80 research outputs found
Beyond ABC : investigating current rationales and systems for the teaching of early reading to young learners of English
No full textThe premise of this thesis is that the role of the first steps in reading in courses for
Young Learners of English (YL) at the beginner stage is a neglected area, with
anomalies centred around the fact that ‘words on the page ’are often treated as if
they were facilitative from the outset for language work in areas such as speaking
while very little support is offered to children as to how to decode these words.
Chapter 1 (Introduction) traces the rapid spread of YL teaching worldwide and
considers the preparation of teachers for their roles. Materials are discussed as an
important source of support and structure for teachers and a case is made for a focus
in the main study on systems and rationales for early reading found among teachers
themselves or evidenced in published materials.
Chapter 2 (Literature Review) discusses relevant issues for systematic support for YL
in their first steps in reading English. Areas discussed are: Teacher Cognition,
Sociocultural inductions to reading, Orthographic Depth, Phonology, research on
reading development across languages and influences in the YL world of established
early reading methods for English native-speaking children.
Chapter 3 (Research Methodology) justifies the decision to investigate the area via
two main studies: (1) questionnaires and in-depth interviews with EYL professionals
and (2) close analysis of course materials. It is argued that the qualitative stance of
the former is not in conflict with the more objective and quantitative handling of
course material data since both are appropriate ways of focusing on the same issue.
A third, small-scale, study of the publishing experiences of curriculum experts and
materials writers is justified and described.
Chapter 4 (Findings) reports and integrates the findings of both main studies and
summarizes the findings from the study with curriculum experts and materials writers.
Main findings are that EYL professionals tend not to put linguistic considerations high
in their priorities for decision-making and that materials analyzed had an underlay in
the Alphabetic Principle but were dominated by ‘ABC’ ordering of Reading-Focal
items and included activities which tended not to promote pattern-seeking or other
behaviour likely to lead to ‘self-teaching’.
Chapter 5 (Discussion) discusses the significance of the findings of the two main
studies and uses the results of the third study to add balance to the materials
analysis study. Limitations of, and reflections on, the research are discussed.
Chapter 6 (Conclusions) draws implications for professional education, pedagogy
and materials illustrated by examples in the Appendices. Claims are made for the
contributions of the study that (1) it opens up discussion on an area of YL teaching
which has been neglected both in the research literature and in practical materials
creation (2) through the use of in-depth interviews it allows a voice for EYL
professionals which has not been heard before (3) the concepts of Reading-Focal
versus Vehicular language in YL course materials are claimed as new and useful,
leading directly (4) to procedures and analysis tools which can be used with any set
of YL materials. Directions for further research building on this thesis are indicated
Sosialisasi English for Young Learners (EYL) bagi Guru Sekolah Dasar di Gugus II Kecamatan Ciamis
No full textPerubahan Kurikulum membuat mata pelajaran Bahasa Inggris di Sekolah Dasar berubah dari muatan lokal menjadi program ektrakurikuler. Berdasarkan data pra-observasi, di Kecamatan Ciamis pengajaran Bahasa Inggris mengalami beberapa kendala seperti kualifikasi guru yang bukan Sarjana Pendidikan Bahasa Inggris, pengunaan teknik serta metode mengajar Bahasa Inggris yang monoton dan menjenuhkan, kurangnya sumber ajar, serta tidak adanya pelatihan dan pembinaan pengajaran Bahasa Inggris bagi pembelajar anak. Melihat berbagai permasalahan tersebut maka penulis melakukan pengabdian kepada masyarakat dengan memberikan pelatihan pengajaran Bahasa Inggris dan Forum Group Discussion (FGD) bagi guru-guru Sekolah Dasar di Kecamatan Ciamis. Hasil pengabdian ini menunjukan bahwa guru memiliki motivasi yang baik dalam meningkatkan kompetensi mereka dalam pengajaran Bahasa Inggris, pemahaman mereka terhadap karakteristik pembelajar anak juga meningkat, serta adanya peningkatan kemampuan guru untuk menciptakan pengajaran yang bermakna dan menyenangkan.Kata kunci: Pengajaran, Bahasa Inggris, Sekolah Dasar Socialization of English for Young Learners (EYL) for Elementary School Teachers in Cluster II Ciamis Kecamatan District ABSTRACTThe change of curriculum makes English subjects in Elementary School move from local content to the extracurricular program. Based on pre-observation data, there are some obstacles face by the teacher in teaching English to young learners in Ciamis. Those are the unqualified English teachers, the monotonous of teaching techniques and methods, the lack of using teaching sources, and the unavailable of EYL workshops. Therefore, to solve those problems the author conducted a community service in the form of the EYL workshop and FGD.  The community service makes the teachers' motivation to improve their competency in English language teaching increase. Besides, their understanding of the characteristics of children and their ability to create meaningful and interesting teaching also increase.Keywords: Teaching, English, Elemntary Schoo
Representations of 'Hong Kong' in Hong Kong poetry in English
No full textpublished_or_final_versionEnglishMasterMaster of Philosoph
Molecular characterization of the Chinese isolates of Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus (PRRSV) and the construction and characterization of the DNA vaccines
No full textThe genomic regions encoding ORFs 5 and 6 of the Chinese isolates named as AV strain of PRRSV found in Guangzhou are chosen and cloned into the mammalian expression vector pcDNA3.1(+) so as to construct the DNA vaccine. The objectives of this study are to first characterize this AV strain PRRSV emerged in Guangzhou, sequences based on ORF 5 and 6 were served as reference for further phylogenetic studies on the difference with North American (VR-2332) and the European (LV) strains. Investigation further focuses on the role of DNA vaccine constructed based on AV strain PRRSV in the generation of both humoral and lymphoproliferation immune responses and the possibility of using crude bacteria as adjuvant. Immunization with plasmid encoding ORF 5 or ORF 6 of AV strain PRRSV, with or without crude bacteria as adjuvant, induced anti-ORF 5 neutralizing antibodies or ORF 6 specific antibodies in both Balb/c mice and its natural host, pigs (trial experiment). Animals vaccinated with crude bacteria conjugated with ORF 5 encoded plasmid elicited stronger (which is around 80% more) and faster antibody responses than with plasmid construct alone as measured by ELISA. In addition, the increase in the number of blood lymphocytes obtained from vaccinated mice and pigs indicates the specificity of the lymphoproliferation responses to ORF 5-envelope protein & ORF 6 matrix protein. In summary, it demonstrates that ORF 5 & 6 plasmid construct with crude bacteria as adjuvant may be a potential candidate against this regional AV strain PRRSV isolated from Guangzhou, China
Massive occult haemoperitoneum following spontaneous rupture of duodenal gastrointestinal stromal tumour
No full text
Characterization of Guangzhou Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus (PRRSV) Field Isolates
No full textA direct method was used to detect the presence of Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus (PRRSV) in tissue samples of infected pigs collected from different farms in Guangzhou, based on reverse transcription of the viral RNA coupled to DNA amplification by polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Several sets of primers were designed based on both the North American (VR-2332) and the European (LV) genome sequences within ORF1b encoding the polymerase protein in order to perform a rapid multiplex PCR assay. DNA products with unique size characteristics of each genotype were obtained. From three (named D2, D3 & AV) Guangzhou field isolates, amplified fragment of 108 bp was cloned and sequenced. Alignment with North American strain (VR-2332) sequences revealed a 95.5% homology. Among all, AV Guangzhou strain tissue homogenates were inoculated into MARC-145 cells and after the sixth passage, cytopathic effects (CPE) of infected cell were observed. Analysis of purified virions of AV Guangzhou strain by SDS-PAGE and western immunoblotting using porcine hyperimmune sera revealed that four major viral proteins: 15, 19, 26 and 45 kDa proteins
From compassion fatigue to compassion satisfaction: a conceptual development of enhancing well-being of Healthcare Professionals in Reproductive Health
No full textBACKGROUND: Reproductive healthcare professionals who specialized in Assisted Reproduction Technologies (ART), such as obstetricians and gynecologists, nurses and social workers, often deal with patients experiencing a wide array of physical and emotional reactions over fertility problems such as subfertility, miscarriage, involuntarily childlessness. They are expected to provide sensitive and timely care to patients and their family members. Increasingly stressful work environments, heavy caseloads with dwindling resources, negativity or emotional assault from patients will cause low job satisfaction or even compassion fatigue among them.
As helping professionals, it is of crucial importance to moderate their attitude in face of high pressure working environment. While many researchers and practitioners have put high emphasis on the direction of dealing with Compassion Fatigue (CF), the model of Professional Quality of Life developed by Stamm and his associates has included one more important concept named as Compassion Satisfaction (CS), denoted as the pleasure you derive from being able to do health care work. This paper will describe a study aiming at enhancing the positivity involved in caring and the ability to receive gratification from caregiving among reproductive healthcare professionals.
METHODS: In this quasi-experimental study, 25 healthcare practitioners (obstetricians and gynecologists, nurses, and social workers) from licensed ART clinics were recruited to join a nine-session professional development program which included components in terms of knowledge, attitude and practice, and self-reflective exercises like reflections on meaning of life, compassionate meditation, and mindfulness training. All participants were required to complete a self-administered questionnaire before (T0) and after the course (T1), which comprised of scales related to psychological wellbeing and Professional Quality of Life Scale (ProQol), measuring related psychological wellbeing, as well as CS and CF.
RESULTS: After completion of the course, it was found that the CS score of the participants was significantly increased (T0:33.94+4.4; T1:36.35+3.82, t=-3.29,p<0.001). No significant change was found in the CF score, which was defined as Secondary Trauma and Burnout under ProQol. In addition, participants who were younger in age and with lower educational level showed significant improvement in CS (t=-3.45,p<0.014). Those who worked longer time in medical settings (t=-5.196,p<0.035) but shorter in reproductive health settings (t=-3.042,p<0.014), and those who had religious belief (t=-7.071,p<0.002) showed significant improvement in CS as well.
IMPLICATIONS: The professional development program was proven to be effective in enhancing practitioners’ professional quality of life in terms of CS, regardless of the score of CF being constant. In view of CF being an emphasis of many researches, enhancing CS provides a positive perspective in cultivating personal and professional satisfaction and positive feeling towards being care providers. It can prevent burnout, which subsequently enhance the quality of care to be received by patients. Thus, the study has shed light on the direction of professional training program for healthcare practitioners by including components regarding personal reflection on life and death, pain and suffering as well as vulnerabilities and resilience; this has also shifted the research and practice foci on enhancement of compassion satisfaction instead of putting tremendous resources on alleviation of compassion fatigue
The First Hereditary Angioedema Registry in Hong Kong Chinese
No full textBackground and Aims: Hereditary angioedema (HAE) was almost unheard of in Hong Kong prior to the establishment of its first public Clinical Immunology service in 2018. Since then, Queen Mary Hospital established a dedicated Immunology Clinic and the first HAE registry in the region. The aim was to study the prevalence as well as the clinical features of these previously undiagnosed HAE patients in Hong Kong.
Methods: From 2018-2019, all referrals for angioedema and suspected HAE were screened and reviewed. Referrals were encouraged by conducting a series of educational lectures as well as a dedicated Immunology chapter in the territory-wide handbook accessible to all public-sector doctors. All confirmed HAE patients consented to participate in the Hong Kong HAE registry and their clinical features were reviewed for analysis.
Results: Between July 2018 to July 2019, 81 referrals were received for workup of angioedema and/or suspected immunodeficiency. Eight families with HAE were identified. Seven families carried unique mutations for HAE I, and one family carried a mutation for HAE II. After family screening, 19 individuals were confirmed to have HAE, with a further 91 potentially affected family members pending screening. More than 20% of patients had a history of laryngeal attacks, and 64% of patients had been hospitalized (at least once) for acute angioedema attacks. All confirmed HAE patients were offered C1 inhibitor replacement in a structured protocol.
Conclusions: We describe the clinical characteristics of the first HAE registry in Hong Kong and our region, which also enabled provision of much needed C1 inhibitor replacement for these patients
Behcet's Disease Diagnosed by Allergy Skin Testing and Positive Pathergy Test
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