Examining Federally Funded Secondary Transition Personnel Preparation Programs

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Plotner, Anthony J.; Simonsen, Monica L.

2018-01-01

The purpose of this study was to examine 41 secondary transition-focused personnel preparation projects funded between 2001 and 2016. Specifically, this study examined the amount and characteristics of these projects through a systematic abstract review. In addition, authors explored key issues in federally funded transition-focused personnel…

Vocabulary Intervention for Children with Down Syndrome: Parent Training Using Focused Stimulation.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Girolametto, Luigi; Weitzman, Elaine; Clements-Baartman, Jill

1998-01-01

This study explored effects of training six mothers to use focused stimulation to teach specific target words to their toddlers with Down syndrome. Following treatment, trained mothers used the focused stimulation technique more often than mothers in the control group. Concomitantly, their children used target words more often, as reported by…

Exploring the Use of Focused Freewriting in Developing Academic Writing

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Li, Linda Y.

2007-01-01

Focused freewriting, broadly defined as writing without stopping and editing about a specific topic, has been viewed and used as a powerful tool for developing student writing in a wide spectrum of educational contexts. This study aimed to further explore the use of focused freewriting in the context of promoting students' academic skills…

Cause-Specific Mortality and Death Certificate Reporting in Adults with Moderate to Profound Intellectual Disability

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tyrer, F.; McGrother, C.

2009-01-01

Background: The study of premature deaths in people with intellectual disability (ID) has become the focus of recent policy initiatives in England. This is the first UK population-based study to explore cause-specific mortality in adults with ID compared with the general population. Methods: Cause-specific standardised mortality ratios (SMRs) and…

An Instrument Development Study for Determining Prospective Science Teachers' Science-Specific Epistemological Beliefs

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Koksal, Mustafa Serdar; Ertekin, Pelin

2016-01-01

The study is focusing on development of an instrument to determine science-specific epistemological beliefs of prospective science teachers. The study involved 364 (male = 82, female = 282) prospective science teachers enrolled in a science teacher education program. The confirmatory factor analysis, reliability analysis and correlation analysis…

A meta-analysis of the association between substance use and emerging adult development using the IDEA scale.

PubMed

Davis, Jordan P; Dumas, Tara M; Briley, Daniel A; Sussman, Steve

2018-04-01

Much debate exists surrounding Arnett's theory of emerging adulthood in terms of its breadth and application. Researchers have attempted to capture dimensions of emerging adulthood (eg, experimentation, negativity/instability, other-focus, self-focus, and feeling in-between) through self report assessment, using variations of the Inventory of the Dimensions of Emerging Adulthood or IDEA. Results from studies investigating this relationship have been mixed. We conducted a meta-analysis on the association between substance use and the IDEA. Data were extracted to calculate correlational associations with substance use as well as typical moderators found in the literature. Twelve studies were meta-analyzed. We found small associations (range: ρ = -.03 to .15; d = .06 to 30) between the IDEA scores and substance use. We found higher severity (dependence diagnosis) of participants yielded larger associations across all dimensions (ρ = .16), and proportion of college students to be a subscale-specific moderator (experimentation, negativity/instability, other-focus, self-focus, and feeling in-between). Alcohol use outcomes also provided larger subscale-specific associations (experimentation, negativity/instability, other-focus, self-focus). The dimensions of emerging adulthood may be less effective in predicting substance use among non-college samples and those studies focusing on drug use. Further research should prioritize exploring variation in the transition to emerging adulthood among non-college samples and the longitudinal associations between IDEA and substance use. Important contributions include the modest association between IDEA and substance use as well as specific participant characteristics that amplify or mitigate the association between IDEA and substance use. (Am J Addict 2018;27:166-176). © 2018 American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry.

Brightening the Mind: The Impact of Practicing Gratitude on Focus and Resilience in Learning

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wilson, Jane Taylor

2016-01-01

A growing body of groundbreaking research shows that gratitude has the power to heal, energize, and transform lives by enhancing people psychologically, spiritually, physically, and cognitively. This study contributes to the study of gratitude by exploring its impact on focus and resilience in learning. Specifically, this study examines the impact…

When does self-sacrificial leadership motivate prosocial behavior? It depends on followers' prevention focus.

PubMed

De Cremer, David; Mayer, David M; van Dijke, Marius; Bardes, Mary; Schouten, Barbara C

2009-07-01

In the present set of studies, the authors examine the idea that self-sacrificial leadership motivates follower prosocial behavior, particularly among followers with a prevention focus. Drawing on the self-sacrificial leadership literature and regulatory focus theory, the authors provide results from 4 studies (1 laboratory and 3 field studies) that support the research hypothesis. Specifically, the relationship between self-sacrificial leadership and prosocial behavior (i.e., cooperation, organizational citizenship behavior) is stronger among followers who are high in prevention focus. Implications for the importance of taking a follower-centered approach to leadership are discussed.

Migrant women farm workers in the occupational health literature.

PubMed

Habib, Rima R; Fathallah, Fadi A

2012-01-01

Little attention has been given to the vulnerable populations of migrant women agricultural workers. A systemic review in PubMed was carried out (1990-2008) using terms related to migrant agricultural workers, with specific focus on women. Case studies from Lebanon and California are presented to highlight key physical, psychosocial, and cultural risk factors among these working populations. The review revealed a host of potential problems that span from pesticide exposure and musculoskeletal disorders to socio-cultural barriers. Comprehensive exposure-outcome and intervention studies focusing specifically on migrant women in agriculture are lacking. In depth studies focusing on the work environment of migrant women workers in the agricultural sector are needed. Personal and environmental factors that influence health should be considered in any effective intervention aiming to influence policy making and have a positive impact on these vulnerable working populations.

["Group" and organization: a dimension of collaboration of anthropology and epidemiology].

PubMed

Song, Lei-ming; Wang, Ning

2012-04-01

"Group" is a key concept in epidemiological research and "organization" is a core concept in anthropology. Group takes focus on the specific characteristics of the subjects, while organization takes focus on the relationship between the objects. For the characteristics and relationship of the objects that interacting with each other, the two concepts could be complementary in specific studies, and this will be the basic dimension of Interdisciplinary collaboration of anthropology and epidemiology.

What Are the Effects of Implementing Learning-Focused Strategies in Biology and Physical Science Classrooms?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Simmons, Robin

2013-01-01

The objective of this study was to determine if Learning-Focused Strategies (LFS) implemented in high school science courses would affect student achievement and the pass rate of biology and physical science Common District Assessments (CDAs). The LFS, specific teaching strategies contained in the Learning-Focused Strategies Model (LFSM) Program…

A Case Study Investigating Secondary Science Teachers' Perceptions of Science Literacy Instruction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Blackmon, Phyllis Ann

This project study addressed the lack of inclusion of discipline literacy pedagogy in secondary classrooms in a rural school district in eastern North Carolina. Discipline literacy practices are recommended in the Common Core Standards for History/Social Studies, Science, and Technical Subjects. The district had implemented content area reading strategies across content areas, yet no significant progress in secondary students' reading abilities had been demonstrated in statewide or national assessments. The conceptual framework that drove this study was disciplinary literacy, founded by the literacy research of Shanahan, Shanahan, and Zygouris-Coe. Within a qualitative case study method, this investigation of 8 secondary science teachers' experiences teaching literacy during content instruction focused on practices of embedding science-specific reading strategies into lessons and factors that influence teachers' decisions to participate in professional development to advance their learning of discipline-specific literacy methods. Data were collected and triangulated using a focus group and 8 individual interviews. Data from both methods were analyzed into codes and categories that developed into emergent themes. Findings from the focus group and individual interviews revealed that the science teachers possessed limited knowledge of science-specific reading strategies; used random, general literacy practices; and had completed inadequate professional development on science-related topics. Positive change may occur if district leaders support teachers in expanding their knowledge and application of discipline literacy strategies through participation in discipline literacy-focused professional development. The study may provide educators and researchers a deeper understanding of disciplinary literacy and increase research on the topic.

Interactions between sediment storage and bed material transport: A field and flume study

Treesearch

Bonnie J. Smith; Thomas E. Lisle; Diane G. Sutherland; Sue Hilton; Harvey M. Kelsey; Eileen M. Cashman

2002-01-01

Significant channel aggradation events have occurred in numerous coastal northern California watersheds over the past 50 years, leaving lasting impacts on stream channel morphology and habitats. Our study focuses on sediment movement and channel morphology following large aggradation events and specifically focuses on the relationship between volume of stored sediment...

75 FR 74061 - Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Focus Groups as...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-11-30

..., motivations, and feelings than do quantitative studies. Focus groups serve the narrowly defined need for direct and informal opinion on a specific topic and as a qualitative research tool have three major... quantitative studies, To better understand consumers' attitudes and emotions in response to topics and concepts...

78 FR 38993 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Focus Groups...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-06-28

...' attitudes, beliefs, motivations, and feelings than do quantitative studies. Focus groups serve the narrowly defined need for direct and informal opinion on a specific topic and as a qualitative research tool have... quantitative studies, To better understand people's attitudes and emotions in response to topics and concepts...

The Community College Baccalaureate Movement: Cutting-Edge Dissertation Research

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hrabak, Michael R.

2009-01-01

In this review of dissertations, the researcher presents summaries of 10 of the most recent and cutting-edge dissertations focusing on the ever-growing and complex field of the community college baccalaureate movement. These studies focus on the gamut of specific legislation, case studies of particular programs and schools, financing of such…

Capitalizing on Web 2.0 in the Social Studies Context

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Holcomb, Lori B.; Beal, Candy M.

2010-01-01

This paper focuses primarily on the integration of Web 2.0 technologies into social studies education. It documents how various Web 2.0 tools can be utilized in the social studies context to support and enhance teaching and learning. For the purposes of focusing on one specific topic, global connections at the middle school level will be the…

The use of focused ethnography in nursing research.

PubMed

Cruz, Edward Venzon; Higginbottom, Gina

2013-03-01

To provide an overview of the relevance and strengths of focused ethnography in nursing research. The paper provides descriptions of focused ethnography and discusses using exemplars to show how focused ethnographies can enhance and understand nursing practice. Orthodox ethnographic approaches may not always be suitable or desirable for research in diverse nursing contexts. Focused ethnography has emerged as a promising method for applying ethnography to a distinct issue or shared experience in cultures or sub-cultures and in specific settings, rather than throughout entire communities. Unfortunately, there is limited guidance on using focused ethnography, particularly as applied to nursing research. Research studies performed by nurses using focused ethnography are summarised to show how they fulfilled three main purposes of the genre in nursing research. Additional citations are provided to help demonstrate the versatility of focused ethnography in exploring distinct problems in a specific context in different populations and groups of people. The unique role that nurses play in health care, coupled with their skills in enquiry, can contribute to the further development of the discipline. Focused ethnography offers an opportunity to gain a better understanding and appreciation of nursing as a profession, and the role it plays in society. Focused ethnography has emerged as a relevant research methodology that can be used by nurse researchers to understand specific societal issues that affect different facets of nursing practice. As nurse researchers endeavour to understand experiences in light of their health and life situations, focused ethnography enables them to understand the interrelationship between people and their environments in the society in which they live.

A history of studies that examine the interactions of Toxoplasma with its host cell: Emphasis on in vitro models.

PubMed

Boyle, Jon P; Radke, Jay R

2009-07-01

This review is a historical look at work carried out over the past 50 years examining interactions of Toxoplasma with the host cell and attempts to focus on some of the seminal experiments in the field. This early work formed the foundation for more recent studies aimed at identifying the host and parasite factors mediating key Toxoplasma-host cell interactions. We focus especially on those studies that were performed in vitro and provide discussions of the following general areas: (i) establishment of the parasitophorous vacuole, (ii) the requirement of specific host cell molecules for parasite replication, (iii) the scenarios under which the host cell can resist parasite replication and/or persistence, (iv) host species-specific and host strain-specific responses to Toxoplasma infection, and (v) Toxoplasma-induced immune modulation.

The Problems of Diagnosis and Remediation of Dyscalculia.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Price, Nigel; Youe, Simon

2000-01-01

Focuses on the problems of diagnosis and remediation of dyscalculia. Explores whether there is justification for believing that specific difficulty with mathematics arises jointly with a specific language problem, or whether a specific difficulty with mathematics can arise independently of problems with language. Uses a case study to illuminate…

Focus Group Assessment of Culturally Specific Cholesterol-Lowering Menus for Mexican Americans

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Shah, M.; Coyle, Y.; Kavanaugh, A.; Adams-Huet, B.; Lipsky, P.E.

2004-01-01

This study focus tested the acceptability of a set of six 1400 kcal and six 1800 kcal culturally appropriate cholesterol-lowering menus developed for low-income Mexican-Americans with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The focus group, made up of 11 low-income Mexican-American women without SLE, found the menus to be generally culturally valid,…

The Cost Burden to Minnesota K-12 when Children Are Unprepared for Kindergarten

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chase, Richard; Coffee-Borden, Brandon; Anton, Paul; Moore, Christopher; Valorose, Jennifer

2008-01-01

Most of the studies of the return on investment in early childhood education have focused on the big payoffs in reduced public and societal costs associated with child welfare, public assistance, crime and incarceration, and benefits related to increased education and earnings. Several studies focus specifically on costs and benefits within the…

Group Training in Interpersonal Problem-Solving Skills for Workplace Adaptation of Adolescents and Adults with Asperger Syndrome: A Preliminary Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bonete, Saray; Calero, María Dolores; Fernández-Parra, Antonio

2015-01-01

Adults with Asperger syndrome show persistent difficulties in social situations which psychosocial treatments may address. Despite the multiple studies focusing on social skills interventions, only some have focused specifically on problem-solving skills and have not targeted workplace adaptation training in the adult population. This study…

Debriefing after High-Fidelity Simulation and Knowledge Retention: A Quasi-Experimental Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Olson, Susan L.

2013-01-01

High-fidelity simulation (HFS) use in nursing education has been a frequent research topic in recent years. Previous research included studies on the use of HFS with nursing students, focusing on their feelings of self-confidence and anxiety. However, research focused specifically on the debriefing portion of HFS was limited. This quantitative,…

Diverse Educational Leadership Training Academy at Northeastern State University-Broken Arrow Campus in Oklahoma: Why Is It Working?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mahan, Melissa Kaye

2009-01-01

Scope and method of study. This study used a descriptive design in which quantitative subject profile data were expanded upon by qualitative data from focus group interviews. Specifically, institutional data from Northeastern State University and focus group interviews with DELTA graduates were used. The institutional data collected consisted of…

How decision reversibility affects motivation.

PubMed

Bullens, Lottie; van Harreveld, Frenk; Förster, Jens; Higgins, Tory E

2014-04-01

The present research examined how decision reversibility can affect motivation. On the basis of extant findings, it was suggested that 1 way it could affect motivation would be to strengthen different regulatory foci, with reversible decision making, compared to irreversible decision making, strengthening prevention-related motivation relatively more than promotion-related motivation. If so, then decision reversibility should have effects associated with the relative differences between prevention and promotion motivation. In 5 studies, we manipulated the reversibility of a decision and used different indicators of regulatory focus motivation to test these predictions. Specifically, Study 1 tested for differences in participants' preference for approach versus avoidance strategies toward a desired end state. In Study 2, we used speed and accuracy performance as indicators of participants' regulatory motivation, and in Study 3, we measured global versus local reaction time performance. In Study 4, we approached the research question in a different way, making use of the value-from-fit hypothesis (Higgins, 2000, 2002). We tested whether a fit between chronic regulatory focus and focus induced by the reversibility of the decision increased participants' subjective positive feelings about the decision outcome. Finally, in Study 5, we tested whether regulatory motivation, induced by decision reversibility, also influenced participants' preference in specific product features. The results generally support our hypothesis showing that, compared to irreversible decisions, reversible decisions strengthen a prevention focus more than a promotion focus. Implications for research on decision making are discussed.

High-Fidelity Manikin-Based Simulation: A Study of Implications for Interprofessional Healthcare Practitioner Education at the Associate Degree Level of Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fowler, Luster

2013-01-01

Healthcare practitioner training programs, specifically at the associate degree level of study, have historically focused practitioner training efforts on discipline-specific programming and curricula. However, these institutions have now begun to examine the utility and efficacy of incorporating interprofessional experiences into their programs.…

A systematic review of job-specific workers' health surveillance activities for fire-fighting, ambulance, police and military personnel.

PubMed

Plat, M J; Frings-Dresen, M H W; Sluiter, J K

2011-12-01

Some occupations have tasks and activities that require monitoring safety and health aspects of the job; examples of such occupations are emergency services personnel and military personnel. The two objectives of this systematic review were to describe (1) the existing job-specific workers' health surveillance (WHS) activities and (2) the effectiveness of job-specific WHS interventions with respect to work functioning, for selected jobs. The search strategy systematically searched the PubMed, PsycINFO and OSH-update databases. The search strategy consisted of several synonyms of the job titles of interest, combined with synonyms for workers' health surveillance. The methodological quality was checked. At least one study was found for each of the following occupations fire fighters, ambulance personnel, police personnel and military personnel. For the first objective, 24 studies described several job-specific WHS activities aimed at aspects of psychological, 'physical' (energetic, biomechanical and balance), sense-related, environmental exposure or cardiovascular requirements. The seven studies found for the second objective measured different outcomes related to work functioning. The methodological quality of the interventions varied, but with the exception of one study, all scored over 55% of the maximum score. Six studies showed effectiveness on at least some of the defined outcomes. The studies described several job-specific interventions: a trauma resilience training, healthy lifestyle promotion, physical readiness training, respiratory muscle training, endurance and resistance training, a physical exercise programme and comparing vaccines. Several examples of job-specific WHS activities were found for the four occupations. Compared to studies focusing on physical tasks, a few studies were found that focus on psychological tasks. Effectiveness studies for job-specific WHS interventions were scarce, although their results were promising. We recommend studying job-specific WHS in effectiveness studies.

Effects of a Specific Numeracy Educational Program in Kindergarten Children: A Pilot Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kaufmann, Liane; Delazer, Margarete; Pohl, Renate; Semenza, Carlo; Dowker, Ann

2005-01-01

The present study compared the relative effects of 2 educational programs on kindergarten children. The experimental group took part in a numeracy-specific program, which focused on conceptual knowledge. Children were taught basic numerical skills such as understanding and handling numbers and their relations as well as counting principles. The…

Connection between Topic-Specific Teacher Knowledge and Student Performance in Lower Secondary School Mathematics

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tchoshanov, Mourat; Quinones, Maria Cruz; Shakirova, Kadriya B.; Ibragimova, Elena N.; Shakirova, Liliana R.

2017-01-01

The interpretive cross-case study focused on the examination of connections between teacher and student topic-specific knowledge of lower secondary mathematics. Two teachers were selected for the study using non-probability purposive sampling technique. Teachers completed the Teacher Content Knowledge Survey before teaching a topic on division of…

Gender-Specific Risk Factors for Intimate Partner Homicide: A Nationwide Register-Based Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Weizmann-Henelius, Ghitta; Gronroos, Matti; Putkonen, Hanna; Eronen, Markku; Lindberg, Nina; Hakkanen-Nyholm, Helina

2012-01-01

The present study examined gender differences in intimate partner homicide (IPH) and offender characteristics with the focus on putative gender-specific risk factors in a nationwide consecutive sample of homicide offenders. Data on all offenders (N = 642; 91 females, 551 males) convicted of homicide and subjected to a forensic psychiatric…

Building Resiliency: Introducing the Pre-Service Special Educator Efficacy Scale

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lombardo-Graves, Mary M.

2017-01-01

The goal of this study was to examine existing teaching self-efficacy instruments for an appropriate measure for pre-service special education candidates. As the review of literature for this study revealed, there were very few self-efficacy instruments specific to special education, and these focused on specific populations and settings. During…

Self-focus, other-focus, and interpersonal needs as correlates of loneliness.

PubMed

Green, V A; Wildermuth, N L

1993-12-01

Residential college students (44 men, 51 women) participated in a questionnaire study to clarify the relationship between loneliness, self- or other-focus, and interpersonal needs. Contrary to predictions, loneliness was unrelated to self-focus, other-focus, or the ability to elicit disclosure from others. However, sex differences were found on interpersonal needs. Specifically, loneliness in men was predicted by a lack of expressed inclusion and a desire for control from others, while loneliness in women was predicted by a lack of expressed affection. These findings suggest that lonely men and women may benefit from different intervention strategies. Outcome studies are needed to ensure that such interventions actually reduce loneliness.

Effectiveness of Intervention for Grammar in School-Aged Children with Primary Language Impairments: A Review of the Evidence

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ebbels, Susan

2014-01-01

This article summarizes the evidence as regards the effectiveness of therapy for grammar for school-aged children with language impairments. I first review studies focusing on specific areas of grammar (both expressive and receptive targets) and then studies aiming to improve language more generally, several of which focus more on the…

Management Systems, Patient Quality Improvement, Resource Availability, and Substance Abuse Treatment Quality

PubMed Central

Fields, Dail; Roman, Paul M; Blum, Terry C

2012-01-01

Objective To examine the relationships among general management systems, patient-focused quality management/continuous process improvement (TQM/CPI) processes, resource availability, and multiple dimensions of substance use disorder (SUD) treatment. Data Sources/Study Setting Data are from a nationally representative sample of 221 SUD treatment centers through the National Treatment Center Study (NTCS). Study Design The design was a cross-sectional field study using latent variable structural equation models. The key variables are management practices, TQM/continuous quality improvement (CQI) practices, resource availability, and treatment center performance. Data Collection Interviews and questionnaires provided data from treatment center administrative directors and clinical directors in 2007–2008. Principal Findings Patient-focused TQM/CQI practices fully mediated the relationship between internal management practices and performance. The effects of TQM/CQI on performance are significantly larger for treatment centers with higher levels of staff per patient. Conclusions Internal management practices may create a setting that supports implementation of specific patient-focused practices and protocols inherent to TQM/CQI processes. However, the positive effects of internal management practices on treatment center performance occur through use of specific patient-focused TQM/CPI practices and have more impact when greater amounts of supporting resources are present. PMID:22098342

Best candidates for cognitive treatment of illness perceptions in chronic low back pain: results of a theory-driven predictor study.

PubMed

Siemonsma, Petra C; Stuvie, Ilse; Roorda, Leo D; Vollebregt, Joke A; Lankhorst, Gustaaf J; Lettinga, Ant T

2011-04-01

The aim of this study was to identify treatment-specific predictors of the effectiveness of a method of evidence-based treatment: cognitive treatment of illness perceptions. This study focuses on what treatment works for whom, whereas most prognostic studies focusing on chronic non-specific low back pain rehabilitation aim to reduce the heterogeneity of the population of patients who are suitable for rehabilitation treatment in general. Three treatment-specific predictors were studied in patients with chronic non-specific low back pain receiving cognitive treatment of illness perceptions: a rational approach to problem-solving, discussion skills and verbal skills. Hierarchical linear regression analysis was used to assess their predictive value. Short-term changes in physical activity, measured with the Patient-Specific Functioning List, were the outcome measure for cognitive treatment of illness perceptions effect. A total of 156 patients with chronic non-specific low back pain participated in the study. Rational problem-solving was found to be a significant predictor for the change in physical activity. Discussion skills and verbal skills were non-significant. Rational problem-solving explained 3.9% of the total variance. The rational problem-solving scale results are encouraging, because chronic non-specific low back pain problems are complex by nature and can be influenced by a variety of factors. A minimum score of 44 points on the rational problem-solving scale may assist clinicians in selecting the most appropriate candidates for cognitive treatment of illness perceptions.

Development of Professional Identity in Romanian Business Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Glaser-Segura, Daniel A.; Mudge, Suzanne; Bratianu, Constantin; Dumitru, Ionela

2010-01-01

Purpose: This study aims to focus on the role of learning activities on the development of Romanian students making the change from academia to the workplace, specifically focusing on the role of three learning activities: classroom teaching pedagogies ("in-vitro"); field experiences ("in-situ"); and self-development…

Point specificity in acupuncture

PubMed Central

2012-01-01

The existence of point specificity in acupuncture is controversial, because many acupuncture studies using this principle to select control points have found that sham acupoints have similar effects to those of verum acupoints. Furthermore, the results of pain-related studies based on visual analogue scales have not supported the concept of point specificity. In contrast, hemodynamic, functional magnetic resonance imaging and neurophysiological studies evaluating the responses to stimulation of multiple points on the body surface have shown that point-specific actions are present. This review article focuses on clinical and laboratory studies supporting the existence of point specificity in acupuncture and also addresses studies that do not support this concept. Further research is needed to elucidate the point-specific actions of acupuncture. PMID:22373514

Tight focusing of spatially variant vector optical fields with elliptical symmetry of linear polarization.

PubMed

Lerman, Gilad M; Levy, Uriel

2007-08-01

We study the tight-focusing properties of spatially variant vector optical fields with elliptical symmetry of linear polarization. We found the eccentricity of the incident polarized light to be an important parameter providing an additional degree of freedom assisting in controlling the field properties at the focus and allowing matching of the field distribution at the focus to the specific application. Applications of these space-variant polarized beams vary from lithography and optical storage to particle beam trapping and material processing.

Do Pattern-Focused Visuals Improve Skin Self-Examination Performance? Explicating the Visual Skill Acquisition Model

PubMed Central

JOHN, KEVIN K.; JENSEN, JAKOB D.; KING, ANDY J.; RATCLIFF, CHELSEA L.; GROSSMAN, DOUGLAS

2017-01-01

Skin self-examination (SSE) consists of routinely checking the body for atypical moles that might be cancerous. Identifying atypical moles is a visual task; thus, SSE training materials utilize pattern-focused visuals to cultivate this skill. Despite widespread use, researchers have yet to explicate how pattern-focused visuals cultivate visual skill. Using eye tracking to capture the visual scanpaths of a sample of laypersons (N = 92), the current study employed a 2 (pattern: ABCDE vs. ugly duckling sign [UDS]) × 2 (presentation: photorealistic images vs. illustrations) factorial design to assess whether and how pattern-focused visuals can increase layperson accuracy in identifying atypical moles. Overall, illustrations resulted in greater sensitivity, while photos resulted in greater specificity. The UDS × photorealistic condition showed greatest specificity. For those in the photo condition with high self-efficacy, UDS increased specificity directly. For those in the photo condition with self-efficacy levels at the mean or lower, there was a conditional indirect effect such that these individuals spent a larger amount of their viewing time observing the atypical moles, and time on target was positively related to specificity. Illustrations provided significant gains in specificity for those with low-to-moderate self-efficacy by increasing total fixation time on the atypical moles. Findings suggest that maximizing visual processing efficiency could enhance existing SSE training techniques. PMID:28759333

Worker, workplace or families: What influences family focused practices in adult mental health?

PubMed

Maybery, D; Goodyear, M; Reupert, A E; Grant, A

2016-04-01

WHAT IS KNOWN ON THE SUBJECT?: Family focused practice leads to positive outcomes for parents and children. There are barriers and enablers for practitioners being family focused. WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS TO EXISTING KNOWLEDGE?: Worker skill, knowledge and confidence about family work are the most important factors associated with family focused practices. WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE?: Mental health nurses require specific skill training in family focused practices, time to engage with clients on parenting issues and that there are adequate services to refer family members to. Introduction Family focused practice is thought to lead to positive outcomes for all family members. However, there are multiple barriers and enablers in adult mental health services to practitioners undertaking these actions. Aim The aim of this study was to examine the relative importance of worker, workforce and family factors to predict family focused practices (FFPs) in adult mental health services. Method Three hundred and seven adult mental health workers completed a 45 items family focused practice measure of 16 family focused practices. Thesis It was found that worker skill and knowledge about family work and an ability to assess the degree of parental insight into the child's connections to other family members and the community were important predictors of FFP, along with the closely related-worker confidence. While aspects of the worker, workplace and family each contribute to FFPs, this study highlighted the importance of worker skill, knowledge and confidence as central issues for adult mental health workers. Implications for practice Study implications include the need for training in specific FFPs, the provision of time to engage with clients on parenting issues and the need 5 to ensure that there are adequate services for workers to refer family members to. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Stress, Emotional Intelligence, and Life Satisfaction in College Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Holinka, Cassandra

2015-01-01

Prior studies have examined stress, life satisfaction, and emotional intelligence in college students. Research on stress in college students has focused on the sources of stress, coping styles, and relevant outcomes. Research on life satisfaction has focused on specific relationships between life satisfaction and concepts like worry,…

Visual Tools as Mediational Means: A Methodological Investigation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hilppö, Jaakko; Lipponen, Lasse; Kumpulainen, Kristiina; Rajala, Antti

2017-01-01

In this study, we investigated how Finnish children used photographs and drawings to discuss their preschool day experiences in focus groups. Building on sociocultural perspectives on mediated action, we specifically focused on how these visual tools were used as mediational means in sharing experiences. The results of our embodied interaction…

Hong Kong Tertiary Students' Conceptions of Assessment of Academic Ability

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wang, Zhenlin; Brown, Gavin T. L.

2014-01-01

Students' beliefs, attitudes, experiences and responses towards assessment reflect the ecology of their specific context. The study examines Hong Kong tertiary students' conceptions of assessment using focus group interviews and the content analysis technique. Using six focus groups, 26 Hong Kong university students were interviewed. Hong Kong…

Flows of Literacy across Corporate and User-Produced Virtual Worlds

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Black, Rebecca W.; Alexander, Jonathan; Korobkova, Ksenia

2017-01-01

Background/Context: Sociocultural research on young people's literate practices with digital media has generally focused on literacy events and practices that are grounded in distinct online locations, such as affinity spaces, specific websites, particular videogames, or virtual worlds. Purpose/Objective/Research Question/Focus of Study:…

Kindergarten Impacts of a Preschool Language-Focused Intervention

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Johanson, Megan; Justice, Laura M.; Logan, Jessica

2016-01-01

Many preschool language-focused interventions attempt to boost language and literacy skills in young children at risk in these areas of development, though the long-term effects of such interventions are not well-established. This study investigated kindergarten language and reading skills, specifically the subcomponents of vocabulary, decoding,…

Kindergarten Impacts of a Preschool Language Focused-Intervention

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Johanson, Megan; Justice, Laura M.; Logan, Jessica

2016-01-01

Many preschool language-focused interventions attempt to boost language and literacy skills in young children at risk in these areas of development, though the long-term effects of such interventions are not well-established. This study investigated kindergarten language and reading skills, specifically the subcomponents of vocabulary, decoding,…

The Representation of Pragmatic Knowledge in Recent ELT Textbooks

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ren, Wei; Han, Zhengrui

2016-01-01

Pragmatic competence has become an increasingly crucial component of language pedagogy. This article reports on a quantitative and qualitative study of ten English language textbooks used in Chinese universities with a particular focus on their coverage of pragmatic knowledge. Detailed analysis focused specifically on the mention of pragmatic…

Encoding and Retrieving Faces and Places: Distinguishing Process- and Stimulus-Specific Differences in Brain Activity

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Prince, Steven E.; Dennis, Nancy A.; Cabeza, Roberto

2009-01-01

Among the most fundamental issues in cognitive neuroscience is how the brain may be organized into process-specific and stimulus-specific regions. In the episodic memory domain, most functional neuroimaging studies have focused on the former dimension, typically investigating the neural correlates of various memory processes. Thus, there is little…

High School Athletic Directors: An Examination of the Role, Realities and Career Progressions

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ray, Tamela J.

2010-01-01

In this qualitative study of public high school athletic directors (ADs), the experiences and contacts of eight White ADs (four men and four women) that influenced their ability to attain (achieve) and retain (maintain) the AD position are examined, compared and analyzed, with a specific focus on gender. Specifically, this study examines the…

Green Power: Clothing. Grade Two, Unit One, 2.1. Comprehensive Social Studies Curriculum for the Inner City.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Anderson, Mary Louise

The second unit of the second grade level of the Focus on Inner City Social Studies (FICSS) series (see SO 008 271) continues to build upon the economic principles introduced in grade one. Specifically, the focus is on the procurement of essential and non-essential clothing. The learning activities help students to learn the sources of fabrics,…

An Examination of the Selection Criteria Used in the Architect-Engineer Selection Process of Air Force Base Civil Engineers.

DTIC Science & Technology

1987-09-01

overall goal of hiring highly qualified firms on a fair basis. In conducting this research and writing its report of findings, I have benefited greatly... it . Introduction................... . . ... .. .. ..... Overview.................. . . ... .. .. ... Background........ ...... .. .. ...... Focus of...the focus of the study, its purpose and justification, its specific objective, and the scope of the study’s application. Background In recent years

Insight into Evaluation Practice: A Content Analysis of Designs and Methods Used in Evaluation Studies Published in North American Evaluation-Focused Journals

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Christie, Christina A.; Fleischer, Dreolin Nesbitt

2010-01-01

To describe the recent practice of evaluation, specifically method and design choices, the authors performed a content analysis on 117 evaluation studies published in eight North American evaluation-focused journals for a 3-year period (2004-2006). The authors chose this time span because it follows the scientifically based research (SBR)…

Elicitation of cognitions related to HIV risk behaviors in persons with mental illnesses: implications for prevention.

PubMed

Tennille, Julie; Solomon, Phyllis; Fishbein, Martin; Blank, Michael

2009-01-01

An important step in research using the Theory of Reasoned Action and Theory of Planned Behavior (TRA/TPB) is conducting an elicitation process to identify topic and population specific cognitions. This study explored HIV risk behaviors in persons with mental illnesses and introduces findings from focus groups conducted during the development phase of an HIV primary and secondary prevention intervention study. Researchers held four focus groups with persons with mental illnesses focused on HIV risks and condom use. Participants discussed sexual side effects of psychotropic medications as a potential cause of both medication non-adherence and HIV risk behaviors. The intersection of these two issues is specific to this population. We conclude with the recommendation that HIV primary and secondary prevention intervention for persons with mental illnesses must incorporate the promotion of healthy sexuality, including attention to sexual side effects of psychotropic medications.

Students with Specific Spelling Disability: A Collective Case Study Identifying the Experiential and Behavioral Causes for the Discrepancy

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Flaherty, Michael Thomas

2013-01-01

The goal of this study was to determine potential causes for the reading and spelling discrepancies of 26 middle school students. All were proficient in reading, but non-proficient in spelling, a pattern typical in students with Specific Spelling Disability (SSD). The focus of the study was on linguistic knowledge while encoding and decoding, plus…

Focused Ultrasound-Induced Neurogenesis Requires an Increase in Blood-Brain Barrier Permeability.

PubMed

Mooney, Skyler J; Shah, Kairavi; Yeung, Sharon; Burgess, Alison; Aubert, Isabelle; Hynynen, Kullervo

2016-01-01

Transcranial focused ultrasound technology used to transiently open the blood-brain barrier, is capable of stimulating hippocampal neurogenesis; however, it is not yet known what aspects of the treatment are necessary for enhanced neurogenesis to occur. The present study set out to determine whether the opening of blood-brain barrier, the specific pressure amplitudes of focused ultrasound, and/or the intravenous administration of microbubbles (phospholipid microspheres) are necessary for the enhancement of neurogenesis. Specifically, mice were exposed to burst (10ms, 1Hz burst repetition frequency) focused ultrasound at the frequency of 1.68MHz and with 0.39, 0.78, 1.56 and 3.0MPa pressure amplitudes. These treatments were also conducted with or without microbubbles, at 0.39 + 0.78MPa or 1.56 + 3.0MPa, respectively. Only focused ultrasound at the ~0.78 MPa pressure amplitude with microbubbles promoted hippocampal neurogenesis and was associated with an increase in blood-brain barrier permeability. These results suggest that focused ultrasound -mediated neurogenesis is dependent upon the opening of the blood-brain barrier.

Diagnostic performance of focused cardiac ultrasound performed by emergency physicians for the assessment of ascending aorta dilation and aneurysm.

PubMed

Nazerian, Peiman; Vanni, Simone; Morello, Fulvio; Castelli, Matteo; Ottaviani, Maddalena; Casula, Claudia; Petrioli, Alessandra; Bartolucci, Maurizio; Grifoni, Stefano

2015-05-01

The diagnostic performance of transthoracic focused cardiac ultrasound (FoCUS) performed by emergency physicians (EP) to estimate ascending aorta dimensions in the acute setting has not been prospectively studied. The diagnostic accuracy and the interobserver variability of EP-performed FoCUS were investigated to estimate thoracic aortic dilation and aneurysm compared with the results of computed tomography angiography (CTA). This was a prospective single-center cohort study of a convenience sample of patients who underwent CTA in the emergency department for suspected aortic pathology. FoCUS was performed before CTA, and the maximum ascending aorta diameter evaluated in parasternal long-axis view. Aorta diameter < 40 mm by visual estimation or by diameter measurement was considered normal. Measurements were recorded in all patients with aorta diameter ≥ 40 mm. Diagnostic accuracy of FoCUS for detection of aortic dilation (diameter ≥ 40 mm) and aneurysm (diameter ≥ 45 mm) were calculated considering the CTA result as reference standard. In a subgroup of patients, a second EP-sonographer performed FoCUS to evaluate interobserver agreement for the diagnosis of ascending aorta dilation. A total of 140 patients were enrolled in the study. Ascending aorta dilation and aneurysm were detected with FoCUS in 50 (35.7%) and in 27 (17.8%) patients, respectively. Sensitivity and specificity of FoCUS were 78.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 65.6% to 88.4%) and 92.9% (95% CI = 85.1% to 97.3%), respectively, for ascending aorta dilation and 64.7% (95% CI = 46.5% to 80.2%) and 95.3% (95% CI = 89.3% to 98.4%), respectively, for ascending aorta aneurysm. Interobserver agreement of FoCUS was k = 0.82. FoCUS performed by EP is specific for ascending aorta dilation and aneurysm when compared to CTA and appears a reproducible technique. © 2015 by the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine.

Investigating whether maternal memory specificity is indirectly associated with child memory specificity through maternal reminiscing.

PubMed

Jobson, Laura; Burford, Kimberly; Burns, Breana; Baldry, Amelia; Wu, Yun

2018-05-14

Maternal reminiscing and remembering has a profound influence on the development of children's autobiographical remembering skills. The current study investigated the relationships between maternal memory specificity, maternal reminiscing and child memory specificity. Participants consisted of 40 mother-child dyads. Children's age ranged between 3.5 and 6 years. Mothers and children participated in individual assessments of autobiographical memory specificity. Dyads participated in a joint reminiscing task about three past emotional (happy, sad, stressful) events. A positive moderate association was found between maternal autobiographical memory specificity and child autobiographical memory specificity. Maternal autobiographical memory specificity was significantly correlated with mothers' focus on the task, involvement and reciprocity, resolution of negative feelings, and structuring of narratives in the mother-child reminiscing task. Moderate positive associations were found between maternal focus and structuring and child memory specificity. There was no evidence to suggest maternal elaborative reminiscing style was significantly positively correlated with mother or child memory specificity. Finally, there was support for an indirect pathway between maternal memory specificity and child memory specificity through quality of support and guidance provided by the mother in maternal reminiscing. Theoretical and clinical implications are considered.

Improving problem solving in primary school students: The effect of a training programme focusing on metacognition and working memory.

PubMed

Cornoldi, Cesare; Carretti, Barbara; Drusi, Silvia; Tencati, Chiara

2015-09-01

Despite doubts voiced on their efficacy, a series of studies has been carried out on the capacity of training programmes to improve academic and reasoning skills by focusing on underlying cognitive abilities and working memory in particular. No systematic efforts have been made, however, to test training programmes that involve both general and specific underlying abilities. If effective, these programmes could help to increase students' motivation and competence. This study examined the feasibility of improving problem-solving skills in school children by means of a training programme that addresses general and specific abilities involved in problem solving, focusing on metacognition and working memory. The project involved a sample of 135 primary school children attending eight classes in the third, fourth, and fifth grades (age range 8-10 years). The classes were assigned to two groups, one attending the training programme in the first 3 months of the study (Training Group 1) and the other serving as a waiting-list control group (Training Group 2). In the second phase of the study, the role of the two groups was reversed, with Training Group 2 attending the training instead of Training Group 1. The training programme led to improvements in both metacognitive and working memory tasks, with positive-related effects on the ability to solve problems. The gains seen in Training Group 1 were also maintained at the second post-test (after 3 months). Specific activities focusing on metacognition and working memory may contribute to modifying arithmetical problem-solving performance in primary school children. © 2015 The British Psychological Society.

Intelligent Information Retrieval and Web Mining Architecture Using SOA

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

El-Bathy, Naser Ibrahim

2010-01-01

The study of this dissertation provides a solution to a very specific problem instance in the area of data mining, data warehousing, and service-oriented architecture in publishing and newspaper industries. The research question focuses on the integration of data mining and data warehousing. The research problem focuses on the development of…

Understanding Others: Cultural and Cross-Cultural Studies and the Teaching of Literature.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Trimmer, Joseph, Ed.; Warnock, Tilly, Ed.

This book of essays offers perspectives for college teachers facing the perplexities of today's focus on cultural issues in literature programs. The book presents ideas from 19 scholars and teachers relating to theories of culture-oriented criticism and teaching, contexts for these activities, and specific, culture-focused texts significant for…

Effects of Directed Written Disclosure on Grief and Distress Symptoms among Bereaved Individuals

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lichtenthal, Wendy G.; Cruess, Dean G.

2010-01-01

Bereavement-specific written disclosure trials have generally demonstrated null effects, but these studies have not directed the focus of writing. This randomized controlled trial compared directed writing that focused on either sense-making or benefit-finding, both associated with adjustment to loss, to traditional, non-directed emotional…

Heteronormativity in Online Information about Sex: A South Australian Case Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Riggs, Damien W.

2013-01-01

Whilst sex education in Australia has moved beyond a focus solely on abstinence, it is still in many instances shaped by what Silin refers to as the "silences" that accompany topics considered unspeakable to young people. The present article focuses specifically on one such silence, namely the representation of non-heterosexual…

Response to "The Availability of Conscious Knowledge: A Comment on Lindseth (2016)"

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lindseth, Martina

2016-01-01

My study (Lindseth, "The Effects of Form-Focused Instruction on the Acquisition of Subject-Verb Inversion in German") that was published in the Volume 49, No. 1 issue of "Foreign Language Annals" suggested that form-focused instruction that targets a specific structure may help learners progress faster toward accurate use of…

Memories of war: Sources of Vietnam veteran pro- and antiwar political attitudes

Treesearch

David Flores

2014-01-01

The sources of political attitudes are among the most studied phenomena of modern politics. Moving away from the traditional focus on party systems, the demographic characteristics of voters, or political socialization, I consider instead how memory and narrative shape political consciousness. Specifically, I focus on how culturally sanctioned memories of warfare...

An Examination of Social and Psychological Influences on Academic Learning: A Focus on Self-Esteem, Social Relationships, and Personal Interest

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Phan, Huy P.; Ngu, Bing H.

2018-01-01

The present study focused on an examination of both "global" and "domain-specific self-esteems" in secondary mathematics learning. The extent to which self-esteem, in general, would account and explain educational success through "social relationships with teachers" and "peers", and "personal interest…

Higher Education and the Determination of Aggregate Male Employment by Age

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Stenberg, Anders; Wikstrom, Magnus

2004-01-01

This paper studies the determinants of age-specific employment rates among Swedish males, focusing on the effect of education on employment. We use cohort specific data for the time period 1984-1996 covering male cohorts aged 21-45. It is found that aggregate age-group-specific employment rates increase with the proportion of the cohort with an…

LED street lighting evaluation -- phase II : LED specification and life-cycle cost analysis.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2015-01-01

Phase II of this study focused on developing a draft specification for LED luminaires to be used by IDOT : and a life-cycle cost analysis (LCCA) tool for solid state lighting technologies. The team also researched the : latest developments related to...

How Did They Get Here, and Why Do They Stay? A Phenomenological Study of Female Athletics Directors at Selected NCAA Division III Member Institutions

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Parrott, Molly Elizabeth

2010-01-01

This qualitative study focused on the educational, professional, and personal experiences of seven women who currently serve as NCAA Division III athletics directors. While previous literature has examined the experiences of women in Divisions I and II, very little has focused specifically on those in Division III, even though more women serve as…

Early Jamestown: A Unit of Study for Grades 5-8.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pearson, Jim; Watkins, Bryna

This unit is one of a series that represents specific moments in history from which students focus on the meanings of landmark events. By studying a crucial turning point in history students become aware that choices had to be made by real human beings, that those decisions were the result of specific factors, and that they set in motion a series…

A Coding System for Qualitative Studies of the Information-Seeking Process in Computer Science Research

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Moral, Cristian; de Antonio, Angelica; Ferre, Xavier; Lara, Graciela

2015-01-01

Introduction: In this article we propose a qualitative analysis tool--a coding system--that can support the formalisation of the information-seeking process in a specific field: research in computer science. Method: In order to elaborate the coding system, we have conducted a set of qualitative studies, more specifically a focus group and some…

Towards a Differentiated and Domain-Specific View of Educational Technology: An Exploratory Study of History Teachers' Technology Use

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Voet, Michiel; De Wever, Bram

2017-01-01

Adopting a differentiated and domain-specific view of educational technology, the present study focuses on the case of school history. It argues that, in this particular context, one of technology's main assets is its ability to support inquiry-based learning activities, during which students interpret the past through historical reasoning. As…

Hails from the crypt: a terror management health model investigation of the effectiveness of health-oriented versus celebrity-oriented endorsements.

PubMed

McCabe, Simon; Vail, Kenneth E; Arndt, Jamie; Goldenberg, Jamie L

2014-03-01

Interfacing the terror management health model with the meaning transfer model, we offer novel hypotheses concerning the effectiveness of celebrity and medical endorsements for consumer products and health behavior decisions. Studies 1 and 2 revealed that, compared with control topic primes, death thoughts in focal attention increased the effectiveness of health-oriented (doctor) endorsers but not culture-oriented (celebrity) endorsers, whereas death thoughts outside of focal attention increased the effectiveness of culture-oriented endorsers but not health-oriented endorsers. Studies 3 and 4 then focus more specifically on the valence and specificity of culture-oriented endorsements, revealing that death thoughts outside focal attention increase the effectiveness of culture-oriented endorsers only on the behaviors specifically endorsed and only when the endorser is characterized as possessing cultural value. Discussion focuses on everyday management of existential concerns and implications for persuasive communications in the health domain.

Adapting a Program to Inform African American and Hispanic American Women About Cancer Clinical Trials

PubMed Central

Gonzalez, Jenny; Mumman, Manpreet; Cullen, Lisa; LaHousse, Sheila F.; Malcarne, Vanessa; Conde, Viridiana; Riley, Natasha

2010-01-01

The dearth of evidence-based clinical trial education programs may contribute to the underrepresentation of African American and Hispanic American women in cancer research studies. This study used focus group-derived data from 80 women distributed among eight Spanish- and English-language focus groups. These data guided the researchers’ adaptation and refinement of the National Cancer Institute’s various clinical trials education programs into a program that was specifically focused on meeting the information needs of minority women and addressing the barriers to study participation that they perceived. A “sisterhood” theme was adopted and woven throughout the presentation. PMID:20146043

The Role of Perceived In-group Moral Superiority in Reparative Intentions and Approach Motivation.

PubMed

Szabó, Zsolt P; Mészáros, Noémi Z; Csertő, István

2017-01-01

Three studies examined how members of a national group react to in-group wrongdoings. We expected that perceived in-group moral superiority would lead to unwillingness to repair the aggression. We also expected that internal-focused emotions such as group-based guilt and group-based shame would predict specific, misdeed-related reparative intentions but not general approach motivation toward the victim groups. In Study 1, facing the in-group's recent aggression, participants who believed that the Hungarians have been more moral throughout their history than members of other nations, used more exonerating cognitions, experienced less in-group critical emotions and showed less willingness to provide reparations for the members of the victim group. Study 2 and Study 3 confirmed most findings of Study 1. Perceived in-group moral superiority directly or indirectly reduced willingness to provide either general or specific reparations, while internally focused in-group critical emotions predicted specific misdeed-related reparative intentions but not general approach motivation. The role of emotional attachment to the in-group is considered.

The Role of Perceived In-group Moral Superiority in Reparative Intentions and Approach Motivation

PubMed Central

Szabó, Zsolt P.; Mészáros, Noémi Z.; Csertő, István

2017-01-01

Three studies examined how members of a national group react to in-group wrongdoings. We expected that perceived in-group moral superiority would lead to unwillingness to repair the aggression. We also expected that internal-focused emotions such as group-based guilt and group-based shame would predict specific, misdeed-related reparative intentions but not general approach motivation toward the victim groups. In Study 1, facing the in-group’s recent aggression, participants who believed that the Hungarians have been more moral throughout their history than members of other nations, used more exonerating cognitions, experienced less in-group critical emotions and showed less willingness to provide reparations for the members of the victim group. Study 2 and Study 3 confirmed most findings of Study 1. Perceived in-group moral superiority directly or indirectly reduced willingness to provide either general or specific reparations, while internally focused in-group critical emotions predicted specific misdeed-related reparative intentions but not general approach motivation. The role of emotional attachment to the in-group is considered. PMID:28620333

Design and implementation of observational studies to measure disease burden with a focus on stroke.

PubMed

Howard, George; Howard, Virginia J

2018-02-01

Observational epidemiological studies have the dual goals of measuring disease burden and assessing the association between exposures and outcomes. This report focuses on the first of these goals and provides an overview of design considerations of commonly used approaches, specifically community surveillance studies, cross-sectional studies, and longitudinal cohort studies. Each of these designs has strengths and weaknesses, with no study design being superior in all cases. Rather, these designs are complementary to achieve a better understanding of the burden of stroke.

Goal setting frequency and the use of behavioral strategies related to diet and physical activity.

PubMed

Nothwehr, Faryle; Yang, Jingzhen

2007-08-01

Goal setting is an effective way to focus attention on behavior change. Theoretically, frequency of goal setting may indicate the level of commitment to diet and physical activity behavior change. Yet, little is known about the association between goal setting frequency and use of specific diet or physical activity-related strategies. This study examines whether changes in goal setting frequency predict changes in use of behavioral strategies over time, controlling for baseline strategy use, demographics and whether a person was trying to lose weight. Data are from a baseline and 1-year follow-up survey of adults in rural Iowa (n = 385). Overall, goal setting frequency was positively associated with use of the strategies measured, at baseline and overtime. Frequent goal setting that is focused specifically on diet or physical activity was more predictive of using dietary or physical activity strategies, respectively, than goal setting focused on weight loss overall. The study provides empirical support for what has been assumed theoretically, that is, frequent goal setting for weight management is an indicator of use of specific behavioral strategies. Significant challenges remain in regard to maintenance of this activity and attainment of weight loss goals.

Do Adolescents with Specific Language Impairment Understand Driving Terminology?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pandolfe, Jessica M.; Wittke, Kacie; Spaulding, Tammie J.

2016-01-01

Purpose: This study examined if adolescents with specific language impairment (SLI) understand driving vocabulary as well as their typically developing (TD) peers. Method: A total of 16 adolescents with SLI and 16 TD comparison adolescents completed a receptive vocabulary task focused on driving terminology derived from statewide driver's manuals.…

34 CFR 656.23 - What priorities may the Secretary establish?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION NATIONAL RESOURCE CENTERS PROGRAM FOR FOREIGN LANGUAGE AND AREA... priorities: (1) Specific countries or world areas, such as, for example, East Asia, Africa, or the Middle East. (2) Specific focus of a Center, such as, for example, a single world area; international studies...

Procrastination, Participation, and Performance in Online Learning Environments

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Michinov, Nicolas; Brunot, Sophie; Le Bohec, Olivier; Juhel, Jacques; Delaval, Marine

2011-01-01

The present study focuses on a specific learner characteristic in the management of time--procrastination--, and its role in an online learning environment. More specifically, it was expected that procrastination would influence the successfulness of online learning and that this could be explained by the level of participation of learners in…

Adaptive Automation Design and Implementation

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-09-17

Study : Space Navigator This section demonstrates the player modeling paradigm, focusing specifically on the response generation section of the player ...human-machine system, a real-time player modeling framework for imitating a specific person’s task performance, and the Adaptive Automation System...Model . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Clustering-Based Real-Time Player Modeling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 An

Culturally Competent Care for Sexual and Gender Minority Patients at National Cancer Institute-Designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers

PubMed Central

Wheldon, Christopher W.; Schabath, Matthew B.; Hudson, Janella; Bowman Curci, Meghan; Kanetsky, Peter A.; Vadaparampil, Susan T.; Simmons, Vani N.; Sanchez, Julian A.; Sutton, Steven K.

2018-01-01

Abstract Purpose: This study sought to identify the policies and guidelines regarding culturally competent care of sexual and gender minority (SGM) cancer patients and survivors at National Cancer Institute (NCI)-Designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers. Methods: This study used an in-depth interview qualitative approach. Semistructured interviews were conducted via telephone with representatives from 21 of the 45 NCI-Designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers in 2015. Verbatim transcripts were created from the audiotapes for content analysis. Results: Two main themes were identified as follows: (1) patient-focused experiences and support and (2) organization-focused development activities. Most of the cancer centers in this study had an advisory committee to assist with SGM policies and guidelines. Despite the existence of these committees, the majority of centers did not have explicit policies, guidelines, or routine practices addressing the following issues: the collection and integration of sexual orientation and gender identity information in the medical record, gender-neutral language on patient forms, patient educational materials with SGM-specific health concerns, SGM-specific support for cancer survivors, or required SGM-specific cultural competency trainings for medical and nonmedical staff. Conclusion: In general, the cancer centers in this study lacked institutional policies, guidelines, and practices focused on patient-centered cancer care for SGM populations. Coordinated efforts are needed to systemically improve patient-centered cancer care for these populations. PMID:29641317

Multibehavioural Interventions with a Focus on Specific Energy Balance-Related Behaviours Can Affect Diet Quality in Preschoolers from Six European Countries: The ToyBox-Study

PubMed Central

Pinket, An-Sofie; De Craemer, Marieke; Huybrechts, Inge; De Bourdeaudhuij, Ilse; Deforche, Benedicte; Cardon, Greet; Androutsos, Odysseas; Koletzko, Berthold; Moreno, Luis A.; Socha, Piotr; Iotova, Violeta; Manios, Yannis; Van Lippevelde, Wendy

2017-01-01

The present study aimed to examine whether a multibehavioural intervention with a focus on specific energy balance-related behaviours can affect total diet quality and its four subcomponents in European preschoolers and to investigate if these intervention effects differed by socioeconomic status (SES). Parents/caregivers of 3.5 to 5.5 year-olds (n = 4968) recruited through kindergartens in six European countries within the ToyBox-study completed questionnaires on socio-demographics and a food frequency questionnaire on their preschoolers’ diet. To assess intervention effects and differences by SES, multilevel repeated measures analyses were conducted. In contrast to no significant difference in total diet quality, in both the intervention and control group, the dietary quality and dietary equilibrium increased, with a larger increase in the intervention group (mean difference quality: +3.4%; mean difference equilibrium: +0.9%) compared to the control group (quality: +1.5%; equilibrium: +0.2%). SES was not a significant moderator for intervention effects on total diet quality, nor for the four subcomponents. This study indicates that multibehavioural interventions with a focus on specific energy balance-related behaviours in preschoolers not only affect those targeted behaviours, but can also have more generalized effects. The ToyBox-intervention effects were similar for both lower and high SES preschoolers. PMID:28489048

Is there an association between PEPFAR funding and improvement in national health indicators in Africa? A retrospective study.

PubMed

Duber, Herbert C; Coates, Thomas J; Szekeras, Greg; Kaji, Amy H; Lewis, Roger J

2010-06-12

The US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) was reauthorized in June 2008 with a three-fold increase in funds, and a broader, more explicit mandate to improve health in the low- and middle-income countries that it funded. However, the ability of a disease-specific, or vertical, programme to have a spill-over effect and improve health outcomes has been questioned. In this study, we sought to examine associations between being designated as a PEPFAR focus country (and receiving increased PEPFAR funding) and non-HIV-specific health outcomes in the World Health Organization (WHO) Africa Region, the area most affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic. A retrospective analysis of publicly available health outcomes data published by the World Health Organization was performed for all countries in the WHO Africa Region. Fractional changes in health indicators between 2000 and 2006 were calculated, and PEPFAR focus and non-focus countries were then compared. Overall, countries in the WHO Africa Region showed a small worsening in health outcomes status when all indicators were analyzed together and weighted equally. However, more health indicators improved than worsened over this six-year period. A comparison of PEPFAR focus and non-focus countries found no significant difference in the fractional change among 13 of 14 health indicators during the study period. This study suggests that vertical programmes, even one that is the scale of PEPFAR, may have little or no impact on health outcomes not explicitly targeted.

Effectiveness and Student Perceptions of High-Enrolment Health Studies Online Courses

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chen, Ken-Zen; Lowenthal, Patrick R.; Bauer, Christine

2016-01-01

Objective: In countries such as the USA, colleges and universities are focusing on how best to serve their students in tough fiscal times and a highly competitive marketplace. Boise State University has specifically focused on providing online courses as one option to meet student needs. However, more recently, the university has begun developing…

Improving the Academic Achievement of Third and Fourth Grade Underachievers as a Result of Improved Self-Esteem.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Coakley, Barbara Fairfax

This study was designed to improve the academic achievement of 35 third- and fourth-grade underachievers through improved self-esteem. Specific goals included focusing on self-concept and learning skills reinforcement, with the ultimate goal of increasing academic performance and motivation. Large group sessions with students focused on…

Exploring Culturally Specific Drug Resistance Strategies of Hawaiian Youth in Rural Communities

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Okamoto, Scott K.; Po'a-Kekuawela, Ka'ohinani; Chin, Coralee I. H.; Nebre, La Risa H.; Helm, Susana

2010-01-01

This qualitative study examined the drug resistance strategies of Hawaiian youth residing in rural communities in Hawai'i. Forty seven youth participated in 14 focus groups which focused on the social and environmental context of drug use for these youth. The findings indicated that there were 47 references to resistance strategies used in drug…

Multicultural Competence: A Literature Review Supporting Focused Training for Preservice Teachers Teaching Diverse Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lehman, Cheryl L.

2017-01-01

This paper focuses on an in depth literature review based on preservice teachers perceptions of their multicultural competence in teaching diverse students. More specifically, the literature review was framed around findings from a study looking at the gap between increased diversity of students and the level of multicultural competence of…

Measuring Teacher Knowledge of Classroom Social Networks: Convergent and Predictive Validity in Elementary School Classrooms

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Madill, Rebecca A.; Gest, Scott D.; Rodkin, Philip C.

2012-01-01

This study contributes to a growing body of literature focused on the role of the teacher's "invisible hand" in managing students social relationships. The authors focus on one specific aspect of attunement, teachers' social network knowledge, which they conceptualize as the completeness and accuracy of the teacher's social network…

Sex Education Targeting African Communities in the United Kingdom: Is It Fit for Purpose?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Schmidt, E.; Olomo, F.; Corcoran, N.

2012-01-01

This study addresses the issue of the sexual needs of ethnic minority groups in the UK. Using focus group discussions with health service users and third-sector providers, it explores the perception of sex education by Black African communities living in a culturally diverse area in East London, focusing specifically on participants' understanding…

"A'ole" Drugs! Cultural Practices and Drug Resistance of Rural Hawai'ian Youths

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Po'A-Kekuawela, Ka'Ohinani; Okamoto, Scott K.; Nebre, La Risa H.; Helm, Susana; Chin, Coralee I. H.

2009-01-01

This qualitative study examined how Native Hawai'ian youths from rural communities utilized cultural practices to promote drug resistance and/or abstinence. Forty-seven students from five different middle schools participated in gender-specific focus groups that focused on the cultural and environmental contexts of drug use for Native Hawai'ian…

Forging the Future: Establishing Core Competencies and the Skills, Knowledge and Abilities of Navy Junior Medical Service Corps Officers

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-12-08

has shifted their focus from acute based medicine to Force Health Protection, which encompasses health promotion and prevention and evidence based medicine , which...its focus on population health and evidence based medicine . Specifically for the Navy, however, the purpose of this study was to provide a base with

Community Environmental Response Facilitation Act (CERFA) Report. Fort Devens Facility, Fort Devens, Massachusetts

DTIC Science & Technology

1994-04-01

REMEDIAL DESIGN REMOVAL INVESTIGATION LATEST TECH ASSIST LATEST REMOVAL ACTION CERCLIS SITE SEARCH ID: 3 MAP ID : 3 NAME : FORT DEVENS REV DATE 05-21...34 ABB Environmental Services, Inc., June 1993. Draft Focused Feasibility Study Report, Data Item A009, Fort Devens , Focused Feasibility Study, AOCs 44...surrounding Fort Devens ; specific and remediation activity at information for surrounding properties Fort Devens can be found in Section 4.3.

Post-Arab Spring Governments in North Africa: Identifying Focus Areas for Economic Advancement

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-09-01

Areas in which improvement is required to create positive change that are specific to the country being studied are thereby determined. The cases ...being studied are thereby determined. The cases of pre-Arab Spring Libya, Tunisia and Egypt were examined in an attempt to provide guidance and focus...to occur in countries wherein authoritarian regimes appear to have, in many cases , stifled economic advancement through corruption, power-hoarding

Outstanding animal studies in allergy II. From atopic barrier and microbiome to allergen-specific immunotherapy.

PubMed

Jensen-Jarolim, Erika; Pali-Schöll, Isabella; Roth-Walter, Franziska

2017-06-01

Animal studies published within the past 18 months were assessed, focusing on innate and specific immunomodulation, providing knowledge of high translational relevance for human atopic and allergic diseases. Allergic companion animals represent alternative models, but most studies were done in mice. Atopic dermatitis mouse models were refined by the utilization of cytokines like IL-23 and relevant skin allergens or enzymes. A novel IL-6 reporter mouse allows biomonitoring of inflammation. Both skin pH and the (transferable) microflora have a pivotal role in modulating the skin barrier. The microflora of the gastrointestinal mucosa maintains tolerance to dietary compounds and can be disturbed by antiacid drugs. A key mouse study evidenced that dust from Amish households, but not from Hutterites protected mice against asthma. In studies on subcutaneous and sublingual allergen-specific immunotherapy, much focus was given on delivery and adjuvants, using poly-lacto-co-glycolic particles, CpGs, probiotics or Vitamin D3. The epicutaneous and intralymphatic routes showed promising results in mice and horses in terms of prophylactic and therapeutic allergy treatment. In atopic dermatitis, food allergies and asthma, environmental factors, together with the resident microflora and barrier status, decide on sensitization versus tolerance. Also allergen-specific immunotherapy operates with immunomodulatory principles.

Outstanding animal studies in allergy II. From atopic barrier and microbiome to allergen-specific immunotherapy

PubMed Central

Jensen-Jarolim, Erika; Pali-Schöll, Isabella; Roth-Walter, Franziska

2017-01-01

Purpose of review Animal studies published within the past 18 months were assessed, focusing on innate and specific immunomodulation, providing knowledge of high translational relevance for human atopic and allergic diseases. Recent findings Allergic companion animals represent alternative models, but most studies were done in mice. Atopic dermatitis mouse models were refined by the utilization of cytokines like IL-23 and relevant skin allergens or enzymes. A novel IL-6 reporter mouse allows biomonitoring of inflammation. Both skin pH and the (transferable) microflora have a pivotal role in modulating the skin barrier. The microflora of the gastrointestinal mucosa maintains tolerance to dietary compounds and can be disturbed by antiacid drugs. A key mouse study evidenced that dust from Amish households, but not from Hutterites protected mice against asthma. In studies on subcutaneous and sublingual allergen-specific immunotherapy, much focus was given on delivery and adjuvants, using poly-lacto-co-glycolic particles, CpGs, probiotics or Vitamin D3. The epicutaneous and intralymphatic routes showed promising results in mice and horses in terms of prophylactic and therapeutic allergy treatment. Summary In atopic dermatitis, food allergies and asthma, environmental factors, together with the resident microflora and barrier status, decide on sensitization versus tolerance. Also allergen-specific immunotherapy operates with immunomodulatory principles. PMID:28375932

Congress Debates Slavery, 1790-1800: A Unit of Study for Grades 10-12.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Laichas, Tom; Ingersoll, Tom

This unit is one of a series that represents specific moments in history from which students focus on the meanings of landmark events. By studying primary sources of a crucial turning point in history, students become aware that choices had to be made by real human beings, that those decisions were the result of specific factors, and that they set…

Costs and benefits of greenhouse gas reduction

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Schelling, T.C.

1998-12-31

This new AEI studies is related to the globalization of environmental policy. These studies will focus on specific issues, such as global climate change, and on the new institutional arrangements required to deal with them.

Identification of energy conservation research opportunities: a review and synthesis of the literature

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hopp, W.J.; Hane, G.J.; Gurwell, W.E.

1982-03-01

Thirty-eight studies of energy conservation research opportunities are reviewed. The 38 studies chosen for review include many of the major efforts in the identification of energy conservation research and development (R and D) opportunities and provide a representative sample of the types of studies that have been performed. The sample includes studies that focus on specific energy use (e.g., auto transport), as well as studies that focus on specific types of research (e.g., materials science). The sample also includes studies that can be further contrasted in terms of long-term vs. short-term projects, evolutionary vs. revolutionary ideas, generic vs. process-specific activities,more » and technology base research vs. hardware development. Each of these perspectives contributes toward assuring coverage of the breadth of energy conservation R and D opportunities. In each review the technical or end-use focus is described, the research ideas identified in the study are listed, and a critical summary is given. The reviews also indicate whether the studies present end-use consumption data, estimate potential energy savings, estimate times to commercialization, summarize existing research programs, or describe the identification methodology. In Section 2.0 the various research studies are compared. In Section 3.0 the characteristics of an aggregate list of research ideas are discussed. The characteristics were collected from the research opportunities studies, which are included in Appendix A. Appendix A contains a compilation of energy conservation R and D opportunities arranged by energy end-use applications. Appendix B contains an outline of the format followed in writing the critical reviews of the studies, the individual study reviews, and the extended bibliography of 88 studies that describe energy conservation research opportunities.« less

Unique aspects of impulsive traits in substance use and overeating: specific contributions of common assessments of impulsivity.

PubMed

Beaton, Derek; Abdi, Hervé; Filbey, Francesca M

2014-11-01

Abstract Background: Impulsivity is a complex trait often studied in substance abuse and overeating disorders, but the exact nature of impulsivity traits and their contribution to these disorders are still debated. Thus, understanding how to measure impulsivity is essential for comprehending addictive behaviors. Identify unique impulsivity traits specific to substance use and overeating. Impulsive Sensation Seeking (ImpSS) and Barratt's Impulsivity scales (BIS) Scales were analyzed with a non-parametric factor analytic technique (discriminant correspondence analysis) to identify group-specific traits on 297 individuals from five groups: Marijuana (n = 88), Nicotine (n = 82), Overeaters (n = 27), Marijuauna + Nicotine (n = 63), and CONTROLs (n = 37). A significant overall factor structure revealed three components of impulsivity that explained respectively 50.19% (pperm < 0.0005), 24.18% (pperm < 0.0005), and 15.98% (pperm < 0.0005) of the variance. All groups were significantly different from one another. When analyzed together, the BIS and ImpSS produce a multi-factorial structure that identified the impulsivity traits specific to these groups. The group specific traits are (1) CONTROL: low impulse, avoids thrill-seeking behaviors; (2) Marijuana: seeks mild sensation, is focused and attentive; (3) Marijuana + Nicotine: pursues thrill-seeking, lacks focus and attention; (4) Nicotine: lacks focus and planning; (5) Overeating: lacks focus, but plans (short and long term). Our results reveal impulsivity traits specific to each group. This may provide better criteria to define spectrums and trajectories - instead of categories - of symptoms for substance use and eating disorders. Defining symptomatic spectrums could be an important step forward in diagnostic strategies.

Unique aspects of impulsive traits in substance use and overeating: specific contributions of common assessments of impulsivity

PubMed Central

Beaton, Derek; Abdi, Hervé; Filbey, Francesca M.

2015-01-01

Background Impulsivity is a complex trait often studied in substance abuse and overeating disorders, but the exact nature of impulsivity traits and their contribution to these disorders are still debated. Thus, understanding how to measure impulsivity is essential for comprehending addictive behaviors. Objectives Identify unique impulsivity traits specific to substance use and overeating. Methods Impulsive Sensation Seeking (ImpSS) and Barratt’s Impulsivity scales (BIS) Scales were analyzed with a non-parametric factor analytic technique (discriminant correspondence analysis) to identify group-specific traits on 297 individuals from five groups: Marijuana (n = 88), Nicotine (n = 82), Overeaters (n = 27), Marijuauna + Nicotine (n = 63), and Controls (n = 37). Results A significant overall factor structure revealed three components of impulsivity that explained respectively 50.19% (pperm<0.0005), 24.18% (pperm<0.0005), and 15.98% (pperm<0.0005) of the variance. All groups were significantly different from one another. When analyzed together, the BIS and ImpSS produce a multi-factorial structure that identified the impulsivity traits specific to these groups. The group specific traits are (1) Control: low impulse, avoids thrill-seeking behaviors; (2) Marijuana: seeks mild sensation, is focused and attentive; (3) Marijuana + Nicotine: pursues thrill-seeking, lacks focus and attention; (4) Nicotine: lacks focus and planning; (5) Overeating: lacks focus, but plans (short and long term). Conclusions Our results reveal impulsivity traits specific to each group. This may provide better criteria to define spectrums and trajectories – instead of categories – of symptoms for substance use and eating disorders. Defining symptomatic spectrums could be an important step forward in diagnostic strategies. PMID:25115831

Meta-analysis of diagnostic accuracy studies in mental health

PubMed Central

Takwoingi, Yemisi; Riley, Richard D; Deeks, Jonathan J

2015-01-01

Objectives To explain methods for data synthesis of evidence from diagnostic test accuracy (DTA) studies, and to illustrate different types of analyses that may be performed in a DTA systematic review. Methods We described properties of meta-analytic methods for quantitative synthesis of evidence. We used a DTA review comparing the accuracy of three screening questionnaires for bipolar disorder to illustrate application of the methods for each type of analysis. Results The discriminatory ability of a test is commonly expressed in terms of sensitivity (proportion of those with the condition who test positive) and specificity (proportion of those without the condition who test negative). There is a trade-off between sensitivity and specificity, as an increasing threshold for defining test positivity will decrease sensitivity and increase specificity. Methods recommended for meta-analysis of DTA studies --such as the bivariate or hierarchical summary receiver operating characteristic (HSROC) model --jointly summarise sensitivity and specificity while taking into account this threshold effect, as well as allowing for between study differences in test performance beyond what would be expected by chance. The bivariate model focuses on estimation of a summary sensitivity and specificity at a common threshold while the HSROC model focuses on the estimation of a summary curve from studies that have used different thresholds. Conclusions Meta-analyses of diagnostic accuracy studies can provide answers to important clinical questions. We hope this article will provide clinicians with sufficient understanding of the terminology and methods to aid interpretation of systematic reviews and facilitate better patient care. PMID:26446042

Cystic fibrosis lung transplantation.

PubMed

Braun, Andrew T; Merlo, Christian A

2011-11-01

This review summarizes recently published investigations on issues pertaining to cystic fibrosis (CF) lung transplantation. We specifically focus on indications and candidate selection as well as infectious and noninfectious issues specific to CF lung transplant recipients. Recent studies have focused on candidate adequacy in high-risk CF patients. We review the current literature on individuals who develop respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation and those patients with a pretransplant diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension. Furthermore, the management of peri-operative infectious issues is reviewed including recurrent infections with multidrug-resistant bacterial, mycobacterial, and fungal organisms. Other CF-specific issues addressed include common comorbidities such as CF-related diabetes, gastroesophageal reflux, CF liver disease, and bone metabolism. Lung transplantation is a limited, but potentially life-saving therapeutic option for patients with CF. Optimal candidate selection and awareness of CF-specific issues in the pretransplant and posttransplant setting may lead to better long-term outcomes. © 2011 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

Performance of gymnastics skill benefits from an external focus of attention.

PubMed

Abdollahipour, Reza; Wulf, Gabriele; Psotta, Rudolf; Palomo Nieto, Miriam

2015-01-01

The present study was designed to fill a gap in the literature on attentional focus and sports performance. Specifically, in contrast to most previous studies in which an external focus was directed at an implement, we used a gymnastics skill that did not involve the use of an implement. Furthermore, while most studies used only outcome measures of performance, we also assessed movement quality. Twelve-year-old gymnasts performed a maximum vertical jump with a 180-degree turn while airborne, with their hands crossing in front of their chest during the turn under three different focus conditions. Under the external focus condition, participants were asked to focus on the direction in which a tape marker, which was attached to their chest, was pointing after the turn. Under the internal focus condition, they were asked to focus on the direction in which their hands were pointing after the turn. Under the control condition, no focus instructions were given. The external focus condition resulted in both superior movement form and greater jump height than did the other two conditions, which produced comparable results. The present findings show that, similar to other tasks, the performance of form-based skills can be enhanced relatively easily by appropriate external focus instructions.

DIAGNOSTIC TOOL DEVELOPMENT AND APPLICATION THROUGH REGIONAL CASE STUDIES

EPA Science Inventory

Case studies are a useful vehicle for developing and testing conceptual models, classification systems, diagnostic tools and models, and stressor-response relationships. Furthermore, case studies focused on specific places or issues of interest to the Agency provide an excellent ...

Procedural and Declarative Memory in Children with and without Specific Language Impairment

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lum, Jarrad A. G.; Gelgic, Celin; Conti-Ramsden, Gina

2010-01-01

Background: Much evidence has accumulated to indicate memory deficits in children with specific language impairment. However, most research has focused on working memory impairments in these children. Less is known about the functioning of other memory systems in this population. Aims: This study examined procedural and declarative memory in young…

Riparian forest restoration: Conflicting goals, trade-offs, and measures of success

Treesearch

Heather L. Bateman; David M. Merritt; J. Bradley Johnson

2012-01-01

Restoration projects can have varying goals, depending on the specific focus, rationale, and aims for restoration. When restoration projects use project-specific goals to define activities and gauge success without considering broader ecological context, determination of project implications and success can be confounding. We used case studies from the Middle Rio...

When Two Sources of Fluency Meet One Cognitive Mindset

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Reggev, Niv; Hassin, Ran R.; Maril, Anat

2012-01-01

Fluency, the subjective experience of ease associated with information processing, has been shown to affect a host of judgments. Previous research has typically focused on specific factors that affect the use of a single, specific fluency source. In the present study we examine how cognitive mindsets, or processing modes, moderate fluency…

Identifying the Effects of Specific CHC Factors on College Students' Reading Comprehension

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Taub, Gordon E.; Benson, Nicholas

2013-01-01

Reading comprehension is an important skill for college academic success. Much of the research pertaining to reading in general, and reading comprehension specifically, focuses on the success of primary and secondary school-age students. The present study goes beyond previous research by extending such investigation to the reading comprehension of…

Effects of Professional Development on Teachers' Instruction: Results from a Three-year Longitudinal Study.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Desimone, Laura M.; Porter, Andrew C.; Garet, Michael S.; Yoon, Kwang Suk; Birman, Beatrice F.

2002-01-01

Examined the effects of professional development on teachers' instruction using a purposeful sample of about 207 teachers across 5 states for 1996-1999. Professional development focused on specific instructional practices increased teachers' use of those practices in the classroom, and specific features, such as active learning opportunities,…

Cyber-Pedocriminality: Characteristics of a Sample of Internet Child Pornography Offenders

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Niveau, Gerard

2010-01-01

Objective: This descriptive study focused on cyber-pedocriminality, a term chosen to describe the phenomenon of child pornography on the internet. Two specific questions were addressed: whether cyber-pedocriminals present with a specific sociodemographic or psychological profile and what type of contents can be found in the criminal material.…

Violence and Personality in Forensic Patients: Is There a Forensic Patient-Specific Personality Profile?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Stupperich, Alexandra; Ihm, Helga; Strack, Micha

2009-01-01

Concerning the discussion about the connection of personality traits, personality disorders, and mental illness, this study focused on the personality profiles of male forensic patients, prison inmates, and young men without criminal reports. The main topic centered on group-specific personality profiles and identifying personality facets…

The Effects of Academic Socialisation on Students' Consumer Behaviour

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rioux, Liliane; Scrima, Fabrizio; Bouzid, Dalel; Moffat, Éva; Mokounkolo, René

2017-01-01

Since the now classic work of Newcomb (Personality and social change, Holt, New York, 1943), there has been an increasing body of research focusing on the process of academic socialisation but, as far as we know, no studies have specifically dealt with students' consumer behaviour and, more specifically, sustainable consumption. Five hundred and…

A Rotational Blended Learning Model: Enhancement and Quality Assurance

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ghoul, Said

2013-01-01

Research on blended learning theory and practice is growing nowadays with a focus on the development, evaluation, and quality assurance of case studies. However, the enhancement of blended learning existing models, the specification of their online parts, and the quality assurance related specifically to them have not received enough attention.…

A case study investigation of practices and beliefs of teachers at a STEM-focused elementary school

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Martin, Billy J.

Proponents of STEM education have highlighted the need for increasing STEM skills among students. To address this need, there have been recommendations to create new STEM-focused schools, a majority of which are to be STEM-focused elementary and middle schools. However, STEM school research remains focused on outcomes at the secondary and postsecondary level, with little attention being given to knowing more about the role that elementary education plays in STEM outcomes. Case study design was used to investigate teachers at one STEM-focused elementary school to identify the practices and beliefs reported as important in STEM teaching and learning. Using survey and in-depth interviews, it was found that designation as a STEM-focused school promotes the use of more inquiry-oriented teaching practices and facilitates the use of strategies for developing confidence and competence in STEM among staff and students. The information uncovered in this study could provide leaders of any organization desiring to become a STEM-focused institution information about specific beliefs and practices that have the greatest potential to support changes in teaching.

A category-specific top-down attentional set can affect the neural responses outside the current focus of attention.

PubMed

Jiang, Yunpeng; Wu, Xia; Gao, Xiaorong

2017-10-17

A top-down set can guide attention to enhance the processing of task-relevant objects. Many studies have found that the top-down set can be tuned to a category level. However, it is unclear whether the category-specific top-down set involving a central search task can exist outside the current area of attentional focus. To directly probe the neural responses inside and outside the current focus of attention, we recorded continuous EEG to measure the contralateral ERP components for central targets and the steady-state visual evoked potential (SSVEP) oscillations associated with a flickering checkerboard placed on the visual periphery. The relationship of color categories between targets and non-targets was manipulated to investigate the effect of category-specific top-down set. Results showed that when the color categories of targets and non-targets in the central search arrays were the same, larger SSVEP oscillations were evoked by target color peripheral checkerboards relative to the non-target color ones outside the current attentional focus. However, when the color categories of targets and non-targets were different, the peripheral checkerboards in two different colors of the same category evoked similar SSVEP oscillations, indicating the effects of category-specific top-down set. These results firstly demonstrate that the category-specific top-down set can affect the neural responses of peripheral distractors. The results could support the idea of a global selection account and challenge the attentional window account in selective attention. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Participation Structure and Incidental Focus on Form in Adult ESL Classrooms

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Nassaji, Hossein

2013-01-01

This study examined the role of incidental focus on form (FonF) in adult English-as-a-second-language classrooms. Specifically, it explored the extent to which the amount, type, and effectiveness of FonF were related to differences in classroom participation structure, that is, the organization of classroom talk within which FonF may occur. The…

Professional Development Processes That Promote Teacher Change: The Case of a Video-Based Program Focused on Leveraging Students' Mathematical Errors

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Santagata, Rossella; Bray, Wendy

2016-01-01

This study examined processes at the core of teacher professional development (PD) experiences that might positively impact teacher learning and more specifically teacher change. Four processes were considered in the context of a PD program focused on student mathematical errors: analysis of students' mathematical misconceptions as a lever for…

Young People's Talk about Religion and Diversity: A Qualitative Study of Norwegian Students Aged 13-15

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

von der Lippe, Marie

2011-01-01

This paper focuses on how young people talk about religion and diversity in a multicultural society. More specifically, it focuses on how students speak about Islam and Muslims. In analysing interviews with students, a main interest has been to examine the relationship between the students' speech and dominant discourses in Norwegian society…

One Approach to Formulating and Evaluating Student Work Groups in Legal Environment of Business Courses

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Camara, Joan E.; Carr, B. Nathaniel; Grota, Barbara L.

2007-01-01

The principal focus of this study is an investigation of whether students' grade point average (GPA) is a viable criterion for forming student work groups in the undergraduate Legal Environment of Business course. More specifically, the research focuses on the impact of: (1) GPA-homogeneous (HO) and GPA-heterogeneous (HE) groups upon student…

Lecturers' Leadership Practices and Their Impact on Students' Experiences of Participation with Implications for Marketing Higher Education Services

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Andy-Wali, Hope Adanne; Wali, Andy Fred

2018-01-01

This study investigates the impact of lecturers' leadership practices on students' experiences of participation within a case university in the UK's HE sector. The qualitative phenomenological research strategy, specifically the focus group interview approach, was used for data collection. Two key focus group interviews were conducted with a total…

Writing Placement and Proficiency Assessment Practices in Two Rural Two-Year Colleges

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wise, Melody Anne

2013-01-01

This research is a dual-case study which specifically focuses on two rural two-year colleges in separate parts of the United States: one in the central Southern region, and the other in the Northeastern region. I wanted to focus on these colleges' writing placement and proficiency practices in relation to their respective missions and how they…

How Do University Teachers Combine Different Approaches to Teaching in a Specific Course? A Qualitative Multi-Case Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Uiboleht, Kaire; Karm, Mari; Postareff, Liisa

2016-01-01

Teaching approaches in higher education are at the general level well researched and have identified not only the two broad categories of content-focused and learning-focused approaches to teaching but also consonance and dissonance between the aspects of teaching. Consonance means that theoretically coherent teaching practices are employed, but…

Effect of Mood States on the Breadth of Spatial Attentional Focus: An Event-Related Potential Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Moriya, Hiroki; Nittono, Hiroshi

2011-01-01

In order to determine the processing stage that is responsible for the effect of mood states on the breadth of attentional focus, we recorded event-related potentials from 18 students who performed a flanker task involving adjacent letters. To induce a specific mood state, positive, neutral, or negative affective pictures were presented repeatedly…

How Are Learning Strategies Reflected in the Eyes? Combining Results from Self-Reports and Eye-Tracking

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Catrysse, Leen; Gijbels, David; Donche, Vincent; De Maeyer, Sven; Lesterhuis, Marije; Van den Bossche, Piet

2018-01-01

Background: Up until now, empirical studies in the Student Approaches to Learning field have mainly been focused on the use of self-report instruments, such as interviews and questionnaires, to uncover differences in students' general preferences towards learning strategies, but have focused less on the use of task-specific and online measures.…

Mental Health Literacy in Hmong and Cambodian Elderly Refugees: A Barrier to Understanding, Recognizing, and Responding to Depression

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lee, Hee Yun; Lytle, Kathy; Yang, Pa Nhia; Lum, Terry

2010-01-01

This study aims to explore mental health literacy, specifically focusing on depression, among Southeast Asian (SEA) elderly refugees residing in the Twin Cities of St. Paul and Minneapolis, Minnesota. Three focus groups were held with nine mental health professionals who work with SEA elders. Jorm's mental health literacy framework guided the…

Management systems, patient quality improvement, resource availability, and substance abuse treatment quality.

PubMed

Fields, Dail; Roman, Paul M; Blum, Terry C

2012-06-01

To examine the relationships among general management systems, patient-focused quality management/continuous process improvement (TQM/CPI) processes, resource availability, and multiple dimensions of substance use disorder (SUD) treatment. Data are from a nationally representative sample of 221 SUD treatment centers through the National Treatment Center Study (NTCS). The design was a cross-sectional field study using latent variable structural equation models. The key variables are management practices, TQM/continuous quality improvement (CQI) practices, resource availability, and treatment center performance. Interviews and questionnaires provided data from treatment center administrative directors and clinical directors in 2007-2008. Patient-focused TQM/CQI practices fully mediated the relationship between internal management practices and performance. The effects of TQM/CQI on performance are significantly larger for treatment centers with higher levels of staff per patient. Internal management practices may create a setting that supports implementation of specific patient-focused practices and protocols inherent to TQM/CQI processes. However, the positive effects of internal management practices on treatment center performance occur through use of specific patient-focused TQM/CPI practices and have more impact when greater amounts of supporting resources are present. © Health Research and Educational Trust.

Yogurt consumption and impact on health: focus on children and cardiometabolic risk.

PubMed

Marette, André; Picard-Deland, Eliane

2014-05-01

An accumulating body of epidemiologic data, clinical trials, and mechanistic studies suggests that yogurt consumption as part of a healthy diet may be beneficial to cardiometabolic health. This brief review focuses on children and adolescents, introducing new concepts underlying the effect of yogurt consumption on body weight maintenance and the prevention of cardiovascular diseases. Specific properties of yogurt are discussed, which highlight that yogurt is an easy-to-digest, nutrient-dense, and satiating food that contains high-quality protein and specific amino acids. Moreover, the role of yogurt as a modulator of the gut microbiota in infancy is explored. We also propose the idea that the specific matrix of yogurt has bioavailability and metabolic properties that can be exploited to increase the functionality of this dairy product.

The pleasures and pains of distinct self-construals: the role of interdependence in regulatory focus.

PubMed

Lee, A Y; Aaker, J L; Gardner, W L

2000-06-01

Regulatory focus theory distinguishes between self-regulatory processes that focus on promotion and prevention strategies for goal pursuit. Five studies provide support for the hypothesis that these strategies differ for individuals with distinct self-construals. Specifically, individuals with a dominant independent self-construal were predicted to place more emphasis on promotion-focused information, and those with a dominant interdependent self-construal on prevention-focused information. Support for this hypothesis was obtained for participants who scored high versus low on the Self-Construal Scale, participants who were presented with an independent versus interdependent situation, and participants from a Western versus Eastern culture. The influence of interdependence on regulatory focus was observed in both importance ratings of information and affective responses consistent with promotion or prevention focus.

The influence of evaluation recommendations on instrumental and conceptual uses: A preliminary analysis.

PubMed

Bourgeois, Isabelle; Whynot, Jane

2018-06-01

Evaluation recommendations are sometimes included in evaluation reports to highlight specific actions to be taken to improve a program or to make other changes to its operational context. This preliminary study sought to examine evaluation recommendations drawn from 25 evaluation reports published by Canadian federal government departments and agencies, in order to examine the evaluation issues covered and the focus of the recommendations. Our results show that in keeping with policy requirements, the evaluation recommendations focused on program relevance, effectiveness and efficiency and economy. Furthermore, a significant number of recommendations also focused on the implementation of more rigorous performance measurement strategies. The focus of the recommendations did not vary by publication date, recommendation type, and organizational sector. The findings also show that for the most part, the management responses produced as part of the broader evaluation process support the recommendations included in the report and identify specific timelines for implementation. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Significant events in psychotherapy: An update of research findings.

PubMed

Timulak, Ladislav

2010-11-01

Significant events research represents a specific approach to studying client-identified important moments in the therapy process. The current study provides an overview of the significant events research conducted, the methodology used together with findings and implications. PsychInfo database was searched with keywords such as significant events, important events, significant moments, important moments, and counselling or psychotherapy. The references of the selected studies were also searched. This process led to the identification of 41 primary studies that used client-identified significant event(s) as a main or secondary focus of the study. These were consequently reviewed with regard to their methodology and findings. The findings are presented according to type of study conducted. The impacts of helpful events reported by clients are focused on contributions to therapeutic relationship and to in-session outcomes. Hindering events focus on some client disappointment with the therapist or therapy. The group therapy modality highlighted additional helpful impacts (like learning from others). Perspectives on what is significant in therapy differ between clients and therapists. The intensive qualitative studies reviewed confirm that the processes involved in significant events are complex and ambiguous. Studies show that the helpful events may also contain many hindering elements and that specific events are deeply contextually embedded in the preceding events of therapy. Some studies suggest that helpful significant events are therapeutically productive although this may need to be established further. Specific intensive studies show that the clients' perceptions in therapy may differ dramatically from that of the therapist. Furthermore, the relational and emotional aspects of significant moments may be more important for the clients than the cognitive aspects of therapy which are frequently stressed by therapists. 2010 The British Psychological Society.

The Evolution of the Bill of Rights. A Unit of Study for Grades 8-12.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Vigilante, David

This unit is one of a series that presents specific moments in history from which students focus on the meanings of landmark events. By studying a crucial turning-point in history, students become aware that choices had to be made by real human beings, that those decisions were the result of specific factors, and that they set in motion a series…

The Port Royal Experiment: Forty Acres and a Mule? A Unit of Study for Grades 8-12.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Vigilante, David

This unit is one of a series that represents specific moments in history from which students focus on the meanings of landmark events. By studying a crucial turning-point in history, students become aware that choices had to be made by real human beings, that those decisions were the result of specific factors, and that they set in motion a series…

The Code of Hammurabi: Law of Mesopotamia. A Unit of Study for Grades 9-12.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Woodard, Jo Ann A.

This unit is one of a series that represents specific moments in history from which students focus on the meanings of landmark events. By studying a crucial turning point in history, students become aware that choices had to be made by real human beings, that those decisions were the result of specific factors, and that they set in motion a series…

Categorical and Specificity Differences between User-Supplied Tags and Search Query Terms for Images. An Analysis of "Flickr" Tags and Web Image Search Queries

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chung, EunKyung; Yoon, JungWon

2009-01-01

Introduction: The purpose of this study is to compare characteristics and features of user supplied tags and search query terms for images on the "Flickr" Website in terms of categories of pictorial meanings and level of term specificity. Method: This study focuses on comparisons between tags and search queries using Shatford's categorization…

Looking beyond general metrics for model comparison - lessons from an international model intercomparison study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

de Boer-Euser, Tanja; Bouaziz, Laurène; De Niel, Jan; Brauer, Claudia; Dewals, Benjamin; Drogue, Gilles; Fenicia, Fabrizio; Grelier, Benjamin; Nossent, Jiri; Pereira, Fernando; Savenije, Hubert; Thirel, Guillaume; Willems, Patrick

2017-01-01

International collaboration between research institutes and universities is a promising way to reach consensus on hydrological model development. Although model comparison studies are very valuable for international cooperation, they do often not lead to very clear new insights regarding the relevance of the modelled processes. We hypothesise that this is partly caused by model complexity and the comparison methods used, which focus too much on a good overall performance instead of focusing on a variety of specific events. In this study, we use an approach that focuses on the evaluation of specific events and characteristics. Eight international research groups calibrated their hourly model on the Ourthe catchment in Belgium and carried out a validation in time for the Ourthe catchment and a validation in space for nested and neighbouring catchments. The same protocol was followed for each model and an ensemble of best-performing parameter sets was selected. Although the models showed similar performances based on general metrics (i.e. the Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency), clear differences could be observed for specific events. We analysed the hydrographs of these specific events and conducted three types of statistical analyses on the entire time series: cumulative discharges, empirical extreme value distribution of the peak flows and flow duration curves for low flows. The results illustrate the relevance of including a very quick flow reservoir preceding the root zone storage to model peaks during low flows and including a slow reservoir in parallel with the fast reservoir to model the recession for the studied catchments. This intercomparison enhanced the understanding of the hydrological functioning of the catchment, in particular for low flows, and enabled to identify present knowledge gaps for other parts of the hydrograph. Above all, it helped to evaluate each model against a set of alternative models.

Understanding women's choices to enroll in engineering: A case study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Young, Eileen

The underrepresentation of women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) college programs is a troublesome local, national and global phenomenon. The topic of this doctoral thesis specifically focused on the underrepresentation of women in the field of engineering and more specifically on the factors that women may perceive as chiefly motivating them to choose engineering as a college major. By not choosing to major in engineering, women forego intellectual opportunities and the financial rewards that engineering careers can provide. Their absence means that the field of engineering also suffers from the lack of contributions from a diverse workforce. Women who graduated from a specific community college's engineering program in the United States were the focus of this qualitative study. Grounded in achievement motivation theory, and in particular expectancy-value theory of academic and career choice, this research was guided by two questions: How do women perceive their academic self-efficacies and expectations for success as influencing their decisions to enroll in engineering? How do women perceive their subjective task values as influencing their decisions to enroll in engineering? This single, holistic case study with one main unit of analysis incorporated a written questionnaire, individual interviews and a focus group meeting as the three instruments used to collect data. The qualitative data, cyclically coded, shed light on the complex mechanisms of academic and career choice.

Methods of Studying Persons.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Heinemann, Allen W.; Shontz, Franklin C.

Conventional research strategies typically emphasize behavior-determining tendencies so strongly that the person as a whole is ignored. Research strategies for studying whole persons focus on symbolic structures, formulate specific questions in advance, study persons one at a time, use individualized measures, and regard participants as expert…

Focus prosody of telephone numbers in Tokyo Japanese.

PubMed

Lee, Yong-Cheol; Nambu, Satoshi; Cho, Sunghye

2018-05-01

Using production and perception experiments, this study examined whether the prosodic structure inherent to telephone numbers in Tokyo Japanese affects the realization of focus prosody as well as its perception. It was hypothesized that prosodic marking of focus differs by position within the digit groups of phone number strings. Overall, focus prosody of telephone numbers was not clearly marked, resulting in poor identification in perception. However, a difference between positions within digit groups was identified, reflecting a prosodic structure where one position is assigned an accentual peak instead of the other. The findings suggest that, conforming to a language-specific prosodic structure, focus prosody within a language can vary under the influence of a particular linguistic environment.

Integrating transit and urban form : final report, December 2008.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2008-09-01

This study develops an integrated behavioral model of transit patronage and urban form. Although herein focused on transit, the framework can be easily generalized to study other forms of travel. Advanced econometric methods are used to test specific...

Pentachlorophenol and cancer risk: Focusing the lens on ...

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

Objective: Pentachlorophenol is a fungicide widely used as a wood preservative, classified in 1999 by the International Agency for Research on Cancer as a “possible human carcinogen”. We review currently available epidemiological research to determine the extent to which recent studies address the limitations of the previous data, particularly with respect to distinguishing the effect of pentachlorophenol from that of its contaminants (e.g., dioxins) and other chlorophenols. Data Sources and Extraction: We examined published studies with a quantitative or qualitative pentachlorophenol measure, or an assessment of chlorophenol exposure and additional information on specific jobs that would likely have used pentachlorophenol rather than other chlorophenols. The data collection process focused on results pertaining specifically to all cancer sites and specific hematopoietic cancers, and data pertaining to risks associated with other types of chlorophenols, dioxins, or furans. Synthesis: In contrast with dioxin, pentachlorophenol exposure was not associated with total cancer incidence or mortality. However, the pentachlorophenol studies present considerable evidence pertaining to lymphopoietic cancers, with strong associations seen in multiple studies, in different locations and using different designs. The extension of a large cohort study of sawmill workers, with follow-up to 1995, provides information about risks of relatively rare cancers (e.g.,

The study of marketed and experimental formulation approaches enabling site-specific delivery of mesalamine in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

PubMed

Kadiyala, Irina; Jacobs, Dylan

2014-04-01

This patent review focuses exclusively on the oral delivery of mesalamine (5-ASA) and excludes oral mesalamine pro-drug and rectal delivery formulations. The formulation strategies of marketed formulations (Apriso(®), Asacol(®), Lialda(®) and Pentasa(®)) and non-marketed formulations are reviewed and explained by decoding formulation specifics that enable the site specific delivery for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease.

Moving in a Moving World: A Review on Vestibular Motion Sickness

PubMed Central

Bertolini, Giovanni; Straumann, Dominik

2016-01-01

Motion sickness is a common disturbance occurring in healthy people as a physiological response to exposure to motion stimuli that are unexpected on the basis of previous experience. The motion can be either real, and therefore perceived by the vestibular system, or illusory, as in the case of visual illusion. A multitude of studies has been performed in the last decades, substantiating different nauseogenic stimuli, studying their specific characteristics, proposing unifying theories, and testing possible countermeasures. Several reviews focused on one of these aspects; however, the link between specific nauseogenic stimuli and the unifying theories and models is often not clearly detailed. Readers unfamiliar with the topic, but studying a condition that may involve motion sickness, can therefore have difficulties to understand why a specific stimulus will induce motion sickness. So far, this general audience struggles to take advantage of the solid basis provided by existing theories and models. This review focuses on vestibular-only motion sickness, listing the relevant motion stimuli, clarifying the sensory signals involved, and framing them in the context of the current theories. PMID:26913019

Nanomaterial Case Study: Nanoscale Silver in Disinfectant Spray (External Review Draft)

EPA Science Inventory

This draft document presents a case study of engineered nanoscale silver (nano-Ag), focusing on the specific example of nano-Ag as possibly used in disinfectant sprays. This case study is organized around a comprehensive environmental assessment (CEA) framework, which combines a ...

Teaching about Teaching Science: Aims, Strategies, and Backgrounds of Science Teacher Educators

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Berry, Amanda; Van Driel, Jan H.

2013-01-01

Despite pressing concerns about the need to prepare high-quality teachers and the central role of teacher educators (TEs) in this process, little is known about how TEs teach about teaching specific subject matter, and how they develop their expertise. This empirical study focuses on the specific expertise that science TEs bring into teacher…

Rhetorical Motives of Identity, Consubstantiality, and Hierarchy: An Analysis of Community College Program Documents

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Parkis Pettit, Angela G.

2011-01-01

The dissertation focuses on three academic programs at Tarrant County College, Northeast Campus, specifically the documents used to create and sustain these programs. The purpose of this study includes the following: first, to identify the terminology specific to each program and/or the documents used within the program; second and third to…

Systematic Review of Service-Learning in Youth Physical Activity Settings

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Carson, Russell L.; Raguse, Allison L.

2014-01-01

The extent to which service-learning exists in the field of kinesiology broadly, and more specifically related to the physical activity of youth, remains largely unknown. The purpose of this study was to conduct a systematic review of the service-learning literature in kinesiology, with a specific focus on youth physical activity settings.…

Early-Onset Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: A Subgroup with a Specific Clinical and Familial Pattern?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chabane, Nadia; Delorme, Richard; Millet, Bruno; Mouren, Marie-Christine; Leboyer, Marion; Pauls, David

2005-01-01

Background: The familial nature of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) has been previously demonstrated. The identification of candidate symptoms such as age at onset may help to disentangle the clinical and genetic heterogeneity of the disorder. In this study, the specificity of early-onset OCD was investigated, focusing on the effect of gender,…

Antecedents of Continued Usage Intentions of Web-Based Learning Management System in Tanzania

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lwoga, Edda Tandi; Komba, Mercy

2015-01-01

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to examine factors that predict students' continued usage intention of web-based learning management systems (LMS) in Tanzania, with a specific focus on the School of Business of Mzumbe University. Specifically, the study investigated major predictors of actual usage and continued usage intentions of…

Strengthening Resistance Self-Efficacy: Influence of Teaching Approaches and Gender on Different Consumption Groups

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Heyne, Thomas; Bogner, Franz X.

2009-01-01

Our study focused on strengthening the individual self-efficacy of low achieving 8th graders reducing drug-specific peer pressure through theoretical and practical training. The subject of the intervention was based on a substance-specific life skills program offering both teacher-centered and student-centered teaching approaches. A cluster…

A Comparison of Argentinean and Turkish English Language Teacher Education Curricula

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Diaz, Andrea Paola; Arikan, Arda

2016-01-01

In this study, we look at the education of English language teachers in two countries, namely, Argentina and Turkey. We specifically discuss the curricula of the teacher education programs by focusing on the specific courses taken by prospective teachers of English in each country and the steps they have to take to start teaching officially.…

Examining Evidence for the Validity of PISA Learning Strategy Scales Based on Student Response Processes

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hopfenbeck, Therese N.; Maul, Andrew

2011-01-01

The aim of this study was to investigate response-process based evidence for the validity of the Programme for International Student Assessment's (PISA) self-report questionnaire scales as measures of specific psychological constructs, with a focus on scales meant to measure inclination toward specific learning strategies. Cognitive interviews (N…

Fostering Self-Concept and Interest for Statistics through Specific Learning Environments

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sproesser, Ute; Engel, Joachim; Kuntze, Sebastian

2016-01-01

Supporting motivational variables such as self-concept or interest is an important goal of schooling as they relate to learning and achievement. In this study, we investigated whether specific interest and self-concept related to the domains of statistics and mathematics can be fostered through a four-lesson intervention focusing on statistics.…

Focused Observation and Feedback of Nonverbal Behavior: A Report of the Development of an Instrument Designed for Analysis of Teacher Behavior.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bradley, Banks; And Others

A systematic procedure for obtaining objective data of nonverbal teaching behaviors focusing on specific behaviors is presented. Teacher behaviors, recorded on video-tape, are studied and evaluated for the following nonverbal behaviors: (1) use of proximity control in maintaining discipline; (2) emphasis on the need for eye contact as a speaker;…

Fittin' in: Do Diverse Interactions with Peers Affect Sense of Belonging for Black Men at Predominantly White Institutions?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Strayhorn, Terrell L.

2008-01-01

Prior research on interacting with diverse peers focuses on pooled samples including all racial/ethnic groups or specific subpopulations such as women and White men. Research on sense of belonging has tended to include part-time learners, Asians, and Latinos, but no studies were readily uncovered that focus on Black men. Addressing this gap in the…

Shifting Identity Positions in the Development of Language Education for Immigrants: An Analysis of Discourses Associated with "Swedish for Immigrants"

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rosen, Jenny Karin; Bagga-Gupta, Sangeeta

2013-01-01

The study presented in this paper focuses upon conceptualisations of language and identity in the institutionalised arena that emerged in the post-Second World War period with the specific intention of teaching Swedish to adult immigrants in the nation-state of Sweden. Our analysis focuses upon the development of the educational programme…

Policy-Practice Gap in Participation of Students with Disabilities in the Education and Training Programme of Ethiopia: Policy Content Analysis

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Malle, Abebe Yehualawork; Pirttimaa, Raija; Saloviita, Timo

2015-01-01

This study explores the extent to which the issue of special educational and training needs for persons with disabilities is addressed in the education and training policy of Ethiopia, with a specific focus on technical and vocational education and training (TVET). Focus group discussions and interviews were used to assess the content of the…

The Role of Women in Medieval Europe: A Unit of Study for Grades 10-12.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Himmell, Rhoda

This unit is one of a series that represents specific moments in history from which students focus on the meanings of landmark events. This unit consists of lessons focused on selected topics in medieval history that define and describe the roles of women. The lessons examine the roles of women in the Early Middle Ages with particular emphasis on…

Role of anode length in a mather-type plasma focus

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Beg, F.N.; Zakaullah, M.; Nisar, M.

In this paper, neutron emission from a 3 KJ Mather-type plasma focus is studied. Specifically, the behavior of system with the change in anode length is investigated. Anode lengths of high and low fluence anisotropy as well as for high neutron yield are identified. Experiment also suggest the possibility of ion beam generation leading to neutron production via beam-plasma interaction.

Using an Online Curriculum Design and a Cooperative Instructional Approach to Orientate Adjunct Faculty to the Online Learning Environment

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lewis, Emily; Wang, Chihhsuan

2015-01-01

The focus of this study was to develop an orientation program that would assist adjunct faculty to gain specific competencies to facilitate an online course. The orientation curriculum employed a set of guiding questions that focused on the intellectual, cognitive, and applicable skills adjunct faculty would need to facilitate an online course. To…

Power in Operation: A Case Study Focussing on How Subject-Based Knowledge Is Constrained by the Methods of Assessment in GCE A Level Dance

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sanders, Lorna

2008-01-01

The General Certificate of Education (GCE) A Level Dance specification, offered by the Assessment and Qualifications Alliance (AQA), is the only GCE course of study in the UK that focuses solely on dance. Acquisition of subject specific knowledge is a feature of its aims, while assessment, as constructed by its objectives, is assumed to be a…

Advances in understanding behavioral phenotypes in neurogenetic syndromes.

PubMed

Harris, James C

2010-11-15

Syndrome-specific behavior was proposed by Langdon Down in his first clinical descriptions. Research interest followed but waned during the eugenics era when antisocial behavior was attributed to people with intellectual disability (ID) and the US Supreme Court legalized involuntary sterilization. When these claims were refuted and behavioral treatments introduced, their focus on environmental determination minimized the importance of biological research. The modern era began with the recognition that patterned behavior, for example, self-injury in Lesch-Nyhan syndrome and hyperphagia in PWS, was syndrome-specific, and when parent support groups pointed out syndrome-specific behavioral similarities in their children. Syndrome-specific rating scales and methodologies followed to allow behavioral comparisons between syndromes. The focus initially was on specific behaviors but with refinements in neuropsychological tests has expanded to include neurocognitive profiles. Greater clarification in genetic diagnoses has led to mutant mouse behavioral models and neurophysiologic and neuroimaging strategies have made possible the study of brain circuits. There is growing interest in investigating the developmental trajectory of behaviors from infancy to adulthood and old age. Because anxiety, mood disturbance, repetitive behaviors, and social deficits commonly occur in people with severe ID, those affected are often given multiple psychiatric diagnoses. This has led to considerable confusion in the literature. It is critical to focus on specific behaviors and cognitive patterns in research and not confuse psychiatric symptoms that lack precise definitions and involve multiple genes, the so-called psychiatric phenotype, with the more specific behavioral phenotype. New treatments based on knowledge of underlying neurobiology call for more fine-grained definition of behavior. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

School psychology recruitment research characteristics and implications for increasing racial and ethnic diversity.

PubMed

Proctor, Sherrie L; Romano, Maria

2016-09-01

Shortages of school psychologists and the underrepresentation of minorities in school psychology represent longstanding concerns. Scholars recommend that one way to address both issues is to recruit individuals from racially and ethnically diverse backgrounds into school psychology. The purpose of this study was to explore the characteristics and minority focused findings of school psychology recruitment studies conducted from 1994 to 2014. Using an electronic search that included specified databases, subject terms and study inclusion criteria along with a manual search of 10 school psychology focused journals, the review yielded 10 published, peer-reviewed recruitment studies focused primarily on school psychology over the 20-year span. Two researchers coded these 10 studies using a rigorous coding process that included a high level of inter rater reliability. Results suggest that the studies utilized varied methodologies, primarily sampled undergraduate populations, and mostly included White participants. Five studies focused on minority populations specifically. These studies indicate that programs should actively recruit minority undergraduates and offer financial support to attract minority candidates. Implications suggest a need for more recruitment research focused on minority populations and the implementation and evaluation of minority recruitment models. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved).

The role of prevention focus under stereotype threat: Initial cognitive mobilization is followed by depletion.

PubMed

Ståhl, Tomas; Van Laar, Colette; Ellemers, Naomi

2012-06-01

Previous research has demonstrated that stereotype threat induces a prevention focus and impairs central executive functions. The present research examines how these 2 consequences of stereotype threat are related. The authors argue that the prevention focus is responsible for the effects of stereotype threat on executive functions and cognitive performance. However, because the prevention focus is adapted to deal with threatening situations, the authors propose that it also leads to some beneficial responses to stereotype threat. Specifically, because stereotype threat signals a high risk of failure, a prevention focus initiates immediate recruitment of cognitive control resources. The authors further argue that this response initially facilitates cognitive performance but that the additional cognitive demands associated with working under threat lead to cognitive depletion over time. Study 1 demonstrates that stereotype threat (vs. control) facilitates immediate cognitive control capacity during a stereotype-relevant task. Study 2 experimentally demonstrates the process by showing that stereotype threat (vs. control) facilitates cognitive control as a default, as well as when a prevention focus has been experimentally induced, but not when a promotion focus has been induced. Study 3 shows that stereotype threat facilitates initial math performance under a prevention focus, whereas no effect is found under a promotion focus. Consistent with previous research, however, stereotype threat impaired math performance over time under a prevention focus, but not under a promotion focus. 2012 APA, all rights reserved

Urban pedestrian accident countermeasures experimental evaluation. Volume 1, Behavioral evaluation studies

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1975-02-01

A series of site and accident specific pedestrian safety countermeasures had been developed in a previous study, but the effectiveness of these countermeasures had not been empirically evaluated. This project focused on the determination of the effec...

Costs and Cost-Effectiveness of Plasmodium vivax Control.

PubMed

White, Michael T; Yeung, Shunmay; Patouillard, Edith; Cibulskis, Richard

2016-12-28

The continued success of efforts to reduce the global malaria burden will require sustained funding for interventions specifically targeting Plasmodium vivax The optimal use of limited financial resources necessitates cost and cost-effectiveness analyses of strategies for diagnosing and treating P. vivax and vector control tools. Herein, we review the existing published evidence on the costs and cost-effectiveness of interventions for controlling P. vivax, identifying nine studies focused on diagnosis and treatment and seven studies focused on vector control. Although many of the results from the much more extensive P. falciparum literature can be applied to P. vivax, it is not always possible to extrapolate results from P. falciparum-specific cost-effectiveness analyses. Notably, there is a need for additional studies to evaluate the potential cost-effectiveness of radical cure with primaquine for the prevention of P. vivax relapses with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase testing. © The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.

Costs and Cost-Effectiveness of Plasmodium vivax Control

PubMed Central

White, Michael T.; Yeung, Shunmay; Patouillard, Edith; Cibulskis, Richard

2016-01-01

The continued success of efforts to reduce the global malaria burden will require sustained funding for interventions specifically targeting Plasmodium vivax. The optimal use of limited financial resources necessitates cost and cost-effectiveness analyses of strategies for diagnosing and treating P. vivax and vector control tools. Herein, we review the existing published evidence on the costs and cost-effectiveness of interventions for controlling P. vivax, identifying nine studies focused on diagnosis and treatment and seven studies focused on vector control. Although many of the results from the much more extensive P. falciparum literature can be applied to P. vivax, it is not always possible to extrapolate results from P. falciparum–specific cost-effectiveness analyses. Notably, there is a need for additional studies to evaluate the potential cost-effectiveness of radical cure with primaquine for the prevention of P. vivax relapses with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase testing. PMID:28025283

Pathological, Oncologic and Functional Outcomes of a Prospective Registry of Salvage High Intensity Focused Ultrasound Ablation for Radiorecurrent Prostate Cancer.

PubMed

Siddiqui, Khurram M; Billia, Michele; Arifin, Andrew; Li, Fan; Violette, Philippe; Chin, Joseph L

2017-01-01

In this prospective registry we prospectively assessed the oncologic, functional and safety outcomes of salvage high intensity focused ultrasound for radiorecurrent prostate cancer. A total of 81 men were prospectively recruited and evaluated at regular scheduled study visits to 6 months after high intensity focused ultrasound and thereafter as per standard of care. Transrectal ultrasound guided biopsy was performed at 6 months. The primary end point was absence or histological persistence of disease at 6-month biopsy. Secondary end points included quality of life, biochemical recurrence-free survival, overall survival, cancer specific survival and progression to androgen deprivation therapy. Survival analysis was performed according to the Kaplan-Meier method and multivariate analysis was performed using the log rank (Mantel-Cox) test. Mean ± SD prostate specific antigen before high intensity focused ultrasound was 4.06 ± 2.88 ng/ml. At 6 months 63 men underwent biopsy, of whom 22 (35%) had residual disease. At a mean followup of 53.5 ± 31.6 months median biochemical recurrence-free survival was 63 months. The 5-year overall and cancer specific survival rates were 88% and 94.4%, respectively. Nadir prostate specific antigen less than 0.5 ng/ml was a significant predictor of biochemical recurrence-free survival (p=0.014, 95% CI 1.22-5.87). I-PSS significantly increased (p <0.001) while IIEF-5 scores decreased and the SF-36 score did not change significantly. The rate of rectal fistulization and severe incontinence was 3.7% each. A total of 223 complications were recorded in the 180 days after high intensity focused ultrasound (Clavien-Dindo grade 1-195, grade II-20, grade III-7, grade IVa-1). Salvage high intensity focused ultrasound appears to be a viable treatment option for radiorecurrent prostate cancer, with acceptable morbidity. Copyright © 2017 American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Post-filamentation high-intensive light channels formation upon ultrashort laser pulses self-focusing in air

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Geints, Yu. E.; Ionin, A. A.; Mokrousova, D. V.; Seleznev, L. V.; Sinitsyn, D. V.; Sunchugasheva, E. S.; Zemlyanov, A. A.

2017-01-01

Experimental and theoretical study of the post-filamentation stage of focused high-power Ti:Sa laser pulses in air is presented. Angular divergence of the laser beam, as well as angular and spatial characteristics of specific spatially localized light structures, the post-filament channels (PFCs), under different initial focusing conditions and laser beam energy are investigated. We show that PFC angular divergence is always less than that of the whole laser beam and tends to decrease with laser pulse energy increase and beam focal length elongation.

Bayesian Estimation of Fish Disease Prevalence from Pooled Samples Incorporating Sensitivity and Specificity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Williams, Christopher J.; Moffitt, Christine M.

2003-03-01

An important emerging issue in fisheries biology is the health of free-ranging populations of fish, particularly with respect to the prevalence of certain pathogens. For many years, pathologists focused on captive populations and interest was in the presence or absence of certain pathogens, so it was economically attractive to test pooled samples of fish. Recently, investigators have begun to study individual fish prevalence from pooled samples. Estimation of disease prevalence from pooled samples is straightforward when assay sensitivity and specificity are perfect, but this assumption is unrealistic. Here we illustrate the use of a Bayesian approach for estimating disease prevalence from pooled samples when sensitivity and specificity are not perfect. We also focus on diagnostic plots to monitor the convergence of the Gibbs-sampling-based Bayesian analysis. The methods are illustrated with a sample data set.

Student Conceptions of International Experience in the Study Abroad Context

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Streitwieser, Bernhard T.; Light, Gregory J.

2018-01-01

While much of recent study abroad research has focused on identifying and measuring different learning outcomes in terms of specific skills, competencies, perspectives and attributes acquired during study abroad opportunities, less research has considered how students' deeper conceptions and understandings of international experience may change…

Struggle for Social Position in Digital Media Composition

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Doerr-Stevens, Candance

2013-01-01

This study investigates the processes and products of multimodal and multi-authored digital media composition. Using ethnographic case study and Mediated Discourse Analysis (Norris & Jones, 2005), this study focuses specifically on the digital media composition of radio and film documentaries, examining struggle among students, media, and…

Nanomaterial Case Study: Nanoscale Silver in Disinfectant Spray (Final Report)

EPA Science Inventory

EPA announced the release of the final report, Nanomaterial Case Study: Nanoscale Silver in Disinfectant Spray. This report represents a case study of engineered nanoscale silver (nano-Ag), focusing on the specific example of nano-Ag as possibly used in disinfectant spr...

The development and piloting of the REnal specific Advanced Communication Training (REACT) programme to improve Advance Care Planning for renal patients.

PubMed

Bristowe, Katherine; Shepherd, Kate; Bryan, Liz; Brown, Heather; Carey, Irene; Matthews, Beverley; O'Donoghue, Donal; Vinen, Katie; Murtagh, Fliss E M

2014-04-01

In recent years, the End-Stage Kidney Disease population has increased and is ever more frail, elderly and co-morbid. A care-focused approach needs to be incorporated alongside the disease focus, to identify those who are deteriorating and improve communication about preferences and future care. Yet many renal professionals feel unprepared for such discussions. To develop and pilot a REnal specific Advanced Communication Training (REACT) programme to address the needs of End-Stage Kidney Disease patients and renal professionals. Two-part study: (1) development of the REnal specific Advanced Communication Training programme informed by multi-professional focus group and patient survey and (2) piloting of the programme. The REnal specific Advanced Communication Training programme was piloted with 16 participants (9 renal nurses/health-care assistants and 7 renal consultants) in two UK teaching hospitals. The focus group identified the need for better information about end-of-life phase, improved awareness of patient perspectives, skills to manage challenging discussions, 'hands on' practice in a safe environment and follow-up to discuss experiences. The patient survey demonstrated a need to improve communication about concerns, treatment plans and decisions. The developed REnal specific Advanced Communication Training programme was acceptable and feasible and was associated with a non-significant increase in confidence in communicating about end-of-life issues (pre-training: 6.6/10, 95% confidence interval: 5.7-7.4; post-training: 6.9/10, 95% confidence interval: 6.1-7.7, unpaired t-test - p = 0.56), maintained at 3 months. There is a need to improve end-of-life care for End-Stage Kidney Disease patients, to enable them to make informed decisions about future care. Challenges include prioritising communication training among service providers.

Animal models of exercise and obesity.

PubMed

Kasper, Christine E

2013-01-01

Animal models have been invaluable in the conduct of nursing research for the past 40 years. This review will focus on specific animal models that can be used in nursing research to study the physiologic phenomena of exercise and obesity when the use of human subjects is either scientifically premature or inappropriate because of the need for sampling tissue or the conduct of longitudinal studies of aging. There exists an extensive body of literature reporting the experimental use of various animal models, in both exercise science and the study of the mechanisms of obesity. Many of these studies are focused on the molecular and genetic mechanisms of organ system adaptation and plasticity in response to exercise, obesity, or both. However, this review will narrowly focus on the models useful to nursing research in the study of exercise in the clinical context of increasing performance and mobility, atrophy and bedrest, fatigue, and aging. Animal models of obesity focus on those that best approximate clinical pathology.

Vitamin D in Foot and Ankle Fracture Healing: A Literature Review and Research Design.

PubMed

Bernhard, Andrew; Matuk, Jorge

2015-10-01

Vitamin D is a generic name for a group of essential vitamins, or secosteroids, important in calcium homeostasis and bone metabolism. Specifically, efficacy of vitamin D with regard to bone healing is in question. A literature review was performed, finding mostly large studies involving vitamin D effects on prevention of fractures and randomized animal model studies consisting of controlled fractures with vitamin D interventions. The prevention articles generally focus on at-risk populations, including menopausal women and osteoporotic patients, and also most often include calcium in the treatment group. Few studies look at vitamin D specifically. The animal model studies often focus more on vitamin D supplementation; however the results are still largely inconclusive. While recent case reports appear promising, the ambiguity of results on the topic of fracture healing suggests a need for more, higher level research. A novel study design is proposed to help determine the efficacy on vitamin D in fracture healing. Therapeutic, Level IV: Systematic Review. © 2015 The Author(s).

Attention and material-specific memory in children with lateralized epilepsy.

PubMed

Engle, Jennifer A; Smith, Mary Lou

2010-01-01

Epilepsy is frequently associated with attention and memory problems. In adults, lateralization of seizure focus impacts the type of memory affected (left-sided lesions primarily impact verbal memory, while right-sided lesions primarily impact visual memory), but the relationship between seizure focus and the nature of the memory impairment is less clear in children. The current study examines the correlation between parent-reported attention problems and material-specific memory (verbal or visual-spatial) in 65 children (ages 6-16) with medically intractable lateralized epilepsy. There were no significant differences in attention and memory between those with left-lateralized epilepsy (n=25) and those with right-lateralized epilepsy (n=40). However, in the left-lateralized group attention problems were significantly negatively correlated only with delayed visual memory (r=-.450, p<.05), while the right-lateralized group demonstrated the opposite pattern (attention problems significantly negatively correlated with delayed verbal memory; r=-.331, p<.05). These findings suggest that lateralization of seizure focus may in fact impact children's memory in a material-specific manner, while problems with attention may impact memory more globally. Therefore, interventions designed to improve attention in children with epilepsy may have utility in improving certain aspects of memory, but further suggest that in children with lateralized epilepsy, material-specific memory deficits may not resolve with such interventions.

Analytical considerations for study design

Treesearch

Barry R. Noon; William M. Block

1990-01-01

Studies of the foraging behaviors of birds have been largely descriptive and comparative. One might then expect studies with similar objectives to have similar study designs but that is not the case. Papers in this symposium that focused specifically on study design contain a diversity of biological perspectives. Similarly, there is no accord among statisticians on...

Men’s Mental Health Promotion Interventions: A Scoping Review

PubMed Central

Seaton, Cherisse L.; Bottorff, Joan L.; Jones-Bricker, Margaret; Oliffe, John L.; DeLeenheer, Damen; Medhurst, Kerensa

2017-01-01

There is an increasing need for mental health promotion strategies that effectively engage men. Although researchers have examined the effectiveness of diverse mental wellness interventions in male-dominated industries, and reviewed suicide prevention, early intervention, and health promotion interventions for boys and men, few have focused on sex-specific program effects. The purpose of this review was to (a) extend the previous reviews to examine the effectiveness of mental health promotion programs in males, and (b) evaluate the integration of gender-specific influences in the content and delivery of men’s mental health promotion programs. A search of MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and EMBASE databases for articles published between January 2006 and December 2016 was conducted. Findings from the 25 included studies indicated that a variety of strategies offered within (9 studies) and outside (16 studies) the workplace show promise for promoting men’s mental health. Although stress was a common area of focus (14 studies), the majority of studies targeted multiple outcomes, including some indicators of positive well-being such as self-efficacy, resilience, self-esteem, work performance, and happiness/quality of life. The majority of programs were offered to both men and women, and six studies explicitly integrated gender-related influences in male-specific programs in ways that recognized men’s interests and preferences. PMID:28884637

Maternal health development programs: comparing priorities of bilateral and private donors.

PubMed

Deleye, Cécile; Lang, Achim

2014-11-19

The face of international aid for health and development is changing. Private donors such as foundations and corporations are playing an increasingly important role, working in international development as direct operators or in partnerships with governments. This study compares maternal health programs of new development actors to traditional governmental donors. It aims to investigate what maternal health programs large governmental donors, foundations and corporate donors are conducting, and how and why they differ. A total of 263 projects were identified and analyzed. We focus on nine categories of maternal health programs: family planning services, focus on specific diseases, focus on capacity building, use of information and communication technology (ICT), support of research initiatives, cooperation with local non-state or state partners and cooperation with non-local non-state or state partners. Data analysis was carried out using Generalized Linear Mixed-Effects Models (GLMER). Maternal health policies of public and private donors differ with regard to strategic approaches, as can be seen in their diverging positions regarding disease focus, family planning services, capacity building, and partner choice. Bilateral donors can be characterized as focusing on family planning services, specific diseases and capacity-building while disregarding research and ICT. Bilateral donors cooperate with local public authorities and with governments and NGOs from other developed countries. In contrast, corporations focus their donor activities on specific diseases, capacity-building and ICT while disregarding family planning services and research. Corporations cooperate with local and in particular with non-local non-state actors. Foundations can be characterized as focusing on family planning services and research, while disregarding specific diseases, capacity-building and ICT. Foundations cooperate less than other donors; but when they do, they cooperate in particular with non-state actors, local as well as non-local. These findings should help developing coordination mechanisms that embrace the differences and similarities of the different types of donors. As donor groups specialize in different contexts, NGOs and governments working on development and health aid may target donors groups that have specialized in certain issues.

Sensitivity and Specificity of French Language and Processing Measures for the Identification of Primary Language Impairment at Age 5

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Thordardottir, Elin; Kehayia, Eva; Mazer, Barbara; Lessard, Nicole; Majnemer, Annette; Sutton, Ann; Trudeau, Natacha; Chilingaryan, Gevorg

2011-01-01

Purpose: Research on the diagnostic accuracy of different language measures has focused primarily on English. This study examined the sensitivity and specificity of a range of measures of language knowledge and language processing for the identification of primary language impairment (PLI) in French-speaking children. Because of the lack of…

Reconstituting the ADHD Girl: Accomplishing Exclusion and Solidifying a Biomedical Identity in an ADHD Class

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hjörne, Eva; Evaldsson, Ann-Carita

2015-01-01

In this study, we explore what happens to young people labelled as having attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) after they have been excluded from mainstream class and placed in a special class. More specifically, we focus on how a specific disability identity is locally accomplished and ascribed to a girl placed in an ADHD class…

An Epistemological and Didactic Study of a Specific Calculus Reasoning Rule

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Durand-Guerrier, Viviane; Arsac, Gilbert

2004-01-01

It is widely attested that university students face considerable difficulties with reasoning in analysis, especially when dealing with statements involving two different quantifiers. We focus in this paper on a specific mistake which appears in proofs where one applies twice or more a statement of the kind "for all X, there exists Y such that R(X,…

Secondary Traumatic Stress and Burnout in Child Welfare Workers: A Comparative Analysis of Occupational Distress across Professional Groups

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sprang, Ginny; Craig, Carlton; Clark, James

2011-01-01

This study describes predictors of secondary traumatic stress and burnout in a national sample of helping professionals, with a specific focus on the unique responses of child welfare (CW) workers. Specific worker and exposure characteristics are examined as possible predictors of these forms of occupational distress in a sample of 669…

The Relation between Global and Specific Mindset with Reading Outcomes for Elementary School Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Petscher, Yaacov; Al Otaiba, Stephanie; Wanzek, Jeanne; Rivas, Brenna; Jones, Francesca

2017-01-01

An emerging body of research has evaluated the role of growth mindset in educational achievement, yet little work has focused on the unique role of mindset to standardized reading outcomes. Our study presents 4 key outcomes in a sample of 195 fourth-grade students. First, we evaluated the dimensionality of general and reading-specific mindset and…

Autism Spectrum Disorder and Specific Language Impairment: Overlaps in Syntactic Profiles

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Durrleman, Stephanie; Delage, Hélène

2016-01-01

This study investigates syntax in Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), its parallelism with Specific Language Impairment (SLI) and its relation to other aspects of cognition. We focus on (1) 3rd person accusative clitic (ACC3) production, a clinical marker of SLI hypothesized to relate to WM, and (2) 1st person accusative clitic (ACC1) production,…

Abraham Lincoln and Slavery: A Unit of Study for Grades 8-12.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ankeney, Kirk; Vigilante, David

This document is one of a series that represents specific moments in history from which students focus on the meanings of landmark events. Students become aware that choices had to be made by real human beings, that those decisions were the result of specific factors, and that they set in motion a series of historical consequences. By analyzing…

Atypical Sensory Processing in Adolescents with an Autism Spectrum Disorder and Their Non-Affected Siblings

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

De la Marche, Wouter; Steyaert, Jean; Noens, Ilse

2012-01-01

Atypical sensory processing is common in autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Specific profiles have been proposed in different age groups, but no study has focused specifically on adolescents. Identifying traits of ASD that are shared by individuals with ASD and their non-affected family members can shed light on the genetic underpinnings of ASD.…

Re-visiting the Endocannabinoid System and Its Therapeutic Potential in Obesity and Associated Diseases.

PubMed

Richey, Joyce M; Woolcott, Orison

2017-09-14

The purpose of the review was to revisit the possibility of the endocannabinoid system being a therapeutic target for the treatment of obesity by focusing on the peripheral roles in regulating appetite and energy metabolism. Previous studies with the global cannabinoid receptor blocker rimonabant, which has both central and peripheral properties, showed that this drug has beneficial effects on cardiometabolic function but severe adverse psychiatric side effects. Consequently, focus has shifted to peripherally restricted cannabinoid 1 (CB1) receptor blockers as possible therapeutic agents that mitigate or eliminate the untoward effects in the central nervous system. Targeting the endocannabinoid system using novel peripheral CB1 receptor blockers with negligible penetrance across the blood-brain barrier may prove to be effective therapy for obesity and its co-morbidities. Perhaps the future of blockers targeting CB1 receptors will be tissue-specific neutral antagonists (e.g., skeletal muscle specific to treat peripheral insulin resistance, adipocyte-specific to treat fat excess, liver-specific to treat fatty liver and hepatic insulin resistance).

Overcoming challenges: life with an ostomy.

PubMed

Popek, Sarah; Grant, Marcia; Gemmill, Robin; Wendel, Christopher S; Mohler, M Jane; Rawl, Susan M; Baldwin, Carol M; Ko, Clifford Y; Schmidt, C Max; Krouse, Robert S

2010-11-01

Studies have demonstrated decreased health-related quality of life in patients with stomas. Using US Department of Veterans Affairs electronic medical records, veterans with stomas were surveyed using the City of Hope Quality of Life-Ostomy questionnaire. Focus groups were conducted segregated by type of stoma (ileostomy vs colostomy) and quality-of-life score (high vs low). Qualitative analysis was performed on the basis of the City of Hope Quality of Life for Ostomates format of health-related quality of life (physical, psychological, social, and spiritual). The findings of the colostomy focus groups are reported. Two new domains emerged: colostomy specific and health care specific. The most common domains discussed were colostomy specific, psychological, and social. The most frequently discussed colostomy-specific theme was effective and ineffective solutions to colostomy care. Family and spousal relationships were the main theme from the psychological category. The predominant social issue was sexual relationships. Awareness of patients' social, psychological, and medical status allows surgeons to identify those likely to have problems and devote resources to those veterans. Published by Elsevier Inc.

ESUPPO: Next Generation

DTIC Science & Technology

2017-12-01

sessions were correlated quantitatively by the web-based survey , identifying the need to update eSUPPO with specific icons such as Innovation...focus groups and surveys , assesses how well the mobile app meets the needs of the Supply Corps community. The analysis begins by understanding the...the app. After a complete analysis of eSUPPO’s current “As-Is” processes, the study takes the information gathered from both the survey and focus

The Indigenous Cultures and the Influences of Spain and Mexico. Fulbright-Hays Summer Seminars Abroad, 1999 (Mexico).

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mitchell, Susan

Studies of U.S. history in middle school usually focus on the British point of view of the growth and development of the United States. This curriculum project aims to foster a bi-national perspective to compare and contrast issues reflecting the influences of Spain and Mexico on the indigenous cultures of both countries, with a specific focus on…

Special Feature: Epistemological Paradigms in Evaluation: Implications for Practice. Section 1: "Paradigm Contrast" Case Studies.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rose, Tom; And Others

1991-01-01

This section presents two pragmatic studies focusing on a real-life situation and specific applications in managerial decision making. One study deals with improving occupational safety in a bedding manufacturing plant, whereas the other concentrates on managing a state mental health program. (SLD)

Key Competencies: Social Studies, Secondary Schools.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Philadelphia School District, PA. Office of Curriculum and Instruction.

Specific competencies are outlined for social studies education in grades seven through 12 in the Philadelphia school system. The focus of social studies education is seen to be the transmission of knowledge and inculcation of skills and attitudes essential for good citizenship in an interdependent world. Five areas which contribute to good…

Costing Educational Wastage: A Pilot Simulation Study. Current Surveys and Research in Statistics.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Berstecher, D.

This pilot simulation study examines the important methodological problems involved in costing educational wastage, focusing specifically on the cost implications of educational wastage in primary education. Purpose of the study is to provide a clearer picture of the underlying rationale and interrelated consequences of reducing educational…

A Study on the Horizontal Stratification of Higher Education in South Korea

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Park, Hwanbo

2015-01-01

This study analyzed university and college graduates' income gap in South Korea to investigate factors influencing such disparities. Specifically, this study focused on types of higher education institutions and academic disciplines among the many factors affecting post-graduation income differences, using a hierarchical linear model. According to…

Socio-ethical analysis of equity in access to nutrigenomics interventions for obesity prevention: a focus group study.

PubMed

Lévesque, Lise; Ozdemir, Vural; Godard, Béatrice

2008-12-01

The goal of nutrigenomics is to develop nutritional interventions targeted to individual genetic make-up. Obesity is a prime candidate for nutrigenomics research. Personalized approaches to prevention of diseases associated with obesity may be available in the near future. Nevertheless, in the context of limited resources, access to a nutrigenomics personalized health service raises questions around equity. Using focus groups, the present qualitative research study provides empirical data on ethical concerns and values surrounding the nutrigenomics-guided personalized nutrition for obesity prevention. Eight focus groups were convened including 27 healthy individuals and 21 individuals who self-identified as obese or at risk of obesity. The transcripts of the focus group were analyzed according to the qualitative method of grounded theory. Responsibility, reciprocity, and solidarity emerged as the key ethical criteria perceived by the respondents to be significant in terms of how health professionals should determine access to personalized nutrition services. Still, exclusion of individuals from specific nutrigenomic services is likely to conflict with the imperatives of medical deontology and contemporary social consensus. The representation of equity in this paper is novel: it considers the intersection of nutrigenomics and personalized nutritional interventions specifically in the context of limited public resources for health services.

Learning from peer support schemes--can prison listeners support offenders who self-injure in custody?

PubMed

Griffiths, Louise; Bailey, Di

2015-01-01

The purpose of this paper is to critically evaluate the current evidence for peer support in prisons, in particular its contribution to working with prisoners who self-injure and the extent to which the success of peer support schemes such as the prison listeners, hinges upon staff's willingness to engage with the initiative. The review was constructed by using primary and secondary terms to search the literature. The studies focused on peer support in custody with reference to mental health and self-injury. Searches identified papers on the prison listener scheme and staff perspectives on prison peer support, as these formed a central focus of the review. Studies were excluded from the review if the participants' behaviours was explicitly linked to suicidal intent, as the review focused on self-injury as a coping strategy. A total of 24 studies were selected according to specific inclusion criteria (six were grey literature, 18 academic literature). Of the 24 studies ten studies focused on peer support and self-injury. Of the 24 studies the listener scheme was the focus of 16 studies, of these 16 studies self-injury and the listener scheme was a focus of eight studies. Evidence from the review suggests that prison peer support could be considered on a continuum depending on the different degrees of peer involvement.

BS-virus-finder: virus integration calling using bisulfite sequencing data.

PubMed

Gao, Shengjie; Hu, Xuesong; Xu, Fengping; Gao, Changduo; Xiong, Kai; Zhao, Xiao; Chen, Haixiao; Zhao, Shancen; Wang, Mengyao; Fu, Dongke; Zhao, Xiaohui; Bai, Jie; Mao, Likai; Li, Bo; Wu, Song; Wang, Jian; Li, Shengbin; Yang, Huangming; Bolund, Lars; Pedersen, Christian N S

2018-01-01

DNA methylation plays a key role in the regulation of gene expression and carcinogenesis. Bisulfite sequencing studies mainly focus on calling single nucleotide polymorphism, different methylation region, and find allele-specific DNA methylation. Until now, only a few software tools have focused on virus integration using bisulfite sequencing data. We have developed a new and easy-to-use software tool, named BS-virus-finder (BSVF, RRID:SCR_015727), to detect viral integration breakpoints in whole human genomes. The tool is hosted at https://github.com/BGI-SZ/BSVF. BS-virus-finder demonstrates high sensitivity and specificity. It is useful in epigenetic studies and to reveal the relationship between viral integration and DNA methylation. BS-virus-finder is the first software tool to detect virus integration loci by using bisulfite sequencing data. © The Authors 2017. Published by Oxford University Press.

Focused transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex modulates specific domains of self-regulation.

PubMed

Pripfl, Jürgen; Lamm, Claus

2015-02-01

Recent neuroscience theories suggest that different kinds of self-regulation may share a common psychobiological mechanism. However, empirical evidence for a domain general self-regulation mechanism is scarce. The aim of this study was to investigate whether focused anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), facilitating the activity of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC), acts on a domain general self-regulation mechanism and thus modulates both affective and appetitive self-regulation. Twenty smokers participated in this within-subject sham controlled study. Effects of anodal left, anodal right and sham tDCS over the dlPFC on affective picture appraisal and nicotine craving-cue appraisal were assessed. Anodal right tDCS over the dlPFC reduced negative affect in emotion appraisal, but neither modulated regulation of positive emotion appraisal nor of craving appraisal. Anodal left stimulation did not induce any significant effects. The results of our study show that domain specific self-regulation networks are at work in the prefrontal cortex. Focused tDCS modulation of this specific self-regulation network could probably be used during the first phase of nicotine abstinence, during which negative affect might easily result in relapse. These findings have implications for neuroscience models of self-regulation and are of relevance for the development of brain stimulation based treatment methods for neuropsychiatric disorders associated with self-regulation deficits. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd and the Japan Neuroscience Society. All rights reserved.

Universities' Role in Regional Development: A Case Study of University for Development Studies, Ghana

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Abonyi, Usman Kojo

2016-01-01

This study, employing an interpretive research paradigm, sought to investigate into how University for Development Studies (UDS) is responding to its regional development mandate with a specific focus on how it is responding to human capital development, innovation capabilities, and social and environmental development in northern Ghana. A study…

Study Habits: Advice to Students, Parents and Teachers from Research Data.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Thompson, Mark E.

This guide, written for parents, teachers, and students, presents advice on academic study habits derived from research data. Part 1 of the text presents the research evidence in five chapters: chapter 1 reviews common study skills problems; chapter 2 focuses specifically on research data from eight studies which successfully used precollege study…

How and Why of User Studies: RLG's RedLightGreen as a Case Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Proffitt, Merrilee

2006-01-01

This article documents a lifecycle approach to employing user-centered design, covering both qualitative and quantitative data gathering methods in support of using this approach for product design, usability testing, and market research. The author provides specific case studies of usability studies, focus groups, interviews, ethnographic…

Up Close and Personal: A Case Study of Three University-Level Second Language Learners' Vocabulary Learning Experiences

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cornell, Rebecca; Dean, Julie; Tomaš, Zuzana

2016-01-01

This study examines vocabulary-learning experiences of three advanced-level, university English as a second language (ESL) students. Through a case study approach, the researchers explore these second language learners' experiences with completing vocabulary-specific requirements for their ESL courses, focusing on their independent study outside…

Teaching Social Studies in the Secondary School. Description of Teacher Inservice Education Materials.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

National Education Association, Washington, DC. Project on Utilization of Inservice Education R & D Outcomes.

The teacher program described here focuses on why social studies should be part of the secondary school curriculum and attempts to delineate effective methods for teaching social studies. Specific topics in this program are thinking and social studies, multiple viewpoints as evidence, historiography as a teaching devise, developing an analytical…

CRISPR-FOCUS: A web server for designing focused CRISPR screening experiments.

PubMed

Cao, Qingyi; Ma, Jian; Chen, Chen-Hao; Xu, Han; Chen, Zhi; Li, Wei; Liu, X Shirley

2017-01-01

The recently developed CRISPR screen technology, based on the CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing system, enables genome-wide interrogation of gene functions in an efficient and cost-effective manner. Although many computational algorithms and web servers have been developed to design single-guide RNAs (sgRNAs) with high specificity and efficiency, algorithms specifically designed for conducting CRISPR screens are still lacking. Here we present CRISPR-FOCUS, a web-based platform to search and prioritize sgRNAs for CRISPR screen experiments. With official gene symbols or RefSeq IDs as the only mandatory input, CRISPR-FOCUS filters and prioritizes sgRNAs based on multiple criteria, including efficiency, specificity, sequence conservation, isoform structure, as well as genomic variations including Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms and cancer somatic mutations. CRISPR-FOCUS also provides pre-defined positive and negative control sgRNAs, as well as other necessary sequences in the construct (e.g., U6 promoters to drive sgRNA transcription and RNA scaffolds of the CRISPR/Cas9). These features allow users to synthesize oligonucleotides directly based on the output of CRISPR-FOCUS. Overall, CRISPR-FOCUS provides a rational and high-throughput approach for sgRNA library design that enables users to efficiently conduct a focused screen experiment targeting up to thousands of genes. (CRISPR-FOCUS is freely available at http://cistrome.org/crispr-focus/).

Methodological Aspects of Focus Groups in Health Research: Results of Qualitative Interviews With Focus Group Moderators.

PubMed

Tausch, Anja P; Menold, Natalja

2016-01-01

Although focus groups are commonly used in health research to explore the perspectives of patients or health care professionals, few studies consider methodological aspects in this specific context. For this reason, we interviewed nine researchers who had conducted focus groups in the context of a project devoted to the development of an electronic personal health record. We performed qualitative content analysis on the interview data relating to recruitment, communication between the focus group participants, and appraisal of the focus group method. The interview data revealed aspects of the focus group method that are particularly relevant for health research and that should be considered in that context. They include, for example, the preferability of face-to-face recruitment, the necessity to allow participants in patient groups sufficient time to introduce themselves, and the use of methods such as participant-generated cards and prioritization.

Children's Comprehension of Plural Predicate Conjunction

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tieu, Lyn; Romoli, Jacopo; Poortman, Eva; Winter, Yoad; Crain, Stephen

2018-01-01

Previous developmental studies of conjunction have focused on the syntax of phrasal and sentential coordination (Lust, 1977; de Villiers, Tager-Flusberg & Hakuta, 1977; Bloom, Lahey, Hood, Lifter & Fiess, 1980, among others). The present study examined the flexibility of children's interpretation of conjunction. Specifically, when two…

Active choice but not too active: Public perspectives on biobank consent models

PubMed Central

Simon, Christian M.; L’Heureux, Jamie; Murray, Jeffrey C.; Winokur, Patricia; Weiner, George; Newbury, Elizabeth; Shinkunas, Laura; Zimmerman, Bridget

2013-01-01

Purpose Despite important recent work, US public attitudes toward specific biobank consent models are not well understood. Public opinion data can help shape efforts to develop ethically sound and publicly trusted mechanisms for informing and consenting prospective biobank donors. The purpose of this study was to explore public perspectives toward a range of consent models currently being used or considered for use among comprehensive US biobanks. Methods The study used an exploratory mixed-methods design, using focus groups and telephone surveys. Eligible participants were English-speaking residents in the catchment area of a comprehensive biobank being developed at the University of Iowa. Results Forty-eight participants in seven focus groups and 751 survey participants were recruited. Biobanks were unfamiliar to almost all study participants but were seen as valuable resources. Most focus group (63%) and survey (67%) participants preferred a prospective opt-in over an opt-out consent approach. Broad, research-unspecific consent was preferred over categorical and study-specific consent models for purposes of approving future research use. Conclusion Many individuals may want to make an active and informed choice at the point of being approached for biobank participation but are prepared to consent broadly to future research use and to forego additional choices as a result. PMID:21555942

Economics of ICU organization and management.

PubMed

Wunsch, Hannah; Gershengorn, Hayley; Scales, Damon C

2012-01-01

The intensive care unit (ICU) is a complex system and the economic implications of altering care patterns in the ICU can be difficult to unravel. Few studies have specifically examined the economics of implementing organizational and management changes or acknowledged the many competing economic interests of patient, hospital,payer, and society. With continuously increasing healthcare costs,there is a great need for more studies focused on the optimal organization of the ICU. These studies should not focus solely on reductions in ICU length of stay but should strive to measure the true costs of care within a given healthcare system.

Which aspects of functioning are relevant for patients with ankylosing spondylitis: results of focus group interviews.

PubMed

Boonen, Annelies; van Berkel, Monique; Cieza, Alarcos; Stucki, Gerold; van der Heijde, Désirée

2009-11-01

To investigate whether concepts important to patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) are covered by disease-specific self-report health status instruments. A qualitative focus group study was conducted with AS patients on problems in daily functioning. Group sessions with 4 to 5 patients each were organized up to the point that no new information was brought forward. Group sessions were tape-recorded, transcribed, and divided into meaning units. Concepts contained in the meaning units were extracted. Self-report instruments on health status specific for AS were identified in a literature search. Using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) as a common reference, it was determined whether the concepts identified in the focus groups were covered by the instruments. Nineteen patients participated in 4 focus group interviews. In total, 332 unique meaning units were linked to 90 second-level ICF categories, of which 25 referred to body functions, 10 to body structures, 35 to activities and participation and 30 to environmental factors. In addition, several concepts relating to personal factors were identified. Only 47 categories were also covered by one of the self-report instruments in AS. Only a minority of concepts addressed by the AS-specific questionnaires were not revealed as relevant in the interviews. Relevant aspects of the influence of AS are not covered by the classic disease-specific instruments. In particular, the influence of AS on socializing and leisure and the relevance of environmental and personal factors are not adequately assessed by available instruments.

Don't judge me: Psychophysiological evidence of gender differences to social evaluative feedback.

PubMed

Vanderhasselt, Marie-Anne; De Raedt, Rudi; Nasso, Selene; Puttevils, Louise; Mueller, Sven C

2018-05-01

Human beings have a basic need for esteemed social connections, and receiving negative self-evaluative feedback induces emotional distress. The aim of the current study is to measure eye movements (a physiological marker of attention allocation) and pupillary responses (a physiological marker of cognitive and emotional processing) as online and objective indices of participants' reaction to positive/negative social evaluations from the same or opposite sex. Following the paradigm, subjective mood ratings and heart rate variability (HRV) - as an objective index of regulatory effort- were measured. Results demonstrate clear gender-specific results in all measures. Eye-movements demonstrate that male participants respond more with other-focused attention (and specifically to male participants), whereas women respond more with self-focused attention following negative social evaluative feedback. Pupillary responses show that social evaluative feedback is specifically eliciting cognitive/affective processes in male participants to regulate emotional responses when provided by the opposite gender. Finally, following the paradigm, female (as compared to male) participants were more subjectively reactive to the paradigm (i.e., self-reports), and were less able to engage contextual- and goal related regulatory control of emotional responses (reduced HRV). Although the current study focused on psychiatrically healthy young adults, results may contribute to our understanding of sex differences in internalizing mental problems, such as rumination. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Sexual Aspects of Multilateral Relations

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Constantine, Joan M.; Constantine, Larry L.

1971-01-01

This study involved a variety of data gathering techniques focusing on almost every aspect of multilateral marriages. Specific topics covered included sex as motivation, group sex, sleeping arrangements, cohesion, sexual problems, jealousy, roles and sex differences. (Author/CG)

Caregiving and travel patterns.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2013-06-01

This study explored the impact of caregiving for older adults on mobility and travel : patterns. Specifically, the focus was on how caregivers managed trips on behalf of : another who receives care. Caregiving is becoming increasingly common as the :...

The year 2012 in the European Heart Journal-Cardiovascular Imaging. Part II.

PubMed

Plein, Sven; Knuuti, Juhani; Edvardsen, Thor; Saraste, Antti; Piérard, Luc A; Maurer, Gerald; Lancellotti, Patrizio

2013-07-01

The part II of the best of the European Heart Journal - Cardiovascular Imaging in 2012 specifically focuses on studies of valvular heart diseases, heart failure, cardiomyopathies, and congenital heart diseases.

Regulatory focus and generalized trust: the impact of prevention-focused self-regulation on trusting others.

PubMed

Keller, Johannes; Mayo, Ruth; Greifeneder, Rainer; Pfattheicher, Stefan

2015-01-01

The current research suggests that taking self-regulatory mechanisms into account provides insights regarding individuals' responses to threats in social interactions. In general, based on the notion that a prevention-focused orientation of self-regulation is associated with a need for security and a vigilant tendency to avoid losses and other types of negative events we advocate that a prevention-focused orientation, both as a disposition as well as a situationally induced state, lowers generalized trust, thus hindering cooperation within social interactions that entail threats. Specifically, we found that the more individuals' habitual self-regulatory orientation is dominated by a prevention focus, the less likely they are to score high on a self-report measure of generalized trust (Study 1), and to express trust in a trust game paradigm as manifested in lower sums of transferred money (Studies 2 and 3). Similar findings were found when prevention focus was situationally manipulated (Study 4). Finally, one possible factor underlying the impact of prevention-focused self-regulation on generalized trust was demonstrated as individuals with a special sensitivity to negative information were significantly affected by a subtle prevention focus manipulation (versus control condition) in that they reacted with reduced trust in the trust game (Study 5). In sum, the current findings document the crucial relevance of self-regulatory orientations as conceptualized in regulatory focus theory regarding generalized trust and responses to threats within a social interaction. The theoretical and applied implications of the findings are discussed.

Therapist competencies necessary for the delivery of compassion-focused therapy: A Delphi study.

PubMed

Liddell, Alice E; Allan, Steven; Goss, Ken

2017-06-01

Compassion-focused therapy (CFT) has shown promising results for a range of clinical presentations. This study explored the therapeutic competencies required to deliver CFT and organized these into a coherent framework. The Delphi method was used to explore and refine competencies for delivering CFT in three rounds of data collection. The first round involved interviews with 12 experts in CFT. Data were analysed using template analysis to generate a draft competency framework. The main competencies were used to create a survey for rounds two and three involving CFT experts and practitioners. Data collected from the surveys were used to refine the competencies. The CFT competency framework (CFT-CF) that was produced comprised 25 main competencies within six key areas of competence. The areas were as follows: competencies in creating safeness, meta-skills, non-phase-specific skills, phase-specific skills, knowledge and understanding and use of supervision. The main competencies included several subcompetencies specifying knowledge, skills and attributes needed to demonstrate the main competence. Overall, there was consensus on 14 competencies and 20 competencies exceeded an 80% agreement level. Some of the CFT competencies overlapped with existing therapies, whilst others were specific to CFT. The CFT-CF provides useful guidance for clinicians, supervisors and training programmes. Further research could develop the CFT-CF into a therapist rating scale in order to measure the outcome of training and to assess treatment fidelity in clinical trials. The compassion-focused therapy competency framework (CFT-CF) identifies therapeutic competencies that overlap with existing treatments as well as those specific to compassion-focused therapy (CFT). The CFT-CF builds guidance for the competencies required to deliver CFT in a range of clinical settings. The CFT-CF provides guidance for those training CFT therapists. The CFT-CF could be used as a basis to develop a therapist rating scale. © 2016 The British Psychological Society.

Changing by degrees : steps to reduce greenhouse gases

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1991-02-01

The six congressional committees requesting this assessment asked OTA to focus on a very specific question: "Can the United States reduce carbon dioxide emissions in the near term?" To answer the question Congress posed, OTA focuses specifically on p...

Generation of High-Quality SWATH® Acquisition Data for Label-free Quantitative Proteomics Studies Using TripleTOF® Mass Spectrometers

PubMed Central

Schilling, Birgit; Gibson, Bradford W.; Hunter, Christie L.

2017-01-01

Data-independent acquisition is a powerful mass spectrometry technique that enables comprehensive MS and MS/MS analysis of all detectable species, providing an information rich data file that can be mined deeply. Here, we describe how to acquire high-quality SWATH® Acquisition data to be used for large quantitative proteomic studies. We specifically focus on using variable sized Q1 windows for acquisition of MS/MS data for generating higher specificity quantitative data. PMID:28188533

"Everybody Treated Him Like He Was from Another World": Bilingual Fourth Graders Develop Social Awareness through Interactive Read-Alouds Focused on Critical Literacies

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Peterson, Katie E.; Chamberlain, Katharine

2015-01-01

This study explores read-aloud discussions of students in a fourth grade, bilingual classroom located in a rural district in the Southwestern United States. This article argues that teachers can develop students' critical literacy skills through the use of interactive read-alouds with specific texts that problematize specific social issues for…

The Relationship between Principals' and Teachers' Self-Efficacy Beliefs

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Nikolas, Julie Marie

2013-01-01

The purpose of this research was to investigate the relationship between principals' and teachers' self-efficacy beliefs. The study focused on the efficacy beliefs in instructional leadership, instructional strategies, school management, classroom management, and the effect of specific demographics on efficacy beliefs. The study, conducted during…

The Relationship between Parenting Strategies and Scholarship Award: A Quantitative Correlation Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Porter, Cynthia K.

2015-01-01

Researchers support a positive correlation between specific parenting strategies and student motivation and between student motivation and academic achievement. This study focused on determining correlative presence between research-based parenting strategies and scholarship award to post-secondary education. The examination of the educational…

ATTRITION RATE STUDY.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

HANSEN, M. DUANE; WENZEL, GUSTAVE G.

INSTEAD OF FOCUSING ON STUDENT CHARACTERISTICS, AS DO MOST DROPOUT STUDIES, THIS ONE (1) CONSIDERS SPECIFIC INSTITUTIONAL CHARACTERISTICS OF GRADING PRACTICES, (2) ANALYZES THESE PRACTICES WITHIN A GIVEN TERM INSTEAD OF OVER SEVERAL YEARS, AND (3) BROADENS THE DEFINITION OF ATTRITION TO INCLUDE BOTH FAILURE AND WITHDRAWAL. IT ATTEMPTS TO IDENTIFY…

Comprehensive Stuttering Treatment or Adolescents: A Case Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Coleman, Craig E.

2018-01-01

Purpose: This article will focus on a hypothetical case study to highlight comprehensive assessment and treatment for adolescent children who stutter. Method: Assessment and treatment are laid out with a literature review utilizing the components of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health model. Specific assessment…

Architectural Optimization of Digital Libraries

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Biser, Aileen O.

1998-01-01

This work investigates performance and scaling issues relevant to large scale distributed digital libraries. Presently, performance and scaling studies focus on specific implementations of production or prototype digital libraries. Although useful information is gained to aid these designers and other researchers with insights to performance and scaling issues, the broader issues relevant to very large scale distributed libraries are not addressed. Specifically, no current studies look at the extreme or worst case possibilities in digital library implementations. A survey of digital library research issues is presented. Scaling and performance issues are mentioned frequently in the digital library literature but are generally not the focus of much of the current research. In this thesis a model for a Generic Distributed Digital Library (GDDL) and nine cases of typical user activities are defined. This model is used to facilitate some basic analysis of scaling issues. Specifically, the calculation of Internet traffic generated for different configurations of the study parameters and an estimate of the future bandwidth needed for a large scale distributed digital library implementation. This analysis demonstrates the potential impact a future distributed digital library implementation would have on the Internet traffic load and raises questions concerning the architecture decisions being made for future distributed digital library designs.

Research on health equity in the SDG era: the urgent need for greater focus on implementation.

PubMed

Rasanathan, Kumanan; Diaz, Theresa

2016-12-09

The tremendous increase in knowledge on inequities in health and their drivers in recent decades has not been matched by improvements in health inequities themselves, or by systematic evidence of what works to reduce health inequities. Within health equity research there is a skew towards diagnostic studies in comparison to intervention studies showing evidence of how interventions can reduce disparities. The lack of sufficient specific evidence on how to implement specific policies and interventions in specific contexts to reduce health inequities creates policy confusion and partly explains the lack of progress on health inequities. In the field of research on equity in health, the time has come to stop focusing so much energy on prevalence and pathways, and instead shift to proposing and testing solutions. Four promising approaches to do so are implementation research, natural experimental policy studies, research on buy-in by policy-makers to action on health inequities, and geospatial analysis. The case for action on social determinants and health inequities has well and truly been made. The community of researchers on health equity now need to turn their attention to supporting implementation efforts towards achievements of the Sustainable Development Goals and substantive reductions in health inequities.

Well-defined protein-polymer conjugates--synthesis and potential applications.

PubMed

Thordarson, Pall; Le Droumaguet, Benjamin; Velonia, Kelly

2006-11-01

During the last decades, numerous studies have focused on combining the unique catalytic/functional properties and structural characteristics of proteins and enzymes with those of synthetic molecules and macromolecules. The aim of such multidisciplinary studies is to improve the properties of the natural component, combine them with those of the synthetic, and create novel biomaterials in the nanometer scale. The specific coupling of polymers onto the protein structures has proved to be one of the most straightforward and applicable approaches in that sense. In this article, we focus on the synthetic pathways that have or can be utilized to specifically couple proteins to polymers. The different categories of well-defined protein-polymer conjugates and the effect of the polymer on the protein function are discussed. Studies have shown that the specific conjugation of a synthetic polymer to a protein conveys its physico-chemical properties and, therefore, modifies the biodistribution and solubility of the protein, making it in certain cases soluble and active in organic solvents. An overview of the applications derived from such bioconjugates in the pharmaceutical industry, biocatalysis, and supramolecular nanobiotechnology is presented at the final part of the article.

The motivations, institutions and organization of university-industry collaborations in the Netherlands.

PubMed

Bodas Freitas, Isabel Maria; Verspagen, Bart

2017-01-01

This study builds on the economics and organization literatures to explore whether and how institutions and organizational structure complement or substitute each other to create specific spaces of alignment where specific individual actors' motivations co-exist. Focusing on university-industry collaborations, the study examines whether and how different axes of alignment of university and industry motivations are integrated in projects with specific technological objectives and organizational structures, benefitting from the presence of specific institutions designed to facilitate collaboration. Empirically, the study relies on in-depth data on 30 university-industry collaborations in the Netherlands, and provides preliminary evidence that the technological objective and organizational structure of collaboration are malleable variables allowing the integration of both partners' objectives and expectations. Different institutional incentives for university-industry collaboration favor specific axes of alignment of motivations and certain types of collaborative projects' design. Hence, our exploratory results suggest that specific organizational and technological structures tend to prevail in the presence of specific institutions.

New pediatric vision screener, part II: electronics, software, signal processing and validation.

PubMed

Gramatikov, Boris I; Irsch, Kristina; Wu, Yi-Kai; Guyton, David L

2016-02-04

We have developed an improved pediatric vision screener (PVS) that can reliably detect central fixation, eye alignment and focus. The instrument identifies risk factors for amblyopia, namely eye misalignment and defocus. The device uses the birefringence of the human fovea (the most sensitive part of the retina). The optics have been reported in more detail previously. The present article focuses on the electronics and the analysis algorithms used. The objective of this study was to optimize the analog design, data acquisition, noise suppression techniques, the classification algorithms and the decision making thresholds, as well as to validate the performance of the research instrument on an initial group of young test subjects-18 patients with known vision abnormalities (eight male and 10 female), ages 4-25 (only one above 18) and 19 controls with proven lack of vision issues. Four statistical methods were used to derive decision making thresholds that would best separate patients with abnormalities from controls. Sensitivity and specificity were calculated for each method, and the most suitable one was selected. Both the central fixation and the focus detection criteria worked robustly and allowed reliable separation between normal test subjects and symptomatic subjects. The sensitivity of the instrument was 100 % for both central fixation and focus detection. The specificity was 100 % for central fixation and 89.5 % for focus detection. The overall sensitivity was 100 % and the overall specificity was 94.7 %. Despite the relatively small initial sample size, we believe that the PVS instrument design, the analysis methods employed, and the device as a whole, will prove valuable for mass screening of children.

Postural perturbations: new insights for treatment of balance disorders

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Horak, F. B.; Henry, S. M.; Shumway-Cook, A.; Peterson, B. W. (Principal Investigator)

1997-01-01

This article reviews the neural control of posture as understood through studies of automatic responses to mechanical perturbations. Recent studies of responses to postural perturbations have provided a new view of how postural stability is controlled, and this view has profound implications for physical therapy practice. We discuss the implications for rehabilitation of balance disorders and demonstrate how an understanding of the specific systems underlying postural control can help to focus and enrich our therapeutic approaches. By understanding the basic systems underlying control of balance, such as strategy selection, rapid latencies, coordinated temporal spatial patterns, force control, and context-specific adaptations, therapists can focus their treatment on each patient's specific impairments. Research on postural responses to surface translations has shown that balance is not based on a fixed set of equilibrium reflexes but on a flexible, functional motor skill that can adapt with training and experience. More research is needed to determine the extent to which quantification of automatic postural responses has practical implications for predicting falls in patients with constraints in their postural control system.

Instruction and Pragmatic Change during Study Abroad Email Communication

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Alcón-Soler, Eva

2015-01-01

The study deals with the effect of instruction and study abroad (SA) on pragmatic knowledge. More specifically, the focus is on gains in explicit knowledge of request mitigators, and whether learners draw on this knowledge when they perform email requests. Email requests produced by 60 Spanish students staying abroad (30 treatment/30 control…

Improving the Quality of Home Visitation: An Exploratory Study of Difficult Situations

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

LeCroy, Craig Winston; Whitaker, Kate

2005-01-01

Objective: The primary purpose of this study was to use an ecological assessment model to obtain a better understanding of difficult situations that home visitors confront when implementing home visitation services. Method: A mixed method study was used which included conducting focus groups to identify specific situations faced by home visitors…

Mental Disorders in Five-Year-Old Children with or without Developmental Delay: Focus on ADHD

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Baker, Bruce L.; Neece, Cameron L.; Fenning, Rachel M.; Crnic, Keith A.; Blacher, Jan

2010-01-01

Epidemiological studies of children and adolescents with intellectual disability have found 30 to 50% exhibiting clinically significant behavior problems. Few studies, however, have assessed young children, included a cognitively typical comparison group, assessed for specific disorders, and/or studied family correlates of diagnosis. We assessed…

Toward a New Approach to the Study of Personality in Culture

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cheung, Fanny M.; van de Vijver, Fons J. R.; Leong, Frederick T. L.

2011-01-01

We review recent developments in the study of culture and personality measurement. Three approaches are described: an etic approach that focuses on establishing measurement equivalence in imported measures of personality, an emic (indigenous) approach that studies personality in specific cultures, and a combined emic-etic approach to personality.…

Student/Worker/Carer: The Intersecting Priorities of Arts Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Maher, JaneMaree; Mitchell, Jennifer; Brown, Kate

2009-01-01

This article reports on a focus group study of student experience and learning in a large humanities and social science faculty in Australia. The study explored student study/work/life issues, and student learning experiences. The article reports specifically on a discussion about combining meaningful learning in university classrooms with other…

Toward a Theory of Media Reconciliation: A Closed Captioning Exploratory Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Snell, Nicole Elaine

2012-01-01

This project is an interdisciplinary empirical study that explores the emotional experiences resulting from the use of the assistive technology closed captioning. More specifically, this study focuses on documenting the user experiences of both the D/deaf and Hearing multimedia user in an effort to better identify and understand those variables…

Examining the Mentoring Relationships of Women Working in Intercollegiate Athletic Administration

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bower, Glenna G.; Hums, Mary A.

2014-01-01

The purpose of this study was to examine mentoring relationships of women working within intercollegiate athletic administration. More specifically, the mentor characteristics and the career and psychosocial benefits of having a mentor in intercollegiate athletic administration were the focus of the study. The population for this study was all…

Obesity: a systematic review on parental involvement in long-term European childhood weight control interventions with a nutritional focus.

PubMed

van der Kruk, J J; Kortekaas, F; Lucas, C; Jager-Wittenaar, H

2013-09-01

In Europe, about 20% of children are overweight. Focus on parental responsibility is an effective method in weight control interventions in children. In this systematic review we describe the intensity of parental involvement and behaviour change aimed at parents in long-term European childhood weight control interventions. We include European Union studies targeting parents in order to improve children's weight status in multi-component (parental, behaviour change and nutrition) health promotion or lifestyle interventions. The included studies have at least one objectively measured anthropometric outcome in the weight status of the child. Parental involvement was described and categorized based on the intensity of parental involvement and coded using a validated behaviour change taxonomy specific to childhood obesity. Twenty-four studies were analysed. In effective long-term treatment studies, medium and high intensity parental involvement were identified most frequently; whereas in prevention studies low intensity parental involvement was identified most frequently. Parenting skills, generic and specific to lifestyle behaviour, scored frequently in effective weight control interventions. To list parental skills in generic and specific to lifestyle, descriptions of the included studies were summarized. We conclude that intensity of parental involvement and behaviour change techniques are important issues in the effectiveness of long-term childhood weight control interventions. © 2013 The Authors. obesity reviews © 2013 International Association for the Study of Obesity.

The efficacy of focus group discussion in teaching ESP speaking skill for prospective vocational school teacher

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nurmasitah, Sita; Faridi, Abdurrachman; Utomo, Aryo Baskoro; Astuti, Pudji

2018-03-01

The aims of the study were to implement the focus group discussion in teaching English for Specific Purposes (ESP) speaking skill for prospective Vocational School teacher and also to find out its effectiveness in improving their English speaking skill in ESP course. Quasi-experimental design was employed in this research. Thirty students of Family Welfare Vocational Education Study Program who were taking ESP course, were divided into two classes; experimental and control class. The research data were collected through interview, observation and the students' speaking assessment. The result showed that the implementation of focus group discussion method in the experimental class effectively increased the students' speaking skill compared to the control class.

Physical Warmth and Perceptual Focus: A Replication of IJzerman and Semin (2009)

PubMed Central

Schilder, Janneke D.; IJzerman, Hans; Denissen, Jaap J. A.

2014-01-01

With the changing of modal research practices in psychology, the grounded cognition perspective (sometimes categorized under the more popular term of “social priming”) has become heavily criticized. Specifically, LeBel and Campbell (2013) reported a failed replication of a study involving what some would call “social priming.” We sought to replicate a study from our own lab (IJzerman & Semin, 2009), to investigate the reproducibility of the reported effect that physical warmth leads to a greater focus on perceptual relations. We also improved our methods to reduce potential experimenter's bias (cf. Doyen, Klein, Pichon, & Cleeremans, 2012). We successfully replicated the finding that a simple cue of physical warmth makes people more likely to adopt a relational focus. PMID:25402343

The impact of educational experiences on nursing students' knowledge and attitudes toward people with Alzheimer's disease: A mixed method study.

PubMed

Kimzey, Michelle; Mastel-Smith, Beth; Alfred, Danita

2016-11-01

As the population ages, the effects of Alzheimer's disease will be felt by all nurses. Providing proper care for people with Alzheimer's disease is difficult and requires specific skills, attitudes, and knowledge. Limited data exists regarding nursing students' attitudes and knowledge toward people with Alzheimer's disease, whether undergraduate education prepares students to care for this population, or the best methods to support students in learning in an innovative and interactive environment. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of different educational experiences on nursing students' knowledge and attitudes toward people with Alzheimer's disease and to explore nursing students' knowledge and attitudes surrounding the care of people with Alzheimer's disease. A convergent mixed method design. A three group (Alzheimer's disease clinical experience, online learning module, and no dementia-specific intervention), pretest and posttest design served as the quantitative arm of the study. A focus group discussion with themes extracted served as the qualitative piece of the study. College of Nursing in North Texas. Convenience sample of 94 senior level nursing students enrolled in the undergraduate nursing program's Community Health course. Students completed pre and posttest surveys which included Alzheimer's Disease Knowledge Scale, Dementia Attitudes Scale, and demographic questionnaire. Content analysis was conducted on focus group responses to qualitative interview questions. The Alzheimer's disease clinical group experienced increased knowledge and improved attitudes toward people with Alzheimer's disease compared with students who completed the online module or had no dementia-specific intervention. Four themes emerged from focus group data: Basic Alzheimer's disease knowledge, need for Alzheimer's disease experiential learning, negative feelings related to behaviors, and appropriate responses to behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia. Experiential learning in the form of clinical placements increased knowledge and improved attitudes about Alzheimer's disease compared with an online module and no dementia-specific intervention. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

School Restructuring: A Study of the Role of Parents in Selected Accelerated Schools.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Davidson, Betty M.

This paper presents findings of a study that examined the change process involved when four elementary schools implemented the accelerated schools model. Specifically, the study focused on transitions in parental roles that occurred when the schools changed from a conventional mode of organization to a participatory mode. The case study data were…

Influence of encoding focus and stereotypes on source monitoring event-related-potentials.

PubMed

Leynes, P Andrew; Nagovsky, Irina

2016-01-01

Source memory, memory for the origin of a memory, can be influenced by stereotypes and the information of focus during encoding processes. Participants studied words from two different speakers (male or female) using self-focus or other-focus encoding. Source judgments for the speaker׳s voice and Event-Related Potentials (ERPs) were recorded during test. Self-focus encoding increased dependence on stereotype information and the Late Posterior Negativity (LPN). The results link the LPN with an increase in systematic decision processes such as consulting prior knowledge to support an episodic memory judgment. In addition, other-focus encoding increased conditional source judgments and resulted in weaker old/new recognition relative to the self-focus encoding. The putative correlate of recollection (LPC) was absent during this condition and this was taken as evidence that recollection of partial information supported source judgments. Collectively, the results suggest that other-focus encoding changes source monitoring processing by altering the weight of specific memory features. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Improving Air Quality with Solar Energy

DOE R&D Accomplishments Database

2008-04-01

This fact sheet series highlights how renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies can and are being used to reduce air emissions and meet environmental goals, showcasing case studies and technology-specific topics. This one focus on solar energy technologies.

Internal medicine point-of-care ultrasound assessment of left ventricular function correlates with formal echocardiography.

PubMed

Johnson, Benjamin K; Tierney, David M; Rosborough, Terry K; Harris, Kevin M; Newell, Marc C

2016-02-01

Although focused cardiac ultrasonographic (FoCUS) examination has been evaluated in emergency departments and intensive care units with good correlation to formal echocardiography, accuracy for the assessment of left ventricular systolic function (LVSF) when performed by internal medicine physicians still needs independent evaluation. This prospective observational study in a 640-bed, academic, quaternary care center, included 178 inpatients examined by 10 internal medicine physicians who had completed our internal medicine bedside ultrasound training program. The ability to estimate LVSF with FoCUS as "normal," "mild to moderately decreased," or "severely decreased" was compared with left ventricular ejection fraction (>50%, 31-49%, and <31%, respectively) from formal echocardiography interpreted by a cardiologist. Sensitivity and specificity of FoCUS for any degree of LVSF impairment were 0.91 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.80, 0.97) and 0.88 (95% CI 0.81, 0.93), respectively. The interrater agreement between internal medicine physician-performed FoCUS and formal echocardiography for any LVSF impairment was "good/substantial" with κ = 0.77 (p < 0.001), 95% CI (0.67, 0.87). Formal echocardiography was classified as "technically limited due to patient factors" in 20% of patients; however, echogenicity was sufficient in 100% of FoCUS exams to classify LVSF. Internal medicine physicians using FoCUS identify normal versus decreased LVSF with high sensitivity, specificity, and "good/substantial" interrater agreement when compared with formal echocardiography. These results support the role of cardiac FoCUS by properly trained internal medicine physicians for discriminating normal from reduced LVSF. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

The effects of workplace physical activity interventions in men: a systematic review.

PubMed

Wong, Jason Y L; Gilson, Nicholas D; van Uffelen, Jannique G Z; Brown, Wendy J

2012-07-01

The workplace is cited as a promising setting for physical activity (PA) promotion, but workplace PA interventions tend not to specifically target men. The aim of this article was to review the literature on workplace PA interventions for men and to identify key issues for future intervention development. Articles targeting PA at the workplace were located through a structured database search. Information on intervention strategies and PA outcomes were extracted. Only 13 studies (10.5%) reviewed focused on men, of which 5 showed significant increases in PA. These studies used generic, multicomponent, health promotion strategies with a variety of timeframes, self-report PA measures, and PA outcomes. The systematic review identified that evidence on the effectiveness of workplace PA interventions for men is equivocal and highlighted methodological concerns. Future research should use reliable and valid measures of PA and interventions that focus specifically on men's needs and PA preferences.

Perceptions of Plagiarism by STEM Graduate Students: A Case Study.

PubMed

Leonard, Michelle; Schwieder, David; Buhler, Amy; Bennett, Denise Beaubien; Royster, Melody

2015-12-01

Issues of academic integrity, specifically knowledge of, perceptions and attitudes toward plagiarism, are well documented in post-secondary settings using case studies for specific courses, recording discourse with focus groups, analyzing cross-cultural education philosophies, and reviewing the current literature. In this paper, the authors examine the perceptions of graduate students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines at the University of Florida regarding misconduct and integrity issues. Results revealed students' perceptions of the definition and seriousness of potential academic misconduct, knowledge of institutional procedures, and views on faculty actions, all with a focus on divergences between U.S. and internationally-educated students. The open-ended questions provide anecdotal evidence to highlight personal experiences, positive and negative, aimed at the faculty, international students and undergraduates. Combined, these findings outline an important part of the campus academic integrity culture at a major American university. Recommendations for local actions also are discussed.

The impact of the principal in the implementation of promoting science among English language learners (P-SELL)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kittrell, Resma

School organizations are in a constant state of change. One of the major changes that all schools encounter is adopting new curriculum. It is important to look at the role of the principal during the implementation of a new curriculum so that we can identify specific strategies that might be useful in other areas of school change. This study focuses on the role of the principal during the adoption of a new science curriculum, Promoting Science Among English Language Learners (P-SELL), within six elementary schools. This multiple case study included teacher focus group interviews, principal interviews, and teacher and principal written surveys to identify specific roles and strategies that principals illustrated during implementation of P-SELL. The overarching themes uncovered included (a) distributive leadership, (b) clear communication, and (c) supportive conditions. These findings can be used to understand the process of change within an organization.

Directing Attention Externally Enhances Agility Performance: A Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis of the Efficacy of Using Verbal Instructions to Focus Attention

PubMed Central

Porter, Jared M.; Nolan, Russell P.; Ostrowski, Erik J.; Wulf, Gabriele

2010-01-01

The primary purpose of this study was to investigate if focusing attention externally produced faster movement times compared to instructions that focused attention internally or a control set of instructions that did not explicitly focus attention when performing an agility task. A second purpose of the study was to measure participants’ focus of attention during practice by use of a questionnaire. Participants (N = 20) completed 15 trials of an agility “L” run following instructions designed to induce an external (EXT), internal (INT) attentional focus or a control (CON) set of instructions inducing no specific focus of attention. Analysis revealed when participants followed the EXT instructions they had significantly faster movement times compared to when they followed the INT and CON set of instructions; consistent with previous research the INT and CON movement times were not significantly different from each other. Qualitative data showed when participants were in the external condition they focused externally 67% of the time. When they were in the internal condition they focused internally 76% of the time, and when they were in the control condition they did not use an internal or external focus of attention 77% of the time. Qualitative data also revealed participants in the EXT, INT, and CON conditions switched their focus of attention at a frequency of 27, 35, and 51% respectively. PMID:21833271

Culturally Grounded Prevention for Minority Youth Populations: A Systematic Review of the Literature

PubMed Central

Lauricella, Michela; Valdez, Jessica K.; Okamoto, Scott K.; Helm, Susana; Zaremba, Colleen

2016-01-01

Contemporary prevention science has focused on the application of cultural adaptations of evidence-based prevention programs for minority youth populations. Far less is known about culturally grounded methods that are intended to organically develop prevention programs within specific populations and communities. This article systematically reviews recent literature on culturally grounded interventions used to prevent health disparities in ethnic minority youth populations. In this review, we assessed 31 peer-reviewed articles published in 2003 or later that fit inclusionary criteria pertaining to the development and evaluation of culturally grounded prevention programs. The evaluated studies indicated different approaches toward cultural grounding, as well as specific populations, geographic regions, and health issues that have been targeted. Specifically, the findings indicated that most of the studies focused on the development and evaluation of culturally grounded HIV/STI and substance abuse prevention programs for Mexican American, African American, and American Indian/Alaska Native youth residing in the South or Southwestern U.S. These studies largely relied on community-based participatory or qualitative research methods to develop programs from the “ground up.” This review has implications for the development of future culturally grounded and culturally adapted prevention programs targeting underserved minority youth populations and geographic regions. Specifically, it identifies populations and regions where culturally grounded prevention efforts are underdeveloped or non-existent, providing some scientific direction for the future development of these types of programs. PMID:26733384

Context-specific Factors and Contraceptive Use: A Mixed Method Study among Women, Men and Health Providers in a Rural Ghanaian District.

PubMed

Ayanore, Martin Amogre; Pavlova, Milena; Groot, Wim

2017-06-01

Suitable options for improving women's access to effective, safe and context-specific contraceptive methods must be explored to curtail rising unmet needs for contraceptive use in rural Ghana. The study aimed to outline context-specific factors associated with contraceptive use, access on demand and future use intentions among women in one district of Ghana. Using mixed method approach, quantitative data (n=720) was collected among women aged 18-28. Focus group discussions and in-depth interviews were also conducted among women (n=30) aged 18-49 and men (n=10) respectively. IDIs were conducted among 3 midwives. Women who received focused counseling on contraceptive use were twice likely to have ever used (OR=2 95% CI 1.163-3.467) or be current users (OR=2, 95% CI 1.146-4.010) of contraceptives. Male partner support can drive cultural sensitivities towards accepting use of contraception (OR=34.5, CI% 19.01-64.22). Covert use is still preferred by most in the study. Services delivered on good provider-relational grounds and convenient clinic hours encourage contraceptive use among women. Male targeting for improving contraceptive service use must first identify context-specific preferences of the woman, since covert use is highly valued. Ascertaining the prevalence of covert use and how community systems can address this for improved contraceptive uptake is further recommended.

Culturally Grounded Prevention for Minority Youth Populations: A Systematic Review of the Literature.

PubMed

Lauricella, Michela; Valdez, Jessica K; Okamoto, Scott K; Helm, Susana; Zaremba, Colleen

2016-02-01

Contemporary prevention science has focused on the application of cultural adaptations of evidence-based prevention programs for minority youth populations. Far less is known about culturally grounded methods that are intended to organically develop prevention programs within specific populations and communities. This article systematically reviews recent literature on culturally grounded interventions used to prevent health disparities in ethnic minority youth populations. In this review, we assessed 31 peer-reviewed articles published in 2003 or later that fit inclusionary criteria pertaining to the development and evaluation of culturally grounded prevention programs. The evaluated studies indicated different approaches toward cultural grounding, as well as specific populations, geographic regions, and health issues that have been targeted. Specifically, the findings indicated that most of the studies focused on the development and evaluation of culturally grounded HIV/STI and substance abuse prevention programs for Mexican-American, African American, and American Indian/Alaska Native youth residing in the South or Southwestern US. These studies largely relied on community-based participatory or qualitative research methods to develop programs from the "ground up." This review has implications for the development of future culturally grounded and culturally adapted prevention programs targeting underserved minority youth populations and geographic regions. Specifically, it identifies populations and regions where culturally grounded prevention efforts are underdeveloped or non-existent, providing some scientific direction for the future development of these types of programs.

Gender research in the National Institute on Drug Abuse National Treatment Clinical Trials Network: a summary of findings.

PubMed

Greenfield, Shelly F; Rosa, Carmen; Putnins, Susan I; Green, Carla A; Brooks, Audrey J; Calsyn, Donald A; Cohen, Lisa R; Erickson, Sarah; Gordon, Susan M; Haynes, Louise; Killeen, Therese; Miele, Gloria; Tross, Susan; Winhusen, Theresa

2011-09-01

The National Institute of Drug Abuse's National Drug Abuse Treatment Clinical Trials Network (CTN) was established to foster translation of research into practice in substance abuse treatment settings. The CTN provides a unique opportunity to examine in multi-site, translational clinical trials, the outcomes of treatment interventions targeting vulnerable subgroups of women; the comparative effectiveness of gender-specific protocols to reduce risk behaviors; and gender differences in clinical outcomes. To review gender-related findings from published CTN clinical trials and related studies from January 2000 to March 2010. CTN studies were selected for review if they focused on treatment outcomes or services for special populations of women with substance use disorders (SUDs) including those with trauma histories, pregnancy, co-occurring eating and other psychiatric disorders, and HIV risk behaviors; or implemented gender-specific protocols. The CTN has randomized 11,500 participants (41% women) across 200 clinics in 24 randomized controlled trials in community settings, of which 4 have been gender-specific. This article summarizes gender-related findings from CTN clinical trials and related studies, focusing on trauma histories, pregnancy, co-occurring eating and other psychiatric disorders, and HIV risk behaviors. These published studies have expanded the evidence base regarding interventions for vulnerable groups of women with SUDs as well as gender-specific interventions to reduce HIV risk behaviors in substance-using men and women. The results also underscore the complexity of accounting for gender in the design of clinical trials and analysis of results. To fully understand the relevance of gender-specific moderators and mediators of outcome, it is essential that future translational studies adopt more sophisticated approaches to understanding and measuring gender-relevant factors and plan sample sizes that are adequate to support more nuanced analytic methods.

Bruner's Three Forms of Representation Revisited: Action, Pictures and Words for Effective Computer Instruction.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Presno, Caroline

1997-01-01

Discusses computer instruction in light of Bruner's theory of three forms of representation (action, icons, and symbols). Examines how studies regarding Paivio's dual-coding theory and studies focusing on procedural knowledge support Bruner's theory. Provides specific examples for instruction in three categories: demonstrations, pictures and…

Hypermedia and Vocabulary Acquisition for Second Language

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Meli, Rocio

2009-01-01

The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of multimedia as a delivery tool for enhancing vocabulary in second-language classrooms. The mixed method design focused on specific techniques to help students acquire Spanish vocabulary and communication skills. The theoretical framework for this study consisted of second language theories…

Parental Goals and Talk with Toddlers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rowe, Meredith L.; Casillas, Allison

2011-01-01

Myriad studies support a relation between parental beliefs and behaviours. This study adds to the literature by focusing on the specific relationship between parental goals and their communication with toddlers. Do parents with different goals talk about different topics with their children? Parents' goals for their 30-month olds were gathered…

Mapping Climate Change: Six U.S. Case Studies

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Holmberg, Marjorie O.

2010-01-01

This research focuses on the current role of mapping practices in communicating climate change in the United States. This includes maps used in monitoring climate change, projecting its potential impacts, and identifying potential adaptation strategies at particular scales. Since few, if any, studies have been done specifically on mapping…

An economic impact study of bicycling in Arizona : out-of-state bicycle tourists & exports. Final report.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2013-06-01

This study is specifically focused on the contribution to the Arizona economy from out-of-state visitors engaged in organized bicycling activities in the state, and out-of-state customers, wholesale or retail, of bicycle products made or sold in Ariz...

Drinking Motives and Alcoholic Beverage Preferences among Italian Adolescents

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Graziano, Federica; Bina, Manuela; Giannotta, Fabrizia; Ciairano, Silvia

2012-01-01

Although drinking motives have been largely studied, research taking into account the Mediterranean drinking culture and focusing on motives specifically associated to adolescents' developmental tasks is lacking. For these reasons the study investigates drinking motives in a group of Italian adolescents and their relationships with drunkenness and…

Analysis of the Chemical Representations in Secondary Lebanese Chemistry Textbooks

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Shehab, Saadeddine Salim; BouJaoude, Saouma

2017-01-01

This study focused on the requirements that chemical representations should meet in textbooks in order to enhance conceptual understanding. Specifically, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the chemical representations that are present in 7 secondary Lebanese chemistry textbooks. To achieve the latter purpose, an instrument adapted from…

Should We Bother Improving Students' Attendance at Seminars?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gbadamosi, Gbolahan

2015-01-01

This study uses action research intervention to improve students' attendance at seminars. Specifically, the study asks the question: will students' attendance improve if they drive their own learning by running their own seminars? Records of lecture and seminar attendance at a module and comparative ones were used. Focus group interviews provided…

Vocational Students' and Instructors' Perceptions and Usage of COS Library Services.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Parrott, Marietta; And Others

A study was conducted at College of the Sequoias (COS) to gather information about patterns of library utilization among vocational students. Specifically, the study focused on vocational students' attitudes toward libraries, differences between the attitudes of library users and non-users, factors influencing library use, vocational faculty use…

A Game of Thrones: Organising and Legitimising Knowledge through PISA Research

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mølstad, Christina E.; Pettersson, Daniel; Forsberg, Eva

2017-01-01

This study investigates knowledge structures and scientific communication using bibliometric methods to explore scientific knowledge production and dissemination. The aim is to develop knowledge about this growing field by investigating studies using international large-scale assessment (ILSA) data, with a specific focus on those using Programme…

Perceptions of Cyberbullying: An Assessment of Perceived Severity among College Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sobba, Kristen N.; Paez, Rocio Alejandra; ten Bensel, Tusty

2017-01-01

Cyberbullying research has typically been focused on specific areas, such as victimization, offender characteristics and typologies, and psychological effects for victims; however, perceived severity of cyberbullying has been studied less extensively. Using data on college students, the present study expands the current knowledge on perceived…

Caregiving: Predicting At-Risk Status

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chappell, Neena L.; Dujela, Carren

2008-01-01

Despite the focus on burden of caregiving in gerontological research, studies have shown that few caregivers are overly burdened. This article compares predictors of role-specific burden and two quality-of-life measures among caregivers experiencing heavy care demands to assess role-impact on each. The study included 92 community-based caregivers…

Regret as Autobiographical Memory

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Davison, Ian M.; Feeney, Aidan

2008-01-01

We apply an autobiographical memory framework to the study of regret. Focusing on the distinction between regrets for specific and general events we argue that the temporal profile of regret, usually explained in terms of the action-inaction distinction, is predicted by models of autobiographical memory. In two studies involving participants in…

Distance Education for People with Visual Impairments

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Liakou, Maria; Manousou, Evaggelia

2015-01-01

This paper studies the standards of higher Distance Education, focusing on the Hellenic Open University, for people who have visual impairments, so that it becomes fully accessible and thus helps reduce social exclusion. Specifically, it aims to study the operational context of Distance Education, the possibilities that modern technology provides…

Generative Topic Modeling in Image Data Mining and Bioinformatics Studies

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chen, Xin

2012-01-01

Probabilistic topic models have been developed for applications in various domains such as text mining, information retrieval and computer vision and bioinformatics domain. In this thesis, we focus on developing novel probabilistic topic models for image mining and bioinformatics studies. Specifically, a probabilistic topic-connection (PTC) model…

Linguistic Attention in Rhetorical Genre Studies and First Year Writing

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Aull, Laura

2015-01-01

Since Carolyn Miller's Genre as Social Action, North American Rhetorical Genre Studies (RGS) has facilitated analysis of how typified rhetorical actions constitute the contexts and communities in which writers write. In first-year writing (FYW) specifically, RGS approaches have focused on macro-level textual constructs, like the audience and…

First-Year Medical Students' Naïve Beliefs about Respiratory Physiology

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Badenhorst, Elmi; Mamede, Silvia; Abrahams, Amaal; Bugarith, Kishor; Friedling, Jacqui; Gunston, Geney; Kelly-Laubscher, Roisin; Schmidt, Henk G.

2016-01-01

The present study explored the nature and frequency of physiology naïve beliefs by investigating novices' understanding of the respiratory system. Previous studies have shown considerable misconceptions related to physiology but focused mostly on specific physiological processes of normal respiration. Little is known about novices' broader…

The Zoom Lens: A Case Study in Geometrical Optics.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cheville, Alan; Scepanovic, Misa

2002-01-01

Introduces a case study on a motion picture company considering the purchase of a newly developed zoom lens in which students act as the engineers designing the zoom lens based on the criteria of company's specifications. Focuses on geometrical optics. Includes teaching notes and classroom management strategies. (YDS)

Patterns of Local Intergovernmental Cooperation in Illinois School Districts

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wilkey, Kathleen M.

2014-01-01

This study identified the use of intergovernmental cooperatives in Illinois school districts as a resource to improve the budget process. More specifically, the study focused on the types of intergovernmental cooperatives in Illinois school districts and the reason for entering into the cooperatives. The results of this research suggest that…

Second Chance or No Chance? A Case Study of One Urban Alternative Middle School

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kennedy-Lewis, Brianna L.

2015-01-01

This qualitative case study focuses on a school created to educate expelled students, specifically examining the relationships between educators' beliefs and philosophies and daily school life. At this school, Kelly's ("Last chance high." Yale University Press, New Haven, 1993) competing philosophies of "traditionalism" and…

Teaching Spelling: Which Strategies Work Best.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Angelisi, Mary Ann

In a third-grade classroom, a 3-week-long study was conducted on the pros, cons, and effects of three particular spelling strategies and activities. By focusing on two specific spelling strategies--phonemic awareness and word identification--the study hoped to indicate that conventional rote learning, drilling, and memorization do not help…

Prosodic Awareness and Children's Multisyllabic Word Reading

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Holliman, Andrew J.; Mundy, Ian R.; Wade-Woolley, Lesly; Wood, Clare; Bird, Chelsea

2017-01-01

Prosodic awareness (the rhythmic patterning of speech) accounts for unique variance in reading development. However, studies have thus far focused on early readers and utilised literacy measures which fail to distinguish between monosyllabic and multisyllabic words. The current study investigated the factors that are specifically associated with…

Integration of transit and land use : a study of Los Angeles rail transit stations

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2003-01-01

This study focuses on transit-oriented development at rail transit stations in Los Angeles. It reviews the development of rail transit and land use in Los Angeles and looks at four specific station sites to see what is contributing to or hindering tr...

An economic impact study of bicycling in Arizona : out-of-state bicycle tourists & exports. Final report appendix.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2013-06-01

This study is specifically focused on the contribution to the Arizona economy from out-of-state visitors engaged in organized bicycling activities in the state, and out-of-state customers, wholesale or retail, of bicycle products made or sold in Ariz...

Leadership Development: An Examination of Individual and Programmatic Growth

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Conner, Jerusha Osberg; Strobel, Karen

2007-01-01

This study focuses on two girls' experiences in one youth leadership organization during a period of 3 years. Relying on an embedded case study design, the authors examine the links between leadership development and programmatic structures and supports. Specifically, the development of leadership capacities are analyzed along three dimensions:…

Synchronous and Asynchronous Communication in an Online Environment: Faculty Experiences and Perceptions

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Huang, Xiaoxia; Hsiao, E-Ling

2012-01-01

The purpose of this study was to examine online instructors' experiences and perceptions of online teaching and their communication with students in an online environment. More specifically, the study focused on the questions regarding: (1) instructors' general experiences and perceptions of online teaching; (2) instructors' general experiences…

Asphalt overlay cost-effectiveness : Manitoba TGS and Minnesota SPS-5 projects 10-year ranking of treatments (1989-1999)

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2000-10-01

This report reviews Manitoba's and Minnesota's Specific Pavement Studies (SPS-5) projects. The studies focus on investigating the performance of hot mix asphalt (HMA) overlays on HMA pavements and involve nine core test sections. The SPS-5 design var...

Educational Intervention and the Development of Young Art Students' Talent and Creativity

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rostan, Susan M.

2005-01-01

This study focuses on behavior associated with young art students' developing artistic talent ("skills and art-making behavior") and creativity ("personal expressions of visual information"). The study examines the role of personal expertise in a student's development of problem finding, domain-specific technical skill,…

An economic impact study of bicycling in Arizona : out-of-state bicycle tourists & exports. Executive summary.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2013-06-01

This study is specifically focused on the contribution to the Arizona economy from out-of-state visitors engaged in organized bicycling activities in the state, and out-of-state customers, wholesale or retail, of bicycle products made or sold in Ariz...

Teaching with a Closed Mind: The Threat of Censorship in the Social Studies Classroom.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Russell, Kenneth W.

1990-01-01

Traces the history of censorship. Examines the current censorship controversy, focusing on the conflict over censorship in the schools. Discusses organizations concerned with censorship issues and identifies specific instances of censorship in the social studies. Outlines censorship tactics, and presents positive reactions to take toward…

Censorship: Does Anybody Care?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ochoa, Anna S.

1979-01-01

Focuses on the nature and extent of censorship of social studies materials in the United States. Specific topics addressed are persons and organizations censoring, status of the rights of teachers, and what educators, schools, and professional organizations such as the National Council for the Social Studies can do to help teachers deal with…

Educational Validity of Business Gaming Simulation: A Research Methodology Framework

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Stainton, Andrew J.; Johnson, Johnnie E.; Borodzicz, Edward P.

2010-01-01

Many past educational validity studies of business gaming simulation, and more specifically total enterprise simulation, have been inconclusive. Studies have focused on the weaknesses of business gaming simulation; which is often regarded as an educational medium that has limitations regarding learning effectiveness. However, no attempts have been…

An Exploratory Comparative Case Study of Employee Engagement in Christian Higher Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Daniels, Jessica R.

2016-01-01

Numerous studies have identified a positive correlation between employee engagement and overall organizational performance. However, research on employee engagement specifically within higher education is limited, and even less attention has been focused on engagement within the context of Christian higher education. An exploratory comparative…

Examining Student Immobility: A Study of Irish Undergraduate Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Finn, Mairéad; Darmody, Merike

2017-01-01

This paper explores student mobility among Irish higher education students. It specifically focuses on the profile of "stayers", that is, students who have no plans to study abroad, thus addressing an underexplored topic in existing literature on student mobility. The article aims to identify factors that impact on students' decisions…

Online Resources in Mathematics, Teachers' Geneses and Didactical Techniques

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bueno-Ravel, Laetitia; Gueudet, Ghislaine

2009-01-01

The study we present here concerns the consequences of integrating online resources into the teaching of mathematics. We focus on the interaction between teachers and specific online resources they draw on: e-exercise bases. We propose a theoretical approach to study the associated phenomena, combining instrumental and anthropological…

Campus network security model study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Yong-ku; Song, Li-ren

2011-12-01

Campus network security is growing importance, Design a very effective defense hacker attacks, viruses, data theft, and internal defense system, is the focus of the study in this paper. This paper compared the firewall; IDS based on the integrated, then design of a campus network security model, and detail the specific implementation principle.

Family caregiving or caregiving alone: who helps the helper?

PubMed

Sims-Gould, Joanie; Martin-Matthews, Anne

2007-01-01

This study advances the understanding of family caregiving by examining the relationship between adult children caregivers and their helpers. Specifically, it focuses on examining "who helps whom" and extends analyses beyond the dyadic focus of caregiving in later life. The focus on helping and caregiving addresses the variety of contributions and responsibilities involving not only the caregiver who was the target respondent in this research, but also others identified as helpers in the provision of care. The data for this study are derived from the Work and Eldercare Research group of CARNET: The Canadian Aging Research Network. Secondary analysis of CARNET data focuses on data collected from 250 individuals with significant caregiving responsibilities for at least one older person. Findings extend Kahn & Antonucci's convoys of social support model (1981) and Cantor's model of social care (1991) by disentangling some of the dimensions of helping and caregiving, such as the distinction between direct and assistive help.

Increased Anatomical Specificity of Neuromodulation via Modulated Focused Ultrasound

PubMed Central

Mehić, Edin; Xu, Julia M.; Caler, Connor J.; Coulson, Nathaniel K.; Moritz, Chet T.; Mourad, Pierre D.

2014-01-01

Transcranial ultrasound can alter brain function transiently and nondestructively, offering a new tool to study brain function now and inform future therapies. Previous research on neuromodulation implemented pulsed low-frequency (250–700 kHz) ultrasound with spatial peak temporal average intensities (ISPTA) of 0.1–10 W/cm2. That work used transducers that either insonified relatively large volumes of mouse brain (several mL) with relatively low-frequency ultrasound and produced bilateral motor responses, or relatively small volumes of brain (on the order of 0.06 mL) with relatively high-frequency ultrasound that produced unilateral motor responses. This study seeks to increase anatomical specificity to neuromodulation with modulated focused ultrasound (mFU). Here, ‘modulated’ means modifying a focused 2-MHz carrier signal dynamically with a 500-kHz signal as in vibro-acoustography, thereby creating a low-frequency but small volume (approximately 0.015 mL) source of neuromodulation. Application of transcranial mFU to lightly anesthetized mice produced various motor movements with high spatial selectivity (on the order of 1 mm) that scaled with the temporal average ultrasound intensity. Alone, mFU and focused ultrasound (FUS) each induced motor activity, including unilateral motions, though anatomical location and type of motion varied. Future work should include larger animal models to determine the relative efficacy of mFU versus FUS. Other studies should determine the biophysical processes through which they act. Also of interest is exploration of the potential research and clinical applications for targeted, transcranial neuromodulation created by modulated focused ultrasound, especially mFU’s ability to produce compact sources of ultrasound at the very low frequencies (10–100s of Hertz) that are commensurate with the natural frequencies of the brain. PMID:24504255

Observers' focus of attention in the simulation of self-perception.

PubMed

Wegner, D M; Finstuen, K

1977-01-01

This research was designed to assess the effects of a manipulation of observers' focus of attention--from a focus on the actor to a focus on the actor's situation--upon observers' attributions of attitude to an actor in a simulation of a forced-compliance cognitive dissonance experiment. Observers induced through empathy instructions to focus attention on the actor's situation inferred less actor attitude positivity than did observers given no specific observational set. In addition, situation-focused observers inferred that the actor's attitude was directly related to reward magnitude, whereas actor-focused observers inferred that the actor's attitude was inversely related to reward magnitude. An extension of self-perception theory, offered as an interpretation of these and other results, suggested that motivation attribution made by actors and observers in dissonance and simulation studies are dependent on focus of attention. The attributions made by actor-focused observers simulate those of objectively self-aware actors and are based upon perceived intrinsic motivation; the attributions of situation-focused observers simulate those of subjectively self-aware actors and are based upon perceived extrinsic motivation.

Methodological Aspects of Focus Groups in Health Research

PubMed Central

Tausch, Anja P.; Menold, Natalja

2016-01-01

Although focus groups are commonly used in health research to explore the perspectives of patients or health care professionals, few studies consider methodological aspects in this specific context. For this reason, we interviewed nine researchers who had conducted focus groups in the context of a project devoted to the development of an electronic personal health record. We performed qualitative content analysis on the interview data relating to recruitment, communication between the focus group participants, and appraisal of the focus group method. The interview data revealed aspects of the focus group method that are particularly relevant for health research and that should be considered in that context. They include, for example, the preferability of face-to-face recruitment, the necessity to allow participants in patient groups sufficient time to introduce themselves, and the use of methods such as participant-generated cards and prioritization. PMID:28462326

Self-focused cognitive emotion regulation style as associated with widespread diminished EEG fractal dimension.

PubMed

Bornas, Xavier; Tortella-Feliu, Miquel; Balle, Maria; Llabrés, Jordi

2013-01-01

The cognitive regulation of emotions is important for human adaptation. Self-focused emotion regulation (ER) strategies have been linked to the development and persistence of anxiety and depression. A vast array of research has provided valuable knowledge about the neural correlates of the use of specific self-focused ER strategies; however, the resting neural correlates of cognitive ER styles, which reflect an individual's disposition to engage in different forms of ER in order to manage distress, are largely unknown. In this study, associations between theoretically negative ER style (self-focused or not) and the complexity (fractal dimension, FD) of the resting EEG at frontal, central, parietal, and occipital regions were investigated in 58 healthy volunteers. The Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire was used as the self-report measure of ER style. Results showed that a diminished FD over the scalp significantly correlated with self-focused ER style scores, even after controlling for negative affect, which has been also considered to influence the use of ER strategies. The lower the EEG FD, the higher were the self-focused ER style scores. Correlational analyses of specific self-focused ER strategies showed that self-blaming and rumination were negatively associated with diminished FD of the EEG, but catastrophizing and blaming others were not. No significant correlations were found for ER strategies more focused on situation or others. Results are discussed within the self-organized criticality theory of brain dynamics: The diminished FD of the EEG may reflect a disposition to engage in self-focused ER strategies as people prone to ruminate and self-blame show a less complex resting EEG activity, which may make it more difficult for them to exit their negative emotional state.

Ephs and Ephrins in Cancer: Ephrin-A1 Signaling

PubMed Central

Beauchamp, Amanda; Debinski, Waldemar

2011-01-01

Ephrin-A1 and its primary receptor, EphA2, are involved in numerous physiological processes and have been intensely studied for their roles in malignancy. Ephrin-Eph signalling is complex on its own and is also cell-type dependent, making elucidation of the exact role of ephrin-A1 in neoplasia challenging. Multiple oncogenic signalling pathways, such as MAP/ERK and PI3K are affected by ephrin-A1, and in some cases evidence suggests the promotion of a specific pathway in one cell or cancer type and inhibition of the same pathway in another type of cell or cancer. EphrinA1 also plays an integral role in angiogenesis and tumor neovascularization. Until recently, studies investigating ephrins focused on the ligands as GPI-anchored proteins that required membrane anchoring or artificial clustering for Eph receptor activation. However, recent studies have demonstrated a functional role for soluble, monomeric ephrin-A1. This review will focus on various forms of ephrin-A1-specific signalling in human malignancy. PMID:22040911

The Effect of German and Turkish Mathematics Teachers' Teaching Experience on Mathematics Education Values: A Cross-Comparative Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dede, Yuksel

2013-01-01

This study reported the specific findings of a larger comparative study concerning Turkish and German mathematics teachers' values. The main focus was on the teaching experience of the mathematics teachers. Interactions related to nationality were also of interest. The research methodology employed in this study was a descriptive study. The…

Implementation of Age-Specific Services for Transition-Age Youths in California.

PubMed

Ojeda, Victoria D; Hiller, Sarah P; Hurst, Samantha; Jones, Nev; McMenamin, Sara; Burgdorf, James; Gilmer, Todd P

2016-09-01

This study examined the implementation of age-specific services for transition-age youths in California under the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA). This study employed a sequential, exploratory mixed-methods design. Qualitative interviews with 39 mental health service area administrators in California were analyzed to develop an understanding of how the MHSA has facilitated the development of youth-specific programs or services. A quantitative survey of 180 youth-focused programs was also used to describe the range of services that were implemented, the use of evidence-based and promising practices, and the role of youths in the design, planning, delivery, and evaluation of services. Administrators described the MHSA as providing a programmatic focus and financial support for youth-specific services, outlining a stakeholder process to create buy-in and develop a vision for services, and emphasizing the role of youths in service delivery and planning. Youth-specific programs implemented a diverse array of services, including general medical care; employment and education support; housing placement and support; and family, mentoring, and social support. Programs described implementing evidence-based and promising practices and involving youths in service planning, implementation, or quality improvement activities. The MHSA has had a substantial impact on the landscape of youth-specific services in California by expanding both the number of programs and the diversity in types of services and by promoting the engagement of youths in the planning and delivery of services. Additional efforts are necessary to determine the extent to which youth-specific services yield greater improvements in youths' outcomes compared with services designed for adults.

Naturally occurring polyphenol, morin hydrate, inhibits enzymatic activity of N-methylpurine DNA glycosylase, a DNA repair enzyme with various roles in human disease

PubMed Central

Dixon, Monica; Woodrick, Jordan; Gupta, Suhani; Karmahapatra, Soumendra Krishna; Devito, Stephen; Vasudevan, Sona; Dakshanamurthy, Sivanesan; Adhikari, Sanjay; Yenugonda, Venkata M.; Roy, Rabindra

2015-01-01

Interest in the mechanisms of DNA repair pathways, including the base excision repair (BER) pathway specifically, has heightened since these pathways have been shown to modulate important aspects of human disease. Modulation of the expression or activity of a particular BER enzyme, N-methylpurine DNA glycosylase (MPG), has been demonstrated to play a role in carcinogenesis and resistance to chemotherapy as well as neurodegenerative diseases, which has intensified the focus on studying MPG-related mechanisms of repair. A specific small molecule inhibitor for MPG activity would be a valuable biochemical tool for understanding these repair mechanisms. By screening several small molecule chemical libraries, we identified a natural polyphenolic compound, morin hydrate, which inhibits MPG activity specifically (IC50 = 2.6 µM). Detailed mechanism analysis showed that morin hydrate inhibited substrate DNA binding of MPG, and eventually the enzymatic activity of MPG. Computational docking studies with an x-ray derived MPG structure as well as comparison studies with other structurally-related flavanoids offer a rationale for the inhibitory activity of morin hydrate observed. The results of this study suggest that the morin hydrate could be an effective tool for studying MPG function and it is possible that morin hydrate and its derivatives could be utilized in future studies focused on the role of MPG in human disease. PMID:25650313

Instruments used to assess functional limitations in workers applying for disability benefit: a systematic review.

PubMed

Spanjer, Jerry; Groothoff, Johan W; Brouwer, Sandra

2011-01-01

To systematically review the quality of the psychometric properties of instruments for assessing functional limitations in workers applying for disability benefit. Electronic searches of Medline, Embase, CINAHL and PsycINFO were performed to identify studies focusing on the psychometric properties of instruments used to assess functional limitations in workers' compensation claimants. Two independent reviewers applied the inclusion criteria to select relevant articles and then evaluated the psychometric qualities of the instruments found. Of the 712 articles that were identified, 10 studies met the inclusion criteria, reporting on four instruments: the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ), the Patient-Specific Functional Scale (PSFS), the Isernhagen Work System (IWS) and the Multiperspective Multidimensional Pain Assessment Protocol (MMPAP). The questionnaires (RMDQ and PSFS) did not focus specifically on the work situation and measured three to eight functional limitations. The psychometric qualities of the IWS were poor to moderate. For the MMPAP, only predictive validity was measured. The instruments assessed a range varying between 3 and 34 physical functional limitations. No instruments were found for assessing mental limitations in workers' compensation claimants. Studies on four instruments specifically focusing on assessing physical functional limitations in workers applying for disability benefit were found. All four instruments have limitations regarding their psychometric qualities or contents. Since the RMDQ has the best demonstrated psychometric qualities and takes little time to complete it, we recommend the RMDQ for clinicians in rehabilitation. For the assessment of functional limitations in workers applying for disability benefit a combination of questionnaires, performance tests or interviews together with the judgment by physicians looks the most promising.

Protein and amino acid supplementation in older humans.

PubMed

Fukagawa, Naomi K

2013-06-01

The aging process is a continuum throughout life and often associated with deterioration of body function as well as accumulation of chronic disabilities and of disease. The impact of nutritional status on morbidity and mortality is unquestioned. Malnutrition increases the risk for frailty and nutritional deficits can influence immune status, response to medical treatments and recovery from acute illnesses, including surgery. Health-promoting interventions implemented individually, such as exercise programs, preventive home visits, comprehensive geriatric evaluation and management, and attention to adequate nutrition with or without nutritional supplements, have been shown in separate studies to be both feasible and effective in reducing age-related deterioration. Protein and its constituent amino acids (AA) are key components of any healthy diet. Sarcopenia, the slow but progressive loss of lean muscle mass associated with advancing age, has been the focus of many studies but there is no clear-cut answer to the question of how to restrain the process. The more general question of how the requirements for protein and specific AA change with age continues to be investigated. A shift towards studying the efficacy and safety of specific AA or combination of AA that may sustain and/or enhance physiologic processes, ranging from specific tissue metabolism to overall function (e.g. exercise performance, immune function, cognition, and chronic disease development) has occurred. This review focuses on recent studies examining the use of specific AA or mixtures as supplements in the elderly and whether/how AA may assist in the maintenance of health and independence.

Goal specificity and knowledge acquisition in statistics problem solving: evidence for attentional focus.

PubMed

Trumpower, David L; Goldsmith, Timothy E; Guynn, Melissa J

2004-12-01

Solving training problems with nonspecific goals (NG; i.e., solving for all possible unknown values) often results in better transfer than solving training problems with standard goals (SG; i.e., solving for one particular unknown value). In this study, we evaluated an attentional focus explanation of the goal specificity effect. According to the attentional focus view, solving NG problems causes attention to be directed to local relations among successive problem states, whereas solving SG problems causes attention to be directed to relations between the various problem states and the goal state. Attention to the former is thought to enhance structural knowledge about the problem domain and thus promote transfer. Results supported this view because structurally different transfer problems were solved faster following NG training than following SG training. Moreover, structural knowledge representations revealed more links depicting local relations following NG training and more links to the training goal following SG training. As predicted, these effects were obtained only by domain novices.

The relationship between Facebook and Instagram appearance-focused activities and body image concerns in young women.

PubMed

Cohen, Rachel; Newton-John, Toby; Slater, Amy

2017-12-01

The present study aimed to identify the specific social networking sites (SNS) features that relate to body image concerns in young women. A total of 259 women aged 18-29years completed questionnaire measures of SNS use (Facebook and Instagram) and body image concerns. It was found that appearance-focused SNS use, rather than overall SNS use, was related to body image concerns in young women. Specifically, greater engagement in photo activities on Facebook, but not general Facebook use, was associated with greater thin-ideal internalisation and body surveillance. Similarly, following appearance-focused accounts on Instagram was associated with thin-ideal internalisation, body surveillance, and drive for thinness, whereas following appearance-neutral accounts was not associated with any body image outcomes. Implications for future SNS research, as well as for body image and disordered eating interventions for young women, are discussed. Crown Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Coherence, disorganization, and fragmentation in traumatic memory reconsidered: A response to Rubin et al. (2016).

PubMed

Brewin, Chris R

2016-10-01

Although clinical theories of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) claim that in this condition trauma memories tend to be disorganized and fragmented, this has been disputed by some autobiographical memory researchers, such as Rubin, Berntsen, and their colleagues (e.g., Rubin et al., 2016). In this article I review the evidence for and against the fragmentation hypothesis and identify important sources of methodological variability between the studies. This analysis suggests that fragmentation and disorganization are associated with differences in the type of narrative (specifically, with detailed rather than general narratives) and in the focus of the analysis (specifically, with a local focus on sections of text concerned with the worst moments of the trauma rather than with a global focus on the text as a whole). The implication is that apparently discrepant data and discrepant views can be accommodated within a more comprehensive formulation of memory impairment in PTSD. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved).

Development of a Culture Specific Critical Thinking Ability Test and Using It as a Supportive Diagnostic Test for Giftedness

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Köksal, Mustafa Serdar

2016-01-01

The purposes of this study were to develop a culture specific critical thinking ability test for 6, 7, and 8. grade students in Turkey and to use it as an assessment instrument for giftedness. For these purposes, item pool involving 22 items was formed by writing items focusing on the current and common events presented in (Turkish) media from…

Writing Because I Want to, Not Because I Have to: Young Gifted Writers' Perspectives on the Factors that "Matter" in Developing Expertise

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Garrett, Lynda; Moltzen, Roger

2011-01-01

The study reported on here sought to better understand the development of writing talent from the perspectives of a group of gifted adolescent female writers. Recent shifts in how giftedness and talent are conceptualized has led to an increased focus on domain-specific abilities and the importance of understanding how specific talents can be…

General and Specific Effects on Cattell-Horn-Carroll Broad Ability Composites: Analysis of the Woodcock-Johnson III Normative Update Cattell-Horn-Carroll Factor Clusters across Development

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Floyd, Randy G.; McGrew, Kevin S.; Barry, Amberly; Rafael, Fawziya; Rogers, Joshua

2009-01-01

Many school psychologists focus their interpretation on composite scores from intelligence test batteries designed to measure the broad abilities from the Cattell-Horn-Carroll theory. The purpose of this study was to investigate the general factor loadings and specificity of the broad ability composite scores from one such intelligence test…

Extending Reading Research with a Focus on Cultural Understanding and Research on Intercultural Communication: An Empirical Investigation in Argentina

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Porto, Melina

2014-01-01

The work presented here is an empirical study of how advanced learners of English as a foreign language in Argentina access and understand the culture-specific dimensions of literary narrative texts. It has three purposes. First, to extend research into reading in a foreign language to take account of the culture-specific content of texts. Second,…

More Than a Feeling: Public Expectations About Emotional Responses to Criminal Victimization.

PubMed

Wrede, Olof; Ask, Karl

2015-01-01

Crime victims' emotional display in legal settings has been found to influence credibility judgments. The specific nature of public expectations about crime victims' emotional responses have, however, not been adequately investigated. In an experimental vignette study, respondents in a community sample (N = 404) estimated the likelihood that female and male victims would experience 7 distinct emotions in response to 5 types of crimes. Across all crime types, female victims were expected to experience significantly more situation-focused (anxiety, fear) and inward-focused (guilt, shame, sadness) emotions, and significantly less other-focused emotions (hatred, anger) than male victims. This calls for an increased focus on distinct emotions in future research on victim's emotions. Implications for victims in legal and social settings are discussed.

College Inside: A Case Study of the Design and Implementation of a Successful Prison College Program

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Simpkins, Betsy

2015-01-01

This chapter describes a specific initiative to offer a college program within the Oregon Department of Corrections, with a focus on the interpersonal and interinstitutional relationships needed to build such programs.

VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS (VOC) RECOVERY SEMINAR

EPA Science Inventory

The purpose of the seminar was to bring researchers, technology developers, and industry representatives together to discuss recovery technologies and techniques for VOCs. The seminar focused on the specific VOC recovery needs of industry and on case studies that summarize effec...

What's New in Software? Videocassettes for Parenting.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hedley, Carolyn N.

1989-01-01

Videocassettes useful in creating educational environments in the home are described, focusing specifically on the areas of parenting and living skills, literature for the primary and intermediate grades, and social studies. A list of 66 recommended videocassettes is included. (JDD)

Interagency cooperation : FEMA and DOD in domestic support operations.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1997-05-01

This paper studies the interagency cooperation between DOD and FEMA, focusing specifically on the evolution of doctrine and procedures for responding to natural disasters. While both FEMA and DOD have improved in their ability to respond to disasters...

Health-related quality of life and its association with medication adherence in active pulmonary tuberculosis- a systematic review of global literature with focus on South Africa.

PubMed

Kastien-Hilka, Tanja; Abulfathi, Ahmed; Rosenkranz, Bernd; Bennett, Bryan; Schwenkglenks, Matthias; Sinanovic, Edina

2016-03-11

Tuberculosis (TB) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in South Africa. Clinical parameters are important objective outcomes in TB; however they often are not directly correlated with subjective well-being of the patient, but can be assessed using patient-reported outcome (PRO) measures. Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is a specific PRO generally multi-dimensional in nature and includes physical, mental and social health domains. The inclusion of HRQOL PROs in trials and clinical practice can provide additional information beyondclinical and microbiological parameters. Furthermore, HRQOL may be associated with medication adherence. This review focuses on patient-reported HRQOL and its association with medication adherence in TB patients in South Africa. A comprehensive search strategy was developed focusing on the impact of TB on patient-reported HRQOL,the existence of a conceptual framework of TB-specific HRQOL, determinants of medication adherence and the association of HRQOL with medication adherence. Data were extracted from all identified articles and additionaldata extraction was performed by two independent reviewers with special focus on longitudinal studies in order to understand changes of HRQOL and adherence over time. Research gaps were identified with regard to patient-reported HRQOL and medication adherence. A total of 66 articles met the eligibility criteria. Ten HRQOL studies and one adherence study used a longitudinal design, none of these in South Africa. A variety of different generic and disease-specific HRQOL measures were identified in the articles. In South Africa four HRQOL and five adherence studies (non-longitudinal) were published. Similar factors (socio-demographic, socio-economic, disease-related, therapy-related and psycho-social aspects) affect HRQOL and adherence. Although standard TB treatment improved all health domains, psychological well-being and social functioning remained impaired in microbiologically cured patients after treatment. While evidence of TB impact on HRQOL and medication adherence and their association exists, it is verylimited for the South African situation. No valid and reliable TB-specific HRQOL measures were identified in this systematicreview. An assessment of HRQOL in TB patients in South Africa is required as this may assist with improving current disease management programmes, medication adherence and national treatment guidelines.

Implementation of online suicide-specific training for VA providers.

PubMed

Marshall, Elizabeth; York, Janet; Magruder, Kathryn; Yeager, Derik; Knapp, Rebecca; De Santis, Mark L; Burriss, Louisa; Mauldin, Mary; Sulkowski, Stan; Pope, Charlene; Jobes, David A

2014-10-01

Due to the gap in suicide-specific intervention training for mental health students and professionals, e-learning is one solution to improving provider skills in the Veterans Affairs (VA) health system. This study focused on the development and evaluation of an equivalent e-learning alternative to the Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality (CAMS) in-person training approach at a Veteran Health Affairs medical center. The study used a multicenter, randomized, cluster, and three group design. the development of e-CAMS was an iterative process and included pilot testing. Eligible and consenting mental health providers, who completed a CAMS pre-survey, were randomized. Provider satisfaction was assessed using the standard VA evaluation of training consisting of 20 items. Two post training focus groups, divided by learning conditions, were conducted to assess practice adoption using a protocol focused on experiences with training and delivery of CAMS. A total of 215 providers in five sites were randomized to three conditions: 69 to e-learning, 70 to in-person, 76 to the control. The providers were primarily female, Caucasian, midlife providers. Based on frequency scores of satisfaction items, both learning groups rated the trainings positively. In focus groups representing divided by learning conditions, participants described positive reactions to CAMS training and similar individual and institutional barriers to full implementation of CAMS. This is the first evaluation study of a suicide-specific e-learning training within the VA. The e-CAMS appears equivalent to the in-person CAMS in terms of provider satisfaction with training and practice adoption, consistent with other comparisons of training deliveries across specialty areas. Additional evaluation of provider confidence and adoption and patient outcomes is in progress. The e-CAMS has the potential to provide ongoing training for VA and military mental health providers and serve as a tutorial for psychiatrists in preparation for specialty boards.

Health effects of carbon-containing particulate matter: focus on sources and recent research program results.

PubMed

Rohr, Annette; McDonald, Jacob

2016-02-01

Air pollution is a complex mixture of gas-, vapor-, and particulate-phase materials comprised of inorganic and organic species. Many of these components have been associated with adverse health effects in epidemiological and toxicological studies, including a broad spectrum of carbonaceous atmospheric components. This paper reviews recent literature on the health impacts of organic aerosols, with a focus on specific sources of organic material; it is not intended to be a comprehensive review of all the available literature. Specific emission sources reviewed include engine emissions, wood/biomass combustion emissions, biogenic emissions and secondary organic aerosol (SOA), resuspended road dust, tire and brake wear, and cooking emissions. In addition, recent findings from large toxicological and epidemiological research programs are reviewed in the context of organic PM, including SPHERES, NPACT, NERC, ACES, and TERESA. A review of the extant literature suggests that there are clear health impacts from emissions containing carbon-containing PM, but difficulty remains in apportioning responses to certain groupings of carbonaceous materials, such as organic and elemental carbon, condensed and gas phases, and primary and secondary material. More focused epidemiological and toxicological studies, including increased characterization of organic materials, would increase understanding of this issue.

Evaluating the Impact of an Environmental Education Programme: An Empirical Study in Mexico

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ruiz-Mallen, Isabel; Barraza, Laura; Bodenhorn, Barbara; Reyes-Garcia, Victoria

2009-01-01

This study draws on information from 11 in-depth interviews, two focus groups and 72 written questionnaires to evaluate an extra-curricular environmental education programme on forestry designed for preparatory school students from a small rural community in Mexico. Specifically, the study assessed the impact of the programme on the ecological…

Using Focus Groups to Study ALN Faculty Motivation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hiltz, Starr Roxanne; Shea, Peter; Kim, Eunhee

2007-01-01

What are the most significant factors that motivate and inhibit faculty with regard to teaching in online environments? And what are the specific kinds of experiences that underlie and explain the importance of these factors? One goal of this study was to add to understanding of these issues, but the primary purpose of this study is determining…

Undergraduate Students' Earth Science Learning: Relationships among Conceptions, Approaches, and Learning Self-Efficacy in Taiwan

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Shen, Kuan-Ming; Lee, Min-Hsien; Tsai, Chin-Chung; Chang, Chun-Yen

2016-01-01

In the area of science education research, studies have attempted to investigate conceptions of learning, approaches to learning, and self-efficacy, mainly focusing on science in general or on specific subjects such as biology, physics, and chemistry. However, few empirical studies have probed students' earth science learning. This study aimed to…

Women's Experience Studying Rhetoric and Composition, 1890-1910.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bacon, Nora

Those who wish to learn about the experience of women studying rhetoric and composition at American colleges 100 years ago can draw upon two sorts of histories. The story of women's entry into higher education is told by such historians as Mabel Newcomer and Barbara Solomon, but such historians seldom focus on composition studies specifically.…

Professional Training as a Strategy for Staff Development: A Study in Training Transfer in the Lebanese Context

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dirani, Khalil M.

2012-01-01

Purpose: Research studies on training-job relevance continuously discuss the extent of transfer being found limited. This study aims to focus on exploring trainees' perceptions about the effects of a "Western" professional training program on their skill development and how cultural factors specific to Lebanon influence the learning.…

Digital and Online Learning in Vocational Education and Training in Serbia: A Case Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Brolpito, Alessandro; Lightfoot, Michael; Radišic, Jelena; Šcepanovic, Danijela

2016-01-01

This case study aims to identify relevant policies and practices for digital and online learning (DOL) in vocational education and training (VET) in Serbia, with a focus on initial VET (IVET). The study was commissioned by the European Training Foundation (ETF) with the following specific objectives: (1) gather information and analyse DOL…

Using Focus Groups to Study ALN Faculty Motivation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hiltz, Starr Roxanne; Shea, Peter; Kim, Eunhee

2010-01-01

What are the most significant factors that motivate and inhibit faculty with regard to teaching in online environments? And what are the specific kinds of experiences that underlie and explain the importance of these factors? One goal of this study was to add to understanding of these issues, but the primary purpose of this study is determining…

Comparing Delivery Approaches to Teaching Abnormal Psychology: Investigating Student Perceptions and Learning Outcomes

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Goette, William F.; Delello, Julie A.; Schmitt, Andrew L.; Sullivan, Jeremy R.; Rangel, Angelica

2017-01-01

This study compares the academic performance and perceptions of 114 undergraduate students enrolled in an abnormal psychology course. Specifically, this study focuses on whether face-to-face (F2F) or blended modalities are associated with student learning outcomes. In this study, data analysis was based upon the examination of end-of-course…

When Money Really Matters: Tying Resources of Specific Programmatic and Instructional Elements to Student Academic Growth

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Goetz, Michael Eric

2012-01-01

This study explores the cost-effectiveness ratios associated with individual tutoring, intensive reading/language arts instruction, and a focus on core subject areas. Using the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study (ECLS-K) database, this study analyzes these programs using a three-level hierarchical linear model (HLM) with a nationally…

A Phenomenological Study of Autonomous Management Performance Schools (AMPS) in the Chicago Public Schools

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Moore, Forrest W.

2009-01-01

The primary objective of this qualitative study is to explore the impact of autonomy on the relationship between schools and districts of the school level across governance, operations, curriculum and instruction and the decision making that accompanies the each of these factors. More specifically, this study focuses the impact of autonomy within…

Nanomaterial Case Study: A Comparison of Multiwalled Carbon Nanotube and Decabromodiphenyl Ether Flame-Retardant Coatings Applied to Upholstery Textiles (Independent Peer Review Draft)

EPA Science Inventory

This Independent Peer Review Draft document presents a case study of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs); it focuses on the specific example of MWCNTs as used in flame-retardant coatings applied to upholstery textiles. This case study is organized around the comprehensive envir...

The Adequacy of the B2 Level as University Entrance Requirement

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Carlsen, Cecilie Hamnes

2018-01-01

This article reports on a study of foreign students' success in higher education in Norway and focuses specifically on the relation between academic success and students' proficiency level of Norwegian as measured by a CEFR-based university entrance test. This study is distinguished from prior studies because it sets out to investigate not only…

Autonomous Pluralistic Learning Strategies among Mexican Indigenous and Minority University Students Learning English

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Despagne, Colette

2015-01-01

This critical ethnographic case study draws on Indigenous and minority students' process of learning English as a Foreign Language (EFL) in Mexico. The study specifically focuses on students who enrolled in a program called "A Wager with the Future." The aim of the study is to identify and understand contributing factors in these…

Space station systems technology study (add-on task). Volume 1: Executive summary

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1985-01-01

System concepts were characterized in order to define cost versus benefits for autonomous functional control and for controls and displays for OMV, OTV, and spacecraft servicing and operation. The attitude control topic focused on characterizing the Space Station attitude control problem through simulation of control system responses to structural disturbances. The first two topics, mentioned above, focused on specific technology items that require advancement in order to support an early 1990s initial launch of a Space Station, while the attitude control study was an exploration of the capability of conventional controller techniques.

Comprehensive Stuttering Treatment for Adolescents: A Case Study.

PubMed

Coleman, Craig E

2018-01-09

This article will focus on a hypothetical case study to highlight comprehensive assessment and treatment for adolescent children who stutter. Assessment and treatment are laid out with a literature review utilizing the components of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health model. Specific assessment and treatment strategies and approaches are discussed. Using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health model can help guide clinicians through the assessment and treatment process to ensure that all areas of stuttering are considered. Comprehensive assessment and treatment helps clinicians address all relevant elements of a stuttering disorder, rather than focusing exclusively on reducing speech disruptions.

Internet Diffusion and Adoption within Arab-Palestinian Society in Israel

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ganayem, Asmaa N.

2012-01-01

This study aims to explore the nature of Internet access and use within Arab-Palestinian society in Israel. The research focuses on two points: (i) examining the pace of Internet growth during the last decade and studying the nature of the digital gaps within the studied society in a specific time, (ii) studying the extend of the effect of…

Use of Visual and Multimedia Resources in an Undergraduate Classroom: A Case Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Matusiak, Krystyna K.

2012-01-01

This paper reports the findings of a case study that examined the use of digital information resources in an undergraduate geography class. The study assumed a contextual approach and focused on the use of visual and multimedia resources in specific class contexts. The distribution of resources in the class observed for the study varied and…

Utilization of Selected Vitality Staple Foods by Low Income Households in Ebonyi State

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Igba, Chimezie Elizabeth; Okoro, M. O.

2015-01-01

The study focused on the utilization of selected vitality foods among low income household in Ebonyi State. Specifically the study aimed at identifying vitality foods that are available, accessible and utilized by low income household in state. Descriptive survey design was used for the study. The population of the study is 2,173,501 households…

Identifying content for the glaucoma-specific item bank to measure quality-of-life parameters.

PubMed

Khadka, Jyoti; McAlinden, Colm; Craig, Jamie E; Fenwick, Eva K; Lamoureux, Ecosse L; Pesudovs, Konrad

2015-01-01

Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) have become essential clinical trial end points. However, a comprehensive, multidimensional, patient-relevant, and precise glaucoma-specific PRO instrument is not available. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to identify content for a new, glaucoma-specific, quality-of-life (QOL) item bank. Content identification was undertaken in 5 phases: (1) identification of extant items in glaucoma-specific instruments and the qualitative literature; (2) focus groups and interviews with glaucoma patients; (3) item classification and selection; (4) expert review and revision of items; and (5) cognitive interviews with patients. A total of 737 unique items (extant items from PRO instruments, 247; qualitative articles, 14 items; focus groups and semistructured interviews, 476 items) were identified. These items were classified into 10 QOL domains. Four criteria (item redundancy, item inconsistent with domain definition, item content too narrow to have wider applicability, and item clarity) were used to remove and refine the items. After the cognitive interviews, the final minimally representative item set had a total of 342 unique items belonging to 10 domains: activity limitation (88), mobility (20), visual symptoms (19), ocular surface symptoms (22), general symptoms (15), convenience (39), health concerns (45), emotional well-being (49), social issues (23), and economic issues (22). The systematic content identification process identified 10 QOL domains, which were important to patients with glaucoma. The majority of the items were identified from the patient-specific focus groups and semistructured interviews suggesting that the existing PRO instruments do not adequately address QOL issues relevant to individuals with glaucoma.

Cutting through the smoke: the diversity of microorganisms in deep-sea hydrothermal plumes.

PubMed

Djurhuus, Anni; Mikalsen, Svein-Ole; Giebel, Helge-Ansgar; Rogers, Alex D

2017-04-01

There are still notable gaps regarding the detailed distribution of microorganisms between and within insular habitats such as deep-sea hydrothermal vents. This study investigates the community composition of black smoker vent microorganisms in the Southern Hemisphere, and changes thereof along a spatial and chemical gradient ranging from the vent plume to surrounding waters. We sampled two hydrothermal vent fields, one at the South West Indian Ridge (SWIR), the other at the East Scotia Ridge (ESR). Samples were collected across vent fields at varying vertical distances from the origin of the plumes. The microbial data were sequenced on an Illumina MiSeq platform for the 16SrRNA gene. A substantial amount of vent-specific putative chemosynthetic microorganisms were found, particularly in samples from focused hydrothermal venting. Common vent-specific organisms from both vent fields were the genera Arcobacter , Caminibacter and Sulfurimonas from the Epsilonproteobacteria and the SUP05 group from the Gammaproteobacteria. There were no major differences in microbial composition between SWIR and ESR for focused plume samples. However, within the ESR the diffuse flow and focused samples differed significantly in microbial community composition and relative abundance. For Epsilonproteobacteria, we found evidence of niche-specificity to hydrothermal vent environments. This taxon decreased in abundance by three orders of magnitude from the vent orifice to background water. Epsilonproteobacteria distribution followed a distance-decay relationship as vent-effluents mixed with the surrounding seawater. This study demonstrates strong habitat affinity of vent microorganisms on a metre scale with distinct environmental selection.

The impact of coping strategies of cancer caregivers on psychophysiological outcomes: an integrative review

PubMed Central

Teixeira, Ricardo João; Applebaum, Allison J; Bhatia, Sangeeta; Brandão, Tânia

2018-01-01

Purpose A growing number of studies have explored the psychosocial burden experienced by cancer caregivers, but less attention has been given to the psychophysiological impact of caregiving and the impact of caregivers’ coping strategies on this association. This paper reviews existing research on the processes underlying distress experienced by cancer caregivers, with a specific focus on the role of coping strategies on psychophysiological correlates of burden. Methods A broad literature search was conducted in health-related databases namely MEDLINE, Science Citations Index Expanded, Scopus, and PsycINFO, using relevant search terms. All types of studies published in English were considered for inclusion. Results We found that cancer caregiving was related to increased blood pressure, dysregulation of autonomic nervous system, hypothalamic–pituitary–axis dysregulation, immune changes, and poor health-related behaviors. We also found that problem-focused coping was associated with decreased caregiver burden, decreased depression, and better adjustment, while emotion-focused coping was related to higher levels of posttraumatic growth and psychological distress. The way coping impacts psychophysiological correlates of burden, however, remains unexplored. Conclusion A better understanding of the psychophysiological elements of caregiver burden is needed. We propose a model that attends specifically to factors that may impact psychophysiological correlates of burden among cancer caregivers. Based on the proposed model, psychosocial interventions that specifically target caregivers’ coping and emotion regulation skills, family functioning, and self-care are endemic to the preservation of the health and well-being of this vulnerable population. PMID:29872357

The impact of coping strategies of cancer caregivers on psychophysiological outcomes: an integrative review.

PubMed

Teixeira, Ricardo João; Applebaum, Allison J; Bhatia, Sangeeta; Brandão, Tânia

2018-01-01

A growing number of studies have explored the psychosocial burden experienced by cancer caregivers, but less attention has been given to the psychophysiological impact of caregiving and the impact of caregivers' coping strategies on this association. This paper reviews existing research on the processes underlying distress experienced by cancer caregivers, with a specific focus on the role of coping strategies on psychophysiological correlates of burden. A broad literature search was conducted in health-related databases namely MEDLINE, Science Citations Index Expanded, Scopus, and PsycINFO, using relevant search terms. All types of studies published in English were considered for inclusion. We found that cancer caregiving was related to increased blood pressure, dysregulation of autonomic nervous system, hypothalamic-pituitary-axis dysregulation, immune changes, and poor health-related behaviors. We also found that problem-focused coping was associated with decreased caregiver burden, decreased depression, and better adjustment, while emotion-focused coping was related to higher levels of posttraumatic growth and psychological distress. The way coping impacts psychophysiological correlates of burden, however, remains unexplored. A better understanding of the psychophysiological elements of caregiver burden is needed. We propose a model that attends specifically to factors that may impact psychophysiological correlates of burden among cancer caregivers. Based on the proposed model, psychosocial interventions that specifically target caregivers' coping and emotion regulation skills, family functioning, and self-care are endemic to the preservation of the health and well-being of this vulnerable population.

Educating nurses to care for military veterans in civilian hospitals: An integrated literature review.

PubMed

Cooper, Linda; Andrew, Sharon; Fossey, Matt

2016-12-01

In the UK, military veterans will receive care by civilian nurses in civilian hospitals. We propose that the nurses providing this care require an understanding of the unique experiences and specific health needs of veterans to deliver evidence-based care. To conduct an integrative review of published literature to explore how nursing programmes prepare nurses to care for the military veteran population in civilian hospitals. A systematic search was undertaken of a range of electronic databases, Google Scholar and hand searching of Military and Veteran health journals. Papers that focused on education of civilian nurses about veteran health and included primary research or description of practice-based innovations were included in the review. The search generated sixteen papers that were focused on nurse education in higher education institutions. Several papers focused on simulation as a teaching method for veteran-specific health issues or curriculum developments with educational innovations such as online courses. Six papers focusing in continuing professional education of nurses in the clinical setting were included as supplementary information. All papers reviewed were US focused and dated between January 2011 and September 2015. Our search concluded that there is a gap in knowledge in this subject area within a UK context, therefore our review includes UK background information to support the US findings. Civilian nurses need educational preparation to understand the specific needs of veterans. Educational institutions in the US have responded to nationwide initiatives to undertake that preparation. More empirical studies need to be undertaken to develop, test and evaluate educational innovations for preparing students and nurses delivering care to military veteran in civilian healthcare settings. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

In the Rearview Mirror: Social Skill Development in Deaf Youth, 1990-2015.

PubMed

Cawthon, Stephanie W; Fink, Bentley; Schoffstall, Sarah; Wendel, Erica

2018-01-01

Social skills are a vehicle by which individuals negotiate important relationships. The present article presents historical data on how social skills in deaf students were conceptualized and studied empirically during the period 1990-2015. Using a structured literature review approach, the researchers coded 266 articles for theoretical frameworks used and constructs studied. The vast majority of articles did not explicitly align with a specific theoretical framework. Of the 37 that did, most focused on socioemotional and cognitive frameworks, while a minority drew from frameworks focusing on attitudes, developmental theories, or ecological systems theory. In addition, 315 social-skill constructs were coded across the data set; the majority focused on socioemotional functioning. Trends in findings across the past quarter century and implications for research and practice are examined.

Evaluation of Geosynthetic-Reinforced Flexible Pavements using Static Plate Load Tests

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2010-01-01

This study focuses on the response of full-scale geogrid-reinforced flexible pavements to static surface loading. Specifically, static plate load (SPL) tests were performed on a low-volume, asphalt pavement frontage road in Eastern Arkansas, USA (the...

Misuse of child restraints

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2004-03-01

The purpose of this study was to obtain a measure of the current level of misuse of child restraint systems (CRSs) among the general public. The project focused specifically on forms of misuse that can be expected to raise the risk of injury. CRS use...

Productivity and accessibility : bridging project specific and macroeconomic analyses of transportation investments

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1998-10-01

Many studies of the local economic impacts of individual highway projects rely on overly narrow measures of economic benefits. Another type of research, focusing on economic productivity, defines benefits more broadly but is also limited by geographi...

Case Studies in CAL!

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rogers, David F., Ed.; Smith, P. R., Ed.

1984-01-01

Ten papers focus on applications in specific curriculum areas, modelling and simulation, and computer managed learning. Projects described include voice support for the visually handicapped, distance education, and industrial training, as well as teaching applied mathematics, several facets of engineering, zoology, and, with videodisc, observation…

Assessment of infant exposure to food chemicals: the French Total Diet Study design.

PubMed

Hulin, M; Bemrah, N; Nougadère, A; Volatier, J L; Sirot, V; Leblanc, J C

2014-01-01

As part of the previous French Total Diet Studies (TDS) focusing on exposure to food chemicals in the population aged 3 years and older, the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES) launched a specific TDS on infants to complete its overall chemical food safety programme for the general population. More than 500 chemical substances were analysed in food products consumed by children under 3 years old, including nutrients, several endocrine disruptors resulting from human activities (polychlorinated biphenyls, dioxins and furans, brominated flame retardants, perfluoroalkyl acids, pesticide residues, etc.) or migrating from food contact materials such as bisphenol A or phthalates, but also natural substances such as mycotoxins, phytoestrogens and steroids. To obtain a representative and general view of infant food consumption, food items were selected based on results of a national consumption survey conducted specifically on this population. Moreover, a specific study on food was conducted on 429 households to determine which home-cooking practices are employed to prepare food consumed by infants. Overall, the targeted chemical substances were analysed in more than 450 food samples, representing the purchase and home-cooking practices of over 5500 food products. Foods included common foods such as vegetables, fruit or cakes as well as specific infant foods such as infant formula or jarred baby food. The sampling plan covered over 80% of the total diet. Specificities in infant food consumption and habits were therefore considered to define this first infant TDS. This study, conducted on a large scale and focusing on a particularly sensitive population, will provide accurate information on the dietary exposure of children under 3 years to food chemicals, especially endocrine disruptors, and will be particularly useful for risk assessment analysis under the remit of ANSES' expert committees.

Basis of predictive mycology.

PubMed

Dantigny, Philippe; Guilmart, Audrey; Bensoussan, Maurice

2005-04-15

For over 20 years, predictive microbiology focused on food-pathogenic bacteria. Few studies concerned modelling fungal development. On one hand, most of food mycologists are not familiar with modelling techniques; on the other hand, people involved in modelling are developing tools dedicated to bacteria. Therefore, there is a tendency to extend the use of models that were developed for bacteria to moulds. However, some mould specificities should be taken into account. The use of specific models for predicting germination and growth of fungi was advocated previously []. This paper provides a short review of fungal modelling studies.

Prenatal Stress and Risk for Psychopathology: Specific Effects or Induction of General Susceptibility?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Huizink, Anja C.; Mulder, Edu J. H.; Buitelaar, Jan K.

2004-01-01

This review focuses on prenatal stress as a risk factor for psychopathology. Evidence from animal studies is summarized, and the relevance of prenatal stress models in animals for human studies is discussed. In the offspring of prenatally stressed animals, overactivity and impaired negative feedback regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal…

Advantage Girls: A Look at Women's Language in the Classroom

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Meliza, Evette

2009-01-01

While others have focused on gender-based language and the workplace, this research study explores gender-based language, in this case women's language, and the classroom. The study specifically examines examples of women's language and how this language affects student response in the classroom. Five variables have been identified as…

Emotional and Cognitive Self-Regulation following Academic Shame

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Turner, Jeannine E.; Husman, Jenefer

2008-01-01

In the face of shame, students may need to turn the global focus of their failures into more discrete behaviors that they can control. Instructors can facilitate this process by informing students of specific behaviors they can enact to support successful achievement, including study and volitional strategies. Students' use of multiple study and…

The Role of Online Reader Experience in Explaining Students' Performance in Digital Reading

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gil-Flores, Javier; Torres-Gordillo, Juan-Jesus; Perera-Rodriguez, Victor-Hugo

2012-01-01

This study explores the relationship between students' extracurricular experiences online and their performance on the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA), focusing specifically on students' competence in digital reading. The study uses a descriptive, correlational, ex post facto design. The data are taken from Spanish students'…

A multi-ethnic comparison of perceptions of forest recreation service quality

Treesearch

Chieh-Lu Li; James D. Absher; Harry C. Zinn; Alan R. Graefe; Garry E. Chick

2010-01-01

This study examines perceptions of service quality on an ethnically diverse national forest adjacent to a large metropolitan area, specifically looking for differences among whites, Hispanics, and Asians. Published studies of recreation and ethnicity have focused primarily on activity participation rates and patterns. The literature contains few cross–cultural...

The Lummi Indians - Economic Development and Social Continuity.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Stein, Barry

Focusing upon the developmental changes that have taken place among the Lummis of Washington between 1966 and the present, this case study of an American Indian tribe experiencing an economic renaissance emphasizes the fact that success can and does bring unintended risks. Specifically, this study presents information re: (1) the present (emphasis…

Reflective Learning in Higher Education: A Qualitative Study on Students' Perceptions

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fullana, Judit; Pallisera, Maria; Colomer, Jordi; Fernández Peña, Rosario; Pérez-Burriel, Marc

2016-01-01

This article presents the results of a study aimed at determining the perceptions of students participating in reflective learning (RL) experiences at the University of Girona (Spain), specifically regarding the benefits and challenges of this methodology. Four focus groups were organized with students who had participated in RL experiences on…

Service Journalism in the Association Magazine: A Case Study of the "Angus Journal."

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jeffers, Dennis W.

Examining the role of service journalism in association magazines (magazines focusing on technical and educational information relating to specific practices of association members), a case study of the "Angus Journal" (a monthly magazine devoted to the beef breeding industry) investigated the problem of determining the amount of service…

Some Correlates of Media Political Advertising Credibility.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Einsiedel, E. F.; Casey, William

Data collected as part of a larger survey that focused on the 1978 gubernatorial race in New York State were used in a study of political advertising and media credibility. Specifically, the study examined the factors that influence an individual's rating of the helpfulness of political advertising and related these factors to voting patterns. A…

Student Leadership Development within Student Government at Snow College

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wilson, Gordon Ned

2010-01-01

The purpose of this study was to describe the leadership development process of former student leaders at Snow College. More specifically, the study focused on understanding how, when, and where leadership development took place in their "lived experience" within the student government at Snow College (Van Manen, 1998). Examining the lived…

Working Parents Project. Final Report. Executive Summary.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mason, Theresa; Espinoza, Renato

Summarized in this report is a study designed to explore the interrelationships that develop over time between two of the most important aspects of people's lives: their work and their families. Specifically, the study focuses on how the nature of women's jobs influences the system of nuclear family relationships and affects parents' involvement…

Reactions to Males' Emotional Expression in Job and Relationship Situations.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Younkin, Sharon L.; And Others

Most of the recent reseach on sex roles has focused on women. Research concerning the expression of nontraditional behaviors by men has been very limited. A study was conducted to examine sex differences in reactions to nontraditional male disclosure. Specifically, this study attempted to explore subjects' reactions to males who expressed either…

The Perspective of Women Managing Research Teams in Social Sciences

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tomas, Marina; Castro, Diego

2013-01-01

This article presents a research study that focuses on how women manage research teams. More specifically, the study aims to ascertain the perception of female researchers who are leaders of research groups in social sciences with regard to the formation, operation and management of their research teams. Fifteen interviews were carried out, eight…

Developing Graduate Students' Knowledge of Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium through Lesson Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dotger, Sharon; Barry, Deborah; Wiles, Jason; Benevento, Elizabeth; Brzozowski, Frances; Hurtado-Gonzales, Jorge; Jacobs, Nicole; Royse, Ellen; Sen, Debjeet; Snyder, Julia; Stokes, Robert; Wisner, Ellen

2012-01-01

Existing research on the development of graduate students' teaching competency focuses on the need for their learning opportunities to be contextualized to their specific content area and course structure. A group of graduate teaching assistants collaborated with a biology professor and a science educator in a Japanese Lesson Study to directly…

Gestural Enthymemes: Delivering Movement in 18th- and 19th-Century Medical Images

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Newman, Sara

2009-01-01

This article contributes to recent efforts to add life and movement to rhetorical studies by focusing on the representation of movement in medical texts. More specifically, this study examines medical texts, illustrations, and photographs involving movement by Johann Casper Lavater, G. B. Duchenne de Bologne, Charles Darwin, and Etienne-Jules…

Giftedness in Arabic Environments: Concepts, Implicit Theories, and the Contributed Factors in the Enrichment Programs

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Aljughaiman, Abdullah M.; Ayoub, Alaa Eldin A.

2017-01-01

The study aimed at identifying specific giftedness patterns that teachers discriminate against, and for, when nominating gifted students and focused on the identification of implicit theories adopted by teachers on the topics of intelligence, giftedness, and creativity in light of their specialization and experience. The study examined the…

Yogurt consumption is associated with better diet quality and metabolic profile in American men and women

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Low-fat dairy products may be beneficial for health, but few studies have specifically focused on yogurt. We examined whether yogurt consumption was associated with better dietary patterns, diet quality, and metabolic profile. This cross-sectional study included the adults (n=6526) participating in ...

Urban Teachers' Perceptions of Critical Variables in Measuring Teacher Effectiveness

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Flores, JuanPablo

2013-01-01

This quantitative and qualitative study sought to examine the factors that teachers in a poor socio-economic, high-minority, urban, inner-city school district determined were important when gauging their effectiveness in the classroom. The study focused on the selection of specific factors by approximately seventy-five teachers from seven of eight…

Entrepreneurial Alliances: A Study of Entrepreneurship and Strategic Alliances in the Charter School Industry

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Washington, Cheryl A.

2012-01-01

This study investigated the practices, processes, and success rates of 15 entrepreneurial alliances in the Texas charter school industry. The research involved interdisciplinary industries (business and education) and focused on how a specific type of alliance structure utilized social innovation to exploit opportunity and impact change in the…

The Effects of Multimedia Annotation and Summary Writing on Taiwanese EFL Students' Reading Comprehension

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Huang, Wen-Chi

2014-01-01

The present study investigates the effects of multimedia annotation through the discourse scheme and summary writing through the grounding theory (Chang, 1997) on text comprehension. Specifically, the study focuses on examining the influences of multimedia annotation from a special perspective, namely, the use of modified discourse scheme to…

Application of the Environmental Sensation Learning Vehicle Simulation Platform in Virtual Reality

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hsu, Kuei-Shu; Jiang, Jinn-Feng; Wei, Hung-Yuan; Lee, Tsung-Han

2016-01-01

The use of simulation technologies in learning has received considerable attention in recent years, but few studies to date have focused on vehicle driving simulation systems. In this study, a vehicle driving simulation system was developed to support novice drivers in practicing their skills. Specifically, the vehicle driving simulation system…

Examining Teachers' Perceptions of Social-Emotional and Behavioral Referral Concerns

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Briesch, Amy M.; Ferguson, Tyler D.; Volpe, Robert J.; Briesch, Jacquelyn M.

2013-01-01

Although a number of empirical studies have investigated the nature of school-based referrals, predominant focus has been on referrals for psychoeducational evaluation, and social-emotional and behavioral concerns have typically been too broadly defined to provide insight into the specific problems encountered. This study aimed to identify the…

Latino Bilingual Teachers: Negotiating the Figured World of Masculinity

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lara, Gilberto P.; Fránquiz, María E.

2015-01-01

This article focuses on a group of male teachers from Proyecto Bilingüe, a professional development master's degree program for bilingual teachers. The study is guided by one broad research question: How do Latino male bilingual teachers negotiate their identities in a gendered profession? Specifically the study addresses: What spaces for…

Toward a Coevolution of Language Theories: Linking Composition with Brain and Language Studies.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Adkison, Stephen

Focusing specifically on the theories offered by language development theorist L. S. Vygotsky and evolutionary theorist Terrence Deacon, this paper examines the ways in which theories of language in composition studies coincide and differ with the theories currently being researched in neurobiology and physical anthropology. This examination…

Mapping Gray Matter Development: Implications for Typical Development and Vulnerability to Psychopathology

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gogtay, Nitin; Thompson, Paul M.

2010-01-01

Recent studies with brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have scanned large numbers of children and adolescents repeatedly over time, as their brains develop, tracking volumetric changes in gray and white matter in remarkable detail. Focusing on gray matter changes specifically, here we explain how earlier studies using lobar volumes of specific…

Breaking the Silence: The Unionization of Postdoctoral Workers at the University of California

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Camacho, Sayil; Rhoads, Robert A.

2015-01-01

This article examines the postdoctoral unionization movement at the University of California (UC) using case study methodology. More specifically, we examine postdoctoral union organizers involved in the United Automobile Workers of America (UAW) Local 5810, focusing on their efforts to unionize postdoctoral employees at the UC. The study is…

Chinese Translation Errors in English/Chinese Bilingual Children's Picture Books

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Huang, Qiaoya; Chen, Xiaoning

2012-01-01

The aim of this study was to review the Chinese translation errors in 31 English/Chinese bilingual children's picture books. While bilingual children's books make definite contributions to language acquisition, few studies have examined the quality of these books, and even fewer have specifically focused on English/Chinese bilingual books.…

School Nurses' Perceived Barriers to Discussing Weight with Children and Their Families: A Qualitative Approach

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Steele, Ric G.; Wu, Yelena P.; Jensen, Chad D.; Pankey, Sydni; Davis, Ann M.; Aylward, Brandon S.

2011-01-01

Background: Previous studies have documented the presence of specific barriers to school nurses' communications with families about weight-related health. The purpose of the present study was to contribute to the literature by further analyzing, using focus group methodology, school nurses' perceived barriers to addressing weight-related health…

Factors Associated with Engagement Levels among Entering and Returning Hispanic College Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Napoles, Gerald F.

2009-01-01

The purpose of this study was to explore the engagement levels among entering and returning Hispanic community college students. This study provides needed data focused specifically on Hispanic student engagement. Limited data exist on the persistence of community college students in general, and Hispanic students in particular. The data were…

African American Single Mothers Raising Sons: Implications for Family Therapy

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gantt, Ann L.; Greif, Geoffrey L.

2009-01-01

Being raised by a single mother is one factor that has been suggested as contributing to the plight of African American males. Yet few studies have focused specifically on African American single mothers' experiences with raising sons. This qualitative study explored the following questions: (1) What are the experiences of African American single…

Synthesizing the Evidence on Classroom Goal Structures in Middle and Secondary Schools: A Meta-Analysis and Narrative Review

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Givens Rolland, Rebecca

2012-01-01

This meta-analysis and narrative review synthesizes the literature on classroom goal structures and their relationships with student outcomes, focusing additionally on the ways in which these constructs are operationalized across research studies. Specifically, this study evaluates the relationships between students' perceptions of mastery and…

Academic Achievement among Recently Arrived Chinese Adolescent Migrants: The Role of Social Support, School Belonging, and Acculturative Stress

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ho, Ngai Kwan Nicole; Schweitzer, Robert D.; Khawaja, Nigar G.

2017-01-01

Factors contributing to academic achievement among recently arrived Chinese adolescents in Australia remain relatively underexplored. Previous studies focused on Asian migrants, including Chinese, but did not distinguish Chinese from other Asian migrants. The current study specifically looks at Chinese migrants who have recently arrived, as…

Institutional Factors for Supporting Electronic Learning Communities

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Linton, Jayme N.

2017-01-01

This study was designed to explore how the electronic learning community (eLC) process at an established state virtual high school (SVHS) supported new and veteran online high school teachers through the communities of practice (CoP) framework. Specifically, this study focused on the institutionally-driven nature of the eLC process, using Wenger's…

Cognitive Processes of Students Participating in Two Approaches to Technology Education. Research in Engineering and Technology Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kelley, Todd R.; Hill, Roger B.

2007-01-01

The purpose of this study was to better understand cognitive strategies used by high school technology education students who have participated in technology education instruction with an engineering design focus. Specifically, this study evaluated the cognitive strategies of students participating in "Project Lead the Way" curriculum…

CALiPER Retail Lamps Study 3.1: Dimming, Flicker, and Power Quality Characteristics of LED A Lamps

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

none,

2014-12-31

This CALiPER report examines the characteristics of a subset of lamps from CALiPER Retail Lamps Study 3 in more detail. Specifically, it focuses on the dimming, power quality, and flicker characteristics of 14 LED A lamps, as controlled by four different retail-available dimmers.

Increasing Paramedic Students' Resiliency to Stress: Assessing Correlates and the Impact of Intervention

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Porter, Shirley; Johnson, Andrew

2008-01-01

This pilot study focused on paramedic students in the final year of their college program. Using a randomised controlled pre-test/post-test design, this study sought to determine whether perceived peer support, negative attitude towards emotional expression, and specific coping processes, would be significantly predictive of levels of…

78 FR 72092 - Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for Office of Management and Budget Review...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-12-02

... quantitative studies. Focus groups serve the narrowly defined need for direct and informal opinion on a specific topic and as a qualitative research tool have three major purposes: To obtain information that is useful for developing variables and measures for quantitative studies, To better understand people's...

Special Education Teachers' Self-Efficacy Beliefs in a Large Urban High School

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Seebeck, Kelly A.

2016-01-01

The purpose of this study was to identify if special education teachers' self-efficacy beliefs are impacted by student engagement, instructional strategies, and classroom management. Specifically, this study focused on the self-efficacy of high school special education teachers in an urban setting. This was a correlational quantitative design…

The Role of Mentoring in Fostering Executive Function, Effort, and Academic Self-Concept

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Meltzer, Lynn; Basho, Surina; Reddy, Ranjini; Kurkul, Katelyn

2015-01-01

This exploratory study examined the impact of an in-school intervention program that blends peer mentoring with executive function strategy instruction for at-risk learners. More specifically, the study focused on evaluating the effects of the SMARTS Executive Function and Mentoring intervention on students' strategy use, effort, academic…

Intentional Peer-Mentoring Programs in Christian Schools: An Exploratory Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Campolongo, Edward D.

2009-01-01

This study investigated what Christian schools were doing with peer-mentoring programs. A total of 344 secondary schools accredited by the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) received a 19-question electronic survey that focused on the specifics of their peer-mentoring programs. A total of 80 schools responded, with 55% reporting…

Entrepreneurship for Bioscience Researchers: A Case Study of an Entrepreneurship Programme

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Heinonen, Jarna; Poikkijoki, Sari-Anne; Vento-Vierikko, Irma

2007-01-01

Entrepreneurship is reaching new areas in which the concept of business is more or less unfamiliar and remote. This study focuses on a specific entrepreneurship education programme in the fields of chemistry, physics, information technology and bioinformatics, life sciences and medicine development. The aim is to gain a deeper understanding of the…

One Hen: Teaching Elementary-Level Economics for Civic Engagement

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Whitlock, Annie McMahon

2013-01-01

This dissertation is a qualitative case study focused on describing and analyzing the student and teacher experience with One Hen, a project-based learning unit specifically designed to teach civic engagement. In this study I address three questions: 1) Do fifth-grade students' knowledge and skills in economics change after participating in a…

How Students Navigate the Construction of Heritage Narratives

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Levy, Sara A.

2017-01-01

Using a multiple case study design, I examine how public high school students (n = 17) make sense of narratives about defining events with which they have specific heritage connections. Focusing on 3 groups of students (Hmong, Chinese, and Jewish) studying 3 heritage events (respectively, the Vietnam War, Modern China, and the Holocaust), this…

Bullying and Students with Disabilities: A Systematic Literature Review of Intervention Studies

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Houchins, David E.; Oakes, Wendy Peia; Johnson, Zachary G.

2016-01-01

Bullying is a serious issue affecting the psychological, social, and physical well-being of students. Although a substantial amount of bullying research has been conducted with general education students, there is a paucity of experimental prevention or intervention studies specifically focused on students with disabilities. The aim of this…

On Pretending to Listen

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Burbules, Nicholas C.; Rice, Suzanne

2010-01-01

Background/Context: This article is part of a series of studies carried out by the authors in this special issue on the general topic of listening and its specific relevance to teaching. Purpose/Objective/Research Question/Focus of Study: We examine the common activity of pretending to listen and argue that thinking about it carefully reveals some…

Therapist Self-Disclosure and the Therapeutic Relationship: A Phenomenological Study from the Client Perspective

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Audet, Cristelle T.; Everall, Robin D.

2010-01-01

Therapist self-disclosure is gaining empirical attention amidst theoretical discourse and ethical debate, particularly with regards to its influence on the therapeutic relationship. This paper presents part of a larger qualitative study that explored client experiences of therapist self-disclosure and specifically focuses on the therapeutic…

"…Their Opinions Mean Something": Care Staff's Attitudes to Health Research Involving People with Intellectual Disabilities

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hall, Natalie; Durand, Marie-Anne; Mengoni, Silvana E.

2017-01-01

Background: Despite experiencing health inequalities, people with intellectual disabilities are under-represented in health research. Previous research has identified barriers but has typically focused on under-recruitment to specific studies. This study aimed to explore care staff's attitudes to health research involving people with intellectual…

Interactivity in a Web Conference Training Context: Effects on Trainers and Trainees

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Stephens, Keri K.; Mottet, Timothy P.

2008-01-01

Organizations continue to use technology to train and share information. This study focused specifically on how trainers and trainees interact in the mediated Web conference training context. Using the rhetorical and relational goal theory of instructional communication, this 2x2 experimental study tested the effects of trainer-controlled and…

Differences and Similarities in Men's and Women's Directives in Carioca Brazilian Portuguese.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Koike, Dale A.

1986-01-01

Reports a study of the correlation of linguistic variation with the variables of gender and context specificity in Brazilian Portuguese. The study focused on differences found in the expression of a particular directive by adult middle-class male and female speakers of the Carioca dialect of Rio de Janeiro. (SED)

Evaluation of neurofeedback in ADHD: the long and winding road.

PubMed

Arns, Martijn; Heinrich, Hartmut; Strehl, Ute

2014-01-01

Among the clinical applications of neurofeedback, most research has been conducted in ADHD. As an introduction a short overview of the general history of neurofeedback will be given, while the main part of the paper deals with a review of the current state of neurofeedback in ADHD. A meta-analysis on neurofeedback from 2009 found large effect sizes for inattention and impulsivity and medium effects sizes for hyperactivity. Since 2009 several new studies, including 4 placebo-controlled studies, have been published. These latest studies are reviewed and discussed in more detail. The review focuses on studies employing (1) semi-active, (2) active, and (3) placebo-control groups. The assessment of specificity of neurofeedback treatment in ADHD is discussed and it is concluded that standard protocols such as theta/beta, SMR and slow cortical potentials neurofeedback are well investigated and have demonstrated specificity. The paper ends with an outlook on future questions and tasks. It is concluded that future controlled clinical trials should, in a next step, focus on such known protocols, and be designed along the lines of learning theory. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

IDENTIFYING SEXUAL HEALTH PROTECTIVE FACTORS AMONG NORTHERN PLAINS AMERICAN INDIAN YOUTH: AN ECOLOGICAL APPROACH UTILIZING MULTIPLE PERSPECTIVES

PubMed Central

Griese, Emily R.; Kenyon, DenYelle Baete; McMahon, Tracey R.

2017-01-01

This study examined aspects of the sociocultural context in which American Indian (AI) teen pregnancy occurs, focusing specifically on protective factors for Northern Plains AI youth. Principles of community-based participatory research guided the qualitative data collection from 185 community members (focus groups with AI youth, youth parents, and elders; interviews with health care providers and school personnel) from a reservation and an urban community. Results indicated three protective systems impacted the sexual health and behaviors of AI youth: school, family, and enculturation. These findings provide a better understanding of how specific protective factors within these systems may buffer AI youth from involvement in risky sexual behaviors and work to inform culturally relevant prevention and intervention efforts. PMID:27536896

Context Specificity of Stress-activated Mitogen-activated Protein (MAP) Kinase Signaling: The Story as Told by Caenorhabditis elegans*

PubMed Central

Andrusiak, Matthew G.; Jin, Yishi

2016-01-01

Stress-associated p38 and JNK mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase signaling cascades trigger specific cellular responses and are involved in multiple disease states. At the root of MAP kinase signaling complexity is the differential use of common components on a context-specific basis. The roundworm Caenorhabditis elegans was developed as a system to study genes required for development and nervous system function. The powerful genetics of C. elegans in combination with molecular and cellular dissections has led to a greater understanding of how p38 and JNK signaling affects many biological processes under normal and stress conditions. This review focuses on the studies revealing context specificity of different stress-activated MAPK components in C. elegans. PMID:26907690

More than just orphans: are taxonomically-restricted genes important in evolution?

PubMed

Khalturin, Konstantin; Hemmrich, Georg; Fraune, Sebastian; Augustin, René; Bosch, Thomas C G

2009-09-01

Comparative genome analyses indicate that every taxonomic group so far studied contains 10-20% of genes that lack recognizable homologs in other species. Do such 'orphan' or 'taxonomically-restricted' genes comprise spurious, non-functional ORFs, or does their presence reflect important evolutionary processes? Recent studies in basal metazoans such as Nematostella, Acropora and Hydra have shed light on the function of these genes, and now indicate that they are involved in important species-specific adaptive processes. Here we focus on evidence from Hydra suggesting that taxonomically-restricted genes play a role in the creation of phylum-specific novelties such as cnidocytes, in the generation of morphological diversity, and in the innate defence system. We propose that taxon-specific genes drive morphological specification, enabling organisms to adapt to changing conditions.

Host-agent-vector-environment measures for electronic cigarette research used in NIH grants.

PubMed

Garcia-Cazarin, Mary L; Mandal, Rachel J; Grana, Rachel; Wanke, Kay L; Meissner, Helen I

2018-01-13

The purpose of this study is to describe the focus and comprehensiveness of domains measured in e-cigarette research. A portfolio analysis of National Institutes of Health grants focusing on e-cigarette research and funded between the fiscal years 2007 and 2015 was conducted. Grant proposals were retrieved using a government database and coded using the Host-Agent-Vector-Environment (HAVE) model as a framework to characterise the measures proposed. Eighty-one projects met the criteria for inclusion in the analysis. The primary HAVE focus most commonly found was Host (73%), followed by Agent (21%), Vector (6%) and Environment (0%). Intrapersonal measures and use trajectories were the most common measures in studies that include Host measures (n=59 and n=51, respectively). Product composition was the most common area of measurement in Agent studies (n=24), whereas Marketing (n=21) was the most common (n=21) area of Vector measurement. When Environment measures were examined as secondary measures in studies, they primarily focused on measuring Peer, Occupation and Social Networks (n=18). Although all studies mentioned research on e-cigarettes, most (n=52; 64%) did not specify the type of e-cigarette device or liquid solution under study. This analysis revealed a heavy focus on Host measures (73%) and a lack of focus on Environment measures. The predominant focus on Host measures may have the unintended effect of limiting the evidence base for tobacco control and regulatory science. Further, a lack of specificity about the e-cigarette product under study will make comparing results across studies and using the outcomes to inform tobacco policy difficult. © Article author(s) (or their employer(s) unless otherwise stated in the text of the article) 2018. All rights reserved. No commercial use is permitted unless otherwise expressly granted.

Attitudes toward emotions.

PubMed

Harmon-Jones, Eddie; Harmon-Jones, Cindy; Amodio, David M; Gable, Philip A

2011-12-01

The present work outlines a theory of attitudes toward emotions, provides a measure of attitudes toward emotions, and then tests several predictions concerning relationships between attitudes toward specific emotions and emotional situation selection, emotional traits, emotional reactivity, and emotion regulation. The present conceptualization of individual differences in attitudes toward emotions focuses on specific emotions and presents data indicating that 5 emotions (anger, sadness, joy, fear, and disgust) load on 5 separate attitude factors (Study 1). Attitudes toward emotions predicted emotional situation selection (Study 2). Moreover, attitudes toward approach emotions (e.g., anger, joy) correlated directly with the associated trait emotions, whereas attitudes toward withdrawal emotions (fear, disgust) correlated inversely with associated trait emotions (Study 3). Similar results occurred when attitudes toward emotions were used to predict state emotional reactivity (Study 4). Finally, attitudes toward emotions predicted specific forms of emotion regulation (Study 5).

Gendered Perceptions of Drugs, Aggression, and Violence

PubMed Central

Helm, Susana; Okamoto, Scott K.

2016-01-01

Objective Drug use has been linked empirically with aggression and violence among youth in national and State of Hawai‘i samples. In addition, aggression and violence appear to be gendered experiences perceived differently by girls and boys. This paper explores the intersection of drug offers/drug refusals with aggression and violence with specific attention paid to gendered perceptions of drug use situations as a context for aggression and violence. Methods A qualitative study, in which fourteen sex-specific focus group discussions were held, focused on rural Native Hawaiian middle school students (N=64). Students were asked to discuss drug refusal strategies in a variety of drug offer contexts. Feminist theories and approaches were used to examine the role of aggression and violence in drug refusal as perceived by Native Hawaiian girls as compared to boys. Results Girls and boys differed in their perceptions of aggression and violence in drug offer situations, initially as evidenced by the extent to which the girls groups focused on the intersection of drugs and violence. Further, qualitative analyses reflected gender norms and stereotypes about aggression and violence perpetration, and girls' apparently unique concerns about sexual violence victimization. Conclusions Implications are discussed in terms of prevention research and practice, specifically in terms of school-based prevention curricula. PMID:27456534

What Makes Patient Navigation Most Effective: Defining Useful Tasks and Networks.

PubMed

Gunn, Christine; Battaglia, Tracy A; Parker, Victoria A; Clark, Jack A; Paskett, Electra D; Calhoun, Elizabeth; Snyder, Frederick R; Bergling, Emily; Freund, Karen M

2017-01-01

Given the momentum in adopting patient navigation into cancer care, there is a need to understand the contribution of specific navigator activities to improved clinical outcomes. A mixed-methods study combined direct observations of patient navigators within the Patient Navigation Research Program and outcome data from the trial. We correlated the frequency of navigator tasks with the outcome of rate of diagnostic resolution within 365 days among patients who received the intervention relative to controls. A focused content analysis examined those tasks with the strongest correlations between navigator tasks and patient outcomes. Navigating directly with specific patients (r = 0.679), working with clinical providers to facilitate patient care (r = 0.643), and performing tasks not directly related to their diagnostic evaluation for patients were positively associated with more timely diagnosis (r = 0.714). Using medical records for non-navigation tasks had a negative association (r = -0.643). Content analysis revealed service provision directed at specific patients improved care while systems-focused activities did not.

Teaching medical students to discern ethical problems in human clinical research studies.

PubMed

Roberts, Laura Weiss; Warner, Teddy D; Green Hammond, Katherine A; Brody, Janet L; Kaminsky, Alexis; Roberts, Brian B

2005-10-01

Investigators and institutional review boards are entrusted with ensuring the conduct of ethically sound human studies. Assessing ethical aspects of research protocols is a key skill in fulfilling this duty, yet no empirically validated method exists for preparing professionals to attain this skill. The authors performed a randomized controlled educational intervention, comparing a criteria-based learning method, a clinical-research- and experience-based learning method, and a control group. All 300 medical students enrolled at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine in 2001 were invited to participate. After a single half-hour educational session, a written posttest of ability to detect ethical problems in hypothetical protocol vignettes was administered. The authors analyzed responses to ten protocol vignettes that had been evaluated independently by experts. For each vignette, a global assessment of the perceived significance of ethical problems and the identification of specific ethical problems were evaluated. Eighty-three medical students (27%) volunteered: 50 (60%) were women and 55 (66%) were first- and second-year students. On global assessments, the criteria-focused group perceived ethical problems as more significant than did the other two groups (p < .02). Students in the criteria-focused group were better able than students in the control group (p < .03) to discern specific ethical problems, more closely resembling expert assessments. Unexpectedly, the group focused on clinical research participants identified fewer problems than did the control group (p < .05). The criteria-focused intervention produced enhanced ethical evaluation skills. This work supports the potential value of empirically derived methods for preparing professionals to discern ethical aspects of human studies.

Research on treating neuropsychiatric symptoms of advanced dementia with non-pharmacological strategies, 1998–2008: a systematic literature review

PubMed Central

Kverno, Karan S.; Black, Betty S.; Nolan, Marie T.; Rabins, Peter V.

2011-01-01

Background Advanced dementia is characterized by severe cognitive and functional impairments that lead to almost total dependency in self-care. Neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) are common in advanced dementia, diminishing quality of life and increasing the care burden. The challenge for health care providers is to find safe and effective treatments. Non-pharmacological interventions offer the potential for safer alternatives to pharmacotherapy, but little is known about their efficacy. This review evaluates the published literature on non-pharmacological interventions for treating NPS in advanced dementia. Methods A literature search was undertaken to find non-pharmacological intervention studies published between 1998 and 2008 that measured NPS outcomes in individuals diagnosed with advanced dementia. Strict inclusion criteria initially required that all study participants have severe or very severe dementia, but this range was later broadened to include moderately severe to very severe stages. Results Out of 215 intervention studies, 21 (9.8%) specifically focused on treatments for individuals with moderately severe to very severe dementia. The studies provide limited moderate to high quality evidence for the use of sensory-focused strategies, including aroma, preferred or live music, and multi-sensory stimulation. Emotion-oriented approaches, such as simulated presence may be more effective for individuals with preserved verbal interactive capacity. Conclusions Most studies of interventions for dementia-related NPS have focused on individuals with mild to moderate cognitive impairment. Individuals with severe cognitive impairment do not necessarily respond to NPS treatments in the same manner. Future studies should be specifically designed to further explore the stage-specific efficacy of non-pharmacological therapies for patients with advanced dementia. Areas of particular need for further research include movement-based therapies, hands-on (touch) therapies, and interventions that can be provided during personal care routines. Interventions appear to work best when they are tailored to balance individual arousal patterns. PMID:19586562

Research on treating neuropsychiatric symptoms of advanced dementia with non-pharmacological strategies, 1998-2008: a systematic literature review.

PubMed

Kverno, Karan S; Black, Betty S; Nolan, Marie T; Rabins, Peter V

2009-10-01

Advanced dementia is characterized by severe cognitive and functional impairments that lead to almost total dependency in self-care. Neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) are common in advanced dementia, diminishing quality of life and increasing the care burden. The challenge for health care providers is to find safe and effective treatments. Non-pharmacological interventions offer the potential for safer alternatives to pharmacotherapy, but little is known about their efficacy. This review evaluates the published literature on non-pharmacological interventions for treating NPS in advanced dementia. A literature search was undertaken to find non-pharmacological intervention studies published between 1998 and 2008 that measured NPS outcomes in individuals diagnosed with advanced dementia. Strict inclusion criteria initially required that all study participants have severe or very severe dementia, but this range was later broadened to include moderately severe to very severe stages. Out of 215 intervention studies, 21 (9.8%) specifically focused on treatments for individuals with moderately severe to very severe dementia. The studies provide limited moderate to high quality evidence for the use of sensory-focused strategies, including aroma, preferred or live music, and multi-sensory stimulation. Emotion-oriented approaches, such as simulated presence may be more effective for individuals with preserved verbal interactive capacity. Most studies of interventions for dementia-related NPS have focused on individuals with mild to moderate cognitive impairment. Individuals with severe cognitive impairment do not necessarily respond to NPS treatments in the same manner. Future studies should be specifically designed to further explore the stage-specific efficacy of non-pharmacological therapies for patients with advanced dementia. Areas of particular need for further research include movement-based therapies, hands-on (touch) therapies, and interventions that can be provided during personal care routines. Interventions appear to work best when they are tailored to balance individual arousal patterns.

Changing Habits of Practice

PubMed Central

Bowen, Judith L; Salerno, Stephen M; Chamberlain, John K; Eckstrom, Elizabeth; Chen, Helen L; Brandenburg, Suzanne

2005-01-01

Purpose The majority of health care, both for acute and chronic conditions, is delivered in the ambulatory setting. Despite repeated proposals for change, the majority of internal medicine residency training still occurs in the inpatient setting. Substantial changes in ambulatory education are needed to correct the current imbalance. To assist educators and policy makers in this process, this paper reviews the literature on ambulatory education and makes recommendations for change. Methods The authors searched the Medline, Psychlit, and ERIC databases from 2000 to 2004 for studies that focused specifically on curriculum, teaching, and evaluation of internal medicine residents in the ambulatory setting to update previous reviews. Studies had to contain primary data and were reviewed for methodological rigor and relevance. Results Fifty-five studies met criteria for review. Thirty-five of the studies focused on specific curricular areas and 11 on ambulatory teaching methods. Five involved evaluating performance and 4 focused on structural issues. No study evaluated the overall effectiveness of ambulatory training or investigated the effects of current resident continuity clinic microsystems on education. Conclusion This updated review continues to identify key deficiencies in ambulatory training curriculum and faculty skills. The authors make several recommendations: (1) Make training in the ambulatory setting a priority. (2) Address systems problems in practice environments. (3) Create learning experiences appropriate to the resident's level of development. (4) Teach and evaluate in the examination room. (5) Expand subspecialty-based training to the ambulatory setting. (6) Make faculty development a priority. (7) Create and fund multiinstitutional educational research consortia. PMID:16423112

Parents' perceptions during the transition to home for their child with a congenital heart defect: How can we support families of children with hypoplastic left heart syndrome?

PubMed

March, Sarita

2017-07-01

The aim of the study was to explore the literature related to transitions in healthcare between the hospital and home that caregivers experience with a child who has a congenital heart defect (CHD), specifically related to hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS). A systematic literature review was conducted searching OVID Medline, CINAHL, and PubMed to discover the caregivers' perceptions on their transitions between hospital care and home care of their child with a CHD. Articles included those with focus on the transitions of caregivers between hospital and home care for children with CHD. Excluded articles were studies focused on adolescents, transition to adult healthcare, mortality results, other diseases associated with CHDs, comparison of CHD treatments, feasibility studies, differences in care between hospitals, home monitoring, and comparison of videoconference and telephone home communication. Ten articles were selected. Many parents voiced their concerns with feeding their child, learning medical skills and knowledge, reported a disrupted relationship between parents and their child, and identified stress and anxiety associated with taking care of a child with a CHD. There were limited studies on caregivers' transitions with a child with HLHS, but there also was limited focus on the caregivers' experiences with transitions between hospital and home care for their child with any CHD. Research on the transition experience between hospital care and home care for caregivers of children born with a CHD, and a specific focus on HLHS from the caregivers' viewpoint, would provide insight into the perspective of caregivers during the numerous transitions. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Frequency-Specific Fractal Analysis of Postural Control Accounts for Control Strategies

PubMed Central

Gilfriche, Pierre; Deschodt-Arsac, Véronique; Blons, Estelle; Arsac, Laurent M.

2018-01-01

Diverse indicators of postural control in Humans have been explored for decades, mostly based on the trajectory of the center-of-pressure. Classical approaches focus on variability, based on the notion that if a posture is too variable, the subject is not stable. Going deeper, an improved understanding of underlying physiology has been gained from studying variability in different frequency ranges, pointing to specific short-loops (proprioception), and long-loops (visuo-vestibular) in neural control. More recently, fractal analyses have proliferated and become useful additional metrics of postural control. They allowed identifying two scaling phenomena, respectively in short and long timescales. Here, we show that one of the most widely used methods for fractal analysis, Detrended Fluctuation Analysis, could be enhanced to account for scalings on specific frequency ranges. By computing and filtering a bank of synthetic fractal signals, we established how scaling analysis can be focused on specific frequency components. We called the obtained method Frequency-specific Fractal Analysis (FsFA) and used it to associate the two scaling phenomena of postural control to proprioceptive-based control loop and visuo-vestibular based control loop. After that, convincing arguments of method validity came from an application on the study of unaltered vs. altered postural control in athletes. Overall, the analysis suggests that at least two timescales contribute to postural control: a velocity-based control in short timescales relying on proprioceptive sensors, and a position-based control in longer timescales with visuo-vestibular sensors, which is a brand-new vision of postural control. Frequency-specific scaling exponents are promising markers of control strategies in Humans. PMID:29643816

Surveying Cost Growth

DTIC Science & Technology

2004-01-01

understand and account for potential cost drivers. Several cost studies, some of which specifically focus on the aircraft industry, have been performed...display a currently valid OMB control number. 1. REPORT DATE 2004 2. REPORT TYPE N/A 3. DATES COVERED - 4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE Surveying Cost ...

Into the Curriculum.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

School Library Media Activities Monthly, 1986

1986-01-01

Provides six library media activities designed for use in connection with specific curriculum units in art, science, and social studies. The activities focus on appreciating Georgia O'Keefe, sound travel, rock identification, Thanksgiving customs, state road maps, and world religions. The descriptions include objectives, grade levels,…

Addressing Cultural Responsiveness in Consultation: An Empirical Demonstration

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McKenney, Elizabeth L. W.; Mann, Kacee A.; Brown, Danice L.; Jewell, Jeremy D.

2017-01-01

This study explored whether and to what extent consultation practices specifically focused on culturally responsive instruction provided additive benefit, after establishing strong classroom management. Three teachers leading culturally diverse classrooms participated in two phases of consultation. The first was a traditional, classroom-management…

A Bayesian Multivariate Receptor Model for Estimating Source Contributions to Particulate Matter Pollution using National Databases.

PubMed

Hackstadt, Amber J; Peng, Roger D

2014-11-01

Time series studies have suggested that air pollution can negatively impact health. These studies have typically focused on the total mass of fine particulate matter air pollution or the individual chemical constituents that contribute to it, and not source-specific contributions to air pollution. Source-specific contribution estimates are useful from a regulatory standpoint by allowing regulators to focus limited resources on reducing emissions from sources that are major contributors to air pollution and are also desired when estimating source-specific health effects. However, researchers often lack direct observations of the emissions at the source level. We propose a Bayesian multivariate receptor model to infer information about source contributions from ambient air pollution measurements. The proposed model incorporates information from national databases containing data on both the composition of source emissions and the amount of emissions from known sources of air pollution. The proposed model is used to perform source apportionment analyses for two distinct locations in the United States (Boston, Massachusetts and Phoenix, Arizona). Our results mirror previous source apportionment analyses that did not utilize the information from national databases and provide additional information about uncertainty that is relevant to the estimation of health effects.

Neuronal Surface Autoantibodies in Neuropsychiatric Disorders: Are There Implications for Depression?

PubMed Central

Zong, Shenghua; Hoffmann, Carolin; Mané-Damas, Marina; Molenaar, Peter; Losen, Mario; Martinez-Martinez, Pilar

2017-01-01

Autoimmune diseases are affecting around 7.6–9.4% of the general population. A number of central nervous system disorders, including encephalitis and severe psychiatric disorders, have been demonstrated to associate with specific neuronal surface autoantibodies (NSAbs). It has become clear that specific autoantibodies targeting neuronal surface antigens and ion channels could cause severe mental disturbances. A number of studies have focused or are currently investigating the presence of autoantibodies in specific mental conditions such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorders. However, less is known about other conditions such as depression. Depression is a psychiatric disorder with complex etiology and pathogenesis. The diagnosis criteria of depression are largely based on symptoms but not on the origin of the disease. The question which arises is whether in a subgroup of patients with depression, the symptoms might be caused by autoantibodies targeting membrane-associated antigens. Here, we describe how autoantibodies targeting membrane proteins and ion channels cause pathological effects. We discuss the physiology of these antigens and their role in relation to depression. Finally, we summarize a number of studies detecting NSAbs with a special focus on cohorts that include depression diagnosis and/or show depressive symptoms. PMID:28725222

Exploring the Factors That Influence Female Students' Decision to (Not) Enrol in Elective Physical Education: A Private School Case Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kiley, Jill; Robinson, Daniel Bruce

2016-01-01

This article presents the results from a qualitative case study that examined the influencers upon a somewhat unique group of female students who opted out of elective physical education (PE). More specifically, this study focused upon female students attending an affluent private school, investigating why--when they transitioned from middle…

Developing the Understanding of the Role of Interpersonal Interaction in Early Literacy Development: A Case Study of a Thai Public Preschool

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Klibthong, Sunanta

2012-01-01

This study focuses on the role of interpersonal interaction in early literacy development in one public preschool school in Bangkok, Thailand. Specifically, it explores and analyses the nature of interpersonal interaction and collaborative activities the teachers employ in teaching literacy to children. The study involves observation of 82…

Does Content Matter? Analyzing the Change in Global Awareness between Business- and Nonbusiness-Focused Short-Term Study Abroad Courses

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

DeLoach, Stephen B.; Kurt, Mark; Olitsky, Neal H.

2015-01-01

Business schools have long sought to increase students' global awareness. Short-term study abroad (STSA) experiences are becoming increasingly popular ways of generating awareness. While a handful of studies have found evidence of efficacy, none have specifically tested how courses with business content differ from other STSAs. Using a…

Promoting Student Achievement: A Case Study of Change Actions Employed by an Urban School Superintendent

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bealer, David E.

2010-01-01

The purpose of this study was to examine the change strategies and actions taken by an urban district superintendent to improve student achievement. In a qualitative case study of a large urban school district, one research question and three subquestions focused on: 10 specific reform strategies to improve student achievement, how the quality and…

Orientation and Mobility, Reading, and Math: Analysis of Data for Children with Visual Impairments from the Special Education Elementary Longitudinal Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Anderson, Dawn L.

2010-01-01

This dissertation research comprised three studies focused on vision-specific skills, and their association with functional and academic outcomes for school-age students with visual impairment. The studies involved analysis of secondary data for 850 students with visual impairment who participated in the Special Education Elementary Longitudinal…

Seeing the Forest through the Trees: Some Renewed Thinking on Dispositions Specific to Social Studies Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Misco, Thomas; Shiveley, James

2010-01-01

Too often, social studies educators are asked to focus their design and enactment of learning experiences on the mastery of content knowledge, often at the expense of other aims and goals. In response to this problem, the authors of this article explore the reclamation of dispositions in social studies curriculum planning and teaching. First, he…

A Cross-Linguistic Study of the Development of Gesture and Speech in Zulu and French Oral Narratives

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Nicolas, Ramona Kunene; Guidetti, Michele; Colletta, Jean-Marc

2017-01-01

The present study reports on a developmental and cross-linguistic study of oral narratives produced by speakers of Zulu (a Bantu language) and French (a Romance language). Specifically, we focus on oral narrative performance as a bimodal (i.e., linguistic and gestural) behaviour during the late language acquisition phase. We analyzed seventy-two…

Social Media Use: An Exploratory Test of Effects on the Daily Lives of College Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Barnett, Barbara; Cothern, Katherine

2011-01-01

This study covers the effects that social media use has on the daily lives of college students. More specifically, the current study focuses on college students' academic success, study habits, social interaction, and family interaction. Social media is a source of online tools that allow people from across the world to communicate with others.…

Jump into the Void? Factors Related to a Preferred Retirement Age: Gender, Social Interests, and Leisure Activities

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Nicolaisen, Magnhild; Thorsen, Kirsten; Eriksen, Sissel H.

2012-01-01

Using the frameworks of the life course perspective and continuity theory, this study focuses on the association among working people between gender and specific leisure activities, social interests and individuals' preferred retirement age. The study is based on the first wave of the Norwegian Life Course, Aging and Generation (NorLAG) study,…

Non invasive transcostal focusing based on the decomposition of the time reversal operator: in vitro validation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cochard, Étienne; Prada, Claire; Aubry, Jean-François; Fink, Mathias

2010-03-01

Thermal ablation induced by high intensity focused ultrasound has produced promising clinical results to treat hepatocarcinoma and other liver tumors. However skin burns have been reported due to the high absorption of ultrasonic energy by the ribs. This study proposes a method to produce an acoustic field focusing on a chosen target while sparing the ribs, using the decomposition of the time-reversal operator (DORT method). The idea is to apply an excitation weight vector to the transducers array which is orthogonal to the subspace of emissions focusing on the ribs. The ratio of the energies absorbed at the focal point and on the ribs has been enhanced up to 100-fold as demonstrated by the measured specific absorption rates.

Culture, temporal focus, and values of the past and the future.

PubMed

Guo, Tieyuan; Ji, Li-Jun; Spina, Roy; Zhang, Zhiyong

2012-08-01

This article examines cultural differences in how people value future and past events. Throughout four studies, the authors found that European Canadians attached more monetary value to an event in the future than to an identical event in the past, whereas Chinese and Chinese Canadians placed more monetary value to a past event than to an identical future event. The authors also showed that temporal focus-thinking about the past or future-explained cultural influences on the temporal value asymmetry effect. Specifically, when induced to think about and focus on the future, Chinese valued the future more than the past, just like Euro-Canadians; when induced to think about and focus on the past, Euro-Canadians valued the past more than the future, just like Chinese.

Advantaged group's emotional reactions to intergroup inequality: the dynamics of pride, guilt, and sympathy.

PubMed

Harth, Nicole Syringa; Kessler, Thomas; Leach, Colin Wayne

2008-01-01

Three studies establish intergroup inequality to investigate how it is emotionally experienced by the advantaged. Studies 1 and 2 examine psychology students' emotional experience of their unequal job situation with worse-off pedagogy students. When inequality is ingroup focused and legitimate, participants experience more pride. However, when inequality is ingroup focused and illegitimate, participants experience more guilt. Sympathy is increased when inequality is outgroup focused and illegitimate. These emotions have particular effects on behavioral tendencies. In Study 2 group-based pride predicts greater ingroup favoritism in a resource distribution task, whereas group-based sympathy predicts less ingroup favoritism. Study 3 replicates these findings in the context of students' willingness to let young immigrants take part in a university sport. Pride predicts less willingness to let immigrants take part whereas sympathy predicts greater willingness. Guilt is a weak predictor of behavioral tendencies in all studies. This shows the specificity of emotions experienced about intergroup inequality.

Effects of instructional focus on learning a classical ballet movement, the pirouette.

PubMed

Denardi, Renata Alvares; Corrêa, Umberto Cesar

2013-01-01

This study investigated how changes in the focus of instruction might affect the learning by individuals who are not trained dancers of a complex classical ballet movement, the pirouette. Seventy-two volunteer college students were divided into six groups according to the focus of instruction: (1.) head, (2.) arms, (3.) trunk, (4.) knees, (5.) feet, and (6.) controls. In the acquisition phase, all groups performed 160 trials, over 2 consecutive days. At the beginning of each day, they received verbal instruction regarding some of the general principles involved in performance of the pirouette and viewed a video that illustrated those principles. Each group (head, arms, etc., exclusive of controls) was then given specific directions for controlling focus on its body part while performing the movement. After a week, all participants were asked to complete a retention test, with no additional instruction. The trials were videotaped with two cameras (frontally and laterally), and the results were analyzed by 10 specially trained examiners, utilizing Movement Pattern and Error of Performance measures. They revealed that all groups improved in the acquisition phase, and the improvement was maintained in the retention test. No differences were revealed between groups. It was concluded that generalized instruction in basic principles of the movement was more effective than focus on specific body parts in the teaching and learning of the pirouette.

Psychometric Properties of the German Version of the Health Regulatory Focus Scale

PubMed Central

Schmalbach, Bjarne; Spina, Roy; Steffens-Guerra, Ileana; Franke, Gabriele H.; Kliem, Sören; Michaelides, Michalis P.; Hinz, Andreas; Zenger, Markus

2017-01-01

The Health Regulatory Focus Scale (HRFS) is a short scale which measures an individual's prevention and promotion focus in a health-specific context. The main objective of this study was to examine the psychometric properties of the newly translated German version of the HRFS. Reliability and item characteristics were found to be satisfactory. Validity of both subscales toward other psychological constructs including behavioral approach and avoidance, core self-evaluations, optimism, pessimism, neuroticism, as well as several measures of physical and mental health was shown. In addition, invariance of the measure across age and gender groups was shown. Exploratory as well as confirmatory factor analyses clearly indicated a two-factorial structure with a moderate correlation between the two latent constructs. Differences in health promotion and prevention focus between socio-demographic groups are discussed. The HRFS is found to be a valid and reliable instrument for the assessment of regulatory focus in health-related environments. PMID:29184528

Laser-nucleated acoustic cavitation in focused ultrasound.

PubMed

Gerold, Bjoern; Kotopoulis, Spiros; McDougall, Craig; McGloin, David; Postema, Michiel; Prentice, Paul

2011-04-01

Acoustic cavitation can occur in therapeutic applications of high-amplitude focused ultrasound. Studying acoustic cavitation has been challenging, because the onset of nucleation is unpredictable. We hypothesized that acoustic cavitation can be forced to occur at a specific location using a laser to nucleate a microcavity in a pre-established ultrasound field. In this paper we describe a scientific instrument that is dedicated to this outcome, combining a focused ultrasound transducer with a pulsed laser. We present high-speed photographic observations of laser-induced cavitation and laser-nucleated acoustic cavitation, at frame rates of 0.5×10(6) frames per second, from laser pulses of energy above and below the optical breakdown threshold, respectively. Acoustic recordings demonstrated inertial cavitation can be controllably introduced to the ultrasound focus. This technique will contribute to the understanding of cavitation evolution in focused ultrasound including for potential therapeutic applications. © 2011 American Institute of Physics

An Exploratory Study of Self-Regulated Learning Strategies in a Design Project by Students in Grades 9-12

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lawanto, Oenardi; Butler, Deborah; Cartier, Sylvie; Santoso, Harry; Lawanto, Kevin; Clark, David

2013-01-01

This exploratory study evaluated self-regulated learning (SRL) strategies of 27 students in grades 9-12 during an engineering design project. The specific focus of the study was on student task interpretation and its relation to planning and cognitive strategies in design activities. Two research questions guided the study: (1) To what degree was…

Conducting Causal Effects Studies in Science Education: Considering Methodological Trade-Offs in the Context of Policies Affecting Research in Schools

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Taylor, Joseph; Kowalski, Susan; Wilson, Christopher; Getty, Stephen; Carlson, Janet

2013-01-01

This paper focuses on the trade-offs that lie at the intersection of methodological requirements for causal effect studies and policies that affect how and to what extent schools engage in such studies. More specifically, current federal funding priorities encourage large-scale randomized studies of interventions in authentic settings. At the same…

Identification of Skills Standards for Entry Level Legal Office Support Staff in Urban Oklahoma: A Delphi Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Reese Ward, Tonya Maria

2010-01-01

Scope and Method of Study: The purpose of this study was to use industry experts to identify critical skills or competencies perceived by the legal profession to be required by competent team members in the legal office environment. Specifically, this study focused on fulfilling this purpose in the context of urban Oklahoma, where a large number…

["Gender-specific needs of nursing home residents" : Focus on personal hygiene].

PubMed

Heusinger, J; Dummert, S

2016-12-01

Residential nursing homes are specialized in dealing with people in need of care and are required to respect their dignity and right to self-determination. This includes the respectful handling of gender-specific needs and wishes of residents. Personal hygiene is one important area to which this applies. This study was carried out to investigate residents' gender-specific perception of life and care in nursing homes. This article focuses on unspecific and gender-specific needs in the area of personal hygiene, seeking to identify where changes are needed. Structured interviews were conducted in four nursing homes with a total of ten male and ten female residents without cognitive impairments. Content analysis and description of findings proceeded in two stages: interviewees' experiences of everyday life and care were first reconstructed before gender-specific aspects were analyzed. Both universal and gender-specific needs were identified in the area of personal hygiene. The gender-unspecific wish for respect for dignity and privacy was in some cases neglected. A need for meaningful communication and respectful relationships was also gender-unspecific. Gender-specific wishes related in particular to the gender of persons assisting with or conducting personal hygiene measures. In addition to improved perception and consideration of gender-specific needs, it is also necessary to adapt nursing in residential institutions more closely to the individual needs of residents. Further research is needed in relation to the perspectives of nursing staff and the development of participatory methods for involving residents in shaping everyday life in residential institutions.

Optimal management program for asbestos containing building materials to be available in the event of a disaster.

PubMed

Kim, Young-Chan; Hong, Won-Hwa

2017-06-01

The safe management and disposal of asbestos is a matter of considerable importance. A large number of studies have been undertaken to quantify the issue of waste management following a disaster. Nevertheless, there have been few (if any) studies concerning asbestos waste, covering the amount generated, the cost of disposal, and the degree of hazard incurred. Thus, the current study focuses on developing a program for the management of Asbestos Containing Building Materials (ACBMs), which form the source of asbestos waste in the event of a disaster. The study will also discuss a case study undertaken in a specific region in Korea in terms of: (1) the location of ACBM-containing buildings; (2) types and quantities of ACBMs; (3) the cost of ACBM disposal; (4) the amount of asbestos fiber present during normal times and during post-disaster periods; (5) the required order in which ACBM-containing buildings should be dismantled; and (6) additional greenhouse gases generated during ACBM removal. The case study will focus on a specific building, with an area of 35.34m 2 , and will analyze information concerning the abovementioned points. In addition, the case study will focus on a selected area (108 buildings) and the administrative district (21,063 buildings). The significance of the program can be established by the fact that it visibly transmits information concerning ACBM management. It is a highly promising program, with a widespread application for the safe management and optimal disposal of asbestos in terms of technology, policy, and methodology. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A Review of Similarities between Domain-Specific Determinants of Four Health Behaviors among Adolescents

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Peters, Louk W. H.; Wiefferink, Carin H.; Hoekstra, Femke; Buijs, Goof J.; ten Dam, Geert T. M.; Paulussen, Theo G. W. M.

2009-01-01

Schools are overloaded with health promotion programs that, altogether, focus on a broad array of behavioral domains, including substance abuse, sexuality and nutrition. Although the specific content of programs varies according to the domain focus, programs usually address similar concepts: knowledge, attitudinal beliefs, social influences and…

Mortality rates among Arab Americans in Michigan.

PubMed

Dallo, Florence J; Schwartz, Kendra; Ruterbusch, Julie J; Booza, Jason; Williams, David R

2012-04-01

The objectives of this study were to: (1) calculate age-specific and age-adjusted cause-specific mortality rates for Arab Americans; and (2) compare these rates with those for blacks and whites. Mortality rates were estimated using Michigan death certificate data, an Arab surname and first name list, and 2000 U.S. Census data. Age-specific rates, age-adjusted all-cause and cause-specific rates were calculated. Arab Americans (75+) had higher mortality rates than whites and blacks. Among men, all-cause and cause-specific mortality rates for Arab Americans were in the range of whites and blacks. However, Arab American men had lower mortality rates from cancer and chronic lower respiratory disease compared to both whites and blacks. Among women, Arab Americans had lower mortality rates from heart disease, cancer, stroke, and diabetes than whites and blacks. Arab Americans are growing in number. Future study should focus on designing rigorous separate analyses for this population.

Mortality Rates Among Arab Americans in Michigan

PubMed Central

Schwartz, Kendra; Ruterbusch, Julie J.; Booza, Jason; Williams, David R.

2014-01-01

The objectives of this study were to: (1) calculate age-specific and age-adjusted cause-specific mortality rates for Arab Americans; and (2) compare these rates with those for blacks and whites. Mortality rates were estimated using Michigan death certificate data, an Arab surname and first name list, and 2000 U.S. Census data. Age-specific rates, age-adjusted all-cause and cause-specific rates were calculated. Arab Americans (75+) had higher mortality rates than whites and blacks. Among men, all-cause and cause-specific mortality rates for Arab Americans were in the range of whites and blacks. However, Arab American men had lower mortality rates from cancer and chronic lower respiratory disease compared to both whites and blacks. Among women, Arab Americans had lower mortality rates from heart disease, cancer, stroke, and diabetes than whites and blacks. Arab Americans are growing in number. Future study should focus on designing rigorous separate analyses for this population. PMID:21318619

Quality control of murine monoclonal antibodies using isoelectric focusing affinity immunoblot analysis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hamilton, Robert G.; Rodkey, L. Scott; Reimer, Charles B.

1987-01-01

The quality control of murine hybridoma secretory products has been performed using two approaches for isoelectric focusing affinity immunoblot analysis: (1) a method in which antigen-coated nitrocellulose is placed on top of an acrylamide gel containing isoelectrically focused ascites to bind the antigen specific monoclonal antibody; and (2) a method in which focused ascite proteins were passively blotted onto nitrocellulose and specific monoclonal antibodies were detected with enzyme-conjugated antigen. Analysis by both methods of batches of ascites containing antihuman IgG antibodies that were produced by six hybridomas permitted effective monitoring of immunoreactive antibodies for pI microheterogeneity.

Examining sexual health differences between lesbian, gay, bisexual, and heterosexual adults: the role of sociodemographics, sexual behavior characteristics, and minority stress.

PubMed

Kuyper, Lisette; Vanwesenbeeck, Ine

2011-03-01

Many studies focus on the differences in mental health between lesbian, gay, bisexual (LGB), and heterosexual individuals. Less attention has been paid to the differences in various aspects of sexual health and the potential explanations for these differences. Data from a Dutch population study on sexual health (aged 19-70 years; N = 4,333) were used to examine the potential differences in sexual satisfaction, sexual victimization, sexual dysfunction, and sexual health care need. At the same time, this study examined whether the differences could be attributed to differences in general factors influencing sexual health (sociodemographic variables and sexual behavior characteristics) or to LGB-specific factors (minority stress). The results showed that bisexual women and bi- and homosexual men had more often experienced sexual coercion and reported a higher need for sexual health care than their heterosexual counterparts. Both general determinants (e.g., a higher number of sexual partners or being single) and LGB-specific factors (e.g., internalized homonegativity or negative social reactions related to sexual orientation) were associated with different aspects of sexual health. Interventions aimed at improving the sexual health of LGB individuals should focus on general risk factors, as well as on LGB-specific stressors. Methodological limitations of the study and implications for further research are discussed.

An exploratory study of drinkers views of health information and warning labels on alcohol containers.

PubMed

Thomson, Lisa M; Vandenberg, Brian; Fitzgerald, John L

2012-03-01

To identify general and specific features of health information warning labels on alcohol beverage containers that could potentially inform the development and implementation of a new labelling regime in Australia. Mixed methods, including a cross-sectional population survey and a qualitative study of knowledge, attitudes and behaviours regarding alcohol beverage labelling. The population survey used computer-assisted telephone interviews of 1500 persons in Victoria, Australia to gauge the level of support for health information and warning labels. The qualitative study used six focus groups to test the suitability of 12 prototype labels that were placed in situ on a variety of alcohol beverage containers. The telephone survey found 80% to 90% support for a range of information that could potentially be mandated by government authorities for inclusion on labels (nutritional information, alcohol content, health warning, images). Focus group testing of the prototype label designs found that labels should be integrated with other alcohol-related health messages, such as government social advertising campaigns, and specific labels should be matched appropriately to specific consumer groups and beverage types. There are high levels of public support for health information and warning labels on alcohol beverages. This study contributes much needed empirical guidance for developing alcohol beverage labelling strategies in an Australian context. © 2011 Australasian Professional Society on Alcohol and other Drugs.

Is knowledge important? Empirical research on nuclear risk communication in two countries.

PubMed

Perko, Tanja; Zeleznik, Nadja; Turcanu, Catrinel; Thijssen, Peter

2012-06-01

Increasing audience knowledge is often set as a primary objective of risk communication efforts. But is it worthwhile focusing risk communication strategies solely on enhancing specific knowledge? The main research questions tackled in this paper were: (1) if prior audience knowledge related to specific radiation risks is influential for the perception of these risks and the acceptance of communicated messages and (2) if gender, attitudes, risk perception of other radiation risks, confidence in authorities, and living in the vicinity of nuclear/radiological installations may also play an important role in this matter. The goal of this study was to test empirically the mentioned predictors in two independent case studies in different countries. The first case study was an information campaign for iodine pre-distribution in Belgium (N = 1035). The second was the information campaign on long-term radioactive waste disposal in Slovenia (N = 1,200). In both cases, recurrent and intensive communication campaigns were carried out by the authorities aiming, among other things, at increasing specific audience knowledge. Results show that higher prior audience knowledge leads to more willingness to accept communicated messages, but it does not affect people’s perception of the specific risk communicated. In addition, the influence of prior audience knowledge on the acceptance of communicated messages is shown to be no stronger than that of general radiation risk perception. The results in both case studies suggest that effective risk communication has to focus not only on knowledge but also on other more heuristic predictors, such as risk perception or attitudes toward communicated risks.

Genetic moderation of the association between regulatory focus and reward responsiveness: a proof-of-concept study.

PubMed

Goetz, Elena L; Hariri, Ahmad R; Pizzagalli, Diego A; Strauman, Timothy J

2013-02-01

Recent studies implicate individual differences in regulatory focus as contributing to self-regulatory dysfunction, particularly not responding to positive outcomes. How such individual differences emerge, however, is unclear. We conducted a proof-of-concept study to examine the moderating effects of genetically driven variation in dopamine signaling, a key modulator of neural reward circuits, on the association between regulatory focus and reward cue responsiveness. Healthy Caucasians (N=59) completed a measure of chronic regulatory focus and a probabilistic reward task. A common functional genetic polymorphism impacting prefrontal dopamine signaling (COMT rs4680) was evaluated. Response bias, the participants' propensity to modulate behavior as a function of reward, was predicted by an interaction of regulatory focus and COMT genotype. Specifically, self-perceived success at achieving promotion goals predicted total response bias, but only for individuals with the COMT genotype (Val/Val) associated with relatively increased phasic dopamine signaling and cognitive flexibility. The combination of success in promotion goal pursuit and Val/Val genotype appears to facilitate responding to reward opportunities in the environment. This study is among the first to integrate an assessment of self-regulatory style with an examination of genetic variability that underlies responsiveness to positive outcomes in goal pursuit.

Research Priorities in Limb and Task-Specific Dystonias.

PubMed

Pirio Richardson, Sarah; Altenmüller, Eckart; Alter, Katharine; Alterman, Ron L; Chen, Robert; Frucht, Steven; Furuya, Shinichi; Jankovic, Joseph; Jinnah, H A; Kimberley, Teresa J; Lungu, Codrin; Perlmutter, Joel S; Prudente, Cecília N; Hallett, Mark

2017-01-01

Dystonia, which causes intermittent or sustained abnormal postures and movements, can present in a focal or a generalized manner. In the limbs, focal dystonia can occur in either the upper or lower limbs and may be task-specific causing abnormal motor performance for only a specific task, such as in writer's cramp, runner's dystonia, or musician's dystonia. Focal limb dystonia can be non-task-specific and may, in some circumstances, be associated with parkinsonian disorders. The true prevalence of focal limb dystonia is not known and is likely currently underestimated, leaving a knowledge gap and an opportunity for future research. The pathophysiology of focal limb dystonia shares some commonalities with other dystonias with a loss of inhibition in the central nervous system and a loss of the normal regulation of plasticity, called homeostatic plasticity. Functional imaging studies revealed abnormalities in several anatomical networks that involve the cortex, basal ganglia, and cerebellum. Further studies should focus on distinguishing cause from effect in both physiology and imaging studies to permit focus on most relevant biological correlates of dystonia. There is no specific therapy for the treatment of limb dystonia given the variability in presentation, but off-label botulinum toxin therapy is often applied to focal limb and task-specific dystonia. Various rehabilitation techniques have been applied and rehabilitation interventions may improve outcomes, but small sample size and lack of direct comparisons between methods to evaluate comparative efficacy limit conclusions. Finally, non-invasive and invasive therapeutic modalities have been explored in small studies with design limitations that do not yet clearly provide direction for larger clinical trials that could support new clinical therapies. Given these gaps in our clinical, pathophysiologic, and therapeutic knowledge, we have identified priorities for future research including: the development of diagnostic criteria for limb dystonia, more precise phenotypic characterization and innovative clinical trial design that considers clinical heterogeneity, and limited available number of participants.

Research Priorities in Limb and Task-Specific Dystonias

PubMed Central

Pirio Richardson, Sarah; Altenmüller, Eckart; Alter, Katharine; Alterman, Ron L.; Chen, Robert; Frucht, Steven; Furuya, Shinichi; Jankovic, Joseph; Jinnah, H. A.; Kimberley, Teresa J.; Lungu, Codrin; Perlmutter, Joel S.; Prudente, Cecília N.; Hallett, Mark

2017-01-01

Dystonia, which causes intermittent or sustained abnormal postures and movements, can present in a focal or a generalized manner. In the limbs, focal dystonia can occur in either the upper or lower limbs and may be task-specific causing abnormal motor performance for only a specific task, such as in writer’s cramp, runner’s dystonia, or musician’s dystonia. Focal limb dystonia can be non-task-specific and may, in some circumstances, be associated with parkinsonian disorders. The true prevalence of focal limb dystonia is not known and is likely currently underestimated, leaving a knowledge gap and an opportunity for future research. The pathophysiology of focal limb dystonia shares some commonalities with other dystonias with a loss of inhibition in the central nervous system and a loss of the normal regulation of plasticity, called homeostatic plasticity. Functional imaging studies revealed abnormalities in several anatomical networks that involve the cortex, basal ganglia, and cerebellum. Further studies should focus on distinguishing cause from effect in both physiology and imaging studies to permit focus on most relevant biological correlates of dystonia. There is no specific therapy for the treatment of limb dystonia given the variability in presentation, but off-label botulinum toxin therapy is often applied to focal limb and task-specific dystonia. Various rehabilitation techniques have been applied and rehabilitation interventions may improve outcomes, but small sample size and lack of direct comparisons between methods to evaluate comparative efficacy limit conclusions. Finally, non-invasive and invasive therapeutic modalities have been explored in small studies with design limitations that do not yet clearly provide direction for larger clinical trials that could support new clinical therapies. Given these gaps in our clinical, pathophysiologic, and therapeutic knowledge, we have identified priorities for future research including: the development of diagnostic criteria for limb dystonia, more precise phenotypic characterization and innovative clinical trial design that considers clinical heterogeneity, and limited available number of participants. PMID:28515706

Attitudes of the Japanese public and doctors towards use of archived information and samples without informed consent: preliminary findings based on focus group interviews.

PubMed

Asai, Atsushi; Ohnishi, Motoki; Nishigaki, Etsuyo; Sekimoto, Miho; Fukuhara, Shunichi; Fukui, Tsuguya

2002-01-09

The purpose of this study is to explore laypersons' attitudes toward the use of archived (existing) materials such as medical records and biological samples and to compare them with the attitudes of physicians who are involved in medical research. Three focus group interviews were conducted, in which seven Japanese male members of the general public, seven female members of the general public and seven physicians participated. It was revealed that the lay public expressed diverse attitudes towards the use of archived information and samples without informed consent. Protecting a subject's privacy, maintaining confidentiality, and communicating the outcomes of studies to research subjects were regarded as essential preconditions if researchers were to have access to archived information and samples used for research without the specific informed consent of the subjects who provided the material. Although participating physicians thought that some kind of prior permission from subjects was desirable, they pointed out the difficulties involved in obtaining individual informed consent in each case. The present preliminary study indicates that the lay public and medical professionals may have different attitudes towards the use of archived information and samples without specific informed consent. This hypothesis, however, is derived from our focus groups interviews, and requires validation through research using a larger sample.

Emerging directions in the study of the ecology and evolution of plant-animal mutualistic networks: a review.

PubMed

Gu, Hao; Goodale, Eben; Chen, Jin

2015-03-18

The study of mutualistic plant and animal networks is an emerging field of ecological research. We reviewed progress in this field over the past 30 years. While earlier studies mostly focused on network structure, stability, and biodiversity maintenance, recent studies have investigated the conservation implications of mutualistic networks, specifically the influence of invasive species and how networks respond to habitat loss. Current research has also focused on evolutionary questions including phylogenetic signal in networks, impact of networks on the coevolution of interacting partners, and network influences on the evolution of interacting species. We outline some directions for future research, particularly the evolution of specialization in mutualistic networks, and provide concrete recommendations for environmental managers.

Preparing Special Educators for the K-12 Online Learning Environment: A Survey of Teacher Educators

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Smith, Sean J.; Basham, James; Rice, Mary F.; Carter, Richard A., Jr.

2016-01-01

Pioneering research studies in teacher preparation in online settings have taken place, yet little to no work has been done specifically focused on teacher preparation for special education and learners with disabilities. In the present study, researchers from the Center on Online Learning and Students with Disabilities conducted a web-based…

Think Tanks, "Policy Experts" and "Ideas for" Education Policy Making in Australia

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lingard, Bob

2016-01-01

This paper provides a case study of the Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) in Australia with a focus on its education policy work, specifically the report, "School funding on a budget" (SFoB). CIS is a conservative right wing advocacy think tank, established in 1976 in the aftermath of the Whitlam government's policy activism, framed…

The Immediate and Longer-Term Effectiveness of a Speech-Rhythm-Based Reading Intervention for Beginning Readers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Harrison, Emily; Wood, Clare; Holliman, Andrew J.; Vousden, Janet I.

2018-01-01

Despite empirical evidence of a relationship between sensitivity to speech rhythm and reading, there have been few studies that have examined the impact of rhythmic training on reading attainment, and no intervention study has focused on speech rhythm sensitivity specifically to enhance reading skills. Seventy-three typically developing 4- to…

Science/Technology/Society: Model Lessons for Secondary Social Studies Classes.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

LaRue, Robert D., Jr., Ed.

This volume contains 36 lessons designed to be used in secondary social studies classes to introduce the science/technology/society (STS) themes and issues. While the first 11 lessons focus on general STS themes, the other 25 lessons cover specific STS issues that fall under such categories as population growth, water resources, world hunger, food…

Motivate, Empower, Support: The Mission of the State Principal of the Year

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bean, Michael R., Jr.

2013-01-01

The purpose of this qualitative case study was to document and understand the behaviors of one state Principal of the Year that led an elementary school to excellence over a five-year period. Specifically, this study focused on the characteristics of leadership, the perceptions of stakeholders (faculty, staff, district leaders, community members,…

Exploring the relationship between outdoor recreation activities, community participation, and environmental attitudes

Treesearch

Lindsey Barker; Chad Dawson

2012-01-01

The relationship between environmental attitudes (EA) and environmentally responsible behavior (ERB) has been the focus of several studies in environmental psychology and recreation research. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between EAs and ERBs at both a general level and at an activity-specific level using a 2009 survey of motorized...

Sensitivity and Specificity of Proposed "DSM-5" Diagnostic Criteria for Autism Spectrum Disorder

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McPartland, James C.; Reichow, Brian; Volkmar, Fred R.

2012-01-01

Objective: This study evaluated the potential impact of proposed "DSM-5" diagnostic criteria for autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Method: The study focused on a sample of 933 participants evaluated during the "DSM-IV" field trial; 657 carried a clinical diagnosis of an ASD, and 276 were diagnosed with a non-autistic disorder. Sensitivity and…

Examining Approaches to Research on Self-Regulated Learning: Conceptual and Methodological Considerations

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Karabenick, Stuart A.; Zusho, Akane

2015-01-01

We provide a conceptual commentary on the articles in this special issue, first by describing the unique features of each study, focusing on what we consider to be their theoretical and methodological contributions, and then by highlighting significant crosscutting themes and future directions in the study of SRL. Specifically, we define SRL to be…

An Overview and Study on the Use of Games, Simulations, and Gamification in Higher Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wiggins, Bradley E.

2016-01-01

This article examines the use of both game-based learning (GBL) and gamification in tertiary education. This study focuses specifically on the use of games and/or simulations as well as familiarity with gamification strategies by communication faculty. Research questions concentrate on the rate, frequency, and usage of digital and non-digital…

Managing Written and Oral Negative Feedback in a Synchronous Online Teaching Situation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Guichon, Nicolas; Betrancourt, Mireille; Prie, Yannick

2012-01-01

This case study focuses on the feedback that is provided by tutors to learners in the course of synchronous online teaching. More specifically, we study how trainee tutors used the affordances of Visu, an experimental web videoconferencing system, to provide negative feedback. Visu features classical functionalities such as video and chat, and it…

Benefit-Cost Analysis of Foreign Student Flows from Developing Countries: The Case of Postgraduate Education.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Heaton, Christopher; Throsby, David

1998-01-01

Demonstrates the formulation and computation of major benefit and cost items included in an evaluation of social rates of return to foreign study. Considers incidence of measured effects between sending, host, and third countries, focusing on south/north flow of postgraduate students, specifically Fiji students studying at Australian universities.…

Does Daddy Know Best? Exploring the Relationship between Paternal Sexual Communication and Safe Sex Practices among African-American Women

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Brown, Danice L.; Rosnick, Christopher B.; Webb-Bradley, Traice; Kirner, Jonathan

2014-01-01

Parental sexual risk communication may influence women's sexual decision-making and safe sexual behaviours. While many studies have focused specifically on the influence of communication from mothers, some authors have argued for the importance of examining father-daughter sexual risk communication as well. However, few studies have empirically…

A Transnational Approach to "ReOrient" Asian Studies to Global Studies

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Marinelli, Maurizio

2007-01-01

This article is written in line with the debate on internationalisation in higher education, especially taking into consideration the connections between the rise of East Asia and the need to internationalise the universities in the West. The author focuses specifically on his professional experience as a member of the Expanding East Asian Studies…

Multiple Continua of Writing Development in a First Grade Classroom

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Eitelgeorge, Janice S.; Barrett, Robin

2004-01-01

The purpose of this yearlong study was to understand the complexities of the writing process and to specifically attend to progressions in textual development with first-grade writers. The inquiry focused for a macroview on all the children during writing workshop and for a microview on six case studies that displayed the range of literacy…

The University for Older Adults: On Cuba's Universalization of the University

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rangel, Clara Lig Long; Proenza, Antonia Zenaida Sanchez

2006-01-01

In this study we focus on a new program in Cuba, university studies for older adults or seniors. Specifically, we look at the Special Municipality of the Isla de la Juventud (Isle of Youth) in the context of the larger policy of "universalization of higher education." We provide information about Cuban perspectives on adult education,…

The Challenge of Multiple Perspectives: Multiple Solution Tasks for Students Incorporating Diverse Tools and Representation Systems

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kordaki, Maria

2015-01-01

This study focuses on the role of multiple solution tasks (MST) incorporating multiple learning tools and representation systems (MTRS) in encouraging each student to develop multiple perspectives on the learning concepts under study and creativity of thought. Specifically, two types of MST were used, namely tasks that allowed and demanded…

An Intervention-Based Model of Student Retention in Adult Learners: Factors Predicting Intention to Consider Leaving or Staying

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mooshegian, Stephanie E.

2010-01-01

The current study merges theory and research in higher education and organizational psychology in order to investigate student retention in adult learners. Factors that are associated with student retention were examined and points of intervention are recommended. Specifically, this study focuses on the role of campus environment, classroom…

Engaging Students Emotionally: The Role of Emotional Intelligence in Predicting Cognitive and Affective Engagement in Higher Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Maguire, Rebecca; Egan, Arlene; Hyland, Philip; Maguire, Phil

2017-01-01

Student engagement is a key predictor of academic performance, persistence and retention in higher education. While many studies have identified how aspects of the college environment influence engagement, fewer have specifically focused on emotional intelligence (EI). In this study, we sought to explore whether EI could predict cognitive and/or…

Contexts and Control Operations Used in Accessing List-Specific, Generalized, and Semantic Memories

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Humphreys, Michael S.; Murray, Krista L.; Maguire, Angela M.

2009-01-01

The human ability to focus memory retrieval operations on a particular list, episode or memory structure has not been fully appreciated or documented. In Experiment 1-3, we make it increasingly difficult for participants to switch between a less recent list (multiple study opportunities), and a more recent list (single study opportunity). Task…

Film as a "Thoughtful" Medium for Teaching History

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Stoddard, Jeremy D.

2012-01-01

This collective case study of teachers and students in two ninth-grade US history classes examines the role that films can play as a "thoughtful" medium for teaching history. Specifically, the study focuses on the nature and range of authentic intellectual work that students are engaged in with film in the classroom (Newmann, F., B.…

Faculty and Student Assessment of the Citadel Library User Services.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Maynard, J. Edmund

The focus of this study was a survey of faculty and student use/needs of library services and user education at Daniel Library, the Citadel, the Military College of South Carolina. More specifically, the study sought to determine user information needs and how the library staff should adapt for meeting the educational and research needs of its…

Students' Perceptions of Social Relatedness in the Classroom: The Roles of Student-Teacher Interaction Quality, Children's Aggressive Behaviors, and Peer Rejection

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Madill, Rebecca A.; Gest, Scott D.; Rodkin, Philip C.

2011-01-01

This study contributes to the literature clarifying teaching practices in elementary classrooms that promote students' social relatedness. The focus on teaching practices reflects the need to understand malleable elements of the classroom, which can then be targeted for professional development. Specifically, this study examines whether children…

Exploring the Listening Process to Inform the Development of Strategy Awareness-Raising Materials

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Blanco, Maria; Guisado, Juan J.

2012-01-01

This article reports on a small-scale qualitative study aimed at exploring the listening process in a group of Spanish beginners in a UK higher education context. The specific aim of the study was to inform the development of materials for listening strategy awareness-raising activities. The exploration was focused on identifying (a) strategies…

Havens of Hope or the Killing Fields: The Paradox of Leadership, Pedagogy, and Relationships in an Urban Middle School

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Beachum, Floyd D.; Dentith, Audrey M.; McCray, Carlos R.; Boyle, Tina M.

2008-01-01

This study focused on the actions and relationships among educators, which promoted an environment of failure or success for African American students. The researchers examined the perspectives of teachers and administrators as related to pedagogy and practice in a Midwestern urban middle school. Specifically, the study employed ethnographic…

Family Planning Legislation. Report on a Survey. EURO Reports and Studies 85.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Swartz, Barbara

This study reviews and analyzes family planning legislation in seven countries of the Mediterranean region: Greece, Italy, Morocco, Portugal, Spain, Tunisia, and Turkey. Part 1, a general review, specifically focuses on the role of religion in the development of family planning programs, laws with an indirect effect on family planning (minumum age…

Parent Explanation and Preschoolers' Exploratory Behavior and Learning in a Shadow Exhibition

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Van Schijndel, Tessa J. P.; Raijmakers, Maartje E. J.

2016-01-01

The present study fills a gap in existing visitor research by focusing on the preschool age group. The study explores relationships between parent explanation, children's exploratory behavior, and their domain-specific learning in a shadow exhibition. In addition, the effect of a preceding theater show on child and parent behaviors is examined. In…

Interdisciplinary Curriculum Empowers Cognitive Advancement to Solve Real Life Problems

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Al Husni, Noha M.; El Rouadi, Naim

2016-01-01

Interdisciplinary curriculum supports cognitive development through well planned lessons at early age. This article focuses on a specific experimental study done in 2010 on Grade 7 learners in a Lebanese private school to aid them in empowering their skills and competencies to solve a real life problem. The objective of this experimental study is…

From EAP to ESP: A Teacher's Identity Development

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chang, Karen Chung-chien

2017-01-01

In the past two decades, different aspects of teacher identity have been widely studied and discussed. However, in the field of English language teaching, the issue of identity among English for Specific Purposes (ESP) teachers seems to be an under-researched topic. This study focused on the narratives of a teacher to gain insight into her…

Comparing Creative Thinking Abilities and Reasoning Ability of Deaf and Hearing Children

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ebrahim, Fawzy

2006-01-01

This study focuses on comparing the creative thinking and reasoning abilities of deaf and hearing children. Two groups of deaf (N = 210) and hearing children (N = 200) were chosen based on specific criteria. Two instruments were used in the study: the Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking-Figural, Form A and Matrix Analogies Test. Canonical…

Traditionally Untraditional: The Career Trajectory Navigation of California Community College Women of Color Administrators

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fong-Batkin, LeAnn Gayle

2011-01-01

This qualitative study examines deeply the career trajectories of 13 women of color administrators at the dean, vice president, and president levels in the California community college (CCC) system. The study focuses particular attention on the specific opportunities and challenges that some of these women have encountered on their leadership…

Engaging Hispanic Students in Agricultural Education and the FFA: A 3-Year Case Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Roberts, T. Grady; Hall, Johnathan L.; Briers, Gary E.; Gill, Ernie; Shinn, Glen C.; Larke, Alvin, Jr.; Jaure, Paul

2009-01-01

This article describes the outcomes of field-based efforts to increase diversity in agricultural education programs and the FFA. This study focused on three schools in San Antonio, Texas. Guided by Rogers' (2003) theories of diffusion of innovations, a series of six intervention strategies was implemented: (a) provide specific FFA or agricultural…

Academic Self-Concept and Academic Achievement of African American Students Transitioning from Urban to Rural Schools

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bacon, La Shawn Catrice

2011-01-01

The relationship between academic self-concept and academic achievement in African American students who have experienced geographic mobility was the focus of this study. Specifically, this study used quantitative methods to assess African American students from counties in Iowa to obtain information about the students' relocation from urban to…

On Subject Variations in Achievement Motivations: A Study in Business Subjects

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tempelaar, Dirk T.; van der Loeff, Sybrand Schim; Gijselaers, Wim H.; Nijhuis, Jan F. H.

2011-01-01

Student achievement motivations are crucial in learning in two ways: as a determinant and an aim of learning. In this study, we focus on two related questions with regard to achievement motivations: to what extent are they subject-specific, and to what extent are they malleable? Answers to both questions are especially important when aiming to…

New GIS approaches to wild land mapping in Europe

Treesearch

Steffen Fritz; Steve Carver; Linda See

2000-01-01

This paper outlines modifications and new approaches to wild land mapping developed specifically for the United Kingdom and European areas. In particular, national level reconnaissance and local level mapping of wild land in the UK and Scotland are presented. A national level study for the UK is undertaken, and a local study focuses on the Cairngorm Mountains in...