Impact of Electronic and Non-Electronic Teaching Methods in Medical Physiology

We investigated whether students prefer and performed better from Power Point presentations method of delivering lecture from traditional chalk and board method. Two groups of students were exposed to series of lectures in same topic by the same teacher. One group received lectures in Power Point method and another in chalk and board method. After each lecture an objective test was given to compare the effectiveness of both the lecture methods. Also after completing the whole series of lectures, another objective test was given. At the end students were asked to write comments about the lecture classes. The result of the study showed that as far as the students’ performance is concerned there was no significant difference in both the groups. Taking the consideration of students’ opinion about both lecture delivery methods, majority students feel that both Power Point and chalk and board should be used simultaneously in all the classes.

Identification of Staphylococcus spp. isolated during the ripening process of a traditional minas cheese / Identificação de Staphylococcus spp. isolados durante o processo de maturação de um queijo-de-minas tradicional

The population dynamics of Staphylococcus spp. was studied during the ripening of Canastra Minas cheese at three farms located in the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil. The presence of coagulase (coa), thermonuclease (nuc), and enterotoxin (sea, seb, sec, and sed) genes was investigated in Staphylococcus strains isolated during the 60-day cheese-ripening period. The presence of the staphylococcal enterotoxins A, C, and D was also investigated in the cheese samples. Cheese samples that were matured for 0, 7, 15, 30, and 45 days presented staphylococci counts from 10³ to 10(8)cfu/g. All isolates considered coagulase-positive by physiological tests had the coa gene. However, no association was observed between the results obtained with biochemical tests and those obtained by PCR using gene-specific primers for coagulase-negative strains. Coagulase and thermonuclease genes occurred simultaneously in 41.3 percent of Staphylococcus spp. tested. None of the investigated Staphylococcus strains expressed enterotoxins SEA, SEB, SEC, and SED. Enterotoxins A, C, and D were not detected in any of the cheese samples.

Estudou-se a dinâmica das populações de Staphylococcus spp. durante a maturação do queijo Canastra, em três fazendas localizadas no estado de Minas Gerais. A presença dos genes que codificam para a produção das enzimas coagulase (coa), termonuclease (nuc) e produção de enterotoxinas (sea, seb, sec e sed), em linhagens de Staphylococcus isoladas durante os 60 dias de maturação do queijo foi analisada. Também foi investigada a presença de enterotoxina estafilocócica A, C e D nas amostras de queijo. As amostras de queijo com 0, 7, 15, 30 e 45 dias de maturação apresentaram contagens de Staphylococcus spp. entre 10³ e 10(8)ufc / g. Todos os isolados coagulase positivo nos testes fisiológicos apresentaram o gene coa. Não foi observada associação entre os resultados obtidos com os testes bioquímicos e aqueles obtidos com a PCR usando iniciadores gene-específicos para linhagens coagulase negativa. Os genes da coagulase e termonuclease ocorreram simultaneamente em 41,3 por cento dos Staphylococcus spp. testados. Nenhum dos isolados de Staphylococcus apresentou os genes que codificam para a produção das enterotoxinas SEA, SEB, SEC ou SED. As enterotoxinas A, C ou D não foram detectadas em nenhuma das amostras de queijo analisadas.

Conservação e fisiologia pós-colheita de folhas de Capuchinha (Tropaeolum majus L. ) / Conservation and postharvest physiology of leaves Capuchin (Tropaeolum majus L. )

Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a vida útil pós-colheita de folhas de Capuchinha (Tropaeolum majus L.) embaladas com filme PVC de baixa densidade e proteínas nas concentrações de 1, 3 e 5 por cento. O experimento foi conduzido no Laboratório de Química e Bioquímica do Centro de Ciências Agrárias (CCA) da Universidade Federal da Paraíba (UFPB) Areia - PB. As folhas de Capuchinha colhidas no CCA foram levadas imediatamente ao Laboratório de Química e Bioquímica, para pré-seleção, desinfestação em água clorada contendo 100mg.L-1 de cloro ativo, e seca à temperatura ambiente. Após o controle fitossanitário, as folhas foram submetidas aos seguintes tratamentos: solução de proteína nas concentrações de 1, 3 e 5 por cento, filme PVC de baixa densidade e a testemunha sem recobrimento. As folhas foram armazenadas durante cinco dias em temperatura média de 26 - 29ºC e umidade relativa média de 59,5 - 71,5 por cento e outra parte foi armazenada em câmara fria com temperatura média de 12 ± 0,5 ºC e umidade relativa média de 95 ± 3 por cento. Durante o período de armazenamento as folhas foram avaliadas quanto à perda de massa fresca, determinação de ácido ascórbico, sólidos solúveis e acidez titulável. O armazenamento durante quatro dias sob refrigeração a temperatura média de 12 ± 0,5ºC associada ao recobrimento com filme PVC mostrou melhores resultados na conservação da vida útil pós-colheita das folhas de Capuchinha.

This study aimed to evaluate the shelf-life of Capuchin sheets (Tropaeolum majus L.) packed with plastic wrap and low density proteins at concentrations of 1, 3 and 5 percent. The experiment was conducted at the Laboratório de Química e Bioquímica and the Centro de Ciências Agrárias (CCA) of the Universidade Federal da Paraíba (UFPB) Areia - PB. Capuchin leaves harvested in the CCA were taken immediately to the Laboratório de Química e Bioquímica, for pre-screening, disinfection in chlorinated water containing 100mg.L-1 of active chlorine, and dried at room temperature. After spraying, the leaves were treated as follows: protein solution at concentrations of 1, 3 and 5 percent, low density plastic wrap and uncoated witness. The leaves were stored for five days in average temperature from 26 to 29ºC and relative humidity from 59.5 to 71.5 percent and another part was stored in cold with average temperature of 12 ± 0.5ºC and relative humidity of 95 ± 3 percent. During the storage period the leaves were evaluated for weight loss, determination of ascorbic acid, soluble solids and titratable acidity. Storage for four days under refrigeration at an average temperature of 12 ± 0.5ºC associated with PVC film coating showed better results in the conservation of shelf-life of Capuchin sheets.

Propuesta de sistema de trabajo metodológico para la carrera de licenciatura en enfermería / A proposal of methodological work system for the nursing career bachelor's degree

Proponer un sistema de tareas básicas para los colectivos metodológicos de la carrera de enfermería es el objetivo de este estudio. Se constituyó un grupo de expertos seleccionados a partir de la determinación de los coeficientes de competencia y argumentación por autovaloración. Se conformó una propuesta teórica de sistema de tareas básicas para las estructuras asesoras metodológicas en los niveles de sede central, municipal y sede universitaria, que tuvo como referencia una versión preliminar elaborada por criterio de los expertos. Una vez conformada la propuesta teórica se hizo una ronda de consulta individual para el ajuste final del modelo y se obtuvo respuesta satisfactoria de la totalidad de los expertos participantes en el estudio, los que emitieron sus respuestas después de analizar la propuesta en sus respectivos colectivos de carrera. Se conformó un sistema de tareas básicas para los colectivos metodológicos de la carrera de Enfermería en las instancias de centro, municipio y sede universitaria, con un enfoque que debe propiciar el trabajo en sistema, en correspondencia con los niveles de integración de la carrera.

The aim of present study is to propose a basic tasks system for the nursing methodological groups. An expert group selected according to the competence coefficients and the line of argument by self-assessment was created. Authors designed a theoretical proposal of major tasks system for the methodological advisories structures at central, municipal and university headquarters level where its reference was a preliminary version designed according expert criteria. After the creation of the theoretical proposal we made an individual consultation for the final model adjustment achieving a satisfactory response from the total of experts involved in study, who gave their responses after to analyze such proposal within the respective career groups. Also, a major tasks system was designed for the methodological groups of Nursing career at center, municipality and university headquarter level with an approach that must to allows the systematic work in agreement with the career integration levels.

Validity of Queen's College Step Test for estimation of maximum oxygen uptake in female students.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Maximum oxygen uptake (VO(2) max) is internationally accepted parameter to evaluate the cardiorespiratory fitness. But determination of VO(2)max is restricted within well equipped laboratory because of its exhausting, hazardous and complicated experimental protocol. Various attempts have been made to enumerate indirect and easy protocols for prediction of VO(2)max but such record is unavailable in Indian women. The present study was conducted to validate the applicability of Queen's College Step Test (QCT) for indirectly estimating the maximum oxygen uptake in female sedentary university students. METHODS: Forty sedentary female university students of same socio-economic background were recruited by simple random sampling from University of Calcutta, Kolkata. VO(2)max of each participant was determined by direct procedure and indirect QCT method with a gap of four days in between the tests. Direct estimation of VO(2)max comprised incremental bicycle exercise followed by expired gas analysis by Scholander micro-gas analyzer whereas VO(2)max was indirectly predicted by standard protocol of QCT. RESULTS: The difference between the mean VO(2)max values directly measured and indirectly predicted (PVO(2)max) was statistically significant (P<0.001). Limit of agreement analysis revealed poor confidence level for application of current method of QCT in the studied population. VO(2)max value exhibited significant correlation (r = -0.83, P<0.001) with QCT pulse rate. For precise and reliable estimation of VO(2)max in the studied population a new equation was computed. INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that QCT in its original form cannot be applied due to its poor agreement with the direct method but can be applied with the modified equation in this population to evaluate maximum oxygen uptake, especially when large numbers of participants are to be tested in absence of a well equipped laboratory.

Computer-assisted learning package for frequency distribution of physiological variables.

There are a variety of ways of picturing a frequency distribution type, viz, the histogram, the frequency polygon, the smoothed curve and the ogive. We have developed a computer package to demonstrate gradual change of a histogram into a curve. For a given set of data on frequency distribution of, say blood pressure levels in specified categories, this package helps the computer to draw bars which gradually rise to the level of the frequencies, and lateron are replaced by the polygon and finally by the frequency curve of the Gaussian type on the computer screen pixel by pixel. This thus demonstrates the meaning and genesis of frequency curves. This package could be very useful in learning the concept of frequency curves particularly the Gaussian form.

Fitting curves to physiological data.

This paper deals with fitting of a parabola and three parameter logistic curve to relate heart output and initial index finger temperature with ambient temperature in human subjects. The coefficients of determination (R2%) between observed and estimated values of heat output and initial index finger temperature were close to 98% indicating the high percentage of variation of the total sum of squares absorbed by the fit of the curves. The superiority of the fitted curves over the other curves have been proved. Thus it is concluded that parabola and three parameter logistic curve may explain the relationships of heat output and initial index finger temperature with ambient temperature more precisely than other curves.