18 research outputs found
Men, masculinities and young people: northâsouth dialogues
Dialoguing across national borders and specifically global North-South centres and
margins has increasingly been viewed as a way to enhance critical and feminist
studies and engagement with men and masculinities. This article draws on narratives levels, both in interpersonal and intergroup relations, as well as in public
representation of collaborative work.
generated by a group of researchers in South Africa and Finland who have been
engaged in a transnational research project that included a strong focus on young
men, masculinities and gender and sexual justice. The piece provides an account of
the nuanced and complex experiences and dynamics involved in transnational
research collaboration, particularly within the framework on historical and continued
inequalities between the global North and South. While obvious benefits are raised,
this experience also foregrounds a range of challenges and constraints involved in
transnational research collaboration within this field and possibly many others. Key
learnings gleaned from this analysis of reported experiences and thoughts include the
importance of careful, considered and critical reflexivity at all moments and at al
Improving spatial functioning in children with cerebral palsy using computerized and traditional game tasks.
Purpose: To examine the effectiveness of combining virtual environment (VE) instruction with additional desk-top tasks, based on the Luria-Vygotsky methodology, for spatial remediation in children having complex motor disabilities restricting movement.
Method: In Experiment 1, from among children attending for residential rehabilitation, an experimental subgroup had additional spatial training using a VE and corresponding desk-top models. All children were tested at the start and end of training, using four spatial tests. In Experiment 2, larger groups of children (pair-matched for initial performance) were given the same training as in Experiment 1, but experimentals received both VE-based training and supporting tasks designed to improve executive functions and verbal regulation of spatial functioning. Assessment involved a wider range of tests than in Experiment 1.
Results: In Experiment 1, both groups showed improvement at retest, but experimentals showed greater improvement. Children beginning with the lowest level of cognitive performance failed to benefit from the additional training. In Experiment 2 the experimental group made significantly greater improvement than controls, irrespective of initial performance level.
Conclusions: VE-based spatial training is effective for children with complex disabilities, particularly when combined with training that remediates cognitive weaknesses
A doseâneutral image quality comparison of different CBCT and CT systems using paranasal sinus imaging protocols and phantoms
Abstract
Purpose: To compare the image quality produced by equivalent low-dose and default sinus imaging protocols of a conventional dental cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scanner, an extremity CBCT scanner and a clinical multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) scanner.
Methods: Three different phantoms were scanned using doseâneutral ultra-low-dose and low-dose sinus imaging protocols, as well as default sinus protocols of each device. Quantified parameters of image quality included modulation transfer function (MTF) to characterize the spatial response of the imaging system, contrast-to-noise ratio, low contrast visibility, image uniformity and Hounsfield unit accuracy. MTF was calculated using the line spread and edge spread functions (LSF and ESF).
Results: The dental CBCT had superior performance over the extremity CBCT in each studied parameter at similar dose levels. The MDCT had better contrast-to-noise ratio, low contrast visibility and image uniformity than the CBCT scanners. However, the CBCT scanners had better resolution compared to the MDCT. Accuracy of HU values for different materials was on the same level between the dental CBCT and MDCT, but substantially poorer performance was observed with the extremity CBCT.
Conclusions: The studied dental CBCT scanner showed superior performance over the studied extremity CBCT scanner when using doseâneutral imaging protocols. In case a dental CBCT is not available, the given extremity CBCT is still a viable option as it provides the benefit of high resolution over a conventional MDCT
Coping strategies and the impact of challenging behaviors on special educators' burnout
Although challenging behaviors have been identified as a source of staff stress, few researchers have directly addressed this relationship. In the present study, 55 teachers and support staff in special schools for children with mental retardation completed questionnaires assessing burnout, coping strategies for challenging behavior, and their exposure to challenging behavior. Results showed that (a) use of maladaptive coping strategies for challenging behaviors constitutes a risk for staff burnout, (b) this risk is in addition to that associated with exposure to challenging behavior, and (c) use of maladaptive coping strategies moderated the impact of exposure to challenging behaviors on emotional exhaustion burnout. Implications for future research and for the support of staff working with individuals who have challenging behaviors are discusse