Providing Digital Resources to Enhance Graduate Attributes.

The objective of this Teaching Fellowship research project was to provide digital resources for students that could potentially enhance graduate attributes. This study was conducted during one semester and concentrated on one aspect of graduate attributes which was presentation skills. A video was scripted, shot and edited that demonstrated a rather inept presenter making a poor presentation. This video was then used in a Communications module specifically during the sessions that focussed on presentation skills. Background data on the participants’ experience of formal presentations was gathered to provide a snapshot of their level of previous experience. The video was used to provoke discussion and engagement from the students. Following the lectures the students were canvassed for feedback. The video successfully provoked an awareness of the requirements in making a formal presentation and is now available as a digital resource. It is recommended that further research be carried out to determine the efficacy of utilising videos in the classroom to improve learning

Engaging in an Action Research Cycle on the Irish Standards Based Apprenticeship to Provide Time for Learners’ Engagement.

Lecturing on the Irish Standards Based Apprenticeship Programme which is a prescribed vocational course with a set time limit brought various concerns regarding the course. These concerns included the restrictive time limit, the delivery modes and the level of student learning. Having to present course theory notes in a very limited time period left little exam preparation time with the possibility of the students engaging in a surface approach to learning. Being cognizant of these issues an action research cycle was commenced in an effort to improve the situation and provide time for the learners’ engagement with the material. This involved writing a complete set of new lecture notes, presenting the students with booklets and changing the mode of delivery. This enabled a reduction of the delivery time for the theory modules. There were unexpected developments such as apparent student disengagement and absenteeism from lectures. A process of reflection was engaged upon and in a second action research cycle adjustments were made to the booklets and the corresponding PowerPoint presentations in an effort to encourage more student participation. Initial results indicate a positive impact on grades. Further work needs to be done in terms of engaging the students learning beyond a surface approach and moving towards a deep approach to learning. This is the hope for the future as there is now more time to develop such teaching practices

How do Apprentice Painters and Decorators on the Irish Standards Based Apprenticeship Experience their Learning?

This thesis research set out to examine the learning experience of apprentice painters and decorators on the Irish Standards Based Apprenticeship. It focussed on three painting and decorating apprentices from the Technological University Dublin who were coming towards the end of their four year apprenticeship. As such the participants had experienced the full range of possible learning on the programme. The main aim of the study was to explore the learning experiences of apprentices on the standards based apprenticeship in their own words. This would provide for unique insights into that learning experience. The research design was interprtivism informed by a constructionist epistemology. As it was exploring the real life experience of the participants it was phenomenological in nature. The research method was one on one semi structured interviews and the data was analysed using interpretative phenomenological analyses. An extensive literature review of college based modules and work based modules was conducted as these form the two primary aspects of the Irish standards based apprenticeship. The findings reveal the multi-faceted aspects of the learning experience that apprentices undergo with three strong themes emerging from the analysis. Firstly, it is clear that the apprentices engage in a complex relationship with their employer. Secondly, there is a perception among the participants that the college based modules are where learning occurs. Lastly, the participants revealed the transformative power of learning as it helped to transform their sense of self. The study concludes with recommendations for policy makers with regards to improving the future learning experiences of apprentices

Revisiting Reperfusion Therapy in Inferior Myocardial Infarction

AbstractAlthough thrombolytic therapy for acute myocardial infarction (MI) is recommended without regard for infarct location, treatment results are less impressive for inferior than for anterior MI because the amount of myocardium at risk is smaller and less strategically located, and the mortality risk is lower. Whereas the risks associated with anterior MI are relatively constant, high risk subsets of patients with an inferior MI can be identified by simple electrocardiographic criteria, including left precordial ST segment depression, complete atrioventricular heart block and right precordial ST segment elevation. Unfortunately, none of the placebo-controlled, randomized trials have analyzed the benefit of thrombolytic therapy for inferior MI in high risk versus low risk subsets.Thrombolytic therapy should be more successful in reducing infarct size and decreasing mortality in high risk patients with an inferior MI. Thrombolytic therapy may not decrease hospital mortality in low risk patients (baseline risk 2% to 4%) or those with symptom duration >6 h. Whereas it is arguable whether coronary angioplasty is superior to thrombolytic therapy in anterior MI, there are no mortality data to support using angioplasty as a primary or rescue reperfusion strategy instead of thrombolytic therapy in inferior MI, unless thrombolytic contraindications are present or the patient is in cardiogenic shock

Is Early Infarct Artery Patency the Goal or Not?

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/73711/1/j.1540-8183.1992.tb00816.x.pd

Reperfusion Therapy Reduces the Risk of Myocardial Rupture Complicating ST‐Elevation Myocardial Infarction

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/139071/1/jah3738.pd

Enhancing Graduate Attributes: a Preliminary Research Study

The objective of this Teaching Fellowship research project was to establish whether graduate attributes should form part of student education within programmes offered by the Dublin Institute of Technology. This study was conducted during one semester and concentrated on one aspect of graduate attributes which were interview skills. Two videos were scripted, shot and edited that focused on interviews from the perspective of both the interviewer and the interviewee. These videos were showcased with lecturers whose feedback indicated that some improvements were required. Following those improvements the videos were shown to two student groups for feedback. The videos successfully provoked an awareness of the requirements in both situations and were well received. It is recommended that further research be carried out on developing materials and resources that focus on enhancing graduate attributes. These resources could be integrated into a dedicated module and embedded within programmes

Genetic Causes of Clopidogrel Nonresponsiveness: Which Ones Really Count?

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/91111/1/phco.30.3.265.pd

A role for glycolipid biosynthesis in severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus entry

A novel bunyavirus was recently found to cause severe febrile illness with high mortality in agricultural regions of China, Japan, and South Korea. This virus, named severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV), represents a new group within the Phlebovirus genus of the Bunyaviridae. Little is known about the viral entry requirements beyond showing dependence on dynamin and endosomal acidification. A haploid forward genetic screen was performed to identify host cell requirements for SFTSV entry. The screen identified dependence on glucosylceramide synthase (ugcg), the enzyme responsible for initiating de novo glycosphingolipid biosynthesis. Genetic and pharmacological approaches confirmed that UGCG expression and enzymatic activity were required for efficient SFTSV entry. Furthermore, inhibition of UGCG affected a post-internalization stage of SFTSV entry, leading to the accumulation of virus particles in enlarged cytoplasmic structures, suggesting impaired trafficking and/or fusion of viral and host membranes. These findings specify a role for glucosylceramide in SFTSV entry and provide a novel target for antiviral therapies