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Biomedical subjects

C R Mahon

Publications and source records attributed to C R Mahon.

5 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1990

Cognitive networking as a learning strategy.

A concept map, concept network, or hierarchical concept tree is an instructional tool which graphically arranges information to help students build better mental connections among concepts. The ability to retain and recall concepts by building such mental connections is called cognitive networking. In the pilot study described here, we tested whether this arrangement of graphics could enhance senior medical technology students' ability to create effective cognitive networks on bacterial features. The self-instructional slide/tape program we designed made use of the graphics to show the relationships among general and specific bacterial features. Students who viewed the slide/tape and used the graphics when studying for the exam performed significantly better on objectives illustrated on the slide/tape than did the previous class which did not view the graphics. There was no significant difference between the two groups on objectives which were the base from which the graphics were built.

Cognition↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Standardization of the urine microscopic examination.

Two standardized systems for examining urine sediment, UriSystem and the Kova System, were compared using urines from renal patients, hospitalized patients, and a normal population. Red blood cells and white blood cells were counted with each system and counts were placed into one of three predetermined clinically relevant categories: normal, suspicious, or diagnostic. In addition, cell counts were evaluated to compare how the systems categorized cell counts when dipstick results for blood, nitrite, and leukocyte esterase were negative. Results indicated that the UriSystem placed patient values into a category of higher relevance than the Kova system. When the reagent strip test results were negative, cell counts by the UriSystem were more likely to be in the suspicious category, indicating a possible need for further patient work-up than the counts done by the Kova system. Normal ranges of the microscopic sediment of the urinalysis must be re-evaluated using standardized systems such as those studied.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Foodborne illness: is the public at risk?

Millions of people suffer from foodborne illness yearly. While most experience self-limiting events, others suffer from more serious forms of the disease. During the past 20 years, the epidemiology of foodborne diseases has evolved as new pathogens emerged. Factors that have been attributed to the increased risk for foodborne illness include new food vehicles of transmission, consumer lifestyles, and eating trends. Low-dose contamination of commercially prepared food items has caused widespread international outbreaks. In addition, increased antimicrobial resistance among foodborne pathogens is being recognized. The food industry and regulatory agencies collaborate in developing effective surveillance and investigative methods to reduce the risk for foodborne illness.

Animals↗