Evaluation of the level of difficulty of patient cases for veterinary problem-solving examination: a preliminary comparison of three taxonomies of learning

An important issue that has received insufficient attention in the use of problem-based learning in the medical curriculum is the mode of assessing the level of difficulty of patient cases. In the present study, the level of difficulty of case-based questions in a veterinary degree final examination in reproduction was evaluated. First, cognitive taxonomies were evaluated to clarify whether qualitative methods such as Bloom's taxonomy, the Structure of the Observed Learning Outcome (SOLO) taxonomy, and the Amsterdam Clinical Challenge Scale (ACCS) differed from each other as evaluation tools for problem-based cases. Using these taxonomies, 30 case-based questions from the final examination in reproduction in the Helsinki veterinary program were initially evaluated to determine which one was best suited to the evaluation of the difficulty of cases. In follow-up, the same cases were also evaluated by an experienced veterinary instructor in reproduction, with the aim of gaining insight into using these approaches to evaluating difficulty. It would appear, from this preliminary assessment, that the SOLO taxonomy may be the most suitable for evaluating the difficulty of patient cases, since the instructor's quality rating resembled more closely the SOLO than the Bloom taxonomy or the ACCS. It is to be emphasized that the purpose of this study was to provide a preliminary evaluation of possible approaches that might be used to assess patient-case difficulty. Resolving all issues will require a greater number of evaluations of all components.     

大兴安岭火烧迹地主要目的树种的天然更新

对不同火烧方式、火烧强度、林分组成、坡向、坡位、郁闭度、土壤厚度、下木盖度、地被物盖度、林龄等条件下的样地的天然更新情况进行了调查。结果表明:地表火火烧迹地的天然更新效果好于树冠火火烧迹地;中度火烧迹地好于重度火烧迹地;发生火烧的林分比未发生火烧的林分天然更新效果好。     

补充营养对茶银尺蠖成虫寿命和产卵量的影响

茶银尺蠖[Scopula subpunctaria (Herrich-Schaeffer)]是危害茶树的常见害虫之一。为了更好地在实验室内饲养此害虫,获得大量供试虫源,研究了补充不同营养对茶银尺蠖成虫寿命和产卵量的影响。结果表明,成虫补充10%蜂蜜水和10%糖水时,雌成虫平均单雌产卵量显著提高,分别为(152.5±16.83)粒和(177.5±19.01)粒;产卵期显著延长,分别为(17.8±1.08) d和(21.4±1.27) d。补充不同营养对雌成虫产卵期和产卵后期有显著影响,但对产卵前期影响不显著。补充10%糖水时,雌成虫的寿命最长,为(29.1±1.41) d,显著高于其他处理;而在10%蜂蜜水、水和对照处理下,雌成虫寿命分别为(23.8±1.15)、(14.4±0.48)、(6.3±0.37) d。补充10%糖水和10%蜂蜜水时,雄成虫的寿命分别为(21.3±0.93) d和(19.5±1.20) d,显著高于水和空白对照处理。在每个处理下,雌成虫的寿命均高于雄成虫。综上所述,10%糖水可作为成虫补充营养的最佳选择。     

盐胁迫对扁桃砧木营养器官离子吸收的影响

温室条件下,用NaCl和Na2SO4处理石头扁桃、桃扁桃和毛桃,处理浓度为0,75,150,300和350 mmol/L,处理10,20 d分别取叶、根和茎,测定各器官中离子吸收与分布变化规律。研究结果表明,盐胁迫下,3种砧木根、茎、叶中Na ,Cl-,SO42-含量及Na /K 比均随盐浓度的增加和处理时间的延长而增加,K 含量变化规律不稳定,但桃扁桃根、茎和叶片中K 略高于其他两个品种;石头扁桃根、茎、叶片中Na /K 比值高于其它两个品种,桃扁桃中Na /K 比值最低。桃扁桃根部Na ,Cl-和SO42-含量高于石头扁桃和毛桃,而叶片和茎中Na ,Cl-和SO42-含量却低于石头扁桃和毛桃。桃扁桃根部能够积累较多的Na ,阻止和减少了Na 向地上部的运输,从而减轻了Na2SO4对它的伤害,进而表明了桃扁桃耐盐能力较强。     

不同浓度营养液对樱桃番茄生长发育的影响

以3种浓度的营养液,采用水培、基质培对樱桃番茄进行栽培试验。结果表明:樱桃番茄株高、茎粗、叶面积、叶数、叶绿素含量等,水培均好于基质培。采用水培方式栽培选用1.5倍剂量浓度的营养液,其生长发育优于0.5倍和1.0剂量营养液;采用基质培方式选用1.0剂量浓度的营养液,其生长发育优于0.5倍和1.5倍剂量营养液。     

Changing stock of biomass carbon in a boreal forest over 93 years

The growing stock more than doubled from 1.6 to 3.4 million m³ between 1912 and 2005 in forests on an area of 387 km² in southern Finland. The stock expansion continued for 93 years noting interim results, which were available for 1959, 1982, 1994 and 1999. Forested area in the region hardly changed. Carbon sequestration was mainly a result of a long-term recovery from forest degradation, a legacy of land use in the 18th and 19th centuries. Tree demography responded to management change especially of mature stands: Average tree size and stocking density of stands increased. On average the expanding biomass stock sequestered 18 tons C annually per km² (18 g C per m²). In comparison, the emissions of fossil carbon in the region were estimated at 12 tons C per km² (12 g C per m²) on average. However, fossil CO₂ emissions exceeded biomass sequestration in recent decades. The powerful and persistent expansion of the carbon stock was an unintended co-benefit of forestry, which was motivated by the intention to improve timber yield. On the more negative side the change in management introduced clear-cuts, and a loss of diverse elements of the pre-industrial biota.     

Effect of glyphosate on the tripartite symbiosis formed by Glomus intraradices,Bradyrhizobium japonicum,and genetically modified soybean

Most soybeans grown in North America are genetically modified (GM) to tolerate applications of the broad-spectrum herbicide glyphosate; as a result, glyphosate is now extensively used in soybean cropping systems. Soybean roots form both arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) and rhizobial symbioses. In addition to individually improving host plant fitness, these symbioses also interact to influence the functioning of each symbiosis, thereby establishing a tripartite symbiosis. The objectives of this study were to (1) estimate the effects of glyphosate on the establishment and functioning of AM and rhizobial symbioses with GM soybean, and (2) to estimate the interdependence of the symbioses in determining the response of each symbiosis to glyphosate. These objectives were addressed in two experiments; the first investigated the importance of the timing of glyphosate application in determining the responses of the symbionts and the second varied the rate of glyphosate application. Glyphosate applied at recommended field rates had no effect on Glomus intraradices or Bradyrhizobium japonicum colonization of soybean roots, or on soybean foliar tissue [P]. N₂-fixation was greater for glyphosate-treated soybean plants than for untreated-plants in both experiments, but only when glyphosate was applied at the first trifoliate soybean growth stage. These data deviate from previous studies estimating the effect of glyphosate on the rhizobial symbiosis, some of which observed negative effects on rhizobial colonization and/or N₂-fixation. We did observe evidence of the response of one symbiont (stimulation of N₂-fixation following glyphosate) being dependent on co-inoculation with the other; however, this interactive response appeared to be contextually dependent as it was not consistent between experiments. Future research needs to consider the role of environmental factors and other biota when evaluating rhizobial responses to herbicide applications.     

Surgical repair of a peritoneopericardial diaphragmatic hernia in a pregnant dog

Objective: To describe the surgical repair and pre‐ and postoperative management of a peritoneopericardial diaphragmatic hernia (PPDH) in a pregnant dog. Case summary: A pregnant dog was presented for vomiting, lethargy, and pale mucous membranes. Pulsus paradoxus was noted on physical examination. The dog was diagnosed with a PPDH via thoracic radiographs, abdominal ultrasound, and an echocardiogram. The hernia was surgically repaired and the dog received supportive medical care until the puppies were old enough to be delivered via cesarean section. The mother and all puppies survived. New or unique information provided: This is the first report that describes the surgical repair and postoperative management of a PPDH in a pregnant dog.