Improved protocol for plasma microRNA extraction and comparison of commercial kits

IntroductionMicroRNAs are small, non-coding RNA molecules that are becoming popular biomarkers in several diseases. However, their low abundance in serum/plasma poses a challenge in exploiting their potential in clinics. Several commercial kits are available for rapid isolation of microRNA from plasma. However, reports guiding the selection of appropriate kits to study downstream assays are scarce. Hence, we compared four commercial kits to evaluate microRNA-extraction from plasma and provided a modified protocol that further improved the superior kit’s performance.Materials and methodsWe compared four kits (miRNeasy Serum/Plasma, miRNeasy Mini Kit from Qiagen; RNA-isolation, and Absolutely-RNA MicroRNA Kit from Agilent technologies) for quality and quantity of microRNA isolated, extraction efficiency, and cost-effectiveness. Bioanalyzer-based Agilent Small RNA kit was used to evaluate quality and quantity of microRNA. Extraction efficiency was evaluated by detection of four endogenous control microRNA using real-time-PCR. Further, we modified the manufacturer’s protocol for miRNeasy Serum/Plasma kit to improve yield.ResultsmiRNeasy Serum/Plasma kit outperformed the other three kits in microRNA-quality (P < 0.005) and yielded maximum microRNA-quantity. Recovery of endogenous control microRNA i.e. hsa-miR-24-3p, hsa-miR-191-5p, hsa-miR-423-5p and hsa-miR-484 was higher as well. Modification with the inclusion of a double elution step enhanced yield of microRNA extracted with miRNeasy Serum/Plasma kit significantly (P < 0.001).ConclusionWe demonstrated that miRNeasy Serum/Plasma kit outperforms other kits and can be reliably used with a limited plasma quantity. We have provided a modified microRNA-extraction protocol with improved microRNA output for downstream analyses.     

Development of a Novel Peer-sharing Application to Supplement Learning from Cadaveric Dissection

Gross anatomy dissection in contemporary medical education must balance the traditional value of learning from the cadaver with the possibilities created by the use of digital tools as supplemental resources that personalize and deepen the student learning experience. This study broadly examined the design, implementation, and use of AnatomyShare, a novel iPad application employing learner-generated content that allows students to securely share annotated images of their dissections with each other and take faculty-generated image-based quizzes during their first-year medical school gross anatomy course. Almost all students enrolled in the course used the application (N = 176; 91% use based on analytics). Seventy-five students responded to a survey asking how and when they used the application, along with their perceptions of its usefulness and contribution to learning. More students reported using the application outside of laboratory (97.3%) than during laboratory (85.3%), despite only in-laboratory use being required. Taking quizzes using the “Exam” feature was the highest rated use of AnatomyShare, and students cited that the application exposed them to anatomical variation and motivated them to correctly identify structures during dissection. While steps need to be taken to combat low-quality learner-generated content and to enhance meaningful student interaction and collaboration, AnatomyShare was a feasible and highly rated supplement to dissection that provided valuable assessment opportunities for students. Future research will examine the impact of use on course grades and engagement in gross anatomy dissection.     

Physiology of high-altitude acclimatization

Travel to high altitude exposes the human body to a variety of stresses, the most prominent being reduced available oxygen with increase in altitude due to reduced partial pressure of oxygen. Several physiological responses are initiated in the human body to promote faster acclimatization to these adverse environmental conditions. These physiological and molecular readjustments encompassing acclimatization, namely, hypoxic ventilatory response, diuresis, increased cardiac output, improved oxygen carrying capacity and cerebral blood flow, Hypoxia inducible factor 1 stabilization, etc., converge to a single outcome, ensuring optimal bioavailability of oxygen. In this article, we describe the basic acclimatization framework mentioned above.     

Between-context variability of the effect of schooling on cognitive development: evidence from the Middle East

This study contributes to the investigation of the variability of the schooling effect on cognitive development between educational systems and its underlying factors, by focusing on 3 cases differing in the characteristics assumed to affect the magnitude of the schooling effect (the quality of the schooling and students’ mean ability to benefit from their schooling): the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) educational system in the Palestinian refugee camps in the West Bank and the 2 sectors of the Israeli educational system: the Jewish and Arab systems. Congruent with our expectations, the highest absolute and relative effects of schooling were found in the Israeli Jewish system. In contrast, the results obtained in the 2 Arab systems, namely, the higher schooling effect found in the poorer and more oppressed refugee camps of the West Bank, are surprising and require further investigation.     

Teachers’ construction of meanings of signed quantities and integer operation

Understanding signed quantities and its arithmetic is one of the challenging topics of middle school mathematics. The specialized content knowledge (SCK) for teaching integers includes understanding of a variety of representations that may be used while teaching. In this study, we argue that meanings of integers and integer operations form the foundation for the construction of SCK about representations used to teach integers. We report that teachers’ concerns about teaching the topic of integers implicate issues of meaning, although this may not always be explicitly acknowledged by teachers. We develop a framework of integer meanings synthesizing previous research, and describe how the framework allowed teachers to investigate a wide range of representations including contexts and thereby construct SCK in a professional development setting. Teachers constructed SCK by connecting various meanings of integers with one another and with representations including contexts. Teachers made two important shifts, from exclusively using the state meaning of integers to including the application of change meaning to representations and from exclusive use of formal models to including contexts to teach integer addition and subtraction. An implication of the study is that frameworks of meaning for key mathematical topics could be an important component of pre- and in-service teacher education.     

Hypoglycemic, lipid lowering and antioxidant activities in root extract of Anthocephalus indicus in alloxan induced diabetic rats

The present study was carried out to evaluate the hypoglycemic, lipid lowering and antioxidant activities in root extract of Anthocephalus indicus (A indicus) in alloxan inducd diabetic rats. Oral administration of ethanol extract of root (500mg/ kg body weight) for 21 days resulted in significant decrease in the levels of blood glucose, triglycerides, total cholesterol, phospholipid and free fatty acids. Furthermore, the root extract (100–400μg) inhibited the generation of superoxide anions and hydroxyl radicals, in both enzymic and non-enzymic systems, in vitro. The result of the present study demonstrated hypoglycemic, lipid lowering and antioxidant activities in root extract of A indicus, which could help in prevention of diabetic dyslipidemia and related diseases.     

Using dissertation projects to facilitate transitions to university and employment: an exploratory case study

The transition between school or college and higher education can be a challenging time for a student. Schools, colleges and universities work together in a number of ways in order to try and ease this process. However, many students still find their first-year experience difficult to adjust to, which can impact on their own development and achievement. This article documents critical reflections on a case study of a teaching, learning and research partnership currently being undertaken between a secondary school where students are taught AS and A Level psychology and a department of psychology in a post-1992 university in England. Drawing upon a social constructivist framework together with Healey’s model of the link between research and teaching, the aims of this study were to explore how undergraduate dissertation students can work with AS and A Level students on their dissertation projects. The study showed that the AS and A Level students found it an enjoyable practical experience, which they felt enhanced their understanding of university studies. The dissertation students found that the experience might be useful for postgraduate studies and future employment. This article highlights the benefits of the process but also the challenges for those involved, particularly if it was to be conducted on a larger scale.     

Libr-AR-y Tours: Increasing engagement and scalability of library tours using augmented reality

Abstract

Orienting patrons to library spaces, collections, and services is an important, but time-intensive, challenge for many librarians. Library tours are one strategy commonly employed to familiarize patrons with library spaces and services. Augmented reality provides a new opportunity for librarians to develop engaging and interactive unmediated tours. Augmented reality tours provide participants with an opportunity to explore library spaces and service points while affording librarians the chance to share valuable information about those spaces and services. This article details how one library constructed an augmented reality tour and shares assessment-based insights into participant responses to the augmented reality format.     

“一主线、两平台、三层次”实践教学体系的构建与实施

以实验教学示范中心建设为契机,针对过往的实验教学体系及模式存在的不足和效果不理想的问题,提出了以能力培养为主线,以实验平台建设为切入点,以激发学生学习兴趣,提升专业实践能力和激活创新能力为目的,通过将多样化、综合性的实验项目融入到课程实验、课程设计、毕业设计和课外科技活动等环节,构建了"一主线、两平台、三层次"实践教学新体系。从实施效果来看,在信息工程类大学生创新素质和工程设计能力等方面取得了显著的教学成果。