bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Do Tests and Examinations Alienate the Gifted Student?
Authors: Smith David J. H.
Published: January 2012

Although gifted students might be expected to welcome school tests and examinations as a means of attaining positive rewards, it is argued that the characteristics of gifted students such as a preference for self-initiated, independent learning make them particularly vulnerable to negative effects associated with assessment. Features of school assessment which are likely to have a harmful effect upon the gifted student's attitudes and intrinsic motivation are identified and approaches are suggested for improving assessment procedures.
Considerations in the Identification of the Talented Child from Non-English Speaking Backgrounds
Authors: Schlesinger Betty
Published: January 2012

The identification of talented children is a current issue of ongoing debate and interest for people concerned with the education of the talented.

This paper suggests that in considering the culturally diverse talented child, there is a need to incorporate a multicultural perspective to the identification process. In this way, the process of inter-cultural understanding will contribute to the identification of the talented child from non-English speaking background.
Mathematics for Gifted Children of Ages 7 to 12
Authors: Biggs Edith
Published: January 2012

This article outlines a series of mathematical tasks given to very able pupils aged 7–12 years. It also stresses the value of research and inservice education which is firmly teacher and classroom based.
Coordinating Work with the Gifted
Authors: Dean Joan
Published: January 2012

Identification and provision in the county of Surrey is surveyed. The identification procedure considers pupils in the top 1% of the ability range as indicated by the Wechsler Scale of Intelligence. These children are carefully monitored by a senior member of staff in each school, who also undertakes to liaise with the rest of the staff in providing a suitable individualised learning programme for each child. The county has a well-developed bank of resources and personnel.
The Royal Institution Mathematics Master Classes for Young People
Authors: Hoare Graham T.Q.
Published: January 2012

The article describes a series of mathematics master classes held at The Royal Institution, London. The emphasis of the classes was on problem-solving and a synopsis of the activities it included.
Research Work in Europe and Polit-Educational Foundations
Authors: Urban Klaus K.
Published: January 2012

Research in gifted education and basics does not give a homogeneous picture. The amount and topics of research vary considerably. After differentiating between eastern and western European countries examples of research studies and fields are described very shortly. From the western countries, divided into north, middle, and south, research in West Germany is presented a little more extensively. Since there the topic of provisions for the gifted/talented, its relationship with “elite”, equality of chances, and democracy is discussed in a far more hostile and intolerant way, if ever. Some considerations about these politic-educational, ideological foundations are made in the last section.
Follow-Up on Gary
Authors: Ellis Kathleen A.
Published: January 2012

In the Volume 4, Number 1, 1986, issue of Gifted Education International, Dr. Ruth R. Adams, City College, New York, presented a case study of a gifted child with learning problems who was in the third grade. The enclosed report discusses problems he was having three years later. The initial referral was made because of difficulties in math, but deficits in language processing were found as well.
Full Time Gifted Child Education in a Boys Only Elementary School
Authors: Alston Ken
Published: January 2012

The needs of gifted students demand alternative forms of educational experience. This article surveys the results when mere lip service to a concept was turned into a reality. The article presents both the positive and negative perspectives of aspects of the programme, including acceleration, the lack of formal examinations and the development of social relationships.
Stimulating Curiosity
Authors: Necka Edward
Published: January 2012

The article discusses the development and nurturing of curiosity and suggests the following principles: the rewarding of questioning, the use of open questions, delaying answers, accepting that knowledge is not finite and that our vision of the world is incomplete. The writer also suggests various teaching techniques: brain questioning, role playing, hypothesizing and pursuing curiosity.
A Conversation with Sam and his Mother
Authors: Wallace Belle
Published: January 2012

This article is a brief case study of some of the problems encountered by Sam—a highly talented and sensitive young person. It aims to give a personal insight into some of the thoughts and feelings of Sam and his mother and highlights a number of complex issues too often ignored by parents and educators alike.
Gifted But Failing—a Case Study
Authors: Hannel Glynis
Published: January 2012

This paper is based on an assessment of an eight and a half year old girl who, although highly intelligent, was significantly underachieving in formal mathematics work. The paper discusses the way in which some of her cognitions worked against her expectations of success and how her expectations tended to make some simple tasks more difficult than other tasks which were, objectively, harder. The paper therefore presents an analysis of what might colloquially be called ‘a learning block’ in an intellectually gifted child.
Boredom or Challenge for the Academically Talented in School
Authors: Feldhusen John F. , Kroll Mark D.
Published: January 2012

This paper examines the hypothesis that gifted children are bored in the conventional classroom. A total of 227 students, identified as academically talented; and 226 not so identified were given a questionnaire which indicated that gifted students often begin with positive attitudes towards school but fail to maintain these attitudes because of the lack of appropriate challenge. However, there was no difference between the groups in level of boredom.
Creative Women's Developmental Patterns Through Age Thirty-Five
Authors: List Karen , Hartford West , Renzulli Joseph S.
Published: January 2012

This article summarizes the results of a research study designed to examine the developmental patterns of highly creative female artists. Eleven women, ages 26 through 33, representing various art areas were selected to participate in the study. All of the artists have been recognized for significant accomplishments at an early age. An in-depth phenomenological analysis was used to examine the subjects' perceptions of events and driving forces that lie behind outwardly manifested human behaviors and actions. The study examined the impact of societal influences on the creative development of these talented women in the following areas: formal educational experiences, familial support, the role played by mentors, and the artists' views about the development of their own creative processes. Results indicated that despite negative formal educational experiences, the women generally had supportive families and the benefit of at least one influential mentor in their lives. The women selected their art area at a very young age and found societal pressures to be minimal in pursuit of their creative interests. Each woman experienced a strong personal drive to create and need to share their products with appropriate audiences.
Evaluating Gifted Programs; the State of the Art
Authors: Browne Miller Angela
Published: January 2012

This article overviews existing approaches to the evaluation of programs for gifted youth in the U.S., against a backdrop of issues germane to program evaluation and ability and intelligence testing. The author's review of selected literature on gifted program evaluation reveals that the definitions, implementations and consequence evaluations of “gifted programs” are highly diverse. This diversity does not necessarily address the varying educational wants and needs of the heterogeneous society of the U.S. Instead, it appears to be the unplanned, disorganized and sporadic offering typical of under-funded and theoretically weak public programming. The overall national picture that a combination of these programs provides is one of little central planning, low social priority, and scanty conceptual organization.
Early Entry and Advanced Placement of Talented Students in Primary and Secondary Shools
Authors: Eales Connie , Paoli Wendy de
Published: January 2012

This paper examines the prospect of allowing accelerated progression of talented students of all ages in the New South Wales education system.

If a student is deemed to require faster progress through school and is denied that opportunity on the basis of some predicted unfavourable social/emotional repercussions, educational outcomes as well as the feared social/emotional outcomes are likely to be far from desirable.

Essentially the concept of acceleration is supported and a considerable body of research evidence is cited in this context.
Perceptions of Teachers and Coordinators of the Gifted toward Characteristic Behaviors of Gifted Females in Rural Schools
Authors: Jeon Kyung-Won , Ristow Robert S.
Published: January 2012

The purpose of this study was to assess the perceptions of teachers of the gifted toward their students, particularly gifted girls. The characteristics reported in the literature were condensed to the 25 most common characteristics. From these 25 characteristics, a survey was developed which asked teachers and coordinators of the gifted programs in South Dakota to respond to each item. The results indicated that teachers and coordinators tend to view gifted females as: self-confident, having non-traditional career plans, experiencing a deeper sense of satisfaction from their talents, having a greater interest in science and math, worrying about success and failure equally, and as being more global in their problem-solving than their male intellectual peers.
Family Dynamics of the Gifted
Authors: Carandang Ma. Lourdes A.
Published: January 2012

The writer discusses problems experienced by some parents of exceptional children and outlines some common situations that affect the whole family situation. The author cites a series of case studies indicating the need for parental counselling in the areas of expectations, discipline, favoritism, family values, balanced development. A framework for parental guidance is proposed which deals with four dimensions: the overall development of the child, particular developmental needs, communication and understanding of the child’s self-concept.
What Makes a Student a High Achiever in Science?
Authors: Tamir Pinchas
Published: January 2012

Substantial differences were found between the 5% top achievers in science and the remaining 95% 9th and 12th grade students. While girls constitute 55% of the 9th grade population only 18% of the high achievers are girls, a ratio of approximately 1:3. The corresponding ratio in the 12th grade was 1:8, 1:5, 1:2 and 3:4 for physics, non-science, chemistry and biology majors respectively. A typical profile of a higher achiever is: A small family. Parents with more formal education holding more science related careers, and more books at home. School science grades are relatively high. Science and mathematics are liked more than other school subjects. Intends to study science in the university and aspires for a science related career. The gaps between the top % and the rest in biology and physics are larger than in chemistry and earth science. The high achievers excel more in tasks which require higher cognitive abilities and which are outside their area of specialization. Their attitudes toward science learning are considerably more positive. Finally, they exhibit substantially higher preference for questioning and lower preference for rote memorization.
Learning Style Preferences of Gifted Minority Students
Authors: Ewing Norma J. , Lan Yong Fung
Published: January 2012

The purpose of this study was to compare the learning style preferences among gifted African-American, Mexican-American, and American-born Chinese middle grade students, considering gender and grade levels. The subjects were randomly selected from seven Chicago public schools, and group-administered the Learning Style Inventory. A three-way analysis of variance revealed significant ethnic, gender and grade differences among gifted African-American, Mexican-American and American-born Chinese students on several learning styles preferences. All three gifted groups were characterized by motivation, responsibility, and preferences for studying in the afternoon and bright light. A majority of the three groups also did not prefer noise, temperature (warm environment), auditory modality, structure, and authority figures. Findings of the study support and extend past research regarding the learning styles of gifted students. They render support for the provision of differentiated curricula for gifted minority students.
Talent Development: Potential for Developing Nations
Authors: Harris Carole Ruth
Published: January 2012

This presents a theoretical approach to talent development in emerging nations, with focus on curricular intervention derived from qualitative research. Elements of culturally appropriate curricular design are discussed in connection with practical educational application and viable options in the light of the special problems of developing countries.

The implementation of qualitatively derived curricular intervention in Ebeye, Marshall Islands, an economically and educationally disadvantaged population in the throes of conflict and change, is utilized to illustrate the technique. An account of evalution processes incorporating qualitative and quantitative assessment is discussed, along with initial preliminary results of a follow-up investigation.

The article concludes with suggested adaptations of the approach to a wide spectrum of cultures with similar economic constraints and political conflicts. Guidelines to qualitatively derived intervention are outlined along with implications of broader concomitant educational problems, issues and related research.
Gifted Females: Teachers, Nurses and Astronauts A Unit on Gender Issues PEAC: Primary Extension and Challenge
Authors: Peters Carole C.
Published: January 2012

Realising the potential of both males and females should be an important objective of every nation. Analysis of the status of women in the workforce provides support for the argument that many women are functioning as underachievers, a loss not only to themselves as they fail to realise their full potential, but also to society which is deprived of their full contribution.

In this paper the special challenges for gifted girls are highlighted in a gender issues unit offered to students attending a Primary Extension and Challenge program. A single-sex setting for gifted girls is explored and evaluated. The realization of potential through the breaking with tradition and keeping options and choices open is an important issue for the girls.
Growing up Gifted and Talented: Schools, Families and Communities
Authors: Passow A. Harry , Schiff Jacob H.
Published: January 2012

This paper discusses the changing aspects of gifted education over the 40 years with relation to definition, identification and provision. The author shows how the field has broadened to embrace a more holistic and dynamic approach in which the complexity of human potential is accepted and the importance of family, community and school influence is recognized as being of equal importance in achieving full development of individuals.
An Analysis of Selected Descriptive and Experimental Studies on Program Model Designs for Gifted Students for Potential use in Rural School Districts of Developing Countries
Authors: Naidu Sandhrapvakesh R. , Presley Priscilla Henshaw
Published: January 2012

The purpose of this study was to analyse program model designs for gifted children and youth currently in use in the United States. From a meta-analysis of 100 descriptive and experimental studies conducted in the last 10 years trends and practices currently used in the United States were identified. Ten features of program design which included name and description: identification of students: funding: staffing: grades: ages and number of students: scheduling: delivery of services: role of parents: community and technology were examined. Further recommendations were derived for the implementation of similar programs and training of teachers for the gifted in developing countries specifically the provinces of Ciskei and Transkei, South Africa. Focus is provided on aspects of gifted programs in rural areas of the United States for those recommendations as the characteristics are more representative of those in developing countries.
Reflections on Gifted Education in China — with a Particular Focus on Provisions for Science and Technology, and Cultural Creativity
Authors: Newhouse-Maiden Lesley
Published: January 2012

The philosophical underpinnings for the education of the gifted, provision for the gifted and talented, and teacher education in both countries. The author reflects on the special provision for the gifted in China, as it serves to meet the needs of the Chinese society, which is moving towards democratisation and a capitalist, entrepreneurial economy. There is an overview of the ‘enterprising creativity’ of the Chinese people and a discussion of the development of a new ‘mandarin’ class of gifted individuals. Their education, reminiscent of a traditional British grammar school education, may be described in terms of broad-based content, accelerated progress beyond idyllic kindergarten days and individual persistence In striving to be ‘the best in the class’, where the ultimate achievement is early entry to university. Creativity is fostered at the kindergarten level, but appears, except for some individuals attending the extra-curricular programs and isolated examples in middle school, to be ‘put on hold’ until the university's environment again encourages research projects. Great strengths of gifted education in China are the dedicated mentorship of teachers at every level; the complementary respect between students and teachers; and the mutual pursuit of knowledge. Weaknesses are reflected in the paucity of resources and their ineffective use in fostering thinking, problem-solving and creativity; and in formal teacher education for the gifted. Finally, the state of the art in China and future prospects are discussed.
What do Superman, Captain America, and Spiderman have in Common? The Case for Comics Books
Authors: Mitchell Jane P. , George Joseph D.
Published: January 2012

The paper analyses the use of comic book super heroes who fight somebody's evils as useful for the teaching of values to exceptional children. The values can be presented in a popular medium which can be used to initiate discussion and critical thinking.
Giftedness and Intelligence Assessment in a Third World Country: Constraints and Alternatives
Authors: Sibaya Patrick T , Hlongwane Mandla , Makunga Nomahlubi
Published: January 2012

This paper considers two issues namely: the limitations of assessment procedures in current use with black clients and how these procedures can be adapted and used effectively through the dynamic approach. This article expounds upon the application of Learning Potential Assessment Device (LPAD) for the assessment of giftedness, intelligence and other cognitive abilities. The LPAD is based upon the Feuerstein's theory of structural cognitive modifiability.
University Students' Evaluation of Their Own Level of Creativity and Their Teachers' and Colleagues' Level of Creativity
Authors: Soriano de Alencar Eunice M. L.
Published: January 2012

This study investigated university students' evaluation of their own level of creativity, their teachers' level and their colleagues' level of creativity, as well as the relationship between results in creative thinking measures and in the evaluation of their own level of creativity by the university students. Four hundred and twenty eight Brazilian university students were asked to rate their level of creativity, their university teachers' and colleagues' level of creativity in a seven point scale, after completing the Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking (Verbal form A). Students judged themselves and their colleagues as significantly more creative than their teachers. It was also found that most students evaluated their teachers as presenting low levels of creativity. Moreover, significant relationships were observed between different measures of creative thinking and the level of their own creativity as evaluated by the students. The results suggest that university teachers are ill-equipped in designing a facilitative environment for creativity. They also give support for the concurrent validity of the Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking.
The Arts and Talent Development
Authors: Seeley Ken
Published: January 2012

The writer argues for the importance of the creative arts which cross all boundaries of culture and human motivation. The article defends the holistic nature of the creative arts which synthesises the whole range of human potential. The author proposes that the creative arts are a basis for understanding both the self and society.
The Crisis of Rationality: What Happens to Intelligence?
Authors: Barreto Cupertino Christina Menna
Published: January 2012

This paper discusses problems arising from prevailing definitions of intelligence elaborated on the basis of the rational paradigm which constitutes the typical form of acquiring knowledge in the modern world. We are imprisoned, it is argued, in our perception of what “being intelligent” means according to the requirements of traditional scientific method. Suggestions are outlined regarding the possibilities of comprehending intelligence unleashed by a shift from the traditional psychodiagnosis model to a descriptive approach introduced by the practice of phenomenological-existential psychodiagnosis.
The Total Talent Portfolio: Looking at the Best in Every Student
Authors: Renzulli Joseph S
Published: January 2012

This article explores the multi-faceted nature of giftedness. The writer draws together a number of diverse definitions and developments of researchers in the field. He suggests a way forward in understanding the concept of giftedness in the light of recent research.
Too Much Too Soon? Non-radical Advanced Grade Placement and the Self-concept of Gifted Students
Authors: Plucker Jonathan A , Taylor V John Wesley
Published: January 2012

Acceleration is a frequently recommended programming option for academically advanced students that enjoys considerable research support. Yet practitioners often object to acceleration on the grounds that it has negative effects upon students' social and emotional development. Research on affective outcomes of techniques such as grade advancement are mixed, containing reports of positive, negative, and neutral outcomes, and the role of gender and ethnicity is seldom explored. This study was undertaken to investigate the relationship between advanced grade placement and the self-concept of gifted students. Over 600 gifted adolescents completed the Self-Description Questionnaire-II (SDQII) and provided demographic information. Nearly 25% of the students were grade advanced, with Caucasian students being grade advanced significantly more often than Hispanic or African American students. No difference was found in any facet of self-concept between grade advanced and non-advanced students (and interactions of advanced status and gender and/or grade level). Readers are cautioned that the study was causal/comparative and not experimental in nature.
The Dangers of Differentiation
Authors: Kerry Trevor , Kerry Carolle A
Published: January 2012

This article reports part of a piece of research carried out with teachers during professional development days. It looks at four of the commonest approaches to differentiation. It suggests that teachers have too little guidance from official sources about differentiation for more able, and other students, and that advice is often lacking in context. We suggest that, in practice, teachers contribute professional wisdom to illuminate their application of differentiation to classroom tasks, and that they are more subtle in their approach to methods of differentiation than is suggested in the literature.
Brazilian School-Psychologists' Training Course in Gifted Education
Authors: de Souza Fleith Denise , Rodrigues Virgolim Angela M
Published: January 2012

This article describes the development of an undergraduate training course in gifted education at the University of Brasilia, Brazil. The course objectives were to acquaint students with the needs of gifted children; to help students to analyze critically the current practices in the education of the gifted in Brazil; and to train psychologists to plan and implement a creative training program for gifted students in public elementary and middle schools. An evaluation of this training course is provided. The importance of establishing a partnership between public schools and the university is discussed as well.
Gifted Education Policies in Taiwan, R.O.C
Authors: Wu Wu-Tien
Published: January 2012

This paper first proposes a framework of gifted education policy which embodies the hierarchy of policy, sources of policy and influencing factors. The formation of gifted education policy, using USA and Taiwan as examples, is discussed. A review of literature indicates that gifted education policies in Taiwan are characterized by being incorporated into a law with education for the disabled, being initiated by the government, broad definition of giftedness, flexibility in schooling and curriculum design, identification mainly based on tests, enrichment-focused, special qualified teacher, and utilization of community resources. Finally, the results of an empirical survey study conducted in Taiwan are presented in terms of public attitudes toward gifted / talented education, knowledge of gifted education policy, justification of gifted and talented education, support system, and educational strategies.
Special Abilities: A Maori Perspective, Implications for Catering for Gifted Children from Minority Cultures
Authors: Bevan-Brown Jill
Published: January 2012

This paper uses selected findings from a research study on Maori children with special abilities to illustrate various points about catering for gifted children from minority cultures. Reasons why gifted Maori children are not well catered for in New Zealand are explained and differences between a Maori concept of special abilities and an “official” New Zealand definition of giftedness are examined.

Seven suggestions for improving provisions for gifted children from minority cultures are outlined and discussed. Six suggestions are specifically teacher related. The seventh looks at the need for research and discusses the inherent danger of people from majority cultures misinterpreting data on minority cultures.

The paper poses a number of questions relating to identification and provisions for gifted children from minority groups and challenges readers to reflect on their own school or institution's performance in this area.
Adult Criminal Involvement: A Cross-Sectional Inquiry Into Correlates and Mechanisms Over the Life Course
Authors: DePadilla Lara , Perkins Molly M. , Elifson Kirk W. , Sterk Claire E.
Published: January 2012

In this article, the authors examine the relative contribution of four domains of predictors that have been linked to adult criminal involvement: (a) sociodemographic characteristics, (b) family-of-origin factors, (c) proximal processes developed during adolescence, and (d) current lifestyle and situational factors. Cross-sectional data were collected through face-to-face interviews with 242 community-recruited adults. Data analysis involved negative binomial regression. Being male, family size, juvenile delinquency, aggression, living with someone involved in illegal activity, and recent violent victimization were independently associated with nonviolent criminal involvement. Aggression, association with deviant peers, and recent violent victimization were independently associated with violent criminal involvement. Juvenile delinquency and aggression mediated the affect of multiple family-of-origin characteristics on nonviolent criminal involvement and aggression mediated the effect of childhood physical abuse on violent criminal involvement. The results emphasize the importance of investigating both antecedents and proximal risk factors predictive of different types of criminal involvement, which, in turn, will assist in developing risk-focused prevention and intervention programs.
Effects of Fish Oil on Inflammatory Modulation in Surgical Intensive Care Unit Patients
Authors: Han Yin‐Yi , Lai Shou‐Lun , Ko Wen‐Je , Chou Chia‐Hung , Lai Hong‐Shiee
Published: January 2012

Background: The benefit of ω‐3 fatty acids in fat emulsion remains controversial. This study evaluated the effect of ω‐3 fatty acids on immune and inflammatory modulation in surgical intensive care unit (SICU) patients. Methods: Thirty‐eight patients admitted to the SICU after major surgery were enrolled in this prospective controlled study and randomized to receive parenteral nutrition (PN) with equal volume and calories from glucose, nitrogen, and fat but different lipid components for 7 postoperative days. Group A (n = 12) received a mixture of soybean and medium‐chain triglyceride oils; group B (n = 18) received a fat emulsion with part of the lipid replaced by fish oil. Blood tests, including lipid profile, routine biochemistry, inflammatory cytokines, and lymphocyte subpopulations, were evaluated preoperatively and on postoperative days 4 and 7. Results: Both lipid regimens were well tolerated. There was a trend toward reduced serum inflammatory cytokines in group B vs group A with significant differences regarding interleukin (IL)–1, IL‐8, and interferon (IFN)–γ on postoperative day 4 (P < .05) and IL‐1, IL‐8, IFN‐γ, IL‐6, and tumor necrosis factor–α on postoperative day 7 (P < .05). There was a reduction in postoperative liver dysfunction (A vs B: 50% vs 33.3%) and infection rate (A vs B: 41.7% vs 27.8%) in group B, although this was not statistically significant. There was no mortality in either group. Conclusion: This study suggests that supplementation of parenteral ω‐3 fatty acids in PN is safe and may improve immune and hyperinflammatory response for SICU patients after major surgery.
Linking Affective Commitment, Career Self-Efficacy, and Outcome Expectations
Authors: Conklin Amanda M. , Dahling Jason J. , Garcia Pablo A.
Published: January 2012

The authors tested a model based on the satisfaction model of social cognitive career theory (SCCT) that links college students’ affective commitment to their major (the emotional identification that students feel toward their area of study) with career decision self-efficacy (CDSE) and career outcome expectations. Results indicate that CDSE mediates the relationship between affective commitment to the major and career outcome expectations, specifically expected career performance and satisfaction. Further, students’ perception of abilities–demands fit with their major interacts with affective commitment to moderate these direct and indirect effects. The authors discuss these findings in light of SCCT and develop recommendations for career counselors and academic advisors based on their results.
Rate regulation of a suborbital reentry payload by moving-mass actuators
Authors: Mohammadi Aidin , Tayefi Morteza , Kashani Hamed
Published: January 2012

In order to save cost and time, sounding rockets are effectively used to develop space technologies. In a biological payload that is under the study on this investigation, reentry rate regulation is one of the critical issues to be solved. Because of non-linear time-varying dynamics of these payloads and presence of high aerodynamic disturbances during reentry, choosing an appropriate stability and control mechanism can be an engineering challenge. Having a lot of benefits, nowadays, moving-mass actuation systems are used in a variety of aerospace applications. As an innovative approach, a moving-mass system is designed and analysed to regulate the payload body rates during reentry phase. Simulation results indicate significant performance of suggested application for moving-mass control systems.
Non-linear flight control for unmanned aerial vehicles using adaptive backstepping based on invariant manifolds
Authors: Zhang Jiaming , Li Qing , Cheng Nong , Liang Bin
Published: January 2012

A novel adaptive backstepping control scheme based on invariant manifolds for unmanned aerial vehicles in the presence of some uncertainties in the aerodynamic coefficients is presented in this article. This scheme is used for command tracking of the angle of attack, the sideslip angle, and the bank angle of the aircraft. The control law has a modular structure, which consists of a control module and a recently developed non-linear estimator. The estimator is based on invariant manifolds, which allows for prescribed dynamics to be assigned to the estimation error. The adaptive backstepping control law combined with the estimator covers the entire flight envelope and does not require accurate aerodynamic parameters. The stability of the whole closed-loop system is analyzed using the Lyapunov stability theory. The full six-degree-of-freedom non-linear model of a small unmanned aerial vehicle is used to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed control law. The numerical simulation result shows that this method can yield satisfying command tracking despite some unknown aerodynamic parameters.
Accreditation of Library and Information Science programmes in the Gulf Cooperation Council nations
Authors: ur Rehman Sajjad
Published: January 2012

This paper investigates the accreditation possibilities and prospects for the library and information science education programmes located in the six member nations of the Gulf Cooperation Council. This paper has been based on the findings of a study focused on the evaluation practices of these programmes and the perceptions of the leading academic managers in these schools. The respondents provided information about their choices of accrediting agencies. It was found that most programmes had conducted evaluation through self-assessment or external review, focusing on a range of important aspects related to programme design and administration. The respondents also provided information about the changes that had taken place, subsequent to evaluation exercises. All the respondents favoured accreditation. It is proposed that accreditation initiatives might be pursued under the authority of the Gulf Cooperation Council’s university forum and initial recommendations of how this might be undertaken are presented. The paper also discusses problems that the programmes in this region might face in introducing and implementing accreditation.
Effects of Eating Behaviors on Being Overweight in Japanese University Students
Authors: Ekuni Daisuke , Furuta Michiko , Tomofuji Takaaki , Irie Koichiro , Azuma Tetsuji , Iwasaki Yoshiaki , Morita Manabu
Published: January 2012

Being overweight is an important risk factor for lifestyle-related diseases. The objective of the present study was to examine whether eating until full, eating quickly, or both eating behaviors were associated with being overweight, defined as a body mass index (BMI) ≥ 25, in young adults. This cross-sectional survey comprised 1918 students (1139 male and 779 female students) at the Okayama University in Japan. In logistic regression analysis, eating until full was not associated with being overweight in either sex. The adjusted odds ratio of being overweight among those who reported eating quickly was 3.93 (2.45-6.31; P < .0001) for male and 1.59 (0.79-3.21; P = .193) for female students. Moreover, the adjusted odds ratio of being overweight was 2.72 (1.72-4.30; P < .001) in male students who frequently reported eating a fatty diet. The combination of eating quickly and frequently eating a fatty diet had a supra-additive effect on being overweight in the male students.
Leveraging Community-Based Financing for Women’s Nonmaternal Health Care
Authors: Gopalan Saji S. , Durairaj Varatharajan
Published: January 2012

Given the increasing need for mainstreaming household financing for women’s nonmaternal health care and evidences on community-based financing’s contribution to women’s health care in general, this study explored their scope for nonmaternal health care in Orissa. A qualitative assessment conducted focus group discussions with rural women who met the eligibility criteria. Community-based financing provided financial access and risk protection for women’s nonmaternal health care during the previous 1 year, though not adequately. Schemes covering outpatient care (or mild illnesses) provided relatively more financial access. The major determinants of their restricted financial access were limited sum assured, noncomprehensive coverage of services, exclusion of elderly women, and the lower priority households gave to nonmaternal health care. Community-based financing requires relevant structural changes along with demand-side behavioral modifications to ensure optimal attention to women’s nonmaternal health care.
Experimental and numerical studies on damage localization of simply supported beams based on curvature difference probability method of waveform fractal dimension
Authors: An Yonghui , Ou Jinping
Published: January 2012

Accurate structural damage localization in engineering is still a challenge due to high noise and low accuracy of the structural finite element model. With the most basic type of construction, the simply supported beam is the most widely used type of structures in short and medium span bridges. Therefore, it is imperative to study their damage detection methods, which can be used in engineering. To solve this problem, an alternative method for damage detection is proposed in this study on the basis of fractal theory and curvature mode shapes method: the curvature difference probability method of waveform fractal dimension. The influence of different amplitudes of excitation on results and the robustness against noise are also discussed. Based on a simply supported beam model in the laboratory, both the experimental and numerical results using the technique under step or pulse excitation indicate that the proposed method can be used in damage localization very well, and it exhibits high-noise insusceptibility: it is still feasible even if the noise level is up to 15%, which lays a good foundation for engineering application. Moreover, the proposed technology needs no finite element model of the detected structures. Therefore, it is quite simple in the procedure.
Electoral Institutions and Legislative Behavior
Authors: Alvarez R. Michael , Sinclair Betsy
Published: January 2012

Electoral institutions can affect the voting behavior of legislators who are elected through those institutions. In this article, the authors apply social network theory to study patterns of legislative choices under different primary election systems, and this approach leads the authors to study how electoral institutions affect legislative behavior differently than most previous research—that is, they focus on how electoral institutions affect the interactions between legislators. The authors use data on legislative voting behavior from the California State Assembly and exploit the changes that have been implemented in California’s primary elections process over the past two decades. Specifically, they hypothesize that legislators who were elected during the years in which a nonpartisan blanket primary was used in California (1998 and 2000) will be more centrally networked and more likely to compromise with other legislators. They find evidence to support their hypothesis: legislators elected under the nonpartisan blanket primary are more likely to agree with other legislators. Electoral institutions, especially primary elections, have important effects on legislative behavior. The authors’ results have implications for highly polarized state legislatures.
A Cross-Cultural Three-Step Process Model for Assessing Motivational Interviewing Treatment Fidelity in Thailand
Authors: Koken Juline A. , Naar-King Sylvie , Umasa Sanya , Parsons Jeffrey T. , Saengcharnchai Pichai , Phanuphak Praphan , Rongkavilit Chokechai
Published: January 2012

The provision of culturally relevant yet evidence-based interventions has become crucial to global HIV prevention and treatment efforts. In Thailand, where treatment for HIV has become widely available, medication adherence and risk behaviors remain an issue for Thai youth living with HIV. Previous research on motivational interviewing (MI) has proven effective in promoting medication adherence and HIV risk reduction in the United States. However, to test the efficacy of MI in the Thai context a feasible method for monitoring treatment fidelity must be implemented. This article describes a collaborative three-step process model for implementing the MI Treatment Integrity (MITI) across cultures while identifying linguistic issues that the English-originated MITI was not designed to detect as part of a larger intervention for Thai youth living with HIV. Step 1 describes the training of the Thai MITI coder, Step 2 describes identifying cultural and linguistic issues unique to the Thai context, and Step 3 describes an MITI booster training and incorporation of the MITI feedback into supervision and team discussion. Throughout the process the research team collaborated to implement the MITI while creating additional ways to evaluate in-session processes that the MITI is not designed to detect. The feasibility of using the MITI as a measure of treatment fidelity for MI delivered in the Thai linguistic and cultural context is discussed.
Dried Blood Spot Bioanalysis: An Evaluation of Techniques and Opportunities for Reduction and Refinement in Mouse and Juvenile Rat Toxicokinetic Studies
Authors: Dainty Tim C. , Richmond Emily S. , Davies Ian , Blackwell Malcolm P.
Published: January 2012

Toxicokinetic investigations are an essential component of nonclinical toxicology studies and generally rely on bioanalysis of plasma samples, which requires relatively large volumes of blood and, often, additional numbers of animals. Dried blood spot (DBS) analysis can substantially reduce the volume of blood needed and, therefore, presents a particular opportunity for reducing animal use in studies involving small animals; an approach consistent with industry objectives to reduce animal use and refine methods that are minimally invasive and improve animal welfare. Investigations using mice and juvenile rats indicate that implementation of DBS technology can reduce the number of animals used, and data are as good as those derived from whole blood in terms of AUC, drug-concentration-over-time curves, quantitation, accuracy, variability, and precision. These factors, and the improved data quality arising from less reliance on composite data, suggest that DBS analysis should be considered from the early stages of nonclinical development.
Reactions to a social dilemma as a function of intragroup interactions and group performance
Authors: Jackson Jay W.
Published: January 2012

We examined how group performance (success or failure) and intragroup interactions (minimal or favorable) affected responses to a social dilemma. We predicted that group failure would result in less overall cooperation, but that favorable intragroup interactions would buffer this adverse consequence. We further predicted that this buffering effect would be mediated by group identity, which would, in turn, operate through two processes, normative expectations and goal transformation. We experimentally manipulated the extent to which groups ( N = 80 four-person groups) experienced minimal or favorable intragroup interactions and succeeded or failed on an intellective task before facing, as isolated individuals, a social dilemma. Our main hypotheses were supported, and structural equation modeling and analyses of moderated mediation were largely consistent with our theoretical model. The results support a social identity approach to social dilemmas and shed light on the processes involved in intragroup cooperation.
Plurality and Indeterminacy
Authors: Klooger Jeff
Published: January 2012

Despite its ground-breaking character, Castoriadis’s theory of society remains, in some respects, caught up in conceptual difficulties common to social theory generally, particularly the problem of conceptualizing social unity without resort to an understanding of society that downplays heterogeneity and over-emphasizes the homogeneous. Unlike many other theoretical approaches and traditions, Castoriadis’s work also offers a possible path out of this dilemma in the form of philosophical innovations which could enable us to conceptualize social unity without flattening the heterogeneous characteristics of the social. Castoriadis sometimes fails to recognize the full implications of his own rejection of ontological determinism, and so ends up proposing a far too deterministic and homogeneous model of social types. This essay aims to show how this might be remedied by drawing on Castoriadis’s own fundamental insights.
When citizens meet both professional and citizen journalists: Social trust, media credibility, and perceived journalistic roles among online community news readers
Authors: Nah Seungahn , Chung Deborah S
Published: January 2012

Through a web-based survey ( N = 238), this study examines how online community news readers perceive the roles of both professional and citizen journalists, and predicts the extent to which social capital, such as social trust and media credibility, contributes to their perceived journalistic roles. Analyses show that while media credibility was positively related to the role conceptions of professional journalists only, social trust was positively associated with the role conceptions of both professional and citizen journalists. Implications are discussed for the relationship between social trust, media credibility, and perceived journalistic roles.
The metaphors journalists live by: Journalists’ conceptualisation of newswork
Authors: Gravengaard Gitte
Published: January 2012

The aim of this article is to grasp professional journalists’ point of view: the journalists’ self-understanding and their conceptualisation of newswork. The article presents an analysis of journalists’ everyday language, in particular of their everyday metaphors, and what these metaphors show about the given suppositions behind the journalists’ conceptualisation of newswork. This analysis is an explication of an important part of these professional practitioners’ tacit expert knowledge and the conclusion is that several different metaphors – and thus different conceptualisations of newswork – coexist. These results provide an opportunity to nuance previous research as it demonstrates how the journalists’ multi-layered conceptions of newswork are not mutually exclusive but rather co-present in the journalists’ consciousness. Furthermore, the analysis creates an opportunity for journalists to gain a more nuanced insight into their routinised linguistic practice, and thereby makes it possible to discuss and reflect upon this knowledge.
Central Diabetes Insipidus Following a Sports-Related Concussion
Authors: Foley Cassidy M. , Wang David H.
Published: January 2012

A 24-year-old female swimmer presented to a sports medicine clinic with complaints of frequent urination and increased thirst. The patient admitted to progressive worsening of her symptoms over a 4-year period since suffering a concussion. A water deprivation test, antidiuretic hormone level, and diamino-8-D-arginine vasopressin challenge were completed, and the patient was diagnosed with persistent central diabetes insipidus. As concussion awareness increases, health care professionals will be faced with treatment of post-concussive patients more often. The aim of this case report is to increase awareness of possible pituitary dysfunction—specifically, central diabetes insipidus—following a concussion.