Higher and Further Education Students' Income, Expenditure and Debt in Scotland 2007-08

This report presents findings from the second study of the income, expenditure and debt of students studying higher education (HE) and further education (FE) in Scotland in 2007-08. The study was commissioned by the Scottish Government and conducted by the Scottish Centre for Employment Research at the University of Strathclyde Business School in conjunction with colleagues from the Business School and Department of Economics of the University of Glasgow. The aim of the study is to examine Scottish-domiciled higher and further education students' finances, particularly their income, expenditure, debt and savings, and their attitudes to the financing of study in Scotland. Where appropriate this data is then compared to the findings of the previous 2004-05 Scottish survey as well as a control group of young Scots who are not students

Learnings from implementing the excreta flow diagram (SFD) process in Kumasi

Excreta, Faecal or Shit Flow Diagrams (SFDs) are away to clearly represent how excreta flows along the sanitation service chain. This approach has already gained popularity and many SFDs have already been produced. To date little attention has been paid to the methods and data used, or the credibility of the SFDs. The SFD Promotion Initiative has created a tool to enable the wider roll-out of SFDs, which includes a credibility assessment. The product is a report on service delivery context with an embedded SFD. This briefing paper discusses the lessons learnt from trialling the tool and process developed through this initiative, in the city of Kumasi (Ghana). The most important lesson learnt is that stakeholder engagement is critical not only for obtaining credible data, but also for validating the SFD produced

Evaluating the viability of establishing container-based sanitation in low-income settlements

Container-based sanitation (CBS) services operate in a number of low-income urban settlements across the globe, providing sanitation services where other on-site and off-site sanitation systems face logistical and environmental restrictions. The viability of each CBS service is influenced by a number of location specific factors. Drawing on an initial review of existing CBS services, this paper identifies and evaluates these factors in relation to establishing CBS in a new service location. By applying a weighted scoring matrix to these factors, the potential viability of CBS services has been assessed for urban informal settlements in Kathmandu Valley, Nepal. The viability of CBS services in these settlements was found to be most influenced by the current availability of basic sanitation facilities, the unfamiliarity with paying for sanitation services and the universally adopted practice of anal cleansing with water. The process and scoring matrix developed and subsequently applied in Nepal, are recommended as part of the pre-feasibility stage assessment where a CBS service is being considered as a sanitation option in new locations

The internationalization of National Biomechanics Day

National Biomechanics Day (NBD) was initiated in 2016 as a nation-wide effort to introduce Biomechanics to high school students throughout the United States. After that initial year, many people around the world joined NBD to promote Biomechanics in their own countries. National Biomechanics Day became international. We describe NBD procedures and events in four of these countries with the intent of demonstrating mechanisms that may enable Biomechanists around the world to successfully join the NBD celebration

Psychological traits influence autonomic nervous system recovery following esophageal intubation in health and functional chest pain

Background: Esophageal intubation is a widely utilized technique for a diverse array of physiological studies, activating a complex physiological response mediated, in part, by the autonomic nervous system (ANS). In order to determine the optimal time period after intubation when physiological observations should be recorded, it is important to know the duration of, and factors that influence, this ANS response, in both health and disease. Methods: Fifty healthy subjects (27 males, median age 31.9 years, range 20-53 years) and 20 patients with Rome III defined functional chest pain (nine male, median age of 38.7 years, range 28-59 years) had personality traits and anxiety measured. Subjects had heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP), sympathetic (cardiac sympathetic index, CSI), and parasympathetic nervous system (cardiac vagal tone, CVT) parameters measured at baseline and in response to per nasum intubation with an esophageal catheter. CSI/CVT recovery was measured following esophageal intubation. Key Results: In all subjects, esophageal intubation caused an elevation in HR, BP, CSI, and skin conductance response (SCR; all p < 0.0001) but concomitant CVT and cardiac sensitivity to the baroreflex (CSB) withdrawal (all p < 0.04). Multiple linear regression analysis demonstrated that longer CVT recovery times were independently associated with higher neuroticism (p < 0.001). Patients had prolonged CSI and CVT recovery times in comparison to healthy subjects (112.5 s vs 46.5 s, p = 0.0001 and 549 s vs 223.5 s, p = 0.0001, respectively). Conclusions & Inferences: Esophageal intubation activates a flight/flight ANS response. Future studies should allow for at least 10 min of recovery time. Consideration should be given to psychological traits and disease status as these can influence recovery. The psychological trait of neuroticism retards autonomic recovery following esophageal intubation in health and functional chest pain

Psychophysiological responses to visceral and somatic pain in functional chest pain identify clinically relevant pain clusters

Background: Despite chronic pain being a feature of functional chest pain (FCP) its experience is variable. The factors responsible for this variability remain unresolved. We aimed to address these knowledge gaps, hypothesizing that the psychophysiological profiles of FCP patients will be distinct from healthy subjects. Methods: 20 Rome III defined FCP patients (nine males, mean age 38.7 years, range 28-59 years) and 20 healthy age-, sex-, and ethnicity-matched controls (nine males, mean 38.2 years, range 24-49) had anxiety, depression, and personality traits measured. Subjects had sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system parameters measured at baseline and continuously thereafter. Subjects received standardized somatic (nail bed pressure) and visceral (esophageal balloon distension) stimuli to pain tolerance. Venous blood was sampled for cortisol at baseline, post somatic pain and post visceral pain. Key Results: Patients had higher neuroticism, state and trait anxiety, and depression scores but lower extroversion scores vs controls (all p < 0.005). Patients tolerated less somatic (p < 0.0001) and visceral stimulus (p = 0.009) and had a higher cortisol at baseline, and following pain (all p < 0.001). At baseline, patients had a higher sympathetic tone (p = 0.04), whereas in response to pain they increased their parasympathetic tone (p ≤ 0.008). The amalgamating the data, we identified two psychophysiologically distinct 'pain clusters'. Patients were overrepresented in the cluster characterized by high neuroticism, trait anxiety, baseline cortisol, pain hypersensitivity, and parasympathetic response to pain (all p < 0.03). Conclusions & Inferences: In future, such delineations in FCP populations may facilitate individualization of treatment based on psychophysiological profiling

Youth chances: integrated report

This document provides an overview of the key findings from this five-year ground-breaking research project about the experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and questioning (LGBTQ) 16-25year olds in England funded by the Big Lottery Fund and conducted by METRO Charity in collaboration with Ergo Consulting and the University of Greenwich. Methods: The project surveyed 7,126 young people aged 16-25. Of these 6,514 were LGBTQ young people. 612 were heterosexual non-trans young people and 956 were trans young people. 29 commissioners of services for young people and 52 relevant service providers across England were also surveyed. Findings: Show high levels of discrimination, abuse and mental health issues that young LGBTQ people face which indicate a need for more to be done to improve the lives of LGBTQ young people. Sections of the report are: 1. Being different Over half of LGBQ respondents (53%) knew they were LGBQ by the age of 13. Over half of trans respondents (58%) knew they were trans by the same age. When coming out as LGBQ or trans, over four fifths of LGBQ respondents (81%) and nearly two thirds of trans respondents (62%) told a friend first. Over a quarter of LGBQ young people (29%) have not told their mother, nearly a half (45%) have not told their father, and 5% have not told anybody. Approximately half of trans respondents have not told parents or siblings that they are trans and 28% have not told anybody. Young people tell us that they most want emotional support to help them when they are coming out but most are not getting it. The second most important thing to them is to meet other LGBTQ people and again over half of them did not get this opportunity. 2. Participation LGBTQ young people are twice as likely not to feel accepted in the area where they currently live, compared to heterosexual non-trans young people. 59% of LGBTQ young people that would be interested in joining a religious organisation have stopped or reduced their involvement owing to their sexuality or gender identity. Over a third of LGBTQ young people (34%) are not able to be open about their sexuality or gender identity at a sports club they are involved in. 3. Staying safe 73% of the LGBTQ sample agreed that discrimination against LGB people is still common and 90% of the LGBTQ sample agreed that discrimination against trans people is still common. About three quarters of LGBTQ young people (74%) have experienced name calling, nearly a half (45%) have experienced harassment or threats and intimidation and almost a quarter (23%) have experienced physical assault. 88% of LGBTQ young people do not report incidents to the police and when cases are reported only 10% lead to a conviction. 29% of LGBTQ respondents reported domestic or familial abuse, compared to 25% of the heterosexual non trans group. Over a third (36%) of LGBTQ respondents cited their sexuality or gender identity as at least a contributing factor in the abuse. Almost one in five (18%) LGBTQ young people have experienced some form of sexual abuse, compared with one in ten (11%) of non-trans heterosexuals in our sample. Most LGBTQ respondents who have experienced sexual abuse (79%) have not received any help or support. Nearly one in ten LGBTQ young people report that they have had to leave home for reasons relating to their sexuality or gender identity. 4. Enjoying and achieving Nearly half of LGBTQ young people (49%) reported that their time at school was affected by discrimination or fear of discrimination. Consequences reported included missing lessons, achieving lower grades, feeling isolated and left out and having to move schools are all reported. 61% reported name calling because they were LGBTQ or people thought they were. This figure includes the experiences of heterosexual non-trans respondents: it is an issue for all young people. About one in five LGBTQ young people experience physical attack at school on account of their sexual identity or gender identity. The majority do not report this and only a small proportion of those who do experience resolution. For some reporting the abuse means that it gets worse. Around two thirds of LGBTQ young people say they learn a lot about relationships and safer sex between a man and a woman, compared to less than 5% who say they learn a lot about same sex relationships and safer sex. 89% of LGBTQ young people report learning nothing about bisexuality issues and 94% report learning nothing about transgender issues. Only 25% of LGBTQ young people report that they learned anything at school about safer sex for a male couple

Prevalence of peanut and tree nut allergy in the US determined by a random digit dial telephone survey

Background: Allergy to peanuts and tree nuts (TNs) is one of the leading causes of fatal and near-fatal food-induced allergic reactions. These allergies can be lifelong and appear to be increasing in prevalence. Despite the seriousness of these allergies, the prevalence of peanut and TN allergy in the general population is unknown. Objective: We sought to determine the prevalence of peanut and TN allergy among the general population of the United States. Methods: We used a nationwide, cross-sectional, random digit dial telephone survey with a standardized questionnaire. Results: A total of 4374 households contacted by telephone participated (participation rate, 67%), representing 12,032 individuals. Peanut or TN allergy was self-reported in 164 individuals (1.4%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.2%-1.6%) in 151 households (3.5%; 95% CI, 2.9%-4.0%). The prevalence of reported allergy in adults (1.6%) was higher than that found in children under 18 years of age (0.6%). In 131 individuals, details of the reactions were obtained. When applying criteria requiring reactions to be typical of IgE-mediated reactions (hives, angioedema, wheezing, throat tightness, vomiting, and diarrhea) within an hour of ingestion, 10% of these subjects were excluded. Among the remaining 118 subjects, allergic reactions involved 1 organ system (skin, respiratory, or gastrointestinal systems) in 50 subjects, 2 in 45 subjects, and all 3 in 23 subjects. Forty-five percent of these 118 respondents reported more than 5 lifetime reactions. Only 53% of these 118 subjects ever saw a physician for the allergic reaction, and only 7% had self-injectable epinephrine available at the time of the interview. The prevalence of peanut and TN allergy was adjusted by assuming that 10% of the remaining 33 subjects without a description of their reactions would also be excluded and correcting for a 7% false-positive rate for the survey instrument. A final “corrected” prevalence estimate of 1.1% (95% CI, 1.0%-1.4%) was obtained. Conclusions: Peanut and/or TN allergy affects approximately 1.1% of the general population, or about 3 million Americans, representing a significant health concern. Despite the severity of reactions, about half of the subjects never sought an evaluation by a physician, and only a few had epinephrine available for emergency use

Connecting does not necessarily mean learning: Course handbooks as mediating tools in school-university partnerships

This is the author's accepted manuscript (titled "Course handbooks as mediating tools in learning to teach"). The final published article is available from the link below. Copyright @ 2011 American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education.Partnerships between schools and universities in England use course handbooks to guide student teacher learning during long field experiences. Using data from a yearlong ethnographic study of a postgraduate certificate of education programme in one English university, the function of course handbooks in mediating learning in two high school subject departments (history and modern foreign languages) is analyzed. Informed by Cultural Historical Activity Theory, the analysis focuses on the handbooks as mediating tools in the school-based teacher education activity systems. Qualitative differences in the mediating functions of the handbooks-in-use are examined and this leads to a consideration of the potential of such tools for teacher learning in school–university partnerships. Following Zeichner’s call for rethinking the relationships between schools and universities, the article argues that strong structural connections between different institutional sites do not necessarily enhance student teacher learning

ISBS 2018 AUCKLAND CONFERENCE OPENING CEREMONY ORDER OF PROCEEDINGS

The Master of Ceremony Professor Patria Hume will ask delegates to stand at the commencement of the opening for the procession of the dignitaries to the auditorium. Dignitaries will be called into the auditorium via the Māori traditional karanga, and will proceed to their seats. The first formal address will be given by kaihāpai Dr Valance Smith and commence with a Karakia (Blessing) and Mihi Whakatau welcoming dignitaries, guests and delegates to the ISBS 2018 Conference. Derek McCormack, the AUT Vice-Chancellor, will address the assembled company and welcome them to AUT for the conference hosted in partnership by AUT, AUTM, HPSNZ, ATEED and ISBS. The conference logo was designed by Professor Patria Hume and Dr Valance Smith based on: the adaption of the AUT SPRINZ logo (taking steps to research-education-service excellence – sprinting up the NZ fern); and the goals of conference reflected in Māori culture “Te hōkai tapuwae” means “The breadth of stride”. Within the Māori Karakia (prayer) ‘Tenei au tenei au’ is the line ‘te hōkai nei i o taku tapuwae’ – The breadth of stride as Tane ascends to the heavens to retrieve the three baskets of knowledge. This embodies human movement and the pursuit of knowledge – the goals of ISBS. The AUT Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences Dean and Pro-Vice Chancellor, in absentia, welcomes the assembled company and encourages them to experience the research-education-service focus at AUT. Mike Stanley, the AUT Millennium (AUT Millennium) Chief Executive & New Zealand Olympic Committee (NZOC) President, will address the assembled company and welcome them to AUTM for the conference applied programme. Michael Scott, the High Performance Sport New Zealand (HPSNZ) Chief Executive, will address the assembled company and outline the importance of biomechanics and integrated sport science in supporting high performance athletes. Pam Ford, General Manager Economic Development, Auckland Tourism, Events Economic Development (ATEED), will address the assembled company and outline the importance of the conference to Auckland and New Zealand. Thanks will be given to the industry partners for their active contribution to the conference. The Conference Flag Ceremony and Official Opening of the Conference by the ISBS President. The delegates selected to participate as flag bearers during the opening ceremony as they were the first from their country to register for the conference, will proceed to the stage. (We apologise to delegates from countries who do not have a flag represented in the flag bearing ceremony due to logistics). The conference will be officially opened by President Young-Hoo with the unfurling of the ISBS banner. The ISBS President Professor Young-Hoo Kwon will address the assembled company on behalf of the International Society of Biomechanics in Sports and its Board of Directors, to welcome delegates to the 36th ISBS Annual Conference and to the city of Auckland. The details of this ISBS 2018 Conference inaugural Presidents Award are confidential until it is awarded. The recipient does not know they are receiving this award. The citation will be read by Dr Laura-Anne Furlong, ISBS Board member. The ISBS President Professor Young-Hoo Kwon and AUT Vice Chancellor Derek McCormack will present the ISBS 2018 conference travel grants to the recipients. NZ$20,000 is being awarded. The Kaikōrero Dr Valance Smith will perform the traditional Māori blessing of the gifts for dignitaries. Master wood carver Jarrod Hume was commissioned to create hand carved pohutukawa, puriri, and kauri (native NZ trees) items for dignitaries. Jarrod reclaimed the wood from fallen trees at Kawau Island in Auckland’s Hauraki Gulf. He dried the wood for two years, hand carved each item, and added Pasifika art work of his own creation using pyrography. The AUT kapahaka group, Tītahi ki Tua, will again perform for the assembled company. ISBS Geoffrey Dyson Awardee Professor Hermann Schwameder will be introduced by ISBS President Professor Young-Hoo Kwon. The prestigious Geoffrey Dyson Lecture is an invited presentation given by scientists who have made an outstanding contribution to ISBS and the field of sports biomechanics. As the Industry Partners Representative, Imogen Moorhouse (VICON’S CEO) from the ISBS 2018 Auckland Conference Platinum Industry Partner VICON, will address the assembled company and invite them to the opening Industry Playground Event immediately following the procession of the delegates from the theatre into the Sir Paul Reeves Atrium. The delegates will be requested to rise and remain standing for the procession of the dignitaries from the auditorium. All delegates will then proceed to the Kiwiana Opening Reception in the Sir Paul Reeves Atrium, where they will be greeted by Kelly Sheerin, and Alex Muir from VICON, on behalf of the industry partner medallists participating in the Playing Field Events