Queensland's music outcomes: building pedagogical bridges

This paper discusses the challenges surrounding the implementation of the Music strand of the new syllabus for secondary teachers within the context of emerging trends in pedagogical reform in Queensland, and identifies several areas where research is needed to inform classroom music teaching practice and to guide teacher training programs. Secondary music teachers (Years 8-10) have not had the same systemic, school-based curriculum guidance that was given to teachers in years 1-7. This has resulted in a plethora of teaching and learning practices in lower secondary classrooms, many of which may be more experiential than developmental in approach and which may have little reference to the types of music programs common in primary classrooms.

The gap equations for spin singlet and triplet ferromagnetic superconductors

We derive gap equations for superconductivity in coexistence with ferromagnetism. We treat singlet and triplet states With either equal spin pairing (ESP) or opposite spin pairing (OSP) states, and study the behaviour of these states as a function of exchange splitting. For the s-wave singlet state we find that our gap equations correctly reproduce the Clogston-Chandrasekhar limiting behaviour and the phase diagram of the Baltensperger-Sarma equation (excluding the FFLO region). The singlet superconducting order parameter is shown to be independent of exchange splitting at zero temperature, as is assumed in the derivation of the Clogston-Chandrasekhar limit. P-wave triplet states of the OSP type behave similarly to the singlet state as a function of exchange splitting. On the other hand, ESP triplet states show a very different behaviour. In particular, there is no Clogston-Chandrasekhar limiting and the superconducting critical temperature, T-C, is actually increased by exchange splitting.

Lithium for schizophrenia revisited: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Background: Clinicians frequently use lithium to augment antipsychotic medication in schizophrenia. Therefore, we undertook a systematic review and meta-analysis of the use of lithium in the treatment of schizophrenia. Data sources and study selection: Randomized controlled trials examining lithium (as a sole or an adjunctive compound) in participants with schizophrenia or related disorders were searched in the register of the Cochrane Schizophrenia Group. No language restrictions were applied. The Boolean phrase [lithium* or lithicarb or eskalith or lithobid or lithane or cibalith-s or quilonum or hypnorex] was used to locate articles. The search strategy initially identified 90 references. The authors of the included studies were contacted to obtain original patient data. The data were combined in a meta-analysis. The main outcome parameters were the number of patients with a clinically significant response and the number of patients leaving the studies early. Results: The meta-analysis includes 20 studies (N = 611). The evidence shows that lithium as a sole agent is ineffective in the treatment of schizophrenia. Eleven trials examined the augmentation of antipsychotics with lithium. More patients who received lithium augmentation than those who received antipsychotics alone were classified as responders. However, the superiority was not consistent across different response thresholds, and when patients with prominent affective symptoms were excluded from the analysis, the advantage of lithium augmentation was not significant (p = .07). Significantly more patients taking lithium left the trials early, suggesting a lower acceptability of lithium augmentation compared with that of taking antipsychotics alone. Conclusion: Despite some evidence in favor of lithium augmentation, the overall results are inconclusive. A large trial of lithium augmentation of antipsychotic medications will be required in order to detect a benefit of small effect size in patients with schizophrenia who lack affective symptoms.

Evidence about tele-oncology applications and associated benefits for patients and their families

We conducted a systematic review of evidence on the ability of tele-oncology applications to improve access to care closer to home for adult rural patients affected by cancer. From 269 publications identified in the literature search, 54 studies met our inclusion criteria. Forty two were clinical studies (32 quantitative, eight qualitative and two that included both quantitative and qualitative methodology). Strength of evidence from quantitative clinical studies was assessed using an approach that takes account of both study design and study quality. Qualitative studies were appraised by giving scores for six areas of interest. In terms of the continuum of cancer care, the most common study area was psychosocial and supportive care. While there were a number of high quality studies, overall the evidence of benefit from tele-oncology was limited and few investigations had proceeded beyond the stage of establishing feasibility. The literature suggests some useful possibilities for new services to cancer patients in rural areas but it seems likely that these would need validation with suitable local studies.