An exploration of four web-based open and flexible learning modules in post-registration nurse education

This paper presents an exploratory evaluation of four newly developed web-based modules for post-registration nurses. The topics for the modules were: dermatology; diabetes; mentorship; and prescribing. STUDY OBJECTIVE: To explore the students' perceptions of the web-based modules before and after completing the modules. DESIGN: A pre-post test design using questionnaires and group interviews. PARTICIPANTS: 39 students enrolled on the modules, pre-module data were collected on 74% (n = 29) and post-module data on 71% (n = 28). None of students had previous web-based education experience. 79% (n = 31) completed and 66% (n = 26) passed the modules. Students level of IT skills prior to commencing the modules were important in explaining module completion and outcome. The modules were rated highly in terms of achieving learning outcomes with moderate ratings for level of support and utility of learning materials. The content analysis of the interviews highlighted the importance of preparing students ensuring they have the IT and independent learning skills necessary to participate in web-based learning programmes, together with a number of issues relating to the accessibility of the learning materials. The perceived benefits of this mode of learning were that they offered flexible and resource rich learning. The downside was that the learning can be isolating. CONCLUSIONS: This form of learning may not be suited to all groups of nurses or all educational topics. Further research is required to establish the educational benefits of different approaches to e-learning.     

The accuracy of assessment of walking distance in the elective spinal outpatients setting

Self reported walking distance is a clinically relevant measure of function. The aim of this study was to define patient accuracy and understand factors that might influence perceived walking distance in an elective spinal outpatients setting. A prospective cohort study. 103 patients were asked to perform one test of distance estimation and 2 tests of functional distance perception using pre-measured landmarks. Standard spine specific outcomes included the patient reported claudication distance, Oswestry disability index (ODI), Low Back Outcome Score (LBOS), visual analogue score (VAS) for leg and back, and other measures. There are over-estimators and under-estimators. Overall, the accuracy to within 9.14 metres (m) (10 yards) was poor at only 5% for distance estimation and 40% for the two tests of functional distance perception. Distance: Actual distance 111 m; mean response 245 m (95% CI 176.3–314.7), Functional test 1 actual distance 29.2 m; mean response 71.7 m (95% CI 53.6–88.9) Functional test 2 actual distance 19.6 m; mean response 47.4 m (95% CI 35.02–59.95). Surprisingly patients over 60 years of age (n = 43) are twice as accurate with each test performed compared to those under 60 (n = 60) (average 70% overestimation compared to 140%; p = 0.06). Patients in social class I (n = 18) were more accurate than those in classes II–V (n = 85): There was a positive correlation between poor accuracy and increasing MZD (Pearson’s correlation coefficient 0.250; p = 0.012). ODI, LBOS and other parameters measured showed no correlation. Subjective distance perception and estimation is poor in this population. Patients over 60 and those with a professional background are more accurate but still poor.     

大肠癌及正常肠黏膜组织中金属硫蛋白阳性表达的临床意义

目的:检测金属硫蛋白(MT)在大肠癌及正常肠黏膜组织中的表达,探讨MT在大肠癌组织中表达的临床意义。方法:对12例大肠癌新鲜标本采用RT-PCR方法检测MT在大肠癌及正常肠黏膜中的表达。对53例存档大肠癌石蜡组织标本采用免疫组化SABC法染色,结果按不同大肠癌肿块大小、组织分级、浸润深度及临床分期进行比较。所有病例随访6-48个月,分析MT表达与大肠癌患者生存、复发和远处转移的关系。结果:MT在大肠癌和正常肠黏膜组织中均有表达。MT阳性表达与大肠癌肿瘤大小、组织分级、浸润深度均无显著相关(P>0.05)。阳性表达者3年总生存率较阴性表达者低(62.5%比87.3%),但无统计学差异(P>0.05)。将37例完成术后辅助化疗者分为阳性表达与阴性表达两组比较,两组无病生存率(52.9%比64.7%)和无远处转移生存率(86.9%比91.3%)有显著性差异(均为P<0.05)。结论:大肠癌MT阳性表达与不良预后相关,可能与术后辅助化疗相对不敏感有关。     

Effet du port d'une combinaison intégrale et d'une trifonction sur la vitesse de nage et l'amplitude du cycle de bras en triathlon

Introduction

The purpose of this study was to compare the influence of complete wetsuit and tri-function on the swimming speed and arm stroke characteristics in crawl by triathletes.

Synthesis

Seven triathletes have executed three randomised trials of 400 m front crawl at maximal intensity: without wetsuit, complete wetsuit and tri-function.

Conclusion

Results pointed out that the complete suit allows a significant improvement of the performance and of the distance per cycle by report the swimming with a tri-function.     

Doctoral education from a distance

This article describes the environmental factors that have contributed to the recent rapid growth of nursing doctoral education at a distance. Early and recent efforts to deliver distance doctoral education are discussed, using The University of Arizona College of Nursing experience as the key exemplar. The Community of Inquiry model is introduced as an appropriate model for doctoral education and then used as a framework to evaluate the current state of the art in distance doctoral nursing education. Successes and challenges in delivering doctoral education from a distance are described.     

Electronic toolkit for nursing education

In an ever-increasing hectic and mobile society, Web-based instructional tools can enhance and supplement student learning and improve communication and collaboration among participants, give rapid feedback on one's progress, and address diverse ways of learning. Web-based formats offer distinct advantages by allowing the learner to view course materials when they choose, from any Internet connection, and as often as they want. The challenge for nurse educators is to assimilate the knowledge and expertise to understand and appropriately use these tools. A variety of Web-based instructional tools are described in this article. As nurse educators increase their awareness of these potential adjuncts they can select appropriate applications that are supported by their institution to construct their own "toolkit."     

远程教育中辅导教师的作用与选聘

在远程医学教育中,辅导教师在为学生提供有效支持方面发挥着非常重要的作用.本文探讨了北京大学医学网络教育学院(以下简称北医网院)中辅导教师的作用,即主要定位在信息沟通、学习方法指导、情感支持、组建学习小组以及组织班级活动和学生座谈会.北医网院选聘辅导教师时,除了考查辅导教师的专业背景、沟通能力外,还要重点考查其对远程教育的了解程度以及是否有精力且愿意为学生服务.调查结果显示,来自北医网院毕业的学生辅导教师对学生的指导更有针对性.     

The use of vergence information in the programming of prehension

 The perceived size of a fixated object is known to be a function of the perceived fixation distance. The size-distance paradox has been posited as evidence that the perceived distance of a fixated object is, in turn, influenced by the object’s perceived size. If this is correct then it challenges a widely accepted account (modified weak fusion) of how the nervous system combines multiple sources of information. We hypothesised that the influence of perceived size on the perception of distance is likely to be restricted to conscious perceptual judgements. If our hypothesis is correct then the size-distance paradox should not be observed when observers make action-based distance judgements. In line with this expectation we observed the size-distance paradox when participants made verbal reports on target distance but found no paradoxical judgements in a group who were asked to point at the target. We therefore suggest that the size-distance paradox should not be taken as evidence that perceived size feeds back into distance perception. Received: 4 December 1998 / Accepted: 16 February 1999     

无比对的生物分子序列比较方法

生物序列分析是生物信息学的主要研究领域,常常通过比较分析获取有用的信息。最常用的比较方法是序列比对,但是利用比对的序列比较假设了同源片断之间是邻接保守的,这和遗传重组相冲突,而且多序列比对在计算复杂性等方面存在困难,这些使得人们努力研究无比对的序列比较方法。本文综述了目前无比对序列比较的两类主要方法:一类基于字(低聚物)的出现率及其分布,通过出现率向量定义的笛卡尔空间中的距离计算来实现序列比较;另一类使用柯尔莫哥洛夫复杂度理论或混沌理论来实现序列比较。