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Narrative Corruptions Seduced by Story: The Use and Abuse of Narrative Peter Brooks New York, NY: New York Review Books, 2022. 'A story has no beginning or end: arbitrarily one [...]

This study describes an intervention that introduced a period of solving non-routine problems into tertiary STEM lectures. The aim was twofold: to attempt to increase student engagement and to introduce them to the kind of domain-free abstract reasoning that involves critical, creative and innovative thinking. The study involved over 600 STEM participants in five lecture classes from three tertiary institutions. The results show that a style of lecture delivery that utilises the inherent engagement effect of non-routine problems can have a positive influence on student engagement -- the effect that extends to a group of students who are conformed to type on many measures, including low-achievement. This is supported by evidence from different sources, including data from naturalistic observations conducted in lectures before, during, and after the intervention delivery; cross-sectional survey data at the start and the end of the semester; and interview data from the participant lecturers. The intervention is amenable to scaling up with a relatively small development investment and easily transferable to other tertiary STEM courses.

Asthma outcomes remain suboptimal, despite effective pharmacotherapy. Psychological dysfunction (such as anxiety) is common, and associated with poorer outcomes. We evaluated a digital mindfulness programme as an intervention to improve asthma-related quality of life for primary care patients, in a prospectively registered randomized-controlled feasibility study. We offered 'Headspace', a widely-used digital mindfulness intervention, to adults with asthma through 16 UK GP practices. Participants were randomized on a 2:1 basis to the mindfulness intervention, or waitlist control. Participants completed questionnaires (including asthma symptom control, asthma-related quality of life, anxiety, depression) at baseline, 6-week and 3-month follow-up. 116 participants completed primary outcomes at 3-month follow-up: intervention 73 (79%), control 43 (84%). Compared to baseline, the intervention group but not the control group reported significantly improved asthma-related quality of life, with a between-group difference favoring the intervention group that was not significant (Mean difference = 0.15, 95%CI - 0.13 to 0.42). Intervention use varied (ranging from 0 to 192 times) but was generally high. Digital mindfulness interventions are feasible and acceptable adjunct treatments for mild and moderate asthma to target quality of life. Further research should adapt 'generic' mindfulness-based stress-reduction to maximize effectiveness for asthma, and validate our findings in a fully-powered randomized controlled trial. Trial registration Prospectively registered: ISRCTN52212323., Author(s): Ben Ainsworth [sup.1] [sup.2] , Sabina Stanescu [sup.3] , Beth Stuart [sup.4] , Daniel Russell [sup.5] , Megan Liddiard [sup.4] , Ratko Djukanovic [sup.2] [sup.6] , Mike Thomas [sup.4] [...]

A crucial step in improving the use of digital technology (DT) for learning mathematical concepts in the classroom appears to be increasing teacher involvement in task development. Hence, this research considered the effect of a professional development (PD) programme designed to assist teachers with DT task production for implementation in their classrooms. Four groups of three Sri Lankan teachers were observed and guided as they designed and implemented DT tasks. We examine the effectiveness of the PD programme in terms of the richness of the tasks produced by the groups before and after the PD. The results suggest the intervention led to richer, more student-centred tasks. The reasons behind this improvement are analysed, along with factors that might have influenced the DT task development. The findings have implications for the design of secondary school PD programmes and may help educators to facilitate the training of mathematics teachers in the use of DT.

In this survey paper, we describe the state of the field of research on teaching mathematics with technology with an emphasis on the secondary school phase. We synthesize themes, questions, results and perspectives emphasized in the articles that appear in this issue alongside the relevant foundations of these ideas within the key journal articles, handbooks and conference papers. Our aim is to give an overview of the field that provides opportunities for readers to gain deeper insights into theoretical, methodological, practical and societal challenges that concern teaching mathematics with technology in its broadest sense. Although this collection of articles was developed prior to the global coronavirus pandemic, we have taken the opportunity to survey the contributing authors to provide some country perspectives on the impact the pandemic has had on mathematics teaching with technology in the period January-July 2020. We conclude the survey paper by identifying some areas for future research in this increasingly relevant topic.

'Never send to know for whom the bell tolls...' my high school English teacher intoned at the end of the school day, but we hardly heard him, already halfway out [...]

Despite great advancements in the treatment of chronic airway diseases, improvements in morbidity and mortality have stalled in recent years. Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are complex and heterogeneous diseases that require tailored management based on individual patient characteristics and needs. The Treatable Traits (TTs) approach aims to personalise and improve patient care through the identification and targeting of clinically relevant and modifiable pulmonary, extra-pulmonary and behavioural traits. In this article, we outline the rationale for TTs-based management and provide practical guidance for its application in primary care. To aid implementation, seven potential 'prime' traits are proposed: airflow obstruction, eosinophilic inflammation, adherence, inhaler technique, smoking, low body mass index/obesity and anxiety and depression—selected for their prevalence, recognisability and feasibility of use. Some of the key questions among healthcare professionals, that may be roadblocks to widespread application of a TTs model of care, are also addressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article describes the work undertaken by a cluster of Resource Teachers: Learning and Behaviour (RTLB) to ensure that annual effectiveness reviews were more than a compliance exercise but a genuine attempt to improve their service to schools, hence the title of this article of "Going Beyond Audit". Historically, the cluster had met the reporting requirements set by the Ministry of Education (MOE), however to make the process more purposeful, reviews were broadened through the collection of a wider variety of qualitative and quantitative data. A feature of the qualitative data collection methods employed is the annual focus group interviews designed to gather feedback from representatives of client schools. As a result of the interviews, the RTLB cluster has received positive affirmation about its service and additionally, identified some key areas where its service could be strengthened. More importantly, it has developed a robust and practical system of review by blending information sources and methodology. Feedback collected can be fed directly into strategic planning and is proving useful in shaping practice. The focus group interviews are also benefiting participants by expanding their understanding of the RTLB role as well as enhancing professional networks. This article outlines the cluster's interpretation and implementation of authentic evidence-based practice (EBP).

An airborne gravity gradiometer survey was recently flown over the Iron Range Fault in the Purcell anticlinorium, southern Canadian Cordillera. The fault is commonly associated with iron oxide mineralization having characteristics similar to those of iron oxide Au [+ or -] Cu deposits. Drilling near the fault has revealed Au [+ or -] Cu-Pb-Zn mineralization. Prominent positive vertical gravity gradient (VGG) anomalies defined by the survey were identified as targets for follow-up exploration. Possible sources of the target anomalies were investigated by modelling gravity, VGG, and magnetic data along several profiles. Modelling of regional-scale profiles of the vertical component of gravity crossing exploration targets provides a regional perspective on the regional geological setting, dominated by the broad Goat River anticline, whose axis closely follows the Iron Range Fault. Modelling indicates that several VGG anomalies are related to Moyie sills, although one anomaly is modelled as a narrow vertical body (120 m wide, 1000 m vertical extent, 40 m deep) just west of the Iron Range Fault. Its apparent high density of 3500 kg/[m.sup.3] suggests metallic content, making it a choice candidate for follow-up investigation. Drilling at the southern end of this geophysical target intersected a Moyie intrusion, but untested geochemical anomalies in the vicinity encourage follow-up exploration. The densities of modelled units derived from VGG profiles across two other specific targets indicate that Moyie sills represent one target and iron oxide mineralization the other, as supported by magnetic modelling, which also delineated vertical zones of significantly magnetic material along the Iron Range Fault. Un leve de gradiometrie gravimetrique aeroporte a recemment ete realise au-dessus de la faille de l'Iron Range (district ferrifere) dans l'anticlinorium de Purcell du sud de la Cordillere canadienne. La faille est souvent associee a une mineralisation en oxydes de fer aux caracteristiques semblables a celles de gisements d'Au [+ or -] Cu a oxydes de fer. Des travaux de forage pres de la faille ont revele la presence de mineralisation en Au [+ or -] Cu-Pb-Zn. Des anomalies positives marquees du gradient vertical de gravite (GVG) definies par le leve sont des cibles possibles d'exploration plus poussee. Les sources possibles des anomalies ciblees ont ete etudiees en modelisant les donnees gravimetriques, magnetiques et de GVG le long de plusieurs profils. La modelisation de profils regionaux de la composante de gravite verticale traversant les cibles d'exploration fournit une perspective regionale sur le milieu geologique regional, ou l'anticlinal ouvert de Goat River, dont l'axe suit etroitement la faille de l'Iron Range, est l'element dominant. La modelisation indique que plusieurs anomalies GVG sont associees aux filons-couches de Moyie, bien qu'une anomalie soit modelisee comme etant un corps vertical etroit (120 m de largeur, 1000 m d'etendue verticale et 40 m de profondeur) juste a l'ouest de la faille de l'Iron Range. Son apparente masse volumique elevee (3500 kg/[m.sup.3]) indiquerait un contenu metallique, en faisant un candidat de choix pour un examen plus pousse. Le forage a l'extremite sud de cette cible geophysique croise une intrusion de Moyie, mais des anomalies geochimiques non verifiees a proximite soulignent la pertinence de travaux d'exploration plus pousses. Les masses volumiques des unites modelisees obtenues des profils GVG sur deux autres cibles indiquent que des filons-couches de Moyie representent une cible et de la mineralisation en oxyde de fer represente l'autre cible, des conclusions appuyees par la modelisation magnetique, qui a aussi delimite des zones verticales de materiaux magnetiques le long de la faille de l'Iron Range. [Traduit par la Redaction], Introduction The north-trending Iron Range Fault follows the axial area of the Goat River anticline in the southwestern part of the Purcell anticlinorium (Fig. 1), transecting metasedimentary rocks of the [...]

The treatable traits approach represents a strategy for patient management. It is based on the identification of characteristics susceptible to treatments or predictive of treatment response in each individual patient. With the objective of accelerating progress in research and clinical practice relating to such a treatable traits approach, the Portraits event was convened in Barcelona, Spain, in November 2022. Here, while reporting the key concepts that emerged from the discussions during the meeting, we review the current state of the art related to treatable traits and chronic respiratory diseases management, and we describe the possible actions that clinicians can take in clinical practice to implement the treatable traits framework. Furthermore, we explore the new concept of GETomics and the new models of research in the field of COPD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The treatable traits approach is based on the recognition that the different clinical phenotypes of asthma and chronic obstructive airways disease (COPD) are a heterogeneous group of conditions with different underlying mechanisms and clinical manifestations, and that the identification and treatment of the specific clinical features or traits facilitates a personalised approach to management. Fundamentally, it recognises two important concepts. Firstly, that treatment for obstructive lung disease can achieve better outcomes if guided by specific clinical characteristics. Secondly, that in patients with a diagnosis of asthma, and/or COPD, poor respiratory health may also be due to numerous overlapping disorders that can present with symptoms that may be indistinguishable from asthma and/or COPD, comorbidities that might require treatment in their own right, and lifestyle or environmental factors that, if addressed, might lead to better control rather than simply increasing airways directed treatment. While these concepts are well accepted, how best to implement this personalised medicine approach in primary and secondary care within existing resource constraints remains uncertain. In this review, we consider the evidence base for this management approach and propose that the priority now is to assess different prototype templates for the identification and management of treatable traits in both asthma and COPD, in primary, secondary and tertiary care, to provide the evidence that will guide their use in clinical practice in different health care systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This paper reports on a professional development workshop in University level mathematics. The workshop was grounded in Schoenfeld's (How we think. A theory of goal-oriented decision-making and its educational applications, 2010) theoretical approach, emphasizing the roles of "R"esources (primarily, knowledge), "O"rientations (primarily, beliefs), and "G"oals ("R/O/Gs") as factors in teachers' "in the moment" decision-making. Participants characterized their "R/O/Gs" prior to instruction, bringing for discussion videotapes of their instruction that raised issues for them about their "R/O/Gs" or the choices they made during teaching. Results: For a surprisingly large percentage of these university mathematicians, the "mathematical correctness" of what they presented was a dominant consideration, to the point where it overshadowed other considerations. Conclusion: This gives rise to a conjectural characterization of three somewhat overlapping classes of teachers (university mathematicians, expert teachers, and proficient teachers), with the suggestion that professional development might profitably differ in the ways that it is targeted to these three groups.

A 64-year-old patient presented with a tumour of the orbit. A biopsy showed an infiltrative tumour with coarse "salt-and-pepper" chromatin, showing strong expression of AE1/3, CD56, synaptophysin, chromogranin, and CDX2 on immunohistochemistry. The Ki67 proliferation index was low (<1%). The diagnosis of metastatic neuroendocrine tumour, most likely of gastrointestinal origin was favoured over a primary neuroendocrine tumour of the orbit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The literature on gestures describes how they often comprise iconic, deictic and metaphoric dimensions, but the interplay between these dimensions can be very subtle and nuanced. Due to the abstract nature of the subject, the use of gestures in the learning of mathematics means that the metaphoric dimension is often prominent. However, iconic and deictic gestures also play their part, and it has not been clear how the transition from gestures that have primarily iconic and deictic dimensions to those that are primarily metaphoric arises. In this paper, we consider three cases in an attempt to identify the emergence of the metaphoric dimension of gesture. The vignettes are analysed from semiotic and cognitive perspectives as we attempt to explain elements of the evolution by describing it in terms of McNeill's concept of a growth point. In each example, the results highlight the evolution from a grounded to a more abstract blending following the particular point at which a switch from an emphasis on the iconic/deictic to the metaphoric dimension occurs.