Global Changemakers - Hope for the Future

This exploratory qualitative research study explores the journey of changemakers and the role of formal and informal curricula in shaping students\u27 understanding of social change and motivating them to take action. In addition, it investigates transformative experiences encountered through critical reflection and experiential learning and the steps universities could take to equip future changemakers with the necessary tools, skills, and mindset. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with three male and two female students as well as one female teacher at Ritsumeikan University. The findings suggest that formal and informal curricula significantly shape students\u27 understanding of social change and motivate them to take action. Critical reflection and experiential learning are key components of the changemaking process, helping students develop the skills, confidence, and necessary networks. This research provides significant implications for higher education institutions and policymakers seeking to create and support changemakers

A Competency-based Proficiency Framework for Ritsumeikan Secondary Schools

This paper describes the research and development of a competency-based Proficiency Framework for Ritsumeikan Secondary Schools in Kyoto, Japan as part of curriculum renewal with the campus relocation. The author developed a six-year competency-based curriculum for the EFL classes. It is based on the Common European Framework of Reference. In addition to creating guiding principles and proficiency frameworks, the author has included suggested vocabulary and content, sample themes and topics, entry and exit profiles, and teacher competencies. Two programs, extensive reading and pen pals, have been integrated into the curriculum in order to offer more support for students’ second language acquisition; they are proving to be quite successful and are described in this paper in detail. This paper is a culmination of a two-year summer research sabbatical from April 2007 until March 2009

Evaluation of the pinocytic uptake and cellular processing of antibody-N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide copolymer conjugates and estimation of their potential use in "targeted" drug delivery

125 I-labelled protein (entibody or trensferrin)-N-(2-hydroxypropy1)methacrylamide (HPMA)copolymer conjugates were characterised using gel permeation chromatography and their average molecular weight (Kw) determined (Chapter 3). It was estimated that within a protein-HPMA copolymer conjugate each protein residue was probably bound to 10-20 molecules of HPHA copolymer. The human transferrin receptor was used as a model target antigen/receptor. Pinocytic uptake of HPHA copolymer conjugated to monoclonal antibody B3/25 (specific for the transferrin receptor) or transferrin (as potential targeting residues) was up to 9 -fold higher than the uptake of parent copolymer (Chapter 4). The ability of these conjugates to bind specifically was confirmed by Scatchard analysis of their cell-surface binding (Chapter 6). Also, using a Percoll density gradient (Chapter 5), it was shown that internalisation of protein-HPMA copolymer conjugates is dependent upon their Nw and that internalised conjugates reach the lysosomal compartment. The transferrin receptor was found to nave limited potential as an in vivo model antigen/receptor. HPMA copolymer conjugates containing either monoclonal antibody B3/25 or transferrin were detected in all rapidly dividing organs/tissues studied (Chapter 7). Conjugates containing anti-Thy-1.2 polyclonal antibody (as a targeting residue) were shown to localise preferentially in the thymus, spleen, liver, skin and bone marrow. The ability of only <1% (administered dose) of conjugate to reach a major target organ, the thymus, was consistent with published values (Chapter 8). Conjugation of HPMA to antibody (IgG) was shown to produce a 2B0-fo1d reduction in inmunogenicity of the antibody (Chapter 9, preliminary results). Although the stoichiometry and stereochemistry of the conjugates used in this study were not ideal (Chapters 3, 10) use of similar conjugates 1n targeted drug-delivery has potential

Regional Differences in Understanding Between Two Groups of High School Science Students on a Complex Environmental Science Concept Known as the Dead Zone of the Gulf of Mexico: a Web -Based Approach.

The main research focus of this study was on the regional differences in understanding of two groups of high school science students for a complex environmental scientific phenomenon known as the Dead Zone of the Gulf of Mexico. Participating high school students were drawn from Dead Zone source and effect areas---Iowa chemistry students and Louisiana environmental science students. Students were given a pre- and postinstructional survey concerning environmental issues---including the issue of the Dead Zone or hypoxia of the Gulf of Mexico. The treatment group visited a web site on the Dead Zone constructed for this study, and interacted with it for approximately 80 minutes. The control group did not view the material on the web site. Nine members of the treatment group in each location were videotaped while using the web site, and interviewed after its use. The think-aloud data generated during the web site use, and the clinical interview data, were analyzed using Chi\u27s verbal analysis. Quantitative analysis of the pre- and postinstructional survey data, using NUD.IST(TM) software, indicated that there was little change in opinion as a result of using the web site. Qualitative analysis exposed areas of weak conceptual development prerequisite to understanding Dead Zone formation. Key deficiency areas are clustered around the concepts of water cycle, liquid density and connections between basins of the watershed. Some findings to be highlighted as a result of this study are: (1) Statistical analysis of the opinion survey did not indicate that 80-minute usage of the study\u27s web site accounted for significant changes in the treatment groups\u27 post-instructional survey scores. (2) Iowa students indicated they knew more about CAUSES as evidenced by higher scores on watershed-focused nodes in the web site use data, interview data, and in student drawings of the Dead Zone. (3) Louisiana students indicated they knew more about EFFECTS of the Dead Zone, as evidenced by higher scores on Dead Zone-focused nodesin the web site use data. They had approximately the same number of nodes as the Iowa students\u27 interview data, but included more Dead Zone information in drawings of the Dead Zone

Special Event Communication in the Age of Terrorism

Special events have come to take an increasingly viable role in the United States of America. This thesis examines special events communication in the wake of September 11, 2001 (9-11-01), terrorist attacks on the U.S. utilizing the assistance of the International Festivals and Event Association (IFEA). The project involved two phases. In the first phase, members of the IFEA were surveyed concerning their perceptions of communication prior to and following the 9-11-01, terrorist attacks. In the second phase, the convention program of the IFEA was content analyzed with a view toward examining the communication-related programs available to special event professionals. The paper is organized around a discussion of relevant literature, research methods employed in the study, results of the project, and a discussion of the results. Taken together, the results suggest that special even professionals need more information from constituents following the 9-11-01, attacks in order to perform their job well. Interestingly, the need for more communication-related programs available at professional association meetings

Quantitative Assessment of Children with Osteogenesis Imperfecta

Assessments of children with Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI) are typically limited to a physical exam and observations from a clinician during a hospital visit. Often quantitative information such as bone mineral density and outcome questionnaires is obtained, but with the increasing prevalence of motion analysis and other performance type laboratories, there are many other tools available, which could be beneficial to this patient population. These laboratories can provide date supplementary to morphologic and radiographic data that is helpful in tracking changes in the patient’s functional abilities, recover from fracture, and treatment outcomes. This chapter will cover some useful evaluation methods for children with the most commonly seen types of OI and provide some examples of their test results

How Far Have We Come Since Our “Go Live” Dates, and Where Do We Go from Here?

Next‐generation library systems promise new opportunities to expand beyond our existing methodologies, and there has been a surge of institutions migrating to web‐based platforms as a result. Extensive research and planning goes into choosing and moving to a new integrated library system (ILS). But what happens after migration and implementation? And how closely does reality align with expectations? Individuals from three libraries who have chosen Ex Libris’s Alma as their web‐based ILS solution will share their migration experiences and the challenges of working in a constantly changing environment. Strategies on transitioning from an abstract understanding to a live production site will be addressed, as well as the possibilities to collaborate in the future

Long-term Follow Up of Van Nes Rotationplasty for Proximal Focal Femoral Deficiency

Proximal focal femoral deficiency (PFFD) is a congenital anomaly that presents challenges for orthopaedic and prosthetic management. The Van Nes rotationplasty is one treatment in which the extremity is surgically rotated to utilize the ankle and foot as a functional knee joint in a prosthesis. The purpose of this study is to determine the long-term functional and quality of life (QOL) outcomes for individuals who have undergone rotationplasty surgery for congenital PFFD compared to age and gender matched controls

Long-term Follow up of Van Nes Rotationplasty for Congenital Proximal Focal Femoral Deficiency [Proceedings]

INTRODUCTIONProximal focal femoral deficiency (PFFD) is a congenital anomaly that presents challenges for orthopaedic and prosthetic management. The Van Nes rotationplasty is one treatment in which the extremity is surgically rotated to utilize the ankle and foot as a functional knee joint in a prosthesis. The purpose of this study is to determine the long-term functional and quality of life (QOL) outcomes for individuals who have undergone rotationplasty surgery for congenital PFFD compared to age and gender matched controls. METHODSThis prospective study had 12 prosthetic participants (PFFD Group: 8 M, 4F, age range 16-57 years) average 31.6±13.5 years and 12 control participants (Control Group: 8M, 4F) with an average age 32.6±14.1 years. Participants completed the following outcome questionnaires: SF-36, Revised-Faces Pain Scale, Harris Hip Score, Oswestry back pain score; and underwent lower extremity range of motion (ROM), hand held dynamometry, gait analysis, computerized dynamic posturography and Timed ‘Up& Go’ (TUG) testing. The PFFD Group also completed the Prosthetic Evaluation Questionnaire© (PEQ). The Wilcoxon Signed rank test was used to statistically compare each PFFD Group participant to the matched Control Group participant with values statistically significant at p\u3c 0.0123. RESULTSParticipants had rotationplasty performed at an average age of 6.5±3.9 years with follow up testing done 25.1±11.2 years later. All adult subjects were working full time in a variety of manual and office/desk jobs. No significant issues were seen for body image. Pain: The PFFD and Control Groups both reported similar low back pain with 6.8±9.7% and 7.0±13.0% disability respectively on the Oswestry back pain questionnaire. On the day of testing, only one PFFD participant reported mild low back pain on the Revised- Faces Pain Scale. The average Harris Hip Score for the PFFD Group was 92.7±9.2 out of 100, indicating excellent outcome. Two participants reported pain on their non-prosthetic hip. ROM: The PFFD Group showed significantly decreased hip flexion and ankle dorsiflexion, and increased ankle plantarflexion strength on the prosthetic side compared to the Control Group. The PFFD Group had significantly greater ankle abduction strength on their non-prosthetic side compared to the Control Group. Strength: The PFFD Group demonstrated significantly weaker hip flexion, hip abduction and ankle plantarflexion on the prosthetic side compared to the Control Group. TUG: The PFFD Group scored an average of 8.5±1.6 seconds on the TUG, demonstrating a low fall risk. The Control Group scored significantly lower with an average of 6.5 ±1.0 seconds. SF-36: There were no significant differences between the groups in overall health and well-being. PEQ©: The PFFD Group scored lower in areas of satisfaction, appearance, and sounds of the prosthesis. However, participants reported that others perceived them well and they did not see themselves as a social burden. Gait Analysis: Temporal-spatial gait parameters for the PFFD Group demonstrated significant decrease in cadence, stride time, opposite foot off, single support and walking speed compared to Control Group. Posturography: The PFFD Group showed significant decrease in symmetry in stance, as well as a decrease in end point and maximum excursion in limits of stability testing compared to the Control Group. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONOverall, long-term follow up of teens and adults who underwent Van Nes rotationplasty showed that they maintained a high level of function, participation and QOL. They did present with significant differences in temporal spatial and posturography parameters compared to the Control Group

Long-term Follow up of Van Nes Rotationplasty for Congenital Proximal Focal Femoral Deficiency

Van Nes rotationplasty may be used for patients with congenital proximal focal femoral deficiency (PFFD). The lower limb is rotated to use the ankle and foot as a functional knee joint within a prosthesis. A small series of cases was investigated to determine the long-term outcome. At a mean of 21.5 years (11 to 45) after their rotationplasty, a total of 12 prosthetic patients completed the Short-Form (SF)-36, Faces Pain Scale-Revised, Harris hip score, Oswestry back pain score and Prosthetic Evaluation Questionnaires, as did 12 age- and gender-matched normal control participants. A physical examination and gait analysis, computerised dynamic posturography (CDP), and timed ‘Up & Go’ testing was also completed. Wilcoxon Signed rank test was used to compare each PFFD patient with a matched control participant with false discovery rate of 5%. There were no differences between the groups in overall health and well-being on the SF-36. Significant differences were seen in gait parameters in the PFFD group. Using CDP, the PFFD group had reduced symmetry in stance, and reduced end point and maximum excursions. Patients who had undergone Van Nes rotationplasty had a high level of function and quality of life at long-term follow-up, but presented with significant differences in gait and posture compared with the control group