bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Suppression of heterogeneous bubble nucleation by upstream subcooled liquid flow
Authors: Li J. , Peterson G. P.
Published: May 2006

The threshold levels for quasi-steady-state bubble nucleation on a smooth platinum surface located in a microchannel, both with and without liquid flow, are explored. The measured threshold for motionless liquid compares well with the theoretical value as calculated from the classical kinetics of nucleation. The measured threshold for the case of flow in the microchannel exceeds the measured value for motionless liquid and even exceeds the theoretical value. The observed phenomena suggest that in the absence of impurities, classical theory can accurately predict the heterogeneous nucleation. In addition, subcooled fluids were found to suppress bubble nucleation.
Initial growth stage of a highly mismatched strontium film on a hydrogen-terminated silicon (111) surface
Authors: Asaoka Hidehito , Yamazaki Tatsuya , Shamoto Shin-ichi
Published: May 2006

We report the formation of an atomically abrupt interface without strain in a strontium film using a hydrogen buffer layer on silicon, in spite of large lattice mismatch such as 12%. The onset of the initial growth stage of strontium film with its bulk lattice constant occurs with one atomic layer deposition. The interfacial monoatomic layer of hydrogen together with the first one atomic layer of strontium acts as an effective buffer layer. Our results provide microscopic evidence of heteroepitaxial growth of the strain-free film with the atomically abrupt interface in a highly mismatched system.
GaBiAs: A material for optoelectronic terahertz devices
Authors: Bertulis K. , Krotkus A. , Aleksejenko G. , Pačebutas V. , Adomavičius R. , Molis G. , Marcinkevičius S.
Published: May 2006

GaBiAs layers have been grown by molecular beam epitaxy at low (270–330°C) temperatures and were characterized by several experimental techniques. It was shown that the spectral photosensitivity cutoff wavelength reaches ∼1.4μm when the growth temperature is as low as 280°C. Optical pump–terahertz probe measurements made on these layers have evidenced that the electron trapping time decreases with decreasing growth temperature from 20 to about 1ps. GaBiAs layers were used for manufacturing photoconductive terahertz emitters and detectors, which, when excited with Ti:sapphire laser pulses, have demonstrated a signal bandwidth of 3THz.
Nonlinear optical response of a single self-assembled InGaAs quantum dot: A femtojoule pump-probe experiment
Authors: Wesseli M. , Ruppert C. , Trumm S. , Krenner H. J. , Finley J. J. , Betz M.
Published: May 2006

A single InGaAs∕GaAs quantum dot is addressed in a two-color femtosecond transmission experiment in the optical near-field of a nanometer-scale shadow mask. After resonant excitation of the wetting layer beneath the nanoisland, we detect transmission changes of the quantum dot with narrow band femtojoule probe pulses. We find bleaching signals in the order of 10−5 that arise from individual interband transitions. Moreover, the nonlinear optical response reveals a picosecond dynamics associated with carrier relaxation in the quantum dot. As a result, we have developed an ultrafast optical tool for both manipulation and readout of a single self-assembled quantum dot.
Epitaxial growth of high-quality Ge films on nanostructured silicon substrates
Authors: Vanamu G. , Datye A. K. , Zaidi Saleem H.
Published: May 2006

Low (∼105cm−2) defect density, thick (∼10μm) epitaxially grown Ge films on nanostructured and planar silicon substrates using chemical vapor deposition are reported. The structural morphology of Ge films was evaluated using scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and high resolution x-ray diffraction measurements. The surface defect density was measured by counting etch pits. The growth quality of Ge films was significantly superior on nanostructured surfaces relative to the planar as demonstrated by (a) reduction in defect density from ∼6×108cm−2 for planar to ∼5×105cm−2, (b) reduction in Δω full width half maximum peaks of the reciprocal space maps of Ge epilayers from 373arcsec on planar (unpatterned) to 93arcsec on the nanostructured surfaces, and (c) the elimination of crosshatch pattern characteristic of planar surface growth.
Photoluminescence property of InGaN single quantum well with embedded AlGaN δ layer
Authors: Park Jongwoon , Kawakami Yoichi
Published: May 2006

We investigate the photoluminescence (PL) properties of a thick InGaN single quantum well (SQW) in which an AlGaN δ layer is embedded. The δ layer offers an extra degree of freedom which may be employed to tune the emission wavelength. One of the most salient features of such a QW structure is that the long-wavelength tuning is feasible with lower indium composition. The δ layer also increases the wave function overlap between holes and electrons, shortening the PL lifetime. All the measurement results are consistent with the numerical predictions. The QW structure could be of great importance in the design of long-wavelength lasers.
The effect of root and shoot temperature of 8°C or 24°C on the uptake and distribution of nitrogen in white clover (Trifolium repens L.)
Authors: Castle M. L. , Crush J. R. , Rowarth J. S.
Published: May 2006

Limited information is available on the factors influencing the uptake and distribution of nitrogen (N) at low temperatures. This experiment quantified the distribution of N in white clover at root and shoot temperatures of 8°C or 24°C.
Stolon tip cuttings of white clover (Trifolium repens L.) were grown in silica sand. After 62 days, plants were transferred to an 8°C or 24°C controlled environment room and, to quantify the distribution of N, a pulse of 15KNO3 was applied. Thereafter, plants were supplied with a complete nutrient solution containing NH4NO3 at a concentration calculated to provide plants with 20% of their N requirement. Plants were harvested at 0, 1, 4, 8, 24, 168, or 336 h. Leaf area and dry weights plus 14N/15N distribution in all fractions and total N concentration were measured. At both temperatures, the dry weights in all fractions increased significantly (P < 0.05) with time. After 336 h the amount of labelled 15N contained in the laminae and petioles was lower at 8°C than at 24°C. The higher 15N recovery in the laminae and petioles, and the higher lamina N%, indicated more N had been transported from the roots to the laminae at 24°C. This investigation suggests that temperature does affect the movement of N around the plant, with a consequent effect on N pool sizes and, hence, growth.
Univalent Metal Complexes of (Perfluorophenoxy)acetic Acid. The Crystal Structures of (2,3,4,5,6-Pentafluorophenoxy)acetic Acid, Bis-μ-[(2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorophenoxy)acetato-O,O']-bissilver(I) and catena-Bis-μ-[(2,3,4,5,6-Pentafluorophenoxy)acetato-O]-bismercury(I)
Authors: Mak TCW , Yip WH , Kennard CHL , Smith G , Oreilly EJ
Published: May 2006

The crystal structures of perfluorophenoxyacetic acid [(2,3,4,5,6- pentafluorophenoxy )acetic acid] and its anhydrous complexes with silver(I) and mercury(I) have been determined by X-ray diffraction and refined to residuals R = 0.046, 0.042 and 0.104 for 1235, 1789 and 2750 observed reflections respectively. The acid forms the usual hydrogen- bonded cyclic dimers [O---O, 2.705(3)Ǻ] with the oxyacetic acid side- chain synclinally oriented. Crystals age triclinic, space group Pī with Z 2 in a cell of dimensions a 7.479(1), b 7.592(2), c 8.463(2)Ǻ,α 80.15(2),β 85.34(2),γ 61.31(1)Ǻ. The silver complex, [Ag2L2],(1), has crystals with a 5.992(3), b 30.22(2), c 5.277(2)Ǻ, β 106.42(5)°, space group P21/a and Z 2. The bis-carboxylato (O,O′) dimers have Ag-Ag 2.943(1)Ǻ with Ag-O, 2.203, 2.230(3)Ǻ and O-Ag-O 161.6(2)°. The complex with mercury(I), [Hg2L2]n, (2), is centrosymmetric with the usual linear O-Hg-Hg-O-bonds [Hg-Hg, 2.514(1)Ǻ; Hg-O, 2.13(1)Ǻ; O-Hg-Hg, 173.9(2)°]. Longer peripheral bonds to Hg [Hg-O, 2.63(1)Ǻ] produce a polymeric structure. Crystals of (2) are triclinic, space group Pī with Z 1 in a cell of dimensions a 5.038(1), b 5.970(1), c 15.774(6)Ǻ, α 80.77(2),β 86.42(2),γ 84.38(2)°.
Inhibition of dsRNA-induced signaling in hepatitis C virus-infected cells by NS3 protease-dependent and -independent mechanisms
Authors: Cheng Guofeng , Zhong Jin , Chisari Francis V.
Published: May 2006

The recent establishment of a robust hepatitis C virus (HCV) cell culture system permits analysis of virus-host interactions during HCV infection. Here, we report that HCV genotype 2a (JFH-1) infection fails to induce IFN-β or IFN-stimulated gene expression in Huh-7 cells, and that it blocks IFN-β and IFN-stimulated gene production after transfection of synthetic dsRNA. Overexpression of individual components of the dsRNA-signaling pathway in HCV-infected and uninfected cells indicates that HCV inhibits IFN-β promoter activity by inactivating the mitochondrial antiviral signaling protein/IFN-β promoter stimulator 1 (MAVS/IPS-1), while leaving the IFN-induced Janus kinases-signal transducers and activators of transcription (JAK-STAT) signaling pathway intact. We also show that MAVS/IPS-1-dependent IFN-β promoter activity in HCV-infected cells is fully restored by the nonstructural protein 3 (NS3) protease inhibitor BILN2061. In contrast, synthetic dsRNA-induced IFN-β promoter activity is not restored by BILN2061, although it is partially restored by overexpression of RIG-I. These results support recently reported evidence that the HCV NS3 protease blunts the ability of HCV to induce IFN-β promoter activity by proteolytically cleaving MAVS/IPS-1. The results also suggest that HCV blocks the synthetic dsRNA-induced signaling pathway at a point upstream of MAVS/IPS-1, and that it does so by an NS3-independent mechanism.
Psychologists' perceptions of ethically troubling incidents across international borders
Authors: Pettifor Jean L. , Sawchuk Tyson R.
Published: May 2006

This article provided a brief history of the development of codes of ethics for psychologists and the desire for a universal code. It reviewed recent studies on ethical dilemmas reported by psychologists in nine primarily Western countries: United States, United Kingdom, Norway, Finland, Canada, Sweden, New Zealand, South Africa, and Mexico. The Pope and Vetter (1992) model was used to ask psychologists for an ethically troubling incident encountered over the previous year. The combined data of a total of 2698 responses revealed that issues of confidentiality followed by dual relationships were the most frequent. There was considerable agreement on the nature of ethical dilemmas in the countries represented. There are limitations in reviewing studies based on reports in the public arena without access to the original data. Sample sizes were small and it is not known to what extent there was a lack of standardization in the methodology and analysis of responses. However, these studies were of practical value in (a) addressing issues within each country (e.g., revising codes of ethics, identifying needs for education in ethics, and identifying the need for more specific guidelines), (b) indicating similarities across reporting countries, and (c) noting that country‐specific differences appear to relate more to working conditions and nature of clientele than to differences in cultural values and beliefs. The relevance for initiatives to develop a universal declaration of ethical principles for psychologists is limited by the absence of representation from non‐Western and aboriginal cultures.
Multidimensional scaling modelling approach to latent profile analysis in psychological research
Authors: Ding Cody S.
Published: May 2006

Because profile analysis is widely used in studying types of people, we propose an alternative technique for such analysis in this article. As an application of the multidimensional scaling (MDS) model, MDS profile analysis is proposed as an approach for studying both group and/or individual profile patterns. This approach requires one to think of MDS solutions as profiles. The MDS profile analysis approach re‐parameterizes the linear latent variable model in such a way that the latent variables can be interpreted in terms of profile patterns rather than factors. It is an exploratory profile analysis method to identify major patterns among psychological variables and can serve as the basis for further study of correlates and/or predictors of profiles and other background and external variables. In the article, we have outlined the procedure of MDS profile analysis and discussed the issues that are related to parameter estimation and interpretation of the results. Such a discussion is presented in the context of studying psychosocial adjustment of adolescents in the US. The results of MDS profile analysis indicated that two psychosocial profiles could be derived from the data. Profile 1 represents a prototypical adolescent with high scores on Body Image and low scores on the Vocational‐Educational (Voc‐Ed) Goal scale. Profile 2 represents a prototypical adolescent with high scores on the Peer Relationships scale and low scores on the Family Relationships scale. These profiles suggested several types of adolescents with different psychosocial adjustment orientations, which may be linked to different subgroups of adolescents in the population. In addition, these profiles are also associated with the outcomes of mental health, which implies profiles' potential utility when studying relationships among different variables. Finally, this article discusses some advantages and disadvantages of this approach in psychological research.
The Australian Counselling Association: Meeting the needs of Australian counsellors
Authors: Armstrong Philip
Published: May 2006

The Australian Counselling Association (ACA) was formed in 1999 in response to concerns that national counselling representative bodies in Australia were becoming exclusive and elitist. Thus, the ACA was purposefully designed to be inclusive in its membership. As a result, since its inception the association has grown into the largest individual membership national peak body in Australia. The ACA is involved in a number of activities that support counselling in Australia. Due to space limitations, only four main ACA activities are reviewed in this article: membership services and benefits, counsellor registration efforts, counsellor training accreditation, and the promotion of counselling within Australia. These four activities demonstrate how the ACA supports and represents counselling in an inclusive manner across Australia for the benefit of a broad range of Australians. Specifically, the membership services and benefits provided by the ACA include a tiered and inclusive membership structure, encouraging all who engage in counselling to be involved in a professional organization and continuing education efforts; a journal that contains both practitioner and peer reviewed articles; information dissemination via an electronic mail service; and access to advertisements in local phone books. Moreover, the ACA is proud to work under a policy of ready access, which involves timely responses to communications from counsellors as well as the public and the availability of toll‐free calling. National and local continuing education efforts are also organized in the form of conferences and seminars. The ACA has also contributed to counselling regulatory efforts via the setting of training standards and the creation of a national register of counsellors. Moreover, the ACA has engaged in government and insurance lobbying efforts as well as various community projects, such as the rural counselling project.
The Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia: How the federation model contributes to the field
Authors: Schofield Margot J. , Grant Jan , Holmes Sophie , Barletta John
Published: May 2006

The Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA) is a self‐regulating professional peak body, comprising more than 40 professional associations for counselling and psychotherapy in Australia. It represents over 3000 individual practitioners from a range of counselling and psychotherapy backgrounds. This paper describes the decade‐long national consultative processes among practitioners, educators, and professional associations, which has resulted in a unique umbrella structure for member associations. This umbrella structure, the federation, has the potential to embrace and unite the field of psychotherapy and counselling, while maintaining the individual identity and purposes of member associations, in Australia. After describing the development, structures, and goals of PACFA, the paper outlines its major achievements. It then describes an important project on Self‐Regulation in Counselling and Psychotherapy. The objectives of this project are to investigate and further develop an Australian professional self‐regulation model, building on the community consultation processes initiated by PACFA in the mid‐1990s. This paper provides a review of key issues for self‐regulation, explores the options available in the Australian context, the model development to date, and outlines the national consultative processes currently under way to address the challenges facing the profession in Australia. We also discuss the importance of the dialogic and consensual processes adopted by PACFA in establishing a legitimate and credible voice for the profession as a whole in Australia. The paper ends with an overview of some challenges to the future of counselling and psychotherapy in Australia.
The Australian Guidance and Counselling Association: Meeting the needs of our members and Australian students
Authors: Robinson Pauline
Published: May 2006

In this article the main work of the Australian Guidance and Counselling Association (AGCA) is reviewed. This review begins with a description of our organization and membership; namely, that the AGCA is a national organization comprised of various state chapters whose membership includes psychologists and counsellors who often hold teaching qualifications. Members tend to be employed by or attached to the education sector. The AGCA's international links, professional development activities, publications, and projects are also outlined. Specifically, the AGCA's international links include the International Association for Counselling, the International School Psychologists' Association, the Canadian Counselling Association, and the Georgian School Psychologists' Association. Professional development activities include a national conference held every 2 years and the sponsoring of national tours by eminent professionals in the field. A special conference is planned for 2006 in conjunction with the International Association for Counselling in Brisbane, Queensland. The AGCA is also active in publishing related research. Since 1991 the AGCA's journal, the Australian Journal of Guidance and Counselling, has been publishing regular and special editions. The journal is presented in detail along with the regular newsletter of the organization. Additionally, the AGCA is involved with various special projects that are described in detail. These include the teaching prosocial behaviour to adolescents project, in which the AGCA engaged in the 1990s, and current involvement with the MindMatters Plus project, which focuses on students with high support needs in the area of mental health.
Career counselling in Australia
Authors: McMahon Mary
Published: May 2006

Historically, perhaps because of its matching process traditions, career counselling has tended to be viewed more simplistically than other fields of counselling. However, in the latter part of the 20th century the career development industry witnessed rapid growth and seems set for a promising future. Such growth has corresponded with irreversible change in the world of work, the emergence of lifelong learning as integral to people's careers, and broader and more holistic definitions of career and career development that have gained widespread acceptance. With the increased influence of constructivism, career counselling has emerged from its vocational guidance origins as a profession in its own right. Increasingly, policymakers are recognizing the importance of career guidance and counselling in assisting to achieve policy goals related to lifelong learning, employment, and social equity. Thus, closer links have been created between policymakers and practitioner associations such as the Australian Association of Career Counsellors (AACC). Such intense focus on career guidance and counselling has also resulted in closer scrutiny of its professional standards and qualifications. Consequently, at the same time as there being increased demand for and interest in career counselling, practitioner associations are faced with issues related to redefining their roles with members, the community, and policymakers. This article will describe the changed context of career counselling, current issues such as standards and accreditation, and redefinition of the profession. The AACC's response to these challenges will be the focus of this article.
Relationship and family counselling in Australia: A review of our history and current status
Authors: Simmons Paul
Published: May 2006

This article examines the impetus for and development of relationship and family counselling in Australia. The practice of relationship and family counselling is reviewed from its pre‐war beginnings, and post‐war development, to the present time. The changing sociocultural environment, including political and institutional responses, regarding relationship and family counselling, is considered. Such changes include the strains on relationships present during and after World War II, the availability of contraception, changing attitudes towards sexuality and relationships, an acknowledgement of domestic violence as an issue, recognition of same‐sex relationships, and rising divorce rates. The raising of children has been separated from couple and marital interactions. Blended family issues have grown in importance. This sociocultural examination shows how changing government support has impacted the field. Changing government support includes governmental attitudes towards divorce legislation and a focus on repairing marriages, to the availability of no‐fault divorce decrees. Additionally, funding trends towards targeted, versus global, services and a movement towards charging fees for service has occurred. This has included the advent of private practice relationship and family services. Moreover, the way that the rise of professionalism within the counselling field has influenced relationship and family services in Australia is reviewed. Relationship and family services has moved from a volunteer to a professional activity requiring additional training and qualifications. Moreover, relationship services have increasingly been separated from religious activities. Historical and current attempts to develop integrated, satisfactory, and viable approaches to the selection, training, accreditation, and ongoing monitoring of relationship and family counselling practitioners are mentioned. Finally, current and emerging trends in the provision of relationship and family counselling are articulated.
The professional preparation of Australian counsellors
Authors: Pelling Nadine , Whetham Paul
Published: May 2006

Some indicate that counsellors are born not made. Others indicate that counselling is an activity that can be learned and developed. Most counselling education programmes recognize that a number of factors influence counselling competence. As a result, various types of counsellor training and education are available in Australia and counselling training is likely to include various aspects of counselling knowledge, awareness, and skill. Counselling training in Australia includes private mentoring and training programmes, tertiary and further education certificates and diplomas, undergraduate programmes, and postgraduate education from the Graduate Certificate through to the Doctor of Philosophy level. Postgraduate and adjunctive training in counselling for those with undergraduate training in related human service fields, such as psychology and social work, is particularly common for counsellors in Australia at this time. Counselling training can take varying amounts of time and serve to develop professional counsellors, researchers, and those who see counselling activities as adjunctive to their other professional duties. This article details the different types of training and education regarding counselling available in Australia. A discussion regarding the setting of minimum training standards for counsellors and the purpose of various levels of counselling training is included. Finally, information on where interested parties can obtain information on various counselling education programmes is provided.
The credentialing of counselling in Australia
Authors: Pelling Nadine , Sullivan Brian
Published: May 2006

Counselling is an unregulated activity in Australia. No statutory regulation currently exists. As a result, different counselling organizations are promoting different voluntary standards for the practice of counselling. This has led to a credentialing dilemma in which counsellors and the public are confronted with a number of counselling qualification choices. This dilemma poses a number of questions: Should counselling become more regulated in Australia? At what level should counselling be regulated? Should there be various levels of counsellor regulation? This article provides an overview of the credentialing dilemma facing counselling in Australia, compares and contrasts two main Australian accreditation efforts, and proposes cooperation as a way of navigating said dilemma. The implications for counselling as a profession are discussed along with suggestions for its development as a profession. This includes a discussion regarding the relative advantages and disadvantages of greater regulation of counselling as a professional activity in Australia. Specifically, what is and is not generally considered a profession is reviewed, different forms of credentialing are outlined, and general arguments for and against accreditation efforts are presented. The efforts of the Australian Counselling Association (ACA) and the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA) are compared and are shown to have common ground. Consequently, ways in which the main counselling organizations may best work in conjunction to promote counselling as a profession in Australia are proposed. These suggestions include good communication, collaboration, and the avoidance of turf wars. Specifically, that the ACA and PACFA collaborate on developing a combined independent registration list that is supported by both organizations or, minimally, that both organizations have mutual recognition on each other's register lists.
A survey of advertised Australian counsellors
Authors: Pelling Nadine , Brear Pamela , Lau Margaret
Published: May 2006

As counselling is a developing profession without statutory regulation in Australia, anyone can engage in counselling practice and use “counsellor” as a professional title. Not much is known about those who call themselves counsellors in Australia. This survey research in a field setting aimed to describe Australian Yellow Pages Advertised Counsellors, thus providing a snapshot of advertised counsellors in Australia. This research was thus designed to describe those who are engaging in advertised counselling practice in Australia. Data was collected using a multiple mailing survey method and resulted in a 62.2% return rate. The counsellors' (1) demographic characteristics, (2) counselling training and development, (3) provision of counselling services, and (4) professional involvement were assessed. Advertised Australian counsellors tend to be female, mature, Caucasian, married or partnered, heterosexual, have families, and hold Christian beliefs. The majority of counsellors live in urban areas. The field could arguably benefit from increasing the diversity of its members. Nevertheless, advertised Australian counsellors are qualified professionals who tend to hold university qualifications and are likely to have received their training in counselling from a university provider. They are experienced service providers and engage in ongoing supervision as a supervisee. Moreover, these counsellors are involved in a variety of professional organizations. Advertised Australian counsellors, however, often struggle with issues related to burnout. They demonstrate their belief in the power of counselling by engaging in personal counselling. Advertised Australian counsellors actively engage in professional development, read professional journals, and report wanting further training regarding cognitive behaviour therapy, family therapy, EMDR, hypnosis, and trauma‐related difficulties. The majority of counsellors indicate making $40,000 or less per year. Survey results clearly indicate that the professionalisation of counselling is underway.
Accuracy and authenticity of oral and written assessments in high‐stakes school examinations
Authors: Thorburn Malcolm , Collins Dave
Published: May 2006

In earlier papers, we considered some of the pedagogy and assessment practices enacted by physical education (PE) teachers, when attempting to translate a centrally prescribed rationale into meaningful performance‐led teaching within an integrated curriculum—Higher Still Physical Education (HSPE) in Scotland. One recurring theme from the data collected was anecdotal assertions from teachers that students were disadvantaged from achieving high levels of authentic attainment by written assessment instruments. Accordingly, students completed oral assessments, which were subsequently transcribed and marked to the same criteria as their written examination answers. However, results indicated that students were not disadvantaged as claimed. On the contrary, results highlighted that to various extents weaknesses in content knowledge were partially concealed through holistic written assessment. More optimistically, findings indicated that oral interviews could provide a constructive atmosphere for ongoing assessment, as well as providing informative feedback for teachers to utilize as part of their reflections on practice. Evidence from Senior Level Physical Education (SLPE) in Australia highlights the importance of language in dialogue and discussion within integrated teaching, learning and assessment environments. Consequently, a wider review of the functions such awards might play in students' school experiences prior to higher education appears merited.
Changing boards: investigating the effects of centres changing their specifications for English GCSE
Authors: Malacova Eva , Bell John F.
Published: May 2006

The awarding bodies and their regulator carry out research to maintain the equivalence of examination standards. However, some criticisms remain, suggesting that examination boards may be lowering standards in specifications (syllabuses) in order to attract more centres (schools or colleges). This article reports our investigations on whether centres that decide to change their specifications do so to a specification with a higher percentage of candidates achieving grade C and above, based on the argument that such specification is easier. Using GCSE English data for the years 2000–2003, we show that there is insufficient evidence for this assumption; instead, alternative explanations may be more plausible. We then consider whether centres that changed their specifications improve their mean level of performance more than centres that did not change. There was not enough evidence for this second assumption either.
Creative teaching and learning in Europe: promoting a new paradigm
Authors: Davies Trevor
Published: May 2006

The tides of globalization and the unsteady surges and distortions in the evolution of the European Union are causing identities and cultures to be in a state of flux. Education is used by politicians as a major lever for political and social change through micro‐management, but it is a crude tool. There can, however, be opportunities within educational experience for individual learners to gain strong, reflexive, multiple identities and multiple citizenship through the engagement of their creative energies. It has been argued that the twenty‐first century needs a new kind of creativity characterized by unselfishness, caring and compassion—still involving monetary wealth, but resulting in a healthy planet and healthy people. Creativity and its economically derived relation, innovation, have become ‘buzz words’ of our times. They are often misconstrued, misunderstood and plainly misused within educational conversations. The small‐scale pan‐European research study upon which this article is founded discovered that more emphasis needs to be placed on creative leadership, empowering teachers and learners, reducing pupils' fear of school, balancing teaching approaches, and ensuring that the curriculum and assessment are responsive to the needs of individual learners. These factors are key to building strong educational provision that harnesses the creative potential of learners, teachers and other stakeholders, values what it is to be human and creates a foundation upon which to build strong, morally based, consistent, participative democracies.
Challenging the laws of talk: ground rules, social reproduction and the curriculum
Authors: Lambirth Andrew
Published: May 2006

This article examines and critiques recent work that seeks to establish an effective context and environment for talk in the classroom using ground rules. The article argues that in their haste to facilitate ways to enrich the talk opportunities in the classroom, some academics have often failed to take account of a number of key cultural, ideological and political issues that also affect success in school. This article examines some of the dilemmas concerning equality of opportunity that are faced by teachers attempting to implement ground rules for talk. In doing so, I wish to challenge the ahistorical and apolitical approach to learning theory that many writers adopt when recommending teaching methods, and how they fail to see how serious dilemmas over equality and alienation are not being addressed by their suggestions. Lastly, I suggest an alternative approach to the teaching of talk within the curriculum.
Are low levels of book spending in primary schools jeopardizing the National Literacy Strategy?
Authors: Hurd Steve , Dixon Malcolm , Oldham Joanna
Published: May 2006

When the National Literacy Strategy was introduced into English primary schools it aimed, among other things, to raise standards of reading and, in so doing, to improve children's ability to use textual sources to enhance their wider learning and enjoyment. We propose that success in achieving these is likely to be affected by the way in which school resources are allocated between staffing and learning resources, in particular books and other text‐based media. Consequently, this article investigates school policies towards book provision. Using evidence from inspections of 6150 primary schools, questionnaire returns from head teachers in 540 primary schools and individual interviews with primary teachers, we argue that book provision is a significant factor in the success of a literacy strategy. The findings also indicate, more widely, that appropriate decisions on the allocation of school resources are an important component of curriculum policy.
Creating thinking schools through ‘Knowledge and Inquiry’: the curriculum challenges for Singapore
Authors: Tan Charlene
Published: May 2006

The importance of thinking skills in Singapore was seen in the launch of the ‘Thinking Schools, Learning Nation’ (TSLN) vision in 1997. This vision aims to develop creative thinking skills, a lifelong passion for learning and nationalistic commitment in the young. In elucidating the concept of ‘thinking schools’ the former Prime Minister, Goh Chok Tong, stressed the urgency for Singapore schools to nurture thinking and for committed citizens to keep Singapore vibrant and successful in the future. A recent effort to teach critical thinking skills is seen in the revised ‘Junior College’ curriculum which aims at developing thinking skills, and nurturing the skills, spirit and values required for Singaporeans to thrive in a more globalized, innovation‐driven future (Ministry of Education, 2002). The government in Singapore announced that a new GCE A level subject, ‘Knowledge and Inquiry’ (KI) will be introduced from 2006. This article focuses on the teaching and learning of critical thinking through KI. By examining the objectives as spelled out in the syllabus, the article identifies and discusses the curriculum challenges in the government's attempt to create thinking schools through KI from 2006 onwards.
Connecting stuttering measurement and management: III. Accountable therapy
Authors: Cook Frances , Fry Jane
Published: May 2006

Background: This paper is intended to contribute to the current debate in relation to persistent stuttering and evidence‐based clinical practice.

Aims: The paper will describe the authors' intervention framework for persistent stuttering, which is guided by evidence from the fields of stuttering and clinical psychology. It supports the opinion that the components of therapy should be grounded in empirically based theories that offer an explanation for the nature of stuttering, its persistence and its individual complexity. It will argue that the goals of therapy should reflect the client's personal values and experience of stuttering, as well as the knowledge and skills of the therapist.

Main contribution: The paper maintains that therapy for this disorder needs to account for the highly individual nature of the overt and covert dimensions of persistent stuttering and identify the formal and informal methods that measure progress and outcome. Current research and future directions will be touched on briefly.
Uncoupling the relationship between fatty acids and longevity
Authors: Kua Chong‐Han
Published: May 2006

Research into different species has verified the negative correlation between longevity and the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. ROS creates oxidative damage and, consequently, fuels the aging process. As such, the astonishing longevity of avian species correlates well with their lower levels of ROS production, in comparison to mammals of similar size. Apart from this inter‐species difference, caloric restriction (CR) is a widely‐documented means of increasing intra‐species longevity, and it works by decreasing ROS production. However, little is known about the mechanisms responsible, either for the retardation of aging in CR or for the longevity of long‐living species. Recent findings have shown an increase in uncoupling protein (UCP) activity with lower ROS levels, after CR stress. These UCPs are stimulated by fatty acids. Moreover, in numerous studies, fatty acids have been demonstrated to generate a reduction in ROS generation. Thus, the decreased ROS production seen in both CR and longer lifespan may occur via up‐regulation of free fatty acid stimulation of UCP activity. Consequently, free fatty acids may play an important regulatory role in longevity, by reducing ROS, via actions on UCPs.
IUBMB Life, 58: 153 ‐ 155, 2006
Embryonic transcription factors in human breast cancer
Authors: Briegel Karoline J.
Published: May 2006

Growing evidence suggests that breast cancer cells often reactivate latent developmental programs in order to efficiently execute the multi‐step process of tumorigenesis. This review focuses on key transcriptional regulators of embryonic development that are deregulated in breast cancer and discusses the molecular mechanisms by which these proteins control carcinogenesis. Reminiscent of their function during development, embryonic transcription factors regulate changes in gene expression that promote tumor cell growth, cell survival and motility, as well as a morphogenetic process called epithelial‐mesenchymal transition (EMT), which is implicated in both breast metastasis and tumor recurrence. Because of their pivotal roles in breast tumor progression, these factors represent valuable new biomarkers for breast cancer detection as well as promising new targets for anti‐invasive drugs.
IUBMB Life, 58: 123‐132, 2006
Mitochondrial DNA mutations in human disease
Authors: Greaves Laura C. , Taylor Robert W.
Published: May 2006

Since their first association with human disease in 1988, more than 250 pathogenic point mutations and rearrangements of the 16.6 kb mitochondrial genome (mtDNA) have been reported in a spectrum of clinical disorders which exhibit prominent muscle and central nervous system involvement. With novel mutations and disease phenotypes still being described, mtDNA disorders are recognized collectively as common, inherited genetic diseases although relatively little is still known concerning the precise pathophysiological mechanisms that lead to cell dysfunction and pathology. This review considers the basic principles of mitochondrial genetics which govern both the behaviour and investigation of pathogenic mtDNA mutations summarizing recent advances in this area, and an assessment of the ongoing debate into the role of somatic mtDNA mutations in neurodegenerative disease, ageing and cancer.
IUBMB Life, 58: 143 ‐ 151, 2006
Dopaminergic regulation of glucose‐induced insulin secretion through dopamine D2 receptors in the pancreatic islets in vitro
Authors: Shankar Eswar , Santhosh K. T. , Paulose C. S.
Published: May 2006

The stimulatory effect of dopamine through dopamine D2 receptor on glucose‐induced insulin secretion was studied in the pancreatic islets in vitro. Dopamine significantly stimulated insulin secretion at a concentration of 10‐8 M in the presence of high glucose (20 mM). The higher concentrations of dopamine (10‐7 ‐ 10‐4) inhibited glucose‐induced insulin secretion in the presence of both 4 mM and 20 mM glucose. Stimulatory and inhibitory effect of dopamine on glucose‐induced insulin secretion was reverted by the addition of dopamine D2 receptor antagonists such as butaclamol and sulpiride. Norepinephrine (NE) at 10‐4 M concentration inhibited the dopamine uptake as well as its stimulatory effect at 10‐8 M concentration on glucose induced insulin secretion. Our results suggest that dopamine exerts a differential effect on glucose‐induced insulin secretion through dopamine D2 receptor and it is essential for the regulation of glucose‐induced insulin secretion by pancreatic islets.
IUBMB Life, 58: 157 ‐ 163, 2006
Evolutionary analysis of fructose 2,6‐bisphosphate metabolism
Authors: Michels Paul A. M. , Rigden Daniel J.
Published: May 2006

Fructose 2,6‐bisphosphate is a potent metabolic regulator in eukaryotic organisms; it affects the activity of key enzymes of the glycolytic and gluconeogenic pathways. The enzymes responsible for its synthesis and hydrolysis, 6‐phosphofructo‐2‐kinase (PFK‐2) and fructose‐2,6‐bisphosphatase (FBPase‐2) are present in representatives of all major eukaryotic taxa. Results from a bioinformatics analysis of genome databases suggest that very early in evolution, in a common ancestor of all extant eukaryotes, distinct genes encoding PFK‐2 and FBPase‐2, or related enzymes with broader substrate specificity, fused resulting in a bifunctional enzyme both domains of which had, or later acquired, specificity for fructose 2,6‐bisphosphate. Subsequently, in different phylogenetic lineages duplications of the gene of the bifunctional enzyme occurred, allowing the development of distinct isoenzymes for expression in different tissues, at specific developmental stages or under different nutritional conditions. Independently in different lineages of many unicellular eukaryotes one of the domains of the different PFK‐2/FBPase‐2 isoforms has undergone substitutions of critical catalytic residues, or deletions rendering some enzymes monofunctional. In a considerable number of other unicellular eukaryotes, mainly parasitic organisms, the enzyme seems to have been lost altogether. Besides the catalytic core, the PFK‐2/FBPase‐2 has often N‐ and C‐terminal extensions which show little sequence conservation. The N‐terminal extension in particular can vary considerably in length, and seems to have acquired motifs which, in a lineage‐specific manner, may be responsible for regulation of catalytic activities, by phosphorylation or ligand binding, or for mediating protein‐protein interactions.
IUBMB Life, 58: 133 ‐ 141, 2006
PON1 55/192 polymorphism, oxidative stress, type, prognosis and severity of stroke
Authors: Aydin Makbule , Gencer Mehmet , Cetinkaya Yilmaz , Ozkok Elif , Ozbek Zeynep , Kilic Gamze , Orken Cihat , Tireli Hulya , Kara Ihsan
Published: May 2006

We investigated the association of PON1 55/192 polymorphisms with type, severity and prognosis of stroke and oxidative markers. Paraoxonase1 (PON1), Glutathione Reductase (GSH‐Rd) and Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were measured at day 1 and at day 5 following the onset of stroke. Genotypes were determined by polymerase chain reaction and restriction digestion. The frequencies of QQ and MM genotypes of PON1 192 and PON1 55, respectively, were significantly higher in controls than in patients. However, the allele frequencies of PON1 192 R and PON1 55 L were significantly more frequent in patients compared to controls. The frequency of combined genotype of RR/LL was significantly higher in cardioembolic group than in atherothrombotic group. PON1 activities were significantly diminished in stroke patients compared to controls. In contrast, serum MDA levels were significantly greater in patients than the values in controls. GSH‐Rd activity was higher in patients with small lesion and good prognosis than those with large and poor prognosis. Low density lipoprotein (LDL) levels in patients with large lesions were higher than those with small lesions. PON1 55/192 polymorphisms influence activity of the enzyme. PON1 55/192 genotypes have been associated with MDA levels. In conclusion, PON1 genetic variations are associated with risk factors, severity, type and prognosis of stroke and oxidative stress.
IUBMB Life, 58: 165 ‐ 172, 2006
Keratin 17 modulates hair follicle cycling in a TNFα-dependent fashion
Authors: Tong Xuemei , Coulombe Pierre A.
Published: May 2006

Mammalian hair follicles cycle between stages of rapid growth (anagen) and metabolic quiescence (telogen) throughout life. Transition from anagen to telogen involves an intermediate stage, catagen, consisting of a swift, apoptosis-driven involution of the lower half of the follicle. How catagen is coordinated, and spares the progenitor cells needed for anagen re-entry, is poorly understood. Keratin 17 (K17)-null mice develop alopecia in the first week post-birth, correlating with hair shaft fragility and untimely apoptosis in the hair bulb. Here we show that this abnormal apoptosis reflects premature entry into catagen. Of the proapoptotic challenges tested, K17-null skin keratinocytes in primary culture are selectively more sensitive to TNFα. K17 interacts with TNF receptor 1 (TNFR1)-associated death domain protein (TRADD), a death adaptor essential for TNFR1-dependent signal relay, suggesting a functional link between this keratin and TNFα signaling. The activity of NF-κB, a downstream target of TNFα, is increased in K17-null skin. We also find that TNFα is required for a timely anagen–catagen transition in mouse pelage follicles, and that its ablation partially rescues the hair cycling defect of K17-null mice. These findings identify K17 and TNFα as two novel and interdependent regulators of hair cycling.