Curriculum Policy-Making at the School Level: two approaches

The main burden of this paper is to point up what are considered to be serious shortcomings in Barrow's [1] argument that the 'philosophically competent' head should control a school's curriculum policy. At the same time, whilst exigencies of space prohibit a comprehensive defence of 'participatory decision-making' and its pertinence for schools [2], it will be argued that curriculum policy is best controlled by governing bodies of the type proposed by the Taylor Committee [3], given, of course, that such bodies must operate within a framework of national and local authority policy.     

A four-test short form of the WISC-R

A four-test short form of the WISC-R was developed on the basis of both rational and statistical criteria, using data from the representative standardization sample. The short-form comprised Arithmetic and Vocabulary from the Verbal Scale along with Picture Arrangement and Block Design from the Performance Scale. Various psychometric properties of the abbreviated battery were defined, and indicators of the short form's accuracy in predicting Full-Scale IQ (the standard error of estimate, effectiveness in classifying a child's intelligence level) were provided. A major topic of discussion was the use and abuse of short forms.     

Low-Temperature Devices

The basic operating principles of three low-temperature devices the maser, the cryotron, and the cryosar are discussed. In masers the process of stimulated emission of radiation is used to produce an extremely low noise amplifier, with all practical solid state masers thus far employing the electron spins in paramagnetic salts. The cryotron and the cryosar are both primarily intended for computer applications. The former utilizes the phenomenon of superconductivity and its quenching in magnetic fields; the latter uses impact ionization of impurities in semiconductors.     

我国足球归化运动员社会认同问题研究:基于社交媒体内容的情感与主题分析

以新浪微博中"足球归化运动员"相关话题的文本内容为分析对象,通过基于人工标注的混合方法情感分析以及自然语言处理中的词频和关键词分析,对文本内容的情感极性、强度与主题等进行呈现与阐释,对我国足球归化运动员的社会认同问题给出以下判断:1)对归化运动员的社会认同在情感上呈现出两极分化趋势,负面情感的强度相比正面情感更为极端;2)公众对不同运动员的社会认同程度有较大的区别;3)随着时间的推移,公众对归化运动员的认同在情感上呈现出明显的"由负转正";4)民族与血统、文化适应与融入以及竞技水平是公众讨论归化运动员时出现最多的3个主题。     

The effect of warm up on single and intermittent-sprint performance

Lack of benefit of warm up on prolonged intermittent-sprint performance has been proposed to be due to use of a pacing strategy by participants. To investigate this, twelve participants performed four cycle trials that consisted of either prolonged intermittent-sprint performance (80 min) or single-sprint performance (4 s), with or without a warm up. The first-sprint of intermittent-sprint performance was also assessed. No interaction effects (P > 0.05) were found between trials for intermittent-sprint performance for total work (J · kg(-1)), or percentage work and power decrement. Work done during the first-sprint of intermittent-sprint performance (no warm up) was less (P < 0.001) than the first-sprint of intermittent-sprint performance (warm up; effect size (ES) = 0.59) and both single-sprint trials (warm up and no warm up; ES = 0.91, 0.75, respectively). Peak power (W · kg(-1)) for single-sprint (warm up) was greater (P < 0.05) than single-sprint (no warm up), and the first-sprint of intermittent-sprint performance (warm up and no warm up). Warm up improved single-sprint performance and the first sprint of intermittent-sprint performance. Use of a pacing strategy probably resulted in similar intermittent-sprint performance between trials. These results suggest that team-sport players should perform a warm up at the start of a game or before substitution during a game.     

Grand Innovation Prizes: A theoretical,normative, and empirical evaluation

This paper provides a systematic examination of the use of a Grand Innovation Prize (GIP) in action – the Progressive Automotive Insurance X PRIZE – a $10 million prize for a highly efficient vehicle. Following a mechanism design approach we define three key dimensions for GIP evaluation: objectives, design, and performance, where prize design includes ex ante specifications, ex ante incentives, qualification rules, and award governance. Within this framework we compare observations of GIPs from three domains – empirical reality, theory, and policy – to better understand their function as an incentive mechanism for encouraging new solutions to large-scale social challenges. Combining data from direct observation, personal interviews, and surveys, together with analysis of extant theory and policy documents on GIPs, our results highlight three points of divergence: first, over the complexity of defining prize specifications; secondly, over the nature and role of incentives, particularly patents; thirdly, the overlooked challenges associated with prize governance. Our approach identifies a clear roadmap for future theory and policy around GIPs.     

Revisiting the association between reading achievement and antisocial behavior: new evidence of an environmental explanation from a twin study

Previous studies have reported, but not explained, the reason for a robust association between reading achievement and antisocial behavior. This association was investigated using the Environmental Risk (E-Risk) Longitudinal Twin Study, a nationally representative 1994-1995 birth cohort of 5- and 7-year-olds. Results showed that the association resulted primarily from environmental factors common to both reading and antisocial behavior and was stronger in boys. Environmental factors also explained the relation between reading disability and conduct disorder. Leading candidate environmental risk factors weakly mediated the association. For boys the best explanation was a reciprocal causation model: poor reading led to antisocial behavior, and vice versa. In contrast, the relation between reading achievement and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder was best explained by common genetic influences.