2,960 research outputs found
Comparison of the costâeffectiveness of a computerâassisted learning program with a tutored demonstration to teach intestinal motility to medical students
Computerâbased simulations of undergraduate experiments in pharmacology and physiology may offer a costâeffective alternative to the traditional live laboratory for some students, for whom laboratory skills are less important. Here we describe a study which compares two approaches to teaching preclinical medical students the pharmacology of colonic motility. Half of one cohort received a tutored live demonstration of an isolated tissue laboratory, while the other half used a computer simulation program covering the same subject. The study demonstrated that student learning was comparable for both groups, that many students found the computer simulation an acceptable alternative and that the latter required significantly less resource
Evaluation of the usefulness of a computerâbased learning program to support student learning in pharmacology
This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a computerâbased teaching program in supporting and enhancing traditional teaching methods. The program covers the pharmacology of inflammation and has been evaluated with a group of secondâyear medical students at a UK university. The study assessed subjectâspecific knowledge using a preâ and postâtest and surveyed, by questionnaire, studentsâ perceptions of the usefulness of the program to support learning before and after use. The use of computers for learning amongst this cohort of students was widespread. The results demonstrated an increase in students â knowledge of the pharmacology of inflammation, coupled with a positive attitude towards the CBL program they had used and the advantages that this mode of study may provide in enabling students to manage their own learning. However, students did not feel that the program could substitute for traditional teaching (lectures)
Engaging Students Engaging Industry Engaging Enterprise
A reflective piece on how a small team of students and academics gained more awareness of their own sense of enterprise and creativity. The case study examines the phases and crisis points of the whole event process and identifies some of the key learning outcomes for all involved
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LENSÂź and SFF: Enabling Technologies for Optimized Structures
Optimized, lightweight, high-strength structures are needed in many applications from aerospace
to automotive. In pursuit of such structures, there have been proposed analytical solutions and
some specialized FEA solutions for specific structures such as automobile frames. However,
generalized 3D optimization methods have been unavailable for use by most designers.
Moreover, in the cases where optimized structural solutions are available, they are often hollow,
curving, thin wall structures that cannot be fabricated by conventional manufacturing methods.
Researchers at Sandia National Laboratories and the University of Rhode Island teamed to solve
these problems. The team has been pursuing two methods of optimizing models for generalized
loading conditions, and also has been investigating the methods needed to fabricate these
structures using Laser Engineered Net Shapingâą (LENSÂź) and other rapid prototyping
methods. These solid freeform fabrication (SFF) methods offer the unique ability to make
hollow, high aspect ratio features out of many materials. The manufacturing development
required for LENS to make these complex structures has included the addition of rotational axes
to Sandiaâs LENS machine bringing the total to 5 controlled axes. The additional axes have
required new efforts in process planning. Several of the unique structures that are only now
possible through the use of SFF technology are shown as part of the discussion of this exciting
new application for SFF.Mechanical Engineerin
Large magnetocrystalline anisotropy in tetragonally distorted Heuslers: a systematic study
With a view to the design of hard magnets without rare earths we explore the
possibility of large magnetocrystalline anisotropy energies in Heusler
compounds that are unstable with respect to a tetragonal distortion. We
consider the Heusler compounds FeYZ with Y = (Ni, Co, Pt), and CoYZ
with Y = (Ni, Fe, Pt) where, in both cases, Z = (Al, Ga, Ge, In, Sn). We find
that for the CoNiZ, CoPtZ, and FePtZ families the cubic phase is
always, at , unstable with respect to a tetragonal distortion, while, in
contrast, for the FeNiZ and FeCoZ families this is the case for only 2
compounds -- FeCoGe and FeCoSn. For all compounds in which a tetragonal
distortion occurs we calculate the MAE finding remarkably large values for the
Pt containing Heuslers, but also large values for a number of the other
compounds (e.g. CoNiGa has an MAE of -2.11~MJ/m). The tendency to a
tetragonal distortion we find to be strongly correlated with a high density of
states at the Fermi level in the cubic phase. As a corollary to this fact we
observe that upon doping compounds for which the cubic structure is stable such
that the Fermi level enters a region of high DOS, a tetragonal distortion is
induced and a correspondingly large value of the MAE is then observed.Comment: 8 pages, 5 figure
Theoretical Investigation of Optical Conductivity in Ba [Fe(1-x)Co(x)]2 As2
We report on theoretical calculations of the optical conductivity of Ba
[Fe(1-x)Co(x)]2 As2, as obtained from density functional theory within the full
potential LAPW method. A thorough comparison with experiment shows that we are
able to reproduce most of the observed experimental features, in particular a
magnetic peak located at about 0.2 eV which we ascribe to antiferromagnetic
ordered magnetic stripes. We also predict a large in-plane anisotropy of this
feature, which agrees very well with measurements on detwinned crystals. The
effect of Co doping as well as the dependence of plasma frequency on the
magnetic order is also investigated
Static and Dynamical Susceptibility of LaO1-xFxFeAs
The mechanism of superconductivity and magnetism and their possible interplay
have recently been under debate in pnictides. A likely pairing mechanism
includes an important role of spin fluctuations and can be expressed in terms
of the magnetic susceptibility chi. The latter is therefore a key quantity in
the determination of both the magnetic properties of the system in the normal
state, and of the contribution of spin fluctuations to the pairing potential. A
basic ingredient to obtain chi is the independent-electron susceptibility chi0.
Using LaO1-xFxFeAs as a prototype material, in this report we present a
detailed ab-initio study of chi0(q,omega), as a function of doping and of the
internal atomic positions. The resulting static chi0(q,0) is consistent with
both the observed M-point related magnetic stripe phase in the parent compound,
and with the existence of incommensurate magnetic structures predicted by
ab-initio calculations upon doping.Comment: 15 pages, 8 figure
Prevalence of antibody seroconversion to Toxoplasma gondii in uveitis and non-uveitis dogs
This is the final version. Available on open access from BMJ Publishing Group via the DOI in this recordData sharing statement: No additional data are available.Objectives To evaluate the prevalence of seroconversion to Toxoplasma gondii in dogs with uveitis and dogs without uveitis.
Methods In total, 135 dogs were evaluated: 51 dogs were diagnosed with uveitis, and 84 dogs were without uveitis. Latex agglutination tests were performed on all sera, and the results were evaluated.
Results Overall, 7.8 and 6.0 per cent of sera were positive for the presence of anti-T gondii antibodies (dilution â„1:64) in the groups with uveitis and non-uveitis dogs, respectively. The frequency distribution of variables (positive and negative results in the uveitis and the non-uveitis group of dogs) was tested with Fisherâs exact test. There was no statistically significant difference between groups (P=0.73).
Clinical significance These findings suggest that evidence of exposure to T gondii was not significantly different between uveitis and non-uveitis groups of dogs and that the possible association between exposure to T gondii and canine uveitis requires further investigation. This study is the first to report the seroprevalence of anti-T gondii antibodies in dogs in the UK population and the first to report the seroprevalence of anti-T gondii antibodies in dogs with uveitis
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