A Suggested Approach to a Proposed Program for Teaching General Science in Booker T. Washington High school, Conroe, Texas

Since the concensus of opinion is that General Science is meeting the needs and interests of boys and girls better than specialized courses are doing ,1 and since the organization impels General Science offerings in a composite course, this work has for a purpose to suggest an approach to a proposed program for teaching General Science as a course designated at 9th grade level in keeping with state requirement and the writer\u27s immediate 8-4 school plan of organization, and to suggest a method of instruction that will stimulate active interests in the complete curriculum, thus precipitating the maximum benefit for Conroe\u27s children. This study proposes a subsidiary purpose to show how Conroe\u27s children can be made scientific minded through this special program of teaching. This work limits itself to an approach to a proposed program for teaching General Science in the Booker T. Washington High School where the interests are far from specialization, but are confined to a standard agriculture curriculum which displaces all electives with required courses irrespective of interests. The work further limits itself to a situation where lack of city recreational facilities, and where economic insecurities often make it imperative for many to drop out of school to assume adulthood at the end of freshman high school, the year in which General Science is offered at Booker T. Washington, but when the student is of the age and physical stature to offer help by way of unspecialized jobs such as cafe, laundry, private home, yard and grocery store help. For wholesome and complete living the school feels responsible even though it does not finish the student in its curriculum. A final delimitation may be seen in the fact that the entire high school science program includes only General Science, Biology, and Chemistry for grades nine, ten, and twelve respectively. 1 Noll, op. cit.,p.24

Progress In Scientific Revolutions: The Problem Of Semantic Incommensurability

If two successive theories are semantically incommensurable, we have no way to make a complete comparison of their contents. If so, we have no way to verify that the highly confirmed content of the successor is greater than that of its predecessor, and we cannot verify that scientific knowledge has accumulated across the theory change. Thus, incommensurability creates a problem for the justification of the standard cumulative conception of scientific progress.;To resolve this problem, I distinguish irresolvable strong in commensurability from weak incommensurability, which is resolvable. I argue that Kuhn\u27s arguments, insofar as they are sound, support only the latter. Cumulative progress is therefore not only possible, but in principle justifiable. Nonetheless, I support most of Kuhn\u27s claims about the incommensurability of successive paradigms.;My argument for weak incommensurability depends on an interpretation of scientific theories which makes the way a theory is understood an integral part of the theory. Both syntactic and semantic approaches to theories fail to deal with the incommensurability problem because they ignore this pragmatic aspect. I offer a context-dependent semantics based on contemporary pragmatics which can both represent the incommensurability problem and show how it can be resolved

Methods of Increasing Student and Teacher Efficiency in the High School Chemistry Laboratory

Preliminary searching of literature revealed that most information could be obtained from journals relating specifically to instructional methods, since the subject of the report was directly related to high school teaching. With the exception of Volumes 20 and 21 of Science Teacher, all volumes of School Science and Mathematics, Journal of Chemical Education, and The Science Teacher from 1940 through 1956 were examined. The indexes were scanned carefully. Key words used were: apparatus, assistant, chemistry, demonstration, equipment, experiment, high school, laboratory, safety, semimicro, teaching and technique. Every article which, by its title, gave promise of revealing information concerning laboratory efficiency, was given careful attention. Information which was statistical in nature, recently published, or given as a result of many years of experience, was given greater consideration. All worthwhile information was outlined and evaluated as to content, consistency, conformity to normal standards, and degree of correlation with related information from other sources. Many methods of increasing high school laboratory efficiency were assembled. The final analysis as to the value of any particular method must rest with individual teachers in specific high school laboratories. However, among the methods found for increasing efficiency, the following appear to hold forth greater promise of success: (1) the use of the semimicro method in student laboratory work, (2) the utilization of student assistants, whose services are compensated for by extra grade points, (3) strict adherence to safety factors, (4) the practice of economy in laboratory administration, (5) the strategic location of references, equipment, and chemicals in the laboratory or classroom~ (6) improved methods of dispensing chemicals and equipment, (7J fuller use of available equipment, (8) use of the laboratory to its optimum extent, (9) the use of demonstrations when feasible, and (10) greater dependence on short quizzes for evaluation of student laboratory work, rather than on extensive laboratory reports for every experiment.Natural Scienc

The Utah Prairie Dog: Abundance, Distribution, and Habitat Requirements

Objectives of this study were: (1) to determine the status of the Utah prairie dog (Cynomys parvidens, Allen), a rare mammal endemic to south-central Utah, and (2) to identify habitat factors which limit densities of this species. Seven components of the habitat were studied: barriers, other animals, soil, temperature and precipitation, topography, vegetation, and water. Prior to collection of habitat data, virtually all populations of the species were found by extensive searching and interviewing; the number of animals and the area occupied were determined for each population. Results justified the endangered status of the Utah prairie dog. Area occupied by this prairie dog was reduced by an estimated 87 percent during the past 50 years. During this time, the animals disappeared from 34 localities. Recently, total numbers also were reduced: between 1970 and 1971, the total population dropped from an estimated 8, 600 animals to 5, 700. Only 48 substantial populations existed in 1971. Six other populations were exterminated the preceding year by rodent control. Although the loss of prairie dogs between 1970 and 1871 resulted from rodent control, another loss between 1971 and 1972 resulted from drought. A drought decimated all populations in regions without water. Topographic region, which reflected water available to plants, was more strongly correlated to density of this prairie dog than any other parameter (r20\u27 • 67). The crucial role of water was confirmed by analysis of vegetative parameters. Since grasses, forbs, and shrubs have distinctive water contents, they indicated prairie dog response to plant water. Forb cover, which contains the highest relative water content, was the only type of cover that was positively correlated to the density of these animals. Shrubs, with the lowest water content, were negatively correlated; and grasses, with an intermediate water content, were neutral relative to density. Two other parameters also demonstrated the critical nature of water: the mean number of grasses, forbs, and shrubs, and heterogeneity among plant communities. No other parameters were significant (p ≥ .05) in multiple regression. Together, these explained 75 percent of the variability in abundance of the Utah prairie dog. The mean number of grasses, forbs, and shrubs was negatively correlated with density; coefficients of this parameter probably reflected the time required for prairie dogs to select plant parts with adequate water. On the other hand, heterogeneity among plant communities was positively correlated to density, and indicated emergency sources of plant water. Such water probably allowed prairie dogs to avoid population reductions otherwise associated with drought. The critical nature of plant water is especially meaningful in light of long-range drying trends. The Utah prairie dog\u27s habitat has become progressively drier during the past several thousand years. If these trends continue, the animal may become extinct. However, their possible extinction can be delayed by transplanting animals to sites adjacent to streams or irritated fields. Transplanting also can help solve the secondary problem of rodent control: since prairie clogs are often eradicated on private lands, transplant sites should be controlled by the public. Public lands in southern Utah usually contain little water; therefore, purchase of certain private lands with adequate water for the animals is a key to managing this unique prairie dog

Effects of traumatic brain injury on cognitive functioning and cerebral metabolites in HIV-infected individuals.

We explored the possible augmenting effect of traumatic brain injury (TBI) history on HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) associated neurocognitive complications. HIV-infected participants with self-reported history of definite TBI were compared to HIV patients without TBI history. Groups were equated for relevant demographic and HIV-associated characteristics. The TBI group evidenced significantly greater deficits in executive functioning and working memory. N-acetylaspartate, a putative marker of neuronal integrity, was significantly lower in the frontal gray matter and basal ganglia brain regions of the TBI group. Together, these results suggest an additional brain impact of TBI over that from HIV alone. One clinical implication is that HIV patients with TBI history may need to be monitored more closely for increased risk of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder signs or symptoms

Mechanism of Lethal Toxin Neutralization by a Human Monoclonal Antibody Specific for the PA20 Region of Bacillus anthracis Protective Antigen

The primary immunogenic component of the currently approved anthrax vaccine is the protective antigen (PA) unit of the binary toxin system. PA-specific antibodies neutralize anthrax toxins and protect against infection. Recent research has determined that in humans, only antibodies specific for particular determinants are capable of effecting toxin neutralization, and that the neutralizing epitopes recognized by these antibodies are distributed throughout the PA monomer. The mechanisms by which the majority of these epitopes effect neutralization remain unknown. In this report we investigate the process by which a human monoclonal antibody specific for the amino-terminal domain of PA neutralizes lethal toxin in an in vitro assay of cytotoxicity, and find that it neutralizes LT by blocking the requisite cleavage of the amino-terminal 20 kD portion of the molecule (PA20) from the remainder of the PA monomer. We also demonstrate that the epitope recognized by this human monoclonal does not encompass the 166RKKR169 furin recognition sequence in domain 1 of PA

Planning, Preparation, And Implementation Of Turbomachinery Turnarounds.

Tutorialpg. 243-252Anyone involved in overhauling equipment during a scheduled turnaround knows the importance of having the right people and the right tools available in the right places at the right time. Obviously, the orchestration of the necessary events, which must occur, demands foresight and analytical thinking. The optimum amount of planning and preparation will depend on the complexity and size of the turnaround. Experience indicates that each turnaround is unique. While turnarounds may involve similar work items, constraints such as timing requirements and associated work interactions differ from one turnaround to the next. Nevertheless, prior work plans can serve as a basis for subsequent turnarounds. Generally, scheduled turnarounds are divided into three phases: • Pre-Turnaround Phase • Turnaround Implementation Phase • Post-Turnaround Phase This tutorial addresses the items to be considered and tasks to be accomplished during each of the critical phases, with emphasis on the pre-turnaround and implementation phases. Suggestions and examples are provided to improve task management

A mid year comparison study of career satisfaction and emotional states between residents and faculty at one academic medical center

BACKGROUND: The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education's (ACGME) new requirements raise multiple challenges for academic medical centers. We sought to evaluate career satisfaction, emotional states, positive and negative experiences, work hours and sleep among residents and faculty simultaneously in one academic medical center after implementation of the ACGME duty hour requirements. METHODS: Residents and faculty (1330) in the academic health center were asked to participate in a confidential survey; 72% of the residents and 66% of the faculty completed the survey. RESULTS: Compared to residents, faculty had higher levels of satisfaction with career choice, competence, importance and usefulness; lower levels of anxiousness and depression. The most positive experiences for both groups corresponded to strong interpersonal relationships and educational value; most negative experiences to poor interpersonal relationships and issues perceived outside of the physician's control. Approximately 13% of the residents and 14% of the faculty were out of compliance with duty hour requirements. Nearly 5% of faculty reported working more than 100 hours per week. For faculty who worked 24 hour shifts, nearly 60% were out of compliance with the duty-hour requirements. CONCLUSION: Reasons for increased satisfaction with career choice, positive emotional states and experiences for faculty compared to residents are unexplained. Earlier studies from this institution identified similar positive findings among advanced residents compared to more junior residents. Faculty are more frequently at risk for duty-hour violations. If patient safety is of prime importance, faculty, in particular, should be compliant with the duty hour requirements. Perhaps the ACGME should contain faculty work hours as part of its regulatory function

A Description of Quasar Variability Measured Using Repeated SDSS and POSS Imaging

We provide a quantitative description and statistical interpretation of the optical continuum variability of quasars. The Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) has obtained repeated imaging in five UV-to-IR photometric bands for 33,881 spectroscopically confirmed quasars. About 10,000 quasars have an average of 60 observations in each band obtained over a decade along Stripe 82 (S82), whereas the remaining ~25,000 have 2-3 observations due to scan overlaps. The observed time lags span the range from a day to almost 10 years, and constrain quasar variability at rest-frame time lags of up to 4 years, and at rest-frame wavelengths from 1000A to 6000A. We publicly release a user-friendly catalog of quasars from the SDSS Data Release 7 that have been observed at least twice in SDSS or once in both SDSS and the Palomar Observatory Sky Survey, and we use it to analyze the ensemble properties of quasar variability. Based on a damped random walk (DRW) model defined by a characteristic time scale and an asymptotic variability amplitude that scale with the luminosity, black hole mass, and rest wavelength for individual quasars calibrated in S82, we can fully explain the ensemble variability statistics of the non-S82 quasars such as the exponential distribution of large magnitude changes. All available data are consistent with the DRW model as a viable description of the optical continuum variability of quasars on time scales of ~5-2000 days in the rest frame. We use these models to predict the incidence of quasar contamination in transient surveys such as those from PTF and LSST.Comment: 33 pages, 19 figures, replaced with accepted version. Catalog is available at http://www.astro.washington.edu/users/ivezic/macleod/qso_dr7

Opportunity Knocks: A System to Provide Cognitive Assistance with Transportation Services

We present an automated transportation routing system, called “Opportunity Knocks,” whose goal is to improve the efficiency, safety and independence of individuals with mild cognitive disabilities. Our system is implemented on a combination of a Bluetooth sensor beacon that broadcasts GPS data, a GPRS-enabled cell-phone, and remote activity inference software. The system uses a novel inference engine that does not require users to explicitly provide information about the start or ending points of their journeys; instead this information is learned from users’ past behavior. Futhermore, we demonstrate how route errors can be detected and how the system helps to correct the errors with real-time transit information. In addition we present a novel solution to the problem of labeling positions with place names.Engineering and Applied Science