Evaluating Cisco e-learning courses modified for the vision impaired

The needs of vision impaired students are quite different to sighted students. The increasing use of e-learning means higher education must move to multi-modal user interfaces in order to make e-learning materials accessible to all students. E-Learning materials (particularly in the sciences and technology) are predominantly visual, presented via computer keyboard and screen. Software and devices designed to aid the visin impaired are unable to decipher most images and visual-centric objects contained in e-learning materials.This paper discusses a project undertaken over the past two years to modify the content and presentation of Cisco certification e-learning courses to enable accessibility by vision impaired and blind students. These modifications necessitated rewriting the learning materials so they could be effectively presented via multi-modal user interfaces to vision impaired students, involving speech, aufio, haptics and force-feed devices and methods.Evaluatin of sections of the project by the vision impaired students using a model based upon Stufflebeam's CIPP model and Kirkpatrick's Four-Level training program evaluation model has been carried out and the results are presented

Time is not enough : promoting strategic engagement with writing for publication

Research, scholarship and publication are central to the work of higher education. However, even academics with the necessary research and writing skills can struggle to publish as often as they would like. Research suggests that a writing retreat is one solution; there is a process going on there that addresses the problem, but how it does so has not been fully explained. We used a novel approach, containment theory, to explain why the functions of a structured retreat work. We argue that a retreat does more than simply provide time to write; it is a model for academics to meet the demands of research assessment. Finally, we conceptualise this as strategic engagement - a model for producing regular writing for publication while continuing to meet other professional demands

Ion-beam sputtered amorphous silicon films for cryogenic precision measurement systems

Thermal noise resulting from the mechanical loss of multilayer dielectric coatings is expected to impose a limit to the sensitivities of precision measurement systems used in fundamental and applied science. In the case of gravitational wave astronomy, future interferometric gravitational wave detectors are likely to operate at cryogenic temperatures to reduce such thermal noise and ameliorate thermal loading effects, with the desirable thermomechanical properties of silicon making it an attractive mirror substrate choice for this purpose. For use in such a precision instrument, appropriate coatings of low thermal noise are essential. Amorphous silicon (a−Si) deposited by e-beam and other techniques has been shown to have low mechanical loss. However, to date, the levels of mechanical and optical loss for a−Si when deposited by ion-beam sputtering (the technique required to produce amorphous mirrors of the specification for gravitational wave detector mirrors) are unknown. In this paper results from measurements of the mechanical loss of a series of IBS a−Si films are presented which show that reductions are possible in coating thermal noise of a factor of 1.5 at 120 K and 2.1 at 20 K over the current best IBS coatings (alternating stacks of silica and titania-doped tantala), with further reductions feasible under appropriate heat treatments

Use of Biologics as an Adjunct Therapy to Arthroscopic Surgery for the Treatment of Femoroacetabular Impingement: A Systematic Review

Background:There has been a recent increase in the use of biologics in hip arthroscopy to assist in the management of femoroacetabular impingement (FAI).Purpose:To analyze the current use of biologics for the treatment of FAI and its associated lesions.Study Design:Systematic review; Level of evidence, 4.Methods:A search of the PubMed, Medline, and EMBASE databases was performed in March 2019 with use of the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. The criterion for inclusion was observational, published research articles studying the therapeutic use of biologics as an adjuvant therapy during arthroscopic surgery for FAI; treatments included bone marrow aspirate concentrate, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), platelet-rich plasma (PRP), hyaluronic acid, growth factors, and autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI) or autologous matrix-induced chondrogenesis (AMIC).Results:There were 9 studies that met the inclusion criteria, and a total of 674 patients were included across all studies. FAI was studied in all articles. Further, 7 studies (78%) also analyzed chondral injuries, and 3 studies also analyzed labral tears (33%). ACI or AMIC was used in 56% of studies and showed superior functional outcomes at short- and midterm follow-up versus debridement or microfracture. PRP did not improve the outcome of labral repairs at short-term follow-up.Conclusion:The current literature regarding biologic adjuncts in hip arthroscopy is varied in quality, with only one level 1 study. The use of ACI/AMIC for medium-sized chondral lesions showed promising results in individual studies; however, these were of lower quality. To enable comparisons among future studies, investigators must ensure accuracy in the reporting of biologic preparations and formulations used and homogeneity in the type and severity of lesion treated

Golf participation after rotator cuff repair: functional outcomes, rate of return and factors associated with return to play

Background Golf is a popular sport involving overhead activity and engagement of the rotator cuff (RC). This study aimed to determine to what level golfers were able to return to golf following RC repair, the barriers to them returning to golf and factors associated with their failure to return to golf. Methods Patients preoperatively identifying as golfers undergoing RC repair at the study centre from 2012 to 2020 were retrospectively followed up with to assess their golf-playing status, performance and frequency of play and functional and quality of life (QoL) outcomes. Results Forty-seven golfers (40 men [85.1%] and 7 women [14.9%]) with a mean age of 56.8 years met the inclusion criteria, and 80.1% were followed up with at a mean of 27.1 months postoperatively. Twenty-nine patients (76.3%) had returned to golf with a mean handicap change of +1.0 (P=0.291). Golf frequency decreased from a mean of 1.8 rounds per week preinjury to 1.5 rounds per week postoperatively (P=0.052). The EuroQol 5-dimension 5-level (EQ-5D-5L) index and visual analog scale (EQ-VAS) score were significantly greater in those returning to golf (P=0.024 and P=0.002), although functional outcome measures were not significantly different. The primary barriers to return were ipsilateral shoulder dysfunction (78%) and loss of the habit of play (22%). Conclusions Golfers were likely (76%) to return to golf following RC repair, including mostly to their premorbid performance level with little residual symptomatology. Return to golf was associated with a greater QoL. Persistent subjective shoulder dysfunction (78%) was the most common barrier to returning to golf. Level of evidence Level IV