The writing social: identifying with academic writing practices amongst undergraduate students

Students are perceived as having a learning deficit when it comes to academic writing. It is assumed that they cannot write, rather than understanding that it is because they are struggling to learn how to write (Murray, 2015; Mitchell and Evison, 2006) within multiple learning contexts: module assessment, course discipline, level of study, academic success. The Education for Social Justice Framework (ESJF) at our University provides an opportunity for us to challenge these practices and assumptions by encouraging us to examine the ways in which students learn to become academic writers throughout their studies

The clinical effectiveness of different parenting programmes for children with conduct problems : a systematic review of randomised controlled trials

Background Conduct problems are common, disabling and costly. The prognosis for children with conduct problems is poor, with outcomes in adulthood including criminal behaviour, alcoholism, drug abuse, domestic violence, child abuse and a range of psychiatric disorders. There has been a rapid expansion of group based parent-training programmes for the treatment of children with conduct problems in a number of countries over the past 10 years. Existing reviews of parent training have methodological limitations such as inclusion of non-randomised studies, the absence of investigation for heterogeneity prior to meta-analysis or failure to report confidence intervals. The objective of the current study was to systematically review randomised controlled trials of parenting programmes for the treatment of children with conduct problems. Methods Standard systematic review methods were followed including duplicate inclusion decisions, data extraction and quality assessment. Twenty electronic databases from the fields of medicine, psychology, social science and education were comprehensively searched for RCTs and systematic reviews to February 2006. Inclusion criteria were: randomised controlled trial; of structured, repeatable parenting programmes; for parents/carers of children up to the age of 18 with a conduct problem; and at least one measure of child behaviour. Meta-analysis and qualitative synthesis were used to summarise included studies. Results 57 RCTs were included. Studies were small with an average group size of 21. Meta-analyses using both parent (SMD -0.67; 95% CI: -0.91, -0.42) and independent (SMD -0.44; 95% CI: -0.66, -0.23) reports of outcome showed significant differences favouring the intervention group. There was insufficient evidence to determine the relative effectiveness of different approaches to delivering parenting programmes. Conclusion Parenting programmes are an effective treatment for children with conduct problems. The relative effectiveness of different parenting programmes requires further research

Estabilizado de un lodo cerámico en una estructura policristalina

Tesis (Maestría en Ciencias con Especialidad en Química Inorgánica) UANLUANLhttp://www.uanl.mx

Mechanistic Study of the Effect of Endothelin SNPs in Microvascular Angina – protocol of the PRIZE Endothelin Sub-Study

Introduction Microvascular angina (MVA) is a common cause of ischemia with non-obstructive coronary arteries (INOCA) and limited therapeutic options are available to those affected. Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is a potent vasoconstrictor implicated in the pathophysiology of MVA. A large randomised, double blinded, placebo controlled crossover trial, the PRecIsion medicine with ZibotEntan in microvascular angina (PRIZE) trial is currently underway, investigating an endothelin receptor antagonist – Zibotentan, as a new drug treatment for microvascular angina. The trial uses a 'precision medicine' approach by preferential selection of those with higher ET-1 expression conferred by the PHACTR1 minor G allele single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP). The incidence of this SNP occurs in approximately one third of the population therefore a considerable number of screened patients will be ineligible for randomisation and the treatment phase of the trial. Methods In the PRIZE Endothelin (ET) Sub-Study, patients screened out of the PRIZE trial will be genotyped for other genetic variants in the ET-1 pathway. These will be correlated with phenotypic characteristics including exercise tolerance, angina severity and quantitative measures of microvascular function on cardiovascular MRI as well as mechanistic data on endothelin pathway signalling. Conclusions The study will provide a comprehensive genotype and phenotype bio-resource identifying novel ET-1 genotypes to inform the potential wider use of endothelin receptor antagonists for this indication.Wellcome Trust [WT107715/Z/15/Z, APD], British Heart Foundation [CB, RE/18/6134217], Medical Research Council [CB, MR/S018905/1], ].Jon Moulton Charity Trust [GRA, SPH

Influence of magnetic field upon electrode kinetics and ionic transport

Performance properties in lithium-ion, sodium-ion, and zero excess metal batteries are currently limited by the sluggish ion diffusion and inhomogeneity of the transport ion flux, resulting in poor formation, low rates, and short cycle lives. In this work, a magnetic field is applied to the cell by the incorporation of a NdFeB magnetic spacer, and the effect upon the kinetics and transport properties at each electrode is studied using galvanic charge and discharge, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and intermittent titration techniques. Stabilization of the anode-free or zero excess sodium and lithium metal cells is achieved during formation, and upon cycling. Reduced cell overpotential is observed with resulting higher areal capacities, with improved ionic diffusion through the electrode. Upon cycling metallic dendritic structures are suppressed due to the inhomogeneity of ion flux, and the likely competing kinetics of plating at a metallic tip and the surrounding surface. At the NMC electrode, improved kinetics are observed with lower charge-transfer resistance (Rct) due to the reshaped and aligned domain in the ferromagnetic Ni of NMC cathode. Pulsed current methods further confirm enhanced cationic diffusion in the anode graphite materials, particularly at high mass loading of 4 mA h cm−2 and high C rates. Consequently, the combination of enhanced reaction kinetics on the ferromagnetic cathode and improved diffusion kinetics in the porous anode leads to excellent full-cell performance compared to control groups. This study highlights the potential of magnetic fields in enhancing diffusion and reaction kinetics for rechargeable batteries (Li, Na, K, Mg, etc.), and may provide routes for extending cycle life, reconditioning cells, and improving formation protocols

Decolonizing History: Enquiry and Practice

On the back of the Royal Historical Society’s 2018 report on race and ethnicity, as well as ongoing discussions about ‘decolonizing the syllabus’, this is a conversation piece titled, ‘Decolonizing History: Enquiry and Practice’. While ‘decolonization’ has been a key framework for historical research, it has assumed increasingly varied and nebulous meanings in teaching, where calls for ‘decolonizing’ are largely divorced from the actual end of empire. How does ‘decolonizing history’ relate to the study of decolonization? And can history, as a field of practice and study, be ‘decolonized’ without directly taking up histories of empire? Using the RHS report as a starting point, this conversation explores how we ‘decolonize history’. We argue that, rather than occurring through tokenism or the barest diversification of reading lists and course themes, decolonizing history requires rigorous critical study of empire, power and political contestation, alongside close reflection on constructed categories of social difference. Bringing together scholars from several UK universities whose teaching and research ranges across modern historical fields, this piece emphasizes how the study of empire and decolonization can bring a necessary global perspective to what tend to be framed as domestic debates on race, ethnicity, and gender

Clinical Educators’ Perceptions of Students Following a Simulation-Based Learning Program

Purpose: Clinical education is a key component of speech-language pathology university curriculum, whereby students have the opportunity to apply theoretical knowledge and practical skills learned in the classroom into a real workplace. However, more recently the availability of high quality, consistent clinical placements and learning experiences across the range of practice areas in the discipline is reducing. Therefore, alternative clinical learning opportunities that enable students to develop skills and competencies are being explored. Recently, replacing clinical time with a simulated learning program has been shown to achieve equivalent levels of clinical competency in speech pathology. However, it is unknown how simulation impacts on student learning in traditional clinical placements. Therefore, this research explored clinical educators’ perceptions of students undertaking clinical placements in their workplace immediately following a five-day simulation-based learning program related to the same area of practice. Method: Thirty-five clinical educators who supervised students in the workplace immediately after they completed the simulation program participated in semi-structured interviews. All interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using qualitative methods described by Graneheim and Lundman (2004). Result: The analysis identified four key themes related to the impact of students in the workplace, simulation priming students for learning, the importance of the transition from simulation-based learning to the workplace, and the role of simulation in clinical education programs. Conclusion: The use of simulation to support student learning and develop clinical skills and competencies in adult speech pathology practice is supported by workplace clinical educators. However, results of this study suggest that the simulation program needs to be embedded within the curriculum and clinical education program to enhance transition between learning experiences and maximize benefits of learning experiences in real workplace contexts

TRAIL inhibits oxidative stress in human aortic endothelial cells exposed to pro-inflammatory stimuli

Studies suggest that tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) has vasoprotective potential, as low levels of TRAIL cause accelerated vascular calcification, whereas exogenous TRAIL administration exhibits anti-atherosclerotic activity. The mechanism of TRAIL-mediated vasoprotection remains unclear. We studied the effects of TRAIL (100 ng/ml) on human aortic endothelial cells (HAECs) exposed to pro-atherogenic conditions; (a) oscillatory shear stress (±10 dynes/cm2) using the ibidi µ-slide fluidic system; (b) pro-inflammatory injury, that is, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α, 100 ng/ml) and hyperglycemia (30 mM d-glucose). End-points examined included inflammatory gene expression and reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation. TRAIL shifted the net gene expression toward an antioxidant phenotype in HAECs exposed to oscillatory shear stress. TRAIL significantly reduced ROS formation in HAECs exposed to both TNF-α and hyperglycemia. Therefore, TRAIL appears to confer atheroprotective effects on the endothelium, at least in part, by reducing oxidative stress