Design and Evaluation of a Short-Term Paraprofessional-Training Program

A training program to teach counseling and interviewing skills to paraprofessionals is described. The content of the training includes Five areas thought to be important to counseling: conveying an open invitation to talk, reflective responding, problem solving, giving feedback, and setting goals. The training model includes five stages: A skill is defined and introduced; trainers model effective and ineffective use of the skill; trainees discriminate exemplars and nonexemplars of the skill; trainees practice the skill in a structured exercise; and trainees practice the skill in a role-played interview. Evaluation data indicate that the training program was well received and that the trainees increased their ability to use the skills. Four factors that probably contributed to the effectiveness of training are discussed.     

Using Institutional Theory to Reframe Research on Academic Drift

In an attempt to better understand patterns of academic drift in higher education and to demonstrate the usefulness of institutional theory as a lens through which to use these patterns, the authors examine patterns of drift in multiple higher education systems and test the concept of "isomorphism in organizational fields", as discussed in institutional theory. The authors argue that the theoretical framework provided by institutional theory presents a useful lens through which to examine and to explain why academic drift occurs in higher education systems.     

Three-dimensional kinematic comparison of treadmill and overground running

The treadmill is an attractive device for the investigation of human locomotion, yet the extent to which lower limb kinematics differ from overground running remains a controversial topic. This study aimed to provide an extensive three-dimensional kinematic comparison of the lower extremities during overground and treadmill running. Twelve participants ran at 4.0 m/s ( ± 5%) in both treadmill and overground conditions. Angular kinematic parameters of the lower extremities during the stance phase were collected at 250 Hz using an eight-camera motion analysis system. Hip, knee, and ankle joint kinematics were quantified in the sagittal, coronal, and transverse planes, and contrasted using paired t-tests. Of the analysed parameters hip flexion at footstrike and ankle excursion to peak angle were found to be significantly reduced during treadmill running by 12° (p = 0.001) and 6.6° (p = 0.010), respectively. Treadmill running was found to be associated with significantly greater peak ankle eversion (by 6.3°, p = 0.006). It was concluded that the mechanics of treadmill running cannot be generalized to overground running.     

人为偶像分

两年前的"超女热",今年的"快乐男声",令众多少男少女为之倾倒,为之落泪.每个人都有自己的偶像.今天,我们来看看"美国偶像"的"粉丝"们是如何表现的吧.     

Incorporation of Computer Algebra into an Undergraduate Course in Open Channel Hydraulics

Modern computer algebra systems have wide-ranging mathematical capabilities and user-friendly interfaces, which make them ideal tools for research and education. To demonstrate the applications of computer algebra for teaching, this paper reports on its successful incorporation into a senior, undergraduate, civil engineering course in open-channel hydraulics. Computer algebra is particularly useful for this course, since many hydraulics problems are non-linear and have traditionally required laborious solution techniques. The advanced capabilities of computer algebra systems also make them ideal tools for the design of hydraulic structures.     

Neuromuscular variables affecting the magnitude of force loss after eccentric exercise

The aim of this study was to examine neuromuscular variables contributing to differences in force loss after participants were exposed to the same relative bout of eccentric exercise. Thirty-six males performed 50 maximal eccentric contractions of the elbow flexors and were stratified into high responders (n?=?10) and low responders (n?=?10) based on force loss 36 h after exercise. Maximal voluntary isometric contractions (MVCs) and electromyography (EMG) were measured at baseline and 36 h after exercise. During eccentric exercise, mean peak torque, mean end-range torque from the final 25% of each trial and total angular impulse were computed over 25 contractions in each of two bouts. The slope of the change in these values for each 25 eccentric contractions was calculated for each participant using linear regression. At baseline, MVC was not different between groups (low responders: 97.0?±?9.6 N?·?m; high responders: 82.7?±?6.4 N?·?m; P?=?0.08). High responders demonstrated a 68% (range 62-78%) reduction in MVC and low responders a 39% (29-48%) reduction after exercise. Peak torque, end-range torque and total angular impulse were 13%, 40% and 33% higher, respectively, in the low than in the high responders (peak torque: P?=?0.0002; end-range torque: P?<?0.0001; total angular impulse: P?<?0.001). The rate of decline in peak torque slope was greater in high than in low responders (P?=?0.044). In conclusion, lower peak torque, end-range torque and total angular impulse during eccentric contractions and a greater peak torque slope may identify high responders to eccentric exercise.     

Disruptive Behaviour in Non-Referred Mainstream School Children,Aged Seven to Nine: A psychophysiological contribution

Data are summarised relating resting heart/pulse rate to teachers' ratings of disruptive behaviour in a sample of 206 non-referred children, aged 7-9 years, attending mainstream schools and not subject to specialist attention. Low base heart rate (BHR) was found to be associated with teachers' ratings of disruptive behaviour, confirming similar earlier research based on children aged 11-16 years. The findings are discussed in relation to psychophysiology and child development and with reference to several theoretical frameworks, identifying the need for further research.     

The Other Side of Academic Dishonesty: The relationship between faculty scepticism,gender and strategies for managing student academic dishonesty cases

Student academic ethics is a serious concern for colleges and universities. The literature dealing with student academic ethics, however, focuses little attention on the possible connection between organizational characteristics and the efforts made by faculty to deter student academic ethics violations. In this case study analysis of faculty at a medium-sized university in the western USA, we found that the level of faculty institutional confidence is related to the use of formal deterrence strategies. Additionally, we found that female faculty members are less confident in the administration, but are only marginally less likely to use formal administrative approaches to manage academic ethics.