Perceptual Learning Styles of Medical Sciences Students

This study conducted in Iran reports on research into perceptual learning style of medical sciences students generally and that of Students of Medicine SM and Anesthesiology SA in particular Results revealed that the students preferred learning styles were tactile and kinesthetic followed by visual and auditory but individual and group preferences were at the lowest Females of the two fields were stronger than males in 5 domains Female SM were better in all 6 areas of learning compared to female SA Male SA compared to their female peers however were better motivated and thus more oriented toward their field and future profession The findings can have some implications for curriculum development material development teacher training courses and class management Moreover by having an awareness of our students learning styles classes can be placed into homogeneous groups and expose each to their most preferred learning orientation and even work on and improve the learners least preferred styles from the other end of the continuu

Autism spectrum disorder-specific changes in white matter connectome edge density based on functionally defined nodes

IntroductionAutism spectrum disorder (ASD) is associated with both functional and microstructural connectome disruptions. We deployed a novel methodology using functionally defined nodes to guide white matter (WM) tractography and identify ASD-related microstructural connectome changes across the lifespan.MethodsWe used diffusion tensor imaging and clinical data from four studies in the national database for autism research (NDAR) including 155 infants, 102 toddlers, 230 adolescents, and 96 young adults – of whom 264 (45%) were diagnosed with ASD. We applied cortical nodes from a prior fMRI study identifying regions related to symptom severity scores and used these seeds to construct WM fiber tracts as connectome Edge Density (ED) maps. Resulting ED maps were assessed for between-group differences using voxel-wise and tract-based analysis. We then examined the association of ASD diagnosis with ED driven from functional nodes generated from different sensitivity thresholds.ResultsIn ED derived from functionally guided tractography, we identified ASD-related changes in infants (pFDR ≤ 0.001–0.483). Overall, more wide-spread ASD-related differences were detectable in ED based on functional nodes with positive symptom correlation than negative correlation to ASD, and stricter thresholds for functional nodes resulted in stronger correlation with ASD among infants (z = −6.413 to 6.666, pFDR ≤ 0.001–0.968). Voxel-wise analysis revealed wide-spread ED reductions in central WM tracts of toddlers, adolescents, and adults.DiscussionWe detected early changes of aberrant WM development in infants developing ASD when generating microstructural connectome ED map with cortical nodes defined by functional imaging. These were not evident when applying structurally defined nodes, suggesting that functionally guided DTI-based tractography can help identify early ASD-related WM disruptions between cortical regions exhibiting abnormal connectivity patterns later in life. Furthermore, our results suggest a benefit of involving functionally informed nodes in diffusion imaging-based probabilistic tractography, and underline that different age cohorts can benefit from age- and brain development-adapted image processing protocols

Cooperative Regulation of Non-Small Cell Lung Carcinoma by Nicotinic and Beta-Adrenergic Receptors: A Novel Target for Intervention

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death; 80–85% of lung cancer cases are non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Smoking is a documented risk factor for the development of this cancer. Although nicotine does not have the ability to initiate carcinogenic events, recent studies have implicated nicotine in growth stimulation of NSCLC. Using three NSCLC cell lines (NCI-H322, NCI-H441 and NCI-H1299), we identified the cooperation of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) and β-adrenergic receptors (β-ARs) as principal regulators of these effects. Proliferation was measured by thymidine incorporation and MTT assays, and Western blots were used to monitor the upregulation of the nAChRs and activation of signaling molecules. Noradrenaline and GABA were measured by immunoassays. Nicotine-treated NSCLC cells showed significant induction of the α7nAChR and α4nAChR, along with significant inductions of p-CREB and p-ERK1/2 accompanied by increases in the stress neurotransmitter noradrenaline, which in turn led to the observed increase in DNA synthesis and cell proliferation. Effects on cell proliferation and signaling proteins were reversed by the α7nAChR antagonist α-BTX or the β-blocker propranolol. Nicotine treatment also down-regulated expression of the GABA synthesizing enzyme GAD 65 and the level of endogenous GABA, while treatment of NSCLC cells with GABA inhibited cell proliferation. Interestingly, GABA acts by reducing β-adrenergic activated cAMP signaling. Our findings suggest that nicotine-induced activation of this autocrine noradrenaline-initiated signaling cascade and concomitant deficiency in inhibitory GABA, similar to modulation of these neurotransmitters in the nicotine-addicted brain, may contribute to the development of NSCLC in smokers. Our data suggest that exposure to nicotine either by tobacco smoke or nicotine supplements facilitates growth and progression of NSCLC and that pharmacological intervention by β blocker may lower the risk for NSCLC development among smokers and could be used to enhance the clinical outcome of standard cancer therapy

Intermittent left bundle branch block

Presenting electrocardiograms of intermittent left bundle branch block in a 60-year-old female

Processability Theory Revisited: A Critical Approach

Article reference: Mozayan, M. (2015). Processability theory revisited: A critical approach. ELT Voices, 5 (5), 25-30. Abstract: In order to revisit Processability, the theory which links psychology and linguistics in a very direct way to demonstrate what we know about languages, this paper primarily glances over the Achilles' heel of the error analysis in delineating the developmental patterns in the language learners. It also refers to the second way in which samples of learner language are collected over a period of time so as to identify when specific linguistic features emerge; this is what the Processability theory (PT) does. By addressing the concepts such as property and transition theories as well as the developmental and logical problems of the learners, the paper then magnifies the central hypothesis of the theory holding that at any stage of development, learners can produce and comprehend only those L2 linguistic forms which their current state of mind can handle. Later, the criticisms leveled at the theory are put forth. And finally concluding remarks wrap up the issue

A meta-analytical attitude to the form–function relation in architecture using the concept of creativity

Architecture is an impressive area in human life, with the nature that returns to the design process in any way. Generally, the design is a motivated effort to satisfy human needs, which focuses on two main elements, form and function, in macroscale view of architecture. It is expanded that the relation between forms and their functions is the matter always considered due to the architectural essence. Accordingly, the main aim of this research is analyzing this relation and identifying its affecting factors based on recognizing the levels of human existence, as the user of architectural products. Therefore, this research was conducted by a qualitative content analysis, including the comparative–interpretative approach to identify key variables existing in related theoretical context and describe their connections, in terms of methodology. Regarding this, we tried to redefine the relationship between these two concepts (form and function) with a logical reasoning. Since the analytical investigation of our research was developed based on the previous theoreticians’ analytical processes, it could be considered as a qualitative meta-analysis study focusing on the related anthropological and psychological dimensions. According to the content proximity of the design and creativity natures, particularly in art and architecture, applying the concept of creativity to explain the form–function relation seems to be logical. Finally, a comprehensive conceptual model and associated manifest were presented that covers all of the studied theories in this regard