Exercise-related sensorimotor and neuromuscular performance of the knee joint

EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

Early Childhood Educators\u27 Perspectives of Play in Preschool Classrooms

This study examines early childhood educators’ perceptions of play as a developmentally appropriate practice in preschool classrooms. Through selective sampling, 10 preschool teachers were chosen. These teachers were identified because of their experience, education, and the lead they take on various projects, as well as the author’s personal knowledge of their work ethic and dedication to the education profession. The teachers were interviewed using an extempore, semi-structured configuration about their beliefs relating to play, how they implement play in their classrooms, and their viewpoint on hurdles to play. They identified the supports required to implement play as a developmentally appropriate practice in preschool and kindergarten classrooms. The early educators made it abundantly clear that play is the “concrete” in a strong foundation for preschool and kindergarten classrooms. Implications for future research and practice are included

Synthesis Of Pcl/Keratin Composite Nanofibers For Nerve Repair Application

In the past decade, a wide variety of biomaterials comprised of both synthetic and natural polymers have been used to promote restoration of injured peripheral nerves. Despite making advances, none have matched performance of autographs, a gold standard in nerve repair. Mammalian-derived, protein-based conduits have shown good tissue biocompatibility and safe degradation products, but are mechanically fragile. Synthetic materials such as Polycaprolactone (PCL) typically have advantage of suitable mechanical properties and fine degradation rate tunability, but lack cell recognition signaling. Recent studies have shown that keratin promotes nerve cell attachment, differentiation and growth, but alone, it cannot be used as nerve guide material due to its weak mechanical performances. In the present study we extracted keratin protein from human hair and developed nanofibrous membranes of PCL/ Keratin composites by using electrospinning technique. Morphological analysis of nanofibers was done by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and physico-chemical properties were analyzed by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), mechanical tensile testing, and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). Mechanical properties of PCL/Keratin nanofiber membrane showed variation in tensile strength between ratios. Potential use of these nanofibers was studied by examining the integrity in buffer solutions and cellular compatibility. PCL/Keratin fibers confirmed to have non-toxic effects on 3T3 fibroblast cells. SEM imaging showed that PCL/Keratin nanofibers promoted attachment of fibroblast cells and maintained characteristic cell morphology. Thus, appropriately constructed PCL/Keratin based composite nanofibers are expected to demonstrate the favorable biological properties of keratin and the mechanical properties of PCL. These nanofibers are found potential conduit material for peripheral nerve regeneration

Self-executed dramaturgy : a journey with Miss Ida B. Wells.

This thesis presents my experience with the production of Miss Ida B. Wells by Endesha Ida Mae Holland. I used self-executed dramaturgy to enrich my process as an actor and create multiple vocally and physically dynamic historical characters. Throughout this document, I explore how my personal acting process and development as an artist are heavily influenced by the practices of the Alexander Technique. I discuss the unique challenges that I faced with scoliosis and vocal trauma and how I used the training I received during my graduate career to address those challenges. My personal account details the specific methods by which I approached the script, the research, the character development, and the rehearsal process of devising from a script

Nebraska Residents’ Perceptions of Drought Risk and Adaptive Capacity to Drought

Climate change is expected to increase the frequency and intensity of drought in certain regions, including Nebraska. While differences in ecological and social vulnerability impact drought response, scholars argue that perceptions of risk and adaptive capacity also play a role in predicting adaptation responses. Drawing on Grothmann and Patt’s model of private proactive adaptation to climate change, based on protection motivation theory, I examine Nebraska residents’ perceptions of drought risk and adaptive capacity to drought at two spatial levels, the community and the region, as well as the predictors of these perceptions. Multivariate analyses demonstrate that rural residence positively predicts perceived drought risk, but negatively predicts perceived adaptive capacity to drought. In addition, perceived drought risk and at least one measure of perceived adaptive capacity both tend to be positively predicted by one’s level of belief in scientific information and one’s level of belief in local experience-based information

Australia Awards Alumni Global Tracer Survey 2022

This report details the findings of the Global Tracer Survey 2022 of alumni from the Australia Awards and predecessor development scholarships. The research was undertaken by the Australia Awards Global Tracer Facility (GTF), which is managed by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER). The survey was administered online between November 2022 and January 2023 to alumni from 114 countries who had studied in Australia as part of a scholarship or fellowship. In total, 5116 alumni participated in the survey (a 24% response rate globally). Among this group were alumni who completed their award during the 1980s through to alumni who completed their award in the 2010s

University Reachout - The Role of Guest Speakers in Communicating with Industry and Other Institutions A Position Paper

The importance of external inputs into academic environments is highlighted and the actions that have been taken by the School of Computing and Technology at the University of Sunderland to ensure that external speakers are invited from industry and academia to come and give a fresh view on issues related to computing and technology are outlined. Details are then presented on the three series of guest lectures that have been instituted by the School: (i) Distinguished Speaker series, (ii) Practitioner Series, (iii) BCS SocioTech (North) series