Human Movement Forms as Meaning-Structures: Prolegomenon

Economic downturns are sudden and sharp reminders that public universities must shift their reliance on state appropriations to other sources of revenue. The recent economic crisis is another reminder that many sources of revenue must be sought for the continued vitality of public higher education in the United States. The ways and means for producing needed revenue encompass freeing up funds internally through a variety of approaches and creating new revenue streams. Prosperity depends on the creativity of our collective approach to the notion of revenue.     

Utilisation of an online forum to engage adolescents with autism in direct participation in qualitative research

Difficulties with social communication may present challenges in gathering data from individuals with autism in research. To encourage individuals with autism to participate directly in research, methods that allow for autistic symptomology should be considered. An online forum was developed to enable adolescents with autism to share their social experiences. Ten female adolescents with autism, aged 12 to 19, engaged with the forum over 12 weeks. Questions were posted weekly and data were collected on the frequency of participant responses, quality of responses, and participants' engagement with each other. Data indicated that the frequency and quality of participants' responses were high, and participants' engagement with each other facilitated the introduction of new topics. The online forum was an effective tool for adolescents with autism to have direct participation in research. It offers promise in future studies as a practical research tool that accommodates the social communication challenges of individuals with autism.     

Relationship between the Perception and Reproduction of Body Postures

Abstract

One hundred and seven college women were tested in their ability to recognize a demonstrated body posture from among similar ones and to reproduce demonstrated body postures. Two original tests were devised for this purpose. A low but statistically significant correlation (- .34) was found between the two. In addition, the subjects completed a questionnaire regarding the extent and nature of their motor experience. The extent of the individual's motor experience had a significant role in each of these abilities. The direction to be taken in reproducing the postures was found to be a complicating factor.     

A University-Based Literacy Service-Learning Program for Youthful Offenders on Probation: A Preliminary Study of the Program’s Development,Implementation and Feasibility

This article reports on the development, implementation and feasibility of a mid-Atlantic university-community service-learning literacy program for youth on probation. Undergraduate teacher candidates served as literacy instructors for the youth. We focus on benefits and administrative challenges of developing and implementing a preliminary service-learning program for probated youth living in the community. We analyzed focus group data collected from special education undergraduate instructors, interview data collected from probated youth and their case managers, pre-post literacy assessments administered to the youth, the youths’ court files and data maintained by the community-based agency. We conclude that our model of a university-community literacy partnership has the potential to raise reading performance of youth, motivation, and promote prosocial behaviors. Addressing the educational needs of youth on probation, however, is complex and multifaceted. We find that success requires consistent communication among all stakeholders, adequate funding for leadership, organization and curricula, and ongoing assessment and evaluation.     

Moderating effects of collectivism on customized communication: a test with tailored and targeted messages

A growing body of research has shown that customized messages have certain advantages over non-customized ones such as being more memorable and more persuasive. However, most prior studies tested customization effects with American participants only. It remains a mystery in the literature how people from other cultures may process customized messages. The current article examined the effects of two types of customized information, tailored and targeted, through two studies. Thirty Chinese working professionals and students in the US participated in study 1 and 56 Asian students in Hong Kong participated in study 2. In both studies, participants' tendencies toward collectivistic and individualistic cultures were measured. It was found that more collectivism-oriented participants generated higher recall and more favorable attitudes toward targeted messages, whereas less collectivism-oriented participants generated higher recall and more favorable attitudes toward tailored messages.     

Adaptive multi objective differential evolution with fuzzy decision making in preventive and corrective control approaches for voltage security enhancement

This paper presents a multi objective differential evolution (MODE) based voltage security enhancement through combined preventive-corrective control strategy. Load shedding, generation rescheduling and optimal utilization of FACTS devices are considered for security enhancement. Maximum l-index of load buses is taken as the indicator of voltage stability. Minimization of cost of FACTS devices, minimization of amount of load shedding along with improvement in voltage stability are the objectives of this multi objective optimization problem. The optimal location of FACTS devices are selected using modal analysis technique. The buses for load shedding are selected based on the minimum eigen value of load flow Jacobian. The proposed MODE algorithm employs DE/randSF/1/bin strategy scheme with self tuned parameter which employs binomial crossover and difference vector based mutation. A fuzzy based decision making algorithm is employed to get the best compromise solution from the non dominated solutions. The proposed MODE is also tested with statistical performance metrices. The proposed methodology is implemented on IEEE 30 bus and IEEE 57 bus test systems. The proposed MODE method provides better solutions in the pareto optimal front than the other optimization techniques such as MOGA and NSGA II under combined preventive–corrective control approach. In IEEE 30 bus system, the amount of load shedding is reduced by 40% and voltage stability is improved by 15% and in IEEE 57 bus system, the amount of load shedding is reduced by 15.4% and voltage stability is improved by 13% by the proposed approach. Hence the simulation results show that the proposed approach provides considerable reduction in the amount of load shedding and enhancement of voltage stability by including generation rescheduling and utilization of FACTS devices.     

Family Contribution to the Vocational Lives of Vocationally Competent Young Adults with Intellectual Disabilities

This paper reports the results of a qualitative research study of vocationally competent young adults with mild intellectual disabilities. The purpose of the study was to examine the contributions which families made to the success of these young adults in competitive employment. The participants were clients of a competitive employment and training program who were purposively sampled using the criterion of having maintained competitive employment for 6 months and ranged in age from 19 to 30 years. The data were collected through semi-structured interviews with the participants and some of their family members. Content analysis was used to generate categories and themes. The significant finding was how families contribute to the individuals' efforts to maintain competitive employment. Analysis of the themes indicated that certain family characteristics led to more successful employment outcomes. These characteristics were moral support, practical assistance, role models of appropriate work ethic, protection from difficulties and exploitation, and family cohesion. An interesting finding was that the families responded to these young people as if they were in an earlier developmental stage except in the area of employment. Implications for families and vocational education practitioners are suggested.     

Self-Efficacy and Postpartum Teaching: A Replication Study

Postpartum depression (PPD) occurs in 13% of new mothers internationally, but many do not receive treatment. In the Western world, hospital-based perinatal nurses have extended contact with new mothers and are in a unique position to teach them to recognize symptoms of and seek treatment for PPD. In this replication study framed by self-efficacy theory, teaching new mothers about PPD was predicted by a nurse’s self-efficacy related to PPD teaching, expectations for teaching from supervisor, PPD continuing education, teaching experience on other topics, and experience with observing other nurses teaching patients about PPD. The results of the study demonstrate the importance of the climate created by the nursing supervisor in which teaching about PPD is expected and facilitators of effective patient teaching are available.