A mobility case uncovered: a mixed-method study using autoethnography on the power of context upon learning behaviour

OBJECTIVE Learning behaviours (LBs) are the cornerstone of research in medical education, and are influenced by student characteristics and contextual factors. We wanted to know how students react to changes in the academic context. We explored if and how a student participating in a one-year exchange programme adapted his LBs to the new academic context and back again upon returning to his home-university. METHOD Our study took place at the medical schools (MSs) of Lausanne University (Switzerland; home-university) and Galway University (Ireland; host-university). A mixed-method design with quantitative (survey) and qualitative components (analytic autoethnography (AA)) was employed. Review of official documents allowed characterisation of both academic contexts. Surveys permitted description of the learning practices of students at each site. A Swiss student doing an exchange year underwent AA. Analyses of his field notes allowed understanding evolution of LBs during and after the exchange. RESULTS The two MSs offered contrasting curricula. Surveys showed divergent results in learning activities. Students at the home-university favoured lecture slides, whereas students at the host- university worked on a wider range of resources (books, online resources, lecture slides). AA showed how our student adapted his LBs to his new academic environments. CONCLUSION Adaptation unfolded in three phases and re-adaptation in two phases. LB adjustments were driven by five contextual factors: schedule load, teaching methods, curriculum goals, assessment strategy, and communication with teachers and local students. The radical change in LBs of our student showed the powerful influence of clinical and academic contexts in comparison with the effects of student factors

Individuation : experience in search of theory

This study arose from the experience of difficulties in individuating incorporating tensions in the self-group, self-other, and self-self relational dimensions. This situation initiated the questions: What does individuation mean in collectivist cultures? Can selfexpression occur in a different way to opposing public opinion? Can one conceptualise experiential dialectics to facilitate their resolution in practice? The literature initiated the questions: How do Western theories on individuation incorporate 'culture'? Does a relationship between the socio-cultural context and the process of self-expression exist? Conclusions were: - that the socio-cultural context influences this experience directly by influencing the process of self-expression via defining what is experienced as narcissistic, altruistic, or individualistic behaviour, and indirectly by the theories which reflect its norms; - that the relationship between experience, and theory and personal epistemologies potentially initiate tensions, and facilitate their resolution; - that a theory of individuation in collectivist cultures is lacking. A way of interpreting 'individuation' was discussed.M.A. (Psychology)Psycholog

Bioactividad de los extractos y aislamiento de los lignanos de las semillas de Centaurea dealbata

Centaurea dealbata Willd. (Family: Asteraceae) belongs to the big genus Centaurea that comprises ca. 500 species. Then-hexane, dichloromethane (DCM) and methanol (MeOH) extracts of the seeds of C. dealbata have been assessed forantioxidant activity and general toxicity using, respectively, the DPPH assay, and the brine shrimp lethality assay. Boththe DCM and the MeOH extract showed signifi cant levels of antioxidant activities with an RC50 value 6.8 x 10-2 and4.7 x 10-2 mg/mL, respectively. None of the extracts exhibited any signifi cant general toxicity (LD50 = >1000 mg/mL).Three major bioactive components of the MeOH extract were found to be the lignans, arctigenin, arctiin and matairesinoside.The structures of these lignans were elucidated by comprehensive spectroscopic analyses, and also by directcomparison with the respective published data. This is the fi rst report on the occurrence of arctiin and matairesionl inC. dealbata. The distribution of these lignans within the genus Centaurea has also been presented.La Centaurea dealbata Willd. (familia: Asteraceae) pertenece al género Centaurea, que comprende unas 500 especies.Para evaluar la actividad antioxidante y la toxicidad general de los extractos de n-hexano, diclorometano (DCM)y metanol (MeOH) de las semillas de C. dealbata se han utilizado, respectivamente, el ensayo DPPH y el ensayo deletalidad de gambas en salmuera. Tanto el extracto de DCM como el de MeOH presentaron niveles signifi cativosde actividad antioxidante, con valores de RC50 de 6,8 x 10-2 y 4,7 x 10-2 mg/mL, respectivamente. Ninguno de losextractos presentó una toxicidad general signifi cativa (LD50 = >1000 mg/mL). Se observó que los tres principalescomponentes bioactivos del extracto de MeOH fueron los lignanos arctigenina, arctiina y matairesinosida. Lasestructuras de estos lignanos se dilucidaron mediante análisis espectroscópicos exhaustivos y comparación directacon los datos respectivos publicados. Éste es el primer informe sobre la ocurrencia de arctiina y matairesinol en C.dealbata. También se presenta la distribución de estos lignanos dentro del género Centaurea

Fingolimod: therapeutic mechanisms and ocular adverse effects.

Fingolimod is an oral immunomodulating drug used in the management of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). We aim to review the published literature on ocular manifestations of fingolimod therapy and their possible underlying mechanisms. The therapeutic effects of fingolimod are mediated via sphingosine receptors, which are found ubiquitously in various organs, including lymphoid cells, central nervous system, cardiac myocytes, and smooth muscle cells. Fingolimod-associated macular oedema (FAME) is the most common ocular side effect but retinal haemorrhages and retinal vein occlusion can occur. The visual consequences appear to be mild and, in cases of FAME, resolution is often attained with discontinuation of therapy. However, in cases of retinal vein occlusion, discontinuation of fingolimod alone may not be sufficient and intra-vitreal therapy may be required. We also propose a pragmatic service pathway for monitoring patients on fingolimod therapy, which includes stratifying them by risk and visual acuity

Students' satisfaction using e-learning as a supplementary tool

E-learning is useful to help students gaining digital and data literacy during their studies particularly in the era of Industrial Revolution 4.0 (IR 4.0). E-learning which is characterized by time and place flexibility should be utilized as a tool for self-learning. In Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), elearning plays an important role as a supplementary tool for effective web-based learning. The purpose of this study is to examine what are the factors that drive students' satisfaction in e-learning. A total of 194 samples were collected from undergraduate students in UTM using quantitative method. Purposive sampling technique was used to select the respondents. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) was utilized for data analysis. The findings showed that delivery method and content have a positive and significant relationship with satisfaction of using e-learning. However, system operations has no impact on students' satisfaction in e-learning. In conclusion, the finding of this study is expected to provide an effective teaching model for general education schools

Bioactividad de los extractos y aislamiento de los lignanos de las semillas de Centaurea dealbata

Centaurea dealbata Willd. (Family: Asteraceae) belongs to the big genus Centaurea that comprises ca. 500 species. The n-hexane, dichloromethane (DCM) and methanol (MeOH) extracts of the seeds of C. dealbata have been assessed for antioxidant activity and general toxicity using, respectively, the DPPH assay, and the brine shrimp lethality assay. Both the DCM and the MeOH extract showed significant levels of antioxidant activities with an RC 50 value 6.8 x 10(-2) and 4.7 x 10(-2) mg/ mL, respectively. None of the extracts exhibited any signifi cant general toxicity (LD50 = > 1000 mg/ mL). Three major bioactive components of the MeOH extract were found to be the lignans, arctigenin, arctiin and matairesinoside. The structures of these lignans were elucidated by comprehensive spectroscopic analyses, and also by direct comparison with the respective published data. This is the first report on the occurrence of arctiin and matairesionl in C. dealbata. The distribution of these lignans within the genus Centaurea has also been presented

Lignans and flavonoids from the seeds of Centaurea bornmuelleri Hausskn. ex. Bornm. and Centaurea huber-morathii Wagenitz.

The reversed-phase preparative HPLC purification of the methanol extracts of the seeds of two Turkish endemic species Centaurea bornmuelleri and Centaurea huber-morathii afforded several dibenzylbutyrolactone-type lignans and flavonoids. The lignans arctim, matairesinol and matairesinoside, and the flavonoid, aftalin, were found in both species. While arctigenin and astragalin were only present in C. bornmuelleri, kaempferol was isolated from huber-morathii. A plant sterol, stigmast-4-en-3 beta-ol, was also isolated from the dichloromethane extract of C. bornmuelleri. The structures of the isolated compounds were determined by spectroscopic means. The chemotaxonomic significance of these compounds within the genus Centaurea has been discussed

Bioactivity of the extracts and isolation of lignans and a sesquiterpene from the aerial parts of Centaurea pamphylica (Asteraceae)

Centaurea pamphylica Boiss. & Heldr. (Family: Asteraceae), commonly known as 'pamphylia daisy', is a Turkish endemic species of the genus Centaurea that comprises ca. 500 species, many of which have been used as traditional medicines. The n-hexane, dichloromethane (DCM) and methanol (MeOH) extracts of the aerial parts of C. pamphylica were assessed for antioxidant activity and general toxicity using, respectively, the 2,2-diphenyl-l-picrylhydrazy] (DPPH), and the brine shrimp lethality assays. The reversed-phase preparative HPLC and PTLC were used to isolate compounds from the extracts. The structures of these compounds [1-4] were elucidated by spectroscopic means, and also by direct comparison with the respective published data. Both the DCM and the MeOH extract showed significant levels of antioxidant activities with the RC50 values of 72.6 x 10(-2) and 47.3 x 10-2 mg/mL, respectively. The MeOH extract exhibited low levels of toxicity towards brine shrimps (LD50 = 125.0 x 10(-2) mg/mL). Three major bioactive components of the MeOH extract were matairesinoside [1], arctim [21 and matairesinol [3]. An eudesmane-type sesquiterpene, pterodontriol [4], was also isolated from the DCM extract. Since reactive oxygen species are important contributors to various ailments, the antioxidant properties of the extracts as well as the isolated compounds may be of medicinal significance. This is the first report on the occurrence of 1-4 in C. pamphylica, and 4 in the genus Centaurea

Lignans and flavonoids from the seeds of Centaurea bornmuelleri Hausskn. Ex. Bornm. and Centaurea huber-morathii Wagenitz

The reversed-phase preparative HPLC purification of the methanol extracts of the seeds of two Turkish endemic species Centaurea bornmuelleri and Centaurea huber-morathii afforded several dibenzylbutyrolactone-type lignans and flavonoids. The lignans arctiin, matairesinol and matairesinoside, and the flavonoid, afzalin, were found in both species. While arctigenin and astragalin were only present in C. bornmuelleri, kaempferol was isolated from huber-morathii. A plant sterol, stigmast-4-en-3?-ol, was also isolated from the dichloromethane extract of C. bornmuelleri. The structures of the isolated compounds were determined by spectroscopic means. The chemotaxonomic significance of these compounds within the genus Centaurea has been discussed