Moving beyond entry-level competencies: The role of the recreation management internship in the moral development of college students

This mixed methods study explored aspects of the internship experience that are responsible for moral growth changes among undergraduates in a recreation management discipline. This study addressed four aims: (1) to investigate changes in interns\u27 moral reasoning as determined by the Defining Issues Test 2 (DIT-2) over the course of a 14-week internship experience, (2) to examine the relationship between interns\u27 level of moral reasoning and performance during the internship experience, (3) to explore convergence and divergence between the theoretical patterns of NeoKohlbergian theory of moral development and the observed patterns of intern moral judgment and actions, and (4) to identify aspects of the internship experience that appear responsible for moral growth changes among interns. In phase one of the study, the DIT-2 was administered to 33 recreation management interns in a pre and post-test format. In phase two of the study, 10 interns were purposefully selected to serve as case studies based on their level of post-conventional reasoning on the DIT-2 pre-test. Multiple forms of qualitative data were collected including semi-structured interviews, artifacts, and observations. A paired samples t-test showed a statistically significant difference in Personal Interest and Post-Conventional schema, and N-2 scores for 33 recreation management interns who completed a 14-week internship experience. In relation to the mean final performance measures among interns, both the Spearman rho correlation and a 3x3 cross-tabulation for distribution levels showed insignificant results. Using an outcome pattern matching technique (Trochim, 1989), significant convergence was noted between the theoretical patterns of NeoKohlbergian theory of moral development and the observed patterns of intern judgments and actions for the 10 intern cases. This convergence was reflected in two primary patterns: (1) as interns used lower judgment schemas, they tended to make judgments from an egocentric perspective and demonstrated behaviors that were based on protecting personal interests, and (2) as interns used the Post-Conventional schema, they tended to make judgments that adhered to moral principles and demonstrated behaviors that reflected a concern for others. In order to explore aspects of the internship experience that appeared to influence intern moral development, all qualitative data sources were coded and three themes emerged: (1) the type of internship setting is critical to intern moral development, (2) the internship site supervisor and senior staff members are vital resources for interns as they begin to negotiate the ethical landmines of practice, and (3) the nature of the intern role impacts ethical decision-making among interns

The Business Cycle And Competition In The U.S. Brewing Industry

Recent game-theoretic models of cartel behavior assess the sustainability of cooperation in the presence of demand fluctuations.  Depending on the stochastic assumptions of demand, different outcomes are predicted.  Accordingly, this paper investigates the effects of demand fluctuations on competition in the U.S. brewing industry.  The results show that competition among brewers is greater during periods associated with significant negative shocks to demand, lower observed demand, lower expected future industry profit, and lower advertising

Immunogold Localization of Intra- and Extra-Cellular Proteins and Polysaccharides of Plant Cells

This paper illustrates post-embedding immunogold labelling of protein and polysaccharide molecules of plant cells. For EM studies, one is restricted (for most plant cells) to the post-embedding approach because the surrounding cell wall prevents access of antibodies (and secondary gold-tagged markers) to internal sites. The large size of many plant cells also does not lend itself to diffusional entry of antibodies. The molecules localized include seed storage proteins that are large and present in major quantities, a smaller less abundant, water soluble albumin, an oxygen-binding protein, components of the photosynthetic electron transport chain, and complex sugars from the cell wall. A range of preparative procedures and embedding plastics are used

Novel Dynamics Observed in a Spiking Neural Network Model of the NTS in the Rat Hind-brain

he Nucleus of the Solitary Tract (NTS) is a hind-brain structure in the rat that is the first way-station in taste processing. Its structure and function are poorly understood. Recently our group produced a model, implemented as a spiking neural network (SNN), that successfully replicated experimental data. The model\u27s topology was manually devised and the parameters were set by a genetic algorithm. In order to better understand its information processing capabilities, we probed the model with a variety of input spike patterns and observed a striking winner-take-all decision-making dynamic. We show how the topology and tuned parameters enable this decision to depend on precise spike timing events. It is curious that the experimental data upon which the model was originally evolved did not include winner-take-all examples; this was an emergent capability. It remains for additional experiments on rats to confirm or reject this model prediction

Strengthening Mentoring in Low- and Middle-Income Countries to Advance Global Health Research: An Overview.

Mentoring is a proven path to scientific progress, but it is not a common practice in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Existing mentoring approaches and guidelines are geared toward high-income country settings, without considering in detail the differences in resources, culture, and structure of research systems of LMICs. To address this gap, we conducted five Mentoring-the-Mentor workshops in Africa, South America, and Asia, which aimed at strengthening the capacity for evidence-based, LMIC-specific institutional mentoring programs globally. The outcomes of the workshops and two follow-up working meetings are presented in this special edition of the American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. Seven articles offer recommendations on how to tailor mentoring to the context and culture of LMICs, and provide guidance on how to implement mentoring programs. This introductory article provides both a prelude and executive summary to the seven articles, describing the motivation, cultural context and relevant background, and presenting key findings, conclusions, and recommendations

Redox Active Motifs in Selenoproteins

Selenoproteins use the rare amino acid selenocysteine (Sec) to act as the first line of defense against oxidants, which are linked to aging, cancer, and neurodegenerative diseases. Many selenoproteins are oxidoreductases in which the reactive Sec is connected to a neighboring Cys and able to form a ring. These Sec-containing redox motifs govern much of the reactivity of selenoproteins. To study their fundamental properties, we have used Se-77 NMR spectroscopy in concert with theoretical calculations to determine the conformational preferences and mobility of representative motifs. This use of Se-77 as a probe enables the direct recording of the properties of Sec as its environment is systematically changed. We find that all motifs have several ring conformations in their oxidized state. These ring structures are most likely stabilized by weak, nonbonding interactions between the selenium and the amide carbon. To examine how the presence of selenium and ring geometric strain governs the motifs\u27 reactivity, we measured the redox potentials of Sec-containing motifs and their corresponding Cys-only variants. The comparisons reveal that for C-terminal motifs the redox potentials increased between 20-25 mV when the selenenylsulfide bond was changed to a disulfide bond. Changes of similar magnitude arose when we varied ring size or the motifs\u27 flanking residues. This suggests that the presence of Sec is not tied to unusually low redox potentials. The unique roles of selenoproteins in human health and their chemical reactivities may therefore not necessarily be explained by lower redox potentials, as has often been claimed

Hubble Space Telescope servicing mission scientific instrument protective enclosure design requirements and contamination controls

The Scientific Instrument Protective Enclosures were designed for the Hubble Space Telescope Servicing Missions to provide a beginning environment to a Scientific Instrument during ground and on orbit activities. The Scientific Instruments required very stringent surface cleanliness and molecular outgassing levels to maintain ultraviolet performance. Data from the First Servicing Mission verified that both the Scientific Instruments and Scientific Instrument Protective Enclosures met surface cleanliness level requirements during ground and on-orbit activities

Evidence-Based intervention (Ebi) Mapping: a Systematic approach to Understanding the Components and Logic of Ebis

BACKGROUND: Despite the development of numerous evidence-based interventions (EBIs), many go unused in practice. Hesitations to use existing EBIs may be due to a lack of understanding about EBI components and what it would take to adapt it or implement it as designed. to improve the use of EBIs, program planners need to understand their goals, core components, and mechanisms of action. This paper presents EBI Mapping, a systematic approach based on Intervention Mapping, that can be used to understand and clearly describe EBIs, and help planners put them into practice. METHODS: We describe EBI Mapping tasks and provide an example of the process. EBI Mapping uses principles from Intervention Mapping, a systematic framework for planning multilevel health promotion interventions. EBI Mapping applies the Intervention Mapping steps retrospectively to help planners understand an existing EBI (rather than plan a new one). We explain each EBI Mapping task and demonstrate the process using the VERB Summer Scorecard (VSS), a multi-level community-based intervention to improve youth physical activity. RESULTS: EBI Mapping tasks are: 1) document EBI materials and activities, and their audiences, 2) identify the EBI goals, content, and mechanisms of action, 3) identify the theoretical change methods and practical applications of those methods, 4) describe design features and delivery channels, and 5) describe the implementers and their tasks, implementation strategies, and needed resources. By applying the EBI Mapping tasks, we created a logic model for the VSS intervention. The VSS logic model specifies the links between behavior change methods, practical applications, and determinants for both the at-risk population and environmental change agents. The logic model also links the respective determinants to the desired outcomes including the health behavior and environmental conditions to improve the health outcome in the at-risk population. CONCLUSIONS: EBI Mapping helps program planners understand the components and logic of an EBI. This information is important for selecting, adapting, and scaling-up EBIs. Accelerating and improving the use of existing EBIs can reduce the research-to-practice gap and improve population health