75079 research outputs found
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Advancing diversity and inclusion in coach development
No full textThis chapter serves as a resource for coaches, researchers, and policymakers seeking to advance diversity and inclusion in coach education and development. The ‘turn’ to diversity and inclusion continues to gain traction in sport coaching as a means of addressing the historical patterns of exclusion and absence that limit opportunities for coaches from marginalised backgrounds. In this chapter we explore different dimensions of diversity and inclusion encompassing disability, indigeneity, sexuality, and gender diversity, examining the barriers and challenges faced by these groups in coach education and development and highlighting various pathways and initiatives for inclusion. Specifically, we explore strategies for addressing ableism, building cultural competence, and promoting inclusive and culturally safe learning environments for underrepresented groups. By shedding light on these challenges, the chapter underscores the need for deliberate efforts and structural changes to coach development as a means of promoting greater participation in, and mobility across, sport coaching roles and pathways. We conclude the chapter by reflecting on core issues and future directions for researchers and practitioners wishing to advance diversity and inclusion in their institutional contexts, ensuring that diversity is not merely acknowledged, but celebrated and valued
The role of psychologists in supporting illness-related dying and death : a systematic literature review
No full textPsychologists remain underrepresented in end-of-life care, and there is limited understanding of their role among healthcare professionals, patients, and caregivers. This systematic mixed-studies review, prospectively registered on PROSPERO (CRD42020215775), explored the role of psychologists, and the facilitators and barriers they experience, in supporting clients with illness-related dying and death. A search of six research databases was conducted in October 2023. Fifty-one studies, mainly qualitative and from the perspectives of psychologists, met inclusion criteria. Thematic synthesis highlighted how psychologists provided expertise across various contexts. They supported clients with preparing for death, and adjusting to dying, provided professional consultancy and support, and undertook leadership in enhancing psychological end-of-life care. Results illustrated the sustaining factors and ongoing challenges working in end-of-life care, namely, the unique nature of navigating the death space, recognition and awareness of psychologists' contribution, and the support, training and development required. Given the universality of dying and death, this review is relevant to psychologists working within and beyond more traditional end-of-life care contexts, such as employee assistance programs, private practice, schools, and other psychological services. Policy, clinical and research implications are discussed, including the need for greater engagement and training of psychologists in the dying and death space
[In Press] Practitioner research as a pathway to educational leadership
No full text‘Educational Leadership’ is embedded in [country] early childhood policy. What the role is, who should do it and why educators are hesitant about becoming leaders however, remains ambiguous. According to the national curriculum framework and teacher standards, more research about the work of educators is needed. The reported research aimed to investigate whether long-term, enquiry-based professional learning, utilizing practitioner research, could lead to quality improvement. Practitioner Research engaged educators in investigating and improving practice in a continuous process of quality improvement. Research topics were pedagogical in nature, designed to be enabling of ‘educational leadership’ for quality improvement. Action Research was used by practitioner researchers to investigate ways to improve pedagogical quality. University researchers also used meta-research to investigate the action research processes. Focus groups and mentor statements revealed unexpectedly that the Educational Leader role was pivotal in the relationship between professional learning, practitioner research and quality. Strengthened Educational Leader identities emerged as participants gained research skills and evidence for designing and implementing pedagogical change. Knowledge building facilitated strengthened engagement of educator teams. This was transformational, informing the case for change and further exploration of practitioner research as a workforce strategy for quality improvement and staff retention
A novel direct digitizer for leaky differential capacitive sensors using phase sensitive integration
No full textA novel capacitance to digital converter (CDC), which estimates the capa-citance of a leaky differential capacitive sensor (DCS) based on phase sensitive integration (PSI) is presented in this letter. Various methods to measure the capacitance of a leaky capacitive sensor exist, but all these methods apply to single-element capacitive sensor. Most of the techniques, which measure capacitance of a DCS are sensitive to leakage resistance of the sensor. The proposed CDC works with alternating current excitation and employs PSI along with dual slope operation to estimate differential capacitance independent of the leakage resistance. In addition, the proposed CDC is insensitive to the stray capacitance (due to sensor structure or connecting cables) seen at the sensor terminals. Even though the measurand varies in a linear or nonlinear fashion with respect to sensor characterestics, the ratiometric output of the proposed CDC ensures that the output is linear with respect to the measurand. The prototype of CDC is tested for a wide differential range of ± 220 pF with a nominal value of 400 pF and worst case full scale (F.S) nonlinearity error of < 0.17% is observed. The prototype of CDC is tested for leakage resistance varying from 10 M Ω to 50 k Ω and worst case error of 1.1% is observed. The prototype of CDC is also tested for stray capacitance, varying from 10 to 200 pF and worst case error observed is 0.39%. Thus, the proposed CDC can accurately measure differential capacitance even if leakage resistance is present
Artificial intelligent Global Online Learning (GOL) theory by generalized n-ary fuzzy relation
No full textFollowing the devastating COVID pandemic, a new global strategy is required to switch from traditional education to blended or online learning method. Nevertheless, there is no adamant theoretical base available for such an important transition or similar situations in the future. On the other hand, educational systems encounter uncertainty as an integral part of multilayered teaching routes. To analyze the interactions among interconnected entities, soft computing methodologies can serve as an efficient tool to manage such systems with uncertain information through incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) techniques for assessing students performances. Nevertheless, the classical binary fuzzy relation and other existing theoretical models are not capable of explaining/configuring uncertain-based datum for multiplex correlations. To fill these gaps, the present study establishes a neoteric AI-base “Global Online Learning (GOL) theory” using the newly developed n-ary relation and n-ary fuzzy relation as the generalization of classical and binary fuzzy relations. Through the enhanced mathematical concepts and intelligent soft computing techniques, the convoluted multilayer relationships of entities can be punctiliously assessed for different values of n. Furthermore, a network-based perspective is proposed as a promising systematic model when systems are imperfect and prone to uncertainty. In the provided graphical context, the n-ary relation represents the hypergraph pattern, while the n-ary fuzzy relation refers to the generalized fuzzy hypergraph model. Fundamental characteristics of n-ary fuzzy relation, including reflexive, symmetric, transitive, composition, t-cut, support and Cartesian product, are systematically provided to extract mathematical interrelated expressions, as well as parametric connection between t-cut and Cartesian product. Based on the n-ary fuzzy relation, the n-ary fuzzy hyperoperation “∘ρ” is assigned to construct fuzzy hyperalgebra as the extension of classical algebra with illustrative examples. The relationships between fuzzy hyperalgebra and hyperalgebra are investigated through the notation of (∘ρ)t for t∈(0,1]. With the introduced t-cut methodology, the corresponding hypergraph is derived to simplify the analysis of educational information. The AI-base GOL theory provides a solid gadget for learning data management, e.g., the grading evaluation of online assessments, where the evaluation of components is accomplished on real data in terms of fuzzy n-ary relation, t-cut and support through a graphical attitude. The results indicate that the AI-base GOL theory is a robust platform to meticulously manage and control uncertain-based intercorrelated information. This platform can be converted into a coding gadget for artificial intelligent educational online mega-systems
Magnetic resonance guided adaptive post prostatectomy radiotherapy : accumulated dose comparison of different workflows
No full textPurpose: The aim of this study was to assess the use of magnetic resonance guided adaptive radiotherapy (MRgART) in the post-prostatectomy setting; comparing dose accumulation for our initial seven patients treated with fully adaptive workflow on the Unity MR-Linac (MRL) and with non-adaptive plans generated offline. Additionally, we analyzed toxicity in patients receiving treatment. Methods: Seven patients were treated with MRgART. The prescription was 70–72Â Gy in 35–36 fractions. Patients were treated with an adapt to shape (ATS) technique. For each clinically delivered plan, a non-adaptive plan based upon the reference plan was generated and compared to the associated clinically delivered plan. A total of 468 plans were analyzed. Concordance Index of target and Organs at Risk (OARs) for each fraction with reference contours was analyzed. Acute toxicity was then assessed at six-months following completion of treatment with Common Terminology for Adverse Events (CTCAE) Toxicity Criteria. Results: A total of 246 fractions were clinically delivered to seven patients; 234 fractions were delivered via MRgART and 12 fractions delivered via a traditional linear accelerator due to machine issues. Pre-treatment reference plans met CTV and OAR criteria. PTV coverage satisfaction was higher in the clinically delivered adaptive plans than non-adaptive comparison plans; 42.93% versus 7.27% respectively. Six-month CTCAE genitourinary and gastrointestinal toxicity was absent in most patients, and mild-to-moderate in a minority of patients (Grade 1 GU toxicity in one patient and Grade 2 GI toxicity in one patient). Conclusions: Daily MRgART treatment consistently met planning criteria. Target volume variability in prostate bed treatment can be mitigated by using MRgART and deliver satisfactory coverage of CTV whilst minimizing dose to adjacent OARs and reducing toxicity
Experimental evolution under varying sex ratio and behavioral plasticity in response to perceived competitive environment independently affect calling effort in male crickets
No full textThe operational sex ratio (OSR) is a key component influencing the magnitude of sexual selection driving the evolution of male sexual traits, but males often also retain the ability to plastically modulate trait expression depending on the current environment. Here we employed an experimental evolution approach to determine whether the OSR affects the evolution of male calling effort in decorated crickets, a costly sexual trait, and whether plasticity in calling effort is altered by the OSR under which males have evolved. Calling effort of males from 2 selection regimes maintained at different OSRs over 18–20 generations (male vs. female biased) was recorded at 2 different levels of perceived competition, in the absence of rivals or in the presence of an experimentally muted competitor. The effect of the OSR on the evolution of male calling effort was modest, and in the opposite direction predicted by theory. Instead, the immediate competitive environment strongly influenced male calling effort as males called more in the presence of a rival, revealing considerable plasticity in this trait. This increased calling effort came at a cost, however, as males confined with a muted rival experienced significantly higher mortality
Heavy vehicle driver fatigue : observing work and rest behaviours of truck drivers in Australia
No full textThe extant transport literature suggests that truck driver fatigue is a leading contributor in truck crashes. Various factors are known to affect a truck driver’s ability to comply with work and rest requirements, including long working hours, irregular work schedules, sleep deprivation and driving at night. In Australia, while control measures restrict the number of hours of work a truck driver may undertake without rest, they travel vast distances and work with a high level of autonomy. This makes it difficult for transport companies to monitor and manage truck drivers’ work and rest compliance; thereby relying on them to self-manage driver fatigue at designated rest-stops. However, there is little Australian research examining rest-stop behaviour of truck drivers in relation to driver fatigue compliance. To better understand how truck drivers manage driver fatigue, an exploratory participant observation study of truck drivers (N = 378) was undertaken at two Australian truck rest stops in rural New South Wales. The findings indicate that while most truck drivers comply with rest requirements regarding driver fatigue, load type, driver changeovers, access to parking, and time spent on work-related activities at the rest areas affects the time truck drivers spend at rest, and these factors are likely to increase the risk of truck drivers not complying with driver fatigue regulation. They are also likely to increase the number of truck drivers involved in fatigue related crashes
In search of instrumentality : the conception of action in being and time
No full textThis article examines the analysis of action in Division 1 of Being and Time to suggest that Heidegger makes a distinction between different kinds of action depending on their ends. But the ends of action are determined exclusively as the final ends of causality, never as instrumental ends. The article examines the effects of this move. It demonstrates that the concealment of the instrumental ends deprives Heidegger’s conception of action of any sociopolitical import, undercuts the distinction between inauthenticity and authenticity, and undermines the determination of theoretical knowledge
UCOMB-real life data : treatment strategies for chronic urticaria patients with comorbidities
No full textBackground: There is a lack of real-life safety data on treatment options for chronic urticaria in the presence of comedication and comorbidities. Methods: We present a single-center UCARE pilot study of 212 outpatients with chronic urticaria. Patients were divided into three groups according to different CU therapies according to international guidelines. Results: Of 212 patients, 108 (mean age 48.9 years, 71.3% female) had 59 comorbidities, including cardiovascular, autoimmune and malignant diseases. Patients were followed for a mean of 24.6 months (SD ± 21.3). Urticaria therapies were divided into three groups: A: 105 (97.2%) with omalizumab and 2nd generation antihistamines), B: 16 patients (14.8%): dual therapy with antihistamines and cyclosporine in 10 (9.3%), montelukast in five (4. 6%), dapsone in four (3.7%), hydroxychloroquine in one patient (0.9%), C: 12 (11.1%) patients received a third drug for 4.9 months (SD ± 3.2) and one quadruple therapy (2.1 months). 10 out of 12 (83.3%) patients received montelukast, two (16.7%) cyclosporine, two (16.7%) dapsone and one (8.3%) hydroxychloroquine as a third drug for chronic urticaria. Conclusions: Combining treatment modalities for chronic urticaria and comorbidities are available and feasible with a good safety profile