2,026 research outputs found
Embolisation and Stroke Risk in Carotid Artery Disease: The role of Carotid Plaque Volume and Resistance to Platelet Inhibitory Therapy
Literacy difficulties in Higher Education:identifying studentsā needs with a Hybrid Model
Aims
Aims Studies on literacy difficulties have mainly focused on children or adults who have a diagnosis of dyslexia. Some students enter university without such a diagnosis, but with literacy difficulties, and this may impact their ability to become independent learners and achieve academically. This exploratory study aims to employ a hybrid model for developing profiles for such individuals. The hybrid model encompasses the causal modelling framework (CMF; Morton & Frith, 1993), the proximal and distal causes of literacy difficulties (Jackson & Coltheart, 2001) and the conceptual framework for identification of dyslexia (Reid & Came, 2009).
Method
In this multiple case study design, three young adults with literacy difficulties were interviewed. Using narrative analysis, we compared the casesā responses with the responses of a matched control student without literacy difficulties.
Findings
The main findings of the comparison suggested that the proposed hybrid model could be an effective way to highlighting potential obstacles to learning in those with literacy difficulties and would, therefore, be an invaluable tool for educational psychologists who work in adult educational settings.
Limitations
This is an exploratory study based on multiple case studies. A group study with more individuals should be conducted in order to further validate the proposed hybrid model.
Conclusions
The current study highlights the importance of understanding the psychosocial, as well as the cognitive and biological aspects of literacy difficulties, without claiming generalisability
Use of a 3-item short-form version of the Barthel Index for use in stroke: systematic review and external validation
Background and PurposeāThere may be a potential to reduce the number of items assessed in the Barthel Index (BI), and shortened versions of the BI have been described. We sought to collate all existing short-form BI (SF-BI) and perform a comparative validation using clinical trial data.
MethodsāWe performed a systematic review across multidisciplinary electronic databases to find all published SF-BI. Our validation used the VISTA (Virtual International Stroke Trials Archive) resource. We describe concurrent validity (agreement of each SF-BI with BI), convergent and divergent validity (agreement of each SF-BI with other outcome measures available in the data set), predictive validity (association of prognostic factors with SF-BI outcomes), and content validity (item correlation and exploratory factor analyses).
ResultsāFrom 3546 titles, we found 8 articles describing 6 differing SF-BI. Using acute trial data (n=8852), internal reliability suggested redundancy in BI (Cronbach Ī±, 0.96). Each SF-BI demonstrated a strong correlation with BI, modified Rankin Scale, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (all Ļā„0.83; P<0.001). Using rehabilitation trial data (n=332), SF-BI demonstrated modest correlation with quality of life measures Stroke Impact Scale and 5 domain EuroQOL (Ļā„0.50, P<0.001). Prespecified prognostic factors were associated with SF-BI outcomes (all P<0.001). Our factor analysis described a 3 factor structure, and item reduction suggested an optimal 3-item SF-BI comprising bladder control, transfer, and mobility items in keeping with 1 of the 3-item SF-BI previously described in the literature.
ConclusionsāThere is redundancy in the original BI; we have demonstrated internal and external validity of a 3-item SF-BI that should be simple to use
Tentative Evidence for Relativistic Electrons Generated by the Jet of the Young Sun-like Star DG Tau
Synchrotron emission has recently been detected in the jet of a massive
protostar, providing further evidence that certain jet formation
characteristics for young stars are similar to those found for highly
relativistic jets from AGN. We present data at 325 and 610 MHz taken with the
GMRT of the young, low-mass star DG Tau, an analog of the Sun soon after its
birth. This is the first investigation of a low-mass YSO at at such low
frequencies. We detect emission with a synchrotron spectral index in the
proximity of the DG Tau jet and interpret this emission as a prominent bow
shock associated with this outflow. This result provides tentative evidence for
the acceleration of particles to relativistic energies due to the shock impact
of this otherwise very low-power jet against the ambient medium. We calculate
the equipartition magnetic field strength (0.11 mG) and particle energy
(4x10^40 erg), which are the minimum requirements to account for the
synchrotron emission of the DG Tau bow shock. These results suggest the
possibility of low energy cosmic rays being generated by young Sun-like stars.Comment: 19 pages, 2 figures, accepted for publication in ApJ Letter
Inclusion and Autism: Is inclusion in mainstream education appropriate for pupils with Autistic Spectrum disorders?
Abstract
The issue of inclusion remains a controversial one, with critics arguing that a mainstream environment is simply not appropriate for all pupils, especially those diagnosed with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Thus the aim of this study is to gain further insight into this topic by using the personal experiences of one individual to highlight and explore some of the main issues. A semi-structured interview was conducted with the parent of a young boy with ASD who had recently been moved from a mainstream classroom to more specialist provision. Three main themes emerged from the research; difficulties with social interaction, problems with the mainstream environment and attitudes within the mainstream. These themes were then used to explore the literature surrounding the topic and discuss how they impacted on the process of inclusion. The implications of the findings were then considered and related to current practice. Various measures were suggested that could help make the mainstream classroom a more suitable environment for some pupils with ASD. However, it was ultimately concluded that no amount of adaptations could make the mainstream an appropriate educational setting for all pupils with ASD and that specialist provision would still be necessary in some cases.
Key Words: Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Inclusion, Mainstrea
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Understandings, indicators, and implications of enhanced adaptive capacity within agricultural development interventions in Northern Ghana
Enhanced adaptive capacity is increasingly being pursued as an objective of agricultural development interventions due to the perceived vulnerability of smallholder farming communities to a range of shocks and stresses. This research used two case studies of agricultural development interventions in Northern Ghana to examine diverse understandings of adaptive capacity, potential indicators of enhanced adaptive capacity, and the implications of this for sustainable agricultural livelihoods. The thesis reviews relevant theoretical literature to situate the study among complex adaptive systems thinking and sustainability discourses. Associated policy documentation is reviewed to set the context in which, and identify why, development interventions seek to enhance adaptive capacity. The primary methods of data collection were interviews, focus groups, and ethnography, as well as secondary data in the form of documentation from the case studies. Multiple understandings of adaptive capacity were identified in both case studies, including āformalā understandings of the projectsā funders and management, and āinformalā understandings of field staff and participating farmers. The findings contribute to theory, policy and practice through explicit recognition of the diversity of understandings of adaptive capacity, which has not been appreciated or analysed previously. Indicators of enhanced adaptive capacity emerged from the findings. Findings show how features of social capital were integral to enhanced adaptive capacity and played a dominant role in beneficial outcomes, even when not the priority of the interventions. This implies a set of indicators of enhanced adaptive capacity that can inform theoretical discourse, policy and programme planning, and monitoring and evaluation in practice. Finally, this research identified the role of social capital in contributing to enhanced adaptive capacity, which supports sustainable agricultural livelihoods. These findings contribute lessons for similar ongoing and future agricultural development interventions and recommend a focus on features of social capital rather than physical and technological capital
Scoping out noisy galvanic vestibular stimulation:a review of the parameters used to improve postural control
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