‘I can’t … I won’t?’ International students at the threshold of social interaction

This mixed-method study tracked social interaction and adaptation among 20 international postgraduates on a 1-year programme in the UK, examining assumptions that language proficiency and interactional engagement directly underpin sociocultural adaptation. Participants remained frustrated by a perceived ‘threshold’ barring successful interaction with English speakers, while reporting reluctance to take up available opportunities, independent of language proficiency and sociocultural adaptation. We challenge linear models of adaptation and call for assistance to international students in crossing the threshold to successful interaction.

The role of context in forming young learners' attitudes and motivation to learning French

Despite the wealth of valuable information that has been generated by motivation studies to date, there are certain limitations in the common approaches. Quantitative and psychometric approaches to motivation research that have dominated in recent decades provided epiphenomenal descriptions of learner motivation within different contexts. However, these approaches assume homogeneity within a given group and often mask the variation between learners within the same, and different, contexts. Although these studies have provided empirical data to form and validate theoretical constructs, they have failed to recognise learners as individual ‘people’ that interact with their context. Learning context has become increasingly explicit in motivation studies, (see Coleman et al. 2007 and Housen et al. 2011), however it is generally considered as a background variable which is pre-existing and external to the individual. Stemming from the recent ‘social turn’ (Block 2003) in SLA research from a more cognitive-linguistic perspective to a more context-specific view of language learning, there has been an upsurge in demand for a greater focus on the ‘person in context’ in motivation research (Ushioda 2011). This paper reports on the findings of a longitudinal study of young English learners of French as they transition from primary to secondary school. Over 12 months, the study employed a mixed-method approach in order to gain an in-depth understanding of how the learners’ context influenced attitudes to language learning. The questionnaire results show that whilst the learners displayed some consistent and stable motivational traits over the 12 months, there were significant differences for learners within different contexts in terms of their attitudes to the language classroom and their levels of self-confidence. A subsequent examination of the qualitative focus group data provided an insight into how and why these attitudes were formed and emphasised the dynamic and complex interplay between learners and their context.

Assessment for Learning in teaching English to Young Learners: teachers’ understanding, classroom practice and impact on interactions

It has been suggested that Assessment for Learning (AfL) plays a significant role in enhancing teaching and learning in mainstream educational contexts. However, little empirical evidence can support these claims. As AfL has been shown to be enacted predominantly through interactions in primary classes, there is a need to understand if it is appropriate, whether it can be efficiently used in teaching English to Young Learners (TEYL) and how it can facilitate learning in such a context. This emerging research focus gains currency especially in the light of SLA research, which suggests the important role of interactions in foreign language learning. This mixed-method, descriptive and exploratory study aims to investigate how teachers of learners aged 7-11 understand AfL; how they implement it; and the impact that such implementation could have on interactions which occur during lessons. The data were collected through lesson observations, scrutiny of school documents, semi-structured interviews and a focus group interview with teachers. The findings indicate that fitness for purpose guides the implementation of AfL in TEYL classrooms. Significantly, the study has revealed differences in the implementation of AfL between classes of 7-9 and 10-11 year olds within each of the three purposes (setting objectives and expectations; monitoring performance; and checking achievement) identified through the data. Another important finding of this study is the empirical evidence suggesting that the use of AfL could facilitate creating conditions conducive to learning in TEYL classes during collaborative and expert/novice interactions. The findings suggest that teachers’ understanding of AfL is largely aligned with the theoretical frameworks (Black & Wiliam, 2009; Swaffield, 2011) already available. However, they also demonstrate that there are TEYL specific characteristics. This research has important pedagogical implications and indicates a number of areas for further research.

Targeting medication non-adherence behavior in selected autoimmune diseases: a systematic approach to digital health program development

Background 29 autoimmune diseases, including Rheumatoid Arthritis, gout, Crohn’s Disease, and Systematic Lupus Erythematosus affect 7.6-9.4% of the population. While effective therapy is available, many patients do not follow treatment or use medications as directed. Digital health and Web 2.0 interventions have demonstrated much promise in increasing medication and treatment adherence, but to date many Internet tools have proven disappointing. In fact, most digital interventions continue to suffer from high attrition in patient populations, are burdensome for healthcare professionals, and have relatively short life spans. Objective Digital health tools have traditionally centered on the transformation of existing interventions (such as diaries, trackers, stage-based or cognitive behavioral therapy programs, coupons, or symptom checklists) to electronic format. Advanced digital interventions have also incorporated attributes of Web 2.0 such as social networking, text messaging, and the use of video. Despite these efforts, there has not been little measurable impact in non-adherence for illnesses that require medical interventions, and research must look to other strategies or development methodologies. As a first step in investigating the feasibility of developing such a tool, the objective of the current study is to systematically rate factors of non-adherence that have been reported in past research studies. Methods Grounded Theory, recognized as a rigorous method that facilitates the emergence of new themes through systematic analysis, data collection and coding, was used to analyze quantitative, qualitative and mixed method studies addressing the following autoimmune diseases: Rheumatoid Arthritis, gout, Crohn’s Disease, Systematic Lupus Erythematosus, and inflammatory bowel disease. Studies were only included if they contained primary data addressing the relationship with non-adherence. Results Out of the 27 studies, four non-modifiable and 11 modifiable risk factors were discovered. Over one third of articles identified the following risk factors as common contributors to medication non-adherence (percent of studies reporting): patients not understanding treatment (44%), side effects (41%), age (37%), dose regimen (33%), and perceived medication ineffectiveness (33%). An unanticipated finding that emerged was the need for risk stratification tools (81%) with patient-centric approaches (67%). Conclusions This study systematically identifies and categorizes medication non-adherence risk factors in select autoimmune diseases. Findings indicate that patients understanding of their disease and the role of medication are paramount. An unexpected finding was that the majority of research articles called for the creation of tailored, patient-centric interventions that dispel personal misconceptions about disease, pharmacotherapy, and how the body responds to treatment. To our knowledge, these interventions do not yet exist in digital format. Rather than adopting a systems level approach, digital health programs should focus on cohorts with heterogeneous needs, and develop tailored interventions based on individual non-adherence patterns.

Bemötandets innebörd utifrån ett sjuksköterske- och patient- perspektiv

Syfte: Syftet med denna studie var att belysa bemötandets innebörd utifrån både patient och sjuksköterskeperspektiv. Metod: Studien genomfördes som en litteraturstudie där materialet inhämtades genom sökning av vetenskapliga artiklar i sökmotorn ELIN och i databaserna CINAHL, EBSCO och Elsevier. Artiklar som ansågs besvara studiens syfte och frågeställningar kvalitetsgranskades enligt modifierade granskningsmallar av Forsberg och Wengström (2003) och Willman, Stoltz och Bahtsevani (2006) och resultatet baserades på 11 stycken kvalitativa studiers samt en studie med mixed method. Resultatet: I analysen av artiklarna framkom olika faktorer som samtliga innefattade bemötandes innebörd. Dessa faktorer presenterades som fyra huvudteman: Vikten av att skapa en god vårdrelation mellan sjuksköterska och patient, Vårdrelation ur ett patientperspektiv, Vårdrelation ur ett sjuksköterskeperspektiv och Kommunikation mellan sjuksköterska och patient. Resultatet visade att det var av stor vikt att det uppstod ett möte emellan sjuksköterska och patient för att därigenom kunna utveckla en god vårdrelation. I denna process var kommunikation den viktigaste aspekten. Att sjuksköterskan var ärlig, engagerad och bemötte patienten som en unik person utifrån ett helhetsperspektiv var de mest betydelsefulla komponenterna beträffande bemötandets innehåll. Patienten upplevde då ett förtroende för sjuksköterskan som därmed kunde stödja patienten i att hantera och finna mening och hopp i sjukdomssituationen.

Multimodal Literacy as a form of Communication : What is the state of the students at Dalarna University multimodal literacy?

Literacy is an invaluable asset to have, and has allowed for communication, documentation and the spreading of ideas since the beginning of the written language. With technological advancements, and new possibilities to communicate, it is important to question the degree to which people’s abilities to utilise these new methods have developed in relation to these emerging technologies. The purpose of this bachelor’s thesis is to analyse the state of students’ at Dalarna University mulitimodal literacy, as well as their experience of multimodality in their education. This has led to the two main research questions: What is the state of the students at Dalarna University multimodal literacy? And: How have the students at Dalarna University experienced multimodality in education? The paper is based on a mixed-method study that incorporates both a quantitative and qualitative aspect to it. The main thrust of the research paper is, however, based on a quantitative study that was conducted online and emailed to students via their program coordinators. The scope of the research is in audio-visual modes, i.e. audio, video and images, while textual literacy is presumed and serves as an inspiration to the study. The purpose of the study is to analyse the state of the students’ multimodal literacy and their experience of multimodality in education. The study revealed that the students at Dalarna University have most skill in image editing, while not being very literate in audio or video editing. The students seem to have had mediocre experience creating meaning through multimodality both in private use and in their respective educational institutions. The study also reveals that students prefer learning by means of video (rather than text or audio), yet are not able to create meaning (communicate) through it.

Användning av information och kommunikationsteknologi för att främja egenvård på distans för patienter med diabetes typ 2 En litteraturöversikt

Bakgrund: Diabetes Mellitus är kronisk sjukdom som är kopplat till lidande och förlust av livskvalitet. Egenvård är avgörande för att minska de negativa konsekvenserna. Mindre än hälften av alla diabetespatienter uppnår god egenvård. Anledningen är bland annat begränsad kunskap om diabetes och bristande egenvårdsföljsamhet. Införandet av Informations- och kommunikationsteknologi i diabetesvården påbörjades för att förbättra det kliniska resultatet och livskvaliteten för patienter med diabetes typ 2. Syfte: Att beskriva hur information och kommunikationsteknologi kan främja egenvård på distans för patienter med diabetes mellitus typ 2. Metod: Litteraturstudie, där artiklarna söktes i CINAHL, PubMed och Web of Science. Artiklarna som inkluderades var 15 artiklar med kvantitativ, kvalitativ samt mixed metod. Resultat: Resultatet visade att Information och kommunikationsteknologi såsom internet, dator och mobiltelefonbaserade egenvårdsprogram främjade egenvård hos patienter med diabetes typ 2 genom ökad kunskap, ökad medvetenhet, ökad motivation samt förbättrad livsstilsförändring i kost och motion. Slutsats: IKT som hjälpmedel kan underlätta dagliga utmaningarna för patienter med diabetes typ 2 eftersom den täcker kunskapsluckan och därtill ökar patienternas medvetenhet och motivation till egenvård.

Främjande faktorer för sjuksköterskor att bedriva en evidensbaserad vård

Bakgrund Evidensbaserad vård (EBV) är ett välkänt begrepp som används för att tillförsäkra patienter en säker vård som vilar på bästa tillgängliga bevis, beprövad erfarenhet och patientens individuella preferenser. Många studier har tidigare undersökt hinder för sjuksköterskor att bedriva och/eller implementera EBV för att förklara gapet som kan uppstå mellan teori och praktik. Färre studier har undersökt vilka faktorer som främjar sjuksköterskors användande av EBV. Syfte Att genom en litteraturöversikt beskriva vilka faktorer som främjar sjuksköterskors möjligheter att bedriva en evidensbaserad vård. Metod Studien genomfördes som en litteraturöversikt. Databaserna CINAHL, PubMed och Web of Science genomsöktes och 15 artiklar valdes ut (8 kvalitativa, 4 kvantitativa och 3 mixedmethod). Resultat Fem kategorier identifierades som främjande faktorer för sjuksköterskor att bedriva och/eller implementera EBV; arbetsmiljö, stöd, kunskap, sjuksköterskans inställning och organisation. Stöd i form utav underlättare var den mest framträdande faktorn. Slutsats Sjuksköterskan har ett individuellt ansvar att bedriva EBV och kan genom sin egen inställning påverka att en sådan vård bedrivs. De flesta främjande faktorer som framkom var dock tydligare kopplade till ledningen och chefens del i att främja användandet av EBV.

Os limites do desenho institucional: uma investigação empírica dos mecanismos da influência presidencial sobre as agências reguladoras independentes no Governo Federal brasileiro

O trabalho investiga empiricamente o tema da influência presidencial sobre as agências reguladoras independentes (ARIs) no Governo Federal brasileiro, no período 1997-2014, como foco nos processos de nomeação para os cargos de direção destes órgãos, por meio de um método misto de caráter sequencial, combinando técnicas qualitativas e quantitativas. Primeiramente, utilizando a técnica do process tracing, uma análise histórico-comparativa da gênese e consolidação das dez ARIs federais no Brasil busca demonstrar a importância das hipóteses do credible commitment e da emulação institucional como variáveis explicativas da adoção do modelo. Em seguida, a influência política presidencial sobre as ARIs é mensurada analisando-se o padrão das vacâncias de cargos de direção, taxas de conclusão de mandato, bem, como o processo de aprovação das indicações presidenciais pelo Senado Federal. Por fim, são analisados os dados empíricos relativos ao perfil dos nomeados para cargos de direção nas ARIs no período estudado, incluindo variáveis como filiação partidária e qualificação profissional, buscando-se ainda verificar indícios de existência de trade-off entre estas duas dimensões.

Brazilian migration to Guyana as livelihood strategy: a case study approach

Este estudo de caso de metodologia mista foi conduzido com foco na migração brasileira para a Guiana como uma estratégia de sobrevivência. O estudo examinou, descreveu e analisou o processo da migração e da adaptação, e os impactos socioeconômicos e ambientais físicos e as preocupações associadas com as atividades de sobrevivência destes migrantes na Guiana. Foram utilizados questionários, entrevistas, documentários, arquivos e observações (direta e participante) com o objetivo de obter um entendimento profundo do fenômeno em questão. O estudo confirma que através de um forte sistema de rede, os brasileiros de classes socioeconômicas e culturais mais baixas são capazes de adotar a migração como estratégia de sobrevivência, à medida que eles migram através de uma rota por passos (step-wise) prédefinida para a Guiana. Este sistema de rede permite aos migrantes responderem prontamente às novas atividades de sobrevivência tanto interna como internacionalmente. Na Guiana, a mineração e a prostituição são identificadas como as principais atividades de sobrevivência que tem gerado conseqüências socioeconômicas tanto positivas quanto negativas e impactos ambientais negativos.

Estudo cefalométrico comparativo dos traçados predictivos e resultados ortodôntico-cirúrgicos em pacientes com face longa

The purpose of this research was to compare, by cephalometric analysis (McNamara and Legan & Burstone) the predictive tracings (by methods manual, and by softwares Dentofacial Planner Plus and Dolphin Image) with the post surgical results. Were selected the pre and post surgical lateral telerradiograph (six months after orthognatic surgery) of the 25 long face patients treated with combined orthognatic surgery. Were made the prediction tracings for each method and comparing cephalometrically with the post surgical results. This protocol was repeated once more for the error method evaluation, and the statistical was made by variance analysis and Tuckey overtest. The results show more frequency of the cephalometric values' aproximation of the post surgical results when the manual method (50% of the similarity with the post surgical result), followed of the DFPlus (31,2%) and Dolphin (18,8%) softwares. The experimental condition permits to conclude that the manual method had more precision, although the previsibility of the digital methods was reasonable satisfactory.

Synthesis and optical property of MgMoO4 crystals

In this work, we report on the synthesis of MgMoO4 crystals by oxide mixed method. The powder was calcined at 1100 degrees C for 4h and analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), Field emission gun scanning electron microscopy (FEG-SEM), Ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) absorption spectroscopy and Photoluminescence (PL) measurement. XRD analyses revealed that the MgMoO4 powders crystallize in a monoclinic structure and are free secondary phases. UV-vis technique was employed to determine the optical band gap of this material. MgMoO4 crystals exhibit an intense PL emission at room temperature with maximum peak at 579 nm (yellow region) when excited by 350 nm wavelength at room temperature.

Trajetórias negligenciadas: processos de resiliência em adolescentes com histórico de envolvimneto no tráfico de drogas

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Hospital costs related to streptococcal meningitis among children in Sao Jose dos Campos, Sao Paulo State, Brazil

Knowledge of hospital costs is highly important for public health decision-making. This study aimed to estimate direct hospital costs related to pneumococcal meningitis in children 13 years or younger in the city of Sao Jose dos Campos, Sao Paulo State, Brazil, from January 1999 to December 2008. Data were obtained from medical records. Hospital costs were calculated according to the mixed method for measurement of quantities of items with identified costs and value attribution to items consumed (micro-costing and gross-costing). All costs were calculated according to monetary values for November 2009 and in Brazilian currency (Real). Epi Info 3.5.1 was used for frequencies and means analysis. Forty-one cases were reported. Direct hospital costs varied from R$ 1,277.90 to R$ 19,887.56 (mean = R$ 5,666.43), or 10 to 20 times the mean cost of hospitalization for other diseases. Hospital staff labor was the highest cost, followed by medication, procedures, supplies, and lab tests.

Quantifying the OH radical by global scale NMHC measurements from the NOAA - ESRL cooperative flask sampling network

Summary PhD Thesis Jan Pollmann: This thesis focuses on global scale measurements of light reactive non-methane hydrocarbon (NMHC), in the volatility range from ethane to toluene with a special focus on ethane, propane, isobutane, butane, isopentane and pentane. Even though they only occur at the ppt level (nmol mol-1) in the remote troposphere these species can yield insight into key atmospheric processes. An analytical method was developed and subsequently evaluated to analyze NMHC from the NOAA – ERSL cooperative air sampling network. Potential analytical interferences through other atmospheric trace gases (water vapor and ozone) were carefully examined. The analytical parameters accuracy and precision were analyzed in detail. It was proven that more than 90% of the data points meet the Global Atmospheric Watch (GAW) data quality objective. Trace gas measurements from 28 measurement stations were used to derive the global atmospheric distribution profile for 4 NMHC (ethane, propane, isobutane, butane). A close comparison of the derived ethane data with previously published reports showed that northern hemispheric ethane background mixing ratio declined by approximately 30% since 1990. No such change was observed for southern hemispheric ethane. The NMHC data and trace gas data supplied by NOAA ESRL were used to estimate local diurnal averaged hydroxyl radical (OH) mixing ratios by variability analysis. Comparison of the variability derived OH with directly measured OH and modeled OH mixing ratios were found in good agreement outside the tropics. Tropical OH was on average two times higher than predicted by the model. Variability analysis was used to assess the effect of chlorine radicals on atmospheric oxidation chemistry. It was found that Cl is probably not of significant relevance on a global scale.