The impact of an audience response system on evaluation results in medical lectures, a controlled study.

Background: Audience Response Systems (ARS) are well perceived by students and lecturers and represent a valuable instrument of quality assurance and student participation in academic teaching. Our controlled study investigated whether ARS in evaluation of medical lectures has an impact on evaluation results, enhances student learning and motivation. Methods: The study was conducted at the University medical center of Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel, over the course of one year. 198 students who participated voluntarily were included. In alternating lectures a paper questionnaire and ARS were offered as an evaluation tool to the audience. In both processes two items concerning teacher’s behavior, three items concerning lecture’s design and two items concerning lecture’s content were investigated by using a seven-item questionnaire with a five-point Likert scale, two multiple-choice questions were posed at the end of each evaluation to assess knowledge transfer. Results: 128 students took part using the traditional paper and pencil format, 70 students agreed to use ARS. Participants not using ARS rated the quality of teaching in both items and the structure of the lecture in one item superior to participants using ARS (p < 0.001, p < 0.003, p < 0.001). The screening for participation in the additionally asked MC- questions showed a higher rate of participation in students using ARS. Conclusion: The results of our study show significant differences in lectures’ evaluation using ARS. Students’ motivation to evaluate lectures might increase by using an audience response device.

An open source platform for presenting dynamic visual stimuli

Operant behavior procedures often rely on visual stimuli to cue the initiation or secession of a response, and to provide a means for discriminating between two or more simultaneously available responses. While primate and human studies typically use LCD or OLED monitors and touch screens, rodent studies use a variety of methods to present visual cues ranging from traditional incandescent light bulbs, single LEDs, and, more recently, touch screen monitors. Commercially available systems for visual stimulus presentation are costly, challenging to customize, and are typically closed source. We developed an open-source, highly-modifiable visual stimulus presentation platform that can be combined with a 3D-printed operant response device. The device uses an eight by eight matrix of LEDs, and can be expanded to control much larger LED matrices. Implementing the platform is low-cost (<$70 USD per device in the year 2020). Using the platform, we trained rats to make nosepoke responses and discriminate between two distinct visual cues in a location-independent manner. This visual stimulus presentation platform is a cost-effective way to implement complex visually-guided operant behavior, including the use of moving or dynamically changing visual stimuli.Significance StatementThe design of an open source and low cost device for presenting visual stimuli is described. It is capable of presenting complex visual patterns and dynamically changing stimuli. A practical demonstration of the device is also reported, from an experiment in which rats performed a luminance based visual discrimination. The device has utility for studying visual processing, psychophysics, and decision making in a variety of species.

Engineered human mesenchymal stem cells as new vaccine platform for COVID-19

Recently, there are several routes for COVID-19 vaccine research, yet their weaknesses lie in low efficiency, tolerability, immune adaptability and safety. We describe a new approach to COVID-19 based on engineered human mesenchymal stem cells(hu-MSC), which is like a small protein antigen response device, but will be gradually cleared and degraded by body’s immune system among recognization process. The antibody response results show that this is effective and fast. Furthermore, after several antibody response tests, we obtained an injection of a set of cocktail-like modified human mesenchymal stem cell line. This strategy opened a new avenue for vaccine design against COVID-19.

Efficacy and Acceptance of a Lombard-response Device for Hypophonia in Parkinson’s Disease

ABSTRACT:Objective:The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness, satisfaction, and acceptance of a low-cost Lombard-response (LR) device in a group of individuals with Parkinson’s disease (IWPD) and their communication partners (CPs).Method:Sixteen IWPD and hypophonia and their CPs participated in the study. The IWPD wore a LR device that included a small MP3 player (Sony Walkman) and headphones playing a multi-talker noise audio file at 80 dB during lab-based speech tasks and during their daily conversational speech over a 2-week device trial period. Outcome measures included average conversational speech intensity and scores on a questionnaire related to speech impairment, communication effectiveness, and device satisfaction.Results:Conversational speech intensity of the IWPD is increased by 7 to 10 dB with the LR device. Following a 2-week trial period, eight of the IWPD (50%) gave the LR device moderate-to-high satisfaction and effectiveness ratings and decided to purchase the device for long-term daily use. At the 4-month follow-up, none of the IWPDs were still using the LR device. Device rejection was related to discomfort (loudness), headaches, interference with cognition, and difficulty controlling device.Conclusion:Short-term acceptance and satisfaction with the LR device was moderate, but long-term acceptance, beyond 4 months, was absent. Future studies are required to determine if other types of low-cost LR devices can be developed that improve long-term efficacy and device acceptance in IWPD and hypophonia.