Exploring Social Issues and Value Systems in Contemporary Art Education

The purpose of the study was to field test a unit of lessons in which students explore how a variety of social issues and value systems impact the meaning expressed in their artwork. By exposing students to different systems of belief, their historical contexts, and providing opportunities for students to discuss, research and symbolically express meaning I hope to develop critical thinking skills; promote increase in the social conscience of teenagers; help students develop critical thinking skills; promote student active involvement in their community at large; encourage social activism; and help students become part of the larger global community. The study utilized pre and post written tests, student artwork, student written responses and an auto-ethnographic approach to document student outcomes. Although evidence of progress was observed there is a need for additional research about ways art education might be used to assist students in the development of a social conscience and awareness of the global community

Lattice methods for finding rational points on varieties over number fields

We develop a method for finding all rational points of bounded height on a variety defined over a number field K. Given a projective variety V we find a prime p of good reduction for V with certain properties and find all points on the reduced curve V (Fp). For each point P 2 V (Fp) we may define lattices of lifts of P: these lattices contain all points which are congruent to P mod p satisfying the defining polynomials of V modulo a power of p. Short vectors in these lattices are possible representatives for points of bounded height on the original variety V (K). We make explicit the relationship between the length of a vector and the height of a point in this setting. We will discuss methods for finding points in these lattices and how they may be used to find points of V (K), including a method involving lattice reduction over number fields. The method is implemented in Sage and examples are included in this thesis

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MAXIMAL STRENGTH AND PLYOMETRIC ABILITY IN RUGBY PLAYERS

This study examined the role of maximal strength in plyometric exercise performance in twenty strength-trained rugby players. Players’ maximal leg strength was assessed using a 3 or 5RM barbell back squat strength testing procedure. Plyometric ability was assessed using ground contact times and the reactive strength index variable during depth jumps from a variety of box heights (12, 36 and 51cm) performed on a force plate. The data indicated a strong positive relationship between strength levels and plyometric ability. Stronger subjects achieved better reactive strength indices than weaker counterparts and are more capable of performing depth jumps at higher intensities. Stronger athletes may benefit more from fast SSC plyometric training than their weaker counterparts

Think Small, Build Big:Lessons from SME Housebuilding in Germany

There has been a catastrophic decline in the size of England’s SME housebuilding sector. This is not the case in Germany, where the SME sector dominates the housebuilding market. We diagnose a ‘toxic triangle’ of problems facing English SME builders, with mutually reinforcing problems stemming from the planning system, the land market, and insufficient access to finance. Drawing on experience from Germany, we recommend to government a seven-point plan to give England the greatest prospect of revitalising its SME building sector, thus making a substantially greater contribution to housing output

Trends in the recording of anxiety in UK primary care:a multi-method approach

PURPOSE: Anxiety disorders are common. Between 1998 and 2008, in the UK, GP recording of anxiety symptoms increased, but the recording of anxiety disorders decreased. We do not know whether such trends have continued. This study examined recent trends in the recording of anxiety and explored factors that may influence GPs’ coding of anxiety. METHODS: We used data from adults (n = 2,569,153) registered with UK general practices (n = 176) that contributed to the Clinical Practice Research Datalink between 2003 and 2018. Incidence rates and 95% confidence intervals were calculated for recorded anxiety symptoms and diagnoses and were stratified by age and gender. Joinpoint regression was used to estimate the years trends changed. In addition, in-depth interviews were conducted with 15 GPs to explore their views and management of anxiety. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed thematically. RESULTS: The incidence of anxiety symptoms rose from 6.2/1000 person-years at risk (PYAR) in 2003 to 14.7/1000 PYAR in 2018. Between 2003 and 2008, the incidence of anxiety diagnoses fell from 13.2 to 10.1/1000 PYAR; markedly increasing between 2013 and 2018 to 15.3/1000 PYAR. GPs mentioned that they preferred using symptom codes to diagnostic codes to avoid assigning potentially stigmatising or unhelpful labels, and commented on a rise in anxiety in recent years, especially in young adults. CONCLUSION: Recent increases in the recording of both anxiety diagnoses and symptoms may reflect increased presentation to primary care, especially in young adults. There is a clear need to understand the reasons for this, and this knowledge may be critical in the prevention and treatment of anxiety. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00127-021-02131-8

Differences in Relationship and Sexual Satisfaction and Social Support Between Only Lesbian, Mostly Lesbian, and Bisexual Women

Research suggests relationship and sexual satisfaction and social support are correlated with components of well-being such as anxiety, depression, and physical health. Differences in relationship and sexual satisfaction and social support have been identified between sexual minority women (SMW; i.e., lesbian and bisexual) and heterosexual women. However, classifying SMW into a single group may mask important differences. Further research is needed to better understand the differences in relationship and sexual satisfaction and social support between subgroups of SMW. Thus, the purpose of the present study was to examine differences in these constructs between women who identify as only lesbian, mostly lesbian, and bisexual. Participants were 427 partnered sexual minority women (Mage = 24.66; 84.8% White; 46.8% only lesbian; 34.2% mostly lesbian; 19% bisexual) recruited from social media to complete an online survey consisting of measures of relationship, health, and related factors as part of a larger study. A one-way ANOVA revealed statistically significant differences between only lesbian, mostly lesbian, and bisexual women in relationship satisfaction (p=.021), sexual satisfaction (p=.049), and social support (p=.034). Post-hoc pairwise comparisons revealed women who identified as only lesbian reported better relationship satisfaction (p=.007), sexual satisfaction (p=.015), and social support (p=.010) than women who identified as mostly lesbian. There were no differences between bisexual women and women who identified as either only lesbian or mostly lesbian. These findings identified important differences between subgroups of SMW, with women who identify as mostly lesbian reporting the lowest relationship and sexual satisfaction and social support. This study provides further evidence that collapsing across identities within the broad category of SMW may mask meaningful subgroup differences. Additional research is needed to further explore disparities in well-being among subsections of SMW. Findings may help identify important protective factors for mental and physical health and well-being specific to SMW of different identities.https://digitalcommons.odu.edu/gradposters2023_sciences/1007/thumbnail.jp

What is she? : a comedy, in five acts, as performed at the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden

86 p. ; 22 cm. Irregular page numbering. Some pages text is not completely visible due to tight binding