Challenges of physiological monitoring in a Navy operational setting

Challenges to physiological monitoring in the Navy include environmental extremes, acceptance of use by test subjects, data transfer, data interpretation, and capability of relating collected data to valid operational relevant criterion measures. These problems are discussed with respect to diving, electrophysiological monitoring, in-flight monitoring, aircrew fatigue, in-flight cardiac stress, and in-flight monitoring devices

An international online survey of the practices and perceptions of higher education professors with respect to the assessment of learning in the classroom

In a context where public action must demonstrate its effectiveness and efficiency, and where the links between teaching and the quality of learning are regularly highlighted, it seems relevant to identify the trends and logic that govern university professors’ decisions with respect to the modes of learning assessment favoured within the framework of their delivery of teaching services. Moreover, given that university teaching practices are changing rapidly due to the introduction of different views of the learning process, one might conclude that the same holds for assessment practices. Through our research work, we led to the development of a trilingual (English, French and Spanish) online survey devoted to an international investigation into the classroom assessment practices of higher education teachers. This survey proposes an online platform that will allow institutions of higher learning to document some of their current practices and to compare observed trends with what is happening elsewhere, in accordance with differing missions and traditions. These research notes are thus intended to describe the survey itself and to show how the questionnaire and individual items were structured, in addition to providingan overview of treatments within and between institutions that followed the testing.PraDE

Effects of Iontophoresis Current Magnitude and Duration on Dexamethasone Deposition and Localized Drug Retention

Background and Purpose. Iontophoresis is a process that uses bipolar electric fields to propel molecules across intact skin and into underlying tissue. The purpose of this study was to describe and experimentally examine an iontophoresis drug delivery model. Subjects and Methods. A mechanistic model describing delivery was studied in vitro using agarose gels and was further tested in vivo by evaluation of cutaneous vasoconstriction following iontophoresis in human volunteers. Results. In vitro cathodic iontophoresis at 4 mA and 0.1 mA each delivered dexamethasone/dexamethasone phosphate (DEX/DEX-P) from a 4-mg/mL donor solution to a depth of 12 mm following a 40 mA·minute stimulation dosage. Delivery of DEX/DEX-P to at least the depths of the vasculature in humans was confirmed by observation of cutaneous vasoconstriction. This cutaneous vasoconstriction was longer lasting and greater in magnitude when using low-current, long-duration (∼0.1 mA) iontophoresis compared with equivalent dosages delivered by higher-current, shorter-duration (1.5-4.0 mA) iontophoresis. Discussion and Conclusion. From data gathered with the gel model, the authors developed a model of a potential mechanism of drug depot formation following iontophoresis. The authors believe this drug depot formation to be due to exchange of drug ions for chloride ions as the ionic current carriers. Furthermore, diffusion, not magnitude of current, appears to govern the depth of drug penetration. Although the authors did not address the efficacy of the drug delivered, the results of human experiments suggest that current magnitude and duration should be considered as factors in treating musculoskeletal dysfunctions with iontophoresis using DEX/DEX-P at a concentration of 4 mg/mL. [Anderson CR, Morris RL, Boeh SD, et al. Effects of iontophoresis current magnitude and duration on dexamethasone deposition and localized drug retention