaryotic chromosomes and in mobile genetic elements including plasmids and prophages. The first characterized Type IV TA system CbtA/CbeA was found in cryptic prophage CP4-44 in Escherichia coli K-12. Two homologous TA loci of CbtA/CbeA also reside in cryptic prophages of E. coli K-12, YkfI/YafW in CP4-6 and YpjF/YfjZ in CP4-57. In this study, we demonstrated that YkfI and YpjF inhibited cell growth and led to the formation of “lemon-shaped” cells. Prolonged overproduction of YkfI led to the formation of “gourd-shaped” cells and immediate cell lysis. YafW and YfjZ can neutralize the toxicity of YkfI or YpjF. Furthermore, we found that YkfI and YpjF interacted with cell division protein FtsZ in E. coli, but ectopic expression in Pseudomonas and Shewanella did not cause the formation of “lemon-shaped” cells. Moreover, deletion of all of the three toxin genes together decreased resistance to oxidative stress and deletion of the antitoxin genes increased early biofilm formation. Collectively, these results demonstrated that the homologous Type IV TA systems in E. coli may target cell division protein FtsZ in E. coli and may have different physiological functions in E. coli. PMID:28257056

B-esterase activities and blood cell morphology in the frog Leptodactylus chaquensis (Amphibia: Leptodactylidae) on rice agroecosystems from Santa Fe Province (Argentina).

PubMed

Attademo, Andrés M; Cabagna-Zenklusen, Mariana; Lajmanovich, Rafael C; Peltzer, Paola M; Junges, Celina; Bassó, Agustín

2011-01-01

Activity of B-esterases (BChE: butyrylcholinesterase and CbE: carboxylesterase using two model substrates: α-naphthyl acetate and 4-nitrophenyl valerate) in a native frog, Leptodactylus chaquensis from rice fields (RF1: methamidophos and RF2: cypermethrin and endosulfan sprayed by aircraft) and non-contaminated area (pristine forest) was measured. The ability of pyridine-2-aldoxime methochloride (2-PAM) to reactivate BChE levels was also explored. In addition, changes in blood cell morphology and parasite infection were determined. Mean values of plasma BChE activities were lower in samples from the two rice fields than in those from the reference site. CbE (4-nitrophenyl valerate) levels varied in the three sites studied, being highest in RF1. Frog plasma from RF1 showed positive reactivation of BChE activity after incubation with 2-PAM. Blood parameters of frogs from RF2 revealed morphological alterations (anisochromasia and immature erythrocytes frequency). Moreover, a major infection of protozoan Trypanosoma sp. in individuals from the two rice fields was detected. We suggest that integrated use of several biomarkers (BChE and CBEs, chemical reactivation of plasma with 2-PAM, and blood cell parameters) may be a promising procedure for use in biomonitoring programmes to diagnose pesticide exposure of wild populations of this frog and other native anuran species in Argentina.

Level of awareness of cervical and breast cancer risk factors and safe practices among college teachers of different states in india: do awareness programmes have an impact on adoption of safe practices?

PubMed

Shankar, Abhishek; Rath, Gk; Roy, Shubham; Malik, Abhidha; Bhandari, Ruchir; Kishor, Kunal; Barnwal, Keshav; Upadyaya, Sneha; Srivastava, Vivek; Singh, Rajan

2015-01-01

Breast and cervical cancers are the most common causes of cancer mortality among women in India, but actually they are largely preventable diseases. Although early detection is the only way to reduce morbidity and mortality, there are limited data on breast and cervical cancer knowledge, safe practices and attitudes of teachers in India. The purpose of this study is to assess the level of awareness and impact of awareness programs in adoption of safe practices in prevention and early detection. This assessment was part of a pink chain campaign on cancer awareness. During cancer awareness events in 2011 at various women colleges in different parts in India, a pre-test related to cervical cancer and breast cancer was followed by an awareness program. Post-tests using the same questionnaire were conducted at the end of the interactive session, at 6 months and 1 year. A total of 156 out of 182 teachers participated in the study (overall response rate was 85.7 %). Mean age of the study population was 42.4 years (range- 28-59 yrs). There was a significant increase in level of knowledge regarding cervical and breast cancer at 6 months and this was sustained at 1 year. Adoption of breast self examination (BSE) was significantly more frequent in comparison to CBE, mammography and the Pap test. Magazines and newspapers were sources for knowledge regarding screening tests for breast cancer in more than 60% of teachers where as more than 75% were educated by doctors regarding the Pap test. Post awareness at 6 months and 1 year, there was a significant change in alcohol and smoking habits. Major reasons for not doing screening test were found to be ignorance (50%), lethargic attitude (44.8%) and lack of time (34.6%). Level of knowledge of breast cancer risk factors, symptoms and screening methods was high as compared to cervical cancer. There was a significant increase in level of knowledge regarding cervical and breast cancer at 6 months and this was sustained at 1 year. Adoption of BSE was significantly greater in comparison to CBE, mammography and the Pap test. To inculcate safe practices in lifestyle of people, awareness programmes such as pink chain campaign should be conducted more widely and frequently.

Effect of methylparaben in Artemia franciscana.

PubMed

Comeche, Amparo; Martín-Villamil, María; Picó, Yolanda; Varó, Inma

2017-09-01

In this study, the toxicity of methylparaben (MeP) an emerging contaminant, was analysed in the sexual species Artemia franciscana, due to its presence in coastal areas and marine saltworks in the Mediterranean region. The acute toxicity (24h-LC 50 ) of MeP in nauplii was tested and its chronic effect (9days) evaluated by measuring survival and growth under two sublethal concentrations (0.0085 and 0.017mg/L). Also, the effect on several key enzymes involved in: antioxidant defences (catalase (CAT) and gluthathion-S-transferase (GST)), neural activity (cholinesterase (ChE)) and xenobiotic biotransformation (carboxylesterase (CbE), was assessed after 48h under sublethal exposure. The results of acute exposure indicate that MeP is harmful to A. franciscana (24h-LC 50 =36.7mg/L). MeP causes a decrease in CAT activity after 48h exposure to both concentration tested, that points out at the oxidative stress effect of MeP in A. franciscana. However, no significant effect on ChE, CbE and GST activities was found. In addition, MeP does not affect survival and growth in chronic exposure at the sublethal concentrations tested. The results of this study indicate that MeP is not a threat for A. franciscana under the experimental conditions used. Additional studies should be done considering long-term exposure and reproduction studies to analyse the potential risk of MeP as emerging contaminant in marine and hypersaline environments. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Chemical Beam Epitaxial Growth of Indium Phosphide Using Alternative, Safer Phosphorus Sources

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Chungwoo

1995-11-01

Chemical beam epitaxy (CBE) is a relatively new III-V semiconductor growth technique that combines important advantages of molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) and organometallic vapor phase epitaxy (OMVPE). Although CBE grown-InP using phosphine (PH_3) combined with trimethylindium (TMIn) or triethylindium (TEIn) has produced high quality material comparable to OMVPE-and gas source MBE-grown InP, the highly hazardous and toxic nature of PH_3 is becoming a main obstacle to mass production of semiconductor devices. In this dissertation, InP epilayers were grown using tertiarybutylphosphine (TBP) and bisphosphinoethane (BPE) as possible replacements for PH_3, together with ethyldimethylindium (EDMIn) as the indium source. For the first time, InP epilayers have been grown using TBP and EDMIn by CBE. The surface morphology and the electrical and optical properties improved with increasing substrate and cracker cell temperatures and input V/III ratio. High quality n-type InP epilayers with electron mobilities of up to 3830 cm^2/Vs and net carrier concentrations of approximately 6 times 10^{14} cm^{-3} at room temperature were achieved at a growth temperature of 500^ circC using a V/III ratio of 70 and a TBP cracker cell temperature of 900^circ C. Strong band-edge emission was observed at growth temperatures between 460 and 500^circ C. The bound exciton halfwidth of the sample grown at 500^circC was as narrow as 3.6 meV at 14 K with a barely observable acceptor related peak indicating a very low concentration of acceptors. For growth of InP using BPE and EDMIn, good surface morphologies were obtained at a substrate temperature of 485^circC using V/III ratios of >=q53. At fixed growth and cracker cell temperatures of 485 and 800^circ C, respectively, the net carrier concentration at a V/III ratio of 53 was 7.8 times 10 ^{15} at room temperature and 3.2 times 10^{15} cm^{-3} at 77 K with respective electron mobilities of 3,630 and 21,800 cm^2 /Vs. The 14 K PL spectra were dominated by band -edge emission and exhibited very weak acceptor related peak intensities for InP layers grown at 485^ circC for several different V/III ratios and cracker cell temperatures. The narrowest value of FWHM for the band edge emission was 3.5 meV at 14 K.

Plasma B-esterase activities in European raptors.

PubMed

Roy, Claudie; Grolleau, Gérard; Chamoulaud, Serge; Rivière, Jean-Louis

2005-01-01

B-esterases are serine hydrolases composed of cholinesterases, including acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), and carboxylesterase (CbE). These esterases, found in blood plasma, are inhibited by organophosphorus (OP) and carbamate (CB) insecticides and can be used as nondestructive biomarkers of exposure to anticholinesterase insecticides. Furthermore, B-esterases are involved in detoxification of these insecticides. In order to establish the level of these enzymes and to have reference values for their normal activities, total plasma cholinesterase (ChE), AChE and BChE activities, and plasma CbE activity were determined in 729 European raptors representing 20 species, four families, and two orders. The diurnal families of the Falconiforme order were represented by Accipitridae and Falconidae and the nocturnal families of the Strigiforme order by Tytonidae and Strigidae. Intraspecies differences in cholinesterase activities according to sex and/or age were investigated in buzzards (Buteo buteo), sparrowhawks (Accipiter nisus), kestrels (Falco tinnunculus), barn owls (Tyto alba), and tawny owls (Strix aluco). Sex-related differences affecting ChE and AChE activities were observed in young kestrels (2-3-mo-old) and age-related differences in kestrels (ChE and AChE), sparrowhawks (AChE), and tawny owls (ChE, AChE, and BChE). The interspecies analysis yielded a negative correlation between ChE activity and body mass taking into account the relative contribution of AChE and BChE to ChE activity, with the exception of the honey buzzard (Pernis apivorus). The lowest ChE activities were found in the two largest species, Bonelli's eagle (Hieraaetus fasciatus) and Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus) belonging to the Accipitridae family. The highest ChE activities were found in the relatively small species belonging to the Tytonidae and Strigidae families and in honey buzzard of the Accipitridae family. Species of the Accipitridae, Tytonidae, and Strigidae families were characterized by a BChE contribution that dominated the total ChE activity, while in the species of the Falconidae family, AChE activity dominated. With the exception of the barn owl, CbE activity (eserine-insensitive alpha-naphthyl acetate esterase [alpha-NAE] activity) in all species was almost absent or very low. The values obtained in this study for ChE, AChE, and BChE activities and the AChE:BChE ratios for buzzard, kestrel, barn owl, and tawny owl provide a good estimate of the normal values in free-living individuals of these European species. They can be used as a baseline to evaluate the effect of anticholinesterase insecticides in the field.

Investigating Undergraduates’ Perceptions of Science in Courses Taught Using the CREATE Strategy †

PubMed Central

Hoskins, Sally G.; Gottesman, Alan J.

2018-01-01

Many science educators agree that 21st century students need to develop mature scientific thinking skills. Unsurprisingly, students’ and experts’ perceptions about the nature of scientific knowledge differ. Moreover, students’ naïve and entrenched epistemologies can preclude their development toward “thinking like scientists.” Novel teaching approaches that guide students toward more mature perceptions may be needed to support their development of scientific thinking skills. To address such issues, physics educators developed the Colorado Learning Attitudes About Science Survey (CLASS), subsequently adapted for chemistry and biology. These surveys are “designed to compare novice and expert perceptions about the content and structure of a specific discipline; the source of knowledge about that discipline, including connection of the discipline to the real world; and problem-solving approaches” (Semsar et al., CBE Life Sci. Educ. 10:268–278; p 269). We used CLASS-Bio to track students’ perceptions of science in separate first-year and upper-level CREATE (Consider, Read, Elucidate hypotheses, Analyze and interpret the data, Think of the next Experiment) electives, hypothesizing that perceptions would become significantly more expert-like across a semester. Both first-year and upper-level cohorts made significant expert-like shifts. Students also made significant critical thinking gains in CREATE courses. Our findings of more mature, expert-like perceptions of science post-course contrast with those of previous studies, where students’ thinking became significantly less expert-like across a term of introductory instruction and changed little in upper-level biology electives. Augmenting traditional biology curricula with CREATE courses could be an economical way to help undergraduates develop more mature views of science. PMID:29904553

Pathological levels of glucosylceramide change the biophysical properties of artificial and cell membranes.

PubMed

Varela, Ana R P; Ventura, Ana E; Carreira, Ana C; Fedorov, Aleksander; Futerman, Anthony H; Prieto, Manuel; Silva, Liana C

2016-12-21

Glucosylceramide (GlcCer) plays an active role in the regulation of various cellular events. Moreover, GlcCer is also a key modulator of membrane biophysical properties, which might be linked to the mechanism of its biological action. In order to understand the biophysical implications of GlcCer on membranes of living cells, we first studied the effect of GlcCer on artificial membranes containing 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC), sphingomyelin (SM) and cholesterol (Chol). Using an array of biophysical methods, we demonstrate that at lower GlcCer/Chol ratios, GlcCer stabilizes SM/Chol-enriched liquid-ordered domains. However, upon decreasing the Chol content, GlcCer significantly increased membrane order through the formation of gel domains. Changes in pH disturbed the packing properties of GlcCer-containing membranes, leading to an increase in membrane fluidity and reduced membrane electronegativity. To address the biophysical impact of GlcCer in biological membranes, studies were performed in wild type and in fibroblasts treated with conduritol-B-epoxide (CBE), which causes intracellular GlcCer accumulation, and in fibroblasts from patients with type I Gaucher disease (GD). Decreased membrane fluidity was observed in cells containing higher levels of GlcCer, such as in CBE-treated and GD cells. Together, we demonstrate that elevated GlcCer levels change the biophysical properties of cellular membranes, which might compromise membrane-associated cellular events and be of relevance for understanding the pathology of diseases, such as GD, in which GlcCer accumulates at high levels.

Chris Lamb: a visionary leader in plant science.

PubMed

Dixon, Richard A

2011-01-01

Christopher John Lamb (1950-2009) made major contributions to the field of plant defense gene activation, particularly through his studies on signal transduction mechanisms. Between 1994 and 2004, he published a series of seminal papers that outlined the involvement of hydrogen peroxide, nitric oxide, lipid transfer proteins, and aspartic proteases as critical components of local and/or systemic resistance during plant-microbe interactions. Prior to this, he had been one of the first to establish the fact that induced defense responses resulted from transcriptional activation of sets of coordinately regulated genes. Chris obtained his B.S and PhD degrees in biochemistry from the University of Cambridge, United Kingdom, moving to the Botany School at the University of Oxford as a postdoctoral fellow in 1975 and to the Biochemistry Department in Oxford as a Departmental Demonstrator in 1978. He was appointed founding director of the Plant Biology Laboratory at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in La Jolla, California in 1982, and occupied the last ten years of his life as Director of the John Innes Center, Norwich, United Kingdom. In spite of spending most of his career as a director at two of the world's most prestigious institutes, formal recognition of his achievements came late in life, with election to the Royal Society of London in 2008 and endowment of the honor of Commander of the British Empire (CBE) for his contributions to British plant science by Queen Elizabeth II in 2009. Sadly, Chris did not live to attend the official ceremony at which he would receive his CBE. Copyright © 2011 by Annual Reviews. All rights reserved.

Chemical beam epitaxy growth of AlGaAs/GaAs tunnel junctions using trimethyl aluminium for multijunction solar cells

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Paquette, B.; DeVita, M.; Turala, A.

AlGaAs/GaAs tunnel junctions for use in high concentration multijunction solar cells were designed and grown by chemical beam epitaxy (CBE) using trimethyl aluminium (TMA) as the p-dopant source for the AlGaAs active layer. Controlled hole concentration up to 4⋅10{sup 20} cm{sup −3} was achieved through variation in growth parameters. Fabricated tunnel junctions have a peak tunneling current up to 6140 A/cm{sup 2}. These are suitable for high concentration use and outperform GaAs/GaAs tunnel junctions.

A Comparison of the Bounded Derivative and the Normal Mode Initialization Methods Using Real Data

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Semazzi, F. H. M.; Navon, I. M.

1985-01-01

Browning et al. (1980) proposed an initialization method called the bounded derivative method (BDI). They used analytical data to test the new method. Kasahara (1982) theoretically demonstrated the equivalence between BDI and the well known nonlinear normal mode initialization method (NMI). The purposes of this study are the extension of the application of BDI to real data and comparison with NMI. The unbalanced initial state (UBD) is data of January, 1979 OOZ which were interpolated from the adjacent sigma levels of the GLAS GCM to the 300 mb surface. The global barotropic model described by Takacs and Balgovind (1983) is used. Orographic forcing is explicitly included in the model. Many comparisons are performed between various quantities. However, we only present a comparison of the time evolution at two grid points A(50 S, 90 E) and B(10 S, 20 E) which represent low and middle latitude locations. To facilitate a more complete comparison an initialization experiment based on the classical balance equation (CBE) was also included.

Surveillance for cancer recurrence in long-term young breast cancer survivors randomly selected from a statewide cancer registry.

PubMed

Jones, Tarsha; Duquette, Debra; Underhill, Meghan; Ming, Chang; Mendelsohn-Victor, Kari E; Anderson, Beth; Milliron, Kara J; Copeland, Glenn; Janz, Nancy K; Northouse, Laurel L; Duffy, Sonia M; Merajver, Sofia D; Katapodi, Maria C

2018-05-01

This study examined clinical breast exam (CBE) and mammography surveillance in long-term young breast cancer survivors (YBCS) and identified barriers and facilitators to cancer surveillance practices. Data collected with a self-administered survey from a statewide, randomly selected sample of YBCS diagnosed with invasive breast cancer or ductal carcinoma in situ younger than 45 years old, stratified by race (Black vs. White/Other). Multivariate logistic regression models identified predictors of annual CBEs and mammograms. Among 859 YBCS (n = 340 Black; n = 519 White/Other; mean age = 51.0 ± 5.9; diagnosed 11.0 ± 4.0 years ago), the majority (> 85%) reported an annual CBE and a mammogram. Black YBCS in the study were more likely to report lower rates of annual mammography and more barriers accessing care compared to White/Other YBCS. Having a routine source of care, confidence to use healthcare services, perceived expectations from family members and healthcare providers to engage in cancer surveillance, and motivation to comply with these expectations were significant predictors of having annual CBEs and annual mammograms. Cost-related lack of access to care was a significant barrier to annual mammograms. Routine source of post-treatment care facilitated breast cancer surveillance above national average rates. Persistent disparities regarding access to mammography surveillance were identified for Black YBCS, primarily due to lack of access to routine source of care and high out-of-pocket costs. Public health action targeting cancer surveillance in YBCS should ensure routine source of post-treatment care and address cost-related barriers. Clinical Trials Registration Number: NCT01612338.

Memories of Ken Mason.

PubMed

Brazier, Margaret; McCall Smith, Alexander; Laurie, Graeme; McLean, Shelia; Jackson, Emily; Neal, Mary; Biggs, Hazel; Ost, Suzanne

2017-08-01

John Kenyon Mason (19 December 1919-26 January 2017), CBE, MD, LLD, FRCPath, DMJ, FRCPE, FRSE, and known as Ken Mason to us all, was Regius Professor of Forensic Medicine at the University of Edinburgh from 1973-1985 and thereafter Emeritus Professor of Forensic Medicine and Honorary Fellow in the School of Law at the University of Edinburgh. A formal obituary to Professor Mason is published in the Scotsman (http://www.scotsman.com/news/obituaries/obituary-professor-ken-mason-medical-jurisprudence-pioneer-1-4357181). We offer some personal tributes to our friend and colleague. © The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press; all rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

InP tunnel junctions for InP/InGaAs tandem solar cells

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Vilela, Mauro F.; Freundlich, Alex; Renaud, P.; Medelci, N.; Bensaoula, A.

1996-01-01

We report, for the first time, an epitaxially grown InP p(+)/n(++) tunnel junction. A diode with peak current densities up to 1600 A/cm and maximum specific resistivities (Vp/Ip - peak voltage to peak current ratio) in the range of 10(exp -4)Omega cm(exp 2) is obtained. This peak current density is comparable to the highest results previously reported for lattice matched In(0.53)Ga(0.47)As tunnel junctions. Both results were obtained using chemical beam epitaxy (CBE). In this paper we discuss the electrical characteristics of these tunnel diodes and how the growth conditions influence them.

InP Tunnel Junctions for InP/InGaAs Tandem Solar Cells

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Vilela, M. F.; Medelci, N.; Bensaoula, A.; Freundlich, A.; Renaud, P.

1995-01-01

We report, for the first time, an epitaxially grown InP p(+)/n(++) tunnel junction. A diode with peak current densities up to 1600 Al/sq cm and maximum specific resistivities (Vp/lp - peak voltage to peak current ratio) in the range of 10(exp -4)Om sq cm is obtained. This peak current density is comparable to the highest results previously reported for lattice matched In(0.53)Ga(0.47)As tunnel junctions. Both results were obtained using chemical beam epitaxy (CBE). In this paper we discuss the electrical characteristics of these tunnel diodes and how the growth conditions influence them.

Colorimetric Sensor Arrays for the Detection and Identification of Chemical Weapons and Explosives

PubMed Central

Kangas, Michael J.; Burks, Raychelle M.; Atwater, Jordyn; Lukowicz, Rachel M.; Williams, Pat; Holmes, Andrea E.

2017-01-01

ABSTRACT There is a significant demand for devices that can rapidly detect chemical–biological–explosive (CBE) threats on-site and allow for immediate responders to mitigate spread, risk, and loss. The key to an effective reconnaissance mission is a unified detection technology that analyzes potential threats in real time. In addition to reviewing the current state of the art in the field, this review illustrates the practicality of colorimetric arrays composed of sensors that change colors in the presence of analytes. This review also describes an outlook toward future technologies, and describes how they could possibly be used in areas such as war zones to detect and identify hazardous substances. PMID:27636675

Colorimetric Sensor Arrays for the Detection and Identification of Chemical Weapons and Explosives.

PubMed

Kangas, Michael J; Burks, Raychelle M; Atwater, Jordyn; Lukowicz, Rachel M; Williams, Pat; Holmes, Andrea E

2017-03-04

There is a significant demand for devices that can rapidly detect chemical-biological-explosive (CBE) threats on-site and allow for immediate responders to mitigate spread, risk, and loss. The key to an effective reconnaissance mission is a unified detection technology that analyzes potential threats in real time. In addition to reviewing the current state of the art in the field, this review illustrates the practicality of colorimetric arrays composed of sensors that change colors in the presence of analytes. This review also describes an outlook toward future technologies, and describes how they could possibly be used in areas such as war zones to detect and identify hazardous substances.

Monitoring/Verification using DMS: TATP Example

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Stephan Weeks; Kevin Kyle

Field-rugged and field-programmable differential mobility spectrometry (DMS) networks provide highly selective, universal monitoring of vapors and aerosols at detectable levels from persons or areas involved with illicit chemical/biological/explosives (CBE) production. CBE sensor motes used in conjunction with automated fast gas chromatography with DMS detection (GC/DMS) verification instrumentation integrated into situational operations management systems can be readily deployed and optimized for changing application scenarios. The feasibility of developing selective DMS motes for a 'smart dust' sampling approach with guided, highly selective, fast GC/DMS verification analysis is a compelling approach to minimize or prevent the use of explosives or chemical and biologicalmore » weapons in terrorist activities. Two peroxide-based liquid explosives, triacetone triperoxide (TATP) and hexamethylene triperoxide diamine (HMTD), are synthesized from common chemicals such as hydrogen peroxide, acetone, sulfuric acid, ammonia, and citric acid (Figure 1). Recipes can be readily found on the Internet by anyone seeking to generate sufficient quantities of these highly explosive chemicals to cause considerable collateral damage. Detection of TATP and HMTD by advanced sensing systems can provide the early warning necessary to prevent terror plots from coming to fruition. DMS is currently one of the foremost emerging technologies for the separation and detection of gas-phase chemical species. This is due to trace-level detection limits, high selectivity, and small size. DMS separates and identifies ions at ambient pressures by utilizing the non-linear dependence of an ion's mobility on the radio frequency (rf) electric field strength. GC is widely considered to be one of the leading analytical methods for the separation of chemical species in complex mixtures. Advances in the technique have led to the development of low-thermal-mass fast GC columns. These columns are capable of completing runs in less than 3 minutes. Fast GC columns are also more compact than their traditional counterparts. An earlier collaborative effort involving these authors optimized a handheld, fast GC/DMS, equipped with a non-rad ionization source, for the detection of TATP (Figure 2). The unit combines the separation capabilities of GC with the selectivity of DMS. Analytes are identified both by their elution time from the column and by the characteristic response in the DMS spectrum. Analysis times required to obtain results for these analytes are approximately 80 seconds for TATP and 160 seconds for HMTD (Figure 3). The limit of detection for both TATP and HMTD is approximately 1 ng/{micro}L. Substances that could interfere with the detection of peroxide-based explosives have been studied. Both the GC elution time and the DMS spectral peak locations were unique and do not hinder the detection of either TATP or HMTD.« less

Multiple pathogenic proteins implicated in neuronopathic Gaucher disease mice.

PubMed

Xu, You-hai; Xu, Kui; Sun, Ying; Liou, Benjamin; Quinn, Brian; Li, Rong-hua; Xue, Ling; Zhang, Wujuan; Setchell, Kenneth D R; Witte, David; Grabowski, Gregory A

2014-08-01

Gaucher disease, a prevalent lysosomal storage disease (LSD), is caused by insufficient activity of acid β-glucosidase (GCase) and the resultant glucosylceramide (GC)/glucosylsphingosine (GS) accumulation in visceral organs (Type 1) and the central nervous system (Types 2 and 3). Recent clinical and genetic studies implicate a pathogenic link between Gaucher and neurodegenerative diseases. The aggregation and inclusion bodies of α-synuclein with ubiquitin are present in the brains of Gaucher disease patients and mouse models. Indirect evidence of β-amyloid pathology promoting α-synuclein fibrillation supports these pathogenic proteins as a common feature in neurodegenerative diseases. Here, multiple proteins are implicated in the pathogenesis of chronic neuronopathic Gaucher disease (nGD). Immunohistochemical and biochemical analyses showed significant amounts of β-amyloid and amyloid precursor protein (APP) aggregates in the cortex, hippocampus, stratum and substantia nigra of the nGD mice. APP aggregates were in neuronal cells and colocalized with α-synuclein signals. A majority of APP co-localized with the mitochondrial markers TOM40 and Cox IV; a small portion co-localized with the autophagy proteins, P62/LC3, and the lysosomal marker, LAMP1. In cultured wild-type brain cortical neural cells, the GCase-irreversible inhibitor, conduritol B epoxide (CBE), reproduced the APP/α-synuclein aggregation and the accumulation of GC/GS. Ultrastructural studies showed numerous larger-sized and electron-dense mitochondria in nGD cerebral cortical neural cells. Significant reductions of mitochondrial adenosine triphosphate production and oxygen consumption (28-40%) were detected in nGD brains and in CBE-treated neural cells. These studies implicate defective GCase function and GC/GS accumulation as risk factors for mitochondrial dysfunction and the multi-proteinopathies (α-synuclein-, APP- and Aβ-aggregates) in nGD. © The Author 2014. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Quantum well intermixing of indium gallium arsenide(phosphorus)/indium phosphorus heterostructures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Haysom, Joan E.

This thesis studies several aspects of the interdiffusion of InGaAs(P)/InP quantum well (QW) heterostructures, from the fundamental defect mechanisms, through optimization of processing parameters, to novel device applications. Conclusions from each of these areas have been drawn which further the scientific understanding and the manufacturability of the technique. The thermal stability of a series of different wafers is studied to highlight how poor quality of growth can cause increased interdiffusion, and to review the requirements for achieving repeatable annealing. Purposeful and controlled interdiffusion is accomplished through the introduction of excess defects into layers above the QWs, which during a subsequent anneal, diffuse through the QWs and enhance interdiffusion of atoms of the QWs with atoms of the barriers. These excess defects are introduced using two different techniques, via growth at low temperatures (LT) using chemical beam epitaxy (CBE), and via implantation of phosphorus ions. The CBE LT growth technique is new, and reported for the first time in this thesis. Characterization of the as-grown layers leads us to believe that they have an excess of phosphorus. The diffusion rate of the mobile defects which cause the intermixing is also measured, and the interdiffusion is shown to occur predominantly on the group-V sublattice. Due to many similarities between this and the results of the implantation technique, it is proposed that these mobile defects are the same for both intermixing approaches, and that the behaviour can be explained by a phosphorus interstitial mechanism. Annealing recipes for the implantation-induced technique are optimized, and the sample-to-sample reproducibility of the blueshift for this method was found to be quite good (standard deviations of ˜6 meV on blueshifts of ˜70 meV). The lateral selectivity and refractive index changes are characterized, and used in combination to create novel buried waveguide devices.

Society News: Queen honours Fellows; The Society and legacies; Thesis prizes; Lectures on laptops; Stonehenge story

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

2007-08-01

The Queen's Birthday Honours list announced on 16 June contained some familiar names from astronomy. Prof. Mark Bailey (1) of Armagh Observatory, currently a Vice-President of the RAS, was awarded an MBE and Dr Heather Couper (2), former President of the British Astronomical Association, a CBE. Prof. Nigel Mason (3) of the Open University and inaugural Director of the Milton Keynes Science Festival received an OBE. Prof. Jocelyn Bell-Burnell (4), President of the RAS from 2002-2004, was awarded a DBE - and an Honorary Doctorate from Harvard University. In addition, Prof. Lord Rees (5), Astronomer Royal, president of the Royal Society and President of the RAS from 1992-1994, was appointed to the Order of Merit.

Biological information systems: Evolution as cognition-based information management.

PubMed

Miller, William B

2018-05-01

An alternative biological synthesis is presented that conceptualizes evolutionary biology as an epiphenomenon of integrated self-referential information management. Since all biological information has inherent ambiguity, the systematic assessment of information is required by living organisms to maintain self-identity and homeostatic equipoise in confrontation with environmental challenges. Through their self-referential attachment to information space, cells are the cornerstone of biological action. That individualized assessment of information space permits self-referential, self-organizing niche construction. That deployment of information and its subsequent selection enacted the dominant stable unicellular informational architectures whose biological expressions are the prokaryotic, archaeal, and eukaryotic unicellular forms. Multicellularity represents the collective appraisal of equivocal environmental information through a shared information space. This concerted action can be viewed as systematized information management to improve information quality for the maintenance of preferred homeostatic boundaries among the varied participants. When reiterated in successive scales, this same collaborative exchange of information yields macroscopic organisms as obligatory multicellular holobionts. Cognition-Based Evolution (CBE) upholds that assessment of information precedes biological action, and the deployment of information through integrative self-referential niche construction and natural cellular engineering antecedes selection. Therefore, evolutionary biology can be framed as a complex reciprocating interactome that consists of the assessment, communication, deployment and management of information by self-referential organisms at multiple scales in continuous confrontation with environmental stresses. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The Doctor of Medicine curriculum review at the School of Medicine, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania: a tracer study report from 2009.

PubMed

Mwakigonja, Amos Rodger

2016-08-25

The School of Medicine (SoM) is one among five at Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS). It currently houses eight undergraduate and many post-graduate programmes. The Doctor of Medicine (MD) programme reported herein is the oldest having ten semesters (5 years) followed by a 1 year compulsory rotatory internship at a hospital approved by the Medical Council of Tanganyika (MCT). However, this training was largely knowledge-based and thus the need to shift towards competency-based education (CBE) and full modularization necessitated this study. A cross-sectional tracer study of MUHAS MD graduates from SoM who completed training between 2006 and 2008 was conducted using quantitative (structured interviewer-administered questionnaires) as well as qualitative methods [In-depth questionnaire (IDI) and Focus group discussions (FGDs)]. A total of 147 MD graduates were traced and interviewed, representing 29 % of the 510 students who graduated from the SoM between 2006 and 2008. Majority (70.1 %, n = 103/147) were males. About 70 % graduated in 2008 and majority (68 %, n = 100/147) were doing internship. Majority (60.5 % n = 89/147) were based in/near Dar es Salaam at district, regional or referral hospitals. With reasonable concordance, most competencies ranked low except on four aspects. Teaching, System-based Practice and Good Practice had the lowest. Seminars/Tutorials, Laboratory Skills/Practicals, Theatre Skills, Outpatients clinics, Family Case Studies, Visits/Excursions and Self Reflection were rated less useful teaching methods compared to Lectures, Teaching Ward Rounds, Elective Studies, Field Work, Presentations, Continuous Assessments Tests, Final Examinations, Short Answers, Clinical/Practical Examinations. ICT and Library facilities were not considered to meet the students learning needs and Clinical Logbooks also ranked low. Teachers were generally ranked less favorably including in professional role-modelling and accessibility outside scheduled teaching sessions. This tracer study results allowed subsequent curriculum review and the introduction of full modularization and competency-based learning at MUHAS. It is envisioned that these tracer study findings will improve teaching, learning and inform next curriculum review at MUHAS leading to increased output of appropriately trained health professionals to fill the big gap in human resources for health (HRH) in Tanzania. The revised curricula are also being processed through TCU for accreditation as required.

Impact of Cancer Awareness Drive on Generating Understanding and Improving Screening Practices for Breast Cancer: a Study on College Teachers in India

PubMed

Shankar, Abhishek; Roy, Shubham; Rath, Goura Kishor; Chakraborty, Abhijit; Kamal, Vineet Kumar; Biswas, Aalekhya Sarma

2017-07-27

Background: Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in India and most present at advanced stage. Although early detection is the only way to reduce morbidity and mortality, people have a very low awareness about breast cancer signs and symptoms and screening practices. The purpose of this study was to assess the level of awareness and impact of awareness programs in adoption of safe practices in prevention and early detection. Methods: This assessment was part of a pink chain campaign on cancer awareness. During events from 2011 to 2015 at various women colleges in different parts in India, a pre-test of knowledge related to breast cancer was followed by an awareness program. Post-tests using the same questionnaire were conducted at the end of the interactive sessions, at 6 months and after1 year. Results: A total of 872 out of 985 teachers participated in the study (overall response rate of 88.5 %). Mean age of the study population was 41.6 years (range 28-59 yrs). There was a significant increase in level of knowledge regarding breast cancer at 6 months and this was sustained at 1 year. Adoption of breast self-examination (BSE) was significantly more frequent in comparison to CBE and mammography. Magazines and newspapers were sources for knowledge regarding screening tests for breast cancer for more than 60% of teachers. Regarding post-awareness at 6 months and 1 year, there was a significant change in alcohol and smoking habits. Major reasons came out to be ignorance (83%) at the start of the campaign which was changed to lack of time (37.7%), lethargic attitude (32.2 %) and lack of time (31.5 %) at 6 months and same at 1 year also. Conclusions: With our awareness program there was a significant increase in level of knowledge regarding breast cancer at 6 months and this was sustained at 1 year. Adoption of BSE was significantly greater in comparison to CBE, mammography. To inculcate safe lifestyle practices in people, awareness programmes such as pink chain campaigns should be conducted more widely and frequently. Creative Commons Attribution License

Impact of Cancer Awareness Drive on Generating Understanding and Improving Screening Practices for Breast Cancer: a Study on College Teachers in India

PubMed Central

Shankar, Abhishek; Roy, Shubham; Rath, Goura Kishor; Chakraborty, Abhijit; Kamal, Vineet Kumar; Biswas, Aalekhya Sarma

2017-01-01

Background: Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in India and most present at advanced stage. Although early detection is the only way to reduce morbidity and mortality, people have a very low awareness about breast cancer signs and symptoms and screening practices. The purpose of this study was to assess the level of awareness and impact of awareness programs in adoption of safe practices in prevention and early detection. Methods: This assessment was part of a pink chain campaign on cancer awareness. During events from 2011 to 2015 at various women colleges in different parts in India, a pre-test of knowledge related to breast cancer was followed by an awareness program. Post-tests using the same questionnaire were conducted at the end of the interactive sessions, at 6 months and after1 year. Results: A total of 872 out of 985 teachers participated in the study (overall response rate of 88.5 %). Mean age of the study population was 41.6 years (range 28-59 yrs). There was a significant increase in level of knowledge regarding breast cancer at 6 months and this was sustained at 1 year. Adoption of breast self-examination (BSE) was significantly more frequent in comparison to CBE and mammography. Magazines and newspapers were sources for knowledge regarding screening tests for breast cancer for more than 60% of teachers. Regarding post-awareness at 6 months and 1 year, there was a significant change in alcohol and smoking habits. Major reasons came out to be ignorance (83%) at the start of the campaign which was changed to lack of time (37.7%), lethargic attitude (32.2 %) and lack of time (31.5 %) at 6 months and same at 1 year also. Conclusions: With our awareness program there was a significant increase in level of knowledge regarding breast cancer at 6 months and this was sustained at 1 year. Adoption of BSE was significantly greater in comparison to CBE, mammography. To inculcate safe lifestyle practices in people, awareness programmes such as pink chain campaigns should be conducted more widely and frequently. PMID:28749636

Geoffrey Layton Slack OBE (Mil), CBE, TD, BDS DDS, FDSRCS, FDS Glas, FFDRCSI, Dip Bact (1912-1991).

PubMed

Gelbier, Stanley

2014-02-01

It is with some pride that the author worked in Geoffrey Slack's department from 1963 to 1967 and even retained a working relationship with him after that time. Slack was Professor of Dental Surgery (1959-1976) and later Professor of Community Dental Health (1976-1977) at The London Hospital Medical College, within the University of London. The change in titles came about as a result of recognition of his contribution to developments in public health and community dental care and services, for many of which he was directly responsible. He was Dental Dean from 1965 until 1969. Upon retirement in 1977 he became Emeritus Professor. In addition, he was Dean of the Faculty of Dental Surgery at the Royal College of Surgeons of England from 1974 to 1977.

Alternative group V precursors for CVD applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lum, R. M.; Klingert, J. K.

1991-01-01

The chemical vapor deposition (CVD) techniques used to grow III/V semiconductors films, such as metalorganic vapor phase epitaxy (MOVPE), hydride VPE, chemical beam epitaxy (CBE) and gas source molecular beam epitaxy (GS-MBE), all use hydrides (AsH 3 and PH 3) as the Group V source. However, the hydrides are extremely toxic gases which are stored under high pressure (200-2000 psi). To reduce the safety hazards associated with these gases, alternative Group V precursors have been investigated. Organoarsenic and phosphorous compounds have received the most attention as replacements for AsH 3 and PH 3 because they are typically low vapor pressure liquids, and thus present significantly lower exposure risks than the hydrides. For AsH 3 these have included the methyl, ethyl and butyl-based derivatives RnAsH 3- n, with varying degrees ( n = 1-3) of hydrogen atom substitution. In this paper the growth properties, thermochemistry and toxicity of the various alkylarsine precursors are compared with arsine. Data are presented on the impact of the thermochemistry of these compounds on film electrical properties, and on the effects of precursor composition and purity on overall film quality. The suitability of alternative As-precursors for device applications is demonstrated, and selection criteria are presented for the most effective alkylarsine compound for a particular CVD growth process.

Aboriginal astronomical traditions from Ooldea, South Australia. Part 1: Nyeeruna and 'The Orion Story'

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Leaman, Trevor M.; Hamacher, Duane W.

2014-07-01

Whilst camped at Ooldea, South Australia, between 1919 and 1935, the amateur anthropologist Daisy Bates CBE recorded the daily lives, lore and oral traditions of the Aboriginal people of the Great Victoria Desert region surrounding Ooldea. Among her archived notes are stories regarding the Aboriginal astronomical traditions of this region. One story in particular, involving the stars making up the modern western constellations of Orion and Taurus, and thus referred to here as 'The Orion Story', stands out for its level of detail and possible references to transient astronomical phenomena. Here, we critically analyse several important elements of 'The Orion Story', including its relationship to an important secret-sacred male initiation rite. This paper is the first in a series attempting to reconstruct a more complete picture of the sky knowledge and star lore of the Aboriginal people of the Great Victoria Desert.

Study of intermolecular interactions in binary mixtures of 2'-chloro-4-methoxy-3-nitro benzil in various solvents and at different concentrations by the measurement of acoustic properties.

PubMed

Nithya, G; Thanuja, B; Kanagam, Charles C

2013-01-01

Density (ρ), ultrasonic velocity (u), adiabatic compressibility (β), apparent molar volume (Ø), acoustic impedance (Z), intermolecular free length (L(f)), relative association (RA) of binary mixtures of 2'-chloro-4-methoxy-3-nitro benzil (abbreviated as 2CBe) in ethanol, acetonitrile, chloroform, dioxane and benzene were measured at different concentrations at 298 K. Several useful parameters such as excess density, excess ultrasonic velocity, excess adiabatic compressibility, excess apparent molar volume, excess acoustic impedance and excess intermolecular free length have been calculated. These parameters are used to explain the nature of intermolecular interactions taking place in the binary mixture. The above study is useful in understanding the solute--solvent interactions occurring in different concentrations at room temperature. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Relationships of Fear of Breast Cancer and Fatalism with Screening Behavior in Women Referred to Health Centers of Tabriz in Iran.

PubMed

Ghahramanian, Akram; Rahmani, Azad; Aghazadeh, Ahmad Mirza; Mehr, Lida Emami

2016-01-01

Fear and fatalism have been proposed as factors affecting breast cancer screening, but the evidence is not strong. This study aimed to determine relationships of fear and fatalism with breast cancer screening behavior among Tabriz women in Iran. In a cross- sectional study, 370 women referred to 12 health centers in Tabriz were selected with two-stage cluster sampling and data regarding breast cancer screening, fatalism and fear of breast cancer were collected respectively with a checklist for screening performance, Champions Fear and Pow Fatalism Questionnaires. Data were analyzed by logistic regression with SPSS software version 16. Only 43% and 23% of participants had undergone breast self- examination and clinical breast examination. Among women older than 40 years, 38.2% had mammography history and only 2.7% of them had done it annually. Although fatalism and fear had a stimulating effects on breast cancer screening performance th relationships were not signi cant (P>0.05). There was a negative significant correlation between fear and fatalism (r= -0.24, p=0.000). On logistic regression analysis, age (OR=1.037, p<0.01) and income status (OR= 0.411, p<0.05) significantly explained BSE and age (OR=1.051, p<0.01) and body mass index (OR= 0.879, p<0.01) explained CBE. Also BMI (OR= 0.074, p<0.05) and income status (OR=0.155, p<0.01) was significantly effective for mammography following. Breast cancer screening behavior is inappropriate and affected by family livelihood status and lifestyle leads to weight gain, so that for promoting of screening behavior, economic support to families, lifestyle modification and public education are suggested.

Knowledge of risk factors and early detection methods and practices towards breast cancer among nurses in Indira Gandhi Medical College, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India.

PubMed

Fotedar, Vikas; Seam, Rajeev K; Gupta, Manoj K; Gupta, Manish; Vats, Siddharth; Verma, Sunita

2013-01-01

Breast cancer is an increasing health problem in India. Screening for early detection should lead to a reduction in mortality from the disease. It is known that motivation by nurses influences uptake of screening methods by women. This study aimed to investigate knowledge of breast cancer risk factors and early detection methods and the practice of screening among nurses in Indira Gandhi Medical College, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh. A cross-sectional study was conducted using a self-administered questionnaire to assess the knowledge of breast cancer risk factors, early detection methods and practice of screening methods among 457 nurses working in an Indira Gandhi Medical College, Shimla-H.P. Chi square test, Data was analysed using SPSS version 16. Test of significance used was chi square test. The response rate of the study was 94.9%. The average knowledge of risk factors about breast cancer of the entire population is 49%. 10.5% of nurses had poor knowledge, 25.2% of the nurses had good knowledge, 45% had very good knowledge and 16.3% of the nurses had excellent knowledge about risk factors of breast cancer and early detection methods. The knowledge level was significantly higher among BSC nurses than nurses with Diploma. 54% of participants in this study reportedly practice BSE at least once every year. Less than one-third reported that they had CBE within the past one year. 7% ever had mammogram before this study. Results from this study suggest the frequent continuing medical education programmes on breast cancer at institutional level is desirable.

Modeling and Real-Time Process Monitoring of Organometallic Chemical Vapor Deposition of III-V Phosphides and Nitrides at Low and High Pressure

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bachmann, K. J.; Cardelino, B. H.; Moore, C. E.; Cardelino, C. A.; Sukidi, N.; McCall, S.

1999-01-01

The purpose of this paper is to review modeling and real-time monitoring by robust methods of reflectance spectroscopy of organometallic chemical vapor deposition (OMCVD) processes in extreme regimes of pressure. The merits of p-polarized reflectance spectroscopy under the conditions of chemical beam epitaxy (CBE) and of internal transmission spectroscopy and principal angle spectroscopy at high pressure are assessed. In order to extend OMCVD to materials that exhibit large thermal decomposition pressure at their optimum growth temperature we have designed and built a differentially-pressure-controlled (DCP) OMCVD reactor for use at pressures greater than or equal to 6 atm. We also describe a compact hard-shell (CHS) reactor for extending the pressure range to 100 atm. At such very high pressure the decomposition of source vapors occurs in the vapor phase, and is coupled to flow dynamics and transport. Rate constants for homogeneous gas phase reactions can be predicted based on a combination of first principles and semi-empirical calculations. The pressure dependence of unimolecular rate constants is described by RRKM theory, but requires variational and anharmonicity corrections not included in presently available calculations with the exception of ammonia decomposition. Commercial codes that include chemical reactions and transport exist, but do not adequately cover at present the kinetics of heteroepitaxial crystal growth.

Applying CLIPS to control of molecular beam epitaxy processing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rabeau, Arthur A.; Bensaoula, Abdelhak; Jamison, Keith D.; Horton, Charles; Ignatiev, Alex; Glover, John R.

1990-01-01

A key element of U.S. industrial competitiveness in the 1990's will be the exploitation of advanced technologies which involve low-volume, high-profit manufacturing. The demands of such manufacture limit participation to a few major entities in the U.S. and elsewhere, and offset the lower manufacturing costs of other countries which have, for example, captured much of the consumer electronics market. One such technology is thin-film epitaxy, a technology which encompasses several techniques such as Molecular Beam Epitaxy (MBE), Chemical Beam Epitaxy (CBE), and Vapor-Phase Epitaxy (VPE). Molecular Beam Epitaxy (MBE) is a technology for creating a variety of electronic and electro-optical materials. Compared to standard microelectronic production techniques (including gaseous diffusion, ion implantation, and chemical vapor deposition), MBE is much more exact, though much slower. Although newer than the standard technologies, MBE is the technology of choice for fabrication of ultraprecise materials for cutting-edge microelectronic devices and for research into the properties of new materials.

Electron transport in gated InGaAs and InAsP quantum well wires in selectively grown InP ridge structures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Granger, G.; Kam, A.; Studenikin, S. A.; Sachrajda, A. S.; Aers, G. C.; Williams, R. L.; Poole, P. J.

2010-09-01

The purpose of this work is to fabricate ribbon-like InGaAs and InAsP wires embedded in InP ridge structures and investigate their transport properties. The InP ridge structures that contain the wires are selectively grown by chemical beam epitaxy (CBE) on pre-patterned InP substrates. To optimize the growth and micro-fabrication processes for electronic transport, we explore the Ohmic contact resistance, the electron density, and the mobility as a function of the wire width using standard transport and Shubnikov-de Haas measurements. At low temperatures the ridge structures reveal reproducible mesoscopic conductance fluctuations. We also fabricate ridge structures with submicron gate electrodes that exhibit non-leaky gating and good pinch-off characteristics acceptable for device operation. Using such wrap gate electrodes, we demonstrate that the wires can be split to form quantum dots evidenced by Coulomb blockade oscillations in transport measurements.

Redshift and blueshift of GaNAs/GaAs multiple quantum wells induced by rapid thermal annealing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sun, Yijun; Cheng, Zhiyuan; Zhou, Qiang; Sun, Ying; Sun, Jiabao; Liu, Yanhua; Wang, Meifang; Cao, Zhen; Ye, Zhi; Xu, Mingsheng; Ding, Yong; Chen, Peng; Heuken, Michael; Egawa, Takashi

2018-02-01

The effects of rapid thermal annealing (RTA) on the optical properties of GaNAs/GaAs multiple quantum wells (MQWs) grown by chemical beam epitaxy (CBE) are studied by photoluminescence (PL) at 77 K. The results show that the optical quality of the MQWs improves significantly after RTA. With increasing RTA temperature, PL peak energy of the MQWs redshifts below 1023 K, while it blueshifts above 1023 K. Two competitive processes which occur simultaneously during RTA result in redshift at low temperature and blueshift at high temperature. It is also found that PL peak energy shift can be explained neither by nitrogen diffusion out of quantum wells nor by nitrogen reorganization inside quantum wells. PL peak energy shift can be quantitatively explained by a modified recombination coupling model in which redshift nonradiative recombination and blueshift nonradiative recombination coexist. The results obtained have significant implication on the growth and RTA of GaNAs material for high performance optoelectronic device application.

Listening to the occupants: a Web-based indoor environmental quality survey.

PubMed

Zagreus, Leah; Huizenga, Charlie; Arens, Edward; Lehrer, David

2004-01-01

Building occupants are a rich source of information about indoor environmental quality and its effect on comfort and productivity. The Center for the Built Environment has developed a Web-based survey and accompanying online reporting tools to quickly and inexpensively gather, process and present this information. The core questions assess occupant satisfaction with the following IEQ areas: office layout, office furnishings, thermal comfort, indoor air quality, lighting, acoustics, and building cleanliness and maintenance. The survey can be used to assess the performance of a building, identify areas needing improvement, and provide useful feedback to designers and operators about specific aspects of building design features and operating strategies. The survey has been extensively tested and refined and has been conducted in more than 70 buildings, creating a rapidly growing database of standardized survey data that is used for benchmarking. We present three case studies that demonstrate different applications of the survey: a pre/post analysis of occupants moving to a new building, a survey used in conjunction with physical measurements to determine how environmental factors affect occupants' perceived comfort and productivity levels, and a benchmarking example of using the survey to establish how new buildings are meeting a client's design objectives. In addition to its use in benchmarking a building's performance against other buildings, the CBE survey can be used as a diagnostic tool to identify specific problems and their sources. Whenever a respondent indicates dissatisfaction with an aspect of building performance, a branching page follows with more detailed questions about the nature of the problem. This systematically collected information provides a good resource for solving indoor environmental problems in the building. By repeating the survey after a problem has been corrected it is also possible to assess the effectiveness of the solution.

Implementation of a cone-beam backprojection algorithm on the cell broadband engine processor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bockenbach, Olivier; Knaup, Michael; Kachelrieß, Marc

2007-03-01

Tomographic image reconstruction is computationally very demanding. In all cases the backprojection represents the performance bottleneck due to the high operational count and due to the high demand put on the memory subsystem. In the past, solving this problem has lead to the implementation of specific architectures, connecting Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs) or Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) to memory through dedicated high speed busses. More recently, there have also been attempt to use Graphic Processing Units (GPUs) to perform the backprojection step. Originally aimed at the gaming market, IBM, Toshiba and Sony have introduced the Cell Broadband Engine (CBE) processor, often considered as a multicomputer on a chip. Clocked at 3 GHz, the Cell allows for a theoretical performance of 192 GFlops and a peak data transfer rate over the internal bus of 200 GB/s. This performance indeed makes the Cell a very attractive architecture for implementing tomographic image reconstruction algorithms. In this study, we investigate the relative performance of a perspective backprojection algorithm when implemented on a standard PC and on the Cell processor. We compare these results to the performance achievable with FPGAs based boards and high end GPUs. The cone-beam backprojection performance was assessed by backprojecting a full circle scan of 512 projections of 1024x1024 pixels into a volume of size 512x512x512 voxels. It took 3.2 minutes on the PC (single CPU) and is as fast as 13.6 seconds on the Cell.

Evaluation of Simulated Clinical Breast Exam Motion Patterns Using Marker-Less Video Tracking

PubMed Central

Azari, David P.; Pugh, Carla M.; Laufer, Shlomi; Kwan, Calvin; Chen, Chia-Hsiung; Yen, Thomas Y.; Hu, Yu Hen; Radwin, Robert G.

2016-01-01

Objective This study investigates using marker-less video tracking to evaluate hands-on clinical skills during simulated clinical breast examinations (CBEs). Background There are currently no standardized and widely accepted CBE screening techniques. Methods Experienced physicians attending a national conference conducted simulated CBEs presenting different pathologies with distinct tumorous lesions. Single hand exam motion was recorded and analyzed using marker-less video tracking. Four kinematic measures were developed to describe temporal (time pressing and time searching) and spatial (area covered and distance explored) patterns. Results Mean differences between time pressing, area covered, and distance explored varied across the simulated lesions. Exams were objectively categorized as either sporadic, localized, thorough, or efficient for both temporal and spatial categories based on spatiotemporal characteristics. The majority of trials were temporally or spatially thorough (78% and 91%), exhibiting proportionally greater time pressing and time searching (temporally thorough) and greater area probed with greater distance explored (spatially thorough). More efficient exams exhibited proportionally more time pressing with less time searching (temporally efficient) and greater area probed with less distance explored (spatially efficient). Just two (5.9 %) of the trials exhibited both high temporal and spatial efficiency. Conclusions Marker-less video tracking was used to discriminate different examination techniques and measure when an exam changes from general searching to specific probing. The majority of participants exhibited more thorough than efficient patterns. Application Marker-less video kinematic tracking may be useful for quantifying clinical skills for training and assessment. PMID:26546381

Lewis Wolpert discusses development and depression. Interview by Joanne Clough.

PubMed

Wolpert, Lewis

2004-06-01

Lewis Wolpert is Professor of Biology as Applied to Medicine in the Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology at University College, London, UK. His research interests focus on the mechanisms that are involved in embryonic development. Lewis originally trained as a civil engineer in South Africa but in 1955 made the move to research in cellular biology at King's College, London. He was made a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1980 and awarded the CBE in 1990. Lewis was also made a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature in 1999 and has presented science on both radio and TV for several years. He was awarded The Royal Society Michael Faraday Prize in 2000 for his contribution to the public understanding of science, most notably through his Chairmanship of the Committee for the Public Understanding of Science (COPUS; 1993-1998). He is the author of numerous books, including Malignant Sadness: The Anatomy of Depression, Principles of Development, The Unnatural Nature of Science and The Triumph of the Embryo. He also writes a regular column for The Independent.

Optically coded nanocrystal taggants and optical frequency IDs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Williams, George M., Jr.; Allen, Thomas; Dupuy, Charles; Novet, Thomas; Schut, David

2010-04-01

A series of nanocrystal and nanocrystal quantum dot taggant technologies were developed for covertly tagging and tracking objects of interest. Homogeneous and heterogeneous nanocrystal taggant designs were developed and optimized for ultraviolet through infrared emissions, utilizing either Dexter energy transfer or Förster resonant energy transfer (FRET) between specific absorbing and emitting functionalities. The conversion efficiency, target-specific identification, and adhesion properties of the taggants were engineered by means of various surface ligand chemistries. The ability to engineer poly-functional ligands was shown effective in the detection of a biological agent simulant, detected through a NC photoluminescence that is altered in the presence of the agent of interest; the technique has broad potential applicability to chemical, biological, and explosive (CBE) agent detection. The NC photoluminescence can be detected by a remote LIDAR system; the performance of a taggant system has been modeled and subsequently verified in a series of controlled field tests. LIDAR detection of visible-emitting taggants was shown to exceed 2.8 km in calibrated field tests, and from these field data and calibrated laboratory measurements we predict >5 km range in the covert shortwavelength infrared (SWIR) spectral region.

Enhanced performance of microbial fuel cell with in situ preparing dual graphene modified bioelectrode.

PubMed

Chen, Junfeng; Hu, Yongyou; Tan, Xiaojun; Zhang, Lihua; Huang, Wantang; Sun, Jian

2017-10-01

This study proposed a three-step method to prepare dual graphene modified bioelectrode (D-GM-BE) by in situ microbial-induced reduction of GO and polarity reversion in microbial fuel cell (MFC). Both graphene modified bioanode (GM-BA) and biocathode (GM-BC) were of 3D graphene/biofilm architectures; the viability and thickness of microbial biofilm decreased compared with control bioelectrode (C-BE). The coulombic efficiency (CE) of GM-BA was 2.1 times of the control bioanode (C-BA), which demonstrated higher rate of substrates oxidation; the relationship between peak current and scan rates data meant that GM-BC was of higher efficiency of catalyzing oxygen reduction than the control biocathode (C-BC). The maximum power density obtained in D-GM-BE MFC was 122.4±6.9mWm -2 , the interfacial charge transfer resistance of GM-BA and GM-BC were decreased by 79% and 75.7%. The excellent electrochemical performance of D-GM-BE MFC was attributed to the enhanced extracellular electron transfer (EET) process and catalyzing oxygen reduction. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Evaluation of high oleic-high stearic sunflower hard stearins for cocoa butter equivalent formulation.

PubMed

Bootello, Miguel A; Hartel, Richard W; Garcés, Rafael; Martínez-Force, Enrique; Salas, Joaquín J

2012-10-01

Cocoa butter equivalents (CBEs) are produced from vegetable fats by blending palm mid fraction (PMF) and tropical butters coming from shea, mango kernel or kokum fat. In this regard, high oleic-high stearic (HOHS) sunflower hard stearins from solvent fractionation can be used in CBE production since their compositions and physical properties are similar to those found in the above-mentioned tropical butters. In this work, three sunflower hard stearins (SHS) ranging from 65% to 95% of disaturated triacylglycerols and a shea stearin (used as reference) were blended with PMF to evaluate their potential use in CBEs formulation. Isosolid phase diagrams of mixtures of PMF/SHS showed eutectic formation for SHS 65 and SHS 80, but monotectic behaviour with softening effect for SHS 95. Three CBEs from SHS and shea stearin were formulated according to phase behaviour diagrams and solid fat content data at 25 °C. Isosolid phase diagrams of mixtures of these CBEs with cocoa butter showed no eutectic behaviour. Therefore, CBEs elaborated from SHS exhibited full compatibility with cocoa butter. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Enzymatically catalyzed synthesis of low-calorie structured lipid in a solvent-free system: optimization by response surface methodology.

PubMed

Han, Lu; Xu, Zijian; Huang, Jianhua; Meng, Zong; Liu, Yuanfa; Wang, Xingguo

2011-12-14

A kind of low-calorie structured lipid (LCSL) was obtained by interesterification of tributyrin (TB) and methyl stearate (St-ME), catalyzed by a commercially immobilized 1,3-specific lipase, Lipozyme RM IM from Rhizomucor miehei . The condition optimization of the process was conducted by using response surface methodology (RSM). The optimal conditions for highest conversion of St-ME and lowest content LLL-TAG (SSS and SSP; S, stearic acid; P, palmitic acid) were determined to be a reaction time 6.52 h, a substrate molar ratio (St-ME:TB) of 1.77:1, and an enzyme amount of 10.34% at a reaction temperature of 65 °C; under these conditions, the actually measured conversion of St-ME and content of LLL-TAG were 78.47 and 4.89% respectively, in good agreement with predicted values. The target product under optimal conditions after short-range molecular distillation showed solid fat content (SFC) values similar to those of cocoa butter substitutes (CBS), cocoa butter equivalent (CBE), and cocoa butters (CB), indicating its application for inclusion with other fats as cocoa butter substitutes.

Congenital renal anomalies in cloacal exstrophy: Is there a difference?

PubMed

Suson, K D; Inouye, B; Carl, A; Gearhart, J P

2016-08-01

Cloacal exstrophy (CE) is the most severe manifestation of the epispadias-exstrophy spectrum. Previous studies have indicated an increased rate of renal anomalies in children with classic bladder exstrophy (CBE). Given the increased severity of the CE defect, it was hypothesized that there would be an even greater incidence among these children. The primary objective was to characterize renal anatomy in CE patients. Two secondary objectives were to compare these renal anatomic findings in male and female patients, and female patients with and without Müllerian anomalies. An Institutional Review Board-approved retrospective review of 75 patients from an institutional exstrophy database. Data points included: age at analysis, sex, and renal and Müllerian anatomy. Abnormal renal anatomy was defined as a solitary kidney, malrotation, renal ectopia, congenital cysts, duplication, and/or proven obstruction. Abnormal Müllerian anatomy was defined as uterine or vaginal duplication, obstruction, and/or absence. The Summary Table presents demographic data and renal anomalies. Males were more likely to have renal anomalies. Müllerian anomalies were present in 65.7% of female patients. Girls with abnormal Müllerian anatomy were 10 times more likely to have renal anomalies than those with normal Müllerian anatomy (95% CI 1.1-91.4, P = 0.027). Patients with CE had a much higher rate of renal anomalies than that reported for CBE. Males and females with Müllerian anomalies were at greater risk than females with normal uterine structures. Mesonephric and Müllerian duct interaction is required for uterine structures to develop normally. It has been proposed that women with both Müllerian and renal anomalies be classified separately from other uterine malformations on an embryonic basis. In these patients, an absent or dysfunctional mesonephric duct has been implicated as potentially causal. This provided an embryonic explanation for uterine anomalies in female CE patients. There were also clinical implications. Women with renal agenesis and uterine anomalies were more likely to have endometriosis than those with isolated uterine anomalies, but were also more likely to have successful pregnancies. Males may have had an analogous condition with renal agenesis and seminal vesicle cysts. Future research into long-term kidney function in this population, uterine function, and possible male sexual duct malformation is warranted. Congenital renal anomalies occurred frequently in children with CE. They were more common in boys than in girls. Girls with abnormal Müllerian anatomy were more likely to have anomalous renal development. Mesonephric duct dysfunction may be embyologically responsible for both renal and Müllerian maldevelopment. Copyright © 2016 Journal of Pediatric Urology Company. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Growth of InP, InGaAs, and InGaAsP on InP by gas-source molecular beam epitaxy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Asonen, H.; Rakennus, K.; Tappura, K.; Hovinen, M.; Pessa, M.

1990-10-01

Gas-source molecular beam epitaxy (GSMBE), designating the method where the group III beams are derived from the evaporation of solid materials while the group V beams are derived from the high-temperature cracking of AsH 3 and PH 3, is a very promising method. We show in this work that using indium of high purity and optimizing the growth conditions, unintentional impurities in these films prepared by GSMBE can be reduced to a level comparable to that obtained by all-vapor-source chemical beam epitaxy (CBE). The films grown by GSMBE are of very high quality, as deduced from the measurements of electrical, optical, and structural properties. Furthermore, we have found that the alloy composition in InGaAsP for the wavelength λ of 1.1 μm changes significantly in a range of growth temperature from 525 to 530°C, likely due to an abrupt change in the sticking probability of phosphorus. We have also found that the phosphorus-to-gallium flux ratio strongly affects surface morphology of InGaAsP for λ = 1.3 μm.

YeeU enhances the bundling of cytoskeletal polymers of MreB and FtsZ, antagonizing the CbtA (YeeV) toxicity in Escherichia coli.

PubMed

Masuda, Hisako; Tan, Qian; Awano, Naoki; Wu, Kuen-Phon; Inouye, Masayori

2012-06-01

All free-living bacteria carry the toxin-antitoxin (TA) systems controlling cell growth and death under stress conditions. YeeU-YeeV (CbtA) is one of the Escherichia coli TA systems, and the toxin, CbtA, has been reported to inhibit the polymerization of bacterial cytoskeletal proteins, MreB and FtsZ. Here, we demonstrate that the antitoxin, YeeU, is a novel type of antitoxin (type IV TA system), which does not form a complex with CbtA but functions as an antagonist for CbtA toxicity. Specifically, YeeU was found to directly interact with MreB and FtsZ, and enhance the bundling of their filamentous polymers in vitro. Surprisingly, YeeU neutralized not only the toxicity of CbtA but also the toxicity caused by other inhibitors of MreB and FtsZ, such as A22, SulA and MinC, indicating that YeeU-induced bundling of MreB and FtsZ has an intrinsic global stabilizing effect on their homeostasis. Here we propose to rename YeeU as CbeA for cytoskeleton bundling-enhancing factor A. © 2012 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

Reflection high energy electron diffraction and reflectance difference studies of surface anisotropy in InGaAs chemical beam epitaxy on flat and vicinal (001) GaAs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Junno, B.; Paulsson, G.; Miller, M.; Samuelson, L.

1994-03-01

InGaAs quantum wells (QWs) were grown in a chemical beam epitaxy (CBE) machine with trimethylindium (TMI), triethylgallium (TEG) and tertiarybutylarsine (TBA) as precursors. Growth was monitored in-situ by reflectance difference (RD) and reflection high energy electron diffraction (RHEED), on both flat and vicinal (2° off in the <111> A direction) (001)GaAs substrates. The RD was monitored at 632.8 nm. At this wavelength the RD signal from a GaAs surface is primarily related to the absorption by Ga dimers. When InGaAs had been grown, both the average RD signal and the amplitude of the RD oscillations for the subsequent growth of GaAs increased significantly, compared to GaAs growth on GaAs. This In influence was found to persist even after the growth of 20-30 ML of pure GaAs. As a result we were able to monitor growth oscillations with RD and RHEED simultaneously during growth of quantum wells of InGaAs in GaAs. As a conclusion to these observations we suggest that the group III dimer bond concentration, detected in the RD signal, increases.

Novel materials for high-efficiency solar cells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kojima, Nobuaki; Natori, Masato; Suzuki, Hidetoshi; Inagaki, Makoto; Ohshita, Yoshio; Yamaguchi, Masafumi

2009-08-01

Our Toyota Technological Institute group has investigated various novel materials for solar cells from organic to III-V compound materials. In this paper, we report our recent results in conductivity control of C60 thin films by metal-doping for organic solar cells, and mobility improvement of (In)GaAsN compounds for III-V tandem solar cells. The epitaxial growth of Mg-doped C60 films was attempted. It was found that the epitaxial growth of Mg-doped C60 film was enabled by using mica (001) substrate in the low Mg concentration region (Mg/C60 molar ratio < 1). The crystal quality of the epitaxial Mg-doped C60 film was improved drastically in compared with micro-crystalline film on glass substrate. Such drastic improvement of crystal quality in the epitaxial films resulted significant increase in conductivity. This result may indicate the significant increase of carrier mobility. Crystal quality improvement of CBE-grown GaAsN materials was investigated. We achieved the reduction of residual impurity concentration by chemical reaction control on the growing surface by modifying flow sequence of precursors and by increasing step density on the surface by using a vicinal GaAs substrate. Furthermore, the improvement in carrier mobility was observed, and it was suggested that the reduction of both residual impurities and N-related defects leads this improvement.

Chemical beam epitaxy of GaAs1-xNx using MMHy and DMHy precursors, modeled by ab initio study of GaAs(100) surfaces stability over As2, H2 and N2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Valencia, Hubert; Kangawa, Yoshihiro; Kakimoto, Koichi

2017-06-01

Using ab initio calculations, a simple model for GaAs1-xNx vapor-phase epitaxy on (100) surface of GaAs was created. By studying As2 and H2 molecules adsorptions and As/N atom substitutions on (100) GaAs surfaces, we obtain a relative stability diagram of all stable surfaces under varying As2, H2, and N2 conditions. We previously proved that this model could describe the vapor-phase epitaxy of GaAs1-x Nx with simple, fully decomposed, precursors. In this paper, we show that in more complex reaction conditions using monomethylhydrazine (MMHy), and dimethylhydrazine (DMHy), it is still possible to use our model to obtain an accurate description of the temperature and pressure stability domains for each surfaces, linked to chemical beam epitaxy (CBE) growth conditions. Moreover, the different N-incorporation regimes observed experimentally at different temperature can be explain and predict by our model. The use of MMHy and DMHy precursors can also be rationalized. Our model should then help to better understand the conditions needed to obtain an high quality GaAs1-xNx using vapor-phase epitaxy.

S-wave velocities of the lithosphere-asthenosphere system in the Lesser Antilles from the joint inversion of surface wave dispersion and receiver function analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

González, O'Leary; Clouard, Valerie; Tait, Stephen; Panza, Giuliano F.

2018-06-01

We present an overview of S-wave velocities (Vs) within the crust and upper mantle of the Lesser Antilles as determined with 19 seismic broadband stations. Receiver functions (RF) have been computed from teleseismic recordings of earthquakes, and Rayleigh wave group velocity dispersion relations have been taken from earlier surface wave tomographic studies in the Caribbean area. Local smoothness optimization (LSO) procedure has been applied, combined with an H-K stacking method, the spatial distribution of hypocenters of local earthquakes and of the energy they released, in order to identify an optimum 1D model of Vs below each station. Several features of the Caribbean plate and its interaction with the Atlantic subducting slab are visible in the resulting models: (a) relatively thick oceanic crust below these stations ranges from 21 km to 33 km, being slight thinner in the middle of the island arc; (b) crustal low velocity zones are present below stations SABA, SEUS, SKI, SMRT, CBE, DSD, GCMP and TDBA; (c) lithospheric thickness range from 40 km to 105 km but lithosphere-asthenosphere boundary was not straightforward to correlate between stations; (d) the aseismic mantle wedge between the Caribbean seismic lithosphere and the subducted slab varies in thickness as well as Vs values which are, in general, lower below the West of Martinique than below the West of Guadeloupe; (e) the depth of the subducted slab beneath the volcanic arc, appears to be greater to the North, and relatively shallower below some stations (e.g. DLPL, SAM, BIM and FDF) than was estimated in previous studies based on the depth-distribution of seismicity; f) the WBZ is >10-15 km deeper than the top of the slab below the Central Lesser Antilles (Martinique and Dominica) where the presence of partial melt in the mantle wedge seems also to be more evident.

Gaucher disease: Physical, kinetic and immunologic investigations of human and canine acid. beta. -glucosidase

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Fabbro, D.E.

1988-01-01

Kinetic and immunologic techniques were developed to investigate the nature of the acid {beta}-glucosidase ({beta}-Glc) defects which results in human and canine Gaucher disease (GD). Two new affinity columns, using the potent inhibitors of {beta}-Glc (N-alkyl-deoxynojirimycins) as affinity ligands, were synthesized and methods were developed to obtain homogeneous {beta}-Glc from normal human placenta. Polyclonal and monoclonal (representing 14 different epitopes from 18 clones) antibodies were produced to the pure normal {beta}-Glc. Monospecific polyclonal IgG and tritiated-bromo-conduritol B epoxide (({sup 3}H)Br-CBE), a specific covalent active site directed inhibitor of {beta}-Glc, were used to quantitate the functional catalytic sites in normal andmore » Type 1 Ashkenazi Jewish GD (AJGD) enzyme preparations: The k{sub cat} values for several new substrates with the mutant enzymes from spleen were about 1.5-fold less than the respective normal enzyme, indicating a nearly normal catalytic capacity of the mutant enzymes. Immunoblotting studies with polyclonal or several monoclonal antibodies indicated three molecular forms of {beta}-Glc (M{sub r} = 67,000, 62,000 to 65,000 and 58,000) in fibroblast extracts from normals and Type 1 AJGD patients. In comparison, only one form of cross-reacting immunologic material (CRIM) was detected in fibroblast extracts from Types 2 and 3 or several non-Jewish Type 1 GD patients.« less

The thermal environment effect on the comfort of electronic factory worker

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nurul Huda, Listiani

2018-03-01

In this paper, thermal comfort issues of the operators working on one of the electronics companies in the evaporator area are observed. The objective of this study is to reduce Percentage of Dissatisfied (PD) of operators in an effort to improve the work productivity. PD is predicted using CBE Thermal Comfort Tool by measuring the thermal variables around the evaporator area and by calculating the Heat Stress Index (HSI). The operator productivity is analyzed by Wet Bulb Globe Thermometer (WBGT) Work-Rest Chart. The PD of operators before and after improvement is compared. The results showed that the average temperature around the operators area at evaporator station is high with average WBGT of 33,6°C. HSI value is 51.95 indicating that the effect of 8-h exposure is severe strain with work impact is health threat for unit operators and acclimatization is necessary. The PD value is 96% indicating that almost all operators feel uncomfortable at work. These indicate that the thermal environment should be improved. The proposed improvement is by installing water cooled and sprayed into the evaporator area. This installation is able to reduce HSI and PD by more 70% and more 60%, respectively. These findings indicate that improving the thermal environment will be able to improve working comfort which will further affect the level of work productivity.

Research on Distance Education Development in China

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Xin, Ding; Jian, Niu; Yanhui, Han

2010-01-01

Distance education is among the significant fields for the application of educational technology. Distance education in China has gone through three phases, namely: correspondence-based education, radio and TV-based education and online education. This paper was based on educational technology application, and the historical, dialectic and…

Toward a New Understanding of Community-Based Education: The Role of Community-Based Educational Spaces in Disrupting Inequality for Minoritized Youth

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Baldridge, Bianca J.; Beck, Nathan; Medina, Juan Carlos; Reeves, Marlo A.

2017-01-01

Community-based educational spaces (CBES; afterschool programs, community-based youth organizations, etc.) have a long history of interrupting patterns of educational inequity and continue to do so under the current educational policy climate. The current climate of education, marked by neoliberal education restructuring, has left community-based…

Overview of Selected State Policies and Supports Related to K-12 Competency-Based Education. REL 2017-249

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Brodersen, R. Marc; Yanoski, David; Mason, Katie; Apthorp, Helen; Piscatelli, Jennifer

2017-01-01

Competency-based education--also known as proficiency-based, mastery-based, and performance-based education--has received increased attention in recent years as an education approach that may help ensure that students graduate from high school with the knowledge and skills necessary for college and their careers. In competency-based education,…

The Two Modes of Distance Education.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Keegan, Desmond

1998-01-01

Discusses two models of distance-education, group-based versus individual-based. Highlights include group-based distance education for full-time and part-time students; individual-based distance education with pre-prepared materials and without pre-prepared materials; and distance education management and research. (LRW)

Evidence for a link between sphingolipid metabolism and expression of CD1d and MHC-class II: monocytes from Gaucher disease patients as a model.

PubMed

Balreira, Andrea; Lacerda, Lúcia; Miranda, Clara Sá; Arosa, Fernando A

2005-06-01

Gaucher disease (GD) is an autosomal recessive inherited defect of the lysosomal enzyme glucocerebrosidase (GluCerase) that leads to glucosylceramide (GluCer) accumulation. We previously demonstrated the existence of imbalances in certain lymphocyte populations in GD patients. We now show that GluCerase-deficient monocytes from GD patients or monocytes from healthy subjects treated with conduritol-B-epoxide (CBE), an irreversible inhibitor of GluCerase activity, display high levels of surface expression of the lipid-binding molecule CD1d. GluCerase-deficient monocytes from GD patients also showed increased surface expression of major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-class II, but not of other lysosomal trafficking molecules, such as CD63 and MHC-class I. However, CD1d and MHC-class II mRNA levels were not increased. GluCerase-deficient monocytes from GD patients undergoing enzyme replacement therapy also exhibited increased levels of CD1d and MHC-class II and imbalances in the percentage of CD4+, CD8+, and Valpha24+ T cells. Interestingly, follow-up studies revealed that enzyme replacement therapy induced a decrease in MHC-class II expression and partial correction of the CD4+ T cell imbalances. These results reveal a new link between sphingolipid accumulation in monocytes and the expression of certain MHC molecules that may result in imbalances of regulatory T cell subsets. These immunological anomalies may contribute to the clinical heterogeneity in GD patients.

Emergence of new forms of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 intersubtype recombinants in central Myanmar.

PubMed

Motomura, K; Kusagawa, S; Kato, K; Nohtomi, K; Lwin, H H; Tun, K M; Thwe, M; Oo, K Y; Lwin, S; Kyaw, O; Zaw, M; Nagai, Y; Takebe, Y

2000-11-20

We have previously shown that HIV-1 env subtypes B' (a Thai-B cluster within subtype B) and E (CRF01_AE) are distributed in Yangon, the capital city of Myanmar. However, HIV strains from the rest of country have not yet been genetically characterized. In the present study, we determined env (C2/V3) and gag (p17) subtypes of 25 specimens from central Myanmar (Mandalay). Phylogenetic analyses identified 5 subtype C (20%), in addition to 10 CRF01_AE (40%) and 4 subtype B' (16%). Interestingly, the remaining six specimens (24%) showed discordance between gag and env subtypes; three gag subtype B'/env subtype C, one gag subtype B'/env subtype E, one gag subtype C/env subtype B', and one gag subtype C/env subtype E. These discordant specimens were found frequently among injecting drug users (4 of 12, 33%) and female commercial sex workers (2 of 8, 25%) engaging in high-risk behaviors. The recombinant nature of these HIV-1 strains was verified in three specimens, indicating the presence of new forms of HIV-1 intersubtype C/B' and C/B'/E recombinants with different recombination breakpoints. The data suggest that multiple subtypes of B', C, and CRF01_AE are cocirculating in central Myanmar, leading to the evolution of new forms of intersubtype recombinants among the risk populations exhibiting one of the highest HIV infection rates in the region.

Competence, competency-based education, and undergraduate dental education: a discussion paper.

PubMed

Chuenjitwongsa, S; Oliver, R G; Bullock, A D

2018-02-01

The aim of undergraduate dental education is to provide competent dentists to serve societal needs and improve population oral healthcare. Competency-based education has influenced the development of dental education for decades but this term is problematic. This article explores components of competency-based undergraduate health professional education in order to help the dental profession have a better understanding of the context and purposes of undergraduate dental education. This is a discussion paper based on a wide reading of the literature on the education of health professionals with a specific focus on competency-based undergraduate education. Competence comprises an integration of knowledge, skills and attitudes indicating a capability to perform professional tasks safely and ethically. The process of becoming a competent practitioner is complex. Four characteristics of competency-based education are: curriculum components and content shaped by societal needs; focused on student-centred learning; learning achievement; and limited attention to time-based training and numerical targets. Alongside a competency-based approach, undergraduate dental education can be influenced by institutional features and external factors but these receive little consideration in the literature. Understanding competence, competency-based education, and institutional and external factors will help to improve educational quality, define roles and professional development for the dental educator, and inform further research. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

At the Crossroads: Situating Place-Based Art Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Inwood, Hilary J.

2008-01-01

This article explores the intersection of art education and place-based education as a means of developing ecological literacy. The author advocates the development of a model of place-based art education, one that integrates the real-world, community-centred learning of place-based education with the affective, subjective orientation of art…

Place-Based Education: What Is Its Place in the Social Studies Classroom?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Resor, Cynthia Williams

2010-01-01

Place-based education is a growing trend in education. This article defines place-based education and briefly examines its use across the disciplines. So as to better understand the wider concept, meanings of the geographical term "place" are analyzed. Place-based education in a social studies classroom is examined using two hypothetical…

Web-based learning for continuing nursing education of emergency unit staff.

PubMed

Paavilainen, Eija; Salminen-Tuomaala, Mari

2010-01-01

The authors describe a Web-based continuing education course focusing on patient counseling in an emergency department. Course materials were developed based on data collected from the department's patients and their family members and on earlier findings on counseling. Web-based education is an appropriate method for continuing education in a specific hospital department. This puts special demands for nurse managers in arranging, designing, and implementing the education together with educators.

Profile of Breast Diseases in Post Pubertal Women Assessed By Clinical Breast Examination - A Community Based Study in Rural Pondicherry.

PubMed

Janaki, Kavasseri L; Kannan, Narayanasamy Subbaraju; Palaniappan, M; Nandi, Partha

2016-02-01

Breast diseases in women, whether benign or malignant, are very commonly encountered. Benign diseases are under reported and cancer is one of the leading causes of mortality in women. This study was undertaken with an aim to study the profile of various breast disease in the community. In this observational study all the post pubertal women residing in the selected village (n=1000) were included. The study was done from September 2013 to August 2015. A thorough history taking was done with the help of a predesigned proforma followed by a clinical breast examination and further investigation at our hospital if necessary. It was found in this study that mastalgia, both cyclical and non-cyclical as well as lumps were a common finding in the general population. Significant proportions of women were found to be in the peri-menopausal age group. Median age of menarche was 13 years; menopause was 45 years. The average age at first childbirth was 21 years with 1 year being the median duration of breast-feeding. A total of 128 women (1 in 8) had positive symptomatology with 94 (1 in 11) of them having a breast disease on examination. One was diagnosed with breast cancer. The prevalence of cyclical mastalgia was 1 in 11, non-cyclical mastalgia 1 in 34, fibroadenosis 1 in 23 and fibroadenoma 1 in 100. The awareness regarding risk factors and the availability of screening program was very poor. The average age of presentation of mastalgia was 34 years; fibroadenosis was 35 years and fibroadenoma 29 years. None of the women interacted with or had consulted a practitioner regarding mastalgia as it was not perceived to be a sign of malignancy and did not cause any significant discomfort. It was thus concluded from this study that benign breast diseases are a common occurrence in the general population. Breast cancer continues to be diagnosed only at later stages owing to lack of awareness and inadequately structured screening program. The concept of self-breast examination seems to be poorly understood. CBE is more fruitful with subsequent radiological and histopathological investigation, if warranted.

Factors that influence awareness of breast cancer screening among Arab women in Qatar: results from a cross sectional survey.

PubMed

Donnelly, Tam Truong; Khater, Al-Hareth Al; Al-Bader, Salha Bujassoum; Al Kuwari, Mohammed Ghaith; Malik, Mariam; Al-Meer, Nabila; Singh, Rajvir; Fung, Tak

2014-01-01

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the State of Qatar. Due to low participation in breast cancer screening (BCS) activities, women in Qatar are often diagnosed with breast cancer at advanced stages of the disease. Findings indicate that low participation rates in BCS activities are significantly related to women's low level of awareness of breast cancer screening. The objectives of this study were to: (1) determine the factors that influence Qatari women's awareness of breast cancer and its screening activities: and (2) to find ways to effectively promote breast cancer screening activities among Arabic speaking women in Qatar. A multicenter, cross-sectional quantitative survey of 1,063 (87.5% response rate) female Qatari citizens and non-Qatari Arabic-speaking residents, 35 years of age or older, was conducted in Qatar from March 2011 to July 2011. Outcome measures included participant awareness levels of the most recent national recommended guidelines of BCS, participation rates in BCS activities, and factors related to awareness of BCS activities. While most participants (90.7%) were aware of breast cancer, less than half had awareness of BCS practices (28.9% were aware of breast self-examination and 41.8% of clinical breast exams, while 26.4% knew that mammography was recommended by national screening guidelines. Only 7.6% had knowledge of all three BCS activities). Regarding BCS practice, less than one-third practiced BCS appropriately (13.9% of participants performed breast self-examination (BSE) monthly, 31.3% had a clinical breast exam (CBE) once a year or once every two years, and 26.9% of women 40 years of age or older had a mammogram once every year or two years). Awareness of BCS was significantly related to BCS practice, education level, and receipt of information about breast cancer and/or BCS from a variety of sources, particularly doctors and the media. The low levels of participation rates in BCS among Arab women in this study indicate a strong need to increase awareness of the importance of breast cancer screening in Qatari women. Without this awareness, compliance with the most recent breast cancer screening recommendations in Qatar will remain low. An increased effort to implement mass media and public health campaigns regarding the impact of breast cancer on women's health and the benefits of early detection of breast cancer must be coupled with an enhanced participation of health care providers in delivering this message to Qatar population.

On Educational Advocacy and Cultural Work: Situating Community-Based Youth Work[ers] in Broader Educational Discourse

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Baldridge, Biana J.

2018-01-01

Background/Context: The current educational market nestled in neoliberal and market-based reform efforts has shifted the nature of public education. Community-based educational spaces are also shaped within this context. As such, given the political and educational climate youth workers are situated in, their role as advocates, cultural workers,…

Emergence and Outlook of Competence-Based Education in European Education Systems: An Overview

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tchibozo, Guy

2011-01-01

This contribution takes stock on the emergence of competence-based education in European Union (EU) countries. The article explains how economic constraints but also educational motives led educational policies and systems in the EU to shift to competence-based education. The related instructional frame and concepts are presented, as are the major…

Linkages between Total Quality Management and the Outcomes-Based Approach in an Education Environment

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

de Jager, H. J.; Nieuwenhuis, F. J.

2005-01-01

South Africa has embarked on a process of education renewal by adopting outcomes-based education (OBE). This paper focuses on the linkages between total quality management (TQM) and the outcomes-based approach in an education context. Quality assurance in academic programmes in higher education in South Africa is, in some instances, based on the…

Using a Metacognitive Approach with Case-Based Instruction to Enhance Teacher Reflection and Promote Effective Educational Practices for Diverse Learners

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Whittaker, Catharine; van Garderen, Delinda

2009-01-01

Many teacher educators have enthusiastically embraced case-based instruction in teacher education programs. However, the research base is equivocal on whether preservice and in-service teacher educators' case-based reflections on educational issues are comprehensive and critical. This study explores the use of a metacognitive strategy--the case…

Competency-based education and training in internal medicine.

PubMed

Weinberger, Steven E; Pereira, Anne G; Iobst, William F; Mechaber, Alex J; Bronze, Michael S

2010-12-07

Recent efforts to improve medical education include adopting a new framework based on 6 broad competencies defined by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. In this article, the Alliance for Academic Internal Medicine Education Redesign Task Force II examines the advantages and challenges of a competency-based educational framework for medical residents. Efforts to refine specific competencies by developing detailed milestones are described, and examples of training program initiatives using a competency-based approach are presented. Meeting the challenges of a competency-based framework and supporting these educational innovations require a robust faculty development program. Challenges to competency-based education include teaching and evaluating the competencies related to practice-based learning and improvement and systems-based practice, as well as implementing a flexible time frame to achieve competencies. However, the Alliance for Academic Internal Medicine Education Redesign Task Force II does not favor reducing internal medicine training to less than 36 months as part of competency-based education. Rather, the 36-month time frame should allow for remediation to address deficiencies in achieving competencies and for diverse enrichment experiences in such areas as quality of care and practice improvement for residents who have demonstrated skills in all required competencies.

Developing Competency-Based Preparation and Performance-Based Certification in Georgia.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Solomon, Lester M.

The state of Georgia has been moving toward competency/performance-based education since the late 1960's. All of the groups concerned with education and the preparation of teachers (higher education institutions, the Georgia Teacher Education Council, professional organizations, and the Georgia Department of Education) have been involved. In…

Developing of Environmental Education Textbook Based on Local Potencies

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ilma, Silfia; Wijarini, Fitri

2017-01-01

Environmental education subject aims to form students who have the character to maintain the environment. One effort to achieve the objectives of the Environmental education subject is the local Environmental Education Textbook Based on Local Potencies. This research was aimed to produce textbook of environment-based education subject…

Performance evaluation of nursing students following competency-based education.

PubMed

Fan, Jun-Yu; Wang, Yu Hsin; Chao, Li Fen; Jane, Sui-Whi; Hsu, Li-Ling

2015-01-01

Competency-based education is known to improve the match between educational performance and employment opportunities. This study examined the effects of competency-based education on the learning outcomes of undergraduate nursing students. The study used a quasi-experimental design. A convenience sample of 312 second-year undergraduate nursing students from northern and southern Taiwan participated in the study. The experimental group (n=163) received competency-based education and the control group received traditional instruction (n=149) in a medical-surgical nursing course. Outcome measures included students' scores on the Objective Structured Clinical Examination, Self-Evaluated Core Competencies Scale, Metacognitive Inventory for Nursing Students questionnaire, and academic performance. Students who received competency-based education had significantly higher academic performance in the medical-surgical nursing course and practicum than did the control group. Required core competencies and metacognitive abilities improved significantly in the competency-based education group as compared to the control group after adjusting for covariates. Competency-based education is worth implementing and may close the gap between education and the ever-changing work environment. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Exploring the Role of Performance Assessment in Competency-Based Education: Recommendations from the National Summit on K-12 Competency-Based Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gagnon, Laurie

2017-01-01

Based on reports created for the 2017 National Summit on K-12 Competency-Based Education, this article explores how educators can take action to build momentum for and implement competency education and performance assessment. As a guide to taking action, the article provides the following: (1) links to the four framing reports from the Summit;…

Making It Real: A Practice-Based Early Childhood Teacher Education Program

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Vartuli, Sue; Snider, Karrie; Holley, Maggie

2016-01-01

In early childhood teacher education programs, the reality of educational systems must be understood and teacher candidates must be ready to deal with the current challenges schools face. The rationale and application of the principles of practice based teacher education are presented in this article. Practice-based teacher education programs…

Competency-Based, Time-Variable Education in the Health Professions: Crossroads.

PubMed

Lucey, Catherine R; Thibault, George E; Ten Cate, Olle

2018-03-01

Health care systems around the world are transforming to align with the needs of 21st-century patients and populations. Transformation must also occur in the educational systems that prepare the health professionals who deliver care, advance discovery, and educate the next generation of physicians in these evolving systems. Competency-based, time-variable education, a comprehensive educational strategy guided by the roles and responsibilities that health professionals must assume to meet the needs of contemporary patients and communities, has the potential to catalyze optimization of educational and health care delivery systems. By designing educational and assessment programs that require learners to meet specific competencies before transitioning between the stages of formal education and into practice, this framework assures the public that every physician is capable of providing high-quality care. By engaging learners as partners in assessment, competency-based, time-variable education prepares graduates for careers as lifelong learners. While the medical education community has embraced the notion of competencies as a guiding framework for educational institutions, the structure and conduct of formal educational programs remain more aligned with a time-based, competency-variable paradigm.The authors outline the rationale behind this recommended shift to a competency-based, time-variable education system. They then introduce the other articles included in this supplement to Academic Medicine, which summarize the history of, theories behind, examples demonstrating, and challenges associated with competency-based, time-variable education in the health professions.

Life at Both Ends of the Ladder: Education-Based Identification and Its Association With Well-Being and Social Attitudes.

PubMed

Kuppens, Toon; Easterbrook, Matthew J; Spears, Russell; Manstead, Antony S R

2015-09-01

Level of formal education is an important divide in contemporary societies; it is positively related to health, well-being, and social attitudes such as tolerance for minorities and interest in politics. We investigated whether education-based identification is a common underlying factor of these education effects. Indeed, education-based identification was stronger among the higher educated, especially for identification aspects that encompass education-based group esteem (i.e., the belief that one's educational group is worthy and that others think so, too). Furthermore, while group esteem had beneficial effects across educational levels, aspects of identification that were unrelated to group esteem had positive effects for the higher educated but not for the less educated. Thus, the less educated do not benefit from the psychologically nourishing effect of identification that exists for other groups. The stigma and responsibility related to low education could be a common explanation for a wide range of outcomes. © 2015 by the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, Inc.

Twelve tips for a successful interprofessional team-based high-fidelity simulation education session

PubMed Central

Bould, M. Dylan; Layat Burn, Carine; Reeves, Scott

2014-01-01

Simulation-based education allows experiential learning without risk to patients. Interprofessional education aims to provide opportunities to different professions for learning how to work effectively together. Interprofessional simulation-based education presents many challenges, including the logistics of setting up the session and providing effective feedback to participants with different backgrounds and mental models. This paper aims to provide educators with a series of practical and pedagogical tips for designing, implementing, assessing, and evaluating a successful interprofessional team-based simulation session. The paper is organized in the sequence that an educator might use in developing an interprofessional simulation-based education session. Collectively, this paper provides guidance from determining interprofessional learning objectives and curricular design to program evaluation. With a better understanding of the concepts and pedagogical methods underlying interprofessional education and simulation, educators will be able to create conditions for a unique educational experience where individuals learn with and from other specialties and professions in a controlled, safe environment. PMID:25023765

Hr Quality Improvement Strategy of Education in Indonesia-Based Systems and Broad Based Education High Based Education: Perspective of 21st Century Challenges

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Subandi

2017-01-01

Although the educational programme had been on going process since 68 years ago in Indonesia, but this state did not has provided qualified human resources. Since 32 years ago of the New Order Government authority, educational sector development has never been placed as a prime priority of development. The effect of Indonesian educational quality…

Application of competency-based education in laparoscopic training.

PubMed

Xue, Dongbo; Bo, Hong; Zhang, Weihui; Zhao, Song; Meng, Xianzhi; Zhang, Donghua

2015-01-01

To induce competency-based education/developing a curriculum in the training of postgraduate students in laparoscopic surgery. This study selected postgraduate students before the implementation of competency-based education (n = 16) or after the implementation of competency-based education (n = 17). On the basis of the 5 competencies of patient care, medical knowledge, practice-based learning and improvement, interpersonal and communication skills, and professionalism, the research team created a developing a curriculum chart and specific improvement measures that were implemented in the competency-based education group. On the basis of the developing a curriculum chart, the assessment of the 5 comprehensive competencies using the 360° assessment method indicated that the competency-based education group's competencies were significantly improved compared with those of the traditional group (P < .05). The improvement in the comprehensive assessment was also significant compared with the traditional group (P < .05). The implementation of competency-based education/developing a curriculum teaching helps to improve the comprehensive competencies of postgraduate students and enables them to become qualified clinicians equipped to meet society's needs.

The Impact of Competency-Based Teacher Education and Certification Programs in Utah.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mouritsen, Roger C.

Utah is a member of a nine-state consortium to study competency-based teacher education and certification programs. This paper presents an overview of the nationwide movement for competency-based teacher education, followed by a description of the situation in Utah. The State Board of Education is making an effort through the Teacher Education and…

Nintendo Wii: Opportunities to Put the Education Back into Physical Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Perlman, Dana; Forrest, Greg; Pearson, Phil

2012-01-01

Movement-based gaming technologies, such as the Nintendo Wii, are becoming more visible within the physical education. As research on movement-based technologies develops, an aspect that has gained interest is the potential educational value for the physical education student. The purpose of this study was to examine movement-based sport games and…

A Curriculum Guide for Energy Education - Vocational Home Economics Education. A Guide for Planning Performance-Based Energy Education in Home Economics Education Programs.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

South Carolina State Dept. of Education, Columbia. Home Economics Education Section.

This guide serves as a resource for performance-based learning experiences designed to assist secondary school home economics students in developing competencies essential for effective energy use and management. A rationale for performance-based vocational education; definitions/explanations of the terms…

Developing Knowledgeable Teachers: A Framework for Standards-Based Teacher Education Supported by Institutional Collaboration. The STEP Reports.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Garvin, Patty, Ed.

This collection of papers describes the process of creating a standards-based teacher education program through strong collaboration among arts and science, education, and P-12 faculty members and administrators. The Standards-based Teacher Education Project (STEP) was designed to help teacher education programs ensure that their graduates know…

Effectiveness of an education intervention to strengthen nurses' readiness for evidence-based practice: A single-blind randomized controlled study.

PubMed

Saunders, Hannele; Vehviläinen-Julkunen, Katri; Stevens, Kathleen R

2016-08-01

Nurses' lack of readiness for evidence-based practice slows down the uptake, adoption, and implementation of evidence-based practice which is of international concern as it impedes attainment of the highest quality of care and best patient outcomes. There is limited evidence about the most effective approaches to strengthen nurses' readiness for evidence-based practice. To evaluate the effectiveness of an Advanced Practice Nurse-delivered education program to strengthen nurses' readiness for evidence-based practice at a university hospital. A single-blind randomized controlled trial with repeated measures design, with measures completed during spring and fall 2015, before the education program (T0), within 1week after (T1), 8weeks after (T2), and 4months after completion of education interventions (T3). One large university hospital system in Finland, consisting of 15 acute care hospitals. The required sample size, calculated by a priori power analysis and including a 20% estimated attrition rate, called for 85 nurse participants to be recruited. Nurses working in different professional nursing roles and care settings were randomly allocated into two groups: intervention (evidence-based practice education, N=43) and control (research utilization education, N=34). The nurse participants received live 4-h education sessions on the basic principles of evidence-based practice (intervention group) and on the principles of research utilization (control group). The intervention group also received a web-based interactive evidence-based practice education module with a booster mentoring intervention. Readiness for evidence-based practice data, previous experience with evidence-based practice, and participant demographics were collected using the Stevens' EBP Readiness Inventory. Nurses' confidence in employing evidence-based practice and actual evidence-based practice knowledge were lower at T0, compared with the post-education scores, specifically at T1. The improvement in the confidence or actual evidence-based practice knowledge levels did not differ between the intervention and control groups. Confidence in employing evidence-based practice was directly correlated with level of education and inversely correlated with age. Actual evidence-based practice knowledge was lowest among nurses who had no previous knowledge or experience of evidence-based practice. Both the evidence-based practice and research utilization education interventions improved nurses' confidence in employing evidence-based practice and actual evidence-based practice knowledge, strengthening their evidence-based practice readiness at least in the short-term. Most of the variation in the confidence in employing evidence-based practice and actual evidence-based practice knowledge levels was due to background factors, such as primary role and education level, which emphasize differences in educational needs between nurses with diverse backgrounds. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Development of a mission-based funding model for undergraduate medical education: incorporation of quality.

PubMed

Stagnaro-Green, Alex; Roe, David; Soto-Greene, Maria; Joffe, Russell

2008-01-01

Increasing financial pressures, along with a desire to realign resources with institutional priorities, has resulted in the adoption of mission-based funding (MBF) at many medical schools. The lack of inclusion of quality and the time and expense in developing and implementing mission based funding are major deficiencies in the models reported to date. In academic year 2002-2003 New Jersey Medical School developed a model that included both quantity and quality in the education metric and that was departmentally based. Eighty percent of the undergraduate medical education allocation was based on the quantity of undergraduate medical education taught by the department ($7.35 million), and 20% ($1.89 million) was allocated based on the quality of the education delivered. Quality determinations were made by the educational leadership based on student evaluations and departmental compliance with educational administrative requirements. Evolution of the model has included the development of a faculty oversight committee and the integration of peer evaluation in the determination of educational quality. Six departments had a documented increase in quality over time, and one department had a transient decrease in quality. The MBF model has been well accepted by chairs, educational leaders, and faculty and has been instrumental in enhancing the stature of education at our institution.

Resource Guide to Competency-Based Vocational Education: Distributive Education.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Foster, Phillip R., Comp.

This resource guide for classroom teachers contains annotations of resources representing recent instructional development in competency-based education for distributive education. It is also intended to assist curriculum specialists, administrators, and supervisors in development of performance-based instructional programs. The guide is divided…

Internet-based health education in China: a content analysis of websites.

PubMed

Peng, Ying; Wu, Xi; Atkins, Salla; Zwarentein, Merrick; Zhu, Ming; Zhan, Xing Xin; Zhang, Fan; Ran, Peng; Yan, Wei Rong

2014-01-27

The Internet is increasingly being applied in health education worldwide; however there is little knowledge of its use in Chinese higher education institutions. The present study provides the first review and highlights the deficiencies and required future advances in Chinese Internet-based health education. Two authors independently conducted a duplicate Internet search in order to identify information regarding Internet-based health education in China. The findings showed that Internet-based education began in China in September 1998. Currently, only 16 of 150 (10.7%) health education institutions in China offer fee-based online undergraduate degree courses, awarding associates and/or bachelors degrees. Fifteen of the 16 institutions were located in the middle or on the eastern coast of China, where were more developed than other regions. Nursing was the most popular discipline in Internet-based health education, while some other disciplines, such as preventive medicine, were only offered at one university. Besides degree education, Chinese institutions also offered non-degree online training and free resources. The content was mainly presented in the form of PowerPoint slides or videos for self-learning. Very little online interactive mentoring was offered with any of the courses. There is considerable potential for the further development of Internet-based health education in China. These developments should include a focus on strengthening cooperation among higher education institutions in order to develop balanced online health curricula, and on enhancing distance education in low- and middle-income regions to meet extensive learning demands.

Internet-based health education in China: a content analysis of websites

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

Background The Internet is increasingly being applied in health education worldwide; however there is little knowledge of its use in Chinese higher education institutions. The present study provides the first review and highlights the deficiencies and required future advances in Chinese Internet-based health education. Methods Two authors independently conducted a duplicate Internet search in order to identify information regarding Internet-based health education in China. Results The findings showed that Internet-based education began in China in September 1998. Currently, only 16 of 150 (10.7%) health education institutions in China offer fee-based online undergraduate degree courses, awarding associates and/or bachelors degrees. Fifteen of the 16 institutions were located in the middle or on the eastern coast of China, where were more developed than other regions. Nursing was the most popular discipline in Internet-based health education, while some other disciplines, such as preventive medicine, were only offered at one university. Besides degree education, Chinese institutions also offered non-degree online training and free resources. The content was mainly presented in the form of PowerPoint slides or videos for self-learning. Very little online interactive mentoring was offered with any of the courses. Conclusions There is considerable potential for the further development of Internet-based health education in China. These developments should include a focus on strengthening cooperation among higher education institutions in order to develop balanced online health curricula, and on enhancing distance education in low- and middle-income regions to meet extensive learning demands. PMID:24467710

Optical Proxies for Dissolved Organic Matter in Estuaries and Coastal Waters

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Osburn, C. L.; Montgomery, M. T.; Boyd, T. J.; Bianchi, T. S.; Coffin, R. B.; Paerl, H. W.

2016-02-01

The flux of terrestrial dissolved organic carbon (DOC) into the coastal ocean from rivers and estuaries is a major part of the ocean's carbon cycle. Absorbing and fluorescing properties of chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) often are used to fingerprint its sources and to track fluxes of terrestrial DOM into the ocean. They also are used as proxies for organic matter to calibrate remote sensing observations from air and space and from in situ platforms. In general, strong relationships hold for large river dominated estuaries (e.g., the Mississippi River) but little is known about how widely such relationships can be developed in estuaries that have relatively small or multiple riverine inputs. Results are presented from a comparison of six diverse estuarine systems: the Atchafalaya River (ARE), the Mackenzie River (MRE), the Chesapeake Bay (CBE), Charleston Harbor (CHE), Puget Sound (PUG), and the Neuse River (NRE). Mean DOM concentrations ranged from 100 to 700 µM and dissolved lignin concentrations ranged from ca. 3-30 µg L-1. Overall trends were linear between CDOM measured at 350 nm (a350) and DOC concentration (R2=0.77) and between a350 and lignin (R2=0.87). Intercepts of a350 vs lignin were not significantly different from zero (P=0.43) suggesting that most of the CDOM was terrestrial in nature. Deviations from these regressions were strongest in the Neuse River Estuary, the most eutrophic of the six estuaries studied. After this calibration procedure, fluorescence modeling via parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC) was used to make estimates of terrigenous and planktonic DOC in these estuaries.

Cannabidiol causes endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation of human mesenteric arteries via CB1 activation

PubMed Central

Stanley, Christopher P.; Hind, William H.; Tufarelli, Cristina; O'Sullivan, Saoirse E.

2015-01-01

Aims The protective effects of cannabidiol (CBD) have been widely shown in preclinical models and have translated into medicines for the treatment of multiple sclerosis and epilepsy. However, the direct vascular effects of CBD in humans are unknown. Methods and results Using wire myography, the vascular effects of CBD were assessed in human mesenteric arteries, and the mechanisms of action probed pharmacologically. CBD-induced intracellular signalling was characterized using human aortic endothelial cells (HAECs). CBD caused acute, non-recoverable vasorelaxation of human mesenteric arteries with an Rmax of ∼40%. This was inhibited by cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1) receptor antagonists, desensitization of transient receptor potential channels using capsaicin, removal of the endothelium, and inhibition of potassium efflux. There was no role for cannabinoid receptor-2 (CB2) receptor, peroxisome proliferator activated receptor (PPAR)γ, the novel endothelial cannabinoid receptor (CBe), or cyclooxygenase. CBD-induced vasorelaxation was blunted in males, and in patients with type 2 diabetes or hypercholesterolemia. In HAECs, CBD significantly reduced phosphorylated JNK, NFκB, p70s6 K and STAT5, and significantly increased phosphorylated CREB, ERK1/2, and Akt levels. CBD also increased phosphorylated eNOS (ser1177), which was correlated with increased levels of ERK1/2 and Akt levels. CB1 receptor antagonism prevented the increase in eNOS phosphorylation. Conclusion This study shows, for the first time, that CBD causes vasorelaxation of human mesenteric arteries via activation of CB1 and TRP channels, and is endothelium- and nitric oxide-dependent. PMID:26092099

Analysis of the performance of the space ultravacuum research facility in attached and free-flyer mode

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Naumann, Robert J.

1988-01-01

The old concept of using the wake of a spacecraft to obtain an ultrahigh vacuum is revisited with a somewhat different emphasis. Since it is possible to configure a wake shield so that a surface of interest does not subtend any walls that could become contaminated, it appears that it should be possible to achieve a contamination-free, ultrahigh vacuum capability with infinite pumping speed even in the presence of high heat loads and moderate gas loads. With the new interest in developing thin films with precision controlled synthetic microstructures such as superlattices, mixed metal oxide high temperature superconductors, rare-earth magneto-optical devices, and nano-crystalline alloys, the ability to work with a variety of different materials without cross contamination should be of significance. This paper analyzes the performance of the conceptual design for a Space Ultravacuum Research Facility (SURF), both in a Shuttle-attached mode and as a free-flyer. It is shown that even in the Shuttle-attached mode, it should be possible to obtain vacuum levels equivalent to 10 to the -10 Torr with O and N2 as the primary constituents. This should be sufficient to demonstrate the feasibility of the concept, particularly the infinite pumping speed and virtual elimination of contamination aspects. As a free-flyer the SURF will be limited primarily by the gas load associated with the process being performed. For chemical beam epitaxy (CBE) it is shown that equivalent vacuum levels of 10 to the -14 Torr should be possible at 300 km.

Education problems and Web-based teaching: how it impacts dental educators?

PubMed

Clark, G T

2001-01-01

This article looks at six problems that vex educators and how web-based teaching might help solve them. These problems include: (1) limited access to educational content, (2) need for asynchronous access to educational content, (3) depth and diversity of educational content, (4) training in complex problem solving, (5) promotion of lifelong learning behaviors and (6) achieving excellence in education. The advantages and disadvantage of web-based educational content for each problem are discussed. The article suggests that when a poorly organized course with inaccurate and irrelevant content is placed online, it solves no problems. However some of the above issues can be partially or fully solved by hosting well-constructed teaching modules on the web. This article also reviews the literature investigating the efficacy of off-site education as compared to that provided on-site. The conclusion of this review is that teleconference-based and web-based delivery of educational content can be as effective as traditional classroom-based teaching assuming the technologic problems sometimes associated with delivering teaching content to off-site locations do not interfere in the learning process. A suggested hierarchy for rating and comparing e-learning concepts and methods is presented for consideration.

Life Imitates Pokemon: The Virtues and Necessities of Technology-Based Peer Education in Today's Schools.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bloomfield, David

1999-01-01

As the Pokemon game craze illustrates, the combination of peer education and technology makes for powerful educational experiences. Educators need to accept technology-based peer education as a help rather than a hindrance to improve educational outcomes for students. (SLD)

Web-Based Patient Education in Orthopedics: Systematic Review

PubMed Central

Melles, Marijke; Groeneveld, Bob Sander; de Ridder, Huib

2018-01-01

Background Patients with orthopedic conditions frequently use the internet to find health information. Patient education that is distributed online may form an easily accessible, time- and cost-effective alternative to education delivered through traditional channels such as one-on-one consultations or booklets. However, no systematic evidence for the comparative effectiveness of Web-based educational interventions exists. Objective The objective of this systematic review was to examine the effects of Web-based patient education interventions for adult orthopedic patients and to compare its effectiveness with generic health information websites and traditional forms of patient education. Methods CINAHL, the Cochrane Library, EMBASE, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, PUBMED, ScienceDirect, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched covering the period from 1995 to 2016. Peer-reviewed English and Dutch studies were included if they delivered patient education via the internet to the adult orthopedic population and assessed its effects in a controlled or observational trial. Results A total of 10 trials reported in 14 studies involving 4172 patients were identified. Nine trials provided evidence for increased patients’ knowledge after Web-based patient education. Seven trials reported increased satisfaction and good evaluations of Web-based patient education. No compelling evidence exists for an effect of Web-based patient education on anxiety, health attitudes and behavior, or clinical outcomes. Conclusions Web-based patient education may be offered as a time- and cost-effective alternative to current educational interventions when the objective is to improve patients’ knowledge and satisfaction. However, these findings may not be representative for the whole orthopedic patient population as most trials included considerably younger, higher-educated, and internet-savvy participants only. PMID:29685869

Research-Based Teacher Education? Exploring the Meaning Potentials of Swedish Teacher Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Alvunger, Daniel; Wahlström, Ninni

2018-01-01

In this article, we explore the meaning potentials of teacher education in terms of the significance of a research-based approach and the different pedagogic identities that such an approach implies. The study's aim is to examine the important factors for education to be considered research-based and to identify and analyse the research base of…

The Impact of Web Based Resource Material on Learning Outcome in Open Distance Higher Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Masrur, Rehana

2010-01-01

One of the most powerful educational option in open and distance education is web-based learning. A blended (hybrid) course combines traditional face to face and web-based learning approaches in an educational environment that is nonspecific as to time and place. The study reported here investigated the impact of web based resource material…

Sensory-based food education in early childhood education and care, willingness to choose and eat fruit and vegetables, and the moderating role of maternal education and food neophobia.

PubMed

Kähkönen, Kaisa; Rönkä, Anna; Hujo, Mika; Lyytikäinen, Arja; Nuutinen, Outi

2018-05-08

To investigate the association between sensory-based food education implemented in early childhood education and care (ECEC) centres and children's willingness to choose and eat vegetables, berries and fruit, and whether the mother's education level and children's food neophobia moderate the linkage. The cross-sectional study involved six ECEC centres that provide sensory-based food education and three reference centres. A snack buffet containing eleven different vegetables, berries and fruit was used to assess children's willingness to choose and eat the food items. The children's parents completed the Food Neophobia Scale questionnaire to assess their children's food neophobia. ECEC centres that provide sensory-based food education and reference ECEC centres in Finland. Children aged 3-5 years in ECEC (n 130) and their parents. Sensory-based food education was associated with children's willingness to choose and eat vegetables, berries and fruit. This association was stronger among the children of mothers with a low education level. A high average level of neophobia in the child group reduced the children's willingness to choose vegetables, berries and fruit. No similar tendency was observed in the group that had received sensory-based food education. Children's individual food neophobia had a negative association with their willingness to choose and eat the vegetables, berries and fruit. Child-oriented sensory-based food education seems to provide a promising method for promoting children's adoption of vegetables, berries and fruit in their diets. In future sensory food education research, more focus should be placed on the effects of the education at the group level.

Milestones and Millennials: A Perfect Pairing-Competency-Based Medical Education and the Learning Preferences of Generation Y.

PubMed

Desy, Janeve R; Reed, Darcy A; Wolanskyj, Alexandra P

2017-02-01

Millennials are quickly becoming the most prevalent generation of medical learners. These individuals have a unique outlook on education and have different preferences and expectations than their predecessors. As evidenced by its implementation by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education in the United States and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons in Canada, competency based medical education is rapidly gaining international acceptance. Characteristics of competency based medical education can be perfectly paired with Millennial educational needs in several dimensions including educational expectations, the educational process, attention to emotional quotient and professionalism, assessment, feedback, and intended outcomes. We propose that with its attention to transparency, personalized learning, and frequent formative assessment, competency based medical education is an ideal fit for the Millennial generation as it realigns education and assessment with the needs of these 21st century learners. Copyright © 2016 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The Paradox of Evidence-Based Education: From the Decline of Education to Abandonment of the Theories of Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Matsushita, Ryohei

2017-01-01

In the field of education, evidence means an objective ground for setting or judging an educational policy, plan or method, as an effective means to attain a given political end or educational objective. Evidence-based education has been regarded as a decisive device to pursue the accountability and improve the quality of education by connecting…

An Investigation of Counselor Educators' Attitudes towards Evidence-Based Practices and Perceived Barriers to the Incorporation of Evidence-Based Practices in Counselor Education Curricula

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Patel, Samir H.

2010-01-01

The overall purpose of this study was to investigate counselor educators' attitudes towards evidence-based practices (EBPs) and perceived barriers to the inclusion of EBPs in counselor education curricula. Additionally, this study aimed to assess whether counselor educators' level of agreement towards the presence of motivational interviewing (MI)…

Selected Styles in Web-Based Educational Research

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mann, Bruce, Ed.

2006-01-01

"Selected Styles in Web-Based Educational Research" is concerned with the most common research styles in Web-based teaching or learning. It is intended for practitioners, educators and students, who wish to learn how to conduct research in online teaching and learning, and helps define style in educational research methodology. To…

In Search of...Brain-Based Education.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bruer, John T.

1999-01-01

Debunks two ideas appearing in brain-based education articles: the educational significance of brain laterality (right brain versus left brain) and claims for a sensitive period of brain development in young children. Brain-based education literature provides a popular but misleading mix of fact, misinterpretation, and fantasy. (47 references (MLH)

Continuing Medical Education Reform for Competency-Based Education and Assessment

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Nahrwold, David L.

2005-01-01

The development of competency-based education and evaluation for residents and practicing physicians by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education and the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS), respectively, includes the competency of practice-based learning and improvement. Efforts to implement this and the other competencies…

Competency-Based Education: A New Architecture for K-12 Schooling

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Colby, Rose L.

2017-01-01

"Competency-Based Education" introduces educators to a new model for anytime, anywhere schooling and provides tools and curriculum resources for redesigning the traditional structures of K-12 schools. Based on pioneering work across multiple states, the book shows how educators can design central elements of competency-based…

Maximizing the Impact of Program Evaluation: A Discrepancy-Based Process for Educational Program Evaluation.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cantor, Jeffrey A.

This paper describes a formative/summative process for educational program evaluation, which is appropriate for higher education programs and is based on M. Provus' Discrepancy Evaluation Model and the principles of instructional design. The Discrepancy Based Methodology for Educational Program Evaluation facilitates systematic and detailed…

Application of Competency-Based Education in Laparoscopic Training

PubMed Central

Xue, Dongbo; Bo, Hong; Zhao, Song; Meng, Xianzhi

2015-01-01

Background and Objectives: To induce competency-based education/developing a curriculum in the training of postgraduate students in laparoscopic surgery. Methods: This study selected postgraduate students before the implementation of competency-based education (n = 16) or after the implementation of competency-based education (n = 17). On the basis of the 5 competencies of patient care, medical knowledge, practice-based learning and improvement, interpersonal and communication skills, and professionalism, the research team created a developing a curriculum chart and specific improvement measures that were implemented in the competency-based education group. Results: On the basis of the developing a curriculum chart, the assessment of the 5 comprehensive competencies using the 360° assessment method indicated that the competency-based education group's competencies were significantly improved compared with those of the traditional group (P < .05). The improvement in the comprehensive assessment was also significant compared with the traditional group (P < .05). Conclusion: The implementation of competency-based education/developing a curriculum teaching helps to improve the comprehensive competencies of postgraduate students and enables them to become qualified clinicians equipped to meet society's needs. PMID:25901105

Career Education: Papers Presented at the 1972 Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association (Chicago, Illinois, April 4, 1972).

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

American Educational Research Association, Washington, DC.

Three of the papers in this collection present the separate models--school based, employer based, and home-community based. Titles of the five papers are: (1) "Facts and Fantasies of Career Education" by Gorden I. Swanson, (2) "Strategies for Implementing Career Education: A School Based Model" by Aaron J. Miller, (3)…

The Promise of Performance. (Competency)-Based Education: An Analytical Review of Literature and Experience. Final Report. SPON;BBB08936

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Joyce, Bruce R.

This analysis, a review of literature and experience on performance-based education, is divided into nine chapters: chapter one, "The Short Form: Best-Guess Working Hypotheses for Competency-Based Education" (a summary of the frame of reference for this study and the recommendations for performance-based education which resulted from the effort);…

The false dichotomy of quality and quantity in the discourse around assessment in competency-based education.

PubMed

Ten Cate, Olle

2015-08-01

Competency-based medical education stresses the attainment of competencies rather than the completion of fixed time in rotations. This sometimes leads to the interpretation that quantitative features of a program are of less importance, such as procedures practiced and weeks or months spent in clinical practice. An educational philosophy like "We don't require numbers of procedures completed but focus on competencies" suggests a dichotomy of either competency-based or time and procedures based education. The author argues that this dichotomy is not useful, and may even compromise education, as long as valid assessment of all relevant competencies is not possible or feasible. Requiring quantities of experiences of learners is not in contrast with competency-based education.

Computer-Based Training and Education: An Australian Perspective.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sims, Roderick C. H.

1993-01-01

Provides an overview of computer-based training and education in Australia. Highlights include elementary and secondary schools; computer hardware; learning tools, including educational games and CD-ROMs; tertiary education, including Institutes of Technical and Further Education (TAFE) and universities; the Australian workforce, including…

Web-Based Patient Education in Orthopedics: Systematic Review.

PubMed

Dekkers, Tessa; Melles, Marijke; Groeneveld, Bob Sander; de Ridder, Huib

2018-04-23

Patients with orthopedic conditions frequently use the internet to find health information. Patient education that is distributed online may form an easily accessible, time- and cost-effective alternative to education delivered through traditional channels such as one-on-one consultations or booklets. However, no systematic evidence for the comparative effectiveness of Web-based educational interventions exists. The objective of this systematic review was to examine the effects of Web-based patient education interventions for adult orthopedic patients and to compare its effectiveness with generic health information websites and traditional forms of patient education. CINAHL, the Cochrane Library, EMBASE, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, PUBMED, ScienceDirect, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched covering the period from 1995 to 2016. Peer-reviewed English and Dutch studies were included if they delivered patient education via the internet to the adult orthopedic population and assessed its effects in a controlled or observational trial. A total of 10 trials reported in 14 studies involving 4172 patients were identified. Nine trials provided evidence for increased patients' knowledge after Web-based patient education. Seven trials reported increased satisfaction and good evaluations of Web-based patient education. No compelling evidence exists for an effect of Web-based patient education on anxiety, health attitudes and behavior, or clinical outcomes. Web-based patient education may be offered as a time- and cost-effective alternative to current educational interventions when the objective is to improve patients' knowledge and satisfaction. However, these findings may not be representative for the whole orthopedic patient population as most trials included considerably younger, higher-educated, and internet-savvy participants only. ©Tessa Dekkers, Marijke Melles, Bob Sander Groeneveld, Huib de Ridder. Originally published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research (http://www.jmir.org), 23.04.2018.

Competency-Based Evaluation in Higher Education--Design and Use of Competence Rubrics by University Educators

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Velasco-Martínez, Leticia-Concepción; Tójar-Hurtado, Juan-Carlos

2018-01-01

Competency-based learning requires making changes in the higher education model in response to current socio-educational demands. Rubrics are an innovative educational tool for competence evaluation, for both students and educators. Ever since arriving at the university systems, the application of rubrics in evaluation programs has grown…

Action Research on College English Writing Based on Information Technology from the Perspective of MOOCs

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Guo, Xuan

2016-01-01

The educational reform based on information technology at college has been paid high attention recently in China, which aims at using educational informatization to drive educational modernization and bringing online education into the reform and development strategy of the overall higher education. To promote the educational informatization is…

Transitions and Transformations in Philippine Physics Education Curriculum: A Case Research

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Morales, Marie Paz E.

2017-01-01

Curriculum, curricular transition and reform define transformational outcome-based education (OBE) in the Philippine education system. This study explores how alignment may be done with a special physics education program to suit the OBE curricular agenda for pre-service physics education, known as an outcome-based teacher education curriculum…

Outcomes Based Education Re-Examined: From Structural Functionalism to Poststructuralism.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Capper, Colleen A.; Jamison, Michael T.

Outcomes Based Education (OBE) is viewed as a drastic break from current educational practices and a means of providing educational success for all students. OBE is also advocated as a practice that lead to educational inequity. This paper reexamines OBE from a multiparadigm perspective of organizations and educational administration. OBE is based…

The Demand and Supply of University-Based Executive Education. GMAC Occasional Papers.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Johnson, Terry R.; And Others

The results of a study of the market for university-based education programs for executives and managers is presented. Study objectives were to profile corporate use of various executive and management education programs, profile characteristics of university-based executive education programs currently offered, and identify trends and unmet needs…

A School-Based Therapeutic/Educational Program for Severely Disturbed Latency Aged Children.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Shelby, Madge E.

Through joint efforts of mental health and education professionals, a school-based therapeutic/educational program for seriously emotionally disturbed children, some of whom had additional identified disabilities such as mental retardation, was initiated with 15 students (ages 8-13). The educational component of the program was based on an…

School-Based Primary School Sexuality Education for Migrant Children in Beijing, China

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Liu, Wenli; Su, Yufen

2014-01-01

In May 2007, Beijing Normal University launched a programme of school-based sexuality education for migrant children in Xingzhi Primary School in Beijing. Over the past seven years, the project team has developed a school-based sexuality education curriculum using the "International Technical Guidance on Sexuality Education" published by…

Quality Matters™: An Educational Input in an Ongoing Design-Based Research Project

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Adair, Deborah; Shattuck, Kay

2015-01-01

Quality Matters (QM) has been transforming established best practices and online education-based research into an applicable, scalable course level improvement process for the last decade. In this article, the authors describe QM as an ongoing design-based research project and an educational input for improving online education.

Troubling the Discourse of Both/And: Technologies of Neoliberal Governance in Community-Based Educational Spaces

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Nygreen, Kysa

2017-01-01

This article traces the work of community-based popular educators with an explicit commitment to "Freirean" popular education as they shifted from teaching in a community-based setting to an after-school program focused on standardized test-preparation. Drawing from ethnographic observation and interviews, it examines educators'…

Problem-Based Educational Game Becomes Student-Centered Learning Environment

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rodkroh, Pornpimon; Suwannatthachote, Praweenya; Kaemkate, Wannee

2013-01-01

Problem-based educational games are able to provide a fun and motivating environment for teaching and learning of certain subjects. However, most educational game models do not address the learning elements of problem-based educational games. This study aims to synthesize and to propose the important elements to facilitate the learning process and…

Evidence-Based Practice in Education. Conducting Educational Research

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pring, Richard; Thomas, Gary

2004-01-01

The book begins with an explication of evidence-based practice. Some of the ideas of its proponents are discussed, including the Campbell Collaboration, and the application to education of Cochrane-style reviews and meta-analyses. The thinking behind evidence-based practice has been the subject of much criticism, particularly in education, and…

Competence-Based Education and the Limitations of Critique

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Edwards, Richard

2016-01-01

Drawing upon the work of Foucault and Latour, this article reflects on 25 years of critique of competence-based education and its continuing strength as a way of framing education and training. Using an example from England, it rehearses the argument from Foucault that, despite its student-centred discourse, competence-based education can be…

Use of simulation-based education to reduce catheter-related bloodstream infections.

PubMed

Barsuk, Jeffrey H; Cohen, Elaine R; Feinglass, Joe; McGaghie, William C; Wayne, Diane B

2009-08-10

Simulation-based education improves procedural competence in central venous catheter (CVC) insertion. The effect of simulation-based education in CVC insertion on the incidence of catheter-related bloodstream infection (CRBSI) is unknown. The aim of this study was to determine if simulation-based training in CVC insertion reduces CRBSI. This was an observational education cohort study set in an adult intensive care unit (ICU) in an urban teaching hospital. Ninety-two internal medicine and emergency medicine residents completed a simulation-based mastery learning program in CVC insertion skills. Rates of CRBSI from CVCs inserted by residents in the ICU before and after the simulation-based educational intervention were compared over a 32-month period. There were fewer CRBSIs after the simulator-trained residents entered the intervention ICU (0.50 infections per 1000 catheter-days) compared with both the same unit prior to the intervention (3.20 per 1000 catheter-days) (P = .001) and with another ICU in the same hospital throughout the study period (5.03 per 1000 catheter-days) (P = .001). An educational intervention in CVC insertion significantly improved patient outcomes. Simulation-based education is a valuable adjunct in residency education.

Contraceptive Health Programs for Adolescents: A Critical Review.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lagana, Luciana; Hayes, David M.

1993-01-01

Reviews some contraceptive education programs designed for adolescents that differ in educational process based on delivery setting. Reviews school-based, community-based, and college/university-based programs and discusses them in terms of their effectiveness, potential, and limitations. Notes that educational accountability in each setting…

Life at Both Ends of the Ladder

PubMed Central

Easterbrook, Matthew J.; Spears, Russell; Manstead, Antony S. R.

2015-01-01

Level of formal education is an important divide in contemporary societies; it is positively related to health, well-being, and social attitudes such as tolerance for minorities and interest in politics. We investigated whether education-based identification is a common underlying factor of these education effects. Indeed, education-based identification was stronger among the higher educated, especially for identification aspects that encompass education-based group esteem (i.e., the belief that one’s educational group is worthy and that others think so, too). Furthermore, while group esteem had beneficial effects across educational levels, aspects of identification that were unrelated to group esteem had positive effects for the higher educated but not for the less educated. Thus, the less educated do not benefit from the psychologically nourishing effect of identification that exists for other groups. The stigma and responsibility related to low education could be a common explanation for a wide range of outcomes. PMID:26187118

The introduction and effectiveness of simulation-based learning in medical education.

PubMed

Nara, Nobuo; Beppu, Masashi; Tohda, Shuji; Suzuki, Toshiya

2009-01-01

To contribute to reforming the medical education system in Japan, we visited overseas medical schools and observed the methods utilized in medical education. We visited 28 medical schools and five institutes in the United States, Europe, Australia and Asia in 2008. We met deans and specialists in medical affairs and observed the medical schools' facilities. Among the several effective educational methods used in overseas medical schools, simulation-based learning was being used in all that we visited. Simulation-based learning is used to promote medical students' mastery of communication skills, medical interviewing, physical examination and basic clinical procedures. Students and tutors both recognize the effectiveness of simulation-based learning in medical education. In contrast to overseas medical schools, simulation-based learning is not common in Japan. There remain many barriers to introduce simulation-based education in Japan, such as a shortage of medical tutors, staff, mannequins and budget. However, enhancing the motivation of tutors is likely the most important factor to facilitate simulation-based education in Japanese medical schools to become common place.

Promoting evidence-based childhood fever management through a peer education programme based on the theory of planned behaviour.

PubMed

Edwards, Helen; Walsh, Anne; Courtney, Mary; Monaghan, Sarah; Wilson, Jenny; Young, Jeanine

2007-10-01

This study examined effectiveness of a theoretically based education programme in reducing inappropriate antipyretic use in fever management. Paediatric nurses' inconsistent, ritualistic antipyretic use in fever management is influenced by many factors including inconsistent beliefs and parental requests. Determinants of antipyretic administration, identified by the theory of planned behaviour, were belief-based attitudes and subjective norms. A quasi-experiment explored group effects of a peer education programme, based on the theory of planned behaviour, on factors influencing paediatric nurses' antipyretic administration. Surveys and chart audits collected data from medical wards at experimental and control hospitals one month pre and one and four months postpeer education programme. All nurses employed in targeted wards were eligible to participate in surveys and all eligible charts were audited. The peer education programme consisted of four one-hour sessions targeting evidence-based knowledge, myths and misconceptions, normative, attitudinal and control influences over and rehearsal of evidence-based fever management. All nurses in experimental hospital targeted wards were eligible to attend. Peer education and support facilitated session information reaching those unable to attend sessions. Two-way univariate anovas explored between subject, experimental and control group and within subject factors, pre, post and latency data. Significant interactions in normative influence (p = 0.01) and intentions (p = 0.01), a significant main group effect in control influence (p = 0.01) and a significant main effect between audit data across time points (p = 0.03) highlight peer education programme effectiveness in behaviour change. Normative, control and intention changes postpeer education programme were maintained in latency data; mean temperature was not. The peer education programme, based on a behaviour change theory, initiated and maintained evidence-based intentions for antipyretics use in fever management. The promotion of evidence-based change in organizational unit intentions and behaviour highlights the crucial role peer support and education can play in continuing educational programmes.

"It's Like This Myth of the Supernegro": Resisting Narratives of Damage and Struggle in the Neoliberal Educational Policy Context

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Baldridge, Bianca J.

2017-01-01

As pathologizing, racialized, and patriarchal rhetoric undergirds neoliberal education reform, deficit narratives characterize the education of Black youth. Such narratives present deep challenges for educational policy and community-based educational spaces. This article explores the ways in which community-based educators resist narratives of…

Todo Alumno: Un Manual de Recursos de PEER sobre Educacion Basada en Normas y Alumnos con Discapacidades (Every Single Student: A PEER Resource Manual on Standards-Based Education and Students with Disabilities).

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Landau, Julia K., Ed.; Romano, Carolyn A., Ed.; Vohs, Janet R., Ed.

This manual in Spanish covers thirteen different topics relevant to the education of students with disabilities in the era of educational reform and standards-based education. Sections include: (1) "Raising Standards of Learning: Standards-Based Education and Students with Disabilities" (Janet R. Vohs, Julia K. Landau, and Carolyn…

A comparison of face to face and video-based education on attitude related to diet and fluids: Adherence in hemodialysis patients.

PubMed

Karimi Moonaghi, Hossein; Hasanzadeh, Farzaneh; Shamsoddini, Somayyeh; Emamimoghadam, Zahra; Ebrahimzadeh, Saeed

2012-07-01

Adherence to diet and fluids is the cornerstone of patients undergoing hemodialysis. By informing hemodialysis patients we can help them have a proper diet and reduce mortality and complications of toxins. Face to face education is one of the most common methods of training in health care system. But advantages of video- based education are being simple and cost-effective, although this method is virtual. Seventy-five hemodialysis patients were divided randomly into face to face and video-based education groups. A training manual was designed based on Orem's self-care model. Content of training manual was same in both the groups. In the face to face group, 2 educational sessions were accomplished during dialysis with a 1-week time interval. In the video-based education group, a produced film, separated to 2 episodes was presented during dialysis with a 1-week time interval. An Attitude questionnaire was completed as a pretest and at the end of weeks 2 and 4. SPSS software version 11.5 was used for analysis. Attitudes about fluid and diet adherence at the end of weeks 2 and 4 are not significantly different in face to face or video-based education groups. The patients' attitude had a significant difference in face to face group between the 3 study phases (pre-, 2, and 4 weeks postintervention). The same results were obtained in 3 phases of video-based education group. Our findings showed that video-based education could be as effective as face to face method. It is recommended that more investment be devoted to video-based education.

The future of diabetes education: expanded opportunities and roles for diabetes educators.

PubMed

Martin, Annette Lenzi; Lipman, Ruth D

2013-01-01

The purpose of the article is to explore challenges and opportunities associated with the state of practice for diabetes education and diabetes educators. Observations, assumptions, predictions, and recommendations based on a literature review and the 2011 workforce study and workforce summit held by the American Association of Diabetes Educators (AADE) are presented. Demand for diabetes educators is projected to increase. The employer base will broaden beyond traditional outpatient venues and extend into industry, retail pharmacy clinics, and community-based organizations. Increasing roles in management, quality assurance, and technology interface design are possible for diabetes educators. Challenges limiting diabetes education such as poor understanding of what diabetes educators do and underutilization of diabetes education continue to need redress. Increasing utilization of diabetes education and insight about health care trends can allow diabetes educators to thrive in the workplace of the future. Diabetes educators are urged to promote the evidence concerning the benefits of diabetes education, to work to increase physician referrals, and to acquire needed competencies for the workplace of the future.

Comparing Protective Factors and Resilience among Classroom-Based Teachers and Community-Based Educators

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Muller, Susan M.; Dodd, Amelia; Fiala, Kelly A.

2014-01-01

Attrition is a major problem for all areas of education. The presence of protective factors has been shown to promote resiliency, which might influence retention. This study was designed to examine characteristics associated with resiliency among a population of pre-service educators, public school teachers, and community-based health educators.…

When Expectations Clash: Vocational Education at the Intersection of Workplace and School

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tyson, Ruhi

2016-01-01

Next to highly regarded varieties of apprenticeship-based vocational education there are, in many countries, forms of mainly school-based VET (vocational education and training) that suffer from a clash of expectations between schools and workplaces as sites of vocational education. School-based VET is viewed as of lesser value compared to work…

Constructing the Ideal Muslim Sexual Subject: Problematics of School-Based Sex Education in Iran

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tabatabaie, Alireza

2015-01-01

School-based sex education is an underdeveloped and challenging issue to address in Iran. This paper provides insights into the main challenges in developing and implementing school-based sex education in Iran. Through an investigation of one Iranian boys' school that, in contrast to the majority of Iranian educational institutions, has an…

Can Rational Prescribing Be Improved by an Outcome-Based Educational Approach? A Randomized Trial Completed in Iran

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Esmaily, Hamideh M.; Silver, Ivan; Shiva, Shadi; Gargani, Alireza; Maleki-Dizaji, Nasrin; Al-Maniri, Abdullah; Wahlstrom, Rolf

2010-01-01

Introduction: An outcome-based education approach has been proposed to develop more effective continuing medical education (CME) programs. We have used this approach in developing an outcome-based educational intervention for general physicians working in primary care (GPs) and evaluated its effectiveness compared with a concurrent CME program in…

Content Analysis of Conceptually Based Physical Education in Southeastern United States Universities and Colleges

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Williams, Suzanne Ellen; Greene, Leon; Satinsky, Sonya; Neuberger, John

2016-01-01

Purpose: The purposes of this study were to explore PE in higher education through the offering of traditional activity- and skills-based physical education (ASPE) and conceptually-based physical education (CPE) courses, and to conduct an exploratory content analysis on the CPE available to students in randomized colleges and universities in the…

Peer Education Versus Computer-Based Education: Improve Utilization of Library Databases Among Direct Care Nurses.

PubMed

Gonzalez, Roxana; O'Brien-Barry, Patricia; Ancheta, Reginaldo; Razal, Rennuel; Clyne, Mary Ellen

A quasiexperimental study was conducted to demonstrate which teaching modality, peer education or computer-based education, improves the utilization of the library electronic databases and thereby evidence-based knowledge at the point of care. No significant differences were found between the teaching modalities. However, the study identified the need to explore professional development teaching modalities outside the traditional classroom to support an evidence-based practice healthcare environment.

34 CFR 668.132 - Institutional determinations of eligibility based on primary confirmation.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... 34 Education 3 2012-07-01 2012-07-01 false Institutional determinations of eligibility based on primary confirmation. 668.132 Section 668.132 Education Regulations of the Offices of the Department of Education (Continued) OFFICE OF POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION STUDENT ASSISTANCE GENERAL...

34 CFR 668.132 - Institutional determinations of eligibility based on primary confirmation.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... 34 Education 3 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Institutional determinations of eligibility based on primary confirmation. 668.132 Section 668.132 Education Regulations of the Offices of the Department of Education (Continued) OFFICE OF POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION STUDENT ASSISTANCE GENERAL...

34 CFR 668.132 - Institutional determinations of eligibility based on primary confirmation.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... 34 Education 3 2014-07-01 2014-07-01 false Institutional determinations of eligibility based on primary confirmation. 668.132 Section 668.132 Education Regulations of the Offices of the Department of Education (Continued) OFFICE OF POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION STUDENT ASSISTANCE GENERAL...

34 CFR 668.132 - Institutional determinations of eligibility based on primary confirmation.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... 34 Education 3 2011-07-01 2011-07-01 false Institutional determinations of eligibility based on primary confirmation. 668.132 Section 668.132 Education Regulations of the Offices of the Department of Education (Continued) OFFICE OF POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION STUDENT ASSISTANCE GENERAL...

34 CFR 668.132 - Institutional determinations of eligibility based on primary confirmation.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... 34 Education 3 2013-07-01 2013-07-01 false Institutional determinations of eligibility based on primary confirmation. 668.132 Section 668.132 Education Regulations of the Offices of the Department of Education (Continued) OFFICE OF POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION STUDENT ASSISTANCE GENERAL...

Educating to Use Evidence in Thinking about Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Newcombe, Nora S.

2013-01-01

There is an increasing emphasis on evidence-based education, and the sciences of learning are progressing rapidly. But are reports, guidelines, and outreach enough to disseminate this knowledge and affect educational practice? In fact, policy makers and the public often resist evidence-based recommendations about education. This article suggests…

Identifying Evidence-Based Special Education Interventions from Single-Subject Research

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Freeman, Jennifer; Sugai, George

2013-01-01

Special educators are required to use evidence-based academic and behavioral interventions in their classrooms (U.S. Department of Education, 2010). No rigorous and comprehensive database currently exists to support educators. Within the field of special education, single-subject research is the primary research methodology (Horner, Carr, Halle,…

A Narrative Metaphor to Facilitate Educational Game Authoring

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Marchiori, Eugenio J.; Torrente, Javier; del Blanco, Angel; Moreno-Ger, Pablo; Sancho, Pilar; Fernandez-Manjon, Baltasar

2012-01-01

In this paper we present WEEV (Writing Environment for Educational Video games), a methodology for educational "point-and-click" adventure game authoring. Our approach aims to allow educators to actively collaborate in the educational game development process, using a narrative-based representation. WEEV is based on a pragmatic reinterpretation of…

Council for Exceptional Children: Standards for Evidence-Based Practices in Special Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

TEACHING Exceptional Children, 2014

2014-01-01

In this article, the "Council for Exceptional Children (CEC)" presents Standards for Evidence-Based Practices in Special Education. The statement presents an approach for categorizing the evidence base of practices in special education. The quality indicators and the criteria for categorizing the evidence base of special education…

A Quantitative Analysis of Evidence-Based Testing Practices in Nursing Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Moore, Wendy

2017-01-01

The focus of this dissertation is evidence-based testing practices in nursing education. Specifically, this research study explored the implementation of evidence-based testing practices between nursing faculty of various experience levels. While the significance of evidence-based testing in nursing education is well documented, little is known…

The Professional Developmental Needs of Higher Education-Based Teacher Educators: An International Comparative Needs Analysis

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Czerniawski, Gerry; Guberman, Ainat; MacPhail, Ann

2017-01-01

A universal lack of attention to the professional learning needs of teacher educators is the driver for this study, which considers the most effective ways to support the professional learning of higher education-based teacher educators. At a time when many industrialised countries are engaged in systemic educational reform, this study provides an…

Today's challenge, tomorrow's excellence: the practice of evidence-based education.

PubMed

Emerson, Roberta J; Records, Kathie

2008-08-01

Nurse educators are being challenged to maintain quality in light of increasing numbers of students, declining numbers of experienced faculty, societal mandates, and rapid changes in health care. The scholarship underlying the practice of nursing education, or evidence-based education, must continue to be explored through the design, testing, and refinement of education strategies from nursing and other disciplines. The involvement of every educator in this process will help create institutional valuing that serves to retain inquisitive and reflective educators in academic settings, while expanding evidence-based education in nursing. This article describes a literature review of the scholarship of nursing education practice and suggests approaches to generate a dynamic explosion of growth in nursing education to inform our students, promote optimal client health outcomes, and challenge each of us to reach higher levels of excellence in the practice of nursing education.

Educating for interprofessional practice: moving from knowing to being, is it the final piece of the puzzle?

PubMed

Ward, Helena; Gum, Lyn; Attrill, Stacie; Bramwell, Donald; Lindemann, Iris; Lawn, Sharon; Sweet, Linda

2017-01-06

Professional socialisation and identity arise from interactions occurring within university-based interprofessional education, and workplace-based interprofessional practice experience. However, it is unclear how closely language and concepts of academic learning situations align with workplace contexts for interprofessional learning. This paper reports on a study that brought together university-based educators responsible for teaching health professional students and health service-based practitioners who supervise students in the field. Interviews and focus groups with university-based educators and health service-base practitioners were used to explore perceptions of capabilities required for interprofessional practice. The qualitative data were then examined to explore similarities and differences in the language used by these groups. This analysis identified that there were language differences between the university-based educators and health service based practitioners involved in the project. The former demonstrated a curriculum lens, focusing on educational activities, student support and supervision. Conversely, health service-based practitioners presented a client-centred lens, with a focus on communication, professional disposition, attitude towards clients and co-workers, and authenticity of practice. Building on these insights, we theorise about the need for students to develop the self in order to be an interprofessional practitioner. The implications for health professional education in both university and workplace settings are explored.

Community-based dental education and the importance of faculty development.

PubMed

McAndrew, Maureen

2010-09-01

Community-based dental education offers a variety of positive learning experiences for students while providing needed dental services for the underserved. More dental students are being instructed by a growing body of largely volunteer community-based faculty who practice in a wide range of community settings including community hospitals and clinics, nursing homes, and private practices. These geographically dispersed instructors may have little experience as educators. Their practice styles and their motivation to improve teaching effectiveness are likely to differ from the styles and motivation of school-based faculty members. Moreover, many dental schools have begun to emphasize practices that may be unfamiliar to community-based faculty such as evidence-based practice. Providing faculty development for them is challenging, yet crucial to the success of these programs and dental education in general. Fundamental elements that must be considered for effective community faculty development programming include fostering a culture of respect between school-based and community faculty members, basing programs on the actual needs of these educators, integrating principles of adult learning theory, and establishing ongoing institutional support. This article provides background on this movement, reviews the literature for faculty development programs geared specifically to community-based educators, makes recommendations for development programs for these dental educators, and includes suggestions for future research.

The status of school-based nutrition education at the state agency level.

PubMed

Shannon, B; Mullis, R; Bernardo, V; Ervin, B; Poehler, D L

1992-03-01

The status of school-based nutrition education at the state agency level was examined. Telephone interviews with agencies in all 50 states revealed that nine states mandated nutrition be taught and another 21 included nutrition as a required topic in mandated subjects, frequently health. The other states had initiatives to promote school-based nutrition education but it was not required. Published requirements for teacher certification in elementary education, home economics, and health education seldom (two to three states) specified nutrition as a requirement. However, follow-up investigations revealed many states indirectly promote nutrition preparation for home economics and health education teachers through guidelines for approval of college programs in these areas. An inventory of nutrition education curricular materials revealed they were most frequently directed to grades K-6 and focused mainly on general foods and nutrition or that related to health. Given the links that emerged between health and nutrition, incorporating nutrition into health education may help promote school-based nutrition education.

The Effect of Teaching Methods and Learning Style on Learning Program Design in Web-Based Education Systems

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hung, Yen-Chu

2012-01-01

The instructional value of web-based education systems has been an important area of research in information systems education. This study investigates the effect of various teaching methods on program design learning for students with specific learning styles in web-based education systems. The study takes first-year Computer Science and…

Supporting Communication and Argumentation in Urban Science Education: Hip-Hop, the Battle, and the Cypher

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Emdin, Christopher

2011-01-01

This paper is based on an exploration of communication and argumentation in urban science classrooms, and provides a description of the role that Hip-hop based education plays in supporting these major components of science education. The paper is intended to both support, and critique conventional uses of hip-hop based education, and provide…

Principles of Curriculum Design and Construction Based on the Concepts of Educational Neuroscience

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Watagodakumbura, Chandana

2017-01-01

With the emergence of a wealth of research-based information in the field of educational neuroscience, educators are now able to make more evidence-based decisions in the important area of curriculum design and construction. By viewing from the perspective of educational neuroscience, we can give a more meaningful and lasting purpose of leading to…

The Possibilities for University-Based Public-Good Professional Education: A Case-Study from South Africa Based on the "Capability Approach"

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McLean, Monica; Walker, Melanie

2012-01-01

The education of professionals oriented to poverty reduction and the public good is the focus of the article. Sen's "capability approach" is used to conceptualise university-based professional education as a process of developing public-good professional capabilities. The main output of a research project on professional education in…

75 FR 75671 - Regional Advisory Committees

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-12-06

...; representatives of institutions of higher education, including those that represent university-based research on.... Other local school official. [cir] Parent. [cir] Institution of higher education. University-based... DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Regional Advisory Committees AGENCY: U.S. Department of Education, Office...

Education and Intergenerational Mobility in Singapore

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ng, Irene Y. H.

2014-01-01

International research on the effects of educational regimes on intergenerational mobility suggests that Singapore's education system possesses characteristics that tend to decrease intergenerational mobility. These characteristics include ability-based and school-based streaming, privatization of basic and tertiary education, expansion of…

Toward More Evidence-Based Practice

PubMed Central

Hotelling, Barbara A.

2005-01-01

Childbirth educators are responsible for providing expectant parents with evidence-based information. In this column, the author suggests resources where educators can find evidence-based research for best practices. Additionally, the author describes techniques for childbirth educators to use in presenting research-based information in their classes. A sample of Web sites and books that offer evidence-based resources for expectant parents is provided. PMID:17273422

When Education Research Matters. Education Outlook, No. 1

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hess, Frederick M.

2008-01-01

The tangled relationship between education research and policy has received little serious scrutiny, even as paeans to "scientifically based research" and "evidence-based practice" have become a staple of education policymaking in recent years. For all the attention devoted to the five-year-old Institute of Education Sciences, to No Child Left…

Web-Based Communications, the Internet, and Distance Education. Readings in Distance Education, Number 7.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Moore, Michael G., Ed.; Cozine, Geoffrey T., Ed.

This book brings together a selection of articles published in "The American Journal of Distance Education" that are related to Web-based delivery of distance education. Articles include: "Performance and Perceptions of Distance Learners in Cyberspace" (Peter Navarro and Judy Shoemaker); "Distance Education for Dentists: Improving the Quality of…

Stories of Transformation: Place-Based Education and the Developing Place-Consciousness of Educators along the Hudson River

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rosenthal, Jennifer K.

2011-01-01

This phenomenological case study investigates the lived experiences of five educators who engage in on-board educational programs, offered by the non-profit environmental organization "Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, Inc", and follows their stories of place-conscious development leading to place-based educational engagement. By analyzing…

STEM-Based Computational Modeling for Technology Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Clark, Aaron C.; Ernst, Jeremy V.

2008-01-01

According to professionals in education, change is an ever-present and evolving process. With transformation in education at both state and national levels, technology education must determine a position in this climate of change. This paper reflects the views on the future of technology education based on an ongoing research project. The purpose…

Establishing an Evidence-Based Adult Education System. NCSALL Occasional Paper.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Comings, John P.; Beder, Hal; Bingman, Beth; Reder, Stephen; Smith, Cristine

To benefit from the support of public and private sector leaders and to ensure that all students receive effective services, the adult education system must identify program models that have empirical evidence to support claims of effectiveness. The U.S. Department of Education's Institute of Education Sciences defines evidence-based education as…

A Difficult Realisation: The Proletarianisation of Higher Education-Based Teacher Educators

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ellis, Viv; Glackin, Melissa; Heighes, Deb; Norman, Mel; Nicol, Sandra; Norris, Kath; Spencer, Ingrid; McNicholl, Jane

2013-01-01

Written collaboratively with research participants, this article reports the main findings of the Work of Teacher Education project that studied the labour of 13 higher education-based teacher educators in England and Scotland over the course of a year. The priority of maintaining relationships with schools (and between schools and student…

Education in Crisis: A Value-Based Model of Education Provides Some Guidance

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sankar, Yassin

2004-01-01

Modern education is in a state of global crisis partially because of the absence of a value-based design of its strategic functions. Education affects the whole spectrum of human values, namely, creative, experiential, aesthetic, material, instrumental, ethical, social, and spiritual values. A student whose educational experience involves this…

Discrete Trial Teaching: Getting Started

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gongola, Leah; Sweeney, Jennifer

2012-01-01

Current special education law mandates that educators use scientifically based practices, and in addition, educators should deliver refined instruction for learners with disabilities. Applied behavior analysis, based on the premise of increasing socially significant behaviors, embodies many interventions that adhere to evidence-based teaching…

Effect of web-based education on nursing students' urinary catheterization knowledge and skills.

PubMed

Öztürk, Deniz; Dinç, Leyla

2014-05-01

Nursing is a practice-based discipline that requires the integration of theory and practice. Nurse educators must continuously revise educational curricula and incorporate information technology into the curriculum to provide students with the necessary knowledge and skills. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of web-based education on students' urinary catheterization knowledge and skills. A convenience sample of 111 first year nursing students enrolled at two universities in Ankara during the academic year of 2011-2012 participated in this quasi-experimental study. The experimental group (n=59) received a web-based and web-enhanced learning approach along with learning and practicing the required material twice as much as the control group, whereas the control group (n=52) received traditional classroom instruction. A knowledge test of 20 multiple-choice questions and a skills checklist were used to assess student performance. There was no difference between the experimental group and the control group in knowledge scores; however, students in the web-based group had higher scores for urinary catheterization skills. The highest scores in knowledge and skills were obtained by students who experienced web-based education as a supplement to tradition instruction. Web-based education had positive effects on the urinary catheterization skills of nursing students, and its positive effect increased for both knowledge and skills when it supplements classroom instruction. Based on these results, we suggest the use of web-based education as a supplement to traditional classroom instruction for nursing education. © 2013.

Inquiry-Based Instruction for Students with Special Needs in School Based Agricultural Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Easterly, R. G., III; Myers, Brian E.

2011-01-01

Educating students with special needs in school based agricultural education (SBAE) is a problem that should be addressed. While many students in SBAE classes have special needs, contradicting research exists establishing the best method of instruction for students with special needs. Inquiry-based instruction shows some promise, but little is…

Mindful Place-Based Education: Mapping the Literature

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Deringer, S. Anthony

2017-01-01

Place-based education and mindfulness are not new concepts, but the idea of combining the two bodies of work to explore what mindful place-based education might look like may provide a useful new perspective. The purpose of the literature review is to take place-based pedagogical methods and examine how mindfulness might influence the experience…

Re-Presenting and Representing with Seven Features: Guiding an Arts-Based Educational Journey

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ludecke, Michelle

2016-01-01

This paper outlines a journey of arts-based inquiry into teacher education and identity transformation in the transition to teaching, guided by Barone and Eisner's Seven Features of Arts-Based Educational Inquiry. Employing a theatre-based research approach the researcher investigated teachers' epiphanic or revelatory "first" moments of…

Research-Based Reading Instruction in an Adult Basic Education Program

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Perin, Dolores; Greenberg, Daphne

2007-01-01

There is a growing emphasis in adult basic education on research-based reading instruction. Using Kruidenier's (2002) framework of principles and trends, we describe research-based techniques found during a visit to an adult basic education program. We also describe how the program moved to research-based instruction, and the factors that seem…

Traditional classroom education versus computer-based learning: how nurses learn about pressure ulcers.

PubMed

Esche, Carol Ann; Warren, Joan I; Woods, Anne B; Jesada, Elizabeth C; Iliuta, Ruth

2015-01-01

The goal of the Nurse Professional Development specialist is to utilize the most effective educational strategies when educating staff nurses about pressure ulcer prevention. More information is needed about the effect of computer-based learning and traditional classroom learning on pressure ulcer education for the staff nurse. This study compares computer-based learning and traditional classroom learning on immediate and long-term knowledge while evaluating the impact of education on pressure ulcer risk assessment, staging, and documentation.

Is the Sun Setting on Lecture-based Education?

PubMed Central

Lowe, Whitney

2011-01-01

Lecture-based instructional models have been the mainstay of education for centuries. They excel primarily at delivering information from the one to the many. Educators refer to this model as “the sage on the stage”. Clearly there are educators who relish this role and are strongly opposed to moving away from it. Yet, educational research and new innovative technologies are suggesting that lecture-based classes may no longer be the most effective teaching method for many situations, especially clinical practice. PMID:22211152

Changes in Urban-Rural Social Structure and Distribution of High School Educational Opportunities--An Analysis Based on Middle School Graduation Education Tracking in Q County, Gansu

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Baoyan, Yang; Minggang, Wan

2015-01-01

To a certain extent, the distribution of high school education opportunities among the population determines the stratification of high school education opportunities. The researchers examined the distribution of high school education opportunities within the county region based on survey data on middle school graduation education tracking in Q…

Measuring Education Inequalities: Concentration and Dispersion-Based Approach. Lessons from Kuznets Curve in MENA Region

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ibourk, Aomar; Amaghouss, Jabrane

2012-01-01

Although the quantity of education is widely used to measure the economical and social performances of educative systems, only a few works have addressed the issue of equity in education. In this work, we have calculated two measures of inequality in education based on Barro and Lee's (2010) data: the Gini index of education and the standard…

Satellite networks for education

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Singh, J. P.; Morgan, R. P.; Rosenbaum, F. J.

1972-01-01

Satellite based educational networking is discussed with particular attention given to the potential uses of communications satellites to help meet educational needs in the United states. Four major subject areas were covered; (1) characteristics and structure of networks, (2) definition of pressures within educational establishment that provide motivation for various types of networks, (3) examination of current educational networking status for educational radio and television, instructional television fixed services, inter- and intra-state educational communication networks, computer networks, and cable television for education, and (4) identification of possible satellite based educational telecommunication services and three alternatives for implementing educational satellite systems.

Competency-based medical education for plastic surgery: where do we begin?

PubMed

Knox, Aaron D C; Gilardino, Mirko S; Kasten, Steve J; Warren, Richard J; Anastakis, Dimitri J

2014-05-01

North American surgical education is beginning to shift toward competency-based medical education, in which trainees complete their training only when competence has been demonstrated through objective milestones. Pressure is mounting to embrace competency-based medical education because of the perception that it provides more transparent standards and increased public accountability. In response to calls for reform from leading bodies in medical education, competency-based medical education is rapidly becoming the standard in training of physicians. The authors summarize the rationale behind the recent shift toward competency-based medical education and creation of the milestones framework. With respect to procedural skills, initial efforts will require the field of plastic surgery to overcome three challenges: identifying competencies (principles and procedures), modeling teaching strategies, and developing assessment tools. The authors provide proposals for how these challenges may be addressed and the educational rationale behind each proposal. A framework for identification of competencies and a stepwise approach toward creation of a principles oriented competency-based medical education curriculum for plastic surgery are presented. An assessment matrix designed to sample resident exposure to core principles and key procedures is proposed, along with suggestions for generating validity evidence for assessment tools. The ideal curriculum should provide exposure to core principles of plastic surgery while demonstrating competence through performance of index procedures that are most likely to benefit graduating residents when entering independent practice and span all domains of plastic surgery. The authors advocate that exploring the role and potential benefits of competency-based medical education in plastic surgery residency training is timely.

Placing "Knowledge" in Teacher Education in the English Further Education Sector: An Alternative Approach Based on Collaboration and Evidence-Based Research

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Loo, Sai Y.

2014-01-01

This paper focuses on teacher education in the English further education sector, where the teaching of disciplinary and pedagogic knowledge is an issue. Using research findings, the paper advocates an approach based on collaboration and informed research to emphasize and integrate knowledge(s) in situated teaching contexts despite working in a…

Analysing the Correlation between Social Network Analysis Measures and Performance of Students in Social Network-Based Engineering Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Putnik, Goran; Costa, Eric; Alves, Cátia; Castro, Hélio; Varela, Leonilde; Shah, Vaibhav

2016-01-01

Social network-based engineering education (SNEE) is designed and implemented as a model of Education 3.0 paradigm. SNEE represents a new learning methodology, which is based on the concept of social networks and represents an extended model of project-led education. The concept of social networks was applied in the real-life experiment,…

An Early Historical Examination of the Educational Intent of Supervised Agricultural Experiences (SAEs) and Project-Based Learning in Agricultural Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Smith, Kasee L.; Rayfield, John

2016-01-01

Project-based learning has been a component of agricultural education since its inception. In light of the current call for additional emphasis of the Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) component of agricultural education, there is a need to revisit the roots of project-based learning. This early historical research study was conducted to…

School-Based HIV/AIDS Education Is Associated with Reduced Risky Sexual Behaviors and Better Grades with Gender and Race/Ethnicity Differences

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ma, Zhen-qiang; Fisher, Monica A.; Kuller, Lewis H.

2014-01-01

Although studies indicate school-based HIV/AIDS education programs effectively reduce risky behaviors, only 33 states and the District of Columbia in US mandate HIV/AIDS education. Ideally, school-based HIV/AIDS education should begin before puberty, or at the latest before first sexual intercourse. In 2011, 20% US states had fewer schools…

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Commitment Concerning Evidence-Based Prevention Programs: Differences between Family and Consumer Sciences and 4-H Youth Development Educators

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Perkins, Daniel F.; Chilenski, Sarah Meyer; Olson, Jonathan R.; Mincemoyer, Claudia C.

2014-01-01

We describe the results of a study designed to assess knowledge, perceptions, and attitudes towards evidence-based and other prevention programs among county Extension educators. We examined differences across educators from Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) and 4-H Youth Development. Analyses based on a multi-state sample of educators revealed…

A narrative review of undergraduate peer-based healthcare ethics teaching.

PubMed

Hindmarch, Thomas; Allikmets, Silvia; Knights, Felicity

2015-12-12

This study explores the literature in establishing the value of undergraduate peer-based healthcare ethics teaching as an educational methodology. A narrative review of the literature concerning peer-based ethics teaching was conducted. MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, SCOPUS databases, and the Cochrane Library, were systematically searched for studies of peer-based ethics or professionalism teaching. Selected studies related peer-based teaching to ethics education outcomes. Ten publications were identified. Selected studies were varied in their chosen intervention methodology and analysis. Collectively, the identified studies suggest peer-based ethics education is an effective and valued educational methodology in training healthcare professionals. One paper suggests peer-based ethics teaching has advantages over traditional didactic methods. Peer-based ethics teaching also receives positive feedback from student participants. However, the limited literature base demonstrates a clear need for more evaluation of this pedagogy. The current literature base suggests that undergraduate peer based healthcare ethics teaching is valuable in terms of efficacy and student satisfaction. We conclude that the medical community should invest in further study in order to capitalise upon the potential of peer-based ethics teaching in undergraduate healthcare education.

Development of a sustainable community-based dental education program.

PubMed

Piskorowski, Wilhelm A; Fitzgerald, Mark; Mastey, Jerry; Krell, Rachel E

2011-08-01

Increasing the use of community-based programs is an important trend in improving dental education to meet the needs of students and the public. To support this trend, understanding the history of programs that have established successful models for community-based education is valuable for the creation and development of new programs. The community-based education model of the University of Michigan School of Dentistry (UMSOD) offers a useful guide for understanding the essential steps and challenges involved in developing a successful program. Initial steps in program development were as follows: raising funds, selecting an outreach clinical model, and recruiting clinics to become partners. As the program developed, the challenges of creating a sustainable financial model with the highest educational value required the inclusion of new clinical settings and the creation of a unique revenue-sharing model. Since the beginning of the community-based program at UMSOD in 2000, the number of community partners has increased to twenty-seven clinics, and students have treated thousands of patients in need. Fourth-year students now spend a minimum of ten weeks in community-based clinical education. The community-based program at UMSOD demonstrates the value of service-based education and offers a sustainable model for the development of future programs.

Islamic Principles and Physical Education.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lindsay, Karen; And Others

1987-01-01

Based on interviews with five Islamic respondents, this paper investigates stricter Islamic parents' difficulties with certain assumptions and practices of Australian education, particularly health and physical education. Concerns about modesty and separation of sexes conflict with central aims based on equal educational opportunities and equality…

Towards "Bildung"-Oriented Chemistry Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sjöström, Jesper

2013-01-01

This paper concerns "Bildung"-oriented chemistry education, based on a reflective and critical discourse of chemistry. It is contrasted with the dominant type of chemistry education, based on the mainstream discourse of chemistry. "Bildung"-oriented chemistry education includes not only content knowledge in chemistry, but also…

Ethics education for health professionals: a values based approach.

PubMed

Godbold, Rosemary; Lees, Amanda

2013-11-01

It is now widely accepted that ethics is an essential part of educating health professionals. Despite a clear mandate to educators, there are differing approaches, in particular, how and where ethics is positioned in training programmes, underpinning philosophies and optimal modes of assessment. This paper explores varying practices and argues for a values based approach to ethics education. It then explores the possibility of using a web-based technology, the Values Exchange, to facilitate a values based approach. It uses the findings of a small scale study to signal the potential of the Values Exchange for engaging, meaningful and applied ethics education. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Web-based teaching in nursing: lessons from the literature.

PubMed

Twomey, Angela

2004-08-01

Many in nurse education have partially adopted the Internet as a pedagogical approach. This has highlighted serious contentious issues for educators. These include, pedagogical vs. technological approaches to teaching, face-to-face vs. online communication and classroom vs. online teaching. This paper attempts to reassure educators about this new Internet-based pedagogy, by applying traditional educational theories and discussions on curriculum to web-based teaching. In particular, cognitive learning theories such as constructivism and the process model of curriculum development are discussed. These provide a solid theoretical framework from which to expand the Internet-based pedagogical approach among those whose interest is the promotion of learning. The paper concludes with the implications of web-based teaching for the personal and professional development of nurse educators.

A Performance-Based Teacher Education Curriculum in the Language Arts

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rudman, Masha

1972-01-01

Under a feasibility grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare for a Model Elementary Teacher Education Program (METEP), the University of Massachusetts' School of Education set up a language arts education program based on performance criteria, in that it is the performance of the student that is crucial, not the method…

Project-Based Vocational Education and Training: Opportunities for Teacher Guidance in a Swedish Upper Secondary School

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fjellström, Magnus

2015-01-01

Project-based vocational education and training (PBVET) is a way to conduct vocational education in Swedish construction programmes. The educational settings used include projects ranging from minor construction to advanced houses. Due to limited research on this kind of educational setting, it is important to further develop knowledge on…

Home-Based Parental Involvement in Young Children's Education: Examining the Effects of Maternal Education across U.S. Ethnic Groups

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Suizzo, Marie-Anne; Stapleton, Laura M.

2007-01-01

This study investigated the contributions of maternal education and ethnicity to three dimensions of home-based parental involvement in young children's education and development: parental expectations about educational attainment, children's activities at home and outside the home, and family routines. Controlling for family background variables…

Identifying Themes for Research-Based Development of Pedagogy and Guidance in Higher Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jääskelä, Päivikki; Nissilä, Pia

2015-01-01

The high value accorded to the research-based development of education in higher education communities means that researchers in the field have an important role in determining the foci of such efforts. However, it is important to ask whether higher education research is providing answers that satisfy practical educational needs. In this study,…

Mathematics Teacher Education Quality in TEDS-M: Globalizing the Views of Future Teachers and Teacher Educators

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hsieh, Feng-Jui; Law, Chiu-Keung; Shy, Haw-Yaw; Wang, Ting-Ying; Hsieh, Chia-Jui; Tang, Shu-Jyh

2011-01-01

The Teacher Education and Development Study in Mathematics, sponsored by the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement, is the first data-based study about mathematics teacher education with large-scale samples; this article is based on its data but develops a stand-alone conceptual framework to investigate the…

Integrating Internet-Based Learning in an Educational System: A Systemic Approach.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jones, Marshall G.; Harmon, Stephen W.

The purpose of this paper is to identify the various components of the educational system in higher education, to illustrate how and where they interact, overlap, and come together so that it may be better understood how Web-based instruction (WBI) may impact higher education. A definition of an educational system is given, and three principles…

Integrating Program Theory and Systems-Based Procedures in Program Evaluation: A Dynamic Approach to Evaluate Educational Programs

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Grammatikopoulos, Vasilis

2012-01-01

The current study attempts to integrate parts of program theory and systems-based procedures in educational program evaluation. The educational program that was implemented, called the "Early Steps" project, proposed that physical education can contribute to various educational goals apart from the usual motor skills improvement. Basic…

Emerging Areas of Inquiry: Special Education Teacher Induction. Induction Insights. Supporting Special Education Teachers - Teacher Educators [TEII-8

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

National Center to Inform Policy and Practice in Special Education Professional Development, 2010

2010-01-01

General education induction has received substantial attention from policymakers, researchers, and school district practitioners. Yet, the literature base has been described as fragmented, with methodological problems that often make it difficult to draw clear implications. The special education induction literature base is even less developed.…

34 CFR 426.23 - What selection criteria does the Secretary use for the Community-Based Organization Projects?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... 34 Education 3 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false What selection criteria does the Secretary use for the Community-Based Organization Projects? 426.23 Section 426.23 Education Regulations of the Offices of the Department of Education (Continued) OFFICE OF VOCATIONAL AND ADULT EDUCATION, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION...

Advancing Competency-Based Medical Education: A Charter for Clinician-Educators.

PubMed

Carraccio, Carol; Englander, Robert; Van Melle, Elaine; Ten Cate, Olle; Lockyer, Jocelyn; Chan, Ming-Ka; Frank, Jason R; Snell, Linda S

2016-05-01

The International Competency-Based Medical Education (ICBME) Collaborators have been working since 2009 to promote understanding of competency-based medical education (CBME) and accelerate its uptake worldwide. This article presents a charter, supported by a literature-based rationale, which is meant to provide a shared mental model of CBME that will serve as a path forward in its widespread implementation.At a 2013 summit, the ICBME Collaborators laid the groundwork for this charter. Here, the fundamental principles of CBME and professional responsibilities of medical educators in its implementation process are described. The authors outline three fundamental principles: (1) Medical education must be based on the health needs of the populations served; (2) the primary focus of education and training should be the desired outcomes for learners rather than the structure and process of the educational system; and (3) the formation of a physician should be seamless across the continuum of education, training, and practice.Building on these principles, medical educators must demonstrate commitment to teaching, assessing, and role modeling the range of identified competencies. In the clinical setting, they must provide supervision that balances patient safety with the professional development of learners, being transparent with stakeholders about level of supervision needed. They must use effective and efficient assessment strategies and tools for basing transition decisions on competence rather than time in training, empowering learners to be active participants in their learning and assessment. Finally, advancing CBME requires program evaluation and research, faculty development, and a collaborative approach to realize its full potential.

Washington State Guide to Planning, Implementing and Improving Work-based Learning. A Guide for Educators at All Levels.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Highline Community Coll., Des Moines, WA.

This guide, which is intended primarily for school and college personnel interested in initiating or improving work-based learning, examines the development and implementation of work-based education programs in Washington. The following topics are discussed: the rationale for work-based learning (legislative and educational change information,…

Problem-Based Learning in Higher Education: Untold Stories.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Savin-Baden, Maggi

The central argument of this book is that the potential of problem-based learning is yet to be realized in higher education. Problem-based learning is an important approach to learning, based in the experiential learning tradition, that needs to be more centrally located in higher education curricula. Part 1 of this book explores problem-based…

Credentialing School Based Teacher Educators: Bases for Decisioning. School Based Teacher Educators, Number 8.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Houston, W. Robert; And Others

The basic question addressed in this monograph is whether credentialing the preservice or inservice school based teacher educator is necessary and/or desirable. To study this question, a series of related issues were posed and investigated: (1) Is there a need for credentialing? (2) What institution would award the credential, and should…

Information Resources for Education. First Edition. Information Series No. 123.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Peterson, John C.; And Others

Online data bases useful in education described in this paper resulted from an information resources workshop conducted in Illinois in 1977. There are two major sections in the paper. The first section, Data Bases, contains one-page summaries of thirty-two online data bases of interest to people in education. Data base types include…

The Effect of Modeling Based Science Education on Critical Thinking

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bati, Kaan; Kaptan, Fitnat

2015-01-01

In this study to what degree the modeling based science education can influence the development of the critical thinking skills of the students was investigated. The research was based on pre-test-post-test quasi-experimental design with control group. The Modeling Based Science Education Program which was prepared with the purpose of exploring…

Proficiency-Based Education. Research Brief

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Johnston, Howard

2011-01-01

Proficiency-Based Education is a contemporary instructional model that grew out of the competency-based education movement of the 1980's and 90's. It is based on the premise that TIME is flexible and that students work at their own pace until they have mastered necessary content and skills. As students demonstrate proficiency, then move on to more…

Organization and management of community-based dental education programs: an overview from the dental Pipeline program.

PubMed

Bailit, Howard L

2010-10-01

Disparities in access to dental care are a major problem in the United States. Effectively run community-based dental education programs can make a significant contribution to reducing access disparities and at the same time enrich the educational experiences of dental students and residents. For complex historical reasons, dental schools did not base their clinical training programs in community hospitals and clinics like the other health professions. Now, because of trends in school finances, changes in societal values, and limitations in current educational experiences, schools are increasing the time students spend in community clinics. This is likely to continue. The chapters in the first section of the report on the Pipeline, Profession, and Practice: Community-Based Dental Education program--for which this chapter serves as an introduction-provide detailed information on the operation of community-based education programs.

The effectiveness of clinical problem-based learning model of medico-jurisprudence education on general law knowledge for Obstetrics/Gynecological interns.

PubMed

Chang, Hui-Chin; Wang, Ning-Yen; Ko, Wen-Ru; Yu, You-Tsz; Lin, Long-Yau; Tsai, Hui-Fang

2017-06-01

The effective education method of medico-jurisprudence for medical students is unclear. The study was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of problem-based learning (PBL) model teaching medico-jurisprudence in clinical setting on General Law Knowledge (GLK) for medical students. Senior medical students attending either campus-based law curriculum or Obstetrics/Gynecology (Ob/Gyn) clinical setting morning meeting from February to July in 2015 were enrolled. A validated questionnaire comprising 45 questions were completed before and after the law education. The interns attending clinical setting small group improvisation medico-jurisprudence problem-based learning education had significantly better GLK scores than the GLK of students attending campus-based medical law education course after the period studied. PBL teaching model of medico-jurisprudence is an ideal alternative pedagogy model in medical law education curriculum. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Faculty-Student Caring Interaction in Nursing Education: An Integrative Review

PubMed Central

Salehian, Maryam; Heydari, Abbas; Aghebati, Nahid; Karimi Moonaghi, Hossein

2017-01-01

Introduction: Faculty- student caring relationship in nursing education has been offered as enhancing students’ learning experiences to care , desire to care for others and self-actu­alization. This review therefore was carried out to analyze faculty-student caring interactions in nursing education. Methods: This concept analysis of caring in the nursing education was conducted based on Broom methodology of integrative review. The literature was consisted of two books from two known theorists, and 47 relevant articles. They retrieved from English data bases including MEDLINE, CINAHL, ERIC, SCOPUS, and SID, with based on the keywords of caring and "nursing education", during the period 2005-2014. Results: Caring in nursing education refers to faculty-student interaction based on ethical and human values. The development of values and moral principles in education, flexibility in educational processes, application of objective patterns in learning, and dynamism in educational processes are identified as caring concept attributes in teaching-learning process. This requires environmental support, constant human relationship, and knowing. Internalization of values, achieving self-esteem, peace, and towards human evolution were the main achievements of the concept of caring in nursing education. Conclusion: The details obtained from the dimensions of "caring" concept in this study could be utilized by nursing education researchers and designers in order to develop content and structure for educational programs. PMID:28971076

Faculty-Student Caring Interaction in Nursing Education: An Integrative Review.

PubMed

Salehian, Maryam; Heydari, Abbas; Aghebati, Nahid; Karimi Moonaghi, Hossein

2017-09-01

Introduction: Faculty- student caring relationship in nursing education has been offered as enhancing students' learning experiences to care , desire to care for others and self-actu-alization. This review therefore was carried out to analyze faculty-student caring interactions in nursing education. Methods: This concept analysis of caring in the nursing education was conducted based on Broom methodology of integrative review. The literature was consisted of two books from two known theorists, and 47 relevant articles. They retrieved from English data bases including MEDLINE, CINAHL, ERIC, SCOPUS, and SID, with based on the keywords of caring and "nursing education", during the period 2005-2014. Results: Caring in nursing education refers to faculty-student interaction based on ethical and human values. The development of values and moral principles in education, flexibility in educational processes, application of objective patterns in learning, and dynamism in educational processes are identified as caring concept attributes in teaching-learning process. This requires environmental support, constant human relationship, and knowing. Internalization of values, achieving self-esteem, peace, and towards human evolution were the main achievements of the concept of caring in nursing education. Conclusion: The details obtained from the dimensions of "caring" concept in this study could be utilized by nursing education researchers and designers in order to develop content and structure for educational programs.

Satellite networks for education.

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Singh, J. P.; Morgan, R. P.; Rosenbaum, F. J.

1972-01-01

Consideration of satellite-based educational networking. The characteristics and structure of networks are reviewed, and pressures within the educational establishment that are providing motivation for various types of networks are discussed. A number of studies are cited in which networking needs for educational sectors and services are defined. The current status of educational networking for educational radio and television, instructional television fixed services, inter- and intrastate educational communication networks, computer networks, cable television for education, and continuing and proposed educational experiments using NASA's Applications Technology Satellites is reviewed. Possible satellite-based educational telecommunication services and three alternatives for implementing educational satellite systems are described. Some remarks are made concerning public policy aspects of future educational satellite system development.

Group-based education for patients with type 2 diabetes: a survey of Australian dietitians.

PubMed

Odgers-Jewell, Kate; Isenring, Elisabeth A; Thomas, Rae; Reidlinger, Dianne P

2017-09-01

Group-based education has the potential to substantially improve the outcomes of individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and reduce the enormous burden that chronic diseases place on healthcare systems worldwide. Despite this proven effectiveness, the utilisation of group services for the management of T2DM by Australian dietitians is surprisingly low. This study surveyed a sample of 263 Australian dietitians to explore the utilisation of group-based education for T2DM, as well as dietitians' preferences for practice and training. The results of this study indicate that Australian dietitians are currently under-utilising group-based education programs for the management of T2DM, with the primary reasons identified as a lack of training provided to dietitians in the area, limited access to facilities suitable for conducting group education, the perceived poor cost-effectiveness of these programs, and the lack of evidence-based practice guidelines for the group-based management of persons with T2DM. Additionally, the majority of preferences for further training were for either face-to-face or web-based formal training conducted over 3-6h. Clear, evidence-based practice guidelines and training resources for group education for the management of T2DM are needed in order to encourage better utilisation of group-based education by Australian dietitians.

Ambulatory orthopaedic surgery patients' emotions when using different patient education methods.

PubMed

Heikkinen, Katja; Salanterä, Sanna; Leppänen, Tiina; Vahlberg, Tero; Leino-Kilpi, Helena

2012-07-01

A randomised controlled trial was used to evaluate elective ambulatory orthopaedic surgery patients' emotions during internet-based patient education or face-to-face education with a nurse. The internet-based patient education was designed for this study and patients used websites individually based on their needs. Patients in the control group participated individually in face-to-face patient education with a nurse in the ambulatory surgery unit. The theoretical basis for both types of education was the same. Ambulatory orthopaedic surgery patients scored their emotions rather low at intervals throughout the whole surgical process, though their scores also changed during the surgical process. Emotion scores did not decrease after patient education. No differences in patients' emotions were found to result from either of the two different patient education methods.

Paraprofessional Implementation of Evidence-Based Practices for Special Education Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bubb-McKinnie, Esther

2017-01-01

Paraprofessionals often constitute the primary support system for special education students and are core members of special education instructional teams. Therefore, the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act requires that paraprofessionals receive adequate training, including training in evidence-based practices (EBP). However,…

The Globalization of Science Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

DeBoer, George E.

2011-01-01

Standards-based science education, with its emphasis on monitoring and accountability, is rapidly becoming a key part of the globalization of science education. Standards-based testing within countries is increasingly being used to determine the effectiveness of a country's educational system, and international testing programs such as Programme…

The problem with outcomes-based curricula in medical education: insights from educational theory.

PubMed

Rees, Charlotte E

2004-06-01

Educators across the world are charged with the responsibility of producing core learning outcomes for medical curricula. However, much educational theory exists which deliberates the value of learning outcomes in education. This paper aims to discuss the problems surrounding outcomes-based curricula in medical education, using insights from educational theory. The paper begins with a discussion of the traditions, values and ideologies of medical curricula. It continues by analysing the issue of control within the curriculum and argues that curriculum designers and teachers control product-orientated curricula, leading to student disempowerment. The paper debates outcomes-based curricula from an ideological perspective and argues that learning outcomes cannot specify exactly what is to be achieved as a result of learning. The paper argues that medical schools should adopt a model for co-operative control of the curriculum, thus empowering learners. The paper also suggests that medical educators should determine the value of precise learning outcomes before blindly adopting an outcomes-based model.

Barriers of the Development of Web-Based Training in Agricultural Higher Education System in Iran: A Case Study of Hamadan Bu Ali Sina University, Iran

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Saadi, Heshmatollah; Mirzayi, Khalil; Movahedi, Reza

2016-01-01

Recently, higher education systems seek to use network-based and Internet-based information technologies in education, teaching and learning. E-learning in Iran higher education system has been started since 2003, however, its development has been very slow. The present study is a survey research. The participants of the study are faculty members,…

Field-based education and indigenous knowledge: Essential components of geoscience education for native American communities

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Riggs, Eric M.

2005-03-01

The purpose of this study is to propose a framework drawing on theoretical and empirical science education research that explains the common prominent field-based components of the handful of persistent and successful Earth science education programs designed for indigenous communities in North America. These programs are primarily designed for adult learners, either in a postsecondary or in a technical education setting and all include active collaboration between local indigenous communities and geoscientists from nearby universities. Successful Earth science curricula for indigenous learners share in common an explicit emphasis on outdoor education, a place and problem-based structure, and the explicit inclusion of traditional indigenous knowledge in the instruction. Programs sharing this basic design have proven successful and popular for a wide range of indigenous cultures across North America. We present an analysis of common field-based elements to yield insight into indigenous Earth science education. We provide an explanation for the success of this design based in research on field-based learning, Native American learning styles research, and theoretical and empirical research into the nature and structure of indigenous knowledge. We also provide future research directions that can test and further refine our understanding of best practices in indigenous Earth science education.

Graph configuration model based evaluation of the education-occupation match.

PubMed

Gadar, Laszlo; Abonyi, Janos

2018-01-01

To study education-occupation matchings we developed a bipartite network model of education to work transition and a graph configuration model based metric. We studied the career paths of 15 thousand Hungarian students based on the integrated database of the National Tax Administration, the National Health Insurance Fund, and the higher education information system of the Hungarian Government. A brief analysis of gender pay gap and the spatial distribution of over-education is presented to demonstrate the background of the research and the resulted open dataset. We highlighted the hierarchical and clustered structure of the career paths based on the multi-resolution analysis of the graph modularity. The results of the cluster analysis can support policymakers to fine-tune the fragmented program structure of higher education.

Social and Institutional issues in the Adoption of School-based Technology-aided Sexual Health Education Program.

PubMed

Musiimenta, Angella

2013-01-01

School-based sexual health education interventions can reach young people of diverse backgrounds and equip them with knowledge and skills for protecting themselves against HIV/AIDS, unwanted pregnancies, and live healthy and responsible lives. However, given that school-based sexual health education intervention are health projects implemented in educational settings, variety of social and institutional issues can present challenges. This study aimed to obtain rich insights into the facilitating or inhibiting mediators for the implementation of a school-based sexual health education intervention in Uganda. This study conducted 16 qualitative interviews to investigate the mediators for the implementation of the school-based sexual health education intervention based on experiences of two Ugandan schools: the school which successfully completed the implementation of the intervention, and the school which abandoned the intervention half-way the implementation. Rather than the technological aspects, results indicate that the implementation was strongly influenced by interplay of social and institutional mediators, which were more favourable in the "successful" school than in the "failure school". These mediators were: perceived students' vulnerability to HIV and unwanted pregnancies; teachers' skills and willingness to deliver the intervention, management support; match with routine workflow, social-cultural and religious compatibility, and stakeholder involvement. Rather than focusing exclusively on technological aspects, experiences from this evaluation suggest the urgent need to also create social, institutional, and religious climate which are supportive of school-based computer-assisted sexual health education. Evidence-based recommendations are provided, which can guide potential replications, improvements, and policy formulation in subsequent school-based sexual health education interventions.

Personalizing Research: Special Educators' Awareness of Evidence-Based Practice

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Guckert, Mary; Mastropieri, Margo A.; Scruggs, Thomas E.

2016-01-01

Although evidence-based practices are considered critical to student success, a research-to-practice gap exists. This qualitative study examined practicing special education teachers' perceptions of their use of evidence-based practices. Special education teachers were interviewed and their classroom practices examined. Major themes emerged and…

Combined Engineering Education Based on Regional Needs Aiming for Design Education

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hama, Katsumi; Yaegashi, Kosuke; Kobayashi, Junya

The importance of design education that cultivates integrated competences has been suggested in higher educational institutions in fields of engineering in relation to quality assurance of engineering education. However, it is also pointed out to lay stress on cooperative education in collaboration with the community because there is a limit to correspond to the design education only by a group of educational institutions. This paper reports the outline of the practical engineering education, which is executing in the project learning of Hakodate National College of Technology, based on regional needs and the result of the activity as a model of education program for fusion and combination.

Strategic Planning for Computer-Based Educational Technology.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bozeman, William C.

1984-01-01

Offers educational practitioners direction for the development of a master plan for the implementation and application of computer-based educational technology by briefly examining computers in education, discussing organizational change from a theoretical perspective, and presenting an overview of the planning strategy known as the planning and…

Streaming Media Technology: Laying the Foundations for Educational Change.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sircar, Jayanta

2000-01-01

Discussion of the delivery of multimedia using streaming technology focuses on its use in engineering education. Highlights include engineering education and instructional technology, including learning approaches based on cognitive development; differences between local and distance education; economic factors; and roles of Web-based streaming,…

Competency Based Competitive Events. Integrating DECA into the DE Instructional Program.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cosgrove, Glenna; Moore, Harold W.

Designed to be integrated into a competency-based distributive education program, these competitive DECA (Distributive Education Clubs of America) events were developed, utilized, and evaluated by distributive education and cooperative education coordinators in Arkansas. These events are organized under the following occupational categories: food…

Population Education: A Knowledge Base.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jacobson, Willard J.

To aid junior high and high school educators and curriculum planners as they develop population education programs, the book provides an overview of the population education knowledge base. In addition, it suggests learning activities, discussion questions, and background information which can be integrated into courses dealing with population,…

Innovating Our Higher Education Models Based on Experience in UK and USA

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hong, Jun; Chen, Haifeng

2008-01-01

Our higher education need to innovate education models and actively connect every member in big social system, for example, enterprises, society and environment. This paper shows some new ideas on innovating educational development based on author's studying experience in UK and in USA.

Medical education: challenges and opportunities.

PubMed

Dominiczak, M H; Hooper, J

1996-06-01

New curricula and educational methods are needed in medical education to take account of changes in the material taught, and the way in which education is delivered. We describe two approaches to these challenges--an internationally developed slide-text-based program and a multimedia clinical case-based CD-ROM project.

Retooling Assessment Procedures for Skill-Based Health Education for Young People in Nigeria: Implications for 21st Century Educational Assessment

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Anyanwu, Francisca Chika; Reuben, Okeke Sylvester

2016-01-01

Skill-based Health Education is an approach to Health Education that is effective, interactive, engaging and meaningful. It focuses on skills and functional knowledge of health issues within a society. The importance of Health Education cannot be overemphasized as it plays significant role in preventing disease, prolonging life and protecting…

The Professional Learning Needs and Priorities of Higher-Education-Based Teacher Educators in England, Ireland and Scotland

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Czerniawski, Gerry; Gray, Donald; MacPhail, Ann; Bain, Yvonne; Conway, Paul; Guberman, Ainat

2018-01-01

Against a rapidly changing policy landscape for teacher education, exacerbated by 'Brexit' in the UK, findings are presented from an electronic survey of 272 higher-education based teacher educators in England, the Republic of Ireland and Scotland about their experiences of, and priorities for, professional learning. While the data generated were…

Learning to Coach in Practice-Based Teacher Education: A Self-Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Drake, Michael R. A.

2016-01-01

In some forms of practice-based teacher education, one important task for the teacher educator is to undertake in-the-moment coaching during rehearsals of practice. However, being such a coach is a new role for many teacher educators and requires a different skill set to other forms of teacher educator practice. In addition, there is little…

What Is Hip-Hop-Based Education Doing in "Nice" Fields Such as Early Childhood and Elementary Education?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Love, Bettina L.

2015-01-01

Hip-Hop-Based Education (HHBE) has resulted in many positive educational outcomes, ranging from teaching academic skills to teaching critical reflection at secondary levels. Given what HHBE initiatives have accomplished, it is troubling that there is an absence of attention to these methods in education programs for elementary and early childhood…

Middle School General Education Teachers Attitudes toward Teaching Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder in the General Education Classroom: A Qualitative Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jeffery-Turner, Patricia

2017-01-01

The problem is that many general education teacher's face challenges with including students with ASD in general education classrooms due to the lack of training, resources, and support. These impotent outcomes have not been well document in the research-based literature. General education teacher's challenges of providing research based evidence…

Web-Based Education Prior to Outpatient Orthopaedic Surgery Enhances Early Patient Satisfaction Scores: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Study.

PubMed

van Eck, Carola F; Toor, Aneet; Banffy, Michael B; Gambardella, Ralph A

2018-01-01

A good patient-surgeon relationship relies on adequate preoperative education and counseling. Several multimedia resources, such as web-based education tools, have become available to enhance aspects of perioperative care. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of an interactive web-based education tool on perioperative patient satisfaction scores after outpatient orthopaedic surgery. It was hypothesized that web-based education prior to outpatient orthopaedic surgery enhances patient satisfaction scores. Randomized controlled trial; Level of evidence, 1. All patients undergoing knee arthroscopy with meniscectomy, chondroplasty, or anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction or shoulder arthroscopy with rotator cuff repair were eligible for inclusion and were randomized to the study or control group. The control group received routine education by the surgeon, whereas the study group received additional web-based education. At the first postoperative visit, all patients completed the OAS CAHPS (Outpatient and Ambulatory Surgery Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems) survey. Differences in patient satisfaction scores between the study and control groups were determined with an independent t test. A total of 177 patients were included (104 [59%] males; mean age, 42 ± 14 years); 87 (49%) patients were randomized to receive additional web-based education. Total patient satisfaction score was significantly higher in the study group (97 ± 5) as compared with the control group (94 ± 8; P = .019), specifically for the OAS CAHPS core measure "recovery" (92 ± 13 vs 82 ± 23; P = .001). Age, sex, race, workers' compensation status, education level, overall health, emotional health, procedure type and complexity, and addition of a video did not influence patient satisfaction scores. Supplemental web-based patient education prior to outpatient orthopaedic surgery enhances patient satisfaction scores.

A comparison of two differential methods for nutrition education in elementary school: lecture-and experience-based learning program.

PubMed

Jung, Lan-Hee; Choi, Jeong-Hwa; Bang, Hyun-Mi; Shin, Jun-Ho; Heo, Young-Ran

2015-02-01

This research was conducted to compare lecture-and experience-based methods of nutritional education as well as provide fundamental data for developing an effective nutritional education program in elementary schools. A total of 110 students in three elementary schools in Jeollanam-do were recruited and randomly distributed in lecture-and experience-based groups. The effects of education on students' dietary knowledge, dietary behaviors, and dietary habits were analyzed using a pre/post-test. Lecture-and experience-based methods did not significantly alter total scores for dietary knowledge in any group, although lecture-based method led to improvement for some detailed questions. In the experience-based group, subjects showed significant alteration of dietary behaviors, whereas lecture-based method showed alteration of dietary habits. These outcomes suggest that lecture-and experience-based methods led to differential improvement of students' dietary habits, behaviors, and knowledge. To obtain better nutritional education results, both lectures and experiential activities need to be considered.

Determination of Critical Achievement Factors in Distance Education by Using Structural Equality Model: A Case Study of E-MBA Program Held in Sakarya University

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Evirgen, Hayrettin; Cengel, Metin

2012-01-01

Nowadays, distance learning education has started to become familiar in behalf of classical face to face education (F2F) model. Web based learning is a major part of distance education systems. Web based distance learning can be defined shortly as an education type which doesn't force students and educators being into the same mediums. This…

NICU nurse educators: what evidence supports your teaching strategies?

PubMed

Pilcher, Jobeth

2013-01-01

One of our roles as nurse educators is to teach best practices related to patient care. However, have you ever stopped to think about what evidence supports your teaching strategies? Just as our patients deserve care that is based on the best available evidence, our learners also deserve education that is based on evidence.1-3 With so many advances in knowledge, technology, and even life itself, it is interesting that education has changed very little over the past 100 years. A study among 946 nurse educators documented that most teach the way they were taught.4 In addition, even after learning new strategies, educators often continue teaching in the manner they are most comfortable. However, this trend is beginning to change. Nurse educators are becoming increasingly aware of and willing to try new and innovative teaching strategies. Educators are also seeking out evidence-based teaching strategies and are becoming more involved in nursing education research.

Implementation and evaluation of an interprofessional simulation-based education program for undergraduate nursing students in operating room nursing education: a randomized controlled trial.

PubMed

Wang, Rongmei; Shi, Nianke; Bai, Jinbing; Zheng, Yaguang; Zhao, Yue

2015-07-09

The present study was designed to implement an interprofessional simulation-based education program for nursing students and evaluate the influence of this program on nursing students' attitudes toward interprofessional education and knowledge about operating room nursing. Nursing students were randomly assigned to either the interprofessional simulation-based education or traditional course group. A before-and-after study of nursing students' attitudes toward the program was conducted using the Readiness for Interprofessional Learning Scale. Responses to an open-ended question were categorized using thematic content analysis. Nursing students' knowledge about operating room nursing was measured. Nursing students from the interprofessional simulation-based education group showed statistically different responses to four of the nineteen questions in the Readiness for Interprofessional Learning Scale, reflecting a more positive attitude toward interprofessional learning. This was also supported by thematic content analysis of the open-ended responses. Furthermore, nursing students in the simulation-based education group had a significant improvement in knowledge about operating room nursing. The integrated course with interprofessional education and simulation provided a positive impact on undergraduate nursing students' perceptions toward interprofessional learning and knowledge about operating room nursing. Our study demonstrated that this course may be a valuable elective option for undergraduate nursing students in operating room nursing education.