Developments in electronography for astronomical research

Astronomers are always interested in detecting and observing the faintest, most distant objects in the Universe. Electronography has the advantages over photography where it counts most—when observing the faintest objects. The technical problems involved in the development of electronography are here reviewed, and recent advances and observations with the RGO camera are described.     

Notes on writing subjects of action research

In this article, the author playfully represents his role as reader and interpreter of an article sent to him for review by editors of the journal Educational Action Research. By representing the specificity of his reader responses, the author shows how literacy practices function to create the identities of readers and writers. It is argued that a post-structural view of reading and interpretation helps those engaged in action research projects to understand that knowledge and identities are co–specified. Reports of action research, then, are not merely reports of what is learned through shared inquiry; they also reveal traces of how the subjects involved in action research are affected by their work.     

Acute effects of passive muscle stretching on sprint performance

The results of previous research have shown that passive muscle stretching can diminish the peak force output of subsequent maximal isometric, concentric and stretch-shortening contractions. The aim of this study was to establish whether the deleterious effects of passive stretching seen in laboratory settings would be manifest in a performance setting. Sixteen members (11 males, 5 females) of a Division I NCAA track athletics team performed electronically timed 20 m sprints with and without prior stretching of the legs. The experiment was done as part of each athlete's Monday work-out programme. Four different stretch protocols were used, with each protocol completed on a different day. Hence, the test period lasted 4 weeks. The four stretching protocols were no-stretch of either leg (NS), both legs stretched (BS), forward leg in the starting position stretched (FS) and rear leg in the starting position stretched (RS). Three stretching exercises (hamstring stretch, quadriceps stretch, calf stretch) were used for the BS, FS and RS protocols. Each stretching exercise was performed four times, and each time the stretch was maintained for 30 s. The BS, FS and RS protocols induced a significant (P < 0.05) increase (approximately 0.04 s) in the 20 m time. Thus, it appears that pre-event stretching might negatively impact the performance of high-power short-term exercise.     

Conditions of preexposure and passive avoidance behavior in rats

In the first experiment, rats given a 5-min period of preexposure (simple exploration) to a two-compartment box showed poorer passive avoidance of the compartment where they were subsequently shocked than a control group which was not preexposed to the apparatus. The second experiment involved preexposure to sugared milk (SM), flashing light and loud noise (LN), or simply the apparatus (EC). One group received no exposure to the apparatus (NC). Following one shock trial, the groups were ordered LN > NC > EC > SM from most to least passive avoidance. The results were discussed in the context of latent inhibition and an averaging model of positive and negative events.     

Suicide Intervention Training for Counselor Trainees: A Quasi‐Experimental Study on Skill Retention

The authors used a quasi‐experimental design to explore the effect of Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training on 126 counselor trainees. Results showed that after 3 months, trainees had retained improvements in measured response skills and self‐reported attitudes. The authors discuss the developmental benefits of incorporating similar training into counselor education. Implications for skill measurement are also considered.