Is it the placement that counts? A small scale phenomenological study of ‘gap year’ accounting and finance students

This research came about through my interest in students’ learning whilst on periods of work experience as part of their four year accountancy and finance undergraduate degree programme. Approximately half of students studying the degree at my own institution opt to undertake a period of formal university approved work experience between the second and final year of the degree (sandwich placement). A small proportion of students who have opted to take the placement route are unsuccessful in securing a university approved placement and return to their final year having engaged in various activities (previously largely unknown to university staff) during this ‘gap year’. As far as I have been able to establish, no previous research has been undertaken on this particular group of students. Importantly, given that a growing body of literature points to the “good news story” of placement (Auburn, 2007:119), are we in danger of attributing an impact to the placement year that may have come about irrespectively of the experience? My research investigates the extent to which the experiences of gap year students compare to those reported in previous research concerned with placement students. Much previous work exploring the impact of the placement has sought to establish quantitative relationships between students who undertake a placement and their subsequent academic performance. This small-scale research project is an anti-positivist, qualitative research inquiry employing elements of the transcendental phenomenological approach originating from Husserl (1859-1938) to uncover the essences of student experiences during their gap year. Rather than seeking to interpret the experiences of the students involved, the research aims to provide a description which accurately portrays how students experience their gap year from their point of view (Denscombe, 2007). Four semi-structured one-to-one interviews were conducted with gap year students, transcribed and analysed in order to understand what these students were engaged in during their gap year and the implications of this for their approach to the final year of their degree. A phenomenological analysis following Moustakas (1994) was adopted and eight themes emerged: an inability to articulate ‘skills’; a sense of growing up/maturing; increased motivation; greater focus and discipline; difficulty associated with the working environment; wanting to get a ‘good’ degree; and development of thinking. Overall the findings indicate that similar improvements to academic practices are found by students who have had a gap year to those previously reported from students who have undertaken a placement

Experimental Search for Determinants of Ligament Health

The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is one of the four ligaments which stabilize the knee during movement. Today, ACL injury is on the rise, occurring more than 200,000 times per yearmost often in agility sports. With so many people affected by ACL injury, the medical community stands to benefit from an understanding of the observable attributes which characterize ligament health. Such an understanding would allow standard MRI screenings to be utilized in determining a patients susceptibility to ligament damage and detecting damage which has occurred prior to tearing. This study aims to relate ligament composition and microstructure observed in MRI with ligament health characterized by mechanical testing. For this, a porcine knee was used and T2 and T1 MRI data was obtained prior to mechanical testing. The specimen was then dissected to leave only the femur-ACL-tibia complex intact. The femur and tibia were potted into fixtures which mount to the base and crosshead of a load frame. An auxiliary load cell was used to record force data, while a motion capture system tracked the ACLs length during testing. Elastic tensile testing was used to measure stiffness. Current work includes sensitivity analysis of the transformation from the stiffness data to the elastic modulusa material property of ligaments. This will be compared to the samples MRI data, which characterizes composition and microstructure. Repeating this procedure for many samples will reveal underlying correlations between ACL health and composition.Ope

Workplace practice in undergraduate accounting education: a small scale exploration of year-long work experience at a post-1992 UK university.

Undertaking a year-long placement between the second and final year of an undergraduate degree is an established practice within Business Schools for helping to develop students’ transferable and employability skills (Sheridon and Linehan, 2011). Literature also points to the better academic performance of placement students over full-time students in their final year (for example Crawford and Wang, 2016). However, little is known about how these perceived benefits come about (Little and Harvey, 2006), or indeed, how students themselves experience the workplace environment. This research explores periods of year-long work experience for BA (Hons) Accountancy and Finance (BAAF) students at a post-1992 university. It adopts a dialogic approach commensurate with constructivism (Lincoln, Lynham and Guba, 2011), which places students’ constructed descriptions of their experiences at the heart of the research. In-depth interviews were carried out with four BAAF students who had undertaken a gap year, rather than a university-approved placement experience, and found that similar benefits were expressed by these students to those previously ascribed to placement students in literature. In-depth interviews were conducted with six further BAAF placement students, at three points in time during their year-long placement. Interviews revealed that students experienced their placement in terms of actions and behaviour, and it was through active engagement with workplace practices, and through social interactions with a community of practitioners, that they came to learn their roles (Lave and Wenger, 1991). A focus group was conducted with eight further BAAF students on return from placement, which revealed that BAAF students could be better supported with crossing the boundary between university and the workplace (Wenger-Trayner and Wenger-Trayner, 2015), and for navigating the workplace practices they were likely to be immersed in. A framework that provides a lens through which student learning and development on campus, as well as during placement, was established from the findings. This framework centres around the notion of ‘becoming’ supported by ‘self’, ‘action’, and ‘possibilities’, set within the context of ‘personalisation’. The realisation and operationalisation of this framework, drawing upon the BAAF programme for illustrative purposes, is outlined. The findings have implications for accounting education within the academy, as well as for professional accountancy training and practice. However, in line with much work-based learning literature, there are also transdisciplinary applications of these findings beyond the immediate accounting context. A series of recommendations, for practice, as well as avenues for future research, are made

REVIEW OF THE ROLE OF GUEST RELATION OFFICER (GRO) AT THE FRONT OFFICE HOTEL HYATT REGENCY YOGYAKARTA

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui dan menganalisis tentang peranan seorang Guest Relation Officer (GRO) di Hotel Hyatt Regency Yogyakarta. Dalam sebuah hotel itu terdapat berbagai departemen untuk menjalankan operasional dalam meberikan pelayanan kepada tamu. Salah satunya adalah departemen Kantor Depan dimana fungsinya sangat penting yaitu merupakan tempat pertama kali dimana tamu akan melakukan registrasi pada saat pertama kali datang (check-in) dan juga pada saat pergi meninggalkan hotel (check-out). Kantor Depan juga merupakan bagian penghubung antara tamu dengan pihak manajemen hotel itu sendiri. Untuk itu peranan seorang karyawan Kantor Depan khususnya Guest Relation Officer (GRO) sangat dibutuhkan untuk menghasilkan kualitas pelayanan yang baik. Kata Kunci : Guest Relation Officer (GRO), Kantor Depan Hote

Pengaruh Utang Luar Negeri, Investasi, dan Ekspor terhadap Pertumbuhan Ekonomi Indonesia

Penelitian ini berjudul “Pengaruh Utang Luar Negeri, Investasi, dan Ekspor terhadap Pertumbuhan Ekonomi Indonesia”. Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui pengaruh variabel independen yaitu utang luar negeri,penanaman modal asing (PMA), penanaman modal dalam negeri (PMDN), dan ekspor terhadap variabel dependen yaitu pertumbuhan ekonomi Indonesia, baik secara parsial maupun simultan atau bersama - sama. Jenis penelitian ini adalah penelitian kuantitatif. Penelitian ini menggunakan data sekunder berupa data time series dengan periode pengamatan tahun 2000 – 2015 (16 tahun). Alat analisis yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah regresi linear berganda metode Ordinary Least Square (OLS).Berdasarkan hasil penelitian dan analisis data menunjukan bahwa, secara parsial variabel utang luar negeri dan PMDN tidak berpengaruh signifikan terhadap pertumbuhan ekonomi Indonesia. Variabel PMA dan ekspor berpengaruh positif signifikan terhadap pertumbuhan ekonomi Indonesia. Secara bersama – sama atau simultan variabel utang luar negeri, penanaman modal asing, penanaman modal dalam negeri, dan ekspor berpengaruh terhadap variabel pertumbuhan ekonomi Indonesia tahun 2000 hingga 2015. Implikasi untuk penelitian ini yaitu untuk dapat meningkatkan pertumbuhan investasi, pemerintah harus dapat mengupayakan iklim investasi yang kondusif seperti dengan melakukan penyederhanaan perizinan, menciptakan stabilitas ekonomi, meningkatkan keamanan negara, peningkatan infrastruktur dan regulasi yang tepat agar para investor, baik asing maupun dalam negeri, dapat merasa aman dan tertarik untuk menanamkan modal mereka. Di sisi ekspor, pemerintah perlu meningkatkan kapasitas dan kualitas melalui kebijakan yang mendukung ekspor tersebut, seperti disversifikasi produk. Dengan adanya resiko jangka panjang penggunaan utang luar negeri, maka perlu perhatian dalam pengelolaan utang luar negeri agar penggunaannya bisa lebih tepat dan efisien

Reduced insular γ‐aminobutyric acid in fibromyalgia

Objective Recent scientific findings have reinvigorated interest in examining the role of γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA), the major inhibitory central nervous system neurotransmitter, in chronic pain conditions. Decreased inhibitory neurotransmission is a proposed mechanism in the pathophysiology of chronic pain syndromes such as fibromyalgia (FM). The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that decreased levels of insular and anterior cingulate GABA would be present in FM patients, and that the concentration of this neurotransmitter would be correlated with pressure–pain thresholds. Methods Sixteen FM patients and 17 age‐ and sex‐matched healthy controls underwent pressure–pain testing and a 3T proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy session in which the right anterior insula, right posterior insula, anterior cingulate, and occipital cortex were examined in subjects at rest. Results GABA levels in the right anterior insula were significantly lower in FM patients compared with healthy controls (mean ± SD 1.17 ± 0.24 arbitrary institutional units versus 1.42 ± 0.32 arbitrary institutional units; P = 0.016). There was a trend toward increased GABA levels in the anterior cingulate of FM patients compared with healthy controls ( P = 0.06). No significant differences between groups were detected in the posterior insula or occipital cortex ( P > 0.05 for all comparisons). Within the right posterior insula, higher levels of GABA were positively correlated with pressure–pain thresholds in the FM patients (Spearman's rho = 0.63; P = 0.02). Conclusion Diminished inhibitory neurotransmission resulting from lower concentrations of GABA within the right anterior insula may play a role in the pathophysiology of FM and other central pain syndromes.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/90292/1/33339_ftp.pd

Frequency drift in MR spectroscopy at 3T

Purpose Heating of gradient coils and passive shim components is a common cause of instability in the B0 field, especially when gradient intensive sequences are used. The aim of the study was to set a benchmark for typical drift encountered during MR spectroscopy (MRS) to assess the need for real-time field-frequency locking on MRI scanners by comparing field drift data from a large number of sites. Method A standardized protocol was developed for 80 participating sites using 99 3T MR scanners from 3 major vendors. Phantom water signals were acquired before and after an EPI sequence. The protocol consisted of: minimal preparatory imaging; a short pre-fMRI PRESS; a ten-minute fMRI acquisition; and a long post-fMRI PRESS acquisition. Both pre- and post-fMRI PRESS were non-water suppressed. Real-time frequency stabilization/adjustment was switched off when appropriate. Sixty scanners repeated the protocol for a second dataset. In addition, a three-hour post-fMRI MRS acquisition was performed at one site to observe change of gradient temperature and drift rate. Spectral analysis was performed using MATLAB. Frequency drift in pre-fMRI PRESS data were compared with the first 5:20 minutes and the full 30:00 minutes of data after fMRI. Median (interquartile range) drifts were measured and showed in violin plot. Paired t-tests were performed to compare frequency drift pre- and post-fMRI. A simulated in vivo spectrum was generated using FID-A to visualize the effect of the observed frequency drifts. The simulated spectrum was convolved with the frequency trace for the most extreme cases. Impacts of frequency drifts on NAA and GABA were also simulated as a function of linear drift. Data from the repeated protocol were compared with the corresponding first dataset using Pearson's and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC). Results Of the data collected from 99 scanners, 4 were excluded due to various reasons. Thus, data from 95 scanners were ultimately analyzed. For the first 5:20 min (64 transients), median (interquartile range) drift was 0.44 (1.29) Hz before fMRI and 0.83 (1.29) Hz after. This increased to 3.15 (4.02) Hz for the full 30 min (360 transients) run. Average drift rates were 0.29 Hz/min before fMRI and 0.43 Hz/min after. Paired t-tests indicated that drift increased after fMRI, as expected (p < 0.05). Simulated spectra convolved with the frequency drift showed that the intensity of the NAA singlet was reduced by up to 26%, 44 % and 18% for GE, Philips and Siemens scanners after fMRI, respectively. ICCs indicated good agreement between datasets acquired on separate days. The single site long acquisition showed drift rate was reduced to 0.03 Hz/min approximately three hours after fMRI. Discussion This study analyzed frequency drift data from 95 3T MRI scanners. Median levels of drift were relatively low (5-min average under 1 Hz), but the most extreme cases suffered from higher levels of drift. The extent of drift varied across scanners which both linear and nonlinear drifts were observed.publishedVersio

Thalamic activity and biochemical changes in individuals with neuropathic pain following spinal cord injury

There is increasing evidence relating thalamic changes to the generation and/or maintenance of neuropathic pain. We have recently reported that neuropathic orofacial pain is associated with altered thalamic anatomy, biochemistry, and activity, which may result in disturbed thalamocortical oscillatory circuits. Despite this evidence, it is possible that these thalamic changes are not responsible for the presence of pain per se, but result as a consequence of the injury. To clarify this subject, we compared brain activity and biochemistry in 12 people with below-level neuropathic pain after complete thoracic spinal cord injury with 11 people with similar injuries and no neuropathic pain and 21 age- and gender-matched healthy control subjects. Quantitative arterial spinal labelling was used to measure thalamic activity, and magnetic resonance spectroscopy was used to determine changes in neuronal variability quantifying N-acetylaspartate and alterations in inhibitory function quantifying gamma amino butyric acid. This study revealed that the presence of neuropathic pain is associated with significant changes in thalamic biochemistry and neuronal activity. More specifically, the presence of neuropathic pain after spinal cord injury is associated with significant reductions in thalamic N-acetylaspartate, gamma amino butyric acid content, and blood flow in the region of the thalamic reticular nucleus. Spinal cord injury on its own did not account for these changes. These findings support the hypothesis that neuropathic pain is associated with altered thalamic structure and function, which may disturb central processing and play a key role in the experience of neuropathic pain.NHMR

Laparoscopic-Assisted Ileocolic Resection for Crohn's Disease

BACKGROUND: This study reviews our experience with laparoscopic-assisted ileocolic resection in patients with Crohn\u27s disease. The adequacy and safety of this procedure as measured by intraoperative and postoperative complications were evaluated. Special attention was paid to the group in which laparoscopy was not feasible and conversion to laparotomy was necessary. METHODS: Between 1992 and 2005, 168 laparoscopic-assisted ileocolic resections were performed on 167 patients with Crohn\u27s ileal or ileocolic disease. Follow-up data were complete in 158 patients. RESULTS: In 38 patients (24%), conversion to laparotomy was necessary. Previous resection was not a predictor of conversion to laparotomy. Average ileal and colonic length of resected specimens was 20.9 cm and 6.5 cm, respectively, in the laparoscopic group, versus 24.9 cm and 10.6 cm in the converted group. Twenty of 120 specimens (16.6%) in the laparoscopic group were found to have margins microscopically positive for active Crohn\u27s disease. None of the 38 specimens in the converted group had positive ileal margins. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic-assisted ileocolic resection can be safely performed in patients with Crohn\u27s disease ileitis. The finding of positive surgical margins following laparoscopic resections compared with none among conventional resections has to be thoroughly evaluated

The Role of Attention in Somatosensory Processing: A Multi-trait, Multi-method Analysis

Sensory processing abnormalities in autism have largely been described by parent report. This study used a multi-method (parent-report and measurement), multi-trait (tactile sensitivity and attention) design to evaluate somatosensory processing in ASD. Results showed multiple significant within-method (e.g., parent report of different traits)/cross-trait (e.g., attention and tactile sensitivity) correlations, suggesting that parent-reported tactile sensory dysfunction and performance-based tactile sensitivity describe different behavioral phenomena. Additionally, both parent-reported tactile functioning and performance-based tactile sensitivity measures were significantly associated with measures of attention. Findings suggest that sensory (tactile) processing abnormalities in ASD are multifaceted, and may partially reflect a more global deficit in behavioral regulation (including attention). Challenges of relying solely on parent-report to describe sensory difficulties faced by children/families with ASD are also highlighted