Response selection and execution skills of professionals and novices during singles tennis competition.

This study extended research on sport expertise concerning the development of cognitive and motor skills in singles tennis (McPherson, 1999). 12 adult male professional and novice tennis players were videotaped during singles competition. Opponents for matches were randomly selected within each group of participants. Two tennis experts utilized an observational scale to judge players' performance generated during competition for serves and shots following the serve, e.g.. return of serves, lobs. Each player was scored on three performance components: quality of movement to or control of the ball for serves or shots attempted (control skills), appropriateness of serve or shot selections in the context of game situations (response selection skills), and quality of serves or shots produced (response execution skills). Relative frequency scores for the highest category of each performance component were derived according to the number of opportunities to respond. Serve performance indicated both groups were able to control their serves: however, professionals made more tactical selections and forceful executions. Shot performance indicated professionals made more successful movement to and control of shots, tactical shot selections, and forcing shot executions than novices. Overall, players' tactical response selections were greater than their forceful response executions. Thus, assessing players' decisions during competition may provide vital information concerning tactical skill development. Further, professional players exhibited higher and more consistent tactical behavior than elite collegiate players examined in 1999 by McPherson. Findings were attributed to tactical knowledge and motor skill development resulting from competition and practice experiences.     

A review of mentation in REM and NREM sleep: "covert" REM sleep as a possible reconciliation of two opposing models

Numerous studies have replicated the finding of mentation in both rapid eye movement (REM) and nonrapid eye movement (NREM) sleep. However, two different theoretical models have been proposed to account for this finding: (1) a one-generator model, in which mentation is generated by a single set of processes regardless of physiological differences between REM and NREM sleep; and (2) a two-generator model, in which qualitatively different generators produce cognitive activity in the two states. First, research is reviewed demonstrating conclusively that mentation can occur in NREM sleep; global estimates show an average mentation recall rate of about 50% from NREM sleep--a value that has increased substantially over the years. Second, nine different types of research on REM and NREM cognitive activity are examined for evidence supporting or refuting the two models. The evidence largely, but not completely, favors the two-generator model. Finally, in a preliminary attempt to reconcile the two models, an alternative model is proposed that assumes the existence of covert REM sleep processes during NREM sleep. Such covert activity may be responsible for much of the dreamlike cognitive activity occurring in NREM sleep.     

Use of a raster framebuffer in vision research

For the study of human and animal vision, the video framebuffer is the only technology that is capable of displaying two-dimensional images with precise control of contrast, luminance, and display timing. The video framebuffer also allows precise control of color. However, this device is not designed for precise psychophysical displays, and techniques must be developed to use them in this role. In this paper, we describe a number of basic methods used in our lab. In order to be concrete, we use an Adage RDS-3000 raster display system (Adage, 1982) as an example, since that is the device we have actually used. The Adage is hosted by a PDP-11/73 under the Venix operating system. The principles generalize to other machines. Where it clarifies the issues, we have shown the syntax of the software routines involved.     

Student evaluation of sex education programs advocating abstinence.

This research examined the attitudes of students who were enrolled in three different sex education programs that emphasize abstinence. Data were examined to determine whether secondary school students responded positively to the programs. The programs examined were Values and Choices, Teen Aid, and Sex Respect. Results of the study indicated that all three programs were rated positively, with female, younger (junior high school age), and virgin-naive students rating the programs more highly.     

Book reviews

One Thousand Roads to Mecca. Michael Wolfe (Ed.), 1997. New York, Grove Press. 620 pp., hb. $32.50, ISBN 0 8021 1611 6

Early Mamluk Syrian Historiography: Al‐Yunini's Dhayl Mir'at al‐zaman. Li Guo, 1998. Leiden, E.J. Brill. 2 vols, 241 pp. and xv + 338 pp. Arabic, hb. n.p., ISBN 90 04 11028 3 and 90 04 11029 1

Defenders of Reason in Islam: Mu'tazilism from medieval school to modern symbol. Richard C. Martin & Mark R. Woodward with Dwi S. Atmaja, 1997. Oxford, Oneworld Publications. xv+ 251 pp., pb. £14.99/$22.95, ISBN 1 85168 147 7

Rethinking Tradition in Modern Islamic Thought. Daniel Brown, 1996. Cambridge Middle East Studies 5. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press. x+ 185 pp., hb. n.p., ISBN 0 521 57077 8

Ebu's su'ud, the Islamic Legal Tradition. Colin Imber, 1997. Edinburgh, Edinburgh University Press. 288 pp., hb. £40.00, ISBN 07486 0767 6

Islam and the West: the making of an Image. Norman Daniel, 1997 (1993). Oxford, Oneworld. 467 pp., pb. $25.95/£16.99, ISBN I 85168 129 8

Exegesis as Polemical Discourse: Ibn Hazm on Jewish and Christian Scriptures. Theodore Pulcini, 1998. Atlanta, GA, Scholars Press. 216 pp., hb. $44.95, ISBN 0 7885 0396 0; pb. $19.95, ISBN 0 7885 0395 2

Christians and Jews under Islam. Youssef Courbage & Philippe Fargues, trans. Judy Mabro, 1997. London and New York, I.B. Tauris. xii + 242 pp., hb. £39.50, ISBN 1 86064 013 3

The Construction of Nationhood: ethnicity, religion and nationhood. Adrian Hastings, 1997. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press. 235 pp., pb. £12.95, ISBN 0 521 62544 0

Muslim Identity and Balkan State. Hugh Poulton & Suha Taji‐Farouki (Eds), 1997. London, Hurst & Co.. 250 pp., hb. n.p., ISBN 1 85065 276 7; pb. n.p., ISBN 1 85065 348 8

Turkish and Other Muslim Minorities of Bulgaria. Ali Eminov, 1997. London, Hurst & Co.. 218 pp., hb. £25, ISBN 1 85065 319 4

Al‐yahūd fi misr min al‐fath al‐'uthmani hatta awa'il al‐qarn al‐tas’ ‘ashar. [History of the Jewish Community in Egypt from the Ottoman Invasion to the. Beginning of the Nineteenth Century] (Arabic). Mohsen Shouman, 1996. Cairo, privately printed (available from the author, Department of History, College of. Arts, University of Zaqaziq, Egypt). 492 pp., n.p., no ISBN

The Society of the Muslim Brothers in Egypt: the rise of an Islamic mass movement 1928–1942. Brynjar Lia, 1998. Reading, Ithaca. 272 pp., hb, £30.00, ISBN 0 86372 220 2

African Islam and Islam in Africa: encounters between Sufis and Islamists. David Westerlund & Eva Evers Rosander (Eds), 1997. London, Hurst & Co.. 347 pp., hb. £40, ISBN 85065 282 1; pb. £15.95, ISBN 1 85065 281 3

Transforming Female Identities: women's organizational forms in West Africa/Transformation des identités feminines: formes d'organisations feminines en Afrique de l'Ouest. Eva Evers Rosander (Ed.), 1997. Uppsala, Nordiska Afrikainstitutet 243 pp., pb. £18.95, ISBN 91 7106 403 6

The Pure and the Powerful. Nadia Abu‐Zahra, 1977. Reading, Ithaca, NY. xx+ 320 pp., hb. £35.00, ISBN 0 86372 179 6     

Book reviews

Unfolding Islam. P. J. Stewart. xiii + 252 pp. hb., £24.00, London, Ithaca Press, 1994, ISBN 0 86372 194 X; pb. London, Garnet Publishing, 1995, ISBN 1 85964 046 X.

The Basics 2: Islam. Roland Machatschke, 1995. London, SCM Press, 89 pp., pb. £5.95, ISBN 0 334 02603 2.

Voices of Islam. John Bowker 1995. Oxford, Oneworld, 188 pp., pb. £8.95, ISBN 1 85168 095 0.

Abraham, A Symbol of Hope for Jews, Christians and Muslims. Kakl‐Josef Kuschel, 1995. London, SCM, xxix + 286 pp., pb. £14.95, ISBN 0 334 02567 2.

Petrus Alfonsi and his Medieval Readers. J Tolan, 1993. Gainesville, University Press of Florida, 288 pp., pb. £15.00, ISBN 0 8130 1239 2; hb, £31.00, ISBN 0 8130 1238 4.

Islamic Science and Engineering. Donald R. Hill, 1993. Edinburgh, Edinburgh University Press, 250 pp., pb. £16.95, ISBN 0 7486 0455 3.

Islam: the view from the edge. Richard W. Bulliet, 1994. New York, Columbia University Press, 236 pp., pb. $16.95, £11.95, ISBN 0 231 08219 3.

Pioneers of Islamic Revival. Ali Rahnema (Ed.), 1994. London, Zed Books, 279 pp., hb. £36.95, ISBN 1 85649 253 2; pb. £14.95, ISBN 1 85649 254 0.

Freiheit der Religion: Christentum und Islam unter dem Anspruch der Men‐schenrechte [Freedom of Religion; Christianity and Islam tinder the claims of human rights]. Johannes Schwartländer (Ed.), 1993. Mainz, Matthias Grünewald Verlag, 474 pp., DM 48.

Religion, Law and Society: A Christian‐Muslim Discussion. Tarek Mitri (Ed.), 1995. Geneva, WCC Publications and Kampen, Kok Pharos, 154pp, pb. £9.95, ISBN 2 8254 1148 5 (WCC) and 90 390 0514 1.

Muslims in Western Europe. J?rgen Nielsen, 1995 (2nd Edition). Edinburgh, Edinburgh University Press, 190 pp., £14.95, ISBN 0 7486 0617 3.

From Ta'izz to Tyneside: an Arab community in the north‐east of England during the early twentieth century. Richard I. Lawless, 1995. Exeter, University of Exeter Press, 292 pp., pb. n.p., ISBN 0 85989 460 6.

The New Middle East. Shimon Peres with Arye Naor, 1993. Shaftesbury, Element Books, 224 pp., hb. £16.99, ISBN 1 85230 519 3.

The Palestinians: the road to nationhood. David McDowall, 1994. London, Minority Rights Group, 215 pp., hb. £15.95, ISBN 1 873194 70 6.

Mahdism in West Africa: the Ijebu Mahdiyya movement. P.B. Clarke, 1995. London, Luzac Oriental, 224 pp., hb. £30.00, ISBN 1 898942 06 4.

Assaulting with Words: popular discourse and the bridle of Shari^cah. A. A. Ibrahim, 1994. Evanston, IL, Northwestern University Press, 208 pp., hb. 859.95, ISBN 0 8101 1081 4.

The Vanguard of the Islamic Revolution: the Jama't‐i Islami of Pakistan. Seyyed Vali Reza Nasr, 1994. London, I. B. Tauris, 301 pp., hb. n.p., ISBN 1 85043 862 3; pb. £14.95, ISBN 1 85043 864 1.     

Guidance in the Royal County of Berkshire,England

This study answers the question, How are the secondary schools in Berkshire, England, organized for the guidance of their pupils? The method used to investigate this topic included visits to about one-fourth of the publicly supported secondary schools in the Royal County of Berkshire, conversations with headmasters and headmistresses, youth officers, teachers, and students. It was found that until July, 1966, no trained counselors, as we know them in the United States, were employed in the Berkshire schools. However, the schools were organized so that educational, vocational, and personal counseling was provided to some degree by a variety of persons on the administrative and teaching staff and by representatives of community and government-supported organizations.     

Smoking among Norwegian schoolchildren 1975–1980

A comprehensive research project on smoking among Norwegian schoolchildren was started in 1975. Results from two nation-wide questionnaire surveys and from two field experiments were presented. The first field experiment (1978) demonstrated that different approaches to smoking and health education had different effects on the pupils' reported tobacco consumption. In three of four experimental groups, the reported short-term reduction of cigarettes smoked was statistically significant. If the pupils were actively involved, and when their parents were involved, the reported reduction of cigarettes smoked was 21 % compared to only 6% in a group with passive pupils and no involvement of the parents. In a second field experiment (1979-80), a long-term reduction was shown. During the first six months there was a marked decrease in the prevalence of smokers. Compared with a control group, the effect still remained after one year. In the period 1975–1980, a new trend in smoking among young people in Norway was recorded. Irrespective of grade and sex, the proportion of young people smoking daily decreased. The decrease was somewhat stronger for girls than for boys.