Mindfulness-based stress reduction intervention for elementary school teachers: a mixed method study.

BACKGROUND: In the Netherlands, more than half of the teachers working in primary education experience high levels of work stress. Compared to other professions, teachers are more likely to drop out from work and develop mental illnesses. Almost one in five even choose a new profession within 5 years after starting as a teacher. This indicates an urgent need for interventions to reduce stress levels in teachers. However, few evidence-based effective interventions targeting stress and work-related problems in the primary educational system are available. AIM: In the current paper, we describe the protocol for a randomized controlled study (RCT) comparing an 8-week mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) intervention with a wait list control condition in primary school teachers. We hypothesize that teachers who participate in the MBSR programme will report less stress (primary outcome) than those in the control group at post-test and at 3-month follow-up. We also expect a decrease in teachers' absenteeism and improvements of mental health, teacher skills, classroom climate quality and the pupil-teacher relationship (secondary outcomes). Finally, we hypothesize that self-compassion, mindfulness skills and emotion regulation skills could mediate effects. METHODS/DESIGN: A mixed-method study will be conducted among N=155 Dutch primary school teachers (grade 1 to 6). The quantitative study will be an RCT, in which teachers will be randomly allocated to the MBSR or waiting list control condition. Trial participants will not be made actively aware of their condition. The data analysts will be blinded. Online questionnaires will be sent to teachers before and after the MBSR programme, and at 3-month follow-up. Information about absenteeism will be collected. In the qualitative part of the study, we will interview teachers to examine their perceived effects of MBSR on their teaching skills, the classroom climate quality and the pupil-teacher relationship. DISCUSSION: This protocol paper describes a mixed-method study design with an RCT and a qualitative evaluation to evaluate an MBSR programme on perceived stress among primary school teachers. If the MBSR programme proves to be effective, it could be implemented as a programme to reduce stress and improve mental health and teaching outcomes in primary school teachers. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Nederland Trial Register NL. Registered on 19 November 2019-retrospectively registered, https://www.trialregister.nl/trial/8171.

Enhancing Social Inclusion of Children With Externalizing Problems Through Classroom Seating Arrangements: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Inclusive education has brought new challenges for teachers, including the search for a suitable place in the classroom for children with externalizing problems. In the current study, we examined whether a careful rearrangement of the classroom seats could promote social acceptance and more prosocial behaviors for children with externalizing problems, and limit the potential negative consequences for classmates sitting next to them. The sample of this randomized controlled trial consisted of 64 classrooms with 221 fourth- to sixth-grade children selected by their teachers because of elevated levels of externalizing behavior. Results showed that over time children with externalizing behavior were better liked by their seatmates and showed fewer externalizing problems according to the teacher. This was particularly the case when students sat next to a well-liked and prosocial buddy, or when they were initially disliked. Classmates who sat next to a child with externalizing problems did not become more aggressive or less prosocial over time. Yet their social status did decrease slightly over time as a result of the rearrangement. We discuss implications and future directions for research on classroom seating arrangements to support children with externalizing problems.

Self-consistent interpretation of the 2D structure of the liquid Au82Si18 surface: bending rigidity and the Debye-Waller effect.

The structural and mechanical properties of 2D crystalline surface phases that form at the surface of liquid eutectic Au82Si18 are studied using synchrotron x-ray scattering over a large temperature range. In the vicinity of the eutectic temperature the surface consists of a 2D atomic bilayer crystalline phase that transforms into a 2D monolayer crystalline phase during heating. The latter phase eventually melts into a liquidlike surface on further heating. We demonstrate that the short wavelength capillary wave fluctuations are suppressed due to the bending rigidity of 2D crystalline phases. The corresponding reduction in the Debye-Waller factor allows for measured reflectivity to be explained in terms of an electron density profile that is consistent with the 2D surface crystals.

Stabilization of the misfit layer compound (PbS)1.13TaS2 by metal cross substitution.

Photoemission microspectroscopy on the layered misfit compound (PbS)1.13TaS2 provides direct evidence for Ta substitution into PbS layers as well as for Pb substitution into TaS2 layers. This metal cross substitution alters the charge balance between alternating layers and can explain the remarkable stability of (PbS)1.13TaS2 and, possibly, of analogous misfit compounds. It is suggested that even formally stoichiometric misfit compounds can be stabilized by this mechanism.

A high-resolution core-level photoemission study of the Au/4H-SiC(0001)-([Formula: see text]) interface.

We present a systematic study of different reconstructions obtained after deposition of Au on the [Formula: see text]-4H-SiC(0001) surface. For 1-2 monolayers (ML) Au and annealing temperature T(anneal)∼675 °C, a 3 × 3 reconstruction was observed. For 4 ML Au and T(anneal)∼650 °C, a [Formula: see text] reconstruction appeared, while 5 ML Au annealed at 700 °C reconstructed to give a [Formula: see text] pattern. From the Si 2p and Au 4f core-level components, we propose interface models, depending on the amount of Au on the surface and the annealing temperature. For 1-4 ML Au annealed at 650-675 °C, gold diffuses under the topmost Si into the SiC and forms a silicide. An additional Si component in our Si 2p spectra is related to the interface between the silicide and SiC. For 5 ML Au annealed at 700 °C, silicide is also formed at the surface, covering unreacted Au on top of the SiC substrate. The interface Si component is also observed in the Si 2p spectra of this surface. The key role in [Formula: see text]-4H-SiC(0001) interface formation is played by diffusion and the silicon-richness of the surface.

Cortical injury impairs contralateral forelimb immobility during swimming: a simple test for loss of inhibitory motor control.

Most animal models of focal injury to the sensorimotor cortex have been aimed at detecting non-use or impairment of the limbs in specific tasks or during spontaneous exploratory behaviors. However, the inability to hold a limb still can be an equally disabling movement disorder. The present study investigated the loss of control of limb immobility that occurs following damage to the forelimb region of the rat sensorimotor cortex (FL-SMC). When swimming forward in a tank of water, adult rats typically hold both forepaws mostly motionless underneath the chin, using primarily the hindlimbs for stroking movements. Following a unilateral FL-SMC lesion, rats hold only the non-impaired forelimb immobile under the chin, and make 'immature' stroking movements with the impaired forelimb. We have devised a simple means of assessing and quantifying this deficit. While the criterion for most tests of motor recovery involves appropriate movement of an impaired limb, this test depends on adequate inhibition of movement as the norm, and may be a useful way to assess the loss of inhibitory motor control and the efficacy of potential restorative interventions.

Characterization of organic extracts from standard reference materials 1649, 'urban dust/organics,' and 1650, 'diesel particulate matter', using a microsuspension assay. A WHO/IPCS/CSCM study.

Mutagenicity associated with replicate organic extracts from standard reference materials 1649 'urban dust/organics' (air particles), and 1650, 'diesel particulate matter' (diesel particles), was determined using a Salmonella microsuspension assay. The results indicate that the mutagenicity of samples such as these can readily be determined using the microsuspension assay with only 5% of the mass required for the standard plate incorporation assay. In general, 80% of the variation in mutagenic activity was due to the bioassay procedure and 20% to the extraction process. Extracts from both samples had primarily direct-acting mutagenicity as there were no significant differences in responses with and without metabolic activation (S9). The TA98-S9 mean air particles mutagenic activities (C.V., %) based on mass of extractable organics or particles were 4.4 (4.7%) and 0.29 (3.6%) revertants/micrograms, respectively, and for the diesel particles were 66 (44%) and 12 (29%) revertants/microgram, respectively. More of the observed direct-acting mutagenicity in the diesel particles extracts was due to nitro-substituted compounds because there were significant reductions in activity with TA98NR (45% of TA98 -S9) and TA98-1,8-DNP6 (21% of TA98 -S9). In the air particles extracts, the TA98NR activities were not significantly different from TA98 -S9 but the TA98-1,8-DNP6 levels were.

Exercise training enhances leg vasodilatory capacity of 65-yr-old men and women.

To determine whether extremity vasodilatory capacity may be augmented in older persons by endurance exercise training, lower leg blood flow and conductance were characterized plethysmographically at rest and during maximal hyperemia in 9 men and 10 women aged 64 +/- 3 (SD) yr before and after 31 +/- 6 wk of walking and jogging at 70-90% of maximal oxygen uptake for 45 min 3-5 days/wk. Maximal oxygen uptake expressed as milliliters per kilogram per minute improved 25% in men and 21% in women (P less than 0.01). Maximal leg blood flow and conductance increased in all nine men by an average of 39 +/- 33 (P less than 0.001) and 42 +/- 44% (P less than 0.004), respectively. Results were more variable in women and achieved unequivocal statistical significance only for maximal blood flow (+33 +/- 54% for blood flow and +29 +/- 55% for conductance; P less than 0.02 and P = 0.05, respectively). Body weight and skinfold adiposity declined in both sexes (P less than 0.05). Enhancement of vasodilatory capacity was related to weight loss in men and adipose tissue loss in women (r = 0.61 and 0.51, respectively; P less than 0.05). There were no significant changes in exercise capacity, body weight, or maximal blood flow in four male and three female controls aged 66 +/- 4 yr. Thus adaptability of the lower limb circulation to endurance exercise training is retained to at least age 65 yr.