Influence of shaft length on golf driving performance

The aim of this study was to determine how shaft length affects golf driving performance. A range of drivers with lengths between 1.168 m and 1.270 m, representing lengths close to the 1.219 m limit imposed by R&A Rules Limited (2008), were assembled and evaluated. Clubhead and ball launch conditions and drive distance and accuracy were determined for seven category 1 golfers (handicaps 0.21 +/- 2.41) who performed shots on a purpose-built practice hole. As shaft length increased from 1.168 m to 1.270 m, initial ball velocity increased (+ 1.8 m/s, P < 0.01). Ball carry (+ 4.3 m, P = 0.152) also increased, although not significantly so. Furthermore, as shaft length increased, for all club comparisons there was no decrease in accuracy. Ball launch conditions of spin components and launch angle remained unaffected by shaft length. Launch angle increased (0.8 degree, F = 1.074, P = 0.362) as driver shaft length increased. Our results show that clubhead and ball velocity together with ball carry tended to increase with no loss of accuracy.     

Determination of the swing technique characteristics and performance outcome relationship in golf driving for low handicap female golfers

Previous studies on the kinematics of the golf swing have mainly focused on group analysis of male golfers of a wide ability range. In the present study, we investigated gross body kinematics using a novel method of analysis for golf research for a group of low handicap female golfers to provide an understanding of their swing mechanics in relation to performance. Data were collected for the drive swings of 16 golfers using a 12-camera three-dimensional motion capture system and a stereoscopic launch monitor. Analysis of covariance identified three covariates (increased pelvis-thorax differential at the top of the backswing, increased pelvis translation during the backswing, and a decrease in absolute backswing time) as determinants of the variance in clubhead speed (adjusted r (2) = 0.965, P < 0.05). A significant correlation was found between left-hand grip strength and clubhead speed (r = 0.54, P < 0.05) and between handicap and clubhead speed (r = -0.612, P < 0.05). Flexibility measures showed some correlation with clubhead speed; both sitting flexibility tests gave positive correlations (clockwise: r = 0.522, P < 0.05; counterclockwise: r = 0.711, P < 0.01). The results suggest that there is no common driver swing technique for optimal performance in low handicap female golfers, and therefore consideration should be given to individual swing characteristics in future studies.     

BOOK REVIEWS

COMMUNITY IN CRISIS: THE ELIMINATION OF SEGREGATION FROM A PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM. By James H. Tipton.
THE MEANING OF THE GLORIOUS KORAN. Translated by Mohammed Marmaduke Pickthall.
PUBLIC EDUCATION UNDER CRITICISM.M. Hill. New York: Prentice-Hall, 1954. 414 pages. $6.35. Edited by W. Winfield Scott and Clyde
INQUIRY INTO INQUIRIES: ESSAYS IN SOCIAL THEORY. By Arthur F. Bentley.
POWER OF WORDS. By Stuart Chase in collaboration with Marian T. Chase.
GREAT HUMAN ISSUES OF OUR TJMES. By Harold Benjamin, Kenneth Cooper, Willard Gosh, Clifton L. Hall, Claude Chadwick, James L. Hymes, Jr., Henry H.Hill and William Van Til.
PUBLIC EDUCATION AND ITS CRITICS. New York: The Mac-millan Company, 1954. 170 pp. $2.50. (Kappa Delta Phi Lecture.) By V. T. Thayer.     

The 'energy challenge' in electrical engineering education

Traditionally, the education in electrical engineering is roughly divided into two areas, viz. electronics and telecommunication on the one hand and electrical energy on the other. Though the borders between these two areas have become vague, this division is still clearly observable, in particular when it comes down to the student's perception of these areas as potential fields of study. Electrical energy has an old-fashioned image. Furthermore, over the last decades there has been a shift from laboratory experiments to computer simulations. In this paper a new approach is introduced, which is aimed at raising first-year students' awareness of the potential attractiveness of electrical energy as an area of study. The approach is project-oriented and based on teamwork. Projects are carried out that are aimed at the design, implementation and verification of small total energy systems. The problems involved are related to energy production, system design, energy storage and consumption.     

The causes and prevention of cataract blindness

For many years it has been generally supposed that cataract blindness, which affects some two million people annually, was a normal part of the ageing process. Recent research suggests, however that a combination of risk factors play an important role and that it may be possible to prevent the onset of cataract by combatting mechanisms causing the loss of transparency.     

Algorithm-improved high-speed and non-invasive confocal Raman imaging of 2D materials

Confocal Raman microscopy is important for characterizing 2D materials, but its low throughput significantly hinders its applications. For metastable materials such as graphene oxide (GO), the low throughput is aggravated by the requirement of extremely low laser dose to avoid sample damage. Here we introduce algorithm-improved confocal Raman microscopy (ai-CRM), which increases the Raman scanning rate by one to two orders of magnitude with respect to state-of-the-art works for a variety of 2D materials. Meanwhile, GO can be imaged at a laser dose that is two to three orders of magnitude lower than previously reported, such that laser-induced variations of the material properties can be avoided. ai-CRM also enables fast and spatially resolved quantitative analysis, and is readily extended to 3D mapping of composite materials. Since ai-CRM is based on general mathematical principles, it is cost-effective, facile to implement and universally applicable to other hyperspectral imaging methods.     

USING A STATE TEACHER CERTIFICATION TEST TO ASSESS AN INQUIRY-BASED SCIENCE EDUCATION PROGRAM

In this study, we looked at the impact of our specially designed inquiry-based science courses for pre-service elementary teachers on their science content knowledge as measured by a high-stakes state certification test for elementary education. We conducted a pre/post-analysis of the certification test scores of 1,003 pre-service teachers. Cohort 1 consisted of 424 students who took the test prior to implementation of our reformed science courses. Cohort 2 consisted of 579 students taking the test after complete implementation. We examined overall test scores, science subscores, total science credits, age, and science transfer credits. We found that the overall test score dropped significantly from cohort 1 to cohort 2, but the science subscores remained unchanged. Our results showed that students who took all 3 of the science content courses vs. none scored significantly higher on the science portion, non-traditional students (older than 25) scored similarly to traditional-aged students, and there was a negative correlation with the number of science courses transferred. Of importance is the fact that students who took the minimal number of science courses and are less interested in science passed the science portion at the same rate (over 90%) as science majors and minors. We conclude that our pre-service elementary teachers can and do learn science content using inquiry as recommended by the National Science Education Standards (NRC, 1996).     

A systematic review and Bayesian meta-analysis of the development of turn taking in adult–child vocal interactions

Fluent conversation requires temporal organization between conversational exchanges. By performing a systematic review and Bayesian multi-level meta-analysis, we map the trajectory of infants’ turn-taking abilities over the course of early development (0 to 70 months). We synthesize the evidence from 26 studies (78 estimates from 429 unique infants, of which at least 152 are female) reporting response latencies in infant–adult dyadic interactions. The data were collected between 1975 and 2019, exclusively in North America and Europe. Infants took on average circa 1 s to respond, and the evidence of changes in response over time was inconclusive. Infants’ response latencies are related to those of their adult conversational partners: an increase of 1 s in adult response latency (e.g., 400 to 1400 ms) would be related to an increase of over 1 s in infant response latency (from 600 to 1857 ms). These results highlight the dynamic reciprocity involved in the temporal organization of turn-taking. Based on these results, we provide recommendations for future avenues of enquiry: studies should analyze how turn-by-turn exchanges develop on a longitudinal timescale, with rich assessment of infants’ linguistic and social development.     

Global Learning and Education for Sustainable Development

Globalization is a fundamental factor affecting higher education in this century. More than ever before, the processes of globalization are being integrated into a set of social, technological, economic, cultural and ecological factors, so that we are now beginning to accept that we are facing a completely irreversible world‐wide phenomenon. The concept of sustainable development integrates these factors and leads, beside environmental education, to a demand for global learning and education for sustainable development. To get a better understanding of the subject, the decision‐game ‘Prisoner's Dilemma’ focuses on the aspect of the public good.     

Training for reflective expertise: A four-component instructional design model for complex cognitive skills

This article presents a four-component instructional design model for the training of complex cognitive skills. In the analysis phase, the skill is decomposed into a set of recurrent skills that remain consistent over problem situations and a set of nonrecurrent skills that require variable performance over situations. In the design phase, two components relate to the design of practice; they pertain to the conditions under which practice leads either to rule automation during the performance of recurrent skills or to schema acquisition during the performance of nonrecurrent skills. The other two components relate to the design of information presentation; they pertain to the presentation of information that supports the performance of either recurrent or nonrecurrent skills. The basic prediction of the model is that its application leads to “reflective expertise” and increased performance on transfer tasks. Applications of the model that support this prediction are briefly discussed for the training of fault management in process industry, computer programming, and statistical analysis.