Initial Validity and Reliability of the Portuguese Borg Rating of Perceived Exertion 6-20 Scale

ABSTRACT

The aims of this study were to perform the cross-cultural adaptation of the Borg Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE) 6–20 Scale to Brazilian Portuguese language and to start testing its validity and reliability. After performing the cross-cultural adaptation of the Scale, concurrent and discriminative validity, and reliability were determined on a treadmill in young (18–30 years) and older adult women (60–75 years). Considering young and older adult women, RPE presented high and moderate positive correlation with heart rate and high and low positive correlation with oxygen consumption, respectively. Older adult women presented RPE (11 ± 2) significantly higher than young ones (8 ± 1) exercising at the same absolute intensity. Intraclass coefficient correlation was excellent for RPE to young and older adult women. The Scale presented concurrent validity only to young adult women, whereas it presented discriminative validity between such groups of women. Moreover, the scale is reliable to young and older adult women.     

The Emerging Informationist Specialty: A Systematic Review of the Literature

Purpose:

A systematic literature review was conducted to synthesize what is known about informationists, highlight program models, and suggest areas for future research.

Methods:

Articles retrieved through database searching were reviewed for relevance. Informationist case reports were identified and coded according to an attributes checklist. Data from other retained publications were synthesized under broad themes. The few research studies found were reviewed for level of evidence.

Results:

Of 113 papers reviewed, the study identified 7 classic and 8 emerging informationist programs. Two major models are apparent, clinical and research, with priorities differing according to program maturity. The literature synthesis also brought together current thinking about informationist qualifications; practice roles; setting characteristics; education and training; organizational, programmatic, and service provider success factors; and challenges and barriers. Program outcomes to date are reported, and future research topics suggested. Specific findings will assist informationist program planners.

Conclusions:

While the informationist concept remains in the early adopter stage, it appears that domain knowledge, continuous learning, and embedding (working in context) are essential to success. The need for librarians to transition to greater specialization and libraries to emphasize customized service was underscored. A research agenda focused on information management, dissemination, behaviors, and economics is proposed.

Highlights

• After years of emphasizing the generalist librarian, health sciences librarians must become more specialized, paralleling the health care environment in which they work.
• An embedded informationist is more likely to achieve credibility, acceptance, and sustainability than an impersonal information service provided at a distance.
• Subject expertise is essential for the informationist.
• Model informationist programs with the greatest stability are library funded.
• Because informationist programs are inherently targeted to small groups, multisite studies are necessary to achieve robust evaluation.

Implications

• A library starting an informationist program should review existing models, identify local needs, set program objectives, and then select the most appropriate approaches for its users.
• Programmatic emphasis should be placed on both technical and service excellence.
• Organizational commitment is needed for knowledge integration into practice and for the informationists'' lifelong learning.

     

The impact of lexical inferencing strategies on second language reading proficiency

Abstract. This study focuses on the source of reading problems of English as a second language learners at the high school level. The results indicate that while reading comprehension is impacted by level of receptive vocabulary knowledge, the ability to select and implement word-appropriate lexical inferencing strategies can compensate for low receptive vocabularies in relation to the demands of the text. The ability to make this selection, however, implies not only sensitivity to word structure, but also the ability to implement morphological analysis in conjunction with contextual guessing, where appropriate. These findings suggest that the development of English as a second language reading proficiency may be accelerated by acquisition of the meanings of the most productive affixes of English in conjunction with instruction in the principles of morphological analysis.     

The Tunisian Educational Reform: From Quantity to Quality and the Need for Monitoring and Assessment

The Tunisian education system, like that of many other Southern nations of intermediate wealth, finds itself pulled in opposing directions. While quantitative advances at different levels of instruction have been easily achieved, a reorientation towards qualitative matters is nowadays more than ever necessary. Reforms at the secondary level, and the perspectives that they open up in terms of an improvement in the quality of educational services for young people, will receive special attention in this article. Radical changes in the traditional status of school inspectors are needed. Furthermore, a new national agency for monitoring and evaluating students' outcomes and schools' performance is indispensable.