Comparing the efficacy of team based learning strategies in a problem based learning curriculum

We introduced two variants of team based learning (TBL) strategies in pathology course to seek their efficacy in a problem based learning (PBL) curriculum. The TBL strategy was adopted in two different sessions. One during regular resource session (RS‐TBL) and other during a weekly review session (RVS‐TBL) of the PBL curriculum. The study involved 104 second year students during their 8 weeks of cardiovascular‐respiratory units and 3 weeks of hematology units. RS‐TBL was adopted for cardiovascular‐respiratory unit and RVS‐TBL for hematology unit. The first 8 weeks of the course were implemented as RS‐TBL and the last 3 weeks as RVS‐TBL. The results showed that the group performance was markedly improved than individual performance in both RS‐TBL and RVS‐TBL (p < 0.001). Comparison between the RS‐TBL and RVS‐TBL revealed that individual student and group performance was better in the RVS‐BL (p < 0.001). The result of the student attitudinal survey indicated an 88% agreement that TBL enhanced their understanding of pathology concepts and critical analysis. Most of the participants (85%) found RVS‐TBL to be more useful. Post‐TBL, end of semester examination results proved beneficial for the students in risk. The study demonstrated that RVS‐TBL may be preferably adopted to enhance the philosophy of TBL in a PBL curriculum.     

Sodium chlorite increases production of reactive oxygen species that impair the antioxidant system and cause morphological changes in human erythrocytes

Sodium chlorite (NaClO₂) is used in the production of chlorine dioxide for bleaching and stripping of textiles, pulp, and paper. It is also used as disinfectant in municipal water treatment and as a component in therapeutic rinses and gels. The effect of NaClO₂ on human erythrocytes has been studied under in vitro conditions. Incubation of 5% suspension of erythrocytes with NaClO₂ (0.1–2.0 mM) at 37°C for 30 min resulted in marked cell lysis (1.2–3.8 fold) and increased their osmotic fragility. Several parameters were assayed in cell lysates prepared from NaClO₂‐treated and ‐untreated (control) erythrocytes. Compared to controls, exposure to NaClO₂ caused significant increase in protein oxidation (1.1–8.07 fold), lipid peroxidation (1.08–4.95 fold) with decrease in total sulfhydryl (?5 to ?61%), and glutathione levels (?7 to ?86%). Methemoglobin content was tremendously increased, by 5–52 fold when compared to control, while methemoglobin reductase activity decreased (?17 to ?93%) upon NaClO₂ treatment. NaClO₂ enhanced the generation of reactive oxygen species by 3–21 fold and lowered the metal reducing and free radical quenching ability of erythrocytes. It also caused an increase in nitric oxide levels (2.7–15.4 fold) showing generation of nitrosative stress too. The activities of major antioxidant and membrane bound enzymes were significantly altered. Gross morphological changes, from discocytes to echinocytes, were seen in NaClO₂‐treated erythrocytes under electron microscope. These results show that NaClO₂ induces oxidative stress in human erythrocytes, damages the membrane, and impairs the cellular antioxidant defence system. This oxidative damage can shorten the life span of erythrocytes in blood resulting in red cell senescence. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 32: 1343–1353, 2017.     

Incense stick ash as a novel and sustainable adsorbent for sequestration of Victoria Blue from aqueous phase

The present investigation assessed the applicability of incense stick ash, a novel and sustainable adsorbent for remediation of Victoria Blue dye from wastewater. Incense stick ash, without any physical and chemical treatment has been applied to investigate the influence of various experimental parameters as pH, loading of adsorbent, concentration, shaking time, temperature and ionic strength on Victoria Blue remediation in a batch operation. Incense stick ash was characterized using BET, DLS, SEM-EDS, FTIR and XRD techniques. BET surface area, pore volume and pore diameter of incense stick ash are obtained as 2.245 m² g^?1, 0.0118 cm³ g^?1 and 21.02 nm, respectively. Average particle size of the adsorbent is obtained as 293.2 nm. Goodness of the fit of isotherm and kinetic model to the reported data was identified based on chi squared and coefficient of determination values. Isotherm and kinetic behavior was best represented by Freundlich and pseudo 2nd order equation, respectively. Boyd model confirmed involvement of film diffusion mechanism along with intra-particle for adsorption of Victoria Blue on incense stick ash. Maximum dye uptake was reported as 105.57 mg g^?1. Thermodynamic study revealed spontaneous and favorable adsorption of Victoria Blue on incense stick ash at higher temperature. The performed elution and subsequent regeneration study implied desorption capability of incense stick ash and its applicability as a fresh adsorbent for further cycle of adsorption. The overall study implied scavenging potential of incense stick ash, a novel and sustainable adsorbent available at zero cost towards Victoria Blue removal.