From research to practice: The case of mathematical reasoning

Mathematical proficiency is a key goal of the Australian Mathematics curriculum. However, international assessments of mathematical literacy suggest that mathematical reasoning and problem solving are areas of difficulty for Australian students. Given the efficacy of teaching informed by quality assessment data, a recent study focused on the development of evidence-based Learning Progressions for Algebraic, Spatial and Statistical Reasoning that can be used to identify where students are in their learning and where they need to go to next. Importantly, they can also be used to generate targeted teaching advice and activities to help teachers progress student learning. This paper explores the processes involved in taking the research to practice

Swearing as a response to pain: A cross-cultural comparison of British and Japanese participants

Background and aims: Research suggests swearing can moderate pain perception. The present study assessed whether changes in pain perception due to swearing reflect a "scripting" effect by comparing swearing as a response to pain in native English and Japanese speakers. Cognitive psychology denotes a 'script' to be a sequence of learnt behaviours expected for given situations. Japanese participants were included as they rarely, if ever, swear as a response to pain and therefore do not possess an available script for swearing in the context of pain. It was hypothesised that Japanese participants would demonstrate less tolerance and more sensitivity to pain than English participants, and - due to a lack of an available script of swearing in response to pain - that Japanese participants would not experience swearword mediated hypoalgesia. Methods: Fifty-six native English (mean age = 23 years) and 39 Japanese (mean age = 21) speakers completed a cold-pressor task whilst repeating either a swear on control word. A 2 (culture; Japanese, British). ×. 2 (word; swear; non-swear) design explored whether Japanese participants showed the same increase in pain tolerance and experienced similar levels of perceived pain when a swearing intervention was used as British participants. Pain tolerance was assessed by the number of seconds participants could endure of cold-pressor exposure and self-report pain measurements. Levels of perceived pain were assessed using a 120-mm horizontal visual analogue scale anchored by descriptors in the participant's native language of "no pain" (left) and "terrible pain" (right). The participant was asked to mark a 10. mm vertical line to indicate overall pain intensity. The score was measured from the zero anchor to the participant's mark. Results: Japanese participants reported higher levels of pain (p <. 0.005) and displayed lower pain tolerance than British participants (p <. 0.05). Pain tolerance increased in swearers regardless of cultural background (p <. 0.001) and no interaction was found between word group and culture (p = 0.96), thereby suggesting that swearing had no differential effect related to the cultural group of the participant. Conclusions: The results replicate previous findings that swearing increases pain tolerance and that individuals from an Asian ethnic background experience greater levels of perceived pain than those from a Caucasian ethnic background. However, these results do not support the idea of pain perception modification due to a "scripting" effect. This is evidenced as swearword mediated hypoalgesia occurs irrespective of participant cultural background. Rather, it is suggested that modulation of pain perception may occur through activation of descending inhibitory neural pain mechanisms. Implications: As swearing can increase pain tolerance in both Japanese and British people, it may be suggested that swearword mediated hypoalgesia is a universal phenomenon that transcends socio-cultural learnt behaviours. Furthermore, swearing could be encouraged as an intervention to help people cope with acute painful stimuli

Screen Readers and SciEng Interfaces: How Accessible is Database Content?

The presentation will highlight the use of screen readers with common science and engineering database interfaces. An overview of how a screen reader (JAWS) interacts with the coding (buttons, drop down menus, etc.) on a page (i.e. search page, results page, etc.) will be provided. Users with print impairments cannot access database content if the database interfaces do not interact easily with screen readers. For each interface selected, a description of how the screen reader interacts with it – what works and what does not work? Will be presented. Finally, the author will discuss what developers can do to make these interfaces more accessible.UT Librarie

The Chat Reference Interview: Seeking Evidence Based on RUSA Guidelines: A Case Study at Texas A&M University Libraries

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to compare established reference interview guidelines (RUSA) with actual reference provider behaviors in remote reference transactions. The data is used to argue that specific reference interview “best practice standards” should be developed for remote access reference services. Design/methodology/approach: Remote reference transactions were examined for evidence of adherence, or not, to the RUSA guidelines and behaviors. The transcripts were also coded for showing evidence, or not, of user satisfaction. Findings: Data from 1,435 virtual reference transcripts shows that in 82% of the reference sessions the user found the information needed. Analysis also shows that librarian compliance with RUSA-recommended reference interview behaviors, especially in the areas of Listening/Inquiring and Searching is frequently poor – possibly due to time constraints

Enhancing Statistician Power: Flexible Covariate-Adjusted Semiparametric Inference for Randomized Studies with Multivariate Outcomes

It is well known that incorporating auxiliary covariates in the analysis of randomized clinical trials (RCTs) can increase efficiency. Questions still remain regarding how to flexibly incorporate baseline covariates while maintaining valid inference. Recent methodological advances that use semiparametric theory to develop covariate-adjusted inference for RCTs have focused on independent outcomes. In biomedical research, however, cluster randomized trials and longitudinal studies, characterized by correlated responses, are commonly used. We develop methods that flexibly incorporate baseline covariates for efficiency improvement in randomized studies with correlated outcomes. In Chapter 1, we show how augmented estimators may be used for cluster randomized trials, in which treatments are assigned to groups of individuals. We demonstrate the potential for imbalance correction and efficiency improvement through consideration of both cluster- and individual-level covariates. To improve small-sample estimation, we consider several variance adjustments. We evaluate this approach for continuous and binary outcomes through simulation and apply it to the Young Citizens study, a cluster randomized trial of a community behavioral intervention for HIV prevention in Tanzania. Chapter 2 builds upon the previous chapter by deriving semiparametric locally efficient estimators of marginal mean treatment effects when outcomes are correlated. Estimating equations are determined by the efficient score under a mean model for marginal effects when data contain baseline covariates and exhibit correlation. Locally efficient estimators are implemented for longitudinal data with continuous outcomes and clustered data with binary outcomes. Methods are illustrated through application to AIDS Clinical Trial Group Study 398, a longitudinal randomized study that compared various protease inhibitors in HIV-positive subjects. In Chapter 3, we empirically evaluate several covariate-adjusted tests of intervention effects when baseline covariates are selected adaptively and the number of randomized units is small. We demonstrate that randomization inference preserves type I error under model selection while tests based on asymptotic theory break down. Additionally, we show that covariate adjustment typically increases power, except at extremely small sample sizes using liberal selection procedures. Properties of covariate-adjusted tests are explored for independent and multivariate outcomes. We revisit Young Citizens to provide further insight into the performance of various methods in small-sample settings

Family attitudes, actions, decisions and experiences following implementation of deemed consent and the Human Transplantation (Wales) Act 2013:mixed-method study protocol

IntroductionThe Human Transplantation (Wales) Act 2013 (the Act) introduced a ‘soft opt-out’ system of organ donation on 1 December 2015. Citizens are encouraged to make their organ donation decision known during their lifetime. In order to work, the Act and media campaign need to create a context, whereby organ donation becomes the norm, and create a mechanism for people to behave as intended (formally register their decision; consider appointing a representative; convey their donation decision to their families and friends or do nothing—deemed consent). In addition, family members/appointed representatives need to be able to put their own views aside to support the decision of their loved one. The aim of this study is to evaluate initial implementation, outcomes and impact on families and appointed representatives who were approached about organ donation during the first 18 months.Methods and analysisProspective mixed-method coproductive study undertaken with National Health Service Blood and Transplant (NHSBT), and multiple patient/public representatives. The study is designed to collect information on all cases who meet specified criteria (≥18 years, deceased person voluntarily resident in Wales and died in Wales or England) whose family were approached between 1 December 2015 and 31 June 2017). Data for analysis include: NHSBT routinely collected anonymised audit data on all cases; Specialist Nurse in Organ Donation (SNOD) completed anonymised form for all cases documenting their perception of the families’ understanding of the Act, media campaign and outcome of the donation approach; questionnaires and depth interviews with any family member or appointed representative (minimum 50 cases). Additional focus groups and interviews with SNODs. Anonymised donation outcomes and registration activity reports for Wales provide additional context.Ethics and disseminationApproved by NHSBT Research, Innovation and Technology Advisory Group on 23 October 2015; Wales Research Ethics Committee 5 (IRAS190066; Rec Reference 15/WA/0414) on 25 November 2015 and NHSBT R&amp;D Committee (NHSBT ID: AP-15–02) on 24 November 2015.RegistrationThe protocol is registered on the Health and Care Research Wales Clinical Research Portfolio. Study ID number 34396, www.ukctg.nihr.ac.uk</jats:sec

The molybdenum isotopic compositions of I-, S- and A- type granitic suites

JY is funded by a Clarendon Scholarship and a Dr Bill Willetts Scholarship from the University of Oxford. The research leading to these results has received funding from the European Research Council under the European Union's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013) / ERC grant agreement No. 247422. This work has also supported by Science & Technology Facilities Council.This study reports Mo isotopic compositions for fifty-two Palaeozoic granitic rocks with contrasting source affinities (A-, I- and S-type) from the Lachlan Fold Belt (LFB) and the New England Batholith (NEB), both in SE Australia, and three compositionally zoned plutons (Loch Doon, Criffell, and Fleet) located in the South Uplands of Scotland. The results show relatively large variations in δ98Mo for igneous rocks ranging from -1.73‰ to 0.59‰ with significant overlaps between different types. No relationships between δ98Mo and δ18O or ASI (Alumina Saturation Index) are observed, indicating that Mo isotopes do not clearly distinguish igneous versus sedimentary source types. Instead, effects of igneous processes, source mixing, regional geology, as well as hydrothermal activity control the Mo isotope compositions in these granites. It is found that Mo is mainly accommodated in biotite and to a lesser extent in hornblende. Hornblende and Fe3+-rich minerals may preferentially incorporate light isotopes, as reflected by negative correlations between δ98Mo and K/Rb and [Fe2O3]. There is a positive correlation between initial 87Sr/86Sr and δ98Mo in I-type granitic rocks, reflecting the admixing of material from isotopically distinct sources. Granitic rocks from Scotland and Australia display strikingly similar curvilinear trends in δ98Mo vs. initial 87Sr/86Sr despite the differing regional geology. Localized hydrothermal effects on Mo isotopes in three samples from Loch Doon and Criffell can result in anomalously low δ98Mo of < -1‰. Based on this study, an estimate of δ98Mo = 0.14±0.07‰ (95% s.e.) for the Phanerozoic upper crust is proposed. This is slightly heavier than basalts indicating an isotopically light lower crust and / or a systematic change to the crust resulting from subduction of isotopically light dehydrated slab and / or pelagic sediment over time.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Gender identity: Challenges to access social and health care services for lesbians in Nepal

Literature about same-sex love and sexuality in Nepal is rare. However, limited anecdotal evidence on these issues signals that the health and social care needs of lesbians in Nepal are high. This qualitative study explores the challenges faced by lesbians in Nepal in accessing health and social services. In-depth interviews carried out with fifteen lesbians found that Nepalese lesbians face many challenges from families and society which result in a stressful life, homelessness and forced and unwanted relationships and marriage, including self-harming behaviours. They often face discrimination and harassment when coming out at public administration and social institutions. Hence, most lesbians of Nepal prefer not to disclose their sexual identity due to the fear of becoming isolated and not getting quality health care services

A systematic scoping review of Photovoice within mental health research involving adolescents

Photovoice is a research method that changes perceptions of mental health. However, there is a lack of evidence exploring how Photovoice is used in mental health research involving adolescents. Our review aimed to understand the nature and key themes across findings of Photovoice studies exploring mental health among adolescents. We used pre-existing data and updated a search strategy. Popay and colleagues’ guidance was used to analyse the studies and the quality of each study was appraised. Our review found that Photovoice studies exploring mental health among adolescents are limited in quality and that Photovoice is a flexible, adaptable, inclusive, and emerging method. Coping; resilience; beliefs about oneself; family; friends; safety; living in a lower socioeconomic area and treatment emerged as key themes across study findings. Our review is the first of its kind and highlights ways Photovoice studies in the future can be developed and is helpful to multiple stakeholders