Fostering Creative Thinking and Reflexive Evaluation in Searching: Instructional Scaffolding and the Zone of Proximal Development in Information Literacy Acquisition

Searching for information, which is not as easy as many students believe, requires creativity, formative evaluation, and persistence. Cultivating proficient and expert searches requires more than the vicarious and enactive experiences described by Bandura1 that are frequently employed in traditional library instruction: students need to be supported and coached in working in their Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD), which stimulates learning.

Prediction of lung function using handgrip strength in healthy young adults

Background: Positive association between physical activity and spirometry have been reported to be possibly attributed to handgrip strength (HGS), particularly in the elderly. However, the nature of the association between HGS and lung function in young adults is still unclear. This study investigated the prediction of lung function using HGS in young adults. Methods: A cross-sectional analytical study was carried out on four hundred (400) apparently healthy medical students who are aged 16-30 years. Handgrip strength (dominant and non-dominant) and lung function (FEV1, FVC and PEFR) of these students were assessed using Jamar dynamometer and a portable spirometer respectively. Data was analysed using inferential statistics. Results: Independent t-test showed that the mean values of HGS and lung function of the males were significantly higher than the females (p<0.0005). The relationship between HGS and lung function indices was significant (p<0.0005) in all the participants but strongest for FEV1 (r = 0.64). The regression analysis showed that in addition to gender and height, HGS was a significant (p<0.0005) predictor of lung function. Regression equations were also proposed for the prediction of these lung function indices using HGS, gender and height. Conclusion: This study is the first to report HGS as a significant predictor of pulmonary function in healthy young adults living in a low-resource country. Hence, its use could enhance medical practice in being an indicator of lung function status in healthy young adults

Excess mortality from chronic physical disease in psychiatric patients - The forgotten problem

The article discusses various reports published within the issue, including one by David Lawrence and Joanne Pais on the mortality rate of mentally ill, another by Chris J. Busche and Richard Hodgson on cancer complexities, and on the incidence of chronic disorders among Canadians

Semper floreat

Title varies: Gamut; Time off: Semper; The press. Numbering system very erratic