Northampton Community College

About: Northampton Community College is a education organization based out in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Poison control. The organization has 3410 authors who have published 4582 publications receiving 130398 citations. The organization is also known as: Northampton County Area Community College.

Achievement motivation, educational attainment, cycles of disadvantage and social competence : some longitudinal data

Abstract: Summary. The social and familial background, intelligence and personality of children and adolescents have been shown to contribute to their status in society, their educational attainment and to social competence in general as adults (Rutter and Madge, 1976; Garmezy, 1987). This study considers how these factors are translated into behaviour through the mediation of achievement motivation. Using a multidimensional approach to achievement motivation (Cassidy and Lynn, 1989), the achievement factors that predicted educational attainment and socioeconomic status in a sample of 451 young adults were identified. Data for the sample of 199 males and 252 females were collected at two points over a seven-year period. Initial assessment occurred at age 16 and final assessment at age 23 approximately. It is suggested that a focus on the development of cognitive-behavioural styles of achievement motivation, problem-solving and attribution may provide a useful future direction for research on social competence. The implications of such a focus are discussed.

Time banking and health: the role of a community currency organization in enhancing well-being.

Abstract: Time banking is an international movement that seeks to transform traditional asymmetric social service models into social networks in which members both provide and receive services that are assigned equal value. Time banks have been shown to enhance social capital, and there is some evidence for improved health. This article, based on a survey of 160 members of a hospital-affiliated time bank, examines the likelihood and predictors of improvement in physical and mental health as a result of membership. Men, people with lower income, and those who were not working full-time reported highest levels of participation in exchanging services; attachment to the organization was greatest among women, older members, people with less education, and those with the highest participation levels. Multivariate analyses revealed that physical health improvement attributed to membership was significantly predicted by attachment to the organization and living alone; mental health gains were predicted by general health changes, average number of exchanges, and attachment to the organization. We conclude that a sense of belonging, a dimension of social capital, is key to improved well-being and that time banking may be particularly valuable in promoting health and belonging among older and lower-income individuals and those who live alone.

Childhood, Agency and Education Reform

Abstract: This article provides commentary on the relationship between childhood and agency within the context of education reform. The prominence of a `child-centred' social science and the trends in childc...

The Significance of Pes Planus in Juvenile Hallux Valgus

Abstract: Pes planus of the foot is believed to be an important etiological factor in hallux valgus This study compares the degree of pes planus in normal and hallux valgus feet The arch index, or ratio of the area of the middle third of the foot to the total footprint area, was calculated on 128 footprints An unpaired t-test determined no significant difference between the arch index of 32 11-year-old children with hallux valgus and 11-year-olds with no first metatarsophalangeal joint deformity (P greater than 05) The height of the arch is not relevant to the hallux valgus deformity Arch supports designed to raise the height of the arch can play only a palliative role in the management of the condition

A global meta‐analysis of forest bioenergy greenhouse gas emission accounting studies

Abstract: The potential greenhouse gas benefits of displacing fossil energy with biofuels are driving policy development in the absence of complete information. The potential carbon neutrality of forest biomass is a source of considerable scientific debate because of the complexity of dynamic forest ecosystems, varied feedstock types, and multiple energy production pathways. The lack of scientific consensus leaves decision makers struggling with contradicting technical advice. Analyzing previously published studies, our goal was to identify and prioritize those attributes of bioenergy greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions analysis that are most influential on length of carbon payback period. We investigated outcomes of 59 previously published forest biomass greenhouse gas emissions research studies published between 1991 and 2014. We identified attributes for each study and classified study cases by attributes. Using classification and regression tree analysis, we identified those attributes that are strong predictors of carbon payback period (e.g. the time required by the forest to recover through sequestration the carbon dioxide from biomass combusted for energy). The inclusion of wildfire dynamics proved to be the most influential in determining carbon payback period length compared to other factors such as feedstock type, baseline choice, and the incorporation of leakage calculations. Additionally, we demonstrate that evaluation criteria consistency is required to facilitate equitable comparison between projects. For carbon payback period calculations to provide operational insights to decision makers, future research should focus on creating common accounting principles for the most influential factors including temporal scale, natural disturbances, system boundaries, GHG emission metrics, and baselines.