Accessing and Decoding Communities of Cultural Capital

Ours is a discussion paper which addresses, chiefly, the conference themes of: ‘equity & social justice’ and ‘theory & methods’. The paper is based on long-standing professional expertise in the area of Widening Participation (WP) in Art, Design and Architecture (ADA) in Higher Education and on research interest in the traditions and conventions, both bureaucratic and linguistic, which serve the infrastructure of formal education in ADA. The first part of the paper argues for a strategic approach to WP agendas within ADA to be informed by 1) the theory and methods of Pierre Bourdieu (1930-2002), specifically his work on the ‘aristocracy of culture’ and the operations of ‘cultural capital’ and 2) the recent work of James Elkins (b.1955) on the conventions of contemporary art education, in particular his application of Stanley Fish’s concept of ‘interpretive communities’ to ADA. The emergent strategy is one which recognises that socio-economic class remains the predominant obstacle to achieving credible diversity of student background in creative education at HE level. As Bourdieu makes clear, the non-acquisition of the codes and behaviours of operative cultural capital creates an acute and erroneous sense of incompleteness on the part of a reflexive working class applicant to art school who inwardly registers his/her perceived difference in capital inheritance. Elkins is right, we argue, to draw our attention to the explicit and implicit sharing of bureaucratic and evaluative vocabularies within the art academy: he usefully demonstrates the ways in which such vocabularies reinforce a complacent sense of liberal tolerance while cementing interpretive positions in ADA familiar to those with an appropriate level of cultural and educational wherewithal. For the second part of our presentation we will introduce to delegates GSA’s Prato Project: an international exchange programme between GSA and Monash University. This unique project sees Scottish students from lower socio-economic backgrounds join Australian liberal arts students in Tuscany. An intensive project, it has a twofold impact – on both ‘non-acquisition’ and ‘decoding vocabularies’, following Bourdieu and Elkins – by helping to familiarise less culturally privileged students with world renowned examples of renaissance culture, and by offering them a discursive environment in which to share and decode cultural preconceptions, build confidence, and help them identify as genuine participants in local, national and international culture. Often lacking confidence in, and alienated from, the dominant culture that pervades UK art schools, the following quote is a typical example of the project’s impact: ‘I thought I was prepared for what was going to happen on the trip. I don’t think I knew exactly how much it would have contributed to the person I am today. It changed many things about me such as my confidence, independence and my hunger for learning. Since the trip I have been to Prague, Berlin, Barcelona and Riga. This is all because I now have the confidence to travel’. In sum, our paper recommends that socio-economic class, and the ‘coding’ confidence issues which ensue, be kept in the foreground when addressing equity of participation in HE ADA. For open discussion we wish to hear of colleagues’ efforts in these areas, and share good practice, with the Prato Project as touchstone, to further test the insight and potential for institutional change which these theories and methods present

Growing Chinese Chestnuts in Missouri (2009)

Chinese chestnut is an emerging new tree crop for Missouri and the Midwest. The Chinese chestnut tree is a spreading, medium-sized tree with glossy dark leaves bearing large crops of nutritious nuts. Nuts are borne inside spiny burs that split open when nuts are ripe. Each bur contains one to three shiny, dark brown nuts.By Ken Hunt, Ph.D. (Research Scientist, Center for Agroforestry, University of Missouri), Michael Gold, Ph.D. (Associate Director, Center for Agroforestry, University of Missouri), William Reid, Ph.D. (Research and Extension Horticulturist, Kansas State University), and Michele Warmund, Ph.D. (Professor of Horticulture, Division of Plant Sciences, University of Missouri)Includes bibliographical reference

Growing Chinese Chestnuts in Missouri (2012)

"Chinese chestnut is an emerging new tree crop for Missouri and the Midwest. The Chinese chestnut tree is a spreading, medium-sized tree with glossy dark leaves bearing large crops of nutri-tious nuts. Nuts are borne inside spiny burs that split open when nuts are ripe. Each bur contains one to three shiny, dark-brown nuts. Nuts are "scored" then microwaved, roasted or boiled to help remove the leathery shell and papery seed coat, revealing a creamy or gold-en-colored meat. Chestnuts are a healthy, low-fat food ingredient that can be incorporated into a wide range of dishes - from soups to poultry stuffing, pancakes, muffins and pastries (using chestnut flour). Historically, demand for chestnuts in the United States has been highest in ethnic markets (European and Asian, for example) but as Americans search for novel and healthy food products, chestnuts are becoming more widely accepted. The University of Missouri Center for Agroforestry conducts one of the nation's most comprehensive programs for developing the Chinese chestnut into a profitable orchard crop. There are multiple field studies, including a repository with 65 cultivars at the Center's research farm in New Franklin, Mo. Ongoing market evaluation and consumer research is also conducted by the Center."--First page.By Ken Hunt, Ph.D. (Research Scientist, Center for Agroforestry, University of Missouri), Michael Gold, Ph.D. (Associate Director, Center of Agroforestry, University of Missouri), William Reid, Ph.D. (Research and Extension Horticulturist, Kansas State University), and Michele Warmund, Ph.D. (Professor of Horticulture, Division of Plant Sciences, University of Missouri)Includes bibliographical reference

Reviews

Reviews Keegan, D. (2000). Distance training: Taking stock at a time of change. Routledge Falmer Studies in Distance Education. London: Routledge Falmer Lockwood, F., & Gooley, A. (Eds.).(2001). Innovation in open and distance learning: Successful development of online and Web-based learning. London: Kogan Page Nichols, M., & UCOL (2001). Teaching for learning: Designing resource-based learning courses for the Internet age. Palmers ton North, NZ: Trainlnc.co.nz Picciano, A. G. (2001). Distance learning: Making connections across virtual space and time. Columbus, OH: Merrill Prentice-Hal

Investigating sources and sinks of N2O expression from freshwater microbial communities in urban watershed sediments

Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) serve as point-source inputs for a variety of nutrients often dominated by nitrogenous compounds as a result of anthropogenic influence. These effluents can impact biogeochemical cycles in freshwater estuaries, influencing microbial communities in both the water and sediment compartments. To assess the impact of point source nutrients, a transect of sediment and pore water samples were collected from 4 locations in the Little River Sub-watershed including locations above and below the Little River Pollution Control Plant (LRPCP). Variation in chemistry and microbial community/gene expression revealed significant influences of the effluent discharge on the adjacent sediments. Phosphorus and sulfur showed high concentrations within plume sediments compared to the reference sediments while nitrate concentrations were low. Increased abundance of denitrifiers Dechloromonas, Dok59 and Thermomonas correlating with increased expression of nitrous-oxide reductase suggests a conversion of N2O to N2 within the LRPCP effluent sediments. This study provides valuable insight into the gene regulation of microbes involved in N metabolism (denitrification, nitrification, and nitrite reduction to ammonia) within the sediment compartment influenced by wastewater effluent. © 2017 Elsevier Lt

Reported antimicrobial use and Salmonella resistance on 90 Alberta swine farms

The study objectives were to describe antimicrobial use (AMU) and Salmonella resistance on 90 Alberta swine farms. The vast majority of antimicrobials were used in-feed. In weaners, in-feed use did not vary among farms, suggesting heavy reliance on in-feed antimicrobials. For grow-to-finish production phases, most farms reported heavy reliance on in-feed antimicrobials, but 6 and 14 farms did not report any in-feed AMU in growers and finishers, respectively

Understanding the Impact of Professional Development for a Cohort of Teachers with Varying Prior Engineering Teaching Experience

Engineering for US All (e4usa) is a National Science Foundation-funded first-of-its-kind initiative aimed at making engineering more inclusive and accessible to underrepresented populations. The ‘‘for us all’’ mission of e4usa encompasses both students and teachers. Paramount to the success of e4usa was the construction of professional development (PD) experiences to prepare and support teachers with different levels of engineering teaching experience as they implemented the e4usa yearlong course. The perspectives of nine teachers with varying degrees of engineering teaching experience were examined during two PD opportunities to compare experiences and dynamics between the teachers. Data sources consisting of focus groups and artifacts created during the PD were analyzed using inductive coding and the constant comparative method. The distinct themes that emerged included teachers redefining engineering, growing confidence to teach engineering, benefiting from the PD, receiving support from other teachers, experiencing imposter syndrome, and renewing a passion for engineering education. The results provide implications for how engineering education PD may be developed to allow for reciprocal support and mentoring that supports all teachers regardless of engineering teaching experience. The results also inform future e4usa efforts and aim to change the structure of high school engineering education

Establishing a clinical phenotype for cachexia in end stage kidney disease - study protocol.

BACKGROUND: Surveys using traditional measures of nutritional status indicate that muscle wasting is common among persons with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). Up to 75% of adults undergoing maintenance dialysis show some evidence of muscle wasting. ESKD is associated with an increase in inflammatory cytokines and can result in cachexia, with the loss of muscle and fat stores. At present, only limited data are available on the classification of wasting experienced by persons with ESKD. Individuals with ESKD often exhibit symptoms of anorexia, loss of lean muscle mass and altered energy expenditure. These symptoms are consistent with the syndrome of cachexia observed in other chronic diseases, such as cancer, heart failure, and acquired immune deficiency syndrome. While definitions of cachexia have been developed for some diseases, such as cardiac failure and cancer, no specific cachexia definition has been established for chronic kidney disease. The importance of developing a definition of cachexia in a population with ESKD is underscored by the negative impact that symptoms of cachexia have on quality of life and the association of cachexia with a substantially increased risk of premature mortality. The aim of this study is to determine the clinical phenotype of cachexia specific to individuals with ESKD. METHODS: A longitudinal study which will recruit adult patients with ESKD receiving haemodialysis attending a Regional Nephrology Unit within the United Kingdom. Patients will be followed 2 monthly over 12 months and measurements of weight; lean muscle mass (bioelectrical impedance, mid upper arm muscle circumference and tricep skin fold thickness); muscle strength (hand held dynamometer), fatigue, anorexia and quality of life collected. We will determine if they experience (and to what degree) the known characteristics associated with cachexia. DISCUSSION: Cachexia is a debilitating condition associated with an extremely poor outcome. Definitions of cachexia in chronic illnesses are required to reflect specific nuances associated with each disease. These discrete cachexia definitions help with the precision of research and the subsequent clinical interventions to improve outcomes for patients suffering from cachexia. The absence of a definition for cachexia in an ESKD population makes it particularly difficult to study the incidence of cachexia or potential treatments, as there are no standardised inclusion criteria for patients with ESKD who have cachexia. Outcomes from this study will provide much needed data to inform development and testing of potential treatment modalities, aimed at enhancing current clinical practice, policy and education

Multicentre, randomised clinical trial of paediatric concussion assessment of rest and exertion (PedCARE): a study to determine when to resume physical activities following concussion in children.

INTRODUCTION: Rest until symptom-free, followed by a progressive stepwise return to activities, is often prescribed in the management of paediatric concussions. Recent evidence suggests prolonged rest may hinder recovery, and early resumption of physical activity may be associated with more rapid recovery postconcussion. The primary objective is to determine whether the early reintroduction of non-contact physical activity beginning 72 hours postinjury reduces postconcussive symptoms at 2 weeks in children following an acute concussion as compared with a rest until asymptomatic protocol. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This study is a randomised clinical trial across three Canadian academic paediatric emergency departments. A total of 350 participants, aged 10-17.99 years, who present within 48 hours of an acute concussion, will be recruited and randomly assigned to either the study intervention protocol (resumption of physical activity 72 hours postconcussion even if experiencing symptoms) or physical rest until fully asymptomatic. Participants will document their daily physical and cognitive activities. Follow-up questionnaires will be completed at 1, 2 and 4 weeks postinjury. Compliance with the intervention will be measured using an accelerometer (24 hours/day for 14 days). Symptoms will be measured using the validated Health and Behaviour Inventory. A linear multivariable model, adjusting for site and prognostically important covariates, will be tested to determine differences between groups. The proposed protocol adheres to the RCT-CONSORT guidelines. DISCUSSION: This trial will determine if early resumption of non-contact physical activity following concussion reduces the burden of concussion and will provide healthcare professionals with the evidence by which to recommend the best timing of reintroducing physical activities