Team-based Learning: Engaging learners and creating team accountability

YesTeam-based Learning (TBL) is a new teaching strategy that may take small group learning to a new level of effectiveness. TBL shifts the focus from content delivery by teachers to the application of course content by student teams. Teams work on authentic problems, make collaborative decisions, and develop problem-solving skills required in their future workplace. Prior to redesigning the MPharm programme according to TBL principles, several pilots were set up to research how students responded to this new way of teaching. One pilot focussed on the introduction of TBL as a phenomena and aimed to find out if and how TBL engaged students, how students were held accountable by their teams, and more importantly how that affected their lifeworld. Ashworth’s lifeworld contingencies provided the theoretical framework as it ranges from students’ selfhood, embodiment and social interactions to their ability to carry out tasks they are committed to and regard as essential (Ashworth, 2003)

Cost benefit and cost effectiveness of antifungal prophylaxis in immunocompromised patients treated for haematological malignancies:reviewing the available evidence

There has been a large increase in the incidence of invasive fungal infections (IFIs) over the past decades, largely because of the increasing size of the population at risk. One of the major risk groups for IFIs are patients with haematological malignancies treated with cytotoxic chemotherapy or undergoing haematopoietic stem cell transplantation. These IFIs are associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. Consequently, as the diagnosis of IFIs is difficult, antifungal prophylaxis is desirable in high-risk patients. Furthermore, as the economic impact of IFIs is also significant, it is important to assess the cost benefit and cost effectiveness of each prophylactic agent in order to aid decisions concerning which prophylactic agent provides the best value for limited healthcare resources. This article systematically reviews the available pharmacoeconomic evidence regarding antifungal prophylaxis in immunocompromised patients treated for haematological malignancies. Furthermore, specific points of interest concerning economic analyses of antifungal prophylaxis are briefly discussed. Considering the available evidence, antifungal prophylaxis in immunocompromised patients treated for haematological malignancies seems to be an intervention with favourable cost-benefit, cost-effectiveness and cost-saving potential. Furthermore, recently introduced antifungal agents seem to be attractive alternatives to fluconazole from a pharmacoeconomic point of view. However, due to wide heterogeneity in patient characteristics, underlying diseases, hospital settings and study methods in the included economic studies, as well as the lack of 'head-to-head' trials, it is difficult to find clear evidence of the economic advantages of a single prophylactic agent. Furthermore, we show that the results of cost-effectiveness analyses are highly dependent on several crucial factors that influence the baseline IFI incidence rates and, therefore, differ per patient population or region

Triplet Dimerization Crossover Driven by Magnetic Frustration in In2VO5

In2VO5, containing magnetically frustrated zig-zag chains, shows a remarkable magnetic crossover at 120 K between paramagnetic states with positive (17 K) and negative (-70 K) Weiss temperatures. Magnetic moment and entropy data show that the V4+ S = 1/2 spins condense into S = 1 triplet dimers below the crossover. A further freezing of the antiferromagnetically coupled triplet dimers into a global singlet state is observed at 2.5 K, with no long range magnetic order down to 0.42 K and in fields up to 9 T. No structural V-V dimerization is observed by high-resolution X-ray diffraction down to 10 K, but a subtle lattice anomaly evidences a spin-lattice coupling in the triplet dimer state. This is assigned to longitudinal oxygen displacement modes that reduce frustration within the chains and so couple to the spin dimer fluctuations.Comment: submitted for publicatio

Transfer of attunement in length perception by dynamic touch

# The Author(s) 2015. This article is published with open access at Springerlink.com Abstract Earlier studies have revealed that the calibration of an action sometimes transfers in a functionally specific way— the calibration of one action transfers to other actions that serve the same goal, even when they are performed with dif-ferent anatomical structures. In the present study, we tested whether attunement (the process by which perceivers learn to detect a more useful, specifying, informational pattern) fol-lows such a functional organization. Participants were trained to perceive the length of rods by dynamic touch with one of their effectors. It was found that training the right hand result-ed in an attunement to a specifying variable with both hands, but not with the feet. Training the other limbs did not result in attunement. However, substantial individual differences were found. The implications of the results are explored for theories on the organization of perceptual learning and discussions on individual differences in perception

Development of frequency domain multiplexing for the X-ray Integral Field Unit (X-IFU) on the Athena

We are developing the frequency domain multiplexing (FDM) read-out of transition-edge sensor (TES) microcalorimeters for the X-ray Integral Field Unit (X-IFU) instrument on board of the future European X-Ray observatory Athena. The X-IFU instrument consists of an array of $\sim$3840 TESs with a high quantum efficiency ($>$90 \%) and spectral resolution $\Delta E$=2.5 eV $@$ 7 keV ($E/\Delta E\sim$2800). FDM is currently the baseline readout system for the X-IFU instrument. Using high quality factor LC filters and room temperature electronics developed at SRON and low-noise two stage SQUID amplifiers provided by VTT, we have recently demonstrated good performance with the FDM readout of Mo/Au TES calorimeters with Au/Bi absorbers. An integrated noise equivalent power resolution of about 2.0 eV at 1.7 MHz has been demonstrated with a pixel from a new TES array from NASA/Goddard (GSFC-A2). We have achieved X-ray energy resolutions $\sim$2.5 eV at AC bias frequency at 1.7 MHz in the single pixel read-out. We have also demonstrated for the first time an X-ray energy resolution around 3.0 eV in a 6 pixel FDM read-out with TES array (GSFC-A1). In this paper we report on the single pixel performance of these microcalorimeters under MHz AC bias, and further results of the performance of these pixels under FDM.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figures, Proceedings of the SPIE Astronomical Instrumentation "Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2014: Ultraviolet to Gamma Ray

Haemodynamics in Different Flow Lumen Configurations of Customised Aortic Repair for Infrarenal Aortic Aneurysms

Objective: Customised aortic repair (CAR) is a new and minimally invasive technique for the endovascular treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs). The aneurysm is completely sealed with a non-contained, non-cross linked polymer, while a new flow lumen is created with balloons. For CAR, the haemodynamically most favourable balloon and flow lumen configuration has not been established before; therefore, four flow parameters were assessed in an in vitro model. Methods: Three in vitro balloon configurations were implanted in an in vitro AAA model; a configuration with crossing balloons (CC) and two parallel configurations (PC1 and PC2). These three models were consecutively placed in a flow system that mimics physiological flow conditions. Laser particle imaging velocimetry (PIV) was used to resolve spatial and temporal flow patterns during the cardiac cycle. In house built algorithms were used to analyse the PIV data for the computing of (i) flow velocity; (ii) vorticity; (iii) wall shear stress (WSS); and (iv) time averaged wall shear stress (TAWSS). Results: Suprarenal flow patterns were similar in all models. The CC showed a higher infrarenal velocity than PC1 and PC2 (38 cm/s vs. 23 cm/s vs. 23 cm/s), and a higher vorticity at the crossing of the lumens (CC: 337/s; PC1 127/s; PC2: 112/s). The lowest vorticity was observed in PC2, especially in the infrarenal neck (CC: 200/s; PC1 164/s; PC2: 98/s). Although WSS and TAWSS varied between configurations, values were the within non-pathological range. Conclusion: The flow lumens created by three balloon configurations used in an in vitro model of CAR have been studied, and resulted in different haemodynamics. The differences in velocity and lower vorticity, especially at the crossing section of the two balloons, showed that PC2 has favourable haemodynamics compared with the CC and PC1. Future research will be focused on the clinical applicability of CAR based on the PC2 design

Imaging the distribution of an antibody-drug conjugate constituent targeting mesothelin with Zr-89 and IRDye 800CW in mice bearing human pancreatic tumor xenografts

Mesothelin is a tumor differentiation antigen expressed by epithelial tumors, including pancreatic cancer. Currently, mesothelin is being targeted with an antibodydrug conjugate (ADC) consisting of a mesothelin-specific antibody coupled to a highly potent chemotherapeutic drug. Considering the toxicity of the ADC and reduced accessibility of pancreatic tumors, non-invasive imaging could provide necessary information. We therefore developed a zirconium-89 (Zr-89) labeled anti-mesothelin antibody (Zr-89-AMA) to study its biodistribution in human pancreatic tumor bearing mice. Biodistribution and dose-finding of Zr-89-AMA were studied 144 h after tracer injection in mice with subcutaneously xenografted HPAC. MicroPET imaging was performed 24, 72 and 144 h after tracer injection in mice bearing HPAC or Capan-2. Tumor uptake and organ distribution of Zr-89-AMA were compared with nonspecific 111In-IgG. Biodistribution analyses revealed a dose-dependent Zr-89-AMA tumor uptake. Tumor uptake of Zr-89-AMA was higher than 111In-IgG using the lowest tracer dose. MicroPET showed increased tumor uptake over 6 days, whereas activity in blood pool and other tissues decreased. Immunohistochemistry showed that mesothelin was expressed by the HPAC and CAPAN-2 tumors and fluorescence microscopy revealed that AMA-800CW was present in tumor cell cytoplasm. Zr-89-AMA tumor uptake is antigen-specific in mesothelin-expressing tumors. Zr-89-AMA PET provides non-invasive, real-time information about AMA distribution and tumor targeting