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This paper explores the idea that student-centred learning (SCL) is a concept and an approach that is internationally useful and transferable to a range of higher education settings. We present details of a British Council funded collaborative project between Hawler Medical University (HMU), in Erbil in the Kurdistan region of northern Iraq and the University of Glasgow (UoG) in Scotland, UK. The aim of this project was to support teachers within HMU to adopt SCL methodologies across the dentistry, medicine, nursing and pharmacy curricula. We use experiences and evaluation from this project to explore the ways in which different teachers interpreted and enacted SCL. The project evaluation findings demonstrate that as a result of the SCL project, most teachers at HMU demonstrated a slight increase in their level of confidence as a teacher, their level of understanding of SCL and confidence in their own skills to undertake SCL. There was a willingness from most participants to try to adapt their teaching practice towards an SCL approach. However, some participants did not fully understand the shift in conceptualisation necessary in adopting a student-centred approach and some were uncomfortable with the need for a shift of power from teacher to student implied within SCL. We conclude by highlighting the key lessons learned from this project related to the translatability of SCL from one global context to another, highlighting the need to re-examine a range of Western educational concepts in the current context of increasing transnational higher education partnerships.

In this work, we present the study of emissions of light fragments produced in interactions of 160 GeV muons with emulsion nuclei. A total of 820 interactions with emulsion nuclei were collected. Thickness, coordinate and range of each track were measured. Charges of emitted fragments were identified and the corresponding energies were calculated. Multiplicity, total particle production cross-sections and angular distribution of particles (P, He, Li, Be and B) were presented. Forward–backward–angular correlations were measured for the emitted alpha particles. Short and long range correlation among pairs of Alfa particles were observed at specific angular intervals. The experimental data and the results of the angular correlation were used to find the probable mechanism of producing alpha particles and to reveal the dynamic characteristics of the reactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work we present some results of the interaction of high-energy muons with emulsion nuclei. The interaction results in emission of a number of fragments as a consequence of electromagnetic dissociation of the excited target nuclei. This excitation is attributed to absorption of photons by the target nuclei due to the intense electric field of the very fast incident muon particles. The interactions take place at impact parameters that allow ultra-peripheral collisions to take place, leading to giant resonances and hence multifragmentation of emulsion targets. Charge identification, range, energy spectra, angular distribution and topological cross-section of the produced fragments are measured and evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to review the literature on modeling and previous control strategies of the hydraulic actuator system proposed by most of the researchers around the world. Before comes to the main discussion, some background information related to hydraulic actuator will be presented. This review includes a short summary and conclusion for hydraulic actuator system. The repercussion of this review is for future inventions of a better and robust hydraulic actuator system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of population growth and demographic transition on economic development has been well documented. The population growth in Iraqi Kurdistan is passing through a critical stage of demographic transition. It is, in fact, extremely likely that the region will fail to efficiently move through the demographic transition and will experience a long period in the demographic trap, i.e. the population will grow steadily and rapidly owing to the high fertility and low mortality rates. With correct government policies in terms of promoting family planning programmes, should the political context allow, demographic transition can pass smoothly through this critical stage. Furthermore, if demographic transition in Kurdistan moves to the next stage, it will provide an important window of opportunity for economic development. Proper exploitation of this demographic window through investment in education, on-the-job training and health services, in addition to proper and appropriate exploitation of economic resources and suitable and productive use of the labour force, will result in significant economic development over the next few decades. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Breast cancer is a devastating disease affecting women of all ages worldwide with the age incidence in Egypt being one decade younger than the mean age incidence, the latissimus dorsi (LD) flap is an important volume-replacement option due to its stability and versatility as an autologous flap. LD flap could be used for total breast reconstruction after mastectomy in selective cases or to fill a large quadrantectomy defect. Aim: The aim of this study is to estimate the oncologic and aesthetic outcomes and the procedure-related complications of latissimus dorsi (LD) flap with skin sparing mastectomy in management of breast cancer. Patients: On 25 patients breast cancer underwent skin-sparing mastectomy with immediate reconstruction using LD flap. Methods: All patients were subjected to: (Complete history taken, General examination, Local examination and routine investigations) Surgical procedures: 25 patients with breast cancer underwent skin-sparing mastectomy with immediate reconstruction with LD flap. Results: Mean age of included patients was 41.12 years with mean BMI 29.17 kg/m², regarding tumor classification DCIS represented 8% LCIS represented 20% IDC represented 32% ILC represented 40% of all patients, Positive lymph node 1-3 in 40% of patients and more than 3 in 20% of patients and 40% of patients had negative lymph node, 96% of patients had no recurrence on the other hand only 4% shows locoregoinal recurrence, Regarding postoperative immediate complications 72% of patients showed no complications. Discussion: In the current study we aimed to estimate the oncologic and aesthetic outcomes and the procedure-related complications of latissimus dorsi (LD) flap with skin sparing mastectomy in management of breast cancer. Conclusion: Skin sparing mastectomy with immediate breast reconstruction using latissimus dorsi muscular flap allows single-stage, totally autologous reconstruction with a satisfactory aesthetic result, low morbidity, and good quality of life. Recommendations: Breast cancer patients are best managed by a multidisciplinary team, Breast conservation surgery does often leave a significant deformity which can best be corrected by an immediate LD flap reconstruction, this method is simple and effective, our concept should be further analyzed in larger comparative studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the effect of high γ-doses on the track parameters, structure as well as optical properties of pristine and γ-irradiation CR-39 nuclear track detector (NTD) were investigated. CR-39 detectors were exposed to γ-doses from 50 up to 500 kGy and then irradiated by fission ions (F.F) of fluence from 252 CF source. The track diameter (D), bulk etch rate (V B ), etch induction time (EIT), cut-off or saturated time (t cut-off ) for saturated diameters and projected track length (L o ) of normally and inclined incident fission tracks were estimated for different removal layers (h). A linear relationship between D and γ-doses (D γ ) up to 500 k Gy was obtained. The V B for pristine and for γ-irradiated CR-39 was determined. A linear behaviour of V B was obtained up to 300 kGy. Etch induction time (EIT) and saturated time (t cut-off ) of pristine and γ-irradiated detectors for normal and inclined fission ions tracks were evaluated respectively up to 500 kGy. Each EIT and t cut-off decreased exponentially fast with increasing γ-doses but the inclined incidence appeared earlier than normal case. Pristine and γ-irradiated CR-39 detectors were examined using FTIR and UV-Vis spectrophotometer. From this study, a linear relation of band gap energies (E gap ) as a function of γ-doses, Dγ, was obtained. The value of (E gap ) decreased when increasing γ-doses for direct and indirect transitions, respectively. In addition, a systematic increase of Urbach energy (E U ) was recorded together with the D γ increase. Moreover, a linear behavior of the refractive index (n) along with γ-irradiated CR-39 plastic detector was observed via direct and indirect methods., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)