Improvements In Retention Rates Research Articles

Exploring Social and Intellectual Isolation Among Postgraduate Researchers: Implications for Inclusive Teaching and Learning Initiatives

Inclusive teaching and learning initiatives aim to foster supportive environments that cater to students' diverse academic and social needs. Within the context of postgraduate research, students often confront significant levels of solitude, experiencing both social and intellectual isolation. While existing literature predominantly addresses social isolation, a distinct form of isolation inherent to postgraduate research, termed 'topic-related loneliness', has been largely overlooked. Despite its historical acceptance within academic culture, attrition rates of up to 70% point to the possible detrimental impact of isolation on student retention. Understanding the levels and determinants of isolation amongst postgraduate researchers is important for developing effective interventions. This study investigates whether social and intellectual isolation present prevalent challenges within the research community of a university in Ireland. The main aims are to understand the causes of research postgraduate isolation, explore potential links between isolation and attrition rates, and propose viable interventions, such as online communities of practice for researchers. To address these dimensions, the study adopts an explanatory sequential design, reframing the phenomenon of intellectual isolation within the context of inclusive pedagogy. Data collection includes a survey capturing the lived experiences of current and former research postgraduate students, followed by thematic analysis. Departing from traditional research paradigms, this sequential study integrates qualitative and quantitative methods, offering a nuanced understanding of the experiences and perceptions of postgraduate researchers. The findings aim to address existing deficiencies in research postgraduate education, elucidate the underlying causes of student challenges, and provide insights into proposed support systems and interventions that may be useful to university research communities, the development of higher education research policy, and the improvement of retention rates at research postgraduate level.

Development of Hetero-Cell Type Spheroids Via Core-Shell Strategy for Enhanced Wound Healing Effect of Human Adipose-Derived Stem Cells.

Stem cell-based therapies have been developed to treat various types of wounds. Human adipose-derived stem cells (hADSCs) are used to treat skin wounds owing to their outstanding angiogenic potential. Although recent studies have suggested that stem cell spheroids may help wound healing, their cell viability and retention rate in the wound area require improvement to enhance their therapeutic efficacy. We developed a core-shell structured spheroid with hADSCs in the core and human dermal fibroblasts (hDFs) in the outer part of the spheroid. The core-shell structure was formed by continuous centrifugation and spheroid incubation. After optimizing the method for inducing uniform-sized core-shell spheroids, cell viability, cell proliferation, migration, and therapeutic efficacy were evaluated and compared to those of conventional spheroids. Cell proliferation, migration, and involucrin expression were evaluated in keratinocytes. Tubular assays in human umbilical vein endothelial cells were used to confirm the improved skin regeneration and angiogenic efficacy of core-shell spheroids. Core-shell spheroids exhibited exceptional cell viability under hypoxic cell culture conditions that mimicked the microenvironment of the wound area. The improvement in retention rate, survival rate, and angiogenic growth factors secretion from core-shell spheroids may contribute to the increased therapeutic efficacy of stem cell treatment for skin wounds.

Potential for improved retention rate by personalized antiseizure medication selection: A register-based analysis.

The first antiseizure medication (ASM) is ineffective or intolerable in 50% of epilepsy cases. Selection between more than 25 available ASMs is guided by epilepsy factors, but also age and comorbidities. Randomized evidence for particular patient subgroups is seldom available. We asked whether register data could be used for retention rate calculations based on demographics, comorbidities, and ASM history, and quantified the potential improvement in retention rates of the first ASM in several large epilepsy cohorts. We also describe retention rates in patients with epilepsy after traumatic brain injury and dementia, patient groups with little available evidence. We used medical, demographic, and drug prescription data from epilepsy cohorts from comprehensive Swedish registers, containing 6380 observations. By analyzing 381 840 prescriptions, we studied retention rates of first- and second-line ASMs for patients with epilepsy in multiple sclerosis (MS), brain infection, dementia, traumatic brain injury, or stroke. The rank of retention rates of ASMs was validated by comparison to published randomized control trials. We identified the optimal stratification for each brain disease, and quantified the potential improvement if all patients had received the optimal ASM. Using optimal stratification for each brain disease, the potential improvement in retention rate (percentage points) was MS, 20%; brain infection, 21%; dementia, 14%; trauma, 21%; and stroke, 14%. In epilepsy after trauma, levetiracetam had the highest retention rate at 80% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 65-89), exceeding that of the most commonly prescribed ASM, carbamazepine (p=.04). In epilepsy after dementia, lamotrigine (77%, 95% CI = 68-84) and levetiracetam (74%, 95% CI = 68-79) had higher retention rates than carbamazepine (p=.006 and p=.01, respectively). We conclude that personalized ASM selection could improve retention rates and that national registers have potential as big data sources for personalized medicine in epilepsy.

Assessing Online Homework in First-Semester Calculus

This paper describes and assesses the implementation of online homework in a first-semester calculus course. Comparing sections of the course before implementation to those after, we find statistically significant improvements in retention rates, measures of student engagement, and participation on homework. We do not, however, find statistically significant changes in the proportions of students passing the common final exam or earning a C grade or better for the course. We conclude with a discussion of qualitative aspects and implications of our implementation of online homework.

An Appealing Connection–The Role of Relationship Marketing in the Attraction and Retention of Students in an Australian Tertiary Context

The higher education sector is increasingly facing competition from tertiary providers at both a domestic and international level. This has led to a range of ever more complex challenges with regard to the attraction, maintenance and retention of the student base. There is an important need therefore to understand the factors which contribute to positive perceptions of tertiary services and the way in which these affect the student experience and drive student retention. The improvement of retention rates through the formation of meaningful and long-term relationships with students is subsequently of high importance. This research explores students’ perceptions of the relationship that they enter into with their chosen tertiary institution and the effect that this has on the development of student loyalty. In particular this research examines the salience of relationship appeal, satisfaction, affective commitment and trust on student loyalty. A structural equation modelling approach was adopted using a sample of 426 first year undergraduate students of a large Australian metropolitan university. Importantly, next to satisfaction, relationship appeal was found to be the second strongest determinant of student loyalty. This was then followed by affective commitment. Interestingly trust did not influence relationship development. Conclusions, implications and opportunities for future research are presented. From a managerial perspective, it is expected that uncovering first year students’ perceptions of the student-institution relationship will enable higher education institutions to develop more targeted relationship marketing programs and increase student retention.

Keratoprosthesis results in animals: an update.

The report presented is an update on continuing development work on modified PHEMA core-and-shirt KPros in animals. Two variations (improved wet-eye, and dry-eye) of a prototype core-and-skirt Chirila KPro are described. The clinical success rate on implantation of these versions of the Chirila KPro was assessed. It was found that a significant improvement in retention rate was shown in the improved model but that the dry-eye model failed early in two of the three implanted. The significance of the improved strength and the reasons for disappointing results with the early dry-eye KPros are discussed. Ongoing work is briefly outlined.

Improvements in retention rates and changes in client group with methadone maintenance streaming

This study evaluated changes in client population and in retention rates following the introduction of a system of methadone maintenance streaming. A low intervention and low supervision stream was combined with two abstinence-orientated streams. Privileges of take-home doses and local pharmacy dose collection were contingent on successful participation in the abstinence-orientated streams. The clinic also modified policy to allow clients greater control over dose levels. The case notes of the first 100 clients entering the programme in the year prior to the changes (1991) and in the year following the changes (1993) were compared. The results showed a significant increase in retention rates. The demographic and heroin using histories did not change, but the newer programme attracted a greater proportion of clients with no previous history of methadone maintenance treatment. Mean clinic dose increased from 45 mg to 63 mg when clients were allowed to exert control over dose. These findings reveal improved outcomes in a public methadone maintenance programme as a result of policy changes designed to give clients greater control of their treatment.