A planned program of study and guidance for parents of acoustically handicapped children

Thesis (Ed.M.)--Boston Universit

A case study of the barriers and enablers affecting teaching staff e-learning provision

Presented at the International Conference on Information Communication Technologies in Education, 7-9 July, 2016, Rhodes Greece.The present paper reports the outputs of a focus group examining the perceived uses, enablers and barriers of utilising virtual learning environments (VLEs), amongst a small group of postgraduate teachers. Sixteen pedagogical/teaching functions were identified and were mapped to MacLean and Scott’s (2011) model of VLE elements. Whilst a number of enablers of VLE use were apparent, participants’ insights and inputs indicated a larger number of VLE barriers. It appears that the biggest barrier to overcome in using VLEs is finding the time to develop the materials and navigate the technology

The Terwilliger algebra of an almost-bipartite P- and Q-polynomial association scheme

Let $Y$ denote a $D$-class symmetric association scheme with $D \geq 3$, and suppose $Y$ is almost-bipartite P- and Q-polynomial. Let $x$ denote a vertex of $Y$ and let $T=T(x)$ denote the corresponding Terwilliger algebra. We prove that any irreducible $T$-module $W$ is both thin and dual thin in the sense of Terwilliger. We produce two bases for $W$ and describe the action of $T$ on these bases. We prove that the isomorphism class of $W$ as a $T$-module is determined by two parameters, the dual endpoint and diameter of $W$. We find a recurrence which gives the multiplicities with which the irreducible $T$-modules occur in the standard module. We compute this multiplicity for those irreducible $T$-modules which have diameter at least $D-3$.Comment: 22 page

Focus–specific clinical profiles in human African trypanosomiasis caused by <i>Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense</i>

&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Background:&lt;/b&gt; Diverse clinical features have been reported in human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) foci caused by &lt;i&gt;Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense&lt;/i&gt; (&lt;i&gt;T.b.rhodesiense&lt;/i&gt;) giving rise to the hypothesis that HAT manifests as a chronic disease in South-East African countries and increased in virulence towards the North. Such variation in disease severity suggests there are differences in host susceptibility to trypanosome infection and/or genetic variation in trypanosome virulence. Our molecular tools allow us to study the role of host and parasite genotypes, but obtaining matched extensive clinical data from a large cohort of HAT patients has previously proved problematic.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Methods/Principal Findings:&lt;/b&gt; We present a retrospective cohort study providing detailed clinical profiles of 275 HAT patients recruited in two northern foci (Uganda) and one southern focus (Malawi) in East Africa. Characteristic clinical signs and symptoms of &lt;i&gt;T.b.rhodesiense&lt;/i&gt; infection were recorded and the degree of neurological dysfunction determined on admission. Clinical observations were mapped by patient estimated post-infection time. We have identified common presenting symptoms in &lt;i&gt;T.b.rhodesiense&lt;/i&gt; infection; however, marked differences in disease progression and severity were identified between foci. HAT was characterised as a chronic haemo-lymphatic stage infection in Malawi, and as an acute disease with marked neurological impairment in Uganda. Within Uganda, a more rapid progression to meningo-encephaltic stage of infection was observed in one focus (Soroti) where HAT was characterised by early onset neurodysfunction; however, severe neuropathology was more frequently observed in patients in a second focus (Tororo).&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Conclusions/Significance:&lt;/b&gt; We have established focus-specific HAT clinical phenotypes showing dramatic variations in disease severity and rate of stage progression both between northern and southern East African foci and between Ugandan foci. Understanding the contribution of host and parasite factors in causing such clinical diversity in &lt;i&gt;T.b.rhodesiense&lt;/i&gt; HAT has much relevance for both improvement of disease management and the identification of new drug therapy.&lt;/p&gt

Effect of HINS light on the contraction of fibroblast populated collagen lattices

High intensity narrow spectrum (HINS) light has been shown to have bactericidal effects on a range of medically important bacteria[1]. HINS technology could potentially be useful as a method for disinfecting medical implants, tissue engineered constructs and wounds. The fibroblast populated collagen lattice (FPCL) was used as an in vitro model to investigate the effect of HINS light on the wound contraction phase of wound healing

Impact of varying intensities of blue-light exposure on 3T3 cells

There is the need to develop a compatible sterilisation method for hybrid biomaterials. High-intensity blue light in the 405 nm region has been shown to be an effective bacterial decontamination method [1], to cause no noticeable damage to the gross structure of type-I collagen monomer (when treated at 10 mW/cm2) [2], and to have no noticeable effect on 3T3 cell viability, growth rate, redox state or lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) leakage (at 1.0 mW/cm2) [2]. The purpose of this research was to investigate the effect of varying the blue-light intensity on the 3T3 cell response parameters