Consideration for Scaffolding Open-Ended Engineering Problems: Instructor Reflections After Three Years

This full research-to-practice paper is a collaboration between researchers and instructors to examine the scaffolding of open-ended problems. Most assigned homework problems are closed-ended with one correct answer and are unlike the ill-defined problems practicing engineers solve in the workplace. To begin bridging this gap, our research team of engineering education researchers and instructors have been designing and implementing ill-defined, open-ended homework problems for the past three years. This study presents instructor reflections on considerations for scaffolding open-ended problems, made after examining survey data from their own students. We present the results in six practices of scaffolding that better support students in their solving of the problems

The interaction of Wnt-11 and signalling cascades in prostate cancer

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second most common cancer among the male population. Conventional therapies target androgen signalling, which drives tumour growth; however, they provide limited survival benefits for patients. It is essential, therefore, to develop a more specific biomarker than the current gold standard, PSA testing. The Wnt signalling pathway induces expression of target genes through cell surface receptors. A non-canonical member of this family, Wnt-11, is evolutionarily highly conserved and is normally expressed by various cells in the developing embryo, as well as in the heart, liver and skeletal muscle of adult humans. We comprehensively review several cell signalling pathways to explain how they interact with Wnt-11, demonstrating its use as a potential biomarker for PCa. Several studies have shown that the expression of Wnt-11 is associated with gastric, renal and colorectal adenocarcinomas and PCa. Moreover, Wnt-11 affects extracellular matrix composition and cytoskeletal rearrangement, and it is required for proliferation and/or survival during cell differentiation. It was found that PCa cell lines express high levels of Wnt-11, which allows differentiation of the epithelial prostate tumour cells to neuron-like (NE) cells. The NE cells produce additional factors that can cause regression after treatment. Accumulating evidence shows that Wnt-11 could be a potential biomarker in diagnosing PCa. Many studies have shown both non-canonical and canonical Wnts interact with several signalling cascades such as PKC, JNK, NF-κB, Rho, PKA and PI3K. In particular, evidence demonstrates Wnt-11 is involved in the progression of PCa, thus it could have the potential to become both a specific disease marker and an important therapeutic target

The Effect of Mastectomy on Mood and Quality of Life in Breast Cancer Patients

Introduction: Breast cancer with 22.6% is the most common cancer in Iranian women and mastectomy is the treatment of choice in 81% of cases posted for surgery. Mastectomy can evoke feelings of mutilation, altered body image and decreased sexual attractiveness and function leading to mood disorders. In the last decades, final purpose of treatment strategies in breast cancer is creation of a life with good quality. In this regards, concern is rising about the impact of surgical treatments, especially mastectomy on patient`s quality of life. This study was conducted to determine the relationship of mastectomy with mood and quality of life in breast cancer patients. Methods: This descriptive-analytic study was done in 2005.Case group included mastectomy patients referring to the oncology clinics (n=50).The comparison group consisted of mammography candidates referring to women clinics in Imam Reza and Ghaeem Hospitals. Data collected was based on non-probability and purposeful sampling. The information collected included: demographic and medical information, social support questionnaire, POMS survey for measurement of mood. Quality of life was assessed with FPQOLI. Results: Pearson correlation coefficient showed a significant converse statistical relation between mood and quality of life score in mastectomy women (P<0.001). Independence T test showed that mood and quality of life in mastectomy group were lower than mammography candidate women (P=0.001, P<0.049). The general linear model test showed that group variable had the most effect on women`s mood (P<0.001). Also , mood was the most important factor that predicted level of quality of life in these women (P<0.001). Conclusion: Lack of attention to psychological and spiritual status of the patients after mastectomy may provide conditions for unstable mood and can finally disrupt their quality of life. But, nurses can identify patients with psychological tensions and introduce them to consultancy centers to prevent mood disorders and promote their quality of life