bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Is Australia Neglecting its Creative Potential?
Authors: Carroll John , Howieson Noel
Published: January 2012

The article begins from a cross-cultural study of creative thinking which showed Australian children as one of the least creative groups tested. A longitudinal study of this group is compared with its American equivalent showing the Australians as comparatively low creative achievers in adult life. A sample of Western Australian children is tested to see how they perform today, and a programme which selects highly able children for special advancement is examined to see if it bypasses the highly creative children. Finally, the value that teachers place on pupil characteristics that appear to be congruent with creativity is examined.
Gifted: The End of a Tail
Authors: Falk Carolyn R
Published: January 2012

Special education in the United States services a diverse population, including those students whose academic performance falls at the ends of the normal distribution. This article challenges the assumption that a continuum of learning opportunities appropriate for exceptional persons is possible when the concept of the normal distribution is used. An alternate model, a bull's-eye, is suggested to accommodate the openended potential for the gifted population.
Academically Talented Underachievers at the End of High School
Authors: Boyd Rae
Published: January 2012

Out of a total of 92 pupils, identified as talented in their primary schools, over 3% (N=3) left school before the end of year 11 and 17% (N=15) failed to gain a score in the Higher School Certificate (HSC) that would place them in the top 25% of candidates. An examination of their responses to questionnaires, completed during their six years at a high school, has identified affective factors leading to inappropriate study patterns and/or a lack of motivation to achieve highly in HSC. The excitement of learning had faded for them in the school setting. Discussion as to how “excitement” in school studies might be generated concludes the paper.
Marked Aptitudes
Authors: Robertson Colin
Published: January 2012

The paper suggests the use of the term “marked aptitudes” to describe exceptional attributes of pupils. The writer suggests that such a term avoids the misleading connotations of “gifted” or “very able” and focuses on the specific area that is exceptional, involving teachers in formulating a more exact definition of the actual behaviour and skills demonstrated by individual pupils in a wide range of areas. The writer further argues that provision for pupils with “marked aptitudes” should be intrinsic to the planning in all schools.
Autonomous Imagery—A New Approach to Meetings
Authors: Willings David , Chamberlain Nicholas J.
Published: January 2012

The writers outline a double procedure for meetings: one procedure deals with general administrative matters and the second procedure concentrates on “allowing ideas to come” about problems using the process of “free association” of ideas. Willings and Chamberlain provide details of a number of brief case-studies of under-achieving pupils who were helped by their mentors after “case conferences” which relied on “free association” of ideas. In addition mentors themselves were often helped to resolve their own problems through insights derived from the meetings.
Early Identification of the Gifted and Talented Students: Where do Teachers Stand?
Authors: McBride Noelene
Published: January 2012

The role of the teacher in providing for all children, particularly young children, and in developing them to their full potential is receiving increasing interest in the research literature. This paper reflects on some of this literature and addresses the results of a recent study of early education (Years 1, 2, 3) teachers. It highlights the significance of teachers' perceptions in identifying children as gifted and the techniques being used by some teachers.
Charlie-Neutralising Negativism
Authors: Willings David
Published: January 2012

Willings has already proposed (Gifted Education International5(3) p146, 1988) that cynicism is an inhibitor of creativity. He also points out that children are getting the message ‘it is smart to be cynical.’ Cynicism is circular. We end up back with the problem and the feeling that we are helpless. Norman (Fodder for the Theorists The Listener 18 Nov 1976) points out that children are taught to agonise and that this is counter productive. Terry (age 12) Judy (age 9) and Jack (age 8) had been given the message ‘it's smart to be cynical’ by certain teachers. All of our exercises at the Willings Clinic are designed to respond to a specific problem.
Teaching Mathematics Through ‘Thinking Actively in a Social Context’
Authors: Maltby Florence
Published: January 2012

Thinking actively in a Social Context (TASC) is a multi-phase model of problem-solving incorporating Cognitive Resources and Cognitive Strategies. It provides a flexible framework for designing problem-solving courses according to the needs and experiences of the participants. The general aim for the pupil is to maximise the ability to make sense of, and to learn from, experience. The general aim for teachers is to improve the effectiveness of teachers as facilitators of children's ‘learning how to learn’. There is considerable emphasis on the transfer of skills and strategies to new contexts; cooperative learning in small groups; and the development of meta-cognitive knowledge (Wallace and Adams, 1987; Adams and Wallace, 1990; Hildebrand, Lehman, Maltby, Matters and Shadbolt, 1991 ).

Using the framework of TASC * NOTE: for a detailed exposition on the TASC model for curriculum development see GEI Vol. 5, 1–3. a three day course in Mathematics was developed for high ability children in Grades 5, 6 and 7. The article describes the introduction and development of the course.
Cognitive and Creative Thinking: A Comparative Study among Filipino Children
Authors: Naval-Severino Teresita
Published: January 2012

This study compares two groups of children from disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds, in an attempt to determine the effects of training in the development of higher level cognitive thinking and creative thinking skills.

Essentially, the study aims to answer the following questions: Given the same intellectual ability and socioeconomic background, are there any differences in the performance of children exposed to training in Bloom's cognitive levels of thinking and those without? Given the same intellectual ability and socioeconomic background, are there any differences in the performance of children exposed to training in creative thinking and those without?
Gifted and the “Zone of Proximal Development”
Authors: Stanley Nile V.
Published: January 2012

Identification of the gifted student is problematic. Prescription, the matching of student needs with program services, is perhaps even more precarious. To optimize potential and maximize achievement, diagnosis and instruction should be linked, on going, and based on state-of-the-art knowledge. Despite a burgeoning paradigm shift in the theory and practice of assessment in general, identification procedures for the gifted remain little changed. The bulk of the literature still recommends standardized, “product” measures of potential and achievement. Although status-quo recommendations include the use of multiple criteria, teacher judgment, and attention to cultural differences, scant endorsement is made for “process” measures. Dynamic assessment, based upon the Soviet psychologist Vygotsky's concept of the zone of proximal development (ZOPD), which measures the difference between what a learner can do alone and with appropriate guidance, has gained increased attention and suggests modification in the way the gifted are identified.

This paper expounds upon the application of the dynamic assessment procedure (OAP) for the identification and instruction of the gifted. Pedagogical implications and conflicts to be resolved are also addressed.
Thinking in The Future: the Need to Promote Creativity in the Educational Context
Authors: Soriano de Alencar Eunice M.L
Published: January 2012

This article explores the conditions necessary to facilitate the growth of creativity. Acceptance at macro and micro social levels is stressed. The importance of problem-setting and problem-solving is also examined with reference to education. Education which emphasises reproduction of existing knowledge is a strongly negative influence on creative thinking.
Teachers' and parents' perceptions of social-psychological factors of underachievement among the gifted in Korea and the United States
Authors: Jeon Kyung-Won , Feldhunsen John F.
Published: January 2012

A survey was designed to compare perceptions of American teachers of the gifted (ATG), American parents of the gifted (APG), Korean teachers of the gifted (KTG), and Korean parents of the gifted (KPG) concerning social-psychological factors of underachievement in the gifted. There were four subsections: (1) familyparental factors, (2) psychological factors, (3) sociological factors, and (4) peer-relationship factors. Two hundred-eighty eight teachers and parents, 60 ATG, 77 APG, 28 KTG, and 50 KPG served as respondents. American teachers and parents, as compared to Korean teachers and parents, tended to overemphasize the importance of peer relationship, psychological environment, and social environment as causes of underachievement.
Developing Creative Thinking among Intellectually Able Filipino Children from Disadvantaged Urban Communities
Authors: Naval-Severino Teresita
Published: January 2012

The purpose of this research is to demonstrate the importance of training programs in developing creative thinking skills among gifted disadvantaged children. This study compares two groups of fast learners exposed to varying lengths of training in creative activities. Group A received a total of 20 sessions while Group B had a total of 46 sessions. Training consisted of structured as well as unstructured activities designed to enhance the creative abilities of fluency, flexibility, originality and elaboration. Techniques employed ranged from brainstorming, figural/verbal/physical exercises to problem solving. A prepost test design was used to compare differences between the two groups. While mean scores showed positive changes occurring in both groups, results of t-test analysis revealed significant differences only between the pre and post scores of Group B on three out of four categories of creative thinking, namely: fluency, flexibility and originality.
Restoring Sophistication
Authors: Polaine Laura
Published: January 2012

This article discusses sophistication (an inner state) and false sophistication (entrenched by the media, education and industry). Loss of sophistication is also described. The author shows how school deprived her of her sophistication and how she restored it out of school. She sees our role in helping individual children as restoring their sophistication.
Growing up Gifted to Everything There is a Season
Authors: Marjoram Tom
Published: January 2012

This article discusses the nature of individual differences which range in complexity much more than simply chronological age which is the usual parameter by which people are compared with one another. In particular the writer draws attention to the “late developer” who manifests exceptional ability “late in life”.
Identification of Gifted with the Dynamic Assessment Procedure (DAP)
Authors: Stanley Nile V. , Siegel Janna , Cooper Laura , Marshall Kathy
Published: January 2012

The study investigated the feasibility of the Dynamic Assessment Procedure (OAP) for identification of the gifted. The OAP, based upon the Soviet psychologist Vygotsky's concept of the zone of proximal development, focused on identifying the highest receptive vocabulary level a child could achieve with adult mediation. The major intent was to determine the influence of mediation for students' performance on the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test. The 19 gifted and 20 average students enrolled in grades second through ninth who served as subjects were tested with and without mediation. There were significant differences between the static versus dynamic measures, suggesting the OAP paradigm of “test-mediate-test” a more accurate predictor of potential.
A Talent Development Model of Career Counselling
Authors: Kelly Kevin R.
Published: January 2012

Existing models of career counseling are not consistent with the goals of talent development. The limitations of the congruence model of career counseling, a dominant career development paradigm, are identified. The assumptions, goals, assessment focus, and practices of a talent development model of career counseling are described.
Motivation and Giftedness
Authors: Landau Erika , Weissler Kinereth , Golod Gail
Published: January 2012

This article analyses the correlation between the motivation and ability of students attending the Young Persons' Institute for the Promotion of Art and Science. The article suggests that motivation is a sigificant component of giftedness.
Regular classroom practices with gifted students in Grades 3 and 4 in New South Wales, Australia
Authors: Whitton Diana
Published: January 2012

The Regular Classroom Practices Survey (RCPS) was conducted to determine the extent to which gifted and talented students received differentiated education in the regular classroom across New South Wales. This research paralleled work recently completed in the United States of America. The survey focused on information on the teachers, their classrooms and regions. Classroom practices, in relation to the curriculum modifications for gifted and average students, were analyzed. The survey sample was drawn from the three sectors of education, Government, Catholic and Independent schools, within the ten regions of New South Wales. This included 401 third and fourth grade teachers in government schools, 138 teachers in Catholic schools and 67 teachers in independent schools. The research questions that guided this study were: (1) Do teachers modify the curriculum content to meet the needs of gifted students? (2) Do teachers modify their instructional practices for gifted students? (3) Are there any organizational variations in planning to meet the educational needs of gifted children? (4) Are there differences in the types of regular classroom services provided for gifted students in relation to the type of school or region?
Gifted education: Some considerations as we approach the year 2000
Authors: Shaughnessy Michael F , Jausovec Norbert , Lehtonen Kimmo
Published: January 2012

As we approach the year 2000, gifted education will assume greater prominence in education. This paper discusses some of the issues related to giftedness, with regard to: Mentoring, The Gifted and Brain Research and Technology and Computers.
Definitions, Performance and Outcomes (“Just Do It”)
Authors: Forster Jill
Published: January 2012

This paper attempts to interconnect numerous conceptual threads. It aims to unravel and recreate a pattern of understanding in the area of gifted education which impinges on diverse fields and is informed by them, even mountain-climbing.
A K-12 Model for Talent Identification and Development Program: Gifted Education for the Twenty First Century
Authors: Vaughn Vicki L.
Published: January 2012

The writer describes a school which systematically tries to cater for all pupils' needs, including the very able students. The article offers a practical case study of aims and realities of Burris Laboratory School, Indiana, USA.
Sparks: Senior Perspectives Awareness Research Knowledge
Authors: Felton Juanita , Bernick Patricia
Published: January 2012

SPARKS; Senior Perspectives Awareness Research Knowledge

SPARKS is an elective seminar course for selected seniors which encourages the discovery and discussion of new and provocative ideas. Topics are investigated and studied utilizing a multi-disciplinary approach which encourages students to apply knowledge from various areas in attempts to solve real world problems.

In a world in which scientific knowledge doubles every ten years, young people must be aware of the ramifications of progress and must have the tools for dealing with major decisions that will affect the lives of future citizens.

What makes SPARKS unique is that it is totally student centered. Students design the seminars and students select the topics to be discussed. Teachers organize, monitor and evaluate SPARKS.
Perfectionism
Authors: Silverman Linda Kreger
Published: January 2012

Perfectionism is the least appreciated facet of giftedness. It is usally perceived as a sign of emotional disturbance that needs to be cured. Yet it is an inevitable part of the experience of being gifted for several reasons; (1) it is an abstract concept accessible to those who are high in abstract reasoning; (2) it is a function of asynchronous development — gifted children set standards according to their mental rather than physical age; (3) they also set standards appropriate for their older friends; (4) with greater capacity for forethought, gifted children are more often successful and come to expect success; (5) when school work is easy, the only challenge is to accomplish it perfectly; and (6) it is a distortion of the desire for self-perfection, a positive evolutionary drive. Perfectionism needs to be appreciated as a two-edged sword that has the potential for propelling an individual toward unparalleled greatness or plummeting one into despair. The secret to harnessing its energy is learning how to set priorities. Hints for coping with perfectionism in oneself and in gifted children are provided.
Creative Power and Inspiration
Authors: Dadong Wang
Published: January 2012

Creativity can be distinguished either as “creativity from special talent” or as “self-fulfilment.”

Inspiration is that short-span of thinking that flits through one's mind when one is at the peak of scientific or artistic creation. Creativity and inspiration are mutually dependent, both based on extensive knowledge and skills which are conducive to linking of knowledge, forming new points of view, resulting in a leap in knowledge. To develop and use. creative thinking may simulate further creativity. Inspiration may suddenly realize and bring about creativity. Inspiration is a crystallization of long-term hard work, a distillation of creativity.

The role of inspiration lies in the fact that it serves as an invisible bridge between logical thinking and thinking in terms of images, by way of the process from (he image to the abstract, and then again from the abstract to the image instantaneously forming the creative thinking that brings out creativity.
Giftedness as a Function of Right Mediation
Authors: Rosemarin Shoshana
Published: January 2012

This article discusses the responsibility of the environment in identifying and in nurturing the gifted. The concept of mediation (Feuerstein, 1979), which usually focuses on enhancing cognitive functions and strategies, among disfunctioning populations, is broadened by relating to a wider population (potentially gifted), as well as to a variety of functions (motivational and psychological). Renzulli's Enrichment Model for the gifted is analysed, using the basic parameters of Mediated Learning Experience.
Creativity in the Classroom
Authors: Morgan Sharon , Forster Jill
Published: January 2012

A small scale study was undertaken to explore classroom provisions to enhance creative thinking. Such provisions included modification of the classroom environment and subject material, processes, specific strategies and teaching models. The paper questions whether today's teachers are providing these opportunities and suggests reasons why creative thinking is not being promoted in our schools for all children but in particular the creatively talented child. The literature reveals that teachers need to become aware and interested in teaching strategies to encourage creative thinking in the classroom. Using results from this study and suggestions from the literature the research sought to determine if the attitudes of teachers and children today towards creative thinking are developing or static. While teachers are working without definitions of creativity and with limited training as a whole, their attitudes seemed to be slowly developing in favour of creative thinking. Children, while developing an awareness of creativity, are perhaps not keeping pace with what is required for our nation's development.
Comparative effectiveness of switching antipsychotic drug treatment to aripiprazole or ziprasidone for improving metabolic profile and atherogenic dyslipidemia: a 12-month, prospective, open-label study
Authors: Chen Yuejin , Bobo William V , Watts Kara , Jayathilake Karuna , Tang Tinlai , Meltzer Herbert Y
Published: January 2012

We studied the effects of switching antipsychotic drug-treated patients with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder who evidenced adverse metabolic side effects as indicated by a triglyceride/high-density lipoprotein ratio (TG/HDL) ≥ 3.5 to aripiprazole (ARIP; 5–30 mg/day, n = 24) or ziprasidone (ZIP; 40–160 mg/day, n = 28). Anthropometric and metabolic measures, psychopathology, quality of life and motor adverse effects were assessed over a 52-week period with evaluations at baseline, 6, 12, 26 and 52 weeks. There were statistically significant improvements in body weight, body mass index (BMI), TG, HDL and TG/HDL which did not differ between treatments. However, numerous secondary measures including weight and BMI, and the proportion of patients who lost ≥ 7% or who no longer met criteria for obesity, favored ZIP over ARIP. Decreases in total cholesterol and increases in HDL-cholesterol also favored ZIP. On the other hand, decreases in TG/HDL ratio and reduction in HgbA1c favored ARIP. There were no significant time or group × time interaction effects for most psychopathology measures; however, Global Assessment of Functioning Scores favored ARIP at 6 and 12 months. We conclude that switching patients with evidence of metabolic side effects to either ARIP or ZIP may be beneficial for some, but not all metabolic measures, with minimal risk of worsening of psychopathology and possibly some benefit in that regard as well.
Effect of subchronic zinc toxicity on rat salivary glands and serum composition
Authors: Mizari Nazer , Hirbod-Mobarakeh Armin , Shahinpour Shervin , Ghalichi-Tabriz Mostafa , Beigy Maani , Yamini Ali , Dehpour Ahmad Reza
Published: January 2012

Background: Zinc plays an important role in a wide variety of metabolic processes in animal systems. The role of zinc in preservative treatment, fungicidal action and medicine, and addition of supplementary zinc have increased the probability of zinc toxicity, specially the chronic type. It is known that the composition and quantity of saliva influence the oral health. Regarding people's exposure to zinc in routine life and the importance of saliva, our purpose was to investigate the effects of oral zinc intoxication on secretory function in rat salivary glands and also on serum composition. Methods: In this study, there were five groups of female rats. Four groups received zinc acetate dehydrate through their drinking water. After 3 months of experiment, the chemical characteristics and flow rate of saliva and weight of salivary glands were determined. The effects of zinc on hematological and chemical factors of plasma were assessed too. Results: Flow rate of submandibular glands was significantly lower in experimental groups and there were significant changes in Na+, Ca2+ and K+ concentration both in saliva and in plasma. The serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase, serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase, glucose levels in the plasma and urine creatinine levels were also altered in experimental groups in comparison with the control group. Conclusion: Our results show that zinc toxicity will affect the quantity and quality of saliva probably through changes in the various neurologic pathways to the salivary glands or effects on acinar cells of the salivary glands. Furthermore, our results showed that zinc toxicity will affect the liver and renal function.
A hardware–software system for coordinated multi-axis control based on a non uniform rational B-splines interpolator applied to industrial computer numerically controlled machines
Authors: Jaen-Cuellar Arturo Y , De Santiago-Perez Jesus J , Romero-Troncoso Rene J , Morales-Velazquez Luis , Benitez-Rangel Juan P , Osornio-Rios Roque A
Published: January 2012

Motion controllers are widely used in many mechatronic applications such as computer numerically controlled machine tools and robots. These applications demand the use of high performance controllers. Some desirable characteristics in motion controllers are coordinated multi-axis control, smooth movements, and advanced interpolation methods. An important manufacturing aspect involves the production of a workpiece in a free form or using the parametric surfaces in modern computer aided design/computer aided manufacturing systems. The use of parametric curves and surfaces has become standard due to their ability to represent objects having complex surfaces with less data. Another mandatory characteristic of motion controllers is the real-time operation. The contribution of the present work is the design and implementation of a hardware–software system for multi-axis motion control featuring non uniform rational B-splines interpolation. Advantages over other reported works are the hardware implementation which allows the application to real computer numerically controlled machines; also the parallel processing permits the incorporation of additional modules to form an integral system without dependence on external devices. Two experiments were carried out in a retrofitted-to-computer numeric control milling machine in order to show the efficiency of the developed system.
NEMO syndrome (incontinentia pigmenti) and systemic lupus erythematosus: A new disease association
Authors: Piccoli GB , Attini R , Vigotti FN , Naretto C , Fassio F , Randone O , Restagno G , Todros T , Roccatello D
Published: January 2012

Congenital diseases are increasingly being recognised in adults because of clinical mimicry, variable clinical picture or rarity of the disease; pregnancy is a valuable diagnostic occasion. The present case is the first report of an association report between NEMO syndrome (an acronym of the mutated, non-functioning gene, NF-kB essential modulator), a rare X-linked disease, characterised by developmental anomalies, immunodepression and skin lesions, and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). A 35-year-old patient affected by SLE sought clinical advice in the 8th week of gestation. The diagnosis of SLE dated back to the age of 24, when multisystemic manifestations (pleuropericarditis, weight loss, alopecia, skin involvement, joint pain, kidney involvement) were observed. She had been treated with steroids since 1999; immunosuppressive drugs had been added for short periods. Developmental anomalies werepresent, including oligodontia, retinal problems, anomalies of the corpus callosum and pes planovalgus. Family history included multiple miscarriages, dental malformations and oligodontia and skin blistering in the first months of life. On these bases, incontinentia pigmenti (IP; or NEMO syndrome) was diagnosed and confirmed by genetic testing. The NEMO gene is implicated in immune deficiencies as well as in autoimmune diseases. This report may suggest a role for NF-kB essential modulator in the pathogenesis of SLE, in the context of thecomplex immunologic deficiencies increasingly associated with autoimmune diseases.
Design and testing of a high-specific work actuator using miniature pneumatic artificial muscles
Authors: Vocke Robert D. , Kothera Curt S. , Chaudhuri Anirban , Woods Benjamin K.S. , Wereley Norman M.
Published: January 2012

Micro-air vehicle (MAV) development is moving toward smaller and more capable platforms to enable missions such as indoor reconnaissance. This miniaturization creates challenging constraints on volume and energy generation/storage for all systems onboard. Actuator technologies must also address these miniaturization goals. Much research has focused on active material systems, such as piezoelectric materials and synthetic jets, but these advanced technologies have specific, but limited, capability. Conventional servo technology has also encountered concerns over miniaturization. Motivation has thus been established to develop a small-scale actuation technology prototype based on pneumatic artificial muscles, which are known for their lightweight, high-output, and low-pressure operation. The miniature actuator provides bidirectional control capabilities for a range of angles, rates, and loading conditions. Problems addressed include the scaling of the pneumatic actuators and design of a mechanism to adjust the kinematic load-stroke profile to suit the pneumatic actuators. The kinematics of the actuation system was modeled, and a number of bench-top configurations were fabricated, assembled, and experimentally characterized. Angular deflection and angular rate output of the final bench-top prototype system are presented, showing an improvement over conventional servo motors used in similar applications, especially in static or low-frequency operation.
Soft magnetorheological elastomers as new actuators for valves
Authors: Böse Holger , Rabindranath Raman , Ehrlich Johannes
Published: January 2012

The actuation behavior of soft silicone-based magnetorheological elastomers in magnetic fields of variable strength was investigated. An inhomogeneous magnetic field gives rise to a reversible actuation effect, which is the result of the competition between magnetic and elastic forces in the material. Magnetorheological elastomers are capable of performing more pronounced deformations than known rigid actuator materials. In this article, the actuation behavior of magnetorheological elastomer ring-shaped bodies in a valve-type device for the control of an air flow is demonstrated. For this purpose, magnetorheological elastomer rings with different Shore hardness were prepared and used in the valve. In addition to the common isotropic magnetorheological elastomer samples, rings with an anisotropic arrangement of the magnetic particles were also prepared. The actuation of these anisotropic magnetorheological elastomers was compared with that of the isotropic samples. Based on simulations, the inhomogeneity of the magnetic field at the magnetorheological elastomer material which is required for the actuation could be strongly affected by the shape in the design of the magnetic yoke. In this study, the closing characteristics of the valve with different yoke shapes and magnetorheological elastomer materials were evaluated by measuring the dependence of the air flow rate on the magnetic field strength. It is demonstrated that the air flow through the valve can be controlled by the current in the field-generating coil, which yields the base for a new type of magnetic valve.
Damage assessment of CFRP composites using a time–frequency approach
Authors: Liu Yingtao , Fard Masoud Yekani , Chattopadhyay Aditi , Doyle Derek
Published: January 2012

A damage assessment methodology using a time–frequency signal processing technique is presented in this article. Delaminations are detected in composite structures with multiple stiffeners. Because Lamb waves are complex in nature, due to wave dispersion and scattering, a robust signal processing technique is required to extract features from Lamb wave signals. In this article, the matching pursuit decomposition algorithm is used for extracting wavelets from the Lamb wave signals in the time–frequency domain. A small time–frequency atom dictionary is defined to avoid the exhaustive search over the time–frequency domain and to reduce the computation costs. The propagation characteristics of Lamb waves in stiffened composite panels are investigated. The delaminations are detected by identifying the converted Lamb wave modes introduced by the structural imperfection. A two-step damage detection approach, which uses both pulse-echo and pitch-catch active sensing schemes, is developed for the identification of delaminations. The delamination is quantified using a signal energy-based damage index. The matching pursuit decomposition algorithm is further used to localize the delamination position by solving a set of nonlinear equations. The results show that the matching pursuit decomposition algorithm can be used to identify and localize the seeded delaminations in composite structures with complex geometries and material properties.
Crack detection based on optimal control
Authors: Chomette B , Sinou J-J
Published: January 2012

Techniques for optimal control to increase system security attract a great deal of interest from industry. The presence of transversal cracks can considerably modify the dynamics of a system. In the case of closed-loop systems, i.e. controlled systems, these faults can cause the destabilization and variation of control performance. Consequently, such variations can be used to detect transversal cracks. Therefore, the present study proposes an investigation into the possibility of detecting structure modification based on estimated control performance by using the Rational Fraction Polynomial algorithm. This method is applied numerically to a multi-cracked controlled truss. Both the optimal control of the cracked structure and the possibility of detecting the presence of cracks by monitoring the evolution of control performance are studied. The efficiency of the proposed method is demonstrated through numerical simulations corresponding to different crack orientations and locations.
Bilateral Wilms' tumor: Mansoura multi-centers 15 years experience
Authors: Elashry Rasha
Published: January 2012

Purpose. Bilateral Wilms' tumor (WT) is a challenge. Aggressive surgical resection is needed to prevent recurrence. We revised the clinico-epidemiological criteria of bilateral WT patients in our locality and relation to outcome.

Subjects and methods. 462 WT patients were registered in three medical centers at Mansoura, Egypt. Twenty five patients had bilateral WT whose medical records were revised for all clinico-epidemiologic data plus treatment details, toxicity, and outcome.

Results. The mean age was 34.5 months; 64% of cases were female. Abdominal mass was the commonest presentation (72%). Congenital anomalies were reported in two cases (one case showed hemihypertrophy and the other showed aniridia). About 60% had favorable pathology. Nineteen cases had synchronous bilateral WT (76%) and the remaining (six cases) had metachronous tumors. For the synchronous cases, the response rate to preoperative chemotherapy was 79% and nephron sparing surgery for the least involved kidney was possible in all. Survival rate was 74%. Metachronous tumor management included nephrectomy followed by chemotherapy for the initially diagnosed tumors. However, nephron sparing surgery of the contralateral tumors following preoperative chemotherapy was possible in two cases and the survival rate was 33%. No renal failure or any therapy-related complications were reported.

Conclusions. Bilateral WT is predominantly synchronous with favorable histology, with female predilection and possibly congenital anomalies. Preoperative chemotherapy followed by nephron sparing surgery has a favorable outcome with preserved renal function especially in patients with synchronous WT. Response to preoperative chemotherapy had a statistically significant prognostic impact.
Interactivity on Swedish newspaper websites: What kind, how much and why?
Authors: Larsson Anders Olof
Published: January 2012

This article examines what kind of interactive features are available on the websites of Swedish newspapers, and what factors seem to influence the utilization of those features. Using Chung’s typology of interactive features, we can discern four types: human (features that facilitate interpersonal communication), human–medium (allowing users to express their personal opinions), medium (allowing users choice options in experiencing news stories) and medium–human (allowing users to customize news to their liking) interactive features. Factors believed to have influence over interactive features are tested using statistical analysis. Even though different factors tend to influence different types of interactivity, results indicate that the most interactive newspaper websites belong to large, national newspapers with younger web staff.
CPR and E-CPR
Authors: Naim Maryam Y. , Topjian Alexis A. , Nadkarni Vinay M.
Published: January 2012

In October 2010, the American Heart Association released updated guidelines for cardiopulmonary resuscitation and emergency cardiovascular care. Major changes in the pediatric basic and advanced life support guidelines are reviewed in this article. The use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is also reviewed including the results of two recent large studies and preliminary reports on long-term neurologic outcome of survivors.
Atrial Switch Operation in the Current Era
Authors: Talwar Sachin , Nair Vinitha Viswambharan , Choudhary Shiv Kumar , Airan Balram
Published: January 2012

Although rarely performed today, atrial switch operations continue to have an important role in the management of some forms of congenital heart disease. In developing countries, delayed diagnosis and presentation of patients with transposition of the great arteries is not uncommon. For some patients who are referred for surgery beyond the newborn period, the atrial switch operations are still considered to be the best option. Also, as part of surgical repair of congenitally corrected transposition, an atrial switch operation is combined with arterial switch or the Rastelli procedure as an alternative to physiologic repair. In isolated ventricular inversion (atrioventricular discordance with ventriculoarterial concordance), the atrial switch operation alone leads to complete anatomical correction. Finally, management of late complications of atrial switch operations requires a thorough understanding of the procedures.
Sector-Based Negotiations in APEC and the WTO
Authors: Lloyd Peter J.
Published: January 2012

This paper looks at the APEC process of trade liberalisation and, in particular, at the Early Voluntary Sector Liberalisation approach to industrial trade liberalisation and facilitation. It also examines the GATTAVTO experience with sector-based negotiations. The experience in both APEC and the GATTAVTO is that sector-based negotiations make it more difficult to achieve trade-offs in negotiations. The paper finds that the EVSL proposal is very limited in its scope and likely benefits, and the experiment should not be repeated.
Assessment of Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation: TILF, Ecotech, and Financial Cooperation
Authors: Ahn Hyung-Do
Published: January 2012

This paper reviews the performance of APEC over the last 10 ***years and discusses the challenges it faces. The review of APEC's performance turns out to be unsatisfactory. Nonetheless, APEC has the potential to be a valuable economic forum in the region. In the short and medium term, APEC confronts with four challenges: 1) how to reach the Bogor goals of 2010/2020, 2) how to contribute to global liberalization; 3) how to achieve a balance between TILF and Ecotech; and 4) how to harmonize subregionalism in the region with APEC's goals.
A Comparison of Management Systems for Development Co-Operation in OECD/DAC Members
Authors: Chang Hyun-Sik , Fell Arthur M. , Laird Michael
Published: January 2012

The Members of the Development Assistance Committee (DAC) of the OECD have set an ambitious and specific target: reduce by one half the proportion of people living in extreme poverty by 2015. The aid management systems of DAC Members represent key elements in the basic architecture for attaining that goal. A Comparison of Management Systems for Development Co-operation in OECD/DAC Members provides a panaroma of aid management systems of DAC Members. It describes, analyses and compares those systems and provides specific examples. In addition, it presents the main themes of reflection within the DAC with key policy statements.
Comparative Analysis of East Asian Democratic Movement: Kwangju - June Uprising of South Korea and Tiananmen Democratic Movement of China
Authors: Kim Seung-Chae
Published: January 2012

Democratic movement of South Korea and Tiananmen democratic movement of China are different in the nature of systems, the contents of democratic movement and the development process. In terms of each movement's significance in each country and in the East Asia's democratization process, both movement of South Korea and China ahve great areal value beyond each individual country. Considering these differences, the goal of this paper is providing theoretical suggestion for democratization and concrete date for future, especially focused on continuation and stability, of each country's democratization as well as East Asia's democratization by the comparison of two country's democratization process.
Business Culture in Germany
Authors: Mayer Peter
Published: January 2012

This paper aimed showing the concept of “business culture” case of German. According to specific culture of German society, the paper gave two categories, small and medium sized enterprises, large firms. The German business culture can be characterized as participatory, consensus-oriented, information-intensive.

4. Conclusion: The concept of a national business culture is meaningful. The German business culture can be characterised as participatory, consensus-oriented, information-intensive. Many changes have taken place in the recent past, this process of change of the German way of doing business will continue to change. The change is quite profound and fast in such companies which are exposed to international transactions, mainly foreign direct investments. Small enterprises with mainly local or regional focus will take longer.
Singaporean Corporate Cultures: An Introductory Overview
Authors: Park Donghyun
Published: January 2012

The main goal of our paper is to provide an introduction to Singaporean corporate culture. We first describe the Singaporean business environment. We then examine the corporate culture within the three main sectors of the Singaporean economy government, multinational corporations and local private sector. Our main conclusion is that each of the three sectors has its own distinctive corporate culture although there is limited interaction between the three cultures. The challenge for Singapore is to forge a corporate culture suitable for the knowledge economy by combining the best of its public and private sector corporate cultures.
Intra-Regional Management: The Western Europe Strategy of Japanese Firms
Authors: Kudo Akira
Published: January 2012

This paper raises the following questions: 1) How have Japanese firms that have entered Western Europe via direct investment understood the region's business environment? 2) With that understanding, what strategies have Japanese firms built and what projects have they developed? 3) Conversely, how have the projects developed by Japanese firms affected the business environment in Western Europe? To explore the questions outlined above, it is desirable or even necessary to observe a relatively large number of cases over as long a period as possible. This paper clearly faces limits on this score. On the other hand, by observing a small number of cases in relative detail, this paper may have the advantage of providing a basis for formulating general propositions.
Consumer Sovereignty versus Consumer Protection in Transition Countries
Authors: Sepp Jüri , Wrobel Ralph Michael
Published: January 2012

Conventional economics assumes the existence of important limits to the operation of markets. Even economists who generally prefer the market system to solve economic problems point to the significance of market failure - for example asymmetric information. Then these economists demand government policies suspending or modifying the operation of the market, e.g. consumer protection (Kirzner, 1994, p. 101). Our thesis in this paper is that there exists no market failure because a failure can only be defined in relation to the “nirvana-approach” of static Pareto-optimum (Demsetz, 1969, p. 1). In contrast competition on markets must be seen as discovery procedure, which helps to find better solutions (Hayek, 1969, p. 249–265). A static optimum never and nowhere exists - only in the neo-classical theory. Therefore economically justified government interventions into the market process will be called into question by the following argumentation. Only policies, which are supporting market operation, will be advocated. Contrary, we will show that there exists a danger in state interventions to protect consumers. A growing state activity may lead to destruction of producer freedom and consumers' sovereignty and at last of the market economy itself. As example we will analyse consumer protection policy in Estonia.
The Impact of Ownership Structure on Earnings Usefulness: Japanese Evidence
Authors: Min Chung-Ki , Whang Sun Young
Published: January 2012

Using a large sample of Japanese firms, this paper examines the impact of the ownership structure on managerial incentives for income smoothing through discretionary accrual choices. Our results show that like US managers, Japanese managers engage in income smoothing in consideration of both current earnings and expected future earnings. More importantly, we find that managers' ability to smooth income through discretionary accrual choices is constrained by external monitoring by financial institutions, while it is enhanced by managerial entrenchment arising from cross-corporate shareholdings.
Asia's Influence on Public Administration in the West
Authors: Boyer William W. , Kang Mun-Hee
Published: January 2012

Those who hold top career administrative posts in most governments throughout the world are selected through highly competitive examinations. They form a prestigious cadre to which a nation's highest achievers aspire. Indeed, at the core of most developed, and many developing, political systems, is a bureaucracy headed by a “higher civil service, ”which we define as an elite corps of career public officials who fill key positions in governmental administration. Even militarily dominated polities often depend on a higher civil service at the apex of their administrative structures. Most of the highest civil servants are generalists, but technological developments have speeded their decline and the rise of specialists among them. In the United States, even a nominal higher civil service was not authorized until the Senior Executive Service was created by the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978, long after most countries formed such a system. In this paper, we trace the historical evolution elsewhere of higher civil service systems both to determine their influence on the United States and to understand better the peculiarities of the U.S. system.
Formation and Changing Political Status of the Egyptian Religious Establishment
Authors: Seo Jungmin
Published: January 2012

This paper attempts to explore the structural formation and political status of the official religious institutions in Egypt. Reconsidering the existing state-centred approaches, which have over-emphasised the state's ability to control the society in general and the religious establishment in particular, this study suggests a more balanced way to understand the religious institutions: understanding them in terms of state-society relations. Through a historical analysis of the interrelationship between the state and the religious institutions, this paper demonstrates that centralised state power was not the only factor determining the political status of the religious institutions. Rather, this article concludes that the structural formation and the consequent political importance of the religious establishment were affected mainly by two factors in the state-society relationship: the ideological strength of the state's leadership and the degree of challenge to it from opposition forces.