Conveying troublesome concepts : using an open-space learning activity to teach mixed-methods research in the health sciences

In the past decade, there has been a groundswell of interest in the use of mixed-methods approaches to conduct research in the health sciences. However, there remains a paucity of diverse teaching materials, curricula and activities to support the continued expansion of education and innovation in mixed-methods research. Here, we report the development and evaluation of an open-space learning activity and tool to aid teaching the concept of synthesis in mixed-methods research. We detail the iterations of the teaching activity and tool as they were developed, we report student feedback, and we discuss the utility of the activity and tool for introducing the concept of synthesis in mixed-methods research within health science and related fields

An analysis of social studies practices in the intermediate grades,

Thesis (M.A.)--Boston Universit

The present trend in the use of school time.

Thesis (M.A.)--Boston Universit

Translingual literature: The bone people and Borderlands

This thesis proposes that by producing and existing within a translingual text, the ethnofeminist has found a way to subvert others\u27 construction of her and redefine her identity. In particular, the ethnofeminist uses code switching to select and reinvent meaning from the language system of the dominant culture while maintaining the language system of the marginal group. In combining two (or more) language systems within a literature she has created her own language

Effects of elevated carbon dioxide on Bromus rubens and nutritional consequences for the desert tortoise

The purpose of this research was to determine the effect of elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide conditions on forage quality for the desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii), using a common diet component, Bromus rubens. Nitrogen balance was monitored for tortoises fed pelleted diets reflecting the nitrogen levels of Bromus plants grown under elevated and ambient CO2 conditions, with varying potassium levels (3.5% and 1.4% DWB). Nitrogen content in the diet approached a positive correlation with total diet intake (p = 0.11), and was positively correlated with nitrogen loss at alpha = 0.10 (p = 0.08) and yet remained positively correlated with nitrogen retention (p = 0.07) in high potassium diets. When consuming lower potassium diets, no significant responses were seen with respect to nitrogen content of diets, although nitrogen retention approached significance (p = 0.11). These results, suggest that under elevated CO2 -conditions, if dietary nitrogen levels decrease, nitrogen retention abilities are likely to be compromised, especially when plants simultaneously contain large amounts of potassium

The application of molecular techniques for the rapid and sensitive detection of gastrointestinal pathogens directly in food

Conventional microbiological methods are slow, labour intensive and are unable to meet the demands for rapid food testing. Molecular methods, such as PCR, offer a rapid, sensitive and specific means of detecting pathogens, however loss of sensitivity and lack of robustness have been reported when PCR is applied to heterogeneous and complex food matrices. The aim of this study was to establish a rapid, reliable and sensitive molecular method to detect pathogens in food samples. Real-time PCR assays for the detection of Campylobacter jejuni and coli, Clostridium perfringens, Escherichia coli O157:H7, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella enterica and Staphylococcus aureus in food enrichment samples were developed. A novel organism was constructed using a gfp gene cloned into the chromosome of a non-pathogenic Escherichia coli. Viable cells of the modified strain were encapsulated in Lenticule discs and used as process control in the PCR assays. MagNA Pure™ automated extraction was shown to be robust and reliable for preparing bacterial DNA from food enrichment broths. The PCR assays and MagNA Pure™ was applied to enrichment broths inoculated with 558 naturally-contaminated food and environmental samples in a field trial. Concordance was found between PCR results and those obtained using standard culture methods. Loss of assay sensitivity or PCR inhibition was detected in 6 % (32) of the enrichment samples. To improve the sensitivity the L monocytogenes hlyA gene PCR was nested. The assay was applied for the sensitive non-cultural diagnosis of listeriosis, with L monocytogenes detected in 15 of 17 clinical samples from patients with suspected listeriosis. In conclusion, these assays provided a high throughput, robust, reliable PCR detection methods that could be used in clinical and food testing laboratories. The methods will be essential in outbreak situations and could be further developed to detecting bacterial pathogens, viruses, parasites, new and emerging pathogens