The Quality of Transdisciplinary Team Assessment Practices for Mobile Technology as Augmentative and Alternative Communication

While research acknowledges the impact the rapid growth in mobile technology is having on the field of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), little has been done to investigate the impact this development has had on assessment practices for matching an individual with the appropriate technology. The purpose of this descriptive and causal-comparative research study was to gather demographic and descriptive data on mobile technology as AAC and to investigate the quality of transdisciplinary teamwork assessment practices as evaluated by speech-language pathologists (SLPs) for the provision of mobile technologies as AAC devices across SLP practice settings. A random sample of 60 SLPs in each of the three practice settings of education, health care, and private practice completed a survey containing demographic questions and the Team Decision Making Questionnaire (TDMQ). Proposed data analysis consisted of descriptive statistics and an ANOVA. Due to a violation of homogeneity, a Welch’s ANOVA was conducted with post hoc testing. A statistically significant difference between SLP ratings of the quality of transdisciplinary assessment practices for mobile technology as AAC was discovered between education and health care settings as well as between education and private practice settings. This difference was significant across all subscales of the TDMQ as well. There was no statistically significant difference found in quality ratings between health care and private practice settings. Descriptive analysis revealed additional areas of differences across practice settings in the provision of mobile technology as AAC. Limitations of this study were identified and further research recommendations were made

Going Green: A Parent-Teacher Collaboration

Details how a collaboration between a teacher and a parent in the Bank Street School for Children led to a school-wide composting program.https://educate.bankstreet.edu/progressive/1024/thumbnail.jp

Measuring visual cortical oxygenation in diabetes using functional near-infrared spectroscopy

Aims: Diabetes mellitus affects about 6% of the world’s population, and the chronic complications of the disease may result in macro- and micro-vascular changes. The purpose of the current study was to shed light on visual cortical oxygenation in diabetic individuals. We then aimed to compare the haemodynamic response (HDR) to visual stimulation with glycaemic control, given the likelihood of diabetic individuals suffering from such macro- and micro-vascular insult. Methodology: Thirty participants took part in this explorative study, fifteen of whom had diabetes and fifteen of whom were non-diabetic controls. The HDR, measured as concentrations of oxyhaemoglobin [HbO] and deoxyhaemoglobin [HbR], to visual stimulation was recorded over the primary visual cortex (V1) using a dual-channel oximeter. The stimulus comprised a pattern-reversal checkerboard presented in a block design. Participants’ mean glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) level (±SD) was 7.2±0.6% in the diabetic group and 5.5±0.4% in the non-diabetic group. Raw haemodynamic data were normalised to baseline, and the last 15 s of data from each ‘stimulus on’ and ‘stimulus off’ condition were averaged over seven duty cycles for each participant. Results: There were statistically significant differences in ∆[HbO] and ∆[HbR] to visual stimulation between diabetic and non-diabetic groups (p<0.05). In the diabetic group, individuals with type 1 diabetes displayed an increased [HbO] (p<0.01) and decreased [HbR] (p<0.05) compared to their type 2 counterparts. There was also a linear relationship between both ∆[HbO] and ∆[HbR] as a function of HbA1c level (p<0.0005). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that fNIRS can be used as a quantitative measure of cortical oxygenation in diabetes. Diabetic individuals have a larger HDR to visual stimulation compared to non-diabetic individuals. This increase in ∆[HbO] and decrease in ∆[HbR] appears to be correlated with HbA1c level

The island as a model for the interpretation and development of exhibitions of contemporary art beyond a gallery setting

The written thesis is presented in conjunction with a documented body of curatorial practice that together seek to examine and develop a proposed notion of ‘the island’ as a conceptual model for the staging and analysis of exhibitions of art beyond a gallery setting. The initial conception of ‘the island’ as model follows from a discussion of the function of the setting of islands in literature that identifies and abstracts their unique spatial and structural properties before reapplying them in a different context. On both a practical and discursive level, the ensuing research arrives at a thesis that puts forward the island model as an innovative and productive tool for contemporary curatorial practice. The initial research presents the literary island as a contained site where subversive, fantastical or critical alternatives to a dominant norm are enacted. Appearing unexpectedly through the event of storm, shipwreck or loss at sea, the literary island interrupts the intended trajectory of the castaway who finds himself severed from the customs and routines associated with a homeland. In doing so, the setting of the island in literature often comes to figure as a test-site for new possibilities upon which a blurring between the real and the imaginary readily occurs. Retaining the identified properties of the literary island but divorcing it from its geographical setting, the proposed notion of the island as curatorial model conceives a space located within, yet always at the slightest remove from, the everyday itself – disrupting the familiar to facilitate a playful or subversive alternative to the status quo. Here, the structural effect of the island no longer depends on its physical distance to a ‘mainland’, but describes a spatial practice that facilitates a process of distancing from familiar norms. Occurring outside of the confines of a gallery, the presented curatorial practice stages artworks that are physically situated within a given location whilst simultaneously providing an experience of the virtual possibilities for its transformation. In so doing, the thesis argues, these and similar artworks invite a re-imagination of familiar and everyday culture by blurring the distinction between the real and the imaginary in a manner that reflects - and can thus be productively modelled upon - the function of the literary island. In proposing an alternative strategy for the discussion and development of curatorial practices beyond the gallery, as well as putting into play a new mode of analysis and an innovative space of discourse, the thesis presents an original framework for contemporary curatorial practice

Machine Learning, Emulation and Bayesian Dimension Reduction for Climate Change Projection

Climate change projection under different greenhouse gas and aerosol emission scenarios is crucial for informing societal adaptation and mitigation measures. This traditionally relies on computationally expensive global climate models (GCMs) run on decadal to centennial timescales. One of the goals of this thesis is in exploring machine learning models and emulators trained on the output of global climate models, that can assist in this endeavour by providing rapid estimations of the climate response. Two statistical models are developed, one of which emulates the global short-term climate response to an emissions perturbation and one which learns the mapping from the short-term climate response to the long-term climate response. Different perspectives are taken so that the short-term response is predicted with a probabilistic emulator which interpolates between known and unknown data points, while the global patterns of long-term response are predicted with machine learning methods. Both models are shown to accelerate climate change projections and also provide new insights into the main drivers of climate change through sensitivity analysis to different emission perturbations and by uncovering consistent early indicators of long-term climate response. Discovering structures in climate data that can explain patterns and behaviour is another focus of this thesis, addressed through a dimension reduction technique to simplify large datasets. This is approached from a Bayesian perspective which could allow a complete quantification of uncertainty when making predictions through an emulator trained on a reduced dataset. Reversible jump Markov chain Monte Carlo and Sequential Monte Carlo algorithms are developed for a latent factor model to infer the probability distribution on both the number of underlying dimensions and the structure of these. Sequential Monte Carlo is found to be significantly more effective at determining these and is demonstrated on weather observations to reveal underlying factors governing the weather behaviour

Standard setting in Australian medical schools

Background: Standard setting of assessment is critical in quality assurance of medical programs. The aims of this study were to identify and compare the impact of methods used to establish the passing standard by the 13 medical schools who participated in the 2014 Australian Medical Schools Assessment Collaboration (AMSAC). Methods: A survey was conducted to identify the standard setting procedures used by participating schools. Schools standard setting data was collated for the 49 multiple choice items used for benchmarking by AMSAC in 2014. Analyses were conducted for nine schools by their method of standard setting and key characteristics of 28 panel members from four schools. Results: Substantial differences were identified between AMSAC schools that participated in the study, in both the standard setting methods and how particular techniques were implemented. The correlation between the item standard settings data by school ranged from − 0.116 to 0.632. A trend was identified for panel members to underestimate the difficulty level of hard items and overestimate the difficulty level of easy items for all methods. The median derived cut-score standard across schools was 55% for the 49 benchmarking questions. Although, no significant differences were found according to panel member standard setting experience or clinicians versus scientists, panel members with a high curriculum engagement generally had significantly lower expectations of borderline candidates (p = 0.044). Conclusion: This study used a robust assessment framework to demonstrate that several standard setting techniques are used by Australian medical schools, which in some cases use different techniques for different stages of their program. The implementation of the most common method, the Modified Angoff standard setting approach was found to vary markedly. The method of standard setting used had an impact on the distribution of expected minimally competent student performance by item and overall, with the passing standard varying by up to 10%. This difference can be attributed to the method of standard setting because the ASMSAC items have been shown over time to have consistent performance levels reflecting similar cohort ability. There is a need for more consistency in the method of standard setting used by medical schools in Australia

Effects of glaucoma and snoring on cerebral oxygenation in the visual cortex: a study using functional Near Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS)

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of snoring and glaucoma on the visual Haemodynamic Response (HDR) using functional Near Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS). Methods: We recruited 8 glaucoma patients (aged 56-79), 6 habitual snorers (aged 26-61) and 10 healthy control participants (aged 21-78). Glaucoma patients were of varying subtypes and under care of ophthalmologists. Prior to testing visual acuity, blood pressure, heart rate and a medical history were taken. HDRs were recorded over the primary visual cortex (V1) using a reversing checkerboard paradigm. Results & Discussion: All participants showed the characteristic increase of Oxyhaemoglobin concentration ([HbO]) and decrease of Deoxyhaemoglobin concentration ([HbR]) during visual stimulation (p < 0.001, η2 = 0.78). Despite this, there were signifi cant group differences with a large effect size (η2 = 0.28). During visual stimulation normal participants had greater [HbO] compared to snorers and glaucoma patients (p < 0.01). Both glaucoma patients and snorers presented with comparable HDR for [HbO] and [HbR] in V1. Importantly, during visual stimulation, the increased [HbO] in glaucoma patients correlated well with their visual fi elds and self-reported activities of daily living (r = -0.98, r = -0.82, p < 0.05). Both glaucoma patients and snorers presented with an attenuated HDR in V1. Our results suggest a possible vascular link between these conditions

Rebuilding a foundation of trust: A call to action in creating a safe environment for everyone

Well before the COVID-19 pandemic, incivility and physical threats directed toward healthcare employees and often registered nurses was a growing concern by Chief Nurse Executive (CNE) leaders. In 2019, conversations initiated by The Beryl Institute’s Nurse Executive Council (NEC) to consider how best to achieve a much-needed balance between patient/family and staff safety have now become a critical priority to ensure the safety of everyone receiving and providing health care services. The heart of this work was organized around a set of newly developed ethical precepts designed to guide the exploration of key concepts. A call to action grounded in rebuilding a foundation of trust is proposed. In pursuing future steps to deepen this foundation, and to reaffirm the vital role for nurse leaders and of all in healthcare, we must be willing to engage in dialogue, to ask openly, and question respectfully. We believe healthcare systems and nurse leaders both play a vital role in elevating the humanity on which we will find brighter days ahead. Through a sustained commitment to this aim, we seek to strengthen health care delivery environments that shape physically and psychologically safe environments for everyone. Experience Framework This article is associated with the Culture & Leadership lens of The Beryl Institute Experience Framework (https://www.theberylinstitute.org/ExperienceFramework). Access other PXJ articles related to this lens. Access other resources related to this len

Sepsis-Review of Screening for Sepsis by Nursing, Nurse Driven Sepsis Protocols and Development of Sepsis Hospital Policy/Protocols

Sepsis is one of the leading causes of death in the United States. In order to decrease the morbidity and mortality associated with sepsis in patients, early detection is vital, and so screening protocols have been developed. The Surviving Sepsis Campaign has developed an evidence based screening guideline that has been adapted by various institutions. Having specific criteria in detecting a septic patient is the defining factor in screening for sepsis by nursing staff. In order for the sepsis protocol to be effective, it is necessary that nursing and other front line staff be educated. Institutional barriers regarding implementation of protocol is another factor that still needs to be effectively addressed. This review will explore the benefit of implementing sepsis protocols within hospitals and many of the challenges that have already been faced