Musical Progression in the English Primary School: what is it, what does it look like and how do teachers realise it?

In ‘Making More of Music’ (2009a) Ofsted reported that primary music curriculum delivery was inconsistent and too much provision was inadequate. They specifically commented on teachers’ lack of understanding of ‘making musical progress’. However, pre-study empirical research found that teachers were uncertain as to what Ofsted meant by this. A literature review also confirmed a lack of consensus in this area. Therefore, for teachers to ensure children are ‘making musical progress’ this required further exploration. In the main empirical study, seven music specialists were interviewed in order to ascertain their perceptions of what musical progression is, ‘what making musical progress looks like’ (ibid.) and how teachers could nurture progression in order to support primary teachers improve their curriculum delivery. The data was analysed following the process of template analysis (King, 2004) and relational models were produced to illustrate the findings, including a practitioner definition of musical progression. This research suggests that the teacher’s journey is as individual as the child’s and therefore there is not only one way to teach that will ensure progression. What appeared to be important was that practitioners had a clearly thought-out approach to progression which influenced and underpinned their teaching and consequently ensured children’s progressive musical learning. The importance of the teacher’s own musicality and musical understanding in their comprehension of musical progression and their practice was highlighted. Another emergent finding was the necessity of responsive teaching and the need to interrelate all aspects of what it is to be musical in order to lead to a more holistic progression in pupils. Improving teacher knowledge and understanding of holistic progression would help teachers to understand what they were aiming for and consequently improve their curriculum delivery. The main aim of the research was to gain insight and understanding to assist primary teachers to improve their practice and address Ofsted’s concerns. It also makes suggestions for music ITE provision, CPD and Ofsted. Further research would explore in more detail the content of teacher guidance material that could be used on a national scale to raise teacher knowledge and understanding of progression

The role B cells in ANCA-associated vasculitis

B cells are central to the pathology of ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV), a disease characterized by autoantibodies and effectively treated by rituximab. In addition to promoting inflammation, a subset of B cells act to suppress harmful autoimmune responses. The balance of effector and regulatory B cell subsets in AAV is not known. This study was conducted to assess the relative frequency of these subsets during different states of disease activity. B regulatory cells are reduced in AAV, whether defined as CD5+ or CD24high CD38high. There is an imbalance in B regulatory (Breg) and B memory (Bmem) cells, which represents a proinflammatory B cell profile. Bmem augment Th1 differentiation in vitro, whilst Breg do not. Breg positively correlate with IL-10 competent B cells and, inversely with TNFα production in B cells. The converse was observed with Bmem. There was no functional defect in Breg from AAV patients, assessed by effect on Th1 differentiation and IL-10 induction in vitro. The imbalance in Bmem and Breg was represented as ratio, calculated from the number of memory cells divided by number regulatory cells in flow cytometry gate (M:Rn). M:Rn has potential for to be used as a predictive measure of clinical outcome. This imbalance may contribute to the high rate of relapse observed in AAV. Higher ratios were observed in PR3-ANCA patients (who have greatest propensity to relapse), compared to MPO-ANCA patients with the same disease activity. Tolerant patients and those treated with rituximab, had low M:Rn. Rituximab resets the balance of effector and regulatory B cells in AAV, including a tolerogenic state. Detection of proinflammatory and inhibitory immune mediators in B cells by intracellular flow cytometry, warranted additional analysis to better define the cytokine profile. 15 analytes were measured in cell supernatants. IL-10, IL-6, IL-1β, TNFα, IL-17A, IFNγ and IL-2 were significantly induced in PBMC, stimulated for maximum IL-10 induction in B cells. The net effect of these supernatants was to limit T cell TNFα production in vitro, this was not impaired on blockade of IL-10 with an agonistic antibody. Highly activated CD4 cells were increased in AAV, whilst Treg were reduced. There was no relationship between Breg and Treg frequency in AAV. Patients had reduction in Breg or Treg, but not both (frequency lower than the mean of the healthy controls, minus 2 standard deviations). Further investigation was conducted in an MPO animal model of disease, in which passive transfer of antibodies or B cells are reported to be pathogenic. Limited disease was observed on cell transfer, despite equivalent autoantibody titres to MPO null, immunised mice. B cells or antibody alone are insufficient to cause disease, an initiating event is crucial with deposition of MPO on the microvasculature and tissue damage elicited by innate immune cells previously described. Without this inciting damage, adaptive immune ignorance is maintained and renal function unaffected

The problematic of partnership in the assessment of special educational needs

PhD ThesisThis thesis investigates the positioning of partnership in the process of assessing a child's special educational needs. It looks at partnership in parent-professional relationships and in relationships between different professionals. Two case studies provide the empirical basis of the research: one of the first two years of an LEA parent partnership project, the other of a child, David, whose 'special educational needs' were in the process of being assessed. The reasons for choosing case studies, the kind of knowledge this would be expected to generate, and issues of validity are discussed. This thesis looks at whether an educational psychology service can act in partnership with parents by analysing a variety of data from an LEA Parent Partnership Scheme. It also investigates the meaning of partnership for the stakeholders of a child's statutory special educational needs assessment by looking at the views of everyone involved in one child (David)'s statutory assessment. The people interviewed are the child, the mother, the named person, the head teacher, the class teacher, the special education needs coordinator, the educational psychologist, the clinical psychologist, the senior clinical medical officer, the occupational therapist, and the acting principal educational psychologist. They are asked their views of the child's situation, what they think assessment is really about, what their role is in the assessment, what kind of partnership they experience in the assessment, what kind of partnership is possible, and where power is located in the assessment. Two case studies raise many questions about conceptions of 'professional', 'need', 'objectivity' and 'partnership'. Five key areas are identified from the results of the two case studies for further discussion. The first two areas each take a different unexpected finding with the aim of an explanation: 1) David's Mother's achievement of her aim of a statement emphasising David's learning difficulties rather than behavioural difficulties, despite the school's insistence on the latter; and 2) The discovery of David as lacking agency in the assessment process. The explanation incorporates the descriptive and the theoretical. Engestrom's activity theory assists an understanding of the boundary crossing accomplished by David's Mother in the realisation of her goal. The last three areas theorise about, respectively, partnership, power and statementing. The basis of multi-disciplinary assessment is challenged. Instead of one multi-disciplinary assessment in one case there are as many assessments as there are participants. Statementing is suggested to involve the painful negotiation of different discourse within a complex power structure. Implications for professionals working with children deemed to have special educational needs are discussed and policy changes are considered. Methodological issues for the position of the researcher, as insider practitioner, outsider practitioner and outside researcher is reflected upon

Martinez-Cuevas V. Deruyter Brothers and COVID-19: Is it Time to Re-examine Farmworker Labor Protections?

In the fall of 2020, in the midst of the COVID-19 global pandemic, a closely divided (5-4) Washington Supreme Court, in Martinez-Cuevas v. Deruyter Bros. Dairy Inc.1, held that dairy workers, despite a state wage and hour law2 specifically exempting agricultural workers, are entitled to overtime pay. The Court based its decision, in part, on the dangerous nature of the work performed by the dairy workers.3 Although the decision was specific to dairy workers in Washington, the majority of U.S. farmworkers are not entitled to overtime wages while working jobs that are generally considered dangerous and have been made more so during COVID-19

Patient and Public Involvement (PPI): developing a conceptual framework from an exploratory study of three healthcare providers

PPI has been growing considerably in the last 15 years in the UK's National Health Service (NHS) following shifts in the relationship between institutions and the public. Various legislative changes during this period have moved the NHS towards a consumerist model of delivery with a greater emphasis on the voice of their service users and the public. High profile cases, such as the severe failings at the Mid-Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust (Francis, 2013), have provided impetus for PPI. However, despite increases in PPI-related activities, research into PPI methods and their impact have indicated that both methods and impact are difficult to evaluate (e.g. Conklin et al., 2012). Many existing models of PPI appear to over simplify what is a complex social phenomenon. Relatively simple early models such as the ladder of participation (Arnstein, 1969) are still widely referenced. Many studies have focused on individual PPI activities and individual stakeholder perspectives but have paid less attention to the commonalities and differences across and within stakeholder groups and PPI contexts. This study explored the complexities of PPI by collecting detailed observational, documentary and interview data from three different healthcare provider organisations (a mental health trust, a social enterprise, and an acute hospital trust). A range of methods (observations, semi-structured interviews, and document reviews) were used to explore in depth the complex nature of PPI and capture detailed data about contextual and organisational factors. Furthermore, whilst this study aimed to explore a range of activities and individual perspectives across multiple organisations, the ultimate outcome of this research was to produce a conceptual framework that extends theory by placing greater emphasis on the influence of contextual and societal factors. This study identified a plethora of factors that contribute to successful PPI; some of which had been found in previous research (such as personal barriers for laypeople). The constraining role of organisational structures and hierarchies; the strong influence of Government policies and initiatives; and the gatekeeping role of PPI facilitators were novel to this research, or added nuances to existing literature. With regards to the latter, a key finding was the significant role PPI facilitators play in both the implementation and success of PPI work. Their role is essentially a mediator between their employer and patients and the public. This study identified that the role of the voice of patients and the public is negotiated via PPI facilitators, making these key to the success of PPI. PPI facilitators were both responsible for facilitating PPI activities and reporting back the results of that work to senior management (including Board members); the ultimate goal of which was to influence service improvements as well as long term organisational strategies. These findings indicate that a conceptual framework of PPI is needed that considers not just individual perspectives and methods of PPI, but also the process of negotiation via PPI facilitators in making PPI a success

Short-Term Asset and Debt Choice and U.S. Corn Farm Liquidity

The liquidity positions of U.S. corn farms over the period 2002–2013 is examined using Agricultural Resource Management Survey (ARMS) data and calculating the average annual working capital to gross revenue (WC/GR) ratio for farms within the 25th percentile, median, and 75th percentile. The relationship between liquidity and land ownership, farm size, and the composition and level of short-term farm asset and debts by category are compared across farms within the 25th, 25th–75th, and 75th WC/GR ratio percentile. We find that, on average, farms in the 75th WC/GR ratio percentile owned a greater portion of their operated acres and maintained both a lower and more consistent percentage of assets in crop inventories and a larger and variable percentage of short-term liabilities in accounts payable and term debt compared to farms in the 25th percentile. Rapid declines in farm liquidity levels and the percentage of short-term assets in crop inventories for farms in the 25th WC/GR ratio percentile between 2002 and 2013 highlights the importance of having other means to manage short-term debt obligations rather than selling crop inventories in times of falling output prices. The rise in short-term liabilities and corresponding decreases in short-term debt levels for farms within the 25th–75th and 75th WC/GR ratios during 2008–2013 indicates the importance of being able to pay off farm debt during periods of higher agricultural profits. The corresponding rise in short-term debt for farms in the 25th percentile during this same time period should be a cause for concern going forward and, with the other results of this study, highlights the need to monitor both overall farm liquidity ratios and the allocation of short-term assets and debts within categories when evaluating and seeking to improve farm liquidity levels and financial performance

Opening the Space Between Innocent and Oppressive Ways of Knowing: Challenges and Opportunities in Doing Research with Diverse Communities

The growing ethno-racial diversity reflected in Canadian society has prompted increased academic interest, particularly in the field of social work, in understanding how people from different ethno-racial groups experience and perceive the world. In this paper, we talk about the challenges of creating such knowledge, or engaging in “cross-cultural research”. We focus this discussion on three main dimensions of the research process: the goals and values underlying the research; the nature of knowledge negotiated in the research relationship; and the way that power is structured in the researcher/participant relationship. We begin by describing each of these with reference to “traditional” ways of doing cross-cultural research, and articulate how such approaches work to sustain the colonialist project. We then discuss the growing trend towards using “Participatory Action Research” (PAR) as an alternative approach to conducting research in the social sciences that is respectful, liberating, and geared towards social change. We suggest, however, that the idealization that PAR can somehow create an innocent or non-oppressive space for research is an illusion. Instead, we draw on the work of post-structural educator Elizabeth Ellsworth (1997) to enrich existing work on PAR approaches to cross-cultural research

IN DEFENCE OF THE NORTH AMERICAN ROLLING CHARGE

IN DEFENCE OF THE NORTH AMERICAN ROLLING CHARG

When should you suspect community-acquired MRSA? How should you treat it?

There are no clinical or epidemiologic features that will help you to clearly distinguish community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections (CA-MRSA) from methicillin-sensitive (CA-MSSA) infections (strength of recommendation [SOR]: B, prospective cohort studies). Incision and drainage is the primary therapy for purulent skin and soft tissue infections (SOR: B, randomized, controlled clinical trials [RCTs]). There are inadequate data evaluating the role of oral antibiotics for MRSA (SOR: B, single RCT)