Encouraging Dialogue on Academic Integrity: A Scenario-Based Approach

This paper recommends that explicit value be placed on promoting dialogue among staff and students with respect to academic integrity in higher education. A detailed literature review revealed a notable lack of literature on resources and practices for professional development of staff on academic integrity or the importance of engaging academic staff in such training. Through the authors’ experience in developing and facilitating workshops, they have designed a flexible approach to academic integrity professional development for academic staff that highlights the importance of discussion and communication. Throughout this workshop development, scenarios were created to prompt discussion on a wide range of academic integrity issues (including Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI)). In total, 18 workshops addressing academic integrity have been run by the authors and attended by 180 staff and 85 students at local, national, and international levels. This experience-based paper situates the need for professional development on academic integrity within the current literature and shares the evolution of the authors’ training workshops and resource development. Readers are encouraged to use the resources in their own contexts to prompt dialogue within their institutions on academic integrity

Links Among Distributed Leadership in IBMYP Schools, Program Coordinators\u27 Role Clarity, and Professional Self-Efficacy

The increasing complexity of tasks confronting formal instructional leaders (FILs) in K-12 schools has led to a growing need for the distribution of leadership. This paper investigated the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme Coordinators\u27 (IBMYPCs\u27) perceptions of their (a) FILs\u27 commitment to distributed leadership (DL), (b) the extent to which coordinators felt supported by their instructional leaders, and (c) how those variables correlated with coordinators\u27 role clarity and professional self-efficacy. I applied a mixed methods design by collecting quantitative and qualitative data. The research instrument was the distributed leadership correlates inventory (DLCI). The sampling method was stratified systematic random sampling. Demographic and school structural variables became part of the analysis to test whether these variables could explain the correlations uncovered by the tests of the research hypotheses. Results supported the theory that FILs\u27 commitment to DL and support for the Middle Years Program Coordinator (MYPC) would bring about greater role clarity and improved feelings of professional self-efficacy for the MYPC. The study\u27s key findings reinforced the necessity for FILs to have a detailed and comprehensive understanding of DL, which could be obtained through professional development and networking. The study also reinforced the idea that FILs must demonstrate support of MYPCs. Suggestions made for future practices by schools included educating the community on DL at the IB authorization stage, with suitable follow-up by the IB to ensure it is occurring in schools. Future researchers who continue this line of inquiry could look at possible correlations between middle-level leaders\u27 professional self-efficacy and the effect on student learning and achievement. Further research is needed to explore the reasons why FILs seem to support MYPCs more in the area of teaming and less in the area of job tasks. Finally, this study could be replicated with other groups of coordinators in the IB programs and other instructional programs that mandate similar roles

Variable time-fraction collaborative communications

In order to improve the performance of the wireless channel, collaborative communications has recently been proposed. In such a scenario, a source wishing to transmit a signal to a destination can be aided by an otherwise idle transmitter (labeled a relay). Due to the half duplex constraint, the relay node cannot transmit and receive at the same time. It has been shown that having a variable amount of time for which the relay will receive data, can provide further gains in collaborative communications. In this thesis we develop and study methods to implement the use of a variable time-fraction in collaborative communications. We study our proposed method under different channel state information scenarios. We design channel codes that allow for a relay to collaborate with a finite set of time-fractions. Through analysis, we provide design criteria that allow variable time-fraction collaborative codes to optimize their error rate performance. Our variable time-fraction collaborative codes are shown to approach the outage probability of collaborative channels. Furthermore, through the use of an upper bound on the error rate, we show the robustness of variable time-fraction collaboration over all relay locations when compared to traditional fixed time-fraction collaboration. Next we study the effect of imperfect channel state information at the receivers. It is shown that the effect of estimation errors is twofold in collaborative communications. Firstly the relay will have diminished collaborative capabilities and secondly, the destination suffers performance degradation. Assuming full and perfect channel state information at the transmitters, we design and study the use of power allocation algorithms ( PAA ). Our proposed optimal PAA ( OPAA ) optimizes the error rate performance of variable time-fraction collaborative communications. We also provide a more robust suboptimal PAA ( SPAA ) whose results suffer slight degradation compared to the OPAA . Lastly, we study the effect of imperfect channel state information at both the transmitters and the receivers. Our analysis shows the independence of the optimal number of pilot symbols to the location of the relay

Space-time layered block codes : bridging the gap between maximum rate and full diversity

Impairments found in the wireless channel, such as destructive multipath fading, cannot be fully addressed by using coding alone, despite its recent advances. Recent results show that gains in capacity can be obtained by using multiple antenna elements at the transmitter and the receiver. Instead of mitigating the effects of the multipath fading, multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems use the rich scattering channel to increase the capacity at no bandwidth cost. Methods include BLAST, which maximizes the rate, and space-time coding, which maximizes the diversity. In this thesis, the fundamental trade-off between rate and diversity is derived for binary codes. Simple codes that can perform at any realizable rate/diversity are designed. These codes are referred to as Space-Time Layered Block Codes (STLBC), since they are in effect a 1-dimensional code layered into a space-time code. By selecting speck 1-D codes, the required diversity can be achieved at the maximal allowable rate. In order to detect the new STLBC codes, an iterative MMSE detector is used jointly with a soft input soft-output decoder. This detector/decoder uses a principle similar to Turbo decoding. STLBC codes introduce the concept of coding between layers, which requires a detector capable of dealing with possibly dependent layers. The classical multiuser detector is modified to allow for dependence. Lastly, techniques to improve the performance of STLBC are presented. These are based on a new design criterion that ensures codebooks of high average rank, as well as making certain the information is spread out over the two available dimensions

Women's views and experiences of two alternative consent pathways for participation in a preterm intrapartum trial: a qualitative study

BACKGROUND: The Cord Pilot Trial compared alternative policies for timing of cord clamping at very preterm birth at eight UK hospitals. In addition to standard written consent, an oral assent pathway was developed for use when birth was imminent. The aim of this study was to explore women's views and experiences of two alternative consent pathways to participate in the Cord Pilot Trial. METHODS: We conducted a qualitative study using semi-structured interviews. A total of 179 participants in the Cord Pilot Trial were sent a postal invitation to take part in interviews. Women who agreed were interviewed in person or by telephone to explore their experiences of two consent pathways for a preterm intrapartum trial. Data were analysed using inductive systematic thematic analysis. RESULTS: Twenty-three women who gave either written consent (n = 18) or oral assent followed by written consent (n = 5) to participate in the trial were interviewed. Five themes were identified: (1) understanding of the implications of randomisation, (2) importance of staff offering participation, (3) information about the trial and time to consider participation, (4) trial secondary in women's minds and (5) reasons for agreeing to take part in the trial. Experiences were similar for the two consent pathways. Women recruited by the oral assent pathway reported being given less information about the trial but felt it was sufficient to make a decision regarding participation. There were gaps in women's understanding of the trial and intervention, regardless of the consent pathway. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, women were positive about their experiences of being invited to participate in the trial. The oral assent pathway seems an acceptable option for women if the intervention is low-risk and time is limited. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ISRCTN Registry, ISRCTN21456601 . Registered on 28 February 2013

How do supervisees experience supervision where the focus of that supervision is their work with people who self-injure?

For psychotherapists, working with self-injury presentations - such as self-cutting, hitting and biting - is recognised as being especially demanding, often leaving the clinician to feel anxious and overwhelmed. Due to the challenges that arise in providing psychotherapy for this client group supervision is considered particularly critical. Nonetheless, there is a dearth of research investigating if, and how, supervision might benefit the supervisee in their work with this clinical population. The aim of this study was to gain an in-depth understanding of the supervision experiences of psychotherapy supervisees where the focus of that supervision was their work with clients who self-injure. An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) study was carried out to explore this clinical-supervision intersection. Semi-structured one-to-one interviews were conducted with ten supervisees. Two contrasting superordinate themes emerged: ‘Being in it Together’, and ‘Being on my Own’. The challenges experienced by the participants in their clinical work transferred into supervision as a constellation of needs: To be personally supported with the impacts of the work, educated on the nature of self-injury, and clinically guided. The supervisees valued a proactive, and a steady, approach from their supervisor. The study also revealed that supervisees can be profoundly impacted by their experiences in supervision, which can inspire or disrupt the supervisory alliance. The findings are discussed in relation to the existing literature, and in terms of their research, training and clinical implications

Bridging the gap between robotic technology and health care

Although technology and computation power have become more and more present in our daily lives, we have yet to see the same tendency in robotics applied to health care. In this work we focused on the study of four distinct applications of robotic technology to health care, named Robotic Assisted Surgery, Robotics in Rehabilitation, Prosthetics and Companion Robotic Systems. We identified the main roadblocks that are limiting the progress of such applications by an extensive examination of recent reports. Based on the limitations of the practical use of current robotic technology for health care we proposed a general modularization approach for the conception and implementation of specific robotic devices. The main conclusions of this review are: (i) there is a clear need of the adaptation of robotic technology (closed loop) to the user, so that robotics can be widely accepted and used in the context of heath care; (ii) for all studied robotic technologies cost is still prohibitive and limits their wide use. The reduction of costs influences technology acceptability; thus innovation by using cheaper computer systems and sensors is relevant and should be taken into account in the implementation of robotic systems

Volunteer Bias in Recruitment, Retention, and Blood Sample Donation in a Randomised Controlled Trial Involving Mothers and Their Children at Six Months and Two Years: A Longitudinal Analysis

BACKGROUND: The vulnerability of clinical trials to volunteer bias is under-reported. Volunteer bias is systematic error due to differences between those who choose to participate in studies and those who do not. METHODS AND RESULTS: This paper extends the applications of the concept of volunteer bias by using data from a trial of probiotic supplementation for childhood atopy in healthy dyads to explore 1) differences between a) trial participants and aggregated data from publicly available databases b) participants and non-participants as the trial progressed 2) impact on trial findings of weighting data according to deprivation (Townsend) fifths in the sample and target populations. 1) a) Recruits (n = 454) were less deprived than the target population, matched for area of residence and delivery dates (n = 6,893) (mean [SD] deprivation scores 0.09[4.21] and 0.79[4.08], t = 3.44, df = 511, p<0.001). b) i) As the trial progressed, representation of the most deprived decreased. These participants and smokers were less likely to be retained at 6 months (n = 430[95%]) (OR 0.29,0.13-0.67 and 0.20,0.09-0.46), and 2 years (n = 380[84%]) (aOR 0.68,0.50-0.93 and 0.55,0.28-1.09), and consent to infant blood sample donation (n = 220[48%]) (aOR 0.72,0.57-0.92 and 0.43,0.22-0.83). ii) Mothers interested in probiotics or research or reporting infants' adverse events or rashes were more likely to attend research clinics and consent to skin-prick testing. Mothers participating to help children were more likely to consent to infant blood sample donation. 2) In one trial outcome, atopic eczema, the intervention had a positive effect only in the over-represented, least deprived group. Here, data weighting attenuated risk reduction from 6.9%(0.9-13.1%) to 4.6%(-1.4-+10.5%), and OR from 0.40(0.18-0.91) to 0.56(0.26-1.21). Other findings were unchanged. CONCLUSIONS: Potential for volunteer bias intensified during the trial, due to non-participation of the most deprived and smokers. However, these were not the only predictors of non-participation. Data weighting quantified volunteer bias and modified one important trial outcome. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This randomised, double blind, parallel group, placebo controlled trial is registered with the International Standard Randomised Controlled Trials Register, Number (ISRCTN) 26287422. Registered title: Probiotics in the prevention of atopy in infants and children

Characteristics and service needs of women and babies admitted to residential parenting units in New South Wales: A mixed-methods study

© 2018 John Wiley & Sons Ltd Aims and objectives: To examine the characteristics and service needs of women and babies admitted to residential parenting services (RPS) in the first year following birth in New South Wales, Australia. Background: In Australia, there is a tiered system to support maternal, child and family health, which includes RPS. Design: Sequential explanatory mixed-methods design. Methods: Individual patient data were obtained from a random review of 10% of all medical records (n = 300 of 3,011 admissions) of women with an infant of <12 months of age who were admitted to RPS in 2013. Following review of the medical records, qualitative data were collected via interviews with eight women who accessed RPS. Chi-square analysis and Student's t test were used to analyse quantitative data. Qualitative data were analysed using a descriptive interpretive approach. An integrative approach was taken in reporting the findings. Results: Women admitted to the RPS were on average 32 years of age, were Australian born (72%) and had a university qualification (40%), and most were employed. The majority of women were primiparous (60%) and had a vaginal birth (61%). Women with male infants were much more likely to be admitted to the RPS (58%) compared to the NSW male-to-female ratio (51.3% vs. 48.7%). Over 50% of women reported mental health issues with 27% having an Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale score ≥13 on admission. The primary reason women sought parenting support was for sleep and settling (83%). During their stay, services used by women included social workers (44%), psychologists (52%) and psychiatrists (4.5%). Conclusion: Women who access RPS report psychosocial and mental health issues. Services provided by RPS support women during this challenging early parenting period by providing multidisciplinary, holistic and peer support. Relevance to clinical practice: A high prevalence of mental health issues identified in this study indicated a need for ongoing training and support for RPS staff. Ensuring clinicians have the appropriate skill sets to best support their clientele will maximise the outcomes for women and families who access RPS during the early parenting period

Does laparoscopic donor nephrectomy put pediatric recipients at risk?

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/72631/1/j.1399-3046.2008.00949.x.pd