Research Methods

In this comic, the student reflects on the process of writing a “literature review,” a requirement for a course taught by Dean Scheibel called “Introduction of Research in Communication Studies.” The comics were created by students as a final course assignment. Students were instructed to create comics using photographs, drawings, or a computer program called Comic Life 3. The idea of reflection is important in education. These comics could be viewed as a response to reflective learning (or metacognition) about the idea of the literature review, or “research as inquiry.” Through reflection on what we do, we learn more deeply about our everyday experiences of life, death, love, God, and even literature reviews. Although “comix” have been the objects of critique by academics, these comics subject the work of the academy—the faculty member as teacher—to critique. Research is a process, and by having students reflect on the fears, errors, or mistakes made during that process they will experience new insights and discoveries

Patient acceptability of the physiotherapy First Contact Practitioner (FCP) role in Primary Care: A realist evaluation

Background: Approximately 30% of GP consultations are due to musculoskeletal disorders (MSKDs) which is significantly affecting workload. Physiotherapists are trained to assess, diagnose and treat MSKDs and could provide an alternative to GP consultation for Primary Care patients as First Contact Physiotherapists (FCPs). Aim: Explore patient perceived acceptability of the FCP role using realist methods to understand what works for whom, how, why and in what circumstances.Methods: Phase one consisted of a realist review which identified initial programme theories regarding the factors that influence acceptability of any Advanced Practitioner in a first point of contact role. Databases were searched to identify relevant literature and bespoke, theory-specific data extraction sheets were created and utilised, Data were analysed through identification of contexts, mechanisms and outcomes (CMOs) to formulate hypotheses related to role acceptability. Generated hypotheses were validated through consultation with key stakeholders including a Patient Partner. Phase two of the project was a realist evaluation, a theory-driven method that tested the hypotheses generated in phase one using realist interviews. Two diverse GP practice case study sites were identified and interviews undertaken with: five patients per site; Reception staff; GPs; FCPs; and Practice Managers. Interview data were analysed against the test theories through identification of CMOs, and new theory was formed.Results: Thirty-eight qualitative, quantitative and mixed-methods studies relevant to theory were included for review. Theory areas identified in phase one included: ‘Previous Experience of Condition Management’; ‘Expectations of Condition Management’; ‘Professional hierarchy’; ‘Communication’; ‘Accessibility’; ‘Continuity of the Individual Practitioner’. Interview data in phase two supported all theory areas, except ‘Continuity of the Individual Practitioner’. CMOs that were relevant to both sites included the need for patients to have more awareness and understanding of the FCP. However, different FCP models and differing contexts resulted in CMOs unique to individual Practice sites; for instance, the context of an older population in Practice A affected patient expectations of GP involvement.Conclusion: Patients were predominantly accepting of the FCP role. Nevertheless, there was scope to increase acceptability to enhance service effectiveness. The findings highlighted the individuality of Practices, as they differed in their contexts and their implementation strategy. It is important to consider these contexts when implementing the FCP role in order to achieve the intended outcomes

The Chloroplast Genome of Anomochloa Marantoidea (Anomochlooideae; Poaceae) Comprises a Mixture of Grass-like and Unique Features

Features in the complete plastome of Anomochloa marantoidea (Poaceae) were investigated. This species is one of four of Anomochlooideae, the crown node of which diverged before those of any other grass subfamily. The plastome was sequenced from overlapping amplicons using previously designed primers. The plastome of A. marantoidea is 138 412 bp long with a typical gene content for Poaceae. Five regions were examined in detail because of prior surveys that identifi ed structural alterations among graminoid Poales. Anomochloa marantoidea was found to have an intron in rpoC1 , unlike other Poaceae. The insertion region of rpoC2 is unusually short in A. marantoidea compared with those of other grasses, but with atypically long subrepeats. Both ycf1 and ycf2 are nonfunctional as is typical in grasses, but A. marantoidea has a uniquely long ψ ycf1. Finally, the rbcL - psaI spacer in A. marantoidea is atypically short with no evidence of the ψ rpl23 locus found in all other Poaceae. Some of these features are of noteworthy dissimilarity between A . marantoidea and those crown grasses for which entire plastomes have been sequenced. Complete plastome sequences of other Anomochlooideae and outgroups will further advance our understanding of the evolutionary events in the plastome that accompanied graminoid diversifi cation

Load Asymmetry Observed During Orion Main Parachute Inflation

The Crew Exploration Vehicle Parachute Assembly System (CPAS) has flight tested the first two generations of the Orion parachute program. Three of the second generation tests instrumented the dispersion bridles of the Main parachute with a Tension Measuring System. The goal of this load measurement was to better understand load asymmetry during the inflation process of a cluster of Main parachutes. The CPAS Main parachutes exhibit inflations that are much less symmetric than current parachute literature and design guides would indicate. This paper will examine loads data gathered on three cluster tests, quantify the degree of asymmetry observed, and contrast the results with published design guides. Additionally, the measured loads data will be correlated with videos of the parachute inflation to make inferences about the shape of the parachute and the relative load asymmetry. The goal of this inquiry and test program is to open a dialogue regarding asymmetrical parachute inflation load factors

Verification and Validation Plan for Flight Performance Requirements on the CEV Parachute Assembly System

The Crew Exploration Vehicle Parachute Assembly System (CPAS) is engaged in a multi-year design and test campaign aimed at qualifying a parachute recovery system for human use on the Orion Spacecraft. Orion has parachute flight performance requirements that will ultimately be verified through the use of Monte Carlo multi-degree of freedom flight simulations. These simulations will be anchored by real world flight test data and iteratively improved to provide a closer approximation to the real physics observed in the inherently chaotic inflation and steady state flight of the CPAS parachutes. This paper will examine the processes necessary to verify the flight performance requirements of the human rated spacecraft. The focus will be on the requirements verification and model validation planned on CPAS

The impact of structural systems on perceptions of legitimacy and the experiences of female hockey players

Women’s participation in ice hockey has grown exponentially in the last 25 years. In 1991 there were only 5,500 female players registered with USA Hockey (USA Hockey, 2012; the governing body of hockey in the United States), in 2014 there were 67,230 (USA Hockey, 2014). Despite the exponential growth of female participation, it is still well below male participation which is currently at 452,187. With only 67,000 girls and women participating in the entire United States, it is not feasible for girls to play on girls only teams or in girls-only leagues in many regions of the country. As a result, girls often play in one of three different gendered organizational structures: girls on predominantly boy’s teams, girls only teams within coed organizations (organizations with both boys-only and girls-only teams), and girls-only teams in girls-only organizations. All three of the organizational structures are currently used as mechanisms to support girls’ participation in hockey. However, the different participation structures may impact the experiences of the players and their perceptions of the organizational legitimacy of girls’ hockey. The purpose of this study was to understand impact of gendered structure type on perceptions of organizational legitimacy and playing experience. This study also sought to understand the experiences of the participants in these structures, as those experiences would be expected to shape their perceptions of legitimacy. This project utilized mixed method to consider the perceptions of organizational legitimacy of girls’ hockey. Study one utilized survey research to understand youth (ages 14U-19U) hockey players’ perceptions of organizational legitimacy. Study two utilized interviews with administrators involved in girls’ hockey and female players (ages 14U-19) to understand what actions were important threats or supports to the organizational legitimacy of associations supporting girls’ hockey. Organizational context is important for perceptions of legitimacy and for understanding the diversity of experiences that impact those perceptions. Those who had participated in associations with girls’ teams were more likely to perceive their association as supporting girls’ hockey. Additionally, lacking appropriate structures, including but not limited to, girls’ teams, girls’ locker-rooms, and equitable ice time were seen as significant threats to perceptions of legitimacy by both players and administrators. Gender and context needs to be considered in all aspects of sport development, particularly for sports that are newer or non-traditional

An investment case analysis for the prevention and treatment of adolescent mental disorders and suicide in England

BackgroundAdolescent mental health (AMH) needs in England have increased dramatically and needs exceed treatment availability. This study undertook a comparative assessment of the health and economic return on investment (ROI) of interventions to prevent and treat mental disorders among adolescents (10–19 years) and examined intervention affordability and readiness.MethodsInterventions were identified following a review of published and grey literature. A Markov model followed a simulated adolescent cohort to estimate implementation costs and health, education, and economic benefits. Intervention affordability was assessed, comparing annual cost per adolescent with NHS England per capita spending, and an expert panel assessed intervention readiness using a validated framework.ResultsOver 10- and 80-year horizons, interventions to treat mild anxiety and mild depression were most cost-effective, with the highest individual lifetime ROI (GBP 5822 GBP 1 and GBP 257: GBP 1). Preventing anxiety and depression was most affordable and ‘implementation ready’ and offered the highest health and economic benefits. A priority package (anxiety and depression prevention; mild anxiety and mild depression treatment) would avert 5 million disability-adjusted life-years (DALYS) and achieve an ROI of GBP 15: GBP 1 over 10 years or 11.5 million DALYs (ROI of GBP 55: GBP 1) over 80 years.ConclusionThe economic benefits from preventing and treating common adolescent mental disorders equivalent to 25% of NHS England’s annual spending in 2021 over 10 years and 91% over 80 years. Preventing and early treatment for anxiety and depression had the highest ROIs and strong implementation readiness.<br/