bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Recovering Evapotranspiration Trends from Biased CMIP5 Simulations and Sensitivity to Changing Climate over North America
Authors: Sullivan Ryan C. , Kotamarthi V. Rao , Feng Yan
Published: June 2019

Future projections of evapotranspiration (ET) are of critical importance for agricultural and freshwater management and for predicting land–atmosphere feedbacks on the climate system. However, ET from phase 5 of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP5) simulations exhibits substantial biases, bolstering little confidence in future ET projections. Despite poor predictive skill and large bias of ET from the global climate models, the information content necessary to calculate ET offline is available in the models’ archived outputs: temperature T, water vapor pressure e, atmospheric pressure P, and surface net radiation R. A relatively simple three-source energy balance model [Penman–Monteith (PM)], along with the mean annual cycle of remotely sensed vegetation properties, can then be used to reconstruct ET with a substantially reduced bias relative to in situ turbulent heat flux measurements. This methodology is used here to reconstruct ET projections from 2006 through 2100 over North America using output from selected CMIP5 models and to attribute projected ET trends to specific atmospheric controls. CMIP5 ET exhibits substantial bias in annual ET relative to in situ flux measurements across North America (38%–73%; 2006–15), but ET reconstructed from the CMIP5 meteorology with the PM method greatly reduces this bias (−8% to +14%). Present-day North American ET is more sensitive to changes in atmospheric demand for ET (temperature and water vapor pressure) than energy limitation (net radiation), and to a lesser extent vegetation properties (leaf area index). Accordingly, ET is projected to increase 0.26–0.87 mm yr−1 yr−1 over North America through 2100 driven primarily by trends in temperature.
Distributed fault tolerant consensus control for multi-agent system with actuator fault based on adaptive observer
Authors: Yang Pu , Xu Mengyang , Li Dejie , Liu Zhangxi , Huang Yi
Published: June 2019

This paper mainly investigates the consensus control problem of multi-agent system with actuator fault under the leader-follower topology structure. For actuator fault, the additive and multiplicative fault are also considered in this paper. It is worth noting here that for actuator fault we only consider follower agent. For other factors that can affect system functionality, the external bounded disturbance and nonlinear factor are considered for all agents. The main paper organization structure is as follows. Firstly, by constructing nonlinear adaptive fault observer, the estimated values of actuator multiplicative fault and the unknown upper bound of actuator additive fault are respectively obtained. Subsequently, based on the estimated value of fault observer, a distributed fault-tolerant consensus control protocol is proposed to solve the consensus implementation problem of multi-agent system in the case of actuator fault. Finally, the effectiveness of fault-tolerant consensus control algorithm is proved by a simulation example of multi-aircraft system.
A Visual-Analogue Screening Tool for Assessing Mood and Quality of Daily Life Complications in Family Members of People Living With Cancer: Portuguese Version of the Emotion Thermometers: Burden Version
Authors: Areia Neide P. , Mitchell Alex , Fonseca Gabriela , Major Sofia , Relvas Ana P.
Published: June 2019

Cancer is a disease that impacts not only the patient but also affects the entire family. Family members experience high levels of distress. Therefore, screening for cancer-specific distress among family members of people with cancer is important but relatively unexplored. This cross-sectional study aims to analyze the psychometric properties of a screening tool for family members of people with cancer. We examined the usefulness of the emotional thermometers burden version (ET-BV) in detecting caregiver emotional distress. The ET-BV is a simple multidomain visual analogue scale distributed in two major domains: “emotional upset” and “impact.” A total of 364 cancer patients’ family members completed the ET-BV and Brief Symptom Inventory. Analyses were aimed to examine the diagnostic accuracy (receiver operating characteristic) of the ET-BV. A fair to good diagnostic accuracy was achieved for ET-BV. For emotional upset thermometers, a cutoff of ≥5 was determined and for impact thermometers, a cutoff of ≥4 was established. ET-BV seems to be a useful, quick, and simple tool for distress screening in family members of people with cancer. A revision of a specific thermometer is discussed in order to increase ET screening performance and clinical utility.
Sex-Associated Differences in the Handgrip Strength of Elderly Individuals
Authors: Kwak Yeunhee , Kim Yoonjung , Chung Haekyung
Published: June 2019

This study aimed to identify sex-specific factors associated with handgrip strength in elderly individuals. The analysis cohort comprised 1,197 men and 1,384 women aged ≥65 years. In men, factors associated with low handgrip strength included advanced age; low body mass index; low frequency of performing flexibility exercises; limited self-care ability (which is a measure of the health-related quality of life); and the presence of diabetes, stroke, or osteoporosis ( R² = 0.285, F = 7.52, p < .001). In women, the factors included advanced age, low body mass index, low frequency of performing muscle strengthening exercises, stress, and osteoarthritis ( R² = 0.225, F = 4.17, p < .001). Effective health-promoting interventions for elderly individuals require the development of individualized programs that enhance handgrip strength while considering sex-related factors.
Identification of Spatiotemporal Relationships in Travel Speeds along Individual Roadways using Probe Vehicle Data
Authors: Kouhi Esfahani Reihaneh , Gayah Vikash V.
Published: June 2019

The existence of spatiotemporal correlations in traffic behavior on links in a transportation network is potentially very useful. However, traffic metrics are often strongly correlated simply because of natural variations in travel demand patterns and these temporal trends might obstruct more meaningful relationships caused by the physics of traffic. To overcome this challenge, the present paper proposes a non-parametric, moving average detrending method that can be used to remove these background trends, even during non-stationary periods in which traffic states are changing with time. Cross-correlations performed on the detrended data are then used to identify more meaningful trends. The proposed method can also incorporate temporal lags in correlations between individual links, which accounts for the time it takes for information to travel between them. Links that exhibit strong correlations after detrending can then be grouped into communities which behave together using graph theory methods, and this community structure can be leveraged to improve prediction of link performance when information is missing. The proposed methodology is applied to a case study network using real-time link travel speeds obtained from probe vehicles. The results reveal that the 40 links in the network can be grouped into between eight and 12 communities, depending on the day of the week. This suggests that only a handful of links may need to be monitored to estimate travel speeds across the entire network. Furthermore, the significant overlap in the community structure across these days reveals that the network structure plays a large role in spatiotemporal correlations in link travel speeds in a network.
Estimating Passenger Car Equivalent using the HCM-6 PCE Methodology on Four-Lane Level Freeway Segments in Western U.S.
Authors: Zhou Jianan , Rilett Laurence , Jones Elizabeth
Published: June 2019

The passenger car equivalent (PCE) of a truck is used to account for the presence of trucks in the Highway Capacity Manual (HCM). The HCM-6 employed an equivalency capacity methodology to estimate PCE. It is hypothesized in this paper that the HCM-6 PCE values are not appropriate for the western U.S., which consistently experiences truck percentages higher than 25%. Furthermore, the HCM PCE procedure assumes that truck and passenger cars travel at the same desired free-flow speed on level terrain. However, many heavy trucks in the western U.S. are governed through the use of speed limiters so that their speeds are considerably less than the speed limit. Thirdly, the HCM-6 PCEs are based on the freeways having three lanes per direction, which might not be appropriate for the freeways with two lanes per direction that predominate in the rural sections of the western U.S. Lastly, the trucks used in the HCM-6 simulation might not be representative of the empirical trucks observed on rural freeways in western states. This paper examines these effects on PCEs using data from I-80 in western Nebraska. The PCEs were estimated using the HCM-6 equal-capacity method and VISSIM 9.0 simulation data under (1) the HCM-6 conditions and (2) the Nebraska empirical conditions. It was found that the PCEs recommended in HCM-6 underestimate the effects of trucks on four-lane level freeway segments that experience high truck percentages having large differences in free-flow speed distributions, and which have different truck lengths.
Sensitivity Analysis of Speed Limit, Truck Lane Restrictions, and Data Aggregation Level on the HCM-6 Passenger Car Equivalent Estimation Methodology for Western U.S. Conditions
Authors: Zhou Jianan , Rilett Laurence , Jones Elizabeth
Published: June 2019

In the 2016 Highway Capacity Manual (HCM-6), the impact of trucks on freeway operations is measured by passenger car equivalents (PCEs). PCEs are estimated by the equal capacity methodology. The HCM-6 PCE values are based on the assumptions that passenger cars and trucks travel at the same free-flow speed, that they travel on freeways with three lanes per direction, and that they travel in traffic with no more than 25% trucks. On Interstate 80 in western Nebraska, it is observed that the interaction of high truck percentages and large speed differences between passenger cars and trucks may result in moving bottlenecks. It was hypothesized that the current HCM-6 PCEs may be not appropriate for these conditions. A companion paper showed this was true and that the major cause was speed differentials between trucks and passenger cars. In essence, when slow-moving trucks pass each other they create moving bottlenecks, which results in increased PCE values. This paper is an extension to a companion paper and examines a number of issues related to estimation of PCEs. The paper examines the effect of speed limit, truck passing restrictions, and data aggregation interval on PCEs. The results show that: (i) if a higher speed limit is implemented, trucks will affect the passenger cars more severely; (ii) if truck passing is restricted by lane restrictions, the negative impacts of trucks on passenger car operation may be mitigated; and (iii) using a longer data aggregation interval results in lower PCE values, all else being equal.
Repair of an Osteochondral Defect With Minced Cartilage Embedded in Atelocollagen Gel: A Rabbit Model
Authors: Matsushita Ryosuke , Nakasa Tomoyuki , Ishikawa Masakazu , Tsuyuguchi Yusuke , Matsubara Norimasa , Miyaki Shigeru , Adachi Nobuo
Published: June 2019

Background:

Autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI) is often performed for large cartilage defects. Because this technique has several disadvantages, including the need for second-stage surgery, cartilage repair using minced cartilage has been suggested. However, this technique could be improved using 3-dimensional scaffolds.

Purpose:

To examine the ability of chondrocyte migration and proliferation from minced cartilage in atelocollagen gel in vitro and evaluate the repairable potential of minced cartilage embedded in atelocollagen gel covered with a periosteal flap in a rabbit model.

Study Design:

Controlled laboratory study.

Methods:

Minced cartilage or isolated chondrocytes from rabbits were embedded in atelocollagen gel and cultured for 3 weeks. Chondrocyte proliferation and matrix production were evaluated in vitro. An osteochondral defect at the trochlear groove was created in 56 rabbits, which were divided into 4 groups. The defect was left empty (defect group), filled with allogenic minced cartilage (minced cartilage group), filled with isolated allogenic chondrocytes embedded in atelocollagen gel (ACI group), or filled with atelocollagen gel (atelocollagen with periosteal flap group). At 4, 12, and 24 weeks after surgery, repair of the defect was evaluated in these 4 groups.

Results:

In vitro, the number of chondrocytes and abundant matrix on the surface of the gel significantly increased in the minced cartilage group compared with the ACI group ( P < .05). In vivo, the minced cartilage and ACI groups showed good cartilage repair compared with the empty defect and atelocollagen/periosteal flap groups ( P < .05); there was no significant difference in the Pineda score between the minced cartilage and ACI groups.

Conclusion:

Minced cartilage in atelocollagen gel had good chondrocyte migration and proliferation abilities in vitro, and osteochondral defects were well repaired by implanting minced cartilage embedded in the atelocollagen gel in vivo. Implantation of minced cartilage embedded in atelocollagen gel showed good cartilage repair equivalent to ACI.

Clinical Relevance:

Implantation of minced cartilage embedded in atelocollagen gel as a 1-step procedure has outcomes similar to those of ACI but is cheaper and more convenient than ACI.
Ultrasonic mixing chamber as an effective tool for the biofabrication of fully graded scaffolds for interface tissue engineering
Authors: Chiesa Irene , Fortunato Gabriele Maria , Lapomarda Anna , Di Pietro Licia , Biagini Francesco , De Acutis Aurora , Bernazzani Luca , Tinè Maria Rosaria , De Maria Carmelo , Vozzi Giovanni
Published: June 2019

One of the main challenges of the interface-tissue engineering is the regeneration of diseased or damaged interfacial native tissues that are heterogeneous both in composition and in structure. In order to achieve this objective, innovative fabrication techniques have to be investigated. This work describes the design, fabrication, and validation of a novel mixing system to be integrated into a double-extruder bioprinter, based on an ultrasonic probe included into a mixing chamber. To validate the quality and the influence of mixing time, different nanohydroxyapatite–gelatin samples were printed. Mechanical characterization, micro-computed tomography, and thermogravimetric analysis were carried out. Samples obtained from three-dimensional bioprinting using the mixing chamber were compared to samples obtained by deposition of the same final solution obtained by manually operated ultrasound probe, showing no statistical differences. Results obtained from samples characterization allow to consider the proposed mixing system as a promising tool for the fabrication of graduated structures which are increasingly being used in interface-tissue engineering.
What Influences the Victimization of High-Level Offenders? A Dual Trajectory Analysis of the Victim–Offender Overlap From the Perspective of Routine Activities With Peer Groups
Authors: Erdmann Anke , Reinecke Jost
Published: June 2019

Although the consistent association between offending and victimization is a long-noted phenomenon, current criminological research is still engaged to gather profound knowledge on the etiology of this victim–offender overlap. Beyond that, the examination of its development over the life course requires further attention to create a better understanding of why offending and victimization are strongly connected. Applying a joint trajectory technique, the present study examines the overlap between distinct trajectories of offending and violent victimization throughout the phase of youth and adolescence using seven consecutive waves from the German longitudinal study “Crime in the Modern City.” In particular, the victimization of high-level offenders is investigated taking a routine activity perspective with a focus on activities with peers. The results indicate that there is a sizable overlap between trajectories of violent victimization and constant offending with four out of five high-level offenders being repeatedly victimized. Furthermore, the examination shows that meeting more frequently with friends, going out and drinking alcohol, doing forbidden things for fun, and casually hanging out with friends increases the risk of high-level offending significantly. Moreover, the analysis indicates that meeting frequently with friends enhances the risk of violent victimization for offenders, whereas casually hanging out reduces the risk. However, these impacts can only be observed for the present sample and cannot be generalized with sufficient certainty. In addition, the analysis provides evidence that gender differences in the victim–offender overlap are mediated through diverging activities. Implications and limitations are discussed.
Registered Nurses in Primary Care and Nursing Knowledge
Authors: Ortiz Mario R.
Published: June 2019

It is important to explore the ways in which registered nurses (RNs) influence care across a variety of settings. There has been a clear call for baccalaureate-prepared RNs (BSN-RNs) to have a place at the forefront of primary healthcare. This place in primary care is important, but it needs to be grounded in unique nursing knowledge within the extant nursing models and theories. The purpose of this paper is to explore the roles of nurses in primary care with policy connections to nursing theories and models.
Factors influencing a physical education teacher’s pedagogical games practices with pupils experiencing social, emotional and mental health issues
Authors: O’Leary Nick , Longmore Carl , Medcalf Richard
Published: June 2019

Recognizing the limited research examining physical education teachers’ pedagogical practices for pupils experiencing social, emotional and behavioural issues, this case study sought to examine how a male teacher with a high performing sports background taught games to such pupils and identify those factors that led to such practices. Occupational socialization was used to explore how childhood experiences of physical education and high performance sport, higher education and the workplace influenced his teaching and learning approaches in a special school setting. Data were collected by conducting three semi-structured interviews, eight videoed lesson observations and a self-reflective journal. Inductive data analysis identified that the twin aims of developing life skills and transferability of such skills beyond physical education were said to be achieved by developing pupils’ emotional resilience and encouraging appropriate social behaviour. The influence of the teacher’s family, his high performing sporting background, the needs of the pupils and the school’s policies impacted on developing such resilience and social behaviour. Two suggestions are offered as a result of these findings. Firstly, prior examination of childhood values should be undertaken for those wishing to teach physical education to pupils experiencing social, emotional and mental health issues. Secondly, given this study contradicts research findings that teachers with high performing sport backgrounds emphasize the development of pupils’ practical performance, research examining the impact of such sportspersons on physical education pedagogy in different educational settings appears warranted.
Dissections After Infrainguinal Percutaneous Transluminal Angioplasty: A Systematic Review and Current State of Clinical Evidence
Authors: Armstrong Ehrin J. , Brodmann Marianne , Deaton David H. , Gray William A. , Jaff Michael R. , Lichtenberg Michael , Rundback John H. , Schneider Peter A.
Published: June 2019

Purpose: To systematically review the literature and extract information on the definitions, prevalence, implications, and treatment of dissections after infrainguinal balloon angioplasty, with a goal of summarizing current data and identifying gaps in knowledge to help direct future research. Materials and Methods: A systematic review was performed according to the PRISMA guidelines. Medline (PubMed), Scopus, and Cochrane CENTRAL databases were reviewed for prospective and retrospective studies reporting dissection identification, characterization, incidence, severity, and/or outcomes after infrainguinal balloon angioplasty up to January 30, 2019. The electronic search resulted in 288 studies. From these, 153 full-text articles were assessed, and 51 published from 1964 to 2018 were selected as relevant to this systematic review. Because of the significant between-study differences in lesion characteristics, reporting methods, and lack of core laboratory adjudication, the findings were summarized from each study, but the results were not pooled. Results: The mechanism of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) consists of adventitial stretching, medial necrosis, and controlled dissection or plaque fracture. PTA-induced dissections can precipitate pathological high and low shear hemodynamic defects and have been implicated as a contributing factor in procedural complications as well as restenosis at the treatment site. The development of significant dissection after PTA often leads to the use of adjunctive therapies, including stent placement. Despite the ubiquitous nature of dissection after balloon angioplasty (incidence 7.4% to 84%), limited data are available to categorize dissections in the peripheral arteries and direct subsequent treatments to improve vessel patency. With the increased utilization of drug-coated balloon angioplasty, understanding the outcomes of postangioplasty dissection has become increasingly important, as the decision to treat dissections with additional strategies has therapeutic and economic implications. Conclusion: All post-PTA dissections in the femoropopliteal arteries may benefit from a treatment approach that ensures optimal hemodynamics with long-term durability in treated lesions. Further understanding the importance of postangioplasty dissections, along with the development of new technologies, will help optimize the patency of endovascular interventions.
Heat Inactivation of Coccidioides posadasii and Coccidioides immitis for Use in Lower Biosafety Containment
Authors: Mead Heather L. , Blackmon Austin V. , Vogler Amy J. , Barker Bridget M.
Published: June 2019

Introduction:

The difficulty involved in obtaining sufficient intact genomic deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) from Coccidioides spp for downstream applications using published protocols prompted the exploration of inactivating mycelia and arthroconidia using heat under biosafety level 3 containment. This was followed by optimizing DNA extraction from mycelia using various methods at lower containment.

Methods:

Various exposure times and temperatures were examined to identify an effective heat inactivation procedure for arthroconidia and mycelia from both C immitis and C posadasii. Heat inactivation of mycelia was followed by DNA extraction using 2 commercially available kits, as well as a phenol:chloroform-based extraction procedure to determine DNA integrity and quantity among extraction methods using both live and heat-inactivated mycelia.

Results:

Ten-minute and 30-minute exposure times at 80°C were sufficient to inactivate Coccidioides spp arthroconidia and mycelia, respectively. DNA yield between live versus heat-inactivated mycelia was similar for each extraction procedure. However, DNA obtained using phenol:chloroform was of higher quantity and integrity compared with DNA obtained using the commercially available kits, which was highly fragmented.

Conclusion:

The ability to heat-inactivate Coccidioides cultures for processing at a lower level of containment greatly increased the efficiency of DNA extractions. Therefore, this is an ideal method for obtaining Coccidioides spp DNA and inactivated arthroconidia.
Addressing a Deep Problem With Magnetoencephalography
Authors: Englot Dario J.
Published: June 2019

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Human Rights, Legal Personhood and the Impersonality of Embodied Life
Authors: Vatter Miguel , de Leeuw Marc
Published: June 2019

Since Locke, the concept of person has been closely linked to the idea of a subjective natural right and, later, to the concept of human rights. In this article we attempt to trouble this connection between humanity and personhood. For personhood is also an apparatus or dispositive of power. In the first half of the article, we identify a fundamental problem in the usual way human rights are connected to legal personhood by making use of insights drawn from Roberto Esposito’s discourse on biopolitics and critical race theory. While human rights are intended to offer protection to the “precarious” reality of human embodied life, we hypothesize that the fiction of legal personality generates a dis-embodiment whereby this human life is left exposed and defenseless. In the second half, we propose reconstructing the idea of legal personhood so that it may be more adequate to the required conception of human rights with insights drawn from Helmuth Plessner’s political anthropology of embodied life and from the analysis of disembodiment recently articulated by Ta-Nehisi Coates.
Clinical and endoscopic features of severe acute gastrointestinal bleeding in elderly patients treated with direct oral anticoagulants: a multicentre study
Authors: Deutsch David , Romegoux Pauline , Boustière Christian , Sabaté Jean-Marc , Benamouzig Robert , Albaladejo Pierre
Published: June 2019

Background:

The aim of the study was to describe the clinical and endoscopic characteristics and management of severe acute gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding in patients treated with direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs).

Methods:

Patients hospitalized for severe GI bleeding under DOAC therapy were identified in 36 centres between June 2013 and March 2016. Clinical outcomes including re-bleeding, major cerebral and cardiovascular events or all-cause mortality were assessed initially and 30 days after admission.

Results:

A total of 59 patients with anonymized detailed endoscopy reports for severe GI bleeding were considered. Mean age was 79.3 ± 10.0 years and 61.3% of patients were men. Patients had histories of hypertension (65.6%), heart failure (29.5%), coronary artery disease (27.9%), stroke (19.7%) and peripheral vascular disease (36.1%). Life-threatening bleeding was observed in 42.6%. Mean number of packed red blood cells transfused was 3.4 (range 1–31). Aetiology of bleeding (identified in 66.2% of cases) was peptic gastroduodenal ulcers (22%), diverticula (11.9%), angiodysplasia (8.5%), colorectal neoplasia (5.1%) and anorectal causes (5.1%). Endoscopic haemostasis was performed in 37.7% of patients. A low haemoglobin level was predictive of life-threatening bleeding and death in multivariate analysis. All-cause mortality rate at day 30 was 11.8%.

Conclusions:

In this cohort of elderly patients with multiple comorbidities treated with DOACs, the main cause of severe acute GI bleeding was peptic gastroduodenal ulcer and mortality was high.
Women's Models of Leadership in the Child Care Sector
Authors: Henderson-Kelly Libby , Pamphilon Barbara
Published: June 2019

This paper will argue that women's ability to speak about their particular style of leadership has been muted by the dominant notions of leadership and management that emerge from traditionally organised settings. Feminist work such as that of Belenky et al. (1986) has been adapted and used to demonstrate that women's frameworks are more often based on principles of care, connection, and dialogue. Through our work in children's services leadership training, we are finding that women are developing their own perspectives, models, and language on leadership—a paradigm we are naming as ‘leadership wisdoms’. The wisdom framework is introduced and discussed as a potential springboard for further research and professional development of individuals and the profession. This paper aims to stimulate readers to further reflection and the development of a personal leadership model appropriate to their context.
Leadership in Child Care Centres: Is it Just Another Job?
Authors: Waniganayake Manjula , Morda Romana , Kapsalakis Anthoula
Published: June 2019

The roles and responsibilities of child care centre personnel are becoming increasingly demanding and complex. Management and leadership are different dimensions of the work of centre directors. However, these roles are not limited to directors only and may be performed by other centre staff. This paper is based on structured interviews with directors, teachers, and assistants who reflect on leadership and its meaning and growth in everyday work within child care centres. This is an exploratory study, linked to an international project on leadership in early childhood. Discussion will include some major findings and their implications for reconceptualising leadership in early childhood.
Health Promotion: A New Leadership Role for Early Childhood Professionals
Authors: Hayden Jacqueline , Macdonald John J.
Published: June 2019

This article argues that there is a need to articulate the link between concepts of health promotion and the early childhood tradition of quality care, and to establish child care centres as settings for health promotion. The World Health Organisation notion of health promotion is used to describe an approach to health which includes not only the absence of disease but also the facilitation of practices and the maintenance of environments which promote the wellbeing of children, families, staff, and community. The authors contrast the literature about health in child care settings with their findings from a recent study of health-related practices in centres in New South Wales. The review of the literature revealed predominantly cautionary information about child care usage, focusing on ways to minimise the spread of infectious diseases. In contrast, the research findings showed that, except for two areas (parent participation and community collaboration), health promoting activities are common and widespread within child care centres. The authors conclude that, through dissemination of appropriate information about quality child care, and with a change in attitude by health professionals, child care centres can become significant players—indeed leaders—in the area of health promotion.
Storytelling: The Seeds of Children's Creativity
Authors: Phillips Louise
Published: June 2019

Storytelling is an effective educational tool that features strongly across all cultures since human language evolved. Today, it is rarely heard in conventional learning environments. This paper describes an educational program based on storytelling. Research shows that storytelling has the ability to build a greater sense of community, enhance knowledge and memory recall, support early literacy development, and expand creative potential in young children. This program explores storytelling's potential for this through a broad range of extension activities. Conclusively, it is argued that storytelling has a highly effective role to play in the education of young children.
The Power of Collaborative Research in Teachers’ Professional Development
Authors: Potter Gillian
Published: June 2019

This paper focuses on the power of collaboration, professional dialogue, and social interaction in teacher-researchers professional growth. It calls for a departure from the traditional theory-into-practice model which has historically seen university-based researchers generating knowledge or research questions for teachers who, in turn, are expected to respond. New conceptualisations recognise the teacher as knowledge generator and see knowledge production as a shared responsibility of school-based and university-based researchers. A change in the research culture is advocated.

This paper emanates from a qualitative research project, conducted collaboratively by school-based and university-based researchers, that aimed to explore the home literacies of children from socioculturally diverse contexts. The aspect that became a focus of the project was the role of collaboration in challenging and generating new professional understandings about the complexity of teachers work. The paper identifies a fundamental dilemma for the education profession.
Making Space for Ethics
Authors: Moss Peter
Published: June 2019

The paper argues that since ethics permeates early childhood work—its purposes, its organisation, its practices, its relationships—it should figure much more in all discourses about this work, whether policymaking, management, practice or research. What this might involve is illustrated through exploring three sets of ethical ideas: postmodern ethics; the ethics of an encounter and the ethics of care; and care of the self. All three ideas reject the idea of universal ethical codes and foreground the importance of otherness in contemporary ethics. The paper concludes by outlining two possible directions for working with these ideas: removing ‘care’ from an unproductive and dualistic education/care debate, viewing it instead as an ethical approach to use across projects in early childhood institutions, including education; and reconceptualising early childhood institutions as spaces for ethical practices.
Proving Quality or Improving Quality: Who's Minding the Shop?
Authors: Maloney Carmel , Barblett Lennie
Published: June 2019

For decades early childhood teachers have been autonomous in ensuring they deliver quality programs for young children in their care. More recently, in some Australian states, shifts in educational policy and decentralisation of school administration have taken matters of quality assurance out of the hands f classroom teachers and given them to senior school administrators. This paper discusses current developments in professional teaching standards and how this approach might be used to assess the quality of early childhood programs at a school and individual level. Limitations of a standards framework are discussed, and the alternative ways of using standards that are put forward are more likely to result in improving quality in early childhood education.
Papua New Guinea Elementary Teacher Education: Mixed Mode Teacher Training for 16 000 Village Teachers
Authors: Ikupu Andrew , Glover Anne
Published: June 2019

Ensuring a suitable supply of teachers in a climate of major structural and curriculum reform is not an easy task. It is even more difficult when a teacher education program is being developed simultaneously with the implementation of a new education program. Add to this the challenge of empowering communities to become active contributors in curriculum development and teacher education activities. This paper describes a model of teacher education developed in Papua New Guinea to meet these challenges. It is a cost-effective model which provides an immediate supply of teachers and involves communities in the process. The paper highlights contextual aspects of the teacher education curriculum, assessment processes and facilitation of training activities. The content of the paper is organised into four sections. Presented in the first section, as a background to the paper, is a brief history of Papua New Guinea's education system. This is followed by a description of the Education Reform (including the new Elementary Education Program), as a backdrop to a discussion on the Elementary Teacher Education Program in the third section. Some emergent issues are presented as challenges in the fourth section.
Full-Day or Half-Day Kindergarten? Kindergarten Teachers’ Voices in the Debate
Authors: Boardman Margot
Published: June 2019

Research pertaining to the beneficial and/or detrimental impact of full-day and half day kindergarten attendance for children aged four and five years is limited, with studies conducted overseas focusing on kindergarten children who are 12 months older. A study was designed to investigate Tasmanian kindergarten teachers’ perceptions of the advantages and disadvantages of both half day and full-day kindergarten sessions. Fifty-three full-day and 46 half-day kindergarten teachers responded to the study's postal survey, which was supported by small group interviews. Preparation of children for full-time schooling and enhancement of their social skills were perceived by teachers to be the main advantages of full-day attendance. They referred to the length of the school day and lack of session continuity as disadvantages. Program continuity and children's preparedness to learn were perceived as benefits of half-day attendance. Teachers cited as deficits students’ lack of experience in full-time school routines, and the challenge for parents associated with half day attendance.
Jane and Gemma go to School: Supporting Young Gifted Aboriginal Students
Authors: Cronin Rebecca P. , Diezmann Carmel M.
Published: June 2019

Both Aboriginal students and gifted students have been identified as educationally disadvantaged groups with needs that are often not adequately met by the Australian educational system. Hence, gifted Aboriginal students are particularly vulnerable to underachievement. As all students should receive the opportunity to fulfill their potential, there is a need to establish how to support the achievements of gifted Aboriginal children from an early age. The identification and achievement of gifted Aboriginal children is affected by culture conflict, the lack of knowledge of culturally sensitive identification measures of giftedness, and the anti-intellectual Australian ethos. This paper discusses the case studies of two young gifted Aboriginal girls and describes the support they will require for continued success. Ten practical suggestions are presented to assist teachers to nurture and promote the achievements of young gifted Aboriginal children.
Emerging Concepts in Chance and Data
Authors: Watson Jane , Kelly Ben
Published: June 2019

Interviews with seven six-year-old children shed light on the emerging ideas related to four themes within the chance and data part of the mathematics curriculum: appreciation of uncertainty and variation, observing and creating representations, appreciating the need to count and conserve quantity, and using data for interpreting and predicting.
Young Children using Computers: Planning Appropriate Learning Experiences
Authors: Fatouros Cherryl
Published: June 2019

An analysis of the literature produced over the last decade regarding the use of computers by young children reveals some concern for the developmental appropriateness of this technology. In order to plan appropriate experiences for young children, both the selection of the software and the implementation of computer-based learning experiences should reflect a child-centred approach to learning and create an environment which promotes social interaction, problem solving and the use of language for a variety of purposes. This review identifies the concerns and criticisms as well as the research findings about young children's use of computers. From this discussion, implications are drawn for the use of computers in early childhood settings.
Transitions in the Early Childhood Day
Authors: Courtney Jane , Kowalski Helen
Published: June 2019

Transitions form a surprisingly large part of the early childhood day. Provision for active participation by the child together with a planned child-centred outcome allow transitions to be a most productive activity in the daily program. It is our proposition that as early childhood educators the need exists for us to examine the appropriateness of transitions within the daily program.
Using a Classroom Environment Instrument in an Early Childhood Classroom
Authors: Fisher Darrell L. , Fraser Barry J. , Bassett Jan
Published: June 2019

Remarkable progress has been made internationally over the past two decades in the conceptualisation, assessment and investigation of perceptions of the classroom environment. However, there are no published studies that have been conducted in early childhood classrooms. This paper reports the first use of a classroom environment instrument, the My Class Inventory (MCI), in a Year 1 class. Students responded to both the actual and preferred forms of the MCI. The teacher then implemented selected strategies in a practical attempt to improve the classroom environment by changing it towards that preferred by the students. After six months of applying these strategies, readministration of the actual form of the instrument indicated that the classroom environment indeed had been changed in the desired direction.
Supporting Regular Early Childhood Teachers in Integrating Young Children with Disabilities: A Power Continuum
Authors: Schloss Patrick J. , Alper Sandra , Robertson Jo , Sher Holly , Henley Joan
Published: June 2019

There is a growing body of philosophical, legal, and empirical support for integrated preschool programs. Yet, many young children with moderate to severe disabilities are not successfully integrated into regular preschool classes. An impressive body of literature highlights the value of integration for children with disabilities. Unfortunately, much less information is available on specific strategies for accomplishing this goal. This may be due, in part, to the difficulty in operationalising educational policies such as least restrictive environment and integration. This paper identifies a continuum of instructional strategies that promote the entry of young children with moderate to severe disabilities into regular preschool classrooms. The continuum is based on the concept of ‘power.’ Power judgements assess the relationship between the cost of a strategy (e.g. staff time, extra resources, potential for negative side effect, etc.) and its potential benefit. Effective power judgements result in the use of strategies that are likely to produce the desired effect with the lowest expenditure to effort, resources, and disruption of teachers and children.
Talking Technologically in Preschool and School: Three Case Examples
Authors: Fleer Marilyn
Published: June 2019

This paper details three examples of technology education in process. The first case study highlights how an early childhood teacher comes to think about and plan for technology education. A series of diary entries are included to show the progression in thinking. In the second case study, a preschool teacher shows how very young children can participate in technology education. In the third case study a Year 3 teacher reveals how young children can become investigators in a simulated architects studio. The focus is on following the children's technological questions. All three case studies provide some insight into the sort of technological language that can be fostered in early childhood.
Principles and Practice of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy in Working with Parents of Young Children with Behaviour Disorder
Authors: Pavuluri Mani , Smith Marita
Published: June 2019

This paper describes a pragmatic approach using cognitive-behaviour therapy (CBT), aimed to assist professionals who work with young children and their families in the community. The primary emphasis is to strengthen confidence in parenting. Parents often have dysfunctional cognitions leading to unreasonable expectations of themselves or of their child. Restucturing such negative thoughts and attitudes of parents is considered as an essential step, in conjunction with improving parent-child communication and behaviour management of children. Behaviour management has three main components: focussing on the positive behaviour, ignoring negative behaviour if not dangerous, and the use of special time. Positive reinforcement is a key element that runs through all these strategies.
Reseaching for Quality: A Case for Action Research in Early Childhood Services
Authors: MacNaughton Glenda
Published: June 2019

This article argues that improvements in the quality of young children's educational experiences could be assisted by greater use of fourth generation’ action research. A case is built for an increase in research for’ quality improvement in early childhood services as opposed to research ‘about’ quality improvement, through comparing and contrasting the implications for educational practice of the ethical and epistemological underpinnings of positivist, phenomenological and critical social science research traditions. It is argued that action research, informed by the ethics and epistemology of critical social science, offers one way of initiating such research.
A National Framework for Children's Services: AECA's View
Authors: Vaughan Graeme , Cahir Pam
Published: June 2019

Council of Australian Governments (COAG) proposed, in its discussion paper released in November 1995, that it develop a national framework for children's services in Australia. This is part of its review of intergovernmental responsibilities for the delivery of children's services. The review consists of two steps, the first being intergovernmental agreement on a national framework, and the second, bilateral agreements between the Commonwealth and each State and Territory to implement the national framework.

The Australian Early Childhood Association, Inc. (AECA) has prepared a submission which sets out its views on the objectives, outcomes, and features of a national framework for children's services. The Association strongly believes that the interests of children should be the paramount consideration in developing the national framework for a children's services system.
Ethnic Families, their Children with Disabilities and their Child Care Needs
Authors: Evert Helen
Published: June 2019

Action on Disability within Ethnic Communities (ADEC) was funded by the Department of Human Services and Health, Children's Services branch, to research the needs of families who are from a non-English speaking background and have a child with a disability. Twenty-two families were interviewed about their awareness and need for child care; whether there were any cultural or linguistic barriers in accessing services, and ways services could be improved. Families interviewed were from the Melbourne metropolitan area and represented a number of diverse religious and ethnic backgrounds. The main issues identified included a general lack of information about child care options. In particular, families had a poor knowledge of family day care and out of school hours care. Carers of school-aged children felt there was a need for out of school hours care, particularly over the holiday period. There was no relationship between parents who required a lot of assistance with the child with a disability and the amount of help received or the use of services according to a Spearman's correlation. Different child care options may need to be promoted more widely within ethnic communities. Some positive aspects of child care that need to be highlighted to the carers are the benefits to the child's social and intellectual development and as a form of respite care.
Using the Method of Ethology to Study Australian Preschool Children's Play and Social Behaviour
Authors: Rolfe Sharne A. , Crossley Stella A.
Published: June 2019

The ethological approach has made an important contribution to observational child research this century. Although studied in many early childhood courses in Australia, the method of ethology has rarely been used in published research here. This paper reports a study using this method to observe children's interactions and play in an Australian preschool. The main dimensions of individual difference in this group of children were established using Factor Analysis and results compared with those of British and North American samples. The method is evaluated. The time-consuming, labour-intensive nature of the approach is contrasted with its potential to provide unique insights into the play and social behaviour of children.