Revisão de Artigos para Periódicos Internacionais

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Genomic data: building blocks for life or abstract art?

The genes found in the genetic code (genome) are sometimes called the “building blocks for life” but knowing how they impact human health can be more complicated than it sounds. This article aims to show how difficult it can be to understand how our genes can affect our health, and why it is not always easy to work out a patient’s result from genetic tests. We follow the story of Ben, whose muscles have been getting weaker for a few years. To find out why, Ben has had his genetic code sequenced, and we will walk you through a process by which his results can be analyzed. Through this activity, we will show you that analyzing patients’ genome tests is a bit like interpreting abstract art, in which different people might see and value different things

Development and preliminary validation of a patient-reported outcome measure for conversation partner schemes: the Conversation and Communication Questionnaire for People with Aphasia (CCQA)

Background: Conversation Partner schemes are increasingly used as a way of addressing the psychosocial and emotional consequences of aphasia, providing opportunities for people with aphasia to engage in authentic conversation and to develop social relationships. As yet, there are no outcome measures, that are theorised to match what is expected to change and how such changes are best identified, and that specifically address the constructs of Conversation Partner schemes. Aims: This study aimed to develop a new, theoretically motivated and accessible patient-reported outcome measure for evaluating the experiences of people with aphasia involved in Conversation Partner schemes, and for assessing the impact of schemes on areas of importance to people with aphasia. Methods & procedures: A mixed-methods study was undertaken in two phases. Phase 1 (item generation) used semi-structured one-to-one interviews and focus groups, which were subject to thematic analysis; Nominal Group Technique was used to develop and refine the item pool. In Phase 2 cognitive interviews were used to examine content validity; structural validity was examined using statistical methods (exploratory factor analysis; Rasch model analysis). Outcomes & results: Six themes from interviews and focus groups were developed into 41 candidate items through Nominal Group Technique. Item reduction through cognitive interviewing produced a 30-item scale, which was piloted and then field-tested by 123 community-dwelling adults with aphasia; 121 responses were subject to exploratory factor analysis and further item reduction, producing a four factor, 14-item scale. Rasch analysis demonstrated overall fit to the Rasch model and excellent targeting of items to person. Creation of 3 testlets by grouping items together accommodated the dependence found between pairs of items. Conclusions: The Conversation and Communication Questionnaire for people with Aphasia V3 is a 14-item, patient-reported measure for use with patients with aphasia taking part in Conversation Partner schemes. It is concise, has strong content validity, and has some supporting evidence of construct validity. Further research is needed to test its reliability and responsiveness

Identity and identity conflict in the workplace

As individuals, we define ourselves according to various characteristics that include our values and beliefs. This gives us ou

A Program Aimed toward Inclusive Excellence for Underrepresented Undergraduate Women in the Sciences

Created to foster inclusive excellence, Smith College’s Achieving Excellence in Mathematics, Engineering, and Science (AEMES) Scholars program provides early faculty-mentored research opportunities and other programming as a way to foster success in academic outcomes for underrepresented women in science. Using academic record data, we compared Scholars’ outcomes over time with those of underrepresented students before program launch and to relevant peer comparison groups. Since its launch, AEMES Scholars have achieved significantly higher gateway life sciences course grade point averages (GPAs), rates of persistence in life and natural sciences, and participation in natural sciences advanced research relative to baseline. Gains for Scholars in gateway course GPA eliminated the significant gap that previously existed between science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM)-underrepresented and other students, whereas gains in natural sciences persistence now has Scholars continuing in STEM at significantly higher rates than all other students. Many of the gains for AEMES Scholars were echoed in findings of improved outcomes for our STEM students overall since AEMES’ launch. Underrepresented students who were not part of the Scholars program also evidenced increased gateway course GPA over this same period. We discuss potential explanations for these outcomes and ongoing work aimed at achieving further inclusive excellence for women in the sciences

Design for social wellbeing : creating a restorative urbanism model for interior environments

Social wellbeing, or healthy relationships and sense of belonging in society, is an important component of mental health. To build and sustain social wellbeing people need social infrastructure, or community places and spaces where they can gather in-person to live, work, and play. Roe & McCay (2021) propose a restorative urbanism model for creating salutogenic (health-promoting) environments in public open space to support mental health and wellbeing. This studio investigation explores how this model could extend to interior environments, and specifically interior spaces that support social wellbeing. The objective is to redesign a former mill building in Greensboro, North Carolina as a “micro restorative city” that could be used as a model for restorative interior environments that promote social wellbeing. This study focuses on bumping places or transition spaces where people have positive impromptu encounters that enhance social cohesion. This paper presents conceptual designs for bumping places within the mill building and discusses concepts central to this investigation: how the principles of restorative urbanism could translate to interior environments, the characteristics of interior bumping places that promote social wellbeing, and the relationship between interiors and public outdoor space in a restorative urban environment

Improving outcomes for underrepresented women in science: The Achieving Excellence in Mathematics, Engineering, and Science (AEMES) programs at Smith College

Created to support diverse students interested in the sciences, Smith College’s Achieving Excellence in Mathematics, Engineering, and Science (AEMES) programs have improved life science academic outcomes for women of color. Elements of Smith’s AEMES programs include leadership development, peer mentoring, and faculty-mentored research opportunities, all sharing the goals of building community, increasing academic engagement, and encouraging persistence for underrepresented students. Since launching AEMES, our students of color in the life sciences have shown significant gains in positive outcomes (introductory biology and chemistry course GPA; retention in life sciences majors), dissolving a previously observed gap in gateway course performance relative to majority students. We discuss potential explanations for these outcomes as well as our ongoing work to evaluate and foster programming efforts aimed at achieving further inclusive excellence in the sciences, especially given the lack of change in advanced life sciences research participation for students of color over time. With greater investments in programs that encourage access in undergraduate programs across the United States, such as Smith’s AEMES program, the next generation of scientists will become increasingly diverse, broadening the approaches and perspectives of our STEM talent and workforce