Principal Efficacy: Implications for Rural \u27Grow Your Own\u27 Leadership Programs

Although grow your own principal preparation programs have become a popular method for recruiting and selecting administrator candidates for hard to fill positions in both urban and rural schools, “grow your own” prinicpal candidates in rural contexts may be more vulnerable to the phenomenon of loss of self-efficacy. This study suggests that conditions related to candidate recruitment, social isolation, changing relationships with former colleagues, and lack of mentoring support can negatively affect aspiring principals’ beliefs and ultimately actions in leading rural schools. This study examines the loss of self-efficacy phenomenon, and suggests how university /school district partnerships might work to develop effective recruitment, support, and mentoring practices for rural \u27grow your own\u27 candidates

The craving expectancy questionnaire: a brief, theory-based measure of consummatory desire and craving

Background and Aim

Efficacy of Imagery and Cognitive Tasks Used to Reduce Craving and Implications for the Elaborated Intrusion Theory of Craving

Based on the elaborated intrusion theory of desire (Kavanagh, Andrade, & May, 2005), this study was designed to examine the comparative impact of three types of imagery interventions (visual, olfactory, and a combination of visual and olfactory) versus a distraction intervention on self-reported craving for cigarettes by regular smokers. Participants included university students (N=54) who had been smoking at least a pack of cigarettes per day for the past 3 to 6 months and had been deprived of nicotine for at least 6 hours prior to their participation. Recruitment was performed via email announcements, classroom announcements, and web postings. Using the 10-item, self-report Questionnaire of Smoking Urges, Brief Version (Cox, Tiffany, & Christen, 2001), participants’ craving levels were assessed at baseline, following 2 minutes of in vivo cue-exposure, during a 2-minute imagery or distraction control intervention, and following the imagery or distraction control intervention. Participants showed significantly lower self-reported craving during the imagery conditions than during the distraction control condition. There was not a significant difference in the level of craving among the imagery conditions. Despite explicit instructions to focus on the designated form(s) of sensory imagery, a majority of participants in each of the imagery conditions reported experiencing additional forms of sensory imagery (e.g., auditory imagery). This finding suggests that it might be difficult for people to sustain uni-sensory images even over short periods of time. In general, participants’ vividness of imagery was not correlated with lower craving scores during the intervention. There was one exception; in the combined imagery condition, vividness of olfactory imagery was positively correlated with a decrease in self-reported craving. Notably, in all conditions a “rebound effect” was observed in that craving increased shortly after the imagery or distraction intervention had ended. Clinical implications for the elaborated intrusion theory are discussed

Efficacy of Imagery and Cognitive Tasks Used to Reduce Craving and Implications for the Elaborated Intrusion Theory of Craving

Based on the elaborated intrusion theory of desire (Kavanagh, Andrade, & May, 2005), this study was designed to examine the comparative impact of three types of imagery interventions (visual, olfactory, and a combination of visual and olfactory) versus a distraction intervention on self-reported craving for cigarettes by regular smokers. Participants included university students (N=54) who had been smoking at least a pack of cigarettes per day for the past 3 to 6 months and had been deprived of nicotine for at least 6 hours prior to their participation. Recruitment was performed via email announcements, classroom announcements, and web postings. Using the 10-item, self-report Questionnaire of Smoking Urges, Brief Version (Cox, Tiffany, & Christen, 2001), participants’ craving levels were assessed at baseline, following 2 minutes of in vivo cue-exposure, during a 2-minute imagery or distraction control intervention, and following the imagery or distraction control intervention. Participants showed significantly lower self-reported craving during the imagery conditions than during the distraction control condition. There was not a significant difference in the level of craving among the imagery conditions. Despite explicit instructions to focus on the designated form(s) of sensory imagery, a majority of participants in each of the imagery conditions reported experiencing additional forms of sensory imagery (e.g., auditory imagery). This finding suggests that it might be difficult for people to sustain uni-sensory images even over short periods of time. In general, participants’ vividness of imagery was not correlated with lower craving scores during the intervention. There was one exception; in the combined imagery condition, vividness of olfactory imagery was positively correlated with a decrease in self-reported craving. Notably, in all conditions a “rebound effect” was observed in that craving increased shortly after the imagery or distraction intervention had ended. Clinical implications for the elaborated intrusion theory are discussed

Duodenal Bleeding from Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma

Massive upper gastrointestinal bleeding due to malignancy is relatively uncommon and the duodenum is the least frequently involved site. Duodenal metastasis is rare in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and early detection, especially in case of a solitary mass, helps in planning further therapy. We report a case of intractable upper gastrointestinal bleeding from metastatic RCC to the duodenum. The patient presented with melena and anemia, 13 years after nephrectomy for RCC. On esophagogastroduodenoscopy, a submucosal mass was noted in the duodenum, biopsies of which revealed metastatic RCC. In conclusion, metastasis from RCC should be considered in nephrectomized patients presenting with gastrointestinal symptoms and a complete evaluation, especially endoscopic examination followed by biopsy, is suggested

Leading by example: A case study of the influence of principal self-efficacy on collective efficacy

Self-efficacy is a perceived judgment that one has the ability to execute a course of action that brings about a desired result. Principal self-efficacy describes a set of beliefs that enable a principal to enact policies and procedures that promote the effectiveness of a school. Principal self-efficacy beliefs are also important because they guide the leader’s actions and behaviors that affect expectations for students as well as teachers’ motivation and school improvement processes. In this qualitative case study, we sought to understand teachers’ perceptions of how the self-efficacy beliefs and actions of the principal contributed to the school’s collective efficacy. The study featured a single embedded case design highlighting one high poverty rural middle school with very high levels of achievement. While collective efficacy was developed through fidelity to instructional initiatives and relationship building among staff, the efficacy beliefs and actions of the principal influenced the school’s collective efficacy by creating a steadfast instructional focus, developing teacher leaders, and leading by example

Giant duodenal ulcers

Giant duodenal ulcers (GDUs) are a subset of duodenal ulcers that have historically resulted in greater morbidity than usual duodenal ulcers. Until recently, few cases had been successfully treated with medical therapy. However, the widespread use of endoscopy, the introduction of H-2 receptor blockers and proton pump inhibitors, and the improvement in surgical techniques all have revolutionized the diagnosis, treatment and outcome of this condition. Nevertheless, GDUs are still associated with high rates of morbidity, mortality and complications. Thus, surgical evaluation of a patient with a GDU should remain an integral part of patient care. These giant variants, while usually benign, can frequently harbor malignancy. A careful review of the literature highlights the important differences when comparing GDUs to classical peptic ulcers and why they must be thought of differently than their more common counterpart

A Novel Fault Indicator for Local Demagnetization in Fractional-Slot Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor using Winding Function Theory

Local demagnetization is an irreparable failure mode in permanent magnet synchronous motors (PMSMs), resulting in reduced motor efficiency and high cogging torque. These effects are particularly disadvantageous to fractional-slot wound PMSMs used in industrial applications, such as robotics and automations, that require high power density and precise operation. In this article, a diagnostic indicator is developed for detecting local demagnetization fault in fractional-slot wound PMSMs based on winding function theory, utilizing back-electromotive force (back-EMF) as a medium for fault detection. Further, the developed indicator is validated in a commercial fractional-slot wound PMSM of an in-house experimental setup