Two years of physically active mathematics lessons enhance cognitive function and gross motor skills in primary school children

Physically active lessons have been shown to enhance academic achievement. However, the effects on cognitive function and gross motor skill development remain unknown. The present study examined how the incorporation of physical activity bouts within Mathematics lessons affects cognitive function and gross motor skill development across 2 years in primary school children. Eighty-two children (6.6 ± 0.3 y) were allocated to an intervention (n = 36; completing 8 h/wk of physically active lessons) or control (n = 46) group. A battery of cognitive function tests was completed, alongside the TGMD-3 to assess gross motor skills. Physically active Mathematics lessons led to greater improvements across all measures of cognition, when compared to the control group (digit span forwards, p < 0.001, d = 1.5; digit span backwards, p = 0.017, d = 1.0; free word recall: p < 0.001, d = 1.3; selective visual attention: p < 0.001, d = 0.3; verbal fluency: p < 0.001, d = 0.9; arithmetic: p < 0.001, d = 1.8). Furthermore, the intervention group demonstrated greater improvements in overall score on the TGMD-3 (p < 0.001, d = 1.7), as well as the locomotion (p < 0.001, d = 1.1) and object control (p < 0.001, d = 1.5) sub-scales. The physically active Mathematics lessons intervention appears to offer synergistic benefits in relation to cognitive and motor development, which are critical for optimal development in the early years.     

Positive Traits Linked to Less Pain through Lower Pain Catastrophizing

The present study examined the association between positive traits, pain catastrophizing, and pain perceptions. We hypothesized that pain catastrophizing would mediate the relationship between positive traits and pain. First, participants (n = 114) completed the Trait Hope Scale, the Life Orientation Test-Revised, and the Pain Catastrophizing Scale. Participants then completed the experimental pain stimulus, a cold pressor task, by submerging their hand in a circulating water bath (0 °C) for as long as tolerable. Immediately following the task, participants completed the Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ-SF). Pearson correlation found associations between hope and pain catastrophizing (r = −.41, p < .01) and MPQ-SF scores (r = −.20, p < .05). Optimism was significantly associated with pain catastrophizing (r = −.44, p < .01) and MPQ-SF scores (r = −.19, p < .05). Bootstrapping, a non-parametric resampling procedure, tested for mediation and supported our hypothesis that pain catastrophizing mediated the relationship between positive traits and MPQ-SF pain report. To our knowledge, this investigation is the first to establish that the protective link between positive traits and experimental pain operates through lower pain catastrophizing.     

The adequacy of the theories of deductive systems with respect to sentential calculi

Summary The sentential calculiR, under discussion, are axiomatizable and implication is among their primitive terms. The modus ponens and the rule of substitution are their primitive rules. ByS _r is denoted the set of sentences obtained from the formulae of the calculusR by substituting sentences of a given language for all variables. The variablesx, y, z ... represent the elements of the setS _r , the variablesX, Y, Z ... represent the subsets ofS _R . The formulacxy designates an implication withx as its antecedent andy as its consequent,cxy is always an element ofS _R δ(X) means, thatX is closed with respect to the modus ponens rule.A _R designates the class of allS _R -substitutions of the axioms of the sentential calculusR.     

"儒"的自我理解——荀子说儒的意义

No matter what the original meaning of “Ru” was, looking at it from the perspective of the history of philosophy, the image of “Ru” as portrayed by other schools in the Warring States period was infused with the characteristics of Confucianism of that time. The self-understanding of Warring States Confucians expressed by their employment of the character “Ru” clearly displayed Ru’s character as well as the main points of the Ru school, namely Confucianism. In particular, the words and thoughts of Xunzi, the great Confucian master, on “Ru”, epitomize Pre-Qin Confucian’s understanding and expectations of themselves, and also reflect the Confucian new pursuit in facing the age of the unification of Qin. Translated by Yan Xin from Beijing daxue xuebao 北京大学学报 (Journal of Peking University), 2007, (5): 19–26     

BOOK REVIEWS

Books reviewed: V. Philips Long, David W. Baker and Gordon J. Wenham, Windows into Old Testament History: Evidence, Argument, and the Crisis of ‘Biblical Israel’ J. Cheryl Exum and H. G. M. Williamson, Reading from Right to Left. Essays on the Hebrew Bible in Honour of David J. A. Clines Martin Hengel, The Septuagint as Christian Scripture. Its Prehistory and the Problem of its Canon Erhard S. Gerstenberger, Theologies in the Old Testament Daniel L. Smith‐Christopher, A Biblical Theology of Exile P. M. Michéle Daviau, John W. Wevers and Michael Weigl, The World of the Aramaeans: Biblical Studies in Honour of Paul‐Eugéne Dion Carole R. Fontaine, Smooth Words. Women, Proverbs and Performance in Biblical Wisdom Volkmar Fritz, 1 and 2 Kings: A Continental Commentary Adele Berlin, Lamentations. A Commentary Vicky Balabanski, Eschatology in the Making. Mark, Matthew and the Didache A. Andrew Das, Paul and the Jews Steve Mason, Josephus and the New Testament John L.Thompson, Writing the Wrongs: Women of the Old Testament among Biblical Commentators from Philo through the Reformation Kim Paffenroth, Judas: Images of the Lost Disciple David R. Cartlidge and J. Keith Elliott, Art and the Christian Apocrypha Charles A. Robertz and David Brakke, Reading in Christian Communities. Essays on Interpretation in the Early Church Michael Fishbane, The Exegetical Imagination. On Jewish Thought and Theology Jacob Neusner and Bruce Chilton, Jewish‐Christian Debates. God, Kingdom, Messiah Paul Rhodes Eddy, John Hick's Pluralist Philosophy of World Religions Carl Starkloff, A Theology of the In‐Between: The Value of Syncretic Process B. Jakim, The Bride of the Lamb Nicolas Stebbing, Bearers of the Spirit: Spiritual Fatherhood in Romanian Orthodoxy Noel Dermot O'Donoghue, The Angels keep their Ancient Places. Reflections on Celtic Spirituality Mark Atherton, Celts and Christians: New Approaches to the Religious Traditions of Britain and Ireland. Graydon F. Snyder, Irish Jesus, Roman Jesus: The Formation of Early Irish Christianity. Brendan Bradshaw and Dáire Keogh, Christianity in Ireland: Revisiting the Story. Caterina Bruschi and Peter Biller, Texts and the Repression of Medieval Heresy Werner O.Packull and Geoffrey L. Dipple, Radical Reformation Studies. Essays presented to James M. Stayer. Geoffrey Dipple, Antifraternalism and Anticlericalism in the German Reformation. Johann Eberlin von Günzburg and the Campaign against the Friars. Philip B, Richard Hooker: Prophet of Anglicanism Rocco Pezzimenti, The Political Thought of Lord Acton: the English Catholics in the Nineteenth Century. Una Agnew, The Mystical Imagination of Patrick Kavanagh: A Buttonhole in Heaven? Edward R. Wierenga, The Nature of God: An Inquiry into Divine Attributes Jonardon Ganeri, Philosophy in Classical India: The Proper Work of Reason Naomi Reshotko, Desire, Identity and Existence: Essays in Honour of T.M. Penner Peter Kingsley, Reality Brian Jacobs and Patrick Kain, Essays on Kant's Anthropology. Smith, John Searle. Ruth Abbey, Charles Taylor Kees van Kooten Niekerk and Hans Buhl, The Significance of Complexity: Approaching a Complex World Through Science, Theology and the Humanities. Larry A. Witham, Where Darwin Meets the Bible: Creationists and Evolutionists in America. Ian Barbour, Nature, Human Nature, and God.     

The Communicative Experience: Between Inexpressibile and Elusive

This is a commentary on Cornejo’s Intersubjectivity as co-phenomenology: from the holism to the being-in-the-world-with-others, co-phenomenology, in which meaning is defined as a construal of phenomenological experience, not an individual creation, but rather an intersubjective one. In this paper the basic question is how language expresses the world and things and, consequently, what vision of the world is expressed by language and what relationship it creates with the real. Language lives for and by this constant aspiration to say the inexpressible and it tries to express the driving inner movement of the real through references and interlacing, by multiplying the relational threads of meanings. For example, the phonetic gesture performs for the speaker and his listener a certain structuring of experience, a certain modulation of existence. This is a communicative dimension in which meaning is always a process. It is the situation of co-feeling between subjects, in which understanding is achieved, as defined by Cornejo in his essay. Words, vowels, phonemes from this analysis are not only the conceptual and the final sense of words, but also their emotional sense, are ways to sing the world and they represent the emotional essence.

---

Book Reviews

Books reviewed Terence L. Donaldson, Paul and the Gentiles: Remapping the Apostle's Convictional World R. Alan Culpepper, The Gospel and Letters of John Stephen H. Webb, The Gifting God: A Trinitarian Ethics of Excess Simon Coleman and John Elsner, Pilgrimage Past and Present in the World Religions: Sacred Travel and Sacred Space in the World Religions John Delli-Carpini, Prayer and Piety in the Poems of Gerard Manley Hopkins: The Landscape of a Soul Joseph Pearce, Tolkien, Man and Myth: A Literary Life Shirley du Boulay, Beyond the Darkness: A Biography of Bede Griffiths Robert E. Daggy (ed), Dancing in the Water of Life: The Journals of Thomas Merton Vol. 5, 1963–1965 Patrick Hart (ed), The Other Side of the Mountain: The Journals of Thomas Merton Vol. 7, 1967–1968 Maria Harris and Gabriel Moran, Reshaping Religious Education André Laks and Glenn W. Most (eds), Studies on the Derveni Papyrus R. J. Hankinson, Cause and Explanation in Ancient Greek Thought Voula Tsouna, The Epistemology of the Cyrenaic School Karl R. Popper, The World of Parmenides: Essays on the Presocratic Enlightenment Cynthia A. Freeland (ed), Feminist Interpretations of Aristotle L. P. Gerson, God and Greek Philosophy: Studies in the Early History of Natural Theology Mary Beard, John North and Simon Price, Religions of Rome. Volume 1: A History; Volume 2: A Sourcebook Edwin Jones, The English Nation: The Great Myth J. C. Applebey and P. Dalton (eds), Government, Religion and Society in Northern England, 1100–1700 Heinrich Fichtenau, Heretics and Scholars in the High Middle Ages, 1000–1200 Daniel Weiss, Art and Crusade in the Age of Saint Louis Edwin D. Craun, Lies, Slander and Obscenity in Medieval English Literature: Pastoral Rhetoric and the Deviant Speaker James Muldoon (ed), Varieties of Religious Conversion in the Middle Ages James Muldoon, Canon Law, the Expansion of Europe and World Order Norman Doe, Canon Law in the Anglican Communion: A World-Wide Perspective John Shinners and William J. Dohar (eds), Pastors and the Care of Souls in Medieval England Chiara Frugoni, Francis of Assisi: A Life R. A. Houlbrooke, Death, Religion and the Family in England, 1480–1750 Judith Maltby, Prayer Book and People in Elizabethan and Early Stuart England Stuart Carroll, Noble Power during the French Wars of Religion: The Guise Affinity and the Catholic Cause in Normandy Bernard Heyberger, Les Chrétiens du Proche-Orient au temps de la Réforme Catholique (Syrie, Liban, Palestine, XVIIe–XVIIIe siècles) Jeffrey Chamberlain, Accommodating High Churchmen: The Clergy of Sussex, 1700–1745 Cliff Webb, The 1851 Religious Census: Surrey John Shelton Reed, Glorious Battle: The Cultural Politics of Victorian Anglo-Catholicism John Wolffe (ed), Religion in Victorian Britain, V: Culture and Empire Christopher Owen Lynch, Selling Catholicism: Bishop Sheen and the Power of Television Gregory D. Black, The Catholic Crusade against the Movies, 1940–1975 Gerald L. Sittser, A Cautious Patriotism: The American Churches and the Second World War Manuel A. Vásquez, The Brazilian Popular Church     

Religion in the service of an elite: A sociologicallydefined imposture. the case of ancient Sparta

The following article is based upon the socio-theological framework elaborated in mybook, Heilsgeschidllicht verfasste Theologie and Männerbiinde, (Theology based on the History of Salvation versus ‘Märmerbünde‘). It attempts to correlate the recurring appearance of a gnostic worldview with the socio-psychological structures of ‘Männerbünde’ or ‘male-groups’. In doing so, it traces the gnostic method of interpreting the human condition from efforts to build an ideological superstructure in order to secure the interests of solely secular groupings; the so-called “Männerbünde’. By developing pseudo-theological constructions with their hint of true ‘theo’-logy, these secular groupings attempt to seduce people into following these newly-developed pseudotheological systems which in fact deliver them helplessly into the grip of the ‘Männerbünde’. It is through means such as these pseudo-theologies that the ‘Männerbünde’ endeavour to win almost unlimited power over the common people; hence the article's title, ‘Religion in the service of an elite’.The second element of the title, ‘A sociologically defined imposture’, refers to myunderstanding that the creation of the pseudo-theology by the ‘Minnerbünde’ does not follow the demands of theological truth but is instead ‘defined’ by the sociological rules which are to be observed if one wants to subject others to one's own private aims.Whereas the book exemplifies the proposed ideas on a larger scale by centring on historical situations taken principally from ancient and modern indo-european contexts, the present article focuses on one of the best known ‘Männerbünde’, namely, the Spartan commonwealth. Sparta's special structures, which are highly relevant in illustrating this thesis, were not considered in the book.Finally, the analysis of the Spartan material has been effected through an abstractgeneral approach, and through a socio-psychological exposition of the structures which underly and interpret the ‘Männerbünde’ text, which mainly consists of historical arguments. It is this general approach which I shall consider first.     

Mother, Melancholia, and Play in Erik H. Erikson’s Childhood and Society

In an earlier article on Erik H. Erikson’s earliest writings (Capps, 2007), I focused on the relationship between the child’s melancholia and conflict with maternal authority, and drew attention to the restorative role of humor. In this article, I discuss two of the three chapters in part three, “The Growth of the Ego,” of Erikson’s first major book, Childhood and Society [Erikson, Childhood and society. New York: W. W. Norton, 1950, Childhood and society (rev. edition). New York: W. W. Norton, 1963]. I explore the same theme of the relationship of melancholia and the mother, but focus on the restorative role of play. I interpret the differences between the two cases in light of Sigmund Freud’s essay, “Mourning and Melancholia” [Freud, Mourning and melancholia. In S. Freud, General psychological theory (pp. 164–179). P. Rieff (ed.). New York: Collier Books. 1963].

Dimensionality of stress experiences: Factorial structure of the Perceived Stress Questionnaire (PSQ) in a population‐based Swedish sample

We investigated the factorial structure of the Perceived Stress Questionnaire (PSQ‐recent; Levenstein, Prantera, Varvo et al., 1993) in a large (N = 1516; 35–95 years) population‐based Swedish sample (Nilsson, Adolfsson, Bäckman et al., 2004; Nilsson, Bäckman, Erngrund et al., 1997). Exploratory principal components analysis (PCA) was conducted on a first, randomly drawn subsample (n = 506). Next, the model based on the PCA was tested in a second sample (n = 505). Finally, a third sample (n = 505) was used to cross‐validate the model. Five components were extracted in the PCA (eigenvalue > 1) and labeled “Demands,” “Worries/Tension,” “Lack of joy,” “Conflict,” and “Fatigue,” respectively. Twenty‐one out of the 30 original PSQ items were retained in a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) model that included the five (first‐order) factors and, additionally, a general (second‐order) stress factor, not considered in prior models. The model showed reasonable goodness of fit [χ²(184) = 511.2, p < 0.001; CFI = 0.904; RMSEA = 0.059; and SRMR = 0.063]. Multigroup confirmatory factor analyses supported the validity of the established model. The results are discussed in relation to prior investigations of the factorial structure of the PSQ.     

A generalization of Piéron's law to include background intensity and latency distribution

Piéron's law, which formulates the effect of the signal intensity i on the mean or the median reaction time (MRT) as a power function, MRT=R+i^-βC, in which R, β and C are positive parameters, is of much interest in the simple reaction time literature. In particular, consistent estimates of β are obtained. However, this law offers no information regarding the effect of the signal intensity on other aspects of the reaction time distribution. In addition, the background intensity, which also has some impact on the detectability of the signal, is not considered in Piéron's law. In this paper, we generalize Piéron's law based on the above comments. That is, we assume that both β and C are functions of the background intensity and of the percentile rank. We then investigate from a theoretical viewpoint some possible functional forms of β and C, with a special emphasis on the dependency of β on the background intensity. It is shown that the so-called “Fechner-Thurstone-type representation” forces β and C to be “separable.” If we further assume a near-miss to Weber's law-type representation, then the functional form of β can be determined.     

Reviews

Books reviewed: L. E. Keck et al. (eds), Numbers, Deuteronomy, Introduction to Narrative Literature, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1&2 Samuel S. E. Gillingham, One Bible, Many Voices: Different Approaches to Biblical Studies Michael D. Goulder, The Psalms of the Return (Book 5, Psalms 107–150): Studies in the Psalter IV James D. G. Dunn, T. & T. Clark, The Theology of Paul the Apostle D. Mendels, Identity, Religion and Historiography: Studies in Hellenistic History William Horbury, Jewish Messianism and the Cult of Christ James S. McLaren, Turbulent Times? Josephus and Scholarship on Judaea in the First Century CE J. Neusner and B. Chilton, Jewish-Christian Debates: God, Kingdom, Messiah Ben Pink Dandelion, Douglas Gwyn and Timothy Peat, Heaven on Earth: Quakers and the Second Coming Adnan Aslam, Religious Pluralism in Christian and Islamic Philosophy: The Thought of John Hick and Seyyed Hossein Nasr W. Cantwell Smith, Believing: An Historical Perspective W. Cantwell Smith, Faith and Belief: The Difference Between Them Norman Doe, Canon Law in the Anglican Communion: A Worldwide Perspective G. R. Evans, Discipline and Justice in the Church of England Alan Falconer (ed.), Faith and Order in Moshi: The 1996 Commission Meeting Lewis S. Mudge, The Church as Moral Community: Ecclesiology and Ethics in Ecumenical Debate T. F. Best and D. Hellar (eds), Eucharistic Worship in Ecumenical Contexts: The Lima Liturgy – And Beyond Timothy Bradshaw ed, Grace and Truth in the Secular Age José Comblin, Called for Freedom: The Changing Context of Liberation Theology Karen Kilby, Karl Rahner Rosemary Radford Ruether, Women and Redemption: A Theological History Ian Markham, Truth and the Reality of God: An Essay in Natural Theology Johannes A. van der Ven, Formation of the Moral Self Robin Gill (ed.), Euthanasia and the Churches Richard Swinburne, Providence and the Problem of Evil John Polkinghorne, Science and Theology: An Introduction John P. Burgess (ed.), In Whose Image? Faith, Science and the New Genetics Stephen Platten (ed.), Seeing Ourselves: Interpreting Contemporary Society Jacques Derrida and Gianni Vattimo (eds), Religion Ursula King (ed.), Faith and Praxis in a Postmodern Age     

Predictive model for early math skills based on structural equations

Early math skills are determined by higher cognitive processes that are particularly important for acquiring and developing skills during a child's early education. Such processes could be a critical target for identifying students at risk for math learning difficulties. Few studies have considered the use of a structural equation method to rationalize these relations. Participating in this study were 207 preschool students ages 59 to 72 months, 108 boys and 99 girls. Performance with respect to early math skills, early literacy, general intelligence, working memory, and short‐term memory was assessed. A structural equation model explaining 64.3% of the variance in early math skills was applied. Early literacy exhibited the highest statistical significance (β = 0.443, p < 0.05), followed by intelligence (β = 0.286, p < 0.05), working memory (β = 0.220, p < 0.05), and short‐term memory (β = 0.213, p < 0.05). Correlations between the independent variables were also significant (p < 0.05). According to the results, cognitive variables should be included in remedial intervention programs.     

Book Reviews

Books reviewed: David C. Mitchell, The Message of the Psalter: An Eschatological Programme in the Book of Psalms Anthony R. Ceresko, Introduction to Old Testament Wisdom: A Spirituality for Liberation Roland E. Murphy, Proverbs (Word Biblical Commentary 22) Richard J. Coggins, Sirach (Guides to Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha) Alastair Hamilton, The Apocryphal Apocalypse: The Reception of the Second Book of Esdras (4 Ezra) from the Renaissance to the Enlightenment Gabriele Boccaccini, Beyond the Essene Hypothesis: The Parting of the Ways between Qumran and Enochic Judaism Gerd Theissen, A Theory of Primitive Christian Religion Maurice Wiles, Reason to Believe Norman Kretzmann, The Metaphysics of Creation: Aquinas’ Natural Theology in ‘Summa Contra Gentiles’ II. John Bowlin, Contingency and Fortune in Aquinas’s Ethics Philip Lyndon Reynolds, Food and the Body: Some Peculiar Questions in High Medieval Theology John Booty, Reflections on the Theology of Richard Hooker: An Elizabethan Addresses Modern Anglicanism Stanley J. Grenz and John R. Franke, Beyond Foundationalism: Shaping Theology in a Postmodern Context F. LeRon Shults, The Postfoundationalist Task of Theology: Wolfhart Pannenberg and the New Theological Rationality. Charles Miller, The Gift of the World: An Introduction to the Theology of Dumitru St?niloae Emil Bartos, Deification in Eastern Orthodox Theology: An Evaluation and Critique of the Theology of Dumitru St?niloae Paul McPartlan, Sacrament of Salvation: An Introduction to Eucharistic Ecclesiology Sarah Curtis, Educating the Faithful Jolyon Mitchell, Visually Speaking: Radio and the Renaissance of Preaching T. G. Plante.(ed.), Bless Me Father for I Have Sinned: Perspectives on Sexual Abuse Committed by Roman Catholic Priests John Skorupski, Ethical Explorations Anne Thomson, Critical Reasoning in Ethics: A Practical Introduction Richard C. Bayer, Capitalism and Christianity: The Possibility of Christian Personalism John Douglas Bishop.(ed.), Ethics and Capitalism David E. Jenkins, Market Whys and Human Wherefores: Thinking Again about Markets, Politics and People Ilham Dilman, Free Will: An Historical and Philosophical Introduction Mark Joyal, The Platonic ‘Theages’: An Introduction, Commentary and Critical Edition     

Flowing Within the Text: A Discussion on He Lin’s Explanation of Zhu Xi’s Method of Intuition

The author examines He Lin’s interpretation of Zhu Xi’s method of intuition from a phenomenological-hermeneutical perspective and by exposing Zhu’s philosophical presuppositions. In contrast with Lu Xiangshan’s intuitive method, Zhu Xi’s method of reading classics advocates “emptying your heart and flowing with the text” and, in this spirit, explains the celebrated “exhaustive investigation on the principles of things (ge wu qiong li).” “Text,” according to Zhu, is therefore not an object in ordinary sense but a “contextual region” or “sensible pattern” that, when merged with the reader, generates meanings. Furthermore, by discussing the related doctrines of Lao Zi, Zhuang Zi, Hua-Yan Buddhism, Zhou Dunyi, and Zhu Xi’s own “One principle with many manifestations (li yi fen shu),” the author identifies the philosophical preconditions of Zhu’s method. Based on this analysis, the author goes on to illustrate Zhu’s understanding of “observing potential yet unapparent pleasure, anger, sorrow and happiness” and “maintaining a serious attitude (zhu jing).”     

The being-with of being-there

In Being and Time, Heidegger affirms that being-with or Mitsein is an essential constitution of Dasein but he does not submit this existential to the same rigorous analyses as other existentials. In this essay, Jean-Luc Nancy points to the different places where Heidegger erased the possibility of thinking an essential with that he himself opened. This erasure is due, according to Nancy, to the subordination of Mitsein to a thinking of the proper and the improper. The polarization of Being-with between an improper face, the Anyone, and a proper one, the people, which is also, as Nancy shows, a polarization between everydayness and historicity, between a being-together in exteriority (indifference and anonymity) and a being-together in interiority (union through destiny), between a solitary dying and the sacrificial death in combat, leaves the essential with unthought. This essay shows not only the tensions that arise out of Heidegger’s own analyses of Mitsein and affect the whole of Being and Time but also underlines in the end a “shortfall in thinking” inherent not only to Heidegger’s work but, as Nancy claims, to our Western tradition, a shortfall which Nancy has attempted to remedy in his Being Singular Plural. A slightly different version has been published under the title “L’être-avec de l’être-là” in Lieu-Dit 19 “Communauté” (Spring 2003). All additions in square brackets are the translators’ unless otherwise indicated. The German words in parentheses are Nancy’s additions. For the translation of citations from Being and Time, we have used the Macquarrie & Robinson’s translation which we have modified only when constrained by Nancy himself. Overall, we have tried to be faithful to the Heideggerian tone of Nancy’s text by using the accepted English translation of the central concepts of Being and Time. When we depart from the accepted translations, it is to remain true to Nancy’s paraphrases, emphases, and displacements. For example, we refrain from using “authentic” and “inauthentic.” Translated by Marie-Eve Morin Department of Philosophy, 4-97 Humanities Centre, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada T6G 2E5 e-mail: mmorin1@ualberta.ca

---

     

Decision policies minimizing risk in a multistage betting game

Considered in this paper is a decision task which has been employed to study multistage betting behavior. When the task commences, a decision maker (DM) is provided with some capital x (x > 0) which he is required to allocate over m (m > 1) mutually exclusive and collectively exhaustive alternatives, each of which occurs with probability p_i (p_i > 0, i = 1,…, m; Σ_i=1^mp_i = 1). If the amount y_i is allocated to alternative i (y_i ≥ 0, Σ_i=1^my_i = x) and alternative i obtains, DM's capital for the next stage of the game becomes y_ir_i, where r_i (r_i > 0) is the return per unit allocated to alternative i. The task consists of N stages.Defining risk in terms of the mean and variance of DM's bets, and assuming that the minimization of risk is DM's objective, decision policies satisfying this objective are derived in closed form and their testable properties are briefly discussed.     

Kinematic patterns during walking in children: Application of principal component analysis

The relative displacements of body segments during walking can be reduced to a small number of multi-joint kinematic patterns, pm_k, through Principal Component Analysis (PCA). These patterns were extracted from two groups of children (n = 8, aged 6–9 years, 4 males, and n = 8, aged 10–13 years, 4 males) and 7 adults (21–29 years, 1 male), walking on a treadmill at various velocities, normalized to body stature (adimensional Froude number, Fr). The three-dimensional coordinates of body markers were captured by an optoelectronic system.Five components (pm₁ to pm₅) explained 99.1% of the original dataset variance. The relationship between the variance explained (“size”) of each pm_k and the Fr velocity varied across movement components and age groups. Only pm₁ and pm₂, which described kinematic patterns in the sagittal plane, showed significant differences (at p < 0.05) across pairs of age groups. The time course of the size of all the five components matched various mechanical events of the step cycle at the level of both body system and lower limb joints. Such movement components appeared clinically interpretable and lend themselves as potential markers of neural development of walking.     

Religious Experience and the Transformation of Narcissism: Kohutian Theory and the Life of St. Francis of Assisi

Kohut proposed that the narcissistic personality could be transformed in the therapeutic environment by an empathic approach on the part of the analyst. Within the analytic setting, specific transference phenomena arise spontaneously, allowing the analysand to confront infantile grandiose fantasies and unresolved narcissistic wounds. Using the story of the life of St. Francis of Assisi, this paper illustrates how religious experience––specifically the ongoing encounter with a transcendent other––can provide the “therapeutic” milieu in which the mirroring, idealizing, and twinship transferences described by Kohut can arise, and within which pathological narcissism can be transformed into the “cosmic narcissism” of the healthy personality.

Active or Inert? An Experimental Comparison of Creative Ideation across Incubation Periods

The primary objective of this study was to contribute to the growing research discipline investigating the effects of physical exercise on divergent thinking creativity performance. Thirty‐two students participated in this two‐visit, within‐subject intervention. Individuals consented to participate in two randomized, and counterbalanced, experimental conditions, consisting of 15 min of active treadmill walking and an inert, seated control incubation period. Creativity was assessed at baseline and post‐exercise (and control) via the Instances Creativity Task (ICT). Creativity scores for changes in fluency (F(1, 31) = 2.90, p = .10) were not statistically significant across the experimental conditions. Originality scores were higher at baseline and follow‐up when compared to the exercise condition (F(1, 31) = 6.82, p = .01). However, there was no statistically significant condition × time interaction effect (F(1, 31) = 1.78, p = .19). Further analyses demonstrated that there was no statistically significant difference between the experimental conditions on recall score (F(1, 31) = 1.04, p = .32). All models indicated statistically significant main effects for time: fluency (F(1, 31) = 131.17, p < .001); originality (F(1, 31) = 36.54, p < .001); and recall (F(1, 31) = 51.75, p < .001). These findings suggest that both active and inert creative incubation periods may similarly enhance subsequent divergent thinking performance.