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This study uses a statistical survey over three consecutive years to show how the first-year students of a mid-sized Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) secondary international school perceive the impact of using their own iPad on their learning. The students' perceptions show awareness of the usefulness and challenges associated with using their iPads in school life as well as at home. The students indicate several perceived benefits relating to having instant access to a variety of learning opportunities via the internet. However, they also indicate the challenges of keeping a balanced approach and avoiding overuse of their iPads inside and outside school (e.g., for gaming and social media). The original rationale for implementing the BYOD scheme did not anticipate specific benefits for students' academic outcomes (grades). However, academic performance has continued to be monitored to identify any adverse effects associated with the scheme. Students' overall academic performance has not been adversely affected since the scheme was implemented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article argues the existence of several tower windmills in 13th and 14th century England. Information on the tower mill which challenged the hegemony of the post-mill in medieval western Europe is presented. It provides an overview of the improvement of the clarification of windmill technology for both post- and tower mills.

The objective of the study was to assess the use of a computer toxicology database/clinical decision aid by clinical practitioners. The study investigated the sources that Emergency Department (ED) personnel use to obtain toxicology information and performed a quality audit of the current database. A questionnaire survey of ED staff was used in departments with access to the New Zealand Poisons Centre Substance Database (NZSD), a toxicology CD ROM computer database. Outcome measures were reported use of alternative data sources when managing clinical toxicology presentations and the qualities of the NZSD. Computer databases are commonly used for the management of clinical toxicology cases and the toxicology computer database/clinical decision aid studied is well accepted and used in Emergency Medicine practice. The users of the NZSD assessed the usability and quality of the information of the database. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Empirical studies of gender segregation by occupation must be founded on rigorous measurement procedures. There appears to be a consensus that any index used in the analysis of time-series or international cross-section employment data must be either margin-free or decomposable to yield a margin-free component. On the other hand, Charles and Grusky (1995) advocate the use of multiplicative log models from which a margin-free odds ratio can be derived. In this paper, I contrast the construction and interpretation of the index of dissimilarity and the Karmel-MacLachlan index with the multiplicative modeling of gender segregation and the associated log index. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In their paper in this issue, Grusky and Charles (1998) make a number of dubious claims about the measurement and interpretation of sex segregation. First, they incorrectly claim that only log-odds measures yield margin-free measures of segregation. Second, the estimation and testing of a limited class of log-linear models does not provide an independent test of the appropriateness of a log-odds ratio index to measure segregation. Their estimation in forms them of the statistically justifiable degree of occupational disaggregation, not whether a log-odds ratio is superior to, say, a linear index in the measurement of segregation. Finally, their index A is beset with problems of interpretation, not withstanding their arguments, and their additional measures, AW and AB, suffer similar problems. Grusky and Charles are, however, correct in arguing that measurement procedures should be margin-free. Further, I concur with the view that the adoption of a single annual summary measure of segregation cannot be justified, because it is premised on the assumption that individual occupations, or groups of occupations, exhibit similar trends in sex segregation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper the extent and change of the gender segregation of course completions across fields of study in higher education over the period 1978–94 in Australia is measured. It is argued that similar forms of measurement are appropriate in documenting changing patterns of attainment in higher education by gender, as those which are used for measuring occupational gender segregation. The issues relating to the measurement of gender segregation are briefly explored. Over the period 1978–86, women and men exhibited a more integrated distribution of course completions, as measured by the Karmel and Maclachlan index of (occupational) segregation. Although women continued to raise their share of completions over the period 1987–94, there was little change in the extent of gender segregation in aggregate, and segregation increased in Masters and Bachelors courses. Reference is also made to the impact of changes in the Higher Education Contributory Scheme in 1996 on the gender composition of undergraduate course completions. Policies designed to attract women into atypical Higher Education courses are explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Introduction:: The New Zealand National Poisons Centre has developed an extensive clinical poisons information database, TOXINZ. This resource was originally provided on a CD-Rom, and in 2002 made accessible solely via the Internet (www.toxinz.com). It was unknown whether users would prefer the CD-Rom or Internet version to access the same information. Methods:: In September 2003 a total of 100 questionnaires were mailed to the emergency departments of 15 hospitals to be answered by medical and nursing staff utilizing the Internet version of TOXINZ. The results were then compared with a nearly identical questionnaire conducted in the same way in the same hospitals when only the CD-Rom database version was available. Results:: There was a 79% response rate with both medical and nursing staff rating the poisons management recommendations highly when accessed both on CD-Rom and Internet. Statistically significant differences (p <0.05, Mann–Whitney U-test) identified the Internet accessed database as: supplying better visual aids, being more repetitive, harder to search, and more difficult to print. Conclusion:: Those developing Internet accessible databases for a healthcare environment are encouraged to incorporate robust search functionality, mobility solutions, and an ability to integrate with other healthcare applications. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This article considers the origins, application and implication of work for unemployment benefit programs in Australia. Such programs have evolved in Canada, USA, Britain, Australia, and New Zealand over the past decade. The reasons for the development of such programs and the nature of the programs in Australia are outlined. The schemes operating in Australia are then critically examined in terms of a range of criteria including human rights and their ability to generate successful transitions into full-time employment. There are wider labour market issues to explore. Namely whether workfare programs are purely a means of enforcing reciprocal obligations upon the unemployed or whether they do generate market skills that improve the chances of transition from unemployment into employment. In this context the nature, access, duration and post-program experience of the workfare programs in Australia will be explored. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]