bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Time-resolved XRD experiments for a fine description of mechanisms induced during reactive sintering
Authors: Paris S. , Gaffet E. , Vrel D. , Thiaudiere D. , Gailhanou M. , Bernard F.
Published: February 2006

The control of Mechanically Activated Field Activated Pressure Assisted Synthesis hereafter called the MAFAPAS process is the main objective to be achieved for producing nanostructure materials with a controlled consolidation level. Consequently, it was essential to develop characterization tools "in situ" such as the Time Resolved X-ray Diffraction (TRXRD), with an X-ray synchrotron beam (H10, LURE Orsay) coupled to an infrared thermography to study simultaneously structural transformations and thermal evolutions. From the 2003 experiments, we took the opportunity to modify the sample-holder in order to reproduce the better synthesis conditions of the MAFAPAS process, but without the consolidation step. The versatility of the setup has been proved and could even be enhanced by the design of new sample holders. In addition, this work clearly shows that this equipment will allow, on the one hand, to make progress of the understanding of MAFAPAS mechanisms and, on the other hand, to adjust reaction parameters (mechanical activation and combustion synthesis) for producing many materials with an expected microstructure.
Fabrication of nanoceramic hin-wall tubes by magnetic pulsed compaction and thermal sintering
Authors: Ivanov V.V. , Ivin S.Y. , Khrustov V.R. , Kotov Y.A. , Murzakaev A.M. , Nikonov A.V. , Paranin S.N. , Spirin A.V.
Published: February 2006

Gasproof thin-wall tubes of fine-grained ceramics based on zirconia and gadolinia have been produced by magnetic pulsed compaction and thermal sintering. Data on their structures and electric characteristics are presented. The tubes with a diameter of ~ 15 mm, wall thickness of ~ 0.7 mm, and length up to 80 mm are characterized by an uniform porous-free structure with a mean grain size in the range of 100 - 300 nm. The obtained ceramics possess high electrolytic properties.
Influence of mechanical activation on synthesis of zinc metatitanate
Authors: Labus Nebojsa , Obradovic Nina , Sreckovic Tatjana , Mitic V. , Ristic Momcilo
Published: February 2006

Investigations of a ZnO-TiO2 binary oxide mixture during mechanical treatment were mainly focused on obtaining orthotitanate Zn2TiO4 with a spinel structure. Due to the specific way of energy transfer during mechanical treatment using a high-energy ball mill, the system passes through low temperature ZnTiO3 metatitanate phase formation. Mechanical activation was performed on an equimolar ratio mixture of ZnO and TiO2. The anatase phase was previously submitted to heat treatment for achieving a starting mixture rich in a rutile phase. Milling conditions were preset for observing the formation of a low temperature ZnTiO3 phase with a perovskite structure. The powder microstructure was characterized using scanning electron microscopy. A nitrogen gas sorption analyzer with the BET method was used to determine the specific surface area and porosity, indicating changes of powder sample properties during mechanical activation. Also, X ray powder diffractometry was applied to obtain the phase composition. Powders were then pressed into pellets and their compressibility was observed through density changes. According to microstructures obtained by scanning electron microscopy analysis, the system underwent a primary and secondary agglomeration process. Specific surface area measurements supported that conclusion. Compressibility investigations established the difference between compressibility of the non-activated mixture and activated powders. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that a perovskite structure forms simultaneously with a spinel phase during the process of mechanical activation.
Synthesis and characterization of zinc titanate nano-crystal powders obtained by mechanical activation
Authors: Obradovic Nina , Labus Nebojsa , Sreckovic Tatjana , Minic D. , Ristic Momcilo
Published: February 2006

Development of dielectric materials for microwave frequencies is increasing with rapid progress in mobile and satellite communications systems, where zinc titanates have found application due to their semi-conducting and dielectric properties. Mechanical activation by grinding is a well-known method and common part of the powder preparation route in the field of ceramics. The aim of this work is investigation of the influence of experimental conditions for mechanochemical synthesis of zinc orthotitanate. Starting powder mixtures of ZnO and TiO2, in the molar ratio that is in accordance with the stoichiometry of zinc titanate spinel type Zn2TiO4, were mechanically activated using a high-energy planetary ball mill. The process of mechanical activation was performed during different time intervals from 0 to 300 minutes. Microstructure characterization was determined by X-ray diffraction analysis and scanning electron microscopy. Also, the specific surface area (SSA) of powders samples was measured by a nitrogen gas sorption analyzer using the BET method. The very first traces of zinc titanate are detectable after only 5 minutes of activation. The most interesting occurrence during the mechanical method of activation is that we have an almost pure phase after 90 minutes.
Metastable phase state during mechanical alloying
Authors: Skakov Yu.A.
Published: February 2006

The interstitial mechanism of interdiffusion is effective under the conditions of powder treatment in high-energy ball mills. The major arguments to support this point of view are the following: (1) intermetallic phases are formed in sequences strictly determined by the asymmetry of the partial diffusion coefficients, the first to emerge being an intermetallic phase based on the low-mobile component; (2) the experimental evidence demonstrating the similarity of diffusion mechanisms in Mechanical Alloying (MA) and Solid State Reactions (SSR) in the course of annealing of diffusional pairs. The asymmetry of partial diffusion coefficients and the interstitial diffusion mechanism during annealing are determined by thermal activation, while in MA, the same is due to mechanical activation. Finally (3), our approach is based on the theory of Indenbom and Orlov explaining the plasticity mechanisms by the generation and movement of interstitial atoms under large or impact strains at low temperatures. The formation of certain phases during MA can be delayed due to the lack or insufficiency of vacancy mobility, if the thermodynamic driving force is much too low to be able to overcome the energy barriers for nucleation and growth. In the Cr-Ti -system, formation of stable Laves- phase and amorphization occur during post -MA annealing.
Influences of composition of starting powders and sintering temperature on the pore size distribution of porous corundum-mullite ceramics
Authors: Shujing Li , Nan Li
Published: February 2006

Porous corundum-mullite ceramics were prepared by an in-situ decomposition pore-forming technique. Starting powders were mixtures of milled Al(OH)3 and microsilica and were formed into oblong samples with a length of 100mm and a square cross-section with edge size of 20mm. The samples were heated at 1300?C, 1400?C, 1500?C or 1600?C for 3h in air atmosphere, respectively. Apparent porosity was detected by Archimedes? Principle with water as a medium. Pore size distribution and the volume percentage of micropores were measured by mercury intrusion porosimetry. The results show that the pore morphology parameters in the samples depend on four factors: particle size distribution of starting powders, decomposition of Al(OH)3, the expansion caused by mullite and sintering. The optimum mode which has a higher apparent porosity up to 42.3%, well-distributed pores and more microsize pores up to 16.3% is sample No.3 and the most apposite sintering temperature of this sample is 1500?C.
Influence of Bi2O3 on sintering and crystallization of cordierite ceramics
Authors: Djordjevic N.
Published: February 2006

The influence of Bi2O3 on the process of cordierite ceramics preparation, 2MgO-2Al2O3-5SiO2 (MAS) was investigated. The following binary systems were used for the presented research: MgO/Bi2O3 (sintered at 820?C and 1100?C), Al2O3/Bi2O3 and SiO2/Bi2O3 (sintered at 1100?C). The composition of these systems consisted of 80% of oxide and 20% Bi2O3. The effects of sintering, composition and morphology were investigated by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and EDS analysis. It has been found that Bi2O3, besides a liquid phase, forms intermediary unstable compounds with MgO and Al2O3. MAS ceramics were sintered with 10% Bi2O3 at 1000?C, 1100?C and 1200?C. .
An approach to analyzing synthesis, structure and properties of bismuth titanate ceramics
Authors: Lazarevic Z. , Stojanovic B.D. , Varela J.A.
Published: February 2006

The family of bismuth titanate, Bi4Ti3O12 (BIT) layered-structured ferroelectrics materials is attractive from the viewpoint of their application as electronic materials such as dielectrics, piezoelectrics and pyroelectrics, because they are characterized by good stability of piezoelectric properties, a high Curie temperature and a good resistance vs temperature. Bismuth titanate (Bi4Ti3O12) powders can be prepared using different methods, depending if the creation will be film coating or ceramics. The structure and properties of bismuth titanate materials show a significance dependence on the applied synthesis method. In this review paper, we made an attempt to give an approach to analyzing the structure, synthesis methods and properties of bismuth titanate ferroelectrics materials. .
Laser treatment of SiC-C5Si3 ceramics in N2-O2 medium
Authors: Vlasova M. , Marquez Aguilar , Kakazey M. , Tomila T. , Bykov A. , Ragulya A.
Published: February 2006

By methods of X-ray diffraction, electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy and X-ray microanalysis, IR-spectroscopy the influence of IR laser irradiation (1064 nm, 175 W) on a target consisting of a SiC-Cr5Si3 ceramic composite was investigated. Irradiation of samples was carried out in N2+O2 medium at a pressure of 2 at. It was established that the surface temperature is ~ 2000 K. Silicon and silica are evaporated from the surface and during gas medium transit silicon oxide and silicon oxynitride are formed. On the base of ablative products in the zone of precipitation the film was formed.
Influence of structural changes on electrical and magnetic properties of the Co84Fe5,3Si8,5B2,2 amorphous alloy
Authors: Djukic S.R. , Simeunovic Radojko , Maricic Aleksa
Published: February 2006

The crystallization process of the Co84Fe5.3Si8.5B2.2 amorphous alloy examined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) exhibits three exothermal steps at Tcr1=649K, Tcr2=800K, and Tcr3=838K. The rate constants of the first relaxation process (determined at 598K and 623K) are k1=5*10-4 s and k2=8*10-4 s and the corresponding activation energy Ea1=26.23 kJ/mol. The data for the relaxation process before the second crystallization step (determined at 683K and 713K) are k3=14.5*10-4 s and k4=17.5*10-4 s and the corresponding activation energy Ea2=60.0 kJ/mol. The process of structural relaxation in non-isothermal and isothermal conditions was studied by analysis of the results of measurements of the thermo electromotive force (TEMF). From the change of the temperature coefficient of TEMF that follows each annealing process, the relative electronic state density changes at the Fermi level were determined: ?N21/N2=5,45%, ?N22/N2=5,76%, ?N23/N2=7,57% and ?N24/N2=9,85%.
Measurement of children's creativity by tests
Authors: Maksic Slavica , Djurisic-Bojanovic Mirosava
Published: February 2006

After over a 50-year permanent development of tests designed to measure creativity and the results they produced, a question is raised if creativity can be measured by tests at all. A special problem are procedures for measuring creative potential in younger children because children, unlike adults, do not possess creative products that are a single reliable evidence of creativity in the real world. The paper considers test reliability and validity in measuring creativity as well as the dilemma: how much justifiable it is to measure children's creativity by tests if it is not clear what they measure and if there is not a significant relationship between creativity scores and creativity in life. Unsatisfactory creativity test reliability and validity does not mean those tests should be given up the majority of researchers agree. Of the tests of creativity administered in work with the young, the status of Urban-Jellen Test of Creative Thinking - Drawing Production (TCT-DP) is given prominence due to the fact that over the past ten years or so it has been used in a larger number of studies as well as in some studies carried out in this country. In TCT-DP scoring is not based on statistical uncommonness of the figures produced but on a number of criteria derived from Gestalt psychology. The factor analyses of the defined criteria of creativity, applied on samples in various settings yielded that the test contains an essential factor of creativity "novelty".
Thematic curriculum approach
Authors: Sefer Jasmina
Published: February 2006

Thematic curriculum combines disciplines and media. The process is problem-oriented and the scenario most often follows the logic of exploring or storytelling. Those two approaches to teaching are appropriate because they fit into interdisciplinary and creative open-ended problem solving through play, as insisted upon by thematic curriculum. The matrix, where seven types of abilities intersect with five types of problems according to their degree of openness, defines well the outcomes of teaching. However, it did not prove to be suitable for planning the majority of activities in thematic curriculum, for it follows with difficulty the process of exploring or storytelling i.e. it disrupts the subject matter coherence of thematic curriculum. Therefore, it is suggested that matrix should be used for disciplinary curriculum planning but for that of thematic curriculum only in exclusive cases. The matrix should be used primarily as a framework for evaluating the distribution of various types of abilities and problem situations in teaching. The logic of diverse approaches to teaching reflects itself in the manner of planning and organizing the teaching process. Conceptual, visual-graphic, structural and other aids employed during educational process planning should suit the nature of the approach chosen. On the basis of qualitative investigations of educational process, in the present paper considerations are given to various approaches to teaching development of various drafts for the planning of teaching, and recognition of the logic of storytelling and exploring in thematic curriculum.
Creating conditions for cooperative learning: Basic elements
Authors: Sevkusic-Mandic Slavica
Published: February 2006

Although a large number of research evidence speak out in favor of cooperative learning, its effectiveness in teaching does not depend only on teacher?s and students? enthusiasm and willingness to work in such a manner. Creating cooperative situations in learning demands a serious preparation and engagement on the part of teacher who is structuring various aspects of work in the classroom. Although there exist a large number of models and techniques of cooperative learning, which vary in the way in which students work together, in the structure of learning tasks as well as in the degree to which cooperative efforts of students are coupled with competition among groups, some elements should be present in the structure of conditions irrespective of the type of group work in question. Potential effects of cooperation are not likely to emerge unless teachers apply five basic elements of cooperative structure: 1. structuring of the learning task and students? positive interdependence, 2. individual responsibility, 3. upgrading of "face to face" interaction, 4. training of students? social skills, and 5. evaluation of group processes. The paper discusses various strategies for establishing the mentioned elements and concrete examples for teaching practice are provided, which should be of assistance to teachers for as much successful cooperative learning application as possible in work with children.
The role of concepts in science teaching
Authors: Milanovic-Nahod Slobodanka , Saranovic-Bozanovic Nadezda , Sisovic Dragica
Published: February 2006

The present paper poses essential questions: What knowledge should students attain and what methods should be applied? The authors started up from cognitivistic view of cognition related to: (a) organizing knowledge of science in the form of generalized ideas or major concepts that can be reduced to a large number of information items, and (b) manner of building up students? knowledge into meaningful units as matrices of interrelated concepts. Attention is directed to difficulties emerging in developing cognitive structures related to complex contents of science and methods of concept learning in the teaching process. The results of investigations show that students? mastery of concepts is poor, and the reasons are to be found in the abstract character of contents themselves, lack of ability to interrelate contents within one discipline and between cognate ones, and the absence of establishing relationships between scientific concepts in cognitive structure. An efficient method of presenting scientific concepts was given and explained at three levels, such as macro, micro and symbolic. A model was suggested as a possible method for netting concepts in chemistry at primary school level. Practical recommendations were given to teachers how to assess students? cognitive structure and how to apply appropriate methods.
Causes of learning problems in primary school students
Authors: Mirkov Snezana
Published: February 2006

Investigations were conducted on learning problems using the sample of eighth-grade students of primary school (N=335). The respondents opted for one or more than seven offered statements related to: insufficient previous knowledge, insufficient studying, teaching contents (extensive, difficult unintelligible), textbook and teacher?s method of presenting the contents. On the basis of the results obtained, one-third of students have problems in mastering teaching contents of foreign language, physics and chemistry, and about one-fourth in mastering those of history and mathematics. All the mentioned causes of problems are present in varying degrees in some school subjects. The causes of learning problems are markedly present in a larger number of school subjects and they are related to some characteristics of teaching contents. Respondents point out, to a large extent, that teaching contents of technical education are uninteresting. In addition, students? responses indicate that it is necessary to improve the method for mastering the teaching contents in various school subjects i.e. methods applied in the teaching process. Subjective causes, as pointed out by students, are connected with some of the subjects they have characterized as the most difficult. Unintelligible textbook is stressed to the lowest extent as a cause of learning problems compared to other causes stated for the majority of school subjects.
Moral education: School as a just community
Authors: Miocinovic Ljiljana
Published: February 2006

The paper discusses Kohlberg?s view of moral education, how it was developing and changing over time. Starting from a theoretical postulate that thinking constitutes the essence of morality and from empirical findings of the stage development of moral judgment, in his early works Kohlberg defines moral education as "encouraging the natural course of moral judgment development". As a principal method of work, Kohlberg recommends the encouragement of a cognitive conflict by means of discussing hypothetic moral dilemmas. Criticisms that he is over-intellectualizing moral education, getting acquainted with a collective upbringing in kibbutz's, active participation in work in schools and prisons and finding that moral judgment and acting in everyday life is a response to the prevailing moral atmosphere of a group are leading to the changes in moral education goals and development of a new approach known as "just community". Now a group is in the focus of moral education, not an individual any longer, the major area of studies being group norms and expectations. The "just community" approach does not remain only at the classroom level discussing hypothetical moral dilemmas but directly influences the structure of school justice i.e. its rules and discipline, processes they are passed as well as the rights and duties of both teachers and students. Its goal is no longer to develop moral judgment of an individual student but to develop a group as moral community founded upon the norms of trust, participation and collective responsibility.
Peer acceptance/rejection and academic achievement
Authors: Spasenovic Vera
Published: February 2006

Considerations of the nature and role of peer relations in child development indicate that peer interaction is an important factor in developing social and cognitive competences. Peer relations not only influence current but also subsequent academic, behavioral and emotional development. Accepted students more often display better academic achievement, whereas the status of rejection is coupled with academic difficulties and lower academic achievement. Peer rejection is a relatively stable characteristic that can be used to predict difficulties in the years to come, such as repeat of a grade, early drop out, unjustified absences, adaptability problems etc. It is considered that correlation between academic achievement and peer group status is mediated by student social behavior at school. The quality of peer relations and academic achievement are mutually influential i.e. peer acceptance serves as a social resource that facilitates academic achievement, but academic achievement has effects on student acceptance. To help students who display difficulties in social relations, various intervention programs have been well thought of so as to contribute to interpersonal efficiency promotion. Concerning interdependence of social behavior, peer status and academic achievement, it is reasonable to expect that positive changes in behavior, frequently leading to the change of rejection status, will produce, directly or indirectly, positive effects on academic achievement too.
Value orientations of students, future nursery-school teachers: Stability or change
Authors: Lazarevic Dusanka , Janjetovic Dragan
Published: February 2006

Results are presented of investigations on value orientations of students future nursery-school teachers, as manifested by preferences of certain lifestyles. The aim was to examine if there is stability or change in the desirability of some lifestyles in three generations of students of Higher School for Nursery-School Teacher Training. Examinations were carried out on preferences of the following lifestyles: hedonistic, utilitarian altruistic, aesthetic, orientation to power and social standing, cognitive self-realization and Promethean activism. The obtained results indicate a certain stability in student value profile throughout the study period but also certain changes. In the value profile of future nursery-school teachers self-realization emerges consistently in the examined generations as the most desirable and accepted lifestyle. Then, the tendency to gradually decline was found in aesthetic, utilitarian, cognitive, altruistic Promethean, hedonistic and orientation to power and social standing lifestyles of which the last one consistently occurred in three generations as the least desirable lifestyle. Changes were manifested in the increasing desirability of utilitarian lifestyle from the first to the third generation as well as in gradual decline of desirability degree in self realization and aesthetic lifestyles. Also, the trend of increasing agreement between lifestyle students prefer and their current lifestyle was noticeable.
From psychology of personality to psychology of persons
Authors: Stojnov Dusan
Published: February 2006

The paper considers diverse approaches to human subjectivity conceptualization. On the one hand, a summary is made of an established psychological view of personality as an intrinsic psychological entity responsible for stylistic differences in the behavior of isolated individuals, founded on the traditional Cartesian view. On the other hand more recent views are presented, which take human subjectivity as personhood i.e. responsible action of moral subjects, placed within amongst-people space, and implying allied activity of persons in a social community. In addition, consideration is given to new methodological demands for psychologists who want to research the domain of human personhood as well as to deviations of a "new paradigm" of psychological investigations from scientific tradition in viewing methods that has prevailed in psychology until recently. Clarification of demands for studying personhood is a new trend in psychology, so it should be stressed that such orientation, despite its long-lasting past, virtually has a very short history.
Recognition and development of "educational technology" as a scientific field and school subject
Authors: Danilovic Mirceta
Published: February 2006

The paper explores the process of development, establishment and recognition of "educational technology" as an independent scientific field and a separate teaching subject at universities. The paper points to: (a) the problems that this field deals with or should deal with, (b) knowledge needed for the profession of "educational technologist", (c) various scientific institutions across the world involved in educational technology, (d) scientific journals treating issues of modern educational technology, (e) the authors i.e. psychologists and educators who developed and formulated the basic principles of this scientific field, (f) educational features and potentials of educational technologies. Emphasis is placed on the role and importance of AV technology in developing, establishing and recognition of educational technology, and it is also pointed out that AV technology i.e. AV teaching aids and a movement for visualization of teaching were its forerunners and crucial factors for its establishing and developing into an independent area of teaching i.e. school subject. In summary it is stressed that educational technology provides for the execution of instruction through emission transmission, selection, coding, decoding, reception, memorization transformation of all types of pieces of information in teaching.
Impact of writing about mathematics in a humanistic context on mathematical self-concept: A twelfth-grade pilot study
Authors: Kadijevic Djordje
Published: February 2006

As one?s learning results from a complex interplay among his/her cognitive metacognitive and affective domains, the last of which determines the global context where cognition takes place monitored and controlled by metacognition, the learning outcomes may primarily be interpreted in affective terms. Having in mind a strong positive relation between mathematical self and mathematical achievement as well as that a humanistic approach to mathematics teaching/learning would promote higher mathematical self, this study examined whether writing about mathematics in a humanistic context influences mathematical self. This question was answered by comparing mathematical self of twelfth-grade gymnasium (high-school) students who wrote their matura works on mathematical themes (N = 10) with that of their classmates who did that in other subjects (N = 72). A higher mathematical self was found for these ten students, which may be commented with "those who chose to write matura works in mathematics were simply those with higher mathematical self and the writing contributed nothing to the outcome". The values of other control variables measured in grades 9-12 evidence that it is more likely that this finding was influenced by the treatment.
Student prosocial behavior and academic achievement
Authors: Spasenovic Vera
Published: February 2006

The paper considers correlation between student prosocial behavior and academic achievement. Attention first focuses on the issue of prosocial behavior defining, making it operational and measuring it. Next consideration is given to the ways that prosocial behavior contributes to academic achievement. It is thought that prosocial behavior can produce indirect effects on student prosocial behavior because it is bound to certain academically relevant forms of behavior leading to successful learning and work. Also, correlation is interpreted by means of teacher?s preferences of prosocial students, which is reflected in teacher expectations and behavior towards students but in evaluating their work too. In addition, prosocial behavior may produce direct effects, for it is through peer prosocial interactions that positive intellectual exchange is performed, which contributes to more successful mastering of teaching content. The paper provides a survey of investigations whose results indicate that there exists correlation between student prosocial behavior and academic achievement. Also, consideration is given to possible methods and treatments for encouraging prosocial behavior in school context, especially the role of teacher in the process and the importance of the program for promoting student prosocial skills.
Partner relations in teaching as a factor encouraging learning and cognitive development
Authors: Pavlovic Branka
Published: February 2006

The paper discusses the role of partner relations established between teacher and student in encouraging learning and cognitive development. Partnership means a relationship where there exists equal mutual respect of partners. Learning is viewed as a construction process not as knowledge transmission and emphasis is placed on the importance of the "zone of subsequent development for asymmetric partner communication in the process of building up knowledge". Attention focuses on two methods of learning in the teaching process: teacher-student cooperative learning and modeling. Several forms of partner communication are analyzed: discussion, conversation in a circle and asking questions on the part of students. The importance of partnership in teaching is illustrated by the results of a host of contemporary investigations in the sphere of teaching and learning. The major implications of those investigations for teaching practice are as follows: creating relaxing and non-hierarchical atmosphere in the process of learning; teacher and student training for communication skills important for partner relations; teacher training for cooperative work with students and application of modeling; developing conditions for the emergence of situational interest in teaching; utilization of techniques for encouraging spontaneous and free students? questions in teaching.
Does a successful teacher educate like a good parent
Authors: Sevkusic-Mandic Slavica , Milosevic Nikoleta
Published: February 2006

Starting from the assumption on the importance of influence that school and family exert on child development, the paper analyzes the effects of parental treatments on child social behavior. Empirical evidence proves that parents who contribute to the fullest extent to their children?s successful adaptation to school conditions, possess a specific style of communication with their children: they consistently support just behavior standards encourage a two-way communication, respect child?s opinions, are highly expectant of child?s responsible and mature behavior and care about his physical and emotional well-being. However, there is relatively lesser empirical evidence of teacher contributions to child successful adaptation to school conditions. The findings of more recent studies on the problem indicate that adaptation of younger age children significantly correlates with the quality of relations established with teacher, characterized by warmness, conflict absence and frank communication. The possibility of solving the problems children encounter is found in cooperation of school and family. A child generalizes his experience of family interpersonal relations onto relations he will find himself in throughout his life. In addition to family, the classes where cooperative relations intensively develop are a favorable base for socio-emotional development. Democratic and cooperative climate contribute to stronger ties between students. Joint activities of teachers, parents and peers, in and out of the class, are of crucial importance for student optimal socio-emotional development.
Relations and values in children family education: Between traditionalism and modernism
Authors: Lukovic Ivana
Published: February 2006

The paper presents the results of investigations on the characteristics of relations and values in children family education considering traditionalism and modernism respectively. The investigations were carried out in 2003 in Belgrade comprising the sample of 173 parents of primary school sixth graders. The investigations were conducted by the poll technique. Traditionalism and modernism, respectively, in relations and values were integrally examined using indicators as follows: authority distribution in a family, parental general care of a child, parent expectations of children of different gender with regard to doing housework, educational achievement and characteristics they consider desirable for males and females respectively. The biggest move from traditionalism to modernism was noted in the sphere of authority distribution in a family. As for parental general care of a child and their expectations in the three separated domains, there are signs of intensive abandon of traditionalistic positions. On the whole, concerning relations and values in children family education, the majority of examined families are in transition from traditionalism to modernism. Also, the results demonstrate that parent education level and level of urban character of a setting where parents grew up largely determine the type of relations and values parents will give priority to in children family education.
‘White’, ‘Ethnic’ and ‘Indigenous’: Pre-Service Teachers Reflect on Discourses of Ethnicity in Australian Culture
Authors: Hickling-Hudson Anne
Published: February 2006

A cornerstone of the author's pedagogy as a teacher educator is to help students analyse how their culture and socialisation influence their role as teachers. In this article she shares the reflections of her Australian students on their culture. As part of their coursework in an elective subject, Cultural Diversity and Education, students reflect on and address questions of how they have been socialised to regard Anglo-Australian, Indigenous and non-British migrant cultures in their society. Some recall that their early conditioning cultivated a deep fear of Aborigines, and a tokenistic understanding of ethnicity. Others talk of their confusion between the pulls of assimilation into mainstream ‘whiteness’ and of maintaining a minority identity. This, combined with an often Anglocentric education, has left them with a problematic foundation with regard to becoming teachers who can overcome prejudice and discrimination in the classroom and the curriculum. This article argues that in grappling with the negative legacies of neo-colonialism and its ‘race’ ideologies, teachers need as a first step to analyse discourses of ethnicity and how these discourses construct ‘white’, ‘ethnic’ and Indigenous Australians. This groundwork is necessary for the further steps of honouring the central role of Indigenous people in Australian culture, recognizing how interacting cultures restructure each other, contributing to initiatives for peace and reconciliation, and promoting the study of cultural diversity in the curriculum – all essential components of an intercultural pedagogy.
The Multiculturalism Caveat: A Pedagogy of the Politics of Difference
Authors: Chueh Ho-Chia
Published: February 2006

Iris M. Young, Chantal Mouffe, and Ernesto Laclau are known for their political perspective on the politics of difference. The politics of difference concerns the fundamental question of political subjectivity. They argue against the essentialist belief that there is a fixed identity, instead promote the celebration of multiple and diverse values within society as reflecting the nature of difference. This article provides a genealogical examination of the discursive construction of these new attempts to define a philosophical basis for difference. The theories on difference and identity of Young, Laclau and Mouffe have been described and critiqued in this article. Such an examination will provide a better understanding of the notions of political agency presented in these new attempts. This may also lead us to a better understanding of the depth implicit in such notions as emancipation and empowerment notions these new theories have led us to.
Through the Multicultural Glass: Althusser, Ideology and Race Relations in Post-Civil Rights America
Authors: Leonardo Zeus
Published: February 2006

In 1996, an edited volume devoted to Stuart Hall's work published the essay ‘Gramsci's Relevance for the Study of Race and Ethnicity’. Central to Hall's analysis was Gramsci's deployment of the concept of hegemony. This article hopes to accomplish parallel insights on race and multiculturalism by going through the concept of ideology as theorized by Althusser. A thoroughgoing and critical theory of ideology is currently missing from multiculturalism. When ideology is invoked, it either goes through a Marxist refutation of the racial concept or it is posed as a problem that needs to be transcended rather than a constitutive part of the ideological struggle over race. Just as Hall reminds us that Gramsci's theory of hegemony must be taken in the context of Gramsci's Marxist problematic, this article notes that Althusser's theory of ideology must be taken in the context of his commitment to historical materialism. However, in order to analyze the relevance of Althusser's theory of ideology for the study of race and multiculturalism (something which did not appear in Althusser's work), the author appropriates his insights sans his problematic of historical materialism. Althusser's theory is useful for a study of race, which is as much a problem at the ideological as it is at the material level. Furthermore, Althusser's discourse on ideology enriches debates about race and multiculturalism to the extent that his general insights on ideology are appropriate for such an analysis. In this explication, the author presents a brief introduction to the multiple levels of Althusser's theory of ideology. Then, he appropriates Althusser's general insights and relevance, determining the most pertinent moments in his theory for the study of race and multiculturalism. Last, the author poses the problem of color-blind discourses on race.
Education, Post-Structuralism and the Politics of Difference
Authors: Peters Michael A.
Published: February 2006

This article examines the ‘politics of difference’, a phrase now almost synonymous with postmodernism and the critique of the Enlightenment. The article provides a post-structuralist take on this critique arguing that a critique of Enlightenment values can lead to a deepening of democracy and using Foucault's notion of governmentality to elucidate the way political reason links the form of liberal government with the self-governing individual. It also examines emergent forms of post-coloniality with its emphasis on philosophies of difference and encounters with the Other and borrows the concept of the ‘multitude’ from Hardt and Negri, to talk about Derrida's ‘coming of world demoracy’.
Review Essay: Pedagogy, Politics and Intellectual Life: Freire in the Age of the Market, Pedagogy of Indignation
Authors: Roberts Peter
Published: February 2006

Paulo Freire is widely acknowledged as one of the most influential educationists of the twentieth century. Eight years after his death, Freire's work continues to generate considerable interest among scholars and activists across the globe. This review essay addresses some of the key questions and issues raised in a new book of previously unpublished letters and other writings by Freire: Pedagogy of Indignation (Paradigm, 2004). The review sets this book in the context of Freire's biography, his politics and his educational philosophy. Particular attention is paid to a somewhat neglected theme in commentaries on Freire's work: his stance on the roles and responsibilities of the critical intellectual. It is argued that Freire's approach to intellectual life, for all of its shortcomings and flaws, remains relevant and important in a policy environment dominated by neo-liberal agendas.
Short‐term prediction of mortality in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: Classification of outcomes using random forests
Authors: Ward Michael M. , Pajevic Sinisa , Dreyfuss Jonathan , Malley James D.
Published: February 2006

Objective

To identify demographic and clinical characteristics that classify patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) at risk for in‐hospital mortality.

Methods

Patients hospitalized in California from 1996 to 2000 with a principal diagnosis of SLE (N = 3,839) were identified from a state hospitalization database. As candidate predictors of mortality, we used patient demographic characteristics; the presence or absence of 40 different clinical conditions listed among the discharge diagnoses; and 2 summary indexes derived from the discharge diagnoses, the Charlson Index and the SLE Comorbidity Index. Predictors of patients at increased risk of mortality were identified and validated using random forests, a statistical procedure that is a generalization of single classification trees. Random forests use bootstrapped samples of patients and randomly selected subsets of predictors to create individual classification trees, and this process is repeated to generate multiple trees (a forest). Classification is then done by majority vote across all trees.

Results

Of the 3,839 patients, 109 died during hospitalization. Selecting from all available predictors, the random forests had excellent predictive accuracy for classification of death. The mean classification error rate, averaged over 10 forests of 500 trees each, was 11.9%. The most important predictors were the Charlson Index, respiratory failure, SLE Comorbidity Index, age, sepsis, nephritis, and thrombocytopenia.

Conclusion

Information on clinical diagnoses can be used to accurately predict mortality among hospitalized patients with SLE. Random forests represent a useful technique to identify the most important predictors from a larger (often much larger) number and to validate the classification.
Chronic periaortitis and HLA–DRB1*03: Another clue to an autoimmune origin
Authors: Martorana Davide , Vaglio Augusto , Greco Paolo , Zanetti Adele , Moroni Gabriella , Salvarani Carlo , Savi Mario , Buzio Carlo , Neri Tauro M.
Published: February 2006

Objective

Patients with chronic periaortitis (CP) often show clinical and laboratory findings of a systemic autoimmune disorder. The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of the HLA system in CP.

Methods

Low‐resolution genotyping for HLA–A, HLA–B, and HLA–DRB1 loci and genotyping of TNFA(‐238)A/G and TNFA(‐308)A/G single nucleotide polymorphisms were performed in 35 consecutive patients with CP and 350 healthy controls.

Results

The HLA–DRB1*03 allele frequency was strikingly higher in patients with CP than in controls (24.28% versus 9.14%; χ2 = 15.50, P = 0.000084, corrected P [Pcorr] = 0.0012, odds ratio [OR] 3.187, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.74–5.83); the HLA–B*08 allele frequency was also higher in patients than in controls (17.14% versus 6.28%; χ2=11.12, P = 0.0008, Pcorr = 0.0269, OR 3.085, 95% CI 1.54–6.16). The A*01 allele frequency was significantly different (P = 0.0463), but the statistical significance was lost after correction for multiple testing (Pcorr = 0.5088). TNFA(‐238)A allele and TNFA(‐308)A allele frequencies were not significantly different (P = 0.512 and P = 0.445, respectively). Comparison of the main clinical and laboratory findings suggestive of a systemic autoimmune disease (e.g., acute‐phase reactants, constitutional symptoms, other autoimmune diseases associated with CP) between the HLA–DRB1*03–positive and the HLA–DRB1*03–negative patients showed that the former group had significantly higher levels of C‐reactive protein (P = 0.045) at disease onset, although this difference was not statistically significant after correction for multiple tests (Pcorr = 0.369).

Conclusion

The HLA system plays a role in susceptibility to CP. The strong association between CP and HLA–DRB1*03, an allele linked to a wide range of autoimmune conditions, further supports the view that CP may represent a clinical manifestation of an autoimmune disease.
Repetitive 18F‐fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography in giant cell arteritis: A prospective study of 35 patients
Authors: Blockmans Daniël , Ceuninck Liesbet de , Vanderschueren Steven , Knockaert Daniël , Mortelmans Luc , Bobbaers Herman
Published: February 2006

Objective

To study fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake in the different vascular beds and in the large joints of patients with giant cell arteritis (GCA) at diagnosis, during steroid treatment, and at relapse.

Methods

All consecutive patients admitted to our department with a diagnosis of GCA underwent FDG–positron emission tomography (PET) scan before treatment with methylprednisolone was started. PET scans were repeated at 3 and 6 months, if the initial PET scans showed vascular FDG uptake. PET scans were scored at 7 different vascular areas and a total vascular score (TVS) was calculated, ranging from 0 to 21.

Results

A total of 35 patients entered the study. At diagnosis, vascular FDG uptake was noted in 29 patients (83%), especially in the subclavian arteries (74%), but also in the aorta (>50%) and up to the femoral arteries (37%). TVS decreased from a mean ± SD score of 7.9 ± 5.5 at baseline to 2.4 ± 3.5 on repeat PET scan at 3 months (P < 0.0005), but did not further decrease at 6 months. The patients who relapsed had similar earlier decreases of TVS compared with those who did not relapse. FDG uptake in the shoulders at diagnosis correlated significantly with the presence of polymyalgia rheumatica (P = 0.005).

Conclusion

FDG uptake in the large vessels is a sensitive marker for GCA, which can involve the larger thoracic, abdominal, and peripheral arteries. Polymyalgia rheumatica symptoms in patients with GCA correlate with (peri)synovitis of the shoulders. Relapses of GCA cannot be predicted by results of former PET scintigraphies.