The Impact of Interactive Tools within Lectures in Medical Education

Background: Traditional didactic lectures in medical curriculum are used to transmit lots of information in a short time frame but evidence shows that student attention lapses after 15-20 minutes into a lecture. Along with this, there is a concern that deep understanding of topics is often missed in favour of fact retention. In this study, I am interested in finding out student perception of the use of interactive tools within lectures and whether the use of such tools encourages active learning, improves understanding and helps students retain knowledge. Summary of Work: Two lectures were delivered to Year 1 MBChB students, one using interactive tools including electronic voting, real time discussion boards and polling software, and one without any interactive tools. Student opinion of these was evaluated using a questionnaire and focus group. Summary of Results: Students felt the use of interactive tools made the lecture more interesting and helped them stay focussed during the lecture. It allowed them to check that they understood the topic being presented and they were in favour of being able to compare their answers to the rest of the class. Discussion and Conclusions: Asking and answering questions using interactive tools during lectures facilitates the development of deep, active learning and knowledge creation, and gives students the feeling that they are contributing to their own learning. Take-home messages: The use of some interactive tools within lectures is welcomed and can have a positive impact on knowledge and understanding

Oestrogen regulation of gene expression in male germ cells and Sertoli cells

The testis has two main functions, the synthesis of steroid hormones and the production of spermatozoa. The adult testis contains three main somatic cell types, namely Sertoli cells, Leydig cells and peritubular myoid cells, as well as germ cells at all stages of maturation. Interactions between these cells and the steroid hormones produced by the testis are responsible for the regulation and maintenance of spermatogenesis and fertility. Depletion or exposure to high levels of oestrogens, or androgens, both have an adverse impact on male reproductive function. In the testis, as well as in other organs, steroid hormone action is mediated by ligand-activated receptors. A single androgen receptor (AR) and two oestrogen receptors (ERα and ERß) have been identified.The aims of this study were to investigate the role of steroid hormones, in particular oestrogens, in murine spermatogenesis. A major focus of these investigations was the role played by ERß in the modulation of germ cell and somatic cell function. Studies were conducted both using a transformed murine Sertoli cell line (SK11), which has maintained a differentiated Sertoli cell phenotype and spermatogonial stem cells, which were successfully isolated and characterised. Steroid hormone receptor status, steroid responsiveness and the impact of targeted deletion using RNAi were all assessed.Characterisation of the SKI 1 cell line, which was cultivated under conditions which maintained them in an undifferentiated or differentiated state, revealed they retain many features of Sertoli cells in vivo. ERß mRNA and protein were shown to be expressed in the SK11 cells both in the undifferentiated and differentiated states. Transient transfections using ERß or ARE-luciferase reporter constructs and stimulation with steroid ligands revealed that the cells contained functional steroid hormone receptors. Knockdown of ER|3 mRNA and protein was achieved in the cells after targeted deletion using a short hairpin RNAi containing vector; this blunted the ability of the cells to respond to oestrogen.Isolation of spermatogonial stem cells was carried out using immunomagnetic beads. The stem cell population were shown to express Oct-4 and GFRα-1 mRNAs, both of which are stem cell markers, but not c-kit, which is a marker of differentiated germ cells. Taqman Q-RT-PCR demonstrated that the stem cell population expressed ERß. Oct-4 mRNA expression was shown to be reduced by RNAi; this induced the cells to undergo differentiation in vitro characterised by increased expression of c-kit.In conclusion, the current studies have extended our understanding of the impact of steroid hormones on testicular function and have revealed for the first time that spermatogonial stem cells are ERß positive. The SKI 1 cell line has been found to provide a suitable model system for the study of steroid regulation of Sertoli cell function. In addition, the use of RNAi has provided an exciting new avenue by which to manipulate gene expression levels in testicular germ and somatic cells

Calculating NMR parameters in aluminophosphates : evaluation of dispersion correction schemes

Periodic density functional theory (DFT) calculations have recently emerged as a popular tool for assigning solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra. However, in order for the calculations to yield accurate results, accurate structural models are also required. In many cases the structural model (often derived from crystallographic diffraction) must be optimised (i.e., to an energy minimum) using DFT prior to the calculation of NMR parameters. However, DFT does not reproduce weak long-range "dispersion'' interactions well, and optimisation using some functionals can expand the crystallographic unit cell, particularly when dispersion interactions are important in defining the structure. Recently, dispersion-corrected DFT (DFT-D) has been extended to periodic calculations, to compensate for these missing interactions. Here, we investigate whether dispersion corrections are important for aluminophosphate zeolites (AlPOs) by comparing the structures optimised by DFT and DFT-D (using the PBE functional). For as-made AlPOs (containing cationic structure-directing agents (SDAs) and framework-bound anions) dispersion interactions appear to be important, with significant changes between the DFT and DFT-D unit cells. However, for calcined AlPOs, where the SDA-anion pairs are removed, dispersion interactions appear much less important, and the DFT and DFT-D unit cells are similar. We show that, while the different optimisation strategies yield similar calculated NMR parameters (providing that the atomic positions are optimised), the DFT-D optimisations provide structures in better agreement with the experimental diffraction measurements. Therefore, it appears that DFT-D calculations can, and should, be used for the optimisation of calcined and as-made AlPOs, in order to provide the closest agreement with all experimental measurements.PostprintPeer reviewe

Global Gene Expression Profiling of Individual Human Oocytes and Embryos Demonstrates Heterogeneity in Early Development

Early development in humans is characterised by low and variable embryonic viability, reflected in low fecundity and high rates of miscarriage, relative to other mammals. Data from assisted reproduction programmes provides additional evidence that this is largely mediated at the level of embryonic competence and is highly heterogeneous among embryos. Understanding the basis of this heterogeneity has important implications in a number of areas including: the regulation of early human development, disorders of pregnancy, assisted reproduction programmes, the long term health of children which may be programmed in early development, and the molecular basis of pluripotency in human stem cell populations. We have therefore investigated global gene expression profiles using polyAPCR amplification and microarray technology applied to individual human oocytes and 4-cell and blastocyst stage embryos. In order to explore the basis of any variability in detail, each developmental stage is replicated in triplicate. Our data show that although transcript profiles are highly stage-specific, within each stage they are relatively variable. We describe expression of a number of gene families and pathways including apoptosis, cell cycle and amino acid metabolism, which are variably expressed and may be reflective of embryonic developmental competence. Overall, our data suggest that heterogeneity in human embryo developmental competence is reflected in global transcript profiles, and that the vast majority of existing human embryo gene expression data based on pooled oocytes and embryos need to be reinterpreted

Global gene expression profiling of individual human oocytes and embryos demonstrates heterogeneity in early development

Early development in humans is characterised by low and variable embryonic viability, reflected in low fecundity and high rates of miscarriage, relative to other mammals. Data from assisted reproduction programmes provides additional evidence that this is largely mediated at the level of embryonic competence and is highly heterogeneous among embryos. Understanding the basis of this heterogeneity has important implications in a number of areas including: the regulation of early human development, disorders of pregnancy, assisted reproduction programmes, the long term health of children which may be programmed in early development, and the molecular basis of pluripotency in human stem cell populations. We have therefore investigated global gene expression profiles using polyAPCR amplification and microarray technology applied to individual human oocytes and 4-cell and blastocyst stage embryos. In order to explore the basis of any variability in detail, each developmental stage is replicated in triplicate. Our data show that although transcript profiles are highly stage-specific, within each stage they are relatively variable. We describe expression of a number of gene families and pathways including apoptosis, cell cycle and amino acid metabolism, which are variably expressed and may be reflective of embryonic developmental competence. Overall, our data suggest that heterogeneity in human embryo developmental competence is reflected in global transcript profiles, and that the vast majority of existing human embryo gene expression data based on pooled oocytes and embryos need to be reinterpreted

Why the flipped lecture is not a ‘One Size Fits All’ solution to undergraduate medical education

Lectures underpin most medical school curricula; however, due to their frequently didactic nature, their pedagogical efficacy and value are continually questioned. The “flipped” lecture is one approach with the potential to increase student collaboration and interactivity within the lecture theatre environment. Increasingly, medical teachers are introducing flipped lectures, reflecting the increasing use of active learning techniques and digital technologies across the higher education sector more generally. This intervention is seen as a solution to the problems of a traditional lecture, yet whether the use of flipped lectures in medical school programmes enhances learning for all students is not clear. This study investigates whether flipped lectures are perceived as a valuable learning resource by undergraduate medical students. By introducing a flipped lecture at two stages of the curriculum to three student cohorts, and determining students’ observations and perceptions of each experience, we discuss why a flipped lecture does not always meet the needs of the increasingly diverse range of students in medical education and propose exercising caution when considering the introduction of flipped lectures to undergraduate programmes

Interactome comparison of human embryonic stem cell lines with the inner cell mass and trophectoderm

Networks of interacting co-regulated genes distinguish the inner cell mass (ICM) from the differentiated trophectoderm (TE) in the preimplantation blastocyst, in a species specific manner. In mouse the ground state pluripotency of the ICM appears to be maintained in murine embryonic stem cells (ESCs) derived from the ICM. This is not the case for human ESCs. In order to gain insight into this phenomenon, we have used quantitative network analysis to identify how similar human (h)ESCs are to the human ICM. Using the hESC lines MAN1, HUES3 and HUES7 we have shown that all have only a limited overlap with ICM specific gene expression, but that this overlap is enriched for network properties that correspond to key aspects of function including transcription factor activity and the hierarchy of network modules. These analyses provide an important framework which highlights the developmental origins of hESCs

Twelve tips for online synchronous small group learning in medical education

Undergraduate medical education relies on a variety of small group learning formats to deliver the curriculum, support collaborative learning, encourage critical thinking, as well as the development of a number of professional, clinical and generic attributes. However, the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic of 2020 reminded us that unanticipated circumstances may necessitate a rapid and abrupt switch to delivering medical education through alternative means, while still upholding teaching standards and meeting learning and graduate outcomes. For many medical schools, the pandemic resulted in small group teaching being moved to an online format. The experience of students and facilitators moving small group learning tutorials to online synchronous delivery forms the basis for a set of recommendations when considering the delivery of small group teaching remotely

Confused About Scholarship and ECDP? (Us too!) A Possible Solution!

In an effort to explore the ideas of Scholarship of Learning and Teaching, and to comply with Glasgow’s University’s career development programme, a small group of academics from the College of Medicine, Veterinary and Life Sciences established a Learning Community. The LC has several aims: • To create and design a Learning Community to support scholarship and progression for lecturers on learning & teaching track • To understand how a Learning Community can be used to support staff on career development pathways • To empower participants to engage in the University’s career development programme through peer support and peer mentorship within the Learning Community • provide practical support for scholarship projects (it is hoped that all members will be supported to drive their scholarship ‘from idea to manuscript’) It is hoped that through the sharing of ideas, and collaboration between schools, the LC hope to publish and disseminate scholarship, and provide a series of recommendations regarding scholarship support. Planned scholarship outputs include papers in educational journals, conference abstracts and presentations, and a significant ambition to influence policy within the university regarding scholarship and career development

Investigation of zeolitic imidazolate frameworks using 13C and 15N solid-state NMR spectroscopy

The authors are grateful to EPSRC computational support through the Collaborative Computational Project on NMR Crystallography (CCP-NC), via EP/M022501/1, and for other support through EP/G062129/1 (JK) and EP/M506631/1 (SS). AFO acknowledges funding from the European Community Seventh Framework Program (FP7/2007-2013 [grant agreement number 608490], Project M4CO2). SEA would also like to thank the Royal Society and Wolfson Foundation for a merit award. AFO would also like to acknowledge the SCI for a scholarship for her PhD studies. Some of the calculations were performed on the ARCHER UK National Supercomputing Service, and were supported by CCP-NC. The research data (and/or materials) supporting this publication can be accessed at http://dx.doi.org/10.17630/7959a81e-161d-4ada-9914-08d3d235ce88Zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs) are a subclass of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with extended three-dimensional networks of transition metal nodes (bridged by rigid imidazolate linkers), with potential applications in gas storage and separation, sensing and controlled delivery of drug molecules. Here, we investigate the use of 13C and 15N solid-state NMR spectroscopy to characterise the local structure and disorder in a variety of single- and dual-linker ZIFs. In most cases, a combination of a basic knowledge of chemical shifts typically observed in solution-state NMR spectroscopy and the use of dipolar dephasing NMR experiments to reveal information about quaternary carbon species are combined to enable spectral assignment. Accurate measurement of the anisotropic components of the chemical shift provided additional information to characterise the local environment and the possibility of trying to understand the relationships between NMR parameters and both local and long-range structure. First-principles calculations on some of the simpler, ordered ZIFs were possible, and provided support for the spectral assignments, while comparison of these model systems to more disordered ZIFs aided interpretation of the more complex spectra obtained. It is shown that 13C and 15N NMR are sufficiently sensitive to detect small changes in the local environment, e.g., functionalisation of the linker, crystallographic inequivalence and changes to the framework topology, while the relative proportion of each linker present can be obtained by comparing relative intensities of resonances corresponding to chemically-similar species in cross polarisation experiments with short contact times. Therefore, multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, and in particular the measurement of both isotropic and anisotropic parameters, offers a useful tool for the structural study of ordered and, in particular, disordered ZIFs.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe