104 research outputs found
Students' experiences of learning in undergraduate education in Sri Lanka
This thesis argues that to better understand student learning in undergraduate education, it is useful to focus not only on how students are affected by the context of learning but also how they act on the context to achieve their own valued outcomes. The thesis specifically explored the question of âhow do students regulate their learning in relation to the contextual demands and their own valued outcomes?â
This longitudinal qualitative study has focused on a group of undergraduates following a four year degree course in Psychology in a Sri Lankan university. I have used an analytical framework informed by Engeströmâs version of Cultural Historical Activity Theory (CHAT) for data analysis. Accordingly, I have conceptualised student learning in the undergraduate course as a network of activity systems that weaves together people and cultural tools to transform the collective purpose of learning.
It emerged in the analysis of the activity system that studentsâ learning is affected mainly by tensions or dilemmas arising from the collective purpose and the institutional assessment practices. The collaborative attempt to change the purpose and the context of learning by studentsâ and their lecturers has mutually transformed both the collective purpose (object) and the studentsâ identities and increased their action possibilities. This dialectical process is mediated by the cultural tools which included curriculum, teaching and assessment as well as social relationships.
In the analysis of individual differences in achieving expansive learning there emerged five interacting factors which included; a studentâs past history of education; goal setting; motivation for transforming identity; mobilising resources and views on the object and tools used on the course. These factors do not operate in isolation and they interact within an individualâs socio-cultural context of learning, which simultaneously operates with the collaborative activity of student learning in the undergraduate course.
The above findings are synthesised into a model for understanding student learning in undergraduate education and the implications for policy, practice and further research are presented at the end of the thesis.
The thesis also addresses the issue of striking a balance between enhancing employability skills and providing a broad higher education based on liberal values. This arises directly from my research and is a part of current academic debates within higher education. It is argued that conceptualising student learning in undergraduate education as a dialectical change process of identity transformation of students, which is mediated by social relationships and cultural tools, may be helpful in resolving this issue. The thesis also suggests ways to conceptualise student learning in undergraduate courses, as a network of activity systems, which weaves together people and cultural tools to transform the collective purpose of learning. Such an approach can transform studentsâ identities and increase their possibilities for actions in intellectual, cultural, economic, social and moral spheres of life
Students' experiences of learning in undergraduate education in Sri Lanka
This thesis argues that to better understand student learning in undergraduate education, it is useful to focus not only on how students are affected by the context of learning but also how they act on the context to achieve their own valued outcomes. The thesis specifically explored the question of âhow do students regulate their learning in relation to the contextual demands and their own valued outcomes?â
This longitudinal qualitative study has focused on a group of undergraduates following a four year degree course in Psychology in a Sri Lankan university. I have used an analytical framework informed by Engeströmâs version of Cultural Historical Activity Theory (CHAT) for data analysis. Accordingly, I have conceptualised student learning in the undergraduate course as a network of activity systems that weaves together people and cultural tools to transform the collective purpose of learning.
It emerged in the analysis of the activity system that studentsâ learning is affected mainly by tensions or dilemmas arising from the collective purpose and the institutional assessment practices. The collaborative attempt to change the purpose and the context of learning by studentsâ and their lecturers has mutually transformed both the collective purpose (object) and the studentsâ identities and increased their action possibilities. This dialectical process is mediated by the cultural tools which included curriculum, teaching and assessment as well as social relationships.
In the analysis of individual differences in achieving expansive learning there emerged five interacting factors which included; a studentâs past history of education; goal setting; motivation for transforming identity; mobilising resources and views on the object and tools used on the course. These factors do not operate in isolation and they interact within an individualâs socio-cultural context of learning, which simultaneously operates with the collaborative activity of student learning in the undergraduate course.
The above findings are synthesised into a model for understanding student learning in undergraduate education and the implications for policy, practice and further research are presented at the end of the thesis.
The thesis also addresses the issue of striking a balance between enhancing employability skills and providing a broad higher education based on liberal values. This arises directly from my research and is a part of current academic debates within higher education. It is argued that conceptualising student learning in undergraduate education as a dialectical change process of identity transformation of students, which is mediated by social relationships and cultural tools, may be helpful in resolving this issue. The thesis also suggests ways to conceptualise student learning in undergraduate courses, as a network of activity systems, which weaves together people and cultural tools to transform the collective purpose of learning. Such an approach can transform studentsâ identities and increase their possibilities for actions in intellectual, cultural, economic, social and moral spheres of life
Strategies to reduce attrition in managing paediatric obesity:A systematic review
OBJECTIVE: To conduct a systematic review of the literature for strategies designed to reduce attrition in managing paediatric obesity. METHODS: We searched Ovid Medline (1946 to May 6, 2020), Ovid Embase (1974 to May 6, 2020), EBSCO CINAHL (inception to May 6, 2020), Elsevier Scopus (inception to April 14, 2020), and ProQuest Dissertations & Theses (inception to April 14, 2020). Reports were eligible if they included any obesity management intervention, included 2 to 18âyear olds with overweight or obesity (or if the mean age of participants fell within this age range), were in English, included experimental study designs, and had attrition reduction as a main outcome. Two team members screened studies, abstracted data, and appraised study quality. RESULTS: Our search yielded 5,415 original reports; six met inclusion criteria. In three studies, orientation sessions (n = 2) and motivational interviewing (MI) (n = 1) were used as attrition-reduction strategies before treatment enrollment; in three others, text messaging (n = 2) and MI (n = 1) supplemented existing obesity management interventions. Attrition-reduction strategies led to decreased attrition in two studies, increased in one, and no difference in three. For the two strategies that reduced attrition, (a) pre-treatment orientation and (b) text messaging between children and intervention providers were beneficial. The quality of the six included studies varied (good [n = 4]; poor [n = 2]). CONCLUSION: Some evidence suggests that attrition can be reduced. The heterogeneity of approaches applied and small number of studies included highlight the need for well-designed, experimental research to test the efficacy and effectiveness of strategies to reduce attrition in managing paediatric obesity
An exactly solvable model of a superconducting to rotational phase transition
We consider a many-fermion model which exhibits a transition from a
superconducting to a rotational phase with variation of a parameter in its
Hamiltonian. The model has analytical solutions in its two limits due to the
presence of dynamical symmetries. However, the symmetries are basically
incompatible with one another; no simple solution exists in intermediate
situations. Exact (numerical) solutions are possible and enable one to study
the behavior of competing but incompatible symmetries and the phase transitions
that result in a semirealistic situation. The results are remarkably simple and
shed light on the nature of phase transitions.Comment: 11 pages including 1 figur
The significance of macrophage polarization subtypes for animal models of tissue fibrosis and human fibrotic diseases.
The systemic and organ-specific human fibrotic disorders collectively represent one of the most serious health problems world-wide causing a large proportion of the total world population mortality. The molecular pathways involved in their pathogenesis are complex and despite intensive investigations have not been fully elucidated. Whereas chronic inflammatory cell infiltration is universally present in fibrotic lesions, the central role of monocytes and macrophages as regulators of inflammation and fibrosis has only recently become apparent. However, the precise mechanisms involved in the contribution of monocytes/macrophages to the initiation, establishment, or progression of the fibrotic process remain largely unknown. Several monocyte and macrophage subpopulations have been identified, with certain phenotypes promoting inflammation whereas others display profibrotic effects. Given the unmet need for effective treatments for fibroproliferative diseases and the crucial regulatory role of monocyte/macrophage subpopulations in fibrogenesis, the development of therapeutic strategies that target specific monocyte/macrophage subpopulations has become increasingly attractive. We will provide here an overview of the current understanding of the role of monocyte/macrophage phenotype subpopulations in animal models of tissue fibrosis and in various systemic and organ-specific human fibrotic diseases. Furthermore, we will discuss recent approaches to the design of effective anti-fibrotic therapeutic interventions by targeting the phenotypic differences identified between the various monocyte and macrophage subpopulations
Electron affinities of the first- and second- row atoms: benchmark ab initio and density functional calculations
A benchmark ab initio and density functional (DFT) study has been carried out
on the electron affinities of the first- and second-row atoms. The ab initio
study involves basis sets of and quality, extrapolations to
the 1-particle basis set limit, and a combination of the CCSD(T), CCSDT, and
full CI electron correlation methods. Scalar relativistic and spin-orbit
coupling effects were taken into account. On average, the best ab initio
results agree to better than 0.001 eV with the most recent experimental
results. Correcting for imperfections in the CCSD(T) method improves the mean
absolute error by an order of magnitude, while for accurate results on the
second-row atoms inclusion of relativistic corrections is essential. The latter
are significantly overestimated at the SCF level; for accurate spin-orbit
splitting constants of second-row atoms inclusion of (2s,2p) correlation is
essential. In the DFT calculations it is found that results for the 1st-row
atoms are very sensitive to the exchange functional, while those for second-row
atoms are rather more sensitive to the correlation functional. While the LYP
correlation functional works best for first-row atoms, its PW91 counterpart
appears to be preferable for second-row atoms. Among ``pure DFT'' (nonhybrid)
functionals, G96PW91 (Gill 1996 exchange combined with Perdew-Wang 1991
correlation) puts in the best overall performance. The best results overall are
obtained with the 1-parameter hybrid modified Perdew-Wang (mPW1) exchange
functionals of Adamo and Barone [J. Chem. Phys. {\bf 108}, 664 (1998)], with
mPW1LYP yielding the best results for first-row, and mPW1PW91 for second-row
atoms. Indications exist that a hybrid of the type mPW1LYP +
mPW1PW91 yields better results than either of the constituent functionals.Comment: Phys. Rev. A, in press (revised version, review of issues concerning
DFT and electron affinities added
Improved Neutron-Capture Element Abundances in Planetary Nebulae
Spectroscopy of planetary nebulae (PNe) provides the means to investigate
s-process enrichments of neutron(n)-capture elements that cannot be detected in
asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars. However, accurate abundance determinations
of these elements present a challenge. Corrections for unobserved ions can be
large and uncertain, since in many PNe only one ion of a given n-capture
element has been detected. Furthermore, the atomic data governing the
ionization balance of these species are not well-determined, inhibiting the
derivation of accurate ionization corrections. We present initial results of a
program that addresses these challenges. Deep high resolution optical
spectroscopy of ~20 PNe has been performed to detect emission lines from
trans-iron species including Se, Br, Kr, Rb, and Xe. The optical spectral
region provides access to multiple ions of these elements, which reduces the
magnitude and importance of uncertainties in the ionization corrections. In
addition, experimental and theoretical efforts are providing determinations of
the photoionization cross-sections and recombination rate coefficients of Se,
Kr, and Xe ions. These new atomic data will make it possible to derive robust
ionization corrections for these elements. Together, our observational and
atomic data results will enable n-capture element abundances to be determined
with unprecedented accuracy in ionized nebulae.Comment: 6 pages, 6 figures, to appear in "The Origin of the Elements Heavier
than Fe", Sep 25-27, 2008, Turin, Italy, PASA, eds. John C. Lattanzio and M.
Lugar
Evaluation of appendicitis risk prediction models in adults with suspected appendicitis
Background
Appendicitis is the most common general surgical emergency worldwide, but its diagnosis remains challenging. The aim of this study was to determine whether existing risk prediction models can reliably identify patients presenting to hospital in the UK with acute right iliac fossa (RIF) pain who are at low risk of appendicitis.
Methods
A systematic search was completed to identify all existing appendicitis risk prediction models. Models were validated using UK data from an international prospective cohort study that captured consecutive patients aged 16â45âyears presenting to hospital with acute RIF in March to June 2017. The main outcome was best achievable model specificity (proportion of patients who did not have appendicitis correctly classified as low risk) whilst maintaining a failure rate below 5 per cent (proportion of patients identified as low risk who actually had appendicitis).
Results
Some 5345 patients across 154 UK hospitals were identified, of which twoâthirds (3613 of 5345, 67·6 per cent) were women. Women were more than twice as likely to undergo surgery with removal of a histologically normal appendix (272 of 964, 28·2 per cent) than men (120 of 993, 12·1 per cent) (relative risk 2·33, 95 per cent c.i. 1·92 to 2·84; Pâ<â0·001). Of 15 validated risk prediction models, the Adult Appendicitis Score performed best (cutâoff score 8 or less, specificity 63·1 per cent, failure rate 3·7 per cent). The Appendicitis Inflammatory Response Score performed best for men (cutâoff score 2 or less, specificity 24·7 per cent, failure rate 2·4 per cent).
Conclusion
Women in the UK had a disproportionate risk of admission without surgical intervention and had high rates of normal appendicectomy. Risk prediction models to support shared decisionâmaking by identifying adults in the UK at low risk of appendicitis were identified
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