Exploring teachers’ perceptions of positive and negative attitudes toward teachers and the teaching profession

According to the OECD (2014), only one-third of U.S. teachers reported that teaching was “valued” or “highly valued” by U.S. society. Still others have argued that teachers’ perceptions of negative attitudes may be exaggerated (Hargreaves et al., 2007). However, given widespread teacher turnover, along with decreasing enrollments in teacher preparation programs, examining teachers’ perceptions of attitudes toward their occupation likely would provide useful insight into these and related problems facing American schools. Guiding questions for this study addressed teachers’ perceptions of attitudes, contexts in which attitudes were perceived, teachers’ interpretations or responses to perceived attitudes, and differences in perceived attitudes between bioecological (Bronfenbrenner, 1999) and sociocultural contexts. Qualitative methodologies that drew on principles and procedures from grounded theory (Glaser & Strauss, 1967) were used. In all, 18 public school teachers (nine who taught in Massachusetts and nine who taught in Texas) were interviewed about attitudes they perceived in their interactions with various groups of individuals (e.g., friends, students, administrators), and attitudes embedded in more distal contexts (e.g., media, policy, culture). Based on analyses of these interviews, I found that teachers reported perceiving four types of positive (i.e., appreciative, respectful, trusting/supportive, occupational) and negative (i.e., adversarial, demeaning, unprofessional, stereotypes) attitudes toward teaching. These attitudes were perceived in interactions across eight bioecological contexts that ranged from the interpersonal (e.g., adversarial attitudes in interactions with students’ parents; positive occupational attitudes in interactions with friends and family) to the societal (e.g., stereotypes of teachers in the media, demeaning attitudes imbedded in U.S. culture). I also found that teachers perceived different attitudes despite having similar experiences. For example, a number of teachers described experiences in which non-teachers expressed that they “could never be a teacher.” A number of participants interpreted such statements as respectful, yet others perceived them as demeaning or expressed ambivalence about the attitudes perceived in such statements. Finally, I identified bioecological and sociocultural differences between teachers that appeared to correspond with variation in perceptions of attitudes toward teaching. These findings have implications for improving school climate and for supporting preservice teachers, as they reflect on their expectations of themselves as future teachers

Eating and Exercise Behaviors, and Motivational Differences Between Kinesiology Majors and Non-Majors

Eating and exercise behaviors have garnered a substantial amount of research attention. Several health risks are known to be lower in individuals who exercise, yet only 35% of college students exercise on a regular basis (Silliman, Rodas-Fortier, & Neyman, 2004). Despite the evidence suggesting healthy eating and exercise habits to reduce chronic disease, college students typically do not meet their own stated goals for exercise and nutrition, or goals set forth by national guidelines (Walace, et al., 2000). Therefore, a college campus is a challenging yet necessary setting for people to overcome barriers and obstacles in their lives that may hinder their exercise or eating behaviors. These behaviors not only affect physical aspects, but also psychosocial aspects. Individuals who exercise on a regular basis report having higher self-esteem as compared to those who do not (Edwards et al., 2005), and an individual’s motivation to establish healthy eating and exercise habits can impact their resulting behavior. Kinesiology is a major that is primarily health and fitness based where healthy nutrition and exercise habits are generally valued by students. As such, it seems that kinesiology majors should be more motivated to exercise and eat a balanced diet when compared to non-kinesiology majors. The purpose of this study was to examine motivational components for eating and exercise behaviors, as well as individuals’ differences in these behaviors between kinesiology and non-kinesiology majors. Participants (N = 330; 58% kinesiology majors) completed psychometrically sound measures designed to assess eating and exercise behaviors and motivation toward these behaviors in the college environment. Participants’ BMI was also calculated. ANOVA was utilized to compare kinesiology majors and non-majors on the study variables. Kinesiology majors reported healthier exercise behaviors and greater motivation to exercise than non-majors (p \u3c .001), however no differences were found between the groups with regard to eating behaviors or eating motivation. Additionally, there were no significant differences found between the groups on BMI. Differences among kinesiology majors on differing degree tracks (i.e., exercise science, physical education, and recreation/sport business) was examined using ANOVA. There were no differences found with regard to eating behaviors, exercise behaviors, eating motivation, or exercise motivation. There was a significant difference between the degree tracks with regard to BMI (p \u3c .01) where exercise science majors had healthier BMIs than physical education or recreation/sport business majors. This study extends previous research by identifying differences between kinesiology majors and non-majors’ eating and exercise behaviors, motivation for such behaviors, and body mass index

Examining the Impact of Pad Flexibility on the Rotordynamic Coefficients of Rocker-Pivot-Pad Tilting-Pad Journal Bearings

Measured and predicted static and dynamic load characteristics are provided for a three-pad, rocker-pivot, tilting-pad journal bearing in the load-between-pad orientation. The bearing has the following characteristics: 3 pads, .50 pad pivot offset, 0.6 L/D ratio, 60.69 mm (2.4 in) pad axial length, and 0.0762 mm (0.003 in) radial clearance. Three interchangeable pad configurations were tested with pad thicknesses of 8.5 mm (0.33 in), 10 mm (0.39 in), and 11.5 mm (.45 in). Tests were performed on a test bearing floating about a rigid rotor design with unit loads ranging from 172 to 1,724 kPa (25 to 250 psi) and speeds from 6 to 12 krpm. Cold and hot clearances were taken to measure the nominal and operating, respectively, radial bearing clearance. The cold clearance was taken at room temperature while the hot clearance was taken for each operating speed immediately after the rig was shut down. The hot bearing clearance shows a 23 – 34% decrease in radial bearing clearance. As the operating speed increased, the operating temperature in the bearing increased. The increase in operating temperatures caused the bearing and pads to expand and reduced the radial bearing clearance. Static load tests were performed once the test rig reached steady-state conditions. The maximum measured eccentricity ratio was over one for each pad configuration. As pad flexibility increased, the static eccentricity ratio decreased. The eccentricity ratio predictions agreed well with the measured results in the loaded direction. The measured attitude angles were as high as approximately 10°. The attitude angles remained fairly constant at low rotational speeds for tp = 8.5 mm and tp = 10 mm and decreased as unit load increased for tp = 11.5 mm. XL_TPJB© predicted attitude angles that had a smaller magnitude than the measured results for all rotational speed and unit load conditions and were negative. The temperatures did not vary greatly across pad configurations. The predictions agreed well with the measured values at low speeds and low unit loads. As the operating speed and unit load increased, the predictions were lower than the measured values. Pad flexibility was characterized as the change in the pad’s bending stiffness or the change in pad thickness. A finite-element model (FEM) was created in SolidWorks® to predict the structural bending stiffness of each pad configuration. Once the pivot was fixed in the FEM, a uniform pressure distribution was applied to the rotor-side surface of the pad. Results from the finite-element analysis (FEA) show an increase in pad flexibility as the thickness of the pad decreased. Dynamic load tests were performed for all nominal test conditions over a range of excitation frequencies to obtain complex dynamic-stiffness coefficients as a function of excitation frequency. The real and imaginary parts of dynamic-stiffness were fitted with quadratic and linear models, respectively, with respect to excitation frequency. A constant coefficient [K][C][M] model produced frequency-independent rotordynamic coefficients. For the load-between-pad configuration, the dynamic-stiffness coefficients show significant bearing orthotropy, especially as the unit load increased. In general, the dynamic-stiffness was larger in the non-loading direction than it was in the loading direction. Negative virtual mass coefficients were commonly obtained for all pad configuration. To examine the effect of pad flexibility on the rotordynamic coefficients, the measured results were compared across each pad configuration. The measured results show that the increase in pad flexibility decreased the direct damping coefficients by 12-20% and, on average, decreased the cross-coupled damping coefficients by approximately 10%. On average, the measured results show a slight increase in the stiffness coefficients as pad flexibility increased. The direct stiffness coefficients varied from an increase of 12% at low unit loads and a decrease of 3% at high unit loads. The cross-coupled stiffness coefficients change by 0 to 12% as pad flexibility increased. In general, the direct virtual mass coefficients decreased by approximately 29% as pad flexibility increased. The average change for the cross-coupled coefficients is an increase in Mxy and Myx by 2% as pad flexibility increased. XL_TPJB© was used to predict the performance of the tilting-pad bearing tested in this work. XL_TPJB© accounts for pad and pivot flexibility. The predictions using XL_TPJB© agreed well with the measured values for direct stiffness coefficients. For a given pad set, the predictions agreed well with the measured results for one operating speed case and were either lower or higher than the measured results for the remaining speed cases for Cxx. The predicted values were generally higher than the measured values for Cyy at low unit loads and were lower than measured values at high unit loads. The measured values had a smaller magnitude than the predictions for the direct virtual-mass coefficients at lower speeds. At higher speeds, the predictions had a lower magnitude than the measured direct virtual-mass coefficients. All cross-coupled-coefficient predictions were nearly zero and, the measured values were typically non-zero and negative. A non-dimensional pad flexibility parameter αflex was used to relate the pad flexibility of multiple bearings of different sizes. The parameter related the average deflection across the pad surface to the pad’s arc length. XL_TPJB© was used to predict the percent change in direct damping coefficients for a rigid pad, flexible pivot and flexible pad, flexible pivot for a surface speed of 54 m/s and a unit load of 783 kPa. The results show the pads tested in this thesis are extremely flexible compared to pads used in industry. Results show that the pad’s structural bending stiffness or flexibility is important when predicting the bearing’s dynamic performance. Damping is consistently over-predicting when excluding pad flexibility, and this could have a significant impact in predicting the bearing’s stability characteristics. In general, all codes should account for pad flexibility, as well as pivot flexibility, to properly predict the performance of a tilting-pad journal bearing

Racial differences in new-onset cardiovascular disease in men with prostate cancer treated with hormone therapy

INTRODUCTION Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in patients with prostate cancer. Despite its efficacy in the treatment of advanced prostate cancer, androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) has been associated with increased cardiovascular disease mortality. Given black men have elevated risk of cardiovascular disease mortality compared to other racial groups, this study sought to evaluate the relationship of race with ADT-associated cardiotoxicity. METHODS We conducted a retrospective chart review of patients with locally advanced and metastatic prostate cancer who received androgen deprivation therapy at a single institution from 2017 to 2022. Methods of ADT included gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists/antagonists, non-steroidal anti-androgens, and bilateral orchiectomy. Patients were identified using International Classification of Diseases diagnosis and procedure codes. Data was collected on patient demographics, details regarding prostate cancer staging and treatment, as well as cardiovascular diagnoses and events, both proceeding and following hormone treatment initiation. RESULTS A total of 119 patients met inclusion criteria, including 94 black men and 25 white men. Median age at time of diagnosis was 68 and 63, for black and white men respectively. The groups did not differ with respect to stage at diagnosis and treatment history including radical prostatectomy, radiation, and chemotherapy as well as type of ADT administered. Median follow up was 4.0 and 4.7 years in the white and black cohorts. Mean duration of androgen deprivation therapy was similar in white and black men (8.37 v. 7.0 years, p = 0.38, ANOVA). Prevalence of pre-existing cardiovascular diagnoses prior to starting androgen deprivation therapy was similar between the two groups prior to starting ADT treatment (28% v. 35%, p = 0.5, ANOVA). After initiating ADT, black men had greater likelihood of developing new cardiovascular diagnoses (46% v. 24%, p = 0.05, ANOVA), with a trend toward higher rate of coronary angioplasty/bypass procedures in black men (9.5% v. 4%, p 0.12, ANOVA). All recorded 8 deaths were in patients who identified as black; cardiovascular disease was the cause of death in 5 of the 8 patients (3 cerebrovascular accidents, 1 myocardial infarction, 1 pulmonary embolism). 2 of the 3 cerebrovascular accidents occurred in patients with no pre-existing cardiovascular history prior to initiation of ADT. CONCLUSIONS This data suggests a higher incidence of cardiovascular morbidity in black men on androgen deprivation therapy and may translate to a higher risk of cardiovascular mortality

Development of outcome measures for autoimmune dermatoses

Validated outcome measures are essential in monitoring disease severity. Specifically in dermatology, which relies heavily on the clinical evaluation of the patient and not on laboratory values and radiographic tests, outcome measures help standardize patient care. Validated cutaneous scoring systems, much like standardized laboratory values, facilitate disease management and follow therapeutic response. Several cutaneous autoimmune dermatoses, specifically cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE), dermatomyositis (DM), and pemphigus vulgaris (PV), lack such outcome measures. As a result, evaluation of disease severity and patients’ response to therapy over time is less reliable. Ultimately, patient care is compromised. These diseases, which are often chronic and relapsing and remitting, are also often refractory to treatment. Without outcome measures, new therapies cannot be systematically assessed in these diseases. Clinical trials that are completed without standardized outcome measures produce less reliable results. Therefore, the development of validated outcome measures in these autoimmune dermatoses is critical. However, the process of developing these tools is as important, if not more so, than their availability. This review examines the steps that should be considered when developing outcome measures, while further examining their importance in clinical practice and trials. Finally, this review more closely looks at CLE, DM, and PV and addresses the recent and ongoing progress that has been made in the development of their outcome measures

Patterns of deep-sea genetic connectivity in the New Zealand region : implications for management of benthic ecosystems

© The Author(s), 2012. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License. The definitive version was published in PLoS One 7 (2012): e49474, doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0049474.Patterns of genetic connectivity are increasingly considered in the design of marine protected areas (MPAs) in both shallow and deep water. In the New Zealand Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), deep-sea communities at upper bathyal depths (<2000 m) are vulnerable to anthropogenic disturbance from fishing and potential mining operations. Currently, patterns of genetic connectivity among deep-sea populations throughout New Zealand’s EEZ are not well understood. Using the mitochondrial Cytochrome Oxidase I and 16S rRNA genes as genetic markers, this study aimed to elucidate patterns of genetic connectivity among populations of two common benthic invertebrates with contrasting life history strategies. Populations of the squat lobster Munida gracilis and the polychaete Hyalinoecia longibranchiata were sampled from continental slope, seamount, and offshore rise habitats on the Chatham Rise, Hikurangi Margin, and Challenger Plateau. For the polychaete, significant population structure was detected among distinct populations on the Chatham Rise, the Hikurangi Margin, and the Challenger Plateau. Significant genetic differences existed between slope and seamount populations on the Hikurangi Margin, as did evidence of population differentiation between the northeast and southwest parts of the Chatham Rise. In contrast, no significant population structure was detected across the study area for the squat lobster. Patterns of genetic connectivity in Hyalinoecia longibranchiata are likely influenced by a number of factors including current regimes that operate on varying spatial and temporal scales to produce potential barriers to dispersal. The striking difference in population structure between species can be attributed to differences in life history strategies. The results of this study are discussed in the context of existing conservation areas that are intended to manage anthropogenic threats to deep-sea benthic communities in the New Zealand region.This work was funded in part by a Fulbright Fellowship administered by Fulbright New Zealand and the U.S. Department of State, awarded in 2011 to EKB. Funding and support for research expedition was provided by Land Information New Zealand, New Zealand Ministry of Fisheries, NIWA, Census of Marine Life on Seamounts (CenSeam), and the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology. Other research funding was provided by the New Zealand Ministry of Science and Innovation project “Impacts of resource use on vulnerable deep-sea communities” (FRST contract CO1X0906), the National Science Foundation (OCE-0647612), and the Deep Ocean Exploration Institute (Fellowship support to TMS)