Recent observations on Zulu and Natal indian diabetics in Durban

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Development Study of Cartridge/Crucible Tube Materials

The limitations of traditional alloys and the desire for improved performance for components is driving the increased utilization of refractory metals in tile space industry. From advanced propulsion systems to high temperature furnace components for microgravity processing, refractory metals are being used for their high melting temperatures and inherent chemical stability. Techniques have been developed to produce near net shape refractory metal components utilizing vacuum plasma spraying. Material utilization is very high, and laborious machining can be avoided. As-spray formed components have been tested and found to perform adequately. However, increased mechanical and thermal properties are needed. To improve these properties, post processing thermal treatments such as hydrogen sintering and vacuum annealing have been performed. Components formed from alloys of tungsten, rhenium, tantalum, niobium, and molybdenum are discussed and a metallurgical analyses detailing the results are presented. A qualitative comparison of mechanical properties is also included

Energy and environmental assessment and reuse of fluidised bed recycled carbon fibres

Carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) recycling and the reutilisation of the recovered carbon fibre (rCF) 2 can compensate for the high impacts of virgin carbon fibre (vCF) production. In this paper, we evaluate the 3 energy and environmental impacts of CF recycling by a fluidised bed process and reuse to manufacture a 4 CFRP material. A ‘gate-to gate’ life cycle model of the CFRP recycling route using papermaking and 5 compression moulding methods is developed based on energy analysis of the fluidised bed recycling process 6 and processing of rCF. Key recycling plant operating parameters, including plant capacity, feed rate, and air 7 2 in-leakage are investigated. Life cycle impact assessments demonstrate the environmental benefits of recycled 8 CFRP against end of life treatments-landfilling, incineration. The use of rCF to displace vCF based on 9 material indices (equivalent stiffness and equivalent strength) therefore proves to be a competitive alternative 10 for composite manufacture in terms of environmental impact

Immersive virtual reality as a pedagogical tool in education:a systematic literature review of quantitative learning outcomes and experimental design

The adoption of immersive virtual reality (I-VR) as a pedagogical method in education has challenged the conceptual definition of what constitutes a learning environment. High fidelity graphics and immersive content using head-mounted-displays (HMD) have allowed students to explore complex subjects in a way that traditional teaching methods cannot. Despite this, research focusing on learning outcomes, intervention characteristics, and assessment measures associated with I-VR use has been sparse. To explore this, the current systematic review examined experimental studies published since 2013, where quantitative learning outcomes using HMD based I-VR were compared with less immersive pedagogical methods such as desktop computers and slideshows. A literature search yielded 29 publications that were deemed suitable for inclusion. Included papers were quality assessed using the Medical Education Research Study Quality Instrument (MERSQI). Most studies found a significant advantage of utilising I-VR in education, whilst a smaller number found no significant differences in attainment level regardless of whether I-VR or non-immersive methods were utilised. Only two studies found clear detrimental effects of using I-VR. However, most studies used short interventions, did not examine information retention, and were focused mainly on the teaching of scientific topics such as biology or physics. In addition, the MERSQI showed that the methods used to evaluate learning outcomes are often inadequate and this may affect the interpretation of I-VR’s utility. The review highlights that a rigorous methodological approach through the identification of appropriate assessment measures, intervention characteristics, and learning outcomes is essential to understanding the potential of I-VR as a pedagogical method

Does the implementation of a novel intensive care discharge risk score and nurse-led inpatient review tool improve outcome? A prospective cohort study in two intensive care units in the UK.

OBJECTIVE: To develop a clinical prediction model for poor outcome after intensive care unit (ICU) discharge in a large observational data set and couple this to an acute post-ICU ward-based review tool (PIRT) to identify high-risk patients at the time of ICU discharge and improve their acute ward-based review and outcome. DESIGN: Retrospective patient cohort of index ICU admissions between June 2006 and October 2011 receiving routine inpatient review. Prospective cohort between March 2012 and March 2013 underwent risk scoring (PIRT) which subsequently guided inpatient ward-based review. SETTING: Two UK adult ICUs. PARTICIPANTS: 4212 eligible discharges from ICU in the retrospective development cohort and 1028 patients included in the prospective intervention cohort. INTERVENTIONS: Multivariate analysis was performed to determine factors associated with poor outcome in the retrospective cohort and used to generate a discharge risk score. A discharge and daily ward-based review tool incorporating an adjusted risk score was introduced. The prospective cohort underwent risk scoring at ICU discharge and inpatient review using the PIRT. OUTCOMES: The primary outcome was the composite of death or readmission to ICU within 14 days of ICU discharge following the index ICU admission. RESULTS: PIRT review was achieved for 67.3% of all eligible discharges and improved the targeting of acute post-ICU review to high-risk patients. The presence of ward-based PIRT review in the prospective cohort did not correlate with a reduction in poor outcome overall (P=0.876) or overall readmission but did reduce early readmission (within the first 48 hours) from 4.5% to 3.6% (P=0.039), while increasing the rate of late readmission (48 hours to 14 days) from 2.7% to 5.8% (P=0.046). CONCLUSION: PIRT facilitates the appropriate targeting of nurse-led inpatient review acutely after ICU discharge but does not reduce hospital mortality or overall readmission rates to ICU

Non-shivering thermogenesis in four species of African mole-rats differing in their sociality

Many mammalian species are adapted to living in burrows for most of their lives. Inhabiting such thermally stable environments may influence the variation on the species thermogenic capacity, particularly non-shivering thermogenesis (NST). African mole-rats (Bathyergidae) are subterranean rodents occurring in fynbos, grassland and wooded savannas across sub-Saharan Africa that vary in the complexity of their social systems, ranging from strictly solitary to highly social species. The presence and magnitude of NST are well known in social bathyergids, but no such data exist for their solitary counterparts. In this study, we quantified NST in three solitary mole-rat species represented by three distinct genera together with one social species. Our results showed that NST in all species is functional. Maximum metabolic rate after norepinephrine injection was equivalent to 269% of resting values in the social giant mole-rat Fukomys mechowii and 166%, 282% and 157% in the three solitary species: the silvery mole-rat Heliophobius argenteocinereus, the Cape mole-rat Georychus capensis and the Cape dune mole-rat Bathyergus suillus, respectively. To test our prediction that NST capacity is higher in solitary bathyergids, we combined our data with those available for other members of this family. In contrast to our prediction, NST did not differ between social and solitary bathyergids. Body mass, as the main factor, and minimum air temperature (Tmin), accounts for more than 80% of NST variation in bathyergid mole-rats.Fil: Luna, Facundo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras; ArgentinaFil: Okrouhlík, J.. University of South Bohemia; República ChecaFil: McKechnie, A. E.. University of Pretoria; SudáfricaFil: Bennett, N. C.. University of Pretoria; SudáfricaFil: Sumbera, Radim. University of South Bohemia; República Chec

Risk of posterior capsular rupture during phacoemulsification cataract surgery in eyes with previous intravitreal antivascular endothelial growth factor injections

Purpose: To investigate if previous intravitreal anti vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) injections are a predictor for posterior capsule rupture (PCR) during phacoemulsification cataract surgery. Setting: National Health Service: Whipps Cross University Hospital Eye Treatment Centre. District General, London, United Kingdom Design: Single centre, retrospective, electronic medical record (EMR) database study with univariate analysis. Methods: EMR (Medisoft) was used to extract data for eyes undergoing phacoemulsification surgery between 01.08.16 to 01.01.18. Patient demographics, indication for intravitreal therapy, treatment type, number of previous intravitreal injections (IVI), diabetic status, surgeon grade and operative complications were included as variables for analysis. Results: Data was available for 4047 cataract operations. Of these, 108 had undergone previous anti-VEGF IVI treatment. Three eyes were noted to have pre-operative PC trauma and were excluded from the final analysis. The logistic regression analysis after exclusion of the eyes with pre-existing damage to the PC confirmed that prior anti-VEGF IVI treatment was associated with an increased risk of PCR when compared to the non IVI group (9.26% vs 1.88%, p<0.0001). There is a dose dependent relationship between the number of anti-VEGF injections and the likelihood of PCR. Conclusions: Previous intravitreal anti-VEGF injections are significantly correlated with an increased risk of surgical PCR despite the absence of visible structural damage to the PC pre-operatively

Mind the Gap: Mapping Skills in Higher Education Project Summary

The call for reform in higher education has been a focus of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) for over a decade. This call for reform is driven by a stated “skills gap” between the skills of graduates and the needs of the labour market. Student groups have also voiced their concern about the skills gap and its impact on future employment