Antioxidant and Vitamin D supplements for athletes: sense or nonsense?

The idea that dietary supplements can improve athletic performance is popular among athletes. The use of antioxidant supplements is widespread among endurance athletes because of evidence that free radicals contribute to muscle fatigue during prolonged exercise. Furthermore, interest in vitamin D supplementation is increasing in response to studies indicating that vitamin D deficiency exists in athletic populations. This review explores the rationale for supplementation with both antioxidants and vitamin D and discusses the evidence to support and deny the benefits of these dietary supplements. The issue of whether athletes should use antioxidant supplements remains highly controversial. Nonetheless, at present there is limited scientific evidence to recommend antioxidant supplements to athletes or other physically active individuals. Therefore, athletes should consult with their health care professional and/or nutritionist when considering antioxidant supplementation. The issue of whether athletes should supplement with vitamin D is also controversial. While arguments for and against vitamin D supplementation exist, additional research is required to determine whether vitamin D supplementation is beneficial to athletes. Nevertheless, based upon the growing evidence that many athletic populations are vitamin D deficient or insufficient, it is recommended that athletes monitor their serum vitamin D concentration and consult with their health care professional and/or nutritionist to determine if they would derive health benefits from vitamin D supplementation.     

A mixed‐method efficacy and fidelity study of Check and Connect

The effectiveness of the Check and Connect dropout prevention program was examined, over the course of 2 ½ years, with 54 middle school students from diverse backgrounds experiencing one or more conditions of risk for dropout. Participants were randomly assigned to receive the Check and Connect intervention or business as usual (i.e., control) in sixth grade. Students in the treatment group had significantly better eighth grade attendance than the control. There were no significant differences between the two groups in eighth grade cumulative grade point average or office disciplinary referrals. An in‐depth analysis of the quality and quantity of the intervention delivered to the students in the treatment group identified conditions that were associated with higher treatment integrity and better student outcomes.     

Cost and competition in the adoption of satellite news gathering technology

This study finds that many local stations subscribe to satellite news networks to obtain material for news broadcasts but that the high cost of satellite news gathering vehicles stops most from obtaining such vehicles. The study also finds that intensity of competition in the local market is a primary reason for acquiring such equipment.     

General Communication

THE CRITICAL COMMUNICATIONS REVIEW, VOLUME CHANGING PATTERNS OF COMMUNICATIONS CONTROL, edited by Vincent Mosco and Janet Wasko (Norwood, New Jersey: Ablex, 1984—$37.50 to institutions, $24.50 to individuals)./

CLOSING THE CIRCLE: A CULTURAL HISTORY OF THE ROCK REVOLUTION, by Herbert I. London (Chicago: Nelson-Hall, 1984—$20.95/10.95).

KOREAN AIRLINES INCIDENT: U.S. INTELLIGENCE DISCLOSURES, by David M. Johnson (Harvard University Program on Information Resources Policy, 200 Aiken, Cambridge, Massachusetts).

GREAT AMERICAN BRANDS, by David Powers Cleary (New York: Fairchild, 1981—$17.50).

A HISTORY OF ENGINEERING AND SCIENCE IN THE BELL SYSTEM: PHYSICAL SCIENCES (1924-1980), edited by S. Millman (Bell Telephone Laboratories Inc., 600 Mountain Avenue, Room 6G-301A Murray Hill, New Jersey 07974, 1983—price not given).     

Computer technologies: Attitudes and self-efficacy across undergraduate disciplines

Computer technologies are important tools for learning, communicating, and retrieving information. For individuals to effectively employ these tools, they must feel self-efficacious in using them. For this reason it is important to examine attitudes and perceptions of competence that are encouraged by undergraduate educational programs. This paper reports on the factor validation of two affective measures related to computer technologies, ATTITUDES TOWARD COMPUTER TECHNOLOGIES (ACT) and SELF-EFFICACY FOR COMPUTER TECHNOLOGIES (SCT). ACT assesses perceived usefulness of and comfort/anxiety with computer technologies. Perceived self efficacy for computer technologies (word processing, electronic mail, spreadsheets, database programs, statistical packages, and CD-ROM databases) is measured by the SCT. In addition to data on construct validity, the results of exploratory analyses examining predictors of self-efficacy for undergraduate students in business, education, and nursing are presented, and implications and future research directions are discussed.     

GRE candidates' perceptions of the importance of graduate admission factors

This study examines the perceptions of a representative sample of GRE test takers who were asked to indicate their views of the importance of eight widely considered factors in graduate admissions. Overall, candidates perceived undergraduate grades as the most important factor in graduate admissions. Recommendations and one's undergraduate field were rated as somewhat less important than undergraduate grades, and GRE Aptitude Test scores were rated even less important. GRE Advanced (Subject) Test scores were perceived as considerably less important than any other factor. Analyses by subgroup revealed that candidates' perceptions differed markedly according to the graduate field they intended to enter. Perceptions also differed by ethnic group (blacks versus whites) but not by sex or age.