The impact of electric overhead radiant heating on the indoor environment of historic churches

The impact of electric overhead radiant heaters on the microclimate, air flows, transport and deposition of suspended particulate matter (SPM) was monitored between March 2004 and March 2005 in the historic churches of Saint Michael Archangel in Szalowa and Saint Catherine in Cracow (Poland). The measurements show that although irradiation at the floor level increases temperature and reduces relative humidity in the interior of the church, the effect out of the heated zone and for the surfaces sheltered from irradiation is very limited, i.e. their extent is comparable with natural fluctuations inherent to the local climate of the church. The radiant heaters proved to generate little convectional flow of the air. Therefore, the heating system was not found to increase the concentration of SPM indoors; in particular, no re-suspension of particles already present in the church was observed. This work has demonstrated that the overhead radiant heaters are capable of providing localised heat to the areas where people congregate without adversely affecting painted walls and the works of arts displayed in churches. Care, however, should be taken that sensitive works of art are not exposed to the direct infrared radiation.     

The interest of Bavarian primary school pupils in geographical topics and methods – selected results of an empirical survey

Interest is a central learning prerequisite for teaching. The article deals with a survey among 1600 primary school pupils in forms 2, 3 and 4 (ages 7–10) in the German federal state of Bavaria who were interviewed on their interest in geographical topics and working methods. They were given a questionnaire including 40 items to indicate their individual interest on a five-point Likert scale. The results show that the subscale ‘natural disaster' generates the highest interest, followed by ‘phenomena of geoscience' and ‘people and peoples'. The interest in all three subscales decreases with increasing age. Furthermore, several gender-specific differences occur. Among the working methods, experimenting, films and computers hold the first three places whilst again showing significant differences concerning age group as well as gender.     

Human dignity within teacher education: A matter of individualism, competitiveness, and strategic rationality

Human dignity is a grand concept that is assumed to play an important role in education. However, no widely accepted universal definition of human dignity exists. The aim of this study was to examine the Discourse of Human Dignity within teacher education, especially with respect to how Swedish teacher educators make meaning of the concept of human dignity. Findings show that four subdiscourses are involved in the Discourse of Human Dignity within teacher education. These discursive constructions are influences by outcomes of, for example, life-science research, and British and/or American media discourses.     

A longitudinal study of religious identity and participation during adolescence

To examine the development of religious identity during the teenage years, adolescents (N = 477) from Latin American, Asian, and European backgrounds completed questionnaires in the 10th, 11th, and 12th grades (10th grade age: M = 15.81, SD = 0.36). Results indicated that religious identity remained stable across high school whereas religious participation declined. Even after controlling for ethnic differences in religious affiliation, socioeconomic background, and generational status, adolescents from Latin American and Asian backgrounds reported higher levels of religious identity and adolescents from Latin American backgrounds reported higher rates of religious participation. Within individual adolescents, changes in religious identity were associated with changes in ethnic and family identities, suggesting important linkages in the development of these social identities during adolescence.     

Trait anxiety and final degree performance at the University of Oxford

A questionnaire was administered to 1,929 applicants to Oxford University, including measures of trait anxiety, behavioural response to examinations and to breakdown in relationships. 635 of these applicants were admitted to the university and of these, 383 also responded to a questionnaire administered 4 years later, just before their final examinations. The classification (first, upper and lower second, third class) and marks in the final examinations were obtained and the relationship between the personality measures and academic performance were calculated. Women showed higher anxiety scores than men at both times of testing. Women who obtained the best (first class) degrees scored significantly higher on anxiety than those who performed less well. In contrast, there was no such difference in men. Explanations for anxiety having a facilitatory effect on academic performance of women at Oxford University are proposed.     

Anatomical Sciences Education Vol. 4, Issue 3, 2011 Cover Image

Medical Gross Anatomy lecture at the University of Padova, Italy. Gross Anatomy at the University of Padova is taught utilizing both traditional and technological resources, which are integrated with practical laboratory exercises (mainly on plastic models and plastinated specimens) as well as radiological anatomy. In this issue of ASE, Dr. Veronica Macchi and her colleagues from the Department of Human Anatomy and Physiology at the University of Padova discuss an innovative pilot project with their University Hospital in which they obtain body parts removed from patients during surgical procedures and utilize them for gross anatomy education. The cover photograph shows one of the co‐authors of this paper, Professor Raffaele De Caro and his students, performing dissection of the distal forearm and hand in the anatomy lecture theater at the University of Padova.     

基于LMDI的南京市工业经济能源消费碳排放实证分析

工业经济的能源消费是碳排放的主要来源,研究城市工业经济能耗碳排放的特征和影响城市工业经济能耗碳排放的因素具有很强的代表性。本文以南京市为例,首先从碳排放总量和碳排放强度等指标分析了2000年-2009年南京市工业经济碳排放现状和特征,然后运用LMDI方法构建了南京市工业经济能耗碳排放因素分解模型,定量分析了2000年-2009年间产业规模、能源强度、能源结构和能源排放强度四个影响因素对南京市工业经济碳排放的影响。研究结果表明,产业规模效益是南京市工业经济碳排放增长的主要促进因素,能源强度效应是南京市工业经济碳排放增长的主要抑制因素,能源结构效应和能源排放强度效应对南京市工业能源结构效应没有明显变化。在此基础上,提出了减排的相关政策建议。