bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The analysis of elementary and high school students' natural and humorous responses patterns in coping with embarrassing situations
Authors: Chang Hui-Ju , Wang Chien-Ya , Chen Hsueh-Chih , Chang Kuo-En
Published: January 2014

This research aims to examine the use of humor in early adolescents for coping with imagined situations. The main issues investigated are the response patterns of participants to requests to answer the imagined questions by taking both general and humorous perspectives. The Interpersonal Coping Questionnaire was used to survey 485 fifth- to eighth- grade elementary school students in Taipei County and Taipei City for their answers to the imagined questions. The results show that, compared to the general answering perspective, elementary school students taking the humorous answering perspective tended to use specific coping strategies, humor techniques and content. The analysis of techniques of humor in our study has also revealed that irony, imitation, and metaphor were the most used strategies to cope with embarrassing interpersonal conditions in cases where a humorous approach was requested. In terms of age, both male and female junior high school students use more humorous techniques than the fifthand sixth-graders do, indicating a significant correlation between the creation of humor and the development of cognition. In terms of gender, female junior high school students use illogic and parody/imitation more than the male counterparts do.

The respondents' humorous responses were also classified as aggressive, affiliative, self-defeating, or self-enhancing. It was discovered in this study that in terms of age, male elementary students mostly frequently used aggressive humor, whereas female elementary students mostly often used affiliative humor responses. As for junior high school students, male students use more aggressive humor, while their female counterparts use more self-defeating humor. These findings of the present research provide a valuable understanding for education.
Investigations on the Effect of CNC Dry Hard Turning Process Parameters on Surface Integrity: A Multi-performance Characteristics Optimization
Authors: Shihab Suha K. , Khan Zahid A. , Mohammad Aas , Siddiquee Arshad Noor
Published: January 2014

The cutting parameters such as the cutting speed, the feed rate, the depth of cut, etc. are expected to affect the two constituents of surface integrity (SI), i.e., surface roughness and micro-hardness. An attempt has been made in this paper to investigate the effect of the CNC hard turning parameters on the surface roughness average (Ra) and the micro-hardness (μh) of AISI 52100 hard steel under dry cutting conditions. Nine experimental runs based on an orthogonal array of the Taguchi method were performed and grey relational analysis method was subsequently applied to determine an optimal cutting parameter setting. The feed rate was found to be the most influential factor for both the Ra and the μh. Further, the results of the analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed that the cutting speed is the most significant controlled factor for affecting the SI in the turning operation according to the weighted sum grade of the surface roughness average and micro-hardness.
Design and Development of a Singularizing Unit for Part Feeding System
Authors: Suresh M. , Jagadeesh K.A. , Rathish R.
Published: January 2014

In the modern industrial world, speed, agility, accuracy and less time are the key factors to attain a position in the market. Various forms of the products manufactured which could either be symmetric or asymmetric. The stacking of the asymmetric parts are either done manually which is a time-consuming job or by installing robots which are costly. To overcome this problem, part feeders are introduced to stack the parts in a specific orientation. In the automotive industry the brake pads are the components manufactured in a large scale. The manufacture of components and stacking them is an intensive task which necessitates agile manufacturing. So a linear part feeding system is designed along with the trap and conveyor system to reorient the asymmetric part to its most favorable orientation for stacking. The major problem arrives in part feeding system is to send parts one by one to trap. The main objective of this work is to design and develop the singularizing unit for sending the parts one by one. The system is designed to separate the brake pads from clusters and singularize them. The singularizing unit is designed by using Markov model and the unit is fabricated. Experiments were conducted for selecting the suitable parameters by making the unit at various levels of inclinations by using base plates of various thicknesses. The parameters which are concentrated while orienting the parts are frequency of vibration, time to travel the part on the singularizing unit and acceleration of the part for effective part motion in a singularizing unit.
American Metaphysical Judaism
Authors: Rothenberg Celia E.
Published: January 2014

American metaphysical Judaism draws on traditional Jewish practices and texts as well as the American metaphysical religious tradition. This article challenges the relegation of American metaphysical Judaism to the category “New Age Judaism” and opens the door to exploring this area of religious expression in its historical and current forms. Drawing on my fieldwork with, and the writings of, rabbi and shaman Gershon Winkler, I offer an ethnographic exploration of Winkler’s life and religious practice as an example of American metaphysical Judaism. Winkler reads Hebrew scriptures through his “shamanic” lens, looking for what he claims has been lost, overlooked or misinterpreted in traditional Jewish interpretations; focuses on healing through manipulation of energy and “flow;” and incorporates (his construction of) Native American religious practice and insight. I argue that metaphysical Judaism should be understood as a product of American values, metaphysical spirituality and Jewish history and thought.
Seasonal variation in maternal and umbilical cord 25(OH) vitamin D and their associations with neonatal adiposity
Authors: Godang Kristin , Frøslie Kathrine Frey , Henriksen Tore , Qvigstad Elisabeth , Bollerslev Jens
Published: January 2014

Design

Neonatal body fat is an important indicator of foetal energy supply and growth with potential importance for long-term health. In this study, we wanted to explore seasonal variation of 25-hydroxy-vitamin D (25(OH)D) in maternal and umbilical cord plasma (UCP) to examine whether maternal and foetal 25(OH)D levels were associated with maternal BMI and neonatal fat mass (FM), and to explore the relationship among maternal and neonatal 25(OH)D levels, maternal glucose/insulin levels and UCP C-peptide.

Methods

An observational, prospective study of determinants of foetal growth and birth weight in healthy pregnant women. Total body composition in 202 newborns was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Circulating levels of biomarkers were assessed in mothers at gestational weeks 14–16 and 30–32 and UCP.

Results

The mean 25(OH)D concentration in UCP was significantly lower than in maternal circulation (31 vs 45 nmol/l,P<0.001). Maternal and UCP 25(OH)D levels varied significantly with season. No significant association between maternal BMI (weeks 14–16) and UCP 25(OH)D concentration was found. We found a strong positive association between maternal 25(OH)D and UCP 25(OH)D (P<0.001). There was no significant linear association between maternal BMI (weeks 14–16) and maternal 25(OH)D. We found no association between maternal 25(OH)D levels and glucose/insulin levels, nor with maternal or UCP 25(OH)D on UCP C-peptide levels. Finally, neonatal total body FM was positively associated with UCP 25(OH)D,P=0.02.

Conclusions

We demonstrated seasonal variation in maternal and neonatal 25(OH)D levels at northern latitudes. UCP, but not maternal, 25(OH)D was a significant predictor of neonatal total FM. Maternal BMI and metabolic parameters such as glucose, insulin and UCP C-peptide levels were not associated with 25(OH)D in mothers or offspring.
TSH measurement is not an appropriate screening test for autonomous functioning thyroid nodules: a retrospective study of 368 patients
Authors: Chami Rayan , Moreno-Reyes Rodrigo , Corvilain Bernard
Published: January 2014

Objective

Based on the assumption that normal TSH concentration rules out the presence of autonomous functioning thyroid nodules (AFTNs), clinical guidelines on the management of thyroid nodules only recommend a thyroid scan if TSH concentration is subnormal. However, the proportion of AFTN presenting with a normal TSH is unknown. Our objective is therefore to determine the proportion of AFTNs with a normal TSH level to ascertain whether a normal TSH really rules out an AFTN.

Design

Retrospective study on 368 patients with an AFTN.

Methods

Thyroid scans with a diagnosis of AFTN were reviewed retrospectively by one of us (R Moreno-Reyes), blinded to the clinical data. The diagnosis of solitary AFTN was confirmed in 368 patients. Among them, we selected 217 patients based on the absence of another thyroid nodule >10 mm, the absence of medical conditions able to interfere with thyroid function, and the completeness of the data.

Results

The proportion of AFTNs with normal TSH was 49%. This proportion increased to 71% in patients for whom thyroid scan was performed in the workup of a thyroid nodule.

Conclusions

Our data suggest that serum TSH is not an effective screening tool to diagnose AFTNs. Using ‘TSH-only’ screening, as recommended by the majority of guidelines, the diagnosis of AFTN would have been missed in 71% of our patients in the workup of a thyroid nodule. Thyroid scan remains the gold standard for detecting AFTN and should be considered before performing fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC), as the reliability of FNAC in an unsuspected AFTN remains unclear.
Ubiquitous presence of paracetamol in human urine: sources and implications
Authors: Modick Hendrik , Weiss Tobias , Dierkes Georg , Brüning Thomas , Koch Holger M
Published: January 2014

N-acetyl-4-aminophenol (acetaminophen/paracetamol, NA4AP) is one of the most commonly used over-the-counter analgesic and antipyretic drugs. Recent studies have reported anti-androgenic effects of NA4APin vitroand possible associations between intrauterine exposure to NA4AP and the development of male reproductive disorders in humans. NA4AP is also a major metabolite of aniline (phenylamine), representing 75–86% of the aniline dose excreted in urine. Aniline is an important large-volume intermediate in several industrial processes. Besides individuals in various occupational settings with aniline exposure, the general population is also known to be ubiquitously exposed to aniline. In this article, we provide an overview of the recent literature concerning the intake of NA4AP during pregnancy and the possible anti-androgenic effects of NA4AP as well as literature concerning its known metabolic precursor aniline. We also present new research data, including the first human biomonitoring data on NA4AP excretion in urine, showing ubiquitous NA4AP body burdens in the general population at a wide range of concentrations. We found a small but significant impact of smoking on urinary NA4AP concentrations. We further present preliminary data on NA4AP excretion after therapeutic acetaminophen use, after aniline exposure in an occupational setting, and during a controlled fasting study (excluding oral exposure to both aniline and acetaminophen). Our findings indicate exposure to aniline (or aniline-releasing substances) as well as nutrition (next to the direct use of acetaminophen as medication) as possible sources of internal body burdens of NA4AP.
ReducedrDNACopy Number Does Not Affect “Competitive” Chromosome Pairing inXYYMales ofDrosophila melanogaster
Authors: Maggert Keith A
Published: January 2014

The ribosomal DNA (rDNA) arrays are causal agents in X-Y chromosome pairing in meiosis I of Drosophila males. Despite broad variation in X-linked and Y-linked rDNA copy number, polymorphisms in regulatory/spacer sequences between rRNA genes, and variance in copy number of interrupting R1 and R2 retrotransposable elements, there is little evidence that different rDNA arrays affect pairing efficacy. I investigated whether induced rDNA copy number polymorphisms affect chromosome pairing in a “competitive” situation in which complex pairing configurations were possible using males with XYY constitution. Using a common normal X chromosome, one of two different full-length Y chromosomes, and a third chromosome from a series of otherwise-isogenic rDNA deletions, I detected no differences in X-Y or Y-Y pairing or chromosome segregation frequencies that could not be attributed to random variation alone. This work was performed in the context of an undergraduate teaching program at Texas A&M University, and I discuss the pedagogical utility of this and other such experiments.
Evaluation of Accuracy of Casts of Multiple Internal Connection Implant Prosthesis Obtained From Different Impression Materials and Techniques: An In Vitro Study
Authors: Pujari Malesh , Garg Pooja , Prithviraj D. R.
Published: January 2014

Movement of impression copings inside the impression material using a direct (open tray) impression technique during clinical and laboratory phases may cause inaccuracy in transferring the 3-dimensional spatial orientation of implants intraorally to the cast. Consequently, the prosthesis may require corrective procedures. This in vitro study evaluated the accuracy of 3 different impression techniques using polyether and vinyl polysiloxane (VPS) impression material to obtain a precise cast for multiple internal connection implants. A reference acrylic resin model with 4 internal connection implants was fabricated. Impressions of the reference model were made using 3 different techniques and 2 different impression materials. The study consisted of 24 specimens divided into 6 groups of 4 each. Impressions were poured with ADA type IV stone (Kalrock, Kalabhai Karson Pvt Ltd, Mumbai, India). All casts were evaluated for the positional accuracy (mm) of the implant replica heads using a profile projector. These measurements were compared to the measurements calculated on the reference resin model, which served as a control. Data were analyzed with 2-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Bonferroni multiple comparison procedures to evaluate group means. The results revealed significant difference for anterior implant distance between the 2 impression materials (P < .01) and also among the 3 different techniques (P < .05). The lowest mean variation was found with the polyether impression material and the splinted technique. For posterior implants, the results suggested no significant difference between the 2 impression materials (P ≥ .05). Although results were not statistically significant, the polyether impression material showed the lowest mean variation as compared to the VPS impression material. However, there was a significant difference among the 3 different techniques (P < .05). Among the 3 different techniques, the lowest mean variation between 2 posterior implants was found in the splinted technique. Casts obtained from impression techniques using square impression copings splinted together with autopolymerizing acrylic resin prior to the impression procedure were more accurate than casts obtained from impressions with nonmodified implant impression copings and with airborne particle–abraded, adhesive-coated copings. Casts obtained from polyether impression material were more accurate than casts obtained from vinyl polysiloxane impression material.
Forensic engineering as a discipline – where the history starts
Authors: Jarvis Adrian
Published: January 2014

This paper traces the growth of the practice of investigating engineering failures from late medieval times to the beginning of the twentieth century. Using several case studies, it traces the desire to prevent repetitions, but also finds practical reasons for apparent failures to learn the lessons of history. These might result from working at the cutting edge, with all the financial and structural risks that entails. Sometimes, however, those reasons were themselves already known and disregarded, especially in matters of maintenance, where the main engineering failure was in separating clients from their money. A more sinister note is struck by some instances of failures to which forensic methods were not applied, apparently because of a positive desire not to know the answer. Considering the history in addition to the current practice of forensic engineering being more than an agreeable hobby, this paper provides a living analogy of that practice and points to paths that lead to continuing improvement.
Probabilistic calibration of a damage rock mechanics model
Authors: Medina-Cetina Z. , Arson C.
Published: January 2014

Current practice in the calibration of damage models requires downscaling the effects of experimental observations from macro/meso to micro. This process introduces uncertainty that is seldom quantified to reflect the expert's confidence in the model predictions. A probabilistic calibration methodology can be introduced to overcome this problem. This paper shows a case study based on a damage rock mechanics model and triaxial experimental data on sandstone, where this approach is implemented to illustrate the impact of varying states of evidence (i.e. model complexity, experimental observations and expert's judgement) on the model predictions. The probabilistic calibration method relies on the use of the Bayesian paradigm to assimilate experimental observations into the probabilistic definition of the model parameters. Results of this approach can be encapsulated into a single probability distribution or posterior, which is later used to assess the model performance. The proposed approach shows the potential to improve current practice in risk analysis since it allows tracing of changes of the model performance for varying evidence conditions in damage-sensitive geostructures such as nuclear waste disposals, landfills, geothermal wells and unconventional oil and gas formations, among others.
Suction caisson foundations for offshore wind turbines subjected to wave and earthquake loading: effect of soil–foundation interface
Authors: KOURKOULIS R.S. , LEKKAKIS P.C. , GELAGOTI F.M. , KAYNIA A.M.
Published: January 2014

The response of wind turbines founded on suction caissons and subjected to lateral monotonic, cyclic and earthquake loading is studied with due consideration of the role of soil–sidewall adhesion, using non-linear three-dimensional finite-element analyses. In the case of monotonic and slow cyclic lateral loading it is shown that imperfect interface bonding could reduce the moment capacity and may lead to foundation detachment or even uplifting in the case of shallowly embedded caissons. A preliminary comparison of two caisson alternatives has shown that increasing the caisson diameter while maintaining the embedment ratio is more efficient in terms of material resources than increasing the skirt length while keeping the diameter constant. The second part of the study evaluates the response of a soil–foundation–wind turbine interacting system subjected to earthquake shaking. Contrary to an often prevailing impression that seismic effects are insignificant, apparently originating from evaluating the seismic behaviour on the basis of spectral characteristics, it is illustrated that the system kinematics may prove crucial for the response of large wind turbines subjected to simultaneous environmental and seismic loads. Although not instantly catastrophic, the accumulation of foundation rotation could lead to the turbine reaching serviceability limits early during its operation.
Negotiating cultural identity through the architectural representation case study: Foreign embassy in Belgrade
Authors: Vasiljevic-Tomic Dragana , Nikezic Ana , Ciric Dragana
Published: January 2014

This article reports methods and results of Master students' Diploma Thesis
and Design research on representing identity through architecture. A group of
12 students have had the task to examine potentials and limitations of
positioning and conceptualizing foreign Embassy in the context of Belgrade.
Students were expected to rethink architectural representation and to find
new possibilities for networking global aspects of identity and local aspects
of context, thus creating architecture that emphasizes and promotes culture
through its spatial and programmatic framework. Article concludes that
architecture can become a resource for understanding cultural identity. It
does not stop only at the physical, but affects the process of urban living,
negotiating between global and local dimension of urban living, making a new
culturally responsive urban landscape.
The creative class: Truth or urban myth
Authors: Tomic Vesna
Published: January 2014

In the last decade, theories attempting to link culture, creativity and urban
development are gaining more and more attention from the expert community and
from urban policies decision makers. Strategies leaning on culture and
creativity are expected to create the possibility to achieve a high level of
competitiveness and compatibility with principles of sustainable development.
The theoretician who has probably drawn most interest, positive and negative,
is Richard Florida, a professor at the University in Toronto. This paper will
analyze the concept and value implications of Florida's theory of the
"creative class", with the goal to point out the positive, and that which
should not be contemplated linearly as a model, but as an inspirational idea.
Formal - eshtetic characteristics of contemporary student hostels
Authors: Nikolic Vladan , Nikolic Olivera , Markovic Biserka
Published: January 2014

The paper analyzes formal-esthetic characteristics of structures of
contemporary student hostels. The focus of research are the specific
characteristics of shaping of form and treatment of facades of student
hostels. Several tendencies of contemporary architecture applied in designing
of student hostels was observed and researched: recycling of "old forms",
pattern, avant-garde and experimental design and "new modularity".
Analysis of the impact of the quantizer range choice on compression and quality of the reconstructed image
Authors: Savic Milan , Peric Zoran , Simic Nikola
Published: January 2014

In this paper an algorithm for grayscale image compression based on usage of
three fixed uniform quantizers designed for discrete input samples is
presented. The algorithm is based on the alternating use of these three
quantizers. Number of quantization levels and quantizer range size increases
from the first to the third quantizer. Experimental results show that choice
of the quantizer range has an impact on system performance. While selecting a
range of the first two quantizers (with a lower number of quantization
levels) it is necessary to make a compromise between quality and bit rate
(larger quantizer range leads to lower average bit rate but the quality of
reconstructed image is also lower). It is shown that the range of the third
quantizer should be set up to cover as many as possible high number of input
samples making sure that the overload distortion does not become dominant.
Enhancing performance of the space/spatial-frequency optimal filter based on the pipelining technique application
Authors: Ivanovic Veselin , Radovic Nevena , Bozovic Marko , Uskokovic Zdravko
Published: January 2014

Possibility of the pipelining technique application in a highly nonstationary
two-dimensional (2D) frequency-modulated (FM) signals estimation is
considered in this paper. The considered design technique allows the
implemented filter to overlape in execution unconditional steps performing in
neighboring space/spatial-frequency (S/SF) instants and, consequently, to
significantly improve execution time of the 2D nonstationary Wiener filter
based on the 2D cross-terms-free Wigner distribution (2D CTFWD) real-time
implementation and on the 2D CTFWD-related local frequency (LF) estimation in
a noisy environment. In this way, the improvement in execution time
corresponding to the one clock cycle (CLK) by a S/SF point is achieved, which
means that the improvement by a S/SF point can reach 50% in most S/SF points.
The design and its improvement in execution time are tested on the
monocomponent and multicomponent highly nonstationary noisy signals.
Shape of impulse response characteristics of linear-phase nonrecursive 2D FIR filter function
Authors: Pavlovic Vlastimir , Milic Dejan , Djordjevic-Kozarov Jelena
Published: January 2014

An analytical method for the new class of linear-phase multiplierless 2D FIR
filter functions generated by applying the Christoffel-Darboux formula for
classical Chebyshev polynomials of the first and the second kind, proposed in
[6] was used for designing of linear-phase multiplierless 2D FIR filter
described in this paper. Correct transformation from continuous
two-dimensional domain into the z domains without residuum and without errors
is described. The proposed solution high selectivity is a filter function in
the z1 domain, and the Hilbert transformer in the z2 domain. The impulse
response coefficients of proposed 2D FIR filter functions are presented in
this paper, and corresponding examples of impulse response are illustrated.
The paper also presents detailed analysis of the size of pass-band and
stop-band of proposed multiplierless linear-phase 2D FIR filter function.
Normalized surface area of the filter function pass-band is 3.45789156 10-5
for given maximal attenuation of 0.28 dB. Normalized surface area of the
filter function stop-band is 80.395% for the given minimal attenuation of 100
dB.
Academic gender stereotypes of pre-service teachers
Authors: Cirovic Ivana , Malinic Dusica
Published: January 2014

This research was aimed at studying the content of academic gender
stereotypes of pre-service teachers who are being prepared for working in
different cycles of education. The sample included 408 students of teaching
programmes of the Teacher Training College, Faculty of Mathematics and
Faculty of Philology in Belgrade. It has been established that future class
and subject teachers have gender stereotypes about the interests and
achievements of students in different school subjects. pre-service teachers
from both groups are of the opinion that girls get interested more easily
than boys in the majority of school subjects, as well as that girls are more
talented for the subjects in the field of humanities and languages, while
boys are more talented for the subjects in the field of sciences. Pre-service
teachers estimate that boys typically have a low achievement in languages,
arts and music, while girls have a low achievement in physics, computer
science, technical sciences and physical education. Since teachers? gender
stereotypes can affect students? achievement, educational and career choices,
it is important to raise awareness about the content and consequences of such
beliefs in teachers and focus on certain actions towards their altering.
Encouraging initiative, cooperation and creativity in teaching Serbian language and literature
Authors: Stevanovic Jelena , Dimitrijevic Maja
Published: January 2014

Instruction in Serbian language and literature serves to prepare and in a
certain way enable the students to follow other school subjects, which points
to its special relevance for total education. Unfortunately, research results
indicate that students? knowledge in this field is not entirely satisfactory.
One of the reasons maybe the fact that this knowledge is not sufficiently
used in practice, which can have an unfavourable impact on students? response
to more and more complex demands set by the education system of the 21st
century. Additionally, the problem can also be related to the fact that
dogmatic-reproductive and reproductive-explicative methodical approaches are
still used in the classes of Serbian language and literature, while less
attention is paid to creative work, cooperative learning and students?
initiative, the competences that should be developed first and foremost
during the initial education. This paper aims at pointing to the methods and
procedures that contribute to the encouragement of initiative, cooperation
and creativity in primary school students in the instruction in Serbian
language and literature. Among other tings, we point out to the innovation of
the drama method as an integral approach to teaching contents, which serves
to adopt more quality knowledge via focused role-playing activities and drama
techniques, primarily in the field of literature, and enables the durability
and quality of the aesthetic perception and the reception of literature. It
is also pointed to the fact that instruction that includes creative work,
initiative and cooperative relations enhances student competences not only in
knowledge and skills in Serbian language and literature, but also at the
level of emotional and social relations between students.
Music education and mental health of music students
Authors: Mirovic Tijana , Bogunovic Blanka
Published: January 2014

The existing findings point to peculiarities of personality traits of the
musically gifted. These traits can be viewed as the result of acquisition and
modelling of certain forms of behaviour, reactions and feelings in accordance
with the conditions and demands of the educational and professional context.
The aim of this paper is to explore whether the students of the Faculty of
Music (FOM) are different from the students of other faculties in the
prominence of anxiety and depressive symptoms and early maladaptive schemas.
Anxiety symptoms were measured by the Spielberger?s Test Anxiety Inventory -
Trait (STAI-T), depressive symptoms by Beck?s Depression Inventory (BDI),
while the presence of early maladaptive schemas was determined by the score
on the shorter form of Young?s questionnaire that measures the presence of 15
schemas. The sample included 176 students, 48,9% of whom came from the FOM,
and 51,1% from other Belgrade faculties. Descriptive analysis and
multivariate analysis of variance indicate that both the anxiety
(F(1,176)=6,40; p<0,01) and depressive symptoms (F(1,176)=10,15; p<0,01), as
well as early maladaptive schemas (F(15,158)=3,02; p<0,001) are more
prominent in FOM students. Statistically significant differences are found
for ten schemas, and using a Bonferroni adjusted alpha level of 0,003 a
significant difference is found for four schemas: social isolation,
dependence, entitlement and insufficient self-control. It can be concluded
that music students are different from the students of other faculties in
that they have more prominent anxiety and depressive symptoms, as well as
more prominent maladaptive schemas. The obtained differences, i.e. higher
vulnerability in musicians, are discussed in the context of the teaching
process and the professional demands imposed upon them.
Ammons Quick Test Validity among Randomly Selected Referrals
Authors: Zagar Robert John , Kovach Joseph W. , Busch Kenneth G. , Zablocki Michael D. , Osnowitz William , Neuhengen Jonas , Liu Yutong , Zagar Agata Karolina
Published: January 2014

After selection using a random number table, from volunteer referrals, 89 Youth (61 boys, 28 girls; 48 African Americans, 2 Asian Americans, 27 Euro-Americans, 12 Hispanic Americans), and 147 Adults (107 men, 40 women; 11 African Americans, 6 Asian Americans, 124 Euro-Americans, 6 Hispanic Americans) were administered the Amnions Quick Test (QT). Means, confidence intervals, standard deviations, and Pearson product-moment correlations among tests were computed. The Amnions QT was moderately to strongly and significantly correlated statistically with: the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test-3b (PPVT-3b); the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales-2 Parent/Teacher Form; the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-4) or the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS-4); and the Wide Range Achievement Test-Fourth Edition (WRAT-4) Blue and Green Forms. After 51 years, the original norms for the Amnions QT remain valid measures of receptive vocabulary, verbal intelligence, and auditory information processing useful to clinicians.
Multidimensional Body-Self Relations Questionnaire-Appearance Scales: Psychometric Properties of the Greek Version
Authors: Argyrides Marios , Kkeli Natalie
Published: January 2014

The psychometric properties of a Greek version of the Multidimensional Body-Self Relations Questionnaire–Appearance Scales (MBSRQ–AS) were studied. A total of 1,312 high school students (463 boys, 849 girls) were administered the Greek MBSRQ–AS, the Greek Appearance Schemas Inventory–Revised (ASI–R) and the Greek Sociocultural Attitudes Towards Appearance Questionnaire–3 (SATAQ–3). An exploratory factor analysis revealed that the Greek MBSRQ–AS items significantly loaded with the scale's main factors. Internal consistencies of the subscales ranged from .76 to .86. Test-retest reliabilities ranged from .75 to .93. Convergent validity was also confirmed as the Greek MBSRQ–AS subscales correlated positively with the ASI–R and the SATAQ–3.
Development and Use of an Observation Tool for Active Gaming and Movement (Otagm) to Measure Children's Movement Skill Components during Active Video Game Play
Authors: Rosa Rita L. , Ridgers Nicola D. , Barnett Lisa M.
Published: January 2014

This article presents a direct observational tool for assessing children's body movements and movement skills during active video games. The Observation Tool of Active Gaming and Movement (OTGAM) was informed by the Test of Gross Motor Development-2. 18 elementary school children (12 boys, 6 girls; M age = 6.1 yr., SD = 0.9) were observed during Nintendo Wii® game play. Using the OTAGM, researchers were able to capture and quantify the children's body movements and movement skills during active play of video games. Furthermore, the OTAGM captured specific components of object control skills: strike, throw, and roll. Game designers, health promotion practitioners, and researchers could use this information to enhance children's physical activity and movement skills.
College Residential Sleep Environment
Authors: Sexton-Radek Kathy , Hartley Andrew
Published: January 2014

College students regularly report increased sleep disturbances as well as concomitant reductions in performance (e.g., academic grades) upon entering college. Sleep hygiene refers to healthy sleep practices that are commonly used as first interventions in sleep disturbances. One widely used practice of this sort involves arranging the sleep environment to minimize disturbances from excessive noise and light at bedtime. Communal sleep situations such as those in college residence halls do not easily support this intervention. Following several focus groups, a questionnaire was designed to gather self-reported information on sleep disturbances in a college population. The present study used The Young Adult Sleep Environment Inventory (YASEI) and sleep logs to investigate the sleep environment of college students living in residential halls. A summary of responses indicated that noise and light are significant sleep disturbances in these environments. Recommendations are presented related to these findings.
Effects of Rest Interval Length on Smith Machine Bench Press Performance and Perceived Exertion in Trained Men
Authors: Tibana Ramires A. , Vieira Denis C. L. , Tajra Vitor , Bottaro Martim , Willardson Jeffrey M. , de Salles Belmiro F. , Prestes Jonato
Published: January 2014

This study compared two different rest intervals (RI) between sets of resistance exercise. Ten resistance-trained men ( M age=24.3, SD = 3.5 yr.; M weight = 80.0 kg, SD = 15.3; M height = 1.75 m, SD = 0.04) performed five sets of Smith machine bench presses at 60% of one repetition maximum, either with 1.5 min. or 3 min. RI between sets. Their repetition performance, total training volume, velocity, fatigue, rating of perceived exertion, and muscular power were measured. All of these measures indicated that performance was significantly better and fatigue was significantly lower in the 3min. RI as compared with the 1.5 min. RI, except the rating of perceived exertion which did not show a significant difference. A longer RI between sets promotes superior performance for the bench press.
Development of the Biases toward Children with Psychological and Behavioral Disorders Scale
Authors: Hirsch Joseph A.
Published: January 2014

Although there have been studies of individual professional disciplines and their attitudes toward children with emotional, behavioral, or educational problems, there has been no systematic determination using a single, psycho-metrically sound measure that compared different professional groups. The goal was to assess the biases toward children with emotional and behavioral difficulties in samples of professionals who are most likely to have contact with them (86 teachers, 83 psychologists, 47 social workers), as well as other adults (75 undergraduate students). After development from an item pool, the provisional Biases toward Children with Psychological and Behavioral Disorders scale consisted of 21 items in one factor which experts also had assigned to a Biases category. The scale had good internal consistency reliability ( α = .84). Validity was supported by a team of experts, factor structure, and known-groups comparisons. Psychologists and social workers scored lower than did teachers and students.
Influence of a Health-Related Physical Fitness Model on Students' Physical Activity, Perceived Competence, and Enjoyment
Authors: Fu You , Gao Zan , Hannon James , Shultz Barry , Newton Maria , Sibthorp Jim
Published: January 2014

This study was designed to explore the effects of a health-related physical fitness physical education model on students' physical activity, perceived competence, and enjoyment. 61 students (25 boys, 36 girls; M age = 12.6 yr., SD = 0.6) were assigned to two groups (health-related physical fitness physical education group, and traditional physical education group), and participated in one 50-min. weekly basketball class for 6 wk. Students' in-class physical activity was assessed using NL-1000 pedometers. The physical subscale of the Perceived Competence Scale for Children was employed to assess perceived competence, and children's enjoyment was measured using the Sport Enjoyment Scale. The findings suggest that students in the intervention group increased their perceived competence, enjoyment, and physical activity over a 6-wk. intervention, while the comparison group simply increased physical activity over time. Children in the intervention group had significantly greater enjoyment.
Correlates of Blood Pressure Control Behaviors among Korean Americans in the Greater Philadelphia Area
Authors: Lewis Jay , Ma Grace , Patterson Freda , Wang Min Qi
Published: January 2014

This cross-sectional study was designed to identify correlates of blood pressure control behaviors, including participation in physical activity, maintaining a healthy diet, limiting alcohol and tobacco use, discussing blood pressure with a doctor, and getting screened for blood pressure. The study sample included 116 Korean American men and women aged 42 to 77 years ( M = 58.7) who resided in the greater Philadelphia area. Intention to exercise, comfort exercising in the neighborhood, and confidence in the ability to find time to exercise were positively correlated with participating in physical activity. Knowledge about the benefits of a healthy diet and confidence in the ability to maintain a healthy diet were positively correlated with maintaining a healthy diet. Intention to visit a doctor, having a regular doctor, satisfaction with the doctor, having confidence in the doctor, and confidence in the ability to ask doctors about health issues were positively correlated with medical adherence (including adhering to medication regimen and seeing a doctor regularly).
Evaluation of Trauma Characteristics as Predictors of Attrition from Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Child Victims of Violence
Authors: Chasson Gregory S. , Mychailyszyn Matthew P. , Vincent John P. , Harris Gerald E.
Published: January 2014

Little research has investigated psychotherapy attrition among child victims of violence, and no studies have evaluated the role of trauma characteristics (e.g., level of threat or injury, trauma frequency, perpetrator relationship, victim type, and trauma type). The current study evaluated premature psychotherapy termination with 134 child victims (ages 5–19 years) who were referred for exposure-based cognitive-behavioral therapy. Results indicated that premature treatment termination was associated with children who experienced (a) a single incident of trauma (compared to multiple), (b) neither life threat nor physical injury during the victimization, (c) and an incident that was perpetrated by an older child compared to a parental figure. Certain trauma characteristics may be important factors for identifying children at risk for terminating treatment prematurely.
A Preliminary Examination of Cell Phone Use and Helping Behavior
Authors: Puryear Curtis , Reysen Stephen
Published: January 2014

Use of a cell phone reduces attention and increases response times. 62 people (30 men, 32 women) were confronted with a confederate wearing a large leg brace, who dropped a stack of magazines and feigned difficulty retrieving them. Among the 33 people who talked on their cell phones only 9% offered their help, whereas among the 29 people who did not talk on their cell phones, 72% offered help. The use of cell phones affects helping behavior.
Relations among Visual Strategies, Force Fluctuations, and Attention during a Force-Matching Task
Authors: Huddleston Wendy , Keenan Kevin , Ernest Brad
Published: January 2014

Greater understanding of how people use visual information to minimize force fluctuations provides critical insight into visuomotor processing. Visual strategies were examined during a force-matching task with different feedback displays. When only vertical feedback was provided, young healthy participants ( N = 20, 9 men) fixated their gaze centrally. When vertical and horizontal visual feedback was provided, participants performed saccades to maintain gaze near the leading edge of the force trace. Performance on a separate attention task assessed visual and motor attention capabilities in the same participants. Selecting the correct saccade trajectory on the attention task was positively correlated with measures predicting performance on the force-matching task. Optimal visual strategies, combined with motor attention, may contribute to minimizing pinch force variability at low force.
Relations between BMI, Body Mass and Height, and Sports Competence among Participants of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games: Does Sport Metabolic Demand Differentiate?
Authors: Stanula Arkadiusz , Roczniok Robert , Gabryś Tomasz , Szmatlan-Gabryś Urszula , Maszczyk Adam , Pietraszewski Przemysław
Published: January 2014

This study characterizes the athletes participating in the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in terms of body height, body mass and BMI. The studied sample consisted of athletes in the top 20 places of each of 14 sports disciplines (1460 cases). Data on the athletes' age, height, body mass, and sports specialization were obtained from the Olympic Games' official website and from the International Ski Federation. The sampled athletes were grouped according to the predominant type of energy metabolism during competition. The anaerobic-glycolytic disciplines, such as cross-country sprint, figure skating, short track, and speed skating (500,1000 and 1500 m), were found to have the youngest female athletes: 25.0 yr. ( SD = 4.7). In the endurance sports (aerobic and aerobic-anaerobic), the female athletes were the oldest, being respectively 28.6 yr. ( SD = 4.9) and 28.1 yr. ( SD = 4.5) old. In the speed disciplines (anaerobic-alactic), the female athletes were the tallest ( M = 172 cm; SD = 8.3). The male athletes in the anaerobic-alactic sports were the tallest ( M = 181.8 cm, SD = 6.7) and those in the anaerobic-glycolytic sports were the shortest ( M = 179.2 cm, SD = 6.7). The large differences in body mass among the groups of athletes, which appear to be related to the predominant type of metabolism during competition, show that this parameter is partly correlated with the level of sports competence, but only in disciplines where the athletes need larger muscle mass. The largest average values of BMI were found for males and females in the anaerobic-alactic group.
Relationship between General and Specific Coordination in 8- to 17-Year-Old Male Basketball Players
Authors: Kamandulis Sigitas , Venckūnas Tomas , Masiulis Nerijus , Matulaitis Ke̢stutis , Balčiūnas Mindaugas , Peters Derek , Skurvydas Albertas
Published: January 2014

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the relationships between general coordination, sport-specific coordination, and sport-specific fitness of 8- to 17-year-old male basketball players. 312 males with training experience ranging from one year in the 8-year-old cohort up to 10 years for the 17-yearolds performed basketball-specific fitness (20 m sprint, Illinois, countermovement jump), general coordination (20 m run with three obstacles), semi-basketball-specific coordination (20 m sprint dribbling two balls, countermovement jump with arm swing) and basketball-specific coordination (Illinois ball dribbling) tests. There were moderate to large correlations between the results of both general and basketball-specific coordination with the results of most basketball-specific coordination tests in all age groups. Correlations between general and basketball-specific coordination were large in four age groups (11–14 yr., r = .52 to r = .76), moderate in five groups (8–10, 15 & 16 yr., r = .37 to r = .46), while not significant in the 17-year-olds. These results suggest that the importance of general coordination for sport-specific skills improvements during a sports-specific skill acquisition phase, remains high at the skill refinement phase, and decreases when sport-specific skills have been mastered to near-perfection.
Inline Skating for Balance and Strength Promotion in Children during Physical Education
Authors: Muehlbauer Thomas , Kuehnen Matthias , Granacher Urs
Published: January 2014

Deficiencies in balance and strength are common in children and they may lead to injuries. This study investigated the effects of inline skating exercise on balance and strength performance in healthy children. Twenty 11–12-year-old children (8 girls, 12 boys) were assigned to an intervention ( n = 10) or a control ( n = 10) group. Participants in the intervention group underwent a 4-week inline skating program (2 times/week, 90 min. each) integrated in their physical education lessons. Balance and strength were measured using the Star Excursion Balance test and the countermovement jump test. As compared to the control group, the intervention group significantly improved balance (17–48%, Cohen's d = 0.00–1.49) and jump height (8%, Cohen's d = 0.48). In children, inline skating is a safe, feasible (90% adherence rate), and effective program that can be integrated in physical education lessons to promote balance and strength.
Effect of zinc introduction on catalytic performance of ZSM-5 in conversion of methanol to light olefins
Authors: Zhang Su-Hong , Gao Zhi-Xian , Qing Shao-Jun , Liu Sheng-Yu , Qiao Yan
Published: January 2014

The effect of Zn on the catalytic performance of ZSM-5 in the methanol-to-olefin conversion was investigated. The samples were characterised by X-ray diffraction, N2 adsorption, FTIR, temperature-programmed desorption of ammonia and water, and Py-IR. The experimental results revealed Znmodified ZSM-5 to show a lower selectivity to light olefin at the higher reaction temperature of 520°C but a higher selectivity to light olefin at lower temperatures. As a comparison, the catalytic performance of Ca-modified ZSM-5 for the methanol conversion is also given. From the above results, it is concluded that Zn may play another role in the methanol conversion in addition to tuning the surface acidic property after modification.