Classroom Placement of Twins Triplets and Other Multiples in Grades Kindergarten Through Eight in East Tennessee Schools: East Tennessee Principals Perceptions.

The purpose of this study was to learn from kindergarten- through 8th-grade principals in East Tennessee (a) what policies guide their decisions regarding classroom placement for multiple-birth children; (b) what postsecondary training they have; (c) what sources guide their decisions; (d) what knowledge they have of the needs, relationships, and bonds of multiples; and (e) what their perceptions are regarding how to best meet the needs of multiples. Data were collected through interviews with a purposeful sample of 10 principals of kindergarten- through 8th-grade schools. Five themes emerged forming constructs for organizational framework: (a) learning environment, (b) meeting individual needs, (c) communication, (d) culture, and (e) perceptions. Based on the research, the following conclusions were presented: Prior to Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 49-6-3102, effective July 1, 2010, none of the school systems had placement policies. Most principals had no postsecondary or graduate school training specific to and were not knowledgeable of the educational psychology of multiples or implications regarding their developmental, emotional, and academic issues. Most said on-the-job training was their only instruction. Few principals were aware of the needs, relationships, and bonds of multiples. Principals stated their conviction that separating multiples would promote individuality and foster independence. Findings from this study might result in colleges modifying their teachers\u27 education curriculum to include the educational psychology of multiples and implications regarding their developmental, emotional, and academic issues. Principals currently serving should enlighten themselves regarding the educational psychology of multiples to include the dynamics of the multiples\u27 relationships and the bond that exists between them. School districts should provide education for staff regarding the development of multiples. Principals should recognize parents of multiples as their best source of guidance and look to school psychologists as resources. It is recommended that principals work with families, become more acquainted with multiples, and seek their opinions when making decisions that affect them. It is recommended that if principals want to help multiples become independent and develop as individuals, they should learn to tell them apart and call them by their individual names rather than twin or triplet

Optimizing Chronic Slow Breathing Training to Cause a Therapeutic Effect on Heart Rate Variability

Heart rate variability (HRV) is a valid and reliable tool that can be used to determine the basic state of an individual\u27s autonomic health. The current study attempted to establish the minimum frequency of breathing practice necessary to produce a therapeutic effect on HRV over the course of a four-week period with four different treatment groups, specifically, groups that practiced a slow breathing protocol for either 2, 3 or 5 times per week, and a control group. Forty-three subjects (14 males, 29 females), ages 18–50 years, were screened, pre-tested, matched for sex, age and HRV, assigned to a specific group for a four-week training period, and completed the study. All pre- and post-test measurements were made during a 10-minute period of supine rest, and included systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR), and the following HRV measures: standard deviation of the normal to normal R waves (SDNN), root mean square of successive differences (RMSSD), high frequency power (HF), low frequency power (LF), and HF/LF ratio. During the 4-week training period, subjects kept a log of their breathing training and then returned for post-testing of the same variables. A two-way analysis of variance with repeated measures on one factor and post hoc T-tests were used to evaluate the data. Significance was set at the 0.05 level. Following the 4-week training period, the control group experienced an increase in systolic BP, while all three training groups experienced a decrease. For diastolic BP, the control group experienced an increase, while only the 2 times per week training group experienced a decrease. For HR, the 2 times per week and 5 times per week groups demonstrated a decrease, while no other groups changed. There were no differences in any HRV measures as a result of training in any group. In conclusion, although previous research had found that breathing training affected HRV measures, there was no effect in this study regardless of the frequency of training. Breathing training did cause a reduction in resting BP and heart rate, but the frequency of training had little to no differential effect. The study was unable to demonstrate a minimum frequency of breathing training for affecting the autonomic nervous system

G20 2014: reform of the international organisations, financial regulation, trade, accountability and anti-corruption

This issue of the G20 Monitor discusses the reform of international economic institutions, financial regulation, and the trade, accountability and anti-corruption agendas at the forthcoming Brisbane G20 Summit. It also provides a summary of the key ideas from the ‘G20 Conference: Strengthening Accountability and Effectiveness’ hosted by the Lowy Institute. Key findings: If the G20 is truly to be the world’s premier forum for international economic cooperation, fostering the reform of international economic institutions needs to be a fundamental objective. Ex ante regulatory impact assessments are an important tool for strengthening financial regulation and fostering financial stability globally. Trade, anti-corruption, and the accountability of the G20 are important agenda items for the forthcoming Brisbane Summit and go to the heart of the G20’s aim to boost growth and resilience

Revolution in the Microcosm: Love and Virtue in the Cosmological Ethics of St Maximus the Confessor

I explore virtue and love in Maximus the Confessor’s theology with an aim to drawing an ethics from it relevant to the present day. I use a meta-ethical framework derived from contemporary virtue ethics and look at virtue as an instance of love within the context of Maximus’ cosmic theology. Virtue becomes a path that leads us towards love – who is God Himself. Virtue is thus about movement towards theosis. I describe virtue as a relationship between humans and God, brought about through the mutual practice of a life of ascesis from humans and grace from God. I look at the mediatoral role of humans as microcosms gathering up the universe in an image of Christ’s activity. In particular I analyse the way that human activity is simultaneously cosmic and ascetic; personal and communal. The ethic of virtue that we pursue is always caught up in a conversation about what creation gathered in love looks like. Using a number of tools derived from Maximus’ thought, I suggest that this ethics will necessarily transform our current communities and personal practices. Recognising the cosmic dimension of personal behaviour means that our communities must be scrutinised as extensions of our actions. As an example, I critique the state as an inadequate form of loving relationship, illustrating its systemic reliance on violence and ideologies of alienation and hatred. I give examples of alternative ways of human organising drawn from anarchist thought that might better enable us to love and, more importantly, enable us to call to account failures to love. I conclude that to seek theosis after the manner Maximus describes involves recognising our personal and communal failures to love. His holistic understanding of human purpose can help us see the cosmic dimension to personal ascetic practice and consequently set our sights on a more cosmic vision of love here in the present world

Measurement of Behavioral and Emotional Outcomes of Youth in Foster Care: Investigation of the Roles of Age and Placement Type

The Behavioral Assessment System for Children–2 (BASC-2) is used to assess behavioral and emotional outcomes for youth. Research providing evidence for use of the BASC-2 parent-report form historically has included biological parents reporting on their children (Reynolds and Kamphaus 2004). For youth residing in out-of-home placements through enrollment in foster care, caregivers reporting on their functioning may include foster parents or residential staff. Given the significant adverse mental health outcomes for youth in foster care and the need to adequately assess adjustment in foster care, the purpose of the study was to evaluate the measurement properties of caregivers’ report on the parent report form (PRS) of the BASC-2 in foster care youth. Using 479 respondents, a measurement model was fit to the data demonstrating adequate fit across Internalizing Problems, Externalizing Problems, and Adaptive Skills. Further, a comparison of measurement properties across child and adolescent groups and groups of youth residing in residential facilities versus foster homes was conducted. Factorial invariance and latent means also were assessed. The BASC-2 PRS was found to be an adequate assessment of psychological outcomes for youth in foster care when completed by foster parents or residential facility staff

Reply to Grace: Role of cholinergic neurons in rapid eye movement (REM) sleep control

We thank Grace (1) for the opportunity to discuss the role of cholinergic neurons in rapid eye movement (REM) sleep further. Grace suggests that optogenetic activation of a population of neurons does not necessarily demonstrate their role in the endogenous system when interrogating complex neural circuitry. We agree that we do not prove necessity of cholinergic neurons in REM sleep generation, as we point out in our discussion, “Future studies that selectively inhibit cholinergic neurons in the PPT [pedunculopontine tegmentum] and LDT [laterodorsal tegmentum] of nonhypercholinergic mice are needed to determine if cholinergic neurons are necessary for REM sleep generation” (2). However, in our report we do demonstrate the sufficiency of PPT/LDT neurons to influence REM sleep initiation but not influence REM sleep duration, thus distinguishing the role of cholinergic neurons on these properties of REM sleep. In addition, activation of cholinergic PPT neurons during non-REM sleep induced REM sleep versus wakefulness. Our data are consistent with the role of cholinergic neurons in generating an activated brain state and many studies pointing to the role of cholinergic neurons in REM sleep regulation (reviewed in ref. 3)

Historical Consciousness and Nigerian Political Stability

This paper examined the contributions of historical consciousness to the development of the Nigerian political terrain. Using the Nigerian example, it posits that a distinguishing feature of historical consciousness is in its quest to promote a sense of history among members of a given group or society. This enables it to play a significant role in the task of national development. It proceeded to demonstrate that promoting historical awareness could lead to greater political stability. Having demonstrated the role of historical consciousness to national development, the paper concluded that since development is a product of change, and the subject matter of history focuses on continuity and change, it follows that development can only be understood and appreciated within the context of history. It is this strategic role of history in facilitating development that makes historical societies incubators of development

Nursing in transition: negotiating the experience: an exploration of the impact of the aids pandemic on the subjective work experiences of peri-urban nurses

A substantial amount of international research exists examining the impact of HIV/AIDS on health care workers. However, the impact of HIV/AIDS on nursing staff in South Africa has been relatively neglected. The primary objective of this study was to examine the impact of the AIDS pandemic on the subjective work experiences of peri-urban nurses in South Africa. The study explored the relationship between external changes in the nurses' working environment and their internal psychological responses for negotiating this change. A focus group of eight nurses was conducted, followed by indepth individual interviews with three group members. A grounded theory method was utilised to process and analyse the data. The research showed that nurses experience two forms of change. It was suggested that nurses respond to external changes in a manner designed to maximise their control and sense of meaning in an unpredictable environment. This accommodation involves the restoration of an internal psychological equilibrium through a process of balancing positive and negative experiences. The attainment of such an acceptable equilibrium may allow for diminished stress, increased satisfaction or fulfilment and the validation of personal and professional significance