Dyscalculia in higher education

This research study provides an insight into the experiences of dyscalculic students in higher education (HE). It explores the nature of dyscalculia from the student perspective, adopting a theoretical framework of the social model of disability combined with socio-cultural theory. This study was not aimed at understanding the neurological reasons for dyscalculia, but focussed on the social effects of being dyscalculic and how society can help support dyscalculic students within an HE context. The study s primary data collection method was 14 semi-structured interviews with officially identified dyscalculic students who were currently, or had been recently, studying in higher education in the UK. A participant selection method was utilised using a network of national learning support practitioners due to the limited number of participants available. A secondary data collection method involved reflective learning support sessions with two students. Data were collected across four research areas: the identification process, HE mathematics, learning support and categorisations of dyscalculia. A fifth area of fitness to practise could not be examined in any depth due to the lack of relevant participants, but the emerging data clearly pinpointed this as a significant area of political importance and identified a need for further research. A framework of five categories of dyscalculic HE student was used for data analysis. Participants who aligned with these categories tended to describe differing experiences or coping behaviours within each of the research areas. The main findings of the study were the importance of learning support practitioners in tackling mathematical anxiety, the categorisations of dyscalculic higher education students, the differing learning styles of dyscalculic and dyslexic students, and the emergence of four under-researched dyscalculic characteristics: iconicity, time perception, comprehension of the existence of numbers that are not whole and dyscalculic students understanding of non-cardinal numbers

Delivering organisational adaptation through legislative mechanisms: Evidence from the Adaptation Reporting Power (Climate Change Act 2008)

There is increasing recognition that organisations, particularly in key infrastructure sectors, are potentially vulnerable to climate change and extreme weather events, and require organisational responses to ensure they are resilient and adaptive. However, detailed evidence of how adaptation is facilitated, implemented and reported, particularly through legislative mechanisms is lacking. The United Kingdom Climate Change Act (2008), introduced the Adaptation Reporting Power, enabling the Government to direct so-called reporting authorities to report their climate change risks and adaptation plans. We describe the authors' unique role and experience supporting the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) during the Adaptation Reporting Power's first round. An evaluation framework, used to review the adaptation reports, is presented alongside evidence on how the process provides new insights into adaptation activities and triggered organisational change in 78% of reporting authorities, including the embedding of climate risk and adaptation issues. The role of legislative mechanisms and risk-based approaches in driving and delivering adaptation is discussed alongside future research needs, including the development of organisational maturity models to determine resilient and well adapting organisations. The Adaptation Reporting Power process provides a basis for similar initiatives in other countries, although a clear engagement strategy to ensure buy-in to the process and research on its long-term legacy, including the potential merits of voluntary approaches, is required

The Role of Community Partnerships in the Support of Postsecondary Students From Refugee Contexts

This qualitative study sought to identify how postsecondary institutions and non-profit organizations can work together to best support the needs of students from refugee contexts, particularly at a time when global refugee migration is high (UNICEF, 2016). A review of literature revealed that refugee and international students may face many challenges when transitioning to a new country and educational environment, and that postsecondary institutions can take steps to help ensure such students’ success. The study took place in two geographical areas in Southern Ontario in close proximity to one another. Fifteen individual interviews were conducted, each lasting an average of approximately 35 minutes, with staff and administrators from postsecondary institutions and non-profit organizations to develop an understanding of the services they have in place to support the needs of students from refugee contexts and what they feel would help them better support this group. Findings indicate that although there is a lack of services specific to students from refugee contexts being offered in the postsecondary sector, many services are offered for newcomers more generally. It was found that there is some collaboration between postsecondary institutions and non-profit organizations in support of newcomers, but there is also a desire for more. Participants in this study shared insights about how they can be supported in their goal to deliver effective programming to newcomers. The study concludes by offering a series of recommendations on how postsecondary institutions can work with non-profit organizations to better support students from refugee contexts

A hub service: extending the support provided by one institution to students of other local institutions

We report on the experience of Loughborough University’s Eureka Centre for Mathematical Confidence in establishing a small pilot project to provide one-to-one mathematics support for neurodiverse students who attend other local universities and where no such provision is available. We outline the background to the scheme and report on the three students involved

Chirality transfer in the synthesis of homoallylic alcohols

Previous studies on the reaction of the optically active organotin, diallylisopropylmyrtanyltin, to produce homoallylic alcohols, using boron trifluoride as a Lewis acid, produced racemic mixtures regardless of the aldehyde used.1 In this experiment bromine was attached to the tin atom in allylmyrtanylphenyltin bromide, letting tin become an internal Lewis acid. Benzaldehyde was reacted with this compound to see it a single optically active product could be synthesized. After the alcohol had been separated out using vacuum distillation, the optical rotation of the product was taken and showed no appreciable rotation; thus a racemic mixture was produced

The Case for Abandoning Therapeutic Chelation of Copper Ions in Alzheimer's Disease

The “therapeutic chelation” approach to treating Alzheimer's disease (AD) evolved from the metals hypothesis, with the premise that small molecules can be designed to prevent transition metal-induced amyloid deposition and oxidative stress within the AD brain. Over more than 20 years, countless in vitro studies have been devoted to characterizing metal binding, its effect on Aβ aggregation, ROS production, and in vitro toxicity. Despite a lack of evidence for any clinical benefit, the conjecture that therapeutic chelation is an effective approach for treating AD remains widespread. Here, the author plays the devil's advocate, questioning the experimental evidence, the dogma, and the value of therapeutic chelation, with a major focus on copper ions

Worker safety: zero harm messaging, reporting and the C-suite

Occupational health and safety (OHS) management has improved over the past 100 years. A focus on worker safety has saved lives, increased productivity and enhanced organisational reputations. Still, the International Labour Organization (ILO) estimates that more than 7,000 people die from work-related accidents or diseases worldwide every day. In the mining industry in particular, fatalities take a heavy toll. Despite considerable efforts to improve safety in many countries, the resources sector remains one of the highest risk occupations in the world. This research uses a learning orientation lens that is one of the six characteristics of a High Reliability Organisation (Lekka, 2011) and examines the intersection of three specific areas of worker safety: (1) The impact of “Zero Harm” messaging on an organisation (where “zero” is the only acceptable number of injuries or fatalities in the workplace); (2) Zero Harm C-suite messaging to investors and shareholders as indicative of positive OHS performances as highlighted in market updates and annual reporting processes; and (3) increased interest in environmental, social and governance (ESG) and reporting frameworks with a specific focus on the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Standard. This research uses the explanatory sequential mixed method design to explore the overlap of these three specific areas of worker safety. The findings of the research are threefold: First, the use of Zero Harm messaging by C-suite leaders may hamper learning opportunities within an organisation. Second, investor response to Zero Harm messaging over time is not yet fully integrated into investment strategies. And third, limited improvement in OHS injury type performance has occurred with each successive update of the GRI OHS Standard. This thesis can potentially contribute to improved senior leadership safety messaging in the resources sector and its impact on investors. Potential improvements exist for people who may be involved in any future review of the GRI OHS Standard. Most importantly, this thesis may improve OHS performance and worker safety if senior leaders and OHS professionals adopt and implement the suggested recommendations within their respective companies

The challenges, uncertainties and opportunities of bioaerosol dispersion modelling from open composting facilities

Bioaerosols are ubiquitous organic particles that comprise viruses, bacteria and coarser fractions of organic matter. Known to adversely affect human health, the impact of bioaerosols on a population often manifests as outbreaks of illnesses such as Legionnaires Disease and Q fever, although the concentrations and environmental conditions in which these impacts occur are not well understood. Bioaerosol concentrations vary from source to source, but specific human activities such as water treatment, intensive agriculture and composting facilitate the generation of bioaerosol concentrations many times higher than natural background levels. Bioaerosols are not considered ‘traditional’ pollutants in the same way as PM10, PM2.5, and gases such as NO2, and consequently dispersion models do not include a bespoke method for their assessment. As identified in previous studies, priority areas for improving the robustness of these dispersion models include: 1) the development of bespoke monitoring studies designed to generate accurate modelling input data; 2) the publication of a robust emissions inventory; 3) a code of practice to provide guidelines for consistent bioaerosol modelling practices; and 4) a greater understanding of background bioaerosol emissions. The aim of this research project, funded by the Natural Environmental Research Council (NERC), is to address these key areas through a better understanding of the generation, concentration and potential dispersion of bioaerosols from intensive agricultural and biowaste facilities, using case studies developed at specific locations within the UK. The objective is to further refine existing bioaerosol monitoring and modelling guidelines to provide a more robust framework for regulating authorities and site operators. This contribution outlines the gaps that hinder robust dispersion modelling, and describes the on-site bioaerosol data collection methods used in the study, explaining how they might be used to close these gaps. Examples of bioaerosol dispersion modelled using ADMS 5 are presented and discussed

Sensitivity of predicted bioaerosol exposure from open windrow composting facilities to ADMS dispersion model parameters

Bioaerosols are released in elevated quantities from composting facilities and are associated with negative health effects, although dose-response relationships are not well understood, and require improved exposure classification. Dispersion modelling has great potential to improve exposure classification, but has not yet been extensively used or validated in this context. We present a sensitivity analysis of the ADMS dispersion model specific to input parameter ranges relevant to bioaerosol emissions from open windrow composting. This analysis provides an aid for model calibration by prioritising parameter adjustment and targeting independent parameter estimation. Results showed that predicted exposure was most sensitive to the wet and dry deposition modules and the majority of parameters relating to emission source characteristics, including pollutant emission velocity, source geometry and source height. This research improves understanding of the accuracy of model input data required to provide more reliable exposure predictions

A Controlled Study on the Characterisation of Bioaerosols Emissions from Compost

Bioaerosol emissions arising from biowaste treatment are an issue of public concern. To better characterise the bioaerosols, and to assess a range of measurement methods, we aerosolised green waste compost under controlled conditions. Viable and non-viable Andersen samplers, cyclone samplers and a real time bioaerosol detection system (Spectral Intensity Bioaerosol Sensor (SIBS)) were deployed simultaneously. The number-weighted fraction of fluorescent particles was in the range 22–26% of all particles for low and high emission scenarios. Overall fluorescence spectral profiles seen by the SIBS exhibited several peaks across the 16 wavelength bands from 298 to 735 nm. The size-fractionated endotoxin profile showed most endotoxin resided in the 2.1–9 μm aerodynamic diameter fraction, though up to 27% was found in a finer size fraction. A range of microorganisms were detected through culture, Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption and Ionisation Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-TOF) and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), including Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1. These findings contribute to our knowledge of the physico-chemical and biological characteristics of bioaerosols from composting sites, as well as informing future monitoring approaches and data interpretation for bioaerosol measurement