Development of a competency model and tailored assessment method for high school science teachers utilizing a flipped learning approach.

Many professional development programs aim to improve student outcomes by enhancing teacher competencies. Effective evaluation of these programs requires a clear delineation of the competencies to be gained. A competency model was developed to evaluate the impact of a teacher professional program that aimed to improve teachers' ability to effectively implement technologically engaged modules in a flipped classroom setting.

Evaluation of the effectiveness of 3D vascular stereoscopic models in anatomy instruction for first year medical students.

The head and neck region is one of the most complex areas featured in the medical gross anatomy curriculum. The effectiveness of using three-dimensional (3D) models to teach anatomy is a topic of much discussion in medical education research. However, the use of 3D stereoscopic models of the head and neck circulation in anatomy education has not been previously studied in detail.

Rethinking CME: an imperative for academic medicine and faculty development.

To help address the clinical care gap, a working group discussed the future of faculty development in academic medicine, explored problems within the large, current enterprise devoted to continuing medical education (CME), and described four domains core to its revitalization and reformation. These domains are (1) preparing and supporting an engaged clinician-learner, (2) improving the quality of knowledge or evidence shared, (3) enhancing the means by which to disseminate and implement that knowledge and evidence, and (4) reforming the patient, health care, and regulatory systems in and for which the process of CME exists. Reshaping these domains requires the consideration of a more seamless, evidence-based, and patient-oriented continuum of medical education.

Antibacterial activity of synthetic fire ant venom: the solenopsins and isosolenopsins.

Background: We determined the in vitro activity of 9 synthetic fire ant venom alkaloids (+/-)-solenopsin A, (2R, 6R)-solenopsin A, (2S, 6S)-solenopsin B, (+/-)-isosolenopsin A, (2S, 6R)-isosolenopsin A,(2R, 6S)-isosolenopsin A, (+/-)-isosolenopsin B, (2S, 6R)-isosolenopsin B, and (2R, 6S)-isosolenopsin B against 6 species of bacteria (Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa).

Methods: The minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bacteriocidal concentration were determined in accordance with the Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines. Time kill studies used American Type Culture Collection bacterial isolates tested at 5 times the minimum inhibitory concentration.

Gender differences in the antinociceptive effect of tramadol, alone or in combination with gabapentin, in mice.

Gender difference in the antinociceptive effect of tramadol and gabapentin (alone or in combination) were investigated in mice. For investigation of acute antinociceptive effect, tramadol and gabapentin were administered to mice by intraperitoneal injection and per os, respectively, and antinociceptive activity was measured by the tail-flick test 30 min after drug administration. For investigation of the development of antinociceptive tolerance to analgesics, mice were injected with tramadol (60 mg/kg), alone or in combination with gabapentin (75 mg/kg), twice daily for seven consecutive days and the tail-flicks were tested on experimental days 1, 3, 5 and 7.

Linear acceleration-evoked cardiovascular responses in awake rats.

It has been well documented that vestibular-mediated cardiovascular regulation plays an important role in maintaining stable blood pressure (BP) during postural changes. But the underlying neural mechanisms remain to be elucidated. In particular, because the vestibular stimulation employed in previous animal studies activated both semicircular canals and otolith organs, the contributions of the otolith system has not been studied selectively.

Butorphanol dependence increases hippocampal kappa-opioid receptor gene expression.

Butorphanol is a synthetic opioid agonist/antagonist analgesic agent, which exerts its effects mainly via kappa-opioid receptors. Characterizations of the gene expression levels of the mRNA for and protein levels of the kappa-opioid receptor in different brain regions of rats are essential for investigating possible mechanisms in the development of physical dependence on and withdrawal from butorphanol. Animals were rendered dependent by intracerebroventricular (i.

Cardiodepressant and neurologic actions of Solenopsis invicta (imported fire ant) venom alkaloids.

Background: We hypothesized that the alkaloid compounds that are the majority components of fire ant (Solenopsis invicta) venom are capable of producing cardiovascular and central nervous system toxic effects in mammals.

Objective: To evaluate toxic effects of synthetic S. invicta alkaloids in rodent models.

Methyl parathion increases neuronal activities in the rat locus coeruleus.

Exposure to organophosphate insecticides induces undesirable behavioral changes in humans, including anxiety and irritability, depression, cognitive disturbances and sleep disorders. Little information currently exists concerning the neural mechanisms underlying such behavioral changes. The brain stem locus coeruleus (LC) could be a mediator of organophosphate insecticide-induced behavioral toxicities since it contains high levels of acetylcholinesterase and is involved in the regulation of the sleep-wake cycle, attention, arousal, memory, and pathological processes, including anxiety and depression.

The natural treatment of hypertension.

The goal of this review is to evaluate the efficacy of commonly available dietary supplements in the treatment of hypertension, using the average blood pressure reduction achieved with the implementation of lifestyle modifications as a standard. For this reason, the authors focus on the antihypertensive potential of these agents rather than pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, adverse effects, or supplement-drug interactions. For the purpose of this review, dietary supplements are defined as exhibiting some evidence of benefit if a systolic blood pressure reduction of 9.

Enhanced binding of nor-binaltorphimine to kappa-opioid receptors in rats dependent on butorphanol.

Autoradiographic characterization of binding for brain kappa(1) ([(3)H]CI-977) and kappa(2) ([(3)H]bremazocine) in the presence of DAMGO ([D-Ala(2),N-Me-Phe(4),Gly(5)-ol]-enkephalin), DPDPE ([D-Pen(2), D-Pen(5)]-enkephalin), and U-69,593 opioid receptors, in the presence of different concentrations of a selective unlabeled kappa-opioid receptor antagonist, nor-binaltorphimine (nor-BNI), was performed in rats in which dependence on or withdrawal from butorphanol had been established. Dependence was induced by a 72 hr intracerebroventricular (i.c.

Butorphanol dependence and withdrawal decrease hippocampal kappa 2-opioid receptor binding.

The present study examines the degree and distribution of alterations in the expression of kappa-opioid receptor subtypes using a model of chronic intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.

Cardiorespiratory effects following acute exposure to pyridostigmine bromide and/or N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide (DEET) in rats.

The acute lethal interaction that occurs in rodents when high doses of a peripherally restricted cholinesterase inhibitor, pyridostigmine bromide (PB), and the insect repellent N, N-diethyl-m-toluamide (DEET) are combined was first described during studies of chemical mixtures that were targeted as potential causative agents of Gulf War illnesses. This study was intended to provide insight into possible mechanisms of that lethal interaction. Following a single intraperitoneal injection of PB (2 mg/kg) and/or DEET (300 or 500 mg/kg), respiratory activity was measured in conscious freely moving rats using whole-body plethysmography.

Pharmacokinetics of methyl parathion: a comparison following single intravenous, oral or dermal administration.

Assessment of the risks posed by the residential use of methyl parathion requires an understanding of its pharmacokinetics after different routes of exposure. Thus, studies were performed using adult female rats to define the pharmacokinetic parameters for methyl parathion after intravenous injection and to apply the described model to an examination of its pharmacokinetics after single oral or dermal exposure. The pharmacokinetics of methyl parathion after intravenous administration (1.

Withdrawal from dependence upon butorphanol uniquely increases kappa(1)-opioid receptor binding in the rat brain.

Changes in kappa(1)-opioid receptor binding have been implicated in the development of dependence upon and withdrawal from butorphanol. Autoradiographic characterization of binding for brain kappa(1)-([3H]CI-977), mu-([3H]DAMGO), and delta-([3H]DPDPE) opioid receptors was performed in rats undergoing naloxone-precipitated withdrawal from dependence upon butorphanol or morphine. Dependence was induced by a 72h i.

A comparison of cholinesterase activity after intravenous, oral or dermal administration of methyl parathion.

Time-dependent changes in blood cholinesterase activity caused by single intravenous, oral or dermal administration of methyl parathion to adult female rats were defined. Intravenous and oral administration of 2.5 mg/kg methyl parathion resulted in rapid (<60 min) decreases in cholinesterase activity which recovered fully in vivo within 30-48 h.