Bionics and Scientific Vocabulary Quiz

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary goal of bionics?

To enhance natural organisms with technological devices.

To replicate human functions artificially using electronics.

To create biological organisms that can perform engineering tasks.

To apply biological methods and systems from nature to engineering. (correct)

Which of the following statements best describes correlation?

There is a direct cause-and-effect relationship between two variables.

It always leads to a change in one variable when the other changes.

It refers to the phenomenon that cannot be measured statistically.

It is a statistical association between two variables without implying causation. (correct)

What distinguishes a scientific hypothesis from pseudoscience?

A hypothesis is never based on observations.

Pseudoscience relies only on mathematical models.

Pseudoscience seeks to disconfirm theories.

A scientific hypothesis must be testable and falsifiable. (correct)

How does a scientific theory differ from a scientific law?

A theory explains why phenomena occur; a law describes phenomena without explaining. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of the placebo in the aspirin study?

To provide a baseline for measuring aspirin's effectiveness. Signup and view all the answers

What does the yield point indicate in material behavior?

The material starts to undergo permanent deformation Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a requirement for patentability?

Multiple applications Signup and view all the answers

In material science, which region indicates that a material can retain its shape after stress is applied?

Elastic region Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary goal of implants in medical applications?

To mimic the specific tissue or system it is replacing Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of using anabolic steroids in human enhancement?

To improve muscle strength and performance Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the population in the study?

Men aged 50 to 84 that the study aims to generalize to Signup and view all the answers

What are the explanatory variables utilized in the study?

Oral medication provided Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of a nominal level of measurement?

The jersey numbers of players Signup and view all the answers

Which term best describes the act of providing equal treatment to all groups according to bioethics principles?

Justice Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following accurately defines gene therapy?

Transplantation of normal genes into cells Signup and view all the answers

What characteristic is NOT associated with stem cells?

Limited capability to divide Signup and view all the answers

Which term refers to cells involved in reproduction and undergo meiosis?

Germline cells Signup and view all the answers

Which principle in bioethics emphasizes doing no harm to the patient or society?

Non-maleﬁcence Signup and view all the answers

What does a lower Kd value indicate about Drug A compared to Drug B?

Drug A binds tighter to its receptor. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following accurately defines the therapeutic index (TI)?

TI = TD50 / ED50 Signup and view all the answers

Which term best describes the fraction of a drug dose that actually reaches systemic circulation?

Bioavailability Signup and view all the answers

How is the Volume of Distribution (Vd) calculated?

Vd = total amount of drug in the body / concentration of drug in circulation Signup and view all the answers

What does refining mean in the context of drug use in research?

Minimizing pain and suffering in animal studies. Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of pharmacokinetics does 'Distribution' refer to?

How the drug moves around the body to reach its target. Signup and view all the answers

Which statement is true regarding a higher therapeutic index?

Indicates a larger therapeutic window. Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'Metabolism' refer to in pharmacokinetics?

The way a drug is changed by the body. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Bionics

The application of biological methods and systems found in nature to the study and design of engineering systems and modern technology.

Improving Healthcare Systems in Underdeveloped Nations

Improve infrastructure, both politically and technologically.
Provide equipment, training, and education.

Correlation vs Causation

Correlation: A statistical association between variables.
- There is a relationship or pattern between two variables, but one does not necessarily cause the other.
Causation: A change in one variable causes a change in another variable.
- There’s a clear cause-and-effect relationship.

Scientific Vocabulary

Hypothesis: A testable, falsifiable, and verifiable explanation of a phenomenon.
- Based on limited observations and data.
- Serves as a starting point for further investigation.
Theory: A well-sustained explanation of a phenomenon repeatedly confirmed through experimentation.
- Represents the best knowledge of the field at that time.
Law: A description (often mathematical) of a phenomenon.
- Doesn’t necessarily explain the "how" and "why."

Science vs Pseudoscience

Science: Seeks to disprove a hypothesis.
Pseudoscience: Seeks to confirm a hypothesis, often relying on positive evidence alone.

Scientific Research Design

Population: The group of individuals you are trying to generalize your findings to.
Sample: The group of individuals who participate in the study.
Cases: The specific individuals participating in the study.
Explanatory variable: The variable that is manipulated or changed by the researchers (x variable).
Treatments: The different conditions or interventions applied to the sample.
Outcome variable: The variable that is measured to see if there is a relationship with the explanatory variable.

Four Levels of Measurement

N O I R (acronym)
- Nominal: Numbers used to represent categories (e.g., jersey numbers).
- Ordinal: Indicates more or less of an attribute, but does not specify how far apart cases are (e.g., pain scale, race positions).
- Interval: Indicates if cases are the same or different and have more or less of an attribute; contains an arbitrary zero point (e.g., temperature in Celsius or Fahrenheit).
- Ratio: Shares the same attributes as interval but has a true zero point (e.g., bank account balance).

Bioethics

Four Core Principles:
- Autonomy: Patients should be informed about all risks and benefits and have the freedom to make their own decisions.
- Justice: Equal distribution and fairness in treatment for all groups.
- Beneficence: Act in the best interests of patients.
- Non-maleficence: Do no harm to patients or society.

Genetic Engineering and Gene Therapy

Genetic Engineering: The deliberate modification of an organism's genetic material.
Gene Therapy: The transplantation of normal genes into cells to replace missing or defective genes to treat genetic disorders.

Stem Cells

Germline cells: Cells involved in reproduction (e.g., sperm and egg).
- Undergo meiosis, a specialized cell division process to prepare DNA for passing on.
Somatic cells: All other types of cells in the body.
Stem cell characteristics:
- Self-renewal: Stem cells can replicate themselves indefinitely.
- Differentiation: Stem cells can differentiate into different types of cells.

Materials and Tissue Engineering

In vitro: Experiments conducted in a controlled laboratory setting, typically with cells or tissues grown in a culture dish.
In vivo: Experiments conducted in a living organism, such as a whole animal.
Extracellular matrix: The material that surrounds and supports cells, playing a crucial role in cell function and behavior.
Properties of scaffolding:
- Collagen composition: The type and amount of collagen can influence how the scaffold interacts with cells.
- Structural support: The scaffold provides a physical framework for cells to grow and organize.
- Instructional information: The scaffold can guide cell behavior and encourage them to develop into specific tissues.

Materials Science Concepts

Elastic Region: The region of the stress-strain curve where the material can retain its shape after stress is removed.
Non-elastic region: The region where the material undergoes permanent deformation and cannot return to its original shape.
Yield Point: The point where the material transitions from elastic behavior to plastic behavior.

Human Enhancement

Anabolic steroids: Synthetic hormones that mimic testosterone, promoting muscle growth and strength.
Growth hormones: Hormones that stimulate cell growth and tissue repair.
EPO (Erythropoietin) / Blood Doping: A hormone that stimulates the production of red blood cells, which increases oxygen-carrying capacity.
Beta-2 Agonists: Drugs that relax the muscles in the airways, often used to treat asthma.

Exoskeletons

External devices that can replace or enhance function by taking load off the muscles.

Implant Goals

Mimic the specific tissue or system it is replacing (e.g., bone, organs, muscles, skin).
Consider physical, dimensional, and material properties.

Patent Requirements

Novelty: The invention must be new and not exist in prior art or patents.
Utility: The invention must have a specific, substantial, and credible use.
Non-obviousness: The differences between the invention and existing technologies should not be obvious to an expert in the field.

Pre-Clinical Trials

Reduce: Minimize the number of animals used in research.
Replace: Use the lowest species possible.
Refine: Minimize pain and suffering for animals during research.

Pharmacology

Drug: A molecule that interacts with specific molecular components of an organism to cause biochemical and physiological changes.

Pharmacodynamics

How drugs affect the body.
Kd (Dissociation constant): The concentration of a ligand (drug) at which 50% of receptors are bound.
- Lower Kd = Tighter binding: A drug with a lower Kd binds more tightly to its target receptors, requiring lower drug concentrations for effectiveness.
Therapeutic Window: The range of drug doses that produce therapeutic effects without causing unacceptable side effects.
- ED50 (Median effective dose): The dose that produces a therapeutic effect in 50% of individuals.
- TD50 (Median toxic dose): The dose that produces a toxic effect in 50% of individuals.
Therapeutic Index (TI): TI = TD50/ED50.
- Higher TI = Larger therapeutic window: A larger therapeutic window indicates a wider margin of safety, as a greater difference exists between the effective and toxic doses.

Pharmacokinetics

The ADME Principles (Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion)
Absorption: The process by which a drug enters the body.
- Bioavailability: The fraction of the drug dose that reaches systemic circulation (the bloodstream).
Distribution: The process by which a drug moves throughout the body.
- Volume of Distribution (Vd): A measure that quantifies how much drug is distributed in the body compared to its concentration in the bloodstream.
  - High Vd: The drug has been taken up into various body compartments, potentially indicating a higher distribution to tissues.
Metabolism: The process by which a drug is chemically changed by the body, affecting its function.
Excretion: The process by which a drug is eliminated from the body.

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Description

Test your knowledge on bionics, healthcare improvements, and the distinctions between correlation and causation. Additionally, explore key scientific terms such as hypothesis and theory. This quiz is designed to enhance your understanding of these concepts in engineering and science.