'Looking okay': exploring constructions of fluctuating or recurring impairments in UK Higher Education

This research explores constructions and understandings of fluctuating or recurring impairments in Higher Education in the UK. It considers ways in which institutional discourses within one UK University have shaped policy and provision for disabled students, and how students with fluctuating or recurring impairments negotiate and enact identities in this context. For many students, impairments such as chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS)/ myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), epilepsy or diabetes, for example, have the potential to vary in intensity, and thus impact, on participation in learning activities and on self-perception/ identity. With increasing disclosure, yet limited recognition, of such types of impairment comes a need for institutions to better understand changing impact in terms of inclusion and in observing anticipatory aspects of legislation, as well as furthering insight into how student identities are negotiated and constructed in an educational context. This research uses a social constructionist framework to explore constructions and subjectivities as regards fluctuating or recurring impairments, and comprises both staff and student perspectives. The staff perspective is based on the thematic narrative analysis of interviews with three members of staff, and is presented in conjunction with an example of institutional policy to highlight discourses drawn upon in constructing disability and disabled students. The impact of these discourses on institutional constructions and practice is key to the analysis. The student perspective is based on two phases of data collection: firstly, 24 semi-structured interviews with students who self-described a fluctuating or recurring impairment; and secondly, five students’ responses to six bi-weekly emails over the course of one academic trimester (January – April 2011). Summary data from the first phase is used to frame discussion on issues raised by students regarding institutional constructions and support. A ‘hybrid’ narrative analysis framework incorporating positioning analysis as well as both ‘big’ and ‘small stories’ has been used in analysing the phase two data. The approach considers the influence of institutional discourses on how students are positioned institutionally and position themselves, as well as ways in which performances of identity may be shaped. The thesis concludes by considering the implications of the research outcomes for Higher Education. In so doing, it notes the significance of policy implementation and cultural change, and makes recommendations for areas of focus in raising institutional awareness of fluctuating or recurring impairments within existing constructions of disability

THIRD TRIMESTER ULTRASOUND SCAN COMBINED WITH A CLINICAL METHOD FOR ACCURATE BIRTHWEIGHT PREDICTION AT TERM: A COHORT STUDY IN SPAIN.

OBJECTIVE: To develop and assess an equation based on maternal clinical parameters and third trimester ultrasound biometry (combined method), and compare it with ultrasound-estimated foetal weight (EFW) calculated using the Hadlock 2 formula. METHODS: Cohort study. A total of 1,224 women with singleton pregnancies who had undergone foetal ultrasound scanning (USS) at 34 weeks were recruited. The study was conducted at a reference center in Valencia (Spain) between January and December 2016. A gestation-adjusted projection (GAP) method was applied to estimated foetal-weight-for-gestational-age by foetal gender at delivery (EFWa). A multivariate regression was created to estimate foetal weight at term (EFWmr) using anthropometric, demographic, ultrasonographic and obstetric-neonatal variables. EFWa and EFWmr were calculated and compared with actual birthweight. RESULTS: The proportion for EFWmr within <10% of actual birthweight was greater than EFWa (82% vs. 65%, p<0.001). The mean relative error in foetal-weight predictions by using EFWmr was reduced from 6.7% to 0.9% (difference 5.7% 95% CI: 5.4 to 6.0) paired t-test p<0.001, significantly improving the accuracy attainable with USS. The EFWmr outperformed the GAP method in predicting birthweight, within 1% relative error. For new- borns <2,500 g, the proportion of estimates within <10% of the actual birthweight for the EFWmr was greater than that of the EFWa (20.4 vs. 16.3%, p=0.005). For babies with normal birthweight (2,500-3,999 g), EFWmr was a better predictor of birthweight than EFWa (84.5 vs. 65.7%, p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Mathematical modelling to predict birthweight improves third trimester routine ultrasound measurement to estimate neonatal weight at term

Concept Maps in the Family Science Classroom

This presentation will illustrate the usefulness and variability of concept maps in family science classrooms. This poster will define concept maps, demonstrate examples of effective use of concept maps in teaching family science, and delineate scholarly-based information on how to maximize their effectiveness. It also will illustrate the importance of student involvement in constructing and using this visual aid

Fate of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons associated with coal-tar pitch, asphalt, charcoal, and soot in urban lake sediments

The concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in urban lake sediments have increased significantly over the past several decades. Increased PAH loadings have been correlated with urbanization, and carbonaceous materials (CMs) such as coal tar and asphalt sealcoat and soot. PAH concentrations in urban lakes are often above sediment quality guidelines which have been identified as harmful to aquatic life. A better understanding of the fate of PAHs bound to these CMs in lake sediment is needed in order to assess the risks to aquatic life in urban lakes sediment. The objectives of this work were to 1) Determine whether PAHs associated with CMs redistribute to more strongly sorbing CMs in sediment or are lost to the water column. 2) Determine the rates at which PAHs are redistributed to CMs and sediments or are lost to the water column. 3) Determine the relative importance of kinetic compared to equilibrium sorption on PAH redistribution in CMs and sediment. To address these objectives, the redistribution of PAHs between CMs and sediment was measured in a series of controlled, well-mixed laboratory experiments as well as a two year in situ field study. In both studies particles of coal-tar pitch, asphalt, charcoal, and soot were created and loaded with deuterated PAHs as tracers (dPAHs). Each type of particle was loaded with a unique series of dPAHs of varying molecular weight and Kow. The particles were then mixed with sediment and the redistribution among materials was measured over time. In the well-mixed laboratory experiments, samples were loaded into serum bottles and rotated on a bottle roller at 5 rpm for up to 90 days. Samples were taken at designated time intervals in order to measure changes in redistribution with time. The in situ field studies involved loading sediment and CMs into sample cores, pushing the sample cores into the top layer of lake sediment, and retrieving cores from the lake over a 2 year period. A PAH redistribution model was created incorporating mass transfer kinetics and thermodynamic equilibrium sorption. The model was fit with the results from the well-mixed laboratory experiments and apparent mass transfer coefficients for materials were determined. The modeling results were used to help interpret both laboratory and field data. The results of both the laboratory and field studies show dPAHs associated with coal-tar pitch, asphalt, charcoal, and soot are mobile in the sediment, moving in significant amounts to other CMs and sediment. Low molecular weight dPAHs associated with coal-tar pitch and asphalt sealcoat were found to account for the majority of dPAH transport between materials. These low molecular weight dPAHs are also more toxic. Therefore, the findings from this work indicate lakes with large runoff from seal-coated pavement may be at elevated risk to aquatic life. These findings also indicate that a significant portion of the risk associated with CM bound PAHs in sediment can be mitigated by reducing sealcoat use. The results of the laboratory study show that the kinetics of sorption can result in different trends at early times compared to those at equilibrium. Materials that are considered less strongly sorbing, such as asphalt and sediment, had a large effect on sorption trends at early times. More strongly sorbing materials, like charcoal, started to account for the majority of sorption at later times. These findings show the importance of considering both kinetic and thermodynamic distribution when determining PAH mobility and associated risks. Results from the redistribution model show redistribution to strongly sorbing CMs does occur, but can take decades or more. Therefore, natural attenuation may not mitigate PAHs in sediment on an adequate time scale and active remediation may be needed. Although this project is focused on one lake, studies have shown coal-tar pitch, asphalt, and soot significantly contribute to PAH loading in many urban lakes across the U.S., thereby making the results of this work applicable to other locations

Zoom in to Fitness: A Novel Way of Bringing Fitness Experts to Seniors

Participants will discover a how a local educational institution was able to think creatively and bring much-needed programming to local seniors during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. Participants will also experience first-hand how a virtual physical activity session can be delivered safely and effectively in the comfort of the senior’s own living environment or a group fitness room environment. Participants will be asked to think creatively of possible community partners, as well as possible barriers and facilitators to implementing this innovative wellness strategy. Information will be presented regarding additional activities that could be presented in this format such as nutrition, Be prepared to engage in a variety of physical activities presented at various levels of intensity modification, as you see how this could be implemented in your setting! 1) Discuss the positive impact of physical activity on senior wellness, cognition and social connectedness. 2) Discuss an innovative strategy for senior activity amidst COVID-19 facility restrictions. 3) Identify design considerations for implementing a physical activity event in your facility, including possible community partners, facilitators and barriers. 4) Experience segments of a physical activity program at various intensity modification levels. 5) Explore additional modalities for senior engagement in a virtual environment to impact healthy lifestyle

Efficacy of treatments for depression in children and adolescents

Depression is a highly complex mental disorder that for many years was believed to be absent in children and adolescents. It is now accepted that depression not only exists in this age group, but also is a major mental health problem (Weller & Weller, 2000a). Research suggests that the prevalence of depression in Australian children and adolescents is around 14% (Boyd, Kostanski, Gullone, Ollendick, & Shek, 2000). As depression appears to be highly prevalent, it is essential that efficacious treatments are identified, and that effective treatment strategies are established that best alleviate depressive symptoms in children and adolescents. In light of this need, this article details the criteria used to identify depression in children and adolescents, and examines the available evidence for the use of pharmacological and psychotherapeutic approaches in the treatment of depression in children and adolescents.C

Classifying the metal dependence of uncharacterized nitrogenases

Nitrogenase enzymes have evolved complex iron–sulfur (Fe–S) containing cofactors that most commonly contain molybdenum (MoFe, Nif) as a heterometal but also exist as vanadium (VFe, Vnf) and heterometal-independent (Fe-only, Anf) forms. All three varieties are capable of the reduction of dinitrogen (N_2) to ammonia (NH_3) but exhibit differences in catalytic rates and substrate specificity unique to metal type. Recently, N_2 reduction activity was observed in archaeal methanotrophs and methanogens that encode for nitrogenase homologs which do not cluster phylogenetically with previously characterized nitrogenases. To gain insight into the metal cofactors of these uncharacterized nitrogenase homologs, predicted three-dimensional structures of the nitrogenase active site metal-cofactor binding subunits NifD, VnfD, and AnfD were generated and compared. Dendrograms based on structural similarity indicate nitrogenase homologs cluster based on heterometal content and that uncharacterized nitrogenase D homologs cluster with NifD, providing evidence that the structure of the enzyme has evolved in response to metal utilization. Characterization of the structural environment of the nitrogenase active site revealed amino acid variations that are unique to each class of nitrogenase as defined by heterometal cofactor content; uncharacterized nitrogenases contain amino acids near the active site most similar to NifD. Together, these results suggest that uncharacterized nitrogenase homologs present in numerous anaerobic methanogens, archaeal methanotrophs, and firmicutes bind FeMo-co in their active site, and add to growing evidence that diversification of metal utilization likely occurred in an anoxic habitat

Reading Nonfiction Science Literature with and without Arts Integration Activities

This study explores the integration of the arts into the teaching of science nonfiction texts during literacy instruction. Sixty-one elementary students (15 second graders, 25 third graders, and 21 fifth graders) attending schools of differing socio-economic levels participated in this study. The study examined the effects of artsintegration on student content knowledge, engagement level, and attitudes toward learning regarding science nonfiction texts. Throughout the eight-week study, students experienced both the traditional no-arts control condition and the experimental arts-integration condition in two-week segments for different science topics. Both conditions employed literacy strategies to teach comprehension of science nonfiction texts. The resulting pretests, posttests, and distal posttests, attitude surveys, and teacher observations indicated that students learned and retained content knowledge taught through both ways of teaching. The fifth-grade students evidenced greater learning during the experimental condition with very large effect sizes. Students’ overall attitudes and engagement were better when the arts were incorporated into daily instruction. The excitement for learning and academic abilities of the participants throughout the study supports the idea that different ways of creative teaching positively impact the way students learn in the classroom

Inclusive and flexible curriculum design framework in work-based learning: providing high-impact transnational education opportunities in Sub-Saharan Africa

Impactful pedagogies in Higher Education are required to meet the challenges of the 21st Century. This chapter outlines an inclusive, flexible and work-based learning curriculum design framework to respond to these needs. Two cases from Glasgow Caledonian University are used to illustrate this framework in a transnational educational context in Sub-Saharan Africa. Case one explores the impact of a Railway Operations Management programme in South Africa, where the views of two cohorts of 137 recent graduates were gathered through an online questionnaire. Case two examines the views of Optometry/Orthoptics students who undertook an intensive two-week clinical work experience on the train-based clinic (Phelophepa train) in South Africa; data was gathered through an online questionnaire from 58 participating students since 2014. Both examples highlight transformative personal experiences and impacts of their education beyond just their studies – to a clearer sense of personal and professional pride, to becoming role models for their families and to developing meta-cognitive skills to support lifelong learning. In the Railway Operations Management example, additional benefits were seen to their organisation – through improved interpersonal skills, decision making and problem solving and creating knowledge-sharing – whereas in the Optometry/Orthoptics case life-changing impacts to patients were delivered through this work experience

DCC Case Study: PrestoSpace: Preservation towards storage and access. Standardised Practices for Audiovisual Contents in Europe

Explicit strategies are needed to manage ‘mixed’ audio visual (AV) archives that contain both analogue and digital materials. The PrestoSpace Project brings together industry leaders, research institutes, and other stakeholders at a European level, to provideproducts and services for effective automated preservation and access solutions for diverse AV collections. The Project’s main objective is to develop and promote flexible, integrated and affordable services for AV preservation, restoration, and storage with a view to enabling migration to digital formats in AV archives