Gene-environment processes linking aggression, peer victimization, and the teacher-child relationship

Aggressive behavior in middle childhood is at least partly explained by genetic factors. Nevertheless, estimations of simple effects ignore possible gene-environment interactions (G × E) or gene-environment correlations (rGE) in the etiology of aggression. The present study aimed to simultaneously test for G × E and rGE processes between aggression, on the one hand, and peer victimization and the teacher-child relationship in school, on the other hand. The sample comprised 124 MZ pairs and 93 DZ pairs assessed in Grade 1 (mean age = 84.7 months). Consistent with rGE, children with a presumed genetic disposition for aggression were at an increased risk of peer victimization, whereas in line with G × E, a positive relationship with the teacher mitigated the genetically mediated expression of aggression.     

Impact of English-Language and French-Language Student and Faculty Populations on the Use of Online Databases in a Bilingual Canadian University

This article reports the results of a quantitative study comparing usage rates between English- and French-language online databases at the J.N. Desmarais Library of Laurentian University, Canada. For Canadian institutions of higher learning, the comparison between English- and French-language services is particularly relevant in that English and French are considered to be the country’s two official languages. Overall, French-language online databases are used at very different rates by French-language student and faculty populations at Laurentian University compared to English-language students and faculty’s use of English-language databases. Where English-language student and faculty populations exhibit consistently strong and positive relationships with English-language online database use, French-language student and faculty populations exhibit the complete opposite with a consistently negative relationship with French-language online databases.     

Robust integral backstepping control for sensorless IPM synchronous motor controller

In this paper, a sensorless speed control for interior permanent magnet synchronous motors (IPMSM) is designed by combining a robust backstepping controller with integral actions and an adaptive interconnected observer. The IPMSM control design generally requires rotor position measurement. Then, to eliminate this sensor, an adaptive interconnected observer is designed to estimate the rotor position and the speed. Moreover, a robust nonlinear control based on the backstepping algorithm is designed where an integral action is introduced in order to improve the robust properties of the controller. The stability of the closed-loop system with the observer–controller scheme is analyzed and sufficient conditions are given to prove the practical stability. Simulation results are shown to illustrate the performance of the proposed scheme under parametric uncertainties and low speed. Furthermore, the proposed integral backstepping control is compared with the classical backstepping controller.     

A monozygotic twin difference study of friends' aggression and children's adjustment problems

This study used the monozygotic (MZ) twin difference method to examine whether differences in friends' aggression increased the differences in MZ twins' aggression and depressive symptoms from kindergarten to Grade 1 and whether perceived victimization by the friend played a mediating role in this context. Participants were 223 MZ twin pairs. Results showed that differences in kindergarten friends' aggression significantly predicted an increased difference in MZ twins' aggression from kindergarten (mean age = 6.7 years) to Grade 1 (mean age = 7.5 years) for both boys and girls. Differences in perceived victimization by the friend mediated this association, albeit only in boys. Differences in perceived victimization by the friend also predicted an increase in MZ twins' differences in depressive symptoms. These results support the importance of friendship experiences during early childhood.     

How do teachers’ approaches to geometric work relate to geometry students’ learning difficulties?

Various studies suggest that French students (grades 7 to 10) may solve geometric problems within a paradigmatic framework that differs from that assumed by teachers, a situation prone to misunderstandings. In this paper, we study the extent to which secondary school teachers recognise the conflicting paradigms and how they handle the geometric work conducted, in sometimes unintended ways, by their students. This is done by analysing teachers’ reactions to specific answers students offered to the Charlotte and Marie problem, an “ambiguous” problem with various solutions depending on the paradigm adopted. As a result of the study, we found that, beyond similarities due to a shared mathematical background, the way secondary schoolteachers handle students’ answers varies with their conceptions of geometric work. Implications are drawn regarding the teaching of geometry and the training of teachers.     

European Media

Leonard W. Doob, ed. "Ewa Pound Speaking" Radio Speeches of World War II (Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press, 1978—$29.95)

L'Informatisation de la societe, by Simon Nora and Alain Minc (Paris: La Documentation francaise, l978—22FF)

La presse francaise by Pierre Albert (Paris: La documentation francaise, 1978 —18FF)

Dossier H....comme Hersant by Dominique Pons (Paris: Alain Moreau, 1977— 35FF)

Le Monde en miniformat (two volumes for 1977) (Paris: Editions France Expansion, 1978—1500FF)

La Correspondance de presse (13 avenue de l'Opéra, 75001 Paris—24FF per issue/ 4750FF per year for the daily)

La television fait-elle l'élection: une analyse comparative—France, Grande-Bretagne, Belgique by J.G. Blumler, R. Cayrol and G. Thoveron (Paris: Presses de la fondation nationale des sciences politiques, 1978—135FF)

La television et son tlublic, 1974-1977 (Paris: La documentation francaise, l978—25FF)

Le village à l'heure de la télé (Paris: Stock, 1978—35FF)

Corsaires des Ondes: Europel, RTL, RMC c Cie by Jean-Emmanuel and Muriel Ray (Paris: Cerf, 1978—39FF)

Les radios libres by Collectif Radios Libres (Paris: Maspero, l978—14FF)

Les chemins de la persuasion: le mode d'influence des media et de la publicité sur les comportements by Jean-Noel Kapferer (Paris: Gauthier-Villars, 1978— 98FF)

Les spectres de la bande: essai sur la BD by Alain Rey (Paris: Editions de Minuit, l978—39FF)

Actuel par Actuel: Chronique d'un journal et de ses lecteurs, 1970-1975 (Paris: Stock, 1977—32 FF)

Cinq monopoles de l'information by Institut national de l'audiovisuel (Paris: INA, Service des relations exterieures, 1977—price not given)

Irish Broadcasting Review (Radio Telefís Eireann, Dublin 4, Ireland—E4.50 in Ireland and UK; E5.50 in Europe and E10.00 in rest of world ($20.00 in USA)/three times per year)

Bibliography of Austrian Mass Communication Literature 1945-1975 prepared by the Department of Mass Communication, University of Salzburg (Verlag Wolfgang Neugebauer, Box 64, A-5033 Salzburg, Austria—AS180.00/DM28.00/US$14.00)

Fernsehen, Program, Pyogrammanalyse: Auswahlbibliographie 1970-1977 (Television, Program, Program Analysis: Selected Bibliography 1970-1977) by Josef Hackforth et al. (Munich: Verlag Dokumentation Saur KG, Poessenbacher Strasse 2, D-8000 Munich 71, 1978—price not given)

Hörfunk and Fernsehen in der DDR (Radio and Television in the German Democratic Republic by Heide Riedel (Literarischer Verlag Braun, Duennwalder Mauspfad 390, D-5000 Cologne, 1977—DM 20.00/US$10.00 approximately)

Massenmedien Spontan. Die Zuschauer Machen Ihr Programm (Spontanious Mass Media: Viewers Produce Their Own Programs) edited by Rudolf Brun (Fischer Taschenbuch Verlag, Geleitsstrasse 25, D-6000 Frankfurt, 1978—DM6.00/US$3.00)

Kabelcommunikation. Organisation and Programme (Cable Communication: Organization and Programs) edited by Ulrich Paetzold (Verlag Oelschlaeger, Amalienstrasse 81, D-8000 Munich 40, 1978—DM25.00/US$12.50)

Tontraeger in der Bundesrepublik Deutschland (Recording Industry in the Federal Republic of Germany) by Werner Zeppenfeld (Bochum: Studienverlag Dr. N. Brockmeyer, 1978—DM35.00/US$17.50)

Handbuch des Presserechts (Handbook of Press Law) by Martin Loeffler and Reinhart Ricker (Beck'sche Verlagsbuchhandlung, Wilhelmstrasse 9, D-8000 Munich 40, 1978—DM80.00/US$40.00)