Effects of Blackboard Resources Utilization on Students’ Performance in Molecular Biology Course

2020 ◽  
Vol 154 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S149-S149
Author(s):  
B P Kandel ◽  
M Hackfeld ◽  
J Zhang ◽  
F Guo
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Biology ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Clinical Education ◽  
Information Technologies ◽  
Clinical Laboratory ◽  
Biology Education ◽  
Disease Status ◽  
Disease Diagnosis ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Item

Abstract Introduction/Objective Molecular diagnostics utilizes structural and functional fundamentals of molecular biology and finds its scope in clinical education for disease diagnosis and monitoring, and evaluation of non-disease status. Time and financial constraints make molecular biology education challenging for both teachers and students. Advances in information technologies have helped teachers to provide a rich resource to students which if properly utilized is expected to generate better teaching-learning outcomes. However, the pattern of utilization of digital resources by students and its impact on their performance is still unknown. The aim of this study was to assess students’ behavior to Blackboard resource utilization and its impact on their performance in molecular biology course. Methods We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional study including all the 46 students (9 graduate and 37 undergraduate students; 14 distant and 32 regular students) enrolled for molecular biology course in the year 2017 and assessed the associations between blackboard resource visits and students’ final weighted total grades. Blackboard resource visit variables included “Tegrity” viewing duration, viewing times, and contents viewed (“My Grades”, “Announcement”, “Discussion”, “Contacts”, “Content Item”). Results Among all students, the most and least visited contents were “Content Item” (261 average hits) and “Contacts” (1.28 average hits), respectively with similar patterns of the visit among all student sub-categories. The longest average Tegrity viewing duration (25 hours) and the highest average Tegrity viewing times (56 hits) were noted among undergraduate distance students. The average grade was higher among graduate students than undergraduate students. The overall blackboard resource visit and the individual category visit among graduate and undergraduate students had no association with students’ final weighted scores. Conclusion Our findings have important implications for the utility of blackboard resources among graduate and undergraduate clinical laboratory science students. Similar assessments including students from many different years are recommended to generate more accurate evidence.

scholarly journals Laboratory Diagnostics Performance in Uganda: A Survey of Test Availability and Constraints Across 100 Laboratories

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Noel Namuhani ◽  
Suzanne N Kiwanuka ◽  
Martha Akulume ◽  
Simeon Kalyesubula ◽  
William Bazeyo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Laboratory ◽  
Disease Diagnosis ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Essential Medicines ◽  
Full Blood Count ◽  
Laboratory Diagnostics ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Laboratory Services ◽  
Control And Prevention ◽  
Sub Saharan

Abstract Background Clinical laboratory services are a critical component of the health system for effective disease diagnosis, treatment, control and prevention. However, many laboratories in Sub Saharan Africa remain dysfunctional. The high costs of tests in the private sector also remain a hindrance to accessing testing services. This study aimed at assessing the functionality of laboratories based on test menus and the associated constraints in Uganda. Methods This cross sectional quantitative study involved an assessment of 100 laboratories randomly selected in 20 districts from four regions of the country. Sixteen percent of the studied laboratories were regional hub laboratories. Laboratory in charges and managers in each of the selected laboratories were interviewed. A checklist for laboratory supplies adapted from the Essential Medicines and Health supplies list for Uganda, (2012) was used to assess availability of testing supplies. Data was analyzed using excel and STATA 14. Results At the point of assessment, generally, all laboratories were able to perform malaria tests and HIV tests. All the hub laboratories conducted malaria tests and TB screening. Less than half had electrolytes tests due to lack of equipment, nonfunctioning equipment and lack of reagents. Full blood count tests were missing in 25% of the hub laboratories mainly due to lack of equipment. The lack of reagents (66.7%) and the lack of equipment (58.3%) caused the majority 10/16 of the hubs to routinely referred specimens for tests that are supposed to be carried out in these laboratories due to lack of reagents (66.7%) and non-functional equipment (58.3%). Although officially recognized as an operational structure, Hub laboratories lacked a list of essential and vital supplies. Conclusions Most laboratories performed well for the common tests. However, many laboratories did not meet testing requirements especially for the advanced tests according to standard testing menus for Uganda due to non-functioning equipment, lack of equipment and reagents. Hubs lack list of essential supplies. Therefore, there is need to provide equipment to laboratories, repair the non-functional ones and develop an essential list of supplies for the hub laboratories.

scholarly journals Health indicators associated with poor sleep quality among university students

2014 ◽  
Vol 48 (6) ◽  
pp. 1085-1092 ◽  
Author(s):  
Márcio Flávio Moura de Araújo ◽  
Roberto Wagner Júnior Freire de Freitas ◽  
Adman Câmara Soares Lima ◽  
Dayse Christina Rodrigues Pereira ◽  
Maria Lúcia Zanetti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sleep Quality ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Clinical Laboratory ◽  
Demographic Data ◽  
Health Indicators ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Poor Sleep ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Self Administered Questionnaire

Objective To associate the sleep quality of Brazilian undergraduate students with health indicators. Method A cross-sectional study was developed with a random sample of 662 undergraduate students from Fortaleza, Brazil. The demographic data, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and health data indicators (smoking, alcoholism, sedentary lifestyle, nutritional condition and serum cholesterol) were collected through a self-administered questionnaire. Blood was collected at a clinical laboratory. In order to estimate the size of the associations, a Poisson Regression was used. Results For students who are daily smokers, the occurrence of poor sleep was higher than in non-smokers (p<0.001). Prevalence rate values were nevertheless close to 1. Conclusion The likelihood of poor sleep is almost the same in smokers and in alcoholics.


scholarly journals High YKL-40 serum levels and its expression in the muscle tissues of patients with antisynthetase syndrome

2021 ◽  
Vol 61 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Renata Casseb de Souza Carboni ◽  
Gustavo Luiz Behrens Pinto ◽  
Samuel Katsuyuki Shinjo
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Laboratory ◽  
Disease Status ◽  
Inflammatory Cells ◽  
Serum Levels ◽  
Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽  
Antisynthetase Syndrome ◽  
Necrosis Factor Alpha ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Muscle Tissues ◽  
Tnf Α

Abstract Background The protein chitinase-3-like-1 (YKL-40) is rarely analyzed in patients with myositis. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate YKL-40 serum levels; correlate them with laboratory and clinical parameters, disease status, and treatment schemes; and analyze the YKL-40 expression in the muscle tissues of patients with antisynthetase syndrome (ASSD). Methods This cross-sectional single-center study included 64 adult patients with ASSD who were age-, gender-, and ethnicity-matched to 64 healthy control individuals. Their YKL-40 serum levels were analyzed using the Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) kit method, while YKL-40 expression in muscle tissues was analyzed using an immunohistochemical technique. Disease status was assessed using the International Myositis Assessment and Clinical Studies Group (IMACS) set scores. Results The patients’ mean age was 44.8 ± 11.8 years, and median disease duration was 1.5 (0.0–4.0) years. These patients were predominantly female (82.8%) and Caucasian (73.4%). Most patients had stable disease. The median YKL-40 serum level was significantly higher in patients with ASSD when compared to the healthy individuals: 538.4 (363.4–853.1) pg/mL versus 270.0 (201.8–451.9) pg/mL, respectively; P < 0.001. However, YKL-40 serum levels did not correlate with any clinical, laboratory, disease status, or therapeutic parameters (P > 0.050), except tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) serum levels (Spearman’s correlation, rho = 0.382; P = 0.007). YKL-40 was highly expressed by inflammatory cells found in muscle biopsy specimens. Conclusions High YKL-40 serum levels were observed in patients with ASSD and correlated positively with TNF-α serum levels. Moreover, YKL-40 was expressed by the inflammatory cells of the muscle tissue.

scholarly journals The Relationship Between Nomophobia and Maladaptive Coping Styles in a Sample of Italian Young Adults: Insights and Implications From a Cross-Sectional Study (Preprint)

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicola Luigi Bragazzi ◽  
Tania Simona Re ◽  
Riccardo Zerbetto
Keyword(s):  
Coping Strategies ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Information Technologies ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Coping Styles ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Maladaptive Coping ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Brief Cope

BACKGROUND Information technologies have become an integral part of the modern society; however, it is speculated that their overuse would result in addiction. Nomophobia refers to the irrational fear of being out of contact with virtual communication platforms. Generally, upon exposure to stress, humans adjust by employing cognitive mechanisms and behavioral efforts known as coping strategies. OBJECTIVE The goal of the research was to explore coping styles implemented in subjects with nomophobia. METHODS This was a cross-sectional study involving young adult participants (undergraduate students and younger subjects) who were recruited via an online survey using a snowball approach. The Italian version of the Nomophobia Questionnaire was administered to subjects. The measurement of coping styles was done using the 28-item Brief COPE questionnaire. Continuous data were computed as means and standard deviations, whereas categorical data were expressed as percentages, where appropriate. Correlation analysis was performed between the Nomophobia Questionnaire and Brief COPE scores. Multivariate regression analyses were conducted in order to shed light on the determinants of each coping style and its association with nomophobia. RESULTS A total of 403 subjects took part in the study. Subjects with higher nomophobia scores responded when confronted with stress with behavioral disengagement (r=.16, P<.001), denial (r=.19, P<.001), self-blame (r=.12, P=.02), self-distraction (r=.22, P<.001), venting (r=.28, P<.001), use of emotional (r=.25, P<.001), and instrumental support (r=.16, P=.001). CONCLUSION Nomophobia subjects adopt maladaptive coping strategies when confronted with stress. The acknowledgment of how nomophobia subjects react provides insight and introduces a focus for preventative and interventional measures in this population.

scholarly journals COVID-19 presenting as anosmia and dysgeusia in New York City emergency departments, March - April, 2020

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tina Z. Wang ◽  
Jessica Sell ◽  
Don Weiss ◽  
Ramona Lall
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
New York ◽  
New York City ◽  
York City ◽  
Emergency Departments ◽  
Clinical Laboratory ◽  
Disease Diagnosis ◽  
Emergency Department Visits ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Presenting Symptoms

AbstractBackgroundIncreasing evidence has been emerging of anosmia and dysgeusia as frequently reported symptoms in COVID-19. Improving our understanding of these presenting symptoms may facilitate the prompt recognition of the disease in emergency departments and prevent further transmission.MethodsWe examined a cross-sectional cohort using New York City emergency department syndromic surveillance data for March and April 2020. Emergency department visits for anosmia and/or dysgeusia were identified and subsequently matched to the Electronic Clinical Laboratory Reporting System to determine testing results for SARS-CoV-2.ResultsOf the 683 patients with anosmia and/or dysgeusia included, SARS-CoV-2 testing was performed for 232 (34%) and 168 (72%) were found to be positive. Median age of all patients presenting with anosmia and/or dysgeusia symptoms was 38, and 54% were female. Anosmia and/or dysgeusia was the sole complaint of 158 (23%) patients, of whom 35 were tested for SARS-CoV-2 and 23 (66%) were positive. While the remaining patients presented with at least one other symptom, nearly half of all patients (n=334, 49%) and more than a third of those who tested positive (n=62, 37%) did not have any of the CDC-established symptoms used for screening of COVID-19 such as fever, cough, shortness of breath, or sore throat.Conclusions and RelevanceAnosmia and/or dysgeusia have been frequent complaints among patients presenting to emergency departments during the COVID-19 pandemic, and, while only a small proportion of patients ultimately underwent testing for SARS-CoV-19, the majority of patients tested have been positive. Anosmia and dysgeusia likely represent underrecognized symptoms of COVID-19 but may have important future implications in disease diagnosis and surveillance.

scholarly journals The Relationship Between Nomophobia and Maladaptive Coping Styles in a Sample of Italian Young Adults: Insights and Implications From a Cross-Sectional Study

10.2196/13154 ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. e13154 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicola Luigi Bragazzi ◽  
Tania Simona Re ◽  
Riccardo Zerbetto
Keyword(s):  
Coping Strategies ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Information Technologies ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Coping Styles ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Maladaptive Coping ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Brief Cope

Background Information technologies have become an integral part of the modern society; however, it is speculated that their overuse would result in addiction. Nomophobia refers to the irrational fear of being out of contact with virtual communication platforms. Generally, upon exposure to stress, humans adjust by employing cognitive mechanisms and behavioral efforts known as coping strategies. Objective The goal of the research was to explore coping styles implemented in subjects with nomophobia. Methods This was a cross-sectional study involving young adult participants (undergraduate students and younger subjects) who were recruited via an online survey using a snowball approach. The Italian version of the Nomophobia Questionnaire was administered to subjects. The measurement of coping styles was done using the 28-item Brief COPE questionnaire. Continuous data were computed as means and standard deviations, whereas categorical data were expressed as percentages, where appropriate. Correlation analysis was performed between the Nomophobia Questionnaire and Brief COPE scores. Multivariate regression analyses were conducted in order to shed light on the determinants of each coping style and its association with nomophobia. Results A total of 403 subjects took part in the study. Subjects with higher nomophobia scores responded when confronted with stress with behavioral disengagement (r=.16, P<.001), denial (r=.19, P<.001), self-blame (r=.12, P=.02), self-distraction (r=.22, P<.001), venting (r=.28, P<.001), use of emotional (r=.25, P<.001), and instrumental support (r=.16, P=.001). Conclusion Nomophobia subjects adopt maladaptive coping strategies when confronted with stress. The acknowledgment of how nomophobia subjects react provides insight and introduces a focus for preventative and interventional measures in this population.

Does a Graduate Course in Fluency Disorders Make a Difference?

2010 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 10-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Evelyn R. Klein ◽  
Barbara J. Amster
Keyword(s):  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Graduate Programs ◽  
The United States ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Graduate Course ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Fluency Disorders ◽  
Introductory Course ◽  
Communicative Disorders

Abstract A study by Yaruss and Quesal (2002), based on responses from 134 of 239 ASHA accredited graduate programs, indicated that approximately 25% of graduate programs in the United States allow students to earn their degree without having coursework in fluency disorders and 66% of programs allow students to graduate without clinical experience treating people who stutter (PWS). It is not surprising that many clinicians report discomfort in treating PWS. This cross-sectional study compares differences in beliefs about the cause of stuttering between freshman undergraduate students enrolled in an introductory course in communicative disorders and graduate students enrolled and in the final weeks of a graduate course in fluency disorders.

Coping Style as a Mediator of the Relationship Between Depressive Symptoms and Deliberate Self-Harm

Crisis ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 32 (5) ◽  
pp. 272-279 ◽  
Author(s):  
Allison S. Christian ◽  
Kristen M. McCabe
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Hierarchical Regression ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Deliberate Self Harm ◽  
Self Blame ◽  
Self Harm ◽  
The Relationship

Background: Deliberate self-harm (DSH) occurs with high frequency among clinical and nonclinical youth populations. Although depression has been consistently linked with the behavior, not all depressed individuals engage in DSH. Aims: The current study examined maladaptive coping strategies (i.e., self-blame, distancing, and self-isolation) as mediators between depression and DSH among undergraduate students. Methods: 202 students from undergraduate psychology courses at a private university in Southern California (77.7% women) completed anonymous self-report measures. Results: A hierarchical regression model found no differences in DSH history across demographic variables. Among coping variables, self-isolation alone was significantly related to DSH. A full meditational model was supported: Depressive symptoms were significantly related to DSH, but adding self-isolation to the model rendered the relationship nonsignificant. Limitations: The cross-sectional study design prevents determination of whether a casual relation exists between self-isolation and DSH, and obscures the direction of that relationship. Conclusions: Results suggest targeting self-isolation as a means of DSH prevention and intervention among nonclinical, youth populations.

Does Dispositional Mindfulness Predict the Development of Grit?

2018 ◽  
Vol 39 (2) ◽  
pp. 76-87 ◽  
Author(s):  
Buaphrao Raphiphatthana ◽  
Paul Jose ◽  
Karen Salmon
Keyword(s):  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Dispositional Mindfulness ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Report Data ◽  
Self Report Data ◽  
Acting With Awareness ◽  
Mindfulness Facets

Abstract. Grit, that is, perseverance and passion for long-term goals, is a novel construct that has gained attention in recent years ( Duckworth, Peterson, Matthews, & Kelly, 2007 ). To date, little research has been performed with the goal of identifying the antecedents of grit. Thus, in order to fill this gap in the literature, self-report data were collected to examine whether mindfulness, a mindset of being-in-the-present in a nonjudgmental way, plays a role in fostering grittiness. Three hundred and forty-three undergraduate students completed an online survey once in a cross-sectional study, and of these, 74 students completed the survey again 4.5 months later. Although the cross-sectional analyses identified a number of positive associations between mindfulness and grit, the longitudinal analysis revealed that the mindfulness facets of acting with awareness and non-judging were the most important positive predictors of grit 4.5 months later. This set of findings offers implications for future grit interventions.

Awareness of symptomatic differences Covid-19, SARS, Swine Flu, Common cold among dental students

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (SPL1) ◽  
pp. 1026-1033
Author(s):  
Nivedha Valliammai Mahalingam ◽  
Abilasha R ◽  
Kavitha S
Keyword(s):  
Infectious Diseases ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Common Cold ◽  
Emerging Infectious Diseases ◽  
Dental Students ◽  
Swine Flu ◽  
Viral Diseases ◽  
Surveillance Systems ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
The Impact

Enormous successes have been obtained against the control of major epidemic diseases, such as SARS, MERS, Ebola, Swine Flu in the past. Dynamic interplay of biological, socio-cultural and ecological factors, together with novel aspects of human-animal interphase, pose additional challenges with respect to the emergence of infectious diseases. The important challenges faced in the control and prevention of emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases range from understanding the impact of factors that are necessary for the emergence, to development of strengthened surveillance systems that can mitigate human suffering and death. The aim of the current study is to assess the awareness of symptomatic differences between viral diseases like COVID-19, SARS, Swine flu and common cold among dental students that support the prevention of emergence or re-emergence. Cross-sectional type of study conducted among the undergraduate students comprising 100 Subjects. A questionnaire comprising 15 questions in total were framed, and responses were collected in Google forms in SPSS Software statistical analysis. The study has concluded that dental students have an awareness of the symptomatic differences between infectious viral disease. The study concluded that the awareness of symptomatic differences between viral diseases like COVID-19, SARS, Swine flu, Common cold is good among the dental students who would pave the way for early diagnosis and avoid spreading of such diseases. A further awareness can be created by regular webinars, seminars and brainstorming sessions among these healthcare professionals.

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