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Stochastic mortality forecasts for Bangladesh
Get PDFMortality forecasts are essential part for policymaking in any aging society. In recent years, methods to model and forecast mortality have improved considerably. Among them, Lee-Carter method is one of the most influential method. In this paper, Lee-Carter method is applied to forecast mortality and life expectancy of Bangladesh. A functional data analysis approach is used to decompose the smoothed log-mortality rates in Lee-Carter framework for higher goodness-of-fit of the models and for longer forecast horizons. Bangladesh has been experiencing a mortality transition and has gained life expectancy in last few decades. The fitted model here showed higher pace of mortality decline for women in Bangladesh than that of men. The forecasts showed continuation of mortality improvement in long run and by 2060 life expectancy at birth is expected to reach over 80 years for both sexes in Bangladesh. The study also predicts the effect of reduction in infant mortality on the life expectancy in Bangladesh
Conceptualizing the complexity of reflective practice in education
Get PDFIn higher education, reflective practice has become a dynamic, participatory, and cyclical process that contributes to educators’ professional development and personal growth. While it is now a prominent part of educators, many still find it challenging to apply the concept for it carries diverse meaning for different people in different contexts. This article attempts to (re)conceptualize the complexity of reflective practice in an educational context. Scholars in this field have taken different approaches to reflective practice, but all these approaches consist of four main components in common: (i) reflecting; (ii) planning for future action; (iii) acting; and (iv) evaluating the outcomes. We extend the existing literature by proposing a model which integrates these four components with three key aspects of reflection: problem-solving, action orientation, and criticality. The novelty of this model lies within its alignment of the three key aspects with different levels of criticality in a comprehensive framework with detailed descriptors provided. The model and its descriptors are useful in guiding individuals who directly or indirectly involve in critical reflection, especially educators, in appraising their levels of criticality and consequently engage in a meaningful reflection
Past, Present and Future: Perspectives on an Oral History of Intellectual Disability Nursing
Get PDFThirty-one participants engaged in this oral history research study aimed at exploring the lived experience of intellectual disability nurses and healthcare assistants’ knowledge of the trajectory of intellectual disability nursing over the last 30 years in the Republic of Ireland and England. This paper documents some of these experiences offering perspectives on intellectual disability nursing and what is important for the future. Findings from Ireland consider the nature of intellectual disability services and the registered nurse in intellectual disability. Findings from England focus on opportunities and restrictions in intellectual disability nursing, shared visions, the changing context within which work took place and also the internal and external supports that impacted their roles. It is evident that intellectual disability nurses must be responsive to the changing landscape of service provision and also the requirements for contemporary new roles to meet the changing needs of people with intellectual disabilities
Practices and experiences of European frontline nurses under the shadow of COVID-19
No full textThe COVID-19 pandemic has caused health professionals to deal with new situations they have not encountered before. Nurses were forced to cope with increased workloads, seriously ill patients, numerous patient deaths, and unresolved ethical dilemmas. This study aimed to examine the lived experiences of nurses across Europe during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. This was a qualitative narrative research study. Eighteen nurses from eight European countries (four each from the UK and Israel, three from Portugal, two each from the Netherlands and Ireland, and one each from Belgium, Italy, and Sweden) submitted narratives about their professional experiences during May–June 2020. The narratives were analyzed using thematic analysis. Seven categories across the narratives were condensed and interpreted into three themes: opportunities and growth, care management, and emotional and ethical challenges. The COVID-19 pandemic has affected nurses emotionally and provided an opportunity to actively develop systems and skills needed to minimize harm and maximize benefits to patients and nurses
Dysfunction of the Brain-derived Neurotrophic Factor-Tyrosine Kinase B Signaling Pathway Contributes to Learning and Memory Impairments Induced by Neuroinflammation in Mice
Get PDFAccumulating evidence suggests that neuroinflammation is the main mechanism in cognitive dysfunction and that brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is involved in learning and memory by binding to tyrosine kinase B (TrkB) receptors. Herein, we tested the roles of the BDNF-TrkB signaling pathway and its downstream cascade in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced cognitive dysfunction in mice. Mice were treated with LPS (0.25 mg/kg) for 7 days, and learning and memory function was evaluated by the novel object recognition test (NORT). Western blotting was performed to elucidate roles of the BDNF-TrkB signaling pathway and its downstream cascades in LPS mice. The NORT showed that LPS induced learning and memory deficits in mice. The levels of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α in the serum and central nervous system decreased in LPS mice. In addition, LPS reduced the protein levels of BDNF, p-TrkB, Bcl-2, p-ERK1/2, p-CaMK2, p-CREB and p-GluR1 and increased the expression of Bax in the hippocampus and medial prefrontal cortex regions. In the entorhinal cortex, the protein levels of BDNF, p-TrkB, Bcl-2, p-CaMK2 and p-CREB were decreased, and the protein level of Bax was increased in LPS mice. Interestingly, 7,8-DHF alleviated these disorders in LPS mice and improved learning and memory function; however, the TrkB antagonist ANA12 effectively reversed effects of 7,8-DHF. Therefore, we conclude that the BDNF-TrkB signaling pathway and its downstream cascades disorders in different regions are main mechanisms of cognitive dysfunction, and 7,8-DHF maybe useful as a new treatment for preventing or treating cognitive dysfunction induced by neuroinflammation in neurodegenerative diseases
Effect of stimulation frequency on force, power, and fatigue of isolated mouse extensor Extensor Digitorum Longus muscle
Get PDFThis study examined the effect of stimulation frequency (140, 200, 230 and 260 Hz) on isometric force, work loop (WL) power and the fatigue resistance of extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscle (n=32), isolated from 8- to 10-week-old CD-1 female mice. Stimulation frequency had significant effects on isometric properties of isolated mouse EDL, whereby increasing stimulation frequency evoked increased isometric force, quicker activation and prolonged relaxation (P0.137). Increasing stimulation frequency increased maximal WL power output (P<0.001; 140 Hz, 71.3±3.5; 200 Hz, 105.4±4.1; 230 Hz, 115.5±4.1; 260 Hz, 121.1±4.1 W kg−1), but resulted in significantly quicker rates of fatigue during consecutive WLs (P<0.004). WL shapes indicate impaired muscle relaxation at the end of shortening and subsequent increased negative work appeared to contribute to fatigue at 230 and 260 Hz, but not at lower stimulation frequencies. Cumulative work was unaffected by stimulation frequency, except at the start of the fatigue protocol, where 230 and 260 Hz produced more work than 140 Hz (P<0.039). We demonstrate that stimulation frequency affects force, power and fatigue, but these effects are not uniform between different assessments of contractile performance. Therefore, future work examining the contractile properties of isolated skeletal muscle should consider increasing the stimulation frequency beyond that needed for maximal force when examining maximal power but should utilise a sub-maximal stimulation frequency for fatigue assessments to avoid a high degree of negative work atypical of in vivo function
Teaching Here and There; Episode 7, with Dr. Nigel Oseland, Environmental Psychologist
No full textWelcome to episode 7, featuring Dr Nigel Oseland, a workplace strategist, change manager, environmental psychologist, researcher, international speaker and published author. In conversation with Dom Pates, James Rutherford and Dr. Ivan Sikora, he talked about his take on all things hybrid from a psychological perspective. With a mix of experience from the corporate sector as well as education, Nigel gave his scientific insights into what should be considered for more effective and successful hybrid teaching.
The discussion ranged from etiquette to physiology, body language on screen, how to show non-verbal language, the importance of student screens, and opportunities for social interaction which are a key part of any discussion or class. His closing comments focussed on how to make the university campus more appealing to students, how does hybrid teaching add value and what makes students want to come back for more, whether its face to face on online. We hope you enjoy listening to this podcast
Teaching Here and There; Episode 9, with hosts Dom Pates, James Rutherford and Ivan Sikora
No full textWelcome to this special hybrid episode of a podcast series called 'Teaching Here and There'
Presented by Dom Pates, James Rutherford & Dr Ivan Sikora, this podcast was recorded in a hybrid teaching space at City, University of London.
Together for the first time, Dom, James and Ivan take an informal but empirical look at the ISLA project at City, captured in a learning space that has been especially designed and equipped for hybrid teaching. This episode was recorded on Zoom direct from a seminar room and a computer lab on the main campus at City, to try and illustrate how the technology and the space allows academics and students to effectively engage in a live hybrid teaching session.
We hope you enjoy listening to this latest episode
Teaching Here and There; Episode 11, with Drs. Sarah Montano and Steve Rowett
No full textThis is episode 11, with Dr. Sarah Montano from the University of Birmingham and Dr. Steve Rowett from UCL. This is also the anniversary of our podcast series, launched at the APT Conference in 2021. This annual conference, co-hosted by UCL, LSE and Imperial College London, will return to ‘in person’ mode on July 1st 2022, but with online elements. The THAT crew will present 'A Return to Teaching Here And There: Discussions on Hybrid Teaching' a presentation to complement this new episode.
In an fascinating discussion, Dom Pates, James Rutherford and Dr. Ivan Sikora, invite their guests Sarah and Steve, to talk about their different experiences, reflections and thoughts on the future of hybrid teaching at their respective and large scale institutions.
Our guests talked about their early forays into this simultaneous multi-modal delivery, how they support colleagues and provide informed advice on best practice, along with key reflections about what works and what doesn't.
We hope you enjoy listening to this last episode of the current season
Teaching Here and There; Episode 13, part 2 of our student panel
No full textWelcome back to Teaching Here and There, episode 13.
We continue with our two-parter and our student panel discussion on hybrid teaching. We were delighted to host two students from the University of West London and three from City, University of London last month. Bringing together their reflections and shared but varied experiences, we continue our conversation with Forough Jonghani and Marko Halla from UWL and Keti Khukhunashvili, Urika Rikhi and Rob Kidd from Cit