Engineering students are expected to be not only technically proficient, but, also to exhibit a sound awareness of real-world issues such as marketing, finance, communications, and interpersonal relations. We found that this is best learned by participating in a case study method of instruction. This paper describes the results of a research undertaken by the authors to develop a teaching methodology to bring real-world issues into engineering classrooms. It describes the steps taken in developing an engineeringmanagement case study, administering this case study in a classroom, and results of evaluating the effectiveness of this method of instruction. In particular, it focuses on the students' and professional engineers' perceptions on the utility of the case study method of instruction in engineering classes. The results of the research lead to recommendations to funding agencies and educators on the need to develop interdisciplinary technical case studies so that the innovations happening in the engineering world can be communicated to the students in the classrooms.

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Objective This project determined the location and distribution of cavitations (audible sounds producing vibrations) in the lumbar zygapophyseal (Z) joints that were targeted by spinal manipulative therapy (SMT). Methods This randomized, controlled, clinical study assessed 40 healthy subjects (20 male, 20 female), 18–30 years of age, that were block randomized into SMT (Group 1, n=30) or side-posture positioning only (Group 2, control, n=10) groups. Nine accelerometers were placed on each patient (7 on SPs/sacral tubercles of L1–S2 and 2 placed 3 cm left and right lateral to the L4/L5 interspinous space). Accelerometer recordings were made during side-posture positioning (Groups 1 and 2) and SMT (Group 1 only). The SMT was delivered by a chiropractic physician with 19 years of practice experience and included 2 high-velocity, low-amplitude thrusts delivered in rapid succession. Comparisons using chi-square or McNemar’s test were made between number of joints cavitating from: Group 1 vs. Group 2, up-side (contact side for SMT) vs. down-side, and Z joints within the target area (L3/L4, L4L5, L5/S1) vs. outside the target area (L1/L2, L2/L3, sacroiliac). Results Fifty-six cavitations were recorded from 46 joints of 40 subjects. Eight joints cavitated more than once. Group 1 joints cavitated more than Group 2 joints (p<0.0001), up-side joints cavitated more than down-side joints (p<0.0001), and joints inside the target area cavitated more than those outside the target area (p<0.01). Conclusions Most cavitations (93.5%) occurred on the up-side of SMT subjects in segments within the target area (71.7%). As expected, SMT subjects cavitated more frequently than side-posture positioning only subjects (96.7% vs. 30%). Multiple cavitations from the same Z joints had not been previously reported.

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Researchers disagree on the impact of multimedia on perceived skill development. This research investigated whether intervening variables such as task-technology factors might explain the difference in the research findings. An experiment was conducted where thirty-nine students worked on a case study using both paper-based and multimedia-based technologies. An exploratory factor analysis design employing a structural equation model was utilized to analyze the data. The findings from this study suggest a strong indirect relationship between multimedia and perceived skill development with learning-driven constructs (challenging, learning interest, self-reported learning, and learned from others). The study concludes that it is critical to consider these factors in developing multimedia instructional materials.

Purpose This IRB-approved project determined the feasibility of conducting larger studies assessing the relationship between cavitation and zygapophysial (Z) joint gapping following spinal manipulative therapy (SMT). Methods Five healthy volunteers (average age 25.4 years) were screened and examined against inclusion and exclusion criteria. High signal MRI markers were fixed to T12, L3, and S1 spinous processes. Scout images were taken to verify the location of the markers. Axial images of the L4/L5 and L5/S1 levels were obtained in the neutral supine position. Following the first MRI, accelerometers were placed over the same spinous processes and recordings were made from them during side-posture positioning and SMT. The accelerometers were removed and each subject was scanned in side-posture. The greatest central A-P Z joint spaces (gap) were measured from the first and second MRI scans. Values obtained from the first scan were subtracted from those of the second, a positive result indicating an increase in gapping following SMT (positive gapping difference). Gapping difference was compared between the up-side (SMT) joints vs. the down-side (non-SMT) joints and between up-side cavitation vs. up-side non-cavitation joints. Results Greater gapping was found in Z joints that received SMT (0.5 ±0.6 mm) vs. non-SMT joints (−0.2 ±0.6 mm), and vertebral segments that cavitated gapped more than those that did not cavitate (0.8 ±0.7 mm vs. 0.4 ±0.5 mm). Conclusions A future clinical study is quite feasible. Forty subjects (30 SMT and 10 Control) would be needed for appropriate power (0.90). Partial funding by NIH/NCCAM (#2R01AT000123).

Objectives The purpose of this study was to use previously validated methods to quantify and relate 2 phenomena associated with chiropractic spinal manipulative therapy (SMT): 1) cavitation and 2) the simultaneous gapping (separation) of the lumbar zygapophyseal (Z) joint spaces. Methods This was a randomized, controlled, mechanistic clinical trial with blinding. Forty healthy subjects (18 to 30 years of age) without a history of low back pain participated. Seven accelerometers were affixed to the skin overlying the spinous processes of L1-L5 and the S1 and S2 sacral tubercles. Two additional accelerometers were positioned 3 cm left and right lateral to the L4/L5 inter-spinous space. Subjects were randomized into: Group 1–side-posture SMT (n=30) or Group 2–side-posture positioning (SPP, n=10). Cavitations were determined by accelerometer recordings during SMT and SPP (left-side=up-side for both groups); gapping (gapping difference) was determined by the difference between pre- and post-intervention MRI joint space measurements. Results of mean gapping differences were compared. Results Up-side SMT and SPP joints gapped more than down-side joints (0.69 vs. −0.17mm, p<0.0001). SMT up-side joints gapped more than SPP up-side joints (0.75 vs. 0.52mm, p=0.03). SMT up-side joints gapped more in males than females (1.01 vs. 0.49mm, p<0.002). Overall, joints that cavitated gapped more than those that did not (0.56vs. 0.22mm, p=0.01). No relationship was found between the occurrence of cavitation and gapping with up-side joints alone (p=0.43). Conclusions Z joints receiving chiropractic SMT gapped more than those receiving side-posture positioning alone, Z joints of males gapped more than those of females, and cavitation indicated that a joint had gapped, but not how much a joint had gapped.

Background: Our goal is to develop metrics that quantify the translation of performance from cadavers to patients. Our primary objective was to develop steps and error checklists from a Delphi questionnaire. Our second objective was to show that our test scores were valid and reliable. Methods: Sixteen UK experts identified 15 steps conducive to good performance and 15 errors to be avoided during interscalene block on the soft-embalmed cadaver and patients. Thereafter, six experts and six novices were trained, and then tested. Training consisted of psychometric assessment, an anatomy tutorial, volunteer scanning, and ultrasoundguided needle insertion on a pork phantom and on a soft-embalmed cadaver. For testing, participants conducted a single interscalene block on a dedicated soft-embalmed cadaver whilst wearing eye tracking glasses. Results: We developed a 15-step checklist and a 15-error checklist. The internal consistency of our steps measures were 0.83 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.78e0.89) and 0.90 (95% CI: 0.87e0.93) for our error measures. The experts completed more steps (mean difference: 3.2 [95% CI: 1.5e4.8]; P<0.001), had less errors (mean difference: 4.9 [95% CI: 3.5e6.3]; P<0.001), had better global rating scores (mean difference: 6.8 [95% CI: 3.6e10.0]; P<0.001), and more eye-gaze fixations (median of differences: 128 [95% CI: 0e288]; P¼0.048). Fixation count correlated negatively with steps (r¼e0.60; P¼0.04) and with errors (r¼0.64; P¼0.03). Conclusions: Our tests to quantify ultrasound-guided interscalene nerve block training and performance were valid and reliable.