Striving to Practice What We Preach: Academics reflecting on teaching reflective practice

That reflection is part of the HRD academics’ continuing professional development is a powerful rhetoric. But to what extent are we guilty of hypocrisy? Inspired by the title and theme of the conference ‘HRD: Reflecting upon the Past, Shaping the Future’ this paper seeks to make a critically reflective statement on our own practice as HRD academics teaching and researching reflective practice. Researching ‘practising what we preach’, in the context of reflective practice, raises difficult questions but offers the potential for valuable insight into the HRD academics’ professional practice

Determinants of anemia and hemoglobin concentration in haitian school-aged children

Anemia diminishes oxygen transport in the body, resulting in potentially irreversible growth and developmental consequences for children. Limited evidence for determinants of anemia exists for school-aged children. We conducted a cluster randomized controlled trial in Haiti from 2012 to 2013 to test the efficacy of a fortified school snack. Children (N = 1,047) aged 3–13 years were followed longitudinally at three time points for hemoglobin (Hb) concentrations, anthropometry, and bioelectrical impedance measures. Dietary intakes, infectious disease morbidities, and socioeconomic and demographic factors were collected at baseline and endline. Longitudinal regression modeling with generalized least squares and logit models with random effects identified anemia risk factors beyond the intervention effect. At baseline, 70.6% of children were anemic and 2.6% were severely anemic. Stunting increased the odds of developing anemia (adjusted odds ratio [OR]: 1.48, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.05–2.08) and severe anemia (adjusted OR: 2.47, 95% CI: 1.30–4.71). Parent-reported vitamin A supplementation and deworming were positively associated with Hb concentrations, whereas fever and poultry ownership showed a negative relationship with Hb concentration and increased odds of severe anemia, respectively. Further research should explore the full spectrum of anemia etiologies in school children, including genetic causes

Design approaches and materials processes for ultrahigh efficiency lattice mismatched multi-junction solar cells

In this study, we report synthesis of large area (>2cm^2), crack-free GaAs and GaInP double heterostructures grown in a multi-junction solar cell-like structure by MOCVD. Initial solar cell data are also reported for GaInP top cells. These samples were grown on Ge/Si templates fabricated using wafer bonding and ion implantation induced layer transfer techniques. The double heterostructures exhibit radiative emission with uniform intensity and wavelength in regions not containing interfacial bubble defects. The minority carrier lifetime of ~1ns was estimated from photoluminescence decay measurements in both double heterostructures. We also report on the structural characteristics of heterostructures, determined via atomic force microscopy and transmission electron microscopy, and correlate these characteristics to the spatial variation of the minority carrier lifetime

Periodontal health, perceived oral health, and dental care utilization of breast cancer survivors

ObjectivesThis population‐based analysis examined the prevalence of periodontal diseases along with the self‐perceived oral health and patterns of dental care utilization of breast cancer survivors in the United States.MethodsData from the 1999‐2004 National Health and Nutrition Surveys were utilized, examining information from 3,354 women between 50 and 85 years of age. Primary outcomes were gingivitis and periodontitis, self‐perceived oral health, and dental care utilization. Logistic regression analyses were used to estimate relationships of breast cancer diagnosis and primary outcomes while controlling for confounding factors.ResultsBreast cancer survivors were more likely to be older than 55 years, white, nonsmokers, have higher levels of education and income, and a higher prevalence of osteoporosis. Breast cancer survivors were significantly less likely to have dental insurance (P = 0.04). Utilization of dental services and reason for last dental visit did not significantly differ between groups. A history of a breast cancer diagnosis did not increase the odds of gingivitis [odds ratio (OR):  1.32; 95 percent confidence interval (CI): 0.53‐3.63], periodontitis (OR: 1.82; 95 percent CI:  0.89‐4.01), or poor self‐perceived oral health (OR: 0.89; 95 percent CI: 0.61‐1.33) after adjusting for age, race, education, dental care utilization, and smoking status.ConclusionsIn this sample, a history of breast cancer does not significantly impact periodontal health, self‐perceived oral health, and dental care utilization. However, efforts should be made to assure that breast cancer survivors have dental insurance.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/111973/1/jphd12084.pd

Reflective Practice as a Threshold Concept: Implications for Teaching and Learning

Threshold concepts have received considerable attention in the literature since their development by Meyer and Land (2003), but while there has been some interest in relation to their applicability to management and business disciplines, this has been limited and threshold concepts have yet ‘to significantly impact the field of management education (Hibbert and Cunliffe 2015). The aim of this paper is to explore the extent to which reflective practice can be considered as a threshold concept, with the scope of the study being graduate students who participated in postgraduate programmes in Human Resource Management and Development. The discussion draws on data from eighteen interviews with HR professionals who had undertaken a Masters or Postgraduate Diploma in HR at one of three participating universities. The findings show that the concept of ‘threshold’ is highly relevant to reflective practice and demonstrates that reflective practice in the broadest sense can offer considerable value to postgraduate management students in relation to supporting their learning of both the technical and behavioural elements of their studies. Furthermore the findings can offer deeper insights into the integration of formal teaching processes on reflective practice

Sequence Alignment with Matched Sections

In molecular biology, two finite sequences are compared by displaying one sequence written over another in an alignment. The number of alignments of two sequences is related to the Stanton-Cowan numbers. This paper gives asymptotics for the number of alignments of two sequences of length n with matching sections of size at least b

Improved fluid dynamics similarity, analysis and verification. Part 4 - Acoustic velocities in two-phase mixtures of some cryogenic fluids Final report, 29 Jun. 1965 - 28 Jun. 1968

Model calculations and graphical presentation of acoustic velocities in two-phase mixtures of some cryogenic fluid