[en] This investigation focuses on possible links between the development of critical attitude and conceptual understanding among beginning teachers. In 11 in-depth interviews with pre-service teachers, we sought their opinions about the explanatory value of a number of texts on the topic of capillary ascension. The goal was to finely analyse each participant’s transition from critical passivity to explicit critique. In processing the transcripts, we followed two lines of analysis, addressing conceptual understanding and critical attitude. Coding of the interviews centred on four main critiques of the texts. The prevalence of ‘delayed critique’—a long time interval of critical passivity or instability commonly observed for three of the four critical arguments considered a priori—aligns with previous results from studies on radiocarbon dating, survival blankets and osmosis. It also became clear that better comprehension of the phenomenon did not in itself mean that future teachers would critique an inappropriate diagram in current use. This finding suggests that when constructing a critical analysis, participants had difficulty relating a qualitative explanation of the phenomenon to how to model the situation, as confirmed by the triggering effect of a new diagram introduced by the interviewer. The paper concludes by discussing the implications for teachers’ formation and for future research. (paper)

[en] In this work, we developed a self-organizing map (SOM) technique for using web-based text analysis to forecast when a group is undergoing a phase change. By 'phase change', we mean that an organization has fundamentally shifted attitudes or behaviors. For instance, when ice melts into water, the characteristics of the substance change. A formerly peaceful group may suddenly adopt violence, or a violent organization may unexpectedly agree to a ceasefire. SOM techniques were used to analyze text obtained from organization postings on the world-wide web. Results suggest it may be possible to forecast phase changes, and determine if an example of writing can be attributed to a group of interest.

[en] Full text of publication follows. Objective: the hospital rooms for radioiodine ablation of differentiated thyroid carcinoma are designed according to radiation safety lows where patients have to remain isolated. The aim of the present study is to investigate depression and anxiety levels of the patients associated with hospitalization experience for radioiodine ablation. Methods: 30 patients (8 M, 22 F; mean: 45±13 years old) with differentiated thyroid carcinoma were included into study. After withdrawal of thyroid hormone replacement at least for 3 weeks, the patients were subject of the ablation treatment. After routine psychiatric examination Hamilton Anxiety and Depression scales were administered to the patients before and after complement of hospitalization for 1-3 days. Results: according to the statistical analysis there was not any significant difference between Hamilton depression and anxiety scores and state and trait anxiety scores of the patients before and after treatment (P>0.05). However, 18 patients had depression, with major depression of six, and 21 had high anxiety levels, according to Hamilton Depression and Anxiety Scales. Conclusion: Although the patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma do not experience anxiety or depression related to the hospitalization itself for radioiodine ablation they might frequently have depression or anxiety just before the treatment. (authors)

[en] The dynamics of the spatial motion of a nanosatellite with a movable module tilted relative to the main body is considered. Control laws are developed to implement attitude dynamics with suppressing the precession-nutational motion, as well to bringing the nanosatellite into a predefined spatial orientation. (paper)

[en] Recent scholarship has thoroughly documented climate change attitudes within the majority of the English-speaking countries of the USA, the UK, Canada, and Australia. In these nations, political identity is widely recognized as a uniquely powerful predictor of climate change attitudes and, at least in the USA, several studies have found that education moderates the effect of political identity. The cross-national dynamics of climate change attitudes and political identity are not well-characterized, particularly in nations with a history of state socialism. In this manuscript, we consider the role of political and free market ideological polarization around climate change within Anglophone, Western European, and post-Communist states. Further, we investigate education as a moderator of political and ideological factors cross-nationally. We suggest that, in comparison to Western European and post-Communist states, the role of political and ideological polarization in Anglophone states is exceptional in shaping climate change attitudes. Using data for 20 countries in the 2010 ISSP Environmental Module, we find that the effect of party affiliation and free market ideology on the perception of climate change’s danger and importance is strongest in Anglophone states, more modest in Western European countries, and limited within post-Communist states. Further, education moderates most intensely in Anglophone states. Our results suggest that there is something exceptional occurring within Anglophone states with regard to political polarization and climate change attitudes.

[en] According to numerous surveys the perceived risk of nanotechnology is low and most people feel that the benefits outweigh the risks. This article provides greater insight into risk perception and concludes that the positive attitude to nanotechnology is based not on knowledge but on hope and fascination. The perceived risk is low because of a lack of vivid and frightening images of possible hazards. If news flashes were to link nanotechnology to concrete hazards or actual harm to people, attitudes might suddenly change. Risk communication faces the problem of dealing with a public at large that has little or no knowledge about the technology. As it takes time and extensive additional research to develop appropriate communication strategies and disseminate them to the relevant institutions, this exercise should be started immediately.

[en] This paper considers the utility of each player consisting of two parts: the objective utility and subjective utilities. We assume that a player obtains its objective utility from the interactions with its neighbors in the spatial population. Besides, the subjective utility, which is largely ignored by previous studies, is determined by its attitudes. Here, we focus on how attitudes affect the evolution of cooperation on two different complex networks, the namely square lattice and Barabási–Albert scale-free network. First, the simulations indicate that populations with a higher average attitude can achieve a higher level of cooperation. Furthermore, a positive average attitude is conducive to promoting cooperation, while a negative average attitude leads to a decline in cooperation. Moreover, in populations with a positive average attitude, as the attitude heterogeneity increases, the average level of cooperation decreases. Conversely, in populations with a negative average attitude, increased attitude heterogeneity induces the promotion of cooperation. (paper)

[en] MSCSG (Magnetically Suspended Control & Sensing Gyroscope) is a new type of gyroscope which combines attitude control with attitude measurement. Firstly, the structure characteristics of the magnetic suspension control sensitive gyroscope are analyzed. On this basis, the dynamic model of MSCSG is established and calculated and simplified. Thus, the two degree of freedom attitude measurement method based on MSCSG is improved. Finally, the validity of the measurement method is verified by experiments. The experimental results show that the improved two degree of freedom attitude measurement method is effective and feasible. (paper)

No abstract available

[en] Purpose: This paper presents the results of a study undertaken to investigate how Australian radiation therapists define fitness to practise. Method: A qualitative approach was taken to data collection with focus groups being employed to gather the data. Analysis was informed by grounded theory. Following ethics approval, three homogeneous focus groups were conducted comprising a total of 21 participants, with 5-8 participants per group. The discussions were transcribed, verified by the researcher and participants, then unitised, coded and a sample checked by a second coder. Findings: There was no consensus on the definition of fitness to practise. The terms professionalism and competence were used interchangeably in some definitions. Four themes emerged from the data, these were; fitness as a continuum (individual differences and longevity in the profession), fitness as behaviour and conduct (professionalism and competence), fitness as a state of mind (attitudes and intangible elements) and fitness as being qualified (course completion means fitness to practise). Three concepts which were not raised were illegal behaviour, impaired practice and dose errors. Conclusion: There is no consensus among radiation therapists about fitness to practise. There was confusion with how Fitness to practise relates to professionalism and competence with little mention of how impairment is interwoven into the notion of fitness to practise. Without an unambiguous definition and robust criteria, making the 'judgement call' as to whether a practitioners' fitness to practise is impaired will continue to be a challenge for educators, departmental managers and registration boards.