The A﹠P Professor Science & Education Updates - Issue #203

Life Science

Prosthetic teeth could make great hearing aids.

Vibrations applied to replacements for lost teeth travel well through jawbones to the inner ear, researchers report in the September Journal of the Acoustical Society of America. The finding could lead to discreet alternatives to conventional hearing aids and cochlear implants that people with hearing impairments often use (SN: 7/7/16).

Many of us are familiar with the idea that as we get older, we become less mentally agile; but is this something that can be measured – does our IQ decrease with age? If it does, at what speed does it do so? Do different types of intelligence decline...

Emerging subvariants have hit on a combination of mutations that makes them more immune evasive than ever

The mask could one day be a new tool in getting ahead of respiratory illness outbreaks

A novel PPG software algorithm for wearable Fitbit devices exhibited a high positive predictive value for concurrent AF and identified participants likely to have AF on subsequent ECG patch monitoring. Wearable devices may facilitate identifying individuals with undiagnosed AF.

The US stands out among developed countries for its high rates of firearm injury and related morbidity and mortality. Even though there is no comprehensive national resource that documents firearm-related injuries in real time, available data provide some insight into the epidemiology of firearm injury.

This Viewpoint summarizes current data on firearm injuries in the US, discusses the limitations of available data sources, and proposes measures for a comprehensive system to track firearm injury and death.

Teaching & Learning

Yes, the easy summer days are behind us. But if you’re willing to brave the chill, autumn holds a special set of rewards.

Collaborative group work is increasingly prioritized across higher education, particularly in the life sciences and STEM-related fields. But how students communicate within these smaller groups is key to their success. New research suggests that students who understand what they do and do not know, and who are willing to ask for clarification and correct misinformation in the group, are more successful in small-group problem-solving.

Researchers at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus have shown a direct link between vagus nerve stimulation and its connection to the learning centers of the brain. The discovery may lead to treatments that will improve cognitive retention in both healthy and injured nervous systems.

TAPP News & Notes

Phantasia: Mental Imagery in Teaching & Learning | Pregnancy & Abortion Facts Can Stir Up Feelings

Consider fonts when creating learning materials | Is hard-to-read better than easy-to-read? | More on the course syllabus | Poop, poop, poop.