The use of a diamond ranking and peer interviews to capture pupils' perspectives

In the new national core curriculum for Finnish preschool and basic education, rationales for supporting pupil participation are framed by the goal of developing school communities by listening to pupils’ perspectives, the social nature of teaching and learning and pupils’ participatory role in planning, implementing and evaluating their own learning. Also in educational literature, listening to pupils’ perspectives is seen as the first step of participation. Framed by these rationales, this article is based on a 6-week-long participatory learning project in one second-grade classroom in Finland. The research group of 8-year-olds included 11 girls and 10 boys. In this study, we used diamond ranking and peer interviews as mediating tools in listening to the pupils’ perspectives. In the article, we describe how a diamond ranking and a peer interview worked as a tool in capturing pupils’ perspectives. Two questions guided the research work: (1) How did diamond ranking and the peer interview work together as a method to improve teacher’s understanding from the pupils’ perspectives? and (2) How did diamond ranking and the peer interview work together as a method to promote pupils’ participation? In this study, the second graders were able to implement diamond ranking. This activity was used as a tool to stimulate pupils’ perspectives that were then captured in peer interviews. The methods provided important information about the pupils and helped the teacher to understand their perspectives. Diamond ranking and peer interviews also revealed information that was not related to pedagogical practices but indicated the sense of relatedness among pupils. In this study, the process of peer interviews was a child-led practice, while the process of diamond ranking activity was teacher-oriented. The method would have served pupils’ participation better if pupils had been more involved in the data collection.Peer reviewe

A common definition should be used in future studies of NSC

Non peer reviewe

Reputation Capital of Directorships and Demand for Audit Quality

This study examines whether boards of directors use external auditing to protect their reputation capital. We hypothesize and find that audit quality increases with the level of directors’ reputation capital. More specifically, using ten-year panel data on Finnish listed companies, we find that our measures of reputation capital based on the number of directorships that directors possess and their compensation are positively associated with various proxies for audit quality. We also find that the observed reputation effect on audit fees is stronger in companies with an audit committee, and that reputation capital matters in auditor choice in those companies in particular. In combination, our results add to the literature on the reputation capital of those in charge of corporate governance.</p

The effect of audit partner digitalization expertise on audit fees

This study focuses on the effects of digitalization on the auditing industry and the impact of audit partner expertise in digitalization on audit fees. Using data from listed U.S. companies between 2016 and 2021, we document a statistically and economically significant audit fee premium for audit partners who specialize in digitalization. This premium is separate from the partner’s industry specialization and is strongest in industries with a high level of digitalization, especially during the first half of the sample period. Our subsample analysis shows that, while the premium appears to be diminishing in less digitalized industries, it remains significant in highly digitalized industries. This change may be due to the general increase in digitalization expertise among audit partners, leading to diminishing returns to specialization for less digitalized audits

Arthroscopic Coracoclavicular Reconstruction Combined with Open Acromioclavicular Reconstruction Using Knot Hiding Clavicular Implants Is a Stable Solution

Publisher Copyright: © 2021 Arthroscopy Association of North AmericaPurpose: The purpose of this noninterventional, register-based study was to report the outcomes and wound healing of surgically treated chronic acromioclavicular (AC) dislocations using a tendon graft and knot-hiding titanium implants. Methods: Thirty-two cases with chronic AC separation underwent an arthroscopic coracoclavicular (CC) ligament reconstruction and an open AC ligament reconstruction using knot-hiding titanium implants. The wound healing was assessed 2 months after the operation. The Nottingham Clavicle score, Constant score, and Simple Shoulder Test were obtained postoperatively and at a minimum of one-year postsurgery. The radiographic change in distance between the clavicular and coracoid cortices and clavicular tunnel diameter was measured. General patient satisfaction with the outcome (poor, fair, good, or excellent) was also assessed 1 year postoperatively. Results: The mean Nottingham Clavicle score increased from a preoperative mean of 41.66 ± 9.86 to 96.831 ± 5.86 (P ≤.05). The Constant score increased from a preoperative mean of 44.66 ± 12.54 to 93.59 ± 7.01 (P ≤.05). The Simple Shoulder Test score increased from a preoperative mean of 7.00 ± 2.14 to 11.84 ±.63 (P ≤.05). The coracoclavicular distance increased from 11.32 ± 3.71 to 13.48 ± 3.79 mm (P ≤.05). The clavicular drill hole diameter increased from 6 mm to a mean of 6 to a mean of 8.13 ± 1.12 mm. Twenty-three (71.9%) patients reported an excellent outcome, and nine (28.1%) reported a good outcome. One clavicular fracture occurred but no coracoid fractures. There was one reconstruction failure leading to a reoperation. Conclusions: In this series, combining the arthroscopic CC ligament reconstruction to an open reconstruction of the AC joint with a tendon graft proved to be a stable solution. The knot-hiding titanium implant effectively eliminated the problems related to the clavicular wound healing. Level of Evidence: Level IV, therapeutic case series.Peer reviewe

Opinion: Insights into updating Ambient Air Quality Directive 2008/50/EC

As evidence of adverse health effects due to air pollution continues to increase, the World Health Organization (WHO) recently published its latest edition of the global air quality guidelines (World Health Organization, 2021). Although not legally binding, the guidelines aim to provide a framework in which policymakers can combat air pollution by formulating evidence-based air quality management strategies. In the light of this, the European Union has stated its intent to revise the current ambient air quality directive (2008/50/EC) to more closely resemble the newly published WHO guidelines (European Commission, 2020). This article provides an informed opinion on selected features of the air quality directive that we believe would benefit from a reassessment. The selected features include discussion about (1) air quality sensors as a part of a hierarchical observation network, (2) the number of minimum sampling points and their siting criteria, and (3) new target air pollution parameters for future consideration.Peer reviewe

Arthroscopic Coracoclavicular Reconstruction Combined with Open Acromioclavicular Reconstruction Using Knot Hiding Clavicular Implants Is a Stable Solution

PurposeThe purpose of this noninterventional, register-based study was to report the outcomes and wound healing of surgically treated chronic acromioclavicular (AC) dislocations using a tendon graft and knot-hiding titanium implants.MethodsThirty-two cases with chronic AC separation underwent an arthroscopic coracoclavicular (CC) ligament reconstruction and an open AC ligament reconstruction using knot-hiding titanium implants. The wound healing was assessed 2 months after the operation. The Nottingham Clavicle score, Constant score, and Simple Shoulder Test were obtained postoperatively and at a minimum of one-year postsurgery. The radiographic change in distance between the clavicular and coracoid cortices and clavicular tunnel diameter was measured. General patient satisfaction with the outcome (poor, fair, good, or excellent) was also assessed 1 year postoperatively.ResultsThe mean Nottingham Clavicle score increased from a preoperative mean of 41.66 ± 9.86 to 96.831 ± 5.86 (P ≤ .05). The Constant score increased from a preoperative mean of 44.66 ± 12.54 to 93.59 ± 7.01 (P ≤ .05). The Simple Shoulder Test score increased from a preoperative mean of 7.00 ± 2.14 to 11.84 ± .63 (P ≤ .05). The coracoclavicular distance increased from 11.32 ± 3.71 to 13.48 ± 3.79 mm (P ≤ .05). The clavicular drill hole diameter increased from 6 mm to a mean of 6 to a mean of 8.13 ± 1.12 mm. Twenty-three (71.9%) patients reported an excellent outcome, and nine (28.1%) reported a good outcome. One clavicular fracture occurred but no coracoid fractures. There was one reconstruction failure leading to a reoperation.ConclusionsIn this series, combining the arthroscopic CC ligament reconstruction to an open reconstruction of the AC joint with a tendon graft proved to be a stable solution. The knot-hiding titanium implant effectively eliminated the problems related to the clavicular wound healing.Level of EvidenceLevel IV, therapeutic case series.</p