ARE ONLINE EXAMINATIONS A VIABLE ALTERNATIVE TO PAPER-BASED EXAMINATIONS FOR ASSESSMENT OF HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY?

There are practical and pedagogical reasons for the increasing role of online assessment in higher education. This study examines student performance on paper-based and online examinations, varying both examination settings and proportions of questions coded by a modified Bloom’s taxonomy, to inform the effective and sustainable assessment of first year students in an introductory human physiology course. Student performance was analysed across three delivery formats of a mid-semester multiple choice assessment of the same concepts. Delivery formats were either i) invigilated paper examination with questions presented in random order across three versions of the paper, ii) online non-invigilated with answers in random order and questions presented individually in random order with no ability to backtrack or, iii) online non-invigilated with answers in random order and questions presented individually in random order and the ability to backtrack. Allowing students to backtrack appeared to improve student time-management, with more students completing all questions in the examination with these settings. Questions classified according to a modified Bloom’s taxonomy showed student performance in lower-level Bloom’s questions was significantly higher in online formats, especially when backtracking was allowed. Performance in higher level questions did not vary across formats. As such an ‘open book’ online assessment can provide similar rigor and discriminating power as an invigilated assessment if consideration is given to adjusting towards a higher proportion of questions assessing higher order learning

The olive biophenols oleuropein and hydroxytyrosol selectively reduce proliferation, influence the cell cycle, and induce apoptosis in pancreatic cancer cells

Current chemotherapy drugs for pancreatic cancer only offer an increase in survival of up to six months. Additionally, they are highly toxic to normal tissues, drastically affecting the quality of life of patients. Therefore, the search for novel agents, which induce apoptosis in cancer cells while displaying limited toxicity towards normal cells, is paramount. The olive biophenols, oleuropein, hydroxytyrosol and tyrosol, have displayed cytotoxicity towards cancer cells without affecting non-tumorigenic cells in cancers of the breast and prostate. However, their activity in pancreatic cancer has not been investigated. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the anti-pancreatic cancer potential of oleuropein, hydroxytyrosol and tyrosol. Pancreatic cancer cells (MIA PaCa-2, BxPC-3, and CFPAC-1) and non-tumorigenic pancreas cells (HPDE) were treated with oleuropein, hydroxytyrosol and tyrosol to determine their effect on cell viability. Oleuropein displayed selective toxicity towards MIA PaCa-2 cells and hydroxytyrosol towards MIA PaCa-2 and HPDE cells. Subsequent analysis of Bcl-2 family proteins and caspase 3/7 activation determined that oleuropein and hydroxytyrosol induced apoptosis in MIA PaCa-2 cells, while oleuropein displayed a protective effect on HPDE cells. Gene expression analysis revealed putative mechanisms of action, which suggested that c-Jun and c-Fos are involved in oleuropein and hydroxytyrosol induced apoptosis of MIA PaCa-2 cells

Dislocations and stress corrosion cracking in Ag3Sn

Thesis (M.D.S.) -- University of Adelaide, Dept. of Restorative Dentistry, 197

Reference to index of the war time correspondence from New Guinea, 1944-1945, of Sergeant John (Jack) Weidenhofer

Letters from J.L. Weidenhofer to his wife 1941-1945 Sergeant John (Jack) Weidenhofer's letters to his wife Nancy, mainly while serving in New Guinea from March 1944 until December 1945. At first he served in the catering services but in March 1944 he was transferred to ANGAU, the Australian New Guinea Administrative Unit formed in 1942 to take over the administration of districts as the enemy were repulsed. He then looked after stores and supplies in various parts of New Guinea. Letters were written several times a week often several pages long, some on paper supplied by forces clubs or organisations such as the Salvation Army and were usually posted through ANGAU, Port Moresby, or Lae, or, in the Admiralty Islands, through the British Fleet Mail Office, Sydney (with Australian or British stamps) or through the U.S. Base (U.S.stamp). For security there is little reference to war activities or the names of the various villages or islands, but Sgt. Weidenhofer seems to have served first in the Port Moresby district, in villages near the Laloki River and Kokoda Trail and in coastal villages, then in the north, near Lae, and finally in the Admiralty Islands (Manus) where he joined his brother Reay. Jack Weidenhofer's letters reflect some conditions of the life of the Pacific forces in the closing stages of the war. He describes the various forces clubs visited when travelling or waiting for transport, the food, bananas, fish etc., chocolate and other supplies available, the heat and humidity, leisure activities such as cricket matches with native teams, the regular cinema shows under the palm trees, his own hobby of photography and 9.5. mm movie film making, and educational courses (he was studying bookkeeping and sign writing to help his civilian career). The most important things of all, however, were the letters and newspapers from home and the parcels of cakes, sweets etc. sent by his wife. He compares the conditions of the U.S. forces, especially their better food and he praises their ice-cream and their superior medical services during a short period in the U.S. Navy Hospital at Seadler Harbour, Admiralty Islands, but he concludes that the men are much the same and just as homesick for their families. As storekeeper Jack Weidenhofer made friends with many natives. A note dictated and signed by his boy, Kausis, was enclosed in a letter of 15 June 1944, and he asked his wife to buy a Bible for another boy, Kila. He describes native villages, especially the coastal ones but noted the number of bomb craters and the destruction of coconut palms by war in some places. He describes the canoes, fishing, craftwork, children's games, clothing (when worn) and the native drums, sometimes used when permitted to announce the approach of the lugger bringing stores. He purchased or was given many souvenirs to send home, such as string bags, mats, grass skirts, shells and skipping rope handles and a miniature outrigger canoe especially made for his little daughter. He mentions the mission churches of the Rev. Ure and Rev. D. Rankin and their families with whom he sometimes stayed for weekends. He liked the joyful singing of familiar hymns translated into Motu and missed it when he moved to another area where 'pidgin' was the only common language. Years later one of his friends, Rachel, sent him a copy of the Motu hymn book published by the London Missionary Society (1959 see no. 26). He made drawings of native villages, huts, the church, the store, canoes, vegetation, etc for his daughter (see also 13). Above all these letters show the effect of war and separation on an average family. He mentions rationing censorship and advises his wife about insurance and where to go for advice when needed as there were reports of people trying to take advantage of soldiers' wives and widows receiving pensions. Mainly he writes about plans for the future and alterations to their house: a new bathroom, furniture for the child's room (the best possible, he did not want any second hand stuff). Little Heather's progress, her dancing lessons (but she was not to be forced), he was glad she had a playmate but recommended that children should not be forced to share toys, children should accompany their parents on holidays. He enclosed little letters and drawings for Heather (see also 13). He chose a tombstone for the grave of the baby Peter (died 1943). When a new baby was expected in 1945 he hoped it would be a girl, to be called Isobel (she was born in December 1945) and advised his wife to be careful and to walk the long way home rather than the steeper route. He sent flowers for his wife's birthday through his sister Lin, admitting that he would rather face the jungle himself than carry flowers through the streets or on a tram. His letter of 5 May 1944 refers to the controversy over the Theatre Royal. There are also references to other members of the family, relatives from South Australia met in the forces and to friends, including a fellow sergeant, Joe Zagami, from Brisbane

The invisible academics

Education focused academics are not considered to be “teaching only” but also do not fit the traditional “research and teaching” classification, falling somewhere in between with a typical workload of 80% teaching and 20% research. There is a lack of reliable data on the numbers and demographics of education focused academics in Australian universities; our own experience suggests a majority are female and clustered in lower level academic positions that may be fixed term. Education focused academics take on a disproportionately high teaching load, often coordinating large first year service-taught courses, mentoring casual teaching staff and acting as facilitators of student engagement. Career pathways are not well defined, and promotion beyond senior lecturer level is hampered by a lack of relevant and specific performance and promotion guidelines. The research role of education focused academics is not well supported particularly in the area of scholarship of teaching and learning, which can be seen as inferior to discipline-based research

Strategies for Enhancing Communication Between Students, Academics and Researchers Participating in Large-Scale Undergraduate Research Projects

Spreading the word about science and inspiring people to connect with the processes and outcomes of science, whether as researchers, educators, students, industry professionals or consumers, is essential in forging stronger links among scientists and with the communities that stand to benefit from their work. How do we nurture inspirational scientific communication in the context of university undergraduate science education, particularly in large cohort settings that are often more mind-numbing than soul-stirring? Communicating your own discoveries effectively is the zenith of scientific endeavour. We have developed a large-scale original research experience for second or third year undergraduate biomedical science students. The students undertake ‘mini’ projects and present their research outcomes verbally, visually and in a written format suitable for journal publication. This helps students understand how science works and develops their ability to explain scientific concepts to their peers and others. To promote ‘original research’ to students in ways that inspire and motivate participation, we have also evolved strategies to help instructors and researchers communicate successfully with large student cohorts, including a wiki for secure data storage, FAQ sheets and databases of bioinformatics tools. Introduction of the research experience has improved survey scores overall and on items relating to communication. These strategies are applicable to any course seeking to introduce students to the practice of research and communication of research outcomes. Our experience suggests optimal multidimensional communication may be best achieved through instructors, researchers and students working together to develop effective stratagems for surviving and thriving in the information-dense, digital world

The Importance of Brain Banks for Molecular Neuropathological Research: The New South Wales Tissue Resource Centre Experience

New developments in molecular neuropathology have evoked increased demands for postmortem human brain tissue. The New South Wales Tissue Resource Centre (TRC) at The University of Sydney has grown from a small tissue collection into one of the leading international brain banking facilities, which operates with best practice and quality control protocols. The focus of this tissue collection is on schizophrenia and allied disorders, alcohol use disorders and controls. This review highlights changes in TRC operational procedures dictated by modern neuroscience, and provides examples of applications of modern molecular techniques to study the neuropathogenesis of many different brain disorders

Overstimulation of NMDA Receptors Impairs Early Brain Development in vivo

BACKGROUND: Brains of patients with schizophrenia show both neurodevelopmental and functional deficits that suggest aberrant glutamate neurotransmission. Evidence from both genetic and pharmacological studies suggests that glutamatergic dysfunction, particularly with involvement of NMDARs, plays a critical role in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. However, how prenatal disturbance of NMDARs leads to schizophrenia-associated developmental defects is largely unknown. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Glutamate transporter GLAST/GLT1 double-knockout (DKO) mice carrying the NMDA receptor 1 subunit (NR1)-null mutation were generated. Bouin-fixed and paraffin-embedded embryonic day 16.5 coronal brain sections were stained with hematoxylin, anti-microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP2), and anti-L1 antibodies to visualize cortical, hippocampal, and olfactory bulb laminar structure, subplate neurons, and axonal projections. NR1 deletion in DKO mice almost completely rescued multiple brain defects including cortical, hippocampal, and olfactory bulb disorganization and defective corticothalamic and thalamocortical axonal projections. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Excess glutamatergic signaling in the prenatal stage compromises early brain development via overstimulation of NMDARs

Schizophrenia is associated with an increase in cortical microRNA biogenesis

MicroRNA expression profiling and quantitative reverse transcription-PCR analysis of the superior temporal gyrus and the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex revealed a significant schizophrenia-associated increase in global microRNA expression. This change was associated with an elevation of primary microRNA processing and corresponded with an increase in the microprocessor component DGCR8. The biological implications for this extensive increase in gene silencing are profound, and were exemplified by members of the miR-15 family and other related microRNA, which were significantly upregulated in both brain regions. This functionally convergent influence is overrepresented in pathways involved in synaptic plasticity and includes many genes and pathways associated with schizophrenia, some of which were substantiated in vitro by reporter gene assay. Given the magnitude of microRNA changes and their wide sphere of influence, this phenomenon could represent an important dimension in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia

Transcriptome Sequencing Revealed Significant Alteration of Cortical Promoter Usage and Splicing in Schizophrenia

While hybridization based analysis of the cortical transcriptome has provided important insight into the neuropathology of schizophrenia, it represents a restricted view of disease-associated gene activity based on predetermined probes. By contrast, sequencing technology can provide un-biased analysis of transcription at nucleotide resolution. Here we use this approach to investigate schizophrenia-associated cortical gene expression.The data was generated from 76 bp reads of RNA-Seq, aligned to the reference genome and assembled into transcripts for quantification of exons, splice variants and alternative promoters in postmortem superior temporal gyrus (STG/BA22) from 9 male subjects with schizophrenia and 9 matched non-psychiatric controls. Differentially expressed genes were then subjected to further sequence and functional group analysis. The output, amounting to more than 38 Gb of sequence, revealed significant alteration of gene expression including many previously shown to be associated with schizophrenia. Gene ontology enrichment analysis followed by functional map construction identified three functional clusters highly relevant to schizophrenia including neurotransmission related functions, synaptic vesicle trafficking, and neural development. Significantly, more than 2000 genes displayed schizophrenia-associated alternative promoter usage and more than 1000 genes showed differential splicing (FDR<0.05). Both types of transcriptional isoforms were exemplified by reads aligned to the neurodevelopmentally significant doublecortin-like kinase 1 (DCLK1) gene.This study provided the first deep and un-biased analysis of schizophrenia-associated transcriptional diversity within the STG, and revealed variants with important implications for the complex pathophysiology of schizophrenia