Uneven or Just Strange?: English-German Translation Ambiguity

This study was designed to examine how second language learners process words with more than one translation, a phenomenon called translation ambiguity. In this study, English-German number-of-translations norms were collected to determine the number of distinct translations for a set of 564 English words. These English-German Number-of-Translations norms provide researchers with a tool that can be used in future studies of second language processing. We examined the number of words that had one versus more than one translation, and compared this to the number of translations for the same words from English to Dutch. More than half of the words were assigned a single translation across participants. German was more translation ambiguous than Dutch. In addition, we conducted a primed lexical decision task with monolingual native English speakers, with the eventual goal of extending this task to primed translation production in bilinguals. We compared reaction times between ambiguous and unambiguous targets, related versus unrelated primes, and the more commonly translated meaning versus the less commonly translated meaning. Overall, unambiguous words were responded to marginally more accurately than ambiguous words, and real words were responded to more quickly and more accurately than nonwords

Can gravitational influences explain endpoint precision between visual conditions?

Reaches to remembered target locations often result in different endpoint precision when compared to reaches to actual (seen) targets. Interestingly, errors are observed whether the reach to the remembered location is performed in an environment with or without allocentric cues (visual cues from the environment) available. People tend to point below remembered target locations in the dark relative to normal room lighting while seated, standing, and reaching with a step. In this study we questioned the effect of gravitational influences on upper extremity reaching and pointing accuracy in dark and illuminated environments. We hypothesized that alterations in body orientation would alter endpoint reaches to final remembered target locations differently for the two visual conditions. Young healthy adults were asked to produce reaching movement in SUPINE and UPRIGHT body orientations or straight arm pointing movements in UPRIGHT and INVERTED body orientations to real and remembered target locations. Three targets directly in front of the midline were presented at shoulder level and shoulder level ±30 cm. Prior to movement participants anchored their gaze on the displayed target before pointing to its real or remembered location. Targets in remembered trials were removed or covered before pointing in normal room lighting (LIGHT) or complete darkness (DARK). At least 6 trials were performed to each target in each body orientation, starting arm position, and visual condition. Endpoint errors, displacement, peak velocity, and movement time were calculated for each participant and compared across target level, body orientation, and visual condition for each starting arm position using repeated measures ANOVAs. In the DARK participants often produced errors corresponding to less displacement and the undershooting of remembered target locations as compared to LIGHT and REAL visual conditions. Control of smaller movement amplitudes observed in darkness primarily with greater movement excursions occurred regardless of muscle activation or body orientation. The present study revealed that the effects of the gravitational pull for endpoint precision in darkness are minimal at best, thus cannot explain the differences in endpoint accuracy between visual conditions

Development and Cross-Validation of Personality Assessment Inventory Decision Rules for the Identification of Psychogenic Nonepileptic Seizures

The published literature on the Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI) for psychogenic nonepileptic seizure (PNES) diagnosis includes a variety of interpretation methods to distinguish PNES from epileptic seizures (ES) and offers mixed findings. The purpose of this study was to use a cross-validation approach to create and derive new decision rules for the PAI to best differentiate PNES from ES. Data from 773 patients (PNES n = 328, ES n = 445) who underwent long-term video EEG (vEEG) monitoring and completed a PAI were examined. Individuals with invalid PAI profiles were removed, and patients were randomly assigned to the “development” group (DEV) or the “application” group (APP). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves with DEV demonstrated the best cut score for each scale of interest. ROC curves were repeated with APP. Additional analyses examined the utility of sequential decision rules incorporating multiple scales. Of the individual scales, SOM-C demonstrated the best diagnostic accuracy (sensitivity [SN] = 60.7%, specificity [SP] = 81.3%) at a cut score of T ≥ 75. Cross-validation with APP confirmed this cut score outperformed other cut scores (positive predictive value [PPV] = 67.2%, negative predictive value [NPV] = 76.1%), as well as other decision rules presented in the literature. Additional analyses examining sequential decision rules with SOM-C ≥ 75 or SOM-C = 70-74 with SOM-S ≥ 65 demonstrated the highest predictive power (PPV = 73.2%, NPV = 79.1%). The results of this study demonstrate a new and effective method for using the PAI as a screener to distinguish PNES from ES. Utilization of these decision rules can assist clinicians in determining appropriateness of and immediate need for vEEG monitoring for diagnostic clarification

A CASE STUDY INVESTIGATION OF THE PHYSICAL ACTIVITY LEVELS OF DISABLED STUDENTS AT A SMALL MISSOULA, MONTANA MIDDLE SCHOOL

Bond, Chelsea, M.S. July 2009 Health and Human Performance, Health Promotion Title: A case study investigation of the physical activity levels of disabled students at a small Missoula, Montana middle school. Chairperson: Dr. Annie Sondag Introduction: One of the major goals for the nation, described in the Surgeon General’s Report Healthy People 2010, is to promote the health of people with disabilities, prevent secondary conditions, and eliminate disparities between people with and without disabilities in the U.S. population (World Health Organization, 1997). Children with disabilities have lower physical activity participation rates, lower levels of fitness, and more frequent participation restrictions in comparison to non-disabled students (Murphy, N., Carbone, P., 2008). Unfortunately, there have been limited studies that assess the activity levels of disabled children and their long-term health conditions as a result of their inactive lifestyles (Fernhall, B., Pitetti, K., Rimmer, J., McCubbin, J., Rintala, P., Millar, A., Kettredge, J., & Burkett, L., 1996). Purpose: The purpose of this study is to provide a more accurate picture of physical activity levels of disabled, middle school children, and to describe the challenges and barriers related to increased physical activity for this population. Methods: This study utilized a qualitative case study research design. Both primary and secondary (existing) sources of data were used to explore the issues surrounding physical activity for children with disabilities. Primary data included focus groups with parents and children, key informant interviews with teachers and the school principle, field observation of children, and review of existing research and records. Results: A comparison of secondary data from two University of Montana studies revealed that disabled students had a higher rate of physical activity during the weekdays (1077.7) than their non-disabled peers (883.9); however, non-disabled students were more physically active during the weekends (884.2) than their disabled peers (821.3). Analysis of data from primary sources revealed conflicting perceptions regarding physical activity levels. Parents of disabled children believed their children were less active than their nondisabled peers, while school personnel believed that disabled and nondisabled children’s activity levels were similar. Major barriers to increasing activity included: lack of playground equipment, child’s lack of interest in physically activity, parents are not physically active with their child, lack of communication between the school staff and parents, and the parent’s and school personnel’s contrasting perception of children’s level of physical activity. Conclusions: The results of this study reveal that activity levels for disabled children and their non-disabled counterparts were similar. While disabled students were slightly more active during the school week, levels of activity in both groups, disabled and not-disabled, were relatively low. Thus, it appears that there is a need for increasing activity levels in both groups

Identifying the Importance and Performance Perceptions of Positive Youth Development Features in Camps Worldwide

The purpose of this study was to examine international camp professionals\u27 perceptions of the importance and performance of Eccles and Gootman\u27s (2002) Eight Features that Maximize Positive Youth Development. Members of the International Camping Fellowship, ages 18 and older and of different demographic backgrounds, were asked for their perceived importance and performance ratings of the eight features on a five point Likert scale. The data were used to create importance-performance matrices using Martilla and James\u27 (1977) Importance-Performance Analysis technique in order to create visual depictions of the recorded perceptions. This cross-cultural, cross-sectional study utilized Importance-Performance Analysis to create a snapshot of perceptions of positive youth development worldwide. Overall, worldwide perceptions of the positive youth development features turned out to be positive, with some differences based on the respondents\u27 region of origin. Survey participants\u27 age, level of education, and gender (with one feature exception) were found to have no effect on the perceptions of positive youth development

Perceptions of high school choir teachers in implementing Marzano's practices in the music classroom

Thesis (MME) – Indiana University, Music, 202

How purpose in life and locus of control relate to alcohol behaviors among college students

Alcohol is a significant problem on university campuses, and rates of alcohol use and abuse are higher on college campuses than those found in the population at large (Rivenus, 1988). This study examines two constructs that may be related to alcohol behavior: purpose and locus of control. Moran (2009) defines purpose as: an internal compass that integrates engagement in activities that affect others, self-awareness of one\u27s reasons, and the intention to continue these activities (p. 143). Locus of control refers to the degree to which a person takes responsibility over events in their life. There are two types of locus of control: internal and external (Rotter, 1975). An individual with an internal locus of control perceives that their actions influence events in their life, whereas an individual with an external locus of control believes that their actions have little to no influence over events in the life; instead, events in their life occur as a result of external factors, such as fate, chance, or luck. In this study, 138 undergraduate students were surveyed about their perceived purpose in life, locus of control orientation, and alcohol behaviors, including their drinking habits and experience with alcohol-related problems

Causes and Consequences of the Syrian Civil War

This senior thesis is an in depth analysis of the historical causes of the Syrian civil war. I argue that the main components leading to the civil war under Bashar al-Asad were as follows; Sectarian division, French intervention and mandates, Israeli & Syrian conflict, Egypt & Syrian Union, and Hafiz al-Asad’s rise to power. My research and analysis provided demonstrates that these previously mentioned historical stimuli have all amalgamated leading to the instability under Bashar al-Asad and ultimately the modern civil war we see today. The paper will also analyze the consequences of this instability seen in government and society, the source of the brutal civil war. These consequences include a look at Lebanon as a case study, the economy both domestically in Syria and internationally, demographic changes, and a focus on refugee movements seen today. It concludes with the establishment that the civil war is the result of not just one individual event, as is often argued internationally, but rather a conglomerate of deeply intertwined historical moments

Moderate Heat-Assisted Gene Electrotransfer for Intradermal DNA Vaccination and Protein Replacement Therapy in the Skin

Gene electrotransfer (GET) holds great promise for the delivery of therapeutic agents. The skin serves as an attractive target for GET due to its availability and unique cellular composition. Protein replacement therapy and DNA vaccination are potential applications for intradermal GET. The combination of moderate tissue preheating and GET has been shown to achieve elevated gene expression levels while reducing the necessary applied voltage. In the current work, we utilized a 16-pin multi-electrode array (MEA) and incorporated nine optical fibers, connected to an infrared laser, to pre-heat the tissue to 43°C before application of GET. In a guinea pig model, we found that when the skin was moderately heated, it was possible to achieve the same expression levels as GET at ambient temperature, with a 23% reduction of applied voltage or a 50% reduction of pulse number. Furthermore, moderate tissue pre-heating allowed for delivery to the deep dermis and muscle, suggesting the potential to reach systemic circulation, a necessary feature for a successful protein replacement therapy. This approach was repeated using a plasmid encoding Human Factor IX, the blood clotting factor defective or absent in patients with Hemophilia B. Elevated Factor IX serum protein levels were detected by ELISA up to 100 days post gene delivery. The simple engineering and safety of DNA vaccines make them an attractive candidate for alternative vaccine types. Here we present moderate heat-assisted GET for the delivery of a DNA vaccine against Hepatitis B virus (HBV) by way of a plasmid encoding Hepatitis B surface antigen (pHBsAg) via a prime and prime plus boost vaccination protocol. At 18 weeks post vaccination, we observed that a high-voltage low-pulse GET condition with moderate heating (45V 36p +heat) generated antibodies against Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAb) at peak measuring 230-fold over an injection only control. Antibody titers remained robust over the 30- week observation period. These data taken together suggest that moderate heat-assisted GET has the potential to achieve systemic delivery with an intradermal approach, an attractive feature for development of both a protein replacement therapy as well as a vaccine delivery platform

Laying the Foundations for an Organizational Reincarnation Plan: Identifying STERPDB\u27s Future

Southern Tier East Regional Planning Development Board (STERPDB) is the primary funneling system of the Economic Development Administration and Appalachian Regional Commission Federal Funds to the Southern Tier area of New York State. STERPDB currently has leadership approaching retirement within the next five years and there is no succession plan in place. This would leave STERPDB with a lack of leadership and result in an ineffective organization. This study strives to answer what the key stakeholders at STERPDB would like to see for the future of STERPDB as well as what action will be necessary to foster a successful transition of leadership at STERPDB. To approach this problem, Stevens\u27 (2001) diagnostic framework based on Organizational Lifecycle Theory is used in the administering of an internet-based survey of the key stakeholders of STERPDB. Results showed that the perception of STERPDB in a decline stage is statistically different than the perception of STERPDB in a mature stage.Finally, recommendations are offered to STERPDB as to how they can move their organization into a viable maturity stage through the appointment of new leadership and reassessment of current structure of the organization