Making the Connection: Reinforcing Hands-on Learning Through Hands-on Writing

Traditionally, the goal of experiential learning is to allow students to learn through hands-on experience. Recently, suitable assessment and evaluation techniques of students in online learning environments have garnered a great deal of attention as to best practices in experiential learning based courses. This study analyzes assessment and evaluation of student learning in an undergraduate-level Pocket PC course, centred on experiential learning in an online learning environment. This study will (1) identify hands-on activities that can be implemented in an experiential learning environment; (2) examine the effectiveness of assessment tools; and (3) examine student perceptions of course activities.Traditionally, the goal of experiential learning is to allow students to learn through hands-on experience. Recently, suitable assessment and evaluation techniques of students in online learning environments have garnered a great deal of attention as to best practices in experiential learning based courses. This study analyzes assessment and evaluation of student learning in an undergraduate-level Pocket PC course, centred on experiential learning in an online learning environment. This study will (1) identify hands-on activities that can be implemented in an experiential learning environment; (2) examine the effectiveness of assessment tools; and (3) examine student perceptions of course activities

Baryon Exotics in the Quark Model, the Skyrme Model and QCD

We identify the quantum numbers of baryon exotics in the Quark Model, the Skyrme Model and QCD, and show that they agree for arbitrary colors and flavors. We define exoticness, E, which can be used to classify the states. The exotic baryons include the recently discovered qqqq qbar pentaquarks (E=1), as well as exotic baryons with additional q qbar pairs (E >=1). The mass formula for non-exotic and exotic baryons is given as an expansion in 1/N, and allows one to relate the moment of inertia of the Skyrme soliton to the mass of a constituent quark

Making the Connection: Reinforcing Hands-on Learning Through Hands-on Writing

Traditionally, the goal of experiential learning is to allow students to learn through hands-on experience. Recently, suitable assessment and evaluation techniques of students in online learning environments have garnered a great deal of attention as to best practices in experiential learning based courses. This study analyzes assessment and evaluation of student learning in an undergraduate-level Pocket PC course, centred on experiential learning in an online learning environment. This study will (1) identify hands-on activities that can be implemented in an experiential learning environment; (2) examine the effectiveness of assessment tools; and (3) examine student perceptions of course activities.Traditionally, the goal of experiential learning is to allow students to learn through hands-on experience. Recently, suitable assessment and evaluation techniques of students in online learning environments have garnered a great deal of attention as to best practices in experiential learning based courses. This study analyzes assessment and evaluation of student learning in an undergraduate-level Pocket PC course, centred on experiential learning in an online learning environment. This study will (1) identify hands-on activities that can be implemented in an experiential learning environment; (2) examine the effectiveness of assessment tools; and (3) examine student perceptions of course activities

Umbelliferone and esculetin protect against N-nitrosodiethylamine-induced hepatotoxicity in rats

N-nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA), a nitrosamine compound, is known to cause liver damage through the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), resulting in oxidative damage to macromolecules such as DNA, and the consequent development of cancer. The present study examines the protective effects of two antioxidant coumarin compounds umbelliferone (Umb) and esculetin (Esc) against NDEA-induced hepatotoxicity when administered in the diet to male Wistar rats. The results show that treatment with Umb (0.5%w/w) and Esc (0.5%w/w) in the diet for 7 days significantly attenuates NDEA-induced liver damage, lowering serum alanine transaminase (ALT) levels, decreasing hepatic lipid peroxidation, and restoring total glutathione levels. To investigate the mechanism for the observed protective effect, the levels of the key protective enzymes NAD(P)H: quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1), heme oxygenase (HO1), and glutathione S-transferase Pi (GSTP1) were measured by Western blotting following Umb and Esc administration. The results showed that Umb and Esc administration significantly increased the expression of NQO1 by 3.6- and 2.7-fold, HO1 by 2.7- and 3.2-fold, and GSTP1 by 2.8- and 3.2-fold, respectively. In conclusion, Umb and Esc are capable of protecting liver from NDEA-induced hepatotoxicity, and this is associated with the induction of protective enzymes

Observation of coherent delocalized phonon-like modes in DNA under physiological conditions

Underdamped terahertz-frequency delocalized phonon-like modes have long been suggested to play a role in the biological function of DNA. Such phonon modes involve the collective motion of many atoms and are prerequisite to understanding the molecular nature of macroscopic conformational changes and related biochemical phenomena. Initial predictions were based on simple theoretical models of DNA. However, such models do not take into account strong interactions with the surrounding water, which is likely to cause phonon modes to be heavily damped and localized. Here we apply state-of-the-art femtosecond optical Kerr effect spectroscopy, which is currently the only technique capable of taking low-frequency (GHz to THz) vibrational spectra in solution. We are able to demonstrate that phonon modes involving the hydrogen bond network between the strands exist in DNA at physiologically relevant conditions. In addition, the dynamics of the solvating water molecules is slowed down by about a factor of 20 compared with the bulk

The diversity of microbial aldo/keto reductases from Escherichia coli K12

The genome of Escherichia coli K12 contains 9 open reading frames encoding aldo/keto reductases (AKRs) that are differentially regulated and sequence diverse. A significant amount of data is available for the E. coli AKRs through the availability of gene knockouts and gene expression studies, which adds to the biochemical and kinetic data. This together with the availability of crystal structures for nearly half of the E. coli AKRs and homologues of several others provides an opportunity to look at the diversity of these representative bacterial AKRs. Based around the common AKR fold of (β/α)8 barrel with two additional α-helices, the E. coli AKRs have a loop structure that is more diverse than their mammalian counterparts, creating a variety of active site architectures. Nearly half of the AKRs are expected to be monomeric, but there are examples of dimeric, trimeric and octameric enzymes, as well as diversity in specificity for NAD as well as NADP as a cofactor. However in functional assignments and characterisation of enzyme activities there is a paucity of data when compared to the mammalian AKR enzymes

Entrepreneurship and liminality: the case of self-storage based businesses

Purpose The paper applies the theoretical lens of liminality to a consideration of transitionary entrepreneurial business locations. The study exemplifies such transitionary locations by empirically exploring the particular case of self-storage based businesses: that is, businesses that operate for a significant number of hours each week from self-storage facilities. Methodology The study draws on interviews with both entrepreneurs operating self-storage based businesses and operators of self-storage facilities. The interview data is supported by site visits, businesses’ websites, promotional and marketing materials and press coverage. Findings Consistent with our liminal lens, entrepreneurs view their time operating from self-storage as a transitional phase. They do not suffer the high levels of uncertainty and unsettledness usually associated with liminality. However, they experience anxiety related to perceptions of operating from a business location outside the mainstream. Whilst the entrepreneurs benefit from additional services provided by the self-storage operators, this may be at the expense of extra ‘liminal’ work and anxiety experienced by the storage operators’ staff. Originality/value Our study contributes to the domain of entrepreneurship by firstly highlighting the use of non-traditional locations for entrepreneurship and secondly by beginning to theorise this phenomenon through the lens of liminality. We also make a theoretical contribution to notion of liminality by showing that liminality may manifest as a dualism: simultaneously engendering both feelings of increased certainty and security and feelings of increased anxiety

Heme oxygenase-1 attenuates cadmium-induced mitochondrial-caspase 3- dependent apoptosis in human hepatoma cell line

Background: Cadmium (Cd) is a well known environmental and industrial toxicant causing damaging effects in numerous organs. In this study, we examined the role of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) in modulating the Cd-induced apoptosis in human hepatoma (HepG2) cells after 24 h exposure. Methods: HepG2 cells were exposed to 5 and 10 μM Cd as CdCl2 for 24 h while other sets of cells were pre-treated with either 10 μM Cobalt protoporphyrin (CoPPIX) or 10 μM Tin protoporphyrin (SnPPIX) for 24 h, or 50 μM Z-DEVD-FMK for 1 h before exposure to 5 and 10 μM CdCl2 for 24 h. Expressions of caspase 3, cytosolic cytochrome c, mitochondrial Bax and anti-apoptotic BCL-xl proteins were assessed by western blot. Intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production was determined using the dihydrofluorescein diacetate (H2DFA) method. Cell viability was assessed by MTT assay, while a flow cytometry method was used to assess the level of apoptosis in the cell populations. Results: Our results show that there were a significant increase in the expression of cytosolic cytochrome c, mitochondrial Bax protein, and caspase 3 at 5 and 10 μM compared to the control, but these increases were attenuated by the presence of CoPPIX. The presence of SnPPIX significantly enhanced Cd-induced caspase 3 activities. CoPPIX significantly decreased the level of ROS production by 24.6 and 22.2 % in 5 and 10 μM CdCl2, respectively, but SnPPIX caused a significant increase in ROS production in the presence of CdCl2. HepG2 cell viability was also significantly impaired by 13.89 and 32.53 % in the presence of 5 and 10 μM CdCl2, respectively, but the presence of CoPPIX and Z-DEVD-FMK significantly enhanced cell survival, while SnPPIX enhanced Cd-impaired cell viability. The presence of CoPPIX and Z-DEVD-FMK also significantly decreased the population of apoptotic and necrotic cells compared with Cd. Conclusion: In summary, the present study showed that HO-1 attenuates the Cd-induced caspase 3 dependent pathway of apoptosis in HepG2 cells, probably by modulating Cd-induced oxidative stress

Competing risks of cancer mortality and cardiovascular events in individuals with multimorbidity

Background: Cancer patients with cardiovascular and other comorbidities are at concurrent risk of multiple adverse outcomes. However, most treatment decisions are guided by evidence from single-outcome models, which may be misleading for multimorbid patients. Objective: We assessed the interacting effects of cancer, cardiovascular, and other morbidity burdens on the competing outcomes of cancer mortality, serious cardiovascular events, and other-cause mortality. Design: We analyzed a cohort of 6,500 adults with initial cancer diagnosis between 2001 and 2008, SEER 5-year survival ≥26%, and a range of cardiovascular risk factors. We estimated the cumulative incidence of cancer mortality, a serious cardiovascular event (myocardial infarction, coronary revascularization, or cardiovascular mortality), and other-cause mortality over 5 years, and identified factors associated with the competing risks of each outcome using cause-specific Cox proportional hazard models. Results: Following cancer diagnosis, there were 996 (15.3%) cancer deaths, 328 (5.1%) serious cardiovascular events, and 542 (8.3%) deaths from other causes. In all, 4,634 (71.3%) cohort members had none of these outcomes. Although cancer prognosis had the greatest effect, cardiovascular and other morbidity also independently increased the hazard of each outcome. The effect of cancer prognosis on outcome was greatest in year 1, and the effect of other morbidity was greater in individuals with better cancer prognoses. Conclusion: In multimorbid oncology populations, comorbidities interact to affect the competing risk of different outcomes. Quantifying these risks may provide persons with cancer plus cardiovascular and other comorbidities more accurate information for shared decision-making than risks calculated from single-outcome models. Journal of Comorbidity 2014:4(1):29–3