Lateralized Repetition Priming for Unfamiliar Faces

Peer reviewedPreprin

Management and nutritional strategies to improve the postnatal performance of light weight pigs

PhD ThesisDuring the production period from birth to slaughter there are some pigs that grow markedly slower, despite conditions that seem to support the rapid growth of their contemporaries. This reduction in growth inevitably leads to weight variation within a group and results in system inefficiencies. The aim of this thesis was to identify risk factors involved in poor growth and to develop management and nutritional treatments to enable light pigs to maximise their growth at different stages of production. Risk factor analysis for a large dataset showed that, in particular, low birth and weaning weight result in poor growth to finishing. Some light pigs do, however, have the capacity to compensate for low weight at earlier stages of production. Preweaning intervention demonstrated that low birth weight pigs cross fostered into litters with similar weight littermates had a significantly higher weaning weight than those in mixed litters with heavier pigs; however the provision of supplementary milk to such litters had no further beneficial effect. A post weaning feeding regime formulated for low birth weight pigs, with a higher nutrient specification diet based on more digestible ingredients, not only showed improved performance to 10 weeks of age, but also enabled low birth weight pigs to meet the BW of heavier birth weight pigs. In contrast, a high specification diet (higher in amino acid: energy content) had no effect on the growth of low birth weight pigs when offered from 9 weeks of age, suggesting a critical window for intervention. Overall, the crucial stages of postnatal growth for light pigs have been identified, and preweaning and early post weaning treatments have been developed. These not only improve the performance of low birth weight pigs but also allow them to catch up with heavier birth weight pigs

Investigating the predictors of physical activity maintenance in children and young people with cystic fibrosis

Maintaining adequate levels of physical activity (PA) is important for the health and well-being of children and young people with cystic fibrosis (CYPwCF). Identifying who maintains adequate levels and who needs targeted support is difficult in the clinical setting. This mixed methods programme of research investigated the maintenance of PA in CYPwCF in 2 phases. Phase 1 explored factors affecting maintenance of PA in 49 CYPwCF who had experienced the withdrawal of a supervised exercise intervention. A subgroup of 20 CYPwCF and their parents provided greater insight into the barriers to and facilitators for the maintenance of PA through semi-structured interviews. The results established that the supervised exercise intervention worked for some CYPwCF but not for others, and benefits only lasted as long as participation continued. An adult facilitator, sociability of activities, and praise and acknowledgement all helped overcome barriers. Self-efficacy for PA was an important factor in the maintenance of PA. Phase 2 evaluated the relationships between exercise capacity, self-efficacy for PA and self-reported PA with objectively measured PA in 78 CYPwCF. The results demonstrated that patterns of PA were varied: some CYPwCF were able to maintain regular high levels, some maintained very little activity, and others were active sometimes but not routinely. These patterns were not predictable by 3 simple clinical measurement tools. Self-reported PA was not an accurate representation of actual PA, and whilst self-efficacy for PA is important for the maintenance of PA, it did not predict PA patterns. These findings are significant for CF clinical teams in allocating resources for optimal outcomes. Different CYPwCF need different support to maintain adequate levels of PA. Therefore, it is important to accurately identify PA maintenance patterns, and the factors affecting them, so that clinical teams can facilitate the right type and level of support for individual CYPwCF

What can secondary data tell us about household food insecurity in a high-income country context?

In the absence of routinely collected household food insecurity data, this study investigated what could be determined about the nature and prevalence of household food insecurity in Scotland from secondary data. Secondary analysis of the Living Costs and Food Survey (2007–2012) was conducted to calculate weekly food expenditure and its ratio to equivalised income for households below average income (HBAI) and above average income (non-HBAI). Diet Quality Index (DQI) scores were calculated for this survey and the Scottish Health Survey (SHeS, 2008 and 2012). Secondary data provided a partial picture of food insecurity prevalence in Scotland, and a limited picture of differences in diet quality. In 2012, HBAI spent significantly less in absolute terms per week on food and non-alcoholic drinks (£53.85) compared to non-HBAI (£86.73), but proportionately more of their income (29% and 15% respectively). Poorer households were less likely to achieve recommended fruit and vegetable intakes than were more affluent households. The mean DQI score (SHeS data) of HBAI fell between 2008 and 2012, and was significantly lower than the mean score for non-HBAI in 2012. Secondary data are insufficient to generate the robust and comprehensive picture needed to monitor the incidence and prevalence of food insecurity in Scotland.</p

The animate house, the institutionalization of the household in Neolithic central Anatolia

This paper explores the effectiveness of a domestic mode of production model in explaining the development of Neolithic households in South-west Asia, using evidence from the site of Boncuklu in central Anatolia. We present evidence that Boncuklu households were institutionalized through repetitive practice, highly structured and symbolically charged domestic activity, ritual and symbolism stressing the animate and transcendental nature of the house, relating to continuity and idiosyncratic identity display. The Boncuklu evidence also suggests supra-household groups, possibly bound together by certain landscape exploitation activities, were reinforced by their own distinctive ritual practices and symbolism in parallel with and probably in a certain tension with the cohesive tendencies of individual households, even in the absence of evidence of monumental non-domestic communal structures seen at some Neolithic sites. This suggests the domestic mode of production model does not apply well to Neolithic South-west Asia, certainly for long time periods and in certain regions

Design Thinking 2.0: examining perceptions & current practices in Design Thinking towards the development of an innovation framework

Design Thinking is recognised as a mind-set, a toolkit, a process, and a methodology, with debates over its definition and identity now widespread. As we continue to understand the impact of Design Thinking we can acknowledge opposing opinions on it, from a failed experiment to an enabler of innovation. It has been hailed as design’s greatest export, yet there is increasing disquiet amongst the design community regarding the misuse and dilution of Design Thinking leading to the devaluing of design as a skilled practice. This workshop will aim to engage participants in constructive debate and activities surrounding the application of design thinking, it’s positioning within design practice, and significance across non-design industries. By gaining a better understanding how Design Thinking is viewed, used, and evaluated, can we develop a more rigorous methodological framework for its application across a range of industries to ‘unlock’ innovation in answering complex issues

SEXUAL ABUSE OF DOCTORS BY DOCTORS PROFESSIONALISM COMPLEXITY AND THE POTENTIAL FOR HEALING

Contemporary attitudes to sexual abuse are changing. The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, the response of the Australian Defence Force to allegations of sexual abuse in the military and the work of the Australian Human Rights Commission around sexual harassment in the workplace all indicate a shift in community values. They also represent a shift in our understanding of the nature and scope of professionalism. As each respected institution has its professional failures exposed, it becomes obvious that no group is immune. Existing codes of professional conduct have not protected colleagues or clients from toxic behaviour

Within-Home versus Between-Home Variability of House Dust Endotoxin in a Birth Cohort

Endotoxin exposure has been proposed as an environmental determinant of allergen responses in children. To better understand the implications of using a single measurement of house dust endotoxin to characterize exposure in the first year of life, we evaluated room-specific within-home and between-home variability in dust endotoxin obtained from 470 households in Boston, Massachusetts. Homes were sampled up to two times over 5–11 months. We analyzed 1,287 dust samples from the kitchen, family room, and baby’s bedroom for endotoxin. We fit a mixed-effects model to estimate mean levels and the variation of endotoxin between homes, between rooms, and between sampling times. Endotoxin ranged from 2 to 1,945 units per milligram of dust. Levels were highest during summer and lowest in the winter. Mean endotoxin levels varied significantly from room to room. Cross-sectionally, endotoxin was moderately correlated between family room and bedroom floor (r = 0.30), between family room and kitchen (r = 0.32), and between kitchen and bedroom (r = 0.42). Adjusting for season, the correlation of endotoxin levels within homes over time was 0.65 for both the bedroom and kitchen and 0.54 for the family room. The temporal within-home variance of endotoxin was lowest for bedroom floor samples and highest for kitchen samples. Between-home variance was lowest in the family room and highest for kitchen samples. Adjusting for season, within-home variation was less than between-home variation for all three rooms. These results suggest that room-to-room and home-to-home differences in endotoxin influence the total variability more than factors affecting endotoxin levels within a room over time

Teachers’ Belief Changes in a Technology-Enhanced Pedagogical Laboratory

Preservice teachers who were enrolled in a technology integration course facilitated student-centered lessons to K-12 students in a pedagogical laboratory. A quantitative instrument, Teachers’ Beliefs Regarding Technology Use Survey (TBTUS), was employed to measure the impact of the pedagogical laboratory experience on preservice teachers’ beliefs regarding technology integration. The impact was largely insignificant. The qualitative data suggest that changes might be incremental and TBTUS might not be sensitive to the changes that occurred after 22-hour treatment, with only six hours of real teaching experience. Moreover, unlike vicarious experiences, personal teaching experiences may be different for each candidate, so they might have learned strategies that are unrelated to the beliefs that were measure