716 research outputs found
Smokers' recall of Australian graphic cigarette packet warnings & awareness of associated health effects, 2005-2008
Extent: 11p.Background: In 2006, Australia introduced graphic cigarette packet warnings. The new warnings include one of 14 pictures, many depicting tobacco-related pathology. The warnings were introduced in two sets; Set A in March and Set B from November. This study explores their impact on smokersâ beliefs about smoking related illnesses. This study also examines the varying impact of different warnings, to see whether warnings with visceral images have greater impact on smokersâ beliefs than other images. Methods: Representative samples of South Australian smokers were interviewed in four independent cross-sectional omnibus surveys; in 2005 (n = 504), 2006 (n = 525), 2007 (n = 414) and 2008 (n = 464). Results: Unprompted recall of new graphic cigarette warnings was high in the months following their introduction, demonstrating that smokersâ had been exposed to them. Smokers also demonstrated an increase in awareness about smoking-related diseases specific to the warning messages. Warnings that conveyed new information and had emotive images demonstrated greater impact on recall and smokersâ beliefs than more familiar information and less emotive images. Conclusions: Overall graphic pack warnings have had the intended impact on smokers. Some have greater impact than others. The implications for policy makers in countries introducing similar warnings are that fresh messaging and visceral images have the greatest impact.Caroline L Miller, Pascale G Quester, David J Hill and Janet E Hille
Microwave Current Imaging in Passive HTS Components by Low-Temperature Laser Scanning Microscopy (LTLSM)
We have used the LTLSM technique for a spatially resolved investigation of
the microwave transport properties, nonlinearities and material inhomogeneities
in an operating coplanar waveguide YBa_2Cu_3O_{7-\delta} (YBCO) microwave
resonator on an LaAlO_3 (LAO) substrate. The influence of twin-domain blocks,
in-plane rotated grains, and micro-cracks in the YBCO film on the nonuniform rf
current distribution were measured with a micrometer-scale spatial resolution.
The impact of the peaked edge currents and rf field penetration into weak links
on the linear device performance were studied as well. The LTLSM capabilities
and its future potential for non-destructive characterization of the microwave
properties of superconducting circuits are discussed.Comment: 8 pages, 9 figures, 2-column format, presented at High Temperature
Superconductors in High Frequency Fields 2004, Journal of Superconductivity
(in press
Finding a moral homeground: appropriately critical religious education and transmission of spiritual values
Values-inspired issues remain an important part of the British school curriculum. Avoiding moral relativism while fostering enthusiasm for spiritual values and applying them to non-curricular learning such as school ethos or children's home lives are challenges where spiritual, moral, social and cultural (SMSC) development might benefit from leadership by critical religious education (RE). Whether the school's model of spirituality is that of an individual spiritual tradition (schools of a particular religious character) or universal pluralistic religiosity (schools of plural religious character), the pedagogy of RE thought capable of leading SMSC development would be the dialogical approach with examples of successful implementation described by Gates, Ipgrave and Skeie. Marton's phenomenography, is thought to provide a valuable framework to allow the teacher to be appropriately critical in the transmission of spiritual values in schools of a particular religious character as evidenced by Hella's work in Lutheran schools
Territory, power and statecraft: understanding English devolution
In recent decades, the devolution of power to subnational regional authorities has formed a key element of what has been termed the âunravellingâ or âunbundlingâ of the state in many parts of the world. Even in the United Kingdom, with its distinctive global reputation as a power-hoarding majoritarian democracy, the devolution of powers to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland since 1998 can be located within this broader devolutionary dynamic. In recent years, this process has focused on âthe English questionâ and a reform agenda that claimed to offer a âdevolution revolutionâ. This paper offers the first research-led analysis of the scope, scale and implications of these post-2015 reforms to English governance. It utilizes Jim Bulpittâs statecraft approach to explore the changing nature of centreâperiphery relationships within England. The main conclusion has been that a ârhetoricâreality gapâ currently exists and a âdevolution revolutionâ has not occurred
A systematic review of the effectiveness of antimicrobial rinse-free hand sanitizers for prevention of illness-related absenteeism in elementary school children
BACKGROUND: Absenteeism due to communicable illness is a major problem encountered by North American elementary school children. Although handwashing is a proven infection control measure, barriers exist in the school environment, which hinder compliance to this routine. Currently, alternative hand hygiene techniques are being considered, and one such technique is the use of antimicrobial rinse-free hand sanitizers. METHODS: A systematic review was conducted to examine the effectiveness of antimicrobial rinse-free hand sanitizer interventions in the elementary school setting. MEDLINE, EMBASE, Biological Abstract, CINAHL, HealthSTAR and Cochrane Controlled Trials Register were searched for both randomized and non-randomized controlled trials. Absenteeism due to communicable illness was the primary outcome variable. RESULTS: Six eligible studies, two of which were randomized, were identified (5 published studies, 1 published abstract). The quality of reporting was low. Due to a large amount of heterogeneity and low quality of reporting, no pooled estimates were calculated. There was a significant difference reported in favor of the intervention in all 5 published studies. CONCLUSIONS: The available evidence for the effectiveness of antimicrobial rinse-free hand sanitizer in the school environment is of low quality. The results suggest that the strength of the benefit should be interpreted with caution. Given the potential to reduce student absenteeism, teacher absenteeism, school operating costs, healthcare costs and parental absenteeism, a well-designed and analyzed trial is needed to optimize this hand hygiene technique
Kindling the Fire: Fueling Preservice Science Teachers\u27 Interest to Teach in High-Needs Schools
This study applies psychological models of interest and motivation (i.e., a model of interestâdevelopment and selfâdetermination theory) to the experiences of six preservice science Noyce scholars who participated in a teacher preparation program. The National Science Foundation\u27s Noyce grant aims to incentivize mathematics and science majors to teach in highâneeds school districts. Through this interview study, we sought to understand how Noyce scholars\u27 preâexisting interests and their experiences in the Noyce program interact to develop individual commitments to teach in highâneeds school settings. Case studies reveal that scholars had no prior experiences in highâneeds schools, abstract ideas about teachers, students, and resources in these contexts, and varying degrees of initial connectedness to teaching in highâneeds school settings. Scholars found that site visits to diverse highâneeds schools (i.e., rural and urban) triggered their interest to teach in similar contexts. Preservice science teachers\u27 emerging interest and level of commitment to teaching in highâneeds schools following the teacher preparation program was dependent upon contextâspecific mastery experiences and autonomy within their longâterm clinical field experience. This study offers implications for teacher educators who are recruiting and preparing students to teach in highâneeds school contexts
Determined learning approach: Implications of heutagogy society based learning
Recently, within the higher education system in the United Kingdom, there has been close examination of the way institutions teach and assess students. This scrutiny has been intensified by central government with the proposed introduction of the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF). The anticipated TEF demands that higher education institutions evaluate their teaching and learning practices and think of new ways to develop excellent student experience. Self-determined learning has resurfaced as a popular approach in the higher education sector. At the centre of self-determined learning is the concept of heutagogy. This approach enables the student to apply what they have learned in an education setting and relate it to the workplace. The aim of this paper is to critically explore the theoretical framework behind the self-determined learning approach. The authors of this paper argue that, from a social science perspective, a determined learning approach is in the best place to provide a contemporary, exciting teaching and learning experience in a competitive higher education market
What is evidence required for and who generates that evidence in the Finnish Educational System?
Peer reviewe
Gathering opinion leader data for a tailored implementation intervention in secondary healthcare: a randomised trial
Background: Health professionalsâ behaviour is a key component in compliance with evidence-based recommendations. Opinion leaders are an oft-used method of influencing such behaviours in implementation studies, but reliably and cost effectively identifying them is not straightforward. Survey and questionnaire based data collection methods have potential and carefully chosen items can â in theory â both aid identification of opinion leaders and help in the design of an implementation strategy itself. This study compares two methods of identifying opinion leaders for behaviour-change interventions. Methods: Healthcare professionals working in a single UK mental health NHS Foundation Trust were randomly allocated to one of two questionnaires. The first, slightly longer questionnaire, asked for multiple nominations of opinion leaders, with specific information about the nature of the relationship with each nominee. The second, shorter version, asked simply for a list of named âchampionsâ but no more additional information. We compared, using Chi Square statistics, both the questionnaire response rates and the number of health professionals likely to be influenced by the opinion leaders (i.e. the âcoverageâ rates) for both questionnaire conditions. Results: Both questionnaire versions had low response rates: only 15% of health professionals named colleagues in the longer questionnaire and 13% in the shorter version. The opinion leaders identified by both methods had a low number of contacts (range of coverage, 2â6 each). There were no significant differences in response rates or coverage between the two identification methods. Conclusions: The low response and population coverage rates for both questionnaire versions suggest that alternative methods of identifying opinion leaders for implementation studies may be more effective. Future research should seek to identify and evaluate alternative, non-questionnaire based, methods of identifying opinion leaders in order to maximise their potential in organisational behaviour change interventions
- âŠ