An Arclength Problem for Close‐to‐Convex Functions

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/135569/1/jlms0181.pd

Using microscope image-based computer generated 3D animations in teaching physiology

Introduction: Conventional methods of teaching physiology may not stimulate students experienced in high performance 3D graphics and virtual worlds. Should we make more use of Computer Generated Images (CGI) in teaching difficult (threshold) concepts? Existing animations of physiological processes are mostly artist’s impressions. Using sophisticated microscopes, 3D models of tissue and cellular structure can be built which are accurate to within 0.3μm. These can be used as ‘scenes’ for 3D-animations, thus generating a potentially powerful teaching aid. The challenge is to make better use of our huge archive of 3D image (research) data and incorporate it, as 3D animations, within our teaching. However, for 3D-animations to facilitate learning, care must be taken in their construction and design, to focus on the intended learning outcomes, and to avoid generating or reinforcing misconceptions. In this study we have considered multi-level learning (Johnstone 1991) and cognitive load (Pass et al. 2003) as crucial components in the animation design process. In this first stage, we have assessed the 3D spatial ability of a group of Life Science (University of Glasgow, GU) and Medical Visualisation (Digital Design Studio, DDS) students and aim to use the results to guide the cognitive loading of complex 3D animations . Here we present the progress of the 1st two stages of the project; animation design and cognitive testing

Injectivity of sections of convex harmonic mappings and convolution theorems

In the article the authors consider the class ${\mathcal H}_0$ of sense-preserving harmonic functions $f=h+\overline{g}$ defined in the unit disk $|z|<1$ and normalized so that $h(0)=0=h'(0)-1$ and $g(0)=0=g'(0)$, where $h$ and $g$ are analytic in the unit disk. In the first part of the article we present two classes $\mathcal{P}_H^0(\alpha)$ and $\mathcal{G}_H^0(\beta)$ of functions from ${\mathcal H}_0$ and show that if $f\in \mathcal{P}_H^0(\alpha)$ and $F\in\mathcal{G}_H^0(\beta)$, then the harmonic convolution is a univalent and close-to-convex harmonic function in the unit disk provided certain conditions for parameters $\alpha$ and $\beta$ are satisfied. In the second part we study the harmonic sections (partial sums) $$s_{n, n}(f)(z)=s_n(h)(z)+\overline{s_n(g)(z)},$$ where $f=h+\overline{g}\in {\mathcal H}_0$, $s_n(h)$ and $s_n(g)$ denote the $n$-th partial sums of $h$ and $g$, respectively. We prove, among others, that if $f=h+\overline{g}\in{\mathcal H}_0$ is a univalent harmonic convex mapping, then $s_{n, n}(f)$ is univalent and close-to-convex in the disk $|z|< 1/4$ for $n\geq 2$, and $s_{n, n}(f)$ is also convex in the disk $|z|< 1/4$ for $n\geq2$ and $n\neq 3$. Moreover, we show that the section $s_{3,3}(f)$ of $f\in {\mathcal C}_H^0$ is not convex in the disk $|z|<1/4$ but is shown to be convex in a smaller disk.Comment: 16 pages, 3 figures; To appear in Czechoslovak Mathematical Journa

Viral Endomyocardial Infection Is an Independent Predictor and Potentially Treatable Risk Factor for Graft Loss and Coronary Vasculopathy in Pediatric Cardiac Transplant Recipients

ObjectivesThis study sought to evaluate the outcome and prevalence of viral endomyocardial infection after cardiac transplantation.BackgroundViral myocardial infection causes heart failure, but its role after cardiac transplantation is unclear. We hypothesized that viral infection of the cardiac allograft reduces graft survival.MethodsBetween June 1999 and November 2004, 94 pediatric cardiac transplant patients were screened for the presence of viral genome in serial endomyocardial biopsies (EMBs) using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays. Graft loss, advanced transplant coronary artery disease (TCAD), and acute rejection (AR) were compared in the PCR-positive (n = 37) and PCR-negative (n = 57) groups, using time-dependent Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analyses. From November 2002 to November 2004, intravenous immunoglobulin therapy (IVIG) was administered to patients with PCR-positive EMBs. The outcomes of the IVIG-treated, PCR-positive patients (n = 20) were compared with IVIG-untreated, PCR-positive patients (n = 17).ResultsViral genomes were detected in EMBs from 37 (39%) patients; parvovirus B19, adenovirus, and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) were the most common. The PCR-positive group (n = 37, 25% graft loss at 2.4 years) had decreased graft survival (p < 0.001) compared with the PCR-negative group (n = 57, 25% graft loss at 8.7 years) and developed advanced TCAD prematurely (p = 0.001). The number of AR episodes was similar in both groups. On multivariate analysis, presence of viral genome was an independent risk factor for graft loss (relative risk: 4.2, p = 0.015). The time to advanced TCAD after becoming PCR-positive was longer in the IVIG-treated patients (p = 0.03) with a trend toward improved graft survival (p = 0.06).ConclusionsViral endomyocardial infection is an independent predictor of graft loss in pediatric cardiac transplant recipients. This effect appears to be mediated through premature development of advanced TCAD. IVIG therapy in this subgroup may improve survival and merits further investigation

Capture the fracture: a best practice framework and global campaign to break the fragility fracture cycle

Summary The International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) Capture the Fracture Campaign aims to support implementation of Fracture Liaison Services (FLS) throughout the world. Introduction FLS have been shown to close the ubiquitous secondary fracture prevention care gap, ensuring that fragility fracture sufferers receive appropriate assessment and intervention to reduce future fracture risk. Methods Capture the Fracture has developed internationally endorsed standards for best practice, will facilitate change at the national level to drive adoption of FLS and increase awareness of the challenges and opportunities presented by secondary fracture prevention to key stakeholders. The Best Practice Framework (BPF) sets an international benchmark for FLS, which defines essential and aspirational elements of service delivery. Results The BPF has been reviewed by leading experts from many countries and subject to beta-testing to ensure that it is internationally relevant and fit-for-purpose. The BPF will also serve as a measurement tool for IOF to award ‘Capture the Fracture Best Practice Recognition’ to celebrate successful FLS worldwide and drive service development in areas of unmet need. The Capture the Fracture website will provide a suite of resources related to FLS and secondary fracture prevention, which will be updated as new materials become available. A mentoring programme will enable those in the early stages of development of FLS to learn from colleagues elsewhere that have achieved Best Practice Recognition. A grant programme is in development to aid clinical systems which require financial assistance to establish FLS in their localities. Conclusion Nearly half a billion people will reach retirement age during the next 20 years. IOF has developed Capture the Fracture because this is the single most important thing that can be done to directly improve patient care, of both women and men, and reduce the spiralling fracture-related care costs worldwide.</p

Arquitectura para la creación de ambientes móviles de recomendación, interacción y alertas para usuarios de una plataforma de EaD

El desarrollo de la computaci&oacute;n m&oacute;vil y su aplicaci&oacute;n en la educaci&oacute;n, hizo surgir un nuevo enfoque de educaci&oacute;n a distancia, denominado aprendizaje m&oacute;vil (o m-learning), el cual facilita a los estudiantes el aprendizaje a cualquier momento y en cualquier lugar. Este trabajo presenta la propuesta de dise&ntilde;o de una arquitectura de apoyo al aprendizaje m&oacute;vil, que facilite a los usuarios del Programa de la Universidad Virtual, de la Universidad Tecnol&oacute;gica de Panam&aacute;, interactuar de forma eficiente, flexible y transparente en un ambiente colaborativo y personalizable de recomendaci&oacute;n, interacci&oacute;n y alertas, por medio de tel&eacute;fonos celulares con Sistema Android (Google) incrustado. Para ello se hace uso de la metodolog&iacute;a SOA (Service Oriented Architecture) que facilita la reutilizaci&oacute;n de m&oacute;dulos

Architecture for the creation of mobile recommendation, interaction and alert environments for users of an EaD platform

El desarrollo de la computación móvil y su aplicación en la educación, hizo surgir un nuevo enfoque de educación a distancia, denominado aprendizaje móvil (o m-learning), el cual facilita a los estudiantes el aprendizaje a cualquier momento y en cualquier lugar. Este trabajo presenta la propuesta de dise&ntilde;o de una arquitectura de apoyo al aprendizaje móvil, que facilite a los usuarios del Programa de la Universidad Virtual, de la Universidad Tecnológica de Panamá, interactuar de forma eficiente, flexible y transparente en un ambiente colaborativo y personalizable de recomendación, interacción y alertas, por medio de teléfonos celulares con Sistema Android (Google) incrustado. Para ello se hace uso de la metodología SOA (Service Oriented Architecture) que facilita la reutilización de módulos.The mobile computing development and its application in education haveallowed the emerging of a new distance education approach, mobile learning (m-learning), which lets students reach learning everywhere and anytime. This paper presents a proposal for the design of an architecture to support mobile learning that should allow users of the Online Education Environment of Technological University of Panama interact efficiently, flexibly and seamlessly in a collaborative environment, which can be customized for recommendations, interaction and alerts through cellphones based on Android. For this, SOA (Service Oriented Architecture) methodology is used given that it easies module reuse