Hemispheric division of labour in reading

We argue that the reading of words and text is fundamentally conditioned by the splitting of the fovea and the hemispheric division of the brain, and, furthermore, that the equitable division of labour between the hemispheres is a characteristic of normal visual word recognition. We report analyses of a representative corpus of the eye fixations of normal readers in the realistic reading of text where we compare hemispheric processing, quantified in terms of uncertainty about the orthographic, phonological and semantic representations of the words of the text. The analyses show that normal reading is accurately understood in terms of an equitable division of labour in the construction of the orthographic identity of the word and that, for English, a semantic division patterns closely with the orthographic division. We infer that impaired inter‐hemispheric co‐ordination of orthographic information may be best compensated for by a reliance on the inter‐hemispheric co‐ordination of semantic information, as in phonological dyslexia.     

Accuracy and stability of cognitive structures and retention of geometric content

This study sought to determine whether clear distinctions in cognitive structures which existed at the time of instruction between students classified as formal operational and concrete operational would persist over time and result in prototypical structures for each group. In addition, this study investigated the effect of the ability to produce an accurate cognitive structure on the retention of geometric content and the stability of cognitive structures.The results showed that clear prototypical structures could be derived for the students who were formal operational at the time of instruction and also for those who were concrete operational. The students in the formal operational group exhibited initial structures of the geometric content more like the content experts, and after one year performed significantly better on a content test, and constructed more stable and accurate cognitive structures than those in the concrete operational group.     

The application of a multi-dimensional assessment approach to talent identification in Australian football

ABSTRACT

This study investigated whether a multi-dimensional assessment could assist with talent identification in junior Australian football (AF). Participants were recruited from an elite under 18 (U18) AF competition and classified into two groups; talent identified (State U18 Academy representatives; n = 42; 17.6 ± 0.4 y) and non-talent identified (non-State U18 Academy representatives; n = 42; 17.4 ± 0.5 y). Both groups completed a multi-dimensional assessment, which consisted of physical (standing height, dynamic vertical jump height and 20 m multistage fitness test), technical (kicking and handballing tests) and perceptual-cognitive (video decision-making task) performance outcome tests. A multivariate analysis of variance tested the main effect of status on the test criterions, whilst a receiver operating characteristic curve assessed the discrimination provided from the full assessment. The talent identified players outperformed their non-talent identified peers in each test (P < 0.05). The receiver operating characteristic curve reflected near perfect discrimination (AUC = 95.4%), correctly classifying 95% and 86% of the talent identified and non-talent identified participants, respectively. When compared to single assessment approaches, this multi-dimensional assessment reflects a more comprehensive means of talent identification in AF. This study further highlights the importance of assessing multi-dimensional performance qualities when identifying talented team sports.     

Technology and informatics in Australian health libraries

Australia is no different to any other country in that information technology (IT) and the speed of its advancement has a huge impact on health care and therefore on health libraries. Australian health librarians are valuable members of health care teams and strive to integrate services and resources across hospitals. This article looks at the role Australian health libraries play in the broader health information landscape and the importance of information governance and health informatics as a tenet of the work undertaken by libraries. Of particular focus in this is the Health Libraries Australia/Telstra Health Digital Health Innovation Award, offered annually, to help focus on particular technological challenges. Three cases studies are explored demonstrating impact on the systematic review process, inter-library loan system automation and a room booking service. Also discussed are the ongoing professional development opportunities, which help upskill the Australian health library workforce. Australian health libraries also face many challenges with piecemeal IT systems across the nation, resulting in lost opportunities. Also, many Australian health services do not have a qualified librarian on staff, which undermines information governance. However, resiliency shines through with strong professional health library networks working to challenge the status quo in an effort to improve the application of health informatics.     

Pharmacologic treatment and behavior therapy: Allies in the management of hyperactive children

Proposes reasons for the popular use of stimulant medication in the treatment of hyperactivity, as well as assertions that drug therapy alone is inadequate and insufficient. Adjunctive techniques to pharmacologic management have been proposed, however, frequently without empirical support. Behavior modification, although limited in applications with hyperactive children, has demonstrated a favorable effect on disruptive behaviors, self-concept, peer acceptance, and academic performance. A summarization of research providing empirical support for behavior therapy as an alternate or adjunctive treatment to drug therapy is included.     

Reframing Management Education: A Humanist Context for Teaching in Business and Society

The modern economic process is becoming increasingly uncoupled from the humane ends it was originally intended to serve. This paper examines the ideological means by which this separation has been achieved, the implications for business and for society, and some possible means by which the original humanistic intent of economy can be recreated through the structuring of educational experience.     

Enuresis: An historical,cultural, and contemporary account of etiology and treatment

The authors discuss the cultural relativism of enuresis and the subsequent notion that urinary incontinence may not be a disease or psychopathy, but, rather, a problem associated with social expectations and developmental delays. Published literature has revealed that, historically, enuretic children have been subjected to distressing and painful methods of treatment, i. e., medications, mechanical devices, and pharmacologic preparations, to the point of permanent disability. They also discuss the evolution of explanations and treatments for enuresis from the Middle Ages into the 1970s, with emphasis on the successful use of behaviral therapies and meaningful parent and child reeducation.     

Contextual influences and athlete attitudes to drugs in sport

This article reports on 11 narrative-based case histories which sought to: (1) uncover the attitudes of players and athletes to drugs in sport, and (2) explore contextual factors influencing the formation of those attitudes as informed by social ecology theory. Overall, participants viewed the use of banned performance-enhancing substances as cheating, ‘hard’ non-performance-enhancing recreational or illicit substances as unwise, legal non-performance-enhancing substances as acceptable, and legal performance-enhancing substances as essential. In short, attitudes were sometimes quite libertarian, and contingent upon first, the legality of the substance, and second, its performance impact. Results also indicated that athletes’ attitudes about drugs were fundamentally shaped by sport's culture. Other significant factors included its commercial scale, closely identifiable others, early experiences and critical incidents of players and athletes, and their level of performance.