How I have so far failed to create a fully accessible VLE

Northampton is transforming its learning and teaching in preparation for a move to a new campus as well as a changing demand from students. Part of this change process is ensuring our online VLE content is fully accessible to all students. We know Blackboard is compliant, but we also know much of the learning content within our VLE, as well as the layout and design choices made by tutors, present an institutional VLE which less inaccessible than it needs it to be. This workshop begins with the potted story of my Epic Failure to transform Northampton’s VLE into a 100% fully accessible online learning platform. Part tragedy, part comedy, part therapy. Many of my hitherto unacknowledged failures will be revealed in shockingly honest detail. Then, before the participants get too settled in their own sense of superiority, I will divide them into small groups to privately confess their own failures, and discuss what a fully accessible VLE looks like within their institutions. We will then share some of our non-successes and not feel so smug then, will we? I will share the genuine successes which lie behind some my failures. We will reflect on what we can learn from our flops and together we will explore and embrace the imaginative ways we can see Epic Failures for what they really are: Heroic Success. By the end of the session, participants will have learnt about the Accessible VLE experience at Northampton, been able to reflect on their own situation and begun to explore strategies for success. I will have had an hour of self pity in front of my peers. However, I was part of an ALT-C Team of the Year, so it’s only right that I mingle the sweet zing of success with the bitter tang of failure

Mycotoxin biosensor based on optical planar waveguide

The research aim of this work is to develop a simple and highly sensitive optical biosensor for detection of mycotoxins. This sensor is built on a planar waveguide operating on the polarization interferometry principle, i.e., detecting a phase shift between p- and s-components of polarized light developed during the binding of analyte molecules. The operation of the proposed sensor is similar to that of a Mach⁻Zehnder interferometer, while its design is much simpler and it does not require splitting the waveguide into two arms. The refractive index sensitivity of the polarization interferometer sensor was in the range of 5200 radians per refractive index unit (RIU). Several tests were conducted to detect ochratoxin A (OTA) at different concentrations in direct immunoassay with specific antibodies immobilized in the sensing window. The lowest concentration of OTA of 0.01 ng/mL caused a phase shift of nearly one period. The results obtained prove high sensitivity of the sensors, which are capable of detecting even lower concentrations of mycotoxins at the ppt (part-per-trillion) level

Network and ABM models of SARS-CoV-2

This research investigates the role of road network infrastructure and the socioeconomics of urban space in enabling the spread of airborne disease (SARS-CoV-2). Data from Ireland’s Central Statistics Office was modelled on the national scale, modelling the relationship between road network accessibility and SARS-CoV-2 cases (SARS-CoV-2 14 day incidence rates per 100k of the population) aggregated per Local Electoral Area (LEA). We also modelled time series of SARS-CoV-2 cases in Ireland (August 2020 – November 2021), cases aggregated per 100k for each LEA, to highlight the peak and look for socioeconomic and mobility factors. On the city scale, we modelled Dublin’s road network infrastructure in order to investigate its impact on access to healthcare and the rise in SARS-CoV-2 infections. We used unsupervised learning (PCA analysis) and multivariate analysis to model urban variables and distinguish those that bear a relationship to SARS-CoV-2 cases. On the local neighborhood scale, we presented an agent-based modelling simulation of Dublin’s city center, using standard automata, agents weighted by longest line of sight, and agents weighted Per bin distance. Outcomes of a survey on SARS-CoV-2 cases and the underlying socioeconomic and spatial factors will be presented in order to understand the local dynamics of disease spread on a neighborhood scale, and distinguish socioeconomic and built environment factors that may have contributed to the rise of SARS-CoV-2 cases. These factors may include the size of household, occupation, air pollution, exposure to biohazards, dwelling conditions (age of building, records of mold), and underlying health conditions that are likely to increase vulnerability. ABM models of survey variables will be presented in order to simulate the dynamics of disease spread

Gambling Harm as a Global Public Health Concern: A Mixed Method Investigation of Trends in Wales

Background: Recent research evidence has suggested that gambling is a public health concern. A number of studies report the association between gambling activity and increased instances of various other harms, including substance misuse and psychological disorders. In parallel to alcohol misuse, it is also becoming clear that gambling related harm is more of a continuum of harm, as opposed to traditionally accepted categorisations of gambling behavior: safe and responsible or “problem” and harmful. Previous effective treatment models for alcohol misuse have considered a public health approach to develop interventions. As such, the current research seeks to use a public health approach to both investigate the extent of gambling harm across Wales, and to identify upstream predictors of harm to inform future interventions. / Method: A triangulation of data collection methods was utilized across Wales, UK. Two hundred and forty-eight participants completed a quantitative survey relating to gambling behavior and related harm, which included the Problem Severity Gambling Index, the Gambling Commission measure of frequency, The Gambling Motives Questionnaire and the Fast Alcohol Screening tool. Ninety-eight of these participants completed a qualitative subsection. Structured interviews were conducted with 20 individuals from 11 service providers. Semi-structured interviews were conducted for the five case studies of individuals who had previously sought help for gambling. The geographical density and distribution of Licensed Gambling Outlets was also mapped in local areas. / Results: The findings provide further evidence of a continuum of gambling related harm. Twenty seven percent of survey participants demonstrate some indicators of risk of gambling harm. Social, cultural and environmental contexts play a role in initiation and maintenance of gambling behavior and the subsequent related harm. Accounts from individuals corroborated the quantitative findings. / Conclusions: Findings from this Welsh sample are in line with and add support to the growing international research evidence that gambling harms are a universal issue that cross cultures. It is clear that action is needed by legislators at a policy level and that broadening the focus of intervention to a public health level is necessary to develop effective strategies for harm reduction

Promoting Quality Use of Medicines in South-East Asia: Reports from Country Situational Analyses

Irrational use of medicines is widespread in the South-East Asia Region (SEAR), where policy implementation to encourage quality use of medicines (QUM) is often low. The aim was to determine whether public-sector QUM is better in SEAR countries implementing essential medicines (EM) policies than in those not implementing them

Organic aerosol formation downwind from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

A large fraction of atmospheric aerosols are derived from organic compounds with various volatilities. A National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) WP-3D research aircraft made airborne measurements of the gaseous and aerosol composition of air over the Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico that occurred from April to August 2010. A narrow plume of hydrocarbons was observed downwind of DWH that is attributed to the evaporation of fresh oil on the sea surface. A much wider plume with high concentrations of organic aerosol (>25 micrograms per cubic meter) was attributed to the formation of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) from unmeasured, less volatile hydrocarbons that were emitted from a wider area around DWH. These observations provide direct and compelling evidence for the importance of formation of SOA from less volatile hydrocarbons

Circadian patterns of Wikipedia editorial activity: A demographic analysis

Wikipedia (WP) as a collaborative, dynamical system of humans is an appropriate subject of social studies. Each single action of the members of this society, i.e. editors, is well recorded and accessible. Using the cumulative data of 34 Wikipedias in different languages, we try to characterize and find the universalities and differences in temporal activity patterns of editors. Based on this data, we estimate the geographical distribution of editors for each WP in the globe. Furthermore we also clarify the differences among different groups of WPs, which originate in the variance of cultural and social features of the communities of editors

Risk Factors for Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Infection among Camel Populations, Southern Jordan, 2014-2018.

After the first detection of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in camels in Jordan in 2013, we conducted 2 consecutive surveys in 2014-2015 and 2017-2018 investigating risk factors for MERS-CoV infection among camel populations in southern Jordan. Multivariate analysis to control for confounding demonstrated that borrowing of camels, particularly males, for breeding purposes was associated with increased MERS-CoV seroprevalence among receiving herds, suggesting a potential route of viral transmission between herds. Increasing age, herd size, and use of water troughs within herds were also associated with increased seroprevalence. Closed herd management practices were found to be protective. Future vaccination strategies among camel populations in Jordan could potentially prioritize breeding males, which are likely to be shared between herds. In addition, targeted management interventions with the potential to reduce transmission between herds should be considered; voluntary closed herd schemes offer a possible route to achieving disease-free herds

They Treated us Like Employees Not Trainees: Patient Educator Interns’ Experiences of Epistemological Shock

Aim: To explore Patient Educator Interns’ (PEIs’) experiences of learning when entering the working environment. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 PEIs. Following a narrative type of analysis, case summaries were prepared, compared and interpreted. Results: At the beginning of their internship, PEIs held specific desires and expectations concerning the type of training and work they would experience. These included the expectation of explicit educational activities and specific types of work activities. PEIs’ expectations were frequently not met in reality. Discussion: The findings of the study suggest that new graduates face epistemological shock, which is the challenge of understanding the change from receiving formal instruction at university to learning through participation and engagement in the workplace. Conclusions: Universities could do more to explain to students the differences in learning between university and the workplace, so students better understand the value of participation for learning

Estimation of the solubility parameters of model plant surfaces and agrochemicals: a valuable tool for understanding plant surface interactions

Background Most aerial plant parts are covered with a hydrophobic lipid-rich cuticle, which is the interface between the plant organs and the surrounding environment. Plant surfaces may have a high degree of hydrophobicity because of the combined effects of surface chemistry and roughness. The physical and chemical complexity of the plant cuticle limits the development of models that explain its internal structure and interactions with surface-applied agrochemicals. In this article we introduce a thermodynamic method for estimating the solubilities of model plant surface constituents and relating them to the effects of agrochemicals. Results Following the van Krevelen and Hoftyzer method, we calculated the solubility parameters of three model plant species and eight compounds that differ in hydrophobicity and polarity. In addition, intact tissues were examined by scanning electron microscopy and the surface free energy, polarity, solubility parameter and work of adhesion of each were calculated from contact angle measurements of three liquids with different polarities. By comparing the affinities between plant surface constituents and agrochemicals derived from (a) theoretical calculations and (b) contact angle measurements we were able to distinguish the physical effect of surface roughness from the effect of the chemical nature of the epicuticular waxes. A solubility parameter model for plant surfaces is proposed on the basis of an increasing gradient from the cuticular surface towards the underlying cell wall. Conclusions The procedure enabled us to predict the interactions among agrochemicals, plant surfaces, and cuticular and cell wall components, and promises to be a useful tool for improving our understanding of biological surface interactions