Biotech in medicine--the topic of the Olten Meeting 2010

Since 1998, the biotechnet--the national network of competence in biotech research--has been helping partners from industry to access excellence in R&D, giving them optimal support at low cost. Its annual 'Olten Meeting' is a dynamic hub for companies and research institutes as it highlights the latest trends in biotech. On November 24, 2010, the topical subject was biotech in medicine.     

The nature of teachers' pedagogical content beliefs matters for students' achievement gains: Quasi-experimental evidence from elementary mathematics.

In a longitudinal study of 496 students in 27 self-contained German elementary school classrooms, performance in mathematical word problems and arithmetic tasks was measured at the end of Grades 2 and 3. A questionnaire was used to assess the degree to which teachers' pedagogical content beliefs in elementary mathematics reflect a cognitive constructivist orientation, rather than an associationist or direct-transmission view of learning and teaching. Our findings show that a cognitive constructivist orientation was associated with larger achievement gains in mathematical word problems. Moreover, teachers with a direct transmission view were not more successful than teachers with a cognitive constructivist orientation in fostering students' computational proficiency. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Workload of window cleaners using ladders differing in rung separation

The objective of the present study was to compare energetic workload, perceived exertion, perceived discomfort, safety, and mechanical load at lower limb joints among window cleaners during usage of extension ladders with 30 and 35 cm rung separation. Eleven healthy male professional window cleaners of short and tall stature participated in this study. No significant differences between 30 and 35 cm rung separation were observed for the energetic workload. Results concerning the perceived exertion, discomfort, and safety indicate that 35 cm rung separation is preferred. Based on the mechanical load at the hip, knee, and ankle during ascending and descending the ladder, 30 cm rung separation is preferable to 35 cm rung separation. It is advised to climb ladders with the knees inside the side rails of the ladder, but this seems only possible with 35 cm rung separation. Findings of the presents study suggest that overall, a 35 cm rung separation is marginally favourable while using extension ladders.     

The effect of a feedback signal in a computer mouse on hovering behaviour, productivity, comfort and usability in a field study

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of a tactile feedback signal on hovering behaviour, productivity, usability and comfort after 1 week of using an experimental mouse. In a randomized controlled trial, a regular computer mouse was compared to a new developed mouse with a tactile, vibrating feedback signal to prevent unnecessary hovering above the computer mouse. According to this study, participants do decrease their hovering behaviour when using a mouse with tactile feedback. Furthermore, the mouse with tactile feedback did not influence productivity. Usability was rated somewhat mixed. The use of a mouse with a tactile vibrating feedback signal seems promising for preventing neck, shoulder and arm complaints. Further research is needed to study long-term effects on (prevention of) neck, shoulder and arm complaints and development of learning effects.     

Brief treatment for young substance abusers: A pilot study in an addiction treatment setting.

The present study evaluated a motivationally based, 4-session outpatient intervention for young substance abusers presenting for addiction treatment. Follow-up interviews were conducted 6 months after assessment on (a) clients who sought additional help (n = 22) and (b) clients who did not seek additional help (n = 28). Results indicated that (a) participating in an assessment and brief intervention was associated with reduced use and consequences and increased confidence in high-risk situations up to 6 months after entry into the program, and (b) clients who participated in additional treatment showed less of a decrease in substance-related consequences. These findings suggest that brief interventions can serve as either a stand-alone intervention for individuals who need short-term assistance or a first-step intervention for those with more specialized or long-term needs. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The effect of speech recognition on working postures, productivity and the perception of user friendliness

A comparative, experimental study with repeated measures has been conducted to evaluate the effect of the use of speech recognition on working postures, productivity and the perception of user friendliness. Fifteen subjects performed a standardised task, first with keyboard and mouse and, after a six week training period, with speech recognition. The use of speech recognition leads to improved postures of wrist, forearm, upper arm and shoulder and improvement of neck movements when compared to the use of keyboard and mouse. Although the observation method was basic, this study provides insight into the potential benefits speech recognition has for posture. However, productivity decreased for most subjects and speech recognition appears to be usable for specific tasks only. From the perspective of productivity and the perception of user friendliness further development of speech recognition software is necessary. Up to now, speech recognition seems especially beneficial for people with WMSD complaints.     

Transporters Contributing to Iron Trafficking in Plants

T This review will discuss recent progress in understanding the many roles of transporters in the whole-plant physiological processes that maintain iron (Fe) homeostasis. These processes include uptake from the soil via roots, control of transport from roots to above-ground parts of the plant, unloading of Fe from the xylem in above-ground parts, loading of Fe into mitochondria and plastids, transport of Fe to reproductive parts of the plant, and Fe mobilization during seed germination. In addition, we will discuss the mechanisms that plants use to cope with an apparently unintended consequence of Fe acquisition: the uptake of toxic heavy metals via Fe transporters. Rapid progress has been made in understanding the transport processes involved in each of these areas in the last 5 years and this review will focus on this recent progress. We will also highlight the key questions regarding transport steps that remain to be elucidated.     

Effects of instructional support within constructivist learning environments for elementary school students' understanding of "floating and sinking."

In a repeated measures design (pretest, posttest, 1-year follow-up) with 161 3rd-grade students, the authors compared 2 curricula on floating and sinking within constructivist learning environments, varying in instructional support. The 2 curricula differed in the sequencing of content and the teacher's cognitively structuring statements. At the posttest, both instructed groups showed significant gains on a test on understanding the concepts of density and buoyancy force as compared to a baseline group without instruction. One year later, the group of high instructional support was superior to the group of low instructional support on the reduction of misconceptions and the adoption of scientific explanations. Thus, instructional support within constructivist learning environments fostered elementary schoolchildren's conceptual change in the domain of physics. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Der Einfluß mechanischer Wechselbelastungen auf die Beständigkeit Mo-freier und Mo-haltiger Stähle gegen Spannungsrißkorrosion in Calciumnitrat-Lösung und Natronlauge

The influence of cyclic loading on stress corrosion cracking of Mo-free and Mo-bearing steels in solutions of calcium nitrate and sodium hydroxide The resistance of five unalloyed or low-alloy steels differing essentially in their Mo-contents, against SCC was investigated by electrochemically controlled SCC experiments in boiling 60 wt.-% Ca(NO₃)₂ solution (E_H = 0.15 V) and 35 wt.-% NaOH (E_H = -0.75 V). For characterizing the SCC response, threshold stresses O_G (criterion: crack depths 1 = 0) were evaluated with mechanical loading by alternating stresses (saw tooth characteristic, strain rates ε = 3.4. 10^?6 or 8.7. 10^?7s^?1, load cycle frequency 5. 10^?3 or 3. 10^?3Hz). If the threshold stresses obtained by constant load SCC experiments are near the YS or in the plastic range (Ca(NO₃)₂ solution), the threshold stresses are lowered considerably by cyclic loading. If, however, the threshold stresses obtained under constant load conditions are in the elastic range (NaOH), there is only little influence of cyclic loading on the o_G values.