Age related cognitive impairments and assistive web-base technology

Several researchers argue that age related cognitive impairments have detrimental affect on use of web services by older adults. However little and systematic applied research has been conducted on how age related cognitive impairments might affect the usage of web services by older adults. Undoubtedly, understanding the relationship between the cognitive changes that accompany aging and their impact on older adults’ usage of web services will be beneficial for designing web services for this group. The paper demonstrates how such understanding has been employed to develop an assistive technology in order to improve older adults’ interaction with online forms

An evaluation of DIADEM assisted online form completion

The DIADEM project aims to develop a web-based application in the form of an Expert System (ES) to assist cognitively impaired older-adult users in the task of interacting with and completing online transactions. Having recently developed the first experimental version of the application, this study reports on the preliminary findings of user trials carried out in three European countries top evaluate this early version of the application. Of the 94 users that took part in the trials, 77 were identified as users that were likely to present with some degree of mild cognitive impairment, and thus were included in the analysis stage. The key findings of the study indicate that users of DIADEM assisted form filling seemed report comparatively high-levels of satisfaction, particularly when considered against what is considered a typical level of satisfaction for this user group. Furthermore, as a result of a statistical analysis, the application appears to provide significantly increased levels of assistance for users presenting with higher levels of cognitive impairments, and therefore achieves its goal of catering for this particular target user group

Transformational government and assistive web base technologies

Transformational government has been on the European agenda for several years. However, progress towards realising the full potential of ICT to transform public services for older adults with age related cognitive impairments has been very limited. Highlighting such limitations this paper demonstrates how assistive web base technologies can be developed to improve the public services for older adults with age related cognitive impairments. However the paper argues that these transformations can be obstructed if there is no strong leadership and political commitment from people at many levels in public sectors and governments

Thou Shalt Lie: Anticipatory Deflection Management

As people visualize ongoing or future interactions, do they lie to maintain situational congruency? While visualizing various behavioral options, or the outcomes of such behaviors, people have a unique opportunity to preemptively alter the definition of the situation based on anticipated sentiments. Affect Control Theory emphasizes the salience of deflection management in everyday life. This is otherwise known as an attempted realignment of experiences and expectations in the face of situational incongruency such as the bizarre. Using a vignette experiment, I extend Affect Control Theory by illuminating deflection not yet experienced but instead anticipated. I do so by estimating the odds of lying in an ongoing interaction where an honest retelling would incur high deflection. To further inform this cognitive process, I provide qualitative explanations from participants on why they chose their responses and how the dynamics of their relationship mattered, highlighting the underlying social and cognitive processes behind active decision making in ongoing interactions

Black and minority ethnic trainees’ experiences of physical education initial teacher training

The official published version can be accessed at the link below.This report draws together the findings of research that aimed to explore black and minority ethnic (BME) trainees’ experiences of Physical Education (PE) initial teacher training (ITT). Although the numbers of BME trainees opting to enter teaching have improved considerably over the last few years, PE remains one of three specific subject areas where they remain significantly under-represented. Current figures suggest that PE attracts approximately 3% of trainees from BME backgrounds, compared with 11% for new entrants into teaching overall. The relative lack of success in attracting BME trainees into PE teaching compared to other subject areas suggests that the subculture of the subject may be a compounding factor. Over the last decade or so, a number of studies have explored the impact of ethnicity on teachers’ professional socialisation and their experiences as teachers in school, but none have focused on experiences within specific subject cultures. The centrality of the body in PE, and the link between this and the perceived low status of the subject, are influencing factors highlighted in the broader literature, including sports studies. For example, research exploring racism and the under-representation of BME participants in sport has highlighted the prevalence of stereotypical attitudes about their physicality and abilities held by coaches, administrators and spectators. Other research has suggested that some minority ethnic groups favour higher status, better paid, careers in areas such as law or medicine rather than teaching. As yet, there has been little attention to ‘race’ and ethnicity within PEITT, although studies have shown the impact of gender on trainees’ developing professional identities, and how teachers’ gendered bodies are important ‘tools’ of their work. In addition, there has been little research that has acknowledged trainees’ multiple identities, or the complex ways in which ‘race’, ethnicity, class and gender and other identity markers intersect to impact on the professional socialisation process. The research on which this report is based sought to fill some of these gaps in our understandings of BME trainees’ experiences of PEITT, and to identify strategies that might help in their recruitment and retention in the longer term. The research was funded through a small Recruitment and Retention Challenge Grant from the Teacher Development Agency (TDA). These grants form part of the TDA’s wider policy agenda to widen the diversity of new intakes opting into teaching. Higher education institutions have been encouraged, through targets and financial support and incentives, to develop specific strategies aimed at widening the diversity of their cohorts. Examples of such strategies include the provision of specialist admission help for BME prospective trainees; opportunities to gain experience in schools; open days and ‘taster’ events; advertising in the ethnic minority media, and the development of good practice guides and staff training to help ITT providers address issues of ‘race’ and ethnicity. 5 The impetus for this research resulted, in part, from presentations and discussions at a one day PEITT Network1 staff seminar on diversity held in October, 2007. The quantitative research conducted by the Association for Physical Education (AfPE) and the Ethnic Minority Foundation (EMF) presented here, showed the extent of the national under-representation of BME students in PEITT. Although the day focused on addressing reasons for BME under representation and strategies that might be used for improving recruitment, we felt it was also important to learn about the qualitative experiences of trainees that have been attracted into PEITT. Understanding the experiences of our current BME trainees might offer useful insights into how we might recruit and retain future such trainees. Our choice of qualitative research was supported by a national study published shortly after the network day, investigating the links between gender, ethnicity and degree attainment (Higher Education Academy, HEA, 2008), which specifically calls for further qualitative studies of students’ experiences of different subject areas.Funding from the Training and Development Agency (TDA

The iconography of Asphyxiophilia: From fantasmatic fetish to forensic fact

This is a post print version of the article. The official published version can be accessed from the link below

Affinity-based proteomics reveals novel binding partners for Rab46 in endothelial cells

Rab46 is a novel Ca2+-sensing Rab GTPase shown to have important functions in endothelial and immune cells. The presence of functional Ca2+-binding, coiled-coil and Rab domains suggest that Rab46 will be important for coupling rapid responses to signalling in many cell types. The molecular mechanisms underlying Rab46 function are currently unknown. Here we provide the first resource for studying Rab46 interacting proteins. Using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) to identify affinity purified proteins that bind to constitutively active GFP-Rab46 or inactive GFP-Rab46 expressed in endothelial cells, we have revealed 922 peptides that interact with either the GTP-bound Rab46 or GDP-bound Rab46. To identify proteins that could be potential Rab46 effectors we performed further comparative analyses between nucleotide-locked Rab46 proteins and identified 29 candidate effector proteins. Importantly, through biochemical and imaging approaches we have validated two potential effector proteins; dynein and the Na2+/ K+ ATPase subunit alpha 1 (ATP1α1). Hence, our use of affinity purification and LC–MS/MS to identify Rab46 neighbouring proteins provides a valuable resource for detecting Rab46 effector proteins and analysing Rab46 functions

Do educational experiences in school prepare students for university? A teachers’ perspective

Entering higher education is a critical moment for many students and one where their educational experiences may change dramatically, but are students academically prepared? From a structured and supported environment, they enter a more autonomous and independent setting and little is known about their preparedness for this transition. This paper explores, through the voices of teachers in schools and colleges, two aspects of preparedness for higher education, independent learning and academic confidence, in order to more closely examine the challenges faced by thousands of new students each year. The findings highlighted differences in both terminology and approach between the two educational layers and contributes new insights to support universities in enhancing practice through a deeper understanding of the prior experiences of their new students through the lens of their teachers. Overall the paper highlights some significant messages about the gap between these two levels of education which cannot simply be left to the student to navigate

Small loans: credit unions' best-kept secret? An analysis of the economics and opportunity for credit unions serving the small loans market in Ireland

This report examine the small loans market (loans of less than €2,000) in the Republic of Ireland and the role of credit unions in serving this market. The report offers international comparisons, evaluates commercial viability, assesses the views of credit unions and stakeholders and offers recommendations. The research comprised interviews with credit unions and stakeholders in the Republic of Ireland, USA, Canada and Great Britain, a review of market data and literature, and economic analysis using CUFA Ltd dat