Educational Psychology and the Dissemination of Evidence to Professional Practice

The purpose of this reflective practice paper is twofold: firstly, to review the concepts of evidence-based practice (EBP) and practice-based evidence (PBE) within the discipline of educational psychology and, secondly, to consider how research evidence can be effectively disseminated to inform educational psychologists’ (EPs’) professional practice. The unique contribution that EPs can make to the evidence base is described before exploring the extent to which EPs’ general practice is based on the best available scientific evidence. Finally, a dissemination plan is outlined that includes a discussion regarding the critical role of Implementation Science (Blase et al., 2012). The paper concludes that, although sparse, the existing literature suggests EPs are not basing their practice on well-evidenced techniques. Also, effective dissemination must include Implementation Science if sustainable changes are to be made at an organisational level

The effect of high-fat meals and exercise on endothelial function and triacylglycerol concentrations in adolescent boys

The thesis investigated the effect of exercise on endothelial function (measured as flow-mediated dilation (FMD)) and triacylglycerol concentrations following the ingestion of a high-fat breakfast and lunch in adolescent boys. The validity of measuring lipid and lipoprotein concentrations from a capillary blood sample, and the reproducibility of the postprandial FMD and triacylglycerol concentration responses to the high-fat meals, was established. The effects of prior continuous moderate-intensity exercise (60 min walking at 60% V ̇O2peak), repeated very short duration sprints (40 x 6 s maximal effort cycle sprints) and accumulated moderate-intensity exercise (6 x 10 min running at 70% V ̇O2peak) on endothelial function and triacylglycerol concentrations in adolescent boys were then established across three studies, each consisting of two, 2-day main trials (control and exercise). On day 1, participants were either inactive or completed the prescribed exercise. On day 2, FMD and triacylglycerol concentrations were measured prior to, and following, ingestion of a high-fat breakfast and lunch. In each control trial FMD was reduced (signifying endothelial dysfunction), compared to fasting, by 20-32% and 24-33% following the high-fat breakfast and lunch. Following continuous moderate-intensity exercise, repeated very-short duration sprints and accumulated moderate-intensity exercise these reductions were only 8% and 10% (main effect trial, P = 0.002; main effect time, P = 0.023; interaction effect trial x time, P = 0.088), 2% and 5% (main effect trial, P = 0.012; main effect time, P = 0.004; interaction effect trial x time, P = 0.003) and 1% and 3% (main effect trial, P = 0.020; main effect time, P < 0.001; interaction effect trial x time, P = 0.014) respectively. The continuous moderate-intensity exercise and repeated very short duration sprints also significantly reduced the total area under the triacylglycerol concentration versus time curve by 22% (Control vs. Exercise; 12.68 (sem 1.37) vs. 9.84 (sem 0.75) mmol L-1 6.5h, P = 0.018) and 13% (Exercise vs. Control: 8.65 (sem 0.97) vs. 9.92 (sem 1.16) mmol L-1 6.5h, P = 0.023). The accumulated moderate-intensity exercise also reduced the total area under the triacylglycerol concentration versus time curve by 11%, but this reduction was not significant (Control vs. Exercise: 10.71 (sem 0.94) vs. 9.56 (sem 0.67) mmol L-1 6.5h, respectively, P = 0.183). The experimental evidence from these studies emphasise that exercise might offer an acceptable, non-pharmacological means of influencing CHD risk when individuals are young. The results of these studies can help shape future physical activity guidelines

Full-size solar dynamic heat receiver thermal-vacuum tests

The testing of a full-size, 120 kW, solar dynamic heat receiver utilizing high-temperature thermal energy storage is described. The purpose of the test program was to quantify receiver thermodynamic performance, operating temperatures, and thermal response to changes in environmental and power module interface boundary conditions. The heat receiver was tested in a vacuum chamber with liquid nitrogen cold shrouds and an aperture cold plate to partly simulate a low-Earth-orbit environment. The cavity of the receiver was heated by an infrared quartz lamp heater with 30 independently controllable zones to allow axially and circumferentially varied flux distributions. A closed-Brayton cycle engine simulator conditioned a helium-xenon gas mixture to specific interface conditions to simulate the various operational modes of the solar dynamic power module on the Space Station Freedom. Inlet gas temperature, pressure, and flow rate were independently varied. A total of 58 simulated orbital cycles, each 94 minutes in duration, was completed during the test conduct period

Ground test program for a full-size solar dynamic heat receiver

Test hardware, facilities, and procedures were developed to conduct ground testing of a full size, solar dynamic heat receiver in a partially simulated, low Earth orbit environment. The heat receiver was designed to supply 102 kW of thermal energy to a helium and xenon gas mixture continuously over a 94 minute orbit, including up to 36 minutes of eclipse. The purpose of the test program was to quantify the receiver thermodynamic performance, its operating temperatures, and thermal response to changes in environmental and power module interface boundary conditions. The heat receiver was tested in a vacuum chamber using liquid nitrogen cold shrouds and an aperture cold plate. Special test equipment were designed to provide the required ranges in interface boundary conditions that typify those expected or required for operation as part of the solar dynamic power module on the Space Station Freedom. The support hardware includes an infrared quartz lamp heater with 30 independently controllable zones and a closed Brayton cycle engine simulator to circulate and condition the helium xenon gas mixture. The test article, test support hardware, facilities, and instrumentation developed to conduct the ground test program are all described

Helping community-based students on a final consolidation placement make the transition to registered practice.

The pressure of role transition on new nurse registrants has affected recruitment and retention, which, along with an ageing workforce, has resulted in a global shortage of nurses that is now reaching crisis point. This article examines and discusses what can be done to attract and prepare the future workforce in the community, focusing on helping students to make the transition to registered practice that begins during their final consolidation of practice placement. There is currently limited evidence on the effectiveness of how community placement teams prepare finalist students for registered practice and this could be seen as an opportunity lost given the urgent need to recruit more registered nurses to work in primary care. Recommendations for enhancing this crucial stage of the student journey are made, and a case for the need to know more from students about how they experience their final practice placement when allocated to a community setting is presented

Fitting high-energy Littlest Seesaw parameters using low-energy neutrino data and leptogenesis

We show that the four high-energy Littlest Seesaw parameters in the flavour basis,namely two real Yukawa couplings plus the two right-handed neutrino masses, can be determined by an excellent fit to the seven currently constrained observables of low-energy neutrino data and leptogenesis. Taking into account renormalisation group corrections, we estimate $\chi^2 \simeq 1.5-2.6$ for the three d.o.f., depending on the high-energy scale and the type of non supersymmetric Littlest Seesaw model. We extract allowed ranges of neutrino parameters from our fit data, including the approximate mu-tau symmetric predictions $\theta_{23}=45^o\pm 1^o$ and $\delta = -90^o \pm 5^o$, which, together with a normal mass ordering with $m_1=0$, will enable Littlest Seesaw models to be tested in future neutrino experiments.Comment: Typos corrected, references added. 25 pages, 20 figure

Supernatural spectacle cinema: the anxiety of un-belonging and the haunted house in contemporary Hollywood horror films

Much recent scholarship involving ghosts has focused upon spectrality as a metaphor for trauma. While this is a fruitful area of research, in the case of Film Studies, this risks flattening haunted house films to the status of ‘text’ and overlooking their filmic quality, which sets them apart from other artforms. This thesis centres the supernatural as a diegetic reality, focusing on the cinematic representations of ghosts, demonic entities, and haunted houses in the period between 1979 and 2015. To examine these hauntings, the thesis reads the films using three technical languages of filmmaking; cinematography, set design, and sound design. These languages make the mechanisms of hauntology visible, making this a complementary approach to traditional readings based on spectrality and trauma. These readings are underpinned by theoretical and thematic work around belonging, the influence of technology, and the cultural stagnation created by neoliberalism. Mark Fisher’s work on the weird and the eerie becomes the starting point for belonging, and reading the languages of filmmaking reveals that in these films, it is the living that do not belong in these spaces, rather than the dead. The supernatural keeps these haunted houses caught in the past, unavailable for occupation in the present. While Fisher’s assertion that neoliberalism created a post-millennial cultural stagnation in the UK, these films reveal the same problem in the United States, where these Hollywood-produced films are haunted by the spectres of The Amityville Horror (Stuart Rosenberg, 1979) and Poltergeist (Tobe Hooper, 1982). The discussion explores the extent to which the living can return the domestic spaces to the present. This thesis examines how the technical languages of filmmaking represent haunting on screen and visualise aspects of the Gothic around space and isolation, while revealing this preoccupation with the weird and eerie as central components of a haunting

In vivo changes in plasma acute phase protein levels in the rat induced by slow release of IL-1, IL-6 and TNF

Administration of large doses of cytokines by injection is required to induce changes in acute phase protein levels. Comparisons were made in the rat of the effects of administering recombinant human cytokines by injection with continuous release from implanted osmotic minipumps. Continuous release of interleukin-1β (0.2–2.1 ng h-1) induced dose-related changes in the plasma levels of albumin, seromucoid proteins, haptoglobin and caeruloplasmin; interleukin-1α had similar effects but required higher doses (2–21 ng h-1). Tumour necrosis factor α (50 ng h-1) only significantly increased seromucoid levels, whereas IL-6 (3–30 ng h-1) induced haptoglobin and caeruloplassynthesis. This method provides a better technique for studying the in rive effects of cytokines which may be relevant to the release mechanisms in inflammation