Student interpretations of the terms in first-order ordinary differential equations in modelling contexts

A study of first-year undergraduate students′ interpretational difficulties with first-order ordinary differential equations (ODEs) in modelling contexts was conducted using a diagnostic quiz, exam questions and follow-up interviews. These investigations indicate that when thinking about such ODEs, many students muddle thinking about the function that gives the quantity to be determined and the equation for the quantity's rate of change, and at least some seem unaware of the need for unit consistency in the terms of an ODE. It appears that shifting from amount-type thinking to rates-of-change-type thinking is difficult for many students. Suggestions for pedagogical change based on our results are made

The Lidcombe Program After 35 Years: Empirical, Theoretical, and Social Contexts.

PURPOSE: Thirty-five years ago, the Lidcombe Program was introduced as a new evidence-based treatment for early stuttering. This milestone presents an opportunity to examine the Lidcombe Program and its relevance today. METHOD: Four Lidcombe Program developers, together with 17 members of the Lidcombe Program Trainers Consortium, reflected on the program's historic origins, early reception, current status, and future direction. CONCLUSIONS: This review of the program explores its origins in the context of causal theories of stuttering and its place in the modern clinical context. We point out that the Lidcombe Program intervention process incorporates social and medical perspectives of childhood stuttering. Empirical knowledge about stuttering and its effects early in life are considered. We consider the evidence base supporting the Lidcombe Program and its implementation in the current international speech-language pathology community. We also consider future directions for the treatment

Contemporary clinical conversations about stuttering: Can intervention stop early stuttering development?

PURPOSE: To discuss whether early intervention can stop stuttering development. To inform junior clinicians and students of speech-language pathology about contemporary views on this issue. METHOD: The issue was discussed by two university researchers and two speech-language pathologists who provide public clinical services. Written conversational turns in an exchange were limited to 100 words each. When that written dialogue was concluded, each participant provided 200 words of final reflection about the issue. RESULT: Most differences that emerged centred on the clinical evidence base for early intervention, which emphasises stuttering reduction, and how it should be interpreted. CONCLUSION: The evidence base for early intervention has limitations and it should be interpreted cautiously. One interpretation is that reducing stuttering severity is a justifiable core of early management. Another interpretation focuses on ease of communication, anticipation of stuttering, and covert stuttering

Contextualising Apartheid at the End of Empire: Repression, ‘Development’ and the Bantustans

This article examines the global dynamics of late colonialism and how these informed South African apartheid. More specifically, it locates the programmes of mass relocation and bantustan ‘self-government’ that characterised apartheid after 1959 in relation to three key dimensions. Firstly, the article explores the global circulation of idioms of ‘development’ and trusteeship in the first half of the twentieth century and its significance in shaping segregationist policy; secondly, it situates bantustan ‘selfgovernment’ in relation to the history of decolonisation and the partitions and federations that emerged as late colonial solutions; and, thirdly, it locates the tightening of rural village planning in the bantustans after 1960 in relation to the elaboration of anti-colonial liberation struggles, repressive southern African settler politics and the Cold War. It argues that, far from developing policies that were at odds with the global ‘wind of change’, South African apartheid during the 1960s and 1970s reflected much that was characteristic about late colonial strategy

General anaesthetic and airway management practice for obstetric surgery in England: a prospective, multi-centre observational study

There are no current descriptions of general anaesthesia characteristics for obstetric surgery, despite recent changes to patient baseline characteristics and airway management guidelines. This analysis of data from the direct reporting of awareness in maternity patients' (DREAMY) study of accidental awareness during obstetric anaesthesia aimed to describe practice for obstetric general anaesthesia in England and compare with earlier surveys and best-practice recommendations. Consenting patients who received general anaesthesia for obstetric surgery in 72 hospitals from May 2017 to August 2018 were included. Baseline characteristics, airway management, anaesthetic techniques and major complications were collected. Descriptive analysis, binary logistic regression modelling and comparisons with earlier data were conducted. Data were collected from 3117 procedures, including 2554 (81.9%) caesarean deliveries. Thiopental was the induction drug in 1649 (52.9%) patients, compared with propofol in 1419 (45.5%). Suxamethonium was the neuromuscular blocking drug for tracheal intubation in 2631 (86.1%), compared with rocuronium in 367 (11.8%). Difficult tracheal intubation was reported in 1 in 19 (95%CI 1 in 16-22) and failed intubation in 1 in 312 (95%CI 1 in 169-667). Obese patients were over-represented compared with national baselines and associated with difficult, but not failed intubation. There was more evidence of change in practice for induction drugs (increased use of propofol) than neuromuscular blocking drugs (suxamethonium remains the most popular). There was evidence of improvement in practice, with increased monitoring and reversal of neuromuscular blockade (although this remains suboptimal). Despite a high risk of difficult intubation in this population, videolaryngoscopy was rarely used (1.9%)

Computer-based system to assess efficacy of stuttering therapy techniques

This paper presents a computer-based system tool used to assess efficacy of stuttering therapy techniques. The software assists Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) in determining suitable techniques for each client. The project implements Digital Signal Processing (DSP)techniques to analyze speech signals and incorporates standard speech fluency shaping techniques that can be used as part of fluency rehabilitation regimen. The software provides real-time visual and audio feedbacks for clients to be aware of their speech patterns. It provides self training aid for clients that motivates them to practice at home. The software runs under Windows XP on a computer equipped with multimedia capabilities. Real-time visual and audio displays enable the clients to compare their average magnitude profiles (AMPs) with clinician’s and alter their speech to match clinician’s AMP. The start and end alignment, maximum magnitude and duration of two AMPs are compared. A score is assigned to each category. The software is developed using Microsoft Visual C++ 6.0. Software is designed as graphic user interface (GUI), which makes therapy user friendly. Three techniques that are implemented in the project have been decided through the discussion with SLP in Hospital Sultanah Aminah (HSA). The techniques are Shadowing, using a Metronome (Taping) and Delayed Auditory Feedback (DAF). This project is done in collaboration with HSA where the hospital assists in the clinical trial