Trauma-Informed Pedagogy: Promoting Inclusivity in the Basic Course

The goal of trauma-informed pedagogy is to understand how trauma impacts how our students learn. As such, basic communication course (BCC) instructors need to better understand trauma-informed pedagogy as a means of promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion. The BCC curriculum often requires a level of vulnerability among our student body, therefore instructors need to become aware of practices to build trust and create community. Three ideas are outlined to showcase trauma-informed pedagogy in the BCC; (1) promoting well-being, (2) developing transparency, (3) fostering growth

The Importance of the Basic Communication Course in the First-Year Experience: Implications for Retention

This study examines the basic communication course (BCC) as it relates to students’ first academic year at a university. Specifically, we compared students completing both a first-year experience (FYE) course and BCC against students completing only an FYE course. Data was collected over two cohorts of students and after analytical procedures, we found that there is an association between courses taken (both a FYE course and BCC or just a FYE course) and retention at the university. Additionally, the results revealed that the combination of both a FYE course and BCC during the first-year fostered emotional support and classroom connectedness, which previous research suggests improves students’ integration into the larger academic community (see Dwyer, Bingham, Carlson, Prisbell, Cruz, & Fus, 2004; Titsworth, McKenna, Mazer, & Quinlan, 2013). Ultimately, this research provides implications for the integral role the BCC plays in the first-year

Dynamic testing and analysis of the world’s first metal 3D printed bridge

The MX3D Bridge is the world’s first additively manufactured metal bridge. It is a 10.5 m-span footbridge, and its dynamic response is a key serviceability consideration. The bridge has a flowing, sculptural form and its response to footfall was initially studied using a 3D finite element (FE) model featuring the designed geometry and material properties obtained from coupon tests. The bridge was tested using experimental modal analysis (EMA) and operational modal analysis (OMA) during commissioning prior to installation. The results have shown that the measured vibration response of the bridge under footfall excitation is 200% greater than predictions based on the FE model and contemporary design guidance. The difference between predicted and measured behaviour is attributed to the complexity of the structure, underestimation of the modal mass in the FE model, and the time-variant modal behaviour of the structure under pedestrian footfall. Both OMA and EMA give a dominant natural frequency for the bridge of between 5.19 Hz and 5.32 Hz, higher than the FE model prediction of 4.31 Hz, and average damping estimates across all modes of vibration below 15 Hz of 0.61% and 0.74% respectively, higher than the 0.5% assumed within the design guidance, slightly reducing the peak response factor predicted for the bridge

Data pertaining to aberrant intracellular calcium handling during androgen deprivation therapy in prostate cancer

The data generated here in relates to the research article “CaV1.3 enhanced store operated calcium promotes resistance to androgen deprivation in prostate cancer”. A model of prostate cancer (PCa) progression to castration resistance was employed, with untreated androgen sensitive LNCaP cell line alongside two androgen deprived (bicalutamide) sublines, either 10 days (LNCaP-ADT) or 2 years (LNCaP-ABL) treatment, in addition to androgen insensitive PC3. With this PCa model, qPCR was used to examined fold change in markers linked to androgen resistance, androgen receptor (AR) and neuron specific enolase (NSE), observing an increase under androgen deprivation. In addition, the gene expression of a range of calcium channels was measured, with only the L-type Voltage gated calcium channel, CACNA1D, demonstrating an increase during androgen deprivation. With CACNA1D knockdown the channel was found not to influence the gene expression of calcium channels, ORAI1 and STIM1. The calcium channel blocker (CCB), nifedipine, was employed to determine the impact of CaV1.3 on the observed store release and calcium entry measured via Fura-2AM ratiometric dye in our outlined PCa model. In both the presence and absence of androgen deprivation, nifedipine was found to have no impact on store release induced by thapsigargin (Tg) in 0mM Ca(2+) nor store operated calcium entry (SOCE) following the addition of 2mM Ca(2+). However, CACNA1D siRNA knockdown was able to reduce SOCE in PC3 cells. The effect of nifedipine on CaV1.3 in PCa biology was measured through cell proliferation assay, with no observed change in the presence of CCB. While siCACNA1D reduced PC3 cell proliferation. This data can be reused to inform new studies investigating altered calcium handling in androgen resistant prostate cancer. It provides insight into the mechanism of CaV1.3 and its functional properties in altered calcium in cancer, which can be of use to researchers investigating this channel in disease. Furthermore, it could be helpful in interpreting studies investigating CCB's as a therapeutic and in the development of future drugs targeting CaV1.3

Nurse clinic versus home delivery of evidence-based community leg ulcer care: A randomized health services trial

BACKGROUND: International studies report that nurse clinics improve healing rates for the leg ulcer population. However, these studies did not necessarily deliver similar standards of care based on evidence in the treatment venues (home and clinic). A rigorous evaluation of home versus clinic care is required to determine healing rates with equivalent care and establish the acceptability of clinic-delivered care. METHODS: Health Services RCT was conducted where mobile individuals were allocated to either home or nurse clinic for leg ulcer management. In both arms, care was delivered by specially trained nurses, following an evidence protocol. Primary outcome: 3-month healing rates. Secondary outcomes: durability of healing (recurrence), time free of ulcers, HRQL, satisfaction, resource use. Data were collected at base-line, every 3 months until healing occurred, with 1 year follow-up. Analysis was by intention to treat. RESULTS: 126 participants, 65 randomized to receive care in their homes, 61 to nurse-run clinics. No differences found between groups at baseline on socio-demographic, HRQL or clinical characteristics. mean age 69 years, 68% females, 84% English-speaking, half with previous episode of ulceration, 60% ulcers at inclusion < 5 cm(2 )for < 6 months. No differences in 3-month healing rates: clinic 58.3% compared to home care at 56.7% (p = 0.5) or in secondary outcomes. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate that organization of care not the setting where care is delivered influences healing rates. Key factors are a system that supports delivery of evidence-based recommendations with care being provided by a trained nursing team resulting in equivalent healing rates, HRQL whether care is delivered in the home or in a community nurse-led clinic. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Protocol Registration System: NCT0065638

Development of a quality indicator framework for occupational therapy

Occupational therapists are increasingly expected to implement and monitor indicators of occupational therapy quality performance. Goals of quality measurement and improvement include enhancing satisfaction of the end-user, optimising the efficient use of resources and improving health outcomes. A Quality Indicator (QI) Framework with 56 generic indicators was developed for occupational therapy by the World Federation of Occupational Therapists for selecting, organising and reporting on quality indicators in a structured and meaningful way. A consultation involving 46 occupational therapists from 21 countries indicated the QI Framework shows promise to help occupational therapists select relevant and useful measures to evaluate their occupational therapy services. Work will, therefore, continue to further evaluate and refine the QI Framework, as well as develop resources to support the implementation and use of the tool

Indicators of Intrinsic AGN Luminosity: a Multi-Wavelength Approach

We consider five indicators for intrinsic AGN luminosity: the luminosities of the [OIII]$\lambda$5007 line, the [OIV]25.89$\mu$m line, the mid-infrared (MIR) continuum emission by the torus, and the radio and hard X-ray (E $>$ 10keV) continuum emission. We compare these different proxies using two complete samples of low-redshift type 2 AGN selected in a homogeneous way based on different indicators: an optically selected [OIII] sample and a mid-infrared selected 12$\mu$m sample. We examine the correlations between all five different proxies, and find better agreement for the [OIV], MIR, and [OIII] luminosities than for the hard X-ray and radio luminosities. Next, we compare the ratios of the fluxes of the different proxies to their values in unobscured Type 1 AGN. The agreement is best for the ratio of the [OIV] and MIR fluxes, while the ratios of the hard X-ray to [OIII], [OIV], and MIR fluxes are systematically low by about an order-of-magnitude in the Type 2 AGN, indicating that hard X-ray selected samples do not represent the full Type 2 AGN population. In a similar spirit, we compare different optical and MIR diagnostics of the relative energetic contributions of AGN and star formation processes in our samples of Type 2 AGN. We find good agreement between the various diagnostic parameters, such as the equivalent width of the MIR polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon features, the ratio of the MIR [OIV]/[NeII] emission-lines, the spectral index of the MIR continuum, and the commonly used optical emission-line ratios. Finally, we test whether the presence of cold gas associated with star-formation leads to an enhanced conversion efficiency of AGN ionizing radiation into [OIII] or [OIV] emission. We find that no compelling evidence exists for this scenario for the luminosities represented in this sample (L$_{bol}$ $\approx$ 10$^{9}$ - 8 $\times$ 10$^{11}$ L_{\sun}). (abridged)Comment: accepted for publication in ApJ; 58 page