Does use of touch screen computer technology improve classroom engagement in children?

Many studies have shown that the use of technology in the classroom may influence pupil engagement. Despite the recent widespread use of tablet technology, however, very little research has been carried out into their use in a primary school setting. We investigated the use of tablet computers, specifically Apple’s ‘iPad’, in an upper primary school setting with regard to children’s engagement. Cognitive, emotional and general engagement was higher in lessons based on iPads than those which were not. There was no difference in behavioral engagement. Of particular significance was the increase in engagement seen in boys, which resulted in their engagement levels increasing to levels comparable to those seen in girls. These findings suggest that tablet technology has potential as a tool in the classroom setting

Medical graduates’ early career choices of specialty and their eventual specialty destinations: UK prospective cohort studies

Objective To report on doctors’ early choices of specialty at selected intervals after qualification, and eventual career destinations

The Role of Connexins in Wound Healing and Repair: Novel Therapeutic Approaches

Gap junctions are intercellular proteins responsible for mediating both electrical and biochemical coupling through the exchange of ions, second messengers and small metabolites. They consist of two connexons, with (one) connexon supplied by each cell. A connexon is a hexamer of connexins and currently more than 20 connexin isoforms have been described in the literature thus far. Connexins have a short half-life, and therefore gap junction remodeling constantly occurs with a high turnover rate. Post-translational modification, such as phosphorylation, can modify their channel activities. In this article, the roles of connexins in wound healing and repair are reviewed. Novel strategies for modulating the function or expression of connexins, such as the use of antisense technology, synthetic mimetic peptides and bioactive materials for the treatment of skin wounds, diabetic and pressure ulcers as well as cornea wounds, are considered.GT received a BBSRC Doctoral Training Award at the University of Cambridge and thanks The Croucher Foundation for supporting his clinical assistant professorship. YC is supported by the ESRC for her research at the University of Cambridge

Liberating Supply: Fiscal Policy and Technological Innovation in a Multicountry Model

This paper examines how endogenizing technological progress in a multicountry macroeconometric model affects the analysis of fiscal policies. It uses an expanded version of the IMF's multicountry model, MULTIMOD, in which total factor productivity (TFP) is endogenized as a function of domestic research and development (R&D) expenditures, R&D expenditures of trading partners, and trade. Compared with the standard version of the model with exogenous TFP, fiscal policies have much larger and long-lived effects on the domestic economy and on other countries

Tachycardia-bradycardia syndrome: Electrophysiological mechanisms and future therapeutic approaches (Review)

Sick sinus syndrome (SSS) encompasses a group of disorders whereby the heart is unable to perform its pacemaker function, due to genetic and acquired causes. Tachycardia‑bradycardia syndrome (TBS) is a complication of SSS characterized by alternating tachycardia and bradycardia. Techniques such as genetic screening and molecular diagnostics together with the use of pre-clinical models have elucidated the electrophysiological mechanisms of this condition. Dysfunction of ion channels responsible for initiation or conduction of cardiac action potentials may underlie both bradycardia and tachycardia; bradycardia can also increase the risk of tachycardia, and vice versa. The mainstay treatment option for SSS is pacemaker implantation, an effective approach, but has disadvantages such as infection, limited battery life, dislodgement of leads and catheters to be permanently implanted in situ. Alternatives to electronic pacemakers are gene‑based bio‑artificial sinoatrial node and cell‑based bio‑artificial pacemakers, which are promising techniques whose long-term safety and efficacy need to be established. The aim of this article is to review the different ion channels involved in TBS, examine the three‑way relationship between ion channel dysfunction, tachycardia and bradycardia in TBS and to consider its current and future therapies.GT was supported by the BBSRC and YC is supported by the ESRC for their PhD studies. GT is grateful to the Croucher Foundation of Hong Kong for supporting his clinical assistant professorship

Liberating Supply: Fiscal Policy and Technological Innovation in a Multicountry Model

This paper examines how endogenizing technological progress in a multicountry macroeconometric model affects the analysis of fiscal policies. It uses an expanded version of the IMF's multicountry model, MULTIMOD, in which total factor productivity (TFP) is endogenized as a function of domestic research and development (R&D) expenditures, R&D expenditures of trading partners, and trade. Compared with the standard version of the model with exogenous TFP, fiscal policies have much larger and long-lived effects on the domestic economy and on other countries.Technological progress; research and development; econometric models

Health impacts of flooding in Lewes: a comparison of reported gastrointestinal and other illness and mental health in flooded and non-flooded households

Severe flooding may become more frequent due to global warming. A historical cohort study was conducted by telephone interview for new episodes of illness in all age groups, and for psychological distress in adults, following severe river flooding on 12 October 2000 in the town of Lewes in Southern England. Two hundred and twenty-seven residents of 103 flooded households and 240 residents of 104 non-flooded households in the same postal district were recruited by random selection of addresses from a post flooding survey and a commercial database respectively. Having been flooded was associated with earache (RR 2.2 [1.1,4.1] p = 0.02), and a significant increase in risk of gastroenteritis with depth of flooding (RR 1.7 [0.9,3.0] p = 0.09, p for trend by flood depth = 0.04). Adults had a four-times higher risk of psychological distress defined as a score of > 4 in response to the 12- item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) (RR 4.1 [2.6, 6.4] p < 0.0005, p for trend by flood depth = 0.01). Associations between flooding and new episodes of physical illness in adults diminished after adjustment for psychological distress. Flooding remained highly significantly associated with psychological distress after adjustment for physical illnesses. Psychological distress may explain some of the excess physical illness reported by flooded adults and possibly by children as well. Policies to promote population resilience to flooding where flood prevention has failed must include practical support for flood victims and provision of appropriate psychological support. Associations with physical illnesses affirm the need for advice and assistance with individual, household and environmental hygiene and access to medical services

Multi-Omics Analysis of Brain Metastasis Outcomes Following Craniotomy

Background: The incidence of brain metastasis continues to increase as therapeutic strategies have improved for a number of solid tumors. The presence of brain metastasis is associated with worse prognosis but it is unclear if distinctive biomarkers can separate patients at risk for CNS related death. Methods: We executed a single institution retrospective collection of brain metastasis from patients who were diagnosed with lung, breast, and other primary tumors. The brain metastatic samples were sent for RNA sequencing, proteomic and metabolomic analysis of brain metastasis. The primary outcome was distant brain failure after definitive therapies that included craniotomy resection and radiation to surgical bed. Novel prognostic subtypes were discovered using transcriptomic data and sparse non-negative matrix factorization. Results: We discovered two molecular subtypes showing statistically significant differential prognosis irrespective of tumor subtype. The median survival time of the good and the poor prognostic subtypes were 7.89 and 42.27 months, respectively. Further integrated characterization and analysis of these two distinctive prognostic subtypes using transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomic molecular profiles of patients identified key pathways and metabolites. The analysis suggested that immune microenvironment landscape as well as proliferation and migration signaling pathways may be responsible to the observed survival difference. Conclusion: A multi-omics approach to characterization of brain metastasis provides an opportunity to identify clinically impactful biomarkers and associated prognostic subtypes and generate provocative integrative understanding of disease