Perceptions of E-learning by Management Trainees in a Small, Fast Food Restaurant

Small businesses account for a majority of U.S. jobs and play a vital role in the economy. However, the survival rate for small businesses is disconcerting. Only half of the small businesses will survive five years or more and one-third ten or more years. Fast food restaurants are part of the food and drinking industry. It is the second largest industry in the United States and the most vulnerable to business failure. Research has shown the capabilities of small business managers can play a significant role in the success or failure of a small business, but little research has been done on the use of E-learning in acquiring those capabilities. The purpose of this qualitative study was to investigate the perceptions of E-learning of management trainees. The research sample consisted of ten management trainees at a fast food franchise in Memphis, Tennessee. The findings suggest that prior experience had little to no influence on E-learning perception, hands-on or on-the-job training is the preferred method of learning, learner preparation and support were inconsistent, and some trainees had no idea and others only guessed why E-learning was being used. The overall assessment of the E-learning training was that participants found value in it, but many learner engagement improvements are needed. Based on the study findings, there needs to be a proactive effort by organizations and training staff to address the engagement and E-learning adoption issues when management trainee preferred learning style is hands-on learning

Endostatin and anastellin inhibit distinct aspects of the angiogenic process

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Endostatin and anastellin, fragments of collagen type XVIII and fibronectin, respectively, belong to a family of endogenous inhibitors of angiogenesis which inhibit tumor growth and metastasis in a number of mouse models of human cancer. The mechanism of action of these inhibitors is not well understood, but they have great potential usefulness as non-toxic long-term therapy for cancer treatment.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In this study, we compare the anti-angiogenic properties of endostatin and anastellin using cell proliferation and transwell migration assays.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Anastellin but not endostatin completely inhibited human dermal microvessel endothelial cell proliferation in response to serum stimulation. Both anastellin and endostatin additively inhibited endothelial cell migration in response to VEGF. Anastellin but not endostatin lowered basal levels of active ERK.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These data indicate that anastellin and endostatin exert their anti-angiogenic effects by modulating distinct steps in the angiogenic pathway and suggest that matrix-derived inhibitors of angiogenesis may exhibit higher efficacy when used in combination.</p

Before the 2020 Pandemic: an observational study exploring public knowledge, attitudes, plans, and preferences towards death and end of life care in Wales

Background Understanding public attitudes towards death and dying is important to inform public policies around End of Life Care (EoLC). We studied the public attitudes towards death and dying in Wales. Methods An online survey was conducted in 2018. Social media and the HealthWiseWales platform were used to recruit participants. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis. Results 2,210 people participated. Loss of independence (84%), manner of death, and leaving their beloved behind were the biggest fears around death and dying. In terms of EoLC, participants sought timely access to care (84%) and being surrounded by loved ones (62%). Being at home was less of a priority (24%). Only 50% were familiar with Advance Care Planning (ACP). A lack of standard procedures as well as of support for the execution of plans and the ability to revisit those plans hindered uptake. The taboo around death conversations, the lack of opportunities and skills to initiate discussion, and personal fear and discomfort inhibited talking about death and dying. 72% felt that we do not talk enough about death and dying and advocated normalising talking by demystifying death with a positive approach. Health professionals could initiate and support this conversation, but this depended on communication skills and manageable workload pressure. Participants encouraged a public health approach and endorsed the use of: a) social media and other public platforms, b) formal education, c) formal and legal actions, and d) signposting and access to information. Conclusions People are ready to talk about death and dying and COVID-19 has increased awareness. A combination of top-down and bottom-up initiatives across levels and settings can increase awareness, knowledge, and service-utilisation-drivers to support health professionals and people towards shared decisions which align with people’s end of life wishes and preferences

Coping and wellbeing in bereavement: two core outcomes for evaluating bereavement support in palliative care

Background Bereavement support is a core part of palliative care. However, the evidence base is limited by a lack of consistency in the outcomes used to evaluate services and models of support, which makes it difficult to compare approaches. Core Outcome Sets (COS) represent the minimum that should be measured in research into specific conditions or services. The aim of this study was to use a stakeholders’ perspective to develop a COS for evaluating bereavement support for adults in adult palliative care settings. Methods A list of outcomes relevant to bereavement support was created following a systematic review of the quantitative and qualitative literature. At an expert workshop 21 stakeholders discussed their views on the most important outcomes and compared these to and critiqued the lists constructed from the review. These lists and discussions informed a two round international DELPHI survey (n=240) designed to reach consensus on which outcomes/outcome dimensions should be included in the COS. To prioritise and validate the items emerging from the survey, participants at a subsequent consensus day ranked the relative importance of these items (n=23). A final feedback exercise with these consensus day participants was conducted to confirm the selection of outcomes and dimensions. Results ‘Ability to cope with grief’ and ‘Quality of life and Mental Wellbeing’ were selected as two core outcomes. 21 different dimensions to explore when assessing these outcomes were also identified. The coping related dimensions have been categorised as: Negative and overwhelming grief; Communication and connectedness; Understanding, accepting and finding meaning in grief; Finding balance between grief and life going forwards; Accessing appropriate support. Those relating to Quality of life and Wellbeing have been categorised as; Participation in work and/or regular activities; Relationships and social functioning; Positive mental wellbeing and Negative mental and emotional state. Conclusion This COS outlines a more consistent way forward for bereavement researchers and practitioners, whilst also orientating towards public health and resilience-based approaches to bereavement care. Further work is planned to identify and develop measures which are specific to this core outcome set, and which will facilitate the future comparability of bereavement services and interventions

Amphibole Geochemistry of the Yanacocha Volcanics, Peru: Evidence for Diverse Sources of Magmatic Volatiles Related to Gold Ores

The Yanacocha mining district is located in the Andes of northern Peru in an area of relatively thick continental crust (~35 km) and long-lived Cenozoic subduction-related volcanism. Volcanic activity in the district began at ~20 Ma, and gold deposits (total resource of ~1500 tonnes of gold) are spatially and temporally associated with eruption of the ~80 km³ Miocene Yanacocha Volcanics from 14.5 to 8.4 Ma. The Yanacocha Volcanics consist of five successive eruptive groups: the Atazaico Andesite lavas, the Colorado Pyroclastics (andesite-dacite), the Azufre Andesite (and dacite) lavas, the San Jose Ignimbrite and related domes (dacite), and small volumes of Coriwachay Dacite dikes, domes and rhyolite ignimbrite. Most dacite magmas likely did not erupt, but rather are inferred to have episodically crystallized to granite at depth to produce ore fluids. Two distinct populations of amphiboles, distinguished by their aluminum content, are found in the dacites. On the basis of phase equilibrium, the low-aluminum (low-Al) amphiboles were formed at 750–840°C and 110–240 MPa, whereas the high aluminum (high-Al) amphiboles are estimated to have formed at 900-950°C and P[subscript H2O] > 250 MPa. The trace element contents of amphibole and whole-rocks are consistent with crystallisation of the high-Al amphibole at near-liquidus temperatures from a basaltic-andesite to andesite magma, whereas the low-Al amphibole crystallized at lower temperatures in equilibrium with a rhyolitic melt derived from a crystal-rich dacite magma. Hydrogen isotopic compositions of both high- and low-Al amphibole exhibit a large range from -40‰ to -120‰ for the 12.5 to 11.0 Ma andesite-dacite and have a restricted range from -100‰ to -112‰ for the younger Coriwachay Dacite (10.8 to 8.4 Ma). The high δD values of some high-Al amphiboles (-41‰) likely represent subduction-derived water dissolved in a water- and fluorine-rich, chlorine-poor, and sulfate-saturated basaltic andesite magma. This magma was injected into an upper crustal, chlorine-rich, silicic magma chamber characterized by low δD of low-Al amphibole (-60‰ or lower). Short residence times (1 year) in the shallow chambers prior to eruption to equilibrate isotopically with the predominant low- δD dacite. The young Coriwachay Dacite magmas likely assimilated meteorichydrothermally altered low-δD rocks to generate the low δD of the low-Al amphibole (-100‰ to -120‰). These dacites are related to the main gold ore stages, and contain low-Al amphibole that is zinc- and chlorine-rich, but copper- and fluorine-poor, compared to the associated high-Al amphibole. These results imply that deep mafic magmas may have supplied much of sulfur, fluorine, copper, and by inference gold, whereas upper crustal recycling may have supplied a significant proportion of the water and chlorine to the late dacite magmas and ore fluids.This is an author's peer-reviewed final manuscript, as accepted by the publisher. The published article is copyrighted by Oxford University Press and can be found at: http://petrology.oxfordjournals.org/. This is an author's peer-reviewed final manuscript, as accepted by the publisher. The published article is copyrighted by Oxford University Press and can be found at: http://petrology.oxfordjournals.org/. Supplementary Data is available on the Journal of Petrology article site.Keywords: amphibole, volatiles, gold ores, mixing, hydrogen isotopes, assimilatio