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Physiological Concepts (physiological + concept)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Life Sciences	60%
Medical Sciences	40%

Selected Abstracts

Is ,nocturnal hypothermia' a valid physiological concept in small birds?: a study on Bronze Mannikins Spermestes cucullatus

IBIS, Issue 4 2003
Barry G. Lovegrove
The thermoregulatory capacity and metabolic responses to light,dark cycles under various mild food-deprivation treatments were measured in Bronze Mannikins Spermestes cucullatus (10,11 g). We measured the response of minimum oxygen consumption to ambient temperature in order to determine the basal metabolic rate (BMR), thermal conductance and limits of thermoneutrality of the Mannikins. In addition, we measured oxygen consumption in response to light,dark cycles and three mild food-deprivation treatments. Bronze Mannikins have a low BMR (1.67 mlO2/g/h) that is c. 50,60% of that predicted from phylogenetically independent allometric curves for all birds. A low BMR resulted in amplitudes of metabolism between the active and rest phases that were double those predicted allometrically from body mass. The reduced nocturnal metabolic rate did not represent torpor. Typically, Mannikins would need to reduce their metabolic rate during the rest phase to c. 17% of BMR to attain the average torpor metabolic rate of other birds. The data are, however, consistent with those of other group-living Afrotropical birds that benefit energetically from group huddling in environments in which moderate seasonality is accompanied by unpredictable climates , and thus unpredictable energy inputs in time and space. When food-deprived and placed under moderate cold stress (20 °C), Mannikins decreased their rest-phase metabolic rates to the same magnitude as several small Holarctic birds. We suggest that, in the context of the progress made to quantify and define proximate heterothermic responses in endotherms, such as torpor and hibernation, the term nocturnal hypothermia often applied to moderate nocturnal reductions in metabolic rate is vague, misleading and inappropriate. [source]

Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends improve the understanding of oxygen delivery and the pathophysiology of hypoxaemia,

ANAESTHESIA, Issue 11 2006
J. F. Cosgrove
Summary Understanding basic pathophysiological principles underpins the practice of many healthcare workers, particularly in a critical care setting. Undergraduate curricula have the potential to separate physiology teaching from clinical contexts, making understanding difficult. We therefore assessed the use of analogous imagery as an aid to understanding. Two groups of first year physiotherapy students were randomly assigned to receive either a control lecture (oxygen delivery and hypoxaemia) or a study lecture (control lecture plus images of a train set delivering rocks: an analogy to oxygen delivery.) Qualitative assessment of the lectures showed a significant (p < 0.001) improvement in understanding by the study group, and increased the proportion of students that found the lecture ,interesting and stimulating' (p = 0.01). Quantitative assessment demonstrated a significant increase in the multiple choice questionnaire marks of the study group (p = 0.03). In conclusion, analogous imagery can significantly increase the understanding of this physiological concept. [source]

Effectiveness of simulation on health profession students' knowledge, skills, confidence and satisfaction

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EVIDENCE BASED HEALTHCARE, Issue 3 2008
Susan Laschinger
Abstract Background, Despite the recent wave of interest being shown in high-fidelity simulators, they do not represent a new concept in healthcare education. Simulators have been a part of clinical education since the 1950s. The growth of patient simulation as a core educational tool has been driven by a number of factors. Declining inpatient populations, concerns for patient safety and advances in learning theory are forcing healthcare educators to look for alternatives to the traditional clinical encounter for skill acquisition for students. Objective, The aim of this review was to identify the best available evidence on the effectiveness of using simulated learning experiences in pre-licensure health profession education. Inclusion criteria,Types of studies: This review considered any experimental or quasi-experimental studies that addressed the effectiveness of using simulated learning experiences in pre-licensure health profession practice. In the absence of randomised controlled trials, other research designs were considered for inclusion, such as, but not limited to: non-randomised controlled trials and before-and-after studies. Types of participants: This review included participants who were pre-licensure practitioners in nursing, medicine, and rehabilitation therapy. Types of intervention(s)/phenomena of interest: Studies that evaluated the use of human physical anatomical models with or without computer support, including whole-body or part-body simulators were included. Types of outcome measures, Student outcomes included knowledge acquisition, skill performance, learner satisfaction, critical thinking, self-confidence and role identity. Search strategy, Using a defined search and retrieval method, the following databases were accessed for the period 1995,2006: Medline, CINAHL, Embase, PsycINFO, HealthSTAR, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews and ERIC. Methodological quality, Each paper was assessed by two independent reviewers for methodological quality prior to inclusion in the review using the standardised critical appraisal instruments for evidence of effectiveness, developed by the Joanna Briggs Institute. Disagreements were dealt with by consultations with a third reviewer. Data collection, Information was extracted from each paper independently by two reviewers using the standardised data extraction tool from the Joanna Briggs Institute. Disagreements were dealt with by consultation with a third reviewer. Data synthesis, Due to the type of designs and quality of available studies, it was not possible to pool quantitative research study results in statistical meta-analysis. As statistical pooling was not possible, the findings are presented in descriptive narrative form. Results, Twenty-three studies were selected for inclusion in this review including partial task trainers and high-fidelity human patient simulators. The results indicate that there is high learner satisfaction with using simulators to learn clinical skills. The studies demonstrated that human patient simulators which are used for teaching higher level skills, such as airway management, and physiological concepts are useful. While there are short-term gains in knowledge and skill performance, it is evident that performance of skills over time after initial training decline. Conclusion, At best, simulation can be used as an adjunct for clinical practice, not a replacement for everyday practice. Students enjoyed the sessions and using the models purportedly makes learning easier. However, it remains unclear whether the skills learned through a simulation experience transfer into real-world settings. More research is needed to evaluate whether the skills acquired with this teaching methodology transfer to the practice setting such as the impact of simulation training on team function. [source]

Animal colour vision , behavioural tests and physiological concepts

BIOLOGICAL REVIEWS, Issue 1 2003
ALMUT KELBER
ABSTRACT Over a century ago workers such as J. Lubbock and K. von Frisch developed behavioural criteria for establishing that non-human animals see colour. Many animals in most phyla have since then been shown to have colour vision. Colour is used for specific behaviours, such as phototaxis and object recognition, while other behaviours such as motion detection are colour blind. Having established the existence of colour vision, research focussed on the question of how many spectral types of photoreceptors are involved. Recently, data on photoreceptor spectral sensitivities have been combined with behavioural experiments and physiological models to study systematically the next logical question: ,what neural interactions underlie colour vision ?,This review gives an overview of the methods used to study animal colour vision, and discusses how quantitative modelling can suggest how photoreceptor signals are combined and compared to allow for the discrimination of biologically relevant stimuli. [source]

A portrait of Aristotle as an anatomist: Historical article

CLINICAL ANATOMY, Issue 5 2007
Enrico Crivellato
Abstract Aristotle is principally known as a theoretical philosopher and logician but he was also an eminent natural scientist. In particular, he should be considered probably the first anatomist in the modern sense of this term and the originator of anatomy as a special branch of knowledge. Although it seems certain that he did not perform dissections of human adult cadavers, he examined human fetal material and, above all, made systematic analysis of animal bodies. His contribution to comparative anatomy, as well as to human anatomy, was enormous. He founded the anatomical discipline on precise descriptive and scientific ground. He also coined a series of technical terms, which are still in use in the modern nomenclature. His observational skill was astounding. Although many of his physiological concepts turned out to be wrong, still his structural description of organs and body parts was often first-rank. The present study will chiefly focus on Aristotle's anatomical work and will provide only essential mention of his complex physiological and philosophical doctrine. The main purpose of this article is indeed to offer to today's anatomists a systematic account of the extraordinary achievements of this great pioneer of our discipline. Clin. Anat. 20:477,485, 2007. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]