Information overload within the health care system: a literature review

There is a widespread view held by health clinicians that their work effectiveness is impaired by 'information overload.' Building upon a previous work by Wilson, a review of the literature was undertaken to look for the evidence of this. It was found that the literature, particularly in the context of the clinical environment, was limited. This review explores the diverse overarching theories of information overload, effects of the phenomenon that are perceived to occur and proposed solutions to this problem. Many of the papers noted an information explosion but only three authors explicitly attempted to measure both the quantity and the complexity of this information. It was also found that the typology of the information studied was severely limited with most studies exploring information such as guidelines, access to journals, research findings and other knowledge intensive areas. Solutions proposed seem to concentrate on technological means rather than exploring the use of humans either in management of information or as a step in the filtering process.     

Creativity and Picture Books

Where authors and illustrators exercise rigorous constraint with their texts, with neither replicating the work that the other can portray more effectively, they are at their most creative and they make picture books to which readers are repeatedly drawn because of the inherent and deeply satisfying challenges offered. Moreover, the allure is not just to children; teachers find that such texts draw from them their most creative ideas for ways of working with children. Three picture books are examined in terms of their strengths and potential activities. Conclusions are drawn which seek to justify the sharing of such picture books in terms of imaginative empowerment and lasting messages about reading.     

A preliminary investigation into the nature of shock absorbency in synthetic sports materials

Tests were conducted on three athletic shoe midsole materials and on three synthetic sports surfaces. All specimens were found to absorb energy when loaded. For a specific maximum load the amount of energy absorbed by each material was found to decrease as the load application rate increased. The materials exhibited different capacities to dissipate energy under the application of the same impulse. This may be a consideration for the injury protection afforded. The development of rheological models from the results of the tests aided an explanation of how force is resisted and energy absorbed by synthetic sports materials. Their shock absorbing properties were associated with the rheological elements of elasticity and viscosity.     

Women, Literacy and Citizenship: A Critique

This paper examines the recent increase in the concern of adult literacy for citizenship, especially aimed at women in developing societies. It looks at what is happening in this field and why; it examines some of the critiques of this range of activity; and it suggests some alternatives which in the end may be more effective in promoting both literacy learning and the practices of citizenship among women.