Learning style and learning strategies in a multimedia environment

There is a growing realization that it may be expeditious to combine elements from different theories of learning when trying to derive a coherent and usable policy towards computer‐mediated learning. Consideration of the subtle distinction between Computer‐Aided Learning (CAL) and Computer‐Aided Instruction (CAI) conform the basis of a possible classification of computer‐mediated learning, and hence of multimedia tools. This classification enables the development of a continuum upon which to place various strategies for computer‐mediated learning, and hence a means of broadly classifying multimedia learning tools

Developing Radiotherapy services in Iraq

A 5 year partnership between Sheffield Hallam University and the Iraq Ministry of Health was established to provide education and development for healthcare professionals; including Radiation Therapy Physicists and Technicians (Radiographers) and Doctors. Supported by the UK Government, the Iraqi Ministry of Health requested the planning and delivery of courses to develop their existing staff and train new practitioners to expand their Radiotherapy service following significant investment in equipment and infrastructure. Reported here are the initial stages of the project: The first cohort of 6 students arrived in August 2012 followed by a 2nd in February 2013. All worked in some aspect of healthcare with a first degree (or higher) in Physics. A minimum of International English Language Testing System (IELTS) level 4 in English language ability was required. Many were currently working as Radiotherapy Physicists but students had mixed levels of clinical experience: some being completely new to Radiotherapy. The overall programme of study was divided into 2 parts. The 1st was designed to enable students to develop their English language skills to a minimum of IELTS level 5; whilst also studying fundamental aspects of Radiotherapy, in preparation for a subsequent CPD Radiation Therapy Physics course (Part 2). Course aims: Facilitate the improvement of cancer care in Iraq and help improve radiation safety by increasing the use of evidence based practice Give students opportunities to use, develop and share their subject/profession specific knowledge and skills Develop language for presentation and group discussion Develop awareness of the classroom culture in UK Higher Education Institution

Is the bladder filling protocol for prostate cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy fit for purpose? (Abstract only)

Introduction: Conventional radiotherapy has been planned with a full bladder based on the rationale that it will move the small bowel out of the treatment field and result in greater sparing of the bladder itself[1]. Our department has moved from a ‘comfortably full’ bladder to a strict drinking protocol of emptying the bladder, drinking three cups of water and waiting 30 minutes prior to treatment for our prostate cancer patients. A service evaluation was carried out to determine if this change in practice results in a more consistent bladder volume from CT panning to treatment. Method and Materials: Based on 233 prostate patients treated per year a sample size of 146 was determined to result in a 95% confidence level with a 5% margin of error[2]. The last 73 patients on the comfortably full protocol and the first 73 patients on the new bladder protocol were compared. Their bladder volume from CT and on their CBCT fraction one was outlined by one observer to ascertain the difference in bladder volume and assess consistency. Results: The bladder filling protocol does not result in a statistically significant difference in bladder volume from CT to CBCT fraction one compared to comfortably full; the results prove that there is statistically no benefit from moving from comfortably full to the strict drinking protocol in terms of consistency of bladder volume achieved. Conclusion and Discussion: In the UK there are currently no official guidelines on what is the optimal volume of bladder for prostate cancer patients[3]. To attend a busy regional cancer centre patients may have had to travel a long distance. This coupled with any unintended delays can result in patients having to empty or be taken of the treatment couch, therefore a strict drinking protocol may not be feasible .The results of this well powered study that there is no statistically significant difference in consistency gained from employing a strict drinking protocol compared to maintaining a comfortably full bladder

Examination of inequivalent wetting on the crystal habit surfaces of RS-ibuprofen using grid-based molecular modelling

Synthonic engineering tools, including grid-based searching molecular modelling, are applied to investigate the wetting interactions of the solute and four crystallisation solvents (ethanol, ethyl acetate, acetonitrile and toluene) with the {100}, {001} and {011} forms of RS-ibuprofen. The grid-based methods, in particular the construction of a crystal slab parallel to a given plane in a coordinate system with one axis perpendicular to the surface, are defined in detail. The interaction strengths and nature (dispersive, hydrogen bonding (H-bonding) or coulombic forces) are related to the crystal growth rates and morphologies. The solute is found to interact strongest with the capping {011}, then the side {001} and weakest with the top {100} habit surfaces. The solute interactions with the {100} and {001} surfaces are found to be almost solely dominated by dispersive force contributions, whilst the same with the {011} surfaces are found to have a greater contribution from H-bonding and coulombic forces. The increased surface rugosity, at the molecular level of the {011} surfaces, results in a favourable docking site in a surface 'valley', not present in the {100} and {001} surfaces. The H-bonding solvents ethanol, acetonitrile and ethyl acetate are found to strongly interact with the {011} surfaces and weakly with the {001} surfaces, with the {011} interactions having a much greater contribution from H-bonding and coulombic forces. The interaction energies of the apolar and aprotic solvent toluene, with the {011} and {001} surfaces, are found to be very close. Toluene is found having slightly stronger interactions with the {001} than the {011} surfaces, which are all dominated by dispersive interactions. The ratio of the average energy of the top 100 solvent interactions with the {001} surface divided by the average energy of the top 100 interactions with the {011} surface is compared to the ratio of the experimentally measured growth rates of the same forms. In general, the interaction energy ratio is found to have an inverse ratio with the growth rates, implying that the solvents which are calculated to interact strongly with a particular surface are impeding the growth of that surface and reducing the growth rate, in turn impacting upon the final morphology of the material

Crystallographic Structure, Intermolecular Packing Energetics, Crystal Morphology and Surface Chemistry of Salmeterol Xinafoate (Form I).

Single crystals of salmeterol xinafoate (form I), prepared from slow cooled supersaturated propan-2-ol solutions, crystallise in a triclinic P‾1 symmetry with two closely related independent salt pairs within the asymmetric unit, with an approximately double unit cell volume compared to the previously published crystal structure(1). Synthonic analysis of the bulk intermolecular packing confirms the similarity in packing energetics between the two salt pairs. The strongest synthons, as expected, are dominated by coulombic interactions. Morphological prediction reveals a plate-like morphology, dominated by the {001}, {010} and {100} surfaces, consistent with experimentally grown crystals. Though surface chemistry of the slow growing {001} face comprises of large sterically hindering phenyl groups, weaker coulombic interactions still prevail from the alcohol group present on the phenyl and hydroxymethyl groups. The surface chemistry of the faster growing {010} and {100} faces are dominated by the significantly stronger cation/anion interactions occurring between the carboxylate and protonated secondary ammonium ion groups. The importance of understanding the cohesive/adhesive nature of the crystal surfaces of an API, with respect to their interaction with other API crystals and excipients and how that may impact formulation design is highlighted

The role of integrins and chemokines in the regulation of mucosal mast cell migration in the mouse

Mucosal mast cells (MMC) play a major role in allergic disease of the gut and in the immune response to gastrointestinal nematodes where, in the mouse, their precursors are recruited into the jejunum and migrate intraepithelially. There, they can be identified as the mature phenotype by their expression of the MMC-specific chymase, mouse mast cell protease-1 (mMCP-1).Migration of other immune cells is regulated by adhesion to extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins via expression of adhesion molecules such as integrins, and by interactions with chemotactic molecules such as chemokines. Previous work with other mast cell phenotypes suggests mast cells to be no exception to this regulatory system, therefore the aim of this project was to investigate the role of integrins and chemokines in mast cell migration.Initial experiments analysed, using RT-PCR, expression of potential mast cell chemoattractants from intestinal epithelium following infection of mice with the nematode parasite, Nippostrongylus brasiliensis. Chemokines MlP-la, RANTES, fractalkine and TECK, and cytokines SCF and TGF-Pi were constitutively expressed from intestinal epithelium; and MCP-1 expression was detected only on days 7 and 14 post-infection, coinciding with intraepithelial migration of mast cells. Cultured MMC and the CMT-93 intestinal epithelial cell line expressed some of these molecules, suggesting epithelial cells or intraepithelial MMC as potential sources of mast cell chemoattractants. Furthermore, expression of mRNA for chemokine receptors including CCR1, CCR2, CCR5, CX3CR1 and CXCR4 was detected in cultured MMC, possibly enabling migration towards chemokines expressed from intestinal epithelium.Adhesion of cultured MMC to ECM proteins was regulated by TGF-Pi, which also regulates the mucosal phenotype, as shown by expression of mMCP-1. MMC cultured with TGF-Pi adhered to laminin-1 via expression ofthe integrin a7pl, as demonstrated by RT-PCR, flow cytometry and use of neutralising antibodies. MMC cultured in the absence of TGF-Pi adhered to fibronectin and vitronectin but not laminin-1, and did not express a7pi. Expression of a7pi integrin has not previously been shown in a haemopoeitic cell and, as epithelial basement membranes are rich in laminin, this integrin may aid migration and retention of MMC intraepithelially.In conclusion, this work suggests expression of integrins and chemokine receptors by MMC or their precursors, and of chemokines and cytokines by intestinal epithelium as possible mechanisms regulating intraepithelial migration of MMC