Incorporating Problem-Based Learning Strategies to Develop Learner Autonomy and Employability Skills in Sports Science Undergraduates

This study investigated the impact of a 12-week problem-based learning (PBL) intervention on three psychological constructs (motivation, locus of control and self-esteem) linked to learner autonomy. Results indicated that there was a significant increase in the students’ intrinsic motivation (P<0.05) and a non-significant shift towards an internal locus of control after the intervention period. Students perceived the benefits of PBL to be the opportunity to work in teams and to consider a wider knowledge base. A short course of PBL was successful in developing learner autonomy and other key employability skills alongside the application of content knowledge

Post-Sepsis Syndrome: A Case Study

Post-Sepsis Syndrome (PSS) is comprised of the physical and psychological manifestations affecting sepsis survivors. Sepsis is difficult to diagnose and there are no universal treatment guidelines. A qualitative exploratory single case study was conducted to explore PSS and its effects on quality of life. The case was a community-dwelling 52-year-old adult male, “Tom,� who experienced a near-fatal accident in 2004 and as a result, experienced sepsis three times. Data were collected through a semi-structured interview, lasting one hour. The transcript was read independently by three readers and first and second-level code words and phrases were categorized. Content and thematic analysis were used to identify common themes. The overarching theme, a System out of Whack, was represented by three sub-themes: Hard work, Being lost, and Sort of normal. This study found PSS is a chronic condition requiring long-term management and rehabilitation. In addition, caregivers are critical to the safety and well-being of PSS survivors. Further qualitative research is needed to understand PSS survivors’ and their caregivers’ needs. This research could be used to educate the healthcare team on how to guide long-term care for patients, their families, and caregivers

Computational Discovery and Analysis of rDNA Sequence Heterogeneity in Yeast

Ribosomal RNA genes, known as ribosomal DNA or rDNA, are commonly found in tandem arrays of hundreds of repeating units. The sequences of each unit in an array were thought to be near-identical but it is now known that frequent mutations may occur, causing heterogeneity amongst units. Opposing these divergent mutational processes, unit sequences are homogenised through concerted evolutionary processes such as unequal sister chromatid exchange (USCE) and gene conversion (GC). In this study Perl software has been used to uncover rDNA sequence variation in the yeast Saccharomyces paradoxus, using data derived from the Saccharomyces Genome Resequencing Project. This analysis, in conjunction with a reanalysis of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae data from the same project, has provided detailed information regarding rDNA sequence heterogeneity in two contrasting, yet closelyrelated yeast species. Additionally, the rDNA flanking sequences of four yeast strains have been characterised via an analysis of new next generation sequencing reads, adding to our knowledge of concerted evolutionary processes in these genomic regions. Partial Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (pSNPs) within these datasets are shown to reflect genome mosaicism within a population, and to identify strains with signs of genome hybridisation undetectable by other means. This information provides further insights into the dynamics of the rDNA region in the two yeast species. In particular, examination of the percentage occupancies of pSNPs reveals U-shaped distributions which differ between the two species. Further investigations of rDNA evolutionary dynamics through the development of two Java simulation tools (SIMPLEX and CONCERTINA), which model USCE and GC events, follow the fate of both single and multiple pSNPs in one or more rDNA arrays. Initial simulations show the distribution of pSNPs varies depending upon the balance between mutations and concerted evolutionary events, and provide a framework to investigate the mechanisms involved in altered rDNA dynamics in various cellular processes

Relationship of the Content of Dreams to Personal Conflicts

This study will endeavor to substantiate the theory that dreaming serves the function of trying to handle conflicts met by the individual during waking life, but not resolved at the time. In order to do this, several hypotheses will be advanced concerning the different observable content of dreams of two different populations. A relationship will be drawn between this difference in content and the known difference in the types of conflicts common to each of the populations

Roots and Shoots: Assisting young people to envision and act upon sustainable futures

This item is only available electronically.Short-term thinking is a dominant Western worldview and is reflected in many educational practices, many of which concentrate on the assessment of certain kinds of knowledges. Despite the assumption that education prepares students for their future, it often lacks a long-term vision of what that future may be. Furthermore, conventional education has overlooked fundamental questions of sustainability facing future generations. The future cannot be predicted with certainty; however, it can be said that the current and looming ecological crises will predicate a troubling uncertain future for all human and non-human beings. In recognising that the conventional education system has not made a great deal of contribution to sustainability, this study examines an alternative youth education program that is used within, and alongside, conventional curricular programs. Roots and Shoots (R&S) is an environmental and humanitarian youth education program of the Jane Goodall Institute, which is present in almost 100 countries worldwide. The program encourages young people to take action to make the world a better place for animals, people and the environment, underpinned by the value of holistic compassion. However, due to its philosophical and global approach, it can be dismissed as lacking structure and value. This is unfortunate since its flexible structure enables it to be adapted across the globe in different social and cultural contexts, and it offers a means to enable youth to envision and act upon a sustainable future. However, traditional approaches to education often require numerically measurable outcomes, which can perpetuate short-term visions. The R&S aim to develop compassionate youth is problematic in this sense. With this in mind, this study sought to identify a foundational theoretical approach that may assist the program’s development and future direction. The link between young people’s abilities to envision alternative, sustainable futures and their agency to act upon creating them can be connected using futures studies. However, futures studies lacks a precise analytical tool. This study has adapted futures theories and methods to develop a tool, consisting of four core concepts. These I argue have the capacity to orient a futures perspective for youth. Due to the limited scope of this study the R&S Formula Toolkit was chosen to orient the development of a futures perspective for the program. The R&S program enables members to envision a positive long-term future with a narrative where youth act as compassionate leaders, and make decisions based on holistic compassion. When demonstrated equally towards animals, people and the environment, holistic compassion exemplifies an interrelational and integral approach, which is required for sustainable futures for all. R&S encourages agency and action through engaging youth in local projects that provide relevance to their lives and have an impact. Youth feel more optimistic about global futures when their local projects are viewed under the global umbrella of R&S, and the narrative of young people bringing about change across the globe. I argue that it is this narrative, rather than the actions undertaken as part of R&S, that enables youth to envision and act upon sustainable futures.Thesis (MTeach) -- University of Adelaide, School of Education, 201

Antibody engineering for increased potency, breadth and half-life

Purpose of review: This review highlights recent developments in HIV-1 antibody engineering and discusses the effects of increased polyreactivity on serum half-lives of engineered antibodies. Recent findings: Recent studies have uncovered a wealth of information about the relationship between the sequences and efficacies of anti-HIV-1 antibodies through a combination of bioinformatics, structural characterization and in vivo studies. This knowledge has stimulated efforts to enhance antibody breadth and potency for therapeutic use. Although some engineered antibodies have shown increased polyreactivity and short half-lives, promising efforts are circumventing these problems. Summary: Antibodies are desirable as therapeutics due to their ability to recognize targets with both specificity and high affinity. Furthermore, the ability of antibodies to stimulate Fc-mediated effector functions can increase their utility. Thus, mAbs have become central to strategies for the treatment of various diseases. Using both targeted and library-based approaches, antibodies can be engineered to improve their therapeutic properties. This article will discuss recent antibody engineering efforts to improve the breadth and potency of anti-HIV-1 antibodies. The polyreactivity of engineered HIV-1 bNAbs and the effect on serum half-life will be explored along with strategies to overcome problems introduced by engineering antibodies. Finally, advances in creating bispecific anti-HIV-1 reagents are discussed

Development of Modeling Capabilities for Launch Pad Acoustics and Ignition Transient Environment Prediction

This paper presents development efforts to establish modeling capabilities for launch vehicle liftoff acoustics and ignition transient environment predictions. Peak acoustic loads experienced by the launch vehicle occur during liftoff with strong interaction between the vehicle and the launch facility. Acoustic prediction engineering tools based on empirical models are of limited value in efforts to proactively design and optimize launch vehicles and launch facility configurations for liftoff acoustics. Modeling approaches are needed that capture the important details of the plume flow environment including the ignition transient, identify the noise generation sources, and allow assessment of the effects of launch pad geometric details and acoustic mitigation measures such as water injection. This paper presents a status of the CFD tools developed by the MSFC Fluid Dynamics Branch featuring advanced multi-physics modeling capabilities developed towards this goal. Validation and application examples are presented along with an overview of application in the prediction of liftoff environments and the design of targeted mitigation measures such as launch pad configuration and sound suppression water placement

An evaluation of a group of exercises in reading readiness and word analysis skills for the slow learning child in grade one,

Thesis (M.A.)--Boston Universit