258 research outputs found
Explicitly linking teaching and assessment of communication skills
No full textBACKGROUND: Communication skills teaching is known to be effective, but students feel there are discrepancies between how communication skills are taught and how they are assessed.AIMS: This study examined the effect of using standard assessment criteria during communication skills teaching on students' performance in an end-of-year summative OSCE.METHOD: Students attending their year 3 communication skills teaching were randomised to one of the following three conditions: the assessment criteria were available for reference on the medical school website; or students received the assessment criteria for use in the discussion and feedback; or each student's performance was graded by him- or her-self, his or her peers, the tutor and the actor using the standard assessment criteria.RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the end-of-year OSCE performance of students who received the three different conditions. Actively using standard assessment criteria during teaching did not therefore improve OSCE performance. There were low but significant correlations between the tutors' assessment and the students' self-assessment and between the tutors' assessment and the peer group's assessment.CONCLUSION: The congruence between observers in the assessments of role-played consultations using the standard assessment criteria indicates that the criteria may be helpful for summarizing feedback to students.</p
Representations of mad cow disease
No full textThis paper examines the reporting of the story of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) and its human
derivative variant Creutzfeld-Jacob Disease (vCJD) in the British newspapers. Three ‘snapshots’ of newspaper coverage
are sampled and analysed between the period 1986 and 1996 focusing on how representations of the disease evolved
over the 10-year period. Social representations theory is used to elucidate how this new disease threat was
conceptualised in the newspaper reporting and how it was explained to the UK public. This paper examines who or
what was said to be at risk from the new disease, and whether some individuals or groups held to blame for the diseases’
putative origins, the appearance of vCJD in human beings, and its spread
Design of Pressure Washer Trailer
No full textTopic of master´s thesis is design of pressure washer trailer system which is independent of external sources of energy and water. Its compact dimensions and relatively low weight can provide use with standard car. Design must respect main requirements of ergonomic, technology and esthetic aspects
Design of Pressure Washer Trailer
No full textTématem diplomové práce je návrh mobilního vysokotlakého čističe, který není závislý na vnějších zdrojích energie ani pracovního média – tedy vody. Jeho kompaktní rozměry a hmotnost mají zajistit možnost tažení za osobním automobilem. Návrh musí brát ohled na ergonomické, technologické i estetické požadavky.Topic of master´s thesis is design of pressure washer trailer system which is independent of external sources of energy and water. Its compact dimensions and relatively low weight can provide use with standard car. Design must respect main requirements of ergonomic, technology and esthetic aspects.
Dehydration dynamics model with Monte Carlo Method for a front-loading washer/dryer
No full textIn this study, we aimed to improve the efficiency of an anti-vibration design for front-loading washer/dryers and propose a dehydration dynamics model that combines a mechanical model with a random algorithm. In addition to the anti-vibration structure, front-loading washer-dryers are equipped with dehydration start control where dehydration is repeated until the level of vibration detected during dehydration falls below the threshold. The proposed model focuses on the probability distribution of clothing behavior during dehydration and models the clothing behavior by using a random number that follows the probability distribution. Then, we present the reusability of the probability distribution and the difference from a mechanical model that does not consider clothing. In this way, in the upstream design without the actual machine, the anti-vibration structure and dehydration start control could be simultaneously designed, improving the efficiency of the anti-vibration design
Fabric movement and washing performance in a front-loading washer with a built-in pulsator
No full textThe objective of this study was to investigate the change of fabric movement by introducing a pulsator in a front-loading washer. To examine the effect of the changed fabric movements on washing performance, detergency, mechanical action, wrinkling, tangling, and tensile strength were also investigated. Three-dimensional fabric movement was analyzed by representing the fabric center in the washer as XYZ coordinate values. Seven indexes of fabric movement were used to analyze the correlation between fabric movement and detergency. On comparing fabric movements using the indexes, the front-loading washer with a built-in pulsator showed more diverse fabric movements than the conventional washer and, in particular, movement in the depth direction of the drum occurred more frequently in the newly developed system. This led to 7.6% higher detergency compared to the conventional one, possibly due to the increased interaction between fabrics. Regression analysis verified that the diversified fabric movements induced by the pulsator in the front-loading washer resulted in the improvement of detergency. The different fabric movements in the newly developed system also affected fabric damage, tangling and wrinkling. © The Author(s) 2019
Mathematical modeling of produce washing in an industrial-scale flume washer
No full textIn America, fresh fruits and vegetables play an important role in enhancing people’s health and wellbeing (FDA, 1998). However, the cross-contamination in a sanitizing chlorine washing system is considered as a potential area of risk, where the contaminated and non-contaminated produce are being washed together in the washer (Munther et al., 2015). Therefore, cross contamination of fresh produce during washing should be regarded as a critical risk factor that can lead to foodborne disease outbreaks. In addition, fresh produce and fruits are heavily handled but undergo minimal processing before consumption. Therefore, it is necessary to develop an efficient and effective process on produce washing.
In this study, two factors aimed to reduce the microbial load on the produce were considered, which were shear stress and free chlorine. Although many of chemical treatments have very high efficiency in reducing microbial population in wash water, most of the chemical forces have limitation when it comes to the removal of bacteria from produce surface (Gil et al., 2009). In the removal of pathogens from produce surface, shear stress serves as the mechanical force and chlorine serves as the chemical force. During the washing process, bacteria get detached from the produce surface and go into wash water. However, some of the bacteria in wash water might re-attach on to the produce surface. The aim of this study was to mathematically model the combined role of shear stress and free chlorine on microbial attachment and adhesion in an industrial scale flume washer.
COMSOL® Multiphysics was used to simulate the washing of spherical produce in an industrial-scale flume washer. The first step was to examine how the relative horizontal positioning of two spherical produce impacted their exposure to shear stress caused by the flow in flume washer. Two spheres, 1.2 inches in diameter, were placed one behind another in a flume to represent spherical produce. The distance between the two spheres was varied. The correlation between the surface shear stress and the distance between two spheres was investigated. The simulated shear stress values were used in a mathematical model that simulated bacteria adhesion. A set of ordinary differential equations (ODEs) that described the ligand-receptor binding of bacteria and produce surface was used to quantify the number of bacteria detached and attached on the produce surface as a function of time. The shear stress values from prior simulation and chlorine sanitizer concentration were introduced to the ODEs to investigate their impact on the detachment and attachment of bacteria in this industrial-scale flume washer.
This study also effectively simulated the transport of free chlorine in a flume washer when chlorine was injected at selected locations. A chlorine dynamics model was used to calculate the distribution of chlorine in a flume washer.
The results showed that there was no significant change in the shear stress experienced by the sphere upstream when the distance between the two spheres was changed. The downstream sphere experienced variable shear stress, with shear stress reaching steady maximum value of 275 mPa when distance between the two spheres was no less than four times as their diameter. The ODEs approximated the number of bacteria on produce surface and in wash water under different shear stress values. Low main-flow velocity with higher injection velocity gave more uniform distribution of free chlorine. The results of this study will provide guidelines for designing produce washing equipment and the flow conditions used in produce washing.M.S.Includes bibliographical reference
The design and development of a context-specific medical washer for laparoscopic instruments for rural Indian hospitals
No full textRural India faces many challenges in providing adequate health care for all. Health awareness among the Indian population is low due to poor functional literacy and low emphasis on education within the health sector.Minimally Invasive Surgery (MIS), such as laparoscopy, offers many advantages, including smaller incisions, less tissue damage and faster recovery for patients compared to traditional open surgery. The use of laparoscopy in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) is particularly influential because it can minimise the morbidity associated with laparotomies and provide benefits such as fewer postoperative infections and faster return to work. The laparoscopic instruments must be carefully cleaned and sterilised after each use to prevent infection. In any surgery, there is a risk of infection. Postoperative wound infections (POWIs) occur after surgery on the part of the body being operated on. Globally, the rate of POWIs varies between 0.5 and 15 per cent, while in India, rates between 23 and 38 per cent are consistently measured (Arora et al., 2018). These complications lead to revision surgery, delayed wound healing, increased use of antibiotics and longer hospital stay, all of which have a significant impact on patients and healthcare costs. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the greatest threats to human health we face worldwide. (World Health Organisation, 2012a, 2012b).This project focuses on making minimally invasive surgery such as laparoscopy safely applicable in low- and middle-income countries through a medical washer. It aims to find a research-based solution to improve the reprocessing of laparoscopic instruments to reduce POWIs and the need for antibiotics. The current method of reprocessing in hospitals in rural India does not result in sterile laparoscopic instruments and is harmful to patient, nurse and all other staff present in the OR. Instruments are also damaged during the cleaning process. These problems mainly stem from lack of training of nurses, time pressure and due to lack of cleaning equipment.The project approach was implemented using the Double Diamond Design Model. In the final phase, a prototype was built and this prototype was evaluated in the context of rural India. The aim of this study was to investigate the medical washer loading system for laparoscopic instruments in rural hospitals and to understand how the loading system is used by nurses without any prior explanation. We also investigated how the concept of the medical washing machine is perceived by the end user.The medical washer for laparoscopic instruments for the context of rural India has been developed can improve current reprocessing practices. By automating the cleaning process, the medical washer reduces the risk of human error and ensures that instruments are thoroughly cleaned. The inclusion of a loading system that can be used without extensive training ensures that the system can be used safely and correctly by all healthcare workers. With the combination of these systems in an integrated design, the medical washer can additionally provide value by reducing cleaning time and allowing nurses to take rest breaks or do other tasks. Double degree in: Integrated Product Design and BioMedical EngineeringIntegrated Product DesignBiomedical Engineerin
Melt Flow Analysis of Novel Polymer Plate Washer Using Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD)
No full textFinal Year Project II is an individual research project in connection with a special engineering problem and under the guidance of a faculty member. My Final Year Project II entitled “Melt Flow Analysis of Novel Polymer Plate Washer Using Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD)”. The objective of my project is to study the melt flow process during the fabrication of polymer plate washer via the novel technique by using Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD). The result of this analysis will be simulated by using FLUENT software. For this analysis project, the author wants to know if there is any possibility the polymer plate washers being produced by using other method instead of existing method. This procedure might be developed into novel commercial method to fabricate polymer plate washer which is much easier and less tedious, perhaps. This procedure is also important to be understood in terms of basic thermo mechanical processing. The molten flow of polymer plate washer during this novel technique will be analyzed. It is required that the flow behavior of the molten flow process is simulated by using any Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) software or any software that suitable
Damage of concrete structures by windshield washer fluid
No full textこの研究はセメントコンクリートがウインドウオッシャ中に含まれる界面活性剤により著しく中性化され破壊することを初めて明らかにした。この検証は現地のコンクリートスラブから採取したコンクリートについて詳細な実験を行った結果から行われたものである。This paper describe 1H NMR test results for neutralized cement concrete slab which rain water having the surfactants were splashed by repeated traffic. As the test results, surfactants involved in the windshield washer fluid destruct remarkably the cement concrete structures
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