SwITch at Northumbria University

The iBorrow project benefited from the experience of other institutions undertaking a similar journey, albeit with alternative technology and in different contexts. This case study from Northumbria University is an opportunity to compare and contrast the respective problems and solutions encountered in each project. Northumbria University Library has a reputation for delivering innovative, student-focused services positioned at the heart of the student experience. It is renowned for its excellent customer service and is a holder of the Cabinet Office’s Customer Service Excellence award. It has been developing flexible, technology-enhanced learning spaces for a decade enabling students to study in state-of-the-art spaces within a hybrid resources environment

State Public-Law Litigation in an Age of Polarization

Public-law litigation by state governments plays an increasingly prominent role in American governance. Although public lawsuits by state governments designed to challenge the validity or shape the content of national policy are not new, such suits have increased in number and salience over the last few decades — especially since the tobacco litigation of the late 1990s. Under the Obama and Trump Administrations, such suits have taken on a particularly partisan cast; “red” states have challenged the Affordable Care Act and President Obama’s immigration orders, for example, and “blue” states have challenged President Trump’s travel bans and attempts to roll back prior environmental policies. As a result, longstanding concerns about state litigation as a form of national policymaking that circumvents ordinary lawmaking processes have been joined by new concerns that state litigation reflects and aggravates partisan polarization. This Article explores the relationship between state litigation and the polarization of American politics. As we explain, our federal system can mitigate the effects of partisan polarization by taking some divisive issues off the national agenda, leaving them to be solved in state jurisdictions where consensus may be more attainable — both because polarization appears to be dampened at the state level, and because political preferences are unevenly distributed geographically. State litigation can both help and hinder this dynamic. The available evidence suggests that state attorneys general (who handle the lion’s share of state litigation) are themselves fairly polarized, as are certain categories of state litigation. We map out the different ways states can use litigation to shape national policy, linking each to concerns about polarization. We thus distinguish between “vertical” conflicts, in which states sue to preserve their autonomy to go their own way on divisive issues, and “horizontal” conflicts, in which different groups of states vie for control of national policy. The latter, we think, will tend to aggravate polarization. But we concede — and illustrate — that it will often be difficult to separate out the vertical and horizontal aspects of particular disputes, and that in some horizontal disputes the polarization costs of state litigation may be worth paying. We argue, moreover, that state litigation cannot be understood in a vacuum, but must be assessed as part of a broader phenomenon in American law: our reliance on entrepreneurial litigation to develop and enforce public norms. In this context, state attorneys general often play roles similar to “private attorneys general” such as class action lawyers or public interest organizations. And states, with their built-in systems of democratic accountability and internal checks and balances, compare well with other entrepreneurial enforcement vehicles in a number of respects. Nevertheless, state litigation efforts may not always account well for divergent preferences and interests within the broad publics that the states represent, and this deficiency becomes particularly important in politically polarized times. Although our account of state litigation is, on the whole, a positive one, we caution that state attorneys general face a significant risk of backlash by other political actors, and by courts, if state litigation is (or is perceived to be) a bitterly partisan affair

The Implementation of Mindfulness Training with Nursing Students to Decrease Stress and Improve Attentiveness and Awareness

Abstract This project was the implementation of mindfulness training for undergraduate baccalaureate nursing students to decrease perceived stress and increase their awareness and attention though mindfulness. The literature supports the importance of stress reduction in regard to improving perceived well–being and consequently improving ability to learn. Mindfulness is identified as an important aspect of self-care that increases awareness and attention, while ultimately improving well-being, all of which leads to better knowledge acquisition and the ability to be empathetic. For nursing students this includes improved knowledge acquisition, technical skills, clinical knowledge and critical decision making. The literature clearly supports the tenet that improved learning leads to more resilient and empathetic nurses. This project selected a convenience sample of second year baccalaureate nursing students and assessed their perceived stress levels as well as attentiveness and awareness through mindfulness at the beginning of their spring semester. They were trained in a modified Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (mMSRB) program, which they then implemented in their lives. Their perceived stress levels and mindfulness were reassessed after the implementation of the MBSR program at the end of the spring semester. The results showed that the effect of a mMBSR program is significantly related to reduced perceive stress levels and increase attentiveness and awareness of nursing students. Keywords: mindfulness, cognitive behavioral training, stress, anxiety, empathy, wellbeing, nursing, and student

Thoreau

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Alien Registration- Young, Margaret (Brewer, Penobscot County)

https://digitalmaine.com/alien_docs/10270/thumbnail.jp

A Longitudinal Study of Alternative Frameworks in School Biology

The following research study is concerned with childrens' natural ideas and beliefs in the area of the life concept. Previous research work has shown that many children form their own theories to explain things in the world around them. These mini-theories are called alternative frameworks because they may differ from the accepted scientific theory. They are very persistent and they may interfere with school learning. This study was carried out in order to discover whether children have alternative frameworks in the area of the life concept and to find out if children of different ages are able to classify correctly certain objects as living or non-living. The attributes of life which children give to a living thing were also examined. Firstly, a Pilot Study was carried out to find out if there were any erroneous ideas present in childrens' minds. Four groups of children, whose ages ranged from 5 to 10 years were allowed to discuss a variety of objects in an informal way; they had to say whether each object was living or not living and to give reasons for their decision. From this study it emerged that alternative frameworks were present at all age levels and that some children believed that certain non-living objects were living because of the attributes which they possessed. The main part of the research, the School Study, involved about 800 pupils in the age range 7 to 11 years from six Primary schools. A work-sheet was designed for the purpose of obtaining information from the pupils. It contained a box-grid with 16 objects, some questions relating to the grid, one question about microscopic things and one about attributes. Several children, mainly pupils aged 7, were also interviewed and their answers were noted. The results showed that nearly every child is certain that animals are living and most children also believe that plants and trees are living. Many children were not sure that mould is living and they had difficulty in suggesting life attributes for it. Only a small percentage of children believe that a potato and fruit are living and many children included them in the category "not living now but came from a living thing"; many children, even at age 11, do not have a concept of dormant life. Many children, the highest percentage being at age 7, included crystals as being living. Their reasons were that crystals grow and look like plants. 50% of children at ages 8,9 and 10 still believe that the sun is livng because it moves and gives light. Similarly, some children at every age level believe that a flame is living because it possesses heat and movement. About 16% of children at every age level included a battery as being living and a few children, aged 7 and under, believed that a clock is living because it "goes" or "works". Many children were able to place meat in the correct category "not living now, but came from a living thing". However, a high percentage of children, except at age 11, do not know the origin of bread, leather or sugar. 50% of children at all age levels have the erroneous belief that the particles inside a substance are living, probably because of their movement In addition, many children do not class microscopic plants as being living. When asked to describe a living thing, most children do not give any of the seven accepted attributes of living things except movement. "Eating" and "Senses" were included fairly frequently. Most children, even at age 11, do not give the attributes reproduction, breathing, growing or excretion. Instead, they include many attributes which pertain to a large, furry animal. If large numbers of children aged 11 have these alternative frameworks, then they are not ready to proceed with a Biology course at Secondary school. They will view teaching about living things and about attributes with surprise and they may not accommodate the new information into their minds. They may simply rote-leam it in order to pass exams. Teachers need to be made aware that alternative frameworks exist in many school-children and the teachers should try to expose these erroneous beliefs before presenting pupils with the correct facts. Pupils in Secondary school should be tested regularly using Diagnostic testing to find out whether they are still retaining any alternative frameworks, before they receive formal instruction in Biology. Then learning will be meaningful and facts will be remembered

Mate Selection in Contemporary America: An Exchange Theory Perspective

The use of exchange theory as it applies to human relations has escalated dramatically in the past 20 years. The present study applies exchange theory as the basis of mate selection in contemporary society. Whereas an actual barter system was used in the past and families played a major role in choosing prospective mates, participants in the mate selection process are not virtually on their own and must rely upon their own bargaining skills to present their assets on the marriage market. A number of characteristics are thought to enhance or detract from a person\u27s worth on the marriage market. Over 900 college students from nine universities across the united states were surveyed in order to ascertain what they considered valuable in a potential mate, and important variables in the mate selection process were determined. Comparisons were made among gender, race, marital status, family size and configuration, socioeconomic status, religious orientation, and geographical region of the United States. The results indicate that important differences exist among the various groups concerning what characteristics enhance or detract from an individual\u27s worth on the marriage market in contemporary America. Finally, it was determined that marital worth of individuals can theoretically be measured

ATTENTION MUST BE PAID, CRIED THE BALLADEER: THE CONCEPT MUSICAL DEFINED

The concept musical, a fourth category of American musical theatre, has been accepted as a legitimate category but never fully defined. This study examined the attributes making up the category (theme, structure, character, and song), identified the hallmarks of the category, and provided a concise definition. Two concept musicals, Company and A Chorus Line were analyzed