Portobello High School

ABSTRACT The study applies the lens of the ethics of care to understanding pedagogical practice in higher education. It addresses the dilemmas of building and maintaining caring relationships between academic staff and mature students transitioning from further education to a university programme delivered online. Teacher care is considered an important factor in students’ outcomes, experiences, and well-being. The role of care is even more significant for students who find studying challenging, who may be academically unprepared, affected by lack of confidence, struggle with technical skills or grapple with personal and societal issues. The purpose of this study was to conduct a phenomenological inquiry into academic staff’s perceptions and lived experiences of caring relationships with their students. Seven participants wrote reflective texts which were analysed, and the preliminary findings were discussed in a focus group with three participants. The data from the reflective texts and the focus group discussion was converged and led to identification of four themes which describe the phenomenon of caring relations as situated, individualised, reciprocal and demanding. These themes inform recommendations to provide support to the academic staff and students at the organisational level, which would lead to more effective relationships and improve the learning environment for all.

В работе представлены модели и методы искусственного интеллекта (ИИ) для задач распознавания и сегментации медицинских изображений. Представленные модели и методы ИИ применяются в отрасли онкологии для оптимизации медицинских процессов. С применением ИИ можно выявить раннюю диагностику заболеваний, фармакотерапию (подбор и замена лекарственных препаратов). В работе предложены подход в виде главы при разработке образовательной программы по направлению «IT-медицина» в управлении в сфере образовании и здравоохранении. В предложенной главе рассмотрены использование модели и методов искусственного интеллекта для задач распознавания и сегментации медицинских изображений.

BackgroundInternationally health services are facing increasing demands due to new and more expensive health technologies and treatments, coupled with the needs of an ageing population. Reducing avoidable use of expensive secondary care services, especially high cost admissions where no procedure is carried out, has become a focus for the commissioners of healthcare.MethodWe set out to identify, evaluate and share learning about interventions to reduce avoidable hospital admission across a regional Academic Health and Social Care Network (AHSN). We conducted a service evaluation identifying initiatives that had taken place across the AHSN. This comprised a literature review, case studies, and two workshops.ResultsWe identified three types of intervention: pre-hospital; within the emergency department (ED); and post-admission evaluation of appropriateness. Pre-hospital interventions included the use of predictive modelling tools (PARR – Patients at risk of readmission and ACG – Adjusted Clinical Groups) sometimes supported by community matrons or virtual wards. GP-advisers and outreach nurses were employed within the ED. The principal post-hoc interventions were the audit of records in primary care or the application of the Appropriateness Evaluation Protocol (AEP) within the admission ward. Overall there was a shortage of independent evaluation and limited evidence that each intervention had an impact on rates of admission.ConclusionsDespite the frequency and cost of emergency admission there has been little independent evaluation of interventions to reduce avoidable admission. Commissioners of healthcare should consider interventions at all stages of the admission pathway, including regular audit, to ensure admission thresholds don’t change.

The establishment of lotus (Lotus corniculatus), alsike clover (Trifolium hybridum), cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata), and mountain brome (Bromus marginatus) were compared following overdrilling by an experimental strip seeder and a conventional triple disc drill in the presence and absence of paraquat herbicide. Drilling was carried out in late August or in late January at two sites on dry, undeveloped soils in the Mackenzie Basin, New Zealand. With August sowing, the number of lotus, cocksfoot, and brome, but not alsike seedlings at the end of the first growing season, were higher with the strip seeder drill than with the triple disc drill. With January sowing, lotus, alsike, and cocksfoot seedling numbers were higher with the strip seeder drill. Numbers declined over the following four years but the advantage of the strip seeder drill remained. Improved seedling nodulation, root development, root length, and shoot length were recorded with the strip seeder drill. Drill effects on legume herbage accumulation in Years 2–4 were not consistent. There were no significant herbicide effects on seedling establishment in the first growing season but herbicide increased legume herbage accumulation in Years 2–4, particularly with the triple disc drill. The higher seedling establishment and enhanced early seedling growth indicate the potential of the strip seeder drill technology particularly for establishing species with low seedling vigour.

Abstract A reliable technique for achieving rapid seed germination in matagouri or wild Irishman ( Discaria toumatou Raoul), an endemic woody shrub with seed which had previously proved difficult to germinate, is documented. Seed collected from the wild gave >80% germination within 14 days of commencing treatment when scarification, by immersion in 98% sulphuric acid for 24 minutes, was followed by imbibition with a solution of 1(H ‐4 M gibberellic acid. The provision of aeration at room temperature (20 ± 3°C), during imbibition with the gibberellic acid solution, resulted in increased germination percentages and rates.