Utilising the Boxall Profile within the Scallywags service for children with emotional and behavioural difficulties

In this article, Moira Broadhead, Roy Chilton and Victoria Stephens offer an in‐depth analysis of a targeted intervention, Scallywags, aimed at children with emotional and behavioural difficulties. Scallywags, based in Cornwall, offers an early intervention package for children and their families based upon an initial Boxall Profile analysis. Moira Broadhead is a senior educational psychologist for the Scallywags service and both Roy Chilton and Victoria Stephens held split posts as assistant psychologists and support workers within the intervention service. Moira, Roy and Victoria offer practitioners new to the Boxall Profile a compelling account of how it can be used to inform practice for learners with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties and conclude with a series of insightful questions about the use of the Boxall Profile and the role of interventions of this nature.     

Responses of the human spleen to exercise

The human spleen shows a decrease in volume of around 40% early during vigorous exercise and in response to other stressful stimuli such as maximal apnoea and the breathing of hypoxic gas mixtures. Contraction seems an active response, mediated by alpha-adrenergic fibres in the splenic nerve. Given the relatively small size of the human spleen, the effect upon physical performance is likely to be small; the augmentation of total blood volume is <2%, and even taking account of other causes of haemoconcentration during vigorous exercise, the increase of haematocrit is <10%. However, one of two studies suggested that the haemoconcentration may be sufficient to cause errors in the traditional method for calculating exercise-induced changes of plasma volume. The spleen also contributes leucocytes and platelets to the general circulation as part of the “fight or flight” reaction to stressors. The mobilisation of leucocytes proceeds more slowly than that of the red cells; it depends not only upon an active contraction of the spleen, but also a modulation of leucocyte adhesion molecules. Splenectomy impairs exercise performance in horses, but human performance data are lacking; overall health effects seem minimal, and many patients live many years after removal of their spleens.     

Racial differences in patterns of occupational choice in adolescents

Patterns of occupational choice and correlates of these patterns were investigated for black male inner-city high school juniors and seniors. The pattern of occupational choice of the sample was distinctly different from the middle class, white normative sample of the occupational scale and other select samples in that the present subjects demonstrated more interest in artistic, health and welfare fields. Locus of control correlated significantly with one occupational category but generally was not a reliable correlate of occupational choice. Grade level was strongly related to positive choices. Implications for vocational counseling are discussed.     

Determination of immunoreactivity of<Emphasis Type="Italic">Plasmodium falciparum</Emphasis> antigens,serum dilutions and biomaterials

Immunoreactivity properties of serum dilutions andPlasmodium falciparum malaria antigens were measured and compared by ELISA technique using different ELISA plates to evaluate the role of antigens and serum dilutions for optimum binding. Also effort has been made to see the effect of reaction surface and material i.e. ELISA plates for binding capacity. Serological properties were estimated by ELISA methods for detection of malaria and determination of immunological characteristics. Three Pf antigens (PfAg) i.e. ring infected erythrocyte surface antigen: AR-1 (RESA), histidine-rich protein 2 antigen (HRP-2) and glycophospholipid antigen (grown and developed Pf antigen from PSJ-M strain): GPL1 have been used for serological testing of human blood samples by Enzyme Link Immunosorbant Assay (ELISA). 1∶100, 1∶1000 and 1∶10000 dilutions of Pf positive and negative serum (50 samples in each group) and 1∶1000 dilution of Pf antigens were used to measure immunoreactive properties by ELISA method. Result of PfAg-serum immunoreactivity study showed that GPL1 has the highest degree of immuno binding reactivity compared to other Pf antigens. HRP-2 and RESA antigens showed no significant difference to each other. Study also found that Costar and Fastec ELISA plates have a better Ag−Ab binding capability compared to immulon and Falcon plates at all dilutions of serum. Serum dilution of 1∶100 showed best binding and reactivity with Pf antigens followed by 1∶1000 and 1∶10000 showed lowest reactivity.     

Formative and non-formative evaluation

Formative and non-formative evaluation are examined from the viewpoints of adaptation to improve individual performance and maintenance to preserve an existing system. Distinctions are made in terms of the experimental method, criterion-referenced measures, accessible events, and individual behavior. The functions of other distinguishing features are also examined, such as the quantification of weak and indirect variables for active maintenance. A case is made for the advantages and disadvantages of both types of evaluations. An increased role for formative evaluation is advocated as well as a deliberate rather than an accidental use of non-formative evaluation.     

Information management as an enabler of knowledge management maturity: A South African perspective

This paper explores the much ignored but critically important subject of the perceived relationship between information and communications technology (ICT), information management (IM) and knowledge management (KM). Defining the border between ICT, IM and KM, and especially the maturity remains a highly debatable topic. These issues could be concisely summarized as being diverse and problematic and located across the spectrum of views. Prior studies suggest that even though KM is strongly entrenched and rests on the foundation of ICT and IM, very little is reported in the literature on ICT and IM as enablers to KM. From a large urban South African University engaged in numerous collaboration programs with industry, the authors gained insight into growth of KM maturity in industry groupings over a 5-year period. The authors applied an inventory developed by Kruger and Snyman [Kruger, C. J., & Snyman, M. M. M. (2007). A guideline for assessing the knowledge management maturity of organizations. South African Journal of Information Management,9(3). Electronic Journal [Online]. Available www.sajim.co.za. Accessed 15 October 2007] to a set of 86 organizations distributed over nine economic sectors in South Africa. In total 434 employees were interviewed over three group levels (operational, middle and senior management). This was achieved by having 178 senior practitioners to each interview three subjects (one in each group level).     

Consortium Evaluation in Higher Education

This article describes strategies and techniques used in the evaluation of consortia in higher education. The author describes‐ his work in this field paying attention to constraints, purposes and methods used. The context within which the evaluation took place is seen as a strong influence on purpose and methods. Attention is drawn to differences and similarities between the evaluation of single institutions and consortia.