Social participation of families with children with autism spectrum disorder in a science museum

This article describes a qualitative research study undertaken as a collaboration between museum and occupational therapy (OT) researchers to better understand museum experiences for families with a child or children impacted by autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Inclusion for visitors with ASD is an issue that museums are increasingly considering, and the social dimension of inclusion can be particularly relevant for this audience. The construct of social participation, used in OT, provides a promising avenue for museum professionals to think about inclusion. Social participation situates social and community experiences within the context of peoples’ diverse motivations and the strategies they use to navigate environments. This study took these multiple factors into account when observing families’ museum visits—including analysis of their motivations for visiting, environmental features that influenced their visit, family strategies used before and during the visit, and the families’ definitions of a successful visit. Learning more about these factors that are associated with social participation can inform future efforts to improve museum inclusion for families with children with ASD

Hammaspaikkojen korjaaminen

Tämän syventävän työn tarkoituksena on tehdä opetusvideot yhdistelmämuovi- ja amalgaamipaikkojen sekä keraamisen laminaatin korjaamisesta intraoraalisesti. Opetusvideot on suunnattu hammaslääketieteen opiskelijoille teoreettisen opetuksen tueksi. Opetusvideoiden tavoitteena on toimia opiskelijoille apuna ja esimerkkinä vanhan paikan korjauksen harjoittelussa. Opetusvideoiden pohjana on kirjallinen osuus, joka perustuu kansainvälisiin hammaslääketieteellisiin tutkimuksiin ja julkaisuihin. Kirjalliseen osuuteen on koottu ohjeet yhdistelmämuovi- ja amalgaamipaikkojen sekä keraamisten restauraatioiden korjaamisen työvaiheista, korjaustarpeen syistä ja korjausindikaatioista. Kirjallisen osion tavoitteena on esittää paikan tai kruunun korjaamisen vaiheet selkeästi ja helposti ymmärrettävästi. Syventävän opinnäytetyön tuloksena syntyi kaksi opetusvideota. Ensimmäinen video on nimeltään Amalgaami- ja muovipaikan korjaus ja sen kesto on 2min 49s. Toinen video on nimeltään Laminaatin korjaaminen (Empress CAD) ja se on kestoltaan 3min 6s. Opetusvideot kuvattiin helmikuussa 2023 Turun yliopiston hammaslääketieteen laitoksen harjoitusluokka Simulassa. Opetusvideoilla toimenpiteet tehtiin frasaco-leukoihin. Opetusvideot editoitiin Adobe Acrobat Pro –ohjelmalla Turun yliopiston tietokoneella. Opetusvideot on luovutettu Turun yliopistolle opetuskäyttöön

Oxidative dearomatisation: the key step of sorbicillinoid biosynthesis

An FAD-dependent monooxygenase encoding gene (SorbC) was cloned from Penicillium chrysogenum E01-10/3 and expressed as a soluble protein in Escherichia coli. The enzyme efficiently performed the oxidative dearomatisation of sorbicillin and dihydrosorbicillin to give sorbicillinol and dihydrosorbicillinol respectively. Bioinformatic examination of the gene cluster surrounding SorbC indicated the presence of two polyketide synthase (PKS) encoding genes designated sorbA and sorbB. The gene sorbA-encodes a highly reducing iterative PKS while SorbB encodes a non-reducing iterative PKS which features a reductive release domain usually involved in the production of polyketide aldehydes. Using these observations and previously reported results from isotopic feeding experiments a new and simpler biosynthetic route to the sorbicillin class of secondary metabolites is proposed which is consistent with all reported experimental results.Al Baha University, Saudi ArabiaEP/F066104/1BB/I003355/1BMBFERASMUS programm

Probing liquid surface waves, liquid properties and liquid films with light diffraction

Surface waves on liquids act as a dynamical phase grating for incident light. In this article, we revisit the classical method of probing such waves (wavelengths of the order of mm) as well as inherent properties of liquids and liquid films on liquids, using optical diffraction. A combination of simulation and experiment is proposed to trace out the surface wave profiles in various situations (\emph{eg.} for one or more vertical, slightly immersed, electrically driven exciters). Subsequently, the surface tension and the spatial damping coefficient (related to viscosity) of a variety of liquids are measured carefully in order to gauge the efficiency of measuring liquid properties using this optical probe. The final set of results deal with liquid films where dispersion relations, surface and interface modes, interfacial tension and related issues are investigated in some detail, both theoretically and experimentally. On the whole, our observations and analyses seem to support the claim that this simple, low--cost apparatus is capable of providing a wealth of information on liquids and liquid surface waves in a non--destructive way.Comment: 25 pages, 12 figures, to appear in Measurement Science and Technology (IOP

Measuring specialty indecision among career-decided students

Increasing numbers of career-decided students in professional and graduate schools have difficulty choosing a specialty. To begin to examine this problem, a measure of specialty indecision was devised by changing the Career Decision Scale items to deal with specialty indecision rather than career indecision. The scale was then administered to 567 medical students along with measures of vocational development and exploratory behavior. Initial evaluation of the psychometric properties of the Specialty Indecision Scale indicate that it is internally consistent, relates more to specialty choice than to career choice, and inversely relates to both vocational development and exploratory behavior. A factor analysis of the scale items extracted four factors that reflect cognitive, conative, criterion, and implementation restraints on the decision-making process. The Specialty Indecision Scale seems to be useful for diagnostic and research purposes in the study and treatment of specialty indecision.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/25480/1/0000020.pd

Workplace Contextual Supports for LGBT Employees: A Review, Meta‐Analysis, and Agenda for future Research

The past decade has witnessed a rise in the visibility of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community. This has resulted in some organizational researchers focusing their attention on workplace issues facing LGBT employees. While empirical research has been appropriately focused on examining the impact of workplace factors on the work lives of LGBT individuals, no research has examined these empirical relationships cumulatively. The purpose of this study was to conduct a comprehensive review and meta‐analysis of the outcomes associated with three workplace contextual supports (formal LGBT policies and practices, LGBT‐supportive climate, and supportive workplace relationships) and to compare the relative influence of these workplace supports on outcomes. Outcomes were grouped into four categories: (a) work attitudes, (b) psychological strain, (c) disclosure, and (d) perceived discrimination. Results show that supportive workplace relationships were more strongly related to work attitudes and strain, whereas LGBT supportive climate was more strongly related to disclosure and perceived discrimination compared to the other supports. Our findings also revealed a number of insights concerning the measurement, research design, and sample characteristics of the studies in the present review. Based on these results, we offer an agenda for future research

An adaptogenic role for omega-3 fatty acids in stress; a randomised placebo controlled double blind intervention study (pilot) [ISRCTN22569553]

BACKGROUND: There is evidence for an adaptive role of the omega -3 fatty acid, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) during stress. Mechanisms of action may involve regulation of stress mediators, such as the catecholamines and proinflammatory cytokines. Prevention of stress-induced aggression and hostility were demonstrated in a series of clinical trials. This study investigates whether perceived stress is ameliorated by DHA in stressed university staff. METHODS: Subjects that scored ≥ 17 on the Perceived Stress Scale were randomised into a 6-week pilot intervention study. The diet reactive group was supplemented with 6 g of fish oil containing 1.5 g per day DHA, while the placebo group was supplemented with 6 g a day of olive oil. The groups were compared with each other and a wider cross sectional study population that did not receive either active or placebo intervention. RESULTS: There was a significant reduction in perceived stress in both the fish oil and the placebo group from baseline. There was also a significant between-group difference between the fish oil group and the no-treatment controls in the rate of stress reduction (p < 0.05). However, there was not a significant between-group difference between the fish oil and the placebo group, nor the placebo group and the control group. These results are discussed in the context of several methodological limitations. The significant stress reductions in both the fish oil and the placebo group are considered in view of statistical regression, an effect likely to have been exaggerated by the time course of the study, a large placebo effect and the possibility of an active effect from the placebo. CONCLUSION: There were significant differences (p < 0.05) in the fish oil group compared with no-treatment controls. This effect was not demonstrated in the placebo group. As a pilot study, it was not sufficiently powered to find the difference between the fish oil group and the placebo group significant. Further work needs to be undertaken to conclusively demonstrate these data trends. However, the findings from this research support the literature in finding a protective or 'adaptogenic' role for omega-3 fatty acids in stress

Making career decisions in a changing graduate labour market: A Hospitality perspective

The study seeks to understand how prospective hospitality graduates tackle the career decision-making task. In-depth interviews were conducted with 28 undergraduate hospitality students in the UK. The findings highlight the challenging nature of career decisions within the context of a changing graduate labour market. The adoption of a qualitative method, coupled with career decision-making theory has resulted in a study that gives a voice to the key participants in the education-to-work transition, the students themselves. These insights will enable higher education, policy makers and employers to assist students in their quest for employment