Towards quantitative acousto-optic imaging in tissue

We have investigated the possibilities and limitations of the application of ultrasound modulated coherent light to obtain quantitative information of local absorbers in light-scattering objects, among which tissue. For all objects studied, the combined use of microsecond ultrasound and light pulses enabled us to construct a 3D map of local absorbers with a spatial resolution of ∼2 mm. Moreover, in relatively homogeneous model systems, mimicking a blood vessel embedded in tissue, the use of a calibration procedure allowed for a determination of the local absorbance. Speckle decorrelation times for real tissue containing blood vessels, in which appreciable motion of scatterers can exist, were found to be smaller than 1ms. These relatively short times present a major challenge for acousto-optics to be applied in living tissue systems

Geometric dependence of Nb-Bi2{_2}Te3{_3}-Nb topological Josephson junction transport parameters

Superconductor-topological insulator-superconductor Josephson junctions have been fabricated in order to study the width dependence of the critical current, normal state resistance and flux periodicity of the critical current modulation in an external field. Previous literature reports suggest anomalous scaling in topological junctions due to the presence of Majorana bound states. However, for most realised devices, one would expect that trivial $2\pi$-periodic Andreev levels dominate transport. We also observe anomalous scaling behaviour of junction parameters, but the scaling can be well explained by mere geometric effects, such as the parallel bulk conductivity shunt and flux focusing

Experiences with the implementation of a national teaching qualification in university medical centres and veterinary medicine in the Netherlands

In 2008, a compulsory national basic teaching qualification was introduced for all university teachers in the Netherlands. At that time all eight University Medical Centres (UMCs) and the only Faculty of Veterinary Medicine had adopted or were setting up teacher development programmes. This study explores how these programmes relate to each other and to the basic teaching qualification. To gather information on teacher development programmes in the UMCs and the Veterinary Medicine Faculty an online survey was filled out by teacher development representatives from each of them. The programmes had main features in common (e.g. competency based and portfolio assessment), but differed somewhat in contents according to the local situation. Importantly, they had all been formally accepted as equivalent to the basic teaching qualification. We consider the freedom to tailor the qualifications to the medical context as well as to the local situation of the UMCs and the Veterinary Medicine Faculty one of the major success factors and the well-established collaboration between teacher development representatives of the UMCs and the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine as another. Challenges for the future include embedding the teacher development programmes in the institutional organizations and maintaining and further developing the programmes and the competencies of the qualified teachers, e.g. in a senior qualification

INTEGRATING SPORT BIOMECHANICS AND EXERCISE PHYSIOLOGY FOR TRAINING COLLEGIATE ATHLETES DURING A COMPETITION SEASON

Sport specificity training involves the design and implementation of strength training and conditioning programs tailored to a specific sport with the goal of optimizing performance. When training collegiate athletes during a competition season there is an even greater emphasis placed on optimization. This is because the NCAA places time restrictions on collegiate athletes that effectively limit the volume of training that any one athlete can participate in per week. As a result, coaching staffs need to maximize time devoted to skills based training while still ensuring sufficient time is allocated for developing an athlete to peak physical conditioning and rest (Marques, et al., 2006). The goal of this paper is to present a framework for integrating sport biomechanics and exercise physiology within the design of sport specific training programs. Research from both fields has direct applicability to sport specificity training and integration is often an implicit dimension to such research. Yet, comparably few studies have been explicit about how to best integrate biomechanics and exercise physiology within the context of sport specificity training. Although this paper specifically uses Women’s Collegiate Volleyball as a case study, the intent is to initiate discussion regarding the need to explicitly integrate sport biomechanics and exercise physiology when developing strength training and conditioning programs for collegiate athletes

Experimental realization of SQUIDs with topological insulator junctions

We demonstrate topological insulator (Bi$_2$Te$_3$) dc SQUIDs, based on superconducting Nb leads coupled to nano-fabricated Nb-Bi$_2$Te$_3$-Nb Josephson junctions. The high reproducibility and controllability of the fabrication process allows the creation of dc SQUIDs with parameters that are in agreement with design values. Clear critical current modulation of both the junctions and the SQUID with applied magnetic fields have been observed. We show that the SQUIDs have a periodicity in the voltage-flux characteristic of $\Phi_0$, of relevance to the ongoing pursuit of realizing interferometers for the detection of Majorana fermions in superconductor- topological insulator structures

Examining recruiters’ assessment of impression management tactics as used by job seekers on social networking sites

Recruiters nowadays have started focusing their attention towards Social Networking Sites (SNS) for they provide an ideal basis to judge one’s personality on, and deal with on-line Impression Management (IM) tactics among job seekers and/or candidates in job seeking behavior. Impression Management is defined here as the conscious or unconscious attempt to control the job-related images that are projected in social interactions. Although face-to-face impression management is studied enough, IM in an on-line setting is not researched yet. In our study, we first developed scales for quantitatively measuring various online Impression Management tactics that job seekers employ on SNS to positively present themselves. Using a sample (N=186) of graduates from various international universities, a confirmatory factor analysis showed that self-promotion, supplication, ingratiation and photograph usage are main on-line Impression Management tactics. Further, the usage of online Impression Management tactics by job seekers was compared with what recruiters assess as important Impression Management tactics on SNS to create a measure of job seekers’ behavioral effectiveness of Impression Management tactics. Using the Wilcoxon signed rank test, we showed that self-promotion and photographs was used significantly less often by job seekers than recruiters would expect given their perceived importance. Both supplication and ingratiation showed no significant differences between job seekers and recruiters in terms of their use