University of Westminster

About: University of Westminster is a education organization based out in London, United Kingdom. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Context (language use). The organization has 2944 authors who have published 8426 publications receiving 200236 citations. The organization is also known as: Westminster University & Royal Polytechnic Institution.

Polyhydroxyalkanoates, a family of natural polymers, and their applications in drug delivery

Abstract: Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are natural biopolymers produced by various microorganisms as a reserve of carbon and energy. PHA synthesis generally occurs during fermentation under nutrient limiting conditions with excess carbon. There are two main types of PHAs, short chain length PHAs (scl-PHAs) and medium chain length PHAs (mcl-PHAs). The mechanical and thermal properties of PHAs depend mainly on the number of carbons in the monomer unit and its molecular weight. PHAs are promising materials for biomedical applications because they are biodegradable, non-toxic and biocompatible. The large range of PHAs, along with their varying physical properties and high biocompatibility, make them highly attractive biomaterials for use in drug delivery. They can be used to produce tablets, micro- and nanoparticles as well as drug eluting scaffolds. A large range of different PHAs have been explored and the results obtained suggest that PHAs are excellent candidates for controlled and targeted drug delivery systems. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry

What patients expect from complementary therapy: a qualitative study.

Abstract: Objectives. Complementary and alternative therapies have become popular with patients in Western countries. Studies have suggested motivations for patients’ choosing a wide range of complementary therapies. Data on the expectations of patients who use complementary therapy are limited. We assessed the expectations of patients who use complementary therapy.Methods. Patients attending a British National Health Service (NHS) outpatient department that provided acupuncture, osteopathy, and homoeopathy were asked to complete a qualitative survey.Results. Patients expected symptom relief, information, a holistic approach, improved quality of life, self-help advice, and wide availability of such therapies on the NHS.Conclusions. Physicians’ understanding of patients’ expectations of complementary therapies will help patients make appropriate and realistic treatment choices.

Complexity, cues and relationships: Student perceptions of feedback

Abstract: This article discusses issues relating to the effectiveness of feedback and the student perspective. The study described provides rich data relating to student perceptions of useful feedback, their perceptions of feedback cues and their feelings about the importance of feedback relationships in the process. The outcomes suggest that written feedback is often not the most effective tool for helping students to improve their learning. The students in this study had much broader perceptions of useful feedback. Their perceptions challenge some of the assumptions that might be seen to underpin auditing approaches to monitoring the quality of feedback such as that of the National Student Survey.

A Farming Crisis or a Tourism Disaster? An Analysis of the Foot and Mouth Disease in the UK

Abstract: As the number of disasters and crises affecting the tourism industry increases, it is becoming necessary to understand the nature of these disasters and how to manage and limit the impacts of such incidents. This paper defines crises and disasters before discussing the area of crisis and disaster management. The paper then applies the foot and mouth outbreak which occurred in the United Kingdom to the tourism disaster framework proposed by Faulkner (2001). The paper notes that although the outbreak fits the basic principles of Faulkner's (2001) model, the size, scope and subsequent management of the outbreak over an extended period suggests that although the model is useful, it has limited usefulness because not all disasters and crises are the same. Nevertheless, by examining how crises and disasters are managed, lessons for destinations and organisations may help turn such incidents into positive forces for change and help to reduce the severity of future disasters.