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While researching the lives of well-known artists for a new unit in an art survey course, the instructor developed the idea of dressing in costume and presenting their lives in the first person. The primary goal of each lecture is to provide memorable information about the artist; a secondary goal is to integrate the social and political climate of the era. The enactments take the first part of the class period; the remainder is used to present examples of the artist's work and to distribute an outline of the lecture content. Evaluations suggest that the unusual presentations have significantly improved student retention. While this strategy is particularly useful in an art class, it is obvious that it also would be effective in other fields of study. The costume seems to be a key; this adds flavor to the lecture even if the instructor does not wish to present first-person characterizations. Props, sound effects, music, lights, and makeup would also add to the characterizations. Not only do these one-person mini-dramas give the students and instructor a break from traditional lecture techniques, they give students an unforgettable acquaintance with the abstract personalities in their reading material. (DC)

Blood pressure and heart rate responses of the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) and the Wistar-Kyoto rat (WKY) to mild restraint and tone-shock pairings were compared during a pre-stress, aversive conditioning and post-stress period, after five previous days of exposure to the paradigm. Although SHR and WKY showed similar responses to the onset of the pre-stress period, SHR showed significantly larger blood pressure responses following the onset of the conditioning than WKY. Furthermore, WKY showed a significant blood pressure and heart rate reduction during the conditioning session which was absent in the SHR. During the post-stress period, the blood pressure of SHR remained significantly elevated compared to their home cage rest values, but the blood pressure of WKY returned to basal levels. It is concluded that while the SHR is more reactive than the WKY to stimulus onset, the major source of between-strain differences after 20 min relates to differences in adaptation to continued environmental stimulation. This can lead to exaggerated estimates of physiological reactivity of the SHR, and is supportive of Folkow's view that SHR are both hyperreactive and show more prolonged defense reactions.

The purpose of this study was to examine the association between nine measures of limb and trunk flexibility and running economy. Within a week prior to running economy assessment, and after 10 min of jogging at 3.13 m·s-1, 19 well-trained male sub-elite distance runners underwent two complete sets of lower limb and trunk flexibility assessments. Runners then completed two 10-min running economy assessment sessions on consecutive days at 4.13 m·s-1following two 30-min sessions of treadmill accommodation at 4.13 m·s-1. Intraclass correlation coefficients indicated that the repeated flexibility measurements were highly reliable([horizontal bar over]X R = 0.92 ± 0.09), as were the two running economy appraisals (R = 0.99). Correlational analyses revealed that dorsiflexion (r = 0.65) and standing hip rotation (r = 0.53) were significantly (P≤ 0.05) associated with the mean aerobic demand of running, such that runners who less flexible on these measures were more economical. Although speculative, these results suggest that inflexibility in certain areas of the musculoskeletal system may enhance running economy in sub-elite male runners by increasing storage and return of elastic energy and minimizing the need for muscle-stabilizing activity.

Profiles Woodford County, Kentucky sand sculptor Damon Farmer.