TY - JOUR TI - Tissue Regeneration with Hydrogel Encapsulation: A Review of Developments in Plants and Animals AU - Krishnamoorthy, Srikumar AU - Schwartz, Michael F. AU - Broeck, Lisa Van AU - Hunt, Aitch AU - Horn, Timothy J. AU - Sozzani, Rosangela T2 - BioDesign Research AB - Hydrogel encapsulation has been widely utilized in the study of fundamental cellular mechanisms and has been shown to provide a better representation of the complex in vivo microenvironment in natural biological conditions of mammalian cells. In this review, we provide a background into the adoption of hydrogel encapsulation methods in the study of mammalian cells, highlight some key findings that may aid with the adoption of similar methods for the study of plant cells, including the potential challenges and considerations, and discuss key findings of studies that have utilized these methods in plant sciences. DA - 2021/12/2/ PY - 2021/12/2/ DO - 10.34133/2021/9890319 UR - https://doi.org/10.34133/2021/9890319 ER - TY - JOUR TI - A New Open-Source Web Application with Animations to Support Learning of Neuron-to-Neuron Signaling AU - LePrevost, Catherine E. AU - Cope, W. Gregory AU - Shen, Yan AU - Wrights, Donnie T2 - AMERICAN BIOLOGY TEACHER AB - Pesticides and their associated modes of action serve as real-world examples of chemical toxicity, stimulating student interest and supporting their understanding of nervous system function and cell signaling. An open-source web application called “Neuron-to-Neuron Normal and Toxic Actions” hosts narrated animations of pesticide toxic actions and exists as a resource for instructors of advanced secondary or undergraduate biology courses. This article describes the features of the web application, reports student feedback on the animations, and details a cooperative learning procedure for instructors to use the web application in online learning environments or in-person classroom settings with technology support. DA - 2021/// PY - 2021/// DO - 10.1525/abt.2021.83.9.600 VL - 83 IS - 9 SP - 593-595 KW - pesticides KW - toxicology KW - cellular biology KW - neurobiology KW - neurons KW - cell signaling KW - nervous system KW - jigsaw technique KW - cooperative learning KW - web application KW - animations ER - TY - JOUR TI - Connecting the Dots: Lewis Structure Builder Web App as a Review Tool for Organic Chemistry AU - Paye, Ciana L. AU - Dunnagan, Cathi L. AU - Tredwell, David A. AU - Gallardo-Williams, Maria T. T2 - JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL EDUCATION AB - Lewis structures are a very important, foundational concept in chemistry. Students usually acquire this knowledge in General Chemistry and need to review it in preparation for Organic Chemistry. However, many students find the task of drawing Lewis structures to be challenging, and not all instructors can budget enough time in class to review this material when they start Organic Chemistry. To address this issue, we created a web application (web app; Lewis Structure Builder) that lets students review Lewis structures in their own time, allowing them to position individual atoms, build and break bonds, and get real-time feedback on the accuracy of their structures. The web app was designed to be intuitive, requiring very little training to use, and students could use desktops, laptops, or mobile devices to participate. In working through a sequence of target molecules to build, students had the freedom to try out different atomic structures to see what works and receive real-time feedback about their decisions. Upon successful completion of a molecule, students received visual and haptic feedback as a form of positive reinforcement. Afterward, students saw their solution next to the same molecule shown as an extended structure and as built using a model kit. A pilot study was conducted with 37 students who were enrolled in Organic Chemistry I. Participants were given an assessment to determine their level of proficiency in drawing Lewis structures, followed by an opportunity to use the web app and a post-test. After using the web app, 21% of the participants showed improved outcomes, and most students reported satisfaction with the user interface and perceived benefits from the experience. DA - 2021/8/10/ PY - 2021/8/10/ DO - 10.1021/acs.jchemed.1c00213 VL - 98 IS - 8 SP - 2704-2708 SN - 1938-1328 KW - Second-Year Undergraduate KW - Organic Chemistry KW - Internet/Web-Based Learning KW - Multimedia-Based Learning KW - Computer-Based Learning ER - TY - JOUR TI - Examining Students' Online Course Perceptions and Comparing Student Performance Outcomes in Online and Face-to-Face Classrooms AU - Spencer, Dan AU - Temple, Traci T2 - ONLINE LEARNING AB - Through the use of existing grade and student survey data, this study investigated online courses offered at a public four-year university. Specifically, the study explored differences in student success rates between online and face-to-face courses for traditional undergraduate students as well as the climate of student perceptions towards online courses. Our general results suggest that students performed better in, and had higher levels of preference toward, traditional face-to-face formats. However, overall perceptions of online courses were positive, with students viewing instructional technologies as reliable and easy to use, as well as reporting that online technologies facilitated prompt feedback, enhanced their problem-solving skills, and met their learning needs. Alongside this, students exhibited positive views towards their instructors’ skill level and use of technology to support academic success. Logistic regression analyses of differences in student success across instructional formats revealed interaction effects with variables of age (nontraditional/traditional), aid status and whether or not courses were taken to fulfill general education or major requirements, suggesting a more complex effect of instructional format across student subpopulations. The variability in the results observed in the current study warrant further exploration before definitive conclusions on the impact of instructional format on student outcomes and perceptions can be made. DA - 2021/6// PY - 2021/6// DO - 10.24059/olj.v25i2.2227 VL - 25 IS - 2 SP - 233-261 SN - 2472-5730 KW - instructional format KW - student outcomes KW - student perceptions ER - TY - JOUR TI - Divide and Conquer: The Initiation and Proliferation of Meristems AU - Schwartz, Michael F. AU - Peters, Rachel AU - Hunt, Aitch M. AU - Abdul-Matin, Abdul-Khaliq AU - Broeck, Lisa AU - Sozzani, Rosangela T2 - CRITICAL REVIEWS IN PLANT SCIENCES AB - In contrast to animals, which complete organogenesis early in their development, plants continuously produce organs, and structures throughout their entire lifecycle. Plants achieve the continuous growth of organs through the initiation and maintenance of meristems that populate the plant body. Plants contain two apical meristems, one at the shoot and one root, to produce the lateral organs of the shoot and the cell files of the root, respectively. Additional meristems within the plant produce branches while others produce the cell types within the vasculature system. Throughout development, plants must balance producing organs and maintaining their meristems, which requires tightly controlled regulations. This review focuses on the various plant meristems, how cells within these meristems maintain their identity, and particularly the molecular players that regulate stem cell maintenance. In addition, we summarize cell types which share molecular features with meristems, but do not follow the same rules regarding maintenance, including pericycle and rachis founder cells. Together, these populations of cells contribute to the entire organogenesis of plants. DA - 2021/3/4/ PY - 2021/3/4/ DO - 10.1080/07352689.2021.1915228 VL - 40 IS - 2 SP - 147-156 SN - 1549-7836 KW - Founder cells KW - meristem initiation KW - meristem maintenance KW - procambium KW - root apical meristem KW - shoot apical meristem ER -