The development of a computer assisted instruction and assessment system in pharmacology

We describe the construction of a computer based system for instruction and assessment in pharmacology, utilizing a large bank of multiple choice questions. Items were collected from many sources, edited and coded for student suitability, topic, taxonomy and difficulty and text references. Students reserve a time during the day, specify the type of test desired and questions are presented randomly from the subset satisfying their criteria. Answers are scored after each question and a summary given at the end of every test; details on item performance are recorded automatically. The biggest hurdle in implementation was the assembly, review, classification and editing of items, while the programming was relatively straight-forward. A number of modifications had to be made to the initial plans and changes will undoubtedly continue with further experience. When fully operational the system will possess a number of advantages including: elimination of test preparation, editing and marking; facilitated item review opportunities; increased objectivity, feedback, flexibility and descreased anxiety in students.     

Spatial position of the lateral semicircular canal in 14–60-day-old rat heads

Abstract— During growth the rat skull straightens considerably due to flexions between skull parts and individual bones. This straightening is defined as orthocephalization. Orthocephalization might also be caused by a change in head posture during growth, i.e. it may be "apparent". In order to study the significance of this phenomenon, radiographs of dried skulls of male rats, 14, 30 and 60 d of age were subjected to angular measurements between the plane of the lateral semicircular canal and the plane of foramen magnum and of the basisphenoid bone, respectively. When the plane of the lateral semicircular canal is placed horizontally, the head is claimed to be in natural position. No changes in the angulation between the lateral semicircular canal and the basisphenoid bone could be revealed, whereas the foramen magnum was shown to rotate upwards and backwards in relation to the plane of the canal. This implies that the orthocephalization which takes place between 14 and 60 d is caused only by real angular changes, and that no apparent changes occur due to changes in head posture.