Hybrid team-based learning in cardiorespiratory physiotherapy in higher education

Background: Today’s modern and future cardio-respiratory physiotherapist are, and will be, presented with ubiquitous and uncertain complex problems in professional life. Yet, to date, teaching approaches lacks robust scientific evidence of optimal learning to stimulate student’s active cognitive engagement of higher order skills beyond knowledge and skills transfer and are only focused on graduation. For past two decades, pedagogy recommends use of active learning strategies to enhance authentic student engagement, self-efficacy, and satisfaction. In recent years, team-based learning (TBL) is emerging as a popular student-centred active collaborative learning strategy that promotes individual and team learning in medical and allied health education. Objective: This paper reports on the design and impact of a novel “Hybrid Team-Based learning' (H-TBL) on students’ engagement and perceptions of their learning experience in a Year 2 undergraduate physiotherapy Cohorts. Study Design: A retrospective study. Methods: In 2019, a keynote lecture on Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) was taught using novel “hybrid team-based learning' (H-TBL) comprising phases 1-4, delivered in two sessions (COPD1 and 2) to our year two (n=136), undergraduate physiotherapy students. Results: Of 136 students, 82% engaged in Phase 1, 80% attended the Phase 2 and 3 of COPD 2 session and 74% engaged in phase 4. 72% provided their perception on their learning experience. Conclusion: Majority of our students valued the learning experience in H-TBL design. This study confers that H-TBL supports students’ active engagement and self- efficacy. Future randomized studies are mandated to explore the validity and specificity of H-TBL in physiotherapy curriculum

Improving Privacy Preservation using IBS and IBOOS in VANET

In Vehicular Ad hoc NETworks (VANETs), vehicles have to be protected from the misuse of their private data and the attacks on their privacy. Here the authentication issues with privacy preservation and non-repudiation in VANETs have been considered. The self-generated public-key cryptography PKC based pseudonyms are also used as identifiers instead of vehicle IDs for the privacy-preserving authentication, while the update of the pseudonyms depends on vehicular demands. The existing ID-based signature (IBS) scheme and the ID-based online/offline signature (IBOOS) scheme are used, for the authentication between the road side units (RSUs) and vehicles, and the authentication among vehicles, respectively. Authentication, privacy preservation, non-repudiation have been analyzed for VANETs. Typical performance evaluation has been conducted using efficient IBS and IBOOS schemes

In vivo Evaluation of Amoxicillin Trihydrate and Clarithromycin-Loaded Mucoadhesive Microspheres for H. pylori Eradication

Purpose: To evaluate in vivo H. pylori clearance efficacy of formulated mucoadhesive microspheres of amoxicillin trihydrate and clarithromycin.Methods: Amoxicillin trihydrate and clarithromycin mucoadhesive microspheres were prepared by solvent evaporation method using Carbopol 974P, HPMC K4M and Eudragit RS 100. In vivo clearance efficacy of the microspheres was evaluated in a Wistar rat model after induction of H. pylori infection. Amoxicillin and clarithromycin-loaded microspheres were administered twice daily for three days. H. Pylori clearance was evaluated by assessing colony count.Results: Treatment with plain drug solution (90 mg/kg amoxicillin and 45 mg/kg clarithromycin) resulted in a colony count of log 1.25 ± 0.56 CFU and clearance rate of 60 %, while mucoadhesive microspheres-loaded dose of 45 mg/kg amoxicillin and 22.5 mg/kg clarithromycin resulted in complete (100 %) eradication of H. pylori infection.Conclusion: The developed mucoadhesive amoxicillin/clarithromycin microspheres can potentially be used to effectively eradicate H. pylori infection.Keywords: Amoxicillin, Carbopol, Clarithromycin, H. pylori, Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, Microspheres, Mucoadhesiv

Effect Of Pre-freeze Addition Of Cysteine Hydrochloride And Reduced Glutathione On Post-thaw Sperm Parameters And Field Fertility In Jersey Crossbred Bull Semen

The present study was aimed to assess the effect of pre-freeze addition of cysteine hydrochloride and glutathione (GSH) on post-thaw sperm functional parameters and field fertility. The experimental bulls aged 4 to 6 years were used for the present study. A total of 36 ejaculates, 6 ejaculates from each bull (n=6) were collected and divided in to three groups, group I (control), group II (5mM cysteine hydrochloride) and group III (5mM GSH). The extended semen samples were added with @5mM additives, filled in mini straw using automatic filling and sealing machine (IMV, France) and cryopreserved in liquid nitrogen. Post-freeze seminal traits were also recorded after thawing at 37oC for 30 seconds. Post thaw livability was significantly (p< 0.01) higher in GSH group as compared to cysteine and control groups. The loss of acrosomal integrity was significantly (p< 0.01) lower in GSH group than cysteine and control groups. Analysis of variance for post thaw motility parameters (Forward progressive and Total motility) has revealed that significant difference (p< 0.05) between the good and poor freezer in the group II and there was no difference in the group I and III under study at 0 and 1 hr incubation period and at 2 hrs the group III and at 4 hrs group I has revealed significance difference (p< 0.05).The curvilinear velocity (VCL) and amplitude of lateral head displacement (ALH) values were significantly (P<0.05) higher in GSH than the cysteine and control groups. The Mitochondrial membrane potential (per cent) had no significance difference between the treatment groups. The present study indicates that the addition of cysteine and GSH suggestive of reducing lipid peroxide levels. The conception rate (%) in glutathione (68) added semen was significantly (p>0.05) higher than cysteine (58) and control (49) groups. The post-thaw sperm progressive forward motility (r=0.4) had moderate but, no significant correlation with conception rate. However post-thaw VSL (r=0.7), loss of acrosomal integrity (r=-0.8) and mitochondrial membrane potential (r=0.9) had significant (p< 0.05) correlation with field fertility. The present study indicates that the use of glutathione as semen additives may be recommended for improving semen quality and overall augmentation of pregnancy in cows. The present study suggests that pre-freeze addition of glutathione was found to be better than cysteine in improving sperm fertility

Health information-seeking behavior among hypothyroid patients at Saveetha Medical College and Hospital

BACKGROUND: Hypothyroidism causes considerable morbidity. Low knowledge coupled with inadequate health literacy may lead to poor prevention and management. This study aimed to assess health information-seeking behavior and hypothyroid knowledge among South Indian hypothyroid patients.METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted in October 2013 in Saveetha Medical College, Chennai, India. Hundred clinically diagnosed hypothyroid patients >18 years were interviewed in a hospital using a 57-item questionnaire to gather information on their socio-demographics, self-reported disease history, hypothyroid-related knowledge, health information sources, health literacy and health information-seeking behavior. Hypothyroidism was assessed by free T3 and T4 levels.RESULTS: Mean age of participants was 38 years (SD=12) with median age of 39.5 years, majority of the participants being females (77%) and living in urban setting (52%). Mean free T3 level was 0.0137ng/dl (SD= 0.003) and mean free T4 was 0.7ng/dl (SD= 0.06). Ninety three percent of the participants received initial hypothyroidism education from their physicians at the time of diagnosis. Half of the participants had incorrect hypothyroidism-related knowledge; similar between both genders. Participants with inadequate health literacy had poor knowledge about the hypothyroidism. Hypothyroidism-related health information was sought almost exclusively from health professionals, predominantly regarding treatment, linked to their faith in qualified medical assistance. Economic status primarily determined healthcare-seeking behavior. Marital status, education level, annual household income and health literacy were significantly associated with knowledge.CONCLUSION: Participants having higher educational qualification, higher annual household income and adequate health literacy had considerable knowledge about hypothyroidism. Developing multi-factorial and tailored health education for patients with marginal or inadequate health literacy is needed. Exploring healthcare institutions as a medium for delivery of such education should be explored.KEYWORDS: Hypothyroidism, Health Information-seeking Behavior, Knowledge, Health Literac

Crystal structural studies of ethyl-5-(4-chlorophenylsulfonyl)-4-hydroxy-2, 6-dip-tolyl-1, 2, 5, 6-tetrahydropyridine-3-carboxylate and diethyl 4-hydroxy-2-(4-nitrophenyl)-5-(phenylsulfonyl)-6-(phenylsulfonylmethyl)cyclohexa-3,6-diene-1,3-dicarboxylate

The crystal structures of trans,trans-Ethyl-5-(4-chlorophenylsulfonyl)-4-hydroxy-2,6-dip-tolyl-1,2,5,6-tetrahydropyridine-3-carboxylate (Ia) and cis-Diethyl 4-hydroxy-2-(4-nitrophenyl)-5-(phenylsulfonyl)-6-(phenylsulfonylmethyl)cyclohexa-3,6-diene-1,3-dicarboxylate (Ib) were elucidated by single crystal X ray diffraction. Compound (Ia) C28H28Cl NO5S, crystallizes in the monoclinic system, space group P 21/c, with a = 9.4530(7) Å, b = 25.366(2) Å, c = 11.4353(8) Å, β = 103.092(7)°, V = 2670 (3) Å3 and   Z = 4. The compound (Ib), C31H29N1O11S2, crystallizes in the monoclinic system, space group P 21/c, with a = 21.179(4) Å, b = 8.4998(16) Å, c = 17.347(3) Å, β = 102.563(3)°, V = 3048.0(10) Å3 and Z = 4. The central piperidine ring of compound (Ia) adopts the sofa conformation and the central cyclohexadiene ring of compound (Ib) adopts the boat conformation.  Details of the compounds preparation, crystal structures and hydrogen bonding interactions of the compounds are discussed