Virtual versus classroom language teaching : A comparative study of the learning outcomes and student responses between two English reading comprehension groups

A 26-hour English reading comprehension course was taught to two groups of second year Finnish Pharmacy students: a virtual group (33 students) and a teacher-taught group (25 students). The aims of the teaching experiment were to find out: 1.What has to be taken into account when teaching English reading comprehension to students of pharmacy via the Internet and using TopClass? 2. How will the learning outcomes of the virtual group and the control group differ? 3. How will the students and the Department of Pharmacy respond to the different and new method, i.e. the virtual teaching method? 4. Will it be possible to test English reading comprehension learning material using the groupware tool TopClass? The virtual exercises were written within the Internet authoring environment, TopClass. The virtual group was given the reading material and grammar booklet on paper, but they did the reading comprehension tasks (written by the teacher), autonomously via the Internet. The control group was taught by the same teacher in 12 2-hour sessions, while the virtual group could work independently within the given six weeks. Both groups studied the same material: ten pharmaceutical articles with reading comprehension tasks as well as grammar and vocabulary exercises. Both groups took the same final test. Students in both groups were asked to evaluate the course using a 1 to 5 rating scale and they were also asked to assess their respective courses verbally. A detailed analysis of the different aspects of the student evaluation is given. Conclusions: 1.The virtual students learned pharmaceutical English relatively well but not significantly better than the classroom students 2. The overall student satisfaction in the virtual pharmacy English reading comprehension group was found to be higher than that in the teacher-taught control group. 3. Virtual learning is easier for linguistically more able students; less able students need more time with the teacher. 4. The sample in this study is rather small, but it is a pioneering study. 5. The Department of Pharmacy in the University of Helsinki wishes to incorporate virtual English reading comprehension teaching in its curriculum. 6. The sophisticated and versatile TopClass system is relatively easy for a traditional teacher and quite easy for the students to learn. It can be used e.g. for automatic checking of routine answers and document transfer, which both lighten the workloads of both parties. It is especially convenient for teaching reading comprehension. Key words: English reading comprehension, teacher-taught class, virtual class, attitudes of students, learning outcomes

Evaluation of the Biocompatibility of Poly (ortho ester), Copolymer of ε-caprolactone/D,L-lactide and the Composite of Copolymer of ε-caprolactone/D,L-lactide and Tricalciumphosphate as Bone Filling Material

The purpose of this series of studies was to evaluate the biocompatibility of poly (ortho) ester (POE), copolymer of ε-caprolactone and D,L-lactide [P (ε-CL/DL-LA)] and the composite of P(ε-CL/DL-LA) and tricalciumphosphate (TCP) as bone filling material in bone defects. Tissue reactions and resorption times of two solid POE-implants (POE 140 and POE 46) with different methods of sterilization (gamma- and ethylene oxide sterilization), P(ε-CL/DL-LA)(40/60 w/w) in paste form and 50/50 w/w composite of 40/60 w/w P(ε-CL/DL-LA) and TCP and 27/73 w/w composite of 60/40 w/w P(ε-CL/DL-LA) and TCP were examined in experimental animals. The follow-up times were from one week to 52 weeks. The bone samples were evaluated histologically and the soft tissue samples histologically, immunohistochemically and electronmicroscopically. The results showed that the resorption time of gamma sterilized POE 140 was eight weeks and ethylene oxide sterilized POE 140 13 weeks in bone. The resorption time of POE 46 was more than 24 weeks. The gamma sterilized rods started to erode from the surface faster than ethylene oxide sterilized rods for both POEs. Inflammation in bone was from slight to moderate with POE 140 and moderate with POE 46. No highly fluorescent layer of tenascin or fibronectin was found in the soft tissue. Bone healing at the sites of implantation was slower than at control sites with the copolymer in small bone defects. The resorption time for the copolymer was over one year. Inflammation in bone was mostly moderate. Bone healing at the sites of implantation was also slower than at the control sites with the composite in small and large mandibular bone defects. Bone formation had ceased at both sites by the end of follow-up in large mandibular bone defects. The ultrastructure of the connective tissue was normal during the period of observation. It can be concluded that the method of sterilization influenced the resorption time of both POEs. Gamma sterilized POE 140 could have been suitable material for filling small bone defects, whereas the degradation times of solid EO-sterilized POE 140 and POE 46 were too slow to be considered as bone filling material. Solid material is difficult to contour, which can be considered as a disadvantage. The composites were excellent to handle, but the degradation time of the polymer and the composites were too slow. Therefore, the copolymer and the composite can not be recommended as bone filling material.

Detection of renal dysfunction during and after anaesthesia and surgery - evaluation of the influence of inorganic fluoride, ketorolac and clonidine

Drugs and surgical techniques may have harmful renal effects during the perioperative period. Traditional biomarkers are often insensitive to minor renal changes, but novel biomarkers may more accurately detect disturbances in glomerular and tubular function and integrity. The purpose of this study was first, to evaluate the renal effects of ketorolac and clonidine during inhalation anesthesia with sevoflurane and isoflurane, and secondly, to evaluate the effect of tobacco smoking on the production of inorganic fluoride (F-) following enflurane and sevoflurane anesthesia as well as to determine the effect of F- on renal function and cellular integrity in surgical patients. A total of 143 patients undergoing either conventional (n = 75) or endoscopic (n = 68) inpatient surgery were enrolled in four studies. The ketorolac and clonidine studies were prospective, randomized, placebo controlled and double-blinded, while the cigarette smoking studies were prospective cohort studies with two parallel groups. As a sign of proximal tubular deterioration, a similar transient increase in urine N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase/creatinine (U-NAG/crea) was noted in both the ketorolac group and in the controls (baseline vs. at two hours of anesthesia, p = 0.015) with a 3.3 minimum alveolar concentration hour sevoflurane anesthesia. Uncorrelated U-NAG increased above the maximum concentration measured from healthy volunteers (6.1 units/l) in 5/15 patients with ketorolac and in none of the controls (p = 0.042). As a sign of proximal tubular deterioration, U-glutathione transferase-alpha/crea (U-GST-alpha/crea) increased in both groups at two hours after anesthesia but a more significant increase was noted in the patients with ketorolac. U-GST-alpha/crea increased above the maximum ratio measured from healthy volunteers in 7/15 patients with ketorolac and in 3/15 controls. Clonidine diminished the activation of the renin-angiotensin aldosterone system during pneumoperitoneum; urine output was better preserved in the patients treated with clonidine (1/15 patients developed oliguria) than in the controls (8/15 developed oliguria (p=0.005)). Most patients with pneumoperitoneum and isoflurane anesthesia developed a transient proximal tubular deterioration, as U-NAG increased above 6.1 units/L in 11/15 patients with clonidine and in 7/15 controls. In the patients receiving clonidine treatment, the median of U-NAG/crea was higher than in the controls at 60 minutes of pneumoperitoneum (p = 0.01), suggesting that clonidine seems to worsen proximal tubular deterioration. Smoking induced the metabolism of enflurane, but the renal function remained intact in both the smokers and the non-smokers with enflurane anesthesia. On the contrary, smoking did not induce sevoflurane metabolism, but glomerular function decreased in 4/25 non-smokers and in 7/25 smokers with sevoflurane anesthesia. All five patients with S-F- ≥ 40 micromol/L, but only 6/45 with S-F- less than 40 micromol/L (p = 0.001), developed a S-tumor associated trypsin inhibitor concentration above 3 nmol/L as a sign of glomerular dysfunction. As a sign of proximal tubulus deterioration, U-beta 2-microglobulin increased in 2/5 patients with S-F- over 40 micromol/L compared to 2/45 patients with the highest S-F- less than 40 micromol/L (p = 0.005). To conclude, sevoflurane anesthesia may cause a transient proximal tubular deterioration which may be worsened by a co-administration of ketorolac. Clonidine premedication prevents the activation of the renin-angiotensin aldosterone system and preserves normal urine output, but may be harmful for proximal tubules during pneumoperitoneum. Smoking induces the metabolism of enflurane but not that of sevoflurane. Serum F- of 40 micromol/L or higher may induce glomerular dysfunction and proximal tubulus deterioration in patients with sevoflurane anesthesia. The novel renal biomarkers warrant further studies in order to establish reference values for surgical patients having inhalation anesthesia.

A Critical Evaluation of the MARS Treatment in Finland

The Molecular Adsorbent Recirculating System (MARS) is an extracorporeal albumin dialysis device which is used in the treatment of liver failure patients. This treatment was first utilized in Finland in 2001, and since then, over 200 patients have been treated. The aim of this thesis was to evaluate the impact of the MARS treatment on patient outcome, the clinical and biochemical variables, as well as on the psychological and economic aspects of the treatment in Finland. This thesis encompasses 195 MARS-treated patients (including patients with acute liver failure (ALF), acute-on-chronic liver failure (AOCLF) and graft failure), and a historical control group of 46 ALF patients who did not undergo MARS. All patients received a similar standard medical therapy at the same intensive care unit. The baseline data (demographics, laboratory and clinical variables) and MARS treatment-related and health-related quality-of-life data were recorded before and after treatment. The direct medical costs were determined for a period of 3.5 years.Additionally, the outcome of patients (survival, native liver recovery and need for liver transplantation) and survival predicting factors were investigated. In the outcome analysis, for the MARS-treated ALF patients, their 6-month survival (75% vs. 61%, P=0.07) and their native liver recovery rate (49% vs. 17%, P<0.001) were higher, and their need for transplantations was lower (29% vs. 57%, P= 0.001) than for the historical controls. However, the etiological distribution of the ALF patients referred to our unit has changed considerably over the past decade and the percentage of patients with a more favorable prognosis has increased. The etiology of liver failure was the most important predictor of the outcome. Other survival predicting factors in ALF included hepatic encephalopathy, the coagulation factors and the liver enzyme levels prior to MARS treatment. In terms of prognosis, the MARS treatment of the cirrhotic AOCLF patient seems meaningful only when the patient is eligible for transplantation. The MARS treatment appears to halt the progression of encephalopathy and reduce the blood concentration of neuroactive amino acids, albumin-bound and water-soluble toxins. In general, the effects of the MARS treatment seem to stabilize the patients, thus allowing additional time either for the native liver to recover, or for the patients to endure the prolonged waiting for transplantation. Furthermore, for the ALF patients, the MARS treatment appeared to be less costly and more cost-efficient than the standard medical therapy alone. In conclusion, the MARS treatment appears to have a beneficial effect on the patient outcome in ALF and in those AOCLF patients who can be bridged to transplantation.

Evaluation of the profitability of fast-growing tropical trees.

The profitability of fast-growing trees was investigated in the northeastern and eastern provinces of Thailand. The financial, economic, and tentative environmental-economic profitability was determined separately for three fast-growing plantation tree species and for three categories of plantation managers: the private industry, the state (the Royal Forest Department) and the farmers. Fast-growing tree crops were also compared with teak (Tectona grandis), a traditional medium or long rotation species, and Para rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) which presently is the most common cultivated tree in Thailand. The optimal rotation for Eucalyptus camaldulensis pulpwood production was eight years. This was the most profitable species in pulpwood production. In sawlog production Acacia mangium and Melia azedarach showed a better financial profitability. Para rubber was more profitable and teak less profitable than the three fast-growing species. The economic profitability was higher than the financial one, and the tentative environmental-economic profitability was slightly higher than the economic profitability. The profitability of tree growing is sensitive to plantation yields and labour cost changes and especially to wood prices. Management options which aim at pulpwood production are more sensitive to input or output changes than those options which include sawlog production. There is an urgent need to improve the growth and yield data and to study the environmental impacts of tree plantations for all species and plantation types.