Assessing Curriculum Planning for Humanities Inquiry: The Challenges and Opportunities of Poster Presentation

Authentic assessment has been promoted in teacher education as a means of addressing the challenge that pre-service teachers often face in translating theory into practice. In this article, we outline one approach to authentic assessment that utilises a poster format to present a humanities inquiry sequence. Drawing on a practice-based research project into inquiry learning, we explore the challenges and opportunities of this mode of assessment in meeting our curriculum aims. While we acknowledge limitations in this method, we conclude that posters provide a succinct and engaging means of organising, disseminating and assessing inquiry planning in humanities

Evidence for Past Subduction Earthquakes at a Plate Boundary with Widespread Upper Plate Faulting: Southern Hikurangi Margin, New Zealand

At the southern Hikurangi margin, New Zealand, we use salt marsh stratigraphy, sedimentology, micropaleontology, and radiocarbon dating to document evidence of two earthquakes producing coseismic subsidence and (in one case) a tsunami over the past 1000 yrs. The earthquake at 520-470 yrs before present (B.P.) produced 0.25 +/- 0.1 m of subsidence at Big Lagoon. The earthquake at 880-800 yrs B.P. produced 0.45 +/- 0.1 m of subsidence at Big Lagoon and was accompanied by a tsunami that inundated >= 360 m inland with a probable height of >= 3.3 m. Distinguishing the effects of upper plate faulting from plate interface earthquakes is a significant challenge at this margin. We use correlation with regional upper plate paleoearthquake chronologies and elastic dislocation modeling to determine that the most likely cause of the subsidence and tsunami events is subduction interface rupture, although the older event may have been a synchronous subduction interface and upper plate fault rupture. The southern Hikurangi margin has had no significant (M > 6.5) documented subduction interface earthquakes in historic times, and previous assumptions that this margin segment is prone to rupture in large to great earthquakes were based on seismic and geodetic evidence of strong contemporary plate coupling. This is the first geologic evidence to confirm that the southern Hikurangi margin ruptures in large earthquakes. The relatively short-time interval between the two subduction earthquakes (similar to 350 yrs) is shorter than in current seismic-hazard models.GNSEQC Biennial ProjectNew Zealand Natural Hazards Research Platform and Foundation for Research Science and TechnologyInstitute for Geophysic

Vision in the Southern Hemisphere Lamprey Mordacia Mordax: Spatial Distribution, Spectral Absorption Characteristics, and Optical Sensitivity of a Single Class of Retinal Photoreceptor

The dorso-laterally located eyes of the southern hemisphere lamprey Mordacia mordax (Agnatha) contain a single morphological type of retinal photoreceptor, which possesses ultrastructural characteristics of both rods and cones. This photoreceptor has a large refractile ellipsosome in the inner segment and a long cylindrical outer segment surrounded by a retinal pigment epithelium that contains two types of tapetal reflectors. The photoreceptors form a hexagonal array and attain their peak density (33,200 receptors0mm2) in the ventro-temporal retina. Using the size and spacing of the photoreceptors and direct measures of aperture size and eye dimensions, the peak spatial resolving power and optical sensitivity are estimated to be 1.7 cycles deg21 (minimum separable angle of 34'7'' ) and 0.64 mm2 steradian (white light) and 1.38 mm2 steradian (preferred wavelength or lmax), respectively. Microspectrophotometry reveals that the visual pigment located within the outer segment is a rhodopsin with a wavelength of maximum absorbance (lmax) at 514 nm. The ellipsosome has very low absorptance (,0.05) across the measured spectrum (350-750 nm) and probably does not act as a spectral filter. In contrast to all other lampreys studied, the optimized receptor packing, the large width of the ellipsosome-bearing inner segment, together with the presence of a retinal tapetum in the photophobic Mordacia, all represent adaptations for low light vision and optimizing photon capture

Controlling the properties of the micellar and gel phase by varying the counterion in functionalised-dipeptide systems

The micellar aggregates formed at high pH for dipeptide-based gelators can be varied by using different alkali metal salts to prepare the solutions. The nature of the micellar aggregates directly affects the properties of the resulting gels

A Narrative Review of Patient-Reported Outcome Measures and Their Application in Recent Pediatric Surgical Research:Advancing Knowledge and Offering New Perspectives to the Field

Introduction Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) can be employed in both research and clinical care to enhance our understanding of outcomes that matter to patients. This narrative review aims to describe PROM use in recent pediatric surgical research, identify and describe psychometrically robust PROMs, providing an overview of those derived from pediatric patient input, and make recommendations for future research. Materials and Methods A search was conducted to identify articles published from 2021 to August 2023 describing the availability and/or use of at least one valid or reliable PROM in children with conditions including anorectal malformations, biliary atresia, congenital diaphragmatic hernia, duodenal atresia, esophageal atresia, abdominal wall defects, Hirschsprung's disease, sacrococcygeal teratoma, and short bowel syndrome. Articles were categorized based on their objectives in applying PROMs. Psychometrically robust PROMs were identified and described. Results Out of the 345 articles identified, 49 met the inclusion criteria. Seventeen focused on esophageal atresia and 14 on Hirschsprung's disease. Twenty-nine PROMs were identified, with 12 deemed psychometrically robust. Seven psychometrically robust PROMs were developed using patient input in the primary item generation. Most PROMs were applied to advance understanding of conditions and/or treatment and fewer were developed or psychometrically evaluated. No PROMs were assessed for their impact or incorporated into an implementation study. Conclusions This review reveals gaps in the application of PROMs in recent pediatric surgical research. Emphasis should be placed on the development and utilization of psychometrically robust PROMs, broadening the scope of covered diseases, conducting impact assessments, and evaluating implementation strategies

A Narrative Review of Patient-Reported Outcome Measures and Their Application in Recent Pediatric Surgical Research:Advancing Knowledge and Offering New Perspectives to the Field

Introduction Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) can be employed in both research and clinical care to enhance our understanding of outcomes that matter to patients. This narrative review aims to describe PROM use in recent pediatric surgical research, identify and describe psychometrically robust PROMs, providing an overview of those derived from pediatric patient input, and make recommendations for future research. Materials and Methods A search was conducted to identify articles published from 2021 to August 2023 describing the availability and/or use of at least one valid or reliable PROM in children with conditions including anorectal malformations, biliary atresia, congenital diaphragmatic hernia, duodenal atresia, esophageal atresia, abdominal wall defects, Hirschsprung's disease, sacrococcygeal teratoma, and short bowel syndrome. Articles were categorized based on their objectives in applying PROMs. Psychometrically robust PROMs were identified and described. Results Out of the 345 articles identified, 49 met the inclusion criteria. Seventeen focused on esophageal atresia and 14 on Hirschsprung's disease. Twenty-nine PROMs were identified, with 12 deemed psychometrically robust. Seven psychometrically robust PROMs were developed using patient input in the primary item generation. Most PROMs were applied to advance understanding of conditions and/or treatment and fewer were developed or psychometrically evaluated. No PROMs were assessed for their impact or incorporated into an implementation study. Conclusions This review reveals gaps in the application of PROMs in recent pediatric surgical research. Emphasis should be placed on the development and utilization of psychometrically robust PROMs, broadening the scope of covered diseases, conducting impact assessments, and evaluating implementation strategies

Self-Repairing Fatigue Damage in Metallic Structures for Aerospace Vehicles Using Shape Memory Alloy Self-healing (SMASH) Technology

This DAA is for the Phase II webinar presentation of the ARMD-funded SMASH technology. A self-repairing aluminum-based composite system has been developed using liquid-assisted healing theory in conjunction with the shape memory effect of wire reinforcements. The metal matrix composite was thermodynamically designed to have a matrix with a relatively even dispersion of low-melting phase, allowing for repair of cracks at a pre-determined temperature. Shape memory alloy wire reinforcements were used within the composite to provide crack closure. Investigators focused the research on fatigue cracks propagating through the matrix in order to optimize and computer model the SMASH technology for aeronautical applications

Controlling photocatalytic activity by self-assembly – Tuning perylene bisimide photocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction

Amino acid functionalized perylene bisimides (PBIs) form self-assembled structures in solution, the nature of which depends on the local environment. Using a high-throughput photocatalysis setup, five PBIs are studied for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) under a range of conditions (pH and hole scavenger concentration) across 350 experiments to explore the relationship between supramolecular structure and photocatalytic activity. Using small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), NMR spectroscopy and ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) absorption spectroscopy, it is shown that photocatalytic activity is determined by the nature of the self-assembled aggregate that is formed, demonstrating the potential of self-assembly to tune activity. There is a clear correlation between the presence of charged flexible cylindrical aggregates and the occurrence of photocatalytic H2 production, with UV–vis spectroscopy indicating that the most active structure type has a distinctive form of π-aggregation which is proposed to enable efficient charge separation across multiple PBI units

Isolation of SARS-CoV-2 in viral cell culture in immunocompromised patients with persistently positive RT-PCR results

Immunocompromised adults can have prolonged acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) positive RT-PCR results, long after the initial diagnosis of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This study aimed to determine if SARS-CoV-2 virus can be recovered in viral cell culture from immunocompromised adults with persistently positive SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR tests. We obtained 20 remnant SARS-CoV-2 PCR positive nasopharyngeal swabs from 20 immunocompromised adults with a positive RT-PCR test ≥14 days after the initial positive test. The patients\u27

One million dog vaccinations recorded on mHealth innovation used to direct teams in numerous rabies control campaigns

<div><p>Background</p><p>Canine transmitted rabies kills an estimated 59,000 people annually, despite proven methods for elimination through mass dog vaccination. Challenges in directing and monitoring numerous remote vaccination teams across large geographic areas remain a significant barrier to the up-scaling of focal vaccination programmes to sub-national and national level. Smartphone technology (mHealth) is increasingly being used to enhance the coordination and efficiency of public health initiatives in developing countries, however examples of successful scaling beyond pilot implementation are rare. This study describes a smartphone app and website platform, “Mission Rabies App”, used to co-ordinate rabies control activities at project sites in four continents to vaccinate over one million dogs.</p><p>Methods</p><p>Mission Rabies App made it possible to not only gather relevant campaign data from the field, but also to direct vaccination teams systematically in near real-time. The display of user-allocated boundaries on Google maps within data collection forms enabled a project manager to define each team’s region of work, assess their output and assign subsequent areas to progressively vaccinate across a geographic area. This ability to monitor work and react to a rapidly changing situation has the potential to improve efficiency and coverage achieved, compared to regular project management structures, as well as enhancing capacity for data review and analysis from remote areas. The ability to plot the location of every vaccine administered facilitated engagement with stakeholders through transparent reporting, and has the potential to motivate politicians to support such activities.</p><p>Results</p><p>Since the system launched in September 2014, over 1.5 million data entries have been made to record dog vaccinations, rabies education classes and field surveys in 16 countries. Use of the system has increased year-on-year with adoption for mass dog vaccination campaigns at the India state level in Goa and national level in Haiti.</p><p>Conclusions</p><p>Innovative approaches to rapidly scale mass dog vaccination programmes in a sustained and systematic fashion are urgently needed to achieve the WHO, OIE and FAO goal to eliminate canine-transmitted human deaths by 2030. The Mission Rabies App is an mHealth innovation which greatly reduces the logistical and managerial barriers to implementing large scale rabies control activities. Free access to the platform aims to support pilot campaigns to better structure and report on proof-of-concept initiatives, clearly presenting outcomes and opportunities for expansion. The functionalities of the Mission Rabies App may also be beneficial to other infectious disease interventions.</p></div