Collaborative provision within UK higher education: perceptions of stakeholders of UK and Sri Lankan private colleges offering university degrees in business and management

Collaborative higher education refers to an array of different arrangements between higher education institutions (HEIs) and other providers - private providers in the case of this thesis. The main focus of the thesis is to understand stakeholders’ perspectives on collaborative partnerships between HEIs and private for-profit providers in the provision of UK degree courses in business and management. Recent decades have seen the massification of HE. The demand for HE in the UK has been growing significantly. But the state has begun to disengage itself from financing HEIs and thus their continuing state funding is under challenge. Market mechanisms have been introduced. Collaborative HE provision between HEIs and private for-profit providers can be seen as an activity undertaken as part of an increasingly marketised UK HE landscape. Management, staff such as link-tutors, and policy-makers in quality organisations were interviewed: thirteen in the UK and six in Sri Lanka. Five former non-European Union (EU) private college international students were interviewed in the UK. Three focus groups were conducted with non-EU private college international students in the UK. This is an exploratory study, from which it is not possible to generalise, but findings indicate that: a. Non-EU international students choose to study in private HE colleges because it enables them to acquire a UK degree at a lower cost. b. Working with private partners in the UK and overseas is perceived to have an economic motive and collaborative partnerships are seen as a partial solution to the difficult financial situation of HEIs. c. Collaborative HE partnerships help UK HEIs to expand their market. d. Government intervention in the private for-profit HE sector is discernible, for example through the Educational Oversight Review of private providers. This is blurring the boundary between what is described as public and private

Choriocapillaris and Choroidal Microvasculature Imaging with Ultrahigh Speed OCT Angiography

We demonstrate in vivo choriocapillaris and choroidal microvasculature imaging in normal human subjects using optical coherence tomography (OCT). An ultrahigh speed swept source OCT prototype at 1060 nm wavelengths with a 400 kHz A-scan rate is developed for three-dimensional ultrahigh speed imaging of the posterior eye. OCT angiography is used to image three-dimensional vascular structure without the need for exogenous fluorophores by detecting erythrocyte motion contrast between OCT intensity cross-sectional images acquired rapidly and repeatedly from the same location on the retina. En face OCT angiograms of the choriocapillaris and choroidal vasculature are visualized by acquiring cross-sectional OCT angiograms volumetrically via raster scanning and segmenting the three-dimensional angiographic data at multiple depths below the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). Fine microvasculature of the choriocapillaris, as well as tightly packed networks of feeding arterioles and draining venules, can be visualized at different en face depths. Panoramic ultra-wide field stitched OCT angiograms of the choriocapillaris spanning ~32 mm on the retina show distinct vascular structures at different fundus locations. Isolated smaller fields at the central fovea and ~6 mm nasal to the fovea at the depths of the choriocapillaris and Sattler's layer show vasculature structures consistent with established architectural morphology from histological and electron micrograph corrosion casting studies. Choriocapillaris imaging was performed in eight healthy volunteers with OCT angiograms successfully acquired from all subjects. These results demonstrate the feasibility of ultrahigh speed OCT for in vivo dye-free choriocapillaris and choroidal vasculature imaging, in addition to conventional structural imaging.National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (NIH R01-EY011289-27)National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (NIH R01-EY013178-12)National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (NIH R44-EY022864-01)National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (NIH R01-CA075289-16)United States. Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR FA9550-10-1-0551)United States. Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR FA9550-12-1-0499

Cytosolic 5'-nucleotidase 1A autoantibody profile and clinical characteristics in inclusion body myositis

OBJECTIVES: Autoantibodies directed against cytosolic 5'-nucleotidase 1A have been identified in many patients with inclusion body myositis. This retrospective study investigated the association between anticytosolic 5'-nucleotidase 1A antibody status and clinical, serological and histopathological features to explore the utility of this antibody to identify inclusion body myositis subgroups and to predict prognosis.MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data from various European inclusion body myositis registries were pooled. Anticytosolic 5'-nucleotidase 1A status was determined by an established ELISA technique. Cases were stratified according to antibody status and comparisons made. Survival and mobility aid requirement analyses were performed using Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox proportional hazards regression.RESULTS: Data from 311 patients were available for analysis; 102 (33%) had anticytosolic 5'-nucleotidase 1A antibodies. Antibody-positive patients had a higher adjusted mortality risk (HR 1.89, 95% CI 1.11 to 3.21, p=0.019), lower frequency of proximal upper limb weakness at disease onset (8% vs 23%, adjusted OR 0.29, 95% CI 0.12 to 0.68, p=0.005) and an increased prevalence of excess of cytochrome oxidase deficient fibres on muscle biopsy analysis (87% vs 72%, adjusted OR 2.80, 95% CI 1.17 to 6.66, p=0.020), compared with antibody-negative patients.INTERPRETATION: Differences were observed in clinical and histopathological features between anticytosolic 5'-nucleotidase 1A antibody positive and negative patients with inclusion body myositis, and antibody-positive patients had a higher adjusted mortality risk. Stratification of inclusion body myositis by anticytosolic 5'-nucleotidase 1A antibody status may be useful, potentially highlighting a distinct inclusion body myositis subtype with a more severe phenotype.</p

Temperature-compensated fiber optic 3D shape sensor using femtosecond laser direct-written Bragg grating waveguides

A fiber-optic 3D shape, position and temperature sensor is demonstrated with femtosecond laser direct-written optical and Bragg grating waveguides that were distributed axially and radially inside a single coreless optical fiber. Efficient light coupling between the laser-written optical circuit elements and a standard single-mode optical fiber was obtained by 3D laser writing of a 1*3 directional coupler and fusion splicing. Coupler optimization by real-time monitoring of Bragg grating strengths is discussed. Simultaneous interrogation of nine Bragg gratings is presented through a single waveguide port to follow the Bragg wavelength shifts and thereby infer shape and temperature profile along the fiber length.The authors gratefully acknowledge nancial support from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada and the Early Researcher Award (Ontario, Canada)

Temperature-compensated fiber-optic 3D shape sensor based on femtosecond laser direct-written Bragg grating waveguides

Temperature-compensated 3D fiber shape sensing is demonstrated with femtosecond laser direct-written optical and Bragg grating waveguides that were distributed axially and radially inside a single coreless optical fiber. Efficient light coupling between the laser-written optical circuit elements and a standard single-mode fiber (SMF) was obtained for the first time by 3D laser writing of a 1 × 3 directional coupler to meet with the core waveguide in the fusion-spliced SMF. Simultaneous interrogation of nine Bragg gratings, distributed along three laterally offset waveguides, is presented through a single waveguide port at 1 kHz sampling rate to follow the Bragg wavelength shifts in real-time and thereby infer shape and temperature profile unambiguously along the fiber length. This distributed 3D strain and thermal sensor is freestanding, flexible, compact, lightweight and opens new directions for creating fiber cladding photonic devices for a wide range of applications from shape and thermal sensing to guidance of biomedical catheters and tools in minimally invasive surgery.The authors gratefully acknowledge financial support from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada and the Early Researcher Award (Ontario, Canada)

Apparent treatment-resistant hypertension – patient–physician relationship and ethical issues

Background: Poor drug adherence is a major cause of apparent treatment-resistant hypertension. As a consequence, several methods have been developed and attempted implemented in clinical practice to reveal non-adherence and to monitor drug adherence. There are, however, several hitherto unresolved ethical aspects regarding potential methods for drug monitoring in these patients. Results: The most striking challenge is the balance between patient autonomy and the physician’s desire for the patient to adhere to the prescribed therapy. Also, methods for monitoring must only be implemented in the treatment of well-informed and consenting patients. Major resources are used on non-adherent patients; how long the physician should encourage continuation of treatment is an important question. Conclusions: We believe that physicians should reflect and discuss these potential challenges, and that patient education, information and a solid patient–physician relationship are essential for achieving drug adherence. Methods for monitoring adherence represent, however, a useful and often necessary supplement

Une nouvelle classification des myopathies inflammatoires idiopathiques basée sur des manifestations cliniques et les anticorps spécifiques des myosites

International audienc

La dermatomyosite associée à l’anticorps anti-MDA5 est une maladie saisonnière : un argument pour un facteur déclenchant viral

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