bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Early-Phase Development of Cancer Prevention Agents: Challenges and Opportunities
Authors: Perloff Marjorie , Steele Vernon E.
Published: March 2013

Chemoprevention is the administration of agents (drugs, biologics, dietary supplements, or nutrients) to reduce the risk of developing cancer or prevent the recurrence of cancer. The National Cancer Institute, Division of Cancer Prevention (NCI, DCP), is a major sponsor of cancer preventive preclinical and clinical research. As such, it has developed a comprehensive drug development program specifically designed to meet the requirements needed for cancer preventive drugs to achieve initial regulatory approval. Clinical development of cancer prevention agents presents unique challenges that are not encountered with most cancer therapeutic agents. To meet these challenges, NCI, DCP has implemented new approaches and programs, including phase 0 clinical trial designs and microdose studies. In addition, the PREVENT Cancer Program was recently implemented by NCI, DCP to offer a formalized structure for moving drugs forward in the prevention pipeline using a continue/not continue decision process. Likewise, DCP has implemented a Clinical Trials Consortium to further develop these agents. These and other approaches will be discussed in this commentary. Cancer Prev Res; 6(5); 379–83. ©2013 AACR.
Nutritional Status Assessment of Institutionalized Elderly in Prague, Czech Republic
Authors: Rambousková Jolana , Slavíková Miroslava , Krsková Andrea , Procházka Bohumír , Anděl Michal , Dlouhý Pavel
Published: March 2013

Background: There are few studies in the Czech Republic describing and evaluating the nutritional status of institutionalized elderly. Methods: Data were collected from 659 women and 156 men aged 65 years and older and living in retirement homes in and around Prague. Data included: a Mini-Nutritional Assessment (MNA questionnaire), anthropometric measurements and biochemical evaluations. Results: According to the MNA questionnaire, 10.2% of these elderly individuals were malnourished and 39.4% were at risk of malnutrition. More women than men were malnourished (OR = 0.59 and 95% CI 0.42-0.86). Mean BMI values were 25.5 for females and 27.5 for males. MNA was positively correlated mostly with immobility (r = 0.63; p < 0.001), BMI (r = 0.57; p < 0.001) and mid-arm circumference (r = 0.56; p < 0.001). Serum albumin levels were <28 g/l in 1.3% (1.3% of the women and 1.36% of the men) and between 29.0 - 34.0 g/l in 21% (22.5% of the women and 14.4% of the men). Statistically significant differences between groups according to MNA scores were found for albumin, prealbumin, transferrin and creatinine. Prevalence of smoking was significantly higher among males. Conclusion: The study results confirmed that institutionalized elderly, especially women, should be considered a nutritionally vulnerable population group that needs attention.
HER2 Dimerization Inhibitor Pertuzumab - Mode of Action and Clinical Data in Breast Cancer
Authors: Harbeck Nadia , Beckmann Matthias W. , Rody Achim , Schneeweiss Andreas , Müller Volkmar , Fehm Tanja , Marschner Norbert , Gluz Oleg , Schrader Iris , Heinrich Georg , Untch Michael , Jackisch Christian
Published: March 2013

The humanized monoclonal antibody pertuzumab prevents the dimerization of HER2 with other HER receptors, in particular the pairing of the most potent signaling heterodimer HER2/HER3, thus providing a potent strategy for dual HER2 inhibition. It binds to the extracellular domain of HER2 at a different epitope than trastuzumab. Pertuzumab and trastuzumab act in a complementary fashion and provide a more complete blockade of HER2-mediated signal transduction than either agent alone. Phase II studies demonstrated that pertuzumab was generally well tolerated as a single agent or in combination with trastuzumab and/or cytotoxic agents, and implied an improved clinical efficacy of the combination of pertuzumab and trastuzumab in early and advanced HER2-positive breast cancer. Results of the pivotal phase III study CLEOPATRA in patients with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer demonstrated that the addition of pertuzumab to first-line combination therapy with docetaxel and trastuzumab significantly prolonged progression-free and overall survival without increasing cardiac toxicity. Currently, the combination of both antibodies is being explored in the palliative setting as well as in the treatment of early HER2-positive breast cancer. Dual HER2 inhibition with the HER2 dimerization inhibitor pertuzumab and trastuzumab may change clinical practice in HER2-positive first-line metastatic breast cancer treatment.
Health Economic Aspects of Breast Cancer Treatment: The Compulsory Health Insurances' View
Authors: Zimmer Barbara , Heyll Axel
Published: March 2013

Due to the impact of rising expenditures for the delivery of high-standard health care, further efforts supporting evidence-based, cost-efficient and patient-centered management in oncology are advised. This also concerns the treatment of patients with breast cancer. Reimbursement of diagnostic and/or therapeutic innovations in oncologic health care within the compulsory health insurances (CHIs) in Germany requests their evidence-based proof of benefit and medical need. Using selected examples in pharmacotherapy, recommendations to improve outpatient breast cancer care are discussed.
Interplay between Experimental Dental Pellicles and Stannous-Containing Toothpaste on Dental Erosion-Abrasion
Authors: Hara A.T. , Lippert F. , Zero D.T.
Published: March 2013

The interaction between stannous-containing dentifrice slurry and experimentally formed pellicles was investigated on enamel and root dentin using an erosion-remineralization-abrasion cycling model. The remineralizing solutions contained no proteins (negative control), mucin, casein, mucin + casein or albumin, for experimental pellicle formation. Toothbrushing was performed with fluoride toothpaste, with (TP + Sn) and without (TP) 3,500 ppm Sn. TP + Sn reduced surface loss for both enamel and root dentin (p < 0.05). The association between TP + Sn and albumin resulted in a significantly lower enamel surface loss (p < 0.05), suggesting positive interaction of stannous ion and albumin on dental erosion-abrasion protection. A similar trend was observed for root dentin, although less pronounced.
Direct and Transdentinal (Indirect) Antibacterial Activity of Commercially Available Dental Gel Formulations against Streptococcus mutans
Authors: Tüzüner Tamer , Ulusoy Ayça Tuba , Baygin Ozgul , Yahyaoglu Gorkem , Yalcin Ilkay , Buruk Kurtulus , Nicholson John
Published: March 2013

Objective: To evaluate the direct and transdentinal (indirect) agar diffusion antibacterial activity of different commercially available antibacterial dental gel formulations against Streptococcus mutans. Materials and Methods: The commercially available dental gel formulations were Corsodyl® (COG, 1% chlorhexidine), Cervitec® (CEG, 0.2% chlorhexidine + 0.2% sodium fluoride), Forever Bright® (FOB, aloe vera), Gengigel® (GEG, 0.2% hyaluronic acid), 35% phosphoric acid gel and distilled water (control). Direct agar diffusion was performed by isolating three wells from brain-heart infusion agar plates using sterile glass pipettes attached to a vacuum pump and adding 0.1 ml of the gels to each well. Transdentinal (indirect) agar diffusion was performed by applying gel to 0.2- and 0.5-mm-thick human dentin discs previously etched with phosphoric acid and rinsed with distilled water. Zones formed around the wells and the dentin discs were measured and analyzed using Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests with Bonferroni correction (p < 0.01). Results: Direct agar diffusion tests showed significant differences among all gel formulations (p < 0.01) except for COG and CEG (p > 0.01). COG and CEG exhibited higher antibacterial effects compared to FOB and GEG (p < 0.01) in both direct and transdentinal (indirect) testing procedures. GEG did not show any antimicrobial activity in transdentinal (indirect) testing. Conclusion: Commercially available dental gels inhibited S. mutans, which may indicate their potential as cavity disinfectants.
Economic Constraints - the Growing Challenge for Western Breast Cancer Centers
Authors: Seidel Rene P. , Lux Michael P. , Hoellthaler Josef , Beckmann Matthias W. , Voigt Wieland
Published: March 2013

Breast cancer care in Western countries has reached a considerable level of quality and standardization, which has contributed to the decline in breast cancer mortality. Certified Breast Cancer Centers (BCC) represent an important element of this development. Related to changes in reimbursement and growing costs, BCC face economic constraints which ultimately could endanger the achievements of the past. Thus, BCC have to optimize their care strategies from an economic perspective, particularly by increasing efficiency but also by adapting their service portfolio. This could result in competitive advantages and additional revenue by increasing case numbers and extra charges to patients. Furthermore, an intensification of collaboration with the outpatient sector resulting in an integrated and managed ‘trans-sectoral' care approach which could allow to shift unprofitable procedures to the outpatient sector - in the sense of a win-win situation for both sectors and without loss of care quality - seems reasonable. Structured and specialized consulting approaches can further be a lever to fulfill economic requirements in order to avoid cuts in medical care quality for the sake of a balanced budget. In this review, economic constraints of BCC with a focus on the German healthcare system and potential approaches to ameliorate these financial burdens are being discussed.
Relevance of Health Economics in the Early Detection of Breast Cancer in Germany - the View of the Professional Association of Practicing Gynecologic Oncologists e.V. (BNGO)
Authors: Uleer Christoph , Wagner Joachim , Moisidis-Tesch Christina
Published: March 2013

The introduction of the Mammography Screening Program (MSP) in 2005 has changed the early detection of breast cancer in Germany significantly. We analyzed the frequency and ensuing health care costs of mammograms performed for the early detection of breast cancer before and after the introduction of the MSP. Furthermore, we analyzed the influence of the MSP on the demographics of physicians (gynecologists versus radiologists) performing mammograms in Germany. Whereas the number of ‘curative' mammograms has decreased since the introduction of the MSP, 2 million ‘curative' mammograms per year are still being performed in addition to the 4.6 million mammograms performed annually in the MSP at an additional health care cost of approximately €100 million per year. Only 12% of screening and ‘curative' mammograms are being performed and evaluated by gynecologists.
Relevance of Health Economics in Breast Cancer Treatment: Integration of Economics in the Management of Breast Cancer at the Clinic Level
Authors: Jacobs Volker R. , Bogner Gerhard , Schausberger Christiane E. , Reitsamer Roland , Fischer Thorsten
Published: March 2013

Since the introduction of the diagnosis-related groups (DRG) system with cost-related and entity-specific flat-rate reimbursements for all in-patients in 2004 in Germany, economics have become an important focus in medical care, including breast centers. Since then, physicians and hospitals have had to gradually take on more and more financial responsibilities for their medical care to avoid losses for their institutions. Due to financial limitations of resources, most medical services have to be adjusted to correlating revenues, which results in the development of a variety of active measures to understand, steer, and optimize costs, resources and related processes for breast cancer treatment. In this review, the challenging task to implement microeconomic management at the clinic level for breast cancer treatment is analyzed from breast cancer-specific publications. The newly developed economic management perspective is identified for different stakeholders in the healthcare system, and successful microeconomic projects and future aspects are described.
Three-Dimensional Positioning of B Chromosomes in Fibroblast Nuclei of the Red Fox and the Chinese Raccoon Dog
Authors: Kociucka B. , Sosnowski J. , Kubiak A. , Nowak A. , Pawlak P. , Szczerbal I.
Published: March 2013

Great progress has been achieved over the last years in studies on chromosome arrangement in mammalian cell nuclei. Growing evidence indicates that the genome's spatial organization is of functional relevance. So far, no attention has been paid to the nuclear organization of B chromosomes (Bs). In this study we have examined nuclear positioning of Bs in 2 species from the Canidae family - the red fox and the Chinese raccoon dog. Using 2D and 3D fluorescence in situ hybridization and 2 gene-specific probes (C-KIT and PDGFRA), we analyzed the location of Bs in fibroblast nuclei. We found that small Bs of the red fox occupied mostly the interior of the nucleus, while medium-sized Bs of the Chinese raccoon dog were observed in the peripheral area of the nucleus as well as in intermediate and interior locations. The more uniform distribution of B chromosomes in the Chinese raccoon dog may be the result of differences in their size, since 3 morphological types of Bs are distinguished in this species. Our results indicate that 3D positioning of B chromosomes in fibroblast nuclei of the 2 canid species is in agreement with the chromosome size-dependent theory.
Management of Cytotoxic Extravasation - ASORS Expert Opinion for Diagnosis, Prevention and Treatment
Authors: de Wit Maike , Ortner Petra , Lipp Hans-Peter , Sehouli Jalid , Untch Michael , Ruhnke Markus , Mayer-Steinacker Regine , Bokemeyer Carsten , Jordan Karin
Published: March 2013

Background: Cytotoxic extravasation is a rare but potentially serious and painful complication of intravenous drug administration in oncology. Literature is anecdotal, and systematic clinical trials are scarce. The German working group for Supportive Care in Cancer (ASORS) has prepared an expert opinion for the diagnosis, prophylaxis and management of cytotoxic extravasation based on an interdisciplinary expert panel. Material and Methods: A Pubmed search was conducted for diagnosis, risk factors, symptoms, prophylaxis, and treatment of extravasation by the respective responsible expert. A writing committee compiled the manuscript and proposed the level of recommendation. In a consensus meeting, 13 experts reviewed and discussed the current practice in diagnosis and management of cytotoxic extravasation. In a telephone voting among the experts, the level of recommendation by ASORS was determined. Results: Every effort should be made to reduce the risk of extravasation. Staff training, patient education, usage of right materials and infusion techniques have been identified to be mandatory to minimalize the risk of extravasation. Extravasation must be diagnosed as soon as possible, and specific therapy including antidotes dependent on the extravasated drug should be initiated immediately. An extravasation emergency set should be available wherever intravenous cytotoxics are applied. Documentation and post-treatment follow-up are recommended. Conclusion: We have developed a literature- and expert-based consensus recommendation to avoid cytotoxic extravasation. It also provides practical management instructions which should help to avoid surgery and serious late effects.
Single-Source Tumor Documentation - Reusing Oncology Data for Different Purposes
Authors: Ries Markus , Prokosch Hans-Ulrich , Beckmann Matthias W. , Bürkle Thomas
Published: March 2013

We present a path towards single-source tumor documentation established at the Comprehensive Cancer Center Erlangen-Nürnberg (CCC-EN). Our goal was to derive data for cancer quality assurance and certification, cancer registry documentation and cancer research directly from routine care documentation. Therefore, clinical documentation activities were analyzed and a cancer data superset, containing these required elements, was developed. This superset was then split into appropriate clinical documentation packages, and the existing information technology infrastructure was analyzed and adapted to accommodate those documentation packages. A clinical documentation package is the amount of cancer-relevant data that can be captured within a clinical encounter. This grouping of data enables integration into existing clinical documentation workflows. We present examples in which single-source tumor documentation has been successfully established at the CCC-EN. The resulting cancer documentation reference model is described and its transferability to other institutions discussed.
MicroRNA-21 as an Indicator of Aggressive Phenotype in Breast Cancer
Authors: Özgün Alpaslan , Karagoz Bulent , Bilgi Oguz , Tuncel Tolga , Baloglu Huseyin , Kandemir Emin G.
Published: March 2013

Objective: The recently discovered microRNAs (miRNAs) are non-protein-coding, endogenous small RNAs. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between microRNA-21 (miR-21) and the clinicopathological features of breast cancer. Materials and Methods: Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue samples were collected from 15 patients who had undergone surgery for primary breast cancer. The miR-21 expression levels in normal and cancer tissues were analyzed using real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (real-time qRT-PCR). The correlations between the miR-21 expression level and the stage of disease, the tumor size, lymph node involvement, hormone receptor status, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) status, and disease-free survival (DFS) were investigated. Results: The miR-21 expression levels were significantly higher in patients with stage III disease, patients with more than 3 axillary lymph node metastases and HER2-positive patients than in patients with stage I-II disease, patients with 1-3 axillary lymph node metastases and HER2-negative patients (p = 0.005, p = 0.037, and p = 0.014, respectively). Patients with high miR-21 expression level had a significantly shorter DFS than patients with low miR-21 expression level (median DFS: 18 and 56 months, respectively; p = 0.004). Conclusion: These results show that miR-21 is an indicator of an aggressive breast cancer phenotype and that it may be a new therapeutic target in the treatment of breast cancer in the future.
Sudden Extramedullary Blast Crisis of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Manifesting as T-Cell Lymphoblastic Lymphoma
Authors: Wei Jia , Huang Mei , Wang Ying , Zhou Jianfeng
Published: March 2013

Background: Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is usually diagnosed in the chronic phase. An extramedullary blast crisis mimicking a T-cell lymphoma is a rare finding. Case Report: A 35-year-old man presented with multiple lymphadenopathy 2 months after diagnosis of Philadelphia chromosome (Ph)-positive CML in the chronic phase. Cervical lymph node biopsy later indicated an extramedullary blast crisis resembling T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma (TLBL). The tumor mass was composed of primitive lymphoid cells expressing terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT), CD3, CD43, CD5, CD99, and Bcl-2. Although the pathological diagnosis, confirmed by 2 independent pathological centers, was more typical of TLBL, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis showed the bcr-abl fusion gene within the blastic tumor cells. The FISH finding confirmed that the mass represented an extramedullary, immature blastic transformation of CML rather than a de novo T-cell lymphoma. Conclusion: The diagnosis of de novo TLBL should be suspected before excluding the extramedullary blast phase of CML.
Fatal Course of a Suicidal Intoxication with Hydrochloric Acid
Authors: Koschny Ronald , Herceg Maria , Stremmel Wolfgang , Eisenbach Christoph
Published: March 2013

Suicidal ingestion of undiluted hydrochloric acid is a rare but live-threatening event. We report on the dramatic and fulminant course of a 61-year-old woman who drank 200 ml of 30-33% hydrochloric acid. On admission to our intensive care unit she was alert and oriented with stable vital signs. Gastroscopy demonstrated complete necrosis from the hypopharynx to the pylorus, which was flushed continuously via drainage catheters. At that time point perforation was not evident. Shortly thereafter she developed an acute abdomen and a tension pneumothorax which was decompressed. CT scan demonstrated esophageal and intestinal perforation with massive mediastinal necrosis. On emergency laparostomy she showed complete necrosis of the intestine and stomach. The patient died 10 h after admission from multiorgan failure. The therapeutic options are critically discussed in comparison to previously reported cases in the literature.
A Detailed and Fast Model of Extracellular Recordings
Authors: Camuñas-Mesa Luis A. , Quiroga Rodrigo Quian
Published: March 2013

We present a novel method to generate realistic simulations of extracellular recordings. The simulations were obtained by superimposing the activity of neurons placed randomly in a cube of brain tissue. Detailed models of individual neurons were used to reproduce the extracellular action potentials of close-by neurons. To reduce the computational load, the contributions of neurons further away were simulated using previously recorded spikes with their amplitude normalized by the distance to the recording electrode. For making the simulations more realistic, we also considered a model of a finite-size electrode by averaging the potential along the electrode surface and modeling the electrode-tissue interface with a capacitive filter. This model allowed studying the effect of the electrode diameter on the quality of the recordings and how it affects the number of identified neurons after spike sorting. Given that not all neurons are active at a time, we also generated simulations with different ratios of active neurons and estimated the ratio that matches the signal-to-noise values observed in real data. Finally, we used the model to simulate tetrode recordings.
Semistability of Steepest Descent with Momentum for Quadratic Functions
Authors: Zhang Naimin
Published: March 2013

Two steepest-descent algorithms with momentum for quadratic functions are considered. For a given learning rate, the sufficient and necessary conditions for the semistability of the steepest-descent algorithms with momentum are established. Moreover, the optimal momentum factors that generally make for the fastest convergence are obtained.
Anarchic Souls: Plato’s Depiction of the ‘Democratic Man’
Authors: Johnstone Mark
Published: March 2013

Abstract

In books 8 and 9 of Plato’s Republic, Socrates provides a detailed account of the nature and origins of four main kinds of vice found in political constitutions and in the kinds of people that correspond to them. The third of the four corrupt kinds of person he describes is the ‘democratic man’. In this paper, I ask what ‘rules’ in the democratic man’s soul. It is commonly thought that his soul is ruled in some way by its appetitive part, or by a particular class of appetitive desires. I reject this view, and argue instead that his soul is ruled by a succession of desires of a full range of different kinds. I show how this view helps us better understand Plato’s depiction of corrupt souls in the Republic more generally, and with it his views on the rule of the soul, appetitive desire, and the nature of vice.
Three new species of Kerria (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha: Coccoidea: Tachardiidae), a redesciption of K. yunnanensis Ou & Hong, and a revised key to species of Kerria
Authors: AHMAD AYASHAA , SHARMA K. K. , RAMAMURTHY V. V. , VIDYARTHI A. S. , RAMANI R.
Published: March 2013

Three new species of lac insect, Kerria Targioni-Tozzetti viz., Kerria manipurensis Ahmad & Ramamurthy sp. nov., Kerria maduraiensis Ahmad & Ramamurthy sp. nov., and Kerria thrissurensis Ahmad & Ramamurthy sp. nov. are described and illustrated. Kerria yunnanensis Ou & Hong is illustrated and redescribed, and a key to the known species of Kerria is provided. The usefulness of star pores as a diagnostic character in the subgeneric divisions of Kerria is also discussed.
Review of the genus Cassidinoma Hincks (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae: Omocerini)
Authors: FERNANDES FLÁVIA RODRIGUES , BOROWIEC LECH
Published: March 2013

The Neotropical genus Cassidinoma Hincks is revised. A new synonymy is proposed: Cassidinoma denticulata (Boheman) = Cassidinoma monstrosa (Boheman) syn. n. The diagnosis, description, distribution, and biology are reviewed, and new distribution records are included. Illustrations of the habitus of adult and morphological structures are also added.
Revision of the genus Acallopistus Schoenherr (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Curculioninae, Nerthopini)
Authors: HARAN JUILEN
Published: March 2013

The genus Acallopistus (Curculioninae, Nerthopini) is revised. Eight species are recognized as valid: A. vellicosus Schoe-nherr, A. abutilonis Marshall, A. fallax Boheman, A. guttatus Boheman, A. crassirostris Hustache and three new species, A. dissimilis, A. hibisci and A. dentirostris. The following new synonymies are proposed: A. maculithorax Hustache and A. senegalensis Hustache = A. vellicosus Schoenherr, A. pardalis Gyllenhal= A. guttatus Boheman. Lectotypes are desig-nated for A. vellicosus Schoenherr, A. abutilonis Marshall, A. guttatus Boheman, A. crassirostris Hustache and A. malvae Boheman; one neotype is designated for A. fallax Boheman. The species A. malvae Boheman is excluded from the genus Acallopistus. A key to species, diagnosis of each species, together with habitus photographs and line illustrations of male and female genitalia are provided.
Two new species of Halictophagus (Strepsiptera, Halictophagidae) from the Dominican Republic
Authors: COOK JERRY L.
Published: March 2013

Halictophagus trigonodontos Cook, n. sp. and Halictophagus dominicus Cook, n. sp. are described from the Dominican Republic. The stout and heavily-sclerotized mandibles of H. trigonodontos are unusual for the genus. The genus Halictophagus and the subfamily Halictophaginae have previously been characterized as having non-sclerotized mandibles. However, H. trigonodontos and H. dominicus have sclerotized mandibles, as do other previously describes Halictophagus species. The subfamily Halictophaginae, including genera Halictophagus and Stenocranophilus, can still be separated from Coriophaginae by not having a head capsule with sulci and sutures as is found in Coriophaginae.
Larva of Nothotrichia shasta Harris & Armitage (Trichoptera: Hydroptilidae) from California, USA, with its phylogenetic and taxonomic implications
Authors: PARYS KATHERINE A. , HARRIS STEVEN C.
Published: March 2013

Nothotrichia Flint 1967 is a small genus of infrequently collected microcaddisflies known from Chile and Brazil in South America, Costa Rica in Central America, and the United States in North America. Previously known only from adult specimens, we provide the first description and illustration of a larva in the genus, the larva of N. shasta from California, USA. We provide characters to separate Nothotrichia from other similar genera and an updated key to larval Hydroptilidae modified from that of Wiggins (1996). Larval characters provide additional evidence for the phylogeny and classification of the genus, which we now place tentatively in tribe Ochrotrichiini (subfamily Hydroptilinae).
Political Activism and Civic Education among Australian Secondary School Students
Authors: Saha Lawrence J.
Published: March 2013

This paper investigates the impact of school variables on student political knowledge and political activity. The study is based on survey questionnaire data from 1311 secondary school students in South Australia and the Australian Capital Territory. The analysis focuses on the importance of civic knowledge, democratic values and dispositions towards normative and non-normative political activity. The findings show that many Australian students have had experience with normative forms of political activity, such as signing petitions or writing letters. Fewer indicate that they have engaged in forms of non-normative political behaviour, such as occupying buildings or participating in violent demonstrations. Students oriented to normative political activism tended to be female and more supportive of human rights and freedoms, whereas those oriented to non-normative political activism were generally male, alienated from school, and not supportive of rights and freedoms. Exposure to civics instruction was positively related to political knowledge and normative forms of political activity.
Is Australian Educational Research Worthwhile?
Authors: Phelan Thomas J.
Published: March 2013

This research examines publication and citation data to assess the contribution of Australian educational research to major international journals. Additionally a set of highly cited articles is reviewed to assess the relevance of educational research to teaching practice and policy making. Australia makes a significant contribution to international educational research, although its share of publications has been increasing over time, whereas its share of citations has remained relatively constant. Substantial turnover in leading research institutions is found over time. It might be possible to explain this turnover by the productivity of a small number of academic staff members. Finally it is found that Australian educational research is extremely relevant to educational practice.
Self-identity Issues of South Asian Young People in Australian Schools
Authors: Ghuman Paul A. Singh
Published: March 2013

The aim of this study is to ascertain the perceptions of South Asian parents and young people with regard to a range of identity-related issues and education. To obtain a comprehensive and balanced picture, a number of white teachers is also included in the research. A representative sample of students was drawn from three high schools; two located in a city area and the third in a rural area of New South Wales. Eighteen parents and thirty students and sixteen teachers were interviewed to discover their attitudes and perceptions towards: bilingualism and the teaching of community languages, religious orientation, gender issues, identity, prejudice and racism, and acculturation. In addition, seventy-five boys and girls completed an established Acculturation Scale. The responses of the non-manual group are compared with that of the manual group and the implications for the education of South Asian young people are drawn.
The Stratification of Learning Opportunities and Achievement in Tasmanian Secondary Schools
Authors: Lamb Stephen , Hogan David , Johnson Trevor
Published: March 2013

Social differences in curriculum access and student achievement are a feature of schooling in Australia. These differences are usually documented at the senior secondary level where the curriculum is most differentiated, but the present study found large social, gender and school differences in levels of study at a more junior year-level. Using detailed information from the certificate records of 5491 Year 10 students, this study found that in English and mathematics the level of study students access is strongly related to socioeconomic background, gender and school attended. Differences between schools, measured using multilevel modelling techniques, are related to the type of school, enrolment size, and social composition. The study also found strong effects of curriculum location in the middle years of school on school completion, access to academic courses in senior school, and final year achievement. The results show significant between-school effects suggesting that schools can make a difference.
A Panel-Data Study of the Effect of Student Attendance on University Performance
Authors: Rodgers J. R.
Published: March 2013

The literature indicates that absenteeism from university classes is a common phenomenon in Australia and North America. Whether this constitutes a problem from society's point of view depends upon whether absenteeism has a detrimental effect on student learning. Several authors in the economics discipline have argued the affirmative although none has established a causal linkage using experimental data and appropriate statistical analysis. The study reported here used panel data on business and economics students in an introductory statistics class at an Australian university to estimate the effect of attendance on performance. The methodology takes account of unobserved heterogeneity among students and, in so doing, constitutes an improvement over cross-section regression results reported previously. Attendance is found to have a small, but statistically significant, effect on performance.
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: Special Education Policy and Practice in Australia
Authors: Prosser Brenton , Reid Robert , Shute Rosalyn , Atkinson Ivan
Published: March 2013

With growing numbers of Australian children receiving Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) diagnosis, special educators will increasingly be expected to provide interventions. We outline Australian special education policy and practice regarding ADHD in the public school context. Drawing upon American comparisons, we consider how recent government legislation may have made the label ‘disability’ appear pragmatic to those seeking special education assistance, and discuss whether making ADHD an educational disability category would expand the range of interventions currently available. Although biological aspects of ADHD have received much attention, the important social aspects remain relatively unexplored. We propose that a socially sensitive reconceptualisation will assist special educators to better meet the needs of young people with impulsive, inattentive and hyperactive behaviours.
School Effectiveness of a Streamed-School System: A Multilevel Modelling of the Hong Kong Secondary Schools
Authors: Lam Y. Raymond , Wong Kam-cheung , Ho Lai-ming
Published: March 2013

This study has two distinct features that are different from current studies using multilevel analysis on school effectiveness. First, it uses a very large dataset, and second, the analysis is on a streamed-school system. The initial findings of this study record three differences from studies in the West: (a) the relatively large size of school effect in the Hong Kong schools; (b) the negative correlation between intercepts and slopes for prior attainment; and (c) the differential effectiveness for low and high ability students. The study highlights the issue of whether or not the results of school effectiveness research based on mixed ability schools can be generalised to some countries in East Asia where students are streamed to schools according to their academic ability. It suggests the need to explore whether the contextual factors that influence the effectiveness of schools in a mixed system are duplicated in a streamed-school system.
The Student Motivation Scale: Further Testing of an Instrument that Measures School Students' Motivation
Authors: Martin Andrew J.
Published: March 2013

This study examines the refined Student Motivation Scale applied to a sample of 2561 Australian high school students. The Student Motivation Scale measures six motivation boosters and four motivation guzzlers. Analysis of the data reveals a strong factor structure comprising reliable factors. Students scored relatively higher in self-belief, value of schooling, and learning focus but also relatively higher in anxiety. Senior and junior high school students reflect a more adaptive pattern of motivation than middle high school students—as do girls over boys. Boosters are more strongly (positively) correlated with mathematics and English achievement while guzzlers are more strongly (negatively) associated with literacy and numeracy. Data analysis also reveals ethnicity effects and effects associated with socioeconomic status. Taken together, examination of the data shows that the Student Motivation Scale is psychometrically sound and can be usefully implemented to determine groups of students at risk of disengagement, disinterest, and underachievement.
An Analysis of the United States Educational Administrator Shortage
Authors: Pounder Diana G. , Galvin Patrick , Shepherd Paul
Published: March 2013

There are multiple independent and interactive factors that may contribute to perceptions or misperceptions concerning an administrator shortage in the United States (US). These factors include the complexities of supply and demand data, inferential errors and over-generalisations, candidate quantity issues confounded by anecdotal accounts of candidate quality, administrator accounts of limited job desirability, and the ‘invisibility’ of women administrators as a viable candidate pool. Some researchers have begun to challenge the perception that there is an administrator or educator shortage crisis, but these voices are often readily dismissed. There are multiple reasons why portrayals of an educator shortage crisis may be widely accepted in spite of questionable evidence. Specifically there may be political and ideological reasons that misperceptions about an educator shortage may be perpetuated. This article explores reasons that may explain perceptions or misperceptions of the shortage, including political forces that may encourage or perpetuate beliefs about the problem.
Negative Effects of School-Average Achievement on Academic Self-Concept: A Comparison of the Big-Fish-Little-Pond Effect across Australian States and Territories
Authors: Marsh Herbert W.
Published: March 2013

Attending academically selective schools is intended to have positive effects, but a growing body of theoretical and empirical research demonstrates that the effects are negative for academic self-concept The big-fish-little-pond effect (BFLPE), based on social comparison theory, posits that equally able students will have lower academic self-concepts in academically selective schools than in nonselective schools. Here we test the validity of these predictions for representative samples of 15-year-olds from eight Australian states and territories by using multilevel modelling. Consistent with the BFLPE, the effects of individual student achievement were positive but the effects of school-average achievement were negative. Although there were small differences between states/territories in academic achievement, there were no significant differences between states/territories in the negative effects of school-average ability.
Parent Participation in Disadvantaged Schools: Moving beyond Attributions of Blame
Authors: Mills Carmen , Gale Trevor
Published: March 2013

Although facilitating community participation in disadvantaged schools can be difficult, this article argues that, given the structuring of schooling in contemporary western democracies, it is even more difficult than we might imagine. Drawing on Bourdieu, we attempt to elucidate the complex relations between schooling and socio-cultural contexts which can lead to inequalities of opportunity for parent participation in schooling and which work to maintain disadvantage for marginalised students. Recognitive justice, with its positive regard for social difference and centrality of social democratic processes, offers us another way of advancing this discussion beyond simplistic attributions of blame. In particular, a politics of recognition is concerned with opening up the processes of schooling to groups who often have been excluded. This article uses interview data from a small Australian secondary school located in a regional community with high welfare dependency and a large indigenous population.
Dialogical Critical Thinking: Elements of Definitions Emerging in the Analysis of Transcripts from Pupils Aged 10 to 12 Years
Authors: Daniel Marie-France , Splitter Laurance , Slade Christina , Lafortune Louise , Pallascio Richard , Mongeau Pierre
Published: March 2013

We aim to clarify Matthew Lipman's definition of critical thinking. The research project was conducted during a complete school year among eight groups of pupils from three cultural contexts: Australia, Mexico and Quebec. We worked in an inductive manner, inspired by the grounded theory approach, and analysed transcripts of the pupils' exchanges while they used a philosophical approach adapted to mathematics. Analysis of the transcripts was performed according to the characteristics of a grid that we developed elsewhere, which represented the manifestations of ‘dialogical critical thinking’ in pupils aged 10 to 12. From the analysis, the Lipmanian criteria (sensitivity to context, thinking governed by criteria and self-correction) do not seem representative of dialogical critical thinking, although the modalities of thinking that he formulates did manifest themselves in pupils engaged in the research project.
Building a Global Schoolhouse: International Education in Singapore
Authors: Sidhu Ravinder
Published: March 2013

This paper takes Singapore and the field of international education as focal points for exploring state-market relations under conditions of globalisation. It examines Singapore's ambitions to become an ‘education hub’ and a provider of international education through the Global Schoolhouse Project. Using an analytical approach from the governmentality school, the paper explores the types of hybrid formations and cosmopolitanism sensibilities arising from both the production and consumption of international education. These cosmopolitanisms and hybridities are read against the geopolitical rationalities that have shaped the Singaporean nation-state. An argument is made for further empirical work into understanding how notions of hybridity are deployed in governance under conditions of globalisation. The Global Schoolhouse Project illustrates the creative and imaginative ways in which the Singaporean nation-state is re-modelling itself in response to the new iterations of global capitalism. The paper highlights the importance of moving beyond zero-sum thinking about the effect of globalisation on the nation-state.
Internationalisation of Higher Education in South Korea: Reality, Rhetoric, and Disparity in Academic Culture and Identities
Authors: Kim Terri
Published: March 2013

The central theme of this paper is contradictions: the ways in which official agendas of internationalisation in higher education are disturbed by the principles of inclusion and exclusion in the local context of university academic culture. The case of South Korea shows how the national policies for the inter-nationalisation of higher education are translated into local cultural practice inside academe: What are the ‘positions’ of foreign and female academics in the specific national university context? How are they constructed by official policies of inter-nationalisation? How are they experienced by individuals to form new reflexive identities? The paper offers an illustrative analysis of the positioned and positional identities of foreign and female academics and the boundaries of inclusion and exclusion drawn around their identities. This exploratory study is aimed at future research agendas for a larger theoretical study on internationally mobile academics in different social contexts.
The Impact of Sound-Field Amplification in Mainstream Cross-Cultural Classrooms: Part 2 Teacher and Child Opinions
Authors: Massie Robyn , Dillon Harvey
Published: March 2013

This article presents teachers' and children's views of the effectiveness of sound-field amplification intervention. The rating scale, Teacher Opinions re Performance in Classrooms (TOPIC) provided information on teacher perceptions regarding changes in student performance in unamplified ‘OFF’ and amplified ‘ON’ listening conditions. The teachers observed improvement in attention, communication strategies and classroom behaviour when the amplification systems were operating. The answers from questionnaires indicated a high level of satisfaction from both teachers and students following use of the systems. Less vocal strain was identified by the teachers to be a major benefit. The children reported that they could hear better, clearer or louder.
Systemic Racism: The Hidden Barrier to Educational Success for Indigenous School Students
Authors: de Plevitz Loretta
Published: March 2013

Explanations for poor educational experiences and results for Australian Indigenous school students have, to a great extent, focused on intended or conscious acts or omissions. This paper adopts an analysis based on the legislation prohibiting indirect racial discrimination. Using the elements of the legislation and case law it argues that apparently benign and race-neutral policies and practices may unwittingly be having an adverse impact on Indigenous students' education. These practices or policies include the building blocks of learning, a Eurocentric school culture, Standard English as the language of assessment, legislation to limit schools' legal liability, and teachers' promotions.
Successful School Leadership: What is it and Who Decides?
Authors: Mulford Bill , Kendall Diana , Edmunds Bill , Kendall Lawrie , Ewington John , Silins Halia
Published: March 2013

Arguments presented in this paper and the evidence from the Tasmanian Successful School Principals Project support broadening what counts for successful schools and school leadership. This broadening needs to embrace student outcomes, including non-cognitive social outcomes such as student empowerment. In examining who should provide the evidence for successful school leadership the need for triangulation, that is, multiple sources of evidence, became clear. Research employing only principal perceptions of success, especially on the importance of and improvement in student outcomes, should be examined much more critically than has occurred in the past.
How Schools Get Moving and Keep Improving: Leadership for Teacher Learning, Student Success and School Renewal
Authors: Dinham Stephen
Published: March 2013

There is a vast body of research confirming the important influence of the classroom teacher on student achievement. A key issue, then, is how the quality of teaching and learning within individual classrooms can be influenced and improved. This paper argues that educational leadership is a key influence on the quality of teaching and learning and thus student achievement. Educational leadership is heavily dependent upon relationships, and this paper explores two fundamental dimensions to relationships— responsiveness and demandingness—and their effects on teaching and educational leadership.
Student Leadership: Necessary Research
Authors: Dempster Neil , Lizzio Alf
Published: March 2013

Interest in student leadership or leadership by young people has always existed in school and community settings and while there are many programs devoted to leadership development and training, we believe that there is a need for focused research into what young people conceive leadership to be and in what circumstances they would see it being important. This article is speculative in nature. We ask and discuss questions about why there seems to be an upsurge in interest in student leadership and what some of the available literature is saying about student leadership before putting forward suggestions for the kind of research we feel is necessary if our understanding of student leadership, particularly in secondary schools, is to be enhanced.
Western Australia's ‘English’ Course of Study: To OBE or Not to OBE, Perhaps That is the Question
Authors: Berlach Richard G. , O'Neill Michael
Published: March 2013

Opinion surrounding Western Australia's provision of compulsory education via an outcomes-based education (OBE) paradigm is severely divided. At the centre of debate is an attempt by authorities to extend OBE into the final years of secondary schooling, Years 11 and 12. In this paper an examination is made of OBE as a curriculum paradigm. Secondly, an overview of how OBE has been interpreted in Western Australia as a model of curriculum design and planning is provided. Finally, and most significantly, the issues surrounding evaluation concerns as they relate to one exemplar course of study—English—are considered.