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Practitioners designing for mobile learning (mLearning) and scholars exploring the same are faced with the challenge of planning for and understanding a variety of ways and places of learning. This study focuses on one crucial distinction concerning this; that of formal and informal learning. Through the analysis of contemporary research literature, we found that informal learning is represented as more enriching than formal learning. We also identified that some representations of informal learning, such as subconscious and tacit, actually gainsay the idea of designing the learning process. Based on these results we propose a number of implications to enhance pedagogical sustainability in mLearning design. We argue that in order to fuse informal and formal learning, mLearning designers need to offer more clear definitions of the concepts "formal" and "informal"; they need to omit some design aspects to the learners themselves, or to offer a design in form of a learning path that students themselves can customise according to their learning habits, routines, and preferences.

A report of a longitudinal hemispherical standing-wave ultrasonic trap for microsphere separation in small diameter capillaries is presented.

Summary: Background: Administration of pulsed inhaled nitric oxide (PiNO) improves arterial oxygenation in spontaneously breathing anaesthetised healthy horses and in horses undergoing colic surgery. However, because hypoventilation commonly occurs, horses are often mechanically ventilated to prevent hypercarbia. Objectives: To evaluate the effects of PiNO on arterial oxygenation during anaesthesia in mechanically ventilated healthy horses and horses undergoing colic surgery. Study design: Prospective nonblinded clinical trial. Methods: Fifty horses undergoing elective arthroscopy (Group A) and 30 horses undergoing colic surgery (Group C) in dorsal recumbency were included in the study. Every second horse in each group received PiNO (A‐INO, C‐INO), the others served as controls (A‐CN, C‐CN). All horses were mechanically ventilated and anaesthesia was maintained with isoflurane. PiNO was mechanically delivered at the proximal end of the endotracheal tube as a pulse during the first part of each inspiration. Data were collected at the start (baseline, before PiNO) and at the end of inhalation anaesthesia. The Tukey method was used to compare baseline and end values for each parameter. Results: Arterial oxygen tension (PaO2) increased from (median [IQR]) 13.6 (9.3, 30.1) at baseline to 24.2 (18.6, 37.0) kPa at the end of anaesthesia in A‐INO (P = 0.005) and from 7.7 (6.4, 8.5) to 15.5 (9.9, 26.9) kPa in C‐INO (P = 0.007). Mean (95% CI) difference in F‐shunt between baseline and end were −6 (−10; −1) and −11 (−22; −1) % in A‐INO (P = 0.005) and C‐INO (P = 0.04) respectively. There was no change in PaO2 or F‐shunt from baseline to end of anaesthesia in A‐CN or C‐CN. Main limitations: Cardiac output was not measured, thus O2 delivery could not be calculated. Conclusions: The combination of mechanical ventilation and PiNO improved pulmonary gas exchange during anaesthesia by a simultaneous decrease in F‐shunt and improved alveolar ventilation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An ultrasonic particle concentrator based on a standing-wave hemispherical resonator is combined with confocal laser-scanning fluorescence detection. The goal is to perform ultrasensitive biomedical analysis by concentration of biologically active microspheres. The standing-wave resonator consists of a 4 MHz focusing ultrasonic transducer combined with the optically transparent plastic bottom of a disposable 96-well microplate platform. The ultrasonic particle concentrator collects suspended microspheres into dense, single-layer aggregates at well-defined positions in the sample vessel of the microplate, and the fluorescence from the aggregates is detected by the confocal laser-scanning system. The biochemical properties of the system are investigated using a microsphere-based human thyroid stimulating hormone assay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the complex 3D tumor microenvironment is important in cancer research. This microenvironment can be modelled in vitro by culturing multicellular tumor spheroids (MCTS). Key challenges when using MCTS in applications such as high-throughput drug screening are overcoming imaging and analytical issues encountered during functional and structural investigations. To address these challenges, we use an ultrasonic standing wave (USW) based MCTS culture platform for parallel formation, staining and imaging of 100 whole MCTS. A protein repellent amphiphilic polymer coating enables flexible production of high quality and unanchored MCTS. This enables high-content multimode analysis based on flow cytometry and in situ optical microscopy. We use HepG2 hepatocellular carcinoma, A498 and ACHN renal carcinoma, and LUTC-2 thyroid carcinoma cell lines to demonstrate (i) the importance of the ultrasound–coating combination, (ii) bright field image based automatic characterization of MTCS, (iii) detailed deep tissue confocal imaging of whole MCTS mounted in a refractive index matching solution, and (iv) single cell functional analysis through flow cytometry of single cell suspensions of disintegrated MTCS. The USW MCTS culture platform is customizable and holds great potential for detailed multimode MCTS analysis in a high-content manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a tunable-angle wedge ultrasound transducer for improved control of microparticle acoustophoresis in a microfluidic chip. The transducer is investigated by analyzing the pattern of aligned particles and induced acoustic energy density while varying the transducer geometry, transducer coupling angle, and transducer actuation method (single-frequency actuation or frequency-modulation actuation). The energy-density analysis is based on measuring the transmitted light intensity through a microfluidic channel filled with a suspension of 5 µm diameter beads and the results with the tunable-angle transducer are compared with the results from actuation by a standard planar transducer in order to decouple the influence from change in coupling angle and change in transducer geometry. We find in this work that the transducer coupling angle is the more important parameter compared to the concomitant change in geometry and that the coupling angle may be used as an additional tuning parameter for improved acoustophoretic control with single-frequency actuation. Further, we find that frequency-modulation actuation is suitable for diminishing such tuning effects and that it is a robust method to produce uniform particle patterns with average acoustic energy densities comparable to those obtained using single-frequency actuation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To design and validate a scoring system for tomosynthesis (digital tomography) in pulmonary cystic fibrosis.Methods: A scoring system dedicated to tomosynthesis in pulmonary cystic fibrosis was designed. Three radiologists independently scored 88 pairs of radiographs and tomosynthesis examinations of the chest in 60 patients with cystic fibrosis and 7 oncology patients. Radiographs were scored according to the Brasfield scoring system and tomosynthesis examinations were scored using the new scoring system.Results: Observer agreements for the tomosynthesis score were almost perfect for the total score with square-weighted kappa >0.90, and generally substantial to almost perfect for subscores. Correlation between the tomosynthesis score and the Brasfield score was good for the three observers (Kendall's rank correlation tau 0.68, 0.77 and 0.78). Tomosynthesis was generally scored higher as a percentage of the maximum score. Observer agreements for the total score for Brasfield score were almost perfect (square-weighted kappa 0.80, 0.81 and 0.85).Conclusions: The tomosynthesis scoring system seems robust and correlates well with the Brasfield score. Compared with radiography, tomosynthesis is more sensitive to cystic fibrosis changes, especially bronchiectasis and mucus plugging, and the new tomosynthesis scoring system offers the possibility of more detailed and accurate scoring of disease severity.Key Points: Tomosynthesis is more sensitive than conventional radiography for pulmonary cystic fibrosis changes. The radiation dose from chest tomosynthesis is low compared with computed tomography. Tomosynthesis may become useful in the regular follow-up of patients with cystic fibrosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surface acoustic wave (SAW) excitation of an acoustic field in a trapezoidal glass microfluidic channel for particle manipulation in continuous flow has been demonstrated. A unidirectional interdigital transducer (IDT) on a Y-cut Z-propagation lithium niobate (LiNbO3) substrate was used to excite a surface acoustic wave at approximately 35 MHz. An SU8 layer was used for adhesive bonding of the superstrate glass layer and the substrate piezoelectric layer. This work extends the use of SAWs for acoustic manipulation to also include glass channels in addition to prior work with mainly poly-di-methyl-siloxane channels. Efficient alignment of 1.9 µm polystyrene particles to narrow nodal regions was successfully demonstrated. In addition, particle alignment with only one IDT active was realized. A finite element method simulation was used to visualize the acoustic field generated in the channel and the possibility of 2D alignment into small nodal regions was demonstrated [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article illuminates two Swedish adolescent girls' experiences of living in a violent relationship as teenagers and how this has affected their lives and health over time. Interviews were conducted in a youth health center. A combination of qualitative content analysis and narrative analysis describes violation, stress, trauma, coping, and agency during the period of adolescence and transition into adulthood. Despite Swedish progressive public policies on men's violence against women, teenage girls are exposed to male partners' violation, a severe gendered stressor. There is a need for the development of health policy and gender-responsive interventions geared specifically toward adolescent girls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We demonstrate flow-free transport of cells and particles by the use of frequency-modulated ultrasonic actuation of a microfluidic chip. Two different modulation schemes are combined: A rapid (1 kHz) linear frequency sweep around ∼6.9 MHz is used for two-dimensional spatial stabilization of the force field over a 5 mm long inlet channel of constant cross section, and a slow (0.2–0.7 Hz) linear frequency sweep around ∼2.6 MHz is used for flow-free ultrasonic transport and positioning of cells or particles. The method is used for controlling the motion and position of cells monitored with high-resolution optical microscopy, but can also be used more generally for improving the robustness and performance of ultrasonic manipulation micro-devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article builds upon results from an empirical study of nine cases where single mothers and their teenage sons have reflected on the relationship to the absent father and on his significance for the family. The results have led us to reflect further on how the construction of a father figure is shaped. The cases are selected from ongoing interventions from the social services. The child's age at the start of the father's absence varied from birth to seven years old or more. Through analysis of the different cases of mother-son dyad, their narratives and their joint construction of a father figure, the dyad transforms into a triad with the presence of the absent father. Also discussed is the question of which underlying conditions contribute to the need for a joint construction of the father. Further, doubt is cast on the one-sided gender perspective that presupposes young men's need for an adult man as a model of masculinity. The analysis is related to Swedish legislation, emphasising the importance of ascribed biological parenthood, meaning that fathers' right to joint custody and to visit the child have been strengthened. Along with the biological relationship, the welfare state also regulates the content of fatherhood, i.e. a state-controlled fatherhood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To study symptom panorama in students, to identify undiagnosed iron deficiency, and to evaluate any changes in symptoms and laboratory test results after treatment with iron supplementation. Design Descriptive and prospective, interventional study. Setting Healthcare in upper secondary school. Intervention Treatment with iron supplementation for a period of 3 months. Subjects Students in the first grade of one upper secondary school. Main outcome measures Frequency of iron deficiency related to symptoms measured by a questionnaire (30 questions) on symptoms related to quality of life and 9 questions about diet and exercise. Results Iron deficiency was diagnosed in 12% of the students (two or more abnormal laboratory tests) and in 61% of the students one or more laboratory tests were abnormal. Symptoms of vertigo/dizziness were significantly more common in students with iron deficiency. After iron supplementation there was a significant increase in s-ferritin levels and a decrease in s-transferrin levels, with an accompanying significant reduction of the symptom scores of vertigo/dizziness, irritability, depressive symptoms, and indisposition. Conclusions Symptoms of vertigo/dizziness were significantly more common in students with iron deficiency. Iron supplementation reduced the symptoms of vertigo/dizziness, irritability, depressive symptoms, and indisposition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]