Publications by authors named "M E Westwood"

Cardiology training in the UK is facing significant challenges due to a range of factors. Recent curriculum changes have further compounded this issue and significantly risk the ability to produce adequately trained consultants capable of managing patients with increasingly complex cardiovascular disease. The introduction of mandatory dual accreditation in general internal medicine (GIM) alongside cardiology, by design, results in significantly reduced training opportunities, including procedural and subspecialty exposure.

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Article Synopsis
  • - Blending polyborosiloxane (PBS), an elastomer with unique viscoelastomeric properties, with organic semiconducting polymers can enhance the flexibility of wearable electronics.
  • - The research examines the compatibility of two distinct PBS elastomers with poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT), highlighting that one shows better blend compatibility due to varying crosslinking densities.
  • - Detailed rheological experiments are conducted to investigate the viscoelastic properties and relaxation processes of the PBS:P3HT blends, focusing on the formation of P3HT crystallites within the material.
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This study describes the physicochemical characterisation of interpenetrating hydrogel networks (IHNs) composed of either poly(hydroxyethylmethacrylate, p(HEMA)) or poly(methacrylic acid, p(MAA)), and Pluronic block copolymers (grades F127, P123 and L121). IHNs were prepared by mixing the acrylate monomer with Pluronic block copolymers followed by free radical polymerisation. p(HEMA)-Pluronic blends were immiscible, evident from a lack of interaction between the two components (Raman spectroscopy) and the presence of the glass transitions (differential scanning calorimetry, DSC) of the two components.

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Article Synopsis
  • Clinicians lack data science training, which is essential in today's data-driven healthcare environment, prompting the need for structured education in this area.
  • A 1-day course was conducted with 20 participants, mostly cardiology trainees, combining lectures and hands-on coding exercises in R; feedback showed improved confidence in data analysis skills.
  • Results indicate that such short courses can significantly boost clinicians' abilities and awareness in data science, suggesting a pathway for integrating these skills into medical education.
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The development of methods for the selective acylative kinetic resolution (KR) of tertiary alcohols is a recognised synthetic challenge with relatively few successful substrate classes reported to date. In this manuscript, a highly enantioselective isothiourea-catalysed acylative KR of tertiary pyrazolone alcohols is reported. The scope and limitations of this methodology have been developed, with high selectivity observed across a broad range of substrate derivatives incorporating varying substitution at N(2)-, C(4)- and C(5)-, as well as bicyclic constraints within the pyrazolone scaffold (30 examples, selectivity factors (s) typically >100) at generally low catalyst loadings (1 mol %).

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