Call for Special Issue Proposals

IJPBL is seeking proposals for upcoming special issues in 2018 and 2019

Call for Conference Proposals and Manuscripts

The Interdisciplinary Journal of Problem-based Learning invites conference proposals and subsequent manuscripts as part of a special issue on competency orientation in problem-based learning. The special issue is directly linked with the conference “Problem-based Learning—Promoting Skills, Shaping the Future,” which will take place on June 16–17, 2016, in Zurich, Switzerland. The publication in the special issue is attached to the following conditions: Authors submit an abstract for the conference and present their accepted work at the conference PBL2016 in Zurich. It also is possible to participate at the conference without a publication in the IJPBL. The special issue will be published in fall 2017, which gives authors the possibility to revise their contributions after the conference has taken place. For further information, please visit the conference website at http://www.pbl2016.ch

Ammonia uptake and release in the MnX₂–NH₃ (X = Cl, Br) systems and structure of the Mn(NH₃)nX₂ (n = 6, 2) ammines

Hexa-ammine complexes, Mn(NH<sub>3</sub>)<sub>6</sub>X<sub>2</sub> (X = Cl, Br), have been synthesized by ammoniation of the corresponding transition metal halide and characterized by Powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) and Raman spectroscopy. The hexa-ammine complexes are isostructural (Cubic,Fm-3m, Z = 4; a = 10.2742(6) Å and 10.527(1) Å for X = Cl, Br respectively). Temperature programmed desorption (TPD) demonstrated that ammonia release from Mn(NH<sub>3</sub>)<sub>6</sub>X<sub>2</sub> complexes occurred in three stages corresponding to the release of 4, 1 and 1 NH<sub>3</sub> equivalents respectively. The chloride and bromide both exhibit a deammoniation onset temperature below 323 K. The di-ammoniates from the first desorption step were isolated during TPD measurements and their crystal structures determined by Rietveld refinement against PXRD data (X = Cl: orthorhombicCmmm, a = 8.1991(9) Å, b = 8.2498(7) Å, c = 3.8212(4) Å, Z = 2; X = Br: orthorhombic Pbam, a = 6.0109(5) Å, b = 12.022(1) Å, c = 4.0230(2) Å, Z= 2)

Association of measured physical performance and demographic and health characteristics with self-reported physical function: implications for the interpretation of self-reported limitations

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Self-reported limitations in physical function often have only weak associations with measured performance on physical tests, suggesting that factors other than performance commonly influence self-reports. We tested if personal or health characteristics influenced self-reported limitations in three tasks, controlling for measured performance on these tasks.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We used cross-sectional data on adults aged ≥ 60 years (<it>N </it>= 5396) from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey to examine the association between the repeated chair rise test and self-reported difficulty rising from a chair. We then tested if personal characteristics, health indicators, body composition, and performance on unrelated tasks were associated with self-reported limitations in this task. We used the same approach to examine associations between personal and health characteristics and self-reported difficulty walking between rooms, controlling for timed 8-foot walk, and self-reported difficulty getting out of bed, controlling for repeated chair rise test results.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In multivariate analyses, participants who performed worse on the repeated chair rise test were more likely to report difficulty with chair rise. However, older age, lower education level, lower serum albumin, comorbidities, knee pain, and being underweight were also significantly associated with self-reported limitations with chair rise. Results were similar for difficulty walking between rooms and getting out of bed.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Self-reports of limitations in physical function are influenced by personal and health characteristics that reflect frailty, and should not be interpreted solely as measured difficulty performing the task.</p