Teachers as brokers: adding a university-society perspective to higher education teacher competence profiles

Higher education institutions are increasingly engaged with society but contemporary higher education teacher competence profiles do not include university-society oriented responsibilities of teachers. Consequently, comprehensive insights in university-society collaborative performance of higher education teachers are not availab

Comparison of characteristics of patients with lung cancer in U.K. primary care databases: Clinical Practice Research Datalink Aurum and GOLD

INTRODUCTION: In recent years, the number of general practices contributing to the Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD) database GOLD is decreasing. Therefore, for research questions addressing for instance novel treatments requiring up-to-date data, sample size will become an important consideration in study feasibility. In recent years, CPRD Aurum, containing information of practices that use EMIS software, has become an additional data source that is being used for CPRD studies. In order to establish whether Aurum is suited to act as data source for future studies in the field of lung cancer research, we aimed to compare characteristics between patients with lung cancer in Aurum and GOLD. METHODS: A retrospective study was performed comparing characteristics and overall survival (OS) of patients with lung cancer in Aurum and GOLD. To further evaluate similarity, hypothetical eligibility of these patients in Aurum and GOLD was compared for 11 randomized clinical trials (RCTs). RESULTS: Baseline characteristics registered in Aurum and GOLD were largely similar, with some clinically irrelevant differences for previous malignancies, deviant laboratory values and drug use. Median OS was 9.8 and 9.0 months for patients in Aurum and GOLD, respectively. Potential RCT eligibility varied between 49.4% and 79.5% and 49.1% and 78.1% for patients in Aurum and GOLD, respectively. Mortality rates and the comparison of the obtained HRs per hypothetical eligibility cohort per RCT were similar in Aurum and GOLD. CONCLUSION: This study showed that data of patients with lung cancer in Aurum and GOLD are largely comparable, suggesting that Aurum is suitable for future epidemiological lung cancer research

Real World Learning and Authentic Assessment

As students increasingly adopt a consumerist lifestyle academics are under pressure to assess and mark more students’ assignments in quicker turn around periods. In no other area is the marketisation shift between student and academic more apparent in the accountability that academics now need to demonstrate to students in their grading and feedback (Boud & Molloy, 2013). When evaluating their higher education experience students are most likely to complain about their grading or feedback (Boud & Molloy, 2013) and National Student Survey results consistently indicate that this category, more than any other, has the highest student dissatisfaction rates (Race, 2014)

Methods for characterising the steel–concrete interface to enhance understanding of reinforcement corrosion: a critical review by RILEM TC 262-SCI

The steel–concrete interface (SCI) is a complex, multi-phase and multi-scale system. It is widely known to influence the performance and long-term durability of concrete structures. However, a fundamental understanding of its properties and effects on corrosion initiation of embedded reinforcing steel remains elusive. This is attributed to its complicated heterogeneity and time-dependent nature, exacerbated by the lack of suitable techniques for systematic and detailed characterisation. This paper, prepared by members of the RILEM Technical Committee 262-SCI, critically reviews available information regarding current methods (laboratory or field-based) for characterising local properties of the SCI that have been identified as governing factors affecting corrosion initiation. These properties include characteristics of the steel such as mill scale and rust layers, and characteristics of the concrete such as interfacial voids, microstructure and moisture content. We evaluated over twenty methods and summarised their advantages, applications and limitations. The findings show a severe lack of well established, non-destructive techniques that are suitable for direct monitoring of the SCI at a representative scale with sufficiently high resolution (spatial, temporal), particularly for moisture related aspects. Several promising novel techniques with significant potential for further development and application were identified and discussed. Finally, we provide several recommendations for future research needs that are required to advance this critically important topic

Considerations on the reliability of service life predictions using a probabilistic approach

Designing for durability of reinforced concrete structures using a probabilistic approach is becoming increasingly popular among consultants. This paper will address a number of pitfalls in probabilistic calculations by identifying the most critical model parameters and demonstrating the influence of statistical distribution of these parameters on the outcome. Especially, the so-called age factor and critical chloride content play a dominant role in service life predictions. A procedure will be proposed to quantify these parameters from existing structures to achieve an improved prediction of residual service life. In addition, it will be demonstrated that probabilistic service life modelling may be misused by manipulation of the input values, shifting the risks for premature maintenance to the owner.