Incorporating Asynchronous Video Discussion Prompts to Observe Community of Inquiry Within Online Undergraduate Courses

Distance education, including online learning and e-learning, continues to increase in higher education. Research indicates that online learning supports a constructivism (or student-centered, collaborative) approach to learning, and the sense of community is important to students in the online setting. The Community of Inquiry (Col) framework further defines a sense of community as satisfaction in the teaching presence, social presence, and cognitive presence of learning. Using the constructivist approach and the Col framework, online instructors have the ability to use different techniques and tools with asynchronous discussion prompts to foster a sense of community in the online learning setting. Discussion prompts are typically text-based in an online classroom. A quantitative study was designed to gather data to compare asynchronous text-based discussion prompts with video-based discussion prompts in online undergraduate higher education courses. The results indicated the video discussion prompt, alone, does not impact the sense of community within an online course. In this study, in courses with non-traditional students, the text-based discussion prompts were preferred over video-based prompts

On the role of depletive tests. a review analysis

An overview of the diagnostic role of depletion tests for staging Meniere’s disease, especially in the first phase of the disease, is reported. Pros and cons, as well reliability and specificity of this diagnostic procedure is thoroughly analysed

Inner Ear Active Hearing Device in Non-Otosclerotic, Severe, Mixed Hearing Loss

OBJECTIVE: To verify the efficacy of a powerful active hearing device in a patient different from far-advanced otosclerosis, specifically when the stapes footplate is mobile. PATIENT: A patient with severe-to-profound mixed hearing loss, who was not benefiting from the use of a conventional hearing aid, was selected for an inner ear active implant. This was justified by a bone conductive threshold above 60 dB, which had discouraged any other rehabilitative solutions such as a bone conductive implant, or an active middle ear implant (AMEI). INTERVENTION: The hearing device was surgically applied using a combined transmastoid/transcanal approach. During surgery, a mobile stapes were found and was perforated for the insertion of a piston prosthesis, crimped on the new-incus of the device. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The bone conduction threshold was assessed postoperatively to identify any possible surgery-related hearing deterioration. Pure tone audiometry was conducted in a sound field, and a speech reception threshold test was performed with the contralateral ear masked. The hearing outcome was assessed soon after the implant activation (6 weeks after surgery), and 6 months after surgery. RESULTS: Upon activation of the device, a PTA of 45 dB was obtained (at 0.5, 1, 2 and 4 kHz). At 6 months after surgery, the speech discrimination score reached 90% at 80 dB SPL. CONCLUSION: The application of the Codacs device has shown to be compatible with a mobile stapes footplate, as demonstrated in this report. The footplate perforation did not cause any further hearing deterioration, and has allowed to achieve a favorable auditory outcome

Transitions in auditory rehabilitation with bone conductive implant (bci)

Background: The bone conductive implants (BCI) are nowadays a reliable alternative for rehabilitation of specific forms of hearing loss, i.e. conductive, mixed or single sided deafness (SSD). Aims/Objective: To analyse the various factors in play when considering an auditory rehabilitation with a bone-conductive device (BCI). Materials and Methods: The clinical charts of subjects who underwent BCI application at the same Implanting Center from 2005 to 2018 were retrieved analysing also the reason for eventual explantation and the alternative option (transition) for hearing rehabilitation. Results: Nine BAHA Compact, 4 BAHA Intenso, 21 BAHA Divino, 3 BAHA BP100, 4 Ponto, 2 Sophono, 5 Bonebridge, 5 BAHA5 Attract; 11 BAHA5 Connect were used in 12 unilateral COM; 16 bilateral COM; 3 unilateral cholesteatoma; 6 bilateral cholesteatoma; 2 unilateral otosclerosis; 5 bilateral otosclerosis; 9 congenital malformations; 6 major otoneurosurgical procedures; 5 sudden deafness. Explantation was necessary for five subjects. Conclusions: Middle ear pathology and sequels from surgery represent the most common reason for BCI implantation, both in unilateral and in bilateral cases. Transition from one implantable device to another one can be predictable, mostly when explantation is necessary. Significance: The role of BCI for rehabilitation in middle ear pathology may be extremely important

Early assessment of vestibular function after unilateral cochlear implant surgery

Introduction : Cochlear implantation (CI) has been reported to negatively effect on the vestibular function. The study of the vestibular function has variably been conducted by different types of diagnostic tools. The combined use of modern, rapidly performable diagnostic tools could reveal useful for standardizing the evaluation protocol. Methods: In a group of 28 subjects undergoing CI, the video Head Impulse Test (vHIT), the cervical Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potentials (cVEMPS) and the short-form of Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) questionnaire were investigated pre-operatively and post-operatively (implant on and off) in both the implanted and the contralateral, non-implanted ear. All surgeries were performed with a round window approach (RWA), except for three otosclerosis cases were the extended RWA (eRWA) was used. Results: The vHIT of the lateral semicircular canal showed a pre-operative vestibular involvement in nearly 50% of the cases, whilst the three canals were contemporarily affected in only 14% of them. In all the hypo-functional subjects, cVEMPs were absent. A low VOR gain in all the investigated SSCC was found in 4 subjects (14%). In those subjects, (21.7%) in whom cVEMPs were pre-operatively present and normal in the operated side, absence of response was post-operatives recorded. Discussion/Conclusion: The vestibular protocol applied for the study showed to be appropriate for distinguishing between the CI operated and the non-operated ear. In this regard, cVEMPs showed to be more sensitive than vHIT for revealing a vestibular sufferance after CI, although without statistical significance. Finally, the use of the RWA surgery was apparently not avoiding signs of vestibular impairment to occur

Cone beam computed tomography after round window vibroplasty. do the radiological findings match the auditory outcome?

Conclusion: The CBCT imaging technique has proved to be reliable for assessing the appropriate positioning of the FMT in the round window niche. However, when considering specific imaging parameters, such as lack of bony contacts and appropriate inferior support, they would not seem essential for achieving a satisfactory functional outcome. Objectives: To evaluate the value of some imaging parameters derived from a Cone Beam Computed Tomography of the temporal bone for predicting a good functional outcome after Round Window Vibroplasty (RW-VP). Method: A CBCT imaging has been carried out at certain time after RW-VP surgery in a homogenous group of patients who presented with a mixed-type hearing loss after open tympanoplasty for a cholesteatoma. Three arbitrary radiological parameters have been considered for the purpose: the FMT/RW membrane contact; eventual FMT bony contacts; appropriatmess of inferior FMT support. The audiological assessment has taken into consideration the PTA4 (500-4000 Hertz), the PTA2 (125.250 Hertz), the WRS in quiet and in noise (SNR=+10). A comparison between the unaided and the RW-VP aided condition has been performed

COVID-19 Induced Transition from Classroom to Online Mid Semester: Case Study on Faculty and Students’ Preferences and Opinions

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate faculty and students’ reactions to the COVID-19 emergency move to online classes. The goal was to better inform instructional strategies to be used in similar circumstances and to inform best practices in online pedagogy. Method: Online surveys were administered to students and faculty near the end of the semester to evaluate different aspects of the transition. Classes included in the study were scheduled as full-semester, on-campus classes but made an emergency switch to online post-spring break, after eight weeks. Results: Students’ and faculty’s comfort levels at the time of the switch depended on the amount of prior experience they had in online teaching and learning. Individual students and faculty experienced varying degrees of ease of adjustment to the switch in format from in-class to online. Faculty had to adapt quickly to determine the best way to replicate the in-class experience. Many faculty would depend on familiarity with technology and creativity with its usage. To varying degrees, comfort level improved as the semester progressed for both faculty and students. Still, a majority of students expressed less interest than before in taking online classes. Conclusions: The level of preparedness of faculty and students determined the outcome of this natural experiment. The adjustment was easier for those with prior experience with the online format and/or for those who felt comfortable with the format. Implication for Practice: As faculty and students prepare to return to the classroom, consideration can be given to best practices in online pedagogy to support students and faculty. Our findings point to the need for institutional preparedness for unforeseen circumstances

The thyroid, the eyes and the gut: a possible connection

Graves’ disease (GD) is an autoimmune disorder responsible for 60–90% of thyrotoxicosis, with an incidence of 1 to 2 cases per 1000 population per year in England. Graves’ orbitopathy (GO) is the most frequent extrathyroidal manifestation, not provoked directly by abnormal thyroid hormone levels, but by the consequence of the underlying autoimmune process. The aetiology of autoimmune disorders is due to an interplay between susceptibility genes and environmental factors, such as infections and stress. What triggers the autoimmune reaction to a specific site of the body is not yet clearly understood. The lack of knowledge in GD and GO pathogenesis implicates therapies that only limit damage but do not prevent disease onset

X-ray microscopy of hydrocarbon-clay interactions

One of the critical challenges in the Canadian oil sand industry is improving processes used to separate bitumen from oil sands and to remove clay particulates from produced oil. The fine clay particles are believed to play a significant role in the oil sands industry, from stabilizing process emulsions to fouling problems in water treatment. Addressing the problems caused by these fine clay particulates is limited by the ability to characterize the hydrocarbon-clay interactions. Scanning Transmission X-ray Microscopy (STXM) is used to study hydrocarbon-clay interactions in controlled model systems, where all components are known, and in process samples extracted from oil sands. To use STXM to study our desired systems, many experimental developments were required. Well developed sample preparation was needed to provide samples free from contaminants and experiments free of artifacts. Clean clays, free of extraneous carbon were required for model studies. A device to reduce photodeposition in the STXM chamber was also required to examine interactions of hydrocarbons on clay surfaces. Using these developments, Near Edge X-ray Absorption Fine Structure (NEXAFS) spectra of model clays and model hydrocarbon mixtures were recorded using the STXM microscope on beamline 5.3.2 at the Advanced Light Source, in Berkeley CA. Using NEXAFS spectroscopy in conjunction with the STXM microscope, allowed us to explore preferential interactions between specific hydrocarbon and fine clay particles (smaller than 1 µm) in our model studies. We were also able to assess the chemistry of the hydrocarbons before association with the clay particles. Process samples, consisting of a set of four bitumen froths extracted from the oil sands were investigated. The carbon chemistry of the froths was assessed and quantitatively analyzed. The findings were correlated with previous confocal microscopy results from our collaborators at CANMET Energy Technology Centre in Devon, Alberta