The State of Writing Center Research Across the Atlantic: A Bibliometric Analysis of a German Flagship Journal, 2010-2016

University Writing Cente

On Caustics: A Conversation

In which an Artist preserves the tenor of conversations with a Physicist: Lessons on the behaviour of Caustics. A collagoration of artistic experiments to create light artifacts captured on a light sensor, informed by the scientific emanations of a consulting physicist

Kenneth Burke, the Basic Communication Course, and Applied Scholarship

The Journal of Applied Communication Research published a forum of position papers in 2000 (Volume 28, Issue 2) that sought to define “applied communication research.” Collectively, the authors called for scholarship that embodies a reflexive relationship between theory and practice (O’Hair, 2000; Keyton, 2000, Cissna, 2000; Eadie, 2000; Frey, 2000; Seibold, 2000; Wood, 2000). In this essay, we call for applied scholarship that focuses on how we talk, perform, and theorize the basic communication course. Drawing from the works of Kenneth Burke (e.g., 1931/1968; 1935; 1937/1984; 1941/ 1967; 1945/1969; 1954/1984), we focus specifically on the salience of discourses of and about the basic communication course and communication enriched courses across general education and liberal studies curricula

The First Intervention Study in Elder Self-Neglect: A Randomized Clinical Trial to Improve Vitamin D Levels

Despite high mortality rates, elder self-neglect is characterized by refusal of medical and social interventions. To date there have been no tested clinical interventions in elders who self-neglect. Previous research from the TEAM Institute has shown significantly low vitamin D levels in this population. This study aimed to determine the feasibility of a clinical intervention. Replacement of vitamin D was chosen because of its ease of administration and favorable safety profile. Methods: A randomized clinical trial using directly observed therapy of vitamin D was conducted using 50 elders, >65 years of age, with Adult Protective Services (APS) validated self-neglect. A staggered intervention with waiting controls was used to maximize statistical power. One-third (n=17) of the group was administered 50,000 IU vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol) monthly and the remainder (n=33) were administered 400 IU monthly. Serum 25-OH vitamin D was assessed at baseline and 5-months. Results: 69% agreed to participate in the study and of those n=40 (80%) remained at 5-months. At baseline, 12% (n=7) were deficient in vitamin D (<30nmol/L) and approximately 38% (n=22) had inadequate vitamin D levels (<50nmol/L). The baseline 25-OH vitamin D level was 59 nmol/L +25 (mean SD), and increased significantly to 72nmol/L +21 nmol/L at 5-months. Conclusion: These data are the first to provide evidence that clinical interventions are feasible in elders who self-neglect. The increase in vitamin D levels confirmed that the study personnel were able to successfully intervene community-dwelling elders with self-neglect. This study sets the precedent for future intervention and prevention studie

Joint Annual Wellness Visit Scheduling

Problem/Impact Statement: The pharmacists in Scarborough & Westbrook Primary Care conduct Medicare Annual Wellness Visits (AWVs) with a physician. The pharmacist and physician see the patient individually. The practices achieved and sustained FY18 Joint AWV volume goals through a new process to reschedule physician-only AWVs to Joints AWVs with a pharmacist. This leads to reschedule rework and reduced time practice staff have for patient care

Work-related stress:The impact of COVID-19 on critical care and redeployed nurses: A mixed-methods study

Lisa Salisbury - ORCID: 0000-0002-1400-3224 https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1400-3224Replaced AM with VoR 2021-07-08.Introduction: We need to understand the impact of COVID-19 on Critical Care (CCNs) and redeployed nurses and NHS organisations. Methods and analysis: This is a mixed methods study (QUANT – QUAL), underpinned by a theoretical model of occupational stress, the Job-Demand Resources Model (JD-R). Participants are critical care and redeployed nurses from Scottish and three large English units. Phase one is a cross-sectional survey in part replicating a pre-COVID-19 study and results will be compared with this data. Linear and logistic regression analysis will examine the relationship between antecedent, demographic, and professional variables on health impairment (burnout syndrome, mental health, posttraumatic stress symptoms), motivation (work engagement, commitment), and organisational outcomes (intention to remain in critical care nursing and quality of care). We will also assess the usefulness of a range of resources provided by the NHS and professional organisations. To allow in-depth exploration of individual experiences, phase two will be one-to-one semi-structured interviews with 25 CCNs and 10 redeployed nurses. The JD-R model will provide the initial coding framework to which the interview data will be mapped. The remaining content will be analysed inductively to identify and chart content that is not captured by the model. In this way the adequacy of the JD-R model is examined robustly and its expression in this context will be detailed. Ethics and dissemination: Ethics approval was granted from the University of Aberdeen CERB2020101993. We plan to disseminate findings at stakeholder events, publish in peer reviewed journals and at present at national and international conferences.https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2021-05132611pubpub

Induction of A9 dopaminergic neurons from neural stem cells improves motor function in an animal model of Parkinson's disease

Neural stem cells (NSCs) are widely endorsed as a cell source for replacement strategies in neurodegenerative disease. However, their usefulness is currently limited by the inability to induce specific neurotransmitter phenotypes in these cells. In order to direct dopaminergic neuronal fate, we overexpressed Pitx3 in NSCs that were then exposed to E11 developing ventral mesencephalon (VM) in explant culture. This resulted in a significant potentiation of dopaminergic differentiation of the cells. When transplanted into the 6-hydroxydopamine lesioned Parkinsonian rats, these cografts of VM and Pitx3 overexpressing NSCs resulted in a significant restitution of motor function. In addition, there were greater numbers of Girk2 positive A9 neurons in the periphery of the transplants that were NSC derived. This demonstrates that given the correct signals, NSCs can be induced to become dopaminergic neurons that can differentiate into the correct nigrastriatal phenotype required for the treatment of Parkinson's diseas

Understanding Early Childhood Engineering Interest Development as a Family-Level Systems Phenomenon: Findings from the Head Start on Engineering Project

There is growing recognition that interest is critical for engaging and supporting learners from diverse communities in engineering and other science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) topics. Although interest research has historically focused on older children, studies demonstrate that preschool-age and younger children also develop persistent, individualized interests in different objects, activities, and topics and that these early interests have important implications for ongoing learning and development. Unfortunately, there is relatively little research on engineering learning in early childhood and almost no work specific to the concept of interest. To begin to address this need, we conducted in-depth case study research with 15 English- and Spanish-speaking families and their preschool-age children participating in a family-based engineering education program through a local Head Start organization. Using systems theory to conceptualize interest development as involving the whole family, the study documented how both children and parents developed engineering-related interests through the program and explored the characteristics of and shifts in these interest systems. The qualitative, cross-case analysis highlighted three aspects of family-level interest development that varied across families and over time: (1) parent awareness, knowledge, and values; (2) family re-engagement with engineering activities; and (3) family use of the engineering design process. Shifts were also observed in a subset of the families that potentially signal movement toward deeper, sustained levels of engineering-related interest