Negotiating the Spaces: Relational Pedagogy and Power in Drama Teaching

While there is a growing body of literature on relational pedagogy as a concept, less attention is given to the details of just how relational pedagogy manifests in classroom practice. Similarly, while issues of power, democracy and co-constructed learning feature in contemporary research, the details of how power relationships can be effectively altered between teachers and children warrants closer scrutiny. This paper explores how pedagogy is enhanced when spaces are negotiated between teachers and children in the real and fictional worlds of drama. The findings emerge from a two year collaborative research project between generalist elementary teachers and university researchers. Salient issues of trust, power sharing, and metaxis, which are part of relational pedagogy in the drama classroom, are explored. In particular, the paper discusses how traditional power and knowledge positions are 'disrupted' through the drama strategy of 'teacher-in-role' - a strategy with both political significance and pedagogical force

Hippocampal representations switch from errors to predictions during acquisition of predictive associations

We constantly exploit the statistical regularities in our environment to help guide our perception. The hippocampus has been suggested to play a pivotal role in both learning environmental statistics, as well as exploiting them to generate perceptual predictions. However, it is unclear how the hippocampus balances encoding new predictive associations with the retrieval of existing ones. Here, we present the results of two high resolution human fMRI studies (N = 24 for both experiments) directly investigating this. Participants were exposed to auditory cues that predicted the identity of an upcoming visual shape (with 75% validity). Using multivoxel decoding analysis, we find that the hippocampus initially preferentially represents unexpected shapes (i.e., those that violate the cue regularities), but later switches to representing the cue-predicted shape regardless of which was actually presented. These findings demonstrate that the hippocampus is involved both acquiring and exploiting predictive associations, and is dominated by either errors or predictions depending on whether learning is ongoing or complete

Testing the predictive coding account of temporal integration in the human visual system : a computational and behavioural study

A major goal of vision science is to understand how the visual system maintains behaviourally relevant perceptions given the level of uncertainty in the signals it receives. One proposed solution is that the visual system applies predictive coding to its inputs based on the integration of prior knowledge and current stimulus features. However, support for some vital aspects of predictive coding in the temporal domain is lacking and simpler accounts of temporal integration also exist. The aim of this thesis was to test two key attributes of predictive coding in time a) does the visual system apply adaptive weighting to prediction errors and b) can the visual system apply probabilistic information learnt from stimulus sequences when making predictions. In chapters 3 & 4, we tested predictive coding’s ideas of how prediction errors are weighted under the theoretical guidance of a temporal integration model linked to predictive processing, called the Kalman filter. Here, both experiments supported predictive coding. We showed that, consistent with the Kalman filter, visual estimates and the way estimation errors were corrected, adapted to stimulus behaviour and viewing conditions. In chapter 5, we assessed the ability of the visual system to integrate conditional relationships present in sequences of stimuli when making predictions. To do this, we inserted a stimulus sequence that changed and omitted trials based on Markov transition probabilities that made some transitions more or less probable and assessed reaction times and omission trial responses. Reaction time data was consistent with predictive coding, in that more predictable changes elicited faster responses. Omission trials data, was though, less clear. When faced with no stimulus, participants did not apply the conditional probabilities in their decisions optimally, instead applying non optimal decision strategies, inconsistent with predictive coding. In summary, this thesis supports the predictive coding of temporal integration but questions its application in all situations

The Seven Words of the Virgin: Identifying Change in the Discourse Context of the Concept of Virginity in Early Modern English

No abstract available

Exploration of chronic kidney disease prevalence estimates using new measures of kidney function in the health survey for England

Background: chronic kidney disease (CKD) diagnosis relies on glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) estimation, traditionally using the creatinine-based Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) equation. The Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKDEPI) equation performs better in estimating eGFR and predicting mortality and CKD progression risk. Cystatin C is an alternative glomerular filtration marker less influenced by muscle mass. CKD risk stratification is improved by combining creatinine eGFR with cystatin C and urinary albumin to creatinine ratio (uACR). We aimed to identify the impact of introducing CKDEPI and cystatin C on the estimated prevalence and risk stratification of CKD in England and to describe prevalence and associations of cystatin C.Methods and findings: cross sectional study of 5799 people in the nationally representative 2009 and 2010 Health Surveys for England. Primary outcome measures: prevalence of MDRD, CKDEPI and cystatin C-defined eGFR&lt;60ml/min/1.73m2; prevalence of CKD biomarker combinations (creatinine, cystatin C, uACR). Using CKDEPI instead of MDRD reduced the prevalence of eGFR&lt;60ml/min/1.73m2 from 6.0% (95% CI 5.4–6.6%) to 5.2% (4.7–5.8%) equivalent to around 340,000 fewer individuals in England. Those reclassified as not having CKD evidenced a lower risk profile. Prevalence of cystatin C eGFR&lt;60ml/min/1.73m2 was 7.7% and independently associated with age, lack of qualifications, being an ex-smoker, BMI, hypertension, and albuminuria. Measuring cystatin C in the 3.9% people with CKDEPI-defined eGFR&lt;60ml/min/1.73m2 without albuminuria (CKD Category G3a A1) reclassified about a third into a lower risk group with one of three biomarkers and two thirds into a group with two of three. Measuring cystatin C in the 6.7% people with CKDEPI eGFR &gt;60ml/min/1.73m2 with albuminuria (CKD Category G1-2) reclassified almost a tenth into a higher risk group.Limitations: cross sectional study, single eGFR measure, no measured (‘true’) GFR.Conclusions: introducing the CKDEPI equation and targeted cystatin C measurement reduces estimated CKD prevalence and improves risk stratification<br/

Synthesis and butyllithium-induced cyclisation of 2-benzyloxyphenylphosphonamidates giving 2,3-dihydrobenzo[d][1,3]oxaphospholes

Authors thank EPSRC (UK) and CRITICAT Centre for Doctoral Training for a studentship to R.A.I. (Grant EP/L016419/1).A series of fourteen O-ethyl-N-butylphenylphosphonamidates with benzyl ether substituents at the ortho position have been prepared and fully characterised. Upon treatment with n-butyllithium in THF at RT, these undergo cyclisation in eight cases to give the novel 2,3-dihydrobenzo[d][1,3]oxaphospholes in moderate to low yield as a single diastereomer for which the relative configuration has been determined by X-ray diffraction in one case.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Validity of estimated prevalence of decreased kidney function and renal replacement therapy from primary care electronic health records compared with national survey and registry data in the United Kingdom.

BACKGROUND: Anonymous primary care records are an important resource for observational studies. However, their external validity is unknown in identifying the prevalence of decreased kidney function and renal replacement therapy (RRT). We thus compared the prevalence of decreased kidney function and RRT in the Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD) with a nationally representative survey and national registry. METHODS: Among all people ≥25 years of age registered in the CPRD for ≥1 year on 31 March 2014, we identified patients with an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) <60 mL/min/1.73 m2, according to their most recent serum creatinine in the past 5 years using the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration equation and patients with recorded diagnoses of RRT. Denominators were the entire population in each age-sex band irrespective of creatinine measurement. The prevalence of eGFR <60 mL/min/1.73 m2 was compared with that in the Health Survey for England (HSE) 2009/2010 and the prevalence of RRT was compared with that in the UK Renal Registry (UKRR) 2014. RESULTS: We analysed 2 761 755 people in CPRD [mean age 53 (SD 17) years, men 49%], of whom 189 581 (6.86%) had an eGFR <60 mL/min/1.73 m2 and 3293 (0.12%) were on RRT. The prevalence of eGFR <60 mL/min/1.73 m2 in CPRD was similar to that in the HSE and the prevalence of RRT was close to that in the UKRR across all age groups in men and women, although the small number of younger patients with an eGFR <60 mL/min/1.73 m2 in the HSE might have hampered precise comparison. CONCLUSIONS: UK primary care data have good external validity for the prevalence of decreased kidney function and RRT

Nursing Team Leader handover in the intensive care unit contains diverse information and lacks structure: An observational study

Background: Despite a proliferation of evidence and the development of standardised tools to improve communication at handover, evidence to guide the handover of critical patient information between nursing team leaders in the intensive care unit is limited. Objective: The study aim was to determine the content of information handed over during intensive care nursing team leader shift-to-shift handover. Design: A prospective observational study. Setting: A 21-bed medical/surgical adult intensive care unit specialising in cardiothoracic surgery at a tertiary referral hospital in Queensland, Australia. Participants: Senior nurses (Grade 5 and 6 Registered nurses) working in team leader roles, employed in the intensive care unit were sampled. Method: After obtaining consent from nursing staff, team leader handovers were audiotaped over 20 days. Audio recordings were transcribed and analysed using deductive and inductive content analysis. The frequency of content discussed at handover that fell within the a priori categories of the ISBAR schema (Identify-Situation-Background-Assessment-Recommendation) was calculated. Results: Forty nursing team leader handovers were recorded resulting in 277 patient handovers and a median of 7 (IQR 2) patients discussed at each handover. The majority of nurses discussed the Identity (99%), Situation (96%) and Background(88%)of the patient, however Assessment (69%) content was varied and patient Recommendations (60%) were discussed less frequently. A diverse range of additional information was discussed that did not fit into the ISBAR schema. Conclusions: Despite universal acknowledgement of the importance of nursing team leader handover, there are no previous studies assessing its content. Study findings indicate that nursing team leader handovers contain diverse and inconsistent content, which could lead to inadequate handovers that compromise patient safety. Further work is required to develop structured handover processes for nursing team leader handovers

Chemistry as a probe of the structures and evolution of massive star forming regions

We present detailed thermal and gas-phase chemical models for the envelope of the massive star-forming region AFGL 2591. Time- and space-dependent chemistry are used to study the physical structure proposed by van der Tak et al. (1999; 2000), and the chemical evolution of this region. The model is compared with observations for 29 species covering a wide range of conditions within the source. Taking appropriate care when comparing models with both emission and absorption measurements, we find that the majority of the chemical structure can be well-explained. In particular, we find that the nitrogen and hydrocarbon chemistry can be significantly affected by temperature, with the possibility of high-temperature pathways to HCN. While we cannot determine the sulphur reservoir, the observations can be explained by models with the majority of the sulphur in CS in the cold gas, SO$_{2}$ in the warm gas, and atomic sulphur in the warmest gas. The observed abundances of ions such as HCO$^+$ and N$_2$H$^+$ and the cold gas-phase production of HCN constrain the cosmic-ray ionization rate to $\sim 5.6 \times 10^{-17}$ s$^{-1}$, to within a factor of three. Finally, we find that the model and observations can simultaneously agree at a reasonable level and often to within a factor of three for $7 \times 10^{3} \leq t(\mathrm{yrs}) \leq 5 \times 10^{4}$, with a strong preference for $t \sim 3 \times 10^{4}$ yrs since the collapse and formation of the central luminosity source.Comment: 18 pages, 16 figure

Exploration of chronic kidney disease prevalence estimates using new measures of kidney function in the health survey for England

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) diagnosis relies on glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) estimation, traditionally using the creatinine-based Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) equation. The Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKDEPI) equation performs better in estimating eGFR and predicting mortality and CKD progression risk. Cystatin C is an alternative glomerular filtration marker less influenced by muscle mass. CKD risk stratification is improved by combining creatinine eGFR with cystatin C and urinary albumin to creatinine ratio (uACR). We aimed to identify the impact of introducing CKDEPI and cystatin C on the estimated prevalence and risk stratification of CKD in England and to describe prevalence and associations of cystatin C