Interim report on Media Analysis

PACHELBEL WP4 “Stimulus Materials” uses findings from WP3 (Policy Assumptions) and from additional sources to prepare stimulus materials for the group-based process to be implemented in WP5. The output, informed by the present report, will be a set of materials to inform and stimulate the group-based process. These will take the form of real or simulated media coverage and/or documentary materials produced by various sources, scenarios, vignettes, and dramatised accounts. Another output, also informed by this report, will be an individual questionnaire for use in the group-based process. The present deliverable is centred on one of the data-gathering and analytic activities set up by WP4 to identify pertinent representational elements that should be included in the future stimulus materials, country by country. “Representational elements” have been defined in WP4 as typical images, anecdotes, examples, and references which are used by policy actors to explain and justify policy choices within the policy domains pertinent to PACHELBEL. Particular attention is given to references made to citizens, their perceptions and behaviours. In Task 4.2, PACHELBEL partners gathered representational elements in their respective contexts. To support this task, a “media analysis” template was developed by WPL SYMLOG for discussion at the second Consortium project meeting (Dorking, Mo. 6). Criteria were agreed for the analysis of a selection of actual publications in a range of media (print periodicals, public information materials disseminated by authorities, etc.). In Summer 2010, partners in each country used the template to analyze and report a sample of several dozen articles in selected policy areas. This interim report (D4.2) recalls methodology (Part 1), presents representational elements country by country (Part 2) and provides a summary overview of similarities and contrasts across country samples (Part 3). Conclusions and next steps are presented in Part 4. Also provided are a simplified media analysis template (Annex 1) and the compiled basic frequency analysis (Annex 2)

A Pilot Study on the Effects of Comparative Feedback and Performance on Students’ Self-Efficacy and Self-Esteem

This study compared the effects that academic performance and comparative feedback have on student self-efficacy and self-esteem. Through mobile device polling, participants were able to complete in-class multiple-choice conceptual questions. Participants included 35 college students in two psychology classes assigned to a control and experimental group. For the control group, the class was shown a graph of student responses following each question and the experimental group was not shown how their peers performed. This allowed individuals in the control group to compare their own scores to peer scores while the experimental condition was not provided the comparative feedback. Data were collected over the course of one week and participants were administered pre and post tests to measure their self-efficacy (Self-Efficacy Formative Questionnaire) and self-esteem (Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale). Results indicated no significant relationship between the concept question scores and the participants’ post self-efficacy scores when compared within groups for either the experimental or the control group. Additionally, there was no significant relationship between total concept question scores and post self-esteem scores when compared within groups for the experimental or the control group. Though results indicated an overall positive increase in self-esteem scores regardless of group, when compared to their pre scores, this change was not significant. Implications as well as future research are discussed

Effect of abiotic factors on the diversity and abundance of aquatic macroinvertebrates in the East and West Branches of the Maple River, Michigan, USA

General EcologyStreams are home to a wide variety of aquatic organisms including fish and benthic macroinvertebrates. Variance in diversity and abundance of macroinvertebrates in stream ecosystems is influenced by water chemistry and substrate availability. Different substrates provide macroinvertebrates with varying habitats, protection, and resources. Four distinct sites on the East and West branches of the Maple River around Pellston, MI were sampled and studied to examine the combined effects of abiotic factors on macroinvertebrate diversity and abundance. At each site, three substrates (cobble, gravel, and sand) were studied. Rocky riverbed substrates (i.e. gravel and cobble) contained greater numbers and more diverse macro invertebrate families than sandy substrates. Stable isotope analysis of the water from each site showed a correlation between the abundance of individuals and groundwater concentration but did not show a correlation between diversity of families and groundwater concentration.https://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/140071/1/Freimark_Jameson_Jubera_Schneider-2017.PDFDescription of Freimark_Jameson_Jubera_Schneider-2017.PDF : Freimark, C., E. Jameson, K. Jubera, and B. Schneider_201

Guidance on Stimulus Materials

PACHELBEL WP4 “Stimulus Materials” uses findings from WP3 (Policy Assumptions) and from additional sources to prepare stimulus materials for the group-based process “STAVE” implemented in WP5. The output was material to inform and stimulate the group-based process. The material was of two types: a set of questionnaires common to all partners (EVOC/CAPA/SIMI questionnaires), and material that is issue-specific and individually produced for each country. EVOC/CAPA/SIMI short questionnaires serve as a comparative tool between countries, giving insight on the social construction of “sustainable consumption” across the PACHELBEL population. Partners asked participants to fill out the set individually at the first meeting of the STAVE group, results were then analyzed and data were fed back for discussion by group participants at their second meeting. A “re-test” was then conducted at the third of three group meetings. The present report details the representations revealed through this methodology – but moreover the impact of applying such a technique in STAVE groups in France, Germany, Romania, Spain, Sweden and the UK (where the methodology was slightly altered). The issue-and-country-specific material consists of an informative simulated newspaper article on the particular issue addressed in a given STAVE process, and/or other materials (for example, humorous drawings). The report details how this material was developed, and the experience of applying these stimulus materials in each country. On this basis, guidance for future STAVE processes is offered. Foremost among observations is that PACHELBEL stimulus materials serve a purpose that is distinct from that of “group exercises” as developed in WP5. The materials contributing to the formation of a group identity, a reflexive group norm, and a shared information basis. As such, stimulus materials prepare the group for a cooperative investigative process

Comparing second cancer risk for multiple radiotherapy modalities in survivors of hodgkin lymphoma

Objectives: To assess if Excess Absolute Risk (EAR) of radiation-induced solid cancer can be used to rank radiotherapy plans for treatment of Hodgkin Lymphoma (HL) in a statistically significant way. Methods: EAR models, calibrated with data from the Life Span Study and HL survivors, have been incorporated into a voxelised risk-calculation software, which is used to compare four treatment modalities planned for five virtual HL patients. Organ-specific parameters are generated repeatedly in a Monte Carlo fashion to model their uncertainties. This in turn enables a quantitative estimation of the EAR uncertainties. Results: Parameter driven uncertainties on total EAR are around 13%, decreasing to around 2–5% for relative EAR comparisons. Total EAR estimations indicate that Intensity Modulated Proton Therapy decreases the average risk by 40% compared to the Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy plan, 28% compared to the Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy plan whereas the 3D Conformal Radiation Therapy plan is equivalent within the uncertainty. Conclusions: Relative EAR is a useful metric for distinguishing between radiotherapy plans in terms of second cancer risk. Advances in knowledge: Relative EAR is not dominated by model or parameter uncertainties and can be used to guide the choice of radiotherapy for HL patients

Emotional sequelae of sports-related injuries: concussive and orthopedic injuries

Sustaining and recovering from injury can be emotionally difficult for athletes and can disrupt the athletes’ sense of well-being. Given the emotional impact of injury on athletes, it is surprising that little attention has been given to the emotional effects of sports-related concussion on athletes. The present study adds to previous research by comparing pre- and post- injury mood disturbances between athletes with concussion to that of athletes with orthopedic injuries. Injured athletes were predicted to experience heightened levels of mood disturbance post-injury compared to pre-injury mood levels. Additionally, athletes with concussive injuries were predicted to experience greater post-injury mood disturbance compared to athletes with orthopedic injuries. In contrast to expectations, injured athletes did not experience greater levels of mood disturbance immediately following injury, compared to pre-injury mood levels. Further, trend levels differences in the way athletes with different injury types react to athletic injury were detected, opposite to that predicted. Athletes with orthopedic injuries experienced heightened levels of mood disturbance post-injury and athletes with concussive injuries reported fewer negative mood symptoms post-injury. The present findings suggest the possibility that injury-specific factors may influence athletes’ emotional reactions to athletic injury.Ph.D., Clinical Psychology -- Drexel University, 200

Hydrogeochemical survey of CO2 geological leakage using noble gases: Application to the Furnas Caldera (Azores, Portugual)

Significant natural CO2 emissions have been measured across the caldera of Furnas (São Miguel Island, Azores) allowing us to consider the area as a CO2 leakage analogue. During two field trips, we have collected twenty springs in purpose to measure CO2 contents (Dissolved Inorganic Carbon and "13C) and noble gas isotopic compositions (He and Ne) and for seventeen water samples, major ions chemistry. The corrected 3He/4He ratios (normalized to air ratio RA) range from 1.46 to 5.17, the carbon contents (DIC) range from 0.57 to 41,41 mmol/l and most of the waters have a "13C about -4 ‰. With field observations and waters chemistry, we have characterized seven different types of water springs through the caldera, resulting from various mixing rates between three sources : soil equilibrated meteoritic water, gas emanations (CO2, He…) from a magmatic intrusion and hydrothemal waters coming from a shallow depth aquifer. Saturation indexes and geothermometers indicate a trachytic aquifer at a temperature of about 145°C. In order to confirm that noble gases are good tracers of CO2 leakage, we are building a first mixing model using noble gases and carbon isotopes and a second one based on major ions chemistry with CHESS hydrochemical modelling software. Preliminary mixing models seem to be consistent thus confirming that noble gases can be used as tracors of CO2 leakage

Role of Transient Reflection in Graphene Nonlinear Infrared Optics

International audienceUnderstanding the optical response of graphene at terahertz frequencies is of critical importance for designing graphene-based devices that operate in this frequency range. Here we present a tera-hertz pump-probe measurement that simultaneously measures both the transmitted and reflected probe radiation from multilayer epitaxial graphene, allowing for an unambiguous determination of the pump-induced absorption change in the graphene layers. The photon energy in the experiment (30 meV) is on the order of the doping level in the graphene which enables the exploration of the transition from interband to intraband processes, depending on the amount of pump-induced heating. Our findings establish the presence of a large, photoinduced reflection that contributes to the change in sign of the relative transmitted terahertz radiation, which can be purely positive or predominantly negative depending on the pump fluence, while the change in absorption is found negative at all fluences. We develop a straightforward theory that confirms the sign reversible nature of the relative transmitted terahertz radiation through the graphene multilayer and determine that this behavior originates from either an absorption-bleached or reflection-dominated regime. The theoretical results are incorporated into a model utilizing an energy balance equation that reproduces the measured pump-probe data. These findings, which extend to mid-and far infrared frequencies, illuminate the importance of considering reflection in graphene-light interactions and have implications for the design of future terahertz photonic components

Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor in experimental stroke and its effects on infarct size and functional outcome: a systematic review

Background Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) shows promise as a treatment for stroke. This systematic review assesses G-CSF in experimental ischaemic stroke. Methods Relevant studies were identified with searches of Medline, Embase and PubMed. Data were extracted on stroke lesion size, neurological outcome and quality, and analysed using Cochrane Review Manager using random effects models; results are expressed as standardised mean difference (SMD) and odds ratio (OR). Results Data were included from 19 publications incorporating 666 animals. G-CSF reduced lesion size significantly in transient (SMD -1.63, p4 weeks post ischaemia) was not (SMD 0.76, p=0.35). Death (OR 0.27, p<0.0001) was reduced with G-CSF. Median study quality was 4 (range 0-7/8); Egger’s test suggested significant publication bias (p=0.001). Conclusions G-CSF significantly reduced lesion size in transient but not permanent models of ischaemic stroke. Motor impairment and death were also reduced. Further studies assessing dose-response, administration time, length of ischaemia and long-term functional recovery are needed

Developmental trends of hot and cool executive function in school aged children with and without autism spectrum disorder: links with theory of mind

The development of executive function (EF) in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has been investigated using only “cool”-cognitive- EF tasks while there is limited knowledge regarding the development of “hot”-affective- EF. Although cool EF development and its links to theory of mind (ToM) have been widely examined, understanding of the influence of hot EF to ToM mechanisms is minimal. The present study introduced a longitudinal design to examine the developmental changes in cool and hot EF of children with ASD (n=45) and matched (to age and IQ) controls (n=37) as well as the impact of EF on ToM development over a school year. For children with ASD, although selective cool (working memory, inhibition) and hot (affective decision making) EF domains presented age-related improvements, they never reached the performance level of the control group. Early cool working memory predicted later ToM in both groups but early hot delay discounting predicted later ToM only in the ASD group. No evidence was found for the reverse pattern (early ToM predicting later EF). These findings suggest that improvements in some EF aspects are evident in school age in ASD and highlight the crucial role both cool and hot EF play in ToM development