The Political is Personal: TAs on the Front Lines of the Critical Consciousness Campaign

This paper addresses the personal demands that Teaching Assistants (TAs) encounter as they work toward nurturing critical consciousness in university tutorials. We explore two case studies that occurred during our participatory, feminist, action research project which aims to have students collaboratively question and reflect upon their responses to critical theorizing in sociology. The scenarios that we analyze illustrate how students’ investments in dominant ideologies around gender relations and sexuality can lead to situations that are very challenging for TAs. Our analyses reveal that, particularly in tutorial settings where students vocalize their positions, TAs personally encounter a myriad of emotional, intellectual and interpersonal considerations in response to their students’ politics. These case studies emphasize the complexities involved when TAs are committed to both anti-oppressive pedagogy and critical ideologies

Tlalocohyla loquax

Number of Pages: 8Integrative BiologyGeological Science

Estimating Brand Level Demand Elasticities and Measuring Market Power for Regular Carbonated Soft Drinks

This paper reports econometric estimation of brand level demand (AIDS) elasticities for regular carbonated soft drinks using Information Resources, Inc. panel data. Own and cross price elasticities are used to measure actual and hypothetical market power that would arise from potential mergers or collusive pricing arrangements.Demand and Price Analysis, Marketing,

Microstructure-property relationships in Al-Cu-Li-Ag-Mg Weldalite (tm) alloys, part 2

The microstructure and mechanical properties of the ultrahigh strength Al-Cu-Li-Ag-Mg alloy, Weldalite (tm) 049, were studied. Specifically, the microstructural features along with tensile strength, weldability, Young's modulus and fracture toughness were studied for Weldalite (tm) 049 type alloys with Li contents ranging from 1.3 to 1.9 wt. pct. The tensile properties of Weldalite 049 and Weldalite 049 reinforced with TiB2 particles fabricated using the XD (tm) process were also evaluated at cryogenic, room, and elevated temperatures. In addition, an experimental alloy, similar in composition to Weldalite 049 but without the Ag+Mg, was fabricated. The microstructure of this alloy was compared with that of Weldalite 049 in the T6 condition to assess the effect of Ag+Mg on nucleation of strengthening phases in the absence of cold work

Seeing is believing: primary generalist pre-service teachers’ observations of physical education lessons in Ireland and Switzerland.

Primary generalist pre-service teachers (PSTs) rarely have opportunity to observe teachers teaching authentic physical education lessons let alone reflect with the teachers, their lecturer or their peers following the lesson. Observation of, and reflection on, quality lessons can have a powerful influence on shaping the PSTs’ soon-to-be-teachers’ professional identities and can also help them to develop reflective and critical thinking skills. A qualitative framework utilising critical incidents, described as ‘events identified by student teachers as significant in making progress toward becoming a better teacher’ (Schempp, 1985: p.159) guided the PSTs’ observations in this study. One primary physical education initial teacher educator (PEITE) and four PSTs, from Ireland, participated in the study and data comprised of a planning discussion, 40 critical incident observations of ten lessons in two European countries and two reflective discussions. Each set of observations was followed by a group discussion to provide opportunity for reflection-on-action (Schön, 1983). Examination of the data showed that PSTs extended their understanding of professional practice in: questioning and demonstrating; inclusion; organisation and management; and feedback and were surprised that practice in both countries was more similar than different. Critical incidents were a useful method of focusing reflections for the PSTs and the opportunity to engage in the process of observing, and reflecting on, quality lessons impacted the PSTs’ perceptions towards becoming better teachers. Keywords: Critical incidents; reflection

Mortality post inpatient alcohol detoxification: a descriptive case series

<br>Background: Individuals with alcohol dependence often die prematurely. Scotland in particular has high rates of alcohol misuse compared to the rest of the UK and Europe. Although there is some evidence that rates of alcoholrelated harm and alcohol-related deaths are reducing in Europe, there is little evidence of this trend occurring in Scotland. Inpatient detoxification is an important, but expensive, option in the management of alcohol dependence. Little work has been done with regard possible clinical characteristics associated with mortality post discharge in this cohort of patients.</br> <br>Methods: Retrospective electronic records were used to identify patients admitted electively for alcohol detoxification into a psychiatric ward in a district general hospital under the care of a single consultant addiction psychiatrist between 1/1/05 and 31/12/07 inclusively. Demographic and clinical factors were recorded. 5-year mortality data was obtained by linkage to the National Records of Scotland.</br> <br>Results: 25.2% of patients admitted for elective alcohol detoxification died during the 5-year follow up period. 42.9% of deaths (n=12) were due to alcoholic liver disease, one death (3.6%) was of undetermined intent. A higher proportion of the deceased cohort was likely to have continued disulfiram (93% vs. 80%) and acamprosate (81% vs. 60%) than those surviving. There was no statistically significant difference in survival between individuals on medication and those not on medications in our cohort. The average consumption of units of alcohol per week in the deceased cohort was significantly higher than that calculated for the surviving cohort (298.8 units vs. 233.3 units p=0.0137).</br> <br>Conclusion: Inpatient detoxification was associated with significant mortality at 5-year follow up post- discharge. The majority of deaths were due to liver disease while deaths due to accidents and of undetermined intent were relatively infrequent. Increased education and practical strategies such as “space and pace” aimed both at an individual and societal level to reduce alcohol consumption may help to reduce mortality associated with alcohol dependence post inpatient detoxification.</br&gt

Con espressivo : the design and development of a music therapy syllabus and assessment in special education

University of Technology, Sydney. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.This thesis presents a Music Therapy Syllabus and Assessment designed for the special education context. The research process which influenced the development is outlined. Details are provided of the research steps that include: pilot and extended music therapy interventions, educator questionnaire, music therapist survey and interviews, application of the Assessment and peer review. The music therapist survey included music therapists (n=40) from Australia and the United Kingdom working in the special education context. Ninety percent of surveyed therapists acknowledge applying six or more of the 10 Board of Studies Life Skills Music Education Outcomes (Board of Studies, 2003). These results support the inclusion of Board of Studies Education Outcomes alongside music therapy outcomes in the Music Therapy Syllabus and Assessment. The Music Therapy Syllabus and Assessment include the categories of: communication, initiation, response, movement, social interaction, emotional expression, listening and decision-making. The Music Therapy Syllabus and Assessment seek to validate music therapy in the special education setting by situating music therapy in the education context. The Music Therapy Syllabus and Assessment provide a resource for programming, reporting and linking music therapy to the education curriculum. The Music Therapy Assessment supplies a practical tool that measures activity within sessions which enables accountability within the education context. The inclusion of music therapy and Board of Studies Education Outcomes is combined to produce a Music Therapy Syllabus and Assessment that is accessible to both educators and therapists. This thesis presents the design of the Music Therapy Syllabus and Assessment and outlines the influence of research steps on its development

Despite major cyberattacks, businesses have been slow to react

Many think they’re too small, too niche or too traditional to become a target, and don’t protect themselves, writes Steve Langa

Schizophrenia is associated with excess multiple physical-health comorbidities but low levels of recorded cardiovascular disease in primary care: cross-sectional study

<b>Objective</b> To assess the nature and extent of physical-health comorbidities in people with schizophrenia and related psychoses compared with controls. <p></p> <b>Design </b>Cross-sectional study. <p></p> <b>Setting </b>314 primary care practices in Scotland. <p></p> <b>Participants </b>9677 people with a primary care record of schizophrenia or a related psychosis and 1 414 701 controls. Main outcome measures Primary care records of 32 common chronic physical-health conditions and combinations of one, two and three or more physical-health comorbidities adjusted for age, gender and deprivation status. <p></p> <b>Results</b> Compared with controls, people with schizophrenia were significantly more likely to have one physical-health comorbidity (OR 1.21, 95% CI 1.16 to 1.27), two physical-health comorbidities (OR 1.37, 95% CI 1.29 to 1.44) and three or more physical-health comorbidities (OR 1.19, 95% CI 1.12 to 1.27). Rates were highest for viral hepatitis (OR 3.98, 95% CI 2.81 to 5.64), constipation (OR 3.24, 95% CI 3.00 to 4.49) and Parkinson's disease (OR 3.07, 95% CI 2.42 to 3.88) but people with schizophrenia had lower recorded rates of cardiovascular disease, including atrial fibrillation (OR 0.62, 95% CI 0.51 to 0.73), hypertension (OR 0.71, 95% CI 0.67 to 0.76), coronary heart disease (OR 0.75, 95% CI 0.61 to 0.71) and peripheral vascular disease (OR 0.83, 95% CI 0.71 to 0.97).<p></p> <b>Conclusions </b>People with schizophrenia have a wide range of comorbid and multiple physical-health conditions but are less likely than people without schizophrenia to have a primary care record of cardiovascular disease. This suggests a systematic under-recognition and undertreatment of cardiovascular disease in people with schizophrenia, which might contribute to substantial premature mortality observed within this patient group. <p></p&gt