Search

This article aims to interrogate possible assessment problems arising from a community-based-research mode of research and consider some of the assessment approaches that generate scepticism among some examiners, and endorsement from others. The article explores specific challenges in supervising, accommodating and evaluating diverse candidates who pursue an action-led and community-based research approach rooted within the visual arts. I contend that there is a specific challenge in the field of postgraduate supervision of engaging evaluation strategies. If students within higher education adopt a focus towards the development of social responsibility, this would imply that the general criteria for this manner of research would require deep revision in order to accommodate diverse and direct action based community engagement. Research in this mode embraces a multi-disciplinary approach and is therefore complex. It needs to accommodate practice, action and experience, and not be limited to traditional discipline-specific methodologies. (Contains 12 notes and 1 table.)

The premise of this article is that the visual arts can provide a valuable tool for social transformation. The application of this role of the arts in community-engaged research has revealed specific challenges for developing broader assessment criteria for evaluation. This article will explore a case study of a Fine Art Masters student's community-based research project that required an innovative and alternative methodology of research practice and supervision. I suggest evaluation criteria that accommodate the "public good". South African Universities are faced with the challenge of re-imagining its identity and engaging with societal challenges. I argue that community-based research in the cultural disciplines is not only compatible with global ambition in the intellectual sphere, but an active contribution to it. This is a challenge for institutional transformation, which requires a new paradigm and a new approach in knowledge seeking. Change is the intended outcome of community-based action research. It provides ways of moving from reflection and theorising to action. These moves must be made explicit so that the institutional imperatives of the universities and bureaucracies do not inhibit the potential of the research process. (Contains 27 notes.)

Malignant pulmonary neoplasia associated with cystic airspaces is a well‐recognised disease entity in humans. Two elderly dogs, previously diagnosed with a solitary emphysematous bulla, presented with non‐specific clinical signs. At presentation, pulmonary auscultation was unremarkable. In both cases, thoracic CT demonstrated the transformation of the cystic airspace lesions characterised by a progressive increase of the solid component and reduction of the air component. Cytological evaluation and subsequent surgical excision followed by histopathology confirmed pulmonary carcinoma in both cases. These two cases represent the first demonstration of possible malignant transformation of pulmonary cystic airspace in dogs. Veterinarians should consider neoplastic transformation as a differential diagnosis in cases of cystic airspaces, particularly cases with features including thickening or irregularity of the wall, associated soft‐tissue nodules or solid and non‐solid tissue intermixed within clusters of multiple cystic airspaces. Ongoing monitoring of cystic airspace lesions through diagnostic imaging is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) such as Lane Keep Assist System (LKAS) offer drivers both convenience and safety benefits. However, assessing ADAS safety benefits can be challenging because crash reports typically include no information as to whether a system was active at the time of a crash. For example, LKAS systems are often disabled by drivers and may be unavailable to assist even when enabled, reducing the safety benefits of the system. However, the precise circumstances in which LKAS is unavailable remain not well known outside organizations directly involved in ADAS system design. This study seeks to make such information more broadly available, exploring the usage and effectiveness of ADAS, with an emphasis on LKAS, using in-vehicle message, accelerometer, and location data. In this study, data loggers were mounted in twelve vehicles owned or rented and driven by employee volunteers. Vehicle message data was decoded and standardized, with a focus on ADAS-related messages. Location data was merged with road feature and weather data. Decoded vehicle messages included fields identifying when the driver turned LKAS on and when the system was ready to assist the driver. Conditions in which the system was active or inactive are described, including two scenarios (concrete bridges and cloverleaf intersections) where the system repeatedly became inactive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis revealed mild mononuclear pleocytosis (7 cells/ L, ref<5) and increased protein (0.61 g/L, ref<0.30). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain revealed multifocal leptomeningeal contrast enhancement and a left-sided, mildly T2W hyperintense, contrast-enhancing lesion in the left piriform lobe (Fig 1A, B). The dog remained bright and repeat MRI and CSF analysis after 2 months revealed slight enlargement of the left piriform lobe lesion (Fig 1C), increased CSF protein (0.76 g/L) but no pleocytosis (0 cells/ L). [Extracted from the article]

Fasciola hepatica infestation is reported as a cause of severe eosinophilic cholangiohepatitis in a 28-year-old Warmblood cross pony gelding. The gelding presented initially for investigation of acute laminitis found to be secondary to pars pituitary intermedia dysfunction ( PPID). Six weeks of treatment including administration of pergolide achieved good control of the laminitis but there was a marked general clinical deterioration over this period with notable weight loss, tachycardia, anorexia and ventral oedema. Hepatobiliary enzymes were increased significantly and there was mild elevation of plasma bile acid concentration. An eosinophilia in both blood and peritoneal fluid specimens and histopathological confirmation of an eosinophilic cholangiohepatitis on examination of liver biopsies supported a primary parasitic aetiology. The pony was treated for Fasciola hepatica with triclabendazole 12 mg/kg bwt but clinical signs continued to progress. Due to poor clinical response the pony was subjected to euthanasia and post mortem examination revealed an overwhelming infestation of the biliary tracts with Fasciola hepatica and a secondary chronic and severe cholangiohepatitis with marked fibrosis. To the authors' knowledge this is the first equine report demonstrating the relationship between the clinical disease syndrome, eosinophilic cholangiohepatitis and hepatic fluke infestation. Depending on geographical location, fasciolosis should be considered as a differential diagnosis for equine hepatopathies and can result in severe disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) affects approximately 10% of persons aged 65-74 years and 30% of those aged 75 and older and is the major cause of blindness in old age. AMD is progressive and irreversible.Aim: To review the psychosocial effects of AMD.Method: OVID data bases (MEDLINE, psycINFO and CINAHL) from 1966 to 2004 were reviewed.Results: AMD is associated with functional impairment, high rates of depression, anxiety and emotional distress and increased mortality. Risk factors for depression are not well-defined, except for the degree of functional impairment and impending or actual loss of vision in the second eye. Behavioral and self-management programs may be effective in managing depression associated with AMD, but few studies have been performed, and none using drugs or multimodal therapy.Conclusion: AMD will become even more prevalent as the population ages. Identification of risk factors for psychological consequences and of effective interventions remain to be recognized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]