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Exploration and assessment of critical covariates of breast cancer outcomes via between-group test of survival rates at Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital
No full textBreast cancer, being the most pervasive malignancy globally, poses a substantial threat to the well-being of the female population. Given the pronounced heterogeneity in survival times among affected individuals, a comprehensive examination of the factors governing treatment outcomes becomes imperative. Leveraging a sizable dataset comprising 2,757 breast cancer patients from Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, the current study endeavors to assess the foremost covariates influencing the survival outcomes in breast cancer through survival analysis. The analytical framework commences with the application of Kendall analysis to effectuate dimensionality reduction on the dataset. Subsequently, an overarching survival analysis encompassing the pertinent factors is carried out, followed by a series of individual factor-specific survival assessments. Lastly, the results are visualised and discussed. The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the crucial covariates by employing a between-group test of survival rates
Some thoughts and reflections on identity, teaching, and writing, and how they might affect one another
Get PDFThis chapter moves through a series of loosely linked reflections on (in no particular order, because the following are not separate from one another) politics, teaching, and writing, and it attempts to think through the ways in which each shapes the other and produces something we might be tempted to call and identity. The main ideas are: that the writer’s sense of self is, at least in part, forged in his writing; and that his teaching shapes his writing just as his writing shapes his teaching
Preparation of a novel metallothionein-AuNP composite material by genetic modification and Au–S covalent combination.
Get PDFMetallothionein (MTs) can be used in the prevention and treatment of tumors and diabetes due to its antioxidant properties. However, it is necessary to solve its non-transmembrane properties and further improve its antioxidant activity, increase its fluorescence visualization and enhance its stability to meet practical applications in the biomedical field. Here, we report the preparation of a novel metallothionein-AuNP composite material with high transmembrane ability, fluorescence visualization, antioxidant activity, and stability by genetic modification (introducing transduction peptide TAT, fluorescence tag GFP and increasing sulfydryl groups) and immobilization technology (covalently bonding with AuNPs). The transmembrane activity of modified proteins was verified by immunofluorescence. Increasing the sulfhydryl content within a certain range can enhance the antioxidant activity of the protein. In addition, GFP were used to further simplify the imaging of the metallothionein-AuNP composite in cells. XPS results indicated that AuNPs can immobilize metallothionein through Au–S covalent bonds. TGA characterization and degradation experiments showed that thermal and degradation stability of the immobilized material was significantly improved. This work provides new ideas to construct metallothionein composites with high transmembrane ability, antioxidant activity, fluorescence visualization and stability to meet novel applications in the biomedical field
Accounting professionals' legitimacy maintenance of modern slavery inspired extreme work practices in an emerging economy
Get PDFIt is well-established in the human resource management literature that high intensity and excessive workload can cause undesirable physiological, psychological, behavioural, and social outcomes. However, there is a need to theorise the process by which extreme work has been legitimised and embedded among professionals. In this paper, we view extreme workers as those professionals who contribute to their works beyond acceptable contractual obligations, either voluntarily for personal rewards or involuntarily due to the menace of penalty, or both. We chose to investigate how accounting professionals in India legitimise extreme work in their workplaces using exploratory qualitative research methods and applied economies of worth theoretical framework. Our findings demonstrate that senior accounting professionals with the assistance of professional associations can play an important role in mobilising professional and organisational resources to tackle extreme work in their accounting firms and the industry
From augmentation to inpainting: improving Visual SLAM with signal enhancement techniques and GAN-based image inpainting
Get PDFThis paper undertakes a comprehensive investigation that surpasses the conventional examination of signal enhancement techniques and their effects on visual Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (vSLAM) performance across diverse scenarios. Going beyond the conventional scope, the study extends its focus towards the seamless integration of signal enhancement techniques, aiming to achieve a substantial enhancement in the overall vSLAM performance. The research not only delves into the assessment of existing methods but also actively contributes to the field by proposing innovative denoising techniques that can play a pivotal role in refining the accuracy and reliability of vSLAM systems. This multifaceted approach encompasses a thorough exploration of the intricate relationships between signal enhancement, denoising strategies, their cumulative impact on the performance of vSLAM in real-world applications and the innovative use of Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) for image inpainting. The GANs effectively fill in missing spaces following object detection and removal, presenting a novel state-of-the-art approach that significantly enhances overall accuracy and execution speed of vSLAM. This paper aims to contribute to the advancement of vSLAM algorithms in real-world scenarios, demonstrating improved accuracy, robustness, and computational efficiency through the amalgamation of signal enhancement and advanced denoising techniques
How is theory used to understand and inform practice in the alternative provision sector in England: trends, gaps and implications for practice
Get PDFThis article examines how theory features in the research literatures concerning the English alternative (education) provision (AP) sector. Despite increasing interest over the past decade in how AP can (re)engage school-aged young people in learning, there has been no comprehensive review of the theoretical ideas used to understand, analyse, and inform practice in the sector. This article presents a framework for categorising the literature on AP, which refer to theory. This framework is of international relevance and can be used by researchers who are seeking to understand the state-of-knowledge on AP in their own contexts. Applied to the English context, this framework demonstrates trends and gaps in the ways theory is used to frame and understand the sector by researchers and practitioners. The framework highlights a shortage of published research which seeks to understand how practitioners in English APs understand, and use, theoretical ideas, concepts, and frameworks to inform their work with young people. We also find that theories drawn from psychological and therapeutic orientations are more common than those drawing on socio-political framings. We reflect on the causes and implications of these trends and gaps and conclude with suggestions for future research to better understand them
Participation for protection:new perspectives on the value of young people’s involvement in research addressing sexual violence
Get PDFWithin our research to address sexual violence, we have developed an approach supporting collaboration between young people and academic staff called YRAP (Young Researchers Advisory Panel). YRAP exists to support young people’s influence in research addressing sexual violence – both in our university and beyond. In this article, current and former YRAP members, as well as current and former academic supporting staff, reflect on our experiences and learning. We also highlight the importance of finding new ways to explain the value and contribution of our work through the development of an infographic and model called Participation as Protection
The implementation of compulsory relationships and sex education in English secondary schools: qualitative research in the 2022-23 school year
Get PDFThe quality of sex education varies. In England from 2020, the government attempted to improve provision by making lessons a statutory requirement. We assessed implementation in 25 secondary schools in 2022–23, framed by May’s general theory of implementation. This identifies processes of sense-making, cognitive participation, collective action and reflexive monitoring, influenced by an intervention’s capability, stakeholder potential (individual and collective commitment), and institutional capacity (norms, and material and cognitive resources). Interview data from staff leading relationships and sex education (RSE) were coded thematically informed by May’s concepts. Those leading implementation ‘made sense’ of statutory guidance, finding it relevant and clear. ‘Cognitive participation’ among participants was strong, promoted by individual support for RSE but undermined by social norms prioritising academic attainment, limited skills among non-specialist teachers, and lack of ‘collective commitment’ among some staff and students. ‘Collective action’ varied across schools, influenced by availability of material resources and specialist staff. Schools undertook internal the ‘reflexive monitoring’ of provision, supported by school leaders’ awareness work would be assessed by government inspectors. On its own, statutory status is likely insufficient to achieve a step-change in RSE implementation. Other forms of support may be needed including training and offering support to more specialist teachers
Retrieval practice "in the wild": teachers' reported use of retrieval practice in the classroom
Get PDFRetrieval practice has been shown to be an effective and efficient way to enhance learning and which has led researchers to call for retrieval practice to be part of teachers' regular repertoire of activities within a classroom. Recent policy changes in England have seen retrieval practice being encouraged and emphasized as a strategy that teachers should use in their practice. However, much of the research to support this has been conducted under controlled studies both in laboratory and classroom settings. Therefore, in the present study, we report on how teachers in England are implementing retrieval practice “in the wild”—in their classrooms outside of a controlled study. Findings indicate that teachers are using retrieval practice regularly in the classroom, even if it is not part of a mandatory school policy, with quizzes and short answer questions being the most reported format used. Additionally, teachers are motivated to use retrieval practice beyond the direct benefit of the testing effect
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