EVALUATION OF A CUMULATIVE EXIT-FROM-DEGREE OBJECTIVE STRUCTURED CLINICAL EXAMINATION (OSCE) IN A GULF CONTEXT

This study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the 2nd iteration of an Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) for graduating pharmacy students in Qatar. A secondary objective of this study was to identify quality improvement opportunities for design, implementation, and evaluation of the OSCE. The psychometric analyses occurred as follows: Cut score determination using borderline regression method; predictive validity using regression and correlation of select course grades and assessments with OSCE scores, concurrent validity using correlation between other cumulative assessments and OSCE scores, risk of bias using correlation between assessors’ analytical and global scoring, content validity using student-feedback forms, and interrater reliability using intra-class correlation coefficients (ICCs), and internal consistency using Cronbach’s alpha. Pearson and Spearman correlation statistics were conducted at α level < 0.05. A series of two focus groups and subsequent qualitative content analysis were conducted with key stakeholders to identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and challenges regarding OSCE implementation. Total cut score for the exam was 55.3%. Overall pass rate was 79.2%. OSCE scores correlated moderate-strongly with course grades of Professional Skills and Integrated Case-based Learning, and formative OSCE assessments. Course grades for medicinal chemistry were not correlated with OSCE scores. OSCE scores were moderately predicted by Professional skills course grades (52.3%) and its formative OSCE assessment (61.2%). Average correlation between analytical and global grades for all assessors was 0.52. A total of 90% of the stations were deemed to reflect practice, according to student perceptions. The average intraclass correlation coefficient for analytical checklists scores, global scores, and total scores were 0.88 (0.71 – 0.95), 0.61 (0.19 – 0.82), and 0.75 (0.45 – 0.88) respectively. Cronbach’s alpha of students’ performance in global scores across stations was 0.87, and 0.93 in terms of total scores. Focus groups confirmed content validity as a weakness yet spoke to training and assessment techniques as both strengths and areas for improvement. In sum, the 2nd iteration of a cumulative OSCE for graduating pharmacy students in Qatar was deemed valid and reliable, however refinements can be implemented in future iterations to further improve the exam as a high stakes assessment

Indoor Localisation and Mapping using Laser Range Finder

Simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) is one of the uprising and evolving branches in the field of robotics. SLAM gives a robot the capability of drawing a consistent map of the surrounding area while simultaneously localizing itself within the map without the need of having prior data about the surrounding like a pre-encoded map or localization aids like the Global Positioning System (GPS)

An unusual case of peritonitis following a caesarean delivery

Postoperative fluid accumulation is a very rare complication of caesarean delivery. We present an unusual case of peritonitis of unknown origin following a caesarean delivery. Emergency surgery was performed. On exploration there was a large amount of clear fluid which was removed. No signs of iatrogenic injury or any abnormality was detected. Fluid cultures of fluid drained from the abdomen did not grow any organisms. The working diagnosis was reactive peritonitis. Post exploratory laparotomy sepsis developed which was managed conservatively. The patient was discharged after full recovery.Keywords: Caesarean delivery, Complications, Peritoniti

Effect of particle morphology on film cracking

233 p.With the aim of reducing VOC emissions and producing more sustainable coatings and adhesives, solvent borne polymers are gradually being replaced by water-based alternatives. However, the mechanical properties of water borne systems are typically not as good as those of solvent borne products due to differences in the film formation process.The thesis aimed at shedding some light on film formation and cracking problem to be able to design soft core-hard “shell” latexes that yield VOC and crack free, mechanically strong coatings that can be cast at low temperatures. These are particles consisting of a soft core covered by patches of hard polymer. Different strategies have been used to overcome the film formation and cracking problem like . A mathematical model for cracking prediction and stress calculation during drying of aqueous dispersions of soft core-hard “shell” particles was developed. The model solved numerically the incompressible Navier-Stokes and continuity equations using COMSOL Multiphysics. The model was validated with experimental data. A good agreement between experimental results and model predictions was achieved.The results presented in this work highlight that careful design of soft core-hard “shell" polymer dispersions allows overcoming the film formation dilemma frequently found in water borne coatingsIndustrial Liaison Program in Polymerization in Dispersed Media POLYMAT

High speed serial links for on-chip networking

Future technologies will allow the integration of hundreds of billions of transistors on a single chip allowing the fabrication of chips with hundreds of processing cores. So, IC designers should focus on the communication between these cores in order to meet the design requirements in terms of speed, area, power consumption, and time to market constraints. Using conventional parallel buses to transmit data on-chip is not efficient anymore in terms of area, given that in new technologies interconnects do not scale at the same rate as transistors do, and in terms of power due to the large number of drivers, repeaters, and buffers. Also, parallel buses suffer from timing errors due to jitter, and cross talk that eventually limit the performance. One of the solutions to solve these on-chip communication issues is to replace conventional parallel buses with serial links. Although serial communication for both on-chip and off-chip look similar, different problems are faced while designing each of them, leading to different design requirements. Many publications already proposed solutions based on serial links, and dealt with the inter symbol interference on their interconnects using equalization, frequency translation using high frequency carrier signal or using data encoding, or using resistive terminated interconnects. This thesis discusses the on-chip interconnect characteristics, and the difference between them and their off-chip counterparts. Based on their characteristics, the design problems of on-chip interconnects are identified, and solutions are proposed. The thesis proposes a new architecture that multiplexes both data and clock on serial links, reduces inter symbol interference by using a resistive termination technique, and uses two-level Manchester encoding to solve the reduced swing problem and enable the use of power efficient circuitry. Using this signaling scheme makes the system jitter insensitive, and avoids the need for a power hungry clock and data recovery circuit. A self-calibrating digital-delay line is also implemented inside the decoder to enable the system to operate efficiently across process, voltage and temperature variations. The proposed architecture is prepared to be fabricated using the UMC 0.13um CMOS technology. Finally, the proposed system\u27s testing challenges are discussed, and an on-chip testing setup is proposed so that the system meets the design for testability requirements to facilitate the system testing after fabrication. The testing setup is designed for the previously mentioned tape-out, and for another tape-out using the GF 65nm CMOS technology