Discipline-Specific Compared to Generic Training of Teachers in Higher Education

A recurrent theme arising in the higher education sector is the suitability and effectiveness of generic versus discipline-specific training of university teachers, who are often recruited based on their disciplinary specialties to become teachers in higher education. We compared two groups of participants who had undergone training using a generic post-graduate certificate in higher education (PGCertGeneric) versus a discipline-specific course in veterinary education (PGCertVetEd). The study was conducted using a survey that allowed comparison of participants who completed PGCertGeneric (n=21) with PGCertVetEd (n=22). Results indicated that participants from both PGCertGeneric and PGCertVetEd considered teaching to be satisfying and important to their careers, valued the teaching observation component of the course, and identified similar training needs. However, the participants of the PGCertVetEd felt that the course made them better teachers, valued the relevance of the components taught, understood course design better, were encouraged to do further courses/reading in teaching and learning, changed their teaching as a result of the course, and were less stressed about teaching as compared to the PGCertGeneric participants (p<.05). It is likely that the PGCertVetEd, which was designed and developed by veterinarians with a wider understanding of the veterinary sector, helped the participants perceive the training course as suited to their needs

1st Place: Development of a Feasibility Study of Tele-Education for Ensuring Correct Bronchodilator Use

2018 Research Scholar Winner: 1st Place Mentor: Robert Kruklitis, M

Investigation of the Superman Stretch on Posterior Capsule Range of Motion

Introduction: Shoulder pain is a common clinical entity affecting all age groups and can frequently be attributed to pathological internal impingement. A primary contributing factor to labrum tears and internal impingement is posterior capsule tightness. In order to improve range of motion (R.O.M.), prior studies have demonstrated that stretching is an important tool for increasing R.O.M. at many joints. We hypothesized that the superman stretch would lead to greater increases in IR than the traditional sleeper stretch. Methods: A level II, prospective study in collegiate-level athletes from The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) was performed. Shoulder internal rotation (IR), shoulder external rotation (ER), and glenohumeral (GH) horizontal adduction were measured. Students were randomized to perform the sleeper stretch (control) or superman stretch (experimental). Measurements were taken with a digital goniometer. P-values were calculated with a two-sample z-test. Results: Both stretches produced significant differences in pre- and post-stretch R.O.M. across all outcomes measured (IR, ER, adduction). The superman stretch appears to provide an increase in IR (p-value 0.196) and in horizontal adduction (p-value 0.0731), whereas the sleeper stretch appears to provide an increase in ER (p-value 0.343). Discussion: Though not statistically significant, our results indicate that the superman stretch may provide an increase in IR and horizontal adduction when compared to the sleeper stretch. A larger sample size is required to determine more significant values. Demonstration of significant improvements in shoulder R.O.M. would allow us to begin to investigate the effects of posterior capsule stretching on overhead athletes experiencing shoulder pain

Characteristics of transposable element exonization within human and mouse

Insertion of transposed elements within mammalian genes is thought to be an important contributor to mammalian evolution and speciation. Insertion of transposed elements into introns can lead to their activation as alternatively spliced cassette exons, an event called exonization. Elucidation of the evolutionary constraints that have shaped fixation of transposed elements within human and mouse protein coding genes and subsequent exonization is important for understanding of how the exonization process has affected transcriptome and proteome complexities. Here we show that exonization of transposed elements is biased towards the beginning of the coding sequence in both human and mouse genes. Analysis of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) revealed that exonization of transposed elements can be population-specific, implying that exonizations may enhance divergence and lead to speciation. SNP density analysis revealed differences between Alu and other transposed elements. Finally, we identified cases of primate-specific Alu elements that depend on RNA editing for their exonization. These results shed light on TE fixation and the exonization process within human and mouse genes.Comment: 11 pages, 4 figure

Nitric oxide sensing in plants is mediated by proteolytic control of group VII ERF transcription factors

Nitric oxide (NO) is an important signaling compound in prokaryotes and eukaryotes. In plants, NO regulates critical developmental transitions and stress responses. Here, we identify a mechanism for NO sensing that coordinates responses throughout development based on targeted degradation of plant-specific transcriptional regulators, the group VII ethylene response factors (ERFs). We show that the N-end rule pathway of targeted proteolysis targets these proteins for destruction in the presence of NO, and we establish them as critical regulators of diverse NO-regulated processes, including seed germination, stomatal closure, and hypocotyl elongation. Furthermore, we define the molecular mechanism for NO control of germination and crosstalk with abscisic acid (ABA) signaling through ERF-regulated expression of ABSCISIC ACID INSENSITIVE5 (ABI5). Our work demonstrates how NO sensing is integrated across multiple physiological processes by direct modulation of transcription factor stability and identifies group VII ERFs as central hubs for the perception of gaseous signals in plants

Are the attitudes and beliefs of Australian exercise-based practitioners associated with their use of, and confidence in, treatment modalities for people with chronic low back pain?

Background: Practitioners' attitudes and beliefs towards chronic low back pain (CLBP) influence their clinical decision making, but few studies have investigated decision making outside the context of patient vignettes for a range of first- and second-line treatment options for CLBP, or in accredited exercise physiologists (AEPs). Methods: Using an online survey, Australian AEPs and physiotherapists rated their use of different treatments for CLBP (exercise, education, manual therapy, cognitive behavioural therapy) and their confidence in these treatments for reducing pain and disability. Their biomedical and biopsychosocial beliefs were also assessed using the Pain and Attitudes Beliefs Scale for Physiotherapists. Differences between disciplines in treatment use and confidence were analysed using Mann–Whitney U tests and independent t-tests, respectively. Multiple linear regression was used to explore factors associated with treatment choices. Results: Two-hundred thirty-three practitioners (n = 143 physiotherapists, n = 90 AEPs) completed the survey. Most practitioners were confident in treating CLBP, had a moderate—high level of confidence in the different treatments, and regularly used them in practice. Practitioners with higher biomedical beliefs had greater use of, and confidence in, specific exercise, manual therapy, and combined exercise and manual therapy. Practitioners with higher biopsychosocial beliefs were more confident in general exercise, cognitive behavioural therapy, pain education and combined exercise and pain education. Conclusion: Practitioner beliefs influence their use of, and confidence in different treatments for CLBP. These findings suggest a need for strategies to enhance biopsychosocial beliefs/reduce biomedical beliefs in Australian exercise-based practitioners

“I could 100% see myself getting hurt if I did it wrong”: a qualitative exploration of exercise perceptions in people with chronic low back pain

Purpose: Traditionally, a specific “core” exercise focus has been favoured for chronic low back pain (CLBP) which contrasts holistic exercise approaches. This study aims to explore the perceptions of exercise in people with CLBP and whether exercise itself can convey implicit messages regarding its use in CLBP management in the absence of a clinical narrative. Materials and methods: Participants were asked about their CLBP history, views of exercise for CLBP, and current exercise behaviours through online semi-structured interviews. Then, participants watched the interviewer perform the deadlift, Jefferson curl, and bird dog and were asked if they thought each individual exercise was beneficial for CLBP, and why. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis through a critical realism and social constructivism lens. Results: All participants (n = 16) viewed all exercises as beneficial for health and pain relief, but perceived efficacy varied. “Core” exercises were deemed crucial for CLBP relief, while spinal flexion and external load were often perceived as potentially injurious. Distrust towards healthcare practitioners also influenced exercise perceptions. Conclusion: People with CLBP perceive different exercises to either relieve pain or improve health. Healthcare practitioners can influence these perceptions, highlighting the need for consideration of exercise perceptions in clinical contexts

Interim heterogeneity changes measured using entropy texture features on T2- weighted MRI at 3.0 T predict pathological response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in primary breast cancer

Objectives: This study investigated whether interim changes in hetereogeneity (measured using entropy features) on magnetic resonance images (MRI) were associated with pathological residual cancer burden (RCB) at final surgery in patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) for primary breast cancer.Methods: Institutional review board approval was waived for this retrospective study of 88 consenting women (age:30-79). Scanning was performed on a 3.0T MRI scanner prior to NAC (baseline) and after 2-3 cycles of treatment (interim). Entropy was derived from the grey-level co-occurrence matrix, on slice-matched baseline/interim T2- weighted images. Response, assessed using RCB score on surgically resected specimens, was compared statistically with entropy/heterogeneity changes and ROC analysis performed. Prediction of pCR within each tumour immunophenotype was evaluated.Results: Mean entropy percent differences between examinations, by response category, were: pCR:32.8%, RCB-I:10.5%, RCB-II:9.7% and RCB-III:3.0%. Prediction of ultimate pCR from coarse entropy changes between baseline/interim MRI across all lesions yielded 85.2% accuracy (area under ROC curve:0.845). Excellent sensitivity/specificity was obtained for pCR prediction within each immunophenotype: ER+: 100%/100%; HER2+: 83.3%/95.7%, TNBC: 87.5%/80.0%.Conclusions: Lesion T2 heterogeneity changes are associated with response to NAC using RCB scores, particularly for pCR, and can be useful in prediction across all immunophenotypes with good diagnostic accuracy

A single-photon transistor using nano-scale surface plasmons

It is well known that light quanta (photons) can interact with each other in nonlinear media, much like massive particles do, but in practice these interactions are usually very weak. Here we describe a novel approach to realize strong nonlinear interactions at the single-photon level. Our method makes use of recently demonstrated efficient coupling between individual optical emitters and tightly confined, propagating surface plasmon excitations on conducting nanowires. We show that this system can act as a nonlinear two-photon switch for incident photons propagating along the nanowire, which can be coherently controlled using quantum optical techniques. As a novel application, we discuss how the interaction can be tailored to create a single-photon transistor, where the presence or absence of a single incident photon in a ``gate'' field is sufficient to completely control the propagation of subsequent ``signal'' photons.Comment: 20 pages, 4 figure

B-Cell Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma: viewing an aggressive neck mass in an older adult from a primary care perspective

Abstract Patients with neck masses typically present to primary care providers, but most are unfamiliar with the management of aggressively expanding neck masses. With so many varied structures in the cervical region, a rapidly growing neck mass can be a diagnostic dilemma. The broad initial differential includes infectious, inflammatory, vascular, and malignant causes. When the clinical course points to an aggressive malignancy, the location of the mass helps provide the clues to the likely etiology. Potential sites of involvement include the musculature, bone, larynx, trachea, esophagus, lymph tissue and thyroid tissue. Anterior neck masses at the level the thyroid should prompt a differential of primary thyroid lymphomas. Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma is most common, followed by mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma, follicular lymphoma, and small lymphocytic lymphoma. Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma should be considered as well. A history of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis should lead the clinician toward the large B-cell lymphoma.Prompt diagnosis via fine-needle aspiration biopsy is essential, because compressive symptoms and airway collapse may rapidly ensue. A correct clinical and histopathologic diagnosis is essential. Primary thyroid lymphoma can often be treated with chemoimmunotherapy and radiation has a mean overall survival of 9.0 years. Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma is often locally aggressive with advanced metastatic disease at presentation, and treatment options are more limited. Primary care physicians need to be familiar with these relatively rare etiologies for an aggressively expanding neck mass in order to recognize and rapidly coordinate diagnostic and treatment options in a timely fashion