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The widespread use of smartphones has led to the emergence of new mobile learning tools. The aim of this study was to compare traditional methods to mobile learning applications, and their effect on the academic achievement and anxiety levels of students learning genital system anatomy. This research study was a randomized controlled study conducted with students who took anatomy between November and December 2018. The cohort consisted of 63 students who met the sampling criteria. Groups (control = 31, experimental = 32) were randomly selected using a simple number table. The mobile application developed for the experimental group was installed on the students' mobile devices with the extension "genitalsystem.apk." The anatomy of the genital system was taught to the control group using the standard curriculum and to the experimental group using the mobile application. After teaching the anatomy of the genital system, the state anxiety levels of the students in the control group were determined to be higher at 45.6 (±8.7) than the experimental group at 40.4 (±8.3) as measured by the 20–80 point STAI scale. The posttest examination average of the control group was 8.9 (±6.9) out of 22 or 40.4 (±6.9)% and the posttest average of the experimental group using mobile application was 14.9 (±5.5) or 67.7 (±5.5)%. State anxiety levels and examination grades showed a highly significant difference in favor of the experimental group. These results indicate that using mobile applications when teaching anatomy may be an effective method to enhance learning and reduce anxiety levels when compared to the traditional teaching methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Yeasts are commensal organisms found in the reproductive and gastrointestinal tracts, and on the skin and other mucosa in mammals. Objectives The purpose of this study was to isolate and identify yeast flora in the caudal reproductive tract in healthy female horses. Study design Longitudinal study. Methods A total of 453 samples were collected using double-guarded swabs from the vestibule, clitoral fossa and vagina in 151 horses. All samples were cultured on Sabouraud 4% dextrose agar and incubated at 35°C for 7-10 days. Isolates were identified according to their morphological characteristics and biochemical profiles. Results Yeast colonies were isolated from 60 (39.7%) of the 151 horses. The isolated yeasts belonged to nine genera, and included Candida spp. (53.2%), Cryptococcus spp. (12.2%), Saccharomyces spp. (10.5%), Geotrichum spp. (8.0%), Rhodotorula spp. (7.1%), Malassezia spp. (3.7%), Trichosporon spp. (2.6%), Kluyveromyces spp. (2.6%) and Sporothrix spp. (0.2%). Candida krusei (43.1%) was the most frequent Candida species isolated. There was a significant difference in prevalence between C. krusei and other Candida species (P<0.05). The vestibule contained more yeast isolates (48.0%) than the vagina (18.3%). The isolation of yeast colonies from multiparous females (76.8%) was significantly higher than from maiden mares (P<0.05). Main limitations The study was limited by the difficulty of distinguishing between normal flora and potential pathogens. Conclusions Candida spp., in particular C. krusei, represent important flora resident in the caudal reproductive tract in healthy female horses. This is particularly important in contexts that require the initiation of empirical treatment prior to the completion of culture results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The female atrial system of members of the Polycystididae has been studied at the light microscopical level and compared among the constituent taxa. Based on the criteria of position and conjunction, hypotheses of homology are put forward and compared with the assessments of homology found in earlier literature. Contradictory terminology is synonymized and adapted to fit new findings that recognize homology among structures in different taxa. Based on differences in position and structure, 2 types of female duct are recognized: female duct type I and female duct type II. The term“female bursa” is restricted to a sperm resorbing organ at the proximal end of the female duct type I and/or at the end of a common oviduct. Some species have bundles of glands at the place where the oviduct(s) enter the female duct type I, which are considered homologous among these species. Different types of seminal receptacles are recognized. The term“insemination duct” is restricted to the ducts which in some species, in addition to the oviducts, connect the ovaries with the female duct type I. A single muscular duct, the common oviduct, connects the joined oviducts with the female duct type I in species of Duplacrorhynchus and is considered homologous with the similar duct present in some other species. A uterus is always present, entering the common genital atrium through its frontal wall, or entering a female duct type II. This morphological review of the female atrial system reveals a mosaic distribution of characters if applied to previous phylogenies that are based primarily on the male reproductive system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]