Survey of e-learning implementation and faculty support strategies in a cluster of mid-European medical schools

Background The use of electronic learning formats (e-learning) in medical education is reported mainly from individual specialty perspectives. In this study, we analyzed the implementation level of e-learning formats and the institutional support structures and strategies at an institutional level in a cluster of mid-European medical schools. Methods A 49-item online questionnaire was send to 48 medical schools in Austria, Germany and Switzerland using SurveyMonkey®. Data were collected between February and September of 2013 and analyzed using quantities, statistical and qualitative means. Results The response rate was 71 %. All schools had implemented e-learning, but mainly as an optional supplement to the curriculum. E-learning involved a wide range of formats across all disciplines. Online learning platforms were used by 97 % of the schools. Full-time e-learning staff was employed by 50 %, and these had a positive and significant effect on the presence of e-learning in the corresponding medical schools. In addition, 81 % offered training programs and qualifications for their teachers and 76 % awarded performance-oriented benefits, with 17 % giving these for e-learning tasks. Realization of e-learning offers was rewarded by 33 %, with 27 % recognizing this as part of the teaching load. 97 % would use curriculum- compatible e-learning tools produced by other faculties. Conclusions While all participating medical schools used e-learning concepts, this survey revealed also a reasonable support by institutional infrastructure and the importance of staff for the implementation level of e-learning offerings. However, data showed some potential for increasing tangible incentives to motivate teachers to engage in further use of e-learning. Furthermore, the use of individual tools and the distribution of e-learning presentations in various disciplines were quite inhomogeneous. The willingness of the medical schools to cooperate should be capitalized for the future, especially concerning the provision of e-learning tools and concepts

Expedient Iodocyclization Approach Toward Polysubstituted 3H-Benzo[e]indoles

A facile and expedient iodocyclization of 4-(2-prop-1-ynylphenyl)-1H-pyrroles towards the synthesis of polysubstituted 3H-benzo[e]indoles is reported. The transformation was optimized and the best results were obtained by using iodine (1.2 equiv,) in dichloromethane, and potassium carbonate as base. The starting 1,2,3,4-tetrasubstituted pyrroles were efficiently obtained by means of a nickel(II) chloride-promoted four-component (nitromethane, amine, 2-alkynylbenzaldehyde and ethyl acetoacetate) reaction. Further functionalization of the resulting 5-iodoheterocycles was also explored.Fil: Martins, Guilherme M.. Universidade Federal de Santa Maria. Departamento de Qu ímica; BrasilFil: Zeni, Gilson. Universidade Federal de Santa Maria. Departamento de Qu ímica; BrasilFil: Back, David F.. Universidade Federal de Santa Maria. Departamento de Qu ímica; BrasilFil: Kaufman, Teodoro Saul. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Rosario. Instituto de Química Rosario; ArgentinaFil: Silveira, Claudio C.. Universidade Federal de Santa Maria. Departamento de Qu ímica; Brasi

A Study of Parton Energy Loss in Au+Au Collisions at RHIC using Transport Theory

Parton energy loss in Au+Au collisions at RHIC energies is studied by numerically solving the relativistic Boltzmann equation for the partons including $2 \leftrightarrow 2$ and $2 \to 2 + final state radiation$ collision processes. Final particle spectra are obtained using two hadronization models; the Lund string fragmentation and independent fragmentation models. Recent, preliminary $\pi^0$ transverse momentum distributions from central Au+Au collisions at RHIC are reproduced using gluon-gluon scattering cross sections of 5-12 mb, depending upon the hadronization model. Comparisons with the HIJING jet quenching algorithm are made.Comment: 6 pages, 6 figures, attached files are replaced (wrong files were uploaded in version 1

Against the oxidative damage theory of aging: superoxide dismutases protect against oxidative stress but have little or no effect on life span in Caenorhabditis elegans

The superoxide radical (O-2(-)) has long been considered a major cause of aging. O-2(-) in cytosolic, extracellular, and mitochondrial pools is detoxified by dedicated superoxide dismutase (SOD) isoforms. We tested the impact of each SOD isoform in Caenorhabditis elegans by manipulating its five sod genes and saw no major effects on life span. sod genes are not required for daf-2 insulin/IGF-1 receptor mutant longevity. However, loss of the extracellular Cu/ZnSOD sod-4 enhances daf-2 longevity and constitutive diapause, suggesting a signaling role for sod-4. Overall, these findings imply that O-2(-) is not a major determinant of aging in C. elegans

Isabelle/PIDE as Platform for Educational Tools

The Isabelle/PIDE platform addresses the question whether proof assistants of the LCF family are suitable as technological basis for educational tools. The traditionally strong logical foundations of systems like HOL, Coq, or Isabelle have so far been counter-balanced by somewhat inaccessible interaction via the TTY (or minor variations like the well-known Proof General / Emacs interface). Thus the fundamental question of math education tools with fully-formal background theories has often been answered negatively due to accidental weaknesses of existing proof engines. The idea of "PIDE" (which means "Prover IDE") is to integrate existing provers like Isabelle into a larger environment, that facilitates access by end-users and other tools. We use Scala to expose the proof engine in ML to the JVM world, where many user-interfaces, editor frameworks, and educational tools already exist. This shall ultimately lead to combined mathematical assistants, where the logical engine is in the background, without obstructing the view on applications of formal methods, formalized mathematics, and math education in particular.Comment: In Proceedings THedu'11, arXiv:1202.453

Jet energy loss in heavy ion collisions from RHIC to LHC energies

The suppression of hadron production originated from the induced jet energy loss is one of the most accepted and well understood phenomena in heavy ion collisions, which indicates the formation of color deconfined matter consists of quarks, antiquarks and gluons. This phenomena has been seen at RHIC energies and now the first LHC results display a very similar effect. In fact, the suppression is so close to each other at 200 AGeV and 2.76 ATeV, that it is interesting to investigate if such a suppression pattern can exist at all. We use the Gyulassy-Levai-Vitev description of induced jet energy loss combined with different nuclear shadowing functions and describe the experimental data. We claim that a consistent picture can be obtained for the produced hot matter with a weak nuclear shadowing. The interplay between nuclear shadowing and jet energy loss playes a crucial role in the understanding of the experimental data.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figures, Proceedings of ICPAQGP'2010 Conference, Goa, Indi