Mechanical characterization of disordered and anisotropic cellular monolayers

We consider a cellular monolayer, described using a vertex-based model, for which cells form a spatially disordered array of convex polygons that tile the plane. Equilibrium cell configurations are assumed to minimize a global energy defined in terms of cell areas and perimeters; energy is dissipated via dynamic area and length changes, as well as cell neighbour exchanges. The model captures our observations of an epithelium from a Xenopus embryo showing that uniaxial stretching induces spatial ordering, with cells under net tension (compression) tending to align with (against) the direction of stretch, but with the stress remaining heterogeneous at the single-cell level. We use the vertex model to derive the linearized relation between tissue-level stress, strain and strain-rate about a deformed base state, which can be used to characterize the tissue's anisotropic mechanical properties; expressions for viscoelastic tissue moduli are given as direct sums over cells. When the base state is isotropic, the model predicts that tissue properties can be tuned to a regime with high elastic shear resistance but low resistance to area changes, or vice versa.Comment: 9 figure

Clinical specialty training in UK undergraduate medical schools: A retrospective observational study

Objectives: To determine if increased exposure to clinical specialties at medical school is associated with increased interest in pursuing that specialty as a career after foundation training. Design: A retrospective observational study. Setting: 31 UK medical schools were asked how much time students spend in each of the clinical specialties. We excluded two schools that were solely Graduate Entry, and two schools were excluded for insufficient information. Main outcome measures: Time spent on clinical placement from UK undergraduate medical schools, and the training destinations of graduates from each school. A general linear model was used to analyse the relationship between the number of weeks spent in a specialty at medical school and the percentage of graduates from that medical school entering each of the Core Training (CT1)/Specialty Training (ST1) specialties directly after Foundation Year 2 (FY2). Results: Students spend a median of 85 weeks in clinical training. This includes a median of 28 weeks on medical firms, 15 weeks in surgical firms, and 8 weeks in general practice (GP). In general, the number of training posts available in a specialty was proportionate to the number of weeks spent in medical school, with some notable exceptions including GP. Importantly, we found that the number of weeks spent in a specialty at medical school did not predict the percentage of graduates of that school training in that specialty at CT1/ST1 level (ß coefficient=0.061, p=0.228). Conclusions: This study found that there was no correlation between the percentage of FY2 doctors appointed directly to a CT1/ST1 specialty and the length of time that they would have spent in those specialties at medical school. This suggests that curriculum adjustments focusing solely on length of time spent in a specialty in medical school would be unlikely to solve recruitment gaps in individual specialties

Assessing the wider implementation of the SHARP principles: increasing physical activity in primary physical education

To assess the wider application of the SHARP (Stretching whilst moving, High repetition of skills, Accessibility, Reducing sitting and standing, and Promotion of physical activity) Principles intervention on children's moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) in physical education (PE), when applied by teachers and coaches. A quasi-experimental intervention was employed in nine primary schools (experimental, n = 6: control, n = 3) including teachers (n = 10), coaches (n = 4), and children (aged 5 to 11 years, n = 84) in the West Midlands, UK. Practitioners applied the SHARP Principles to PE lessons, guided by an innovative behaviour change model. The System for Observing Fitness and Instruction Time (SOFIT) was used to measure children's MVPA in 111 lessons at pre- (n = 60) and post-intervention (n = 51). Seven interviews were conducted post-intervention to explore practitioners' perceptions. Two-way ANOVA (Analysis of Variance) revealed that teachers increased children's MVPA by 27.7%. No statistically significant change in children's MVPA was observed when taught by the coaches. The qualitative results for teachers were 'children's engagement', a 'pedagogical paradigm shift', and 'relatedness'; and for coaches 'organisational culture' and 'insufficient support and motivation'. The SHARP Principles intervention is the most effective teaching strategy at increasing MVPA in primary PE when taught by school based staff (rather than outsourced coaches), evidencing increases almost double that of any previously published study internationally and demonstrating the capacity to influence educational policy and practice internationally.Published versio

Conferences as a Tool for Interdisciplinary (Postgraduate) Learning in Bioethics

In recent years, alongside the general advancement of bioethics in a range of professions, bioethics conferences, both at a national and international level, have developed and become increasingly popular. One challenge for those learning bioethics is often to engage with disciplines outside their own, for instance by exploring new methodological approaches or theoretical frameworks. The interdisciplinary nature of bioethics motivates the development of different forms of interdisciplinary learning. In this paper, the authors discuss the role of bioethics conferences that, it is argued, serve as an important tool for interdisciplinary learning and interaction in bioethics. Special reference is given to the Postgraduate Bioethics Conference, which the authors convened in 2014 and have since overseen, to demonstrate how such a conference can assist learning in bioethics

Galaxy Image Deconvolution for Weak Gravitational Lensing with Physics-informed Deep Learning

Removing optical and atmospheric blur from galaxy images significantly improves galaxy shape measurements for weak gravitational lensing and galaxy evolution studies. This ill-posed linear inverse problem is usually solved with deconvolution algorithms enhanced by regularisation priors or deep learning. We introduce a so-called "physics-based deep learning" approach to the Point Spread Function (PSF) deconvolution problem in galaxy surveys. We apply algorithm unrolling and the Plug-and-Play technique to the Alternating Direction Method of Multipliers (ADMM) with a Poisson noise model and use a neural network to learn appropriate priors from simulated galaxy images. We characterise the time-performance trade-off of several methods for galaxies of differing brightness levels, showing an improvement of 26% (SNR=20)/48% (SNR=100) compared to standard methods and 14% (SNR=20) compared to modern methods

High-resolution absorption measurements of NH3 at high temperatures: 2100 - 5500

High-resolution absorption spectra of \NH\ in the region 2100 - 5500 \cm\ at 1027 $^{\circ}$C and atmospheric pressure (1045 $\pm$ 3 mbar) are measured. An \NH\ concentration of 10\% in volume fraction is used in the measurements. Spectra are recorded in a high-temperature gas-flow cell using a Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectrometer at a nominal resolution of 0.09 \cm. The spectra are analysed by comparison to a variational line list, BYTe, and experimental energy levels determined using the MARVEL procedure. 2308 lines have been assigned to 45 different bands, of which 1755 and 15 have been assigned or observed for the first time in this work

Single Case Experimental Design Examining Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Post-Stroke Depression

Background. Post-stroke depression (PSD) is common in older-age adults and is typically treated with cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT). However, research has ascertained mixed findings regarding the efficacy of CBT for PSD in older-age adults, with limited evidence in people from global majority backgrounds. Materials and Methods. This case study used single case experimental design methodology to examine the effectiveness of CBT for PSD in a black, older-age man. The effects of health conditions, cohort beliefs, transitions in role investments, socio-cultural context and early experiences on the client’s thoughts, emotions, physical sensations and behaviours were formulated, before behavioural activation was used to increase engagement in meaningful and pleasurable activities. Results. Throughout therapy, the client’s mood, motivation and optimism for the future improved, and their depression and anxiety symptoms reduced. Conclusions. This case study offers tentative evidence that CBT for PSD may be effective in black older-age adults

News on our Finger Tip: A Study of Online News Reading Habits of Undergraduates in South-East, Nigeria

The information age has created many challenges for every profession. In the case of journalism, the introduction of information technology has altered considerably various aspects of the profession. News consumption today is not the same as pre-satellite news when people waited for their morning papers or sat down at an appointed time for the evening news on television, but the reverse is the case. More recently, a growing number of readers, viewers and listeners are going online for their news. The advent of modern digital technologies, especially the growing popularity of social networking on the web, mobile phones, televisions, and other means of entertainment, the reading habit of the general public, especially the students, is on the fall. Reading newspapers is an important part of journalism education. The aim of this study was to examine the level of newspaper reading habits of undergraduate students of mass communication in South-East, Nigeria. Out of a total population of 4365 students, a sample of 368 respondents was studied. The study found that 36.9% respondents moderately read online newspapers and when they do read these newspapers, about 60.8% spend less than one hour reading these newspapers. The study concluded, therefore, that the online news reading habit of mass communication students in South-East, Nigeria is low. It was recommended that students of mass communication should be encouraged to look out for news stories online by reading online newspapers whenever they are on the Internet. KEYWORDS: Online Journalism, News, Reading Habits, Student