587 research outputs found
Enhancing Student Learning, Engagement, and Employment Through Inclusive Curriculum Design
The diverse student body at Queen Mary University of London requires an effective approach to ensure equal opportunity in higher education. This includes promoting equality, inclusion, equity, and access to services. To address this, the authors present a case study about a redesigned cloud computing module to enhance student engagement, employability, and intercultural learning. The module's learning outcomes are based on the students' graduate attributes and cross-disciplinary abilities, as defined by professional frameworks. To support equal opportunity and facilitate multicultural growth, they have updated the education and learning model to include innovative teaching methods and materials for efficient curriculum delivery. This study establishes the foundation for an action research review of cloud computing that aims to create an inclusive curriculum
Surface Hardening and Self-Organized Fractality Through Etching of Random Solids
When a finite volume of etching solution is in contact with a disordered
solid, complex dynamics of the solid-solution interface develop. If the etchant
is consumed in the chemical reaction, the dynamics stop spontaneously on a
self-similar fractal surface. As only the weakest sites are corroded, the solid
surface gets progressively harder and harder. At the same time it becomes
rougher and rougher uncovering the critical spatial correlations typical of
percolation. From this, the chemical process reveals the latent percolation
criticality hidden in any random system. Recently, a simple minimal model has
been introduced by Sapoval et al. to describe this phenomenon. Through analytic
and numerical study, we obtain a detailed description of the process. The time
evolution of the solution corroding power and of the distribution of resistance
of surface sites is studied in detail. This study explains the progressive
hardening of the solid surface. Finally, this dynamical model appears to belong
to the universality class of Gra dient Percolation.Comment: 14 pages, 15 figures (1457 Kb
Real-time MRI for dynamic assessment of gastroesophageal reflux disease: comparison to pH-metry and impedance
Purpose To evaluate the diagnostic potential of real-time MRI for dynamic assessment of gastroesophageal reflux in patients with GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease)-like symptoms compared to pH-metry and impedance. Methods Patients who underwent real-time MRI and pH-metry between 2015â2018 were included in this retrospective study. Real-time MRI at 3 T was achieved by undersampled radial FLASH acquisitions with iterative image reconstruction by NLINV. Real-time MRI visualized transit of pineapple juice through the gastroesophageal junction and during Valsalva maneuver. MRI results were compared to 24 h pH-metry to assess acidic reflux (following Lyon Consensus guidelines) and to impedance to assess non-acidic reflux. A standard 2 Ă 2 table was chosen to calculate diagnostic performance. Results 91/93 eligible patients fulfilled inclusion criteria (male n = 49; female n = 42; median age 55 y). All MRI studies were successfully completed without adverse events at a mean examination time of 15 min. On real-time MRI, reflux was evident in 60 patients (66 %). pH-metry revealed reflux in 41 patients (45 %), and impedance in 54 patients (59 %). Compared to pH-metry and impedance, real-time MRI sensitivity was 0.78 (95 % CI: 0.66-0.87), specificity 0.67 (95 % CI: 0.45-0.84) and PPV 0.87 (95 % CI: 0.75-0.94). Conclusion Real-time MRI is an imaging method for assessment of gastroesophageal reflux in patients with GERD-like symptoms. Considering its high positive predictive value, real-time MRI can accurately identify patients in which further invasive testing with pH-metry and impedance might be considered
Assessment of esophageal motility disorders by real-time MRI
Purpose To investigate imaging findings of esophageal motility disorders on dynamic real-time. Material and methods 102 patients with GERD-like symptoms were included in this retrospective study between 2015â2018. Dynamic real-time MRI visualized the transit of a 10âŻmL pineapple juice bolus through the esophagus and EGJ with a temporal resolution of 40âŻms. Dynamic and anatomic parameters were measured by consensus reading. Imaging findings were compared to HRM utilizing the Chicago classification of esophageal motility disorders, v3.0. Results All 102 patients completed real-time MRI in a median examination time of 15âŻmin. On HRM, 14 patients presented with disorders with EGJ outlet obstruction (EGJOO) (13.7 %), 7 patients with major disorders of peristalsis (6.9 %), and 32 patients with minor disorders of peristalsis (31.4 %). HRM was normal in 49 patients (48.0 %). Incomplete bolus clearance was significantly more frequent in patients with esophageal motility disorders on HRM than in patients with normal HRM (pâŻ=âŻ0.0002). In patients with motility disorders with EGJOO and major disorders of peristalsis, the esophageal diameter tended to be wider (23.6âŻÂ±âŻ8.0 vs. 21.2âŻÂ±âŻ3.5âŻmm, pâŻ=âŻ0.089) and the sphincter length longer (19.7âŻÂ±âŻ7.3 vs. 16.7âŻÂ±âŻ3.0âŻmm, pâŻ=âŻ0.091) compared to patients with normal HRM. 3/7 patients with achalasia type II were correctly identified by real-time MRI and one further achalasia type II patient was diagnosed with a motility disorder on MRI films. The other 3/7 patients presented no specific imaging features. Conclusion Real-time MRI is an auxiliary diagnostic tool for the assessment of swallowing events. Imaging parameters may assist in the detection of esophageal motility disorders
Assessment of esophagogastric junction morphology by dynamic real-time MRI: comparison of imaging features to high-resolution manometry
Purpose To assess the esophagogastric junction (EGJ) on real-time MRI and compare imaging parameters to EGJ morphol- ogy on high-resolution manometry (HRM). Methods A total of 105 of 117 eligible patients who underwent real-time MRI and high-resolution manometry for GERD- like symptoms between 2015 and 2018 at a single center were retrospectively evaluated (male n = 57; female n = 48; mean age 52.5 ± 15.4 years). Real-time MRI was performed at a median investigation time of 15 min (1 frame/40 ms). On HRM, EGJ morphology was assessed according to the Chicago classification of esophageal motility disorders. Real-time MRI was performed at 3 T using highly undersampled radial fast low-angle shot acquisitions with NLINV image reconstruction. A 10 mL pineapple juice bolus served as oral contrast agent at supine position. Real-time MRI films of the EGJ were acquired during swallowing events and during Valsalva maneuver. Anatomic and functional MRI parameters were compared to EGJ morphology on HRM. Results On HRM, n = 42 patients presented with EGJ type I (40.0%), n= 33 with EGJ type II (31.4%), and n= 30 with EGJ type III (28.6%). On real-time MRI, hiatal hernia was more common in patients with EGJ type III (66.7%) than in patients with EGJ type I (26.2%) and EGJ type II (30.3%; p < 0.001). Sliding hiatal hernia was more frequent in patients with EGJ type II (33.3%) than in patients with EGJ type III (16.7%) and EGJ type I (7.1%; p = 0.017). The mean esophagusâfundus angle of patients was 85 ± 31° at rest and increased to 101 ± 36° during Valsalva maneuver. Conclusion Real-time MRI is a non-invasive imaging method for assessment of the esophagogastric junction. Real-time MRI can visualize dynamic changes of the EGJ during swallowing events
Wishart and Anti-Wishart random matrices
We provide a compact exact representation for the distribution of the matrix
elements of the Wishart-type random matrices , for any finite
number of rows and columns of , without any large N approximations. In
particular we treat the case when the Wishart-type random matrix contains
redundant, non-random information, which is a new result. This representation
is of interest for a procedure of reconstructing the redundant information
hidden in Wishart matrices, with potential applications to numerous models
based on biological, social and artificial intelligence networks.Comment: 11 pages; v2: references updated + some clarifications added; v3:
version to appear in J. Phys. A, Special Issue on Random Matrix Theor
Low-energy cross section of the 7Be(p,g)8B solar fusion reaction from Coulomb dissociation of 8B
Final results from an exclusive measurement of the Coulomb breakup of 8B into
7Be+p at 254 A MeV are reported. Energy-differential Coulomb-breakup cross
sections are analyzed using a potential model of 8B and first-order
perturbation theory. The deduced astrophysical S_17 factors are in good
agreement with the most recent direct 7Be(p,gamma)8B measurements and follow
closely the energy dependence predicted by the cluster-model description of 8B
by Descouvemont. We extract a zero-energy S_17 factor of 20.6 +- 0.8 (stat) +-
1.2 (syst) eV b.Comment: 14 pages including 16 figures, LaTeX, accepted for publication in
Physical Review C. Minor changes in text and layou
Antibiotic prophylaxis for selected gynecologic surgeries
BackgroundAntibiotic prophylaxis for surgery is commonly used and is recommended by multiple organizations.ObjectiveTo critically review gynecologyâspecific data regarding surgical antibiotic prophylaxis in selected benign gynecologic surgeries.Search strategyMEDLINE and Cochrane databases were searched from inception to July 2010.Selection criteriaRandomized controlled trials of benign vaginal, cervical, transcervical, abdominal, or laparoscopic procedures other than hysterectomy comparing prophylactic antibiotic use with placebo or with another antibiotic. Outcomes of interest were postoperative infections, additional treatments, and adverse events.Data collection and analysisIn total, 19 trials met the inclusion criteria. Studies were individually assessed for methodologic quality, then grouped by procedure and evaluated for evidence quality.Main resultsThere was no difference in infectious outcome for loop electrosurgical excision, hysteroscopic ablation, or laparoscopy, although evidence quality was poor. Fair evidence supports antibiotic prophylaxis for suction curettage or laparotomy. There were insufficient data regarding vaginal surgery prophylaxis.ConclusionAntibiotic prophylaxis may be beneficial in firstâtrimester suction curettage and laparotomy. No advantage was found for loop electrosurgical excision, hysteroscopy, or laparoscopic gynecologic surgery. Newer procedures and vaginal surgery lack research and merit study.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/135267/1/ijgo10.pd
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