Medical Student Dissection of Cadavers Improves Performance on Practical Exams but not on the NBME Anatomy Subject Exam

We have examined whether cadaver dissection by first year medical students (MIs) affected their performance in two test measures: the NBME Gross Anatomy and Embryology Subject Exam (dissection-relevant questions only), and practical exams given at the end of each major section within the course. The dissections for the entire course were divided into 18 regional dissection units and each student was assigned to dissect one third of the regional units; the other two-thirds of the material was learned from the partner-prosected cadavers. Performance for each student on the exams was then assessed as a function of the regions those students actually dissected. While the results indicated a small performance advantage for MIs answering questions on material they had dissected on the NBME Subject Exam questions relevant to dissection (78-88% of total exam), the results were not statistically significant. However, a similar, small performance advantage on the course practical exams was highly significant

Psychological, psychophysical, and ergogenic effects of music in swimming

OBJECTIVES: Existing work using dry land exercise-related activities has shown that the careful application of music can lead to a range of benefits that include enhanced affect, lower perceived exertion, greater energy efficiency, and faster time trial performances. The purpose of this study was to assess the psychological, psychophysical, and ergogenic effects of asynchronous music in swimming using a mixed-methods approach. DESIGN: A mixed-model design was employed wherein there was a within-subjects factor (two experimental conditions and a control) and a between-subjects factor (gender). The experimental component of the study was supplemented by qualitative data that were analysed using inductive content analysis. METHODS: Twenty six participants (Mage = 20.0 years, age range: 18–23 years) underwent a period of habituation with Speedo Aquabeat MP3 players prior to the experimental phase. They were then administered two experimental trials (motivational and oudeterous music at 130 bpm) and a no-music control, during which they engaged in a 200-m freestyle swimming time trial. RESULTS: Participants swam significantly faster when exposed to either music condition relative to control (p = .022, ηp2=.18). Moreover, the music conditions were associated with higher state motivation (p = .016, ηp2=.15) and more dissociative thoughts (p = .014, ηp2=.16). CONCLUSIONS: Findings supported the hypothesis that the use of asynchronous music during a high-intensity task can have an ergogenic effect; this was in the order of 2% when averaged out across the two experimental conditions. The use of music, regardless of its motivational qualities, resulted in higher self-reported motivation as well as more dissociative thoughts

Elm Farm Research Centre Bulletin 79 July 2005

Regular newletter from Elm Farm Research Centre (EFRC)covering research, technical and policy articles, views and comment

Discrete element models of soil-geogrid interaction

Geogrids are the geosynthetics of choice for soil reinforcement applications. To evaluate the efficiency of geogrid reinforcement, several methods are used including field tests, laboratory tests and numerical modeling. Field studies consume long period of time and conducting these investigations may become highly expensive because of the need for real-size structures. Laboratory studies present also significant difficulties: large-size testing machines are required to accommodate realistic geogrid designs. The discrete element method (DEM) may be used as a complementary tool to extend physical testing databases at lower cost. Discrete element models do not require complex constitutive formulations and may be fed with particle scale data (size, strength, shape) thus reducing the number offree calibration parameters. Discrete element models also are well suited to problems in which large displacements are present, such as geogrid pullout. This paper reviews the different approaches followed to model soil-geogrid interaction in DEM and presents preliminary results from pull-out conditions.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

Ecological IVIS design : using EID to develop a novel in-vehicle information system

New in-vehicle information systems (IVIS) are emerging which purport to encourage more environment friendly or ‘green’ driving. Meanwhile, wider concerns about road safety and in-car distractions remain. The ‘Foot-LITE’ project is an effort to balance these issues, aimed at achieving safer and greener driving through real-time driving information, presented via an in-vehicle interface which facilitates the desired behaviours while avoiding negative consequences. One way of achieving this is to use ecological interface design (EID) techniques. This article presents part of the formative human-centred design process for developing the in-car display through a series of rapid prototyping studies comparing EID against conventional interface design principles. We focus primarily on the visual display, although some development of an ecological auditory display is also presented. The results of feedback from potential users as well as subject matter experts are discussed with respect to implications for future interface design in this field

Affective and Motivational Responses to 3D Body Imaging

Common body weight and composition testing has been shown to impact emotional, motivational, and behavioral responses. Three-dimensional body imaging is a relatively new technology to be utilized in medical and fitness settings to provide detailed body image feedback to the patient or client, while encouraging motivation to control body weight, fat, and shape. However, such responses to 3D body imaging have not been examined. To examine the acute affective and motivational responses to 3D body imaging (Fit3D) in a sample of college-aged women (N = 32), classified as either normal weight (NW; n = 13) or overweight/obese (OWOB; n = 19). Positive and negative affect were assessed with the Positive (PA) and Negative Affect (NA) Schedule (PANAS; range: 1-5), and one item assessed motivation to lose weight (range: 1-10). These variables were assessed immediately before and after a single 3D body imaging session. Participants had 1-minute to examine their 3D body scan, and then continued to examine their scan during all post-measures. Overall, PA did not change pre- to post-scan (3.11 ± .98 to 3.18 ± 1.07, p \u3e .05), nor did NA (1.52 ± .58 to 1.63 ± .89, p \u3e .05). In addition, there was not a time by BMI (NW versus OWOB) interaction for both PA and NA. Overall, motivation to lose weight slightly increased (6.41 ± 2.78 to 7.09 ± 2.75, p = .001). There was not an interaction of time by BMI, with both groups increasing over time. However, there was a between-subjects effect with OWOB holding higher pre-motivation to lose weight than NW participants (7.63 versus 4.62, respectively; p \u3c .01). Within the present sample of college-aged women, a 3D body image scanning session did not appear impact PA or NA responses, but did produce a slight increase in motivation to lose body weight in participants classified as NW or OWOB. This research provides foundational insight to future research and the use of this novel technology for health behavior change in fitness and clinical settings

Effects of a 3D Body Imaging Trigger on Self-Perceived Attractiveness, Self-conscious Emotions and Coping

Novel technologies currently being utilized in fitness and clinical settings, such as 3D body scans, are proposed to act as a trigger or spark for weight control behavior. However, other weight-related triggers in women have been shown to produce variation in emotional and weight control responses, and there is limited research on their impact. The purpose of the study was to examine the acute effect of 3D body imaging system (Fit3D) on self-conscious emotions (guilt, shame, pride) and body weight-related coping in a sample of college-aged women (N = 30) classified as normal weight (NW, n = 12) or overweight/obese (OWOB, n = 18). To this end, the Body and Appearance-related Self-conscious Emotions Scale (BASES; range: 1-5) and the WEIGHTCOPE (range: 1-7) were used to assess self-conscious emotions and intention to utilize 10 different weight-related coping strategies following a single 3D body scanning session. Body fat percentage (BF%) was assessed via Dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Following the 3D scan, participants experienced low to moderate feelings of guilt (3.18 ± .99), shame (2.67 ± 1.05), authentic pride (2.68 ± .96), and hubristic pride (2.49 ± .87). Significant differences (p \u3c .05) were found between participants classified as NW or OWOB, respectively, in shame (2.11 ± .76 vs. 3.05 ± 1.07), guilt (2.82 ± .85 vs. 3.43 ± 1.02), and authentic pride (3.10 ± .78 vs. 2.39 ± .98). Increasing physical activity and self-regulation, eating healthier, and positively reframing the situation were the highest rated coping responses (M = 5.23 to 6.25). Differences were found between BMI groups for intention to cope by suppressing appetite (NW = 2.68 ± 1.05, OWOB = 3.56 ± 1.02; t = 2.24, p \u3c .05), supplement use (NW = 1.14 ± .22, OWOB = 1.85 ± 1.28; t = 2.30, p \u3c .05), and a trend for camouflaging body (NW = 2.70 ± .51, OWOB = 3.14 ± .99, t = 1.57, p = .06). Feelings of shame were correlated with intention to camouflage body (r = .46, p = .01), while authentic pride trended toward a negative correlation with suppressing appetite (r = -.31), camouflaging (r = -.35), and supplement use (-.34). In conclusion, an acute 3D body image scan session was shown to produce variation in self-conscious emotions (shame, guilt, and pride) and coping choices between NW and OWOB participants. These individual differences should be taken into consideration to better accommodate healthy behavior change following 3D imaging use

Cross-sectional associations between sleep duration, sedentary time, physical activity, and adiposity indicators among Canadian preschool-aged children using compositional analyses

Abstract Background Sleep duration, sedentary behaviour, and physical activity are three co-dependent behaviours that fall on the movement/non-movement intensity continuum. Compositional data analyses provide an appropriate method for analyzing the association between co-dependent movement behaviour data and health indicators. The objectives of this study were to examine: (1) the combined associations of the composition of time spent in sleep, sedentary behaviour, light-intensity physical activity (LPA), and moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity (MVPA) with adiposity indicators; and (2) the association of the time spent in sleep, sedentary behaviour, LPA, or MVPA with adiposity indicators relative to the time spent in the other behaviours in a representative sample of Canadian preschool-aged children. Methods Participants were 552 children aged 3 to 4 years from cycles 2 and 3 of the Canadian Health Measures Survey. Sedentary time, LPA, and MVPA were measured with Actical accelerometers (Philips Respironics, Bend, OR USA), and sleep duration was parental reported. Adiposity indicators included waist circumference (WC) and body mass index (BMI) z-scores based on World Health Organization growth standards. Compositional data analyses were used to examine the cross-sectional associations. Results The composition of movement behaviours was significantly associated with BMI z-scores (p = 0.006) but not with WC (p = 0.718). Further, the time spent in sleep (BMI z-score: γ sleep  = −0.72; p = 0.138; WC: γ sleep  = −1.95; p = 0.285), sedentary behaviour (BMI z-score: γ SB  = 0.19; p = 0.624; WC: γ SB  = 0.87; p = 0.614), LPA (BMI z-score: γ LPA  = 0.62; p = 0.213, WC: γ LPA  = 0.23; p = 0.902), or MVPA (BMI z-score: γ MVPA  = −0.09; p = 0.733, WC: γ MVPA  = 0.08; p = 0.288) relative to the other behaviours was not significantly associated with the adiposity indicators. Conclusions This study is the first to use compositional analyses when examining associations of co-dependent sleep duration, sedentary time, and physical activity behaviours with adiposity indicators in preschool-aged children. The overall composition of movement behaviours appears important for healthy BMI z-scores in preschool-aged children. Future research is needed to determine the optimal movement behaviour composition that should be promoted in this age group

The British Society for Rheumatology Biologics Registers in Ankylosing Spondylitis (BSRBR-AS) study: Protocol for a prospective cohort study of the long-term safety and quality of life outcomes of biologic treatment

This is the final version of the article. Available from BioMed Central via the DOI in this record.BACKGROUND: Axial spondyloarthropathy typically has its onset in early adulthood and can impact significantly on quality of life. In the UK, biologic anti-tumour necrosis factor therapy is recommended for patients who are unresponsive to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. There remain several unresolved issues about the long-term safety and quality of life outcomes of biologic treatment in axial spondyloarthropathy. Long-term "real-world" surveillance data are required to complement data from randomised controlled trials. METHODS/DESIGN: We are conducting a UK-wide prospective cohort study of patients with axial spondyloarthropathy who are naïve to biologic therapy at the time of recruitment. Those about to commence anti-tumour necrosis factor biologic therapy will enter a "biologic" sub-cohort with other patients assigned to a "non-biologic" sub-cohort. The primary objective is to determine whether the use of biologic therapy is associated with an increased risk of serious infection, while secondary objectives are to assess differences in malignancy, serious comorbidity, all-cause mortality but also assess impact on specific clinical domains (physical health, mental health and quality of life) including work outcomes between biologic and non-biologic patient cohorts. Patients will be followed-up for up to 5 years. Data are obtained at baseline and at standard clinical follow-up visits - at 3, 6 and 12 months and then annually for the biologic cohort and annually for the non-biologic cohort. This study will also collect biological samples for genetic analysis. DISCUSSION: Although biologic therapy is widely used for ankylosing spondylitis patients who are unresponsive to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, the majority of the available safety information comes from rheumatoid arthritis, where increased infection risk has consistently been shown. However, given the typical demographic differences between rheumatoid arthritis and axial spondyloarthropathy patients, it is important to develop an epidemiologically rigorous cohort of patients receiving biologic therapy to effectively evaluate outcomes with regard not only to safety but also to quantify benefits across clinical, psychosocial and work outcomes. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: This is an observational cohort study and clinical trial registration was not required or obtained.BSRBR-AS is funded by the BSR, which in turn receives funding from the manufacturers of the biologic therapies included in this study (currently AbbVie, Pfizer and UCB). Pharmaceutical companies providing funds to BSR do not have a role in the oversight of the study, but they do receive advance notice of publications on which they are able to comment. They do not have access to the data collected but can request analyses of the data, for which additional funds are provided. GJM chairs a Pfizer competitive grant committee for which he receives an honorarium. GJM and GTJ have received separate funding from AbbVie and Pfizer to study spondyloarthritis in the Scotland Registry for Ankylosing Spondylitis (SIRAS) study. LK has received an unrestricted educational grant from UCB. AK has received research funding from Abbvie and Pfizer as well as speaker/chairman fees and payments for attending advisory boards from Abbvie, Pfizer and UCB. The remaining authors have no competing interests

Lifestyle factors and ovarian cancer outcomes

Purpose: Few studies have reported on the lifestyle characteristics of ovarian cancer survivors. The objectives of this study were to characterize the associations between physical activity (PA) and body size (BS) with health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and ovarian cancer recurrence in a sample of regional and distal stage ovarian cancer survivors. Methods: Epithelial ovarian cancer survivors in their first clinical remission, with no evidence of recurrent disease were identified from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center tumor registry. A total of 51 survivors consented to participate in a battery of self-reported questionnaires. Trained staff collected data on anthropometric and recurrence data were collected from the tumor registry. Generalized linear models were used to assess the relationship between PA, BS, and HRQOL. Cox proportional hazard models were used to assess the associations between PA, BS, and recurrence-free survival. Results: Most (59%) women were overweight or obese (BMI \u3c 25 kg/m2) , 49% met current guidelines for PA (150 minutes of moderate to vigorous PA/week), and 29% displayed characteristics of abdominal obesity (\u3e88 centimeters). Women who were not obese reported significantly higher (better) overall HRQOL (point difference = 10.8, P \u3c 0.05) and mental health (point difference = 12.4, P \u3c 0.05) scores than women who were obese. Elevated waist circumference and physical activity were not significantly associated with HRQOL outcomes and we did not find any associations between lifestyle behaviors and recurrence free survival (all P \u3e 0.05). Conclusions: Ovarian cancer survivors with characteristics of overall and abdominal obesity may be at risk for deficits in HRQOL and could benefit from interventions designed to reduce weight. More research is needed to determine whether meeting guidelines for physical activity is associated with improvements in health outcomes this population