Navigating Higher Education: Factors Contributing to Former Foster Care Youth’s Graduation from Post-Secondary Education

This study identifies factors contributing to the success of foster care alumni (FCA) who graduate from post-secondary education (PSE), despite institutions devoting little effort to making PSE accessible to FCA. Nine FCA PSE graduates were interviewed about their success.  Responses were analyzed using an exploratory method to identify themes related to factors deemed critical to theirgraduation from PSE. Ferguson’s (2019) conceptual model of a Student Development Pathway was used to organize findings; success factors were analyzed accordingly to their role in the Preparation, Awareness, Engagement, Transition, and Persistence phases. Findings suggest the role of coaching and caring adults was most notable in the Preparation, Engagement, and Transitional phases to PSE. Determination factored predominantly during the Persistence phase, and Resistance was most associated with the Preparation and Persistence phases. Findings also indicated numerous untapped opportunities and initiatives that could make PSE more accessible and achievable for FCA.Cette étude définit les facteurs contribuant à la réussite d’anciens jeunes pris en charge titulaires d’un diplôme d’études postsecondaires (DEPS), malgré le fait que les établissements ont consacré peu d'efforts à rendre les études postsecondaires accessibles aux jeunes et anciens pris en charge. Neuf anciens jeunes pris en charge titulaires d’un DEPS ont été interrogés au sujet de leur réussite.Les réponses ont été analysées par une méthode exploratoire pour identifier les thèmes liés aux facteurs jugés critiques pour l'obtentionde leur DEPS. Le modèle conceptuel de « Parcours de développement étudiant» (Student Development Pathway) Ferguson(2019) a été utilisé pour organiser les résultats. Les facteurs de réussite ont été analysés en fonction de leur rôle dans les phases depréparation, de sensibilisation, d'engagement, de transition et de persévérance. Les résultats suggèrent que le rôle de l’encadrementet la présence d’adultes bienveillants sont les plus importants dans les phases de préparation, d’engagement et de transition versles études supérieures. La détermination a joué un rôle prédominant durant la phase de persévérance, et la résistance a été le plussouvent associée aux phases de préparation et de persévérance. Les résultats indiquent également de nombreuses occasions etinitiatives inexploitées qui pourraient rendre les études postsecondaires plus accessibles et réalisables pour les jeunes anciens prisen charge

Considerations for application of skill acquisition in Sport : an example from tennis

Skill acquisition principles are crucial to prepare athletes for superior performance in sport, but, in training athletes, coaches have focused less on these principles than they have on the design of training. This paper provides an overview of how a skill acquisition specialist disseminated scientific knowledge to amateur and professional coaches and initiated collaboration to improve practice design. First, a framework of representative task design is outlined, which considers perception and action components of sports skills in practice tasks relative to the competition setting. Second, with elite tennis as an example, steps are described as to how the skill acquisition specialist can initiate collaboration with coaches to evaluate practice tasks and make recommendations using representative task design. This approach includes delivery of a seminar to educate coaches, observation of practice tasks to rate representative task design with recommendations made, and factors identified by coaches that should be considered when applying skill acquisition principles. Factors identified by coaches related to presentation of anticipatory cues, practice variability, individualization of practice, skill complexity, and consistency of skill tests. Collectively, this paper provides insight into how skill acquisition specialists can collaborate with coaches to disseminate knowledge, and it presents some of the challenges and solutions of designing representative practice tasks in sport

Collaborative Research and Data-Limited Assessment of Small-Scale Trap Fisheries in the Santa Barbara Channel

Globally, most fisheries are managed ineffectively. Model-based stock assessments that estimate biomass-based reference points work well for sustainably managing data-rich fisheries, but small-scale fisheries typically lack the data and/or resources needed to perform these assessments. These fisheries comprise the majority of fisheries worldwide, and they require alternative monitoring and assessment methods to better understand fishing’s impact on targeted populations and to enhance the sustainability of fished stocks. In this dissertation, I focus on the application of alternative monitoring and assessment techniques to improve understanding and management of two invertebrate fisheries in the Santa Barbara Channel (SBC) in southern California (CA). The first two chapters focus on the multispecies southern CA rock crab fishery, which experienced rapid growth from 2010 to 2015 in the SBC. However, rock crab stock health has never been assessed because substantial biological data limitations exist, species-specific catch data is often unreported, and effort data is not available in this fishery. In the first chapter, I performed five data-limited assessments in an effort to identify any early warning signs of depletion in the fishery. Methods selection was supported by novel decision support software (FishPath) designed to facilitate the selection of context-appropriate assessment and management options for coastal fisheries. Expert opinion of stakeholders was vital when interpreting the suite of assessment results, which suggested that the rock crab fishery may be experiencing serial depletion, effort creep, and regional overfishing. The approach taken delivers a widely applicable means for improving understanding of fishery impacts in data limited circumstances, and I suggest a proactive management strategy to address warning signs of overfishing for southern CA rock crab.In chapter two, I employed a collaborative approach to further assess these early warning signs of overfishing. The rock crab fishery is managed as one assemblage despite life history differences across species and space, as well as spatial variation in fishing effort and species composition of the catch. Uniformly managing such a complex system renders it difficult to assess which rock crab stocks are most affected by the increased fishing pressure in the SBC. I tested for stock-specific declines by replicating a 2008 study in 2016-17, where local fishers collected key fishery-dependent indicator data across the SBC and I compared indicator values between studies. Spatially explicit multiple regression analyses revealed significant declines in male crab sizes, overall CPUE, and the proportion of crab retained (versus discarded) for all heavily targeted stocks. Evidence of decline varied with species, location, and sex, but overall, fishers caught fewer pounds of crab per trap in 2016-17 than in 2008. This work provides a foundation for an adaptive, spatially explicit, empirical management strategy for southern CA rock crab, which may help fishers to avoid financial loss and further depletion of certain stocks. It also demonstrates that relatively simple collaborative approaches can provide valuable insight into complex fishery systems in need of improved management. In chapter three, I focus on the use of no-take marine reserves as a tool for fisheries management. Marine reserves are a widely used and successful strategy for conserving biodiversity, but their ability to benefit adjacent fisheries through spillover of larvae, juveniles, and adults is often uncertain. Assessing fishery-related benefits of individual reserves requires careful evaluation on a case-by-case basis. This chapter examines spillover contributions from a no-take marine reserve network established in 2003 at the Northern Channel Islands, CA to the southern CA spiny lobster (Panulirus interruptus) fishery. Collaborative fisheries research (CFR) in 2006-08 found considerable population increases within these reserves and potential spillover across reserve borders. I replicated the 2006-08 effort in two reserves in 2018 to quantify further accumulation of biomass inside the reserves, and to test whether spillover led to increased trap yield outside reserve borders following 15 years of reserve protection. The study design controlled for individual reserve characteristics, fisher behavior, and environmental conditions. I found that catch per trap increased 125–465% deep within reserves, 223–331% near outer reserve boundaries, and did not increase at control sites. Spillover therefore contributes to enhanced catch for the Southern CA spiny lobster fishery, and this study illustrates the utility of CFR for assessing the effectiveness of marine reserves as fishery management tools worldwide. As a whole, this dissertation exemplifies the use of collaborative, alternative approaches to stock monitoring and assessment that can be applied to improve the management of small-scale fisheries worldwide

Achieving Graduate Attributes through Authentic Learning: The Case of Student Managed Funds

According to the Department of Education and Skills (2011), as cited by Murphy and Whelan (2016), there has been a growing emphasis on the importance of graduate attributes in higher education in Ireland. This not only places emphasis on the application of disciplinary specific knowledge, but also on the ‘soft skills’ highly sought by employers. By providing an authentic learning environment, higher education institutes can facilitate the development of graduate attributes while also ensuring graduates are gaining disciplinary specific knowledge. This project explores how Student Managed Funds (SMFs) represent an authentic learning experience through which students achieve a range of graduate attributes. In addition to the literature review that follows, we also provide details of the recently established Technological University Dublin (DIT) Student Managed Fund (SMF) and a step-by-by guide to the establishment of an SMF, whilst also showing how the DIT SMF learning experience maps to the DIT graduate attributes. Finally, we have developed an infographic that summarises how SMFs are authentic learning experiences that achieve graduate attributes and provide tips for practitioners wishing to set-up an SMF

Evaluation of 3D C-arm fluoroscopy versus diagnostic CT for deep brain stimulation stereotactic registration and post-operative lead localization

Introduction: DBS efficacy depends on accuracy. CT-MRI fusion is established for both stereotactic registration and electrode placement verification. The desire to streamline DBS workflows, reduce operative time, and minimize patient transfers has increased interest in portable imaging modalities such as the Medtronic O-arm® and mobile CT. However, these remain expensive and bulky. 3D C-arm fluoroscopy (3DXT) units are a smaller and less costly alternative, albeit incompatible with traditional frame-based localization and without useful soft tissue resolution. We aimed to compare fusion of 3DXT and CT with pre-operative MRI to evaluate if 3DXT-MRI fusion alone is sufficient for accurate registration and reliable targeting verification. We further assess DBS targeting accuracy using a 3DXT workflow and compare radiation dosimetry between modalities. Methods: Patients underwent robot-assisted DBS implantation using a workflow incorporating 3DXT which we describe. Two intra-operative 3DXT spins were performed for registration and accuracy verification followed by conventional CT post-operatively. Post-operative 3DXT and CT images were independently fused to the same pre-operative MRI sequence and co-ordinates generated for comparison. Registration accuracy was compared to 15 consecutive controls who underwent CT-based registration. Radial targeting accuracy was calculated and radiation dosimetry recorded. Results: Data were obtained from 29 leads in 15 consecutive patients. 3DXT registration accuracy was significantly superior to CT with mean error 0.22 ± 0.03 mm (p < 0.0001). Mean Euclidean electrode tip position variation for CT to MRI versus 3DXT to MRI fusion was 0.62 ± 0.40 mm (range 0.0 mm–1.7 mm). In comparison, direct CT to 3DXT fusion showed electrode tip Euclidean variance of 0.23 ± 0.09 mm. Mean radial targeting accuracy assessed on 3DXT was 0.97 ± 0.54 mm versus 1.15 ± 0.55 mm on CT with differences insignificant (p = 0.30). Mean patient radiation doses were around 80% lower with 3DXT versus CT (p < 0.0001). Discussion: Mobile 3D C-arm fluoroscopy can be safely incorporated into DBS workflows for both registration and lead verification. For registration, the limited field of view requires the use of frameless transient fiducials and is highly accurate. For lead position verification based on MRI co-registration, we estimate there is around a 0.4 mm discrepancy between lead position seen on 3DXT versus CT when corrected for brain shift. This is similar to that described in O-arm® or mobile CT series. For units where logistical or financial considerations preclude the acquisition of a cone beam CT or mobile CT scanner, our data support portable 3D C-arm fluoroscopy as an acceptable alternative with significantly lower radiation exposure