Stretching the boundaries of medical education: A case of medical college embracing humanities and social sciences in medical education

Objective: Aga Khan University, a private medical college, had a vision of producing physicians who are not only scientifically competent, but also socially sensitive, the latter by exposure of medical students to a broad-based curriculum. The objective of this study was to identify the genesis of broad-based education and its integration into the undergraduate medical education program as the Humanities and Social Sciences (HASS) course. Methods: A qualitative methodology was used for this study. Sources of data included document review and in-depth key informant interviews. Nvivo software was utilized to extract themes. Results: The study revealed the process of operationalization of the institutional vision to produce competent and culturally sensitive physicians. The delay in the establishment of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, which was expected to take a lead role in the delivery of a broad-based education, led to the development of an innovative HASS course in the medical curriculum. The study also identified availability of faculty and resistance from students as challenges faced in the implementation and evolution of HASS. Conclusions: The description of the journey and viability of integration of HASS into the medical curriculum offers a model to medical colleges seeking ways to produce socially sensitive physicians

Impact of humanities and social sciences curriculum in an undergraduate medical education programme

Objective: To evaluate the impact of humanities and social sciences curriculum in an undergraduate medical education programme.Methods: The qualitative study was conducted from May 2016 to May 2017 at a private medical college in Karachi where humanities and social sciences subject is an art of the undergraduate curriculum as a 6-week module at the start of Year 1 of the five-year programme. Focus group discussions were held with students from all the five years as well as with faculty related to humanities and social sciences, basic sciences and their clinical counterparts. The views of alumni of the undergraduate programme who are now members of the faculty at the institution were also explored and semi-structured interviews were conducted with institutional academic leaders. MAXQDA software was used to identify the themes for analysis.Results: Of the 50 participants, 27(54%) were students, 21(42%) were faculty members and 2(4%) were academic leaders. From the 11 sub-themes, 5 themes were identified: Expectations, Strengths, Challenges, Way forward, and Institutional role and responsibility. Faculty members perceived humanities and social sciences as encouraging creative and critical thinking, boosting students\u27 confidence and positively impacting their behaviour. Student perception seemed to change as they progressed through the years and they appreciated its impact at different stages.Conclusions: The existing humanities and social sciences curriculum can be further strengthened by integrating contents throughout the five-year programme and continuing it as a longitudinal theme rather than limiting it to a one-time exposure at the start of the programme

Mutational landscape of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas in a South Asian population

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the sixth most common cancer type globally and contributes significantly to burden of disease in South Asia. In Pakistan, HNSCC is anmong the most commonly diagnosed cancer in males and females. The increasing regional burden of HNSCC along with a unique set of risk factors merited a deeper investigation of the disease at the genomic level. Whole exome sequencing of HNSCC samples and matched normal genomic DNA (n=7) was performed. Significant somatic single nucleotide variants (SNVs) were identified and pathway analysis performed to determine frequently affected signaling pathways. We identified significant, novel recurrent mutations in ASNS (asparagine synthetase) that may affect substrate binding, and variants in driver genes including TP53, PIK3CA, FGFR2, ARID2, MLL3, MYC and ALK. Using the IntOGen platform, we identified MAP kinase, cell cycle, actin cytoskeleton regulation, PI3K-Akt signaling and other pathways in cancer as affected in the samples. This data is the first of its kind from the Pakistani population. The results of this study can guide a better mechanistic understanding of HNSCC in the population, ultimately contributing new, rational therapeutic targets for the treatment of the disease

2017 HRS/EHRA/ECAS/APHRS/SOLAECE expert consensus statement on catheter and surgical ablation of atrial fibrillation: executive summary.

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withdrawn 2017 hrs ehra ecas aphrs solaece expert consensus statement on catheter and surgical ablation of atrial fibrillation

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Cascaded multioutput multilevel converter: modulation and operating limits

This article presents the modulation and operating limits of the modified cascaded multioutput multilevel converter. A phase-disposition pulsewidth modulation strategy is developed to apply the optimal state that leads to a minimized device switching. A Hamming distance-based cost function is adopted to evaluate the number of device transitions. The cost function is further modified to identify the optimal state from a number of feasible states. Moreover, the operating limits of the converter are analyzed for the safe and valid operation of the converter. Simulation and experiment results validate the theoretical analysis, and the converter is operational under a wide range of operation points. The proposed optimal state modulation strategy is shown to be effective in reducing the average device switching frequency.Ministry of Education (MOE)Nanyang Technological UniversitySubmitted/Accepted versionThis work was supported in part by the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, and in part by the Ministry of Education, Singapore, under Grant AcRF TIER 1-2018-T1-002-109 (RG171/18)

Improved phase disposition pulse width modulation for a modified cascaded dual-output multilevel converter

This paper presents an improved phase-disposition pulse width modulation for the Cascaded Dual-Output Multilevel (CDOM) converter. Additionally, the traditional CDOM converter is modified to be operated with reduced switching components without effecting the system operation. A phase-disposition pulse width modulation is modified for optimal state to operate the converter under minimized average power device switching frequency. A cost function based on hamming distance of the switching states is utilized to control the proposed converter. The performance of the converter is demonstrated and evaluated for common and different frequency outputs using MATLAB simulations. The converter is operational under a wide variety of operation points and the modulation scheme is shown to be effective in significantly reducing the average device switching frequency.Nanyang Technological UniversitySubmitted/Accepted versionThe School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, and the Academic Research Fund Tier1 at Nanyang Technological University has supported this work

Model predictive control of nine-level active nested neutral-point piloted converter

In this paper, a finite control set model predictive control (FCS-MPC) is developed and applied to the hybrid Nine-level Active Nested Neutral-Point Piloted (9L-ANNPP) voltage source converter. A mathematical model for the converter is derived and then incorporated in the FCS-MPC. The objective of the control algorithm is to operate the converter at the desired reference output current while balancing the dc-link and flying capacitors' voltages. The balancing of the capacitors is achieved by utilizing the redundant switching states of the converter. The control algorithm is also applied to a similar hybrid 9-level converter to compare the output quality of both topologies. The effectiveness of the implemented FCS-MPC is evaluated by computer simulation under different operating conditions. The control algorithm is able to produce high quality output while maintaining the capacitors at the target voltage levels. The comparison of the two topologies shows that the 9L-ANNPP can produce similar output waveform quality despite of its reduced component count.Nanyang Technological UniversitySubmitted/Accepted versionThe School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, and the Academic Research Fund Tier1 at Nanyang Technological University has supported this work

Reduced switch count dual-output T-type multilevel converter

A new dual-outut multilevel converter topology based on neutral point connection is introduced. The topology significantly reduces the switch count, especially with increasing output voltage levels. Hence, it is referred to as the Reduced Switch Count Dual-output T-type (RSC-DT) multilevel converter. A level detection PD-PWM modulation technique was implemented to drive the converter's output and maintain the dc-link capacitor voltage balancing. The neutral point voltage balancing was achieved by utilizing the redundant states occurring under three-phase operation. The simulation results shows an effective control algorithm and normal operation of the converter. A study on the dc-link capacitor balancing limitation has also been carried out.Ministry of Education (MOE)Submitted/Accepted versionThis work was supported by the Ministry of Education, Singapore, under grant AcRF TIER 1-2018-T1-002-109 (RG 171/18)