Critical thinking development in undergraduate midwifery students: An Australian validation study using Rasch analysis

Background: Well-developed critical thinking skills are required to provide midwifery care that is safe, evidence-based, and woman-centred. A valid, reliable tool to measure is required the application of critical thinking in midwifery practice. The Carter Assessment of Critical Thinking in Midwifery (CACTiM) has previously been psychometrically assessed using classical methods at a single site. This study aims to further evaluate the properties of CACTiM tools using Rasch analysis in a diverse group of midwifery students and preceptors. Methods: The CACTiM tools were completed by undergraduate midwifery students studying at three Australian universities and their preceptors. Midwifery students’ critical thinking was evaluated separately through student self-assessment and preceptor assessment and then matched. Rasch analysis was used to evaluate the validity of the tools. Results: Rasch analysis confirmed both the preceptor and student CACTiM tools demonstrated good reliability and unidimensionality. The items can differentiate between students’ ability to apply critical thinking in midwifery practice. Person reliability and item reliability were above.92 for both scales indicating excellent reliability and internal consistency. Several improvements were identified to the tools, including enhanced wording to some items, and reduction to a 5-point Likert scale. Through analysis of lower-scoring items, midwifery programs can identify curricula enhancements. Conclusion: The CACTiM student and preceptor tools are valid and reliable measures of critical thinking in midwifery practice. The tools can assess students’ critical thinking abilities and identify areas for development for individuals and across student cohorts through curricula enhancements

Reflexões acerca da efetividade da legislação das gestantes, parturientes e lactantes na penitenciária feminina do Distrito Federal

O presente trabalho intitulado Reflexões Acerca Da Efetividade Da Legislação Das Gestantes, Parturientes E Lactantes Na Penitenciária Feminina Do Distrito Federal tem como objetivo final analisar as condições enfrentadas pela mulher presa, especificamente no exercício da maternidade, no âmbito da Penitenciária Feminina do Distrito Federal (PFDF). Para tanto, fez-se necessário breve contexto histórico da posição desigual e submissa da mulher na sociedade, estudos das correntes criminológicas e o surgimento de uma criminologia feminista, a qual critica o saber androcêntrico do direito penal. Posteriormente, a análise documental da legislação referente à detenta é posta fronte a pesquisa empírica realizada no âmbito da PFDF. Em que pese a reflexão acerca das gestantes, parturientes e lactantes ter influenciado em uma ampliação normativa, o cenário no ambiente carcerário reproduz dupla penalidade às internas reclusas, as quais recaem sobre seus filhos. A prática recorrente nas unidades prisionais demonstrou violadora de diversos direitos apontados nesta pesquisa e, somente poderá ser prevenida se efetiva a regulamentação proposta.http://repositorio.uniceub.br/retrieve/33404/21336702.pd

Plant origin and ploidy influence gene expression and life cycle characteristics in an invasive weed

Background: Ecological, evolutionary and physiological studies have thus far provided an incomplete picture of why some plants become invasive; therefore we used genomic resources to complement and advance this field. In order to gain insight into the invasive mechanism of Centaurea stoebe we compared plants of three geo-cytotypes, native Eurasian diploids, native Eurasian tetraploids and introduced North American tetraploids, grown in a common greenhouse environment. We monitored plant performance characteristics and life cycle habits and characterized the expression of genes related to constitutive defense and genome stability using quantitative PCR. Results: Plant origin and ploidy were found to have a significant effect on both life cycle characteristics and gene expression, highlighting the importance of comparing appropriate taxonomic groups in studies of native and introduced plant species. We found that introduced populations of C. stoebe exhibit reduced expression of transcripts related to constitutive defense relative to their native tetraploid counterparts, as might be expected based on ideas of enemy release and rapid evolution. Measurements of several vegetative traits were similar for all geo-cytotypes; however, fecundity of tetraploids was significantly greater than diploids, due in part to their polycarpic nature. A simulation of seed production over time predicts that introduced tetraploids have the highest fecundity of the three geo-cytotypes. Conclusion: Our results suggest that characterizing gene expression in an invasive species using populations from both its native and introduced range can provide insight into the biology of plant invasion that can complement traditional measurements of plant performance. In addition, these results highlight the importance of using appropriate taxonomic units in ecological genomics investigations

The C-test as predictor of the academic success of international students

The present article gives an overview of several studies on the predictive validity of the C-test. In the first part of the article, we discuss the construct validity of this test format. Only if the underlying construct of this test is understood, can a justification for high predictive validity be made. In the second part, we discuss several previous studies where the C-test format is used to predict the study and training success of international students. The third part discusses the findings of two as yet unpublished studies on the predictive validity of the C-test. We wish to contribute to the ongoing discussion of the validity of the C-test and argue that it is not only a language test, but also a test of processing speed which is related to working memory. For international students, processing speed in English as a foreign language is related to vocabulary knowledge, which includes statistical knowledge about the probability of words occurring in a given context as well as the probability of words following or preceding each other. The C-test taps precisely into these aspects of language proficiency which explains its high predictive validity for the study success of international students

The murine catecholamine methyltransferase mTOMT is essential for mechanotransduction by cochlear hair cells

Hair cells of the cochlea are mechanosensors for the perception of sound. Mutations in the LRTOMT gene, which encodes a protein with homology to the catecholamine methyltransferase COMT that is linked to schizophrenia, cause deafness. Here, we show that Tomt/Comt2, the murine ortholog of LRTOMT, has an unexpected function in the regulation of mechanotransduction by hair cells. The role of mTOMT in hair cells is independent of mTOMT methyltransferase function and mCOMT cannot substitute for mTOMT function. Instead, mTOMT binds to putative components of the mechanotransduction channel in hair cells and is essential for the transport of some of these components into the mechanically sensitive stereocilia of hair cells. Our studies thus suggest functional diversification between mCOMT and mTOMT, where mTOMT is critical for the assembly of the mechanotransduction machinery of hair cells. Defects in this process are likely mechanistically linked to deafness caused by mutations in LRTOMT/Tomt

Impact of unseasonable flooding on women's food security and mental health in rural Sylhet, Bangladesh: a longitudinal observational study

Background Climate change will lead to more frequent and intensive flooding. In April, 2017, unseasonably early flooding led to the inundation of low-lying cropland before the rice harvest in northeastern Bangladesh. We describe coping strategies and quantify short-term and medium-term effects of flooding events on food security and depressive symptoms of women. Methods This observational study is part of the cluster-randomised Food and Agricultural Approaches to Reducing Malnutrition trial (FAARM; NCT02505711). Women self-reported flooding exposure on behalf of their households when surveyed (approximately 6 months after the event). Remote sensing analysis was used to detect the extent of the flooding. We collected data on household food security at baseline, depressive symptoms 4–5 months before the flooding, and coping strategies immediately after the event. We followed up on these outcome measurements for depressive symptoms and food security for up to 2·5 years after the flooding event. We used multilevel regression adjusting for intervention allocation and pre-flooding measures to quantify the flood's effect on household food security and women's mental health. Findings The FAARM trial included 2700 young women in 96 settlements in rural Sylhet, Bangladesh. 1335 (56%) of 2405 women reported that their household being greatly affected, with many losing a large part of their rice harvest. Borrowing money with interest was the most common coping strategy, with households paying back on average 1·5 times the borrowed amount. Greatly affected households had higher odds of food insecurity, with a decreasing effect with increasing time after the flood (odds ratio: 2·4 [p<0·0001] 0·5 years after; 1·6 [p<0·0001] 2·0 years after]; and 1·3 [p=0·012] 2·5 years after). Women in such households also had 1·45 times higher odds of depression (p=0·0001) 2·5 years after the flooding event. Interpretation The 2017 flooding event negatively affected food security and the mental health of women in rural Sylhet, Bangladesh, and few affected women received formal government support. To reduce the impact of future floods, livelihood adaptations and expansion of financial protection programmes are essential measures to pursue. Funding German Federal Ministry for Education and Research (Berlin, Germany) and UK Department for International Development (London, UK)

SOBRE O QUE TEMOS PESQUISADO? UMA ANÁLISE DOS OBJETOS DE ESTUDO DA PRODUÇÃO DISCENTE DO POSCOM/UFSM

Este artigo investiga os objetos empíricos estudados na linha de Mídia e Estratégias Comunicacionais do Programa de Pós-Graduação em Comunicação da Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM). Para a análise foram consideradas dissertações e teses referentes à primeira década de produção efetiva do programa (2008-2017). A metodologia utilizada para categorizar os objetos foi a análise de conteúdo. Como resultado, os objetos foram agrupados em nove grandes categorias temáticas, sendo que a maior parte dos trabalhos aborda os objetos classificados como organizações de mídia (40,7%) e, nas subcategorias, como jornais (38,2%)

Ambiente da prática profissional de enfermagem em países latino-americanos: scoping review

Objetivo: Identificar e mapear a produção literária latino-americana acerca do ambiente da prática profissional de enfermagem no cenário hospitalar com base nos instrumentos Nursing Working Index-Revised ePractice Environment Scale. Método: Scoping reviewem cinco bases de dados e outras fontes sobre o tema. A amostra contabilizou 20 artigos, nove Teses e cinco Dissertações publicados na última década. Resultado:O Brasil apresentou o maior número de publicações em periódicos, na amostra. Os ambientes mostraram-se favoráveis com a aplicação do Nursing Working Index-Revised e desfavoráveis com a Practice Environment Scale. Entre os domínios destacam-se, com os piores escores, o controle do ambiente e adequação da equipe e de recursos. Conclusão:A produção literária adquire destaque apenas na última década e aponta para a associação entre ambientes da prática favoráveis e melhores resultados assistenciaisObjective: To identify and map the Latin American literary production about the nursing work environment in the hospital setting based on the Nursing Working Index-Revisedand on the Practice Environment Scale. Method:A scoping review in five databases and other sources on the topic. The sample included 20articles, nine Theses and five Dissertations published in the last decade. Result:In the sample, Brazil presented the largest number of publications in journals. The environments were favorable with the application of the Nursing Working Index-Revisedand unfavorable with the Practice Environment Scale. Among the domains with the worst scores, control over the environment and adequacy of the team and resources stand out. Conclusion:The literary production has gained prominence only in the last decade and points to the association between favorable practice environments and better care results.Objetivo: Identificar y mapear la producción literaria latinoamericana sobre el entorno de la práctica profesional de la enfermería en el ámbito hospitalario a partir de los instrumentos Nursing Working Index-Revisedy Practice Environment Scale. Método:Scoping reviewen cinco bases de datos y otras fuentes sobre el tema. La muestra contó con 20 artículos, nueve Tesis Doctorales y cinco Tesis de Maestría publicadas en la última década. Resultado:Brasil tuvo el mayor número de publicaciones en revistas de la muestra. Los entornos fueron favorables con la aplicación del Nursing Working Index-Revisedy desfavorables con la Practice Environment Scale. Entre los dominios, con los peores puntajes, se destacan el control del entorno y la adecuación del equipo y los recursos. Conclusión:La producción literaria ha ganado notoriedad solo en la última década y apunta a la asociación entre entornos de práctica favorables y mejores resultados de atención