A review of aptitude-treatment interaction studies with the handicapped

Twenty aptitude-treatment interaction (ATI) studies that used handicapped students as subjects were reviewed to determine the validity of the ATI concept with handicapped students. Since only four of the studies resulted in significant disordinal aptitude-treatment interactions, it was concluded that the ATI concept, on the basis of present information, is essentially nonvalidated. Areas for further research are discussed.     

Outposts of science; the knowledge trade and the expansion of scientific community in post-Civil War America

By the second half of the nineteenth century, local and regional voluntary societies were among the most widespread, accessible, and familiar public scientific institutions in America. Collectively, they made up an institutional network that converted individuals' private interest in science into a public activity. They played an essential role in the dissemination of scientific information, the growth of a scientifically literate population, and the extension of public support for science in the decades after the Civil War. This essay delineates and maps the spread of these societies throughout the country, as well as the flow of scientific information both among societies and between a society and its regional hinterland. Using the Davenport [Iowa] Academy of Natural Sciences as an example, it demonstrates how local societies were embedded in a national scientific community and mediated between it and local scientific enthusiasts, to the benefit of both.     

Core competence and education

Core competence is a managerial concept used toanalyse and develop key elements of business strategy. This article outlines the concept and applies it topost-compulsory education in the UK. Afterconsidering educational characteristics which might beconsidered to delineate core competence, an economicapproach is adopted. The educational perspectivesuggests accreditation as the core competence ofUniversities. The economic approach suggests that themarket trend toward lifetime learning might best bemet by institutions developing a core competence inrelationship marketing. The article concludes byconsidering the implications for the institutionalstructure of post-compulsory education.     

The Influence of Fraternity or Sorority Membership on Students' College Experiences and Cognitive Development

In recent years, the role of fraternities and sororities on college campuses has come under increasing scrutiny. Results of the National Study of Student Learning (NSSL) indicate that membership in a Greek organization can have a negative effect on students' cognitive development, particularly during the first year of college. The present research sought to assess the generalizability of the NSSL findings to first-year students attending a research university in the Midwest. In contrast to the NSSL findings, results indicated that Greek students had higher levels of involvement and gains in general abilities than did non-Greek students. Moreover, Greeks' gains in cognitive development were the result of their social involvement. Implications for the Greek system, as well as implications for the study of college effects, are discussed.     

“Bugs” built into the system:: How privileged representations influence mathematical reasoning across the lifespan

The initial foundations of human mathematical reasoning appear to be based on “naïve mathematics”—specific and persistent privileged mental representations that develop as a normal part of the human evolved phenotype. Based on the proposed existence of privileged representations in the conceptual domain of mathematics, this paper incorporates findings from early development, childhood mathematical reasoning, and adult statistical decision-making research. The utility of such a framework is demonstrated by analyzing how common errors in fraction and decimal use are explicable in terms of these systematic and reliably developing aspects of human mathematical reasoning. Additionally, the idea that privileged representations continue to exert some influence beyond early childhood holds implications for both research and practice in mathematics education.     

‘Swimming instruction trust of America’: the Cavill family,borderlands and decentring Australia sport history

The Cavill family of swimmers has been recognised as the ‘first family of Australian swimming’ because of their reputation and achievements as competitive swimmers and for their contributions to swimming promotion, stroke development and instruction in the late nineteenth- and early twentieth-centuries. As a family of British migrants based in Sydney, their memory focuses on Anglo-Australian connections. This emphasis overlooks the American dimension of the Cavill legacy – several family members lived, and died, in the USA and made important contributions to swimming in that country, where they were also celebrated as preeminent figures. This article adopts a transnational perspective, particularly borderlands history approaches, to examine this American connection, viewing the, trans-Pacific crossing from Sydney to San Francisco as an under-appreciated sport border zone. The focus is on contributions made to swimming coaching and teaching, with a biographical spotlight on Percy and Sid Cavill, siblings who contributed in these areas over two decades on both sides of the country. By repositioning Australia and the USA in the Cavill swimming narrative, this article contributes to decentring the nation in this realm of sport history.     

Comparison of split double and triple twists in pair figure skating

In this study, we compared the kinematic variables of the split triple twist with those of the split double twist to help coaches and scientists understand these landmark pair skating skills. High-speed video was taken during the pair short and free programmes at the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics and the 2003 International Skating Union Grand Prix Finals. Three-dimensional analyses of 14 split double twists and 15 split triple twists from eleven pairs were completed. In spite of considerable variability in the performance variables among the pairs, the main difference between the split double twists and split triple twists was an increase in rotational rate. While eight of the eleven pairs relied primarily on an increased rotational rate to complete the split triple twist, three pairs employed a combined strategy of increased rotational rate and increased flight time due predominantly to delayed or lower catches. These results were similar to observations of jumps in singles skating for which the extra rotation is typically due to an increase in rotational velocity; increases in flight time come primarily from delayed landings as opposed to additional height during flight. Combining an increase in flight time and rotational rate may be a good strategy for completing the split triple twist in pair skating.     

Accuracy of sequential sub-field synchronization of multiple digital camcorders through numerical optimization

The use of digital camcorders in biomechanical analyses can introduce errors due to inter-camera time offsets. The faster the motion being recorded the greater the error. A sequential synchronization method was developed in this study to achieve sub-field camera synchronization for multiple camcorders through numerical optimization. A recreational golfer performed ten drives while being recorded with four digital camcorders (60-Hz sampling rate). Video signals were sampled at 10,000 Hz to determine the actual inter-camera time offsets. The optimized inter-camera time offsets were computed based on three markers placed on the shaft, each separated by 200 mm. The inter-camera time offset error was computed as the difference between the optimized and actual inter-camera time offsets. The inter-camera time offset error reduced on average from 0.518 to 0.019 fields (1 field = 16.7 ms) or less due to sequential optimization. The optimized global reconstruction errors were less than 19% of the unadjusted values. It was concluded that the ability to synchronize multiple (two or more) cameras using a sequential sub-field optimization strategy promises to extend the use of relatively inexpensive digital camcorders to motions considered too fast for the low field rates of such cameras. The sequential approach presented provides a balance between computation time and reconstruction accuracy.     

The effect of caffeine ingestion on human neutrophil oxidative burst responses following time-trial cycling

Following fixed-duration exercise of submaximal intensity, caffeine ingestion is associated with an attenuation of the exercise-induced decline in N-formyl-methionyl-phenyl-alanine (f-MLP) stimulated neutrophil oxidative burst. However, the response following high-intensity exhaustive exercise is unknown. Nine endurance-trained male cyclists ingested 6 mg caffeine or placebo per kilogram of body mass 60 min before cycling for 90 min at 70% of maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) and then performing a time-trial requiring an energy expenditure equivalent to 30 min cycling at 70% maximum power output. Time-trial performance was 4% faster in the caffeine than in the placebo trial (P = 0.043). Caffeine was associated with an increased plasma adrenaline concentration after 90 min of exercise (P = 0.046) and immediately after the time-trial (P = 0.02). Caffeine was also associated with an increased serum caffeine concentration (P < 0.01) after 90 min of exercise and immediately after the time-trial, as well as 1 h after the time-trial. However, the f-MLP-stimulated neutrophil oxidative burst response fell after exercise in both trials (P = 0.002). There was no effect of caffeine on circulating leukocyte or neutrophil counts, but the lymphocyte count was significantly lower on caffeine (20%) after the time-trial (P = 0.003). Our results suggest that high-intensity exhaustive exercise negates the attenuation of the exercise-induced decrease in neutrophil oxidative burst responses previously observed when caffeine is ingested before exercise of fixed duration and intensity. This may be associated with the greater increase in adrenaline concentration observed in the present study.