Out there and in here: design for blended scientific inquiry learning

One of the benefits of mobile technologies is to combine ‘the digital’ (e.g., data, information, photos) with ‘field’ experiences in novel ways that are contextualized by people’s current located activities. However, often cost, mobility disabilities and time exclude students from engaging in such peripatetic experiences. The Out There and In Here project, is exploring a combination of mobile and tabletop technologies in support for collaborative learning. A system is being developed for synchronous collaboration between geology students in the field and peers at an indoor location. The overarching goal of this research is to develop technologies that support people working together in a suitable manner for their locations. There are two OTIH project research threads. The first deals with disabled learner access issues: these complex issues are being reviewed in subsequent evaluations and publications. This paper will deal with issues of technology supported learning design for remote and co-located science learners. Several stakeholder evaluations and two field trials have reviewed two research questions: 1. What will enhance the learning experience for those in the field and laboratory? 2. How can learning trajectories and appropriate technologies be designed to support equitable co-located and remote learning collaboration? This paper focuses on describing the iterative linked development of technologies and scientific inquiry pedagogy. Two stages within the research project are presented. The 1st stage details several pilot studies over 3 years with 21 student participants in synchronous collaborations with traditional technology and pedagogical models. Findings revealed that this was an engaging and useful experience although issues of equity in collaboration needed further research. The 2nd stage, in this project, has been to evaluate data from over 25 stakeholders (academics, learning and technology designers) to develop pervasive ambient technological solutions supporting orchestration of mixed levels of pedagogy (i.e. abstract synthesis to specific investigation). Middleware between tabletop ‘surface’ technologies and mobile devices are being designed with Microsoft and OOKL (a mobile software company) to support these developments. Initial findings reveal issues around equity, ownership and professional identity

Authenticity and Humanity: Women in Ming Dynasty Theatre

Since the dawn of theatrical performances, women had very limited opportunities for participation and presence in productions, often being portrayed onstage by male actors in untruthful, borderline degrading drag, which fortunately was not the case for the Ming Dynasty. My research investigates the societal roles and customs that women in the Ming Dynasty were initially assigned to and the shift they experienced in these roles; this shift empowered women to have more agency in every aspect of their everyday lives, especially in participating in performances. Methodologically, I consider the feminist/gender lens of Karl Marx’s Critical Theory and the opera The Peony Pavilion, along with performance clips from this opera and an article from the actress who originated the role of protagonist Tu Lianiang. This project will interest gender/womens’ historians and theatre practitioners alike; it provides historians insight into how women in early Chinese history adapted to changes in cultural and societal standards, and for theatre practitioners, an angle to analyze the importance of truth, humanity, and earnestness in an actress\u27 craft

Examining the Effects of Student Loan Forgiveness and the Christian Perspective

On August 24, 2022, President Joe Biden announced his plan for federal student loan forgiveness. The program allows individuals who make less than $125,000 a year and families under$250,000 relieve up to $10,000 of their loan debt. Those who fall under the Pell Grant program are able to relieve up to$20,000 of their debt. The reactions to this “revolutionary” program were mixed. Typically, those who the program would directly affect were very enthusiastic about this idea while those, most notably Republicans, were less than thrilled. While the idea is good in theory, the execution of debt forgiveness will most definitely have economic consequences on the average taxpayer. In addition, the question remains, is this a precursor to more “free” programs? The next question regarding this plan is the Christian response. How can Christians show mercy and forgiveness regarding debt while also understanding the importance of being good stewards of finances? Finally, alternative policies to debt relief that ease the taxpayer’s load and offer opportunities to those with student loans will be explored

How Mental Health Service Delivery Models Address The Needs of Refugees

Refugees have higher rates of western defined mental health disorders, yet it has been documented there is underutilization of Western mental health services by refugees. A more holistic ecological approach is needed to serve refugees best over a conventional Western biomedical model. This systematic review was designed to explore the research question: How are mental health service delivery models addressing the bio-psycho-social-spiritual needs of refugees. The study was set up using peer-reviewed articles and dissertations after 2000. The databases, SocINDEX, Academic Search Premier, and ProQuest Dissertations & Theses were systematically searched using the terms; “mental health service delivery models” AND “refugees.” And terms “mental health models” AND “refugees” AND “mental health.” Out of these searches, 14 articles met inclusion criteria and were included in the review. One theme emerged on meeting the biological needs; 1. importance of blending both the western medical model and traditional healing practices as part of mental health treatment. For psychological needs three themes emerged; 1. the importance of building trust, 2. group work is being utilized across different mental health service delivery models for both adults and children, 3. non-verbal therapeutic interventions are being used across mental health service delivery models for both adults and children. One theme emerged for meeting social needs; 1. a psycho-social approach is needed. Lastly, one theme emerged for meeting spiritual needs; 1. to help address the spiritual needs of refugees it is important to collaborate with community religious leaders. Overall there is currently limited research on this topic. Of the articles, little was discussed on meeting the biological and spiritual needs as part of treatment. Moving forward, mental health service delivery models should consider meeting all domains of a refugee’s life rather than only addressing psychological distress. Understanding help-seeking behavior, traditional ways of SERVICE DELIVERY MODELS FOR REFUGEES 2 healing, and cultural understanding of mental health, as well as providing service to address the many unmet social needs of refugees, may lead to better mental health outcomes and service utilization. Future research should focus on the study of culturally appropriate evidence-based practices for refugee populations

How Mental Health Service Delivery Models Address The Needs of Refugees

Refugees have higher rates of western defined mental health disorders, yet it has been documented there is underutilization of Western mental health services by refugees. A more holistic ecological approach is needed to serve refugees best over a conventional Western biomedical model. This systematic review was designed to explore the research question: How are mental health service delivery models addressing the bio-psycho-social-spiritual needs of refugees. The study was set up using peer-reviewed articles and dissertations after 2000. The databases, SocINDEX, Academic Search Premier, and ProQuest Dissertations & Theses were systematically searched using the terms; “mental health service delivery models” AND “refugees.” And terms “mental health models” AND “refugees” AND “mental health.” Out of these searches, 14 articles met inclusion criteria and were included in the review. One theme emerged on meeting the biological needs; 1. importance of blending both the western medical model and traditional healing practices as part of mental health treatment. For psychological needs three themes emerged; 1. the importance of building trust, 2. group work is being utilized across different mental health service delivery models for both adults and children, 3. non-verbal therapeutic interventions are being used across mental health service delivery models for both adults and children. One theme emerged for meeting social needs; 1. a psycho-social approach is needed. Lastly, one theme emerged for meeting spiritual needs; 1. to help address the spiritual needs of refugees it is important to collaborate with community religious leaders. Overall there is currently limited research on this topic. Of the articles, little was discussed on meeting the biological and spiritual needs as part of treatment. Moving forward, mental health service delivery models should consider meeting all domains of a refugee’s life rather than only addressing psychological distress. Understanding help-seeking behavior, traditional ways of SERVICE DELIVERY MODELS FOR REFUGEES 2 healing, and cultural understanding of mental health, as well as providing service to address the many unmet social needs of refugees, may lead to better mental health outcomes and service utilization. Future research should focus on the study of culturally appropriate evidence-based practices for refugee populations

Perspectives on the application of technology to enhance learning in an undergraduate nursing degree programme

This paper discusses concepts and practice relating to the use of computer-based technologies for enhancing learning. It draws on examples from a UK nursing degree programme

Penny-Wise, not Pound-Foolish

Marx, Durkheim, Weber, and Goffman are all familiar names in the world of Sociology. Although the four share a common passion for sociological materials; each of these theorists view, support, and explain different situations based on their own beliefs. The article, Penny-Wise, Not Pound Foolish, written by Stephanie Saul is an article about the lengths in which obese people will go to improve their physical health. The content in this article would be interpreted differently by each social theorist, but each would have several points and ideas to illustrate the story

The biosynthesis of some bacterial and fungal polyketide metabolites

Methylmalonyl-CoA is a key building block in the biosynthesis of propionate derived polyketide metabolites. There are several known metabolic sources of methylmalonyl-CoA, e.g. succinyl-CoA (citric acid cycle), valine and isoleudne. An objective of this research was to investigate the role of the DNA base, thymine, as a source of methyhnalonyl-CoA in Streptomyces and hence probe the link between primary and secondary metabolism. Feeding key intermediates of the thymine and valine cataboHc pathways, i.e. [(^13)C(^2)H(_3)-methyl]-thymine, [(^13)C-methyl]- and [l-(613)c]-β- aminoisobutyric acid, sodium [3-(^13)C]-isobutyrate, sodium [(^13)C-methyl]- methacrylate and sodium [l-(^13)C]-methacrylate, to the monensin A producer, Streptomyces cinnamonensis, provided evidence of the reductive catabolism of thymine occurring in Streptomyces, analogous to mammals. The results also provided evidence which supports the existence of a novel deaminase enzyme mediating the transformation of β-aminoisobutyric add and methacrylyl-CoA. Cubensic add, isolated from Xylaria cubensis, is a long chain fungal metabolite possessing eight pendant methyl groups. Its biosynthesis from acetate and L-methionine units was demonstrated with the aid of feeding experiments, proving a classical fungal mode of assembly. Attempts to incorporate an advanced methylated precursor into cubensic add were unsuccessful. Biological intramolecular Diels-Alder reactions are implicated in the biosynthesis of a wide range of polyketide metabolites, e.g. nargenicin, solanapyrones. Attempts to demonstrate, by feeding an isotopically labelled precursor, an intramolecular Diels-Alder mechanism for the formation of the sbc membered ring in cytochalasin D, proved inconclusive. In the event, the precursor was degraded to acetate. This degradation was suppressed in the second attempt by the addition of a β-oxidation inhibitor, but still no incorporation of labelled precursor was evident