The researcher role in the attitude-behaviour gap

In the green consumer behaviour literature the attitude-behaviour gap is well-established. Studies show that although people condone environmentally friendly actions, their green attitudes do not necessarily translate into green behaviours. Even when green behaviours are reported, this is not borne out by sales figures or recycling rates. The attitude-behaviour gap has been debated across disciplines researching different aspects of green consumer behaviour, such as recycling, purchasing green energy, or household goods. Researchers have debated how attitudes and behaviours may be related or unrelated. Within the field of sustainable tourism researchers have used these ideas to investigate tourist attitudes and behaviours with respect to flying. Our research falls within this tradition. Data from two studies of the flying behaviour of green consumers have raised the question of whether researchers are erroneously equating attitudes with behaviour because of how questions are presented and data are interpreted. We contend that this may be contributing to the attitude-behaviour gap

Rich methane laminar flames doped with light unsaturated hydrocarbons. Part II: 1,3butadiene

In line with the study presented in the part I of this paper, the structure of a laminar rich premixed methane flame doped with 1,3-butadiene has been investigated. The flame contains 20.7% (molar) of methane, 31.4% of oxygen and 3.3% of 1,3-butadiene, corresponding to an equivalence ratio of 1.8, and a ratio C4H6 / CH4 of 16 %. The flame has been stabilized on a burner at a pressure of 6.7 kPa using argon as dilutant, with a gas velocity at the burner of 36 cm/s at 333 K. The temperature ranged from 600 K close to the burner up to 2150 K. Quantified species included usual methane C0-C2 combustion products and 1,3-butadiene, but also propyne, allene, propene, propane, 1,2-butadiene, butynes, vinylacetylene, diacetylene, 1,3-pentadiene, 2-methyl-1,3-butadiene (isoprene), 1-pentene, 3-methyl-1-butene, benzene and toluene. In order to model these new results, some improvements have been made to a mechanism previously developed in our laboratory for the reactions of C3-C4 unsaturated hydrocarbons. The main reaction pathways of consumption of 1,3-butadiene and of formation of C6 aromatic species have been derived from flow rate analyses. In this case, the C4 route to benzene formation plays an important role in comparison to the C3 pathway

Changing Attitudes About Spanking Among Conservative Christians Using Interventions that Focus on Empirical Research Evidence and Alternative Biblical Interpretations

To determine how brief interventions that include either empirical research evidence about spanking, alternative biblical interpretations related to spanking, or both, affect college students’ attitudes and intentions about spanking. A sample of 129 college students (70% female; 30% male; Mage = 19) attending a private, Christian, liberal arts, university were randomly assigned to one of three intervention conditions: 1) Research Only, 2) Religion Only, or Research and Religion. Four weeks prior to the intervention sessions, students completed a Demographic Form, the Religious Fundamentalism Scale, and the Attitudes Toward Spanking (ATS) scale. Following the intervention, students completed the ATS scale a second time. A two-way ANOVA indicated a significant main effect for the intervention condition and an interaction effect between intervention condition and religious fundamentalism, indicating that ATS change scores were impacted most significantly by the Research and Religion intervention condition (F (2, 123)=4.05, p=.02) with ATS scores demonstrating the greatest change within the Religious Fundamentalism Group in that condition (F (2, 123)=4.50, p=.01). A second two-way ANOVA indicated a significant main effect for conservative Protestantism (F (2, 123) =4.39, p=.04) but not for conservative Protestantism and their interaction. A brief intervention focusing on both empirical research on the effects of spanking as well as alternative biblical interpretations to scripture can reduce positive attitudes toward, and intentions to use, spanking. This study has implications for decreasing spanking use among Conservative Christians and for the development of training programs to reduce parents’ use of spanking as a disciplinary strategy

Collecting system percutaneous access using real-time tracking sensors : first pig model in vivo experience

PURPOSE: Precise needle puncture of the renal collecting system is an essential but challenging step for successful percutaneous nephrolithotomy. We evaluated the efficiency of a new real-time electromagnetic tracking system for in vivo kidney puncture. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Six anesthetized female pigs underwent ureterorenoscopy to place a catheter with an electromagnetic tracking sensor into the desired puncture site and ascertain puncture success. A tracked needle with a similar electromagnetic tracking sensor was subsequently navigated into the sensor in the catheter. Four punctures were performed by each of 2 surgeons in each pig, including 1 each in the kidney, middle ureter, and right and left sides. Outcome measurements were the number of attempts and the time needed to evaluate the virtual trajectory and perform percutaneous puncture. RESULTS: A total of 24 punctures were easily performed without complication. Surgeons required more time to evaluate the trajectory during ureteral than kidney puncture (median 15 seconds, range 14 to 18 vs 13, range 11 to 16, p=0.1). Median renal and ureteral puncture time was 19 (range 14 to 45) and 51 seconds (range 45 to 67), respectively (p=0.003). Two attempts were needed to achieve a successful ureteral puncture. The technique requires the presence of a renal stone for testing. CONCLUSIONS: The proposed electromagnetic tracking solution for renal collecting system puncture proved to be highly accurate, simple and quick. This method might represent a paradigm shift in percutaneous kidney access techniques.Supported by the Foundation for Science and Technology-Portugal Fellowships SFRH/BD/ 74276/2010 and SFRH/BPD/46851/2008, and Foundation for Science and Technology-Portugal Research and Development Projects PTDC/SAUBEB/ 103368/2008 and PTDC/SAU-OSM/105578/2008 FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-011363

Internal knowledge transfer: professional development programmes and embedding real world learning for full-time undergraduates

Perrin, Hancock and Miller provide a discussion of the distinctive features of negotiated work-based learning frameworks that help capture and develop learning for part-time students who are professional practitioners. They demonstrate how approaches to teaching, learning and assessment established in these frameworks can also be leveraged for programmes aimed at full-time undergraduate students wishing to engage with ‘real world’ learning. In this way, full-time students are able to develop the type of professional practice outlooks and skills redolent of part-time students already in employment. The chapter includes two case studies of where this has occurred in UK universities and the methods that were used for this type of internal knowledge transfer

Autoregulation of the Escherichia coli melR promoter: repression involves four molecules of MelR

The Escherichia coli MelR protein is a transcription activator that autoregulates its own promoter by repressing transcription initiation. Optimal repression requires MelR binding to a site that overlaps the melR transcription start point and to upstream sites. In this work, we have investigated the different determinants needed for optimal repression and their spatial requirements. We show that repression requires a complex involving four DNA-bound MelR molecules, and that the global CRP regulator plays little or no role

Simulations of electromagnetic effects in high frequency capacitively coupled discharges using the Darwin approximation

The Darwin approximation is investigated for its possible use in simulation of electromagnetic effects in large size, high frequency capacitively coupled discharges. The approximation is utilized within the framework of two different fluid models which are applied to typical cases showing pronounced standing wave and skin effects. With the first model it is demonstrated that Darwin approximation is valid for treatment of such effects in the range of parameters under consideration. The second approach, a reduced nonlinear Darwin approximation-based model, shows that the electromagnetic phenomena persist in a more realistic setting. The Darwin approximation offers a simple and efficient way of carrying out electromagnetic simulations as it removes the Courant condition plaguing explicit electromagnetic algorithms and can be implemented as a straightforward modification of electrostatic algorithms. The algorithm described here avoids iterative schemes needed for the divergence cleaning and represents a fast and efficient solver, which can be used in fluid and kinetic models for self-consistent description of technical plasmas exhibiting certain electromagnetic activity

Bolstering Confidence in Obesity Prevention and Treatment Counseling for Resident and Community Pediatricians

Objective- To assess whether equipping resident pediatricians and community pediatricians with both training and practical tools improves their perceived confidence, ease, and frequency of obesity related counseling to patients. Methods- In 2005-2006, resident pediatricians (n = 49) and community pediatricians (n=18) received training regarding three evidence-based obesity prevention/treatment tools and responded to pre-and post-intervention questionnaires. We analyzed changes in reported mean confidence, ease, and frequency of dietary, physical activity, and weight status counseling. Results- Baseline scores of confidence, ease, and frequency of counseling were higher in community pediatricians than residents. Mean scores increased significantly in the combined group, among residents only, and trended towards improvement in the community pediatricians following the intervention. Means for "control" questions were unchanged. Conclusion- Training and tools for residents and community pediatricians improved their confidence, ease, and frequency of obesity-related counseling. Practice Implications- This study demonstrates that when feasible and appropriate tools and training were provided through a simple intervention, physicians gained confidence and ease and increased their counseling frequency. The results here suggest that widespread implementation of such educational interventions for community practitioners and practitioners in training could change the way physicians counsel patients to prevent the often frustrating problem of childhood obesity. Originally published Patient Education and Counseling, Vol. 73, No. 2, Nov 200

Antikaon Production in Proton-Nucleus Reactions and the K−K^- properties in nuclear matter

We calculate the momentum-dependent potentials for $K^+$ and $K^-$ mesons in a dispersion approach at nuclear density $\rho_0$ using the information from the vacuum $K^+ N$ and $K^- N$ scattering amplitudes, however, leaving out the resonance contributions for the in-medium analysis. Whereas the $K^+$ potential is found to be repulsive ($\approx$ + 30 MeV) and to show only a moderate momentum dependence, the $K^-$ selfenergy at normal nuclear matter density turns out to be $\approx$ - 200 MeV at zero momentum in line with kaon atomic data, however, decreases rapidly in magnitude for higher momenta. The antikaon production in p + A reactions is calculated within a coupled transport approach and compared to the data at KEK including different assumptions for the antikaon potentials. Furthermore, detailed predictions are made for $p + ^{12}C$ and $p + ^{207}Pb$ reactions at 2.5 GeV in order to determine the momentum dependent antikaon potential experimentally.Comment: 27 pages, LaTeX, including 14 ps-figures, UGI-98-1