Research in the Netherlands on a theory of child abuse: A preliminary report

A three-factor theory of child abuse has been developed which includes: (1) a high level of parental aggression; (2) a low level of parental inhibition of overt aggression; and (3) the focusing of parental aggression on the child. In the theory each factor is the outcome of a subfactor “path.” A high level of parental aggression is the outcome of seven subfactors. A low level of parental inhibition of overt aggression is the outcome of three subfactors. The focusing of parental aggression on the child is the outcome of ten subfactors. The theory posits that the type of child abuse that occurs is determined by the ratio of total parental aggression to total parental inhibition of overt aggression. High numerical values of the ratio result in battering. Lower numerical values result, in descending order, in non-organic failure to thrive, physical neglect and emotional abuse. The theory and 50 hypotheses derivable from it are being tested on a sample of 150 child-abuse families and 150 control families.     

Counsellor ethnic differences and perceived counselling effectiveness

The purpose of the present study was to examine how counsellor race influences client evaluation of counselling effectiveness. It was predicted that ethnic minority counsellors would be perceived less favorably than the Caucasian counsellor. Three groups of secondary school students viewed a 10-minute videotaped stimulus interview, with different introductions for the stimulus counsellor's race (Caucasian, Native Indian, and East Indian). The dependent measure, perceived counselling effectiveness, was obtained and compared among counsellor races by analysis of variance. The results showed that the ethnic minority counsellors were perceived more favorably than the Caucasian counsellor. No differential effect was found in client perception of non-verbal behaviors. Implications of the findings are discussed.     

Delayed Understanding and Staying in Phase: Students’ Perceptions of their Study Situation

Findings are presented from a study of undergraduate students’ experiences of understanding in first-year engineering. At the end of their first year of study 86 Swedish students of electrical engineering and computer science were asked to reflect in writing on their experiences of studying and learning. Fifteen of them also took part in interviews which explored in some detail their experiences of understanding in relation to perceived constraints of the teaching-learning environment. The analyses of the students’ written accounts and the interview data focused on the students’ experiences of studying and of understanding in relation to course work in engineering. The majority of the students reported problematic first-year experiences and testified to a sensation of ‘falling out of phase’ with their studies. This sensation was frequently coupled with a lag in coming to understand course material, which may be characterised in terms of delayed understanding. The notion of delayed understanding is discussed in relation to ideas about students’ perceptions of the learning environment and the impact that those perceptions might have on students’ opportunities to reflect on learning material and develop a solid understanding of course material in engineering education. In conclusion, it is suggested that the the notion of delayed understanding captures the complications of a study situation in which a perceived lack of time to reflect on learning material obstructs students’ understanding of course material in engineering, and also points up a more general aspect of learning observing that time to reflect on previous experiences is an essential component of the process of coming to understand learning material in a particular educational setting.     

Soreness-related changes in three-dimensional running biomechanics following eccentric knee extensor exercise

Runners often experience delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS), especially of the knee extensors, following prolonged running. Sagittal knee joint biomechanics are altered in the presence of knee extensor DOMS but it is unclear how muscle soreness affects lower limb biomechanics in other planes of motion. The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of knee extensor DOMS on three-dimensional (3D) lower limb biomechanics during running. Thirty-three healthy men (25.8?±?6.8 years; 84.1?±?9.2?kg; 1.77?±?0.07?m) completed an isolated eccentric knee extensor damaging protocol to elicit DOMS. Biomechanics of over-ground running at a set speed of 3.35?m?s^?1±5% were measured before eccentric exercise (baseline) and, 24?h and 48?h following exercise in the presence of knee extensor DOMS. Knee flexion ROM was reduced at 48?h (P?=?0.01; d?=?0.26), and peak knee extensor moment was reduced at 24?h (P?=?0.001; d?=?0.49) and 48?h (P?<?0.001; d?=?0.68) compared to baseline. Frontal and transverse plane biomechanics were unaffected by the presence of DOMS (P?>?0.05). Peak positive ankle and knee joint powers and, peak negative knee joint power were all reduced from baseline to 24?h and 48?h (P?<?0.05). These findings suggest that knee extensor DOMS greatly influences sagittal knee joint angular kinetics and, reduces sagittal power production at the ankle joint. However, knee extensor DOMS does not affect frontal and transverse plane lower limb joint biomechanics during running.     

Cell rotation using optoelectronic tweezers

A cell rotation method by using optoelectronic tweezers (OET) is reported. The binary image of a typical OET device, whose light and dark sides act as two sets of parallel plates with different ac voltages, was used to create a rotating electric field. Its feasibility for application to electrorotation of cells was demonstrated by rotating Ramos and yeast cells in their pitch axes. The electrorotation by using OET devices is dependent on the medium and cells' electrical properties, the cells' positions, and the OET device's geometrical dimension, as well as the frequency of the electric field.     

Relationship of WPPSI and subsequent metropolitan achievement test scores in head-start children

The MAT was administered to 35 original Head-Start children 3–4 years after initial WPPSI testing. WPPSI verbal IQ did not correlate significantly with any of the subject areas of the MAT, while Performance IQ correlated only moderately with mathematical components of the MAT (r = .42 – .52).     

Professional writing assistance: effects on biomedical publishing

The involvement of professional writers in the reporting of scientific research has generated considerable discussion. I reviewed the literature relating to this debate. Some commentators argue that professional writing assistance can inappropriately influence the reporting of research, undermine accountability for the published work, and deceive readers when the professional writer's contribution is not acknowledged. On the other hand, it has been argued that professional writers improve the quality and readability of papers, speed up the publication process, and undertake important educational activities. These arguments are based on anecdote and opinion rather than on evidence from well‐conducted research. Although some recommendations have been proposed, there is no widely accepted published guidance about how writing assistance should be used. The biomedical community should consider implementing initiatives that will facilitate research about professional writing assistance – an outcome that would make for a better‐informed debate.