Flexible learning for a large undergraduate history paper: implementation and outcomes

This paper describes the conversion of a first year History paper at the University of Otago into a flexible learning paper. The work involved using distance learning techniques to generate a paper that went some way to achieving flexibility of time, place and pace of student learning

Flexible learning for a large undergraduate history paper: implementation and outcomes

This paper describes the conversion of a first year History paper at the University of Otago into a flexible learning paper. The work involved using distance learning techniques to generate a paper that went some way to achieving flexibility of time, place and pace of student learning

Regionalism in the Balance: Reflections on ASEAN at Fifty from a Liberal Perspective

The Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) represents the world's second most influential regional integration project after the European Union (EU). Its fiftieth anniversary in August 2017 prompted extensive commentary on the achievements of this important regional grouping as well as on the challenges and opportunities that it confronts as it begins its second half-century. This article draws on those commentaries to present a stock-take of ASEAN at fifty from a liberal perspective. While acknowledging ASEAN's achievements over the last fifty years, it highlights the daunting challenges that threaten the grouping's efficacy and cohesion, with attendant implications for wider regional architecture in the Asia-Pacific region. From rising nationalism to the constraints of the 'ASEAN Way' and the slow progress of the ASEAN Economic Community, the 'centrality' of the organisation for its member states is in question. External pressures posed by turbulent geopolitical tides make ASEAN's hard-won 'centrality' in wider Asia-Pacific affairs an even more contested concept. There are nonetheless opportunities for ASEAN to avert a mid-life crisis and revitalise regional integration. ASEAN's best chance of doing so is to apply liberal approaches to regional order in ways that will strengthen rules-based institutions, collective security, political dialogue, economic openness and tolerance of differences.(original abstract

Reversible Airflow Obstruction in Lymphangioleiomyomatosis

Background: We previously reported that approximately one-fourth of patients with lymphangio-leiomyomatosis (LAM) may respond to therapy with bronchodilators. However, the validity of those observations has been questioned. The aims of the present study were to determine the prevalence of reversible airflow obstruction in patients with LAM and to identify associated clinical and physiologic parameters. Methods: First, the clinical and physiologic characteristics of 235 patients were analyzed to determine the frequency of the response to albuterol during a total of 2,307 visits. Second, we prospectively evaluated the response to albuterol (2.5 mg) and ipratropium (500 \u3bcg) in 130 patients, and correlated their responses with their clinical and physiologic characteristics. Results: In the retrospective study, 51% of the patients responded at least once to bronchodilators; of these, 12% responded 65 50% of the time. A higher frequency of positive bronchodilator responses was associated with greater rates of decline in FEV1 and diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (DLCO). In the prospective study, 39 patients (30%) responded to bronchodilators, including 12 to ipratropium, 9 to albuterol, and 18 to both. The prevalence of asthma and smoking in the 39 responders was not different from that seen in the 91 nonresponders. Patients who responded to ipratropium, albuterol, or both had significantly (p < 0.02) lower FEV1 and DLCO, and a greater rate of FEV1 decline (p = 0.044) and DLCO decline (p = 0.039) than patients who did not respond to these bronchodilators. After adjusting for FEV1/FVC ratio, DLCO decline also was greater in responders than in nonresponders (p = 0.009). Conclusions: Patients with LAM may have partially reversible airflow obstruction. A positive response to bronchodilators is associated with an accelerated rate of decline in pulmonary function