Supporting Student Visualization of Molecular Processes Through Diagram Drawing

Historically, scientists and researchers have accompanied their observations with drawings, indicating that visual models are an effective way of communicating science. Studies have shown that students should draw images that are either interpretational or transformative, and artistic ability is irrelevant as they still help improve learning. However, many educators do not utilize this practice in their courses. In this study, we investigated if practising making simple and schematic drawings can help students understand complex molecular processes, and to use that tool to contextualize complex plant biology processes in an undergraduate plant biology course. When students were introduced to a complex plant process, the instructor accompanied their explanation with a simple schematic drawing. Students were told by the instructor that 1-2 drawing questions would appear on the midterm. For the final exam, no questions explicitly asked students to include a schematic drawing. Students who drew often scored higher on questions related to the topics where drawings were introduced in the course and the lab. Students who drew on the final exam did 12.3% better on the exam than those who didn’t draw. Students who had continuous exposure to drawing style questions during the midterms, did 6% better in the course compared to students who did not write the midterms. Students also gave an overwhelmingly positive response towards drawing, and 94% of the surveyors believed that making simple drawings helped with their learning of complex molecular processes. This could indicate that exposure to drawing style questions helped reinforce the learning of complex molecular processes.

USE OF THREE-WALLED LOG HOUSES IN THE FORTIFICATIONS OF MEDIEVAL RUS

Предложен анализ использования довольно редко встречающейся в оборонном зодчестве конструкции из трехстенных срубов. Обзор представлений историков архитектуры и военного дела XIX−XX вв. сопровожден критикой их построений, исходивших из умозрительных представлений и следования схематичному изображению в труде Ласковского. В противовес этому собраны сведения о реально использовавшихся при строительстве древо-земляных стен трехстенных срубов («полугородней»), предназначавшихся преимущественно для вписывания укреплений в склоны холмов, рвов и т. п. Прослежен генезис этого строительного приема на протяжении 700 лет – с конца IХ по XVI в. The paper analyzes the use of a construction made from three-walled block houses which are rather rare in defense architecture. The overview of concepts offered by historians of architecture and warfare of the 19th–20th centuries is complemented by a critical review of their ideas. The latter were developed on the basis of some speculative notions and adherence to a schematic drawing in Laskvosky’s paper. By contrast with their efforts, information on three-walled log houses (half-gorodnyas) that were actually used for construction of the timber-earthen walls was collected. The task of these log houses was to ensure that fortifications were incorporated into hill, ditch sides, etc. The genesis of this construction technique in the period of 700 years, i.e. from late 9th till 16th century, was traced.

Anatomy of the Male Reproductive System - Prostate Cancer

Media: Digital Illustration Artist statement:1 in 7 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in his lifetime. Prostate cancer can affect lymph flow, the colon, and ureter, causing symptoms such as urinary trouble, back pain and more. This schematic drawing of the Male Reproductive System could be used in a physician's office to aid explaination of this common disease.

Finely tuning MOFs towards high-performance post-combustion CO2 capture materials

Schematic drawing of six strategies for fine tuning of MOF structures from prototypical MOFs.

Erratum: “Representative strain of indentation analysis” [J. Mater. Res. 20, 2225 (2005)] and “Limit analysis-based approach to determine the material plastic properties with conical indentation” [J. Mater. Res. 21, 947 (2006)]

We like to take this opportunity to rectify an error in the schematic drawing in two of our recently published research articles. A typographical error of a number appeared in Fig. 5 of J. Mater. Res. 20, 2225 (2005), p. 2229 and in Fig. 2 of J. Mater. Res. 21, 947 (2006), p. 948: these two figures are the same schematic drawing. In both figures, the number “1” on the slopes should be changed to “2.” The correct figure is given as Fig. 1 in this erratum.

Pathoanatomy of clinical findings in patients with sciatica: a magnetic resonance imaging study

Object. Anatomical details of nerve root compression may explain the production of the signs and symptoms of sciatica. The authors of anatomical studies have offered many theories without clearly demonstrating the clinical relevance of the observations. Clinicoanatomical series are scarce and are affected to a great extent by selection bias. Methods. We created a schematic drawing of the lumbar anatomy based on both the literature and in vitro anatomical observations. A diagnosis was then made with the aid of detailed and standardized clinical and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging studies in primary-care patients who presented with pain that radiated into the leg. Clinical and MR imaging findings were correlated. Finally, the anatomical drawing was compared with the clinical data. The higher the vertebral level of symptomatic disc herniations, the more likely the compression will be more laterally situated. Classic symptoms of sciatica (typically, dermatomal pain; increase in pain when coughing, sneezing, or straining; and testing positive for pain during straight leg raising) were most likely to occur with compression of the nerve root in the axilla and with mediolateral disc herniations. Conclusions. The L-3, L-4, L-5, and S-1 nerve roots each tend to be compressed at different sites along the rostrocaudal course of the nerve root. Disc herniations become symptomatic at different sites for each disc level. The schematic drawing produced a priori could well be used to explain these findings. Expectations of particular clinical findings can be predicted by specific pathoanatomical findings.

Delineating the “Safe” Donor Area for Hair Transplanting

Three hundred twenty-eight patients were examined and classified according to age (65–69, 70–74, 75–79, and ≥80 years) and degree of male pattern baldness Hamilton/Norwood Class I-VII. In addition, the inferior to superior height of potential temporal, parietal, and occipital donor sites containing at least eight hairs per 4-mm round circle was measured. A schematic drawing of the borders of this “safe” donor area containing permanently hair-bearing scalp with adequate hair density for transplanting is presented.

Newton’s description of the reflecting telescope

In an earlier issue of Notes and Records , A. A. Mills and P.J. Turvey published a general account of the reflecting telescopes associated with Isaac Newton. There is another document concerning the reflecting telescope that has not until now been incorporated into the Newtonian literature: a schematic drawing of a reflecting telescope, accompanied by a description of the instrument written out by Newton in his own hand (see figure 1). The drawing was certainly made by Newton himself. At the bottom of the page, there is a note in another hand, of which the first part reads, ‘Ex dono celeberr. Dn. Newgtoni Profess. Math. Cantabrig.’ (the gift of the famous Mr Newton, Professor of Mathematics at Cambridge), and the remainder, in English, reads ‘of Cajus Colledg.’ This is, of course, an error, since Newton’s college was Trinity and not Caius; Newton’s name is also misspelled.