Deweyan tools for inquiry and the epistemological context of critical pedagogy

This article develops the notion of resistance as articulated in the literature of critical pedagogy as being both culturally sponsored and cognitively manifested. To do so, the authors draw upon John Dewey\u27s conception of tools for inquiry. Dewey provides a way to conceptualize student resistance not as a form of willful disputation, but instead as a function of socialization into cultural models of thought that actively truncate inquiry. In other words, resistance can be construed as the cognitive and emotive dimensions of the ongoing failure of institutions to provide ideas that help individuals both recognize social problems and imagine possible solutions. Focusing on Dewey\u27s epistemological framework, specifically tools for inquiry, provides a way to grasp this problem. It also affords some innovative solutions; for instance, it helps conceive of possible links between the regular curriculum and the study of specific social justice issues, a relationship that is often under-examined. The aims of critical pedagogy depend upon students developing dexterity with the conceptual tools they use to make meaning of the evidence they confront; these are background skills that the regular curriculum can be made to serve even outside social justice-focused curricula. Furthermore, the article concludes that because such inquiry involves the exploration and potential revision of students\u27 world-ordering beliefs, developing flexibility in how one thinks may be better achieved within academic subjects and topics that are not so intimately connected to students\u27 current social lives, especially where students may be directly implicated

The impact of the storage tier: A baseline performance analysis of containerized DBMS

Containers emerged as cloud resource offerings. While the advantages of containers, such as easing the application deployment, orchestration and adaptation, work well for stateless applications, the feasibility of containerization of stateful applications, such as database management system (DBMS), still remains unclear due to potential performance overhead. The myriad of container operation models and storage backends even raises the complexity of operating a containerized DBMS. Here, we present an extensible evaluation methodology to identify performance overhead of a containerized DBMS by combining three operational models and two storage backends. For each combination a memory-bound and disk-bound workload is applied. The results show a clear performance overhead for containerized DBMS on top of virtual machines (VMs) compared to physical resources. Further, a containerized DBMS on top of VMs with different storage backends results in a tolerable performance overhead. Building upon these baseline results, we derive a set of open evaluation challenges for containerized DBMSs

Drought induces spruce beetle (Dendroctonus rufipennis) outbreaks across northwestern Colorado.

This study examines influences of climate variability on spruce beetle (Dendroctonus rufipennis) outbreak across northwestern Colorado during the period 1650 2011 CE. Periods of broad-scale outbreak reconstructed using documentary records and tree rings were dated to 1843-1860, 1882-1889, 1931-1957, and 2004-2010. Periods of outbreak were compared with seasonal temperature, precipitation, vapor pressure deficit (VPD), the Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI), and indices of ocean-atmosphere oscillation that include the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO), Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO), and Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO). Classification trees showed that outbreaks can be predicted most successfully from above average annual AMO values and above average summer VPD values, indicators of drought across Colorado. Notably, we find that spruce beetle outbreaks appear to be predicted best by interannual to multidecadal variability in drought, not by temperature alone. This finding may imply that spruce beetle outbreaks are triggered by decreases in host tree defenses, which are hypothesized to occur with drought stress. Given the persistence of the AMO, the shift to a positive AMO phase in the late 1990s is likely to promote continued spruce beetle disturbance

Effectiveness of app-based self-acupressure for women with menstrual pain compared to usual care: A randomized pragmatic trial

BACKGROUND: Primary dysmenorrhea is common among women of reproductive age. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and oral contraceptives are effective treatments, although the failure rate is around 20-25%. Therefore additional evidence-based treatments are needed. In recent years, the use of smartphone applications (apps) has increased rapidly and may support individuals in self-management strategies. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to investigate the effectiveness of app-based self-acupressure in women with menstrual pain. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A two-armed randomized pragmatic trial was conducted from December 2012 to April 2015 with recruitment until August 2014 in Berlin, Germany, among women aged 18-34 years with self reported cramping pain ≥6 on a numeric rating scale (NRS) for the worst pain intensity during the previous menstruation. After randomization women performed either app-based self-acupressure (n=111) or followed usual care only (n=110) for six consecutive menstruation cycles. The primary outcome was the mean pain intensity (NRS 0-10) on the days with pain during the third menstruation. Secondary outcomes included worst pain intensity during menstruation, duration of pain, 50% responder rates (reduction of mean pain by at least 50%), medication intake, sick leave days and body efficacy expectation assessed at the 1(st), 2(nd), 3(rd), and 6(th) menstruation cycle. RESULTS: We included 221 women (mean age 24.0 (sd 3.6) years). The mean pain intensity difference during the third menstruation was statistically significant in favor for acupressure (acupressure: 4.4 95% CI [4.0; 4.7]; usual care 5.0 [4.6; 5.3]; mean difference -0.6 [-1.2; -0.1], p=0.026). At the sixth cycle, the mean difference between the groups -1.4 [-2.0; -0.8] (p<0.001) reached clinical relevance. At the third and sixth menstruation cycle, responder rate was 37% and 58% respectively in the acupressure group in contrast to 23% and 24% in the usual care group. Moreover, the worst pain intensity (group difference -0.6 [-1.2; -0.02] and -1.4 [-2.0; -0.7]), the number of days with pain (-0.4 [-0.9; -0.01] and -1.2 [-1.6; -0.7]) and the proportion of women with pain medication at the third and sixth menstruation cycle (odd ratio 0.5 [0.3; 0.9] and 0.3 [0.2; 0.5]) was lower in the acupressure group. At the third cycle hormonal contraceptive use was more common in the usual care group than in the acupressure group (odds ratio 0.5 [0.3;0.97]), but not statistically significant different at the sixth cycle (odds ratio 0.6 [0.3;1.1]). The number of sick leave days and body efficacy expectation (self-efficacy scale) did not differ between groups. On a scale from 0-6, mean satisfaction with the intervention at the third cycle was 3.7 (sd 1.3), recommendation of the intervention to others 4.3 (1.5), appropriateness of acupressure for menstrual pain 3.9 (1.4), and application of acupressure for other pain 4.3 (1.5). The intervention was safe and after the sixth cycle two third of the women (67.6%) still applied acupressure on all days with pain. CONCLUSION: Smartphone app delivered self-acupressure resulted in a reduction of menstrual pain compared to usual care only. Effects were increasing over time and adherence was good. Future trials should include comparisons to other active treatment options

Examining the Rural Influence on Non Medical Prescription Drug Use (NMPDU) in a University Population: Pilot Phase 1

The prevalence of prescription drug misuse and abuse has increased dramatically, particularly in young adults age 18-25. Recent research now indicates that young adults living in rural communities are more likely than their urban counterparts to abuse prescription drugs. The purpose of this 2-phase, exploratory study is twofold: 1) to examine the prevalence rates and correlates of nonmedical prescription drug (NMPDU) use among college students on a rural southeastern college campus, and 2) to examine how environmental factors, specifically coming from a rural environment (vs. urban) and living in a rural college environment affect students’ current collegiate NMPDU. This study used mixed-methods study design with focus groups (Phase 1) to inform a campus-wide survey (Phase 2). For Phase 1, 40 students (32 from the general student population; 8 from the Center for Addiction Recovery) were recruited to participate in 5 focus groups of 8 students each. Focus groups were recorded and these audio files were transcribed into text files which were loaded into Atlas.ti, a qualitative data analysis software, for analysis. Classical three-pass coding was performed. Open-ended coding during the first pass-through to locate themes and assign initial codes, the second pass, combined themes to form cluster of concepts from open coding, The final coding was used to determine the types of comparisons, and select relevant themes to guide Phase 2. Higher prevalence of NMPDU in the rural environment is discussed as well as perceptions of NMPDU gleaned from these focus groups

Digital TKA Alignment Training with a New Digital Simulation Tool (Knee-CAT) Improves Process Quality, Efficiency, and Confidence

Individual alignment techniques have been introduced to restore patients’ unique anatomical variations during total knee arthroplasty. The transition from conventional mechanical alignment to individualised approaches, with the assistance of computer and/or robotic technologies, is challenging. The objective of this study was to develop a digital training platform with real patient data to educate and simulate various modern alignment philosophies. The aim was to evaluate the training effect of the tool by measuring the process quality and efficiency, as well as the post-training surgeon’s confidence with new alignment philosophies. Based on 1000 data sets, a web-based interactive TKA computer navigation simulator (Knee-CAT) was developed. Quantitative decisions on bone cuts were linked to the extension and flexion gap values. Eleven different alignment workflows were introduced. A fully automatic evaluation system for each workflow, with a comparison function for all workflows, was implemented to increase the learning effect. The results of 40 surgeons with different experience levels using the platform were assessed. Initial data were analysed regarding process quality and efficiency and compared after two training courses. Process quality measured by the percentage of correct decisions was increased by the two training courses from 45% to 87.5%. The main reasons for failure were wrong decisions on the joint line, tibia slope, femoral rotation, and gap balancing. Efficiency was obtained with a reduction in time spent per exercise from 4 min 28 s to 2 min 35 s (42%) after the training courses. All volunteers rated the training tool as helpful or extremely helpful for learning new alignment philosophies. Separating the learning experience from OR performance was mentioned as one of the main advantages. A novel digital simulation tool for the case-based learning of various alignment philosophies in TKA surgery was developed and introduced. The simulation tool, together with the training courses, improved surgeon confidence and their ability to learn new alignment techniques in a stress-free out-of-theatre environment and to become more time efficient in making correct alignment decision