Technology use by a college of education faculty and factors influencing integration of technology in an undergraduate teacher preparation program

This study describes current levels of technology use by a College of Education (COE) faculty and use of technology in teaching classes. In addition, the formation of a systematic plan for integrating technology throughout the teacher preparation programs was explored. Both quantitative and qualitative methods were used in this two-phase study; Phase I survey results suggested that although 93% of faculty believed technology in teacher education was very important or somewhat important, use of technology in teaching was limited. Consistent with previous findings on university faculty use of technology, COE faculty rated themselves as having high levels of knowledge and skill with using various computer-based technologies (i.e., word processing, computer spreadsheets, statistical computing, e-mail, educational software, presentation software, Internet/World Wide Web, and multimedia). However, this confidence did not necessarily transfer to use of technology in teaching. Over 50% of tenured/tenure-track faculty reported use of technology in teaching at least once during the Spring 1997 semester while no more than 30% of affiliate faculty reported using it in teaching; Phase II case study data were collected from interviews, observations, and documents. Data were examined using the framework developed by Fullan and Hargreaves (1996): (a) teacher\u27s purpose, (b) teacher as person, (c) context of teaching, and (d) culture of teaching; Findings describe the manner in which case study participants used technology in their teaching as an add-on, a communication medium, a resource, and a teaching/learning tool. Commitment, a factor within teacher as person, was found to be a critical element in adopting use of technology in teaching regardless of an individual\u27s technology expertise. Efforts to plan for systematic integration of technology throughout the COE teacher preparation programs were met by resistance due to the issue of academic freedom and more pressing concerns such as reorganization of the COE; Although findings of this study are limited to one COE setting, a complex variety of factors influencing the integration of technology in teacher education are described, and the importance of support personnel is reinforced. Recommendations for other colleges of education attempting to integrate technology into teacher education programs are included

1947, May 8 - Falba Love Johnson

Series 1.1.2 - Fay Webb Gardner; Personal Papers; Correspondence Correspondence from Falba Love Johnson.https://digitalcommons.gardner-webb.edu/fay-webb-gardner-correspondence/1015/thumbnail.jp

Tobacco Spending and its Crowd-Out of Other Goods

Smoking is an expensive habit. Smoking households spend, on average, more than $1000 annually on cigarettes. For households in which some members smoke, smoking expenditures crowd-out other purchases, which may affect other household members, as well as the smoker. We empirically analyze how expenditures on tobacco crowd out consumption of other goods, estimating the patterns of substitution between tobacco products and other expenditures. We use the Consumer Expenditure Survey (1995 to 2001), which we complement with regional price data, and state cigarette prices. We estimate a consumer demand system of expenditures on cigarettes, food, alcohol, housing, apparel, transportation, medical care and controls for socio-economic variables and other sources of observable heterogeneity. Descriptive data indicate that, compared to non-smokers, smokers spend less on housing. Results from the demand system indicate that as the price of cigarettes rises, households increase the quantity of food purchased, and, in some samples, reduce the quantity of apparel and housing purchased.

Impact of First Occupation on Health at Older Ages

Occupation is discussed as a social determinant of health. Occupation has received little attention in this light in the economics literature. We examine occupation in a life-course framework and use measures of first-occupation, initial health, and mother’s education. We contend that first occupation is a choice made relatively early in life that affects health outcomes at later ages. We examine first-occupation for two reasons: 1) there is growing evidence that early determinants affect later health and occupation has received little attention in this regard and 2) first occupation is predetermined in analysis of later health, which helps to address the issue of potential simultaneity. Using data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID) we estimate the impact of initial occupation on two measures of health later in life: respondent-reported fair/poor health and ever suffering a heart attack. The PSID offers the opportunity to examine a lifecycle perspective as we can examine the impact of early occupation on later health while controlling for several predetermined conditions such as mother’s education and health in youth. Estimates suggest that first-occupation has a durable impact on later health, ceteris paribus, but that the impact varies by health measure and the set of control variables in regression specifications. Early choice of occupation could be a critical factor in successful aging and this information may pave the way to developing more effective workplace and public policies to improve health in older ages.

Analiza skuteczności polityki ograniczania pandemii COVID-19 w Polsce i Malezji do połowy 2021 r.

As shown by the statistics, East Asian countries control COVID-19 better than other countries. Due to that fact, one should pose the following question: what is it caused by? The article analyzes the actions taken to control COVID-19 in Poland and Malaysia - statistics, the time of introducing restrictions, their types and scope, as well as methods of their enforcement. The choice of countries is dictated by a similar number of inhabitants and the number of tests performed. Malaysia is recognized worldwide as one of the top countries managing the pandemic very well. On the other hand, Poland is one of the world's leading countries with the highest number of confirmed cases of COVID-19. The descriptive and comparative analysis allowed the author to draw conclusions on the factors that determine success in controlling COVID-19. On the basis of the conducted research, previous experiences and developed action plans for contagious diseases as well as cultural and social factors are of the greatest importance.Statystyki jednoznacznie wskazują, że państwa Azji Wschodniej znacznie lepiej radzą sobie w walce z pandemią COVID-19. Należy zadać sobie jednak pytanie, jakie są tego przyczyny. W artykule przeanalizowano działania podejmowane w celu zwalczania COVID-19 w Polsce oraz Malezji - statystyki, czas wprowadzania restrykcji, rodzaje i zakres obostrzeń, a także sposoby ich egzekwowania. Wybór krajów podyktowany jest zbliżoną liczbą mieszkańców oraz liczbą wykonanych testów. Malezja jest uznawana za jedno z państw najlepiej radzących sobie z pandemią. Polska natomiast znajduje się w światowej czołówce krajów o największej liczbie potwierdzonych przypadków zakażeń. Analiza opisowa i porównawcza umożliwiła wyciągnięcie wniosków dotyczących czynników, które determinują sukces w walce z COVID-19. Z przeprowadzonych badań wynika, że szczególne znaczenie mają: wcześniejsze doświadczenia poszczególnych państw, opracowane plany działania na wypadek wystąpienia chorób zakaźnych oraz czynniki kulturowo-społeczne

Work Expectations, Realizations, and Depression in Older Workers

We explore the impact on depressive symptoms of deviation in actual labor force behavior at age 62 from earlier expectations. Our sample of 4,241 observations is drawn from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS). We examine workers who were less than 62 years of age at the 1992 HRS baseline, and who had reached age 62 by our study endpoint, enabling comparison of actual labor force withdrawal with earlier expectations. Poisson regression were used to estimate the impact of expected full-time work status on depressive symptoms; regressions are estimated separately for those working fulltime at age 62 and those not working fulltime. We found significant effects on depression at age 62 both for full-time workers who expected not to be working full-time, and for participants not working full-time who expected to be doing so. These results hold even after adjustment for earlier depressive symptoms, sociodemographic and other relevant controls. The findings suggest that working longer and retiring earlier than expected each may compromise psychological well-being. The current financial crisis may result in both scenarios as some workers may have to work longer than expected due to the decline in pension and other wealth while others may retire earlier due to job loss.

Alcohol and tobacco consumption concordance and its correlates in older couples in Latin America

AimAs little is known about alcohol and tobacco consumption concordance between older spouses in low- and middle-income countries, the present study aimed to estimate this in older couples from five Latin American countries. MethodsThis study is a secondary analysis of data collected between 2003 and 2007 by the 10/66 Dementia Research Group, from 1451 couples aged over 65 years from Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Peru, Mexico and Puerto Rico. Kappa statistic was used to assess the agreement of the behavior beyond chance, and logistic regression models with meta-analyses were used to estimate the factors associated with concordance. ResultsThe mean age of the total sample was 74.8 years (SD 6.6). The results showed high levels of agreement rates in relation to drinking and smoking (75.9% and 85% of couples, respectively, did not drink or smoke), which were beyond the agreement expected by chance. Increased age was associated with concordance on both being non-drinkers (OR 1.03, 95% CI 1.01-1.05) and non-smokers (OR 1.05, 95% CI 1.02-1.07); and having a larger social network was associated with less likelihood of the couple being non-drinkers (OR 0.93, 95% CI 0.88-0.98). Attending religious meetings was associated with increased likelihood of the couple being non-smokers (OR 1.19, 95% CI 1.01-1.41). Socioeconomic circumstances were not associated with couples' concordance. ConclusionsOlder Latin American couples have high levels of concordance in drinking and smoking habits, which increases with age, and were not associated with socioeconomic circumstances, but were with social network. This knowledge can assist the development of policies and interventions to promote health among this growing population. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2017; 17: 1849-1857.Wellcome Trust Health Consequences of Population Change ProgrammeWorld Health OrganizationUS Alzheimer's AssociationFONACIT/CDCH/UCV (Venezuela)FAPESP (Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo)AFIP (Associacao Fundo de Incentivo a Pesquisa)CAPES (Coordenacao de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de Nivel Superior)Univ Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Psychobiol, Rua Napoleao de Barros 925, BR-04024003 Sao Paulo, BrazilHosp Alemao Oswaldo Cruz, Inst Educ & Hlth Sci, Sao Paulo, BrazilKings Coll London, Inst Psychiat Psychol & Neurosci, Ctr Global Mental Hlth, Hlth Serv & Populat Res Dept, London, EnglandUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Psychobiol, Rua Napoleao de Barros 925, BR-04024003 Sao Paulo, BrazilWellcome Trust Health Consequences of Population Change Programme: GR066133Wellcome Trust Health Consequences of Population Change Programme: GR08002US Alzheimer's Association: IIRG - 04 - 1286FAPESP: 2012/19988-3Web of Scienc

Les Pédo-paysages des plaines centrales de Midi-Pyrénées

Les sols des zones de plaines de la région Midi-Pyrénées montrent une grande diversité liée, notamment, au carrefour des influences climatiques passées et actuelles : glaciaire, méditerranéenne et atlantique. Le présent article illustre la distribution des principales Unités Typologiques de Sols parmi les Unités pédo-paysagères dans les zones de plaines depuis le nord du Lot jusqu'au piémont ariégeois. La couverture pédologique y est très marquée par la nature des grands ensembles sédimentaires, depuis les contreforts du Massif central, jusqu'à la Molasse argilo-calcaire très largement étendue dans le bassin toulousain

Antitumor activity of leaves of Himatanthus drasticus (Mart.) Plumel-Apocynaceae (janaguba) in the treatment of Sarcoma 180 tumor

Himatanthus drasticus, also known as janaguba, is used popularly in Brazil's Northeastern region in the treatment of cancer. However, no scientific reports are available. The present study is the first investigation on the antitumor activity of crude methanolic extract from Himatanthus drasticus leaves against Sarcoma 180 tumor and on its side effects including acute oral toxicity. The OECD 423 methodology was used to study acute oral toxicity, and the STOCK methodology to assess antitumor activity. The crude extract showed low toxicity at the tested doses (50, 300 and 2000 mg/kg) administered orally. The histopathological analyses demonstrated alterations in liver lung, spleen and kidney. It also showed activity against Sarcoma 180 tumor in male Swiss albino mice, evidencing tumor growth inhibition of 67.7% and 68% at 300 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg doses, respectively.Himatanthus drasticus, conhecida popularmente como janaguba, tem uma longa história de emprego na cura do câncer no nordeste brasileiro, porém quase sem registro na literatura. O objetivo desse trabalho foi investigar a atividade antitumoral do extrato bruto metanólico das folhas de Himatanthus drasticus frente ao modelo experimental Sarcoma 180 e avaliar sua toxicidade aguda. A determinação da toxicidade aguda foi realizada segundo a metodologia da OECD 423 e o transplante do tumor sólido de sarcoma 180 foi realizado seguindo a metodologia de Stock. O extrato apresentou baixa toxicidade nas doses testadas (50, 300 e 2000 mg/kg) por via oral. A análise histopatológica apresentou alterações em nível hepático, pulmonar, baço e renal. A atividade antineoplásica apresentou inibição tumoral significativa em relação ao grupo controle nas doses de 300 mg/kg e 400 mg/kg de peso do animal com um percentual de inibição de 67.7% e 68% respectivamente. Na menor dose analisada, 200 mg/kg, o percentual de inibição tumoral foi apenas de 32.8%

Unemployment, underweight, and obesity: Findings from Understanding Society (UKHLS)

Elevated morbidity and mortality among jobseekers may be partly explained by adiposity, but previous studies of unemployment and body mass index (BMI), which have usually modelled associations as linear, have produced inconsistent results. However, both underweight and obesity are associated with mortality, and both weight loss and weight gain associated with a stressful environment. If unemployment is associated with both underweight and obesity for different subgroups, these associations may previously have masked each other, whilst affecting health through divergent pathways. We investigated whether there is a previously overlooked U-shaped association of unemployment and BMI, which could help explain jobseekers’ elevated morbidity and mortality, and identify groups vulnerable to underweight and obesity during unemployment. We used multinomial models to simultaneously investigate associations of unemployment with BMI-defined underweight, overweight, and obesity in 10,737 working-age UK adults from Understanding Society (UKHLS) in 2010–12. Moderating impacts of unemployment duration, demographic factors and smoking were explored. Current jobseekers were more likely to be underweight (Odds ratio (OR): 4.05, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.12–7.73) and less likely to be overweight (OR: 0.71, CI: 0.55, 0.92) adjusted for gender, age, education, health, smoking and physical activity, while unemployed non-smokers had increased odds of obesity (OR: 1.52, CI: 1.06–2.18). Underweight and overweight associations were more apparent for longer-term jobseekers, men, and jobseekers from lower-income households. We conclude that unemployment is associated with underweight and, in nonsmokers, obesity. Results show the unemployment-adiposity relationship cannot be properly studied assuming unidirectionality of effects, and suggest unemployment may affect health of different groups via divergent adiposity-mediated pathways