Investing in intelligence : an inquiry into educational paradigm change

In this philosophical and practical-critical inquiry, I address two significant and closely related problems - whether and how those involved in the enterprise of education conceptualise a need for educational change, and the observed resistance of school cultures to change efforts. I address the apparent lack of a clear, coherent and viable theory of learning, agency and change, capable of making explicit the need, substantive nature and means of educational change. Based on a meta-analysis of numerous theories and perspectives on human knowing, learning, intelligence, agency and change, I synthesise a \u27Dynamic Paradigm of Learning and Change\u27, characterised by fifteen Constructs. I argue that this more viable Paradigm is capable of informing both design and critique of systemic curriculum and assessment policies, school organisation and planning models, professional learning and pedagogical practice, and student learning and action. The Dynamic Paradigm of Learning and Change contrasts with the assumptions reflected in the prevailing culture of institutionalised education, and I argue that dominant views of knowledge and human agency are both theoretically and practically non-viable and unsustainable. I argue that the prevailing culture and experience of schooling contributes to the formation of assumptions, identities, dispositions and orientations to the world characterised by alienation. The Dynamic Paradigm of Learning and Change also contrasts with the assumptions reflected in some educational reform efforts recently promoted at system level in Queensland, Australia. I use the Dynamic Paradigm as the reference point for a formal critique of two influential reform programs, Authentic Pedagogy and the New Basics Project, identifying significant limitations in both the conceptualisation of educational ends and means, and the implementation of these reform agendas. Within the Dynamic Paradigm of Learning and Change, knowledge and learning serve the individual\u27s need for more adaptive or viable functioning in the world. I argue that students\u27 attainment of knowledge of major ways in which others in our culture organise experience (interpret the world) is a legitimate goal of schooling. However, it is more viable to think of the primary function of schooling as providing for the young inspiration, opportunities and support for purposeful doing, and for assisting them in understanding the processes of \u27action scheme\u27 change to make such doing more viable. Through the practical-critical components of the inquiry, undertaken in the context of the ferment of pedagogical and curricular discussion and exploration in Queensland between 1999 and 2003, I develop the Key Abilities Model and associated guidelines and resources relating to forms of pedagogy, curriculum organisation and assessment consistent with the Dynamic Paradigm of Learning and Change. I argue the importance of showing teachers why and how their existing visions and conceptions of learning and teaching may be inadequate, and of emphasising teachers\u27 conceptions of learning, knowing, agency and teaching, and their identities, dispositions and orientations to the world, as things that might need to change, in order to realise the intent of educational change focused on transformational student outcomes serving both the individual and collective good. A recommendation is made for implementation and research of a school-based trial of the Key Abilities Model, informed by and reflecting the Dynamic Paradigm of Learning and Change, as an important investment in the development and expression of ‘authentic\u27 human intelligence

Complicated skin and soft tissue infections: literature review of evidence for and experience with daptomycin

Skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) are the second most common infection encountered in hospitals. Management decisions have become increasingly complex due to the prevalence of resistant pathogens, the wide array of licensed antimicrobials and the availability of potent oral agents and of out-patient parenteral antibiotic therapy. Daptomycin is one of the newer therapeutic agents licensed for complex SSTI management. Rapid cidality, good soft tissue penetration, once daily IV bolus administration and activity against resistant Gram-positive infections make daptomycin an attractive option both in hospitalized and community treated patients. A comprehensive review of the evidence for and experience with daptomycin and its use in SSTIs is presented

The blended approach to real estate allocations: performance implications of combining an exposure to German Spezialfonds with Global Listed Real Estate Securities

This paper seeks to increase the understanding of the performance implications for investors who choose to combine an unlisted real estate portfolio (in this case German Spezialfonds) with a (global) listed real estate element. We call this a “blended” approach to real estate allocations. For the avoidance of doubt, in this paper we are dealing purely with real estate equity (listed and unlisted) allocations, and do not incorporate real estate debt (listed or unlisted) or direct property into the process. A previous paper (Moss and Farrelly 2014) showed the benefits of the blended approach as it applied to UK Defined Contribution Pension Schemes. The catalyst for this paper has been the recent attention focused on German pension fund allocations, which have a relatively low (real estate) equity content, and a high bond content. We have used the MSCI Spezialfonds Index as a proxy for domestic German institutional real estate allocations, and the EPRA Global Developed Index as a proxy for a global listed real estate allocation. We also examine whether a rules based trading strategy, in this case Trend Following, can improve the risk adjusted returns above those of a simple buy and hold strategy for our sample period 2004-2015. Our findings are that by blending a 30% global listed portfolio with a 70% allocation (as opposed to a typical 100% weighting) to Spezialfonds, the real estate allocation returns increase from 2.88% p.a. to 5.42% pa. Volatility increases, but only to 6.53%., but there is a noticeable impact on maximum drawdown which increases to 19.4%. By using a Trend Following strategy raw returns are improved from 2.88% to 6.94% p.a. , The Sharpe Ratio increases from 1.05 to 1.49 and the Maximum Drawdown ratio is now only 1.83% compared to 19.4% using a buy and hold strategy . Finally, adding this (9%) real estate allocation to a mixed asset portfolio allocation typical for German pension funds there is an improvement in both the raw return (from 7.66% to 8.28%) and the Sharpe Ratio (from 0.91 to 0.98)

Restrictive antibiotic stewardship associated with reduced hospital mortality in gram-negative infection

Introduction: Antimicrobial stewardship has an important role in the control of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) and antibiotic resistance. An important component of UK stewardship interventions is the restriction of broad-spectrum beta-lactam antibiotics and promotion of agents associated with a lower risk of CDI such as gentamicin. Whilst the introduction of restrictive antibiotic guidance has been associated with improvements in CDI and antimicrobial resistance evidence of the effect on outcome following severe infection is lacking. Methods: In 2008, Glasgow hospitals introduced a restrictive antibiotic guideline. A retrospective before/after study assessed outcome following gram-negative bacteraemia in the 2-year period around implementation. Results: Introduction of restrictive antibiotic guidelines was associated with a reduction in utilisation of ceftriaxone and co-amoxiclav and an increase in amoxicillin and gentamicin. 1593 episodes of bacteraemia were included in the study. The mortality over 1 year following gram-negative bacteraemia was lower in the period following guideline implementation (RR 0.852, P = 0.045). There was no evidence of a difference in secondary outcomes including ITU admission, length of stay, readmission, recurrence of bacteraemia and need for renal replacement therapy. There was a fall in CDI (RR 0.571, P = 0.014) and a reduction in bacterial resistance to ceftriaxone and co-amoxiclav but no evidence of an increase in gentamicin resistance after guideline implementation. Conclusion: Restrictive antibiotic guidelines were associated with a reduction in CDI and bacterial resistance but no evidence of adverse outcomes following gram-negative bacteraemia. There was a small reduction in one year mortality

Development of a vendor practice-based distance based learning programme

The case study describes the methods used to provide laboratory activities, or their equivalents, to students pursuing Open University (OU) modules delivered by distance learning at undergraduate and postgraduate level in networking. The modules incorporate the study of Cisco Academy materials and prepare students for Cisco professional qualification exams as well as OU assessment for HE credit. Three modes of experimental activity are described: 1. Attendance at physical laboratories 2. Remote online access to equipment 3. Use of online simulation software. The merits of each mode of operation are presented and discussed

Factors influencing the duration of isometamidium prophylaxis against bovine trypanosomiasis

Experiments have been conducted with Boran (Bos indicus) cattle to determine the factors that influence the duration of isometamidium (Samorin) prophylaxis against experimental challenge with metacyclic forms of Trypanosoma conoglense and Trypanosoma vivax. The duration of a single isometamidium prophylactic treatment against T. congolense ILNat 3.1 and T. congolense IL 2642 was examined in 24 Boran steers with regard to (i) the dose of drug, (ii) the level of metacyclic challenge, and (iii) the influence of infection at the time of treatment with an unrelated serodeme. The cattle were repeatedly challenged at monthly intervals between 2 and 7 months following treatment, either by 5 infected Glossina morsitans central is or by intradermal inoculation of 5x10e3 or 5x10e5 in vitro-derived metacyclic trypanosomes. A dose of 1 mg kg-1 body weight afforded complete protection for 4 months and 0.5mg kg-1 for 3 months against the two T. conoolense serodemes examined, irrespective of the method or weight of challenge. In another group of cattle, which had an established infection at the time of treatment, the duration of chemoprophylaxis against an unrelated serodeme was the same as the other groups which had no previous experience of trypanosome infection. Antibodies to metacyclics did not appear in any of the cattle as long as the chemoprophylaxis was effective. An exception to this was the group challenged with 5x10 5 in vitro-derived metacyclic parasites, in which low antibody titres were detected. In all cases these proved to be non-protective. It was therefore concluded that under the experimental conditions employed, (i) there was a direct relationship betwen drug dosage and the duration of chemoprophylaxis, (ii) the weight of metacyclic challenge did not affect the duration of chemoprophylaxis, and (iii) when used to treat an existing infection, isometamidium exerted the same degree of chemoprophylactic activity. In experiments with T. vivax, twenty Boran steers were infected with T. vivax transmitted by G. m. central is; five with a T. vivax clone from Zaria, Nigeria (IL 2968), five with a T. vivax clone from Kilifi, Kenya (IL 2969), five with a T. vivax population from Galana, Kenya (IL 2982) and five with a T. vivax population from Likoni, Kenya (IL 2986). Eleven days after infection all 20 animals were treated with 0.5mg kg-1 isometamidium chloride. All steers except one infected with the Zaria T. vivax were completely cured. When twenty different Boran steers were administered a single prophylactic dose of 0.5mg kg-1 isometamidium chloride and subjected to monthly tsetse-transmitted challenge with the same T. vivax populations, complete protection was afforded for two months against challenge with the Zaria T. vivax. for one month against the Likoni T. vivax and for less than one month against the Kilifi and Galana T. vivax. The findings indicated that the level of sensitivity of a T. vivax population to the prophylactic activity of isometamidium cannot be concluded from sensitivity studies based on the therapeutic action of the drug. In a similar manner to studies with T. conqolense, acquisition of immunity to homologous T. vivax challenge did not appear to occur whilst animals were protected by isometamidium and did not contribute to the apparent prophylactic period. Using a T. congolense in vitro culture system, a qualitative technique was developed to detect trypanocidal activity in sera from drug-administered cattle: Trypanocidal activity, as detected by inhibition of infectivity and in vitro growth of T. congolense ILNat 3.1, was detected in sera, collected from cattle as long as 5 months after administration of lmg kg-1 isometamidium chloride; activity that correlated with susceptibility of cattle to challenge with T. conqolense ILNat 3.1. The same technique was used to confirm the high level of resistance expressed by the Kilifi T. vivax to the prophylactic activity of isometamidium. Trypanocidal activity, against T. conqolense ILNat 3.1, was detected in serum taken from cattle 1 and 2 months after administration of 0.5mg kg-1 isometamidium chloride, at a time when the cattle were susceptible to challenge with the Kilifi T. vivax. Similar studies were conducted with a T. vivax in vitro culture system: Freshly isolated bloodstream forms of T. vivax IL 2968 (Zaria) expressed a similar level of sensitivity as T. conqolense ILNat 3.1 bloodstream forms to trypanocidal activity in sera from drug-treated cattle. Freshly isolated murine bloodstream forms were found to be better suited to the detection of trypanocidal activity in sera from drug-treated cattle than freshly isolated bovine bloodstream forms. It was concluded from in vitro tests using T. conqolense ILNat 3.1 and T. vivax IL 2968 that there was in general a positive correlation between the expression of trypanocidal activity of serum in vitro and the susceptibility of cattle to challenge with the same trypanosome populations. However, the reliability of the in vitro test was diminished by the observation that sera from untreated cattle occasionally possessed trypanocidal activity. The reason for this latter observation is, at present, unknown

Expanding the use of spatial models in statistical ecology

This thesis is focused on expanding the use of spatial modelling approaches for applications in ecology. Spatial ecology is about understanding the processes that give rise to spatial patterns in ecological data. In addition to developing a purely scientific understanding, insights into these processes are essential for the effective monitoring and conservation management of ecological systems. However, for many ecological problems, the detectability of animals is imperfect, requiring the use of complex observation models that can account for this. In this thesis we focus on two such models: distance sampling and spatial capture-recapture (SCR). For both these models we incorporate spatially structured random effects to provide a non-parametric method for describing spatial variation in species’ abundance, and to address the problem of spatial auto-correlation. These complex models require the use of computationally efficient random effect structures and inference methods. In particular, we use a sparse stochastic partial differential equation (SPDE) approach as well as low rank penalised smoothing splines. We also draw links between these two approaches in order to illuminate the technically challenging results underpinning the SPDE approach. For inference in distance sampling models, we use a novel approach to achieve a one-stage model fit based on iterated model fitting using approximate Bayesian methods. For inference in SCR models, we use Laplace approximate maximum likelihood methods. We present models that have the necessary complexity to jointly model complex ecological and observation processes, as well as providing efficient methods to fit the models in practice. We conclude by discussing related avenues for future research that are motivated by applied problems in the field of spatial ecology

Olivet Robotics

It is the task of the senior design team to develop a plan that will result in the design, building, and testing of a robot. Members of the Robotics Club describe the base, arm, and programming in their design

Olivet Robotics

It is the task of the senior design team to develop a plan that will result in the design, building, and testing of a robot. Members of the Robotics Club describe the base, arm, and programming in their design

Can sector specific REIT strategies outperform a diversified benchmark?

Purpose: We investigate the performance of different portfolios of REITs which specialise by property type compared to the performance of a diversified free-float market capitalisation weighted benchmark index to determine whether superior risk-adjusted returns can be achieved.. Design/methodology/approach: Firstly we examine the performance of portfolios constructed using the criteria of Equal Weight, Minimum Variance, Maximum Sharpe and Risk Parity rather than free-float market capitalisation. Secondly we apply an automated trading strategy of Trend Following to see if this filter will improve risk-adjusted returns. Findings: The two step process of forming combinations of REIT sectors with the subsequent addition of a trend following overlay can offer clear benefits relative to a passive benchmark investment. Research limitations/implications: Although three of the four strategies were shown to outperform the benchmark index on a risk-adjusted basis, one issue was that the efficient portfolios tended to have large weightings to relatively few sectors. We also found that maximum drawdowns (losses) of the strategies tended to be rather high, as was the benchmark Practical implications: The methods outlined in this paper can be applied to construct superior risk-adjusted REIT portfolios globally. Originality/value: Although studies have been undertaken separately on REIT specialisation, and Trend Following in equity and commodity markets this paper is the first to combines the two topics, and therefore has particular value for real estate fund managers globally