bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Law of One Price in International Trade: A Critical Review
Authors: Miljkovic Dragan
Published: June 2006

The law of one price (LOP) is one of the most frequently tested economic laws. Although called a law, it has probably been violated more than any other economic law (on the basis of the results of numerous empirical studies). Furthermore, the LOP is often utilized as the building block in international agricultural trade models without previously checking the validity of that assumption for that particular commodity. This can sometimes lead to erroneous conclusions that can have serious consequences on policy‐making decisions. This article represents a critical review of recent works that discuss how some factors, such as transportation (transaction) costs, tariffs, nontariff barriers, pricing to market, exchange rate risk, and trade regionalization, can prevent market arbitrage to force closer convergence of international prices. The validity of some methods often used for testing the LOP, such as cointegration analysis, is critically reviewed as well.
Quality Uncertainty in International Grain Markets: Analytical and Competitive Issues
Authors: Wilson William W. , Dahl Bruce L.
Published: June 2006

One of the important issues dominating the competitive environment of the world grain market is quality consistency and uncertainty. Quality uncertainty in the grain marketing chain can be defined in a number of ways and can result in variability of end‐use processing characteristics. Quality uncertainty is important because variability can increase costs for buyers, processors, and grain handlers. Quality uncertainty affects competition within countries and across international borders. Various strategies have been pursued by major exporters. Processors concerned with obtaining a high‐quality product may pursue vertical integration, purchase, loading, and contracting strategies to reduce quality uncertainty. Future research for grain quality could include examination of factors contributing to quality uncertainty and private and public strategies and policies to reduce or manage quality variability.
Vertical Integration of Production Agriculture Into Value‐Added Niche Markets: The Case of Wheat Montana Farms & Bakery
Authors: Brester Gary W.
Published: June 2006

This case considers the complex decision making required to vertically integrate forward from the production of raw agricultural commodities into value‐added niche markets. Wheat Montana Farms & Bakery evolved from a traditional wheat‐production farm business. Wheat Montana's initial experience with vertically integrated niche marketing involved the production of differentiated specialty wheats. Eventually, the company entered the specialty‐flour, bakery‐products, and food‐service industries. Future success hinges critically upon decisions regarding growth, human resource and risk management, market expansion, and land and machinery acquisitions.
Preharvest Marketing Strategies Increase Net Returns for Corn and Soybean Growers
Authors: Wisner Robert N. , Blue E. Neal , Baldwin E. Dean
Published: June 2006

Grain producers price grain prior to harvest to reduce financial risk and to enhance net returns. Because accomplishing the second objective is debatable, alternative corn and soybean preharvest options and hedge marketing strategies were designed to test the hypothesis that preharvest pricing could generate statistically higher average net returns than harvest sales without increasing variability. Weekly seasonal futures price patterns from 1975 to 1994 were used to time marketings. The strategies were applied to Iowa and Ohio model farms. The hypothesis was accepted for some strategies that included options but not for futures‐only strategies.
Incorrect Price Information for a Heterogeneous Commodity: A Conceptual Synthesis
Authors: Hudson Darren , Ethridge Don , Segarra Eduardo
Published: June 2006

Theory and analysis of markets and market behavior have typically assumed that the information available to market participants is correct. Additionally, most analyses examine market behavior assuming homogeneous products. This article examines the implications of incorrect market price information, especially price differentials based on quality, first conceptually and then with evidence from prior research on cotton prices as an illustration. This evidence shows that price differences based on quality have direct implications on production and marketing processes. Incorrect price/quality information can lead to distortions in the market and market inefficiency.
Implications of U.S. Policy Changes for Corn Price Variability
Authors: Westcott Paul C.
Published: June 2006

U.S. agricultural commodity policy has undergone large changes over the last ten to fifteen years, particularly regarding supply management programs and governmental stocks programs. In this article, I address die question of whether these policy changes have made the agricultural sector more or less variable, particularly for prices. Corn sector simulations under alternative policy environments are performed to analyze the short‐ and long‐run responsiveness to assumed yield shocks. In the current policy setting with lower stocks, shocks result in larger initial price impacts than if stocks were larger. However, greater supply responsiveness from increased planting flexibility of current law combined with the initially greater price impacts can result in lower price deviations over a multiyear, postshock adjustment period than occur in a higher stocks /lower supply response environment. Interestingly, the larger the negative yield shock, the lower the increment needed in the supply response elasticity in the lower stocks scenarios to result in equal postshock price deviations as occur in the higher stocks/lower supply responsiveness scenarios. This result illustrates the importance of the interaction of the supply response function with the magnitude of the price impacts in determining the ability of the sector to handle shocks and the speed at which it responds to shocks. For larger negative yield shocks, the supply elasticity increment needed in the lower stocks scenarios to equilibrate price deviations after the shock can be smaller because the initial price difference that the supply response function faces is larger.
Empirical Isoquants and Observable Optima: Cobb and Douglas at Seventy
Authors: Orazem Peter F.
Published: June 2006

The theory of production and derived demand for factor inputs seems abstract because of its dependence on unobservable marginal products. Seventy years ago, Charles Cobb and Paul Douglas showed that if the production function is linearly homogeneous, the theoretical propositions can be illustrated by observable wages and average products. This paper argues that economists can exploit this linkage between theory and observation to make production theory come alive in real‐world data. A multicountry data set is used to illustrate how information on output per worker, output per unit of capital, and input prices can trace out theoretically defensible isoquants and labor demand curves. Choice of high capital‐labor ratios are shown to be driven by relative wages across nations. Comparison of unit labor costs across nations demonstrates that high wages need not imply competitive disadvantage in international trade. Countries with inefficient input allocations are shown to be importers and/or highly protectionis, whereas countries with efficient input allocations are exporters. All these concepts are motivated by two‐dimensional plots of real‐world data that replicate textbook theoretical treatments with remarkable consistency. The paper closes with examples of how these plots have been used in classroom settings.
Gender Differences in Farm Management
Authors: Zeuli Kimberly A. , King Robert P.
Published: June 2006

Women farmers comprise a significant, increasing portion of the U.S. farm operator population, yet information on women farmers and the farms they manage is limited. Data from a thirteen‐state survey offered a unique opportunity to compare male and female farmers who operate large commercial farms. The survey sample included 2,888 farmers; of these, 112 (4%) were women. The purpose of this study was to identify differences and similarities associated with the gender of the principal farm decision maker of commercial farms in terms of operator characteristics, farm characteristics, farm financial performance, and record keeping and computer use. Significant differences were found in education level, type of farms operated, total acreage farmed, land tenure position, and financial performance. The results of this study are contrasted with those of previous studies that compared male and female farmers but did not distinguish farmers according to the size or type of farm operated. Farm size and type seem to explain some of the differences between farms operated by male and female farmers that have been attributed to gender.
Cost Structures of Pork Slaughter and Processing Firms: Behavioral and Performance Implications
Authors: Hayenga Marvin L.
Published: June 2006

A survey of selected large pork slaughter and processing firms was conducted. Single‐ and double‐shift plant effects, varying capacity utilization effects, and multiple plant effects on fixed and variable costs are estimated. Two dollar per head reductions in operating costs were found for two‐shift versus single‐shift plants. Fixed plant and equipment costs declined $3/head for double‐ versus single‐shift plants. Capacity utilization rates can greatly affect variable costs per head and pricing behavior in the market for hogs, since approximately 60%–70% of variable costs in the medium run is essentially fixed within the first four days of the week. Increased market concentration seems likely in response to the economies of size in plants and in multiplant operations. Stronger long‐term vertical linkages between packer and hog producer (or vertical integration) will continue to increase in importance. Overall efficiency is likely to be enhanced, but market power issues will become more frequently raised.
Structural and functional diversities in lepidopteran serine proteases
Authors: Srinivasan Ajay , Giri Ashok , Gupta Vidya
Published: June 2006

Primary protein-digestion in Lepidopteran larvae relies on serine proteases like trypsin and chymotrypsin. Efforts toward the classification and characterization of digestive proteases have unraveled a considerable diversity in the specificity and mechanistic classes of gut proteases. Though the evolutionary significance of mutations that lead to structural diversity in serine proteases has been well characterized, detailing the resultant functional diversity has continually posed a challenge to researchers. Functional diversity can be correlated to the adaptation of insects to various host-plants as well as to exposure of insects to naturally occurring antagonistic biomolecules such as plant-derived protease inhibitors (PIs) and lectins. Current research is focused on deciphering the changes in protease specificities and activities arising from altered amino acids at the active site, specificity-determining pockets and other regions, which influence activity. Some insight has been gained through in silico modeling and simulation experiments, aided by the limited availability of characterized proteases. We examine the structurally and functionally diverse Lepidopteran serine proteases, and assess their influence on larval digestive processes and on overall insect physiology.
The assessment of DNA from marine organisms via a modified salting-out protocol
Authors: Ferrara Giovanni , Murgia Barbara , Parodi Anna , Valisano Laura , Cerrano Carlo , Palmisano Giulio , Bavestrello Giorgio , Sara Michele
Published: June 2006

We developed a rapid, practical and non-toxic salting-out method for the extraction of DNA from marine organisms, and tested it on two representative species of Porifera and Cnidaria, both living in association with symbiotic zooxanthellae. We tested the efficiency of the protocol by comparing the output of the method for fresh tissue, frozen tissue and tissue stored in ethanol. It proved to be effective for extracting DNA in the case of the methods of preservation considered here, and for obtaining quantities of DNA comparable to those obtained via the traditional approach. The DNA from both species was of good quality. The DNA obtained was amplified by PCR using specific primers for the large ribosomal subunit, allowing the identification of the presence of both the host and symbiont genomes.
A novel recently evolved gene C19orf24 encodes a non-classical secreted protein
Authors: Wang Xin-Rong , Zhou Yu-Bo , Liu Feng , Wang Ke-Sheng , Shen Yan , Liu Jian-Hua , Han Ze-Guang
Published: June 2006

Secreted proteins play important roles in many crucial biological processes, and can be new agents or targets for drug therapies. Here, we report on the isolation and characterization of a novel human non-classical secreted protein which is encoded by the hypothetical gene C19orf24 (chromosome 19 open reading frame 24). It has no signal peptide, but can still secrete extracellularly despite the presence of the inhibitor brefeldin A (BFA), proving its non-classical secreted protein status. Via subcellular localization using C19orf24 in vivo and transfected pEYFP-Golgi plasmid in Hela cells, C19orf24 was shown not to co-localize in the Golgi apparatus, which suggested that it secretes via a new and unknown pathway. Deglycosylation analysis with PNGase F verified that it has no N-glycosylation modification sites. Via the reverse transcription-PCR method, it was found to be expressed only in the human liver, and preferentially in normal tissue. In addition, C19orf24 was shown to be a recently evolved gene, found only in Homo sapiens and Pan troglodytes. By calculating its synonymous and non-synonymous substitution rate (d S/d N), we found that it experienced a purifying selection, which suggests that C19orf24 may have a special, irreplaceable biological function in the human organism.
In-silico prediction and observations of nuclear matrix attachment
Authors: Platts Adrian , Quayle Amelia , Krawetz Stephen
Published: June 2006

The nuclear matrix is a functionally adaptive structural framework interior to the nuclear envelope. The nature and function of this nuclear organizer remains the subject of widespread discussion in the epigenetic literature. To draw this discussion together with a view to suggest a way forward we summarize the biochemical evidence for the modalities of DNA-matrix binding alongside the in-silico predictions. Concordance is exhibited at various, but not all levels. On the one hand, both the reiteration and sequence similarity of some elements of Matrix Attachment Regions suggest conservation. On the other hand, in-silico predictions suggest additional unique components. In bringing together biological and sequence evidence we conclude that binding may be hierarchical in nature, reflective of a biological role in replicating, transcribing and potentiating chromatin. Nuclear matrix binding may well be more complex than the widely accepted simple loop model.
En/Spm-like transposons in Poaceae species: Transposase sequence variability and chromosomal distribution
Authors: Altinkut Ahu , Raskina Olga , Nevo Eviatar , Belyayev Alexander
Published: June 2006

Belonging to Class II of transposable elements, En/Spm transposons are widespread in a variety of distantly related plant species. Here, we report on the sequence conservation of the transposase region from sequence analyses of En/Spm-like transposons from Poaceae species, namely Zingeria biebersteiniana, Zingeria trichopoda, Triticum monococcum, Triticum urartu, Hordeum spontaneum, and Aegilops speltoides. The transposase region of En/Spm-like transposons was cloned, sequenced, and compared with equivalent regions of Oryza and Arabidopsis from the gene bank database. Southern blot analysis indicated that the En/Spm transposon was present in low (Hordeum spontaneum, Triticum monococcum, Triticum urartu) through medium (Zingeria bieberstiana, Zingeria trichopoda) to relatively high (Aegilops speltoides) copy numbers in Poaceae species. A cytogenetic analysis of the chromosomal distribution of En/Spm transposons revealed the concurence of the chromosomal localization of the En/Spm clusters with mobile clusters of rDNA. An analysis of En/Spm-like transposase amino acid sequences was carried out to investigate sequence divergence between 5 genera — Triticum, Aegilops, Zingeria, Oryza and Arabidopsis. A distance matrix was generated; apparently, En/Spm-like transposase sequences shared the highest sequence homology intra-generically and, as expected, these sequences were significantly diverged from those of O. sativa and A. thaliana. A sequence comparison of En/Spm-like transposase coding regions defined that the intra-genomic complex of En/Spm-like transposons could be viewed as relatively independent, vertically transmitted, and permanently active systems inside higher plant genomes.

The sequence data from this article was deposited in the EMBL/GenBank Data Libraries under the accession nos. AY707995-AY707996-AY707997-AY707998-AY707999-AY708000-AY708001-AY708002-AY708003-AY708004-AY708005-AY708005-AY265312.
Brefeldin a decreases the activity of the general amino acid permease (GAP1) and the more specific systems for L-leucine uptake in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Alonso Manuel , Burgos Hilda , Pannunzio Vanesa , Hughes Andrea , Mattoon James , Stella Carlos
Published: June 2006

Brefeldin A is a commonly used antifungal agent that reversibly blocks protein transport from the endoplasmic reticulum to the Golgi complex. In this study, we aimed to characterize L-leucine uptake in Saccharomyces cerevisiae in the presence of brefeldin A. For this purpose, we used a synthetic medium, containing L-proline and the detergent SDS, which allows the agent to permeate into the yeast cell. The results obtained with a wild type strain and a gap1 mutant indicate that BFA causes either direct or indirect modification of the transport and/or processing of L-leucine permeases. The presence of BFA affects the kinetic parameter values for L-leucine uptake and decreases not only the uptake mediated by the general system (GAP1), but also that through the specific BAP2 (S1) and/or S2 systems.
A proteomics study of the mung bean epicotyl regulated by brassinosteroids under conditions of chilling stress
Authors: Huang Bin , Chu Chien-Hua , Chen Shu-Ling , Juan Hsueh-Fen , Chen Yih-Ming
Published: June 2006

Mung bean CYP90A2 is a putative brassinosteroid (BR) synthetic gene that shares 77% identity with the Arabidopsis CPD gene. It was strongly suppressed by chilling stress. This implies that exogenous treatment with BR could allow the plant to recover from the inhibited growth caused by chilling. In this study, we used proteomics to investigate whether the mung bean epicotyl can be regulated by brassinosteroids under conditions of chilling stress. Mung bean epicotyls whose growth was initially suppressed by chilling partly recovered their ability to elongate after treatment with 24-epibrassinolde; 17 proteins down-regulated by this chilling were re-up-regulated. These up-regulated proteins are involved in methionine assimilation, ATP synthesis, cell wall construction and the stress response. This is consistent with the re-up-regulation of methionine synthase and S-adenosyl-L-methionine synthetase, since chilling-inhibited mung bean epicotyl elongation could be partially recovered by exogenous treatment with DL-methionine. This is the first proteome established for the mung bean species. The regulatory relationship between brassinosteroids and chilling conditions was investigated, and possible mechanisms are discussed herein.
Decreased expression of the human carbonyl reductase 2 gene HCR2 in hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Liu Shan , Ma Lijie , Huang Weixue , Shai Yin , Ji Xiaona , Ding Liya , Liu Yinkun , Yu Long , Zhao Shouyuan
Published: June 2006

Altered gene expression was associated with the induction and maintenance of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). To determine the significance of HCR2 in HCC, here we compare the expression levels of HCR2 in carcinoma and in paired non-carcinoma tissues using semiquantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), Western blot analysis, and immunohistochemical staining. The expression ratio (ER) of HCR2 between the tumor and paired tumor-free tissues was calculated for each case and the data was clinicopathologically analyzed. The expression of HCR2 mRNA was found to be significantly decreased in HCC tissues compared with paired normal tissues (P < 0.001). HCR2 was downregulated in 58% (n = 22) of 38 HCC patients. The ER of HCR2 was higher in Edmondson’s grade I/II carcinomas than that in Edmondson’s grade III/IV carcinomas (P < 0.05). Western blot analysis showed HCR2 to be notably depressed in carcinoma tissues in 3 out of 4 HCC patients. Immunohistochemical staining indicated most HCR2 protein accumulated in non-carcinoma cells. These results suggested that altered HCR2 expression might play roles in the carcinogenesis and progression of HCC, and it could be a clinical marker for prognosis, and a molecular target for screening potential anti-HCC drugs.
The DefH9-iaaM-containing construct efficiently induces parthenocarpy in cucumber
Authors: Yin Zhimin , Malinowski Robert , Ziółkowska Agnieszka , Sommer Hans , Plcader Wojciech , Malepszy Stefan
Published: June 2006

Parthenocarpy (seedless fruits) is a desirable trait that has been achieved in many plant cultivars. We generated parthenocarpic cucumber fruits by introducing the chimeric DefH9-iaaM construct into the cucumber genome using an Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated protocol. The construct consists of the DefH9 promoter from Antirrhinum majus and the iaaM coding sequence from Pseudomonas syringae. Transgenic plants were obtained from nine independent transformation events: half of these were tetraploid and did not produce seeds following self-pollination, while the remaining half were capable of displaying parthenocarpy in the subsequent reproductive generation. Of the fruits produced by the transgenic lines, 70–90% were parthenocarpic. The segregation of the marker gene in the transgenic T1 progeny indicated single gene inheritance. The seed set in the transgenic lines and their F1 hybrids was lower than in the non-transgenic control plants. Some of the methodological details and the practical significance of the results are discussed.
Self-Determination and Individuals with Significant Disabilities: Examining Meanings and Misinterpretations
Authors: Wehmeyer Michael L.
Published: June 2006

There appears to be a belief held by many people, both in the field of disability services and among people in the general public, that self-determination is a topic not relevant for people with significant disabilities. This article reviews how the term has been defined and conceptualized, examines misperceptions of the term that may have contributed to the exclusion of people with significant disabilities, and seeks to find common ground to move forward to promote self-determination for people with significant disabilities.
Outcomes of Behavior Support Training to an Agency Providing Residential and Vocational Support to Persons with Developmental Disabilities
Authors: Baker Daniel J.
Published: June 2006

The development of behavior support strategies in the homes and workplaces of persons with disabilities remains a challenge. This report presents a study of behavior support training for a residential and vocational support agency. Three training sessions were provided to managerial and direct-care staff, during which trainees worked in teams to plan or complete functional assessments and behavior support plans for focus persons supported by the agency. Before training, there were no complete functional assessments for the focus persons but there were behavior support plans for two of the focus persons. Posttraining, functional assessments and behavior support plans were either developed or improved to meet the standards for best practice for all focus persons. One behavior support plan was not written until approximately one year after the completion of the training sessions. The frequency of problem behavior was reduced for all focus persons. The limitations and strengths of this approach are described herein for clinicians and researchers.
Using a Self-Operated Auditory Prompting System to Improve the Work Performance of Two Employees with Severe Disabilities
Authors: Grossi Teresa A.
Published: June 2006

This study investigated the use of a self-operated auditory prompting system on the work performance of two supported employees with severe disabilities in community employment settings. A reversal design was used to evaluate the extent to which each employee's work performance improved as a function of the self-management system. Dependent measures included percent of intervals working, accuracy of work task, and total time spent working. Musical tapes that were embedded and interspersed with the auditory prompts increased the work performance for each employee. Future research for implementing an auditory prompting system in community employment settings is discussed.
Membership and Belonging in Inclusive Classrooms: What Do Middle School Students Have to Say?
Authors: Williams Lilly J. , Downing June E.
Published: June 2006

The purpose of this qualitative research study was to explore the characteristics of classroom membership as perceived by middle school students themselves and for their classmates with severe disabilities. A total of 51 middle school students, of whom 4 students had severe disabilities, participated in the main study. Multiple focus group interviews and individual interviews were conducted to obtain an in-depth understanding of the phenomenon of membership and belonging. Following qualitative data analysis procedures, findings indicated that middle school students thought that having friends in class, peer interactions, actively participating in class activities, and obtaining good grades indicated membership. Students attributed teachers with helping them feel like members of the class. Students also associated certain class activities with classroom membership; they felt part of the class when class work was fun, active, interesting, and meaningful. Students perceived similar indicators of membership for their classmates with severe disabilities. In conclusion, findings provided implications for teachers to facilitate membership and a sense of belonging for middle school students with and without disabilities in their inclusive classrooms.
Promoting Inclusive Schooling Practices through Practitioner Directed Inquiry
Authors: Salisbury Christine L. , Wilson Linda L. , Palombaro Mary M.
Published: June 2006

This report describes findings from a federally funded research project on practitioner directed inquiry (PDI). First, the project is described and details are provided about the use of PDI by 45 different practitioners in five primary/elementary schools in two states. These practitioners designed, implemented, and evaluated solutions to classroom and building-level issues affecting the inclusion of students with mild to profound disabilities in general education classrooms. The link between data collection and decision making is explored, as are findings related to student and practitioner outcomes. Evidence to support findings is derived from observations, interviews, survey data, and practitioner inquiry reports. Second, lessons learned by project staff about promoting the adoption and use of practitioner directed inquiry are described. The role of project staff in supporting the inquiry process is explored. Quotes from participants are used throughout the study to illustrate key findings. Implications for future research and use of the approach are shared.
High School Students Attitudes about and Recommendations for Their Peers with Significant Disabilities
Authors: Fisher Douglas , Pumpian Ian , Sax Caren
Published: June 2006

The present study addresses the impact that placement and service models have had on nondisabled high school student attitudes. Negative attitudes have been a frequently identified barrier to participation, interactions and acceptance. 1413 typical students from two high schools, one inclusive and one traditional self-contained, were surveyed regarding their attitudes toward peers with disabilities and their recommendations for inclusive education. Results suggest that experiences in school significantly impact students' recommendations about the implementation of inclusive education.
Increasing the Social Behavior of Young Children with Autism Using Their Obsessive Behaviors
Authors: Baker Mary J. , Koegel Robert L. , Koegel Lynn Kern
Published: June 2006

This study systematically asked whether individual topics or themes on which children with autism perseverated across a variety of settings (often called obsessions) could be used to create the theme for a socially appropriate game. Data collected within the context of a multiple baseline design revealed very low levels of social interaction during play periods in the baseline condition. In contrast, when the children with autism were taught a socially appropriate game (e.g., one child who perseverated on maps was taught a tag game played on a giant outline of a US map), the percent of social interactions increased dramatically and continued to be high during follow-up measures. Generalization measures indicated that following intervention, the children also demonstrated increases in social interaction during other play activities. The results are discussed in terms of incorporating obsession themes into common games to create intrinsically reinforcing appropriate activities for increasing social interactions, and in relation to developing activities that capitalize on the child with autism's interests, so that the child is a valued member of the peer group.
A Survey of Secondary Level Teachers' Opinions on Community-Based Instruction and Inclusive Education
Authors: Agran Martin , Snow Kimberly , Swaner Jayne
Published: June 2006

The commitment to ensuring that students participate fully in regular educational activities has necessitated a reevaluation of educational practices. Although community-based instruction has long been recognized as the best practice, both its effectiveness and long term value have been questioned. Several researchers have suggested that such instruction remains a pull-out intervention and cannot be justified. The purpose of this study was to obtain from a sample of secondary level educators their opinions on community-based instruction and inclusive education. The findings revealed that the respondents supported both approaches and suggested that students benefitted from each. The implications of the findings are discussed, with an emphasis on basing educational programming on the student's needs, wishes, and interests.
Parents' Facilitation of Friendships between Their Children with a Disability and Friends without a Disability
Authors: Turnbull Ann P. , Pereira Lourdes , Blue-Banning Martha J.
Published: June 2006

This article is concerned with parental facilitation of friendships between children with a disability and peers without a disability. Previous research on typical children has pointed out that parent facilitation has enabled them to establish a more active social life. We use Schaffner and Buswell's facilitation framework (i.e., finding opportunities, making interpretations, and making accommodations) to organize the grounded strategies used by four Hispanic families, all of whom have a son or daughter with a disability who is experiencing a successful friendship with a peer without a disability. Data collection involved 13 semistructured group and individual interviews, with 31 respondents, including parents, children/youth with and without disabilities, teachers, and other family members. Evidence from these interviews shows that the selected families, particularly mothers, have actively facilitated friendships most frequently by finding opportunities (which always involved some level of interpretation and accommodation). They also generally facilitated friendships by exposing their children to a wide range of potential friends, rather than prioritizing a relationship with a specific person. Of the parents of children without a disability, two mothers, who were also service providers for the individuals with disabilities, specifically facilitated a friendship between the individual and their own son or daughter. The discussion highlights key issues for future research.
Pivotal Response Intervention II: Preliminary Long-Term Outcome Data
Authors: Koegel Lynn Kern , Koegel Robert L. , Shoshan Yifat , McNerney Erin
Published: June 2006

The literature and our observations suggest that self-initiations may be an especially important part of intervention for children with autism. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to conduct preliminary assessments as to whether self-initiations might be associated with highly favorable postintervention outcomes. In the first phase of this study, archival data were analyzed for 6 children. At intake, according to traditional variables, they appeared to have especially good prognoses for reducing symptoms of autism, but had extremely different outcomes (either exceptionally good or exceptionally poor) after years of intensive intervention. Results of Phase 1 indicated that the children who had highly favorable outcomes exhibited more spontaneous self-initiations at preintervention. Given these results, Phase 2 of the study assessed whether a series of self-initiations could be taught to children with autism who demonstrated few or no spontaneous self-initiations at preintervention, and whether this intervention would result in highly favorable postintervention outcomes. Results indicated that these children learned a variety of self-initiations and had extremely favorable outcomes. The results of this exploratory study are encouraging in terms of assessment of key pivotal target behaviors that may be identified as prognostic indicators, and that may be important during intervention for children with autism.
Paraprofessionals in Italy: Perspectives from an Inclusive Country
Authors: Palladino Paola , Cornoldi Cesare , Vianello Renzo , Scruggs Thomas E. , Mastropieri Margo A.
Published: June 2006

Since 1977, Italy has largely eliminated special schools and special classes in favor of neighborhood school placements where students with disabilities are served primarily in general education classes. Overall class sizes are small and caseloads of special education teachers are very favorable (about two students with disabilities for each special education teacher). Because of these factors, it was thought that attitudes toward the role of paraprofessionals in Italian schools would differ from those toward paraprofessionals in the United States, where many paraprofessionals take on a more independent role in inclusive classrooms. In this discussion article, we suggest that the role of paraprofessionals might be viewed differently in Italy than in the United States, and that these differences may reflect differing levels of available support for inclusive classrooms.
A Brief Description of Functional Assessment Procedures Reported in JASH (1983–1999)
Authors: O'Neill Robert E. , Johnson Jesse W.
Published: June 2006

The seminal article by Iwata, Dorsey, Slifer, Bauman, and Richman (1994/1982; Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 27, 197–209. Reprinted from Analysis and Intervention in Developmental Disabilities, 2, 3–20, 1982) is credited with sparking a resurgence of clinical and research attention to functional assessment and analysis procedures, which have now become an expected professional standard and practice in situations involving problem behaviors. TASH and JASH have played a substantial role over the years in promoting positive behavioral support approaches that include functional assessment as a critical foundational component. To provide a historical context for this special issue, this article briefly describes the prevalence of different types of functional assessment and analysis procedures reported in articles in JASH involving individuals exhibiting problem behaviors.
Functional Assessment and Intervention for Transition Difficulties
Authors: Kern Lee , Vorndran Christina M.
Published: June 2006

This study investigated the use of functional assessment for transition difficulties. The participant was an 11-year-old girl who engaged in “flopping” to the ground during transitions. Assessment information identified particular transitions that were problematic. Hypotheses were then developed which implicated access to preferred activities and access to social interaction as potential functions for flopping. An intervention linked to the interaction hypothesis, consisting of scheduling a brief period for interaction immediately following problematic transitions, resulted in reduced rates of flopping. This study extends the existing functional assessment literature by illustrating a feasible and practical approach for testing hypotheses and intervention selection pertaining to transition difficulties.
Functional Assessment and Challenging Behaviors: Some Future Directions
Authors: Hastings Richard P. , Brown Tony
Published: June 2006

Behavior analysts have had a significant impact on the analysis and intervention of challenging behaviors in persons with developmental disabilities. These successes are celebrated in the first part of this article. In the remainder of the article, we present a selective discussion of three issues that we hope will help to further stimulate work with challenging behaviors: (a) the development of challenging behaviors, (b) the role of rule-governance in challenging behavior, and (c) the behavior of persons (mediators) who directly apply functional assessment and intervention technologies. Each of these issues is discussed and implications are drawn for future reseach and practice in the field. In drawing some conclusions, we focus on the internal and external validity of functional assessment and interventions.
“School's Not Really a Place for Reading”: A Research Synthesis of the Literate Lives of Students with Severe Disabilities
Authors: Kliewer Christopher , Biklen Douglas
Published: June 2006

Developmental and connectionist research describing a student's development of competent reading and writing skills commonly evokes the image of a normative ladder to literacy. Each rung of the ladder is believed to constitute certain sets of increasingly complex subskills. It is believed that cognitive mastery is required prior to the next step up the ladder. For people labeled with severe mental retardation, subskill mastery is often considered an intellectual impossibility. Hence, literacy is denied. In this research synthesis, however, we suggest that people with severe intellectual limitations can be understood as symbolic, and specific literacy skills can be supported. We use the term research synthesis to describe the textual weaving of two sources of understanding: (a) qualitative stories garnered from six students who were research participants and (b) published autobiographical and biographical stories by people with disabilities or their parents. These two sources of understanding underscore that a deeply caring relationship characterized by intimacy is of central importance when constructing as symbolic and literate a person labeled as having severe mental retardation.
The Role and Responsibilities of Teaching Assistants in Inclusive Education: What's Appropriate?
Authors: Minondo Stacey , Meyer Luanna H. , Xin Joy F.
Published: June 2006

This study describes a social validation of appropriate roles and responsibilities for teaching assistants (TAs) in inclusive classrooms. A self-report survey was rated by a sample of general education teachers, special education teachers, and TAs employed in urban and rural inclusive programs. Test-retest reliability of the survey was established for the TA sample. A factor analysis of all ratings suggested five major role components: (a) instructional; (b) school support; (c) liaison; (d) personal support; and (e) one-to-one in-class support. Statistically significant differences between mean group ratings indicate a lack of clarity regarding the appropriateness of these role components for TAs. We discuss how school districts might utilize our list to clarify TA job descriptions and shared understandings regarding roles and responsibilities among educational team members.
A Faceless Bureaucrat Ponders Special Education, Disability, and White Privilege
Authors: Smith Anne
Published: June 2006

The other is a way of distinguishing those who are different from us. Being the other can be based on skin color, language, culture, ethnicity, religious affiliation, class, sexual orientation, gender, and presence of disability. The nature and construction of individual and group identities inform our understanding of race, ethnicity, and disability and are inextricably linked to issues of ethics, power, privilege, and context in determining what is normative and how we become sorted into us, them, and the other. This article uses a critical approach to social analysis and knowledge construction that suggests two conjoined projects: A critique of what is and an advancement toward an ought. The first part of the article is a critique of categorical approaches to special education, overrepresentation of minority children in special education, inclusion and exclusion and White privilege. The second part of the article describes the potential of multicultural education, transformation, and participatory leadership approaches to address the issues raised in the critique.
Perceptions of Latino Parents regarding Cultural and Linguistic Issues and Advocacy for Children with Disabilities
Authors: Lian Ming-Gon John , Fontánez-Phelan Sandra Maria
Published: June 2006

This study utilized a bilingual questionnaire to investigate perceptions relating to cultural and linguistic issues and advocacy among 100 Latino parents whose children participated in school programs for limited English proficient students with disabilities in a large urban district. The questionnaire included 56 Likert scale items in three categories: Cultural and linguistic issues, parental rights, and home-school partnership. The findings supported the concern that Latino families need the tools to guide them through the special education process and encourage their involvement. Providing culturally and linguistically appropriate collaborative services that are individualized and interactive between parents and the school system need to be enhanced.
Becoming Culturally Inclusive: A Perspective on Personnel Preparation
Authors: Lim Levan
Published: June 2006

It can be said that some of the topics and ideas that command our interest or attention are autobiographical in origin. This paper subscribes to this category. In this paper, I present a perspective on preparing professional personnel, namely, educators, practitioners, teachers, student teachers, and researchers, for cultural inclusion. This perspective is drawn from my experiences as a former postgraduate student from a culturally diverse background preparing for a career in severe disabilities and as a university educator who is interested in ways to encourage professionals in the field to be more cognizant of the influence of their cultural backgrounds and the value of becoming culturally inclusive.
A Review of Sexuality Education Curricula: Meeting the Sexuality Education Needs of Individuals with Moderate and Severe Intellectual Disabilities
Authors: Blanchett Wanda J. , Wolfe Pamela S.
Published: June 2006

The importance of sexuality education for students with moderate and severe disabilities has received increasing attention as these people have moved into community settings and as the idea of their right to full, satisfying life circumstances has gained acceptance. Although more curricula are now available for students with special needs, educators and other service providers must select curricula that are comprehensive, credible, and appropriately match their students' learning characteristics and needs. The purpose of this review was to evaluate the 12 sexuality education curricula that were recommended by the Sexuality Information Education Center of the United States (SIECUS) as appropriate for students with special needs. Curricula were reviewed based on the presence and appropriateness of (a) goals/ objectives and scope/sequence, (b) curriculum concepts, (c) instructional methods, (d) curriculum development and evaluation techniques, and (e) suggested adaptations for diverse student learners.
Healthy Sexuality: Attitudes, Systems, and Policies
Authors: Hingsburger Dave , Tough Susan
Published: June 2006

People with developmental disabilities can develop healthy sexual relationships if they live in healthy systems. In this article we discuss the attributes of healthy human service systems and the importance of strong sexual self-advocacy by people with disabilities. We outline how negative attitudes can have traumatizing effects on people with developmental disabilities. We take the position that by developing positive attitudes in staff, parents, and people with disabilities regarding both sexuality and disability, a new era of acceptance and healthy sexual development can begin.
Prohibiting Capital Punishment for People Identified with Mental Retardation: Protection or Discrimination?
Authors: Musher Deborah A.
Published: June 2006

Controversy surrounding the execution of individuals identified with mental retardation has catapulted to the forefront of American society. This article examines this issue, reviewing the prominent literature that advocates or opposes a universal ban on the application of the death penalty to people labeled with mental retardation and offering the author's perspective on the matter. The author's discussion delineates the argument into two major concerns: The increased probability that a person with cognitive deficits may be unjustly convicted and sentenced because of certain characteristics of his or her disability, and the degree of blameworthiness of an offender who might have a lessened sense of personal responsibility. It is argued that because of the realities of the American legal and penal systems, the application of the death penalty to people with mental retardation must be banned, at least until each case can be examined thoroughly by individuals well informed about the manifestations of such cognitive limitations.
Extended School Year Services: A Review of Eligibility Criteria and Program Appropriateness
Authors: Etscheidt Susan
Published: June 2006

Students with disabilities may require extended school year services (ESYS) to receive a free appropriate public education (FAPE). Although the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) regulations require ESYS if necessary to provide FAPE, the Department of Education has “declined to establish standards” for ESYS eligibility. Absent federal guidelines concerning eligibility, IEP teams rely upon state standards and judicial interpretations in determining a student's need for ESYS. This article extended a review of ESYS eligibility factors conducted by Rapport and Thomas (1993). Fifty-seven ESYS cases were reviewed for factors used in decisions concerning ESYS eligibility and program appropriateness. Several implications for school IEP teams are also presented.