DISRUPTING FACULTY SERVICE: USING TECHNOLOGY TO INCREASE ACADEMIC SERVICE PRODUCTIVITY

Scholarly attention regarding faculty involvement has primarily focused on faculty opinions of shared governance and faculty influence on institutional decision-making. There has been limited attention given to academic service productivity and the effectiveness of traditional approaches toward the accomplishment of faculty service requirements. This paper discusses disruptive technological change as a subset of disruptive innovation and proposes a technology-based framework for increasing service productivity while maintaining effort with regard to faculty service requirements in academic institutions. Specifically, a social networking tool is used to approach academic service projects with organic involvement and measured progress. It is suggested that such an approach may have positive implications toward increasing productivity in academic service. Further, additional benefits inherent in the tool make possible the leveraging of external networks for further productivity gains with no increase in resources while fostering a standardization of products across universities

Perbandingan Efektivitas Daya Hambat Antibakteri Ekstrak Rimpang Jahe Merah (Zingiber officinale var rubrum) dengan Formula Obat Kumur Lidah Buaya Terhadap Pertumbuhan Bakteri Staphylococus aureus

Ekstrak rimpang jahe merah (Zingiber officinale var rubrum)dan formula obat kumur lidah buaya bersifat sebagai antibakteri. Ekstrak rimpang jahe merah (Zingiber officinale var rubrum)mengandung senyawa gingerol, minyak atsiri, terpenoid, fenol, flavonoid dan formula obat kumur lidah buaya mengandung senyawa aloe berbadensis. Senyawa ini dapat digunakan dalam menghambat pertumbuhan bakteri Staphylococcus aureus penyebab infeksi. Metode penelitian yang digunakan adalah eksperimental laboratorium. Ekstrak rimpang jahe merah (Zingiber officinale var rubrum)dibuat dengan menggunakan metode maserasi dengan pelarut etanol 96%. Formula obat kumur lidah buaya yang digunakan merupakan obat kumur siap pakai. Cakram direndam dalam kedua bahan uji selama 15 menit, kemudian diletakkan pada media MHA yang mengandung Staphylococcus aureus untuk melihat daya hambatnya. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan adanya daya hambat dari ekstrak rimpang jahe merah (Zingiber officinale var rubrum) dan formula obat kumur lidah buaya terhadap pertumbuhan bakteri Staphylococcus aureus. Ekstrak rimpang jahe merah (Zingiber officinale var rubrum) dan formula obat kumur lidah buaya menunjukkan daya hambat dengan kategori kuat dengan rata – rata diameter zona hambat pada ekstrak rimpang jahe merah (Zingiber officinale var rubrum) 10,75 mm dan formula obat kumur lidah buaya 12,82 mm. Uji statistik Independent Sampel T – test menunjukkan nilai signifikansi 0,00 (p<0,05). Kesimpulan dari penelitian ini adalah formula obat kumur lidah buaya lebih efektif dibandingkan ekstrak rimpang jahe merah (Zingiber officinale var rubrum) dalam menghambat pertumbuhan bakteri Staphylococcus aureus

PET imaging of brain sex steroid hormone receptors and the role of estrogen in depression

Androgens and estrogens are steroid hormones that are involved in several neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders. Decreased levels of steroid hormones are associated with e.g. decreased cognition, anxiety and depression. Androgens and estrogens exert their biological effects through their corresponding receptors. To better understand the role of androgen and estrogen receptors in the brain, it would be advantageous to be able to quantify the expression of these receptors in living subjects. Positron emission tomography (PET) is a non-invasive imaging technique that may allow quantification of steroid receptors in the brain. [18F]FDHT and [18F]FES are validated PET tracers for imaging of androgen and estrogen receptors in respectively prostate and breast cancer. In this thesis, [18F]FDHT and [18F]FES were evaluated as PET tracers for imaging of androgen and estrogen receptors in the brain of male and female rats. However, [18F]FDHT PET proved unsuitable for imaging of brain androgen receptors, whereas [18F]FES PET was only able to visualize estrogen receptors in brain regions with high receptor density like pituitary and hypothalamus. Next, the effect of estrogen replacement and stress on brain activity ([18F]FDG PET) and behavior (forced swim test, open-field test) was evaluated in ovariectomized rats with reduced levels of circulating estrogens. Ovariectomized rats can be considered as a model for post-menopausal women. Immediate treatment with estrogens could prevent a reduction in metabolism in fear processing brain regions and the depressive-like behavior induced by ovariectomy. Exposure to additional stress did not aggravate the effect of estrogen depletion on depressive-like behavior and brain metabolism

The role of the university in accelerated learning and innovation as a regional ecosystem integrator

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to present an adaptation of a program that is at the intersection of two dynamic force fields. The first relates to imperatives impinging upon and inherent in higher education. The second ties to the concept of ecosystems as spaces for aligning actors and resources to create value. Design/methodology/approach - Tables I-III present pre-test and post-test means and p-values for the paired sample t-tests for the measures. Findings - As expected, post-test means are consistently significantly higher (or lower depending on item wording) for a shift in beliefs away from self-censoring and prejudging ideas during ideation and more toward greater openness in the ideation process. Originality/value - The paper examines the outcome of an educational program

In vivo imaging of brain androgen receptors in rats: a [18F]FDHT PET study

AbstractIntroductionSteroid hormones like androgens play an important role in the development and maintenance of several brain functions. Androgens can act through androgen receptors (AR) in the brain. This study aims to demonstrate the feasibility of positron emission tomography (PET) with 16β-[18F]fluoro-5α-dihydrotestosterone ([18F]FDHT) to image AR expression in the brain.MethodsMale Wistar rats were either orchiectomized to inhibit endogenous androgen production or underwent sham-surgery. Fifteen days after surgery, rats were subjected to a 90-min dynamic [18F]FDHT PET scan with arterial blood sampling. In a subset of orchiectomized rats, 1mg/kg dihydrotestosterone was co-injected with the tracer in order to saturate the AR. Plasma samples were analyzed for the presence of radioactive metabolites by radio-TLC. Pharmacokinetic modeling was performed to quantify brain kinetics of the tracer. After the PET scan, the animals were terminated for ex-vivo biodistribution.ResultsPET imaging and ex vivo biodistribution studies showed low [18F]FDHT uptake in all brain regions, except pituitary. [18F]FDHT uptake in the surrounding cranial bones was high and increased over time. [18F]FDHT was rapidly metabolized in rats. Metabolism was significantly faster in orchiectomized rats than in sham-orchiectomized rats. Quantitative analysis of PET data indicated substantial spill-over of activity from cranial bones into peripheral brain regions, which prevented further analysis of peripheral brain regions. Logan graphical analysis and kinetic modeling using 1- and 2-tissue compartment models showed reversible and homogenously distributed tracer uptake in central brain regions. [18F]FDHT uptake in the brain could not be blocked by endogenous androgens or administration of dihydrotestosterone.ConclusionThe results of this study indicate that imaging of AR availability in rat brain with [18F]FDHT PET is not feasible. The low AR expression in the brain, the rapid metabolism of [18F]FDHT in rats and the poor brain penetration of the tracer likely contributed to the poor performance of [18F]FDHT PET in this study

Ovariectomy-induced depressive-like behavior and brain glucose metabolism changes in female rats are not affected by chronic mild stress

The increased incidence of depression in women going through peri-menopause suggests that fluctuations in estrogen levels may increase the risk of developing depression. Nonetheless, this psychiatric disorder is likely to be multifactorial and consequently an additional trigger may be needed to induce depression in this population. Stress could be such a trigger. We therefore investigated the effect of ovarian estrogen depletion and chronic mild stress (CMS) on depressive-like behavior and brain metabolism in female rats. Approximately 2 and 9 weeks after estrogen depletion by ovariectomy, behavioral changes were assessed in the open-field test and the forced swim test, and brain metabolism was measured with [18F]FDG PET imaging. A subset of animals was subjected to a 6-weeks CMS protocol starting 17 days after ovariectomy. Short-term estrogen depletion had a significant effect on brain metabolism in subcortical areas, but not on behavior. Differences in depressive-like behavior were only found after prolonged estrogen depletion, leading to an increased immobility time in the forced swim test. Prolonged estrogen depletion also resulted in an increase in glucose metabolism in frontal cortical areas and hippocampus, whereas a decrease glucose metabolism was found in temporal cortical areas, hypothalamus and brainstem. Neither short-term nor prolonged estrogen depletion caused anxiety-like behavior. Changes in body weight, behavior and brain glucose metabolism were not significantly affected by CMS. In conclusion, ovarian estrogen depletion resulted in changes in brain metabolism and depressive-like behavior, but these changes were not enhanced by CMS

Principles and philosophies for speech and language therapists working with people with primary progressive aphasia: An international expert consensus

Purpose: Primary progressive aphasia (PPA) is a language-led dementia associated with Alzheimer’s pathology and fronto-temporal lobar degeneration. Multiple tailored speech and language interventions have been developed for people with PPA. Speech and language therapists/speech-language pathologists (SLT/Ps) report lacking confidence in identifying the most pertinent interventions options relevant to their clients living with PPA during their illness trajectory. Materials and methods: The aim of this study was to establish a consensus amongst 15 clinical-academic SLT/Ps on best practice in selection and delivery of speech and language therapy interventions for people with PPA. An online nominal group technique (NGT) and consequent focus group session were held. NGT rankings were aggregated and focus groups video recorded, transcribed, and reflexive thematic analysis undertaken. Results: The results of the NGT identified 17 items. Two main themes and seven further subthemes were identified in the focus groups. The main themes comprised (1) philosophy of person-centredness and (2) complexity. The seven subthemes were knowing people deeply, preventing disasters, practical issues, professional development, connectedness, barriers and limitations, and peer support and mentoring towards a shared understanding. Conclusions: This study describes the philosophy of expert practice and outlines a set of best practice principles when working with people with PPA.Implications for rehabilitation Primary progressive aphasia (PPA) describes a group of language led dementias which deteriorate inexorably over time. Providing speech and language therapy for people with PPA is complex and must be person centred and bespoke. This study describes the philosophy of expert practice and outlines a set of best practice principles for speech and language therapists/pathologists working with people with people with PPA

Assessment of genetic diversity in blackgram [Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper] germplasm

Genetic diversity analysis was carried out with 50 black gram genotypes by using Mahalanobis D2 statistics for ten quantitative traits. All the genotypes were grouped into ten non-overlapping clusters. Cluster I was the largest with 19 genotypes, followed by cluster II with 14 genotypes, cluster III with 8 genotypes, clusters VII and IX were digenotypic, while the remaining clusters IV, V, VI, VII and X were monogenotypic. The maximum inter-cluster distance was observed between cluster VII and IX. Cluster IX had recorded high mean values for most of the traits. Selection of genotypes from these diverse clusters with high mean performance and more per cent contribution as parents in the crossing may result in superior combinations along with maximum variability in the segregating generations. Hence, crosses among the genotypes viz., LBG 623 (cluster I), LBG 787 (cluster III), DKU 87 (cluster II) and VBN 8 (cluster VII) may result in production of superior pureline varieties in black gram. Among the traits, pods/plant contributed maximum towards the total divergence

Interlayer hydrogen-bonded covalent organic frameworks as high-performance supercapacitors

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) have emerged as promising electrode materials in supercapacitors (SCs). However, their insoluble powder like nature, poor capacitive performance in pristine form, integrated with inferior electrochemical stability is a primary concern for their long-term use in electrochemical-devices. Keeping this in perspective, herein, we report a redox active and hydrogen bonded COF with ultrahigh stability in conc. H2SO4 (18 M), conc. HCl (12 M) and NaOH (9 M). The as-synthesized COF fabricated as thin sheets were efficiently employed as a free-standing supercapacitor electrode material using 3 M aq. H2SO4 as an electrolyte. Moreover, the pristine COF sheet showcased outstanding areal capacitance 1600 mFcm-2 (gravimetric 169 Fg-1) and excellent cyclic stability (> 1,00,000) without compromising its capacitive performance or coulombic efficiency. Moreover, as a proof-of-concept, a solidstate supercapacitor device was also assembled and subsequently tested