5 research outputs found
How to Navigate Ontology and Epistemology to Develop a Conceptual Framework?
No full textResearch philosophy seems to be one of the main challenges for new researchers, especially issues relating to ontology, epistemology and conceptual frameworks. Using my PhD thesis as a case study, this chapter explores ontological and epistemological dimensions and their links to the development of a conceptual framework when researching teacher mentors’ discourse(s). This chapter will also present the dilemmas I faced, my thinking and the rationale behind the decisions I made. By the end of this chapter, I hope I will have highlighted not only the importance of a well-thought-out research philosophy underpinning any research but also its alignment with conceptual frameworks, research methods and the production of findings
Initial Teacher Education in England during the COVID-19 Pandemic:One University’s Experience - From Challenge to the New Normal
No full textIn late March 2020, university-based schools of education across England were forced to close and cease in-person teaching due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Online teaching and learning was quickly adopted, and while it was initially considered a provisional solution, it became apparent that such methods would remain for at least another academic year. The transition from traditional face-to-face teaching and learning to online environments required considerable modification of content, resources and the development of digital competences. Expectedly, concerns have been raised about the quality of provision and student support. Since the start of the crisis, there has been an increased interest in blended learning approaches to teacher education and different frameworks have been created to manage the new reality. However, research on the practical implications, the challenges that teacher educators face, and the innovative solutions embraced is scarce. Set in the English teacher education system, this chapter provides a critical overview of both the initial and continuing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on initial teacher education in a large UK University
Starting university during the COVID-19 pandemic:A small-scale study of first-year education students’ expectations, experiences and preferences
No full textIn early 2020, universities across the world ceased face-to-face teaching due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This article explores the experiences of first-year UK university students during this time. Four main themes were identified in the data. Regarding course delivery, students valued the flexibility of blended learning, which involved attending some live sessions while working on others in their own time. Student interaction was mentioned to be critical for learning and how the use of webcams and breakout rooms can facilitate or hinder it. Regarding staff, continuous communication, availability and online drop-ins were highly valued and had a positive impact on satisfaction. Finally, while students benefitted from a coherent use of online tools provided by the university, they also valued the flexibility of using less-regulated tools, including social media
Author Correction : Common variants in Alzheimer's disease and risk stratification by polygenic risk scores
No full textGenetic discoveries of Alzheimer's disease are the drivers of our understanding, and together with polygenetic risk stratification can contribute towards planning of feasible and efficient preventive and curative clinical trials. We first perform a large genetic association study by merging all available case-control datasets and by-proxy study results (discovery n = 409,435 and validation size n = 58,190). Here, we add six variants associated with Alzheimer's disease risk (near APP, CHRNE, PRKD3/NDUFAF7, PLCG2 and two exonic variants in the SHARPIN gene). Assessment of the polygenic risk score and stratifying by APOE reveal a 4 to 5.5 years difference in median age at onset of Alzheimer's disease patients in APOE ɛ4 carriers. Because of this study, the underlying mechanisms of APP can be studied to refine the amyloid cascade and the polygenic risk score provides a tool to select individuals at high risk of Alzheimer's disease
Outcomes of elective liver surgery worldwide: a global, prospective, multicenter, cross-sectional study
No full textBackground: The outcomes of liver surgery worldwide remain unknown. The true population-based outcomes are likely different to those vastly reported that reflect the activity of highly specialized academic centers. The aim of this study was to measure the true worldwide practice of liver surgery and associated outcomes by recruiting from centers across the globe. The geographic distribution of liver surgery activity and complexity was also evaluated to further understand variations in outcomes. Methods: LiverGroup.org was an international, prospective, multicenter, cross-sectional study following the Global Surgery Collaborative Snapshot Research approach with a 3-month prospective, consecutive patient enrollment within January?December 2019. Each patient was followed up for 90 days postoperatively. All patients undergoing liver surgery at their respective centers were eligible for study inclusion. Basic demographics, patient and operation characteristics were collected. Morbidity was recorded according to the Clavien?Dindo Classification of Surgical Complications. Country-based and hospital-based data were collected, including the Human Development Index (HDI). (NCT03768141). Results: A total of 2159 patients were included from six continents. Surgery was performed for cancer in 1785 (83%) patients. Of all patients, 912 (42%) experienced a postoperative complication of any severity, while the major complication rate was 16% (341/ 2159). The overall 90-day mortality rate after liver surgery was 3.8% (82/2,159). The overall failure to rescue rate was 11% (82/ 722) ranging from 5 to 35% among the higher and lower HDI groups, respectively. Conclusions: This is the first to our knowledge global surgery study specifically designed and conducted for specialized liver surgery. The authors identified failure to rescue as a significant potentially modifiable factor for mortality after liver surgery, mostly related to lower Human Development Index countries. Members of the LiverGroup.org network could now work together to develop quality improvement collaboratives. © Copyright 2023 The Author(s)
