Factors Influencing Teachers in Engaging with University Outreach:Is it Just Cost?

A chemistry outreach day event was offered, free-of-charge, to schools in the south west of England who do not normally engage with Bristol ChemLabS outreach events delivered at the University of Bristol. The participating teachers were interviewed to find out their expectations of the day in terms of helping their students or in helping the teachers, whether the “free” aspect, or not, triggered the application to the event and whether finance or other barriers normally prevented engagement in such events. The value versus cost of such outreach an event is discussed. While finance was the biggest issue for the majority of the interviewed teachers they recognised the value of the inspiration rather than subject knowledge acquisition for their students. The advantages for the teachers were seen as better motivated students and the likelihood of more students taking their subject at higher levels. Having attended such an event and observing the quality and impact on their students, teachers were more inclined to engage in the future whether there was a financial charge or not.</jats:p

A qualitative study of physician perspectives of cost-related communication and patients’ financial burden with managing chronic disease

Abstract Background Patient financial burden with chronic disease poses significant health risks, yet it remains outside the scope of clinical visits. Little is known about how physicians perceive their patients’ health-related financial burden in the context of primary care. The purpose of this study was to describe physician experiences with patients’ financial burden while managing chronic disease and the communication of these issues. Methods In November 2013, four focus groups were conducted in an academic medical center. A convenience sample of 29 internal and family medicine resident physicians was used in this study. A semi-structured interview protocol was employed by trained facilitators. Coded transcripts were analyzed for themes regarding physicians’ experiences with identifying, managing, and communicating financial burden with their patients in the context of primary care. Results Major themes identified were 1) patient financial burden with chronic care is visible to physicians, 2) patient’s financial burden with chronic care and discussing these issues is important to physicians, 3) ability to identify patients who perceive financial burden is imperfect, 4) communication of financial burden with patients is complex and difficult to navigate, 5) strategies utilized to address concerns are not always generalizable, and 6) physicians have ideas for widespread change to make these conversations easier for them. Conclusion Awareness of physician perspectives in identifying and addressing their patients’ disease-related financial burden may better equip researchers and medical educators to develop interventions that aid care teams in better understanding these patient concerns to promote compliance with treatment recommendations.http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/116043/1/12913_2015_Article_1189.pd

Moire bands in twisted double-layer graphene

A moire pattern is formed when two copies of a periodic pattern are overlaid with a relative twist. We address the electronic structure of a twisted two-layer graphene system, showing that in its continuum Dirac model the moire pattern periodicity leads to moire Bloch bands. The two layers become more strongly coupled and the Dirac velocity crosses zero several times as the twist angle is reduced. For a discrete set of magic angles the velocity vanishes, the lowest moire band flattens, and the Dirac-point density-of-states and the counterflow conductivity are strongly enhanced