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An important objective of science and technology education is the development of pupils' capacity for systems thinking. While in science education the term system relates mainly to structures and phenomena in the natural world, technology education focuses on systems designed to fulfill people's needs and desires: examples include systems to control the local environment, or the position or motion of objects. Despite the centrality of the system concept to technology and technology education, issues relating to the teaching and learning of systems within the technology curriculum have been little addressed. This paper explores some elemental structures common to technological feedback control systems, and highlights the relationships between the structural nature and the dynamic behavior of these systems. It is argued that the study of systems and control concepts in technology has the potential to promote higher learning skills such as interdisciplinary thinking and modeling, and an instructional framework for achieving this goal is proposed. Questions and research issues on the fostering of systems thinking in technology education are identified.

We tested composite tracheal grafts (CTG) composed of a partially decellularized tracheal graft (PDTG) combined with a 3-dimensional (3D)-printed airway splint for use in long-segment airway reconstruction. CTG is designed to recapitulate the 3D extracellular matrix of the trachea with stable mechanical properties imparted from the extraluminal airway splint. We performed segmental orthotopic tracheal replacement in a mouse microsurgical model. MicroCT was used to measure graft patency. Tracheal neotissue formation was quantified histologically. Airflow dynamic properties were analyzed using computational fluid dynamics. We found that CTG are easily implanted and did not result in vascular erosion, tracheal injury, or inflammation. Graft epithelialization and endothelialization were comparable with CTG to control. Tracheal collapse was absent with CTG. Composite tracheal scaffolds combine biocompatible synthetic support with PDTG, supporting the regeneration of host epithelium while maintaining graft structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and its numerical expression via apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values are commonly utilized in non-invasive assessment of various brain pathologies. Although numerous studies have confirmed that ADC values could be pathognomic for various ring-enhancing lesions (RELs), their true potential is yet to be exploited in full. The article was designed to introduce an image analysis method allowing REL recognition independently of either absolute ADC values or specifically defined regions of interest within the evaluated image. For this purpose, the line of interest (LOI) was marked on each ADC map to cross all of the RELs' compartments. Using a machine learning approach, we analyzed the LOI between two representatives of the RELs, namely, brain abscess and glioblastoma (GBM). The diagnostic ability of the selected parameters as predictors for the machine learning algorithms was assessed using two models, the k-NN model and the SVM model with a Gaussian kernel. With the k-NN machine learning method, 80% of the abscesses and 100% of the GBM were classified correctly at high accuracy. Similar results were obtained via the SVM method. The proposed assessment of the LOI offers a new approach for evaluating ADC maps obtained from different RELs and contributing to the standardization of the ADC map assessment., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Objectives/Hypothesis: About 260,000 septoplasties are performed annually in the US to address nasal septal deviation (NSD). Yet, we do not consistently understand what aspects of NSD result in symptoms. Study Design: Blinded cohort study. Methods: Two fellowship‐trained surgeons blindly reviewed computerized tomography (CTs) of 10 confirmed NSD patients mixed with 36 healthy controls. All patients were correctly identified, however, 24/36 controls were falsely identified by both surgeons as patients (33.3% specificity), which were grouped as asymptomatic NSD (aNSD), while the remaining controls as non‐NSD (healthy). Acoustic rhinometry, rhinomanometry, individual CT‐based computational fluid dynamics and nasal sensory testing were applied to address the puzzling questions of why these aNSD had no symptoms and, more fundamentally, what caused symptoms in sNSD patients. Results: aNSD reported no nasal symptoms – Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation score (sNSD: 60.50 ± 13.00; aNSD: 5.20 ± 5.41; non‐NSD: 6.66 ± 7.17, P <.05); 22‐item Sino‐Nasal Outcome Test score (sNSD: 32.60 ± 14.13; aNSD: 10.04 ± 10.10; non‐NSD: 9.08 ± 12.42, P <.001). No significant differences in measured nasal resistance, minimum cross‐sectional area (MCA), degree of septal deviation, and nasal airflow distributions were found between sNSD and aNSD groups. Only three variables differentiate sNSD versus aNSD: anterior averaged heat flux on deviated side, inferior turbinate peak heat flux on non‐deviated side, and nasal cool sensitivity measured by menthol lateralization threshold, with no significant differences among these variables found between the two healthy groups (aNSD vs. non‐NSD). These variables by themselves or combined can differentiate sNSD from controls with higher specificity than the physicians (ROC area under the curve = 0.84 with 70% sensitivity and 91.6% specificity). Conclusions: This study sheds light on the potential mechanisms of NSD symptomatology: distorted nasal cooling due to NSD exacerbated by poorer nasal mucosal sensitivity. It further supports our previous hypothesis that nasal obstruction complaints do not result directly from obstruction, rather from the capacity of our nose to subjectively sense airflow cooling. Level of Evidence: 3 Laryngoscope, 132:509–517, 2022 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Described is the design and evaluation of a learning unit which includes the basics of computerized feedback control. Included are sample topics, descriptions of the achievement measures, and conclusions of the study. (CW)

Fostering technology-enhanced science learning in elementary schools is an ongoing challenge as young students are not always motivated to engage with science lessons. The use of technology, such as digital sensors and data recorders, has been found to result in higher engagement with science. However, the association between technology-enhanced science learning and students' motivation to learn, from a cross-cultural viewpoint, is still discussed among researchers. Thus, the goal of this study was twofold: (a) to examine the motivation to learn science of elementary school students from different countries and cultural backgrounds; (b) to identify phases of technology-enhanced science learning and their association with students' motivation. Applying the sequential mixed-methods research design, data were collected via questionnaires, semi-structured interviews, and online observations. The study included seven experienced science teachers from the USA and Israel and 109 sixth-grade students: English speakers ( N  = 43), Arabic speakers ( N  = 26), and Hebrew speakers ( N  = 40). The findings indicated differences in students' internal motivation, in terms of "interest and enjoyment," "connection to daily-life," and "cross-cultural interactions," with medium ratings for "self-efficacy." The study identified and characterized two consecutive phases of technology-enhanced science learning-"divergence" and "convergence"-that can be associated with motivation to learn science. Overall, the study's results highlight the importance of seamlessly embedding technology to support cross-cultural learning of scientific practices., Competing Interests: Conflict of InterestThe authors declare no competing interests., (© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V. 2023, Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.)

The growing trend of shifting from classroom to distance learning in ethics education programs raises the need to examine ways for adapting best instructional practices to online modes. To address this need, the current study was set to apply a social constructivist approach to an online course in research ethics and to examine its effect on the learning outcomes of science and engineering graduate students. The study applied a pre-test post-test quasi-experimental research design within a framework of a mixed-methods approach. The study compared the learning outcomes of students who participated in a social constructivist online course (N = 175) with those who studied in a conventional online course (N = 170). The data were collected via questionnaires and interviews. The findings indicated that both the conventional and the social constructivist online learners gained knowledge of facts and regulations. Yet, the social constructivist learners were more successful in demonstrating knowledge of practices that are used to establish research ethics, and in understanding the importance of conducting research in a responsible manner. The social constructivist online learners were also more successful in demonstrating awareness of ethical dilemmas, by identifying ethical dilemmas and providing solutions to ethical problems.

The goal of the current study was to examine novice researchers' views about online ethics education and to identify the instructional design components that may foster ethical practice. Applying the mixed methods approach, data were collected via a survey and semi-structured interviews among M.Sc. and Ph.D. students in science and engineering. The findings point to the need for rethinking the way conventional online ethics courses are developed and delivered; encouraging students to build confidence in learning from distance, engaging them in online active and interactive experiences, and providing them with personalized support and adaptive guidance. The novice researchers identified the synergistic integration of collaborative, case-based, and contextual learning, as the instructional design components that may foster not only ethical knowledge but also ethical practice in a fully online course.

Introduction: Kawasaki disease(KD) is a vasculitis of childhood that tends to influence the coronary arteries. There is no national data about the prevalence of KD in Iran. This study aimed to perform a national registry in Iran for 13 years., Methods: In this retrospective study, the data for KD extracted from medical records of <19 year-old patients admitted to tertiary hospitals in Iran between 2007 and 2019 were recorded in the national KD registry system. Age, admission date, gender, location, and presence of KD criteria, laboratory and echocardiography findings, and treatment modalities were evaluated. Complete KD was considered if ≥4 clinical criteria of the KD existed and otherwise, incomplete KD was considered., Results: Data from 1,682 KD patients including 999(59.39%) boys and 683(40.61%) girls and male/female ratio of 1.46 were evaluated. The mean age was 3.08 ± 2.49 years and 1465(87%) were living in urban regions. The yearly incidence of the disease was between 2.62 to 3.03 from 2015 to 2019. The highest age-specific incidence was observed in children <1-year-old. Incomplete and resistant KD included 1,321(78.54%) and 9(0.54%) patients, respectively. Abnormal echocardiography was detected in 619(36.80%) patients. Leukocytosis, with dominancy of neutrophils, anemia, thrombocytosis and increased ESR and CRP were the most noticeable laboratory findings. No death due to KD disease was reported., Conclusion: Based on this study, most of the KD cases are presented with atypical presentation in Iran. So, increasing awareness of primary healthcare workers by educating and updating their data is very important in timely diagnosis and management of the disease., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (© 2023 Shahbaznejad, Hosseininasab, Mahboobi, Mohammadi, Esmaeili, Farrokhi Far, Alipour, Sedighi, Mansour Ghanaei, Sobouti, Taremiha, Malek, Ghadiri, Soleimani, Tabasizadeh, Ghadimi Moghadam, Barak, Salehi Abarghouei, Hashemian, Daryani Nezhad, Sherkatolabbasieh, Abedini-Varamini, Rahmati, Movahedi and Rezai.)

Decellularized tracheal scaffolds offer a potential solution for the repair of long-segment tracheal defects. However, complete decellularization of trachea is complicated by tracheal collapse. We created a partially decellularized tracheal scaffold (DTS) and characterized regeneration in a mouse model of tracheal transplantation. All cell populations except chondrocytes were eliminated from DTS. DTS maintained graft integrity as well as its predominant extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins. We then assessed the performance of DTS in vivo. Grafts formed a functional epithelium by study endpoint (28 days). While initial chondrocyte viability was low, this was found to improve in vivo. We then used atomic force microscopy to quantify micromechanical properties of DTS, demonstrating that orthotopic implantation and graft regeneration lead to the restoration of native tracheal rigidity. We conclude that DTS preserves the cartilage ECM, supports neo-epithelialization, endothelialization and chondrocyte viability, and can serve as a potential solution for long-segment tracheal defects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives/Hypothesis: Low energy radiofrequency may offer effective treatment for narrow or obstructed nasal valve, yet its precise mechanism is not fully understood. Study Design: Prospective, nonrandomized, case series. Methods: Twenty prospective patients with internal nasal valve obstruction underwent office‐based Vivaer treatment (Aerin Medical, Inc) under local anesthesia. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models were constructed based on the pre‐ and 90 days post‐procedure computed tomography (CT) scans to identify salient changes in nasal airflow parameters. Results: Patients' Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation score (NOSE: pre‐treatment 78.89 ± 11.57; post‐treatment 31.39 ± 18.30, P = 5e‐7) and Visual Analog Scale of nasal obstruction (VAS: pre‐treatment 6.01 ± 1.83; post‐treatment 3.44 ± 2.11, P = 1e‐4) improved significantly at 90 days after the minimally invasive approach. Nasal airway volume in the treatment area increased ~7% 90 days post‐treatment (pre‐treatment 5.97 ± 1.20, post‐treatment 6.38 ± 1.50 cm3, P =.018), yet there were no statistically significant changes in the measured peak nasal inspiratory flowrate (PNIF, pre‐treatment: 60.16 ± 34.49; post‐treatment: 72.38 ± 43.66 ml/s; P =.13) and CFD computed nasal resistance (pre‐treatment: 0.096 ± 0.065; post‐treatment: 0.075 ± 0.026 Pa/(ml/s); P =.063). As validation, PNIF correlated significantly with nasal resistance (r = 0.47, P =.004). Among all the variables, only the peak mucosal cooling posterior to the nasal vestibule significantly correlated with the NOSE at baseline (r = −0.531, P =.023) and with post‐treatment improvement (r = 0.659, P =.003). Conclusion: Minimal remodeling of the nasal valve (7% in this study) may have a profound effect on perceived nasal obstruction, despite little effect on nasal resistance, or PNIF. The results corroborated our previous findings that subjective relief of nasal obstruction correlates with regional mucosal cooling rather than nasal resistance or peak flow rate, a potential target for future effective, personalized therapeutic approaches. Level of Evidence: 4 Laryngoscope, 131:E1760–E1769, 2021 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]