6 research outputs found
Nature et validité du test de classement de l’institut des langues secondes
No full text In this article the author evaluates the validity of the placement test used to place students in the comprehensioti-based courses offered by the Second Language Institute of the University of Ottawa. The test is described in the context of the target student population and the comprehension-based collrses. Different factors of evaluating the concurrent and predictive validity were considered. Professors were surveyed to see if they agreed with the assignment of students as made by the placement test. Students’ final marks and their marks on the placement test were mapped and analysed with respect to the cut-off points of the placement test and the professors’ evaluation. Spreadsheet-based statistical methods for evaluating test validity are demonstrated. </jats:p
Medicine in flux :an examination of Lázaro de Soto's exegesis of Places in man
No full textPhD ThesisThis thesis examines Lázaro de Soto's commentary on the Hippocratic text, Places in Man, which is included in his 1594 volume, Tomus primus commentationum in Hippocratis libros. Castilian medicine in the Renaissance has been the subject of only limited study in Anglophone literature. Moreover, de Soto himself has received even less attention and thus a contextualisation of this author and his commentary provides a unique opportunity to broaden our understanding of how ancient medicine was utilised by Renaissance physicians. A case study approach is employed to examine what can be learned about the author of the commentary himself, in addition to asking how this information can be extrapolated further to gain a greater understanding of early modern medicine. This thesis uses both de Soto's work and his biography to address these questions. Many issues that have informed de Soto's medical understanding are considered, including his education and career, and wider medical movements, such as Vesalianism and humanism. Additionally, specific areas of medicine are given special consideration, including anatomy, physiology, pathology and nosology, precepts and de Soto's reception of the Hippocratic author's ideology. In these explorations of de Soto's comments certain trends begin to emerge. The first, which de Soto states explicitly in his dedication, is a concern for the utilitas publica, as the author tries to provide useful medical information and clarification of the Hippocratic text for practical purposes. Moreover, de Soto uses his commentary as a means to demonstrate his humanist erudition, copiously citing ancient authors, both medical and literary. Finally, throughout de Soto's comments he champions the contested Galenism, rejecting newer theories and connecting Galenism to Places in Man in order to strengthen Galenic authority. In short, de Soto employs this commentary to further both his career and his Galenic understanding of medicine
The author climbing.
No full textThis paper offers a counter-narrative to the stereotype of people with physical and cognitive impairments being less inclined to participate in athletic activities. It contributes to the affirmative model proposed by Swain and French, which posits a non-tragic view of disability that encompasses positive social identities. We employed the tools of ethnography and phenomenology to explore the adaptive athlete experience among individuals practicing various sports and exhibiting divergent levels of proficiency. Findings confirm the appropriateness of the affirmative model and provide examples of movement from the state of liminality to that of communitas as defined by Victor Turner.</div
Human Preconception Sex Selection: Informing the Public of Sex Selection Methods and Ethical Considerations
No full textabstract: Scientific and public interest in determining the sex of a child prior to conception has a longstanding history. Since at least the fourth century BC, people have been interested in what determines whether a child will be a boy or a girl. It was not until the mid 1800s, when scientists first discovered female eggs and male sperm, and further learned that the combination of the genetic make-up of those sex cells began the process of conception, that science began to take precedence over popular beliefs and scientists began to make discoveries about the reproductive process in humans. In the mid-twentieth century, two methods of sex selection emerged based on the idea that human male sperm cells are physically different based on which sex chromosome they carry, either X or Y. The first type of method gained popularity in the 1960s and involved timing intercourse throughout the female menstrual cycle. The two timing methods of sex selection outlined in this paper are the Shettles Method and the Whelan Method. The second type of method was based on the idea that the physical differences between the two types of sperm cells allow for sperm cell separation using technology. The method that is outlined in this paper is called the Ericsson Method of Sperm Separation, and this paper also outlines a company called Microsort that utilizes this technology. However, many studies that tested the methods based on differences in the two types of male sperm were inconclusive, meaning that the methods were supported by some and rejected by others. Despite the evidence that can neither prove nor contest those methods with absolute certainty, their popularity has been maintained in the public eye. By questioning methods of sex selection since their early development, and often discovering that they are unreliable, scientists have increased the creative and technological capacity of the field of reproductive health. The presentation of these methods to the public, via published books on timing methods and company websites for sperm sorting, increased interest in, and influence of, sex selection within the global society. The purpose of explaining the history, interest, development, and impact of various sex selection methods in the mid-twentieth century based on the information that is available on them today is to show couples which methods have failed and provide them with the knowledge necessary to make an informed decision on how they choose to go about utilizing methods of sex selection. This paper also reflects on the ethical considerations of sex selection. The ethical considerations demonstrate the influence that sex selection has on both a global and local scale and how it is being managed in different parts of the world. This allows an individual member of the public to determine what they consider to be an ethical decision based on this information, in addition to an informed decision about the methods if they wish to go through with choosing the sex of their child
Knowledge and Attitudes of American College Students About the Affordable Care Act
No full textabstract: The Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, was signed into law with the goals of providing quality and affordable health care to every American, but there is concern that not enough young adults are gaining health insurance. Some believe it is because of the "young invincible" mentality of being healthy enough to not need health insurance, and others claim that the cost of health care is the main reason behind low enrollment rates in young adults. However, young adults may not be obtaining insurance because of a lack of understanding and awareness concerning the ACA. Do young adults understand how the ACA functions, and does this understanding (or lack thereof) determine their opinions towards it? In order to research this question, students at Arizona State University were given the opportunity to complete a survey and interview detailing their knowledge of Obamacare and how they felt about the health care law. Results indicated that though many respondents supported the law, respondents did not feel like they had enough information to understand the health care law, affecting their knowledge of it. These findings imply that in order for the ACA to be considered successful among young adults, awareness and education of the law must increase in order for young people to feel like they have an adequate understanding of it
“I Know How to Identify and Communicate My Needs”: A Qualitative Study of the Self-Perceived Strengths of People in Polyamorous Relationships
No full textLittle empirical research has adopted a strength-based approach to examine strategies that help offset challenges (e.g., discrimination, internalized stigma) faced by people in polyamorous relationships. The current qualitative study assessed the self-perceived strengths of 63 US-based, adult participants who reported present or former engagement in at least one polyamorous relationship. Participants\u27 responded to the open-ended question, “What particular characteristics do you have that help you navigate the challenges of polyamory?” A thematic analysis identified strengths across eight broad themes: personality traits, a willingness to challenge mononormative socialization, ability to manage difficult emotions, experiencing compersion and/or low levels of/well-managed jealousy, strong communication skills, lessons learned from prior relationships, seeking out self-help and professional resources, and financial privilege. Results provide a roadmap for self-help and therapeutic approaches to cultivate resilience in individuals who engage in a relationship style that remains heavily stigmatized and can present unique challenges
